M2K Presents
Force Works 15
Cause and Effect
Part 3
The story thus far: X-Treme has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and the Force Works members who have investigated the case have found nothing to dispute the charges, besides a rather big hunch and a longshot. The other half of Force Works visited Dr. Strange in the hopes that he could cure Tarene's amnesia. Their faith was rewarded, but Tarene responded violently when confronted with a solution to her amnesia and fled Dr. Strange's mansion with Arsenal in pursuit
Metro City, The Workplace
"Got anything yet?" Speedball asked as he leaned over Taki who was furiously typing away on his computer. Behind them Wolfsbane and Mirage waited somewhat impatiently.
"I'll let you know when I do." Taki scowled in annoyance. On one of the many windows on Taki's computer screen, the corporate logo of the Taylor Foundation was clearly seen, along with files marked 'payroll'.
"So you really think this ex New Warrior framed Adam?" Dani asked with more than a little disbelief.
Speedball turned his head to face Dani, "Not an ex Warrior, actually. More like a subcontractor for another Warrior after we cut him loose."
"What makes ye so sure he framed Adam?" Rahne asked, "I mean, why would he target Adam, why nae go after Nita, or Rich, or ye?"
"I don't know, Rahne," Speedball confessed, "last time I saw the guy, he was playing hardcore hero, not killer. It's just a hunch really, a real long shot."
"One that's paid off." Taki stated from his position in front of the computer, "I've just examined the financial records to the trust fund your friend set up for Mr. Sharp, and recent withdraws indicate he's in the city."
"Any large deposits?" Dani asked as she walked over to Taki's side to examine the records personally.
"None at all, not that he would need it." Taki explained, "Your friend Mr. Taylor was quite generous in the slush fund he gave to Sharp, Speedball. Perhaps you could introduce me to him?"
"Maybe later." Speedball smirked, "But if he's not being paid, and what we think is right, then..."
"Why would he frame Adam for murder?" Dani finished
"What about Thorne?" Rahne asked from her seat, "I know ye all felt it when he tried to probe us. The man's a bloody telepath, maybe he forced this man tae frame Adam?"
"A telepathic cult leader, great." Dani quipped, "Another thing to add to our to do list."
"Yeah, I remember Thrash telling me about Thorne, used to be a fifth rate loser called the Grind." Speedball chimed in, "but from what he told me, no way is he powerful enough to control his own cult!"
"Thorne does have a suspected criminal background, though his telepathy is far short of impressive." Taki said as he rubbed his chin, "he may simply be using his telepathy sparingly to manipulate people." Another window came up on the computer and began blinking brightly, demanding attention.
"What's that?" Dani asked.
"I ran some odd readings I gathered from the various crime scenes against our target's power signature." Taki explained, "and it looks like they were a match. We may have found the real culprit."
"I knew Adam dinnae kill anyone." Rahne said confidently.
"Oh, he killed somebody alright." Taki corrected as he stood up, "He killed each and everyone of the men he is accused of killing, in fact. But there's more to it than just that."
"Then lets get a move on and finish this thing before it gets any worse." Dani said as she pulled her bow taunt and took a practice aim, "If Adam is innocent, I want him cleared immediately."
***
Several thousand feet above the United States east coast.
Tarene pushed her mallet to carry her as far away from Dr. Strange's mansion as fast as it could. Maybe if she made it back to the Tower, they wouldn't drag her back to that creepy man and force her to do something she no longer wanted to do. Maybe back at the Tower she'd be safe. A crimson energy blast lanced out in front of her, shattering Tarene's hopes of escape and forcing her to come to a stop to avoid being hit.
"I thought that'd slow you down." Arsenal said as he swooped down in front of the young goddess and hovered before her, "Now, care to tell me what the hell you're doing?"
"I'm going home! I don't care who I was!" Tarene shouted, "I wanna go home!"
"That's not what I remember you saying on Muir Island. I remember a young woman who was very upset she couldn't even remember her own birthday." Arsenal replied, "What changed?"
"Nothing." Tarene muttered as she cast her eyes down towards the ground, quite some distance away.
"Then why did you react like you did?"
"Because you'll make me go away." Tarene said softly.
"What?" Arsenal asked incredulously
"Because you'll make me go away." Tarene repeated as her eyes started to water, "Force Works is the only family I've ever known, but when I remember who I am, you'll make me leave and stop caring!"
"Kiddo, we could never stop caring about you." Bobby said reassuringly. He hovered closer a wiped a tear off Tarene's cheek, "That's why we brought you to Dr. Strange, because regaining your memories is what's best for you."
"What if I'm really a serial killer with a stabbing fetish, or a terrorist or an NFL coach?" Tarene stammered, "You'll all hate me and..."
"Tarene, we could never hate you." Arsenal replied warmly, "A little annoyed at times, yes, but family's like that."
"You promise?"
"No. I swear, kiddo." Arsenal gently took her hand and led her back the way they'd came, "come on, I'm sure Dr. Strange is willing to give you another shot."
