“Michael.”“Michael,” the voice repeated in a sing-song voice. Michael Larson remained motionless on his prison bunk and tried to focus on the blackness and silence.“Michael, wake up, sleepy-head. It’s a new day for you.”“Go away, Vengeance,” Michael murmured. “I don’t want to listen to your bullshit today.”The voice giggled in a high-pitched laugh before a slender hand touched Michael’s shoulder.“That psycho running around in your brain? I’m not him, my sweet Michael. In fact, he and that other one are tucked away for now and won’t bother you again.”“What?”...

“We want a vehicle, like one of those tanks the JTF uses. We’ll load up our hostages and drive out of the city. Once we get to a safe location, we’ll release them. And no drones. If we even think one is following us, I’ll put a bullet in the little girl’s skull. Got it?”Scimitar shook his head back and forth. These demands were beyond reasonable and there was no way the JTF would let an Enhanced criminal like the big guy standing over Trauma out of their area of responsibility. They could care less about the two mundanes, the actual trigger men, Metro could have them, but the Enhanced...

The glass shards crunched shattered beneath their feet as Scimitar and Trauma stepped in the damaged liquor store. Bullet holes marked the front wall with the violence that had just occurred, holes and cracks littering the cinderblock wall. The store counter, cash register, and the wall behind had several large chunks of material blasted away from the AK rifle that one of the robbers used.Scimitar noticed the black sneakers protruding from behind the counter first. As he approached, the sneakers turned into feet and legs then a body. It was the cashier, likely the store owner, lying unmoving...

“Who’s the on scene commander?” Scimitar asked as he exited vehicle.The lights from the surrounded convenience and liquor stores flooded the area in a hazy white light. The light rain coated everything and created bright sparkles and streaks of light as it reflected the red and blue from the many surrounding police cruisers flashing emergency lights. Scimitar glanced at Trauma as she exited the driver’s seat and sighed. They were on their way to dinner together when the JTF ordered them to a hostage situation on the east side.“About damn time,” said a Metro officer with three stripes...

“Acting Director Thorton’s office,” answered the young woman as she picked up the phone, “Laura Kidwell speaking.”“Miss Kidwell,” said the voice on the line with a pleasant tone, “I’m glad Special Agent Thorton was smart enough to keep you. I hope you are doing well.”“Secretary Lehrer,” said Laura surprised. “It’s an honor, sir. Things have been hectic around here but we’re managing. I've been working in the field more especially after that big mess on the east side. Preacher thinks I have a good instinct and has recommended me for a transfer to the E-specs.”Daniel...

Are you sure?Maze glanced at the screen again as the impact of the words hit him. He always worked alone except on the most important missions with The Old Guard. Many commentators in the media during the 1990s wondered why he even joined the biggest name in Enhanced teams, but he had his reasons. He did not attend the banquets honoring the team. He did not accept the key to the city from whatever mayor wanted his picture taken with the group. No, he worked with The Old Guard because he needed the extra bodies to prevent the future he saw. After team dissolved, he continued the good fight from...

The tapping on the door was at a speed that only a speedster could accomplish. Amira still looked through the peephole to see a familiar face staring back at her.“Hurry up and let me in,” he said softly so only she would hear it.Amira opened the door to the man in the black JTF uniform, clean-shaven with a high and tight buzz cut to his famous golden hair. No cars had arrived so he must have run the five miles from the Butler campus to her apartment.“Scott, I thought you weren't coming over until tonight,” Amira said backing up. They had a regular schedule of pickups and deliveries...

As the metal detector beeped, Scimitar curled his lip and looked back to Trauma. They had a day off and they should be spending it together, but instead, they were at the courthouse. The guards eyes widened when they saw the holstered pistol on Trauma’s hip, but relaxed when they both pulled out their JTF identification cards.Scimitar could wear a pistol too but declined, like most Enhanced, to use mundane weapons. The U.S. government considered them law enforcement officers, but JTF Enhanced agents were primarily tasked to engage other Enhanced, people like them, with superpowers....

“Prisoner,” shouted the lead armored JTF agent  as the heavy cell door slowly opened, “you will keep your hands up where we can see them at all times. Do you understand?”Michael laughed even with four rifles pointed at him. He looked behind the four agents for the Enhanced agent, his time Windspeed, a category three air elementalist. He appeared busy tapping messages on his cellphone with his power to manipulate air pressure and temperature. The JTF always included an Enhanced. just in case an Enhanced prisoner tried to escape. In Michael’s case, Scimitar, Trauma, and Solid Copy pulled...

Argentina - 1958“Heinrich! Heinrich! Wo bist Du?” yelled a woman in a sundress from the front porch of her home, her hair and makeup perfect despite the blistering heat and humidity common in the jungle.“I am here, mother. What is wrong?” Heinrich Himmel replied in perfect High German as he jogged down the dirt path towards his home. Although he was fluent in English, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish, the community preferred the language of their native land when speaking in public. Not all of the transplants wanted to learn the language of the lesser people. This land was only a temporary...