Legion Extreme Issue#10: The Star of Karnak, Part IV
It was time to gather allies. Legion Extreme had scattered across Boston to find GRAB, Dr. Lu, and anyone else who would help them against the Crowns of Krim. They were somewhere in the area, but remained elusive to both mundane and super-means of attempting to find them.
Armando Montoya remained behind at S.U.B. beneath Boston Harbor, working on code for the interface of the PRIMUS A.I. that was to be installed. He also was having a great time playing DAoC on the giant tactical screens in the base. Lost in Albion, Montoya was startled when he heard the crash of glass and machinery.
“That’s not good…” he muttered and walked out to the hallway.
A violent wind tore through the S.U.B. and Montoya was scooped up by it and pinned forcibly to the stainless steel walls. A beautiful, dripping wet, blond-haired woman flew up to him and got in his face.
“Where the
am I?!”
Montoya felt some bones pop and creak as the wind pressed on him. He could not move, but he could speak.
“Release me or you will be sorry, my dear.”
“I do not take kindly to threats, blue eyes,” she replied.
Montoya smiled sardonically, “You’ve already crossed the line with me on that one, babe. I warned you once.”
Armando Montoya yelled and suddenly he was encased in a scintillating sphere of force. Zehphyr was knocked back a few feet, more startled by the change than pushed by the force field.
She struck back with more wind and regained control against Somnus, this time increasing the pressure. He narrowed his eyes.
“You may be able to prevent me from striking you with my arms and legs, but can you protect your mind?”
He lashed out into her psyche and redirected certain neurotransmitters, to drain her will. Zephyr’s eyes widened as she realized that he was attacking her mentally and she flew down the corridor, quickly ducking into another room.
“Nice try, my dear, but know that although you leave my sight, you cannot escape from my mind...”
Somnus sent out mental feelers and had no trouble locating Zephyr’s naked, defenseless mind. He
Brain Drained her again.
She panicked and flew out of the room, sucked the air from Somnus’s lungs, and did a loop back to where she had tried to hide. The mentalist gasped for air and clawed at his throat, as he dropped to the ground, now released from the restraining wind. Meanwhile, Zephyr’s ability to make conscious decisions grew slower. Somnus rose and angrily stalked towards the room where Zephyr hid. He had “lost” her mind, but he regained it just as easily.
He found her in the devastated med lab. Shattered glass and ReGen fluid covered the floor. Zephyr cowered in the corner.
“Please, don’t make me hurt you,” she pleaded.
“Once again, your request falls on deaf ears. You have already over-stepped my boundaries,” he said wiping blood from his lips.
Zephyr held out her outstretched hand and made a forcible pulling motion. Air was torn from Somnus’s lungs. He fell to his knees as he began coughing up quantities of blood, but still he did not go under. He drained her ego once more and Zephyr collapsed, her eyes wide. Drool began to spill from her full lips.
Somnus felt the urge to punish her some more as he began to crawl towards the remaining ReGen tank. However, he could not stop the internal bleeding, and he had a good feeling that kicking the downed villainess would aggravate his injuries. Then he remembered his wrist radio.
“Ummm, Slipstream, Dragonfist, anyone…there’s been a situation at the base. I’ll be out for a while.”
He put drool-monkey Zephyr into a deep sleep, stripped to his underware, hooked himself to the monitors, and pulled himself into the tank, hoping he had set it correctly as he leaned semiconsciously against the bloody glass. The door slid closed automatically, and fluid rushed around him.
“To sleep, perchance to dream...” he muttered as he closed his eyes…
**
Slipstream arrived first to the bizarre scene. Somnus, half-naked, floated in the “Bacta tank”. Blood droplets had coagulated in the “healing” serum and the mentalist was unconscious. Zephyr lay on the floor in the pieces of glass and fluid of the other, shattered tank. Her eyes stared blankly and saliva oozed from her mouth as she spasmed now and then. He sighed and sent some healing energy into the woman. She began to stir as Jae Sun entered next, followed by Riptide.
She looked at the men with hostility, but then her features softened as she saw Riptide.
“Hey, Zeph’! You’re OK,” said the water-using super animatedly.
“If you call it that,” replied Zephyr venomously.
She stared at Slipstream recognizing him as the do-gooder, sell-out superhero he was.
“So am I a prisoner?”
Before the speedster could comment on her ingratitude, Jae Sun stepped between them and answered, “By no means, Ms. Sawyer, or may I call you Angela?”
“I prefer Zephyr when it comes to my enemies.”
She rose to confront them.
“Now, now, supervillianess. I ain’t just gonna make you a drool-monkey like ol’ Somnus. You’ll be goin’ in that tank after him,” said Slipstream cracking his knuckles.
“Stand Down!” Jae Sun said, raising his voice. “Zephyr, we rescued you from the clutches of D.E.M.O.N., preserved your anonymity from the authorities, brought you back here for medical care, and you continue to posture.”
Zephyr looked to Riptide.
“It’s true, Ange’. They were righteous and all against D.E.M.O.N.. Me an’ Slipstream here took out a couple of hell hounds and—“
“I get the point, Margie. Umm, sorry about the mess.”
Soon, Jae Sun was getting the run down on what had happened, confirming Temblor’s betrayal. He also told Zephyr that the Crowns of Krim along with the Black Paladin were possibly in the area.
“Ally with us temporarily, Zephyr. We can hunt down and fight the Crowns together and recover the Star of Karnak.”
“Doubtful that you’ll win. I think I’ll go and find Temblor on my own, thank you very much. Now how do I get outta here?”
She could not be persuaded. Jae Sun sighed.
“Very well, then come with me.”
He led her to another room and pressed a console. With the other had he pointed and muttered some phrases in a long forgotten dialect from mainland China. A magical
gate formed, and through it, the Boston skyline could be seen. She seemed impressed.
“Nice toys you have here. Thanks.”
“Please, let us know if you find the Crowns. For all of our sakes.”
“Maybe. Be seeing you, Mr. Lee.”
She smiled flirtatiously. A normal man would have melted, but Jae Sun, having lived centuries, had seen more beautiful women. Plus, he preferred red heads. Zephyr flew through the
gate.
“Slipstream, contact Valor. We need to see inside Armando’s head,” he called walking back towards MedLab.
He chuckled as he passed his hands through the mass of unconnected wires under the console he had just touched.
