Lee backed away from the console and removed his belt. He opened a panel in the buckle, examining the components inside. The power had been drained and it needed a boost.
“Okay, you can help me with this, right?” he asked, looking at the computer. Lee had a slot built into the buckle for recharging. Lee plugged the belt into the computer and kept his hand on the buckle. Through his eyes, he could see the belt’s power level increasing. At least enough for what he needed.
Lee unplugged the belt and ran from the ready room and down the tunnel connected to the main Atlas silo. He fastened the belt around his waist as he ran and activated the power. The hard-light armor generated only around his hands but that’s all he needed.
When he reached the open elevator door, Lee jumped and caught the hanging cables with his hands, the armor guarding his flesh. Lee climbed down until he reached the open door for the lab and swung. He released the cables and one foot hit solid ground. The other foot slipped though and Lee fell.
He reached up, taking hold of the ledge and hung there. Lee strained to pull himself up, reaching his other hand to the ledge and using both. He climbed onto the ledge and took a breath.
***
Lucent felt the hard impact on his chin and he hit the ground. He had trouble maintaining a purely energy form. He’d used up a good deal of his energy reserves battling the Omega. That plus the shots from Thorne left the special weakened.
Zenith wasn’t about to give Lucent any additional fuel, either. He limited the use of his cannons to defensive purposes only, deflecting any energy blasts Lucent hurled his way. For anything offensive, the robot was relying on his own impressive strength.
Lucent stood and screamed, launching at Zenith. From what he remembered when Zenith was in control of his body and battling the Omega, Lee had apparently installed some sort of failsafe in this new Zenith 2.0. Lucent didn’t know what it was, but it apparently prevented the absorption of the robot’s energy. Some kind of special shielding.
“It doesn’t have to be this way,” said Zenith. “You said you would help me stop the Omega. Now he’s gone and it’s just the two of us.”
“You brought this on yourself. You took control of my body and then you refused my very generous offer,” said Lucent. “Now you’re going to pay the consequences for your stupidity.”
“As a matter of fact, this can all be traced to your actions, Gibson,” said Zenith. “You were the one who absorbed me in the first place. And it proved fortunate for you. You couldn’t break free of the Analyst’s control.”
“I could—and would—have. Eventually. But what’s past is past,” said Lucent. “I’m going to kill you. And the old man. And the kid. And then I’ll kill everyone else who has crossed me. Rowe, the Analyst, the Khagan. Maybe even go after the rest of your team.”
Zenith shook his head. “You truly are a petty, pathetic creature.”
“SHUT UP!” Lucent flew at Zenith, which is actually exactly what the robot hoped to goad the special into doing. Zenith had spent so much time inhabiting Lucent’s body that he knew how the man’s powers worked and how he fought. Zenith could practically predict where Lucent’s every blow would come and he was there to counter it.
Zenith dropped from the air and shot back up behind Lucent, grabbing the special from behind. He wrapped his arms around Lucent’s neck and chest, holding him tight and the special struggled against him.
The effort was wasted. Lucent was too weakened to escape his captor’s grip. All he could do was try and use up the last of his reserves.
“This really how you want it to end, huh?” asked Lucent. “You wanna die here, Zenith?”
“I’ve already died once, thanks to you,” said Zenith. “I think I’ve had my fill.”
“Not your choice!”
Lucent channeled the last of his power reserves into one, final attack. His body glowed even brighter than ever and on the ground below, Thorne had to cover his eyes to avoid being blinded.
Zenith’s sensors went wild with the energy readings. With the type of output Lucent was generating, it was possible he could destroy all of Atlas. There was only one opportunity to save Thorne and Lee.
Zenith activated his thrusters and barreled through the ceiling, taking Lucent with him. They flew through every single level, even causing Lee to jump back in surprise in the lab.
Finally, the pair crashed through the floor of the hangar. Thanks to a command Zenith sent to Atlas’ computer system, the hangar doors above them had already opened and they flew out into the night sky. Zenith used all his strength to hurl Lucent up even higher and deactivated his thrusters.
