As the clock ticked around to 9PM, the loneliest New Year’s Eve party in Newport Beach reached its eighth round of Halo. Dylan was winning, with Ally close behind. Tom and Mac had been blazing up periodically, so they were lagging somewhat.
Mac suddenly sat up straight, his eyes glazed over. Onscreen, Tom beat him over the head with his pistol.
“Melee kill!” Tom shouted, turning to taunt his friend. “Whoa… What’s up with you?”
“And lo, the Vanguard shall find itself in perpetual Midnight.” Mac declared, his face showing no expression.
“Dude, you took a hit without me? What are you babbling about?” Tom asked his best friend.
Ally shook her head. “He hasn’t had a hit in over an hour… He’s not stoned… He’s having a vision.”
“Oh… So not awesome.” Tom said.
<><><>
“I have no idea what it means, I keep telling you.” Mac explained, as the van took another left.
“Well, neither do I. Aren’t your visions usually better than this?” Matt asked. “I mean, Midnight is probably a new year’s thing, considering that’s tonight. But what’s the rest mean?”
“I can’t believe we’re all sitting in the back of this damn van picking up the team. What is this, Scooby Doo?” Mosley asked.
“Shut up dude. We’re working with what we’ve got. We need to get Kevin and Katie from Logan Cooper’s house, and we’ll make a plan then.” Matt said.
“But what are Jay and Silent Bob doing here?” Mosley asked.
“Mac is here because it’s his vision and his van. Tom is here to drive, and because he’s lucky, we might come up with something.” Matt explained.
“And what about Hendrix?”
“I wasn’t hanging out alone on New Year’s Eve. I’ve got my costume, I’m ready to go.” Dylan said.
“Ok, we’re here.” Tom said from the front.
There was a banging on the side of the van, and Mac slid the door open, revealing Kevin and Katie waiting.
“Ok, what’s going on?” Kevin asked, as he climbed in next to Matt.
“Yeah, that was a totally awesome party. Too bad Cooper’s a jerk.” Katie giggled.
Matt raised an eyebrow at his best friend, but then turned to Kevin.
“We don’t know anything beyond what I told you on the phone. I’m pretty sure that Midnight is about New Year, so we need to move fast.” Matt reported.
“We just need to know what the Vanguard is supposed to be, and we should be able to stop this vision.” Fisher broke his silence.
“We’re going to Vanguard? No way did you guys get tickets!” Katie exclaimed.
“Is she…?” Matt trailed off, as Kevin nodded.
“A little bit.” He replied. “Honey, what is Vanguard?”
“Only the most exclusive nightclub in LA. Their New Year’s party is supposed to be the best, too bad tickets sold out months ago.” Katie said. “So did we get in, or not?”
“No, we didn’t get in. But I think we can change that. Ally, can you give us a dividing wall or something, we need to suit up.” Kevin asked.
“You got it.” Ally said, as the air in the middle of the van shimmered, an opaque black shape filling the space between the boys and girls.
“Tom, we need to get to LA, think you can manage?” Kevin asked.
“Your wish is my command.” Tom replied.
<><><>
“And so you see, if I am not paid 10 BILLION dollars by midnight, I, the Chronomancer, will freeze this entire night club, and all of these lovely people inside, forever!”
The villain cackled, before ordering the camera man to shut off his camera. “Was that live?” He asked.
“Uh… I think so.” The cameraman replied, quivering with fear.
The Chronomancer stroked his long beard, a smile appearing on his face. “That money will be mine soon… At least, you had better hope it will.”
The club was chaos. People screamed and ran around, panic was rampant. Each door was guarded by a trio of Chronomancer’s minions, all wearing purple and gold robes, to match their master. No-one was getting in or out.
“And now all we have to do is wait. Someone fetch me some food!” Chronomancer ordered, clutching his golden amulet.
One of his minions was in front of him in moments, carrying a plate of pastries.
“Excellent.” He said, reaching towards the plate.
“Hold it!”
The Chronomancer was stunned, as he looked to see the Brat Pack standing in the middle of the dancefloor.
“You might not want to eat that.” Mr Perfect continued. “I know how you villains love to monologue, and I’d hate for you to have to do it with your mouth full.”
