Aftermath

Michael sat across from Rex Robinson at a bar while the entire city burned just outside the window. Rex took a look at the flames rising to the heavens and turned to Michael with a smile, “Heating up out there, huh?,” then he took a sip from the tall glass of milk in front of him.

“I should’ve been here,” Michael said plainly as he watched the walls of flames engulf New York, “I wasted all this time because of you. I left the city because you had a plan… just like you always do. I thought it was safe.”

“Oopsie-daisy,” Rex gave him a wink and went back to his milk.

“Maybe I should have realized you had a melt down. Maybe we should have all seen it.”

“Don’t beat yourself up. Even your old man was fooled. I was good at hiding it and any sort of eccentricities were excused as being folksy and old-timey. No one wanted to see the real me.”

“That seems to be the case since a lot of people still love you and they blame me for your death.”

“Am I dead?”

“Well, I’m having a dream about you. That’s what people do when someone they know dies.”

“You didn’t see me die.”

“Oh yeah…I guess you might as well be dead, though.”

“You have a point, old chum. The last time you saw me, you were turning me over to a race of aliens who spent the last 40 years feeling pretty raw about things and were willing to go to war over it,” Rex took another chug of milk, “I could be dead but then, the aliens might just want to keep me alive as long as possible to make a point,” he leaned across the table with a sure smile, “For all you know, at this very moment, I’m somewhere in space getting my balls chopped off.”

Michael Hawkwood snapped awake and sat up in bed. Once he got his bearings, he sighed and looked out the window at the sun coming through. There was a time when a building would have blocked out the light but that building was now gone.

Across the city, Tusk walked into a derelict apartment building with fellow Agarthans, Grandma Punch and Hellbender, following. The building had massive holes punched through it after the alien invasion and subsequent battle in New York; what few personal items left behind were only done so in haste or were of no value. “Ever since The Resurgence, there’s been lots of places like this,” Tusk told them, “There are wholeass neighborhoods that’ve been bombed out with no one really living there or guarding it and besides, the city has a lot more to worry about so we won’t be bothered. We can move in to those areas and not have to worry about living underground no more.”

“The city will eventually schedule those places to be knocked down and rebuilt,” Grandma Punch began, “They’ll know we moved in sooner or later.”

“Yeah, but by that time, it’ll be too late. We’ll have made our home.”

“What about Raphael?,” Hellbender asked.

“Let me deal with him when we’re ready. For now, no one needs to know unless they’re Pure Blood.”

“The Knight is gonna show up once word gets out,” Grandma Punch said as she picked up a broken toaster from the floor, “He’s gonna put an end to this.”

Tusk smirked as well as he could with the large, saber-like teeth jutting out of his lower jaw, “I’d like to see him try.”

****

Waves rolled lazily onto the private beach at Costa Triste with a beautiful villa looming over it. Nadie and Mano relaxed on a balcony with drinks, enjoying the cool breeze.

“They reported ships over Bogotá, Sao Paulo, Mexico City… every major metropolitan area in Latin America,” Mano told his boss and father-figure, “Nothing here. I suppose there is some benefit to being a small country.”

“We had nothing they desired and we weren’t a threat,” Nadie added, “The aliens punished those in power with Western nations taking most of the damage.”

“Much deserved. Apparently, New York looks like a warzone now.”

“This gives us certain opportunities,” Nadie motioned for Mano to take him inside, “Let’s go to my den and see how we can turn this situation to our advantage.”

****

A temporary memorial had been built for those killed or missing during the Resurgence. A mound of pictures, flowers and other keepsakes stood near what was left of Madison Square Garden and one of those keepsakes was a torn fighting gi belonging to Paul Kwon. Michael wore his armor as he respectfully stood alongside Emily Koboshi.

“I wish I had been there when it happened,” Michael told her, “He meant a lot to us, as you know.”

“He died saving lives,” Emily’s eyes were red and puffy, “I tried to get him on the bus but he kept wanting to go back for more survivors.”

“Sounds like Paul. So what are the Knights going to do now?”

“I’m still running the soup kitchen but I had to put all the classes on hold for the moment but it’s bit permanent,” she smiled bittersweetly, “Paul would want us to keep going forward so we are. We’re doing a clothing drive tonight if you wanna come.”

“Thanks but I have someone else I need to visit.”

“Thanks for coming out, though,” she placed her arms around his neck.

“If you need me, let me know.”

She looked into the lenses of his helmet, “Likewise.”

