Dashing devil omnibus 2.., p.33
Dashing Devil Omnibus 2: Books 4-6, page 33
Boyd wasn’t sure he needed it, but he appreciated the gesture, nonetheless. He maintained his warm but professional tone as he replied, making sure his stance was non-aggressive and letting a little embarrassment show on his face. “Do you feel like you are standing in the presence of Omega Ray now, Mister Newsome? Does it seem as though I might kill everyone here just because I felt like it?”
Boyd watched Newsome’s eyes drop to where the Fact Checker’s light was positioned before he admitted, “No… while it feels like I am standing in the presence of a devil—dashing or not—I do not feel as though I am actively in danger.”
“Then you can put to rest your insecure fears.” Boyd grinned and shrugged a shoulder, “I have already gone ‘Primal’, as it is clinically defined, as much as the word will ever apply to me.” Newsome flinched back, and so did a few of the others in the crowd.
Most began murmured conversations among their peers.
“So far, I haven’t had the urge to go on even a single murderous rampage,” Boyd’s voice easily carried his chagrined laugh over the murmurs the admission elicited as he turned to look directly into his camera.
“I know that knowledge of the new methods developed that allow Changed to safely control their urges hasn’t reached every city yet, including New Eden, but they are much more effective than the methods you are likely familiar with.
“They even work in cases like mine, allowing us to safely live amongst and contribute to our society and The Authority at large. Using these new methods, even a devil like me can—and I assure you I will—remain a productive and law-abiding member of The Authority, or even a Hero.”
Boyd paused briefly to let that sink in. “The new methods almost completely remove any additional risks associated with going Primal, making us just as safe to be around as any other Powered. If this is the first time you are hearing about these new methods, I strongly recommend that you petition your local Director and request that they bring them to your city.”
Boyd spoke quickly, wanting to get as much information out as he could before the hardline cities began cutting the broadcast. “For you non-Changed, do it to make your city safer for yourselves. With these new methods, you will no longer have to fear your neighbors. For you Changed, do it so you can lead better, more fulfilling lives without fear of someday losing yourself. I’m familiar with that fear, and I cannot properly express how much of a relief it is to be rid of it.”
Kayla tugged at her collar and held up two fingers against it, indicating the number of cities that had dropped from the live feed. Boyd was pleased that they’d lasted that long; he’d managed to get most of the important information out. Kayla’s fingers quickly flashed to five then closed and three more popped up.
Boyd stopped paying attention, they would rapidly drop off from there.
Turning back to the reporter who had insulted his loves, Boyd managed to restrain his growl when he addressed him. “So, Mister Newsome, that addresses one part of your ‘question’,” Boyd did air quotes once more. “As for the other part… Silver, what would you do if I were to attack Mister Newsome right now?” He turned to glance over his shoulder at Silver as he asked this.
“Well, first of all, I would stop you.” She pouted cutely with a confused expression, head slightly tilted to the side and eyes wide. “He might be a jerk, but he’s still a civilian, so I would have to protect him. Then, my Darling, I would arrest you as the Powered Criminal you would have become.”
Silvie frowned cutely then said with grave sweetness, “I’d visit you during your rehabilitation, though, and make sure you learned that no matter how much of a jerk someone is, you can’t just attack them for it. That, I promise, Darling.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Boyd smiled warmly, then turned to the rest of his team on the stage. “Would anyone here let me get away with assaulting a civilian, either standing by and watching, or if you found out about it afterward?” Boyd asked.
“I would, of course, stop you unless you had legal cause to assault a civilian. Even then, I’d still report it up the chain of command, just to make sure,” Hope was the first to answer. “Although I know your heart well enough to know it will never be an issue. You would only ever instigate violence when you are certain there are no other options.”
Her serene smile at least made her appear absolutely certain of her statement.
“Same.” Raev came next, throwing out a wink she added, “Though I’d let the angel do the reporting, it sounds boring.”
“I’d stop you before you put action to thought,” Mindy added with a shrug, “but you’ve always been well above average when it comes to self-restraint.”
“Um… Ah…,” Tinker stuttered when Boyd’s eyes found hers. “I’d give everyone equipment that would help break whatever mind control you were under, because that’s the only circumstance I can imagine it ever becoming an issue.”
She fidgeted with her braid as she spoke, unable to restrain the urge once Boyd put the spotlight of attention on her like that. The confidence he was sending her across their Bond helped a lot, but it only went so far. He was sure Mindy was also lending a hand.
‘She’ll be okay,’ Mindy reassured him. ‘The important part is done but don’t lose focus now, you’re doing really well.’
Boyd decided that the best way he could help his smallest and shyest love was to push on and remove the attention from her. “Miss Bailey, how’s that little light of yours looking?”
“Not even a flicker,” Kayla replied brightly. “Let’s test it… I’m a purple elephant. There we go! It’s still working.”
“So, there you have it, Mister Newsome,” Boyd returned his slightly too-large grin to his enemy’s biggest fan. “Do you have any other accusations… I’m sorry, any further questions for my team?”
Newsome blinked, his handsome face otherwise maintaining a blank expression that could give Mindy a run for her money.
