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[b][i] The Hounds of Humanity Headquarters, Outside of Lost Haven[/i][/b]


From the command center of the Hounds of Humanity’s secret bunker in the outskirts of Lost Haven, Travis Murdock watched as everything that he had built—everything that he had worked for…crumbled. Though he had expected resistance from the heroes, he hadn’t expected them to fight as hard as they had, and he certainly didn’t see the futility of his own force’s attack.

He watched as his forces were routed by the heroes in Sherman Square, and as he did his mind began to drift. He was no longer paying attention to the ongoing battle in the middle of his adopted city. Instead he was again in another place and time altogether. He once again found himself on a street lined with Christmas trees. The bitter cold stung his face as he ran toward the billowing smoke that rose from the area that his wife and daughter had been standing just moments before. It was a memory that had haunted him every moment of every day for over a year.

 However, there was something different this time.

It was as if time was frozen. Snowflakes and ash hung in the air frozen in place, as were the people on the street. Civilians and first responders alike stood still like statues, each one a monument to the fear and panic of the moment. Pained expressions and determination remained etched on their faces as they reacted to the explosion before time itself had stopped. 

Only Murdock himself seemed capable of movement. Determined, he rushed toward the destruction. He did not know what he hoped to find, as he had replayed this moment in his mind over and over. He knew what would await him: the mangled bodies of his wife and daughter, and a dozen others.

Yet somehow, this was different. 

He approached the site of the explosion, and as he did he noticed a burnt child’s shoe laying on the sidewalk. It was pink and white and on the side it was adorned with the image of a cartoon pony, the smiling face smeared with blood. He recognized the shoe, as he had bought that very pair for his daughter just a few weeks before.

“Judith.” He said to himself in a barely audible whisper.

Upon reaching the burnt out building and debris that had been strewn across the sidewalk and into the street from the explosion, his worst nightmare had again been realized. Though he hoped that this time would be different, he found countless bodies, including the mangled remains of Lilly and Judith among the devastation.

“Daddy?” Murdock heard the impossible. He heard the voice that he would have happily given anything to hear once again. He heard the voice of his daughter. Murdock turned toward the sound of the voice, and was overcome with joy when he saw Judith standing before him, just as he had remembered her. Alive and healthy, and unharmed by the explosion. 

“Judith?!” He exclaimed, his voice a mixture of that joy he felt at seeing his daughter again, and the grief that came with knowing that this joyous moment could not possibly be real. 

“You promised me that you’d make them pay for what they did. You swore that you’d make sure that they never did that to anyone else, ever again.” She told him, her voice was cold and distant.

“I know baby. I know.” Murdock said. “I’ve been working to make that happen.” He told her.

“You’ve failed, Daddy. You weren’t good enough. Your army wasn’t good enough. The freaks are going to win, and you’re going to go to jail, if you’re lucky. You let Mommy down. You let me down.” She scolded him, each word angrier than the next. “We’re very disappointed in you Daddy, we thought you loved us.” As she finished speaking, her fine, porcelain like skin began to crack and blister, revealing a twisted, mangled corpselike wraith. 

As she began to disappear before him, as Judith left him, she offered her departing words.
“Avenge us Daddy, kill them all.”

Murdock suddenly snapped out of his daze, and found himself back in the command center surrounded by his people, all of whom were looking at him with concerned expressions, some which appeared to be silently questioning his fitness to lead.

“Sir, is everything alright?” Clancy spoke up.

“Huh?” Murdock asked before pulling himself together. “Yes, everything’s fine.” Murdock said more for his own sake than that of his men. 

“How do you want to respond?” Clancy asked as he motioned to the images of the Hounds’ routed forces.

“We’re leaving.” Murdock said simply.

“We’re leaving? The whole base?” Clancy asked.

“No. Just us.” Murdock told him. “Activate the satellite and target Lost Haven. Actually, never mind. I'll do it myself.” 

“Travis?” Clancy said, concerned. “What about our men?” 

“My men.” Murdock corrected him. “They failed them…they failed us. Let them burn with the freaks. Unless you want to join them, I suggest that you hurry.” Murdock said as he approached the control console for the Finger of God, and activated it and set the targeting system for Lost Haven. 

Then a countdown appeared on the screen, indicating exactly how long it would take for the satellite to charge before it can deliver the killing blow to a city that had failed so spectacularly to protect its citizens.

[b] 5:00[/b]

[b] 4:59[/b]

[b] 4:58[/b]

“I suggest we get out of here…now.” Murdock said as he led the way to the underground hangar and the Blackhawk Helicopters that would carry he and the rest of the Hounds of Humanity hierarchy to safety.