Doomsday Clock Strikes to Ten
Part 2
"You know, this isn't so bad! I don't know why you're so bummed about this." Annie said, trying to make the entire trip a lot more positive than it seemed. Her partner in this endeavor, the former "Kid Camo" grumbled with his new suit and rebrand under Olympia, clearly, he expected more out of this whole gig.
"I thought they promised us to be making a difference… What the hell was all that bullshit training for, then Annie?" Camo as he was now called, said. Underneath the more streamlined and professional mask, Jason could only frown as they continued walking side by side.
"You forget that this is Olympia we're talking about Jason. Surprising everybody is practically all they do… so I wouldn't worry much. I trust Chiron, don't you as well? You know that he does everything with good intentions, despite all the pain… and uh, torture." She punctuated with a playful funny tone in her words.
A smirk appeared on his face. Annie had not even heard about Kid Camo much before her acceptance into Olympia's Inaugural Class, nor his team, the very seldom talked about Super Duper. A group of good-natured Enhanced individuals that stood with the utmost sincerity and honor with their role as heroes. This was also the same reason why they were seldom heard about compared to others that were more popular…
"I know… it's just I thought it would feel, different, you know? I guess I just kind of expected the kind of job that they do up there." Jason admitted, as a race of conflicting emotions rattled on his face much to Annie's observation, but those doubts and questions forced him to show some guilt. "I don't want to sound ungrateful because I am really thankful for this opportunity. I mean, we're taught by one of Olympia's heroes, Annie. We see most of them daily back in HQ, those same heroes that we hear in the news or the kind that people talk and rave about daily… it's just mind-blowing that from the many candidates chosen… they chose me and my team. Amongst thousands, no less."
Jason smiled lightly, emotions filled with joy and surrealness appeared on his face.
"The rejects, when there's probably thousands or hundreds out there with better powers, skill, and potential and I'm walking here in disbelief and doubt that it's all true."
Annie lamented on those thoughts, of course, she could not truly relate to his plight exactly because her brand, or at least her name was still quite popular in her hometown compared to Super Duper who was sometimes scorned or defamed for being 'too soft' by some people. She understood that Olympia's presence practically overturned that sentiment quite a bit but she knew Jason and his team were outcasts in the eyes of the Supe community for quite a while back.
Even Vought barely acknowledged or endorsed them that well.
Jason sighs as Annie returns her focus to the present. She then places a supportive tap on the man's shoulder as he nods at her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to spill this much baggage to you… I might've come off as a prick."
His diligence and respectful nature did strike out to Annie as she smiled. In fact, every member of Super Duper was the pitch-perfect picture of the ideal kind, but flawed group of heroes that were aware of their limitations but still served in the role they dedicated themselves to.
She liked that, compared to practically most other Enhanced she had closely known or heard about, who were largely serving their own egos by trying to vie for popularity, those in Super Duper were the complete opposite of it.
"Don't… being honest is a good trait. It might not be the most ideal thing to do in every situation, but it shows that you're someone trustworthy for people to rely on. That's… a rarity in this career, or at least before Olympia that is, and I think the world needs more of that."
She then steps in front of him and points at his heart. "It needs more people like you who have heart…" she then grins. "…and I think that's why you and your friends were chosen."
"You really think so?"
"I do… you're the kind of person that they would gravitate to and that in itself is a testament to your character as a hero." She finished with a grin, making him smile.
"T-Thank you…"
They then continued walking alongside each other again as Jason nodded to himself.
"Y-You're right. If they trust me, then I'll trust them. Even Olympia heroes do mundane stuff and a hero never asks for anything else but to help people…" he whispered to himself. He found some semblance of hope again from his sense of doubt, only to be swatted in the head by a newspaper.
SMACK!
"Ow!"
SMACK!
"Hey!" Annie complained as she too was smacked.
"Such naughty children! Don't you understand that our group was assigned as Lord Don Quixote's team? You are all walking ahead of him when you should be following him instead." A colorfully dressed woman said while holding an ornate, royal fan in her hands. The bespectacled woman, one that Annie and Jason had just met at the start of this operation once again reminded them as to why they felt a bit… disappointed with the task given to them.
"Sancho! Don't be so angry with the zeal of the two young warriors given to our command. They deserve just as much respect as us, with both the warrior's chivalry and spirit, as it should always be!" the voice of an elderly man rang out as Annie watched him, barely reaching up to the height of her abdomen slowly join them with his golden armor and spear that was twice as big and long as he was, yet much like any Olympia hero, he held it as if it was as light as a feather.
