by Ammar Habib
“There’s something I need to tell you.” There was no hint of a smile on his face. And the usual tone of his voice was not there either, causing Ethan to get a bad feeling in his gut.
“I’m all ears.”
“The reason I went off the grid in the first place was to find the answer to something that had been bothering me. You’ve told me about how Daken and his army are preparing for something big. But what I never understood is why is he letting you live and not coming after you himself? Why does he only send his soldiers? I mean, if he really has some kind of scheme, then he should know that you’re the only one who has any chance at stopping him.”
Ethan nodded.
“And I think I now may know why. I found out something about you…something I don’t think you even know.” William took a deep breath. “The longer you live, the more battles you fight, the more powerful you become.”
Ethan slowly absorbed what he was being told. “How can you be so sure?”
“Think about it, Ethan. It makes perfect sense. When you first came back to Crown City, you could barely hold your own against Anthony Griffin. And he was barely at your level, if you really think about it. And a few weeks ago, you were able to hold your own against Danior even though he should’ve carved you up within a minute of that fight beginning.”
“Yes…but—”
“But last night…last night you were able to take on Vixen’s entire force without being beaten down. And they were all just as good as Danior, if not better. How can you explain that, Ethan?”
Ethan was silent for a few long moments. “Who told you this?”
“I was tracing back Vixen’s appearances in an effort to find out where she came from. I was hoping that it’d lead me to Daken. But I came to a dead end. And it was there that I met a mystic.”
“Mystic? I wouldn’t think you one to believe in that sort of stuff.”
“Me neither. But trust me…she was real. She’s the one who warned me about Vixen’s attack and sent me back here to save you.”
“And she told you this…this thing about me?”
“Her name was Veila. And yes, she told me this and more. She told me that you’re the only one of Daken’s soldiers who is like this. Said it was because of your heart. And this is why Daken favors you so much.”
“What else did she tell you?”
“That Daken is going to launch his plan soon…and somehow you fit into all of this. Maybe…maybe keeping you alive this long is all part of his plan.”
Ethan was silent as he tried to take it all in. Several long moments of silence passed between the two comrades.
“…Ethan?”
“Where is she? This Veila?”
“In a village in Amaristan.”
“Looks like that’ll be my first stop.”
“She won’t be there. When I went back to see her the next day, she was gone.”
“I guess we wouldn’t want to make finding her too easy.”
“Yeah, guess not. But I do have a place for you to start your hunt.” William reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled photograph before handing it to his friend. “This man knows some things…provided you can get to him.”
Ethan looked at the worn out headshot. Across the bottom of it, the name of the man was written. “Getting to him will probably be the least of my problems.”
“So what’s the plan, Ethan? When you find out what Daken is after and where he is, what will you do next?”
“Daken loves death.” He looked back up at his friend. “So I’m going to give it to him.”
***
In the conference room, Villanueva looked at the room full of reporters. Cameras flashed in his face as the room’s blinding lights almost made the reporters impossible to see. Standing behind a thick podium, Villanueva stood on a raised stage and was dressed in a black suit and red tie. He could feel all the eyes on him, both in the room and through the television sets. His gaze scanned the reporters until he motioned for one of them to speak.
The middle-aged reporter did not hesitate in throwing out his question. “You are all but guaranteed to win the upcoming elections. What will be your administration’s stance on Ethan Daniels?”
“Ethan Daniels has done more to serve this country than any other person I know. He—”
“Will he pay for his crimes?”
Villanueva was not taken aback at the reporter’s abruptness. He had all but expected it. “What c—”
“You do acknowledge that he is a murderer, don’t you?”
“He did what he had to do for all of us,” he answered smoothly.
“Do you or do you not recognize that he has murdered countless citizens of this nation?”
Villanueva didn’t respond to that, merely acknowledged the next journalist.
“Who made him judge, jury, and executioner?”
“You and I did. When we were too afraid to even speak up against injustice.”
“Is your business relationship with Ethan clouding your judgment? Some might say that you are biased towards him because you utilized his charities to create a lot of goodwill amongst your voters.”
“Some might say that, but I can assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. Ethan Daniels is a hero if I ever knew one. With and without the mask, he was a Guardian for this country and world. He’s sacrificed more than you know for the betterment of all. And he should be treated like a hero and not hunted down like a criminal.”
Another reporter spoke up. “So what will your administration do in regards to Daniels?”
Villanueva looked towards the reporter. “We will give Ethan Daniels a pardon for any acts he did that may have been against the law. He will receive the nation’s highest award. He and his wife will have safe sanctuary if they are ever to return. And we will make sure that his family stays safe from any acts of retribution and that his assets stay safe. His family has done a lot for people all around the world. I spoke to his brother early this morning. He has assured me that he does not know where Ethan and Katrina Daniels have gone. And I can assure you all that neither Jonathan Daniels nor his wife were a part of this in any way.”
