Henchman for Hire [Custom Superhero world, you are a Mook]

Looking over the list, I narrow it down one by one, ticking them off one by one, I don't want to work for some toddler, or some brute with little brains, much less someone highly unstable like Trickster, in the end only one stands out to me, setting the paper down I meet his eyes.

"I would like to work for Calculator."

He nods at my choice as if approving it.

"Strict, but won't kill you if you fail and instead you are just sent back to us, they don't exactly have a set uniform so what you are currently wearing will work just fine, we will send you out in two hours, go ahead and rest for a bit in the back, follow me, sir."

Standing up, he takes us to the back, where there are four airships, each colored a different color, Silver, Green, Blue, and Yellow.

"You want the silver-colored one, that will take you Aznatoth."

Heading over to it, there are a few cargo boxes, so I take a seat on one of them while I wait, occasionally a new person appears in the back, eventually, a man walks over, with short shaggy brown hair, glasses, and blue eyes, he is wearing a dark green hoodie with black sweatpants.

"You heading to Aznatoth too?"

"Calculator, what about yourself?"

He holds out his hand, he has a rather relaxed posture.

"Name is Dave, I picked Turbo, Calculator was only looking for a singular Henchman."

"Fred, and really?"

"Oh yeah, it was told to me when I tried to select them myself, just a bit of shitty luck."

"So you skilled in anything? I am decent in close-range weapons, tactics, and talking."

"Mechanics, unarmed if you count brawling, and construction."

I continue talking to Dave, and he is quite a good guy, apparently, like me, he was dealt a bad hand in life, both his parents were heavy drug users and saddled him with a large debt, he is technically on the run from debt collectors as he tries to collect enough cash to pay them off, and if they try to screw him this time he should have enough influence to fend them off.

As for me… well, fair is fair and I tell him my own issue.

[][Flaw]
-[] Similar to him, debt collectors were hounding me, best to get out of the country really while I try to earn $450,000.
-[] Believe it or not, I am in an inheritance race yet I want nothing to do with it, despite that people think I am, and always want to kill me.
-[] Younger sibling is actually a rising hero, and you know how absolutely rotten they are, and how they made your own life a living hell, you are leaving the country to escape them.
-[]Everyone always hated you because your mother was a famous supervillain, always thinking you would be another her despite the fact you don't even have her powers.
-[] You accidentally fucked over a villain big time, and one that happens to hold a grudge, they want you dead and it is why you are leaving the country.

As we continue to talk, we become well acquainted with each other, I wouldn't say friends, not yet at least, but if we meet again, that would be nice.

Eventually, more people walk over, and a voice speaks over the PA system in the hanger area.

"Please board your ships, we will be departing soon, repeat please board your ships."

As the 20 of us board the airship, I look around, the inside of it is more of a miniature commercial airplane whose design went out of design over 400 years ago, this flight shouldn't take longer than half an hour really.

Taking a seat near a window, I put my bag onto my lap and try to take it easy, yet I can't help but feel nervous.

As we take off, I look out at the land of Xenola and bid a silent farewell.

---

The ride over is rather smooth, as the ocean below blurs by, yet as we start to approach the mainland, the first thing I see are giant windowed skyscrapers, followed by the smoke of pollution being caught by large machines who filter the pollution and recycle it in multiple different fashions, I can't be bothered to understand it right now.

Noticing I am the only one who noticed, I speak up.

"Suggest you all get ready, I say we have five minutes if that before we land."

People give nods or small "thanks" as they begin grabbing their stuff, or waking others who took small naps on the way over, the airship flying into the docking area of a warehouse, as we get off there is a woman in the same suit as the rest of Henchman for Hire.

"When I call your name come to me and we can get your papers settled legally, Abraham!"

The man walks forward, as he gets a passport and a small receipt, this goes forward until she calls my name, grabbing it quickly I give a small nod and glance at the paper.

Just a small proof of purchase showing how I bought an airship ticket when in reality this didn't cost me a dime, it says I am currently in Veranad, no idea what that is or how important it is.

