Sweat beaded on Mr Universe’s forehead, as he fought to keep his barrier intact. A latticework of coins, paperclips, and anything else containing ferrous metals surrounded the bank, supported by Mr Universe’s control of magnetism. Nothing larger than a cat was getting in or out of that crime scene, so long as he held.
“Guys, if you could just catch this dude, I’d be much obliged.” He joked.
Mr Perfect stood next to him, body tensed, ready to pounce. “Any second now…” The team’s leader said.
Firestorm barely stifled a yawn. “Is this seriously how we’re going to do it? Wait for him to tire out? You guys are geniuses.”
“Well I can’t catch him, can I?” Mr Perfect argued. “If you’ve got a better idea, I’d like to see it.”
“Allow me to demonstrate.” Firestorm said. “First, I turn up the heat.” The team’s bad boy snapped his fingers, and flames began to leap up from the ground surrounding the team. “Now, see, he can’t stay in here indefinitely. He needs to make his move. He needs to take down Mr Universe to escape. Otherwise he might get burned.”
“Wait, you want me to let him take down Mr Universe? You’re insane!” Mr Perfect exclaimed.
“No… I get it… Belle, link with Perfect and scan at a radius of twenty feet. We’re only going to get one shot at this.” Mr Universe said through clenched teeth. “And I’d prefer not to take a hit from this guy.”
Belle and Mr Perfect stared at him blankly, the plan not yet fully formed in their minds.
“Belle will be able to pick up when he’s on his way, and then you’ll hit him. Get it yet, jockstrap?” Firestorm taunted.
Belle and Mr Perfect’s eyes widened as realisation dawned. “Oh yeah. I’ve got it.” Mr Perfect grinned.
“But you just blurted out the whole plan. He knows what we’re doing.” Belle said.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already got Fissure working on Plan B.” Mr Universe said.
“You think that will still work?” Mr Perfect asked.
“Damn straight it will.” Mr Universe said. “Now, for the love of god Firestorm, flush him out!”
Firestorm laughed, and the flames began burning hotter, their patterns more erratic, until it seemed as though the entire bank was surrounded by a raging inferno.
Mr Perfect lunged forward, and their opponent appeared, as his forward motion was stopped, just millimetres away from Mr Universe. He instead began moving sideways, in the direction of Mr Perfect’s punch.
Blue Shift was unconscious before he hit Mr Universe’s barrier.
Mr Universe fell to his knees, and the barrier came crashing down around them. The crowd of onlookers surged forward, cheering for the heroes. The media pushed their way forward, asking their questions.
But they all hushed, as a huge shadow was cast over the top of them. The hush was quickly shattered by another cheer, as the crowd recognised the Sonic Boom, the custom jet belonging to the Boomers.
The Sonic Boom hovered a mere ten feet above the crowd, who parted in a hushed reverence, to allow the country’s foremost superhero team to land in their midst.
The door on the side of the jet opened, and by the time the ramp had lowered itself, the crowd was roaring again, chanting for the Boomers.
The first out the door was GL, the fastest man on Earth, and the leader of the Boomers. Close behind him was Talon, former leader of the team’s East Coast branch, and current second-in-command of the united team. They were followed by the other members of the team: The Freak, the other survivor of the East Coast Boomers’ tragic journey into the Shadow Plane, over six feet of solid rock; Plasma and Corona, the brothers were former criminals, Plasma able to blast energy from his hands, and Corona with the ability to harness the same energy, augmenting his strength and agility; Next was Southern Cross, Australia’s foremost superhero, who had rejoined the team in their hour of need, the handsome man drew man screams from the assembled ladies, while his powers of super-strength and energy blasts had drawn many screams from his enemies. The final member of the team was Maxim’s Hottest Superhero three years running, the United States’ only bisexual superhero, the Mistress of Moisture, the Angel of Aquakinesis, Nymphette.
“We were held up in Savannah, but came as soon as we heard something was up. Looks like you had things well in hand.” GL said, his smile beaming at the young heroes.
