The Suicide Squad: Bang and Blame - Part Three: Lie In Our Graves
SS 1- The Suicide Squad transport plane
abandoned airfield in Qurac:
"There is no way we can get out of here in time!" Briscoe shouted as the SS 1 began to taxi down the runway. "Even if we make it in the air, the Quraci air force won't be too far behind."
"Colonel?" Ben Turner said poking his head into the cockpit, "We have company. There are several jeeps approaching from the east of the airfield." Ben pointed out the side window as headlights drew closer to the left side of the plane.
"Just get this thing off the ground, Briscoe." Rick Flagg demanded as he looked out the side window of the cockpit. "We'll have to think of something quick."
"You don't look so good my friend?" Angelo Bend looked over at Bolt who was seated next to him in the back of the plane. Bolt looked over at him and forced a smile.
"Just had a run in with a genie. A little tougher then a kid that can run fast and throw sticks, that's for sure." Bolt replied.
"It's all in the way you use it" Angle man smiled back at Bolt.
"Things might get rough here for a bit." Flagg said poking his head out of the cockpit. "Eve I need you in here" Eve just sat there not responding. "Eve now!" Rick yelled.
"Sorry." Eve grumbled, jumping up.
"Everyone else buckle up." Rick yelled over his shoulder as her turned back towards the cockpit.
"So I take it the stewardess won't be by soon with drinks and peanuts?" Angle Man said leaning back in his seat.
"Bastard." Bolt mumbled as he reached around to buckle his seat belt.
"We might make it." Briscoe stated as he continued to force the plane to accelerate towards take off speed.
"Any chatter on the radio concerning the air force?" Ben Turner asked.
"Not yet but we have to assume they're scrabbling planes as we speak" Briscoe responded. "Things are in disarray right now. Sounds like you guys did a number on this country with killing its leader."
"Marlo?" Bronze Tiger said looking at Eve and then at Flagg who now sat in the co pilot's seat. "Who said anything about killing Marlo? What happened Flagg?"
"I don't know what happened to Marlo. But it's all over the radio that terrorists killed him." Briscoe commented.
"We'll unless it's been a busy night for invaders they must mean us. Our orders were to…" Bronze tiger was cut off before he could finish his sentence.
"I know what our orders were but when I left Marlo he was still alive." Flagg snapped as he continued to fidget with the control panel. The plane was close to 185 miles an hour and the runway was growing shorter. The SS1 began to lift off the ground as the jeeps fell further behind, unable to catch the plane.
"As predicted they are calling in the back-ups now." Briscoe continued to monitor the local military's radio frequency. "Three blips just showed up on the radar heading our way."
"Just get this plane to thirty five thousand feet." Flagg said looking over his shoulder at Eve Eden. She continued to just stand there looking out the window of the cockpit. "Eve you know what I am going to ask of you right?"
"Rick, I don't know. I have never tried anything like that before. I am afraid." Eve sighed.
"Eve, we all are. But there is no way we can out race those incoming fighter jets. Even if we do, we won't make it to Washington in time to stop Captain Atom. You have to snap out of it and just do it!" Rick was starting to get a little impatient.
"Rick, are you thinking what I think you are thinking?" Bronze Tiger whispered with a wide-eyed look on his face.
Rick nodded. "Ben, go back and tell everyone to hold tight."
"They are attempting to make radio contact with us Colonel. They said surrender the murderer of President Marlo or they will shoot us down." Briscoe nervously looked over his shoulder at Flagg.
"They are going to shoot us down anyway." Rick shouted. "Eve, it's now or never!" Eve didn't say a word but reached out over the control panel of the plane and placed her hand on the window of the cockpit. This time she was being asked to do something other than just provide transportation. She's being asked to save the lives of everyone on this plane. After a few seconds, a dark hole appeared in front of the plane. It started out the size of a basketball and quickly began to expand until it was big enough for the plane to fly through.
"God help me. Hang on Nate. We are coming." Eve whispered before collapsing onto the floor of the cockpit.
Captain Atom was flying as fast as he could. His silver body streaked through the sky like a bullet. He knew right where he had to go and what he had to do didn't he? His mind felt like a pinball out of control. He tried to focus. Atom's thoughts strayed to his wife Angela. He misses her so much. All he wanted to do was set things right. Go back and undo the wrongs committed by him. Captain Atom was a hero. Nathaniel Adam was a murderer. How many dead? Six? Sixty? Why can't he remember? He was promised a chance to redeem himself. He was banking on that chance. He just needed one opportunity to set things right. Who promised him? How long was he held in that dark room unable to move, unable to think? Do his memories betray him?
All Captain Atom had were images that float in and out of his consciousness. He remembered going crazy and killing everyone in his unit. He remembered their blood on his hands. Wait, there wasn't any blood! Why wasn't there any blood? They said he was tried and convicted for his crimes. He was sentenced to die. Days before he was to be executed he was told that there was a chance he could redeem himself by 'volunteering' for a top-secret project. He was told he would be a free man. He would have a clean record and be honorably discharged as a captain in the United States Air force. He agreed. He didn't have a choice did he? There wasn't any blood! But he was a killer. He would die otherwise. Never see his two kids grow up. Never be able to hold his wife again.
They wrapped him up in an alien metal and discharged a fifty megatons nuclear bomb beneath him. Did it save him or destroy him? It was Eiling who had made the promise to him. Survive the Atom Project and you're a free man. That was the promise. But he emerged eighteen years later and everything he cared about was gone. His wife, his children, his entire life was gone. Eiling promised him a new life, a new chance to serve his country and be a hero. He once again agreed. What happened? Why can't he remember? Something went wrong. Why did he feel he was losing control? He remembers hearing them talk when they didn't think he could hear them. They said it was over. Time to cut their loses. He overheard them say that they would tell him that with his Quantum powers he could be sent back in time and everything he wanted would be waiting for him there.
Was it possible? Did he agree? Why did he have to keep it a secret? Why couldn't he tell Eve? He loved Eve like he never thought he could love again? Was she in on it? Was it another lie? Why can't he focus? No! It was all a lie. Everything! Captain Atom was not a hero. Nate Adam was a killer. It was too late to change the past. Nothing left but to make things right. Nothing left but to kill the people responsible for what he has become. Eiling was going to be the first to die. So was anyone who tried to stop him. He deserves this much. He deserves this peace before he loses it completely!
