Issue #38 (January 2020)
Written By: Tobias Christopher Valeria
Spider-Girl
Ms. Marvel
|
"Okay, let's start from the beginning," Valeria said as her and Ms. Marvel talked to Natalie. "How did Percy hurt you?"
"We're both mutants, but our powers are strongest when we're near each other," Natalie told them. "Percy was always bullied in school, and when he discovered his powers, he started taking it out on the people who tormented him. But it wasn't going to stop there, he was going to start going after everyone that he felt was a tormentor. When I confronted him, our powers started to react. I tried to calm Percy down, but he was angry and I ended up catatonic." "So, we need to stop Percy before he goes on a killing spree," Valeria said. "So why hasn't he started before now? Why did he wait so long to start getting revenge?" "That I don't know," Natalie told them. "I just know that if he isn't stopped, a lot of people are going to die." "GIRL'S NIGHT" Having made sure that Joey was soundly asleep in his bed, Sam grabbed a beer and headed to the roof, staring out over the city. Eventually he was joined by Johnny, having brought the entire case of bottles. "Figured we'd need these," Johnny said as he sat down, having watched Sam trying to bond with his son over the last few days. Johnny had experienced similar issues with Franklin as the boy became a teenager. "Wanna talk about it?" "I feel like I've already failed as a father," Sam said as he took a drink. "Joey hates it here." "He's not a city boy, Sam, he's like you," Johnny told him. "The difference is that you've had years to adjust." "Maybe I do need to take him back to Kentucky to be with the family," Sam told him. "But what about the team? These kids need me, too." "Your son needs you more," Johnny replied. "I know that if I'm ever lucky enough to have a kid with Lyja, that kid's going to be my #1 priority. Besides, I can handle things while you're away." Sam raised an eyebrow at Johnny. "You. You're not exactly Mr. Responsible." "I nearly lost Franklin, that's put a lot of things in perspective for me," Johnny said as he took a drink. "Nothing's going to harm these kids while I'm around." "Okay, then," Sam said. "I'll tell Josh and Joey the news in the morning. Looks like we're all headed to Kentucky together." "Lyja and Spider-Girl haven't responded in an hour," Valeria told Ms. Marvel and Natalie. "They must be in trouble." "Or Percy found them," Natalie said as the trio walked down the street. "His powers are destructive enough on his own. He can create explosions by speeding up molecules and forcing them apart." "And what are your powers?" Valeria asked. "My powers are more on the protective side," Natalie told her. "I can create force fields and barriers. I can make weapons by pushing molecules together." "So, what exactly is Percy's plan here?" Ms. Marvel asked. "What's his endgame besides being a tool?" "Beyond revenge on his bullies, I don't know," Natalie said. "Percy's never really been the kind of guy who stays focused. I just know that longer he's out there, the more dangerous he becomes. I have to stop him before he kills people, if he hasn't already." "Then let's find him before he hurts our friends, or anyone else," Valeria said. "We'll have to hit him with everything we have. We may have to stop off for a few things, first." New Warriors Headquarters The Rawhide Kid had been sleeping soundly in his bed as the nightmares started. Soon he bolted awake, sweating as he stared at his hands. "Who the hell am I?" Heading upstairs to get a drink, he ended up running into Juston, who couldn't sleep either. "You look like hell," Juston said as he wheeled himself out of the kitchen. "You okay?" "Had a nightmare," Rawhide Kid told him. "I've had them ever since the rodeo took me, and I'm sure it has something to do with my life before I got amnesia. But I can never piece it together enough to figure anything out before I wake up." "Want to talk about it?" Juston asked. "I mean, not that I personally care or anything, but it's not like either of us are getting to sleep anytime soon." "I think I was buried alive and had to dig my way out of my own grave." Juston just stared at him. "Well, that's kind of fucked up. Do you think that really happened or is it just a dream?" "It felt so real," Rawhide Kid told him. "I just wish I had more to go on." "Well, how about a DNA test?" Juston suggested. "Ever had one of those?" "Couldn't afford something like that." Rawhide Kid told him. "Are you serious? I can build something like that in a matter of hours," Juston suggested. "Plus it's not like I have anywhere to go now. I'll see what I can do with the parts I have. We'll find out what your name is and go from there." "Thank you," Rawhide Kid said. "Hope you're not expecting me to hug you or anything." "That's okay," Juston said. "A handshake will do just fine." "I have two of them," Percy said as he paced around the alley where Lyja and Spider-Girl where chained up and unconscious. "But I don't understand what you want me to do with them." "Use them as bait," a mysterious voice said through Percy's earpiece. "There's an entire team of these freaks, you'll have to take them a few at a time. But it's Franklin Richards that's the big prize. I want him most of all, Percy, but his friends need to be taken out first." "There's two others and my sister coming for these two," Percy told him. "One of them is Ms. Marvel, I don't know if I can take her and my sister at once." "Back-up is on the way," the voice said. "Just be sure to get all of them. Once you've taken all of them down, I'll make sure they're locked away somewhere safe while you collect the rest." "Okay," Percy said nervously. "I guess this is for the best, right?" "It is, my over-powered friend," the voice said. "The New Warriors have grown to be far too powerful. They must be dealt with before it's too