Last stop and it’s right next door to our new home, Legend thought. Leave it to the newest and fastest recruit to be in Baltimore.
Legend flew across the city’s skyline at top speed. He landed in a nearly empty city park. Dreary weather and oppressive heat and humidity meant very few people were out in the city to enjoy it. It would be the perfect place to change.
He dropped the small bag off his back as he walked in to the nearest restroom. He exited in a manner of seconds, but now dressed in a dress shirt, tie, and khaki pants.
He was only a few blocks from her house and figured it was best to work this meeting out in his civvies. No need to call undue attention.
Fifteen minutes later he stood on her doorstep. He rang the doorbell and waited for an answer.
The door opened with no sign the homeowner even bothered to check his identity. In this part of town, few people would open their home without seeing their visitor. Either she was expecting someone or they thought they could handle any possible threats.
Legend gave the woman on the other side of the door a friendly smile. The short African American woman shook her head at the sight of him.
“What the heck are you doing here?”
“Not exactly the greeting I expected. Are you going to invite me in?”
She grabbed him by the arm and yanked him in to a small kitchen. “I’m only in the hero game part time now. I don’t have time for this nonsense, so what do you want?”
He knew Therese Brooks was famous for getting right to the point. Legend expected her to be a tough sell.
“I’m not here just to cause you problems. I’m here because I have an offer I hope you can’t refuse.”
“Oh dear God,” Therese said. “You want Go Girl on your silly little team, don’t you?”
“Not just want. We need you on the team. Your speed could be a serious asset to us in any number of missions.”
“I have a husband and kids now. I can’t just be running off at any moment to go halfway across the world to fight some crazy laser-spitting weirdo. I have responsibilities.”
“Look, I would be lying if I said there wasn’t any level of danger in the job. But you’re already doing it locally. We just want to give you a chance to show that you can be the kind of hero you once were. I want you to help us really make the world a better place.”
“You honestly think you can do that? You think this team of yours will succeed where every other one failed?”
Therese, arms crossed, stared daggers at Legend. Legend glanced towards her living room.
“Look, I know this is a longshot. And I know that you have a family. You won’t be the only one in the squad with loved ones. But we will do everything in our power to keep your identity secret. I’ll keep your duties limited in the regular rotation if that’s what you want.”
He paused as he turned to look her in the eye. “Besides, don’t you want to be able to say to your kids some day that their mom helped make the world a better place?”
Therese laughed. “You sure know how to make the hard sell, Legend. I mean that as a compliment. You’re going to need those skills playing the political games.”
“This isn’t about politics. It’s about doing what’s right.”
“All right, already I’m in. I’ll have to talk it over with the hubby, but I’ll do it. I could use a couple more days out of the house here and there.”
“I’m glad to hear it, Therese. Or should I say Go Girl now?”
“Quiet. Never know when the kids will get home.”
“All right.” He pulled a cell phone out of his pants pocket. It looked like a modern touchscreen cell phone, but was actually an encrypted signal communication device specifically designed for F.O.R.C.E. team members. She accepted it.
“I’ll be in touch sometime in the next few days,” Legend said. “We have a mission brief already under way and I’ll need you on the ground when the time is right. In the meantime, if you need anything you can reach Iron on that line as well.”
“And that’s it? I’m in without any background screens or anything like that.”
Legend smirked. “I wouldn’t be here if they hadn’t come up clean. We put every ounce of strength we have to get this up and running the right way. F.O.R.C.E. will be just what this country needs.”
“I hope so,” Therese said. “Now about pay—”
Legend took a seat at her table. He expected the rest of this conversation to take awhile.
*****
Nicholas Ahlhelm is an avid writer as well as the editor and administrator of both Metahuman Press and Pulp Empire. Even with projects like Out For Vengeance, Living Legends, and Timeline appearing at MHP, he still finds time to write the webcomic Arc.