“Y-yes sir.” Mr Perfect said. “We heard the reports too; I guess we were just closer this time.”
“You answered the call. What more can we ask of our heroes?” GL asked, and the crowd cheered.
“You did a pretty decent job of it too.” Southern Cross said. “Hey GL, isn’t Blue Shift one of your rogues?”
“One of my greatest enemies. The Brat Pack did very well to take him down so easily.” GL said.
“There should be more of you.” Talon said. “Where are Pixel and Fissure?”
The ground parted beside Mr Perfect, as Fissure’s body oozed from within the asphalt of the road.
“Ma’am, I was just setting to rights our contingency plan. I couldn’t in good conscience leave a six foot tunnel hidden just below the surface; it could have collapsed at any time.” Fissure explained.
“I don’t know… I think a moat would be a vast improvement.” Southern Cross joked.
“And as for Pixel, she’s taking some time off, for personal reasons.” Mr Universe said.
“I see.” Talon said. “I don’t believe I ever got the chance to thank your team for rescuing The Freak and I from the Shadow Plane.”
“Like GL said, we just answered the call ma’am.” Mr Perfect said.
“And I’m alive, and here, because of it. I can never thank you enough.” Talon said.
Corona made an audible gagging noise, as he made the gesture of sticking his fingers in his throat. Plasma started laughing, earning both brothers a smack across the back of the head from The Freak.
“Anyway, I’m glad to see that California is in good hands, even while we’re away.” GL said. “And it’s especially good to see that the world will be safe long after we retire.” The hero extended his hand to the leader of the Brat Pack, who stared at it in awe for a moment, before shaking it.
“Sir, I don’t know what to say.” Mr Perfect said.
“Just soak in the moment kid.” Southern Cross said.
“We’re holding a fundraiser at Boomer’s Plaza tonight, how would you like to be guests of honour? Think of the publicity.” GL said.
Mr Perfect was stunned, unable to form a thought, let alone a word.
“We’d love to.” Mr Universe stepped in. “But do you know anywhere I can rent a tux at this hour?”
<><><>
“What? Of course not!” Matt shouted into his phone.
“Then what? You weren’t flirting with her?” Hannah shouted back.
“What? No! I was talking to her!”
“Then why did you dance with her?”
“Because she asked me. It was her favourite song, and she couldn’t go dance on her own, she’d get mobbed.”
“A likely story. You’re telling me you’re not attracted to her? Hell, I’m almost attracted to her.”
“Of course I’m attracted to her, she’s freakin’ Nymphette! Everyone’s attracted to Nymphette! But not everyone is already in love with the most beautiful girl in the world!”
“So you’re not into her?”
“Of course not.” Matt’s phone beeped. Call Waiting. He checked the caller. “Crap… Babe, hold that thought, I’ve got a call on the other line.”
“Ok, don’t take too long, we still need to talk.”
He sighed, as he pressed the button.
“You danced with HER!?”
“Yes…” Matt sighed.
“Of all the people in the entire world, you picked her!”
“Well, when Nymphette asks to dance, you dance. You’d have to be an idiot, or gay, not to.”
“It’s not enough that I’m the other woman, I have to play second fiddle to Little Miss Perfect, Hyper Girl, but now you’re out dancing with my sister!?”
“Look, I don’t have time to have this conversation right now. I’ll talk to you later.”
“You’re talking to Hyper Girl, aren’t you? Is she as pissed off as I am?”
“Not anymore. I’ll talk to you later.” Matt hung up, before switching over again.
“Sorry about that babe, damn telemarketers won’t take no for an answer.”
“No, I’m sorry… I overreacted. I know you’d never cheat on me. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“No, you were right. If I saw you on TV dancing with Southern Cross like Nymphette was dancing with me, I’d probably freak out too.”
“I’m still sorry.”
“Ok babe… So… What was that about you being attracted to Nymphette?”
“Ugh… Men!”