June sat quietly in her seat on the SS1. She wasn't sure what all the commotion was about in the cockpit of the plane because she was too distracted to care. She just kept playing the same scene over and over again in her head. You don't understand. She is evil. I have to kill her before it's too late! At the time she was certain that the witch Enchantress was speaking about the girl Badb. But the more she thought about it she began to realize something. Those were her words. She was speaking through the Enchantress at the time. Was it the little girl's power that made it so, or was it something else? Something worse. Was it her subconscious speaking about the Enchantress? Did she have to kill her evil half before it was too late? Her thoughts then drifted to the mysterious message she received before they went on the mission. There is a crisis coming. I didn't return in time, but you can stop it! Was it her or her evil half they spoke of? June looked over at Mitch and a tear rolled down her cheek. She couldn't cry. Not yet. But she feared she wouldn't be strong enough to see this through to the end.
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. Abraham Lincoln said it first, but these words ran through Bill Vickers mind as he prepared for his teams mission. The sun was slowly rising in the east as he stood on the balcony of the Carlyne house, the headquarters of the Force of July. Bill Vickers is Major Victory and he is proud to see this day arrive. Finally his team was ready to serve their country on a mission they were made for. Eric Blairman received the call less then an hour ago. He was told to assemble the Force of July to take down a group of terrorists headed to Washington D.C. Mr. Blairman was their government liaison and had sent the team on several test mission over the past several months to see how they acted as a team. Major Victory was the group's leader. He possessed enormous strength and endurance from his government manufactured battle suit decorated with the colors of the American flag. Lady Liberty, it's only fitting that she is a woman of French origin. She channels her energy-manipulating powers through a vessel shaped like a torch. Silent Majority is a man capable of producing identical replicas of himself, each as cunning and ruthless as the original. Mayflower is a young woman who controls and accelerates the growth in all forms of vegetation and plant life. Finally there is Sparkler. A young boy Major Victory fancies as his sidekick. He has the power to produce firework like displays that he can project as weapons at his foes. "Yes." Bill Vickers said out loud "We are ready and it's a good day to be an American!"
There is a price to pay for everything we do. Wade Eiling thought as he sat at his desk in his Washington D.C. office. It was shortly after dawn and he kept running scenarios through his head. He wasn't convinced yet that things were so out of control that they couldn't be fixed. He had created one mistake in an attempt to correct another. He thought back to when he had survived Vietnam and quickly rose through the ranks and found himself on the fast track in Washington.
He saw his opportunity to write his own ticket when an alien metal was found in the New Mexico desert, over twenty years ago. Eiling was put in charge of discovering its origin and what purpose it could serve the U.S. military. He took it one step further resulting in what was called the Atom Project. He wanted to push this alien metal form to its limits. To do that he needed a volunteer that could be was pushed to his limits with nothing to lose. Who he found was Nathaniel Christopher Adam. After the extreme test was over, Adam and the alien metal were both gone. It nearly crippled Eilings career.
He started over and along the way was contacted by a group known only as the Council. They used their influence and powerful contacts to guide Eilings career through the years. He has been chief military advisor to three presidents including the current President, Maxwell Lord. He was in position to be the next Secretary of Defense, when his past caught up with him. Captain Atom appeared after being flung eighteen years through time and landed in the present. That was one year ago. But once again Eiling saw an opportunity to use this to his advantage. He prepped Captain Atom to be the newest super hero, one that answered to the U.S. government. When it was apparent that Captain Atom couldn't be controlled, the Council advised Eiling to cut his loses and dispose of him.
In a deal with President Marlo he set a trap for Atom and shipped him off to Qurac. Marlo's plan was to hold Atom using a device that was meant to scrabble Atoms quantum powers and use him as a weapon against Qurac's enemies. Eiling knew the Council wanted Marlo to help expand their interests in the Middle East. In return, the Council was responsible for Qurac being one step away from becoming a member of the United Nations. Marlo was the figurehead and the Council was to be the power. When Eiling had gotten word that Marlo was targeted for assassination he had Waller send in the Squad.
The Council was the one who positioned Eiling to play a part in the forming of the Suicide Squad to begin with. It was soon after the Squads disastrous mission in Algeria that Eiling discovered that Marlo was planning to turn against his allies. It turns out he was playing both sides and was also a member of the Ten. The Council saw this as enough reason to continue to align themselves with Marlo. Eiling had to take care of the Captain Atom problem once and for all and show Marlo it was wise to continue to align himself with the Council. As much as he despised Amanda Waller, her Squad had proven to be useful up to this point. With the Secretary of the Defense's recently failings, Eiling would be the logical choice when it was time for President Lord to replace him. He was close enough now that he could feel it. The only thing left was to tidy up the loose ends. Waller and the Squad would be finished after today and he would finally be rid of Atom once and for all. Eiling had paid the price for everything he had to endure.
Now it was time to get what he deserved. He was almost embarrassed by the smile that began to form on his face. It didn't last long when his door burst open and Captain Atom appeared!
The SS1 found its way through Nightshades dimension and Briscoe sat dead still for a moment. When he regained his composure he quickly began to check the flight instruments. Most of the digital read outs on the EFIS had already begun to automatically adjust.
"I don't think I want to know how that happened or how it worked but it did. Everything is checking out fine." Briscoe cleared his throat, still not completely recovered from the experience yet.
"Good." Flagg responded as he stood up and helped Ben get Eve off the floor and into the seat. "You did good Eve."
"Colonel I queried the ECAM twice. Believe it or not we are twenty minutes out of Washington airspace." Briscoe glanced over at Eve and then looked back at the control panel.
"Ben, get Waller on the horn. Find out what we are heading into." Flagg said, stepping out of the cockpit. Nemesis jumped up from his seat and met Flagg in the aisle way.
"What the hell happened? Was that Eve's doing?" He demanded.
"Yes and we are almost in Washington." Rick answered before looking over at the rest of the group. "This isn't over yet people."
"Like hell it's not!" Bolt shouted, slowly standing up. He was obviously still a little worse for the wear from his encounter with Djinn. "I didn't sign up for this kind of crap!"
"Sit down and shut the hell up! This is over when I say it's over. You just remember…" Flagg shouted and put his finger in Bolts face forcing him back in his seat. "I am not your friend, your parole officer, or your Daddy and I don't have to be nice to you!" A silence fell over everyone for a moment.
"Man sure knows how to get a woman all hot and bothered, doesn't he?" Frost grinned, looking over at Deadshot.
"Long as I get to shoot someone." He grinned back, glancing down at his double wrist magnums.
"Don't worry Floyd." Mitch Shelly said seriously " I'm afraid you'll get your chance before this is through."
