Tag: heroisms

Heroisms: Vengeance

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

Morgan stood off to the side as Alex and Alison joined him. “Who’s Virgil? And who is that guy?” Alex asked, unsure if he wanted to know. Alison stood staring at Brooke, still unsure if it was her or not. Morgan finally answered after a few moments of awkward silence. “That’s Lance. He’s what’s called a truth seer, and if what he said is correct, your girl here is actually a guy.” The three of them all looked back to Lance making Brooke uncomfortable. Alison was visibly getting agitated by Lance’s methods to what was seemingly one of her friends. “So what do we do now and how do we out this Virgil character?” Morgan swallowed hard. “Normal methods include torture. Virgil is a shape shifter. He can manipulate his appearance and is trained to withstand incredible amounts of pain. Last time I heard a story about him, he was being tortured for so long and kept his form that the person holding him actually believed that Virgil was their loved one. They stopped, he performed the assassination despite being captured and he escaped.”

As the group stood by, Lance had begun slapping Brooke and Alison was about to give in. Only Alex held her back. “Give him a minute, Lance knows that Virgil isn’t Brooke and it’s likely that Virgil knows that too. He should give in soon.” Soon turned into eventually, and then eventually turned into later and then Alison couldn’t take it any more. “I know it’s her Alex, maybe they force fed her meat at the jail because they knew she was a vegetarian. Just another form of torture.” Alex shook his head. “I believe these guys, if Lance can really see the truth, then why question it?” Alison spat at his feet in anger. “Why question anything at all then? What if that’s really her, and they torture her to death?” Alex looked over and noticed Lance had pulled out a knife and was sharpening it. “Well, maybe we should talk to them about it.”

Alison made it there long before Alex and she spun Lance to face her. “I don’t care if this is or isn’t her, but no matter what I can’t let you do this just in case it is her.” Lance growled a long angry sigh. “It’s people like you who make me sick, people like you who are weak and let the wrong person in. You can’t give in, that is entirely where his power lies.” Alex was suddenly stepping between them, not where he wanted to be but also probably the safest place for him to be at this point. “Look guys, we just got here. Let’s not fight, put Broo-er… Virgil in lock up and we will figure something out in the morning.” Lance pulled back and put away his knife. “Fine. Your rooms are in block B.” He tossed them a pair of keys and waived some guys over to carry the bench Brooke was on away. Alison leaned in as Brooke passed by. Brooke was almost hysterical, and she screamed accusations at Alison as they passed. “You’re going to let them torture me? You said you’d protect me! You said I was like your little sister!” As Alison burst into tears, Alex threw his arms around her and guided her to their room. As they laid there together in the dark, Alex knew he would get no sleep. Alison was shaking and crying so bad she was convulsing. It was going to be a long hard night.

***

Jason knew that his new get up would attract some attention if he was caught by a camera. Lucky for him, his past provided him all the knowledge and skills necessary to evade and confuse these electronic watchdogs. As he moved silently through the shadows, he came upon his first group of delinquents. A drug deal was going down, and both groups were armed to the teeth. As he laid in wait, he watched as the transaction took place. He finally saw an opening and moved through the shadows behind some of the armed guards patrolling the perimeter. After quickly and silently dispatching them, he began to feel the adrenaline kicking back in. He hadn’t felt this good in a long time! After tying the two men together he made his way inside and tried to manoeuvre himself around the side of one of the cars. Suddenly he found himself in the middle of a stand off and bullets began flying left and right.

He dove out and grabbed a man in a leather jacket and hauled him down. After promptly tying him to the bumper of the car they crashed behind, he knocked him out and proceeded to the next guy in the chaos. As he moved about through the bullets and the shadows, he had never felt more alive! Something about not being government sanctioned was almost too much for him. As he leapt out for the last guy, he felt a slight thud as the man shot him in the chest. Lucky for Jason, he was invulnerable. “Look, I know you want to shoot again, but don’t waste the ammo. Just surrender and no one gets hurt.” The man relaxed a little and grinned. “I must have missed the first time, I won’t miss again.” As he pulled the trigger, the bullet ricocheted back on him off Jason and dropped him to the ground. Jason laughed heartily. “I did try and warn you. But no criminals ever… listen…” He watched as a small oval shaped disk rolled on its edge away from the man’s body. As it struck his foot, he looked at it and immediately knew he had to do more research before his next outing. He fled the scene of the crime and left everything as it was. The disk laid facing the sky, and despite being splattered with blood it clearly showed the undercover officer’s badge in the dim moonlight.

Heroisms: Disguise

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

Julia had just finished making the two a cup of tea as they sat down at her apartment. Jason sat awkwardly in her chair and felt strangely claustrophobic. “Would you like to switch?” Jason gingerly nodded and the two swapped spots, leaving him on the couch. “Thanks for this Julia, I really just meant at the shelter. I didn’t expect to come home with you.” She smiled at him. “I know, but it’s that innocence that lets me know I can trust you here.” She sipped from her tea while she thought. “Jason, are you going to go up against the government?”

