Issue Three, Too Hot to Handle
The issue opened with a few panels of the various heroes in their
civilian identities engaged in their daily tasks. Each was interrupted
by the trilling of their IPAC beeperphone.
Another few panels were taken up with the heroes finding a place to
take the call, in which an operator informs them that something
has come up, and that Mr. Wilkins would like them to meet him
at Pier 41.
Wilkins and Glory arrived at Pier 41 in a helicopter and disembarked
quickly. Wilkins told Glory they were waiting for some others. Almost
as he finished speaking, Fervor appeared around a corner and jogged
toward them.
Fervor and the White Knight arrived at Pier 41 within a few moments
of each other, and found Mr. Wilkins and Glory watching as a helicopter
with "IPAC" stencilled on the side departed toward the West.
"Good to see you," Wilkins said. "I thought you might be interested
in this, and you were involved in the earlier stages. I'll brief you
on the way." Wilkins led the group to a fast launch, again with
"IPAC" on it, and hurried the heroes on board. He nodded to the
pilot and the boat leapt forward.
The White Knight nodded a welcome to Fervor and Glory.
Fervor greeted Glory, White Knight and Wilkins with warmth but went quiet
when entering the boat. (of which he was the last to board.) The quiet
dragged on as the normally verbose hero stared at the water, barely listening
to Wilkins explanation.
"We've been working closely with Core the last few weeks," Wilkins began.
"He's got sources of information which are very interesting. He says
he's getting transmissions from the wizards of his home. That may or
may not be true, but the information is accurate. He told us that
the seismic events we've been having lately are artificial in origin.
Someone or something is causing the tremors.
"With his help we managed to rig up some detectors, and when he told us
another one was coming, we were able to get some idea of where the
epicenter was going to hit. We're on our way there now. If we had any doubts
about an intelligence guiding the tremors, this last one remove them.
"It's centered directly on the off-shore research platform."
As if on cue, the scene shifted to the off-shore research platform.
The Wanderer appeared out of nowhere on the deck of the
platform. The platform was a basic flat square 40 meters on each side,
with a raised control room in the center of the north edge, which led
down to the research facilities below. A helipad, empty, was marked
out on the flat surface, and nearby were stacked some crates and barrels,
all lashed down.
The Wanderer ducked behind the crates to catch his breath, then peeked out.
Looking to make sure the coast was clear, The Wanderer, slowly made his way
northward to the control center in hopes of getting a look at the research
facilities themselves. Staying close to the shadows, he went from crate to
crate taking note of any markings on the wooden boxes onto his destination.
The wooden boxes seemed to be aboveboard, all laden with food supplies,
or fairly straightforward equipment related to the management of a floating
research platform. There are also things like helicopter fuel and so
forth.
There was a gap of perhaps 6 meters between the area where the crates
were and the control area, which protruded above the surface of
the platform in an area perhaps 5 meters by 3, with the the long edge
along the edge of the platform itself. The Wanderer crouched behind
a crate at the edge of the gap considered his options.
The White Knight turned to Wilkins and
asked "Do you know how long it will be before the tremor will occur, and how
severe it will be? Also, why do you think the research platform has been
targeted?"
Wilkins replied, "We think it will be soon -- quite soon -- but we
aren't completely sure. With luck, we'll beat it there, if not
we'll be there soon after.
"As for why, we're in the dark. That's part of what we're hoping to find
out."
With an ear out for any unusual sound above the crashing waves, The Wanderer
began to slink up to the control area staying low to the ground.
He got a couple of meters forward, when the door banged open
and two figures spilled out. One was an orietnal woman with slightly
scaly looking greenish tinged skin, wearing a black outfit with a red
sash. The other was a man wearing a blue armored suit of some kind and
carrying a pistol of odd design. The woman was carrying a small metal
case.
They pulled up short as they saw the Wanderer four meters away. The
woman snapped, "Frostorm, deal with him."
"Jawohl, Python," he replied and raised his pistol.
