The Rise of Dark Flame

by Damien Benoit-Ledoux

  “That’s weird,” Ron said. “I’d think they’d want to know what happened to their intellectual property.”

  Ana Maria smiled. “That’s modern day thought. This was the sixties, and I was a Hispanic woman who needed the money…people didn’t care.”

  “Yikes,” Quinn said, feeling uncomfortable at the discrimination.

  “To bring this story home for now, as my abilities unfolded and developed, I recognized the awesome power I wielded could not fall into the wrong hands. I decided never to reveal my potential to the world, hoping to end The Order’s interest in Project Genesis. My military training allowed me to disappear and assume a new identity, one I guarded closely to prevent The Order from reacquiring me and resuming Project Genesis. I moved around a lot and I have connections that allow me to stay one-step ahead of the system. As such, I change my identity and occupation every ten years.”

  “Why have you chosen to come forward now?” Ron asked.

  Ana Maria relaxed a little and answered him plainly. “I chose to remain silent all these years because I couldn’t let The Order know they succeeded. Could you imagine how different the history of the world would be if they created an army of super soldiers in the 1960s and 70s? What that could have done to the Arms Race or the Cold War? Let’s not forget the insufficient technologies available to that decade; imagine what kind of horrid, warped experiments would’ve turned out? How many super monstrosities would they have created and not have been able to subdue if they lost control?”

  “But you survived,” Stephanie chimed in.

  “A one in a million shot, believe me. It wasn’t until after I woke up in the morgue that I realized I was discarded as a failure.”

  “They figured out a way to control that army, now,” Quinn said.

  “What do you mean?”

  Quinn tapped the side of his neck with his left hand. “They have some kind of micro bug implant thing they connect to the brainstem.”

  “How do you know this?” Ana Maria asked, frowning.

  “They tried to put one in me through my ear when I was unconscious up in Rangeley, but I exploded like I did earlier this evening and stopped them.”

  “And what do these micro bugs do?”

  “I’m not entirely sure. Mother Superior believed it would help The Order control their super soldiers. I don’t know what level of control they’re talking about, though; like if it’s suggestion or following orders to the letter.”

  “I see.”

  “But we don’t have to worry about that until they’re ready to make new soldiers.”

  Ana Maria glanced at Quinn with a shocked expression. “When they’re ready? Quinn, we’re already too late. The Order has already resurrected the program, thanks to you and Blake.”

  He sighed and shook his head. “I wish I understood orgone better; like what it is that gives us our super powers.”

  “Do you like Star Wars?” Ana Maria asked.

  Quinn and Ron’s faces lit up. “Do I ever. I think it’s really cool.”

  “Great. So, this is where it’s going to seem tacky.”

  Quinn chuckled. “Okay.”

  “The Force in Star Wars is like orgone energy in real life, but not connected to lifeforms in human cells.”

  “So, no Midichlorians?” Ron asked.

  “Right, no lazy script writing here,” Ana Maria answered, smiling.

  “Thank goodness,” he replied.

  Quinn piped up next. “You mean, I should feel it flowing through me and around me or whatever Ben Kenobi said to Luke Skywalker?”

  “Not quite, but you’re on the right track. How much did Victor tell you about orgone energy?”

  “Not much really, everything we’ve learned came from Wikipedia on the Internet.

  Ana Maria rolled her eyes. “So, not much. However, there’s enough information about orgone on the Internet to tip you off but if you weren’t looking for it I understand how you would have missed it.”

  Quinn looked at her intently. “Missed what?”

  “If you think about the orgone energy accumulator units Dr. Reich built to channel and charge objects with orgone, you can then understand how orgone is everywhere.”

  Quinn thought for a moment. “Is that why when I go back into one of the reactors I can feel it around me?”

  “Exactly. What you haven’t learned is how to tune in to the orgone energy around you.”

  “Huh, I never thought of that,” Ron commented.

  Quinn sat up. “You’re telling me there’s orgone energy in this room right now?”

