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Marc L Abbott 212-767-9399 [email protected] WC 2,358 1 SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE The sonic boom made all the pedestrians look up at the cloudy sky. The people only caught a glimpse of him, the protector of their city, flying across the sky. With his arms extended out in front of him and his fists balled, his trench coat flapped as he tobogganed on the wind. He flew past office windows high above the city, turned to avoid a skyscraper and headed toward downtown. His sights set on Criton City’s tallest skyscraper; The Flint Building. On the Flint Building’s roof was a large helicopter waiting on a helipad. The pilot was adjusting a few things while his passenger, industrialist Augusts Flint, stood with his hands in his pocket and a newspaper in the other. His long silver hair blew in the wind. He was facing the uptown side of the building, watching the skies. He tapped his foot impatiently as he worried that his archenemy wouldn’t show before he had to leave. He didn’t want to go from Criton without saying good bye to him.

Some Things Never Change

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Page 1: Some Things Never Change

Marc L Abbott 212-767-9399 [email protected] WC 2,358 1

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

The sonic boom made all the pedestrians look up at the cloudy sky.

The people only caught a glimpse of him, the protector of their city, flying across the sky.

With his arms extended out in front of him and his fists balled, his trench coat flapped as he

tobogganed on the wind. He flew past office windows high above the city, turned to avoid a

skyscraper and headed toward downtown. His sights set on Criton City’s tallest skyscraper; The

Flint Building.

On the Flint Building’s roof was a large helicopter waiting on a helipad. The pilot was

adjusting a few things while his passenger, industrialist Augusts Flint, stood with his hands in his

pocket and a newspaper in the other. His long silver hair blew in the wind. He was facing the

uptown side of the building, watching the skies. He tapped his foot impatiently as he worried that

his archenemy wouldn’t show before he had to leave. He didn’t want to go from Criton without

saying good bye to him. Augustus took his pocket watch out and looked at the face. He had

twenty minutes before he had to take off.

As he put the watch away, he unfolded the newspaper and looked at the headline: FLINT

DEFAULTS ON LOANS. NEW STADIUM CONSTRUCTION HALTED. He sighed and

shook his head.

“Damn cretins,” he muttered.

Then the wind picked up.

Augustus looked up quickly and saw the city’s protector, Zephyrus, flying toward the

building.

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Marc L Abbott 212-767-9399 [email protected] WC 2,358 2

Zephyrus slowed down and brought his body up vertical as he began to land across from

Augustus. His sneakers touched the surface of the roof and he bent his body slightly so to absorb

the landing. When he was done, he stood before Augustus dressed in his trademark black jeans,

red t-shirt with a lightning bolt going through a large letter Z and a black mask over his eyes.

Zephyrus couldn’t have been more than seventeen years old, but he was very mature for his age.

He stared at Augustus for a moment, then he reached into his pocket and took out a folded piece

of paper.

“I got your note,” Zephyrus said.

“So I see,” Augustus said. He was older than Zephyrus by forty years. The lines in his

face when he smiled showed it. “You know you don’t need to wear the mask. Your secret has

always been safe with me.”

“We’re not alone,” Zephyrus replied as he pointed to the pilot. “What is it you want?”

“Don’t be in such a rush,” Augustus said. “How are your folks?”

“How are my folks?”

“Your parents, how are they?” Augustus asked sincerely.

“My parents are fine,” Zephyrus said. “How’s your wife?”

“You mean my ex-wife Sheila? Uh, you know. She’s in Milan this time of year. I don’t

see her much now since the divorce.”

“She found out what kind of man you were, huh?” Zephyrus said.

“I was never a good husband. No matter how hard I tried. A decent father yes, but not

much of a husband.” Augustus lowered his head in thought, then he cracked a smile and looked

back at Zephyrus. “You still in school?”

“I graduate this year,” Zephyrus said.

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Marc L Abbott 212-767-9399 [email protected] WC 2,358 3

“Oh, so it is this year, huh? Time goes by fast. Seems only yesterday when you. . . .

Never mind. That’s good. You plan to go to college?”

“Still up in the air on that but I might. If I do it will be here in the city.”

“Stay close to home, huh?” Augustus asked.

“Yeah, just in case, you know. The city needs me.” Zephyrus pointed to himself with his

thumb.

“I see.” Augustus looked back at the pilot as he slammed the door of the helicopter and

gave Augustus the thumbs up. “Can you wait inside for a moment?”

The pilot left the roof, leaving Augustus and Zephyrus alone.

