Lisa was awakened by her Mom calling her Dad. Lisa sleepily walked into the living room where her Mom and Dad were watching the news. She sped next to them on the couch so she could see the TV.
"How did Mind Controller, Bolt, Demolisher, Expander, Flame Thrower, Icicle, and Magnetizer get in and out of your so-called high security prison?" a reporter asked.
"This so-called high security prison happens to have the top security around..." the Chef of police replied.
"Magnetizer, why does that name sound so familiar?" Wally wondered, aloud.
"Well, he is a member of the Destroyers; maybe you've run into him before," Lisa suggested.
"No... I don't think so. I've never met a Destroyer with that name. I've heard it somewhere else, I just can't place it," Wally replied.
"I can't believe that Mind Controller wouldn't tell me that my parents didn't just abandon me. We've been best friends since I can remember," Bolt complained.
"Well, she was most likely ordered not to tell anyone," Magnetizer paused. "So, now that you know, what do you think you will do?" he asked.
"I don't know, maybe I will watch them for a while to see if I actually want to meet them," Bolt replied.
Suddenly a huge ball of fire came flying through the wall.
"Flame Thrower!" Bolt yelled, speeding through the huge hole in the wall leading into the hallway and then through another hole into the next room, which was where Flame Thrower and Icicle were arguing. "What is going on here?" Bolt asked.
"She started it," Flame Thrower accused.
"No, I didn't. Bolt, all the time that you've known us, have I ever started it?" Icicle asked.
"Not that I can remember. Flame Thrower what happened?" Bolt asked.
"She did start it, by coming in the room. I was having an everyday discussion with Demolisher..." Flame Thrower started.
"An everyday discussion! You were complaining about being stuck on the same team as me," Icicle objected.
"What happened that made two huge holes in the walls?" Bolt asked. "Did you lose you temper again?"
"Maybe a little," Flame Thrower admitted.
"A little! There are two HUGE holes in the walls! I'm lucky that I moved fast enough!" Icicle complained.
"If you just left me alone..." Flame Thrower started.
"Left you alone, all I did was ask if you knew where Mind Controller was," Icicle defended.
"That's all you did! You..." Flame Thrower began.
"Flame Thrower, Icicle, stop it! I want you both to go to Mind Controller NOW!" Bolt paused. "Magnetizer, please go with them so they won't kill each other along the way."
"Sure," Magnetizer replied.
At the Watchtower, Flash was waiting for everyone in the meeting room. He had been called in because of some important information on the Destroyers. Early in the week, they informed him that they hired and were placing an undercover agent in the Destroyers. This undercover agent was known only as Anonymous and was the best in the business. Anonymous could change his appearance and copy anyone's power, but could only copy one power at a time.
After a couple of minutes, everyone had arrived.
"Flash," Superman began. "The reason that we called you here is that Anonymous has sent most of the Destroyers classified documents. Since they mainly work in Central City, we thought you might want to know what they said. So, I am going to tell you a brief summary of what was in the documents.
I was surprised to find out that very little of the Destroyers join voluntarily. And that most where kidnapped when they were babies, then trained and raised by other Destroyers.
The Destroyers look at the hospital records of newborns for DNA information that suggests an infant has super powers. Then they kidnap those babies and tell their parents that their baby died," Superman paused. "I have some good news and some bad news," he paused again. "Maria West is alive, but she is a Destroyer. Actually to be more accurate she is second in command of Team-A and her name is Bolt."
Bolt waited impatiently for some sign that anyone was home, her short brown hair blowing in wind. To avoiding being seen, she positioned herself behind a row bushes across the street from the West family home. With binoculars in hand, she would have a clear view of the front door and the big kitchen windows on the front side of the house. The house was white with blue shutters and had flowers in the matching blue flowerboxes under each window.
Suddenly, she noticed a woman and man walk into the kitchen and start making what looked like chocolate chip cookies. They looked like they were in their late forty's. Boy, do chocolate chip cookies sound so good right now. Bolt thought, her mouth starting to water.
Then, she noticed a fifteen-year-old girl open the front door and a second later, she was in the kitchen helping them make cookies. That's not possible; she was just at the door. She couldn't possibly have super speed too, could she? Wouldn't the Destroyers notice her powers too? Bolt wondered. Looking back at them, they looked like they were having a lot of fun. Instead of making chocolate chip cookies, the dough was now being used in a food fight.
"Bolt, Mind Controller has ordered a meeting," she heard Magnetizer say through her communicator.
"Ok, I'll be right there," Bolt replied, taking another look at the white house then bolting back to headquarters.
"So much for chocolate chip cookies," Caroline commented, while cleaning up the kitchen.
"Caroline, will you sit down for a minute?" Wally asked.
"Sure, what's wrong?" Caroline asked concerned.
"Now, how do I say this?" Wally wondered aloud, as he walked back and forth, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Is everything ok?" Caroline asked, getting even more concerned.
"Yeah, I'm just trying to think of the best way to say this," Wally sighed. "I guess the best way to say it is to just say it. Maria is alive, but she's a Destroyer."