The black clad Wanderer immediately put up his hands in a sign of surrender and
nervously turned around with his hands clasped behind his head. "Don't shoot,"
said The Wanderer.
Frostorm fired a short burst from his Frost Cannon, which missed the
Wanderer by a short margin. The crate a little behind him was suddenly covered
with a coating of ice. Frostorm sighted a little more carefully
and fired again. This time the blast was on target and the Wanderer
was instantly sheathed in ice.
Python had made her way to ladder nearby and was waiting for Frostorm to
join her before she descended.
The Wanderer strained and the ice surrounding him cracked and splintered
leaving shards of ice scattered over the platform.
"What intel do we have on the platform itself,
Commander?" Glory asked. "Is it still in operation,
abandoned...?"
"You should pay more attention to the local news, Glory,"
replied Wilkins with a mild rebuke in his tone. "There was
a protest about it just last week. It's being
used for research by a group of scientists. They've covered
their tracks pretty well so we can't dig up too much about
what's going on, but we did get a couple of names -- Peter
MacOrloch and James LeRoux. They're both brilliant men in
their fields, Atomic Chemistry and High Energy Physics.
"The protesters claimed that there was illegal nuclear research
going on out there. The scientists denied it, of course.
"We do know that the staff is small, probably no more than a dozen."
Glory studied the monstrous platform as they
approached, looking for signs of people, or anything
else that might catch her eye. She'd never been on an
offshore platform before, and knew she didn't know just
what she was looking for, but her instincts told her
to do what she knew how to do.
The platform was forty meters to a side, and rose up ten meters or so
from the surface of the water. The bulk of the platform was underwater,
much like an iceberg. Two boats were attached to the platform, a
tugboat of some kind, probably used to move the platform from place to place,
on the western edge of the platform, and another, smaller boat tied near
what seemed to be ladder on the north edge. A landing dock, another ladder
and a small crane were near the tugboat and that was where Wilkins directed
the pilot to take the boat.
The sea was fairly calm and clear. Several miles away to the north a few sails
could be seen dimly, and perhaps a half mile to the north was a large yacht,
out for a day trip.
"Commander, you disappoint me," Glory said directly to
Wilkins after his crack about the news. "I'm a soldier, not a citizen. The
only 'news' I care about is what I'm briefed in on."
Fervor looked at the research platform with what appeared to be both
anticipation and yearning. It wasn't dry land but it was a lot closer than
the boat he was on now. At times like this, Fervor was glad that he didn't
sweat anymore.
"Do we know if the platform is the cause?" He said checking the sky. If
Skylark wanted to sink this motorized raft there would be little that they
could do except swim.
"Wilkins, What exactly is our authority here? I've pretty much been
reactionary so far in my heroing. But what we appear to be doing is breaking
into private property on a hunch. Do we have some sort of Court Order or at
least an appointment?"
"We're not breaking in at all," came the reply. "We're going to go up
there, tell them that they're in danger and then maybe do a little
poking around on the sly."
The pilot guided the boat to the landing platform and cuts the motor.
In the silence, the heroes heard the sounds of violence from up on the
platform itself.
The Wanderer dissappeared and reappeared in front of Python. Her
flinch caused his grab for the metal box to go wide.
"Python," Frostorm shouted, "we may have a problem."
"I had noticed," replied the woman, as she pivoted smoothly into a kick,
"and I am dealing with it." Her kick whipped toward the Wanderer's head,
but went high as he ducked. Frostorm raced around the corner and
stopped as he saw the developing fight.
Python shifted her weight and thrust a quick two-fingered strike toward
the Wanderer, and the stiffened fingers landed firmly in his solar-plexus.
"Unnnghhh," exhaled The Wanderer as he sailed backwards from the blow,
narrowly missing Frostorm and landing in
a heap. Struggling to his feet The Wanderer quipped,
"Didn't your mother ever teach you when you were a hatchling that it wasn't
lady-like to hit others!"