"Y-yes! As you say, my lord! But understand, as leader, you should be the one moving forward. Like a flag bearer leading the charge just as the tales of old." Sancho quickly said with as much zeal and support for her master that to Annie and Jason's eyes looked as if the two were related in some manner…
Like Sancho or Princess Sancho as she would like herself to be called, was his granddaughter leading and supporting her grandfather along. Annie smiled a bit at that, her own grandmother was still alive, and she would visit her from time to time so to see this relationship, it just made her nostalgic.
Jason on the other hand, felt again that it was strange that they were assigned to him.
Out of all the other heroes that the Inaugural Team was given to. He felt a bit jealous when he heard Ladyfold being under Drake or as they called her now, Admiral. He was happy for them of course, but at the same time when he looked at the diminutive man before him, he felt as if he got the inferior choice.
He shook his head; he was being ungrateful again.
"Yes, but you forget that to become a unit, one of the most heroic kinds, is for warriors to strike a sense of unity. Camaraderie! Team building as the youngsters say on the television, yes!" the old man enthusiastically said as Sancho and he started to lightly argue.
Even drawing some eyes in the street they were in as people snapped photos.
Annie glanced at Jason with a smirk as he sighed.
This was definitely something that one would not expect from being part of an international hero's organization with that big of a name and influence on the world. Then again, as Annie shrugged to herself, this was exactly what Olympia would do given their… usual proclivities.
She too did not expect to be placed in the command of this old man, who to some research was only heard about through him joining Black Knight in Spain a few times. She was not the kind to complain in circumstances like this given how many surprises Olympia seemingly threw away like candy to the world, but she was very much curious as to why she and Jason were placed in his command.
"But my lord, we've barely accomplished anything yet for today… I believe we and our…" Sancho gestured to Annie and Jason. "…must not doddle on wasting more time than needed."
"Eh? And why are you so eager to do something today, Sancho? Is it perhaps you're already bored of my presence?" Don Quixote said with a raised brow. Sancho, much to Annie's surprise turned instantly beet red in guilt and shame. She bowed her head as her large ears that protruded atop her head furrowed forward like they were wilted flowers.
"N-No! Certainly not my Lord! I'm just worried, given that our goal is merely to-
"HAHAHA! The old man laughed as he placed an encouraging hand on the woman's shoulder. "Fret not! This old knight knows that you are a friend. A companion! The greatest even, so do not doubt that I will mistrust you in any capacity."
Instantly, Sancho's ears stood right back up as her guilt-ridden face quickly turned into the widest, kind smile behind her glasses. Giving her a serene, big sister look that made some people around them start to huddle against each other just to take pictures.
"Y-Yes! Thank you, my lord! You are truly my bravest knight!"
"Haha, that I am… Sancho." The diminutive man then turned to Annie and Jason. "You two! I bet you youngsters think that my service, nay, my command is yet to be given respect, huh?"
Suddenly, Annie felt herself standing ramrod straight from the aura that just came out of the old man, Jason even looked like he was sweating behind his mask. "N-No sir!" they both spoke out aloud as if literally commanded to like the many times Chiron would voice out a sterner opinion.
…as well as other heroes of Olympia as well.
It's like their charisma alone was an ability in itself. Like mental compulsion, but in a good way. The feeling dissipated immediately as the old man proudly stood with his chest puffed out as he carried his banner and spear with grace.
"Fear not of my wrath, fellow warriors. Those who have just been blessed by Lord Chiron himself! Follow me with bright eyes in your gaze, hope and chivalry in your veins, for we are all heroes!" he shouted, as the effect seemed to make the people around them cheer for a moment as Sancho clapped. The old knight relished the support as he raised his banner high. "We are the sword of the morning that defends the weak. We are the shield that keeps the peace for a brighter tomorrow."
Sancho increased her cheers as people were now sort of celebrating in the middle of the road for them. Even Jason felt a smile of joy beginning to tug in his heart as Annie rejoiced.
"So do not doubt in our work. Simple and peaceful as it might seem right now. For danger always lurks in the shadows… and if danger is what you seek, then we must be patient." The old man whispered with a grin filled with excitement as he urged the two trainees to move closer. It gave rise to Jason's own excitement and Annie's peaking interest in another Olympia hero that she was starting to get to know about again.
It was certainly an experience having all of these colorful personalities on Olympia's roster.
Even just beyond that of the Historical/Mythological names (which this Don Quixote was playing to an absolute T), the Olympia Heroes were something else entirely.
"Now… I believe Sancho does have a point, so why don't we-
Everybody stopped when they heard the screech of a runaway car.
"GET AWAY!"
"HELP!"
Screams from the groups of civilians around them started to grow the moment the four heroes saw the car rapidly approaching their destination. It was like the driver was deliberately trying to recklessly endanger anyone that it was coming across in its way.
