Getting Home


    The relationship between an Enhanced and their Tailor is rather unique. Even non-cape Enhanced tend to get to know one of the more publicly open Tailors as a client just due to special needs. When you can set fire to your panties if you get excited, you realize you need a special kind of lingerie for date night.


    But that relationship works both ways. As Tailors, we ironically often have very limited Enhanced gifts of our own, usually oriented towards being a Breakthrough or Catalyst, and not much else. You want to make sure your friends who can throw trucks or, as I mentioned, set someone’s pants on fire, are on your side.


    Long story short, make your Tailor happy, and they’ll give you the occasional gift. Just a bit of advice, my darlings.


    Phantastique, Fashion and Style in the Super Set


    Solaris tilted her head. “Are there influencers that work on cars? Maybe ones that need space?”


    "There''s a huge number of them. If we improve the lighting in that shop as the first refurbishment project, we could likely draw a few. Especially if we get the tools and gear that they sometimes don''t have access to. Plus we have a pair of additional mechanics to help for the solo guys."


    Solaris nodded, I’ll contact Louise and have her arrange to purchase the property. I want you to figure out what we need to…care for influencers, and get it set up properly, and find the contractors as needed. I’ll give you Louise and Tracy’s numbers since you will be working with them, Louise is my US accountant and Tracy, is our point of contact for my PR firm, they may be able to help you find talent


    "I''ll go look at the building after it’s bought, along with Erica and Levi. They''ll know what is a need, a want, or a wish list item is."


    Solaris nodded, “I figured you’d want to include them. She looked back to where the other 4 were sitting. If you talk to them now you may get some more…. Unrestrained answers.


    "True... since they''re tipsy." The girl rose and slipped into the rear of the cabin, settling on the couch to chat with the group.


    A few hours into the flight, the stewardess, who had regularly checked on everyone''s need for drinks or anything else handed out small cards with the options for their lunch. A roasted tomato basil soup or potato leek soup as a hot starter, with a ceasar salad. The option of a roasted beef tenderloin with red wine sauce, potatoes and steamed asparagus or lemon pepper chicken breast with wild rice and roasted cauliflower for the main at the diners choice.


    Solaris almost purred as she ate the tenderloin, she was still offended by the way the quality of mass air transit had failed is customers. “Thank you, Juli I sincerely hope, we get to fly with you again you have been wonderful.


    "Well feel free to ask for me the next set of flights you have. I am on a floating team currently, though I would love a more permanent slot. I just refuse to do a main line airline again. Those things are nuts."


    “I don’t blame you. I took one flight and bought this to keep from doing it again! Solaris said. The girls were still lovely but with so many to tend to and so few tools to do it I could understand the stress.


    "Add drunk, irritated and impatient passengers and it’s just a headache. I much prefer the business jet set, and I feel a bit more self-respect in the product I serve, too. The caterers are so much better at this level.":


    “I can identify this as food, not mysterious substances with gravy. If I wanted that I’d have stayed in England!”


    The stewardess laughed. "I understand."


    The plane landed smoothly in New York. Solaris thanked the crew. “Come on, let’s go,” she led them off the plane and walked them down to the limo. “So how did you like the flight?”


    "That was pretty sweet." Levi, who was carrying a sleeping Mercedes, said. “I want to learn to fly jets now. I mean, that just was sweet."


    "I loved the food." Mercedes murmured, barely aware.


    “Me too.”


    Happily, there weren’t any crowds waiting for them. And the drive to Islip was smooth, Nahoa meeting them at the front gate to let them in. "Welcome back, or just welcome." He said, raising an eyebrow at all the other younger people pouring out of the car. "Got a couple of deliveries while you were away."


    Solaris was arching an eyebrow as well. The big Hawaiian was wearing a muscle shirt, very loose fitting and she could see several small but dark bruises along one side of his body peeking out. Fairly familiar bruises.


    “Oh? Has the outdoor furniture started to arrive?” she asked, stretching politely not mentioning the bruising.


    “Hey, does that car have bullet holes?” Erica said, drawing Solaris’s attention to an unfamiliar sedan parked in the corner of the drive.


