Oh shit.
Blake spun around and stared into the familiar eyes of the man in the black suit.
“Hello, Blake,” the man said.
“Hello, Victor,” Blake responded. “What brings you to Portsmouth?” How did you know I wanted to talk with you? Or is this mere coincidence?
Victor scanned the menu and smiled. “Earl Grey tea, hot.”
Blake smirked. “This isn’t Star Trek.”
Victor tilted his head and smiled back. “No, it’s not, but I still like Earl Grey tea, and I’d like a cup of it please.”
Blake didn’t move. “You came all the way to Portsmouth for a cup of tea?”
Victor took a deep breath and smiled again. “Of course not. I came to speak with you. I’d like my tea to go please.”
Blake nodded, “I can’t talk right now. I’m working.”
Victor nodded at him. “Don’t worry, I know you’re busy right now. Perhaps we could talk later? How about we meet in Prescott Park fifteen minutes after your shift ends. It’s a public place, there will be people around, and you will have nothing to worry about. I only want to talk.”
“Fine,” Blake said.
“Great,” Victor responded. “Look for me on one of the public wooden piers. I’ll be alone on one of them.”
Blake nodded and turned around to prepare Victor’s tea. At the same time, his boss came out and started tinkering at the register.
Good, I won’t be alone in here with my back to Victor.
When Blake finished pouring the hot water, he dropped the Earl Grey tea bags into the paper to-go cup and fastened the lid. Then, he turned around and handed it to Victor.
“Two fifty,” Blake said.
Victor smiled and passed him a five-dollar bill.
“Keep the change,” Victor said. “See you at the park.” Then he took his tea cup and walked out of the cafe.
❖
Blake clocked out and headed for his bike. He pulled on his helmet and rolled the bike out the back door of the coffee shop. Then he peddled his way down Daniel Street against traffic and made his way over to Prescott Park. He spotted Victor’s black suit on the first pier, the pier he had seen Quinn waiting at. This time, however, Quinn wasn’t around.
Since Blake was early, he rode through the park, scanning its guests and visitors. Only two people stood out as odd to him. Each wore sunglasses, dark jeans, a polo shirt, and was reading a book. One was in direct line of sight with the pier, the other situated in the middle of the park, but still within line-of-sight with the pier.
Those must be his bodyguards, or his henchmen.
Blake turned around and peddled to the pier. When he arrived, he hopped off and walked his bike to the lookout.
Victor turned around and smiled, “Hello again, Blake,” he said.
Blake nodded, “Victor.”
When Blake arrived at the lookout area, he rested his bike against the wooden railing. Then he faced the water and stared across it with Victor.
“This never gets old,” Victor said. “It’s not the beach, but the harbor is beautiful, despite all the machinery over there.” He pointed at the shipyard.
Blake nodded, silently agreeing with the man. I couldn’t agree more, but the shipyard is part of the charm here.
“That castle thing over there is pretty cool, too,” Victor added, pointing to the far end of the shipyard. “Do you know what it is?”
“Sure, it’s the abandoned naval prison. Too much asbestos or something to tear it down.”
“Ah. Too bad, it would make a really cool hotel.”
“What do you want, Victor?” Blake asked, “You didn’t come down here to comment on local scenery or check up on me.”
“Actually, I did come to check on you. Occasionally, strange things happen in Rangeley and it’s my job to make sure the people who are affected by those strange things are okay. Are you okay?”
Blake looked at him, his brows furled in confusion. “Yes, I’m okay. Is that all?”
“Of course not,” Victor answered.
“Then what do you want?” Blake snapped, unsure of whether he wanted to continue this conversation or walk away. His desire to succeed where Quinn had given up motivated him to stay with Victor. Don’t be a fool, this is my chance to learn everything.
“Blake, I believe you and I have similar ambitions,” Victor said, “I can usually tell when someone shares my unique ideology.”
“Your what?” Blake said.
Victor smiled, “In other words, we think a lot alike. Specifically, your brand of justice matches mine to a T.”
