The Stone of Azuria: The Ardent Saga

by Nathan Howe

  Petrice descended into the building. Now late enough in the morning that many of the other heroes were here.

  The top floor housed Invincible, his office. Plus a large meeting room, that most used to talk to the other members here. Invincible spent his time split between here and the main headquarters. A busy role, taking up his time.

  Petrice walked the large main hallway. When she arrived in the waiting room for Invincible's office, she went to his secretary, Janice, and asked to tell Invincible she was here. Then Petrice walked over to one of the couches. Gravitation Woman sat in her hero uniform, mostly pink and with hints of black, it offset her shoulder length blond hair and her stern, angular face, "Morning Petrice," she said. She glanced down, with a frown. Bags were under her eyes, and unkempt not her norm.

  "Heidi," Petrice said using her real name. Many of the heroes preferred not to say code names with each other. Invincible insisted on it. Petrice worked briefly with an Ardent who went to the extreme of hiding his real name from the Hero Coalition completely, Burning. He, however, was a rarity.

  Heidi shifted to face Petrice who had sat on the right side of the couch. "Petrice, I wanted to say I'm sorry." She tilted her head.

  "It's not your fault," Petrice said, and it wasn't. They couldn't be everywhere.

  "It's just I was in the area right before. I just didn't. . ."

  Petrice patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure Invincible will figure out who took him and we'll expose him."

  Heidi nodded. She smiled shyly.

  The large oak doors from Invincible's office burst open, Heidi stood to enter. Invincible stood there, his towering figure, close to seven feet tall and muscular. His hair shaggy hung to his chin, out of place in the suit that he wore. A drastic shift from his barely there hero uniform of combat boots and a kilt. "You too Mortal," he said with a deep husky voice.

  Petrice stood and followed Heidi into the large office. An impressive desk with a view of the midtown sat in the center. As Petrice passed her boss, he asked, "How is your cousin?"

  "Well, from what I can tell, but I'm not sure what is going on with him."

  "So sad," he said. "I hope he makes it out. Cynosure Dynamics took him right?"

  "Yes, sir."

  Invincible nodded. "If anyone can bring someone back it's Cynosure Dynamics." He then gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk. "I have several heroes out scanning the city for Stone Rush."

  "I haven't been able to contact my brother. No hint of him."

  Invincible leaned back in his chair. "That isn't a good sign. None of the other psychics in Cynosure haven't either. It troubles me. But we won't rest until we locate him. Dead or alive."

  Petrice didn't want to think about it, so she reached out again for David. No sign of him.

  Invincible eyed at Heidi, "You didn't notice anything on your patrol last night?"

  Heidi paused. Her face sunk. "I'm sorry. Nothing stands out. A few thugs that I held on the other side of campus otherwise an eerily quiet night for me."

  "Hmm," Invincible said. "That might be something. The hooligans are usually out on Friday's. And I'm receiving reports of rotting flesh." He moved to Heidi. "You didn't smell that or see Zombies? I've heard random reports of that as well."

  A buzz sounded from Invincible's phone, he answered, "Send him in."

  The doors creaked open, and Rhett walked in. Yet another large man, but not nearly the size of Invincible, but he dwarfed most people, he kept his blond hair short, and had his sunglass on top of the head. He never went anywhere without them, at least not that Petrice saw. "Valiant Rush, thanks for coming. I'm putting you in charge of this investigation of Stone Rush."

  "You sure? What about Violet?" Valiant Rush asked. "I did train him. I might be too close."

  "No, you're perfect because of that. Petrice?"

  She glanced at Rhett, the right person for the job. He was a tough worker and never gave up. "If anyone can solve this it's you," she said.

  "I'll do it. How big a team do I get?"

  "As many as you demand without messing up the regular patrols? I'll let inform Violet. I'm sure part of her will be pissed, but she has several ongoing cases as it is."

  "Can I be a part of it?" Heidi asked standing up.

