The Rise of Dark Flame

by Damien Benoit-Ledoux

  “And I’ll think about this new super suit idea. Maybe you could use two suits, maybe you only need one, I don’t know. As cool as the BMX outfit could be, running around in BMX gear isn’t necessarily superhero-cool, you know?” Mr. St. Germain mused.

  Quinn smiled. “I like the colors, a lot. Maybe your brother could engineer some kind of flexible suit. I think the Spider-Man approach works, if it’s light and portable while remaining durable and strong, I can keep it in my backpack or hide it some other way. Then, I can change into it whenever I need to.”

  Mr. St. Germain nodded. “Okay, practicality and efficiency, got it. I’ll talk to my brother and we’ll get some new ideas going.”

  “One more thing,” Quinn said.

  “What’s that?”

  “I think the suit should have a hood or cowl like the Flash does on television. I like the way he can pull it off his head and hang it like a hoodie.”

  Mr. St. Germain nodded thoughtfully. “So the headpiece wouldn’t be a second piece, like Batman has?”

  Quinn shook his head. “Right, that’s just more crap to carry around or lose. I don’t need a utility belt, either. I just need to throw on a suit that hides my identity.”

  “Okay, we’ll work on that. It’s too bad you couldn’t have a couple of secret hiding spots around the city.”

  Quinn grinned. “What makes you think I don’t? Where do you think I go when the city needs Blue Spekter?”

  Mr. St. Germain looked at him wide-eyed. “Do tell.”

  “Since I have no idea what people can or cannot see when I’m glowing, I typically have a change of clothes stashed somewhere. So far, I’ve been at work or near work and I just grab the stashed gym bag and then discreetly fly up to the roof of the 100 Club and change. It’s high enough so that no one can see me, and I can leave my stuff there and then fly back to it when I need it. Then I just fly back, change into my normal clothes, and roof-hop over to the garage and make my way back into civilization.”

  His teacher smiled. “That’s awesome. Your Batcave is the roof of the 100 Club!”

  Quinn burst out laughing. “It’s more like a bird’s nest than a cave I’m glad it’s high enough that no one can see it.”

  “Point taken,” Mr. St. Germain responded. “Okay, I need to get to work on these test papers but don’t worry, I’ll talk to my brother.”

  “Thanks,” Quinn said. “See you in class later this afternoon.”

  “Oh, and by the way, when we’re not at school, please call me Ron. I realized the other night that calling me Mr. St. Germain all the time gets old, even for me, especially when I’m not at school.”

  Quinn smiled. “Okay, Ron.”

  “Bye.”

  ❖

  “Hi, handsome, I’m glad you could make it tonight,” Quinn said, greeting Keegan at the front door with a passionate kiss. He reluctantly pulled away and Keegan made an adorable pouty face.

  “Come in the kitchen, I’m helping Daddio get dinner ready. I’m skewering the meats and watching the rice on the stove while Daddio chops the taters.”

  “Sounds dangerous in there,” Keegan said, laughing.

  “Very dangerous, indeed,” Quinn said with a mischievous voice as he took Keegan’s jacket and hung it in the coat closet. The boys made their way into the kitchen where the evening news played in the background on the television.

  “Hey, Keegan, how are you?” Daddio asked.

  “I’m great, Mr. McAlester, thanks,” Keegan answered, accepting his hug. “I’m really looking forward to your grilling tonight,” Keegan answered.

  “Why, thank you,” Daddio answered, winking at him.

  “I hope you brought your appetite because he made enough food for the entire junior class,” Quinn teased.

  “I’m starving. We did a lot of pre-winter cleanup around the yard today after school.”

  “Ugh!” Daddio exclaimed, dramatically waving his hand and twirling around to the face counter. “Winter! I don’t want to hear that foul word again in this house, do you hear me young man?”

  “Yes, Mr. McAlester.,” Keegan answered chuckling.

  Dad entered the kitchen and exchanged greetings with Keegan.

  “You guys want a soda or something?” Dad asked.

  “Do you have Root Beer?” Keegan asked.