"Take this and get below while I finish this," hissed Python as
she moved forward with a strange sinuous stride and handed Frostorm
the metal case.
Frostorm accepted the case and moved to the ladder.
The Wanderer swung at Python with an admonishment "Luckily, manners have never
been my strong suit. Take this!" Python danced away, then returned to
a guard position.
Fervor rushed onto the platform almost before the boat came to a stop and
dashed towards the ladder.
"You might want to circle this thing." He told Wilkins. "If someone is
here who isn't supossed to be they will need a way to leave." He began
to climb towards the sounds above.
"Good idea, Fervor," replied Wilkins.
Glory looked up to the top of the ladder. Pretty
vulnerable while climbing, she thought. Oh well.
"Looks like we have a fight to break up, at a
minimum," Glory said absently, scanning the underside
of the platform.
The platform did not so much have an underside as it did walls dropping
down into the depths. In effect, it was a giant square sided box, floating
like an iceberg, with supporting struts and outriggers at sea level -- such
as the landing jetty on which she now stood.
"Wilkins, circle round to the other ladder. I'll ascend there to cover that
exit, and sweep inwards to contact Fervor and Glory. I'll co-ordinate my
actions via the 2-way link in my suit," said the White Knight.
Wilkins nodded to the pilot and the boat began to move.
Turning to Fervour and Glory the Knight said "Good luck, see you topside. Stay
in touch."
Fervor scaled the ladder quickly, followed by Glory, who took the last
few feet in a handspring and roll.
Over by the control room, they witnessed the stand-off between
The Wanderer, Frostorm and Python.
Python reached out and started to grab the Wanderer. Getting one
hand on him, but not the other. She reached out again, but the Wanderer
brushed her hand aside, remarking "Yes, you
may have this dance....but I insist on leading."
Frostorm put one foot on the ladder, looked down, and then looked
back up, "Python, there are more of them down there."
A frustrated Python snapped, "Then deal with them! I am busy."
Frostorm shrugged and raised his cannon. A blast of cold surged down
and enveloped the pilot of the boat, encasing him in ice.
The Wanderer glanced at the new arrivals and said to Python, pulling her
closer, "Friends of yours? I do hope they don't intend on cutting in. Follow
my lead dear....no one can dip like Ramon," joked the black dressed man.
The two struggled as each attempted to get a solid hold of the other.
Fervor stepped in toward Glory. "Anything you can tell me about these guys
before I walk in?" The heated hero quietly asked before moving towards his
opponents. "I'll cut right and try to get Frostorm's attention, give you a
chance to get in close. Oh, I don't want our pilot to catch cold"
Fervor raised his arms and a wave of heat washed out toward the front of
the boat melting the ice from off the pilot, who then collapsed to the
bottom of the boat. Wilkins took over the wheel and brought the boat
to the foot of the ladder beneath Frostorm.
After getting some response from Glory, Fervor sprinted diagonally from his
position towards Frostorm.
Glory leapt forward, tucking in and beginning to both
tumble and remove her quarterstaff from its sheath.
She leapt from crate to crate and then sailed off to land
gracefully on her feet near the combatants.
"A classic battle in the making," Fervor thought to himself before
attempting to get Frostorm's attention.
"Hey, You guys went and started the party without me. Here I thought I was
going to be fashionably late but am fated to show up in the nick of time.
Hey, Frosty, Do you do Beer Mugs also? Can't have a party without frosted
mugs."
Frostorm's response was to shift around in order to get a clearer
shot at the approaching heroes.
Python tried to break free from the Wanderer's grip, but was surprised
by the strength with which she was held.
The Wanderer responded by breaking Python's grip on his arm, and then in
a smooth motion he lifted the woman up and tossed her nearly thirty feet toward
the center of the platform. She landed in a heap and shook her head.
While she screwed her quarterstaff together covered by one of the crates,
Glory observed the scene before she leapt into battle.
Frostorm needed to be put down right now. No time like the present, Glory
thought.
