Mace still wasn’t totally sure this was such a ‘good idea’; going with the others to a neutral public location for a ‘quiet chat’ and debrief. She’d actually heard of accorded locations, neutral territories, used to conduct negotiations or just relax, but had never actually visited one before.
The concept self-policed itself she supposed. The fact that most such locations had some means to limit the powers of those who visited them, even if was only the other patrons, meant that most mass-killers, psychopaths or would-be world conquerors would avoid putting themselves at risk by allowing themselves and their minions to be depowered or disarmed by visiting them. So that left them as places where others willing to take the risk, could meet.
The Endeavour was apparently an accorded pub (a type of traditional English bar) which Sam claimed used technology to suppress technological and meta-human powers.
The pub itself was an old Georgian-style building located on Park End Street, next to the Royal Wessex Hotel near the Thames and had a large sheltered beer garden at the rear.
She parked her grav-cycle round the back in an alley. Parking consisted of setting it on automatic and switching on the bikes’ security systems. It immediately rose 30 metres in the air. Now anyone getting within 5 metres of it would find themselves dealing with a high-pitched siren and directly targeted by the craft’s powerful grav plates, slamming them into the ground for their temerity.
The others had decamped from their speeder and it had again headed back to what she supposed was their base, somewhere in Wessex (or at least nearby, since the three team members had assured their pilot that they would make their own way ‘back home’ afterwards).
The double doors and windows were large and ornate with the frosted, etched glass panels that spoke of the days when public houses used them to prevent roaming police officers entering because the translucent glass meant they couldn’t see what was happening inside the premises, including any potential public disorder.
Sam rushed in before any of the others had a chance to catch a beat, a toothy large grin struck upon his face as he almost charged towards the front bar, not even taking a moment to reconnoitre the other patrons or hold the door for the others.
Truth be told Sam had been in an exceptionally good mood ever since his personal computer terminal “malfunction”. He’d even taken Blackstuff’s sticky haymaker with good humour earlier. It didn’t look like anything could get him down and a much belated visit to the Endeavour was just the icing on the cake.
Mace entered next and suddenly found her suit power down instantly, including its force field and the collar unit with its facial and vocal distortion field. Something had successfully overwhelmed her tech and switched it all off, including she found in a bit of a panic, her crossbow deployment system. She could still activate it manually but bolt selection would also need to be carried out by hand.
She suddenly felt naked without her identity alterations. Nothing for it though, she continued in.
Inside was what looked like a typical traditional public house of some antiquity; a couple of pool tables and a dartboard occupied one half of the public area and a large solid oak bar took up a whole side of the room with tables and private booths occupying the remainder of the space. Surprisingly there was no large screen TV and the jukebox in the corner looked like an original, 1940’s Wurlitzer 1015 apparently still loaded with records to match its antique status. It was currently playing “Billy, Don’t be a Hero”.
There were two people behind the bar, a young blonde haired young man with multiple facial piercings and the publican, a grizzled middle-aged man with a limp. The older of the two nodded as the rest of the Balance entered and smiling, pointed towards an ancient-looking, ornate statue behind the bar. “Wondered when you lot would be back. No more of your mystical hi-jinks in here in future; this little beauty nullifies all magic so that means we now cover of three of the M’s; Metal, Meta and Magic… Hah!!!”
As he spoke, the other younger barman reached behind the bar and produced a battered metal tankard with “La beauté et la bête – maintenant c’est une combinaison!!” engraved on it. He added a near full bottle of Royal Dragon Vodka with flakes of gold leave, with the ‘Royal’ scored out in a thick red marker pen and replaced with a handwritten ‘Red’ on the bottles label. He then poured a large fine, single malt Irish whiskey and looked at Akira as though unsure what to pour him before looking at Jack for guidance.
Sam meanwhile slapped his palms on the bar, “Jack, good to see you! Sorry we’re late. I don’t know if you’ve seen the news but we’ve been a little busy, heh! Moses, glad to see you made it back from Jerusalem in one piece.” He lifted his tankard of Vodka Gold and with a “cheers”, took a long sip and gave an appreciative sigh. “Delicious. Moses, can you add the whole bottle to my tab? I have a feeling we’re having a session tonight.”
