In the minutes following the fight, H-Bar walked out of the building with a group of people in tow. Dull horror transfixed on their faces. H-Bar gave Liam a thumbs up as he passed. Those people, moving to safety, were the highlight of the mission. The team had saved them. Liam’s chest swelled with the knowledge he’d played a part in that.
If only the rest of the fight had been as fortunate. Of the Cowls on scene they’d only captured one, the large man Liam fought. The rest escaped using Phaser’s ability. The girl in the hoodie lived up to her namesake, pulling Cowls through the very floors and walls.
There’d been a moment of worry that the large man, who’s name Liam found out was Mr. Shock, had also escaped. However, when the team traced back Liam’s fight, they found him incapacitated on the ground. Right where Liam left him, a metal net wrapped around his body. After some deliberation, they decided Gladius and H-Bar would transport the man to a prison designed for supers, where he’d await trial.
The prison was designated beyond maximum security, as all prisons for Supers were. It’s location a closely guarded secret not even Heroes were privy to. To date, no detainee had ever escaped, an often mentioned fact when talking about the place. The Heroes assigned as escorts weren’t even allowed in. They’d bring the detained Cowl to a drop off point where prison guards, many former Heroes, would meet them. After the hand off, the guards would transport the prisoner the rest of the way.
With the captured Cowl taken care of, Liam was left with the afterglow of the fight. If his current feelings were any sign, it was bound to last for some time. In his first real fight he’d not only come out on top, one vs. one, but was able to make an arrest. That was more than most Hero’s could claim.
However, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, there’d been a toll for the victory. Two officers had died when the bank wall exploded and seven more were in critical condition. Add in the fact that the rest of the Cowls escaped and the day started to feel less like a win and more a bloody draw.
The Cowl's escape had caught Liam by surprise. He assumed they would continue fighting a bit longer. Maybe not till the bitter end, but at least until defeat was a given. Who knows, they could’ve gained some advantage in the melee. But as soon as one of their members fell, Phaser bailed them out. The power to move through solid objects, like walking through ground, was something not even Skip could follow.
After the fight, Liam found the team surprised Phaser was even there. From their discussion, her usual M.O. was late night robberies. In each of her previous heists she’d gone in alone. Never bothering to work with a team. The fact she was here, with the Broken Crest, was something they’d have to look into.
With the Cowls gone and two of their members transporting a prisoner, the rest of the team got to work cataloging the scene. Only to have Skip head to another call minutes later. From what Liam overhead, he was headed to the scene of a Super using her power while driving. Skip would determine if she’d caused two accidents found in her wake. Not a fun mission, and one Liam was all too happy to avoid. However, it was part of their responsibilities so it was only a matter of time until he got something equally as fun.
That left the aftermath of the crime scene to Ullr and Liam. Given this was his first time at one of these, Ullr decided it was the perfect learning opportunity for Liam. They started by conducting a sweep of the bank. Looking for anything related to the Cowls or the robbery. It was tedious work that had to be done meticulously.
After making it through half of one room an officer came over and interrupted them. Liam was all too happy for a break.
“We have witnesses gathered if you’d like to interview them,” the officer said.
“Any look useful?” Ullr asked.
The officer fidgeted before answering. Ullr’s gaze setting him on edge.
“You know how it is. Half of them didn’t even know a bank was here until an hour ago.”
“That good?”
With a half cocked smile the officer said, “Yeah. We can always interview them. It’s the least we can do as a thank you for capturing Mr. Shock.”
“Tempting, but we’ll take care of the interviews. This is a great opportunity for Source.”
Liam piqued up at that. He was getting a chance to leave the bank search. He was all for that, even if the people didn’t know what they were talking about.
“I’d be glad to help,” Liam said.
This would also be his first chance to talk to the people of Des Moines as Source. The fresh new Hero in their fair city. To say he was excited would’ve been the greatest of understatements. All Liam could feel as he followed the officer to the witnesses were butterflies racing through his stomach. That was until he got to work.
