Nyte's Point of View
Why the hell was headquarters summoning her again? Just so she could watch this week's newest evil scheme?
"Bring forth Chemistry Mutant Mole!" bellowed Jellyfish Hitler with great pomp and circumstance.
The odors of Stinger's lair stung her nose just as badly as last time. Nyte looked around, expecting something ridiculous, like a woman being transformed into a cyborg Dodge Challenger.
I'm sure this'll be good for a laugh, thought the Spider Queen. From what she heard, Future Hero made quick work of last week's little science project.
"Mrs. Winchester!" she called out in surprise.
Her high school chemistry teacher walked right in, looking suspiciously normal, save for a bit more muscle definition and slightly sharper fingernails.
"I have come, my mistress," the teacher bowed solemnly.
***
"And that, class, concludes our lesson on AGS, or anabolic gynogenic steroids. If any of you," she looked to the little crowd of girls from the football team sitting in the back, "have any questions, you can see me after class." Mrs. Winchester made it sound more like an advertisement than an invitation.
"Should I try taking that stuff?" Becca asked as they walked out of first-period chemistry. "I'm trying to get big, after all. Steroids would make it easy."
"Absolutely not!" Rich scolded her. His sister flinched at his harsh tone. "You don't need to, sis, really. You're still in the newbie gains phase, for one, and two, it's illegal! Have you been reading that book I bought you?"
The guilty look on Rebecca's face said it all. Rich clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"Becca! Starting Strength by Margaret Ripptoe is the bible of weight training. You need to have at least a basic grasp of the mechanics of the major barbell lifts. I've had you doing body squats for a month, but a proper squat in the gym is something very different. Getting your form dialed in could take a while. You're studying at lunch, no arguments!"
"Yes, Dad," his sister replied insolently. At least they were close enough now that they could bicker like this. Having a twin was actually pretty cool.
Later that day, Julie was waiting like an obedient puppy at the head of their usual lunch table.
Such a simp, he thought fondly. "Come here, you!" They hugged. The tall girl was strong. Rich felt that one in his ribs.
"You promise you won't hug any other girls, right?" Julie's eyes were a little wild, almost like Nyte's. It was probably nothing.
"I promise," Rich confirmed, then held up one finger, "other than the blood relative exception." He patted Becca on the shoulder and shoved his copy of Starting Strength under her nose.
The tall girl nodded firmly. "I can live with that."
They'd reached a modus vivendi of sorts. While not officially dating, Julie got "hello" and "goodbye" hugs, a privilege denied to other girls, and Richard promised not to consider other female suitors. It was enough to sate the captain of the football team, for now.
"Is that Starting Strength?" asked Jessica the redhead in interest. She certainly looked like she'd read it. PLUH's starting center was built like a brick shithouse, bigger than any muscle mommy Rich could remember from his old world.
"Yep! Becca and I are hitting the gym after school. I'm putting her on a 3x5 squat program."
Jessica looked thoughtful, passing a scrutinizing eye over his sister. "She has a good frame, and if you are any indication, Rice family genetics are pretty good. If she fills out, the o-line could really use her. Our pulling guard is about to graduate. Make sure to work on quickness and agility, not just bulking."
Perfect! Rich was a lineman in his old life, too. He knew just how to train his sister.
Julie smiled widely. "Would that make you happy, Rich? Getting your sister on the team?" The girl's smile was slightly unhinged, and her purple eyes burned with an inner fire, making her look like Nyte again. Why, if she just put on some goth makeup...
He shook his head. No way, Julie and Nyte were nothing alike.
"What about our bet?" he asked, looking over to make sure Becca was studying in between bites of last night's leftover meatloaf.
"What bet?" Julie looked genuinely surprised. "Oh, that bet. Forget it. I said that before I knew you. You know I just want to make you happy, right?" The brunette leaned over the table, fixing him with an unwavering gaze.
Whoa, her silent pressure was no joke! "Right," he gulped. Rich noticed Julie staring as he took a bite of his own leftover meatloaf. "You can have some too," he offered.
Julie squealed in happiness. "You mean I can eat some of your home cooking?" Her pupils dilated, making her purple eyes look almost black.
He sighed in exasperation. "Yes," he said, and cut a hunk off of his food before placing it on her tray.
As soon as it was within her grasp, Julie started inhaling his meatloaf, moaning in appreciation with every bite. "Shoo guuud!"
This was a slippery slope, he knew. Given this much, Julie would just demand more over time. Maybe he needed to bring lunch for her as well. It would be easy enough to just make bigger portions for dinner so there were more leftovers the next day. His body was still seventeen, he reminded himself, and Rich was a grown ass man mentally. He needed to be careful and not create unrealistic expectations. Still, Julie's overbearing interest was nice, in small doses.
After school, he and his sister climbed into the silver Toyota Tacoma Rich named "Tony". Tony only became "Future Roller" when transformed.
When they got to the LA Fitness downtown, Rich was annoyed to see both squat racks in use.
"Oh yeah! Girl, you swole! Pound that shit out!" cheered a crowd of young women. They were repping 315 like it was easy.
