"Well now, Bluebell is in the infirmary. She got beat up nicely, but she'll be fine."
Of course, Bluebell didn't need to interrogate Blackbird, if indeed Blackbird was in custody. With Conroy at the table, Bluebell could read the secrets straight from his mind. Blackbird was an accessory – as guilty as Conroy, but useless for information.
Conroy coughed again.
"Hephaestus is busy rebooting his big honking robot downstairs. Seems the Supra-Maximal Attack-Response Titan has a little glitch in his AI that makes him look for… permanent, shall we say… solutions to battles."
Sam cocked her head. "Permanent?" A light eyebrow raised itself at the question. Conroy shuffled a little and coughed again and Aurora took up the explanation.
"SMART killed the Justiciar, aka Tony Prosdocimi, thereby breaking the primary clause of the International Superheroic Justice Pact." He looked at Sam but Sam found herself staring at Conroy again. Under her gaze his internationally famous playboy grin became fixed and cold. Sam felt ill.
Joe leaned back in his tall conference chair. The leather creak that accompanied the movement ricocheted around the quiet room, causing him to wince, then he leaned forward and he folded his arms.
"Well," he said. "That shits that up, doesn't it? The Seven Wonders kill someone and recruit their sworn enemy as a new member of the superteam. You guys need to work on your PR."
Sam pursed her lips, glanced around the downcast heroes. "So the Seven Wonders broke the golden rule, and are hiding on the moon?" She almost laughed at the childishness of it. Aurora had his head inclined, as if he was studying the table, but she could feel his eyes watching her. She turned back to Conroy, who looked ridiculous in his black and white costume. It must have been a cast-off from a forgotten superhero, mothballed in the Citadel of Wonders. The Churchwarden, perhaps.
"What's this got to do with us?" Sam waved in Joe's direction before continuing. "And what the hell are you doing here, Mr Conroy? Forgive me, but I'm finding it a little difficult to believe you've renounced your ways and have become the model superhero."
Seated on her left, Linear let out a low whistle and looked away from Sam, who just caught the look on his face before he turned. Awkwardness, embarrassment even. Aurora's gauntlet creaked slightly as he flexed a fist.
Conroy looked at Sam for a moment, then laughed. The humor seemed genuine, and it annoyed Sam. She felt like she'd become the butt of a private joke, but none of the other heroes were laughing. As Conroy's laugh receded, he sighed and the real smile reappeared.
"I've had much to think about recently. I lost my way, but I found an old friend. Friends, actually. Then I had… well, an epiphany. Plain as that. I could talk about the scales falling and seeing the… well, never mind. I came to the Seven Wonders, and they gave me a new name: Paragon. This represents what I've become. You may not believe a man can change, but trust me, he can. If I were not a reformed character, I would hardly be seated at this table."
Sam's world went fuzzy at the edges. The only thing she could remember later was asking someone for a glass of water before she pulled out her gun. Her hand wobbled and her aim was clumsy, but in a red haze she eventually managed to level the weapon across the table at Conroy, who had stopped smiling.
Time slowed. Next to her, Joe leapt from his chair and drew his own weapon through a sea of treacle. Sam watched him lazily out of the corner of her eye then refocused and squinted down the barrel of her gun, which drooped down and to the right, no matter how hard she concentrated on keeping it still. Someone yelled; Sam realized it was her, then she squeezed the trigger. The gun bucked in her hand once, twice, three times. Her scream continued long after she emptied the magazine.
Aurora was standing at the head of the table, one hand outstretched and glowing red. At the opposite end of the table, the Dragon Star also stood, her powerstaff held aloft and pointing not at Sam but at her gun hand.
The air between Sam and Conroy glowed blue and red. Sam could see the neat row of bullets, some heading to the target, some angled badly and heading for the walls or the table. They were caught in two force fields, one from Aurora and one from the Dragon Star. Sam felt faint as she realized what she'd done, then angry that she'd been stopped, then relieved that the rash action – which she would live to regret, she knew that – had been prevented.
She slumped back into her chair. Joe remained standing, gun raised but unfired. Hovering within the force field in front of Conroy, the bullets lost form and began to melt. The Dragon Star snapped her staff back and the blue portion of the field evaporated. Aurora twisted his hand, accelerating the melting process, and when the bullets were floating spheres of silver, he let them drop to the table. They splatted, splashing hot liquid towards Sam and Conroy. She flinched, he didn't. He wasn't smiling.
"There will be no more killing at our hands." Aurora's voice commanded the room, causing everyone to look in his direction. He leaned forward on the table with two balled fists. "Mr Conroy is now a member of the Seven Wonders. He is highly trained, and his skills and experience will be effectively used. He is an exemplar to all the citizens of San Ventura. A paragon and–"
"He's a murderer and a terrorist." Sam found her voice and barked the rebuttal angrily at Aurora. "We've spent years trying to bring him down by legal means. And isn't he the whole reason why the Seven Wonders are still active?"
Aurora raised himself from the table and slowly paced behind the seated heroes, his shock of gray hair waving in his crackling aura.
