Cosmic Combination [A Superheroine Merging Story] - Issue #5

Tier reward for EB18

Issue #5

“How many times do I need to lift this?” Clara asked with a sigh. 

One hand was on her hip, the other flat against the heavy load of iron plates, lifting them up and down effortlessly above her head. The machines Lauren had her hooked up to whirred and beeped as they recorded some sort of data, and Lauren hurriedly typed away at her laptop, looking utterly fascinated. 

“Just a few more times,” She muttered. “It’s incredible; your energy output is still consistent, there is none of the tiredness I would expect by now.”

Clara glanced at the clock nervously.

“It’s just that…I’m expected at the Guild soon.”

“Just a few more lifts, you owe me after I had to hurriedly put together that fake identity for you.”

“A great scientist and a dab hand at forging papers. You really are the full package, Lauren.”

The scientist’s face turned an adorable shade of red, and Clara giggled before turning serious again. 

“I am grateful, truly, but Thunder Clap wants to take me out on patrol for the first time. A proper patrol, Valkyrie will never let me hear the end of it if I am late.” 

Lauren finally looked away from her laptop and pressed her lips together.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with the Guild lately.” She sighed. “I know it’s important work, and you’re enjoying yourself, but these tests are important. If we’re going to figure out the full scope of your powers and get your halves back in their right bodies, I need all the data I can get.”

“I know. But Tristan and Lucie have been doing great these last few weeks! I haven't come apart once! And is me lifting stuff up and down for half an hour really going to help with that?”

Lauren opened her mouth then closed it again before shutting the laptop.

“Go on then, I can tell you’re excited.”

“It’s my first day as a proper, real hero! I can't help it!” 

Clara threw the heavy iron plates over her shoulder and cringed as they slammed into the ground, making the walls shake and a beaker wobble off a nearby table. Voices from the surrounding labs started to shout, and she grimaced.

“Whoops.”

“Go, go.” Lauren sighed. “I’ll clean up this mess. As always. Just come back in a few hours after the patrol so we can finish, okay?”

Her words were frustrated, but there was a flustered smile on her face.

“Thanks, Lauren. You’re the best.”

With a click of her heels, she was in the air and streaking across the sky, leaving Lauren’s cute pink face behind her. She was so easy to make blush; it was cute. Normally, Clara didn't mind putting up with all of Lauren’s tests, but today was special: today, she was getting her hero name. Tristan and Lucie, alright, mostly Lucie, had been thinking about it for weeks while training with the guild. 

‘I still think Might Woman is our best option.’

‘Tristan….that’s so boring! Look at us! We’re spectacular! We need a spectacular name!’

‘If you say so…’

Clara streaked across the sky and landed softly on the balcony of the Justice Guild HQ. Valkyrie was already there, signiture sour look on her face. 

“You’re late.”

“I am, in fact, three minutes early.”

“You’re later than me.”

“It’s not a race.”

“If it were, I’d win.”

Clara rolled her eyes.

“Do you ever chill out? For like, five seconds? You’d be amazed at how much more enjoyable life is without a giant tree trunk up your ass.”

Valkyrie opened her mouth to snipe back but was interrupted by Thunder Clap clearing his throat. 

“Ladies, if we can keep the barbs and insults for the villianous scum, that would be best.”

“I don't run my mouth when fighting villains,” Valkyrie said with her nose in the air. “I focus on winning and saving people.”

“Well, you will get to do that soon enough.” Thunder Clap grinned. “I am assigning you both to the downtown district as of today!”

Clara bounced on her toes in excitement; her chest bounced with her, making Valkyrie roll her eyes. Thunder Clap cleared his throat and looked away for a moment before producing a small box from behind his back. The lid clicked open, revealing two beautiful but oddly ordinary looking watches. Clara knew better, though; those were official Justice Guild alert watches. 

“Whenever a hero is required in those areas of town, these will alert you, as well as others assigned to the district.” Thunder Clap explained. “If you are in a position to answer, you tap the screen and make your way to the location given. Even if you can’t help, make sure to check and make sure somebody else is going. That way, no emergency goes unanswered.”

