Power Pack
Issue #24 – Wolf in Principal's Clothing – Part Two
Goodrich Junior High School
"You should have told us about this sooner," Julie said as she scolded her younger sister after Kat had told them all about her and Franklin's adventures in the basement and the wolves.
"Yeah, pipsqueak," Jack teased as Kat's face turned red.
"Shut up, dork breath," Kat spat back and crossing her arms.
"Boy, they fight worse than little kids," Valeria laughed at the floating portable body of Friday.
"I still don't understand how you managed to tag along," Kat said staring at the youngest child of the Fantastic Four.
"Friday, why did you bring her? This is too dangerous for her. She's too young," Julie asked at their robotic friend.
"I am not!" Valeria protested.
"Sorry, Julie but she insisted on coming to help her brother and I found no illogical reason why she couldn't assist in the rescue of her brother. Plus, she threatened to tell her parents," Friday said with a computer sigh.
"Yeah, so nanny took me for a walk to the park and Friday swopped in, deactivated her and placed her safely at the Pack Pad while he brought me here," Valeria said with great pride.
"We don't have time to argue, we have to find Franklin. Val, you will stick near me and don't do anything unless I tell you to," Julie said as she glared at the little girl who smiled and saluted her.
"How do we find him?" Jack asked.
"He's in the secret basement of the school," Kat said.
"How do we get down there and without being spotted by the other students?" Julie asked.
"We could just walk there without our costumes on. People would think we were just regular students," Val smiled brightly.
"Yes, but they might take notice of you and Julie for sure being not the right age. Jack might pass as Junior High," Kat said towards Val and then smirking at her brother.
"You know, Kat, we're in this mess because of you so I'd," Jack began to shout when a load shaking of the door began.
"Why won't this door open? Who's in there? Open this door right now or I'm getting the Principal," a voice came from the other side of the bathroom door.
"The temporary sealant I sprayed around the door won't hold for long against great force," Friday said as he glanced at the already dissolving goo he had placed around the door when they had first arrived here at the school.
"We have to come up with a plan quick before we get caught in here," Jack said as he started to panic.
"Help me with this," the voice from the other side of the door said as loud thumping sounded from the door.
"We have to do something," Kat said as she watched the door shake.
"We need to get to the basement," Julie began to repeat to herself as she started to feel the pressure.
"Julie, what do we do?" Valeria and Kat began to ask her in panic.
"I'm thinking," Julie said as she kept wishing she could get everyone to the basement.
"Julie!" Jack shouted as the door began to give.
Julie started to panic when she suddenly felt the locket against her chest begin to heat up. Suddenly thoughts of being in the basement filled her mind as she felt her powers build up inside her. She turned as she heard a loud bang at the bathroom door. Just as she saw the door fly open, rainbow streaks poured out of her body and engulfed her and the rest of Power Pack. Her vision blurred with bright colors as she felt her body move and merge with the rainbow streaks. The last thing she heard was the faint voice of somebody commenting on how the bathroom was empty.
Julie's vision began to clear as she felt her body stabilize and pull the rainbow streaks back into herself. The locket against her chest gave on last pulse of heat as it and her powers snuffed out. Julie rubbed her chest as she looked around. They were no longer in the bathroom but somewhere very dark and damp.
"That was amazing!" Valeria screamed.
"Julie, we're in the basement. How did you do that?" Kat asked.
"I don't know. My powers have been acting up lately," Julie said as she caught an odd look from Jack.
"It's possible your powers are starting to grow. Remember, Whitey was able to teleport," Friday said referring to the alien that had died and given his powers to the Power Pack when they were younger.
"What ever the reason, we're here now and we have to find Franklin," Jack said as he looked around the dark room.
"I can feel him in here somewhere, but it's so dark," Kat said as he rubbed her tattoo and tried to look into the darkness.
"Let me help," Friday said as his body suddenly gave off an aluminous glow that lit up the room.
"Thanks, Friday," Julie said as she pulled Val close to her and looked around.
It was clear they were in the school's basement. The boiler room could be made out off to the right as well as storage containers and other things that made up your typical school basement. It was clear that there was nothing out of the ordinary down here. There were no wolf lords, wolves or even their team member Franklin anywhere in this basement. After a few minutes of exploring they realized that there were no secret rooms or anything more to the basement. They were at a dead end.
