The ball bounced against the back wall of the cell and back to the throwers hand accompanied by a tuneless whistled rendition of Coldplay's Yellow as Boomerang angled up another shot. The arrest of him, and his teammates had been bloodless and relatively easy, Abe had ordered the team to aid the police and their National Guard backup in any way they could, and while Vassal and Quicksand had argued against it eventually everyone had decided that his word was one they could trust. The only real annoyance, as far as he could see, was that Cyclone had been but in the cell next to them and was moaning about being caught.
"God that really is a pain in the neck." Chris spat as he sat down on the bench next to a meditating Black Tarantula, "Can they hurry up with what ever there doing upstairs."
"Just ignore him Hot Head." Boomer replied, "The worst he can do is viciously taunt us like those idiots in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Hey Cyclone," he called, "You're mother was a hamster and you're father smelled of elder berries."
"Merde de Anglais." Cyclone snarled, "You will pay for that Myers."
"Oh shut up." Melissa snapped as she threw a sonic shield around Cyclone's cell. "Boomer stop throwing that ball or I will cut it into pieces." she added as she leaned against the wall. "Juno you okay back there?" she added catching a glimpse of Smokescreen sitting in the corner rocking slowly back and forth.
"I don't like jail cells." Juno stated flatly. "When the US Army court martialed me I was left in a cell for three days without any human contact save the torture sessions."
"That's rough." Vassal commented, "This is my first time in here." he added ducking under the light fitting, "Guess guys my size don't come along too often."
"Well I'm bored." Quicksand purred as she swept up Boomerang's ball and crushed it in her sandy grip, "How long does it take to process people in this precinct."
"They are not processing us." Black Tarantula told her, his body unmoving as he spoke, "They are arguing about what they should do with us."
"He's right." Abe added as he walked past the sonic shield across the adjoining wall of bars, "My guess is that there are people who want us free while others who would like to see us locked up. Seems like we have a case of SPQR on our hands."
"SPQR?" Chris asked, "Is that an Acronym or something."
"The Senatus Populusque Romanus was the governing body of the Roman Empire for a while. It was formed of the Senate and the People who influenced their policies and ideals. In this case the people are most likely routing to have us released for our actions earlier today but the local government will be against it for a number of reasons." Vassal explained, "I'd guess that opposition is coming from Pro Maggia members of the Mayors officer and the senior ranks of the police. Given that we are all criminals it would be hard for them to trust us with the safety of their city."
"So we're relying on a mob to get us out of here?" Boomer asked, "I feel better already."
"Let's focus on one thing at a time." Melissa added, "Like where the hell has Quicksand gone?" she added as the others all looked around the cell for the Thunderbolt in question. Abe slapped his forehead in frustration, it was easy to guess what had happened, Quicksand had slithered through the bars and made a break for freedom.
"That's all we need." Abe moaned, "Mel open the door." Melissa grimaced before concentrating on the cell door. Moments later tiny sonic explosions blossomed around the hinges before running across the bars causing them to vibrate and hum. "Vassal if you want to do the honours." Vassal flexed his arms walked up to the gate and pushed it onto the floor. Stepping out of the cell Abe looked up and down the corridor before leading the others to the steps up into the precinct building.
"We shouldn't leave the cell." Juno hissed as she curled up further into the corner.
"Don't worry about her I'll deal with it." Melissa said stepping back into the cell. "Just get Quicksand back here."
"I'll see what I can do about the door." Boomerang offered, "May want to try and fix it before the fuzz get back here." Abe nodded before running up the stairs followed by the rest of the Thunderbolts as Myers ran his hands along the hinge of the door and sighed before stepping back inside to rejoin Melissa and Juno, "Nope it's busted." he stated, "Now Smoky what happened to make the US Armed Forces court martial somebody as talented as you."
"I can't tell you it's a secret." Juno replied cradling her head in her hands.
