Free The Legend of Buddy Hero (The Defenders Saga) by Adam Oster Page A

ease. 
    However, the speed in which this large man was bearing down on his location quickly removed any ease Buddy felt.
    “I'm sorry, I'm pretty sure you have me confused with someone else.”  Buddy said.
    “Ah, I missed the famous Buddy Jackson banter.  Come on over here and give your old sidekick a hug.” The man's voice boomed through the room.  “Don't tell me you don't recognize me.”
    “I'm sorry,” Buddy said meekly.
    “Ha! Hilarious!” He stopped, noting the lack of recognition on Buddy's face.  “It's me! Zero!  I'm back!  It hasn't been that long, has it?”
    Buddy wondered why the government would be so interested in a man who was obviously insane.  Zero walked closer to Buddy and looked into his eyes.  His grin fell.
    “Then it's true.  You don't remember me either.”  Zero said, looking very disappointed.  His green eyes looked deep into Buddy's. 
    “Sorry.  Wish I did,” Buddy offered honestly.
    “I knew something was amiss, but I was certain you, at least, would remember me.”
    “If it helps, it would seem that there are a couple of men upstairs who remember you.”
    “Ah, yes, those two boring-looking men.  Of course they would remember me.  But who cares about them, am I right, chum?”  His laughter echoed through the room as he slapped Buddy hard on the back.
    “Um. . . sure?”  Zero's eyebrows furrowed at this response.
    “I don't understand, Buddy.  What happened while I was away?  Was it the Time Geek again?  Or perhaps our old enemy The Metronome?  Did someone break your brains in my absence?”
    “Did you go somewhere?”  Buddy humored the man.
    “Of course I went somewhere.  I went on the greatest journey. You even tasked me with it, my old friend.  You were the master of ceremonies at my going away event.” He wrapped his arm around Buddy and Buddy slowly twisted himself out of the hold.  “It was a pretty big deal, you know.  TV cameras, pretty news women, bubbly drinks. . . everything.”
    “Sorry I missed it.”
    “But--” Zero stopped himself.  “Right.  So, you don't remember me at all?  What about the old team?  You have to remember the team, right?  All those fights and stuff.  You can't tell me you've forgotten about those.”
    “Oh, wait, you were a boxer?”  Buddy asked, quickly working through his past opponents to determine if that was why this man looked vaguely familiar.
    “A boxer?  No.  What?  You mean that silly thing where men wear padded gloves and fight in their underpants?  Oh no, old chum, I am most definitely not a boxer.”
    “Oh, I just thought that since you were talking about fights--”
    “Ah, yes, the fights.  The constant battle for justice against injustice, going into the fray to defend truth, our constant quarrel against all that stood in the way of freedom.  Our engagement with destiny.”
    “Um. . . yeah.  Truth, justice and the American way, right?”
    “See, you do remember!”
    “Yeah, that's Superman's whole thing, isn't it?”
    “Superman?”
    “Yeah, you know, cape and tights and fighting bad guys. Superman.  Faster than a speeding bullet?”
    “Yes, super men, that's what we were.  We were so super , in fact, many considered us gods.”  Zero struck a pose as he said this, as though he were running for political office.
    “You've definitely got the wrong guy if that's the case.”
    “Oh no, my amnesic ally, I most definitely do not have the wrong guy.  You are Buddy Jackson, the world's greatest hero!”
    “Heh, yeah, sure pal.” Buddy laughed.
    “You are Buddy Jackson, aren't you?” Zero asked seriously.  “It would actually make a lot of sense if you weren't.”
    “Yeah, my name is Buddy Jackson.”
    “Brother to Maggie Jackson, culinary genius who operates the establishment known as Maggie's Diner?”
    “Yep, that's me.”
    “Well then, you are the right guy .”
    “I don't know how to say this, but between the two of us, I'm pretty sure I'm the one who has