Johanna Chance, agent of ACTION, once again knocked on the front door of Golden Lad’s room. After five minutes of steady doing so, she was beginning to think no one was inside. She turned to her second-in-command, Saheed Donnelly. Saheed was half-Irish, half-Arab. The features combined to give him a slightly darker than Caucasian complexion and long curly orange hair. He stood a good six inches taller than Johanna, and his body rippled with the muscles he built up from daily weight training.

She gave him a nod. “Break it down.”

Saheed took two steps back, sprang forward, and drove a foot in to the door just to the right of the doorknob. The lock on the aging door made a snap as it broke. The door swung open. Johanna drew her sidearm and entered the room.

“Tommy, Golden Lad, are you in here? If you can hear me, speak up!” She moved through the main room, which consisted of a simple queen bed, a dresser, and an ugly little lamp. She walked past all this. A small kitchenette made up the rear of the room. It was devoid of all life as well. Only a few unwashed dishes in the sink marked any sign of habitation at all. She turned to her right and went through the room’s single door in to the bathroom.

Trails of blood coated the walls of the shower. They formed a line down in to the bathtub, where the unconscious form of Golden Lad lay. The boy’s costume was in tatters, and the heart shaped piece of gold he normally wore was gone. Blood flowed liberally from several cuts and abrasions all over the boy’s chest and legs.

“Get a medic in here!” Johanna dropped to the floor by the tub and checked the boy’s pulse. It was weak, but it was still there. Whoever had done this to him, it still wasn’t too late to save his life.

“Get the goddamn medical team in here now!” She cradled the boy’s head in her hands as she waited for assistance. Seeing him like this caused her memories to flashback to the tragedies of her younger days.

She was eleven and still living in the orphanage in Washington. She didn’t yet know who her father was or that she was metagene active. All she knew was she was a scared young girl with only one friend in the world.

Gretchen was fifteen, swarthy skinned, and as mean as a rattler. She carried a switchblade on her person at all times, and Johanna never saw her back down from a fight. Johanna never quite knew why the older girl was so nice to her. To the rest of the kids in the orphanage, she was the scary one. The one who you avoided because she might get you hurt. But for Johanna, she was like a big sister. She protected Johanna, kept her safe when the world seemed like a gigantic, scary place. When one of the thirteen-year-olds decided to make Johanna a target for her beatings, Gretchen stepped in. The thirteen-year-old found a knife to her throat. Her harassment came to a quick end. But even the best of friends couldn’t be around to protect you all the time.

His name was Mister Oda. She never did learn his first name, but he was one of the tutors brought in by the orphanage in lue of sending to public schooling. He was in charge of fifth, sixth, and seventh grades, and he took a particular interest in Johanna early on.

Only his interest in her wasn’t her intelligence.

She remembered only vague snippets of what he did to her. She often figured it was her brain protecting her from something she just couldn’t live with. Her inauspicious entry in to the adult world came with pain, blood, and attempted murder.

He probably would have throttled her to death after his rape of her if it wasn’t for the sudden activation of her metagene. His mind flooded with images of the pain she felt. He staggered back and fell to the floor, clutching his skull. He would never recover from the mental damage she did in that moment. Trapped in a morass of the pain and misery he caused, he would never be able to do what he did to her ever again. Johanna knew none of this at the time. She ran in to the streets of the city thinking only of escape.

She went looking for Gretchen. She knew some of the older girl’s regular haunts, but she found her in the lofts of one of her several boyfriends. Mister Oda must have known that Gretchen would protect her, so he took her out of the way first. He left her hanging in the bathroom of the loft, tied to the showerhead by a knot of fishing line. Her head hung twisted to one side and her neck was swollen with blue-black bruises. The cuts on her hands and arms had long since bled out. Her friend was dead and Johanna couldn’t help but blame herself.

She would keep on blaming herself for the next few years before ACTION came to offer her a job. Even now the images still haunted her.

She wouldn’t see another person die like that. Not on her watch.

“Johanna! Agent Chance!”

Johanna realized it was Saheed yelling her name. She shook off the painful memories and turned her attention to him. “Yeah?”

“You need to let go. The medics need to get to him in order to treat him.”

She looked up and saw the two paramedics from the team’s support staff. They hovered a few feet back from her. She looked down at Golden Lad’s unconscious form. She gently lowered his head back to the bottom of the tub. She stood up and got out of the way. She crossed her arms tightly across her chest as the medics moved in to do their work. She followed Saheed past the medics and back out in to the bedroom.

Saheed turned to her as they continued out the front door. “What do you think happened here?”

Chance was silent for a few moments as they walked towards their own rooms several places down. Finally she shook her head and said, “I can’t even begin to guess right now. Whoever did this brutalized him pretty bad and took the Heart of Gold.”

“Heart of Gold?”

“It’s a small amulet he wears. It’s what gives him the strength, speed, and flight powers. Without it he’s only a typical seventeen-year-old. You notice anything else missing?”

“Golden Girl. You think whoever did this took her?”

“I don’t know, but I think we have to assume she’s in danger. We also have to assume the team has been compromised. As soon as forensics finishes on the scene, we’re going back to ACTION Base. We need to regroup, figure out what’s going on, and make someone pay for this.”