How do you know that? Have you been spying on me? Do you know about the guys I burned? Blake hesitated to answer, unsure of what to say. He swallowed away his nervousness, “Go on.”
“The world is full of good people and bad people. Do you know what the problem with bad people is?” Victor asked, still staring out at the water.
“They do bad things,” Blake answered sarcastically.
Victor nodded. “Something like that. However, the world is not full of evil villains, Blake. The world is full of people with…unique perspectives.”
I’m listening, but what the hell are you talking about?
Victor smiled again, turning to face Blake. “I can tell by your face I’ve confused you. What I mean is, nobody wakes up in the morning and says, ‘I’m going to do evil things today.’ Nobody sits around their kitchen table and plots out the next evil scheme or the next evil thing they could do; life isn’t a movie. In reality, people make choices others regard as morally correct or morally reprehensible.”
“Okay.” Blake said, clearing his throat and the awkwardness he heard in his voice.
“It’s easy when you think about it in terms of comic books,” Victor said. “You like comic books, right?”
“Yes,” Blake stammered. How the hell did you know that?
“Take Batman. He’s a good guy, and most people regard him as the superhero who regularly fights evil enemies like the Joker, Two-face, or the Riddler. Those kinds of villains are made up, but they paint a picture of what most people think of when they think of bad or evil people, right?”
Blake nodded and turned, leaning his hip on the railing.
“In the world we live in, there is no Joker, Two-face, or Riddler, right?” Victor extended a hand to Blake, waiting for him to agree.
“I follow you,” Blake said.
“Take Saddam Hussein. Take Hitler. Intensely evil and villainous figures of history who committed atrocities in the name of…” Victor extended his hand again and waited for Blake to finish his sentence.
Blake shrugged, “Doing evil?”
“No,” Victor said. “Doing what they thought was right but the world found morally reprehensible. I guarantee that when those men and others like them woke up in the morning, the first question they did not ask themselves was ‘What evil thing can I do today?’ They woke up in the morning, had breakfast just like you and me, and then set out to figure out how they could accomplish the next step of their plan.”
“Are you trying to tell me those were good men?” Blake asked, suddenly feeling very skeptical of Victor. Maybe this is what Quinn is worried about.
Victor shook his head vehemently. “Absolutely not. In their twisted intentions, those men committed evil atrocities that go beyond the pale. They committed acts of violence, murder, genocide, and other unspeakable things against humanity and they needed to be punished. I think we agree on this point, do we not?”
Blake nodded, “We do.”
“Good.” Victor leaned on the railing and studied Blake for a moment. “What if I told you there was an organization that sought to punish so-called evil doers when governments like that of the United States failed to intervene or act responsibly for the moral good of the planet.”
“I would say that’s a pretty awesome organization,” Blake answered. “Why?”
“Imagine an organization that found people who got away with mu
rder, who got away with rape, or worse, got away with crimes against humanity on a massive or global scale. An autonomous organization that acted in the best interest of humanity and did whatever it took to make sure the men, women, and groups who committed those crimes received swift justice, the kind our American judicial system refuses to prescribe for such…criminals.”
Blake took a moment to process Victor’s words. He thought of the two men he dealt with on Four Tree Island who threatened the girls. He remembered the powerful feeling of satisfaction and justice he experienced when he burned them. That must be what Victor is talking about, stopping the criminals and making them pay…which is exactly what I want to do with my powers.
“You’ve got my attention,” Blake said.
“Good,” Victor said, smiling. “I knew we’d see eye to eye on this.”
Blake turned back to the churning water of the Piscataqua River and rested his elbows on the railing. “You still haven’t told me what this has to do with me.”
“Ah,” Victor said, “yes, let’s get to that part.” Victor also turned to the water and rested his elbows on the wooden railing. “How have you been feeling since you left Rangeley?” he asked.
Blake looked at him for a moment and then brought his eyes back to the river water. “I told you, I feel fine.”
“You haven’t felt anything unusual?” Victor asked.
