The Prospects (Book 2): Nothing Poorer Than Gods Read Free Page A

exoskeleton is gone. I’m a suit-and-tie guy now, like every other Metahuman Affairs Bureau agent. No more charging into battle for me.”
    “You’ll still work with those kids, right?”
    “I hated training the Prospects at first, but it felt great seeing Deon and Jenny overcome their weaknesses. Kayleigh and Steve have potential, and they said good things about Pete, so …”
    “And talk to Trista about the phone calls.”
    “I will.”
    Alex looked out the window and saw an island on the horizon. As the helicopter drew closer Alex saw the forested hills beneath bare mountains, the expanse of flat grass with an airfield cutting through the middle, and a few white buildings near the golden beach.
    “I see Griffin Island,” said Alex.
    “I can’t believe they kept a whole island hidden from you.”
    “Well, it’s not really an island, it’s a hollow man-made floating structure with soil and rocks on top. The Japanese built it during World War Two as a camouflaged base. Sergeant Hammer and his Spike Soldiers killed everyone on board but couldn’t sink it. The thing floated around abandoned until Doctor Hellgrun used it to clone an army of squid-men.”
    “Why did he do that?”
    “Who knows? He was insane. New York’s other big superhero team, the Scientific Six, took care of him. Jim Griffin used his business connections to acquire it as maritime salvage. That island will be the New York Guardians’ headquarters while Griffin Tower is repaired and inspected by the MAB.”
    Alex heard Calvin cry. Emily said, “I have to go. Diaper emergency.”
    “Love you.” He hung up.
    The man in a denim jacket and cowboy hat sitting next to Alex said in a thick Texan drawl, “Good to see you two got back together.”
    “I feel the same about you and your arm, Bart.”
    “Yeah, got it reattached real fast.” Bart wiggled his fingers. “I called in a favor from by buddy Chak. You know him?”
    “Short Canadian, scrappy as hell, says he’s a loner but is always with someone?”
    “That’s him. He gave me a few pints of his healing-factor-powered blood in exchange for a nomination to be a New York Guardian. Harry infused it into my veins, and the skin came together so well I don’t even have a scar.”
    “Even if Chak is a good bloodbank, I won’t second the nomination for him to join the team. The guy is annoying. He chases anything in a skirt and talks like a Charles Bukowski character.”
    “Ah, come on. I didn’t say a word when that chubby Asian girl became a New York Guardian.”
    “What, you don’t like Gale Force?”
    “I had to do a lot more than she did to get here.”
    “You were in the hospital when she helped me retake Griffin Tower.”
    “If she’s a team player, I’ll shut up.” Bart looked out the window as the helicopter descended. “I could look at that all day.”
    “You’ve seen one beach, you’ve seen them all.”
    “No, on the beach.”
    A statuesque redheaded woman wearing a sports bra and tight shorts struck a yoga pose on the sand.
    “Good,” said Alex. “I know who to talk to first.”
    “You know her?”
    Alex climbed out of the plane and headed for the beach. Bart followed closely.
    “Kayleigh, good to see you again.”
    She smiled. “Agent O’Farrell. Nice suit.”
    Alex straightened his tie. “How’s life on the island?”
    Bart nudged Alex. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
    Alex rolled his eyes. “Bart, Kayleigh.”
    “I’m better known as Arbalest, the word’s best crossbowman,” said Bart.
    “I’m Knockout Rose.”
    “From the Young Sentinels? Love your costume. Tightest I’ve ever seen.”
    “I’m not a Young Sentinel anymore, and I made a new costume. Anyway, it’s great here.”
    Alex asked, “What’s it like living with Trista?”
    “She’s a great roommate.”
    “Glad to hear it.” Alex unlocked his tablet. “I got the results from last week’s tests.”
    Kayleigh’s face fell. “They weren’t good, were