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Suicide Squad
The Price of Redemptionby starsky_hutch76, jsagl & Vendikarr_DeWuff
Steve Trevor had wanted to accompany his wife as she left on yet another world-threatening mission, but the general consensus had been that it was a JSA matter. Even though he now had the power to do more than sit on the sidelines, he had to accept that. They had been handling this sort of thing for nearly fifty years. And frankly, he could understand why the JSA might not want him at their side. After everything they had been through, it had torn him apart to see her leave him yet again. He had so much he wanted to say to her.
He had a lot he needed to say to his daughter, too, but since they had returned from the JSA brownstone, they had worked in silence straightening the house. It kept them from having to deal with the many feelings that were there.
Never in his life had he felt so ashamed. He couldn't believe he could ever have treated his wife with such disrespect, as if she were property, or that he could ever have raised a hand to his own child. The fact that it was a personality from another lifetime didn't help. It was still him.
Luckily, there was a great deal of cleaning to do, so he could try to tuck it into the back of his mind. Apparently, in his former life he didn't like to pick up after himself. Not even when there weren't slaves to do it for him anymore.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. He was glad for the distraction. That was, until he opened the door. The two men standing on his front porch were obviously government agents. After years of service, he could spot them from a mile away, from their standard dark suits and matter-of-fact posture.
The two men were visibly startled by his appearance as he opened the door, despite efforts to keep a firm demeanor. He had traded the tunic and armor of Odysseus for a flannel shirt and jeans and pulled his long hair into a ponytail. But he was still an enormous, musclebound man larger than you would normally come across.
"Who is it?" Lyta said, placing a hand on his shoulder as she joined him at the door.
"Feds," Steve said.
"General Steve Trevor?" one of the agents asked, flashing his credentials.
"Yes," Steve replied.
"We have a warrant for your arrest." The other agent held up the piece of paper in question. "You're to come with us."
"I thought something like this might happen," Steve Trevor sighed. "Very well. I'll come along peacefully. No need for handcuffs."
"I doubt we could find any to fit you, sir," the first agent replied.
"Daddy, no," Lyta cried.
"It's alright, honey," he said. "Better to get this over with now than be hunted and hounded for the rest of my life, which could be forever now. I've done some bad things and I have to answer them."
"This way, sir," one of the agents said, gesturing to the waiting car.
Lyta watched as her father was led to the large, black sedan waiting in front of their house with the engine still running. Their family had been through so much. She had hoped it was over, but it looked now as if it would never end.
Chapter 2
by jsagl
As Lyta watched the black sedan drive off, she wondered what else could possibly go wrong. Her father was arrested by federal agents. Her mother off with the JSA doing Hera knows what. And here she was all by herself doing...
"Hector!!"
Lyta quickly ran into her father's study. In all the confusion of the past week, she had forgotten to call Hector. As she picked up the phone, she noticed the answering machine... 15 messages. As she played them back, Lyta heard that they were almost all from Hector. Now she felt even worse.
With the speed of Hermes, Lyta dialed Hector's number at Stellar Studios.
"Hello?"
"Hector, is that you? It's me Lyta!!"
"No, I'm sorry, this isn't Hector, this is Johnny Quick. Can I help you?"
"Johnny??? This is Lyta Trevor, Wonder Woman's daughter. What are you doing at Stellar Studios? And why are you answering Hector's line?"
"Well, Sylvester left me in charge here temporarily while he went off on a mission with the JSA. As for Hector, well, he's gone."
"Gone? What do you mean gone?"
"Well, he packed a few things yesterday and left suddenly. Sly got a call from him this morning, but I had to take it. Hector just said to tell Sly that he quit, effective immediately. And he hung up... hello? ...Lyta...?
But the Trevor residence was suddenly empty as the phone dangled off the desk...
*** And elsewhere in Washington, DC...
Steve Trevor sat in a small room, very dark, with only two chairs and a table. On one wall there was a door. The other was a mirror, but Steve already knew that there was someone behind it watching him.
Looking directly at the mirror, Steve spoke up, "How much longer are you going to sit there staring at me?"
A few moments passed, and the door opened, admitting a man and a woman. The man was obviously older... 50's perhaps, steel gray hair and attitude to match. He wore a black suit with a white turtleneck. The woman was much younger, 20's, Steve guessed, with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses.
"Well, General Trevor, it has been a long long time..."
Steve looked at the man, puzzled. "I am afraid you have me at a loss..."
"I'm not surprised. We saw each other briefly back in 1942. I was a member of the All-Star Squadron at the time. Allow me to introduce my associate, Cameron Chase."
"General." The woman nodded.
"And you are...? And you brought me here for...?"
"I have a proposition for you, General, one you can scarcely afford to turn down. As for who I am, well, the name's Hank Haywood, but you can call me Commander Steel."
Washington, DC: One week earlier....
"I don't like it. Since we were all hurt that big fight in the Crisis, we've been shuffled from one hospital to another. No one will give us a straight answer, dammit!"
"They're doctors, Vixen. I'm sure they know what they're doing," Gypsy said.
"Really," Vixen said. "Well, I feel fine now. Don't you? In fact, I don't really see any reason for us to be here at all. Especially in this room. Do you?"
"Hey, mamacita, I'm just as confused as chu," Vibe said.
"This last place they've brought us doesn't look like any hospital I've ever seen. There were soldiers out there."
"Maybe it's a military hospital. Someone did tell us the government was footing our bills," Gypsy said.
"This door's locked!" Vixen said, trying to turn the door knob. "How many hospitals you know lock their patients in?" She walked over to the large mirror and yelled, "We know you're watching us, so come in here and give us some damn answers!"
The door opened and a 50-ish man in a black suit with a steel grey flat top walked in. "I believe I can provide some answers."
"I know you," Gypsy said. "You're Hank's grandfather!"
"That's right. Hank Heywood, Sr. But for our purposes, you can call me Commander Steel."
"Well, what are we doing here?" Vixen demanded.
"To make you understand fully, I'll need to tell you a little bit of my history. Years ago, I was one of the many costumed mysterymen who fought in the '30s and '40s. I was even part of Roosevelt's All-Star Squadron, composed of all the mysterymen including the JSA."
"JSA?" Gypsy gasped. "You're talking about Earth-2?"
"That's right," Commander Steel said. "I see you've read up on the JLA's history. Good. It'll make this easier. During one case, the JSA needed to travel to other dimensions. To do this, we tried to use alien technology. They were sent on their way, but I was sent to Earth-1. Eventually, I discovered the secret that had sent me there and I became the point man between the US Governments of both worlds, as well as chief of operations concerning metahuman affairs."
"Whatchu mean by metahuman," Vibe asked.
"Drop the Charo routine, Vibe. I already know you just do it to annoy people," Commander Steel said.
"Whatchu mean I joosy do eet to... aw hell, you got me," Vibe said, throwing his hands up. Vixen and Gypsy turned, glaring at him with outraged expressions.
