Hunting Heroes: A Superhero Novel (8 page)

Patriot paused and let his eyes wander. “He’s a good man with a good head on his shoulders. I see how they look at each other. I never found what you and Liz had or what Zoe has with Crimson. I found her at least and I have the Assembly. In addition, being almost 50 and having to start dating again? I’d rather fight an old nemesis like Coldfire or Ultimate.”

“Ultimate, now there was a terrifying adversary,” Sage said while his eyes darted back in forth in his head. “You’re super strong, he’s on another level.”

Patriot took a slow deep breath. “Yes, he was. Well, time to get back to work. Someone has to go to shake some hands in Washington tomorrow morning. How did I end up with this job?”

“You’re the face, the embodiment of being a hero,” Sage said. “They don’t want to talk to Afflicted like me or Bloodhound who work behind the scenes. They want to shake hands with the hero who rushes into a burning building or jumps in front of a car to save a civilian. It’s your job now. You are the voice of the Assembly.”

“Don’t remind me,” Patriot said.

“Before I forget,” Sage said, “which we both know is unlikely. Next time you get the urge to pull someone from a car crash at least wear the costume. You’re putting Zoe in danger.”

Sage grabbed the files on Granite and Shadow Guard from the desk. “Thank you,” Sage said over his shoulder while he walked to the door.

Patriot frowned. “For what?”

Sage stood with a hand on the door handle. His shoulders slumped, eyes glued to the floor. “For being there for me after I lost Liz. I would not have made it without you and Zoe. The memories, they do not want to leave, they linger and they hurt. Thank you for standing by me and trying to keep me involved in the daily comings and goings of the Assembly.”

“We are your family,” Patriot said.

Sage sniffed his nose and rubbed a tear away.

“You don’t have to thank us. We’ll fight those memories off together,” Patriot said.

Sage pulled the door open and managed to crack a smile. “I hope we can, for the both of us.”

Chapter Nine

Garrett sat on the couch, his body hunched over, eyes glued to the floor. His scarred hands turned a nasty shade of white from the grip on his navy blue mask and gloves. He held his breath whenever he stole a glance in the direction of Ethan’s bedroom door.

He counted to five in his head and on cue Ethan burst forth from his room, like a dragon disturbed from its slumber.

“I cannot let you do this again,” Ethan rushed Garrett with his arms spread, his face a deep shade of crimson when he spoke. “You can’t go to a guy’s house you think might be an Afflicted.”

Garrett rolled his eyes and picked up the black backpack from the floor between his legs. He shoved the mask and gloves inside with a groan.

“I’m going,” Garrett stood from his seat on the couch.

“No, you can’t. It’s too soon,” Ethan said.

Garrett turned to face his friend. “It’s been almost three months since I fought Granite. Three months of following this guy around. I did my research, I know it is him. You’re not going to stop me.” Garrett zippered up the backpack and slung it over his shoulder.

“You can’t do this. What if you’re wrong?” Ethan said. “You can’t go breaking into people’s homes because you think they’re in the Assembly. Would you want someone breaking down our door?” Ethan stepped forward to block his way.

Garrett hopped onto the couch and jumped over the back to face his friend.

“You think they wouldn’t come into our apartment?” Garrett said. “I’m not playing this game of what’s right and wrong with you. It’s too late already, my mind’s made up.”

Garrett stepped up to Ethan, their faces inches apart from each other. “This is not a debate. I’m going whether you like it or not.”

Ethan spun around on his heels, his fists clenched by his side. “I saw what you did to Granite. I watched the paramedics drag him out of the bathroom. I didn’t think you were capable of something like so brutal.”

“I did what had to be done,” Garrett poked his thumb into his chest. “What do you think, we slap each other for a bit and it’s over? This is what it means to get justice. It’s brutal, it’s bloody and it hurts.”

“I don’t know about this anymore. You are getting cocky, and I think you are starting to like this too much. Now, you are following this guy because you saw an address on Granite’s phone. It’s getting out of hand. You know what pisses me off the most? You hid it from me.”

Garrett furrowed his brow. “Going too far? You’re telling me now, after I’ve taken down two of the Assembly. Screw you.”

Ethan stood in silence, his lips drawn tight.

Garrett sat against the back of the couch and crossed his arms over his chest. “This guy Walter, if this guy is Sage, he is going to send a message to Patriot like no one else.”

“Are you listening to yourself?” Ethan said. “You don’t think it’s strange he had a email on his phone with Sage’s address. It’s not weird to you?”

