Death of a Hero

By the time I had showered and taken care of my numerous wounds the colonel had taken it upon himself to cook up some breakfast from the emergency stash left here. Potatoes, dried egg mix, a hell of a lot of hot sauce, and some defrosted OJ. Breakfast of champions here I come. It has been a tough couple of days for the NightHawk, I wouldn't expect much from me over the next few days unless something comes up that you need to know about. I bruised two of my ribs pretty badly unfortunately, I think it was probably when my body was passing through my wall from my kitchen into my living room. I will miss that place, Sanford, yes that's the Colonels first name, told me that shortly after he had dragged me out of the building multiple incendiary devices had ignited. He told me the blaze was burning white hot by the time he got me out of there. That's my security system, I smiled thinking of he hours I spent rigging everything, when that fire was out there would be no trace of my existence but also no evidence of the Mad Bomber. The matter of what to do about King Crock is still on my mind, his devious plans have threatened the people of this city before, I won't let it happen again. "Alright Sanford Briggham," I said, "This is where you make it all make sense for me. What's your part? Why are you here?" The colonel was a hardened man with a scar across his face from a campaign long past. He looked up with a grimace he had taken a a small piece of my granite counter top in his ass during one of the explosions. It pained him to sit down. "I am a patriot. I would never do the things you have accused me of, don't you believe me? I saved your life Nighthawk!" I stared right back at him, "How am I supposed to know yo didn't set up the entire situation for your own benefit to gain my trust." The colonel seems on the point of rage or tears at this point, it unclear to the casual observer. "There are things that I can't talk about because of who I am. I am an important man in the military one who carries respect with him. There are certain parts of my life that I cannot share with the world or my employers because I would be thrown out and outcast. Do you know what I'm talking about yet boy? These are evil men working to get to you. They have evidence i didn't think possible. I couldn't let it out. They were willing to blackmail me to get the explosives in a hope that they could get to you." A look of understanding passed between us, and then the colonels eyes seem to fill with shock. I wondered why he seemed to be almost smiling. Then the reality of the situation came crashing down, the colonels coffee mug exploded as he came tumbling down the the hole in the window indicating a sniper of high skill using a high powered silenced rifle. I fall with his body realizing by the second shot that the assailant was gunning for me now. As I fall I realize to myself what Briggham's smile meant; he had carried with him a secret for so long that he would do anything to keep it secret including treason, finally he had the courage to in his own way reveal his inner secret. God damn these people I think to myself as I roll behind a sturdy steel girder sliding my headgear on. Glancing around the corner, using advance lenses technology, I capture an glimpse of the shooter. That trench coat wearing King Crock is back and this time he wants to finish it. Ducking back just in time I feel bullets whiz by striking the refrigerator in the kitchen beyond me. Some kind of safe house this turned out to be, I think to myself. Sneaking out the back I climb a ladder up to the roof of my building. I fire a flare at Crock blinding him temporarily keeping him from taking his shot. Shooting a gas propelled grappling hook across the divide I swing toward him. The crock hunt is on.