Valkyrie nodded seriously and took the first watch, holding it reverently in her hand as though it would break at the slightest touch. Clara did the same and slipped it around her wrist, feeling the weight, both physically and the responsibility. She was a real hero now. Her two halves were still in sync, but she felt torn. This was a dream come true but also…so much pressure. Eyes were on her now; people expected things of her, big things…what if she let them down? 

“There is also one other very important thing we need to do!” Thunder Clap grinned, clapping his hands together in anticipation and sending a small shockwave out that knocked them both back. “Sorry! Sorry! I am just so excited, it’s not every day a new hero gets to pick their name!”

He offered a hand to each of them and effortlessly pulled the women to their feet. 

“Have you got one?” He asked. His smile was infectious, and Clara returned it.

“Yes, I’m Bombshell.”

Valkyrie snorted. 

“As in blonde bombshell? Is that why you dress like that?”

“With this body, why wouldn't I?” Clara said proudly. “Besides, the name works both ways. I hit like a bomb, too, as I am sure your shields remember.”

“I like it! Strong! Catchy too!” Thunder Clap said, “We’ll enter it into the database when we get back from patrol. Hop to it, ladies!”

Without another word, he jumped from the balcony, easily landing almost a full storey down and jumping from roof top to roof top with a boyish grin on his face. Valkyrie huffed and summoned her wings of light, and took off after him. Clara waited a moment, admiring her new watch in the sun. 

“Alright, Bombshell, time to show the world what you’ve got.”

The wind cut through the air with a powerful force as she tore after Valkyrie. The other woman met her gaze for a moment, then gave her an arrogant smirk and flapped her light wings harder. Clara, or rather Bombshell, returned the look and pushed herself further. Before they knew it, the pair of them were halfway across the city, racing one another with no finish line in sight and leaving poor Thunder Clap in the dust. 

She was about to call out another half playful taunt when sounds met her sensitive ears: screams, shouts, and the unmistakable clink of cash. She turned, holding up her hand for Valkyrie to wait and to her surprise, she did. 

“Do you hear something?”

“Yeah…there!”

Together, they flew back a few blocks and saw something rare. An actual bank robbery. It was quiet so far, no sirens or calls for help, but they could both see the masked thugs inside, pointing guns at the terrified people inside. 

“We need to help those people!”

“We’re not supposed to confront criminals on our own yet!”

“Who knows how long it’ll take a senior hero to come. Thunder Clap is blocks away; those people need help now!”

Bombshell dove toward the building, the air whistling around her as she approached the bank’s front entrance with lightning speed. With a massive crash, she burst through the double glass doors, her fists swinging to clear the path of any resistance. Glass shattered in every direction, but Bombshell barely noticed. Her mind was singular—fight first, ask questions later.

“Everyone down!” Bombshell shouted, her voice deep and commanding as she surveyed the robbers. Four men turned to face her, clearly startled by her sudden entrance.

Valkyrie landed quietly and set up a shield between the people and the robbers.

“Breaking the glass wasn't necessary.” She hissed, but Bombshell ignored her, her focus was on the criminals. 

The biggest of the bunch, a towering figure dressed in a black tactical vest, raised his rifle and fired. She didn’t dodge. Instead, she flexed her muscles and caught the bullet in mid-air, squeezing it until it crumpled into a useless, mangled mess.

“That was rude.”

The robber’s eyes widened, and before he could react, Bombshell charged. 

“Careful!” Valkyrie yelled.

She managed to pull back the majority of her strength just in time. Her fist slammed into the man’s chest like a wrecking ball, sending him crashing into a wall with a thunderous impact. He crumpled to the ground, out cold. Bombshell winced; she had to remember to hold back with normal humans. 

Valkyrie summoned two more shields and slammed them into one of the other robbers, trapping him against the wall. At the same time, Bombshell lifted a nearby security desk with one hand and threw it across the room. It slammed into a robber, knocking him out instantly. But in the chaos, the remaining two criminals began to rush for the back exit.

“You know the Guild has to pay for collateral damage, right?” 

Oops.

“You look after the people; I will grab these guys!”

She was about to give chase when a sharp beam of light shot from Valkyrie’s fingertips, carving through the air and solidifying into a thick wall that cut off the robbers’ escape. She followed it up with another wave of her hand, the light bending and twisting into a glowing cage that trapped them in place. 

