Lady Bullseye in…

SUPREME RADIANT FRIEND

By Gavin McMahon

Supreme Radiant Friend was in sight, surrounded and almost eclipsed by her fanatically cheering fans as they watched and reached for her with a bewildering sense of desperate admiration. Makoto Matsumoto – Lady Bullseye – had never found much use in the idolism and worship of the false gods, a station to which any superhuman on the right side of the law could find themselves positioned. It was a pedestal far beyond the likes of Lady Bullseye and she had never wanted it neither. Amoral and heartless as she was often considered in those resounding urban legends that told of her past, her character, and the exploits that had defined her. Maki had long since learned to ignore the ghost stories, they were never as accurate as the life she’d led. Her services – although often rendered for money – could also serve the common good. The only difference between the actions of Lady Bullseye and a more traditional hero was profit.

Generally apathetic about the young Japanese heroine, Lady Bullseye had nothing to lose by taking this contract. Supreme Radiant Friend had been increasing in popularity, it was reported that she’d even turned down membership to the Big Hero 6, but her heroics had been making it more difficult for the Yakuza to operate and they were willing to pay a hefty fee for the head of the young woman – figuratively speaking, Lady Bullseye wasn’t quite so macabre. Her target was a sight to behold, it was easy to see just why she’d garnered such attention. Supreme Radiant Friend was the archetypal J-Pop hero. Her costume was a white tunic and shorts, a multitude of colours ran along the right side of the outfit with the emblem of a sun on her breast – denoting her photokinetic abilities – and long, raven hair hung in pigtails. She was adorable and it made Lady Bullseye want to vomit, but she slinked behind the hero, remaining in the shadows.

It had been awhile since she’d had such a foe and the adrenaline rushed through the assassin’s body. Worthy opponents, in terms of power at least, where hard to come by.

Supreme Radiant Friend made her exit, moving away from the endless flashing of her loving media, and entered the alleyways. Brushing her brow, she looked around the still blackness and seemed relieved to have escaped the prying eyes of her adoring public. It was ungrateful but not malicious, noted Lady Bullseye, and she watched as the heroine to the skies in a stream of glittering light. Drawing one of the pointed red chopsticks from her tight knot, the assassin threw it through the air and smiled as it struck her desired target, knocking the heroine from the air as she landed against the rooftop of the building with an audible thump. It was swiftly followed by a brief, girlish screech that caused Lady Bullseye to roll her eyes.

Quickly ascending the fire escape towards her intended victim, Lady Bullseye stood quietly for a moment as the woman rolled to face her. The blood trickled from her arm, staining her ridiculously coloured costume, and indicating the point of impact.

“I needn’t ask who you are.”

Lady Bullseye bowed.

“Normally I deal with monsters beyond even the imagination ascribed in anime,” murmured the heroine as she steadied herself, facing down against the menacing woman. “I can make an exception, since you started this dance.”

Lady Bullseye nodded. “I’m not much of a talker, forgive me.”

Launching forward with the speed of a panther, Lady Bullseye struck only the air as the graceful Supreme Radiant Friend rolled from the pathway of the attack. The heroine smashed her elbow into the assassin’s back, driving the older woman to her knees and eliciting a grunt. Rebounding within seconds, Lady Bullseye planted her foot firmly Supreme Radiant Friend’s stomach, toppling the woman and thrusting an unsheathed sai towards her delicate, exposed throat. Supreme Radiant Friend – determined not to fall at the hands of any villain – allowed the power of the sun that bubbled beneath her pretty exterior to be released in a multitude of glittering lights. It was a defensive manoeuvre that pushed Lady Bullseye back – her vision compromised.

Supreme Radiant Friend – unaffected by the fading spheres of light – rushed toward. Her fist connected with the assassin’s jaw before resting her hands on the woman’s shoulders and crashing Lady Bullseye’s head off of her knee. Rolling to the side, attempting not to swallow the coppery blood that ran from her nose, Lady Bullseye panted. It had been awhile since she’d been challenged and as her eyes slowly refocused, she understood that she’d underestimated her opponent. It wouldn’t happen again.

