ISSUE#2: MARVEL TEAM-UP
ABANDON PARKING LOT DOWNTOWN
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
11:45 PM
"I think I should get a name."
"What?" needles Ward, his face twisted in confusion.
"A name," repeats Mike Peterson. "Something like: Captain Africa."
"Captain Africa," repeats Mae through a dead pan face and monotone voice. "Are you serious?"
"Even though you were born and raised in New York and never been to Africa before." humors Caulson.
"Alright," counters Peterson. "How about: the Dark Avenger?"
Fitz snorts loudly and turns his head away at the same time.
"Power Man?" suggests Mike.
Skye and Mae look at each other and then back at Peterson. In unison, they say "No."
"Why not?" Mike has a confused look on his face. "A brotha gotta be called something."
"What's wrong with the Hooded Hero?" asks Skye.
"Well, for one: I am not wearing a hoodie."
"Power Man has a point." quips Fitz.
"Fitz," warns Caulson through the Com Receiver. "Do not encourage him."
"How about: Agent Peterson?" suggests Skye.
"Hey," whispers Ward as he lowers the binoculars from his face. "We are on a stakeout. Got that – a stakeout. Let's keep the down chatter to a minimum."
"Sorry." responds the crew in unison.
Just then, Agent Ward hears a crunch sound through the feedback of the Com Receiver.
"Whose-" starts Ward, frustration building inside. "Is that – Chips? Who's eating Chips on a stakeout?"
The Com Line then goes silent for a couple of seconds.
"Sorry," replies Skye whilst chewing, her mouth full of barbecue goodness.
"Where do you get chips from?" inquires Fitz. "Can I have some?"
Ward buries his face in his hands.
It was cold as hell outside. The pale moon is out and they are freezing their butts off while in a nearby abandon car lot. As they breathe, they can see the puffs of smoke curl out from their mouths.
Through the clues that they have examined earlier, it led them to this location. They are searching for a group called the Strand - short for DNA Strand. According to rumors floating around in the mutant underground, the Strand was a group of Mutants who believe that they were superior to humans in every way. And that humans had to bend to their will. Maybe this Rally will give them a clue on where to find Adam Kane.
A mutant rally takes place nearby. A stage is set for a speaker, but no speaker has arrived yet. All of sudden, bright energy projects from a nearby satellite dish and touches down onto the stage. The energy soon forms into a humanoid shape. The humanoid shape soon converts into a young handsome Caucasian male. His casual clothing completed his overall suburban American appearance.
The funny thing about mutants is that as far as the eye can tell, they look no different from the "average" humans. Most mutants spend the majority of their lives "hiding in the closet." Some were even successful in hiding their mutant abilities hidden from close family members and friends. Wishing that they had the courage to out themselves, but fearing the retaliation that they might receive.
Most mutants are guilty of living a double life their entire lives. Some get used to it, some never do. Most speak about "Mutant Rights", but don't do anything about it. Until the group called the Strand appeared. Then everything changed.
The crowd silences as they gaze at the young man. He stands confidently in front of the crowd, staring back at them. Holding the silence to build an excitement in the air.
"Freaks of the world," begins the young man. "My name is Kilohertz. I am a mutant, just like you, who is here to speak to you, for you, about and above you."
His ability to convert his entire body into energy and infiltrate any electronic device has gotten him noticed by most. A couple years ago this kid was responsible of infiltrating the Power Grid causing so much chaos in Toronto.
"From what I can see," continues the young man "There is a war going on out there, and most of you do not know. The Power Protocols and the sub-dermal governer on the back of our necks are ONE and the SAME." He spits back. "They're restricting us from your true purpose."
The crowd gets riled up from his words.
"S.H.E.I.L.D.," Scoffs KiloHertz. "Who are they shielding? And from what? The GSA? They are not down for our cause.
"The mutant underground is a place of inclusion. Regardless of your ethnicity, where you come from where you are going we all fall under the same name. They realized how offensive the term mutant is to our community hence why S.H.E.I.L.D. has referred to us with a politically correct term: the unregistered gifted.
"Regardless of whatever they call us, they still hold that same fear and disdain for us. Doesn't matter what they call us, they still invade our privacy with surveillance equipment and agents who have the nerve to issue protocols on how we choose to explore our abilities, how we choose to go about our lives. We are still barred from most public places if we reveal our true potential. Let me ask you this: if a bird isn't allowed to spread its wings and fly, then what is that bird's purpose?"
The crowd murmurs in agreement.
"Brothers and sisters, do not fear the word "mutant" – do not run away from it or hide from it. Embrace it. WE ARE MUTANTS." Shouts Kilohertz. "Say it with me: WE ARE MUTANTS." the crowd joins in with him. The cheer and holler. The intensity rises in the air. A birth of a new nation of mutants.
