“Why the hell are you watching that creep anyway?” he asked.
“Fox has a big audience and he’s one of the pundits who’s been extremely vocal about specials,” said Thorne. “His coverage of Zephyr’s first appearance really gave him a national spotlight and his words have a powerful effect on popular opinion.”
“It’s sickening, he thinks that we don’t deserve rights?” asked Lee.
“Seen it a million times, kid,” said Thorne. “Whenever there’s a group the public feels threatened by, there are opportunists who will pounce on to demonize.”
“And Callum King has unfortunately become the poster child for specials everywhere,” said Zenith.
The image of Fox shrunk and another image appeared on the screen. This one of protests outside a Cerberus base, with people holding signs in support of the Exemplar.
“Pro-special protests,” said Jim. “King took a stand against Cerberus, lending credence to the idea that Cerberus was secretly created to round up all specials.”
“Paranoia, cha-cha-cha!” said Dom in a sing-song voice as he lined up the pool cue to take a shot.
“The eyes of the whole world are going to be on this trial,” said Anita, shaking her head. She looked at Thorne. “Have you heard anything new?”
“Zukov said there’s a chance Vanguard may be asked to testify,” said Thorne.
“On whose behalf?” asked Jim.
“I think the prosecution definitely wants to hear from you,” said Thorne. “You’re part of Cerberus and you helped bring King down in Chicago.”
“Anyone else?” asked Lee.
“Possibly Anita, given that so many have seen her publicly battling him,” said Thorne. “The defense will want to hear from anyone who was on Arcadia. That means Erin and Koji.”
“They’re gonna allow masks to testify?” asked Dom. “Seems a bit weird, doesn’t it?”
“That’s one of the things that needs to be worked out, a way to protect your anonymity,” said Thorne. “Both the prosecution and the defense have reasons to get some of you to testify, so I’m sure they’ll figure something out.”
“That won’t make pundits like Fox very happy,” said Anita.
“Which will be problematic,” said Zenith. “If anti-special sentiment keeps getting stoked like this, it could lead to push-back from the special community. More people deciding to follow in the Exemplar’s footsteps.”
“We already know specials out there who have no problem tearing shit up,” said Dom. “Zephyr, Lucent, and Pyre’s not really a model of mental stability.”
“Fortunately Lucent is safely imprisoned on the Island,” said Jim.
“Still have the others to worry about, boy scout.”
“Also the people on Arcadia,” said Anita. “People who have been captured by Cerberus under Callus.”
“And that means Cerberus will have to start going after specials with a lot more force, won’t it?” asked Lee.
“The Security Council would pretty much insist on it,” said Thorne. “There’s a lot riding on this. It’s our job to make sure that Vanguard is held up as an example—proof that humans and specials can work together.”
“What do you have in mind?” asked Jim.
“If any of you are asked to testify—for either side—I want you to do it,” said Thorne. “Whether King is found innocent or guilty, is put in prison for the rest of his life or set free, what’s important is that we show willingness to work inside the system.”
“We should also monitor both sides of this, special and human,” said Zenith. “If anyone gets out of control, it should be us who puts a stop to it, working in conjunction with Cerberus.”
Anita looked around the room. “This seems a bit too much like a meeting. Shouldn’t Erin and Koji be here if we’re gonna talk strategy like this?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll bring them up to speed later,” said Thorne. “Anyone know where they are?”
***
“Man, look at that.” Koji Asano stood in a small valley in the Adirondacks. Atlas was located beneath his feet and he leaned against the small hangar, his eyes staring up at the full moon. Erin Hastings stood by his side, sharing his view.
Koji looked down at her and smiled. “Nice to get above-ground every now and then.” He noticed the slight chill in the air. “You cold?”
Erin shook her head. “My body adjusts to the temperature. One of the perks of shape-shifting. You know, as long as it’s not too extreme.”
“Cool. Wish I could do that in human form.”
“C’mon, thought we were going to go for a walk?” asked Erin, moving away from the hangar and turning so she walked backwards.
Koji used a quick jog to catch up to her and the pair walked side-by-side away from Atlas. They walked through the dark forest, passing through the valleys and over some small hills. It wasn’t long before they found a clearing that housed a small lake.
“You ever been here before?” she asked, sitting cross-legged on the bank.
Koji shook his head and sat beside her.
“I saw it from overhead when Zen took me out for some practice flying,” said Erin. “It’s nice to come out here sometimes, when I want to get away from everything.”
“What are you getting away from?”
Erin shrugged and leaned forward. The moon provided enough light so she could see the reflection of her bald, green head and yellow eyes in the water. She held out her arm and it extended and changed, becoming a tentacle. The tentacle broke through the surface and she made circles in the water.
“Nothing special, I guess. Just…going away. To think about things.”
Koji cringed a little and looked down at his arm, still in a cast and hanging from a sling. Erin noticed the movement and gave him a concerned glance.
“How are you doing?”
“I’m all right. Pain’s not too bad and Zen says it’s healing nicely. But I can’t go on any missions until the cast is off,” he said. “At least another week or two.”
