Red Meteor Quest Part 12

You leap from one roof to the next. Last night's date with Saya was pretty nice. Though this morning Sadie was sleeping on top of you...which was something you didn't really hate. Quite the opposite in fact,you really liked it, you ended up waking up before her and couldn't help but hold her close. A shame she had work today...but it was getting to be the point where she'd get off and start heading home! Things have been quiet around town lately, with you and your allies all handling crimes if they sprung up. As such, your patrols for the day were...rather uneventful. It's getting to the point that you sort of want something bad to happen.

Okay maybe that wasn't a good thing to say, heck even Sally hasn't gotten in contact with you...actually you do think that you ever gave her any proper way to contact you or your friends. As you continue patrolling along, you get an influx of messages from your friends.

From Saya: H-hey uh,wanna hang out? Let's get some more Ramen!

From Jane: Hey Big Guy! Let's go to this club I know, I can get us free drinks!

From Sanja: Hey Red...I'm a bit nervous about these powers of mine...can you help out?

From Sadie: Hey are things okay? Um...sorry for sleeping on you...I-I'll make it up to you!

You are Red Meteor and you've got a lot of free time today, besides, strengthening bonds with your allies is something that is equally as noble as defending the populace from evil!

>Go see Saya
>Go see Jane
>Go see Sanja
>Go see Sadie

>Go see Sanja

Well, the others seem okay, but Sanja, from the message you received seems a bit more tense than everyone else. True enough, Sadie,Jane,and Saya all adapted to their new responsibilities rather well, but the same can't be the norm for everyone you meet. As such, you send messages out telling the others you're hanging out with Sanja for a while and helping her get acclimated to her new powers.

Sadie: Oh...well okay then
Jane: Darn...I'll get  you next time big guy!
Saya: Well that is important, maybe next time.

You send Sanja a message asking where she is, with her saying she's at 10 men burgers grabbing a bite to eat. You leap from one building to the next until you're near there, powering down into your more casual outfit. Sanja waves you over once you exit the alley next to the store.

"Red! There you are!" The woman runs up giving you a nice hug, which you happily return

"I came once you called, what's got you nervous?"

At this Sanja shuffles uncomfortably  "Well I mean...I keep dipping into shadows, sometimes I'll walk by and nearly fall into one...and I keep getting these weird feelings."

"Feelings? What feelings?"

"I don't know exactly, it's like...I can feel feelings?"

"Uh..."

"No, I mean, other people's feelings! Like, their shadows are giving off weird vibes! Like, Melanie a girl  work with had a divorce recently and she feels sad...so when I started getting that from her shadow and then I touched and I felt sad...?

>So what vibe do I give off?
>You feel how people are feeling from their shadows?
>Wow this is confusing...
>Other/Write-in

>So what vibe do I give off?

"So what vibe do I give off?" You ask

"Oh...um...we-well let's see!" She chirps moving behind you and dipping a finger into your shadow. She stops for a minute as she shudders

"That...that was a unique feeling."

"What did you feel?"

"Well I mean...it felt good, really good and there was another feeling in there too...um..."

"Well, what was it?"

"I...well...Red, did you and...Sadie do something last night?"

"Me and Sadie?"

"Yeah...I felt a bit of...arousal in there. Did something happen?"

She's looking at you with a bit more pointedly now and you aren't entirely sure if you want to answer truthfully to that or not. You've seen some of those Japanese shows on TV where the guy did something like that and then they were badly beaten. Heck, Sadie was about to hit *you* when you woke up, but she caught herself in time.

>Nothing happened!
>Well when I woke up she was sleeping on me
>Jealous?
>Let's forget about that. We need to get your powers all worked out
>Other/Write-in

>Well when I woke up she was sleeping on me
>Is that bad?

"Well, when I woke up she  was sleeping on me."

You see Sanja's eye twitch for a moment, it's not unlike the twitch that Sadie has whenever she gets really angry at something, though you don't sense that same kind of feeling from Sanja...

"Come again?"

"I fell asleep on her couch and then when I woke up  she was sleeping on me."

"On you?"

"Yes."

"Not next to you?"

"There's not enough room for that."

"I see..."

"Is that bad...?"

"Not...really...I guess. But um, we'll talk about that later, for now can't you help me practice with these powers?"

You think on that, there's not really any dedicated  training spots you can think of. You can go for probably using it on some unsuspecting passerby, but that could lead to some trouble...

"Well...anything?"

