Back to GatefoldIssue #4 by John Cheese
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“TERMS AND CONDITIONS”
A yellow cat scampered across the fence, a bottle of ketchup carried in its mouth, a manic almost demented grin etched across its face before stopping, a cloud of dust kicked up as it came to a halt next to a very grumpy caterpillar. “Nyni sprej mrzuteho housenku s moji omackou” the cat snickered before drenching the caterpillar with the condiments.
“Uz Zase zluty kat” the caterpillar yelled as he got drenched as the cat fell off the fence and rolled on the floor laughing. Seconds later words in Czech begun scrolling across the screen as the Cat meowed, “Miluj mne nebo te zabiju jsem”. On the sofa three of the occupants turned to glare at the fourth who was singing along with the cat as it jumped from word to word.
“What the fuck was that?” Doyle asked as he took a sniff at the glass he was holding. “I swear that somebody laced my whisky with something.”
“That is Yellow Cat.” Daniels announced as he stopped singing to stare at his tall red headed team mate. “It’s a Czech cartoon about a crazy cat having strange unexplained adventures in a garden in Prague.”
“Thank god it’s over.” Andrea announced as she reached out with her powers and pulled the disc out of the player. “That was like an acid trip combined with the worst hangover I ever had and trust me I have had some stinkers.”
“Well good news guys.” Daniels announced as he took the disc and placed it in its case. “I have the second season ready for watching. Trust me it only gets better; the grumpapiller buys a car, kooky crow goes to rehab and Yellow Cat attempts to assassinate the President of France.”
“For the love of god.” Carr screamed from the end seat, “Cross do you hear me.” he yelled up to the camera mounted on the wall, “Give us anything and I mean anything else just don’t let us sit through another episode.” Looking around he saw Doyle crack open another case of whisky while Andrea got to her feet and slunk down towards the garage locking the door behind her. Rubbing his temples he head a familiar sound emanate from the TV. Turning around he saw Yellow Cat drinking a beer as the opening titles begun, it was too late and all Carr could do to lessen the coming pain was to scream.
# # # # #
Andrea had reached the garage when she heard the scream and winced in sympathetic pain before breathing a sigh of relief that she had escaped from Daniels and his strange obsession with the cartoon. Striding into the work space Andrea looked around at the team’s collection of cars ranging from a pair of Ferraris and a few flashy motorbikes to a beat up Landover Discovery that was currently seven foot off the ground, an armoured figure holding the heavy vehicle clear above his head. “You know Makro I could use that socket wrench as soon as possible.” Sneed yelled, “I don’t know how long the locking braces will hold this much tonnage.” Andrea looked across the room to where Makro was sorting through the assorted tools, the required socket wrench nowhere in sight.
“Sneed.” Andrea called as she clicked her fingers and lifted the Landover with her powers. “Are any of these ready to be taken out?” she asked waving a hand at the other vehicles, their metal chassis trembling as she pointed at them.
“The quads are good.” Sneed replied slipping out from the Landover’s shadow as Makro found the lost wrench and snaked a tentacle over to where the pair of them were standing.
“Thank you.” Andrea answered Sneed ignoring the tentacle. “Tell Cross that I’m going for a ride.” she added dropping the Discovery, the crash causing the vehicles axles to crack and release a torrent of sticky black fluid. Seconds later a quad bike rocketed out of the garage as Sneed turned to look at Makro and the extended tentacle. “Well that’s no use now.” he muttered as he removed his helmet and left the garage cursing under his breath. Makro shrugged and threw the socket wrench onto the leaking vehicle before crawling after him.
Lodestone braked as she reached the bottom of the estate owned by Crosshair Solutions; a company owned legally by Cross that answered internet queries while secretly infecting their customers computers with spy-wear; and dismounted her Quad Bike. As she stood bathed in the midday Texas sun Andrea looked back into her own dark past, thinking about Bazin, her former husband Paulo Costanza, King Bedlam and especially her son Jimmy. Crossfire promised that Paulo would beg her on his hands and knees for his life, something that she was not willing to grant him. That’s if Crossfire kept his word; Andrea still didn’t trust him, he was too much like Paulo to be trusted and it was that fact that gnawed away in the corner of her mind. Her mind shifted to Jimmy, she wasn’t the best mother, she knew that, but she would make sure he was safe from the monsters that haunted his life and hers. Her thoughts went out to Paradigm, how she had been reacted when he had been murdered and to Charcoal how she had felt when the brat had turned on her. The latter made a fire blossom in her brain, a lust for vengeance equal to what she felt for Paulo but she had promised Cross to keep it locked away, at least for the moment.
Rubbing her temple Andrea walked down towards a cluster of rocks she had arranged. One thing she had learnt about magnets was their use in mass driver canons such as those used for orbital construction to propel objects hundreds of miles from the launcher. Standing between the stones Andrea flooded the rocks with electro-magnetic energy that excited the iron in the rocks under the ground before exploding to the surface sending her skywards, the velocity of her travel causing the air around her to burn as she desperately tried to lock onto a target with enough magnetic ore before she left orbit. Selecting one she reversed polarity and plummeted, feet first before slamming through the tree line and into the earth below, a small impact crater blossoming out from her feet. Looking up Andrea saw a massive stone face staring down at her, its wise eyes never blinking, seconds later she realized that it was the statue of Christ the Redeemer and that she had landed on the outskirts of Rio de Jeniro. Cracking a grin Andrea removed a pair of bracers from her cut off jeans and slipped them over her arms, the solid light from the optical camouflage unit transforming her rocky skin into nubile tanned flesh. Heading out of the forest Andrea stepped into the crowd of tourists and vanished into the throng, just another American tourist on holiday.
What Andrea hadn’t seen was the man perched on Christ’s left shoulder, his form camouflaged by smart camouflage webbing, his hands wrapped around the sniper rifle, watching her landing and transformation. Tapping the headset he wore the watcher grimaced before telling the person on the other end. “This is O’Shay, we have visual on the target, she arrived just as you predicted. Do we have permission to engage?” The answer made O’Shay crack an evil smile; he was ready to start the hunt.