"What a band of misfits," Commander Steel said. "Makes this all the more satisfying."
"What are you talking about?" Vixen said.
"When the Crisis came, our tech boys realized that soon it might become impossible to cross over between the five remaining worlds."
"You mean you can no longer cross over to Earth-2?" Gypsy asked.
"No," Commander Steel said, a cruel grin forming, "I mean we can no longer cross over to Earth-1."
"What the hell do you mean we're on Earth-2!" Vibe said.
"You kidnapped us?" Vixen yelled in outrage.
"No," Commander Steel replied. "When the worlds were temporarily merged, I simply made sure I was on a point that would return to earth-2. And that you were with me."
"But why?" Gypsy said.
"Because you were turning the JLA into a joke. I didn't put the time and energy into my grandson, making him the next Steel, so that he could be part of a joke. Now that you're gone, the slots will be open for real heroes and they'll have a chance to return to greatness."
"How could you do this? I thought you were supposed to be a hero," Gypsy said reproachfully.
"Well, I saved your lives, didn't I? If I hadn't gotten you medical attention, you would all be as dead as your earth-2 counterparts... who were all criminals, by the way. So don't even think about running off or you will be hunted down by the law."
"Criminals?" Vibe gulped.
"That's right," Steel said. "Just as Johnny Thunder is a criminal on Earth-1, all of your doppelgangers were criminals here. So the only way to clear your names on this world, your new home, is to play ball with me."
Interlude
FORMATIONS
by Vendikarr_DeWuff
"She's on the plane. We should have her and the glasses in a matter of hours now," said Amanda Waller, head of the Suicide Squad, a branch of the DEO.
"Are you sure you want her to handle the glasses. I'm sure we can find a trained operative to use the equipment," replied the tall muscle-bound man with black hair, with a white streak running through the middle.
"You know I don't trust government types. My operatives will be free-lance. They have to have something to gain. That I understand."
"So you don't like me much, do you?"
"Munro, you know you're not my choice for field commander, but Steel thinks your the man."
"Don't call me Munro, my name is Liberty," replied the long-time government operative.
"Oh, okay... Munro," said Waller with a grin.
The two then entered the meeting room, filled with prison officials, and her support crew.
"Status?" called out Waller.
"On the LA front, Mr. Bones took the deal. He'll become the Northeast Regional director, and in exchange, we get Helix." The young computer/communications expert, named Tony Gordon.
"I don't trust him. I mean naming a super-villian to such an important government position."
"Oh calm down, Libby." Waller smiles to herself again. "His psyche profile shows he's a decent man, only somewhat maladjusted. He wants to do the right thing. And given his background, he'll do whatever it takes."
"He just needs watching, that's all I have to say."
"That's why Steel's pet agent, Chase, will be assigned to the Northeast region. To keep an eye on him as well as the JSA."
"Speaking of Chase..." said John Econimos, warden of Belle Reve prison. "Dr. Trap arrived today. Blackgate couldn't wait to get rid of him. They said he scares the crap out of the supervillians incarcerated there."
"Well, given his history, I don't blame them," said Liberty. "Does Chase know he's eligible for 'the program'?"
"NO. And she won't. If we need to use him, it doesn't become public."
"I have an item," said Liberty. "My former team-mate, Senator Perkins, wants his daughter to get some experience. Can we make room for her? Goes by the name of Blue, and has underwater abilities."
"I don't think we can use her," replied Waller. "Powers are too limited."
"Well I told him she could join. She's in. Or do I have to call Steel?"
"All right, Munro, I'll give you this one. But remember I'm the one in charge here."
"Like you'd ever let me forget."
Economos continued, "We have villians coming in from all around the country. Our opening the first federal prision devoted exclusively to super-villians is a big success."
"No big surprise there, John," replied Waller.
Gordon then spoke up. "We have news from the tap into the JSA system. Seems the JSA is away on a mission through time. They fear it may be a one way trip."
"Tap into the JSA system?" asked Munro.
"Yeah, during the Crisis, their headquarters took damage. We had one of our cover companies do the repair work for free, and we put in our own monitoring devices at the same time. Works great," replied Gordon.
"I don't like that idea."
"Well tough, 'cuz it was Steel's to begin with. The JSA can be the largest source of super-human trouble on the planet. They're trouble magnets. And we need to know what's going on."
"Sometimes I wonder if I'm on the right side," said Munro.
And quietly to herself, Waller said, "Me too."
"Nice hair," Cameron Chase said. "The Commander here'll probably make you do it. You should see what he did to Arak."
"If he wants to cut my hair, he's more than welcome to try," Steve Trevor replied. "When I did, the scissors broke. Now why have you brought me here? I know it wasn't because you don't like my hair style."
"True enough, General Trevor," Commander Steel said. "I'm sure you didn't choose to go around looking like a hippie. But you've gotten yourself into a fine mess, nonetheless."
"Lets just say my wife made some enemies in high places," Steve Trevor said.
"You didn't win any friends, either. You put a lot of men in the hospital. Some in the morgue. Sure, they weren't of the highest element, but this country likes its heroes with their hands clean."
"I suppose you're going to tell me how I can clean them?" Steve Trevor asked.
"That we are," Commander Steel said. "Let me tell you about a little operation we've got under way. We call it the 'Suicide Squad'."
"Nice name," Steve Trevor replied.
Chapter 5
by starsky_hutch76
"I'm sure you recognize this man," Commander Steel said.
"Sure," Steve Trevor said. "Arn Munro, a.k.a. Agent Liberty. Some people compared his strength to that of Superman. He was the military's best kept secret. Good thing. All of the publicly-known mysterymen were kept off the front thanks to Hitler and his Spear of Destiny."
"I don't know if he was that strong," Commander Steel said. "But the process that gave him that strength has kept him going all these years. He's still an active agent in the field. You'll be working with him."
"He and I on the same team is kind of overkill, isn't it?"
"Considering who will be on the team, probably not," Cameron Chase said. "Your job will be to watch his back as this venture gets off the ground."
"Watch his back? Isn't that what the rest of the team is for?" Trevor asked.
"It's the rest of the team you'll be watching," Commander Steel said.
"Ah," Trevor nodded. "I take it this will be a lot like his team back during the war."
"That's correct," Steel said. "Only more so. The team will be comprised mostly of criminals. Those desperate for a pardon. Even those that don't qualify as villains don't really want to be here. You're job will be to make sure no one tries to sabotage the mission or take out the team leader. In exchange, your record will be expunged and your full military rank returned to you once your service to us is complete."
"Mostly criminals. I take it you're anticipating a high body count... hence the name 'Suicide Squad'."
"Also correct. You don't have a problem with that, do you, General?" Commander Steel said, sizing him up.
"I didn't have a problem with a little danger before I had powers. I certainly don't now."
"One more thing," Cameron Chase said, taking out another picture and handing it to him.
"Who's this?" Trevor asked. "Is something wrong with this picture or is this girl really blue?"
