SWNOVELS Chapter 53
Rick grinned on the outside and in the pit of his stomach felt the sudden drop of anticipation. This was it. For better or for worse, this was the moment which would determine the course of the world – and the rest of their lives. War had been brought to their door – and by the looks of it, Atlas’ army had only grown.
The God’s face sneered from his lover’s features and he allowed himself to feel one more moment of sadness. Then he pushed it away and got back to the task at hand.
“So this is it, huh?” he asked him, “This is the grand army coming to spark the end? I mean, kudos on hitting the diversity quota with all the women in there, but you’ve got to admit no one in their right mind is going to believe this is a Soviet army. I mean that one has a Nazi tattoo, come on.”
“On a blurry video, who’s going to know the difference?” Vetis countered, which was a point well made. Blurry videos were the bread and butter of the internet crowd. It’s how people confused Peter Andre with Che Guevara, not even one of the weirdest theories out there.
“You must know you can’t win,” Atlas boomed at them, “So why do you freaks even bother trying?”
“Interesting point that,” he responded with a shrug, “Half the time I don’t even know. Sometimes it’s for a noble cause and sometimes it’s just for shits and giggles. I think it comes down to the fact that we freaks just like to be contrary. We don’t like to be told what to do by a bunch of nasty toads who hide in the shadows and think they know best. We like to fight, we’re made to fight.”
“And stand up to bullies,” Louise added, much to his approval. He hadn’t told them about the phone call he’d made before they’d left or that he was buying for time, that surprise was his own. So he was quite glad they were helping.
“Nah, I do it for the shits and giggles,” Sandy offered.
“I do it because for once in my uptight life, I know what I’m fighting for,” Andrew added.
“And I do it for family, for love,” Angel finished.
“You see,” Rick continued, “We all do it for reasons that are our own. And long after you’ve stepped over our corpses and left this world in a pile of ash, you will find yourself alone on your throne. Nothing but time to contemplate the pointlessness of your own existence. Fury burns itself out, hope doesn’t.”
He heard the soft sound of the distant rotors, coming closer and only prayed it was not one of the other rescue choppers circling the city in their rhythmic manner. He needed some good luck and timing after all.
“If you want to die, so be it,” Atlas shrugged, holding up one hand to indicate to his men. Rick interrupted him,
“Um, before you do I’d like to just actually fill you in on the plan,” Rick pointed out, “And these lot too because they genuinely do believe we’re here to die brutally and fail. Silly, really.” The others began to look at him as though he’d lost his mind and to be fair he probably had to some degree, “You see the plan is very, very simple. For the second time in my life, I get to do what you suggested earlier. I get to come out.”
“What?” Flat. Confused.
“You see it took me a long time to realise that there’s only one way to tackle a plan like yours,” Rick continued to explain, “If someone wants to destroy the world from the shadows, all one has to do...as my second favourite hero would say…is turn on the light.”
Perfectly timed the silent chopper behind them bathed the scene in the most brilliant white light. As though he was an opera singer standing on a darkened stage Atlas was fully illuminated in the bright aura. Powerful speakers hanging beneath the helicopter boomed out a familiar if unexpected tune.
If I could turn back time…
At that, Rick’s shoulders did slump a little.
“I thought I said AC/DC!” he yelled up to his friend in the helicopter, another on loan from Drake, though they asked she return this one intact.
“And I said you could have whatever was on my iPhone!” the voice boomed over the loudspeaker. Rolling his eyes Rick turned back to the utterly confused enemy.
“What the fuck is this?” the furious god demanded.
“Oh Mr Merrick up there is an old friend and a reporter,” he explained, “Works for the MEN, maybe you’ve had some time to read some of his stuff? Does some great articles on vigilantism in modern-day and some not so good articles about bake sales and shit on a slow day. Today’s not exactly a slow news day but I did promise him an exclusive with five superheroes and some epic battle photographs. Only, you’re still looking a little…well, silly…Sandy, would you mind?”
Their wavelength married and with a wave of her hand Atlas was forced to throw off his borrowed uniform and reveal the red-gold armour, gleaming brilliantly in the bright light. His eyes blazed but Rick had already turned his attention to the angel.
“Would you like to unfurl yourself or shall we singe a few feathers?” he asked.
With a sneering look of hate, Vetis shucked off the ridiculously large overcoat and unleashed his wingspan. There was no denying this was no longer an ordinary, run of the mill military assault. This was something very, very different.
“So, Atlas, say hello to your adoring public and to the legions of groupies which will spring up later because let’s face it you’re a bit of alright despite the smarm,” Rick asked of him, “And say goodbye to the stupid notion that anyone is going to believe what you wanted them to believe. In minutes the whole world will know that superheroes exist, that ancient Gods and mildly attractive Angels are not figments of their collective imagination or just fun myths. Say goodbye to your war.”
“Atlas. Dominion of Earth. Titan of Atlantis. Horseman of the Apocalypse. I bring you live streaming, bitch.”