"What? Maria died eighteen years ago," Caroline replied, wishing that she were alive.
"No, we were told she died, I have proof downloading on the computer. Superman gave me a copy of the Destroyers documents," Wally replied.
"Maria is alive?" Caroline repeated, in shock.
"Yeah, now all we have to do is explain it to Lisa," Wally replied, sitting down in a chair.
"No you don't," Lisa said, standing in the doorway. "Which Destroyer is she?"
When Bolt reached the meeting room, everyone was there and Mind Controller got right to business.
"Ok, now that everyone is here I'll get right to the point. I called this meeting because I am tired of Flash, Speed and now Lightning getting in the way. I think it's time we did something about it. Now, I want everyone to come up with a plan to capture all of them and finally find out who they really are. Then we will pick the best plan and go with it. You have until tomorrow afternoon to come up with one. I advise you to get started," Mind Controller suggested, then leaving the room so they could get started.
Wally, Caroline, and Lisa looked up any information he could find on Bolt/Maria in the Destroyers documents.
"Team-A," Wally started.
"The captain of Team-A is Anne/Mind Controller. Anne was taken from an
Adoption Center when she was a baby. She started to get the ability to read and persuade minds when she was seven and was trained how to use her powers immediately. She was eleven when she met Maria. Anne was fifteen when she was put in command of Team-A.
Second in command is Maria/Bolt. Maria was taken from her parents the same day she was born. Maria also has a little sister who does not show any signs of having a super power," Wally read aloud. "I'm sure glad that they think you don't have powers," he commented, looking at Lisa.
"So am I," Caroline agreed.
Wally started reading again. "Maria started to get her super speed when she was eight years old and was trained immediately. She met Anne when she was nine. Maria was thirteen when she was assigned to second in command of Team-A.
Third in command is Daniel/Demolisher. Daniel was taken from his parents the same day he was born. Daniel started to get his super strength when he was ten and was trained immediately. Daniel was assigned to third in command of Team-A when he was fourteen. Daniel is nineteen and is being considered for Captain of Team-C.
Frank/Flame Thrower was taken from his parents the same day he was born. Frank started to get the ability to make fire when he was eight and was trained immediately. He was put on Team-A when he was thirteen.
Isabelle/Icicle was taken from her parents the same day she was born. She started to get the ability to make ice when she was eight and was trained immediately. Isabelle has an older brother and a younger sister; both show no sign of any powers. Isabelle was first put on the same team as Frank when she was ten and has been on the same team with him ever since. She was put on Team-A when she was thirteen. Isabelle transferred off the Team-A to get away from Frank when she was seventeen.
Connie/Expander was taken from her parents the same day she was born. She started to get the ability to stretch when she was nine and was trained immediately. Connie was thirteen when she was put on Team-A to replace Isabelle when she transferred. Anne has requested that Connie have more training before returning to the team.
Matthew/Magnetizer joined the Destroyers when he was twenty. He has the ability to repel and attract objects and people. He is being considered to replace Daniel if Daniel is to be put in command of Team-C.
Magnetizer, where have I heard that name before?" Wally asked. It was beginning to bug him.
"If you've never met him, maybe you've heard of him at one of the meetings with the Justice League?" Caroline suggested.
"That's it!" Wally exclaimed, excitedly. "Magnetizer is Anonymous the undercover agent that the Justice League hired!"
It was 3:47 p.m. the next afternoon, Team-A had just finished sharing their plans to capture Flash and his family and were now voting on which plan to go with.
"Well, I think my plan is the best, so I will have to go with it," Magnetizer said, knowing that he purposefully left a way for them to get away.
"I think my plan is the best," Flame Thrower boasted.
"I am going to have to go with Magnetizer's plan, it needs a little fixing up, but it shows good possibilities," Mind Controller replied.
"Sorry Magnetizer, but you didn't think of everything. So I am going to go with my plan." Icicle replied.
"Sorry Magnetizer, but Icicle's right. I'm going to have to go with hers," Bolt replied hesitantly.
"We can fix the flaws in his plan. Icicle as good as your plan is, they might recognize your style, and I can't risk that happening," She paused. "Flame Thrower, even though you voted for your plan, you have to break the tie between Icicle's plan and Magnetizer's plan," Mind Controller informed.
"Hmm..." he paused. "Sorry Icicle, but I think I am just going to have to go with Magnetizer's," Flame Thrower replied.
"Ok then, Magnetizer's it is," Mind Controller confirmed. "Now, first things first. We should fix it up; like over here for example..."
Just great, they are going to fix my plan so Flash and his family won't be able to get away. Just great! I'm supposed to help them not capture them! I have to warn them about the trap. Magnetizer realized.
It was 6:33 p.m. Lisa was told to wait in the living room right after her Dad got off the phone. Her Mom and Dad had gone to get something from the secret room. She could vaguely hear them opening and closing filing cabinet drawers. What are they looking for? And who was on the phone? Lisa wondered. Then hearing the secret door close and a second later she saw her Mom and Dad putting what looked like a map of the city on the coffee table. "What is that for?" Lisa asked curiously.
