Chapter 2:
The Red Angels
One day later, Gabriel got ready and went to work to start his job as Szayel assistant. He put on all his safety equipment and entered Szayel's personal laboratory. It was designed specifically for engineering and technological development and it was relatively small. As for the state of the lab itself it was very disorganized with machine parts, prototypes and blueprints laying around.
He walked by the various unfinished products to the otherside of the lab. Szayel was sitting on his desk looking at his computer screen. Gabriel announced his presence to which the doctor almost jumped out of his seat.
“Oh sorry if I startled you sir.”
“Huh, age is really catching up to me isn’t it?”
The doctor spoke in a soft, jovial tone with a hint of sounding somewhat sarcastic. He was in his 50’s but looked much younger, and looked athletic considering his field. His grey eyes carried decades of wisdom, wisdom he was aching for him to share.
“Well it's any consolation, I think you look fine for your age.” Gabriel said. He had meant it sincerely but Szayel didn’t take it that way.
“You know most employees would think twice about teasing their boss, especially on the first day of the job, but then again you’re not exactly my employee.”
Szayel got up from his seat.
“I don’t exactly work with other people so you coming was not on my mind. You’re the only assistant I’ve actually taken in 2 decades in fact.”
“Really? What happened to your previous assistant?”
“Oh she was a nagger, completely insufferable. Always going on and on about how I would do things incorrectly, or how I’m not following proper procedure.” Szayel said. “Please for the love God if we’re going to be doing this act for some time, you aren’t one of those young naive fools with a tight stick up their ass.”
The way Szayel spoke, like he was some wrinkled store owner talking to a young kid, threw him off guard, not at all like the man he pictured in his head.
“If I were to be honest, I never liked doing things the proper way either. It always involves useless procedures or stepping stones that serve little purpose but to waste time. If I could reach a destination faster by going off the path, well I would be an idiot not to.”
Szayel smiled. “If that’s your mindset, I think we would’ve gotten along .”
“Well I don’t think I could have been your assistant except in these circumstances.”
“Why do you think that?”
“ I’m not really that special in all honesty, at least compared to people of your stature.”
Szayel motioned for Gabriel to look at the wall lined up with close to two dozen phd’s.
“These are my 12 PhD’s, took me two decades to earn all of them and you want to know how much they mean to me? Little to nothing. The only reason I bothered to get these was just so idiots wouldn't get in my way.”
“You're saying it doesn't?”
“50% of what they teach you in Universities is stuff you can learn in books at a library or only spend a few hundred dollars buying them with the other 50% you can pick up with experience. My point is that I could give less of a damn about your achievements or background. What matters is mindset and aptitude. A lot of people only have the former, but you have both.”
Gabriel blushed a little, it had been what? 3-4 years since he had gotten a compliment from anyone outside his family.
“Well since you’re here, you might as well help me.”
“You want me to help you?”
“You’re getting paid by me, I’m not going to have you sit on your ass and do nothing.”
They began to get to work shortly after. Throughout his entire shift, he watched Szayel work, and did whatever he asked. He mustered up the confidence to interject at certain points and managed to offer some good ideas on how Szayel could improve his projects. By the end of the day, they made significant progress on a piece of medical technology Szayel was working on, with Gabriel contributing enough to impress Szayel. When his shift ended, he put away his coat and safety gears and left outside with Szayel.
They stood outside the lab at 5:15 PM, the sun still out. Today was one of the days Hermes was supposed to meet with Szayel and when Gabriel would hopefully be able to join the Legion.
“So how did I do today?” Gabriel said. His shoulders tensed up, and he jerked his head to Szayel.
“You did help a good amount and your perceptive ablity is good, but it’ll be quite some time before you become truly exceptional.” Szayel said, hoping to relax Gabriel, with it being rather ineffective.
There was silence for around another 15 minutes.
Gabriel leaned into Szayel's ear and whispered. “Do you think it’s going to work?”
