Malcolm frowned at that. He hadn’t heard much of Multi since their last encounter with him. It had been a trap that he’d managed to lure Malcolm, Tapestry, and Rose into, and he’d taken the opportunity to reveal the truth to Rose in a way that triggered an episode in her.
“And elsewhere?” Malcolm asked. “Is there anywhere safe in the country, anymore? We don’t get much news here, outside of the occasional unsubstantiated rumor.”
Wax and Greenthumb shared a look.
“There aren’t many safe havens,” answered Greenthumb. “A few cities in California, and a handful in various midwestern states are still mostly intact. But threat of the demon Zeus keeps most of them from trying to establish themselves firmly.”
Malcolm winced at the mention of Second Wind. If any of the others noticed, they didn’t let it show.
“How much do you know about Zeus?” asked Malcolm.
Wax shrugged. “Probably no more than you do.”
“I… don’t necessarily think that’s the case.” Malcolm took a slow breath. “The three of you deserve to know the truth. All of it.”
From the expressions on their faces, Malcolm knew that they had no idea what he was about to tell him. Even Chaste Widow drew in closer, coming around to the other side so she could see his face as he spoke.
He started with the events from the last time “he” had seen them, just before he’d first split his life and shared it with Second Wind. Wax’s expression tightened when Malcolm explained his power mimicry and how he’d used it to borrow his power.
He gave them a truncated version of his time as the Gifted Vigilante, purposely leaving out details relating to Rose, the other sprytes in the area, and Chaste Widow’s history. The important information all related to Second Wind, now known as Zeus, and he gave them that in full.
When he finished, all three of the champions were staring at him, eyes dark. Malcolm sighed and felt part of the weight on his shoulders slide free.
“I’m not sure how helpful any of this will be to you,” he said. “But I felt like you needed to know.”
“So, all of this… is because of you?” asked Anna. “If you hadn’t made a copy of yourself…”
“Millions of people would still be alive,” finished Malcolm. “The Champion Authority would still be strong enough to fight back against the monsters. Yes… It’s my fault.”
“It’s no more your fault than Multi turning to evil was mine,” said Wax. “Though I do fault you for absorbing my power without my consent. I’m surprised it even worked for you. I didn’t realize that the seed of it was still in me, given that I can’t use it, myself.”
“Copies can’t make their own copies,” said Malcolm. “Second Wind, or uh, Zeus, does have at least one limitation when it comes to how powerful he can be.”
Greenthumb had stayed silent during Malcolm’s tale. He tapped his walking stick on the ground, his face pensive.
“This only reinforces our reason for being here,” said Greenthumb. “You can still help us, Wind Runner. Even without your powers, you would be a useful ally. For example, could you guess at Zeus’s motive? The two of you shared a mind once, no?”
Malcolm scratched his head. He’d considered it many, many times before, turning over the actions of his copy and examining all the angles.
“He’s carrying a lot of pain,” said Malcolm. “Not just from my past, but from his present. And all of it… leads back to people and monsters abusing their abilities.”
“Is this revenge for him, then?” asked Greenthumb.
Malcolm shook his head.
“No,” he said. “I don’t think so. I think he’s trying to burn the world down, so that he can lead the way to build it back up in the shape he wants.”
In truth, Malcolm had no idea what Second Wind wanted. Trying to guess at the motives of a demon, even one that shared the better part of his memories, was an exercise in futility.
“Wind Runner…” Wax’s expression was serious, and he locked eyes with Malcolm. “Will you join with us? We’re recruiting everyone we can. With enough champions and armed people, we might stand a shot at taking on Zeus, and any other monster that threatens the world.”
Malcolm was already shaking his head before Wax had even finished speaking. It wasn’t a refusal based on doubt or fear. Rather, he felt as though his loyalty was still owed elsewhere.
Rose. And Tapestry. I can’t give up on finding them yet.
“I’d be of no help to you,” said Malcolm. “I’m powerless, remember?”
“So am I,” countered Wax.
Malcolm shrugged. “This isn’t a fight that ordinary people should be throwing themselves into. Honestly, I think you’d be better off putting your faith in the spaceship that’s on its way to rescue Savior than you would in my abilities.”
He’d meant the comment as a joke, but it was a clear from the champion’s expressions that they didn’t take it as one.
“The mission failed,” said Wax. “The ship’s crew stopped responding over the communications system.”
Malcolm frowned.
“How is that possible?” he asked.
Wax just shook his head. “One of them might have turned on the others. Or maybe there was a stowaway aboard the ship. A Multi who might not care that it was a one-way trip, once the crew was dead.”
“I doubt that,” said Malcolm. “It’s not like it’s easy to sneak aboard a spaceship.”
Wax didn’t say anything, and neither did Malcolm. It didn’t matter much why the mission had failed, just that it had. There was nothing left for any of them to put their faith into. No powerful champion to entrust the fate of humanity to. It was only them, and whoever they could recruit.
The thought made Malcolm all the more aware of how ragged the three champions looked. He doubted that Greenthumb was carrying the walking stick for show, and Anna seemed a little dazed. The bandage around her head suggested a recent head injury, perhaps one bad enough to affect her cognitively. And Wax… he was still Wax. Powerless, just like Malcolm. Not anyone capable of pulling off miracles.
What am I supposed to tell them? To give up? Would I, in their shoes?
“There’s nothing stopping you from helping us!” snapped Anna. “Why won’t you help? We need more people for this… It’s bigger than us.”
“I know,” said Malcolm. “And I’m sorry. There’s something else that I have to do, first.”
A few seconds of disappointed silence passed. Then, surprisingly, Chaste Widow stepped forward, moving between Malcolm and the champions.
“I’m gifted,” she said, without preamble. “If you’d have me, I’d join with you.”
She shot an apologetic look over her shoulder at Malcolm. He hated to admit it to himself, but it did hurt him a little to see her moving on so quickly. But it also strengthened his resolve in what he knew he had to do.
“You’re gifted?” asked Wax. “Why haven’t you gotten in touch with the champions before?”
“Wax…” said Anna. “We can ask her questions later. For now, we should take what we can get.”
Wax hesitated, but eventually nodded.
“We need to get going,” he said. “We’ll be in the area tonight, but then we’re heading out. If you change your mind, or discover anything that can help us, we’ll be camped by the wreckage of our old headquarters.”
“The Dome,” said Malcolm, remembering it fondly.
“Take care Wind Runner,” said Greenthumb.
The others nodded to him. Chaste Widow gave him a tight hug, pressing her cheek against his face briefly instead of kissing. And then they left, leaving him alone.
CHAPTER 7
Malcolm’s hideout smelled strange the next morning. It took him an embarrassingly long time to recognize it as the scent of a woman, the slightly musky mix of pheromones and traces of perfume.