Dateline: Wednesday, April 29, 1981, 7:12 PM, Pacific Daylight Time.
Kimberly didn't feel comfortable in Violet's solid red top and matching shorts; they were a little tight on her. It was a mediocre excuse for a super suit, she knew, but until Edna was finished with the team uniforms, it would have to do. At least Dash's old Incredibles mask made her feel like a superhero, like Liquegirl.
"Hey, Python," Rocket said from the backseat (Heartthrob was riding shotgun), "did the sheriff say the address of the hostage situation?"
Python tried to remember what the sheriff had said, but nothing came to mind. "Hmm, I don't think he did. I'd better call him back." She pressed a button on the dashboard to call up the radio. "Excuse me, sir, could you give us the specifics of the situation, such as who we're dealing with, the address, and whatnot?"
"Okay, there's a young female being held prisoner by the Wicked Wichard of the West-by-Northwest at 5772 Atlantic Avenue."
"Fifty-seven seventy-two," Python repeated to make sure she had that right. "Thank you. Dash, I need you to TAG up on the car so we can…"
"Way ahead of you, sis," Rocket interrupted. He placed his hand on the green hand-shaped decal on the center console. Instantly, the huge automobile was hauling, doing up to 98 mph. They were at the site of the incident within 10 seconds.
"That's funny," Heartthrob said. "Shouldn't there be some police cars here, what with this being police business and all?"
"Yeah, you're right," said Python, "we are the police?"
"Maybe they're inside, and the cars they came in are unmarked," Rocket suggested.
"I'm not so sure," said Blind Tracy, "maybe this is a trap!"
"Ashley," Python scolded, "the sheriff would never lie to anyone, including us. Now, let's go!"
Alpha Force clambered out of the car and rushed into the house. They were surprised to find the door unlocked. Once they got inside, they found nothing. No young female, no Wicked Wichard, no nothing. However, there was a large steel wall that prevented them from seeing the rest of the house. In that moment, everything became clear.
"Guys," said Liquegirl, "Blind Tracy was right! This is a trap! Run!"
They all tried to get out the front door, but they found it locked behind them. They were trapped. Worse yet, the chamber started to fill with a strange green gas. Python recognized it; it was the same gas that was used in that evil cab what seemed like ages ago. They all breathed it in trying to escape, and they all passed out.
All except for the leader, that is. She held her breath and pretended to pass out, so she could hear what was going on. This was the cleverest idea she had ever had.
The first voice she heard was that of Loren Kriznek. "Good work, Vox, they fell for it hook, line, and sinker."
"I do a pretty good impersonation of your sister, don't I?" said a voice Python couldn't place.
That must be Vox, she thought. He must be able to copy anyone's voice. So, he called the police as a young woman, asking specifically for Alpha Force, so we would walk right into this trap. And it almost worked. Almost.
"Yes, of course," Loren said, "now help me carry the bodies to the kitchen."
"Right away, sir."
For a long time after that, nothing happened. Or rather, nothing happened to her. She assumed that Loren and this Vox guy were transporting her teammates to the kitchen. She decided to stay down and keep pretending to be unconscious, so as not to arouse suspicion. Soon, she heard Loren say, "And last but not least, the little snake!"
Python felt someone's hands on her, lifting her up. She was carried for a short distance, then dropped like a rag doll. It was all she could do to keep from screaming in pain. "Quickly, chain her up, so she won't get away when the gas wears off," she heard Loren say. She heard the sound of metal on linoleum, and anticipated the worst. But, just then, another voice spoke up.
"LOREN!" It was Mrs. Kriznek, Loren's mother. "DID YOU REMEMBER TO MAKE YOUR BED THIS MORNING?"
Loren snorted. Clearly, he was upset. "I CAN'T MAKE MY BED RIGHT NOW, MA! I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING HERE!"
"WHAT COULD BE SO DAMNED IMPORTANT THAT YOU WOULD RATHER HAVE A MEESY BED?"
Loren was silent. He couldn't think of a good response. "Come on, Vox. We can chain Python up later."