As the robot fell, Lucent unleashed his built-up reserves. A wave of energy exploded out from him. Zenith rocketed back towards the hangar, but the force of the explosion hit him and threw him down even faster, sending him crashing into the hangar’s floor.
Zenith looked up and his eyes zoomed in on the falling form of Lucent. He hit his thrusters and shot up into the sky to catch the special in mid-air. After taking hold of his enemy, Zenith looked down at Lucent. He was back in his human form and completely unconscious.
The robot carried him down, lowering himself through the holes he’d made in the floors and ceilings of Atlas. As he hovered down to the lab, he saw Lee standing there holding something in his hand.
“Hey,” he said.
Zenith took note of the object and nodded, moving inside the lab. He laid Lucent’s form on the gurney that once housed his body. Lee affixed the device—the same type of inhibitor collar he’d developed when he was forced to work for the Red Fist—around Lucent’s neck. The lights on the collar flashed, indicating it was now operational.
“When—if he wakes up, that’ll keep him docile,” said Lee.
“Good,” said Zenith.
Lee looked at his friend, smiling at the work he’d done on the robot body. “Y’know, I was starting to regret rebuilding this thing. But now that you’re back in the driver’s seat, I’m glad I did it.”
“As am I.” Zenith laid a hand on Lee’s shoulder. “Thank you, my friend.”
“Still think it would’ve been better to keep you in Lucent’s body. Maybe none of this would’ve happened.”
Zenith shook his head. “Lucent would have regained control eventually. It was inevitable. Now he won’t cause us anymore trouble.”
“Hey!”
The two men looked down through the holes and saw Thorne staring up at them, still in the training room.
“Someone gonna get me out of here?”
EPILOGUE
The next few weeks were spent cleaning up the damage the Omega and Lucent caused to Atlas. Zenith’s first priority was getting the elevator fixed and repairing the holes in the base, while Lee worked on increasing the defenses of Atlas’ computer systems. Thorne kept a watchful eye on Lucent, making sure the special was kept under constant sedation. Even powerless, the Colonel didn’t want to take any chances with a man that dangerous.
It wasn’t long after they finished the repairs that the three were sitting in the ready room when the proximity alarm went off. Lee ran to the console to check, but Zenith stopped him.
“I’ve already scanned the incoming helicopter, Lee. I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Lee, standing in front of the console. “Zen, we’ve gotta turn off the power and hide.” An image flashed on the monitor—a helicopter with the Cerberus logo on the side. Lee pointed at the footage. “You see?”
Thorne studied Zenith’s face and he had a feeling that if the robot still had a mouth, he would be smiling. Thorne couldn’t help a grin of his own as he held up a hand in Lee’s direction.
“It’s okay, kid. I think Zenith knows what he’s talking about.”
Zenith nodded in Thorne’s direction, a sign of appreciation for his support. He turned to the elevator entrance from the ground level and stood at attention. Thorne came up by Zenith’s side, hands clas
ped behind his back. Lee was suspicious, but he still sidled up beside his friends, his hand hovering over the belt buckle and the switch that would activate his hard-light armor.
The elevator doors opened and a man stepped out, clad in crimson armor with a yellow scanner over his left eye. His hair was short and blond and he flashed a warm smile at the three men he saw. He immediately approached Thorne and stood at attention, saluting.
“Sir.”
Thorne grinned and saluted him back. “At ease, Lt. Ellis.”
Jim Ellis did as commanded. He shook his head in disbelief, still smiling. “My god. Anita said Callus suggested you might still be alive, but I didn’t want to believe it. Why didn’t you tell us?”
“For your own protection,” said Thorne. “We had to be sure Callus thought I was dead.”
“It’s how we were able to provide you with that information,” said Zenith.
Jim arched his eyebrows and pointed at Zenith. “That was you? When did you get back in your body?”
