Vanguard: The Complete Second Season: A Superhero Serial (Vanguard: The Collected Seasons Book 2) Read Free Page B

smile to fade instantly. “Or not…”
    “I thought about that, too, but the Security Council is nervous about having specials active in this service.” Thorne turned his head in Jim’s direction. “Which is what I wanted to talk to you about. You’re not a special and because of your work, they feel you’d be well-suited to serve in this organization, too.”
    Jim blinked and looked around the table. Dom scoffed. “So keep the humans, get rid of the freaks, is that what this is about?”
    “Calm down,” said Anita.
    Dom threw his hands up. “Whatever. Never cared much for this three-ring circus any way.”
    “Dom’s right,” said Erin. “What happens if someone like Zephyr gets loose again? Or what if Lucent takes back his body? How is this organization going to stand up to them?”
    Thorne sighed. “I really don’t know.”
    “What about Zenith?” asked Lee. “He’s still trapped in that body, how are we gonna get him out?”
    “That’s something I still plan to continue if I take this position,” said Thorne.
    “‘If’?” asked Jim. “You’re having second thoughts?”
    “With Vanguard, I had autonomy. But this new organization will have to answer to the Security Council and they can’t even agree on the weather.” Thorne gave a shake of his head. “I’m afraid the position will become mired in politics and bureaucracy.”
    “On the other hand, if you turn down the position, who will they choose in your stead?” asked Zenith.
    “And that right there is the biggest problem,” said Thorne. “I’ve got no idea who else they’d go with, and there’s always the very real chance they could pick someone who’s not exactly sympathetic to specials.”
    Thorne stood up. “Whatever my decision, we’ve got a week before the government officially takes back control of the Atlas. That means you’ve got some packing to do and arrangements to make. I really wish things could’ve been different, but this is the hand we’ve been dealt. It’s been a true honor to work alongside you all these past few months.”

CHAPTER 4

    General Nathan Callus walked down the halls of the underground facility, the guards saluting him as he passed by. He ignored them, continued on towards his goal. The two guards who stood at attention on either side saluted and then one opened the door for him.
    The cell was small and chains ran from the ceiling and the floor, hooked to a woman in the center of the room whose arms were crossed over her chest and chained down, leaving her unable to move. She stared up at Callus with blue eyes that burned with anger—Callus couldn’t help thinking she would be cute if not for her anti-social tendencies.  
    “Ms. Grant,” said Callus with a smile. He removed his hat, revealing the short, brown hair that had begun to turn silver.  
    “My father’s lawyers are gonna have a field day with this,” said Chloe Grant.  
    “Somehow I doubt that,” said Callus. “Maybe your initial attacks as Zephyr could be attributed to an overzealous streak of activism. But then you escaped federal custody and joined a terrorist organization responsible for the death of the President of the United States. No lawyer’s gonna take that case, regardless of how much money your rich daddy coughs up. And of course, that’s operating under the assumption you even have rights any more.”
    “I know my rights,” said Chloe.
    “You’re an intelligent young woman. No doubt well-versed on what the government can and can’t do in regards to terrorists.” Callus stepped closer, bringing his face within inches of hers and then he lowered his voice to a whisper. “As far as anyone outside this cell is concerned, Chloe Grant doesn’t exist. Your fate belongs to me .”
    Callus slapped her hard across the face and Chloe grunted. He stood upright and folded his hands behind his back.
    “We apprehended a number of the Red Fist’s numbers, including your fellow specials, Nina Murillo and