Persona Strikes: UN.C. North America: A Resonance Saga Side Story

By Brett P. S.

While the heroes of the UN.C. battle epic evildoers overseas, Simon constructs a different kind of super powered team. Meet Marcus (Rhythm), Eugene (Scarf) and Katherine (Crane), an oddball pack of heroes whose resonance powers run on loose ends and bits of string as they defend North America from Persona, a new threat strong enough to test their limits and more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brett P. S.
• Release date: Jul 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311083494

Brett P. S.

Brett Sawyer (1986), born in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, is an indie author who writes short stories & novellas, from science fiction to heroes. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s in education and currently teaches game design at Lake Land College.Short Change arrived at retailers in November of 2014, the start of a hero series where ordinary people gained powers over oddly specific domains, following the story of a shorter than average hero who can telekinetically manipulate small units of currency.Short Change is free on “smashwords.com/profile/view/BrettPS” and Barnes & Noble along with other samples and short fiction.Brett’s popular releases in science fiction include “Dark Station” and “Tales from the Colony: An Interstellar Saga.” Dark Station is a deep space thriller set aboard an abandoned orbital science station where Ben Gebbley and his crew secretly investigate the disappearance of the original staff before others come to claim the lost assets.

Book preview

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

EPILOGUE

Chapter 1

Goose Chase

Manhattan, NY

A rustling wind blew across Marcus’ face as he crouched on the corner of a roof of a rundown flat. It was a late afternoon, and the soon to be setting sun casted an orange hue that streaked across the clouds and complemented the myriad of streaking headlights on the vehicles below. His vision centered elsewhere, however, on an alley sitting beside a bakery that opened two days ago. Marcus wanted to sample some of the pastries, but he never mixed business with pleasure.

Marcus Stanley, otherwise known by his code name, Rhythm. Marcus wore a pair of loose jeans and a red blazer, as if his fashion designer was a time traveler from the eighties. His confidence was enough to compensate for any poor choice of fashion, and he wasn’t about to wear a skintight spandex suit like those old comic book heroes. They could have written that one thing differently, in his opinion.

Scarf, Crane, you two see anything yet? Marcus said, pressing a finger to his earpiece.

Marcus surveyed the alleyway from where he was perched. Shadows grew out of it, and nothing much else appeared to the naked eye, but she went in from the other end, so she was coming out one way or the other. Leblanc wasn’t going to get away this time.

Still nothing, Eugene said.

Nothing as well, Katherine replied.

Something’s wrong, Cecil began. She’s been standing in my blind spot too long.

Marcus ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed his arm across his stubble. Marcus boasted an exemplary physique, even for a boxer, and though he hadn’t practiced parkour, his resonance allowed him proficiency in the art. He could plant his feet on the ground in a matter of seconds if the situation called for it, though that wasn’t his job this time around.

Bandwidth, are there any other exits in that alley?

No, Cecil said. I checked the schematics.

I’m going in, Katherine said.

No, you’re not, Marcus stammered. We need to think this through and act as a team.

Your thinking is going to let Leblanc get away. I’m going in, so cover me.

Dammit Crane!

Marcus jumped to his feet and flew across rooftops while he maintained his focus on Katherine’s concentration. She kept it high enough for him to spot half a mile away, so a few dozen yards paled in comparison. Katherine drew her sword before entering the alleyway, and a dozen paper dolls fluttered behind her like birds flapping in the breeze of a cold Manhattan street. Marcus came to a halt when he felt her stop, the mental focus falling while her attention drifted from end to end of the alley.

She’s gone. This is your fault, Rhythm.

My fault? Marcus yelled. How is this my fault?

You strategize too much, Katherine said. Haste wins battles.

I don’t need a lesson in leadership right now, Marcus said.

He ran his hand across his face and wiped some of the perspiration from his forehead. Maintaining his resonance took a toll on his physical stamina, and the last few hours of keeping it up took more from his body than caffeine could replenish.

May I interrupt? Bandwidth said. I’ve located our target.

Where? Marcus asked.

Two blocks north. One block east. Next to that coffee shop you like so much.

Ix-nay on the coffee shop, Bandwidth.

Marcus broke into a swift stride, trailing behind Katherine and Scarf from above for a full view of the blocks. He leaped across rooftops in a single bound and watched as the two of them split up for a pincer attack. Not half bad. The best part was he could position himself so Leblanc had nowhere to go.

He learned from the last time her short-term memory wipes showed a weakness. Though vastly effective at making herself appear invisible, her range was about fifteen meters. Marcus doubted she could keep both Katherine and Eugene busy looking for long, and even if she demonstrated the ability, Marcus could disrupt her concentration with a long-range psychic attack.

Since when did you start drinking coffee again? Katherine chimed in over his earpiece.

Recently.

I heard he’s building up some courage,