I hate riding the bus, and not because I'm faster than they are. Which I am. Insanely faster, I should mention. I just hate public transportation and anything related to it.
I don't get why Alfhild insists on travelling like this. I could take us both back to the apartment in the time it takes this monstruous machine to open of its doors. Something about getting to know the city we're supposed to be protecting.
"How did your report go? Was that guy lame or what?" I try to make some conversation to forget that someone has probably puked in the place where I'm sitting.
"It went well, but he was confused when I mentioned what the kidnapper told you..." She gives me her accusing look. "Apparently, you didn't say anything about that in your report."
"Wha? I did too!" I exclaim, indignant. "What did the kidnapper tell me, again?"
"That he was gonna kill us newbies to send a message to the Strikeforce? That he and other villains were getting organized?"
"Ohh, that. Yeah, it must have slipped my mind... didn't think it was important."
"You didn't think it was important? Will, someone targeted us on our second day on the job! How did they even know us?"
"Dunno, maybe the Vertigo Man and his pals told their villain bosses about us after our fight? How should I know?!" See, this is what I hate the most about riding the bus: You can't raise your voice during an argument without the old guy sitting in the next row peeking back at you. "Watcha looking at, baldy?"
"Calm down, Will."
"I'm perfectly... Aw, fruck, now we're in a traffic jam! I missed going to the Bolts game because of the report, and now I won't even get to catch it on TV! I should just run back home and ditch you inside this stupid machine..."
"Using the bus is something we gotta learn to live with if we wanna be citizens of this city," she says. "Besides... from here we could witness crimes we might otherwise miss," she says.
"Bullcrap," I say. "The only crime we could witness from here is someone sneaking into the bus without paying the driver," I say... which is why I hesitate before pointing out that there are three speeding police cars making a turn in the corner ahead of us. I hate to prove her right.
"I told you!" Alfhild exclaims as we exit the jammed bus. I guess there's something about me that makes others love to mention that they were right and I was wrong. Right now, I'm too excited about fighting someone to argue that point.
She speeds ahead by activating the jetpack on her back. I catch up in no time. "Did you notice that none of the other passangers seemed the least bit surprised when we jumped off the bus and you pulled a jetpack out of thin air?"
"This is Thunder City. They're used to seeing crazier stuff than that on their way to work." She stops in mid-air and points at a parking facility next to a Mall. "That's where the cops went. Shit, I hope it's not another hostage situation..."
I wouldn't wanna repeat yesterday's experience either, but as long as I get to punch someone, I'm up for anything. This time, I won't even give the guy a chance to make any arrogant speeches. I'll just knock him out and hand him to the cops.
The only problem is that when I get there, I find... nothing. Well, nothing interesting. Just a bunch of puzzled cops looking at a frozen man. Not frozen like frozen in time, as in me yesterday, but actually frozen. As in: popsicles. He's covered in ice.
Alfhild arrives a few seconds later. "I'll assume there's flesh under that ice and the cops aren't just admiring a sculpture," she says.
"Should we talk to them?" I ask.
"I'll do that. You search the place, maybe whoever did this left something behind." I obey with the hope that the criminal is still around.
And sure enough, I find two costumed guys lurking around. This is gonna be fun...
