“Still,” said Starfish, “she is one of the few with the brains to pull off an attack of such simplistic brilliance. Whoever was behind it had a thorough grasp of super-security, as well as a flair for the dramatic.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” said Camille. “But who then? If Dr. Sterling would coordinate more with the team, we’d probably have a much better idea.”
“Waiting for Annie to share information is like waiting for Dr. Hodges to finally retire,” scoffed Starfish.
“Maybe it was new tech,” suggested Camille. “Some state-of-the-art undetectable bomb with none of the team staff involved.”
The van was slowing down, which meant it was nearly show time. “Alright guys, enough conspiracy talk for today,” said Cosmic Kid, trying to sound upbeat. “Let’s do what we can to help WPPD nab some bad guys.”
The three of them exited the team van and were greeted by a short Asian-American woman in a WPPD uniform. “Starfish, good to see you, who are the new guys?” asked Commissioner Ling, the head of the WPPD.
“Commissioner Ling, this is Camille, formerly Nova Woman, and this is Cosmic Kid who is our field leader for the operation,” said Starfish with a bemused look.
“Teen Ultimate, right?” asked Commissioner Ling, who betrayed a worried look.
“No, West Pacific Supers,” said Cosmic Kid.
“What’s the situation, Commissioner?” asked Camille. Cosmic Kid was thankful for the assist to change the topic of conversation to business.
“We’ve learned from a reliable source that Drake Holm, a known supercriminal with ties to the Infinite Circle is holed up in Crescent Academy along with some other Circle operatives and no doubt contraband. Drake Holm is a mutant with the ability to see through walls and we’ve connected him to the Boardwalk attack,” said the Commissioner.
“How did you connect him to the attack?” asked Starfish impatiently.
“A few things here and a few things there,” said Commissioner Ling dismissively. It was clear that she was going to be as tight-lipped as Dr. Sterling.
“So Crescent Academy is a school?” asked Cosmic Kid.
The Commissioner nodded. “A private school that closed down decades ago. It was converted into a hotel, but it went out of business a few years back.”
“What sort of opposition are we looking at?” asked Camille.
“We have concerns that Drake is leading a team of mutant enforcers. Which is why we’ve brought you in.”
“That’s what we’re here for. What do we know about these mutants?” Cosmic Kid had actually been hoping the mission was just going to involve mundane criminals.
“One is Chinese, uses a sword, and has a penchant for decapitations. The other is green and mean, quite strong and reportedly quite violent,” said the Commissioner. “We also project ten to twenty armed gunmen on the premises; we need Drake alive for questioning.” She showed a picture of a sickly looking man in his 40s with pale green eyes.
“Are we sure he’s here?” asked Cosmic Kid.
“Yes,” said the Commissioner. “We’ve had the place under long-range surveillance for the last week. Drake and his team arrived here about an hour ago along with several trucks that we suspect have delivered illegal contraband.”
“So let me guess the plan,” said Cosmic Kid. “We go in first as you surround the place. We move to secure Drake and if we encounter Sword, Green, or anyone with guns – we neutralize them to allow your people to enter safely.”
“Actually, I was thinking of embedding you all with our tactical teams,” said the Commissioner.
“No, let us go in first. We haven’t trained with your people enough to work with them effectively and we should be able to handle this. You just make sure no one escapes and provide support if we need it.”
“We have a deployment plan already prepared,” said Commissioner Ling.
“Let me see it,” said Cosmic Kid. Commissioner Ling was quiet for a moment and then nodded and led the way back to the nearby command vehicle.
“Cosmic, the Infinite Circle is a major international outfit – this isn’t like local thugs and dealers,” said Starfish. “Let’s take some time, go over the Commissioner’s plan, and then support the tactical teams properly.”
“Camille, prognosis?” asked Cosmic Kid as they followed the Commissioner.
“I’ll have to see the plan, but 20 armed men and three supers is pretty serious, especially as they probably have the place pretty secure and will see us coming. I can get surprise, but that would leave me up front without any support until the two of you catch up.”
