Desperate Times

by Tom Andry

  "It's Liz, Mel. Liz."

  His golden eyes met mine, pained and scared. "You don't know these guys, Bob. You just don't know."

  "Fine," I threw up my hands, "I'm out of here. I'll head back to the hospital and let her know you aren't talking."

  I went to scoop up Nineteen who had gotten her whole hand into the honey. I watched as she shoved all five fingers into her mouth. I couldn't help but smile.

  "Is it bad?"

  I turned, "It isn't good, Mel. She's pretty badly burned. And with all the healers pretty much tied up or dead...well..." again I let my statement fall off.

  He wrung his hands together.

  It hit me that Mel hadn't mentioned Nineteen at all. It was as if she wasn't there.

  From behind me, the boy who had answered the door came outside, a bag of frozen peas on his head. "Spoon, you okay?"

  Mel nodded and the boy turned to retreat back inside when Mel called out, "Do me a favor, huh? Run out and get me some squash at the market, will you?"

  The boy turned, confused, "Now?"

  Mel nodded and the boy turned and entered the house. Mel waited, motionless. It was unnatural for him to be so still. I watched his eyes dart from side to side, his mouth twitching as the boy gathered his things. When the front door closed, he motioned me inside. I scooped up Nineteen and followed him. Mel nodded to the couch and I sat with Nineteen on my lap, curious as to his reaction. Mel didn't acknowledge her presence in any way as he shut the sliding glass door.

  Bees are very clean creatures. You'd think there would be honey everywhere with bees all over the walls and ceiling, but it wasn't the case. Still, it was disconcerting to have them surrounding me. Mel's eyelids began flickering and the bees around us took flight. The buzzing sound increased to the point where we could talk if we were close, but surely anyone else who might be listening would have a hard time hearing.

  I exhaled. He'd cracked.

  Mel spoke quickly over the din of the buzzing insects, "You've heard of Siddeon?"

  I nodded.

  "Wasn't he supposed to be at the Tournament?" I asked.

  Mel nodded back, "He was. As far as anyone knows. That was a real big deal having a big shot bad guy like him there. And..." Mel looked around as if he half expected someone to jump out at him, "no one has heard from him since."

  I shrugged, "And? Not sure what the point is here."

  Mel reached over my shoulder and broke off a piece of comb, "You ever wonder what kind of tippy would work for a super like that?"

  "I can't say that I have."

  "Bad men. Really bad men. And when you put their kind together without someone to control them...well, they get ideas."

  "Wait," I interrupted, "you're saying that the guys who broke into the TOP offices weren't local?"

  He shook his head, the words streaming out of him so fast I could barely catch them all, "They are branching out. They are trying to round up every piece of technology they can. If they hear you have something of value and they think they can get it, they take it. It hasn't hit the news yet with everything else that is going on, but they're collecting as much stuff as possible. I've heard of about half a dozen robberies over the last day and a half."

  He fell silent and I sank back into the couch, my hand scratching Nineteen's back while my mind raced. Siddeon's henchmen. Could they be working for someone else? Did it matter? I exhaled a long, soft whistle. Siddeon was the quintessential villain. Most movies and books like to show how evil a villain is by having them kill an underling or two just out of anger. Most don't do that. It doesn't really inspire others to sign up no matter how good the pay is. Siddeon was the exception. The reputation of this guy was for the record books. He was the sort of evil that was practically a force of nature. I'd have to get this information to Gale. But they had their hands full with The Raven. Could they even do anything about it now? Probably not.

  Damn.

  "Are they still in town?"

  He shrugged, "As far as I know. Man, Bob, I'm serious. These guys are hardcore. I've only heard stories, but they all end the same. Don't talk. You talk and you're dead."

  "But you talked."

  He paled, "You made me!"

  "Not to me." I watched his eyes, "To Tay. Master Tay."

  As expected, the rest of the color drained from his face, "Oh God. Oh no! I didn't tell you about that place! You have to tell him it wasn't me!"

  I smiled, "You don't watch the news much, do you?" He shook his head in quick, punctuated, movements, "Inhumanitas is no more. Gone. The Raven destroyed it."