"He's here somewhere, I can feel him," Kat said as her brother and sister gave her those disbelieving looks of theirs.
"Kat, if this is another one of your attempts at attention," Julie started to say.
"I'm not lying. Val even said he came to her," Kat said as water began to fill her eyes.
"It's true. I believe you, Kat. I can feel my brother down here," Val said as she looked up at Julie.
"I just don't know where he could be," Julie said as she sighed.
"Maybe," Kat began to say when her tattoo flared with pain.
Kat began to feel her body glow as she seemed to be disintegrating the air around her. Her neck burned as she reached out with her hands and, what appeared to be disintegrating the space in front of her. The space in front of her, where her hands were, now displayed a different room then the basement. It looked like a dark, fiery lair. She had no idea what was happening.
"Kat, this is all an illusion and you're somehow disintegrating it away so we can see the real basement," Jack said with awe.
"Is that Franklin?" Valeria asked as she pointed at Kat.
The all looked to see an energy ball emerging from Kat's chest and hovering in front of them all. A green spirit-like form of Franklin was forming within it. It appeared to be screaming but no sound was coming from its lips. Then in a flash, Franklin and the energy ball vanished as the illusion faded and they found themselves in a dark lair that was lit up only by flaming torches all along the wall. There was no exit in sight except for a door to their left. Power Pack moved closer together as they began to hear the sound of wolves growling in the distance.
"What is going on?" Kat asked as she looked at her hands and could still feel Franklin deep in her soul.
"I don't know, but we need to get out of here. This way," Julie said as she moved them to the door and opened it.
"I told you that you would pay," a deep voice growled as a pack of wolves bolted from behind the door.
Jack instantly became smoke as a wolf went right through him. He turned to see his world fall apart all around him. Everything seemed to happen too fast. A large wolf, with his paw, grabbed and slammed Friday's head against the floor crushing it and causing Friday's glowing body to extinguish. He turned as he heard both his sisters scream. One wolf had sliced open Julie's body from head to toe with its massive claws while two other wolves finished off Kat like a chew toy. Valeria's force field was all that was keeping her from being torn apart by the wolves. Jack began to cry as he saw a figure walk through the doorway.
Jack instantly recognized the man as the principal of Goodrich Junior High, Principal Drol Flow. As he got closer his features began to change. His skin started to become fur as his facial features and the rest of his body began to change. It didn't take long before the man was replaced by a werewolf with fiery red fur and very sharp teeth and claws. His eyes glowed red with fire and power as the wolf lord came right at them.
"You think I can't finish you too?" the figure laughed.
"You murdered them all!" Jack cried as he looked at the sight all around him and Val.
"Yes, and once I'm done with you two I'll feast on your dear meddling brother," the werewolf growled as he smiled at Val.
"Leave us alone," Val screamed through tears as her bracelet on her wrist flared with a burning sensation.
Val's arms suddenly shot out extending in front of her. As they stretched towards the wolf lord, her fists became large, orange rocky fists. Before the wolf lord could react, the rocky fists hit him in the chest with a large impact that sent him flying back through the doorway and out of sight. Val's eyes then flashed as an invisible force slammed the door and pinned it shut. She then turned and glanced at all the wolves around them. Her bracelet flared as fire shot from her eyes and hit every wolf causing them all to explode in flames and vanish into piles of ashes. Her force field then dropped as he fell to the floor exhausted and began to cry.
"No, no!" Jack screamed as he glanced at the massacre all around him and began to lose control of his smoky form.
Jack didn't care that his form was disapating. Power Pack, his family, was dead and there was nothing he could do about it.
New Warriors
Warriors Hunt – Part Two
San Francisco, California
Alex felt Jesse's uneasiness as once again they were being taken through Darkling's Darkforce to teleport from the New Warriors' base to San Francisco. Alex was worried about what they were up against. It seemed that some group of villains has targeted the New Warriors and were hunting them down one by one. So far as they knew, they have lost three friends and teammates; Timeslip, Helix and Hindsight Lad who had been the first hunted and with his death the hunters had also obtained a database with everything you wanted to know about the members of the Warriors and more.
