We arrive, with a jolt, at a similarly row of abandoned warehouses. Vlad lets go of my neck and walks forward to the rusted chain-link fence with a large "Under Construction" sign on it. He walks to a break in the fence and pulls the broken piece back, gesturing for me to squeeze through.
The wet breeze from the ocean feels great against my skin. It reminds me of being in the clouds. A feeling of security and safety overcomes me in the moment of musing. The feeling passes when as Colonel Stone's presence returns to my mind. His appearance can only herald chaos.
I squeeze through the opening, careful not to scrap my cape or skin on the metal. Vlad disappears from the opposite side of the fence and reappears next to me. A gust of wind accompanies him, moving my cape modestly.
His gift is clearly super-speed. Another good guess would be teleportation, but there is no accompanying sounds or aftereffects. The wind is a dead giveaway.
"Show off." I say.
Vlad smirks at me as he heads forward. My eyes fall on the warehouse, which has seen better days. The area is radiating heat even when the night's air is cold. The broken windows present a darkness that alludes to abandonment, the complete absence of life, and yet, there is something just beyond the surface.
As I approach, a shimmering affect is apparent. It looks as if a mirror is being liquefied. I reach forward and my hand disappears into the illusion. Vlad is watching with a cocky smirk.
"It's a—"
"Holographic overlay. Yeah, I'm not new to this, sparky. I know the guy who created most of the tech DISA uses." I say. "Exactly how long have you been set up here?"
"Me? A day." Vlad says.
"What about him?" I ask.
"You should ask him yourself." Vlad says.
Vlad passes me and disappears into the holographic overlay. A quick glance back reminds me I am saying goodbye to my quaint vacation when I pass through the overlay. The quiet peace I have found has already been disrupted but I hesitate at the thought.
The first step through the overlay is like being intimately greeted by the sun. The light is overbearing. Ahead of us, DISA employees move about freely. An aircraft can barely be seen on the roof the building, obscured by the darkness. Two individuals wearing paramilitary gear guard the craft while to remain in front of the building.
Two black SUVs are parked in front of the warehouse. The logo for DISA has been removed but is still slightly visible on the side of the SUVs. It strikes me as strange. Questions have begun to formulate in my head.
"What is all of this?" I ask.
"See for yourself." Vlad says.
I follow Vlad forward. The guards at the door become alert but relax at the sight of Vlad. I know the guards. Gerald introduced us years ago, and they haven't changed in the slightest.
The guards are twin brother, Cain and Abel. Their names are the product of an overly religious mother and a father who didn't give a damn. The two share blonde hair and green eyes, despite being fairly different. Abel is more of a jester whereas Cain is more of the serious type.
The two men greet me as I pass. DISA employees work around freely, each tending to different situations. It feels as though I am back in the Command Center of the Agency. No one seems put off as they are working with generators and portable devices. The atmosphere is vibrant and loud from the roar of the generators. The commotions stops when they catch sight of two men dressed in costumes.
A sense of Deja vu hits me immediately. It remains a stark reminder that no one has forgotten me. Whether it is a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen. Vlad nudges my shoulder and nods towards the far end of the room, where two men are arguing. The two men bicker fiercely as I approach but straighten up as we arrive in front of them.
Carter Gregory and Benjamin Wilson are welcome faces. I met both men under vastly different circumstances while I was part of a superhero team named the Marvels.
Ben is a genetic close of Adam Wilson, also known as the Patriot. After the disappearance of Adam Wilson, Harriet and DISA searched for years until they came upon a plot by a shadow organization to use Adam's DNA to create a close that is the antithesis of the resident white knight.
Harriet, as one last memorial to Adam, used the DNA with hers to create Ben, as she could not bear to destroy the DNA. The story is either extremely disturbing or incredibly beautiful, depending on who you ask.
The jury is still out for me.
Harriet raised and protected Ben into his teenage years. Like Adam, Ben disappeared and was brainwashed for years until he resurfaced as an assassin for the same shadowy organization that tried to create him previously. The Marvels crossed his path, and with the assistance of Adam, their hold over him was broken.
Ben is less conflicted than he had been when we first met. His scruffy face and tired eyes tell the story better than he can. The combination of a bulky frame and a Caesar cut hairstyle brings out the Adam in him. His preoccupation with covered clothing is still one of the most intriguing aspects of his mystique. His reluctance to show any parts of his body below the neck have been debated on many fan forums.
