The Wild Pack
Issue #9 – PreludeMadison pulled into his driveway and quickly got out. He was really excited to be home. He ran to the passenger's side and opened the door. He helped his wife Mindy and their new baby girl out of the car. Today was little Jessi Marie Jeffries' first day home from the hospital. He looked at his wife and little girl and smiled deeply. He loved them more than anything, especially after almost losing them both. But thanks to his friend and teammate Jesse Crow AKA Black Crow, he was able to save them and bring them home.
"Hey there, Mr. Jeffries," said a soft voice.
"Hey there Jayson," Madison said turning around.
Madison looked over at the kid sitting on the front steps next door. Madison didn't know a lot about his neighbors, any of his neighbors to be exact. He did know that Jayson Landon was an only child. His parents Deedra and Omar had moved here from the Bronx. Jayson was 18 but a very skinny and scrawny boy. They had moved here to get away from all the tough kids and find a place that Jayson might fit in better. He just had occasional conversations with Jayson in passing but had never actually conversed with his parents.
"I see you brought the little one home," Jayson said.
"Yes, her name is Jessi Marie," Mindy said holding her up a little so Jayson could see.
"She is pretty can I hold her?" Jayson said as he got up and then tripped over his feet.
"Maybe another time. We have to get her in and fed," Madison said smiling and quickly ushering his family into the house.
"No problem," Jayson said as he picked himself up and headed into his own house.
They soon had Jessi down in her crib and Mindy and Madison stepped out the door. Madison held his wife for what seemed like eternity and then stepped back. It had been a few days since the birth of his daughter and he knew this subject was about to come up.
"I know how important the Wild Pack is to you and without them we wouldn't be here, but we also can't have you out there risking your life," Mindy said.
"I know dear and I've come up with a solution. Since the day you left I had been working on an idea. One that would allow me to still be apart of Wild Pack but not actually go out in the field as the Predator. I just have to put on the costume one last time to meet with the gang to tell them the plan," Madison said to his wife.
"So you mean you'll never put on the costume again?" Mindy asked.
"If this plan works I'll never have to put on the Predator costume again," Madison assured her.
"Okay, tell me your plan," Mindy said as she listened to Madison's plan.
"Be back later my love," Madison said as he got her approval and headed off.
Madison ran downstairs into his hidden basement and put on his Predator costume for the last time. He ran to his computer system and alerted the rest of Night Force to the time and place of a team meeting. After that was done he ran up to upstairs window. He looked out and then leapt out and headed off into the night, unaware of Jayson seeing it all, again.
----
Jesse was wheeling out of the shop. He had given Tamara the night off so he had closed. He didn't mind, gave him a chance to take his mind of things. He had recently gone through some changes and also helped Predator, now known to him as Madison Jeffries, save his family from the spirit world. What was hitting him the hardest was the fact that Felicia, the woman of his dreams, had stood him up. She wouldn't even return his calls. He had heard rumors of her show being taken off the air and that was keeping her occupied. Yeah right, whom was he kidding?
"Are you closing?" A voice shouted just as Jesse reached to pull the door shut.
Madison turned to see a man running up the street. He had strawberry blond hair and glasses. He looked like a very nice clean-cut guy. Jesse whipped his chair around and faced the approaching guy.
"Actually I was just locking up. Can I help you?" Jesse asked.
"Names Walter, Walter Langkowski. I just moved down here and took a teaching job at the university. I heard you sold rare books and wanted to see if you had some reading material for my class," Walter said.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Jesse Crow, owner of the Arts of the Crow. Normally I would close, but for you I could stay open a few minutes longer," Jesse said.
"Thanks I appreciate that. I'm teaching a section starting next week about Physics VS the Supernatural and need some books," Walter said.
"Well I got plenty. Head over to that section over there and see if there is anything that catches your fancy," Jesse said leading Walter into the store.
"Thanks, I promise not to be long," Walter said heading over to the book section.
