Chapter 30:
– Hannah –
Miss Militia—Hannah—was almost never this restless. Usually, her self-control and discipline were as solid as the rifle she could conjure at a moment's notice. Ever since her powers first manifested, they seemed to chill her emotions, locking her feelings behind layers of military poise and professionalism.
So why, now, was she fidgeting at the edge of the Rig's concrete hangar like an anxious teenager before a first date?
She tapped her boot against the floor, glancing up every few seconds at the heavy blast doors.
It was barely dawn. Light spilled in through the high windows, illuminating the waiting PRT transport vehicles and the lines of racks holding every imaginable weapon. Hannah kept her bandana up, but her mask was tucked away, her dark hair loose for once, falling in gentle waves around her shoulders. Every few moments she'd catch herself nervously checking her reflection in the window glass, as if to make sure she looked "casual enough."
It wasn't just nerves. Her thoughts kept circling the events of last night: the rooftop air tinged with salt, Silas's easy banter, the flash of his smile in the dark. The way he'd made her laugh when she was supposed to be lecturing him.
They'd been flirting, right?
Not just friendly banter, but something that made her stomach twist in a way she hadn't felt in years. Maybe ever. He was eighteen—an adult. But it still felt strange. She'd spent so long being "Mom Militia" to the Wards, setting boundaries, mentoring, keeping everyone safe.
What the hell was she supposed to do with these new, raw feelings bubbling up? And the worse part was that she knew he was just being kind to her and wasn't genuinely trying to hit on her or anything…
She barely registered the approach of footsteps until Silas himself appeared at the edge of the hangar, hands tucked into the pockets of a brand new PRT issued blue hoodie, jeans slung low on his hips, and a PRT issue backpack hanging off one shoulder.
She straightened up, forced herself to hold his gaze. "Good morning, Silas," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "Sleep alright?"
Silas grinned, his expression warm and maybe just a little bit teasing. "Yeah, I actually slept great, thanks. Guess it helps knowing Iron Rain isn't going to pop up on the streets anymore. We did good last night. Even if we weren't planning on it. And I know outing her wasn't the smartest idea at the time, but I will take full responsibility for that," Silas said to her.
Hannah let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, her lips quirking behind the green bandana. "You're right, and I might have been a bit too hard on you with that lecture last night as well. Iron Rain—She's caused enough nightmares for everyone in this city," she agreed, her tone growing graver. "She's got a higher body count than her brother ever did, and now we know for sure who he is. Max Anders. The PRT still wants to keep that part under wraps, at least until they can catch him..."
He had gone into hiding as soon as he probably knew his sister was captured. All his assets were frozen, but she had no doubts the leader of a gang had plenty of fake identities and money hidden away.
There was a moment of silence. The only sound was the echo of Hannah's boot as she nudged a pebble across the concrete.
"So," Silas said, shifting his weight, "are we…uh, taking your bike? You know my ghost bike's still recovering from getting blown up by Oni Lee. Armsmaster is keeping it in his lab as he studies it repairing itself."
Hannah figured Armsmaster would enjoy something like that.
"My offer still stands. Hope you're ready to hold on tight." She gestured to her bike. Glad she had her bandana on because she was blushing.
Hannah swung her leg over the motorcycle, settling herself on the worn leather seat with practiced ease.
Silas climbed on behind her, his body pressing lightly against her back. His hands hesitated for a fraction of a second before they found her waist, fingers wrapping around her toned stomach just above her utility belt. The contact made Hannah tense, a jolt of warmth running through her despite the armored material separating skin from skin. She squirmed slightly, not quite used to the sensation of someone holding her this close, at least not in years.
"Comfy?" she asked, her tone teasing but with a nervous edge she couldn't quite disguise.
"Not bad at all," Silas replied, voice low and warm in her ear. The vibration of the engine and the low rumble of his chest seemed to echo through her body.
She fired up the engine. The motorcycle roared to life, the deep purr resonating through both of them. Without another word, she eased the clutch and they shot out of the hangar, tires squealing on concrete before hitting the open road.
They sped down the waterfront highway, weaving effortlessly between traffic. Hannah kept her body relaxed, but every now and then she felt Silas's grip tighten around her waist, sometimes out of excitement, sometimes—she suspected—just to tease her.
Knowing his enhanced senses were sharp enough to pick up every word over the wind and engine, she spoke without looking back, projecting her voice just enough for him to hear. "Listen, I wanted to talk to you about something I spoke with Alexandria about late last night. After you all went to bed…"
She felt Silas shift behind her, a flicker of tension in his posture. He was paying close attention.