Garrett refused to meet Ethan’s eyes. “Granite was a careless moron. We’ll see what happens when I talk to him.”

Ethan snorted and stepped away from Garrett. “You’re not going to talk to him. You’re going to beat him senseless like the others. Promise you won’t get Denise involved in this.”

Garrett raised an eyebrow, glaring at his best friend. “How many times do I have to tell you I won’t? Stop it already. She has no freaking part in any of this.”

Ethan stopped at the threshold to his bedroom door. “I don’t know what’s going on with you anymore. Be smart about this for once.” 

“I am being smart about this,” Garrett said. “I’m not rushing in there like an idiot. I have done this before. You have seen what I can do. If it is him, I’ll talk to him before I beat him senseless as you put it. Just to make you happy. If this guy is Sage, we’ll be one step closer to Patriot and the end of this.”

“I do hope this ends with Patriot,” Ethan said. “You are going down a path I don’t know where you’ll end up. I can only imagine how tempting this power is over the Afflicted. Stay in control for the rest of us. Think about your family for once.”

Garrett set his jaw, his arms swung while he walked to the door. “I’m not tempted by this power, even though you don’t believe me anymore. I hate knowing this power is inside me, but I am in control. This is not about power. It’s about justice for Emma.”

“Don’t…” Ethan rubbed his eyes. “Don’t keep bringing her into this, because you have taken her death and you let it take over your life. I should have said something sooner, maybe it would’ve stopped you.” He walked into his room, slammed the door closed and caused a picture of the three of them to crash to the floor.

Garrett walked over to the picture and picked it up. He stared at the young girl in the photo through the broken glass. “This is for you and the ones like you,” he said in a somber tone while he placed the photo back on the hook. He ran a finger over the face of Emma in the photo, swallowing down the lump in his throat.

“I’m sorry, Ethan. It’s too late for me to turn back,” he whispered and walked out the door.

Chapter Ten

Fire licked at the remnants of the log inside the black marble fireplace. Puffy grayish smoke escaped through the chimney into the cold January air. A bald man faced the fire with sadness in his eyes. A half-empty glass of a murky brown liquid hung loosely from his fingers and also coated his breath.  His eyes enthralled by the fire. Every few minutes he glanced to the mantle and the series of dusty picture frames filled with smiles, adventures and his wife. A squeak of a kitchen floorboard turned his lofty gaze to the edge of darkness outside the warmth of the fireplace.

He straightened in his chair and peered into the darkness. His eyes met a dark blue shadow, which moved towards him. A smirk crept across his face. “You should avoid making so much noise next time.”

Garrett swore to himself for his inability to remain silent. He scanned the house and listened for an ambush.  He gave a slight sigh and stepped forward into the den. Two soft light black leather chairs faced the large fireplace, which stretched up a point above the vaulted ceiling. He surveyed the room and marked possible escape routes if things did not go his way.

“I’ll keep it in mind for the next time,” Garrett said in a raspy voice. He flexed the fingers of his left hand to get accustomed to the new addition to his costume. The dark gray gauntlet he had stolen fit him pretty well, with some toying of the leather straps it fit him snuggly. Now all he had to do was get used to the additional weight on his left arm.

“Are you confident there will be a next time?” Sage turned away from Garrett to face the fire. He peeked out of the corner of his eye. “You are not what I expected.”

Garrett shrugged off the comment and glanced around the room. He didn’t expect Sage to be patiently waiting for him in a comfy chair with a drink in his hand.

“Nice house by the way. I didn’t think the Assembly paid so well.” Garrett noted the sheer size of the house. “I thought there would be more gadgets around here.”

“I don’t bring my work home with me,” Sage glanced over at the stack of designs on the floor. “Most of the time. Where are my manners? Please have a seat.”

“I’ll stand,” Garrett lowered his head, his legs were wound up and ready to bolt.

“It seems Granite was careless and here you are,” Sage said. “I wondered what took you so long. I saw you lurking near my home for months now. I’m assuming you wanted to be cautious. It is understandable given the current state of your relationship with the Assembly. Please don’t be alarmed, I have not contacted anyone. I have questions for you.”

Garrett hesitated from the unexpected gesture. “You have questions for me? Even after what I did to Shadow Guard and Granite? You understand why I am here. This is not a Q & A. I don’t know what questions you have for me.”

Sage motioned to the chair across from his own. “I cannot help it, I crave knowledge. You my blue garbed friend are a question I would very much like answers to. Please entertain me and have a seat. Nothing will happen to you in my home, I give you my word. You can trust a member of the Assembly can’t you?”