The first interview went smoothly. The young woman who joined Liam gave answers that were straight and to the point. Answering all of Liam’s questions as precisely as she could. She didn’t have any new information, but was as helpful as she could be. If only Liam knew how lucky he was to interview her first. The two witnesses who followed her weren’t as forthcoming. The first mumbled through his responses. Whether from embarrassment, at talking to a Hero, or some other reason Liam wasn’t sure. But without his helmet amplifying the man's responses, Liam would’ve been lost at what he was saying.
The third interview was when it hit a wall. The man refused to answer any questions besides his name. As if he was on trial for today’s robbery gone wrong. Liam explained he was only a witness, that they had a video of him outside the bank so they knew he wasn’t involved, but the man refused to budge. Saying he wouldn’t be tricked into trusting cops, not even a powered one. After a fifteen minute back-and-forth Liam gave up. Searching the man’s record on his HUD, Liam found multiple outstanding traffic tickets. If he would’ve been cooperative Liam wouldn’t have looked into it. But since he was being difficult, Liam was left with no other choice. In the end, Liam turned the man over to a waiting officer to go sort out the unpaid tickets.
From there things didn’t get better. Oh Liam wished they had, but no one could control fate. With dozens of interviews completed the novelty had long since worn off. Replaced, in Liam, by a bored sense of amazement at what some people would say. He was currently midway his most interesting one yet.
“What are your powers?” the young woman asked. Sitting at the edge of her seat, her eyes traveled over Liam’s armor.
“I’m a techie, so I build things,” Liam explained for what felt like the hundredth time today.
“That’s so cool, but I think H-Bar has a better power.”
“He has an interesting one. But we’re here to talk about the bank,” Liam said. Trying again to reign in the conversation.
“Have you seen how he looks in that suit?”
“Yes, we’re on the same team. Now during the robbery-”
The woman interrupted and said, “I’m so jealous. I bet you get to see him take it off. I would die to see that.”
“I, wait what?” This couldn’t be happening. Why would she be bringing that up? Looking at the woman Liam could swear a bit of drool was hanging from her open mouth.
“Yeah just imagine his big muscular arms wrapping-”
Liam cut her off and asked, “Do you remember anything else from the robbery?”
Her eyes lost some of their glaze as she blinked then focused on Liam. “Oh that, well I came here when I heard this giant explosion.”
“Thank you for your time. But I have to go report back to the team,” Liam said. Was that the tenth or eleventh person who hadn’t even been at the scene until after the explosion. Why did they have to waste his time when they had nothing to provide?
“Of course, but if you see H-Bar can you give him my number?” the woman asked as she pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to him.
“I would love to,” Liam said. Grabbing the piece of paper he placed it in his notebook and closed it. Confident he wouldn’t be writing any notes on this interview. Or from any of the interviews he’d conducted so far. He had yet to gain any new or useful information even after spending so much time talking to witnesses. Some, like the girl wanted to talk to a Hero, or hadn’t gotten to the scene until after the fighting started. Liam wouldn’t call the interviews a complete waste of time, but it was hard to find anything useful that came from them.
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As an officer ushered the woman away, Liam waited for the next person to come in. Hoping this one would be helpful. Thinking about that Liam changed the goal posts. It would be great if the next person didn’t tell him how sexy his teammates were. That seemed like a much more reasonable request.
After a few moments the officer came back and indicated the interview with the crazy woman had been the last one of the day. It was over, he was free. Liam couldn’t wait to get back to searching the bank. That mind numbing work had been so much better than this. He thanked the officer for her help then made a quick escape.
Walking back to the bank, Liam saw that crowds had gathered. It wasn’t often people got to see the aftermath of a fight between Supers and these people were taking advantage of it. Hundreds of them crammed up against the police barricades trying to get a glimpse of their favorite Hero. Many in the crowd carried large signs cheering on the team while others had toddlers sitting on their shoulders trying to get a better view. It was crazy to think the frantic atmosphere of the morning was replaced with something like a party. As if a carnival was riding into town.