"I'm thinking, give me a bit here..."

"Oh! What about that Sally girl, didn't you guys say that she was helping you guys out? Can't we go see her?"

>Now that you mention it, let's go
>I dunno, I still don't trust her too much
>Other/Write-in

>Now that you mention it, let's go

That's...actually true. You forgot about it due to everything that happened, but Sally did give you the go ahead to come by her place and use it as a sort of training grounds for you and your friends.

"Now that you mention it, let's go there." You say with a nod as the two of you begin walking towards the large building that is Sally's place of work. Sure you can see it rather clearly, but it's actually a bit of a walk to get there from your current location since people are heading home from work. And that makes having all the streets to cross be a pain in the ass.

Eventually, you're at the front of Crescent Inc. This place looks downright massive from the outside and looking up makes it look like it's piercing the clouds.

"Well this is the place." You say to Sanja

"It sure is big, I've never been inside before though, so it must be massive."

As you both step inside, Sanja is rather surprised at just how many people are going to and fro and doing whatever, even as most workers would be heading home by now. Without wasting a beat,you walk up to the receptionist desk, a woman taking notice of Sanja.

"Oh Sanja! It's good to see you again!" She exclaims

"Helena! How are you?" Sanja replies happily

"Oh I'm doing fine, and who's your friend?"

"His name's Red Mete-Red! Just, Red, He's a friend of your son's!"

"Uh...what?"

It's at this moment that Sanja realized that Helena had no idea Tim knew who you were. You shoot her a look, but quickly rebound.

"What she means is I know your son from the shelter, he's volunteered there a few times and he and I get along rather well."

"Oh I see, well what can I do for you?"

>You're Tim's mother?
>I'm here to see Sally
>You and Sanja seem to get along well
>Other/Write-in

>You're Tim's mother?
>I'm here to see Sally

You stop for a minute...Sanja called this woman Tim's mom, which causes him to stumble.

"Wa-wait you're Tim's mother?!"

"E-er...yes? Is that a problem?"

"Oh uh...no...I uh,wasn't expecting Tim's mother to be so beautiful!" You blurt out in your efforts to try and cover your slip up.

"O-oh...thanks, you aren't bad looking yourself." She replies with a blush

"Now now, no taking this one from me Helena." Sanja winks

"I-I didn't mean...u-uh what are you both here for anyway, I'm still on the clock!" She exclaims quickly changing the subject

"Oh, we're here to see Sally." You say regaining your composure

"Really? You don't look like the normal businessman..." she says looking at your outfit

"Trust me, just tell her that Red has come to visit."

"Well alright, one moment."

She taps some numbers on her phone before picking it up "Yes there's a Mr.Red here...? Oh, is that so? Alright, but he has a friend with him. Oh? Yes Ma'am."

She looks back to you both "You're cleared to go, I'll see you for dinner tonight Sanja?"

"No thanks, I'm going out with Red tonight?"

"You are?"

"We are?"

"Yes we are." Sanja states, with that you both head for the elevator, it looks like you you're going out with  Sanja later on... You step off the elevator and walk towards the same room Sally was in before. She's working on some random invention of hers, a small robot sitting on the table when she turns to you.

"Oh hey, there you are...so this is what you look like without the armor...What can I do for you?"

>We need a place to train Sanja's powers
>Did you find anything in regards to Koffman?
>What...are you doing?
>Other/Write-in

>We need a place to train Sanja's powers
>Did you find anything in regards to Koffman?

"Well we need a place to train, but have you found anything out in regards to Koffman?"

"Ah right, I've been meaning to tell you, but I didn't have a way to contact you. I've got a few ideas on how to fix that, but to answer your question I have found some interesting things digging through that shitty security of his, namely that chemical you claimed was his, but that's neither here nor there, go ahead and go to the training room."

You nod and have Sanja follow you down to the room  where you fought that giant robot before. It's completely fixed up from your previous bout here as if you've never been here at all.

"Alright!" Sanja yells trying to hype herself up "W-what do we do first?"

"Well, what do you wish to do first?"

"I don't know, you're the leader!"

You sigh, "fine, how about we..."

>Do some sparring
>Maybe Sally can set up an obstacle course or something?"
>Stay normal and play with your powers a bit more
>Other/Write-in

>Stay normal and play with your powers a bit more (77+5=82)

"Well stay as we are now, try to fool around with your powers a bit more alright?"

