(Here's the next chapter guys.)
Noble Six: Thanks.
Chapter 7: Words or Action?
(New York University, Cafeteria, the next day)
It is later in the day, the young man having felt the utter sting of defeat since last night. Connell barely ate his food, the rejection from the group yesterday still plagued him. He thought he had them on the right side, they were gradually agreeing with him…but he lost them at the end. Apparently most believed superhumans and vigilantes should have oversight, to be part of law enforcement. The young man felt like giving up, he felt like the situation was hopeless.
'Finish your meal, young man. We must converse on this matter in more private chambers.' One of the voices stated.
'Indeed, you must be by yourself for us to reach a conclusion.' Another voices agreed.
Connell silently agreed and proceeded to finish his meal. As he walked back to his dorm, he saw some students smiling and waving at the Sentinels flying overhead. A part of him wanted to curse and scream his hatred of this regime, the fascist state that now controls the United States. But he refrained from such an action and made it back to his dorm then locked it after he entered. He laid down on his bed, his anger and despair gripping his heart.
'Calm yourself boy, this isn't over yet.' One of the voices stated.
'What can I do? Humphrey could barely get anyone to come and they all rejected it as soon as they heard my bit on the heroes!' Connell whimpered.
'This requires action, boy! Not words!' Another of the voices growled yet not in a frustrated manner.
'As much as I wish this could be resolved peacefully, this situation calls for a warrior to rise. Young man, you must carry on the fight your society's guardians died during.' A voice advised sagely.
'I…How can I?...I'm not a mutant, an inhuman, a mutate, magical being, or even a strong human…besides, the government and S.H.I.E.L.D. has a powerful, merciless army at their command. I can't do anything to stop them! Fighting…I…I don't know what to do…' Connell yowled in his mind, sensing no hope on the horizon.
'There have been times when a great enemy has positioned itself to ruin what is good. Yet, despite the suffering and pain…such evil has been defeated again and again by those who wouldn't stand for such atrocity.' One of the voices stated.
Connell sighed, he could hear and understand their words of empowerment. And yet…the overbearing power of the fascist regime still seemed too great to vanquish.
'If you choose to do nothing, things will only become worse. Not standing to face such evil will only make it more powerful. Like an illness gone untreated, the infection will spread and grow more potent in its affect.' A voice stated.
'You have a point…but…but what can I do?' Connell sighed, defeat still evident in his demeanor.
'One person can make a difference, young man. They have before, and they will continue to do so.' One of the voices stated.
'We know you are one such individual, you have the heart and will for it.' Another voice proclaimed.
'Thanks for the vote of confidence…but I'm no hero.' Connell replied.
There was knocking at his door.
"Connell? It's me." Humphrey said from the other side of the door.
"I hear you, hold on." Connell replied, getting off his bed.
He unlocked the door and let his friend in. He shut then locked the door behind him. Humphrey sat at the unoccupied bed across from Connell's.
"How are you holding up?" The short youth asked.
"I feel…powerless…" Connell sighed.
"Connell, we struck out on this one…but next time…maybe there will be some people that will side with us." Humphrey proclaimed.
"Perhaps…but then what? Set up protests? Meetings to create stands against the government? You know as well as I do that they won't stand for it. They'll call us a risk to national security." Connell grunted.
"What are you saying?" Humphrey asked.
"The only choice we might have is to fight." Connell said.
'Indeed lad, indeed.' A voice sighed.
"Connell…you…you can't be serious?" Humphrey asked.
"I'm afraid I am. Fighting…it won't be pretty…but…I feel like it maybe the only way to stop them." Connell explained.
"We'll be traitors…criminals." Humphrey said.
"We were when we believed this government and those who lead it are villains." Connell sighed.
"Like you said earlier: they won't tolerate any sense of divisiveness. They will kill us if this road is taken." Humphrey warned.
"You're right…they will…if they get their hands on us…they will kill us." Connell said.
"Not 'if'…when…when they do. It's idiotic." Humphrey stated.
"I don't sense how letting these fascists have power without trying to bring them down is idiocy." Connell argued.
"Not just that…it's suicide. Connell, even Captain America, CAPTAIN AMERICA was killed by these guys. He was the man to never give up, never surrender. The man who couldn't lose…and he lost…" Humphrey reasoned, his voice desperate in tone.
"Because Gyrich tricked Rhodey into leading him to the rebellion's leadership. Then Maria Hill executed him, framing Cap and Iron Man for the murder." Connell said.
"What do you plan to do IF you beat them?" Humphrey asked, concern thick within his voice.
"Make sure that they can't hurt anyone ever again." Connell answered.
"Connell…don't tell me…you…p-plan on…you know?" Humphrey gasped, stammering every word.
"I…I don't know what to tell you…" Connell sighed, unsure of the plight.
"They might not kill you, they'll just throw you in jail for the rest of your life. Your resistance might not even be seen as a threat, just a joke." Humphrey added.
"Yeah…probably…but what else is there to do?" Connell sighed.
"We can still talk. Try to convince people of what is going on. The government is becoming puppet masters, what happened to civil rights-" Humphrey stated.
"Do you think the people will really buy that? Perhaps some, but not enough to bring about great change in the country." Connell grunted, unconvinced.
"My friend…please…think about what you're suggesting…it's a fool's errand." Humphrey said.
"Just call me idiot of the year then…because…I don't see much other choice." Connell replied.
Humphrey sighed, he got off the unoccupied bed.
"Well I gotta get back to my dorm, it's late. Gotta be ready for classes tomorrow. We can talk more about this later." Humphrey informed.
"Alright, see ya." Connell replied, nodding to his friend.
His friend nodded in return. He unlocked the door and walked out.
'You are in the right, boy, he just needs more convincing.' One of the voices said.
'The government thinks that way about themselves on this…right and wrong is a matter of perspective…but what they did…they…how many lives will they take to have control?' Connell grunted.
He then heard what sounded like a stampede of feet running up the stairs and onto his level of the building. He heard screaming and yelling.
"What the hell?" Connell grunted in confusion.
He walked to his door and opened it up. The sight he saw made his eyes open wide in shock and horror: several armed and armored men with a familiar looking insignia: the flying eagle of S.H.I.E.L.D. They hold large blasters in their hands aimed at someone just a few feet from him.
"Humphrey Salem, by the authority of S.H.I.E.L.D. you are hereby under arrest!" One of the men shouted.
Connell's fearful eyes turned to his friend, who stood frozen in fear as he looked at the men before him.
To be continued…