“Was I supposed to?” Blake answered.
“I would think so,” Victor said flatly.
Holy shit, does he know? Does he know about our powers? Is he trying to recruit me into some weird army he controls?
“I like to think I’m a bit of a talent scout,” Victor continued. “When I see talent and potential, I go after it. One day, perhaps, you may join our organization and become a powerful asset.”
“An asset?” Blake said, the disgust clear in his voice
Victor smirked, “I’m sorry, I know asset sounds cold, harsh, and very military-like. Our agents are people, not disposable things. When someone agrees with our philosophy, we take a particular interest in mentoring that person and shaping their mind so they can help us execute justice where others often fail.”
Blake chuckled, “That sounds like a fancy way to say you want to brainwash me into serving you.”
Victor laughed out loud, surprising Blake. “Brainwashing you would serve no purpose,” Victor said, his tone changing and becoming serious. “You have a mind with potential and it is a mind waiting to grow and be shaped. Others with limited minds only see two steps in front of themselves and they need…stronger conditioning…because they don’t understand how they should behave or think. You already think like us, and we want to help you grow.”
“When?” Blake asked.
“As soon as possible,” Victor answered.
“Well, I have two more years of high school to complete and then I’m supposed to go to college, but…”
“You can still do those things,” Victor said. “In fact, it’s best that you do those very normal things that will not look suspicious to anyone else.”
He’s talking about Quinn.
Blake stared at Victor. “Am I alone in this little adventure quest of yours? Or are you talking to someone else?”
Victor smiled, “You’re alone in this.”
“I see,” Blake answered. He doesn’t want Quinn involved…which is probably for the best because Quinn wouldn’t fit in here. He wouldn’t agree with this kind of justice.
“It’s not that we don’t want to include your best friend,” Victor said, his voice tentative, “but we do not believe Quinn appreciates our point of view.” Victor paused, leaving his sentence hanging in the air for Blake to pick up.
Blake nodded. “You’re right. Quinn doesn’t think like us. All he wants to do is round up the criminals and let the justice system deal with them.”
“Round up the criminals?” Victor asked, smiling. “Does he want to be a police officer?”
Shit.
Blake realized Victor had set him up and he had almost revealed their super power status to Victor.
You can fix this.
“No,” Blake answered. “But we do read a lot of comics and we often talk about superheroes and super villains, so I know what Quinn would do.”
“I see,” Victor said, smiling. “Would you be comfortable keeping this little secret from Quinn?” Victor asked. “The organization I work for, that you could work for, doesn’t exist as far as anyone else is concerned. In fact, if you turn my offer down, I’ll have to make sure you realize we don’t exist.”
“Is that a threat?” Blake asked.
“Of course not,” Victor answered, chuckling. “Just a reality, something I need to protect. Basically, we would part ways and you would never see me again.”
“Even if we went camping in Rangeley again?” Blake asked sarcastically.
Victor met his sarcasm with a smile. “I can’t predict the future, Blake. But I can predict you will be a strong asset to this organization. You will help us become more powerful than ever before.”
Oh my gosh, he knows. He knows we have powers. Don’t say anything, make him say it first. Don’t volunteer this shit.
“However,” Victor said, “I don’t think this will be a problem. I think you’re looking for a real opportunity to make a difference in the world, something you may not be able to do today, but something you can do with time as you learn. I’m willing to help mentor you and I have a great team of individuals who can help you as well. Think about this offer carefully, Blake. We know your parents are less than supportive and we would take care of everything for you.”
“But not Quinn,” Blake asked flatly.
“No,” Victor answered, shaking his head. “At least, not yet. Don’t get me wrong, Quinn’s heart is in the right place—like so many other people who believe in the justice systems of the world’s dominant governments. But in reality, there are always people who slip through the cracks. Those are the folks we go after.”
“How come I never hear about this on the news?” Blake asked.
“Simple. It takes a lot of skillful planning and methodical execution. Besides, an autonomous organization like ours would attract unwanted attention and become a public spectacle if it were discovered. That’s why we keep a low profile and select our members carefully. You’ll be screened. My invitation does not guarantee you a spot.”
