Chapter 3: L'il Lightning
Orange Triangle.
Ace and the other Loonatics exited the wormhole into the atmosphere of Acmetropolis ready for action. "Ok, gang! Time ta track down Stoney and Bugsy before dey…get…away?" The rest of the team looked oddly at Ace.
"Something the matter, Ace?" Tech inquired.
"Yeah…it seems like a mysterious someone has beaten us to da punch. Come on!" he called, started to head towards the ground. With his enhanced vision, Ace was the only one who could see Stoney and Bugsy lying on the pavement, subdued. There was something else he saw though, something that made him more than a little bit curious.
Upon seeing a strange figure sneak off into the alley, combined with the fact that Stoney and Bugsy were already under control somehow, he grew suspicious. "Hey Duck, someone strange just walked off into dat dere alley. Think ya can go say hi?"
"No problemo, Ace! I'll stop that sneak right in his tracks!" And with that, Duck quacked away.
Lightning paused behind a dumpster to watch the five Loonatics land and begin talking to the officers, evidently in some confusion over what had transpired. Lightning understood, they had been expecting a fight and showed up to find things had already cleaned themselves up. He swelled with pride once again, 'That's right Loonatics! The common criminal here on Acmetropolis is no longer of your concern!' He thought proudly. Wait a second, five Loonatics?
"Ahem, going somewhere, my good sir?" Lightning froze at the voice behind him. When he slowly turned around he was greeted by a rather cocky-looking Danger Duck, staring at him with a slightly bored expression. "Well, c'mon already say something! It's not every day we get whisked off to duty and then find our work cleaned up for us y'know."
"Oh, h-h-hello there, Danger Duck." Lightning tried to remain calm but his angst was quite obvious.
Duck was quite amused by the sudden fear. "Haha, what's wrong there tin man? Cat got your tongue? Or are you just awestruck by the presence of the Action Hero Supreme: Danger Duck?" He questioned, breaking out into a heroic pose. Lightning rolled his eyes. For exactly this reason, Duck was his least favorite of the Loonatics, and now he had to put up with him for real! Lightning weighed his options.
On the one hand, he DID have his jet boots, so he could try to get away from the Loonatics and hide somewhere. Unfortunately, the chances of that actually working were slim to none, considering the combined powers of Duck and Rev. But on the other hand, Lightning had always fretted over what the Loonatics would think if they learned his secrets…
Before he could properly deliberate, Duck's patience ran out. "All right, time's up mister. Let's go report in!" And with that Duck grabbed Lightning's wrist.
Lightning's eyes widened as he realized what Duck was about to do. "W-w-wait, no!" But it was too late. Duck and Lightning materialized right in the middle of the rest of the Loonatics, who had just finished debriefing with the prison officers. Unbalanced by the sudden teleportation, Lightning fell unceremoniously onto his behind.
"Here ya go, Ace! One metallic misfit just like you ordered!"
"T'anks Duck, poifict timing! Eh, so what's up Doc?" Ace inquired, eyeing the strange figure. All of the Loonatics followed suit, not quite able to understand what he was supposed to be. To them he probably looked downright comical. A six-and-a-half foot tall green and gold colored tin man, covered in gadgets and lightning bolts, sitting on the ground trying to shake off the strange feelings left by the quacking.
Tech could tell he was disoriented, so he offered a suggestion: "That's a mighty fine looking combat suit there, champ. But how about you ditch the helmet so we can see what you really are?"
"Fine," Lightning grumbled. Seemingly without effort, the helmet split into three main plates and slid into his back and two shoulders. The face that greeted the Loonatics was that of a young human wearing an innocent-looking smile but with obvious concern radiating from his blue eyes. "What can I help you fine folks with?" He asked casually as he stood up, trying to sound more confident then he really was.
"Eh, how about we start with a name, as well as an explanation for how dis here mess got all cleaned up." Ace began. The human stared at Ace, and then at each of the other Loonatics consecutively. Finally he sighed defeatedly and began to talk.
