1.4 Sins of Our Grandfathers Part 2

“Look out!” shouts Vance as I hear fire crackling and metal screeching.

“Narszara!” I call as I send out a yellow alert, “We have to help them!”

“We shall put on our armours and fly to their aid,” declares Narszara as she puts on her still damaged helmet.

I dash for the lab as I hear fighting breaking out for the others. As I run, I go through a mental checklist of Vengeance’s members.

Nightmare likes to terrorise people who have been accused of breaking the law. Preferably by breaking into their homes and threatening them in front of their families.

Mad Cat and Mad Dog are twin sisters who both can change their form, into a werecat and weredog respectively. Sort of like Carrie except she doesn’t lose control like the Mad sisters like to. They generally brutally assault murderers, wife beaters and other crimes of that calibre they claim. 

Not that I personally consider hitting your wife to be as bad as murder even if I still strongly disapprove of domestic abuse.

Avenger can shoot fire from his hands. He likes to burn up murderers and attempted murderer. He also includes those that have committed manslaughter as members of the first two groups.

Forsworn can control metal. He prefers to go after petty criminals such as thieves and speeders. Fortunately the Sentinel and Bulk armours have contained trace amounts of metals for a while now, instead relying on a ceramic that my granddad and the first Bulk came up with following the Invasion.

Shade is the final member of them and only decent one. He can phase and travel through shadows. He can also make darkness solid. Like hard light except it is more hard dark than light. He likes to go after mobsters, gangster and other parts of organised crime. He is also the only one that rarely kills. When he does, his victims really deserve it or innocent lives are at stake.

Despite almost all of them being monsters, a large amount of the public supports them for some inexplicable reason that is beyond my ken.

Despite neither granddad or me selling equipment to supers like them, they have still acquired some of my tech somehow. Part of me wants them to try and use it against me so they can find out what happens when you use someone’s own inventions against them.

I’ll bet they’re going after us because of Charlie and Stefan. People like Vengeance have no problem with going after the families of criminals how wrong that is.  They probably want to punish Charlie and Stefan for the crime of being related to their grandfathers.

At this point, I’m already suiting up. Just as the process finishes, Narszara rushes into the lab, wearing her armour and armed with her green-bladed sword.

“Are you ready milord?” ask Narszara.

“Yes,” I reply, “I’ll take me seven minutes to reach them at full speed.”

“I will take me ten,” says Narszara, “If you go first, I will arrive second. We cannot afford to fly together.”

“Agreed,” I say and we run for the closest exit.

Once up in the air, it occurs to me I haven’t called the police, MI9 or the Defenders.

“Norris Oakley,” I hear him say after he answers his phone.

It was easy enough to find his personal mobile number.

“This is the Sentinel,” I say, “Vengeance has ambushed Bulk, Bolt and Storm Knight in Portsmouth. Narszara and I are flying to them.”

“Those American thugs here!” exclaims Oakley.

“Yes, I need to make some other calls,” I say before I hang up.

“Agent Lewis?” I say as I once I called our MI9 liaison.

“Yes Daniel?” replies Lewis, “Bulk, Bolt and Storm Knight are investigating the weapons warehouse in Portsmouth right?”

“It was a trap set by Vengeance,” I reply, “Narszara and I are flying to help them now.”

“Damn it!” shouts Lewis, “This is not going to go well. Especially with the Americans.”

“I’m going to call the Defenders now,” I say before hanging up again.

“Hello Daniel,” says Aunt Mary as she answers.

“Mary,” I say, “Charlie, Vance and Stefan were investigating a suspected weapons warehouse in Portsmouth. It turned out to by a trap by Vengeance. Narszara and I are heading there now to help them.”

“Vengeance?” says Mary, “&*%$!”

That startles me. Aunt Mary never swears unless it’s really bad.

“I’m not going to bother telling you to stay away and wait for back up,” says Mary, “Just be careful. I’m not going to get there in time. Only Britannia can. But even then she’ll take fifteen to twenty minutes. How close are you?”

“Just over four minutes out,” I reply, “Narszara while be a couple of minutes behind me.”

“Try not to die,” says Mary wearily, “And call Laura.”

“Good idea,” I say before cutting the connection and dialling Laura Aquiline.

“Yes Daniel,” says Laura as she answers

“Vengeance has ambushed Charlie, Vance and Stefan in Portsmouth,” I say to her.

“I’ll be there in half an hour,” replies Laura, “Try to keep all of you alive and don’t worry about hurting any members of Vengeance. They deserve whatever get.”

As Laura hangs up, I get a call from Sam.

“What’s going on?” demands Sam, “You just sent a yellow alert.”

“Change it to red,” I say, “Vengeance has ambushed the others in Portsmouth. Britannia is twenty minutes away and Laura is thirty.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” replies Sam, “Give them heck until I get there.”

