We were back at the hangar. Wearing my suit. It certainly feels comfortable; I almost wish that I were using it all the time. The only thing I wasn't wearing was my SEE Goggles, which I left back at Gavin's truck. As per usual in our training sessions, I used the heavy bracers on my wrists and legs.

  I hopped back and forth, warming my legs up just as Gavin finished stretching his legs.

  "So what are we going to work on today?"

  Gavin rolls his arms. "No martial arts, not today at least. You got all the fundamentals of kickboxing and Muay Thai."

  He started to hop like me. He cracked his neck and knuckles. Unlike usual, he's wearing a black tank top and white shorts. Gavin really is built differently; he's got that superhero body. I'm really jealous; I wish I could have a body like that one day. Right now, though?

  If I had to describe my physique, it would be healthy. I wasn't scrawny and skinny like I was during the first week of summer. My superhero activities, fights and training build more bulk. While I don't have abs or large biceps, I look like I could do track and field without passing out.

  "Okay, so what are we working on?"

  "Your cape."

  I blinked. What did he just say? Is he pulling my leg right now, or in this case, tugging on my cape? I squinted my eyes at him; he seemed serious. But what the heck does that mean, that we're working on my cape?"

  I half expected to start bursting out laughing or just say he was kidding, but his face remained passive.

  "Uh, care to explain what you mean?"

  "Well..." Gavin starts. "Your cape is a liability. They're extremely hazardous during combat and rescue, which is bad, especially since capes in superheroes are mainly just to look cool."

  "What do you mean?" I was confused. "I'm fine, my cape doesn't cause me any problems!"

  "Yeah, because you got lucky."

  "Lucky?" I repeated.

  Gavin pinched the bridge of his nose as I'd just proven his point.

  "Yes. Lucky. I mean, do you have any idea how many historical incidents involved capes getting snagged, pulled, ignited, frozen, yanked into turbines, caught in doors, wrapped around limbs, used as leverage—"

  "Okay, I get it, yeesh!"

  He's got a point, now that I think about it. But I mean, I'm pretty sure I could survive all those things even if my cape was a problem. Still, if you're going to complain about it, then why give me a cape at all? I was about to mention it to Gavin, but he cut me off.

  "Still, I'll admit you look bald."

  "What? I have hair."

  "That's not what I meant." Gavin shook his head before shuddering. "When Jason and I were discussing your upgraded suit, we discussed the cape, and he sent in a prototype without it and..."

  Gavin froze before he started to shake. He swallowed and was forced to calm himself.

  "You look really weird without it."

  I tried to imagine myself with my cape, and wow, it does look weird. I think Gavin is exaggerating for comedic effect, or he's just being weird, but I do agree it looks like I'm in my underwear rather than in my hero suit. The silhouette was just wrong. It felt incomplete.

  "Red Justice without a cape just feels wrong," Gavin said, shaking his head.

  "Thankfully, we found a workaround for that. Press those black circles, holding your cape."

  Hesitantly, I pressed it, and almost instantly, my cape dropped away, falling to the ground. I stared at my fallen cape before looking at Gavin, who seemed to make fake-gagging noises. I rolled my eyes while picking it up.

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  "Okay? So you added a detachable function to my suit, so what? It's cool, I guess?"

  Gavin's disgusted face shifts into that annoying knowing look. Gavin seems to have silently called me naive and stupid. He just shook his head, closing his eyes and tutting. My eyebrows twitch.

  "Okay, what!?"

  Gavin ignored me and continued to have that look until finally he said, "Oh, Ben. Naive little Ben. That's your problem, you're not very imaginative."

  Wow, thanks for the compliment. Gavin then asked me to hand him the cape, which I did, though I did fling it at him at the speed of sound. Gavin still caught it easily, though. He whips around the cape before looking at me with a smirk, then gestures with a finger to come to him. My eyebrow twitched again; he didn't need to ask.

  I slowly walked up to him, then gained speed until I was sprinting at him. It didn't take long for me to get close, ready to throw a punch at his side, before Gavin leaped back, throwing the cape in front of my face, obscuring my vision. This makes me pause and blink. What was he-

  I made a pained noise as I felt something hit my abdomen. The blow was powerful enough to send me skidding back. I clutch my stomach, groaning, watching as Gavin picks up my cape, holding tight. I see what he did, so he used my cape to obscure my vision momentarily so I would get caught off guard. It certainly worked; I had no idea if he kicked or punched me.