# # # # #
Crossfire sat in a bank of computers, each screen showing different images of a range of super-powered operatives. While he was more then satisfied with his team he knew injury and possibly even death would soon rear its ugly head, it defiantly wouldn’t hurt to have a back up team. Selecting a range of villains he spun the chair round to where Gillette sat blindfolded throwing knives at a picture of Namor the Submariner, the image slashed and ripped with a pair of Sais already embedded through his eyes.
“Gillette dear, tell me what would you do in my position?” Crossfire asked as Gillette picked up a selection of razor tipped throwing discs.
“Move to the left.” Gillette instructed as she threw the disc, the razor edged projectile just missing Cross’s face before embedding in Namor’s throat. “You’re already looking for a new team. It’s a sound idea but I would suggest that you don’t tell the others.”
“They don’t worry me.” Cross replied, “Look at those idiots for god’s sake.” Gillette removed the blindfold and looked at the screens. Spear, Chemistro and the Mauler were watching TV while Makro and Shockwave were raising a Land Rover onto some blocks to inspect the underside. “Boss Lodestone is missing.” Gillette announced before walking over to the wall and removing her weapons.
“What?” Crossfire bellowed, “Find me that witch, if she compromises us in any way then I’ll rip her son’s head off before locking her in a kiln and watching as she melts into a pile of slag. When you find her tell me, I’ll be in the field finding us a suitable replacement.” Gillette bowed her head as Crossfire stalked out of his office, while she and Andrea had openly competed to be the group’s alpha female she didn’t deserve that fate.
# # # # #
Andrea sat on a stool at one of the many beach bars sipping down the mohito she had brought with the money she had ‘borrowed’ from the general populous, surely nobody would miss the coins she had attracted to her simply by walking down the street. There was an almost constant stream of news stories playing on the bar’s TV but Andrea ignored them, at least the boring ones; the only one that concerned her was the one about an apparent satellite crash near the statue of Christ, at least it was until she saw a familiar face appear on the screen.
“So Senior Costanza we understand that you have decided to move forward with your plans to renovate the Costa Verde Favela and build and entertainment complex.” the Reporter asked as Paulo Costanza smiled for the cameras, his bodyguards standing on the edge of the screen.
“Yes Carla I have, today I will allow my son the honour to press the button and watch as progress is made right before his and everybody else’s eyes.” Paulo announced as the camera panned down to were Jimmy stood. Not that anybody in the bar was paying attention, they were more worried by the whirlwind of shrapnel that surrounded Andrea her eyes flashing purple as her skin rippled to reveal gleaming black stone underneath.
“Where is the favela?” she snarled at the bar-tender, the unfortunate man ducking under a wave of magnetized cutlery that was repelled away from the angry patron.
“It’s twenty kilometres north west of here.” the bar-tender yammered his hand reaching for the pistol under the desk. Lodestone smiled and a wave of coins rained down around her informant. “For your troubles.” she hissed, her face contorted into a look of pure fury before levitating off the ground and flying north west, a purple winged falcon heading for her nest. On the roof of one of the hotels opposite the bar O’Shay collapsed his rifle and slipped on the thruster pack his employer had provided. Lodestone was moving in for the kill, only what she didn’t know was that she wasn’t the predator, she was the prey.
After five minutes flight time Andrea landed in the dilapidated streets of the Costa Verde Favela, the buildings reminded her of the shelter she had lived in, not more then a few months ago. She felt a twinge of sorrow for the people her, even more so because she had a habit of making a mess when she killed people. Silently she made a reminder that she should donate some of her next pay-check to a homeless charity, that’s if Crossfire didn’t kill her for what she was about to do. Looking around she saw two black suited goons following Paulo and Jimmy around the site, seemingly unaware that this was a very bad neighbourhood. Dropping down Andrea balled her fists and ran at the group, diving past the security and into Jimmy grabbing him and pulling him into one of the lean to structures.
“Jimmy stay here and keep your eyes closed.” Andrea ordered, “Mummy is just going to talk too…” she stopped as her son flickered and disappeared. It was obvious what had happened, somebody had tricked her, turning she glared at Paulo only to see him and the guards disappear as well. “Listen whoever you are.” Andrea yelled as she emerged from the hut into the street. “I am not in a good mood, leave now and I may not rip your spines out.” She was quickly answered as the houses around her exploded with a wave of light so blinding that her vision burnt out and noise so powerful that it made her ears bleed. From up-ahead a dark shape lunged towards her, the sound of talons screeching across stone barley registering as Lodestone reached out and attempted to swat her attacker away, the counter attack failing as a second swipe slashed across her face. Blindly Lodestone propelled herself through her attacker and crashed into the tin sheeting of the building opposite her. Groping around she found a ladder and climbed, shaking her head as her vision begun to restore, the ocean of derelict buildings fading into view while her attacker remained hidden.
“Okay don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Lodestone snapped as she continued to search for her assailant. Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement and leapt to the next building as a bolas flew past, the ball and chain shattering on the roof where she had just been. Andrea looked to where the thrower had been and saw a second projectile come her way, concentrating on the weapon she flinched, the bolas was unaffected and Andrea quickly ripped up a metal sheet to shield herself before ripping the tin into foot long splinters and sending her own projectiles back to the hidden marksman. She never knew if she hit her target as another attacker emerged gracefully flipping onto the roof. Andrea eyed up her foe, she was clearly female, the black cat suit didn’t hide that and judging from the ceramic claws and tinted glasses stained with grey blood she had been the first attacker.
“Okay Black Cat Girl.” Andrea announced, “Tell me who sent you and I’ll leave you with at least one life.” The woman just cocked her head and suddenly Lodestone felt something wrap around her neck. “Don’t worry love.” a male South African accented voice replied, “You’ll see the boss soon enough.” Struggling Lodestone focused on the remains of the roof and sent them sliding to the floor. The cat woman leapt to the next roof but the South African slid off dragging her down with him onto the rough ground. Groaning Andrea got to her feet as her opponent did the same, in his case using a long gnarled staff, a weapon that looked like it was made of bone. Andrea noticed the trend, bolas man had used non metallic weapons as had cat girl and now the bush-ranger, judging from his clothes, was following suit a clear sign that they had been sent hunting with somebody like her in mind. Turning to run Andrea skirted into a nearby alley protected by a chain link fence, all she needed was a place to regroup but before she reached her sanctuary the South African had leapt over her head sprung off the wall and was now flying directly towards her head. Ducking Andrea felt something cold and metallic slam the back of her skull and reached out catching the jumping man in mid air before pulling back with her powers, his legs ripping away from his body while his torso slumped to the floor.
