The Search For Johnny Cage
Ch4: Flash Gordon
Almost two weeks since Johnny Cage was abducted. Somewhere above the Atlantic Ocean, a highly advanced aircraft jets through the sky. This space ship is being piloted by none other than Flash Gordon and he's hot on the trail of a stolen Shin-Tan cargo plane being escorted by two blacked out fighter jets. Inside the cockpit of Flash's ship he gets an alert from the ship's AI, Dynac X saying "Approaching Shin-Tan cargo ship. slowing down to appropriate speed, prepare for drop". Flash prepares to engage and locks onto the Cargo Plane, he then asks out loud "You're sure your intel is good?". A different digital voice from behind him says "Positive, I've been monitoring online communication between known Shin-Tan cells since we've verified who took Johnny." Out from the shadows steps none other than the Armored Avenger himself, Iron Man. Gordon then turns on the ship's auto pilot and gets up from his chair.
Flash Gordon: Everyone's been monitoring everything but we're not getting a lot of results. Rick told me a team of mutual friends of him and Cassie went to the ruins of Ice Station Earth based off a rumor and found nothing.
Iron Man: Your son is good Flash, but he doesn't have access to SHIELD intel like I do. You want to go over the plan one more time or-
Flash: I can handle the jump, If I need you I'll hit then button.
As he says this he points to a button on his belt, and the two go down into the cargo hold of the ship. Dynac X then opens the door and they look down to see nothing but water. Tony is the first to jump out from the ship, he engages with the fighter jets who have are much more advanced than they appear. These jets are armed with laser and are able to keep up with the speed of Iron Man's suits. Tony get's in a dog fight with them and is able to steer them away from the ship they're supposed to guard letting them think that they are successfully at keeping them away from the plane they're supposed to guard. While the two fighter jets start blasting away at the armored hero, the space ship lowers just a little bit more and Flash jumps down on top of it. He pulls his laser pistol from it's holster and begins to carve a circle into so that he can infiltrate the plane. Flash enters the plane but is met by the crew that's protecting the "cargo". One of them immediately swings at Flash but the self proclaimed "Savior of the Universe" successfully dodges the fist and then throws a haymaker causing the Shin-Tan goon to go unconscious and fall like a wet noodle.
Flash Gordon begins to fight off multiple Shin-Tan soldier at once until one of them comes out from the cock pit with a rather large machine. Flash immediately takes cover behind a large box with an Abstergo Industries logo on it and promptly returns fire with his laser pistol. They both have a of brief ceasefire to catch their breath.
Flash Gordon: Where is he?!
Shin-Tan Soldier: You'll never find him!
Flash Gordon: Oh yeah?!
They both peak both of their heads out from their cover, both have the other in their sights but Flash is the first one to pull the trigger shooting the enemy soldier in the shoulder. The Shin-Ta soldier falls to the ground writing in pain while Flash begins to look around the cargo and not see anything that could be his friend. Tony then radios in "Taylor Hawkins this is Tony Iommi how copy?".
Flash Gordon: I'm not seeing any signs of Johnny anywhere. Just a bunch of crates of tech from Abstergo.
Iron Man: Keep looking around, I'm almost done with these two Top Gun drop outs and then I'll come help.
Flash then pulls out a small monitor device equipped with Dynac X and begins to scan. He walks throughout the cargo hold and each box she notates that there are no signs of Johnny but when he points the device toward the cockpit Dynac says "Unable to scan". Flash walks up to the door and knows what he has to do. Flash blasts the door and enters the room with his pistol in hand but looks to see there is nobody in the cockpit. Suddenly Flash is kicked from behind into the wheel, he turns to see a young asian woman wearing a suit and tie and a rabbit mask made out of Paper Mache. This woman is Celia Penderghast, a conduit who was captured by the DUP before they were dissolved. She begins to antagonize him, "Flash Gordon... Defender of the Earth, King of the Impossible, Savior of the Universe... What a load of shit!".
Flash Gordon: I don't know who you are-
Celia: I know you don't because when I needed a hero to come and save me, you and your friends we're nowhere to be found!
She then forms a sword made out of paper causing Flash to laugh, he brandishes his laser pistol at but she slashes his face. Hunched over he feels the blood run down his face so he decides to act quickly and grabs something from his belt. She goes to cut him down only for her blade to be met by Gordon's own rectractable sword.
Flash Gordon: You caught me surprise! I won't let that happen again!
The two begin to fight it out in the cock pit. Their blades collide and despite being made of paper her sword still stands which confuses him. Their blades connect and the two stare down the other, although she's wearing a mask he can tell that she is full of rage. She transforms into multiple pieces of paper and goes behind him kicking the back of his legs causing Gordon to fall to the ground. She then points her sword at the back of his head.
Celia: Don't make any sudden moves!
Flash takes a moment to catch his breath and presses the button on his belt to signal Tony. Flash then begins to talk to Celia, "I think I know you are... My wife's a reporter and she showed me a lot of the leaked documents about Curdun Cay... You're the White Rabbit.". Celia goes dead quite unsure of what to say next.
