All posts by Jim Zoetewey

Arc 11.2.0: Too Close, Book 11: Motor City Intern

Interlude: Too Close, Part 1

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I’m on vacation and will be posting a story that a few of you may have seen in one of The Good Fight anthologies. It’s about one of the ways that the Heroes’ Leagues’ secret identities remain concealed.

Ben walked down the hall to the front lobby. It was his last day, and he wouldn’t miss the place. It felt too happy. He passed posters on leadership, inspiration, and teamwork before stepping into the room.

The receptionist, a woman with peroxide blond hair and blindingly white teeth gave him a smile as fake as the rest of her. “Leaving early for lunch, Mick?” Continue reading Interlude: Too Close, Part 1 →

Arc 11.1.5: The Power

The Power: Part 14

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Shaking his head, Dayton looked Jody in the eye, “This isn’t just about saving the Heroes’ League. We don’t know that’s even on the table. This is about the bigger picture. If we can’t trust that these guys are on the level, we shouldn’t go into business with them.”

Jody’s mouth twisted, “But that’s the thing, it seems like these guys are on the level. We’re considering dropping out of this because maybe, just maybe, they’re going to be taken over by evil people so secretly that we’re not going to notice and then take over us. Right?”

Dayton paused, but then said, “Pretty much, but I don’t think that’s as dumb as you’re making it sound. We know the Dominators have done it. That’s exactly what people pay them to do.” Continue reading The Power: Part 14 →

Arc 11.1.5: The Power

The Power: Part 13

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As much as Sean wanted to argue, he knew better. He’d said so himself, “Yeah. You’re making it sound like you’re leaving.”

Mindstryke tapped the rollup screen and the end farthest from him rolled into the shape of a cylinder. Then the cylinder shrunk enough to fit into the pouch on his belt. “I am. The group of you need to talk about this and make a decision. This is your team and I’m not on it. You need to start making big decisions as a group and with this one you’ve at least got a few hours to think about it.” Continue reading The Power: Part 13 →

Arc 11.1.5: The Power

The Power: Part 12

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Jody looked up from the rollup screen on the table, “That name does not ring a fucking bell.”

Shaking his head, Dayton said, “I don’t know who that is either.”

Sean felt sure he’d heard the name before, but he couldn’t say where or when.

Sydney spoke up while he was still thinking, “Nick’s mentioned him. We were talking one time about the Cabal and he mentioned that Martin Magnus was someone he still hadn’t figured out.” Continue reading The Power: Part 12 →

Arc 11.1.5: The Power

The Power: Part 11

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With a brief hesitation, Sydney nodded, adding, “I sent it to the League’s server. You should be able to just pull it up.”

Before Sean could think, he found himself already talking, “Wait, you recorded us and put the video on the League’s server. That’s private! It’s none of their business—”

Interrupting him, she said, “It’s on my private folder on their server. I’m not sharing it with everybody—just Mindstryke. And I let the AI watch too because he was going to whether or not I said he could anyway. Besides, he said he’d help.” Continue reading The Power: Part 11 →

Arc 11.1.5: The Power

The Power: Part 10

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For a little while, no one said anything. Then a door opened at the end of the hall and Sydney walked into the room, blond hair bouncing on her shoulders.

She looked over at Sean, “I can’t believe that guy was real, and then how the lawyers were like ‘yeah, I know he’s crazy, but what can you do’?”

Sean blinked, “You heard all of that from your room?”

Shaking her head, she pulled out her phone, “I bugged the room.” Continue reading The Power: Part 10 →

Arc 11.1.5: The Power

The Power: Part 9

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Sean couldn’t place the man’s accent, but he knew the man’s first language couldn’t have been English.

Ignoring that for the moment, Sean said, “Thanks, I’d like to think we have great potential. Come on in,” and waved them forward, continuing to hold the door for them.

Dayton walked past, saying, “Thanks, man.”

Martin Greatson walked past without saying anything, ignoring everyone—including the lawyers, and walked with quick, efficient steps toward the wide windows, staring out at the city. Continue reading The Power: Part 9 →

Arc 11.1.5: The Power

The Power: Part 8

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“Are you kidding? It’s like,” he looked at the time on his comm device, “11:23 am? They’re almost three hours early. What’s going on?”

Sydney scowled, “I don’t know. Do you want me to ask them?”

He shook his head, “No, but this is a complete pain in the ass. What the hell is wrong with these guys? They didn’t do this last time.”

Looking up from the screen and down the hall in what he guessed was the direction of the living room, Sydney said, “You’re repeating yourself. Just get back here, okay?” Continue reading The Power: Part 8 →

Arc 11.1.5: The Power

The Power: Part 7

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He hoped he could trust them.

Walking over to the window, he looked out on Grand Lake. It wasn’t a bad view, The top floor of the building hadn’t ever been part of the factory. It was a collection of metal and mirrored glass built on top of what had been the roof. This section was close to the edge.

Over the fence around the edge, he could see all of Grand Lake’s downtown, Grand Lake itself, Lake Michigan, and where the city turned into suburbs. Continue reading The Power: Part 7 →