Ironside & Aegis- Origins

by David Bruno

  “Yes, I went to the doctor today and they confirmed it—about six weeks now. It’s too soon to know any more details. I hope you’re happy.”

  JB leapt from the chair and hugged and kissed his wife, spinning her around in his arms. Her engagement ring made from slag and cast iron was still wrapped around her finger. The lacquer was already wearing thin and a faint stain of orange rust colored her skin below the ring, but she didn’t care. It was better than any ring he could have bought for her.

  JB felt that his heart might burst from his chest. “Happy? I’m over the moon! You’re going to be the world’s best mother. Let’s call our parents and share the news!”

  “Do we have to? Can’t we just enjoy the moment for a little while longer?” She snuggled up next to her husband. Mama’s boy.

  CH 07

  TRAGEDY

  DECEMBER 7, 1995: THE AGENCY HEADQUARTERS

  “It’s time, Max,” said Dr. Doe in his usually frank manner as he held the phone to his ear. “This is the day we’ve been waiting for. The babies. Get over here.” Honestly, I don’t understand Max. He says he cares about Veronica but she clearly has lost interest in him.

  Max hung up the phone and shuffled to the medical room. He knew she didn’t want to see him, especially now. In the last few weeks he’d tried to spend as much time as possible with Veronica. She despised him after being given the news of her condition and refused his daily visits. But each day, he tried again.

  As Dr. Doe had said, her fate had been sealed the moment she learned of the Agency, and Max knew it. But it didn’t make what was about to happen any easier. Veronica knew her fate but still didn’t know of the plans for her children who were finally ready to enter such a harsh and dangerous world.

  At her bedside, Max stroked her hair. She was too weak to force him out and instead chose to accept his persistence. He had been the one constant all along. As he promised, he’d never left her alone—not for a day even when she pushed him away. “It’s almost time, Veronica.” He softly kissed her forehead.

  She looked up at him in despair and pain. Her eyes watered. “Will you take care of our children?” she asked.

  “Of course. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure they grow up well,” he affirmed in a loving tone, as if he really was her husband.

  “That’s good,” she said heavily, closing her eyes. “I have no illusions that you are some knight in shining armor. I know now that I made a mistake signing up with the Agency. I feel sure that my life would have worked out better without it, in spite of how you first met me. Regardless, please make sure my children know that I really do love them and that there is more to this world than what they see. There are certain truths that they must know. If it’s within you, please teach them that. They may have been brought into the world as an experiment. But they are worth much more than that. They are loved. Never forget that.” Veronica’s breathing grew more laborious. “And, Max, please be honest with me. Did the Agency make me sick on purpose?”

  A nurse walked in, thankfully preventing Max from having to answer her question. “It’s time. We recommend a C-section. It will be faster and less traumatic for her.”

  “Do it then,” said Max. “Be gentle with her.”

  Max left the room, heartsick and ashamed of what he had done to that poor woman. He pondered how he could make good on his promise to take care of the children. To do that he’d need to get them away from the Agency. His options were limited. But he was smart and determined to find a way. Mustering every ounce of courage, he went back into the delivery room to be with Veronica to the end.

  At her bedside, he removed the necklace that had held the meteoric alloy and had made her so sick. He placed it aside at a safe distance.

  She looked at him gratefully as he squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Max. For being here. Remember your promise.”

  “Don’t worry, Veronica. I will do as you ask and love our children as you would.” He mustered a fragile smile.

  “Yes, our children.” She smiled dreamily. The drugs they’d given her were taking hold.

  Thirty minutes later, the twins were born. Max named them Victor and Vanessa as requested by their mother. Both were examined and found to be healthy.

  Moments before, Veronica had taken her last breath. Her body rested motionless on the table covered in a sheet. Tears rolled down Max’s face as he held the babies.

  Dr. Doe walked into the room. He scanned the area and jovially blurted, “Wow, this place is a mess! Congratulations, Max. You’re the proud father of healthy twins. A boy and a girl, no less.”

