Baron Zemo's Lair. - Eclipse, Chapter XV

Baron Zemo's Lair

Eclipse, Chapter XV
Saturday, 28-Aug-1999 12:37:32
206.252.246.22 writes:

Eclipse, Chapter XV
The Legacy Circle...

"Did you really think you could escape my attention?"

The man in the black bodysuit should have been shocked to hear the voice coming out of nowhere. But instead, he was drawn in by the rustling of fabric in the wind, the cold air that he now felt on the back of his neck soothed him, rather than startled him. For the first time in months, he felt at peace.

The Dark Knight hadn't anticipated this reaction--fear was his usual effect. But he continued nonetheless. "I came here on the trail of the Ravens, and Bolton Gemton...and instead, I hear of a man who fights his way through armed guards for no apparent reason, other than for the sake of brawling. It didn't make much sense at first...but I saw something in you. A pain. A loss. Fighting, rather than grieving." The Dark Knight felt a cold female form slump awkwardly in his arms for the billionth time, and shuddered. "I want to help you."

The man pulled off his mask, revealing the visage of Dr. Will Everett. He looked dead on his feet--no doubt from previously-sustained injuries. "You're the only one who CAN help me...at least, I pray you can." He looked up at the night sky, and felt unable to convey his thoughts via speaking--he wanted to vomit.

"It's not hard to explain, I'm sure..."

"Are you insane?!?! Lack of communication has ruined my life...it IS ruining my life. I once fell in love with one of your teammates. Yo. She changed my life...before I was a doctor, I was an artist. I expressed myself through it...it was almost pure. But she was pure thought...no contest. Nothing ever happened...but I can make it work. You're somehow connected to the Chronicler of Stories...well, I want to be next in line for the job. He can be pure intellect...if my thoughts could be translated to the corporeal plane, like hers can be, we could finally, truly connect...screw physical relationships, it would be pure creative and mental love...nothing hidden, no confusion. I've been training myself to fight, to be a hero...maybe that way I could be considered worthy for the job, or something."

The Dark Knight was truly sullen. "I don't have any power over who the new Chronicler is...there may not even be one anymore. But..." Will's eyes flashed up at him, and The Dark Knight felt...pity. He'd lost his chance at love...his wife killed. But Will still had hope...how could he deny someone of what he lost? It was too late for him...but not too late for Will. "For some time, I've been considering gathering a group of agents...a Dark Knight Squadron of sorts. You could be a member...and that could very well help you in becoming a Chronicler."

Will furrowed his brow. "Whatever it takes, I don't care--I'll do it."

The Dark Knight nodded. "Good--first, you need to help your friends get out of this current mess--that should give you plenty of practice..."

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It was, by all accords, a paradox.

The man in the black-and-white, highly-stylized, cowled uniform continued planting explosives in the basement--despite the yin-yang emblem that covered his shield, he seemed to have little interest in peace and harmony. But Eremetic never claimed to be a simple man.

"You realize what you're doing, of course."

The Hooded Hood. Eremetic chuckled. "I do, because of my true purpose, and you do, because of your amalgamated knowledge, but no one else does."

"Sad but true..." The Cowled Crime-Czar paused, in consideration for the irony of the moment. "Please, tell me--is it worth it? Revenge on Lucinda Gemton, while the human race is forced to repeat its greatest mistake?"

"Of course--look at her. She wants to be a 'city builder'--fattens up a city, so the Stalker Society can tear it down...and then she can step in and play the hero philanthrophist. She's so obsessed with being famous and popular...well, I can outdo her. My...unique...situation may require me to stay out of the public eye, but our friend Iron Hat was practically destined to be a greater hero than anyone! And with Jarvis gone, the public is hungry for 'the' hero..."

"And this is enough to make you turn your back from the fake men?"

"I have to--right now, recreating Iron Hat serves my cause more than destroying them."

HH sighed. "Of course...but, by going forward with that plan, you risk opening Pandora's Box...should the truth be found out, surely the Lair Legion--"

"The Lair Legion are second-stringers--you know it was well as I do."

The Hooded Hood could do nothing but stand and watch, as Eremetic set up the "accident" that would create not only the world's greatest hero, but also its fatal flaw...

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"I'm used to committing the crime, not investigating it..."

Leah Zemo swallowed her doubts, pushing her black-striped pink hair over her shoulder and throwing her chest out. The guard was still watching wrestling instead of her, unfortunately.

Unfortunately for him.

The guard felt his chin slam against the round security desk, as she yanked on his tie and drew his face close to hers. "Do you want me to hurt you?"

"Yes ma'am."

She smiled, not because of his reply--well, not JUST because of his reply--but because she felt her fingers wrap around the "Security Honor Award" statue sitting on his desk..."You asked for a beating, you got one."

She dropped the slightly-bloodied statue onto the ground, and sighed--she hated having to waste the handcuffs on him when both Ray and Will were around...but, she couldn't afford letting the guy get loose.

"I don't see why I had to do this...you're the fighter."

Ray--in Eclipse form--stepped out of the shadows. "Well, I'm a bit too good at it--resisting the whole 'kill target' mindset that comes along with the powers isn't so easy. Besides, you did it fairly...smoothly."

She glanced around the foyer--no windows, no witnesses. "Police scientists are kinda low-budgeted, huh?"

"Well, since most of the ArachKnight City police force is getting ninety percent of their pay from Lucinda Gemton, I'd say that they can't exactly improve the building with illegal money..."

They walked down a hall, and entered the evidence room. Leah looked over its contents--not one clue as to the Beargiant murder. "Um...they didn't even bother investigating?"

"Because it was an inside job...just like we figured."

"Well, we can add it to the list of Lucinda's crimes--but we can't really do anything abut it yet. We should be looking for Bolton and those Ravens..."

Ray picked up a phone. "We will--but first, a little media attention just might shake her up a bit..."

Continued...

Fin Fang Foom
*flies away*

Fin Fang Foom