1.9 Mad Beasts Part 2

I look around granddad’s house. Despite telling people this was where I was spending most of my time when I was at the base, I haven’t actually been here for quite a while now.

I notice a police car roll up outside and it occurs to me that, as Daniel Griffin, I haven’t given a police statement about my fight with Nightblade yet due to my attempts to avoid the press.

I look out the window to see who’s in the car and I blink in surprise when I spot Inspector Oakley get out. I consider him a helpful associate when dealing with the police as Sentinel and we get on fairly well.

Of course I have to pretend I don’t know him thanks to my secret identity.

I look at the second officer to get out on the passenger side, wondering if it is also someone the Sentinel knows.

The answer turns out to be yes as I spot Constable Melville, one of the three supers on the Hampshire police force.  I guess the reason both of them are here is due to this involving a superhuman and them both being part of the superhuman department.

I walk towards the door and open it before the officers can knock.

“Hello?” I greet to them.

Let me tell you something, it is weird meeting two people who you know, but they don’t know you and don’t know you know them and you have to pretend not to know them.

But something must click into place as Oakley blinks at me and stares for a moment. Melville gives him a look.

“Daniel Griffin?” asks Oakley as he focuses again.

“Yes Inspector,” I reply and I flinch internally at my mistake.

Not many people know how about different police ranks, particularly the higher up ones, here in the UK due to the lack of them on TV, especially how to recognise one. That must have tipped him off about something.

“We’ve here to collect your statement about your fight with the supervillain assassin Nightblade last Thursday at St James Park,” says Oakley as he looks at me, “May we come inside?”

“Sure,” I tell him.

Normally I wouldn’t invite the police inside, but I know Oakley well enough to trust even if he doesn’t know it.

I step aside and let Oakley and Melville inside.

“I saw your face after Narszara arrive,” says Oakley in a causal manner.

Yup, he’s figured it out. Next time, I need to be more careful.

“So you pieced it together,” I reply as Melville looks at the two of us, confusion on her face.

“What’s going on?” asks Melville.

“Meet Daniel Griffin, Eleanor, also known as the Sentinel,” answers Oakley.

“Him?” blurts out Melville.

“Me,” I reply, “By the way, my identity is secret so keep it secret. You weren’t supposed to find out and you don’t want to find out the consequences if you reveal it.”

“After all the trouble that it’s caused Britannia, I’m not revealing any super’s secret identity,” says Oakley, “But you sure do make a lot more sense now.”

“Pardon?”

“We were looking over your background over the last few days, especially since you held your own against Nightblade,” says Oakley, “And kid, you are not normal. You’re a millionaire that lives like middle-class. Not only that, but you got your grandfather’s money, company and house over the rest of your family. And people you hang out with just don’t fit. I’m going to guess they make up the rest of the League? Anyway, you and your friends are very mysterious. You seem to go off the grid while hanging out with each other, but it’s not only when the League shows up. Not to mention how well you have avoided the media, it’s almost unreal. You also took on Nightblade and almost beat him. Yet you don’t have any powers like he does. But you do have training from an old family friend who we can’t trace at all. Plus you’re associated with the Sentinel and the League like your grandfather was. None of it made any sense.”

“So you’re the Sentinel?” says Melville as she looks at in mild surprised, “You’re not what I expected, but then again, I’m not sure what I expected. I never really fought about what the Sentinel was beneath the armour. Apart from he was male. But even that, along with your age, we only had your word for.”

“That was sort of granddad’s idea,” I reply, “He felt that he should keep his normal identity separate from the Sentinel’s.”

“Except for when he was the Sentinel’s number one business partner it seems,” points Oakley.

“People just figured he worked with Sentinel, not that he actually him,” I reply with a shrug, “But aren’t you here to get my statement regarding Sunday’s events?”

“Good point,” concedes Oakley, “We best get onto that.”

***

I watch the police car pulls out before I call Sam.

“Hello,” answers Sam.

“Hey Sam,” I reply, “I called to called to tell that the police just collected my statement about Sunday at granddad’s house.”

“Anyone we know?”

“Just Inspector Oakley and Constable Melville. That’s part of the reason I called. Oakley put two and two together about our secret identity.”

“Is that bad or good?” asks Sam.

“Neither, just unexpected,” I reply, “Oakley and Melville can be trusted.”

“Anything else?”

“Yeah,” I say, “Can you remind the others about the meeting this evening?” 

1.3 Dragon Knight Part 3

A man gives a wild war cry from behind me. I barely see him past me as he slams into the power armour man.

At first glance, the new man appears to be some sort of dragon themed knight judging by his full body armour. It’s obviously unpowered and has suffered some serious battle damage.

