26. Patriot Acts – The Boys from Blue

 Police cruisers surrounded the building within minutes.  The SWAT team was busy getting into position.  Phone calls to the pharmacy were being ignored, and so was the sergeant on the bullhorn.  Outside, it was generally agreed that the terrorist inside was serious.

            Inside, it was generally agreed that their hostage-taker was short a full deck.  He walked around the back of the store lecturing them about the government, saying they were all brainwashed by the drugs and shouldn’t trust the Patriots.  He lectured for a half hour on how to free your mind from the enemy.

            In the middle of a dissertation on the evil brainwashing techniques of television, a loud sound came from the back room beyond the pharmacist’s counter.  Jeremy drew his pistol and went back there to investigate.  Then, while he was out of the room, one of the big side windows shattered in a spectacular fashion as a man in armour swung down from above and crashed directly through it to land acrobatically.

            Jeremy came out of the back room screaming, firing his gun at the man in armour.  He held up his hand, protected by heavy gauntlets, and light flared from the palm.  A ripple effect struck Jeremy, bouncing him backwards to fly into a shelf of pill bottles.  It was almost as if the recoil of the gun had dramatically increased.

            Jeremy lurched to his feet and a man dropped onto him from the ceiling.  The customers had been amazed to see him crawl across it like an insect when Jeremy opened the door.  He had crouched above Jeremy and jumped him once he was disarmed.

            The man from the ceiling stood up, his target unconscious.  His skin was completely white and his eyes were purple.  The man in armour shook hands with him.

            “Nice work, Jabberwocky.”

            “Thank you, Lunar Hawk.”

25. Patriot Acts – Lockdown

 Jeremy Ruick carried a shotgun, a hunting rifle and two pistols.  The first pistol was his father’s, a former police officer.  The shotgun and the rifle were his as well, as he had been an avid hunter.  The other pistol belonged to his next-door neighbour, a police detective. 

Jeremy had long suspected the detective was investigating him.  Every evening, if Jeremy was outside, the detective asked him “What did you do today, Jeremy?”  The constant interrogation had been driving him crazy.  A sharp kitchen knife had ended the questions yesterday, and now the detective was in the basement.  Jeremy had moved on to the local pharmacy that filled his prescriptions. After all, this is where the mind-control drugs came from.

Jeremy locked the two big front doors together using a chain and a padlock.  Then he threw off the big coat he had bought earlier that week for concealing his weapons.  He fired the shotgun into the air, leaving the rifle slung across his back.  The customers in the store collectively screamed, ducking for cover in the aisles.

“Everyone on the floor!”  Jeremy shouted, not noticing everyone already was.  That was how they did it in movies.

He walked up to the pharmacist’s counter at the back.  The man in the white coat was huddled on the floor, covering his head.

            “Tell me why you did it.”  Jeremy said.

            “Did what?” The man said from his defensive position.

            “DON’T PLAY DUMB!  Get up, on your feet!”

            The pharmacist cringed and did what he was told.  He trembled as Jeremy pointed the shotgun at him.

            “Why did you give me the drugs?”  Jeremy shook the bottle at him. 

            The pharmacist seemed perplexed.  “That’s my job.”

            “That’s what I thought you’d say.”  Jeremy sighed.

            BANG!

24. Patriot Acts – Hostage Situation

 The police scanner announced that shots had been fired at the pharmacy on Eighth and Main.  Ops checked the status of its teams immediately, as standard practice of late was to offer the city’s police and fire departments assistance.  It wasn’t fighting terrorism exactly, but a strong Patriot presence made people feel safer.

            Paragon was currently being tested in the laboratory.  Apex was fighting a fire on the opposite side of town.  Summit was in the middle of a publicity event at a local school, visiting a girls’ gym class.  Zenith hadn’t even reported for duty.  The shift supervisor called Director Shade.

            “Send in the new and improved members of Blue Squad,” came the reply.

