Below is the first ebook that I had published. It was published by Amzon (Kindle) as well as Barnes and Noble (Nook) back in 2013. I thought this would be a good day to have it published here at the Quad Cities Daily. Remember this was written before the United States Navy Seals killed Bin Laden. I was thinking, what if our Mightiest Heroes had done the job.
For the formality stuff. I give the Quad Cities Daily permission to reprint this ebook.
That Day
**Author’s note: This was written before Bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy Seals***
The day is beautiful. It is 65 Degrees, with a light breeze out of the North. The sun shone down on Them. Them? The ones who had traveled to New York City for this event. New York City had been dealt a blow, so many years ago. Today was that Day of Remembrance. Today was that Day of Sadness.
The Crowd was silent, restless, and you could feel the tension in the air. A huge Titan-Tron Video Screen was set up in front of the crowd, so everyone could see. Steel barricades separated the crowd from the stage. However, the steel barriers were not the only reason the crowd stayed away from the stage. No, there were other reasons. Matter of fact, there were very big, other reasons.
Walking between the crowd and the stage were Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. In their colorful costumes, they stood as a line of defense against anything Foreign or Domestic:
Batman,Wonder Woman,The Flash,Green Arrow,The Incredible Hulk,Wolverine,Doctor Fate,Doctor Strange,Robin,The Thing,Hal Jordan: The Green Lantern and Spider-Man
Their watchful eyes covered the crowd. Above them, floating in air was Superman, Iron-Man and the Mighty Thor, scanning the heavens for any attack. The announcer came to the stage and got the crowd’s attention. He welcomed everyone to this Day of Tribute. This Day of Remembrance. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A short video tribute was shown. Tears filled the eyes of spectators and heroes, alike. Then, what everyone had been waiting for………
The Bands ringing the outside of the stage played his music. The music that every red-blooded American knows. Hail to the Chief. The curtains parted and Captain America walked on stage, looking around. His Red, White & Blue costume sparkling. He carried his trademark Shield. After consideration of the surroundings, Captain America, spoke into a microphone hidden in his Gauntlet, giving the all clear.
The curtain parted again, and the Guest Speaker stepped out. He was tall, African-American, with just a touch of grey in his hair. Barak Obama, the President of the United States of America.
Behind him, stood a White Male, approximately six feet tall, with blondish-brown hair. He was dressed in a Black Suit with matching tie. His piercing eyes scanned the crowd. Few people knew him. Some even thought he was dead. But Jack Bauer was very much alive. As the Head Field Agent of CTU, the Counter Terrorist Unit, he had been given the assignment of safeguarding the President.
President Obama stepped to the podium and addressed the crowd. He gave a heart-felt speech about that Day. That Day that no one will ever forget. That Day that America felt the terrible blow that was landed, on its Home Soil. That Day that everyone in this Generation, will always remember where they were. That Day that America Wept.
President Obama spoke of the tragedies of That Day. The Fallen Citizens. The Heroes of that Day. The people who lost their lives on the Planes, the Twin Towers, as well as the Pentagon. The Emergency Personnel that risked their lives to help others. Never had the United States expected an Attack to come from inside. The United States was hurt but not out.
September 11th, 2001. The Day that some say was the turning point for the United States.
Destruction at the Twin Towers on that Day. Destruction at the Pentagon on that Day. Destruction at the plane crash site in Pennsylvania on that Day. Innocent lives lost. Heroes that stepped forward at the three locations to help.
The Heroes of Flight 93, who stopped the potential of another devastating tragedy. We may never know that number of America’s citizens who were killed on that Day. Also, the Emergency workers who ran to the tragedies and not away from it. The following is information from the Twin Towers Destruction Site:
A total of 411 Emergency Workers who responded [That Day], died as they attempted to rescue people and fight fires. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) lost 341 firefighters and 2 FDNY paramedics. The New York City Police Department lost 23 officers. The Port Authority Police Department lost 37 officers, and 8 additional EMTs and paramedics from private EMS units were killed during their tenure there.
The President spoke of sacrifice that the War of Terrorism has taken upon the United States as well as countries abroad. The President spoke of bringing our Troops home from overseas. Being able to live in Peace. He concludes his speech, wishing everyone a good day and to pray for our troops, as well as their families. For that Day is today. That Day that no one will forget.
The President stepped back from the podium, waving to the crowd. The bands play the National Anthem. People in the audience, the President and Earth’s Mightiest heroes salute the American Flag that was being raised at the Ground Zero Memorial Site. Three F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighters flew overhead. The middle plane breaks formation, flying upwards toward the Heavens as a Salute to the Fallen on That Day.