“The plan? Don’t worry. It will work.” Szayel gave a reassuring smile. It wasn’t just for show either, Gabriel could tell he was genuinely confident in the plan.
There was a lot that could go wrong with the plan to say the least. What if Hermes rejected him or worse yet found out about their plan to infiltrate the Legion? Combat was not a choice either due to his abilities.
“Well hello there doctor!” a voice coming from someone on the roof said. The voice was rather calm, and relaxing, like that of a surfer hanging out at a beach party. It carried with it a certain level of charm, one that would swoon ladies and one that under normal circumstances would just be annoying to himself. But that voice, that voice could’ve only belonged to.
“It’s been a while hasn’t it, Hermes?”
“You act like we haven’t seen each other in years doc! It’s only been two weeks.”
From before the operation began, Hermes and Szayel conversations were monitored. All that was recorded in those conserverations were Hermes reaffirming the threat against Szayel and leaving. This conservation of theirs was also being recorded.
Hermes landed elegantly on the sidewalk outside the lab. He had reddish brown hair and hazel eyes. He wore a black double breasted trench coat that covered his body to his knees and black pants as well. His leather boots covered his foot all the way to the lowest part of his shin. He looked like a military officer from World War 1 and 2.
“So you got an assistant?” he said, in the same relaxed voice.
He turned to Gabriel and said “Damn you must be something if you got the hermit to actually take on the assistant.”
The way he spoke felt like it was just one small step away from being threatening or malicious.
“Gabriel LeFatome isn’t it?”
His heart sank but he managed to keep his face unfazed by the mention of his name. Curtis training was to thank for that.
“May I ask how you know my name?”
“ Well let’s just say me and the old man here are very good friends, good enough friends that I keep tabs on him including who he interacts with.” Hermes took a moment to breathe in before saying “Gabriel LeFatome, second child and only son of the Nightlance and the Lighting Valkyrie. Black belt in MMA and won several statewide, and regional MMA competitions. Also possesses a knack for engineering, winning awards for exceptional skill and most intriguing of all, you’re powerless aren’t you?
Gabriel's composure didn’t appear to drop but inside he could feel his heart wanting to burst out of his chest.
“Being the son of celebrities is a pain in the ass isn’t it? I was able to figure all of that out in less than an hour.”
Hermes wasn’t wrong as being the son of celebrities came with a lot of headaches most of the time with not of the benefits. He could thank the law for at the very least classifying and protecting most of his family's personal information so he doesn’t have to worry about being harassed by paparazzis or worse being stanched off the streets by random villains.
“Well never mind that.” Hermes said, laughing to himself much to Gabriel's discomfort. “ Old man, you better keep this assistant in check because if he goes yapping his mouth, well you already know how it’s going to end for you.”
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“Yes I’ll make sure he knows what to talk about.” Szayel gave Gabriel an eye telling him to act now as Hermes turned his back, seemingly about to disappear to a far far away location.
“Wait, hold on!” Gabriel said, hoping to stop Hermes from leaving.
“Yes?”
“Szayel told me who you were and what you guys did.”
Hermes stood absolutely still, not turning to face Gabriel.
“You guys are a part of the Legion right? An organization that fights for the powerless and is willing to go head to head with Uncle Sam.”
“You almost sound like you admire us.” Hermes finally turned to face Gabriel with the most mischievous and snake-like smile a human can muster.
“Damn right I do.” He was always good at faking his emotions and facial expressions, so matching Hermes' expression with a similar onewas like breaking a child’s plastic toy. “Do you know what it's like growing up as the only powerless person in your family? Much less a family famous for producing some of the most legendary heroes?”
He took a deep breath, preparing a monologue for which he didn’t need to fake a single emotion.
“My so-called “friends” left me when they found out I was powerless, I was forced to go to a school where I might as well have been a leper, I lost my job, and my own damned grandfather disowned me.”
“Your point?” Hermes said.