***

Jeremy Ruick carried a shotgun, a hunting rifle and two pistols.  The first pistol was his father’s, a former police officer.  The shotgun and the rifle were his as well, as he had been an avid hunter.  The other pistol belonged to his next-door neighbour, a police detective. 

Jeremy had long suspected the detective was investigating him.  Every evening, if Jeremy was outside, the detective asked him “What did you do today, Jeremy?”  The constant interrogation had been driving him crazy.  A sharp kitchen knife had ended the questions yesterday, and now the detective was in the basement.  Jeremy had moved on to the local pharmacy that filled his prescriptions. After all, this is where the mind-control drugs came from.

Jeremy locked the two big front doors together using a chain and a padlock.  Then he threw off the big coat he had bought earlier that week for concealing his weapons.  He fired the shotgun into the air, leaving the rifle slung across his back.  The customers in the store collectively screamed, ducking for cover in the aisles.

“Everyone on the floor!”  Jeremy shouted, not noticing everyone already was.  That was how they did it in movies.

He walked up to the pharmacist’s counter at the back.  The man in the white coat was huddled on the floor, covering his head.

            “Tell me why you did it.”  Jeremy said.

            “Did what?” The man said from his defensive position.

            “DON’T PLAY DUMB!  Get up, on your feet!”

            The pharmacist cringed and did what he was told.  He trembled as Jeremy pointed the shotgun at him.

            “Why did you give me the drugs?”  Jeremy shook the bottle at him. 

            The pharmacist seemed perplexed.  “That’s my job.”

            “That’s what I thought you’d say.”  Jeremy sighed.

            BANG!

23. Patriot Acts – Boredom

 A van drove rapidly down the street, careening through slower traffic, weaving in and out.  Its occupants had just robbed a major jewellery store and were attempting a quick getaway.  They had assumed that the local police were too occupied with the terrorist threat to respond quickly to ordinary crime.

            They hadn’t counted on a bored superhero.

            CRASH!  A station wagon collided with the front end of the van, sending it to the side of the road where it slammed into a small car, coming to a halt with a scream of metal on metal.  The driver and passenger beside him were knocked unconscious.  Three gunmen in back tried to flee by using the rear door.  The first stumbled groggily, which slowed the others. 

            In an instant, a blue blur whizzed past them to stand in their path.

            “Going somewhere, gentlemen?” Zenith said.

            Two criminals opened fire with submachine guns.  The third started to run in the opposite direction.  The bullets hit Zenith in the chest, setting off a series of blue flashes.  He laughed as the bullets tumbled to the ground, utterly ineffectual. 

            One of the gunmen started to reload.  Zenith walked straight up to him, so the man looked up, eyes widening.  Zenith pushed his face with an easy, casual motion.  It sent him sprawling to the ground.  Then the indigo Patriot turned on the second shooter with a grin.  The thief dropped his gun and started to flee.  Zenith watched him go, laughing the entire time.

            He then moved super fast, appearing in front of the running criminal like a cartoon character, seemingly from nowhere.  The man had looked over his shoulder to see if he was being pursued, so it was a jarring shock to strike Zenith in the chest and bounce off.

            Zenith grabbed the robber by the neck and lifted him a foot off the ground.  He tossed him hard into the nearest building, crumbling off some bricks with the collision.  The thief spilled to the ground unconscious.  Zenith picked up one of the bricks and looked up the block at the third thief, still running.  With precise aim, powered by his telekinesis, Zenith threw the brick like a baseball right into the centre of the man’s back three blocks away, spilling him to the ground.

            “Easy there, brother.  You’re a lot stronger than they are.” Apex said, hovering in the sky.

            “So I’m supposed to go easy on these lowlifes?”  Zenith snapped angrily.

            “No, but there’s no need to be excessive.”

            “We are soldiers!  We were designed to wage war, not arrest petty criminals.  We’re wasting our time!”

            Apex landed, standing at a distance from his irate twin.  He tried to calm him.

            “I share your frustration.  But part of being a soldier is following orders.  We have to wait until the enemy is found before we can go into battle.”

