King-sized decision

It had been nearly a year since David Leonidas Reid encountered the celestial brightness at the Marfa Lights Viewing Area in southwestern Texas. Since then his life, as well as that of the one closest to him, had not been the same.

Since that evening along that stretch of road between Alpine and Marfa, Reid found himself literally a changed person. Following that encounter, Reid soon discovered he had the strength of 10 bears, the eyesight of a falcon, the stealth and speed of a puma and the ability to breathe and swim underwater. Soon afterwards, Reid began using these gifts for both good and, as he saw it, bad.

Reid had been a CIA agent, specifically a branch known as the Hotel California, a reference to the famous 1970s songs performed by The Eagles. Like the creepy mansion mentioned in that ballad, Reid’s former place of employment was one where a person could check out, but truly never leave. That’s because a man named Thaddeus Cole ran the branch, and he had no qualms about terminating those who departed his employ. Reid became such a target after handing in his resignation, and, on more than one occasion, plots were devised to cease his existence. Fortunately, Reid’s enhanced powers, combined with his own innate skills and training, foiled each attempt.

One good thing resulted from leaving the Hotel California, and her name was Myrna Eleni Seurat. Reid began working with her following his first supernatural experience in Marfa. Like him, Seurat was a CIA agent assigned to the Hotel California, and it didn’t take long for her to deduce there was something different about Reid; she eventually learned his secret. Together, they later prevented the transfer of arms to a Mexico-based drug cartel that planned to use the weapons to create chaos and monopolize the Mexican drug trade. Their actions earned the enmity of one Wilhelm Vorkuta, the weapons dealer.

He later put out a contract on Reid, and, eventually, Seurat also became Vorkuta’s target as well. Seurat also became Cole’s target, too. After disregarding orders to kill Reid, Seurat eventually left the CIA and found her way to the Marfa Lights Viewing Area. There, Seurat, whose feelings for Reid were greater than that of friendship, reunited with him. Once together, Reid and Seurat understood how strong their feelings were for each other.

Since that reuniting, Reid and Seurat traveled around the nation, using their respective special skills to aid those who needed it. In fact, Reid, using the code name Spartan King, had been engaging in such activity since leaving the Hotel California. His moniker, which also had been used while with the CIA, referred his middle name, Leonidas. He was the Spartan ruler who died bravely at the Battle of Thermopylae while opposing a Persian invasion.

Unfortunately, Reid and Seurat’s new life took led them straight into a Vorkuta trap, and an unintended trip to his private island in the Bahamas. It was there Vorkuta aimed to hunt down and kill the duo, only to have the tables turned on him; he was killed by Seurat while trying to shoot Reid. It also was in the Bahamas where another attempt was made on their lives, this time by CIA operatives hoping to get in good with Cole. A trio of agents, two men and one woman, tried to kill Seurat while she was scuba diving and murder Reid while he waited on a boat. Reid’s special skills, primarily his ability to breathe and move underwater, quashed that effort, and all three agents decided it was better to cut and run.

A short time later, the duo went back to the Marfa Lights Viewing Area. Again, the celestial brightness returned, this time with a faceless voice explaining why Reid had been granted such powers, and that Seurat, as an infant, had been bestowed with superior fighting skills and great courage. She also came from a bloodline that produced many who battled injustice, including ancestors who fought Japan and Nazi Germany during World War II. It would be her destiny to battle villainy alongside Reid.

At the moment, Reid found himself alone in a hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. Seurat had departed for Los Angeles six days earlier, and was due back at the airport in a few hours. She went to visit relatives, and, although Reid wasn’t too keen on her traveling alone – Cole still sought to terminate her and Reid – he realized watching Seurat 24 hours a day was impossible.

Cole was still out there, Reid thought to himself, and his plans had not changed, despite the numerous failures. Truth be told, those defeats probably steeled Cole even further in to finding a way to terminate the duo. The question before Reid was whether he would wait for another attempt, or make a preemptive strike.

His gifts had been bequeathed to right wrongs, and aid those who needed it. However, Reid also understood they could be used to rid the world of Cole, and make life better for himself and Seurat. He had been trained to kill in the military, and had used that discipline while working for Cole. In fact, Cole recruited to the agency because of that very skill. Over time, the taking of human life, even those with criminal and evil intent, began to wear on Reid. It also led to him departing the Hotel California.

True, he and Seurat had combined to terminate Vorkuta and many of his men, but that was a case of sheer survival. A while latter, Reid let the three agents live after they attempted to kill him and Seurat. In the future, Reid repeatedly told himself that taking a person’s life would only be a method of last resort.

Yet, here he was, actually contemplating doing such a thing. Reid repeatedly tried to convince himself that this was a kill-or-be-killed situation; Cole must be terminated in order for Reid, Seurat, and other former agents Cole may be targeting, to feel safe and have peace of mind. However, in order to accomplish that, Reid understood he must strike quickly.

Cole never did his own dirty work, he always had someone else handle that, even when it came to booby trapping vehicles. No, Cole would never confront Reid on the field of battle, Reid needed take the fight to him, and that meant he must head back to Northern Virginia. Specifically, Reid's junket would be to Fairfax, home to Global Enterprises, Inc., a front for Cole’s CIA operation.

The mission would test all of Reid's skills, those he acquired through years of military and CIA training and what was bestowed upon him in Marfa. Breaking into the facility would not be easy, especially since most employees knew Reid, and likely would recognize him, even if he wore a disguise. Reid also factored in other security measures, both human and mechanical, that must be bypassed in order to confront Cole one-on-one. Then, his dispatching of Cole must be quick and efficient, and once done, Reid needed to be off the premises in a heartbeat. A strong memory provided Reid with a layout of the facility, specifically weak spots in its security. The best time to strike would either be in the early evening or before daybreak, as Cole liked to work late and often arrived at the office prior to 5:30 a.m.

Yet, Reid knew the best schemes often went awry, mainly for reasons the planner could not control. If they occurred, Reid must ad-lib and handle them then and there. Currently, the biggest problem facing Reid was his own hesitation in carrying it the plan. Doubt and indecision were the two worst things a soldier could take into battle, and Reid had both.

How would those who granted those special powers view his actions? Would they strip him of his gifts? Also, would Seurat view him differently? Could she love a man who had renounced killing in cold blood, but now intended to do so, even if that made her life safer?

For fifteen more minutes, Reid lay on the bed, hands behind his head and eyes staring straight at the ceiling. The choice then became clear. Seurat meant more to him than anyone else, both now, as well as in the past and likely the future. Terminating Cole meant that she’d no longer have to look over her shoulder 24 hours a day. She would be happier, and that meant everything to Reid. Even if she despised his actions, Reid could live with himself. If Reid’s efforts resulted in the depriving of his special powers, so be it. The ends would justify the means, consequences be damned.

Reid turned his head to look at the clock next to him. Immediately realized he was 15 minutes late heading to the airport. If he left now, he could probably get there right as Seurat’s plane was touching down. What would he tell her, though, about his plans? For now, nothing, but at some point, she’d have to be informed. After all, he was doing this for her, and Seurat had a right to know. Whatever happened after that was up to God, fate or whoever was overseeing their lives.