Matthew was sitting at his workbench,fine tuning some of the new additions to his helmet and uniform.When a golden yellow glow began to fill the room. Matthew was pretty sure what was happening,but grabbed for his stun pistol,just to be safe. Sure enough Matthew's older brother,Hector appeared in the room.
" Hey Hec,what are you doing here?I heard Dr.Fate and the JSA were in the shit."
" We were, but it was taken care of,not that big a deal."
"Cool. So you just passing through? or did Mom ask you to check up on me?"
" Both.You know how Mom gets.All piss and vinegar on the outside,but a normal mom when it comes to us kids.Plus we didn't have a chance to talk the other night.So here I am"
"There's not much to talk about Hector,I've made my decision,and I'm sticking to it."
"Good,glad to hear it,because you have my complete support.I know how tough it can be to live in Dad's shadow.Why do you think I became the Silver Scarab and not Hawk something or other."
" And then Sandman,and now Dr.Fate."
Smiling Hector said." Ha.Alright I guess I have changed my identity a few times."
"Hec you change id's more often than The Raiders change cities." They both laughed at that last comment.
" Ok,ok.This isn't pick on Hector hour.I came to check on you.So you come up with a new codename?"
"Yep,but I sure as hell aint telling you.You'll spill your guts to Mom,like always."
"I wouldn't do that"
"Hector when it comes to Mom you are a wuss.Dr.Fate may be tough but compared to Mom,you are a grade A pussy.You just can't keep a secret around her."
"Alright,Matt you win.We'll talk about something else."
"I will tell you this much,I'm still a flyer.It's what I've trained my whole life to be.Besides I love it too much to give it up."
"That's good to hear.I'm proud of you Matt."
" Hey you'll never guess who came for a visit the other night." Hector shook his head."Who"
"Daniel."
"How is that son of mine?"
"Good,He sends his love,and said that Dr.Fate should come visit his only son more often."
"Ha,you tell him the next time for me.That the King of Dreams can still make time for his Mother,she misses him. Look at the time ,I got to run,come see me when you unveil you new self ok."
"I will Hector count on it,thanks."
" I didn't do anything."
"You were here,that's good enough.Tell Lyta, Hi for me."
" I"ll do that." Then he was gone.
Matt worked the rest of the day with a big smile on his face,it was good to see his brother. It was almost dawn when Matthew realized everything was now complete. His new uniform,helmet,wings,everything down to the last detail was ready.He rubbed his sore and itchy eyes then stepped back from his work area to take it all in.It was perfect,this is who he was always meant to be,what he had trained for. He went to the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face. "Now's the time for a field test" He said to his reflection in the mirror. Matthew went back into the workshop and started dressing.First he pulled on black,Lycra-Kevlar weave pants,with gray piping down the sides.Then he got into his gray knee-high leather boots.Next he put on a white leather loin-cloth,he took this idea from Native American designed clothing.He didn't know why he did it ,just that it felt right while designing his new look.Then his pouch belt went on,along with the holster for his stun gun,which he strapped to his thigh.Now he got his wrist-forearm gauntlets in place.Finally he got into his wing harness,he was ready. He stood for a few minutes to look himself over in the full length mirror.There was one item from his old uniform he refused to change,and there it was right in the middle of his bare chest.The red harness buckle with the black Hawks head emblem in the center.Matthew considered this his family crest and it would never change,no matter what costume he wore. Grabbing his helmet off the table he went to the roof.Standing there watching the sun rise he felt a just bit nervous. "It's now or never"Matthew told himself. Matthew took a deep breath,held it,then exhaled,he felt better.He put his helmet on,cycled through his lenses to normal vision,then moved to the ledge of the roof,and jumped. He was soaring through the crisp morning air with a new found joy,if you were there and listened close,you would have heard laughter. In the doorway to the roof a tear ran down a father's cheek and a smile crease his lips. The Peregrine was born.
****************************************************************************** Hope you enjoy this story,this is all for now.But Matthew.The Peregrine will be back in future tales.
" Hey Hec,what are you doing here?I heard Dr.Fate and the JSA were in the shit."
" We were, but it was taken care of,not that big a deal."
"Cool. So you just passing through? or did Mom ask you to check up on me?"
" Both.You know how Mom gets.All piss and vinegar on the outside,but a normal mom when it comes to us kids.Plus we didn't have a chance to talk the other night.So here I am"
"There's not much to talk about Hector,I've made my decision,and I'm sticking to it."
"Good,glad to hear it,because you have my complete support.I know how tough it can be to live in Dad's shadow.Why do you think I became the Silver Scarab and not Hawk something or other."
" And then Sandman,and now Dr.Fate."
Smiling Hector said." Ha.Alright I guess I have changed my identity a few times."
"Hec you change id's more often than The Raiders change cities." They both laughed at that last comment.
" Ok,ok.This isn't pick on Hector hour.I came to check on you.So you come up with a new codename?"
"Yep,but I sure as hell aint telling you.You'll spill your guts to Mom,like always."
"I wouldn't do that"
"Hector when it comes to Mom you are a wuss.Dr.Fate may be tough but compared to Mom,you are a grade A pussy.You just can't keep a secret around her."
"Alright,Matt you win.We'll talk about something else."
"I will tell you this much,I'm still a flyer.It's what I've trained my whole life to be.Besides I love it too much to give it up."
"That's good to hear.I'm proud of you Matt."
" Hey you'll never guess who came for a visit the other night." Hector shook his head."Who"
"Daniel."
"How is that son of mine?"
"Good,He sends his love,and said that Dr.Fate should come visit his only son more often."
"Ha,you tell him the next time for me.That the King of Dreams can still make time for his Mother,she misses him. Look at the time ,I got to run,come see me when you unveil you new self ok."
"I will Hector count on it,thanks."
" I didn't do anything."
"You were here,that's good enough.Tell Lyta, Hi for me."
" I"ll do that." Then he was gone.
Matt worked the rest of the day with a big smile on his face,it was good to see his brother. It was almost dawn when Matthew realized everything was now complete. His new uniform,helmet,wings,everything down to the last detail was ready.He rubbed his sore and itchy eyes then stepped back from his work area to take it all in.It was perfect,this is who he was always meant to be,what he had trained for. He went to the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face. "Now's the time for a field test" He said to his reflection in the mirror. Matthew went back into the workshop and started dressing.First he pulled on black,Lycra-Kevlar weave pants,with gray piping down the sides.Then he got into his gray knee-high leather boots.Next he put on a white leather loin-cloth,he took this idea from Native American designed clothing.He didn't know why he did it ,just that it felt right while designing his new look.Then his pouch belt went on,along with the holster for his stun gun,which he strapped to his thigh.Now he got his wrist-forearm gauntlets in place.Finally he got into his wing harness,he was ready. He stood for a few minutes to look himself over in the full length mirror.There was one item from his old uniform he refused to change,and there it was right in the middle of his bare chest.The red harness buckle with the black Hawks head emblem in the center.Matthew considered this his family crest and it would never change,no matter what costume he wore. Grabbing his helmet off the table he went to the roof.Standing there watching the sun rise he felt a just bit nervous. "It's now or never"Matthew told himself. Matthew took a deep breath,held it,then exhaled,he felt better.He put his helmet on,cycled through his lenses to normal vision,then moved to the ledge of the roof,and jumped. He was soaring through the crisp morning air with a new found joy,if you were there and listened close,you would have heard laughter. In the doorway to the roof a tear ran down a father's cheek and a smile crease his lips. The Peregrine was born.
****************************************************************************** Hope you enjoy this story,this is all for now.But Matthew.The Peregrine will be back in future tales.