  Rhett looked to Invincible who nodded. "Be my guest," Rhett said. "I'll talk to a few others who are here and make calls."

  Invincible handed him a large folder. "This is what we have. I talked to the local police. Went over it. If you want my thoughts don't hesitate."

  "Roger that." Rhett left the office. Petrice and Heidi followed him out.

  Chapter Three

  Spector

  Across town in a rundown warehouse that rested beside the Superior River not far from Djinn Park, Spector sat in his throne. Or the chair he thought of as his throne, a chesterfield chair. In this worn down warehouse, it might as well be a throne.

  In the worst part of town, one that many heroes avoided, it made it perfect for Spector and the other villains of Cynosure. The villains and the heroes had an unwritten agreement, don't cause too much trouble here and we'll leave you alone.

  The wait was killing Spector, he wanted his prize. He had planned this out for months. This was just one of the many steps of it, and it was a large one. David Harden would be the one to take down his own family to wreak havoc on them while Spector achieved his ultimate goal.

  "Where the hell are they?" Spector asked no one in particular.

  Several of his low-level minions scattered about. One gawked at him and shrugged. "They uh haven't been gone that long uh, sir."

  Spector sprung from his throne stopping the minion in his tracks. "Did anyone ask you? Grant you permission to speak?"

  The short fat man shook in fear. He tried to be as small as possible. "Uh, sorry, boss. I uh didn't mean any offense." Shrinking more, soon he'd be crawling away in fear.

  Spector closed the gap between them. Even though Spector wasn't physically the most intimidating person, most feared him. "You didn't mean any offense. That makes everything fine and dandy."

  "Okay boss." The man slowly backed away not taking his eyes off the floor in front of Spector's feet.

  It wasn't enough. Spector ran a tight shop here. Everything had to be a certain way . Otherwise, he'd never earn his due, the respect of other Ardents. This imbecile demanded a lesson, they all did.

  The Netherworld called to Spector, begged him to be used, so he did. He released the darkness, pulling part of it to this realm, the glorious Netherworld and all the evil it held. Spector was a bridge between the realms he soaked it up feeling it through his whole body, then concentrating in his hands. Dark cloud substance formed around his fist. He fired at the idiot. Soon he was wrapped in darkness, in death. The Netherworld that fed Spector fed on those around him, killing them when he wanted.

  The rest of the workers did their best to ignore what happened. Pretending that Spector didn't kill a fellow worker with a flick of his finger. But they couldn't. "Let this be a lesson. Do not disappoint me."

  They nodded. A few of Spectors minions came over to remove the body. Spector went back to his throne.

  And it wasn't. His zombie minions from the Netherworld, that never disappointed him, pulling the unconscious David Harden into the warehouse.

  Chapter Four

  James

  Slowly James eye's unzipped. They shouldn't be opening. The last thing he remembered was that he jumped. Tried to kill himself. Maybe this is Heaven or Hell.

  The world focused around him, definitely not Heaven, a hospital. White walls with several monitors around him. Not his idea of a magical afterlife.

  He shouldn't be here, not alive. Petrice saved him. Just close enough to slow his dive. His body ached from head to toe. James tried to sit up, but halfway up he jerked back to the bed. They had him restrained.

  A woman in scrubs ran into the room. She looked different to James he saw the world differently than before. She stepped
up to the side of the bed. "Nice to see you finally awake, James," she said. She had lengthy auburn hair and a pleasant smile. "I'm Doctor Watson."

  "Why am I restrained?" James asked. It didn't make sense to him. Why would they do that? Was that normal at hospitals?

  She peered at him with a gentle smile. "Do you remember what got you here?"

  Vividly. "I tried to kill myself after my cousin was kidnapped and probably killed."

  "Okay, good, James. That is an excellent sign." Not good, whenever someone says that. "Part of the restraints is because of that. We don't want you to try again is all."

  "Part?" Again something bad.

  Doctor Watson smiled. "It's best left for Doctor Ramstein to tell you. He should be here any minute. He'll explain everything."

