Static Force
Chapter 4: The Beginning
The cemetery was hauntingly quiet as Robert Hawkins made his way around the maze of headstones, seeking the one that would provide comfort to his troubled heart within this labyrinth of grief and remembrance. After the ten-minute trek from his car, he came to his destination, pausing before he began speaking softly to the ghosts of his past as he lovingly placed the delicate bouquet of assorted flowers on the headstone of his wife's grave marker.
"Hi Jean," Robert said, unable to keep his eyes from misting over as he spoke to the open air, hoping desperately his voice would find its way to his wife's spirit. "I know it's been a while since I've visited, and I'm sorry. Life just seems to keep pulling the rug out from under me. Of course, you know that already don't you?" He said, chuckling lightly at the sadness that clenched his heart.
"I'm sure you know about both Virgil and Sharon, and I know your watching out for them, and I am glad to know they have a guardian angel who cares so deeply for them. But if you have an extra set of eyes, could you keep an eye out for me too? I know it's selfish, and it's not like me, but I just feel everything is happening too fast.
"Sharon said Adam's heading back to town. Apparently his tour was really successful, but some problems with booking in Gotham caused them to cut it short, so he'll be back before we expected. Not sure if I'm ready for that to be honest. Sharon is under the impression Adam will propose to her when he gets back. He's a good young man, and you'd like him...you'd like him a lot. He had some trouble with his past, but that's behind him now, and Sharon is the biggest influence for that change. The problem I'm having is, I'm not ready to give her up. At least not yet."
Robert paused a moment before continuing, reaching to the edges of the headstone and tearing away the high grass that grew arrant around her marker. "Virgil is another matter all together. Maybe you knew all along the hero he had inside him...after all, he is your son. But I can't help worrying about him. I know he got himself hurt when he went to the mall to stop that metahuman from destroying it, he's been gingerly favoring his right side since he's come back from it. But I'm not pushing him for answers, and maybe I'm making a mistake doing that, but I have to trust him. But it's harder than I expected. The city needs Static to protect it, but I need my son to be safe, and fighting between my need and the needs of the city, well, my own need to protect him is winning out.
"I see so much of you in him, in both our children. And I know they will do anything to protect those in trouble, but I can't help it. I'm scared they'll end up here with you before I will, and I can't live with that. So Jean, please watch out for them. I know you always have, but something inside me is making me worry more every day. I'm proud of our children, and maybe I wasn't prepared for them growing up so quickly, but they're two fine, outstanding young adults. But they're still our children, and I'm still worried about them. The world isn't as safe as it used to be, and both of our kids, in their own way, are fighting to make it better."
Robert chuckled again to himself as he removed his glasses and wiped the unshed tears from his eye with one, thick finger. "Of course, you already know all of that don't you? But, I just needed to talk to you again. I miss you Jean." Robert bent down, kissing two fingers and laying them to rest on his wife's headstone before standing up and turning to make his way out of the cemetery.
Jean Alexis Hawkins
Loving Wife and Mother
Devoted Servant of the People
She will be missed, but not forgotten
# # #
Nigel Saunders made his way menacingly toward the school that had been his home for the past nine months, his great, powerful form attempting to hide in the wooded terrain surrounding the institution as he gazed at his last attempt for salvation.
Since coming in contact with the strange, mutagen gas that altered his physiology, Nigel considered any and all means to revert the changes in his body and make him normal again. He hated the school. Having been accepted only on the name of his parents and mocked and ridiculed by other students, Nigel felt out of place at Vanmoor School of Science, as much out of place as he felt now, a monster trapped in the human world.
But regardless, many of the brightest young minds in the country were in this school, and at least one of them would know how to help him. He'd make them help him. Coming firmly to his decision, Nigel pushed his way out of the forest, snapping more than a few trees as he walked from his wooded hiding space and up the entrance way.
# # #
Static sat against the worn, shredded couch in the hideout Gear and himself often occupied to collectively think of new plans and scenarios when battling Bang Babies. Today, the silence of any terrorizing disturbance was lacking in Dakota, and despite his need for the peace and quiet, Static would have greatly enjoyed the life-threatening challenge.
"So anyway," Shebang said, pacing the length of the gas station several times as she attempted to work off the nervous energy. "I'm finally glad you guys came to your senses and called me. Summer has been totally boring and I've only done patrol a couple of times. Of course, I wish you had called me under better circumstances. You know, if you were planning to face Ebon and the crazy crew, you should have let me know."
Sighing deeply as he tried to both, block out the rambling of Shebang and sit up straighter on the couch without wincing due to the sheer amount of pain in his right side, the electric powered teenager shook his head, wishing his partner would finally arrive. Gear had called Static and Shebang to show them some of the new inventions he'd created, but as yet, had been late.
