Chapter Text
The news that Lunatic had killed Albert Maverick, burning him alive while he was en route to the booking facility, had come as a huge shock to the remaining HeroTV alumni. Most had received the call in the morning; some had been contacted just after the incident, in hopes that they might be able to track the vigilante down.
"Blue Rose and I were unsuccessful," Keith reported the next afternoon, when all of them but Kotetsu and Barnaby - the retirement process was already underway - were together at the training center. "Although we searched the area, and searched again, Lunatic was nowhere to be found."
"Not that that's surprising," Karina added. "He's always managed to get away even when one of us was right there beside him. When we get the call to investigate after he's already killed someone and vanished, what chance do we have?"
"Hmmm..." Antonio was resting his chin in his hand thoughtfully, his eyes closed in concentration - but that changed as Nathan's hand slipped down behind him. "Hey - quit it!"
"You know I love a thoughtful man's buns," Nathan declared, withdrawing his hand smoothly. "What're you thinking about?"
"I was thinking... about Barnaby," Antonio murmured, regaining some of his sober demeanor. "Kotetsu and Barnaby have usually been the ones to rein in Lunatic's killing sprees..."
"Since they're retiring, the decision was made not to contact them," Keith explained.
"Kotetsu's injured, besides," Karina pointed out. "Barnaby, well... he might have been too... involved."
"That's what I was thinking about," said Antonio. "Maverick made his life hell, starting when Barnaby was just a child. I wonder - if he'd been asked to stop Lunatic, would he?"
There was silence, for a moment. It seemed that that was a good question.
"Of course he would have," Keith spoke up, when no one else responded. "Killing is never the answer. It's not the hero's way to kill, or to condone killing."
"You say that," Ivan put forth, "but we're all human, underneath our hero suits. If someone hurt you the way that Maverick hurt him, can you really say that you'd try to save their life?"
"Absolutely." Keith was firm on this point.
"I... dunno if I could," Pao-lin admitted. "If someone hurt my family like that..." Her eyes narrowed fiercely. "...A part of me would want to kill them myself. I wouldn't," she added quickly, "but I'd want to."
"Out of the mouth of babes," Nathan mused. "I'll admit, although I believe I'd be able to show some restraint, it would be very tempting to let someone else do the dirty work."
"I'm not saying I would," Antonio agreed, "but I won't pretend I wouldn't think about it."
Karina nodded. "No one's perfect."
"I don't know," Ivan acknowledged. "No one's ever hurt me the way Maverick hurt Barnaby. I... hope I never have to find out what it's like... to be hurt so badly that you wouldn't mind seeing someone dead." He was acquainted with the other end of that equation, of course; it was no wonder his contribution seemed so hesitant and awkward.
"We are heroes," Keith stated in the silence that followed. "Barnaby is also a hero. I have faith that Barnaby would have done the heroic thing, if he had been called upon."
"You're probably right," Ivan said with a nod. "After all, he's Kotetsu's partner. Kotetsu is just as dedicated to the ideals of heroes as you are."
Antonio chuckled. "I don't think Kotetsu's as perfect in that regard as you think he is. If anything happened to little Kaede, for instance..."
"Family's a special case," Karina agreed.
"I have faith in Kotetsu as well," Keith said firmly. "I have faith in all of you."
Nathan's lips turned upwards in fond amusement. "Sky High, darling, sometimes I think you're just too good to be believed."
"There are certain truths which are constant."
"Constant?"
"Constant." Keith was absolutely sure about this.
Nathan sighed playfully. "Well, hopefully we'll never have to test your goodness. I'm not even sure how someone could get to him," he remarked under his breath to the others. "Lives alone, never talks about immediate family... I guess if someone hurt John - heaven forbid."
The brief wince of painful memory likely passed before anyone spotted it. "I would not permit it," Keith stated.
"See, that's exactly what I mean," Nathan said, patting Keith on the head fondly. "You're an absolute treasure, dear - much too good to be true."