  This time Gavin moved, and I tried to counter, but that damned cape not only blocked my vision. Sometimes, he'll just dump my cape on my head so I can flail like a confused rat. Granted, I was able to dodge and even counter some of Gavin's blows. But mainly because I had Mind's Eye on my side. It allows me to have spatial awareness of my surroundings, even if my vision is compromised.

  Still, I wasn't going to lie, it was still pretty effective. Especially for someone who doesn't have an ability like Mind's Eye. Gavin even used it as a whip. Because my cape was made out of tough material. Rather than hitting someone with a tissue, it's closer to whipping someone with a wet towel. I was launched back by a back-kick.

  Sending me gasping on the floor. Gavin walked to me, obscuring my view with his smug face.

  "And that's how you use a cape properly. Since it's detachable, you don't have to worry about capes getting snugged, and you can use it for combat."

  "Dully noted," I said between pants.

  Gavin helped me up and handed me back my cape. He cracked his neck and got into a fighting stance.

  "Why don't you try it? Come on!"

  I sighed. I wish I could have used this time to do some superhero work, but who knows, maybe this will be useful against whatever plan those bums in the government make to take me down. I run at Gavin, cape at hand. I tried to mimic the moves I saw him do, but for some reason, the cape was either being flung away from my throw, or Gavin would rip it away before I could make my move.

  It was frustrating and hopeless after several attempts. Eventually...after countless failures, I finally managed to make it work. I rushed him, which led to him shifting sideways effortlessly. Unfortunately for him, I was expecting that. Instead of pulling back immediately, I let the cape collapse.

  He reached for it. But immediately pulled my cape back and threw it right into his face, covering his eyes. Instead of immediately attacking, I moved and accelerated past him. Gavin ripped the cape off his eyes, preparing to block, only to find that I was nowhere in sight. He then turned around.

  Too late.

  I dipped low and drove upward, leading to me cracking his jaw as I landed an upper cut. His head snapped back, which caused him to have shaking legs before he dropped to his knees with a grunt. He pulled his head down, showing me his toothy grin. At the corner of his mouth, a faint trail of blood leaked.

  "...There it is. Nicely done."

  I took deep breaths, catching my breath. "You didn't make it easy."

  He got up, though it's clear my uppercut affected him quite a bit as he was struggling with his balance. He noticed my stare and smirk.

  "Worry about little ole me?" He chuckles. "Don't sweat it, kid, let's continue!"

  I rolled my eyes, but took a deep breath before charging forward again. By the time we finished our training, it was night, and unfortunately for me, Red Justice was absent today.

  RED

  Unknown Facility...

  JUSTICE

  "Yes, they are preparing and training for their next battle with Red Justice." Nine stood straight, his face seemed more demure, rather than his confident, passive expression.

  He was in a large grey factory, where countless mechanics, roboticists and scientists worked together to create weapons for the American Monarch. Speaking of, Nine felt a cold sweat hit his nape as he stared at the large rectangular structure before him. It stood about fifteen feet tall and was made out of smooth obsidian marble. Etched was a black and white symbol of the American flag.

  He was alone with them. In a dark room, only illuminated by the unnatural glow of the flag.

  "Very good. This will be our last opportunity to attack our Walking Supernova problem." The American Monarch's voice echoed in the dark room.

  Nine swallowed a lump in his throat, forcing himself to remain calm. "If I may ask, what happens if they fail?"

  "...It doesn't matter, while I prefer for them to accomplish this mission. After all, it's the last chance before we have to wait for him to exit that accursed country for us to re-attempt capture. Not to mention, those from Esper Society and Moonlight World are getting antsy. All of them want Red Justice to be killed or captured for their own agenda." The Monarch paused, letting it sink into Nine.

  "But, right now. Getting data on his abilities and strengths is beneficial. We could learn it. Besides, even if Squad Nova fails again, I trust the Chimera SURVIVOR will be operational?"

  "Yes. It's ready to go and be used along with the Mark Nine Combat Bots and Drones."

  "...Good. Continue what you're doing. It won't be long until we strap the Crimson Angel to see how it ticks..."