Jack Bauer steps forward, touching the President’s arm. He whispers into the President’s ear. President Obama turns and walks with Bauer through the curtains. Captain America signals toward Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The Heroes turn from the steel railing, following the President through the curtains.
For the people left, some see the Incredible Hulk stop at the flag pole. Tears fill his eyes. He reaches up and gently takes down the American Flag. The Flag is tattered and bloody. The Flag has a history. It was flown at the Pentagon when the attack happened. He places it across his shoulders, walking away. The Red, White, and Blue colors are a stark contrast to the Green Skin.
Shortly thereafter, the President is sitting in an Office speaking to the Hero Security Team. Thanking them for support on that Day as well as Today. “We will survive and prevail,” he says. Some look away, some look at the floor, wondering if that is true. “We damn sure will” is heard from behind the heroes. They turn, seeing him standing there. A blue and orange costume with armament hanging from his waist. A broadsword on his back. The mask that fully covers his face, except for one eye.
Agent Bauer comes from behind the President’s desk, drawing his Sig-Sauer P-229 .357 Sig Pistol, aiming toward the costumed person. Bauer commands the subject to the floor. President Obama stands up, commanding everyone in the room to “stand down.” Confusion crosses the Heroes as well as Bauer’s face. Bauer slowly, lowers his Sig Pistol, but not holstering it. Obama explains “I asked him to come.” Everyone turns back to face Deathstroke, the Terminator. Sometime Hero, full-time Mercenary.
Obama walks around the desk, explaining to everyone what was transpiring. “Deathstroke the Terminator comes highly recommended. Even though he has been on both sides of the Law, he contacted me to volunteer for the one mission that has not been completed yet.” Obama tells the gathered crowd about the mission……….
A dark cave in the Middle East. The temperature is hot and muggy. The man walks down the trail leading into the cave. He nods to his gathered followers. Praises for Allah are exchanged. He continues forward to where he is staying. A small cot is against the wall of the cave. A few personal items are around the cot. He lies down on the cot, closing his eyes.
He is the most wanted person in the world. His Dark eyes flutter underneath his eyelids. He wonders what the reward is, for his Head? Thinking that he cannot be touched, he falls into a deep sleep. He dreams of that Day. That Day when His Movement struck a massive blow to the Infidels in the United States. That Day when His Followers brought the Twin Towers Down. He smiles in his sleep.
Then he dreams of a dark threat. That he is running away, but cannot get anywhere. No matter what he does, he cannot get away. Every step he takes, the threat gets that much closer. That much bigger. He yells at the threat, but to no avail. Osama Bin Laden wakes from his fitful sleep, sitting up. He looks around the cave. There is not a threat. He smiles and lays back down.
As he closes his eyes, he hears someone clearing their throat. His eyes flash open. In front of him is that Threat. Costumed Heroes stand around his bed. Costumes that sparkle the Red, White and Blue. This, this is the Threat he was dreaming of.
He recognizes the Black Costume with the Bat Symbol of the Batman, the Red and Gold Armor of Iron-Man, and the Green skin of the Incredible Hulk, towering above his fellow Heroes.
The Costumed Heroes split in the middle and an Orange and Blue Costumed person steps forward. Bin Laden recognizes Deathstroke the Terminator. He speaks to Deathstroke, offering to double his fee, for sparing his life.
Deathstroke tilts his head to the side, looking at Bin Laden with his uncovered eye. He tells Bin Laden that “he not getting paid for this, this was personal for all of the lives lost That Day. “ Bin Laden finally sees the tattered, bloody American Flag, draped around Deathstorke’s waist and starts trying to get up from his cot. The broadsword flashes from it’s scabbard on Deathstroke’s back, slicing through the air.
After the smooth cut, the costumed Heroes turn and leave the cave. Outside, Deathstroke looks around. He turns to the group, saying “Today is That Day!”
**All DC, Fox-TV and Marvel Characters are utilized courtesy of their respectful companies**
Bobby Inman is retired from Law Enforcement after 21 years of Service. He owns Hammer Down Gun & Pawn located in Sheffield, Alabama. He has articles published in Law & Order Magazine, Police Marksman Magazine, Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement Magazine as well as several published ebooks on Amazon, Kobo Writing, as well as Nook (Barnes & Noble). He is owner of Poopiedog, an Animal Rescue Dachshund, who is his constant companion. He is a Senior Investigative Reporter for the Quad Cities Daily.
