Mosley slammed the door. That son of a bitch was drinking again, and there was no point hanging around to get his ass kicked. If only the news crews could see him now. There wouldn’t be a movie about his life then. There wouldn’t be documentaries about his exploits. Hire-A-Hero would never have come knocking if they’d known about this.
To the world, James Mosley was known as Napalm, and was one of the most famous heroes in America. To his son, James Mosley was an alcoholic with an anger management problem.
Mosley cursed under his breath, as he wandered down the street. Maybe there would be some criminals to take his anger out on.
<><><>
“I think he’s even stronger than you are Basher.” Firefly said, eyeing Jacob Smith, as he lifted a car over his head.
“No way. I can take him.” Basher replied, but the look he gave the cyborg was an apprehensive one.
“I can hear you talking about me.” Jacob replied, as he tossed the car aside. “And I am better than you are.” He added, sneering at The Basher.
“Care to test that?” Basher asked, cracking his knuckles.
“I would just love to beat your brains in, but I doubt our benefactor would appreciate the sentiment. Perhaps after we deal with Mr Perfect and his brats.” Jacob dismissed Basher.
“Jacob, we need to present an allied front.” Helix said, as he stepped through the door.
“United? That’s impossible. None of you are human. We aren’t equals, we aren’t a team.” Jacob said.
“Human? Have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re not a human either Jacob. Not anymore.” Helix argued.
Jacob hung his head in shame, looking down on his cyberneticly enhanced body. “You’re right.” He sighed. “Jacob Smith no longer exists…” He looked Helix in the eye. “Call me Redemption.”
<><><>
Mosley sighed. He’d walked around the town for an hour, and found nothing. No action whatsoever. What did he expect? It was barely afternoon. No self-respecting criminal would be out until after four.
He contemplated calling Fisher, he could use a sparring partner. Just someone to hit, to blow off a little steam. Fisher wouldn’t have asked questions, he would have just agreed. Not like Kevin. Not that Mosley would ever ask that douchebag for a favour, even if it was just to spar. Fisher probably wouldn’t have spoken at all. No, not today. Fisher would have given just as good as he got, and Mosley wasn’t looking for that. Mosley just wanted to hit somebody, and at this point, he didn’t care who.
Maybe he could call Kurt. It had been a while since he’d joined The Shadow on patrol, perhaps he needed to show his face on the streets of LA again. No again. Kurt had been distant lately, something about a drug ring taking up his time. He was finding less time to go and beat on random street thugs.
Maybe it was time to call it a night. Head home, take chances with his dad. He was looking for someone to hit, after all. Maybe his dad would provide a target for him. Maybe tonight was the night he would finally win one.
His head snapped around as he heard gunshots. Maybe not. He dove into an alleyway, and began shedding his clothes, revealing his red-and-orange jumpsuit. Time for Firestorm to get some action.
<><><>
“You don’t get it, do you Helix?” Basher raged. “They’re stronger than you think!”
“They’re children.” Helix replied calmly.
“You think you’re so much better than I am, don’t you?” Basher asked.
“Yes.” Helix replied simply, as Basher moved to punch him.
“Let me down!” Basher ordered, as he felt himself being lifted from the floor.
“I’ve seen what they can do. I’ve seen it in your head. I’ve seen it in Firefly’s head. I’ve seen it in Jacob’s head.” Helix said. “I know exactly what they’re capable of. And when I see it in their own heads, I’ll be sure of it. I can predict their every move. That little girl that beat you doesn’t hold a candle to the things I can do. She screamed in your head? I could make you scream in your own head, for all eternity. I can destroy memories. I can attack your mind in more ways than you could possibly imagine. Don’t you ever doubt my abilities again.”
Helix dropped Basher into his chair. Basher just glared at him.
“Are you children playing nice?” Daytripper asked, as he appeared in between them. “Don’t answer that, the boss was watching on the monitor. He wants everyone in his office.”
Helix and Basher shot each other a puzzled look, before turning to Daytripper. “What does he want?”
“He wants to go over our battle plan.” Daytripper said, before disappearing.
“Battle plan? Already?” Basher asked.