    "That, and things from the Tailor." he said, pointedly ignoring the question. "The cabins are both set up, including the extra beds. Marcus has already moved into ours."


    Penny rolled her eyes. “Right, we’ll just ignore that.”


    “Are you two comfortable?” Solaris said, smothering a chuckle. “Sorry about shifting you all about. Let me introduce you to our new hires. She waved the others over. This is Anzy, she’s our new cook, and this is Mercades, she’s handling the gardens, they are taking over the boathouse. This is Levi and Erica, they are Mechanics and will be staying in the pool house. And lastly this is Elenore. She’s going to be a program manager and marketer for several projects I will have running.” She smiled at the newcomers. “This is Nahoa, my security guard. My driver, attempting to steer people away from the new somewhat perforated car is Marcus.”If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "We''re fine, it''s all good." He said. "It’s good to meet all of you. If you need anything from me, just let me know. I got the keys for the houses here. I think you and Mercedes are getting these." He said, handing the boathouse keys to Anzy. "And the pool house is you and Erica." He gave Levi that key. "I got the cameras, and such all installed while you were gone." He informed Solaris.


    “Thank you, Marcus. Why don’t you all go get settled in. I think tonight we will order Chinese in. You can eat in your flats or join us in the main house. Anzy, I know you’re going to want to look the kitchens over.”


    “And it’s not a priority today but Levi I’d like you and Erica to find a couple of cars for everyone to use, right now we have one house car, but we probably need more. Nice unassuming cars, things that will be ignored as they run errands.”


    "Can do. didn''t think you wanted us to make super sleepers. At least not yet." He chuckled.


    “Sleepers? Are you wanting some sort of caravan?”


    "What, oh, no. Sorry, slang. A sleeper is a car that is chosen because it’s unassuming, but you strip its powerplant and put some sort of a beast in it. Say, taking a Volkswagen Beetle but pull the stock engine and put something with double the horsepower in, with suspension improvements to work with it. You get a car that looks like it''ll putter along but can put most stock sports cars to shame."


    Solaris’s eyes went wide. ”Oh! I love that idea. Yes, get cars you can do that to!”


    "Um, do you mean too, or instead?


    Erica laughed. "She meant too, we’ll grab a couple of things begging to be tuned, and some practical daily drivers."


    “Why not do that to all of them. Then if you need you can get up and go.”


    "Well a lot of cars, you can get performance out of them by changing out a few things, adding turbo chargers or what have you, so we definitely can."


    “Wonderful.” She said with a smile that was a little dreamy, she loved powerful cars. “Go settle in.” She laughed as Anzy split into three, one dragging Mercades towards the boat house, one heading for the outdoor kitchen, and one for the main kitchen. Marcus watched that with a stunned expression, while Nahoa kept watching her nervously.


    "We will get settled in and see you in an hour for dinner." Erica said, dragging the now muttering and planning Levi after her. Elenore chuckled and followed them.


    “Speaking of sleepers?” Penny said. “I can’t help but notice the bullet holes seem to be shallower than they should in that car.”


    “The Tailor’s delivery guys screwed up and left something with us they shouldn’t have. We took them back, he asked if we’d do a delivery, and it became a whole thing.” Nahoa summarized.


    “Right.” Granny Ruan said. “I’ll grill them later. For now, let them think they can hide, and get to know the other kids. Of you go, boys.”


    "Sounds good." Penny said, noting the packages stacked on the table. She sat in a chair nearby, stretching out. "Not that we weren''t in luxurious environments, but sometimes getting home is the best part of a vacation."


    “Yes, nothing is the same as home. What all was delivered?”


    "Let me see. Okay, I''m betting these are costumes, as they have our code names on them. He put them in pretty nice cases.” She patted the pelican case her own was in. “And looks like three each?" she said, thoughtfully. "Four for you."


    “To be fair, I am most likely to ruin them.” Solaris walked over opening the box to reveal a uniform in muted reds and blues, with white the brightest tone. “We will need to let Zakai know these are in. I know he wants a photo shoot.”


    "These would be the new circlets." she said. "And a note to look in the garage."


    “Marcus’s big toy must have come in.” They headed for the garage. “I hope Marcus hasn’t seen the bike yet. I want to see his face.”


