“I do want to join up, but there’s something I need to tell you first. I don’t want to come on board without being honest about my powers. They’re not as precise as I’d like. And I’d hate for there to be collateral damage in the middle of a fight because they got away from me.”
Some of Strong’s excitement faded. “What do you mean?” he asked with his forehead creased in a frown.
“I can’t always pinpoint exactly where I aim. I can take out a cow. But I’d probably take out the barn behind the cow too. If we can solve that problem then I’ll join up with no hesitation.”
“Hmmm...” Strong leaned back in his chair for a moment before he pushed himself to his feet. “Let’s see if Caleb can assist with that. Come with me.”
They went back out into the main area, where Mike explained to Caleb that he could hit the general vicinity of what he was aiming at but that he couldn’t strike with precision.
“Can you come up with something to help him control his aim?” Strong asked.
Caleb grinned. “Oh yeah. I can definitely help with that. Do you mind giving me a demonstration of your powers? I need to see you in action to know what I’m up against.”
“Here?” Mike raised a brow. “Might punch a few holes in the walls of your new headquarters.”
“That’s only funny because I know you’re joking,” Caleb said with a laugh. “There’s an open field not too far from here. We can go there.”
“Sounds good,” Strong said. “I’ll come along too. Nick, you stay here and keep an eye on things.”
Caleb grabbed his laptop. “I’ll be watching remotely,” he said to Nick as he slid the computer into a gray nylon messenger bag. “Try not to burn the place down while I’m gone.”
Mike cast a glance at Ignite, who’d switched from chin ups to hanging upside down to do crunches, wondering what Caleb meant by that comment. Maybe the man had fire powers he couldn’t control?
Ignite flipped and dropped down from the chin up bar. “He’s kidding,” he said to Mike as he walked over to join them. “I’m a fireman.”
“Who doesn’t know how to watch his popcorn in the microwave.”
“I don’t get why they’d put a popcorn button on the microwave if it’s not timed to exactly pop your popcorn.”
Caleb dropped his head back with a groan. “Itoldyou that you’re not supposed to use it for those small personal bags of popcorn.”
“Then why’d they put a button on there that you can’t use?”
The two were clearly gearing up for what sounded like a repeat argument, when Strong stepped in and put a stop to their squabbling. “That’s enough. Ignite, eat chips if you get hungry. Let’s go,” he said to Mike and Caleb.
Outside, they walked over to a big black SUV with dark tinted windows. Strong took the wheel and Mike waved Caleb to the front passenger seat.
“It must be hard getting used to driving after flying everywhere for so long,” Caleb said once they were underway.
“I haven’t been active as a superhero for nearly ten years,” Strong answered.
“Come on, you really expect me—us,” Caleb said with a look to the back at Mike. “To believe that you haven’t used those wings not once? Not even for runs to the grocery store?”
It was quiet for a moment.
“Maybe if I only need to get milk and bread.”
Caleb laughed. “I knew it!”
Mike grinned. “I would use them too, sir. You’ve earned the right.”
“It saves time. And I’m all about efficiency,” Strong said as he turned into the parking lot of a corner market.
Caleb twisted in his seat to look at Mike again when Strong put the SUV in Park.
“How is it the Army didn’t perfect your powers when they gave them to you? I know the Air Force did multiple tests and trials on Strong and the others in the A-Wing initiative before they turned them loose.”
“My powers weren’t part of an initiative. And I wasn’t born with them either. They’re from an accident. A completely unplanned side-effect from an experiment gone wrong.”