Sanja nods at you and the two of you begin playing around, Sanja gets as creative with her powers as she can, managed to make a whip like object with her shadow, her trying her best to catch you with it. She even begins dashing from whatever shadows are around the room as you pelt small  fire balls at her.

It's actually really hard to hit her...she's a lot more agile than you though with those shadow powers of hers. Eventually, she's even able to sneak up behind you somehow and she happily wraps her arms around your chest.

"Hehe...got you Red~" She coos

"You did, you're getting the hang of it!"

"You know Red...I can feel your feelings~"

"Yes and...?"

"I know you like this~" She locks her arms around you and doesn't let go of you...why are women so clingy?

>Well...yeah
>Remove her hands and move on to more training
>Say nothing and stay like this for a moment
>Other/Write-in

>Well...yeah
>Why do women always want to hug me?

"Well yeah I do...I'll never get why women always want to hug me..."

"You're joking right...?"

"Uh no, I don't get it, I mean I don't hate it, a good hug can be just what the doctor ordered but..."

"Goodness Red, have you looked at a mirror lately?

"Well I did when my helmet came off."

"Any other times?"

"No, what would the point of that be?"

The woman is left speechless at this words as she lets you go.  She just continues staring before breaking out in a fit of laughter.

"What's so funny...?" You ask confused

"Nothing, nothing, Shall we move on then Red?"

"You got it, Next we'll..."

>Have a one on one match
>Go through an obstacle course
>Other/Write-in

>Go through an obstacle course (99,92)

"Let's try an obstacle course next." You say

"Really...? I was never really good in gym class." Sanja sighs

"Don't worry, you're stronger now, remember?"

"Well that is true...but there's an obstacle course in here? Are you sure?"

"Let's find out, Hey Sally!" you call out to ceiling, all is silent for a few moments before Sally's voice echoes throughout the room.

"Yeah what is it?"

"You got an obstacle course here?"

"Yeah, hang on a sec."

You wait for a few minutes before a large section of the floor lowers and what it's replaced with is a bunch of tires and ropes

"Huh, that's it?" You say looking it over, "I was expecting more."

"Sorry about that, wrong setting!" Sally calls out to you

What replaces it instead is a course filled with spiked walls smashing together, several rings of fire that you'll have to jump through and a pit with narrow log passage...well at least that's normal...or so you thought, as you see a large robotic crocodile leap up and snap its maw shut several times. Lastly is a stone wall meant for climbing...with automated turrets pointing all over it...

"There! That's the perfect setting for you guys. Nice and easy right?"
You sweat drop as Sanja glares at you "Yeah...easy."

You nervously chuckle and decide to get to it. It took some convincing on Sanja's part, but you managed to get her to go along with it. Eventually you both step up to the plate. You go first, managed to dodge the spike walls with ease by sliding under them, you perfectly dive through the fire rings with ease, your manipulation fire allowing you to not get hurt. You easily make it through the log section the croc coming up for a bite, but you punch right in the nose, sending it back down.

Finally at the climbing wall, you move quickly the turrets not being fast enough to keep up with you and so their aim is off, when you're finished you return to Sanja's side.

"Well, your turn!" you say smacking her back

"Y-yeah...my turn." Sanja is actually slightly better at all of this than you. She manages to dodge out of the way of the spike walls and keep her momentum up, creating a shadow her to carefully toss her through the rings, once at the croc, it comes to bite Sanja, only to be smashed into the wall by a shadow leg she'd made. Lastly is the wall, she actually never triggers the turrets, since she used the shadows from the climbing stones to get by unscathed.

She runs back to you smiling "That was a lot easier than I thought!"

>I'm impressed
>This really was easy mode
>Wanna go again?
>Other/Write-in

>This really was easy mode
>Wanna go again? (66,97)

"That really was easy mode after all." Sanja smirked

"Want to go again?" You say smugly

"Very well, I bet you I'll win~!" Sanja giggles

"Oho, I do enjoy a challenge!"

And so you both get to it, you go again, but this time you aren't as lucky. You managed to do fine on the spike wall and rings of fire, but when you get to the crocodile again, you slip and fall into the water.

Oh crap.

The Croc's eyes glow red before it starts chasing you around the pool, you hurriedly swim as fast as you can away from the thing kicking up waves as you do. You just barely get out before it gets you in its teeth. You're completely wet now. This...takes you out of the competition for sure.

Sanja however does it perfectly just as before, while you heat up your clothing to dry them off. She walks over to you grinning.

