Paladin Asending Vol 4 #9: Beginnings of the End

In two weeks time, a supposedly happy day was still something of a gloomy time—despite the biggest highlight being the celebration of Tyrone and Erin’s wedding. People kept up happy faces, but I knew somberness was prevalent.

 

So much going on, so little time. It was decided the wedding be made private, much to the couple's wishes rather than a big one to be held at Paladin, but thank god they scrapped that. We flew to the Canary Islands, to Japan and Michigan for a party. Basically, anywhere the two had wanted, as long as Edens promised us we would be enjoying much time off. But he wasn't present, because of whatever he was entangled in, and Navin was...also doing the same shit.

 

**Canary Islands, 11:40 A.M:**

 

Priest: “Will you proclaim each other as wife and husband?”

Ty/Erin: “Yes we do.”

Priest: "No matter health, life and death, shall you cherish each other and love each other?"

Ty/Erin: "Yes, we do."

Priest:" You may now exchange the rings, and kiss.

 

Though the happiness and excitement returned when the ceremony took place. Music, laughs and some cries. It felt warm to me, and a lot of people. I get it's a whole lotta wedding stuff, it’s fun but…something feels missing. If there was a billionaire right here, he’d be throwing things, maybe an actual big party. At least I saw the tension was non-existent between both parents of the bride or groom—from Tyrone’s mother and grandmother, along with Erin’s dad. Guess they’re on good terms, these elders. Anything for their children. The beauty of family dynamics.

 

Kurt: “Well, congrats on the uh, rings! I knew it was going to happen to you both.”

Erin: “Thanks Kurt.”

Kurt: “So the day were there…you saved our asses partially, probably missed out some stuff…you got Riley but not Harry?”

Ty: “We got filled in by others. Harry…he’s...was a coma. When we found his room, he was gone. Nobody knew where he was.”

Kurt: “I assume Jericho saved him. He's a friend. But Harry has a lot of issues...and I don't know, we might be seeing him again someday."

 

Leaving the couple to celebrate, I hope it wouldn’t make matters worse when everyone had something to announce. Jesse seemed bitter and unlike himself...he wasn’t cracking jokes anymore. Something was definitely up on his mind. Indeed, his temper was changing, his behaviour led to a lot of his arguments with his...ex lover. Not the most proper breakup, but this is what young people do, I guess?

 

Gary: “You’re not leaving, are you?”

Jesse: “I will. I can’t stand hypocrites around. Remus...used to be a teacher, until he wasn’t anymore. This is the part where I leave everybody—and this place. Congrats on the wedding, voila. I need to go away somewhere.”

Kieran: “You’re really considering it? Why not anyone?”

Jesse: “Who have I left to trust? Nobody. The agency used me, you, everyone as a tool! Us! As much as I like a lot of people in this room, it’s the end of the line for me. I'm gonna off the grid—no one’s gonna find me. Darling, I’m sorry."

Gary: "Is this breakup? Come on, we can decide--"

Jesse: "I've thought through tooth and nail, and the last couple of years are just...bad. I need to keep a low profile."

Gary: "J, please..."

Jesse: "Pray faith will allow us to meet again someday, love...”

 

***

Jesse: "Con, I'm gonna go. Please, we've been through this a whole lot."

Connor: "I'm not gonna stop you, and you're a functioning adult. You can make your own choices and I won't govern it, so you don't need permission."

Jesse: "The toughest calls always get the worst timings."

Connor: "I know, we haven't gotten much time, but at least we went home a few times. That's good enough in my book."

Jesse: "I'm just happy our best friends got married. And I just broke up."

Connor: "Yeah...about that, I'm sorry. It must have been awkward,. I can't do much but I'll always love you, Jes. I'm your big brother. Try giving me a call, will ya?"

Jesse: "Adios, bro."

 

***

 

Connor: “Sorry to inform everyone, but my brother's gone. I'm sorry, Gary and everyone else. But I hate bringing up agency matters at the moment, so we need to talk now."

Ty: "Well, it's not our worst day. We gotta accept our best friend's going, but I'm just glad our wedding was great, right babe?"

Erin: "You know I love you enough to not say no."

Ty: "Gotta make through the talk so we can go on honeymoon. Family's waiting over there."

Connor: "Okay. In that decision, we should all be making a vote. Who leaves or stays. My call is personal, I’m on and off. The Guild and Oddcrow need me. I'm flying for Kyoto tomorrow.”

Erin: “I hope you don’t leave for long.”

Connor: " I'll remain whenever you need me, E."

Sam: “I’m voting to stay. Healing takes a bit of time. We got nowhere to go honestly. So why not finish the party?”

Lyra: "Agreed."

Riley: "Stay, I can't fucking wait for girl party for us. You lads better stay off."

Erin: "That too, Riley. Me and Lyra need some good girl times."

Ty: "Yeah, we got one more night left, why not spend it well?"

Kieran: “Ok, let’s call it off for now. I gotta relax my bones.”

Kurt: "Drinks, monsieur and madams?"

Connor: "Here, let's toast to us."

 

***

 

At night through next morning, Jesse was never seen again, despite the celebration. God knows where he’s heading off but he's not entirely wrong. I swear, if he had stayed longer, I could have gotten a better understanding of what his electricity powers meant.

 

I too myself got tired during the hours of drinking, opting to go home or some bar. Doing research myself before snoozing off—least I can drink lots, but I’m not that kind of drunkard. I know I got work.

 

The focus of things look good once in a while. Research allows me to get back on the market, sort of. At least I can fluctuate in devising and making good use of atoms, some from my powers that I could experiment with, feels less work like the agency but more relaxed.