Black Orchid looked on from a distance as doctors worked on Vixen in the emergency room at the local hospital outside of Bordeaux, France. When the rocket blasted the third floor of their hotel room, Orchid was blasted through a wall and into the next room. She had already survived a deadly battle with Deadline and her invulnerability was tested to its limit today. Mark Shaw had nothing more then a few broken bones and a concussion. Mari used the power of the Tatu totem to save Mark Shaw's life and might have very well sacrificed her own life in the process. Susan glanced over at Mark. He was leaning against the glass that separated him from where they were working on Mari. She wondered what was going through his head at the moment. She hadn't said more then two words to him since they got there.
Susan had quickly gone into defense mode, transforming into what she hoped would pass as a common French Woman. She knew Mark probably wouldn't want her close right now anyway. If he did, she wasn't capable of that now, or any other time. She wasn't that type of person. She was someone who knew so little about who she really was so it was always safer to play someone else. It was safer to hide in the background and not be noticed. Susan was lost in thought until she felt her Black berry buzz in her side pocket. She pulled it out and read the message:
Glad to see you're alive Suzy. Maybe now you will stop wasting time and get to the business of taking back your life again. Once you have found it, that is. Steel has been lying to you. He has known for sometime now the answers you have desperately been seeking to find. You are so close now. Please hurry home. Love, your sister.
The message was from an unknown sender. No one had access to her Black Berry other then Waller and Steel. They knew too much for her to pass this off as a prank. Who was it then? Was it true what they said about Steel? She agreed to work for him a few years back, if he would help her uncover her origins and who was responsible for what she had become. Why would he keep information from her if he knew something? Did she have a sister?
The Suicide Squad was totally expendable. The government's super team with one hundred percent deniability if things ever go sour. That was Amanda Waller's pitch when she sold the idea to the President. Rick Flagg was the field leader of the Suicide Squad. He was in charge of making the right decisions that ensured a successful mission. The problem was, this mission was setup to fail from the beginning. Now his focus had turned to damage control. Get in, defuse the current situation and then get out. Stop Captain Atom from tearing apart the nations capitol and prevent him from killing the man responsible for what had become of him. That same man had been behind the scenes as the government liaison for the Squad, Wade Eiling. Flagg discovered Eiling was involved with Marlo.
It almost made sense now, he thought. Flagg had doubted his ability to lead this team after Algeria, that's why he took off to Vegas. He had been used before so he recognized the foul taste it left in his mouth. He let the government talk him into spying on a group called the Forgotten Hero's. He never questioned his orders and it nearly cost him his life then. Now he found himself in another situation that was spiraling out of control. Had the Squad been patsies the whole time? Was the entire thing an elaborate scheme for power hungry bureaucrats to have pawns they could use up and toss aside when they were through? Were Waller and Eiling in on it from the beginning? He doubted it. Waller was too much of a megalomaniac herself. Either way, he was keeping what he had learned to himself for now. When this was all over he was going to get answers. That was, if he got out of his current situation alive.
The Squad landed outside of Washington at Bolling Air Force Base. That was where they discovered The Force of July waiting for them. Flagg quickly dispatched half the team to find and contain Captain Atom. Eve swiftly transported with Nemesis, Mitch Shelly, and Bronze Tiger. That left Flagg, Deadshot, Bolt, Killer Frost, Angle Man, and Enchantress to deal with the rest.
"Briscoe! Issue our standard clearance code. That should keep the Air Force out of the way for now. We don't need our cover blown if it already hasn't been." Flagg yelled. "Everyone exit this plane now! I want this ended quickly. Pick a target and take them down. I do not; I repeat do not want deadly force used. That goes for everyone Deadshot!"
Flagg thought they looked like characters from propaganda hate films other countries show to their people about America. Despite how silly they may have appeared, they were dangerous and were quick on the attack. Within minutes a battle erupted across the tarmac runway. Major Victory stood before Rick Flagg.
"You dare bring your filth and bile to American soil!" Major Victory shouted as he leapt at Flagg, tackling him to the ground. Flagg quickly spun around and kicked him in the chest, forcing him to the ground landing flat on his back. He pulled out his gun and pointed it in Victory's face. "I do not know what you were told but this ends here and now!" Flagg scowled, cocking the hammer on his gun. "Call them off now before someone gets hurt!"
Major Victory lay there catching his breath. "This country will no longer roll over and play dead for you and your kind." He reached up and pulled the gun out of Flagg's hand, snapping his wrist along the way. Flagg was surprised at how fast he was able to move. He was still feeling the pain in his wrist when Victory leapt to his feet and in one swift motion lifted Flagg up over his head and threw him to the ground.
June Moone was afraid to change into the Enchantress after the events in Qurac but without Mitch here she was more afraid of what would happen if she didn't. She yelled the witch's name as she fell to her knees. Enchantress smiled. She felt strong again. She looked up and saw a woman standing in front of her dressed in brown with a green cape.
"Honey I should kill you now for looking so hideous!" Enchantress said as she conjured a vigor spell and rose to her feet striking Mayflower on the chin knocking her down. She then picked her up and throw her about twenty feet, where Mayflower landed in a field right off the runway. Enchantress walked over to where she laid motionless in the grass.
"Opps!" Enchantress snickered, standing over the girl's body, "I wasn't supposed to use deadly force? Flagg is dense! There is no other kind of force but deadly!"
Mayflower slowly moved her hands, palms down to the ground and grabbed two handfuls of grass. She flung them up at Enchantress. They hit her like a hundred tiny needles. She felt several embed in her right arm and shoulder. Enchantress reached up and pulled one out. "Neat trick. I've got a better one!" She leaned down and cast a redirect spell forcing the grass spikes out of her and centered them in the middle of Mayflowers neck. Mayflower gasped half a breath, rose slightly and then collapsed.
"No other type." Enchantress licked her lips and walked away.
Silent Majority was as good as his name. He spoke not a word as he quickly divided into over a dozen copies of himself and closed in on Bolt and Deadshot. Bolt thrashed away at half a dozen attackers while Deadshot kept picking off the copies one by one with precision shots. But as quickly as one disappeared another formed to take his place.
"This is getting us no where!" Bolt shouted over to Deadshot. "There's too many of them!"
Deadshot didn't say a word but continued to increase his pace at taking them down until one reached from behind and struck him square in the middle of the back. He fell face first to the ground. He nearly blacked out from the pain of being struck in the same place Rustam had wounded him earlier. He blocked out the throbbing wound as he rolled over and shot the replica, which then quickly disappeared. He had been agitated because of what occurred earlier and wanted to shot someone, but this was ridiculous. He jumped up and taped a button on the side of his mask. His vision filter switched to infrared and he quickly scanned the crowed of facsimiles until he found what he was looking for, the only one that registered any body heat. The original stood the furthest back out of harms way. Deadshot aimed his wrist magnums and fired two shots striking each kneecap on the original Silent Majority. He hit the ground and uttered his first sounds as he shrieked in pain as one by one the duplicates vanished.
