Blaze of Glory Read Online Free Page A

stared at the screen from behind the news desk, her expression rotating from confused to distraught to exhausted. “Reports are coming in about these ships appearing all over the world over major cities and a single…man coming out. Despite repeated team attacks by superheroes and supervillains from around the world, none of these alien invaders have retreated. And many lives have been lost.” A series of pictures flashed behind him. “Ace, Arachnia, Heavy Harry, Tan, Desperado…” For a second I saw a flash of my own press shot, smiling at the camera. “Many others are missing in action.”
    I closed my eyes as the list went on and on. Some I knew, some I didn’t.
    “Metal Mike, Davie Lyon…” The words punched me in the chest, stopping my breath.
    “You okay?” I looked up to see the waitress watching me carefully. “You look like you’re about to faint.”
    “Yeah, well…” My hands gripped the mug tightly. “A lot to take in, you know?”
    “You’re telling me.” She leaned back on the counter, staring at the images as they continued the morbid roll call. “Always thought they’d be tough enough to defend the planet. I mean, they’re super, right? That’s why they call them supers.”
    “Right.” A throbbing began right behind my left eye, threatening to return the coffee with interest. I’d always been prone to migraines, but since my injury and the activation of my powers I was more susceptible than ever. It usually started up when I overstretched myself in a fight and pushed my limits. Nothing some good drugs couldn’t take care of.
    “Here’s your change. Don’t get too many American tourists in this part of town.” The woman stacked a pile of coins by my cup. “Just be careful. Where you from, anyway?”
    I forced my head up, trying to swallow the pain. “Niagara Falls.” It wasn’t a total lie.
    “Good thing it’s not New York City.” She jerked a thumb at the screen that was now showing the crater Mike had caused and the ship hovering nearby. “Not a good time to be abroad.”
    “No.” My headache exploded into a full-blown migraine. Grabbing hold of the cup, I took another deep swallow of the super-sweet drink. I didn’t have any identification, no passport…hell, I had nothing. And if I flew back to the penthouse suite, the Agency would be there and they’d want to know about Mike and… I pressed my fingers to my temples, trying to stave off the pain enough to think.
    “We’re receiving reports that there has also been a series of concentrated individual attacks on supers. Ann Kowalski has the story.” The screen shifted to show a blonde woman with long curly hair standing in front of a hospital. The listing named it as being in Washington, D.C.
    “Tom, I’m here at Mercy of Angels hospital where there has been a startling development in the attack on the United States and across the world. Superheroes are dying both in and out of battle with the aliens; possibly from some sort of psychic attack.”
    Ace’s picture returned to the screen, the warm smile and blue eyes reminding me of why he had been so popular. “While we’ve seen some of our greatest heroes struck down in the prime of their lives in this epic battle with the invaders, other heroes have been seen dying even as they rushed to the fight.”
    Now I really felt nauseous. Putting down what I hoped was a reasonable tip from the fiver, I headed for the door. Behind me I heard someone, probably the old man, mutter something about “Damned illegal aliens.”
    If I hadn’t been working so hard not to throw up, I would have laughed. As it was, the cool morning air helped settle my stomach but did nothing for the aching behind my eye.
    And the fear growing in my gut. Reaching around to the back of my neck, I felt the plug there, waiting. Just waiting. And the clock had started.
    I looked for the nearest bus stop, digging out the last of my coins. It’d barely be enough to get me to where I needed to