Paragon

Once Brida finished stitching Jon up she left the room in order to clean her supplies leaving the brothers, Zeke, Kira, and Jon alone in the living room. Jon reached into one of the buttoned-up pockets in his cargo pants and handed a small USB drive to Zeke who grabbed the laptop sitting on a small coffee table next to the couch. When the drive was plugged in it immediately popped up a strange program that looked like a blue version of the matrix. Words raced across the screen and Zeke was only able to pick out a few of them since they moved so fast but from what he could gather it was securing the laptop from hackers or anyone who might’ve already hacked the system.

“DEVICE SECURE” read the blue letters after a full minute of it running and then proceeded to open up one of the computer’s media players. The video showed the unmistakable figure of Phalanx inside what seemed to be a reactor room. He wore the same thing he’d been wearing the night Zeke had seen him; a navy blue T-shirt that hugged his massive physique and the steel-grey Spartan helmet with glowing blue eyes. His face was directed towards a character wearing a dark brown suit with a black tie who paced back and forth in front of Phalanx. The character was also unmistakable; Vladimir Dracovic, CEO and founder of Draco Industries and the same man who’d developed the Nullifier and universally detested by the Super community.

“Why must it always be like this?” Vlad said with a sadistic chortle.

“Mostly, cause you’re a terrible human being,” said Phalanx.

“Again, there you go with the human thing, we’re more than human. You know that better than most.”

“Yet, you still think yourself better simply because of what you can do.”

“Well, I am, so it’s less thinking more knowing.”

“I could kill you.”

“You really can’t and you know it. Remember last time you tried to do that? Remember the Civil war?”

“I remember you inciting a nation against itself over basic human liberties.”

“Yeah that. Good, you do remember.”

“I remember a lot of things. I remember the thing you created and sent to kill innocent people in Norway.”

“Hah! Yes, Grendel. Poor thing had barely a brain to itself and was only good for senseless murder.”

“The acorn didn’t fall far did it?”

“Truly is a pity you won’t join me, you know they wouldn’t be able to stop us.”

“Probably not, but thats not the point. I’m not interested in genocide.”

“It’s not genocide, for crying out loud, its more... natural selection. We’re stronger, they’re weaker. The weak die out.”

“You always did have a lousy sales pitch.”

“Tell that to Congress, they loved the idea of Super Registration. They ate it up so fast I didn’t even have to get inside their measly little heads. They’re so desperate to control us, to use us. You know it wasn’t even my idea to require Supers to travel around with GPS units? All them. It was like a snowball rolling down a mountainside that just got bigger and more delicious than I could have ever imagined.”

“There is something you haven’t counted on.”

“Bullshit, I have every contingency covered and then some you couldn’t even fathom.”

“Tell me about it then.”

“Hah, this isn’t a comic book. I’m not going to reveal my ‘evil plan’ and then throw you in a water tank with a bunch of sharks.”

“Sharks like me, so I wouldn’t mind.”

“Don’t you miss this?”

“Not even a little bit. In fact I’m waiting for this dialogue to be over so I can flatten you.”

“Yes yes, always the blunt edge with you. Before that, what haven’t I counted on? Now I’m curious.”

“Someone’s immune to your Nullifiers.” Phalanx’s tone bit at Vladimir who visibly cringed. For a moment there was absolute silence while Vladimir continued to pace around, the information seething inside of him.

“You’re right; I hadn’t counted on that...”

“Everyone makes mistakes.” Phalanx said, with what could only be a smile underneath his mask, given the tone of his modulated voice. Vlad did not respond verbally however. Instead he roared and opened his mouth and blue flame shrieked out of his mouth towards Phalanx who deftly leaped to his right and away from the fire. Zeke, Tony, Jason and Kira all gasped in surprise. “You need some new tricks, buddy.”

“Fuck you, you incessant worm.” Vladimir hissed and for the first time showed frustration. In all his press conferences, weapons lectures and video-monologues he had never once lost his cool, even under the most incriminating circumstances. There had even been one conference where a woman had asked him whether or not the Super Registration Act he had helped fund went against constitutional rights and if the Nullifiers were no different than Nazi SS. He’d reacted with the utmost poise and stoic demeanor. Yet here, Phalanx seemed to have not only gotten under his skin but had set him off.

“It’s been centuries and you still have the tantrums of an infant.” Phalanx was half crouched, ready to leap away again at the sight of another attack as he spoke. Vladimir collected himself and straightened his tie before he said anything.

“You’re still an insufferable thug. You’re lucky you have that damn thing,” said Vlad pointing to Phalanx’s helmet.

