1

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE The sonic boom made all the pedestrians look up at the cloud sk ! The people onl cau"ht a "limpse o# him$ the protector o# their cit $ #l in" across the sk ! %ith his arms e&tended out in #ront o# him and his #ists balled$ his trench coat #lapped as he tobo""aned on the 'ind! He #le' past o##ice 'indo's hi"h abo(e the cit $ turned to a(oid a sk scraper and headed to'ard do'nto'n! His si"hts set on Criton Cit )s tallest sk scraper* The +lint ,uildin"! On the +lint ,uildin")s roo# 'as a lar"e helicopter 'aitin" on a helipad! The pilot 'as ad-ustin" a #e' thin"s 'hile his passen"er$ industrialist Au"usts +lint$ stood 'ith his hands in his pocket and a ne'spaper in the other! His lon" sil(er hair ble' in the 'ind! He 'as #acin" the upto'n side o# the buildin"$ 'atchin" the skies! He tapped his #oot impatientl as he 'orried that his archenem 'ouldn)t sho' be#ore he had to lea(e! He didn)t 'ant to "o #rom Criton 'ithout sa in" "ood b e to him! Au"ustus took his pocket 'atch out and looked at the #ace! He had t'ent minutes be#ore he had to take o##! As he put the 'atch a'a $ he un#olded the ne'spaper and looked at the headline. +/INT 0E+A1/TS ON /OANS! NE% STA0I1M CONSTR1CTION HA/TE0! He si"hed and shook his head! 20amn cretins$3 he muttered! Then the 'ind picked up!

Au"ustus looked up 4uickl and sa' the cit )s protector$ 5eph rus$ #l in" to'ard the buildin"! 5eph rus slo'ed do'n and brou"ht his bod up (ertical as he be"an to land across #rom Au"ustus! His sneakers touched the sur#ace o# the roo# and he bent his bod sli"htl so to absorb the landin"! %hen he 'as done$ he stood be#ore Au"ustus dressed in his trademark black -eans$ red t6shirt 'ith a li"htnin" bolt "oin" throu"h a lar"e letter 5 and a black mask o(er his e es! 5eph rus couldn)t ha(e been more than se(enteen ears old$ but he 'as (er mature #or his a"e! He stared at Au"ustus #or a moment$ then he reached into his pocket and took out a #olded piece o# paper! 2I "ot our note$3 5eph rus said! 2So I see$3 Au"ustus said! He 'as older than 5eph rus b #ort ears! The lines in his

#ace 'hen he smiled sho'ed it! 27ou kno' ou don)t need to 'ear the mask! 7our secret has al'a s been sa#e 'ith me!3 2%e)re not alone$3 5eph rus replied as he pointed to the pilot! 2%hat is it ou 'ant83 20on)t be in such a rush$3 Au"ustus said! 2Ho' are our #olks83 2Ho' are m folks83 27our parents$ ho' are the 83 Au"ustus asked sincerel ! 2M parents are #ine$3 5eph rus said! 2Ho')s our 'i#e83

27ou mean m ex6'i#e Sheila8 1h$ ou kno'! She)s in Milan this time o# ear! I don)t see her much no' since the di(orce!3 2She #ound out 'hat kind o# man ou 'ere$ huh83 5eph rus said! 2I 'as ne(er a "ood husband! No matter ho' hard I tried! A decent #ather es$ but not much o# a husband!3 Au"ustus lo'ered his head in thou"ht$ then he cracked a smile and looked back at 5eph rus! 27ou still in school83 2I "raduate this ear$3 5eph rus said! 2Oh$ so it is this ear$ huh8 Time "oes b #ast! Seems onl Ne(er mind! That)s "ood! 7ou plan to "o to colle"e83 2Still up in the air on that but I mi"ht! I# I do it 'ill be here in the cit !3 2Sta close to home$ huh83 Au"ustus asked! 27eah$ -ust in case$ ou kno'! The cit needs me!3 5eph rus pointed to himsel# 'ith his thumb! 2I see!3 Au"ustus looked back at the pilot as he slammed the door o# the helicopter and "a(e Au"ustus the thumbs up! 2Can ou 'ait inside #or a moment83 The pilot le#t the roo#$ lea(in" Au"ustus and 5eph rus alone! There 'as a li"ht bree9e blo'in"! esterda 'hen ou! ! ! !

