The Legend of Buddy Hero (The Defenders Saga) (19 page)

“Well, well, everyone, I hope we're all having a wonderful day. Who's ready to take on the angel of death?”  Arthur's cheerful tone clashed with his weary face as he walked across the room to join the quartet. 

Jeff tagged along at his heel, limping.  “Yeah, someone's gotta be willing to help out, unlike last time.”  Jeff looked angry.  “Seems like you should probably start earning your keep, Buddy.”

“My keep?”

“Now now Jeffrey, we talked about this.  Both Mr. Jackson and Mr. Hamilton did their very bests to aid in the battle.  Unfortunately none of you were quite ready to face off against Mr. Memphis.  I should have realized that and as such, I am dreadfully sorry.”

“Oh, I was ready,” Zero began, “just didn't realize what Damon was hiding up his sleeves.”

“Precisely, Mr. Hamilton.  So, as you are aware, we went back to the drawing board and I believe we have finally developed a fool-proof plan on how we will be able to finally defeat Mr. Memphis for good.”

“Is it safe?” Maggie asked.  “I can't come so close to losing Buddy again.”

“I will admit that there is a certain amount of risk involved, as should be expected when facing off against someone as strong as the man in question.  However, I do believe that we have enough of an idea on how Mr. Memphis will respond to given stimuli that we should have no fears for the lives of our loved ones.”

“No fear?” Ryan appeared flustered.  “This is a suicide mission you're talking about.  I understand the idea of--”

“Mr. Reed, please don't make me regret my decision to allow you to be a part of our discussion.”

“But you're talking about--”

“Mr. Reed, please, allow me to explain things to the group.” Arthur gave Ryan a short glance telling him he was facing severe retribution if he didn't cease his talking.  “Now, the first step in our plan is to go on red alert.  That means, in approximately,” Arthur looked at his watch, “five minutes, I will give the order for every last person in this complex to be placed on the streets of Sun City.”

“Your plan is to throw an army of supers at him?” Zero asked.  “Didn't we try this plan in the battle for Artemis?”

“I understand we have seen Mr. Memphis cut through fields of people without a second thought.  However, my agents are highly trained.  These are not your run of the mill tight-wearing superheroes, Mr. Hamilton.  No, these are, in fact, specially trained agents, fully capable of handling themselves against even the worse they could come up against.  They are, if I may be so bold, the green berets of superheroes.  I'd wager that even your Defenders, in their prime, wouldn't have stood a chance against my men.”

“Alright Artie, we get it.  Our guys are good.  But, what are we going to do?”

“Well, Ms. Rose, therein lies the brilliance of my plan.  We shall lure Mr. Memphis into the location of my choosing and once he has arrived there, our army will pounce on him in an ambush.  After he has been contained, Carl has promised he has a device which should be able to contain the man.”

“What do you mean lure him?” Buddy asked, afraid he already knew the answer.

“Always ready to cut right to the point, aren't we, Mr. Jackson.  As I'm sure you've already guessed, the only thing we have at our disposal of enough interest to Mr. Memphis to serve in this capacity is you.”

“Right. . . “

“You really are going to make me say it outright, aren't you?”

“I know I'm not going to be the one to offer it.”

“Fine.  Quite simply, we will place you in Sun Square to sit in wait for Mr. Memphis.  That is where we will make our final attack.”

“So, you're planning on using me as bait against this monster and you didn't even think you should ask me first?”

“Buddy's right, Artie.  You can't ask him to do this.”

“What, are you chicken, Buddy?” Jeff cackled.  He shifted into the form of a chicken to complete his point.

“Please, Jeffrey, that's not helping.” 

Jeff walked around the room in his new form making chicken noises.

“Look, I'm just saying I think I have a right to choose my own fate here.  If I'm going to be put up on a spit waiting for the dude with the matches, I think I should at least have a choice in the matter.”

“You are right, Mr. Jackson.  I hadn't considered the possibility this decision might not be to your liking.  With that in mind, I will fully understand if you decide to back out of the mission.”

Buddy looked at Maggie.  Maggie had tears in her eyes.

“I can't leave my sister like this, Arthur.  I mean, I'm all she's got left.  If I go down because this mission of yours gets screwed up, I, well. . . I don't know.”

The room went silent as everyone looked at Maggie, expecting her to echo Buddy's words.  Maggie slowly stepped forward and grabbed Buddy's hands as she looked into his eyes.

