The Crisis Masters

by Gerry Hart

  "Surrender! Now!" Berenger ordered the remaining dwellers.

  The dwellers surrendered to the automatons.

  "It doesn't matter, Michael. " Hadaver cried. "This is all a farce."

  Berenger gave his partner a puzzled yet enraged look.

  Hadaver gave an evil smile then yelled: “Automatons, freeze! Absolutely do not move no matter what unless my voice orders it! "

  Suddenly, the occupants of the "thicket" were surrounded by.... Indians with bow and arrows!

  "Nobody move or else you'll get shishkobobbed ! " Hadaver warned.

  Hadaver disarmed Berenger, handed the rifle to an Indian, and then said: "You and the Dahlias have been set up. "

  Hadaver clacked his own rifle then blew his Dahlia apart.

  “Damn, but that felt good! “ Hadaver exalted.

  Berenger jumped in front of his own Dahlia, holding him back and yelling: "No! Don't! I need you! "

  "Forget it, Berenger." Hadaver chortled. "We going to get rid of you, your Dahlia, the automatons, and anyone else still alive here."

  "Why?" Berenger asked incredulously.

  "Tork, of course. If we had found him, I was supposed to kill him, but since I didn't and my boss being on a schedule, this 'massacre' is designed to frame Tork, maybe causing enough public outrage to hunt him down. "

  "But why the Indians?" Berenger asked.

  "You figure it out." Hadaver smiled. "Do it, boys!"

  The Indians drew back their bows and moved in on their prey.

  Suddenly, a masked figure swung down from high above, dropping a row of Indians. Berenger and the rest of the Indians' prey took their cue and defended themselves. The masked figure drew a laser pistol and stunned a number of Indians. Berenger reclaimed his rifle and joined the masked figure in downing the remaining warriors.

  Hadaver had fled during the fight.

  The Basement dwellers gathered around the masked stranger, thanking him.

  Berenger called to him. "Listen. I know I owe you my life, but who are you?"

  Berenger realized the masked figure came equipped with antiquated night vision goggles, a bandoleer strapped across his chest holding several Uzis and pockets holding who knows what, a waist belt holding several different types of knives, and a sword strapped to the figure’s back.

  “My name is Solvent.” The masked man replied.

  "There's a reason you saved me right? I mean I don't think you were 'just in the neighborhood '. " Berenger asked.

  "No. I've been keeping tabs on Hadaver through my network. I've known he's part of a larger conspiracy within the Crisis Masters. I received warning he was going to rendezvous with some false Torks and Indians. "

  Berenger heard Solvent sigh. Solvent walked over to Berenger's Dahlia who was cradling Hadaver's Dahlia in his arms. Hadavar's Dahlia had delivered an image of an idealistic forest scene to his native brother before he passed on. Berenger's Dahlia wept. It was one of the few times Berenger or anyone, for that matter, had witness a Dahlia cry. Solvent put a hand on Berenger's Dahlia’s shoulder. The Dahlia nodded to Solvent, acknowledging his sympathy. Solvent turned to the dead Basement dwellers. Jessup had lined them up in a row.

  Solvent addressed Jessup: "If I act now, I can avenge their deaths."

  "Go." Jessup replied sadly. "I'll take care of them."

  "The Native Americans are to be bound and isolated in a secluded area until I return or send someone for them.”

  "They were going to kill us." Jessup growled.

  "They're dupes, Jessup. It's Hadaver and whoever else is behind this conspiracy that you should be angry at. These warriors were pawns. Do I have your word you'll do what I said? "

  "Word. " Jessup said reluctantly and angrily.

  Solvent looked at a watch on his arm then addressed Berenger. "Hadaver and the Indians were to rendezvous at a prearranged set of coordinates. We have just enough time to rendezvous with some other Crisis Masters and stop Hadaver and his crew. "

  Solvent prodded Berenger and his Dahlia to follow him. As they wound through the "alleys", "backstreets", and "thickets" of the Basement, Berenger had to ask.

  "The other Crisis Masters? " Berenger reacted. "It wouldn't happen to be the Crisis Masters that crashed down here."

