Bastion’s power was to create walls. Concrete and stone, as well as less tangible forms. Basically, if anything fit the concept of a ‘wall’, he could create a near-unbreakable version of it. Bastionbank - the bank he gave his name to - was defended by the most powerful firewalls on Earth. Similar firewalls guarded SURGE and Stratospheric Guard systems. Back in his days as a surface-bound hero, Bastion has proven his mettle in combat. Old videos showed him in combat against the aliens, controlling a whirling vortex of chrome and steel that interposed itself between plasma blasts and the hero. The video was titled ‘Bastion’s Wall of Blades in action’. A later video showed him facing off against Sarnak troopers, with their blasts bouncing off a translucent dome. A shield was, essentially, a wall of force. Perhaps equally impressive were his takedowns of some of the more dangerous villains of the day. The mind-controller Abhratabhra had discovered that it was possible for Bastion to create a psychic wall, blocking out external influences. A much-touted ‘epic fight’ between the two had boiled down to Bastion marching up to an increasingly confused supervillian and knocking him out almost effortlessly with a single blow. At the time, few inventors - or elementals - had mastered the use of shields. What was known, however, was that Fortress Skyguard was the centre of the shield bubble surrounding Earth. So when multiple missions by five different air forces failed to place a man on the space station, Bastion was recommended to lead the first ultrahuman expedition onto Skyguard. The rest, as they say, is history. The Quartermain Heights garage had a computer lab and an Unplottable wi-fi connection that I’d set up a few weeks ago, just in case I needed to videocall someone in my ‘official’ capacity. This would be the first actual test of the system. Hopefully the gods who ran the AT&T network wouldn’t cut Bastion short in mid-sentence. At precisely four o’clock, the screen lit up. Bastion wore no mask. Once, there might have been a need for it, when he still had enemies on Earth. Today, there were few indeed who would threaten the man who - for all practical purposes - led Earth’s defence from the Hierarchy. “Good day, Belessar.” Bastion’s voice rumbled. “I heard you did well at London.” “Thank you, sir.” “No need for formality, young man. Call me Bastion. We are all fighting the same fight, after all.” “Certainly, sir - I mean Bastion.” “Do you know what this call is about?” I shook my head. “You’ve recently risen to number fourteen in the leaderboards. I make it a point to personally speak to everyone who falls within the top twenty. Do you understand why?” “I’m afraid not.” The hero steepled his fingers. “The Sled chooses whom it wills. The algorithm behind the leaderboards evaluates a number of factors, ranking each ultrahuman in terms of their probability of being called up by the Sled. It’s not an exact science, but if you are in the top twenty - assuming you don’t die in the interim - you will likely find the Sled at your door within a year.” “I… see.” “So I must now ask you an important question. When your turn comes, will you take the Sled’s offer and come to Skyguard?” I frowned. “Is refusing an option? Doesn’t the Sled just follow you around until you agree?” “Like a lost puppy, I’m afraid. As you described in your paper on Nachtsturm.” The realizations crashed through me. One, Bastion knew my identity. Two, he’d researched me enough to read my high school paper… “Don’t look so surprised. Some of the best hackers in the world have worked with me. Finding your identity took about three hours.” “I don’t suppose there’s any point in denying it.” “You could try, but it doesn’t matter. Once upon a time, I had a name too.” He waved his hand dismissively. “We leave certain things behind when we come to Skyguard. Our old lives, our pasts, our glories and our crimes. None of it matters up here.” “Is it true that coming to Skyguard erases the crimes of your past?” “You’re asking for your friend.” “Agni deserves better than what was done to her.” “She may or may not; that’s not for us to judge. What is recognized - universally - is that if you are chosen by the Sled, then you are no longer accountable to the laws of individual nations. Agni can come here and serve, and the world will judge her in the same breath as Nachtsturm. By what she achieved in the only fight that truly matters.” “She risked her life to protect London. She killed tens of thousands of the aliens.” “If she comes up here, she’ll probably double the number. So, too, would you. I’ll note that you haven’t answered my question.” I swallowed. “It’s not that I don’t want to. My sister still needs my help. Besides, does what we want really matter?” “We are not slaves, Belessar. We are free people, serving a cause that matters to each and every one of us. If you do not wish to be here - if you do not wish to serve - then I will take that into account, but it is for the best that you decide what truly matters to you. “I want every member of the Skyguard Fifty to be willing to stand with us, in body and mind. Given the nature of what we fight, that matters a great deal.” “I’m sorry, I wish I could say yes immediately….” “Don’t be. You're not the first ultrahuman to have doubts, nor will you be the last. So how about I tell you a little about how we address concerns such as yours?” “Sure.” “For starters, once you are on Skyguard, the Stratospheric Guard will list your family and dependents as special protectees. That means they get round-the-clock security cover.” “My father and sister will be protected by the police?” “The Secret Service. The Codices state that the security cover offered to the families of serving Fortress Skyguard personnel has to be at par with that of the head of state.” “... Even for villains?” “Especially for villains. Also, if the ultrahuman’s family chooses to resettle in another country, that country bears the burden of protection. There’s never been a case of a country refusing to provide protective cover to a Skyguard Fifty member’s family.” “And afterwards?” “The protective cover continues for as long as the family member is alive.” “What about money?” “All your assets get transferred to those relatives who you want to give them to. No wealth tax, inheritance tax, or such.” “... friends?” “You can make a living will, if you wish. Dr. Magnetic did something along those lines; before he came aboard Skyguard, his assets were split between his son, daughter, and a long-time family friend.” “And all criminal cases get dismissed.” “Dismissed if you’re not convicted, pardoned if you are. You come on board Skyguard with a clean slate.” “Will the Pakistanis still be after Agni?” “They won’t dare. Her identity - and that of her family - will be kept secret by the Stratospheric Guard; even if it leaks, any reprisal would be taken very seriously by the Guard - and by me, personally. From the moment Agni is called by the Sled, any actions against her are an attack on this institution itself. Does that answer your concerns for her?” “.... Yes.” “Good. Now what would you like to know for yourself?” “I think it’s mostly covered. Unless…. I don’t suppose you know my true name and identity? Before I came to Tanisport.” A wry smile passed across Bastion’s face. “Unfortunately not. Whatever event brought you to the city appears to have also wiped any trail leading up to your arrival.” “It wiped my memory, too. I’ve no idea who I was before a year ago.” “That’s interesting. In some people, the process of gaining powers results in a loss of memory.” “I thought that only happened in bad superhero dramas.” “It’s rare; about one in a thousand cases. More common in tropical countries, for some reason. It would explain why there’s no record of anyone with your powers before this year.” “I’m trying to find out about my past, but no leads so far.” Bastion pursed his lips. “I have some other data which may be helpful. Though I’d take it with a pinch of salt.” “Anything would be appreciated.” “Reconnect has a facial recognition algorithm which claims to be able to trace people’s ancestry. He found a match with a missing person. In India.” My thoughts whirled. “Who?” “A Mr. Aman Sen, from the city of Mumbai. Missing since April 2020.” It took a moment for the words to sink in. “You found a match… with someone who’s been missing for sixty years.” “Yes. Apparently you bear a striking resemblance to him. Reconnect’s theory is that he might be a grandparent. Or great-grandparent. The algorithm isn’t very precise.” “Thank you. I really appreciate this.” “Consider it a favour. In return, when the time comes, I’d like you to commit wholeheartedly to Skyguard.” When your time comes to stand, or stand aside, what will you do? I nodded. “You have my word.”