Long Hot Summer 13: Heroes & Villains

by Nicholas Ahlhelm

“I think I found something over here!”

Cyber threw another piece of the former Church of Hope and Truth building in to the disposal unit over a hundred feet away. He scrambled to push other pieces of the rubble aside as he uncovered a wall of inky black.

Legend flew down to land at his side.

“It appears to be some kind of bubble,” Cyber said. “Maybe the others are inside.”

Legend knocked on the outside of the wall. The wall seemed to be made of pure darkness. It flickered as Legend’s hand made contact with it. Legend caught a brief glimpse of several bodies inside.

Legend pounded one fist down hard on to the barrier. It flickered once more before vanishing completely.

Freedom looked up at Legend. “Get a medical team in here quick. We’ve managed to control the bleeding but I don’t know how much time Nightbird has left.”

Legend looked up. “Witch, down here ASAP. We need an emergency medical evac!”

Witch floated down from above, but her pace quickened when she saw Nightbird’s prone form.

“Be—” She stopped short of revealing Nightbird’s identity. “I’m on it.”

She summoned a quick warp portal. It took less than a second for both Witch and Nightbird vanish from view.

Legend reached out to help Freedom out of the hole. Cyber, Herc and Doc Tesla helped the other survivors out of the pit. Black Snake barely could stand as Tesla lifted her out. Clearly the shield drained far more energy than she let on.

“Thanks for the save,” Freedom said. “You take care of Tiamat?”

“If you mean the dragon, he’s dead. We’ve rounded up all the on-site Church members, though we’ve found no sign of Misery, Seraphim or Elijah.”

“Elijah’s gone. I didn’t see it, but I heard him die. His scream echoed through the collapsed tunnels. Susan killed him.”

“Susan?”

“I wouldn’t have guessed it either. Guess she was more of a scrapper than we gave her credit for.”

Legend said nothing in response.

“We beat the baddies, Legend. Doesn’t that even rate a good job?”

“You’re a screw-up, Patton. You got lucky.”

“We back on this jag again? I’m tired of the same old from you over and over again. I’m done with all your moralizing crap. You may not like it but I’m just as invested in this game as you are.”

“That’s just the problem, Patton. You think this is a game.”

“Don’t throw my euphemism in my face. I watched a man get ripped to pieces down there. I watched a woman get her back broken. I had to keep everyone together down there for hours while administering first aid, all in utter darkness. I know the stakes. I’ve lost more friends than you can ever imagine.”

He shook his head. “Look, you want to punish me for Backoff’s death. I get it. I punish myself almost every day for it. I’m a walking neurosis for Christ’s sake. I’m done with this from you. I may not be your perfect picture of the modern American hero, but I’m doing what I can for this country and all the people that live here.”

Legend said nothing. He let Patton have his say. He let the petty kid vent his frustrations.

“Fine. I figured I couldn’t change your mind. You’re every damn bit as stubborn as I am.”

Freedom turned away. “Don’t look me up again. I’ll stay out of your way if you stay out of mine.”

“I can’t promise anything to you,” Legend said.

“Yeah, screw you too.”

Legend chewed his lip. He wanted to scream at the fool, but he knew it would do no good. Better to let him walk away.

After all, he had a job to do.

*****

In a hidden subbasement deep beneath the King’s Crown building was a meeting room. The room sat in shadows. One light fell on the middle of a semi-circular table and cloaked the occupants of each seat in darkness.

Across the room, another light shone on a lone desk. Hagan Ebernburg smirked at the combined might before him.

“You all know me very well. Some of you have been working with me in secret for quite some time. Some of you are more recent hires, but have all worked together perfectly as we manipulated events to our favor. Our plans grow closer to fruition, and all you have been selected to join with us as we take over the very heart of this city.

“The destruction of the Church not only takes the insane zealots out of our city, it also brings with it the loss of many of this city’s so called heroes. The Snake Squad is in shambles after Water Moccasin’s death. Half of the Argonauts have left the city to join the so-called F.O.R.C.E. The vigilante named Nightbird is broken, never to return.

“The city is ours to take.

“You have all performed your tasks admirably, but separately. Now it’s time for everyone to introduce themselves and explain their parts in our mission.”