  "Yeah. I have the Crisis Masters holed up in a clinic I set up. Terrain and Negatt came out of the crash relatively unscathed. Munson, his Dahlia and Terrain’s Dahlia are more serious though. They're stable but they need to be flown out of here in order to get better medical attention. "

  They arrived at the clinic. A woman dressed in decent clothes and a doctor's coat with auburn hair and aged- before- her time looks greeted Solvent and Berenger.

  "This is Doctor Angela Dillio. She's been taking care of the Basement Dwellers." Solvent introduced.

  "Thanks to you, Solvent, but you shouldn't address me as doctor."

  "You made a mistake, Doc." Solvent said caressing Angela's cheek. " You've more than made up for it. There has to be forgiveness, sometime. "

  Dillio hugged him. Negatt entered through a curtained entranceway.

  "Are we ready?" Mender Terrain sounded.

  Berenger introduced himself. "Crisis Master Michael Berenger."

  "CM Mender Terrain, Detective Division. This is one of your compatriots, CM Oliver Negatt. "

  Solvent handed each of his three partners a cordless microphone. "We're ready. Let's move out." Solvent proclaimed.

  “Wait!” Terrain demanded. “We owe the Dwellers and you our lives, but this is an official investigation. I can’t let every Tom, Dick, and Harry out in the field.”

  Solvent went face to face with Terrain. “Son, I probably know more about Crisis Master rules and protocols then you’ll ever realize. I also know about your conspiracy and how high it might be. I also am the only one that can help you survive the Basement.”

  “What do you know -?”

  “There’s no time! Do you want Hadaver and his crew or not?”

  Terrain nodded reluctantly, but added. “We’re going to talk later.”

  Solvent, Terrain, Negatt, Berenger, and Berenger's Dahlia headed for the coordinates where Sovent predicted they would find Hadaver and a number of false Torks that crashed in the Basement before Terrain and company. They discovered the coordinates was a large area cluttered by debris and frequented by dweller passersby. Solvent signaled his partners to fan out and surround the area.

  Solvent spotted several Phillip Torks amongst the dwellers. He informed Negatt and Berenger. Berenger spotted Hadaver and pointed him out to Solvent, Terrain, and Negatt. He had to restrain his Dahlia from attacking until told.

  "You think your dwellers would notice a Crisis Master and a bunch of guys who looked alike?" Negatt whispered into his microphone. "There's supposed to be five "Torks". Where are the other two? "

  "We're going to find out." Solvent replied over the communicator. "Move in on my signal."

  Solvent stepped into the open. "Brothers! Grab the false Torks ! "

  Terrain, Negatt, Berenger, and the Dahlia took Solvent's action as the signal and moved in.

  Hadaver was startled by Solvent's orders but regained his composure when he realized Terrain, Negatt, Berenger, a Dahlia, and a mob of Basement Dwellers moving in on him. He grabbed a Basement dweller to use as a shield as he backed up towards a discarded husk of metal that had once been a hovercraft.

  "Find cover!" Hadaver yelled to his allies, the false Torks.

  Several imposters joined him behind the metal husk. The imposters were armed with laser pistols and rifles. They started to use them.

  Solvent found cover behind some metal debris on the opposite side of the area. "Terrain, Negatt, Berenger, our targets are pinned on the opposite end against the wall. Fan out. "Solvent ordered. "Give suppression fire. Do not let them make it towards any exits. "

  Suddenly, an explosion occurred over Solvent's head. One of the two missing imposters had revealed himself standing on a tall pile of junk. Solvent roll
ed away from his previous position, firing several shots with a laser pistol as he rolled. His adversary took a shot to the arm and fell. Solvent ran up to his foe and inspected the wound.

  "You'll live." He surmised. "Be glad I was firing instinctively. My pistol was set to kill. Now... lie still! "

  Solvent delivered a blow that sent his prisoner into unconsciousness. The masked man looked around to find the last of the five imposters. He noticed Negatt firing on the trapped Hadaver and his allies, and then he saw another Tork behind Negatt. Tork aimed his laser pistol at his doppelganger in order to save Negatt. However, Berenger's Dahlia appeared behind the doppelganger, incapacitating Negatt's would be assassin. Negatt never realized what happened.

  A bright light started to shine from above. All who looked up could see that it was a Crisis Master hovercraft.

  "All hostilities will cease immediately or we shall open fire!" An order blazed over a loudspeaker.

