Jefferson Pierce began to have second thoughts about coming here. Harry Stein, his government liaison had asked him and the Global Guardians to postpone their search for the terrorist organization, the Carnelian Order and go after a man named Bruce Gordon. A dark shadow of sorts had slowly but steadily been cast over the planet and Gordon was suppose have answers on what was causing it and how to stop it.
For months now, Pierce’s sole purpose was locating the terrorists that had taken his daughter, and he hadn’t given a second thought to the world around him. But even he couldn’t ignore the fact that there was an evil out there somewhere that had to be stopped or else there may not be a world left for him and his daughter to live in. He just hoped that Stein was right and Gordon would hold the key.
It had taken them nearly a full day but they had found Gordon’s last known location in Brazil, South America. Beatriz da Costa, who went by the name Fire while working, grew up less then five hundred miles from where they needed to go.
As an ex-government agent she was able to use her former contacts to help get them there quickly and without any red tape. Of course these people answered to the higher-ups that vowed to throw Costa in jail and throw away the key if she ever returned to Brazil. Fire was hoping to be in and out before anyone knew she and the team were there. In fact, Beatriz had given her word to those that had helped them that there would be no "incidents" while they were in her homeland. Jefferson wished that she hadn’t made such a promise once they found themselves deeper and deeper in the Amazon.
Getting there turned out to be easy. Getting Gordon out and back stateside would prove to be slighly more difficult. They had already had to elude several groups of workers that illegally harvested timber in the Amazon but as they moved closer and closer toward Gordon’s GPS beacon, they found that no one had ventured that deep in quiet some time.
“I don’t like this at all.” Black Condor muttered as he followed behind Fire and Black Lightning. “A bird who spends too much time walking on his claws is asking for trouble.”
Fire looked back at him and smiled. “It’s so adorable when you try to sound all mystic and wise.”
“He’s got a point, Bea. And it’s a little too quiet for my liking. “Black Lightning said squinting up at the dark, dense trees over head.
“It’s just your minds playing tricks on…”
She stoped as the forth member of their team, Tala raised her arms and began to levitate off of the ground.
“What the hell?” Black Lightning watched as she began to to glow, lighting everything up around them.
“Make her stop, Jeff!” Fire poked him. “We can’t afford to be spoted right now when we’re so close.”
Black Lightning said nothing as he watched the sorceress float into the air four feet above them. She had thus far proven to be a vaulable asset to the team. He trusted her abilities in the mystic arts, even if he didn’t necessarily trust her motives for joining the team.The others felt uncomfortable with her around, and it didn’t help that her behavior at times was strange, to say the least. But this was something none of them had seen before.
“I don’t know what to make of this.” Jefferson finally spoke up.
“Well she’s your creepy witch, so you better do something before she attracts unwanted attention!” Fire said taking a step back.
Before Black Lightning could respond, Tala began to speak, as if she were in pain and the words she spoke were the only way to ease her agony:
“A Knight cried out in the dark, the lone survivor of a war unwon.
An Angel of death shall serve in hell.
A champion will be ripped from the very fabric of time.
Brother will slay brother. God will slay god.
Darkness reins forever.”
As suddenly as it came upon her, she quickly returned to normal and gently floated back toward the ground.
“I saw it all flash before my eyes. It was so real, so bright, and then… total darkness.” Tala said, visibly shaken by the experience.
Without warning the rain began to fall like dark fire all around them.
“Let’s move out!” Fire ordered as she moved past the others and began to run.
The rest of the team quickly followed her until several minutes later she stopped.
“What is it?” Black Lightning yelled out to her.
She stood there looking down at the tracking device in her hand, wiping the raindrops out of her eyes. “We’re here.”
In front of them was a small cabin that was once a logging outpost less then twenty yards past a small clearing. Without hesitation, Black Lightning headed toward the cabin and the others followed him.
“Are you sure he’s here?” Black Condor said as they cautiously stepped inside.
“Mr. Gordon?” Fire called, holding a small green flame in her hand.
“Bruce Gordon?” She said again. “We’re here to take you back home. There are some people who are eager to talk to you.”
She focused on the flame until it burned bright enough to light the entire cabin. A man huddled in the corner, shielding his eyes from the bright light.
He saw the four of them standing on the other side of the room. His voice cracked when he spoke. “It’s too late. If he allowed you to find me, then he is powerful enough now and doesn’t deem me a threat any longer. Eclipso has
already won.”
“So let’s just say we aren’t going to let that happen.” Jefferson Pierce walked over to him and put his hand out to pull him up off of the floor. “What do you suggest we do next?”
Gordon looked up as a slight smile formed on his face, “Challengers Mountain. We need to go to Challengers Mountain.”
