The Legend of Buddy Hero (The Defenders Saga) (20 page)

CHAPTER 23

The sun settled below the horizon, as did the moods of the four-some sitting in the center of Sun Square.  Ryan had decided to become better acquainted with D.A.W.N.'s abilities and had disappeared inside.  Zero had initially placed himself on the top of the vehicle to keep a lookout, but was now lying on his back, with his head propped up on his hands. Buddy and Alexa had found a pack of playing cards at a nearby Marty's Mart convenience store and were currently finishing their forty-second game of rummy while sitting on the ground.

“Alright, Buddy, I think I've played enough rummy for a couple of lifetimes now,” Alexa said as she stood and stretched her back.  Buddy stood as well. 

“Well, the only other game I know is Go Fish, you up for that?”

“Are you two still playing games?” Zero yelled down to them.  “Now is not the time for such tomfoolery.”

“And what is it the time for?” Alexa asked.  “As far as we know, Memphis is still at the bottom of the ocean.  We can only stand guard for so long.”

“You should be using this time to further prepare for the impending battle. Perhaps designing your new uniform.”

“And what are you doing to prepare?” Buddy asked.

“As if you aren't aware.  I have been standing watch this entire time.  Not once have any of you offered to take over for me.  Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to be constantly on alert?”

“On alert?” Alexa yelled.  “Aside from getting all excited about seeing a couple of pigeons, you've just been laying there in the same spot for the last 3 hours!”   Zero jumped down from the hatch and walked briskly to where Buddy and Alexa stood, stopping immediately in front of Alexa, his breath beating across her face.

“Don't you dare talk to me like that.  If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be here.  You couldn't hold a candle to anyone in the Defenders.  I have earned a certain amount of--”

“Respect?  You want some respect?  If it weren't for you, Damon wouldn't even be here.  It's your fault he's not still stuck on some planet out in the middle of nowhere, so don't start talking to me about--” 

“That's right,” Buddy joined in, “if it weren't for you, I could be having a pint at Maggie's right now, instead I'm stuck here waiting for a mad man to come and des—” The trio erupted into a cacophony of noise as the three of them argued over each other.  The group became so focused on their argument they didn't notice the hatch on the vehicle open, nor did they notice Ryan emerging from it.  They barely heard him attempt to get their attention, until:

“Hey! Cut it out!”  Buddy, Zero, and Alexa turned to see who was yelling at them.  “This is no way for people your age to act!  Ryan, go ahead.”

“Thanks, D.A.W.N.” Ryan said as he looked curiously at the trio. “What happened out here?”

“Zero was being a total jerk about how--”

“I was being a jerk, how about you and Buddy and how you were--”

“Don't start blaming me, 'old chum', I don't even know why--”

“Oh, are you making fun of me now?  You think that's going to--”

“Yes I'm making--”

“Never mind,” Ryan yelled.  “I don't want to know.  You guys think you can get your crap together quickly?  Damon's here.”  Buddy, Alexa, and Zero all looked to the air, expecting to see him hovering above them.

“Where?” Zero asked excitedly.

“Not
here
here, sheesh.  Out there.”  Ryan pointed to the west.  A plume of smoke could be seen rising above the building tops. 

Zero immediately jumped into action.  He ran to the vehicle and jumped, floating above it and landing softly on top.  He looked down at the two still standing in awe of the smoke.

“Are we going to stare, or are we going to fight?”

“But,” Buddy stammered, “aren't we supposed to be the bait?  Aren't we supposed to wait for him to find us?”

“According to Flores, Damon set up shop over on the west side of the city without even a second thought.  I'd guess he's probably pretty pissed about what happened last time.  Sounds like he's been there for a while calling you out.”

“Okay, so what's the plan then?”

“Flores has begun moving everyone to the source of the action.”

“I am currently teleporting them into battle, Buddy,” D.A.W.N. added.

“But, what does that mean for us?” Alexa asked.

“Well, officially it means we're off the hook,” Ryan said.

“Off the hook?!” Zero yelled.  “Not a chance, young Red.  I came out here for a fight.  I shall have my battle.” 

“I agree with Zero,” Alexa added.  “We came out here to do our part, we can't just stop now, can we?”

“I'm with you, sis.  Buddy?”

There was a pause as the group looked at him. 

“Hey, if Damon's calling for me, I can't disappoint him, can I?”  Buddy jumped from his location and landed hard on top of the vehicle.  “It's hero time!”

The group disappeared inside the vehicle and were immediately off toward the location of the smoke.

As they neared their destination, they saw many signs showing the battlefield was near.  The growing thickness of smoke in the air around the vehicle was the most apparent one.  The second was that there was no one to be seen.  The streets were filled with abandoned vehicles.  D.A.W.N. made quick work getting around the immobile traffic.  They crossed the next intersection and Buddy noticed something out of the corner of his eye.