My first thought is that he must be rather strong to wear something as heavy as the armour. Not to mention tough to take that must damage and still be fighting.

Both of them crash into the ground as the knight yanks his sword out of the power armour. He raises it over the man in power armour.

Before I can stop him, the knight stabs into his opponent’s helmet.

I start to yell something, but the man punches the knight off of him despite the blade lodge in his head. He climbs to his feet and draws a short sword with a black blade that crackles with red energy.

Taking my cue from the knight, I fire my lasers full blast at him. I close my eyes the second before the lasers hit.

When I force myself to look, the man has collapsed on the ground with two smoking holes in his chest. Surprisingly, the lasers haven’t burn through to the other side despite being as powerful as I can make them.

I take a step forward as what I have done fully hits me. I just killed a man.

I feel unsteady and wobbly. My stomach feels gushy and my head is arching.

I drop to my knees and then on all fours. I need to puke. I yank the front of my helmet off, breaking the seals with the enhanced strength that my armour gives me.

I toss it aside before puking onto the ground. I do it a few times before I notice someone standing over me.

I look up to see the dragon knight look down on me, his expression unreadable behind his helmet despite pieces of it being missing.

He holds out his hand and I grasp it. I try to regain my composure as he pulls me up.

“Eikar Rin Min Worlar Err Ornorin Min Thariloth,” says the dragon knight to me.

I notice his voice sound very feminine despite him being a man.

Suddenly the knight bows to me. An old fashion bow on one knee.

“What are you doing?” I ask him.

“Swearing an oath of loyalty to you milord,” says the dragon knight, “Are you a superhero?”

Definitely a female voice this time. The man is a woman, I'm sure of it. It takes me a moment to process her words as well as the fact I can her understand this time.

“What, my lord, superhero,” I splutter, unable to form a coherent sentence.

She cocks her head before waiting for me to process what is going on. Frankly, I’m grateful for the distraction from my actions moments before.

“So let me get straight,” I say as I stand up to face her, “You can speak English, you have just sworn loyalty to me and you know about superheroes?”

“That would be correct Verigar,” says the knight.

“So what does Verigar mean?” I ask.

“Sentinel,” replies the knight, “That is your title after all.”

“Right. Now ignoring how much you seem to know,” I continue, “What is your name?”

“My name is Narszara Geous Coura,” replies the knight as she points into the air, “And the Lantern approaches with the Bolt and Knight of Storm. The guardsman and guardswoman are safe and mildly harm while the other foes have been bested.”

I look to where Narszara is pointing. Sam is flying towards us with Vance behind him and Stefan barely keeping up with them.

“What happened?” asks Sam as he lands.

“This is Narszara,” I say indicating her, “She is some sort of dragon themed knight from another dimension. She’s also a badass and has just sworn loyalty to me for reason she has yet to tell me. Inspector Oakley and Constable Melville are over there somewhere. The men were a bunch of interdimensional invaders.”

“The %&*#!” exclaims Stefan as he looks around.

His eyes settle on the power armour man’s corpse. They widen as he realises what happened to the man.

“Who did that to him?” demands Stefan.

Sam and Vance both turn to look at the body while I bend over and puke again. I straighten up as they and Stefan stare at me.

“Verigar defeated the tokking tokk,” explains Narszara, drawing only blank looks from myself and the others.

“I fired my lasers at full power into him after Narszara stabbed him in the head,” I explain more clearly, “He tried to kill me.”

“Colonel Gorlack has directly caused the deaths of trillions and destroyed over a thousand dimensions,” snarls Narszara, drawing more looks, “His death should be celebrated not mourned.”

Her words cheer me up a bit. I guess knowing I didn’t take a life in vain and the guy really deserved it if not worse.

“He and his forces also slew my entire team,” continues Narszara, “But now he and his remaining warriors have been defeat once and for all.”

“She’s pretty hammy,” mutters Stefan, drawing a look from Narszara.

“So you one of the good guys,” says Sam in a tentative attempt to make conversation with her.

“I believe in courage, honour and duty,” replies Narszara, “Correct me if I am wrong, but are you kin of the League of Heroes?”

“You know about the League?” says Sam, confused.

“They are known in the Multiverse,” answers Narszara, “Especially to people like my own.”

“And you are your people,” inquires Vance.

“The Norgardians,” answers Narszara, “But I doubt you heard of them.”

“No,” I cut in, “My granddad mention them before. I’m sure he had some files on them back at base.”

“Are you okay Sentinel?” calls Oakley as he and Melville approach us.

1.3 Dragon Knight Part 2

Before any of us can react, I receive a message from the base computer.