Jason was shocked at how openly she asked the question, but refocused himself. “I suppose that is an honest question. Not immediately. I severed my link with Alpha Team and I’m now looking to form an underground squad.” They both paused a moment and sipped their teas in unison. Julia looked to Jason, the concern evident in her eyes. “Will it be a few more years before I see you again?” Jason sighed and stared into his tea. “I hope not, but I make no promises that I can’t keep.” Julia stood up and joined Jason on the couch. As she laid her head on his shoulder, the two stared off into oblivion.

“Brooke, you okay?” Alex was standing over her as she threw up everything she ever ate. As he looked at her, something caught his eye in the puddle she was creating. He stood up and backed away and turned to Alison. Pointing to her vomit, he managed to catch Alison’s attention. As they both stared to where he was pointing, there was evidence of meat. “I’ll go get something to clean that up.” Alison ran off in a hurry. Alex watched as Brooke stood up wiping her mouth. “Ew, I regret not taking the bus.” Alex walked over and helped Brooke outside and onto a bench. “Maybe some fresh air will do you good.” As she sat down, Alison suddenly reappeared with Morgan from the mostly stark white garage. “We were wondering where you guys went. I asked him for help and we got back as fast as we could.” Brooke shook her head. “I’m fine really, just not used to… ‘poofing’ from one place to the next.” Alex smiled and then without warning pinned Brooke to the bench as the two others began binding her to the bench.

Alex stepped back and stared at Brooke who looked confused as ever. “Talk.” Alex demanded. It was a direct order. Brooke looked frantically to the other two but they were clearly in on it too. “What, I don’t understand-” Alex cut her off. “Brooke doesn’t eat meat. So who the hell are you?”  Brooke looked back and forth and then came up with something. “It was all they had when we were arrested, so I had some. I know I shouldn’t, but I was hungry.” She pouted and Alison walked over and slapped her, shortly followed by Morgan restraining Alison. “Where is she? Where is Brooke!?” Alison was screaming, drawing attention from some other members of Delta. Brooke looked to her hurt and offended. “I eat meat once and this is how you treat me? You’re all a bunch of…” Her words trailed off. She was fixated on a single member of Delta who didn’t seem too impressed to see her. As the large man with a scar across his face walked up he leaned in and whispered a single word to Brooke. “Virgil.” Brooke suddenly swallowed hard and everyone backed away. The man grinned, his scar twisting his smile upwards on one side. “It’s good to see you again. I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got to say.”

The next morning Jason stood in the doorway to Julia’s room as she slept soundly in her bed. The memories he had of her might be all he would have left soon enough. He glanced to the note he was leaving behind as if to second guess it, but then turned to walk away. Last night may have been filled with passion, but this morning should be left like this. Quiet, unemotional and peaceful. He calmly walked out the front door and decided to assemble a costume. Today would be the start of his decline. He was moments away from becoming a vigilante, and only weeks away from becoming a terrorist. I guess I’d better look the part. He thought as he entered a clothing store. As he looked around the leather biker jackets, helmets and combat boots all looked appealing. This is going to be fun.

In an office across town, Mister Wilks was sitting at his desk when Dex burst in. “Yes Dex? Come in, have a seat.” Dex seemed rather out of breath, but managed to toss a report on Wilks’ desk. “They’ve finished scouring the river. As it stands, Jason never turned up.” Mister Wilks crushed the report in his hands and stood up. He stared with a look of disgust in Dex’s direction. “Congratulations, you are the biggest failure we’ve kept alive all these years.” Dex stared at him, completely unimpressed by what was just said. “Maybe if you had done your research, you’d have know Jason was impervious to all damage.” Mister Wilks stifled back a comment and shook his head. “Well neither of those really matter now, how is our friend doing in recovery?” Dex smiled, “Come see for yourself.” The two walked down the hall and stopped at a large window looking down over a gym. Down on the floor duelling with a punching bag was Dracon, and he looked angrier than ever.

Heroisms: Impervious

(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.”

Heroisms: Destiny

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

Alex was sitting in his cell when finally a man in a crisp black suit entered the room. “Alexander Deacon McCarthy.” His voice was rich with hatred. “We have some questions as to what exactly your merry little band of misfits has been up to.” Alex stood up and marched over to the iron bars before him. “Look, we have been saving people. Nothing more, nothing less.” The man in the suit scratched his chin and looked down to a folder in his hands. He looked back to Alex without a word, just a grin. Alex grabbed the metal bars and leaned his head against them. “Look Mister… umm… what’s your name?” Clearing his throat, the man in the suit simply replied, “Wilks, Mister Wilks.” Alex felt the iron bars, they seemed more solid than ever before. Normally he could easily bend them, but these cuffs must be absorbing his power. “Mister Wilks, I can assure you. We would never make a move against the government. They have given us stability and credibility among the communities we work in.” Mister Wilks sighed rather heavily. “I wish I could believe that Mister McCarthy. But what I have in my hands is in your own words.”