There was a light breeze blowing.

“Listen, I called you down here because I wanted to tell you good-bye. I don’t think I’ll

be coming back to Criton,” Augustus said.

“Really?” Zephyrus folded his arms. “Giving up your criminal ways?”

“Yes, in a way I am.” He looked at the newspaper and showed the headline to Zephyrus.

“So I heard.”

“It’s a shame too. City says they’re going to take over the site. Buy me out they said. Oh

well. Guess it’s for the best.”

“Hm, I don’t buy it. It’s not like you, Augustus. You have some trick up your sleeve

don’t you?” Zephyrus asked.

“Not this time, my archenemy. No, this time there are no tricks.” Augustus shook his

head.

Zephyrus stepped back and looked around the roof. “You have the roof wired don’t you?

Set to explode the minute you take off?”

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Marc L Abbott 212-767-9399 [email protected] WC 2,358 4

“Nope. No tricks.”

“Bomb planted somewhere for one of your insurance reasons?”

“Now what in this city would I blow up?” Augustus asked.

“Knowing you? The stadium.”

“Zephyrus, give me a little more credit than that. I wouldn’t just blow something up for

no good reason. I would have to have been burned pretty bad to try for an insurance payoff.”

“Like you did with the civic center?”

“That was never proven in court,” Augustus pointed out.

Zephyrus stared at him. Augustus shook his head.

“Then its poison in one of the city water towers.”

“Sorry, no.”

“Let me guess, you hired a sniper to get me when you give the signal,” Zephyrus said.

“No, Zephyrus. No tricks. No danger. In fact, it’s safe to say that this is one thing you

won’t be able to rescue anyone from,” Augustus said.

Zephyrus had never known his archenemy to be so at ease with him around. Ever since

the accident that gave Zephyrus his powers and he became a thorn in Augustus’ side, the man

had never been as calm as he was now. He was always very cordial to him but soon after they

were at each other’s throats.

“So you’re leaving Criton for good?” Zephyrus asked.

“Yes. You won’t have to deal with my deadly antics or threats after today.”

“Okay,” Zephyrus scratched his head. “What brought on this sudden change? Don’t tell

me you got a conscious.”

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Marc L Abbott 212-767-9399 [email protected] WC 2,358 5

Augustus cracked a smile. “I can’t say that I have.” He reached into his pocket and took

out a white envelope. “Remember the first day we went up against one another? I tried to blow

up that building on the east side with my former assistant in it? I had set those charges to go off

and right before it all happened, swoosh, you came flying in and rescued her.”

“I remember you got off on some technicality too,” Zephyrus said.

“You could never get anything to stick on me.”

“You covered your tracks well. Always have.”

“You vowed on that day to never stop until justice was served against me.” Augustus

handed him the envelope. “I don’t think this is what you had in mind, but–”

“What’s this? A subpoena?” Zephyrus said as he took the envelope with a smirk. He

opened it, removed the letter inside and read it, then his face fell to a frown. “What?”

“I have stage three cancer.”

“Cancer?” Zephyrus looked at him. “You’re dying?”

Tears welled up in Augustus’ eyes. “I have six months. Maybe less.”

Zephyrus looked at the letter again. “But, I don’t understand. When did this happen?”

“The doctors believe I have had it for some time. I was never big on going to the doctor

or keeping healthy. But I was hospitalized last month and they found it. Nothing they can do.”

He looked at Zephyrus. “Your uncle died from it right?”

“Yeah, last summer.” Zephyrus felt choked up. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I wanted to tell you because, even though you have

fought me around every corner. Even though we have tried to do one another in and we have

been at each other’s throat since you got your powers. . . .Well. . . .Well you have been the

closest thing to family that I have ever had.”

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Marc L Abbott 212-767-9399 [email protected] WC 2,358 6

Zephyrus closed the letter and looked at him. “I have?”

“More like a son to me.”

“You have a son. I’m nothing like him,” Zephyrus scoffed.

“My son isn’t as strong as you. Nor is he stubborn or head strong like you. I watched you

develop these powers since you were thirteen. And in a warped way, through every fight we have

had, I have felt proud to watch you grow stronger. I actually admire you more than I hate you.

It’s the reason I have never gone after the ones who are close to you.”

“What about my girlfriend, Suzette? You tied her wrists together and hung her from the

bridge,” Zephyrus said angrily.

“I knew you would save her in time. I also told you she wasn’t any good for you,

remember that?” Augustus smiled.

Zephyrus laughed. “Yea I remember.” He looked down at his feet. “My mom never liked

her either.”

