Silver Moon Stories

Chapter 11 Beware the Undertow

Robert and Luke were walking down the hall towards the administration wing in the Denver SUAVE HQ. That was a mouthful so the tended to shorten it to DQ. That way they could talk about it anywhere and all people thought they were talking about was ice cream. Although there was about a decade in difference in age between the two of them, they had come into SUAVE at the same time. Luke straight out of his undergraduate Super program and Robert after he completed his post-doctoral work on Supers and their relation to applied physics. Most Supers didn’t get graduate degrees and beyond. Some, especially the ones SUAVE considered dangerous or too unstable and they were brought into the program right out of high school or even earlier. That was rare though. SUAVE, what a stupid self-important acronym, Supers United Against Villainy and Evildoers. The better acronym would have been SAVE but the old timers refused to bow to change.

 After Alphaflight and Cain had started the organization, no one refused to budge on the name even though it sounded pompous and egotistical. That’s must of the Supers these days acted too. There were a few that remembered why the organization had been founded but they tended to keep focused on the job of making the world a better, safer place rather than trying to change a broken system inside America’s number one Super organization. It was all federally organized and regulated but each group was governed by a board of directors who in turn answered to the Secretary of Defense and the Defense Department.

 They turned left as the hallway forked and they stopped at a door than was no different than any of the others unless you knew what to look for. There was a tiny code at the top right of the door frame that listed, SHADLV, Suave Headquarters Administrative Director Luke Vaughn. The only person that could open this door from the outside was Luke Vaughn. Inside, the room was a null zone. No electronics worked and there was no way for anyone to surveil the room from the outside.

 Luke opened the door, both men entered and then he closed it and they both breathed a sigh of relief. Luke went to his desk and pulled out a bottle of fine Ardbeg scotch.

“Can I pour you a glass, Rob?” Asked Luke as he removed the stopper from the bottle.

“Is that the 10 year?” Rob asked

“No. This is the Ardbeg An Oa. I brought back a few bottles from my trip last year.” Said Luke pulling a glass out and pouring a finger of the amber liquid into the glass.

 “No need to ask in that case. Yes please, Mon ami.” Robert smiled. Scotch was one of the few liquors he allowed himself to indulge in. His family had an alcohol problem going generations back. Ever since he found that out, he’d stopped drinking except for the occasional glass of scotch with Luke and with their busy schedules it was very occasional indeed.

 Luke pulled out a second glass and poured a similar amount into it as the first. He replaced the bottle into the desk and moved towards the guest chairs and handed Robert one of the two glasses. Luke sat down in the chair opposite of Robert and raised his glass.

 “To friends both here and departed. Slainte !” Luke Said.

 “À votre santé !” Said Robert in turn clinking the two glasses together.

 They both took a sip and savored the taste before swallowing the warming liquid. Most people said they could tell the difference between different brands of scotch. Robert couldn’t. To him, scotch tasted like scotch, beer tasted like beer, and wine tasted like wine. He still liked the flavor though. The only he could tell that set Ardbeg apart from other scotch was that he thought he could taste the peat bogs in the flavor. It was different, unique, and added a feeling that the drink could transport you to the very far north of Scotland. He might be imagining it, it was also possible that it was an unconscious suggestion because he knew were this scotch came from, either way, he didn’t mind.

 “So how have things been here at DQ?” Robert asked after finish his sip.

 “A few things. We have an operative who bungled an op in Castle Rock. There was an incident at a bar downtown called Armada’s or something where a registered but non-qual Super threw a baseball at record speed at another patron. Finally, it is graduation day soon for the latest batch of rookie Supers including my Emily.” Luke said in response. It was actually quite a bit. Usually his response was, nothing out of the ordinary.

