Hunting Heroes: A Superhero Novel by Derek Pozel Page B

one has me worried a little, because we have almost no information on him.”
    “First and foremost, we need to stop using our powers on him,” Sage said. “He is aware of our reliance on our powers. He uses it to his advantage.”
    Patriot sighed. “How do you tell an Afflicted they cannot use their powers in a fight? We train our members how to use their powers responsibly. How are they supposed to defend themselves against an Afflicted like this one?”
    A smile crept across Sage’s lips. “Train them to fight like we used to in the old days.”
    “It’s good to see you smile, at our members expense,” Patriot said. “In the mean time, we’ll put a warning out to our members and give his description. If they come in contact with him they are to call in support and retreat immediately. We can’t lose any more people. We’re spread thin already and we’re bleeding members to the other groups and cities.”
    “That’s what happens when crime goes down in Chicago,” Sage said. “Our members get bored, when the criminals are in jail or have moved on to other cities.”
    “We’re doing what’s right,” Patriot said with a smile, which gleamed.
    “It would also be a good idea to double the patrols,” Sage said, “until we get a firmer grasp of what he is capable of.  We cannot leave anything to chance and the more of us together the stronger we are. Before you ask, yes the new recruits are almost ready. The Hotels are under control and our guests are having a pleasant stay. A pleasant a stay as you can have in a prison for Afflicted. The Department of Defense and the CIA are moving Hotel Atlantic to the Pacific this month.”
    Patriot rolled his eyes. “I hate when you do that. I know you’re smart, but it feels like you’re a mind reader. I am surprised you have not complained more about the name of the Afflicted prisons. But they’re sedated, not causing any harm to anybody and the government is footing the bill.”
    “No Afflicted has shown the power to read minds or control humans,” Sage said. “Thankfully, even we have limits.”
    “Before I forget, speaking of the CIA, they requested the formula for our sedation drug.” Patriot said. “I gave them the usual answer.”
    “Not a chance, I keep it in here,” Sage tapped his temple. “Imagine what a bunch of spies would do with it or someone worse, if they got their hands on it?”
    “I know it’s dangerous. I’ll tell them it’s a hard no,” Patriot rose from his chair and walked to the window, which overlooked Lake Michigan and Millennium Park. “Our park is almost done. I got a sneak peek of your statue.”
    Sage walked to stand beside his most trusted friend. “I told them, I did not want one. The whole park is a bad idea. It is too close to our base of operations. The last thing we need is people sniffing around, thinking we operate from there.”
    Patriot let out a long overdue laugh. “You worry too much. It’s good for the city and for us. How about some good news for once? How did we do this week anyway? I haven’t read any of the patrol reports yet and we both know how biased the media is in the matters of the Assembly.”
    Sage scratched at his baldhead. “We assisted the DEA with a major drug smuggling ring in Miami which Afflicted were operating. They had a teleporter hauling drugs all over the world. Credits go to Aperture and Falling Star. I recommend we change their partners. There is friction between them. I will find a suitable partner for each. Crimson and Obsidian are still embedded with a Strider team according to the latest Intel from the CIA. They do not want to let them go.”
    “I hate the name the CIA gave to their joint Afflicted Seal teams,” Patriot frowned. “What the hell is a strider? Don’t answer.”
    “I can go on if you want with the smaller street level activities,” Sage said.
    “I’ll check over the files tonight. I’ll contact everyone about Granite,” Patriot clenched his