“Burn…” Mr Universe muttered.
“No… This is a burn!” Firestorm shouted, launching a fireball at The Chronomancer.
Chronomancer threw up his hands and caught the fireball, which stopped immediately. “Sorry, you’ll have to do a little better than that.” He taunted, as he dropped the ball, which dissipated on contact with the ground.
“Now, you will have to bow down to the might of the Chronomancer!” The villain raised his hands and lightning crackled from his fingers, arcing towards the heroes.
Stratos yawned, as all the energy redirected itself at him, his powers absorbing the charge. “And you’ll have to do a little better than that.” The rock-god-in-the-making laughed.
“You think I only have one trick up my sleeve?” Chronomancer shouted, as he disappeared from view.
That is, the view of all but Mr Perfect. He could see The Chronomancer coming towards him. Fast. He just had enough time to react, the teen reaching out and grabbing the villain just inches away from hitting him.
“You don’t do your research, do you?” Mr Perfect asked. “Speaking of… Universe, what do you know about this guy?”
“Chronomancer is a magician, specialises in time control, but that’s not all he can do, in case you didn’t notice, what with the lightning and all.” Mr Universe explained.
“It’s like our own Wikipedia.” Firestorm commented.
“ATTACK!” Chronomancer shouted, as he grabbed at his amulet once more.
His minions charged from their stations, swarming the heroes.
“That’s new.” Mr Universe said.
“My mind-controlled minions will destroy you!” Chronomancer cackled, as the mooks began punching and kicking at the heroes, who fought back in earnest. Pixel took one blow, and disappeared.
“Mind-control? Belle, that’s your department. What can you do?” Mr Perfect asked, as he struggled to ward off their attacks, whilst keeping hold of the wizard.
“Ummm…” Belle closed her eyes tight. “Uh oh.” She began giggling.
“Crap. She’s still drunk.” Firestorm said.
“Babe… Can you do anything?” Mr Perfect asked.
“Err… No.” Belle said.
“GET HER!” Chronomancer ordered, and his minions all switched their attention to the intoxicated psi.
“NO!” Mr Perfect shouted, throwing The Chronomancer aside, charging to his girlfriend’s aid.
The Chronomancer stopped moving in midair, his magic allowing him to levitate. He began an incantation, and Fissure and Firestorm both froze, completely unmoving.
“Oh crap. That’s his signature spell… They’re stuck in time.” Mr Universe said, as he began surrounding Belle with floating cutlery, to protect her.
“Stratos, we need you to get Belle out of here.” Mr Perfect ordered.
“You got it bossman.” Stratos said, rushing forward.
“Keep her out there. If things go south in here, I don’t want anything happening to the others.” Mr Perfect said.
“Got it.” Stratos began leading Belle out of the room, as Mr Universe warded off the Chronomancer’s minions with his floating utensils.
“So touching.” Chronomancer said. “Too bad that distraction will spell your doom!” He began his incantation again.
“Interrupt him!” Mr Perfect shouted, but before Mr Universe could react, Stratos hit the villain with a bolt of lightning.
“Insolent fool!” Chronomancer shouted, as Stratos ducked out of the room, Belle in tow.
“Don’t you worry about him.” Mr Universe said. “You’ve got bigger fish to fry in here.”
“Not to mention your little blackmail scheme has kind of evaporated…” Mr Perfect added, gesturing around the room, which was empty except for the super-powered individuals, and the mind-controlled slaves.
“What!?” Chronomancer demanded, looking around for the first time, and realising his hostages had escaped.
“Yeah… They all booked it as soon as you took the guards off the door. Rookie mistake really. How long have you been at this?” Mr Universe asked.
“No matter! I will destroy you fools instead!” Chronomancer grabbed his amulet. “Get them!” He ordered.
Mr Universe laughed. “I know it’s pretty obvious by now, but I’m pretty sure-“
“He’s controlling the slaves with the amulet? Yeah, I got that too.” Mr Perfect joined in the laughing.
“Too bad my powers don’t work on gold, or whatever cheap crap it’s made out of. Guess we’ll have to do this the old-fashioned way.” Mr Universe said.