“Yeah, technology is a bitch, isn’t it?”

“You have no idea...” Vlad hissed and finished straightening out his suit and tie.

The video ended with a hiss of static and Jon reached forward and pocketed the USB and then laid back and sunk himself into the couch slowly. For several long minutes the room was utterly silent and even a little confused.

“Why were they just chilling in a reactor room, bickering like a married couple?” Kira finally chimed in and everyone nodded in agreement.

“I’m not sure, perhaps they were under some sort of parlay. I got this from security footage inside Draco Industries though along with a bunch of other weird shit.” Jon said as he tried to sit himself up a little higher. His hand was still clutched to his side. Army Ranger or no, bullet wounds and mysterious claw marks still hurt, there was no getting around it.

“How in the hell did you even get in there?” Zeke asked.

“Quietly, and lets not discuss that road any further please. Now you said you met him? What’d he say you’d find at Old Dragon’s Tomes?” Jon asked looking up to Zeke.

“He just said I’d find trouble, what did you find down there,” said Zeke.

“Trouble and lots of it. I didn’t get very far before this... Hell I don’t know, this THING came out of the wall and tried to gut me.”

“Could you be a little vaguer? I’m not sure I can handle all this explicit detail, Jon.”

“Smartass. It was like... first of all the thing could walk through walls. It could like... meld into the floor or walls or ceiling and move around like a shadow without a caster.” Jon paused and shook his head. He’d clearly seen something that had shocked even his nerves, and that was hard to do considering a lot of the things he’d seen in his military days. He liked to say, often, that a man hasn’t seen twisted or cruel until he’s done a tour and witnessed the horrible things the enemy would do. Apparently strapping a bomb to a child’s chest was only the tip of the iceberg, and Zeke could only imagine what worse things there could be. “It’s hard to explain, it walked on two legs and had arms and claws. You’d have to see the damn thing for yourself, I don’t know how else to describe it.”

“Well, the fact you’re using the word ‘it’ is disturbing in its own right, I’d say. Nevertheless, I’m probably going to get a look at it myself anyways.” Zeke said, crossing his arms and turning his back to Jon. He started to pace around the room while his thoughts raced. The only thought in his head at the moment was how he might fight something that can just meld into the wall and move behind him. Whatever the thing was, it would be quick, had to be in order to get a hit like that on Jon, who sometimes moved like a spider. His motions inspired his nickname, Wolfspider, which also happened to be Jon’s old call-sign in the military.

Zeke’s thoughts raced here and there with tactics and strategies he might use to trap the thing and incapacitate it, he still wasn’t comfortable with killing. Or would the thing be able to just walk through the ice trap he created and lash at him? Would extreme cold prevent the thing’s molecules from transitioning through solid mass or would it have no effect? Now Zeke was curious, almost anxious to fight the creature and test himself and his abilities against it. If nothing else there was one solid truth that he depended on: lightning never misses and electricity traveled, on average, at a speed of 3,700 miles per second. It would take some sort of ultra-super-man to dodge that.

“You’re planning on following Phalanx’s advice then?” Jon asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I’d like to think of it more as trying to figure out why the bastard is always so damn cryptic. Although if he really is as old as you say then it would explain why he’s not keen on just giving up information.” Zeke said still pacing around the room.

“Right then, I’ll go with you.”

“In your condition?”

“I’ll take some ibuprofen, ’sides Brida stitched me up pretty good.”

“You’re welcome.” Brida called from the kitchen in a slightly more peppy tone than she usually used.

“Fine, I wasn’t planning on going alone anyways.” Zeke said and helped Jon back to his feet.

“We should try to get in unnoticed I would think, you planning on going tonight?” Jon asked.

“Well I wasn’t...” Zeke said and then turned to look at Kira. She stared back at him for a few minutes and then nodded, giving him her approval. “But I think its best we see what’s going on in there. Though I don’t think stealth is the right approach, Jon.”

“With that thing guarding it, I disagree.”

“I doubt there’s a backdoor, besides I don’t think we have the time to go scrounging around looking for one. I know someone we can bring that’ll help with the security.” Zeke’s mind immediately raced through his gifted associates and he knew exactly who he’d end up calling for something like this.

“Fine, we’ll kick down the front door then, though I’m not too keen on it. Better make your call, we can go tonight once the sun drops again. Until then,” Jon paused and then raised his voice, “Brida! Do you mind if I crash on your couch for the day?” Even Jon knew better than to presume anything with her, plus he did always try to be polite where he was able. It always amused Zeke that a man like Jon always showed a tiny hint of fear when it came to his Aunt Brida. True, she was tough; she successfully raised four kids, two of them only technically being hers, and managed to look young while manage her cooking-wares store all by herself. For someone who’d seen and done what Jon had to fear her, it was amusing to say the absolute least.

