by Wesley King
“My world was in shambles. I realized that I had done this; I had created that monster. I wept as I watched. My own wife had renewed the war and people were dying faster than ever. Courage told me that I was dead to everyone in the world but him. Then he was called to battle again, and he left me alone.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Avaria asked softly.
Derias narrowed his eyes. “I would have, if I’d had the opportunity. But though I was awake, I was still terribly weak. I had months of recovery ahead, and even had I been able, I didn’t know where to find you. But after time I heard more and more of the atrocities you were committing, and I no longer had any desire to find you. My wife died the same night she thought I had.
“Months later, Courage told me that he was leaving the League. He had failed again and again to bring Avaria and the others to justice—he wondered if she would continue the fight if he was no longer involved. At the least, he hoped she would spend her time hunting him alone. He was going into exile. And I decided to go with him.
“We spent the next seven years on a tiny island in the South Pacific, with no contact to the outside world. Courage flew in supplies during the night, and we built a house in the jungle. He managed to keep tabs on the war by taking papers from the mainland, and we discovered it had indeed died down and faded into occasional skirmishes. That was partly why we stayed away so long. The other reason was that I didn’t want to come back.
“We spoke long and often about the choice of fate, and of Courage’s insistence that it was the only way to ensure the right people received powers. But gradually, mostly in the later years, I began to think about things in a different light. I questioned if even the League was not inherently flawed in the same ways as every government and organization on earth. They were poisoned by biases, personal histories, past mistakes, and a million other things that colored the decisions they made. The League was no longer defending the planet—it was just trying to kill the Vindico.
“Eventually, I realized the choice of fate was just an excuse for the League, and people like Courage clung to it because it justified their authority, an authority that was deeply misguided.”
“Exactly,” the Torturer said.
Derias glanced at him. “And the Vindico were a poison in and of themselves. They needed to be wiped out.
“A plan slowly came to mind, and one day, I asked Courage to fly me back to his long-abandoned base. He consented, though he was disturbed by my change. He left me there and returned to the island. He didn’t want to risk restarting the war in full. And that was the last I saw of him. I expect he’s still there, living in solitude.
“For myself, a new chapter was beginning. I plunged into several years of research. The caretaker was dead, so I was alone, and I began stealing the materials I needed for a new laboratory. Over time, I constructed new chambers in Courage’s base—specially designed chambers that affected both the mind and body. I began to select my first candidates: clear-minded, strong men who wanted more.
“To work properly, my new chambers needed the candidates to agree to the transformation. The process would not work on the unconscious, as their thoughts are too muted and confused, or those desperately trying to escape or fight its effects. I needed clear, willing minds.”
He gestured to the men surrounding him.
“You see, my chamber gives them superpowers, much like I did to Avaria, but it also wipes the slate, removes the dangerous individuality, the poisonous biases. It creates a true defender, one who follows orders exactly, one who makes clear, correct decisions. It creates a force of justice such as we have never seen: one that is free of human flaws.”
Sam stared at the blank-eyed men and felt a shiver run down his back.
“And who tells them what to do?” Leni asked mockingly. “A poisoned man.”
Derias smiled. “You’re quite right, Leni. I am no better than the rest of you. When this is finished, my time will be over as well. I just had to ensure that everything was carried out correctly. I have studied the League and the Vindico, looking for any who might indeed be spared. I found none. It was during one of these information raids that I encountered Leni.”
Sam watched as Avaria shifted her gaze to Leni, who briefly met her eyes.
“Leni was preparing to attack the base himself. We got the jump on him, several of my soldiers and I. Though I confronted him in a different form, Leni is sharp. We had a brief discussion, and he guessed my identity. We knew each other from the League, of course, and had even been companions of a sort. I showed him my real form, and then I prepared to kill him. But something held me back. Even then, I realized actually killing both groups would be extremely difficult, and in fact, I would need their help.
“I let him go, trusting that he would keep my identity secret. Not because of any sense of decency, but because he loved my wife.” Derias looked between the two of them, the disgust evident on his face. “He always has, and he knew that if she found out I was alive, she would never have him.”
James was looking around the room now, and Sam knew he was trying to find a weak spot. A way to get his family out. Beside him, Lana was doing the same. They all knew this story couldn’t go on forever. At any moment, they had to make their move.
Wait for the signal, Sam reminded them.
“As it was,” Derias went on, “it was a while longer before I’d found enough viable candidates and firmly discarded every single member of the League. I was preparing to set events into motion when something very unexpected happened. The Vindico decided to take on protégés.”
He turned back to the center of the group.
“I didn’t know immediately, of course, though I learned of the disappearances, and after investigating the circumstances, I made a guess. By that time you were already well into your training, and I simply watched as those fascinating events took place.”
He smiled at Emily.
“I was very impressed. Despite everything, you found your way to the correct solution. But I had to observe you to test you further. You’ve been followed ever since you went to your respective homes. Sam almost caught me at the airport, watching him from the form of a young girl, so I had to leave the rest of the observations to my men. They’ve taken careful reports of every small decision you’ve made, and I’ve studied them.