Cries of panic intensified as Don Quixote, standing tall immediately saw that there were four assailants within the car, and from his enhanced senses, he found that they looked strangely out of focus. Eyes, red and filled with veins as the old knight felt his perception become fast enough that the world became slower compared to the people around him.
BRWOUSH!
The car had rammed a fire hydrant as it dangerously swerved towards the side with enough speed that it was sent flying high into the air. Water gushed upwards as the old knight turned to Sancho and the two trainees.
"Warriors, today we make our names into legend!" he shouted as he leaped into the air with Sancho's claps behind him as the woman placed both her palms forward. The old knight's feet landed on her hands for Sancho to give him a boost.
"FORWARD!" he shouted as he sailed into the air, banner held high along with his shield as glory was in his eyes. The sheer power of his belief and imagination coursing through his veins even though to normal people, it looked horribly ridiculous.
The moment he sailed through the air, the two young heroes, Camo and Starlight nodded at each other. Their inexplicably hard training quickly rushed through their heads as Camo instantly activated his bodily transmutation into a liquid-like state, disappearing almost within a fraction of a second, suit and all into the ground beside Starlight as she raised her own hand.
ERZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
Devices and appliances, anything with an ounce of energy and electricity that coursed through their build funneled to her as her eyes glowed white. The precise control and new avenues presented to her through her training bore fruit as she felt it.
The driver, even with his focus muddled by a substance that was circulating through his body felt the change, along with his two companions before he could swerve to the right to dodge Don Quixote, the visible light funneling into their retinas suddenly produced a current strong enough that a mini controlled explosion essentially burst through their optic nerves.
BRUFT!
"AAGGH!" the driver screamed as all three men lost their ability to see. Blood started to pool from their sightless eyes as Don Quixote finally landed on the car's hood. His banner's spear tip pierced the machine like nothing as it halted the momentum and velocity of the car dead on.
BRWOUM!
Steel and components caved and bent around the old man as he laughed in joy, but before the three men could be forced out of the windows due to the momentum being halted instantaneously, the ground around the car was undergoing transmutation and caught the car as well as its assailants perfectly like the ground had a mind of its own.
"AAHAHAHAHHAHA! See, Sancho? You should have never doubted these youngsters!" Don Quixote said as he seemingly rested on the suspended, dilapidated car as Camo's head formed through one of the asphalt formations that rose under the suspended car.
A smile graced his features as Starlight caught up with them while the people's cheers around them rose quite a bit to their actions.
Sancho walked with grace and proud conviction as she smiled at her lord's enthusiasm.
Yet before everybody could feel calm and collected, a pillar of flame suddenly burst out of the car's roof, accompanied by a rageful scream.
BRWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUSHHH!
One of the blinded men, now bathed in surreal hot flames had emerged from the hole as his companions activated their abilities as well.
"RAAAGHH!" the inferno-covered man screamed as if being reborn.
The pillar of fire was about to hit the running civilians until Camo changed his solid state to that of liquid to quell it. While this was happening, one of the assailants slowly grew rock-like formations from his body and burst through the windshield as a relaxing, unperturbed Don Quixote looked at him.
The display merely piqued his interest
"I have fought many enemies worse and far more powerful than a dolt who pretends to be a golem, so I shall not indulge you with the honor of a duel, instead I shall give you a slap, villain."
The unfazed assailant lunged, his sharp, Enhanced senses guided him with that action, only to be met with a backhand by the old knight's gauntlet.
BRAP!
The simple slap seemingly was strong enough to clear up most of the man's rock-like overgrowths as he landed hard against the asphalt, just a few meters away from Starlight, who had a grin on her face.
Electronic interference once again occurred around her as her form glowed in an ethereal white light before she pointed a finger at the blinded assailant….
SPAZZZZZRRSHHH!
…and a stream of energy instantly disabled him even through his thick skin as it ran through his bones, his nerves, and organs alike, placing him in a controlled, catatonic coma. It would keep him stationary and alive enough that with Olympia's methods, his life would not be in danger, yet.
Starlight was still apprehensive about the whole idea of killing, but given the lessons taught to her by her many teachers during her stay in Olympia, she was not going to hesitate if it risked her, her teammates, or anyone present.
She turned her head towards Camo who was still trying to quickly end his battle with the pyrokinetic until the last of the three druggies (based on their appearance and from the daily intel) forced himself out of the back window of the disabled car.
Starlight immediately noticed that his eyes were healing, meaning that this one's Enhancement had been focused on that particular ability. She was about to fly to intercept the man and stop him quickly, only for her to feel a hand touching her on the forearm, urging her to stop.