"Captain Atom." Eiling said as stood up in front of his desk. "What took you so long?"
"What I am surprised at, is a coward like yourself hasn't crawled in a hole by now." Atom growled.
"Why? I have nothing to hide from. You are the one who couldn't handle your duties anymore and disappeared for the last couple of months." Eiling calmly crossed his arms across his chest.
"You know exactly where I've been." Atom moved closer to where Eiling stood. "What you don't know or couldn't possibly fathom is what I plan to do to you for everything you have done to me."
Eiling took a half a step back as Atom got closer. "You must have finally cracked Nathaniel. I have done nothing to you but provide you with opportunity after opportunity, which you squandered away time and again. The last time we spoke you told me you had found a way to go back in time and fix everything. You are the coward who's constantly running away, not me!"
"You trapped me and used me every chance you've had!" Atom screamed forcing Eiling to fall back into his chair. Atom's silver alloy covering body began to glow changing into an orange hue. "It ends today!"
Eiling sat in his chair and began to tremble slightly as Atom leaned down towards him.
"Yes my good Captain." Eiling managed to utter. "It does end today. Meet your replacement."
With a blur Captain Atom was forced through the wall of Wade Eilings office and on to constitution Avenue. Major Force walked over to where Atom lay and picked him up by the shoulder with one hand.
"The General was wrong. I am not your replacement. I am your superior!" He shouted before pounding him several times in the face and throwing him to the ground. Captain Atom stumbled to his feet as Major Force took a few steps and stood in front of him again.
"Face it Captain, I outrank you and you're just plain out matched and out classed!" Major Force laughed before pulling his fist back and hitting him again, this time propelling him in the air, sending him flying. He landed over a half a mile away in West Potomac Park near the FDR memorial.
Captain Atom lay still on the ground. His entire body was like it was an inferno. He felt like he was burning up from the inside out. He couldn't focus. Instead, he gave in to rage and fury, which gave him power. He stumbled to his feet once again. He stood there unable to move. He experienced what he thought could be an out of body experience. This wasn't him! He wasn't filled with this much hate was he? What did they do to him all those months in that box? There wasn't time to think as a 600-pound blur of red and indigo was racing toward him. This time he forced himself to stand up straight and brace himself. As Major Force got close enough Atom reached out and grabbed hold of both his arms and flung him over his head and straight into the ground. The shock wave was felt a mile away. Atom turned around and put his foot on Major Force's chest and reached out and grabbed both of his arms. He watched as Major Force gritted his teeth.
"Not as washed up as I thought. Good! I thought I was just gonna give your candy ass a beat down." Major Force attempted to pull himself up but he noticed that Atom was pulling harder on his arms. He was glowing a brighter orange and it was making him stronger. Stronger then he had ever been before. Force felt his arms start to pull from their sockets and flayed his body in an attempt to break Atoms grasp to no avail. "Stop it! Fight me like a man!"
"It's too late for that!" Captain Atom began to scream down at Major Force. "Because I am no longer a man!"
With that he pulled harder until he felt Major Forces arms tearing away from his body.
"Nate! Stop it!" Eve screamed as Atom turned around to see her behind him along with Bronze Tiger, Nemesis, and Resurrection Man.
Amanda Waller sat alone in her office. She had not been in communication with the Squad in over an hour. Ben told her what had happened in Qurac and that they were almost in Washington. She couldn't get a hold of Eiling. Everything had fallen apart around her and the Squad. Why hadn't she seen this coming? Had she been so over confident that she didn't bother to put all the pieces together when they were right there in front of her the entire time? Waller was not the type of person to wallow in pity and self-doubt. Nor was she going to sit around questioning herself and her actions. She had come too far in her life to begin doing that now. Lost in thought she was startled a bit when there was a knock on her office door.
"Come in." She yelled.
The door opened and a man entered quickly and shut the door. "I wasn't aware you were so eager to die Mrs. Waller?"
"So they sent Eddie Fyers to kill me?"
"They did indeed." He said smiling to her.
Amanda sighed and buried her head in her hands. "God this is going to be a long day!"
Killer Frost found herself facing off against Lady Liberty. She was getting irritated and found it hard to concentrate. Stupid French chick and her stupid French accent! Frost thought. Where the hell does she get off spouting to me about whatever it is she spouting off about? She was on the defensive and she didn't like it. Stupid torch melting everything I throw at her! Why couldn't I get one of the yummy boys to play with?
"Hey chicky! Why don't you shut up for a minute?" Frost yelled while evading another blast from Lady Liberty's torch. " You talk too much and I can't understand a thing your saying anyways!"
"Why don't you just lay down!" Liberty said, "A slut like you should know what that means in any language!"
"Oh no! You did not just go there! Some bitch in a long green dress and a falic looking torch with obvious Daddy issues did not just judge me!" Killer Frost screamed as she got close enough to tackle Liberty to the ground. Liberty was blasting blindly with her torch until Frost knocked it out of her hand. Frost jumped on top of her and backhanded her across the face. Liberty struggled while trying to reach her torch that lay just out of reach.
"You want this?" Frost asked, picking up the torch. She swung it around and hit Liberty hard enough on the temple that it drew blood. "Your dress doesn't lend to fighting hand to hand now does it?" Liberty continued to struggle as Frost pinned her down. Frost held the torch over her head with both hands. Lady Liberty closed her eyes tight as the torch swung down toward her. She freed her left hand and in brief second, turned the torch around and blasted Killer Frost launching her backwards. Lady Liberty slowly stood up and adjusted herself. She then walked over to where Frost lay literally out cold. She leaned down and tapped her on the cheek. "Who talks too much now, huh chienne?"
Another child? Angle man thought as Sparkler ran towards him. This is the second time today! I should have picked the French dame in the long dress. That could have been fun.
"Give it up, terrorist scum!" Sparkler screeched as he stood ten feet in front of Angelo.
Angelo laughed out loud as the kid clinched his fists and pointed them Angle Man.
"You are in way over your head, my young adolescent fool." He laughed as Sparkler sent a barrage of fire works at him. Angelo quickly used his triangle to create a small force field, which stopped the assault.
"Well aren't you a crafty old dude." Sparkler said half smiling.
"Aren't their child labor laws your daddy over there is violating?" Angle Man gestured in the direction where Major Victory was fighting Rick Flagg.
"I am sixteen and he isn't my Father. He is the greatest American hero I know!"
