Chapter 4
She stretched herself out.
It was a long time coming for Melee. She had made these plans for weeks, and has finally gotten the time to fulfill them. "Melee Brawler?"
She paused and turned to see Genos approaching her. "Long time no see, thank you for helping me Genos."
"Indeed, it was the least I could do. Master Saitama is out with Hunter, I believe Hunter is explaining to Master where he needs to go and fill out his reports as the new S Class hero. It is a shame though, recently the association has been losing funds. He just got into the S Class and took a pay cut."
"He's not the only one, the whole M Class did for the sake of the other heroes. I doubt Garou wanted to do it, but I think it is his way of making amends for what he did." After she finished stretching herself, he turned to Genos and gave a nod. "Let's do this. Good thing there is more than one crater in City Z."
Genos nodded. "Very well we will begin the testing. First, speed. Are you ready?"
"Bring it."
"GO!"
As fast as she could run, Melee dashed down the crater, to the wall and then back again. "TIME!" he called. "6.7 seconds. You are 3.4 seconds faster than the last time."
She took a moment to catch her breath but nodded to the result. "Second, strength. How are we to measure this?"
Melee paused. "Well, the last time we did this, I punch Saitama. It broke the sound barrier and he moved about three meters."
"Master is not available to test your strength."
Melee looked about and found the perfect way to test it. She has been using the same crater to exam her power. Among the thickest part of the stone, there are areas with cracks going up the side of the wall. She made those each and every time she got stronger to test her strength. "Guess we will use the rock to see." She announced.
Genos nodded. "Indeed, the first time you landed a strike, you managed to gouge out the wall by a good twenty feet. The second time, you controlled your power better and made it crack a quarter of the way up the canyon wall. Most recently you got it half way. Perhaps we should move farther down to where we have not tested your level yet."
She agreed. They walked down the barren land, until an area came to focus. "This is some of the most solid bedrock, the stone is far stronger than where your previous attempts have been tested. Are you certain about this?"
"Let's do it."
Melee approached the stone wall. She made a fist and took a deep breath. "Ready Genos?"
He nodded. Melee summoned her strength and struck. She could hear the impact echo around her, the stone cracked before her eyes. She watched as it moved all the way up the side, yet was distracted by it. Genos rushed in and grabbed hold of her as the wall gave way! The whole thing crumbled to the ground! When the dust settled, Melee froze. "Whoa…" she whispered.
"Depth forty two point five feet." Genos said. "Heighten, six stories. Weight, six tons at the least."
"No way…" she whispered. Melee knew she was strong, but to become THAT strong?
"Melee…" Genos said but paused. She turned to him curious as he tried to find his words. "Why are we testing your strength and power? I do believe I know the answer, you suffered a near death experience recently, haven't you?"
She fell silent to it all, Genos however continued to stare at her, wanting the answer. There was no point in hiding it, especially from him. "Have a seat." The two sat on the flattest rocks around, Melee sighed to it all. "You figured it out huh?"
He nodded. "Ever since the triplets, Pac, Hunter and Alley were born. The strange vital signs I was registering, I originally thought were of Garou… but they were yours. The vitals spiked and suddenly dropped. Melee, it's dangerous for you to have children, isn't it?"
She nodded to him. "It can be deadly," she whispered. "My mother… it took her three years to recover after she gave birth to my older brothers. From what dad told me, she died giving birth to me. Apparently, it's a bit of a Brawler curse for the girls and those who marry into the family, which may explain why they are only born once a generation. I had cousins and aunts all die quite young, usually during childbirth. I guess, after Garou turned me into this… I got stronger."
"Perhaps, or could you have taken in Garou's healing factor as well? I know you absorb the power of those you touch, you are always with him have you felt a change in strength when you make skin contact with him?"
She laughed. "If that were the case, I would look just like him!" yet she shook her head to it all. "No, I think it's the monster strength that pulled me through, maybe even some of Zombieman's power too. I won't lie though. Each time I have children; it sucks the energy right out of me. The last brood, I couldn't even get off the ground. Bang had to help me to my own bedroom!"
"If this is all true, why haven't you told Garou?" he asked. "He must know the strain it puts on your body, as well as the danger you are in each time you become pregnant."
"No… no he can't know." She said. Melee was certain of that. He cannot know the truth. "What would he say? Genos, he is my mate because he knows I am a strong and powerful woman who can handle herself when I have to. I can protect him when he needs someone to watch his back… how do I tell him that having children can be deadly for me? Who am I to deny him a family?"
"You don't see the rationality in telling him something as important as this?" he asked. "It is very illogical to me, if he knew the truth, you would no longer have any more children, correct?" she nodded to him. "If he desires more children, you fear he would not want you as his mate any longer?"
Her face turned red with embarrassment. She nodded to that fact as well. "What could I tell him?" she questioned. "How would you tell him?" Genos was about to speak. "Don't answer that,"
"You asked the question"
"I did, but I also know that you are very blunt with your comments. I don't want to hear it." She sighed to it all. "I don't think I have to worry though, as long as Garou gets a daughter this time around, we won't be trying for more kids."
"And if he doesn't?" Genos asked.
"I'll cross that bridge when I get there."
Suddenly, Genos paused as he shot to his feet. "Proximity alert!"
Melee stood quickly as well, but saw no one. "Are you sure about that?"
"Indeed, it resonated over here." Genos went to investigate, behind a rather large bolder he peered about and searched. "Yes, there was someone here. And they left this behind." He came out from around the rock holding a blanket with food packed within. "I know those footprints anywhere, Garou was here."
Melee froze, her heart nearly skipped a beat.
Did he just hear everything she told Genos?