“Actually, it was Lee.” Zenith patted his young friend on the back and Lee just offered a sheepish smile. “As for my body, that’s a long story.”
“I imagine so,” said Jim. “Olympus picked up some unusual activity coming from here. And we thought this place was decommissioned. Never thought you’d be stupid enough to hide out here.”
“No better place to hide than in plain sight,” said Thorne.
“Wait, he said Olympus detected something? You’re here for Cerberus, aren’t you?” Lee’s hand went closer to his belt buckle.
“Relax.” Jim held out a hand. “Cerberus isn’t what it used to be. Callus is on the run and Zukov has been appointed interim director in the meantime.”
“Zukov?” asked Zenith. “You mean Abram Zukov, from our mission in Iskander?”
Jim nodded. “He’s the one who provided the Security Council with the information you gave me on Callus. Got in some hot water with some old friends, but we all managed to escape relatively unharmed. Now what can you tell me about this unusual activity we picked up?”
“Lucent,” said Thorne.
“That would explain it. Reports say the sky lit up like the Fourth of July.”
Thorne narrowed his eyes. “Why’d they send you, Jim? Why not the usual team they have doing sweeps of Atlas?”
“Because I’m not only here to investigate those readings,” said Jim. “I’m also here to get the base ready.”
“Ready? Ready for what?” asked Lee.
“Since Callus’ disappearance, we’ve discovered more evidence of some of the things he’s been up to, and it’s not pretty,” said Jim. “He was using specials for his own purposes. And there’s also evidence of illegal human experimentation in North Korea. Trying to create specials. Now who does that sound like?”
“Azarov,” said Zenith.
Jim gave a nod. “That’s right. Thanks to China’s spot on the Security Council, a Cerberus request to investigate has already been denied. Zukov’s hands are tied, unless he can get someone else to do it for him.”
Thorne stepped closer. “You saying what I think you’re saying?”
Jim smiled. “That’s right, Colonel. We’re getting the band back together. It’s time to reassemble Vanguard.”
#9 - THE COLLECTIVE
CHAPTER 1
The alien spacecraft broke through Earth’s atmosphere and flew towards the Asian continent. The Kotharian pilot, the ship’s sole occupant, expertly maneuvered the small craft through the night skies. She pulled back on the stick and the ship righted itself, switching to hover mode as it descended gently to the ground.
An energy field served as the canopy and it vanished. The Kotharian warrior climbed from the cockpit and with a mental command, the helmet she wore seemed to disintegrate, collapsing into its housings. Her skin was a reddish color and her long, yellow hair braided into locks. Catlike, golden eyes surveyed the land and she held up her arm, a holographic image projecting from her gauntlet. It was a topographic map of the area with bright lights concentrated on a spot not far.
The Chaknaar, the sacred energy that grants Kotharians the ability to commune with each other, was represented by those lights. Somehow, someone had managed to use the Chaknaar on the inhabitants of Earth. And J’Karra’s investigations on the orbiting moon suggested that it may have been a time traveler.
This spot was her first investigation. She activated a switch on her gauntlet and her ship seemingly vanished from sight. In reality, J’Karra had simply activated a cloaking system. It would remain invisible to any detection, including the naked eye.
She reactivated her helmet and set out towards the source of the Chaknaar, her armor projecting the map over her HUD. J’Karra’s ebon cape with gold trim flowed behind her, hanging from the shoulder-pads of the matching armor. It was night and extremely dark, but her eyesight was capable of seeing as clearly in these conditions as it was in daylight.
J’Karra stopped when she saw a warning flash over her HUD. She reached behind her back. Under her cape was a collapsed bow and she drew it out. It extended to its full size and she looked at the gates up ahead. A chain-link fence topped with barbed wire surrounded the grounds, with a guard station up ahead. Spotlights scanned from towers and J’Karra moved swiftly out of sight. She readied her bow and focused on one of the guard towers.
