Cosmic Disruption

Part 1

“Emergency At City Hall”

Roll Call:
Jay “The Malleable Man”
Scarlett Speedstress
Iron Maiden
The Cheat
Fenrir
The Midnight Runner
Luna Huntress
Arc Angel
Countdown
Mooncat
Beast Nelson
Lionheart
Pendragon
The Mirage
Solarwind
X-Ray Man
UltraDoll
Got-Gal
Will O’Wisp
Nebula
Whiplash
Runway
Oakheart
White Lightning
Carrumble
Black Mist
The Sentinel

“What do you think?” Agent Fenn asked his odd companion as they peered through the one-way glass down on the bizarre scene unfolding beneath them.  The other man, whose name was Jay, spread his fingers across the glass.  As he did the fingers grew and stretched, forming a web-like network over the flat surface.
“There are plenty of them,” Jay said.  His voice sounded tired and shaky.
“This same thing in unfolding in city halls across the world,” Fenn said, placing one hand on the Malleable Man’s shoulder.  He could feel the hero shivering.  “Our best estimates suggest we can muster in excess of a thousand heroes just like these guys.”
“That’s good,” Jay said.  It didn’t sound like he believed it.
“Look.  I know you’ve been through a hard time…”
Jay turned to stare at him:  “A hard time?  Yes.  You could say that.  I saw my world destroyed.  Everybody I knew and loved murdered.  I suppose you could describe that as a hard time.” He sounded bitter.  Depressed.
The agent coughed, “Yes.  Well.  Indeed.  But that won’t happen here.  We have plenty of heroes.”
“Where are the powerful ones?” Jay asked.  “Where is your Captain Courage?  Where is your Earthstorm?”
The agent glanced at his notes, “The intelligence we have suggests that the world’s most powerful heroes are right here, in Helix City.  That’s why we brought you here.  So you can spearhead our best, most dangerous team.”
Jay glanced at the array of colours and strange shapes below them.  Freaks and heroes of every type were represented.  “Let’s hope its enough,” was all he said.

Helix City Hall was chaos.  Just to get inside involved a pitched battle with legions of the press; newspaper reporters, TV presenters, blog journalists, photographers and film crews who scurried around like ants in a nest.  The police were struggling to keep the public at bay.  Although nobody knew what was going on, there was no doubt that it was something big and everybody, it seemed, wanted a piece of it.
“There’s Ultra Doll!” Cried the ABC3 News anchor, causing lenses of every shape and size to swing in a direction.  The armoured girl strode through the crowd acknowledging their interest.  “Give me a U, Give me a S, Give me a A, Altogether U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A,” she cried, a sound bite that would be repeated ad infinitum on the evening news in a couple of hours.  Seconds later the cries of other well-known hero names were causing excitement.  “Fenrir!” “Luna Huntress!” “Lionheart!” “Whiplash!” “Carrumble!” “White Lightning!”.  Seconds later the crowd’s passion grew to fever pitch when X-Ray Man strode into the City Hall, shortly followed by another local legend, Got-Gal.

Inside, the atmosphere was sombre.  Black suited FBI Agents and small teams of military soldiers kept order and security throughout the building.  The heroes were ushered into the central hall as soon as they arrived and quickly found there were a couple of dozen of them standing within.  Some of the heroes had encountered one another before, but most were strangers to each other except by reputation.  Beast Nelson, covered from head to toe in a thick layer of shining black fur, strode confidently around the room introducing himself to anybody who looked as strong, or stronger, than he was.  Holding out a hand to Oakheart, a creature that looked like a walking tree he smiled, red beady eyes twinkling.
“Must be something big for them to call us all here, huh?” He asked.
Oakheart shook his hand with one wooden mitt.  “I suppose.”
“Any idea what it might all be about?”
“No.”
“Not a big talker then?” Beast Nelson asked him.
“My Bite is bigger than my Bark!” Oakheart said simply.