  "What? You're kidding!"

  I shook my head, "It's gone. And don't worry about Tay either. Last I saw, they were hauling him off to jail."

  Mel started pacing the length of his living room muttering to himself, the bees settling back onto the walls and ceiling.

  I called out, "And even if he wasn't detained, you have nothing to worry about. I heard about Inhumanitas from the police."

  Mel nodded, but his golden eyes were far away, "Inhumanitas gone. Gone! What am I going to do?"

  I put out a hand to stop him, "What's the problem? You spend that much time there?"

  His eyes focused on me, remembering I was still there. "What? No. He had a room at home. A tub full of honey. For...well, I never asked." Spoon looked around at the bees lining the walls and ceiling, "Now what am I going to do with all this honey?"

  "Oh."

  # # #

  Chapter 20

  The drive back home in the little car with the big, pink flames was not far, but it was long in that I had a lot to think about. It was about lunchtime, and while I might have skipped it for myself, I didn't have only me to think about. Nineteen's head felt a little cooler, but I couldn't tell if that was just wishful thinking on my part or if it was the medicine finally kicking in. Plus, I could use the security system to check her temperature. I had one more stop, but it probably made sense to call ahead. Ted wasn't always in and, based on Gale's plan, he was probably very busy.

  Liz hadn't wanted me to get involved, but she'd been wrong about who had perpetrated the break-in. I could see why she'd assumed they were local. Who else would they be? Tippys scared because of the attack at the Tournament. Sure, they'd be scared. They'd think she'd have some sort of technology or information or...

  Information.

  How could I be so stupid? Liz's office had been full of information, not only about supers, but tippys too. Specifically, tippys who had gotten huge payouts from the Super State. Those payouts weren't always money. Sometimes they were technology. Tippys wouldn't have the protection of a super's lair. They wouldn't realize they needed it. But for a group looking to raise capital for a new criminal organization, they'd be easy pickings. I couldn't be sure, but it made sense. Siddeon was notorious for his multi-pronged attacks. It was why he'd remained free for so long. He didn't just have one plan. He had plans within plans. In comparison to supers who thought mostly with their fists, he danced around them like they were cats and he was a flashlight beam on a wall. Henchmen who had lasted any length of time under his tyrannical rule surely would have learned some of his tricks.

  I pressed the accelerator harder, sending the subcompact’s engine whining into registers only dogs could hear. Next to me, Nineteen grabbed my hand, her eyes once again hidden behind the white sunglasses. Her brow was furrowed and I realized mine was as well. I forced a smile and Nineteen mirrored it.

  Crap. She was locked onto me. What had Tay said? Not to let her in? That she messes with your head?

  I turned again to the girl and forced a smile, "Nineteen..." I paused, thinking. I started again, glancing back to her from the road as often as I dared. "I'm not sure if you can understand this, but you don't have to make me like you, okay? You may know this, but I had a little girl once. A daughter. She...died..." I looked away, trying to clear that pain from my mind. "It was a long time ago. You never need to make me want to protect you. To help you. I'd do that anyway. Okay?"
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  I stole another look at Nineteen. She was staring at me as blankly as always but for one change, a hint of a smile. I took a deep breath and held it. If she was controlling me, could she stop? Would she want to, regardless of what I said? Gale - Wendi - my ex-wife. There was always that attraction there. I hadn't wanted the divorce, but I hadn't had the strength to oppose it. When Abigail had died, just moments after birth, I'd felt so empty. So crushed. Gale left and I don't think I looked up as she closed the door. But after...with time, came numbness and, eventually, the old feelings had returned. For me at least. And I’d seen Gale only this morning. Had I reacted to her physically? Did I still love her? Want her? Now that I was concentrating on it, I couldn't tell. I'd been so busy, so distracted when Gale was over. I rubbed my temple. This was getting me nowhere. I glanced at the clock. Almost noon. Hell, it was five o'clock somewhere. I needed a drink.

  * * *

  My new security system was already busted.