"… and," he said, continuing past Sam's interruption, "he will answer for his crimes according to international law. He has offered this condition himself, to turn himself in to the United Nations once his work is done. But for now he will begin repayment to the city of San Ventura by serving us. He came to us for salvation, not just for himself, but for the city itself. He has information to share, and we shall hear it."
Aurora came to a stop behind Sam's chair and she saw Joe shrink back as much as he could as the unhealthy heat radiating from the atomic superhero wafted over them like a desert breeze. Sam looked up at Aurora, shaking slightly, then back to Conroy.
"Why now?"
Conroy held his hands above the table, like he was at a classroom show-and-tell.
"I'm powerless. I've lost it all − in fact, my powers were stripped one by one and given to the now-deceased Justiciar."
"Given?"
Aurora took up the question. "Blackbird is in possession of a device which transfers superpowers. Paragon's account corresponds to the actions of the device."
Conroy laughed. "Quite a little toy she had, and I had no idea." He looked at Aurora. "Was she brought here too?"
Aurora nodded.
Sam leaned forward. "So, epiphany, you say? Don't tell me you mean in the Biblical sense?" She glanced at the peculiar white cross pattern on his chest, like he was some kind of crusader.
"Just so," said Conroy, smiling now. "With no power I am a mortal human like the two million people of the city. I finally saw the world through their eyes. They don't require subjugation, they require representation. Everyone in the world does. If I'd turned myself over to you, I'd be rotting in jail or most likely executed. My fate, I think, lies with the United Nations, and the Seven Wonders have promised to hand me over to them when my assistance is no longer required. But at the moment, we face a grave threat, one that I have knowledge of and that I can help with. Without me, San Ventura will fall. Perhaps the whole world will."
Joe remained silent. Sam stared at Conroy, not quite believing what she was hearing. She looked around the table − Sand Cat, the Dragon Star, Linear, Aurora. All were looked at her, nobody saying anything. She turned back to Conroy.
"You murdered my husband, asshole." Her heart thundered in her chest, so hard and so loud she was convinced it could be heard from the Earth.
Linear fiddled with his glasses.
Conroy sat back, a frown crossing his billion-dollar good looks. He flicked a hand thr
ough his fringe. "I killed a lot of people, detective. And I shall pay for those crimes when the time is right."
Sam slapped the table hard and launched herself across the black glass surface as far as she could from a seated position. Conroy jerked back and Sam fell back into her chair, Joe's hands on her shoulders as he whispered to her to keep it cool. Sam closed her eyes and breathed deeply.
Aurora tapped his hand on the back of Sam's chair, then quickly strode back around the table to his position at the head, apparently ignorant of her obvious distress.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we face an infinite crisis," he said as he stretched his arms out to rest on the conference table. It was an imposing, powerful piece of body language. Aurora was in charge, and he was talking.
"I apologize to you, detectives, for taking you away from your valuable work protecting the citizens of San Ventura, and I am also sorry, Sam, that you were not prepared to face Paragon. As you know, the Seven Wonders regret the loss of Detective David Millar. He was a fine officer and instrumental in the creation of the SVPD SuperCrime department."
Sam eased herself from Joe's grip and wiped her eyes and nose. She jabbed a finger in Aurora's direction. "You're sorry, Mr Superman? Is that one of your superpowers? You're harboring a criminal, a murderer. How does that work, huh? He murdered my husband and took over my life. He's killed hundreds, thousands, reduced parts of the city to ruin, made the whole place almost unlivable with the threat of his superterrorism hanging over everyone." Suddenly Sam found that she was on her feet, but she didn't care. Her hands gesticulated with each point, her voice rising in volume. "And now we find out who the Cowl really is, that he's been under our noses all the time, with the city and the police − with us − in his pocket, and you say he's sorry and he won't do it again and that's just OK with you, huh?" She turned to face the imposing, silent leader seated at the far end of the table. "You're supposed to protect us, Aurora. Protect me, Joe, our friends and families. The friends and families of everyone in the city. They used to call San Ventura the 'Shining City'. Look at it now. All thanks to that man."
The heroes remained silent. Sam saw that the Dragon Star and Linear had bowed their heads, clearly hurt by the truth of Sam's outburst. She was sure the superheroes were good people; that was what they were, what they had to be.
But Sand Cat and Aurora did not bow their heads. Sand Cat held her jawline high, ever the proud warrior. Aurora remained still, his face characteristically unreadable. Those two were hardly fucking human anyway.
And Paragon − Geoff Conroy − the Cowl. He sat opposite Sam, regarding her with what really did look like genuine concern. Maybe Bluebell had done a mind trick on him to get him to cooperate. Huh. It was years too late for that.
Aurora sighed. It came as a surprise to everyone. The great and powerful leader showing… emotion?
"You are correct, detective," he said. "That is why I have brought us all to the Sea of Serenity. We have failed the city. We have failed the world. We have failed you, Sam, and you, Joe. We have failed your husband. We have failed your friends and your families. We have squandered our power and influence and grown complacent. It was Paragon that first opened my eyes to the fact − our endless war with the Cowl was a farce, a pointless, futile exercise prolonged by both sides as… as a game. And for that I am deeply ashamed."