“Ladies and Gentlemen and, uh, other things,” came a voice from the raised stage.  The heroes looked up to see a grey-haired man in an army uniform adorned with medals and ribbons standing behind the lectern.  “My name is General Greyson Scott.  I am tasked with organising this team and so it falls to me to brief you on the situation.”
Ultra-Doll turned to her friend X-Ray Man, “I’m impressed, “ she said.  “A general?  The shit must have really hit the fan.”
“Last time we fought a super-villain I had a huge wrecking ball dropped on my head, what can be worse than that?” X-Ray Man replied.

On the stage the general continued.  “We have a serious situation here.  The entire planet is in jeopardy.  All across the globe, groups of heroes like you are gathering and working under their own governmental leadership in a coordinated response.  But you are our first team.  Helix City has long been understood to have the greatest number and the most diverse and powerful Abnormals in the world.  As such, we are tasked with some of the most important work to do in the cause of preventing terrible catastrophe.”
“Get to the point,” came a voice from the crowd.  Heroes turned to find the source of the comment, mostly staring at The Cheat in his bright red suit with the yellow flash across the chest.  “What?” The Cheat asked sheepishly.  “It wasn’t me!  Would I lie?”
“The point,” The General said darkly, “Is that an enormous spacecraft is currently hovering in orbit around the Earth.  A spacecraft that has the desire, and more importantly the power, to wipe life from the face of this world.”

A clamour started  as various heroes began to ask questions, but the General held his hand up for silence.  “I will explain, but bear with me,” The General said.  He gestured to the side of the stage and a colourful purple-suited figure entered.  The thin man walked solemnly to the stage and the general stepped aside to let him speak.
“My name is Jay.  People call me the Malleable Man.  I’m not from this world, I’m from another Earth very similar to this one in a parallel dimension.”  His words were fantastical, but the way he delivered them in hard measured tones left no doubt he was speaking the truth.  “My Earth was utterly destroyed by this menace.  I was sent here, their next target, to warn you all of the danger.  To give you time to save yourselves where we failed to do so.”

“You have only a short amount of time.  The creatures, perhaps they are aliens we do not know for sure, are extremely powerful.  We sent our most legendary heroes to fight them and they were easily despatched.  The craft then began firing a horrific weapon upon the world, more powerful than a hundred nuclear weapons.  They destroyed our planet in less than twenty-four hours and nothing we had was able to prevent them doing so.  You must understand the nature of this enemy.  It is like nothing you have ever faced.  They seem able to defeat physical assault, magic, conventional weapons, anything!  I’m afraid I do not even know what they are.  I have never seen them.  I have only seen the effects of their malice.  They turned my beautiful home into a smouldering ruin in… in..” The Malleable Man stepped back and took a moment to compose himself.  “They are here.  You must stop them.  You must prevent this tragedy from happening again and avenge my world in the process.”

The General took the stage once more.  “FBI Agents will be passing among you asking for information about your powers.  Obviously, our intelligence has some information already, but you will clearly know more than we do.  Please be honest.  Any information you provide will be protected securely and destroyed when this disaster is averted.  We will then organise you into teams and give you our analysis of what needs doing and by whom.”

Scarlette Speedstress approached Iron Maiden with some trepidation.
“Wow…I mean WOW!” she said.
Iron Maiden regarded the younger girl with mild amusement.  “It was quite a dramatic presentation,” she agreed.
The Speedstress, clad all in red as her name would suggest, seemed barely able to stand still.  “I’m wondering what the special effects budget on this’ll be, y’know?”
“From the sounds of it, some of us might require stunt doubles,” Iron Maiden told her.
Scarlette Speedstress’ face fell.  “Some people might die?  Oh no.  You’re right.  This is big.  It’s BIG!  Are you scared?”
“Scared? Naw, just pissed,” the powerful brick replied.  “I’ve never really liked immense death-dealing spacecraft threatening to pulverise the Earth from orbit.  It just puts me in a real bad mood, see?”

“Sir,” said the agent.  “Perhaps you could tell me your name and what your powers are?” The hero he was speaking to was clad in close-fitting blue and black with an ostentatious lightning bolt streaking diagonally down his costume.
“I’m the Midnight Runner,” he replied and then gave a frank and detailed account of his powers.
”Do you have an arena you feel is better suited to your abilities?” The Agent asked, punching data into his hand-held console.
“No,” Midnight Runner said earnestly.  “I’ll do whatever is required.  Just let me at them.  I don’t care how, or when, or where.  I’m your guy.  Count me in.”