She looked down and saw Don Quixote, who looked too relaxed for comfort, yet sported a semi-serious expression. "Stand down lass, everything will be fine."
The last rapidly healing assailant was running away, only to bump into something hard and unmoving as he landed on his own backside.
Much to the confusion of both Starlight and the civilians watching with bated breath around them, was that the person who stopped the man in his tracks was Sancho, who earlier was just near Don Quixote himself.
"Did your parents ever teach you that it's rude to bump into people, especially a lady?"
The rapid healer pulled out a knife as Sancho frowned.
"Such uncouth manners." She said as she pulled out a fan from her dress and unfolded it.
Starlight nearly panicked but Don Quixote held her still as the old man, now looking far sterner with trust in his eyes watched as Sancho faced the enemy by herself. The man charged with a stab as she dodged and elbowed him in the face. Crushing his nose, the princess-looking woman then tripped the dazed healer's legs for him to fall onto the ground as her aura slowly glowed with golden light. Unbeknownst to everyone, Don Quixote's own golden armor slowly transitioned into something much more 'medieval' and practical in nature as gold turned into steel and the frenetic energy of the old man with knight-like fervor turned into wise contemplation.
It was then that the rapid healer suddenly realized that he was no longer healing as fast, meaning that the injuries from the short two moves used by Sancho to disable him had forced him to go unconscious. The ray of golden light also extended upwards as it bathed the pyrokinetic that Camo was holding down, forcing him to revert back to being human, as well as the trainee, much to their shock. Camo immediately hit the man in the face with a punch, trained to perfection to knock someone out cold from Chiron's many exercises.
Annie on the other hand, as well as many others could only stare towards the serene, simple yet comforting aura that Sancho exuded with rays of gold as Don Quixote relaxed beside her. Her own abilities seemingly disappeared outright as the energy she gathered was no longer felt.
It was… hauntingly peaceful and lovely merely staring at the woman as a slew of silent cheers and awes of amazement gathered around Sancho like fireflies. The woman's at-peace expression slowly faded however as even Jason watched with in wonder, realizing why these two were part of Olympia in the first place…
"Beautiful… isn't it?" Don Quixote, for the first time, said with a softened tone in his voice.
Annie and Jason felt goosebumps as they and nearly everyone else watched the two interact with each other.
Sancho walked towards the old knight in such a particular way that everybody in the street seemingly grew silent, even with everything that happened in barely a few minutes.
The woman's precious glow slowly faded out, but her smile and kind features remained as to any normal man or woman watching, it felt as if they were exposed to something special. Something… divine or at least spiritual in nature.
It didn't help that the old knight knelt in front of Sancho, offering his hand as the woman took it. She softly smiled in his direction and spoke…
"Well, done my lord."
…
Annie swayed her feet lightly as she licked her ice cream while sharing a park bench with Jason. The whole mess earlier back in the street had been cleaned relatively quickly. Given that it was obvious to most people that they were Olympia-based, there was more support and fanfare for their presence. Even the most jaded and quiet people tugged a few smiles together, especially with the presence of what the people on social media were already calling the 'old knight and beautiful princess'. A lot of people, just by association with Olympia alone lined up for autographs, especially that of Sancho, yet a lot of people still clamored for Don Quixote.
The old man's zeal promptly returned for a bit as his armor transitioned back again to gold.
It was remarkable and funny seeing the old man relish in some of the glory only to be chastised by Sancho.
By association, this also meant that Jason and she found some recognition as well, with some being surprised that it was Starlight in a new suit and quite a new set of powers (even if they were still the same, just advanced in a certain way). Camo found solace at least in being recognized given that he was now far off from the laughingstock of a hero that he once was where he could not even stabilize his metamorphic transformations. Now, seeing how comprehensive and versatile he was, he quickly drew attention.
Still, amidst all of the praise what surprised the two of them most was the fact that the rest of their day afterward consisted mostly of them helping the town out in some of the most mundane things. Even with the following they got from their actions, the two leading heroes that she and Jason were tasked to follow simply went on with their usual modus operandi, that being people who were readily present to assist with anything that the town needed.
From the simplest action such as helping an older woman cross the road…
To even help a small wedding ceremony that had its priest being unable to attend. Sancho and Don Quixote went the full distance to assist them. Bringing Olympia resources to bear as the relatively small, gathered family experienced a wedding that they would never forget.
Don Quixote even administered some of the finer details of the matrimony himself, aided by Sancho as well as confirmation from their boss in Olympia, the small little wedding became something that Annie felt so happy about.
Jason even accidentally caught the bouquet in the small reception afterward much to the chagrin of the old knight and Sancho.
If only to realize how far they would go in helping people.