"All right, here goes. I call myself L'il Lightning and today was my first test run of my newest inventions, the Turbo Exo-Suit 7000 and complementary Transmutation Spinner! It's a project I've been working on for half a year now, and it's basically an exoskeletal suit designed to protect the user from limited danger, while also supplementing his abilities by providing a mechanical enhancement to their natural physical prowess via a remote stimulator installed in each of the…"
Obviously freaking out now, Lightning reverted back to the only language he always felt comfortable with: science! As long as he could remember, science had been his friend, mentor, and purpose in life. Without it, he wasn't sure what he would do. He was truly glad that he had been gifted with the ability to understand its subtleties, and use them to better himself and those around him. As he rambled on and on about vague technical details involving his suit, Tech and Rev followed his speech with interest while the rest of the team groaned as they were quickly lost in the onslaught of technical jargon. God, he was almost worse than Tech!
"Woah, woah, woah slow down dere buddy boy," Ace finally interjected. "I didn't ask ya about how da suit woiked, I want to know how YOU woik," he said, gently poking Lightning in the chest. "Now how's about we start over with where ya came into dis whole Stoney and Bugsy mess, huh?"
"Oh sure, that's easy enough. I heard they had escaped from prison and I needed to test my suit, so I flew over here and caught them."
"Dat's it? All by yourself?"
"Sure did!" Lightning's pride at his accomplishment began to flow back, only to be deflated by the incredulous looks he received in response.
"Well, I guess that matches with what the security guard told me," Lexi added. "He said he found Stoney and Bugsy tied up and this strange guy in a robot suit standing over them. Seems probable enough to me."
"Hmm, I see. How exactly did ya go about stoppin' em doc?"
"Yeah-how'd-ya-do-it?-Did-ya-take-em-by-surprise-or-run-em-down-or-beat-them-in-a-contest-of-brute-force-or-" Rev was cut off as Tech clamped his fingers down on his beak, a bemused expression on his face.
Lightning described how he managed to take down the gangsters, showing them the shields and rocket launcher he had referred to. He smoothed over the part involving his spinner and arc launcher though. While the rest of the Loonatics nodded in approval and congratulated him on a job well done, Tech wasn't buying it. "Fine, but how did you manage to wrap them up in plastic? With that thing?" he inquired, indicating the launcher on Lightning's back.
"Heeyyy, yeah how come you never mentioned that thing-a-ma-jig before huh? Is it valuable or somethin'?" Duck spoke up.
Lightning instantly got nervous again "well…um…y'see…" Sensing his hesitation, and also wanting to avoid another spat of unintelligible technical talk, Ace intervened.
"Hold up dere, Tech, youse two can talk science all ya want later, but for now we need ta keep it so dat everyone can understand."
"Fpppttgral no science!" Slam agreed. Tech looked a little put-out but said nothing.
"All right den, dat's settled. Well Doc, we sure appreciate da help you've given us today, or at least would've appreciated it if we didn't have ta fly out here."
"Heh, sorry Ace I would've loved to let you know I was going to handle it."
Ace's eyes clouded in thought at that comment. "Actually Doc, dat might not be a bad idea. If ya can prove yourself ta be able ta handle da job over da next few days, we might set ya up as our very own Loonatic police force here on Acmetropolis. Sure would be convenient ta have our own set of eyes and ears over here 24/7. Here, I'm gonna give ya da code you can use ta reach us at our HQ, and we'll be able ta contact each other and decide if ya can handle t'ings or not as dey come up."
Lightning's eyes lit up at that comment. "Oh, wow, you would be willing to let me work with you all? That would be absolutely fantastic! It's everything I could've ever hoped for!"
The Loonatics smiled at his obvious excitement. "Well, what can I say? Everyone's enthralled to get a chance to work with the fabulous Danger Duck!"
Lexi rolled her eyes at that comment. "Oh, can it, Duck. We don't need you to scare away the new guy on the first day."
"Me? Scare? Oh please, missy, hardly the case. In fact, I'd say the natural, rugged good looks that we ducks all share will keep everyone comin' back for more!"
"Eh, I dunno about dat one Duck, woiking with you is a scaaary prospect at best," Ace added with a wink, eliciting a few chortles from his team.
