No Master Plan Here (Madness Runs in the Family) (17 page)

             
Anansi nodded dumbly, still shocked by what was going on. He called out to Kay through the neural link and felt nothing in response. He bit the inside of his cheek hard enough to draw blood, but didn't wake up. Not a dream.

             
“Good. Get the hell out of my country, then.” President Andrews pushed Anansi away from him and into the waiting arms of Stone, who grabbed him by the collar and started walking him through the halls back to the helipad. Anansi walked in a daze, trying to piece together what had just happened. Denise was dead. She was dead and just when they were starting to mend the rift that had been made between them. A part of Anansi's mind screamed that they should tear the place down, brick by brick. Kill everyone and let their gods sort them out. Anansi could barely hear it, as numb as he was.

             
Stone half-led, half-dragged Anansi to the Cicada, which automatically lowered the stairway, allowing Anansi to walk into the craft on his own. He walked into the back of the craft as it took off seemingly on its own, opened the door, and plopped into the bed inside the room.

             
[Where to?] Kay sent, thoughts of comforting emotions and sadness coming across the neural link to him.

             
[Back to the ship,] Anansi sent back across the link and slipped off his helmet, his display already blurry with tears. Anansi grabbed a pillow from the end of the bed and placed it over his head as he screamed into it until he ran out of breath.

Chapter 17

             
June 14, 2017

              [TheDoctorIsIn joins the channel “Planning Pillow Fort Of DOOM.”]

             
[Users in channel: TKRTPK, LilRed, KT3.141592653, Ireadyourbrain.]

             
[Welcome to the Planning Pillow Fort of DOOM, where we solve the worlds problems, with fire!]

             
[TKRTPK: Now just waiting on Tom and Andy.]

             
[TheDoctorIsIn: Give it ten seconds. They'll be here.]

             
[LilRed: Boys, always late.]

             
[Ireadyourbrain: Srsly.]

             
[Users joined channel: BaconPieHamburger, IronGolem]

             
[LilRed: That's creepy how you do that.]

             
[IronGolem changes alias to BaconNinja]

             
[BaconNinja: Is he doing the predicting when we arrive thing again?]

             
[Lilred: Yeah.]

             
[Lilred changes alias to BaconUnicorn]

             
[TKRTPK: Children! Please. Let's be serious here.]

             
[TheDoctorIsIn: Yes, let's. I've somewhere to be.]

             
[BaconUnicorn: You can be there on time anyways, no matter how long it takes.]

             
[TheDoctorIsIn: Do you teleport everywhere?]

             
[BaconUnicorn: No. It's tiring.]

             
[TheDoctorIsIn: Exactly. :P And no, Andy, I won't tell you tomorrow's lotto numbers.]

             
[BaconNinja: You didn't even let me ask.]

             
[TheDoctorIsIn: I didn't even have to use my powers to guess you were going to ask.]

             
[TKRTPK: ANYWAYS! Kay says Jake's in trouble. POTUS had his girl killed and is apparently going to attack us if he so much as shows his face again. She says Jake's in a bit over his head and needs help.]

             
[BaconPieHamburger: POTUS, huh? Are you pitching in, Rose? Or working behind the scenes on this one? How is the world domination bid going?]

             
[TKRTPK: I'd prefer to stay out of the limelight if things go south. It's going.]

             
[Ireadyourbrain: Very well, really. Soon you will all be drinking the koolaid.]

             
[BaconPieHamburger: Don't hold it against me if I don't believe you.]

             
[TKRTPK: Kay, what's your assessment?]

             
[KT3.141592653: Not good. Based on assessment of the POTUS' power set, Jake could face him, but he fears the repercussions that would fall on the Family if he were to do so. Also, he killed Mantis, who you know better as Ghost, and that dealt a serious blow to Jake's morale. Without some sort of outside interference, the odds of Jake's success in this conflict plummet to the single digits.]

             
[BaconUnicorn: So...take out the Pres, save the world?]

             
[KT3.141592653: Essentially.]

             
[Ireadyourbrain: I'm out of the country.]

             
[BaconPieHamburger: I'm not getting involved unless Jake actually needs the help, but I can be there in no time. I can pick you up on the way, Daisy.]

             
[BaconNinja: I'm working on the Golden Gate. The Suit threw Goliath into it yesterday. Outbound lanes were all cut off.]

             
[BaconUnicorn: I saw that on the news. Good fight.]

             
[TKRTPK: I'll help, but he has to ask for it.]

             
[KT3.141592653: The likelihood of that is less than his chances of winning. He's being stubborn and he has been drinking.]

             
[TheDoctorIsIn: What are the odds if the POTUS didn't have Mantis killed?]

             
[BaconNinja: Am I the only one who doesn't know who the POTUS is?]

             
[Ireadyourbrain: The president.]

             
[BaconUnicorn: The president of the US, dumdum. :P]

             
[BaconNinja: :P]

             
[KT3.141592653: Odds are very high, Edward. 85% chance of victory, rounded to the nearest whole number.]