Keith didn't see why that should be the case. They were heroes. Heroes must always do what was right. And killing, or harboring fantasies of killing, was simply not right. Ever. No matter what.
And that was why he vowed, right then and there, that he would pick up where Wild Tiger and Barnaby had left off, and make sure that Lunatic was not allowed to take any more lives, regardless of whether or not those lives belonged to good citizens or criminals. To him, at least, he was sure that it should make no difference.
He was still puzzling over it when he returned home that evening. It troubled him somewhat, to think that his fellow heroes might think that having firm morals as he did was unrealistic. Perhaps for normal people, it was - but they were heroes. They were larger than life. They had to be examples, hold themselves to a high standard.
Such thoughts were interrupted by John, claws clicking on the floor merrily, bounding towards him with tongue and tail wagging as he entered his apartment. "John," Keith murmured fondly, reaching to scratch behind the dog's ears as he jumped up to greet him. John was trained not to act in such a way around strangers, but Keith didn't mind at all if he was jumped up on.
"I guess if someone hurt John - heaven forbid."
John cocked his head curiously as Keith looked into his big brown eyes, the smile fading from Keith's face.
Keith squeezed his eyes shut, shook his head firmly, and dropped to his knees beside his companion. "...John," he murmured again.
John let out a concerned whine as Keith wrapped his arms around him, hugging tightly. One advantage Keith had found to owning a larger dog was that he was very good for hugging, filling up Keith's arms in a satisfying manner. Sometimes Keith really just wanted to hug someone.
Someone specific, actually, and a loyal pet was not the same - but he was soft and warm and real and alive.
---
The bulletin went out in the early evening - an escaped murderer had been spotted in Sternbild. George Clarkson had killed four in a shooting spree crossing state lines a few months before, and just two days before had taken advantage of an accident that happened while he was being transported after sentencing. He had family in Sternbild, and witnesses had seen a man who looked very much like him in the vicinity of his sister's apartment. The heroes were called out, standing by for confirmation...
Confirmation came by way of shots ringing out through the streets. Clarkson was armed, and willing to defend himself when he spotted the police cruiser waiting outside the building. No one was killed, but an officer had been shot in the leg. Clarkson was even willing to take his own sister as a hostage, ensuring safe passage to her car so he could get away.
Clarkson had never spent much time in Sternbild, obviously, if he thought the police were all he had to worry about. A jolt of Dragon Kid's lightning kept him from opening the car door, and a throwing star from Origami Cyclone knocked the gun away long enough for the hostage to escape, though he managed to keep a grip on the pistol as he turned to run. At that point, naturally, the outcome was all but assured, for the heroes were already on the scene.
When they got word that they had company, that too was not unusual. Although he seemed to have been keeping a low profile since killing Maverick weeks before, this was exactly the sort of situation in which they might have expected Lunatic to appear.
Sky High was soaring ahead of Clarkson at the time, preparing to swoop down and cut him off - when he spotted the eerie blue-green glow and the billowing cape ahead. "There!" Keith shouted, pointing.
Lunatic ignored Sky High, raising his bowgun and aiming at the fleeing fugitive, who remained oblivious to his presence, more concerned with the heroes chasing him. "Sinful one... prepare to receive your justice."
Blue Rose had heard the warning, though; a wall of ice sprung up before Clarkson, cutting off his path and shielding him from Lunatic's flames, at least for the moment. Clarkson skidded to a halt, terrified and clearly not realizing that although he had no chance of escape now, his life had just been saved.
Lunatic also recognized that his chance of succeeding in his mission had just been significantly lowered. Without skipping a beat, he zoomed off over the rooftops, attempting to find a better vantage point to fire from. Keith glanced down at the scene below, and for an instant, he was torn. It would be just as simple to defend against Lunatic from the ground, and he was right above Clarkson now; Blue Rose wasn't far behind, and since Barnaby's retirement, Sky High was back in first place. Blue Rose had been gaining ground on him recently, however, and he could have used the points - particularly if it prevented her from gaining them in his stead.