Jesse passed the time by double checking his inventory list on the computer. Suddenly his watched flashed and he looked down. Predator was requesting a meeting. He had some time yet before the requested time but he better get going. He quickly told Walter he had to close up and Walter came over and bought a few books and said he would be back tomorrow to look over a few more. He said good-bye and then locked up the shop.
Jesse rolled himself to the limousine and got inside. While in the safety of his car he called forth his powers. In a shimmering instant the form of Jesse disappeared and the form of Black Crow was now seated in the back of the limousine. He then cracked the sunroof. Calling forth his powers he became a crow and flew out of the sunroof. In a mater of no time he would be at the meeting place.
----
Felicia grabbed her stuff and headed for the front door. She hadn't seen her roommate all day, which was a good thing. She couldn't count the times she almost strangled her. For now she would be happy with the fact that she had really hurt her by coming on to that Jesse guy and crushing him at the same time by standing him up. To top it off she would find out in a few days if she had lost her job or not. Everything has fallen into place nicely. All she had was a couple things to take care and she could leave this hellish city.
Just as Felicia stepped out the door she felt a bump to her side. She looked over to see a woman with tan-like skin and dark hair carrying a large box. The woman dropped the box after accidentally bumping into Felicia. She turned and extended her hand.
"I am so sorry. Names Cleo Nefertiti. I just moved into the apartment across from you," Cleo greeted.
"I'm to care on what count? Next time watch where you are going," Felicia said as she walked past Cleo and headed to the elevator.
"Wow, nice to know my new neighbor's a real witch," Cleo said glaring after Felicia.
Felicia got into the elevator and headed down. She didn't have time to pay attention to the lady. She had more important things to take care of. She made her way to the street and hailed a cab. Felicia quickly got in and gave the cab driver an address. She then sat back and enjoyed her ride thinking of what she had planned next.
----
Tamara got out of the cab and paid the driver. She looked around as the driver took off. She was in a very deserted and secluded area of Bergsville. She didn't see another sole anywhere. She looked in front and saw a green run down house. This was the address that belonged to an Anastasia Vice. Could this Anastasia be the same one that was Simpson and Jackson? Only one way to find out, so Tamara walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell.
After about five minutes Tamara assumed it was safe and that no one was home. She placed her mask on and threw off her trench coat that revealed her costume she was wearing underneath. Bioelectric wings exploded from her back and she took flight. She landed on the roof as her wings vanished. She walked over to the attic window and pushed it open. She quickly made her way inside.
Dragoness looked around and was surprised to see the attic empty. She found the door and made her way to the lower level. Once again there was no furniture anywhere. The living room was empty, as was the kitchen. There was some food in the fridge but that was about it. She found the bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom had a few items while the bedroom had a bed and a closet full of women's clothes. Dragoness went to the closet quickly.
After about ten minutes she sighed. There was absolutely nothing in this place. It was a big waste of time. Maybe she was making something out of nothing. She decided it was time to go home and face her roommate. As she headed for the front door she heard a cry. Dragoness listened but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. She finally traced it to the kitchen pantry. There in the pantry was a door that led into the floor.
Dragoness tried to pull it up but it wouldn't open. She called forth her powers and released a couple of her stinger blasts and blows the lock. She pulled the door open and climbed the ladder down into the secret basement. It was completely dark and damp in the basement, but she could hear a muffled cry from somewhere. Dragoness called forth her powers and created her bioelectric shield around her body to light the basement.
Dragoness gasped at what she finally saw. Against the far room wall were two women chained, bound and gagged. Dragoness saw a light switch and turned it on while she shut off her powers. She ran over to the two women to see that one was Felicia and the other was Felicia's mother. Dragoness could not understand how that could be when Felicia was back at the apartment. She quickly used her powers to free the women.
"Are you two okay? What happened?" Dragoness asked noticing the look in Felicia's eyes that her mother didn't know her secret.
"I don't know. One minute I was talking to an Avon lady on the front door and the next I was locked down her with a crazy lady yelling at me about being an unfit mother. She wouldn't say any more and she never revealed herself to me. She just said I would be getting what was coming to me," Lydia Hardy exclaimed in a quick sob.
