The Descent Chapter 11: My Father in Heaven Part 1

Full Novel Synopsis: Sequel to 'The Spiralling', itself a sequel to the Kick-Ass (2010) movie. However, this novel can be read on its own. After Big Daddy died, Mindy was driven mad, subdued by Dave, and locked away in an Institute after killing all who she deemed responsible but Dave. Will she recover? What will happen next to a New York without her nor the Motherfucker? Elements of the Kick-Ass 2 (2013) movie and comic series will be taken in.

The Descent

Chapter 11: My Father in Heaven Part 1

I was early for the meeting, wherever the hell it was – Doctor Gravity told me to wait at some back alley behind Murphy’s Bar in Bowery Street, and prepare for a surprise. Cue me sitting on a loading dock, all alone, this weird fellow in wetsuit and pseudo-SWAT gear. I had plenty of time to imagine what the surprise was, and I had plenty of ideas from the pages of comic books and the silver screen of movies. I could imagine the team coming down, in a neatly arranged Delta formation. I could imagine a huge secret entrance opening up. At the same time, I kept an eye out for danger – I was paranoid enough after getting tricked by Red Mist to think that Doctor Gravity could be a plant, and my date with the street gang yesterday a stage. I was paranoid, some could say too paranoid, but after everything that had happened…

I remembered the Grandmaster. I remembered thinking about inviting him into whatever superhero team I managed to put together. I’ve seen how he was, but I couldn’t stop seeing that glorious Aragorn in him, in that shrivelled shell. I decided to text him. I was lucky he’d modernised with the help of his daughter, Nevaeh. Last time I checked, he was also on Facebook, and I got his number from there:

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From: Dave Lizewski

To: Aldan Bonitus

Aldan, Im meeting n actual team of supeheroes! You wanna come?

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I didn’t know what to expect. It sounded like hoping Wolverine would tear through the silver screen with his Adamantium claws, waving hello to everyone. Unrealistic. On the other hand, miracles happen. Miracles like Mindy – no girls before puberty could have pulled what she did in the past year or so, and for a year, I was dreadfully certain that she would be a permanent resident of Jameson Psychiatry Institute. Well, at least the message came along. I could imagine him having porridge for an early dinner. Not particularly encouraging:

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From: Aldan Bonitus

To: Dave Lizewski

Dave Lizewski. With all sincerity, I appreciate your invitation to your no doubt illustrious cohort of fine peacemakers. However, I must apologise, for I can barely even teach in the local chapter, much less fight crime in any fashion.

It is never what I wanted, my friend. My sole reason for returning home to New York is my family. Having failed my late wife, my daughter Nevaeh is all that binds me to this world. There was never any intention for me to become a ‘superhero’. I live for Nevaeh, and her alone now.

I dearly hope you understand, Dave Lizewski, and not let this come between our friendship. Once again, I apologise for this rejection and any hurt I brought in its wake.

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Aldan was a mash of old and new world ideals. He’d written a short letter to me in cellphone message form. I was hardly disappointed by his response. I knew all along that he would reject it. Though it doesn’t mean it didn’t snuff up some hope in me. Not to mention, there was always that undercurrent right up to my chest – I felt queasy that Aldan was the way he was, especially considering that I was involved, even if he wasn’t blaming me. With his rejection came his image of vulnerability anew – I hadn’t met his daughter yet, but who’s going to take care of her if Aldan kicks it?

For some time, I stewed in this undercurrent, but it didn’t last forever. The door in the loading dock behind me opened up without warning, mechanically, sounding vaguely futuristic. There was a streak of paranoia in me, so I backed away quickly, halfway across the alley, my batons out.

And they were still out when Doctor Gravity walked out of the opened loading bay, his Zero-G device by his side, shining pink in the relative darkness, reminding me vaguely of Mindy, the colour. “Pretty cool, huh?” He boasted. It sounded like he was in this supposed base before me, like days before me, “This is how the beer gets delivered.” My paranoia begins to fade, the blood washing away. I let my batons droop and my guard down, but I was still considering if it was a mistake.

When I came in, I finally decided to take a leap of faith, and put away my batons. A smile began to form on my face. There was still a fanboy somewhere in me, and I couldn’t restrain him. It got even better when I realised there wasn’t another door to the other side, because it was a cargo lift. “Dude… You got a secret elevator to your underground headquarters!”

“Yeah, look what I told you about the guy who owns this place!” Doctor Gravity replied with equal enthusiasm. I could tell even past his red-tinted goggles and mask, at least, that he was almost as new as me to the superhero facility. His grin said it all. It gets even better than that. There was a corridor ahead lined with bricks and pipes. We walked together, took a turn to the left.

“It looks like a real-life Bat Cave.” It was awesome, far from what I expected. The most that I allowed myself to ever hope for with Big Daddy and Hit-Girl non-functional was some backroom in an abandoned house, or a spare storeroom with a store as a front, some place that was a member of the team’s small-medium grocery business. Not even Big Daddy could match up to the fictional Bat Cave, and the chance of having a billionaire with us was next to nil.

“I know, right?” He squealed in manly delight.

When we went down further, there was a rack at the side, holding some sticks, possibly weapons. It was too dark to see, but I thought I saw police batons. There were plastic covers up ahead, the kind that can commonly be found in meat processing factories or butcher shops. I had never felt such anticipation for a long time. It wasn’t the kind that you feel when things hit the fan – it was the good kind, not the kind I used to feel before my mistakes caught up with Mindy’s sanity, or even Big Daddy’s life. But it was the kind I used to feel when I turned the pages of a comic book issue I was dying for.

When we shoved the plastic cover past and went in, I was suddenly surrounded by more superheroes, people like me, well, somewhat. I could feel warmth in my blood. For a moment, it was shocking, the change in temperature, but it settled in well. My blood felt congealed for a long time, even after I adopted Mindy. They were sitting in a rough semi-circle, reminding me of some kind of group therapy session, but I didn’t care. As far as I’m concerned, it was the therapy I need.

There were 7 of them in their costumes. I’ve met Doctor Gravity, I’d seen the couple in blue sports jackets on TV before, glanced at Nightbitch online… But the other three were unfamiliar, but it was obvious who the leader was. The tallest guy, who also looked the oldest and wisest, upon noticing me, stood up from the head of the green couch he was sitting on – he was altogether inspiring, like the latest Captain America but realistic, in his convincing military uniform with a dog in matching gear by his side. He was the next best thing to Big Daddy and Hit-Girl. Hell, I let my reservations drop; he’s as good as them. He regarded me with a measure of respect, and greeted me in a stoic, reserved tone, a cross between too many superheroes I could remember, “Welcome to Justice Forever.”