“That will show you.” Lodestone bragged unaware of the bolas heading towards her, with a thump she hit the floor wrapped up in the hunting device and struggling to escape. Looking up she saw a man in ballistic armor land on the roof, his flight propelled by what looked to be a jet-pack as he readied a sniper rifle. Pulling the trigger the marksman fired a dart, its steel tip gleaming in the sun as it flew towards its bound target. Concentrating Andrea diverted the dart with her mind as she glared at the shooter, using his own jet-pack to fling him off the roof as the dart sliced through the cable and into her cheek. Removing the dart Lodestone hovered into a standing position as the Cat Woman re-emerged from the roof and leapt onto the next tin topped surface, Andrea’s gaze following her. Lodestone suddenly remembered what had happened last time and turned just in time to see a Hispanic man dressed in a poncho and baggy jeans launch another bolas. Reaching out with her powers Andrea found the dart and fired it back, the needle sharp weapon slicing through the cable and embedding in the bolas thrower’s arm, the force sending him collapsing through a tarpaulin covered window and into the house behind him.
“Is that it?” Lodestone yelled up at the cat woman even though she was beginning to feel queasy. Her cries were answered as the thruster pack man slammed into her from behind. Andrea was beginning to feel drained, she hadn’t felt this bad since Charcoal had burnt her armor and depowered her, that fear blossomed into strength and she slammed her palm into her attacker, the blast sending him flying away. Above her the feline attacker sprung onto her shoulders throwing her to the floor before digging the claws on her left hand into Andrea’s face causing her to scream in agony as she reached out and ripped her attacker’s mask off before throwing her clear. Andrea knew she had seen that face before but couldn’t remember where as the thruster-pack attacker slammed his boot onto her neck and extended a knife from his armor before jabbing it into her temple. Shakily Andrea crawled a good five feet away from the two hunters before collapsing, as her eyes closed she felt somebody pick her up before being thrown into the boot of a car. After that she didn’t hear anything else.
# # # # #
Crossfire stalked into the meeting room his fury magnified with every step he took, and while his teammates didn’t look nervous he could sense some kind of unease in the room. “As you know Lodestone has gone AWOL.” he announced, “If anybody can tell me where she’s gone I would be most grateful.”
“She went out.” Shockwave replied, “Took a quad from the garage about an hour ago.”
“And did she say where she was going.” Crossfire asked his voice dripping with venom. Shockwave shook his head and Crossfire cracked his knuckles, something he found annoying but also strangely addictive, and glared at the other mercenaries in the room. Behind him Gillette walked in twirling a set of ignition keys in one hand and clutching a data pad in the other.
“I found her.” she purred handing Cross the pad, “She’s in Brazil, the local authorities reported a satellite crash in Rio followed by the partial destruction of a favela that they were in the process of clearing thanks to aid money donated by Baintronics. Apparently she also destroyed a beach bar after seeing this news report.” she added taping the pad’s screen and playing a YouTube clip. Narrowing his remaining eye he tapped the screen himself and stripped the video down before handing the device back to the Headhunter.
“The footage is a fake.” Cross announced, “A good one but still defiantly a fake.”
“So are we heading out on a rescue mission then?” Daniels asked tentatively.
“No I only hire smart people, Lodestone revealed her idiocy when she chased down the footage. I already have a replacement for her, a former HYDRA spec ops operative who goes by the handle Jaguar, he currently resides at one of their facilities on the Colombian-Venezuelan Border. We are going to recruit him into the fold, his natural stealth, advanced close combat and marksmanship skills will boost our range of abilities. We dust off in five minutes anybody who is not on board will be dismissed after the current mission is completed.” Crossfire snarled before stalking back into the halls leaving the others behind.
“Somebody needs to switch to De-Caf.” Daniels snorted, “Can’t believe he already has a replacement for Andrea.”
“You should.” Gillette replied sternly, “I’ve seen the lists; we are all disposable in his plans.”
“This Jaguar guy.” Daniels started, “His skills are already in the group, you don’t think he’s going to faze some of us out.”
“I don’t know what to think.” Sneed told him, “But I have a theory and I just prey that I am right.”
Andrea opened her eyes to see the band of hunters staring at her as she lay strapped to a gurney in a cold metallic room. Angrily she twisted her hands and reached out hoping to rip the floor up and crush her captors before making her escape but as she strained the metal didn’t even budge filling her mind with dread.
“Sit still.” one of the hunters ordered as he levelled a pistol at her head, “We don’t need you bringing the bosses plane down so just sit back eat you’re peanuts and enjoy the in-flight movie.” he added turning on a TV screen that hung down from the ceiling. Andrea recognized the frail looking man who appeared on the screen as Baron von Blitzschlag, the doctor responsible for repowering her only a few months ago. She suddenly realized where she had seen the cat suited huntress before, at the time she had been operating as the Baron’s chauffer, obviously a cover for a bodyguard considering the skills she had shown off back in the Favela.
“Ms. Costanza so we meet again.” the Baron announced, “I hope you didn’t give O’Shay and his men to much trouble they are only trying to make a decent living just like yourself and the mercenary crew that you work for.”
“Why have you captured me?” Andrea snarled, “If it was for more surgery you would have just called.”
“You forget that you owe me a favour for you restoration. You might even say that I designed you for the very mission that you are about to embark on. If you refuse I will find another but I’m afraid that you would be terminated. The power inhibitor collar around you’re neck appears to work and I am fairly confident that without you’re powers you wouldn’t survive a fall from the plane.”
“What do you want me to do?” Andrea sighed, tightly balling her fists.
“There is a lab in Colombia where I was growing a special commission for a friend. Unfortunately the security I had posted was overrun by a militia group and they are now holding all the projects and staff inside for a ransom. What I want you to do is to deliver the box you see held by my associate,” he told her gesturing to the box that the Gaucho was clutching, “and give it to their leader Apaec. Once he has the contents he has agreed to release the complex back into my care and if he doesn’t then you have authority to terminate you. And just in case you feel like emulating Pandora I would inform you that the box is constructed out of plastic and that the seals will only unlock when activated by his biometrics.”