"I know you and Taylor handled things well with the ABB," she continued, "but Alexandria wanted me to pass on some advice. When you're fighting villains—especially in public—try to keep the force proportional. Both of you went a little overboard. Some of those ABB gang members barely survived…"
Not quite true though. Alexandria actually confided in Miss Militia that Taylor had definitely "killed people." But if the legendary Alexandria was going to cover up some casual murders caused by a Ward then Miss Militia was smart enough to never bring them up herself.
Silas was quiet for a few heartbeats, the wind whipping past them as they sped along. Then he replied, his voice steady but thoughtful. "We did what we had to. If we hadn't gone hard, people would've died…"
She expected an answer like that. Especially after reading the report about what went down in—Star Wars. He killed a bunch of evil aliens and freed TWO planets from slavery.
That was frankly insane…
Hannah nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "I get it. Trust me, I'm not here to throw stones. My own powers—they're lethal as hell! The only reason people think I'm a model hero is because the PRT covers for me when things get…messy." There was a hint of bitterness in her tone—memories of blood and gunfire she tried not to dwell on. "But you have to be careful. If you're seen killing or maiming, the media will crucify you. Not everyone's lucky enough to have the PRT spin things for them."
They hit a red light at a deserted intersection. Hannah braked smoothly, the bike settling beneath them. She turned her head just enough to meet Silas's gaze over her shoulder. "Basically, don't kill bad guys when there are witnesses around. Or at least, not unless you absolutely have to. Got it?"
Silas gave a little nod, a wry half-smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. I hear you. No public executions, promise."
She chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Good. And lucky for you and Taylor, the dockworkers are all loyal to Danny Hebert. None of them are going to the press about what happened. But next time, you might not get so lucky."
The light turned green. She revved the engine and the bike surged forward, weaving through the streets toward Brockton Bay High. Silas's grip tightened once more, less out of necessity and more—she suspected—out of comfort.
– Silas –
A few hours later…
Well, this was more than a bit awkward.
I sat outside for lunch, enjoying the rare stretch of blue sky over Brockton Bay.
Taylor and her friend Rebecca Brown were on my left, both picking at their lunches. But there wasn't any cheerful conversation happening between them, not even close. Instead, the two of them kept sneaking dagger-like glances across the table, their eyes narrowed and full of warning.
Sophia Hess arrived first, sauntering confidently as always, giving Taylor a smug smirk as she took a seat without bothering to ask. Madison slid in next, flashing me a shy smile before carefully opening her neatly packed lunch. But it was Emma who made the most dramatic entrance, practically flopping herself down right beside me, her fiery red hair brushing my shoulder as she leaned into my side.
Emma grinned. "You wouldn't believe it, Silas. PHO is exploding about you right now. Seriously, everyone's saying you took down half the ABB last night all by yourself!"
"...I had quite a bit of help from Taylor actually. She did most of the fighting," I pointed out. Taylor blushed and smiled at me.
Emma just waved her hand though. "Oh please, you don't have to lie to make her feel better. I'm sure she did her best but we all know who the real hero was last night!"
"That's complete bullshit, Emma! Silas didn't do it all alone. I took down most of those gang members myself, and everyone knows it! Quit making shit up!" Taylor replied angrily.
Rebecca nodded in agreement, shooting Emma a look of pure contempt. "Yeah, it wasn't just him, Emma. Taylor was the one who actually took down dozens of gang members by herself."
Emma just rolled her eyes and tossed her hair over one shoulder. "Sure, maybe, but those were just regular trash. Silas took out Oni Lee himself. You know, the actual dangerous cape?"
I noticed Taylor narrowing her eyes behind her glasses before she smirked.
Emma let out a high-pitched yelp. She froze, eyes going wide as a fat honeybee hovered right in front of her face, then gently landed on the very tip of her nose. "Oh my god," Emma whispered, going perfectly still, her bravado vanishing in an instant.
Taylor just smiled sweetly—too sweetly, really—and rested her chin on her hand. "Oh wow, I wonder where that bee came from. I think it likes you, Emma."
"Don't you dare let that thing sting me, Hebert!" Emma hissed, her glare flickering between me and Taylor. Emma was completely cross-eyed as she stared down anxiously at the fuzzy bee perched right on the tip of her freckled nose.