"You know, it's a good thing I don't hold a grudge." Shebang said, placing her hands on her hips as she looked at the suffering hero. A moment later she was by his side, helping him into a better position. "Really Virgil," Shebang said quietly as she placed a hand on his shoulder and stared mournfully into his eyes. "I only want to help you guys."
The sudden arrival of the long-awaited Gear broke the moment between the heroes and saved Static from suffering the effects of the guilt of ignoring Shebang's usefulness to the team. However the obvious grin on Gear's face caused Static to much rather face that guilt than the accusing remarks of his partner.
"Am I interrupting anything?" The brilliant teenager said, trying hard not to laugh at the two heroes sitting on the couch. "If I am, just say so, I come back."
"Gear!" Static barked out warningly as he glared at his teammate.
"Fine, fine!" The tech-genius said as he unloaded the large box of gadgets on the nearby workbench and breathing heavily in relief from having deposited his load. "Well, thanks for coming anyway."
"You called us, why wouldn't we come?" Static said, but Shebang took a different approach.
"Call me to see some new gadgets of yours but don't call me unless you guys need my folks to patch you up. Hmph." The young woman said, crossing her arms and standing from the couch, staring at Gear in an unspoken impatience.
"Er...anyway," Gear began, and Shebang looked on in indifference and Static stared at the female martial artist, making a mental note to discuss her attitude with her. "First, as your well aware of, since I haven't been able to sleep since the second Big Bang due to the effects of that gas, I thought I'd create some new and improved weapons for us..."
"Get on with it Gear!" Static said, trying to get his friend to skip the long-winded explanation that usually followed the creation of any new device of his.
"Oh, right." The brilliant young man said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyway, let me introduce to you, Backpack 2.0." He said in the most over-emphasized, grandiose means he could conjure while his automated robot scurried out from its resting place on his back and out to the middle of the floor.
"Bro," Static said, looking curiously at the robot that stood between the three heroes. "It looks the same."
"But it isn't." Gear said, his eyes bulging slightly in excitement as he prepared to roll into the explanation. "See, I've added several new upgrades, including the enhanced memory, remote satellite uplink, GPS tracking system...and best of all, a hologram projector." He said excitedly, bouncing slightly in his enthusiasm. "Isn't that cool? I also added retractable wings that don't really serve any purpose but make me look cooler when I'm flying."
"Uh, yeah Rich, that's great." Static and Shebang stared cautiously at the genius, wondering what, if any purpose the upgrades would benefit.
"Anyway, that's just the beginning." Gear said, turning back to the box bursting with his inventions when the alarm sounding from Backpack stopped him and caused the three heroes to stare cautiously at the little robot. "Wait, wait...watch this." Gear said excitedly again, his smile expanding the length of his face. "Backpack, display!"
As directed, the top panel slid open on the tiny robot, projecting a map of the city with a small, blinking blimp indicating the location of the disturbance. What was even more fascinating however was the hovering words that floated to the side of the map and listed all known information on the crime in progress.
"Wow, that's pretty cool Rich." Static said, reading over the needed information floating next to the holographic map. "Let's see, unknown Metahuman destroying Vanmoor School of Science."
"What's even cooler is that it even dual-projects all the 411 available on the crime right into the mini-monitor in my visor."
"Well, let's go to work then." Static smirked before Shebang put her hand against his chest and stopped him from moving out of the gas station.
"No you don't." Shebang said, a frown creasing her features as she glared at the electric powered youth. "My mom said you'd need at least another four of five days before your ready for action again. You too Gear. Leave it to me, I'll deal with it."
Gear and Static stared at each other a moment, eyes speaking the silent question between them before Static finally said, "You can't be serious."
"What, don't you think I can do it?"
"I didn't say you couldn't, but if this is another ambush, we all need to be there. Just in case." Static said, wincing painfully as Shebang jabbed a finger into his ribs.
"You're not in any condition to fight Virgil. Neither are you Ritchie." She said, breaking off the potential protest the genius prepared to raise. "If it's an ambush, I'll be prepared for it this time. But let me handle this. If nothing else, then let me at least prove I belong with you guys."
"You don't have to prove anything..."
"Then it's settled, I'm going." Shebang smiled at her apparent victory of the argument, turning to leave before Gear called her to stop. "Don't try to stop me Gear."
"I'm not." He said as he walked up to her, taking her wrist and shoving a Shock Vox into her hand. "If you need us, call. We'll be there as quickly as we can. But...be careful, okay?"
The smile on her face caused the genius to glow scarlet as she patted the side of his helmeted face. "Don't worry, but...thanks Gear." With that she turned and ran from the gas station.
"Do you think it's a good idea to let her go alone?" Static said, watching her leave as he partner shrugged.
"What choice do we really have? She's right you know, we're not a hundred percent yet. Your ribs are still bothering you, and I'm still suffering dizzy spells. We have to trust her."
"I do trust her Rich, that's not the problem." Static said, turning back to stare absent-mindedly on the box of gadgets Gear had yet to explain.
