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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Piratecat" data-source="post: 2083146" data-attributes="member: 2">[hq]AGONY'S GAMBIT: Issue 1, Chapter 8[/hq]Channel 3 News BroadcastWNTW, Freedom CityThe bodies of WNTW news anchors Tina Kassarian and Joe Betrall lay in their comfortable chairs and steamed as acid did its work.The image on the barroom TV was unsteady as it swung to the left and panned across to where sports reporter Brian Timmons usually sat. Timmons was nowhere to be seen.  In his usual spot sat a naked woman humming a faint tune.  Well, she may have been naked; it was hard to tell under the shimmering veil of green vapor that partially obscured her body. The oily mist also scudded across her face and hid her true features. Just enough of the woman’s form was visible to know that it would definitely be worth getting a peek at the rest.Nine Lives let out a low whistle.  “She looks like a young Eliza Dushku, only with fewer clothes.”“Who?” asked the Eternal Sentinel and Omnibot at the same time.“I could take Eliza Dushku,” said Wave with a frown.“I’d pay to see that.” The Reformer licked his lips and moved closer to the television to try and get a better look. “Great Scott, she has huge --”The woman on the newscast tittered. “Good evening, Freedom City. You can call me Agony. That’s what I’m in due to heartbreak, and that’s what Joe and Tina here were in when they didn’t listen to my request.  It seems appropriate.” She smiled radiantly through the poisonous green vapor.  “But no one else has to die if everyone obeys instructions. Isn’t that nice?”  There was a hint of manic desperation in her voice.  “I’ve seized this station so that I could deliver an important message. Tomorrow night, I will be getting married to the love of my life. Tomorrow night, I’ll become Mrs. Nine Lives.”Boulder turned his stony gaze on Nine Lives.  “I wasn’t invited.”“Neither was I, pal.”Wave said, “I think you’re being invited right now. Who is she?”Nine Lives shrugged. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her before.”On the television, Agony continued. “Tomorrow evening at 7:50 pm sharp, I’ll tell Nine Lives where he has to be ten minutes later. He’ll be there, I know; he’s a superhero and would never let me down, but this way we avoid the awkward police presence. At 8:00 in front of witnesses, Nine Lives is going to formally propose to me and marry me.”  She sighed deeply. “We’ve been promised to one another for some time, but I’ve had trouble getting in touch with him. I’ve gone to homes where I thought he lives, but he’s never there. He hasn’t returned my emails or telegrams or phone calls.”Nine Lives flipped out his cell phone and looked annoyed. “You know, I have voice mail. I don’t think she even really tried.”The camera zoomed in as Agony stood up. “This time, finally, he’ll come to me so that we can be truly married. I’ll have a minister handy.” She clasped her hands over her heart, creating a memorable gap in the mist.  “If he isn’t there, of course, I’m going to kill thousands and thousands of people. But I’m sure it won’t come to that. The other people in this studio don’t have to die, and neither do the scores of people who will perish should Nine Lives not live up to his obligations.” She blew a kiss, and let out another squeal of irritating laughter. “Good night, my darling. Until tomorrow.”The television camera went black.  Amy Feng reappeared on the screen.  “Again, that was the scene less than twenty minutes ago at our own studios here in -- ”  Vinnie snapped off the set.Agent Morrison looked ill as he listened to his earpiece. “I’m latched into intelligence and coordination divisions. We have a team on its way to the news studio and another team combing records. Nine Lives, any guesses as to who she is?”“Nope. Not off the top of my head.”Agent Morrison looked at the group gathered before him. His eyes were hard.  “In that case, superheroes,” he said, “Freedom city needs your help.”Please flip page to continue.</blockquote>

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