The Descendants #12 - Here and Now: The Descendants Main Series, #12

By Landon Porter

Siege Part 2.

Tome has launched their attack. The Redeemers are having a field day with the city and only one group can stop them.

Meet Darkness, Chaos, Codex, Alloy, Facsimile, Zero, Ephemeral, and Hope. To protect the city and one another, they will come together; they will stand against evil; they will become: The Descendants.

Includes Descendants Annual #1

They are heroes. They are people. This is their story.

Styled after works from the Bronze Age of Comic Books, The Descendants is presented in a unique manner: as an all-prose comic book complete with issues, specials and annuals, each telling a complete story that ties into the overall tale of the titular superheroes.

It is also written as a throwback and love letter to an earlier age of superheroes, to a time before everything was grim and gritty and when comic books were fun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paradox-Omni Entertainment
• Release date: Jan 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386795285

Landon Porter

Landon Porter is a billionaire industrialist who fights crime with the aid of his magic sword and faithful companion, Distraction Lad whenever he's not dating supermodels or fighting evil robot bears from the future. On a completely unrelated note, he makes up fanciful stories for a living. An avid fan of superhero comics and roleplaying games, he blends tropes from both into his works along with themes of family, hope and redemption alongside a fervent rejection of cynicism and darkness.

Book preview

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Here and Now (The Descendants, #12)

by Landon Porter

Here and Now (The Descendants, #12)

© 2016 Landon Porter

A compilation reprinting:

The Descendants #12 and Descendants Annual #1 from www.descendantsserial.com

Copyright © 2007 by Landon Porter

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission of the Author. Your support of author’s rights is appreciated.

All characters in this compilation are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Cover made using Hero Machine v3 (http://www.heromachine.com)

Preface

The past will always hold sway over the future. It was because of the actions and atrocities of the twentieth century that in the twenty-first century, mankind came to learn that it had birthed a new breed of homo sapiens. Erroneously dubbed psionics, these young men and women bore within them new genetic potentials imprinted upon their bloodlines generations before; potentials to achieve what had been relegated to fiction and fancy before their coming.

As all humans do, psionics soon found themselves in a position to make moral choices about their capabilities. Many, especially those with benign powers, chose the middling path; simply living normal, average lives with a minor perk or two. Those who chose to employ their abilities for the good of their community were dubbed ‘prelates’ by the media. Those who chose to seek personal gain at the expense of others were dubbed ‘rogues’ by the world’s governments.

In the United States, it was decided that the best way to prevent rogues from becoming a threat was to train and encourage the proper use of psionic powers. To this end, the privately controlled, but government funded Psionics Training and Application Academy was founded. The Academy provided general education, training and ultimately referred young psionics to jobs in the public service sector. To combat the rogues that would still inevitably arise, a private force of psionics called the Enforcer Corps was founded on the Academy grounds in Langley, VA and given special police powers from the office of the President himself.

For over two decades, the Academy and the Corps grew into well known institutions in the US, helping to stem the fears regular citizens harbored for psionics.

It would not last.

Not because of a flaw in the system, but because ultimately, both organizations had been founded with far less altruistic intentions for the young psionics within their walls.

What follows is an account of a handful of individuals who were among the first to uncover the truth behind the Academy. Forced into hiding by the deadly Enforcer Corps, they will come together, be torn apart, and transformed into more than just themselves. They will become family and through their actions, a chain of events will unfold that will change the world...

Here and Now (Part 1)

You should see this. Edward said gruffly and gestured to the television in the downstairs commons as Ian entered, still tugging at the visor of his Chaos costume. The Enforcer had offered his assistance in dealing with the cybernetic canines and Laurel and Alexis had grudgingly agreed before heading off to get suited up.

Okay, first rule if we’re going to work together, matchstick; Ian glared, You don’t tell me or any of us what to do. You aren’t the leader here.

"Who is the leader?" Edward asked, not really caring, but hoping to avoid unnecessary arguments about chain of command.

Ian floundered a moment, then folded his arm. We haven’t discussed that, actually. But it’s not you.

Good. The older man stated, Now that we’ve had this enlightening conversation, just look at the damn TV, greenhorn. Unless picking fights with me is more important than your kids.

Shooting Edward a murderous glare, Ian turned his attention to the TV. On it, the news provider was replaying the altercation between Shine and Facsimile, followed by Wolf’s transformation and the start of his chase with Zero. The whole thing set Ian’s teeth on edge.

I know them. Edward said, trying to remain stoic. Latonya Haynes and Trent Kinsey. They’re two of the agents whose promotions I opposed. His iron features melted into a glower of anger and concern. It appears I was right.

Ian was transfixed by the images on the television as a creeping horror brought itself to the forefront of his mind. As much as Alexis appointed herself protector and surrogate maternal figure to the teens, Ian also developed a fondness for having them underfoot, even considering himself a kind of mentor for LSI in particular. Now, the Academy had come to bring it all crashing down. He verbalized it in the most simple, straightforward of terms. Shit.

Shit what? Alexis came down the stairs, adjusting the scarf of her costume. Did they land?

Worse. Edward beat