“Uh, yeah,” he said after a moment, obviously at a loss following Boyd’s prepared response to a question that was supposed to throw him off balance. “Mind Witch attested that the three men you assaulted are alleged criminals and that your attack was warranted as a result. What possible threat could three un-Powered civilians pose to a Hero like you?”
‘Kuh-he! What a softball.’ Mindy laughed in his mind. ‘He’ll kick himself for that one later.’
“Mind Witch did not say they were a threat to me.” Boyd chuckled out loud. “They were armed—one of them with a vibro-blade which is considered a deadly weapon. But like Archangel, without training they did not pose significant danger to me. They were, however, a threat to the civilians I am sworn to protect who were behind me at the time. I’m sure the pertinent details of the event will be made public during the trial.”
“Now,” Boyd added, scanning the rest of the crowd and looking for a friendly face to lighten things up a bit. “I think we should open it up to some of you others who haven’t gotten a turn. Miss Morgan, you have been waiting patiently.”
‘Shit,’ Mindy cursed as he said Miss Morgan’s name, ‘not her. It will be okay… I’ve got this.’
Boyd glanced back at her in confusion. She had reached over and placed a hand on Tinker’s shoulder, looking down at the smaller woman with concern. Tinker looked back up at her, confusion showing in her big hazel eyes and written clearly across her face.
Boyd didn’t understand why Nora Morgan wasn’t a good choice, he only recognized her face because she was on the list of reporters sympathetic to the Changed—having an older brother who was some form of Arachne, being a spider-legged Changed.
“Thank you, Dashing Devil,” Nora began amicably as her eyes scanned over the stage, “let me start by saying that I personally find it refreshing to see so many Changed assembled on one team.”
She wore a bright smile that only served to further Boyd’s confusion as to why she wasn’t a good choice to have picked. “It does make me wonder, though, how a Bell has found a place on your team.”
Boyd blinked at the vaguely pretty woman, running down the thought and deciding that she was either misinformed, or Tinker was a Bell—as she was the only one who Nora could possibly be referring to. Unless Raev’s family were a lot better off than she made them seem, that is.
While he puzzled through this, Nora pressed on. “The Bells are well known for their anti-Changed policies, both within their various companies—including a blanket no-hire policy on all Changed—but also in those associations they publicly support.”
She paused. “They are one of The Authority’s largest employers across their many subsidiaries, so this makes finding gainful employment difficult for people like yourself. They have proudly advertised this policy for generations, stating it as a public safety measure they take to keep their ‘normal’ employees safe.”
“I am quite familiar with Bell Corp’s policies, Miss Morgan,” Boyd rumbled. “I do appreciate you giving our viewers some context for your question, but we are still in the Wild Lands. Just like with Mister Newsome, I must ask you to come to the point.”
“Is Tinker influenced by her family’s well-known prejudice against the Changed? And if so, does this bias affect her role and dynamics on the team?” Nora asked rather pointedly.
“No and no,” Boyd replied simply with a shrug, struggling to contain the urge to go right to his little inventor and provide comfort as turmoil flooded down their recently solidified Bond to him.
She was not ready for him to find out about her family, though it didn’t change how he viewed her in the least. He settled for pouring his love for her back down their Bond.
“It has also been established,” he continued, “that Tinker and I are in a romantic relationship. I can assure you that she doesn’t hold such prejudices in her heart.”
“I’ll confirm its absence from her thoughts as well,” Mindy said as she rubbed Tinker’s shoulder, quickly settling the petite woman’s agitated thoughts.
‘Do Basset next, then Mitchel, followed by Reynolds, then close it up. Nobody else has any questions worth answering right now,’ Boyd’s raven-haired love added.
Tinker’s urge to burst into tears subsided and Boyd decided that the best thing was to keep things moving. Following Mindy’s advice, he smoothly rumbled. “Mister Basset, let’s keep your question brief so we can get through a few more.”
“What’s next for the Devoted?”
The somewhat pudgy known quantity in a gray three-piece-suit asked a nice, simple question, as predicted.
“To my knowledge, we will remain on a training and build-up cycle,” Boyd replied. “We are still short a few members and lack the diversity of Powers we’ll need for our long-term goals. There has been talk about assigning us a Regional or even Global Response Team role, depending on who we bring in.”
It wasn’t technically a lie, they had talked about it, amongst the team.
“Short term, I will start training for the upcoming duel with Archangel.”
Basset nodded at this answer, so Boyd continued. “We’ll go to Miss Mitchel, next.”
“You seem very confident that you are going to beat Archangel,” the overly made-up blonde with blown-out hair in a pink blazer stated. “Why is that? He is known to have a strong Powerset.”
“I forgot that you didn’t see the footage we showed those watching from home,” Boyd replied, but then chuckled. “Once you have, you will understand.”
Her arched, heavily plucked eyebrows demanded he explain.
“Archangel has clearly neglected his training. While he has an impressive Powerset, he uses it poorly. My hope is that he views today as a learning experience and begins to take his training seriously—both because The Authority can always use another good Hero, and because our duel will be a bit anti-climactic if he doesn’t… I can only hold back so much.”