“And once delivery is made we are square, you won’t ask anything from me again?” Andrea asked as O’Shay and the Cat Woman kicked a cut sheath of metal next to the door.
“You have my word.” Blitzschlag answered as the Gaucho cut Andrea’s restraints and removed the collar. Shooting him a glare Andrea took the case from the mercenary and walked over to the door as the guards retreated towards the cockpit of the plane and slid a shutter across the fuselage. Pulling the door open with her powers Andrea felt the pressure snatch her and the metal platform she was standing on out of the plane sending them tumbling down towards the ocean of green stretched down below her. Up above as an automatic barrier rose to seal the plane’s fuselage Blitzschlag smiled, “Then again what use is a single word these days.”
Andrea groaned as she shredded the metal plate she had been attached to before sending the splinters rocketing through the jungle. Right now she hated Blitzschlag more then Basin or her former husband, her power lay over metal and she knew that despite what the numerous mining companies had thought there was not enough minerals for her to fight the various threats concealed in the green hell she had just crashed into. Not only would the wildlife be a problem but there would be paramilitary groups, angry indigenous tribes and less then accepting logging firms in the Amazon. Pulling herself up onto her feet Andrea ran her hand through the air before feeling something metal hum and vibrate near her. Gently she dragged it forward only to find an AK47 emerge from the brush still attached to its owner’s hand. As she dropped the weapon she felt more metallic objects move towards her and looked around to see at least nine other men all holding assault weapons and dressed in camouflage cloaks and trousers, their chests bare save for the large spider tattooed across their well built torsos. Levitating the box that the Baron had given her Lodestone watched as the militants lowered their weapons.
“Apaec’s men by any chance?” she asked. The militants looked at each other before another figure emerged from the brush. Unlike the others he was dressed in green power armor, the shoulders emblazoned with the Hydra Skull and Tentacles crossed with the same spider tattooed on his ally’s chests.
“You are the courier our supplier hired.” the armoured figure stated, “Excuse them they don’t speak any English, the majority don’t even know Spanish or Portuguese. As for myself I am Ramon de Rico but I’m known professionally as the Jaguar.”
“I know a Hydra agent when I see one.” Lodestone replied coldly, “I assume you can take this the rest of the way?”
“No I’m afraid not, Lord Apaec would not be pleased with that.” Ramon answered, “I have seen him when he is angry. When he is he becomes a bit of an animal.” Andrea smiled before resting the box in her hand. “So then take me to you’re leader.”
# # # # #
After hours walking Ramon led the party into a clearing, the space was wide enough to dwarf the two battered Mi-24s that stood at one end and even the overgrown lab that had formally belonged to von Blitzschlag looked tiny. Andrea suspected it was large enough to land the plane that had ferried her out of Rio and it was simply because the Baron’s men were afraid of what ever lurked down in the forest that they hadn’t come themselves. That said the forest had become stranger the closer the party had got to the clearing, for one thing Andrea had noticed that the spiders in this part were large, bigger then tarantulas, most were the size of a spaniel but there had been one or two that if they had chosen made a meal out of her.
“So where is the boss man?” Andrea asked as Ramon and the others sat her down on a ripped off plate from an armoured car.
“He will be here soon.” Ramon replied as he backed away into the lab followed by his troops. Looking around nervously Andrea saw one of the most handsome men she had ever seen emerge from one of the tents, his torso rippling with bronze skin, his features formed perfectly. If he was not a god then he was as close as a mortal came to being divine, Andrea blushed not noticing the plate distorting and warping under her.
“Greetings I am Apaec.” the man said, his accent adding to the sheer hotness he already processed. “You are the Lodestone that my benefactor promised to send.”
“Uh yes I have you’re box.” Andrea said holding out the box for Apaec. Her contact smiled and removed it before opening the lid and pulling out a small bottle of what looked like Vodka.
“Ah just what he promised.” Apaec purred, “Come drink with me on the peaceful resolution of our predicament.”
“I can’t believe it, Blitzschlag sent me out as his own glorified waitress.” Andrea roared, “No offence but I have an ancient Nazi to crush, my god I feel like such an idiot.” As she got up Apaec grabbed her arm, his grip amazingly firm, enough that she could feel the pressure under her armoured skin. “Please stay.” he offered. Angrily Andrea slammed him backwards before levitating the plate of metal and flinging it at him. With a swift punch Apaec knocked it away and put the bottle back in the box before stepping forward his beautiful face twisted in rage. “Nobody denies me my prize.” he roared as he strode forward. Andrea huffed before ripping chunks of the lab off and pelting them at her host, the majority bouncing off with little effect as he advanced on her.
“I am not a prize, I have no idea what you and Blitzschlag are up to but I don’t want to be any part of it.” Lodestone bellowed before levitating both the Mi-24s and dragging them across the ground and slamming the first into Apaec pinning him under the wreckage before angrily adding the second onto the heap crushing her host under several tons of soviet helicopter. “And now we see who really has power.” Andrea purred before turning to walk away from the carnage. Behind her one of the helicopters creaked and she turned to look back at her masterpiece only to see both the hellos get flung to opposite sides of the clearing as Apaec emerged, his good looks gone replaced by a hideous visage. Standing on a spider’s body was a man’s torso and head, the later supporting serpents for hair and massive fangs. “I am Apaec and by my divine right you shall belong to me.” the god roared before spraying a jet of webbing at Lodestone. Concentrating Andrea ripped part of the rotor off the nearest Mi-24 and slashed through the projectile and the follow up streams of webbing as she continued to back off towards the trees.
“And to think I found you attractive.” Andrea shuddered, “And for the record it’s defiantly you and not Me.” she added as Apaec scuttled towards her before leaping the final thirty feet to knock her to the floor. Struggling she felt the spider deity pick her up so she could look him in his human eyes. Yawning he detached his lower jaw and bit into her neck as she flailed around powerlessly, her abilities forgotten in this brutal moment of survival. As the fang drilled through the armor on her neck Andrea watched as drops of venom ran down the length of the tooth and into her body causing her to hallucinate as Apaec dropped her. Desperately she crawled away onto the feel Apaec drag her backwards towards his spider like body, two of the smaller legs poised as she was flipped over. With a few swift jabs Apaec breached her armor and extended one of the tiny legs into her womb just as Andrea blacked out the Spider God’s last words echoing around her head as she drifted into unconsciousness.
