"Well, that was rough." Manifest flopped onto a couch back at base as everyone tried to catch their breaths.
"I thought they weren't getting any new ones?" Magnetic asked, shooting a glare around the room.
"Guess we were too optimistic," Manifest shrugged.
"Can I be out of any future fights?" Magnetic asked. "I'm more of a heist guy."
"We need a bigger group," Itera said. "Randy, June and I are all useless in a fight. Got any plans to recruit others?" She looked at Paris, who sighed.
Yes. Their attack had gone very poorly. At least they'd gotten out without any issues. Achilles knew how the game was played. Lightning was an issue, but they'd managed to hold her back this time. For next time...
"How long would it take to organize a jail break?" he asked.
"Which section of the jail?" Jase asked as he walked in. Mist was behind him, looking like she'd just woken up. So like she always did.
"Highest security probably." Jase flopped next to Manifest and hummed in thought.
"Two weeks minimum, preferably three or four. Do we have a strict deadline? Who are we breaking out?"
"We're breaking out Phantasma. As fast as possible. She'll provide the extra firepower we need. She can handle Lightning while the rest of us deal with the others. And hopefully we can get more people. What do you think, Jase?"
"Will Phantasma work with us?"
"Yes. She's got to see that the Legion is too big for someone to handle on their own anymore. She'll need a team to get what she wants. And we're that team."
"Solid enough reasoning. For Phantasma...Juney, I want you to sneak in and find her in the jail. Once that's happened, we can start making a plan of attack. If you can, also check through the records and see if there are any plans to move her and if so when and to where."
"Got it." Mist saluted and flew through the ceiling. That would never not be weird to see.
"Aubrey, you send out feelers for anyone else with a Miracle who wants to make some extra cashola. I think we'll do a big money-maker while prepping for Phantasma's jailbreak. That should pull in a few more friends for you."
"Wait, I thought we were getting Phantasma out?" Paris asked. That was top priority! That woman did not deserve to be in jail like a common criminal. She was an artist, a brilliant trailblazer who had founded their entire career path!
"It won't slow that down by much. Juney'll scout out the jail first while Randy and the others pull in basic supplies for the heist. Then Juney will check out our mark and everyone will set up for the jailbreak. We'll do the jailbreak, then pop the heist soon after. We gotta make money somehow."
Paris frowned as he stared at the ground. Everything Jase had said made rational sense. But it didn't sit right with him. They should get Phantasma out as soon as possible.
But everyone had to be a team player, even the apex villain. So he nodded and asked what Jase wanted him to do.
Joey hopped back down to the Legion meeting after Paris and his goons had cleared out. Achilles and Lightning were still there, as was the new guy. They seemed to have been waiting for him, since Achilles waved and called out to him.
"Jumper the Nimble! Glad you made it back."
"You okay?" Lightning asked. Joey nodded.
"A bit shaken, but I'm fine. Thanks for helping me out." He directed the last statement to the new guy.
"No worries! I'm just glad I could help. Name's Prime." The giant of a man stuck out his hand and when Joey went to shake it, he felt like his hand was gonna get crushed.
"Jumper," he mumbled.
"Now, let's restart our meeting. Beginning with role call. Achilles the Invincible is here!" Joey resisted the impulse to roll his eyes at the dramatics.
"Prime the Forever Young has arrived!" Prime declared, pounding his chest with a fist.
"Lightning here."
"Lightning the Quick!" Achilles corrected.
"Jumper the...what was it again?" Joey could not remember for the life of him.
"Nimble! Jumper the Nimble."
"Jumper the Nimble present."
"Excellent! Now, to our first order of business." Achilles cleared his throat dramatically before continuing. "Welcome Prime the Forever Young to Achilles' Legion. We all look forward to working with you."
"And I look forward to working with you all. I'm very pleased to have this opportunity."
"Applause for Prime!" After a brief moment where only Achilles was clapping - enthusiastically and boisterously - Lightning and Joey hesitantly joined in. Prime bowed.