"Well don't tell us the specifics." Melissa suggested, "Just the Cliff Notes version." Juno shook her head before holding onto her knees.
"Private Shepherd I order you to explain you're actions." Boomer yelled trying and failing to speak in an American accent. Juno lifted her head and stared at him before giving a wobbly salute.
"I…I…killed my entire squad." Juno whimpered, "There was only one hostile but he whipped all of them out. The Generals blamed me, said I had gone insane and murdered them all since there was no sign of anyone else on the mountain."
"Who killed them?" Melissa asked.
"The man in blue and yellow." Juno replied her eyes glowing a dull violet, "I saw him only for a few seconds as he killed Kali. And then he came for me, he moved so fast I thought he was going to kill me. When they found me I couldn't remember anything, if it wasn't for Lieutenant Thorpe who knows what they would have done to me."
"I don't think she's alone in there." Boomer said quietly to Melissa, "Did you see that?" he asked as Juno's eyes went from purple to their normal hazel colouration.
"Yeah that was weird." Melissa added, "Juno you okay?"
"I'm fine." Juno replied, "Are we being released?" she asked as she pulled herself up to a standing position whilst stretching her arms above her head.
"Kind of, Abe and the others are already on the way up to see what's going on." Melissa stated as Juno walked past her and out of the cell. "Tres weird." she added as she followed her out through the gaping hole.
"Wait take me with you." Cyclone yelled, "I demand you take me." Boomerang turned to face him removed one of the washers from the door and threw it through the bars and into the prisoner's forehead knocking him onto the floor. "Should have done that as soon as we got here." he muttered before following Melissa and Juno up the stairs and into the police station.
Even without his armor the sound of thundering feet rushing through cold deserted corridors was almost overwhelming. Crashing through the squad room it soon became clear to see that the station was deserted due to the non existent resistance. Reaching the first deck Abe stopped, his followers skidding to a halt behind him, looking out through the frosted windows he could see a massive crowd all sitting on the ground with only a few individuals on their feet. Reaching for the handle Abe felt something brush against him before he was gently dragged back by a sand-grain covered hand. Looking up along the arm Abe saw Quicksand put a finger to her mouth before she drifted past the rest of the Thunderbolts and back into the squad room. With a quick arm movement Abe signalled for the others to follow her before retreating back into the room and running into Melissa's party as they came in from the other entrance.
"What the hell is going on?" Abe asked as Vassal closed the door to the atrium. "And why did you just disappear?"
"I kept feeling weird vibrations." Quicksand announced, "I went to check them out and I'm glad I did. Plus I was bored in that box, no offence but you are not the most interesting people in the world."
"None taken." Chris grumbled.
"The situation outside is a hostage crisis." Quicksand continued ignoring the moaning teenager, "A local street gang called the Druid Sickle bum-rushed a press conference about us and is holding the mayor, police commissioner and about two hundred people hostage. The majority are wired to an old air-force bomb in the middle of the square. If any of them move the device explodes and showers everybody with shrapnel. Between that and the dozen gang members with assault weapons and the two snipers on the roof they have the entire place locked down."
"What are their demands?" Black Tarantula asked.
"They mentioned that they were just here to deliver a message." Quicksand answered, "They want to talk to us."
"I can't see any way that this ends without more people dying." Melissa stated, "They are not simply going to release those people as soon as we step out of this building."
"Let me just get my armor and we'll find out." Abe announced as he headed for the evidence room. Melissa nodded and watched as Boomerang crept into the atrium and stuck his face against the glass. Nervously she followed him out and saw him tapping on the glass as he stared out at the crowd of hostages standing outside the building.
"You know the blokes out there don't seem right." Boomer told her, "There not even shivering and their movements seem stiff. I know that its cold out but it shouldn't be that cold at least not after we dealt with the F5. I think they really are robots."