 “That’s a lot to take in, Luke. First off, congratulations on your daughter’s graduation. I know she’ll be a fine Super. Second, there was a non-qual Super that hit someone with a baseball? Third, who bungled what op?” Those were all a bit crazy. Robert had known Emily since she was a baby and now she was graduating college? All of a sudden he felt the arthritis in his knees act up. Mon Dieu he felt old at that moment.  Something popped into Robert’s head at that moment, “Was the bar maybe Armida’s?”

 “Yes! That was the name. Armida’s The non-qual Super was a young lady named Sylvia Forester. She was evaluated about ten years ago to see if she warranted entering into the Super program. Robert, her power is the ability to know any bit of trivia on demand. She’s a living trivial pursuit. But somehow, she manifested a fastball baseball that hit this guy in his chest and broke a half dozen ribs! She’s lucky that none of his organs were damaged. How did she do that? Then my nephew Ethan was the one that bungled the mission in Castle Rock. According to Melissa Yuen, somehow he manifested three of himself. He thought he was seeing double in a mirror! William the Scab got away because of that. Again, his power was never able to do that before!” Luke took a few deep breaths and calmed himself down. “Thank you about Emily, Rob. I had very little to do with her success. I am worried about her best friend, Max Blumenthal, though. His power is almost guaranteed to land his in the Omega class. We both know what happens to Omegas.”

 Robert took another sip of his scotch and put the glass down on Luke’s desk.. “ Well as for the first two, I have a similar tale to tell. I just came off of a mission where my Omega team member, Mina, also had her power go awry. The villain we were sent to apprehend, had some sort of disintegration gun.” Luke’s eyes grew wide at that. “Yes, a real disintegration weapon. I have no idea where he got it or if he made it himself. We thought we had him cornered but it turned out that he didn’t have one gun, he had two of the damned things. He set off some sort of sonic stun device as ran off in the direction of Mina. I shouted the signal at her, but she still tried to prevent him from leaving. Damn fool girl got herself shot, I thought she was dead, but it turned out that somehow she absorbs the energy from the gun.”

 Luke paused him with a hand, “Wait. I thought that she couldn’t ‘Eat’ energy? We tested that right?”

“Yes, we did and she couldn’t before. Honestly, Luke, I don’t know that she did this time either. Somehow that disintegration beam did something to her power. Maybe it unlocked something or she’s naturally resistant to that type of energy, I don’t know. She said something weird, ‘Blue Maw needs food badly. Blue Mina is going to die.’ After that,” he paused for a moment at a loss for words, “Best way I can describe it is, she opened a miniature black hole and began to swallow everything within a twenty foot radius. Including the guy, Dr. Sant. It seemed like she ate him.” He paused again with his hand in the air like he was trying to summon something, “No, even a black hole is wrong. Black holes don’t eat, their gravity pulls everything in, even light and time. Maybe a void? Sorry, now I’m just arguin’ with myself.”

 Luke looked pale and put down his glass. “Holy shit, Rob. Everything? That’s insane. What happened to Mina?”

 Robert looked ashamed, “They took her to Cheyenne Mountain for,” and at this he used hand quotation marks, “Further research and study. You and I both know what that means.”

 “Why did you tell the Board? You and I could have handle this.” Luke said, then he immediately realized why himself. “Oh crap, this was the mission you were supposed to be teaching Fairbanks Jr., wasn’t it?”

 “You found the nail, Mr. Hammer. He was on the phone so fast to his daddy, I barely had time to blink. There was no way I could stop him, and Marisol wasn’t sure what to do. She likes Mina, I think but you know Marisol. She doesn’t like to be notice doing anything but catching criminals and going to photo ops.” Robert picked up his glass again and took another small sip. “Let’s change the subject. Did you say Max Blumenthal? Any relation to Ira Blumenthal?”

 Luke nodded, “His grandson. Rob, he is a good kid with a big heart. The only issue is his power. All he can do is grow grass under his feet.”

 Robert thought about that and asked, “What type of grasses?”

 “According to Salve, any type that she’s asked so far. Why?” Luke asked back.

 Robert whistled. “Well, Luke. Grasses is a very large family. It goes from clover all the way up to bamboo. There’s a lot, and I mean a lot of useful plants in between too.”

