Infinity Crisis Aftermath: Skysurfin' Surprise
Disclaimer: All characters belong to their respective owners.
San Diego, California, Earth-199596
The basketball-sized drones raced through the air as they headed towards their target. The target was a Latina teenager. She was riding on a futuristic red surfboard with yellow flame highlights. The board matched the costume she was wearing: A black bodysuit that had armored pieces that were red with yellow flame highlights. Her head was covered by a matching helmet that revealed the lower half of her face, with a translucent golden visor. The helmet let the girl's long black hair fly free.
She smirked and clenched her fists. Flames started to burn on her hands.
Hot Streak. Real Name: Selena Salazar. Birthplace: Phoenix, AZ. Physiology: Cyborg. Powers and abilities: Bio-Borg enhancements grant pyrokinetic abilities.
Selena Salazar was once an ordinary teenager. A runaway, she was captured by a villain known as Dr. Five-Eyes. Five-Eyes was a Bio-Borg, a cyborg warrior that worked for another villain known as Cybron. Five-Eyes had experimented on the girl, and transformed her into another Bio-Borg. She would be rescued by Cybron's enemies, the Skysurfer Strike Force.
The Strike Force were unable to restore her to humanity, but they were able to free her mind from the Bio-Borg's alteration process. After reuniting with her family, Selena had chosen to join the Strike Force as their sixth member.
That was three years ago. Now at 19, Selena did not just consider her fellow Skysurfers as team members, but as her extended family.
"I'm the Firestarter!" Selena whooped. The spheres sprouted guns and fired away at her. She charged ahead with her board. The teenage Bio-Borg heroine then deftly dodged the laser blasts from the spherical drones.
She was being observed by three people in a control booth. All three of them were blonde, two women and a man. One of the women was in her 50s, wearing a white blouse, brown slacks, and lab coat with comfortable brown shoes. Her blonde hair had white streaks at the temples and bangs. She had held a cane in her hands. Madeline "Maddie" Hollister looked over at the other two blond people. The younger woman's blonde hair was held back by a purple headband. She wore a long purple skirt, and black tank top with purple loafers. The man's own long blond hair was tied in a ponytail. He wore a black letterman jacket, red t-shirt, and blue jeans with black-and-white Converse sneakers. She smiled at them.
Skysurfer One. Real Name: Jack Hollister. Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA. Physiology: Baseline Human. Affiliation: Skysurfer Strike Force. Powers and abilities: No innate superpowers. Skilled extreme sportsman and swordsman.
Skysurfer Two. Real Name: Cerina Cyrus-Hollister. Birthplace: New York City, NY. Physiology: Baseline Human. Affiliation: Skysurfer Strike Force. Powers and abilities: No innate superpowers. Disguise and infiltration expertise.
"She's really something, Jack. She grown into a fine young woman." The blond man smiled.
"Yeah. She has, Mom." Jack Hollister's smile then faded. "I wish we could have made her human again." The younger blonde woman put a hand on Jack's shoulder in a comforting manner.
"In a way, you did." Cerina Cyrus-Hollister told Jack.
"Aye, Jack." Maddie agreed, her Irish brogue coming out a bit. "Humanity isn't about what a person is made of. Your adventures should have taught you that." She chuckled.
"Mm." Jack agreed.
"Ye're thinking about Cybron again?" Maddie deduced.
"Can't be helped." Jack said. "It's because of him that Dad isn't here."
"Jack, Cybron's gone." Carina reminded. "Remember?"
"Yes." Jack smiled. His eyes had brightened up a bit. Two years ago, the Skysurfers finally managed to bring down the cyborg master criminal once and for all. In the process, the group managed to finally find the evidence to prove that Jack's father was framed.
Eight years ago, Adam Hollister was killed and Madeline was injured when his lab was destroyed in an explosion. The explosion was caused by an assistant of Hollister's, one Vincent Cyrus. Cyrus had stolen an experimental A.I system he and the Hollisters were working on. Cyrus planted evidence framing Hollister for stealing the A.I for the purpose of selling it to a rogue nation.
Cyrus did his own further experimentation with the system. This experimentation caused him and the A.I to merge, forming the cybernetic criminal genius the world would call Cybron. Alongside his daughter Carina, Cybron repeatedly plotted to rule the world using his small army of cybernetic warriors called Bio-Borgs. Some were built from scratch, others were once humans.
