Alan Price and the Colossus of Rhodes

Chapters 21 and 22

Chapter 21

Present Day

“So,” Danielle said as she paused to take a sip from her straw. The ice cubes and lone cheery swirled in her Shirley Temple. “Are you going to try and let me explain, or are you going to dash out of here and leave me with the bill?”

Alan scanned the inside of the bar one more time before he settled into the booth’s thick cushioned seat. “I’ll stay. Start from the beginning.”

Danielle smiled, “Okay, hear me out. This is the truth. It’s going to sound crazy but I’ll be completely honest with you.”

Alan could feel his temper flare, “Okay, yes, just get on with it.”

Danielle took a long sip of her drink either enjoying the spotlight or trying to mask her nervousness, Alan couldn’t decide. “You’ve been given these powers, Alan. You aren’t a mutant; you didn’t evolve; you’re not part of an experiment; your parents aren’t members of an alien race.”

Danielle paused to let the information sink in. Alan’s mind was racing. If his mystery visitor was telling the truth then all of his theories, all of his years of research of what he could be were evaporating by the second. Then something Danielle said made him stop mid-thought. “You said I’ve ‘been given these powers’. Powers? All I have is one, speed.”

“All you have is one power that you know of,” Danielle corrected. “This is just the beginning.”

Alan was quiet. Half of him wanted to believe her. Above all else, over the last few years, he wanted answers. Now that he had them, they seemed so hard to believe. “How?”

“Excuse me?”

“How did I get this—these—powers?”

“The organization I work for gave them to you. You were chosen.”

Images of the CIA, the Illuminati; and even aliens occupied Alan’s thoughts. Alan reached for the whiskey bottle on the table and filled the silence with a long pour of the expensive liquor. He brought the glass to his lips and drained the cup.

“That’s not going to help.”

Alan looked across with watering eyes, “How do you know?”

“Because I tried the same thing. I tried to dull the truth, the sense of responsibility. Money, alcohol, drugs, it’s all only temporary relief. Fun, I’ll give you that, but still only temporary relief. You know what I mean; you’re going through that now.”

Alan put his glass on the table and defiantly poured himself another serving. He knew she was right. He had been at the drinking game long enough now to know that the comfort alcohol brought was only a brief rest from the issues he carried. “So, Danielle Turner, if that is your real name at all. Who is this organization that has chosen me?”

Danielle sighed and shook her head. “They thought you were ready to know the truth, but I’m not sure you are. Maybe you need more time.”

Alan took another swig from his glass, “Come on, don’t stop now. Who is this secret organization: NSA, Black Ops, Hydra?”

Danielle looked him straight in the eyes and spoke clearly, “The term ‘Angels’ would best describe them. They are here to help and they need you just as much as you need them.”

Alan choked on his next sip of whisky. Laughter erupted from his chest and he shook his head from side to side. His long hair whipped against his face as he thought of Angels from Heaven choosing him.