Metro City, the Promenade
James Sharp felt pangs of envy shoot thru him everywhere he looked down the walkway. Children were screaming, lovers arguing and people pushing and shoving as they went to and fro. It was a common scene in Metro City, everyday life. Something Jason hadn't been a part of in a long, long time. Even though he possessed an image inducer that projected the illusion that he was just an average white male, James still drew stares. After all, the black market image inducer only hid his true appearance, not his eight foot height or bulky body. Somewhere in his unconscious mind, James remembered that someone had promised him normalcy in exchange for his recent crimes, but that thought was just a foggy, uncertain memory now. So at the moment, his mission finished, James walked around in a daze, uncertain what to do while equally uncertain of exactly who hired him to do what he'd done.
"Coronary!" A hollow, strange, yet familiar voice called out. James immediately deactivated his image inducer and threw his heavy trench coat aside at the sound of the voice, and spun around to face his foe.
"Wow, looks like I was right. Guess watching all those Law & Order shows paid off." Speedball commented as Coronary stared down at him with a toothy glass sneer. Speedball's short form paled in comparison to the hulking form of the glass villain, but the Masked Marvel didn't miss a beat, "What's up, glass ass? Why'd you frame my teammate?"
"You wouldn't understand." The glass medical student said as he lashed out at Speedball with his fist. Speedball took the shot full force, sailing over the heads of the gathered crowd, who were beginning to make themselves scarce at the sight of the glass monstrosity. Coronary cried out as a laser lanced thru his shoulder and the giant stumbled forward, clutching the wound.
"Why don't you help us understand?" Wiz Kid suggested as smoke rose from his wrist blaster. Wolfsbane and Mirage were standing at his side, ready for action.
"This body, it may as well be dead, I can't feel anything. Hot, cold, taste, anything!" Coronary explained, "I was promised freedom in exchange for what I did to him! Framing him was the only way!"
"Who? Who promised you?" Dani asked as she aimed an arrow at the former hero.
"I don't know anymore, but I'll make them pay when I do!" Coronary said as he reached out with his mental powers and grabbed control of their biological functions. Wolfsbane, Wiz Kid and Mirage struggled in silent pain as Coronary usurped control of their biological functions and began to use them as his puppets, "But that doesn't matter. You never should have gotten so close. I can control your biological functions with ease!"
"Let them go!" Speedball shouted as he propelled himself towards the glass villain. Coronary concentrated and allowed Speedball's molecules to slide past his own like dust in the wind, in effect phasing thru Speedball's attack. Speedball brought himself to a stop and hastily considered his options. If he used his bubble bombs against this bum, Coronary would become a shrapnel bomb that'd probably maim his teammates, but if he did nothing...
"Speedy, why don't you come here and join us?" Rahne cooed in a voice not her own. She had one clawed hand around Dani's throat and one on her own while Taki aimed his laser pistol at his own head.
"Crap..." Speedball observed, "I think it's time for Dani's backup plan, don't you guys think?"
"Backup plan?" Coronary laughed, "Why not yell 'look out behind you!'?"
"It's more like, cover your ears, actually." Speedball said as he did the same. If Coronary replied, it would be impossible to tell as an ear piercing scream lanced thru the air and shattered Coronary into a thousand glass fragments.
"What...what happened?" Dani asked, as if coming out of a daze. Wiz Kid and Wolfsbane were equally baffled, unable to recall the last few moments.
"Guess that jammer didn't quite work." Taki mumbled
"I think we have enough evidence to prove Adam didn't commit those murders." Sean said as he stepped forward with several other agents from his department. They began to gather up Sharpe's fragments as Sean addressed Force Works himself
"What about Coronary, did ye have tae kill him?" Rahne asked remorsefully
"Getting shattered is his thing." Speedball shrugged nonchalantly, "Been there, done that, you know? He'll be fine."
Taki took a small C.D out of his wrist attachment and handed in to Sean, "This is a detailed recording of our confrontation. Voice stress analyze will indicate that Coronary was being truthful when he blurted out that he framed X-Treme, and if you comb over the crime scene again, you will no doubt find more of Mr. Sharp's glass fragments, likely skin cell fragments that came of naturally. Furthermore, his energy signature was also at the crime scenes, though hardly as obvious as X-Treme's."
"Aye, thank ye boyo." Sean said as he took the C.D, "I'll see about getting yuir friend released immediately."
"And don't forget to make a public retraction of the charges against Adam, Sean." Dani huffed.
"You're a demanding lot, aren't you?"
Dr. Strange's Sanctum
"I hope you're willing to be a little more polite this time." Dr. Strange glared as Tarene and Arsenal descended into the room thru the hole Tarene had created when fleeing.
"Yes." Tarene said meekly, unable to meet Dr. Strange's strong gaze.
"This is gettin' to be a bad habit." Nova groaned as he rubbed his sore back. Kymaera, standing next to him, elbowed Nova in his ribs, hard. "Hey, I'm just saying!"
