Following

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69 Chapter 70 Chapter 71 Chapter 72 Chapter 73 Chapter 74 Chapter 75 Chapter 76 Chapter 77 Chapter 78 Chapter 79 Chapter 80 Chapter 81 Chapter 82 Chapter 83 Chapter 84 Chapter 85 Chapter 86 Chapter 87 Chapter 88 Chapter 89 Chapter 90 Chapter 91 Chapter 92 Chapter 93 Chapter 94 Chapter 95 Chapter 96 Chapter 97 Chapter 98 Chapter 99 Chapter 100 Chapter 101 Chapter 102 Chapter 103 Chapter 104 Chapter 105 Chapter 106 Chapter 107 Chapter 108 Chapter 109 Chapter 110 Chapter 111 Chapter 112 Chapter 113 Chapter 114 Chapter 115 Chapter 116 Chapter 117 Chapter 118 Chapter 119 Chapter 120 Chapter 121 Chapter 122 Chapter 123 Chapter 124 Chapter 125 Chapter 126 Chapter 127 Chapter 128 Chapter 129 Chapter 130 Chapter 131 The Phone Call Louise's First Costume When Keyla was Here A Day at the Garcia House The Keeper Sibling Bonds Once Upon a Time in High School Lillie's Recipes Lightning the Mentor A Miraculous Medical Aide Louise's Day Off An Ethereal Fairy Eternal Youth A Miracle Manifests Three Generals Deep Thoughts Over Lemonade A Miracle of Science Three Branches, Three Days Dreams of Heroes The Makings of a Thief Girl Time Wishing for More Courtney Larsen, Age 15 A Greenhouse Tour Odin's Evening The Keeper's Evening Cleo's Seventeenth Birthday Never to Thaw Again 2617's New Arx Techs Payday Party Prime's Board Game Party Temperature-Regulating Potions

Arx Nubibus
Ongoing 1267 Words

Chapter 104

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Achilles' lungs burned as he ran through the city. Knight had called to say that Team Chaos was on the move, and he'd probably need reinforcements. Light Master should have been on the way as well, but Achilles' group consisted of Barrier Maiden, Hot Rod and Prime. Rose and Alchemist had stayed behind at HQ to take care of anything that might come up in their absence. 

If only there was a better way to move through the city. The Subways wouldn't be fast enough, and running was exhausting. It really wasn't fair that Team Chaos had someone who could teleport them. 

They were almost at the place Knight had mentioned. Prime motioned for them to stop and catch their breath. Achilles did so, nearly flopping down on his rear. Barrier Maiden was similarly tired. Prime stood watch while they caught their breath, though Hot Rod looked like he was chomping at the bit to get in there. 

It made sense. This was his first response as a hero, after all. Prime gave them only a couple precious minutes to catch their breath before they finished the trip to the battle site. 

They could hear people up ahead. Paris laughing, a woman's voice joining him. Knight was saying something, but they couldn't make out the words. 

As they approached the last turn, Jumper stumbled out of the alley, a woman coughing and leaning on his shoulder. 

"Jumper?" Achilles asked, frowning in thought. Didn't he avoid Legion activities? 

"She needs help," Jumper croaked. "Paris is in there, along with Cold Snap, Shell, Ferry and a guy they're calling Corrosion." He let the woman down, and she leaned against the wall, tears in her eyes. 

"Why is this happening?" she whispered. "What did Court do to them?" 

"I can stay with her," Jumper said. "But Knight and Lightning need help." 

"Help's arrived," Hot Rod said with a grin. "Wait until these jerks feel the flames of righteousness." With that, he darted into the alley to join the fight. Achilles glanced between Jumper and Prime quickly, then ran after him as well, Barrier Maiden on his heels. 

Paris laughed when Achilles rounded the corner. 

"Well, well, well. Achilles is here to play, is he?" 

Achilles - James - remembered what Louise had said and a pang ran through his chest. 

"Hot Rod, Barrier Maiden, Knight, take care of the others. I'll handle Paris." 

The other three nodded and left him to it. Achilles steeled himself and walked forward. 

 

"You doing okay?" Prime asked, kneeling down next to Joey and Courtney's friend. 