Boyd ended his answer with a shrug and confident grin before nodding to another reporter, “Mister Reynolds?”
“Do you have a message for your growing fanbase?” the aging reporter asked.
“I do, thank you for asking,” Boyd nodded to the grandfatherly man who had put off retirement for several years now before turning to his camera. “Let’s build a future where fear and misunderstanding are replaced by unity and understanding. We’re all a part of the same world, striving to survive on a planet that often seems like it wants to kill us. Every one of us has the power to make a difference. Every day, we have the choice to be a hero in someone’s life. Let’s choose kindness, courage, and respect over hatred, cowardice, and disdain… today and every day.”
“Well said, thank you Devil,” Reynolds replied when it became clear that Boyd was done.
The Changed Hero paused for a moment before holding his finger up to his ear and rumbling, “Yes, Sir,” to no one.
“I’m afraid that’s all the time we have today. My Director is getting antsy about keeping you all in harm’s way for this long. I want to say thank you, again, for risking the journey and time out here in the Wild Lands. We will be escorting you to your grav sleds and ensuring your safe departure. Please await further instructions before venturing off on your own.” Boyd turned to look right into the drone’s camera. “For those of you at home, thank you for tuning in. I hope you are all safe and well-fed. I’m sure you’ll be hearing from The Devoted much more often in the future.”
With that, Boyd turned from the podium and smoothly started making his way off the stage. He left what he considered to have been a very successful press conference. Of course, only time would tell how the civilians viewed him.
He would worry about that later.
For now, he wanted to get Tinker in private, so that he could reassure her that her last name didn’t matter to him… she did.
Chapter 34
Boyd nuzzled the side of Tinker’s head where she had once again been pulled into his lap. Her back pressed into his chest while his big arm wrapped protectively around her tiny waist. He had decided that his other self was correct about Tink triggering his protective instincts—which were already sizable, even for his much more durable Silvie.
It was a combination of her size along with her general insecurities that did it.
He was sitting in his command chair on the bridge of the Osprey which had settled onto the rooftop landing pad of the Elysium Hotel & Resort in New Eden. Hope had personally rented their banquet hall for a little ‘we survived’ party of her own creation, after he told her they would be coming to visit. The Elysium was in the Gold District of New Eden, the core of the city.
It was fairly easy to identify New Eden’s three districts: Gold at the core, Silver in a ring around it, and Bronze circling that. The buildings being plated with the material the district was named after took any guesswork out of figuring out which was which. A sprawl of golden dome-topped cylindrical buildings lay beyond the narrow viewport at the front of the bridge. If there were any windows, those were gold, as well—not that he was looking outside.
Boyd had turned the Captain’s chair around to face the rear of their craft, with the others all turning to focus on him. Or, rather, on the tiny woman in his lap.
“I really am okay,” Tinker said as he brushed the side of her head with his cheek again, being careful not to muss her braids this time.
They were all still in their Hero suits, less their weapons, and in Tinker’s case her rig. Boyd could tell that the armor made him much less comfortable than he normally would be, but she wasn’t complaining. “After Mindy showed me how little everyone cared about it…” She paused, taking a deep breath. “I-I’ll be okay.”
“I’m still sorry it happened like that,” Boyd murmured, “and we’ll get going in just a moment.”
He could feel that Tinker was feeling much better across their Bond, but she had suffered what amounted to a panic attack a short time ago. Fortunately, Mindy had softened the blow quite a bit and kept it to a minor one. Boyd could also tell that she wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.
“No one is in any rush for you to open up about it, either,” Mindy added from one of the couches behind him where she sat with Laura, addressing thoughts that Boyd could not sense. “If you asked us to, each of us would be willing to pretend we hadn’t learned your last name.”
“C-could you?” Tinker asked, hope rising on their Bond.
“No problem,” Raev purred from her position, where she’d turned around to face them in the pilot’s seat. “It didn’t change anything, anyway, so it won’t be hard to pretend I don’t know.”
“Of course, Sweetie,” Silvie from the other couch where she sat with Hope.
“I can pretend not to know,” Hope added sweetly.
“I’ll keep pretending not to know,” Laura said with a touch of a smirk. “I can talk to Daisy about not bringing it up, too. I was going to call her to tell her that we’ll be a few more hours. I doubt she’ll have a problem with it.”
“Thank you,” Boyd raised from his position slightly hunched over Tinker to look at the women across from him over her shoulder. “We will only be a few more minutes, if you would like to do that now.”
“Wait, you knew?” Tinker asked as Laura rose.
“Family history is in your medical files, dear.” Laura smiled. “I learned six months ago when you came in with that gash on your arm. You didn’t act like you wanted to be treated special… so I didn’t. I had honestly forgotten.”
“How did you get a gash on your arm?” Boyd rumbled as he nuzzled Tinker’s head again.
“Lab accident.” Tinker said it like it wasn’t a big deal, then moved on. “Why isn’t this a bigger deal to any of you?”
This reminded Boyd that he only thought Tinker getting hurt while working was a big deal because he was overprotective, so he decided not to bring the topic back around to whatever had happened as he had intended.
‘I would have caught you, this time,’ Mindy assured him.