"You made your point, Hebert," Sophia finally said, clearly annoyed as she decided to intervene on her friend's behalf. She leaned forward slightly, glaring sharply past me toward Taylor.
Taylor just shrugged casually, leaning back with a quiet, satisfied "Hmph." She folded her arms, clearly enjoying every moment of Emma's discomfort.
A second later, the bee spread its tiny wings and buzzed lazily away, flying toward some nearby flowering bushes. Emma immediately slumped forward, her shoulders dropping dramatically as she released a heavy sigh of relief. Her chest rose and fell as she sucked in several calming breaths, glaring daggers at Taylor the whole time.
"You seriously have issues, Hebert," Emma muttered, her cheeks flushed pink beneath her carefully applied makeup.
Taylor simply raised an eyebrow, expression utterly unimpressed. "Funny coming from you, Emma."
I glanced to my right and noticed Madison had barely moved or said a word during the whole exchange. Her dark hair fell forward around her lowered head, shadowing her small face. She was picking nervously at the crust of her sandwich, clearly uncomfortable with the tense atmosphere and hoping desperately to stay unnoticed.
Emma straightened in her seat. Then, unexpectedly, she cleared her throat softly. The sudden polite noise caught everyone's attention, even Madison lifted her head slightly, glancing curiously toward her friend.
Emma exhaled slowly and did something none of us had expected. "Okay, fine. I'm… I'm sorry," she said quietly, glancing reluctantly toward Taylor. She bit her lower lip, looking genuinely uncomfortable, as if each word had physically cost her something to admit. "I was being a bitch just now."
Everyone went completely silent. Sophia openly gaped at her friend in shock, her mouth hanging slightly open in disbelief. Madison blinked rapidly, staring at Emma as if she'd grown a second head.
Taylor narrowed her eyes slightly, pausing for a long, thoughtful moment as she studied Emma's nervous expression. Then she gave a small, satisfied nod and smiled smugly. "Yeah, you definitely were," she said.
Emma's eyes widened at Taylor's blunt response, blinking in surprise. She fidgeted a bit, shifting uncomfortably in place. "So… are you going to accept my apology or what?" she finally asked hesitantly.
Taylor tilted her head slightly, pretending to seriously consider Emma's question for a dramatic moment. Then her smug grin widened slowly, clearly relishing the power shift. "Hmm… Nope," she answered cheerfully, popping the word sharply as she leaned back comfortably.
Emma immediately rolled her eyes, her face twisting into a deeply annoyed expression. She muttered quietly to herself, clearly regretting she'd even bothered apologizing in the first place.
Sophia sighed heavily beside her, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation.
I realized I hadn't said a single word through the entire tense exchange, so I cleared my throat awkwardly, deciding I should probably say something to ease the tension. "Uh, it's...nice that everyone's getting along," I offered lamely, forcing a weak smile.
All five pairs of eyes snapped instantly toward me, expressions ranging from disbelief to outright irritation. Even quiet Madison looked skeptical at my attempt to smooth things over.
Yeah, I knew it was a weak thing to say. And yeah, I knew perfectly well these two groups of girls absolutely despised each other.
Rebecca cleared her throat loudly, drawing everyone's attention toward her. She sat up straighter, shaking her dark, silky hair back over her shoulder in a smooth gesture. "Okay, listen," she began. "I'm still new here, and I'm definitely not going to play whatever weird territorial games you guys have going on."
I glanced at Rebecca in surprise.
She shifted in her seat, scooting a bit closer to me along the bench. Close enough that I could smell the faint, sweet scent of her shampoo, but still not as boldly close as Emma was pressed against my other side. Rebecca turned slightly, her deep brown eyes catching mine directly. Her lips curled upward softly as she smiled, her voice growing warmer. "Anyway, Silas, I was wondering if maybe you'd wanna hang out with me after school? Nothing special, just relaxing somewhere." Her gaze lingered on mine meaningfully, her eyelashes fluttering subtly.
Was she just asking me on a date? Just like that?
Taylor's jaw dropped open in shock as she gaped openly at Rebecca. Clearly, this wasn't something she'd expected from her new friend. "Well, I'm coming along too!" she blurted quickly, giving Rebecca a pointed look. "You know, just to…keep you company."
Rebecca tilted her head toward Taylor, an amused smile quirking at the corners of her mouth. "Uh-huh. Sure, Taylor," she teased lightly.