  “Yes. Well before you and me—two orgone-powered beings—were even in this room, orgone energy was present.”

  “Will you teach me?” Quinn asked, his eyes hopeful.

  “If you swear on your life that Blue Spekter is honorable and noble, then yes. I’ll need your help to stop Victor, The Order, and any super-soldiers he creates.”

  “I swear,” Quinn quickly answered.

  “You’re gambling on the fact that he doesn’t know or have the information you do about orgone energy,” Ron interjected.

  Ana Maria looked at Ron and Stephanie. “Precisely. I have lived with it since 1965. They have not, and as history records, they put those experiments to bed shortly after they accidentally created me. They wouldn’t have the knowledge I’ve acquired through experience, through trial and error.

  “That also means you cannot let them get their hands on you,” Ron said. “That’s how super villains and superheroes work. You have something they want, and when they discover or find that out, they will stop at nothing to capture you.”

  “They’ve already tried to capture me several times and they can’t,” Quinn added.

  “Just because they haven’t found your weakness yet doesn’t mean you don’t have one,” Ana Maria said cautiously.

  Quinn frowned.

  “Unfortunately, Quinn, you have a…kryptonite, even if you don’t know what it is yet.”

  Quinn nodded, the Tylenol finally dulling the pain in his head. His body felt better, too.

  Ron cleared his throat. “So, um, not that I’m having a bad time strategizing and talking about beating the bad guys, but it’s late and we need to get you home…your dads must be freaking out.” Ron checked his watch.

  “They’re not home,” Quinn answered. “They’re at a function in Portland and they got a hotel for the night. I still need to get home, though.”

  “It seems luck is on your side once again,” Ron said. “Don’t forget what we talked about before tonight; I think your dads should learn about your alter ego sooner rather than later.”

  “I agree, I don’t like keeping secrets in families.” Stephanie added.

  They looked at Ana Maria, who shrugged. “I’m not sure I have an opinion about your family knowing your secret identity.”

  He smiled and nodded at his teacher. “Okay, I’ll keep thinking about it. Thanks for rescuing me.”

  “It was nice to meet you,” Stephanie said, extending her hand toward Quinn as they stood.

  “Same here.” He shook her hand.

  Ana Maria stepped in and shook the St. Germain’s hands as well. “Here’s my card, should you decide to call me.” She handed one to Ron and Quinn, who pocketed it with his cell phone.

  “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us,” Stephanie chimed in, smiling at her husband, who winked at her.

  “It’s an honor and a great responsibility to know the truth behind Blue Spekter,” he answered, putting his left arm around Stephanie’s shoulders. Then, he shook Quinn’s hand. “You’re sure you’re okay to drive home?”

  “Yeah, thanks. I’m gonna head home, shower, and crash. I’m wiped.” My gym bag…what did I do with it? Oh right, I stashed it under a bush. Hopefully it’s still there.

  “Okay, drive safe. See you on Monday in school.”

  Quinn nodded, and they escorted him to the door. After waving goodbye, he turned and faced Goodwin Park for a momen
t.

  “I’ll see you soon, Quinn. We have much to discuss,” Ana Maria said. She extended her hand toward him and he shook it.

  “I look forward to it. It’s nice to have more people on my side.”

  “Your side?” she asked, slightly amused.

  “The side of the good guys, like Superman or Batman. Not the side Blake’s on, not the side Victor’s seduced him to.”

  “Ah, yes, Blake,” she said, her voice distraught.

  “Something I should know?”

  She sighed and looked at him. “Victor has lost control of your friend, but he doesn’t realize it yet.”

  10 | Unpredictable and More Dangerous

  Victor

  “We have a problem,” Victor said, approaching Dr. Madison’s workstation. His voice sounded hoarse.

  “And what is that?” she asked, glancing up at him and lowering the file folder she held in her hand. Despite The Order’s advanced technology, Dr. Madison preferred to read her reports on paper instead of a digital screen. “Do you have a sore throat?”