"Boomer that is stupid." Melissa replied as she pushed him out the way. "Still I'm picking up a strange harmonic coming from the thugs closest to us linking them to the 'bomb' that Quicksilver described in the centre of the plaza." She turned to see Myers push the door open and step out into the cold, his hands outstretched in a sign of cooperation as he walked up to the closest goon, the thugs unblinking eyes not registering his arrival even when he walked past him. Gingerly Melissa stepped out herself quickly covering the gap between the door and the same thug Boomerang was now poking in the ribs.
"Are they robots?" she asked locking eyes on the snipers perched above them.
"Nah these guys are human but they don't seem to be in charge."
"Jesus Christ what re you guys doing?" Abe yelled as he stood in the door, only half his armor fitted over the matte black flight suit he wore.
"It's okay they don't seem to be active." Melissa told him as she hovered up to where the snipers stood before scooping the pair of them up and lowering them down onto the steps. "These are not the people who called us out. Somebody other then the local two bit thugs and hooligans are interested in the Thunderbolts."
"Thunderbolts." A voice echoed across the square. Abe looked around as did the rest of his team. All the individuals wired to the device in the middle of the crowd as well as the hostages were talking with one voice. Somebody was using innocent people to send a message. Abe just hoped that when the hostages to the unknown entity were released that as little damage as possible occurred to the crowd. The few people not wired into the device were quickly surging through the thong, all of them desperate to escape the mass hypnotism. Among the free individuals Abe recognized Seth and the Mayor, the rest all appeared to be business men and politicians all of them looking terrified of what was happening around them.
"We are here." Abe yelled at the crowd, "Who are you and what have you done to these people."
"I am the Silent Partner, you fell for my trap just as I hoped you would." the voice boomed.
"You hide behind innocents, using them as weapons and shields." Abe snapped, "You are the worst kind of scum, we will not stand for this kind of treatment of civilians."
"You misunderstand." the Silent Partner announced, "These people are the reward rather then a weapon. I give you their support for defeating my agents, the real trap was the winter they created. Now that I have you're attention I can outline m, using them as weapons and shields." Abe snapped, "You are the worst kind of scum, we will not stand for this kind of treatment of civilians."
"You misunderstand." the Silent Partner announced, "These people are the reward rather then a weapon. I give you their support for defeating my agents, the real trap was the winter they created. Now that I have you're attention I can outline my plans for you now that you are in my kingdom."
"The F5 were working for you?" Melissa snarled, "Did you control them like you control the masses before us?"
"In a way." the Silent Partner answered, "I needed players for the game we're going to play; my allies and I gently nudged you into this position before baiting the final snare. My terms are simple; the creatures at my disposal will attempt to stop you even kill you. You're job is to stop them, show the world who you really are and when you are ready I will contact you again." As his words finished fire shot along the wires from the human puppets burning their way back into the transmitter before exploding outwards across the crowd, the wave of energy passing through the majority safely but incinerating the gunmen into piles of ash where they stood.
"My god what happened." the Mayor yelled glaring up at the Thunderbolts, "What did you do?"
"Us?" Vassal snorted, "We did nothing."
"You heard the mysterious figure, we are not in charge of our actions, this madman is threatening to attack the city again like he did through Cyclone and the others." Black Tarantula explained.
"Then you should leave." a police officer hissed, "This is you're fault."
"You're right." Abe stated, "Mel make me loud." he whispered, "People of Chicago we the Thunderbolts failed you today. Not only did two super criminals escape custody today but we also never believed that anything like this would happen."
"The bitch turned into mist while the other one melted down the piss hole." Boomerang muttered, "You don't have to rub it in."