Fenrir had been standing alone.  He wasn’t a great mixer, tending to prefer solitary activity to the difficulties of being part of a group.  He was spending his time analysing the limited information he had been given.  People might have assumed, since he looked something like a wolf on hind legs, that he was all about savagery and fury.  There was some truth to that in combat, but outside of battle he was a thinker.
“Hello?” came a voice, causing Fenrir to start.  The hero was not used to being surprised.  Usually his senses warned him of trouble approaching.  Which clearly meant this individual meant him no harm at all.  Fenrir looked at the strange girl and raised one wolfish eyebrow.  “You are?”
She looked like a Sphinx with a beautiful face and furry feline body.  She wore a modern twist on traditional Arabic dress.
“Mooncat,” she said.  “You’re the only person I could see who wasn’t hanging with the gang.  I’m the same myself, usually.” She was already wondering why she had come over at all.  Usually, she wouldn’t have chanced communication.
“I’ve never heard of you,” Fenrir said.
“I’m not surprised that you’ve never heard of me.  I don’t do this gig for the fame.”
Fenrir appraised the odd woman, surprised for once by somebody who looked even less human than he.
“Yes, it IS considered a disability,” Mooncat said coldly, responding to his frank gaze.  “I’m also Arabic and Gay. Had your fill of stares at the minority yet?”
Fenrir smiled broadly revealing rows of canine fangs.  “First of all, you approached me.  Second, do I look like somebody who places a lot of store in prejudice?  I’m a walking wolf.”
Mooncat blinked, then found herself laughing.

Solarwind cut an impressive figure in his black bodysuit and starry full-face mask.  Around him were White Lightning, Pendragon and Nebula.  Having already answered the agents questions they were just waiting for the action to begin.
“I believe I am the only hero here capable of space-flight without assistance.  I expect they will make me the leader of a space team.”
“If you say so,” Pendragon agreed, amicably.  “I can fly, but surviving a vacuum isn’t one of my talents.” The heroes accent with clearly British.
”I know a thing or two about energy,” Nebula said, “But I’d agree with Pendragon here, space isn’t an environment I’ve got much experience in.”
White Lightning raised both arms above his head and clapped them together, causing a brief flash of electrical energy.  “I’ll go wherever they think I should go,” he said enthusiastically, “White Lighting always strikes hard and true!”
Solarwind sneered, “Parlour tricks aren’t going to cut it this time, junior.  The big boys are going to be needed.”
White Lightning turned and faced him, surprised.  “What?”
“You heard me,” Solarwind smiled coldly.
“Hey!” Pendragon frowned, “There’s no call for that.  We’re all on the same side.”
“If our side includes a limey like you and Johnny Zap here then they are really going to need me.”
”Something of an ass, aren’t you Solarwind?” Nebula observed.
“I am a Grade-A cosmic hero.  When the C-Listers are called you guys can put your hands up.”
”I can tell you aren’t the brightest star in the galaxy,” Nebula sighed.

“If you could all pay attention,” came the General’s voice.  The hubbub in the hall died as the heroes looked up expectantly.  “We’ve looked over the information you’ve given us and we have come up with a plan.”
“Who is we?” asked a voice.  Everybody looked at The Cheat again.  He smiled.
“We,” said the General, “Is the military strategy team I represent alongside Jay the Malleable Man, who has unique information we lack.”
“I think I speak for most of us when I say ‘just tell us where you want us’,” Carrumble said in his powerful gravely voice.
“We are going to split you into four teams.  We are calling the first team ‘Crowd Control’.  It will be their job to deal with events on the ground as they unfold.  In particular, if the aliens attack us in person it is Crowd Control who will tackle them.  The second team are called ‘Search And Rescue’.  It is S&R’s job to react quickly to deadly situations which occur on the ground with a view to preventing escalation and loss of life.  We expect you to be quite busy, if Jay’s description of events on his world are accurate.  The third team are called ‘Espionage’.  It’s all in the name.  We will be using this team to find out the missing information about these attackers.  We believe we can actually get you aboard their spacecraft.”  The general paused while the murmurs this information had elicited died down.  “Finally, the fourth team are ‘Spearhead’.  This team will take the aliens on, head-to-head, in space.  Primarily to hopefully defeat them, but also to act as a diversion while ‘Espionage’ do their jobs.  Shortly, we will let you know who is with which teams.”