Garrett shuffled his feet while he decided if he should take up Sage’s offer. “No, I have zero trust for anyone who has the nerve to call themselves heroes. Calling yourself a hero doesn’t make you one.”

Sage nodded with a raised eyebrow. ”That is true and your trust in me is understandable. If I wanted to capture you or worse, this conversation would not be happening.” Sage said before Garrett could speak. Please, sit down for a moment.”

Garrett groaned and grabbed the high back of the vacant leather chair near him. His eyes never left the aging hero. He would try Ethan’s approach and talk to the man.

“Is that why you let me stroll in here?” Garrett asked, tapping his steel covered fingers on the leather armrest. “To probe me with questions?”

The corners of Sage’s mouth curved in a taunt smile. “Precisely, nice memento by the way. Shadow Guard was not too happy about losing a piece of his uniform, nor was I. I made it for him. Please do not lose it. It’s one of a kind and the alloy which was used to forge the gauntlet was quite difficult to synthesize.” Sage took another sip from his drink.

“I’ll do my best,” Garrett said in a throaty tone.

“And you can drop the phony voice. It doesn’t suit you,” Sage said.

Garrett grew tense at the bravado Sage displayed. He wasn’t sure if Sage was reckless or if it was the liquid courage he consumed. “I bet you know every little detail about what I’ve done.”

Sage bit his plump lower lip. “I do.”

“What happened to you?” Garrett asked. “You’re nothing like I remember you from when I was a kid. You were this cool calculating scientist with those gadgets. Now, you’re this guy.” Garrett waved his right hand up and down before him.

Sage’s chin pointed at Garrett, then to the pictures on the mantle above the fireplace. “Well, I’m in my mid 40’s, age is what happened. I lost my wife to cancer last year.  With my gift, I can replay every second of her last days in my mind. Seeing her immense pain over and over again like it happened minutes ago. Having super intelligence also brings with it uncanny memory unfortunately.”

“Powers always come with a price,” Garrett watched Sage’s eyes drift, lost in a random thought. He noted Sage’s expression darken and wondered if his eyes appeared the same when he thought of Emma.

Sage took a swig from his glass. “Excuse me, those last memories still haunt me and quite suddenly. Now, where were we?”

“That’s why you shaved your head,” Garrett eased back into the chair. His Afflicted sense continued to drone on throughout his body. He paid it little attention.

“Yes, I shaved it when my wife was going through chemo,” Sage rubbed his baldhead. “I decided to keep it.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Garrett said. “Even though I know my words don’t mean anything to you. I am sorry.”

“Thank you for your condolences,” Sage directed his full attention back to the masked young man dressed in blue. “I can see pain in those blue eyes of yours.”

Garrett drew his lips tight underneath his mask.

“There is the reason for your hunts,” Sage said. “The pain of loss leaves its mark on us. We lose the spark, the will to push forward and meet the day head on. Elizabeth was my spark, my anchor, the key to illuminate my soul. I am truly lost without her.”

Garrett took a slow deep breath. “I’m marked like you in many ways then. We both lost someone and we are both cursed. Is that what you want to hear?”

“I assumed as much,” Sage scooted his large body forward in his chair. “It was a woman, I’m guessing.”

Garrett stared at the superhero with a solemn expression across his hidden face.

“It always is, isn’t it?” Sage said.

Garrett did not respond, he did not need to.

Sage raised his bushy right eyebrow. “Women have a way of making men do great good or great evil. You have chosen the latter path because of your loss. I wish you reconsidered. Are you ready to face the consequences of your actions?”

Garrett directed his eyes to the fireplace. “Of course, or I wouldn’t be here. I know what I’m doing and why I’m doing it.”

Sage straightened his back. “Good, make sure you are ready to face the full force of the Assembly if you choose to continue your quarrel with us.”

“There is no turning back,” Garrett said.

“I understand,” Sage paused for a second and his eyes lit up. “Patriot took her from you didn’t he? You mentioned to Granite you were coming for the boss. I assumed it would be him.”

Garrett’s pulse began to race at the mention of Patriot. He dared not to budge his eyes from the fireplace.

“The public perceives him to be the leader of the Assembly,” Sage said. “Out of the three founders, he is the only one with any accidental civilian deaths. Bloodhound and I are not as direct in our methods. Our abilities require a bit more finesse then punching things.”

Garrett furrowed his brow and listened.

“Fourteen accidental deaths in total to save thousands,” Sage said. “Those who were saved cannot be calculated exactly. It is quite bothersome for me. From a statistical standpoint his casualty to save ratio is extraordinary. It is better than extraordinary, it is almost perfect.”