“Buddy,” she said quietly.  “You know you have to do this.  Everyone here needs you.  The world needs you.  I can't ask you to--”

“Maggie, forget about it.  They can come up with some other plan.  It's not the end of the world or anything.”

“Well. . . “ Carl started.  Buddy shot him a look.

“No, Buddy.”  The strength reappeared in Maggie's voice.  “You can't run anymore.  You know that and I've known that for a long time now.  This is who you are.  This is who you've always been.  I used to wonder what happened to the Buddy I grew up with, the Buddy who wasn't afraid of anything.  And now I know.  He's always been there.  He's just been hiding.”

“But, Maggie--”

“No buts, Buddy.  This is what you are destined to be.  The world needs you now.  You can't hide anymore.”

Buddy looked deep into his sister's eyes.  Through the tears he could see a smile taking over her face.  She coughed as she smiled and wrapped her arms around her brother, burying her face deep in his chest.  Buddy wrapped his arms around her and smiled.

“Thank you, sis,” Buddy said as he held her tight. 

Maggie pulled away from him.  “And when you come back, can you explain to me why that guy over there just turned into a chicken?”

Buddy laughed.  “I don't think anyone can explain anything Jeff does.”

“Hey,” Jeff yelled as he shifted back into his normal form. 

Buddy looked at Arthur, a sense of urgency crossing his face.  “If we're going out for our deaths, I guess there's only one more thing left to do.”

“What's that, chum?”

“Let's get suited up.”

CHAPTER 22

The entire complex shook with the sound of sirens.  The feeling of an intense urgency surged through the bodies of all within.  As Buddy walked through the complex to the parking garage, he couldn't help but feel the excitement well up within him.  Something big was about to happen and he was a central figure. 

Hordes of people wearing black suits were filing out of the building to enter their assigned vehicles and place themselves at their expected location near the town square.  Once Buddy entered the parking garage, there were no more cars to be seen on the main level, outside of the steady stream that drove past toward the exit.

Buddy saw Alexa standing by the tank.

“Look at you,” she said as he neared.

“You like?” Buddy asked, gesturing toward the green spandex uniform he was currently wearing.

“Oddly enough, I do.  I didn't expect it to fit you quite so nicely.”

“Well, D.A.W.N. had ordered a new one to be created once she got a look at the super-sized version of me.  I do have to say, I'm pretty impressed at how well it holds my body in a mostly flattering way.  I'm also surprised at how mobile I can be with this tiny jacket on.”

“Not bad,” Alexa agreed. 

“Wait for us!” came Ryan's voice from near the entrance.  Buddy and Alexa looked toward the source and saw two figures heading their way.  Zero was wearing the same costume Buddy had seen earlier. 

Ryan was wearing a red suit of armor, complete with what appeared to be a welder's helmet on his head. Multiple gadgets were jutting out all over the exterior of the suit.  Ryan's face could just barely be made out in the midst of all the metal.  On his back he wore a red version of the rocket pack Buddy had seen him wearing when they first met.

“Wow, so Dad really let you borrow his old suit, huh?” Alexa asked.

“I wish,” Ryan laughed.  “No, this is something I've been working on myself.  It's based on all of the information I could get on the old Red Rocketeer suit, but with some minor modifications.  In fact, this thing has got so much more fire-power, I'm surprised I can even move it under the added weight.  Well, I would be amazed if I hadn't added the strength-manip--”

“Alright kid, we don't have all day,” Buddy cut Ryan off.

“Where's your uniform, young lady?” Zero asked Alexa.

“Sorry, bub.  I don't wear costumes.”

“Oh, but these are not costumes, young Alexa, these are uniforms, designed to strike fear into the hearts of those who would oppose us.”

“They're striking something, but I don't think it's fear,” Alexa laughed.  “Seriously, what's the point?”

“Well, I figured that if we're going to be bait, we should probably be as colorful as possible.  Want to give the dude every reason to find us, right?”

“Not only that, chum, but these suits serve to increase our mobility.  Females especially tend to need clothing of a much less restrictive nature in order to ensure their ability to fight at their best. What you are wearing, Alexa, is much to concealing to be appropriate for battle.”

“Right, just cause I'm a chick, I should be showing off as much cleavage as possible.  Got it.”

“It couldn't hurt,” Buddy agreed, “could it?”

“It might hurt you if this discussion doesn't end soon,” Alexa responded.