“You should feel honoured that the Baron chose you to be my mate. Thanks to you a new dynasty will be born, one that will reclaim the world in the name of Ai Apaec.”
TO BE CONTINUED...
“Uz Zase zluty kat” the caterpillar yelled as he got drenched as the cat fell off the fence and rolled on the floor laughing. Seconds later words in Czech begun scrolling across the screen as the Cat meowed, “Miluj mne nebo te zabiju jsem”. On the sofa three of the occupants turned to glare at the fourth who was singing along with the cat as it jumped from word to word.
“What the fuck was that?” Doyle asked as he took a sniff at the glass he was holding. “I swear that somebody laced my whisky with something.”
“That is Yellow Cat.” Daniels announced as he stopped singing to stare at his tall red headed team mate. “It’s a Czech cartoon about a crazy cat having strange unexplained adventures in a garden in Prague.”
“Thank god it’s over.” Andrea announced as she reached out with her powers and pulled the disc out of the player. “That was like an acid trip combined with the worst hangover I ever had and trust me I have had some stinkers.”
“Well good news guys.” Daniels announced as he took the disc and placed it in its case. “I have the second season ready for watching. Trust me it only gets better; the grumpapiller buys a car, kooky crow goes to rehab and Yellow Cat attempts to assassinate the President of France.”
“For the love of god.” Carr screamed from the end seat, “Cross do you hear me.” he yelled up to the camera mounted on the wall, “Give us anything and I mean anything else just don’t let us sit through another episode.” Looking around he saw Doyle crack open another case of whisky while Andrea got to her feet and slunk down towards the garage locking the door behind her. Rubbing his temples he head a familiar sound emanate from the TV. Turning around he saw Yellow Cat drinking a beer as the opening titles begun, it was too late and all Carr could do to lessen the coming pain was to scream.
# # # # #
Andrea had reached the garage when she heard the scream and winced in sympathetic pain before breathing a sigh of relief that she had escaped from Daniels and his strange obsession with the cartoon. Striding into the work space Andrea looked around at the team’s collection of cars ranging from a pair of Ferraris and a few flashy motorbikes to a beat up Landover Discovery that was currently seven foot off the ground, an armoured figure holding the heavy vehicle clear above his head. “You know Makro I could use that socket wrench as soon as possible.” Sneed yelled, “I don’t know how long the locking braces will hold this much tonnage.” Andrea looked across the room to where Makro was sorting through the assorted tools, the required socket wrench nowhere in sight.
“Sneed.” Andrea called as she clicked her fingers and lifted the Landover with her powers. “Are any of these ready to be taken out?” she asked waving a hand at the other vehicles, their metal chassis trembling as she pointed at them.
“The quads are good.” Sneed replied slipping out from the Landover’s shadow as Makro found the lost wrench and snaked a tentacle over to where the pair of them were standing.
“Thank you.” Andrea answered Sneed ignoring the tentacle. “Tell Cross that I’m going for a ride.” she added dropping the Discovery, the crash causing the vehicles axles to crack and release a torrent of sticky black fluid. Seconds later a quad bike rocketed out of the garage as Sneed turned to look at Makro and the extended tentacle. “Well that’s no use now.” he muttered as he removed his helmet and left the garage cursing under his breath. Makro shrugged and threw the socket wrench onto the leaking vehicle before crawling after him.
Lodestone braked as she reached the bottom of the estate owned by Crosshair Solutions; a company owned legally by Cross that answered internet queries while secretly infecting their customers computers with spy-wear; and dismounted her Quad Bike. As she stood bathed in the midday Texas sun Andrea looked back into her own dark past, thinking about Bazin, her former husband Paulo Costanza, King Bedlam and especially her son Jimmy. Crossfire promised that Paulo would beg her on his hands and knees for his life, something that she was not willing to grant him. That’s if Crossfire kept his word; Andrea still didn’t trust him, he was too much like Paulo to be trusted and it was that fact that gnawed away in the corner of her mind. Her mind shifted to Jimmy, she wasn’t the best mother, she knew that, but she would make sure he was safe from the monsters that haunted his life and hers. Her thoughts went out to Paradigm, how she had been reacted when he had been murdered and to Charcoal how she had felt when the brat had turned on her. The latter made a fire blossom in her brain, a lust for vengeance equal to what she felt for Paulo but she had promised Cross to keep it locked away, at least for the moment.
Rubbing her temple Andrea walked down towards a cluster of rocks she had arranged. One thing she had learnt about magnets was their use in mass driver canons such as those used for orbital construction to propel objects hundreds of miles from the launcher. Standing between the stones Andrea flooded the rocks with electro-magnetic energy that excited the iron in the rocks under the ground before exploding to the surface sending her skywards, the velocity of her travel causing the air around her to burn as she desperately tried to lock onto a target with enough magnetic ore before she left orbit. Selecting one she reversed polarity and plummeted, feet first before slamming through the tree line and into the earth below, a small impact crater blossoming out from her feet. Looking up Andrea saw a massive stone face staring down at her, its wise eyes never blinking, seconds later she realized that it was the statue of Christ the Redeemer and that she had landed on the outskirts of Rio de Jeniro. Cracking a grin Andrea removed a pair of bracers from her cut off jeans and slipped them over her arms, the solid light from the optical camouflage unit transforming her rocky skin into nubile tanned flesh. Heading out of the forest Andrea stepped into the crowd of tourists and vanished into the throng, just another American tourist on holiday.
What Andrea hadn’t seen was the man perched on Christ’s left shoulder, his form camouflaged by smart camouflage webbing, his hands wrapped around the sniper rifle, watching her landing and transformation. Tapping the headset he wore the watcher grimaced before telling the person on the other end. “This is O’Shay, we have visual on the target, she arrived just as you predicted. Do we have permission to engage?” The answer made O’Shay crack an evil smile; he was ready to start the hunt.
# # # # #
Crossfire sat in a bank of computers, each screen showing different images of a range of super-powered operatives. While he was more then satisfied with his team he knew injury and possibly even death would soon rear its ugly head, it defiantly wouldn’t hurt to have a back up team. Selecting a range of villains he spun the chair round to where Gillette sat blindfolded throwing knives at a picture of Namor the Submariner, the image slashed and ripped with a pair of Sais already embedded through his eyes.
