by David Bruno
Ironside had read about ideas like these before. He knew better. “Equality is about opportunity, not outcome. You would take away an individual’s ability to manage their lives as they see fit. This has been done before and millions have paid dearly. Your dream is theft and always ends in misery for everyone, except for those in power.”
Dr. Doe frowned. “It’s all about money to you brainwashed capitalists. How little you understand human nature. It’s not proper for people to have untethered self-determination if it doesn’t serve the common good. How can one worker earn more than another if they work the same? They each have the same personal needs. In our philosophy, all will prosper. Labor is labor. We will guide children from a young age and direct them toward the necessary fields of study based on their aptitude. They will be happy doing what they’re good at and work for the pleasure of it. Eventually, all will be in balance. We will have the right number of doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, and ditch diggers, and all will be content, secure, and properly managed by the right people.”
Aegis rumbled, “I take it you think the Agency is made up of ‘the right people’. What gives you that right?” She furrowed her brow. “Ideas like these have been disastrous every time they’re tried, causing tens of millions of deaths in the last century alone. You will fail this time as well.”
“My dear, I learned from our great director, Dr. Fischer, that the American way is without honor. He really is a genius, and I hope you can meet him someday. His family were members of the Third Reich and have imparted their vision to him and the Agency.” He leaned toward Aegis. “You have to understand that the American Dream never really existed. It was all propaganda. Rampant selfishness, greed, and aspiration. We’ll have no aspiration beyond the collective good of society.” He stood up, glowing as he spoke. “Just imagine how much effort and waste there is trying to have more and to be better than your neighbor. With us, there will be no hunger, no disease, no want. We will all prosper and enjoy true peace and security. Aren’t those achievements something we should fight for?”
“No, not without being free. Some will succeed and some will fail. But that’s the price of freedom. Freedom itself is the real American Dream,” countered Ironside. He tipped side to side in his chair and growled. “Untie me and let’s settle this like men.”
Ignoring Ironside and once again addressing Aegis, Dr. Doe continued as he twitched slightly. He hadn’t anticipated such difficulty in convincing the heroes his way was better. “Those failures you speak of were brought on by inadequate execution of ideas, and improper controls. We’re learning from the past. We observed the fear of people with superpowers and have used that as a way to help our cause. Our way is inevitable, and the people need this whether you agree or not. Decades ago, we infiltrated all parts of society. Our acolytes have been placed everywhere to sow the seeds of our ideology. Our numbers have grown greatly, waiting in silence for our cue to take over. This current generation is learning that our way is best and that they should reject capitalism and individuality without central planning.” He flashed a smile full of yellow and brown teeth, discolored from years of chain-smoking.
“You’re bluffing,” blurted Aegis.
He continued to lecture the heroes. They tugged at their restraints, attempting to loosen them just enough to wiggle free. “Just look at the news. Do you know what news really is? News is what the editor says it is. We are the editors.” He pointed at his chest. “Everything you hear, see, or read on TV, newspaper, or Internet is controlled by us. We can lead people to conclusions and opinions that we desire. We’ve been promoting the ideas of nihilism to create a vacuum. Once your comfortable American way of life is dissolved, we will fill that vacuum and fundamentally change America and then the world.”
Ironside cocked his head and pursed his lips. “That’s where you come in, right? I think Aegis is right, you’re bluffing. You’re just a little man with an inferiority complex, unable to succeed in life on your own. You must try to bring others down to feel better about yourself.”
Snarling, Dr. Doe continued his attempt to indoctrinate the pair. “We’ll take what has no form and rejects the past and make it into our image. These things are necessary because the rich are too selfish to do what is best for everyone else in society. You learned as a child to share, right? This is no different. Didn’t your messiah teach you to share?”
Ironside retorted, “Our messiah taught us to share of our own free will, without coercion.”
“Perhaps you can quote me the chapter and verse of that.” He paused momentarily for an answer. Neither Ironside nor Aegis gave one. “Hmm. No? No matter. The fact is you do not share enough! Some have so much and some have so little. We will equalize everyone by law.” He drew in deeply on his cigarette.
“Force, you mean. Equalize to the lowest bare minimums of existence. What of you and the ‘managers’ of this utopia of which you speak?”
“A good question. The most intelligent and educated of us will manage global society. We naturally will have more resources at our disposal because we will need them. To each according to his need is how it goes.”
Aegis replied, “So you get rich while the rest of us fall into poverty.”
Ironside glanced toward Aegis and said, “People who follow these guys will be very disappointed.”
Aegis stared at Dr. Doe and asked, “What if the people say no?”
Dr. Doe replied sternly, “If someone says no, they’ll be reeducated. By force if necessary.” He pounded his fist into the palm of his other hand.
“And when we don’t comply? Many people are armed, you know.” She knew what his answer would be but baited him to at least be on record saying it.