Mister Wilks pulls a single sheet from the folder in his hands. Clearing his throat once again, he reads off a trio of earth shatteringly familiar lines. ” I think he needed to be taught a lesson, but not like this. I think this is a definite warning from our own government. Do as you’re told, or else.” Mister Wilks looks up to Alex who is as white as freshly fallen snow. “I’m sorry, aren’t those your words Mister McCarthy?” Alex flashed back to the night of Blaze’s funeral and how he tried to keep watch that no one was around. “How did you…” Mister Wilks holds his hand up, interrupting Alex. “Answer the question Mister McCarthy. Are those your words or not? A simple yes or no will suffice.” As Alex clutches the iron bars, he feels rage building in him. A rage so intense, it could consume him. His silence doesn’t go unnoticed. Mister Wilks shakes his head and lifts a radio from his blazer. “Do it.” A sudden scream from the next room sends Alex into a panic. “Alison! Alison!” Nothing but confusion consuming him now, Alex’s gaze jumps from the wall back to Wilks. Mister Wilks stands grinning ever so slightly. “Well?” Alex sighs and shakes his head. “Fine, it was me. Those are my words. Jason and I were conspirators against the government.”

Mister Wilks places the page in the folder and nods. “Thank you for that Mister McCarthy. You’ll be shipped to New Alcatraz in the morning.” As he sauntered smugly from the room, Alex watched him leave. Damn it, I have to get out of here. Hopefully they only got Alison. As Alex pondered his next move, he found himself trying to stay calm. Do I wait this out? It seems as if they’re going to put all of us away. He then turned to the wall from where the scream originated. As he pressed an ear to it, he could hear some muffled sobs just on the other side. “Alison, are you okay?” He stroked the wall for a lack of anything else he could do. A reply came a few sniffles later. “I’m alright. But they separated Brooke and I. I hope she’s okay… she’s just a kid!” Alex turned and sat against the wall. “She’ll be fine Alison, she’s tough.”

Suddenly a group of men rushed past the front door. Alex turned his attention to the panic outside of his cell. “I wonder what’s going on out there?” Alison didn’t reply, she was busy muffling her sobs. As Alex pondered the  events beyond his cage, suddenly Dex walked up to his cell. Alex rushed to the front and grabbed the door as if to rip it off its hinges. “You son of a-” Before he could utter the words, Dex shoved his hand through the bars and covered his mouth. Leaning in really close, Dex whispered to him. “The keys in your pocket are your ticket to freedom. I know Jason acted alone, he always has. Anyone else is just along for the ride.” He turned and checked both ways before removing his hand. “Kid, I know you and him were close, but now it’s your time to shine. You can’t save people from New Alcatraz.” He walked away as quickly as he appeared and Alex stuffed his hand awkwardly into his pocket. Sure enough, there was a key. You still owe me one for killing Jason, I’ll find you. As Alex tried the key in the door, he found that it didn’t fit. Son of a bitch gave me the wrong key. Then as he stared at it, he noticed it had his initials and date of birth on it, along with a barcode. Alex examined the key and then tried it in his cuffs. As they slid off, he felt a wave of static electricity slide off of him. As the wave fell away, his strength returned. Time to get out of here.

As Alex reached for the bars, Dex suddenly reappeared. “Quick get those back on and give me that damn key!” Alex quickly did as he was told and tossed Dex the key. Alex watched in confusion as Dex ran off, leaving him to rot in the cell. That’s it. He is so dead. When I find him- His thoughts are interrupted by a very angry Mister Wilks. “You’re free to go. The guards outside will remove your cuffs.” As he opened the cell door, Alex walked out in a daze. “Why am I free and are the others as well?” Mister Wilks stared at him with no answer. Finally the answer came from Alison tugging at his arm. “Let’s go Alex. They told me Brooke is outside waiting.” As the two of them met up with Brooke outside, they found themselves rejoicing before getting into a cab awaiting them. Mister Wilks watched as they drove away. Dex walked up beside him and shook his head. “What if they find out?” Mister Wilks watched with a stone cold glare as the lights disappeared down the road. “They won’t. Virgil is the best at what he does.”

Heroisms: Choice

(This is Episode Five, Just joining in? Find Episode One @ Heroisms: Immortality or the Previous Episode @ Heroisms: Achilles Heel)

Alex clutched the two girls for what seemed like hours. As they wept, they could heard calls coming in over the radio but no one would go to respond. As they watched the television for some hope, the chopper landed and people began scouring the water for his body. They prayed no one would find one, but then the live coverage cut back to regularly scheduled broadcasting. Alex grabbed Brooke and Alison and lead them to Alison’s room. “Girls, do me a favour and stay here. I’m going to try and get some more information. Just try and relax.” The girls both burst into hysterics and hugged each other as Alex closed the door. His mind raced faster than it ever had before. What the hell was Jason thinking? Why did he kill a man? Why is he dead now? What about us? As he thought about these things, before long he was outside and finally noticed he was being yelled at through a megaphone. “Put your hands in the air and you won’t be harmed!” Alex looked around amid his confusion and raised his hands. As two men with special looking handcuffs rushed up to him, more rushed past him and into the base.

