“How’s he doing?” Skip asked.

H-Bar looked up at his teammate. To an untrained eye he looked relaxed, leaning back in his chair as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Not to H-Bar, he saw through the disguise. He’d spent far too much time with the man to be fooled by his simple acting.

The first giveaway of Skip’s real mood, was the tablet in front of him. It was positioned like he’d been working on it, but the screen hadn’t been on in over an hour. The second was the cups of coffee around the man. He was on his third this hour. The empty cups were left as an obvious ‘be careful’ sign for anyone who was going to talk to him. The last hint was his incessant talking. He’d already asked the same question ten minutes ago, and ten minutes before that, he was acting like a kid stuck in a car during a long trip.

“I’m sure he’s doing fine,” H-Bar said. Pulling on his mediocre acting ability. If he could avoid angering the other man, this wait would go much smoother.

“What about-”

H-Bar cut him off. “There are a hundred things that could and should be going on in there, but there’s nothing we can do about it. All that’s left is to stay out of Ullr’s way and trust he can handle himself.”

That wasn’t the first time he’d told Skip to trust in Ullr. And he could only hope the man was getting the picture. Skip downed the cup of coffee in front of him in one gulp as he digested what H-Bar said. Then slammed his cup back down. H-Bar was surprised it hadn’t shattered over the table like Gladius’s little display from the other day.

The next second he was gone, teleporting to the coffee maker for another round. Pulling out the coffee pot he poured what was left into a new cup. Only a drizzle fell before the pot was empty. Skip’s eye seemed to twitch as he realized he’d need to make another batch.

“Really, no more coffee!” Skip shouted.

“I have no idea where it went,” H-Bar said before looking at the empty cups at Skip’s spot at the table, “I’m sure it wasn’t everything you drank.”

When Skip turned to face him, H-Bar was already pointing to the stockpile of cups around the man’s chair. Skip looked at the empties for a moment, as if trying to determine if he’d drank all of them. Then he shrugged and turned back to the coffee maker. Setting it up to make another pot of the drink.

Okay, calm down H-Bar thought. Skip could have taken that the wrong way and then his anger would have been directed at you. Is that what you want?

With the coffee brewing Skip jumped back to his seat. This time not even trying to hide his nervousness. His finger played the keys as they thumbed away at the table as his eyes darted to the black screen of the TV. H-Bar couldn’t blame the man, he was feeling the same. The only difference was that he was able to keep it locked up inside.

Turning from the man, H-Bar tried to get back to work. His current project was going through every possible sighting of Liam in the last few days. There were hundreds of reports, all he had to do now was determined if any were real. A number were from the riot, but H-Bar knew better than to trust those. What could’ve possessed his former teammate to go there? The risk versus reward was too high for him. He would’ve passed it by.

Instead H-Bar focused on every case with a possible connection to the Broken Crest. Someone was helping Liam and H-Bar’s first guess was that it was the only independent Cowl team in the area. Even with that lead the task of going through all the reported sightings was easier said than done.

While H-Bar was looking over another tip, this one about a kid hanging out around a gas station, late at night, the door to the video conference room opened. Sounds from inside cut off as Ullr strolled out. Good timing H-Bar thought as he put down the tip which was going nowhere, but he’d still have to waste time vetting.

The team leader strolled to the table in a calm manner. His strides measured and controlled. His head held high. Always the professional H-Bar thought as he decided Ullr must have had a good meeting. Otherwise there would have been some cracks in his facade.

Skip was the first to speak, not even waiting for Ullr to sit down, “How’d it go?”

“Better than expected,” Ullr said as he pulled up a chair.

“How many more Heroes are coming?” Skip asked, leaning forward in his chair. His eyes widening like a kid looking at a birthday present.

“For now Nudge is the only one,” Ullr said as he sank into his seat. Relaxing on the large cushion.

H-Bar sat back in his own chair, unsure when he’d leaned forward. The coolness of the chair back washed over him. It felt like he’d just stepped into a massaging shower. Beads of chilled water carrying away all the worries of the day.

“Any chance of getting rid of him?” H-Bar asked. Knowing it was a long shot.

“I doubt it. He’ll be meeting with us tonight to coordinate our efforts. From what little information I have on the man he likes to work solo so I doubt we’ll see much of him besides status meetings.”

Even more good news H-Bar thought. Only one outside influence and he wouldn’t be hovering over the team. He was seeing why Ullr was in a good mood.

“Which gives us the chance to confront Liam without him interfering,” Skip concluded, his words matching H-Bar’s thoughts.

“Exactly, though we still have to find Liam first. And that’s proving to be more difficult than I’d have thought,” Ullr said.

“We’ll get him, no one’s perfect,” H-Bar said, “We need to find his mistakes, that’s all.”

“Would’ve already had him if one of us was a decent fighter,” Skip mumbled.

Before H-Bar could respond the coffee maker beeped and Skip was gone. Appearing again at the machine, ready to pour himself another drink. The man was going to be sick, H-Bar decided. No one could drink six cups of coffee without feeling something. That or he’d be bouncing off the walls, a perfect imitation of a child on a sugar high. Neither would be fun to deal with.