Lionheart had seen the union jack on Pendragon’s costume and assumed the hero was a fellow Brit.  He wanted to talk to him, but Pendragon appeared to be in some kind of heated conversion with a small group.  Instead, he approached the cowboy with the whip.  “Hey,” he said, “I am ready to tear it up, heh.  Don’t we have, like, space lasers or something to stop these kinda guys?”
Whiplash looked Lionheart up and down, taking in his sandy fur, long hair, talons and impressive fangs.  His red and black leathers were generously adorned with a Union Jack on the back.  “Nice to meet ya’,” the cowboy smiled.
Lionheart had a rough, aggressive way about him.  That didn’t worry Whiplash, who mixed with tough guys all the time.  In fact, he preferred down-to-earth people to the jumped up suits that seemed to be everywhere in this place.  He could tell a good heart from a mile away.  “I gotta tell ya’,” Whiplash said.  “I don’t trust none of these here officials.” He said the word ‘officials’ with a derisive drawl.  “We gotta stick together and keep our eyes on whut’s really going down.”
“You got that right,” Lionheart growled, his fur rippling with fury.  “But if some space aliens gonna throw down with us, I got the strength and fury of a lion, ya know?”
“I hear ya, buddy,” Whiplash agreed, grasping the brutish hero’s hand, “And I believe ya.”

Luna Huntress had managed to stay completely out of the spotlight, which was something of a feat given her cute ‘goth girl’ appearance of black dress, black tights, shoes and coat.  She was always quiet, somewhat introverted, and was content to just sit and watch the proceedings.  Of course, that didn’t mean she had a problem with helping.  Far from it, she was very keen to assist the other heroes.  But her powers weren’t confrontational or flamboyant.  She wasn’t quite sure if she fit into any of the groups that the General had mentioned.  She supposed she’d probably be assigned to the Search and Rescue group, where she could at least calm people down and remove their fears.  That might mean she’d had to work with some others, which made her a little nervous.  But she’d get over that.  She could be tough when she needed to be.

Arc Angel had been watching Runway with some interest.  The other girl was just about the most outgoing woman she had ever seen.  On the way in she’d flirted with the press like a professional, flashing a smile here, turning a cute twirl there.  Her costume seemed to compose of a tiny black dress, sexy black half-mask and pretty much nothing else.  Since she’d gotten into the hall Arc Angel had watched Runway simper and giggle her way through one official after another, while turning what appeared to be a cold-shoulder on the other heroes.  She certainly enjoyed the limelight!  Arc Angel had raised the courage to talk to the woman when another female got there first.
“Hi,” said the gregarious young woman in the bikini, “I’m Got-Gal.”
“I know,” Runway said wryly, “I’ve seen you on the news.  All.  The.  Time.”
Got-Gal seemed oblivious to Runway’s ironic tone.
“I know, right?  So what do you think?  Isn’t this a tedious situation?”
“Whatever,” Runway said, arching a beautiful eyebrow with disdain.
“Hello,” Arc Angel said as she joined the group.  Her white flowing robes and huge white feathery wings were enough to make both women turn and stare.  “I’m Arc Angel.  I like your dress,” she said shyly.
Runway smiled darkly, “That’s very nice of you, your holiness.”
“Hi!” Got-Gal said.  “So this looks like its gonna be, like, really dangerous!”
”Who wants to live forever?” Arc Angel asked, bravely.
“Save me,” Runway said under her breath.
“This is great,” Got-Gal smiled and clapped her hands, “Maybe they’ll team all the girls together?  Wouldn’t that be scrummy?”
“Oh yes!” Arc Angel agreed.  “Good idea!”
“Joyful,” Runway said, her face grim.