Stealing a sideways glance at his best friend and allowing a devious smile to cross his features, Gear smirked, "So, what were you two doing on the couch when I came in?"
"Shut up Gear!"
# # #
Vanmoor School of Science was fairly close to headquarters, and though she made good time, Shebang was disappointed that ten minutes had already passed since her departure. Making her way up the driveway in a flat run, Shebang's eyes grew wide at the sight of the uprooted and broken trees that led into the forest, revealing that something extremely large had moved from that position, and more than likely, that extremely large mass was the cause of the problems at the school. Continuing her run as she moved towards the entrance, Shebang mentally measured the large whole made in the wall where the double doors had once stood, developing a mental idea of her foe before facing him.
Entering the crumbled ruins of the foyer to the Vanmoor School of Science, Shebang stared at the massive creature before her. Six and a half feet tall, if an inch, his heavily muscled, thick-skinned frame was covered in the debris of powered plaster as well as a countless variety of broken wood and other unidentifiable particles. Craning his thick neck to turn his wide, angular face toward the newcomer, the creature crouched his powerful legs and arched his broad body forward to address the girl in the brightly colored pink and purple uniform, all the while stretching his massive, chiseled arms forward to flex his thick, clawed fingers menacingly.
"You want something little girl?" Nigel inquired, his lips working in exaggerated movements around his long, sharply pointed teeth. "Cause if you don't, then clear off! This doesn't concern you!"
Sighing slightly at the heavily accented words from the Bang Baby she faced, Shebang wondered if it was too much to ask, just for once, to face a civil opponent. "Threatening people concerns me big boy, and I'm not one to answer to empty threats." She said, tossing the words at her soon-to-be opponent as easily as if there were blows from her fist.
Growling furiously at the mocking teenager before him, he lashed his clawed hand at the girl, connecting only with open air as Shebang had long-since vacated her position. Rolling in a forward somersault before springing from the ground, the hyperactive hero delivered a spinning windmill kick the creature's rock-hard stomach. Feeling the slight sting in her leg from the attack, Shebang reacted instantly, flipping her body in an aerial cartwheel followed quickly by a front handspring as her opponent's other hand swiped at her in an attempt to knock her away like a giant swatting a fly.
Using his strength to her advantage, Shebang jumped on the tree trunk-thick tail and launched herself up the creatures back, landing in a perched position atop his wide shoulder. From her vantage, Shebang delivered six consecutive punches along the right neck muscle of the brute, each one a mere centimeter from the one before it. Growling in pain and anger, Shebang allowed herself a brief smile as she executed a perfect back flip, dodging the claw of his left arm, before spinning her body in a tight spiral. Extending her arms and firmly catching the ends of the long, curved horns atop his head and using her own momentum to complete her flip, Shebang drove both feet into his wide face.
Quickly centering her gravity she used her legs to springboard from the creature's face, flipping and turning her body as her feet gently touched the crumbling wall of the vandalized school before falling forward into a eloquent handspring and landing perfectly on the balls of her feet. Flashing a smirk of confidence at the staggered beast and knowing she was fully in control of the conflict, the young costumed youth took a moment to massage her aching hand from delivering the powerful blows. As the creature held it's now useless right arm limply at its side, Shebang reacted instinctively as the great, lumbering monster charged at her.
Using her powerful legs to propel herself up in a tight forward flip that cleared the full height of the behemoth, Shebang brought herself out of the maneuver in time to use the monsters own momentum against it. Kicking fully into the rock hard back of the rampaging berserker, the young hero sent the creature headfirst into the crumbling wall.
"Your new to the whole Bang Baby thing aren't you big guy? You haven't figured out how to use all those fancy powers yet have you?" Shebang mocked as she watched the creature stagger from the new hole its self- propelled flight had created in the ruined wall.
Growling hatefully at the annoying hero, the beast thumped its left hand against its chest in a show of power. "I won't let you beat me girl."
"I don't think you have a choice big boy." Shebang smirked as she cocked her head to look at her suffering opponent.
"Stop calling me that!" Nigel screamed, bearing his teeth and flexing his claws. "Call me Grendel!"
"Yeah, I think I'd rather call you beaten." She said, taking her eyes off the massive opponent calling himself Grendel and realizing too late the mistake she had made.
With both arms, Grendel brought the palms of his trashcan sized hands together, sending shockwaves throughout the room in a pulsing blast that disrupted the young hero's hearing and her equilibrium along with it. As she fought to regain her balance, Shebang was met with a second shockwave, this one from the force of Grendle's massive fist slamming into the ground and causing a tremor that sent the cape-bearing young woman flying.
The wind rushing from her lungs as she painfully collided with the floor, Shebang rolled to her side and saw that the Bang Baby calling himself Grendel had fled. "Well that was delicate. So where'd he go?" She asked, rising shakily to her feet and trying desperately to stop the ringing of her ears.
