Free New Olympus Saga (Book 1): Armageddon Girl by C.J. Carella

the man’s
paranoia was not wholly unfounded. “Fowler has become part of the vast anti-Neo
conspiracy, then,” Olivia said.
    Cecilia’s eyes twinkled with amusement.
‘Vast Neo Conspiracy’ had become a common catchphrase among certain circles.
The fact that some Neos did engage in all manner of Byzantine plots did not
help, of course. “Aren’t conspiracies supposed to be secret?” her assistant
replied. “Twist doesn’t really try to hide his misgivings about parahumanity.”
    “No, he doesn’t. The sad thing is, I
agree with many of his concerns,” Olivia admitted. “That’s one of the reasons
we established the Freedom Institute, to help people with powers become
responsible citizens.”
    “You don’t have to convince me, Olivia,”
Cecilia said with a smile before continuing in a more serious tone. “It was
fortunate that Fowler picked on Ultimate instead of one of our more… volatile
members. I shudder to think how Berserker would have reacted if provoked in
that manner.”
    “Yes,” Olivia said blandly. Cecilia
didn’t know Ultimate very well. Olivia, on the other hand, knew how angry her
friend and mentor had been. It worried her a great deal.
    She had known John Clarke for her entire
adult life. The first time she saw him she had been plain Olivia O’Brien, high
school senior from Baltimore, in the long-gone year 1963. Her parents had taken
her to attend the March on Washington that celebrated the passage of the Civil
Rights Act earlier that year. As the child of a mixed couple, Olivia knew the
racial issues dividing the country all too well. Even on the train to D.C. she
had seen the ugly stares her parents attracted everywhere they went. That day
she hadn’t been particularly upset by the sidelong looks, however. For one, she
and her parents were not alone; she had never seen so many people of color
together on a train before. More importantly, she felt like part of history in
the making.
    Reverend King had given his immortal
speech that day. Janus also had been there, in his colorful Navy blue and gold costume,
his half-mask doing little to conceal his race. His own speech had been cool
and dispassionate, and Olivia had forgotten most of what he said, but she and
the crowd around her had cheered him wildly nonetheless. Everybody knew Janus
had quietly convinced several Southern leaders to change some long-standing
policies in their localities. Rumor was some of the more radical white
supremacists had disappeared without a trace at around the same time. Olivia
didn’t think Janus would stoop to that kind of direct action, but she wasn’t
sure. She cheered him enthusiastically nonetheless. Janus had been the first
black superhero, the man who had won the war in the Pacific and who had forced
the likes of MacArthur and Halsey to dance to his tune by the sheer force of
his personality as much as by his raw power. His speech lacked Reverend King’s
stirring power, but his presence at the march had meant a great deal.
    A hush came over the crowd as Janus
finished his speech and people noticed Ultimate flying over the gathering. The
silver and red costume was unmistakable. Ultimate’s deeds in the European front
had been glorified far more than Janus’ actions in the Pacific; there were rumors
that the two Legionnaires were rivals. Would the Invincible Man try to suppress
or intimidate the marcher’s gathering? The hero had eschewed politics since the
Freedom Legion had become an international organization, but his presence over
the gathered crowd seemed ominous.
    Ultimate had landed next to Reverend King
and shaken his hand, and embraced Janus in a brotherly display of affection. He
had remained with King and Janus the rest of the day, saying nothing,
respectfully standing behind the speakers of the day, but making clear where
his sympathies lay. Plenty of people had bemoaned Ultimate’s appearance, her
parents’ included. They had felt it had been a patronizing gesture, and Olivia
could