The White Knight leapt off the boat and grabbed the ladder. He quickly
scaled it and arrived at the top of the platform.
Fervor continued to close the distance between himself and Frostorm, thinking
"Now Redemption for letting Skylark get away."
"Hey Frosty, If you just surrender you will save yourself a lot of hurt and
embarrassment. The Hero's Union states I have to be nice if you give up and
I don't want to lose my member in good standing status." Fervor attempted to
make Frostorm hot under the collar.
Taking advantage of Fervor's movement, Glory tumbled forward. She jumped
up and forward at Frostorm in a move she hoped would take the man by
surprise. She vaulted in but the pole hit a wet spot and skittered out
from under her, she landed upright, but awkwardly.
The White Knight reviewed the situation and charged in at Frostorm. A leaping
knee struck the villian and knocked him back several meters. Frostorm
snarled, "Der Blitzkreig is on, then!" He raised his frost cannon
and fired at the ground in front of him. Sheets of ice formed and
glittered on the ground. Then he turned the cannon on the White Knight, but
the blast went wide and left a trail of condensation out over the ocean.
Python rose from the ground and looked around at the scene. With
a snarl she charged back at the Wanderer.
With the frothing mad Python rumbling toward him, The Wanderer reared back to
pop her a good one saying "Must be time for the finale, I do hope the judges are
watching."
He swung, and Python reached out to delicately grab his arm and yank
him over in a judo throw. The Wanderer landed hard.
Glory crouched down, rubbing her calf, "You son of a rat bas--" Glory
muttered, now really itching to feed him the business end of her staff.
Fervor continued to swing around behind Frostorm [K18], avoiding the ice.
The White Knight spent a moment gathering himself after his leap.
"I'll take that as a No to my offer. OK, Can't say I didn't give
you a chance. Time to heat things up a little," Fervor said he sent a heat
blast towards Frostorm.
Frostorm whipped around and triggered a blast of cold to counteract
the incoming heat. "Nein, mein freund, I think not!"
Glory gritted through her pain and took advantage of Frostorm's
distraction to dive at him, leaping over the ice, smashing him one in
the jaw.
Right behind her came the White Knight, his leaping kick finished
the job Glory had started. Frostorm staggered back a few feet, then
his eyes rolled up into his head and he slumped to the ground.
The metal box he was carrying dropped from his grasp and landed on the
platform next to him.
Suddenly the platform rocked violently. Only her great agility kept
Glory from falling, and the White Knight's gyro-stablizers kept him
afoot, but everyone else fell to the ground and the platform skittered
about on the seas. Python shouted, "We took too long."
Frostorm shifted position only slightly, but the metal case sailed off the edge
of the platform and a distant splash was heard.
The platform settled back down for a second, then ruptured! A crack
appeared in the center, then a bare second later, a huge explosion ripped
up through the center of the platform hurling everyone on top back from
the gap. A column of strangely coloured fire streamed up from the hole
in the center of the platform.
The fire twisted strangely and the onlookers thought that perhaps
they saw faces and bodies in the flames.
Screams echoed up from the hole in the deck and three figures exploded
up out of the depths. The first was clad in the grey remnants of some
kind of scientific looking protective suit. Wreaths of fire and sparks
danced around his form as he sailed out of the hole and landed hard near the
edge. The second figure was smaller and sailed quite a bit further
before landing. He twisted in the air and took much of the sting
out of the impact in a graceful roll coming to his feet at the end of it.
The final figure went straight up the column of fire. His skin was hard and
rocklike, and small stubby wings stuck out of his back. Even as the
heroes and villians watched, he gave a strange shudder and his skin became
greyer and stonier and the wings shot out another few feet and then began
to beat supporting him in the air. He wore only the tatters of clothing
around his loins, the rest having been shredded as he changed form.
The fire collapsed back into the hole. For a long moment, everyone (except
the unconscious Frostorm) regarded each other in some consternation.
Map of Research Platform
Issue Four
Last Updated 18 March 2000