 “Really? That sounds like a very useful power. Not Omega level at all. I’m going to find out who did his evaluation.” Luke went around to the other side of his desk and pushed a button that was nearly flush with the top. It wasn’t electronic to Robert’s surprise, it rang an old fashioned bell in the hall. Fairly soon there was a knock on the door.

“Sir, it is Mr. Strond. Can I be of assistance?”

 Thank god, Mr. Strond was as trustworthy as they could be. Luke moved to the door and opened it. The very average man walked into the room. The only thing that wasn’t average about him was his eyes. It took a very sharp eye and some keen perception to realize what was different. His eyes looked like they were drawn on him. In bright white and pitch black irises with the triangle cutout of many very early cartoons.

 “Mr. Strond, can you find out who evaluated Max Blumenthal for class placement?” Luke asked the genial but bland man.

 “Of course, sir. Shall I bring to you here?” Asked Charles Strond.

 “That would be great. Thank you very much Charles.” Said Luke

 “Very good, sir. I shall return with much alacrity.” As Charles said that he turned in to a copy of the Road Runner from Looney Tunes and let out a “Beep-Beep!” and took off like a bullet from a gun. Robert half expect to see Wile E. Coyote follow close behind, but it didn’t happen.

 “It is just me or does everyone find that man unnervin’ ?” Said Robert as soon as the cartoon man was out of ear shot.

 “It’s the eyes. Charles is actually quite a lovely and funny guy.” Luke had a smile on his face.

 “You’re pullin’ my leg.” Robert scoffed.

 “No really, I serious. His humor is a bit … British but if you like British humor you get along like a house on fire.” Luke said stifling a chuckle at the end.

 “Sorry, that one passed me by. Like a house on fire?” Robert wasn’t very into British humor.

 “It means you’ll get along quickly.” Luke said with a full laugh around it, “Question, how does a house burn? Answer, very quickly.” Robert groaned at that, “Eh, it’s not for everyone. My wife and Emily got me into it. I personally think it is a hoot and a half. Shall we have another glass of scotch before he gets back?”

 Charles Strond ran as fast as his body would take him. Which as the Road Runner, was pretty bloody fast. He knew every inch of the Denver Head Quarters. As he was the Director’s assistant and personal bodyguard and that meant virtually everywhere. Not that he needed a bodyguard. The Super known as Flash Freeze could handle himself in almost any situation. But it meant a lot that the Director trusted Charles so completely. Ever since Charles had moved away from his home in London, he’d lacked friends and family. Most people thought that he was an introvert or it was just the normal British demeanor, but it wasn’t either of those. There was something about Charles that unnerved people. It generally was something that people couldn’t put their finger on. Charles knew it was his eyes. People loved cartoons, but apparently not cartoon eyes on a very normal looking man.

 His eyes had changed when his powers emerged. He didn’t remember what his eyes looked like before his mother had said that he had soft, warm brown eyes. Now all that he would ever remember was the eyes that looked like drawings with black Pac-man like irises. Charles supposed that it was a small price to pay for his ability to mimic most cartoons but honestly he’d rather have a more useful power like the ability to heal others or build structures, something like that. But he believed that the powers chose the person not that it was some universal roulette wheel, and you didn’t know where the ball would land. If it was just random, then nothing had meaning, life had no meaning and was just a series of events one after the other leading to the eventual heat death of the universe. That was too depressing, so he chose to believe that things happened for a reason.

 As Charles approached the archives he slowed down and turned into his human self. He had been told that he was average in every way. Average height, average weight, dark brown hair, just average everything. All except those eyes and the keen intellect behind them. He really didn’t mind blending into a crowd, he would even occasionally don sunglasses, a t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of trainers and go to a mall, or a movie, or even just out for a meal and blend into the background. He found it quite relaxed him. He even thought his American accent was getting better too.

