Alpha Squads
Issue #3 – The Swarm
Department H – Meeting Room
"Thank you both for coming. This will be the first of our weekly board meetings to discuss how things are going," Director X said as Heather and James Macdonald took their seats across from him and Madam Q.
"We'll start with you, Madam Q."
"Nothing major to report, sir. The school enrollment is growing well and we are being recognized positively in the public eye for the first time in a long time. Canada is seeing us and Alpha Flight as a great source of super hero protection and training," Madam Q said.
"That is good, and no problems from Mr. Hudson?" Director X asked.
"No. After agreeing to turn over the suit to us with no problems, we or the public have not heard anything from him," Madam Q said.
"I still don't believe that Mac turned that over without a fight," Heather said eyeing everyone closely.
"Believe it. I mean he didn't like it and we had some words but he knew he had to do it. You called him didn't you?" Mac's clone asked.
"I guess. When I called him he didn't say much. He just said to be careful and left it at that," Heather said, still wondering what she had sensed in Mac's voice and what he wasn't saying, but they had both made their decisions and had to move on.
"Great, now, Miss Hudson, what can you tell me about the divisions?" Director X asked.
"Epsilon Flight is running fine with Mr. Louis. We've had no problems with security, except I discovered that a ship had been taken out a few weeks ago but there was no record of it as to why. When Albert was questioned he finally confessed that him and some guys went out drinking. I still find it odd," Heather said.
"I will talk with him and he will be reprimanded," Madam Q said quickly as Director X motioned for Heather to move on.
"Gamma Flight is going great. We don't have that many children yet but Mistress B & Mr. Sadler are getting along fine and getting things running smooth with the ones we have.
"Beta Flight is looking promising. There are a few and Aurora and Lillian are doing a great job in training them and teaching them. Aurora has already noted a few for potential advancement.
"Omega Flight got off to a slow start but Puck is finally coming around and getting them to all work as a team," Heather said, still having her doubts about Eugene handling the role of leader with the members of his secret strike force.
"Yes, I agree. Mr. Judd and me had started off on the wrong foot but I've stepped back into a more supervisory role and let him lead the team solo. I'm hoping to send them on a mission soon to test their team work," Madam Q added to Heather's report.
"I know you have no contact with Z Flight, Miss Hudson, James if you would?" Director X nodded to the clone.
"Jean-Paul has been working with the four members we have right now. I have sent you a report on their training along with the list of potential candidates to be recruited," James said.
"Great, we can talk more later after I review the notes," Director X said as he was interrupted by an alarm.
"What is going on?" Madam Q jumped up.
"Director X, we have a situation downtown," Albert Louis's voice came in over the intercom.
"What is it?" Director X asked.
"Seems a swarm of robotic bees are attacking the area with laser shooting stingers."
"James, gather Alpha Flight and go. This will be our first major stunt so make us look good," Director X said as James and Heather got up. "Hold on Heather. I think James and the team can handle this. There is no need for you to go out in the field. We will need you to help keep an eye on the school while they are all out."
"Yes, sir," Heather sighed as James rushed out of the room. As much as she liked what was being done here, she was starting to miss the ability to go out on missions.
Interlude One – Hidden LabA figure moved slowly back and forth. He was growing impatient. He didn't escape that wretched island and come here for nothing. If he didn't get some test subjects as promised he would for feral. Just as he was about to get the fur on his back ruffled a figure in shadows appeared on the monitor.
"How are you doing my good doctor?" The voice asked.
"How do you think? It's getting a bit lonesome in here."
"Have the chambers been completed?"
"Yes, I installed the Taurus Tube last week. They're ready for occupants. When am I going to start testing them?"
"Does the chambers and the devise work?"
"Yes, all the Star Stones have been placed in the control slots. The Gemini Tube didn't want to power up but I got all the bugs worked out. All I need now is some people to test this on to see if it will truly do what we designed this devise to do."
"Don't worry, you will," the shadowed figure on the monitor said
Downtown"Here we go guys. Our public debut. Let's show Canada that we are the true Super Heroes here," James said as he gave the signal.
Robotic bees flew at them all in a matter of moments. Walter, the man known as Sasquatch leapt into the air smashing them left and right with Rebound right behind him. Earthmover and Silver-Auric did their best to avoid the laser stings as they used their powers against the swarm. Switch, in what seemed like a choreographed dance, sent mechanical parts every where with her swords.
"Ghost Girl, Snowbird, see if you can find the source behind these things," Protector said as he flew into the air to put his new suit to the test.
"Watch out!" Silver-Auric shouted as Earthmover was hit with a bunch of laser stings dropping him to the ground in pain.
