A Disarray of Bullets

"You can change an alias," said Rob.

Cleo snorted. "Then there goes my reputation."

Rob's jaw popped, his teeth grinding. "That's it," he said, grabbing her by the arm. "I've got something to show you."

Cleo protested, smacking him in the hand. His grip didn't loosen, but tightened, like his bones were made of iron. "Where are we going?"

"To see Project Detestation."

-----

"Give him your gun," said Rob forcefully.

Cleo groaned and shrugged off her shotgun, handing it over to the guard with a great lack of fervor. "Anything happens to it, and I'll kill you myself."

"Classy, isn't she?" chuckled Rob. The guard managed a wan smile but cut a sideways, concerned glance at Cleo. Bemused, she sauntered after Rob.

He led her down a long, underground corridor that eventually opened up to a massive room. It dwarfed most of the buildings in the city by comparison, with barely any lighting to illuminate the room. Standing on a suspended walkway, and with the railings nearly invisible in this light, Cleo found herself treading across cautiously.

Halfway down the middle, Rob stopped and pointed. "There."

Cleo turned and stared, her jaw dropping. While all the walls had been constructed of concrete thick enough to stop an asteroid, this one was made of glass, curved in a bowl like the lens of a telescope. Through it, Cleo could see a shape. It was bigger than any animal she'd heard of, and was submerged in water. It was a giant tank, she realized, built to contain whatever thing was in there.

"This is classified, so don't go around telling just anyone about it," said Rob, leaning on the railing.

"What is it?" she asked breathlessly.

"Project Detestation. It's some kind of alien creature we found in the ice several decades back. We still don't know much about it, but it's huge, strong, and has a lot of teeth. Potentially, it's the most dangerous creature on the planet."

"And you're showing me this because... why?"

"Because I want to remind you of what's out there in the world," said Rob. "This world isn't like it used to be. Superheroes and villains clashing. Aliens falling from the sky. It's no longer safe. It needs people. Good people. People who are willing to use their abilities to fight for it."

Cleo scoffed. "So this is an orientation? Good to know."

"The Enhanced University in Batton called," continued Rob. "They have room for more superheroes in training. They said you applied."

Cleo looked away, her attention returning to the monster in the tank. Yes, she'd applied. Of course she had! Who wouldn't have? But the application also came with work. Paperwork. Exercise. A relinquishing of her desire to pickpocket and rob stores and murder anyone who ever wronged her. It was exhausting, and annoying. Something that had seemed like a once hopeless dream had slowly drifted into being a nightmarish reality.

"It was just me being stupid," she said.

"I don't think it was stupid," said Rob, corssing his arms. "You have all the qualifications. You just need to-"

"What, try harder?" snapped Cleo.

"Work on not being the bad guy."

"Yeah, like I already said. That ain't happening. And your little science experiment ain't changing that." She turned to leave.