‘Liberty Force were met at Washington Dulles International Airport by hundreds of fans, but the team was all business, Uncle Sam only pausing to tell the assembled media that the team was “Glad to be back in the States, but wish it could be under better circumstances.” The group was then picked up in a limousine and taken directly to Washington DC. America’s favourite super-team have been recalled from Iraq to deal with the increasing threats of super-villainy in the wake of the East Coast Boomers’ disappearance last week. Already there have been over a dozen reports of super-crimes gone unanswered, and another eight have been foiled by the various other superheroes in the area, including Thunderbolt, Hire-A-Hero, Teen Dream Team and The Gibbon. We can only hope Uncle Sam and his team can restore some kind of order to this chaos, because if we can’t turn to our greatest heroes in this time of crisis, who can we turn to? For her view on this terri-‘ Matt shut off his TV and glanced at the clock.
‘8.30? Katie’s never late… I’d better head over there.’ He thought to himself, standing up and grabbing his schoolbag.
“Mom, I’m heading out.” He shouted.
“Alright, see you tonight.” She replied from the kitchen, as Matt walked out the door.
He headed down the driveway and into his neighbour’s. Matt and Katie had lived next door to each other their entire lives, and had been best friends for most of that time.
As soon as he reached the front porch, he knew something was wrong… The door was hanging from one of its hinges, and was covered in scorch-marks, as thought it had been blasted open by something, or someone.
Using his powers of magnetism, he lifted himself into the air and flew up the stairs to Katie’s room, where he found signs of a struggle, and a note left on the bed…
‘Mr Universe,
If you ever want to see Belle again, send Ben Mosley to Warehouse 17 at the trainyard. Oh, Matt, make sure he comes alone, and in costume.’
“How the hell could they know who we are?” Matt wondered aloud, before pulling out his cell phone…

<><><>

Mosley rolled over, and picked up his cell phone, reading the Caller ID.
“What the hell do you want?” He asked, as he answered the phone.
“Katie’s been kidnapped. Someone knows who we are, and they asked for you specifically. They want you at Warehouse 17 at the train yard. In costume. Pick me up on the way.” Matt said.
“They asked for me specifically? And you want to come along?” Mosley asked.
“Yeah. They said to make sure you come alone, but we’d have to be idiots to do that.”
“And you’d have to be an idiot to let them put Katie in danger. I’ll go alone. I can handle it. Any idea who we’re dealing with?”
“No idea. The door was blasted open, it’s all burned. First person I thought of was you.”
“Gee, thanks. Keep Kevin and Ally out of this too, I can handle it. Just go to school.” Mosley hung up.
“Son of a bitch…” He muttered, before opening climbing out of his bed and throwing his costume on, before covering it with jeans and a jacket.
He left his room and crossed the passageway, opening up his father’s bedroom door. Greeted with a snore, he shrugged. “Guess it wasn’t you…” He said, before walking out the door and jumping on his bike.

<><><>

Katie woke up in the dark, a dull throbbing in the back of her head. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized she was sitting up, and tied to a chair. She looked around and saw she was in a warehouse of some description.
“Let me out!” She shouted, struggling against her bonds.
“Struggle all you want, it won’t do you any good.” A voice came from behind her. Katie felt a vague recognition of the voice, but couldn’t quite place it, although it was clearly a girl around her own age. She attempted to use her powers to get a read on the girl’s thoughts, but was greeted by an increased throbbing in the back of her head.
“Don’t bother using your powers Katie, the boss told me just where to hit you to stop you from messing with my head.” Her kidnapper said.
“Your boss? Who the hell are you?”
“You don’t recognize my voice? I’m hurt… Let me tell you a story Belle… Once upon a time, there was a freshman, she was the prettiest in her class, and because of that, she was instantly accepted into the popular clique. As the years progressed, the top girl in the popular clique was replaced by a new senior every year, but when the pretty girl’s time came up, her place was already taken… By a junior. How do you think that made the pretty girl feel? That some… Bimbo could take her place, just because she was the new head cheerleader, or because the basketball team all thought she was the hottest girl in school? Katie, it was my turn to be Queen Bee. I spent three years under those bitches, and what did I get in return? I got to play second-fiddle to you.”
“Anna.” Katie said.
“You got it Belle. It’s me. Wow, you must be psychic or something.” Anna stepped out from behind her.
“So that’s it? You’ve kidnapped me because I’m more popular than you? I knew you were shallow, but this is just crazy.” Katie replied.
“You really think you’re the center of my world? No… You’re just part of my plan. You’re the bait. I’m going to get to kill two birds with one stone when Ben shows up.” Anna said, before laughing maniacally.

