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Issue #52 by Daniel Ingram
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"THE TANGLED WEB - PART TWO"
United States, Chicken-B-Good Corporate Headquarters
Thomas West didn’t know what to expect when he came to work in the morning. But seeing a woman with blue skin in a business suit, and a man made of ebony rock standing eight feet tall, was not how he expected to start his day.
“Can I maybe go human?” Charcoal said. He was used to the looks after a fight, but being in his Charcoal form around normal people conducting normal business just felt like being a bully.
“The CEO making us wait is a power move,” Namorita said, “obvious superheroes standing in his lobby is only going to make him more nervous the longer it goes on.”
Namorita checked her phone.
“A few people have posted us to Twitter already.” Namorita observed, “shouldn’t be long now.”
“Miss Prentiss!”
Namorita recognized Chicken-B-Good CEO, Mathew Tru, as he strutted towards her, an award-winning smile plastered on his face.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, this is an unexpected surprise,” Mathew offered Namorita his hand, “I just finished a meeting the Secretary of the United Nations.”
Namorita looked at Mr. Tru’s hand, then to him.
“I’m surprised he’s taking the time from his vacation in the US Virgin Islands,” Namorita replied. She felt a sense of satisfaction when she saw Mathew’s smile lessen.
Mathew Tru dropped his hand, “Anyways, what can I do for you?”
“I’d like to discuss some of your charitable foundations,” Namorita said, “we should do so in private.”
“Of course,” Mathew replied with a practiced smile.
“Charcoal, could you watch the jet?” Namorita said, “this may take a while.”
“Go wait in the car,” mumbled Charcoal, “I bet Nova and the others are having more fun than this.”
Ghudazan, Africa,
Nova’s vision began to unblur, and he tried to raise his hand to his head, only to find them restrained.
“Oh yeah,” Nova muttered, remembering his last fight with Reverend Days. When his vision cleared, he saw that his wrists were secured in power dampening cuffs that covered the length of his wrists, “damn, I hate waking up a prisoner. And I really hate that I have enough experience to know that.”
“I ain’t much surprised that you’ve been in your fair share of jails.”
Nova looked up, and saw Reverend Days, a smug expression on his face as he looked through the bars.
“Righteous work isn’t always easy,” Nova replied, “thought a good Christian like you would know that.”
Reverend Days gave Nova a joyless smile.
“I’ll pray for ya,” Reverend Days said.
“I’ll bet,” Nova looked to his left, and saw Tarene on the ground, with what looked like a silver metal wire wrapped around her neck, “tell me what you did to her, or God himself won’t be able to help you.”
“Some sedatives,” Reverend Days replied, “plus, vibranium wire connected to a remote-control motor. When she awakes, you oughta ask her to behave. Otherwise, she might lose her head.”
“That’s some fine Christian mercy, right there,” Nova observed.
“This continent aint got the money to throw away on imprisoning errant superhumans,” Reverend Days said, “they have to be a little more creative.”
“But you do have the money to throw away on imprisoning mutants, for being mutants,” Nova countered, “not much difference, all things considered.”
“Different enough,” Reverend Days growled, “get comfy, you got a trial comin’ up.”
“Can’t wait.”
Two guards stepped into the room.
“If they make the wrong move, radio it in,” Reverend Days said, “we can activate that garrote by remote.”
The guards nodded, and Reverend Days stalked away.
Nova’s eyes fell from one guard, to the other.
“So, you guys ready to talk strategy?”
The two African guards disappeared, replaced by Mirage and Vibraxis.
“What’d you have in mind?”
Elsewhere
Wolfsbane felt a rush of air, and then saw Sabre standing next to her.
“I did a brief recon fifteen miles on every paved road,” Sabre reported, “we’re clear. What’s the status of that cargo plane?”
“Technocrat says they’re en-route,” Wolfsbane replied.
“And our teammates? Ya know, the ones we left behind?”
“Nova and Tarene are captured. The others are handling it.”
Sabre nearly jumped out of her skin, when X-Treme melted out of the shadows behind her.
“So do we have a plan for after we get these guys out of here?” Sabre said.
“First, we need to make sure we get them out o’ here,” Wolfsbane said. She nodded towards where Technocrat was pacing back and forth, gesturing wildly with his hands. He was with three of the people they’d rescued, and exacerbation was written all over his face.
“Why do we ever let him speak?” said X-Treme.
“Because when we step in, we sound more reasonable,” Wolfsbane replied, “come on.”
“…you have no idea how to actually help, that’s why!” Technocrat snapped at the two men and one woman he’d been speaking to.
“Technocrat, what’s the issue here?” Wolfsbane said, as if she didn’t already know.
“These three claim to speak for the others, saying they want to go back to the Re-Education camp, and burn it to the ground.”
Your friends risked their lives for us, Zora said telepathically, and this is our home, we should fight for it.
“We appreciate the offer,” Wolfsbane said, “but if we took ye back now, it would undo the good o’ their sacrifice.”
Their sacrifice? You’re asking us to runaway from our family, our friends, Zora snapped, you have no idea what you’re asking of us!
“I know exactly what I’m askin’ of ye,” Wolfsbane said, “because when my powers first emerged, I had to do the exact same thing. The people of muh town, my own father, tried ta kill me. The woman who saved me life, first thing she did was take me away.”
“We’re nae saying ye have to leave forever. But trust me, it’s better to leave now and take stock. We have friends who’ll help you return home, if that’s what you want.”