“What about the media?”

“Total news blackout if it’s possible. The last thing we need is a report that one of the Legends is seriously injured. The public seems to idolize these people for whatever reason. The president would have us tarred and feathered if that happened. They are the best thing to happen to his approval rating in years.”

“I’ll get on it ASAP. Anything else you need?”

She looked Saheed straight in the eyes. Two years ago after a particular tough case, they had gone out for a celebratory drink. Several shots later, they both stumbled slightly inebriated in to her bedroom. The sex was good, damn good. But the friendship and partnership proved more important and they ended it right then and there.

As she looked at him now, she wished she hadn’t let him go so easily.

“Can… can you just hold me for a minute?”

Saheed moved in close and took her in his arms. She rested her head on his broad shoulder. She didn’t cry. The tears left her a long, long time ago.

*****

Bangkok, Thailand
July 6,, 2008

“I’ve never been this far out of the country before. Even with my powers, I never really felt a need to travel that much. I had duties to my country and to my people, and occasionally they would lead me to places like Brazil, but never anything like this.”

Atoman held Leila tightly in his arms on top of the Baiyoke Tower II in downtown Bangkok. A few figures in the distance raised their hands and pointed towards them, mostly tourists. Atoman ignored them as he turned his focus to Leila.

She wore a red dusit, a local-style sleeveless dress. Gold inlay formed a dragon that coiled up from the hem of the dress around her ankles, all the way around her body, and up to her chest where its head rested on her right breast. Cut low in front, it accentuated her ample bosom. With the black wig she now wore, she looked almost native. And she was easily the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Yet despite his attraction to her, he still felt slightly off. She was only human. He wasn’t even human anymore. How could she ever love him like this?

Her hand dropped from its location on his chest and fell to his crotch. She gently stroked him through his costume.

She licked her lips as she looked up in to his eyes. “I changed. We saw the view. Now I want you to fly me up in to the sky and take me. I want you to fuck me in the clouds. Please I need to feel you. I’ve waited so long.”

Atoman knew he should resist. He knew that this wasn’t the way he was raised. He didn’t care. He felt the animal passion the same way she did.

His hands dropped to her waist and he flew her skyward. A few loose clouds formed at four thousand feet. Atoman radiated a low-level field of energy which instantly evaporated the water around them. It kept them warm and secluded in steam.

Leila hiked the skirt up around her waist. Atoman gasped as he realized she wore no undergarments. She groped at the front of his costume again, looking for a seam.

She growled in exasperation. “How do I get in to your pants?”

Atoman willed the molecules away. His costume faded away and he stood naked before her.

Seconds later, their bodies were joined. She rode him through the sky. Lights exploded in his mind’s eyes. Flashes of the future or the past, he did not know. A building burned, its concrete walls melted under the heat. An Asian city lay quiet, its people slain in the streets. A massive humanoid figure rose up over the horizon of the planet itself.

The light blinded him and he heard Leila groan above him. He opened his eyes in the aftermath of their love-making.

Leila was glowing. Literally. She pulled away from him. He reached out, panicked she would fall. She flew a quick loop around him. She grinned. “You screw so good, that you truly leave me ready for more. Energized.”

She floated in and gently rubbed a hand across his cheek. She leaned in and kissed him. He returned the kiss. She broke away and looked him in the eye. “My dear Atoman, I do believe this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.”

*****

New York City
July 7, 2008, 10:16 a.m.

It can’t be. It just can’t be.

Russ Crocker stood in front of the empty storefront but he could still not bring himself to believe what his own eyes told him. The tiny sign was gone, the building was empty. The windows were bare except for a lease sign with a phone number.

This isn’t possible. Less than a week ago, this was a large, well lived in coffee shop and now it’s empty.

He checked the door. It was locked. He stopped to consider the lock for a minute. He pulled out his Swiss Army knife and extended the screwdriver blade. In just a few seconds, he had jimmied the lock open.

He stepped inside the building that up until a few days ago was Legendary Coffee. The floor and counters were covered with a thin layer of dust, far more than five days worth. Whatever happened here, someone was working hard to cover up their tracks. And it’s really pissing me off.

He walked past the counter and in to the back room. He didn’t figure he would find anything there either, but he saw no reason not to give it a look over.

The back room wasn’t empty so much as it wasn’t there. Past the door he found only a small five feet by five feet room. One side was covered by a series of racks that rose to the ceiling. All empty and covered with dust. Past it was only a back door.

How? How could any of this even be possible?

The bell on the door jingled as someone else entered. Russ inched towards the door in to the shop proper. He narrowly stopped in time to avoid collision with a piece of brick in a dark suit.

The big man wore black pinstripes and a pair of dark sunglasses. His skinnier, blond-haired partner wore a matching ensemble. Skinny pulled a wallet out of his jacket pocket and flipped it open.

“Mister Crocker, I’m Agent Chase Patterson, this is Agent Smith. We’re with ACTION.”

“What do you want?”

“We’re here to arrest you for the murder of Travis Horne, a.k.a. Flag Man.”

“What?”

