Of Heroes and Villains

The Chapter Where They Make a Battle Plan

"What the hell are you doing?" Don asked as he took in the absurd scene.

"I told you I knew how John Brody found you," Lan explained, pointing at Kevin. "He's all fishy, right? This guy must be his spy cam."

It made sense. "We've talked around Kevin for a full week now."

Sean nodded. "Which is why he's gonna have to go. Right after we deliver a message, that is."

"Message?"

Sean straightened up, then spoke to the fish. "I know you can hear me, Brody. The bee attack was a failure, and the attacks of that vapor are too weak for us to worry about. Your own vapor is far too flashy to be used for assassination. The only way you'll get your shot at us is if we meet and fight." He paused, carefully picking his next words. He needed a location where there weren't any bystanders, but also one that John would agree to. If he chose, say, a desert, there's no way the water-reliant esper would come. Of course, he also couldn't pick a place with too much water, as that would give John the edge in a fight. "There's a water pipeline connecting Nova City with a large water container. I'll be there tonight at 9. Make it just us. There's no need to involve others."

He then took the aquarium and carried it outside. Don wasn't sure what he'd done by the time he returned, and didn't really care.

"You're not actually going alone," Dean said.

"Of course not. It'll be us against him."

"Us against them," Don corrected, and the two men looked at him. Lan offered a small smile, then went to the bathroom. "I haven't been completely honest with you guys..."

The more he spoke, the angrier Sean got. It showed in the bulging of the vein in the top right corner of the man's forehead. By the time Don finished, the vein had nearly popped and killed his boss.

Dean restrained the man with a simple touch to the shoulder. "That was a whole week ago, remember?"

Sean took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and kept them that way for a full minute. Everyone knew better than to try anything in that time. Dean still muttered an "it's okay" to Don, but it did little to calm the latter's nerves.

'I was late, then I went off on my own, got a bunch of people killed, then killed one myself, and then I nearly betrayed them. This is it. He's letting me go.' He glanced at the direction in which Lan left. 'She's wrong. No one can be that forgiving; No one.'

Sean opened his eyes. "Dellinger, you're coming with me to meet Brody and Dimitri."

Don nodded right away, only the faintest twinge of surprise showing in his eyes. "Was that not the plan all along?"

Sean shook his head. "I would've had Jordan set up some traps ahead of time. Dean has no place in a fight like this at all, and Lan's vapor never actually can be used to fight. She's better at interrogating them afterwards, which is something Dean can help with. You and I are the only ones with any combat abilities. The profile you sent us while applying for the job said you've been practicing with knives for a few years. How good are you with them?"

"Good enough to beat Val."

Dean still winced whenever that topic came up. 'It's not just that his vapor is useless against someone who's already decided to hurt us; He doesn't have the stomach for violence. Lan could probably handle my style since she's so small, and Jordan could easily learn to apply her vapor for battle.'

"Will Jordan be coming with us, then?"

Sean nodded. "Your Polymorph isn't good in a location like this, so you'll be replying on weapons instead. Let's get going right away. Dean, fill Jordan in on the plan, then tell her to set up a few mines in that area, but tell her to keep them away from the container and the pipes. We don't need a massive water shortage on our hands."