Myranda Marksbury shook with fear as she somehow managed to get on her feet again. She hoped that none of her new and unexpected companions could see, but their attention was completely on the beast before them. Myranda still had trouble believing it existed, even after dodging a blast of hot fire from its' mouth. This entire day had been full of things she found hard to believe, to say the least, and her life hadn't been exactly normal up to this point. Her father was a wealthy industrialist who always favoured her paternal half-brother Ancil. Even to the point of going to great lengths to break the young man out of jail when he was arrested for murder. Yet none of that compared to her power to control the wind. She could remember the day she gained her power, and the golden woman who came to her in a dream. Another spew of heat snapped her back to the present. Myranda's eyes widened as the flames shot right towards her.
Vixen quickly dashed in front of Myranda, faced her and channelled the exoskeleton of a beetle. The skin on Vixen's back became hard and course just before the flames hit. The veteran hero grunted from the effort of staying up as the attack struck her back. Myranda ducked instinctively, using Vixen as cover. The fire whooshed and roared around her and she covered her head with her arms. After what felt like years the barrage ended and Myranda realized she had been screaming. Vixen clasped her hands on Myranda's shoulder for just a moment to calm the young woman down. The look Myranda got was deadly serious.
"Don't let your fear overwhelm you. Use it," Vixen said before turning and charging right toward their foe. Myranda clenched her fists tightly and did just that. She slowed her breathing, letting the air flow in and out of her while taking control of the winds around her. The breathing exercises had been her way of controlling her power. Now she was going to unleash it.
Vixen gained speed as she channelled a bull, then accelerated further when she drew on the charging speed of a rhino, just before slamming into the formidable mutant fire-spewing gorilla cyborg that Grodd had launched at the newly formed team. She grabbed it around the waist, forcing it backwards into an overturned jeep. Vixen's progress was halted when the gorilla cyborg seized her under the arms and lifted her up. Vixen's grip was broken then she was slammed down onto the street. She was dazed and looked up to see her foe preparing to blast fire right at her. Before it could, David leapt in, kicking the cyborg in the face. It stumbled, giving Vixen time to channel the leg strength of a kangaroo and kick it back with both legs while on the ground. She rolled back and flipped to her feet. She was already deciding what animal to channel next when David grabbed her wrist.
"Stop!" David said. "We need to fall back and regroup before this thing burns us all,"
"If we don't stop it, then that's exactly what will happen!" Vixen responded, hating the very idea of running away. She pulled her wrist out of David's hand.
"You haven't faced this thing before. I have. And we need a plan,"
Vixen looked surprised. Clearly there was a lot about her friend that she didn't know, and she intended to learn exactly what that was. But for now she nodded and called out to Anansi.
"Anansi! We need some cover!" Vixen shouted as she and David moved back to the others.
Anansi twirled his staff and a cloud of smoke appeared around all of them. The five heroes grouped together in a clear patch in the centre of the cloud.
"This won't work forever," Anansi said. "That thing is already searching for us"
"I only need a moment," David said before addressing the entire team. "That monster is called Aganju. It's a cybernetically enhanced gorilla made by a scientist named Sarah Corwin. It seems to have gotten an upgrade since I last saw it,"
"So how do we stop it?" Kid Impala asked, bouncing from one leg to the other, ready to get moving again.
"I managed to get a glimpse down its throat," David continued. "If I can get a grenade in there, I think it can rupture the pipes it shoots fire from. But first we need to damage the jaw enough to get it to stay open"
"That may be easier said than d-Agh!" Anansi didn't get to finish his sentence before his cloak was grabbed from behind by Aganju. Its' advanced sensors had found the source of the smoke and it tossed that source across the street. Anansi rolled and the smoke cleared, leaving the team exposed. Kid Impala was the first to move. He ran towards Aganju, punching the mutant machine's head quickly before speeding away. Kid Impala repeated his strike and retreat tactic, until Aganju's processors figured out the timing. Aganju swung blindly, clothes-lining Kid Impala and sending the speedster flailing through the air. Kid Impala's flight was slowed by a cushion of wind that set him down gently. Myranda took his hand and helped him up.
"Thanks for the landing," Kid Impala said. The two stared at each other for a moment, but it was a quick one as Anansi was already standing and on the attack.
Aganju had been stunned by Kid Impala's attack and now it was getting hit again by Anansi's staff. Self preservation protocols mimicking survival instincts began to kick in as Aganju moved back. Already it was preparing a much more powerful blast of flame. Just as it was about to launch, Anansi spun his staff to gain momentum for a strengthened blow that caused Aganju's head to spin. Vixen was right in position to leap up and deliver a headbutt to Aganju's jaw while channelling the fierce cassowary bird's thick skull. The blow hit a weakspot in Aganju's jaw, damaging it and forcing it open. This was the opportunity David needed. He threw the last of the explosives he had on him into Aganju's mouth. The resulting explosion tore through the cyborg's insides, rendering it weaponless.