Infuriated by the framing of his father by Cybron, extreme sports enthusiast Jack Hollister sought a way to fight him and clear his father. Inspired by her son's love of surfing, Maddie (alongside Nathan "Nate" James and Kimberley "Kim" Sakai, two other assistants of Adam's) developed the Skysurfer technology. Jack had also recruited two friends of his, former military men turned extreme sports enthusiasts named Brad Wright and Micky Finnegan. Kim, Nate, Jack, Brad, and Micky would become the Skysurfer Strike Force.
Over the years, the Force battled Cybron as well as various other villains. The ranks would also further expand thanks to Carina. She originally aided her father in his schemes, but her love for Jack would eventually cause her to turn against her father and join the team as Skysurfer Two.
"I'm glad we were able to excise that ghost from the past." Maddie smiled.
"Now all we have to do is capture his remaining Bio-Borgs." Some rock music started to play from his phone. The blond sportsman pulled it out of his pocket. "It's Nate."
"Oh yeah, he and Kim went to investigate a sighting of Replicon." Cerina recalled as Jack answered his phone.
"Uh huh...What?" He blinked. "Okay, we're on our way." He put the phone away.
"What is it, son?" Maddie asked.
"Nate and Kim found Replicon...at least, they thought they did."
"They're in trouble?"
"No, they brought his body to the lab. But then, it changed."
"Replicon can shapeshift. That's not a shock." Cerina frowned.
"But after he seemingly died?" Jack asked.
"He's dead?" Maddie asked.
"Evidently." Jack nodded. "We gotta head to the lab. Get everyone together, Mom."
"Aye, son."
In the media room, two more of the Skysurfers had been playing a video game. One was a auburn-haired ponytailed man wearing a red and white button-down short-sleeved shirt with a black undershirt, jeans, and white shoes.
Crazy Stunts. Real Name: Michael "Micky" Finnegan. Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA. Physiology: Baseline Human. Skills and abilities: Skilled stunt pilot and marksman, uses whip-firing guns as a Skysurfer.
"Whoooooo!" Micky whooped.
"Awww, dammit!" The other cursed, slamming his controller on the couch. This man was a brunet,wearing a purple t-shirt with a yellow boomerang on it, blue jeans, and black sneakers.
Soar Loser. Real Name: Bradley "Brad" Wright. Birthplace: Dallas, Texas. Physiology: Baseline Human. Skills and abilities: Skilled martial artist and expert on silent thrown weaponry.
"Man, you suck at this game, dude!" Micky cackled.
"You're a cheat!" Brad grumbled. "There is no way you can possibly beat me every single time we play video games!"
"Dude, not my fault you suck!" Micky retorted.
"There is no legit way you can be that good!"
"It's called practice, dude. You should try it sometime."
"Unlike you, I got a friggin' life." Brad sneered. "I got a hot date tonight. You got one of those?"
"Yup." Micky nodded. "With this nice gal I met at the Comic-Con."
"The lady in the Pharah costume?" Brad blinked.
"Yup." Micky nodded. The PA system of the headquarters fired up.
"All Skysurfers, please report to the lab." The voice of Maddie Hollister boomed.
"Well, I could some action." Brad smirked. "Hopefully, ol' Zach Easel decided to show his face. I've been wanting a rematch with that little punk..."
The Skysurfers made their way to the lab area of the headquarters, where they were joined by two more of the Strike Force.
One of them was a lithe woman of Native Hawaiian and Japanese ancestry, with short spiky black hair. She wore a white midriff-baring t-shirt with a denim jean jacket, jeans, and comfortable brown boots. The other was a tall broad-shouldered bald black man wearing a blue-and-white jacket with a green t-shirt and brown slacks with black work boots.
Sliced Ice. Real Name: Kimberley "Kim" Sakai. Birthplace: Honolulu, HI. Physiology: Baseline Human. Affiliation: Skysurfer Strike Force. Powers and abilities: No innate superpowers. Skilled martial artist and swordplay expertise. Uses sword that can fire freeze beams at targets.