“Well, that’s one way to do it,” Bombshell muttered.

“Don't worry, folks,” Valkyrie announced. “Things are under control now; I apologise for the roughness of my colleague. She’s new.”

Clara scoffed, but then a sound caught her ears. The telltale click of a gun reloading. In a flash, she turned to see the robber Valkyrie had pinned against the wall. Her concentration had slipped, and he’d managed to squeeze out and was now pointing his pistol directly at the back of her head. 

Bombshell leaped again, moving faster than he could track. She grabbed the barrel and twisted, disarming him in an instant. Then, with a growl, she slammed him to the ground, pinning him with one hand while her other hovered above his face, ready to strike.

“I wouldn't if I were you,” she said through gritted teeth.

The man groaned in defeat, and Bombshell held him in place.

Sirens sounded and the police appeared outside in a flare of red and yellow, along with the loud thud of Thunder Clap hitting the ground running. 

“Not bad,” Valkyrie said, her eyes never leaving the criminals. 

“Funny way of saying ‘thank you’.”

Valkyrie didn't say another word as the police filed in and started gathering up the criminals and escorting people to safety. 

“That was reckless, there were civilians in here.” Valkyrie chided. “That broken glass was unnecessarily dramatic.”

“Yeah well…you let your concentration slip because you were too concerned with looking good in front of people. That guy would have shot you if it weren't for me!”

“God, are you two seriously arguing right now? In front of all these traumatised people?”

The new voice made Bombshell freeze, and in that moment, she was Clara again and threatening to come apart at the seams. Jillian was standing there in full uniform, somehow looking down her nose at them despite the fact that both heroines towered over her. Clara and Valkyrie both blushed, and Jillian rolled her eyes.

“Typical heroes. Look, unless you’re going to help, get out.” 

She thrust a thumb over her shoulder toward the door, and they sheepishly started walking. Thunder Clap was outside helping civilians while talking to the press. He shot them both a serious look; they were definitely in for a talking to back at the guild. 

“Jill-uh, I mean, Ma’am.” Clara corrected quickly. “I did save the people, we saved them I…we…we’re just…new.”

Her words failed her, her Lucie side was squirming, and her Tristan side failed to come up with anything better to say. Jillian thought, unimpressed. The cold look in her eyes made her Lucie side want to curl up in a ball and hide; her sister had never looked at her like that. It made Clara’s heart ache. 

“Stop making things worse,” Valkyrie whispered. “Let’s just go.”

Clara swallowed and nodded. The police were already leading the criminals away in handcuffs as they complained.

“I swear, I have no idea how I got here!” One claimed, “I’m the grocer from down the street! I was just on my lunch break, then suddenly I’m on the ground!”

“Yeah, yeah, save the lies for the judge.” An officer said flippantly, pushing him into the car. 

Clara took a step toward them, that had sounded important, but then Valkyrie shook her head and she fell in line. She’d be pushing her luck at this point. She’d just completed her first hero job, nobody had died, and the bad guys were caught; she should have been celebrating, but that look stuck in her mind. They may have saved the day, but to Clara, she felt like more of a failure than ever. 

~

Thunder Clap didn't chew them out. He tried, but the man simply didn't have a malicious bone in his body, or more than a handful of brain cells, it seemed, because he believed Valkyrie's story that their actions were all necessary. Even the desk throwing. Clara was a little surprised the other heroine had covered for her, but she didn't question it. She just kept her head down and tried not to think about how much it hurt to have Jillian look at her like that, like she was such a disappointment. 

It was late by the time they finished debriefing, and she was glad to be out in the cool evening air. She breathed deep and let her eyes flutter closed for a second before the door closing disturbed her peace.

“That was my thanks,” Valkyrie said simply. “Don’t screw up like that again, or at least, wait till I’m not around.”

She didn't wait for a reply, simply stepped off the balcony and flew away into the gloom of the night. 

“Okay, it could have gone better…but it could have gone worse,” Clara said to herself, channeling Lucie’s optimism. “I was a little eager, and Jillian being there was…eh, but I still saved people today! I worked hard and…oh shit I forgot to go back to Cosmeta! Fuck!”