Aganju was in the process of formulating a new strategy when it was lifted by a wind current. The winds pushed against it and it braced itself, but the gale force winds proved too strong. It was blown back, scraping on the street on it flew. The winds picked up cars and other objects and Aganju collided with them in the air. Then the whole thing came to a halt as Aganju and the wreckage crashed into a small building. The crashing and crushing gas tanks on several of the cars and the sparks flying were enough to start a blaze. One of the cars exploded, taking Aganju with it. The winds then came down on the debris from the building, using it to smother the flame.
Myranda stood there with her arms outstretched and slowly lowered them. Just as she was about to collapse, Kid Impala was there to help her stand.
"A bit excessive, but I think we can blame the destruction on the gorillas," Kid Impala said with a light laugh. Myranda managed a smile as she tried not to pass out.
"Good job," David said, surveying the scene.
"I think that means we've won," Anansi stated.
"Not just yet," Vixen pointed upwards at the airship. Another pod was launching and coming in fast. It slammed down on the street and opened with a hiss of escaping air. Gorilla Grodd himself stepped out of the pod, wearing a gold helmet, armour and adorned with a cape. The ape king carried a cylindrical device that he pressed a button on before setting it down. A display on the device glowed and it beeped steadily.
"He's just activated a bomb," David said grimly, readying his eskrima sticks.
"Astute observation, for a human," Grodd said as he clenched his fists. "This bomb will wipe out your entire city. When it is gone, I will move on to the next one and begin my invasion anew. The timer will give me more than enough time to make you all kneel before Grodd,"
"Vixen, you and-" David started to issue an order but Vixen already two steps ahead of him and charging at Grodd, with Anansi as back up. Kid Impala was gently setting Myranda down on the ground to sit and was about to join the fight when David put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm going to need your help with the bomb," David said firmly. If I can't disarm it, you're the only one who can get it far away enough in time,"
Kid Impala opened his mouth to argue, but knew David was right. The two of them went towards the bomb, leaving Myranda to recover and the duo of Vixen and Anansi to take Grodd. Anansi reached Grodd first and struck several times, looking for a vulnerable area. Grodd countered with an almost dismissive fist that knocked Anansi's hat off and sent him tumbling. Vixen then stepped in, channelling the strength and power of a mountain gorilla, she grappled with Grodd.
Meanwhile, David tinkered with the bomb and Kid Impala looked antsy. The technology was alien and confusing and David couldn't tell if he was really making any progress. Suddenly, the device began beeping faster. The beeping distracted Vixen for a split second, allowing Grodd to hit her with his knee in the stomach and toss her like a ragdoll into Anansi.
"Fool," Grodd said with both a smile and a growl. "You've only accelerated the countdown and assured your demise. And I was so looking forward to tearing the meat from your bones,"
David picked up the bomb and tossed it to Kid Impala. "Go! Take it over the water!"
"But..." Kid Impala looked from the bomb to the vulnerable Myranda, still wiped out from fighting Aganju.
"Go!" David ordered, leaving no room for argument. Kid Impala took off west towards the Atlantic Ocean.
Grodd surveyed the weary heroes as his bomb was taken away. "No matter. I don't need a bomb to destroy your city. You all will do it for me,"
"We would never help you!" Myranda said as she shakily stood up.
"You will have no choice, human," Grodd replied. Grodd's eyes glowed yellow and a strange sensation came over the heroes. They felt something piercing into their minds, grabbing hold and taking over. Vixen was the first one to notice the strange waves in the air around Grodd's helmet before the mental attack was too much. Grodd was just about ready to celebrate his victory when he heard a crackling 'KEEEESH' sound behind him. He turned to see a woman standing there, with swords made of sparking blue energy.
"What? Another pitiful attempt to fight me? Your fate will be the same," Grodd spoke smugly as he attempted to hack into Dawn's mind as he did with the others. His triumphant grin faded when he realized there was no effect.
"I saw what you were doing and took precautions," Dawn said, and gestured to a circular amulet around her neck. The amulet was coloured gold and have engravings along the edge. "This amulet protects my mind from outside intrusion,"
"Very well. If I cannot have your mind, I will have your head on my wall!" Grodd responded threateningly.
"You won't find me as easy to defeat as the others,"
"I don't need to fight you. Not when I can have your friends do it for me,"
"They aren't my..." Dawn stopped and realized what Grodd was talking about. David, Myranda, Vixen and Anansi had positioned themselves to surround her. Each of their eyes was glowing with the same as Grodd's.
"...Friends," Dawn finished her sentence and raised her swords defensively, knowing that might be the last word she ever spoke.
((Bit of a shorter chapter this time. I planned for more but I felt it best to split up this one. Better to have 2 short chapters if I'm finally updating. I hope you enjoyed it and thanks a million for reading.))