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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Piratecat" data-source="post: 2073633" data-attributes="member: 2">[hq]AGONY'S GAMBIT: Issue 1, Chapter 4[/hq]Somewhere in the vicinity of Freedom CityThe gorgeous young woman caught a meaty swell and roared down the unseen tube, blond hair caught by the wind and streaming out behind her. Her feet gripped the surfboard as she balanced with her arms and body, carving her way across the face. The girl’s bikini top was soaked with sweat and mist, but her grin was luminescent. She was having fun.An unexpected current caught her from the side just as she was trying to do a tricky jump, and her board skittered out from underneath her feet. She fell. For a few seconds it looked as if she was falling into an endless sea of white foam. Then she cleared the cloud and was tumbling, freefalling, out of the sky and down towards the skyscrapers of Freedom City.The falling girl let out a mighty whoop of pure and utter joy. Her surfboard of hardened air rematerialized beneath her bare feet and with astonishing grace she kicked out of the fall and was suddenly soaring over the spires of the city. After one quick flyby to buzz the tourists in the space needle, she checked her watch.  It was time. Buoyed by unseasonably warm wind, the girl twisted her muscled body and aimed her board towards the lights of Southside. Her laughter trailed her through the air as she spent a few minutes chasing birds.The bar wasn’t hard to find. The girl tugged up her bikini top, flipped the hair out of her eyes, and used a gust of air to blow open the doors before surfing through them. The board dissipated with perfect timing and she landed on her feet.  She recognized the few people who had already arrived, but she didn’t really know any of them.“Flashy,” said the Eternal Sentinel from where he leaned against the bar, his back ramrod straight. It wasn’t clear if he disapproved or not.“You weren’t no member o’ Code-4,” grated Boulder. “Who’re you?”“I’m Wave.” Her smile faded a little as she looked around the dive. “Nice to meet you. Boulder and the Eternal Sentinel, right?”Boulder nodded; it was like watching the start of a landslide. “Yeah, and that’s Vinnie. This is his place. ‘Wave’ your real name or your superhero name?”Wave wrinkled her nose, and her crystal blue eyes flashed. “Both. Growing up, we didn’t believe in artificial barriers to communication. That’s like so east coast. The same with last names. They’re just there to shackle down your soul. No thanks.”Boulder regarded her. “Where you from?” He tapped a slablike finger on the bar, denting it slightly.Wave raised one eyebrow in disdain. “California. Duh. I was invited here by AEGIS. I kind of like the place, except you have to make your own waves.”The Eternal Sentinel let out a mirthless chuckle. “You so often do.”“California?” Boulder nodded again, sagely. “That explains it.”Wave narrowed her perfect brows. “Drink?” asked the bartender, interceding.“Do you have any fresh squeezed fruit juices?”  Wordlessly, the bartender shook his head. “Any margaritas?”  He shook his head again.  “No problem. Then give me an organic beer.”He blinked like a lizard.  “Organic beer?”“You know.” Wave looked impatient. “Microbrewed from the best ingredients, pure water, no bio-engineered or irradiated hops, glass bottle you can recycle afterwards.” Her eyes narrowed. “You do recycle, don’t you?”Vinnie looked at Boulder in desperation. “Tony?”“Give her a Schlitz, Vinnie.”The bartender swallowed.  "We got a rule, Miss. I don't know if you got any ID on that outfit, but we gotta make sure you're 21. Also, we got a 'no shirt no shoes no service' rule." He looked pointedly at her bare feet, instead of at her bikini top.Wave just rolled her eyes.  Please flip page to continue.</blockquote>

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