Sircuit’s life could have been labeled boring these days. Polar City was not what it used to be. He was beginning to piece together why as he flipped through his old notebook. The schematics for NoFace’s new chest guns seemed to glare up at him from the page. There was always work for a hero in the city, but it seemed to come out of the woodwork when she was around. The woman invited trouble. When she left, so did the excitement.
He restlessly went to the window and peered at his unfinished space station through the telescopic lenses his eyes tailor-made eyes shifted into place. The bad economy had put a stop to any work, so it hung in orbit like a partially eaten metal dinner roll. He was hungry.
But thoughts of curry were interrupted by a flash of heat and light behind his back. What an odd world he had stumbled into. He adjusted his eyes and put on his dark glasses before turning to face Sundance.
There were heroes and then there were the Gifted. Sundance was one of the latter despite his young age. In other circles he was known as Grian, emissary of the Irish Sun God Lugh, just as Sircuit had come to be known as Virabhadra. Something about reincarnation. Servitude to Shiva. Details, details. It wasn’t something he really let get out in the open in Polar City for good reason. He wasn’t even sure how he felt about it yet.
The twelve-year-old Sundance sat on the edge of Sircuit’s work bench and swung his feet in a way that belied his age. He waited for Sircuit’s thoughts to focus before he started talking. Sundance wasn’t just an emissary. He was a formidable creature unto himself whose accomplishments began with astral projection, the ability to see the past and the future, pyrokinesis, mind reading and teleportation. That listed ended a few pages later.
“And?” Sircuit asked him.
Sundance glowed contently and the flame of his hair kindled a little higher as he flicked up his eyebrows and began to speak. “You’re a dumbass.”
“I am?”
“Do you always answer in the form on a question?”
“Am I not supposed to?” Sircuit smiled at him. There was an impish charm about Sundance that made him endearing and simultaneously gave one the irrational urge to protect the more powerful creature.
“NoFace is wasting away and you sit here bitching about being bored like a little bitch. Wait. That was too many bitches. To many bitches. Heh. You get what I’m saying.” As Sundance spoke, the ends of Sircuit’s scarf lit on fire.
Sircuit reached up his metal hands and extinguished the flame without missing a beat. He hadn’t heard NoFace was in any kind of trouble. He was concerned, but he worked to maintain an air of calm in front of Sundance, who he knew damned well was seeing what was going on in his head anyway. “News to me. Care to explain?”
“The sensitivity chip that was put into her head after all that stuff with Sweden … hey, did she ever tell you why she did that-" If Sundance had a fault it was that he was easily distracted.
“Nope. But then I never asked. Figured they must have almost deserved it. But you were saying something that may ease my bitchitude?” Sircuit gestured for Sundance to continue.
“Bitchitude! Ha!” Sundance laughed, cleared his throat then continued. “The chip is reacting badly to Shiva’s energy.”
“Shiva?” Sircuit was unaware of any interaction NoFace had with his master. “Care to elaborate?”
“Silly Virabhadra,” Sundance laughed. “She’s your Bhadrikali! In a way. Oh, you know how it is. But that means she talks to Shiva too. But what no one expected was that the energy of Shiva would begin to short out the sensitivity chip. It shocks her and has unraveled metal bits into parts of her brain that should remain untouched. Killjoy had no choice but to call for help.”
“So, why come to me? Isn’t this something Lugh or Shiva can handle?” Sircuit thought he might know the answer to this one, but wanted to be sure.
“That chip was put there through mortal and scientific means. And what begins in that world must end there too. Old rule, Sircuit. You know that. You’re her old technician. No one better than you to figure it out.” Sundance leaned back and checked the open page of Sircuit’s notebook. He smiled wryly at the schematic. “And no one cares about fixing her quite as much as you do.” The page began to smolder a bit so Sundance looked away, swinging himself off the table. His feet made the hissing sound of something hot hitting a cool floor when he landed.
“Of course I care. She’s my friend. If any of my friends are in trouble, I care a lot.” Sircuit’s words came out fast.
Sundance almost laughed. “Of course. Friend.” He smiled only inches from Sircuit’s face. “I find your naiveté refreshing.”
“Anything else?” Sircuit would have gently pushed Sundance away, but was afraid of melting his hands.
“That was it. Except this: The Oracle says ‘DUH!’.”
“I’m sure she feels that's helpful.”
“I just deliver the messages.” Sundance shrugged and went to the window. “One last thing?” His tone changed and the mischief was suddenly gone. “NoFace helped me once. I’ll probably never be able to repay her for it. I like her. A lot. She’s like an auntie to me. Be good to her, okay?”
“Of course.” Sircuit was a bit unseated by Sundance’s little confession but again did his best to not let it show.
Sircuit and I went through a few things lately. First, I made every attempt to seem like an average hero. You know ... not crazy and shit like that. Mentally speaking though ...
I think it only masked what was really going on in my head. So I did a few things I shouldn't have done and said a few things I shouldn't have said ...
And he said some things I didn't understand and took poorly.
But in the end, we decided we actually do like each other. A lot. Wouldn't you know it. Underneath my damned nose the whole time. Or over it. He is pretty tall.
And did I mention that I'm Shiva's new pet? I'm pretty sure I did. It's cool. Who really wants to argue with getting to wear skulls?
