YOUNG AND RECKLESS

Part I

By Brian Hamilton

Author’s Note: This issue takes place before the events in West Coast Avengers #10

Of all the names they had been called his favorite was terrorist. It was an accomplishment. A badge of honor. The day that senator went on national TV and called him and his friends bored kids, psychopaths, terrorists, and everything under the sun would be a day he would never forget, but the time had come to raise the bar.

“I wonder what they’ll call us now.” He wondered out loud.

“Quiet Ember,” the oldest ordered, “Southpaw, is the camera ready?”

The young woman addressed as Southpaw moved her raven black hair out of her face revealling a tan face framed behind a black domino mask. She was wearing a plain tank top and black jeans. She would’ve passed as normal if not for the gigantic, technological gauntlet fused to her left hand. Her arm was encased up to her elbow in the monstrous, alien glove. It appeared to weigh tons, but she carried it effortlessly. In her free arm, she was adjusting a hand held camera connected to a nearby laptop.

“We’re good,” she replied.

“Good. Begin the broadcast. Its time the world met D-Generation.”

The recording light on the camera began to flash red and Southpaw took her place at her leader’s right hand side.

Oldest of the three, he stood facing the camera. A walking shadow, his body seemed to be made of solid darkness that danced like flames. The darkness trailed away in wisps off the top of his head and fingertips. He was devoid of color save for blue light that highlighted his chest and face.

“My name is Black Death. To my right is Southpaw and my left is Ember. Some of you may be familar with us already. The citizens of Seattle may remember our last visit there. We were estimated to have caused millions of dollars worth of damage. In Las Vegas we destroyed two casinos on the strip.”

If Ember’s cheeks were still flesh and blood, then they may have began to hurt from how hard he was smiling. But long ago his skin turned rock hard, taking on the appearance of magma. Atop his head, where hair should have been, fire burned untamed. The newest member of D-Generation, Ember took pride in how quickly he fell into the fold. In fact, it had been him who burned those casinos down.

Black Death continued his speech calmly and confidently. “This is a warning. We are the future.. There is nothing your heroes can do to stop us. D-Generation will watch the world burn, and we’re coming to a city near you.”

Los Angeles, California

Roger’s heart was beating heard enough he was sure anyone within earshot of him could hear it. To say he was nervous would be an understatement. He wiped his forhead with the back of his before pulling a red piece of fabric from his pocket. Cut into it were two eye holes. He tied the fabric around his face carefully positioning the eye holes. Not the best mask, but it would have to do.

“What are you waiting on? Christmas?” he asked in one final attempt to pump himself up.

Standing from his crouched position in the alley behind the jewlery story Roger approached the door slowly. He stared at the electronic lock, the only obstacle between him and his goal inside. A worthwhile effort by the owner to prevent break ins, but a meaningless one against someone like Roger. His hand grew bright red as a globule of energy formed outward from it. The bubble of energy formed around the electric lock and after a few seconds the system shorted and the door swung open.

Roger Brokeridge’s ability to create balls of “solidified” energy made breaking and entering easy. He continued inside creating another electromagnetic bubble around the cameras. Even with a mask he wasn’t going to take any chances. Confident the security system was shut down, he moved into action with more confidence. The glass cases inside were quickly emptied into a plain, black backpack. In a matter of minutes, the store was cleaned out. For this to be his third time breaking into a store, he was getting pretty good.

“Best time yet,” he muttered to himself.

Swinging the backpack onto his shoulders, he exited the store. He took off his mask and shoved it deep into his pockets. Head down and Dodgers baseball cap pulled low, he began the walk back home.

Elsewhere In Los Angeles, That Night

Daniel DuBois was a man on a mission. He couldn’t fly and wasn’t super strong. In fact, he didn’t have any powers, but he wouldn’t let that stop him. Tonight his hard work would pay off in a big way. He glanced down at his watch. It was time.

From the rooftop of a mom and pop store, the Executioner watched as a group of five gangsters climbed out of a car at the end of an alley. He climbed down the fire escape landing with a low thud. He spied from the shadows as the group met with another man.

The new gentleman was dressed in a fashionable, Italian suit. Even if he wasn’t in an alley in the middle of the night, he would look out of place in this part of the city.

Daniel was too far away to make out what they were saying, but he didn’t need to hear to know what was about to go down. One of the gangsters and the businessman exchanged a pair of black briefcase. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

With expert speed and precision, Daniel drew the rifle off his back and fired two shots. The men handling the transaction fell to the ground. The remaining four sprung into action returning fire. Daniel took cover behind a dumpster until they emptied their rounds.