“But if I say no,” Blake answered, “you’ll do what?”
“We’ll part ways and I’ll see to it you never remember me.”
“That still sounds like a threat.”
“It’s not, I promise. We won’t hurt you.”
“What are you going to do? Wipe my memory like ‘Men in Black’?” Blake asked.
“Something like that,” Victor said. When his face didn’t move, Blake knew the man wasn’t kidding.
“And Quinn won’t get hurt?” Blake asked.
“Of course not,” Victor said. “Why would he get hurt? Is he a criminal mastermind that needs to be brought to justice?”
Blake laughed out loud. “No, of course not.”
“Alright then. Quinn will be safe.”
Blake nodded, “Okay, I’m in. I’ll think about it for a few days, but I don’t think I’ll change my mind.”
“That’s excellent news,” Victor said.
“How will I contact you?” Blake asked.
“You won’t. I’ll contact you,” Victor said.
“That doesn’t sound ominous or anything.”
Victor chuckled, “I suppose it does. Just remember I have a lot to protect, so it’s in my best interest to only share the information you need. Okay?”
Blake nodded, “Okay.”
“Have a great rest of the day,” Victor said, extending his hand to Blake. They shook hands and then Victor walked back to Prescott Park.
Blake turned and rested his backside on the railing. The two plainclothes security guards were still there, and when Victor walked passe
d they closed their books and followed him.
He smiled as a feeling of satisfaction grew inside him. I knew Victor would have the answers I needed, and as it turns out, this little chat was exactly what I needed. Now I have the chance to learn more about what happened to us and what I can do with my powers while Quinn is playing the hero. I just hope he comes around and joins us, soon.
❖
The End of this Book
Book 2: Unidentified Phenomenon
2-1 | A Whole New World
Quinn
QUINN MCALESTER SAT AT HIS usual table in the school library, his eyes inextricably focused on his crush, Keegan Miller. The young man effortlessly swaggered through the hallway on the other side of the library’s glass wall. The sight of him made Quinn’s heart flip-flop with butterflies. He sighed and stared, lost in Keegan’s wavy, dirty-blonde hair, the tie-dye shirt sporting the high school’s Clippers logo, and his faded, torn blue jeans…until Keegan looked at Quinn and winked at him.
Awkward! Quinn thought, sitting up suddenly and clumsily waving back. His palms sweat when Keegan turned abruptly and entered the library. All around him, the lights above flickered.
Oh my gosh, he’s going to walk over here and talk to me. Act normal, act normal! And calm down so the lights don’t blow…
The past several weeks after Quinn and his best friend, Blake Hargreaves, returned from their mysterious adventure at the Orgone Facility in Rangeley, Maine—the place that granted them super powers—proved lucky for Quinn. Keegan, already out of the closet and living his truth, had taken a new interest in him that fueled Quinn’s already intense crush on Keegan.
Although Blake and his closest friends Ravone Timber and Loren Davis encouraged him to be honest with Keegan, Quinn refused to come out of the closet because the school bullies like Darien James and his cronies Kyle and Tony relentlessly teased him whenever they could.
The lights stopped flickering.
“What’s up, McAlester? You looked lonely and bored in here,” Keegan said, setting his backpack down on the table across from Quinn.
Oh, where to begin…
Quinn and Blake had been secretly working with their comic-book loving mentor, Mr. St. Germain, in hopes of understanding their super powers more and developing greater control over them. They had also been researching orgone energy—a difficult topic to research—and anything they could find about Wilhelm Reich—the scientist who coined the pseudo-science around the enigmatic energy. Though their efforts were continually thwarted by a general lack of information because people had mostly focused on the psychological implications of his work, the boys knew he had accidentally developed a largely untapped science that someone discovered held a power worth harnessing. At least, that was their working theory since the lethal exposure to orgone energy several weeks ago that gave them incredible abilities.
The Guardians Omnibus Page 18