Making her way shakily out of the building and scanning the area with her eyes, Shebang sighed in defeat, realizing the creature had escaped before she could apprehend it. But, it wasn't a total loss as she wasn't the one to retreat. Rubbing her sore knuckles, She jogged lightly into the school grounds before making her way into the forest, hoping to track the Bang Baby calling himself Grendel before heading back to headquarters.
# # #
Talon sat, perched on one of the ornamental stone falcons that decorated the Mizaki Building in downtown Dakota. From her vantage she watched the people below bustle about their normal lives. Normal. She missed that most about herself, and despite the power she possessed in her feathered form, she wanted only to live a normal life, go to school, meet a boy, and go to college. All the things she dreamed she would do as a child. Now, those dreams have died for her a second time, once she transformed back into the hideous freak she was now.
The sudden gust of wind caused her to shiver slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself, hoping to keep warm as wished, not for the first time since her retransformation, that she were home with her family. But she left home again, knowing how upset her mother would be but not willing to show her the horrible creature her daughter had become. And despite her best efforts, Talon couldn't keep the tear that slid from her eye and traced its way down her cheek.
"Cold up here ain't it?" A voice echoed behind the winged Metahuman, her body stiffening as memory recalled the owner of the voice.
Taking a moment to steady herself, Talon turned her eyes as she glared at the intruder of her solitude. "What do you want Ebon?"
A smirked crossed his smoky features as he narrowed his eyes to glare sinisterly at his former ally. "I'm surprised to see you back Talon. It's been a while."
"The name's Teresa!" She nearly screamed, rising to face him in her anger.
"Whatever," he said, waving a dismissing hand as pulled a feather from the inside of his vest. "You drop something?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Talon replied, her face drawing up into a scowl as she glared at the shadow master.
"Don't play me a fool Talon, I know you were at the hideout. You see, this feather was found a couple of days ago. Of course, it could have been an old feather, but there was no cobwebs or age showing on it. Not to mention it's longer than your old feathers. But I recognized the design." Ebon said, tossing it lightly into the air and watching the wind blow it over the edge of the building and into the concrete canyon below. "Why you spying on us Talon. If you want back in, just ask."
Remaining silent for several moments, Talon lowered her head before speaking. "The only thing I want Ebon is to be human again. Can you do that for me? Since it was your fault I got a whiff of the gas the second time anyway, and became the FREAK again. I want to go home...I want a normal life. But you, you won't let me have that will you? So I don't want anything from you Ebon. I just want to be left alone."
"Don't be a fool Talon, who'd take you in?" Ebon smirked, glaring again at the winged Bang Baby. "You have a home with us. We're you family."
"Family." She mocked, the word sounding like a joke in itself. "A family doesn't make you steal just so your not thrown out on the streets alone. A family doesn't tell you to hurt people because your 'father' is a raging egomaniac. A family cares about each other. If you ever cared about me, you would have let me stay human instead of dragging me on that damn ship. This," Talon said, holding her arms up to show her feathered wings. "This is your fault."
"Since when have you gotten all noble?" The dark villain remarked, tilting his head slightly. "I don't recall you ever protesting a job I gave you. Your nothing but a hypocrite, because deep down, you not only like this power, you want it...you're just too damn full of yourself to believe otherwise. Face it Talon, this is who you are."
Shaking bodily as she fought to contain the tears that threatened to drown her, Talon glared at her former ally; fighting to deny the words Ebon mocked her with.
"It's true and you know it." Ebon said, turning his back on the winged young woman and gliding across the surface of the roof. "I'll leave you to think about it. After all, you've got nowhere to go. I'd love to stay and chat, but my beloved brother is coming back to town, and I don't want to miss his flight."
"I...I don't need you Ebon." Talon cried out, wishing she could believe the words she fought to say.
"When you come to your senses...you'll know where to find me." He said, vanishing in the swirling portal he summoned, leaving Talon alone once again.
Collapsing to her knees and allowing the tears she struggled to contain during her conversation with Ebon to pour from her eyes, Talon wrapped her arms around herself, trying to find some sanity in what her life had become.
"Go to Hell." She said quietly, but not quite sure whom she was speaking to. "Just, go to hell and leave me alone!"
As she sat on roof crying at her own desperation, she realized one truth in Ebon's statement; there was no one to help her through her pain. She was, completely alone.
# # #
A/N: Another chapter come and gone. I'm not sure if I'm totally crazy about this one. A lot of dialogue in it to be sure, but it is setting the stage for what's to come. Also, I plan to introduce the next and final member of Ebon's team in the next couple of chapters, so be prepared. Oh, and for all the great reviews...thank you to everyone. Just FYI, I had considered using Permafrost for Static's team, but as I've never seen the episode with her in it, I don't know her personality or the full extent of her powers. So I'm trying to catch it on repeats but...we'll see. Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed this.