Dex stood near the edge of the water, staring downwind. A man in a suit walked up beside him, looking sharp as ever. “Is he…?” The man asked quietly, and Dex without glancing to him responded. “I’m a sure shot Vance. He’s dead.” As the man in the suit acknowledged the confirmation he turned his back to Dex and grunted. “That’s Sir to you Dex, and don’t forget who is in charge here.” As the man loaded himself back into a nearby chopper, Dex’s eyes never left the water. I’m sorry Jason, you were one of my only friends from that time… but sometimes secrets are worth ending. He turned his gaze to a jet black boat with men leaping into the water in diving suits. Good bye old friend. With that Dex returned to his chopper, and stared at the boat in the water as he thought back to the crime he and Jason had committed together. The crime for which he was still paying off the debt.

Jason and Dex had been in the desert for months when they finally stumbled across their enemy. “Well Jason, this is it.” Dex grinned as if to show he wasn’t nervous. Jason turned to him and nearly burst out laughing. “Look, Dex, if you’re trying to make me feel better just don’t. I’m going to run in, you’re going to cover me and everything will work out.” Dex sighed. “No pressure, what if I hit you?” Jason laughed almost loud enough that anyone could overhear. “Don’t worry about it. But if you shoot me, I will have to hurt you. Got it?” Dex swallowed hard. It was his first mission abroad, and he was stuck with this lunatic. “Whatever you say boss.” He watched through the scope as his boss burst into action. Dex was amazed at his precision and how quickly and efficiently he worked. “Jesus, this guy is some kind of new age ninja James Bond…” Suddenly a man with a huge automatic rifle caught Dex’s eye and with a quick trigger pull, fell to the ground. “Well, one for me, twelve for Jason.” He caught a few other guys and eventually the count ended at four to thirty seven. Dex rushed across the desert to meet up with the sole warrior against the town.

“So, you umm… do this often?” Dex stuttered as Jason tied up the last of his victims. Jason grinned, but concentrated on his knot. “You could say that. In fact, it’s just good to have company here.” A woman burst out of a nearby house and charged the two of them with a knife in hand. Dex raised the rifle, but Jason pointed it down and prepared for the woman. As she got near, Jason disarmed her and tossed the weapon to the ground at his feet. Dex stood staring, impressed by Jason’s skill. The woman was screaming something in a language Dex didn’t recognize. “What is she saying Jason?” Jason swallowed hard. “It seems this town was occupied by peace keeping troops from around here. These are all civilians fighting for their right to survive.” Dex’s stomach jumped into his throat. Jason had disarmed, knocked out or otherwise disabled the thirty seven he had fought. Dex had killed the four he shot. “Jesus, can you apologize for me?” Jason began his apology when suddenly the man he had just finished tying up was at his throat with a knife. Jason somehow kept calm and waved Dex off. Dex however, pointed the gun at the man with the knife and began shouting, “Drop it! Drop it now!”

The moment grew tense and finally the man with the knife couldn’t take it any more and slashed wildly at Jason’s throat. Dex pulled the trigger and the man soared backwards, landing on his back with a bullet to the head. Jason stared at Dex and immediately grabbed the gun from him. “We don’t kill, we aren’t supposed to kill! Not these people, not the peace keepers!” Dex stared at him, only confusion written all over his face. “How are you still alive?” Jason shook his head. “I’m invincible you idiot. I can’t be cut, stabbed or bludgeoned.” Dex fell to his rump as Jason walked around freeing people and explaining the situation to them. A few moments later Jason was approached by the woman who had originally come at him with the knife. She began jabbering to him about something and suddenly the color in his face faded away. Dex stared at him from the ground. “Are you okay?” Jason turned to him with rage in his eyes, but an uncomfortable look on his face. “No. Our military is nearby, and they’ve been robbing, raping and sacking any city they get near. We’re going to stop them.”

Dex snapped back from his thoughts to the concerned look of the man across from him. As he turned to look back to the water where Jason fell, he sighed. My family can never know that we killed twenty three of our own soldiers. My wife can never know that her brother was a rapist and a robber. No one can ever know that it was your idea, and that when you wanted to turn them in, my rage took their lives. Thank you for taking that secret to your grave. Dex sighed as if the world had been taken off his shoulders and he grinned at the man across from him. “You still haven’t missed, have you Dex?” The man across from him asked with a hint of hidden praise. Dex couldn’t help but grin. “Nope. I will never miss.” As the man looked away, Dex looked to his feet as the smile slowly drifted from his face. But sometimes, I wish that was a choice I could make.

Heroisms: Achilles Heel

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

Jason slammed his hand down on the wheel as he drove. “I’m sorry guys, I’m so sorry.” As he pulled up outside of the Government Offices, he thought about what he would do. “Is there anything I can do? Is this right?” His words fell into the silence. Stepping from the car, Jason pulled a ski mask down over his face to conceal his trademark hair. No time like the present to get started. As he began to march toward the doors a security guard appeared before him. “Um sir, I don’t think it’d be wise for you to try and get in with that mask on.” Jason stared him down. “Just try and stop me.” The guard held up his gun and aimed it at Jason. “I’m warning you sir, back away and return to your car. No good can come of this.” Jason grinned to himself, the adrenaline was pumping so hard he forgot he had a heart beat. He stepped closer and slowly. “I’m sorry but I need to get in there.” He said so matter of factly it caught the guard actually off guard. As Jason took another step, the Guard aimed for a leg and pulled the trigger. Sadly, his bullets couldn’t penetrate Jason’s skin. Unfortunately for Jason, his body deflected the bullet right back at the guard, catching him on the side of his neck.