The three of them entered the command vehicle and Commissioner Ling brought up a holographic map of Crescent Academy. It had a fairly sprawling campus and even with 20 people it wouldn’t be that well defended, but the defenders always had the advantage - unless it was a siege, then it was the attacker’s advantage. However, sieges weren’t effective in this day and age for publicity and tactical reasons.
“Our plan is basically to cordon off the area and then move into the campus from the main entrance on Twain Street with a secondary group moving in from the north parking lot,” said Commissioner Ling. “If they run in the direction of 32nd Street we have people waiting outside to apprehend them. Your people will be deployed to support those three groups, Twain, Parking Lot, and 32nd Street.”
“It’s a solid plan, but with hostile supers possibly on sight it’d be better if we go in first and your people form a tighter net around the grounds to catch those that try to bolt. Camille will come in by air and Starfish and I will insert here,” said Cosmic Kid, pointing to a place along the wall where a tree was growing inside on the grounds. “We’ll then move to this building, access the roof, run along here, and jump to the second story here, which will give us the high ground. From this point outside to this point on the second floor, we’ll be in position within a minute.”
“A minute?” said the Commissioner. Both Camille and Starfish were also looking at him a little questioningly.
“Yes, give us three minutes and we can have the entire place secured, Drake Holm in custody, and your tactical teams just get to come in and clean up the riff-raff,” said Cosmic Kid. “If I’m wrong, I’ll work the WPPD’s annual kids’ fair next month – even going in the dunk tank.”
“Alright, but if you do it?” asked the Commissioner with the barest of a smile.
“You have to admit I’m a badass field leader – despite being barely past puberty.”
The Commissioner laughed. “Alright, because there are hostile supers on the ground you guys can have the first go. I’ll give you all ten minutes to get into position and three minutes once you’re at the insertion point. We’re two miles from the Academy now and our teams are just waiting for my go-ahead. We’ll move in to surround the place when your three minutes begin, but after that we’re coming in.”
Cosmic Kid looked over the map of Crescent Academy memorizing the details. This would actually make a great place for a teen team facility. He would have to bring that up with Blue Star.
“I’m not super fast like you and Camille,” said Starfish.
“It’s not speed, it’s parkour,” said Cosmic Kid. “The van will get us to the insertion point and then I’ll lead the way. You just have to follow – in fact, this is a pretty easy layout for the approach.”
“Fair enough,” said Starfish, though his eyes were narrowed competitively. “I’m not about to be shown up by a super teen.”
Soon the three supers were alongside an old apartment building across from the Crescent Academy wall. Dr. Sterling was coordinating between the supers and the WPPD. It was time for action. Camille took to flight and Cosmic Kid started running, though not his top speed, which was in excess of 250 mph and really best for straight lines in great conditions. The wall was seven feet high and easily reached in a jump, after which he pulled himself up quickly, tossed his legs over the wall, and vaulted down to the other side. He wouldn’t worry a
bout Starfish or anything except his destination and the quickest route, which was a straight line, more or less. He ran across the field, stepping on a stone bench and springing over it. As he approached the building, he adjusted for the old air conditioning unit and sprung atop it, then leapt for the edge of the tile roof, pulling himself up. The tile was loose, but it held and he was on the roof running down the point of the ridge. He built up speed and with no fear leapt and managed to clear the railing and land on the outside hallway on the second floor. He was in complete harmony with the obstacles and making excellent time.
He glanced back and saw Starfish pounding along the same route, obviously giving everything he had to stay in sight. Up above, Camille whistled low and appreciatively. “Impressive moves,” she called down, “but we’ve been spotted.” Cosmic Kid continued moving down the second floor outside hallway. He heard a door on the first floor beneath the walkway open and people were coming out in a rush. He grabbed the railing and swung over and down. He crashed on top of a guy in jeans and t-shirt flattening him, but there were four others still standing. He moved quickly to grab one and kick another in the head. The one he grabbed he threw into the third one, and for the fourth one he hit his face breaking his nose. Cosmic Kid then moved into the building through the opened door.