A massive winged figure emerged first. His leather costume failed to cover the bandages over his stomach and chest. “You all know me as Seraphim, faithful servant of that fool Elijah. I have watched and waited for the right time to bring about his inevitable fall. I am Engel, winged warrior and servant of the true god.

Two young women, both dressed in abbreviated outfits of leather and lace, stepped forward. Each brandished their weapons of choice, one a heavy rifle, the other a pair of butterfly swords. The blonde spoke for the pair. “I’m Tee. My bitch here is Ay. We got called in to make a few moves to lead the right folks in to kicking the Church of Hope’s ass. We’re more than happy to lay down as many bitch slaps as we can.”

The green-tinged skin of a massive figure, a man even larger than Engel, was the next person to come out of the shadows. “The Snake Squad thought I was a friend. They thought I would always be with them. But they were weak. They called me Python, an apt name. But since the city will soon be ours, I think Stranglehold would be a far better name.”

The fifth person at the table leaned up and out of his chair. His armor clinked against the table. “My name is Jason Schulz, but you all know me as Carapace. I’ve always wanted one thing in this world: power. It’s past time we take it in Valhalla.”

The final figure was a large man, both in height and girth. He was bearded and wore thick glasses. “I’ve worked with weapons and machinery for a thousand years. Once I was a simple blacksmith, but now they would call me a hacker. An information broker. My clients know me as L33t, but you may call me by my true name. I am Wayland Smith.”

Hagan stepped out from behind his desk and walked across the room towards the table. “We have all been brought together to seize power in this city. We will run wild over the city. And when all is said and done, we will summon the huntsman and the true path to power will begin.”

“Are you all with me?”

Their answers echoed across the chamber as everyone simply said, “Yes.”

Hagan Ebernburg smiled.

“Let Valhalla tremble before the Wild Hunt.”

*****

The catacombs beneath the Vatican were a maze only a few knew. She fidgeted in her long white ceremonial robes as she waited for Mother Superior to arrive. The door on the far end of the room creaked open. She dropped to one knee.

The Mother Superior was a Chinese woman in her late sixties. Her outfit more resembled that of a traditional nun, though it still sported the large silver cross all members of the Order wore over the form-fitting tunic. She peered down as she always did, with an air of authority mixed with strength of grace.

“You have taken long in returning, Sister Kennis. I saw news of your mission weeks ago.”

“I could not risk bringing the spear aboard any air flight, Mother Yim. I travelled by foot and by ship. Even with the arts of espionage taught by you and Archbishop Hanzo, avoiding customs at every port and border between the United States and here proved time consuming.”

“I see,” the Mother Superior said. “Do you still possess the spear, Sister Kennis? Or have you failed in your quest once again.”

Kennis reached in to her robes. She felt warmth radiate from the package strapped to her forearm. After over six weeks carrying back to Vatican City, it felt almost like a part of her. With reluctance, she released the strap holding the leather wrapping to her skin.

She carefully opened it. The blade peaked out past the scarred leather as she lifted it up towards the Mother Superior.

“It is true,” Mother Yim said. “I can feel its power. Truly this is the Holy Spear of Longinus, at least returned to its home.”

The Mother Superior reached out for the blade. Awe showed on her face as her hand came down on the spearhead’s base.

“Aaaah!”

White light flowed out from the blade. Mother Yim’s palm blackened and burned before she quickly yanked it away. Shocked by the Mother Superior’s injury, Kennis’s grip faltered. The leather slipped from her fingers. The blade fell towards the ground before her.

She acted without thought. She moved with all the speed and grace taught to her by the Order. Her hand grabbed the base of the spear, just as she did weeks before when she stole it from beneath the Church of Hope and Truth.

The blade glowed with the same white light that burned Mother Yim. Kennis felt the warm glow of the blade, but the blade did not burn her as it did the Mother Superior.

She felt fear rise in her belly. Her fear rose as she watched the blade turn to liquid in her hand.

“No!”

Kennis could barely hear Mother Yim’s words. She could only watch as the suddenly molten metal ran down her hand and coated her arm. The blade’s warmth diffused in to her skin and across her body as the metal flowed past her elbow and up towards her shoulder.

“It cannot be,” Mother Superior said. “It cannot—it must not—be!”