Beyond that, the rest of the day was just them assisting most of the town's occupants with what they needed. Especially to those who actually needed help. The two trainees even had to help a local animal rescue shelter that was losing some funding, or Jason alone, helping out a few kids who were being neglected by their parents.
It was a productive day, with only the street fight being the most climactic one, but as Jason and Annie sat to rest from all the hard work with ice creams in hand, they watched the two heroes continuing to help the local townsfolk even in the park with whatever possible assistance there existed that they could supply.
In this case, Don Quixote was helping a little crying girl by trying to get her balloon back as it was stuck on the highest branch of one of the park's trees. Sancho cheerfully and innocently supported the old man as he reached the top and jumped back down in a funny, goofy manner that the crying little girl started laughing. The smile caused Sancho to laugh as well in delight as the old man visibly sighed with a relaxed expression as the little girl and her parent happily thanked them after walking away in good faith.
This amount of empathy and kindness just astounded Annie. She never considered herself as a perfect epitome of good compared to others because she was as flawed as the next person, but it was still strange to Annie seeing all of these Olympia heroes, especially the more valiant ones being this in-depth with how far they would take their chivalry or job as heroes.
And without worry of any recompense or reward of such kind that would be enough to repay for all the work they did for society. These good acts were what they considered 'normal', in fact with the many conversations she had with them, they were all lightly surprised that they were praised as much as the public did, even if such things were normal to them just as breathing was.
She also understood, fully… that their perspectives on what was right and wrong were extreme in a complex sense. From the memories of Atalanta alone bashing someone's brains in for violating the convictions and creed she stood for….
…Chiron admitting that he would not hesitate in taking a side if he found another acceptable…
…Black Knight initiating her war against crime across Europe through violent means if she found someone despicable…
…The Hooded Archer saving that town in the Gehenna Incident yet at the same time slaughtering the Vought stronghold to the very last soul that caused the issue in the first place…
…To even Lancer herself, one of the world's beloved heroes being nearly murderous and cold-blooded against anyone she deemed as an enemy.
It was a startling contrast but given how dedicated and in-depth their level of kindness was, it would certainly be the same for the other side of the spectrum. It was still a calculus that Annie still had a few qualms in trying to understand.
If anything, they represented the idealized versions of what heroes were.
Almost down to the very essence of it.
Fiction turning into blatant reality.
However at the end of the day, what mattered was that Olympia's heroes did so much for the people they truly and definitively helped. Even through the smallest, most mundane things.
Perhaps that was what mattered at the end of the day, perhaps-
"That treat you're eating is melting lass… especially on this sunny day."
Don Quixote's words brought her back to reality as even Jason perked up while the old man slowly got himself to sit on their bench. He groaned with his brittle bones as age seemed to return to him again as both noticed his zeal having gone and his armor returning to its steel-like state.
Jason was about to speak when the old man began to hum.
"Perhaps you ask why this old man is here to talk with you both." He started, his voice becoming sage-like in the way of its thoughtful hum as he looked at them, his mustache portraying a kind, elderly face as Annie and Jason stared. "You remember my words earlier, yes?"
The two nodded.
"Then maybe I can add a bit more."
"Sir?" Jason said the unsaid question as the old man stared into the distance where a few teenagers were playing frisbee, or a few onlookers walking their dogs or simply enjoying their day. The old man settled down with a sigh of relief on the bench as he spoke.
"Adventure, sacrifice, action… those are all traits that I used to love about the many stories I read in my youth. Oftentimes the thrill of fictionalized efforts of greater men and women compared to my prosaic, dull life was what kept me going day by day." He looked at the two of them. "I remember being your age, energy so high that when you put your mind on something, you wish to see it to fruition. An age where nothing ever felt meaningful, or at least there was nothing that would quench that itch that none of us understood, fully."
The old man then pointed at Sancho, who was accepting a few pictures for some fans.
"Glory, fame, or even just the feeling of adrenaline washing down your heart and bones is what gave this old man a jolt of joy back to the memories of a dull, unimpressive youth hoping, imagining a future where that was the constant. Where the feeling of validation was ever-present."
Don Quixote then smiled at them. "But once you're there, it's merely a jolt, a small boost of joy and happiness that recedes faster than you can gain it. It's a temporary lapse of affirmation that disappears once you return to reality."
The two became quiet as they allowed those words to sink in. "It occurred to me that once the fantasy ended, everything just felt shallow and different compared to what it once was. The relative happiness was gone and all you're left with is the knowledge that you've done nothing but being foolish the entire time." They watched as Sancho thanked the people who asked for her autograph as Don Quixote hummed once more in confirmation. "Being remembered as nothing more than a pretty picture, a hero of great power, or any other reason is just temporary and people often forget that. It's as fantastical as trying to reach for that ideal of perpetual vanity when it's an exhaustible resource even from the start."