 When he turned the final corner just before the entrance to the Archives, he realized that he was not alone. Someone else was waiting to enter through the automated security check. He recognized the man right away. Of course there was no way anyone would mistake that physique for any other person.

 “Mr. Fairbanks? What a pleasure to see you, sir. How is your father, Mr. Fairbanks Senior doing these days?” Charles had worked under Douglas Fairbanks, Senior for a number of years before the he had retired from being a Director and took a position on the Oversight Board, what most called the Board of Directors. They were technically supposed to be an independent review agency that monitored all of the Supers in the United States. SUAVE was a not for profit organization that worked directly under the oversight of the United States Department of Defense. But even government agencies had civilian oversight. This was supposed to be no different. Charles Strond and most of the veteran Supers and Directors new better. Most of the Board member earned a tidy income from SUAVE, while normal retirees were in the pension program, which was generous but not making anyone wealthy.

 Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., appeared to be lost in thought. When he realized that he was staring into the middle distance he refocused on Charles, “Wha? Oh hello, Chris. I’m fine thank you. What are you doing at the Archives?”

 It was obvious to Charles, that Douglas had heard about a third of what he had said. Chris, the thought, the man’s a buffoon and the only reason he has any authority here is because no one was to upset Daddy Hit Streak. The sooner he wrapped up this conversation the better. “Charles, sir. I am here at the Director’s behest to retrieve a file for him. I don’t believe that I’ve seen your name anywhere in the restricted security clearances. What is your business here?” Charles, knew he was likely to get the truth from Douglas Jr. but, any chance was a good chance.

 “What?” Douglas Jr. obviously was confused and getting angry, “I don’t need security clearance, I the son of one of the Board members! I can go where I like!”

 Ah yes, Charles thought, anger, the obvious defense mechanism of the foolish against direct questioning. As Charles Strond was the current head of security for the Denver SUAVE HQ, he would not be rising to meet this anger, instead he remained calm and disaffected by the outburst.

 “Mr. Fairbanks, you know for a fact that family members of the Board do not get and special privileges. You are currently out of bounds. Do not force me to remove and report you.” Charles could tell that his calm tone was angering the younger man even more. Douglas Jr. or as many knew him now, Captain Cable, reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He then thrust it at Charles with considerable force.

 “Here. Read this you smug bastard!” Waving the note towards Charles.

 Charles gently took the note from the out stretched fist and opened it. The words inside were the following:

To Whomever is reading this note,

I hereby give my son permission to enter any room in

The Denver S.U.A.V.E. Headquarters and obtain the files

Which I have asked him to retrieve. Please don’t imped his

progress. This request is of the topmost security and is

Highly classified

                                                          Douglas Angus Fairbanks SR

.                                                   Oversight Board Chairman

                                                                          Formerly known as the Super ‘Hit Streak’

 Charles read the note a couple of times just to be sure. Folded it back up and handed it back to the now smirking Douglas Jr. He really believed that he was untouchable and power and authority through nepotism outweighed everything. He was about to discover how wrong he was.

 “My apologies, Captain Cable, sir” Charles began and saw the smirk become a nasty smile. “This document is invalid. Please remove yourself from the entrance to the Archives immediately or I will be forced to detain you.”

 The smile faltered in look of bewilderment, “Wait, what? That gives me authority to go anywhere I like, you limey jerk! Where do you get off telling me anything?” and the anger returned to his voice.

 “Let me list the ways in which I ‘get off” telling you anything.” The angrier Douglas Jr. got, the calmer Charles felt. It was an odd sensation, like being in the eye of a hurricane where there was violence and destruction all around you but here in the center of the storm, everything was at peace. “One, you did not present this document to the on duty security desk when you entered the HQ. Two, you did not receive the approval of Director Vaughn or myself, the Head of Security to execute this document. Lastly, you are questioning the authority of a superior who well within his rights to ask you to leave or detain you. That note,” with this he pointed to the note back in the large young man’s grip. “Does not contain the approval seal from the Denver HQ and is therefore null and void for the purposes of this conversation. Now, please leave or I will remove you, Mr. Fairbanks.” Charles was hoping that the large youth was smart enough to realize that he now completely out of options and back down and leave. Unfortunately for Douglas Jr., he wasn’t that smart.

