Chapter Twenty Seven

Hero's Call: Chapter Twenty Seven

Acolyte Seven felt the summons from The Council less than a second after Czar Destructo’s broadcast had ended and normal programming had resumed as if nothing had ever happened. Without a second thought he pulled the teleporter disc from its pouch and concentrated on antechamber off The Great Hall.

“I must leave you,” he said to the others in the room that had gathered around the television with him. “I will return post haste.”

Before anyone could attempt to protest or ask questions, Seven blinked from existence and appeared instantaneously in the antechamber that had been so clear in his mind. The Council Members sat in their customary positions around the half circle table in front of him. Their eyes bore down on him with accusation and condescension. The An’Fari were not often likely to show emotion outwardly, but once riled, they could be quite fearsome creatures. Seven lowered his eyes in an act of contrition.

“Most esteemed Council Members,” he addressed them, “I presume you have seen Czar Destructo’s broadcast?”

“We have,” the Council Member sitting second on the right said. “It was your task to apprehend the Villain known as Czar Destructo, and yet the fate of Earth now hangs in the balance.”

“My most sincere apologies,” Seven said, prostrating himself. “I have been unable to successfully locate Destructo during my time on Earth. I believe he has a way of blocking any tracking device we have created.”

“Should we consider your mission a failure?” the Council Member in the center asked, his voice dripping with disdain.

Seven did not raise his eyes to look at them. He shook his head in response.

“I may not know where Destructo is currently hiding, most esteemed Council Members,” he said amicably. “But I do know where he will be.”

There was a moment of silence among The Council.

“You speak of the challenge he offered to Earth’s new Heroes,” the third Council Member on the left asked.

“I do,” replied Seven. “Milo Radcliff and his friends have proven themselves formid �"”

The first Council Member cut him off. “You would have three young Heroes shoulder the task that was laid out for yourself? An acolyte of your ranking should be above such paltry behavior. Should you be branded as both a failure and a coward? You would bring shame on the An’Fari in such a way?”

Seven blanched. “Of course not. I meant only that they were being trained to deal with just such a situation. The Council is wise and correct, as usual. Apprehending Destructo is my task and I will carry it out upon pain of death.”

“See that you do so,” said the Council Member sitting just left of center. “You are dismissed.”

Seven nodded once curtly. He turned and strode from the room with his head held high. He could have simply teleported himself out of the antechamber, but he wanted to show The Council that he was strong enough to deal with the task at hand. He took two steps out of the chamber and stopped. Instead of picturing the Radcliff’s family room in his mind, the image of the Statue of Liberty swam clearly into view. Taking a deep breath to steel his nerves, Acolyte Seven pressed the button on the teleporter disk and vanished from existence.