Read Dark Hunter for Free Online

short staffed. If you could just order—”
    â€œYou know as well as I that I cannot order
any
Prime to fight when our numbers are so low.”
    â€œBut
now
is the time! If the Council’s forces overrun the cities, then how are we to claim them back? And the Enforcers are overstretched due to recent UN budget cuts. If they can’t keep our existence away from the public, then you know what will happen!”
    â€œOf course I know! It’s what we’ve dreaded for decades! Their faith in their governments will crumble; there would be a backlash against both heroes and villains, which would undoubtedly lead to protests and riots as people demand access to our powers.” The passion on Kirby’s face had twisted into a grimace. “The boy. The boy possesses the ability to absorb and amplify our entire catalog of powers. And you let him slip through your fingers!”
    Chameleon sighed. He’d taken enough blame for what had happened on Diablo Island. Just because he was working for the good guys didn’t mean that
everybody
was nice to each other.
    â€œEvents at Diablo were completely unprecedented,” Chameleon snapped back. “I would like to have seen Commander Courage there, stopping him.” Chameleon winced the moment the comments were out of his mouth. Commander Courage was a pseudonym Kirby had used when he was much younger.
    Kirby refused to get pulled into an argument. “I just want to know what you’re doing about things
now
.”
    â€œWe have traced some Hero.com subscribers who were online during the virus infection. There are four of them who received a surge of power. I was going to speak to them personally.”
    Kirby waved his hand dismissively. “I’m already on it. I have sent Mr. Grimm to talk to them, although it would help if you dropped him a video link to assure the cadets of his authenticity.”
    Chameleon didn’t like the term
cadets;
it sounded too militaristic, but Kirby had old-school values. Chameleon also had reservations about Grimm. “I don’t trust Grimm any farther than I can—”
    â€œI do. He’s a sound asset. One hundred percent reliable.”
    â€œWith Enforcer units stretched and most people inhiding,” Chameleon tried not to look at Kirby when he said that, “then there is very little we can do. I have heard reports of trouble in America and have spoken to the president and offered my services.”
    â€œAnd the boy?”
    â€œHunter is in hiding too. And until he surfaces, there’s nothing I can do.”
    â€œThe boy’s powers are the key to our surviving this. Find him. Mobilize Teratoid.”
    There was a long pause. Chameleon had been monitoring the Teratoid
situation
and still didn’t know what to make of it. “But that’s like using a … a …” Words failed him. “Teratoid is nothing more than a dumb animal. A shell of what he used to be.”
    â€œBy all accounts nothing has changed then.” Kirby laughed. “And Teratoid has a
unique
tracking ability. Unleash him and assign an Enforcer squad to cover him. He will lead us to the boy.”
    The screen went blank. Unleashing Teratoid in public was like letting a caged lion run free in a school. Even though the room was pleasantly warm, Chameleon had goose bumps.
    Jake tore his gaze away from the laptop and looked around the dark basement. His ears strained against the silence. Minutes earlier he had slipped out to see if hecould find Knuckles and Big Tony again. They were as predictable as ever, skipping class. This time they saw Jake first and ran.
    Jake had been forced to hide in the shadows as a pair of teachers passed, quietly talking about their Christmas holiday plans. By the time they had passed and he’d made it out to the parking lot, he was greeted by a surprising sight.
    Knuckles lay crumpled against a teacher’s battered car, the alarms shrieking.