Kennis flexed her arm. The metal sat upon it like a second skin. It shined even in the weakest light, as if forged from the newest steel.

“I did not think it possible,” Mother Yim said.

“What, Mother? What is it?”

“You are the Chosen, Sister Kennis. You are the one of whom the ancient papers of our Order speak. You are the Last Judge, sent upon the Earth to watch over her final fate.”

“The what?”

“Sister Kennis, you will preside over the end of the world.”

*****

“Hit, if I’d known, I would never have let her come with us. I mean—”

Hit Higgins shook his head at Freedom’s feeble attempts at words. “She wouldn’t have taken no for an answer. She’s stubborn as a mule. Seems to be a regular trait in us hero types.”

“I guess so.”

They sat outside the Valhalla Mercy Hospital ICU. Annabelle, still heavily bruised from the battle two days ago, slept in the corner. She seemed at peace, almost serene. Freedom couldn’t help but feel jealous. He couldn’t even fathom what serenity felt like anymore. Between the voices chattering in the back of his head, always pushing him to head back on the road, and the disquiet he felt after his recent confrontation with Legend, serenity seemed like a pipe dream.

“Don’t beat yourself up about this.” Hit’s words interrupted Freedom’s brooding. “She’s not dead. She’s hurt, but with her history I’m sure she will pull through this. Once we get her to Champion City, we have friends that can take care of the rest of her injuries.”

“I suppose so. I just feel responsible. I watched Baal murder Water Moccasin and break Nightbird’s back. I was supposed to be in charge and I let it all fall apart.”

“You did the best you could do. No one expected you to have to fight a demon. But you survived, you kept most of your people alive and in the end, he didn’t get away.”

Freedom nodded.

“Mister Higgins?”

Hit and Freedom looked to the door. A pudgy nurse gave them both a weak smile.

“The helicopter is prepped and your granddaughter has been readied for travel. I’m told you will be accompanying her?”

“That’s right,” Hit said.

“They need you up on the roof then. They want you onboard before Beth is loaded.”

“I understand.” Hit turned towards Freedom and offered his hand. Freedom gladly shook it.

“You have a mission, Freedom. Don’t let your doubts get in your way. You’re a good man, too good a man to lose because you second guess yourself.”

“Thanks, I needed that.”

Hit clapped Freedom on the back. “We all need a pep talk sometimes. Take care of that girl of yours. If you decide to come Champion City way in the next few months, look me up. I suspect Beth and I will be there for awhile.”

“You got it.”

“Good luck, Patton.”

“Good luck, Hit.”

Hit gave Freedom another sharp pat on the back before he followed the nurse out of the room. Freedom stewed over his words. He still couldn’t get over the sight of Moccasin’s death and Nightbird’s back breaking.

I don’t have much choice, do I? I can’t quit. I can never quit. So I’ve got to trust that I won’t make the same mistakes again. I got to believe that me and Libertad will make it. Otherwise we’re both screwed.

He walked across the room to where Annabelle slept. He gently shook her awake.

“Yeah?” she said, still half asleep.

“They’re moving her now,” Freedom said. “Which means it’s time for us to be moving on soon too.”

“What about Susan?”

Freedom shook his head. “She’ll be all right or she won’t. It’s not up to us to judge.”

Annabelle nodded. “I guess you’re right.”

“Aren’t I always?”

*****

Susan’s long blonde hair whipped in the wind as she watched the helicopter take off from Mercy’s roof. From the top of the parking garage, she could easily watch it leave without being seen.

She wondered again if she should have paid Beth a visit. In the end, Beth helped her in the last three weeks more than she could ever possibly contemplate.

But Susan also knew that her life didn’t lie with her broken savior. It rested here in Valhalla, on the streets. More memories returned everyday and helped soothe the pain that Baal and Misery put her through.

I remember my father.

I remember his death.

I remember leaving the city in search of a way to honor his legacy.

She still didn’t know what happened to her in the missing two years, but it didn’t matter right now. She knew where her future would take her.

I left to become someone that can truly help this city. And now I’m in the position to accomplish that.

She turned away from the hospital and back towards the city. Valhalla had a new protector. It was time everyone met the Suicide Blonde.