As I walk out of the warehouse, my phone goes off, and swiping it open it is from an unknown number, a text message.

"Head to 42 Westburrow Street, Safehouse is there, the codeword is "Baseball". "

Plugging the name into a map application, I begin walking, not like I have the cash for a taxi.

As I make my way through the crowds of people trying to head somewhere, I can't help but take in the sight of the massive skyscrapers that cast a shadow on the city, each trying to be taller than the last, like some sort of ego contest, many famous names litter them, Toxicity the Hero who uses gas to attack his enemies, who also runs a large pharmaceutical firm, Firestarter who specializes in laser, radiation, and heat-based technology, Ruster who makes high tech cars, weaponized suits and many, many, DNA locked weapons.

I could go on and on and on, but little point really, and these are just the popular ones that anyone would recognize.

Eventually, my phone notifies me that I have arrived and I look up at the building, a small three-story office building, walking inside a male receptionist looks up at me, a chiseled face with slicked back blonde hair and a charming smile with blue eyes.

"Welcome, how can I help you?"

Perception check 4: Success.

Nametag, Adrian, got it, how can I word it… got it, best to act normal.

"Come on Adrian you recognize me, have you seen the baseball game lately? I am afraid I haven't had much time to watch it lately with work."

His eyes gain recognition.

"Right, yeah I haven't seen the game, Adam, go ahead and head to the basement, the guys are waiting for you down there."

Entering the elevator, I press the only basement floor option as the elevator descends to B1.

Doors opening, it is a simple hallway with doors all around, glancing around for a brief second I start to walk before a door opens, an older man with balding brown hair turning grey, he is well into his 40's and wearing a dark blue janitor's outfit.

"You Fred?"

"That is me, sir."

He motions me to follow him.

"Name is Max, short for Maximillian, welcome to Safehouse 27."

"How… many safehouses are there?"

"Honestly? No one besides Calculator knows, if a mole ever pops up, they can't screw them completely over."

Entering a cafeteria room, he walks over to a microwave and punches in the numbers 532 as a hidden door opens up.

"Here you are, everyone else is waiting for you, remember the code 532, it changes weekly."

I thank him and walk inside, and see a large hidden complex, at least large enough to fit an entire gym, concrete pillars fill the room, and while it doesn't give off a "Home" feeling, it is a place you can rest your head, looking around a few other people are talking and chatting, people walking in and out of doors, gazing around I decide to walk over to a group.

"Excuse me, I am new here, is there a barracks or anything?"

They stop and look at me before one speaks and points to a door on the far left.

"That way, the center door over there leads to the gym, the one on the far right to the mechanics' workshop, and past the workshop is our command center."

"Alright, thank you if I can ask… what exactly is the pay here?"

"Well… you have a week to get settled in before your first mandatory mission, after that you get about $6,500 a month, and that is after taxes, higher-ranking members get more cash, but it is good money, you should have gotten paid when joining so might want to check your bank account."

That is… wow, that is a lot of money per year, way above average.

Taking out my phone and looking, they are right, my bank account doesn't have $3.12 anymore, but $6,503.12.

Thanking them, I head into the barracks, it is mostly regular bunk beds, with storage lockers next to each one, it takes a minute to find one with my name and I don't seem to have a bunkmate… yet.

Putting my bag into the locker, I make sure it is locked before I let out a sigh.

Ok, Fred, you have a week before your first mission and some cash, what do you do?

You have six actions, anything with a + can be taken multiple times.
[][Safehouse 27]
-[] Head to the gym, practice what? Unarmed or Melee. +
-[] Head to the mechanics' workshop and practice that? +
-[] Interact with your fellow co-workers, wouldn't be bad to make friends. +
-[] Head to the command center, maybe you can learn anything useful.
-[] Head out onto the city and explore. +
-[] Head out into the city, buy something, what? No guarantee you will find it.
-[] Lookup information online? About what? +
-[] Head to the local library? Study what? +
-[] Write-in? Get QM approval first.