“I won’t kill you but–”

The heroine was interrupted. “Supreme Radiant Friend, step away from Lady Bullseye and vacate the rooftop.”

Both women looked towards the voice – which echoed over the intercom of one of the three police helicopters that hovered beside the rooftop. Lady Bullseye moved as an indignant Supreme Radiant Friend attempted to admonish their interference.

The helicopters opened fire without a moment’s consideration as Supreme Radiant Friend created a circle of light for protection.

“Another time, Friend.”

Lady Bullseye slipped from the rooftop, slamming her body into the fire escape, and descended rapidly. Gunfire fell like rain behind her but the assassin moved into the dark safety of the sewers.

Speedball in…

FIELD TRIP FROM HELL

Part V

By Dale Glaser

That’s my cue, Speedball thought, twisting his body to redirect his kinetic momentum.  In an instant he was shooting toward Scarecrow, his fists thrust forward. The flying battering ram pummeled Scarecrow’s burlap visage with enough force to rock the villain’s skull back to touch his spine.  Speedball continued past Scarecrow’s limp form as it slumped to the ground.

“My work here is done!” Speedball called out as he caromed off the wall at an upward angle, into the ceiling, off the floor and out the door of the lab, trailing pale multihued light globes in his wake.  He could hear applause coming from behind him as he bounced down the corridor.

Two uniformed NYPD patrolmen entered the computer lab where a third grade class on a field trip with their teacher, along with several researchers and technicians, had briefly been held hostage by the villainous Scarecrow, who was now prone and unconscious, his broken right foot pinned under the weight of an experimental Synchronous Square Wave Pulse Optimizer.  The police ascertained that no one, other than the insensate costumed criminal, was injured, and called for backup.

Robbie Baldwin stepped through the door of the lab a minute after the two police officers.  “Mom, are you OK?” he asked immediately.  “I went to go get help, but I . . .”

“Robbie!” Mrs. Naylor-Baldwin cried, rushing to her son and throwing her arms around him.  “I didn’t know where you had gotten off to, I was so worried. Oh thank goodness you’re all right!”

“I’m all right, I’m all right,” Robbie insisted.  He pushed his mother away diffidently, despite being secretly relieved to be able to embrace her after the ordeal. “How are your other kids?” he asked.

Mrs. Naylor-Baldwin looked around at her class of third-graders.  The eight-year-olds were already demonstrating resilience of childhood, talking animatedly with one another; several of the boys were re-enacting the highlights of the fight between Speedball and Scarecrow.  “I’d say they’re fine, luckily,” she declared.

“You mean lucky that Speedball happened to save the day?  Yeah, that’s kind of crazy, right?” Robbie inquired innocently.  His mother arched an eyebrow at him in a how-did-you-know expression, and Robbie hurriedly added. “That’s what the kids are saying, right?  Mega-crazy.”

“It’s not that crazy,” Sridevi interjected, approaching the schoolteacher and her son.  “I think the greater superhero community of New York is accustomed to keeping an eye on the ESU campus in case of just such an emergency.”

“Oh?” Mrs. Naylor-Baldwin replied.  “Have you met many . . . superheroes?”

“The closest I’ve come to meeting one personally was when Dr. Reed Richards gave a presentation on quantum computing during my freshman orientation,” Sridevi admitted with a smile.  “But they make frequent appearances here all the same.”

“How . . . exciting,” Mrs. Naylor-Baldwin nodded slowly, in a tone which conveyed more barely-restrained panic than excitement, as the two first responders dragged away the handcuffed and still unconscious form of Scarecrow between them.  “In any event, Miss Patel, it seems our field trip has been cut short and I really must get the children back to the bus.  Line up, class!” she raised her voice to be heard by her students.

“Somehow I don’t think she’s going to be pushing me to apply here anymore,” Robbie noted.

“Really?  That’s a shame,” Sridevi sighed.  She leaned in closer and whispered in Robbie’s ear. “The only thing better than superheroes keeping an eye on the university would be our own hero enrolled here.”

