James had made his way back to his room so that he and Kazav could have some privacy. Once inside, Kazav instructed James to lay back in the bed and close his eyes.
"You're going to send me on another vision quest aren't you?" James asked as he tensed up in anticipation.
"Just hold still kid, and try not to ask too many questions."
The moment James' eyes shut his mind was once again sent spiraling through the galaxy until it came to rest at Kazavs home planet. Things were far less painful compared to last time, something Kazav claimed was unavoidable much to James' suspicion.
Kazav began to show James the events that took place after the first vision had ended. The two judges disappeared back into the vast, swirling ocean of dark energy only for another figure to jump out. This once snuck across the obsidian rock and made their way over to Kazav who was restrained against the floor.
The figure embraced Kazav and began to free him of his bindings. Once he was no longer shackled to the floor they began to speak to one another in soothing, subtle vibrations.
"Could you translate this like before?" James asked Kazav, hoping to hear what was being said.
"I'd rather not," he replied. The words he spoke were tender and affectionate and Kazav preferred to keep his personal life private.
Standing up, the figures embraced once more before Kazav could be seen flying off the surface of the planet and out into space. A new planet came into view, a familiar one.
James realized that what he was seeing was Kazav finding his way to his world. "Oh, so this all happened just before we met?"
"Yes, this is how I got free of my confinement and made my way to your planet."
The vision ended and James sat back up in the bed. "Who was that person who helped you? You seemed very close."
"She is my, uh, girlfriend I suppose you could call it. There isn't a term on your planet that can be applied to the relationship me and her share but that is the closest wording I can think of."
James smirked, he was glad Kazav continued to share more information about himself and James didn't want to violate that trust, but he couldn't help but feel the urge to razz him. "So, is it love?" He teased.
Kazav became defensive. "Is what love?"
James let out a snort. "What you and that girlfriend of yours share. Is it love?"
Kazav let out a deep sigh. "No questions right now kid, I'm not in the mood."
He was about to press him for more information. Kazav being warm and vulnerable was just too juicy a topic to pass up.
Just before he could really grill Kazav, Sparrow knocked on the door. "Guild meeting in five minutes," she shouted from the other side.
"Be right out," James yelled back. "Don't think this is over Kazav. I still have a ton of questions about you and your mystery girl."
Kazav let out a long groan. "I knew I shouldn't have shown you. That's what I get for opening up."
Once in his seat in the main hall, Sparrow began the briefing. "Listen up team! The Heroes Guild has determined that a new threat is growing within our city, an unknown organization with sinister objectives." Pointing to the screen behind her, she began to list out the objectives sent from HQ. "The first objective is to gather as much information as possible. The more we know about the enemy, the better equipped we are to fight it."
She clicked on her keypad and brought up the next screen. A graph showing their retainment numbers popped up with a somber filter. "We also need to step up recruitment and bolster our numbers. We need more heroes patrolling the neighborhood while we handle the bigger threats."
The next few slides were images of the items and paraphernalia James had photographed during his mission. "Finally, we need a dedicated task force to root out and eliminate both the cultist's leaders as well as their corruption gems."
"Woah, hold the phone!" Owl blurted out. "Corruption gems? That's crazy!"
Super Static leaned over and tugged on Sparrow's arm. "This is bigger than you're letting on isn't it?"
With both hands on the desk, she leaned over and let out a deep sigh. "I won't lie to you all, things are bad. HQ is very concerned about this new threat and what's worse is we know so little about it."
Falcon chimed in with a question. "Aren't they the same weirdoes who tried turning everyone into fish?"
Hawk shook his head. "Nah you're thinking of the Fishermen cult. Those guys wore trout masks on their heads."
"Nuh-uh!" Falcon cried out. "You're thinking of the Trout Clout gang, these guys are totally different."
Hawks eyes narrowed in frustration. "Why are you always tryna show me up bro?"
Falcon's eyes followed suit. "I'm not showing you up dude. I'm just saying you gotta stop mixing up your gangs, and your fish!"
Sparrow rolled her eyes at them. This was not the first meeting to be derailed by their stupidity.
Hawk stood up and started poking Falcon with his finger. "So I'm supposed to be an expert on North Atlantic fish species now, is that it?"
Falcon stood up and poked him back. "I'm just saying a trout and a salmon are very recognizable. You see a salmon-"
Sparrow slammed her hands down on the desk before he could finish. "Enough!" She shouted. "Put your fish debate on the back burner boys this is far more important and we have limited time to act!"
Sitting back down, they pouted and nodded their heads. "Sorry ma'am," they mumbled in unison.
James looked over at the both of them and couldn't help but smile. They reminded him of when he and Jeremy were younger, back when they still got along.
"Now then," Sparrow continued. "I want Owl and Super Static to head a task force regarding the elimination of the corruption crystals. Falcon and I will start hunting down high-profile targets in our precinct while Hawk and Night Phoenix do the same."
James looked over at Hawk who gave him a nod and a finger gun.
She shut her computer off and sat back down in her chair. "If anyone has any questions come to me and I'll try to help in any way I can otherwise, this meeting is over."
Owl and Super Static had more questions for Sparrow and they followed her out of the room. Hawk stood up and slapped James on the back. "You ready to work with the best?" Hawk shouted in all seriousness.
James let out a chuckle as Hawk postured. "Definitely, It should be fun!"
"Sparrow sent me the name of our first target." He pulled out his phone and brought up an image of the monster. "Looks like they are calling it Steel Skin because bullets just bounce right of em."
James snuck a peek at his phone. He thought it looked like some kind of deformed humanoid that fell into a blender.
"It was last located in sector C, "Hawk informed him. "I recommend we head out now while the sun is still up."
With that, they headed out into the city to find the beast and put an end to its destruction.
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