That night, Michael flew the Dragon into the sewage tunnel that lead to the bunker under his father’s house. Once the hovercraft was docked in the Castle, he made his way through the walkway and up the stairs. “Dad?,” he called out as he emerged from the secret passageway, “It’s me.”

“Mike?,” Arthur Hawkwood came down the stairs and smiled brightly, “I’ve never been so happy to see you,” then he hugged him tightly and motioned for the two of them to sit in the living room, “Come sit.”

Michael sat down and ran his hand through his hair, “Did, uh… Did you hear about what happened with Rex?”

“Yeah,” Arthur shook his head, “What the hell was he thinking? If my dad or grandpa were still around, they’d probably deck `im. Shit… maybe it’s best they never knew.”

Michael swallowed nervously, “There are people out there who think the heroes were in the wrong for what they did.”

Arthur shrugged, “I know Sean Pierce and Ryan Bennings enough to trust them. If Rex was responsible for the Invasion of 1981, then he was responsible, much as it pains me to say. They say the new Cavalier was there too so I guess he knew what he was doing.”

“Dad,” Michael took a breath, “I returned the Dragon tonight.”

Arthur looked at him curiously, then at the entrance to the Castle, “You had the Dragon?”

“Yeah…,” Michael paused, waiting for the realization to set in which didn’t take long.

Arthur sat back and smiled as if realizing an obvious prank had just been pulled on him, “I really should have seen that one coming,” he shook his head, “Like you said before, it’s hard for Hawkwoods to face facts sometimes. I guess I was lying to myself.”

“I was lying to you just as much. Matter of fact, I was lying to myself in a way,” he looked at his father for more of a reaction, “Are you mad? I was the one who convinced you to quit, I mean…”

“I’m… Well, I don’t like that you lied to me for the past few months.”

“Me neither. I kept making excuses for not telling you so now I finally just decided to come out with it.”

“Rex Robinson convinced you to put on the suit,” he leaned forward, “Didn’t he?”

“Yeah.”

“Like I said, the guy could convince anyone to do almost anything,” he threw his hands in the air, “I mean, he had us all fooled for years, one way or another.”

“Yeah, well, I was the guy who ultimately turned him over to the U’ntari. I mean, the IMD had the notion first but when it came down to it… it was my call.”

“It saved lives, Mike. It put an end to the war.”

“I just question why I did it. I mean, I was pissed, Dad. Not only did I trust him but the whole family trusted him. Then to find out he wasn’t man we thought he was?”

“I know. Believe me, I know. I feel just as let-down.”

“When me and some of the other guys tried to capture him, I pulled the sword on him. I think I was going for the arm or leg but I really don’t know how much I cared if I missed. He defended against the attack anyway, but I took a hard swing and I’m not sure what I was trying to do.”

“That Hawkwood temper can be potent.”

“I guess so… In other news, Ryan Bennings is starting a team and asked me to be a part of it. He wants me to go visit him in Boston this weekend.”

“I was a part of a team for about a week. Remember the Street Force?,” Arthur chuckled to himself, “Those people were assholes. The 90s were so needlessly angsty.”

“Yeah, at least this one has a better name: The Commission. It’s meant to ensure things like the Resurgence never happen again.”

“I’m sure they’ll have plenty of members to fill out the roster,” Arthur patted him on the knee, “Don’t feel bad about saying no.”

Michael stammered a bit before continuing, “I mean… I’m considering it.”

Arthur sat up, “But… this was just temporary, right? Rex put some ideas in your head and now you’re free from all that.”

“He did but I guess he was right about a few things. The city needs me now more than ever. You’ve seen the news. Crime has increased and we both know there are plenty of dangerous guys out there who will take advantage of-“

“You returned the Dragon,” his father protested, “After taking it from my basement without me knowing, mind you.”

“I was… kinda hoping to have access to the Castle. Stashing the Dragon isn’t easy.”

“What the hell, Mike?,” Arthur stood up, “You spent all this time telling me this was too dangerous, then you go and pull this shit?”

“I get how it sounds.”

“I’m glad you do,” Arthur began shuffling toward the staircase, “If you want to use the Castle and the Dragon and everything else, go ahead. You were just gonna take it all anyway.”

“Dad!”

Despite Michael calling after him, he heard no response except the bedroom door slamming shut. The conversation did not go as well as hoped.

Next: The Midnight Rider (the first arc in an exciting new saga)