AGONY'S GAMBIT: Issue 1, Chapter 3

Magetti's Bar
Southside, Freedom City

"Out of the bar, fellas."

The regulars looked up from their beer steins in surprise. The man at the end of the bar rubbed his bleary eyes. "Whaddaya mean, Vinnie? It ain't even eight o'clock. I ain't seen my must-see TV. You can't kick us out."

"See it at home, buddy. Bar's closed." The front door to Magetti's swung open and closed, and Vinnie nodded to the man entering.

"But home's where my wife is!"

"Things is tough all over. We got a private party here tonight."

"A party? Here?" the regular scoffed. "What kind of a freak would want to. . ." He broke off as he suddenly realized that the light from both the street and the overhead lamp had been eclipsed. He was suddenly sitting in relative darkness. He turned in confusion and looked up, and up, and up at the huge silhouette looming over him. His eyes bulged as he fell backwards off the bar stool.

Boulder just stared at him, eyes hard.

A few minutes later the last of the regulars were gone. The silent TV was showing clips of the Freedom City Comets at spring training in Florida. Vinnie snapped off the set just as a flare of golden light erupted on the street outside. The bartender coughed politely. "Tony, I think that's for you."

"I think yer right." Boulder's face twisted into what might be a smile. "Vinnie, do me a favor and pour the Eternal Sentinel a whiskey straight up."

The door swung open to reveal an older man with gray hair, a short gray beard, and eyes of blazing light. His costume was military in style and slightly archaic, a uniform of woven radiance that covered his lanky frame.

"Yer early, Barnabas," said Boulder. The new arrival gave him a piercing look.

"I'm well aware of it, Boulder. And you're 'late'. And yet we're both here." His tone was ironic.

Boulder held up a massive stone hand. "I didn't mean it like that, Barnabas. Don't be so touchy. Vinnie, this here's the Eternal Sentinel."

The Sentinel nodded at the bartender and then strode across the room to a far booth. He knelt beside the sticky table, emerging holding a passed-out patron that both Boulder and the bartender had missed.

"I'm just going to fly him home first." Slinging the drunk over one shoulder, the Eternal Sentinel reached for the bar and downed his whiskey in one gulp. Boulder's brow furled.

"How do ya know where he lives?"

"I read his wallet when I came in. Be right back." He reached the door and there was a flash of light.

"He looks tired," said the bartender.

"He always looks like that," said Boulder.

Another flash of light, and the Eternal Sentinel was back. "Just a beer this time, please," he said. He sat down next to Boulder. "How've you been?"

"Keepin' busy. No Freedom League means more work for the rest o' us."

"Been a long time since we were all together."

"Not all 'o us. You heard anything from her?"

"Not directly, but we were never close. I understand that she's out of the Providence Asylum and out of the life. Retired, retrained and relocated by AEGIS, somewhere in Ohio."

"Poor Jane." Boulder rested his jutting chin on one massive fist. "She stopped him when the rest o' us couldn't, though. That bastard."

The Eternal Sentinel nodded. "I'll drink to that. And I hear someone else coming. Let's go say hi."