Silver-Auric seemed to shimmer and pause but then shock it off and they began to freeze then melt the bees around Earthmover.
Lilli floated along as bees tried to get her but simply passed right through her and Narya as they moved deep into the heart of the swarm. Snowbird was using her powers to try and sense the evil behind the swarm. They hadn't had any luck yet, but Narya claimed to be getting closer.
"Anything yet?" she asked Snowbird.
"Yes, right around the corner here. There!" Narya pointed at a giant robotic looking creature.
"Bernie?" Ghost Girl gasped.
"Who?" Narya asked.
"He is known as Man-Bot. He was a member of the Alpha Flight team I was involved with. I had always wondered what had happened to him. Bernie, why are you doing this?" Lilli asked.
Suddenly a large piece of metal broke off from Man-Bot and transformed into a giant bee and flew at them while Man-Bot took off around the building.
"He's getting away," Narya said.
"I know but we can't ignore this giant bee," Lilli said.
"Don't worry, my sister will handle it. I'll go after the man bot," Northstar said as he took off around the corner and Aurora flew at the giant bee leaving the two members of Team Alpha stunned.
"Mac, there are just too many of them. Soon all the hair on my body will be singed off," Walter laughed as he took a few more stings to his body.
"Then maybe you better step down and let a real team handle this," shouted a loud voice.
Protector and Sasquatch looked up to see four figures flying down from an aircraft. Guardian, Puck, Major Mapleleaf and Diamond Lil came quickly into view. Alpha Flight had arrived.
Interlude Two – A bar just outside of the downtown area.
"Turn up the sound," the man known as Colin Hume said as he put down his drink.
"Crazy huh? Whole down town is being attacked by robotic bees," the bar keep said.
"Oh no, I better get down there and give them a hand," Colin said as he prepared to go.
"You're not going anywhere, Windshear. I have a score to settle with you," a man said as he blocked Colin's path.
"Tiger Stryke, get out of my way. I don't have time for this," Windshear said as he started to call forth his powers.
"Wrong, it's time I taught you a lesson," Tiger Stryke said.
"Actually, Mitchell, Colin is needed elsewhere," came a voice from the entryway.
"Hey there, am I glad to see you. I could use a hand," Windshear started to say towards the new comer as he was cut off by something that came so fast he didn't see it coming till he was hit and on the ground unconscious.
"Well, never thought I would see the day. I had heard stories but who would have thunk it?" Tiger Stryke laughed.
The person in the doorway clapped his hands as the bar exploded inwards and a swarm of men in uniforms came rushing in. They moved so fast, that before he could react, Tiger Stryke along with any other eyewitness were quickly gunned down.
"Take Windshear back to base. The rest of you, leave the rest of the bodies here and burn the place down. I have other business to tend to," the mysterious man commanded as he flew off.
Downtown battle – The Alpha Squads"Get out of here. We have this under control," Protector said as he fired blasts from his hands blowing up bees.
"I can see that. Now how many of your team are down or injured before we got here?" Guardian laughed as he blasted a few of his own.
"Why don't you just stuff it!" Mac yelled as his anger got the best of him.
A blast hit Protector almost sending him down. He turned to see his clone smirking. "Sorry about that, Mac, the bee moved. Was an accident, I swear."
"Accident my butt," Protector swore as he flew at Guardian. Pockets on the side of each of his arms opened up and launched two balls at his clone. The exploding impact sent Guardian flying into a near by building.
"Mac, can you quit fighting amongst yourselves. We need to fight the swarm not each other. I know it's tough but at least we can try to work together," Puck said as he flipped up and over to avoid a few sting blasts.
"I know, old friend. He makes me so mad," Mac said as he returned to blasting robotic bees.
"The old man is correct," Rebound said as she bounced off Puck and swatted at the bees.
"You will pay for that!" Guardian yelled as he came flying out of the building.
"James, stop!" Diamond Lil shouted as she grabbed Guardians leg pulling him back. "We need to take care of the Swarm first."
"Your right. Don't think this is over, Mac," Guardian said as he flew off into a batch of robotic bees.
"You two can go, I have this under control," Aurora said as she picked herself off the ground and charged back at the giant robot bee.
"Yeah, sure looks like it," Lilli said as she watched Snowbird and the woman known as Aurora trade blows with the giant bee.
"We used to be friends, Jeanie-Maire," Narya said trying to avoid the giant sting blasts as well as Aurora's cold comments.
"We're not friends, and my name is Aurora," she said as she collided with Snowbird knocking both of them to the ground.
