෴Mr. Hildolfer (Ancient One) and his attendants෴

෴෴෴ ෴෴෴ ෴෴෴

A Long Time Coming

෴෴෴ ෴෴෴ ෴෴෴

Barbara got to her feet and walked around the desk to see the clock. Her holstered sidearm knocked against the desk with a hollow thump. She looked at the clock and stepped out to look for Ashley.

Outside, she took a moment to smell the forest and enjoy the late summer breeze, then looked around for Ashley. The young nurse was just jogging up the path toward the manor house when Mary spotted her.

Ashley’s brief workout gear showed off her prominent scars. It seemed that she didn’t feel any need to hide them. She pulled out her earphones and waved as she approached the steps up to the manor. “Hey Barb, I got a question for you.”

Barbara nodded. “Absolutely. I’ll answer any questions I can. You’re one of us now, and the Boss has a very strict policy that if you have a question, you get an answer. He’s honestly a bit obsessive about it.”

Ashley laughed. “That’s good, I have a feeling I won't run out of questions any time soon.”

“So what’s on your mind hon?”

Ashley pointed out toward the forest. “So, I took a jog around the green. I know this is going to sound paranoid, but I had the feeling I was being watched the whole time. I stayed out of the woods like you said, but—”

Barb interrupted her. “That reminds me. You can go into the woods now if you want. We just wanted to get you on the IFF.”

Ashley looked askance at her. “Does your IFF mean what I think it means?”

“Sure does. Identification Friend or Foe. I take it you were about to ask a question about the mysterious machines you can sometimes catch a glimpse of in the forest?”

“Yeah, I saw those, but I kept feeling like there was something out there in the trees.” Ashley said.

“Yeah, there is. It doesn’t look like it, but this place is extremely heavily defended. That’s why we had you stay on the green until you were in the system. We try to keep a low profile, and keep things relaxed here, but the Boss takes our safety, the safety of the residents, and site security extremely seriously. Nothing gets within ten miles of here without being tracked by about a hundred different weapon systems. We’re off the beaten path for air travel, so any aircraft that fly anywhere near us are under tight passive scrutiny. Optical scanning telescopes, machine vision and target recognition. It’s all pretty high-tech.”

Ashley laughed. “Yeah right. Now I know you’re messing with me. Even the White House doesn’t have that much security.”

Barbara shrugged. “I didn’t believe it at first either. There wasn’t so much of it back in the day, but ever since he got involved in World War 2, he started talking about the risk of retaliation, and maintaining our physical security. Back then there wasn't as much to it, but what I do know is, he’s always been obsessively committed to keeping this place off the radar, and safe. My theory is that he’s got something in his past that haunts him.”

“Well, I can understand having a past. His paperwork has no date of birth, but he’s got to be in his eighties. I’m not even thirty yet and I’ve got plenty of stuff in my past already,”

Barbara snorted. “Yeah, his eighties. You should tell him that. He’d get a kick out of it.”

Ashley plucked at her sports bra then idley traced her finger over the scar on her belly, “For now, I need to grab a quick shower before I’m on duty.”

Barb glanced up at the large analog clock adorning the front of the manor. “Sure thing hon, but you know you’re on duty in half an hour right?”

“Yep, and I’ll be ready in fifteen.” Ashley bounded up the stairs ahead of Barb, and looked back with a nod. Her expression turned serious. “So, does that policy mean he’ll tell me where he disappeared to? I’m still pretty freaked out about that.”

Barbara nodded. “I’d imagine so. But you’re right to ask him, wherever he went, whatever he did, that’s his to share.”

Twelve minutes later Ashley reappeared, dressed in a casual outfit of jeans and a half-zipped hoodie over a graphic tee-shirt. Barbara and Mary were chatting at the front desk. Mary wore a casual outfit that looked like she was ready for a hike, along with a pair of leather gun belts carrying big revolvers. Mary caught sight of Ashley first.

“Oodles of time! I tolya! She’s a military gal. Not some lass for long baths and hours spent on powder and rouge.” Mary crowed in her oddly accented old fashioned way of speaking.

Barbara grinned at Ashley. “She’s one to talk. Why, to hear the Boss tell it,” she pointed at Mary, “this one used to wile away half the day in the shower!” She went over to the three jars and pulled two coins from her jar, placing one in Ashley’s nearly empty jar, and another in Mary’s, which was just under half full.

Mary looked at Barbara with mock outrage. “The water was clean, and hot! How could I not luxuriate in such a thing?”

Ashley suddenly cocked her head to the side and then her eyes widened. She looked at each of them, her eyes darting back and forth between them.

Barbara and Mary smiled, then looked at each other. “This could be it!” Mary exclaimed.