 The hero known as Captain Cable made to move back down the hallway and leave only to turn and throw a punch towards Charles. He was said to have the strength and flexibility of steel cables that maintained the strongest of bridges. He was a powerful Super, one that could overcome most of his opponents by sheer strength and endurance. The only problem was, he was a man that was a living cartoon.

 Cartoon moved quicker than the human I could see, Shifting from human shape into a tiny mouse and ran towards Captain Cable’s feet. Captain Cable, for his part, recovered well and was attempting to stomp on the mouse. Just as it appeared that he’d managed to get his foot directly over the cartoon mouse to squish him, Cartoon turned into one of his favorite forms, a huge cartoon Gorilla bouncer from Who Framed Roger Rabbit, grabbed Captain Cable’s foot and lower leg in a gigantic meaty paw and threw the Super into a heavily reinforced wall with an overhead slam. He held on to Captain Cable’s leg in case he need to tenderize the angry Super more and sure enough the man had begun to try and rise from the fractured wall and floor. Cartoon decided that two more body slams should be enough to render his opponent more docile. Cartoon held onto he foot just in case and pulled out his communicator from his jacket pocket which was beginning to chirp with the sounds of alarms and voice. A very worried voice called over the comm, “What in the hell was that? Is everyone alright? Please sound off.”

 Ah, his second in command, Julio Suarez. Good man and a good Super as well. He was following the protocol that Charles himself had established to ensure that the HQ was always secure. He would have to see if could get that man a raise.

 “All’s clear Julio. I just had to firmly explain the rules to a grumpy young Super. Could you send a detention team to the archives, please? “ Said Charles as calmly as he had before as if nothing had even happened.

 “Mr. Strond? Are you okay?” asked Julio out of genuine concern for his boss.

“Yes, Julio. I’m quite alright, thank you. I’m afraid that young Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is going to wake up with a bit of a migraine.” Charles said. He really didn’t like being violent, but he had given the young Super several chances to end things in a more peaceful manner. He might have even approved the note had he approached Charles in a more respectful manner.  It was clear that he was used to getting his way. Children of the rich often are. Charles had been the son of a bookkeeper in the west-end. Not poor but definitely not wealthy.

 “I’ll send Candy Floss and Outbreak Monkey your way immediately.” Charles then heard Julio speaking with the other Supers. Those two would definitely secure this guy.

 Well no need to wait for the cavalry. They’d be here shortly. Besides he could pull his favorite cartoon trick being in two places at the same time. He let go of Captain Cable’s leg and stood up straight. Momentarily where the was one Charles Strond, the was now two. They looked at each other and nodded. “ Nice to see up again Mr. Strond” said the one on the left, “A pleasure as always, Mr. Strond.” Responded the one on the right,

 The Left Charles went to the Archive security entrance and said to the Right Charles, “I’ll be back shortly, Right Charles.”

 “Right-O, Left Charles.” Said Right Charles and he watched his double move into the Archives. He turned to the prone Captain Cable, “Now then Mr. Fairbanks. Let’s be a good lad and remain where you are, all right?”

 A few minutes passed without incident and Candy Floss and Outbreak Monkey appeared around the corner. Both figures were on the shorter side. One looked like it had been dipped in rainbow sherbet and the other was cover in a hazmat suit that appear to have been custom tailored and was colored a sickly green. The wearer waved a hand towards Right Charles. The brightly colored woman smiled and said, “Hi. Mr. Strond! How are you today? Is this the package we are supposed to bring to the security holding area?” Her voice was as bright as her outfit, and she almost sounded like a child but in truth she was nearly thirty years old.

