Mitheral
"Growf!"
Circled around a very long executive conference table nearly two dozen shadowy figures were arranged. In the air over the table was a large holographic display. The current display was a video of one of the cosmically powerful new superhumans named Lava Lord. The readout was overlaid with readings of temperatures, densities, energy emissions, masses.
Voice: “This, gentlemen, is one of the - what shall we call them - Inhumans? Powerful beyond belief, completely unforeseen. Beyond our current means to control. Do you all remember that movie, Man of Steel? This is our Superman. Except that there is no way to be certain he can be reasoned with. We have no way of knowing if he has some strong streak of good. He is a threat to global security. Toward this end we need to find a means of containment, neutralization, or elimination.”
There was a brief illumination of one of the other figures.
Voice: “Yes, Number 7?”
Number 7: “Do we know anything about him? Family? His real identity?”
Voice: “He calls himself Lava Lord. His origins were in Hawaii. His name is Caelan Chan. He is attending Columbia University in New York City where he is majoring in Geology. His address is being added to the display. However, none of you will oppose him directly - on the offhand chance that he could survive and learn of our existence.”
Number 7: We are certain of his identity?”
Voice: “He explained who he was on his college application.”
(dumbfounded silence)
Voice: “The danger lies in the existence of others who still maintain a secret identity. Take this one for instance. Vanguard. Identity unknown. Limitations unknown. Invulnerable, Superhuman strength, flies faster than any air superiority fighter on the planet. He possesses a technology beyond anything known to modern man. All we have is speculation. One thing we do suspect is that he is monitoring all metahumans on the planet.
“Then we have Sovereign. Little is known about him. Citizen of the Empire of Ardael (Transylvania). Possesses superscience on par with Vanguard, perhaps even superior. Ardael, as you all know, is metahuman friendly. It has opened its borders to metahumans to imigrate, with the provision that they observe local laws.
“Junkyard Jane. “Don’t let the name fool you. She may very well be the most powerful metahuman on the planet. We suspect a strong association with Vanguard. Like Vanguard she maintains a secret identity. Her powers have been described as being those of Mother Nature. Mess with her and we may very well endanger the whole planet. She must be approached with extreme caution.
“Read the remaining dossiers. Then place your bids for the contracts.”
(fade scene)
**************
He came out of the sky like a bolt of lightning and hit the ground with a mild thud, landing on his feet in a crouch before standing up. Instantly there was a barrage of autofire from heavy machine guns and single shots from what could only by weapons in the 50 caliber range. On one side of him the spent ammunition began to form a neat pile. He looked down at the fallen law enforcement personnel.
“I’ll have you out of here in a moment.” He opened a blister pouch on his armor and pulled out a few mini O2 tanks with respirators. “Take these. I am going to cocoon you for safety? Anyone claustrophobic?” He got no responses. “Good. Friendly fire - but in a good way.” He dropped a black grenade that exploded into a blackish dust cloud that began to settle on the officers. Then he reached down and picked them up as if they were statues.
A minute later he had the officers safely at the ambulances and released from the cocoons, absorbing the black dust into his armor. Then he turned his attention to the cause of the destruction.
“Who is in charge here?” Vanguard asked.
“That would be me. Commander Tucker,” a man dressed in light tactical gear addressed Vanguard.
“Commander,” Vanguard nodded. “I don’t like stepping on your turf, but you had officers down. Couldn’t just leave them there. As to the rest, I’m not a vigilante. But if you want my help, it is offered. Looks like they have the hostages wired up with demo charges like that bank scene in Hancock. I can diffuse the situation fast.”
“How? One mistake …”
“Commander, the man has a dead man switch. My bet is that he watched the same movie. Tell him you are sending in a Negotiator. I will make certain the charges do not go off. But I am going to need your men to keep the hostages from fleeing the scene and getting out of range of the detonator. I can only stop the explosions temporarily. I’ll have to remove the charges and get them out of here to a safe distance. You might want to keep this area a no fly zone. Fastest direction to send the charges is … up. They’ll detonate before they even stop travelling upwards.”
“Shhhii–” one of the other officers uttered.
“It’s the simple things in life,” Vanguard agreed. “As soon as I am in, your men will be clear to follow me in. Breech any way you like. Their guns won’t work. Yours will if you hold back. They will still have their hands and knives. So, I will need the backup.”
Once he had clearance, Vanguard started with the theatrics. He took his lessons from pros like Mysterio. Smoke and mirrors. He entered the building with a fog rolling all around him.
“That’s far enough!” one of the thugs voices called out. “You know anything about deadman switches?”
“Yes.” Vanguard smiled to himself. Talk was good. Talk meant time. “Let me guess, you watched Hancock too. Detonator thingy. Hostage goo. I’m your Negotiator. What are your demands?”
“Don’t fuck with me - What do you call yourself?” the man demanded.
“Vanguard. You?”
“Not important! Here is what I want! I want you to get rid of all those police out there - including the choppers they have buzzing around! No wait! I want the choppers - minus the pigs!”
Duncan sighed. The man had just changed his mind. Not good. He was being unpredictable, making stuff up as he went. “Right. I can do that. I’ll just tell the Commander out there to pull back his men.”
(5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1)
In the distance radios crackled with the command ‘Breech’. SWAT troops started to pour into the hostage scene. The leader of the thugs suddenly found himself face to face with Vanguard up close. Vanguard’s hand had closed around his and the detonator. Black dust flowed from Vanguard’s suit over the man’s hand until it was encased. Then Vanguard just grabbed the man and handed him off to another officer with instruction to hang onto the guy until he had accounted for all the charges.
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