“Go to sleep, Jon.” Brida called from the kitchen.

“Thank you.” Jon replied and then positioned himself so that he was lying on his uninjured side with his face buried in the couch’s pillows. It didn’t take long before he was snoring up a storm. Zeke walked over to Brida and thanked her for the breakfast. She shook her head, smiled and gave him a long tight hug. Despite being shorter than Kira, Brida was surprisingly strong and raised Zeke off his feet for a few seconds and squeezed him again. Zeke laughed and left her to her devices. Kira was sitting on the love-seat in the living room when Zeke came in. She looked up at him and smiled and Zeke took her hand and brought her to her feet.

“Let’s go to bed.” She said and the two trotted upstairs into the guest bedroom which Brida had carefully made for them. This was their home away from home and they both loved being Brida’s guests in this room. It was cozy, comfortable and had that warm comfort associated with it. Kira sat down on the bed and Zeke immediately knelt in front of her.

“I didn’t really get to finish,” he said drawing a laugh from her. She smiled down at him and then looked at the ring that was still on her finger. She had been secretly admiring it the whole time he and Jon had been talking; stealing glances down at the ring and playing with it briefly before returning her attention to the video they had been watching. “Kira, will you marry me?” Zeke asked after a long pause and an ear-to-ear smile on his face. He held the hand the ring was already on and stared up into her eyes which welled up with tears again. She’d figured she wouldn’t cry when he asked again; the moment was gone, shattered by Jon’s barging and the only thing left would’ve been the question and the answer. Still, her eyes flooded and she found her breath getting caught in her throat.

“Yes!” She finally said in an exhale of exhilaration. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close, kissing his lips full on and drowning herself in the taste of him. His lips sent shivers down her spine and goosebumps across every inch of her skin. Her legs wrapped around him when he stood and for a while they lay on the bed intertwined, breathing one another in and passionately kissing.

Soon after their romance, Zeke and Kira fell asleep until the sound of a heavy fist pounding against their door woke them up. Jon poked his head into the room and grinned at the two waking lovebirds as he entered the room. Kira covered herself with her blanket and scowled at him.

“For God’s sake, Jon, ever heard of privacy?” Kira hissed.

“Nope, and neither has Big Brother. Zeke, you about ready?” Jon asked with a devilish smile.

“Yeah, gimme a minute to get dressed.” He said while rubbing the sand out of his eyes.

“Right, though I’d love to see their faces were you to show up completely commando. Total Kodak moment to be sure. Did you make your call?”

“Yeah, before we fell asleep. He’s gonna meet us outside the bookstore, he says there’s a little mom’n pop cafe across the street from it so that’s where he’ll be.”

“Who’d you call?”

“Bryan.”

“Shit... You weren’t kidding when you said muscle were you?”

“I’m hoping to avoid bringing in the Scarab but I’d rather have him and not need him.” Zeke trailed off.

“Right, fair enough. I’ll be downstairs flirting with your aunt.” Jon said and then disappeared, closing the door as he left.

“Very funny!” Zeke hollered after his friend. Zeke was about to get up when he discovered Kira was still determined to be latched to his side. Both her arms had wrapped around him during his conversation with Jon and were firmly locked in that position. “I have to go, my love.”

“No.” She pouted.

“Darling...”

“No. You might get hurt.”

“I’ll have backup,” he said and turned his body towards her. He cupped her chin with his hand and leaned down to kiss her. Heat seared through his body every time he kissed her. It was like drinking hot cocoa in freezing weather; he felt it envelope and console him. He loved her warmth, loved that she was the only person who ever made him feel heat of any kind. Overall, he loved her.

“Maybe I should come then... You could use all the help you can get going into a place like this, right?” She asked, staring straight into his eyes. Her eyes seemed to swell and grow when she looked at him. Right now two large, almost Disney-like green eyes stared deep into his soul.

“Things will likely get crazy in there. We’re not going to be able to leave without a fight, you know this right?”

“You forget I fought before I met you.” She said and then slid away from him, letting the blankets fall as she swayed across the room to her pile of clothes. Zeke couldn’t help but stare. In his defense, the view was marvelous and she was his fiancée. “I made quite a bit before you came along and I decided to just watch you fight.” It was true, before they’d met Kira had, apparently, been a fighter much like he had, though he was still undefeated and she’d lost three out of the twenty-seven rounds she’d fought. It was still a very good ratio, she definitely knew how to take care of herself. Zeke was excited suddenly at the thought of fighting side-by-side with the woman he loved and his best friends.