Dr. Strange motioned for another rune-covered bowl to present itself to Tarene. The young goddess gripped it in trembling hands as Dr. Strange said, "Be thankful that I had the foresight to make two formulas. Now Tarene, when you drink the formula, you will be placed in a trance, to prevent your being overwhelmed by your returning memories. I will need you to describe what you remember, what you see."
"O...okay." Tarene said, her voice wavering despite her best efforts stay brave.
"Just remember, we'll be here the entire time, sweetheart." Kymaera reassured her.
"Yeah, we got your back." Nova commented.
Tarene looked towards Arsenal with pleading eyes, "Bobby?"
"It's for the best kiddo." Arsenal replied, "And I promise, we'll be here when you're done."
With trembling hands, Tarene placed the bowl up to her lips and began to chug down the formula (which really did taste like strawberry). Once she was finished, Tarene felt her mind swirl and then drift away, like she was having an out of body experience or in a waking dream.
"Tarene, can you hear me?"
"Yeah." Tarene replied lazily
"Good. Now tell me, who are you? What's your real name?"
"Tarene is my real name." Tarene replied, "I lived on south 34th road in Metro City. My parents are Samantha and Tom Hayden."
"Tell us about your childhood."
"It's normal, I guess. No one really notices me. Boys, teachers, all the other girls. My only real friend is my fairy God mother."
"Fairy Godmother?" Dr. Strange asked curiously.
"She's named Lori, and is very beautiful. She says that she's keeping a bad man away from me. She's very nice, and always listens to me." Tarene explained, "She's also very mean to anyone who mistreats me. But after a while, she just went away." Tarene said sadly.
"I'd be willing to be Lori was actually Lorelei." Kymaera said.
"Obviously." Dr. Strange replied, "She likely had a fling with Tyr, and sought to hide her child from him when she realized she was pregnant. I cannot imagine anything more appalling for a love goddess than having the god of war raise your child."
"So why'd she allow those Everlasting guys to get their hands on Tarene then?" Nova asked.
"Sadly for Tarene, Lorelei was killed in Asgard's war against the death God Seth." Dr. Strange answered.
"How'd you know that?"
"I know a great many things, Mr. Ryder." Dr. Strange said dryly, "Shall we continue? Tarene, how were you captured by these 'Everlasting'?"
"We were coming home from a camping trip. It was late at night, and the road was empty. But, something slammed into our car and pushed us off the road into the forest. A man with a weird headband grabbed me and started chanting. Another pointed his hands towards the car and...oh, god..."
Tarene snapped out of her trance and in a pained, hushed tone said, "They're dead. My parents are dead."
Kymaera and Arsenal immediately moved to comfort the young woman, while Nova approached the master of the mystic arts.
"So, is she cured now?" Nova asked discreetly.
"To a degree, yes." Dr. Strange replied with a small amount of remorse, "Sadly, restoring her emotional attachments to her memories is beyond even my skill."
"Damn." Nova sighed, "Any idea why the Everlasting kidnapped her to begin with?"
"Nothing I can prove, but I suspect they simply wished to use Tarene as a weapon from what you have already told me." Dr. Strange speculated, "Young Tarene has great potential."
Nova looked at the sobbing girl wistfully and silently asked himself, "Yeah, but for what?"
Tartarus
Most of Force Works waited patiently as they stood on the docks outside the special superhuman prison waiting for the guards to deliver X- Treme to them. Rahne, the exception, shifted her weight from foot to foot and fidgeted impatiently, anxiety making it impossible for her remain stand still.
"This he'll come back?" Speedball asked, "I mean, we did kinda bail on him, ya know."
"Don' say that! Adam won' abandon us!" Rahne snapped
"Why not? We abandoned him." Wiz Kid opinioned
"We'll see what he decides in a few moments." Dani said neutrally as she spotted Adam being led down the by several guardsmen.
"You damn well better keep your mouth shut about what happened today." One Guardsmen hissed in X-Treme's pointed ear, "Because we'll be watching you, boy."
"Would it matter if anyone believed me?" X-Treme asked, "I'm not totally ignorant regarding this prison's status, you realize."
"Probably not, no." The Guardsmen chuckled as he took out the cybernetic key to unlock X-Treme's restraints.
"Don't bother." X-Treme said with a cocky smile. He swung his wrists towards the ground, and the manacles slipped off like oversized casts. Without another look back at their stunned faces, Adam walked forward to join his teammates. Rahne rushed forward and embraced Adam in an emotional hug normally reserved for long lost family, one Adam, to his own surprise, returned with the same amount of emotion.
"I knew ye were innocent." Rahne said softly.
"Welcome back man, the short hair suits you." Speedball said, trying to hide his discomfort over the fact that after Rahne and Adam had broken their embrace, they had chosen to hold hands, "non Fabio and whatnot."
"Anyone new in your life?" Wiz Kid asked casually.
"I...I think so." Adam said, sparing a glance towards Rahne.
"I told you he wouldn't get it." Wiz Kid said to Speedball. Robbie jumped back like he'd just been stung by a bee.
"Hey, you were supposed to leave me out of it!"
"Robbie! That's a horrible thing tae ask!" Rahne scolded
"Do you want back on the team?" Dani asked, cutting thru the banter like a knife.