“Gillette dear, tell me what would you do in my position?” Crossfire asked as Gillette picked up a selection of razor tipped throwing discs.
“Move to the left.” Gillette instructed as she threw the disc, the razor edged projectile just missing Cross’s face before embedding in Namor’s throat. “You’re already looking for a new team. It’s a sound idea but I would suggest that you don’t tell the others.”
“They don’t worry me.” Cross replied, “Look at those idiots for god’s sake.” Gillette removed the blindfold and looked at the screens. Spear, Chemistro and the Mauler were watching TV while Makro and Shockwave were raising a Land Rover onto some blocks to inspect the underside. “Boss Lodestone is missing.” Gillette announced before walking over to the wall and removing her weapons.
“What?” Crossfire bellowed, “Find me that witch, if she compromises us in any way then I’ll rip her son’s head off before locking her in a kiln and watching as she melts into a pile of slag. When you find her tell me, I’ll be in the field finding us a suitable replacement.” Gillette bowed her head as Crossfire stalked out of his office, while she and Andrea had openly competed to be the group’s alpha female she didn’t deserve that fate.
# # # # #
Andrea sat on a stool at one of the many beach bars sipping down the mohito she had brought with the money she had ‘borrowed’ from the general populous, surely nobody would miss the coins she had attracted to her simply by walking down the street. There was an almost constant stream of news stories playing on the bar’s TV but Andrea ignored them, at least the boring ones; the only one that concerned her was the one about an apparent satellite crash near the statue of Christ, at least it was until she saw a familiar face appear on the screen.
“So Senior Costanza we understand that you have decided to move forward with your plans to renovate the Costa Verde Favela and build and entertainment complex.” the Reporter asked as Paulo Costanza smiled for the cameras, his bodyguards standing on the edge of the screen.
“Yes Carla I have, today I will allow my son the honour to press the button and watch as progress is made right before his and everybody else’s eyes.” Paulo announced as the camera panned down to were Jimmy stood. Not that anybody in the bar was paying attention, they were more worried by the whirlwind of shrapnel that surrounded Andrea her eyes flashing purple as her skin rippled to reveal gleaming black stone underneath.
“Where is the favela?” she snarled at the bar-tender, the unfortunate man ducking under a wave of magnetized cutlery that was repelled away from the angry patron.
“It’s twenty kilometres north west of here.” the bar-tender yammered his hand reaching for the pistol under the desk. Lodestone smiled and a wave of coins rained down around her informant. “For your troubles.” she hissed, her face contorted into a look of pure fury before levitating off the ground and flying north west, a purple winged falcon heading for her nest. On the roof of one of the hotels opposite the bar O’Shay collapsed his rifle and slipped on the thruster pack his employer had provided. Lodestone was moving in for the kill, only what she didn’t know was that she wasn’t the predator, she was the prey.
After five minutes flight time Andrea landed in the dilapidated streets of the Costa Verde Favela, the buildings reminded her of the shelter she had lived in, not more then a few months ago. She felt a twinge of sorrow for the people her, even more so because she had a habit of making a mess when she killed people. Silently she made a reminder that she should donate some of her next pay-check to a homeless charity, that’s if Crossfire didn’t kill her for what she was about to do. Looking around she saw two black suited goons following Paulo and Jimmy around the site, seemingly unaware that this was a very bad neighbourhood. Dropping down Andrea balled her fists and ran at the group, diving past the security and into Jimmy grabbing him and pulling him into one of the lean to structures.
“Jimmy stay here and keep your eyes closed.” Andrea ordered, “Mummy is just going to talk too…” she stopped as her son flickered and disappeared. It was obvious what had happened, somebody had tricked her, turning she glared at Paulo only to see him and the guards disappear as well. “Listen whoever you are.” Andrea yelled as she emerged from the hut into the street. “I am not in a good mood, leave now and I may not rip your spines out.” She was quickly answered as the houses around her exploded with a wave of light so blinding that her vision burnt out and noise so powerful that it made her ears bleed. From up-ahead a dark shape lunged towards her, the sound of talons screeching across stone barley registering as Lodestone reached out and attempted to swat her attacker away, the counter attack failing as a second swipe slashed across her face. Blindly Lodestone propelled herself through her attacker and crashed into the tin sheeting of the building opposite her. Groping around she found a ladder and climbed, shaking her head as her vision begun to restore, the ocean of derelict buildings fading into view while her attacker remained hidden.
“Okay don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Lodestone snapped as she continued to search for her assailant. Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement and leapt to the next building as a bolas flew past, the ball and chain shattering on the roof where she had just been. Andrea looked to where the thrower had been and saw a second projectile come her way, concentrating on the weapon she flinched, the bolas was unaffected and Andrea quickly ripped up a metal sheet to shield herself before ripping the tin into foot long splinters and sending her own projectiles back to the hidden marksman. She never knew if she hit her target as another attacker emerged gracefully flipping onto the roof. Andrea eyed up her foe, she was clearly female, the black cat suit didn’t hide that and judging from the ceramic claws and tinted glasses stained with grey blood she had been the first attacker.
“Okay Black Cat Girl.” Andrea announced, “Tell me who sent you and I’ll leave you with at least one life.” The woman just cocked her head and suddenly Lodestone felt something wrap around her neck. “Don’t worry love.” a male South African accented voice replied, “You’ll see the boss soon enough.” Struggling Lodestone focused on the remains of the roof and sent them sliding to the floor. The cat woman leapt to the next roof but the South African slid off dragging her down with him onto the rough ground. Groaning Andrea got to her feet as her opponent did the same, in his case using a long gnarled staff, a weapon that looked like it was made of bone. Andrea noticed the trend, bolas man had used non metallic weapons as had cat girl and now the bush-ranger, judging from his clothes, was following suit a clear sign that they had been sent hunting with somebody like her in mind. Turning to run Andrea skirted into a nearby alley protected by a chain link fence, all she needed was a place to regroup but before she reached her sanctuary the South African had leapt over her head sprung off the wall and was now flying directly towards her head. Ducking Andrea felt something cold and metallic slam the back of her skull and reached out catching the jumping man in mid air before pulling back with her powers, his legs ripping away from his body while his torso slumped to the floor.