1.3 Dragon Knight Part 1

I march into the main room of the base, tossing my backpack aside. Folks at school, as they usually are, were being stupid when it comes to the League. Mostly, people have been talking about Charlie and Stefan.

And it was pretty much about the stupid stuff such whether they could be trusted or how cool it would be if they were villains like their grandparents. It hasn’t been helped by the media asking those questions and many others like them.

“Absolutely moronic,” I snarl as I sit down at the main computer.

I take a deep breath and calm down. I got meaningful stuff to worry about.

Right now I got to right a report on genetic and environmental differences for my science class. I may have only gotten it today, but I like to stay on top my school work. Doing so leaves me for free time for the truly important things, especially if something major comes up like another supervillain attack.

I’m about halfway done after ten minutes when an alert starts flashing. I bring it up, hoping it won’t be anything major.

UNKNOWN ENERGY DISTURBANCE DETECTED SOUTH OF DEERLEAP

RECOMMEND ACTION INVESTIGATE AND PROCEED WITH CAUTION

NOTIFYING LOCAL POLICE AND AUTHORITIES

NOTIFYING MI9 AGENCY

DO YOU WISH TO SEND ALERTS TO THE REST OF THE LEAGUE OF HEROES?

“What’s the threat level?” I ask the computer.

MINIMAL

78% LIKELIHOOD IS THAT IT IS AN INTERDIMENISIONAL PORTAL OF MICROSCOPIC SIZE

 ASSESSMENT IS INCOMPLETE AND INACCURATE DUE TO LACK OF INFORMATION REGARDING EVENTS

I think about it for a moment. Minimal threat and probably just a really small portal. The police, local council and MI9 have been told and will respond to it. The others are busy. No real need to bother them when I can just take the Sentinel armour and investigate myself.

After all, if I do need help, I can always call someone later.

“Don’t send an alert,” I tell the computer, “I can handle. Just save my homework to my folder.”

NO ALERTS SENT

SENTINEL IS RESPONDING TO SITUATION

SAVING GENETIC & ENVIRONMENTAL DIFFERENCES REPORT TO DANIEL SCIENCE HOMEWORK FOLDER

I close my text book and enter the lab.

The Sentinel armour goes on quickly as it always does. I’ll have to improve that over the holidays.

Just I’m taking off outside of the base, I receive an incoming call. MI9.

Probably Agent Lewis, I think as I answer.

“Sentinel,” says Lewis as I guessed correctly, “We received your notification on the energy disturbance. Any ideas on how to deal with it?”

“I’m in the Sentinel armour now,” I reply, “I’m flying over to investigate. The base computer says it’s probably a microscopic portal from another dimension, but it isn’t sure for certain. The threat level is minimal, but neither I nor the computer knows for certain how dangerous it is. I haven’t called the rest of the League about it through.”

“Okay,” replies Lewis, “We’ll have the police evacuate the area so you can deal with it.”

“That’s a good idea,” I agree, “I’m almost there by the way.”

“I’ll be keeping an eye on the situation,” says Lewis before hanging up.

I land about twenty metres from it. You can’t see anything with the naked eye, but my HUD is showing it clearly.

“So what am I looking at?” I say out loud to the empty area.

I’ve been waiting for something to happen for about five, maybe six, minutes when Sam calls me.

“Daniel,” says Sam, “I’m in the base. I’ve just seen the alert.”

“Nothing to worry about,” I reassure him, “It started roughly eight minutes ago and has done absolutely nothing since then. No need to come unless you want to be bored like I am.”

“I’ll pass,” answers Sam, “Just call me if something happens, okay?”

“I was planning to anyway,” I say.

“Bye,” says Sam before hanging up.

Another couple of minutes pass before something finally happens. I spot someone approaching on my HUD. I turn to look for the movement and I see a couple of people in police uniform as they approach. My HUD identifies one of the them as Inspector Oakley.

“Good day Inspector,” I call, “Nothing in the last ten minutes.”

“Hello to you too Sentinel,” replies Oakley as he and his companion get closer for me to see them properly.

I notice that his companion is a woman and is a mere constable. She has flaxen hair and a look of youth to her. She can’t be more than twenty two, twenty four at the most.

“This is Constable Eleanor Melville,” continues Oakley, “She’s a Class 3 and has sonic manipulation. She has only been on the force for a couple of months. What’s the situation?”

“Boring,” I answer, “It’s probably a microscopic interdimensional portal with a minimum threat level, but I don’t have enough data to be sure. Nothing has come through in the last ten minute however and seems like it’s going to stay that way.”

“Sounds like you’re just waiting for something to happen,” notes Oakley.

“It something doesn’t happen in the next half hour, I’m leaving,” I say, “I got my homework to finish.”

Oakley chuckles and both Melville and I look at him.

“Sorry,” says Oakley sheepishly, “But I never really imagined a superhero having to do homework.”

I’m about to reply when a swirling circle of multicoloured light appears.

