Chapter 228: Rise of a Hero Part 7 (2/2)
Both siblings flinched, looking at each other as Adam lowered his head in shock. ”You really are from our future. I would ask what happens, but I think I'll leave the surprise to me of tomorrow.”
”Wait a second. You're those vigilantes fighting Syndicate…”
”Apparently, we're legendary heroes of old fighting the evil of this world.” Eve teases, standing on the table, moving her arms around striking a pose. ”The timekeeper and Gatekeeper!”
”Stop making a scene, Eve…”
”Sorry.”
”How did you find us?” Alton questioned.
”Well, truth be told, we had our eye on you, Phantom, for a while now after the interesting battle we had two weeks back. Not to mention the head of the Syndicate family is killed by your very hands. Word tends to spread quickly around here. I bet you weren't expecting Mortem to be the head of the family.”
”I must admit it did throw me through a hoop. Regardless I now know what I'm facing against.”
”As it seems. So, you are also fighting Mortem in your timeline? Does that mean we lose here then?” Eve questions going back to a personal tone, being quiet and cautious not to let her emotions get the better of her.
”Mortem is a parasite who only looks to survive no matter what. We could defeat the bastard a dozen times, and it would sliver it's way back no matter what.”
”Oh, like in the movie, the thing. You know, parasite alien… Never mind.” Hannah whispers.
Adam takes a large bite from his burger, talking with a mouth full. ”But we don't need to defeat Mortem entirely.”
”Am I hearing that correctly? Talking with your mouth full is hard to understand.”
Taking a sip from his drink Adam lays out a set of photos. ”We've been doing our research over the past three months and worked out the top dogs Mortem controls. The so-called Blight Father and head of the Syndicate family were taken down by our very own Phantom hours ago. Meaning we have but three targets remaining. Mortem can only control strong beings with weak minds. While it can control nearly anybody doing so, it will strain their powers and energy. So much, in fact, excessive use and Mortem could die. We fought the first incarnation of Mortem a few decades ago down in the middle east. They had taken over a royal family and had influenced the country. Taking down the key figures broke their hold on the world again. Take out these last three key figures, and Mortem's hold on New York will crumble enough for them to fade away again.”
”What is it Mortem wants anyway? They are an influence of the Garden, correct?”
”That is right. See Mortem as a lapdog for the stages of grief. It scouts ahead into our world and corrupts the masses enough until the Garden is strong enough to come through and destroy our world. Each time we take down Mortem, we only delay the inevitable.”
”That doesn't make much sense, though,” Alton recalled. ”The Mortem of my time was building up an army of Anti-Humans to destroy the Garden.”
”That is bizarre. Maybe Mortem has an alternative motive? Doesn't matter. We are more caught up on the Mortem of today.” Adam throws away, holding the photos up. ”Four heads, you've taken down The Blight Father, and we took down the mayor a few days ago. This only leaves two of Syndicate's Lieutenants Shane Fury and Jasmine Parker.”
”Just those two? Not the daughter Kira?” Hannah asked.
”We believe she was too strong-minded to be influenced. It may not seem like it, but she wasn't very trusting of her father going behind his back on serval occasions.” Eve stated. ”Take out the last two members of the high council, and Mortem will be dealt with.”
”Sounds easy enough.”
”It won't be Hannah,” Alton whispered. ”Not only do Mortem possess abilities of the Garden but the powers of their host too. Not to mention anyone can be controlled by them as well. If we aren't careful, we could join that rising cast too.”
”The only advantage we have right now is time. Mortem takes years, even decades, to work up their own network as big as this one. They won't be taking control of any big names for a while. This is the perfect time to strike and pull the root out before it is given time to grow. If it is allowed to control the masses for much longer, we could see the Garden on our doorstep. Therefore, Eve and I will be assisting you in case any hidden figureheads are under its control.”
Alton smirked, looking at everyone. ”The four legendary heroes of old in the flesh. This is something Zinnia would freak out.”
”This is nuts; all of you are crazy,” Hannah complains, holding her head in shame. ”But that doesn't mean I can't give up. Lunatics or not, you're my best chance in taking down Syndicate. So, I'm in.”
”Yay! A team-up of the century. A common villain who got too big for her boots and tangled with the wrong crowd. A mysterious boy from the future sent back to save the day and two Children of the Garden running from their past looking to change fate itself.”
”Enough with the monologue, Eve,” Adam grumbles, bashing her on the head lightly. ”We have one chance at this. They won't be expecting all of us, so we use that to win; we have no time to waste; let's move.” Adam orders paying for his burger as the small number of customers stare blankly at everything that just happened. ”Alton, a word if you may. Listen about the future. You claim you're still facing off against Mortem that means I haven't destroyed the Garden yet… Tell me you know me what happens. You claimed I was Bargaining… I just can't believe I would… Is that true?”
”Do you really want to know?”
Adam waited a moment, shaking his head. ”No, better not. If what you claim is true, then like Eve said, I'll change fate itself to make sure that doesn't happen.”