Jason fell silent with guilt. Annie even began to contemplate her own hopes and dreams as a kid after seeing someone like Queen Maeve being loved by millions of people on TV.
The old man seemingly detected this and patted Annie's leg cheerfully.
Don Quixote chuckled lightly as he resumed his point. "Perhaps this old man is simply saying that for youngsters such as yourself… don't reach for that temporary feeling of happiness." He then watched the teenagers playing frisbee as they piled on each other while laughing in the grass. "Reach for something meaningful, one that lasts. Act on the notion that whatever you do has a lasting, wonderful significance to both yourself and the people around you."
Annie then looked at the ice cream they were eating, recalling that Don Quixote had convinced the man selling it that he would pay him a week's worth of money for all his stock. She felt shocked again to think back about it as she also realized that all of the small, mundane things…
"…because people will remember you not for the vanity you tried to reach, but for how your influence and impact, greatly affected them…"
…. were things that she and many other prospective heroes were taking for granted far too much. It was never about fame, that much she understood, it was about how much one dedicated their time and effort for the 'hero' part of the ideal.
To that extent, both Jason and Annie began to understand why Chiron placed them with him.
"Do you wish to rest, my lord?" Sancho said as she approached them.
Anne then felt the old man rest his head on her lap as Sancho and Jason smiled.
"Only for a bit, this old man still needs to fill his quota for the day." He said with a jest as Sancho knelt in front of Annie and began caressing his hair after removing his helmet. Annie did the same and they let the peaceful surroundings dictate their comfortable reprieve.
"Sleep well, my lord."
"Mmf… this is just a nap. That's all it is."
They all reasonably chuckled at his remark, even if that sentence was just an innocent lie.
Learning quite a lesson from a wise, old man had a significant impact on their own personal perspectives.
Just like what Don Quixote said, any action moving forward needed to mean something.
It needed to be meaningful to how they wanted to live their lives as heroes, going forward.
An old man frustratingly groans as the burn of his latest rum shot took a bit more to digest.
The music in the bar certainly did nothing to help him from his temporary agony as he looked at the newspaper that he brought along on the table he occupied for himself. The headline was clear to his eyes…
"…we are now live on the scene where a sudden messy protest for women's rights was held when the Seven member, 'The Deep' was called to the State of New Jersey's court for allegations against-
It didn't help that the person behind him, who was using his phone, was blaring the news at full volume. Not only was he also talking about it with his friends, but he was also discussing a few things that just made the old man frown a depth further in misery.
The headline in the newspaper alone already ruined his day as he grabbed his things, his keys, and other important belongings, wishing to rid himself of the bustling sounds of the town's more populated establishments.
Sterling, Kansas wasn't much in terms of popularity on the map, but the main reason the old man tolerated the town was because of its silence. Its quiet atmosphere kept most of his frustrations at bay by lulling him to sleep quicker than he could muster for himself.
Yet, after the whole debacle with Vought, even the mostly sleepy and peaceful town became ripe with some activity as people discussed the developments in lieu of that town nearly being massacred weeks before. Even his neighbors became active just from those sentiments, much to the old man's dismay as he opened the door to exit the bar in finality while the chimes above rang at him like they were saying goodbye.
He quickly got into his truck and got the engine running a minute later before staring at himself in the rearview mirror. A rosary hung on it as well as a necklace that contained two pictures.
Pausing, he tried reaching for them as an inevitable sigh escaped his lips.
The mere touch of the pendant invoked older memories as he continued to stare.
A smile appeared in his mind's eye. A little girl walking on a stage after winning a local pageant as her joy was so evident. She happily and excitedly waved at him as he recalled waving back awkwardly with neither a proud semblance of thought in his head nor elation that his daughter won.
That same little girl won again, years later but her smile was just empty with professionalism. Her ire on the stage was still magnificent, but once she exchanged glances with him, he could feel her anger and resentment. The old man recalls walking away in shame as he threw his beer bottle into the ground, wounding himself in the process, but he cared not…
…because tears were only reserved for the weak.
Overwhelmed by such thoughts which rapidly changed from joy to misery, the old man seemingly recoiled with such suddenness from having touched the Rosary. Inwardly, he wanted to rip it off, throw it away, but he just couldn't.
It was far too valuable. It was…
"… for once in your life, maybe you'll look at me not as your goddamn piggy bank, but as your kid. Is that too fucking much to ask?!"
…it was the only reminder he had left of them.
