Hopling’s
downtown district is usually a bustling area during the day, being as it is the
center of the warehousing and manufacturing businesses in the city. There are
very few residential areas though, making it an ideal place for the criminal
populace of the city to inhabit at night. On this night, two shadowy figures
moved across the streets, walking casually but with purpose and a set
destination in mind. After taking many turns and back alleys, they stopped at a
corner. Across the street was an unassuming, one storied gray building; on it
hung no signs, only the marks of graffiti that nearly every building wore in
this part of the city.
“This
is your place?” Volt asked, his harsh whisper cutting through the still air.
They hadn’t seen another soul for twenty minutes, and even the background noise
of the city had died down.
“It
was,” Richard said, glaring around the area. “Back in my heyday, nobody could
ever find where I went. Having a place to disappear to was one of my greatest
strengths. But,” Richard paused, staring intently at his old home, “it seems as
if someone else has been using it as of late. I suggest we go pay them a visit
and reclaim my belongings.”
Volt
broke out a smile. “Ahh, now I see why you brought me along.” Volt cracked the
knuckles on his hands as the two men walked towards the building. “Let’s go say
hello.”
“I
loved her. I know we were young, but she was my first real love. I took down
all my barriers with her, told her everything, and taught her all she knows
concerning her own powers. They’re not too different than mine; absorbing,
channeling, amplifying. She learned so quickly with me. It was probably
inevitable, but we fell for each other fast and hard, and the connection
between our similar powers just helped bring us even closer. We were
inseparable for that time.”
“But then…I’m not really sure
when it started, but she grew more resentful to the world. She felt like since
we were so much more powerful, we deserved more stake in this world than we
had. I tried to dissuade her, and that’s when we started breaking apart. Then
one day we got in a fight about it, she blew up, and the sudden bout of rage
sent her powers spiraling out of control. She lost it right in the middle of a
park, and I had no choice but to take her down. I didn’t know what to do
afterwards, but I couldn’t leave her like that. I took her all the way to the
GMA headquarters and handed her over. They promised to take care of her, and I
visited a few times, but ever since that day she was completely unresponsive.
Her powers put her into some kind of coma. Now all of a sudden she’s awake and
causing all this trouble; and I don’t think I can do this by myself. I don’t
think I’m strong enough, emotionally, to fight her again. So that’s why I’m
here.”
Matt
stared across at the members of Frontier, and then let his gaze drop to the
table.
“Wow, you really have a knack
for creating super villains, don’t you?” Tony joked, but quieted himself at
Steve’s glance.
“Tony
has a point,” Steve said after a moment of consideration. “You do seem to draw
powerful metahumans to you. Are there more out there you know of but are
hiding?”
“I’m
not hiding anyone,” Matt said defensively. “Most of those I know are already
registered with the GMA.”
“Except
you,” Natalie cut in.
“I’m
not licensed, but I am registered. It’s just…not updated.” Matt said, shuffling
his feet. The Superhero Rights Act was always a touchy subject, since Matt did
not personally believe you needed to be licensed to do good for the world.
However, as far as superheroes being licensed is concerned, the public opinion
is not in Matt’s favor.
When
the US government passed the Superhero Rights Act, there was another piece of
legislature quietly attached that had huge ramifications. Called the Metahuman
Registration Act, it forced all metahumans to register with the GMA once their
powers manifested, and to periodically update their registration if additional
abilities appear. This allowed the GMA to maintain detailed records of every
metahuman’s abilities and mental state. Seen as a first line of defense against
potentially crazed metas, the bill was initially met with scorn, and it’s only
after two decades have passed that the public has finally simmered down and
accepted the registration as normal. Just like it is a federal crime to seek
and stop crime using your powers, it is a federal crime for a metahuman to not
be registered with the GMA. Matt might believe a license is unnecessary, but
neither he nor his father is stupid enough to defy the GMA by not registering
his powers.
Hmm, Steve thought to himself. Ken had mentioned getting Matt on our side.
This might just be the opportunity we need. “I’ll tell you what Matt,”
Steve said out loud, “We will both do each other a favor. We will back you up in
dealing with Jasmine, as long as you help us out with defeating the remaining
villains.”
“There’s
still some left?” Matt asked in surprise. “I thought she was the only one who
got away.”
“Unfortunately
not; apparently a group escaped with her, and some of our most powerful
adversaries are among them. Including your old pal Sewage.”
A
look of concentration appeared on Matt’s face as he bit his lip. “Brian and
Jasmine? This is going to be much harder than I thought.”
“And
that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Steve continued, “the other four are
powerful metahumans, three of which we have fought before and just barely
managed to defeat. Volt, Land Slide, Obliterator; all have given us a run for
our money individually. We now have to assume they are working together, and
the danger they present is unimaginable. We will need your help as well, Matt.
Think of it as an even trade.”
And perhaps a spark to get you on the team
as well, Steve thought to himself.
The
bodies of the few guards laid sprawled out in the hallways connecting the
subterranean rooms under the super villain Obliterator’s old hideout. Volt
tossed the last man aside and dusted his hands off. “Too easy,” he complained
and followed Richard into a poorly lit workroom.
“That’s
because whoever was using this place has left hastily, taking all their work
with them. These must have been the crew tasked with burning the building down.
It’s very good you stopped them, or else they might have damaged my life’s
work.” Richard walked up to a wall and moved a graph that had been taped up.
Underneath was a hole dug into the concrete wall, and inside the hole was a
keypad. “Idiots,” Richard laughed, “they had to force their way to my lock, yet
they could not break it.”
“Take
a look at this,” Volt said, picking up a stray piece of paper. “Looks like a
formula for some kind of substance.”
Richard picked up a sheet with
molecular jargon and notes written on it and bared his teeth. “Volt my boy,
don’t ever let anyone degrade your intelligence. All that reading you’ve done
in prison has paid off handsomely. That’s exactly what this is.” Richard
crumpled up the paper and threw it back down. “Useless without the rest of the
notes, but judging by the handwriting I at least know who was here.”
“Should we go take them out
too?”
“No no,” Richard walked back to
the keypad and initiated a series of complex codes. “We’ll leave the good
doctor alone for now. We have bigger fish to fry, as the saying goes.” As he
talked, the concrete wall lowered, revealing a collection of advanced weaponry
surrounding a high-tech personal suit of armor. “Besides, Tommy should be
starting the distraction any minute now.”
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