“That will show you.” Lodestone bragged unaware of the bolas heading towards her, with a thump she hit the floor wrapped up in the hunting device and struggling to escape. Looking up she saw a man in ballistic armor land on the roof, his flight propelled by what looked to be a jet-pack as he readied a sniper rifle. Pulling the trigger the marksman fired a dart, its steel tip gleaming in the sun as it flew towards its bound target. Concentrating Andrea diverted the dart with her mind as she glared at the shooter, using his own jet-pack to fling him off the roof as the dart sliced through the cable and into her cheek. Removing the dart Lodestone hovered into a standing position as the Cat Woman re-emerged from the roof and leapt onto the next tin topped surface, Andrea’s gaze following her. Lodestone suddenly remembered what had happened last time and turned just in time to see a Hispanic man dressed in a poncho and baggy jeans launch another bolas. Reaching out with her powers Andrea found the dart and fired it back, the needle sharp weapon slicing through the cable and embedding in the bolas thrower’s arm, the force sending him collapsing through a tarpaulin covered window and into the house behind him.
“Is that it?” Lodestone yelled up at the cat woman even though she was beginning to feel queasy. Her cries were answered as the thruster pack man slammed into her from behind. Andrea was beginning to feel drained, she hadn’t felt this bad since Charcoal had burnt her armor and depowered her, that fear blossomed into strength and she slammed her palm into her attacker, the blast sending him flying away. Above her the feline attacker sprung onto her shoulders throwing her to the floor before digging the claws on her left hand into Andrea’s face causing her to scream in agony as she reached out and ripped her attacker’s mask off before throwing her clear. Andrea knew she had seen that face before but couldn’t remember where as the thruster-pack attacker slammed his boot onto her neck and extended a knife from his armor before jabbing it into her temple. Shakily Andrea crawled a good five feet away from the two hunters before collapsing, as her eyes closed she felt somebody pick her up before being thrown into the boot of a car. After that she didn’t hear anything else.
# # # # #
Crossfire stalked into the meeting room his fury magnified with every step he took, and while his teammates didn’t look nervous he could sense some kind of unease in the room. “As you know Lodestone has gone AWOL.” he announced, “If anybody can tell me where she’s gone I would be most grateful.”
“She went out.” Shockwave replied, “Took a quad from the garage about an hour ago.”
“And did she say where she was going.” Crossfire asked his voice dripping with venom. Shockwave shook his head and Crossfire cracked his knuckles, something he found annoying but also strangely addictive, and glared at the other mercenaries in the room. Behind him Gillette walked in twirling a set of ignition keys in one hand and clutching a data pad in the other.
“I found her.” she purred handing Cross the pad, “She’s in Brazil, the local authorities reported a satellite crash in Rio followed by the partial destruction of a favela that they were in the process of clearing thanks to aid money donated by Baintronics. Apparently she also destroyed a beach bar after seeing this news report.” she added taping the pad’s screen and playing a YouTube clip. Narrowing his remaining eye he tapped the screen himself and stripped the video down before handing the device back to the Headhunter.
“The footage is a fake.” Cross announced, “A good one but still defiantly a fake.”
“So are we heading out on a rescue mission then?” Daniels asked tentatively.
“No I only hire smart people, Lodestone revealed her idiocy when she chased down the footage. I already have a replacement for her, a former HYDRA spec ops operative who goes by the handle Jaguar, he currently resides at one of their facilities on the Colombian-Venezuelan Border. We are going to recruit him into the fold, his natural stealth, advanced close combat and marksmanship skills will boost our range of abilities. We dust off in five minutes anybody who is not on board will be dismissed after the current mission is completed.” Crossfire snarled before stalking back into the halls leaving the others behind.
“Somebody needs to switch to De-Caf.” Daniels snorted, “Can’t believe he already has a replacement for Andrea.”
“You should.” Gillette replied sternly, “I’ve seen the lists; we are all disposable in his plans.”
“This Jaguar guy.” Daniels started, “His skills are already in the group, you don’t think he’s going to faze some of us out.”
“I don’t know what to think.” Sneed told him, “But I have a theory and I just prey that I am right.”
Andrea opened her eyes to see the band of hunters staring at her as she lay strapped to a gurney in a cold metallic room. Angrily she twisted her hands and reached out hoping to rip the floor up and crush her captors before making her escape but as she strained the metal didn’t even budge filling her mind with dread.
“Sit still.” one of the hunters ordered as he levelled a pistol at her head, “We don’t need you bringing the bosses plane down so just sit back eat you’re peanuts and enjoy the in-flight movie.” he added turning on a TV screen that hung down from the ceiling. Andrea recognized the frail looking man who appeared on the screen as Baron von Blitzschlag, the doctor responsible for repowering her only a few months ago. She suddenly realized where she had seen the cat suited huntress before, at the time she had been operating as the Baron’s chauffer, obviously a cover for a bodyguard considering the skills she had shown off back in the Favela.
“Ms. Costanza so we meet again.” the Baron announced, “I hope you didn’t give O’Shay and his men to much trouble they are only trying to make a decent living just like yourself and the mercenary crew that you work for.”
“Why have you captured me?” Andrea snarled, “If it was for more surgery you would have just called.”
“You forget that you owe me a favour for you restoration. You might even say that I designed you for the very mission that you are about to embark on. If you refuse I will find another but I’m afraid that you would be terminated. The power inhibitor collar around you’re neck appears to work and I am fairly confident that without you’re powers you wouldn’t survive a fall from the plane.”
“What do you want me to do?” Andrea sighed, tightly balling her fists.
“There is a lab in Colombia where I was growing a special commission for a friend. Unfortunately the security I had posted was overrun by a militia group and they are now holding all the projects and staff inside for a ransom. What I want you to do is to deliver the box you see held by my associate,” he told her gesturing to the box that the Gaucho was clutching, “and give it to their leader Apaec. Once he has the contents he has agreed to release the complex back into my care and if he doesn’t then you have authority to terminate you. And just in case you feel like emulating Pandora I would inform you that the box is constructed out of plastic and that the seals will only unlock when activated by his biometrics.”
“And once delivery is made we are square, you won’t ask anything from me again?” Andrea asked as O’Shay and the Cat Woman kicked a cut sheath of metal next to the door.