Jason’s eyes widened with immediate regret. “Jesus Christ!” He jumped into action using his ski mask and hands as a blockage for the wound while shouting for help. Son of a bitch, what am I doing? I need to find a way for no one to get harmed. As he sat there holding this man’s life force in, he watched as the man slowly faded away. As the Guard’s eyes widened, his body grew eerily still, and Jason felt his final breath. As he stood staring at the body in front of him, he realized he had made a huge mistake. All it would take was this and the rules for super heroes just got more strict. Suddenly a black sedan pulled up behind his car and Jason froze. Shit, shit, shit… what do I do? What the hell do I do? He looked around and did the only logical thing he could think of at the time. He ran.

Alex had some minor cuts and bruises but other than that he was fine. Alison had fixed him up with some ice for his ribs, he thought he might have broken one. As he sat on the couch, he stared at the television like a lazy zombie. Alison popped back in to check on him. “How are the ribs?” Alex lifted the ice to show some wonderful shades of purple, green, brown and blue. “Yeah, this looks like it’s getting better.” Alison sighed heavily. “What the hell were you thinking, what the hell was he thinking?” Suddenly a girl bursts in and interrupts them both. “Sorry guys, but turn it on channel eleven now!” Alex grabbed the remote and held it defensively. “No way Brooke, my shows are on.” Suddenly the remote wasn’t in his hand, it was in hers. He shook his fist at her and then grimaced in agony. Brooke turned the television to channel eleven and there was a grainy video of a masked man getting shot, and then trying to help a security guard. As the video looped with the reporter talking over it, the three of them simply stared at the screen. The salt and pepper hair, the build, and the car… had Jason really just run off to kill a guard?

Jason could hear the police dogs barking not far behind him. This wasn’t good, in fact this whole plan was stupid. Who could erase all the superhero files anyway? They’re probably backed up a million times over. As he leapt over a fence, he realized the dogs were closer than he had hoped. Suddenly he felt one gnawing on his arm, and it didn’t seem to want to let go. “Damnit, you stupid mutt, I don’t want to hurt you, let go. Let go! Let go!” With his last syllable, he tossed the dog aside as if it were never a threat. Suddenly he had two more dogs approaching him. Fearless. Hungry. Angry. As Jason stared them down, he heard their owners call for them. They must have found the other dog. He thought staring into the eyes of his pursuers. As the dogs circled away and back, Jason got a call on his own personal radio. “Jason, Jason! Are you there?!” Jason looked around and whispered back. “Yeah I’m here, Alex is that you?” The voice crackled back across the radio. “Of course, but no time to explain. There is a helicopter loaded with two things. Dex and a really big gun, I’m sure he’s going to take you out. You’ll be the next example!”

Jason stared at the small device that just pumped his inevitable doom to his ears. Damnit, bad day to not wear clean underwear. He stood beneath the trees and tried to ponder his next move, but all he could think about was Dex and what else was probably on that helicopter. Jason thought back to his first ever annual check up.

The doctor leafed through the forms he had signed. “So it says here you can be penetrated only by diamond? How did you determine this?” James smiled, despite what he was about to say. “My Mother backhanded me with her engagement ring. It bled a ridiculous amount, but nothing else ever since has penetrated the skin.” The doctor nodded. “No need for a test then.” Every year after that they just assumed the doctor before them had run the tests.

But the question now, was would the military know it was Jason? As he ran across the fields beside the headquarters, he could feel the laser sight trained on him. He knew it would take a lot for Dex to shoot, but Dex was as unbiased as they could come. He did what he needed to do to provide for the four kids he had, all of which would be entering their teens soon. Jason thought to himself. Dex, just let me get to the water. As he made his way toward the river, he heard the shot and felt it all at the same time. The bullet was a tranquillizer dart and it shattered on impact. Jason kept running and trying not to panic. They’ve realized it’s me, I’m not going to make it. 

As Alex, Alison and Brooke watched the dart shatter, they grew concerned. What would the government pull off next since that failed? As they sat anxiously waiting for Jason to drop or make the water, they were all standing, holding each other. Even Alex couldn’t feel the pain. The pain of losing his mentor would far outweigh any of his physical pain.

Dex sat in the helicopter staring through the scope. “No effect from the tranquillizers. Do you want me to load plan B?” A voice came stern over the headset. It was his well dressed boss, and his words were cold. “Bring him down.” Dex stared at the diamond bullet. “Will this thing even fire?” The voice came over the headset once again. “It’s specially designed. Trust us, we’ve spent millions ensuring this would work if need be.” Dex loaded the huge bullet into his gun. I’m sorry old friend. I am just the right hand of an evil man. I hope you understand. Dex considered missing, but then thought of the repercussions that could have on his own family. He sighed and aimed for Jason’s head. Damn, this sucks. He pulled the trigger and the bullet soared through the air landing a solid shot. Jason tumbled a few times and his body fell into the water off the ledge.