2/isten$ I called ou do'n here because I 'anted to tell ou "ood6b e! I don)t think I)ll be comin" back to Criton$3 Au"ustus said! 2Reall 83 5eph rus #olded his arms! 2Gi(in" up our criminal 'a s83 27es$ in a 'a I am!3 He looked at the ne'spaper and sho'ed the headline to 5eph rus! 2So I heard!3 2It)s a shame too! Cit sa s the )re "oin" to take o(er the site! ,u me out the said! Oh 'ell! Guess it)s #or the best!3 2Hm$ I don)t bu it! It)s not like ou$ Au"ustus! 7ou ha(e some trick up our slee(e don)t ou83 5eph rus asked! 2Not this time$ m archenem ! No$ this time there are no tricks!3 Au"ustus shook his head! 5eph rus stepped back and looked around the roo#! 27ou ha(e the roo# 'ired don)t ou8 Set to e&plode the minute ou take o##83 2Nope! No tricks!3 2,omb planted some'here #or one o# our insurance reasons83 2No' 'hat in this cit 'ould I blo' up83 Au"ustus asked! 2:no'in" ou8 The stadium!3

25eph rus$ "i(e me a little more credit than that! I 'ouldn)t -ust blo' somethin" up #or no "ood reason! I 'ould ha(e to ha(e been burned prett bad to tr #or an insurance pa o##!3 2/ike ou did 'ith the ci(ic center83 2That 'as ne(er pro(en in court$3 Au"ustus pointed out! 5eph rus stared at him! Au"ustus shook his head! 2Then its poison in one o# the cit 'ater to'ers!3 2Sorr $ no!3 2/et me "uess$ ou hired a sniper to "et me 'hen ou "i(e the si"nal$3 5eph rus said! 2No$ 5eph rus! No tricks! No dan"er! In #act$ it)s sa#e to sa that this is one thin" ou 'on)t be able to rescue an one #rom$3 Au"ustus said! 5eph rus had ne(er kno'n his archenem to be so at ease 'ith him around! E(er since the accident that "a(e 5eph rus his po'ers and he became a thorn in Au"ustus) side$ the man had ne(er been as calm as he 'as no'! He 'as al'a s (er cordial to him but soon a#ter the 'ere at each other)s throats! 2So ou)re lea(in" Criton #or "ood83 5eph rus asked! 27es! 7ou 'on)t ha(e to deal 'ith m deadl antics or threats a#ter toda !3 2Oka $3 5eph rus scratched his head! 2%hat brou"ht on this sudden chan"e8 0on)t tell me ou "ot a conscious!3

Au"ustus cracked a smile! 2I can)t sa that I ha(e!3 He reached into his pocket and took out a 'hite en(elope! 2Remember the #irst da 'e 'ent up a"ainst one another8 I tried to blo' up that buildin" on the east side 'ith m #ormer assistant in it8 I had set those char"es to "o o## and ri"ht be#ore it all happened$ swoosh$ ou came #l in" in and rescued her!3 2I remember ou "ot o## on some technicalit too$3 5eph rus said! 27ou could ne(er "et an thin" to stick on me!3 27ou co(ered our tracks 'ell! Al'a s ha(e!3 27ou (o'ed on that da to ne(er stop until -ustice 'as ser(ed a"ainst me!3 Au"ustus handed him the en(elope! 2I don)t think this is 'hat ou had in mind$ but;3 2%hat)s this8 A subpoena83 5eph rus said as he took the en(elope 'ith a smirk! He opened it$ remo(ed the letter inside and read it$ then his #ace #ell to a #ro'n! 2%hat83 2I ha(e sta"e three cancer!3 2Cancer83 5eph rus looked at him! 27ou)re d in"83 Tears 'elled up in Au"ustus) e es! 2I ha(e si& months! Ma be less!3 5eph rus looked at the letter a"ain! 2,ut$ I don)t understand! %hen did this happen83 2The doctors belie(e I ha(e had it #or some time! I 'as ne(er bi" on "oin" to the doctor or keepin" health ! ,ut I 'as hospitali9ed last month and the #ound it! Nothin" the can do!3 He looked at 5eph rus! 27our uncle died #rom it ri"ht83