Alex was worried about his siblings but knew they would be safe for now. It seemed that the group was only after the Warriors and directly connected associates like the group called Psionex which Darkling was the only surviving member. Alex would give them a call once they got done here in San Francisco where they were racing in to rescue Darkhawk and three other members of Turbo's secret team called the Loners. He just hoped they would make it in time and were able to defeat and capture the attackers. Alex took in a deep breath as the darkness vanished and the world came back into view.
"Everyone keep sharp and remember these guys are killer," Night Thrasher said as they appeared on the scene.
"They're gone," Namorita said as she flew up into the air and looked around to see no villains in sight.
"Where did they go?" G-Force asked to no one in particular.
"They left the minute you started to materialize," a voice wheezed from their right.
"Phil!" Turbo shouted as she saw the green armored body of the Green Goblin lying in the wreckage of a building and flew to his side.
"Where are the others?" Night Thrasher asked as they began searching the area.
"There are three over here. I don't recognize them but they're all dead," Namorita said as she stepped over to where another building had been destroyed.
Darkling stepped over to see a woman all in black, a man with metal wings and a yellow bug on his chest and another man in golden armor. Both men's armors were practically ripped off their bodies as well as a few appendages. The woman had a spear plunged deep into her chest. Whoever she was, he could almost feel a connection to her and he couldn't figure out why.
"They're old teammates of mine back when I was a Slinger," a man in a white mask and torn leather jacket said limping from the wreckage.
"Johnny," Turbo sighed as she helped Green Goblin to his feet.
"They're names were Dusk, Prodigy and Hornet. I left them and they came here to ask me back and ended up sacrificing their lives to protect me," Ricochet sniffed.
"Can you tell us who attacked you?" Night Thrasher asked.
"No, I can't. I was visiting with the Slingers when I heard a distress call from Darkhawk. We rushed out and I was immediately blasted by something that sent me flying back into the building. Before I could move, my danger sense went off and I managed to move farther back into the building as the front caved in. I just now found my way out," Ricochet said kneeling down by his old friends.
"I never saw them either. Something was blocking their images so I couldn't see them through my masks lenses. With the hits I was taking I didn't dare remove my mask or eye pieces. I switched to inferred was able to see where they were through faint readings of body heat," Phil said as he slowly made his way to the others.
"Sorry about your friends, Johnny," Turbo said as she got close enough to place a hand on his shoulder.
"This one, I find interesting," Darkling mumbles as he pulls the spear out of her body and tosses it aside.
Suddenly, Darkling moans as his dark energy starts to tear from his body and surround Dusk. It feels as if Dusk is sucking the Darkforce right from his body. The dead woman at his feet instantly gasps as her body jumps up and heals as it absorbs the dark energy. After a few seconds, Darkling manages to cut the connection as he dips to one knee and the woman known as Dusk is standing before him, alive and fully healed.
"Where am I? What happened? Oh God, Ritchie, Eddie?" Dusk began to panic.
"Cassie, you're alive. Don't you remember what happened?" Ricochet asked as he moved to her side.
"No. Last I remember is talking with Eddie and Ritchie about coming out here to see you and get the Slingers back together and then waking up now, to find them dead," Dusk said as she knew that last time she came back from the dead via the Darkforce she had also lost her short term memory.
"She somehow regenerated by siphoning the Darkforce off of my body," Darkling commented as Ricochet filled in the gap for Dusk and comforted her.
"Where is Darkhawk?" G-Force asked as he continued to look for the Warrior they had come to aid.
"Over here," Frost Fire calls out from across the street.
G-Force, Night Thrasher and Namorita moved quickly to where Frost Fire stood. A woman in an eye mask and prominently blue costume with a touch of red on the gloves, belt, boot tips and spider on her chest was pinned under a car while the man called Darkhawk laid a few feet from the woman with a huge gash on his side and odd blood everywhere. Night Thrasher checked their vitals. They were alive but barely and unconscious.
"We have to get Chris to revert back to his normal form," G-Force said.
"Why is that?" Frost Fire asked.
"I don't know how it works, but when he switches forms the other is perfectly fine and after awhile when he switches back the injured form has healed," G-Force explained.