“Do you believe Ethan is coming back?”
“I don’t know. But when he does decide to come back, he will have the hero’s welcome that he deserves. The hero’s welcome that millions of people know he deserves.”
“Many other nations are labeling him a wanted criminal. What do you say to that?”
“I urge those nations to reconsider their actions. He has done nothing that could have earned him that label. However, I will say again that Ethan will have the full protection of this nation from any kind of prosecution if he chooses to return.”
“Our sister nation’s city of Zimba was massively damaged in the attack and many are saying that the attackers had come for him—”
“The only one responsible for the damage done in Zimba is the attackers. As far as my administration is concerned, Ethan saved millions of lives with his heroism along with his fellow warriors.”
A third reporter took over the questioning. “In the fight at the docks, Katrina Weav—Daniels’ bodyguard was seen fighting alongside Ethan. And another one of her bodyguards was found dead in the water. We now know that she has left Zimba and is more than likely with Daniels. Is she to be held responsible for any of Daniels’ actions as an accomplice?”
“As far as I’m concerned, Ms. Katrina Daniels will have the same welcome and safeguards here as her husband.”
“What about the other man who was with Ethan. The one wearing a mask. Do you know who he is?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Do you think he might be picking up the reigns from Ethan?”
“I don’t know.”
“If he was to do so, if a Guardian was to reemerge and operate outside of the law, what would be your administration’s stance over it?”
“That has yet to be decided.”
***
Wil
liam pushed open the heavy doors of the warehouse. With a metallic briefcase in hand, he took a step into the cold building. He stopped and took a deep breath as his eyes went from one side of the building to the other. It was completely dark, but he could make out the silhouettes of every single thing inside. Everything was just as he had remembered it.
Behind him, Adam held a briefcase of his own. He looked at the back of William as he patiently waited for his new mentor to say something.
William slowly turned back to face his pupil. A small smirk was on his face now that he was finally home. “You know this won’t be easy.”
“Yes.”
“You’ll have to make sacrifices.”
“I know.”
“Ethan told me about you. Says you’re one of the bravest people he’s ever come across.”
“I just put doing the right thing above everything else.”
William slightly smiled. “Are you ready to begin?”
***
The sun was high and the skies were clear. Here, out in the middle of the ocean, Ethan was far from the winter that captivated Crown City and Zimba. It all felt like a distant dream. Standing at the bow of the ship, his hands rested on the railings while he looked ahead. The warmth of the sun came down on him. The ship continued to move ahead and all that could be seen were clear blue seas. The waters were calm this late morning and a welcome breeze passed through the boat. The horizon could be seen in every direction and the fresh smell of the ocean filled the air.
Feeling a presence, Ethan looked behind him as Katrina walked onto the deck. She came alongside her husband. Looking at his handsome face, she put her hand on the guardrail right next to his as they looked at one another.
“How you holding up?” Ethan asked.
“I’m good. How are you feeling?”
“I healed up quicker than I expected.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Ethan looked back out at sea and Katrina’s gaze stayed on him. He uttered the same words her grandfather had said not so long ago. “I have faith.”
“Hope is the one thing we’ve always had.” Katrina was silent for several moments. “Do you know where you’re going to start your search?”
He nodded.
“I don’t suppose you’ll be able to keep in contact with me while you’re gone.”
“Not regularly.”
“I thought you’d say that. Have you heard from William?”
“Yes. A few minutes ago.” His eyes fell back on her.
“What did he say?”
“He’s started keeping an eye on everything. Everything is going just like we envisioned. It’s only been a little over a week, but he hasn’t had to charge into any fights yet. The police seem to be keeping everything safe.” Ethan paused for a moment. “He’ll be making contact with Villanueva soon to let him know that he’ll be taking over for me. Villanueva is getting some backlash from the press conference he did a couple of weeks ago, but he should still win the election in a landslide.”
“That’s good.”
“Jonathan called me today. He said that he’s arranged the funeral. Oliver’s parents won’t have to pay a penny. He’s going to make sure that they are financially taken care of for the rest of their lives.”
“He would have appreciated that.”
“He deserves at least that much.”
“So what happens now?”
“We’re going to stay out at sea for a couple of weeks at the least. Maybe more. A month at most. Let things die down a little. Then we’ll head out to Govan Cove.”
“And you’ll leave right away?”
Ethan nodded. “There’s a small town there. It’s a safe place. I own a house there on the cliff. The whole place is disconnected from the world and nobody there will recognize you.”
“What will you do while we’re at sea?”
“Rest. Make the most out of the time we have together.”
“Rest…that sounds good to me.” Katrina took a deep breath as she looked back out at the ocean. “Do you know where we are?”
“Sort of.”
Slowly, Katrina’s hand came on top of his. “Are we lost?”
