The Last Crusader

2

Devlin's friend had run for backup, knowing there was no stopping Devlin once he committed himself to the hunt. Instead, the friend was at the skate park where a legion of teenagers and college students hung out with their colorfully adorned masks on their faces. He was stopped immediately and questioned.

"Yo, Badger, what's up?" one greeted the young man.

"What's up Titan? How's it?" Badger responded.

"Well, I don't know. Freaking Regs are up our ass tonight. We're here to figure out what's going on, you know anything?" Titan stood a couple of inches taller than Badger, wearing a regal blue mask with black trimming around the mouth and eyes.

"Yeah." Badger sighed, "That's why I'm here. Need backup."

"What's the gig?" Titan whistled.

"Zenith needs us."

"Zenith..." Titan sucked his teeth, shaking his head, "No wonder they're so riled up. What is that moron up to now?"

"Well, he's really smart but he's trying to get revenge for Summer Breeze," Badger explained.

"Summer Breeze dying was an accident. She fell, bro. We fall sometimes. It's the danger of the job."

"They were chased. Chased by the Regs, he blames them."

"You ever ask why the Regs were on their ass?" Titan let out a rueful sigh, gesturing with his neck for Badger to follow.

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you to the boss. You have a lot to answer for if you're vouching for Zenith."

"She's threatened by the #2 mask?" Badger japes.

"Threatened?" a girl's voice caught their attention.

Badger turned as both men stood at attention as the five-foot-three woman approached them wearing a butterfly mask. Badger gulped, looking away wishing he could rewind time to take back his words.

"Mariposa, ma'am." Titan saluted his queen.

Badger bowed his head, hearing rumors of her aquakinetic abilities. She could turn the smallest amount of liquid into a weapon. Rumors spread she could even blood bend. Mariposa stood as the number one mask. Leading the kids to fight back against the Regulators and Mafia vying for totalitarian control of their home. Claiming the return of the Guardian of Ether. Zenith thought it was all bullshit. Had he any leadership ability, he might have sat as number one, but his ascension to number two was far more due to dumb luck than any heroic will. Mariposa wanted the masks to be the heroes of the people. Zenith wanted to fight until he died or kill anyone who challenged him.

Mariposa studied Badger's silence, deciding to grip his chin, looking over his mask and feeling how damp it had become.

"You are Zenith's best friend, right?"

"Well, Summer Breeze was his best friend. I knew Breeze."

"So, you two killed the Regulator tonight?"

"I didn't."

"You know who did?"

"Why?"

"Show him the Regulator." Mariposa nods her head.

A group of ten-year-olds in Halloween masks came giggling, carrying a hooded man, bound and gagged. Mariposa kicked the soldier over placing her foot on his neck staring Badger in the eyes.

"Tell me or this is you."

"Come on, rule #3 no snitching. What are we dogs now?" Badger accuses.

"Badger, rank #100. Hanging out with the #2 rank mask. Killing Regulators, and snipers."