The details of the shipment and the diplomat involved was passed around faster than any intelligence network would've managed. Within ten minutes every member of the Superfreinds, the DEO, FBI and National City Police Department was coordinating with each other preparing a sting operation to catch the Blacksmith on his way out of town. Brainy confirmed the ship they were after was still docked but the foreign office had submitted the request for departure under diplomatic grounds. Colonel Haley came to personally inform the acting director of this news, agreeing to the joint operation with the FBI so long as she monitored the situation from headquarters. Brainy accepted the deal, organising his team and meeting the law enforcement at the docks to set up their stakeout.
Olsen got the call halfway through dinner, abruptly leaving the table quickly explaining to Kelly what's happening. "So they know where he's going to be? That's good, they can arrest him" she beamed.
"Not right away" he said cautiously, stepping into the garage explaining "according to Alex, the plan is to stake out the docks and apprehend him before he gets on the boat. The moment he steps on board the container with the diplomatic seal we lose him. But the FBI also want to nail this diplomat he's working for."
"But they can't open a diplomatic seal without a warrant, which no judge will grant without evidence" she said.
"So they want to wait until the man opens it himself. Then when they go in and arrest Henry Irons and Robert DuBois, they'll have a cargo container wide open with all the illicit weapons Christopher Smith was looking to smuggle out of the country. They'll be able to arrest everyone."
Kelly followed him into the garage where he crouched down to pull out the large leather case he kept under the workbench. "It sounds like they have it all under control" she said, nervously watching her brother open the case revealing his Guardian suit. "You don't need to go" she told him.
"Bloodsport is still a dangerous mercenary" he told her, reaching into the case wincing from the discomfort in his ribs. He pulled out the helmet and gloves, telling his sister "they need all hands on deck. We need to make sure this goes right."
Kelly suddenly appeared next to him, snatching the helmet from her brother telling him "no, they need to make sure this goes right. You need to rest" she reminded him, poking him in his ribs to hyphenate how injured he still was.
"I'll be fine" he retorted, reaching for his helmet only for her to snatch it away again. "Kelly, they need me."
"No they don't!" she screamed. "You said everyone walls going to be there, which means you don't need to be. For Christ sake Jimmy, I don't want to risk losing you to…any of this!" she said, throwing the helmet at his chest. He caught it with a grunt, staring at the woman as she grew frustrated and scared. "I am proud that this is what you're doing, but I don't want to lose you to one of those killers. You're still hurt. Let your friends handle it. It's not on you to save the world."
James hesitated, looking down at his suit. He couldn't stand by and do nothing. But he knew Kara and Alex would tell him to do the same if they were here. "I can't do nothing" he muttered.
Kelly pleaded with him through her eyes, stepping forward to cup his face. "You won't be. But just for tonight, let Guardian stand down so James Olsen can be there when it's over. Please" she begged.
James looked at her. He'd never knowing his sister to get emotional or resort to desperation. He thought about hard it was for them to lose their dad. He couldn't do that to her again. So, as much as he didn't want to, he dropped the helmet and gloves back into the case and closed the lid, pushing it back under the workbench. "Alright" he said, wrapping his arms around her as she hugged him tightly. "I love you sis" he muttered.
"I love you too, even though you're a stubborn pig" she muttered back. He chuckled, walking with her back to the dining table closing the garage door behind them.
The docks were quiet when everyone got into position. Over a dozen unmarked vehicles were positioned around the shipyard. Half of them were monitoring entryways in and out of the area, the other half was monitoring the ship itself. A skeleton crew of dock workers were bringing shipments aboard using massive cranes or forklifts while the captain walked the bow checking his watch. On the floor next to the ship sat a solitary container that none of the crew were permitted to go near. This one was guarded by two armed men while a slick white sedan was parked nearby, the driver standing outside smoking a cigarette. The car had a badge marking it as a foreign dignitary, its tinted black windows obscuring all view inside.