"First I have to tell you what Anonymous aka Magnetizer told me. He said that Team-A is planning to get rid of us and we need to come up with a plan to counteract their plan. That is why we have the map. They are planning to set off the alarm at Carmine jewelers..." Wally started.
"Isn't that the place the guy always sets off the alarm on Friday nights?" Lisa asked.
"Yes, his name is Theodore Carmine he owns Carmine Jewelers. And the reason that I think they picked Carmine Jewelers is that the alarm goes off every Friday night so no one would think twice about it; not even the police.
So, they think this is going to happen: first, I go through the door as usual, but what I'm not supposed to know is that Icicle has covered a large amount of the floor with ice. So, I slip and Bolt quickly ties me up and drags me into the backroom. There, Mind Controller persuades me not to vibrate out of the room. Then you get worried, so you tell Lisa to wait while you go inside and they do the same thing to you. That's when Lisa gets worried and goes inside; so, they do the same to her. And once they are done, Flame Thrower melts the ice then Bolt quickly turns off the alarm and gives the briefcase back to Carmine so no one suspects anything.
And after we are all tied up and in the backroom, they take off our masks and take a picture. Then, they can blackmail us into never stopping them again otherwise they will tell the world who we are.
Oh, and I almost forgot, Magnetizer is the lookout. Bad idea don't you think?" Wally asked. "Magnetizer also told me that he is going to call the police so we will have backup and that he can't help us; otherwise his cover will be blown," Wally added.
"They are guarding the front door right? Since that is the door we normally go through. Then why don't we sneak in through the backdoor. No one would expect us to do that," Caroline suggested.
"Yeah, why didn't I think of that?" Wally asked himself.
"Why don't we lock Mind Controller in the backroom? According to the map there is only one way in and out of that room and we can get the key from Carmine," Lisa pointed out.
"Yeah, I can ask Carmine for the key tonight," Wally confirmed.
The next day, Bolt nervously walked up to her family's front door. Am I doing the right thing? Well, sure, if I want to get to know my family. What if I don't like them? Then I leave and never come back, but what if I do like them? Then, I guess I stay and get to know them. Ether way, after we capture Flash, Speed, and Lightning I am never going back to the Destroyers, they lied to me, used me, and... Well I'm just not going back. Bolt thought, as she rang the doorbell.
"I'll get it!" She heard a girl yell. That must be... Lisa, was it?
"May I help you? Lisa asked.
"Lisa West, right?" Bolt asked, making sure.
"Yeah, and you are?" Lisa asked.
"Is your Mom and Dad home?" Bolt asked, avoiding her question. I hope they're both home. I only want to explain this once.
"Mom, Dad it's for you." Lisa called.
A couple of minutes later they both appeared in the doorway.
"Mr. and Mrs. West," Bolt started, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Can I come in? I need to talk to you."
"Sure, come in," Caroline said, stepping aside so she could pass. "Please, sit down," she added, settling comfortably into a nearby chair. "What is it about?"
"My name is Maria West and I'm your oldest daughter," Bolt replied.
"What? That's not possible, she died eighteen years ago," Caroline said.
"I knew you were going to say that. No, I didn't, I was kidnapped. I was told that I was adopted. I only just found out that, I was lied to and that you didn't leave me at an adoption center. All I want is to get to know you, my real family. If you want me to leave, I understand," Bolt explained.
"Now why would we what you to leave? We just got you back, after thinking you were dead for eighteen years. Please, at least stay for dinner," Caroline offered.
"I don't know," Bolt replied hesitantly.
"Oh come on, it's only dinner. We can even eat out. What is your favorite restaurant?" Wally asked.
"Uh..." How did we even get on the subject of food? Bolt wondered. Come to think of it, I am getting a little hungry. "Helen's Old Fashion Diner," Bolt answered.
"Hey, that's one of our favorites!" Wally exclaimed enthusiastically. "Come on, let's go!" he insisted, as he jumped up and ran over to the front door.
Once they reached Helen's Old Fashion Diner, they were seated at the corner table. Everything looked old-fashioned, from the lights that looked like torches to the waiters who were dressed in old-fashioned clothes. The place was so well done it looked like you literally stepped back in time.
Bolt felt completely comfortable around them. They seemed to truly care about each other and accepted her so quickly. They seemed to be the family she always wanted. And as it got later and later, she found herself hoping the night wouldn't end; but, sure enough, the restaurant was closing and they had to leave.
As they left, she could vaguely hear Caroline say something to Wally. I wonder what they are saying.
"Maria, if you want, you can come to my family reunion. It's tomorrow afternoon at two," Caroline informed.
"Uh, I don't know," Bolt replied.
"Come on, it will be fun; besides it is at a park so if you get uncomfortable you can leave, no questions asked," Wally insisted.
"W..." Bolt started.
"What? Are you embarrassed about us? Is that it?" Wally asked.
"No, that's not it at all. I was just going to ask which park it was." Bolt explained.
"Oh," Wally replied a little embarrassed.
"Why don't you come to our place and we can drive you there. You can come around 1:30," Caroline replied.
"Ok, that sounds good. So, I will see you tomorrow." Bolt said, as she left.