  Hadaver and the imposters ceased firing and came out from behind the debris. Solvent hid out of sight behind a pile of debris. Berenger noticed Solvent’s actions and decided to take a cue from his savior by staying out of sight. Two Crisis Masters exited the hovercraft. Terrain and Negatt ran up to them.

  "I am Crisis Master Terrain. This is Officer Oliver Negatt. Our hovercraft was downed while pursuing these felons. "Terrain said while pointing at the false Torks. " Crisis Master Hadaver over there is in league with these men. I want them all arrested. We'll sort this mess at headquarters. "

  One of the Crisis Masters cocked his laser rifle. "I don't think so."

  Suddenly, Solvent came flying over the hovercraft, tackling the two Crisis Masters. Hadaver took aim at Solvent but became startled by a cry to his right. He looked in time to avoid a rifle butt to his head. The blow still incapacitated Hadaver's shoulder. Hadaver went down to one knee.

  "Come on, you sorry son of a bitch!" Berenger yelled over him. "You wanted my ass. Now try to take it face to face! "

  Hadaver quickly picked up his rifle with his good hand and delivered a blow to Berenger's stomach. Berenger bent over allowing Hadaver to deliver another blow that sent the unfortunate Crisis Master into unconsciousness.

  The three remaining false Torks slithered towards the hovercraft but received stunning blows by Berenger's Dahlia. Negatt, who had been stunned by the Crisis Masters' betrayal, noticed the Dahlia standing over the Torks' fallen bodies.

  "Did you just save me?" Negatt said in surprise.

  The Dahlia nodded and held up two fingers.

  "Twice?"

  The Dahlia nodded again and said: "One must break a terrible habit."

  The rogue Crisis Masters had been giving Solvent and Terrain a good opposition. Finally, one of the rogues decided to go for his pistol, giving Solvent an opportunity to deliver an open palm to the rogue's face. Stunned, the first rogue went down. Solvent readied himself for the second rogue's attack, but it never came.

  A blast of wind and heat threw Solvent and Terrain off balance. Hadaver and the second rogue Crisis Master had made it to the hovercraft and initiated their escape. Berenger’s Dahlia grabbed the hovercraft and tried to climb aboard. Hadaver aimed his laser rifle at the Dahlia’s head. September 8th, at a little before midnight, would be marked in legend as the first time humanity would hear a Dahlia scream. There was a laser blast and a puff of smoke. As the hovercraft drew higher, the Dahlia’s body plummeted hard to the ground, lifeless and headless.

  "My God, where will it end " Negatt moaned.

  "This conspiracy will be stopped." Terrain said angrily. "It must be stopped!"

  Terrain noticed Berenger's lying form and checked on him.

  "Is he alright?" Negatt asked.

  "A few nasty bruises but he'll live." Tork replied. "How he'll deal with his Dahlia’s death? I don't know. "

  "I've got to take the prisoners back to headquarters." Negatt admitted.

  Terrain nodded. "We'll collect Munson and his Dahlia too. Get them to a proper hospital. It's time we clear this conspiracy up. "

  Terrain looked around for a few seconds.

  “Where’s that Solvent guy?” Terrain asked irately.

  “I don’t know!” Negatt exclaimed. “I was watching you and Berenger.”

  “Great! More questions!”

  “Why?”

  “He said he knew about the conspiracy within the Crisis Masters! What does he know?”

  6

  September 8, 4072, 10pm

  Negatt, Berenger, Doc the Dahlia and Terrain herded the false Torks through a docking bay that led to Booking Area 5. They were met by Crisis Master Greg Marsh and two other Crisis Masters.

  Terrain addressed Marsh: “Every Tork suspect in Techno-World accounted for, Crisis Master Marsh “

  “Do you really think you can continue this charade any longer? “ Terrain shouted above the false Torks

  Terrain studied the false Tork in front of him. He grabbed the false Tork by the tunic and ripped the tunic open. The false Tork screamed and convulsed as his whole body seemed to be engulfed in… television static?

  The figure had a different appearance once the static disappeared. The figure was draped in a black fabric with silver lining embedded in it. The figure collapsed to its knees.

  Terrain pulled the figure’s mask off. It was a man with dark, cropped hair and a goatee. Terrain identified him as former Crisis Master Dabney Kaled, one of the ten missing suspects on his list.