late. My sensors indicate that someone's coming. Take care of them." Percy took a deep breath as he saw Ms. Marvel step into the alleyway. Percy clenched his fists to start setting off explosions, only for Natalie to create a force field to protect them. "You can't stop this!" Percy shouted as he focused his powers on her. "I'm doing what has to be done!" "You've gone too far!" Natalie shouted. "First me, and now innocent people? What is wrong with you?" "You were an accident; you weren't supposed to get hurt!" Percy told her. "I was angry and I wanted revenge for all the bullying and torment I was getting at school! When I got my powers, all I could think of was getting even! I didn't mean for you to get hurt! So, I ran away, I tried to clear my head to think and... that's when I met someone. He helped me realize there was a bigger problem out there." "You mean like you?" Valeria asked as she aimed a plasma cannon at Percy, who created a counter explosion them rocked the alley and sent everyone flying. "People like The New Warriors, and The Young Avengers," Percy said with venom in his voice. "Younger heroes who think they have to right to police the world like the Avengers. It's people like you that create the bullies that create tormented kids like me." Percy focused on the fire escape Valeria stood on, causing it to break. Ms. Marvel caught Valeria in giant cupped hands as Percy took the chance to use an explosion to knock her unconscious. Valeria fell from her hands and hit the ground as Percy trapped her under some rubble. "Enough!" Natalie shouted as she created a force field around Valeria and Ms. Marvel. "Stop blaming other people for your problems! Yes, those kids shouldn't have bullied you, but killing them won't make you feel better! Attacking the heroes trying to protect the city won't help you, either! You're angry, I know and I wish I could have done something to make you feel safer, we both have these powers now. We need to use them to do good, not cause destruction." "No," Percy said. "He said we have to stop these threats before it's too late. Before they start attacking all of us." "Who?" Natalie asked as she calmly approached Percy. "Who have you been talking to?" Before she could say anything, a clawed hand struck her from behind. Natalie hit the ground as a large metal android shaped like a bear growled with glowing red eyes. He focused on Ms. Marvel, who had started to regain consciousness. "Oh, what fresh hell is this?" Ms. Marvel asked as she extended her arm to punch the android away. She broke Lyja and Spider-Girl free as their unconscious bodies fell over to the ground. The bear started to charge toward her when Ms. Marvel grabbed Valeria's plasma cannon and fired at the android, destroying it in a shower of parts. "Natalie?" Percy asked as he rushed over to his sister. "Are you okay? I didn't want her to get hurt again." "You need to calm down," Ms. Marvel said. "Your sister is going to be okay, but she's getting hurt because you keep trying to hurt people. Who sent the terminator teddy?" Percy remained too focused on Natalie as the tears fell down his face. "He lied to me. He's just like all the rest. It's not just people like you that need to be put down. It's all of you. And I'm going to start with him." As Ms. Marvel got closer, Percy created an explosion around himself. By the time the dust cleared, Percy was already long gone. "I have to go after him," Natalie said as the quartet got her to safety before anymore debris fell into the alleyway. "Before he kills someone. Percy's my responsibility." "Let us help you," Valeria told her. "Our team can find him." "No, I have to do this," Natalie said. "He'll just run if an entire team comes after him. I just need to talk to him, get him to see what he's doing. I can get him to come around, I know I can. Maybe after I talk him down, we'll figure out a solution together. But until then I just need to find my brother." Natalie started walking away as Lyja stopped Valeria from following. "Let her go for now. You'd do the same if it were Franklin out there." "Think she'll be okay?" Spider-Girl asked. "If she needs us, I have a feeling we'll hear from her again," Ms. Marvel said. "Well, the night's still young. Who's up for some Fortnight?" "Percy was a dead end. But I'm not done with him yet. He'll either join me or be destroyed along with the others. In the meantime, he's not the only one who can help me destroy The New Warriors. There are plenty of others out there that I can use to meet my agenda." Their attention turned to the video taken earlier of Josiah sitting by the campfire on the roof. "He looks young and stupid enough to help destroy the New Warriors." The Next Day "So, what is it that we're doing exactly?" Anya asked Kamala as they left Midtown High after school. "We're following Andy," Kamala told her. "To find out what his deal is." "I thought his deal is that he's an idiot." "I think it's an act," Kamala said. "He says he has a girlfriend, but I've never heard him talk about having one. He never talks about his life outside of the team. Aren't you the least bit curious?" "Not really, I mean he is kind of adorable, but we should let him have his privacy, you know?" "I know, but I at least want to know a little about him," Kamala said. "At least enough to make conversation. He seems to have a lot of walls built up; I just want to make sure he's not getting into trouble." "There he goes into that building," Arana said. "Wonder if that's where his girlfriend lives." "Well, let's find out which apartment he's in." Kamala said as they watched him use a key to go into an apartment, closing the door behind him. "I think we can see in through the fire escape." Arana told her as they headed back outside to see what Andy was doing. As they two peered through the window, what they saw shocked them. "Oh my God." TO BE CONTINUED... |