            “I’m tired of waiting.  Maybe I should just find them myself.”  Zenith flew off abruptly, leaving his brother to shake his head in exasperation.  He hoped Zenith would come to his senses if given some room.

22. Patriot Acts – Paranoia

 Doctor Lionel Robertson sat in his chair with a notepad.  He had been getting very nervous about his current patient over the past three sessions.  The patient in question, Jeremy Ruick, was presently sitting on the opposite couch, pulling at his sweater.  Jeremy’s eyes had dark circles and he seemed to have lost weight.

            Dr. Robertson had been working with Jeremy for two years, as Jeremy was a delusional schizophrenic.  His condition was usually manageable with medication, though mild paranoia was usually present.  But it seemed to be getting worse.

            “So, Jeremy, what’s bothering you today?”

            “Everything, doctor.  The world is a dangerous place.”

            “You mean the events in the news?”

            “Yes, with the Patriots and everything.”  Jeremy squirmed.

            “They’re here to protect us, Jeremy.  Do they still make you nervous?”

            “Oh yes, doctor.”

            “But they’re here to keep us safe.”

            “Oh no, not me.  They’re out to get me.”  Jeremy squirmed.

            “Why would they be after you Jeremy?”

            “Because I’m a bad person.  I’m sick.”

            “You’re not bad, Jeremy.  And I’m here to help you with your illness, so you can feel well again.”  Dr. Robertson said, trying to exude calm.

            “Director Shade promised to hunt down the sick people who threaten America.  On the TV.”

            “He didn’t mean you, Jeremy.  He means terrorists, people who bomb buildings and take hostages.”

            “But they do that because they’re sick and crazy.  And I’m sick too.  How long before I do something terrible like that?  Or how long before the Patriots round up all us sick people and put us in prison?  Either way, I’m doomed.”

            “Jeremy, I have been thinking.  Perhaps we should discuss changing the dosage of your medication.  I’m concerned that it’s not helping with your moods.”

            “Oh, they’re not helping because I stopped taking them.”

            “Why would you do that?”

            “That’s how they control you.  They feed you poison to keep you from seeing their plans.”  Jeremy whispered conspiratorially.

            “Your medication is supposed to help you.”  Dr. Robertson insisted patiently.

            “No, it helps them.  And you gave it to me.”  Jeremy said this very coldly.

            Dr. Robertson felt his stomach tighten.

            “I’m your doctor, Jeremy.  I’m here to help you.  I’ve been your doctor for two years, you know that I’d never hurt you.”

            “I think you work for them.”  Jeremy said.  “Or I’d have gotten better by now.  But I’m on to the game now.”

            Jeremy drew a small revolver from behind his back, where he had tucked it into his pants.

            “Jeremy, wait!”

            BANG!

21. Patriot Acts – Training Op

 Rook huddled under his camouflage blanket.  He listened intently to the sounds of the forest, waiting for his prey.  He focused his breathing, readying to attack.

            He heard a twig snap and immediately swept the blanket off, popping out of his hiding place.  Rook fired rapidly from his cliff-top in four different directions, each time precise, each time deadly.  He climbed down from the cliff after slinging his rifle on his back.

            “Nice work, Agent Rook.”  The lead Army Ranger said, shaking his hand.  The kill shot of paint was evident on his chest.  “I’ve never seen anyone that good.”

            His team nodded their agreement.  One man had a hit on his neck, another directly in the centre of his protective facemask, while the fourth had another chest shot.

            “Yeah, if I didn’t have the mask you would have taken my eye!”  The one Ranger laughed.

            “And if it was a war, your brains would be splattered all over the woods.”  One of his comrades teased.

            “I’ve enjoyed this training op, gentlemen.”  Rook said.  He had spent the past three weeks in the forest working on his sniper skills, camouflage and tracking.  Rapier team members were pushed to train harder than the rest of the military when not involved in operations.