27eah$ last summer!3 5eph rus #elt choked up! 2I don)t kno' 'hat to sa !3 27ou don)t ha(e to sa an thin"! I 'anted to tell ou because$ e(en thou"h ou ha(e #ou"ht me around e(er corner! E(en thou"h 'e ha(e tried to do one another in and 'e ha(e been at each other)s throat since ou "ot our po'ers! ! ! !%ell! ! ! !%ell ou ha(e been the closest thin" to #amil that I ha(e e(er had!3 5eph rus closed the letter and looked at him! 2I ha(e83 2More like a son to me!3 27ou ha(e a son! I)m nothin" like him$3 5eph rus sco##ed! 2M son isn)t as stron" as ou! Nor is he stubborn or head stron" like ou! I 'atched ou de(elop these po'ers since ou 'ere thirteen! And in a 'arped 'a $ throu"h e(er #i"ht 'e ha(e had$ I ha(e #elt proud to 'atch ou "ro' stron"er! I actuall admire ou more than I hate ou! It)s the reason I ha(e ne(er "one a#ter the ones 'ho are close to ou!3 2%hat about m "irl#riend$ Su9ette8 7ou tied her 'rists to"ether and hun" her #rom the brid"e$3 5eph rus said an"ril ! 2I kne' ou 'ould sa(e her in time! I also told ou she 'asn)t an "ood #or ou$ remember that83 Au"ustus smiled! 5eph rus lau"hed! 27ea I remember!3 He looked do'n at his #eet! 2M mom ne(er liked her either!3 2Mom al'a s kno's best!3

The chuckled #or a moment$ then 5eph rus looked at him! 2I)m sorr 'ouldn)t ha(e 'ished this on ou! Are ou "oin" to "o #or chemo83

ou)re sick! I

2No! It)s no point!3 He looked at the cit ! 2I spent m entire li#e in this cit ! I ha(e seen it #rom so man points! ,ut there is one 'a I ha(e ne(er trul seen it!3 He pointed up! 27ou ha(e a pri(ate helicopter!3 2Not the same thin"! Not like ho' ou see it$3 he stepped closer to 5eph rus! 2There 'as another reason I asked to see ou! I 'ant ou to "rant a d in" man a last re4uest!3 2%hat is it83 5eph rus asked! Au"ustus paused #or a moment then said$ 2%ould ou #l me around the cit -ust once8 I 'ant to kno' 'hat it)s like to be ou #or -ust a moment!3 5eph rus 'as taken aback #or a moment! 27ou 'ant me to #l 27ou)re stron" enou"h to do it$3 he said! 5eph rus stared at Au"ustus) lined #ace #or a moment! He sa' a look o# hope in the d in" man)s e es! 5eph rus smirked$ then turned his back to him! 2Hold on ti"ht$3 5eph rus said! Au"ustus put the ne'spaper do'n$ stepped up and put his hands on 5eph rus) shoulders! He "ripped them ti"ht as 5eph rus bent at the knee then launched himsel# up in the air! Au"ustus ou around the cit 83