"Nothing's wrong with it," Steel said. "That's Senator Perkins' little girl. He's used some pull to force her onto the team for experience. Apparently, he doesn't realize the danger she'll be in. Perkins has some very powerful friends. If anything were to happen, it could be bad for all of us. We don't need that kind of heat."
"I'll look out for her," Trevor said.
"See that you do."
Chapter 6
by jsagl
Steel's office, DEO.
At his desk, Commander Steel pondered his visit from the Shade. It wasn't like the old bastard to get spooked. Steel himself had an overwhelming sense of deja vu when he chatted with the Shade. It was definitely odd.
"You wished to see me, sir?"
Startled, Steel looked up from his reverie to see the golden form of his secret weapon, the robot known as Mekanique.
"I didn't hear you come in."
"My apologies, Commander. Agent Chase informed me that you wished to see me immediately."
"That's right. You've been inactive for the past few days. Are you functioning properly?"
"Yes. All my systems are functioning within normal parameters."
"Have you determined the cause of your malfunction?"
"The results are inconclusive. It appears that even my dimension-spanning abilities are unable to pierce the veil between worlds."
"I'm sorry, Mekanique. It must have been awful to have been deactivated for so long..."
"Yes... yes it was..."
And even though he knew better, Steel could have sworn he saw a brief smirk on Mekanique's face...
Chapter 7
by starsky_hutch76
Vibe walked into the recreation area of Belle Reve, where he saw a sullen Arak staring at a TV that wasn't even on. "That thing would work a lot better if you hit the power switch, amigo."
Arak turned and gave him a stony gaze and then turned back towards the TV. Obviously, he preferred to be left alone, but that wasn't about to sway Vibe.
"What's wrong with you, man?" Vibe asked.
"I'll tell you what's wrong," Arak snarled, pointing to his close cropped hair. "Look what that bastard Steel did to me! I told him that the hair was a part of the traditions of my people, but he scalped me anyway! I would've fought him and his boys off, but they had those damn restraints on me that dampened my powers.
"Jeez, I'm sorry, man," Vibe said sympathetically.
"It was the white man who invented scalping, you know," Arak said. "People think it was Native Americans, but it wasn't. Bounty hunters were paid to kill 'Injuns', so they'd peel the scalps from their victims so they'd have proof of their kills."
"You'd think he'd at least have a little respect for a guy's culture," Vibe said.
"They don't have respect for any of us," Arak said. "We're just meat to them. Same goes for the rest here. I Thought Penny, Tao and Babe were my family. Bones, too. But they just laughed when they saw what they'd done to me."
"Maybe they didn't know..." Vibe said.
"They knew what my culture meant to me," Arak said angrily, the hurt rising in his voice. "It's all I had left since Dr. Love took me away from my family. All I had left of my people.
"Our peoples were here before any of these others came here, Vibe," Arak continued. "So you and me need to look after each other... watch each other's backs. Because these white men sure ain't gonna do it. I've seen some of the people they're recruiting and they'd just as soon take us out as the enemy."
Vibe listened to the angry young man, weighing his words and wondering what sort of situation he had gotten into.
Chapter 8
by starsky_hutch76
Commander Steel sat at his desk reviewing the files of the candidates for the Suicide Squad. As he reviewed, he made notes.
Shade. Delusions of grandeur, Hallucinations, more than likely insane. There were enough wild cards on the team as it was. He crossed his name off the list.
Gypsy, Vixen, and Vibe. So-called heroes on their own world. Common criminals on Earth-2. Or so the world thought, since their doppelgangers were dead and they now lived here in their place. None could truly be trusted since they were here against their will. He made a note to have Waller fit them with explosive wrist devices to insure their cooperation.
Tao Jones, Arak, Babe Boom and that ridiculous mutt. They might cooperate since Bones was in a role of power, but they might not. Arak might be particularly troublesome since the hair incident. Better outfit them with the devices, too, he thought.
Dr. Trapp. Outfit him as well. One with a hair trigger, preferably. Better he were dead before Chase found out he was included.
General Steve Trevor, a.k.a. Odysseus. It was fortunate the man was as trustworthy as he was because he doubted seriously one of the explosive wrist devices would leave so much as a scratch. Given his stellar military career, General Trevor was beyond reproach. The same, however could not be said for Odysseus. His special brand of justice had left a trail of broken, battered, or dead criminals across the west coast. How he would react to being on a team of criminals was uncertain. Given his place in history, they could only hope Odysseus was soldier enough to follow orders without his ego getting in the way. For his old friend Munro's sake, he hoped so.
Chapter 9
by starsky_hutch76
Senator Neptune Perkins stood on the deck of the S.S. Excalibur watching the ocean. He missed the days when he could roam its depths freely without a care in the world. Those days were behind him, though. He had responsibilities, now, that he simply couldn't escape, no matter how much he might like to. At least, not until the end of his term. He doubted he would seek re-election.
This duty was particularly irksome. So much that it was passed down the line until it reached his desk. That's how he came to find himself on a boat headed towards a backwater nation so he could play mediator as it signed a treaty with another backwater nation.
It was during times like these that he considered retiring from politics and getting back into the hero biz. The process that had given him his powers had also left him extraordinarily well-preserved now that he was approaching sixty. Most of the members of the JSA were even older than he was. It had to be more exciting than this. And if there was anything he needed in his life right now, it was excitement.
As if someone upstairs were telling him to be careful what you wish for, the ship suddenly lurched as if something enormous had smashed into the side. Neptune Perkins gripped the railing of the deck to keep from falling. Members of the deck crew screamed as they slid across the deck. A few unfortunate sailors fell over the edge and sank beneath the waves. A thick, red stain developed on the surface of the water where they'd disappeared.
Whatever it was that had hit the first time continued to strike the ship. The loud, booming sound of tearing metal and rushing water filled the air as the hull was pierced. The ship jerked violently in its death throes, hurling more men from the ship. He thought his arm would rip from its socket as he fought to hang on. The ship quickly took on water and sank beneath the waves and he found himself in the once-familiar ocean anyway.
All around him were wildly flailing sailors fighting to stay alive. 'I have to help them,' Neptune Perkin thought, his mind racing. 'I have to help them. I'm the only one who can survive here...' He gasped in horror as he saw the gigantic circling shark fins rising out of the water to circle them.
The surviving crew were pulled under the water one by one. He tried to lash out at the giant beasts, but they were too powerful. He was like a flea to them.
Soon, he was the only one left. They had spared him for some unknown reason. He swam back to the surface, hoping he might spot a survivor, even though he knew it was no use.
When he broke the surface, he was met by a futuristic submarine that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Perhaps it had been down there with him. It was hard to tell. The water seemed murky with the blood of his former crewmates.
From an unseen hydraulic platform rose a monstrosity; half-man and half-shark, to greet him. He was accompanied by two beautiful women. "Greetings, mi amigo," the shark-man said with a Spanish accent. "I trust my friends have brought you no harm. My employer would be most dissatisfied, and I hate to disappoint my clients. I am Carcharo."