“You have my word.” Blitzschlag answered as the Gaucho cut Andrea’s restraints and removed the collar. Shooting him a glare Andrea took the case from the mercenary and walked over to the door as the guards retreated towards the cockpit of the plane and slid a shutter across the fuselage. Pulling the door open with her powers Andrea felt the pressure snatch her and the metal platform she was standing on out of the plane sending them tumbling down towards the ocean of green stretched down below her. Up above as an automatic barrier rose to seal the plane’s fuselage Blitzschlag smiled, “Then again what use is a single word these days.”
Andrea groaned as she shredded the metal plate she had been attached to before sending the splinters rocketing through the jungle. Right now she hated Blitzschlag more then Basin or her former husband, her power lay over metal and she knew that despite what the numerous mining companies had thought there was not enough minerals for her to fight the various threats concealed in the green hell she had just crashed into. Not only would the wildlife be a problem but there would be paramilitary groups, angry indigenous tribes and less then accepting logging firms in the Amazon. Pulling herself up onto her feet Andrea ran her hand through the air before feeling something metal hum and vibrate near her. Gently she dragged it forward only to find an AK47 emerge from the brush still attached to its owner’s hand. As she dropped the weapon she felt more metallic objects move towards her and looked around to see at least nine other men all holding assault weapons and dressed in camouflage cloaks and trousers, their chests bare save for the large spider tattooed across their well built torsos. Levitating the box that the Baron had given her Lodestone watched as the militants lowered their weapons.
“Apaec’s men by any chance?” she asked. The militants looked at each other before another figure emerged from the brush. Unlike the others he was dressed in green power armor, the shoulders emblazoned with the Hydra Skull and Tentacles crossed with the same spider tattooed on his ally’s chests.
“You are the courier our supplier hired.” the armoured figure stated, “Excuse them they don’t speak any English, the majority don’t even know Spanish or Portuguese. As for myself I am Ramon de Rico but I’m known professionally as the Jaguar.”
“I know a Hydra agent when I see one.” Lodestone replied coldly, “I assume you can take this the rest of the way?”
“No I’m afraid not, Lord Apaec would not be pleased with that.” Ramon answered, “I have seen him when he is angry. When he is he becomes a bit of an animal.” Andrea smiled before resting the box in her hand. “So then take me to you’re leader.”
# # # # #
After hours walking Ramon led the party into a clearing, the space was wide enough to dwarf the two battered Mi-24s that stood at one end and even the overgrown lab that had formally belonged to von Blitzschlag looked tiny. Andrea suspected it was large enough to land the plane that had ferried her out of Rio and it was simply because the Baron’s men were afraid of what ever lurked down in the forest that they hadn’t come themselves. That said the forest had become stranger the closer the party had got to the clearing, for one thing Andrea had noticed that the spiders in this part were large, bigger then tarantulas, most were the size of a spaniel but there had been one or two that if they had chosen made a meal out of her.
“So where is the boss man?” Andrea asked as Ramon and the others sat her down on a ripped off plate from an armoured car.
“He will be here soon.” Ramon replied as he backed away into the lab followed by his troops. Looking around nervously Andrea saw one of the most handsome men she had ever seen emerge from one of the tents, his torso rippling with bronze skin, his features formed perfectly. If he was not a god then he was as close as a mortal came to being divine, Andrea blushed not noticing the plate distorting and warping under her.
“Greetings I am Apaec.” the man said, his accent adding to the sheer hotness he already processed. “You are the Lodestone that my benefactor promised to send.”
“Uh yes I have you’re box.” Andrea said holding out the box for Apaec. Her contact smiled and removed it before opening the lid and pulling out a small bottle of what looked like Vodka.
“Ah just what he promised.” Apaec purred, “Come drink with me on the peaceful resolution of our predicament.”
“I can’t believe it, Blitzschlag sent me out as his own glorified waitress.” Andrea roared, “No offence but I have an ancient Nazi to crush, my god I feel like such an idiot.” As she got up Apaec grabbed her arm, his grip amazingly firm, enough that she could feel the pressure under her armoured skin. “Please stay.” he offered. Angrily Andrea slammed him backwards before levitating the plate of metal and flinging it at him. With a swift punch Apaec knocked it away and put the bottle back in the box before stepping forward his beautiful face twisted in rage. “Nobody denies me my prize.” he roared as he strode forward. Andrea huffed before ripping chunks of the lab off and pelting them at her host, the majority bouncing off with little effect as he advanced on her.
“I am not a prize, I have no idea what you and Blitzschlag are up to but I don’t want to be any part of it.” Lodestone bellowed before levitating both the Mi-24s and dragging them across the ground and slamming the first into Apaec pinning him under the wreckage before angrily adding the second onto the heap crushing her host under several tons of soviet helicopter. “And now we see who really has power.” Andrea purred before turning to walk away from the carnage. Behind her one of the helicopters creaked and she turned to look back at her masterpiece only to see both the hellos get flung to opposite sides of the clearing as Apaec emerged, his good looks gone replaced by a hideous visage. Standing on a spider’s body was a man’s torso and head, the later supporting serpents for hair and massive fangs. “I am Apaec and by my divine right you shall belong to me.” the god roared before spraying a jet of webbing at Lodestone. Concentrating Andrea ripped part of the rotor off the nearest Mi-24 and slashed through the projectile and the follow up streams of webbing as she continued to back off towards the trees.
“And to think I found you attractive.” Andrea shuddered, “And for the record it’s defiantly you and not Me.” she added as Apaec scuttled towards her before leaping the final thirty feet to knock her to the floor. Struggling she felt the spider deity pick her up so she could look him in his human eyes. Yawning he detached his lower jaw and bit into her neck as she flailed around powerlessly, her abilities forgotten in this brutal moment of survival. As the fang drilled through the armor on her neck Andrea watched as drops of venom ran down the length of the tooth and into her body causing her to hallucinate as Apaec dropped her. Desperately she crawled away onto the feel Apaec drag her backwards towards his spider like body, two of the smaller legs poised as she was flipped over. With a few swift jabs Apaec breached her armor and extended one of the tiny legs into her womb just as Andrea blacked out the Spider God’s last words echoing around her head as she drifted into unconsciousness.
“You should feel honoured that the Baron chose you to be my mate. Thanks to you a new dynasty will be born, one that will reclaim the world in the name of Ai Apaec.”
TO BE CONTINUED...