[center][h1][b][color=ed1c24]THE CRIMSON AVENGER[/color][/b][/h1][/center] The Travis Residence Gotham City, NJ 5:34 PM [color=ed1c24]“Leave it on the doorstep, please.”[/color] [color=39b54a]“The pandemic is over, Lee. You don't need contact free delivery,”[/color] Wing yelled through the door. [color=39b54a]“You're not answering the phone so I came over in person. How about you let me in instead of us shouting through the door?”[/color] A moment later, the door swung cautiously open. Lee peered out at Wing, hunting through the just-delivered box from the liquor store. [color=39b54a]“Dutch schnapps? Raspberry wine? Lee, can you seriously not even go on a drinking binge like the rest of us?”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“What do you want, Wing?”[/color] [color=39b54a]“A few things, actually,”[/color] Wing said, pushing past him and into the brownstone. He wrinkled his nose at the empty bottles and takeout cartons littering surfaces. [color=39b54a]“You to have a shave, drink some black coffee, and get on that red coat of yours. Because we're going to go rescue some laborers.”[/color] Lee grumbled, squinted at Wing. [color=ed1c24]“What are you talking about?”[/color] [color=39b54a]“Let's just say I've been busy. For starters, I've been having Speed check out that parcel of land you told me about before you went to pieces. By the way, I paid him out of my own savings and he's not cheap. I expect to be reimbursed, but we'll talk about that later. He wasn't able to get close because they have armed guards, but he's spotted a large sleeping quarters and trucks coming and going. He's identified some of the drivers as teamsters for Ace Chemicals.”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“So it's a good bet they're burying the waste out there and using the migrants for it,”[/color] Lee said, interested despite himself. [color=39b54a]“Exactly,”[/color] Wing said with an approving jab into the air. [color=39b54a]“Not much for hard evidence, though. We need witnesses to testify.”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“Who would be willing? The traffickers, the Camorra, the Ace Chemicals guys, they're all going to be pretty tough to crack.”[/color] [color=39b54a]“That's just it. We have to bust out the laborers, as many as possible. I've made some quiet overtures to Jill, and she's pretty sure she can cut a deal with a US Attorney. We might be able to keep them from being deported in exchange for testifying. I mean, what's going to be a bigger feather in the court's cap, sending a few dozen poor people overseas or taking down a massive pollution conspiracy?”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“You did all this?”[/color] Lee asked, genuinely impressed. [color=39b54a]“You could've done it too if you hadn't locked yourself in here to drink- ugh, organic blueberry cider? Are you serious?”[/color] Wing said, wincing as he rooted through the liquor store delivery. [color=39b54a]“Look, Lee, I'm gonna be straight with you. I get that you feel bad about what happened to that guy. I do. But what you're doing, this is a privilege. Those laborers are getting beaten and exposed to chemical waste every day while you're in here feeling sorry for yourself. Bigotry, corruption, crime- they're not stopping because you accidentally knocked a guy out a window and decided to get drunk. Not everyone can just stop and pretend these things don't exist.”[/color] [color=ed1c24]“Look, Wing, a man is dead because of me. I need some time-”[/color] [color=39b54a]“Lee, right now time is a luxury. People are in danger and you have to act. I'm sorry. I know it's a lot to think about. But it has to wait. This is what this is all about. You've got to rise above yourself and act. Then, when it's over, then you can weigh and contemplate and process. But right now they're using people to poison the earth and cover their misdeeds.”[/color] Wing spotted the red trilby hat atop the sofa, gently picked it up and handed it to Lee. [color=39b54a]“An avenger will come, right?”[/color] Lee slowly, gingerly, reached out and took the hat. He considered it for a moment, then nodded once, briskly to himself. [color=ed1c24]“Qui vindecet ibit.” [/color] The Farm Salem County, NJ 12:11 AM [color=ed1c24]“Go! Go! Go!”[/color] the Crimson Avenger roared as he delivered the last knockout punch to the guard's face. The laborers, their faces thin and pale, rushed up the ramp and crowded into the back of the truck. Wing, waiting in the cab, yelled instructions and encouragement in good Mandarin and mediocre Spanish. They looked weak, but supported those who had trouble walking, stayed orderly. Another guard rushed at the Crimson Avenger, his nose still bloodied from the roundhouse kick Wing had used on him a scant moment ago. He had recovered his senses enough to draw a knife. The masked man had no time for him. One of the twin .45s was snapped out of its holster. He sighted quickly and fired. The guard roared in pain, dropped the knife and grabbed at his bleeding wrist. He fell to the ground, rolling in pain over the unconscious bodies of his companions. The Crimson Avenger looked around the barn, converted to something like a barracks hall with bunk bed and chemical toilets. Satisfied everyone was accounted for, he rushed forwards and jumped into the open back of the box truck. A dozen hands grabbed at his arms and helped him in. He pounded on the metal side of the compartment, and the truck roared to life and lurched forwards. Wing tore for the gate of the rural property at increasing speed, bumping along the gravel road. The Crimson Avenger heard the blare of an alarm, saw figures running from the rural farmhouse to vehicles in an attempt to give chase. He wasn't concerned- Wing had taken care to slash every tire but those on the truck they had just stolen. There came a crash of the wooden gate splintering, and the road beneath them turned from gravel driveway to paved highway. The light of the compound faded into the distance as the newly freed laborers cheered. They were on their way to Gotham and freedom, a fresh way to challenge the Ace Chemicals conspirators. The Crimson Avenger sighed in relief. [color=ed1c24]“Fiat justitia ruat caelum,”[/color] he whispered to himself. The people were safe. Next would come justice, vengeance would be visited upon Slim Chance, the Camorra, Ace Chemicals. A hard, difficult fight lay ahead. But for now, the Crimson Avenger allowed himself the luxury of a smile as the truck roared into the cool New Jersey night.