Masks VI

Part One: Holiday Break

The first and second sections of this tale are actually set before Part V. The third section starts shortly after. 

The Leader of the huRK and his council of advisors were in a closed meeting, discussing a follow-up investigation of something discovered by one of the Fleet Leaders some months earlier. 

"If that is, indeed, Tolnar's son and heir, this presents us with a potential opportunity," said the Leader. 

"This is known to be certain within a probability of just less than ninety-eight percent," said the Clan ChzKlkk Archivist, one of the Leader's most valued advisors. 

"Assume we take this offspring," said Sub-Leader East. "What would our purpose be?"

"Multi-fold," said the Leader. "Analysis of a full Sholvak Primus of the Tolshik line. Inside information of both the court and Tolnar's family. Explanation of why said offspring is on Earth. Finally, the possibility of subornation."

"We would must needs be very careful," said Sub-Leader South, as usual the council for caution. "Work through intermediaries who would not know their employers, or even the true identity of the target."

"And those would in turn be hired by intermediaries who would not know the identity of their employers," said Sub-Leader East, as usual very willing to add another layer of deception to a plan.

The Leader narrowed its pupils, just a bit... the equivalent of a slight smile for its species. The most important of the group were already supporting the plan. The others would go along. It sat back and let the others plot and scheme, only occasionally asking a question or making a suggestion. Yes, this would work well...

* * *

One of the best things about being able to fly - with being able to fly at the top of the list - was traveling. Not just soaring through the air, but going somewhere without worrying about traffic or airline reservations or even borders if you were feeling particularly anarchistic. Right now, Energia was making a trip to visit a friend and a teacher. 

This was all Energia's fault, actually. During the Fall semester she had been complaining about how weird some her fan mail was.

"You get fan mail?!" Gadgetive had said, both surprised and envious. "I don't get fan mail, and I've been doing this a lot longer than you."

"Well, you haven't worked with the people I've worked with," Energia had said, a bit smugly. "This actually started while I was interning with the Young Guardians. Nearly all of it goes to their headquarters, and they forward it to me, at the school. Well, I also get some which goes to the Intrepids, and even some which comes straight here to the school."

"I don't get fan mail," said Gadgetive, pouting. 

The result had been Gadgetive deciding she wanted to intern with someone. Anyone. But just for the holiday break. If that worked out okay, well, she'd see.

Only, there just weren't any teams or established independent masks who wanted to take an intern for that month. 

Finally, Blue Impact had agreed - with much rolling of eyes - to let Gadgetive work with her for three weeks in early December. Gadgetive didn't celebrate Christmas, but Blue Impact did, so that was the limiting factor; the older super had family and friends to shop for and socialize with. Part of the reason Blue Impact decided to do this was that Gadgetive - an orphan - really didn't have anywhere to live except the school, and Blue Impact's previous roommate in her home city - a feline super who claimed to be the reincarnation of a WWII veteran Mask - had moved out just a few weeks earlier.

Energia was flying in to visit the odd couple the week before Christmas, mostly because she had presents for both of them, tucked away with her clothes and other personal items in a large duffle she was towing by the metal in the zipper and snap rings. She smiled a bit at the irony of her trip. She wasn't old enough for even a learner's permit, but she could - and her parents had no problems with this - fly hundreds of kilometers to spend a day with friends.

* * *

"Watch it!" Teddy yelled, as he felt the top-heavy news truck heel over in a hard turn.

"She's getting away!" said Gerry, driver and technician.

"Of course she's getting away! She's driving a souped-up motorcycle! Don't try to catch her; just keep her in sight as long as you can!"

"I've still got her in my sights," said Sue, the upper part of her body sticking out the roof hatch with the camera. She almost fell as the van hit a pothole. After regaining her footing and adjusting her headset, she got the camera back on the fleeing super. "Well, mostly."

Blue Impact glanced back over her shoulder and snarled behind the faceplate of her helmet. She needed to get away from these goons so she could go home and meet her guest. 

She wheeled around a corner, then abruptly hit the brakes hard. Her planned route was blocked by heavy traffic. Still moving, but much more slowly, now, she glanced back again. The TV truck wasn't in sight yet, but she could hear it gaining. She looked frantically around, and spotted a culvert. Remembering what she could of the storm sewer system in this area on the fly, she diverted off the road. She had to dismount to carry the bike down the short, steep slope - with her weight, riding it down would have resulted in an uncontrollable slide most likely ending in a crash - then quickly remounted and took off into the huge pipe. 

The smell and sound were especially obnoxious to her heightened senses, but she still grinned; no way were they getting that truck in here! Even without the rooftop satellite mount it was just too tall. She sped along her private highway, tires turning the trickle of water running along the concrete into mist behind her. 

