by Grover Young
“And thus enters the Bureau.” Lapis wanted to be surprised, but just couldn't. The wave of demons flying into the air from the impact simply said it all. No matter that Grey Wolf had warned everyone that these things were not to be taken lightly, the big idjit himself had charged literally right into the middle of the demons.
Hyperion was one of the most powerful supers on the planet. All anyone had to do was ask him. There were those who were stronger and others who were faster, as well as those who were tougher. However, there were none who were as strong, fast and as invulnerable to harm all in the same package. The same went for his flying, the Hyper-vision and all the other powers he had. Nobody else came close at having all the powers he had, much less at the level he possessed. There were some who said he had a right to be an arrogant ass, all things considered.
Victrix his Roman demi-goddess teammate had, at least, the common sense not to dive into the middle of the ravening legions of demons. Throwing javelins of lightning, she hopelessly tried to support her foolish leader, who was dog-piled by his enemies.
He would shrug off his attackers only to be swept off his feet again as the demons used their claws and outsized talons to rip and tear to such effect they put wood-chippers to shame. In the space of heartbeats, his uniform was in tatters, and even he had wounds, if shallow ones. No sooner would he climb to a knee than a scything tail would send him to the ground anew.
Finally realizing he just might be in trouble, he tried to lift off from the prone position. However, he was blind from the press of bodies as well as disoriented from being knocked about. No sooner had he left the ground when a well timed tackle by more demon-birds had him dog-piled again.
Sollarc, his teammate, cut loose with a plasma burst, but he couldn't get too close without hitting his team leader. Victrix attempted to get in closer, but had to batter away determined attacks by supporting leaping demons.
“Okay,” Lapis came out with it, “Grey came for us, me. He didn't give up, but kept at it until he found us, and then, he put a crossbow bolt through the heart of the monster who'd enslaved us for years. So yes, I feel something even if I'm not sure of what it is.”
“Good,” Emerald smiled up at her, “I wanted to be sure I wasn't the only one who was having feelings I couldn't identify.”
“So, shall we go down there and rescue the butt-head?” She asked, not giving Lapis a chance to reply.
“Might as well,” the golden woman sighed, “Sollarc would be so much more effective at cutting their envelopment apart. Can you clear out a circle around him?”
“No problem!” her passenger replied, “I even have a solution to those leapers. We'll let them hit, but calling a bolt or two to us should clear them off. Since you're holding me, I can grab him. Hope he isn’t bothered by a little juice.” Sparks arced between her outstretched fingers.
“He's a big boy,” Lapis could remember rather energetic confrontations with Hyperion and his team. It wouldn't bother her at all if he was discomforted, “I'm sure he can take it, but first let's give his teammates the heads up so we don't get shot in the back.”
“Victrix,” she shouted, flying to the rescue, “Cover us. We're going in.”
“She speaks?” The Roman styled, armor attired woman looked up at them startled.
“I can also play cards and drink beer, but please don't paint any velvet paintings of us,” Lapis riposted, “If you would use your point attacks to help out when we hit the ground, it'd be greatly appreciated.”
Sollarc, in his yellow sunburst marked red power-suit gave his more senior teammate a questioning expression, but Victrix only nodded her approval while preparing more of her javelins for battle.
“Ready Emerald?” Lapis asked, her partner accelerating to her full speed.
“Let's do it,” Emerald answered, “Be aware of power-ups the second we have leapers incoming. Kind of hard for them to change direction in mid-air even if they do have stubby wings.”
“That's fine,” she replied, letting gravity add to their speed, “I'm in the mood for fried chicken.”
It was actually pretty damn amazing to watch. As they got within about 60 feet of the ground, the first demons began their run-ups. If not for the fact she and Emerald were the targets, it would nearly be a thing of beauty, almost as if choreographed for some Hollywood blockbuster. In a stream of leaping teeth, claws and talons, death came at them.
And promptly got fried by the incoming bolt from the heavens. One actually took the whole force, exploding before the energy flowed into her blue-gold partner. Not being foolish, Lapis did dodge some of the murderous demons, but there were so many it was impossible to miss them all.
However, it was a lot like the world's biggest bug zapper with Emerald carefully measuring out her accrued energy. As they got closer to the ground, yet another 'power-up' hit, blasting more into smoking ruin.
Spreading her hands, the lightning arced in a circle about the mound of demons centered on the not too wise hero. Many were thrown off or, if too close, got cooked in the crackling aura.
Thankfully, plasma rained down by Sollarc kept the endless numbers temporarily at bay, while deadly accurate javelins from Victrix cut down the numbers within that circle of death.
What was left got hurled away as Hyperion fought his way to his feet. She'd long speculated that his uniform top was made of lesser strength material just so in difficult fights he could show off his perfect musculature and six pack abs. That theory gained supporting evidence, since the only attire he had that wasn't shredded to ribbons was his trousers and boots and even they were the worse for wear.
“I knew that rumors of those foul creations achieving freedom and working for the cause of right were false.” He was covered in shallow bleeding cuts from the talons that could slice through plate armor with ease, “I will not go down without a fight, so swears Hyperion!”