 

So where does this leave us? Agents, homeless, no jobs? Yeah, I guess pension means I should retire, but thanks to science, I'm a scientist. Avalon and Gamma teams are gonna have to regulate to civilian identities, have a normal job. It would be a challenge for newlyweds, or those who gotta adapt.

 

But I didn't find it hard, given I'm the oldest, having a career and all that, it's like being a hero is a part time job. There's so many ways you can save the world. Once at a time. If I do it step by step, I can acknowledge the procedures make it right.

 

***

 

On a rainy morning a week later, I received a call from Kieran, who asked me to go to the Paladin base to scavenge some things—while it’s on lockdown. Wonder what could that be? Prison? A reintroduction to my former life? No...couldn’t be.

 

The place is as dark as it gets as I wander around the open corner. This is the damn basement. The US is always under heavy security and guns and whatnot, but yeah, it's easy to slip through. I remember we were formally discharged after Gardner's incident, but we took some equipment, our suits and personal items before we left. The board made sure we would not step foot into Paladin again.

 

Kurt: “Where am I at again?”

Riley: “In secret.”

Lyra: “Welcome home again.”

Kurt: “Y’know the other day I thought about retirement...maybe I should have stayed there. You act like Washington isn't full of dirty secrets already.”

Sam: "So much for independency. I know, but this is different."

Kurt: "Again, hard to forgive for my pessimism. Yes I'm sober, but I'm still drowning in my own works."

Gary: “We still have unfinished business, Kurt. We need you. Jesse might be gone for now but this team has to get stronger."

Kurt: "Tell that to ones who just got married. But hey, they deserved it."

 

Glad to hear that then? I scuffle my hair and wait impatiently digging through my pockets, doing a mental headcount until something happens.

 

With the flicker of lights, my eyes are exposed to a garage like base of sorts. What it implies is that we may have relocated, but I could be wrong.

 

Sam: “Paladin may still be active, but...with the losses, we don’t have much time to cope on the inside, so we do it on the outside.”

Navin: “So what you say, old eagle?”

Kurt: “Khattar. You’re still alive.”

Navin: “I made it though, I know a few might not be present but...we should skip to explaining instead of jumping straight to conclusions.”

Khattar: “Well, for starters, Edens is regretting what he's done, keeping secrets. But the irony is—this is secretive. We've put him on Interpol list. He's negotiating to be under house arrest.”

Kurt: "Well, that's...something."

 

They all nod in agreement, like I’m late to the party or something. Emerging from the shadows in front of me is none other than Yvette Gardner, Mason’s sister. I've barely seen her before, but her presence is calming, yet mysterious. But it does remind me of her dead brother.

 

Yvette: “Looks like everyone’s here. Now where do I begin with...I thank you for the condolences for my brother’s death, which I’m in mourning too but since we’re facing dire times...I am going to take up his remaining funds. What he started—is in my hands. The Gardner company cannot work on its own but rather I’d have to focus on Cavebridge Solutions to maintain a public persona.”

Kurt: “That means giving up your career, would you want that? Worth the risks?”

Yvette: “I don’t have any choice left—my brother had to show the world...and in fact, I’m a superhuman too. Which is why we’re all gathered in secret.”

Navin: “Avalon and Gamma are now gone, with the exception of Sam and Connor, Tyrone and Erin have gone on their honeymoon and to focus on a new life, so I don’t blame them."

Kurt: "After what they've been through, they need the break."

Navin: "Yes, Doctor Rackham. I can ensure that. But your decision to stay or leave is crucial. I need to lead a team that is capable of surviving hardships in the aftermath of these events; you can still choose to leave if you want to, no one will force you to make a choice.”

Kurt: "I know, this is hard. Give me a minute."

Navin: "Best to make a steadfast decision, doctor."

 

***

 

No one spoke up. They were just exchanging glances, or it was just Riley trying to tease Kieran. Yvette sat on a chair, looking into her own digital businesses.

 

Kurt: "Okay, I'm in."

Navin: “Glad to hear that, doctor. Ms Gardner?"

Yvette: "The façade and reputation of Paladin has been tarnished—but it maybe beyond repair; the board saw it as a very dangerous stunt and now I have to prove myself as being trustworthy to be amongst everyone. It will double our work in the meantime, and our secrets will be held like this for another planning.”

Kurt: “So basically we’re building ourselves another agency? Well sounds sketchy to me even if you need men and women like us...and I wish Harry was here.”

Kieran: “Desperate times, desperate measures.”

Yvette: “If everyone proceeds to stay, then let’s get to work: the manhunt for North is still on, lots of enemies outside including the former guild members. Last couple of days, Connor has been assisting us with intel regarding ES activity in Berlin. If I’m not wrong about analytics, which presumably Sabine Rackham is still alive and active, she has ordered her cells on the move. I’m gonna hand the rest to Sam.”

Sam: ”Last but not least, we have a source of power...somewhere in the files that Jericho left us, a location...which could benefit us. But it’ll be a long trip searching...we’ll need someone up for that job as well.

Riley: "Woosh woosh. Lyra, babe. This is where we have fun. But we're definitely gonna crash Erin's place this coming weekend."

Lyra: "Deal."

Kieran: "Let's get to work, everyone."

 

Sounds like it. Hope comes in the form of a small...team. Since that day, we were a merged team, with a brand new leader, a financial benefactor and a new director. From people of different cultures and countries as team members, same faces but with a breathe of fresh air. And now with a mystery that should be a recurring thing to be decoded, analyzed and solved slowly...

 

The Knights of the Round Table are indeed alive after all. Do we have a name? Who cares right now? Who knows what will bring us to come? I wish I had the ability to predict the future, but the present is important to guide us there in time.

 

And the world will know Mason Gardner died a man who tried to save the world as a regular person, not as hero.

 

And we have to make sure his sacrifice will be remembered.

Done