Alex held Alison and Brooke close as they all cried. Two heroes have died this week. The question now, is who would be next?

Heroisms: Sacrifice

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

The people mostly cleared out in droves, trying to beat the traffic. Jason sat with his face in his hands with Alex and Alison by his side. Turning to Alison, Alex nodded and they began to move from the seats. He turned and put a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “Bud, we’re going to give you a moment alone. To collect yourself, alright?” Jason managed a simple grunt and with that, they were gone. Finally the Pastor realized one of his flock has stayed behind. He made his way to Jason’s side and sat beside him. The two sat in silence for sometime before Jason finally lifted his head and looked to him. “Forgive me Father, I don’t know what to say or where to start.” The Pastor smiled and nodded. “You’ll find the words when the time is right.” Jason absorbed the wise words. “Father, in confession, everything is kept between you and I… correct?” The Pastor’s eyes widened and he swallowed hard. “Yes, of course.” He stood and made his way to the end of the row and guided Jason to the confessionals.

Jason sat in and his broad shoulders felt as if they touched both sides of the small booth. There was space between him and the walls, but he didn’t enjoy tight spaces. Then a small window opened between the two and although he couldn’t see the man, he knew he was there. “Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.” Jason waited a moment as he awaited confirmation, but then continued. “Father, the man we bury today was an exceptional man. Always risking his life for the well being of others. But I believe he was sadly made to be an example for the rest of the community.” A voice on the other side acknowledged his concern and then Jason began his reasoning. “Father, there is a small group of superheroes living among this community, and for years we’ve had to check in. James didn’t. This is why I think he was made to be an example. However I put a man in hospital with my fists not long ago and have yet to be punished for it. Why? Why do the gods act in such a way?” The silence felt like it lasted a lifetime, but then the Pastor finally found the right words. “It is not the actions of God that we must question, but the intent of humankind. People crave power, and people in power crave to keep it and exert it over others. Anyone who cannot be corrupted by power is eliminated by those who crave it. It is sadly the way the world works my son.”

Jason sat for a few minutes letting those words sink in. It is sadly the way the world works my son. He looked to the ceiling of the booth with rage, as if to look up to God for an answer. His face steeled again and he looked straight ahead. “Thank you Father, that will be all.” As he walked from the booth, Jason glanced to the other confessional. He walked away disgusted that even a man of God could believe that it was just the way the world worked. It was time for change. It was time he acted upon this. Jason stormed out of the church with a head full of steam and passed Alex and Alison in his rage. They ran to catch him, and the three of them got into a car. As they drove past the church, they were unaware of the events unfolding within.

“Please, I beg of you. I won’t tell a soul.” Suddenly the Pastor was forced from the confessional and he fell, sprawled on the floor. Behind him was a man with a gun equipped with a silencer. As the Pastor glanced up from where he lay on the ground, he noticed some incredibly expensive leather shoes. As he followed them up, he noticed they belonged to a man clad in a suit to match the shoes. The man’s face was dark from the Pastor’s angle, with two of the overhanging lights from the church glaring over his shoulders. The Pastor decided to make another attempt at a plea. “Look, I won’t tell anyone. He needed to confide in someone.” The man in the suit looked around and two other men in suits closed the doors to the church. Finally his eyes fixated on the Pastor on the ground. “I know you won’t Father.” Nodding to the man with the gun, gave him permission to pull the trigger. “I’m sorry. I wish it didn’t have to be this way.” He motioned to one of the men who just finished closing the door and he came over and picked the Pastor off the floor. “Out the back.” As they carried him off, the man in the expensive suit turned to ensure everything was as they had found it. As they helped the Pastor into the back of a black sedan, the men followed suit and together they drove off into the night, to an unknown location.

“Want to talk about it?” Alex stared at Jason, whose eyes were unblinking and intense. “No, maybe tomorrow.” As the trio drove back to their base of operations, the silence was near deafening. Alison found herself sitting in the back and humming ever so quietly. As they pulled up, Jason parked and was slowly making his way out, delaying for the other two to get out first. Alex leapt out and helped Alison, and as soon as he shut her door he realized something was wrong. With the locks engaged, Jason sat back in and began reversing. Alex, unaware of what else to do, ran and jumped on the hood of the car. As the two stared at each other amid the confusion, Jason spun the car around thus tossing Alex onto the nearby grass. Leaning out the window, Jason shouted to him. “I’m sorry, but the less you know, the better.” As he peeled off, Alison rushed to Alex’s side. As the two watched the lights disappear down the road, Alex turned to Alison. “What do you think he’s going to do?” Alison stared half dazed into the distance. “I don’t know. But the question is, who will stop him?”

Heroisms: Nemesis

(This is Episode Two, missed the first one? Find it @ Heroisms: Immortality)

The Pastor stands before the hundreds of people crowded into his small church. As he looks around, a bead of sweat glimmers in the dim candle light before him. He clears his throat and begins. “Our Loving Eternal Heavenly Father, as we meet this morning to remember our dear friend and loved one…” Alison tunes him out and turns to Alex, still wiping a tear from her eye. “I still can’t believe this has happened. I feel like we only saw him a few weeks ago. Jason leaned forward to quiet her before she could continue, but then stopped to think about what she said. A few weeks ago? Perhaps. But when was it… and why?