“My point is I want to join your group. Any group that is willing to go to war with this pathetic society, where the weak are trampled upon by those who abuse their unearned power and influence, is a group I full heartedly support.”
Hermes didn’t respond, just looking away from them, probably contemplating Gabriel's request.
He turned back to face them, his smile somehow growing even more sinister, and then saying “You know, I think you would be a good fit for a program my organization is about to start?”
“Program?”
“You’re young, athletic, bright, I think you would make an exceptional candidate for it.” Hermes offered his hand to him.
“Very well then.” Gabriel then shook his hand.
“Excellent.”
Hermes then grabbed Gabriel's arm and created a mist around them. For what felt like eons, he could not feel anything, not the air on his skin, not the warmth of a sun, and a sense of numbness washed over his body. He was a Catholic and thus believed in purgatory, so perhaps this is what it is?
His questions were answered when he landed on his knees in what looked like an abandoned factory, with dysfunctional conveyor belts, rusted and decayed metal, being dimly lit by makeshift lights.
He tried to get up but felt way too weak to do so, feeling like he wanted to puke. Hermes stood a few feet from him, the dim lighting barely revealing his face.
“What, what the hell was that?”
“Oh it’s how I’ve not been caught by the government yet. As for how you feel, well it’s pretty common for people to feel weak and have their sense of time distorted, and should go away in a few minutes.”
“Does that happen every time you use your power?”
“After you’ve been teleported around 3-4 times, your sense of time should be normal, and you shouldn’t feel sick.”
Hermes offered Gabriel a hand that he took.
“Where the hell are we?”
“Outskirts of Allentown Pennsylvania.”
“That far from New Orleans?!”
His first thoughts were about his mother. He certainly wouldn’t be able to contact her anytime soon and when he doesn’t return tonight, well what will be her reaction?
“What? Never been this far up north dixie boy?”
“No, no that’s not it, it’s just my family, Szayel, they’re going to be worried sick about the fact I disappeared without a trace.”
“I’ll call Szayel and ask him to say that you told him you were taking a road trip to some random engineering fair for a week and that you simply didn’t tell your mom like a little naughty boy. Should be believable enough to get her to shut up and not ask questions.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.” He said, angered by how Hermes addressed his mother but burying it beneath a smile.”More surprised you can teleport this far north.”
“What can I say? I’m incredible.” He said.“Come now.”
Gabriel followed Hermes, avoiding tripping over the various rusty pieces of the building until he was led to the outside of a door. The door led down to a staircase which, in stark contrast to the rest of the factory, was well polished and well lit by bright white lights. They walked down the staircase to a relatively short hallway until they reached an elevator standing next to a reinforced door that Gabriel thought to be a stairwell of some kind.
Hermes typed in some kind of code and spoke into some kind of intercom to which the elevator opened up and both of them went in. He looked at the elevator numbers and saw numbers for what looked like five floors.
“How… how large is this complex?”
“Multiple floors with barracks,training rooms, two cafeterias, and an auditorium where leadership gives speeches to our troops.”
Gabriel turned his head, completely baffled.
“How, how did you guys get the materials to build something like this raising red flags?”
“The answers aren’t available to a rookie.”
Gabriel didn’t pry further to avoid raising suspicion. The elevator doors opened and revealed a long hallway, in the style of those one would find in a military base, with the walls painted dark gray and lit by white lighting. Walking through the silent hallway made him feel like he was a parasite in the body of an affected host.
“Nervous?” Hermes asked.
Gabriel heart skipped a few beats before he replied with “Yeah, I’m fine, just it feels weird is all.”
“Well hey, we all feel strange so far from home I guess, especially when you’re in the basement of a secret paramilitary!” Hermes lightly jabbed Gabriel on the shoulder, his attempt at levity not working to say the least. “Settle down, you aren’t going to get shot.”
Hermes pointed him towards the armory and told him to go pick out the standard issued military jeans and tank top and change his clothes in the locker room. He did exactly what was asked of him and was then led to one of the fitness rooms.