With Skip distracted H-Bar braced for a comment about who was the best fighter on the team. Maybe even a challenge directed his way, but that never came. The culprit of those comments was conspicuously missing from the table.

Gladius had been put on leave the day before. Flying out this morning for Hawaii. Once there she’d be allowed to relax and destress, away from the press and the public’s eye. One of the biggest advantages as a Hero was their anonymity. Something she was currently taking advantage of. Without the mask, and away from home, she was just another face on the beach.

“So we’re in almost the same position with Nudge here as without?” H-Bar asked. Changing the subject away from his fighting record.

“From what I understand, yes,” Ullr said. Helping H-Bar change the subject, “but now a true timer is on us.”

“We’ve always had that. Now it just has a face.”

Skip jumped back to the table, the new cup of coffee steaming in his hand. It’s sweet aroma, this one flavored like vanilla, wafting over to H-Bar. He almost went to get a mug himself, but fought the urge. Suppressing it with what little control he could muster. After the talk he could have some coffee, for now this was more important.

“The question becomes, where do we focus,” H-Bar said.

“We can discuss that in an hour. I have a news conference first,” Ullr said as he checked the time.

“How many of those do you have today?”

“Too many,” Ullr said with a shake of the head. “What are you working on?”

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“Checking leads on Liam related to the Broken Crest.”

“Anything good?”

“Not yet.”

“Well keep at it.”

“Even if it’s useless?” H-Bar asked.

“How can we know that’s true unless we’ve done the work?”

Fair enough point H-Bar conceded.

Ullr got up and started walking towards the door. Skip stayed where he was, blowing on his coffee. Even he wasn’t brave enough to drink a freshly brewed cup.

“Not having Skip bring you there?” H-Bar asked.

“Matt will drive me.” Ullr said as he reached the other side of the room, the exit to the base was standing before him.

“Why?” Skip asked. Looking away from his coffee for the first time in minutes, “It’d be faster if I teleported you.”

“True, but I need some time to think. You can pick me up after the event. Plus I feel like people would appreciate seeing us using more mundane means of travel. It’d help them relate to us, even if it’s only in a small way.”

H-Bar didn’t buy Ullr’s explanation. Some people might see what he was doing as a peace offering while others would see it as an obvious attempt at buying them.

“Okay, but if you change your mind, I can get you there in a second,” Skip said.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Ullr said as he reached the exit. Pulling the door open and he headed outside in one smooth motion.

With time for one last question H-Bar called out, “What do we do if Liam has dirt on the rest of us.”

Ullr stopped, but didn’t turn around. They’d all been worrying about it. H-Bar could see it in the way they acted. However, they’d all kept it inside, not daring to bring it up until now.

“We’ll talk when I get back,” Ullr said. His voice carrying a note of moderation. Something H-Bar hadn’t expected from the man.

Then he was gone, the door slamming behind him as he headed through the escape route. Off to one of their many secret paths to the surface. H-Bar shifted his focus. The last time he was down there was when he was walking over to end things with Liam. Not something he wanted to remember right now.

With Ullr gone H-Bar got up and poured himself a cup of coffee. Might as well have something good before he got back to work, he thought. Sitting back down H-Bar took a long sip of the earthy blend, only a hint of vanilla seeping through. Now this was something he could get used to.

Lost in the coffee’s flavor H-Bar was adrift, but he knew he had to do something. And that something was going back to the leads. Working through them he was only half paying attention to the task. The rest of his mind was focusing on what they’d just been through. The first major meeting of the day. The one with the other Heroes. That meeting he hadn’t been allowed to go to. Ullr wanted to face it alone and H-Bar hadn’t fought to change his mind. Now things were different. The second meeting of the day was on TV. Which meant thousands would see it. Was it that bad if H-Bar watched some of it as well? It wasn’t like Ullr could do anything to stop him.

H-Bar got up from the table, his mind made up. He left his tablet where he’d been working and walked over to the TV. Skip turning around to follow him with his eyes. Taking another sip of coffee as he watched. Reaching the TV H-Bar turned it on. The screen changing to static for a second before a crisp image materialized.

“What are you doing?” Skip asked.

“What, you’re not curious how Ullr handles the conference?” H-Bar asked as he started to look for the proper channel.

Skip looked down at his coffee, as if reading a fortune inside. Then shrugged and appeared on one of the couches next to the TV.

“Let the games begin,” Skip said as he raised his cup in a mock salute.

Flipping through the channels H-Bar found the news conference, just in time to catch Ullr walking up to the podium. What timing H-Bar thought as he moved to his own seat and settled in.

Reaching the microphone Ullr said, “I’d like to thank everyone for joining me here today. I have no prepared statement. Instead I’d like to focus on answering your questions.”

The crowd of reporters didn’t seem surprised by the comment or upset that there wasn’t a statement. They sprang into action given the opening. Dozens of voices shouting over each other, all trying to be heard. They were only making it harder to pick out one of them. After a few seconds of sound Ullr pointed to one reporter, and the camera panned to the woman. She was a local reporter, one who’d covered the team for years.