“D.A.W.N., stop.  Go back,” he said.

“I saw it too,” Ryan added.

D.A.W.N. reversed slowly and they all looked anxiously at the view screen Buddy had pointed to. Once they reached the intersection they had passed, they all wondered how they could have missed it the first time. 

D.A.W.N. stopped and made an audible gasp. 

Through the view screen, something lay out before them which Buddy was certain had never before been seen on this planet.  Strewn out all over what was left of the street were the bodies of hundreds of Arthur's men and women, appearing to have been taken out without much of a fight.  Bodies upon bodies lay on the ground, barely moving, yet alive.  As if mesmerized, each person's head was focused on the action occurring at the end of the street.

The item holding their attention was what appeared to be a massive sacrificial altar built out of nearby wreckage.  Cars, buildings, and sidewalks had been torn from their locations to create this structure of unbelievable size.  At the top of this altar stood Damon Memphis with his hands in the air, yelling out to the world around him.  Yet the sight of Damon was not what had caused D.A.W.N. to gasp.  It was what lay directly behind him.

Hovering just above the altar hung a swirling oval.  The interior of the oval was black and purple clouds streamed out.  There was an army of other-worldly creatures entering the street from this mysterious vortex.  The creatures ranged in size from puppy to skyscraper.  Some flew, some crawled, and some stomped, but each creature escaping this hole hanging above Damon's head went immediately to work destroying everything around it. 

Buddy recognized one of the larger creatures escaping the void.

The group was silent.  Buddy had a difficult time grasping everything that this meant.  The monster he had faced only a few nights prior, or one related to it, was under Damon's command. 

Zero was the first one to break the silence.  “Are we waiting for something to occur, companions?”

“No, of course not,” Buddy responded quietly.  “So, looks like we're up against something more than we expected, huh?” Buddy laughed, showing a confidence he wouldn't have known how to fake.

“Dude, do we have any clue how we're going to go up against that?” Ryan asked.

“Not here.  Anyone got any ideas?” Buddy asked, looking around at the group. 

“I believe we do what we have always done,” Zero answered. “Fight until we can't fight any longer.”

“Perfect,” Buddy cheered.  “So, let's get out there and do what the Defenders do best.”

“What's that?” Alexa asked.

“Get erased from history?” Ryan laughed.

“You got it!” Buddy joined Ryan in his laughter.

CHAPTER 24

Buddy, Zero, Alexa, and Ryan stood in front of the tank and surveyed the battlefield.  Between them and their destination lay hundreds of forms of proof that their goal was an impossible one in the bodies of those already defeated.  Yet these four would-be heroes did not appear distraught, they seemed hopeful.

“Like they say, there's no time like the present,” Buddy stated.

“Especially if you've got no future,” Alexa laughed.  The rest of the group joined in. 

“Lions and tigers and bears?” Buddy said as he held out his arms to link with the group.

“Oh my,” Ryan joined in.  The four were connected and made their first step forward.  After finding themselves still alive, they continued.  The foursome walked in a line, slowly, but purposefully. 

They couldn't help but look down at the faces of those who had already been tossed aside. 

“At least no one appears to be seriously injured,” Zero spoke.

“Yeah, that's weird, isn't it?” Alexa asked.  “If this guy is planning on destroying the world, why wouldn't he just cremate these guys while he's got them in his sights?”

“Good question, young Alexa,” Zero responded.  “Perhaps we'll find out the answer to that question soon.”

“I'd prefer if we didn't,” Buddy laughed.  “They all look conscious though, don't they?  I mean, they're all staring up at Damon, or that hole, or whatever.”

“Yeah,” Ryan replied.  “They seem pretty entranced.  Hey, look over there, isn't that Jeff?”

Buddy broke hold of the group and rushed to Jeff's side.

“Hey, Jeff,” Buddy yelled as he neared the immobile man sprawled out before him. 

“Are you okay?”  Buddy approached Jeff's slumped-over body and knelt on the ground beside him.  He grabbed Jeff's right shoulder and shook.

“Jeff, wake up!”

Alexa knelt next to Jeff as well and grabbed his left shoulder to contribute in Buddy's shaking.  Jeff's mouth moved slowly but no noise came out.  Buddy let go of the shoulder and placed his ear in front of the man's mouth, hoping to hear the words not being spoken.

“What's he saying, Buddy?” Ryan asked.

“I can't quite make it out.”

“This is pretty darn creepy, if you ask me, chum.”

“Agreed.”

“Jeff!” Alexa yelled.  No response.

“I guess we just leave him here?” Buddy asked standing up to look at the group.  “Maybe if we take care of Damon he'll get better.”

