After the Golden Age

“Arthur … how much of us is made and how much is born? That Anthony Paulson is Simon Sito’s son shouldn’t mean anything. It shouldn’t add to my suspicions. It’s as bad as everyone assuming I ought to be a certain way because of my parents. I have nothing in common with my father—”

“Do you really believe that?”

She craned her neck and found him looking back at her, admonishing. Slowly, reluctantly, she shook her head. It would have been easier to get along with her father if they had nothing in common. Not harder.

She said, “Fifty years ago, something happened at the Leyden laboratory. That accident started a pattern that was passed on to the children and grandchildren of those present. It drove Sito mad, and it didn’t end. It’s been changing the city for fifty years. It’s still out there, in you, my parents, Typhoon, Breezeway … me. What will my children be like? What will they suffer?”

He ran his fingers along the side of her head, brushing short locks of hair behind her ear. “I’ll bet they have red hair. And a bit of a temper. Apart from that, who can say?”

“You’re being patronizing.”

“A bit, perhaps.” He smiled.

“My father will kill us, if he finds out about this.”

“Well, he’s not going to find out from me.”

A familiar chirping beeped from the floor. Celia’s phone, tucked in her jacket pocket, was ringing. Arthur moved aside to let her get at it.

At the same moment, his desk phone rang.

Climbing from the cot, he said, “It’s Suzanne. Something’s wrong.”

Do it yourself caller ID.

He answered. “Suzanne? Yes, I’m here; I’ve been here the whole time. No, I wasn’t answering … I’m sorry. Would you like to explain what’s wrong, please?”

The display on Celia’s phone announced the call came from Analise.

Celia answered. “Yes?”

“It’s me,” said Analise, sounding rushed.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m on the verge of getting arrested, that’s what’s wrong. Apparently, the cops expect this curfew thing to apply to us, too.” Us, meaning the city’s superhuman guardians. “It’s a goddamn standoff right now, and I either give in or knock ’em down with a wave and get the hell out of here. Then they will have grounds to arrest me. I didn’t know who else to call. Have your folks run into this? Do they know anything?”

“I don’t know, I’ve been asleep—”

“Oh my God, you with those stitches and everything, I’m sorry—”

“No, no, it’s fine. This is important. Just hold on a second, don’t blow anything up.” She covered the mouthpiece of her phone. “It’s Typhoon. She says the cops are trying to arrest her for breaking curfew.”

Arthur covered the mouthpiece of his phone. “Suzanne says there’s trouble. We’d better get upstairs.” Hurriedly, he said back into the phone, “No one, no one, Suzanne. I’ll be there in a moment.” He hung up and started retrieving clothing and dressing.

Celia turned back to her phone. “Can you rappel out of there or something?”

“They’ve got a helicopter out,” Analise said. Her breathing came fast, and the usually self-assured woman sounded flustered. “But I’ll see what I can do.”

“Where are you?”

“The corner of Seventieth and Pierson.” That was Typhoon’s usual patrol haunt, near the harbor, with ready access to plenty of water.

“Hang tight. We’ll see what we can do. I’m glad you called.”

“See you.” The call cut out as if Analise had turned the phone off in a hurry. She shouldn’t even have been calling in a situation like this. She must really have been in trouble.

Celia hurried to find her clothes as well. Arthur paused and smiled at her, which made her flush.

“I ought to ask you out for dinner,” he said. “Bring you flowers. This hardly seems right, after everything.”

Shrugging, she repressed a giggling fit. This was surreal. Pleasantly surreal, but still.

She walked the three steps to his side and touched his cheek. “It’s appropriate. It’s who we are.” She kissed him.

“Thank you,” he said with a sigh. “Thank you for coming here.”

Her grin turned wry. “Anytime. So tell me—I’ve always wanted to know why you never wore a costume, a skin-suit uniform, like the others.” She indicated his plain shirt and trousers.

“I’m a telepath. A glorified track suit hardly seemed necessary.”

Side by side, they went into the hallway and caught the elevator.

Arthur said, “I’ve found Warren. He knows about Typhoon.”

“What can he do?” Celia said. “He’s out past curfew, too.”

“I’d hope after all this time we’ve earned some allowances,” the telepath said.

“You know what Dad would say about this? He’d say this is a conspiracy to get the supers off the street. To get them out of the way. If the cops say anything about wanting to arrest him, he’ll blow up.”

She thought it was a joke. At least, when she started she meant it to be a joke. But Arthur wasn’t smiling. He didn’t even heave the flustered sigh of frustration that the team sighed when Captain Olympus was about to fly off the handle. Instead, the tension around them spiked, as the situation moved from a simple misunderstanding to a crisis.