"Who I thought was my mother was not my mother. I escorted my mother out to her cab and next thing I knew my mom was gone and another woman stood in her place. Before I could react I was hit over the head and woke up chained here. I have no idea who this woman is but she will pay," Felicia said holding her mother in her arms. "How did you find us?"
"A clue and a hunch led me to your mother's house which I found abandoned and a mess. There I found some interesting items that led me to a search that eventually led me here," Dragoness said as she told them the story of her adventure just changing it enough not to reveal her or Felicia's secret identity.
"Mom, what do you know of this Anastasia? What's going on?" Felicia asked.
"I, oh my God I don't know where to begin," Lydia sobbed.
"Well let me help you out, MOTHER," a voice shouted from behind them.
They all turned to see a tall woman with long blond hair. She was holding two gun-like weapons at them. She stepped into the light more and held the guns steady. They all gasped when the lady shifted appearance and was now a tall, slightly older woman with long dark hair.
"Here I pull up to my house to discover I have another guest. Don't even think about moving. If either of you make a move or you use your powers I will pull the trigger killing you all," The woman said.
"Who are you?" Felicia demanded.
"Your Anastasia Vice/Jackson/Simpson," Dragoness said.
"You're my long lost baby?" Lydia asked as she started in tears.
"Long lost baby? You mean this evil witch is my sister?" Felicia shouted.
"Actually half-sister. You see we share the same mother but different fathers," Anastasia said.
"Is this true? What's going on? Why did you never tell me I had a sister?" Felicia asked her mother.
"I don't know. It was so long ago, until recently I almost forgot," Lydia cried.
"Forgot did you? What kind of mother are you?" Anastasia shouted.
"Hey you watch it," Dragoness yelled taking a step forward.
"Don't even think about it. Mother tell them what you did and then I can continue the tale," Anastasia commanded.
"It was so long ago."
"Tell it or I start shooting."
"When I was young, I was raped. At that time I had been seeing your father Felicia. Walking home one night from a party I was mugged and raped. I was too ashamed to tell anyone not even your father. When I finally confessed it was too late to have an abortion. Your father was not happy, for he had proposed to me but not to the child I was bearing. Soon I gave birth and your father demanded that if I were to marry him I had to give her up for adoption. He wanted no part of the child. Since he wouldn't claim it I named her Anastasia Simpson and placed her into adoptive care.
"That is the last I ever knew of my little girl. Soon after I married your father and we started our own family and had you. I'm so sorry Anastasia, I loved you but he wouldn't let me have you," Lydia cried and cried.
"That's no excuse. If you loved me you would have kept me or searched for me," Anastasia shouted.
"I'm so sorry," Lydia cried.
"So what are you doing now?" Dragoness shouted.
"You see, I want them to pay for ruining my life. See I was adopted by the Jackson's and went to live with them. After years of living with them in poverty, I was finally told I was adopted. I had never been so happy to find out that I didn't belong to that awful family. You see, that wasn't the only thing I found out, I also discovered I was a mutant. I had the ability to take on the form of any living thing through mixing their blood with mine.
"After I mastered my gift I decided to search out my birth parents. The Jackson's told me that my real family didn't want me so I said good-bye and headed out to find my mother," Anastasia told.
"You mean after you killed them and went missing," Dragoness said.
"Shut up witch! After years and years I discovered who my mother was and what kind of life she had and the life her other daughter had with her. So I waited and plotted and here we are now. You see this ring can hold up to three blood types with a needle that goes into my skin. This allows the blood to go in and I can shape shift. Even after you are all dead I can carry on your identities for a while," Anastasia laughed.
"You can't do this," Felicia said over her mother's cries.
"Oh yes I can. I want her and you to suffer," Anastasia said.
Dragoness tried to form a plan while the three family members went back and forth. She could strike her but not at risk of her firing off those weapons. Dragoness decided to act and called forth her powers.
"Not a smart idea," Anastasia shouted pointing the weapons directly at the three of them making Dragoness back off.