The cemetery was hauntingly quiet as Robert Hawkins made his way around the maze of headstones, seeking the one that would provide comfort to his troubled heart within this labyrinth of grief and remembrance. After the ten-minute trek from his car, he came to his destination, pausing before he began speaking softly to the ghosts of his past as he lovingly placed the delicate bouquet of assorted flowers on the headstone of his wife's grave marker.
"Hi Jean," Robert said, unable to keep his eyes from misting over as he spoke to the open air, hoping desperately his voice would find its way to his wife's spirit. "I know it's been a while since I've visited, and I'm sorry. Life just seems to keep pulling the rug out from under me. Of course, you know that already don't you?" He said, chuckling lightly at the sadness that clenched his heart.
"I'm sure you know about both Virgil and Sharon, and I know your watching out for them, and I am glad to know they have a guardian angel who cares so deeply for them. But if you have an extra set of eyes, could you keep an eye out for me too? I know it's selfish, and it's not like me, but I just feel everything is happening too fast.
"Sharon said Adam's heading back to town. Apparently his tour was really successful, but some problems with booking in Gotham caused them to cut it short, so he'll be back before we expected. Not sure if I'm ready for that to be honest. Sharon is under the impression Adam will propose to her when he gets back. He's a good young man, and you'd like him...you'd like him a lot. He had some trouble with his past, but that's behind him now, and Sharon is the biggest influence for that change. The problem I'm having is, I'm not ready to give her up. At least not yet."
Robert paused a moment before continuing, reaching to the edges of the headstone and tearing away the high grass that grew arrant around her marker. "Virgil is another matter all together. Maybe you knew all along the hero he had inside him...after all, he is your son. But I can't help worrying about him. I know he got himself hurt when he went to the mall to stop that metahuman from destroying it, he's been gingerly favoring his right side since he's come back from it. But I'm not pushing him for answers, and maybe I'm making a mistake doing that, but I have to trust him. But it's harder than I expected. The city needs Static to protect it, but I need my son to be safe, and fighting between my need and the needs of the city, well, my own need to protect him is winning out.
"I see so much of you in him, in both our children. And I know they will do anything to protect those in trouble, but I can't help it. I'm scared they'll end up here with you before I will, and I can't live with that. So Jean, please watch out for them. I know you always have, but something inside me is making me worry more every day. I'm proud of our children, and maybe I wasn't prepared for them growing up so quickly, but they're two fine, outstanding young adults. But they're still our children, and I'm still worried about them. The world isn't as safe as it used to be, and both of our kids, in their own way, are fighting to make it better."
Robert chuckled again to himself as he removed his glasses and wiped the unshed tears from his eye with one, thick finger. "Of course, you already know all of that don't you? But, I just needed to talk to you again. I miss you Jean." Robert bent down, kissing two fingers and laying them to rest on his wife's headstone before standing up and turning to make his way out of the cemetery.
Jean Alexis Hawkins
Loving Wife and Mother
Devoted Servant of the People
She will be missed, but not forgotten
# # #
Nigel Saunders made his way menacingly toward the school that had been his home for the past nine months, his great, powerful form attempting to hide in the wooded terrain surrounding the institution as he gazed at his last attempt for salvation.
Since coming in contact with the strange, mutagen gas that altered his physiology, Nigel considered any and all means to revert the changes in his body and make him normal again. He hated the school. Having been accepted only on the name of his parents and mocked and ridiculed by other students, Nigel felt out of place at Vanmoor School of Science, as much out of place as he felt now, a monster trapped in the human world.
But regardless, many of the brightest young minds in the country were in this school, and at least one of them would know how to help him. He'd make them help him. Coming firmly to his decision, Nigel pushed his way out of the forest, snapping more than a few trees as he walked from his wooded hiding space and up the entrance way.
# # #
Static sat against the worn, shredded couch in the hideout Gear and himself often occupied to collectively think of new plans and scenarios when battling Bang Babies. Today, the silence of any terrorizing disturbance was lacking in Dakota, and despite his need for the peace and quiet, Static would have greatly enjoyed the life-threatening challenge.
"So anyway," Shebang said, pacing the length of the gas station several times as she attempted to work off the nervous energy. "I'm finally glad you guys came to your senses and called me. Summer has been totally boring and I've only done patrol a couple of times. Of course, I wish you had called me under better circumstances. You know, if you were planning to face Ebon and the crazy crew, you should have let me know."
Sighing deeply as he tried to both, block out the rambling of Shebang and sit up straighter on the couch without wincing due to the sheer amount of pain in his right side, the electric powered teenager shook his head, wishing his partner would finally arrive. Gear had called Static and Shebang to show them some of the new inventions he'd created, but as yet, had been late.