“James from Fire here and we need backup immediately, Code Alpha, forty nine, fifty two!” The call came through panicked and distressed. It wasn’t often that the fire department needed super heroes, but Alpha at the beginning of the code meant that something was amiss. Heroes aren’t meant to ask questions, just get there and figure it out as soon as possible. However Jason jumped on the radio and got back to him. “What’s your location and problem?” The reply came back garbled and only a few words made it through. “*Crack*… *Hiss*… the asylum…” Static was all that he was left with after that. As Jason stared at the speaker, he wasn’t sure about anything. Just they needed to get there, and pronto. As he stood to leave one final clue crackled across the radio, “escape attempt”. Then nothing.

Jason rushed into the lounge of their base, looking frantically back and forth. He spotted Alex who was lifting weights. “Alex! Jesus, we’ve got a huge issue over at the asylum! Fire Rescue called in a fifty two!” Alex shot up from his prone position and dropped the weights to the ground, all nine hundred pounds. “A fifty two? What the hell is that?” Jason paused a moment to think, he actually only knew it was really bad but realized he had no idea of what they were up against. “I’ll check it and you round up the others!” Alex nodded and ran off to the study while Jason rushed back to the radio and looked for the code book. As he read through the codes he found it. “Alpha, Special Ops assistance required. Forty nine, uncontrollable blaze. Fifty two, Listed Criminal on Premises.” Jason dropped the book and ran up the stairs to his room shouting the meaning of the code for all to hear. In minutes the entire group of six were in their transport and on their way.

As they pulled up, they recognized James or “Blaze” immediately. As they rushed up to him, they recognized the immediate distress on his face. His feet were tapping the ground nervously and he relaxed only a little when they rushed up to him. Alison piped up first. “Blaze, what the hell is going on?” He pointed to the inferno where the asylum used to stand. “It was that guy who has been going around calling himself Firas the Fearless. He came to help the inmates held here escape.” The team of heroes looked at each other and then stared at Blaze. “Firas, isn’t he a fire guy? That’s right up your alley isn’t it?” Alex asked with a half grin and confusion in his eyes. James looked at him and nodded. “But Dracon isn’t.” His words came across and hit Jason square in the face. Everyone turned to Jason, and watched him run his hands nervously through his salt and pepper hair. “Shit. Not him. Anyone but him.”

Dracon is a man who much like Blaze can withstand a tremendous amount of heat. However, he also has some other abilities. Jason remembers these to be: kill your partners, hold a grudge and manipulate light. The last one was key, as it allowed him to bend the light around him so he could become invisible, change colors or even change appearances. Jason stared distant into the fires. “I’ll kill him today if I can find him.” The others shushed him and they all stared at the flames. Alex cleared his throat and made his announcement. “No time like the present to get to work I suppose?” They all jumped up and rushed in, splitting up and watching for Firas. Blaze would be the first to find him, not that it was hard. The man was screaming like a lunatic. “Burn! Burn! Burn!” As he managed to burn more of the asylum’s ruins he noticed Blaze standing near by. “Ah, time to send you to hell!” As he turned the flames on Blaze, Blaze emerged right in front of him. “I was thinking of doing that to you.” Blaze punched Firas straight out. Just as he noticed Jason rushing toward him. “Look out!” he screamed at Blaze, who turned just in time to see the light of the flames flickering the tiniest bit strangely. Suddenly, Dracon was before him.

Jason leapt over Blaze and crashed hard into Dracon, both of them tumbling through flaming debris. Dracon stood first, and stared into the eyes of his nemesis. His voice deep and dripping with venom, his words sank in like daggers. “Come to die like the old man you are? Or would you prefer the same treatment Silverstar received.” Jason paused only a moment to pay tribute to her memory. When Jason had found her, she had been brutally attacked, raped and was left for dead. She died hours later only after uttering one word. “Dracon.” Jason steeled himself. “No. But I’m going to send you to that personal circle of hell Satan has reserved for you.” He leapt at Dracon as if he was a feral beast. As many of the other heroes were embroiled in their own battles rounding up the escapees, Blaze watched hopelessly as the two pummelled away at each other.

As the fight between the two became dirty, and down right atrocious, Blaze felt like he should step in. After all, he was watching a dear friend getting clobbered and clobbering right back. Suddenly, the tide turned when Dracon tripped up on some debris and toppled over. Before he knew what was happening, he had an extremely angry Jason slamming his fists upon his face. Jason hit for what seemed like forever. Finally, Blaze grabbed his arm as Jason raised it for another swing. “That’s enough!” Jason looked down and saw his rival. Broken and defeated, Dracon lay on the ground barely breathing. His tongue had been punched against his teeth and was missing a piece and the only reason they noticed that was because Jason had nearly punched his jaw clean off and had ripped through Dracon’s right cheek. As Jason stood up, his hands not even showing the faintest bit of wear, he looked to the team of his peers surrounding him. Judging him. He watched as Blaze handed over Firas to the authorities and looked back to him, shaking his head disapprovingly.