He was grabbed from the side by green clawed hands that were attached to a stocky man with green mottled skin, sharp teeth, and a forehead dotted with small horns. Green twisted Cosmic Kid’s arm around in an attempt to likely remove it from his body.
“Okay, I’ll admit that hurts,” said Cosmic Kid, who with his free hand punched Green in the face as hard as he could. The punch caused Green to recoil back and release his grip. There was the sound of gunfire outside as either Camille or Starfish had come under fire. Green though was not done and tackled Cosmic Kid and was wildly trying to bite and claw him.
“You’re like a green pitbull.” Cosmic Kid kicked Green off of him and into a nearby wall. Green was already charging back. Cosmic Kid pulled a canister out of his utility belt and sprayed Green in the face. It worked; Green started screaming and dropped to the ground trying to get the mace out of his eyes. Cosmic Kid heard a door open from farther inside the building and reacted immediately, pulling out a chakra, spinning around, and tossing it. Fortunately, it wasn’t Camille or Starfish but just another goon with a gun who was hit hard and hurled out of the room.
“Annie, what’s the situation?” asked Cosmic Kid.
“Camille is mowing through the gunmen outside and Starfish is heading to a staircase north of your position to come down to your level,” said Dr. Sterling over the headset.
Cosmic Kid nodded and headed north out the door where the most recent goon had been. Starfish was coming down the steps as Cosmic Kid reached the staircase. There was a roar from behind Cosmic Kid as Green charged them. Cosmic Kid shook his head, “this guy does not give up.”
Starfish sprang forward and grabbed Green’s arm, smiling broadly as Green drove claws into his torso. Starfish headbutted Green, crashing his forehead against the small horns, and then tossed him towards the far wall. Green flew across the expanse and hit the wall with a crack.
“Good job, but we have more visitors,” yelled Cosmic Kid, who had spotted three people carrying submachine guns in front of a woman in red who was wielding a sword. “Inside!” he yelled and slammed through a door into the bathrooms. Starfish paused for a moment as bullets sprayed across the area and then caught up with Cosmic Kid, who could see the holes riddling his team member’s uniform and the wounds healing almost immediately underneath.
Cosmic Kid threw one of his flash-bangs outside. “So who do you want: the psycho girl with the sword or the gunmen?”
Starfish grinned. “I have a thing for psycho girls.”
“Fair enough,” said Cosmic Kid. “She’s probably a mutant and a quick healer or else she couldn’t get away with using a sword in the age of guns.”
“Good point,” said Starfish when they heard the Ode to Joy as the flash bang went off. Cosmic Kid rushed out of the bathroom, but the three gunmen opened fire on him. He just managed to dive behind a wall; the flash-bang had disorientated them enough to not be able to accurately target him. Starfish meanwhile had charged through the gunmen, ignoring their attacks, and stopped in front of Red. She smiled and said something in Chinese that was probably witty if he could have understood it.
Cosmic Kid was worried about Starfish; he definitely healed quickly, but he was being reckless in his disregard for the attacks against him. Cosmic Kid heard the guns stop, which by his calculation meant they were reloading. He sprang up, turned the corner, and ran for them; sure enough, they were reloading.
Starfish was dancing around Red’s sword attacks and being backed towards a wall in the process, but he didn’t seem to be concerned by his situation. Several of the attacks cut across his torso and Starfish laughed when one went so deep that the blade got stuck in his chest. Red was strong, mutant strong, but she had to brace herself to pull the sword out. Starfish ignored the sword and decked her across the jaw. She let go of the sword, spun around, kicked him twice, and punched him three times, and sent him flying down the hallway.
Cosmic Kid did a jump kick against one of the goons, flattening him, and grabbed another when he landed and hurled him towards the third one. It was quick and all three were down on the ground in various states of injury. Three was his favorite number and this was a maneuver he used all the time. He moved quickly to help Starfish with Red.