All except for Kara, who scanned it with her x-ray vision to confirm there was a passenger seated inside. She crouched on a rooftop on the outskirts of the docks watching over the operation. Officially none of the superheroes were meant to be here, but that wasn't going to stop her or Dreamer from waiting outside the area in case they were needed. Nia sat cross-legged on the ground rolling her shoulders and periodically flexing her knees to avoid cramps. "I forgot how much I hate this part" she muttered impatiently.
Kara nodded. Whether you were a police officer or reporter, sitting and waited was mind numbing. She scanned the rest of the area, picking out the spots the rest of their friends were hiding. She stepped down and sat beside her friend, coughing a little before pulling out the inhaler Lena gave her to counter the fading effects of her previous kryptonite exposure. Nia asked if she was alright. "Practically back to normal" she said, pulling out and fiddling with the gas mask Lena also made up for her. A precaution in case she needed it. "How are you?"
"Still bruised, but I'll manage" she replied confidently. "Brainy suggested I stay up here and use my astral projection to keep an eye on things instead of getting involved" she said.
"Are you going to?" Kara asked. Nia met her eyes, her expression confirming the opposite. "You can't blame him from trying" she laughed. "I got a lecture from both Eliza and Alex about how I shouldn't need to be here. I'd probably get one from J'onn too if he was…"
Her voice trailed off, worry crossing her face as she recalled why J'onn wasn't here. He was still lying in the DEO, recovering and unconscious. Both she and Alex went to check on him before they came here for the stake out, their mother standing behind them as they all did their best to say a Martian prayer for him. Eliza promised to keep an eye on him while they were out catching the man who put him in the hospital.
Nia reached over and took Kara's hand, squeezing it gently not saying a word. She didn't need to, her presence was comforting enough. The two superheroes shared a nervous smile and they continued to wait impatiently.
Down on the ground, Maggie sat in her police cruiser with the radio in her palm, tapping the dashboard nervously as she watched the container ship from the shadows. Next to her Alex was calm but restless, twirling a strand of hair through her fingers as she stared out of the windows.
Officially, the woman wasn't meant to be anywhere near this case. When Brainy alerted her to the news Colonel Haley was monitoring the operation she nearly swore. She knew the woman wouldn't let her in on the sting. So she snuck in without anyone but her friends knowing, joining the police captain passing her an earpiece to a private network they shared. "So you old boss doesn't know you're here?" Maggie asked. Alex sighed but Maggie didn't argue, happily inserting the earpiece and linking up with the group.
They sat in silence for almost an hour. The boat was scheduled to depart at midnight but they couldn't be sure when the Blacksmith would get on board. So they set up the stakeout as soon as possible to cover their bases. It was approaching ten o clock and the container labelled as the pouch was still in dry-dock. Someone entertained the notion they were too late, but Brainy confirmed the container was under orders to remain in place until it's owner said otherwise. Maggie looked through her binoculars to the white sedan parked across from it. "To think a pacifist is dealing with firearms" she remarked.
"Peace through war" Alex sighed. She had gotten the report from Brainy. It turns out Christopher Smith was already on the FBI's radar when many of his political enemies overseas and a few dictators were killed. All evidence corroborated that their enemies were responsible, but nobody could figure out where they got their armaments from. S US diplomat selling weapons to the enemies of the people they sought to save the world from quickly became a top conspiracy theory. Apparently federal intelligence were jumping for joy when they brought this information over. Which was why this sting had to go perfectly. They wanted Bloodsport, the Blacksmith and the diplomat all in one go. One slip up though and the red tape around Christopher Smith's involvement would make their lives so much more harder, even to convict Henry Irons.
To Alex, conviction wasn't top priority. As long as that man gave up Jake's name, he could disappear into witness protection or wherever. Jake was the end goal. Everything else was secondary.
"Reminds me of that stakeout we shared a couple years ago" Maggie said, looking to distract them both from the silence making sure her radio was muted. "The drug trafficker using a defunct train yard, remember?"