“Oh shut up!” Emerald giggled, as she let loose with another chain of arcing energy expanding their temporary circle.
“We're here to rescue you, doofus,” Lapis snorted, swooping in so her partner could grab the idjit.
“Huh?” Was the hero's reply as he was lifted out of that abattoir.
“There you have it folks!” Emerald's hand's flashed as more demons rushed at them. “More witty replies from our brave, if not too smart, hero.”
“You're talking!” he exclaimed, kicking a gnawing demon off his leg.
“What part of free did you not understand?” Lapis shot upwards as fast as she dared. “You know, 'Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness',” she quoted.
“You can't talk to me like that!” Hyperion retorted angrily, “Don't you know who I am?”
“Oh, yeah,” Emerald giggled, “we know alright.”
“You're the one who barreled right into an army of demons after being warned they could rip through armor plate,” Lapis answered, “Then, we had to come and pull you out after they dog-piled your ass.”
“I'm buying time for that brave Army crew to escape,” he pompously defended himself.
“Then, why didn't you just pick the damn thing up and carry it to safety?” Lapis raised an eyebrow, “You're more than strong enough, but speaking of which, that still wouldn't be a bad idea.”
Without their fire support help, the demons were right on the APC's tail, but someone had to go and pull the hero's fat out of the fire.
“You can let go, now,” he huffed, unhappily, “I can fly, you know.”
“Be free little birdie!” Emerald released him, giggling again.
He shot over like a bullet to rescue the APC as they followed behind slower still blasting away at the endless horde.
“I can't believe you told him off like that,” Victrix laughed, “The gods must be smiling upon me, granting such great favor.”
“No insult,” Lapis replied, “but if the gods are indeed watching we could use a little more practical help here. Unless we can get a hold on this situation quick, we're in real trouble
. That mad man intended on destroying the world, and he was nothing if not a brilliant researcher.”
“Agreed,” Victrix nodded, her star spangled blue cape with Rome's eagle in gold flying in the storm's winds.
Everyone looked overhead as a flight of jets thundered above them heading for Arkham. Moments later the roar of distant explosions reached them.
“That's not going to stop this,” Lapis stated bluntly, “That Gate is going to have to be closed. All the bombs in the world aren't going to stop that.”
“Come,” the heroine beckoned, “It is time to talk and plan.”
“Besides,” Emerald grinned up at Lapis, “as much as I like you. I really am ready to be back on my own two feet again.”
“Well, our ride is leaving without us so we better catch up!” Lapis gestured at the van and the Wolf Pack, “I don't think even Ruby can carry it all day long.”
More jets flew over. Bombs fells from their wings on the tide of demons. It was more, but it still wasn't enough. It wasn't even close. She only hoped Dunwich got evacuated in time, watching the town get engulfed in demons.
They had to get more hands on this thing. At least Victrix had been open minded about their checkered past. She could only hope that others would show more of that tolerance. The world was going to need it.
<><><>
Grey didn’t have to look over at Lapis Lazuli and her awakened sisters to know they weren't happy. Hell, he wasn't happy either. Hyperion and a Mystic Guild wizard named Sazonox, had basically ignored them during the entire meeting.
The session in the roadhouse bar turned emergency headquarters, had begun with Bladestorm, the Bureau team's stealth specialist making her reconnaissance report of what she found at Arkham and Hangman's hill. She confirmed that the Gate was still open and that the entire hillside was barren of any vegetation as more demons poured out with every second. Pointing out on the map that was spread out on the pool table, she indicated just how far the demons had advanced.
Then, he and Claire had been questioned about what they'd witnessed, but the 'girls' had been pointedly left out. It wasn't until Grey himself had asked Lapis to tell what happened that they heard that part of the story.
He did see that, once she began, neither one interrupted. It was morbidly fascinating to hear that all of this was triggered by a Death Camp prison guard that the Golem Master had been after for decades. Hidden, the ex-Nazi was discovered only after he'd died at a ripe old age in his nineties. The proof that his enemies were 'using' death by old age to escape his wrath seemed to have finally broken something that was already thoroughly wrecked.
That incident lead to the top of Hangman's Hill on the Spring Equinox. Well, with a few bypasses like the Hawkmoon museum and getting his arm broken. That thought had him looking at her again. He just couldn't forget the moment he truly saw her. The fire and passion in her so bright, emerald green eyes had burned themselves into his memory.
True, she was as perfect an expression of beauty as any work of art. However, it was the soul within that made her beautiful.
Her catching him staring caused him to blush like he was still in high school. Her own answering coppery bloom made him turn even redder.
Victrix's raised and amused brow didn't help things whatsoever. Perhaps it was her own familiarity with the mythic world that made the Roman demi-goddess so tolerant, but she was one of the few in the room who did.
Grey might've been distracted, but neither he nor his wolf missed the sideways glances that the wizard and his entourage gave the 'box' Lapis Lazuli carried. She'd made it damn plain that she trusted no one at all with it, with the possible exception of Grey. Even her other freed sisters weren't completely within that circle of trust.
