by Kristogar Velo, T5 and Grimm
Marv Velo would find some way to show his respects for the fallen Johnny Omicron. It was doubtful that there would be any sort of formal gathering, given the life that the deceased led. Although Velo noticed his passing, he wasn't particularly saddened by Omicron's death, outside of the fashion it came in. Johnny knew what he was risking every day he chose to live the life he did (he was damn good at it, too, it should have been noted). Velo felt that his current team could be a little better at what they did if they held the same resolution.
Speaking of the team, they hadn't asked Velo where he was going as he walked out the door. They had learned he wouldn't tell them, anyway. The truth, known only to Velo, was that there really wasn't a destination.
Even so, everyone on the team had better things to think about than what Velo was doing, and the veteran knew that. Danny Hearn had just led the way against a fifth-dimensional being and another team of more savvy and just as powerful rivals. Who knows what any of the newbies -- the Raptor included -- thought. There was also a rush that came after being hired for and completing a mission.
Velo was used to the feeling, that tingling one got when finishing a good day of fighting. He was almost buzzed by it, by being tired and energetic at the same time. Although he probably needed rest, Velo ignored his body's suggestion. He needed to keep moving. He needed to think as well, and his new room in the Fish Factory didn't exactly lend itself kindly to either of these notions.
Velo fiddled a little with his thin armor and began to fly. He started testing out his maneuverability in the moonlight for no reason other than he could. Velo called this dead time, and he couldn't stand it. He always needed to be doing something. Some nights he would fly halfway across the world to find something useful to accomplish. There was no desire for that here. Velo's body just couldn't take it.
Then, without explanation, a random memory surfaced in Velo's mind: A boy with a well-aimed toss of a pie right into his face. Velo chuckled, then outright laughed at the memory, despite himself. The boy was the first neighbor to greet the weary traveling circus, and his family was as affected by the recent disaster as anyone. So Velo decided that he would find out what the family needed -- food, clothing, new home, whatever -- and supply it, as a thank you for the warm welcome. The night would not be so void of life, after all.
Elsewhere on the island:
Juanito, Pedro, and Manito, the three brothers that once were the neighborhood rascals, got the surprise of their life when the flying stranger came to their house loaded with parcels and bags.
Little Pedro ran inside the house to call his mom as the other two brothers just stood there with their mouths open.
The flying man told them not to worry and that he came with gifts to the ones that had been so kind to him awhile ago.
It took Juanito a few moments to realize who this flying stranger was. A memory of throwing a pie on a newcomer's face surfaced, and he swallowed hard. Had this man come to repay the practical joke? Or was he sincere in his statement that he was here giving thanks?
Their mother came out and saw the wonderful bags that the flying stranger was currently opening to show the suspicious kids that he was here in friendship.
The mother saw the food, fruit, medical aids, blankets, and some extra clothing, and wept and smiled at the same time. She gave him a bear hug and told him that these supplies came right in time. Their things had been blown away in the storm, and their current money was just enough to cover the rent for the new flat they had managed to find. He would also always be considered a friend of the family.
The flying stranger smiled back, promised to visit again, and told the boys to behave and obey their mother at all times.
They humbly promised or hoped to die, and saw the flying stranger take off into the clear sky.
Juanito would remember this day forever... even the day in the future, a few years from now, when he stood and spoke the loyalty oath for membership in the Taskforce.
Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida, 9:36 a.m.:
The men casually strolled through the open gates with the rest of the crowd. When they approached the ticket booth, the man in the tuxedo simply said something to the booth worker and smiled. The men entered the park without paying.
"Okay, remember the plan -- spread out through the park; act casual. When I give the signal, go." The man in the tux gave the orders to the rest of his crew, who followed them implicitly.
The large, muscular man with the ram face and horns scratched absently at the blue paint that he had to wear for the sake of this job. "Stuff itches. I hate it," he mumbled. His partner in the red spandex outfit and mask seemed too preoccupied to notice.
At precisely 12:00 p.m., "Nowhereman" gave the order. The Metahuman Brotherhood of Liberation struck.
"Tobias" used his abilities to slow down a crowd of people in front of a roller coaster, while making the ride go ever faster and faster. Finally, it skipped the tracks and jumped the side of the railing.
"Naecken" used his brute strength and horns to bring down as many buildings as he could, while "Eurostar" used his metagene to mimic the abilities of as many of his partners as possible.
"Lance" stood and shrugged off a blow from a security guard. The guard's hand felt like he'd broken it. If he had been able to look, he might have seen what would appear to be a metallic sheen where his hand had struck the man's face. "Lance" proceeded to pummel the guard mercilessly.
"Danny" began summoning as many temporal duplicates of himself as he could to maximize his destructive capability.
"Velo" unleashed massive amounts of concussive force beams from his hands, lashing out at anyone or anything in his sight. At one point, he carved the initials MBL on the side of a half-standing building.
"M'xy" used his hallucinogenic abilities to cause entire crowds to voluntarily commit suicide. Some gouged out their own eyeballs, while others walked directly into "Velo's" force blasts or "Naecken's" charging body.
By 3:37 p.m., the entire park was a ruin. The metahuman terrorists had allowed a local news crew to film the carnage, broadcasting live, then did away with them as well. As "Eurostar" ran the camera, "Nowhereman" addressed the viewing audience:
"This is a warning to the norms. The day of the metas is coming. We have been gathering power for months. We have done small acts, here and there, but no more. Now we shall strike, and strike hard. The government has had their chance, and failed. The day of the Metahuman Brotherhood of Liberation is at hand. Be ready, for the MBL is here!"
On La Perdita, those members of MBL Consulting who had been in front of the small television set could only watch in horror at the atrocities committed in their name.
And half a world away, in the deep, snowy glaciers of Antarctica, the now-red, fiery Naecken laughed at the transmission showing his old self and his "friends" causing havoc at the theme park.
"What fools are these mortals! But it will serve my purposes just fine. It will keep my past associates busy enough so they won't interfere with my plans."
Zveidi smiled at him. "Should I send some troops their way?"
"No. Best to leave things as they are. My recruit tour will begin soon, and maybe that little team will be persuaded to join us." He grinned.
Antarctica was his, and soon the world would bow to him as well.