“As this was happening, I was completing my larger plans. I had already kidnapped two members to widen the division in the League. After providing a fake tip, I met with the Flame under a different guise and convinced him that he needed to rebel to save the League. Eager fool that he is, he went right along with my plan.
“By that time, I was already doubting whether these young kids could join my organization. They had no cause, since they already possessed the powers I was offering. As it turned out, Emily was my only true candidate. She was wonderfully pure, but alas, she figured out my identity too quickly and would not agree to undergo the transformation.
“I wish the protégés had never been involved. But we cannot have any survivors telling the world that my new force of justice has this much blood on their hands. For a truly just future, you all must be erased.”
“You think you can kill us all?” Leni sneered. “You underestimate us.”
“Perhaps,” Derias said. “But all those rifles you found in my ship are rigged.” He pressed a small device on his belt. “They no longer work.”
Avaria heard Rono click his trigger and curse under his breath.
Get ready, Deanna said into Sam’s mind. He passed the message along, and saw the others tense. He sent the same message to Sliver, and saw his former mentor nod in understanding.
Sam knew there was no way they could protect everyone when the shooting started. He gave his mother’s hand one last squeeze, smiled reassuringly at her, and prepared to make a charge at the nearest Wraith. He doubted he would make it very far.
Deanna’s voice suddenly burst into his mind. Now—
“There’s one mor
e part to this story,” a loud voice said.
An old, sun-weathered man walked through the front door, flanked by Blue, Peregrine, Renda, and Junkit. His face was covered with thick white stubble, and deep lines ran across his forehead. But he wore a familiar navy-blue uniform, and his eyes were still proud.
The original superhero, Captain Courage, walked into the lobby.
Sam couldn’t believe it. His idol was standing in front of him.
“It’s about an old coward, who realized the man he’d saved had become someone quite different, and who’s spent the last year watching him every step of the way. That old coward followed you here, and now, once again, I have to stop you from doing something you’ll regret.”
“Too late, old friend,” Derias replied calmly. “Just a bit too late. I was leaving you for last, with me, but your delusions of grandeur have cost you those last days of peace. There are men all around you, Courage, and even at your best, you could never defeat so many. You’ll be gunned down as swiftly as the rest.”
Courage nodded grimly. “I’m well removed from my best,” he agreed, “and any delusions have long since vanished. I knew I couldn’t walk in here and defeat you. You’re far too clever. But you forgot about me, old friend, and so you left no one to guard your flank, no one to watch the outside. And so I took all the explosives I found in my former base and placed them all along the roof.”
He smiled.
“Heads up, everyone.”
Behind him, Blue triggered a device, and the lobby roof exploded.
35
“GET DOWN!” HAYDEN SCREAMED, PROJECTING A WALL OF MENTAL ENERGY.
He felt Lyle, Leni, and Meirna do the same, and the debris and shooting flames crashed against the invisible dome.
Everyone had already thrown themselves onto the lobby floor, and the family members now looked around in terror. Hayden glanced over and saw his mother cowering on the ground beside him, unsure of what was happening. It had been strange waking up to his mother’s crying face. He’d felt like he was a little kid again. Hayden was still deeply hurt. Betrayed. But she was his mother, and he had to protect her.
He spotted many Wraiths getting buried in the falling debris, while others were swallowed by the fire. Thick black smoke roiled around the room, and for a moment, it seemed the battle was already over. Then shadowy figures started bursting out of the smoke on all sides, and Hayden turned to meet them.
“Here they come!” he called, and viciously waved his hand toward the nearest attacker.
The man went spinning backward, his rifle flying from his hand. Hayden dropped his section of the protective dome as more and more Wraiths closed in. The debris had stopped falling, but smoke began to pour in the breach.
Projecting a shield in front of him, Hayden plunged into the fray. Four of the Wraiths sprinted toward his end of the circle, and he glanced back to see James and Emily fall in behind him. The Vindico were already engaged on the far side of the circle, while Thunderbolt was leading the rest at the back, including Lana and Sam.
Hayden threw the first man off his feet, and Emily dove toward one of the fallen rifles. She scooped it up and spun onto her back just as another man took aim at Hayden. She fired twice into his chest. The Wraith collapsed to the floor.
James charged another attacker, grabbing his rifle. They fought violently for the gun, each trying to whip the other off his feet. The last of the four Wraiths fired at Hayden, but he narrowly managed to deflect the red blast, and it skimmed right over the heads of the ducking families.
Hayden sent another massive wave of energy at the man, and he went flying into the smoke and rubble. Emily climbed onto one knee and started firing wildly around the outer ring of the lobby.
James finally swung his opponent to the ground and then kicked him across the chin. The man went limp. “We need to go after Nimian!” he said.
“Fine,” Hayden replied distractedly, “but maybe we should—”
He stopped when he saw a black metal cylinder sail out of the smoke and bounce past him, heading for the center of the group. Instinctively, he snatched it out of the air on the second bounce and thrust it outward again.
