Reconsider: Engineered Rebel, #5

Chapter One

Mia

Y ou know, Mia muttered as she scoped out the building across the road, when I said I wanted to be back in the fight, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind...

Her partner smiled beside her. Reconnaissance is easily the most boring part of any mission, true, but I don’t feel like dying today.

That’s not what I meant, Hell. My issue with being out of the fight wasn’t just that I wanted to be fighting at all. I wanted to be focusing on the Enhanced. Not chasing down a Demon at the behest of another Demon.

Isha said that the Enhanced have been bringing more people into the city, so it’s too dangerous to strike right now.

And what if those people never leave? What if they bring more? That sounds like more reason to be focused on them, not these rogue Demons.

Hell didn’t argue, and Mia wasn’t sure if it was because zie thought she was right, or if zie was just sick of going round in circles with her.

See any guards at the door? Hell asked.

Mia sighed as she stood up straight. Two that I can see on infrared. And five further in the building. There’s not a lot of space.

So, how do you want to do this?

I dampen their powers, then you blast them.

So, the usual?

Well, it’s been working so far. Why? Up for a change?

Hell shrugged. Well, I have figured out how to form wings while otherwise staying in my Human form.

And you think that would be helpful in an enclosed building?

Well... No. I suppose not. But I do have more powers than just blasting fire, you know.

Mia smiled before kissing her partner gently on the cheek. I know. And I promise, the next time I see an opportunity to use your wings, I’ll make sure to factor them into the plan. But for now, I’m going to head down there, dampen those Demons’ powers, and then you should come and fry them to a crisp.

Hell smiled back. Okay then.

Mia headed to the ladder at the side of the roof they were standing on, gliding down it as her gloves kept the friction from destroying her hands.

She then made her way towards the building with purpose, knowing that it was best to barrel through and use her momentum, along with the Demons’ surprise, against them.

She dampened all of the magic in the area just as she made it to the door, before using her superhuman strength to kick it down with ease.

The two Demons beyond instinctively went to blast her with magical energy but found that their magic didn’t answer, which Mia used to her immediate advantage, slamming the Demon directly in front of her into the ground with enough force to ensure that they wouldn’t be getting up soon.

Before she could get to the other one, however, Hell appeared and used zir magic to blast the second Demon, sending them flying.

Five more, did you say? Hell asked as Mia smiled.

She loved how well they worked together.

Yeah, just through here. My dampening should have hit them as well, but stay alert, just in case.

Hell nodded before following Mia through to the back room.

Only three Demons were waiting for them in the room, but that didn’t slow them down.

Hell blasted the one on their left, just before the one on their right lifted two runes.

Mia recognised one as a source stone – a magical battery of sorts, that would allow the Demon to activate the other rune, even if their own magic was dampened – though she couldn’t name the second rune.

Get down! she yelled at Hell, but the second rune was glowing before the words had left her mouth.

Hell’s flames flickered and died, just as they would if Mia had used her dampening on zir.

Mina had said that the Demons here were manufacturing charms that could replicate Enhanced powers, but Mia supposed she hadn’t believed it until that moment.

Until she had seen it for herself.

She filed away any thoughts on the matter for later.

They had more pressing concerns.

If Hell’s magic was gone, zie was vulnerable.

Mia launched herself at the Demon who had used the runes, the stones in their hands leaving them unable to defend themselves.

Once that Demon was down, Mia turned to the last one, only to see that they were out cold, with Hell standing over them.

Your magic was dampened, Mia said with a slight frown as she took in the scene before her.

Hell huffed, folding zir arms. Okay, I wasn’t that bad as an Enhanced before I got these powers.

Mia sighed with relief as she made her way over to her partner. That’s not what I meant. Are you okay?

Hell managed a smile. I don’t know, why don’t you kiss me better and we’ll see?

Mia raised an eyebrow, able to recognise deflection when she heard it.

I... I can see why magical beings are so easily caught off guard after we dampen their powers, Hell finally admitted. It’s not exactly pleasant.

Will you be all right if we try to find the last two Demons?

Hell groaned.

I can deal with it myself.

No, no. Of course, I wouldn’t leave you to fight alone.

I’m not sure if I should be touched or insulted by that.

As if you weren’t worried about me before.

Okay, fair. Mia smiled. Come on, let’s go and find those last two Demons.

Mia made her way upstairs, figuring that was the only place they hadn’t checked.

She hadn’t seen anyone there before, but she supposed someone could have moved.

She hadn’t ruled out the possibility when planning, but there was just one, tiny room upstairs, and it had looked like it was storage, so she hadn’t considered it a priority.

But just as Mia reached the stairs, Hell stumbled, and Mia realised how clammy zie looked.

The dampening really did mess with you, didn’t it?

Hell cringed. I... I don’t want to slow you down, but I think dampening my magic also means dampening my shape-shifting powers, and I’ve been living in an altered form for months now.

Then you shouldn’t push yourself until your magic returns.

Mia...

I can handle two Demons, babe. And you’ll be right here in case I get into trouble.

Hell nodded, though zie didn’t look happy.

I’ll be right back, Mia assured zir before heading up the stairs.

Only, as she reached the storage room upstairs, she saw that there weren’t two Demons there.

No, there was one Demon.

And one Enhanced.

Mia couldn’t get a good look at the Enhanced – they were wearing the full body armour and mask that older Enhanced usually wore when fighting magical beings – but she readied herself for attack as the Enhanced took care of the Demon.

As the Demon fell to the ground, the Enhanced turned to Mia, and she raised her weapon, ready to defend herself.

Except the Enhanced didn’t attack.

They merely looked Mia over before heading out of the window.

Wait! Mia called after them, but they were already gone.

Mia frowned out of the window, at the empty street below, as she heard Hell make zir way up the stairs.

Okay, I think my magic is back, Hell said as zie entered the room and Mia finally turned back to face zir. Where did the other Demon go?

It wasn’t a Demon, Mia admitted as she put her weapon away. It was an Enhanced.

Here? Who was it? Someone on our side?

I’m not sure...

Chapter Two

Alex

S o, how did it go? Alex asked, almost bouncing with excitement as Jan arrived back to the base.

Jan smiled tiredly as she pulled her backpack off, making a beeline for their room. It was fine. It was mostly just induction and stuff. I don’t think we start anything until next week.

Induction still sounds exciting.

Jan shrugged. It was just a rundown of the course, and then some tea and coffee with the other students.

Did you make any friends?

With a bunch of eighteen-year-olds? I’m not sure ‘friends’ would be the right word. Not to mention, they kept asking me about America. I really need to lose this accent if I want to blend in...

You could just make stuff up.

Sounds like a good way to get caught. Jan sighed as they reached their room. Are you sure you don’t want to be going to uni instead of me?

No, I’m happy enough to live vicariously through you. Alex’s smile faded a little. But if you don’t actually want to be doing this...

Jan groaned as she threw her bag onto the bed before collapsing down next to it, lying down and looking up at the ceiling.

Alex sat down next to her, her hand going to play with Jan’s short strands of hair.

It’s not that I don’t want to do this. It’s just... How did the mission go today?

Alex sighed as she realised what was wrong. Jan, we’ve been over this. If you’re going to do this, you have to do it properly. You can’t be missing lectures or exams because there’s something going on with the rest of us.

It feels selfish.

It was a routine mission, Jan. You would have just been sitting here with me if you hadn’t been out.

Routine missions can go wrong.

And you’re not far, and you have a phone. If we needed to, we could have called you.

It still feels selfish.

"Jan, you’re getting training in a skill that none of us has and all of us need. That’s far