That was the last time Jason has seen James. Blaze. Jason hung his head as the church erupted in the song Amazing Grace. As tears rolled down his cheeks. Alex patted him on the shoulder. “There, there bud. There, there.” As Jason hung his head not in sorrow, but in shame he thought about James and how he did everything else right except this one thing. It wasn’t fair. His mind also drifted to his nemesis, still in a coma after the beating he’d received. Jason sniffled and wiped his nose with a handkerchief from his blazer. He stared at it and lost himself on a train of thought. Why did he die and I wasn’t even punished? I beat a man into a coma, and almost to death but not even a slap on the wrist. Things have to change. As he straightened up in his seat, he wiped his nose once again and his look was as cold as steel. Things must change.

Heroisms: Immortality

It’s something we all crave, deep within. Whether it’s fifteen minutes of fame, or infinite praise. Think of the Bible. If a person could leave a such a legacy today, that would be immortality. As we have discovered, no one lives forever. People die everyday, doesn’t matter who they are or what they’ve done in this life. Some great people pass on, while some terrible ones survive and vice versa. But heroes, heroes live on in legend. People whisper the exploits of Saint George and his fierce battle against the dragon. Beowulf tempted certain death in his fight with Grendel. Even King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, faced many exploits, however these could all be fairy tales and nothing more.

Today our heroes are spread throughout the world, battling atrocities abroad and crime in our streets. But what about those unsung heroes? What about those spies who manage valuable information? What about the super special operatives who aren’t in the books and are only represented by dollar signs and then an eventual replacement? What about the people with enhanced abilities that the government hides from us? Despite their best efforts, that is all about to change.

The term “Super Hero” can only be traced as far back as the early nineteen hundreds, however heroes themselves can be traced back far beyond that. Originally thought to be children of the gods, the Greeks wrote of Heracles and Achilles two of the original super heroes. Heracles has tremendous strength and was tougher than any mortal before him while Achilles had only one weak spot, aside from that the man could not be harmed. After many centuries we arrive to the modern day where the government has employed these types of beings and keep them from the public eye. Some are kept in local public service if their abilities are not government threatening or they have already begun families. These people are called public defenders by the government. They must still register, check in and be examined annually to ensure proper procedure is being followed.

The first year anyone in the super hero community heard about the death of a hero related to the government, was a fire fighter by the name of James “Blaze” Anderson. He got the nickname because he was the fastest guy on the squad and to his team mates, he seemed just to never feel the heat. The government knew the truth. James was actually impervious to flame. They had tested his resistance to the lengths of dousing him in lava, and merrily watched him swim in it. However, he was soon to take a turn for the worst. James was cocky, arrogant and despite his enjoyment for saving people, he loathed the government that employed him. After two years of refusing to check up, the government warned that if he was unable to show up for a third year, there would be dire consequences. Thinking himself above these mere mortals, James promised them he would not show. So he didn’t. Then suddenly an apartment building was on fire and a girl was trapped on the eighth floor. James left his team behind and rushed in warning them not to follow.

The squad members were unaware of the government’s threat of dire consequences, but even they recognized a building imploding when they saw one. James was buried under twelve floors of concrete and steel. When they found him, he was mostly crushed and pin cushioned. They felt terrible for him. The super hero community shuddered. Outrage poured into conference rooms, the super heroes pushed the government to agree no more heroes would die at their hand. They feigned ignorance and soon everything settled down. But this left a bad taste in the mouths of any and all super heroes. It was a definite sign, a slap in the face to anyone who would dare defy them. Power or no power, they had them right where they wanted them. They knew all of the weaknesses. They knew all of the addresses. They knew all of the extended family.

Now as James is laid to rest, the media reports of a fire fighter with a heart of gold. He had saved over four hundred and thirty people. As super heroes file in to pay their respects, a small trio remains outside and far enough from ear shot to discuss the damage. An average man of average build fixes his tie and ensures no one is approaching them as the conversation continues. “Do you think they really did this? Killed him as a response to his blatant lack of respect for authority?” His head turns back to the conversation, and to the raven haired girl asking the question. “Alison, I believe the government is a fan of keeping order. Sadly he was extremely disobedient.” Alison stomps her foot in protest and stares him down. “You don’t think he deserved it did you?” Her voice raises a bit too much for their discussion and a broad shouldered man with salt and pepper hair stands between them. “Alison, he doesn’t mean that. Do you Alex?” Still fixing his tie, Alex looks to Alison and then at his feet. “No, no. I just mean… they ask a lot from us, but the least we can do is go in. It’s as much for our sake as it is theirs.”

Alison storms off and adds herself to the ever growing queue of people paying their respects. Alex looks to the man standing before him. “Jason, what do you think?” Jason turns his gaze from watching Alison to make direct eye contact with Alex. “What do I think? I think he needed to be taught a lesson, but not like this. I think this is a definite warning from our own government. Do as you’re told, or else.” After he watches his words sink into his young protégée, he slides an arm around him and pulls him close to his side. “What do you say we go wish an old friend farewell, shall we?” As the two walk to add themselves to the queue, they don’t notice the figure standing in the shadows, mere feet away from their discussion.