It was about twenty feet away when it went off.
The grenade erupted with concussive force, sending him, Emily, and James flying onto their backs. Hayden skidded right to the feet of James’s parents, both of whom grabbed his shoulders and started yelling something nonsensical at him.
Hayden felt his mind spinning. He shook his head and climbed up again.
“Ouch,” he muttered.
“Are you okay?” James’s mother shrieked.
“I’m fine,” Hayden replied, watching as more attackers ran out of the smoke. James was helping Emily up ten feet away. “Now it’s my turn.”
He raised his hands and sent another invisible blast hurtling toward the attackers.
* * *
Sam stuck close to Lana as she and Lyle surged forward, pressing the attack against the strange, unfeeling men. Most of the attackers were now unarmed, having had to pull themselves out of the rubble, and they were forced to close in. Thunderbolt was nearby with Meirna and Jada, but Septer and Sinio were already down.
Sam’s family was sprawled out on the floor with their hands over their heads, and he had shouted at them to stay where they were. His mother had tried to grab him as he ran to join the others and then screamed hysterically for him to come back. But Sam had to help, even if he wasn’t sure how.
He glanced at Deanna, who was following right behind him.
We’re useless here, she said into his mind, and he nodded.
“Look out!” Thunderbolt shouted, and Sam jerked as two more Wraiths emerged from the left hallway and opened fire. Sam cast himself backward, slamming into Deanna. They both crashed to the floor.
But the shots weren’t aimed at them. One blast caught Lana in the hip, and she gasped as it burned into her flesh. Another hit Lyle on the top of the arm, and he toppled sideways, his head slamming against the ground. Deanna screamed and crawled to his side.
Thunderbolt roared and sent a blast of energy streaking through the air, striking both assailants at once and sending them careening back down the hall. Lana managed to stay on her feet, but she was bodychecked by another attacker almost immediately. Sam heard frantic screams behind him and looked back to see Lana’s father and mother rushing toward the battle.
Stay back, Sam warned them forcefully, and then he lunged onto the man’s back. Lana used the momentary distraction to free her right hand and punch him in the face. He rolled to the floor and Sam spilled off his back.
Lana’s father reached the fight and tried to punch the Wraith as he climbed to his feet. In a blur of motion, the man punched Lana’s father so fiercely in the stomach that his feet left the ground. Her father landed in a heap. Lana screamed and charged into the Wraith, and they both crashed into the fallen chunks of shingles and drywall.
Deanna was kneeling over her brother, tears streaming down her face, while Lana’s mother did the same over her husband. Sam’s eyes fell on Septer and Sinio, who both lay unmoving on the floor.
Even if we win, we’ll have lost so many, he thought.
Sam saw an attacker running toward Lana as she wrestled with the first.
Without thinking, he charged.
* * *
The rifle thudded against Emily’s chest as she let loose another round of shots, and the Wraith was at last struck down.
Hayden had another attacker pinned against the wall who was struggling violently against the invisible grip. James walked over, having dispatched his own combatant, and punched the Wraith in the face, collapsing the entire section of the wall.
“We make a good team,” Emily said.
Hayden turned around, and she saw that his left pant leg was stained with fresh blood, while the top of his right arm was scorched and blackened. James’s entire face was covered with soot, and his left arm was hanging limply by his side.
&
nbsp; “Sort of,” she corrected.
“And we’re not done yet,” James said.
Emily turned and a flurry of motion caught her eye. She saw Sam get thrown to the ground and a Wraith walk over to him, ready to bring his foot down.
Emily lifted her rifle, closed one eye, and fired. The shot caught the man right on the side of the head, and he collapsed.
Emily turned around to see Hayden mentally rip a man off of Lana, while James slammed into another Wraith, freeing Thunderbolt to blast a third farther down the hallway.
She scanned the room for Nimian, but he had vanished, as had Avaria, Leni, Courage, and the other captured League members. Despite everything, she pitied Nimian. She now understood how his own twisted sense of guilt had led him to this.
Her eyes fell on the front entrance.
“Stay here!” she called to Hayden and James. “I’m going after Nimian.”
* * *
Avaria watched as Derias stepped over the fallen body of Junkit, heading for Courage. Peregrine lay on the grass nearby as well, while Renda and Blue stood over her, facing off against the last two black-clad men.
“I didn’t think you’d come back,” Derias said to Courage.
He held a thin knife in his hand, stained with Junkit’s blood.
“When you left, I knew something had changed,” Courage replied, and he gestured at Junkit. “The man I know would never murder without cause.”
“But you know my cause,” Derias said, “and I fear you may now have ruined it. If my men have lost the battle inside, then the rest of the Vindico and League members will be here soon.” His eyes went to Avaria. “And it seems that’s the case.”
“Then surrender,” Courage said. “Stop this.”
Derias shook his head. “There’s no surrender here. My life ended a long time ago. I’ve been walking in a dead man’s shoes.”
Avaria stepped toward him, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Please, Derias,” she whispered. “Don’t think so poorly of me.”