"Now hold on just one second!" Emma immediately snapped. Her voice had risen, her green eyes sparking with irritation. "Silas still hasn't even gotten to go to the mall with me yet! Every time we plan it, something stupid always pops up. It's bullshit!" Emma practically growled the last word, and before anyone could reply, she pressed herself even closer against my side, wrapping both of her slender arms tightly around my bicep.
I felt her breasts press firmly against my arm, her warmth radiating through her thin, fashionable blouse. I swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of every point of contact.
Emma leaned her head slightly against my shoulder, a teasing smile returning to her face. "I think Silas and I should definitely hang out after school today," she purred confidently, shooting Rebecca and Taylor a triumphant glare.
Before anyone could respond, Sophia made a loud "tsk" noise, rolling her eyes dramatically as she lounged casually at the end of the table. She leaned forward slightly, raising one eyebrow skeptically at Emma. "Yeah, no shot am I leaving you alone with Silas, Barnes," Sophia drawled sarcastically. "If you're gonna hang out with him, I'm tagging along too."
Emma whipped her head around to glare sharply at Sophia, clearly annoyed at her friend's interruption. "What? Why?"
Sophia shrugged carelessly, picking at her fingernails in an exaggeratedly bored gesture. "Turns out I've got a shit-ton of free time these days," she said bluntly, bitterness creeping into her voice. "The school's scared pussies kicked me off the track team now that everyone knows I'm Shadow Stalker."
– Rebecca –
Pretending to be a high schooler was definitely an experience, Rebecca mused, leaning back slightly as she watched the lunchtime drama unfold before her. The girls were practically circling Silas Thorn like sharks, each determined to stake a claim for his attention after school.
All the while, Silas sat awkwardly in the center, opening and closing his mouth as if searching for the right words, utterly unsure how to navigate the barrage. He looked so lost and overwhelmed that it was almost adorable.
Almost.
Rebecca couldn't help but feel a little annoyed as the other girls kept piling on, disrupting her own careful plans to get closer to Silas in her civilian identity. Outwardly, she kept her face calm, a polite smile curling her lips. Taylor she could tolerate, but the others? She'd need to find a way to peel them away from Silas sooner or later.
Maybe she could ask Taylor if she could find a way to give all three of these bitches lice?
…Yes, that could work!
But suddenly, something happened that broke her out of her scheming.
A soft chime sounded, and a glowing blue screen snapped into existence right in front of Silas, floating in the air for all to see. It cast a strange, electric light over his face.
Rebecca's eyes immediately narrowed, her heart skipping a beat. She switched gears instantly, pushing her senses to their limits. Reading the rapidly scrolling text on the holographic screen at super speed.
[Emergency quest issued! In exactly three hours, the Simurgh will descend into Canberra, the capital of Australia. Defeat the Simurgh and force her to flee before the city can be quarantined!]
It took everyone else a couple seconds after her to read the screen as well, and then all collectively gasp.
Rebecca's heart thudded in her chest. Her mind blazed, calculating probabilities, racing through scenario after scenario.
The Simurgh. An Endbringer. They'd never managed to defeat an Endbringer, not really—not in any way that lasted.
And now, Silas's powers were demanding he somehow change that? Yes, it was obvious that the way things were going he would have that kind of power in the future, but she didn't know if he had what it took to pull it off now! And she really didn't want him risking his life to try without knowing for sure. Not just because he was their world's new hope… But also because Rebecca was starting to really enjoy spending time with Silas.
And after what happened with Hero…
She grit her teeth. She wasn't going to go there.
Silas's jaw clenched as he read the message, his whole posture shifting in an instant from flustered teenager to someone carrying a mountain of responsibility. Rebecca saw the moment he made his decision, his eyes hardened with determination.
He looked around at the table, his gaze lingering on each girl. Emma, Taylor, Sophia, Madison, and finally, Rebecca herself. He gently pried Emma's hands from his arm, giving her a reassuring squeeze as she shook with fear..
"I'm sorry, everyone," Silas said, his voice gentle but firm. "Something's come up. I have to go, but I promise—everything is going to be alright." He mustered a comforting smile, the kind that made people believe him for some reason.
Rebecca wondered if Silas knew he had that kind of effect on people?
Emma's hands trembled in her lap. Taylor looked at him, her expression both worried and trusting. Madison chewed her lip, glancing nervously between the others, while Sophia just scowled, arms crossed as if trying to hide her concern.
