Chapter Twenty Five

Hero's Call: Chapter Twenty Five

“You could have been killed!” Barton raged at the three teenagers sitting sullenly on the sofa in front of him. They had gotten quite the earful from Milo’s mother on the way home from their adventure in Cleveland. Most of what she had to say was related to the fact that she came out of Old Stone Church to find an empty mini-van and quite a bit of commotion coming from down the street. It wasn’t so much that they had put themselves in danger. She was more upset at them for disobeying her and getting out of the mini-van. Milo’s father, whom Brooke had called after she had said her piece, was fully aware of the danger they had faced and how fool hardy they had been.

“You’ve had two weeks of training,” he continued, his face red with anger. “Bill hasn’t even had a day. Do you have any idea what could have happened in there? Do you have any idea what it would have done to any of your parents if you’d have been hurt, killed?”

Milo raised his eyes enough to look around the living room he’d spent very little time in during the course of his life. His mother was leaning against the door jamb that led to the kitchen, a look of stern remonstrance on her face. Acolyte Seven was seated in an armchair across from the sofa. He looked on at them as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. Captain Amazing stood next to Seven. He was grinning like a madman. No doubt the kids’ antics had made him a proud great-grandpa. Calliope and Bill’s parents hadn’t been informed of the day’s events just yet. Milo knew his parents would be torn on whether or not to tell them. They were Brooke’s responsibility, and she had let them waltz �" almost literally �" into the most dangerous situation they could find. It wasn’t exactly something you talk about openly.

“I have half a mind to ban you from training at all, Milo,” Barton threatened. “Bill, Cali, I have no control over your punishment, but I will be strongly recommending it as well to your parents when I speak to them.”

“Hold on there, Barty,” Captain Amazing piped up. “I can’t say that I completely disagree with you that what they did was stupid. They could have gotten hurt or worse. But that’s part of being a Hero. Keeping them from training is only going to make it more likely that they’ll get hurt. Maybe we should get their side of the story.”

Everyone in the room turned their eyes from Captain and moved them back onto the three teenagers.

“So, Milo,” Captain Amazing urged, “why did you go into the building without thinking about the consequences.”

Milo felt his face getting hot. That was the most difficult part to explain. Parents weren’t often open to the idea that you faced danger head on because you just felt like you had to. No, not had to. He had the responsibility to. He’d tried using similar excuses before for much less dangerous shenanigans and it only garnered an eye roll from his mother and a nice two week grounding.

“I don’t know,” he stammered. “I just…”

“It’s alright, Milo,” Seven said comfortingly. “There’s no wrong answer.”

That rewarded him with glares from both of Milo’s parents, but it only helped Milo muster up a bit of courage.

“Cali and I went in,” he started, “because we had to. I don’t know how to explain it exactly. I could just feel it deep down in my gut. All I could think was how I was given powers for a reason. I had a responsibility to help innocent people if they were in trouble. I know that might seem crazy, but it’s the truth. It was just an irresistible urge to help the hostages, to see them home to their families. Now that I say it out loud, it seems even crazier.”

Seven turned his gaze to Cali.

“And you Calliope,” he asked her flatly, “did you feel the same?”

Cali didn’t look up at him. She simply nodded her head quickly.

“Hot damn,” Captain Amazing said enthusiastically. “I had a feeling you’d say that.”

Everyone looked at the old Hero in confusion. Everyone except Seven. He stood from the armchair and crossed the room to stand in front of Milo and his friends. He knelt on one knee and looked at the three of them in awe.

“What you are describing is a little known fact about the Hero Gene,” he explained. “Even the An’Fari cannot explain exactly how it works. When a Hero Gene activates, it acts as a kind of radar. It can detect nearby danger and innocent lives that are in peril. Once detected, it triggers the same line of thinking that Milo and Calliope have already experienced. It urges the individual to take action, to use their powers for good. It has gone by many names on many worlds in many different languages. I believe, in the English language, it translates into the Hero’s Call. It is, unofficially, the mark of a true Hero.”