Carter's story is less involved. He is the son of an old army buddy of Adam's. The two met after the Marvels were founded and Adam was rescued from the dimension he was stranded in.
The story of Adam's disappearance is a story of quantum entanglement. Unfortunately, Physics is not my first, second or third language.
It's heartwarming to see Adam and Carter have struck up some kind of friendship. The two have good chemistry as far as their teamwork is concerned. Their friendship is pure. Carter's untroubled, uncomplicated past compliments the squeaky-clean Patriot. Adam's resolve to do better and create a better world is cheesy and adorable at the same time.
Carter's skin is smooth and dark. My first instinct is to bite him, and I stand firmly by it. His dark stubble is preferable to his clean, baby face. His buzz cut reinforces his allegiance to his military roots while also complimenting the shape of his head.
It begs the question of why the two of them are here.
"Confused yet?" Carter asks.
"Just about," I say, "is anybody going to explain why you're here? I'm all for a little cloak and dagger, but this is extreme, no?"
"The big boss is going to have to explain that to you." Ben says. He nods behind him. "He's waiting on you."
On cue, the floor behind them slides open, revealing a set of stairs that lead down into pure darkness. Leave it to Gerald to use the most dramatic of methods in something so menial. I follow the stairs down into the darkness as lights on the wall burst to life, illuminating the way.
A metal blast door greets me at the bottom of the staircase. A small compartment pops open on the wall next to the door. On the pad within the compartment, light flashes around the outline of a hand. I place my palm against the scanner and wait for the inevitable confirmation of my identity.
"It is a pleasure to see you again, Master Roth." NEWT says.
NEWT is an A.I. owned by Nicodemus Baelor. It would take hours to explain my history with Nicodemus. The short story would be that we were best friends that ruined our friendship with a fling. NEWT is one of the better connections I made through Nik, if that says anything.
"NEWT? I thought we agreed on Pahras. Maybe you'll tell me what's going on here. Nobody seems to be able to tell me—"
The door slides open to reveal my uncle, Colonel Gerald Stone.
I stare at him, unsure of whether I want to hug him or punch him in shoulder. My thoughts return to the last time I saw him. The only change in his appearance is a bit greyer in his fade and mustache. I did not expect him to grow an exorbitant amount of hair or pack on the pounds, but I expected some change. The longer I stare at him, the more comforted I am that he has not changed.
"I know the feeling." Gerald says with a roguish smile.
Without much more thought, I wrap my arms around him and pull him into a hug. Ignoring the pistol holders digging into my shoulders, I apply pressure to the black fatigue-wearing mercurial man of war. It amuses me how uncomfortable this must make him. In a surprising turn of events, he wraps his arms around me. I struggle to remember the last time we have shared a good, old-fashioned hug.
Gerald ushers me through the door. The room is a good size, mostly empty. The room is mostly built around the supercomputer at the far side of the room, with doors to unknown areas on either side of the room. The computer looks like a server, connected to at least ten monitors. All of the monitors show different media outlets.
The doors on either side of the room intrigue me. In usual Gerald fashion, no indication is given as to where the doors lead. I would imagine they were sleeping quarters, if Gerald would lower himself to sleep like a regular human being.
"If I were to flip through those feeds, I wouldn't find my apartment on there, would I?" I ask.
Gerald ignores me as he walks over to the monitors and sits in a black swivel chair in front of the computer. I follow him as he turns the chair, and his attention, to me.
"Never change, unc." I say.
"Did you honestly think I was going to let you disappear without knowing exactly what you were up to?" Gerald asks. "You've done nice work while you were away, by the way."
I shrug. "I just hoped you wouldn't be watching me bathe. Or did you get someone else to watch those bits? I thought we were creating boundaries." I say.
"The last thing I want to do is watch my nephew bathe. You have a 'certain' way with many people, but that allure is lost on me." Gerald says.
"And don't think I'm not grateful. So, why are you here? You could watch me like a hawk from anywhere on the globe." I say.
"You still don't watch the news."
His comment is more commentary on my life than I need. Since I have been away, I haven't deigned to view the news in America. It's all political propaganda and depressing news. I prefer the radio silence the rest of world turns on when dealing with America.