With a gruff, he wished to finally go home, only to turn his head toward the newspaper that he still stupidly brought and looked at the headline once again. The picture of one of the famous all-time heroines stoked with the words "Debauched Sex Symbol Exposed!" in bold with the picture of his daughter's face just made him angry.
Nobody would hear it of course, but he screamed in frustration before ripping the damn thing apart and throwing it out of his window as he angrily drove out of the parking lot, wishing to head home. To end this dreadful night.
The journey was not that far, even with the peaceful yet haunting sparse rows of streetlights dimly illuminating the houses and properties he passed by. His mind was still in a miserable form of stasis and coupled with the degree of inebriation he was in, it felt as if he was just drifting.
Going through the motions just to get home.
He did not even bother to properly get his truck situated by his driveway as he angrily exited his vehicle and began stomping away to his front door….
Only to stop when through his wallowing he noticed that there were figures wearing dark clothes standing outside of his front door.
His eyes widened as he saw that his belongings, his property, and his entire life were broken down and scattered carelessly on his lot.
He froze much as the figures did as well as the sound of glass being shattered and objects either being thrown or broken into oblivion as they were beaten and bludgeoned by the improvised weapons the figures brought.
But no… what forced him to freeze ever so suddenly was when he saw a specific, particular glass vase with its pieces and ashes scattered on the grassy ground. Pictures touched by the ashes of a young girl, a warm smiling woman and that very first pageant of his daughter were strewn close to it.
Emotions bubbled in his wake as the old man clenched his fists in anger, much to the notice of the dark figures. What could he do?
Was he to scream?
Was he to threaten them all by killing them?
What could an old man, fat, useless, and lost nearly all the will to live to do with this-
BRACKSHLL!
A heavy thud was what came after as the old man fell to the ground. The grass tickled what sensation he had left as blood started to pool around his head. There was laughter, there was a pellet of spit hitting his cheek as his frozen expression watched as minutes later, the dark figures burned his house without mercy. The pieces of whatever glass they used to hit him on the head even blinded his left eye as he lost all control of his body.
The old man's consciousness was losing bit by bit as more blood pooled around him. His vision darkened even against the bright, burning flames that looked as if they were reaching the stars. The wind blew some of his wife's ashes into the wind as if freed from his clutches, finally.
Even the pictures of his daughter flew away into the night as his home continued to burn.
The old man's life was without meaning.
His whole history, written with a pale, poor tapestry of trying to use the most important people of his life for financial gain would be judged by many as a terrible fate but justified fate.
The wind blew his wife's ashes away and the pictures of his daughter closed that deal.
Leaving an empty husk of a man who drew his lost breath, whispering…
"Margaret."
Wearing nothing but a set of heavy clothes all finished by a bulky jacket, Margaret Shaw, or in this case, Queen Maeve felt the tension rising in her bones as the slow elevator rose up to her destination. The old thing looked ill-maintained as sounds that she did not appreciate continued to rattle her surroundings.
Oddly enough, the residents of this apartment complex were at least unfazed about it, but she was slightly nervous, for reasons that were beyond this little metal contraption she was in.
"…Homelander sir, what is your stance on the disappearance of Translucent amidst his upcoming trial dates on the fourth of-
Margaret turned her head at the other occupant in the lift, a teenager. Barely older than when she had been in her first major, professional beauty pageant, was looking at her phone with intensive intent. Eyes furrowed in full focus as the sound of John's voice resonated through Margaret's ears with irritability. It was then replaced by the voice of one other hero that Margaret still had qualms with.
"…Eh? Why are you asking me? I don't know the man and if the allegations against him hold any merit, any fucking rapist is no friend of mine. Least of all that creepy invisible idiot."
Margaret still hadn't forgotten her fateful encounter with Lancer many weeks ago. Her opinion on her was still vastly complicated but hating her was never that easy to capitulate on. Mostly because her words stung and hearing her voice right at that moment as the unassuming black teen lackadaisically listened on through her phone with near-religious fervor, showing to Queen Maeve, Margaret herself that she and basically any member of the Seven bar, the blonde idiot was now more or less anathema to the public.
Maybe not in the broadest terms… yet.
However, at the same time, public sentiment was evaporating rapidly day by day, to the point that Margaret had never seen Stillwell and Stan Edgar this quiet than ever before since.
DING!
Margaret shakes her head as she looks at the panel of the elevator. It was her floor, finally. She walks out without issue as the young lady continues to look at her phone as the elevator doors close. She was here on a mission, one of great importance.
One that she was dreading with all her heart, but given recent events…
It was unavoidable and frankly, a necessity that if she ignored it, would cost more than anything in her life moving forward. She was already exhausted from crying far too much.
Exhausted from all the guilt that wrapped up inside of her…
Exhausted that even though she knew what the best path forward was, she just continued to wallow in her own misery because she was too afraid and uncertain of the next step.