* * *

There was no direct connection between the sewer and the basement of the former bakery where she stored her gear - at least, nothing close to large enough to allow even her passage, much less the bike - but there was a culvert just a couple of blocks away. She shut the bike off while still well inside and walked it out. A cautious peek showed no witnesses; she quickly hefted the motorcycle onto the pavement and ran it across the street into an isolated alley. She pushed it a bit more sedately along that narrow path to the back door of the bakery, and then inside. 

Gadgetive was sitting at a massive console she'd cobbled together her first day here. The thing combined a moderately powerful multi-processor computer setup with several radio scanners, a secure communications system and a security monitor for the building. She had actually provided most of the parts, leftovers from various school projects.

"'Bout time," the young woman muttered, glancing over her shoulder at the arriving super. 

"Oh, hush," said Blue Impact, taking off her helmet and shaking out her hair (actually a high quality wig). "I had to give a TV news truck the slip. They're a local team who seem to think I'm their personal project."

"Yeah, I know," said Gadgetive, with a snicker. She pointed to the elderly console TV in the corner, quietly murmuring to itself. "They already aired the segment with you stopping that bike courier robbery. Even showed you getting away down that sewer. Speaking of which, don't sit down with those nasty clothes on."

"I got lucky with the robbery," said Blue Impact, unzipping her jacket and leather riding breeches as she walked over to the couch in the corner. Those, her gloves and the rest of her soiled clothing went into a pile on the floor before she reached her destination, leaving her wearing just the characteristically colored slacks and blouse - and mask, of course - which made up her basic costume. "Had a hunch the next one in that series would be in that area."

She flopped down on the couch with a grateful sigh. This place wasn't much as super lairs went, but it served. She'd bought the building three years earlier through an assumed name and discretely modified it, all while making sure to keep up with the taxes and such. There were no residences in the neighborhood, so after hours and on weekends she practically had the area to herself for a couple of blocks in every direction. In a pinch, she could live here for several weeks without leaving; the building even had an independent emergency power supply and stored food and water. The windows were painted on the inside to hide both the activity and her modifications. Anyone who asked (which so far had been just one neighbor, the owner of a nearby auto parts store she sometimes shopped at) was told the place was being renovated as finances permitted.

"I upgraded that joke you call a generator," said Gadgetive. "Improved the fuel efficiency and output and gave it a modern fuel injector. It'll now burn anything from top quality jet fuel to heavy heating oil."

"Thanks," said Blue Impact. She grinned. "Hope no-one but us finds out about the work you're doing here, or I'll have the child labor folks after me."

"Hey, that was part of the agreement," said Gadgetive, unconcerned. "You give me some practical field experience and public exposure, and I help upgrade your stuff. Besides, I'm enjoying the challenge of squeezing everything I can out of this obsolete pile of leftover Civil Defense surplus."

That last was said with a distinct grimace. 

"You try equipping a lair on a budget and with limited technical skills. I'm a working girl, and when I first started this place I also had a local apartment. These days, of course, during school I stay on the island, but now this is where I live between semesters. So, yeah, I'm really glad of the opportunity to improve the dump."

Something beeped, and Gadgetive turned back to her equipment.

"And there's Energia, about two minutes out. We better get up to the roof."

As she had been instructed, Energia stayed high until she was directly over the building, then dropped quickly. She could see the others come out onto the roof when she was about halfway down, and they exchanged waves. 

"Hello, hello!" she cried out, as she deftly touched down. She let her bag settle on the roof and grabbed a mildly outraged Gadgetive. "Hugs all around!"

Once the greetings were over Blue Impact took the duffle and ushered the two girls downstairs. 

"How was your trip?" said the teacher.

"Cold," said Energia, with an exaggerated shiver.

One floor down Blue Impact led them out of the stairwell and into a short hallway.

"It still surprises me that your parents won't let you date, yet, but they let you fly cross-country unescorted."

"Hey, how likely am I to get mugged at a thousand meters off the ground?"

"Point," said Blue Impact. She shook her head. Then gestured towards a door on the left. "Well, here's your room. Get out of those Winter flying clothes and we'll give you the grand tour."

"Also," said Energia, as she tossed her bag onto the bed, "I told Mom and Dad that I wanted to finish my Christmas shopping while I was here. That pretty much decided them."

"You sure brought a lot of stuff for a three day visit," said Gadgetive, eying the large duffle as Energia began stripping off her cold weather flying gear.

"Well, both your presents are in here, plus enough padding to protect everything."

"Presents!"

"Sorry, you have to wait," said Energia, with an impish smile.

Energia was more impressed with the lair than Blue Impact thought the place deserved. Yes, she was still an impressionable child. However, she had also been inside at least three formal team bases, plus the installations on the island. Still, her reaction was gratifying. 

They saved Gadgetive's lab for the last. The inventor was very proud of one particular pile of junk, made mostly of stuff she'd brought here from the school. 

"Tryin' t'build an apergy device - a special type of antigrav - but it ain't easy. Once I get 'er done, though, I'll have flight capability in my hero togs!"