  He looked at Max, who was not filled with joy as he had hoped. Instead, his expression was one of heartbreak and sorrow. Perhaps these children were truly worth more to him than the other test subjects. Will this cause problems for the program? Did I make a mistake in involving Max in the creation of these test subjects? “What’s wrong, Max? This is what we worked for.”

  Max shook his head. “Not like this, Jeff. We’ve worked together for years and I like to think you trust me, even though I tried to kill you that time. But it’s too much to bear. These babies are my family and their mother’s dead. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I have a responsibility to them.”

  Dr. Doe frowned, and his expression hardened as he pointed at Max. “Get something straight, Max. Those babies belong to the Agency, not you. They were created for one reason, and one reason only: to usher in our new world order. They are to be leaders of our army—if they are good enough. I trust you understand that. The reason I didn’t kill you was that I thought the children would need a living parent. Consider that my gift to you.”

  “Yeah, Jeff. I get it.” Max sighed heavily. “Can we do one thing differently? Can I raise these children at my house? I can give them a normal life outside of the lab. Perhaps if they have a normal childhood, they will be psychologically more stable and better able to control their powers, should they emerge. When and if their powers emerge, we can talk about bringing them back here. Let them have a normal childhood.” He reasoned this was his best chance at giving the children the normal life Veronica wanted for them. If he was lucky, he would eventually find a way to free them. If he was very lucky, they wouldn’t have powers at all.

  Dr. Doe dragged on his cigarette and thought about the request. He was baffled. I know Max cares about the children, but why would he ask for such a horrific responsibility all alone? However, his argument makes sense. He has the financial resources to take care of the children. Besides, having the children away from the lab might be helpful. If resources are separated, it would be harder for the program to be dismantled if its true purpose is discovered by the government.

  “Okay, Max. You may raise them if you wish. But when required, they will see our doctors. They will also return to the Agency if and when they get powers.”

  *****

  JANUARY 1996

  Max had become proficient at changing diapers and childproofing his house. The children were growing up fast, a month old and already large for their age. Somehow, the consummate bachelor had found it within himself to change his way of life to accommodate twins. Of course, it helped that he didn’t have to report to work each day. After the special agreement with Dr. Doe, his job was now to raise the children, nurture their powers, and—when they were ready—give them back to the Agency.

  But how could he do that? He loved the children. As they grew, he began to see shadows of their mother in their faces. It was something he could not ignore or get over.

  Dr. Doe called to speak with Max, as he did each day.

  “Hey, Jeff, make it fast. I have a serious diaper situation here,” Max huffed anxiously.

  Dr. Doe didn’t bother with any pleasantries. “As you know, we’ve been conducting some research on the slag. It seems that it may have some of the same effects as the base meteoric alloy. Since it’s in different concentrations and has traces of various elements, the results can be unexpected.”

  �
�What does that mean?”

  “It means it can have anything from no effect to creating new and exciting powers. I suppose it can also make people very sick as well. At any rate, it’s exhilarating. We may be able to more easily expand the range of powers we can give people.”

  “That’s good news. Any success yet?”

  “Not yet. Still early. That brings me to why I called. That foundry we used… ”

  “JBMelting?” replied Max.

  “Yeah, we may have inadvertently left some slag behind. If it’s as powerful as we think, we need to keep an eye on that place. You’re a trained spy. It only makes sense for you to go there and conduct the espionage.”

  Max frowned. “I can’t just up and move across the country with infants!” he shouted. “But I guess you aren’t giving me a choice, are you?”

  “Not really. I need you there. Keep an eye on the owner, the workers, and their families. Report anything odd. If you need me or anyone else, we’ll be there to help.” He paused. “How are the twins?”

  “They’re great. Starting to exhibit personalities. That Victor, he’s a firecracker. Loves to scream for no reason and throws things already. Vanessa is a little more subdued. A real thinker, very smart. I see it in her eyes. They’re a lot of fun. I’m a regular Mr. Mom.” A loud crash echoed in the room. “Don’t throw Mr. Binky! Ugh, get it out of your diaper!” Max shouted at Victor.