Ashley pursed her lips. “I’ve recently learned, from what is hopefully a reliable source, that you’ll answer my questions now that I’m officially in the club. So tell me, just how old are you two?”

Barbara spun and looked at Mary. “You cheated! Don’t think I don’t notice all the little accidental slips you make, and wearing your old hoglegs today? I call foul.” She said without any real heat or rancor.

Mary shrugged. “Mayhaps, mayhaps. Who can say? All I know is she asked the question within my wager time.”

Ashley stood there with a confused frown. “I’ve only got a couple minutes, are you going to answer me or not?”

They both grinned at her and started to talk at once. Then Mary raised a hand for quiet, and continued. “I met the Boss in the 1860s. If I’m to be blunt, it was a terrible time, and I’d have promised more than I did, for a pittance of a wage, scraps to eat, and a safe place to sleep. In fact, I’d have promised a lot more just for the food and shelter.” She waved around her, taking in the surroundings. “Instead, I’ve lived a life of dreams, and were I to pass on tomorrow, I’d not a regret a day since entering his service.”

Ashley stood there blinking. Her struggle to take this latest revelation in stride writ large on her face. Finally she sighed and looked at Barbara. “You look a bit younger,” she glanced over at Mary, “no offense,”

Mary grinned. “None taken. I was quite a bit older when I met him than she was.”

Ashley continued. “So, assuming I believed this. Barbara, I can’t get a read on you. You dress like you’re from the 60’s, but sometimes I get an early 20th century vibe from you. I suppose you’re from the 1920s or something?”

Barbara’s eyes lit up. “Ooh! Do I really have that look? I’d love to pull off the flapper girl look some year,” she grinned mischievously, “They say a lady never reveals her age, but I’ll tell you a few things. First, back when the Boss met me, was a time so much worse than the 1860’s, that I’d have mistaken her situation,” she nodded toward Mary, “as a heavenly reward. Let’s just say that I knew the Boss long before he came to the New World. He didn’t look much younger then. As for my appearance, I just think I look good this way. The 1960’s were a fun time.”

Mary chimed in. “Infinitely better than the 1860’s!”

Ashley looked at the clock. “You know you two are straining my credulity here right? But for now, I gotta get up there, but we’ll be talking about this later!”

She jogged up the stairs toward the top floor. “And you, Mr. H. You better not have done another runner on me!” She muttered under her breath.

*** *** ***

Several hours later, Ashley and Mr. H were sitting on his couch together, watching the news with their added commentary, snarking about what the mass media said, vs the truth. When the news looped, they turned to telling old war stories. She only had a few to tell, but the old man seemed to have a never ending supply of them, even if she assumed most of them had to be something he’d just read about.

When she felt the time was right, she hesitantly brought up the alleged defences Barbara had told her about.

He tried to smile, but failed. Instead, his face crumpled into pain and grief, and for a long moment, the young woman regretted bringing it up.

Finally, he spoke. “Sorry about that,” he wiped his eye on his robe, then scratched at the metal plate over his missing eye. “I have a personal policy that whenever possible, I’ll answer your questions, so I’ll take a crack at this one, but be warned, you might not understand the answer.”

She nodded, and he continued.

“Remember when we talked about going back and fixing old mistakes?”

She nodded cautiously. “Yeah, but I can’t say I really get your position there. You said going back and fixing old mistakes was a mistake in and of itself.”

He nodded. “Right, and I still believe that for most things. But, imagine if you can, agonizing over a particular mistake for a lifetime, only to realize you could undo it, at least mostly. But even after that, you still had to live with it for that lifetime.”

Her brow furrowed. “I don't think I’m getting you.”

He leaned his head back on the couch, his red eye welling up with unshed tears. “Yeah. Me neither. I just know it has to be like that, because it already was.”

He sat up with a sigh. “Sorry, I’m such an old fool sometimes. Here I am digging up old wounds instead of just answering your question. Over the years, I’ve built a lot of places for my kind. Temples, underground fortresses, mountain palaces, even castles in the sky. Places we could go to retreat from the world to rest and recuperate,” he nodded as if agreeing with himself, “A safe place, somewhere to relax and heal, somewhere no one is calling out for you, is more important than people realize, especially in the long haul,” he pushed his robe to the side and rubbed at the scar across his chest, “Once, fairly recently, but what feels like a long time ago, I lost a lot of people. These were people who are very important to me. I failed them because I relied too much on my sense of knowing what would happen before it did. I got them all killed because I assumed my foresight and secrecy was enough,” his expression twisted into a pained grimace, “It’s a mistake I won’t make again. That’s why this place is so well hidden, and defended. Do you see what I mean?”

She didn't. Not at all. But she could see how much of a painful topic it was for him, and so she just nodded and turned the conversation to lighter subjects.