"Do I smell coffee?" said Energia, obviously not very interested in the work in progress.

"Want some jåegerbrew?" said Gadgetive, extracting a stainless steel pot from what looked like a small fusion reactor. 

"You're both too young to drink coffee," said Blue Impact, firmly. "It'll stunt your growth."

Energia looked pointedly at Gadgetive. 

"Too late," she deadpanned, before bursting into giggles. 

Gadgetive started to make some retort, only to be interrupted by an alarm.

"Whoops! News scanner has a solid hit!"

"I will never be able to keep all those different alarms straight," said Blue Impact, as they hurried back to the main room.

"I'll put in a voice notification system later," said the gadgeteer, absently.

The old TV was already tuned to the source of the alert, thanks to Gadgetive's modifications. On the screen a rather large bipedal mechanism was smashing its way out of a bank.

"That's BlueBot, of the Battling Bots!" said Gadgetive, with a definite note of admiration coloring her surprise.

"Wait, what?!" said Blue Impact. "You mean the Forties robots?"

"Yeah. Weird. They were designed and built by Russian emigrant and polymath Dr. Polyarny, as prototypes to use during the War, but it ended before they were completed. Polyarny used them to earn money by putting on exhibition boxing matches, pitting them against each other, other robots and even some supers. They were later stolen and used by a crime lord for several years before being captured by the Shepherds. RedRob has been in the Museum of Super Crime for decades, but nobody knew where BlueBot was. Looks like somebody found it."

"Well, the cops can't handle that," said Blue Impact, with a mix of determination and resignation. She hadn't planned to introduce Gadgetive to real world super crime fighting this soon, and Energia not at all, but knew there was no helping that now. "Looks like we better get suited up."

"Don't wait on me," said Energia, who was currently in her warm weather, or standard, costume. "I can heat the air around me for as long as this will take."

"Well, I need to get my spare leathers, but that won't take long."

"Do I get to ride on the back of your bike?" said Gadgetive, eagerly.

"Yes. Which means leathers and helmet for you, too. Move! Oh, Energia, while we're dressing you keep an eye on the TV."

"Gotcha', chief!" said the young woman, eagerly.

Part Two: An Appropriate Use of Abilities

"Ow!" Blue Impact yelled, ducking back out of the way and shaking her hand like Jackie Chan. "What's that thing made of?!"

Her best punch hadn't even left a dent. Or slowed it. Or caused it to change course. Blue Impact had hoped to disable the thing before the two youngsters could engage, but that wasn't working. 

"Monocrystalline perfectly aligned iron," said Gadgetive, busy assembling something. "Energia, can you lift it off the ground for me?"

"Sure."

As it turned out, the task wasn't as easy as she assumed it would be. The crude-looking robot was heavy, and the way it kept thrashing around made holding it difficult. Still, she held it well off the ground - and out of reach of anything - until Gadgetive finished assembling what she was working on. The gadgeteer warily stepped forward, aimed her construct at the bulky robot and began spraying it with something which hardened into filaments in the air. Soon the blue robot was completely enveloped in an off-white cocoon, and barely moving. 

"That's all I got," said Gadgetive, stepping back. "And if I don't coat it with something to stop the oxidation it'll cross link in under an hour."

"I can't hold it much longer," said Energia, reluctantly.

"Put it down, but keep an eye on it," said Blue Impact.

The mass settled with a muffled thunk onto the pavement and Energia landed gratefully nearby. The robot was struggling, but the mass of cottony material held. 

"Need any help?" said Blue Impact, as she watched Gadgetive almost frantically take stuff out of her backpack and begin mixing. The veteran super was starting to feel a bit superfluous.

"Not unless you got a degree in advanced chemistry," the youngster muttered, absently. "Or some methyl chloride."

She soon had a spray bottle filled with a potent smelling clear liquid, which she used to thoroughly soak the webbing. 

"Okay turn it over."

Energia gave a tired sigh but complied, and soon the back of the webbing was also treated.

"There!" said Gadgetive, with curt, satisfied nod. "Not only is it secured, I installed several types of warning device to tell us if it's breaking loose, including some NEDs."

"Some which?" said Blue Impact.

"Noise Emitting Diodes."

Blue Impact took a moment to look around at the scene, grateful the two youngsters had been able to handle the menace so deftly. By the time the three of them had arrived the big robot had encountered police resistance. Instead of fighting it had simply continued on its course. Which took it through two cruisers. Small arms fire had only endangered the humans and windows in the area when the bullets bounced off the super-hard perfect iron. More police - some with heavy weapons - had quickly been summoned, but were still organizing when Blue Impact and her partners arrived. The LEOs had held back, waiting to see how the supers handled the situation. Fortunately, while the robot was strong and tough, it was neither agile nor swift. 

