Chapter Text
Lily followed Nova and Leroy through the dark subway tunnels. Her shoes thudded on the cement floor as she walked fast, trying to keep up. Nova glanced at her. “You don’t have to go with us, you know.”
Lily shrugged. “We’re going in the same direction anyway.”
“...As I was saying, Millie can make you new papers. You’ll be able to join the Renegades thanks to her,” said Leroy.
“Hopefully,” Nova muttered.
Lily sped up until she was next to Nova. “You’ll do great, Nova! The Renegades won’t know what hit them.”
Nova smiled, but she still looked worried.
They stepped through the entrance, emerging into the alleyway outside. Lily squinted in the sudden sunlight. “It’s nice to have some fresh air.”
Nova nodded. “The tunnels are pretty stuffy. You’ll get used to it.”
“Come on, little nightmare.” Leroy gestured to a bright yellow sports car that was parked near the entrance. Nova scowled, but she followed him to the car.
“I guess I’ll get going too,” said Lily.
Nova looked at her, one hand on the car door. “Where are you going to go?”
Lily grinned. “Just on a walk.”
---
The sound of traffic got louder as she walked through the familiar streets of Gatlon City. The buildings around her became taller and less shabby as she got nearer to her target. Pedestrians paid no attention to her, but she looked at their faces. Sometimes she looked beyond their faces, and into their minds.
She saw a girl with neon green hair who was trying to rebel against her strict parents. She saw a man in a grey sweatshirt who had just gotten a job and was feeling hopeful. She saw a boy with a bouquet of roses and a broken heart who had been rejected by the boy he loved. She saw a girl with dreadlocks, pale against her dark skin, who had an extraordinary power.
The ability to transform into a swarm of butterflies.
Lily glued her eyes to the ground as the girl passed her. She had expected to see Renegades, but the girl had still taken her by surprise. She hadn’t seen much of her mind, only flashes of memory. A house with a small garden in a quieter part of the city. A father. She shook her head and looked up.
Towering above her was a building that seemed to reach into the sky. A building she’d been to many times. A building that was hell to the Anarchists, but a heavenly source of information to her.
Renegades HQ.
Lily stepped towards the doors and they slid open. Renegades HQ was the most high-tech place in the city. Unfortunately, it was run by the world’s worst superheroes.
“Hello, can I help you?” said a friendly voice at her side. A dark-haired boy in a grey uniform stood at the door, smiling at her. She smiled back politely. The boy looked young, probably only twelve or thirteen. One day she might be fighting him. The thought made her sad, so she pushed it away. She was an Anarchist now.
“Hi, are the tours open today?” she asked.
He frowned. “I don’t think they’re giving official tours right now. But I guess you can come in and look around.” His eyes brightened. “Are you going to join?”
She shook her head. “Nope, no superpowers here. I just think the Renegades are really cool.”
“They are! I mean, we are. I’ve only been here for a year, and it’s been so awesome- oh, sorry.” He stepped aside to let a group grey-clad teenagers through.
Lily darted in after them, the doors sliding shut after her.
She looked around the huge room, taking it all in. Renegades were everywhere, chatting in groups, discussing missions and even training. She didn’t bother to read their minds; her eyes were overwhelmed enough already. Some people looked at her as she walked past, but most ignored her. She wasn’t the only one in casual clothing. Lily wondered if soon Nova would be here too, wearing a grey uniform.
She stopped to inspect a wall that was covered in screens. Usually the screens had displayed footage of recent missions, but today every screen replayed moments from the parade. The Puppeteer laughing in his hot air balloon. Nova on the rooftops, fighting a team of Renegades. Lily squinted at the screen. One of the Renegades looked familiar. With a jolt of surprise she realised it was the Renegade girl she’d seen on the street. Lily watched as the girl fought Nova on the screen. She had to admit she was impressed. The girl was clearly a strong fighter.
She shook her head slightly. This girl was her enemy. Just another Renegade to destroy. But she couldn’t help feeling a twinge of sadness as the girl’s butterflies were burned by the Sentinel on another screen.
“Hey.” A voice cut through her thoughts. “You’re not supposed to be here.”
She looked up at the man and froze. His dark hair was slicked back, and a matching goatee decorated his chin.
Aftershock.
“I’m sorry,” she blurted out. “A Renegade at the entrance said I could look around.”
Aftershock frowned. “He shouldn’t have told you that. You can’t just walk in here on your own.”
“I’m just looking around. I won’t touch anything.” She tried to keep her annoyance out of her voice.
He pointed towards the door. “Get lost, kid. This place is Renegades-only.”
She sighed. “Fine.”
The world grew quieter as she stepped out of the building. The street was still crowded, but compared to HQ it seemed much more peaceful.
The good thing about Aftershock and his teammates was that they reminded her what she was fighting for. Or more accurately, against.
The Renegades weren’t heroes. They were just jerks in a shiny costume.