As soon as she heard them leave the room, Python sprung into action. She ran out of the house and grabbed a can of anti-magic from the car. She thought it was strange that there were only four cans left; she could have sworn there were five the last time she checked. Python shrugged it off, then she raced back inside. She didn't care about playing the fool at that moment. If the Wicked Wichard caught her like this, she might just as soon beat the snot out of him.
She sprayed herself thoroughly, then set to work freeing her friends. She did this with a hacksaw-shaped force field. She cut Rocket free without too much difficulty, magic-proofing him as soon as she finished. Next came Heartthrob, then Blind Tracy. But just when she was about to free Liquegirl, the Wicked Wichard came back and saw what was going on.
"Hey!" he yelled. He gestured at Python, creating a medium sized ball of green light that sailed right at her. Thanks to Mirage's anti-magic, it struck her without incident. "Oh, a wise guy, eh?" Loren ran right at her, wanting to knock her down like a wrecking ball. But, she stuck out her arms and clotheslined him. Once he was on the ground, Python jumped into the air and landed right on top of him. Loren groaned in agony. "Vox, help me!" he managed to say.
Vox rushed up and punched Python square in the jaw. She fell over backward, and she also groaned in pain. She got back up as quickly as she could. Vox attacked again, but Python was ready this time. Python and Vox exchanged blows and counter-blows for a while; neither one really made any progress. Just then, the rest of the team awoke from their induced sleep.
"What's going on?" asked Blind Tracy.
"No, time to explain, just help me beat this guy up!"
"Sure thing, boss!" Everyone got up, even Liquegirl, who escaped the chains by simply flowing out of them. Loren got up too. But when Alpha Force struck a fighting pose together and he saw what he was up against, he screamed like a little girl.
"Sir, where are you going?" Vox asked. As the heroes moved in on him, he started to get a little nervous. He examined them and decided to take out the one he thought wouldn't be able to fight back.
"You're going down!" he hollered as he charged Blind Tracy.
"Tracy, look out!" Rocket shouted.
Blind Tracy was ready. She grabbed Vox's arm telekinetically and held him up like a dried turkey.
"Let's get out of here!" Liquegirl suggested. Blind Tracy dropped Vox very suddenly, and then everyone made his or her way to the front door. They found that it was still locked. Luckily, all this excitement had raised Heartthrob's heart rate to about 150 bpm. He smashed the door into a million little pieces, and the team all scrambled back into the car.
"We are NOT coming here ever again!" Python said as soon as everyone was buckled in. "Dash…"
"I know, I know!" He TAGed up on the car, and they were homeward bound. They didn't get far, though. Soon, there was a police cruiser following them, with lights flashing and everything.
"Honey," said Heartthrob, "I think he wants you to pull over."
Python pulled over and quickly dug out her driver's license and vehicle registration. "Is there a problem, officer?" she asked the policeman.
"Yeah, hi, I noticed you doing around 77 mph back there in a 55-mile zone, and…" The cop's voice trailed off when he noticed to whom he was talking. "Excuse me, but are you really Python?"
Python thought answering him with a smart remark, but decided against it. "Yes, I am."
"All right, you should be aware that not even supers are above the law. If I let you get away with speeding, we'll have another bevy of lawsuits on our hands, and the next thing you know, you guys are back in hiding for another fifteen years. Understand?"
"Yes, sir, I understand."
"Okay, that being said, I'm giving you a warning this time, but if I catch you again, I'll be forced to cite you. Drive safely." The cop returned to his car and drove away.
"Well," Liquegirl said, "I guess that's the last time we let Dash TAG up on the car, huh?"
"Either that, or get a police siren," suggested Heartthrob.
(A/N: Wow, I'm sorry this chapter was so long, but I just had to include that bit were the guys get pulled over. For the next two chapters, I'm going to focus on the budding romance between Violet and José. I don't want to give too much away yet, but let's just say that before I post chapter 37; one of the two major villains will no longer be a threat. Hey, don't forget to review so I can see how I'm doing! See ya later!)