            Rook couldn’t wait to get back to the city, however.  He suspected he’d been stuck in the middle of nowhere for a reason, and needed to find out what was happening back there.

20. Patriot Acts – Strange Days

 Blue Squad’s wounded members had a visitor Monday morning.  Director Shade stood at the foot of their beds, smiling.

            “Good morning team!  Allow me to apologize for not having appropriate intelligence before sending you after the target.  We had assumed he was incapacitated after the explosion, and obviously we were wrong.”

            “Part of the job, sir.”  Hawk said from his hospital bed.  “No real harm done.  My arm will be fine in a few weeks, and Jabber and Shift will be on their feet even sooner.”

            “I appreciate that dedication and fighting spirit.  But, how would you like to be back in action even sooner?  We have received new funding, which makes almost anything possible…”

***

Jeremy Ruick watched from his living room window as a red and blue bolt flashed across the sky.  The Patriots were patrolling his neighbourhood again.  He hid behind a curtain, concealing his gaunt frame from their gaze.  They made him nervous.

            He pulled at the sleeves of his sweater and wandered into his kitchen.  He watched the news on the small television set sitting on his counter, which showed footage of a gas station after it was bombed the night before.  The day before that someone had let off a gas canister on the subway, causing hundreds of people to experience extreme vomiting.  All over town there were random acts of terrorism, but nothing lethal so far.

            Across town four men in red combat gear wearing black masks decorated with red diamonds burst through the doors of the largest bank in town.  One fired his machine gun into the air, frightening everyone.

            “Everybody down on the floor!”  Another man roared.  Customers hit the floor screaming as they huddled for their safety.

            The third gunman shot a teller in the leg, knocking him to the ground.  “Any of you touch the alarm, and you’ll get worse!”  He threatened.

            The bank employees dropped to the floor, covering their heads.  The fourth man went behind the counter and took all the available cash, shoving it into a sack.  They didn’t waste time with the vault.  Their mission was more to instil fear than to obtain funds.  They were gone before the police or the Patriot team could arrive.

19. Patriot Acts – Ghostly Encounter

 The corner of Sixth and Madison had a movie theatre.  Rook knew that he was supposed to go inside.  The film playing at eight was “The Passion of the Christ.”  He bought a ticket and sat on the aisle near the door at the back.

            A man sat down on the opposite side of the aisle.  He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, baggy jeans and a baseball cap.  He seemed familiar somehow.  When the movie started he pulled off his hat, revealing a recently shaved head.  It was the target from the mall.  Rook was looking at a ghost, based on what Director Shade had told the reporters.  Rook sat through the entire movie and then walked out. 

            In the lobby he stopped and put money into a video game, playing Street Fighter.  A moment later someone stood behind him to play pinball.

            “You didn’t shoot at me in the mall.”  The man said to the air.

            “You didn’t shoot at anyone.  My friends did that.”  Rook told the video game.

            “I don’t know why they’re after me.”  The man said, sending the pinball rolling.

            “I don’t know why they’ve been implicated as your accomplices.”

“I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

            “I don’t know what to believe.  I just have questions.”

            “Just watch what happens in the coming weeks.  My friends and I are going to disappear for a while.  Perhaps when we return, we’ll both have answers.”

            Rook was unsurprised to discover the “ghost” had vanished by the time he turned around.

18. Patriot Acts – Spy Games

Rook wandered around the mall in a pair of jeans and a jacket.  He eventually ended up on a bench, where he watched the repair crew.  Only the south end was damaged, so business continued as usual elsewhere in the mall.  Rook was trying hard to think straight.  His people had done this.  Government agents had caused property damage, and fired guns in the presence of civilians.  They had even fired upon police.

            Now, tarps covered a broken skylight, and the bookstore was surrounded by police tape.  People were worried, and everyone whispered about the crisis.  Rook couldn’t understand how people sworn to protect America could do this.  He loved his country and so had enlisted in the army as soon as he graduated high school.  He had trusted his superior officers to always have the best interests of the country in mind.  He wanted to believe that these strange events were really part of a brilliant plan to capture the enemy, and that he couldn’t see the details yet.  He wanted to trust Director Shade.