  “I do now,” Victor snapped, coughing as he spoke. He took a deep breath and relaxed. “Dark Flame attacked me and I couldn’t shut him down.”

  “Did you say…”

  Victor waved his hand and cut her off. “Yes, I said ‘freeze asset one.’ He just looked at me like I was crazy.”

  She blinked, then shrugged. “I was rushed…it was the first iteration of the prototype that Mother Superior had me install in him.”

  Victor wildly gestured with his hands and arms with frustration as he spoke. “On top of that, Radoslav reported he showed increased signs of uninhibited hostility and aggression during their field trip to Boston. If we’ve lost control of him, we’re fucked; the city is fucked, and the planet is fucked, Dr. Madison. We need to accelerate Project Genesis II, immediately.”

  Dr. Madison sighed. “So, you want me to rush another project as a band aid to a project we shouldn’t have rushed in the first place?”

  “Those two brats changed the Archimandrion’s priorities and I completely underestimated their abilities and powers.”

  She raised an eyebrow and wrinkled her face. “Is Quinn showing the same signs of aggression?”

  “No, not all. This new behavior manifests in Blake alone.”

  “Shit.” She tossed the file folder on the desk and thought for a moment. “If the control chip isn’t responding to verbal commands, then we’re not dealing with a simple malfunction. That might also explain his uninhabited aggression.”

  Victor took a deep breath and rubbed his temples with his hands. “So what else could happen if the chip malfunctions?”

  Dr. Madison looked thoughtfully at a chipped nail and sighed. “Honestly, I…”

  “You don’t know, do you?” Victor interjected.

  She frowned at him and shook her head. “No, Victor, I don’t. You know I had insufficient time to prepare for this.”

  Victor sighed. “Any theories, then?”

  “A malfunctioning chip runs the spectrum of possibilities. Nothing could happen, or he could become a zombie. Since he’s still with us, the latter hasn’t happened. Since his behavior is more erratic, I’d suspect his emotional processing has been compromised in some way. Perhaps even his moral center has been unexpectedly bypassed.”

  “You’re telling me Mother Superior may have created a loose cannon that’s walking around town now?” He turned and stared at a titanium chamber similar to the one they had tested Blake’s heat and fire powers in.

  “If the chip’s causing aggravation to his emotional state, then yes—and he could become extremely volatile.” Dr. Madison said flatly. “From what you’ve said, it seems there’s no telling what sets him off. Have you observed anything unusual with Blake recently?”

  Victor shook his head. “No, I…wait, yes!” He clapped his hands and spun around. “How did I miss it?” He paused and reflected on their conversations.

  “Well, what did you see?” Dr. Madison asked.

  “He appeared to be in pain. When I asked him about it, he said he had a tension headache and he kept rubbing the back of his head at the occipital bone. He looked pale and sweaty, like he had a fever. But, he also told me he had a first date, so I wrote it off as teenage nervousness.”

  “That would confirm something happened to the chip,” Dr. Madison concluded. “The question remains, what?”

  “I thought the chip didn’t activate until we turned it on?”

  Dr. Madison shook her head. “Oh no, they’re active the moment they’re anchored in place. Something damaged the chip and has caused it to malfunction. That explains the unpleasant symptoms he experienced.”

  “But that…that’s all gone now. I saw him before Boston and he was…cold.”

  “He felt cold to the touch?”

  “No, his aura, his presence, whatever you want to call it. He was cold and empty, like a piece of him was missing. This is all so obvious to me in hindsight.”

  “Then I’d venture to hypothesize my original theory is on target; that his emotional processing is compromised and anything could set him off. That makes him very dangerous, Victor.”

  “Yeah, well, I found that out the hard way.” Which means, none of this conversation changes what I came in here for.

  Victor folded his arms. “Accelerate Project Genesis II, immediately, Doctor. Move everything back to Rangeley. Get Arek and Miguel to help you. I’ll have the test subjects ready.”

  “Did you forget Rangeley is destroyed?” Dr. Madison asked.