"This is getting no where fast," Ghost Girl said as she moved up to the bee and phased it into the ground and then destroying it as it became solid within the ground. Lilli shook her head as she watched the two old friends wrestle on the ground.
"Mac, there is just too many of them," Puck said as welts formed all over his body from the sting blasts.
"Wish we knew how to stop these things," Protector said.
"Over there," Silver-Auric said as a form came into view.
They all turned to see Man-Bot come around the corner, soon followed by Northstar. It appeared that he had the robot on the run. At the sight of Man-Bot, the swarm of bees gathered around it positioning for a final attack. Both Alpha Squads stood to face Man-Bot and his swarm.
"Bernie? Please stop this. I command you!" Guardian shouted at his old teammate.
"I can't. This is what I'm programmed to do," Man-Bot said in a computer-like voice as the swarm attacked from everywhere with great force.
"Who told you to do this?" Protector asked as he used his suit's powers to try and repel the swarm's attacks.
"Bernie please stop, for me?" Ghost Girl said as she and the banged up Snowbird and Aurora followed behind.
"Lilli?" Man-Bot said suddenly gaining a more human quality in its eyes. The bees started to stop.
"You can come back with us, we can help you," Lilli said.
"Yes, she is right," Protector said to the man relieved that the bees were all hovering in mid air for now.
"No, he will came back to Department H. He is Alpha Flight's responsibility," Guardian barked.
"Department H? No!" Man-Bot shouted as he made a motion and a bunch of bees merged into a giant object high up in the sky and began to drop.
They all knew what it was, a giant bomb. In a matter of moments it would hit the ground where both Alpha Squads stood. Both teams began to argue about who would stop it and who should be in charge. Switch moved fast. Even though she didn't like to use her powers, she had no choice this time. Northstar blinked as the woman in blue leather was right in his face.
He tried to move but realized he couldn't use his speed powers. Switch shot into the air, and then Northstar flew off in the other direction as his powers kicked back in. It had all happened in the blink of an eye. Everyone stared up after Switch as she was within inches of the swarm bomb. Just before the bomb hit her she turned and looked Man-Bot right in the eyes.
Everyone yelled in surprise as Switch vanished and Man-Bot instantly took her place colliding with the swarm bomb. Both Man-Bot and the bomb exploded into a million pieces. Everyone turned his or her heads in shock to see Switch standing where Man-Bot had been. Even though the explosion went off far enough above them to save them all, they still had to quickly act to block and destroy all the falling pieces of debris.
After a few minutes Guardian and Protector were in front of Switch.
"Why did you do that?" Both of them shouted.
"You had no right to kill," Protector scolded.
"I did not kill. That thing was not even human. It was a robot. I didn't have a choice. By the time all of you stopped fighting amongst yourselves the bomb would have detonated. Yes, you all may have survived but they wouldn't have," Switch said as she turned and walked away.
Both James and his clone turned to see that standing behind them was a large crowd of people. Switch had been right, too many people were at risk. Sirens began to go off as the news, paramedics and the law began to show up. Guardian turned to Protector.
"Get your team out of here. You've done enough. We'll clean up here," Guardian said waving his hands at all the fallen and falling dead robotic bees. With the death of Man-Bot, the bees had lost power too.
Protector ground his teeth, but with a gentle touch from Puck, he signaled his team and he left Alpha Flight to take full credit for saving the day. He would settle the score with Guardian another day. For now, he and his team had to lick their wounds and deal with how they handled the crisis, especially Switch.
Epilogue – A yacht off the coast of the Virgin Islands"Yes, seems like that was handled well. Thanks for the information," a young man sitting in his deck chair looking out into the sun said as he hung up. "Jeeves, bring the boat around. Time to head home."
As the boat headed north, the man stood up and leaned on the edge and looked seaward. He had received a package with a note telling him that his mother was dead. He didn't know who had sent it, but inside was his mom's journal. It was burned and badly damaged. There was only one page that you could make out wording. The page spoke of her regrets for lying to him about where she and his father really worked and how she wished she could tell me how he had died for the Program instead of me believing he was away on business. The only thing else on that page that was legible was the name of the program and something about a file with everything on it that she had hoped to send to him in the event that she died.
After he got word that his mother died, he spent the next few years spending his great inheritance trying to find information and a way to get revenge on the program that had taken his parents from him, both growing up and their lives. What information he could get was small and didn't explain much. Information on this program was scarce and well hidden, but word had it that it had been shut down. Finally, he had received a lead that would help him find that file and get what he needed to create the ultimate weapon and revenge. He smiled as the boat sailed home.
Next: Issue #4 – Operation X-Files