Red ran up and kicked Starfish again, but he was ready for her this time and caught her leg with one arm. With the other, he took the sword he had pulled from his chest and slashed her across the throat. She gasped in pain and smashed into the floor, clutching her neck. She was bleeding, probably fatally. Cosmic Kid quickly kneeled beside her to see if there was anything he could do to save her but the cut was too deep.
“She’s done for,” said Starfish. “Let’s move on.”
There was more gunfire from the courtyard and Starfish and Cosmic Kid shared a look and rushed back there. There were eight gunmen lying in heaps around Camille, who looked winded, but had a triumphant smile on her face. She was also holding Drake Holm who was squirming against her grip.
“Not bad,” said Cosmic Kid admiringly.
“From what I saw, you two also did pretty well,” said Camille.
At this, the WPPD stormed the courtyard with the officers in heavy tactical suits and armed to the teeth.
“There are three more gunmen in there and a dead mutant,” said Cosmic Kid. He wished they’d been able to take her alive. Killing was sloppy and put a shadow over the success of the mission.
“You know, that was almost fun,” said Starfish.
Cosmic Kid forced himself to smile. “Good work, guys.”
It took about two hours to sort things out. Drake wouldn’t talk, but he did let slip that it was Mr. Darwin who planned the Boardwalk attack, although it seemed clear that it was Drake who pushed the button that killed the team. He might even have been able to do it without any inside help. There had also been illegal drugs, weapons, and even pirated DVDs on the premises. Everyone arrested was going down, none of the team had been hurt, and the WPPD never were in any danger.
“Okay, you are a pretty badass field leader,” admitted Commissioner Ling.
“Thanks, and I’m already scheduled by PR for the kids’ fair,” said Cosmic Kid.
“I’ll see you then,” said the Commissioner who finally waved for the supers to leave. “Clear out before the groupies and superazzi arrive.”
“I think this has been a productive evening – but let’s get something to eat!” said Cosmic Kid.
“I have to pass. You two enjoy the victory,” said Starfish whose driver had arrived with his car to take him home.
“I don’t know,” said Camille. “I have a training session in the morning.”
“Come on – you can tell me all about your time on the Infinity
Team!” said Cosmic Kid.
“It was hell.”
“Supposedly Blue Star has been in Hell, so we might have to get him for reference,” said Cosmic Kid as the two of them headed for a nearby diner.
Chapter 34
10:42 a.m., Saturday, July 6th, 2013
Chaucer Court Community Center
West Pacific, CA
The important thing was to act confident, Camille kept reminding herself. It was something she had learned back when she was a teen at the Institute. No matter how badly you were cramping, or how upset you were that the cute guy at the pizza place had brushed you off again because you went to the school for juvenile freaks, or how much you wished that your mom would sober up and make visitation just this once - none of that mattered so long as you acted like it didn’t. You just had to go out into the world with your back straight and your smile bright and people would assume that you were fine. In fact, people would like you more for it.
That was her secret, what Seawolf and all the other negative personalities just didn’t get. It was like when people asked how you were doing, they really wanted you to say “great!” Everyone had their own set of problems they were dealing with, which is why people naturally gravitated towards the self-assured. Dr. Hodges had told her this great quote once, it was famous actually, something some old Greek had said: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.” Camille had altered it somewhat to make her own motto: “Be confident, for everyone you meet wants to be reassured.” That was how she had turned her life around and become a success. No matter what happened to her, or around her, she was a positive person. She was a winner.
Only, she didn’t feel positive anymore. She sat in the community center kitchen, fighting back tears. Jules was gone. Meghan was gone. She wasn’t a winner - she was a loser! She had worked so hard the last 10 years to be successful, to be everything her own mother hadn’t been, to give her daughter the perfect family she had always wanted - and yet she was losing everything that mattered to her. Did Meghan think of her the same way she used to think of her mom: unreliable, untrustworthy? Absent?
West Pacific Supers: Rising Tide Page 34