"I don't even have cable here." I reply. "Besides, there are other things to do here."
"Like feeding ducks and dancing on tables?"
"And foiling the rather dubious plans of nefarious villains."
"Well, if you had watched a speck of what is going on, you'd know that the shit has hit the fan for us." Gerald says. "The directors have lost their minds. Director Archer finally got his way and the other directors have gone suspiciously quiet."
Director Miles Archer is our family's archenemy. The little weasel has been at odds with not only my father but Gerald for as long as I can remember. Archer resents the fact that Gerald is always a step or two ahead of him.
Gerald explained that the two men had once been friends a long time ago until my father, Solomon, allowed his proclivity towards terrorism to cause a fissure between their friendship. Gerald's love for his brother overrode his friendship with Archer. The story is shaky and unclear in some areas. I believe there is more to what happened, but Gerald is tight-lipped about their fallout, and I wouldn't dream of initiating conversation of the topic with Archer.
Archer, in addition to being rather bitter, is anti-Evo to the fullest of his rather limited capabilities. My presence in the Marvels has already rubbed him the wrong way. It nearly drove him insane. His idea of acceptance of Evos is policing us down to the very moods of the day. If it were up to him, we would all be in cages and separate from the rest of the world.
Or in some lab.
"Sounds ominous. Can you elaborate?" I ask.
Gerald types on the small keyboard. I watch as a decidedly robotic Archer speaks on Evos being detained because of the danger we pose. An icy chill runs down my spine as the sight of many terrified children are forced into the back of DISA vans. The feelings worsen when the screen flickers to older Evos being beaten and subdued before meeting the same fate as the children before them.
My heart drops to the deepest depths when I see the Stone School for Excellence flash across the screen. My former alma mater and last known residence has been compromised. I am horrified as the school is infiltrated by DISA agents. An explosion rocks the camera to the ground, ending the feed.
"They made it out. Evelyn says they enacted protocol 2." Gerald explains.
Protocol 2 is a survival protocol established in case of an attack by non-Evos on the school. The protocol was put in place like Archer, as a last resort if it ever happened. The idea is to hide the school away from people who would do them harm.
Enacting Protocol 2 means the school has disappeared from this plane of existence entirely and is only accessible via a teleportation device given to teachers. My leave of absence from the school didn't warrant them taking my device.
In truth, I had hoped that the protocol would go unused.
"This is...barbaric! Archer must be stopped immediately!" I say.
My eyes are glued to the screen as the dissolution of the Marvels becomes the headline, replacing the attack on Evos. Gerald has apparently shot to the top of the most wanted list.
"You're on the run?" I ask snidely. "And you decided to take most of DISA with you? Pretty ballsy, unc."
"People fight for what's right." Gerald says. "The best of the best joined me. Almost everyone disagrees with the way things are going down. They want to help us."
"And you need me?" I ask.
"It wasn't my idea to bring you back into this. If it were up to me, I'd let you stay here, where it's safe."
"And whose idea was it?" I ask.
The door I wondered about so fervently before opens behind us. My patience is tested as a figure I had hoped never to see again emerges from the room. My absentee father's eyes stare directly through me, his smug expression never faltering.
Now him, I want to punch.
"Solomon." I hiss.
I grew up with the knowledge that my father and I shared some similarities. The assertion that the two of us mirror each other in any way always sparked a rage in me, especially as I grew to know who he really is. His violence and chaos are not something I want to be compared to. I'm not so angry with him that now, under this unforgiving light, I cannot see the physical resemblance.
We share our large foreheads and dark eyes, as well as his rounded jaw. His hair is shaved bald, just as mine has been for a couple of weeks. I wonder if there is a sizable difference between us at all as far as looks.
My mother's round nose and impatient expressions spring to mind.
Electricity dances between my fingertips as my hands leap to my side. The sparks and golden strands of electricity jump excitedly between my fingers, growing bolder by the second. Gerald hops to his feet, wedging himself between the two of us.
"Why is he here?" I ask.
"Hello to you, too, son." Solomon grins. "I'm here to assist you."
"Assist me?" I ask.
"Yes," Gerald nods, "You are one of the most well-known Evos in the world. You were a Marvel. You were a founding member of the most famous superhero team in the world. If someone was going to be champion in this situation, it would be you. Many people know this."