"Then I was spared for a reason," Neptune Perkins sputtered angrily.
"But of course, my good Senator. Someone is paying me very well to bring you in alive," Carcharo said.
"You murdered all these men just to get at me?" Neptune Perkins shouted in outrage.
"Of course!" Charcharo laughed. "My friends were hungry and no one was paying me to bring those bandechos in alive!"
"Monster! You've wasted your time and the lives of good men! I have no intention of coming along peacefully. If you knew who I was, then you should know I can easily thwart your plans by swimming to the shore for reinforcements."
"Oh, I know all about you. But senator or super-hero, I'm not impressed."
A megaladon suddenly rose out of the water, mouth open wide. Neptune Perkins could tell that it was taking special care not to touch him with its several rows of teeth as it became a prison he dared not struggle too hard against.
"You can swim all you want AFTER I get paid," Carcharo chuckled. The platform lowered back into the odd submarine which then disappeared beneath the ocean surface.
Chapter 10
by starsky_hutch76
Vibe and Arak stood in the recreation area of Belle Reve playing Galaga. Vibe watched as Arak played his turn. "I think you're going to break the high score, Holmes."
"I think you're right," Arak laughed. "Not that it's all that hard, considering all the practice we've been getting lately. What I wouldn't give to be able to step out for a little while. I don't think we're that far from New Orleans."
"I hear the French Quarter's pretty fun," Vibe said. "I've always wanted to go to Mardi Gras. But we got these stupid bracelets on."
"I can't believe they stuck you guys in those, too," Arak said. "We broke the law. But you guys were big-time super-heroes."
"Lets just say Steel doesn't think we got his best interests at heart," Vibe said.
"Well, we'll make that Mardis Gras trip some day, pal," Arak said.
"Yeah," Vibe said, offering his hand up for a high five. "And we'll make sure we bring plenty of beads for the ladies."
As the two laughed, Amanda Waller suddenly walked in. "If you boys are done with this display of male bonding, we've got a briefing in room C."
"Aw, come on, Wall," Arak said. "We were in the middle of a game!"
"Now!" Waller boomed.
"Looks like we'll be stepping out pretty soon after all," Vibe said.
Chapter 11
by starsky_hutch76
One hour earlier...
"We have our first mission," Commander Steel said, handing Amanda Waller and Agent Liberty each a file. "How ready is the team?"
"All of them are in pretty good shape," Agent Liberty said. "Except for Deep Blue. She's inexperienced. She could use more time."
"Then you'd better hold her back," Commander Steel said. "She could be a liability."
"Easier said than done," Amanda Waller said, reviewing the file, "considering the mission's to rescue her father."
"Then we'll have to make sure she doesn't find out," Commander Steel said.
*** Vibe, Vixen, Gypsy, Dr. Trapp, Karnage, Odysseus, and the assorted members of Helix sat in the stadium seats of room C. "Why isn't Deep Blue here?" Penny Dreadful asked.
"She had other business to attend to," Commander Steel lied. Amanda Waller stared at him from the corner of her eye. She resented his presence. This was supposed to be her operation, but he'd been hanging around since its formation. Hanging around and stepping on her toes.
"Little rich girl gets to hang out here but doesn't have to take the risks. Is that it?" Babe Boom sneered.
"No. No. That's not it at all," Agent Liberty said. "On this mission, she'd be a liability." Amanda Waller gave him a sharp look. "They're about to find out the details of the mission anyway," he said to her.
"She'd be a liability on any mission," Karnage said. "She just ain't got the stuff."
"Her parents were two of the finest operatives I've ever worked with," Agent Liberty replied. "Given time, she will be, too."
"By the time that happens, I'll be an old lady," Babe Boom said. "And I ain't ever gonna be an old lady." This made all of Helix, Karnage, and Dr. Trapp burst out laughing.
"Enough!" Commander Steel shouted. "Put that kind of crap behind you now or you may not live to regret it. Deep Blue may not be accompanying you on this mission, but she'll be there for the next. She could even be the one watching your back. If you don't think she's performing up to your standards, you'd damn well better get her there. Like it or not, you're a team and you'd better not forget that."
The assembled group grew quiet. Vixen stared at him in amazement. She had just seen evidence of the hero he had once been. She wondered what had turned him into the sort of man who would turn his own grandson into a freak or kidnap people and strap explosive devices to their wrists to make them cooperate."
"The reasons for Deep Blue not accompanying you have nothing to do with her abilities," Steel lied. "They have to do with her father..." the lights dimmed and he lifted a remote off of the desk next to him and clicked a button making a slide projector project an image onto the screen behind him, "...Senator Neptune Perkins."
"Awful long hair for a senator," Vixen commented.
"Cute for an old guy," Tao Jones added.
"The long hair is his trademark. He used to be a mystery man in the '40s and '50s," Amanda Waller said. "If Superman were to run for office, he'd probably still be wearing his cape if he wanted to get votes. But the man's hair-do isn't what we called you here to talk about."
"Senator Perkins has been kidnapped," Commander Steel interrupted. "Two days ago, Senator Perkins was enroute to Bialya to oversee the signing of a treaty with Vlatava when his ship was attacked by an international terrorist known as Carcharo, and destroyed." He clicked his remote again and a picture of Carcharo appeared.
"That's an international terrorist?" Vibe exclaimed.
"Don't let his looks fool you," Waller said. "This sucker's no mindless beast. He's got it upstairs where it counts. He's been making a lot of trouble in international waters."
"He's been guilty of countless acts of piracy, using his ill-gotten gains to fund certain terrorist groups. He also sells his services to the highest bidder, which is the case here. Parties unknown have paid to have Senator Perkins kidnapped," Agent Liberty said. We can only assume it has to do with the treaty."
"Stopping Carcharo was supposed to be your first mission," Commander Steel said. "But this forces us to send you in sooner, rather than later."
"He's mean-looking, alright, but he's still just one guy. Isn't all this a little overkill?" Vixen asked, gesturing to everyone sitting in the stadium seats.
"Maybe if he were alone," Agent Liberty said. "But he's got a few accomplices." Steel clicked the remote again to what appeared to be sharks swimming in the ocean.
"So he's got a few sharks," Karnage said. "So what?"
Steel clicked the remote again to show one of the "sharks" attacking a boat, revealing that each of the sharks was the size of a whale, if not larger.
"What the hell are those things?" Arak yelled. Mutt let out a whine.
"Megalodons," Amanda Waller replied. "Prehistoric Sharks. Until now, everyone thought they were extinct. Now we're learning differently."
"Apparently so," Gypsy gasped.
"There's a rumour going around that he was raised by those things," Waller added. "Probably because he's so bloodthirsty."
"You can't send us up against those things!" Babe Boom cried.
"I'd think you had an advantage against them," Commander Steel said, "considering the nature of your abilities. A well-placed explosion could easily take one of them out."
"I have to be close enough to do it," she said, "without getting eaten."