Angelo laughed again. "Well since I know you are too young to know William Katt, I will assume you mean he is a twisted man who gets his kicks dressing up young boys in spandex!" That set Sparkler off as he charged towards Angle Man. When he got close enough Angle Man pointed his triangle at the kid that sent him flying straight up in the air. "Oh my god! Do kids never learn?" He said as began to walk away. Where's that other female at, the one tangling with witchy woman?
Angle Man began to look around when out of the corner of his eye he noticed Sparkler flying back down with his fists glowing bright crimson. He turned to point his triangle at him but it was too late. Sparkler turned and fired one large fire assault that hit Angle Man directly in the chest and exploded on impact.
Sparkler looked down at Angelo Bends lifeless body with a panicked look on his face. He looked around to see if anyone had seen what happened. He thought about picking up the triangle but instead flew off as fast as he could.
"Please stop, Nate!" Eve pleaded as she took a step toward Captain Atom. "This isn't you!"
"This is what they made me. I can't stop now!" He said tightening his grip on Major Force.
"I know you're scared and lonely but this isn't the way. I am sorry." Eve pleaded as she got close enough to place her hand on his shoulder. "I should have gone looking for you when you disappeared. I just thought…"
"Eve stay back! I love you but this is how it has to be!" He shouted without taking his eyes off of Major Force.
"Such a drama queen ain't ya?" Major Force snickered. "You gonna do something or are you gonna torture me with this sob story?"
Captain Atom pulled Major Force off of the ground and reached up and grabbed him by the throat. His hand was glowing a bright orange as he squeezed tighter. He then released his grip. Major Force stumbled back a bit. Atom reached out and let go a full blast that released some of the excess energy that was building up inside of him. The blast sent Major Force flying backward and out of sight.
Atom fell to his knees as his entire body began to glow bright amber.
"Nate!" Eve cried, leaning down toward him.
"Eve!" Nemesis yelled as she reached over and grabbed her, pulling her away from Captain Atom.
"Let her go!" Captain Atom screamed as he stood up. "She's all I have left!"
Mitch stepped in front of him. "Not now buddy. We're gonna get you some help first!"
"No! Eve leaves with me now!" He shouted at Mitch.
"I can't let that happen. You are going to cool off first then we are all leaving together."
Mitch put his hands on Atom's shoulder. Atom reached up and grabbed Mitch's hand. He squeezed it until he felt it crush.
"AUGHHH!" Mitch yelled.
"I am sorry Eve." Atom said as he watched her stand behind Bronze Tiger and Nemesis.
"Not as sorry as you're gonna be!" Mitch screamed as he wrapped his arms around Atom and took off with him straight up in the air.
"What are we going to do?" Eve sobbed.
"He is out of control and we are in way over our heads here." Bronze Tiger said, trying to console her. "He has gone straight over the edge."
" No he hasn't! It isn't his fault! That bastard tortured him." Eve sneered. "He deserved to die!"
"Regardless. He is not coming back with us willingly. We're going to have to hope Mitch calms him down." Ben sighed, looking up toward the sky.
Ok, Mitch, now what? He crushed your hand and it hurts like hell. It will heal. What made you think flying off with him in tow was a good idea? What now? Tell him to go sit in his room till he can act like an adult? This was a bad idea.
"You should have stayed out of this." Atom shouted as he pushed Mitch off of him.
Mitch looked down but he couldn't tell how high they were up. He hated to fly. It didn't feel natural. He charged at Captain Atom and swung at him with his good hand. He missed badly, unable to adjust his balance in the air. Atom elbowed him in the chest. Mitch felt several ribs crack from the impact. Atom looked around then flew off. Mitch took off after him. The cold rushing air emphasized every pain in his body. He caught Atom off guard when he grabbed him by the leg and swung him back around. Atom stopped and appeared to just float there for a moment. The silver metal that encased his entire body was starting to crack. More excess energy began to spill out as the cracks widened.
He watched as Atom began to freefall. He raced down after him and pulled him back up. It was then when he realized what was going on. He held on to the now incoherent Atom and flew straight up. He felt his body burn. Everything felt like it was on fire. He kept pushing harder and faster. There wasn't any more air in his lungs but he had already forgotten how to breathe. It didn't matter anymore. This was it. He prayed that Nathaniel Adam would find the peace he had lost on earth. Mitch also said the same prayer for himself he had uttered too many times to count now. He wasn't afraid anymore. The darkness would soon be gone and the pain would disappear. It had been so long he hoped his soul would find its way. He thought of June. She saw in him everything he had thought was lost. He hoped she would remember.
It ended in with a bright crimson flash high above Washington D.C.
"I am taking you and your cohorts in." Major Victory proclaimed as he stood over Rick Flagg.
"Not today." Bronze Tiger hollered just before his heel landed on the side of Victory's temple knocking him out.
He reached down and helped Flagg up. "We have to get out of here now Colonel."
They quickly headed inside the plane and shut the door behind them.
"Everyone accounted for?" Flagg asked, looking around.
"They barbequed Angle Man and Frost got taken down hard but she'll live." Ben said.
"Briscoe!" Flagg yelled up towards the cockpit.
"Say no more Colonel. I am on it." He said back.
"I take it things didn't go any better on your end?" Rick aked Ben as he rubbed his eyes trying to clear his head.
"No. Captain Atom lost it and took Mitch with him." Ben said
"What do you mean?" he asked sitting in one of the passenger seats towards the door.
"They went boom." He whispered.
"Oh." He replied. "And Eiling?"
"Don't know. We got back here as quick as we could."
"Contact Waller and let her know we are heading home then."
"No can do. No one can get a hold of her."
Flagg leaned back in his seat. "God this is going to be a long day!"
After a few minutes the SS1 was in the air and Flagg and Bronze Tiger headed to the cockpit. They quickly learned that the incident was all over the local and national news. Terrorists attacked Washington D.C. and after an intense battle that raged across the nations capital, it was being reported that Captain Atom and several members of America's newest super team, The Force of July, were dead. It was believed that these same terrorists attacked and murdered President Marlo of Qurac earlier in the night.
There was a plea to the military and the Meta human community to track down the terrorists and bring them to justice.
"Great. It's only a matter of time before they sic Superman on our ass then its all over." Flagg joked as he sat back in the co-pilots seat.
"How much time do we have?" Ben asked.
"It will be a few minutes before they have us pulled up on satellite. The Air Force will be on us in less then five minutes after that."
"We need to contact Sarge Steel, the President, someone." Ben said.
"No Ben it's over. They've already cut us loose. One-hundred percent deniability, remember?" Just then there was yelling from the cabin.
"What the hell is going on?" Rick said after him and Ben came out of the cockpit.
"I will shot you!" Deadshot yelled as he pointing both his wrist magnums at Bolt who stood in the aisle with his arms out crackling with electricity.