"I'm afraid we are running short on time. It is only a matter of time before DISA, and their Paladins, arrive to take you away like the others." Solomon says.
"Chances are they're already here." Gerald interjects.
"And you are going to help me?" I ask. "You're both at the top of the most wanted list. Solomon, you're on the Evo list of people they want to capture immediately. Public enemy number one."
"Two. You are one now. Gerald said it best. You are the most well-known Evo in this entire world. Who do you think they'll come after first? The person who incites fear in them, or the person who incites hope into those they fear. Especially with what's at stake." Solomon smiles.
And there. His mind games have started. The last sentence means more than it should. The chaos from the news feed does not look new. It begs the question of why the two have come to me now and not when it started. It begs the question as to what has changed.
The school?
Gerald's eyes are lingering on me for far too long. I break away from them and take Gerald's place at the computer. I type my name and wait for the results to populate.
"Pahras—" Gerald says.
"There's a reason you've come now. What do they have?" I ask.
A newsfeed from the premier TV station in Infinity City s offering a reward for any information on my whereabouts. The newscaster appears to do so under duress, even half-heartedly mentioning how dangerous I am. While it is a valid reason for them to come, it's not a reason for them to ask me to come back.
"Well, at least it's a good picture. Yours is rubbish." I say as I push the chair away from the desk. "Shouldn't the Marvels be handling this? I don't believe for a second you allowed them to be disbanded."
"The Marvels are defunct. Magni returned to rebuild Asgard a while ago, Baashara is off-world, and Nikko is unavailable at the moment." Gerald says.
"What about Adam? Sammy? Khari?" I ask.
"Adam is on a mission at the moment, and Samuel hasn't been seen in months." Gerald explains. "Khari has declined to interfere with our issues. The obligations of his Kingdom are, apparently, more important. You would know better than any of us."
King Khari of Uumbaji is one of the few relationships I have been in that have not ended on destructive terms. Our issues stem from his desire for me to be his second-in-command and my desire to be anything other than someone's second-in-command. Khari is a light in this world, but everything comes second to his Kingdom.
I wasn't ready to be his second, and I never will be.
"I get it I guess, but this is serious. What obligations are more important than this?" I ask.
"The King is having trouble with mermaids off the coast of his beloved nation. I wonder if you had chosen to return to his Kingdom, if it would be a more relevant issue." Solomon jokes.
Khari's intervention a couple of years ago brough him into my life for the third time, revealing his true identity to me. He is referred to as the Therian because of his ability to channel nature, primarily the spirits of animals. The entire time I was dating him, I was wholly unaware of his abilities. It wasn't until he crossed paths with the Marvels that I became aware. It was a long line of reveals in our relationship.
We initially met in Africa while he was taking a rite of passage to gain the title of king. I was on a mission for Gerald, which was ultimately a set-up for me to meet Khari and recruit him. We spent a night together and parted afterward.
The next time we saw each other, he revealed he was a king. Imagine having a wonderful time with a guy you meet in a forest and finding that he is the king of an entire nation. It was a very strange time in my life.
"Okay, so you're down a superhero team. Is that why Ben, Carter and Mr. Quick are here?" I ask.
"Barely." Solomon says. "They're what he could throw together on short notice."
"What about Evelyn's team?" I ask.
"They have their own issues." Solomon says.
"Meaning? This affects them directly! DISA attacked their school. I can't imagine Theo—wait."
Gerald glares at Solomon with an annoyed expression. For once, I am glad Solomon opened his mouth. The one thing I can give Solomon is that his own agenda pushes him to spurts of honesty for the briefest of times. The truth is Theo would have come with him. Theo would be along the front lines of this battle.
So, where is he?
"One of their members were taken while trying to save an envoy of newly rescued prospective students." Gerald says.
Gerald passes me and clicks a few buttons on the keyboard. I turn to the screen to see Theo Connors, the leader of the Evos and my ex-fiancée, being subdued violently and loaded into the back of a blue SUV with the words "Evo Containment" plastered on the side. His beautiful face is swollen, and his normally well-groomed hair is matted, presumably with his own blood.
"How long ago was this?" I ask.