“But what about Villains?” Bill asked, intrigue clear in his voice. “If they feel the Hero’s Call, do they just ignore it, or do they feel something different?”

“As I stated,” Seven said, looking at the boy, “my people have studied this effect for many millennia and have found no definitive answers. There are many theories as to why there is a difference between Heroes and Villains. Some believe that those who turn to Villainy are simply flawed genetically and the Call is dampened so that it cannot be heard. Others, myself included, believe that certain individuals have a certain proclivity toward Evil. They hear the Call and yet choose to ignore its message. They believe that doing something the benefits mankind will not be nearly as beneficial as doing something that benefits themselves. There is no official name for the event, but the An’Fari have long referred to it as the Villain Anamoly.”

The words hung over the room as silence took over. Each person was processing the information in their own way. Milo had no problem accepting the concept since he had experienced it firsthand. He could tell, though, that both of his parents were struggling to grasp the simple fact that their son and his friends could not only detect danger, but were now genetically attracted to it. They were, in fact, tasked with making sure it was stopped at all costs.

“You see, Barty,” said Captain Amazing finally, “you can’t punish the kid too hard. It’s in his genes. He can’t fight it.”

Having his grandfather state it so plainly made Barton Radcliff lose his resolve. Yes, Milo acted without thinking, but he didn’t exactly have a choice.

“Fine,” he admitted to Milo, “you won’t be punished, nor will I suggest your parents to punish you either, Bill and Cali. Just please approach the next incident with a little more thought. As much as you can manage, at least.”

Milo felt as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. He knew it wasn’t easy for his dad to relieve him of punishment when he’d done something that maybe wasn’t the most intelligent. The simple fact that he had spoke volumes to his acceptance of Milo’s new role in the world. No amount of deranged lunatics taking over a building full of people could have made it more real to him. He was a Hero. It was in his blood.

“There is another matter that I wish to speak with your three about,” Seven said to the three teenagers on the sofa. They looked at him expectantly. “Your personal safety was put at great risk today, but, perhaps more important, so were your true identities. Keeping a Hero’s real identity secret is one of the most important things they can do. Captain Amazing can tell you just how many Hero’s have been brought to ruin because their true identity was revealed. It is not just you that is in danger if a Villain knows who you truly are, but your loved ones as well.”

For the first time, Milo realized what a stupid thing he’d done walking into that building without anything to cover his face. Only one person had actually seen it thanks to the bizarre collection of masks the executive had in his desk, but if they hadn’t been there, everyone would have. Not to mention the fact that they had used their real names in front of their enemy. He doubted anyone who had been involved could connect him with the incident, but Milo couldn’t help but think about what could happen if they could. The thought sent a cold shiver up his spine.

“As such,” continued Seven, “it is important that each of you create a codename for yourselves to be used when in situations similar to the one you faced today.”

There was a moment’s silence while each of them ran through possible codenames in their heads. Milo was never particularly good at coming up with things like that. He wanted it to be something that would give Villains reason to fear and innocent people reason to hope. Something that made sense with his own abilities. Captain Amazing was, in fact, amazing in his hay day. He had never known where they name came from exactly, but it was rather fitting for the Hero it belonged to.

Milo thought about what he could do. All he really had to separate him from other Heroes was the optic blasts. So what could he make of that? Beam Star? Eyeclops? Visionary? Gazer? None of them were any good, and one of them was already taken. He’d think of something good that fit perfectly with him and the pulsing light that shot from his eyes. Then it clicked. Pulsing light…Pulsar.

“I’ve got it,” Bill said triumphantly. “How about Indestructi-Bill?”

Everyone in the room, even Seven, looked at him humorlessly.

“You don’t have to come up with the name at this moment,” Seven suggested.

“Especially if that’s the best you’ve got,” Captain Amazing joked.

Bill looked disappointed, but shrugged it off in an elegantly Bill-like fashion.

“What about our training?” Cali asked. It was the first time she’d spoken since the yelling began. Milo could see in her eyes that she’d taken everything that had been said over the last few hours very seriously. Given her ancestry, he guessed that the part about the Hero’s Call came as especially welcome news. The fact that she had not only heard, but responded to the Call was more indication than he could ever give her that she was truly her own person and not a product of her family tree.