Out of ammo, two of the thugs hopped into the car. The remaining two reloaded, pulling extra clips from their pockets. As the car sped down the alley towards him, the Executioner hopped into the dumpster. He didn’t see what happened next, but he felt it. An explosion erupted and violently shook the dumpster as the car ran over the mine he set up beforehand. Screams, car alarms, and the smell of burning wreckage filled the air.

Floored by the explosion, the two remaining thugs didn’t have time to react before Daniel fired two shots into their chests. Holstering his guns and sanning his handiwork, he noticed the suited man was struggling to crawl away dragging the suitcase with him. He kicked the man onto his back, stepping down hard on his chest to keep him stationary.

“Here’s how this is going to go. I’m going to ask you a question and you’re going to asnwer or else I put more holes in you,” Daniel explained. “Now, where are you operating from?”

The dealer coughed up blood. The bullet lodged in his chest would kill him soon if he didn’t get medical attention. He managed to respond through labored breaths. “Who are you?”

“Not what I asked,” Daniel said, pulling the hammer back on the gun. “Where? Now.”

“A warehouse. Downtown.”

“Good. And you can call me the Executioner.” He emptied the clip into the man and walked away.

Daniel began scavagening through the pockets of the dead dealers and the two briefcases. Soon the authorities would arrive so he was working on limited time.

The thugs had some cash on them. Nothing major. The cases were a different story. The first one was filled with bundles of hundred dollar bills. Eyeballing it, he guessed there was about ten grand in there. The cash would go towards more weapons, ammo, and protection instead of the jewelry and tricked out cars the dealers would’ve spent it on.

The other case was filled with pill bottles. Daniel picked one up to further inspect it. Etched on the side of every bottle were three immediately recognizable letters. MGH. Mutant Growth Hormone.

A kid from a normal, working-class family, Roger was willing to admit he didn’t make the best criminal. Granted his abilities made breaking and entering easy, but crime was simply a means to an end. It wasn’t something he would be doing for the rest of his life. He didn’t have delusions of growing up to be the next Captain America, but he for damn sure wasn’t a real criminal.

The entirety of his walk home he went over in his mind how to handle the money and jewlery he had amassed. He decided first thing tomorrow to see about getting the jewelry sold and the money deposited into his bank account. Or should he pawn the jewelry and just keep the cash?

Roger stopped at his bedroom window to catch his breath. From the back yard he could tell all the lights in the house were out. His family was still asleep so sneaking back in wouldn’t be a problem.

A rustling in the bushes on the other side of the yard caused Roger to jump. He approached the hedges with caution.

“Is someone there?” he asked. Red energy charged around his fist acting as a makeshift flashlight.

“Why yes there is.”

The voice came from behind Roger. The owner was a boy no older than ten. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit accented with black markings on the arms and legs. His skin was the color of grass and his head was bigger than normal. Completely bald, the boy’s head struggled to contain his massive brain.

With him was an Asian girl around Roger’s age wearing a pair of low-riding jeans, a tank top with a cartoon cat that he recognized as Hello Kitty, and around each wrist silver bracelets. Her hair was jet black save for crimson red bangs that covered her forehead.

“My apologies, Roger. I did not intend to frighten you.”

“How do you know my name?” Roger asked, trying his best to put on a brave front. “Who are you?”

“You may refer to me as The Superior. This is my associate Namie,” he said, motioning toward the girl standing next to him.

Roger scoffed. “The Superior? Napoleon complex much, little man? Sorry, but whatever you’re selling I don’t want it.” He went to walk past the duo but The Superior floated directly in front of him blocking his path.

“Trust me,” he started. “You do. I know about your evening activies.”

Roger’s breathing stopped. He made sure to be careful or so he thought. The cameras and security footage at ever place were fried. Somehow, this kid still figured out what he was doing. Was The Superior following him?

“You want a cut of the money or something? Are you gonna turn me in?”

“No. I am here to help you. I have a job offer. I could use your services to help change the world. To help remake it in my image. How does that sound?”

Roger paused to think the offer over. He didn’t know the first thing abotu this Superior character. He couldn’t trust him to keep his secret if he turned him down. The last thing he wanted was for his family to figure out what he had been up to. They had been dealing with enough the past month without having to deal with him going to jail.

“What about you?” he directed toward Namie, “Are you working for this creep too?”

“Yes and no,” she replied. “I’m not on the Superior’s pay roll, but in return for my services he’s helping me with a personal matter.” Until that point, Namie kept her eyes on Roger. Now, however, her eyes were focused squarely on the ground.