The Mirage didn’t particularly want to talk to the other heroes.  They all seemed like kids in fancy dress.  He was a serious man and he didn’t want to waste time with Halloween pleasantries.  In a moment of self-consciousness he realised that he was, himself, wearing a green bodysuit, yellow cloak and red full-face mask, with a huge ostentatious jewel in the forehead.  “Okay,” he muttered wryly, mostly to himself, “I should stop being so pompous.  I’m in fancy dress too!”
“What?” asked another hero nearby.
“Oh nothing,” The Mirage said, “Just talking to myself.  I know, I know. It’s the first sign of madness.”
The other hero was dressed in a full-length trench coat and grey-lensed sunglasses.
“Not at all,” he replied.  “Organising your thoughts is always a good idea.”
The Mirage nodded, then asked: “Who are you?”
“The Sentinel,” said the other man.  The Mirage did a double-take.  He’d heard of this guy.  People said he knew everything, saw everything, heard everything in Helix City.  Quite honestly The Mirage had doubted he even existed.
“Well, well,” The Mirage said.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“And you also, Mirage.  Your reputation precedes you.”
“It does?” The Mirage asked, surprised.  “Oh.”
“What is your opinion of this situation?” The Sentinel asked.  He had been gathering intelligence since the moment he arrived, but any additional viewpoint was useful.
“Well, for a start, I don’t think we’re dealing with aliens necessarily.”
“Why?” The Sentinel asked.
“What is the scientific basis for the assumption?” The Mirage asked.  “A spacecraft does not necessarily equal an alien.  At least, not from a purely logical viewpoint.”

Will O’Wisp was single-handedly managing to out ‘brood’ everybody else in the room.  Which was saying something because there were some serious brooders in the crowd.  But since he had arrived Will O’Wisp had managed to lurk in the background.  In a well-lit room, the hero had still managed to find shadows so that he could drench himself in them.  His grey smoky appearance was disconcerting enough that no other heroes had approached him.  Until now.  Will O’Wisp watched as Black Mist and Countdown strode over.
“Is there something about my manner that suggests I wish for company?” Will O’Wisp asked, his Irish accent obvious in every word he spoke.
“I don’t mean to bother you,” Black Mist smiled, “But we’d noticed you weren’t mixing and since this is a team-up kind of situation, I thought I’d introduce myself.  Also,” Black Mist shimmered out of visibility, them back in again in an eery fashion: “I think we have one or two things in common.”
“My name’s Countdown,” said the other hero, “I’m not usually much of a team-player either.  But serious situations call for different considerations.”
Will O’Wisp looked them over.  Black Mist in his trench coat and wide-brimmed hat and Countdown in his mottled bodysuit with the hourglass emblem on the front.  They seemed suitably brooding.  He smiled and made space in his shadowy patch for the other guys to lurk next to him.  Countdown was right.  Sometimes you had to work with others.  But they had to be the right kind of others.

It took the general about an hour to put together his perfect teams.  When he came back onto the stage he was flanked by several other uniformed officers and Jay The Malleable Man.  He took his place behind the lecturn and began to read from his list.  “Our Crowd Control team will consist of; Fenrir as field leader, Mooncat, Beast Nelson, Lionheart, Runway and Carrumble.  That team will need to deploy immediately as we have had news that some kind of alien craft has landed in Helix City square.  Our second team, Search And Rescue, will consist of; The Sentinel as team leader, Scarlett Speedstress, The Cheat, The Midnight Runner, Arc Angel, Whiplash and Oakheart.  We’ll need you at Helix City Square right away as well, dealing with the fires that have broken out there.  Our third team, Espionage, will include; Jay The Malleable Man as team leader, Luna Huntress, The Mirage, Will O’Wisp, Black Mist and Countdown.  Finally, our fourth team, Spearhead, will be; Solarwind as team leader, Iron Maiden, Pendragon, UltraDoll, Got-Gal, X-Ray Man, White Lightning and Nebula.  Those of you in the fourth team who do not have the power to survive in space will be given specially-adapted space suits which will allow your powers to function and keep you alive.”
The general took a moment to catch his breath.  “Ladies and Gentlemen, you are a vital line of defence for the Human Race.  Never has there been a greater need for your valour and heroism.  God be with you.  And Good Luck.”