"You know, it's a good thing I don't hold a grudge." Shebang said, placing her hands on her hips as she looked at the suffering hero. A moment later she was by his side, helping him into a better position. "Really Virgil," Shebang said quietly as she placed a hand on his shoulder and stared mournfully into his eyes. "I only want to help you guys."
The sudden arrival of the long-awaited Gear broke the moment between the heroes and saved Static from suffering the effects of the guilt of ignoring Shebang's usefulness to the team. However the obvious grin on Gear's face caused Static to much rather face that guilt than the accusing remarks of his partner.
"Am I interrupting anything?" The brilliant teenager said, trying hard not to laugh at the two heroes sitting on the couch. "If I am, just say so, I come back."
"Gear!" Static barked out warningly as he glared at his teammate.
"Fine, fine!" The tech-genius said as he unloaded the large box of gadgets on the nearby workbench and breathing heavily in relief from having deposited his load. "Well, thanks for coming anyway."
"You called us, why wouldn't we come?" Static said, but Shebang took a different approach.
"Call me to see some new gadgets of yours but don't call me unless you guys need my folks to patch you up. Hmph." The young woman said, crossing her arms and standing from the couch, staring at Gear in an unspoken impatience.
"Er...anyway," Gear began, and Shebang looked on in indifference and Static stared at the female martial artist, making a mental note to discuss her attitude with her. "First, as your well aware of, since I haven't been able to sleep since the second Big Bang due to the effects of that gas, I thought I'd create some new and improved weapons for us..."
"Get on with it Gear!" Static said, trying to get his friend to skip the long-winded explanation that usually followed the creation of any new device of his.
"Oh, right." The brilliant young man said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyway, let me introduce to you, Backpack 2.0." He said in the most over-emphasized, grandiose means he could conjure while his automated robot scurried out from its resting place on his back and out to the middle of the floor.
"Bro," Static said, looking curiously at the robot that stood between the three heroes. "It looks the same."
"But it isn't." Gear said, his eyes bulging slightly in excitement as he prepared to roll into the explanation. "See, I've added several new upgrades, including the enhanced memory, remote satellite uplink, GPS tracking system...and best of all, a hologram projector." He said excitedly, bouncing slightly in his enthusiasm. "Isn't that cool? I also added retractable wings that don't really serve any purpose but make me look cooler when I'm flying."
"Uh, yeah Rich, that's great." Static and Shebang stared cautiously at the genius, wondering what, if any purpose the upgrades would benefit.
"Anyway, that's just the beginning." Gear said, turning back to the box bursting with his inventions when the alarm sounding from Backpack stopped him and caused the three heroes to stare cautiously at the little robot. "Wait, wait...watch this." Gear said excitedly again, his smile expanding the length of his face. "Backpack, display!"
As directed, the top panel slid open on the tiny robot, projecting a map of the city with a small, blinking blimp indicating the location of the disturbance. What was even more fascinating however was the hovering words that floated to the side of the map and listed all known information on the crime in progress.
"Wow, that's pretty cool Rich." Static said, reading over the needed information floating next to the holographic map. "Let's see, unknown Metahuman destroying Vanmoor School of Science."
"What's even cooler is that it even dual-projects all the 411 available on the crime right into the mini-monitor in my visor."
"Well, let's go to work then." Static smirked before Shebang put her hand against his chest and stopped him from moving out of the gas station.
"No you don't." Shebang said, a frown creasing her features as she glared at the electric powered youth. "My mom said you'd need at least another four of five days before your ready for action again. You too Gear. Leave it to me, I'll deal with it."
Gear and Static stared at each other a moment, eyes speaking the silent question between them before Static finally said, "You can't be serious."
"What, don't you think I can do it?"
"I didn't say you couldn't, but if this is another ambush, we all need to be there. Just in case." Static said, wincing painfully as Shebang jabbed a finger into his ribs.
"You're not in any condition to fight Virgil. Neither are you Ritchie." She said, breaking off the potential protest the genius prepared to raise. "If it's an ambush, I'll be prepared for it this time. But let me handle this. If nothing else, then let me at least prove I belong with you guys."
"You don't have to prove anything..."
"Then it's settled, I'm going." Shebang smiled at her apparent victory of the argument, turning to leave before Gear called her to stop. "Don't try to stop me Gear."
"I'm not." He said as he walked up to her, taking her wrist and shoving a Shock Vox into her hand. "If you need us, call. We'll be there as quickly as we can. But...be careful, okay?"
The smile on her face caused the genius to glow scarlet as she patted the side of his helmeted face. "Don't worry, but...thanks Gear." With that she turned and ran from the gas station.
"Do you think it's a good idea to let her go alone?" Static said, watching her leave as he partner shrugged.
"What choice do we really have? She's right you know, we're not a hundred percent yet. Your ribs are still bothering you, and I'm still suffering dizzy spells. We have to trust her."
"I do trust her Rich, that's not the problem." Static said, turning back to stare absent-mindedly on the box of gadgets Gear had yet to explain.