"You'll get close enough," Commander Steel said. "You've got Commander Steel and Agent Liberty to help handle the big fish." Everyone looked uneasy except for the two men mentioned.
"Nothin' doin'!" Babe said, folding her arms.
"Who's his employer," Vixen said, trying to change the subject.
"We believe it to be President Abdul Rumanji of Qurac," Commander Steel answered. "He had the most to gain by continued strife between these nations. Right now, each is blaming the other and it could shortly lead to war. We believe he plans to launch his own bogus rescue mission after war breaks out between the nations in order to best take advantage of the situation. Of course, we plan to have Senator Perkins back before that happens.
"I'll leave the rest of you to hammer out the details. Babe Boom, you come with me," Commander Steel said, gesturing towards the door.
Babe lowered herself down off the stadium seat uneasily, allowing her diminutive form to drop the several inches between her feet and the floor.
"What is it, Steel?" she asked, trying to sound stern as she looked up at him as they left the room and headed down the hall.
"From now on, refer to me as 'Sir'," he said cooly.
"Okay ... Steel," she said mockingly.
"You're in need of a serious attitude adjustment, young lady."
"Like you're the first person to tell me that," she laughed. Her cocky demeanor cracked when she noticed they were heading for a part of Belle Reve she'd never been in before.
"I have someone I want you to meet. After you've been to see him, I think not only will you cooperate willingly, but enthusiastically."
He opened the door at the end of the hall to a room that looked like something out of an old sci-fi movie. In front of a rack of test tubes stood a creature with the body of a dog, the wings and legs of a bird, and the arms and head of a buck-toothed old man.
"What are you going to do to me?" Babe screamed, latching on to Steel's leg.
Steel laughed. "It's not what we're going to do to you. It's what we're going to do for you."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"I realized that unlike the other members of the team, the simple promise of freedom and absolution isn't enough to insure your cooperation. Even if you're free, you still have no chance of a normal life."
"Yeah, so?" Babe Boom said, irritated at the mention of her infirmity.
"Babe, I'd like you to meet Dr. Togg, an old enemy of my former All-Star Squadron teammate, Hourman. He may not look like it, but he's one of the top genetic minds in the world."
"You flatter me, Commander," Dr. Togg said. "Not to say it isn't true..."
"Dr. Togg here was conducting experiments in DNA long before most scientists knew what DNA was."
"If he's so smart, how come he looks like that?" Babe said.
"It has its advantages," Togg said.
"Dr. Togg is, in fact, well over 130 years old. He was old when he was transformed. When he realized the accident also stopped his aging, the only change he made was to restore his arms so he could still work in the lab."
"What's all this got to do with me?" Babe said impatiently.
"I've filled Dr. Togg in on the details regarding your problems with aging, or the lack of it. He has samples of your DNA, bloodwork, et cetera, and he believes he's found a solution to your problem."
Babe's eyes grew wide with shock and "He... he does?"
"Believe, no. I know I do," Togg said with satisfaction.
"You can make me an adult?" Babe said in a voice heavy with emotion.
"Not quite," Togg said. "But I can inhibit that in your system which keeps you from aging. You will finally begin to grow up."
"Oh..." Babe Boom said, still bewildered.
"It's your chance at a normal life," Commander Steel said. "It may not happen all at once, but the opportunity's now there for you. Of course, if you don't feel like playing ball, you can always stay five years old for the rest of your life."
"No..." Babe said anxiously.
"So you'll cooperate from now on?"
"Yeah, Steel. I'll cooperate."
"I don't think I heard you," Commander Steel said, holding his hand up to his ear.
"Yes... yes, sir," Babe said anxiously.
"Excellent!" Dr. Togg said, holding up a large syringe. "Then shall we begin treatment?"
Chapter 12
by starsky_hutch76
The members of the Suicide Squad were about to board the plane to Qurac when they were stopped by Commander Steel, who was accompanied by Amanda Waller and Mr. Bones. "Not you, Mutt," he ordered.
"Helix sticks together!" Arak said.
"You're not Helix anymore," Commander Steel said. "None of you. You're now all part of Operation Liberty. It's time you got that through your heads. Mutt stays here because we've got a better place for his talents. From now on, he'll be working in our tech area."
"Bones, please," Penny Dreadful said pleadingly to her former teammate.
"Sorry, darling, but this is something I can't fight. Especially when it's plain to see the man is right."
"Think of all the toys you'll have to play with when Uncle Sam's footing the bill," Commander Steel told Mutt.
Mutt left the group standing by the plane and enthusiastically joined Commander Steel, Waller, and Bones.
"Lets move 'em out, people," Agent Liberty yelled to the team. Liberty and Odysseus led the way as they stepped up the ramp onto the nondescript cargo plane. The rest of the team eyed eyed Mutt and Mr. Bones as they boarded the plane. There could only be one reason they were staying when the rest of them were being sent off on this mission. Steel wanted them as permanent fixtures in his new operation. The rest of them were expendable.
Chapter 13
by starsky_hutch76
There was an uncomfortable silence in the cargo hold of the plane as the Suicide Squad flew to Qurac. "I can't believe Critter would just walk out on us like that," Babe Boom said.
"Yeah," Tao Jones said. "He was happy to do it! His tail was wagging!"
"Well, hell, girl," Karnage exclaimed. "What'd you expect him to do? You wanna see him become shark food? Way I see it, Steel did him a favor."
"What would you know about it?" Babe yelled.
"I can tell who's gonna be any help on the team and who's not... Baby Boom," Karnage sneered. Babe Boom stuck her tongue out at him in response.
"He's right," Arak consented. "Kritter was never big on action. For technical stuff, he was great, though. He's better off where he is."
"So what did he send the runt for?" Karnage said, gesturing towards Babe.
"You wanna see why he sent me?" Babe threatened.
"No, Babe!" Penny Dreadful said. "You'll blow up the plane!"
"Whatchu trying to do, man? Get us killed?" Vibe said, grabbing Karnage's arm.
"Take your damn hand off me unless you want to lose it."
"Watch yourself," Arak said.
"Didn't you listen to what Steel said about functioning as a team?" Vixen said to Karnage. "We can't afford any weak links."
"Oh, I ain't weak," Karnage said. "Maybe after this plane lands and we get put up for the night I can show you just how good my endurance is," he said with a wink.
Vixen rolled her eyes. "In your dreams."
"The hell with all of you," Karnage growled, flushing with embarassment. "I'm in this for me. I just want to get this over with and get my pardon so I can go back to doing what I was doing before the Huntress got me in sling."
"Way I hear it, you got yourself in sling," Vixen said.
"You just don't know when to quit, do you lady?" Karnage said menacingly.
The cargo plane suddenly lurched wildly, drawing a startled cry from several of its passengers. Agent Liberty walked into the cargo hold from the cockpit. "Sorry about that, everyone. The pilot hit a bit of turbulence." He looked around at the faces of his team. "What's been going on in here?"
"Karnage has just been winning friends as usual," Vibe said.