  A minute later a scruffy man walked into the room, with horned rim glasses, he carried a tablet in front of him. Doctor Ramstein walked to the other side of the bed, James followed him with his eyes. For the first time, he noticed his arm. Or what should be his arm, completely metal appendage attached itself to James' body?

  "What have you done?" James asked. It felt like his arm. This must be crazy advanced technology. What hospital was he in?

  Doctor Ramstein grunted. "I saved your life." James peeked at Doctor Watson. "Or, rather, my team here at Cynosure Dynamics did."

  James wasn't sure he agreed. "I wanted to die."

  "I understand. But now I've given you a reason to live. Without us, you'd have no right eye, no arm. You'd have been lucky to you even remember your own name. With us you're special."

  That was a lot to take in; James realized his body went through a lot of damage. And the latter part. What did he mean by that? Would he be an Ardent? James eyed the doctor quizzically.

  "When you leaped, Mortal did her best to save you. But it took a toll on your body inside and out. You lost your arm, it severed at the shoulder, and your eye. It was more than any normal hospital could handle, along with the blood loss. Just putting on the arm and eye wouldn't have been enough. We also had to inject you with nanobots."

  "Nanobots?"

  "Microscopic robots that are repair you as we speak. They also connect your body, and brain waves to the arm and eye. Allowing you to sense them, manipulate them as your own."

  James shook his head. He wasn't sure he understood the doctor. "Let me make sure I hear you right. You said tiny robots are inside of me. And they are keeping me alive and giving me mental control over what you attached to me."

  Doctor Ramstein nodded. "That about sums it up," Doctor Watson said.

  "Anything else?" James asked.

  "We aren't normally allowed to do this. Most of the knowledge we have on this type technology is from people outside the coalition. We examined the Mechajunks and modified their process. Many tests are required. But for now, rest. Soon your family will be able to visit," Doctor Ramstein said. "We'll loosen your restraints shortly. But don't exit the room. We are still monitoring you for any side effects, a few have shown up already, but don't be too worried."

  Don't be worried side effects aren't good. At least they aren't usually. James hoped he wasn't going to turn green or something.

  An orderly walked into the room to remove the restraints from James. The doctors stood off to the side, watching him and their tablets. With the restraints off, James shot up. Faster than normal. One second he was lying down, the next standing. "I thought that might be one of the side effects," doctor Ramstein said. "You have super reflexes like your cousin Super, uh Scott."

  "Super Strength?"

  "Unlikely. You might be stronger than before, but to the level that you'd be able to destroy a building isn't probable."

  James shrugged. "Okay."

  "Please be careful James," Doctor Watson said. "This is an untested procedure. Each person responds differently to body modifications. It will be awhile before we understand completely how you will respond."

  The doctors walked to the door in the room, they walked slower, everything around him did. He was watching the world in slow motion. Freaky. It went back to normal.

  Doctor Ramstein paused at the door when he saw James' face. "Everything all right?"

  "For a second there everything was moving slower around me," James said.

  "That's another side effect, related to your super reflexes. You are moving faster than us so you will see us moving slower, when in reality, you are processing it and moving faster."

  "Wicked," James said with a large smile.

  "Wicked, indeed, Mr. Harden," Doctor Ramstein replied.

  Later that day after visits from most of his family, the doctors came back to check in on him. They had him hooked up to so many machines, recording his every move. Nothing would slip past them. At least James was certain it wouldn't. Once satisfied they told him they would want to test him more the next day.

  Being holed up in this room with only his thoughts wasn't good. At least Petrice was leaving him alone this time. She apologized over and over again for violating his head. But also said she'd do it again. Anything to keep him alive she said.

  Part of James was happy she cared and saved his life. He was an Ardent now, at least kind of. The nanobots and the new eye and arm made him special. He might join the Hero Coalition and be a hero with the midtown team. That had always been a dream of his. But it wasn't a reality, being normal as he was. Now Cynosure Dynamics made him special. Tomorrow he just might learn how much. James smiled at the thought of that and drifted into nothingness for the night, his body fatigued from the day.