He gestured towards the squat, slightly reptilian-looking statue sitting beneath the row of drink optics; “A bit gaudy, but I like it. Always thought you needed something a little ‘extra’, Jack. How’d you come across it? I’d like to hear that story.” He inspected it and pulled Akira alongside, “Hey, what do you think? Not feeling too victimized, eh?” he stuck out his tongue at Akira teasingly.
Jack smiled, “tale for another night, Sammy boy. Oh, and you’ll need to buy me a fine single malt to hear it… The key word is Forté.”
Moses again tried to catch Jack’s eye but had to wait, as it was then that Jack saw Mace. “Oh, sorry didn’t realise you had a newbie with you. I suppose I need to give the spiel? Forgive me, my name’s Jack, Jack Taggart and this young rapscallion here is Moses.
First drink’s on the house; for you I mean, not them, they’ve been here before. I’d like to personally welcome you to the Endeavour, beautiful women are always welcome. This is considered neutral ground and no arrests or fights are allowed within the pub and gardens. Here you’ll find criminals as well as heroes and as long as no crime is committed in here then everyone is welcome. Everyone! Understood?
Oh, and we’re sensored,” he popped the panel behind the bar, “This renders all recording devices and cameras inoperable whilst within the pub and gardens itself. If you want to use a mobile or computer then be aware it’s monitored in real-time and you need this code to log in.” He pointed to the 16 figure hexadecimal code above the bar, “and as I’m sure you’ve discovered, a suppressor field renders all meta-abilities and technology inert, so just let your kit recharge itself ok?
Now, what would you like to drink? Oh, and what about you, Akira? You moved up to real drinks yet?” he smirked.
Whilst this exchange was happening, Sam spun around slightly, and took a longer look at his favourite local and re-inspected the inside and the current guests for anyone he recognised.
There were about a dozen other people drinking in the bar, mostly clustered together in small groups around the booths. Sam only recognised one of them; in the corner was the massive stony figure, Granite sitting on his own crouched over a litre-sized mug of beer.
Most folk come in here not to be bothered by others unless it was an event night; karaoke here must truly be a sight to be seen, especially the duets. He entertained an idle thought that if “Young Sam” ever developed a sudden limp; he’d like to have a go at working or running the Endeavour. It was an important place for their community. He felt a pang of guilt for not patronizing it more frequently. He went towards the Wurlitzer, fed it some coins and loaded a couple of random songs onto the Jukebox. “Get the Party Started” blared out. Appropriate thought Sam.
Mary walked to the bar, nodded her thanks to Moses and paid for her drink.
Akira was intent on showing his sophistication after Jack’s comment about him, which he translated as being about him being old enough now to drink. He held up a £20 to attract the barman’s attention and announced ‘ Make mine a tequila.’ He pronounced this as you would Marbella, and hoped this would impress Mace.
When his drink arrived, a segment of lemon and some salt accompanied it. Everyone was looking his way, but he’d seen this done on TV. It’s why he’d ordered ‘te Kay ah ‘in the first place. He slammed the liquor back in one, but not before he’d put salt on the back of his hand. As he snorted the salt off his left hand he grabbed the lemon, pushed it in as you would a gum shield and turned to smile triumphantly at Sam.
Unfortunately, the salt caused him to expel the lemon, salt and tequila before any could have the desired effect. “I’ve had a bit of a cold,” he sputtered. “I’ll just have a glass of cold water.” Moses smiled, “Bottle or tap?” and as he continued coughing and sputtering, passed him a pint glass filled from the tap.
Mace knew she needed to keep her wits about her since her tech was disabled and she had yet to be fully sure of the company she was keeping, but she also needed to give the impression of confidence. “I’ll have a Ricard, straight up”.
While waiting for the drinks-order to settle, Mary followed Sam to a nearby and empty private booth, still in eyeshot of the bar. “Hey Jude” began playing on the jukebox.