“Your training will continue,” Seven answered her, “but Captain Amazing and I have decided to include field training for all of you, even Bill. It’ll help you hone your abilities in real world situations, so when you get yourselves into another one you’ll be able to think in terms of real combat and consequences. It will be considerably more dangerous for all of you, so you’ll need something a little…sturdier to wear.”

They all looked down at their clothes. Cali and Milo were dirty from head to toe, covered in marble dust and drywall. There were several bullet holes in Cali’s shirt and jeans and Milo’s pant leg was almost completely missing below his right knee which had happened when Bill had tackled him. Bill’s own clothes hung in loose tatters on him, barely clinging to his body. When he had shifted from skin to metal, his size had also expanded, tearing his clothes in the process.

“We weren’t expecting Bill to activate so soon,” Captain Amazing admitted, “so we don’t have anything for him at the moment, but from what happened today, he doesn’t sound like he needs much.”

He hobbled himself out of the room and returned a moment later carrying a hangar. On it hung what appeared to be a normal leather jacket. It was collarless with deep green tinted details. Draped over the lower bar of the hangar was a pair of pants made of the same material as the jacket and similarly colored. Milo instantly knew that it was his new uniform.

“This is for you, Milo,” said Captain Amazing offering it to him.

He took it gratefully. The material felt almost exactly like leather, but it was tougher, thicker.

“What is it?” Milo asked in astonishment.

“It is what the Heroes before Captain Amazing’s time used for their own uniforms,” Seven answered. “A material such as this has not been seen on Earth for quite some time. It is called mithril. Only the An’Fari have mastered the art of crafting mithril for practical uses. It is incredibly resilient, able to protect its wearer from anything from blade to bullet to energy blast. Heroes shifted to costumes like Captain Amazing’s because it became both cheaper and easier to obtain. This uniform was crafter especially for you, Milo. There is no other like it on Earth.”

Milo didn’t know what to say. He would be wearing the same kind of uniform as his ancestors had. He had always admired Captain Amazing’s uniform in the glass case, always wished he could one day wear something like it. Now it seemed like a silly idea. This was the real deal. His very own Hero uniform. He traced his fingers over the deep green details absently. There was nothing like it in the entire world, and it was all his. His voice failed him.

“Go try it on, Milo,” his mother suggested.

It took Milo a moment to process her words, but once he had, he was up on his feet and out of the room in a flash. He returned in so short a time many of them wondered if he had even bothered to go more than three steps out of the room to change. Both the jacket and pants fit him perfectly. He did, however, look a little silly wearing his white athletic socks and dirty t-shirt with the pristine mithril outfit.

“How do I look?” he asked excitedly.

“Like any Hero I’ve ever seen,” Captain Amazing told him with a wink.

“What about Cali?” Milo asked, suddenly remembering his friends on the sofa. They looked at him with a mixture of awe and respect.

There was a brief pause and Barton turned to Brooke. “Honey?”

She had been so wrapped up in watching her little boy grow up that she had forgotten what was going on.

“Oh, right,” she said, pulling out of her reverie. “I’ll be right back.”

When she disappeared as Milo had, he moved back to the couch and sat down next to Calliope. Milo could see how antsy his friend had become at the mention of her name. He was excited to see the uniform that she was going to receive, but he couldn’t help but be curious at how his parents were involved instead of Seven and the An’Fari. That was something he definitely hadn’t expected.

Brooke returned quickly with a perfectly wrapped gift in her hand. It was wrapped in light pink wrapping paper decorated with cartoon babies. Milo remember having seen the paper when his mother had hosted one of her friend’s baby showers over the past summer. She held it out to Cali, who took it hesitantly. The wrapping paper had caused confusion in her own mind as well.

“Sorry about the wrapping paper, dear,” she said, stepping back to stand by her husband. “It’s all I had in the house.”