“Da. . . mon. . . “ Jeff said slowly.  The group turned quickly to see Jeff now looking at them.

“Right, Damon, what's Damon up to, Jeff?” Alexa asked, kneeling back down at his side.

“Damon. . .” Jeff repeated, his voice getting stronger.

“Yeah, dude, we get it.  Damon.  What's he doing?”

“Damon, Damon, Damon, Damon--” Jeff kept repeating the name as he stood.  Soon after he began, the bodies around the group rustled to life and a low rumble of the chorus started from all directions.  In a matter of seconds, a large majority of the previously immobile bodies were now standing and chanting the name of the man currently infesting the street with his dark minions.

“Whoa, now
that's
creepy.” Buddy said.  He stood up and backed away from Jeff slowly, only to back into Mr. Smith and Mr. Frederick, who happened to also be chanting the name on everyone's lips.

“Be careful, chum,” Zero advised.  “This is not the first time we've seen this particular parlor trick.  If we do not tread carefully, we could have the entire city after us.”

“Advice noted,” Buddy replied.

“Damon, Damon--” the chant continued.  The horde swayed as they chanted, their eyes all glaring at the foursome.

Buddy looked at the structure which held their enemy and could now make out that there were still people from Arthur's army making the attempt to battle Damon.  Amid the mass exodus from the hole in the sky was a fireworks show of lightning bolts, flames, and fists.

Yet, not a single one of them was able to make it past the wall of minions Damon had standing guard on the lower levels.  The sight was almost magical in its tragedy with the multi-colored light show in the sky created by Damon and his monsters, coupled with the steady stream of bodies being flung through the air.  There they would lay until, like the rest of the zombie-like horde, they stood and joined in repeating the name of the man of the hour.

Buddy shuddered.

“So, you guys see no one is getting past ground level, right?” Ryan asked.

“Yep,” Alexa responded, slack-jawed.

“And these guys were supposed to be like green berets, weren't they?”

“Yep.”

“So, how in the world do you think we're supposed to get any further than they are?”

“Simple,” Zero answered.  “Anyone got a rabbit's foot?”  The group groaned.

Ryan poked one of the mindless drones around him hoping to get some sort of response.

“Come on, dude, wake up already,” he said as he poked harder.

“Ryan, I don't think that's a good idea,” Alexa warned.

“Oh, come on, what's he gonna do, start saying
my
name?”  He gave the agent right next to him a hard shove and pushed him onto the surrounding group of agents; causing a domino effect of mindless drones falling over on top of each other.  The attention of the entire horde immediately turned to Ryan. 

Silence filled the air as their chant stopped.  The fallen zombies stood and surrounded our heroes, closing in on them quickly.  They continued pressing in, decreasing the amount of open area surrounding our heroes.

“I told you it wasn't a good idea,” Alexa whispered to Ryan.

“Buddy Hero and the Defenders of America!” came Damon's voice booming somehow from atop the altar.  “What took you so long?” he laughed.

“Okay, fine, you were right,” Ryan whispered back.

“Do you like what I've done with the place?  I thought the old spot could use a little redecorating.”  He gestured below him and Buddy realized he had been too caught up in the moment to notice the altar Damon had created was straddling Barber St. in front of where Maggie's Diner used to be.  One small corner of this evil structure had been built directly upon his sister's place of business.

“So, what's the plan?” Alexa whispered to Buddy.

“Plan?”

“Yeah, don't you have a plan?”

“Oh there is no need to whisper young lady, these servants of mine also serve as my eyes and ears.  With them at my command, I am all-seeing, all-knowing.  I have been given the power of God.”

Alexa, Ryan, and Zero all looked to Buddy

“Well, I have one idea, I guess.”

“Is it the one I hope it is, chum?”

“I don't know, that depends on what time it is.”

“Really?” Alexa groaned.  “You're going to do it that way?”

“Do you have a better idea?”

“I guess if it has to be done.” She paused.  The group put their backs to each other, ensuring that all of them were looking out to the crowding army.  “Okay, go ahead.”

Buddy smiled a cocky grin.  “It's hero time!” he yelled as he pulled his arm back and placed it directly in the center of the face of the drone nearest him.

“You bet it is,” Zero added, throwing his arms out in front of him causing a ripple of energy to explode outward from his frame.  Hundreds of bodies fell to the ground, only to be immediately replaced by new ones.

“Buddy!” Ryan yelled as he picked up one of their enemies and threw him into the crowd.

“What?” Buddy asked as he took out three more of the zombies with one swing.

“Can you see what's happening to the dudes we've hit?”  A net shot out from one of the protrusions on Ryan's armor, knocking five men down.