"Have a nice swim there Red?"

You say nothing as you stand up, which causes her to laugh. That's...probably enough training for now.
"Hey you two, mind coming up here? Got something I wanna try." You hear Sally say, the two of you head back to her office where she's waiting

"Good to see you, I'm done with Proto's maintenance, so I  wanna take a look at whatever you use to make that armor. Do it."

You both look at one another before transforming, to which Sally's eyes gleam

"Hehehehehehe, this is good, this is good! Oh what I'd give to take that armor apart and examine it!"

The both of you look at her a bit scared, she's laughing...a lot.

"But that will have to wait. Turn back to normal!"

You oblige her and transform back, Sally quickly walking over and snatching Sanja's communicator from her wrist.

"I see...so this is it...the both of you stay right there!"

Sally hurriedly begins examining the thing, actually taking it apart a bit before she pokes at it with a few tools. The whole process takes a few hours, and you're sure she stuck something inside, but eventually she stops and returns it to Sanja.

"That thing is quite the piece of tech! Whoever made it must be a genius...maybe even more than me. But I was able to make it so I can contact you all. That thing has a sort of data sharing function on it, so it should update you all sooner or later on the information I've got with Koffman."

"Seriously?" You say looking at  your own

"Yup, that'll save me time on explaining to you all."

"That's good to know, thanks." You say smiling at her

"Right, if you two got nothing else to do, then go home already, I got over things to work on."

"Actually, I've been meaning to ask about that." Sanja interrupts

"What do you mean?"

"Ms.Crescent...how long have you been awake? You look dead tired."

"Uh...I lost count around...last week?"

"Last week?! How did yo-"

Your words are cut off as Sally falls to the ground, snoring. You both stare at her in silence before you pick her up and find a room labeled 'Bedroom' to take her into. It's pretty normal for a bed room, just a bed and some windows, not much else is in there. You tuck her in before silently closing the door.

"Seriously, she's up for a whole week and a half?! She's insane!" Sanja says as you both ride the elevator back down to the front lobby

"Insane...but dedicated." You say

"Well I suppose, but that doesn't matter right now, what does~!" Sanja giggles walking in front of you, "Is where you're taking me for the night, I've earned it,especially after that training!"

Well she did do a good job...

"Fine, we'll do anything you want." You say

"Yes! I want to..."

>Fine, lets go get some food
>How about some drinks at home?
>Go dancing!
>Other/Write-in

> Go dancing!

"I wanna go dancing!" Sanja declares

"Dancing?"

"Yes,I know a place, so lets go okay!"

She takes your hand, leading you to a place for the both of you to transform in secret. With that done, the two of you head out, you following her wherever she goes. Eventually, you reach a place in the Northern part of town that has a neon blue sign on the outside. The name of the place being 'The blue room'. There's a line of people outside already and you and Sanja land in an alley nearby, returning to normal and getting in line.

"I hope they don't ask for ID..." Sanja mutters

That's a good point, you don't really have anything like that...except for being Red Meteor, which probably wouldn't really fly.

Thankfully, the bouncer doesn't care about you, since you look old enough to be there. Once you get inside, loud music reverberates throughout your entire body, and Sanja drags you off to the dance floor and gets to dancing.

Shit you've got to dance too now don't you?

>Bust a move! 1d100+5

>Bust a move!(75+5=80)

You don't waste any more time and get into the groove with Sanja, the two of you dance together rather well. You're thanking yourself for watching Episode 29 of Hype Hero Force Five. It actually was dance centric with a weird break dancing monster that would make the Force dance with each song it played,because of that they had to fight while dancing until they could defeat it. Thankfully,  it is perfect for this situation, or at least, it's the best you've got to go off of.

Sanja is impressed with your dance moves and cheerfully dances along with you. You can't help but have your eyes float downward and take notice of her backside...which causes you to blush a little, you shouldn't be doing that, you're a hero...! But boy does Sanja have a nice ass.

You managed to control yourself though and eventually stop looking, though Sanja then pulls you over to the bar table.

"Don't worry, I'll cover this!" She exclaims telling the bartender to send over a few drinks.

"Down the hatch Red!" she says holding her glass while staring at you. You've never really thought about drinking...but you get the feeling that you'd maybe enjoy it if you tried it.