She thought about Lauren sitting in the lab waiting for her. A glance at the watch told her it was way too late to return tonight. Not to mention, she was late home for Jillian.

“Uuuuuugh, how am I supposed to balance three lives!?” She cried. “One secret identity is enough, let alone two! Thank God Tristian lives alone, or I’d have a melt down.”

The stress of everything was making her heart race and her two halves start to tremble. She couldn’t come apart here, God only knew how much chaos that would cause. Thanks to her super speed, finding a quiet, private place away from the tower took less than a minute and the moment Clara stepped down onto the grass, her two halves split.

“Ow!” Lucie groaned as she immediately landed on her bad leg in Tristan’s body. “Rough landing.”

“Surprised she lasted that long honestly, I would have rage quit out of there an hour ago.”

Lucie didn't bother to get up, instead, she just flopped down on the grass in the park corner they’d found themselves in and sighed.

“That was…a day.”

“I can’t believe Jillian was there.”

“Oh God, don’t remind me.” She moaned as Tristan laid down next to her. “God, of all the places, and I am late home. You’re going to get an earful tonight. Sorry.”

“Hey, at least I will get a proper dinner.”

“I swear, who buys a year's worth of toast and beans, Tristan?”

They both laughed for a moment before silence settled over them, along with the weight of the day. 

“So why does your sister hate heroes so much?” Tristan asked. “I mean, they help the police out all the time, and it’s not like the old days where they’re not regulated or anything. It’s not vigilante justice anymore.”

Lucie pressed her lips together and sighed; for a moment, it seemed like she wouldn;t reply, but after a moment, she whispered. 

“Do you remember the Magnesis attack?”

He did; everybody did. It was the worst villain attack to happen this side of the country. Magnesis had been one of the most prolific and powerful villains ever to emerge; with his power to manipulate metal, he’d been able to effortlessly keep even the strongest heroes at bay with nothing but a few bags of sharp metal pieces to use as weapons. It was only in his final confrontation with The Justice Guild fifteen years ago he’d been taken down.

“Yeah, I was just a kid at the time, but I think everybody remembers. He used his powers to bend the steel beams of that bank to try and distract the heroes and brought the whole thing down on himself and a bunch of innocent people.”

Lucie nodded. 

“My parents were inside.”

“Oh.”

The silence returned, but Tristan didn't dare say anything; instead, he waited for Lucie to finish. 

“Jilly and I were in the park across the street. She was watching me while our parents went to get something. When the heroes and police showed up, we tried to run inside to find them, but of course, they stopped us.

“It was this hero, Hellfire, retired now. Jilly…I don’t think she ever forgave him for stopping us from reaching mom and dad. She used to rave about how in the time he spent talking to us, he could have done something to stop what happened, or at the very least, we could have found them and got them out.”

Tristan bit his lip; he’d never been good with words and he really didn’t want to fuck this up with his usual flippant attitude. In the end, he went for the classic but hollow feeling:

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Lucie smiled sadly. “I thought the heroes swooping in to save us all from the falling rubble were amazing…Jilly, not so much. She was almost eighteen, so she was allowed to take custody of me, and it’s just been the two of us ever since.”

“I know something about that, just being two of you I mean. It was just me and my mom for a while.” Tristan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Obviously, it’s not the same. I’m not trying to say we had it equally bad or anything-”

“Tristan,” Lucie giggled, “It’s fine, I know what you mean. And…look I miss my parents, but…that was years ago now. It will always hurt, but I did the therapy, I grew up, I’m not over it but…I can move past it all and live.”

A strange emotion coiled in Tristan’s gut that he suddenly realised was a mix of admiration and…shame.

“That’s amazing, Lucie.”

“Not really.” She shrugged. “People get over trauma every day.”

“Not me. I messed up my own life, and look at me, still moping about it now and you had it way worse.”

Lucie’s brow furrowed.

“Pain isn't a contest, Tristan. We all deal with stuff differently; just because your pain is different to mine doesn't mean it's less valid.”

He shook his head in disbelief.

“I hope Clara has your wisdom.”