With everyone seated, Mary raised her glass to the newcomer said, “No need to be so edgy, my dear. There’s no safer place for anyone than here, and though we can see your real face it means nothing to us. You can tell us as much or as little as you like about yourself, and we’ve no way of knowing if it’s true – and maybe don’t care much at the moment either.
Though there must be some reason you were hanging around us – so to speak – back in London, and wanting to get involved. So it might be you do have something you need to say to us, after all. And as for us,” she shrugged, “what you see is what you get, three oddities helping each other keep their balance in this world, doing what they can to keep things on the level while we each work out our own little destinies. Hmm, which can actually get quite complex… Anyways, I’m sure Sam and Akira will be only too happy to fill you in on any technical questions you might have, and maybe later you might meet some more of the gang. Slainte.”
Sam lifted his tankard in support of Mary, “We’re in the news, we’re one quick internet search away, and we wear our hearts on our sleeve. We don’t get it right every time, but we’re only … human? You’re already here, so I’m pretty sure you already know of us quite well, otherwise you wouldn’t be.
Listen, if you’re in danger, we can help, or we know people who can.
If you want to be mysterious and strong and silent? That’s fine too. This team doesn’t need you. I only say that because Mary and Akira are strong enough that they don’t need me neither. My point being, if you want to watch on the side-lines and throw the ball back in, that’s fine. If you want to be the front-line goal-scoring striker, that’s fine too. You don’t have to move in or anything, but I’m sure our facilities may be a damn-sight more suitable than some hotel somewhere.”
“I don’t need protection – I need answers and a job”, Mace explained, quickly. Possibly a little too quickly as the Ricard loosened her tongue a little. “I have lots of skills that might prove useful. You may need me more than you think…”
Sam continued, “That’s why we offered you a place with us. Speaking of our own little destinies, we’ve all got our sob stories and origins.” He shook his head and palmed it, “Some more complicated than others. I’m sure enough time and drinks with almost anyone in this pub will spill their guts if you’re persuasive enough. But the point is, it doesn’t matter.
I saw you today; you’re a talk first, shoot later type. The world always needs more of that.”
Mace felt her guard lower but she still didn’t feel ready to join with them after such a short ‘introduction’ though she started responding to Mary’s questions, a little. No, she wasn’t a meta and yes she had skills they might find useful but wasn’t sure what she wanted from them, yet.
Whilst they talked, the bar began to fill up, with several obvious meta-humans amongst them. Eventually they noticed the pool tables being pushed against the wall and a wall screen was raised to reveal a small stage area at the far end of the room.
Itchycoo Park came on the jukebox to several moans and several of the new arrivals asking, “who picked that?”
Across the room, Jack smiled, “So what you gonna sing tonight Banshee? “When Irish Eyes are Smiling’ or ‘Danny Boy’?”
Banshee tipped her glass to Jack with a slow smile. “Not sure you want to hear me singing, not given what it’s supposed to foretell, but if you’ve got “Whisky in the Jar” on that music system you could give that a spin for me.”
Jack smiled, “the Dubliners or Thin Lizzy version?”
“Thin Lizzy’s might be a trifle fast for me, and tempt me up to too much volume… Dubliner’s will be fine but later ok? I’ll need a bit more lubrication before you get me on that stage.”
“That’s a promise, and I intend to keep you to that” jack shouted as he completed the wiring and released the stage area to the expectant crowd.
At that moment the pub door opened and Jeeves, with Rascal running round his feet, and Adam (arm in arm with an already slightly drunk Tony Jason) entered. They were closely followed by an extremely bouncy Mikey who immediately ran to the bar and order a Vodka alcopop only to pout when Jack shouted over to Moses, “Watch that one, her IDs fake and she’s only 17.”