"What's your problem, son?" Agent Liberty said.
"My problem's this pack of losers you've got me hooked up with," Karnage said, gesturing at the rest of the team with his thumb.
"This 'pack of losers', as you call them, could be all that stands between you and winding up in that little cemetary they've got in the back of Belle Reve."
"Man, I don't need them!" Karnage spat. "I can handle myself! I took down Batman's daughter! Twice!"
"Yeah, I had you pegged as the sort who liked to beat up on women," Agent Liberty said with an ice cold stare. "But as I recall, she ended up beating you, didn't she?"
Karnage shot to his feet in anger, both fists clenched. A look passed between them and everyone else seemed to brace themselves for the coming fight. The moment was broken when Odysseus raised to his feet and bellowed, "Sit down!"
A look of worry passed across Karnage's face. "Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?"
"Are you crazy?" Arak said. "Man, that's the guy who knocked out Superman!" Karnage quickly sat down.
Agent Liberty's face flushed with anger as he stared at Odysseus, who wasn't even looking in his direction. Instead, he seemed preoccupied with his own thoughts. "We'll have no more bickering in the ranks. As for you, Trevor, I'll thank you to remember that your rank won't be restored until the end of the mission. Until then, I am highest-ranking officer on this team."
Steve Trevor turned in his direction. "Duly noted," he said before turning his head back in the direction it had been before to return to his private musings.
Agent Liberty turned to head back to the front of the plane, cursing internally. He had been in no danger. Karnage's weaponry was safely tucked away and it wouldn't have mattered even if they weren't. Hardcases like him needed to be made an example of. What had Trevor been thinking? He hoped this wasn't the first sign of a return of the Odysseus personality.
Chapter 14
by starsky_hutch76
The Suicide Squad strolled through the marketplace in plain clothes, trying to blend in. For most of the team, it wasn't a problem. The streets were a mixture of various ethnicities. Odysseus and Agent Liberty wore hoods to try and hide their features because caucasian men stood out in an area rarely frequented by tourists. Dr. Trapp went one step further and used a scarf to hide his metal jaws. Babe Boom was wrapped in swaddling clothes and carried by a veiled Penny Dreadful.
"Keep your eyes peeled," Agent Liberty said. "Our agent in the field is supposed to make contact with us here."
The marketplace was a jungle of exotic smells, sights, and sounds. Anything could be bought or sold here. It made Karnage wish he could split up from the group for a while. It gave Odysseus an uncomfortable feeling of deja vu.
A breeze blew by and a fold of the blanket moved, revealing Babe Boom's face. A filthy man quickly ran up to Penny Dreadful and said, "How much for the child?"
"What?" Penny exclaimed, horrified.
"How much for the fair-skinned child you hold in your arms? I give you good money!"
Before Penny could say anything, there was a small explosion in the back of his hay wagon, setting it ablaze. He let out a cry and ran over to the wagon and quickly began slapping at the fire with a blanket. Then he turned to a man smoking a cheroot and slapped him in the head, thinking him the one responsible.
"Damn, Penny. You weren't quick enough," Arak laughed. "It's not like we couldn't use the money."
"Har har," Babe Boom said from inside the blanket. "If we're that broke, maybe we could sell you as an air conditioner. As hot as it is around here, we could probably get a good price."
"Knock it off," Agent Liberty barked, hurrying them along. "Penny, keep her covered! Babe, save your explosions for the enemy."
The Squad continued on, trying to avoid merchants as well as any interested "buyers". They were mostly successful except for those interested in the women or for hiring the enormous Odysseus for labor.
They were beginning to see the end of the marketplace and thought the exhausting ordeal over with when a dancing girl suddenly appeared in front of Karnage.
"Alright," Karnage said, grinning lasciviously at the olive-skinned beauty. "This alone is worth the price of the trip." He began moving with her to the sound of the music. He put his hands on her hips and pulled her to him, Dirty Dancing style, and then began sliding them behind her.
"Would you mind getting your hands off my ass?" she said sharply, in perfect English.
"Oh great. Now I've even got dancing girls rejecting me," Karnage said.
"I'm not a dancing girl," she snapped. The Arabic features of her face began to ripple and then part, revealing fair skin and blond hair before changing back. "Don't worry. You were the only one who saw that," she told him. "The name is Marcie Cooper."
"You're white!" Karnage exclaimed.
"And you're black. So what?" she said, wrapping her arms around his neck as she continued to gyrate sexily, like the dancer she was pretending to be.
"I don't have a problem with it if you don't," he said, bringing his face closer to hers.
"Neither do I," she said, bringing her finger up to his lips. "But let's save that sort of thing until after the mission." She nodded towards Agent Liberty and said, "Tell the boss man over there that what we're looking for is going to surface on the docks by the east side of town, tomorrow night. Rumanji's agents are going to be picking up their delivery then."
"I'll tell him," Karnage said. "You know, I could really go for a girl like you."
"Well, they don't call me Spellbinder for nothing," she said flirtatiously, lightly touching the side of his face. Then, as suddenly as she had appeared, she was gone.
"I take it that was our contact," Agent Liberty said, walking up beside him.
"I think I'm in love!" Karnage laughed.
"You'd be amazed how many times I've heard that since she's started working for us," Agent Liberty said.
Chapter 15
by starsky_hutch76
From a safe distance, the Suicide Squad watched the docks on the outskirts of the capitol city of Qurac. They were spread out over a wide area to give themselves the greatest range of surveillance.
"See anything yet?" Vixen asked Agent Liberty over her communicator.
"Nothing yet," he said, lowering his binoculars to answer her.
"A black sedan is pulling up," Odysseus said, gazing towards the docks without the aid of surveillance equipment.
"You can see that far?" Vixen said in amazement.
Agent Liberty quickly lifted his binoculars to his eyes. "He's right!" Two men stepped out of the Sedan. "It's Rumanji's agents. Everyone move in slowly... 100 paces."
Each member of the Suicide Squad advanced their position towards the enemy agents. They braced themselves for the coming conflict.
Suddenly, Carcharo's leviathan surfaced in the distance and began to move towards the pier. "It's him," Agent Liberty said grimly.
"What do you want us to do?" Vixen asked.
"Wait for my signal. Nobody moves until I give the word. Let him come in closer."
As soon as the leviathan was close enough, a ramp came out to meet the pier. Two armored women walked down the ramp to meet the two men. Each of them held onto the handle of a large trunk. When they approached the men, they exchanged words and one of the women leaned down to open the chest. Inside was a bound and gagged Senator Neptune Perkins.
Chapter 16
by starsky_hutch76
"What are they saying?" Agent Liberty asked, watching Carcharo's henchwomen and and Rumanji's agents as they conversed over the trunk that contained Senator Neptune Perkins.
"They're discussing the financial terms of the exchange," Odysseus said, listening in with his enhanced senses. "At a later date, they plan to fake a rescue after he has been brainwashed into complying. If his conditioning doesn't work, he won't survive said rescue."