  “Mr. Mom?” Dr. Doe said in disgust. “Remember not to get too attached. Don’t forget their fate. Any powers yet?”

  “Jeff, they’re a month old! I really need to go now. I’m up to my elbows in crap here.”

  “Okay, then. Later.” Although Dr. Doe disliked the daily call to Max, he was pleased that the children had survived this long. One-month survivability had been unheard of until now.

  *****

  FEBRUARY 1996

  Max moved to a Pennsylvania town about twenty miles from JBMelting. He didn’t want to get too close for fear of inadvertently running into one or more of the people he’d met during the test. The children took the move well. It didn’t matter much to them since they were so young—as long as they were with their father, they were content.

  Max began his work by finding employee names and personal information. It was relatively easy to collect the records from the primitive computer network used at the foundry. He scanned local medical records and learned that one employee’s wife was expecting a child: Jennifer Brown.

  During Dr. Doe’s daily call, he asked Max, “Find anything yet?”

  “Not yet.”

  “You sure? I’m no CIA agent, but you wouldn’t be hiding anything, would you?” Dr. Doe had reason to be suspicious after Max’s behavior over the past several months.

  Thinking quickly, Max replied, “No. No, it’s not like that. There are babies born here all the time. But I have no reason to link any of them to our experiment.”

  “Your mission is to report what you find. We’re to work together to determine links. If you can’t do that, I can recall you and send someone else.”

  “Don’t threaten me, Jeff.”

  “No threat implied. Mere statement of fact.”

  Max relented. “Well, there is one woman I’m watching. JB’s wife is expecting a child in a few months.” Max squinted his eyes in frustration. He knew how suspicious it looked that he was protecting someone linked to the foundry.

  “Same guy from the foundry? Hmm. I’ll send our doctor right away. We need to assess her condition. Find out what doctor she sees so I can arrange our doctor to replace hers.”

  Unable to keep such a secret, Max had no choice but to divulge the information. “I’ll find out what doctor she sees. By the time our doctor arrives, I’ll be ready.”

  *****

  A COUPLE WEEKS LATER

  “Okay, Mrs. Brown, I’m Dr. Fine. I’ll be examining you today.” The new doctor from the Agency had been briefed on Jenn’s condition and was ready to see whether Jenn could be carrying a superpowered person. JB hadn’t been able to make the appointment due to prior work commitments, so Jenn had come alone.

  “Where’s Dr. Bennett?” she asked.

  “She had to go out of town for a while. No worries. I’ll take good care of you. We want you to have a healthy baby.”

  The new doctor examined Jenn and took a blood sample. The examination went well and there were no obvious external issues or abnormalities—but when the blood was analyzed it was found to have telltale signs of abnormal white cell counts.

  Jenn was going to become very sick, very soon.

  *****

  Max called Dr. Doe to give him an update.

  “Jeff, it’s too soon to tell, but it looks like Jennifer Brown is going to be sick, before her child is born. Just like Veronica”

  “Does she know?” asked Dr. Doe.

  “No. Dr. Fine didn’t tell her. She gave Jenn a glowing report on her condition. And she confirmed that her baby was a boy. So far, Jenn has no symptoms, so it was easy. It could get tricky when and if she gets sick, depending on how sick she gets.”

  “Understood. Stay close to her. It may be coincidence. If she gets sick, we need to determine if there’s any link to our experiment. If there is, we need that child.”

  “I don’t feel right about this. If we’re wrong and this is coincidence, we can’t just let this poor woman go through hell. Surely, her doctor would have cared for her. Shouldn’t we?” asked Max. His conscience nagged at him relentlessly.

  “No. Let it be. Let nature take its course,” Dr. Doe callously ordered.

  As the weeks went by, Jenn began to get sick, as the Agency expected. She was exhausted all the time and developed hard nodules on her legs and abdomen. Dr. Fine assured her that her exhaustion was normal and that she needed bed rest. She also said that the nodules were only lipomas, fatty benign tumors, and of no consequence.

  JB was concerned but thought that the doctor was right. All she needed was bed rest.

