“Reports are coming in of protests spreading throughout Des Moines,” the reporter said. His hair, that was always in perfect order, like a formation of soldiers marching in parade, was a mess. Much of it breaking rank to fall over his face. His hand reached up and brushed them straight for what must have been the dozenth time only for it to fall into a mess again a minute later.
The man’s hair wasn’t the only thing in disarray. Over the last hour, the reporter’s forehead had creased. Quite the feat given the inch of makeup he was wearing.
Taken apart, neither sign pointed to a sure-fire problem. But if you added them together with the similar signs on the faces of the other co hosts and it pointed to tonight being different than the rest.
Liam watched it all unfold. Studying the reporter come ever closer to a breakdown. The coverage had transfixed him since Gladius’s little reveal some hours before. As he was sure, thousands of other people in the city were as well. All waiting to see what came next.
As if realizing the anchor needed a little rest and visit from the makeup department a voice off screen said, “We’d like to bring you to live footage of the protests spreading throughout Des Moines. With Frank on the scene at the Capital.”
The view shifted as they left the studio behind. It’s bright lights and polished set replaced by a dark street. With night falling only fifteen minutes before, the people of the city were just now starting to gather in earnest. The first of their number arrived right after the cell phone video aired. These people demanded action, but were peaceful. Wanting their voices heard, but not willing to do much to force change. Their cry to investigate Gladius carrying into the night.
Now that night was here their number grew. And those that joined were decidedly different from those already here. Where the first group came as they were, leaving work to attend the demonstration, this new group came prepared for something more. They wore black with scarves wrapped around their faces. Only their eyes poking through the cover.
The people coming now wanted more than just to stand there. They wanted to voice their concerns. They wanted to be the spark that caused change. Concluding that the night would help protect them as they attempted to accomplish that goal.
Given the strengths a Hero could display Liam could relate to the protesters. The idea of more protection was never a bad one. Even if it was only helping with their anonymity. For it was never a smart idea to anger someone with more power than yourself, especially if they could find you again later.
Liam settled back on the bed as he watched the crowd. Mr. Hat having long since gone for an errand. Leaving Liam alone in their little apartment.
The crowd stood at the far end of the street, away from the camera. The mass of people pulsed along its length. People in the swarm of bodies moving as if pulled by some greater calling. Like it was one large creature not hundreds of individuals.
Liam watched on in fascination. He’d never seen a protest like this before. Sure he’d studied them, but that was always to disperse one. Going over where to strike and how hard to maximize his efforts while minimizing casualties.
Now though, he was watching it as someone would a football game. Sure he understood the rules and basic strategies that were being used, but there was so much more going on. As if agreeing with his thoughts a section of the crowd surged forward. With a bravery born from their numbers. Then as one they pulled back from some unspoken command.
It was strange and almost majestic to watch this dance with the police who stood opposite them. Their identical black riot gear gleaming maniacally. If they’d been wearing white instead Liam might have confused them with soldiers from a famous movie. Though the officers could aim better.
The creature that was the crowd moved again before reforming. It pulsed in unknowable waves, yet the officers stood firm. None breaking formation, or otherwise hinting at what they were thinking.
While Liam watched, he was able to better gauge the situation. His training finally kicked in. To this point the police and protesters were keeping a tenuous peace. But as Liam watched, he could tell it was only a matter of time before that was broken. Unless something changed, and soon this would devolve into a riot.
Thinking about it Liam wasn’t sure what he wanted. A true riot to lay at The Hunt’s feet? That would feel great, but it would hurt people. Would those injuries be blamed on The Hunt or someone else? Or did Liam want this to end peacefully with the crowd's demand of Gladius being investigated accepted? The two sides of Liam’s brain waged a bloody battle over both ideas.
The reporter chose that moment to speak, “Thanks Jason. I’m here at the Statehouse as protesters gather. The video of Gladius, appearing to show her beating unarmed suspects, has stirred up trouble in this once peaceful city.”
“How are conditions on the ground?” the voice of the anchor in the studio asked.
“So far the police and protesters have remained peaceful,” Frank said. He pointed out both groups behind him as he spoke. Turning back to the camera he continued, “With the recent swell in protestors it’s unknown how long that will last.”
“Has The Hunt shown up?”
Liam’s brows drew together, he’d been waiting on any news on how they were taking this.
“We’ve yet to hear any updates from them. If they are here they’ve stayed out of sight.”
That was another useful bit of information Liam thought. Either The Hunt was afraid to act, or they were being cautious. The thought of another screw up driving them to inaction. He could use that. For what he wasn’t sure, but the thought was there.
“Have you heard anything from the police, or The Hunt regarding the video?”
On the side of the screen the video of Gladius attacking the two men in the alley started to play. A reminder to anyone who’d missed it earlier in the day.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Both groups are remaining tight-lipped. But sources say that may change in the coming hours,” Frank said.
“We can only hope to find a peaceful resolution to this incident. Thank you for your report and please keep us informed.”
“Will do, Jason.”
The report ended, but the video feed stayed on the Capital. Switching views from one group of protestors to the next. The first jump was to protesters near the Pioneers of the Territory Statue. These people carried signs reading ‘Out with The Hunt’ and ‘We need Heroes not Haters’. Not the most creative of slogans, Liam thought. However, he could understand since it’d only been a few hours since the story broke. Not enough time for the advertising minded people to come to the fore. Liam could only wait with bated breath for that to happen. Even still, the signs got their message across. The people of the city were on the brink. A single spark was all it’d take to set them off. A spark Liam could help provide.