Blue impact noticed at least three TV news vans in the background, antennae erected and cameras pointing. She felt uneasy, even though the crew who kept pursuing her were so far absent. The sooner the three Masks could wrap this up and get away, the better. She glanced back at Gadgetive, who was waving some sort of sensor device over the cocooned robot.

"Isn't this thing radio controlled?"

"Not getting anything in, but I am getting heavily encrypted stuff out," said Gadgetive, frowning. "Looks like its thinking part was seriously upgraded by someone. Probably semi-autonomous, now, only needing an occasional burst transmission from its master to select a course of action. Only whoever sent this thing is keeping quiet, now we've caught it."

"The loot it took from that bank it broke into - and I do mean broke - is also inside the cocoon," said Blue Impact. "How do we get that out?" 

"Oh, they can wait for the batteries to run down and just wash away the webbing around the loot bag with wood alcohol."

"Well, why don't you write that down and stick it to the webbing?" said Blue Impact.

"Oh, good idea."

By the time she finished the police were starting to approach, if a bit tentatively. A plain clothes LEO Blue Impact knew walked past her and Gadgetive to stand beside the off-white bundle and scowl down at it.

"Lieutenant Barris?" said a young male uniform, giving an uneasy passing nod to the Masks as he approached. "The wrecker is here."

"Good. Sooner we get this thing to impound, the better."

"C'mon," said Blue Impact, quietly, as she took the girls by an arm each. "Let's get out of here."

"No thanks?" said Gadgetive, puzzled and a bit outraged as they quickly left the scene. "No compliment? Only a nod from that one guy?"

Blue Impact had placed her motorcycle on top of a dumpster in an alley. Anyone wishing to steal or tamper with it would need powers or heavy equipment to do so at all quickly. A quick check showed the bike untouched. Blue Impact deftly brought it back to pavement level. 

"Official policy is that 'rogue supers' only get in the way of real law enforcement," said Blue Impact. She lifted the two helmets off her bike and handed the smaller to Gadgetive. "Most of the grunts are nice people and do thank me, but this guy is a real tighta... Uh, jerk, when it comes to supers."

"Well, we were on TV, at least," said Energia, lifting off as Blue Impact started her bike. "I'm sure the public will be grateful."

"This isn't the West Coast," said Blue Impact, speaking over her helmet radio, knowing that both the others had their own coms. "Or the northeast. Some folks here do appreciate us, including a few news crews. But far more people blame us for everything they see as wrong with the world. I wouldn't be surprised if the anchor at one of the stations covering this event tonight will pointedly ask where we were before the robot broke into the bank."

* * *

"I miss my Thoremin," sighed Gadgetive, as they relaxed that evening. "Prerecorded music is fine, but sometimes you just want to make your own. Only so much she'd let me bring, though."

"I thought it was a Zeusaphone," said Energia.

"No, that's Junker's. His has digital input; mine has analog. That was harder. The RF from the Tesla coil kept interfering with the driver signal."

Blue Impact grinned at the memory of the two of them doing a duet of "Smoke on the Water." And wondered why so many mad-science types had a musical bent.

"Well, besides being a huge, clunky machine, making music with modulated lightning bolts is not conducive to maintaining a low profile," said the older super, wryly.

"Here comes the news," said Gadgetive, with sudden eagerness. 

"And what if we get bad coverage, like I warned you about?" said Blue Impact.

"Hey, any publicity is good publicity."

"One of the stupidest things to come out of Hollywood, a place known for being 'plumb shiny with stupid,'" said Energia. She grinned. "Quote from Glomahr."

"Shush!" said Gadgetive, absently, as she leaned forward to watch in eager anticipation

There was, indeed, a segment on super activity, but it wasn't about them. Instead, the anchor eagerly related the events of an admittedly spectacular battle between a local Mask and a street gang with several super members.

"Hey!" said Gadgetive, after the news ended. "What a gyp! Nothing on us, just that guy in the red outfit!"

"That's the Hispanic hero, Mano Dura," said Blue Impact. "He gets favorable publicity, from just about everyone. It's mostly because he's a minority, but from what I've seen, he deserves it. He's a real street Mask, dealing with ordinary people and their problems."

"Hmph..." said Gadgetive, folding her arms and sinking into the couch, scowling. 

"Just keep in mind that the area he patrols has a border a few blocks from here," said Blue Impact. "If you're outside the next day or so, be careful. His trouble could spill over into this neighborhood."

* * *

The neighborhood stayed quiet, so with Blue Impact's permission Gadgetive offered to escort Energia to some local places where she could complete her gift shopping, and maybe get inspirations for those people for whom she currently had only a vague idea. Therefore, her last full day in the city saw her and Gadgetive in civvies walking the few blocks to the nearest bus stop. However, they were both still on call. The young pair had only gone halfway to the shelter when Energia heard a muffled sound, needing a moment to realize its point of origin.

"Why is your ass ringing?" said Energia, free to talk like a normal teenager away from their teacher.