Robbie jerked back as if stung.  “Come again?” he asked.

“You have very distinctive blond hair, do you know that?” Sridevi grinned.  “But your secret is safe with me.”

“Well I have no idea what you’re talking about, really,” Robbie lied. “But . . . I’m glad my secret’s safe with you.  Very, very glad.”

“Can I treat you to lunch at the student union?” Sridevi asked.  “Not to say thank you for any heroism, obviously.  Just as a bit of . . . recruiting outreach for my alma mater?”

Robbie could scarcely believe that a beautiful woman was essentially asking him on a date, and his head swam giddily, preventing him from immediately accepting the invitation.  Then, slowly, it occurred to him that the field trip school bus was his only viable ride back to Springdale.  He was still too young for a driver’s license, and even more gallingly, too young to stay behind in the city without permission from his mother.  Robbie managed a weak smile and asked “Rain check?”

Sridevi shrugged noncommittally, with evident disappointment.  “Let’s go, Robbie!” Mrs. Naylor-Baldwin called from the computer lab doorway, and Robbie dejectedly joined her in the corridor.

Madeline Naylor-Baldwin put her arm around her son’s shoulders.  “That was exceptionally responsible of you, going to get help when you managed to get out of the lab,” she said proudly.  “Sorry you missed that Speed-person, but look on the bright side: I think we’re going to get home in time for you to make it to your friend’s pool party.”

“Yeah,” Robbie agreed as they stepped out once again into the Manhattan September sunshine.  A team of paramedics were helping an injured ESU security guard down from the roof of the Bain Computer Science Building, while Scarecrow was loaded into the back of a plate-reinforced NYPD van.   “A party with the high school kids.  That’s where I belong.”

Random in…

DOPPELGANGER

Part III

By Dino Pollard

Hammer Bay
Genosha

What surprised Random wasn’t the energy blast his imposter fired into his face. In fact, he had expected that much. No, what surprised the real Marshall Stone was that his body hadn’t counteracted the attack.

“Leave me alone!” shouted the imposter.

Random jumped for cover behind a parked car. He looked at his own blaster-arm, in the form of quad-cannons and looked back at the car. The kid was firing wildly, not even bothering to aim. Seemed he was more interested in getting Random to back off than actually fighting.

That was good, meant the kid was running scared.

Random jumped over the car and fired blasts from the two quad-barrels that his arms had shifted into. The imposter’s body worked overtime to try and shift to avoid the blasts. He fired as he backed away and then turned to run. His body was growing smaller as he did, to make it easier for him to move.

“Not gettin’ away that easy.” Random ran for one of the tenements and jumped. The barrels reverted back to hands, except they were clawed now. Random was able to dig his fingers into the building and scale up it.

He darted across the rooftop, jumping once he reached the edge. He landed on the next one effortlessly and ran more. He could spot the kid still running through the alleys. Random fired his gun-arm at the surface of the roof, the momentum sent him flying off. He saw the kid running down below and fired another blast, blowing the fire escape loose.

The kid saw the metal steps falling towards him. He jumped, narrowly avoiding them and hitting the pavement hard. His protoplasmic body flattened slightly as he skidded. He recovered and slowly got back to his feet.

Random landed near a parked car. He fired at the pavement, which caused the car to shoot upwards in an arc and come crashing down on the kid. Random carefully approached, seeing the kid struggle with his protoplasmic form flattened beneath the crushed vehicle.

“I want answers, and you’re gonna give ‘em to me,” said Random.

“Please, I didn’t want any of this…”

“Just talk.”

The kid paused. “Okay…okay, I’ll talk. Just…can you get the car off me, please?”

Random pulled a cigar in a metal case from his vest pocket. He took it out of the case and bit the end off, spitting it into his imposter’s face. As he lit the cigar with a Zippo lighter, he just kept his gaze fixed on the young doppelganger.

“Car will come off if you start talkin’,” said Random.

“Wh–what do you wanna know?”

“Let’s start with an easy one—what’s your name?” asked Random.