"But of the many names Chicago has, the one I like most is the Second City because it promises a new beginning. We are not the best people in the world, far from what you deserve but give us a chance and we will put everything we have on the line to keep you safe." Abe told the crowd, "The Silent Partner made a threat against every single one of us with his promises of more attacks. We are going to make sure that his days are numbered, and if anyone else in this city thinks they can do better then his stunt today I want them to think again. If you attack us or this city you may regret doing so, I don't care if you're a lowly mugger or Count Nefaria himself every criminal in this city is now accountable for their crimes. I promise that I will make this city a safer place or die trying." As Abe finished the entire crowd roared into applause that thundered across the city. At the back of the group a blonde woman smiled before taking out a phone and dialling a number. "Boss you're plan worked the Thunderbolts took the bait. I'm heading back to base, Mysteria out." Taking one last look at the hero Mysteria smiled before vanishing in a puff of smoke leaving the celebration behind her.
Epilogue
Abe placed the bottle of champagne down on the work bench as the other Thunderbolts crowded round him, each one of them clutching glasses of various alcoholic beverages. "Friends, teammates and others." he announced, "Today we did something amazing, today we became Heros. I'm proud of you and hope that from now on you will consider you're futures differently."
"Damm right." Quicksand hissed, her human form blowing slightly in the fans as she took a sip of the Martini she held.
"Yeah I need to sock that Silent bloke in the face before I go join up with the dolphins." Boomerang yelled.
"Good because today I name this heap of junk." Abe stated, "And you get to help me. Any suggestions?"
"What about Scarab?" Melissa suggested as she refilled her glass of Rose.
"Too close to what I was." Abe replied, "Next idea."
"Stratosfire." Chris announced, "That would make it sound cool."
"Sorry but there was somebody called that before." Abe told him, "She was killed by the Sunturion."
(For more on that check out Iron Man Annual #9)
"I got an idea." Boomerang said putting his hand complete with a pitcher of Strongbow above his head.
"Vassal what about you?" Abe asked ignoring Boomerang.
"I have no words mostly because I want to her Boomer screw up." Vassal replied.
"How about the Hazardous Environment Response Armor?" Juno suggested, "You could use the acronym HERA."
"A little vein are we not." Vassal stated, "Hera and Juno were the same deity just with different names."
"Oh chose me." Boomerang asked as he hopped up and down impatiently. Abe smiled and pointed at him, "Jetstream." Boomerang yelled, "You could call yourself Jetstream."
"Already taken but defiantly not as bad as I was expecting." Abe stated, "But I have decided to call her the Interceptor." he announced tapping the bottle against the suit of armor. "Long may she serve me well in the coming storm."
"More like a hurricane crossed with a maelstrom." Volkner murmured as he stirred his cocktail, "It's going to get rough out there, I know that you can handle the super criminals but the media and the politicians will be a much bigger threat. For my part I will do what I can to keep them off you're back but be careful you might think you're stepping into the light but the dark is closer then you think even when you capture the Silent Partner."
"Then we'll just have to make sure that we don't get blinded." Melissa replied as Abe opened the garage door to reveal a darkening sky with flecks of snow glistening in the air, "Today is the day when the Thunderbolts became Heros" she added as Abe cocked his head. "What is it?"
"High Altitude Robbery." Abe replied, "Killer Shrike is attacking a cargo plane heading for O'Hare."
"No rest for the wicked then?" Boomerang asked.
"None at all." Abe replied as he pulled on one of the Interceptor armour's gauntlets, "None at all."
Thunderbolts #29
The Thunderbolts and the Avengers in the same place? With two teams of Neophyte Heros on the loose what will happen as old rivalries come to the surface and more then professional jealousies develop. And that's not the only strange 'coalition' to occur as Chicago's Underworld begins to target the team of former villains directly. Who or what will the Thunderbolts face? Find out in the next issue.
New Thunderbolts will return in Late April/Early May
A Note from the Writer
I'd like to take this moment to thank everyone who has read this title and personally commented. As what I'm calling 'Phase 2' is being readied I would like to urge people to comment and critic what has already been submitted. And if you can't wait for May then check out the section on my profile called 'Ten things you need to know about New Thunderbolts Phase 2'.
Thanks again for reading.
Impurest Cheese