The World Keeps Spinning

No heartbeats. Nothing.

But my sixth sense could feel them coming. The alien's own nerves began to act up. It noticed the curving and snaking shadows before they manifested into several soldiers.

I brought my fists up. I was ready. Bring it on.

Instead, one of their armored hands brought forth a letter. I fired a small line of silk and tugged it to myself.

I opened it and glanced at the lettering.

Trap?

The alien thought so.I fired a line, slingshotting myself over and around the edge of the rooftop and onto its top, rolling before landing on my feet.

I rose to almost full height as I began walking forward, slowly and stopping at about twenty feet distance as I stood right behind him, facing his back. No way was I coming any closer.

Wait, did this guy seriously start with the stereotypical movie line? What almost every villain says? I mean, the view could be good, but there was no way I was missing a chance to take a jab at him.

After all, he tried to have his soldiers take a jab at me. Quite literally.

"It'd be a great view if you're ugly mug wasn't blocking it. Although, if you keep turned around like that, it's almost bearable, even at this distance away from you."

My lenses narrowed.

"What do you want, Legionnaire's Disease? I'm not in the mood for catching your brand of stupid."

He was laughing?

Awesome. We'll see how long he can keep that up.

I listened, catching the small shift in tone regarding my status as a threat. Subtle sarcasm. Lovely. I ignored it. Legion might as well be rain bouncing off an armored truck.

I perked up the question, slightly. He was asking my motivations? Before giving his own? Was this a test?

I preferred not to play the same game I did with Mettle. I had a problem with the metal man when he took over the Bronx. I had not even had a fully-formed opinion of Legion as I was still gathering information. I got more than enough when the guy sent his armies to try and skewer me when I had been trying to save that old man's life.

One was willing to listen or hesitate when necessary. The other was less so. Like he was a sort of regal prince.

Well, down with the king, right?

"Girls. I wear this because women love a man in spandex. Do you know how many hashtags there are of my taut behind? The numbers are . . . staggering."

I rubbed my neck briefly.

"Also, you're whole new clarity wouldn't happen to be settling down with nice girl, having a couple of baby Legion Jr.'s, and paying off a mortgage? I mean, I think your little puppet posse can do just about everything except dodge the IRS. Although, whoever decides to be with you would have to stand your awful people skills"

I shrugged.

"I mean, trying to kill an innocent girl when she says no? Take a hint, man."

Memento Mori. The one who stood with me.

And the one Legion had no compunction about killing as well. Was I a bit ticked about his attempt on my life? Just a little. I dealt with these things on the regular. But other people?

Yeah, I was drawing a huge line in the ground and throwing the stick at Legion's face. He just about deserved it.

"Geez, you really are full of it."

I fired a glob of webbing, a small net, at Legion's feet as he walked closer to me, to keep him getting any closer. That would be his first warning to keep his distance.

I shook my head. Legion was done explaining himself, creating whatever excuses to carry on this little crusade. A crusade that could result in many lives being lost. Assuming he continued to have his soldiers fight to kill, treating them like an army.

What a narrow-minded way of utilizing them.

"You're not a manifestation of anything. You're like the wild dream I'd have if I drink too much grape juice before bed. People fear you because you hole yourself up somewhere all day, throw down a new militia no one asked for, and go around parading like you're the final say in everything. You aren't. You never will be."

I sighed before chuckling a little.

"Maybe you should ask about everyone's feelings on that fact you create more possible conflict the more you ignorantly try to take over New York or anything else for that matter. You invite conflict, and you don't seem to care. No measures to avoid it. I don't know how you and Mettle haven't tried tossing each other through buildings yet."

I pointed at him.

"Maybe you should ask about Memento's feelings. You tried skewering her just because she disagreed with you and was on my side about keeping the guy alive. The guy who also stole her memories. With no consideration for that, you just went ahead. What's the point of your whole moral lecture if you're willing to kill the good guys as much as the bad guys? Huh?"

I took step forward.

"Damaged people need help. There is a reason for them being damaged in the first place. Last I checked, everyone got out more or less okay because everyone there functioned as a team, but you threw that out the window like some kid at the end. He was down. He was out. It was over."

I gestured to the city behind me.

"More than violence, people need healing. More than a hard hand, people need compassion and mercy. The world has enough violence and not enough people trying to put it back together. You got these soldiers, and what? You use them to fight like any clown with an army? Where are these guys at places where people are suffering and need something more than protection? Hm? Tell me."

I took a few more steps.

"You're uncreative, I doubt you have any friends, and I really wonder how your family feels about this. So go home and talk them. Tell them what kind of harm you are doing. Put down this crusade and go home. Just go."

I would be a couple feet away from Legion now. I would try to grab ahold of his shirt and pull him in. I growled.

"And, on that note, don't talk to me about losing lives. You're not some control god. You can't control a thing except yourself and how you react. I try and save everyone, no matter what side they are on. That's mercy. That's kindness. That's the right thing to do because it's the hardest and most worthwhile thing to do. It's what keeps me from tearing everyone and every person in my way. Keeps me from tearing you apart. Even if I want to."

I would shove him back, letting go, assuming I had ahold of him at all.

"I can't and won't weigh the lives of anyone. I'd rather sooner give up my own to save both than act as judge, jury, and executioner. None of us are gods. We're people. We're all flawed. What we can be is examples, be friends to those who need us, be steady and do the right thing. And maybe you need people to help keep you in check, to help you see that. Because all you have is your soldiers. No allies, nothing. Take a look at yourself before you judge others."