But he had made a vow to himself, and he did not break his vows. He left Blue Rose to make the arrest and veered off, following Lunatic along the skyline before the setting sun.
It was clear from the first that Lunatic knew he was being followed. Rather than turning back to go after his target, he set himself to fire at his pursuer. Though the power behind Lunatic's blue flame was impressive, Keith managed to turn the winds back strongly enough that they never reached him, and shot off through the still super-heated air. Any of the heroes could arrest a common criminal like Clarkson, but he might be the one with the best chance to bring in Lunatic, and he was going to give it his best shot.
Lunatic wasn't going to go easily, of course. Upon seeing that Sky High was determined to come after him, he turned to counter the incoming strike, the flame gathering around his fist. Sky High was used to maneuvering in the air, and dodged easily, coming back around for another try.
Each second of their battle was filled with ample opportunity for victory or defeat, only to be turned aside at the last instant, and seconds stretched into minutes. Keith ignored the chatter over the airwaves, telling him that they were still broadcasting the conflict live, and focused on his opponent alone. Lunatic was an adversary that required all his attention - more skilled than Keith had expected, he had to admit - and it seemed as though they could have fought forever only to reach a stalemate. He would not give in, however, until Lunatic was in custody.
It was Lunatic who finally turned aside, retreating to a safer distance atop a church steeple. "Why does a hero of justice like yourself turn away from your true prey to pursue me?"
"George Clarkson may be 'prey' to a vigilante like you," Keith replied, hovering just below, taking the opportunity to catch his breath. "But heroes do not think of human beings in such terms. Clarkson is a murderer, and so we must apprehend him. You are also a murderer, and so it is our job to apprehend you as well."
"The man captured tonight was a man of evil intentions, stealing the lives of innocents at random," Lunatic told him. "As an avatar of justice - why do you continue to hinder me?"
"Because killing is never just," Keith stated. "Justice is a matter for the courts to decide."
"The courts are forbidden from dispensing true justice," Lunatic said smoothly. "In a just world, those who take the lives of innocents would have their own taken as recompense."
"In a just world, no innocent lives would be lost," retorted Keith. "Killing those responsible does not bring them back."
"That may be so," Lunatic replied, "but imprisonment is not a fair reward for those who commit such sins as these. As you saw this very day, allowing a murderer to live may cause further loss of life."
"So you seek to prosecute crimes that have not yet been committed?" Keith asked. "No one died today. No one at all, since we prevented you from fulfilling your self-appointed task."
"You useless heroes cannot protect everyone with your weak justice," Lunatic hissed.
"I am well aware of that." Much too aware. He lifted his head defiantly. "But we will protect those we can. That includes those who have taken lives."
"Evil, when encountered, must not be coddled," Lunatic insisted, "but utterly destroyed."
"It is not your decision to make," Keith stated. "And thus we heroes will continue to provide protection."
"I also seek to protect, as well as punish." Having apparently rested long enough, Lunatic raised his bowgun again. "And my punishment extends to those who prevent proper retribution."
Keith shot into the sky, dodging the eruption of flame, and turned to send a whirlwind bearing down on Lunatic, hoping to entrap him. Instead, the swirling air ignited, flaring skyward - and when Keith lowered the arm with which he'd instinctively shielded his eyes, nothing remained.
Rising higher above the city, Keith surveyed the surrounding area as the emcee confirmed Lunatic's disappearance from the scene. As far as Keith could tell, there was no sign of Lunatic anywhere.
"Sky High," Agnes's voice broke in over the broadcast. "I must congratulate you for your excellent judgment - the ratings during your fight with Lunatic were higher than we've seen since the Maverick incident. Even though you didn't win any points, you're certainly gaining the lion's share of the fans."
