Frontier #5 - Supercharged pt. 5

                Marian jumped up from her seat at the table, cutting Jackson’s sentence short and startling the aids that were clearing the dishes from dinner. Her eyes grew wide as she read the brief report sent by Francis at the base.

                “What is it, Marian?” Jackson asked with actual sincerity. The two had shared a wonderful day together, and he found himself genuinely caring about this girl.

                “I’ve got to go,” Marian said as she hurried out of the room. Jackson stood up quickly and followed, catching up to her and grabbing her arm.

                “Marian wait, what has happened?”

                Marian turned around, her faced flushed and urgency in her eyes. “My dad and Natalie went out to fight Volt, but something went wrong. They need help right now and Tony is hurt. There’s no one else but me. Please, you gotta help me.”

                “Marian…” Jackson began, but she ripped her arm from his hand and turned her back.

                “Fine, whatever. My family needs me, dammit. I’m not just going to sit by on some throne while they get hurt like you. Maybe it’s a good thing you left the team; you’re not a hero anymore.” She ran down the corridor towards the airstrip where her plane was parked. It had already been refueled and was ready to go, but as she went to climb inside she felt Jackson’s hand on her shoulder.

                “What now?” She yelled as she spun around, her eyes wet from the tears she knew she couldn’t shed just yet.

                Jackson had taken off his robe, and was standing behind her in a uniform that matched her own Frontier outfit. His had golden sleeves, and a golden hood mask attached to the back which came down over his eyes and nose. If he put the mask on, Marian saw that he really would give the impression of an eagle. He didn’t have the Kevlar protection like her, but she had a feeling his suit was tailored with some futuristic material that gave him just as much protection.

                As she stared at him he smiled. “I had it on the whole time. You know, just in case.”

                Marian chuckled, a smile breaking out on her own face. “My plane only seats one,” she said with a laugh, although a tear had fallen down her cheek.

                “That’s quite alright,” Jackson said soothingly as he took her hand, “it wouldn’t be quick enough anyway. Come with me, I have other means of transportation.”

                “Where the hell is everyone?”

                Natalie struggled to stay on her feet, using her telekinesis to support her. Volt pressed tighter on Steve’s neck, laughing as he did. Steve regained enough conscious to put his giant hands on Volt’s shoulder in a weak attempt to stop him, but his strength was drained.

                “My first major victory, and over the leader of Frontier himself!” Volt laughed as he charged his electricity up, getting ready to deliver a charge of high-voltage to Steve’s head.

                Suddenly, a blur of black and white plowed straight into Volt. The force of the hit made Volt let go of Steve’s neck and threw him across the battlefield into an adjacent building. Natalie watched as Tony tumbled to a stop halfway between Steve and Volt. He lifted his body up onto his elbows and laughed, wiping some blood from his broken nose.

                “Heard you needed help,” he called weakly from where he lain.

                “You’re crazy!” Natalie shouted back, “You could have killed yourself doing that!”

                “Don’t worry,” a voice called from the hole in the building. Volt climbed out, battered but still going. “He’s going to die, alright.”

                Tony tried lifting himself up, but was unable to do so. Volt rushed towards him, ready to deliver a solid kick that could kill Tony in his weakened state. But before he could reach Tony, Volt was struck with a bolt of electricity, stopping him in his tracks. Natalie and Tony looked from where the attack came with open mouths. Marian had Steve propped up and leaning on her while the Electric Eagle stood in front of them, mask over his face and wearing metal gauntlets on both hands that sparked with electricity.

                Volt stood staring, smiling and brushing dirt off his shoulders.

                “So you are the villain plaguing Frontier.” Jackson walked towards Volt calmly, his royal demeanor showing through.

                Volt looked at him smiling, and Natalie saw that he had grown slightly larger again. Steve must have seen it too.

                “Alex, be careful. He’s stronger than you think.”

                Jackson looked over his shoulder briefly at Steve. “Relax, Steve, I know what I’m doing.” Turning back to Volt, Jackson charged up his gauntlets. “Well, I’m waiting to see your power.”

                “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” Volt taunted, licking his lips.

                “That is fine with me.” Jackson raised his gauntlets and blasted Volt, keeping the electricity pouring onto him. Jackson’s body acted like a generator, supplying the gauntlets with a seemingly endless charge of electricity. What made Jackson a metahuman was his ability to generate bio-electricity. He could use this electricity to power machines of his design, ranging from the anti-gravity engines on the Eagle to his gauntlets.

Volt went to his knees, but soon was basking in the attack. The more electricity Jackson hit him with, the larger Volt became.

                “What are you doing?” Steve called to Jackson, “You’re just making him stronger!”

                “I said I know what I’m doing!” Jackson yelled back over the noise of the gauntlets.

                Within moments Volt was three times his normal size, and towering over Jackson. Jackson wouldn’t let up on the electricity, however.

                “More!” Volt roared, and Jackson eagerly obliged. All of a sudden, they heard a crack, and Volt screamed in pain. His body crashed to the ground in a heap and he laid there writhing in agony. Jackson turned off the gauntlets and walked closer.

                “After seeing you increase slightly from my first attack, I realized you absorb electricity. I also figured you had a limit,” Jackson said as he nudged Volt’s broken and bloated body. “Your skeletal structure couldn’t handle the sudden increase in mass.”

                Leaving Volt to his suffering, Jackson walked back to the others. Natalie had helped Tony up and joined them while Jackson was taking care of Volt. Steve stood up and faced Jackson, extending a hand.

                “Thank you Alex. I’m not sure what would have happened had you not come to help.”

                Jackson shook Steve’s hand. “You probably would have been killed. I would try to not let it happen, if I were you.”

                The two old friends grinned at that before Jackson continued. “But you really should be thanking your daughter. She’s the one who came and convinced me.”

                Steve smiled warmly at Marian, who was beaming with pride.

                Jackson nodded his head towards Volt, who was moaning in pain. “Remember Marian, power without knowledge of said power is a weakness easily exploited.”

                “Any chance of you coming back on the team full time?” Steve asked, knowing full well the answer.

                Jackson shook his head. “You know the answer to that, Steve. But let’s not wait until the last second to ask for help next time. You know where to find me when you need me. I am still part of Frontier, and always will be.”

                At that, Jackson walked away, back towards the teleportation platform Marian and he used to get there quickly. After he left, everyone looked at each other, but didn’t say a word. Each had too much on their mind, and there was work to be done. Sirens were heard in the distance.

                “A little late, aren’t they?” Tony coughed, breaking the silence.

                “They always are,” Marian replied. There would be one hell of a report for this one, she knew. But for once, she was okay with the easy stuff. She put her arms around Steve and gingerly gave him a hug. Her family was safe, and at that moment, that was all she cared about.