Duck simply stared sardonically at all of them. "Y'know, sometimes you're all despicable." Lightning was grinning ear to ear as he watched the friendly banter pass around the team. It was obvious that they were a really tight-knit group, and he couldn't wait to get to know his long-time personal heroes better.
Ace and Lightning exchanged communication codes, with Ace informing him that he would be contacting him tomorrow morning so that he could check if it worked and to have Tech do some security updates to that channel. All too soon, it seemed, it was time for everyone to say goodbye. "I'll see ya round town soon enough, Loonatics, I'm sure!" Lightning proclaimed. "I'll be sure to make you proud! You'll see!"
"Eh, one more t'ing, Doc. What did ya say yer name was again?" Ace inquired. Lightning looked uncomfortable again.
"Uhhh…I said I was L'il Lightning." he said, trying to act confused.
"Yer REAL name, Doc. If we're gonna be woiking with ya, we need to know if we can trust ya," Ace said, his gaze turning stern.
"I…I…I…" Lightning was unable to answer the question.
"Ace, I can't help but shake the feeling that he seems familiar to me," Lexi said quietly. "His voice, his face, his…mannerisms. I feel like I've met him before, or at least someone who's similar." Lighting squirmed uncomfortably at this statement, and made a point of staring at his feet.
"Lightning…" Ace growled. "Don't make me do something we're both gonna regret."
At this point Tech stepped forward with a scanner in hand. "Don't worry chief, I'll take care of this little mystery."
Tech began scanning Lightning, who simply stood there and let it happen. He couldn't safely fight it anymore, but Lexi noticed that he was almost on the verge of tears. She sighed and stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on his metallic shoulder. "Lightning c'mon…we all want to be your friends. Is there something you're hiding from us?" Lightning stared at her for a moment or two, his eyes unfocused and slightly wet, before finally nodding his assent that yes, indeed, he was hiding something. But he refused to elaborate on what.
All eyes now turned to Tech, who was now processing the data on his palmtop computer, rapidly pressing keys and muttering to himself. "Alright, the scan is complete, now all we have to do is wait for a match to appear…Ah-ha! Here's the answer right here…oh." Lightning cringed outwardly at that one little word: "oh." He could no longer help himself; he began to sob quietly into his hands, just waiting for his long-time heroes to run him into the ground.
The assembled heroes glanced at him in concern before turning their eyes towards Tech for an explanation. "Well, Tech?" Ace demanded.
Tech looked remorseful, but answered the question nonetheless. "His name is Michael J. Zane, and as I'm sure you've all deduced his father is…"
"Professor Zane!" Lexi said with a gasp. "I knew I recognized something!" All of them gasped at the sudden realization that this "hero of the day" was actually Zane's son, and then simultaneously cringed at his sudden outburst.
"YES!" he yelled at the team, tears still flowing down his cheeks. "My father is the infamous, CRAZY Professor Zane who created those STUPID little Fuz-Z biopets which ALMOST took over all of Acmetropolis! So now you know the truth! The TRUTH that I am the SON of one of your most hated enemies! One that you all placed behind bars yourselves! A place that I'm sure you all think I belong as well!"
His protests were cut off with a strangled cry as Lexi stepped forward to give him a comforting hug. His surprise at her kindness drained him of any complaint he had left unspoken. "I…I'm sorry…" He sputtered. "That was completely uncalled for…"
"Oh c'mon Zane, we never said anything like that. It's true that we had to lock up your dad but you were a hero today! You don't believe he was locked up without good reason do you?" she asked, looking him straight in the eyes.
The rest of the team stepped forward and placed an encouraging hand on his shoulders, waiting for his response. "No…no I don't believe that…" Zane started slowly. "Y'know, he was really a good guy until the meteor hit. The more I've spoken with him after the fact, the more I think it meddled with his head a bit. As soon as he brought home those 'Fuz-Z's' as he called them, I had a feeling there would be trouble."