"Stand down Floyd! Now!" Flagg shouted, pulling his gun on Deadshot. "Bolt, sit down! I do not need this crap right now!" "
Bolt stood where he was.
"You have to the count of three to sit down or I will blow your head off at your shoulders or have you forgotten our insurance policy?" Rick pulled out a small disc like detonator from his pocket.
"We have not forgotten the bomb you put in our head, Rick Flagg. We have already bypassed the detonator." Bolt said as he was charging up. "Non compliance is determined. Destruction is the only alternative." Rick frantically pushed the detonator with no results. Bolt shot an electric blast from his fingertips and Djinn rode out of on them. Shots were fired as Djinn flew past Flagg and Bronze Tiger straight toward the cockpit crashing into the control panels. Everything went dark for a few seconds until the auxiliary lights kicked on. Bolt was on the floor dead and the plane began to nose dive.
"Briscoe!" Flagg yelled stumbling back toward the cockpit. Briscoe was slumped over the flight controls. Flagg pulled him off to find him dead.
"Damn it!" Flagg said as he looked at the flight instruments. They were severely damaged. Everything was offline. The plane continued to nose dive. Flagg jumped back up and struggled to get back to the cabin.
"Eve!" he yelled out. "Transport us out of here now!"
"Rick! I can't. I don't know what will happen. I…" She said hanging to one of the seats.
"Eve listen to me very carefully we are going to crash. It's up to you."
"Where's Mitch! I have to save Mitch!" June screeched in shock.
"Eve now." Rick yelled as the plane continued to rapidly descend. Nightshade prayed as she pointed down and opened up a dimensional hole.
Epilogue One:
Eiling sat in the back seat of his car. He had already put the glass divider up so his driver couldn't hear the conversation he was about to have on his phone. He took a deep breath and dialed the number. After one ring someone on the other end picked up.
"I am on my way to the White House now. It's nearly over." He said.
"It better be." The man on the other end of the phone replied. "We lost our control in Qurac and it will be sometime before we can get our own man inside the Middle East again."
"The death of President Marlo was unexpected and unfortunate." Eiling said. "Captain Atom and the Squad have been dealt with." Eiling continued in an attempt to shift to some of the more positive outcomes.
"Captain Atom was a powerful weapon you never fully utilized. Also, losing the Squad was unfortunate before we had a chance to use them future."
"We can replace them sir." Eiling clenched his phone tighter.
"No! We will cut our loses and move forward with our plans. But we have suffered a lot of loses from this Eiling. A lot of loses that has made you look very poorly in the councils eyes."
"Well, with Amanda Waller out of the way sir I don't foresee any more setbacks on this end."
"Yes, it seems Amanda Waller was a bigger problem then you realized .No more set backs Eiling. You are out of second chances." The man demanded before hanging up the phone.
After a few minute the car stopped and Eiling got out. He didn't stop until he walked into the room, handed the President a file, and sat down. "It's done, Mr. President," he said. "The Suicide Squad is dead. The file on them is closed."
"And Waller?" President Lord asked.
"Waller was confirmed dead last night, Sir." Eiling replied, "And anyone else associated with her and or the Squad is either dead, or in deep hiding"
"Well," the President continued as he leaned back in his chair, pushing the file across the desk in front of him. "I told her that the success of the squad would depend on her ability to be a team player."
"You can't win them all, Sir." Eiling sighed as he got up and headed towards the door.
"Eiling." the President said, standing up and walking toward him.
"Yes Sir?"
"Sorry about your lose."
"It was a set back, Sir. But we will be up and running again in no time." Eiling headed out the door. Yes, he has suffered several set backs but he has never let that stop him in the past. Captain Atom and now the Suicide Squad are on the short list of failures against a career full of successes. Eiling was once again confident as he walked back through the White House. Soon this would all be his! Once outside, he followed a narrow path that lead to his limousine parked along side the road. Another man was standing next to the limo, waiting for him.
"You finished briefing the President so soon, General?" Sarge Steel asked, taking a step away from the limo.
"Well there wasn't much to say. Everything was in my report." General Wade Eiling said as he approached Steel and stood next to him.
"Everything? Even the senseless deaths of American heroes?"
"Heroes huh?" General Eiling clinched his teeth "Steel, we are talking about thieves, murderers and criminals; not heroes. The day people like that become heroes is the day I resign." Sarge Steel just smiled at him. Eiling looked at him for another few seconds and then opened the back door of the limo. "And another thing..." He started to say as he got in the limo but before he had a chance to finish his sentence, Steel shut the door and the limo drove off. Sarge Steel took his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. Someone on the other end picked up.
"Now it's finished, Sir." Steel said and then hung up.
"Hello Eiling." Someone said sitting across from him in the limo.
"Amanda Waller!" he exclaimed.
"You look a little disappointed General, or is that confused? Either way, Eddie Fyers wanted me to tell you hello."
"I will kill you myself!" Eiling screamed as he lunged toward her
"Sit your ass down," Amanda said as the glass dividing the front of the limo rolled down. He looked up and saw Floyd Lawton driving and Ben Turner next to him smiling. "Now that's definitely confusion I am certain of it!"
Eiling sat back in his seat. "What do you want?"
"Nothing. Unless you want to tell me about the Council."
"I do not know what you are talking about!"
"I didn't think so."
"The President will not sit still for this…"
"This is the Presidents idea!" Amanda raised her voice at him "I think his exact words were, lock him up and throw away the key. So it doesn't matter whether you talk because where you are going you will no longer exist!"
Epilogue Two:
"So I take it Eiling didn't say anything about Marlo or the Council?" Flagg asked as he sat across from Amanda Waller in her office.
"No he wasn't in the mood to chit chat." Waller replied.
"What's the word from France?" Flagg asked.
"They've stabilized Vixen and preparing to transport her out later today with Shaw. Orchid took off to god knows where."
"Maybe she went after the group that attacked them."
"Maybe." Waller sighed, "There is something that's still bothering me about that though. If Eiling was in bed with Marlo then it couldn't have been him that sabotaged the missions in Algeria or in France."
"Yeah, makes sense." Flagg commented
"So someone else wanted Marlo dead. Someone who was always one step ahead of the Squad in the field." She paused as she leaned back in her chair.
"You think it's someone on the inside?"
"Or someone who hacked in from the outside. Either way I will find out and I know exactly where to start looking."
Flagg stood up and headed toward the door.
"One last bit of business Flagg."
He turned back around and faced her.
"After reading all the field reports. I have one question for you?" She said standing up. "Why did you kill Marlo?"
Flagg stood there for a brief moment before responding.