"If you'll still have me." X-Treme answered.
"Fine." Dani turned and walked towards the boat that'd brought them to Tartarus, "lets go home. Hopefully the others will be back with Tarene by now."
Saint Ann's Cemetery
Tarene knelt down before the massive headstone for the Hayden family and reached out to touch it with cautious hands, as if it were a work of art that would be damaged if improperly handled. There was a marker for her mother. For her father. And finally, for Tarene herself. That was why the no one was looking for Tarene, they now realized, for she was already presumed dead along with her adoptive parents. Her friends watched sympathetically as Tarene ran her fingers over the writing on the tombstone 'A perfect family taken at an imperfect time.', to confirm the reality of her parent's fate. To no one's surprise, Tarene began to cry one long moment after being confronted with this indisputable proof of her parent's final fate.
"I'm so sorry, Tarene," Kymaera said as she rested her hand on Tarene's shoulder to console her, "I know what it's like to lose a parent."
"You don't understand," Tarene said thru sobs, "I'm not crying because they're dead. I'm crying because it doesn't hurt! They're my parents, and it doesn't really hurt! But it should!" Tarene cried, "my family's dead and I'm all alone and it doesn't hurt!"
"You're not alone." Arsenal corrected, "And you have another family who loves you."
Metro City, The Workplace
"Ye need tae talk to her." Rahne repeated forcefully. She and Adam were sitting in the main kitchen, and had just been talking to one another when the subject of Adam's expulsion finally came up. Adam preferred to just forget about it, but not Rahne. Rahne was the forgive but not forget type, not the 'just forget it' type.
"What's there to talk about? She expelled me, no big deal." Adam shrugged uncomfortable, "I mean, technically I did commit those murders."
"And I'm sure Dani feels horrible about what she did." Rahne said confidently
"So why press the issue then? If she wants to talk about it, then she knows where to find me." Adam replied, "I know you mean well, but I'm not so sure I want to do this."
"Fine." Rahne sighed, "It's yuir decision. I have faith you'll make the right one."
With a soft sigh, Adam stood up and made his way towards Dani's office. He tapped on the door lightly, hoping she wasn't in.
"Come in."
That hope dashed, X-Treme pushed the door open slowly. Dani was sitting at a cold metal desk, with a computer resting on an oak desk. The room was incredibly lacking in personality, and that's the way Dani liked it. It helped motivate Dani to get her reports done that much faster and kept them separate from just about everything else in her life.
"You need anything?"
"Not really."
"Then why are you here?" Dani asked sharply without ever looking away from her computer screen.
"Direct as ever." X-Treme thought to himself, "I...wanted you to know that it's okay."
"What's okay?"
"She's not making this easy." Adam thought and then said, "You... don't have to apologize for kicking me off the team."
That seemed to get Dani's attention. She looked away from her computer screen and shot X-Treme a 'what the hell are you talking about?' look, "I'm sorry, but I wasn't aware that I had anything to apologize for."
"You...kicked me off the team, a clear demonstration of a lack of confidence before you'd even investigated the charges!" X-Treme deadpanned, stunned by Dani's cavalier attitude.
"I'm well aware of that."
"And...you still don't think..."
"'We don't know what we're getting into and need to know where everyone stands'." Dani hissed in a tone that immediately silenced X- Treme's protests, "Do you know who said that to me?"
X-Treme knew immediately who'd said those words to Dani. X-Treme had said that on Force Works' first mission, and fully meant it. If Dani and Rahne had no intention of sticking around, relying on them in battle would have been a mistake as they wouldn't always be part of the team. Knowing and trusting your teammate was easily the most important part of being an effective fighting force.
"If it'd been Rich, Nita, Robbie, Tarene or anyone else framed for murder, I would have stood by them to the end. Anyone but you," Dani said as she pointed an accusing finger at the alien warrior from her chair, "I don't really know you, Adam. Not as a person. And I won't jeopardize everything we've built for someone I really don't know!"
"How can you say that? I've helped build this team!" X-Treme shouted angrily
"I know, and that's why I haven't kicked you off the team already." Mirage stated, "You've got your secrets, I understand that, but that's no excuse to treat your teammates like lepers. Tell me Adam, how many conversations have you personally tried to start?"
X-Treme remained silent, again knowing the answer.
"Let me guess, none, right? We're more than a team here Adam, we're a family. When someone has a problem, we help them. Maybe if you'd told us about your blackouts, we could have headed this situation off months ago. And if you can't trust us, I don't really know why I should trust you."
That sentence was punctuated by a seeming eternity of silence, until...
"Blue Blazes! What's this little pow wow about? Did we miss something?" Nova asked as he entered with Kymaera, Arsenal and a visibility depressed Tarene.
"Nova, how'd the visit to Strange go? Was it successful?" Dani asked as she looked away from X-Treme.
"It was, sorta." Nova sighed, "Where're the others? Because we've got one freaky story to tell."
"Actually..."X-Treme stated, "...we have two stories to tell."