The Superior cleared his throat to refocus Roger’s attention back on him. “You are free to say no. If that is the case, tonight will be the last you will see or hear from me. You have my word I will keep what I have discovered secret, but I cannot guarantee how long before the authorities catch on.”

Roger’s mind was a whirlwind of questions. If The Superior was able to find out about the break ins and where he lived, did he know how he got his powers? As much as he hated to admit it, he could trust The Superior as much as any stranger on the street.

“I recognize I am asking a lot from you Roger. It’s late. You need rest. Meet me tomorrow and we can talk more in depth.”

The Superior’s eyes began to glow white as he was enveloped in telekinetic energy. He lifted off the ground and flew off into the night Namie flying closely behind.

“Great,” Roger muttered, “And how am I supposed to find you?”

Two Days Later, Beverly Hills

Rodeo Drive is home to world famous boutiques and designer stores. It is where the rich and famous come to shop. There’s no telling which member of Hollywood’s elite you may catch a glimpse of. Today the lovers of haute couture fashion, celebrities, and designers would find amongst their ranks the members of D-Generation: Black Death, Southpaw, and Ember.

Fires raged in the storefronts up and down the drive. After watching one nearly burn to ashes, Ember would ignite the next. With a smile rained fire down on deserted cars.

“Hey, hothead! Watch this!” shouted Southpaw. She picked up an abandoned car in the alien artifact from which she took her name and tossed it at her teammate.

Ember rolled out of the way at the last minute. Behind him, the car smashed through the window of a burning boutique destroying what little of it was still standing. Instead of getting angry, he smirked in Southpaw’s direction.

“Good one ‘Paw.”

“Stop playing around,” Black Death ordered as he swung a mass of Darkforce matter to take out the front windows or three stores. “It won’t be long before we have company.”

“Too late.”

The voice came from above them, but they recognized it instantly. Simon Williams. Wonder Man. Movie star and Avenger. Floating above the street he was joined by two more West Coast Avengers, Silverclaw and Darkstar.

“Avengers assemble!” Wonder Man ordered.

The teams collided. Silverclaw dove at Southpaw in her toucan form. Before impact she changed form to a jaguar, but was swatted away by the massive gauntlet. She struck the pavement and rolled away. Wonder Man fired a blast of ionic energy at Ember. He was sent flying into a high rise blocks from Rodeo Drive. Black Death flew into the sky circling Darkstar. He fired a blob of Darkforce matter at the Avenger, but she batted it away with a brush of her hand.

“It would be wise for you to give up now,” She advised. “You have no chance at victory.”

“Shut up and fight already.” Black Death said with a sneer.

On the ground, Silverclaw struggled to stand. She coughed and the familiar copper taste of blood filled her mouth. She winced and gingerly felt her side. The force of the gauntlet and the pavement broke a few of her ribs.

Southpaw’s gauntlet generated a green, hand-shaped energy projection. “You’re gonna have to come a lot harder than that Avenger,” Southpaw teased before bringing the construct down on Silverclaw’s head. She lifted the construct expecting to find Silverclaw’s crushed body. There was nothing.

“Where did she–”

A silver blur cut Southpaw’s sentence short. She didn’t register the punch, and if she had there was nothing she could do to stop it. The fist made contact with her jaw knocking her unconscious. The blur stopped behind a nearby car where Silverclaw sat recovering.

“Quicksilver, boy, am I glad to see you.”

The speedster didn’t appear amused. “You’re lucky you’re alive to see anything. You should be a stain in the middle of street. How are you doing?”

She replied, ignoring her teammate’s abrasiveness. “A few broken ribs. I’ll be fine. Go help the others.”

“Darkstar and Wonder Man can handle themselves. I’m taking you back to the compound.” He scooped his teammate into his arms, and sped off.

Above the street, Darkstar and Black Death circled one another, lobbing masses of Darkforce at each other matter to no effect.

“Looks like we’re in a standoff, Avenger,” Black Death taunted.

“False.” Laynia stated, “This ends now.” She reached out with her mind. Concentrating.

Black Death froze in mid air. “What’s going on!? Why can’t I move!?”

Laynia floated just inches in front of her foe’s face. “The Darkforce is mine to wield. I have mastery over the very matter that makes up your body and attacks. I am your superior in every way.”

The darkness enveloping his body dissipated revealing a young man no older than nineteen underneath. The Avenger shook her head at the sight. So much wasted potential. With a wave of her hand, the Darkfocrce formed into a straight jacket around his body. She descended towards the street, Black Death’s human form floating closely behind.

