Formation of the Dominion: Chapter 1 – The Simple and Bright

Chapter 1 – The Simple and Bright

“I still can’t believe we have our own official hero association!” I say to my best friend and brother in arms, Timeo Severe. “We have our own building and office, only after a month too!”

“Quite,” Timeo says with a smile on his face.

He looks at me like a father does when he sees their child excited about something, even though he’s the same age as me, a man in his thirties. Still, I probably look younger since I’m dressed in my red deacon shirt with an attached hoodie and gold cape, blue jeans, and black boots, while he’s dressed in another one of his expensive suits, this one being dark grey and black.

“You’re probably less excited about this than I am, given you have a bunch of offices and buildings in Meridian,” I say.

“No, I’m just as excited as you are, but for different things. I’m excited for the two, five-story office buildings we’ve built up, one here in Poca Bellezza and the other in my home of Meridian, and the many heroes and vigilantes we have out there helping people in both places, including surrounding cities and towns like Solis,” Timeo says.

“I wonder how Deborah is doing. She seemed concerned the last time I saw her, and that hasn’t changed when I called her. I asked her if something was wrong both times, but she said it was nothing and that she was just a little overwhelmed by everything that was happening and needed time to adjust to it.”

“Your wife will be fine. I left her with my wife, Darcy, in charge of Meridian, while we’re here for the time being, as we finish up construction and get things running.”

“I hope so. I’ll call her again tonight to check up on her.”

“I should probably do the same with Darcy. I’m admittedly so confident in her ability to take care of things that calling her doesn’t occur to me, even for a simple conversation that I’d know she’d appreciate.”

“What about us? What do you have on our agenda? I’ve been itching for some real hero work after helping with the construction of this building.”

“It’ll happen, John. Remember, we’re both founders of our hero association, and that means we have workers to do the job for us. We can’t just do it all ourselves.”

“Yeah, but I’m more like the general who charges with the troops rather than the one who strategizes behind the scenes.”

“I know, I know. If you want to do something, let’s see our workers and the people of Poca Bellezza.”

Since it’s better than doing nothing, I agree, all the while hoping that the people we talk to ask us to help with something. When we see our workers, both in the office and law enforcement, they thank us again for hiring them and tell us that everything is running smoothly. As for the people of Poca Bellezza, who are like family to me, they are also thankful for us bringing more business and attention to the town and the protection we provide, and we thank them in return, especially those who allowed us to build in the town. Poca Bellezza is a rural, patriotic, and quiet place, so there aren’t many hero associations here, and they only allow the ones who agree with its faith-based, traditional values to have a base of operations to build here.

“Your Dominion of Mercy and Justice has been a boon for us, and we’re proud to be one of the first places you have built your offices, John,” the mayor of Poca Bellezza says.

“Ah, thanks. You wouldn’t happen to know if anyone around town needs help, do you?” I ask.

“Not that I know of. We have a handle on it because of the help your hero association has provided, though if you want to do something, I heard rumors of crimes happening outside of this town, but nothing solid.”

“We’ll take a look into it. Thank you so much!” Turning to Timeo, I ask, “You’re fine with that, right?”

“I am. Go on ahead, and I’ll see if our mutual friend, L’Obscurité, can help you out later.”

“Thanks, Timeo! I’ll see what I can find.”

L’Obscurité is Timeo’s secret hero identity, known only to those he chooses to let know. As for me, I don’t mind having my real name also be my hero name. It helps create the image of a simple hero I want people to see and be inspired by. Speaking of being a simple hero, it’s about time I actually start working, so I leap into the air and run faster than a jet to a crime-reporting area. This place is pretty simple, more barren than a typical rural town. It’s located between Poca Bellezza and Solis, where regular folks can stop by to rest and buy keepsakes found in both places.

Since it’s so far outside the reach of most hero associations, it's been hit by many villains, and the people here are either uneased by the sight of superhumans like me or relieved. Thankfully, the ones that I talk to are nice and glad my hero association has given them support.

“We’re so glad that the Dominion is giving us funding and protection, even as you’re starting up, but I’m afraid it hasn’t been enough to stop this weird spike in robberies and kidnappings,” an officer says.

“I’m sorry for not giving you enough, which is why I’m here now. Give me a summary of what’s been going on and a general area to search, and I promise you that you’ll all be safer by the end of the day,” I confidently say with a smile.

The officer points me toward areas they have been investigating and keeping the public away from, all of which are abandoned parts of the town. No-name towns like these rarely receive government funding, especially when larger cities and towns with hero associations that are frequently attacked get most of it, leaving places like these to decay and struggle to survive. Around me are the ruins of a superhuman battle. A destroyed school surrounded by ruined homes, a wrecked playground, a burned park, and a damaged sports field creates a haunting scene. This place should be filled with life and happy families, but instead, it's an abandoned, ghostly battlefield.