“Alex,” he said.

“Alex, huh?” Random puffed on the cigar. “Awright Alex, why are you wearin’ my face? An’ how come my powers couldn’t counteract yours? Figger you know somethin’ about that, don’t you?”

“I was just a kid . . . there was a car accident,” said Alex. “My parents were killed, but I was saved. My mutation. He told me that I’m really hard to kill because of my protoplasmic form.”

“Who’s he?”

“McCoy,” said Alex. “The Dark Beast. He saved my life, said he’d have need of me. He experimented on me, found I could . . . absorb other mutant DNA. Becomethem. Then one day, he said he had a job for me. He’d seen you, and your battles with X-Factor. Saw that you worked with them sometimes. So he had an idea.”

“He’s the one who hired me t’ go to Madripoor,” said Random. “Get me outta the way.”

“Right, then he had me impersonate you. Had me take over your life. And when the time was right, he called me to tell me. So I–I had to kill her. Your maid.”

Random kicked Alex in the face, breaking his sunglasses in the process. “Vera,” he said. “Her name was Vera. And she was my aunt, you piece of shit!”

“I’m sorry! I was just following orders!” said Alex. “God, I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to do any of it! But I had no choice!”

“Sure you did,” said Random, kneeling down in front of him. “You’ve always got a choice, kid.”

Alex nodded. “I-I know that now. And I made good. Lorna, she made me see things clear. I turned on McCoy, helped Havok put a stop to his experiments. I . . . I even met a girl. Mary. She was a runaway and we became friends. But McCoy wanted her as one of his test subjects.”

Random sat on the wrecked hood of the car. “So you turned your new little girlfriend over to your boss, eh? That supposed t’ make me get all misty?”

“I’m just telling you what I’ve been through!” cried Alex. “Please, you have to understand me, I never wanted to hurt anyone! But McCoy saved my life, I-I owed him everything. But instead, I betrayed him. And then, we stopped him, but I stayed with Mary until a cure could be found for the Legacy Virus. But once she was cured . . . he left me. Went back to her family. I-I was alone, again, so I came to Genosha.”

Random held the cigar so Alex could puff on it. He took two drags and was quickly overcome by a coughing fit. “I gotta tell ya, that’s one helluva story, kid. An’ I feel for you, I do. Must’ve been tough.”

“Y-you understand?” asked Alex. “Really?”

“Oh yeah, I understand perfectly.” Random stomped the cigar beneath his boot. “But just ‘cause I understand doesn’t mean I’m not gonna kill you. Vera was the only family I had. No way am I lettin’ that slide.”

Random grabbed Alex’s head and pulled on it, elongating his neck. Random’s free arm morphed into a blaster and he placed it on the neck, blowing it off. He felt a vibration in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

“Random. Oh yeah? Sure, I’m available for a job . . .”

Elf in…

CHILDREN OF THE FOREST

Part II

By Gavin McMahon

“Leave us.”

The Guardsman was startled. “But, my–“

“You dare to challenge me?”

He left, not without hesitation, but without further complaint. In his absence, Natalie rushed towards the body of her former boyfriend. His pulse was silent before she even reached him. Her heart raced, pounding in her chest as if it were attempting to break the ribs for release, to fulfil the evil desires that now waged in her head. Natalie’s face displayed none of the hatred that currently boiled beneath the surface. She looked like the same naïve, pretty, stupid little girl that had welcomed Andros into her secret life, and she knew that it had been the catalyst for what had come. Eiris had eyes everywhere, both inside and outside of the Compound, and they had been careless. Andros was gone because neither of them had had the foresight to predict the malevolence of their deity.

“Natalie Woods,” continued the reigning ruler. “Your father is one of my Circle. Yet, I don’t think I’ve ever seen your face. Turn it to the light, I wish to do so.” Her voice was dark, raspy as she placed herself comfortably in the throne, looking down on the young woman with contempt.