“I guess we’re taking the Brats down sooner than we thought…” Helix said.
<><><>
Firestorm dived out of the way as the car sped towards him, and cried out as the bumper clipped his foot. That was going to be sore in the morning.
Angry, he lashed out with a fireball, hitting the back of the speeding vehicle. He cursed as the car didn’t slow.
That is, until the rear left tyre blew out.
The car span out of control, the remaining tyres screeching, before coming to a stop on a power pole.
The occupants bailed out, and Firestorm swore again.
“Yeah, that’s right!” One of the crooks shouted. “We’ve got a hostage!” He held a terrified-looking man in one arm, and a gun to his head with the other.
“Put the guy down, and I won’t smoke all of you jackasses!” Firestorm shouted.
“Go on. Try it. I dare you.” The crook replied with a laugh.
Firestorm swore, as he dodged the shots that the other crooks fired.
He ducked behind a tree, as the crooks began to laugh. “Now what are you gonna do you masked freak?” One shouted.
For once, Firestorm didn’t have a comeback.
<><><>
The villains assembled around an empty desk. They eyed each other off, the tension palpable.
“Daytripper, is this some kind of joke?” The Basher asked.
“No. The boss will call any moment.” Daytripper replied.
“Your boss called us all into this room so he could talk to us on the speakerphone?” Redemption scoffed.
“Our boss has a lot of secrets.” Helix explained. “Things even I don’t know.”
Firefly nodded. “He’s got a reputation to protect.”
“You don’t even know the half of it little girl.” Daytripper’s amused expression was the exact opposite of that on Gauss’ face, the master of magnetism did not look impressed, but kept silent.
The phone rang, Daytripper pressed the speaker button.
“Good morning Charlie.” Basher muttered.
<><><>
Firestorm grinned. This plan was going to work. It had to, the crooks were getting restless. The stalemate wasn’t going to last, and someone was going to die. Firestorm just wasn’t sure if it would be him, or the hostage.
“Come out and play!” One of the gangbangers said.
“Or this guy gets it!” Another added.
Firestorm took a deep breath and stepped out from his cover.
“That’s more like it.” The first gangbanger said, aiming his pistol away from the hostage and pointing it at the young hero.
That was the only opening that was needed.
Before the crook could fire, his arm was broken, twisted around behind his back, the gun falling from his hands, as he screamed in agony. The hostage was carried to safety, as his rescuer shrugged off a hail of bullets, before turning around and dropping the remaining crooks with one punch each.
“Firestorm.” The hero nodded.
“Get bent Jockstrap.” Firestorm said, flipping him off.
Mr Perfect looked at Firestorm in bewilderment. “What’s your problem?” He shouted, as his teammate stormed off.
<><><>
“Isn’t that the plan we’ve had for months?” The Basher asked.
“Yes, he’s just confirming the details, for those of us who aren’t as… Intelligent.” Helix explained.
“You’re asking for it little man.” Basher replied.
“Calm down kids, save the fight for the Brats.” Daytripper stepped in between the two.
“Yeah. You guys need to be at your best, so I can take out Katie and Ben.” Firefly said.
“The girl is mine.” Helix argued.
“Over my dead body.” Firefly replied.
“It can be arranged.” Helix shrugged.
“I’ve got history with Belle!” Firefly argued.
“I know all about your history.” Helix said.
“Stay out of my head! I’m going to take out Firestorm and Belle! You-“ Firefly was cut off by giggling coming from the far corner of the room.
All the villains turned to look at Gauss, who was rocking backwards and forwards on the balls of his feet, giggling maniacally all the while.
“What are you laughing at Chuckles?” Basher asked.
“You fools think that any of those children belong to you?” Gauss asked, as his giggling subsided.
“You heard the boss. We’ve all got our targets.” Daytripper said defensively.
“Silence fool. The only reason I haven’t killed you all is because I want to cover every eventuality. But make no mistake. Belle is mine. And Firestorm. And Pixel. And Mr Perfect. And especially that pretender, Mr Universe. Believe me.
“The Brat Pack are going to die.”
<><><>