Stealing a sideways glance at his best friend and allowing a devious smile to cross his features, Gear smirked, "So, what were you two doing on the couch when I came in?"
"Shut up Gear!"
# # #
Vanmoor School of Science was fairly close to headquarters, and though she made good time, Shebang was disappointed that ten minutes had already passed since her departure. Making her way up the driveway in a flat run, Shebang's eyes grew wide at the sight of the uprooted and broken trees that led into the forest, revealing that something extremely large had moved from that position, and more than likely, that extremely large mass was the cause of the problems at the school. Continuing her run as she moved towards the entrance, Shebang mentally measured the large whole made in the wall where the double doors had once stood, developing a mental idea of her foe before facing him.
Entering the crumbled ruins of the foyer to the Vanmoor School of Science, Shebang stared at the massive creature before her. Six and a half feet tall, if an inch, his heavily muscled, thick-skinned frame was covered in the debris of powered plaster as well as a countless variety of broken wood and other unidentifiable particles. Craning his thick neck to turn his wide, angular face toward the newcomer, the creature crouched his powerful legs and arched his broad body forward to address the girl in the brightly colored pink and purple uniform, all the while stretching his massive, chiseled arms forward to flex his thick, clawed fingers menacingly.
"You want something little girl?" Nigel inquired, his lips working in exaggerated movements around his long, sharply pointed teeth. "Cause if you don't, then clear off! This doesn't concern you!"
Sighing slightly at the heavily accented words from the Bang Baby she faced, Shebang wondered if it was too much to ask, just for once, to face a civil opponent. "Threatening people concerns me big boy, and I'm not one to answer to empty threats." She said, tossing the words at her soon-to-be opponent as easily as if there were blows from her fist.
Growling furiously at the mocking teenager before him, he lashed his clawed hand at the girl, connecting only with open air as Shebang had long-since vacated her position. Rolling in a forward somersault before springing from the ground, the hyperactive hero delivered a spinning windmill kick the creature's rock-hard stomach. Feeling the slight sting in her leg from the attack, Shebang reacted instantly, flipping her body in an aerial cartwheel followed quickly by a front handspring as her opponent's other hand swiped at her in an attempt to knock her away like a giant swatting a fly.
Using his strength to her advantage, Shebang jumped on the tree trunk-thick tail and launched herself up the creatures back, landing in a perched position atop his wide shoulder. From her vantage, Shebang delivered six consecutive punches along the right neck muscle of the brute, each one a mere centimeter from the one before it. Growling in pain and anger, Shebang allowed herself a brief smile as she executed a perfect back flip, dodging the claw of his left arm, before spinning her body in a tight spiral. Extending her arms and firmly catching the ends of the long, curved horns atop his head and using her own momentum to complete her flip, Shebang drove both feet into his wide face.
Quickly centering her gravity she used her legs to springboard from the creature's face, flipping and turning her body as her feet gently touched the crumbling wall of the vandalized school before falling forward into a eloquent handspring and landing perfectly on the balls of her feet. Flashing a smirk of confidence at the staggered beast and knowing she was fully in control of the conflict, the young costumed youth took a moment to massage her aching hand from delivering the powerful blows. As the creature held it's now useless right arm limply at its side, Shebang reacted instinctively as the great, lumbering monster charged at her.
Using her powerful legs to propel herself up in a tight forward flip that cleared the full height of the behemoth, Shebang brought herself out of the maneuver in time to use the monsters own momentum against it. Kicking fully into the rock hard back of the rampaging berserker, the young hero sent the creature headfirst into the crumbling wall.
"Your new to the whole Bang Baby thing aren't you big guy? You haven't figured out how to use all those fancy powers yet have you?" Shebang mocked as she watched the creature stagger from the new hole its self- propelled flight had created in the ruined wall.
Growling hatefully at the annoying hero, the beast thumped its left hand against its chest in a show of power. "I won't let you beat me girl."
"I don't think you have a choice big boy." Shebang smirked as she cocked her head to look at her suffering opponent.
"Stop calling me that!" Nigel screamed, bearing his teeth and flexing his claws. "Call me Grendel!"
"Yeah, I think I'd rather call you beaten." She said, taking her eyes off the massive opponent calling himself Grendel and realizing too late the mistake she had made.
With both arms, Grendel brought the palms of his trashcan sized hands together, sending shockwaves throughout the room in a pulsing blast that disrupted the young hero's hearing and her equilibrium along with it. As she fought to regain her balance, Shebang was met with a second shockwave, this one from the force of Grendle's massive fist slamming into the ground and causing a tremor that sent the cape-bearing young woman flying.
The wind rushing from her lungs as she painfully collided with the floor, Shebang rolled to her side and saw that the Bang Baby calling himself Grendel had fled. "Well that was delicate. So where'd he go?" She asked, rising shakily to her feet and trying desperately to stop the ringing of her ears.
