The Redeemer by Patrick Roberts
Chapter 5: Hunting Ghosts
Dana and I walked back into the briefing room, noticing that a briefing was already going on. Anderson stood with another woman who was shades younger than Anderson and Dana, but properly older than the rest of us, barring Birkoff and Inik. She was a short, average woman with long raven hair and imperceptive green eyes. I immediately sensed her “no non-sense” attitude and wondered who she was. She was dressed in a blue suit, not unlike Anderson’s. The rest of the group was gathered around the table. Their costumed looked as if they had been the worst of the exchange. They looked to me as I walked in; David stood, probably trying to assess my mood. I avoided his gaze and stared at the woman, who looked just as disappointed as I felt. She seemed to be looking to Dana now, with an emotion just shy of contempt. While avoiding the awkward situation, I took notice of the cityscape tonight. Fire and darkness had split the world in half.
“I thought he’d run away, left the team.” The woman said with utter contempt. She turned fully and walked over to me, “I was getting a little tired of harboring a known felon.”
“He’s not really a felon anymore.” I said quickly. She looked at me with disbelieving eyes, “The person I killed, not really dead.”
She scoffed, “But you’re still a thief.” She said.
I folded my arms, “Who are you again?” I asked.
“Orita Coronas.” She said quickly. There was some odd twitch in her eye which I was sure only she noticed, “My status is none of your business at this point.”
“Because I’m not a real superhero?” I smirked.
“Because it’s not time for you to.” Orita frowned. She turned back to Anderson, “These are the people who protect us? Well, now I see how the Cersai kicked our asses.”
There were murmurs around the table, objections to her statement. We hadn’t done such a crappy job, considering it was our first time out and we weren’t expecting a full-on invasion. I had questions. I had stuff to say. Her flippant attitude towards us spun me for a loop. It took a minute before I regained any sense of what I should say.
“We did our best and we fought like Hell.” David frowned, “How were we supposed to know that an alien invasion would take place?”
“You should always be ready for that to happen.” Orita said coldly. She looked around the table and back to me, “We don’t have time for weak performances!”
“Performances? Lady, we’re fighting for our lives.” Birkoff said angrily.
“You’re not doing it well.” Orita spat. She turned to Dana, “I knew we shouldn’t have trusted you. You used our tech to keep the head of Medusa alive.”
Dana looked at her with just as much contempt, “He’s my son. I would die for him.” She said.
“Lot of good that does the world.” Orita said harshly, “Your son is a criminal!”
“Hey, you can’t talk to her like that!” David said furiously.
Orita looked taken aback, “I think I can. She just let one of the most dangerous criminals back into the world!”
“He’s not a criminal.” I said quickly. I found her icy gaze, as well as the rest of the team’s gaze, on me. I fidgeted for a second before continuing, “I don’t know what Medusa did to him, but that’s not him.”
“What do you know about not being a criminal?”
“I know him.” I said angrily, “I know him more than anyone in this room.” I looked to Dana, then back to Orita, “You can’t just label someone a criminal or a hero! The world’s not that black and white. You can come in and be a bitch to us all you want, but the truth is, we spared a lot of people’s lives. In all the fighting, I didn’t see one inch of you fighting.”
Orita’s eyes flashed with anger, and then her mouth began to move, “The world is black and white. The grey area is for bad people who’ve just found out they’re bad and want people to feel sorry for them. He’s a criminal. It’s who he is. Whether they made him a criminal or if he was born one, like you, he is what he is.” She frowned at me, “And as far as not fighting…you don’t see anything your mind won’t let you see. For the last six hours, I’ve been fighting.”
Electra chuckled, “Fighting what? Against or for us?” she asked.
“Why would you ask that?” Orita asked, “What are you insinuating?”
“We’re here, fighting for the world and you’re here berating us for not giving more than we have to give. We’re giving all of ourselves and more.” Harrison frowned. I noticed that a scar was forming on his arm and it looked to be getting worse, “You don’t get to pass judgment on us, not unless you save the world at least once.”
“Verely!” Leif added, “Some of us are but mortal. Our validity is not in question.”
“Insubordinate.” Orita said with disbelief, “You do know that I’m of a higher rank than you. That I could have this little trick and pony show pulled.”
“You don’t have that authority.” Dana said quickly.
“You’d be surprised.” Orita smiled, “Get this together. Or I swear by the hear on Thor’s chinny chin chin that I will shut you down.” She said, leaving.
Dr. Kinser coughed, “I like her. I think she brings that white girl attitude.” He joked.
“I think she brings the bitch.” Electra frowned. She looked to me, “How are you doing?”
“Not sure.” I nodded. I walked over to the table and stood before them, “Look, I know you share her sentiment about me being a criminal. Even I share it. But the facts are that I was fighting side-by-side with you, helping and risking my life to save the world right along with you. I wasn’t lying when I said I knew Steven better than anyone. Given, that was before Medusa opened up his inner crazy, but I know he isn’t evil…immoral, yes. Evil, no.”
“He’s been running Medusa from under our feet.” Birkoff said quickly, “I don’t care about his immorality or your feelings for him. I could give two shits. I want him dead.”
Dana walked forward, “We’re not killing him. We do not seek to destroy him, only bring him back.” She quickly looked over to Anderson, “He’s more valuable to us alive. We can do something about him.”
“What if there ain’t a way?” Anderson asked stoically.
“There’s always a way.” Dana said.
“Did you see him? Exactly which one of us is going to take him and that big alien down?” Kinser asked.
David walked to his mother, “I’m his brother. I need to be there to either help him or destroy him.” He said dutifully.
I looked between them, “We need to take them on. His ‘family’ unit. He won’t be alone. The rest of you need to do what you can to stop the invasion.” I said quickly.
“Who died and made you leader?” Birkoff asked.
“He’s right,” David agreed, “Familiarity is key to our winning.”
“He almost destroyed the world last time, he scarred more than half of us, and the bastard killed my partner. I have no plans on letting him live.” Birkoff said with a dry growl. He watched Dana’s reaction, “I get that he’s your son, but he’s a lunatic now.”
I could feel Dana’s heart breaking just from standing beside her. David’s hands were clenched into a fist. I felt as if I should feel more…as if I should be more disgusted or sadder. The only thing I could feel was confusion. Nothing I’d come to believe about myself or the world was true. My world wasn’t exactly steady before, but now…aliens and heroes and resurrection…For some odd reason I couldn’t really find my voice. It seemed lost now.
Birkoff quickly stood, staring at me, “Looks like you’re not a murderer like we thought. You didn’t kill your fiancée because he’s a murdering psychopath. You saved the world.” He said.
David’s anger was apparent without any speech, “Shut up! Don’t you ever talk about him like that again!” he frowned.
Birkoff smirked and walked over to David, “Look at the boy scout, getting all mad about his psycho brother.” The sound of his voice oozed disgust and distaste.