"How are we going to do that?" Namorita asked.
Frost Fire started to wish he could make the impossible possible when the ring on his pinky finger began to burn. Suddenly he felt ice pouring from his body and was consuming the body of Darkhawk. Before Night Thrasher and the others could react, fire shot out from his hands right after and melted the ice away to reveal the body of Chris Powell. The pinky ring quit burning as he stared in awe.
"How did you do that?" G-Force asked his husband.
"I don't know," Frost Fire responded as everyone stared at him for a second.
"He is completely healed and fine, but still unconscious," Night Thrasher said.
"Can you tell us anything about the attack?" Turbo asked Green Goblin.
"No, not really. Everything happened so fast. Me and Spider Girl," Phil began as he nodded toward the unconscious woman that Namorita was throwing the car off of, "were talking when we heard a loud commotion from outside followed by a call for help from Darkhawk.
"We made it outside in time to see the Slingers go down. I looked around and couldn't see anybody as an unknown force was attacking and bashing Darkhawk. Mattie dove right into battle next to Darkhawk while I was hit by something strong. Every time I tried to move I got hit hard. I finally switched to inferred and saw faint body heat images of three figures. It made it hard to fight but I held my ground till I was blasted into a building," Green Goblin said as he told them all he knew.
"I don't like this. An enemy that knows who we are and where to find us and can strike at anytime and make themselves practically invisible," Night Thrasher said.
"They can't be all that tough if they didn't finish off Chris and vanished the moment we arrived," Namorita said as she picked up the body of Chris Powell while Night Thrasher carefully did the same with Spider Girl.
"No, they're picking their battles. They know what they want and they know how to find us," Night Thrasher said.
"What next?" Turbo asked as police sirens began to sound.
"We need to get back to base and care for the injured," Night Thrasher said as he nodded at Darkling.
"What about Eddie and Ritchie? We can't leave them," Dusk said through tears.
"I feel the same way as you, but we can't risk staying. The police will be able to take them and get them to their families for proper burials," Ricochet said hating what they were about to do, leave two friends behind.
"Time to go," Night Thrasher said as darkness engulfed them all and then faded as they found themselves back at the New Warriors headquarters.
"Welcome back, guys. Whoa, what happened? Is Chris okay?" Speedball said as they got Chris and Mattie into beds.
"Chris will be fine. Mattie will recover once her healing abilities kick in," Green Goblin said as he took off his armor and allowed Silhouette to run scans on him to check of internal injuries and broken bones.
"So when were you going to tell me about your super group?" G-Force asked.
"Yeah, I'd like to know that as well," Night Thrasher said as he moved past her and headed to the computer where Debrii typed away.
"It wasn't really a super group. We got together and called ourselves the Losers as a joke. We kind of came together with the intentions of a support group for heroes wanting to retire and integrate back into society. Phil just joined after your wedding, Alex," Turbo said as she went over to Phil's side.
"Yeah, we weren't keeping secrets from anyone, honest," Phil said as he was given the all clear with only a few bruises.
"I need to make a quick call," G-Force says as he and Frost Fire step away from the group to contact his family.
"What have we got?" Night Thrasher asks as he looks at the computer screen.
"I have sent a secure coded message to all Warriors. Justice and Firestar are done with their honeymoon and are on their way here. No response from Nova, but not sure if the message will reach him clear in space. Rage is leaving campus as we speak and heading here.
"No word from Dagger, but according to Bryce, she has gone on a mission and isn't even in this dimension right now so we wont have to worry about her. See current issues of Salem-X I have reached Ultra Gil and Slapstick. They are on their way here. I have been unable to contact Aegis or Sprocket," Debrii reported.
"I want Hindsight's last coordinates and data on those two and send two teams out to check on them. I also want you to contact Cardinal and the members of Force of Nature," Night Thrasher said.
"Why would you contact them?" Microbe asked about the group of villains.
"Because, Cardinal shared a relationship and child with Sprocket at one time and Folding Circle member Silk Fever had once been known as Firewall in Force of Nature," Night Thrasher said as he went to check on his team and prepare their next move.
Next: Issue #25 – Wolf in Principal's Clothing – Part Three & New Warriors: Warriors Hunt - Part Three