Her footsteps echo across the hallway…
Almost as if reflecting on her inaction and indecision toward an ambiguous goal.
Stopping on a particular apartment's doorstep, Margaret raised her hand, ready to knock.
She was about to, but stopped herself short knowing that whatever she would see beyond that door was an image that would hurt her forever.
Still, she had to soldier on, knowing the consequences if she didn't.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
There were mumbling voices behind the door, until ultimately as the sounds of locks started to unravel, she was met by a seven-year-old, looking at her with wide eyes and peanut butter smeared on her lips.
She had curly brown hair and olive-colored skin as she tilted her head to the side in curiosity.
"Hello?" the girl innocently said as Margaret was taken aback.
"H-Hello." She eventually responded with a smile as she revealed more of her face after pulling back the hood of her jacket.
"Are you mommy's friend?" the girl, she figured to be Maya asked as the sounds of footsteps quickly arrived behind her, revealing a slightly worried Elena that had Margaret pause as emotions started to bubble up deep within her.
It's been a long time since they last saw each other, and she was still the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. Trying to smile felt hard at first but she managed as Elena herself paused.
"Hi…" Margaret started.
Elena's pause brought a degree of anxiety for her because she was unsure as to how she would react to her presence since their last meeting was rife with bitter emotions that forced them apart for nearly a few years.
Margaret maintained her smile, much to the awkward tension until thankfully, Elena smiled back.
"Hi…" she responded as she carried Maya into her arms. "W-What are you doing here?"
She was about to explain the reason, only to stop knowing that she didn't want to scare her, or her daughter. Especially with the circumstances that brought her there.
"W-We need to talk." She said with finality as a small frown appeared on her face.
Elena's frown also deepened much to both of their complicated feelings against each other.
TO BE CONTINUED….
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"P-Please! I didn't know okay… I was just paid to give them those vials, I was just-ACK!"
Kimiko moved the dagger ever so slightly forward as it dug into the man's hand further down another level of pain as tears started to drench his face.
She was very disappointed, inexplicably so, even with the discoveries they had garnered thus far. Stepping onto US soil with express permission from her mother and Lord Wodime after she covertly traced many of the remnant Shining Light Liberation Army's supply lines to a small port city in South Carolina, she discovered one of Vought's major Smuggling Hubs where they shipped numerous caskets of the formula that was used in unwilling test subjects around the world.
What she was patiently annoyed by, however, was that these people were cut off directly from any official Vought personnel with their dealings, meaning that they were merely paid to spread these formulas to specific locations with no upfront knowledge of who exactly they were being paid by to do this dirty work.
It would have been easier if this was another drug run by A-Train or some other Enhanced…
But seeing that most of the Shining Light's formulas, barring the ones sent directly by Vought's Enhanced, came from this Supply Hub just made her sneer with all the destroyed lives they created by sending these vile liquids abroad.
She pulled the elegant knife from the man's hand as he writhed and screamed in pain.
"FUCK! You stupid chink bitch!"
Kimiko did not react, even as two more armed guards wielding AK-47s got behind her and aimed their weapons at her.
With a sigh, she stood up and wordlessly lifted her sacred katana from her scabbard in a lazy but precise motion. The action in itself produced a small, refined sound before she closed her weapon back to its scabbard.
SLNT!
Before anyone could even react further, all three assailants within the room had their throats violently slit as blood burst from their veins. They all gurgled to their deaths a few seconds later as Kimiko started walking away without even releasing the full length of her blade out of its sheath.
She then pulled out her phone hoping to call Olympia support to her location, only to see that her mother was calling. She immediately answered it.
"Okaasan…"
"Kimiko-chan! Are you alright? Was the mission successful? Are you unharmed?"
"Yes. I am well." She replied with a small smile.
"That's good! Though, I believe Master had asked for your presence in about three hours, briefing you on your next mission. Will you be alright to take another, so soon?"
"Yes… okaasan. I am ready. Current mission was not difficult, I may continue at full speed."
"Excellent! Thankfully I don't think it would be something so difficult at all for your speed. Namely, I believe Charlotte-san will need your assistance for it."
"Miss Charlotte? Assistance of what kind?"
"Prospective allies that are getting too close for comfort for our grand plans. Charlotte-san merely needs you to double down, and make sure those individuals are on the right path… understood?"
"Yes, okaasan."
Somewhere, an excited Frenchman talking with a woman from his homeland suddenly felt anxious along with the leader of his little team, who felt as if they were being watched even as Charlotte continued to mundanely talk to them about flowers…
AN: Ryan and Largely Queen Maeve POV next chap.