Frankly, he absolutely understood and agreed with her paranoia. In the stones that lay within, were the very souls of fifteen superhumans. Possessing those stones would let the unscrupulous control, enslave them. After spending more of her unlife as a slave than she'd spent alive and free, Lapis Lazuli wasn't about to let that happen again.
Even as far as her sisters went, Kobab and Ebony had been super-villains. Zip the speedster had been infamous for his high speed snatch and grabs. He'd been the purse-snatcher of the super-villain world. A thief, yes, but he avoided unduly hurting anyone, and got into fights only when cornered which wasn't easy, considering how damn fast he was. When it had occurred, they learned just how damned good a fighter he really was. He avoided combat because he wanted to, not because he didn't know how to mix it up.
Black Hand was completely different. He'd worked more as a mercenary than an outright criminal, but only because he carefully picked and chose his employers. An ex-special forces soldier with multiple combat tours in Southeast Asia under his belt, it was rumored he'd learned to project that black energy of his while deep in jungles few dared to venture into. While a gun for hire, he'd been very careful not to give the USA cause to arrest or send him back to those who held grievances against him. He'd been a firm believer in not crapping in his own backyard, not that anyone state-side had been very happy with him.
As far as that went, even Emerald and Levana, who'd been heroes, were vulnerable right now, too. The blue-gold lightning slinger, more than the martial artist, given she'd once been male. All someone might have to do is offer a way of giving that back.
Levana, on the other hand, was one of the few females who'd been made into a golem. Grey wondered if that was simply because the guys had the powerful abilities the lunatic wanted, or that he had some other motive that was more perverted.
Both had families and those they'd cared for, before the two were kidnapped and murdered. The files he'd filched last New Year’s had given only the most basic details, but it'd been many years since then. Their children were grown up, and their respective partners had moved on.
No matter how you looked at it, they had all been through so much it would be so easy to hurt them even more.
And then, there was Lapis Lazuli. Somehow, she'd stayed more balanced than the others, but he didn't make the mistake of thinking that her tower of strength was limitless. She too, had once been male and had also been abused in so many ways that he couldn't even imagine.
And the fate of the world may depend on them.
Air Force drones over the area officially confirmed Bladestorm's report and that despite the bombing, more demons were pouring though with every second. More Air Force planes were on the way, but although an unnamed nearby air base did keep some munitions on hand just because of Arkham's history, even they weren't ready for a war at the drop of a hat.
More heroes were coming too, as the Bureau of Superhuman Security got their act together. However, they weren't here yet, and the cities of Salem and Boston weren't that far away.
Like the rednecks say, you have to race what you brought to the track. These were the resources at hand, and they had no choice but to make do.
“Given what we've been told,” Sazonox announced arrogantly, “I do have a solution. As nonstandard as this summoning appears, I am confident that a previously prepared enchantment will suffice to close this portal.”
One of his entourage unveiled a wooden plaque that was covered in runes and other symbols.
“The Guild has long been aware of the dangers that mystic instability about Arkham and its surrounding environs presented. This charm should disrupt and close that rift permanently, although the pestilence that has already entered our world will have to be dealt with.”
Grey kept his snort away. Only this prick could call several thousand velociraptor like demons a pestilence like they were mere insects. Given the ass's ego, he probably saw everyone as bugs.
“We are fortunate to have those who can deliver the charm through to the other side of the portal,” he looked right at Lapis Lazuli.
Who busted out laughing.
“I have a better idea,” she giggled, “Why doesn't Hyperion fly your suicide, one way trip into that Demon's Gate? Then, he could show t
he whole world what a big hero he is.”
“You act as if we're giving you a choice!” Sazonox imperiously gestured, holding out his hand as if reaching for the box she held.
The wizard's face was a study as nothing happened, and she erupted into laughter again. This time her four sisters joined her.
Others laughed as well, including Victrix, Sollarc and Bladestorm. It seemed they weren't fans of the Guild either.
Grey couldn't keep his chuckles away either, since he'd noticed Hyperion's surprise as well. So, the hero had been in on this. He'd heard rumors that Hyperion just didn't live up to his public persona, but this? It was so obviously petty in return for them having to rescue him from his own foolishness that he lost whatever respect he used to have for the hero.
“Did you actually expect that to succeed?” Victrix never stopped laughing, “These Amazons have fought all of us to standstills many times in the past, and that was when they were shackled to another's will.”
“Please forgive my comrade's foolishness,” the Roman demi-goddess turned to Lapis Lazulia and Grey, “We are in need of your strong arms and shields. Can you be of aid to us in this dire hour?”
“As I was about to add,” Lapis Lazuli's eyes sparkled as she answered, “or you can provide full pardons for all of us, as well as official acknowledgment that we are people, with all the rights and protections that entails.”
“If I may?” Grey asked to have his say.
Ignoring the sour and hostile looks from her team mate and the Guild-man, Victrix gave him a nod.
“These individuals have done the impossible,” he glared at those who tried to sacrifice them for their own ends, “After years, decades, of having their bodies and wills torn from them, they kept some part of themselves alive. I know only a small bit of what all of them went through, and I'm horrified but amazed and astounded at their survival.