by Kirk Twyman
“We should go,” George said. “We’ll talk later.”
Frank Chan helped into the back of the ambulance before resuming his place with his brother. I sorted through some first-aid equipment. George started the ambulance, while I saw Patricia take her place in the passenger seat, power blaster in hand as she leaned out the window for any signs of a tail. As the ambulance lunched into motion, I removed some bandages from the first aid kit along with some antiseptic. I treated my wounds as best as I could before popping a few pain killers. They wouldn’t substitute real medical care, but they made me feel like a million bucks.
I heard the roar of a shotgun blast. I looked up at George and Patricia.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Sorry,” George said. “Pothole. These roads are shit.”
I grimaced and sighed. I was jumpy. After what I’d been through, who could blame me? But I needed to stow it. Being jumpy never did anyone any good. Quite the opposite, it usually got people killed.
I looked to Frank Chan leaning over Kerry. He had his arm on his brother’s shoulder as he tried to comfort the unconscious ninja.
“Hey,” I said to my godson. “He’ll be okay. He takes after his dad. Just like you.”
“No,” Frank Chan said sadly.
“No?” I was confused and concerned.
“I take after my godfather,” Frank Chan said with a weak smile.
“Damn right,” I smirked. “Don’t you forget it.”
I put my hand on his shoulder, but five seconds later, the unmistakable sound of a shotgun blast rattled the insides of the ambulance. I rushed to the other side of the ambulance to communicate with George and Patricia.
“That sure as hell wasn’t a pothole,” I said.
“We got company,” George said. “I need you to cover us. You ever use one of these?”
He started feeding me the long-barreled power blaster through the opening connecting the cabin of the ambulance to the back. Patricia was still lobbing shotgun blasts from her power blaster at the unseen assailants as the ambulance pushed through traffic. I took the rifle from George.
“I’m sure I can figure it out,” I said.
The power rifle was a long-barreled sniper rifle. It was clearly government issue, but it had the same basic design as my power pistol – a high-tech energy-based equivalent of a standard firearm. I loaded another round into the chamber and made sure the energy coils were charged. I turned to Frank Chan.
“I’m going to need you open the door when I say pull, okay?” I said. Frank Chan gave a reluctant look to his injured brother, before nodding to the affirmative.
“Just don’t fall out either,” I said. “I don’t want to lug around two broken ninjas.”
Frank Chan smiled. “I’m a silent warrior. I am nothing if not surefooted.”
“Now you’re sounding like your old man,” I said. “You grow up so fast.”
Frank Chan took his place by the door. He nodded at me. I brought the rifle’s scope to my eye line as I did my best to steady myself in the shaking ambulance interior. It was pretty hard to do amid with a twisted ankle, but I managed.
“Pull!” I cried.
In an instant, Frank Chan pushed the ambulance doors open. I was greeted by the sight of the interstate breezing past us. I could see a lightning streak moving towards the car. I aimed the rifle and fired without a second’s hesitation. The round struck the lightning streak in the center, and the angry storm quickly faded, spitting out a falling Super in its place. He bounded along the interstate, down for the count and hopefully down for good.
Unfortunately, there were more than one.
A lot more.
I fired two more shots and managed to catch one more speedster in the legs, tripping him into a dusty spiral that triggered a miniature dust storm on the freeway. From out the dust a second, sparkling green streak emerged bearing down on us. By the time I had loaded another round into the chamber, he was already airborne. He landed on the roof of the ambulance with a dull thud. I started to raise my barrel, but Frank Chan stopped me.
“I got him!” he said. The ninja ran his fingers across the roof searching for vibrations. How he could pin-point anything amid all the shaking and rattling of the speeding ambulance was beyond me. Every bump and turn in the road caused the supplies and equipment to rattle and roll. But the ninja’s concentration remained perfectly fixed.