"I don't have an answer for that." Flagg said. "Is that all?"
"Yes. But as of right now you are removed as field leader effective immediately."
Flagg didn't say a word but turned back around and headed out the door. He knew it would come up eventually. He did have an answer to her question. He didn't kill President Marlo but he knows who did. He wasn't sure why, but he was willing to take the fall for who really did. He knows there was only one person who not only had the motive but the ability to kill him and then get out quickly without being seen. Eve Eden. They haven't spoken since the Qurac and Washington incident occurred a few days back. But he would talk to her soon. There was someone else he needed to have a word with first.
He headed down to where the living quarters for the mission's team was located. He peeked inside a doorway where he saw Dolphin sleeping. He walked up and leaned down along side her. She looked so peaceful and beautiful sleeping there. He slowly ran his fingers through her long white hair. He did that for a minute until she slowly opened her eyes.
"Hi Dol." He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "Are you doing better now?"
"I am sorry for the way I acted." She whispered in her delicate, soft-spoken voice as a tear ran down her cheek.
"Hey, its ok. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. What you said then about how you didn't think it could be me, what made you think that?"
She hesitated at first, as she lay there looking up at him.
"Because…" She whispered, "I saw you die."
Next:Two new storylines begin in Suicide Squad II
Suicide Squad- All Consuming Fire: Part 1 (of 3)
"Bang and Blame" is over and the Squad begins to pick up the pieces. Rick Flagg looks into his past for clues to his death. Oracle returns and Amanda Waller wants answers! Also, who is breaking into Belle Reve and why? The answer will shock you!
Black Orchid- Nothing But Flowers: Part 1 (of 3)
Also Black Orchid's back-up tale begins here. Susan Linden doesn't know who she is, where she came from, or how she became Black Orchid. The search for the truth begins in Metropolis.
Authors notes: What follows are the five Squad entry's from the Who's Who event over at DC2. Who's Who has character bios and original art for each character. There were 30 entry's in all that covered nearly all the books in the DC2. Check it out over there for the entire issue. Otherwise just check out the Squad entry's here for some foreshadowing of major storylines to come in the Squad book!
Name: Susan Linden
Secret Identity: Black Orchid
Aliases: Various
First DC2 Appearance: Suicide Squad #2
Status: Hero
Base of Operations: Mobile
Occupation: Adventurer, Crime Fighter, Vegas card dealer
HT: 5' 11"
WT: 130
Eyes: Violet/change at will
Hair: Violet/change at will
Powers and Abilities: Her known powers include flight, near invulnerability, and when she is near enough to release a pheromone she is able use it to exhibit limited persuasion powers over others. With all of that, perhaps her greatest power comes from her ability to be a master of disguise. She can flawlessly impersonate anyone, typically blending into the background as an insignificant person like a maid or a secretary. Often people do not even realize she has been there until she is long gone, with the only sign of her being there is calling card, a black orchid.
History: Very little is known about this mysterious woman. She is a mystery even to herself. She just became "aware" one day walking the streets of Metropolis with only a memory of her name.
Sarge Steel discovered her a few years back working undercover as a card dealer in Las Vegas. He quickly recruited her to work for him when he discovered her ability's. She agreed to work for him if he would help her uncover her origins and who was responsible for what she has become.
Six months ago Steel quiet accidentally uncovered the truth about Susan Linden. He chose to keep that information to himself because he feared he would no longer be able to control her if she discovered the truth. But, it's only a matter of time before she discovers the truth and goes after the two men responsible for what she's become, Lex Luthor and Bruce Wayne!
Black Orchids solo adventure begins after Bang and Blame!
Name: June Moone
Secret Identity: None
Aliases: The Enchantress
First DC2 Appearance: As June Moone- Suicide Squad #1, as Enchantress- Suicide Squad issue #2
Status: Uncertain
Base of Operations: Belle Reve Prison
Occupation: Adventurer, Criminal, Sorceress
HT: 5' 6"
WT: 125 lbs.
Eyes: Blue (Moone) Green (Enchantress)
Hair: Blonde (Moone) Black (Enchantress)
Powers and Abilities: Normal human possessed by a mystical entity capable of vast magical power which can be called upon by saying the word "Enchantress." Some of her powers include levitation and the animation of objects. She also has an immeasurable amount of mystic tricks concealed in her witch's hat.
History: June killed her mother 33 seconds after she was born. She was the last of three girls born to Nicole Easton on that day. But, the strain of multiply births was too much for her to handle, and Nicole died without ever getting to hold her girls. The tragedy was too much to bear for the newly widowed father and he abandoned his children and they became wards of the state. Baby June was the smallest and barely clung to life. She spent her first six months in the children's ward at the hospital she was born. In that time her sisters were adopted as twins. Several months later, Michael and Amanda Moone adopted baby June.
Twenty some years later while June was a junior at the university of Massachusetts. She was asked by her boyfriend to go to a party with him at an old building the locals called Terror Castle. The party turned out to be a group an amateur witches and wizards trying to conjure up sprits. The entire group was overwhelmed with super natural forces. In an attempt to escape the chaos June slipped away to an ancient chamber hidden away within the castle. It was there she encountered the creature know as Dzamor. He told her it was her destiny that had brought her here this night. Everyone in the castle would die unless she accepted the mystical powers he was offering her. She felt she had no choice. She spoke the word Enchantress and was transformed into a being of extraordinary powers. She easily drove out the evil forces in the castle and saved everyone.
For a short time she became a super natural force of good in the world. Despite her power, it wasn't enough to save her boyfriend from dying in a cult. It was then that she cried out to Dzamor for more power. He agreed in exchange for a favor that he would collect later.
She agreed to his terms but the excess power she received slowly began to drive her over the edge. June stayed in her Enchantress persona for longer and longer periods of time. She was on a course of self-destruction, one that would take the planet with her.
It wasn't until an all out battle with Power Girl that June was able to take back control of her life.
June was incarcerated for her crimes and was recruited by the Suicide Squad. After participating on a few missions her sentence was served. She choose to stay with the group after they promised to help her find a way to control her Enchantress persona in exchange she hopes to make up for some of the wrongs she has committed.
She's finding it harder and harder to keep her Enchantress side in check. She feels her crawling under her skin, just waiting to take over again. June fears that one day she will speak the witches name one too many times and Enchantress will take over forever.
Recently she was contacted by a familiar figure telling her she will play in important role in an upcoming crisis. Finally, just off in the shadows, is Dzamor waiting to reveal a secret about Junes past and to collect his favor. Junes story will be told after the DC2 crisis plays out and before the next big storyline "Hit between the Eyes" begins!