Later she challenged him to a treadmill contest to get him out of his funk and through his evening exercise regimen, and didn’t know what to think when she lost the contest.

As the evening wore on, he kept flipping back to the news, watching for a few minutes, then scowling and turning back to her for more light conversation.

Near bedtime, he finally shook his fist at the screen in frustration. “It’s got to be soon!”

She turned to him with a smile. “What you looking for? More news of the weird, or terrorist activity?”

He let out a single ‘hmmf’ sound. “Neither. I’m waiting for a UN resolution. I’ve got something to do that day, assuming I live long enough. No one lives forever.”

She raised a brow. “You say that a lot. Is ‘No One Lives Forever’ your catchphrase or something?”

He let out a chuckle. “Nah, just a hard truth I’ve been increasingly aware of over the years. I’ve had a good run, a long run, but sometimes I really feel the years, and I’m just hoping I’ve got it in me to do one more big thing before I go.”

She nudged him playfully. “Don’t talk like that. You make it sound like any day could be your last. I’ve seen you on that treadmill. You’ve got plenty of miles left in you.”

He shook his head with a sad smile that brought out the deep crows feet around his good eye. “I can only hope.”

She tried to change the subject. “Oh right, you were waiting for a UN resolution. They only passed one recently. They passed the Weaponized Human initiative late last night, and they won't be in session again till next week. I think that one is dealing with a proposed amendment to the nuclear weapons testing ban? I’m really hoping they make the ban stricter. The last thing we need is more nukes around.”

He nodded absently. “I love that you know that right off hand. One of the things I liked about your resume is your political awareness. The others are too far removed from today to really get it.”

She pounced on the opportunity she’d been looking for. “Speaking of them, they told me a bit of a fairy tale about their age. In fact, they implied that you founded this company in the 1600s.”

He gave her a sly grin and started to reply before stopping short. “Wait, did you say they passed it last night?” His one-eyed gaze suddenly carried such a weight and intensity that she felt like a rabbit in the jaws of a wolf might feel, “You’re sure it was the Weaponized Human initiative?”

She nodded ever so slightly, suddenly engulfed by a feeling of irrational terror. He saw her cringing away and held very still as he took a slow breath. She felt the sudden fear fade away, leaving nothing behind but her rushing pulse and suddenly sweaty palms.

He sprung to his feet, abruptly looking like a healthy and extremely fit middle aged athlete instead of the decrepit old man she’d spent most of the afternoon with. She watched him stride across the room and throw his housecoat onto a chair, leaving him bare, his lean, muscled body criss-crossed with scars. She didn’t know how to process what happened next. The statue, the one he’d called ‘Slippy’ came to life once again. In the blink of an eye, it leaped at him and surrounded him in a glossy suit of armor from head to toe. She suddenly realized where she’d seen this man before.

“No! No way! Are you…” she didn’t dare finish her question.

The armor flowed like gold and silver water away from his head. He turned around so he could look at her with his remaining eye. He gave her an amused smile. “Am I what?”

She gulped, suddenly sweating and trembling. “Are you,” she licked her lips and glanced over her shoulder at the door, “Are you Doktor Midnight?” She managed to force out in a reedy whisper.

He threw his head back and laughed. “Not any more kid, not anymore,” he paused, his gaze going far away for a moment, “Not for a very long time.”

Her confusion gave way to irritation. “I just saw you on the news a few weeks ago. You were involved in a big thing that happened in Atlanta. Threatened a convention. Blew up a park. Some people died.” she bit her lip and looked scared, “They say… They say you’re a terrorist, but you’re looking for terrorists? I don’t understand. You don’t quite look like him either, eyepatch, older, but the armor...”

His eye and smile widened together. “Great questions!” He glanced at the time and winced, “I’m already late. Real quick though, I’m not evil, and except when they’ve contorted the definition specifically to villify me, I’m not a terrorist. I’ll tell you the rest of it if I get back.”

She half smiled at this, then frowned. “Wait, what do you mean if?”

He rubbed at his metal eyepatch. “I wish I could say it in a better way. Something terrible is about to happen, and I might already be too late to stop it. It’s too important, too many lives hang in the balance here,” his intense expression melted into a lopsided grin, “I’ll do my best to survive so I can come back and give you answers. For now, I’ve gotta run. Ask the others, they’ll set you right,” he turned and winked at her, “And thanks again kid, I think we're going to get along just fine." With that, he strode out onto the balcony.

Ashley ran to the balcony just in time to see him become a speck against the evening sky and then vanish into the clouds. For reasons she couldn’t quite pin down, she believed him, or at least wanted to believe him.

“All right Ashley, time to go back downstairs and tell them he did it again.” she said as she face-palmed herself.