Flash Gordon: I read about some of things they did there, I'm sure you look at guys like me and Johnny like we just did nothing that whole time but that's not true. We did everything we could, I heard plenty of stories of Johnny standing up to Augustine and my wife was the one that did that piece in the New York times about that kid in Seattle. You're just a kid you got, you got manipulated by Augustine... Don't let Ming do the same.
Celia fights back tears she raises her sword to strike down Flash but that's when the windshield of the plane is shattered by an arc reactor beam from Iron Man who comes barreling into the cockpit.
Iron Man raises one his hands and is ready to fight "That's enough! Just tell us where Johnny is and this can all be over!". Celia quickly turns around which gives Flash the opportunity to get up and ready his weapon.
Flash Gordon: Where is our friend?
Celia: Don't worry... You'll see him soon.
Suddenly a large gust of wind blows into the cock catching them all of guard causing them to lose their balance. Celia uses this opportunity to transform into multiple pieces of paper and fly out through the cock pit. Iron Man and Dynac both begin to scan for her but they are unable to find her. The auto piloted ship pulls the cargo plane into a tractor beam and they begin to fly back to New York. The two heroes start bringing their prisoners aboard the ship and cuffing them up so they don't get any ideas. Flash looks extremely disappointed and Tony exits his armor wearing blue jeans and Led Zeppelin shirt. He turns to see his Flash Gordon sitting down with his head in the palms of his hands.
Tony Stark: You okay?
Flash Gordon: All these conflicting reports, we have basically everyone who considers themselves a hero in some capacity looking for Johnny, and we still can't find him. I thought you said your intel was good?
Tony Stark: I thought it was good too! We'll bring him home soon.
Flash nods at his Tony as he doesn't want to talk anymore. As they re enter New York airspace Flash turns on the radio and J Jonah Jameson's radio show comes on and he's talking about one of the biggest news story Johnny Cage being missing.
J Jonah: Folks, it's been almost two weeks since the Hall of Justice attack where "celebrity hero" Johnny Cage was abducted by an unknown terrorist organization. During this attack there several superheroes, military personnel, and various government agencies they were unable to stop them from taking Mister Cage. Instead you have his ex-wife General Sonya Blade who has been one of the three people leading the manhunt for this washed up actor and I gotta ask.. Why? Clearly all these different stops in foreign countries looking for him is a waste of tax dollars. At least the other two, Tony Stark and Flash Gordon are doing it on their own dime! Gordon might be good at stopping alien invasions, but apparently searching for missing persons and being an NFL Quarterback are things he can't do!
Tony looks at Flash confused and asks him "Why are we listening to this Gordon?". Flash then shuts off the radio and they drop off the cargo plane on the ports where multiple SHIELD agents are waiting for them. Flash pilots the ship back over Avengers tower and lowers the ramp for Tony to fly over to the tower.
Iron Man: Look I know you guys have a bromance so believe me when I tell you that we're going to bring him home. Johnny is my friend too, this is my biggest priority.
Flash Gordon: I never doubted that Tony, We've all been friends since before either of ever even thought about saving the world. This is personal to me, just keep me in the loop.
Stark nods at him and glides back into Avengers Tower and Flash flies off in his space ship. Flash decides to call Mandrake the Magician. The magician answers the video call and looks like he's working off of one hour of sleep.
Mandrake: Well hello my friend, I must admit you caught me off guard.
Flash Gordon: Everything alright Mandrake?
Mandrake: I'm fine just researching something rather important, what's the matter?
Flash Gordon: Tony's intel was bad. The "precious cargo" wound up being Abstergo products and not Cage, any luck on your end?
Mandrake: I'm afraid not, I have casted multiple locator spells and I'm afraid I have came up with nothing. I tried even going locating Cage's green energy but I'm only able to pin point the location fo his daughter.
Flash Gordon: Well how is Cassie?
Mandrake: She appears to be in the United Kingdom at the moment doing what I am uncertain but I know that she's struggling to locate Johnny just like we all are.
Flash Gordon: Understood, I'll be back at base soon.
Dynac X: Incoming Urgent Transmission from Hans Zarkov!
Flash Gordon: Mandrake let me take this.
With a flip of a switch the video feed switches over from an over tired magician to a frenzied Russian scientist who happens to be only Flash's oldest allies. Dr. Hans Zarkov has wild expression on his face that gives Flash pause.
Flash Gordon: Doctor Zarkov, everything okay?
Zarkov: Gordon! You must get here! Quickly! I have an unusual energy source! This could be-
Flash Gordon: I'm on my way!
Flash veers turns the spaceship in the exact opposite direction of where he was originally going and heads to Zarkov's compound in New Haven, CT. Flash lands in the makeshift hangar at the compound and rungs towards Zarkov's lab and find him looking at a bright monitor completely mesmerized by what's on the screen. The sensors indicate that this is the dead Planet Ryut in Space Sector 666 and an explosion just of some unknown energy is felt by their long range systems. Flash looks disappointed in his scientist friend but little does he know an expected visitor just landed on the property, The Batwing lands on the front and with Batman is the former assassin Sara Lance of the White Canary order and Chell Johnson the survivor of the Aperture Labs incident!