Air Enforcer. Real Name: Nathan "Nate" James. Birthplace: Atlanta, GA. Physiology: Baseline Human. Affiliation: Skysurfer Strike Force. Powers and Abilities: No innate superpowers. Heavy weapons and demolition expertise.
"Did you two find Replicon?" Jack asked.
"...sort of." Nate admitted.
"What do you mean 'sort of'?" Selena wondered.
"Check this out." Kim waved to a body underneath a white tarp. She then removed the tarp, revealing that body was of a green-skinned being with large pointed ears, and a craggy chin. The body was clad in a black-and-purple uniform.
"Huh. Gnarly." Micky blinked at the alien being.
"Ugly little spud, ain't he?" Selena cracked.
"I've heard of little green men, but this is ridiculous." Cerina snorted.
"Heh heh, Adam would have loved to have seen this." Maddie smiled. "He always was into all that stuff with UFOs and the like. He was convinced there was an actual crash at Roswell."
"This ain't any alien being we've ever seen before." Nate said. "I also contacted the ISS. They said they have seen no alien craft come near here in the past few months."
"Have them check back further." Jack said. "Just in case."
"We scanned the body, and we discovered something interesting." Kim smiled. "I have one question for you. Have any of you ever heard of the Fox Theory?"
"I have." Nate nodded. "The Fox Theory postulates that our world is just one of many other alternate Earths, each separated from one another by unique vibrational frequencies."
"So, if we turn on an electric toothbrush, we'll travel to another dimension?" Brad cracked.
"Not exactly." Kim snickered. "Part of the theory is that everything in a universe vibrates at a certain rate." She pointed at the Skrull corpse. "Our scans discovered this alien's body vibrates at a different rate from the rest of our universe."
"So, he comes from another dimension? That's so cool!" Micky grinned.
"Sounds like something out of a 1960s comic book." Brad snorted.
"It is!" Micky grinned. "Hang on, I'll be right back!" The redheaded man ran off.
"Oh God, this nerd is going to get a comic book, isn't he?" Brad groaned.
"Don't tell me you never read comic books." Carina smirked.
"I did, then I hit puberty." Brad snickered. "Turns out pretty girls ended up being more interesting than drawings."
"You enjoyed those movies that are being made based on them." Selena pointed out.
Brad crossed his arms. "They made me feel nostalgic." Micky ran in, holding a trade paperback.
"Here!" He grinned widely, opening up to a particular page. "Flash of Two Worlds. Cover date September 1961. Written by Gardner Fox, art by Carmine Infantino. Is this the Fox dude you were talkin' about, Kimmy?"
"Yes. It is." A blinking Kim confirmed.
"Fox was a science fiction author. He was also a comic book writer. He used his fiction works to promote his multiverse theory." Nate added.
"I'm guessing because real scientists thought he was nuts." Brad snickered.
"If they did, they certainly would be kicking themselves if they saw this." Nate noted.
"So, what could this mean? A prelude to an alien invasion?" Maddie asked.
Jack shrugged. "So what if it is? It's not like we haven't dealt with alien beings before."
"I don't think even we can handle a full-on alien invasion." Nate pointed out. "Even with the allies we had made, and our numbers rising from five to seven."
"Not to mention that Replicon is now still out there." Kim added. "His shapeshifting powers make him a nightmare to track down."
"He's one of the last of Cybron's old Bio-Borgs, right?" Selena asked. "I know most of them were caught or dead."
"Dr. Five-Eyes and Zachariah Easel are still on the loose." Brad recalled. "I hope to get my hands on Easel, and wring the little bastard's throat."
"Easy, Soar Loser." Jack said. "I know you want payback for that incident in Tuscon, but we're not executioners."
"You know what he did there, Jack."
"I do. I was there, remember?" Jack reminded. "But have to be better than that." He looked at the alien corpse. "Besides, the priority is right here now. We have an alien from an alternate dimension here. Why is he here?"
"Maybe he came here by accident." Selena suggested.
"That's certainly a possibility." Maddie agreed. "I mean, considering all we've seen, and that whole Dusting mess..." She shuddered. "I think we've entered into whole new territory here..."
"I admit, I'm a bit excited." Kim smiled. "This being is proof that the Fox Theory is true. A shame he isn't alive to see this..."
