The Atomic Herald panted, taking a second to lean on the wall and catch his breath. He was in a dark, underground tunnel, intermittently lit with incandescent bulbs hanging from the ceiling. As he stopped to breathe, his eyes began to water.

Where had he gone wrong?

His plan was perfect. He had been so careful. He had worked for so long, moving in the shadows, gathering disciples and resources. He had covered his tracks. He hadn’t stirred any waters. So how then, did he fail? Where did this International League of Superheroes come from? How did they track him down?

He clenched his fist. A pulse of green light surged over his body.

He didn’t know. He didn’t know who they were. He didn’t know where they came from. He didn’t know how they found him. But he knew one thing.

They would pay.

He stood up straight. Long was his path, difficult and uncertain. But it was straight and focused, and he would not stray from it. What did it matter that he failed today? What did it matter that the new dawn had been delayed? The new dawn would come, one way or another. He only needed to do his part. The sacred light would do the rest.

He was about to resume walking when he paused.

There were footsteps.

And they were coming from ahead.

He narrowed his eyes, and the glow around his fists grew. He hadn’t told anyone about this passage. Not his minions, not his disciples.

Whoever it was was not someone he knew.

Step, step, step, step.

Slow, methodical. But unerring, relentless. Not a single deviation from the beat. Perfectly in step. Louder, louder.

And then they stopped, hidden in the dark.

There was silence for a moment.

The Atomic Herald opened his mouth.

“Who…”

The tunnel lit up in front of him. The cacophonous roar of automatic fire rang through the hall, coming from two rapidly pulsing lights in front of him. As well as a high-pitched voice.

“DIE DIE DIE! GET SOME GET SOME!!!”

For a minute this continued before it cut off abruptly, shell casings clattering on the floor. The smoke cleared as the Atomic Herald held his arms in front of his face, a glowing shield of green light in front of him. He pulled his hands back and then thrust his fists forward, a beam of light illuminating the dark spots in the hall and slamming into a previously hidden figure. A thin girl in silk robes.

Who didn’t even blink as she took the beam head on.

The Atomic Herald began to sweat. He grunted and pushed forward again, intensifying the beam. The girl yawned. More and more the Herald pushed, but even his strength was not endless. He started to breathe heavily. The beam began to fade.

The girl tossed two assault rifles to the ground and began to step forward, reaching into her robes. She pulled out two pieces of metal and slipped them on her hands.

“I got my hopes up when you tanked all that lead but that little light show was kind of disappointing. I hope that’s not all you got.”

She swung her fists together, a metallic clang as two brass knuckles collided. A blast of wind shot down the hall. The Atomic Herald took a step back.

The girl’s mouth curled into a vicious grin.

“Try to entertain me, would ya?”

Londyn Green stood on a pier at night. She leaned on the railing, gazing out at the city skyline illuminating the night. The waves crashed in a soft and steady rhythm. As she did, a person in a hoodie walked up to her. She turned to him and nodded her head.

“Bob.”

“Londyn.”

She looked back out onto the city. The pair stood in silence for several minutes.

“Thank you.”

Bob shook his head.

“I just gave you the push, and the opportunities. You seized them, and made it happen.”

“I see.”

Another minute of silence.

“How did you know?”

“Know what?”

“That this would work? The League, the kids, all of it?”

Bob shrugged.

“No one wanted to be the one to act. Now someone else has it handled. They’ll complain, they’ll stir up a fuss, but deep down, they’re glad there’s someone to call now.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“You know, I thought you were crazy when you brought me a bunch of teenagers.”

“That was the point.”

“Oh?”

“The world needed them. They needed you. Now, the world needs you too.”

The edge of Bob’s mouth curled up.

“And they pose questions no one wants to answer. So now they’ll be careful what they ask. Should buy you some time to figure out the rest.”

Another minute of silence. Londyn sighed.

“What now, then?”

“Now? Now you do your job, and I do mine.”

“Your job went up in flames. Again.”

“There’s always another opening for a faceless minion.”

“Are you good with that?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s necessary.”

Londyn looked down.

“...But it doesn’t have to be you.”

“...You know, there’s job openings with the League now. I know you have sources. You could do a lot from here. Maybe even more. You don’t need to go there yourself.”

Bob shook his head.

“Thanks, but this is my place.”

“Are you sure?”

Bob waited for Londyn to continue.

“I…No one knows what will happen when a hero reaches a site. And…I don’t like the idea that it might be you on the floor next time.”

Bob nodded.

“Your concern is appreciated. I’ll be careful. Besides, I wouldn’t like working at the League.”

“Why not?”

Bob smiled.

“Because heroes are so annoying.”

Bob lifted his hand, and then began to walk away. Londyn watched as he went.

“Will…Will I see you again?”

“If you need to.”

Londyn turned back to the city. She took a deep breath.

She was alone.

Her phone started to buzz. She took it out and looked through it. The edges of her mouth curled up.

Alone, but not adrift. Not anymore.

She pulled out her sunglasses and put them on. She turned, and started walking down the pier.

It was time for Director Green to go to work.