Corpies (Super Powereds Spinoff Book 1) by Drew Hayes Read Free Book Online

active assignment since renewing your license.” Dispatch paused, an occurrence so rare it stood out like a curse in Owen’s ear. “In that case, let me be the first to say welcome back. The world has missed you, Titan.”
    The elevator opened with a pneumatic whoosh, revealing a large black vehicle with a single open door. Owen moved toward it.
    “Tell the world I’m on my way.”
     
     

8.
     
                 Their vehicle had a siren, which Owen found surprisingly delightful. In his Hero days, they’d had people with flight, teleportation, and other various means of covering distance, so the only time he’d heard sirens was from the police and emergency responders showing up in the aftermath. Sitting in the vehicle making the sound reminded him of his childhood, before his abilities manifested, when he would feel a thrill every time the firefighters or police officers would drive by.
                   Certainly, this team’s transportation had far more advanced accoutrements than the siren. It was constructed out of an SUV; however, the whole thing had been heavily fortified, from the wheels to the antenna. Even with five people inside, one of whom was far from slender, the car had only dropped a few inches. Bright lights buzzed along the dashboard. Zone was fiddling with something where the passenger glove box should have been while Galvanize drove them quickly, but safely, through traffic. There was likely an electronics’ store worth of useful gadgets and pricey doodads, all at their fingertips, but Owen was really only fond of the siren.
                   Everyone could see the telltale smoke billowing up from the fire a few blocks before they reached it. Had it been darker, Owen knew there would have been an orange glow cast against the clouds, visible for miles. Daytime stole much of the scenic drama away.
                   They came to a stop just outside a police barrier, Galvanize dashing out the door before the rest of them could even unbuckle their seatbelts.
                   “He has to go talk to the cops and firemen,” Hexcellent said, answering a question that Owen would have been tactful enough not to ask. “Unlike Heroes, we can’t just gallivant in wherever we want. We have to respect the chain of authority.” She’d changed into her costume, a black number with lots of zippers, buckles, and torn fishnets. Several logos, apparently for makeup companies, dotted her outfit; one for a clothing store named Fiery Discussion was featured no fewer than four times.
                   “To be fair, it’s also a good practice because they can tell us where our help is needed most,” Zone added. His costume was comprised of a skintight material across his torso that was see-through everywhere a logo wasn’t present. It seemed he was heavily sponsored by skateboard companies, a few football franchises, and one very enthusiastic energy drink. The latter logo, for a brand called Punch Juice, took up almost the entirety of his back.
                   “He’s right,” Owen agreed. “When we can, Heroes talk to uniforms, too. It’s smart to get all the information you can.”
                   Zone gave a nod, but pointedly avoided making eye contact with Owen, despite the older man’s agreement. This, it seemed, was going to be the least cordial of his working relationships. He idly wondered if Zone was a fundamentalist, a bigot, or just didn’t care for having a washed-up Hero on his team. It didn’t really matter; as long as the young man could stay polite, he was free to dislike Owen all he wanted.
                   “We should catch up,” Bubble Bubble advised them. Her costume was barely a costume at all, more like an experimental outfit from a high-end designer. It was white and green, which went well with the emerald contacts she’d slipped over her naturally brown eyes, and hugged