 “Thank you for joining us Candy and Monkey.” Right Charles said with genuine warmth, “If you would be so kind, please escort Mr. Fairbanks to the detention area.” On the ground, Captain Cable groaned and began to stir. “If you would please follow Candy Floss and Outbreak Monkey, Mr. Fairbanks they will lead you to the detention area.”

 Once Douglas Jr. had enough wherewithal to respond he said, “My father will hear about this, mark my words!”

 Charles, tilted his head a bit and said, “Mr. Fairbanks, of course your father will be informed. By me and very shortly.” As he finished speaking Left Charles came up and said to Right Charles, “I’ve got the document we needed.” He turned to Captain Cable, “ Oh hello, I see you are feeling a bit better. Please do what I say. “ He waved his hands at Right Charles, “I know what I’m talking about.”

 “Twins! No wonder I was bested. You double teamed me!” Captain Cable indignantly.

 “Mr. Fairbanks,” said Candy, ”You were not double teamed. Mr. Strond or Cartoon is just a very powerful Super. It is easy to underestimate Supers that seem silly or weird. For example,” and with this she spun webs of brightly colored strands and encased the large man. “My name, Candy Floss, might sound silly, but I assure you that my candy webs are stronger than spider silk and very difficult to break and even if you manage to free yourself, Outbreak Monkey will have you spilling your guts faster than you can sneeze.” The figure in the hazmat suit waved again, “Their not much of a talker though. Okay, let get you on your feet and on your way.” Candy Floss and Outbreak Monkey walked over and helped the large young man to his feet. “We’ll see you later Mr. Strond and Mr. Strond.” And they walked away from the archives.

 “Their good kids. Well, let’s get our act together, Right Charles.” And in response Right Charles said, “Couldn’t have said it better Left Charles” and touched hands with his duplicate. Where there was once two Mr. Stronds, there was now just one again. “Well now that I’m of one mind about things again, it is time to get back to the Director.”

 Soon there was another, “Beep! Beep!” as Road Runner Strond ran back down the hallway to the Director’s office.

***

Luke had made sure that Robert and me had been slowly sipping the scotch so that they wouldn’t be too intoxicated when Charles got back with the file. It would have been very easy to drink too much of the amber drink, but Luke had never been able to drink more than about two small glasses. He also knew that Robert would moderate himself as always he worried about following in his grandfather’s footsteps and turning into an alcoholic. Luke found that highly unlikely but, he understood the worry, nonetheless. To make sure neither of them were tempted by a third glass, he put the bottle back into the drawer. He was beginning to worry about Charles. The man was never late. There had been that ruckus they’d heard but Luke wasn’t worried about it as no one came to get him. The Director was always to be warned if there was major trouble on the DQ campus. He trusted Charles Strond completely. The two men had fought on the same team for years and the members of that team had a bond that ran deeper than family. The team originally had seven members, Flash Freeze, Cartoon, Salve, Bedlam, Robed Justice, Lifeline, and the hero known as Cain. The first five had been the real team with Robert, Robed Justice, leading the group for years until he chose to settle into an instructor role for the new Supers. Lifeline and Cain had been there in the early days just to make sure the rookie Supers didn’t get themselves or anyone else hurt,

 Luke felt, that those two men having guided his team during the first year of rookie training had made that group of people better Supers than if anyone else had trained them. Lifeline and Cain were both of the golden age of Supers from the earliest years of the Super program. The each were considered to be living legends, Supers that people could look up to. Heroes that were worthy of being revered. Lifeline was still one of the strongest healers in the world. It was said that during time as a Super, he had grown back limbs, healed traumatic brain injuries, he’d even brought a few people back from death when no one else thought it could be done.