Searching the area, I throw away heavy debris to look for any hidden entrances, packages, or rooms. In one of the many houses’ basements, I find a carved-out tunnel with sparse lighting in it. I explore the tunnels and find the hidden base of operations that I’ve been looking for. Here, I see people trading weapons and talking with one another before noticing me on the platform above them.

I leap from the platform, ready myself for a fight, and ask, “Would you all mind explaining yourself before I turn you all in, or do you want to do this the hard way?”

To my surprise, no one leaps out to attack me. Instead, one of the superhumans here approaches me and says, “We’re not here doing anything illegal, John Elio. We’re actually big fans of you and are following in your example.”

“How so?”

“We’ve been bringing villains and criminals who cross our town and other settlements between Poca Bellezza and Solis to justice.”

“So, you’re all the reason behind the crimes I’ve been hearing about, or have you been solving them?”

“Both, depending on what you mean. There are reported and unreported crimes going on out here because of how little attention we get. We’ve been capturing villains, who pretend to be normal people, to bring them in for bounties, and they’ve been kidnapping people out here for whatever evil purposes they have.”

“And the robberies?”

“They are a result of people being desperate for food and things they want, or criminals taking easy scores. Out here, there aren’t many well-paying jobs or protection from hero associations and other law enforcement.”

“Well, you have help now. The Dominion will give you whatever you need.”

“Will you?” The people here start to look around and seem uneasy. “Even if we tell you the complete truth?”

“Of course.”

“Just tell him,” one of the superhumans says. “If he’s lying, or we run and try to fight him, we’ll be behind bars anyway.”

“You all seem to be decent people,” I say. “If you were villains or bad people deserving of jail, you’d have done something by now to me, but the fact that you’re all standing here and part of a group trying to protect the places people ignore is admirable. If you do deserve some punishment from the government, I promise to arrange for you the lightest possible.”

The people around me seem more comfortable, and they all remain standing still as if accepting their fate.

“I didn’t tell you the complete truth, John. We’ve all been guilty of the same crimes we punish others for. Back in the day, we used these tunnels were once used for smuggling goods and people, and a place for vices and settling scores in private, but after our change of heart, we’ve made it our new home and base of operations. Some of us even had an arrangement with the school above to exchange children for whatever their supervisors, both parents and teachers, asked for.”

I think for a second, then say, “I see why you would think I’d not support you after hearing this, but it looks like you’ve already punished yourselves by bringing others who aren’t repentant to justice.”

“Still, we don’t really deserve anything other than swift justice. Some of us, me not excluded, still indulge in old vices for the pleasure or profit of it.”

“No one, not even me, is free from fault. As long as you promise to continue protecting the area between Solis and Poca Bellezza, I promise to give you the most amount of support I can.”

“What insurance do we have that you’ll keep to your promise?” another of the superhumans asks.

“If you know John, then you know he’s an honest man to a fault,” a voice says from the shadows.

It’s Timeo in his dark hero form of L’Obscurité. In this form, he’s a living shadow with a dark cloak, black hat, and ambiguous face, except for a bullet hole in the center of his forehead and dark eyes and smile.

“It’s L’Obscurité!” yet another of the superhumans says.

Now, everyone is really on edge.

“Don’t be frightened,” Timeo says. “I see the virtue within each of your souls and how evil struggles to claim it. You will be welcomed into the ranks of the Dominion, given that you continue the struggle against your vices and keep up the fight against crime. I’ll ensure that the other co-founder, Timeo Severe, also agrees with our decision.”

With both me and Timeo here, the superhumans agree to take us at our word. When we go back to our office in Poca Bellezza, I ask Timeo, “When did you find me?”

“I found you as soon as you started talking to those ex-villains and criminals,” he says.

“I’m surprised you let me talk so long without intervening. You know I’m not that good of a negotiator, and better with my super strength and speed.”

“You only needed my help at the end because your kindness is your greatest talent. Did you forget that? People love and trust you because you’re honest, simple, and a man of your word.”

“I guess you’re right, but I only have that one simple negotiating style. If that fails, then I have to resort to fists.”

“Sometimes your simple way is the best way.”

“Eh. If you say so. I’m just glad that we found more friends rather than enemies.”

“True.”

Timeo and I negotiate with the government to allow the ex-convicts to live where they are and be part of the Dominion, as long as they keep their end of the bargain. When we go back to deliver the news, they’re pleased to hear it, and even happier with the food, supplies, and funding we provide to them and the area between Solis and Poca Bellezza. Another successful job means it’s time for a celebration dinner, which I share with my new friends and Timeo, all the while thanking God for this latest gift among the many I receive daily.