It wasn’t exactly confirmed that specific training best led to ‘natural’ upgrades in skills. One incident didn’t exactly indicate a strong pattern, especially as far as the ‘scientific method’ was concerned. However, I had learned that humans- and thus presumably similarly situated humanoids- seemed to have two modes. Though it was difficult to find an actual study, ‘learning mode’ and ‘performance mode’ came up commonly once I found myself searching in the right area. I theorized that being in the former was required or at least helpful for improving my abilities.

Training would theoretically incorporate the former- but I was also often trying to win a particular spar. Experimentation usually led to failure in such contexts, so I likely had limited that to some extent. Of course, I had still improved many of my spells and abilities over the course of time, even in contexts where I required the maximum effect. People could always learn, there were just some contexts where we might learn more.

-----

I still had points to spend, waiting for me. Given that I had not leveled up again, however, it wasn’t unreasonable to hold onto some. I was already level 27 now, and I couldn’t keep getting levels every day or week. My experience gain hadn’t exactly slowed down, but rather my requirements increased- and I was not encountering so many troubles outside of my level range. Which was good, because one major screw up could result in no further levels. Not all villains were willing to play nice- or heroes, really.

I brought the decision to Captain Senan, including my options relating to area coverage. “I could focus on options for incapacitating weaker people, pure damage with Chain Lightning, or area control like Black Tentacles. What do you think would fit in best with the squad?”

Captain Senan stroked his chin, “An interesting question. One that depends on many factors, including opponents. I think they would best be held in reserve until after our squad meeting.”

“Will we discuss it there?” I asked.

“Something like that,” he said. With my excellent ability to read people, I discerned that maybe, possibly, there was something he didn’t want to say yet. But I wasn’t sure why.

But I wouldn’t have to wait long. Today was the day, after all.

We all sat around a table that had more room than we needed. However, the meeting rooms were designed to accommodate at least two squads, so there wasn’t exactly anything smaller.

Captain Senan sat at the head, with myself and Midnight on one side mirrored by Acid Man and Shockfire. Rocker was the last to join, taking a seat in the position just past where Midnight was sitting on the table. “I’m finally back up and about, and we’re just sitting?” Rocker asked.

“We’re not just sitting,” Captain Senan shook his head. “But I suppose it will begin like that. Congratulations on your recovery, by the way. And, more importantly, the completion of your parole. You’ve officially paid back the city for your previous destruction. You could even return to being a private citizen.”

“No way,” Rocker flatly denied. “There’s no way I’m going to have powers and not use them for something. Though maybe I’ll be a bit more selective…”

“The Brigade never intentionally places our members in mortal danger, but there are always risks that come with engaging in combat. Not that most of our powers are much use for anything else. Nobody needs a guy who can freeze things when we’ve got technology that does it just fine. At least, in a non-urgent context. Which brings me to what I have to say,” Captain Senan looked over all of us seriously. “Squad C-4 was always a temporary arrangement. A few rookies who came in together and needed some experience, not a group carefully selected for maximum functionality. We’ve done well, but…”

“We’re being split up?” Acid Man frowned.

“Potentially,” Captain Senan admitted. “I want to be clear, though. Nobody’s being transferred away from HQ- unless that’s what you want. We’ll still see each other, be able to train together, and we might even fight alongside each other. But for the near future, we’ll be exploring how each of you fit into the Power Brigade. That’s not just fancy corporate speak. There are plans to test everyone’s synergies with different squads, and this is the time you can try out different roles. Not everyone wants to be on combat patrols, and some of you have developed abilities that might provide you different opportunities.” He looked at me. “Then again, I’m sure some of you will prefer to stick with combat, even if others won’t.”

I felt something from Midnight there. Something that had come up before, and likely wouldn’t ever go away forever. We’d have to talk more, about what he wanted. Ugh, and I already had to look for a new apartment.

“Do we have a choice in this?” Shockfire asked.

“Yes and no,” Ice Guy explained, “If we ultimately decide we want to remain a squad with the current members, the Brigade will be happy to let that continue. But before that we still need to spend time exploring options. Some of us might be suited elsewhere, and it’s better to not lock anyone into a position just because you all arrived at similar times.” He continued looking over all of us, “Some members of the Brigade prefer to go without a squad, remaining flexible and filling in holes where required. And diversifying everyone’s experience should help people pick what they actually want.”

-----

Everyone would be going their own separate ways, at least for a while. With the exception of Midnight and I, who were a special case. It was assumed that as Mage and Familiar we should remain together, and we were certainly more effective that way.

Being able to feel his emotions didn’t make me suddenly better at subtlety, so I just said what I was thinking. “Do you not want to fight alongside me?”

The fact that there was any hesitation at all concerned me, but I was also aware that his feelings were more complicated than that. Our emotions echoed back and forth for a bit before he provided his answer. “Alongside you? I would fight any day. I owe you my life, and would hate for yours to come to harm if I could prevent it.”