Wolfsbane could hear the cargo plane approaching, and met eyes with Zora.
“But ye have to decide now.”
Zora nodded, and led her two companions away for a private discussion. Wolfsbane motioned for her teammates to do likewise.
“So, assuming that Rahne got through, what do we do?” Sabre said, “Reverend Days still has our friends and an army backing him up.”
“This isn’t America where they can throw billions away on advanced weaponry,” said Technocrat, “a surgical strike is all we need. Disable whatever’s holding Tarene and Nova, and it’ll be a level playing field.”
“Have you heard anything from Mirage?” Wolfsbane asked, “how does she want to handle this?”
“Nova is the leader, remember?” X-Treme said.
“Force of habit,” said Sabre, “not used to the Bucket head calling the shots. Still, Wolfsbane, any luck with the psi-link?”
Wolfsbane shook her head, “Too far.”
“Comms. would be unwise at the moment,” Technocrat said, “I launched a decoy drone earlier, and using them now could give it away.”
We reached a compromise, Zora said, they’re leaving, and I’m staying.
Technocrat pinched the bridge of his nose, “Well, I suppose that’s better than nothing.”
If it helps, I don’t like you either, Zora said.
“You’re fitting in already,” X-Treme replied, “lets get your people out of here, and work on our next step.”
Chicken-B-Good, USA
Mathew Tru clasped his hands together on his desk, “So, how can I help you?”
“My team is investigating an anti-mutant movement in Ghudazan,” Namorita said, “they call themselves the Purifiers, and seem to be pretty well funded.”
“Well, Chicken-B-Good is a Christian organization,” Mathew Tru said, “while we do not condone mutants, neither do we condone violence.”
“Mutants are simply born,” Namorita said, “what exactly is there to condone?”
“We disagree, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” Mathew replied.
“Opinions are opinions, but facts remain facts,” Namorita replied, “but we’re getting sidetracked. I have reason to believe that several of your charities are funding them.”
“That’s a rather bold accusation,” Mathew Tru said, “what evidence do you have that we would do such a thing?”
Namorita produced a thumb drive, “I’ve reviewed your donations, and cross checked them with your suppliers. Combined with overpayment for certain supplies, I’ve found that there is a significant gap, one large enough to drive a black-market arsenal through.”
Namorita set the thumb drive down on Tru’s desk.
“I’ll look at what you’ve found, but I assure you, we’re a good, God fearing Corporation. Funding a hate group isn’t something we’d ever do.”
“Of course,” Namorita said, “I think it would be best for us all, if we handled this quietly.”
Several minutes later, outside
Namorita was a little surprised to find Charlie in the jet, in his Charcoal form, sleeping.
“Charlie?” Namorita tapped his foot against his giant form, “why are you using your powers to take a nap?”
“Easiest way to get comfortable,” Charlie assumed his human form, “so how’d it go? Did they take the bait?”
“We won’t know for a while,” Namorita said, “we need to contact the others, see how things are going on their end.”
“Probably on their way back already.”
Ghudazan, Africa
“So, who do you think should play me in the TV remake?” said Nova, “my buddy Vance almost got a Lifetime movie remake, ya know.”
“Let’s worry about our great escape before we do casting calls,” Mirage removed a small set of lockpicks, and went over to Tarene. The young woman had just woken, and her face was contorted in anger, “we have a few options moving forward.”
“We cannot allow Reverend Days to spread his poison,” Vibraxis said.
“Agreed. He’ll be back to boast,” Tarene said, “all Mirage needs to do is set him up. I’ll dispatch him myself.”
“Whoa there, kiddo,” Nova said, “we’re still in hostile territory. Starting another fight could easily get out of control.”
“Especially if you keep moving while I’m trying to disable this thing,” Mirage said, as she examined the devise on Tarene’s neck. All things considered, it was a simple design, which made it easy for her to find the flaw. Mirage took a second to concentrate, applying a small laser to the receiver in Tarene’s neck restraint, “okay, good to go. Now you have a really expensive necklace, Tarene.”
“Leave it on for now,” Nova said, “until we know how we want to proceed.”
“Nova is correct,” said Vibraxis, “the element of surprise is important!”
“Not exactly what I was thinking,” Nova said, “look, we need to be honest, we’re tourists here. We get one shot of pushing back against the bullshit that enabled Reverend Days, before we risk getting Excalibur sicced on us.”
“So, what were you thinking?” Mirage said.
“Gonna be a trial, right?” Nova said, “maybe we can use that.”
“Nova is right,” Vibraxis said, “they love their show trials. I imagine that Nova will be in front of the bench in a matter of days.”
“Uh oh,” Mirage said.
“What?” said Tarene.
“He’s got a look in his eyes,” Mirage said, “a ‘Taki’ look.”
“What were you thinking, exactly?” said Nova.
Vibraxis told them.
Nova rubbed his chin. Tarene smiled. Mirage shook her head.
“That’s not a solution,” Mirage said, “and I don’t know if I feel comfortable doing it.”
“I wish I could,” Tarene rubbed her hands together, her thoughts a very dark place at the moment.
“See, little miss revenge spree is on your side,” Mirage observed, “that’s not a good thing.”
“You got a better idea?” Nova said, “we got them mutants out, that’s a win. But there are gonna be more later.”
Mirage replied with silence.
“Then I’m pulling rank,” said Nova, “we get one shot at this, so we’re going to take it.”
“Let’s give them the trial of the century.”
Next Issue: Force Works vs. Reverend Days, in the court of law!