“There!” Frank Chan said, then drew back, retrieving his short knife. He tossed directly into a spot in the middle of the roof. When he removed the dagger from the spot on the roof, I saw it was covered in a fresh coat of blood. I had to admit, I was more than a little impressed by my godson’s concentration and results, but I had bigger fish to fry at the time.
Three more speedsters surged towards the ambulance. In the distance, I could see the other drivers in the cars honking horns and cursing at the passing speedsters as they sped through their line of traffic. If Orra had his way, those same raging drivers might not be so lucky if the Supers declared their dominance.
I raised the power rifle again and squeezed off three shots. This time, I was able to bring down two speedsters. I almost brought down all three, as the first falling speedster’s feet entangled the other Super’s run, nearly bringing him down. However, this Super managed to phase right through his comrade’s footwork and streaked past my bullets, now running alongside the ambulance on the driver’s side.
“George!” I cried. “On the right!”
“On it!” George said back.
The ambulance started to careen in the opposite direction, but then George suddenly jerked the wheel to the left, sending the ambulance sharply plowing to the right. I heard the crunch of bones as I turned to see the speedster’s face and upper torso imprinted in the chrome interior of the ambulance like a morbid wall decoration.
“We’re almost there,” Patricia announced. “We’re going to make it!”
Oh no, baby girl. Don’t say that. Never say that.
Nothing ever good ever happens when you say that.
The ambulance came to a screeching halt. I peered through the opening of the ambulance cabin, my power rifle still in hand, as my worst fears were realized.
Standing in front of the ambulance was Orra, charging energy is his remaining left hand. His face was a mask of rage, and behind that mask of rage, sat our sanctuary, the safehouse.
The Voice of Reason
I swung the ambulance door open and stepped out of the vehicle to face Orra for the third time today. I hoped to God it was the last time I had to face this monster, but I had my doubts. George and Patricia filed in behind me, each with their power weapons raised at the Zoranian. Frank Chan remained by his brother’s side within the ambulance.
“I’m just here to talk,” Orra said, raising his one good arm in a stopping motion.
“I’d say the time for talking is over,” I replied. “I think it’s the shoot-you-in-the-face-and-leave-you-in-a-ditch time.”
“I second that,” Patricia said.
“You got my vote,” George said.
“See,” I shrugged. “Democracy wins.”
“Democracy. We didn’t have that practice on Zoran,” Orra said, and for an instant, his eyes were distant and far away. “All we knew on my home world was bloodshed.”
He continued, “The invasion force came for conquest, but I came here for freedom. I had to act carefully or risk being labeled a renegade. I knew a firm hand was required for such a delicate balance. But everything you’ve heard about me is true. I survived, but many of my fellow Zoranians, comrades with the same goals and dreams as me, were not so lucky. But I can—”
“What you can do is go fuck yourself!” Patricia spat. “You can’t use all the people you got in the ground as an excuse to be a murdering psychopath, cuz I’ve got plenty!”
“Trish,” I said softly, reaching back to Patricia with my one good arm. I could see her being strong but holding back tears as she thought about her grandf
ather and uncle, people she too had lost. She sucked it up and wiped away the semblance of tears and continued to aim squarely at Orra’s face.
“I’m here offering you another way,” Orra said, looking at me instead of Patricia. “I’m here offering you peace. Because like it or not, you have to understand you have already lost, Frank.”
“I don’t know. I’m feeling pretty confident about myself,” I said boisterously. “Especially with two guns on you. Not to mention how much trouble I cost you in our last fight. And the two ninjas you don’t see.”
“Ahhh, but one ninja isn’t fairing too well I take it?” Orra said. “Orion’s suit sent me some feedback shortly before our connection was terminated. So, it’s really more like one and 3/4th ninja, correct?”
I gritted my teeth. Orra knew all the cards on the table. And I suspected he had reinforcements on the way. We had to put an end to this now. But he was blocking the door to the safe house. The only thing I could do . . . was hear the son of a bitch out first.