“Hopefully things will be quiet until the Exemplar’s trial.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“I told Tuwa I’d do whatever I can to help, even though part of me thinks King deserves to go to jail.” Erin scoffed. “But then I think about Arcadia and I remember that he was really trying.”
“During the fight, it seemed like he was talking to someone else, someone who wasn’t there,” said Koji.
“You mean like mind control? The Analyst or something?”
Koji shook his head. “Anita went into his mind. She said that it didn’t seem like he was being influenced. Maybe he was going crazy? The guy did lose everything.”
Erin brought her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. “What would you do?”
“If I were him?”
“Yeah.”
Koji sighed. “Wish I could say I wouldn’t go crazy. But having powers…being able to get back at people who have wronged you…”
“And Callum’s stronger than most of us…”
“Hey, don’t sweat it,” said Koji. “We’ve got each other watching our backs.”
Erin looked up at him and studied his face. A memory flashed in her mind and she gave a quick giggle. Koji furrowed his brow.
“What? Do I have something on my face?”
She shook her head. “No, I just remembered the first time I saw you change.”
A smile of remembrance came across his face. “Ah yeah, I remember that. Specifically remember you being scared of me.”
“Can you blame me?” she asked with a chuckle. “Here’s this cute guy I just met, the only one of the group close to my own age, and then he transforms into a giant shark. It was freaky.”
Koji blinked, his head jerking back.
“I’m sorry,” said Erin. “I didn’t mean—”
“No, it’s not that. You thought I was cute?”
She blushed, her green cheeks darkening and looked down. “It just s
lipped out.”
Koji leaned closer to her, his mouth nearing hers. “Y’know, the other day we were kind of interrupted.”
“I—” She didn’t finish her sentence, just moved closer.
Their lips were on the verge of touching. Just before they did, Erin turned her head and Koji stopped, sighing. Erin turned, taking a deep breath. Koji closed his eyes, then looked at her.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She slid away from him a little. “I just…let’s go back, okay? The others are probably wondering where we are.”
She stood and Koji took a breath before standing, too. Erin walked ahead of him but Koji remained behind, standing still for a few brief moments.
“That went well…” he muttered.
CHAPTER 3
Jim carried a cup of hot coffee through the hallway connecting the converted silo that had become the main Atlas base to the area that was once the command control center. He approached the door and it opened automatically, revealing the inside of the monitor room.
“Good morning, Jim,” said Zenith without looking away from the monitor bay he stood in front of.
“Morning,” said Jim, approaching the round table with the giant V engraved into its surface. “So what’s this about that I had to get up at six on a Saturday?”
Thorne already sat at the table, sipping his own coffee. He gestured across from him and Jim took a seat. Thorne set down his cup and leaned forward.
“We got a call from Abram this morning, he’s got a job for you.”
“What kind of job?” asked Jim.
“Perhaps you should ask him yourself,” said Zenith, turning away from the monitors. “Go ahead, Director.”
A holographic projection of Abram Zukov, the acting director of Cerberus, appeared over the table. The suddenness of it nearly caused Jim to spill his coffee.
“Give a guy some warning next time.”
“My apologies,” said Zenith.
“Good morning, Jim,” said Zukov. “I apologize for the hour, but we have a matter that needs to be attended to.”
“So I’m told,” said Jim. “What’s going on?”
“Do you remember William Blake?”
Jim paused for a moment, searching his memory. The name was familiar and he had a vague image in his mind. “Yeah, I think so. He’s Cerberus?”
“Yes. Or rather, was,” said Zukov.
“I am pulling up his information now,” said Zenith. His artificial intelligence was connected to Atlas, which enabled him to instantly access all the records Vanguard possessed. The monitors filled with Cerberus documents about William Blake.
“What do you mean ‘was’?” asked Thorne.
“Blake was working undercover, trying to learn all he could about a network of underground fight clubs,” said Zukov.
The door to the monitor room slid open and Dom entered, yawning. “What’s going on?” He closed his mouth and noticed Zukov’s projection. “Oh. We got a job?”
“Just me, actually,” said Jim.
“Huh?” asked Dom, taking a seat at the table. “How come boy scout gets all the fun?”
Jim didn’t respond, but looked at Zukov. “Underground fight clubs don’t really seem like Cerberus’ jurisdiction. Why was Blake investigating them?”
“Intelligence we turned up suggested that this was not the typical illegal operation. Rather, these fights are being used as a way to test a new kind of synthetic drug. A drug rumored to stimulate the latent special gene.”
“Someone’s making specials?” asked Dom.
Jim and Thorne exchanged worried glances.
“That’s exactly the kind of thing Azarov was working on in North Korea,” said Thorne. “You think he’s connected to this?”
“That was my first instinct as well, but I do not believe so,” said Zukov.
“If anything, that’s worse. It means more than one person has found a way to create powers,” said Jim.
“They’re testing it, any idea for what?” asked Thorne.
Zukov shook his head. “I’m not certain. Blake had managed to infiltrate one of these clubs. But then his reports stopped coming in. At first, I thought he was simply in deep cover but late last night, his body was discovered. His head was crushed and he was badly beaten.”