The End
Force Works 15
Cause and Effect
Part 3
The story thus far: X-Treme has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and the Force Works members who have investigated the case have found nothing to dispute the charges, besides a rather big hunch and a longshot. The other half of Force Works visited Dr. Strange in the hopes that he could cure Tarene's amnesia. Their faith was rewarded, but Tarene responded violently when confronted with a solution to her amnesia and fled Dr. Strange's mansion with Arsenal in pursuit
Metro City, The Workplace
"Got anything yet?" Speedball asked as he leaned over Taki who was furiously typing away on his computer. Behind them Wolfsbane and Mirage waited somewhat impatiently.
"I'll let you know when I do." Taki scowled in annoyance. On one of the many windows on Taki's computer screen, the corporate logo of the Taylor Foundation was clearly seen, along with files marked 'payroll'.
"So you really think this ex New Warrior framed Adam?" Dani asked with more than a little disbelief.
Speedball turned his head to face Dani, "Not an ex Warrior, actually. More like a subcontractor for another Warrior after we cut him loose."
"What makes ye so sure he framed Adam?" Rahne asked, "I mean, why would he target Adam, why nae go after Nita, or Rich, or ye?"
"I don't know, Rahne," Speedball confessed, "last time I saw the guy, he was playing hardcore hero, not killer. It's just a hunch really, a real long shot."
"One that's paid off." Taki stated from his position in front of the computer, "I've just examined the financial records to the trust fund your friend set up for Mr. Sharp, and recent withdraws indicate he's in the city."
"Any large deposits?" Dani asked as she walked over to Taki's side to examine the records personally.
"None at all, not that he would need it." Taki explained, "Your friend Mr. Taylor was quite generous in the slush fund he gave to Sharp, Speedball. Perhaps you could introduce me to him?"
"Maybe later." Speedball smirked, "But if he's not being paid, and what we think is right, then..."
"Why would he frame Adam for murder?" Dani finished
"What about Thorne?" Rahne asked from her seat, "I know ye all felt it when he tried to probe us. The man's a bloody telepath, maybe he forced this man tae frame Adam?"
"A telepathic cult leader, great." Dani quipped, "Another thing to add to our to do list."
"Yeah, I remember Thrash telling me about Thorne, used to be a fifth rate loser called the Grind." Speedball chimed in, "but from what he told me, no way is he powerful enough to control his own cult!"
"Thorne does have a suspected criminal background, though his telepathy is far short of impressive." Taki said as he rubbed his chin, "he may simply be using his telepathy sparingly to manipulate people." Another window came up on the computer and began blinking brightly, demanding attention.
"What's that?" Dani asked.
"I ran some odd readings I gathered from the various crime scenes against our target's power signature." Taki explained, "and it looks like they were a match. We may have found the real culprit."
"I knew Adam dinnae kill anyone." Rahne said confidently.
"Oh, he killed somebody alright." Taki corrected as he stood up, "He killed each and everyone of the men he is accused of killing, in fact. But there's more to it than just that."
"Then lets get a move on and finish this thing before it gets any worse." Dani said as she pulled her bow taunt and took a practice aim, "If Adam is innocent, I want him cleared immediately."
***
Several thousand feet above the United States east coast.
Tarene pushed her mallet to carry her as far away from Dr. Strange's mansion as fast as it could. Maybe if she made it back to the Tower, they wouldn't drag her back to that creepy man and force her to do something she no longer wanted to do. Maybe back at the Tower she'd be safe. A crimson energy blast lanced out in front of her, shattering Tarene's hopes of escape and forcing her to come to a stop to avoid being hit.
"I thought that'd slow you down." Arsenal said as he swooped down in front of the young goddess and hovered before her, "Now, care to tell me what the hell you're doing?"
"I'm going home! I don't care who I was!" Tarene shouted, "I wanna go home!"
"That's not what I remember you saying on Muir Island. I remember a young woman who was very upset she couldn't even remember her own birthday." Arsenal replied, "What changed?"
"Nothing." Tarene muttered as she cast her eyes down towards the ground, quite some distance away.
"Then why did you react like you did?"
"Because you'll make me go away." Tarene said softly.
"What?" Arsenal asked incredulously
"Because you'll make me go away." Tarene repeated as her eyes started to water, "Force Works is the only family I've ever known, but when I remember who I am, you'll make me leave and stop caring!"
"Kiddo, we could never stop caring about you." Bobby said reassuringly. He hovered closer a wiped a tear off Tarene's cheek, "That's why we brought you to Dr. Strange, because regaining your memories is what's best for you."
"What if I'm really a serial killer with a stabbing fetish, or a terrorist or an NFL coach?" Tarene stammered, "You'll all hate me and..."
"Tarene, we could never hate you." Arsenal replied warmly, "A little annoyed at times, yes, but family's like that."
"You promise?"
"No. I swear, kiddo." Arsenal gently took her hand and led her back the way they'd came, "come on, I'm sure Dr. Strange is willing to give you another shot."
