Watchmen: Red Son
**
The Rorschach's Column, New Frontiersman
**
Yesterday, I followed Major Daniel Dreiberg, of the USAF, around to the house of former vigilante Eddie Blake. Blake was nice, offered me lemonade, but when I mentioned him serving with the superior of Major Dreiberg, he was nervous. I also brought up his combat records, his sniper records. He then asked me to leave. I suspect he is up to something, involving the military. Is it possibly to do with Dr. Nuclear? Rumor has it, the legendary scientist Dr. Adrian Veidt is on a team that plans to find Doctor Nuclear's weakness. I must investigate further on this.
**
The Rorschach followed the Major to the base, and then realized he didn't have to wait outside with binoculars. Carefully, the Rorschach pulled a tag on his belt, and a colorless gas came out. It altered the molecular composition of Rorschach's mask and gloves, and making them more like fabric. Walter tucked them away in his jacket pocket, and walked towards the base.
"Walter Colfax to see Major Dreiberg," he said
The guard behind the booth shifted position.
"Pass, please." the guard ordered
Walter handed over his ID.
"OK, go on in."
**
"Mister Colfax," Dreiberg stood in the officer's game room, in front of the pool table, "Good of you to come. Can I get you a drink?"
"Coffee, six cubes," Walter said
"Coming right up," Dreiberg walked to the bar, "Let me introduce these guys. The man by the dart board is my superior officer, Colonel Hollis Mason."
Walter looked at the man. He was smoking a cigar, grinning like a madman. He had a very thick moustache.
"The guy over here is Captain Rolf Muller," Dreiberg banged on the table, next to a passed out man, "And that girl by the cigarette machine is Drill Sergeant Ursula Zandt."
Walter looked over. The Drill Sergeant was a woman with a bob-haircut, smoking from a long holder.
"I heard about her in the news. I thought she couldn't enlist since she was…"
"Special order by President Nixon."
"Hurm…" Walter muttered
**
The two of them sat down at the bar, and talked.
"So, as I understand, you're the government liaison with the Nite Eagle program?" Walter asked
"Yeah," Major Dreiberg took a big gulp of his beer, "Whatever Nite Eagle needs I get it for him. His Eagle-Ship was my design."
"Could I see it?"
"Well…OK, just this once. You can meet the scientists at the same time."
**
The two of them walked to a hangar on the other side of the base. Walter saw the Nite-Eagle's ship; it was an airship, designed with no corners. It had a white front, but the rest of it was pitch black. Two portholes in the front glared liked the eyes of the aforementioned bird, and a large beak stuck out at the front.
"Lack of corners prevents it from being detected by radar," Dreiberg said, "And the beak lets it slash through enemy barrage balloons."
"Impressive," Walter said, "Could I take a picture?"
"No, it's a top secret design. Now, if you'll follow me, the scientists are through here."
**
Walter met the scientists, who were an odd bunch. They all lived in fear of Major Dreiberg, especially a Dr. Veidt. Major Dreiberg had given him a wedgie right in front of Walter, who had left after feeling uncomfortable. He soon got back to his apartment, and saw that Laurie was back from work.
"Hey Walter," she said,
"Hi, Laurie," he replied, kissing her, "How did the flying lessons go?"
"Fine. How is…" she waved her hands in front of her face
"Huh…oh, The Rorschach. I used him to follow Major Dreiberg, but then I didn't need him. Dreiberg's heavily involved with the Nite Eagle…"
**
At Rockefeller Base…
**
Dreiberg was disappointed by Colfax's visit. He had expected the editor of his favorite newspaper to be more abrasive, tougher. Still, he had work to do.
"Danny boy, are you ready?" Colonel Mason asked
"Yeah,"
Dreiberg reached to the bookcase, and opened it up. He disappeared inside it, and came out wearing a grey suit with a cowl shaped like an eagle's head, and a brown and white cape. He wore brown briefs and had a belt containing many weapons he invented himself.
"Ready, Nite Eagle?" Mason asked
"I'm ready," grinned Dreiberg
**
Nite Eagle and Mason walked to the Eagle-ship.
"Your mission is to assassinate that investigative reporter that came by earlier," Mason explained, "Use any means necessary, but try to avoid civilian casualties."
Nite Eagle nodded, and climbed up a steel ladder into the Eagle-Ship. Inside, it had a red light illuminating the cockpit, plus two seats. There were lighted switches everywhere. Nite Eagle took a seat, and fired up the engines. The Eagle-ship glided out silently into the night…
**
Walter sat in his study, monitoring radio transmissions. He was writing down the crime reports on the police scanners, seeing if there was anything needing investigation. In the background, he had a jazz record playing: You're my thrill, by Billie Holiday. He was having a good time, when suddenly, there was a loud warning sound. Walter banged on the desk, and a hidden tracking screen slid up. It was built to detect anything radar resistant. Something was coming towards him. Walter immediately got up, and looked out the window, where the object was coming from: nothing in sight. Walter switched on a pair of high-intensity halogen lamps, and saw what it was: the Eagle-ship.
"Oh no…" he growled
Walter stepped back into his study, and then into the kitchen. Laurie was making dinner.
"Laurie, get out of the apartment," Walter ordered
"What is it?" Laurie asked nervously
"Just do it!"
**
Walter walked back into the study, and heard the front door close. He opened up the light switch, and pressed the button beneath it. Titanium panels slid over the windows, providing some protection. Nite Eagle wouldn't be able to take him out from a distance, even with armor piercing bullets. Suddenly, there was a loud hissing sound, and Walter turned around to see a burning circle in one of the panels. The circle fell down, and Nite Eagle stepped through. He carried a deadly looking weapon in his hands.
"Walter Joseph Kovacs?" he asked
"That's Colfax," Walter reminded
"Please. That's just a pen-name."
"You're one to talk, Nite Eagle. Or should I say…"
Walter turned on a projector resting on his desk. It showed security footage of a Nite Eagle changing his costume. Nite Eagle in the footage had Dreiberg's normal sour look. The real Nite Eagle had a terrified look on his face.
"Major Dreiberg? And don't worry about the tape; if I'm killed then there are about ten other people with the tape who will release it upon learning of my death."
Nite Eagle lowered the gun. Although he didn't show it, he was terrified. The idea of people knowing his secret identity was scary. And Walter being a journalist…he couldn't force every American to keep quiet, he couldn't relocate them all.
"Don't release the tape," Nite Eagle croaked
"I won't. But I need a favor from you."
"Anything."
"I hear that you and your team are going to the USSR, to meet Dr. Nuclear, maybe even assassinate him."
"So?"
"I want the New Frontiersman's top reporter with you."
"You don't mean…"
"Yes. I want you to take The Rorschach…"