“That has been in my family a long time, Cali,” Barton explained to her. It’s passed down to each new generation of Radcliff women. Since I was an only child, it went to Brooke. Since Milo doesn’t have a sister either, we’ve decided that we would be more than honored if you would take up the mantle. I know it’s breaking tradition a little, but you couldn’t be more perfect a fit, powers and all.”

Cali looked to Milo’s parents. Tears were welling in her eyes. “Thank you,” she said shakily. “Thank you so much.”

She began unwrapping the gift and it suddenly struck Milo what was inside. He couldn’t believe it. It had been sitting in the back of his parents’ closet for who knew how long. Giving it to Calliope was more or less stating that Brooke and Barton Radcliff would never have another child, but it didn’t matter because they saw Cali as a daughter they had never had.

Calliope opened the now unwrapped box and gasped. Inside looking out at her was a navy blue uniform with baby blue stripes that ran down each sleeve and pant leg. In the center of the uniform were two baby blue M’s of different sizes, the smaller transposed over the larger. Cali felt the thin, but highly durable fabric between her fingers as a single tear ran down her cheek.

The Marvelous Maiden had been a member of the Army of Justice centuries before, and the role had been passed on to her daughter, and she passed it on to her daughter. It had been an heirloom of Milo’s family since the first Marvelous Maiden had retired. Each Marvelous Maiden could be distinguished, not by her appearance, but by her powers which varied greatly with each new incarnation. The original Marvelous Maiden, though, possessed exceptional strength, the power of flight, and was indestructible. While all the Heroes in the Army of Justice were mourned greatly after they were destroyed by the Dreadnaught, the Marvelous Maiden had meant something special to the women of the world. She was a beacon for female independence and intelligence, an inspiration to all women. When Milo thought about it, his father could not have been more right. Calliope Bishop was a perfect fit, powers and all.

“If you’d rather go by a different code name,” Barton said, “or something, we won’t be offended if you don’t �"”

“No,” Cali said in a whisper, cutting him off. “It’s perfect.”

“With the permission of the Captain and Barton,” Brooke told her, “I made a few modifications to make the uniform look a little more modern. Why don’t you go try it on, dear?”

Cali nodded and stood up from the couch. Brooke followed suit and took her free hand, guiding her out of the room, leaving the men alone. They lapsed into an uncomfortable silence, the only noise was Milo’s mithril pants or jacket rustling against each other as he shifted about in boredom. Finally, Brooke appeared again in the entryway of the living room. They all turned to her expectantly.

“Gentlemen,” she said with a little more showmanship than she was typically prone to, “I give you the newest Marvelous Maiden.”

Cali stepped around the corner and Milo felt his jaw drop. The original uniform was designed to cover the entire body from head to toe, the only exposed skin was around the mouth and eyes. Milo’s mother had made a few radical changes. The top had been removed to allow Cali’s blond hair exposed though it was still in its trademark ponytail. She had also changed it from a unitard to a two piece uniform, leaving Cali’s midriff exposed as well. It hugged her body perfectly showing off a body that Milo had no idea his friend possessed. She looked, for lack of a better word, marvelous.

“Do I look okay?” she asked, her eyes darting from Milo to Bill.

“You look amazing,” Bill told her, and Milo agreed.

They both stood up from the couch and walked over to her.

“We’re a real team now,” Milo said in excitement. He knew his words would have a special meaning to Calliope as would the uniform. With each passing moment, she got further and further away from the fate she thought she was doomed to from the day she was born.

“Wait,” Bill said suddenly, “I’m not in uniform.” He closed his eyes and a look of strained concentration crossed his face. Suddenly his skin rippled and changed to gleaming metal. He smiled. “There we go.”

For a moment, Milo looked at the three of them together. They had been best friends since they were kids. Now there were a team of Heroes ready to take on the worst the world had to offer. A glimmer of hope began to tingle in his chest. They could make a difference in the world. All they had to do was fight for what was right. Daniel could feel his spirits begin to rise, moving to a place he wasn’t sure they could have gone.

That was when the sound of television static came from the other room.