“I’d be worried about you the whole time.”

“Worry about yourself, ice-hole,” she said with a sly wink as she shimmied into her jeans.

“Well in that case, mind wrapping me? For old time’s sake?” He said with a smile and held up his hands and the wraps he always wore to his fights. Fighter’s wraps are generally a piece of cloth roughly fourteen feet long with a loop for your thumb on one end and some Velcro on the other side used to wrap your wrist and knuckles to offer cushioning for when you punch someone in the face. Contrary to popular belief, hitting someone hurts more than just them; bone is very dense and striking it leaves bruises and sometimes cuts on your hand. Many, if not most, boxers and UFC fighters used hand wraps to offer additional cushioning and support so they don’t sprain or break a wrist or knuckle. Zeke had a pair of black ones he always wore to his fights since he primarily used his powers to support his fighting ability instead of just throwing ice and lightning around. He tended to mostly use his fists with his powers aiding or empowering his blows, that way when he did decide to use his gifts more aggressively he had the edge of surprise.

Kira always wrapped his hands for him, something he very much liked because she was much better at it than he was. She wrapped slowly, deliberately and carefully made sure every rotation of the cloth fell into place perfectly. It was almost sensual the way she would take great care to make sure his hands would be protected; it was an act Zeke never got tired of watching or receiving and he loved her all the more for it.

When she was finished the two of them head downstairs; Zeke wore his favorite jeans and combat boots with a black T-Shirt that Jon often gave him shit for because it seemed to be painted on him. Zeke’s metabolism was naturally fast, and he did own a home gym for when he needed to burn energy. As such his body was well muscled and toned like a comic-book superhero, the unfortunate part of that was that finding clothes that fit him, especially since he couldn’t particularly go out and shop, was often difficult. Still, Kira never complained about the shirt so he had little care about it. Kira was dressed in a jade-green tank top with her leather jacket and a pair of jeans that would turn heads. She also wore a pair of black combat boots, similar to Zeke’s but slightly more feminine with the side zipper on them.

“’Bout damn time. Did you two have a round two or something?” Jon said and smirked, thinking himself quite hilarious.

“You’re an idiot,” said Zeke as he headed for the door. “She’s coming by the way.” Zeke pointed his thumb behind him towards Kira, just in case it wasn’t entirely clear who he’d meant.

“Zeke, for God’s sake-” Jon was about to say something likely infuriating but was cut off when Kira’s hair started to glow like embers and fire sparked from her finger tips like mini welding torches. Kira had what many would call pyromancy; the ability to conjure and manipulate flame. Her’s came into play in a manner that she liked to call “fire-talons,” which was what she was demonstrating for Jon now. Her fingers became alive with fire that was so focused they were much like welding torches. Now, imagine her clawing at her opponent or burning through a steel door and the application of her particular style suddenly became rather terrifying.

“I’m coming, Jon.” She said with her fingers still blazing and a wicked smile on her face. Jon slumped his shoulders, completely defeated. Either that or he just didn’t feel the need to fight about things at this moment. Either way his mind eventually conceded the fact that they might need all the help they could get trying to deal with whatever was down below this bookshop they were heading towards. They waited until the sun was completely down and then they headed out in the direction of Ol’ Dragon’s Tomes. Jon and Kira took her car while Zeke flew ahead, shrouded in his fog, to meet their fourth member, Bryan. Meanwhile, Kira and Jon awkwardly attempted to bond and for once he had nothing sarcastic to say. Which shocked her, to say the least.

“He loves you, y’know.” Jon said while staring out the window as she drove.

“The proposal kinda gave it away.” She said with a smirk.

“Oh, he went through with it then? When was this?” Jon genuinely had no idea he’d accidentally interrupted Zeke’s proposal.

“Last night. He was in the middle of popping the question when you barged in, bleeding everywhere.”

“Oh...” Jon looked down at his lap, slightly embarrassed, “sorry... I had no idea.”

“It’s alright, he asked again after you went to sleep and we went up to our room.”

“And?” Jon inquired, for some reason completely forgetting that he could just look at her left-ring-finger and figure out what answer she gave. Kira’s only response was a little chuckle followed by raising and turning her hand so that Jon could see the ruby and emeralds glistening, even without any light to shine on them. Jon whistled sharply in approval. “Nice, he did go with the emeralds after all.”

“You mean he went through all of this and didn’t show you the ring first?”

“Nah, he said he was still getting it designed any time I asked to see it.”

“He... He had this designed just for me?”