Metro City, the Promenade
James Sharp felt pangs of envy shoot thru him everywhere he looked down the walkway. Children were screaming, lovers arguing and people pushing and shoving as they went to and fro. It was a common scene in Metro City, everyday life. Something Jason hadn't been a part of in a long, long time. Even though he possessed an image inducer that projected the illusion that he was just an average white male, James still drew stares. After all, the black market image inducer only hid his true appearance, not his eight foot height or bulky body. Somewhere in his unconscious mind, James remembered that someone had promised him normalcy in exchange for his recent crimes, but that thought was just a foggy, uncertain memory now. So at the moment, his mission finished, James walked around in a daze, uncertain what to do while equally uncertain of exactly who hired him to do what he'd done.
"Coronary!" A hollow, strange, yet familiar voice called out. James immediately deactivated his image inducer and threw his heavy trench coat aside at the sound of the voice, and spun around to face his foe.
"Wow, looks like I was right. Guess watching all those Law & Order shows paid off." Speedball commented as Coronary stared down at him with a toothy glass sneer. Speedball's short form paled in comparison to the hulking form of the glass villain, but the Masked Marvel didn't miss a beat, "What's up, glass ass? Why'd you frame my teammate?"
"You wouldn't understand." The glass medical student said as he lashed out at Speedball with his fist. Speedball took the shot full force, sailing over the heads of the gathered crowd, who were beginning to make themselves scarce at the sight of the glass monstrosity. Coronary cried out as a laser lanced thru his shoulder and the giant stumbled forward, clutching the wound.
"Why don't you help us understand?" Wiz Kid suggested as smoke rose from his wrist blaster. Wolfsbane and Mirage were standing at his side, ready for action.
"This body, it may as well be dead, I can't feel anything. Hot, cold, taste, anything!" Coronary explained, "I was promised freedom in exchange for what I did to him! Framing him was the only way!"
"Who? Who promised you?" Dani asked as she aimed an arrow at the former hero.
"I don't know anymore, but I'll make them pay when I do!" Coronary said as he reached out with his mental powers and grabbed control of their biological functions. Wolfsbane, Wiz Kid and Mirage struggled in silent pain as Coronary usurped control of their biological functions and began to use them as his puppets, "But that doesn't matter. You never should have gotten so close. I can control your biological functions with ease!"
"Let them go!" Speedball shouted as he propelled himself towards the glass villain. Coronary concentrated and allowed Speedball's molecules to slide past his own like dust in the wind, in effect phasing thru Speedball's attack. Speedball brought himself to a stop and hastily considered his options. If he used his bubble bombs against this bum, Coronary would become a shrapnel bomb that'd probably maim his teammates, but if he did nothing...
"Speedy, why don't you come here and join us?" Rahne cooed in a voice not her own. She had one clawed hand around Dani's throat and one on her own while Taki aimed his laser pistol at his own head.
"Crap..." Speedball observed, "I think it's time for Dani's backup plan, don't you guys think?"
"Backup plan?" Coronary laughed, "Why not yell 'look out behind you!'?"
"It's more like, cover your ears, actually." Speedball said as he did the same. If Coronary replied, it would be impossible to tell as an ear piercing scream lanced thru the air and shattered Coronary into a thousand glass fragments.
"What...what happened?" Dani asked, as if coming out of a daze. Wiz Kid and Wolfsbane were equally baffled, unable to recall the last few moments.
"Guess that jammer didn't quite work." Taki mumbled
"I think we have enough evidence to prove Adam didn't commit those murders." Sean said as he stepped forward with several other agents from his department. They began to gather up Sharpe's fragments as Sean addressed Force Works himself
"What about Coronary, did ye have tae kill him?" Rahne asked remorsefully
"Getting shattered is his thing." Speedball shrugged nonchalantly, "Been there, done that, you know? He'll be fine."
Taki took a small C.D out of his wrist attachment and handed in to Sean, "This is a detailed recording of our confrontation. Voice stress analyze will indicate that Coronary was being truthful when he blurted out that he framed X-Treme, and if you comb over the crime scene again, you will no doubt find more of Mr. Sharp's glass fragments, likely skin cell fragments that came of naturally. Furthermore, his energy signature was also at the crime scenes, though hardly as obvious as X-Treme's."
"Aye, thank ye boyo." Sean said as he took the C.D, "I'll see about getting yuir friend released immediately."
"And don't forget to make a public retraction of the charges against Adam, Sean." Dani huffed.
"You're a demanding lot, aren't you?"
Dr. Strange's Sanctum
"I hope you're willing to be a little more polite this time." Dr. Strange glared as Tarene and Arsenal descended into the room thru the hole Tarene had created when fleeing.
"Yes." Tarene said meekly, unable to meet Dr. Strange's strong gaze.
"This is gettin' to be a bad habit." Nova groaned as he rubbed his sore back. Kymaera, standing next to him, elbowed Nova in his ribs, hard. "Hey, I'm just saying!"