  “Coming right up,” Dad said, heading for the refrigerator.

  Quinn returned to the counter and picked up a clean skewer and a piece of uncooked beef.

  “Can I help?” Keegan asked.

  “Yes,” Daddio answered, pointing to the sautéing rice and herbs mix in a large pan on the stove. “Keep that moving around.”

  Keegan smiled. “Okay!” He picked up the wooden spoon and started stirring.

  Quinn smiled and stuck a pepper on the skewer. I really like having Keegan here, jumping in like he belongs with the family; belongs with me.

  “After the break,” news anchor Paula Anders announced, “we’ll bring you a special, unprecedented first look at the phenomenon known as Blue Spekter. One of our reporters, Camilla Brenhurst, has been following the developing story and spoke with the superhuman vigilante and will share her findings with us when we return.”

  “Oh wow,” Quinn exclaimed, staring at the television. Oh my gosh, are they finally running the interview? Are they going to represent me faithfully? Or did they twist the story? Or did they make me out to be a terrible villain with some sensational story?

  “Um, it’s sticking,” Keegan said, looking at the rice in the sauté pan.

  “Crap,” Daddio said.

  Daddio pointed at a bottle near the stove. “Pour a little more avocado oil in the pan and that will loosen things up.” Keegan did as he was told and continued stirring the now unstuck rice.

  “Why aren’t we grilling these skewers again, Tim?” Daddio asked.

  His husband sighed. “Because we ran out of propane for the grill and we’re improvising.”

  “Why exactly?” Daddio said mischievously.

  “Because I forgot to get propane,” Dad answered, slapping Daddio on the rear end.

  “Ooh, save it for later,” Daddio responded with sass.

  “Eew, gross,” Quinn quipped.

  “Oh boy, here we go,” Dad said, smiling as he pointed at the television when the news program returned. He grabbed the remote and turned up the volume as the news anchor appeared and introduced the story.

  “Don’t let that burn,” Daddio said to Keegan as the four men turned their attention to the television.

  “I’m on it,” Keegan cheerfully answered.

  “Tonight, we deviate from our standard news programming to bring you a special, one-of-a-kind story. News Nine reporter Camilla Brenhurst joins me this evening because she was given exclusive access to Blue Spekter, the superhero phenomenon sweeping the nation and the world that originated in our very own seacoast city of Portsmouth.”

  The camera angle changed, and Paula looked to her right, where Camilla sat in one of the extra seats at the news desk.

  “Oh wow, this is a live interview! I thought this would be pre-recorded,” Quinn said.

  “Camilla, thank you for joining us in the studio this evening.”

  “It’s a pleasure to be with you, Paula.”

  Paula nodded. “Let’s start at the beginning of who and what Blue Spekter is.”

  Camilla smiled and nodded. “This story goes back to the first appearance of the flying blue man who saved Hector Rodriguez, a Department of Transportation worker who slipped off the Portsmouth tower of the new Memorial Bridge. During interviews with onlookers after the man was mysteriously saved by a glowing blue person, a young boy named Oliver inadvertently dubbed the hero Blue Spekter and well, the name stuck.”

  Paula nodded.

  “The authorities repeatedly cautioned us to be wary of the unidentified phenomenon because they could not confirm his intentions.”

  “As they rightly should have done,” Paula said, but it sounded more
like a staged comment.

  “Absolutely,” Camilla responded. “It wasn’t until the Sheraton hostage situation in Portsmouth that I found out Blue Spekter was present during the joint police and Department of Homeland Security news conference at Portsmouth police headquarters. In fact, I found out Blue Spekter was among the crowd.”

  “I dunno,” Keegan said, talking over the reporters. “I’m not sure I like this guy. He’s too dangerous to let loose.”

  Quinn frowned and shushed him. This is not going to play out well for our relationship if you don’t come around on this.

  “Sorry,” Keegan muttered.

  “He really likes this guy,” Daddio whispered.

  They listened as Camilla recounted his story, how he acquired his super powers, his list of public hero moments, and offered her thoughts on the exclusive conversation they had without mentioning where it took place.