The Kotharian stepped out and raised the bow, drawing back the string. As she did, an arrow forged of energy appeared nocked. She released the string and the arrow flew, striking the guard square in his head. He collapsed instantly, leaving no trace of the weapon.
J’Karra’s bow collapsed and she returned it to its housing behind her back. She ran for the tower and jumped. Her gauntlets enabled her to latch onto the side of the tower and she easily scaled it, climbing up to the top. She crouched low behind the barrier so as not to be seen by the guard on the opposite tower. J’Karra readied her bow again and stood, firing an arrow at the guard, taking him down.
As she crouched again, she used her gauntlets to control her armor, trying to get more information about this base. Many lifeforms were within the fenced area, but below ground was a Chaknaar signature. A powerful one at that. J’Karra would need to get down there, and it looked like it would require her getting into the base to accomplish that feat.
But there was more. J’Karra could sense great suffering coming off this place. Whoever these people were, they were subjecting their fellow humans to unbelievable pain. She wondered if all of this planet’s inhabitants shared this same cruelty. And if so, she felt that it would be better if these beings were wiped from the universe.
J’Karra examined her HUD, trying to get a proper layout of the facility. There were numerous buildings within the camp, but the one in the center is what seemed to have the connection to the underground levels she needed to reach.
She leapt from the guard tower, landing on the roof of the closest building. J’Karra moved swiftly across, jumping to the next building and over the heads of unsuspecting guards. Their uniforms were a dark olive color with red markings, their hats adorned with a red star in the center. They all carried firearms of some kind, slung around their backs.
Skittering across the roofs of the buildings while crouching low enabled J’Karra to quickly reach her destination, the center complex. The HUD told her this was where she needed to go, but first she had to get inside. And the only entrance was flanked by two guards. J’Karra stood above them and drew her bow. She drew the string and two arrows appeared nocked. J’Karra flipped over the edge and hit the ground.
The guards instantly readied their weapons, but before they could pull the triggers or even say a word, J’Karra released the two energy arrows. Each guard was struck square in the chest and collapsed instantly. J’Karra checked the door. Locked from the inside. She raised her bow and fired another arrow, this one bursting open the door.
J’Karra dragged the two guards inside the door and closed it behind her. The top level was n
othing special, just looked like an empty warehouse. But there was an elevator in the center of the room. J’Karra ran over to it and activated the switch. The platform lowered down into the basement levels. J’Karra kept her bow ready to strike at anything that would come out after her.
When the elevator reached its destination, there was just one corridor leading away from it. J’Karra moved into the tunnel, her HUD scanning for any lifeforms coming this way. She passed intersecting tunnels and her HUD told her there were lifeforms down those ways, but mostly few. The biggest concentration was also where the Chaknaar signature came from, and it was down this main tunnel.
After a lot of traversing the tunnels, J’Karra’s path was finally blocked by a heavy set of doors. The HUD told her the Chaknaar was behind them. She drew back her string, generating an arrow larger and more powerful than any she’d used thus far. J’Karra fired, and the arrow barely made a dent.
The Kotharian warrior took a deep breath and tried again. This second arrow caused the doors to give somewhat, but they still remained locked. Beneath her helmet, the strain on J’Karra’s face was evident. She pulled the string back again, channeling her energies as she’d been taught. This third and final arrow caused the doors to open.
She paused to regain her breath. The strain of devoting so much energy to those arrows had taken its toll, but she had to push forward. J’Karra stepped inside and this room was pitch-black. Even her own enhanced vision had difficulty seeing much of anything in this room.
The HUD confirmed the Chaknaar readings and there were several lifeforms in here. J’Karra could finally see them and she could sense something else, something far more powerful and primal than she had witnessed before.
And then J’Karra felt an incredible surge come over her. Her mind was on fire and her entire body seized up. J’Karra tried not to scream, but she couldn’t help it as she was overwhelmed by hundreds if not thousands of thoughts rushing at her at once. She dropped to her knees and then fell on her face.
Vanguard: Seasons 1-3: A Superhero Adventure Page 50