"I'm fine," Joey replied, though he failed to hold back another cough. 

"And who are you?" Prime turned his attention to the woman Joey had rescued. Though, really, Cleo was the real hero in this case. 

"L-Lillie," she stammered. "Courtney's my roommate. I don't know why they're here - I opened the door and there they were. The one of them - he..." She trailed off and hugged her knees, trying to hold back her tears. 

"Don't worry, Lillie," Prime said. "Courtney will be fine. The Legion is here now. Those hoodlums will be brought to justice." 

"Lillie," Joey added hoarsely, "I think when this is over, Courtney will want to talk to you." 

"About what?" Lillie snorted. "I seem to be figuring out right now that she's not just doing some safe job after being expelled from the military. Is she one of you then?" 

Joey looked away, but nodded. 

"She...would have done things differently if she thought you'd end up in trouble," he said. He was sure of that at the very least. Whether it meant warning Lillie, or never joining the Legion in the first place, he didn't know. 

Seeing Lillie there, it hit Joey that he really should tell his family about Jumper. What if they were next? His hands started trembling, and he took a breath to steady himself. 

"Can the two of you walk?" Prime asked. "We should get you to a hospital." 

"No," Lillie said firmly. "Not until I know Court's safe. She's not just my roommate, y'know. She's like my sister practically - or, at least I think she is." 

A sob escaped her and Joey and Prime could only watch in silence. Finally, Prime broke the silence. 

"I understand. I'll stay here to protect you two until Achilles and the others get back. But if your conditions take a turn for the worse, I'm running you to the hospital." 

A small portal opened up next to Joey's hand. He wouldn't have noticed it if a stylus hadn't fallen out of it. He turned it over in his hand and smiled. Neither Prime nor Lillie seemed to have noticed it, but knowing that Cleo was still looking out for them did his heart good. 

Things would probably turn out okay thanks to her. 

 

Achilles slowly walked forward, trying not to inhale too much of the poison gas. Paris stared back at him, like a formidable archnemesis. 

But...

"Paris. Or should I say Dustin." At his words, Paris spat out a curse. 

"That traitor tailor spilled, did she? Whatever. You know my name. That doesn't mean much. I'm still gonna take you out here." 

The mist thickened. Achilles gritted his teeth, then pulled down his hood. Slowly, he pulled the mask from his face. 

"It does matter, Dustin. You shouldn't be the bad guy." James tried to keep his expression from twisting, but the poison mist was even more oppressive without the mask to filter it. 

"James...?" Dustin took a step back, as if he really hadn't seen it coming. 

James didn't know how long they stood there, staring each other down. The poison made tears start forming in his eyes, but he fought to keep a straight face. He had to convince Dustin to join his side. He had lost contact with him, but being a superhero had always felt a bit empty. Probably because his best friend wasn't there. 

"How long are you two gonna keep up the staring contest?" James and Dustin looked up, and Ferry was glaring at them from her perch just above the mist. 

"Good question," Dustin said, seemingly resuming his Paris persona. "This makes things interesting. James, who would have thought you'd be the one behind that mask? Must be fate, really." 

"Dustin, you don't have to be the bad guy. Join the Legion. We were meant to do this together." 

Dustin slowly started snickering. 

"Nah," he said. "I'm Paris. I like being Paris. In fact, knowing you're Achilles makes this even more fun. Remember the games we used to play? Well, now we can play against each other. I can't wait to see what happens next." 

James stared at him in disbelief. Was this really Dustin? 

"I was always stuck being one of two, y'know?" Dustin continued. "Sure we were an unstoppable duo, but now I'm an unstoppable solo. I kind of like the feeling. Ferry, let's get out of here for today. I think we've done enough damage." 

"Sure thing, boss." Everyone else seemed to have been watching them, so as soon as the order was given, the villains regrouped and vanished. 

The whole time, James could only watch in disbelief. Hot Rod, Knight and Lightning had tried to block off the bad guys' escape, but the poison gas was really making things difficult. 

When the chaos settled down, Achilles could barely keep his eyes open. The poison mist was getting to him again. Coughs wracked his body freely as he fell to his knees. He heard people calling his name as the world went black. 


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