As the camera panned, H-Bar caught a glimpse of everyone at the conference. It was staggering to see just how many people had come. Most were reporters H-Bar didn’t recognize, must be regional or national outlets H-Bar decided.

“Yes, what’s your question,” Ullr said as he pointed.

“Why’d you bring Nudge to Des Moines?” the elderly woman asked. Notepad and pen standing at the ready.

“We’re glad someone of his caliber is working with the team. With everything Liam’s done, extra help won’t be turned away.”

As Ullr spoke the reporters leaned in. Some busy jotting away at their notes while others holding recorders forward.

A hard question to start with and Ullr dodged it like a champion H-Bar thought. Well played from the team leader.

“Next,” Ullr said, pointing to another reporter.

This one was a man H-Bar wasn’t familiar with, must be one of the people from out of the area. Either way they’d have to be careful if the man asked anything worrying.

“How did Gladius turning traitor impact the team?”

H-Bar fidgeted in the seat. Go figure the reporter would ask a leading question like that.

“We’ll I’d like to start by saying Gladius didn’t turn traitor. She made a decision that was against the moral fiber of our team and is paying the price for those actions.”

“So not a traitor, just a horrible person.”

“As I said she made a bad decision and will face the consequences, next question.”

“How are the rest of you responding to what she did?” another reporter asked.

“It’s been tough. Everything happening to the team has taken a toll on us, but we’re standing strong. Ready to defend the city.”

“No other team, in the country, has had as many issues with Hero misconduct as yours. Why is that?” another reporter H-Bar didn’t know asked.

“Liam knew our reputation and tried to take advantage of that. It’s something we wish we’d picked up on earlier. However, we can’t change the past, only live to do better next time.”

“Did Gladius also take advantage of that trusting attitude?”

“She wasn’t a traitor. She made a mistake.”

The conversation continued with the reporters asking similar questions over and over, trying to get Ullr to slip up. The elderly man didn’t fall for it. Keeping to the same answers with each person.

After ten minutes of the back and forth there was a change in the room. It started with one person, her screaming, a perfect impersonation of a hen who’d lost its egg. Soon the call went up and the entire room was lost in the moment. Panic thick and obvious even through the TV screen.

H-Bar could see Ullr tense, readying for a fight. It was a posture he’d seen far too many times to count.

The camera panned around to a man at the back of the crowd. Gun in one hand, leveled at the nearest reporter. In the other hand he held a phone, his finger hovering over the call button.

The man’s plain face would’ve blended into the background if not for the weapon he was carrying. He was the perfect extra for a movie. The man wore a tan trench coat, reaching well past his knees, wrapped tight around himself. A sky blue feather flew high on his hat, the only piece of color on him.

The camera caught a blur of motion as Ullr shot forward. He moved in to stop whatever the crazed man in a trench coat would try. He’d be too late for the first shots, but he’d get there in time to stop whatever came next.

“Tut tut tut,” the man in the hat said, “You attack me and the place goes boom.”

The camera panned back to Ullr. He’d moved about halfway through the room, then froze. H-Bar could see Ullr’s uncertainty through the mask and the screen. His eyes pointing towards the phone in the crazy man’s hand.

“Now we’re gonna play a game,” the man said.

He turned the gun from one person to the next. Each person he pointed at flinched or scuttled out of the way. Having a gun pointed at you was a life-changing event. Something most of the reporters couldn’t claim to have experienced before.

H-Bar looked over to Skip, their eyes meeting. Through that brief glance they knew they were in agreement. They had to get there, and fast. As one they both jumped into motion. H-Bar racing to his suit and started pulling it on. Skip teleported to his own suit, leaving his spot on the couch wet from the jump.

“You’re going to tell the world who you are or people will die,” the man in the hat said. H-Bar expected the man’s voice to crackle or falter when facing down Ullr, but it stayed firm. It was rare for someone to do that.

“I won’t tell you my real name.”

“That’s not what I’m after. I want you to show them your true character.”

“They already know that,” Ullr said.

The intercom system started to buzz. The team was getting an urgent call. It must be a request to help Ullr, H-Bar thought.

“We’re about to head to Ullr,” H-Bar said as he answered the call.

The voice on the other line was Matt as he’d expected, “What? I mean, you’re needed at the high school. We have a possible sighting of Liam.”

‘Now’ was the first word that screamed through H-Bar’s mind. Then he let out a small chuckle, of course they’d find him now.

“Are we positive?” H-Bar asked.

“Police en route now, but this looks real.”

There was a moment of indecision as H-Bar wrestled with what to do. Help Ullr who was facing a confirmed threat or respond to a possible sighting of Liam. It wasn’t even a hard decision to make. They had to capture Liam. Even if that meant leaving their teammate to whatever he was about to face.

“We’ll head towards the Liam sighting.”

“I’ll let the police know.”

Today was turning into a very busy day.