“So, that’s what the word BADGE stands for. Interesting.” Torrik sat at a table in the mess area with Chase across from him.
“Yeah, it’s kinda a secret, but it is pretty obvious at the same time.”
Torrik sipped some hot chocolate and then said, “So, the humans of this world gained strange magics... “
“We call them super powers.”
“Oh, okay. Super powers. I guess that makes sense. It really isn’t magic. But, Legion sent those Morphons to your world, and that caused some of your people to have these powers. And thus BADGE formed to help organize and oversee these heroes.”
“Yeah. Nova has been protecting this world for a long time, much longer than BADGE has been around. And that’s the core purpose of BADGE, defending this world. But, we do it through cooperation between the heroes and BADGE. Unfortunately, there has also been a rise in people who gained powers who use them for evil, and BADGE has to deal with them as well.”
Torrik said, “One thing is for certain, when people have power, there are always those who use it for selfish reasons. Magic, superpowers, political powers... any kind.”
“Sadly true.”
Torrik took a big drink and then leaned back. “This really soothes the soul. I...” he looked up, his eyes widened, and he stood so fast the chair fell over. “Demon!”
“What?” Chase turned around just as Torrik cast a spell.
Gar walked up when vines sprung up and ensnared him. In a matter of seconds, he found himself tethered to the ground. Gar struggled for a moment before falling over. “Help!”
“Stop, no! Gar is not a demon!” She ran over and was pulling on the vines.
Torrik cocked his head. “He has demon wings, is made of stone like a wicked construct. And I sense powerful magic in him.”
“Gar is a good friend, and he wasn’t made of evil magic. His soul is from a Vexillian. Let him go!”
“Slita!” Torrik cast his counter spell, and the vines vanished into mists. “Sorry.”
Chase helped Gar to his feet. “You okay?”
“I think so. What’s that?” Gar pointed at Torrik.
“Oh, right, you’ve been away.” Chase smiled and held out a hand. “This is Torrik Treeleaf. He is from another realm and is here to help us.”
Gar smiled, seemingly unfazed by being attacked. “Nice to meet you.”
A white blur zipped up and hugged Gar’s leg. “Buddy! Glad you're back.”
“Hi, EB. Why are you acting strange? You never hug me when I come back from a mission.”
EB let go and frowned. “Things are bad up here. Justin is being a butt, and this guy is... well, I’ll fill you in later.”
Chase rolled her eyes at the bunny, but asked Gar, “When did you get back?”
“Just now. I heard you talking, so I came over to see you.”
“What are you doing here?” Justin walked up with a computer tablet in his hand.
Gar said, “Oh, hello. I just got back, I...”
“Obviously. I cleared your shuttle for docking. You should have come directly to me for a mission report.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Follow the rules. You may have rock for a brain, but even you know procedures. Torrik ...” He had just turned to the Satyr when Chase interrupted him.
“Apologize!”
“What was that?”
Chase came closer and looked Justin directly in the eyes. “Apologize to Gar.”
“I have nothing to apologize for. If people would do their jobs according to the rules, then I wouldn’t have to reprimand anyone. Now, I have to talk to Torrik.”
“I’ve had enough!” Chase startled everyone with that outburst. “None of us can be good enough for you any longer.”
“If you would do your job and not just play around like this is some kind of game.”
EB said, “Well, actually...”
“Not now!” Chase stopped EB and then came dangerously close to Justin. “Playing around. Is that what you think we’ve been doing? I’ve put my life on the line for BADGE and this planet more times than I care to count. If you don’t appreciate what we do for you and BADGE, then you don’t deserve our support.” She whipped around and left.
EB hopped up on the table and said, “Yeah, you’re being a total jerk.” With that, he left.
Justin looked up at Gar. “Well, you have any pithy words for me?”
Gar spent a moment with reluctance written all over his face. Finally he said, “Nova was like a father to me. He yelled at me, but always with good reason. I do my best, but it isn’t good enough for you.” He, too, left in the direction of Chase.