WARNING

UNKNOWN ENERGY DISTURBANCE HAS INCREASED IN POWER

NOW FULL SIZE INTERDIMENISONAL PORTAL

THREAT ASSESSMENT HIGH

“What is that?” ask Melville as Oakley mutters something to himself.

“A full sized interdimensional portal,” I reply.

The portal is about the size of a small car. I have no trouble believing that something dangerous could step out at any moment.

“The League base computer says the threat level has increased to high,” I warn the two police officers, “I’m going to call for back up.”

“Good idea,” says Oakley as he gets out his radio.

“Samuel,” I say over the League’s private channel.

“Yeah Daniel,” replies Sam.

“The portal just became the size of a small car,” I tell him, “Threat level has increased to high.”

“Got it,” says Sam, “Give me a few minutes to get over there.”

“Grab some of the others if you can,” I tell him before I end the call.

The portal isn’t doing much, but I am certain it is something as something is about to come through it any moment now.

“I’ve called the Defenders,” Oakley informs me.

“I’ve just called Lantern,” I reply, “He’ll be here in a few minutes. Some of the Leaguers might be with him.”

“Any idea what we’re facing?” asks Oakley as he draws his taser.

“It’s an interdimensional portal that big enough for a monster to come through,” I reply, “If we’re lucky, whatever comes through will be one of the good guys or at least not a threat to us. Otherwise it could get pretty bad.  Generally Class 4s or 5s come through on their own or in small groups. Class 3s do come through, but there generally at least in small groups and normal large groups. Weak beings don’t tend to be strong enough to invade other dimensions.”

“Damn,” curses Oakley.

“Of course it could be a random portal opening and a weak creature might come through,” I say, “But yeah, it’s probably going to be something pretty bad.”

“Hope it won’t be too ba-,” starts Melville when an explosion comes out of the portal.

I stare at it in shock before raising my arms to aim my lasers at the portal and whatever will come through.

“What was that!?” demands Oakley.

“An explosion on the other side of the portal,” I reply just before a man steps out.

He’s wearing bulky power armour that makes him just over two metres tall. The armour is bone white with the exceptions of his helmet and large shoulder pads, both of which are blood red. In his hands is what looks like a compact and bulky HMG or something with a lot of firepower or punch.

From his movement, the explosion happened behind man to his right.

Suddenly another body comes flying out, a flaming man in black full body robes.

Another man in the same outfit of black robes staggers out, but is only partially on fire. He’s clutching a crude assault rifle of some kind. It’s clearly inferior to any modern military grade weaponry.

Two more men come out of the portal as well. These two are wearing bone white robes and black boots, but have blood red body armour on their chests and backs plus a helmet coloured the same shade of red. Their large shoulder pads are golden and in their hands are large, shiny shotguns. Parts of their robes are on fire as well like the men in the black robes.

I make a split-second decision and decide these guys are the bad guys. It helped my HUD indentified them as hostiles despite me being unable to remember granddad telling about anybody like these people. Plus the three in the armour looked too much like what the old Commando described as our part of the Multiverse’s very own evil empire or something like that.

I fire my lasers at the shotguns, melting partially melting their middles.

I turn to face the man in the power armour, but he’s already aimed his weapon at me. I try to fire first, but he’s already pulled the trigger.

I stagger back under the swarm of bullets hitting me. Definitely a HMG. I’m shielding my face with my arms. My armour should hold out easily against the bullets, but I don’t want to risk a lucky shot piercing the eye lenses and killing me.

Suddenly the enemy fire stops. I look at the man and see Melville attacking him with her sonic powers.

She’s not doing much other than surprising and distracting the man. I rush the man in the power armour before he can switch his target from me to the policewoman. I doubt she’ll survive the hail of bullets like I can.

I glimpse the second black robed man as he runs in circles. He’s desperately trying to put hold the flames on him.

I tackle the man in power armour, sending us both flying backwards. I grab his gun and clench it. It crunches under the increased strength of the Sentinel armour. I toss the now useless weapon aside mere moments before the man grabs me by the shoulders and tosses me behind him.

Whilst in midair, I use my rocket pack to stabilise my flight. I spin around to see the power armour man getting to his feet. I really hope he can’t fly.

Oakley and Melville are dealing with the other two armoured men while the last man is still trying to stop himself from burning to death.

My foe uses a silver jet pack that I failed to notice before to fly at me. I cut the fuel to my own and drop to the ground. I jump to the side as the man tries to stomp-land on me.

And yes, I know that’s not a proper word.

He charges at me, but staggers as something flies into his side.

I look at the projectile. It appears be a sword with some sort of green crystal blade.

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.