Formal speech for a serious situation. “But…?” I prompted, knowing there was more to be said.

“I might prefer to remain in a support role most of the time. There are things I’d want to fight for still, but not necessarily the city in general.”

“Okay,” I said.

“And I know I got my powers from you so using them selfishly contacting home or just staying around HQ might be kind of a waste…” Midnight continued with his strings of words. “But they are really convenient for opening doors and storing things.”

“Makes sense,” I nodded.

“Obviously I’m going to continue helping you though, because I owe you a lot and-”

“Midnight,” I cut him off. “It’s alright. Did I help you out when you needed it? Absolutely. Have you saved my life and helped me out many times since then? Of course. Keeping track of who owes the other anything is pointless. We’re friends.” I paused, giving him a chance to respond, but he didn’t. “If you’re concerned about the bond, don’t be. I wasn’t ever intending to have a familiar, and if I had one that wasn’t you I wouldn’t have gotten nearly so much in return.”

“Still… you spent your limited points to empower me…”

“Everything is limited,” I shrugged. “Time, effort, levels and points. It was a bigger deal back then, but now… a total of 17 points isn’t that bad. Since I can grow in this world, in more than one way, that’s long since stopped being a burden.” I shook my head, “So don’t worry about paying me back more, and just do what you want to be happy. And if that involves trying to return home with Gate, just wait uh…” I shrugged. “I’m not sure how long. But eight levels should be sufficient to actually cast it.”

“I…” Midnight seemed unable to find the right words. “I don’t want to just stop. But I also don’t want to end up in fights against people like Gloom or Shooting Star.” His face wrinkled, “But you’re gonna end up there again, and I don’t want to not be there to help you out.”

“I understand,” I nodded. “You’ll likely always trail behind in levels, just based on how this seems to work. You’ve generally had to use mana for whatever support spells we decided.”

“I don’t mind that,” Midnight said.

“Sure, but it left you with few options after that. You did great taking out Stargirl’s dog, by the way.”

“Thanks,” Midnight said. “Actually, that’s part of the reason I don’t want to just… stop? I don’t know if there are other Bunvorixians up to something. Or maybe they’re just here, but they might still move against me. This city isn’t exactly safe, so I wouldn’t want to stop growing stronger anyway. I just might do things… differently.”

“If I knew you’d remain a mage, I’d be totally willing to cut off the bond. You deserve your own power. Unfortunately we can’t know what would happen. I also can’t promise I’ll develop my powers in the ways that would suit you best, but I don’t have any intention of breaking the bond if you wanted to go do your own thing.”

“I do still want to help you out,” Midnight said.

‘Same here,” I said. “So if you need anything in particular, let me know- and I’ll do the same. Maybe it doesn’t mean you riding around on my shoulder… all the time. Just sometimes.”

-----

“Congratulations!” Great Girl said after I later came to meet her. “You’re no longer a rookie. As for a stint in our squad… well, I’m usually the only one directly tangled in the action anyway. We’d be glad to have you on for a bit. Obviously that wouldn’t mean anything long term, but you’d get to experience a different dynamic. You’ve met Mono and Grasp, right?”

I nodded, “I saw him on the roof, and Grasp was at the scrying.”

“We’ve also got Map.”

“I have seen her in the database,” I said. “Why was Grasp not with you on Christmas?”

“Grasp was busy stopping a robot santa in the sky,” Great Girl shrugged, “I couldn’t really contribute to that, and then I saw Gloom and…” she grimaced.

“Map is a coordinator, is she not?” I asked. “Was Mono also unavailable?”

“Look,” Great Girl said. “We might be a squad, but we’re also kind of just a loose group of independents. It generally works for us, lets us cover more ground and all that. And normally I would have waited for support.”

“It is especially important when encountering your archrival,” I chastised.

“Yeah, I get it,” Great Girl crossed her arms in front of her. “Anyway, the others don’t really get into action up close, so having you around might keep me in a better position. You’re not a bruiser, but you can handle yourself in a melee. It would be nice to see how we work together outside of specific moments. I know your abilities would benefit me, at least. It’s just whether we can help you- or if there’s someone who you mesh with even better.”

“Maybe Shockwave. Or rather, Shockwave really likes Haste. Do they have a team?” I couldn’t remember one coming up.

“Not a permanent one. Speedsters can do most of what they do alone- show up somewhere first or quickly provide backup. Not saying they don’t benefit from a team, but it doesn’t really work for reactive missions.”

“Makes sense,” I nodded. I wondered if looking strictly by numbers if hasting Shockwave might provide the most incidents resolved. It was only a bit more than a minute at a time, but there was a significant radius that could be reached in such a time. Perhaps it simply wouldn’t work out, and without Physical Freedom Shockwave became more of a liability at Hasted speeds. Though they were working on that part. Maybe we’d test that at some later time, though I knew that couldn’t be my permanent station. No fighting.