“Dammit!” Justin blurted in a fit of rage and went for his comm. His hand hovered over it for a second, and he merely snarled at it. “Damn, Arx is in a meeting with FEMA.” He looked at Torrik. “I’ll get back to you when I have a proper team of agents.” He marched off toward the Operations center.
Torrik casually sipped the rest of his hot chocolate and stood up. He brushed himself off and headed for the lift.
Torrik walked out of the lift and found Operations cold and quiet, save light clicking noises from the robots operating the computer consoles. Justin stood in the center of the room, watching a large map of the world before him.
“I’m not ready for you.” Justin stated.
Torrik walked down the steps toward the lonely director. “I’m not here about my mission. I have something important to discuss.”
“What would that be?”
“You.”
“Not now,” Justin stated.
Torrik snapped his fingers and all the computer screens went blank. “Right now.”
Justin huffed, “What’s this about?”
“A lot of things. I don’t know you well. In fact, I hardly know you at all. But since I arrived, you’ve been short-tempered and downright rude to those you lead.”
Justin turned away, looking back at the still blank screens. “We have work to do. Besides, you don’t have the right.”
“No, I don’t, but I do have the privilege.”
With a sarcastic tone, Justin said, “What?”
“I’m working with BADGE, but I’m not a member of this organization. I’ll follow your orders at my discretion. However, I remain an outsider.”
“We don’t have time for this.”
“We don’t have time for you to act like a tyrant. Your attitude is not only getting in the way of a properly running organization but also in stopping our enemy.”
Justin turned on him. “Look, Torrik, you have no idea what I’m up against. You have no clue what I was handed when I was thrust into the command of BADGE.”
“You think I’m just a silly magical man who grows flowers? I’m the leader of the most prestigious magical military in all of Yohan. I know about pressure and risk, I know about the struggles of command. Don’t you dare think you’re the only person who has felt those pressures.”
“I know how to handle pressure. I just have to be strong.”
Torrik said, “Being strong has nothing to do with being an ass.”
“What did you call me!”
“Stubborn mule. Funny thing, I found out that both worlds have a lot of the same animals. Mules are among them.”
“I don’t need this. We have work to do. Either we do it, or you leave.”
Torrik smiled. “I’ll decide what work we do right now. Right now, you have people out there who trust you, care about you, and are worried. You aren’t being yourself. Even I can see that something is festering under your skin, driving you to be ill-tempered.”
Justin looked Torrik dead in the eyes and said, “You don’t understand, and they have no clue. This job isn’t normal. It’s the hardest damn job in this world. I’m not Director Nova. He isn’t human, he is...now we know... something ancient and powerful. I’m just Justin, the human. And, right now, I’m in charge of the one organization that stands even the slightest chance of stopping an evil villain from destroying our world, and yours. Everyone is expecting me to find Nova and bring him back, while saving the world, and also manage a crisis team dealing with natural disasters. Do you know what kind of pressure that is? Do you realize what I have to deal with every damn day? Leagues fighting with each other over petty arguments. Bank robbers, military coups, alien invasions, floods, earthquakes, meteors, and a maniacal woman with god-like powers hell-bent on ripping apart this world. All of that is on my shoulders. ALL OF IT! I’M NOT DIRECTOR NOVA! I CAN’T DO THIS!” Tears were in his eyes as he screamed these words, not at Torrik, but at the fates themselves.
Torrik reached out and put a hand on Justin’s shoulder. “No one is asking you to be Nova. They’re doing their jobs at the best of their abilities, and that is all you can ask of them. They don’t expect you to solve all the problems, just be there to guide them. You may not be Nova, but you are Justin. You have strengths, use them. A lot of those strengths aren’t in you, but in those around you who want to help you succeed.”
Justin looked up at the darkened screen, his reflection staring back at him. “I really did make an ass of myself, didn’t I?”
“Yup.”
“How do I convince them to come back and help?”
Torrik laughed, “True loyalty is often tested. You’ll find they aren’t as done with you as even they want to think. A leader guides not only by orders and planning, but sets the tone of emotions and focus. Now comes your biggest test as the substitute Director of BADGE, humility.”
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