 Then there was Cain. No one knew where he’d received the moniker. He had also flat out refused to tell anyone his real name. He’d said it was to protect his family for threats both inside and outside of SUAVE. Luke believed him too. When your powers was to be completely indestructible, it was simple to believe that anyone might try to come at you through your family. Yet despite his mystery, Cain was a noble, warm, and well regarded Super. His power meant that he could apprehend almost any villain with little injury to the criminal and no injury to anyone else. He had also saved people from things that was impossible for almost any other person. He’d saved a family from a nuclear explosion, he’d been able to enter burning buildings, collapsing buildings, and even mined war fields without any injury to himself or anyone he rescued. It was perhaps one of the most useful powers that any Super had ever been gifted.

 Those men had made them trust in the fact that what they were doing and teaching others to do was a noble calling and that they were not above the common man, instead they were born to ensure the safety of humanity and help usher in a new age of peace and harmony. It was just too bad that almost every other legendary Super had espoused that not only were Supers separate from human, they were also superior to humanity in every way, which was how the name Superheroes came into being. Luke Vaughn disagreed with the commonly held perception that Supers were a new genetic variant to the normal homo sapiens sapiens. Instead he felt that they were the simple evolution that any human could evolve into with time. He and Robert had talked about this often and Robert suggested that it might like the genetic coding for hair color, eye color, or other such combinations. Or perhaps they were all mutants with an extra chromosome or two. Testing had been done and little had been found to support any claim. Supers were just different. There was a knock on the door bringing the Director’s mind back to the present.

 “Sir, it is Mr. Strond. I’ve returned with the document requested and a story to tell as well.” Came the even tones of Charles Strond.

 “A story, huh? Well, if that don’t beat all. Luke, we got ourselves two pieces of information for the price of one. Momma always used to say beware the stone that brings down two birds for it is an ill omen.” Said Robert.

 “I’ve never heard that before, Robert.” Said Luke as he moved to the door to his office.

 “Well, I’m not sure if it is just a family sayin’ or somethin’ more common, but she says it like it was gospel.” Robert drank the last bit of his scotch afterwards.

 Luke opened the door and there was Charles Strond, looking as put together as ever and yet he wore a worried look upon his face, “Please come in Mr. Strond.” Charles entered and Luke Vaughn closed the door behind him. “Well, Charles. I sent you for a file and you bring that and a story. I’m guessing that it has something to do with the loud crashes we heard shortly ago?”

 “Yes, sir. I found young Mr. Fairbanks wandering in a restricted corridor leading to the Archives.”

 Both Luke and Robert felt themselves sobering up quite quickly. “What, Douglas Fairbanks Jr.? What was he doing in the Archives corridor?” Said Luke, he was trying to do his best to not sound too worried, but he was very worried by this news.

 Charles Strond relayed the story of his encounter with the large Super, how he had claimed authority to be where he was, how he had presented the note from his father, how Mr. Strond had told Douglas of the security checks that were needed to protect the DQ, and how ultimately he had needed to subdue the enraged man in order to retrieve the requested file. Luke saw his concerned reflected on the face of Robert. Suddenly, Luke began to feel queasy, and it wasn’t the scotch.

 “Charles, did Douglas tell what he was looking for in the Archive?” said Luke who was now worried that Momma White had predicted this very event, years ago.

 “No, sir. He did not. However, I don’t believe in coincidences and there is something about this file that you asked me to retrieve that seems off as well.” Charles remained calm but even he had begun to sound a bit worried.

 “It seems off? How so?” said Robert, standing to join the two men at the desk.

 “Look for yourself, Assistant Director.” With this Charles placed the file on the table.

 Robert winced at his title. He didn’t like to remind people that he was a figure of authority in SUAVE. “Please, Charles, just call me Robert. We’ve been friends and colleagues for nearly fifteen years. Anyway I hate that title. The only reason I let him,” and with this he pointed a thumb Luke, “give me the title was that he said it was Assistant Director or to retire. I’m too damn young to retire and time soon. Daddy worked until he was near ninety.”

 Luke smiled briefly. He’d always liked keeping his friends close. Especially since the same men had taught them to respect the duty that they had inherited from them. Robert was a good man, but he really didn’t like being in the spotlight or having power. Which is why he was the best choice even if they hadn’t been friends. Luke looked at the file and realized what Charles had been eluding to.