  The security system deactivated automatically as I walked in, but it wouldn't respond to questions. Luckily, I still had power and phones and the new automatic doors still worked. With a new group running around looking for technology and possibly information, my place made a perfect target. I could only hope that the system wouldn't fail completely. If so, there'd be hell to pay.

  After making a quick lunch for Nineteen, which she wolfed down eagerly, I gave her half of mine. I filled the void in my stomach with scotch, spreading enough warmth and relaxation through my body that my neck cracked. I let the television play in the background, but it was more discussion of the attack and the "new" super group Vanguard. Fire Arc had a few mentions plus a fairly lengthy interview that had apparently been filmed last night. Behind him were a few small fires and a lot of people waving at the camera. More than once, he struck his heroic pose that was only slightly marred by his eyes darting toward the camera, probably looking at his reflection in the lens.

  By the end of lunch, Nineteen was yawning, so I turned the channel to a cartoon and left her on the couch. She immediately lay down on a pillow, her white eyes half closed. I sat next to her for a while and stroked her head. It seemed cooler, but without the security system to confirm it, I couldn't be sure. I felt certain I had a thermometer somewhere, but for the life of me, I couldn’t think of where. Maybe Ted could get the security system up and running again.

  I left Nineteen sleeping on the couch and retreated to my office. The doors still worked, but the hidden door between the hallway and my office kept wanting to close, so I placed a shoe in the way. That seemed to be all it took. I plopped into my desk chair, set my glass down, and reached for the phone and my bottle of scotch at the same time. I spun the dial seven times as I watched the amber liquid fill my glass.

  "Hello?" a rushed voice on the other end.

  "Ted?"

  "Bob?"

  "I need your help."

  "Bob, you couldn't have picked a worse time," Ted's voice was unusually deep and scratchy. He sounded muffled.

  "Ted, this is important. I've got..." I thought for a second, "something I need you to look at." While he'd see her in person, perhaps planting the "something" instead of "someone" would color his memories for later.

  "Bob, man, can we do it tomorrow? I'm on my way out right now."

  "Out?"

  "Yeah, I'm moving out all my stuff. Should be done in an hour or so."

  "Wait, what? Moving? Where?"

  "Uh..." Ted stammered, "I'm…uh...not supposed to say."

  I gritted my teeth. More secrets. I paused for two breaths before responding, stretching the word out, "Ted?"

  "Come on, Bob," he pleaded, "you know how they are."

  "They? Who's they?"

  "Shit. No one. Listen, I have to go."

  I thought hard and fast, "Gale, right? The rest of the supers are supposedly out in the desert. With the new Vanguard group?" I chewed the name of the fake group.

  "Bob, you can't let her know you know."

  "So, what, you're part of this new Vanguard?"

  I could hear the shrug in his voice, "I don't know. It's all very...well, I don't know what it is. Gale called me the night before last. I've been working non-stop. We're throwing everything we have at him."

  "We? Since when are you part of a 'we'?"

  "I guess since the night before last. Gale promised that I'd get a promotion out of this. Finally out of Level 1 hell." He added under his breath, "About time too."

  "So, you just throw in with them?" I rubbed my forehead trying to process Ted's newfound team attitude, "I never really figured you for the spandex type."

  "You'd be surprised. Plus, it's The Raven, Bob. We've got to do something." I heard a small explosion in the background and then a rush of air. "Damn," Ted cursed, "that's going to take forever to clean up."

  "Ted, what's going on? Are you blowing something up?"

  "No, no. Just moving." A crash followed by more cursing. "I've got to go."

  I stalled, "So you expect him soon?"

  "The way Gale and Force tell it, he could show up any time."

  With a disconcerting pop, I lost all power in the apartment. I heard a few light bulbs explode down the hall. I hoped Nineteen wasn't under any of them. Slowly, all the doors I could see slid open.

  "Shit."

  "Shit is right," Ted responded. "This guy is serious."

  "No, well, yes, he is. But 'shit your stupid security upgrades just completely failed'."

  "What?"