Mr Perfect nodded, as he leaped over the crowd of mindless drones, rocketing towards their master, and tackling him to the ground, before grabbing the amulet and ripping it from the magician’s neck.
Mr Perfect tossed it backwards to Mr Universe, who caught it. “Stop!” He ordered, and the minions did.
“It is no matter! My master spell is already long in place! This nightclub will be frozen in time forever, the moment the clock strikes midnight!” Chronomancer said.
The heroes looked at the clock on the wall. “11.59?” Mr Perfect said. “You’ll be trapped too. Fix it.”
“I am more than happy to be immortalised.” Chronomancer said.
Mr Perfect punched the sorcerer in the face, Chronomancer screamed, as blood poured from his broken nose.
“Ok… Ok.” Chronomancer began the incantation, as the clock began to strike midnight.
The air around the combatants began to warp, as the spell began to take hold, fighting against the counterspell.
“Dude, it looks like a music video.” Mr Universe commented. His eyes widened, as a thought struck him. “If I’m going down, I’m going down in style!” He said.
“What are you talking about?” Mr Perfect asked.
Mr Universe held the amulet high in the air. “TIME WARP!”
The mind-controlled drones snapped to attention, as they began singing the Time Warp, with perfect pitch and timing. Their dancing matched the moves from The Rocky Horror Picture Show perfectly.
“You’re an idiot.” Mr Perfect said.
“Hey, if his spell doesn’t work, we’re screwed.” Mr Universe replied, as the air began changing colours.
Chronomancer continued his incantation, sweat beading on his forehead.
“Damnit! Hurry up!” Mr Perfect ordered.
The Chronomancer fixed him with a glare, not breaking his incantation for a moment.
Suddenly, the various special effects stopped, and the clock continued its ticking.
“There. Now, release me.” Chronomancer ordered.
“I’m pretty sure that wasn’t part of the deal.” Mr Perfect said.
“Pretty sure there wasn’t a deal.” Mr Universe added.
Chronomancer began to splutter an argument, but Mr Perfect clubbed him across the back of the head, rendering him unconscious.
“Villains talk too much.” Mr Perfect said.
“And we don’t?” Mr Universe asked.
“We’re not as bad as they are.”
“You did point out our weak link to the villain a few minutes ago…”
“Belle? He’d have figured it out pretty quick.”
“Can’t believe we let her in here in that state. I didn’t think she was that drunk.”
“Me either. She hangs in different circles to me at those parties; I have no idea how much she drinks.”
“Let’s try to remember that next time we pick you guys up at a party.”
“So what are we going to do about these two?” Mr Perfect pointed at Firestorm and Fissure.
<><><>
“We could have just left Mosley as is.” Katie said.
“He’d have made a nice ornament in the Brat Cave.” Matt agreed.
“First of all, screw you guys. Second of all, Brat Cave?” Mosley asked.
“Figured we needed a name for the mansion. Thought that was catchy.” Matt said.
“Right…” Mosley muttered.
Kevin entered the room. “Ok, I’ve squared it with Hire-A-Hero. Unfortunately, we’re out of money again. I just spent the last of the team fund on them flying Perdition out to break that spell.”
“Now, if we’d left Mosley frozen, we could still have money.” Matt said.
“Could we sell the nerd? Surely there’s some villain that’ll pay top dollar for him.” Mosley retorted.
“At least my arch-nemesis could pay good money for me.” Matt said.
“My arch-nemesis is on Hire-A-Hero payroll. Earns more money than your megalomaniac.” Mosley said.
“Your arch-nemesis is a teenage girl.” Matt argued.
“No, Firefly’s my arch-nemesis.” Katie said.
“I thought Helix was yours.” Matt asked.
“No, he’s mine.” Ally spoke up from the couch.
“I can’t keep track anymore.” Matt said.
“With any luck, neither can they.” Kevin said.
“I wouldn’t bet on it.” Fisher said, pointing at the newspaper.
The headline read: “Assembly of Evil Swears Revenge”.
Below was a photo of the aftermath of the Brats’ defeat at their school months before. They didn’t need to read the article to know what it said. There was one question on all their minds.
“Who do they have to replace Gauss?” Matt asked.