 “Classified by the order of AF? Does that mean Alphaflight classified Max’s power test results? I didn’t even know that he was still doing those. I thought he had fully retired up to his cabin in Idaho Springs?” Said Luke to the other two men.

 “He has, Luke. Near on three years ago now. Why would be have conducted Max Blumenthal’s power test himself.” Robert thought for a moment and said, “Do you think Ira might have asked him to do it?”

 “I don’t remember Ira getting along with Alphaflight like he did Cain and some of the others. Alphaflight was where the might makes right ideas came from. He’s the whole reason we use the stupid power graded system in the first place. He always wanted to keep the ‘near humans’ as far from the front lines as possible. He was a great Superhero, but he was kind of a dick as a person.” As Luke said the last, he saw both Charles and Robert nodding in agreement.

 “Agreed,” said Robert and he picked up the file to begin perusing the contents. He stopped several times while he was scanning the documents within. He looked up with pain in his face and handed the file to Luke.

 “What? What did you find?” Asked Luke even more concerned if that was possible.

 “You’re not going to like it, Luke.” Said Robert a bit hesitantly.

 “You might as well tell me, or I’ll just read the file myself.” Luke said as he began to open the file.

 “ ’Member that you asked when I’m done.” Robert took in a deep steadying breath and said, “Max isn’t an Omega.  Even though in the end that is how they chose to classify him. His amount of potential power easily makes Max an Alpha class, and he hasn’t even begun to test the limits of his power because he believes that it is a useless power and the tester, whoever it is, allowed him to remain in the dark about his own potential. The notes also indicate that the tester believes that Max has what they called a second generation Super mutation. The same mutation had been found to appear in at least three other cases.”

 “What is a second generation mutation? Why limit a potentially powerful to the status of Omega? I don’t understand and what three other cases?” Luke felt the queasiness increase and now he felt as if a headache was beginning to develop.

 Charles said, “I seem to remember something about Alpha is the beginning and Omega is the end? As in creation and destruction?”

 “Yes and no, it’s kinda all over in many different religions that creation and destruction are intertwined but the Alpha and Omega thing you are thinking about is from the book of Revelations in the Bible. But there it is referring to God as the beginning and the end. I don’t think that applies here, Charles. But I think it was a good honest attempt to make a connection.” Robert finished as if he had been giving a lecture to students. Both of the other men looked at Robert with a bit of wonder and annoyance as well. Luke cocked an eyebrow towards Robert.

 “What?” Robert held out his hands in protest, “Just because I am a scientist by nature doesn’t mean I don’t have hobbies or believe in God.”

 That actually eased some of the unseen tension that had built up in the room unnoticed by the occupants until now.

 “Beware the undertow.” Said Charles somberly.

 Luke looked at the normally stoic man and said, “My apologies Charles but I’m a Colorado boy and I’m not sure what that means.”

 “The undertow is the force that carries a wave back out to the ocean. It is an unseen force that can lead to your death if you aren’t careful when in and around the ocean. I feel like we’ve just been felt the first tug of the undertow.”

 Luke and Robert nodded in agreement. The undertow was definitely strong right now. All that Luke hoped was that it wouldn’t remain unseen for long.

 Luke just remembered a question that had remained unanswered by Robert in concern to the file. Quickly he opened it and searched for the document that would provide the answer. When he found the answer he swore, “Son of a bitch! The other three cases are The Maw, Tortie, and Sylvia Forester. The three Supers whose powers had just acted up! Damn it. We need to find all four. Robert, go get Mina, you’ve my authority to release her. Charles, find out where Ms. Forester is and bring her here right away. I’ll contact my nephew. I believe that I’ll be seeing Max this evening for the Super studies graduation. I’ll get Detective Murphy to bring him here when he has had a reasonable amount of time to enjoy his success. Hurry we don’t have any time to lose!”