For a moment, Natalie couldn’t take her eyes from the expression of fear etched onto Andros’ features but she struggled. Her cold, icy vision latching onto the oversized proportions that made up Eiris’ face. Andros’ head fell from between her knees and hit the concrete with a thud. Natalie, feeling abused, stared vehemently at Eiris.

“Yes. You have the star. You are pretty,” her tone indicated that she was not complimenting the youth. “I worked hard to get where I am. I was a homeless rat from the bayous when I made the decision to be something more – and I never backed down. I’ve protected these people from the harsh realities beyond the Compound but people are fickle, and allegiances easily turn.”

Natalie blinked. “I don’t understand.”

“You have . . . power,” she continued. “Andros was a consort of mine. I enjoyed him very much. When he wasn’t with me, he was followed, and we witnessed your little lightshow in the woods. Very elven,” her eyes narrowed. “You even look the part.”

There was a moment of silence.

“Does the word ‘mutant’ mean anything to you?”

“No.”

“Good,” Eiris smiled. “Your power, your face, and now, with the anger you have for me, you are a problem. A fire that I must extinguish before it spreads. I will always protect what is mine, Elf. No matter what the loss.”

Natalie cleared her throat as she rose to her feet. “You’re a monster, Eiris. These people know nothing of what you’re capable of but they will see it and they will rebel and free themselves from your restraints. You can extinguish a thousand flames but the embers will burn and from it, more will grow.”

“Impassioned,” smiled the ruler as she descended the steps of the throne, drawing a long sword from the armrest. “Speeches never speak louder than actions.”

Eiris swung the sword as Natalie skidded from the impact point. To her furthered horror, the blade torn through the neck of her dead love. Natalie screamed, the bloodcurdling wail echoed around the macabre halls as she looked into the dangerous eyes of a woman gone mad. Eiris wasted no time, she rushed forward with another attack. Natalie, with an agility that surprised herself, ducked the second attack as she rushed towards the door but Eiris quickly blocked her path. Backing up, Natalie rushed towards the throne, jumping over the body of Andros, and ascended the steps before turning to see her assailant. Eiris’ face contorted into something extreme, her rage uncontrollable.

“That’s mine!”

Natalie dropped herself into the throne. Her hands pressed firmly against the armrests. She upturned her nose in defiance. “Come and take it then.”

With a screech, Eiris stampeded towards her and Natalie used the throne to her own advantage. She descended the steps swiftly, spreading her hands ahead she unleashed a blinding flash of light. Every eerie crevice of the room was illuminated and Eiris lost her footing in the chaos, the weight of the sword drew her to the ground. Natalie, unfazed by the light, wasted no time in rushing forward. Without a moments hesitation, she attempted to lift the sword but the elven woman was surprised by how heavy it actually was. Dragging it from Eiris’ reach, Natalie managed to lift it at her second attempt.

Natalie slammed the weapon down on the deity’s outstretched hand, but she withdrew it in time.

Eiris crawled backwards but Natalie, giving a final glance on the broken body of Andros, didn’t allow mercy to cloud her judgement. Once passive and loving, Natalie felt hatred bubbling in her throat as she crashed the sword down on Eiris’ head. Blood splattered across her pale face and through her silvery blonde hair but she didn’t waste time on her appearance. Stepping back and catching her breath, Natalie looked down on what she had done. Eiris’ body continued to tremble and shiver for a few moments, the shock of sudden death not yet completely known to her nervous system. The enormity of the situation fell heavily on Natalie as she raced towards the door.

No sooner had she pulled it open than the Guardsmen glared at her. Her hands shot up instinctively, filling the narrow hallway with a burst of light that temporarily blinded the men. When the light had faded, Natalie Wood was gone.

Surprisingly, she wasn’t afraid as the truck came to a stop behind her. Natalie may have been sheltered and protected within the cult but it had ended roughly for the beauty. Now she was thrown to the bears – or so to say. Turning slowly, she lowered her hood and revealed her face to the driver. In a nearby stream she had washed the blood from her face but it still stained her hair.

“Going North, girl,” he informed her.

She nodded. “That’ll do.”

“You look like–”

Natalie interjected. “So I’ve been told.”