The
Eagle was a floating utopia; a man-made Heaven on earth that was kept afloat by
the machines built and powered by one man: Alexander Jackson. He was known to
the world as Electric Eagle, a licensed superhero and affiliate of Frontier.
When he first joined the team ten years ago, Jackson was a terribly loyal and
active member. He went on every mission, patrolled the streets every day, and
was constantly training with his abilities, pushing himself further to become
as powerful as he could. Then one day roughly two years after he joined
Frontier, Jackson just stopped working with the team. He never really quit, but
he distanced himself, eventually built the Eagle, set off on it, and was rarely
heard from again. The reason for his leaving was never talked about, nor was
his current relationship with Frontier. He was, according to the paperwork, an
inactive member. However it wasn’t like he couldn’t be found, since the Eagle
was tracked by both Frontier and the GMA, for emergency purposes. Nobody had just
bothered to go get him.
Marian
flew the plane into the lighted airstrip inside the docking station of the
Eagle. She had never seen it before in person, and was awestruck at the size of
the mobile city. Housing over ten thousand people, mainly workers and their
families, the Eagle was kept floating by six enormous anti-gravity engines,
which were powerful enough to create the lift needed to raise and transport the
structure. Everything that was needed to support the crew was grown or created
right onboard, making it self-sustaining. Metals, compounds, chemicals: the
Eagle’s top scientists figured out ways to create everything necessary using
minimum natural resources and incredibly advanced recycling methods. Some of
the world’s top researchers lived on the Eagle, helping to create the future.
Marian was particularly astounded that Jackson alone could power this entire
airship, for doing so would have to make him one of the most powerful
metahumans the world has ever seen.
As
she stepped off the plane, a member of the flight crew greeted and escorted her
down a hallway which led to a dining room. Set up in the dining room was a
lunch buffet, where various members of the aviation department were helping
themselves. After tasting some of the delicious food grown and cooked on the
Eagle, completely free from chemicals and bio-waste, Marian was escorted out by
a different man. This one was a little over six feet tall, with short cut black
hair, strong features, and a body which, despite the flowing robe that everyone
seemed to wear, Marian knew was a powerful weapon. Immediately Marian thought
this man must be one of Jackson’s personal guards, dubbed the Eagle Men. Highly
trained, they were the special military force that would protect the Eagle in
the rare chance that anyone would be foolish enough to attack.
As the two walked through a
doorway, Marian saw for the first time the sprawling metropolis that occupied
the central part of the Eagle. The city had buildings twenty stories tall,
hydrogen-powered hover cars that sped along the streets, and thousands of
people walking around. Everything was crystal clear, for the city was protected
by air-filtration drones that helped filter out the pollution in the
surrounding air. Beautiful gardens dotted the cityscape, and birds flew from
tree to tree, chipping and adding their music to the symphony of the Eagle. For
a second Marian thought she had stepped into a future version of Hopling.
“What
do you think?” The question snapped Marian out of her daze, and she turned
towards her escort. He wore a grin on his face, and at that moment Marian recognized
she was standing in the presence of the Electric Eagle.
“It’s
too good for words,” she replied with a smile. The two stood looking at each
other for a moment before Jackson spoke again.
“It
really is very nice to see you again, Marian. You have grown from a charming
girl into a beautiful young woman. When Steve sent the message informing me of
your arrival, I made sure everything was in place to properly welcome you.”
“Well
thank you, Mr. Jackson. So far everything has been more than I expected.”
“Please,
call me Alex. And I hope that things remain at that level of delight, Marian.
Would you care to take a quick tour of my city, or did you want to get down to
business right away?”
Marian
could tell in his voice that Jackson was in no rush to talk about why she was
here. “We have some time. I’d love to see more if you’d like to show me.”
With
a smile Jackson held out his arm and, taking Marian’s arm though his, he led
the way, showing her the marvels of the floating kingdom.
The
buzzer went off through Frontier’s base. Steve was already in the control room
by the time Natalie got there.
“Is
it him?” she asked, although a reply wasn’t necessary. Steve wasn’t usually the
first to go on missions; that was the job of the newer recruits. But he was
already dressed and ready to head out to the location of the emergency call.
His outfit was made of the same material and style as Marian’s; they all were,
except his didn’t have as much protection, given his abilities, and had a red
stripe on each shoulder running down the sleeves.
“I’m
coming with,” Natalie said as she quickly changed into her uniform,
distinguished by having a blue stripe down the center of her outfit which
merged with her blue pants. Natalie did not wear the Kevlar layer either, since
her telekinesis granted to the ability to throw up force fields at will. That
meant her suit was much more form-fitting, a trait Steve was happy to enjoy
whenever they went on patrol together. But at the moment he was too distracted
to take in the view.
“I
won’t need assistance with this one.” Steve was not one for chances, nor was he
a hot-headed young hero anymore. But for some reason he felt like he had to do
this on his own, to make up for sending his daughter out alone.
“I
know you won’t, honey. I’m not coming to help you beat him. I’m coming to make
sure you don’t take it too far.”
Steve
stopped suddenly and looked at her. Natalie returned his stern gaze. They both
knew how dangerous an emotion like rage can make a metahuman, especially one
with Steve’s strength. He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and
nodded.
“Thank you Natalie,” was all
that was said as the two finished getting ready and headed out to the garage.
Tony heard the buzzer sound, but
by the time he got up and into his uniform, Steve and Natalie had already left
the building. Tony’s uniform did include the Kevlar layer, only because he
thought it made him look more badass and covered up the ridiculous streaks
underneath. His black suit had three thin white stripes, one running down his
chest and one going from each shoulder down to his feet.
“Damn it!” he cursed. His leg
still hurt from when Volt had struck him down with a radial surge of
electricity. Tony wasn’t completely healed, but he wasn’t about to let that
keep him down. He wanted to get his own revenge on the supervillain. He went to
the door as fast as he could without pain, only to find Francis blocking his
path.
“Out of my way, Glider! I got a
score to settle.”
Francis stood there like a
statue, hands folded in front of him. “Not today, Mr. Wilson. I have orders
from Steve that you are to stay here and rest. You’re in no condition to go out
just yet.”
“Bull shit!” Tony yelled as he
tried to push past Francis, but the older man wouldn’t budge. “Get out of my
way before you get hurt!”
Francis took a step to the side.
“I might not be able to stop you from leaving, Mr. Wilson, but know this. I
have been a part of this team since the very beginning, and I have witnessed my
fair share of young, eager heroes, like yourself, go against Steve’s orders.
Not a single one of them came back in one piece.”
Tony stopped opening the door at
that remark, and Francis continued. “You may go if you like. I have tried to
stop you as best I could. But if you go out that door and leave this building,
you are defying your team leader’s orders, and this will be the last time you
step foot in this building. I know how much you want to go out there and prove
you are a capable superhero. But I also know, as does Steve, how much being on
this team means to you, whether you show it or not.”
Tony stood there staring out the
half-opened door for a moment. Finally he closed the door and sulked back to
the rec room. “Just get me a beer, will ya?”
Francis grinned as Tony walked
away. “Certainly, Mr. Wilson.”
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