  Terrain approached another of his doppelgangers, reaching for his face.

  “Keep him away. Don’t let him touch me! “ The doppelganger screamed.

  Terrain came to a standstill. His right hand held a chunk of his intended victim’s “face”.

  Terrain addressed the false Torks: “I’ll do to you what I’m going to do to him unless all of you deactivate your suits and unmask. “

  Terrain pulled on his victim’s face just enough to cause a scream as the “face” contorted.

  Slowly, one at a time, then a couple, then, finally, all of “Torks” deactivated their suits. Terrain started ripping off masks.

  “Who killed the Dahlia in Area 2486, Brownstone Apartment 94? Why frame Phillip Tork?“ Terrain shouted as he continued to rip off masks. Occasionally, he would slap one of his impersonators.

  One of Terrain’s slaps jarred one of the impersonators. “Schivalli knows, man. Schivalli! “

  Terrain walked in front of Schivalli. “Somebody set you and your friends to take a fall, Steve. It might go easier on you if you tell us what you know? ’

  “I’ll tell you something, CM, because you won’t get any charges to stick. “ Steve Schivalli smirked. “All we’re saying is we were hired to impersonate this Phillip Tork guy. We were told the real Tork was going to bump of the Dahlia. Did any of us care? Hell, no! That alien was working for a higher up, weeding us out! The thing cost each and every one of us our jobs as Crisis Master!”

  Terrain grabbed Schivalli by his hair. “You don’t seem like the ringleader of this mob, Steve, or someone with access to highly sensitive information that even I wasn’t privy to. Who’se your front guy? Travis Obee? “

  Steve glared at Terrain. “I said what I wanted to say. Like I said, any charges you bring against us won’t stick. We’ll be extradited soon. “

  “You tell me how! “ Terrain demanded as he slammed Schivalli’s head against the wall.

  Doc the Dahlia put a hand on Terrain’s shoulder and gently pulled him back.

  “Crisis Master Terrain?” A subordinate spoke up.

  Terrain glared at the subordinate.

  “You got a text.” The subordinate gulped.

  “From who?” Terrain growled.

  “It’s from someone calling himself Solvent.”

  Terrain took the flat cell the subordinate held out.

  “Process them.” Terrain ordered Negatt and Berenger as he read the cell’s text.

  Solvent: “Have you questioned the false ones?”

  Terrain:
“How do I know you’re not a false one?”

  Solvent: “Angela Dillio treated you during your stay in the Basement.”

  Terrain: “Fine. I questioned them. They say Tork killed the Dahlia. The Dahlia was working for someone to weed out the corrupt Crisis Masters.”

  Solvent: “Tork didn’t kill the Dahlia!”

  Terrain: “What makes you so sure?”

  Solvent: “A hunch.”

  Terrain: “Enough with the bullshit! I need some solid answers. Do you have some answers for me? You’re no longer any use to me if you don’t.“

  There was a long pause.

  Solvent: “I do. I can confirm with almost certainty that Travis Obee is the mastermind behind whatever conspiracy is taking place. “

  Terrain: “Almost certainty ? “

  Solvent: “Yes. I still have questions. I can’t say but I feel like we need to check up on Professor Ibdigor.“

  Terrain: “I’ve checked his brownstone and the university. These assholes explain the missing camouflage suits. “

  Solvent: “That leaves his expanse. Meet me there.’

  September 9, 4072, 1:00 AM.

  A ship orbiting the planet, Techno-World, will discover that the world boasts many holes. The holes are a fluke. Techno-World was designed, literally, a spire at a time. Sections were connected by bridges, and walkways. Foundations would leave just enough space where a benefactor decided he could create housing for the homeless, creating The Basement.

  However, during the construction of the spires of Techno-World, foundations would be situated together so tight that large expanses were created. It could be reasoned these expanses could be used for further construction. Some expanses were bought with the intention to build on. However, a few reputable eccentrics decided to purchase these available expanses with the intention of building living quarters. It was the consensus among these eccentrics that they would stand out as anomalies against the norm, perhaps consider themselves rebels against the system.

  The governing body of Techno-World gave Professor Ibdidgor one of these expanses as a gift for one of the professor’s many contributions. The area was a grassy brown and sported a domed residence. Ibdidgor considered his domed home a retreat, a place to go to attend to personal projects.