"You can't hold us here for ever," Dragoness exclaimed.
"Your right, I don't plan to. I think I'll kill you all right now," Anastasia laughed as she started to squeeze the triggers.
Dragoness shot a stinger blast at Lydia that moved her clear out of the way and knocking her out on the far wall. She then called forth her bioelectric shield all around her body that deflected the blasts from the guns. With Lydia knocked out Felicia leapt up and out of the way. She landed behind her half-sister.
"Family reunion is over my dear," Felicia said as she kicked both guns out of Anastasia's hands.
"How?" Anastasia asked as Dragoness released her dragon's breath destroying the guns.
Felicia then punched her half sister and watched her drop to the ground out cold. Felicia then ran over to her mom to help her up.
"I already signaled the police they will be here any minute. I noticed Predator has been paging a meeting. I'll head there," Dragoness said.
"Okay thanks. I have to stay with my mother for now, tell them Black Cat is handling this case and you can fill me in later at home," Felicia whispered.
"Sure take care," Dragoness said as she headed out.
Felicia walked over to her mom and held her waiting for the police to arrive.
----
"Okay, it will be just the three of us then. Dragoness you can fill Black Cat in later," Predator said after Dragoness said that Black Cat was in the middle of an arrest.
"Due to personal reasons and incorporating a better way to lead this team I have made a few decisions. I'm quitting as the Predator. I'll no longer be wearing this costume and going into battle," Predator said.
"What?" Both Black Crow and Dragoness exclaimed.
"Hold on, before you both start yelling. In a secret location I'm putting together a high tech computer network and system. I'll be updating your com-links so I can talk to you guys at all times. This way I'll guide you and be your information network while you three are out in the field," Predator said as he explained to them his full plan.
"It sounds like a good plan but we'll miss you in battle," Black Crow said.
"I know but I'll still be with you. In time we might have to seek out new members but I have a feeling that our mysterious villains and the job agency is going to lead to something big. Not only do we need muscle but I feel someone has to be monitoring and working the cyber realm," Predator said thinking that the other reason was he could be safe at home with his new daughter and making his wife happy.
"I can see your point. Once you get this system up and running I think it may be time to look more into the job agency," Dragoness said.
After a few more minutes the three headed their separate ways. When all three got home it was all over the news. They watched the whole broadcast about Anastasia Vice, kidnapping Felicia and her mother and taking on Felicia's identity. Members of the Vault were taking her back to New York to face charges on the alleged murder of the Jackson's. They way things sounded, she would be put away for a very long time.
Madison shut off the TV and joined his wife and daughter. He had a lot to do but when he was done he would be able to run his team and stay safe at home at the same time. He wasn't sure how all this would work out but thanks to some old friends of his he was going to have a great network system. Hopefully this would give them the edge they needed to figure out what was going on in this city.
While Madison was thinking with his family Jesse Crow was shutting his TV off also. He had conflicting emotions. One, the girl of his dreams never blew him off but now he wasn't sure if the real Felicia would even like him. He would have to be patient. At least he still had a chance.
Felicia called Tamara and got the news about Predator. She couldn't believe it but understood the decision. She told Tamara that she was going back to New York with her mother and would return in a few days after they sorted through this whole mess. Tamara then hung up and went to bed in relief. The right Felicia was back and now she had to work on getting Jesse before it was too late again. Even though Predator was changing his role, at least the team was all back again.
----
Back in an upper floor office of Force Job Agency, the president hangs up the phone. He then pages Miss White, the woman in charge of all the employees. She comes running into the office.
"You called for me?" Miss White asked.
"You have always done a good job even though you cut it close with Tamara Kurtz. Unfortunately she escaped her father's wrath. I'm tired of the way things are going and pressure from my peers and boss is getting to me. The Storm is coming and we have to be ready. I want the agents from the special file to be contacted. Tamara needs to be dealt with and eliminated. Also I want Mr. Crow out of that store even if we have to kill him," the President of the company commanded.
Miss White nodded and went to pull the files and make a few phone calls.
Next: Issue #10 – The Attack – Part One