“Damn straight. I told him just to get something but he insisted on giving you something completely unique. Something only you would ever have, he said.” Jon sneered and rolled his eyes; romantic gestures were lost on him. He liked things to be practical and convenient, something Zeke regularly reminded him was the reason he was still single. For a moment, Kira’s heart skipped a few beats and her chest tightened. She stole glances down at the ring when she could. Suddenly, it seemed that much more beautiful and almost seemed to sparkle more knowing that it was completely unique and that Zeke had gone out of his way to find a jeweler who would custom make something for her.

“I don’t know why, but I guess I assumed he just picked it out like most guys would.” She said after a long pause.

“Heh, we both know that Zeke is not most men. He’s something else entirely...”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Have you ever wondered why you, me and so many other Supers are just drawn to him? Why everyone just seems to like him and go along with whatever he says?”

“He’s charismatic, so what?”

“I don’t think its any coincidence...”

“You’re not making much sense, Jon, and I mean even less than you usually do.”

“Never mind it then, we’re here.” Jon said as they pulled into a small parking lot behind the cafe where Zeke and Bryan would be waiting for them. Sure enough they were both there with arms crossed leaning against a tall, battered brick wall. Bryan Watson wasn’t a very impressive character at first glance. He stood at just barely 5′6" and was wiry with very little muscle. This image was highly deceptive considering how strong and fast he was before he became, what the tabloids liked to call, the Scarlet Scarab. The only thing particularly distinct about Bryan was that his eyes were red honeycombs, much like an insect’s, and his mouth was viciously contorted by two large, beetle-like mandibles that stretched out of his mouth roughly a foot in length. This also made it very difficult for Bryan to speak, in fact a telepath had once told them that he found it painful to speak. So, most of Bryan’s communication was done via body-language and caveman-like grunts in certain tones he used to express approval or otherwise. Jon and Kira stepped out of the car and made their way over to their two comrades.

“Bryan, how ya been?” Jon asked, shaking the short man’s hand firmly. Jon was strong and had a mean grip to rival professional strong men but even he winced slightly when the small, almost juvenile looking Bryan, clasped hands with him. Bryan’s only response was a quick shrug and a throaty grunt that told him everything was alright, nothing new.

“Any movement from the shop?” Kira asked as she wrapped one arm around her fiance.

“Nothing, it’s been perfectly quiet until you two showed up. Ready?” Zeke asked and then quickly stole a kiss from Kira.

“First thing we’ll have to do is fight that thing that nearly took me out the last time. Once that’s done we’ll need to find some sort of access shaft or elevator that’ll take us into the facility beneath.” Jon said while he inspected his wound, which at this point had almost fully healed, thanks to his body’s ability to heal at an accelerated rate. It wasn’t regeneration, by any means, but he was able to get over bullet-wounds in less than a day as long as the shell was taken out.

“You said this thing could walk through walls?” Kira asked.

“Yeah, but there’s more to it than that.” Jon said while he rubbed his chin, “when I fought the blasted thing it fell INTO the floor and then appeared behind me in less than a second.”

“So it can meld into a surface and then travel around in it until it wants to get out?”

“Precisely, and if that doesn’t boggle your brain, I’ve no idea what will.”

“Lots of things boggle my brain, Jon,” Zeke said with a smirk and a light twinkle in his eye, “but strange abilities from a Super are not on that list.”

Intermission

“Hello everybody and welcome to Channel 6 news at seven, my name is Diane Tremane and tonight-“ she pauses for effect and lets out a sharp exhale, “whew, have we got something. Vladimir Dracovic, CEO and founder of Glacier City’s own Draco Industries, had a press conference earlier today with some exciting news. Here’s a segment from his conference, check it out.” She flashes her journalist’s smile until the video switches to the clip. The clip rolls and Vladimir is wearing a black Armani suit with a red tie and a red silk shirt underneath. He stands at a podium decorated with his company’s logo; a large “Di” where the dot of the ‘I’ is a curled up dragon. He smiles at the camera and stretches out his arms in a welcoming gesture.

“I’ve called you all here today with some exciting news. For years now Draco Industries has been working tirelessly, day and night, to find a solution to the problem we face as a nation.” He smiles and places his hands on the podium dramatically. “Supers reside underground, hiding from us thanks to the weapons my company developed in order to keep them in line, but that is only a temporary fix to be sure. We’ve improved the design, of course; we’ve made Nullifying-Resonators that can dampen an entire block but still it is temporary. Well, I stand before you today with the news that not only has Draco Industries found a solution that will save our great nation, and our fair city,” he pauses.

He gives a toothy grin with a wicked look in his eyes. “We have a cure!”