"That isn't going to happen," Agent Liberty said, lowering his binoculars. He lifted his communicator and said, "Everyone! Attack now!"
Carcharo's armored henchwomen turned in alarm as the ramp leading back to the Leviathan suddenly exploded.
"Nice work, Babe," Penny Dreadful said.
Rumanji's dark-suited agents began firing wildly at the approaching Suicide Squad. Agent Liberty charged forth to incercept the path of the bullets, which bounced harmlessly off of his impervious hide. "Looks like I'll have to requisition another uniform, thanks to you guys," he said. He backhanded the gunman, knocking him unconscious.
Karnage struck the hand of the other gunman with his electrified whip. Currents of electricity went through the gunman, which not only made him drop the gun, but electrocuted him.
"I thought I told you to set that thing for stun," Agent Liberty said.
"Guess I forgot," Karnage said, grinning at the smoking form.
The Leviathan quickly started its engines and took off in the other direction. Odysseus took to the air in pursuit.
Tao Jones deflected the bolt of one of the female soldiers of Carcharo and sent the blast firing back at her. Penny used the device Amanda Waller had given her to generate sparks which she multiplied to send a blast flying at the other armored henchwoman, shocking her into unconsciousness.
Before they could get to the trunk to untie Senator Perkins, he stood up and the ropes seemed to fall off of him.
"What the...?" Agent Liberty gasped. Gypsy appeared next to Perkins.
"Good job, kid," Agent Liberty said.
"All in a day's work, chief," Gypsy said, brushing her hands together.
"The Leviathan is getting away," Vixen said, watching as it sped off into the distance, followed by Odysseus trailing behind as he fought the megalodons who sought to defend their leader.
"Not if I can help it," Agent Liberty said. "Babe Boom, you're with me."
"Oh man, I've been dreading this!" Babe Boom said as Agent Liberty hoisted her up. He hit a button on his belt, two rockets protruded from his backpack, and he flew in the direction of Odysseus's pursuit of the Leviathan.
"Carcharo's still got a pretty good lead on them," Vixen said. "Think they can catch up?"
"They can if we give them a hand," Arak said. "Vibe, you take the waves. I'll take the air. And you and me'll give old shark-puss a storm like he's never seen."
Vibe aimed his seismic powers at the land beneath the waters and the seas began to stir and swell. Arak used his powers on the air and storm clouds began to gather and fill the sky.
"I hope your friends know what they're doing," Agent Liberty said to the heavily-armored Babe Boom in his arms.
"Don't worry, chief," Babe said. "Arak's got it under control. You just make sure you fly us through this in one piece. I don't wanna end up as fish food."
"I've got you, Babe," Agent Liberty said, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "Don't you worry."
Babe felt her composure briefly melt at his fatherly tone. "...Okay... I'm not worried..."
"Right there, Babe!" Agent Liberty exclaimed. "Use your blast! Right there!"
"Aaaiiee!" Babe screamed as yet another megalodon leapt at them and received a telekinetic explosion instead of the meal it had expected.
"Babe struggled to regain her breath. "Is hanging out with you usually this much fun, Munro?"
"Ha ha. Nice job, Babe. We make quite a team."
"Y-yeah. I guess we do." Babe blushed.
Odysseus soared down at the megalodons, hacking at them with his sword or aiming it at them to fire bolts of enchanted lightning. Suddenly, the Leviathan switched directions, turning back towards Odysseus. A missile fired from an unseen turret and struck him from the air. A megalodon leapt up and swallowed him whole.
"Trevor!" Agent Liberty screamed.
"Where is he?" Babe said. "Can I hit it with my blast?"
"It's gone back under," Agent Liberty said, crestfallen.
"Can it even hurt him?" Babe exclaimed.
"I don't know," he said. "There's so much about him we just don't know."
"I don't believe it!" Karnage said, looking through binoculars. "They got Odysseus!"
"Not if I can help it!" Vibe said. "I'm gonna turn up the juice and really sock it to that canned tuna!"
The waves began to roll and toss even more than before. A strained look came into Vibe's face and a sweat broke out on his brow.
"Wow. He's really giving it to them," Penny Dreadful said, pointing. "Look!" The Leviathan, which had already been having trouble submerging thanks to the storm, was now being tossed up and down by the waves.
"He certainly is," Neptune Perkins said. "And it couldn't happen to a nicer fish."
"It's also getting us more attention than we needed!" Dr. Trapp said, pointing to the line of shark fines rising from the waters as it moved towards them. "You damnable super-human freaks have killed us all!"
"You don't exactly look normal with that kisser," Karnage said, starting to move towards Dr. Trapp.
Suddenly, a normal-sized shark leapt out of the water and swept Vibe up in his jaws as it soared to the water at the other side of the pier.
"Paco!" Vixen cried, jumping into the water after him.
"Is she insane?" Dr. Trapp cried. "She'll be killed, too!"
"Her totem'll protect her," Gypsy said.
Another shark leapt forward from the water at Arak. This time, Tao Jones was able to use the force of its own leap to send it flying back into the water.
Vixen soared out of the water with a grievously-wounded Vibe. "He's bleeding to death," she said mournfully.
"Oh, God," Penny said. "I don't think I've ever seen so much blood."
"I have," Vixen said, closing her eyes as old painful memories surfaced.
"You're a doctor, ain't you?" Karnage said to Dr. Trapp.
"You expect me to treat him?" Dr. Trapp said. "People like him caused the death of my wife!"
"You want me to tell Steel you let a teammate die?"
"Very well," Dr. Trapp said, sounding annoyed. "This sort of thing really isn't my area of expertise, but beggars can't be choosers... I'll do what I can..."
"Just do it!"
Dr. Trapp leaned down and inspected Vibe. "This man is already dead," he said coldly.
"You're lying!" Vixen shouted.
"See for yourself."
Vixen looked down at Vibe's still form and cried, "Damn Steel! Damn him for bringing us here!" Arak, also hurting as he stared at the still form of the only friend he'd ever had outside of Helix, held her as she cried.
Gypsy wept silently. Despite his efforts against it, Karnage felt his heart going out to her.
"We could be next," Tao Jones said, pointing to the water as more fins began to rise and circle the pier even closer than before.
"Oh, man. We're so screwed," Karnage said, staring out at the circling fins.
"Oh, for Pete's sake," Dr. Trapp said. He picked up the rifle of one of Carcharo's unconscious armored henchwomen, stopping only long enough to kick her over the side of the pier to the waiting sharks. He fired at one of the power lines near the pier, creating a shower of sparks as it was severed. "Guide it here, Tao Jones!" he ordered.
Tao quickly obeyed, conceding to the forcefulness and confidence of his voice.
"Catch it now, girl," he said, shoving Penny Dreadful towards the live cable. She suddenly found herself filled with more power than she had ever had to deal with, especially as her own power continued to multiply it.
"Don't hold it in, you stupid girl!" Dr. Trapp snapped. "Unleash it! Into the water!"