“No,” Buddy yelled back, throwing his elbow into the face of one enemy as his foot caught the stomach of another.

“They're waking up,” Alexa yelled, her arms a-flurry in front of her as she used her super-speed to take out all who would approach.

“Right, I see that.  We're kinda fighting them right now.”

“No, chum, they are awakening from Damon's slumber.” 

At that moment, three faces appeared in front of Buddy.  The faces of Mr. Smith, Mr. Frederick, and Jeff.  Jeff stood immediately in front of him, looking at him with angry eyes.  Without a second thought, Buddy slammed his fist into Jeff's face as hard as he could, causing the man to double backward.  He was caught by Mr. Smith.

“I've been wanting to do that ever since I met you,” Buddy laughed.

“Owww, you bastard,” Jeff yelled.

“Mr. Jackson,” Mr. Frederick began, “We're here to help.”

“Oh, I thought you guys were still--”

“We were awoken by one of our fellow men nearby.”

“Yeah.  So why the hell did you hit me in the face?  I think you broke my nose.”

“You are lucky,” Zero yelled, “if that is the only damage you sustained after receiving a blow from Buddy Hero.”

Buddy laughed.  “Look, Jeff, if I had known you were a--”

“Admit it Buddy,” Alexa laughed, “you would have done it anyways.”

Buddy grinned sheepishly at Jeff.  Mr. Smith and Mr. Frederick began knocking away the enemies approaching their position so Jeff and Buddy could speak.

“Jeff, I'm really sorry, okay, I didn't mean--”

“Can the crap, Buddy.  This is war we're dealing with.  There's no time for apologies.”

“Okay. . . “

“Me and my men can work on waking everyone up. You guys need to deal with Damon.  We haven't been having any luck.”

“And what makes you think we will?  You've spent most of the time since I've met you telling me how I can't do anything.”

“Hey, I still don't think you're anything special, okay.  But, my dad seems to think you are the key to getting rid of Damon and we're running out of options here.”

“Okay, so what do I do?”

“Hell if I know.  Just do it already.”  And with that, Jeff left the group, Mr. Smith and Mr. Frederick clearing a path for him as he went.

“Alright kids, you got any ideas?” The hordes were thinning out as more and more awakened agents joined the fight.  Buddy decided to have fun with the few that happened to make it to him. He delivered a poorly-executed roundhouse kick to the zombiefied agent in front of him now.  He had aimed for the woman's chin, he hit her hip. 

“I say we attempt to go at the man head on,” Zero yelled.

“No one else seems to be anywhere near him,” Alexa responded.

“Tis true, milady.  However,
we
are The Defenders!”

“I'm up for it,” Ryan offered.

“Really?” Buddy asked.  He had been enjoying taking out the hordes of simple enemies, who barely put up a fight, but the idea of fighting the man who controlled so much seemed to be a suicide mission.

“You chickening out now, Buddy?” Ryan asked.  “I thought you were all about this fight.”

“Well, yeah, but this all seems a little too, I don't know, impossible.”

“It's not impossible, chum.  Merely improbable.”

“Sure, but, I don't know. . . couldn't we die?”

“I know where you're coming from Buddy, but from the looks of the folks who have already gone up against these monsters, no one's been injured yet.”

“Right,” Buddy said slowly.  “Yet.”

“So, are we going?” Zero asked, looking twitchy.

“Wait,” Buddy said suddenly.  “I've got an idea.”

Buddy ran ahead to Jeff.  Jeff covered his face at Buddy's arrival.

“Relax, Jeff,” Buddy laughed.  “I think I've got an idea on how to get rid of Damon.”

“Okay, fine, go ahead and do it.  My men are almost ready to get out of here.”

“No, I need you all to stay.  I need your help.”

“Yeah?  And what kind of help is that?”

“What I need you to do is gather all your men to form a wall around us.”

“Right, of course.  We don't want the
legendary
Buddy Hero to get hurt.”

“I don't think that's what he means, Mr. Flores,” Mr. Smith cut in.

“Right,” Mr. Frederick added.  “You want to create a phalanx, correct?”

“Um,” Buddy answered. “Maybe.”

“Well,” Mr. Smith continued, “it wouldn't be a proper phalanx.  But you want to move as one unit, having an ever shifting group of men on the outside, defending the central unit until we arrive at our destination.”

“Yeah, that sounds kinda like what I meant.  Do you think you can make that happen?”

“Of course we can make it happen, Buddy.  In fact, I was just about to mention how we should do that before you came over here and started babbling.”

“Perfect,” Buddy laughed.  “So, how do we--”

Mr Frederick put two fingers to his lips and blew a loud whistle. Immediately a crowd formed around the group.  Zero, Alexa, and Ryan also appeared beside Buddy.