The world feels far away. My own voice sounds miles away, as if it is not my own. The thoughts and fears are leaking through my voice. The visual of Theo being captured creates an undeniable anger inside me that can be compared to the one that lingers within Solomon. Solomon's slip of the tongue is an interesting choice. His relationship with Evelyn and her team is dismal at best. His relationship with Theo is even worse.
It stands to reason that Theo is not the only Evo of note to be taken, and they would have taken him to the same place as the other Evos. Solomon's concern means one of two things, he has a soft spot for Theo, or he wants to free someone else that is being held with Theo. Solomon is easy to read if you know which page to start on.
Gerald frowns. "That's not the mission." Gerald says.
"How long ago was this?" I repeat.
"Three days." Solomon answers. "He was taken to a secure location that you know very well. One where they take those they brand criminals with extraordinary abilities."
"The HAMMER? They're taking them to the Hammer?"
"Oh yes, it has gotten an upgrade since we've last visited." Solomon says. "Baelor Industries has donated technology to assist in the detainment of super criminals, such as ourselves."
"That's not—that can't be right," I look to Gerald, "tell me Nikko isn't involved in this!"
"He can't." Solomon says. "The world needs you to unleash your fury to protect it."
"The world can have me but only after I save him." I say. "You want me? That's the price."
"You want us to break into a government facility?" Gerald asks. "I would like to see the look on Archer's face if we free all the captives. It's a tall order."
"Perhaps Master Baelor could assist. I'm sure he'd be delighted to see you, Pahras." NEWT says.
"For the first couple of minutes. Until our discussions begin. Can't promise it'll be that pleasant for him, NEWT."
"Is it really safe to have that thing listening to our every word?" Solomon asks.
I almost comment on NEWT having more of my trust than he ever will, but I decide it best to avoid an argument. Gerald's words creep back into my head. Breaking into a government facility to free captive Evos is a declaration of war against DISA. The act will make me fugitive like Solomon and Gerald, even though I may already be well on my way.
If we do this, we do this with a plan.
Something is still eating away at me. Nikko's involvement. Nikko supplied them with the technology, which is disturbing. The only silver lining is that if he supplied them with the technology, he could supply us with a means to break the technology.
The only issue is that the last time I saw him we weren't in a good place. He was absolutely incensed that I was leaving the team. The thought of visiting my old friend is enough to make my stomach do backflips. It's almost more terrifying than going against DISA.
I voice my opinion on our next move and the Stone men react positively to it. Gerald has qualms about heading back into Infinity City with DISA on high alert. He explains DISA has new technology that can detect and identify Evos, another gift from Baelor Industries.
I muse that my visit with Nikko needs to be short and meaningful. Gathering as much information as I can and leaving before DISA can spot me is a priority. The thought of evading DISA is startling. DISA has made questionable decisions before but never dangerously inept ones like this.
The weight of the situation has become real. Evos have become the outlaws in this scenario. I have gone from hero to outlaw in an instant, for nothing more than being as I am.
The thought is sobering.
I tell Gerald if I am leaving with him, I need to retrieve some things from my apartment. Solomon's disposition changes to one of disbelief.
"We can send agents to gather your things. We need to move immediately." Gerald says.
"No!" I shout.
My outburst is for no other reason than what is left in my apartment. The teleportation device for Protocol 2 is hidden in my apartment. The last thing I want is for anyone else to get ahold of it. If it falls into the wrong hands, the students at the school could be put in danger. I cannot trust anyone but myself with the device.
"There are a couple of things they wouldn't find. Hopefully." I exclaim.
Gerald and Solomon exchange baffled expressions. It is in rare moments like this, when the two are not on opposing sides of the fence and are in the same room, that I notice their similarities. The brotherly connection between them is scary. I was told that the two were closer in the past but I could not see it before now. It's comforting to see traces of their relationship.
Gerald instructs me to meet them at the airfield. He, generously, gives me twenty minutes to gather my belongings and meet him before he will come to retrieve me. He tells me that Agent Stowls, one of the guards outside, will take me to my apartment.
I agree to his terms and head back out to meet Agent Stowls, a larger man with eyes the color of aquamarine and deep brown hair. His eyes are beautiful but far too close together. Agent Stowls politely helps me into the passenger seat of the SUV.
Stowls hops into the driver side and starts the SUV. I look out the window, back at the warehouse, and my eye catches Ben. He seems bothered by something. I write it off as nerves as Stowls drives us away from the warehouse.