“Mom always knows best.”

They chuckled for a moment, then Zephyrus looked at him. “I’m sorry you’re sick. I

wouldn’t have wished this on you. Are you going to go for chemo?”

“No. It’s no point.” He looked at the city. “I spent my entire life in this city. I have seen it

from so many points. But there is one way I have never truly seen it.” He pointed up.

“You have a private helicopter.”

“Not the same thing. Not like how you see it,” he stepped closer to Zephyrus. “There was

another reason I asked to see you. I want you to grant a dying man a last request.”

“What is it?” Zephyrus asked.

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Augustus paused for a moment then said, “Would you fly me around the city just once? I

want to know what it’s like to be you for just a moment.”

Zephyrus was taken aback for a moment. “You want me to fly you around the city?”

“You’re strong enough to do it,” he said.

Zephyrus stared at Augustus’ lined face for a moment. He saw a look of hope in the

dying man’s eyes. Zephyrus smirked, then turned his back to him.

“Hold on tight,” Zephyrus said.

Augustus put the newspaper down, stepped up and put his hands on Zephyrus’ shoulders.

He gripped them tight as Zephyrus bent at the knee then launched himself up in the air. Augustus

screamed like a child on Christmas morning as they took off straight up, then Zephyrus leveled

off and flew over the tops of the buildings with his archenemy on his back.

As they glided over the tops of the buildings, Augustus felt like one of the lost boys from

Peter Pan.

Zephyrus weaved in and out between buildings, flying at an easy pace so that Augustus

could enjoy his ride. They flew uptown, around the Criton tower then west toward the Hutchen

River.

Traveling just inches above the water, Zephyrus did barrel rolls which cause some of the

water to spray Augustus in the face. He laughed. They passed under the Criton Bridge then

Zephyrus began to climb and took Augustus ten thousand feet above the city and hovered. They

looked down at the entire city then out at the horizon. The world was quiet at that height.

Zephyrus felt Augustus squeeze his shoulder.

“We can go back now,” Augustus said.

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Zephyrus continued to hover for just a few more minutes before diving back down and

flew back to the Flint building. Zephyrus landed safely and put Augustus down. When he turned

around, Augustus face was wet with tears. Zephyrus felt for him.

“Thank you.”

Zephyrus stared at him for a moment, then he hugged him. Whether it was because he

really cared or Augustus reminded him of his uncle just before the end, Zephyrus wasn’t sure.

“I’m sorry.”

Augustus hugged him back. “You’re a good kid. You make this city and your parents

proud.”

After a moment they broke the embrace. The pilot emerged and got into the helicopter.

He started it up and the propeller wheezed then began turning fast, kicking up dust from the roof.

Augustus picked up the news paper and handed it to Zephyrus.

“A little daily news for you.”

“Where are you going?” Zephyrus asked.

“South. There’s a center down there I can stay at. It’ll be more comfortable.”

“What happens to all of this?” Zephyrus asked pointing to the building.

“What do you think I lost in the divorce?” he said with a grin. “If you thought I was bad. .

. .” Augustus turned and headed toward the helicopter. Just as he got close her stopped and

turned. “Oh, one more thing.”

“Yea,” Zephyrus said.

“It’s pretty expensive this place I’m going to. I may need to send someone to come and

collect some money for me.”

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Marc L Abbott 212-767-9399 [email protected] WC 2,358 9

“If you’re hinting to a bank robbery, you know I’ll always be a step ahead of you,”

Zephyrus said smirking.

“No, my old friend, nothing like that. I get my money from betting against city and its

sports team. I can win big when they lose,” he said with a smile. “Forget what I just said. I’m just

keeping you on your toes.” Augustus climbed into the helicopter and slammed the door.

The helicopter rose off the roof, tilted and flew south. Zephyrus watched the helicopter

for a moment, and he felt some remorse for Augustus.

“Too bad he won’t be here to see the stadium. . . .” He recalled the last thing Augustus

said. “Wait a minute. The city doesn’t have a sports team. We don’t even have a stadium yet

because the city. . . .” He looked at the newspaper. “CRAP!”

Zephyrus tossed the newspaper, ran and jumped off the roof. His powers of flight kicked

in as he bolted like a jet across the city toward the stadium foundation. His sonic hearing picked

up a faint beeping and clicking which meant he only had seconds to find the exploding device

before it went off somewhere in the stadium construction site.

“Damn cretin!” Zephyrus mumbled. “Some things never change.”