Wonder Man followed Ember into the building he crashed into. The movie star was met with a massive fire blast that sent him flying in the opposite direction.

Ember’s fight or flight response kicked into high gear. He knew it wouldn’t take long for the hero to recover and come after him again. Wonder Man was too powerful for him to take on his own. Hell, the three of them together didn’t stand a chance against him. Flight won.

Ember made his way to an exit sign but was slowed by his injured leg. If it weren’t for his stone skin that blast from Wonder Man he’s be nursing worse injuries.

On the bottom floor, he ran out the back door and came face to face with two new faces. His hands ignited ready to fight them off if he needed to.

The taller one held out her hand and spoke first. “Hold your horses sparky. We came to talk. We’re actually big fans of yours.”

The fireballs in his hands slowly died down. “Fans?”

“Yeah. Of D-Generation. I gotta say I like the work you blokes are doing. None of that rule the world shit. Just good old fashioned destruction for the hell of it. The Internet videos are a nice touch too.”

Ember couldn’t help but smile at the generous stroking of his ego.

The shorter one spoke up. “It is a shame about the Avengers breaking up your party. I could have used your friends’ assistance. Seeing as that you are the last man standing however I have a proposal for you. I am assembling a new team and want you to be apart of it.”

The fire-starter’s eyes dashed back and forth between the two. “The only team I need is D-Generation.”

“Yes,” he continued, “but your friends are currently headed to Detention just like you’ll be when the Avengers catch up to you. And unless you come with me they will.”

Ember’s breathing momentarily stopped at the mention of Detention. A prison for super powered youth in Springfield, New Jersey, Ember had heard stories about Detention from Black Death who spent much of his teenage life there. He described it as the Raft for juviniles. He was in no rush to visit.

The girl spoke up again. “Look, I know this may seem shady, but the Superior here is on the up and up. He approached me a couple weeks ago and has been paying me pretty good. The little shit starter even has his own wannabe evil hide out. He lets me stay there in the downtime.”

“He’s made his decision, Big Zero,” The Superior stated. He telekinetically lifted them both of the ground and prepared for take off. “Let the Avengers sort him out.”

“Wait!” Ember was quickly becoming frantic. If it was still possible for him to sweat he would. He looked back and froth between the two strangers and the building that Wonder Man was probably tearing apart trying to find him. “Ok, I’m down.”

Big Zero smiled. She reached out to shake his hand but Ember ignored it. “You’ve made the right decision. I promise.”

“Yeah yeah. Just get me out of here.”

“Gladly.” The Superior lifted his newest recruit off the ground and the three of them flew off back toward his hideout. He made sure to stick close to the ground to avoid catching the eye of any of the West Coast Avengers that may have been patrolling the air.

At his apartment, Daniel preparing his next move. Inside, one wall was covered in a map of Los Angeles. It had been marked where he had been working. Pictures and sticky notes lined the edges of the map. A new pin was placed at the sight of the drug deal he busted tonight and another at a downtown warehouse he would be hitting in the future.

His phone rang. He picked it up already knowing who was on the other end.

“Hi. Yeah, money came through. Broke up a deal tonight. A couple thousand. Deposited into a safe account. Yes I’m sure it’s safe.”

Daniel was quickly becoming irritated.

He was proud of himself for stopping another deal, but the fact remained he had stumbled into something bigger than himself. Mutant growth hormone had made its way to Los Angeles and landed square on his doorstep. A drug synthesized from the genetic material of mutants, MGH granted super human abilities for a period of time to users. Once he took down the MGH ring in Los Angeles, he could move onto bigger things.

“No you don’t have to come around. I can handle some super strong addicts. Listen, I have to do this on my own. I don’t need you help. Look, I gotta go.”

It was important Daniel did this on his own. He had resources and contacts that he took advantage of, but the dirty work had to be all him. It was him cleaning up the streets of L.A. No one else.

“Yes, I have a lead. They’re making the product downtown. I don’t know when, probably within the week. I wanna strike before they can recover. Yes, I know……love you too. Bye mom.”

Daniel hung up the phone and threw it on his bed. His body screamed out for sleep, but he peeled himself out of bulletproof vests and other protective gear and slipped on a pair of running shorts. Although the sun was rising, today would be no different from any other day for him. He had an extensive work out and run awaiting him. After all, the Executioner was a man on a mission.

NEXT ISSUE: “Young and Reckless” continues as The Superior sends the Young Masters on their first mission. Things quickly go wrong however when the team finds themselves under attack by Nekra!