"I keep my cell phone in my fanny pack," said Gadgetive, digging into that accessory. She smirked at her friend. "What, won't your parents let you have a cell?"

"I can't use 'em," said Energia, sadly. "My powers mess up any electronics I carry which aren't specially shielded."

"Oh," said Gadgetive, lifting her phone to her mouth. "Hello?"

There followed several seconds of intent listening, with Gadgetive occasionally nodding. 

"Gotcha!" she said, finally. 

She put her cell away and turned to the impatiently curious Energia.

"Trouble. Someone made an anonymous 911 call to report an old Jewish guy being mugged. Blue Impact heard the police call on the scanner I rigged. She wants us to meet her there."

"Where can we change?" said Energia, in a hushed voice, looking around.

"We'll have to find a place on the way."

They eventually settled for ducking down an alley, from where Energia flew them to a rooftop. There they changed, hidden from view by a cluster of rooftop air conditioning units. Soon the two young women were flying - under Energia's power - towards the location Blue Impact had given them. 

She was standing in the street, watching for them, pretty much alone. A few civilians were in the area, but most were looking wary, and moving quickly about their business. Blue Impact waved the two younger supers down to the pavement beside her.

"Poor old guy was unconscious by the time I got here," she told the pair. "Paramedics took him away a few minutes ago. No idea what the thieves took, except that I found this in the alley the thieves ducked down."

She held out a scroll in her gloved hand.

"Witnesses say he had some sort of satchel. That was there, empty, with this nearby. Left the bag there for the police, but figured I'd better keep this someplace safe, in case someone sticky fingered came by. No idea what it says. No idea if it's even a clue."

Energia took the document and, puzzled, opened it. Only to have her schoolmate take it from her before she could get a good look.

"It's Hebrew," said Gadgetive, frowning in concentration. "Old Hebrew. Not a religious document, but something about moving something... A shipping invoice?"

The others just stared at her.

"What?" said Gadgetive, with a mock innocent expression. "I have a cousin who's a sofer. Lived with him for a few months after my parents died, but he was single and figured I needed a real family. Still see him occasionally."

"What I want to know is, where are the police?" said Energia, looking around. "The ambulance has come and gone, the witnesses have left, but no cops."

"They don't come here," said a new, male voice.

Even Blue Impact jumped a bit. The girls both actually jerked around with shrieks.

"These are my people, chicka," said Mano Dura, taking the scroll from Gadgetive before she could think to resist. "My streets. Anybody, no matter who they are, no matter who they worship, gets hurt or stolen from here, the bad guys know they have to worry about me being on their trail. I'll use this to find the thieves."

"Just remember that you're not the only one trying to help people," said Blue Impact, trying not to show the irritation she felt. 

"Yeah, why don't you go back to your giant robots and colorful supervillains and we'll let you know when we can use your help," said the man, scornfully. 

* * *

"Big ego," muttered Gadgetive, as they walked to Blue Impact's bike. 

"Not that much more than most singleton Masks," said Blue Impact. "I suspect a lot of that showboating is a performance, to intimidate people who otherwise might commit crime here."

"It's still rude to talk to us like that," said Energia, as she lifted off. 

Part Three: Spring Break

The two-dozen Theengrumb gathered in a back room they had rented at a local bar. This world was a popular trading nexus, and gathering spots near any of the spaceports often saw odd meetings. This one attracted no attention, by design. People in those areas rarely took notice of such gatherings, especially if they wanted to stay healthy. The Theengrumb were noted for being able to maintain a low profile when they desired to... and given the business this group was engaged in that was definitely the current goal. The room had been thoroughly scanned, the proprietor and staff checked and properly bribed, and their own security was covertly watching the building and its surroundings.

The species - resembling the mutant offspring of a whippet and a skink - was famed for their sensitive noses and often hired as detectives or security agents. However, this particular group was more mercenary. They were currently discussing a request from a prospective customer to kidnap a young Sholvak Primus from a backwater planet. A task which they soon realized would be even more difficult than their initial evaluation had determined. A non-refundable deposit was requested - and, after some negotiation, supplied - to provide for intelligence work and evaluation. They had the results of those activities; now to decide on whether to finish the task. 

"This world is far more formidable than their technological and sociological status indicate," said the head of the investigative group. "The combination of a high level of pre-Primus abilities and an odd precociousness in the application of their primitive tech are the primary reasons. However, they are socially and - overall - technically unsophisticated."

"Before we travel too far along this trail," said a squad leader, "I wish to ask that we consider the source of this request. The huRK are not currently our enemies, but they are no-one's friends. Their competence in covert activities is also questionable. I don't blame them for wishing to keep their part in this secret, but they haven't actually managed to do this."

"They worked through double intermediaries... then had us paid in skleen which carried their scent," said another squad leader, scornfully.

"So typical," said a negotiator. "They get all caught up in their plots and schemes and devious measures and ignore the obvious."

