The First Superhero (Book 2): The Siege of the Supers Read online

  It was true. This was real. It was all real. We had fallen for Atlas’ distraction. He’d played us beautifully.

  I read the screen one last time before closing my eyes and crying.

  HOURS AFTER DEATH OF PRESIDENT, TWO NUKES SET OFF IN NEW YORK CITY AND LOS ANGELES. MILLIONS DEAD. LEGION OF RICHTER CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY.

  55

  ULTIMATUM

  I TOOK A DEEP BREATH. I always got nervous in front of cameras.

  “You ready for this?” Samantha said, her finger on the record button.

  I nodded.

  “Rolling,” she said.

  Doug clicked a button on his recorder. “Speed.”

  Drew was holding the boom pole, a microphone attached to the end of it.

  “Whenever you’re ready,” Samantha said. “You’ll do fine,” she added in my head.

  I smiled at her and took one more deep breath.

  “Hello. My name is Kane Andrews, also known as the superhero Tempest. As you may know, Atlas and his Legion of Richter have taken many millions of lives. He and his people think that they can take over, ruling with fear and anarchy. They think they can do whatever they want, and can kill whoever stands in their way. I’m here to tell you that they can’t. I’m here to tell you that they’re wrong. My name is Kane Andrews, and I am not alone. I’m here to tell you that there is no reason to be afraid. We will fight back against Atlas. We will win. They will not destroy us.

  “If you stand with me, we can destroy Atlas and the Legion of Richter. I’ve killed Richter once, and I can kill him again. This time, I need your help. If you want to join the fight against Atlas, come to Dallas, Texas. Dallas is a safe haven for all. No one will be turned away, and we will protect the city at all costs.

  “And to Atlas, who I know is watching this, be afraid. This will not be as easy as you thought. We will not go down without a fight.

  “My name is Kane Andrews, also known as the superhero Tempest. This is my ultimatum.”

  56

  DOWN BUT NOT OUT

  LOREN COULDN’T BELIEVE the events of the day. She was lying on the couch in her office inside the top-secret STF underground base. Her new home, really. No way was it safe enough to go back to her apartment in Washington. Besides, she had too much work to do.

  There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” she said as she sat up on her couch.

  The door opened and in walked Agent Wells, her new right hand after York’s death in the attack on the STF compound. “Just letting you know that this base is now officially under STF command. We’ve put up the new logo on everything,” he said with a smile as he rubbed his hand over his slicked-back hair, making sure everything stayed in its place.

  Director Loren smiled and nodded. “Good. Thank you.”

  This was now officially her domain. It had once been used by the CIA, but they had transferred all power and resources to the STF. In a way, Loren was now the most powerful human on the planet. She had all the resources she needed to figure out a way to destroy the Supers once and for all.

  “What’s our next move, ma’am?” Agent Wells asked.

  Loren smirked and chuckled as she thought of it. “Right now, Wells, take the rest of the day off.”

  Agent Wells looked at her, confused. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I don’t understand.”

  “This base isn’t fully operational yet. We’re still bringing our people in from the field. It’ll be another day or two before the real work begins. Until then, get some rest. You’re going to need it.”

  Agent Wells smiled and began backing out of the room. “Of course, ma’am. You’re right. I’ll talk to you in the morning, then. If you need anything, just let me know.”

  “I will,” Loren said.

  Agent Wells exited the room, shutting the door behind him.

  Loren was once again alone in her new office. She would get some rest too. As much as she could get. Because once her new STF base was running at maximum capacity, she would get no sleep at all. She’d be working 24/7, deep underground, until she was ready. All the while the Supers would be fighting above her in their trivial war, weakening each other. She would hide away, biding her time, and once they were weak—she’d strike. Finishing them all for good.

  Loren lay back down on her couch and closed her eyes with a smile on her face. She would sleep well. Perhaps her best sleep ever, because she’d sleep knowing that it wouldn’t be long before her plan was set in motion. It wouldn’t be long until all the Supers were eradicated, now and forever.

  Director Loren of the Super Task Force fell asleep as a human for the last time.

  THE WAR BEGINS

  Book Three, The War of the Supers, releases this winter.

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  ALSO BY LOGAN RUTHERFORD

  The Mortis Desolation:

  Mortis

  Retaliation

  The First Superhero:

  The Second Super

  The Siege of the Supers

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Logan Rutherford is a twenty year old author living in Texas. If you really want to get to know him, contact him at any of the places below. (Warning: His twitter is filled with dumb jokes and retweets of entertainment news and anything good anybody has ever said about him.)

  @loganrutherford

  loganwrites

  www.authorloganrutherford.com

  [email protected]

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Free Stuff!

  Part One: The Return of Tempest

  1. The Man at the Door

  2. Crash Landing

  3. Homecoming

  4. Q&A

  5. Floor 24

  6. Comeback

  7. Teamwork

  8. Timber

  9. The Top of the Tower

  10. Ghosts

  Part Two: The Rise of a Hero

  11. Riptide

  12. The Statue

  13. The First Day

  14. S&T, LLC

  15. Weak Secrets

  16. Party Crashers 2.0

  17. Theories

  18. Speech Therapy

  19. Second Chances

  20. Enhanced Interrogation

  21. Shocking Revelations

  22. Standoff

  23. Heavy Silence

  24. The Docks

  25. Purple Venus

  26. The Name of a Hero

  27. Welcome to the STF

  28. Doctors Orders

  29. Familiar Voices

  30. Brawl

  31. Promises

  32. Brainstorms

  33. Friendly Fighting

  34. Pseudonyms

  35. Enter the Dome

  36. The First Battle

  37. Escape

  38. The Name of the Enemy

  Part Three: The Siege of the Supers

  39. Waking Up

  40. Detour

  41. Hello World

  42. Only the Beginning

  43. Called Out

  44. Introductions

  45. Full Circle

  46. Clouded Judgment

  47. The Siege Begins

  48. Tag Team


  49. Home Field Disadvantage

  50. Red Steps

  51. Regroup

  52. The Siege of Dallas

  53. Reinforcements

  54. Just the Beginning

  55. Ultimatum

  56. Down but Not Out

  The War Begins

  Mailing List = Free Stuff

  Also by Logan Rutherford

  About the Author