"His research before the meteor was fairly benign biological research, you can read some of his publications for proof… only after the meteor struck did his research start to go downhill. I tried to get him to give it up, warning him that nothing good was going to come of such reckless application of science, but he would hear none of it. Next month, I packed up and headed off to Acme Tech and the next thing I know my dad has gone crazy and landed himself in prison."
Zane sighed sadly. "I'm nothing like him. I don't believe in the same things he does, and I'm more of a chemist than a biologist. I genuinely hope to use my scientific abilities for good, like today, rather than for revenge. Are you all willing to look past my family ties?" he asked slowly, significantly calmed down but still apprehensive of rejection.
"Of course we are, Zane. Ya did a good deed taday, one that very few people I know woulda been able to mimic."
"Yeah-totally-I'm-really-surprised-personally-that-you've-turned-out-so-different-I-mean-pleasantly-surprised-of-course-and-that-you-are-willing-to-help-take-down-bad-guys-so-I-think-it's-great-and-I-for-one-welcome-ya-to-the-team!" Zane smiled slightly at their positive enthusiasm.
"I do wish ya would've told us sooner though, what did ya t'ink we was going ta say?"
Zane sighed sadly again. "Oh, y'know, the usual sad story of rejection, surprise, terror, insult, that you would try and send me off to join him or something or that you wouldn't trust me and put me under house arrest or any number of terrible things my over-imaginative brain comes up with in the dark hours…" he mumbled.
Tech spoke up: "Heheh, you must not know us very well then Zane, we rarely act against someone before they act up unless we have a very good reason to believe they are dangerous. It's similar to an algorithm called 'Tit for Tat,' you should look into it. But anyways, have you had a lot of such problems recently?"
Zane stared at the ground again. "Yeah, some of my classmates gave me crap for it and even a few of the professors have given me some funny looks, as though they expect me to suddenly become the harbinger of doom or something ridiculous…"
"Tell me about it," Tech grumbled.
"Well you don't have to worry about that from us, Zane," Lexi started. "We fully support the choices you're making with your life now and look forward to helping you become a crime-fighter extraordinaire. Who knows? Maybe you'll be a role model for your dad and he'll get let out early for good behavior." Zane brightened at that statement.
"Yeah, you're right Lexi, I betcha I could help him like that! Thanks for being so understanding guys, you're all so much greater than I expected!" He said, going around to each member, personally hugging them or shaking their hand as appropriate. Finally, now that everything had been cleared up, the team said their goodbyes to an exuberant Zane, who watched them as a blue-purple wormhole appeared in the sky and they all drifted into it. 'I wonder what it's like to travel by wormhole…' he wondered.
Pink Triangle.
It was dark now on the streets, and Zane wearily gathered up his gear and flew home. After storing everything in his laboratory and making sure it was still all in good condition, Zane quickly microwaved a dinner, brushed his teeth, and collapsed in bed, exhausted. He couldn't wait for that phone call…
Truth be told, neither could Tech. As he zoomed through the wormhole with his team he reflected on Zane's strange behavior surrounding his Transmutation Spinner. If his actions towards his name showed anything, it meant he had another secret he didn't wish to reveal. When everyone got settled in back at HQ, Tech mentioned this fact to Ace, who didn't seem particularly pleased that he failed to notice it.
"Hmm…well I don't know what he hopes ta hide about his gizmo dere, but make sure ya encrypt da channel and ask him about it tomorrow, ok Tech?"
"Sure thing chief, I got it covered."
"I trust dat you will report anythin' about it dat concerns ya, yes?" Tech nodded. "Good. I think I'm going ta call it a night den Tech, try ta have some pleasant dreams tanight, ok?"
"I'll certainly try my best Ace."
Ace looked worried, but remembered that all went well last night, so perhaps they wouldn't be up every night for the next month. Tech watched Ace walk out of the door and head off towards his room. He mentally berated himself for neglecting to mention his plan of soundproofing his room, he would have to do that tomorrow. 'I think I'll call it a night as well,' Tech thought heading to his room. Despite the fact that he was going to bed early by his standards, he was still the last one to hit the hay.
Some things just never change.
Green Triangle.