  "Wake up." James rolled over, next to the bed Doctor Ramstein stood his face with a sly grin. "Are you ready? The board approved to let you go into testing by the Ardents here. They reviewed the data we gave them they want to see your full potential. The nanobots worked faster than anticipated, one hundred percent."

  That can't be. Only a few days passed since James leaped and they didn't employ any powers to heal him. Even if they had, it still shouldn't have been this fast. But he did feel great, the best ever really. "So what is the plan doctor?"

  "Follow me."

  Doctor Ramstein led James out of the room for the first time. The rest of the hospital floor was sterile and stark white. With very few people around. One woman sat behind a counter, while a few other people walked around, the doors closed on the rooms. "How many people are here?"

  "A few, Ardents hurt fighting," Doctor Ramstein said depressingly. "Too many, most will be fine. But it doesn't make it any better."

  James nodded. It doesn't. Getting hurt because a person with powers wanted more or just to cause others pain wasn't right. It was why he wanted to be a hero. To aid in the battle of evil or uninformed Ardents hurting people. To save David.

  They paused in front of the elevators. They stood in silence while James tried to think about the test that they might do. David and Petrice never told him much about the training and testing they do here at the main headquarters in downtown. They didn't say much about being an Ardent. They kept it to themselves, James hated being left out. They had a club, and he wasn't invented. He was now.

  "How high up are we?" James asked. The wait for the elevator to arrive was the longest he'd ever experienced. "This is taking forever."

  "The hospital takes up the top few levels," doctor Ramstein said. That meant they were on the hundredth or higher.

  The ride down was even worse. James and the doctor traveled to the sub-basement several stories below ground. Once they arrived, James exploded out of the elevator, cramped and uncomfortable. James was rearing for the testing.

  James stood in a giant arena. Larger than any stadium he'd ever seen, so large he couldn't see the other side, "Good luck," doctor Ramstein said from behind him. He hadn't left the elevator.

  "You're not coming?"

  "Afraid not," he said. "This area is for Ardents only."

  Chapter Five

  Petrice

  Across town Petrice still fretted over James and the trip last n
ight to see him. He thanked her for saving him, but part of him wasn't happy. It worried her. Petrice promised herself that she'd check in on him later today and make sure he's all right.

  Petrice left her apartment in midtown, not far from the Hero Coalition headquarters there, when her communication device, a special cell phone, highly encrypted, went off. She quickly answered, hoping it would be news on either James or David. All morning she tried to contact David with no luck. And wouldn't admit that he was gone.

  "Mortal," Petrice said using her code name.

  "Mortal, Valiant Rush. I hope you'd meet me this morning at the site that your brother was abducted. I require a telepath. You have the strongest connection to him. And you're free."

  Petrice smiled. "Thanks, Valiant Rush. You sure make me feel special."

  He snorted. "Meet me at HQ in twenty."

  "Roger that." Petrice quickly flew over and ran to her locker to retrieve her temporary uniform, a form-fitting red and pink one with light Kevlar pads for protection. You don't earn a permanent one until you completed your training. Petrice hoped the combat training part would be quick for her.

  Petrice exited the building, and Valiant Rush lingered outside with a hero-sanctioned vehicle that many of the heroes used who didn't have a means to travel on their own.

  "Just in time," Valiant Rush said. "I worried you'd be late."

  Petrice shook her head. "Never."

  Valiant Rush smiled. "Good. Let's go." He hopped into the driver's seat, and Petrice sat next to him. A large car, specially made for members of the coalition, could take a beating too. Most of the vehicles were large trucks or SUV's but not this one.

  Midtown made up a large part of Cynosure. This made the drive slow and painful, Petrice had gotten used to flying most places, much faster. The roads of Cynosure were a giant congestion of cars and people. They screamed as they went.