“Those who refuse the natural order we are championing will be eliminated. Weapons will be… recovered.” He huffed and shoved the desk. “I had hoped for a more civil conversation with the two of you. We’re so proud of your strength. Even though you, Aegis, have fought against our side before. You know, those people at the riot—we sponsored them. It was, of course, my great pleasure to bail you out of jail, my dear.” He placed his hand under Aegis’s chin. She recoiled at his touch. “It was my hope that both of you would be convinced by now that our way is better, and the two of you would take up the mantle for implementing our vision on society. You were to be an inspiration to the next generation of superheroes. I wanted them to look up to you. They still could. Be the übermenschen you were bred to be.” He held up his fist in a proud showing of solidarity of ideals.
Ironside once again looked over at Aegis. They slowly shook their heads. “The answer is no. My ancestors didn’t come here for their descendants to allow monsters like you to destroy the world. You will realize that even those who may initially agree with you will become disillusioned. They will rebel. Your society will grow weaker and misery and death will result.”
Dr. Doe laughed. His tall, slender, foreboding form loomed over the heroes as they remained tied in their chairs in the center of the room. He went to Aegis and tugged on her hair as she looked elsewhere. “Look at me!” He chuckled and brought himself face-to-face with her, exhaled smoke, and sniffed her hair. “Mmm, you smell like vanilla. I like that, cutie.” Then he licked the side of her face, denigrating her with self-righteous superiority.
“Ugh. Gross. You’re insane,” she said as she gagged on the smoke and the smell of his breath. She shivered and tried to wipe the saliva from her cheek with her shoulder.
He stepped away from the heroes and turned from them with his hands behind his back. “You came here to destroy the Agency. You were to be handed over to join us, not fight us.” He looked over his shoulder to glare at his prisoners.
“We will stop you. I will tear you apart with my bare hands,” Ironside threatened.
“My dear Benny, you haven’t the power.” He shook his head and squinted at Ironside’s boast. He tossed the cigarette butt to the floor and stepped on it.
“Untie me and let’s find out,�
�� he quipped after a brief pause. “And my name is Ironside.”
Aegis hopped in her chair, inching closer to her partner. The metal scratched and creaked on the hard tile floor. They leaned toward each other, seemingly knowing what the other was thinking. With a mighty effort, she head-butted Ironside. “Ahh, my head!” she moaned.
Benny lowered his eyes then looked upward toward Dr. Doe. An ominous smile formed on his lips as his body bristled with amplified energy. With a single superhuman tug, he snapped his bindings and jumped from his chair. He quickly tore Aegis’s restraints and threw them to the floor.
They glared at the doctor and the armed guards in front of them. Ironside scanned the guards left to right. He needed to be recharged. Who will it be who takes the first shot? It would only require one bullet to power him sufficiently to destroy them all. A strange peace came over him, and his breathing slowed as he realized what was about to take place. Aegis scowled as she stood shoulder to shoulder with Ironside in defiance of the Agency.
“I’m ready,” proclaimed Aegis as she held her arm across her body. At the speed of a synapse, her blue force-field shield snapped on from her forearm. She was ready to defend herself against the gunfire certain to erupt. Without it, she was as vulnerable as anyone else. In their haste, neither she nor Ironside, both amateur heroes, had noticed that other guards had come into the room and that they were now surrounded. As soon as Aegis’s shield formed to protect her front, her back became exposed. One of the lab technicians saw this and quickly injected her backside with something.
“Aww, not my a… a… you… pervert,” slurred Aegis. “Not again.”
“What’ve you done!” shouted Ironside as he held her up by her shoulders.
“Calm down. It is just a sedative,” Dr. Doe jibed. “We cannot have you both running around this laboratory making a mess of things. You’ll have free access to our entire facility when you join us.”
“How many times must I tell you no?” said Ironside. “You’re so blinded by your agenda that you can’t see the evil of it.”
Aegis peacefully settled back down into her chair. She struggled to keep her eyes open.
“Silly girl. Some freedom fighter you are. I had hoped for better from you, our first perfect child to master her powers. Pathetic,” said Dr. Doe.
“I’m gonna kill you!” Ironside rushed toward the doctor. The guards moved to block his assault, coming to the doctor’s defense. They held up their arms defensively, refusing to engage Ironside in a physical melee.
The doctor laughed. “Restrain him. Gently. They both need to be retrained.”
A pair of guards tried unsuccessfully to restrain Ironside, working around his flailing strikes while others retreated. Ironside pushed the pair aside and chose to chase the fleeing guards. The chase led down a sterile white hallway. His pursuit led to a lab, where he was met by a dozen other guards wearing gas masks and armed with high-energy stun weapons. Their proper firearms remained holstered as before. Ironside stopped in his tracks. Now what? Guilt washed over him, since he knew he couldn’t return in time to defend Aegis now that the fight was about to begin. Max’s words echoed clearly in his memory. She was on her own in no condition to protect herself—and he could do nothing about it.
*****
Aegis slumped in her chair, eyes barely cracked open. A pair of guards took turns battering her in her semiconscious state. They had no moral objections to beating a woman, even one who was incapacitated and unable to defend herself. Multiple blows struck her face and stomach. The final strike knocked her onto the floor. She curled up into the fetal position and began to vomit and cough. Bile and blood flowed down her cheek as she heaved in agony. The cruelty was unbearable. Even in her twilight-like state she still felt the full pain of the assault. Her eyes began to well up and swell as her breathing grew labored.