“Alright, so, changing the subject,” Buddy complied, “where's Jeff?”

“I happened to overhear a conversation between him and Flores,” Zero answered.  “It would appear that Jeff requested to head up the ambush effort.  We're on our own for the baiting.”

“Yeah,” Alexa added, “he made sure to make a big deal of it as he came through here earlier.  Something about how he would join us in the battle later. . . I don't know.”

“Okay, so I guess that's it then, isn't it?  Are we really ready?” Buddy asked.

“Chum, we were born ready,” Zero exclaimed.

“Is there anything we should be bringing along?” Alexa asked.

“What,” Ryan joked, “you mean like snacks?”

“I could go for a snack,” Buddy replied.  “But seriously, how much do we really need if we're just going out there to be bait.”

“Good point,” Alexa responded.  “I guess we should go then.”

“I guess we should,” Ryan added.

“Yeah,” Buddy completed the thought.

“I'm confused,” Zero said.  “You all seem to be saying that we should be on our way, but no movement is occurring.”

“Zero's right,” Buddy jumped up.  “Let's saddle up.”  Buddy made a circular motion with his hand above his head as he said this and started climbing up the side of D.A.W.N.

“Don't ever say that again,” Alexa responded.

“I thought it was rather cute,” D.A.W.N. spoke.  Buddy almost lost his grip on the side of the vehicle, but immediately regained his composure and pretended nothing had happened as he made his way inside.

“Thanks, D.A.W.N., I knew someone would appreciate it.”  Buddy disappeared.  The rest of the group followed.

“Giddy up,” Ryan joked, causing an eruption of laughter from everyone.  The hatch closed and D.A.W.N sped off through the garage to the exit point.

The uneventful trip to their destination caused the adrenaline levels in the group to drop quickly.  As D.A.W.N. arrived at Sun Square, all four of them were already feeling that something was missing. 

“Now arriving at Sun Square.  Please ensure you take all belongings with you as you exit the vehicle.”

“It doesn't get old for you, does it D.A.W.N.?”  Buddy asked.

“Just trying to lighten the mood, Buddy.  Now you guys be safe out there.”

Buddy stood and looked at the surrounding area through the view screens.  There was a large number of people dressed in black and wearing sunglasses.  “
Arthur could use a lesson in subtlety
,” he thought to himself.

“Alright, so, I've been thinking,” Buddy began.  “I'm really grateful all of you have been willing to stick by me for all of this, but there's really no reason for you to wait with me.  If this all goes as planned, I should be in and out in no time. If things go wrong, well, there's no reason for it to go wrong for all of us.  I'm sure D.A.W.N. can get you back to the base without too much trouble.”

“It would be my pleasure, Buddy.”

“Am I hearing you right, chum?” Zero asked.  “Are you really suggesting we leave you out here to have all the fun to yourself?”

“Fun?” Buddy asked.

“Yeah, dude,” Ryan agreed.  “We didn't come out here just to see you off.  We're out here to kick some Dominion keester.”

“Sorry Buddy, I'm with them.  We're not going to let you do this on your own.  Plus, I have to admit, it
is
kind of exciting.”

“Are you all sure?  I mean, you really don't need to stay.”

“Stop your yammering, Buddy,” Zero said, “you're stuck with us.”

“Well, alright then.  I guess we've all got a date with destiny, huh?”

“Just stick with the script,” Alexa laughed.  “You don't do too well when you try to come up with your own material.”

“I liked it,” D.A.W.N. added.

“Thanks D.A.W.N.”

“I think we must continue with tradition, old friend,” Zero said.

“Fine.  Can we do it together at least?  On the count of three?” The group nodded.  “One, two, three.”

“It's hero time!” the four yelled in unison as they all rushed out through the hatch.

Buddy climbed up the ladder last, his eyes squinting in the light. He jumped down off the side of the vehicle, feeling anxious for the action to begin.  Ryan, Alexa, and Zero jumped down and landed beside him.  All four of them looked off in the horizon, knowing Damon could appear at any second. 

They stood in silence, looking in every direction.  No one made even the slightest noise for the five minutes that passed before Buddy spoke.

“So, um, he could come pretty much whenever, huh?”

“Yeah, not sure why I expected him to pop up right when we got here,” Ryan added. 

The group looked off into the horizon for another minute in silence.

“Well. . . that was anti-climactic,” Buddy said as he walked to a nearby bench and sat down to await his doom.