Below in the crowd of onlookers is a blonde hooded woman. Her face in bathed in shadow. She reaches to tap the Com Receiver in her ear. "You guys getting this?" Little did the anyone know that this was Shalimar Fox of Mutant X.
"It's all of those pitifully average ones who are oppressing us." Continues KiloHertz. "Our time is now. We have the power to take control. When are going to shove them aside. Rise up my brothers and we shall reclaim what is ours."
The crowd cheered immensely.
"Okay, I have had just enough this guy's big mouth." Says Ward from atop.
"As you all know, I have a special ability with electronics. I can communicate with them on a level that no one else can hence why I can confidently tell you that we're not the only people hear today."
Caulson's heart sunk deep into his chest.
"We have some friends spying on us." KiloHertz points the exact direction where the S.H.E.I.L.D. Agents we're hiding. "Say hello to S.H.E.I.L.D."
"We've been made." States Ward. "Time to retreat."
"Don't have to tell me twice." Quips Fitz.
The space above them contorts and an outline of a aircraft silhouette brightens into a sleek airborn vehicle while hovering above them. The force from the ship's thrusters blows wind and dirt all over the place.
"Okay that was cool." comments Skye.
"Why don't we have one of those?" quips Fitz to Caulson.
Out of the darkness of the alley, three mysterious individuals walk towards the agents in a confident line-walk. They are different in size and appearance, but all three wore leather outfits.
Agent Ward, without saying a word, unholsters his sidearm and aims it at the three individuals.
"Easy, Easy." said the tall one. "Hope this isn't how you say 'thank you'?"
"Nope," retorts Ward as he cocks his weapon. "But it is how I say 'hello'. So let's start with you introducing yourselves."
"We're the people who just saved your ass about five minutes ago." says the shorter male with auburn hair.
Skye's eyes falls on the aircraft behind them. And then it clicks together in her mind.
"You're Mutant X." says Skye.
"There you go." Said the tall again.
"A mutant underground group.," explained Skye. "I heard rumors about you guys back when I was with the Rising Tide. I didn't think any of them we're true."
"On behalf of S.H.E.I.L.D." states Ward. "As well as the United States of America, I place you all under arrest. S.H.E.I.L.D. will promise you all a fair trial."
"Under what pretenses?" rebels the blonde woman.
"For the misuse and the abuse of the Power Protocols." Agent Ward pulls four pairs of handcuffs from his back pocket. "Now, all of you place your hands out in front of you."
Brennan exchanges glances with his team and they all snort and erupt into knee slapping laughter. The laughter when on for a couple minutes until the three were gasping for air. "Did you come fresh out of S.H.E.I.L.D. Academy, son?" jests Brenan as he wipes a tear from his eye.
"I bet you just walk around with those on you – all of the time?" quips Shalimar.
"Dude, we're Canadian." says Jesse with a smirk. "And this is not the first time a gun has been pointed at us. Believe me, you do not want to go down that road."
"Stand down, Agent Ward," cautions Caulson as he gently lowers Ward's trained hand. "I think we're both looking for the same person, Dr. Adam Kane. We'll find him a lot faster working together instead of fighting each other."
"What?" says Both Brenan and Ward in unison.
"Whats your business with Adam?"
"He's an old colleague of mine. He also did some work for us back in the day."
The odd three exchanged a look with each other that showed displayed surprise.
"S.H.E.I.L.D. has to pay close attention to infringing upon international laws." Explains Caulson. "Our jurisdiction dries up at certain areas of the globe including at the front door of Genomex. Mutant X is not harbored by those same laws. They can go anywhere and apprehend anyone in the name of the cause."
"And that cause we be -?" needles Ward as he holsters his weapon.
Meanwhile on the Bus..
The wall hisses as it slid upward to reveal a state of the art lab that was equipped with a central readout table and numerous manned consoles and view screens.
Behind her, lying on the Bio-Bed is the teenage girl that discovered earlier. Simmons and ran some test on her and is now examining her DNA. She soon exits the lab and walk into the Assembly room.
In the Assembly Room is where Simmons is now working. She is at her console and entering in a series of commands. Within this room is a massive centralized computer system which contains all of the crime forensic files, operational records and world security data. This Mainframe also has a CompuLink system which provides constant communication with other parties.
Simmons enters the Control Room and access the computer consoles. The Room was mostly dark except the light from her computer screen that illuminated her face as well as her auburn hair. She sat hunched over in her chair, mumbling to herself as she typed up her report.
Simmons stopped typing and turned around to find the teenage girl standing in front of her. No expression on her face and not saying a word. In a blink of an eye she snap and punch to Simmon's temple, knocking her out instantly.
Next Chapter: SEEDS OF HYDRA