"Now, be fair," said the head of the investigative team. "The huRK don't have a sense of smell and therefore no intuitive understanding of how it works."

"So," said the coordinator, steering the meeting back on track. "Do we take the job?"

"If it were an adult, no, flatly," said the chief negotiator. "But a pre-eruption child..."

"I do not question whether we could capture the child," said the coordinator. "I ask whether the troubles doing so would cause are worth the payment."

They argued back and forth at length, then finally voted. A bit more than the minimum two-thirds required approved taking the job. 

* * *

The Little Piggy Hoedown landed on an empty lakeside beach with a scream of exotic engines, which rapidly wound down to silence once its landing gear was securely on the sand. Moments later, two young women in normal clothes but wearing masks descended the ramp, both carrying multiple luggage items. Behind them came Blue Impact, with a somewhat lighter load of luggage and also masked. The teacher guided the students away from the hypersonic transport, and waved to the pilot. He gave a casual salute in acknowledgement, and the exotic craft leapt back into the air. All three on the ground covered their ears against the sound and squinted against the blown sand and dust as the vehicle vanished into the sky. 

Blue Impact sighed, then turned and pointed. 

"See that shed over there? We need to get inside, get loaded, and get gone before any of the locals get curious."

"I'm surprised you let us team with you again this soon," said Energia, as they quickly walked towards the dilapidated structure. 

"I'm surprised you wanted to," said Blue Impact, unlocking the shed door to reveal a nondescript van. "There were several teen teams clamoring for you both to intern with them, including the Young Guardians wanting Energia back for the two weeks."

"Hey, I've done big teams," said Energia, with a dismissive wave, as they entered and Blue Impact closed the door behind them. "I may go with the Young Guardians again this Summer. But I kinda liked it with just the three of us, over the holidays."

"Yeah, yeah, brag about it, why don't cha'," muttered Gadgetive. "At least I'm getting some offers, now, too. Only not from anybody I really want to intern with."

"Aww, isums Gadgetive jealous?" said Energia, giving her a hug.

"Hey, knock it off! People will get the wrong idea!"

Blue Impact and Energia laughed and the former started loading the luggage in the back of the van. Gadgetive had stopped sulking by the time they climbed in and took their seats. 

"Oh, Gadgetive," said Blue Impact, remembering something as they climbed in and buckled up. "The techs who examined BlueBot said it had a Twonky, whatever that is." 

"A device which physically enters another device and takes it over," said the gadgeteer, glad to be able to teach her something for a change. "A sort of technoparasite."

"Last chance," said Blue Impact, mood suddenly serious. "You two sure you want this?"

"Yeah," said Energia. "I think we can all trust each other."

"Yeah," said Gadgetive, nodding.

"Okay, masks off," said Blue Impact, removing hers. "We'll be at the bakery in about fifteen minutes, so try to at least act normal until then. Oh, and this goes, too..."

She reached up and peeled off her wig.

"Wait," said Energia, startled. "That was a wig?!"

"A very good one," said Blue Impact. "And call me Sandy like this. The building I have my lair in is owned under the name Sandra Gates."

"Not her real name, of course," said Gadgetive, with a smirk. 

"Okay... you're hair is still blond, but a different style. Is that all the wig does?"

"That's all it needs to do. I usually style my hair to look like the wig at school, but wear it like this when in my civilian ID. It's the little details which throw people off."

"Like strategic costume padding," said Gadgetive, nodding.

Once the van was safely in the garage of the old bakery they began unloading. The two girls had the same quarters as during the holidays. This time Energia had brought more luggage for the longer stay, and Gadgetive less for her shorter one, but otherwise the arrangements were the same as before.

"Well, as I stated before, I'm glad to see you here," said Blue Impact, feeling a bit uncomfortable without her wig and mask. "Both of you. Strange things have been happening around this city but I've had trouble getting anyone interested in checking them out. Mano Dura and a couple of cops I know are the only ones besides me taking things seriously. Two extra pairs of eyes and ears and two more brains working on the problem may help."

She wasn't used to being around anyone from the school without at least her mask on, and though she trusted the girls' intelligence and honesty, she missed the presence of her disguise. Better to be otherwise naked than without those two items. Well, not really, since that could cause considerable trouble, due to them being minors, but... Blue Impact shook her head clear of extraneous thought as the youngest member of their trio spoke. 

"We do make a pretty good team," said Gadgetive, grinning. "But we need a group name."

"Wait a minute," said Blue Impact, firmly. "No way. No team, no team name, nothing formal. This is just a one-time deal, for the Summer."

"Well, we all have some blue in our costumes," said Energia, heedless. "Maybe The Blue... Somethingorothers."

"'Three Daggers of Justice'?" said Gadgetive, not quite getting the whole "blue" thing. 

"Needs to have 'blue' in it," said Energia, insistently.

