Archenemies (Renegades, #2)(57)
Thunderbird was frowning, but in a way that suggested contemplation more than disapproval.
Ruby strode toward a cluster of open stands by the range and the others followed, but Nova lingered behind. Her fingers delved into the pouch on her belt and wrapped around the vial inside. Her attention latched on to the open briefcase, left unattended.
The Renegades were focused on their new weapons and the targets before them.
Lifting her chin, she sauntered toward the drinking fountain on the far side of the hall. She bent over it, taking a long draft of water. When she turned back she saw Genissa and Thunderbird still deep in conversation, and the rest of the patrol units focused on their training.
She made her way to the target range. As she brushed past the case, her hand darted out and snatched a single vial from the case, just as quickly replacing it with the decoy.
Her pulse thrummed as the sample of Agent N disappeared into the pouch on her belt.
Nova smiled, and in that moment, Adrian glanced around at her. He noticed her expression and smiled back.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ADRIAN INSPECTED THE GUN, turning it over in his palm. He wasn’t a total ignoramus when it came to projectile weaponry, but for all the time he’d spent training and even drawing his fair share of pistols, he had never been comfortable holding one in his hand.
It hadn’t bothered him until recently. Maybe his frustration had started at the carnival, when Nova had killed the Detonator with a single shot to the head, while he had hesitated. Or maybe it was because now, with Agent N becoming a part of their regular practices, patrol units would be expected to be accomplished shooters, and he knew he was far behind the curve on that particular skill.
Not that he was the only prodigy who was less than impressive when it came to modern weaponry. Lots of Renegades preferred to use their own powers in lieu of handheld weapons. He knew plenty of patrol members who had never fired a gun. So he couldn’t be that terrible, he told himself. He couldn’t be the worst.
But then Nova appeared at the station next to him and he couldn’t help sneaking glimpses at her while she checked the cartridge and the safety mechanism as efficiently as if she used tranquilizer guns every day.
Once she was finished with her inspection, Nova raised the gun, gripping it in both hands, and fired. It was so fast Adrian wondered if she’d even bothered to take aim at anything, but a glance at the targets showed her dart dead center in a distant bull’s-eye.
On Nova’s other side, Danna gave a low whistle. “Nice one, Insomnia. I sure am glad you’re on our side.”
Nova seemed to tense at the comment, but didn’t respond.
Exhaling, Adrian lifted his own gun and assessed the range before him. There were bull’s-eyes of all sizes, some near and some far. And there were other targets, too—from cardboard cutouts of known villains from the Age of Anarchy to an assortment of bottles, cans, and ceramic pots. He noticed that there was even a framed WANTED poster of Hawthorn.
Bracing for the recoil, he aimed at the poster and fired.
His dart sailed over the poster and struck the distant wall.
“Psst, Nova.”
Adrian turned. Oscar was peering around at Nova from the last station.
Nova fired another dart, knocking down a glass bottle, then lowered her gun. “Yeah?”
“Do you think you could make me a cane gun, like one those fancy gentlemen in the Victorian era had? Because I’m thinking, if we’re all going to be carrying guns now, I might as well keep it classy, right?”
Before Nova could answer, Thunderbird came by, pacing behind the line of firing stations. “While you’re familiarizing yourselves with your weapons, I want each of you to consider how you and your teammates can make use of your unique abilities in conjunction with the Agent N projectiles. Being able to think fast on your feet and use the resources available to you during an altercation is often what separates the victorious from the defeated.”
The sounds of darts peppering the targets thumped in Adrian’s ears.
“Try to think outside the box. How can your abilities make more efficient use of Agent N?”
“I could dip my tail in the serum,” said a nasally voice. Raymond Stern, or Stingray—one of Genissa’s team members. “It would pierce an enemy as easily as a dart would.”
“Good, good,” said Thunderbird. “That’s an excellent point. Though I think it will be most prudent to stick with the darts for now as, of course, if you happened to have even a small cut on your tail it could become infected with the serum, and we wouldn’t want that.”
“Wouldn’t we?” Nova muttered.
Adrian shot her a knowing smile.
“Anyone else have any thoughts on using Agent N cohesively with your powers?”
“I could tip an ice spear with it,” said Frostbite. She pulled her gun’s trigger and sent a projectile into the face of the Rat—a long-dead Anarchist. “Or freeze an enemy’s feet to the floor, holding them immobile while we administer the shot.”
“Very good,” said Thunderbird.
Nova lowered her gun and spun away from the targets. “Except,” she said, practically yelling, “if you can freeze someone’s feet to the floor and render them immobile, then they’re no longer a threat and there’s no longer any need to administer Agent N. In that case, the prodigy should be arrested and put under trial.” She turned fiery eyes on the Councilwoman. “Right?”