When the crowd glimpsed Liam, they broke out into a thundering roar. The sound caught Liam by surprise and he stopped short. Surveying the mass of people in front of him. Their mood was infectious and Liam soon caught himself playing into it. Waving his arm at the roaring mass of humanity. As the excitement built Liam flashed some of his suit’s abilities like the burning glove which only helped to drive the crowd to new highs.
These were Liam’s people. Those he was here to protect. The joy they were showering him with sent warmth through his body. Like he was bathing in the sun.
Glancing through the crowd Liam knew this could become a drug if he wasn’t careful. And who wouldn’t be impacted in the same way? That many people cheering for you was bound to leave an impression. Liam was torn between basking in the crowd’s glow for a little longer or making his way back to the bank. When he noticed a figure standing silently in the cheering mass. The man was towards the back of the group, a fedora pulled low over his eyes. A single blue feather adorning the side of the hat. His long trench coat blending into the crowd like a chameleon.
Using his HUD, Liam zoomed in on the man. Finding a plain face looking back at him, no one he recognized from his short time in the city. While his face might be ordinary, the man’s demeanor was anything but. His entire body spoke of someone working through a terrible ordeal. The man must’ve just gotten to the scene. With a start Liam realized why the man looked so demoralized. He must be related to an officer who was injured or killed. Likely he was trying to get information about his loved one while the crowd was cheering like crazy around him. After two deaths there was no excuse for the way Liam was playing into the cheering crowd, egging them on. Feeling sick about his sudden realization Liam’s hand fell to his side as he looked for an officer.
Finding one only a short distance away, Liam walked over and said, “Have your team find any relatives of the injured officers and provide them with what updates we have. I think I spotted one in the crowd a moment ago.”
“Will do, we’re all in this together,” the officer replied.
“Thanks, the one I spotted was over there,” Liam said as he pointed to where the man was. As Liam looked at the spot where the man had been, he couldn’t find him anywhere. The crowd must have gobbled him up.
Seeing the general location the officer made her way there. Liam used that to take his leave. Trying to get away from his childish response to the crowd. He’d act in a more measured way going forward and wouldn’t be overwhelmed like that again.
As Liam walked back to the bank, his mind wandered. Drifting from the kids and parents in the crowd, going crazy seeing a new Hero. To the stark contrast in mood of the man. What a weird life Heroes lived. The high from the arrest replaced in a moment with the emptiness of loss. Today would never be a great day, having lost people meant it would forever be tarnished.
Arriving at the bank, Liam found a small crowd had gathered on the street. This group, maybe twenty in all, was arranged around a central figure. The figure stood proudly in front of the bank’s new hole. As if this single person could mend the scar. As Liam approached the group, he realized it was the local news. And the figure in the center of it all was Ullr, in clear command of the gathering. Around Ullr the cameras were all angled so the hole was visible in the background. They wouldn’t want people at home to miss proof of today’s fight, Liam thought. A knot of disgust swimming through his stomach.
Liam listened as Ullr went through the story of today’s events. The crowd of reporters were in a daze by the man’s retelling, waiting on his every word. As the story proceeded, Liam started to pick out small exaggerations in it. It wasn’t like Ullr was lying, he was just conveniently forgetting some facts, or stretching them. When the story reached the hostages, he described how H-Bar and Gladius had raced to the rescue. Stopping Cat’s Cradle as she was about to kill them. The problem was, as far as Liam knew, Cat’s Cradle never threatened the hostages. She had assaulted people in her past, but there was no record of her killing anyone. With the destruction of the wall, killing officers, it was a safe bet that she could’ve killed the hostages, but the team didn’t know that for sure. And yet here Ullr was telling reporters that was exactly what happened.
The story continued as Ullr made slight changes to reality. Liam was left to wonder if this was what all teams did? Tweaking stories to put the Heroes in the best light. At the academy nothing like this was ever mentioned. And while Ullr never lied during the talk, it still left Liam feeling uncomfortable. An itch just out of reach.
Finally spotting Liam, standing in the back of the group, Ullr waved him over.
“And here he is, the Hero of the hour and our team's newest member, Source,” Ullr said. Giving Liam a grand entrance to the podium.
That was a little over the top Liam thought, while he made his way to the front. As if he didn’t already feel weird about all the praise the man was giving the team.
