Episode 052 Previous Episode	Next Episode
“We have met the enemy, and he is one rakish-looking badass.” Reed Richards, Fantastic Four Blood ran down Everett’s face, pouring from the open wound over his left eye. Panting heavily, he knelt down in the stench of harsh blood and exertion that stained the nighttime air. Around him, the dead bodies of knights covered the street. The brick walls of the city, his city, were stained with the splashes of blood wrought by the swing of blades. At his feet, Roland and Ledger both lay, their lifeless eyes staring into the infinity of the starry sky. Behind him, Armand was curled up into a ball, his cold hands still clutching at the gaping wound in his stomach that spilled his blood and insides onto the pavement. Gripping his ninjato, Everett got to his feet. Before him, in the distance, he saw Alan Vick, standing with his cutlass drawn, held to his side. Silhouetted against the nighttime lights of the city, the knight was little more than a dark outline. His muscles aching as he began to move, Everett set his eyes forward. Holding his sword ready, he dug his feet into the ground and began to sprint towards Vick. The heart of the knight overrode his exhaustion and Everett closed in on Vick. Dressed in red and black as he, Vick brought his sword to bare, the tip pointed expectantly at Everett. “Yeah, I don’t think it’ll happen like that,” Morgan said. Everett was snapped back to awareness, the half-finished meal in front of him beginning to get cold. “Well, maybe not like that,” he confessed with a dash of embarrassment, “but we could potentially see a war between the knights. Or worse; between the knights and the military.” “Alan Vick is a crackpot, who’s got a couple of crackpots that are following him around,” Morgan dismissed, chewing. “It’s no different from a cult. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a red shirt, a sword, and a chivalrous mind are not going to come rushing to his aid if the police knock down his door.” “Have you been on Knightsnet recently?” Edgar asked knowingly to Morgan. “The knights of this country are getting antsy.” “What else is new?” the former knight grumbled. “Knights inherently are people who are displeased with the way the world is.” He stabbed his steak with his fork and looked up. “Look, I say call the FBI or Homeland Security and tell them what you know. Let them handle it. It is their job after all.” “Erik said that Alan was drawing an army to him,” Everett said. “Erik?” Morgan exclaimed. He half-laughed and sat back. “Some guy from across the Atlantic starts spewing to you about floating islands and dangerous times and you’re going to believe him?” Everett looked away, lost in thought. “I don’t know what to believe.” Next to him, Edgar put down his utensils, troubled. “I was so set on stopping the Crimson Rose,” he said. “And then, Alan Vick just completely blindsided me. And then the European knights and…stuff. I just don’t know what to do with all of it.” “What’s the biggest threat you see?” Morgan asked. “Define threat,” Everett countered, nursing his water. “If Alan is as bad as the European knights say he is, then he is. But I know for a fact that the Crimson Rose is becoming a bigger threat by the minute. I’m seeing graffiti supporting him all over campus.” “You’ve been on about the Crimson Rose for a long time,” Edgar said. “I’m inclined to think that taking care of him should be your, our, top priority.” “Consider taking a different route,” Morgan added. “If the European knights are offering reunification with the knights of the rest of the world, what might that do to Alan?” Edgar and Everett both looked confused. “Wait, what?” Everett said. “The knights are antsy,” Morgan cited, looking to Edgar. “What if you took some of the allure out of Alan’s…whatever. If he’s summoning an army, and they’re coming pretty much because they want to be a part of something, then why not get them to be a part of the knights that are rejoining the international community?” “Counter-recruit?” Everett asked. He considered the idea favorably. “Not necessarily that involved,” Morgan dismissed with a bit of a shrug. “Just, sign onboard with the European knights and leave it at that. That will send a message to Alan. And if you guys broadcast it on Knightsnet, it may take a lot of the thunder out of whatever Alan’s selling.” “Which we still don’t know what that is,” Everett remarked to himself. “Go ask him,” Morgan said, indifferent. “He won’t talk about it until we join up with him,” Edgar answered. “Guys, you’re going to have to pick a side,” he said, devoting the majority of his attention to his food. “Either side with the Blue knights, join with the Blue knights, or join with Alan. But one way or another, this sitting on the fence crap has got to stop.” “He’s got a point,” Edgar said to Everett. “Indecision does not become a knight.” “Neither do hasty decisions,” Everett said. He shook his head, thinking. “I just wish I could get an objective perspective on everything.” “I thought that’s what I was,” Morgan asked between chews. “You’re not objective; just impartial,” Everett said. “You don’t like any of the knights equally.” Morgan thought about it for a moment and accepted it. Everett thought for a moment, then looked up as Marilyn led a party past their table. Seating the family of five, she started back to the hostess’ station. As she passed, she winked supportively at Everett. “Yes,” he said loudly as she walked by. Edgar and Morgan both looked up, confused. Marilyn stopped in mid-step and turned around. “I’ll go,” he said to her. She smiled brightly and nodded before turning away. Everett turned back to the table to find the two older men staring expectantly. “You don’t want to know.” “I’m sure of that,” Morgan said. “Just remember to use protection,” Edgar said with a pleased smile, resuming eating. Everett rolled his eyes and went back to his meal.
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