“I admit, all of you were able to survive much longer than I anticipated,” Orra said. “But it’s over.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so. Your Supers are dropping like flies,” I said. “And you have the Enforcers breathing down your neck. I think our odds are about even.”
“Perhaps at the moment, but I have an advantage you don’t,” Orra said. “Time.”
“Even now, the public sees the attack on the Enlightened base as nothing short of a terrorist attack, a tragedy,” Orra said. “The lives of so many heroes lost . . . for what? And at the hands of a fanatic that spies on everyone? Are you ready to go public, Frank? To tell everyone everything you know . . . and everything you’ve done?”
“I did what was necessary, monster!” I said through gritted teeth.
“Of course not, Frank. You are a Watcher. You supposed to observe. That’s what you’re supposed do. But You and I know that is not what you have been doing” Orra smiled. I was really getting tired of seeing that bastard smile. “Think of how many tragedies you could have prevented had you only acted, you always have had info. You only act when you want, be damned any innocent lives lost, right? But I, on the other hand have been selfless and have plenty of heroic deeds on cape.”
“Yeah,” George said. “And the blood of thousands on your hands.”
Orra didn’t even look at George.
“He’s right, Orra,” I said. “Now that the Enlightened are gone, the Enforcers are coming for you. And Inferno is even stronger than Blaze.”
“True, he’s a really intense guy,” Orra said. “But I think you underestimate how forgiving Supers can be. Help save the world a couple times, kiss a few babies, squash a prison riot, maybe save a couple reporters on the way, honestly, going from villain to hero is easier than your repairing your credit score.”
“And Inferno doesn’t know who to believe in this mess. Sooner or later, he’ll let his guard down . . . just like Blaze did” Orra said. “And when he does, I’ll be waiting with another spear with the blood of Zero Temp. I have quite a supply.”
Zero Temp. So that’s how he killed Blaze. Orra just killed one of the frost-powered Super – Zero Temp – and dipped the spear in his blood, the source of his icy powers. Once it had pierced Blaze’s body, his immune system had no defense against it. Orra had everything figured it out.
“Most people – Super or otherwise – don’t even know my history. They don’t know the eons I’ve spent on this rock,” Orra said. “They just think I’m another Super face, like the kind that come and go with the celebrities. You see, Frank, all I have to do is wait you out.”
He grinned. “I’m very good at it. I’ve had a lot of practice.”
“What do you propose?” I asked.
Patricia and George objected in unison.
They didn’t understand. If we shot Orra here, I doubt we’d kill him. But even if we did, he’d become a martyr – and win all over again. And there’s the prospect of being crushed by his reinforcements.
Like a lousy salesman on my doorstep, the only way to really get rid of Orra . . . was to hear his pitch.
“If we don’t like what he has to say,” I said without turning my head. “We can shoot him.”
“We can shoot him now!” George asked.
“No,” I said.
“Dammit,” George replied.
“I’m happy to find you in such an amiable mood, Frank,” Orra said. “And you won’t be disappointed.”
I truly doubted that.
“My people could use a man of your skills. Someone who knows so much about Earth – its people, its history . . . its defenses,” Orra said. “Help make way for when the Zoranians arrive. Come back to the side of the angels.”
“And sell out the planet?” I said. “Hard pass.”
“And help achieve peace between our two people,” Orra said. “Work like you’ve always done – from the shadows. Help the Zoranians arrive to a peaceful planet, to a people with open arms, not drawn people. Stop the cycle of bloodshed, Frank, as only you can. Right now, the rest of the world sees a villain – but I see hope. When they arrive, they will win. It just depends how many humans will die.”
He looked at me imploringly. I raised my hands and began to clap, a slow agonizing clap. My stolid face never moved a muscle even as I clapped slowly to draw out the mix of frustration and confusion on Orra’s alien face.