“And the drug?” asked Jim.
“There was no trace of it in his system,” said Zukov. “However, his muscles and bones showed intense strain. We won’t know for sure before all the tests are complete but it seems that something was done to him. The specifics are unknown, though.”
“This could be quite dangerous,” said Zenith. “When a special’s powers emerge, their bodies mutate in order to accommodate the changes. But stimulating the gene without that mutation, it could result in severe side-effects.”
“Hence the need to find out who is behind this and stop them before they do any further damage,” said Zukov.
“You need me to go in, finish what he started,” said Jim.
“Just a thought, here,” said Dom, chiming in. “But why not have a special go in and do this? My body’s already gone through that mutation, right?”
“Yes, but one specific to your abilities,” said Zenith. “If you were to use this drug, there is no telling what sort of reaction you might have.”
“Zen’s right, it’s gotta be me,” said Jim. “It’s a Cerberus mission, not a Vanguard one.”
Thorne held up a hand. “Let’s take things slow for a minute here. We don’t know what this drug is being used for, or who’s behind this. Do we really think it’s wise to send Jim in there before we have all the facts? Who’s to say that this Blake character wasn’t killed by the drug itself?”
Zukov’s lips tightened. “It’s a fair point. “There is much we don’t know about this operation. But we must figure out where this drug is coming from and shut it down at the source. There is no telling what their reasons for manufacturing this drug are, but we can be sure that nothing good can come of it.”
“Imagine a terrorist organization with something like this,” said Jim. “Or a rogue nation.”
“You can’t go in there alone, someone’s gotta watch your back,” said Dom.
Jim offered him a smile. “Are you volunteering?”
Dom shrugged. “I’m bored. Besides, if you’re dead, whose chops am I gonna bust?” He gestured at Zenith. “RoboCop’s a terrible straight man. He barely even reacts.”
“Yes, because I know how much it annoys you,” said Zenith.
“Might be good to have some back-up.” Thorne looked at Zukov. “What do you think, Abram?”
“Agreed. However, I want Jim to take the lead on this mission. Mr. Vaughn will remain in the shadows, stay out of sight.”
“So what’s the plan?” asked Jim.
“Blake had infiltrated a club in Baltimore,” said Zukov. “That would seem like the best place to start. We’ve already received some intelligence that they’re looking for new fighters. You’ll be provided with a cover identity—unemployed ex-military, the kind of person these clubs desire.”
“How does the recruitment work?”
“From what we know of Blake’s reports, it begins with a fight,” said Zukov. “If you win, you go on to the next round of vetting. Once they’re satisfied you are the man they’re looking for, you’ll receive the drug.”
“Anything I can expect?” asked Jim.
“That is all we know, I’m afraid,” said Zukov. “The reports ended just before Blake was going to meet his contact to receive the drug.”
“Without knowing precisely what this drug does, there is a significant risk you’ll be undertaking,” said Zenith.
“True. If you aren’t up to this, I’ll understand,” said Zukov. “But after what happened with Blake, I want someone who I know I can count on working this mission.”
Jim took a moment and leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his chin, staring at the coffee cup. His blue eyes connected with Zukov’s
image and he gave a nod.
“Okay, count me in.”
“That’s the spirit,” said Dom. “And look on the bright side—you’ll finally get superpowers of your own!”
CHAPTER 4
Jim walked through the streets of Baltimore, the hood of the black sweatshirt he wore under his leather jacket pulled over his head. He approached a shuttered warehouse and banged his fist a few times on the door. It opened and he found himself looking into the face of a man who was practically a giant, with a thin beard and a crewcut.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Heard there was a job here,” said Jim.
The big guy crossed his arms over his chest. “Where’d you hear that?”
Jim looked from side to side and leaned in closer. “This guy I know at the VA. Please, I’ve been trying to find something for months.”
The giant stepped aside and Jim entered. He heard the door shut behind him and felt the big guy’s presence looming behind him. “Go on.”
Jim walked on ahead, moving deeper into the warehouse. He found a crowd of about a dozen people, almost all of them men but a few women as well. They all looked tired and exhausted. Some of them looked like they hadn’t had a decent meal in days, if not longer.
“Listen up!” The big guy moved into the center of the group and the men and women formed a circle around him. “You all came here for the same reason. You’re looking for a job. Unfortunately for you, we’ve only got one opening. So we’re going to have a little…audition.”
He smiled as he said that last word, a smile that made Jim’s skin crawl. The behemoth continued: “We’re only looking for the best here. You’ve gotta be strong and tough, so let’s see who among you has what it takes.”
“You and you.” He pointed at Jim and another guy, then pointed to the floor where he stood. “You’re up first.”
The circle grew bigger as the others move back so they could give Jim and his opponent some room. Jim took off his jacket and pulled both his sweatshirt and the t-shirt beneath it over his head, dropping them on the jacket. His opponent did the same, and moved into a fighting stance.
Vanguard: Seasons 1-3: A Superhero Adventure Page 66