  *****

  APRIL 1996

  With about a month to go, JB returned home from shopping to get some final things for the nursery and to prepare for the baby. He had his arms full of formula and diapers and various other sundries. As the new parents-to-be had found out, children required a great deal of things to keep them clean, comfortable, well fed, and entertained. He placed the items on the floor, except for a small stuffed dinosaur that he wanted to show Jenn. He planned to tell his son that the dinosaur would always be there to help him, his protector.

  JB shouted upstairs, “Hey, babe, I’m home. Guess what I got? A little dinosaur for our little man!”

  “JB… JB!” Jenn screamed from their bedroom. “Help me!”

  JB threw the stuffed dinosaur to the ground and rushed upstairs to the bedroom. Blood stained the sheets and ran down the sides of the mattress. Jennifer was pale and bathed in sweat.

  Immediately, he called 911 and held his wife in an attempt to console her until help arrived. In what seemed like an hour—but was less than ten minutes—the ambulance arrived.

  He trembled as the medics ran into the room. “It’ll be okay, Jenn. They’re here. You’ll be just fine.” She looked up at her husband with glassy eyes, unable to speak.

  The young couple was quickly whisked to the hospital, where they met Dr. Fine.

  “Okay, take her back. We need to take the baby out now and stop the bleeding.”

  JB was petrified, weak in the knees and barely able to stand. The baby wasn’t due for a month. Surely, none of this was normal. What if he was to lose her and their son?

  The doctor swiftly removed the baby from Jenn via C-section. The baby boy was carefully cleaned and wrapped. He was small, as expected, but quickly found to be healthy. But Jenn had lost a vast amount of blood and drifted in and out of consciousness. Throughout the ordeal, JB never left her side.

  JB gently stroked his wife’s hair. It was soaked with sweat and matted to her scalp. “Jenn, don’t give up. We have a healthy son. I told the
nurses his name is Jon Benedict Brown III, just like we agreed. Can you believe it? Can we call him Benny? You’re a mother, Jenn. Hold on. Please.” JB wiped tears away as they rolled down his cheek.

  Jenn could barely respond. Her eyes were wet and she couldn’t focus on her husband or his words.

  “Do something!” JB shouted at the doctors and nurses all around him.

  “We are, sir,” said a nurse. “Please try to remain calm.”

  “Calm! My wife is dying here!” JB screamed. “I want to know why this is happening!”

  “Sir, she hemorrhaged. She lost a lot of blood. We’re beginning transfusions and trying to control her blood pressure.”

  Jenn looked at JB. She gathered all her remaining energy to speak. “My husband… ”

  “Shh. Save your strength. This will be over soon and we can hold our little boy.” Tears streamed down JB’s face.

  “No, please let me say this. I love you and our boy very much. Thank you for our short life together. I am so sorry that I won’t be around to raise him.” Her head slumped down and she closed her eyes. The heart monitor flatlined and made the telltale steady tone.

  The defibrillator buzzed as doctors placed the pads on her chest. “Clear!” Her body jolted as the energy was released. But it was to no avail. There was nothing that could be done. Jenn had died.

  JB held his wife and cried. “No. No. No. This isn’t real. Wake up, Jenn.” He clasped his hands together and looked upward. “God, please… please. Take me instead. I beg of you, please bring her back.” His plea went unanswered.

  A nurse approached JB with the new baby swaddled in her arms while another put her arm around JB, trying to console him. “Mr. Brown. I’m very sorry about Jenn. There was nothing we could do to save her. But I would like you to meet your beautiful son.” She handed the tiny child over to his father.

  JB, still in tears, mustered all his strength to talk to his son. His voice quaked as he spoke. “I’m so sorry, my little Benny. This is your mother here next to us. She loves you very much and wishes she could be around to raise you. She was very sick and won’t be with us… ” He paused before composing himself. His voice shook as he continued. “But she will be in our hearts every day. I love you very much too. You have a whole family that loves you. I will do what I can to raise you as best I can with their help. Please forgive the mistakes I’ll make. I love you, my little man.”