"You need to learn more super history," said Blue Impact. "Back in the late Forties there was a famous team called the Three Swords of Justice. And lots of people and teams have used 'Blue' as I well know."

"I like it," said Energia, smiling.

"What?! No! That wasn't a suggestion!"

"The Rapier Trio!" said Gadgetive. 

"No!"

"Blue Blades?" said Energia.

"NO!!"

* * *

"The Jewish guy who got mugged last December was a translator hired by a museum to interpret some old documents," said Blue Impact, at supper that evening. "That scroll was one of a set, dating from the Roman occupation of Israel. It wasn't just in old Hebrew, but contained some sort of code phrases to hide the true message. The linguist had already e-mailed his translations and was on his way to take the documents back to the museum when he was mugged."

"Yeah, there were all kinds of number codes and special slang they used to hide things from the Romans," said Gadgetive, nodding sagely. "Revelations is full of it."

"But that's 'way over in the Middle East," said Energia. "Why would someone here steal those?"

"Well, they're not major collectors' items," said Blue Impact. "Little intrinsic value, and since they've been reported stolen they won't bring much on the black market. For a while it looked like the thieves had no idea what they were grabbing.

"Then, about a month ago, someone broke into an exhibit of materials connected with the scrolls at the same museum which had them translated. Strangely, nothing was taken. However, according to the translation the old guy made one of the items - a large box used to hold stuff long gone - had a secret compartment in it. When they checked, the compartment was there, but empty. They're not sure, but they think it had been opened, then reclosed by whoever broke in. And there may have been something inside."

"I love this!" said Gadgetive, rubbing her hands together and almost chortling. "Mysterious old documents, hidden artifacts... I feel like Indiana Jones!"

"Just remember that most of his adventures led to encounters with weird supernatural stuff," said Energia, shivering a bit. 

"Well, it's a lot more likely in this case to have been someone's family jewels," said Blue Impact. "That, though, is a detective story. The museum doesn't really want me or Mano Dura messing around with their stuff, but the police have people working on the break-in and one of the people doing the work is a contact of mine. No breaks yet, but if there are we'll be notified pretty quickly. 

"Moving on to the weird stuff, there's been several incidents over the past couple of weeks of people doing very strange things - usually involving minor crimes - and then denying they had done them. Some of those people had solid alibis, too. There may have been more than the half dozen or so events I know about. Most of those involved were public figures of one sort or another. Minor politicians, local celebrities. But there were at least two incidents where an innocuous person was caught doing something they shouldn't have, got away, and later denied all knowledge. This means there could be more which I just haven't found out about yet. It might be mind control, or a shapeshifter, but so far we can't figure out any pattern. We're trying to keep things quiet, to stop criminals from using these events to claim they're innocent, which would really muddy the waters."

"Cool," said Gadgetive, grinning. She looked thoughtful. "Wonder if it's a hologram? Maybe I can rig a spectralyzer..."

"Before you get too involved with that, could you fix my bike? I started it earlier to go on patrol and it was running so rough I gave up."

"Yeah, I heard it," said Gadgetive, with a grimace. "Sounds like the Fetzer valve. I'll get to it soon as we finish with the dishes."

* * *

"Are you ready for your form change?" said the Theengrumb tech.

"Is anyone sane ever ready to have their body altered into something alien?" muttered the operative. "Ah, well; fire away."

A subdued glow surrounded the unclothed, vaguely reptilian figure on the platform. A figure which shifted into something curvier and softer.

"This is odd," the agent said, hefting the soft mounds of tissue which had unexpectedly appeared on its chest. "Are you certain this is a male of the species?"

"That is a female of the species. One Thunder Maiden, to be precise."

"I specifically requested a male! Their form is more physically similar to mine, and their mindset easier to emulate!"

"Just because you request something doesn't mean you get it," said the tech. "Proceed to Outfitting and Equipping and then to Training."

Part Four: Opportunity Presents Itself

"This is Falcon Eddie! My wings are icing up! I can't hold altitude!"

"Can it, Eddie," said the voice over the com. "We all know your wings are purely decorative. I don't care if you're bored, keep looking for stranded motorists."

"Aye-aye, Cap'n Blye," the super muttered. 

* * *

Randy and Karen had barely closed the door to his apartment when there was a knock on it. Randy, puzzled, opened it to find his niece standing there.  

"Hi, Uncle Randy!" said Jenny, cheerfully, as she gave him an enthusiastic hug. "Hi, Aunt Karen!"

After the woman had received a similar greeting, Jenny  moved into the apartment and flopped down on the couch. 

"What are you..." Randy began, confused, still holding the door open. 

"Mom and Dad are on their way up. I just ran ahead."

"Ah," said Randy, deciding to wait by the door for his sister and brother-in-law. "Well, Karen and I just got back from doing some shopping, so I guess it's a good time."

