Heroes of The Collective Volume 2 : Regret

33. Proten #8 : The Man Behind The Bird Mask Part 2 : Stepping Up

Falcon-One and The Astral Jet raced across the skies of North East America towards The Facility in Lebanon, Kansas.

Proten's heart raced as he imagined what was probably happening. No comms were coming from The Facility since the may-day so he could only presume the worst.

"Once I have got Ta'Balshén and Wo'Trendsont to safety, I will be free to help," The Sheriff had said during the flight.

"No arguments from me, Sheriff, do what you gotta do!" Proten replied.

***

Fifteen miles away and it became more obvious what they were heading for. Two, thick black plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the sky.

As they closed the distance even more, it was clear the situation was worse than what it was at The Lodge.

The heavy plumes of smoke were billowing from the hangar and residential wings of The Facility.

Two dozen enemy attacking helicopters were hovering over head, firing down on the buildings or at the personnel fleeing or dropping soldiers down for ground attacks.

"Where are the triplets?" Proten asked.

"On the moon doing NASA work, but I'm sure they'll be on their way when they find out," assured The Sheriff.

"Right well we need these birds out of the sky first and foremost," Proten said.

"I'm better on the ground," said Terri.

"I know. Land, and back up Flip and The Rodeos. I'll pilot this until the triplets return."

"Are these the same fucks as those at The Lodge?" Terri asked before she jumped to the ground.

"Yup, and as Du Zan's soldiers in China," confirmed Proten. "Go when you're ready. I'll cover you."

Proten swung Terri's jet round and started firing on the helicopters. They were metallic-y holographic designed private military looking sorts of helicopters, with short wings protruding from the side with downward facing propellers and large bellies that carried personnel.

He managed to take out two, sending them hurtling to the ground in big fiery parts before the others cottoned on and turned to fire back.

***

The Sheriff had jumped from his jet before it fully stopped moving. His suit was activated and he ran through the crowds of fighting invaders and defending Air Force personnel who guarded The Facility. He also saw faces of GRAB Team soldiers he recognised who were also based at the site.

Occasionally he blasted his stardust beam at someone in his way, but he was focused on one thing only. Finding his boys.

He charged through some doors, sending them flying off from their hinges, running down the corridor. As he got closer to the residential quarters, where there was a lot of destruction, his mind raced and his anxiety swelled within his chest. He hoped they were ok and had found safety.

Ceiling tiles, light fittings and wires and piping that were concealed behind the ceiling had all collapsed onto the floor. Smoke wafted through the halls and bodies lay slumped among the debris.

He got to the suite he lived in with the boys and called out to them. "Trendsont? Balshén? Can you hear me? Boys?!"

"We are here! Back here!" Ta'Balshén cried out from behind his bedroom door. The Sheriff kicked it in, finding the older boy hugging the little Wo'Trendsont down the side of the bed.

"Oh my goodness, are you ok?" he asked, deactivating his suit and crouching to their level. "You did so well boys! You are safe now. Let's get you out of here." He stroked their faces, relieved. But there was a warzone out there and he still had to get them out.


Proten continued to fire on at the attacking choppers. They looked incredibly stealthy and frightening, definitely a product of a billionaire's wallet.

It was the fighting on the ground that he wanted to be in on, not dogfighting in the skies. Down below, the size of ants, he could see people running around amidst explosions and wreckages of downed helicopters.

He could see The Rodeos charging around on the runway riding their animals and he presumed by now The Sheriff was rescuing his boys. Terri was fighting hard and doing what she did best. Moving the ground.

"Incoming!" yelled a familiar female voice through the communicators. Proten looked up and saw The Power of Three rocketing down from space, streaks of purple, orange and yellow trailing behind.

"Thank God! We could really do with your help!" Proten cheered.

"Where do you need us?" Mindy asked.

"Take these helicopters out please. I need to head down and help on the ground. Th- Oh shit..." he cursed, noticing something unsettling emerging from one of the buildings.

"What is it?" Holt asked.

"The Zodiac is here. Can I have one of you to help me with her, actually?"

"I will," announced Blane. "We're thirty seconds out. What's the deal with this Zombiac?"

"Er.. I'm not really sure how to explain it. It's a you-got-to-see-it-to-believe-it kind of thing."