“Save yourself if you can, Ms. Perfect Superhero,” scorned one of the guards as he laughed at her anguish.
Freedom can mean nothing left to lose. I understand that now. Where are you, Benny?
The guards pulled her from the floor and forced her face down onto the desktop. They maliciously lifted the back of her top and whipped her skin with a cane. With the second whipping, she lost consciousness.
The doctor had his fill of her agony. “Enough!” he shouted. “We don’t want to kill her. They just need to see reason and that our way is the only way. Strap her to a wheelchair and take her to the main lab.” The wheels squeaked on the old chair as it carried Aegis’s unconscious, bruised, and bloody body.
*****
At the main lab, Ironside was backed into a corner. His hope for one of the guards to make a mistake and attack began to fade. The guards knew better and continued their refusal to physically engage him. Ironside tried to fight using his own energy, since his amplified energy had faded. He lunged at the guards and tried to attack anyone within reach, swinging wildly but seldom making solid contact. Over and over he punched and kicked using his formidable fighting skills. They skillfully defended themselves and tried to back away from Ironside. As the seconds ticked by, Ironside huffed and began to sweat in exhaustion. He could not carry on the one-sided melee any longer. The guards simply waited and soon saw their opportunity. They forced him into a small cage, purpose-built to imprison and prevent movement. One of them gently pressed a hypodermic needle into his flesh and then another drew blood before Ironside lost consciousness. Others hoisted the cage to the ceiling.
CH 20
SEEK AND DESTROY
SOME TIME LATER
Ironside frantically woke in the same laboratory, stuck in a small cage suspended from the ceiling with barely enough room to move or turn his head. He wasn’t sure how long he had been unconscious, only that the mud on his uniform was almost dry and starting to flake off. Below him was Aegis, sitting in and tied to a wheelchair. There was nobody else. She looked to have been severely beaten and made only slight head movements. The culpability was his. This was his first fight as part of a team, and he’d failed just as it started. He hadn’t been there to help and she was tortured as a result. He wasn’t certain whether he could have prevented her beating. But he vowed never to leave her alone again. Losing her would be worse than losing this battle. Will she ever forgive me?
During the next few minutes, Ironside had the opportunity to scan the lab. It was ultramodern, like he’d seen in movies. The smell of chemicals wafted and filled his sinuses. He couldn’t begin to understand what all the gadgets did. But there were a few things that looked much more familiar. On one of the countertops, he saw Aegis’s high-powered slingshot, her belt with the steel shot, arrows, the jelly beans, and what appeared to be his sidearm. It was all there, tantalizingly in front of him.
Could it be? he thought with a smile. He couldn’t believe his luck, or—more likely—the arrogance of the Agency. All he needed was to free himself from the cage and he could gather all of their weapons. That was easier said than done.
Upon closer inspection, Ironside saw vials of blood. He recalled a pinching sensation before losing consciousness. Perhaps the blood was his. Regardless of whom it belonged to, it needed to be destroyed. If the genetic material in the vials contained enhanced DNA, it could be used in experiments to enhance other people. It had to go.
“Aegis,” Ironside whispered. “Are you awake?” Aegis rolled her head slightly upward toward him. Her eyes cracked open and began to focus. He got his first direct glance at the horrors of the beatings she’d taken. Her left eye was nearly shut. Blood and dried bile covered the side of her face. Her torturers hadn’t even had the decency to lower her top all the way to cover the stripes on her lower back.
“Good Lord, what did they do to you?” muttered Ironside. “It’s all my fault. I should have never left you alone. Forgive me.”
Aegis slowly regained consciousness. She winced slightly in pain, no doubt trying to ignore it and wanting to maintain her heroic image and dignity. She had enough movement in her hands to p
ull her top back down in an attempt to cover the evidence of her whippings. Perhaps the visual of a hero ignoring the pain was for Benny. Perhaps it was for her.
Regardless, she took in a deep breath and told Ironside, “I need to watch my six. I think I’ll be okay… eventually.” The experience confirmed in her mind how dire their situation was and that she was ultimately responsible for herself making it out alive. “But we may be wrong. We can’t do this. We’re not strong enough. Maybe they’re right. You said it yourself after the restaurant. Maybe we should let them.” She lowered her eyes.
“Aegis, no. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met. Please don’t waver. We’ve come too far. When my family took me to Philadelphia that time, I learned a little about Benjamin Franklin. He spoke a lot about freedom and warned against those who would take it away and offer security or their own misguided definition of equality. He said something like, ‘Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.’ We deserve liberty Aegis and so does everyone else. The whole world is at risk. It’s our turn to protect it. Everyone needs you.” He paused for a moment. “I need you.”.
“This is so hard.” She hunched over as she fully awakened.
Moments later, Dr. Doe and a pair of guards entered the room. He walked over to several cylinder-shaped steel canisters sitting on the countertop. Gently, he opened the lids, scanned them with a Geiger counter, and replaced the lids. The doctor turned around with a smile on his face that grew wider as he noticed his prisoners had regained consciousness.