Penny shot out her hands and enormous bolts of lightning crackled out from her palms and into the water. Shark after shark began to shoot out of the water and into the air, crashing against the waves as they went through their death throes. They became progressively larger the further they went as wave after wave of electricity coursed from Penny Dreadful and into the ocean.
Eventually, the force of the blast reached the Leviathan itself, causing sparks and fire to errupt from its surface. Penny Dreadful collapsed into the waiting arms of Neptune Perkins.
"I don't freakin' believe it!" Karnage gasped.
"It just stood to reason," Dr. Trapp said smugly. "If she can do what she does with a small amount of electricity, then just imagine what she could do with a great deal. As you can see, my hypothesis was correct."
Neptune Perkins gently laid Penny down upon the wooden floor of the pier. "Easy girl," he said coaxingly. "You did good."
"Wake up, Penny," Arak said, leaning down next to her and shaking her lightly. He lifted her eyelids and tried to look into her eyes, but they seemed to roll back into her head. "You better hope she's alright," he said, turning to Dr. Trapp with a menacing glare.
"She's still breathing, isn't she?" Dr. Trapp said. "Her system has simply received a bit of a ... shock."
Arak reared back with his fist. "You son of a..."
"Hold it right there, son," Agent Liberty said, coming down from the sky, still carrying Babe Boom. "As ignoble as Trapp's actions seem, they still delivered us a victory. Penny, at least, still has a chance of recovery." He gazed regretfully at the still form of Vibe. "Frankly, we've had enough casualties for one day."
"I'd say there's room for more!" A thickly-accented voice boomed from the end of the pier. It was Carcharo. The enormous man-shark, clad in Aztec-themed armor, leapt from the water and onto the pier with lightning speed. He slashed Dr. Trapp with the claws of his right hand and snarled, "You have cost me a great deal and I will have blood." With his left hand, he swatted Arak, delivering a deep cut across his bare chest.
Dr. Trapp lay sprawled across the floor of the pier, holding the gash in his side. "I'm so sick of super-humans," he croaked. He opened his metal jaws and bit into Carcharo's calf.
"Aaaaaaaiiiiiighhhhh!" Charcharo screamed in shock and outrage. He leaned down, about to deal Dr. Trapp the final blow as the wounded villain spit out a chunk of flesh. It almost looked as if his metal jaws were smiling up at him.
Agent Liberty charged forward and delivered a right cross to the man-shark's jaw. Charcharo slumped to the ground.
"As the duly designated representative of the United States of America, I hereby place you under arrest," Liberty spat.
"I'm not sure he heard you, chief," Babe Boom said.
"Frankly, Babe, I could care less."
Epilogue 1
by starsky_hutch76
Odysseus climbed up onto the pier, retching up the ocean water that had filled his stomach and lungs. He collapsed on his back, still coughing loudly.
"Could you keep it down?" a feminine voice said. "I'm trying to enjoy the beautiful night. Look at all those stars. You can see so many more when there aren't any electric lights around to detract from them. We have Penny to thank for that."
He looked over and saw a scantily-clad woman in pink with pink-bobbed hair. "Spellbinder?" he said, choking.
"That's me," Marcie Cooper said. "Liberty had me hang around in case you showed up. Apparently, he had a hard time believing a guy who could take on the JSA could be taken out by a giant shark."
"Don't forget the missile," he said. "Or all that damn electricity in the water. It was like taking a bath and then someone throws in a damn toaster. I had just hacked my way out of that big shark only to be greeted with that little surprise."
"At least it seemed to shock you back to your old self... mentally speaking anyway. You still look like the cover of one of my favorite romance novels," Marcie said. "Nice hair, by the way. Right now, you look kind of like one of the bouncers at a Motley Crue concert."
"I'm hoping it will go down soon," he said, holding his hand up to his wild mane.
"I'm sure it will," Spellbinder said, taking his arm. "Come on. We've got a jet waiting on us."
Epilogue 2
by starsky_hutch76
Agent Liberty stood before Commander Steel, finishing his report on the mission to Qurac. "...and so while the mission was a complete success, I had hoped for better results on our side than two fatalities and three wounded."
"One fatality," Steel said. "I just received word from Cooper. She and Trevor are on their way back. Frankly, considering the resources you had to work with, I'm amazed you managed to hold on to as many you did."
"You are? If you didn't have complete confidence in this team, then why did you send them all into the field? Why was Deep Blue the only one held back?" Agent Liberty said indignantly.
"Deep Blue aside, isn't it obvious? You've been a soldier for nearly as long as I have, Munro," Steel said, raising one eyebrow. "The best team is the one forged in the line of fire. The strong survive. The weak fall by the wayside. As the weak ones fall away, new recruits are brought in and the process continues. I'd hoped a few more slots would have opened up with this mission, but they've proven themselves. I've got to give them that," he sighed. "But at least Carcharo will make a nice addition to the team."
"You'd add that monstrosity to the Squad?" Agent Liberty said, startled.
"Of course I would! His abilities will work well in the field. Of course, it'll have to be a very specialized mission. I'm sorry if his moral character offends your delicate sensibilities," Commander Steel said, leaning back in his chair. "I thought we'd already been through this sort of thing."
"I'm not offended," Agent Liberty said, stiffening. "I'm used to it. But I do see having him on the Squad as a potential powder keg with the rest of the team."
"By the time his leg heals enough for him to walk without a noticable limp, it might no longer be a problem... if you know what I mean."
"Yes," Agent Liberty said with a sigh. "I know exactly what you mean."
Epilogue 3
by starsky_hutch76
"Are you okay?" Gypsy asked Arak as she stood by his bedside in the sick ward at Belle Reve prison.
"Y-yeah," he said, staring at his bandaged chest. "But I think I'll have to wear a uniform with a shirt from now on unless I want to show off my scars."
"How about Penny?" she said, looking over at her sleeping form.
"She'll be alright once the shock wears off," Arak said. "All she really got from it was a few minor burns. She'd never had to deal with that much power before."
He turned to where Dr. Trapp lay with a custom fit oxygen mask over his face and and an IV in his arm. Heart monitors were connected to keep a careful read of his vital signs. "Looks like Dr. Trapp will live, too. The bastard."
"How are you really doing?" Gypsy asked. "I mean, besides the scars?"
Arak took a deep breath. "Oh God, Gypsy. It hurts so bad. Jesus. I mean... I'd known the dude for only a little while, but we were buds. I mean, it had become like we were brothers, or something."
"I know," Gypsy said huskily. Tears began to well up in her eyes. "Paco was like that. He either drove you crazy or you immediately fell in love with him. Even if he drove you crazy, you eventually came around and began to love him in the end."
Arak turned from her as he fought to keep his composure as his own tears surfaced. "Huh... Helix is my family. But Paco was... Paco was my friend."
"You have other friends now, too, Arak," Gypsy said, taking his hand. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. As he watched her walk out of the room, he realized he didn't feel so alone anymore.