  Paula spoke and directed the conversation. “Let’s talk about the police and the effects of Blue Spekter in the world, starting in Portsmouth with the police and the Department of Homeland Security. They have been reluctant to accept Blue Spekter.”

  Camilla nodded. “That acceptance will take time as trust is gained on both sides. His presence in our city has fundamentally changed our understanding of the world. A super-powered human exists now, and the police have every right to be wary of him. If Blue Spekter should ever turn evil or decide to hurt humanity, they need to know how to stop him.”

  “Do you think Blue Spekter will hurt us?” Paula asked.

  Camilla shook her head. “No, I don’t. He seems young, good-natured, and optimistic about life and humanity. When you look at his track record of appearances, he’s always there to save the day. Plus, there are other heroic events that haven’t been reported on the news. He’s here to help, period.”

  Paula wrapped up the interview as Quinn finished skewering the last piece of marinated chicken. She did a really good job…I wonder why.

  “I have one last thing to say, and it’s a message to the superhero vigilante. Blue, some important people want to meet with you this evening. If you’re hearing this, I’ll meet you at the same place and time we first met. Until then.”

  Paula raised an eyebrow with amusement. “Thank you, Camilla. We look forward to learning more about Blue Spekter in the coming days.”

  That’s why. This is her only method of communication with me. She needed to butter me up so I’d agree to meet her tonight.

  “What did you think, Quinn?” Daddio asked.

  He smiled. “She did a great job. They’re finally giving the guy a chance.” He looked over at Keegan, who absentmindedly stared at the rice he stirred.

  “That looks done for now,” Daddio said, reaching over to turn off the burner. “Thank you for helping.”

  Keegan looked up and smiled. “Yup.”

  Quinn could tell Keegan seemed upset about the news story. “So, you don’t like him?” he asked, washing the raw meat juices off his hands at the kitchen sink.

  Keegan took a swig of his Root Beer. “Not really. I think he’s dangerous. Like I’ve said before, nobody knows how Blue Spekter could use those powers—for good or for evil. I’m honestly surprised people aren’t freaking out more. The world’s just changed and no one seems to realize it.”

  “You don’t think he’s demonstrated how he plans to use his powers?” Dad asked.

  Keegan shrugged. “If it’s a good guy or gal they’ll prove themselves to us and the police will relax.”

  “But that’s exactly what’s happening, though,” Quinn protested. “They are relaxing a little. A month ago, the police forbade the news from using his name, now they’re freely calling him Blue Spekter as much as they want. I think he’s the world’s first superhero.”

  “I welcome the chance to be proven wrong, Quinn,” Keegan answered, smiling, “especially by you.”

  Dad made a little throw-up sound and Daddio laughed.

  Keegan looked at him with a confused expression. Quinn smiled and said, “Don’t mind him, they’re jealous of our young, blossoming love.”

  “You keep telling yourself that,” Dad responded, grinning.

  “Love?” Keegan asked, looking at Quinn with wide eyes.

  Oh, shit.

  His dads froze, turned together, and stared at Quinn as the room filled with nervous apprehension. Only the sounds of bubbling water for the non-skewered vegetables and a commercial for automobile windshield glass replacement on the television filled the kitchen.

  “Do you love me, Quinn McAlester?” Keegan asked.

  Say yes, say yes!

  “Um…”

  The answer is yes!

  “I’m falling in love with you more and more every day.”

  Keegan brought his hands to his heart and smiled. “Good. So am I.”

  Behind Keegan, Quinn saw his dads silently exhale with overdramatized relief as Keegan swooped in for a kiss and a hug.

  ❖

  Quinn checked the time; it was finally eleven o’clock. His dads had gone to bed an hour ago and he was ready to sneak out of the house to meet Camilla. He got up and dressed quietly, choosing dark jeans, a t-shirt, and a blue-and-gray unmarked hoodie.

  It could be a trap, but I’ll fly around and check for agents and soldiers before I land.