  “Trust me, it will be ready soon.” he responded flatly. “But you’re right…for now, use the Androscoggin facility in Berlin. I don’t want Blake figuring out what we’re doing.”

  Dr. Madison sighed and shook her head. “Just so you know, the newer versions of the control chips—the ones Quinn didn’t destroy—will be much easier to diagnose. They’ll all be linked to the computer systems for vitals monitoring and other controls.

  “Very good, Doctor.” Victor answered. Then, he turned and walked out of the workroom.

  ❖

  Blake

  Blake walked across the park to the bench Ravone sat on.

  She looked up and smiled at him. “Well, hey there, handsome. Thought you might have stood me up.”

  Blake smiled and blushed a little. “Sorry, my hands were full and I couldn’t text. And of course, Darien caught me over there.”

  Wait, I did stand you up.

  “Yeah, I saw. I decided not to watch you boys get into a fight.”

  “We didn’t.”

  We did.

  “I’m impressed.”

  “I do have self-control, you know.” He handed her one of the pumpkin spice lattes. “For you.”

  “Thank you,” she said, smiling and reacting flirtatiously with her body language.

  Blake sat down and stared at his coffee. “I’m actually surprised at what Darien had to say.”

  “Oh?” Ravone said, sipping her latte.

  He looked at her. “I just found out that our dads are drinking buddies.”

  Ravone’s mouth dropped open and Blake recounted an abbreviated version of their conversation. She listened and didn’t pry, something Blake expected her to do. Instead, she respected his space and privacy.

  “Would you like to go for a walk?” Ravone asked, looking at him with an expression that conveyed attraction he had never seen from her before.

  He smiled. “Sure, let’s go.”

  They stood together, and Ravone took his free hand in hers.

  Blake’s eyes popped open as he grinned, feeling flattered and exhilarated at the same time. No one’s ever paid attention to me like this before…I think I like it.

  Behind him, children screamed as they played in the summer sun. Blake turned around, confused. It’s almost Thanksgiving, what the hell is going on?

  The screaming sounds shifted from play to horror.

  “Ravone, are you hearing this?”


  She didn’t answer.

  He turned around and found himself in the power plant in Boston. Stunned, he dropped the latte, but there was nothing in his hand.

  Women and children screamed in a cacophony of terrified echoes as gunfire rang out and bullets strafed across the room in every direction. Some bullets tore through his suspended body, but he felt no pain.

  How is this possible?

  Suddenly unable to move, Blake found himself helplessly staring into Big Boss’s eyes. The man menacingly smiled and spoke, his voice sounding as though it traveled through a metal tube. “These people are dying because of you!”

  Then, Big Boss stepped aside and Ralph, his father, stepped into view and snarled at him. “I always knew you’d be my biggest disappointment. How pathetic. You can’t even see how this is all your fault.”

  “Fuck you,” Blake spat. “I’m not the fucking super villain in this story.”

  Big Boss sneered and raised a pistol at Blake’s face and pulled the trigger.

  “Nooo!” Blake screamed, thrashing in his bed and ripping the top sheet and covers off his body in a frenzied panic.

  He awoke drenched in sweat and sat up with a start, out of breath and gasping for air.

  What the hell?

  Oh, I’m at home…in bed…damn, that was one hell of a freaking nightmare.

  After catching his breath, he reached over to his nightstand, grabbed the glass of water, and chugged several gulps. Setting the glass down, he wiped his face with his hands. He pulled his wet hands away from his face and realized he was soaking wet with sweat.

  Yuck.

  After a quick shower to rinse off, he climbed into the other side of his king-size bed and spent the next several hours tossing and turning, playing and replaying the scene from Boston and overthinking his aggression toward Victor.

  ❖

  “Hey, you’ve been skipping out on training,” Ira said as he entered the locker room where Blake changed into his uniform.

  Blake glanced at him. “Well, hello to you, too.”

  Ira chuckled. “Sorry, but I miss our workouts. It’s not every day you get to train with a superhuman.”

  Blake shrugged him off. “No offense, but I don’t need your workouts.”