Captain Adamant: Evil Eye

Captain Adamant hated sitting in his armor. It was one of the many activities made worse by wearing it. That, and most seating implements weren’t made for men who weighed a ton.

But here he was, sitting among the other PRIMUS soldiers, packed tight in the crew module of their transport. They were all suited up, ready to deploy. Some idly inspected their equipment in the dim, red glow flowing from the bulkhead lights. It was too loud to hold conversation. All Carter could think about was standing.

But he wouldn’t bring himself to get up. He was doing his best to blend in with the soldiers, something he knew was impossible. Standing above them would only invite stares. It might even imply authority, something that was simply not true. He was there to lend a hand, like any other superhero would.

And that was the problem. Carter had been a soldier his whole life, at least during the parts that were meaningful. Now he was...something else. The men and women in uniform regarded him with awe, curiosity, and scrutiny. He was no longer one of them. And Carter hated that too.

Sudden turning in his stomach signaled that they were landing. Finally.

Still, this was a breeze compared to the last month’s happenings. This was still familiar. Despite his new identity, and his refusal to stand, it was all very comfortable. No time travel. And no pleasure cruises. Just some good old-fashioned peacekeeping action. And this time, he’d be bulletproof.

The transport landed, and everyone stood. Captain Adamant did so as well, with a sigh of relief. He could feel a myriad of eyes, peering up at his shining form through many a visor. He stood almost a foot taller than the soldiers beside him.

The door hissed and unbolted itself, and hydraulics tractored the ramp downward and out from the soldiers. First, there was only the sound of wind, whistling harshly, even eerily through the growing opening in the hull.

But soon thereafter, a blast of cold, crisp air ripped through the cabin. It was enough to jostle some of his accompanying soldiers; fitting straps, equipment pouches and satchels all taking a beating from the wind. But Captain Adamant stood motionless, sturdy as the ship. The first row of soldiers began their jog out onto the platform. Carter followed, his steps resounding throughout the crew module.

The Unbreakable Man met the bitter night air with enthusiasm, and couldn’t hide his smile. The unclouded black and blue sky accented with every star clear as crystal. Utility lights blasted the needed portions of the landing pad with white light, and the platform itself buzzed with human activity. Another landing craft departed, as a loading lift took off with its cargo, and another squad of PRIMUS soldiers made their way off the pad towards Command.

There were still eyes on him, without a doubt. He could feel it. But it didn’t matter. Command was just a few dozen yards away, his targets likely hidden deep in the winter beyond Steelhead’s walls.

Now this is a vacation.

Carter scanned his surroundings as he sought out someone in command. He began trailing the throng of PRIMUS and RCMP troops, his thudding steps dwarfing theirs.

“Captain Adamant!”

The one and only turned in the direction of the voice, still audible over the howling, cold wind. This one must be in charge. An older man approached, braving the weather, hunched over to keep his face from the incoming cold. He extended a gloved hand in the Captain’s direction. Carter had been working to suppress it, but he could feel the impulse to salute rank stir somewhere in his spine.

“Colonel Jane, thanks for coming. We appreciate help from PRIMUS, but you supers always seem to do the trick.”

Superheroes just shook hands and smiled. So that’s what Captain Adamant did. Though he was careful not to break Jane’s hand.

“Just doing my part for an ally in need, Colonel. What’s the situation?”

“I should say we’re lucky. After all, we aren't dealing with VIPER, or those mystics to the north.”

“Hunter-Patriots. I read the report.” Jane took the hint.

“Then you know they've got ten fortified positions and a whole new supplier. We weren't ready for that kind of moxie. This push could pave the way for something worse in the future.”

Adamant didn't flinch. The Hunter-Patriots were terrorists, plain and simple. They toyed with cybernetics and magic, but they were barely more than common criminals as far as he was concerned. Perhaps a threat in numbers, against conventional tactics. But the Captain was beginning to accept his rather unconventional means, and the advantages it afforded him.

The Colonel crossed his arms, burying his hands underneath them and exhaling. Meanwhile, Captain Adamant stood motionless as the wind tore past them.

“We can continue inside, Colonel.”

Jane smirked up at him from under his hood. “I hoped you would say that. Follow me.”

After a brief trek down from the landing pad, amid the safety-lighted staircase, they came to the station’s main entrance. The soldiers standing watch saluted the Colonel, who returned a brief salute before walking towards the heavy metal entrance. The soldiers, predictably, stared up at Captain Adamant as he passed. The Unbreakable Man offered a polite nod before aligning his gaze forward again.

The large blast doors clanked and unlocked, while motors whined in agony, pulling them apart. They passed through the arched opening, and though his suit was temperature-controlled, Carter already felt warmer. So did the Colonel, who finally managed to tear his hands out from under his arms.

“Welcome to Force Station Steelhead, Captain. May not be as fancy as some of your PRIMUS facilities, but...”

Carter knew it wasn’t. The hallway was like any other first-world military installation: sleek, but bare and rugged. Any center this close to enemy lines had to expect some wear and tear. But Carter’s trained eyes could spot the holes in their budget. Then again, not many governments could compete with PRIMUS.

“It does its job.” seemed to be the most appropriate response.

“Damn right. In my eight years of service, we've never had an incursion breach our walls. And we've never been infiltrated, despite VIPER’s best efforts. As I said, Hunter-Patriots are usually the least of our problems. And Justiciar keeps them in line.”

“So where is he now?” Carter couldn't help it, but he sounded more than a little accusatory in his asking.

Colonel Jane led him down yet another bleak hallway. His weary sigh echoed against the metal of the walls and ceiling, just as their footsteps had been doing the whole time.

"He’s currently occupied north of the Chiyetanka Hills. He accompanied an advance scouting party just before things went south. Extraction will take some time, even for him. And wouldn't you know it, we've lost radio contact."

Jane glanced back at the superhero following in his stead. “When the Hunters got wise to his absence, that's when it really hit the fan.”

Captain Adamant nodded, still inspecting the installation’s austere architecture, though never losing focus on the Colonel’s words. “I suppose that’s why I’m here. To fill in.”

“It may be more complicated than that.”

The Captain stopped, just as Jane turned on his heel to face a sealed bulkhead door that almost blended into the wall. The Colonel began punching a code into the keypad, thereafter leaning in for a retinal scan.

“It usually is. We’re outnumbered, but as you said, terrorists are hardly the worst thing out here. What else is going on?”

The bulkhead door hissed and snapped open. Colonel Jane twisted to eye Adamant over his shoulder. “I didn't want to say it within earshot of the other men. I think we're dealing with something else."