            But he was now second only to the President in the power he wielded, and that seemed pretty damn convenient.

            Rook shrugged off his doldrums and walked down to the food court for some lunch.  He would just have to keep his eyes and ears open.

            He was standing in line for a submarine sandwich when someone dropped his or her shopping bag.  Rook politely picked it up and looked around, but no one seemed to be searching for a bag.  The crowd just went about their business.  He opened the bag to see if its contents provided a clue about its owner.

            Inside was a book.  He took it out and discovered it was the Bible.  A bookmark stuck out so he turned to this page.  The bookmark had a picture of a sun on one side, and was white on the other.  On the white side was writing:  “John 8:32:  The truth shall make you free.”  He turned to the indicated chapter and verse.  Somehow, his spy instincts had kicked in.  This didn’t seem like a coincidental bag dropping.
            He turned to the Gospel of John, chapter eight.  Rook found a sticky note on that page, with the same handwriting as the bookmark.

            “Corner of Sixth and Madison.  8pm, alone.”

            Rook ate the paper.  Better to be safe than sorry.

17. Patriot Acts

 The Patriot team sat in a military transport flying back to the States across the Atlantic.  Zenith lounged in his chair, listening to headphones.  Summit was reading a book.  Apex stared out the window, looking pensive.

            “Worried?” Paragon asked him.

            Apex shrugged.  “I don’t know.  We’re practically invulnerable; I’ve never been hurt.  Never met an enemy we couldn’t beat.  But now there’s someone out there with powers like ours.  I don’t know what to think.”

            Paragon nodded.  “I remember being afraid to fight, when I was a Marine.  I didn’t want to get shot, or see friends die.  I learned to take things a day at a time.  To do my best, so I was certain that I had defended my country.  That way, if I died, it would be with the knowledge that I had lived with honour.”

            Apex nodded, looking out the window once again.

***

Nicholas Shade went to Washington with Talbot Crandall for an emergency session of Congress.  They voted unanimously to give new funding and made Shade second in command to the Commander in Chief, the President.  He was now essentially the titular head of the armed forces, able to utilize the FBI, the CIA or the Secret Service to end this crisis.

            Police interviewed mall customers about the terrorists while repair crews worked on the damaged south end.  The Patriots slept off their flight before beginning their patrols of the city.  Ordinary citizens kept an eye on the news.

            Rook boarded an elevator and tried to access the infirmary level on sublevel four.  He swiped his security pass, touched the fingerprint plate, and waited.  Nothing happened.  Rook exited the elevator and called the Operations Centre.

            “Mullen here.”

            “This is Rook.  I can’t access the infirmary.  Is there a problem with the elevator or the security system?  I’d like to visit my squad.”

            “I understand your feelings, but that’s not possible.  Director Shade has made that level off limits to everyone but essential personnel.  You have to get special permission from him.”

            “He’s in Washington today.”

            “Then you’ll just have to wait until he gets back on Monday.”  Mullen hung up.

            And Rook was suddenly very curious about what was going on.  Red Squad had been called terrorists on national television, two of them were hit with an exploding car, and now the infirmary was blocked off.  Something didn’t add up.

***

The Omicron building was destroyed on a Monday.  All day Tuesday the Rapier teams searched for the perpetrator.  Wednesday they initiated a retrieval operation to capture him, and ended up damaging a mall.  On Thursday Director Shade went to Washington, and by Friday had sweeping new powers and funding.

            All around the country news commentators discussed this historical moment, and Director Shade’s successes with the Samaritan Project thus far.  It was the prevailing opinion that he was the best person to save the country from this threat.

            Only a small handful of people disagreed with this perspective, and they kept their opinions to themselves.  It was a very dangerous position to hold.  Two of these individuals would meet on Saturday, and that meeting would eventually change everything.