  "That's right. Failed. I came in and the thing won't answer me and now I've got no power. And all the doors just opened. I swear; you really need to start testing these things before you unleash them on me."

  "What do you mean?"

  "What do I mean?" I tried to keep my voice down, but I could feel it shake slightly with pent up frustration, "I mean that if you are bringing weapons to fight The Raven, you better make damn sure you don't kill any of your own."

  "Whoa, slow down, Bob." Ted spoke slowly and clearly, "What upgrades?"

  I felt a cold chill rush over me like I had just walked through an autumn shower, naked, "I'll have to call you back." Realization dawning, I pressed my finger on the switchhook, disconnecting the call. I slowly replaced the handset and swept my gaze around the office as if a laser might shoot out of a wall or ceiling at any minute and cut me in half. I sank down, knowing it would likely make little difference. I slipped under my desk, wishing I had some sort of weapon. Unfortunately, I'd never found weapons useful. With supers, if you weren't prepared to go all out, all a gun or other weapon did was make you a target. But damn, a pistol or bat or rocket launcher would feel mighty comforting right now.

  Swallowing hard, I peeked out from around the corner of my desk. I crawled over to the door that led into Nissa's office. The door to the hallway was fully open now. The front door was open as well, clearly to allow someone to enter. I glanced around the office. The deadliest thing I could see was a heavy book or maybe a picture frame. I could use my decanter. It was heavy, crystal, and might break into something with a point. But it had scotch in it. I wasn't that desperate.

  I shook my head. It wouldn't matter anyhow. Anyone that could set up something this elaborate wouldn't be stopped by a makeshift weapon. Hell, if I had one of those death ray guns from the terrorists, it probably wouldn't be enough. I took a deep breath and slowly stood. Nineteen was in the other room. I could seek solace with her, behind her. Let the little girl with the big power protect me. I looked hard at the hallway, then at the front door. Which to choose? Use the girl like Tay or certain death.

  The choice wasn't nearly has hard as I’d thought.

  I strode purposefully toward the front door, my heroic charge lessened only by the fact that I tripped over my feet on the way. Regaining my balance, I stood in front of the opening. One step. Just one more step and I'd be able to see down the stairs. Whatever was coming would come from that direction. Whoever would be coming. More than likely "certain death" was a
bit dramatic. More like "certain blackmail" or "certain hostage" or similar. Someone didn't go through all the trouble to install a security system that they could defeat just to walk in and kill me. They wanted something. Something they suspected I, or someone close to me, wouldn't want to give.

  Bolstered, I took a step and looked to my left. Instead of a cackling super villain in a ridiculous costume, I saw only a darkened hallway. I spun in place, checking all the rest of the doors. They were all still open. But the door to the garage, the only way in, remained sealed. What did that mean?

  Crap. It isn't an attack - it's a prison. They've turned my place into a prison. The security system, the "upgrades", they were all a ruse. I was trapped. They could hold me here as long as they wanted. Until I was desperate to get out. Which would only take a few days since I rarely kept much food in the house. And with a second mouth to feed that would take even less time.

  Not that I'd have to feed her for long.

  Nineteen was just down the hall. I decided to check on her and to take inventory of what we had to eat. Maybe they'd turn the power back on eventually. It's one thing to be in a prison, but not letting us at least watch television was just cruel. I ran a hand through my hair. I'd showered only a few hours ago, but I already felt like I needed another.

  These guys, these henchmen - could they be behind this? Unlikely. They were collecting information and technology, not giving it away. I waved the thought away as I walked down the hall toward the living room. I made a mental list of the supers that could possibly pull this off. Ted would have topped that list. But there were others. And probably many more with friends who could do it. Frankly, I didn't have a chance at guessing. There were too many possibilities. All I knew for sure was that I was trapped, without power, and that wasn't something that was likely to change anytime soon...

  With a whir and a hum, light returned to my apartment. Within walls and rooms, chirps and bells from unknown machinery signaled systems powering up. It sounded like my terminal when I powered it on, but bigger. Like I was inside of it while it happened. I froze, a few feet from the living room. I could see from the reflection on the oven door that the television was turning back on.