Ethan looked down at her hand before slowly looking into her pretty eyes. A slight smile was there now and after a long moment a smirk came onto Ethan’s face. “Do you want to be?”
Her smile grew.
***
His office lights were low. As Villanueva looked over his paperwork in the empty room, he took a deep breath. The elections were nearly upon him, but he knew the outcome already. And once they were over, his true purpose would finally begin.
Something slowly came over him. Hearing his phone ring, Villanueva picked it up. But his instincts told him who it was before he touched the receiver. Slowly, he put the phone to his ear and waited for the voice to come out.
“Ethan’s successor is back in the city. And he has begun his mission.”
Villanueva’s voice was different. It was not his own. It was darker. “I know. He won’t be a problem. He is nothing compared to Ethan.”
“He was trained by him.”
“But he is not him. When the time comes, he will be eliminated.”
“Make sure he is.”
The line went dead. He listened to the static for a few moments. The phone left Villanueva’s ear, but as it did, something happened…
His eyes turned red.
Ethan’s Story Will Conclude In:
Dark Guardian:
Legends
Coming November 10, 2017
Thank You For Reading! Please Enjoy This Excerpt From
Dark Guardian: Legends
Your Friend,
Ammar
Excerpt from Dark Guardian: Legends
Wearing The Guardian’s full uniform, William quickly aimed his wrist cable and fired off the grapple without hesitating. It quietly shot up, cut through the air, and hooked onto a ledge right below the edge of the rooftop. Letting go of the ledge he was holding, his full weight came onto the cable. It quietly pulled him up to the hook without faltering.
Grabbing a hold of it with his gloved hand, he swiftly and expertly reloaded his wrist cable while hanging on the ledge with just one hand. He knew that he would likely need it again once the fighting began.
William took a deep breath. Then another. Beads of sweat formed on his face and were soaked up by his mask. This was it. He knew that up there, he would face one of Daken’s soldiers. And something told him that this man would not go down as easily as the other one.
In one quick move, he hurled himself over the edge, and landed crouched down on the rooftop. No sooner did he land that every guard and prisoners’ eyes were on him. In the next instant, William was facing the openings of six barrels.
But his masked eyes were on the leader.
On all of the guards’ faces were the expressions of fear and determination. By the way they held their guns, William knew that they were no street thugs. They were mercenaries trained to kill. None of them would go down as easily as the punks William was used to dealing with. Silently and quickly, William registered what each of their aims and lines-of-sight were. But his eyes stayed on the leader’s face. William saw that his main foe’s sadistic eyes held no surprise or fear. Instead, a slight smile formed on the edges of his lips.
The leader’s sharp ears picked up a dim sound. It came from the rooftop across the street. It was so faint that no other man heard it. It was followed by another sound. And then a third.
Before he digested what was happening, three canisters loudly crashed on the rooftop in quick succession of one another. Just as everyone’s eyes came onto them, something happened.
They exploded.
The entire rooftop was quickly covered in thick smoke. In the blink of an eye, the standoff erupted into a battle. Instinctively, every guard blindly fired at where The Guardian had stood moments before. Their gunfire roared in the night sky and their guns dimly lit up the thick
smoke. But when their bullets reached their destination, all they found was an empty space.
The Guardian was already on the move. Knowing where the gunmen’s line-of-sights were aimed, he avoided the streams of bullets before they were even fired off. Stream of bullets came within inches of him—close enough for him to feel them—but none touched him. Through the thick smoke, he raced at top speed, his footsteps drowned out by the gunfire. William could not see the gunman through the smog, but knew where they were.
William was on the first mercenary in an instant. Charging right into him, The Guardian threw his shoulder right into the man’s stomach and knocked the guard onto his back. The guard lost his rifle as the wind was knocked out of him. His knee on the guard’s chest, William raised his powerful fist and brought it down upon his opponent. It crashed into his skull with a blow powerful enough to take a man’s senses away. With the second blow, the guard was out cold.
The bullets ended. None of the guards could fire without the risk of hitting their own comrades. William heard the other men calling out to one another as they tried to find him through the dense fog. But it was to no avail. The Guardian rose to his feet as he sprinted towards the next guard. Still shrouded in smoke, the mercenary did not see him until William was nearly upon him.
Seeing his charging opponent, the guard tried to gun William down. But before he could take aim The Guardian grabbed his wrist and pointed the weapon towards the dark skies. The roar of the gunfire was deafening. But that did not bother William. His open palm connected with the man’s neck, forcing him to take a step back as he momentarily lost his senses. William followed through by grabbing the man by his head, and smashing his face into his knee. The unconscious man was subsequently dropped to the floor.
Darting through the smoke, William leapt into the air and found his next opponent. Sensing William’s presence, he swiftly turned around. But it was too late. While in mid-air, William twisted his body and his boot smashed into his opponent’s face, sending him staggering backwards, as he spat out blood.
