Los Angeles
LAX Airport
9:00pm
I do not get paid enough for this, Mike grumbled in his head as he steered his baggage cart to the newly arrived flight from New York. He lazily walked to the cargo hold and popped it open.
He did not expect the dead body to pop out. He screamed as a corpse with an O'Hare Airport uniform rolled out of the cargo hold, it's mouth twisted in terror.
"Hehehe ooops! Sorry some people may have shifted during flight." voice said from deep within the cargo hold.
All Mike saw was a flash of teeth, before everything went black.
La Brea Tar Pits
9:05pm
" This is your captain speaking," Chase said pretending to hold an imaginary microphone "we are now coming for a landing, Thank you for flying Air Frog."
" Honey, do you have to that every time we land?" Gertrude asked rolling her eyes
Chase grinned "What? It's funny, right Frog?"
"I agree with Miss Yorkes." The Leapfrog beeped "I am not a 747."
" Weak dude…" Chase said as he lowered the cloaked vehicle into the tar pits.
The Leapfrog slowed down as the tar encased the ship. In a moment though the secondary engines picked up and shot them through the tar and into The Hostel below.
The hatch to the Leapfrog opened and The Runaways got out. Gertrude and Chase arm and arm, Molly piggybacking on Victor's back, Nico and Old Lace bringing up the rear. As they left the ship Old Lace's wings poofed away in smoke.
" Finally, I thought I was going to have to pluck them out like a chicken…no offense girl." Gertrude said looking back seeing Old Lace's frightful eyes at the thought.
" Who knows? Some deep fried raptor wings maybe better than the usual pickled junk, that we have around here." Chase said rubbing his tummy.
" Well we would have still had some Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs…if that big greenish alien dude hadn't crushed them…when someone tried to play hero." Molly said sleepily shooting a scathing look at Victor.
"Ahem"
The simple cough broke the dialogue as they saw a dark skinned guy in a black leather jacket shaking off the tar from his sneakers. They all turned and stared in confusion as he shook more loose from his pants.
" Oookay, prize goes to whoever can remember who this guy is, …" Nico said tentatively.
Victor squinted, then his eyes widened in comprehension " Hey, it's that guy that showed up, when Doctor Octopus was crashing through town." Victor then turned and threw a his arms out in frustration " I said that if we didn't find him he could find us, pero no …"
Chase whacked his head with his hand " Dude…not the time…"
Nico gripped her staff and said, " Fine Vic, you were right, but we have a houseguest."
Gertrude stroked Old Lace's head and said " Girl, roll out the welcome wagon."
Old Lace bared her teeth and charged.
Well, this is going great! The voice said as Devon vaulted over the prehistoric eating machine.
Shut up, he thought we probably should have expected this.
But, you didn't…. lightning bolt…
Devon somersaulted out of the way of a blast of electricity that was striking the spot where he would have landed. He glanced back, to see the Mexican guy, aiming at him, his arms glowing blue. He then ducked, again to avoid a bite from the giant raptor rearing behind him. He was fast, but he couldn't keep dodging both forever, especially not if the more of their group joined the fight.
He as he once again flung himself through the air to avoid another blast of energy. He saw the Asian girl, who appeared to be their leader, clutching her staff. What was her name?
Nico, now get the staff we could use that….
" For once we agree," he muttered as he crouched low, waiting on the charging dinosaur. As Old Lace, charged again, he rolled to her underbelly and lifted her up, throwing her down to the ground, just in time for the next bolt of energy to strike the dino right on the noggin.
The dinosaur slumped, stunned, as the purple haired girl proceeded to drop to the ground. He was a little surprised, to see that she apparently also felt what ever her pet felt, a piece he had not uncovered in his original information search. However, now was not the time for surprises.
While others were momentarily stunned at the sudden movement, he leapt at Nico, and grabbed her staff. He held out his hands in a calming gesture and said, " Okay every body let's just slow this crazy train down." Then, to his surprise the staff glowed and then erupted in a flash of light.
Los Angeles
Downtown
9:55pm
The cab driver turned his business light off. He cruised down the street until a red haired wiry man, with wild eyes and a blue shirt, stepped in front of the cab, making the driver slam on his breaks.
" Hey what are you crazy!" the driver yelled.
" I need to go to La Brea Tar Pits," the man said in an odd high voice.
" Hey I'm off duty pal, besides I don't drive psychos"
At that the man smiled and said " I'll think you'll make an exception in my case."
The cab driver didn't even have time to scream.
La Brea Tar Pits
10:55pm
The voice in his head groaned God Damnit; this is boring…how much longer does this last?
Devon watched as the group in front of him was stuck in slow motion. They had been going through the same motion for almost an hour. He sighed "Hopefully soon this will end." He tapped his fingers on the ground as he continued to wait.
POP!
"…ot my the staff!"
"…ert you okay."
They suddenly came back to regular movement. He stood up and addressed the group " I don't know about you, but I don't want to go through another hour of this so…can we talk?
He gathered them all in a circle. He then pulled a file folder out of his jacket, as he went around he tossed small sheets of paper at each person.
"Okay let's see Top of Form
" Nico Minoru, daughter of Dark Wizards."
" Chase Stein, Son of Mad Scientists."
" Gertrude Yorkes, daughter of time traveling despots…. what the hell's a despot…eh matter."
" Molly Hayes, daughter of evil mutants."
"Last of course, Victor Mancha, son of Ultron…well that's a twist."
Gertrude, still nursing a stinging in her head, said accusingly " Have you been spying on us."
Devon smirked " Hardly, it's called a computer…remember those? Turns out you guys have fan sites all over the place." He paused before smirking " My favorite This caused Nico to start, before he raised a hand and began, " So, I know you, now it's time for you to know me."
He stood in front of the circle " Hi, I'm Devon…Devon Cairo. I'm going to put it out there. You guys seem to be interested in protecting this little city of yours, and what's coming after me, will not only destroy your city, but also most of your state as well. So I need your help. What do you say?"
The cab pulled in front of the Tar Pits and the red-haired man got out, his shirt covered in blood. He walked to the tar, and dove in.
" No way man, what do we look like a charity drive?" Chase said vehemently
" Besides, you came in and barged in on us, no warning nothing." Gertrude added.
Amid the voices of protest the voice spoke loudly interrupted Devon's thoughts.
He's here.
Shit.
Devon waved his hands in the air and spoke loudly " You guys may want to take this discussion on the road, because we need to get out of here."
They all stopped and stared, the same defiant attitude on all of their faces; they spoke as one and asked " Why?"
Through the tar above, a figure bulleted out unto the floor of the Hostel. It rose up, at first it looked as if the figure had a blood red body suit on, but it was pulsating each fiber alive. The face grew huge slanted eyes, and a slit at the mouth emerged to form rows of teeth.
It grinned maniacally and said "Hey junior! Long time no see! Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"