Name: Manhunter
Secret Identity: Mark Shaw/Shawn Marcus
Aliases: Privateer, Star-Tsar
First DC2 Appearance: Suicide Squad #1
Status: Hero
Base of Operations: Mobile, Belle Reve Prison
Occupation: Attorney, Bounty Hunter
HT: 5' 11"
WT: 185 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Powers and Abilities: Enhanced strength, speed, stamina, agility, and limited healing powers.Power baton is capable of firing powerful energy blasts and magnetic pulses.
History: Shawn Marcus was a public defender that grew increasingly frustrated at the way the system worked in favor of the criminals. After one too many criminals manipulated the system and got off without punishment, he decided to do something about it. He used evidence he had on a client to get him convicted. After breaching his client lawyer privileges, he was barred from practicing law. The client he helped put away put a contract out on his life. Shawn Marcus's life was over. Soon after going into hiding, an ancient sect of crime fighters contacted him to work for them. They believed that at the center of the galaxy a group of highly intelligent beings created the perfect protectors in the universe. In their eyes, these Manhunters were created to bring peace to the galaxy. The decided to live by the laws and doctrine of the Manhunters until the day comes they return to once again cleanse the galaxy leaving only the righteous behind to rebuild the universe. He began his training with them and soon after he was hunting down criminals. He became more obsessed with hunting and punishing, then seeing justice done. He slowly lost focus as to why he was doing what he was doing. He crossed the line one night and a young police officer died. The Manhunters cult disavowed him and Shawn had once again lost everything and was forced to go into hiding. It wasn't until he was captured and sent to prison that his life began anew.
How did Shawn Marcus become the villain Star-Tsar and the hero The Privateer? What forced him to leave it all behind? Why was Shawn Marcus forced to change his name to Mark Shaw? Who forced Manhunter to work for the government? Who is the new Manhunter who is after Shaw? Find out everything in the extra special tale of the Suicide Squad called Die Hard the Hunter! Coming soon after the conclusion of the "All Consuming Fire" storyline!
Name: Resurrection Man
Secret Identity: Mitchell "Mitch" Shelly
Aliases: None
First DC2 Appearance:
Status:
Base of Operations: Belle Reve
Occupation: Adventurer, Attorney
HT: 6' 1"
WT: 190 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: White with Blonde highlights
Powers and Abilities: Each power is a result that is connected to his previous death. When he dies he loses his previous power and gains another. Sometimes his power is a protection from his last death i.e. flight after falling to his death. Some of his previous powers have included; Flight, harden air power including force blasts and floating, pyro-kinesis, emphatic skills, shape shifting. Nanotechnology using tiny robot constructs that are subatomic in size, rebuild Mitch one molecule at a time. They can repair anything the human body suffers from. They rebuild the body, in a sense they resurrect it.
History: Mitch was a good lawyer but a bad person. He took mob clients and gave them the legal appearance of being legitimate. He covered up the bent cops dirty laundry. He ran a syndicate of corrupt cops, lawyers, and accountants. He was going to turn states evidence and go into the witness protection program. But his wife and law partner wanted to take over the operation. The mob agreed with the deal but wanted Shelly out of the way first. They hired a cheap out of town demolition guy to blow up the law office.
Mitch Shelly survived the blast. Afterwards he wandered the streets an amnesiac. He was soon after was picked up by a group who was gathering "homeless" people who wouldn't be missed by society.
A dying man was in charge of the mass experiment and needed to advance his research if he was going to find a cure. He worked for a private company that specialized in theoretical branch of robotics as an engineer. Mitch Shelly was the only one from over fifty people to survive the experiments.
Before the dying man could find out if Mitch Shelly could save his life, a government special ops team came in and shut them down, killing almost everyone, and jailing the rest. It was then that Shelly died the first time. Soon after he was taken into federal custody for the crimes be had committed in his "previous" life. He was given the choice, work for them or rot in jail. Mitch Shelly now works for the Suicide Squad. He considers himself just a regular guy trying to make sense of his life, even if he doesn't measure a lifetime like he used to. He still struggles with the fact that his wife and best friend tried to kill him. They are still out there and someday revenge will be served. Then he plans on going after the company that was in charge of the experiment that killed him.
Name: Vixen
Secret Identity: Mari Jiwe McCabe
Aliases: None
First DC2 Appearance: Suicide Squad issue #1
Status: Hero
Base of Operations: Mobile
Occupation: Model, Business executive, Adventurer
HT: 5' 7"
WT: 140
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Powers and Abilities: A supernatural talisman called the Tatu Totem grants her the ability to mimic the powers of any animal. But she can only tap into one power at a time.
History: Mari Jiwe Macabe had always been perceived as a woman who knew what she wanted and went after it. As a young woman in college, a local San Francisco photographer noticed her. He'd told her that she should drop out of college and concentrate on modeling full time. She didn't take his advice. Mari finished college and earned degrees in both business management and fashion design. She was well on her way to a successful career when she moved to New York and began to model full time. Financing her new business ambitions became easy with all of the modeling money that came in and she was quickly becoming everything she inspired to as a child. Mari hated stereotypes and never wanted to fall victim to what others thought she should be. Because her father traveled on business a lot, she was mostly raised by her mother. They weren't rich by any means, but they weren't poor either. By most standards, her family was what you'd call middle class.
She became aware of her family heritage at an early age. It was something she was proud of but never fully embraced. That was until she heard that her father had died under mysterious circumstances while away on business. She dropped everything and went home to be with her mother. It was shortly after the funeral that Mari was told about her family's true legacy. She was next in line to receive the Tatu Totem, last worn by her father. What she quickly discovered was that it granted her the ability to mimic the "powers" of animals. Soon after, she also discovered her father used these powers to fight against what he perceived to be evil forces throughout the world. Everything she thought she knew about her father, her family, and herself was put into question.
She began a journey to her ancestor's birthplace in Africa. When she emerged, she had a new purpose in life and that was to follow in her fathers' footsteps. Still early in her 'crime fighting' career, she was approached by Sarge Steel. He was the one who convinced her to join a larger, more powerful group who all fought for the same cause. Soon after Mari Macabe began leading a double life. She continued to model, but when she was needed, Steel would call upon her to work with him. It was Steel who first called her Vixen. Well, he'd actually called her a vixen, which literally translated means a woman regarded as quarrelsome, shrewish, or malicious. Mari liked it because it fit her perfectly.
She has spent several months with the Suicide Squad and begun to develop feelings for one of her teammates. Mari has been getting more confident with her ability's but she will soon encounter someone with similar powers that may change her life forever or end it entirely. Mari's fate will be revealed during the "All Consuming Fire" storyline.