The Eagle #4 - High Voltage pt. 4

                “We are not a group of savages, Mr. Jackson. We will not throw this man off the Eagle to his death.” The council members had been debating Volt’s fate with Alexander for much longer than anticipated. Despite the firsthand evidence Alexander had in support of Volt’s early demise, the council members were taking the higher road. “We will keep him in the supercell and try him for the crimes against our people and our city.”

                Despite Alexander’s political position, he was powerless against that decision. The people would back the council in nonviolence. Despite the above average intelligence each of the citizens onboard possess, they were still human. If there was a humane route, they would choose that one first every time.

                Suddenly a cry rang out in the auditorium. People began running out of the building, pointing up to the glass windows lining two thirds of the back wall. Alexander cursed out loud as he watched a giant form punch through the windows, knocking down half the wall in the process. First Alexander made sure the police were there helping the civilians escape, then he ran out a back door to his hovercraft, hoping he could make it to his quarters in time to save his floating kingdom.

                After Augmento finished destroying the auditorium, he turned his attention to the adjacent office buildings. Volt had requested the most ornate buildings be destroyed first, since he had hoped the council members, and possibly even Alexander, would be killed in the collapse. But after that, Augmento had free reign of the city. Despite being a thirty foot monstrosity, he was still susceptible to damage. Even a few shards of glass from the broken windows nicked his skin. So instead of physically pummeling the buildings, Augmento began picking up various hovercrafts and throwing them into the buildings. He even managed to uproot a tree and use that as a bat to whack down some billboards. As far as he was concerned, this was a basically unguarded city, ripe for the picking. Why Volt wanted to crash it to the ground Augmento did not understand. Why not take it for their own?

                The screams of jets jarred Augmento from his thoughts. He looked up and saw a squadron flying towards him, their missiles already being fired. Augmento swung his tree, deflecting a couple missiles, but two struck him in the chest. He stumbled back into a building, roaring in pain and thrashing around. Augmento managed to knock two jet fighters out of the sky, but the others were turning around. Augmento looked down at his burning chest, rage growing within him. Shouting to the heavens, he started increasing his size again, breaking past the limits he thought he had. Soon Augmento was a towering sixty feet tall, and was happy to find the missile’s damage greatly reduced. He threw his tree at the group, knocking the rest of the jets down. Augmento let out another roar, this one loud enough to break the windows in any building within three blocks. He had never felt so powerful in his life, and went to work reducing the city to ruins.

                Meanwhile, Volt and Mind Queen had quickly made their way to the closest anti-gravity engine. As they burst into the generator room, Mind Queen dropped the guards with mental blasts. Volt walked over to the generator and seemed to be studying it.

                “What are you doing?” The anxiety was apparent in Mind Queen’s voice. “This place is bigger than I thought and we still have at least two more engines to short.”

                “Something’s not right here,” Volt said as he put his hand on the generator’s control panel.

                “Yeah, you’re not following the plan.”

                “No,” Volt looked through the reinforced glass window to the actual engine’s whirling rotor. “This engine isn’t keeping the Eagle up.”

                “Yes Volt, all six are.” Mind Queen pushed past him and started pushing buttons on the control panel. “Let’s get going!”

                “Blowing the engines up won’t matter.”

                “Come again?” Mind Queen wasn’t sure if Volt had lost his mind or his will. She might have to take him out and escape before he got them all killed.

                “There’s something else holding everything up. These engines aren’t putting out enough power to keep something this large afloat.”

                “And all of a sudden you’re an expert engineer?”

                Volt leered at her as he continued. “I have learned a lot lately. I found out I can use my electricity to not only increase my muscle mass, but also speed up my brain functions. So yes, I did read up quite a bit about the technology onboard. At least as much information that is available. And now that I’m seeing it with my own eyes, I’m telling you these engines aren’t doing it.”

                “Then what is genius?”

                Volt was silent for a moment, and then a light bulb went off in his head. “How do you explain something when science fails?” Mind Queen didn’t look like she was in the mood for riddles, so Volt continued. “The answer’s simple. The Eagle is held up by a metahuman.”

                “Father!” Damien ran up to Alexander as he entered his private quarters and hugged him. “I was worried about you!”

                “I’m alive, son.” Alexander knelt down and returned Damien’s hug. “But you need to go with John now. He’ll get you to safety.”

                John already had Damien’s bags packed and was ready to go. “He insisted we wait a little longer for you.”

                Alexander walked over and shook John’s hand. “Don’t worry Alex, that’s the last time I’ll listen to his orders until we are safely on the ground.”

                “Thank you my friend.” Alexander hurried over towards his weapons rack. As he was attaching his gauntlets, Damien put his little backpack on.

                “On the ground? Father I don’t want to go down there!”

                Alexander turned towards his son. “The Eagle isn’t safe at the moment. Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do in order to do what’s right. John’s going to take good care of you, Damien. Now you must hurry!”

                Damien gave Alexander another hug. “I know you aren’t coming with. Please be careful father!”

                “I will, my son. And I’ll make sure the Eagle is safe for your return.”

                John took Damien and the two rushed out of the room towards Alexander’s private hangar. Alexander had no doubt that John would keep Damien safe. With his mind at ease to his son’s safety, Alexander turned to the enemies attacking his city. Putting on a communicator, Alexander began issuing orders to the Eagle commanders. They were ordered to find and detain Volt and any accomplices that might be with him using whatever force necessary.

                Alexander turned to look out his balcony as he charged up his gauntlets, his own bio-electricity fueled by his rage. “I’ll handle the big guy.”