The Siege of the Supers (The First Superhero Book 2) (20 page)

J
ust a few minutes
after I brought the Reunion Tower down on my faction of soldiers, the first faction was in retreat.

“Everybody, meet back at the office. I think it’s over,” Samantha said in my mind.

I flew back to the office feeling numb. I couldn’t believe it was over, but I was beginning to regret what I’d done to ensure our victory. It was a decision made in the heat of battle, and had I given it more thought, I might’ve been able to come up with something else. But they were getting closer and closer to a city with over a million people. People who’d seen the Legion kill the president on TV just a few hours earlier.

A million versus a few thousand. And the few thousand would’ve won. That was the power of fear.

I reached the office building the same time as Holocene and Nep did, carrying Hank and Drew respectively.

“Is that it?” Drew asked, a big smile on his face. “Is this really over?”

I looked at everyone’s faces, and they all seemed happy. Satisfied. All of them but Samantha.

“I think so,” Nep said with a laugh. He and Drew high-fived. The celebration spread as everybody began patting each other on the back, congratulating themselves on a job well done.

“There’s no going back,” Samantha said in my head, the two of us staring at each other from across the room as everybody else celebrated around us.

“I did what I had to,” I said, barely above a whisper.

Samantha gave me a sad smile. “If that’s what you think, then okay. I’ll respect your decision. I don’t support it.”

I nodded, accepting her compromise.

“That was too easy,” Hank said.

Everybody turned and looked at him.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

He shrugged as he tried to think of a good reason. “I don’t know. It was just…you know…too easy. Something was wrong. Is wrong. I can just…feel it.”

Hank’s words caused an ominous atmosphere to set in. My brain began to fire as I tried to think of what he could mean by that. It hadn’t seemed easy to me, but then again Hank hadn’t played that big of a role. He didn’t have my perspective, or Selena’s.

“Oh shit. Holy shit. Shit shit shit,” Doug said, slamming his fist on his desk.

“What is it?” Samantha shouted.

Everybody ran to Doug, who pointed at his computer screen. “This was all just a distraction. It was too easy because they weren’t even trying.”

I looked at his computer screen and was so taken aback by what I saw there that I actually fell to the floor. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. This was actually happening. My mind raced, and I thought I was going to puke. I did, a little. I swallowed it down and gasped for air. I was having a panic attack, wasn’t I? That’s what it felt like. My whole body shook. So much energy rushed through me, I wanted to run and run and fly and run and never stop.

It was true. This was real. It was all real. We had fallen for Atlas’ distraction. He’d played us beautifully.

I read the screen one last time before closing my eyes and crying.

H
OURS AFTER DEATH OF PRESIDENT
, TWO NUKES SET OFF IN NEW YORK CITY AND LOS ANGELES. MILLIONS DEAD. LEGION OF RICHTER CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY.

I
took a deep breath
. I always got nervous in front of cameras.

“You ready for this?” Samantha said, her finger on the record button.

I nodded.

“Rolling,” she said.

Doug clicked a button on his recorder. “Speed.”

Drew was holding the boom pole, a microphone attached to the end of it.

“Whenever you’re ready,” Samantha said. “You’ll do fine,” she added in my head.

I smiled at her and took one more deep breath.

“Hello. My name is Kane Andrews, also known as the superhero Tempest. As you may know, Atlas and his Legion of Richter have taken many millions of lives. He and his people think that they can take over, ruling with fear and anarchy. They think they can do whatever they want, and can kill whoever stands in their way. I’m here to tell you that they can’t. I’m here to tell you that they’re wrong. My name is Kane Andrews, and I am not alone. I’m here to tell you that there is no reason to be afraid. We will fight back against Atlas. We will win. They will not destroy us.

“If you stand with me, we can destroy Atlas and the Legion of Richter. I’ve killed Richter once, and I can kill him again. This time, I need your help. If you want to join the fight against Atlas, come to Dallas, Texas. Dallas is a safe haven for all. No one will be turned away, and we will protect the city at all costs.

“And to Atlas, who I know is watching this, be afraid. This will not be as easy as you thought. We will not go down without a fight.

“My name is Kane Andrews, also known as the superhero Tempest. This is my ultimatum.”

L
oren couldn’t believe
the events of the day. She was lying on the couch in her office inside the top-secret STF underground base. Her new home, really. No way was it safe enough to go back to her apartment in Washington. Besides, she had too much work to do.

There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” she said as she sat up on her couch.

The door opened and in walked Agent Wells, her new right hand after York’s death in the attack on the STF compound. “Just letting you know that this base is now officially under STF command. We’ve put up the new logo on everything,” he said with a smile as he rubbed his hand over his slicked-back hair, making sure everything stayed in its place.

Director Loren smiled and nodded. “Good. Thank you.”

This was now officially her domain. It had once been used by the CIA, but they had transferred all power and resources to the STF. In a way, Loren was now the most powerful human on the planet. She had all the resources she needed to figure out a way to destroy the Supers once and for all.

“What’s our next move, ma’am?” Agent Wells asked.

Loren smirked and chuckled as she thought of it. “Right now, Wells, take the rest of the day off.”

Agent Wells looked at her, confused. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I don’t understand.”

“This base isn’t fully operational yet. We’re still bringing our people in from the field. It’ll be another day or two before the real work begins. Until then, get some rest. You’re going to need it.”

Agent Wells smiled and began backing out of the room. “Of course, ma’am. You’re right. I’ll talk to you in the morning, then. If you need anything, just let me know.”

“I will,” Loren said.

Agent Wells exited the room, shutting the door behind him.

Loren was once again alone in her new office. She would get some rest too. As much as she could get. Because once her new STF base was running at maximum capacity, she would get no sleep at all. She’d be working 24/7, deep underground, until she was ready. All the while the Supers would be fighting above her in their trivial war, weakening each other. She would hide away, biding her time, and once they were weak—she’d strike. Finishing them all for good.

Loren lay back down on her couch and closed her eyes with a smile on her face. She would sleep well. Perhaps her best sleep ever, because she’d sleep knowing that it wouldn’t be long before her plan was set in motion. It wouldn’t be long until all the Supers were eradicated, now and forever.

Director Loren of the Super Task Force fell asleep as a human for the last time.

B
ook Three
,
The War of the Supers
, releases this winter.

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T
he Mortis Desolation
:

Mortis

Retaliation

T
he First Superhero
:

The Second Super

The Siege of the Supers

L
ogan Rutherford is
a twenty year old author living in Texas. If you really want to get to know him, contact him at any of the places below. (Warning: His twitter is filled with dumb jokes and retweets of entertainment news and anything good anybody has ever said about him.)

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