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FIC: The More Things Change
Title: The More Things Change
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
wizefics
Fandom: Original Fiction - set inside the Absent Heroes Universe
Prompt: 70 - Arcane at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
tamingthemuse
Warnings: Some mild language
Rating: Teen
Summary: It's a world where superheroes are no longer needed. A world where peace finally reigns supreme. But change is on the wind and those who served to protect before may be calle don once again.
Disclaimer: This is a small section set inside a bigger work. I hope it stands on its own well enough to suffice as a story for this prompt. The concept of Absent Heroes is copyrighted and belongs to a select few.
A/N: I'm one of those crazy people trying to make NaNo and TTM prompts fit into the same piece of literature. Apologies if this doesn't stand on its own well enough to be independent.
*****************
“Paladin, have you seen this?” Azrael demanded as soon as David and Jackson walked in through the door. Going to stand beside the angel, who was still in the same spot he had been that morning, watching the multiple tv screens, David frowned as news anchors on every television showed footage from both the car bomb attack aimed at him two days prior and people fleeing the art gallery shooting earlier that same night.
“Turn on WHT,” Altimus suggested, coming to stand beside the other two, with Sampson joining them. David didn’t have time to spare the Chief of Police a moment’s conversation before the sound on one of the televisions was raised.
“An eyewitness report by one of WHT’s own reporter, Jerome Burroughs, reveals that the Protectorate has reformed and is reopening its doors. Millionaire business giant, Peter Burke, more familiarly known as Altimus who also acts as the superheroes’ spokesman, revealed tonight that the Protectorate would take up the mantle that it lay down nearly twenty years ago. Altimus made this announcement just moments before he was shot by a would-be murderer at an art exhibit opening by his former colleague, Jackson Wade, once known as Gear,” A clip of the original Protectorate from the Glory Days filled up the screen, showcasing each of the former superheroes in their then trade-mark uniforms. That picture was quickly replaced with modernized photographs – David speaking before the Senate, Peter in a black tux laughing and joking with the crowd in front of Bellgrande Pharmaceuticals, Jackson posing with one of his large metal sculptures in front of the New York Museum of Modern Art, Sung standing with Brad in front of Metro Hospital in what was obviously a paparazzi shot. “Reports earlier that the Archangel has been spotted seem to confirm the unspoken message that the world may be once more preparing to take a turn for the worse.” The anchor reappeared, her brunette-coiffed hair and serious expression giving weight to her somber words. “Already this week, Senator David Miller, once known as the Protectorate’s leader Paladin, was nearly the victim of a car bomb. This attack represented a brutality and viciousness that the world hasn’t seen in a long time and that many had hoped would be forever behind us. To have it followed up in short order by an attempted shooting targeting Altimus, the Protectorate’s co-leader from before, seems to suggest that the peace of our world may not be as permanent as those who touted the modern miracle of anti-violence gene therapy would have had us believe. The reformation of the Protectorate is timely, considering that it appears that our world may once again be in dire need of heroes.” The anchor turned, facing a new camera. “Of course, others disagree.”
“David Miller cannot let go of the past.” An acid and familiar voice brought David up sharply and he stared at the screen with a frown as Ema Wagner’s familiar and handsome face flashed on the screen. “Violent crimes are at a historical low. The world’s economy is strong. The Unification Accords have eradicated most national identifiers, ending war, and providing added resources to those sectors of the world troubled by sickness, drought, famine, or natural disaster. The overwhelming majority of responsible people have their children treated with anti-violence gene therapy before they are even born, making most violent crimes acts of passion. True cold-blooded criminals have been forced to the outskirts of society, eking out their living in the various Underground communities. The timeliness of these attacks, coordinating with the very Defense Bill that Senator Miller cannot find support for in the World Senate, throws the general peaceful conditions in sharp contrast to the chaos now enveloping the former superheroes, who perhaps serve the world best by admitting that they are nothing more than an arcane part of our past.”
“Are you suggesting, Senator Wagner, that these attacks may have been arranged to generate support for the Defense Bill?”
“I am not suggesting anything of the sort,” Ema’s smile was venomous, “but I encourage people to think carefully before asking their elected representatives to spend more money on something as outdated as a world militia.”
“Turn it off.” David ordered abruptly. “We have better things to do than listen to that snake speak about things she knows nothing about.”
“She doesn’t seem to like you too much,” Peter pointed out. “What did you do to her?”
“I showed her a mirror,” David retorted angrily. “It’s not my fault if she didn’t like what she saw.”
“No,” Jackson moved to stand on David’s other side. “But if her vote is the deciding one on whether or not you get that bill passed, Senator, you will be the one paying for it.”
“Actually,” David corrected. “We’ll all be paying for it. Without that funding, the World Police won’t be an effective ally. The Protectorate was not the only superhero organization that existed prior to the genetically produced peace, but as far as I know, we’re the only one that has the ability to reform. We’re government sanctioned, and thanks to Altimus, we’re funded.” He cast a glance at Azrael, who remained impassive during the news cast, and who was still watching the news screens with detached interest. “And we were always the only organization with an early warning system.”
A noise from behind him made David turn. Sampson stood watching him, but it was obvious that the Police Chief had realized that there was something special about Azrael beyond the inheritance of a meta gene. “Mr. Senator, with or without the funding, the World Police will do what we can to help in the event of a major world incident.”
“I know, Sampson, but the reality of the situation is that it may not be enough.”
