It was true. This was real. It was all real. We had fallen for Atlas’ distraction. He’d played us beautifully.
I read the screen one last time before closing my eyes and crying.
HOURS AFTER DEATH OF PRESIDENT, TWO NUKES SET OFF IN NEW YORK CITY AND LOS ANGELES. MILLIONS DEAD. LEGION OF RICHTER CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY.
55
ULTIMATUM
I TOOK A DEEP BREATH. I always got nervous in front of cameras.
“You ready for this?” Samantha said, her finger on the record button.
I nodded.
“Rolling,” she said.
Doug clicked a button on his recorder. “Speed.”
Drew was holding the boom pole, a microphone attached to the end of it.
“Whenever you’re ready,” Samantha said. “You’ll do fine,” she added in my head.
I smiled at her and took one more deep breath.
“Hello. My name is Kane Andrews, also known as the superhero Tempest. As you may know, Atlas and his Legion of Richter have taken many millions of lives. He and his people think that they can take over, ruling with fear and anarchy. They think they can do whatever they want, and can kill whoever stands in their way. I’m here to tell you that they can’t. I’m here to tell you that they’re wrong. My name is Kane Andrews, and I am not alone. I’m here to tell you that there is no reason to be afraid. We will fight back against Atlas. We will win. They will not destroy us.
“If you stand with me, we can destroy Atlas and the Legion of Richter. I’ve killed Richter once, and I can kill him again. This time, I need your help. If you want to join the fight against Atlas, come to Dallas, Texas. Dallas is a safe haven for all. No one will be turned away, and we will protect the city at all costs.
“And to Atlas, who I know is watching this, be afraid. This will not be as easy as you thought. We will not go down without a fight.
“My name is Kane Andrews, also known as the superhero Tempest. This is my ultimatum.”
56
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
LOREN COULDN’T BELIEVE the events of the day. She was lying on the couch in her office inside the top-secret STF underground base. Her new home, really. No way was it safe enough to go back to her apartment in Washington. Besides, she had too much work to do.
There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” she said as she sat up on her couch.
The door opened and in walked Agent Wells, her new right hand after York’s death in the attack on the STF compound. “Just letting you know that this base is now officially under STF command. We’ve put up the new logo on everything,” he said with a smile as he rubbed his hand over his slicked-back hair, making sure everything stayed in its place.
Director Loren smiled and nodded. “Good. Thank you.”
This was now officially her domain. It had once been used by the CIA, but they had transferred all power and resources to the STF. In a way, Loren was now the most powerful human on the planet. She had all the resources she needed to figure out a way to destroy the Supers once and for all.
“What’s our next move, ma’am?” Agent Wells asked.
Loren smirked and chuckled as she thought of it. “Right now, Wells, take the rest of the day off.”
Agent Wells looked at her, confused. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I don’t understand.”
“This base isn’t fully operational yet. We’re still bringing our people in from the field. It’ll be another day or two before the real work begins. Until then, get some rest. You’re going to need it.”
Agent Wells smiled and began backing out of the room. “Of course, ma’am. You’re right. I’ll talk to you in the morning, then. If you need anything, just let me know.”
“I will,” Loren said.
Agent Wells exited the room, shutting the door behind him.
Loren was once again alone in her new office. She would get some rest too. As much as she could get. Because once her new STF base was running at maximum capacity, she would get no sleep at all. She’d be working 24/7, deep underground, until she was ready. All the while the Supers would be fighting above her in their trivial war, weakening each other. She would hide away, biding her time, and once they were weak—she’d strike. Finishing them all for good.
Loren lay back down on her couch and closed her eyes with a smile on her face. She would sleep well. Perhaps her best sleep ever, because she’d sleep knowing that it wouldn’t be long before her plan was set in motion. It wouldn’t be long until all the Supers were eradicated, now and forever.
Director Loren of the Super Task Force fell asleep as a human for the last time.
THE WAR BEGINS
Book Three, The War of the Supers, releases this winter.
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ALSO BY LOGAN RUTHERFORD
The Mortis Desolation:
Mortis
Retaliation
The First Superhero:
The Second Super
The Siege of the Supers
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Logan Rutherford is a twenty year old author living in Texas. If you really want to get to know him, contact him at any of the places below. (Warning: His twitter is filled with dumb jokes and retweets of entertainment news and anything good anybody has ever said about him.)
@loganrutherford
loganwrites
www.authorloganrutherford.com
[email protected]
Table of Contents
Copyright
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Part One: The Return of Tempest
1. The Man at the Door
2. Crash Landing
3. Homecoming
4. Q&A
5. Floor 24
6. Comeback
7. Teamwork
8. Timber
9. The Top of the Tower
10. Ghosts
Part Two: The Rise of a Hero
11. Riptide
12. The Statue
13. The First Day
14. S&T, LLC
15. Weak Secrets
16. Party Crashers 2.0
17. Theories
18. Speech Therapy
19. Second Chances
20. Enhanced Interrogation
21. Shocking Revelations
22. Standoff
23. Heavy Silence
24. The Docks
25. Purple Venus
26. The Name of a Hero
27. Welcome to the STF
28. Doctors Orders
29. Familiar Voices
30. Brawl
31. Promises
32. Brainstorms
33. Friendly Fighting
34. Pseudonyms
35. Enter the Dome
36. The First Battle
37. Escape
38. The Name of the Enemy
Part Three: The Siege of the Supers
39. Waking Up
40. Detour
41. Hello World
42. Only the Beginning
43. Called Out
44. Introductions
45. Full Circle
46. Clouded Judgment
47. The Siege Begins
48. Tag Team
49. Home Field Disadvantage
50. Red Steps
51. Regroup
52. The Siege of Dallas
53. Reinforcements
54. Just the Beginning
55. Ultimatum
56. Down but Not Out
The War Begins
Mailing List = Free Stuff
Also by Logan Rutherford
About the Author
The First Superhero (Book 2): The Siege of the Supers Page 19