>Roll to not pass out!2d100+5

>Roll to not pass out!(55,105)

Well, down the hatch! You and Sanja both down your drinks, and you feel a bit warmer after that...well, warmer than usual. You only have one more, but Sanja downs at least 15 glasses before stopping, which earns her looks from a few club goers. You can't say that you expected her to down that much, she doesn't even seem fazed by it either.

"Now that's the good stuff! Don't you want some more Red?" She asked while giggling

"Uh...no I'm good, I think I'm well enough with just two."

"Hmmm, we need to work on your alchohol intake, A man needs to be able to drink more you know."

You aren't sure if her definition of drinking matches the standard one or not, heck Sanja may be feeling it, because her words were becoming more heavily accented than they were normally.

"Come Red Come, let us dance more!"

You aren't even given the choice as she drags you along. You dance some more, Sanja a lot more into it than usual, and several times you think you feel her butt brush up against your crotch.

When the dancing is done, you have a bit of a rough time walking, however, Sanja leads you out deciding that the night is young and there is more to do.

"We must have more fun! Red, let's do something else!"

You notice her face is a little bit red now...

>I think we should get you home
>Let's get some food
>Movies!
>More drinks!
>Other/Write-in

Let's get some food

"How's about we get some food?" You say

"Áno Jedzme!" Sanja says rather loudly as she locks arms with you.

You decide to not take her to a restaurant, instead, settling for some cheap chicken from a food truck when you find it. It's surprisingly good all things considered and Sanja downs it all with ease when you both go sit down at a table near a small eatery across the street...before going back and grabbing some kebabs and happily munching away on that as well.

As you sit there and eat you can't help but wonder about the locket she's wearing around her neck. It's pretty nice looking.

"Hey Sanja...?"

"Ah yes friend Red, what is it?"

>ask about the locket
>Meh, never mind, enjoy the food
>Other/Write-in

>Meh, never mind, enjoy the food

You think a bit more and decide against it, it's probably nothing important so you decide to forget about it.

"Nothing, just hope you enjoy the food."

"Ha of course! The food is plentiful and delicious, it is truly tasty!" The woman laughs as she chomps away. You spend some more time conversing with her and once you're both done eating, you stand to leave, but Sanja nearly falls over.

"Whoa there, you okay?" You say grabbing her arm

"Ya, I am fine." She mutters "Come friend Red! We must do...do moooores!" she slurs sanding up straight.

You notice her face is even more red than before

>Take her home
>Movies next
>Karaoke!
>Other/Write-in


Okay yeah, she's totally drunk, or at least, the booze from earlier is catching up with her. Red in the face? Check? Slurring words? Check, the only thing she hasn't done is throw up yet, which you honestly don't want to have happen. Really, you don't wanna end up smelling like puke...

"I think it's time we take you home." You say flatly

"No-noooon, I can still go and have fun, the night is young!" she declares before stumbling over again.

"Yeah, no. You're going home and getting to bed." You state similarly to how Sadie does when she puts her foot down. Your resolution is enough to shake the black haired beauty's own resolve and she reluctantly agrees. She can't even walk straight though, so you're forced to transform and carry her the rest of the way to her house, while she (drunkenly) spews out random nonsense.

Once you're at her door, you return to normal, setting Sanja down so she can get the lock to her house open. After a few minutes of fumbling with the key, she opens it...you're too concerned for her safety and so you get her inside and on her couch. Once she's there, you turn to leave, she should be fine now.

"Reeeeeeeed~!"she calls back

"Yes Sanja, what is it..."

"Cuddle with me~!"

"Uh...what you ask?"

"It's no fair...Sadie got to cuddle with you...so I wanna do it too~!"

She opens her arms wide "Come to meeeeeeee~!"

>Do it
>No you're too drunk!

>Do it

Well it is rather late..

"Alright fine." You say, to which Sanja happily throws off her clothing.

"Yaaaaaay~!"

"Sanja what are you doing!?"

"Well...Sadie did it like this too right? So I wanna do it too!"

"Yeah but I didn't know."

Sanja shoots you the puppy dog stare...and you can't help but give up to her...damn you hate that look. Well mostly, you hate how you lose all power when put against it.

"Fiiiine."

"Yaaaaaaay~!"

You move to join her on the couch. Where the girl promptly gets you into a proper position to sleep. It takes all of 5 minutes before she's out like a light...and you feel yourself drifting off as well. You should probably call Sadie, but you'll be fine...if you don't call for one night. Besides, you're at Sanja's place, so you should be okay.

>TO BE CONTINUED IN RED METEOR PART 13