Dr. Strange motioned for another rune-covered bowl to present itself to Tarene. The young goddess gripped it in trembling hands as Dr. Strange said, "Be thankful that I had the foresight to make two formulas. Now Tarene, when you drink the formula, you will be placed in a trance, to prevent your being overwhelmed by your returning memories. I will need you to describe what you remember, what you see."
"O...okay." Tarene said, her voice wavering despite her best efforts stay brave.
"Just remember, we'll be here the entire time, sweetheart." Kymaera reassured her.
"Yeah, we got your back." Nova commented.
Tarene looked towards Arsenal with pleading eyes, "Bobby?"
"It's for the best kiddo." Arsenal replied, "And I promise, we'll be here when you're done."
With trembling hands, Tarene placed the bowl up to her lips and began to chug down the formula (which really did taste like strawberry). Once she was finished, Tarene felt her mind swirl and then drift away, like she was having an out of body experience or in a waking dream.
"Tarene, can you hear me?"
"Yeah." Tarene replied lazily
"Good. Now tell me, who are you? What's your real name?"
"Tarene is my real name." Tarene replied, "I lived on south 34th road in Metro City. My parents are Samantha and Tom Hayden."
"Tell us about your childhood."
"It's normal, I guess. No one really notices me. Boys, teachers, all the other girls. My only real friend is my fairy God mother."
"Fairy Godmother?" Dr. Strange asked curiously.
"She's named Lori, and is very beautiful. She says that she's keeping a bad man away from me. She's very nice, and always listens to me." Tarene explained, "She's also very mean to anyone who mistreats me. But after a while, she just went away." Tarene said sadly.
"I'd be willing to be Lori was actually Lorelei." Kymaera said.
"Obviously." Dr. Strange replied, "She likely had a fling with Tyr, and sought to hide her child from him when she realized she was pregnant. I cannot imagine anything more appalling for a love goddess than having the god of war raise your child."
"So why'd she allow those Everlasting guys to get their hands on Tarene then?" Nova asked.
"Sadly for Tarene, Lorelei was killed in Asgard's war against the death God Seth." Dr. Strange answered.
"How'd you know that?"
"I know a great many things, Mr. Ryder." Dr. Strange said dryly, "Shall we continue? Tarene, how were you captured by these 'Everlasting'?"
"We were coming home from a camping trip. It was late at night, and the road was empty. But, something slammed into our car and pushed us off the road into the forest. A man with a weird headband grabbed me and started chanting. Another pointed his hands towards the car and...oh, god..."
Tarene snapped out of her trance and in a pained, hushed tone said, "They're dead. My parents are dead."
Kymaera and Arsenal immediately moved to comfort the young woman, while Nova approached the master of the mystic arts.
"So, is she cured now?" Nova asked discreetly.
"To a degree, yes." Dr. Strange replied with a small amount of remorse, "Sadly, restoring her emotional attachments to her memories is beyond even my skill."
"Damn." Nova sighed, "Any idea why the Everlasting kidnapped her to begin with?"
"Nothing I can prove, but I suspect they simply wished to use Tarene as a weapon from what you have already told me." Dr. Strange speculated, "Young Tarene has great potential."
Nova looked at the sobbing girl wistfully and silently asked himself, "Yeah, but for what?"
Tartarus
Most of Force Works waited patiently as they stood on the docks outside the special superhuman prison waiting for the guards to deliver X- Treme to them. Rahne, the exception, shifted her weight from foot to foot and fidgeted impatiently, anxiety making it impossible for her remain stand still.
"This he'll come back?" Speedball asked, "I mean, we did kinda bail on him, ya know."
"Don' say that! Adam won' abandon us!" Rahne snapped
"Why not? We abandoned him." Wiz Kid opinioned
"We'll see what he decides in a few moments." Dani said neutrally as she spotted Adam being led down the by several guardsmen.
"You damn well better keep your mouth shut about what happened today." One Guardsmen hissed in X-Treme's pointed ear, "Because we'll be watching you, boy."
"Would it matter if anyone believed me?" X-Treme asked, "I'm not totally ignorant regarding this prison's status, you realize."
"Probably not, no." The Guardsmen chuckled as he took out the cybernetic key to unlock X-Treme's restraints.
"Don't bother." X-Treme said with a cocky smile. He swung his wrists towards the ground, and the manacles slipped off like oversized casts. Without another look back at their stunned faces, Adam walked forward to join his teammates. Rahne rushed forward and embraced Adam in an emotional hug normally reserved for long lost family, one Adam, to his own surprise, returned with the same amount of emotion.
"I knew ye were innocent." Rahne said softly.
"Welcome back man, the short hair suits you." Speedball said, trying to hide his discomfort over the fact that after Rahne and Adam had broken their embrace, they had chosen to hold hands, "non Fabio and whatnot."
"Anyone new in your life?" Wiz Kid asked casually.
"I...I think so." Adam said, sparing a glance towards Rahne.
"I told you he wouldn't get it." Wiz Kid said to Speedball. Robbie jumped back like he'd just been stung by a bee.
"Hey, you were supposed to leave me out of it!"
"Robbie! That's a horrible thing tae ask!" Rahne scolded
"Do you want back on the team?" Dani asked, cutting thru the banter like a knife.