Alex looked at her, a smirk growing on her lips. "I remember we almost missed the mark because you were bored" she replied.
Maggie scoffed. "As I recall, you were the one who was bored. You were the one who instigated that debacle."
"Well, in my defence you interrupted the incredible date I had planned in order to drag me to a stakeout in the middle of nowhere" she chuckled.
"I thought it turned out to be a very entertaining date" Maggie laughed.
The two of them smirked, looking at each other wistfully. It seemed like a lifetime ago these two were dating and getting serious, until it had to end. "Do you ever wish we hadn't broken up?" Alex asked her.
Maggie sat back, thinking carefully about it. "I used to. But now I'm okay with it. It was the right call" she said.
Alex looked at her curiously. "Does that mean you've met someone?"
"Why so curious all of a sudden?" she asked. Alex shook her head, suddenly averting her eyes uncomfortably. "No, there isn't anyone right now" she answered cautiously. "But if you're thinking what I think you're thinking, the answer is no."
"No? No to what?" she asked.
"No to getting back together" she clarified. Alex blushed. The thought had crossed her mind. "Don't get me wrong, had you asked me a year ago I might've said yes. But that was before I found out about you and Kelly Olsen."
"I get it. But…I don't even know where I stand with her" she said.
"I know. That's why the answer is no" she explained.
Alex sighed, her eyes falling back to the docks where nothing was happening. She knew Maggie was right. She agreed, any chance they had of getting together had come and gone. In the end they were better apart. But thinking about that stakeout she mentioned, the exciting debacle as she put it, made her think about her relationship with Kelly. She let out a silent groan as she slumped back in her seat. "Why do relationships have to be so complicated?" she asked.
Maggie shook her head. "I don't know. But I'm told the best ones always are" she replied.
Alex turned her head to look at the attractive young woman again. After a few moments of silence she asked her "if it's a no to getting back together, what about if it was just one night?"
Maggie narrowed her eyes and looked at her. "One night? Seriously?" she asked. Alex shrugged. Maggie thought about it, her eyes glancing over Alex's attractive body. "That sounds like a bad idea" she said.
"Does it? I mean, I doesn't need to be serious" she said, turning in her seat to look at her. "After all, we're both consenting adults" she said.
"True" Maggie nodded, her eyes fixing onto hers as they leaned closer. "But just so we're clear, where would this one night you're thinking off take place? Here, now?"
Alex laughed. "A risk such a sensitive operation? Not a chance. No, I was thinking after we put all these guys away" she said, her hand reaching out to rest on Maggie's arm.
The woman nodded, leaning closer asking "wouldn't it be simpler to go out and have a drink?"
"We could, if you wanted" Alex smiled.
Maggie smiled back, their lips inches part as she replied "I could be persuaded, if you can provide a compelling argument."
Before they could go any further a voice interrupted through their earpieces informing them "you two know this line is open right?"
Alex and Maggie froze as Kara's voice interrupted their impulsive moment, their bodies falling back into their seats as they turned red from embarrassment. "Wait, if you…how did you hear?" Maggie asked.
"Enough to want to vomit" Nia chirped. Maggie glared at Alex who snaking into her seat from embarrassment.
"Alright, cut the chatter" Brainy said, interrupting the humiliating ordeal to inform them "we've got movement on the perimeter coming this way."
Everyone returned to their positions and turned their attention to the dark SUV turning into the docks weaving its way through the shipyard. Alex and Maggie forgot about the indecent proposal immediately sitting up in their seats. The captain radioed her officers to hold position until she gave the order while Alex grabbed the binoculars. In the DEO HQ Haley monitored the satellite imagery to the vehicle approaching, her analysts confirming the lack of plates or ID. "Alright, radio silence from here on out" she advised. Brainy had briefed them on all potential countermeasures the Blacksmith could've employed to alert them, one of them monitoring their radio frequencies. On the ground Brainy crouched in the shadows with a perfect vantage point, a scanning device in his palm identifying at least a few dozen energy signatures in the vehicle. Kara crouched on the rooftop focusing her senses to track it while Nia steadied her breathing and closed her eyes, meditating and projecting her astral form down to monitor the area.