"Mmm. Thank you." That wasn't why he'd done it, and he had failed to accomplish what he'd set out to do... but he had prevented Lunatic from killing again, and he had pleased his fans. The outcome, overall, was positive.
As he flew back to join with the other heroes, however, his mind kept drifting back to what Lunatic had said, that he also sought to protect people... and that the heroes couldn't protect everyone.
Keith knew that. It haunted his dreams. Having it forced into his conscious thoughts as well was... unwelcome.
---
On the other side of town, another pondered that same moment, but from a slightly different perspective. Since his debut, Sky High had experienced nearly unmatched success on HeroTV, Yuri thought, sipping at his cup of tea and calling up the file. He had never failed to save a civilian marked as a target; a criminal had never escaped while he was present. He had been defeated by Jake Martinez, yes, and he had gone through a bit of a dry spell afterwards, but it hadn't resulted in anyone's harm. The city had been saved, the criminals had been caught. And yet his mannerisms, when Lunatic had stated that he could not protect everyone, had suggested that he knew that sort of catastrophic failure. It was difficult to tell, with the man enclosed entirely within his hero suit, but Yuri had faced countless defendants in court; he knew the body language of those who felt guilt. The defensive posture, the turn of the head, the set of the shoulders... Whether one had committed the crime of which they were accused or not, such things indicated that they felt guilt. He had seen those signs in Sky High.
He'd gone over the man's record, as always, when Sky High was submitted for the approval of the Justice Bureau. Background checks had turned up nothing even slightly suspicious, and therefore Yuri hadn't sought out every last detail.
Ah, yes - Keith Goodman, he thought as he clicked through from the standard hero profile to the more classified files the Bureau kept. Aptly named, more than any of them had realized at the time. Which now had become somewhat suspicious - because one thing Yuri recalled was that "Goodman" was not the hero's original name. A name change had been registered at the age of eighteen, rebranding the boy formerly known as Keith Palmer. He was a product of the foster care system, so it was not particularly unusual that he might choose a name for himself rather than defaulting to the one assigned, and he had no offenses on his record under the previous name either.
A closer examination reaffirmed the lack of offenses, and an unremarkable school record as well: largely average grades, no serious disciplinary actions, involvement in extra-curricular groups that did volunteer work. His references had included his last foster parents, his high school guidance counselor, and the director of a mentorship program he had spent a summer working with. All proclaimed that he was a conscientious, well-behaved, hard-working young man. He had expressed interest in working with children, perhaps because of his own upbringing, but believed that with the development of his NEXT powers, he might be able to help more people as a hero than he could have done as just another ordinary man.
As Yuri remembered, there was nothing at all in his records that suggested Keith Goodman was not a good candidate for becoming an officially sanctioned hero. But now he was curious - what else might lie in the past of Keith Palmer, which had not been readily apparent about Keith Goodman?
The files held by the Bureau did not detail every aspect of the heroes' lives, but Yuri had access to other resources, due to his position. A quick search for the original name turned up a few results throughout the legal system, as neither the first name nor the last was uncommon; it was obvious at a glance that none of them were relevant. A search for the first name and the last name as independent strings turned up countless records, and Yuri narrowed them down by dates and locations until the results were more manageable.
One of the first he encountered was a case named STATE VS. JACK PALMER - NC 1963. Upon clicking for more information, he was abruptly confronted by a picture he had seen many times before. A close-cropped picture of a blond boy of perhaps ten years at most, grinning so widely his eyes were squeezed shut, his arm proudly slung around the shoulders of a smaller, dark-eyed boy who was smiling shyly at the photographer.
Yuri remembered the case at once. That photograph had been shown on the news and printed in the papers repeatedly, often zoomed in on the smaller boy - and it had been all the more troubling to him given the timing. It had been a very long time, however, since he had thought about it, and he had no reason to recall the names of those involved in the years since.
Setting his tea aside, Yuri settled down to read the entirety of the case - and those that followed in its wake. ...He'd had no idea whatsoever.