“Frank, be reasonable. The authorities have already pinned the attack on you. Your accounts are frozen. There are ABPs out for you and yours all over the city. It’s only a matter of time before the police find this place – with you and yours. Come with me. We can turn all of this around, avoid this blood bath. It’s not too late.”
I shook a finger at Orra.
“You’re good, Orra. You’ve always been good. I tell ya, you really missed your calling as a car salesman or a Hollywood executive. You ever consider a career change?” I changed my voice to imitate his as best I could. “Because it’s not too late.”
Orra’s face resumed its icy demeanor, as cold as Zero Temp’s blood.
“Or maybe a politician? You ever consider running for office? You give just enough hope mixed with a spice of danger. But you’re not too big on democracy, are you?” Frank said. “All the time I knew my father, the man only taught me one lesson. I watched him come home from war, in the midst of the jungles of Vietnam, and straight into another war, with shadows and Supers. I watched him sink his marriage and his sobriety along with it. And through it all, he taught me one lesson – never give up. He didn’t.
I continued. “He believed in being a Watcher, even when no one else did. Even when he knew it would cost him his life. And it did.”
“Don’t come back here preaching about angels and demons, good and evil. Those are just lies, pitting one side against the other. I’ve known plenty of heroes who were monsters in their personal lives, and plenty of villains who were saints under the mask,” I said. “You’re a creature, an alien of tribalism, Orra. You always were, and you always will be. That’s where you will live and that’s where you’ll die.”
“It inevitable, this a war between Supers and the rest of humanity, so you better hold on tight,” I smirked. “Because I am just getting started.”
“You’re an idiot, Frank. I’ve already won, you just don’t know it.” Orra said blithely. “You’re dangerous and the world is coming after you,” remarking as he started to slowly levitate.
“Well, the world better get in line,” I said as Orra flew off. Surprisingly, Orra didn’t try to stop us. I don’t think he could of he tried. Patricia and George followed, Frank Chan emerged with Kerry from the back of the ambulance as they limped towards the safe house.
I opened the door to the safe house and everyone walked inside. I slammed the door and then peered outside.
Right on schedule, a dozen Supers arrived where Orra just was. I opened a fuse box on the side of the door and flipped the switch. In an instant, an energy field
covered the premises, shutting out the Supers. I could see some of them touching the force field, a look of annoyance crossing their faces.
But that was just for starters.
I flipped the second switch and in an instant, the entire safe house had vanished from their view. Thanks to my two-layer security, they would have a tough time distinguishing between the actual safe house and the force field covering it.
I needed to rest.
I needed to heal.
But I knew I had much more at hand before I could do either of those things.
Old Friends
I flipped the light switch. There was a loud buzzing sound as the powerful lights started to surge to life. Patricia was catching her breath. Frank Chan was tending to his brother. And, of course, George Elder was regarding me with mild annoyance.
“I hate to tell you this,” he said. “But that light show shit won’t stop the world’s powerful Supers for long.”
“He’s right,” Patricia said as she holstered her power blaster. “Is there somewhere we can go? Maybe the Enforcers or one of Orion’s old bases—”
The lights popped on at that very moment, revealing the vast underground layer. “Safe house” wasn’t the proper terminology, because that assumed it was simply house. Instead, it was a vast bunker, meant to withstand the force of a nuclear attack, or in this case, the wrath of the world’s most powerful Supers. I had many secrets here. As long as I have known George, even he has never seen this.
We walked down the stairs in silence. The only one who wasn’t shocked was Patricia, she had seen this all before. I was thinking of my next move.
George helped me move Kerry to a medical incubator, while Frank Chan watched on. I looked back to see Patricia with her hand on his shoulder, comforting the little guy. We set Kerry’s bruised and broken body into the incubator, which was shaped like a futuristic MRI machine, with an enclosed rounded shell.
“This was meant to keep a Super like Blaze alive, but it will heal someone as small as Kerry without any problems,” I explained. I hooked up the nano scanner to the stump of Kerry’s arm.