"Yer theory is more correct than you can imagine." A new voice piped up, this one with a Scottish brogue. The group turned around and saw a stout man walk up from the shadows.
The man was clad in an ivory-colored safari jacket with a paisley scarf underneath the lapels. The suit had plain white shirt and tie that matched the scarf. He also had a yellow-brown pullover that has adorned with turquoise zigzag patterns and patterns and cherry-colored question marks. A paisley handkerchief peeked out of the left pocket of the jacket. He also wore brogued spectator shoes, and a pair of tweed plaid trousers. A fob watch was chained to the left lapel of the jacket. His head was topped by an ivory-colored panama hat that had a scarlet paisley-colored hatband, which concealed the man's short black hair. Over his arm was a black umbrella that a handle in the shape of a cherry-colored question mark.
With him was a blonde teenager that was dressed like a late 80s rocker: A black leather jacket with various patches on it, and a heavy metal t-shirt. She also had on a pair of black leggings, a black leather skirt, and comfortable white sneakers. She had a backpack slung on her shoulder.
"Who are you, and how did you get in here?!" Maddie demanded.
"I have my ways." The man tipped his hat respectfully at the older woman.
"Yeah, the Professor likes to mess with people a bit." The teenager rolled her eyes in amusement, her voice showing she was English.
"Ace..." The man pointed at the alien on the table. "What is that creature there?"
"I think that's one of those Skrull things, Professor." Ace guessed. "They've come to this reality, too?"
"Evidently so, my dear." The man nodded. "I believe this is the third reality we found these beasties in?"
"I thought it was four." Ace said.
"Professor?" Brad blinked.
"Call me 'The Doctor'." The Scotsman smiled. He gestured to the teenager. "And this is me companion Ace."
"Doctor, huh?" Nate asked. "Doctor...who, exactly?"
"Just the Doctor." The Doctor answered. He gestured at Ace. "And this is Dorothy Gale-McShane."
"Call me Ace." She smiled. "We've seen these Skrull things before."
"You know about them?" Jack asked.
"We've seen them cause bother in a few other alternate worlds."
"Wait, you're saying these...Skrulls...have been spotted in other universes?"
"Mmm." The Doctor confirmed. "They come from a reality much different from yours, Mr. Hollister. They're part of a group of their people that are more...aggressive."
"In their reality, the Skrulls have been fighting for a long time against another race from their universe known as the Kree." Ace added. "The Kree were the aggressors."
"Sadly, war can bring out the worst in any being." The Doctor stated. "Some of the Skrulls decided to take up the campaign of conquest." He glanced at the dead Skrull. "And for these Skrulls, just their reality is not enough."
"...how many of these other worlds are these Skrull things hiding out in?" Maddie asked.
"We found three or four so far." Ace said.
"What could they be after in this world?" Jack asked.
"That is the mystery, my skyflyin' friend." The Doctor said. "If there's one here, there are others. We'll have to find them, and find out what they're after here..."
I admit, I drew inspiration from this one-shot after watching the old Skysurfer Strike Force cartoon on the Pluto TV app. This isn't quite like the old cartoon series, if you can tell. The series never talked about Jack's mother as far as I remember, so I thought I'd show her actively helping the Skysurfers. I also thought about the idea of setting this after the series, showing that the group finally brought down Cybron, but there still were likely other villains and threats out there. Thus, there would be a reason for the Skysurfers to continue fighting the good fight.
The creation of Selena came from the idea that over the years, the group would likely have expanded. Not to mention I thought it would be cool to see Cerina's canon crush on Jack ultimately driving her to reform and join the Skysurfers herself. Love Redeems, and all that. Also, their Earth being designated "199596" is a nod to the years the show was originally broadcast: 1995-1996.
The Seventh Doctor and Ace appearing was a nod to Marcus S. Lazarus's "A Darker Shade of Red". In that story, the 13th Doctor teamed up with the Smallville incarnation of Superman to stop the titular character of the film Brightburn. With the Infinity Crisis multiverse revealing the MCU Skrulls infiltrating various Earths, I got hit with a bolt of inspiration. What if 13 was not the only incarnation of the Doctor to be tracking the Skrulls as well? After all, it's not the first time multiple Doctors ended up being involved in a crisis...