issue #6, part II
Slipstream and Valor McCoy were confused. They really thought that they were on to Jae Sun Lee. However, there in clear daylight Warwolf
and Jae Sun posed next to each other for reporters. It didn’t make any sense. Valor looked around to see who was missing from the people they knew. Montoya was missing, but Dr. McCoy knew very well that Armando and Somnus were the same.
Aha! That crazy old Chinese man from the flower shop isn’t here. He must be the Warwolf!
Valor ran to tell Slipstream, but before he got to the speedster to tell his juicy secret, the shadow of the Warwolf crossed over him.
“Problems?” asked the Warwolf in his guttural voice.
Valor hesitated as he looked upon eight feet of fur and muscle. The hesitation was long enough to prevent him from mind linking with Slipstream before Congressman Mansfield began speaking, and then when Valor tried to tell Slipstream a little later, he refused to allow contact!
Dude, I’m tryin’ to hear the Congressiman! he heard in his head and was shut out.
Mansfield was a strong proponent of parahuman rights and gave many accolades to Legion Extreme and the benefits of their presence in Boston, their cooperation with local and federal law enforcement, and community service. Warwolf leaped and flexed, Darkfire flew and modeled , Sonmus glowed, Dragonfist demonstrated forms, Slipstream zipped around, and Valor showed off his retractable suit of armor. Jae Sun shook many hands with local leaders and the peoples.
Eventually, the show ended and citizens began to leave the Common. Warwolf excused himself and leaped towards Chinatown. Shortly, Slipstream and Jae Sun were able to have a private conversation. They had tried during the ceremony, but had been constantly interrupted. Jae Sun had also been in his “high society” mode smiling a lot but saying little. So after Jae Sun had had time to catch his breath, leaving to get away from all the people momentarily, Slipstream finally caught him up on the morning’s events.
“The Ultimates, hmm? Did you see the rest? Binder, Blackstar, Cyclone, Thunderbolt?”
Slipstream shook his head.
“Well, then. Perhaps it is time for a vacation to Hawaii. We will fly out tomorrow, and join you for an evening raid on their hideout.”
Jae Sun rubbed his hands together mischievously.
“Umm…what about my Grandma? And Elisa?”
A gleam came to Jae Sun’s eye as he saw his friend, the apothecary, arrive late. He pointed.
“We’ll take Dr. Lu?”
Slipstream groaned.
**
Theo ground his teeth in frustration as he watched the daily news. He had helped save Boston from the ravages of Frostbite just as much as the rest of the team, and definitely more than Captain Valor who had been “changed” into a flying frost zombie by the ice demon. Dr. McCoy was just being petty, keeping him at the lab, doing experiments while he took all the credit.
Were all PI’s like this? What do I have to do to gain LE’s respect?
Earlier this evening, Valor had come in and announced that he was going on a short vacation. He had put Theo in charge giving him a wink.
Was the Nar-cola add too much? Sigh…Maybe I’ll transfer somewhere else. But then who would take me. Without my armor, I’m just a mutant…
He went into the secret room that he had created at the back of one of Valor’s main laboratories and checked and retooled his powered armor suit long into the night.
**
Slipstream was exhausted after rushing back from Boston early in the morning, but as Brian Parker he still managed to qualify to get to the finals on Saturday. He scanned the crowd, spotting Elisa and Grandma Shannon on the beach as he swam back to shore. Unfortunately, he also saw Bobby Morrero tagging along.
“Congratulations,
Brian,” Bobby offered as the finalists were announced.
“Thanks,
Me’Bobby,” replied Slipstream accepting his hand.
They both knew each other’s secret identities. Elisa knew neither, though she looked at Brian strangely upon hearing the corruption of Bobby’s name. They stared at each other and tested one another’s grip until Elisa cleared her throat.
“Maybe we can all meet for dinner!” she said cheerily trying to break the tension.
“Sorry, Elisa. I can’t. My friends are coming in from Boston. I was going to do something with them. But maybe tomorrow night.”
She looked disappointed. Bobby looked curious, and as Brian made to leave, he took him aside.
“Alright, Parker. What’s goin’ down?”
“Nothin’ that a old, wash-out like you would be interested in.”
“Look, Parker, I know that you’re too full of yourself to have any real friends. So I figure some of your fellow teammates are comin’. I want in.”
Brian bit his tongue, trying to think what Jae Sun or Warwolf would do….That’s right, more targets for the bad guys! He feigned humility.
“Fine! Meet us at…,” and Brian Parker filled him in.
**
“I can’t take you anywhere, can I,” the voice echoed through the cave. “Look, I was really tryin’ to do you a favor. Get you off the visual crack. Get you in some sun, and you have to get way too close to some of my clients and get them all sick. Who knew that, that
boy scout, Slipstream would be here. No more vacations for you, Glowboy.”
Captain Valor reached out to a troubled and angry mind. The thoughts of Radium echoed disappointment and frustration and bitterness. He shared these with Somnus.
I think he’s redeemable, with the right amount of counseling and mental surgery.