"And applause for the rest of the Legion! Very well fought today against Paris and his underlings."
"Thank you," Achilles replied.
Had they really done that well? Joey felt like they'd been getting their butts solidly kicked. If Paris hadn't been seeming to not take it seriously, things could have gone a lot worse.
"Now to our second order of business," Achilles said. "Ah, wait, before that - Prime, if you need any costume creation or repairs, I'd direct you to Little Fancy. You can look it up online, or I can give you the address after the meeting. Don't let me forget."
Prime nodded.
"Great! Now to our second order of business. Paris seems to enjoy ambushing our meetings. Well fought today, everyone, but we need to make plans for the future. How to set up future meetings, and set up a patrol schedule to keep the city safe."
"Can't we decide the next meeting at the previous one?" Lightning asked. It seemed like the simplest way to handle it.
"A good idea, Lightning. But what if someone misses a meeting? How could they know when and where the next will take place? Light Master will already be behi - "
"No," Lightning spat. "We don't need to be bringing underage kids into this." Achilles faltered for a moment.
"So the Legion is split on Light Master," Prime mused. "I would like to know more about the situation. All I know is what the media's been saying, which is that his minders need to keep a better eye on him and stop him from getting into trouble."
"But he has a Miracle!" Achilles replied, now with his bravado back. "He was chosen! Who are we to deny the chosen ones granted Miracles by the purple god? Obviously his moral character and maturity are up to snuff and he is ready for this!"
"I disagree," Lightning said. Achilles ignored her.
"If we reject him, what then? Will we reject any hero we don't like?"
"Just the underage ones." Achilles continued to ignore Lightning's comments.
"Where would it end?"
"Eighteen."
"And he was obviously chosen for a reason! Perhaps we will one day come upon a villain we cannot beat without him."
"Doubt it. We could just ask for rayguns."
"I say we accept anyone who wants to join us. Especially in light of Paris' growing strength, we need all the help we can get. I can't protect everyone at once."
"You can't even protect yourself half the time." Achilles finally turned to her.
"Would you stop that? Didn't anyone tell you to wait your turn to speak? Or not speak at all?"
"All the time. Cost me my last job."
Everyone fell silent for a while before Achilles cleared his throat louder than he ever had and started talking again.
"Long story short, we need a way for everyone in the Legion to learn about our meetings without outsiders figuring it out. We also need a way for new recruits to learn about the meetings."
"Would a private chat group work?" Prime asked. The idea scared Joey a bit and Lightning immediately shot it down.
"Theoretically, but the military could break in and learn everything. It would also have to be linked to our real identities, which some members may not want leaked. It wouldn't be secure enough."
"It would also keep new members from learning about our activities," Achilles said.
"I'd think new members would have to be referred by a current member. That way we avoid things like the Weaver issue." Achilles looked away at Lightning's statement while Prime looked on curiously.
"Weaver? From the last meeting?"
"Phantasma's alias. She used it to try and kill Achilles on Monday."
"That's how she got him? Devious and despicable."
"Anyway, that's why I propose a referral system if we're doing this with secrets."
"I second that," Joey said, trying to keep his voice from wavering. This felt like a discussion for adults and he wasn't quite one yet. Okay, he was, but he didn't feel like it.
"Fine. Referral system approved," Achilles said, seemingly trying to get off the subject as soon as possible. "Then...everyone, think of a good way to communicate our meeting times and places. We can meet here at the same time next week to discuss it further."
"Deal. Now I gotta run." Lightning took off as soon as she was done talking. Joey glanced between Prime and Achilles nervously.
"Then I'll head out too. I have things I need to get done." He hopped up a few levels, and heard Prime say something below him.
"That kid can really jump."
Achilles replied, but Joey was too far away to hear it. He had to get out of his costume, get home and start applying for jobs again. Hopefully he'd be able to find one that also allowed him to keep helping out the Legion.
Wait, why was that a factor?
Joey shoved the conflict to the back of his mind and kept on his way.