The superhero stood, and turned his back to the table. Hands clasped behind his cloak, he walked to the vast glass wall and looked out over the inky dark of the moon. Just on the short horizon a diamond of light was growing. Earthrise.
"But today was our ultimate failing, an event which has settled my mind on the course I considered when Paragon first came to us to beg forgiveness. We have broken the one rule that all superheroes must live and die by. We have misused our powers. We have killed another. This is not acceptable, and we regret the loss."
He turned to face the room, looking at Sam and Joe. "That is why you are here, detectives. You represent the finest San Ventura has to offer. We represent the worst. For that reason, once the current crisis is resolved, the Seven Wonders will cease to exist. With the threat of the Cowl eliminated, we have little function, and because of our very nature we pose a danger to the city which we are supposed to protect.
"All law enforcement and security will pass immediately to the San Ventura Police Department. We will transfer all of our records and research to you, detectives. I hope you will act as our go-betweens during the transition period." Aurora sat at the table. Of the heroes, only Linear made a sound, fidgeting with his silver gloves which he had taken off and placed on the table top in front of him.
Joe cleared his throat, and without moving Aurora spoke his name. Joe sat up and adjusted his jacket.
"I hope you don't mind me speaking freely, sir, but hiding on the moon after a single accident doesn't seem to be the best decision. You guys are the best, you're the superheroes, you're an example to the people. Did you see how many people had crowded the plaza to watch your fight? The city is on your side. Surely rather than give up you could just…" Joe struggled to find the right word. "… mend your ways."
"And did you see how many of these good citizens were injured or even killed?" Sand Cat now, her deep, exotic accent a sharp contrast to everyone else. Her eyes flicked towards their leader. "Aurora is right. We cannot continue. There is no need for us anymore."
"Erm, excuse me." Conroy was leaning back in his chair, rocking slightly but hadn't quite got around to putting his feet up on the table. His hand was raised, like a prize pupil trying to get the teacher's attention. "You've got no supervillain to fight, I have to agree there. But you are needed. As the good detective here says, you don't just protect the city, you represent the city. To those who live there and even to those who don't. You are a symbol for the whole country, maybe even the world. The Seven Wonders are San Ventura, California."
He paused, waiting for a reaction, but not getting one. Of the people around the table, only Joe and Linear were looking at him. He slapped the table in frustration.
"No offense, detectives, but I don't see the SVPD doing much good against the invasion."
Aurora, Sand Cat and Sam turned to Conroy. The Dragon Star dropped her head, the edge of her wide hood hiding her face.
Linear began buzzing in his chair, a clear sign of agitation and worry.
"Invasion?" he asked, eyes torn between Conroy and his leader. "Nobody said nothing about no invasion."
Sand Cat and Linear exchanged a worried look.
Conroy's smile flickered on and off for a few seconds as he looked at each of the heroes around the table in turn. Emotionless Aurora, proud Sand Cat, unreadable Dragon Star. Only Linear seemed like a natural, regular guy. His silver eyebrows were raised high on his forehead in surprise.
Conroy laughed nervously. "The invasion, yes. The Thuban? The crisis that Aurora just spoke of." He paused, and scanned the room before setting his eyes on Aurora. "You have briefed everyone… haven't you?"
Everyone in the room looked at the leader of the Seven Wonders. To Sam, the whole conversation – no, the whole day – had turned into a surreal nightmare. Her head was beginning to ache.
Again, it was Linear who broke the uncomfortable silence.
"No, he hasn't."
Sand Cat thudded the table with a fist. "I am not aware of any 'invasion'." She turned slowly in her chair to face Conroy, eyes dark and brow furrowed.
But now it was Conroy's turn for surprise. "You must know − the Thuban are coming. They've sent an object hidden in the Draconid meteor storm, and once their target is located, they're going to sweep in and pick up the pieces."
Aurora remained silent. Sand Cat turned away from Conroy and toward her leader, but he was still staring at the table, expression frozen.
"This is the first I have heard of this. Why have we not been informed? And why did Paragon not tell us all earlier?"
When Aurora still refused to answer, Conroy laughed in exasperation. "I intercepted Thu
ban transmissions picked up from your own surveillance satellites. As the Cowl I was in direct contact with the Thuban − I was helping their plans, building a little device for them. Hell, that's why I went after your living vaults, grabbing their secrets. That's why we carried out those raids. But the initial comms were routed through your systems, which I patched into. You must know. The communications were two-way. Threat, counter-threat. Someone responded before I did."
Aurora stood quickly, Sand Cat and Linear practically jumping out of their chairs at the same time. The three exchanged glances that, Sam knew, carried a lot of information. You didn't work as a closeknit team of superheroes without knowing what your colleagues were thinking. They didn't need Bluebell for that.
Aurora motioned for the others to sit.
"Like Paragon, I had been intercepting the transmissions as well. But, my friends, I had to be sure. Now with the problem of the Cowl and the Justiciar resolved, it is time to focus on the real threat."
Seven Wonders Page 27