Both Taylor and Sophia obviously knew they WERE NOT going to be allowed to go fight an Endbringer in Australia. Or at the very least, Alexandria would not let that happen. Obviously, Silas's safety was priority number one. But number two would be his mental state, his drive to be a hero in the first place, and having some of the women he cared about killed in front of him would obviously not be a good thing for that!
Rebecca rose quickly, smoothing her skirt with practiced composure. "I have to go too," she said, locking eyes with Taylor in silent understanding.
There was no time for pretense now. Her mind shifted into crisis mode.
She turned and walked briskly away from the table, her shoes clicking smartly against the pavement as she made for the school doors. Rebecca could feel the others' eyes on her, but she didn't hesitate.
Inside the school, she moved quickly, faster than any normal human could manage without drawing suspicion. She reached her locker, spun the combination, and yanked it open to reveal her hidden Alexandria costume, carefully stashed behind textbooks and a boring-looking hoodie.
Rebecca's fingers flew over her phone, dialing emergency contacts with breakneck speed. As Alexandria, she'd have to coordinate with the PRT, the Protectorate, international agencies. Anyone who could help.
Three hours. For the first time ever, they had advance warning of the Simurgh's next target. That meant, if she was fast enough, if they worked together, they might actually be able to evacuate Canberra.
Silas would certainly be a lot less stressed if he knew there weren't so many lives on the line at the very least.
She snapped her locker shut, mask already in hand. There was no more time for playing the part of a high school girl today.
There was only Alexandria now, and the world was about to need every ounce of her power.
– Silas –
I stood alone in the empty school parking lot, feeling more anxious by the second as I waited impatiently for my ride. A cool breeze blew gently across the cracked pavement, rustling through the scattered leaves and lifting my hair slightly. I stared out across the parking spaces, frowning to myself as my thoughts churned.
Rebecca had run off so suddenly earlier, her dark eyes wide with urgency, almost panic.
The abruptness had left me startled and more than a little worried.
Taylor was quick to explain that Rebecca had family in Australia. Rebecca had forgotten her phone in her locker and had rushed inside to call her family and warn them about the Simurgh's attack.
I squeezed my fists tight, my knuckles popping as I felt a surge of protectiveness run through me.
Rebecca had people she cared about directly in the Simurgh's path. Innocent lives depending on me. I made a silent vow right there in that empty parking lot, feeling my chest tighten with determination. I'd protect Rebecca's family. I would stop the Simurgh, no matter what it took. That evil winged bitch had caused enough pain. In this world, the horrors she'd committed were even worse than I remembered from canon, so horrifying I could hardly stomach even thinking about them.
Lost in those dark thoughts, I almost missed the low growl of a familiar motorcycle engine as it approached from down the road. My head snapped up, and I felt a wave of relief wash through me as Miss Militia rolled swiftly into view on her bike. Her dark hair was loose, tumbling around her shoulders as she leaned gracefully into the turn, smoothly guiding the motorcycle toward me.
She pulled to a stop directly in front of me, the heavy engine purring as it idled. Without hesitation, she reached up and yanked down her dark green bandana, revealing a concerned and serious expression.
"I didn't expect to be picking you up for at least another few hours, Silas," she said gently. "Talk about shitty timing, huh? The fucking Simurgh…"
I shook my head slowly, letting out a frustrated breath as I stepped closer. "Yeah. Seriously shitty timing," I agreed, forcing a tired smile despite the heaviness of everything ahead.
She nodded. "Hop on. We don't have much time."
Without another word, I swung one leg smoothly over the back of the motorcycle and settled myself firmly behind her. My hands automatically found her slim, toned waist, fingers spreading against the smooth fabric of her uniform.
As soon as I tightened my grip slightly, I felt her body tremble briefly….
I leaned forward, speaking softly near her ear as the engine hummed beneath us. "Thanks for coming to get me so quickly, Hannah. Really. It means a lot."
She shivered lightly again at my words. After a brief hesitation, she turned her head just slightly toward me, eyes softening noticeably as she spoke. "Of course, Silas. I'll always be there when you need me..."
Her words hung briefly between us. For one lingering second, we stayed frozen like that.
Then she faced forward again, gripping the handlebars more firmly, the muscles in her shoulders tensing. "Now come on, let's get going!" The motorcycle roared powerfully beneath us as she twisted the throttle hard. Tires spun briefly, kicking up gravel and dust!
I held tight to Hannah's waist, steadying myself against her as the wind whipped past us.
XXX