Lucie snorted.

“You’re talking like she’s our kid.”

“Well…she sort of is, isn't it? A bit of you, a bit of me.”

“Ew.”

“Excuse me!?”

“No offence, I just… don't think of you that way.”

“Me either, but I could at least lie and pretend like having a kid with you wasn't gross.”

Lucie gave him a playful punch on the arm and looked like she was about to reply when a beeping sounded, and they both froze. Lucie held up her wrist; the Justice Guild symbol flashed on the watch face, and she swallowed.

“That’s the-”

“Yeah…”

“Right then, time to get moving!”

She jumped to her feet and winced as she landed on the bad leg. Tristan rushed to help her balance, and she gave him a thankful nod. 

“I don’t blame you for hating this injury; it’s a right pain in the…well, leg, but you get the idea.”

Tristan took a deep breath and braved a smile.

“You’re nervous.”

“Of course I am!” Lucie cried, “It’s one thing to dream about being a hero; it’s another to be summoned as one!”

“Well, let’s hope we make the guild proud.”

They grasped one another's hands and pressed their foreheads together, effortlessly merging into a single being, leaving Clara in their place, costume ready and staring at the open sky. 

“Okay…here I go.”

The coordinates on the watch directed her to a large warehouse outside of the city limits. Kestler Inc, a major robotics company, stored their stuff out here. Funnily enough, there were no alarms or signs that anything was wrong. 

“A silent alarm, maybe?” She said to herself as she flew quietly over the rooftops, looking for a way in without causing too much commotion. 

Just as she was about to touch down on a rooftop a figure, blazing bright in the darknes,s appeared and slammed into her side.

“Ow? V-Valkyrie?”

The other heroine didn't reply, simply threw a spear of light directly at her head, then another, and another. Clara dodged side to side, trying to get her head around what was happening. 

“Valkyrie, what the hell are you doing?”

She didn't reply; her face was slack and her eyes empty; something was wrong. 

“Valkyr-AAAHHH!”

A beam of light slashed across her side, burning her skin and nearly severing the bottom half of her leotard. Hastily, she held it in place; this fight was weird enough without having to do it half-naked. 

“Alright, enough talking.”

Clara cocked her head to the side, cracking her neck and stretching for a moment before she flew forward and sent Valkyrie flying with a single punch. The other heroine rounded, flying back, ready to return the favour, but Clara's roundhouse kick sent her spiralling again. 

“You’re usually better at this…” 

Valkyrie returned, spear at the ready, and Clara braced herself, only for Valkyrie to blink then suddenly come to a halt right before they collided. 

“Bombshell? What the hell are you doing…wait, this isn’t…wasn't I at the southern entrance a moment ago?” She held her head. “What happened?”

“You tell me, I was responding to a call and then you just came at me.”

“I saw a bay door open…I went inside and saw somebody rummaging around in the equipment and then…I was here.”

Clara pressed her lips into a line; that didn’t sound good. 

“Let’s go check it out together.”

They flew over to where Valkyrie said she’d first arrived; the doors to the ware house were open, and light spilled out into the night. Clara peered inside and saw nothing but empty crates, which she nudged with her foot.

“Well, whatever was in here, they must have taken it. Maybe we should have a look around outside and see if they’re still here.”

She turned, and a strange dizziness overtook her, for a moment, there was a figure in her vision; it was oddly familiar, then it wasn’t. It seemed to warp and change, and so did her surroundings, and a second later, she was standing in the middle of a whirlwind. The air was thin, and she fell to her knees, desperately trying to catch her breath. The whirlwind stopped, and Silverwind appeared; she must have been running literal circles around her.

“W-what?” Clara coughed. “When did you get here?”

“Five minutes ago,” Silverwind replied quickly. “Thunder Clap is subduing Valkyrie.”

“Subduing?”

“Yes, it seems you both decided that attacking two senior members of the guild was a good idea. Foolish really. I assume it wasn’t your idea.”

A heavy thud announced Thunder Clap’s arrival, a red faced Valkyrie in tow. His face was surprisingly serious as he approached, and he sighed deeply.

“We need to get back to the guild, I think we’ve got a mind controller on our hands.”