“Damn you Mr Taggart, you know I’m 18” the “almost” that followed was barely a whisper. Jack smirked, “Yeah and last time you got drunk you turned my mobile phone into a sonic blaster and almost destroyed my hearing permanently, not this time young lady. Moses, give Adam and his friend a drink on the house for old times’ sake. Mikey’s soft drink bill for tonight’s also on the house though you can give her a shandy or cider to begin with, ok?” Moses nodded and started to serve Adam and Tony. As he poured them both pints, two young women came through from behind the bar and started to serve the other newcomers…
Meanwhile Mikey walked over to the stage and gave Jack a quick peck on the cheek. “Okay Uncle Jack… I’ll behave, but just this once.”
Jeeves ordered himself a fine malt whiskey with a splash of water and glass in hand, approached the group. “I hope you don’t mind Ma’am, boys, I thought tonight would be a good opportunity for a team night out…” Mary invited him to join them in the booth and introduced Mace to Edward Jeeves.
“Miss, nice to meet you, I hope you don’t mind but I did a little research on you. I’m sure it will come as no surprise that HeroNet has no record of you before today, nor do the Police and you are not registered with META. You are not registered as having undergone Hero Certification which means you’re are currently a vigilante who appears to use at least one offensive weapon.
If you intend to continue on this route, I fear you will eventually be arrested for carrying an unauthorised weapon if nothing else; or you can elect to undergo Hero Certification and have your abilities sanctioned. You will also receive payment during training and after whenever you deal with an issue or carry out an authorised patrol.”
Jeeves turned to Mary, “Now that Sam has had his paramedic qualification certified…” Seeing the surprise on Sam’s face, “ah, I take it Annie didn’t tell you that she was evaluating all of your medical training? Sorry to have ruined her surprise. It also means the team is now eligible to register with Héros Sans Frontières if you want. My apologies Miss,” turning back to Mace. He continued, “I have been able to register The Balance as an authorised HCP training facility – Inspector Tolliver was extremely helpful in that regard and extricated the registration, and I have the paperwork with me if the team are agreeable to register you as a trainee. I hope I haven’t overstepped the mark, Ma’am.” This latter comment was to Mary.
Mary nodded approval and signalled for him to continue, “You would need to work with the team on a regular basis and undergo training in British Law and Police procedures, and again Inspector Tolliver has offered his assistance in setting up a suitable training programme. You wouldn’t have to join the group as such if you don’t want to, but you would need to work alongside them for a period.
The alternatives would be to find another registered team willing to train you or apply to the Police yourself to undergo the training independently. Regarding the latter, I understand there is a two year waiting list for non-powered candidates even after a successful evaluation and the cost is several thousand pounds required upfront to cover the training.”
Before he could continue, Mikey, having managed to persuade (with a great deal of flirtation) Moses to give her a ‘shandy’ that was heavy on the lager and skimpy on the lemonade, wandered over. Her pixie face extremely happy as she downed it in one.
“I really needed that. Ah, and I finally figured out why my guard dogs didn’t attack the pooch…” she immediately sat down on Sam’s lap much to his embarrassment. She patted his face, “It was your girlfriend Annie. I’d asked her to build the programming for the hounds but she must have been worried what would have happened if little Rascal here,” she reached down to pat the little terrier, “if he was trapped by the guard dogs in the Jun’… Above ground, so she built in a back door bypass to stop them from scaring him. Somehow, that weird-little corgi also triggered the safeguard response. The good news is we don’t need to completely reprogram them because it only works when they encounter a dog like Rascal…”
Two girls, one with scarlet skin, climbed on the stage and began to sing along to “Girls Just Gotta Have Fun”. Mikey clapped her hands and jumped off Sam’s knee. “Oh, I love this classic, see you later” and ran to join the other two on the stage, joining in on the chorus amidst a lot of communal giggling from all three of them.
A few seconds later Sam felt a heavy hand rest on his shoulder and turned to stare into the stone-like face of Granite. “So, bass or baritone?” Sam looked surprised, what? The chiselled face looked upset… “Don’t tell me you’re a tenor?” “Eh?” Sam repeated. A graceful burp was immediately followed by a wide smile. “I need a partner for karaoke man, so what do you sing..? I was thinking of ‘Here I go again’ – you know the song by Whitesnake, or possibly ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’? Or have you anything you’d prefer instead? Come on man I need a wingman for this, don’t leave a dude hanging.”
