(This is Episode Seven, Just joining in? Find Episode One @ Heroisms: Immortality or the Previous Episode @ Heroisms: Destiny)

I have to stop running… my lungs are about to burst. Jason turned back and looked down the alley as if he was expecting someone to be following him. As he stood staring, he waited long enough to catch his breath. Pulling something from his pocket, he glanced down to his hand. The diamond bullet sparkled in the moonlit alley. He grinned to himself. I guess diamond won’t cut it any more, which makes me wonder, what can kill me? As he stood there contemplating his weakness, he felt the urge to move on. After all it wouldn’t be long before the government had completely trawled the river looking for his corpse. As he made his way to a manhole cover, he considered the sewers for cover. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Jason spun and looked around the alley. “Who’s there!? Show yourself!” From the shadows walked a man in a suit. “Jason.” Jason stared at the man, unsure if it was the same man he had met many years before. “Drifter? Is that you?” The man acknowledged the name and smiled. “Consider this your going away present.” He walked up and gave Jason a small pill. “Take that and they’ll lose the trace on you.” As he began to move back to the shadows he turned with one last thing. “Good luck Jason, don’t do anything too stupid.”

Alex sat in the cab between the two girls. All he wanted to do was hold them until he knew everything would be okay. As he thought about watching Jason being shot, he wondered who would be next? Would it be him? One of the girls? Suddenly the radio caught his ear. Crackling and hissing in the moments of silence, it seemed as though the President was making some kind of address. “…latest act against the government will not be tolerated. As we move forward a counter terrorism unit will be put in place in every state. These will be helmed by some of the most specialized and advanced soldiers we have seen to date.” Alex sat back in his seat and considered this. Is that a message for the heroes out there? He turned to Brooke and saw she seemed unconcerned with the broadcast, but when he looked to Alison he knew she was thinking the same thing. As they arrived back at the base, Alex helped the girls out of the car and watched as scores of federal agents were combing the place for clues. An agent ran up to them and shook his head. “I’m sorry, but you guys might be free, but you’re not allowed here. Arrangements have been made for you to stay with Delta squad.” He pointed to a man on a nearby chair, playing on his iPhone. “He’ll take you there.”

Alex and his posse walked up and greeted the slim man, who was engrossed in his game. “Hey so I hear you’re-” The man shushed them from his seat and dragged his finger across the screen and then lifted it. They watched as he turned from hopeful to angry. “God damn boomerang bird… So yeah, I’m Morgan from Delta team, yadda yadda yadda. Let’s blow this joint.” He stood up and put his arms around Alex and grabbed Brooke and Alison on the arm. “It’s a pleasure.” Alex stared at him with confusion, amid much discomfort. “What are you doing exactly?” Morgan just grinned. “Oh, I’m just real friendly. Especially with the ladies.” He turned and shot Alison a wink, and she turned away in disgust. “Well hold on tight. We’re there in three-two-one-” In a flash the group were suddenly in a large stark white room with no windows and only a garage door. “Welcome to Delta Squad!” He let them go and walked a few steps forward before Brooke vomited all over the ground in front of her. He stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. “Interesting, girl can’t handle it.” He walked away as Alex tended to her.

The alleys were crawling with hobos and disturbing animals of the night. As Jason made his way to the homeless shelter he hoped he still had a friend left. When he walked in, he saw her. She was a breath of fresh air whenever his eyes found her. She wasn’t much taller than five feet, but she carried herself as if she was a pillar of incredible beauty. Jason stopped for a moment to take her all in from her small black shoes so perfectly plain, to her long flowing skirt, up her hips and her torso to her stunningly natural beauty. Her eyes shimmered like two sapphires of hope in the sea of gold that was her hair. He melted as she turned to him and dropped everything to come crashing into his arms. “Jason! It’s so good to see you! It’s been… oh my gosh, three no, four years?” Jason’s grin faded away. “Yeah, I don’t know why I don’t come here more often, if for nothing else the scenery Julia.” She blushed and sat him down with her on a nearby bench. “So to what do I owe the honor?” Jason cringed a bit. “I hate popping back into your life with a huge request, but I need a place to stay.” Julia leaned back with a quizzical look on her face. “Is everything alright?” Jason shook his head. “No, my employers tried to kill me and I intend on repaying them for that.”