The SUV pulled up a few yards away from the white sedan, the headlights switching off as the security detail waiting at the container and around the car stepped forward cautiously. The SUV door opened and the armoured figure of Bloodsport stepped out on the concrete, his menacing faceplate scanning the armed men carefully. He stepped forward daring their gaze and their weapons.
He brought his arm up, looking away from the men and pressing the touchpad installed in his gauntlet. From his hiding place Brainy looked down at his screen and confirmed he was using a scanning device to identify any electronic signatures in the area. Clever he thought as he quickly activated his own countermeasure, anticipating such a precaution. The web of nodes he planted an hour ago masked the electronic signature of their vehicles like a blanket, hiding them from his scanner. He looked up at the imposing figure until he nodded, turning to the SUV signalling the all clear. So far so good.
After a silent stand off the passenger side of the SUV opened and Henry Irons stepped out. As soon as he did the white sedan opened its passenger door and a man in a white suit stepped out to greet him. Christopher Smith was six foot tall, broad shouldered with blonde hair and a stern smile. He didn't have the look of a diplomat or a pacifist, but he held himself with self-assured confidence. The man walked forward buttoning his jacket standing in front of the Blacksmith. "So…I hear you're in a bit of a pickle" he said.
"I'm sorry to say that my situation here in the states has changed" Henry said regrettably.
"and so you come crawling to me, begging for my help, to put my reputation and position at risk to smuggle you out of our proud country?" he said coldly, a firm gaze on the black man.
DuBois stepped forward, not liking his tone. "Are you going to help us, or not? I don't like wasting my time" he scowled.
Smith met the man's gaze glaring back before breaking into a smile. "No sense of humour this one?" he asked, grinning at the mercenary.
"Hiring him wasn't my idea" Henry sighed.
Smith chuckled, nodding to him men to lower their weapons. "Of course I'll help" he told them. "I paid for a shipment and intend to deliver it. Speaking of which…" he said, looking inquisitively to the Blacksmith, who nodded to the SUV.
With a simple hand gesture the armed escort broke formation and marched over to the boot of the car and opened it. Anybody in sight, including Dreamer hovering around the meeting in her astral form, were gifted with the sight of two crates of weapons in the back. "It's all there" Henry assured his client when he walked over to check.
"I trust you" he smiled, clapping his shoulder. He looked to Bloodsport, explaining "this man has never let me down. Ever. His equipment is…there are no words."
"I'm aware" DuBois said bluntly, crossing his arms watching the men unload the SUV.
"Not much for talking is he" Smith sighed. He cast an eye over the suit he was wearing, making an observation. "One of yours?"
Henry was amazed he could tell, looking at the mercenary in surprise. "Maybe" he replied.
Smith nodded, admiring the armour looking at the removable plating. "I've heard about you. They call you Bloodsport, correct?" he asked. The man didn't reply, but Smith nodded anyway. "Heard the reports about your new arsenal. They say it teleports in out of thin air. Is that true?"
"Irritate me and maybe you'll find out" DuBois growled.
Henry chuckled, shaking his head answering "no, teleportation is inefficient. No, I built his gear using a specialised nanotechnology I borrowed from the DEO archive. Collapsible weapons, able to interact with each other and attach to his suit giving him an intricate exoskeleton." Smith examined these pieces and whistled. Henry saw him open his mouth and quickly intervened "they were limited in supply. I cannot make more, not at this time."
The diplomat whined in disappointment. "Shame. I know a few friends of mine who would've loved this kind of weaponry" he sighed.
"Out of curiosity" DuBois asked, looking at the tall white man inquisitively, "why would a man like you need so many weapons?"
"By men like me, are you referring to a member of the foreign office?" he inquired.