1.2 Partners Part 7

“Hello, this is Sentinel,” I say as I answer the message.

I’ve taken the time to put on the Sentinel armour before answer. It has only been about three minutes since I noticed it.

The screen shows a man in his early thirties with long dark hair. It goes down to his shoulders and has curls towards the en while his beard is rather stubbly.

“Hello Sentinel or rather Daniel Griffin,” says the man as he puts away a smart phone, “I am Agent Frank Darren Lewis of MI9. I have been appointed the new liaison to League of Heroes.”

“I thought you have to have been active for at least a few years and some other major requirements for you can get officially recognised by the government,” I reply, not letting out any reaction at being addressed by my real name.

“The League of Heroes has been active since the early fifties,” says Agent Lewis, “It’s just about to get a bunch of new members.”

“Eleven to be precise,” I reply.

“Could I have roll call please?” asks Lewis.

“If you insist,” I answer, “Lantern, grandson of the original, Commando, granddaughter of the original, Vision, grandson of Psychic, Gateway, granddaughter of Gateway and daughter of Warden. Plus Night Beast and Multiform, granddaughter and grandson of Shadow Beast. Monster form and shapeshifting respectively. There’s also Accelerate, Vibration’s granddaughter. She also has ice powers as you know. Bolt’s grandson is also joining. We also got a couple of grandkids of former supervillains. Bulk’s whose grandkid going with that name. And Storm Knight, one of Black Storm’s grandsons. That’s it.”

“That is a lot,” says Lewis, “Plus a couple of villain descendants. That might not go over well.”

“We trust them with our lives and what we hold dear and that what counts,” I retort, “Not what the public, media or politicians think.”

“I was thinking more of the murderous vigilantes,” answers Lewis, “They might go for payback against them. Making them pay for what their grandparents did or that sort of thing. Especially the more psychotic ones out there.”

“We’ll take them down as a team if they do,” I reply, surprised at the hardness in my voice, “We also got Laura to help us if needed when it comes to dirtier stuff like that.”

“Ahh, the Aquiline,” says Lewis with a shake of his head before grinning, “You caused a major impression when you revealed you were on a first name basis with her. That will give some second thoughts to anyone who wants to mess with you. I would appreciate if you could pass on a message. 

The head of MI9 would like a friendly meeting with her.”

“I’ m sure she’ll agree,” I reply, “She seem to like you guys, says you’re clean. Whatever that means.”

“It means we’re the good guys I hope,” says Lewis, “And that you can trust us.”

“I suppose,” I say before asking a question that been bugging me since we started talking, “Why are you doing this? What does MI9 get out of supporting us? We both know that you don’t do thins unless you get something out of it.”

“To put simply, it is a matter of mutual benefit in a good way,” says Lewis, “We both want to help people and do our jobs. You will get officially recognised and supported like the Albion Defenders even it’s not to the same degree as them. It’ll also give you security clearance and access to our data and resources along with aid in other matters. We get the League of Heroes back and the public relations that come with it. Not to mention another team of relatively experienced superheroes to help out. Most of the cities in the states each have their own super team, sometimes two while other countries are lucky to have even one. We’ll get two. And you already got your HQ, funding, training and the other stuff. We don’t have to pay for that. Another bonus for us.”

“I understand,” I reply, “There is something that you should know.”

“What’s that?” inquires Lewis, surprise showing on his face.

“I suspect that Hall and Edison were given their heavy firepower to cause trouble for us,” I say, 

“Especially given how soon it was after our fight with Vistorix.”

I pause for a moment, thinking as Lewis takes it in.

“I just thought of another thing,” I continue as he doesn’t respond, “We never found out what Vistorix was after. The idea that he was attacking Brockenhurst was a cover story by Laura.”

“I see,” replies Lewis, his face troubled, “We should look into it. All the same, it is better now that you guys are active. Especially if you’re right about Vistorix and this business started before you restarted the League publicly.”

“Anything else?” I inquire, “I ought to get home soon.”

“Just one more thing you should to know,” says Lewis, “Chief Constable Dean is pretty angry with you for your vigilantism in his turf. But the public opinion is holding out pretty well so he can’t take action against you without looking bad. The fact you haven’t done anything wrong and Inspector Oakley and the other officers at the bank are supporting you. The hostage you rescued are publicly praising you for saving them without any harm done to them. But beware all the same. Dean hates you and will nail you given half a chance. I’m sure he’ll warm up to you time, once Dean has gotten used to you being active.”

“Thanks for the heads up,” I reply, “Goodbye Agent Lewis.”

“Bye it is,” agrees Lewis, “But I’m sort we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other soon.”

He ends the call and I sit there troubled.

What if our secret mastermind had started his plans before we became active and we’re just getting in the way?

Not to mention that having the local chief of police hating our guts is almost as bad.

I’ll have to ask Laura to look into our mastermind business. This secret, covert ops stuff has always been the speciality of the Aquilines.