Seeing Rebecca's crestfallen look, Rich turned to her. "Don't feel bad if you can't do that today, or even 225. You'll be surprised how much stronger you'll get if you stay consistent. Now start warming up: walking lunges, forward, back, and side to side, just like I showed you."
Watching her, he noticed his sister's pudge around the midsection was almost completely gone. She was wearing a sports bra and short shorts while he was covering up much more skin. Reverse world modesty rules still kept surprising him. Boys wore rash guards to the beach! A shirtless male would be arrested for indecent exposure.
The crowd of girls still wasn't finished with the squat rack once Becca was done warming up. "Hey, ladies!" he called out. "Mind if we work in?"
Big mistake in hindsight. The girls immediately forgot the weights and started swarming around him like a school of piranha.
"Hey, cutie! You in high school?"
"Want to be my study buddy?"
"Or my workout partner?"
They were getting closer and closer, until one reached out for him-
"Hey, don't touch my brother!" yelled Rebecca. The crowd immediately turned on her.
"Mind your own business, girl, we were only saying hello," one said snidely.
Yeah, right. Once Rebecca got close, the others weren't quite as bold, but the atmosphere was still charged and a little dangerous. Rich didn't want to have to transform just to fend off some horny gym girls. Everyone was staring. From what Rich understood, this was a mostly egalitarian world. There was some sexism, but he shouldn't have to be fending off sexual harassment around every corner.
"Leave them be, ladies," Mrs. Winchester said.
Oh thank god. An adult was here.
"Come on," their teacher told the crowd, "we can discuss supplements in the locker room."
Suddenly, Rich felt that weird, corrupt feeling, but everybody was acting normal, mostly. The girls filed out of the weight area surlily, but at least they finally had a squat rack to themselves.
Rich clapped his hands. "Okay, Becca, let's get it!"
***
An hour later, he was supporting his exhausted sister as she leaned on his shoulder. "My legs are on fire," she complained.
"You'll get used to it. It would be way worse if we didn't spend a whole month on just bodyweight. You'll see, a few months of hitting the gym three days a week and you won't even recognize yourself!" Rich promised, trying to keep a positive attitude. Still, his sister was heavy.
They limped along, passing the women's locker room, and this time the corrupt energy was unmistakable. Stinger had been there!
Why now, of all times? he wondered. Becca could hardly walk as they made their way to Tony the truck. Grunting in exertion, Rich helped Becca into the passenger seat, then he saw that same crowd of girls run out gym. They were swollen, with visible veins and red, bloodshot eyes. The undertone of their skin was vaguely green.
The hand of Stinger was unmistakable. Rich hopped into Tony and transformed:
"From a future dark
To a post not set,
Stinger hasn't won just yet,
With Pureheart Power, a noble mission,
Come forth! Future Hero! Henshin!"
"Future Roller! Take Becca home, then come back! I'll deal with these thugs!"
Their house was only five minutes away. He could handle-
BOOM!
One of the green girls clocked Future Hero with a sledgehammer blow, sending him sprawling. These chicks were strong!
Rolling with the punch, the henshin hero vaulted to his feet, retreating so as not to be surrounded.
"Get him!" one cried.
Moving laterally, Future Hero baited them into scattering, then lunged in to pick them off one at a time.
HUCK! He nailed one with a punch to the solar plexus, sending her plowing into the pavement. Up close, they looked even greener.
"You're strong, but dumb!" he taunted, weaving in and out and taking targets of opportunity. As long as they couldn't get close enough to hit him, Future Hero would be fine. Chipping away at these green goons would be a good exercise in divide and conquer.
"No! No! Not like that!" scolded a completely green woman with a lab coat and syringes for fingers. "Let me help you!" She stabbed one of the girls with a syringe, making her even greener and meaner. "Witness the power of Chemistry Mutant Mole!"
Once manageable, these girls just about doubled in speed and strength. It was almost enough to overwhelm Future Hero!
"Too slow!" One missed him with a punch, but it was a close miss, clipping the air beside his helmet. He returned a counterpunch, nailing her right behind the ear, but the green girl barely reacted!
"Oh crap!" Future Hero started running. "Future Roller, where are you?"
Future Roller was actually right around the corner. The screeching tires of the purple truck renewed Rich's hopes. Without being asked, his faithful companion ran down the green muscle women that were chasing him, sending them flying like bowling pins.
"No! My test subjects!" lamented the monster woman. Suddenly, they were in a quarry for some reason.
Future Hero leaped onto the hood of Future Roller! "You've given your last test, Chemistry Mutant Mole!" He channeled Pureheart Power into his fist and launched himself at the villain. "Future Punch!"
A sound like a gunshot echoed off the quarry's walls as sparks flew from the point where Future Hero's fist made contact. Chemistry Mutant Mole staggered backward, smoking and flashing, "I give...you...an F..."
She exploded in a vomit of technicolor, leaving behind only the body of Mrs. Winchester, their chemistry teacher.
"Stinger again! Your evil will never win! Future Hero will make sure of it." Rich vowed to avenge all the innocents lost to Stinger's oppression. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, Future Hero would always be vigilant. He would protect humanity, no matter what!