"I mean a coward who refuses to carry a gun" he clarified.
Smith fixed his eyes on the mercenary, stepping forward coming face to face with him. "Let's get one thing straight, I am no coward. You mistake my choice not to use weapons as a fear, not a decision. I want to bring peace to this world, to my country. Unfortunately there are men out there who think differently, will kill hundreds and thousands of innocent people, massacre villages and terrorise their cities because war brings power. I realised very quickly I will never be able to bring peace as long as tyrants like them exist. So I arm the people who would remove them for me. It's messy, dirty work, but if it brings peace then I'll remove every man, woman and child I have to."
Robert looked at the diplomat, chuckling behind his mask. "So that's the secret to the famous Peacemaker of the United States" he said.
Christopher Smith didn't acknowledge the name he'd adopted behind closed doors, turning away to face the man helping him continue his mission. "We'll get you on the boat along with your merchandise. I've seen too it nobody will bother you until we reach our destination."
"Thank you" Henry smiled, clasping his hand. "Oh, before I forget" he said, walking back to the SUV were Smith's men were finished unloading the crates and slowly carrying them to the container. He reached into the backseat and pulled out a bag he'd almost overlooked. "Something I was tinkering with over the last few months" he said, presenting it to his client.
Smith opened the bag and pulled out a slick chrome helmet, his face reflected in the metal shaped into a dome with a ridge intersecting the top. "Magnificent" he marvelled, examining it running his hands over the smooth metal. He looked at the man asking "what does it do?"
"Nothing" he laughed. "No bells and whistles. But the metal alloy is virtually indestructible once the metal sets. It'll protect you against almost anything, including energy projectiles."
Smith nodded in approval, sliding the helmet onto his head looking through the eye holes. His lower jaw remained on display but the helmet fit his large head perfectly. "How do I look?" he asked DuBois.
"Ridicules" he retorted. Smith chortled, thanking his supplier leading the pair of them towards the container.
Everyone waited with baited breath as the three of them walked towards the shipping container waiting for them on the dock. If they were allowed to us their radios Maggie would be telling her men to stand by, Alex would be telling her sister to stay calm and Brainy would he confirming all units were prepared. Fortunately, everyone knew the plan and waited for the signal. The only one with their eyes closed was Dreamer, who was following the group close behind using her projection, safely out of sight. They watched the security detail wait at the entrance while Smith walked forward and unlocked the diplomatic seal on his pouch, stepping back so Bloodsport could open it revealing the dark interior.
"Put them with the rest" he told them men carrying the crates, monitoring them as they waddled into the container after turning the switch for some camping lights. Henry stood beside him examining the interior, boxes of crates stacked and strapped together holding a mix of relief supplies, medicine and black-market weapons. "If I had more notice I could've made your accommodations more comfortable" Smith remarked sadly, gesturing to the lights and cables wired inside saying "this was the best I could do. I was able to include an extra crate of food and water for the trip" he added, gesturing to a box in the corner.
"It'll be enough" Bloodsport said, stepping inside to check the container confirming it was safe and secure. Indeed, it won't be comfortable but it will get them out of the country unhindered.
Henry smiled, turning to his client thanking him again. "Don't mention it" Smith smiled, pulling out his phone to check the time so they'll be on schedule. "The way I see it, you're more valuable to me alive and out of prison" he said. His face suddenly scowled as he smacked his phone against his palm, the screen flickering. "God damn it, this is meant to be a new model" he muttered.
Henry looked at his phone as the screen distorted. Moment's later one of the lights in the container flickered. His eyes traced a path around him, looking around and seeing a second light flicker to his right, almost right beside him as he stood in the entrance of the pouch. Unlike his companion, who dismissed the odd flickering as electrical trouble or a manufacturer's complaint, he recalled seeing this before and made an educated guess, an appreciative smile on his lips as he muttered aloud "Miss Nal."
"Oh Shit!" Nia thought as Dreamer's eyes snapped open on the rooftop.