Garrett released a loud sigh. “Almost perfect still means innocent people died.” Garrett said in a low voice.

Sage looked up to a picture on the mantle. “How many would have died if not for him? Elizabeth would agree with you on your assessment.”

“Accidental deaths,” Garrett clenched both of his fists. “It’s ridiculous how you define those people who lost their lives because of him. This is why you all need to be taught a lesson.”

Sage’s chair squeaked when he slid back. “What would you call it then?”

“I’d call it murder,” Garrett said in a low voice.

“I can tell one of the oldest and most archaic emotions drives you, revenge,” Sage said. “The courts always found him not guilty. They ruled they were accidental or placed blame on the other Afflicted. Patriot is the symbol of the United States. He represents the ideals we stand for. The city of Chicago has embraced Patriot as their protector. We founded the Assembly with the blessing of the United States government and the local government. A murderer could not do that.”

Garrett swung his head around to face Sage. “Someone has to speak up for those people who were killed. They’re buried underneath a mountain of lies to protect him. The villain was held accountable and the hero walked away. That is coming to an end. I have the power to do it. No one stands up for the lost anymore, but damn it, I will.”

Sage watched Garrett through the bottom of his glass. “Don’t use their memory for your own personal crusade against Patriot. You could care less about those people. You want revenge for the person who was taken from you. At least be honest with yourself.”

Garrett lowered his eyes. “You don’t know me.”

“Do you think taking the powers of people who actually protect this city is going to hurt Patriot?” Sage asked. “It hurts the people of Chicago, you’re taking protectors off the streets. Your selfish crusade is going to cost more lives. Are you going to step forward and take accountability for those losses then? What about when the other Afflicted start banding together again and the good Afflicted are gone or driven into hiding. What then?”

Sage downed the remainder of his drink and rose from his chair.

Garrett slid forward and his hands gripped the armrests.

“No need to be alarmed,” Sage shook the glass. “I’m fixing myself another drink. Would you care for one? I have the good stuff.”

“No thanks, I don’t drink on the job,” Garrett watched his enemy move about without a care in the world. It somewhat bothered him his reputation had no effect on the half-drunk superhero.

“Suit yourself,” Sage poured himself another drink from the crystal decanter on the bar near his chair.

“I didn’t expect to find you in your pajamas,” Garrett said.

“What do you expect?” Sage let out a hearty chuckle. “It’s almost midnight and I’m at home. We don’t sleep in our uniforms,” Sage nestled back into his chair and he nipped at his drink. “Now, where were we? Oh yes, the Assembly, the Afflicted and how we’re evil, except for you of course.”

Garrett waved his index finger. “I didn’t say that. Everyone was fine before the Afflicted came along. They will be fine when they are gone. Come on, we both know Granite was a complete idiot. He was vain, egotistical, and had a violent temper. He’d get himself killed sooner or later.”

“It’s possible,” Sage said. “But, when it comes to the Afflicted anything is possible.”

“Or worse,” Garrett said. “He would add another father, mother, brother or sister to your accidental death stat. I saw how he treated people. He thought he was better than them because he had powers. He deserved what he got. Shadow Guard was in the wrong place at the wrong time and he was easy to find.”

“How you attacked Granite was brutal to say the least,” Sage said. “You broke his nose, knocked out 3 of his teeth, not to mention the stitches. It was quite savage.”

Garrett turned away to face the fireplace. “I’m not proud of it. But, it is what it is. It’s what had to be done.”

“Assaulting two members of the Assembly had to be done?” Sage’s voice deepened. “Do you understand the full ramifications of your actions? Patriot will not hold back, he never has.”

“Maybe if he did, we wouldn’t be here,” Garrett said.

Sage’s heavy eyelids narrowed. “You don’t remember the crime or the corruption in this city?”

“No,” Garrett said.

“You were still too young then,” Sage said. “He was the first one of us to stand up to it, in a tacky brown trench coat and goggles. He inspired the rest of us to step out of the shadows, to show our gifts to the world.”

“There were others before him,” Garrett said.

“Yes, it wasn’t long after Patriot burst onto the scene. He made the people of this city believe they could fight back and they did. They raised him up on their shoulders as their hero, their savior. It is what makes him a legend and more than a man with gifts and goggles.”

“You think too much of him,” Garrett said. “He drove the gangs, the dealers, the corrupt politicians deeper into hiding. I remember reading about the retaliation by the gangs.”