"If you'll still have me." X-Treme answered.
"Fine." Dani turned and walked towards the boat that'd brought them to Tartarus, "lets go home. Hopefully the others will be back with Tarene by now."
Saint Ann's Cemetery
Tarene knelt down before the massive headstone for the Hayden family and reached out to touch it with cautious hands, as if it were a work of art that would be damaged if improperly handled. There was a marker for her mother. For her father. And finally, for Tarene herself. That was why the no one was looking for Tarene, they now realized, for she was already presumed dead along with her adoptive parents. Her friends watched sympathetically as Tarene ran her fingers over the writing on the tombstone 'A perfect family taken at an imperfect time.', to confirm the reality of her parent's fate. To no one's surprise, Tarene began to cry one long moment after being confronted with this indisputable proof of her parent's final fate.
"I'm so sorry, Tarene," Kymaera said as she rested her hand on Tarene's shoulder to console her, "I know what it's like to lose a parent."
"You don't understand," Tarene said thru sobs, "I'm not crying because they're dead. I'm crying because it doesn't hurt! They're my parents, and it doesn't really hurt! But it should!" Tarene cried, "my family's dead and I'm all alone and it doesn't hurt!"
"You're not alone." Arsenal corrected, "And you have another family who loves you."
Metro City, The Workplace
"Ye need tae talk to her." Rahne repeated forcefully. She and Adam were sitting in the main kitchen, and had just been talking to one another when the subject of Adam's expulsion finally came up. Adam preferred to just forget about it, but not Rahne. Rahne was the forgive but not forget type, not the 'just forget it' type.
"What's there to talk about? She expelled me, no big deal." Adam shrugged uncomfortable, "I mean, technically I did commit those murders."
"And I'm sure Dani feels horrible about what she did." Rahne said confidently
"So why press the issue then? If she wants to talk about it, then she knows where to find me." Adam replied, "I know you mean well, but I'm not so sure I want to do this."
"Fine." Rahne sighed, "It's yuir decision. I have faith you'll make the right one."
With a soft sigh, Adam stood up and made his way towards Dani's office. He tapped on the door lightly, hoping she wasn't in.
"Come in."
That hope dashed, X-Treme pushed the door open slowly. Dani was sitting at a cold metal desk, with a computer resting on an oak desk. The room was incredibly lacking in personality, and that's the way Dani liked it. It helped motivate Dani to get her reports done that much faster and kept them separate from just about everything else in her life.
"You need anything?"
"Not really."
"Then why are you here?" Dani asked sharply without ever looking away from her computer screen.
"Direct as ever." X-Treme thought to himself, "I...wanted you to know that it's okay."
"What's okay?"
"She's not making this easy." Adam thought and then said, "You... don't have to apologize for kicking me off the team."
That seemed to get Dani's attention. She looked away from her computer screen and shot X-Treme a 'what the hell are you talking about?' look, "I'm sorry, but I wasn't aware that I had anything to apologize for."
"You...kicked me off the team, a clear demonstration of a lack of confidence before you'd even investigated the charges!" X-Treme deadpanned, stunned by Dani's cavalier attitude.
"I'm well aware of that."
"And...you still don't think..."
"'We don't know what we're getting into and need to know where everyone stands'." Dani hissed in a tone that immediately silenced X- Treme's protests, "Do you know who said that to me?"
X-Treme knew immediately who'd said those words to Dani. X-Treme had said that on Force Works' first mission, and fully meant it. If Dani and Rahne had no intention of sticking around, relying on them in battle would have been a mistake as they wouldn't always be part of the team. Knowing and trusting your teammate was easily the most important part of being an effective fighting force.
"If it'd been Rich, Nita, Robbie, Tarene or anyone else framed for murder, I would have stood by them to the end. Anyone but you," Dani said as she pointed an accusing finger at the alien warrior from her chair, "I don't really know you, Adam. Not as a person. And I won't jeopardize everything we've built for someone I really don't know!"
"How can you say that? I've helped build this team!" X-Treme shouted angrily
"I know, and that's why I haven't kicked you off the team already." Mirage stated, "You've got your secrets, I understand that, but that's no excuse to treat your teammates like lepers. Tell me Adam, how many conversations have you personally tried to start?"
X-Treme remained silent, again knowing the answer.
"Let me guess, none, right? We're more than a team here Adam, we're a family. When someone has a problem, we help them. Maybe if you'd told us about your blackouts, we could have headed this situation off months ago. And if you can't trust us, I don't really know why I should trust you."
That sentence was punctuated by a seeming eternity of silence, until...
"Blue Blazes! What's this little pow wow about? Did we miss something?" Nova asked as he entered with Kymaera, Arsenal and a visibility depressed Tarene.
"Nova, how'd the visit to Strange go? Was it successful?" Dani asked as she looked away from X-Treme.
"It was, sorta." Nova sighed, "Where're the others? Because we've got one freaky story to tell."
"Actually..."X-Treme stated, "...we have two stories to tell."
The End