<><><>

Matt cringed as he saw Kevin coming towards him in the corridor.
“Hey man! Where’s Katie? I haven’t seen her all day.” Kevin asked.
“Hey, she’s at home, sick. Said to tell you not to go check on her, so you don’t catch it.” Matt lied.
“Oh, that’s too bad. I might give her a call later.”
“Yeah, might be a good idea. Have you two worked out what’s going on since New York?”
“You heard about that?”
“Yeah, Ally’s been blabbing about it ever since.”
“And you don’t mind…?”
“Why would I mind?”
“You two kind of have that vibe going… You know?”
“With Katie? No! Eww! She’s my best friend dude, don’t worry.”
“Oh, cool. I’d hate for her to come between us man, you know?”
“Yeah. Nothing like a girl to break up two guys who’ve been buddies for like, four months.”
“Exactly.”
“You don’t get sarcasm all that well, do you?”
“Yeah, I just like to let you think you’re smarter than I am.”
“I am smarter than you are.”
“But not by as much as you think. That’s why I’m the leader.”
“And I’m the brains.”
“Touché.”
“Ooh, French. Maybe you are smarter than I give you credit for.”
“’French’? You mean ‘Freedom’.”
“I hate you.”
“I know. Anyway, I should head to English, see you later.”
“Catch ya.”
’Damnit Mosley, bring her back safe. Don’t screw it up.’ Matt thought to himself, as he watched the oblivious teenager walk away.

<><><>

“I’m starting to get impatient Belle. Why isn’t anyone here for you yet?” Anna asked, a flame appearing on her fingertips.
“Maybe they’re not dumb enough to fall for your trap?” Katie retorted.
“Or maybe they just don’t care. Wouldn’t that just be terrible? Little Katie Reynolds, the girl everyone loves… But not really. Ben had better show up soon, the boss won’t be happy if I only come back with one of you… And if Ben doesn’t show up, I’ll have to take it all out on you… But the boss wants the two of you alive, so I’d have failed on both parts… But at least I’ll have some revenge.”
“You’re insane, you know that?”
“I’m not insane. The system’s insane.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“No, what are you talking about?”
“Right… You’re just talking for the sake of it now, aren’t you?”
“I know you are, but what am-“ Anna was cut off, as the door exploded inwards, and through the flames stepped…
“Firestorm.” Anna said.
“Anna? What the hell?” Firestorm asked.
“Something like that…” Anna replied, tossing a fireball at Firestorm, who didn’t even bother to dodge it, instead taking the flaming projectile in the chest.
“Fire? You do know who I am, right? Maybe you should’ve picked someone else to come save Katie.” Firestorm said, before returning fire with three fireballs of his own, which the cheerleader easily dodged, before taking a fourth in the shoulder.
“Huh… Guess fire can’t hurt me either.” Anna shrugged. “Guess that runs in the family too.”
“Family?” Katie and Firestorm both exclaimed.
“You don’t know? Of course you don’t. You’ve got an older sister Ben.” Anna laughed.
“But you’re younger than he is.” Katie said.
“Not me you idiot.” Anna slapped Katie. “My mother. Your father ran into my grandmother in the 60’s, they had a one night stand, and that was it. Nine months later, a bastard child was born. Twenty years later, the true bastard was born… You.”
“Trust me, your mother was better off without him.”
“Who are you to decide that?”
“I’m the guy who’s had to take his crap for 18 years. Why do you think I’m such a screw-up? Society? No, because of the prick who blames me for my mother’s death.”
“Ben… I didn’t know…” Katie said.
“And you’ll never repeat it. Neither will she.” Firestorm said, before tossing another fireball at Anna, who didn’t move out of the way this time, taking the brunt of the blast in her face.
“Fire can’t hurt me you idiot!” Anna shouted.
“No, but I’ll bet I just blinded you for a second, which lets me do… THIS!” Firestorm punched the girl square in the jaw, sending her sprawling to the ground, unconscious.
“Nice move… Now untie me.” Katie said.
“In a second. I’ve got to make sure she never talks…” Firestorm said, pulling his switchblade from his boot.
“Ben. What the hell are you doing?” Katie demanded.
“Finishing the job.”
“You’re crazier than she is! Stop it!”
“She knows who we are, she’ll talk.”
“She knows who we are, and we know she kidnapped me, and assaulted you. She won’t talk. And you won’t kill her. It’s not what we do.”
“Maybe not you…” Firestorm raised his blade.
“Ben, if you do that, I swear to god, I’ll be the one to turn you in. She’s not the only one who knows… Someone told her.”
“Who?”
“She just kept saying ‘The Boss’. But the point is, if you take her out, her boss will know who did it. We’re even worse off.”
Firestorm sighed, before stepping away from his fallen foe and using his blade to cut Katie free.
“Let’s go home.” He said.
“Are you sure? Maybe we could talk first…”
“About what?”
“Your dad… Your mom…”
“There’s nothing to say, and I know you won’t repeat it.”
“Ben, you know we’re here for you if you need us.”
“Look, if you want to stay here, go ahead, but I’m leaving.”
“Ben…” Katie said, as Firestorm turned his back and headed out the door.
<><><>
Anna gulped, as she entered the office.
“Sir, I can explain…” She began.
“I didn’t hire you for explanations. I didn’t hand you those two just for you to come back and tell me how your uncle defeated you. You have failed me.” The boss said.
“I… But…” Anna began sobbing.
“Get out of my sight.” He ordered, and Anna ran back through the door.
“Daytripper!” The boss said.
A man appeared in front of him, wearing a suit, sunglasses and an earpiece. “Yes boss?”
“I’ve got to be in Washington, the President wants to see me.” The boss replied, his face shifting to match that of Secretary of the Interior, Stephen P Carmichael.
“Of course, Mr Secretary.” Daytripper said with a smirk, reaching out and touching Carmichael on the shoulder. The two disappeared without a trace…

<><><>