Mace looked into the craggy massive face and immediately recognised the criminal as part of an internationally wanted gang of four elemental-powered criminals wanted on several continents for artefact theft. Seemed the barman hadn’t been lying when he said criminals and heroes mixed openly and freely here. What really shocked her however was Sam’s reaction.
“Granite!” Sam stood, a little woozily and patted the meta on the shoulders with both arms. “Granite-hic. I’m’a baritone. I think? I don’t know. I can’t remember. Hey listen, let’s do bohemian rhapsody, it’s an anthem, a foundation in which all karaoke is based! Queue the song-hic- I’ll be up as soon as it starts playing. I got’s some business to sort out here.”
Granite smiled, “You’re on. Hey Jack, we book the next song – Booo’hemian Rhapsody, ma’ man!!! Woo whoo!”
Given Mace’s guarded replies, the conversation quickly stalled. When the first song ended, Sam jumped up and joined Granite on the stage. As the song began he suddenly realised that Granite was an amazing tenor with a singing range to rival Freddie Mercury’s own vocal range and quality. Sam joined in as best he could and couldn’t have been that bad given the cheers from the gathered crowd and the harmonic chorus which literally everyone joined in.
Mary’s rendition of “Whisky in the Jar” followed and received a sincere round of applause.
Three hours and several drinks later, their final song of the night was a ‘Jeeves’ orchestration; he cajoled everyone on the team up onto the stage watched by Mace, who ordered yet another ‘Ricard, straight up’.
Jeeves initially considered ‘We are Family” but finally decided on “I say a little prayer” with Mary, Mikey and a squeaky attempt by Tony on soprano and Sam and Adam (with Granite who wandered back on stage again, anyway) doing the backing harmonies. Akira did a superb, if surprising deep bass and Jeeves did a very realistic Rupert Everett impression on the main lyrics. Rascal immediately picked up someone’s dropped hat in his mouth and danced, on his hind legs in time to the music, around the area in front of the stage to much clapping and cheering. It was the hit of the night.
As they left the bar, Sam shouted to Akira “as our designated driver, I need you to take us home James.” It took Akira two trips to transport everyone back to their base wherever that might be. Only the two giggling young men were left to make their own way, arm in arm, to a flat somewhere.
Mace signaled to her grav-cycle to descend. In the end she had elected to stay for the time being with Lola in Central Wessex, for a few more days at least. Lola wasn’t exactly a friend, so she couldn’t expect to stay there for longer. After that it would be try and find someone else she ‘knew’ who would give her accommodation for another few days, move into a hotel or rent a flat. She wasn’t short of money, yet.
She definitely wasn’t ready to move in to their base or directly join the team for the moment at least. The offer of a different job never came up and she got the idea that if it did, Jeeves would need to be convinced that she had something special to contribute to the support team. That and she would need to be less taciturn about herself, but she eventually did accept their offer of help in getting herself hero certified and registered. It would allow her to earn some funds from patrolling and working alongside the Police in the meantime at least.
Secrets go both ways and at Jeeves insistence (what was his role within the team? At times he seemed to be the atypical butler and at other times he acted like their manager), it was agreed that Mace would meet with Akira at Steadman Investigations Offices in Dragon’s Gate and he would initially teleport her in and out of the base. Wonder if that also meant transporting her ‘cycle?
They had also warned her that Inspector Marcus Tolliver would also be assisting with the HCP training as would Jeeves. Not quite the job she’d wanted, or necessarily needed, but it would at least provide some income and access to information in the meantime.
She realised by the laws of the land she might not be sober enough to fly, but there was no way she was leaving her vehicle behind. She climbed on and it soared into the sky. In her hand was a card with a private contact number to allow her to contact the team and arrange for Akira to collect her at the office.
It was a start, she thought as she headed to Lola’s loft, and tomorrow was another day.
Superhero Adventures, UK Style 