“Tell us about your fight with Mr. Shock,” one reporter asked when Liam reached the podium.
“Did you really beat him one on one?” asked another.
“People, people. Let the man speak,” Ullr said. Moving his hands in a calming motion. A hint of a smile playing across his mouth.
“We saw the explosion Mr. Shock caused, so we rushed in. When we got inside the rest of the team focused on the biggest threat to the hostages. It left me to face Mr. Shock,” Liam said. He was trying his hardest not to lie while still painting the team like Ullr had.
“Don’t let him fool you with his humble ways. Source was instrumental to our victory. Not since the Silver era has there been a new Hero as capable as him,” Ullr said. Giving Liam a helping hand.
“So you’re saying The Hunt sent its newest member, one who is untested in the field, against a Cowl who had just killed two officers? Weren’t you afraid he’d lose and more people would die?” another reporter asked.
“After a blast like that,” Ullr said as he pointed at the wall behind him, “it’d take Mr. Shock a couple minutes to build up to an equivalent power level. That gave Source here plenty of time to neutralize the threat. Which I might add he did in splendid fashion.”
That was news to Liam. He had to get his hands on the files detailing local Cowls tonight. Wouldn’t want to miss a detail like that again.
“But he was untested,” another reporter said.
“Source is one of the best the academy had to offer. And the only Hero The Hunt wanted to join our team,” Ullr said. The vote of confidence from the team leader swelling Liam’s chest.
The news conference continued for another ten minutes. With Liam answering as many questions as he could. How was he liking it here? Why did he choose to work in this city? All the questions Liam answered as honestly as he could. So far he was enjoying the city and the people in it. He chose here so he could make a difference as early as possible. Question after question he answered. Whenever there was a tricky one Ullr would jump in. Never leaving Liam to struggle. After awhile Ullr decided they had enough.
“It looks like we have time for one more question’” Ullr said.
A reporter in the back called out, “How does it feel to replace Blue Feather, a known Hero turned traitor?”
It’d come. As soon as Liam joined The Hunt, he knew someone would ask about Blue Feather. He just hadn’t expected it to come this early. Stumbling for a second Liam said, “I think there is more pressure on me because of it. Blue Feather was the worst of us, all I can do is work every day to be the best Hero I can. Her example showing what true failure looks like.”
The crowd of reporters exploded in a new barrage of questions. They must’ve been waiting for just this moment. Now that Blue Feather had been brought up the damn broke and a flood of questions followed. As dozens were sent his way Liam couldn’t focus on all of them. There were questions about how he could reassure the public he wasn’t a traitor, about why he’d come to the town knowing its history, and even some asking Ullr what precautions the rest of the team was making to guard against Liam turning traitor.
Luckily for Liam, Ullr was there and said, “That was the last question for today. Thank you everyone for the great questions.”
The clear dismissal wasn’t enough for all the reporters, but after some not-so-subtle gestures, the officers led them away. Leaving the Heroes alone.
Once alone, Ullr turned to Liam and said, “You did a good job with the last question. Everything about Blue Feather is tough for the team. I can only imagine how it must feel to be dragged into it. Before you got here, I asked the reporters to give you a few weeks to settle in before they went there. They all agreed. I almost thought they would follow through with their promise when channel five had to ask. We’ll see how they like no interviews for the next couple weeks.”
“We both knew it was coming, so no reason to be worried,” Liam said.
Ullr stared at the younger Hero. Trying to read him for any hint of a lie.
“Good. I heard Skip wasn’t with you during the fight today. I’ll have a word with him about that. You shouldn’t have had to fight Mr. Shock alone.”
“Thanks,” Liam said. He hadn’t been sure of how to bring that up with Ullr. And was glad to see the older Hero was already working the problem. Hopefully it’d be resolved and Liam wouldn’t be left alone again.
The rest of the day was smooth sailing for Liam. He stayed with Ullr as they continued to help at the bank. When the sun started to set, they called it. With his first day in the books Liam was an exhausted mess as he arrived at the base. Only to be relieved it was starting to feel like home.