Smith pulled a pistol from his pocket. Russ recognized it from Times Square. It was the nullifier weapon.

He sighed and shook his head. He slowly extended his arms in front of him. “Get it over with then. I don’t have shit to say to either one of you, but get your stupid shit out of the way, and take me in. I’m done fighting your damn government. I’m tired of being yanked around like a dog on a chain. Arrest me, do what you will with me, but don’t expect me to tell you shit.”

Patterson looked to Smith. Smith looked back at him. Patterson nodded.

The blow caught Russ alongside the head before he even saw Smith moving. The world waivered before him before everything went black.

*****

Unnamed manor, rural northern Italy
July 8, 2008, 3:14 p.m.

Ace Barlow didn’t remember this place at all or Dart ever owning it, but it didn’t really surprise him that much. Dart spent a lot of time in Italy during the war, while Ace spent most of his time either stateside or helping the relief effort in England. Even so, he was surprised to learn that Dart owned such a large mansion. He couldn’t fathom where his surrogate father could have ever found the money for it.

Nor did he know exactly where his mentor was at this time. As soon as they arrived at the front gate, Dart excused himself to survey the grounds. He sent Ace ahead to the actual house proper to make sure all was in order.

He didn’t much like coming here either. After weeks of moving from city to city, Dart finally decided their best bet was to move overseas. Ace didn’t much care for the idea of living on the lam anywhere let alone in a strange country. But he knew his mentor did nothing wrong. Nothing I didn’t agree to ahead of time anyway. He tried to explain, Dart tried to explain, but those damn ACTION people wouldn’t listen. He was nearly seventeen years old now. He could make his own decisions about who he was and what he wanted to be. Dart silently cursed them again as he took the last few steps up to the front door.

He entered the massive structure and found three individuals waiting for him at the base of the massive stairs in the front room. The one man wore a finely pressed suit. The older woman was dressed in a modest sundress, pressed as neatly as the man’s suit. The final woman was little older than Ace, maybe nineteen or twenty. She wore a sundress as well, but hers was much higher cut around the legs and much lower cut across her chest.

The man started to rattle off a long stream of words in Italian. Ace started to stammer out that he didn’t understand when the young woman began translating.

“My name is Vittorio and I will be the butler for yourself and Mr. Gaius. I have served at the residence for the past thirty years and I hope I can provide service as fine as my father and predecessor. The woman next to me is Vera. She manages the adjoining vineyard and the mansion’s finances. And…” The young woman cleared her throat and said a few quick words in Italian.

“I can introduce myself,” she said. “My name is Magdalena, but you may call me Lena if you wish. I will be here to serve as personal assistant and translator for yourself and Mr. Gaius. I hope that we can all make your stay as close to perfection as possible.”

Ace was tongue-tied. Sure the house was like a palace, unlike anything he’d ever seen before. But it was nothing in comparison to Lena. She was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen. Her long, black hair fell down around her face in slight curls. It framed her silky white skin as it reached halfway down her back. It naturally led his vision to her chest and her ample bosoms. He realized he was staring and flashed his eyes back up to her eyes.

She answered only with a grin.

“Uh, ah… it’s really nice to meet you all. Sorry, I didn’t really expect all of this.”

Lena once again translated Vittorio’s words. “No need to worry, Mister Barlow. We’re here to serve.”

“Well, thank you. Thanks.” They all continued to stand in front of Ace for the next few moments. It served to make him feel more and more awkward.

“We’re waiting to be dismissed, sir.”

“Oh, yeah, right. Sure. You’re dismissed. Uh, very good.”

Lena gave Ace a grin. He felt almost faint. Her radiance drew him in like a moth to a flame. He wanted to let it consume him, to become one with her.

He felt an uncomfortable stiffness in his pants. Embarrassed, Ace hoped that his cheeks weren’t turning red or anything.

“Are you all right, Mister Barlow? You look a bit flushed.”

Ace gave her a nod. “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry.” He turned away from her and looked up to the second level of the mansion. For the first time he noticed the finely detailed molding on the handrails above or the massive crystal chandelier that filled most of the ceiling. This place really was beautiful.

Now that he felt a little more calm and collected… and much less swollen, he looked back down. Lena still stood beside him, even closer than before. He jumped as he saw her.

“Sorry, Mister Barlow. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just wanted to ask if Mister Gaius will require my services today.”

“Uh, I don’t think so. Dart speaks the language well enough. He served in Italy for most of the war. He hated Mussolini with a passion. Railed against what he called ‘desecration of the legacy of Rome’. I guess it had to be a bit of a culture shock going from fifth century Rome to the present day.”

Lena nodded. “I suppose so. Well, if you have no more need of me, I will return to my other duties. Tomorrow, if you would like, I can start tutoring you in Italian if you would like.”

“I’d like that a lot.” She gave him another grin. Ace couldn’t help but staring. “All right then. I’ll see you tomorrow morning in the kitchen at ten a.m.”

“Um, okay.”

Ace watched the young woman leave. He didn’t take his eyes off her until she was out of the room. She’s amazing. I’ve never met anyone quite like her. Is this love?

I think I’m going to like it here.

*****