    There were two crates, both completely sealed, with envelopes on the tops, taped down. Both were large, though one was obviously a motorcycle. A third, smaller crate was marked as components for Dreadful. "Looks like he didn''t." Penny said, pulling the envelope off the smaller box. "Oh yeah, this is the bike we ordered. But I didn''t think we ordered a second vehicle, did we?"


    “I know I ordered some things for England. I don’t think I got anything else.” She pulled the envelope off the larger package “let’s see what we have here, hopefully not another erroneous drop off. Then we can call Marcus over.”


    Out loud she read, "Solaris, since you made such a big order, and I got notified you''re going to be doing another soon, I thought a gift for a favorite customer might be in order. It''s not precisely your favorite type of vehicle, but I think you''ll enjoy it just the same."


    Penny was cutting the straps and tape on the box, while she read. "Hmmm, so it''s a surprise?"


    “Apparently. Solaris said looking over the box the pulling the lid off the nails on the crate squeezing as they released. She tossed the lid to the side and looked Inside. A Polaris Xpedition, heavily customized with treads, a snowplow settled next to it on the shipping frame but obviously intended to attach to the vehicle.”


    “Well, this is interesting, is it lawn equipment or a plaything?” She removed the rest of the crate so she could walk around it.


    "Yes." Penny chuckled. "You can put the plow on it, use the winch for work, what have you, but you can also take it into the wild and rip around like a maniac." She said.


    “Oh. We will have to try it out, and show it to Mercades since she’s doing the lawn work.”


    "It''ll be great whenever it snows. That driveway is no joke."


    “Yeah. I haven’t thought much about the snow. Shall we call Marcus over?” Solaris hit the garage door to open it then patted the box.


    She pulled the lid off and opened it while Penny texted him. “Oh this came out sharp!


    "Oh yes, it looks mean." The BMW 1250 RT was a mean looking motorcycle, with a predatory edge appropriate to the civilian version of the most common police bike in the world. Its black-on-black styling was stealthy and sleek. Penny looked at a note, and flipped a hidden switch, and concealed lights came to life, a blue matching Marcus''s aura acting to bring a dramatic look to the bike, while also changing its appearance to an outside viewer, pipes rotating to reveal hidden chrome. "Oh, that is well done."


    I’m almost jealous. Put it back in street, I see him coming!” Solaris clapped her hands; she loved giving presents.


    She hit the switch. A check revealed the light could be turned off but the chrome remaining out, making another subtle, but important change to the bikes look.


    “Hey, if this is about the Valiant, I can explain. It wasn’t really our fault, things just kind of snowballed.” Marcus said, pausing when he saw the bike. "Nice."


    “I might have been a little naughty at the Tailors, I never thought to ask.” She smirked. “Do you know how to ride a motorcycle?”


    "I have, dirt bikes and such, and a street bike a little. Why do you ask?"


    Solaris shook her head in amusement, patting the seat of the new bike. “Because this beauty is your new hero bike, unless you prefer the odd car outside.”


    "Really? Holy crap! I might need to get a cheap bike to practice on, because that is just nice." He walked over and petted the bike, then swung a leg over it. "Oh. Oh yeah.”


    She smiled at Penny. “Why don’t you do the honors? You helped me pick it out.” Penny nodded and toggled the hero switch. The shift happing seamlessly u dear him the blue lights a halo on the ground.


    He looked down. "Oh god that''s hot. Shit, man, I don''t know why you got me this. I haven''t earned this."


    “Because I wanted to, you want to be a hero even knowing the…unpleasant parts. And you are part of my team. I take care of my team.”


    “Now we just have to find you a proper call sign.”


    "Yeah, I have some ideas, maybe you can help me pick." He admitted. "I glow blue, hit things kinda hard, and can take a beating. I mean, at least really big handgun bullets are completely stopped without me feeling it. What covers that?" He shook his head almost vibrating with the need to try the new bike "I''m going to need to get to earning my place, then, but first I''m taking this out for a ride." Switching off the light and starting the bike, he carefully slid out into the evening, laughing as he shot down the driveway.


    “How long till he gets a ticket.” Solaris said fondly.