  He unlocked and pushed open his bedroom window, slipped through it, and quietly lowered it shut. Then, he accelerated and flew into the cold night air, his body glowing blue. When he approached Prescott Park, he ascended and circled around, quietly observing the scene on the ground. Two people were walking out to the pier from the park. He saw no other movement or humans in the area.

  He came to a stop and hovered above the pier’s landing and used his super hearing to listen in on their conversation.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” a female voice asked.

  Okay, that’s Camilla.

  “I have no choice,” the other voice answered. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

  Holy crap, that’s Chief Applegate out of uniform.

  “All right, that sounds rather cryptic,” the reporter responded.

  “This is not fodder for a news story, Camilla. The only way Blue Spekter would possibly meet with me is by meeting with someone he trusts, especially after all the DHS crap we’ve both had to put up with. Hopefully, now that your news report went out, he trusts you and will show up.”

  “Well, he’s no fool. If he smells a trap, you can be sure he will not play along with your little charade.”

  “This is no game,” the chief said sternly. “I need…no, this city needs his help. He already visited me once at my house, but we have no way to get in touch with him when we need him.”

  You need me now?

  Blue Spekter descended rapidly, blue light trailing above him as he landed on the railing of the pier.

  “Camilla. Chief,” he said flatly, looking down at them. “What made you change your mind about me?”

  “As Camilla pointed out, your impeccable track record and my own Lieutenant Doral’s arguments in your defense after the failed Sheraton disaster.”

  “Yeah, that was dumb.”

  Chief Applegate didn’t offer a response.

  Blue Spekter looked at Camilla. “Your news story was nice, thank you. I was surprised you didn’t bring up the second super-powered person?”

  The chief stepped forward. “Can you imagine the wide-scale public panic a story like that would create when the people learn there are two of you, one of whom enjoys killing people?”

  “Don’t you think that’s going to happen anyway?” he asked.

  Chief Applegate nodded. “I know it’s going to get out on the news networks very soon and there’s nothing I’ll be able to do about it. However, I don’t need to be responsible for inciting widespread panic. I hope we’ll be better prepared to handle localized panic when people discover the other guy exists.”

  If Blake does something stupid…they’re going t
o need to trust me to stop him.

  “Unless you have a better idea, Blue Spekter, this is completely uncharted territory for us. We have play books for terrorism and other kinds of hostile situations, but we do not have a playbook for the threat of superhuman destruction.”

  “Is the second superhuman that serious a threat?” Camilla asked.

  Blue Spekter looked at Camilla. “I’m sorry, but the chief and I have a few things to discuss on our own.”

  “But I…”

  Blue Spekter raised his hand and shook his head. “I want to trust you, but I also know reporters tend to talk when they shouldn’t. I can’t take that chance right now.”

  Camilla frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “That’s all right, Chief Applegate and I will go somewhere else.”

  “I beg your pardon?” the chief asked.

  “But I made this meeting happen!” Camilla protested.

  “Yes, you did, and when the time is right, you can tell people how you helped bring us together.”

  He jumped down from the railing and looked at Chief Applegate. “Sorry about this.” Quick as lightning, he squatted then jumped at the police chief, carefully wrapping her in his arms as he ascended into the air with her.

  Chief Applegate screamed, arms flailing. “Put me down!”

  “Mmm, probably a bad idea right now. Wait one second, please,” Blue Spekter said. A moment later, he landed on top of the Memorial Bridge tower. When he let go of the police chief, she shoved him back.

  “Be careful,” Blue Spekter cautioned. “You’re not on the ground anymore.”

  She gasped and looked around. When she realized she was near the edge of the drawbridge tower, she backed away.

  “I’m afraid of heights,” she said, slightly panicked.

  “If you fall, I’ll catch you, but I suggest you stay away from the edge, it’s a little windy up here tonight.”

  “Why did you just…kidnap me?” she asked, cautiously moving toward the middle of the tower.

  “Kidnap you? Really?” Blue Spekter shook his head and pointed behind her. “The stairs are right there, and you can leave whenever you want. I’d prefer you stick around because we need to talk about Dark Flame.”

  “Who?”