screamed like a child on Christmas mornin" as the took o## strai"ht up$ then 5eph rus le(eled o## and #le' o(er the tops o# the buildin"s 'ith his archenem on his back! As the "lided o(er the tops o# the buildin"s$ Au"ustus #elt like one o# the lost bo s #rom <eter <an! 5eph rus 'ea(ed in and out bet'een buildin"s$ #l in" at an eas pace so that Au"ustus could en-o his ride! The #le' upto'n$ around the Criton to'er then 'est to'ard the Hutchen Ri(er! Tra(elin" -ust inches abo(e the 'ater$ 5eph rus did barrel rolls 'hich cause some o# the 'ater to spra Au"ustus in the #ace! He lau"hed! The passed under the Criton ,rid"e then 5eph rus be"an to climb and took Au"ustus ten thousand #eet abo(e the cit and ho(ered! The looked do'n at the entire cit then out at the hori9on! The 'orld 'as 4uiet at that hei"ht! 5eph rus #elt Au"ustus s4uee9e his shoulder! 2%e can "o back no'$3 Au"ustus said! 5eph rus continued to ho(er #or -ust a #e' more minutes be#ore di(in" back do'n and #le' back to the +lint buildin"! 5eph rus landed sa#el and put Au"ustus do'n! %hen he turned around$ Au"ustus #ace 'as 'et 'ith tears! 5eph rus #elt #or him! 2Thank ou!3 5eph rus stared at him #or a moment$ then he hu""ed him! %hether it 'as because he reall cared or Au"ustus reminded him o# his uncle -ust be#ore the end$ 5eph rus 'asn)t sure! 2I)m sorr !3

10

Au"ustus hu""ed him back! 27ou)re a "ood kid! 7ou make this cit and our parents proud!3 A#ter a moment the broke the embrace! The pilot emer"ed and "ot into the helicopter! He started it up and the propeller 'hee9ed then be"an turnin" #ast$ kickin" up dust #rom the roo#! Au"ustus picked up the ne's paper and handed it to 5eph rus! 2A little dail ne's #or ou!3 2%here are ou "oin"83 5eph rus asked! 2South! There)s a center do'n there I can sta at! It)ll be more com#ortable!3 2%hat happens to all o# this83 5eph rus asked pointin" to the buildin"! 2%hat do ou think I lost in the di(orce83 he said 'ith a "rin! 2I# ou thou"ht I 'as bad! ! ! !3 Au"ustus turned and headed to'ard the helicopter! =ust as he "ot close her stopped and turned! 2Oh$ one more thin"!3 27ea$3 5eph rus said! 2It)s prett e&pensi(e this place I)m "oin" to! I ma need to send someone to come and collect some mone #or me!3 2I# ou)re hintin" to a bank robber $ ou kno' I)ll al'a s be a step ahead o# ou$3 5eph rus said smirkin"!

11

2No$ m old #riend$ nothin" like that! I "et m mone #rom bettin" a"ainst cit and its sports team! I can 'in bi" 'hen the lose$3 he said 'ith a smile! 2+or"et 'hat I -ust said! I)m -ust keepin" ou on our toes!3 Au"ustus climbed into the helicopter and slammed the door! The helicopter rose o## the roo#$ tilted and #le' south! 5eph rus 'atched the helicopter #or a moment$ and he #elt some remorse #or Au"ustus! 2Too bad he 'on)t be here to see the stadium! ! ! !3 He recalled the last thin" Au"ustus said! 2%ait a minute! The cit doesn)t ha(e a sports team! %e don)t e(en ha(e a stadium et because the cit ! ! ! !3 He looked at the ne'spaper! 2CRA<>3 5eph rus tossed the ne'spaper$ ran and -umped o## the roo#! His po'ers o# #li"ht kicked in as he bolted like a -et across the cit to'ard the stadium #oundation! His sonic hearin" picked up a #aint beepin" and clickin" 'hich meant he onl had seconds to #ind the e&plodin" de(ice be#ore it 'ent o## some'here in the stadium construction site! 20amn cretin>3 5eph rus mumbled! 2Some thin"s ne(er chan"e!3

Copyright 2014 Marc L Abbott