             
[TheDoctorIsIn: I have it on good authority that a certain “rogue” agent's body has not made it to the morgue. If she winds up at your door, can I trust you to let her in?]

             
[KT3.141592653: In this case, odds of her being mind controlled and being programmed to seek out and kill Jake are rather high.]

             
[TheDoctorIsIn: I don't think that will happen.]

             
[KT3.141592653: …]

             
[TKRTPK: Good enough for me. All in favor of letting Jake handle his own mess, provided he wipes the POTUS off the face of the earth for threatening the Family, type Aye.]

             
[TheDoctorIsIn: Aye.]

             
[BaconPieHamburger: Sure.]

             
[BaconNinja: Yarp.]

             
[BaconUnicorn: Aye.]

             
[Ireadyourbrain: Yup.]

             
[TKRTPK: Motion carried. Kay, I'll be about for a bit further if Jake wants to ask for help.]

             
[KT3.141592653: Don't hold your breath.]

Chapter 18

             
March 6, 2014

              Lucas Lockheart walked out the front door of his home in Massachusetts to a mob of reporters crowding the brick wall that separated his property from the road. Cameras instantly came to life, lights flashing and coming on as they recorded and took snapshots of his muscled form outside of his uniform, wearing a pair of sneakers, grey sweatpants, and a sweatshirt with the logo of the New England Patriots football team. A dozen men and women all shouted questions at him all at once. “Mr. Lockheart, how does it feel to have failed to stop the villain Anansi?” “Archangel, will you be pursuing Anansi wherever he has gone for his crimes?” “How does it feel to have nearly gotten the President killed under your watch?”

             
Lucas growled, spreading his massive wings, creating a pause in the questions as photographers took the opportunity for a more dramatic picture. “Any questions should be directed to the Department of Homeland Security public affairs office. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get to work.”

             
With a flap of his wings, he shot skyward into the cloudy morning. The reporters irritated him, but only because they had come to him at his home. It was a bit of an unwritten rule to leave supers alone outside of their official capacities, even those without secret identities, though judging by the questions being asked, the reporters had been tabloid writers. Tabloid writers had no respect for the unwritten rule of leave off.

             
Lucas snorted, playing with a thought of getting press credentials revoked on the reporters who had been outside his home, then thought better of it. He couldn't remember them all, and more would replace them anyways.

             
It took only a few minutes for Lucas to fly to the White House, where he would be meeting with presidential staff to discuss how to better prevent supers from making assassination attempts in the future. He had been at his computer all night working on his presentation, which he knew was going to be slightly controversial.

             
His mind was still on his presentation when he lightly touched down outside the White House, drawing salutes from the Marines outside the door and an Army major who was standing with them. The man looked young to be wearing the rank, but considering the number of badges he wore on his immaculately kept dress uniform, Lucas assumed he had been fast tracked. Lucas returned the salutes and started past the men. The major walked with him.

             
“Excuse me, Archangel, would you happen to have a moment?” the man said. Archangel looked at him again, checking for recording devices or the like. Finding none, Archangel shrugged.

             
“I've a meeting in twenty minutes, so if you're willing to walk and talk, I'll talk.” Archangel continued through the doors, the major keeping his quick pace. The man had the walk of a soldier, even stride, chest out, head up. He took off his beret as he walked inside and folded the hat under one arm.

             
“It's actually exactly that that I want to talk to you. My name is Daniel Andrews, and I am starting a political campaign to run for President once I separate from the Army. I was wondering where you stand on the issue of superhuman registration and deputizing of current super teams in case of need. Be honest.”

             
Lucas opened his mouth to tell the major what he had been told to say about the Superhuman Security Act, which was that it was necessary to keep an eye on those with powers to hold them responsible if they committed crimes like anyone else. “I think the SSA is doomed for failure because you can't detect most powers with current technology unless they're being used and it will drive many people with powers to other countries for fear of being conscripted.” He paused in mid-stride, shaking his head. That was how he actually felt, but he wasn't supposed to tell anyone. “Sorry, personal opinion, doesn't represent anything but me.”

             
The major winked conspiratorially. “Your secret's safe with me. I admire what you do for the country. Not many would give up the high paying life of the celebrity hero that you could have had for the more serving job of protector of the government.” Archangel watched him carefully. He wasn't sure what had brought on his bout of honesty, but the possibility that this man possessed powers was one he had to consider. That or it was just early in the morning and he was cranky. That could be it.

             
“I do it because I feel it's the right thing to do. It's not the most glamorous thing to do, sure. Better me than some mercenary with powers and sponsors.”

             
The major smiled and handed him a card, simple and white with black lettering in a plain font. It read “Daniel Andrews” and listed a DC area phone number. “I think that's why I like you. You're not in it for the money. I could use your help when I make my push for the top. I think it's about time for a change in the country. What about you?”

             
Lucas stuck the card in his pocket, then shook the major's hand. “We'll see, sir. It might be interesting to see someone who isn't a half dead old millionaire in the big seat.” He smiled and walked off, shaking his head. The guy was certainly something, completely uncaring of the political game, it seemed. He probably wouldn't make it, anyways.

-~-~-

              January 4, 2016