Author:
wizeficsFandom: Original Fiction - set inside the Absent Heroes Universe
Prompt: 70 - Arcane at
tamingthemuseWarnings: Some mild language
Rating: Teen
Summary: It's a world where superheroes are no longer needed. A world where peace finally reigns supreme. But change is on the wind and those who served to protect before may be calle don once again.
Disclaimer: This is a small section set inside a bigger work. I hope it stands on its own well enough to suffice as a story for this prompt. The concept of Absent Heroes is copyrighted and belongs to a select few.
A/N: I'm one of those crazy people trying to make NaNo and TTM prompts fit into the same piece of literature. Apologies if this doesn't stand on its own well enough to be independent.
*****************
“Paladin, have you seen this?” Azrael demanded as soon as David and Jackson walked in through the door. Going to stand beside the angel, who was still in the same spot he had been that morning, watching the multiple tv screens, David frowned as news anchors on every television showed footage from both the car bomb attack aimed at him two days prior and people fleeing the art gallery shooting earlier that same night.
“Turn on WHT,” Altimus suggested, coming to stand beside the other two, with Sampson joining them. David didn’t have time to spare the Chief of Police a moment’s conversation before the sound on one of the televisions was raised.
“An eyewitness report by one of WHT’s own reporter, Jerome Burroughs, reveals that the Protectorate has reformed and is reopening its doors. Millionaire business giant, Peter Burke, more familiarly known as Altimus who also acts as the superheroes’ spokesman, revealed tonight that the Protectorate would take up the mantle that it lay down nearly twenty years ago. Altimus made this announcement just moments before he was shot by a would-be murderer at an art exhibit opening by his former colleague, Jackson Wade, once known as Gear,” A clip of the original Protectorate from the Glory Days filled up the screen, showcasing each of the former superheroes in their then trade-mark uniforms. That picture was quickly replaced with modernized photographs – David speaking before the Senate, Peter in a black tux laughing and joking with the crowd in front of Bellgrande Pharmaceuticals, Jackson posing with one of his large metal sculptures in front of the New York Museum of Modern Art, Sung standing with Brad in front of Metro Hospital in what was obviously a paparazzi shot. “Reports earlier that the Archangel has been spotted seem to confirm the unspoken message that the world may be once more preparing to take a turn for the worse.” The anchor reappeared, her brunette-coiffed hair and serious expression giving weight to her somber words. “Already this week, Senator David Miller, once known as the Protectorate’s leader Paladin, was nearly the victim of a car bomb. This attack represented a brutality and viciousness that the world hasn’t seen in a long time and that many had hoped would be forever behind us. To have it followed up in short order by an attempted shooting targeting Altimus, the Protectorate’s co-leader from before, seems to suggest that the peace of our world may not be as permanent as those who touted the modern miracle of anti-violence gene therapy would have had us believe. The reformation of the Protectorate is timely, considering that it appears that our world may once again be in dire need of heroes.” The anchor turned, facing a new camera. “Of course, others disagree.”
“David Miller cannot let go of the past.” An acid and familiar voice brought David up sharply and he stared at the screen with a frown as Ema Wagner’s familiar and handsome face flashed on the screen. “Violent crimes are at a historical low. The world’s economy is strong. The Unification Accords have eradicated most national identifiers, ending war, and providing added resources to those sectors of the world troubled by sickness, drought, famine, or natural disaster. The overwhelming majority of responsible people have their children treated with anti-violence gene therapy before they are even born, making most violent crimes acts of passion. True cold-blooded criminals have been forced to the outskirts of society, eking out their living in the various Underground communities. The timeliness of these attacks, coordinating with the very Defense Bill that Senator Miller cannot find support for in the World Senate, throws the general peaceful conditions in sharp contrast to the chaos now enveloping the former superheroes, who perhaps serve the world best by admitting that they are nothing more than an arcane part of our past.”
“Are you suggesting, Senator Wagner, that these attacks may have been arranged to generate support for the Defense Bill?”
“I am not suggesting anything of the sort,” Ema’s smile was venomous, “but I encourage people to think carefully before asking their elected representatives to spend more money on something as outdated as a world militia.”
“Turn it off.” David ordered abruptly. “We have better things to do than listen to that snake speak about things she knows nothing about.”
“She doesn’t seem to like you too much,” Peter pointed out. “What did you do to her?”
“I showed her a mirror,” David retorted angrily. “It’s not my fault if she didn’t like what she saw.”
“No,” Jackson moved to stand on David’s other side. “But if her vote is the deciding one on whether or not you get that bill passed, Senator, you will be the one paying for it.”
“Actually,” David corrected. “We’ll all be paying for it. Without that funding, the World Police won’t be an effective ally. The Protectorate was not the only superhero organization that existed prior to the genetically produced peace, but as far as I know, we’re the only one that has the ability to reform. We’re government sanctioned, and thanks to Altimus, we’re funded.” He cast a glance at Azrael, who remained impassive during the news cast, and who was still watching the news screens with detached interest. “And we were always the only organization with an early warning system.”
A noise from behind him made David turn. Sampson stood watching him, but it was obvious that the Police Chief had realized that there was something special about Azrael beyond the inheritance of a meta gene. “Mr. Senator, with or without the funding, the World Police will do what we can to help in the event of a major world incident.”
“I know, Sampson, but the reality of the situation is that it may not be enough.”
no subject
This is fascinating. The stakes have been raised, but why, and by who, is still not clear.
I am enjoying every glimpse you are giving me of this world and I look forward to more.