The other mentalist agreed. They would attempt to control Radium while the others would try and corral Slick. It seemed that only the two of them were here on Oahu. Jae Sun, who had stayed back at the hotel to watch for the rest of the Ultimates just in case, had told them that this was an opportunity that should not go wasted. He had also informed PRIMUS of the operation. When Slick and Radium were subdued, PRIMUS would swoop in and secure them.
Slipstream peeked around the corner of a passage that led to a large cave. Warwolf and Dragonfist sneaked closer to their quarry while Darkfire and Meteor Man held back in reserve. He had sort of listened to Warwolf as the lupine general had discussed the tactics for this capture mission, but Slipstream was focused on one thing..well two, really. Punking Slick and showing up Meteor Man in the process.
Slick was still complaining when Dragonfist accidentally kicked a rock that went skipping across the cave.
“Who’s there?” asked Slick peering into the darkness of the cave illuminated as it was only by Radium’s green-yellow glow contrasting eerily with steam from a hot spring in the center of the room.
Red eyes peered back at him from the shadows, and Slick struck, controlling the very force of friction to hold whatever had those eyes bound to the cave floor.
“Radium! Split man! We’ve been had!”
And Slick literally skated across the ground towards a back exit. Warwolf tried to leap after him but howled in pain as his own momentum slammed him to the ground. He could not tear free from the sticky floor.
It was up to Slipstream. He zipped after Slick. Dragonfist attempted to skirt the pool to attempt to give him back up, but the martial artist was relatively much too slow to catch up to the two speedsters. As he tore himself free, Warwolf realized that Slipstream would have to get Slick alone. He ripped out a stalactite to throw a projectile at Radium, but held as he saw the mentalists float in, Valor in front with Sonmus as back up. The scintillating hero struck at Radium’s mind, lowering his willpower so that Valor could reach inside easier. Having already targeted his brain and read his mind, Captain Valor decided to change Radium’s perspective. The scientist made Radium believe that he was no longer a glowing creature of energy, but human again.
We can help you. We can help you to change back to normal spoke Valor to the Living Radiation’s troubled psyche.
Radium paused, his glow dimming slightly. Sonmus subtly caused changes in Radium’s neurotransmitters to give him a sense of relaxation and sleepiness. Warwolf was very pleased to see the teamwork of the two “mind mages”. This would be pretty easy after all. He was about to set his giant rock-spear down when he saw Meteor Man brace for a energy blast.
“No! You idiot!” roared the Warwolf.
But it was too late. Meteor Man blasted Radium, doing him little harm, but causing enough stir to shake him from Valor’s illusions and some of Somnus’s sleep induction. Radium retaliated sending a cone of radioactive energy at Meteor Man, Valor, and Somnus. Meteor Man’s force field absorbed much of the attack and he held his ground, but Valor and Somnus were knocked back by the impact. Valor slammed hard against the cave wall and was knocked unconscious. Somnus barely held on trying to concentrate amidst the nausea of the radiation wave. He let loose with harsher mental attacks. However, Radium did not go down easy. Meteor Man’s attacks seemed ineffectual. Darkfire flew over and unleashed a barrage of fireballs, however, those that hit also did little against Radium. Warwolf threw the stalactite and missed. He grimaced as he realized that he would have to do this the hard way. Knowing it would hurt him as much as it hurt Radium he ran and then leaped over the steamy pool smashing into his enemy and knocking him to the ground. Warwolf nearly slid into the darkness as even touching Radium hurt. He moved away as quickly as possible.
Dragonfist nearly out of the room and into the passage through which Slick had fled, turned around not wanting to miss the action. As Radium went down, the martial artist released some ch’i energy at the glowing man, sending him deeper into oblivion. Darkfire, not liking anyone hitting a creature when they are down tossed a boulder near Dragonfist as a warning....
Meanwhile…
Slipstream sped into a twisting narrow hall and then a larger passage. He spied Slick ahead. In his wake, the ground had become slippery, more than any ice, and Slipstream guessed, nearly frictionless. The hero nearly lost his balance, but the bad guy was getting away. In desperation, Slipstream took a few precious steps and jumped next to Slick in an attempt to smash him with his fist. His lost his footing before he could land a solid blow, but almost imperceptibly the strange tiki charm that Dr. Lu had given to him before they had set out, glowed. Slipstream tumbled into Slick and they went down together in a heap. His surfing training allowed Slipstream to roll with the spill and he was able to get to his feet first, where he proceeded to beat Slick silly emphasizing his punches with words that would make his grandma blush…..
**
PRIMUS arrived shortly, and locked Slick and Radium down in “hot” boxes that forced them into a deep sleep. Radium’s, of course was lined with lead. No one talked to Meteor Man who really did not apologize for his actions. He tagged along as the heroes flew or were driven towards the Naval Base. Slipstream had already forced a need for quick action, taunting one of Slick’s compatriots over the downed villain’s wrist-radio before smashing it. Somehow, the media had also been tipped off and at least one station had a chopper flying over the cave entrance. Warwolf had long disappeared, but Jae Sun met them at the base.
“Where to now, PRIMUS?” asked the recovered Captain Valor.
Ken Yamaguchi, the resident Silver Avenger answered, “Tonight, our temporary security station. Tomorrow, Stronghold!”