The fitness room itself was styled like a typical military gym and within the room stood five men, four dressed in the same uniform as him.
He was told to stand next to his fellow soldiers and as he did so, all of them eyed him with clear confusion. Excluding himself, and the commander, they were two white males, one black man, and one hispanic looking man.
“Welcome, Gabriel LeFatome.” The Commander said walking up and offering his hand to him. His last name being uttered also seemed to have enhanced the initial confusion of his presence.
He wouldn’t have much time to think about that when he got a closer look at the commander's face. When he saw his face, he didn’t feel intimidated or afraid of what this man might do to him, he felt confused at the sense of familiarity. The reddish-brown eyes that under certain lighting looked Crimson, much like his own side. His straight nose, and his black hair styled similarly to himself.
He remembered pictures from an old family photo album and how his paternal grandfather looked when he was in his 20’s and the commander looked nearly identical to that barring the massive scar going through his right eye.
After the initial shock, he shook the commander's hand.
The commander then walked back to face the group of men.
“The reason the five of you have been called here today is because out of several potential candidates, we have deemed you fit to join the Red Angel program.” The Commander said. “I do not doubt that all of you are capable soldiers in your own right. However, up against a hero like The Lighting Valkyrie or Polebreaker, you might as well be a crippled 12 year old attempting to fight a modern military jet.”
The commander then spoke on a walkie talkie he had in his trenchcoat and in came a man pushing a cart similar to what they use in airports to carry suitcases. The man gave the suitcases to all of them. The suitcase felt very heavy in Gabriel's hands, at least 60 or 70 lbs.
“Open the suitcases now.”
When he opened his suitcases, he initially did not think much of the suit and weapons that lay before him.
It was a three piece military armor set that looked straight out of an older futuristic sci-fi movie with the helmet, torso, and leggings all being a dark crimson palette. The helmet fully covered the head and had a visor that stretched from eye to eye. The torso itself held two strange square attachments, also red in color, on the hip area with a notable hole in each of them. On the area covering, there was a Templar cross white in color.
“What you see before you is the RA1 power suit.”
Gabriel looked up at the commander for a moment, a brief look of shock on his face before quickly burying it. He looked around and saw that he was the only one in that room with that reaction.
“What the? No it can’t be. It’s impossible.”
He did a paper on military power suits. Current powersuits take the shape of exoskeletons five times larger than the average person, with them operating far more like vehicles than suits of armor.
“A exoskeleton this compact is something that only exists in hypothetical designs and we’re at best a decade and a half from achieving that but somehow they. No, no it’s not even that, this looks far more advanced than those hypothetical designs. Who the hell are these people?!”
The commander ordered them to take out the armor itself and wear it which was worn exactly like how one should wear a normal, non exoskeleton, modern military armor. The leggings and the torso were designed to where they would split open so the user could fit their limbs in them and once the user has fully worn them, they would seal shut until they were ready to be opened again.
“Good, now walk around the gymnasium, at least 30 laps. You’re going to have to get used to moving around in this armor so it’s better you start now.”
The men did what they were told and walked or jogged 30 laps. It was painful really, felt like they were moving around with a 100 pound ball chained to their legs, and flexibility was initially non-existent. Gabriel could even hear the groans and complaints from the other soldiers. But the feeling did get better near the end of the 30 laps which took what felt like close to an hour.
“Good, now take off your armor and place it back into the cases, and go back to your barracks for the night and bring your cases with you. Tomorrow is when your training officially starts.”
Gabriel and the others did what they were told. Taking off the armor and putting it back into the case. Before he followed the others to his sleeping quarters however, he noticed the commander giving him a few glares. From the distance he was at, it was somewhat difficult to tell what exactly his expression was but Gabriel figured it to be something along the lines of curiosity, intrigue. The feeling of familiarity he felt earlier began to swell again and as he looked at the commander, he could only ask, was the feeling mutual?
He didn’t have time to ask those questions as he had to follow the others to the barracks