As the camera switched to a third section of the protests, the door to their apartment slid open. There was a moment where Liam tensed, arms bunching up as he looked for the closest weapon, but it passed. If The Hunt found him here, not wearing his suit, what could he do? Sure he’d fight, but he knew there was no chance at escape, much less for victory.
The figure in the doorway moved into the room and was revealed to be none other than Mr. Hat. Liam looked at the man who was providing him with a chance at revenge. A small part of him wanted to know more about how the man planned all of this, but he didn’t ask. After the success with Gladius, he wouldn’t push for more information. Best to let a master keep some of his secrets.
Mr. Hat quickly locked the door behind him. Once all three clicked in place he made his way into the small room. A bag of groceries with a loaf of bread sticking out, held loosely in one hand. He set the bag on the counter and started to put the groceries away.
Liam was the first to speak as he was unable to keep quiet and wait for the man to finish.
“Really, you went for errands?”
Mr. Hat paused for a second, his hand hovering over a can of beans. Food had gotten better since they switched apartments. The amount of options in the bag right now was more than the last place had on all its shelves combined. Shaking his head Liam focused back on Mr. Hat, his hands already in motion again as he continued to put away the food. Undaunted by Liam’s question.
“Do you think this was all I was doing?”
The man was strange in what he did. But Liam had to admit he must have some ulterior motive. Maybe today was half price ice cream?
“You came in with groceries, what else should I think?”
“What would’ve happened if I got stopped by the police while I was out?”
“They wouldn't, I assume you weren’t doing anything.”
“Even so the protests could spill over to where I was and the police might bring me in,” Mr. Hat said.
Liam had to admit he had a point, but with so many people wearing masks pulling him out of the mix was statistically irrelevant.
Mr. Hat continued, “Now think of the same thing, but this time I’m carrying a bag of fresh bread. Who in their right mind would bring that to a protest? The police would see it and realize I wasn’t there for anything bad. Just someone caught at the wrong place. Costumes are great, but they’ll only get you so far. The identity behind them is another story.”
Much to Liam’s annoyance, in a crazy way what Mr. Hat said made sense.
“What did you learn?” Liam asked, trying to change the subject.
“It’s only a matter of time now, the city is on the brink. When I was out there, I could feel it. I’d be surprised if the police or protesters think this will end peacefully.”
“That’s good news. It shows we’re finally getting at The Hunt.”
“No, this is the opposite of what we wanted.”
Was it really? A true riot would hurt The Hunt. The idea of The Hunt feeling even a part of his pain was enough for an easy smile to spread across Liam’s face. But their pain wouldn’t be the same. It wouldn’t be enough. But it was a start and sometimes that was all you could hope for.
“How? Isn’t this what we wanted?” Liam asked.
“Things are moving too fast. We need everything to go back to normal so we can prepare for Skip.”
“This is the new normal after what we did.”
With his arms reaching into the fridge Mr. Hat said, “You might be right, but we want some semblance of what it used to be like. In all the planning, things never moved this fast.”
“That’s because I was never involved.”
Mr. Hat looked up from the fridge as he finished putting away the food and turned to Liam, “That might be true. Your influence was never factored in. However, it’s too late to change that. All we can do now is use what they gave us and start setting up for the next phase.”
“How long will that take?”
“We don’t have any videos of Skip breaking the law so we’ll have to play things more cautiously. I’m expecting two weeks to a month until we’re set up and ready to go.”
“That’s so long. Why don’t we move now while we have momentum on our side?”
“I’ve already told you, If we do that it’ll bring bigger teams here.”
“Let them come. They won’t be able to stop anything,” Liam said. The confidence in his voice matched by the way he reclined back onto the bed. Internally the idea of more Heroes was met with a grave mood. But it wasn’t like that would stop the plan, it’d only call for an audible.
“They will. My plan is precise. I’ve been working on it for years. If you introduce variables that I never anticipated everything gets called into question. This late in the process we can’t do that. Do you have any idea how hard it would be to change things now?”
The idea of the master plan Mr. Hat created falling apart swam through Liam’s head. Sure that would be a blow and the man himself didn’t know if they’d be able to fix it, but Liam knew better. He loved having a plan, almost every mission he was a part of had one, but he’d trained at the academy for years for a moment where he’d have to act on his feet. This was a time like that, only it was for real.
“But it’s not impossible to change the plan,” Liam said.
“No, but it’ll make our revenge that much harder and the results unpredictable.”
Mr. Hat moved over to the bed and settled in on the edge. Cranking his neck to the side as he sat down.
To the man’s evident surprise Liam rose to his feet. Grabbing his hoodie he threw it on then tightened it up. Next Liam grabbed a towel and tied it around his face.
“What are you doing?” Mr. Hat asked with a stiffness to his voice.
“I’m going to get a first hand view of what’s going on,” Liam said. Moving over to the door.
“If you start something, it’ll make the plan so much harder.”
Liam knew, deep down, that this was a bad idea. But sometimes you had to ignore those feelings. What he was thinking of doing would hurt The Hunt today. That alone was enough for him to know he had to take any risk.
“I’m just going to look,” Liam said, “Maybe I can bring takeout back.”
As Liam left, he could tell Mr. Hat knew what he was doing. What surprised him was the man letting him leave. After seeing his power first hand he expected Mr. Hat to use it on him to stop this. Luckily he’d decided against that.
Leaving the apartment Liam realized he didn’t care what happened. It was the first time he’d felt like this in a long time. Tomorrow he’d be up in arms when their plan fell apart, but for now he had another chance to strike at The Hunt. And that was something he couldn’t ignore.