Making her way shakily out of the building and scanning the area with her eyes, Shebang sighed in defeat, realizing the creature had escaped before she could apprehend it. But, it wasn't a total loss as she wasn't the one to retreat. Rubbing her sore knuckles, She jogged lightly into the school grounds before making her way into the forest, hoping to track the Bang Baby calling himself Grendel before heading back to headquarters.
# # #
Talon sat, perched on one of the ornamental stone falcons that decorated the Mizaki Building in downtown Dakota. From her vantage she watched the people below bustle about their normal lives. Normal. She missed that most about herself, and despite the power she possessed in her feathered form, she wanted only to live a normal life, go to school, meet a boy, and go to college. All the things she dreamed she would do as a child. Now, those dreams have died for her a second time, once she transformed back into the hideous freak she was now.
The sudden gust of wind caused her to shiver slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself, hoping to keep warm as wished, not for the first time since her retransformation, that she were home with her family. But she left home again, knowing how upset her mother would be but not willing to show her the horrible creature her daughter had become. And despite her best efforts, Talon couldn't keep the tear that slid from her eye and traced its way down her cheek.
"Cold up here ain't it?" A voice echoed behind the winged Metahuman, her body stiffening as memory recalled the owner of the voice.
Taking a moment to steady herself, Talon turned her eyes as she glared at the intruder of her solitude. "What do you want Ebon?"
A smirked crossed his smoky features as he narrowed his eyes to glare sinisterly at his former ally. "I'm surprised to see you back Talon. It's been a while."
"The name's Teresa!" She nearly screamed, rising to face him in her anger.
"Whatever," he said, waving a dismissing hand as pulled a feather from the inside of his vest. "You drop something?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Talon replied, her face drawing up into a scowl as she glared at the shadow master.
"Don't play me a fool Talon, I know you were at the hideout. You see, this feather was found a couple of days ago. Of course, it could have been an old feather, but there was no cobwebs or age showing on it. Not to mention it's longer than your old feathers. But I recognized the design." Ebon said, tossing it lightly into the air and watching the wind blow it over the edge of the building and into the concrete canyon below. "Why you spying on us Talon. If you want back in, just ask."
Remaining silent for several moments, Talon lowered her head before speaking. "The only thing I want Ebon is to be human again. Can you do that for me? Since it was your fault I got a whiff of the gas the second time anyway, and became the FREAK again. I want to go home...I want a normal life. But you, you won't let me have that will you? So I don't want anything from you Ebon. I just want to be left alone."
"Don't be a fool Talon, who'd take you in?" Ebon smirked, glaring again at the winged Bang Baby. "You have a home with us. We're you family."
"Family." She mocked, the word sounding like a joke in itself. "A family doesn't make you steal just so your not thrown out on the streets alone. A family doesn't tell you to hurt people because your 'father' is a raging egomaniac. A family cares about each other. If you ever cared about me, you would have let me stay human instead of dragging me on that damn ship. This," Talon said, holding her arms up to show her feathered wings. "This is your fault."
"Since when have you gotten all noble?" The dark villain remarked, tilting his head slightly. "I don't recall you ever protesting a job I gave you. Your nothing but a hypocrite, because deep down, you not only like this power, you want it...you're just too damn full of yourself to believe otherwise. Face it Talon, this is who you are."
Shaking bodily as she fought to contain the tears that threatened to drown her, Talon glared at her former ally; fighting to deny the words Ebon mocked her with.
"It's true and you know it." Ebon said, turning his back on the winged young woman and gliding across the surface of the roof. "I'll leave you to think about it. After all, you've got nowhere to go. I'd love to stay and chat, but my beloved brother is coming back to town, and I don't want to miss his flight."
"I...I don't need you Ebon." Talon cried out, wishing she could believe the words she fought to say.
"When you come to your senses...you'll know where to find me." He said, vanishing in the swirling portal he summoned, leaving Talon alone once again.
Collapsing to her knees and allowing the tears she struggled to contain during her conversation with Ebon to pour from her eyes, Talon wrapped her arms around herself, trying to find some sanity in what her life had become.
"Go to Hell." She said quietly, but not quite sure whom she was speaking to. "Just, go to hell and leave me alone!"
As she sat on roof crying at her own desperation, she realized one truth in Ebon's statement; there was no one to help her through her pain. She was, completely alone.
# # #
A/N: Another chapter come and gone. I'm not sure if I'm totally crazy about this one. A lot of dialogue in it to be sure, but it is setting the stage for what's to come. Also, I plan to introduce the next and final member of Ebon's team in the next couple of chapters, so be prepared. Oh, and for all the great reviews...thank you to everyone. Just FYI, I had considered using Permafrost for Static's team, but as I've never seen the episode with her in it, I don't know her personality or the full extent of her powers. So I'm trying to catch it on repeats but...we'll see. Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed this.