"So, did the Fearsome Blue Trio solve either of those mysteries Blue Impact wanted your help with?" said Karen.

"Not really, but we only had a week and a half."

Jenny's smile faded, and she twisted uncomfortably on the couch. 

"What I actually wanted to talk to you two about is something else, before my parents get up here," she said. 

Before she could say anything else, though, there was the sound of footsteps approaching the still-open door. 

"Hey! Anybody home!" Randy's sister called out. "Brother mine, you better appreciate us getting out in weather like this to come and see you!"

"Oh, well," said Jenny, with a weak smile. "Later, I guess."

"So, how are the soon-to-be-married couple?" said Max, as he and his wife entered and were greeted.

"We've reset the date," said Karen, a bit embarrassed. "Again. After having to postpone two times, we're firmly aiming at early August. That will give us time for a honeymoon before Randy goes back to work at the school in the Fall."

"It still boggles me a bit that Randy is doing that," said Julie. "He never showed any interest in costumed heroes until he suddenly started working with the Intrepids as a volunteer."

"Just be glad Jenny has a place to go where she can be taught how to use her powers and can learn with others who have powers," said Randy, changing topic slightly. "There were many times I wished I'd had someone to help with mine."

The adults chatted while Jenny played computer games and engaged in an online chat on Randy's desktop. Her parents didn't catch on that it was rather more than a standard unit, and that the people she was in communication with were also students of the Pine Academy.

Eventually, the trio left, without Jenny ever being able to talk to Randy about whatever it was she had run up ahead of her parents to deal with.

* * *

The freak Spring snowstorm all across the northern part of the US was filling the news but Solange wasn't distracted enough by this to miss that something was bothering her friend. Energia had stopped by the Intrepids' base to catch a ride back to the Pine Academy after briefly visiting her family at the end of Spring Break, and she was looking down. Solange had thought at first this might be due to spending too little time with her parents, but after an initial exchange realized the problem was something less mundane.

"Zudalv, can you handle monitor duty for a few minutes while I take a break with my friend?"

"Sure," said the super, a new recruit since the last time Energia had been at the base. 

Energia remembered her uncle remarking more than once on the number of people now with the Intrepids. Apparently, the publicity they had earned during the previous arrest of most of the team by the feds had jumpstarted the team. Neither were the Intrepids the only team experiencing such a resurgence. Her sociology teacher had noted that as a result of the efforts to restrain supers there had been an increase in membership in over half the legitimate teams, several new teams starting up and a surge in solo mask activities.

The older super guided the younger into a small break room across the hall from the monitor room.

"What's bothering you, honey?" said Solange, as she sat Energia down at the table.

"I tried telling, uhm, Template and Colossa yesterday, but we got interrupted and I wasn't able to before I had to leave."

"Well, you can tell me, here and now."

"I was flying here - to my folks' place, I mean - from Blue Impact's place three days ago and just outside Philadelphia I saw a major traffic accident. Thought it was caused by the blizzard."

"The big tie-up on the freeway? Yeah, I got that on the news." 

"Well, there was a diesel tanker truck on fire. I put that out and made sure the driver was okay, then took a better look around. There were a lot of cars off the road. I melted the pavement clear, then some paths for drivers to get back onto it, and even tugged on some magnetically when they got bogged down in the thawed ground. I noticed, though, that some of the people were looking at me strange. Then I landed to try and get a woman out of a wrecked car, and she started screaming at me. Said I was the one who caused the accident, and she was gonna sue and put me in jail."

"The news said that a super had caused the tank to rupture and the fuel to catch fire, apparently by trying to get it back on the road and messing up badly," said Solange, frowning. "They didn't say who it was."

"Well, some of the other people there said a woman - she was at least in her late teens, obviously older than me, even with the padding in my costume - dressed like me and saying she was Energia was the one who caused the problem! With the tanker truck, I mean; the storm had already caused some problems, including the tanker truck getting sideways on a bridge. When she messed up she just hovered there for a while looking confused, then left, fast."

"We call them echoes," said the Black Mask, scowling. Neither of the girls had noticed him standing in the doorway, listening. "Whether they're clones, other-dimensional counterparts, mimics or simply someone in disguise."

"Yeah, well, whoever or whatever she is, she's not doing my reputation any good," said Energia, echoing the other's scowl. 

"We need a press release," said the Black Mask. "Now."

That proved easy enough to do, and didn't take very long. The Black Mask contacted the team's law firm and gave them the basic information. The attorney then spoke with Energia, asking some specific questions. He promised that a formal statement would be released to the press shortly after lunch.

"Of course, now we need to alert other teams and singletons we know to be on the lookout for this echo," said Rapscallion.

"On a related note, there's a Mask Alert out for Falcon Eddie," said the Black Mask. "He hasn't been seen since the day before yesterday, when he was out patrolling between the storms which hit the northwest."

"That's the third super I know of who has been out of touch unusually long," said Bowman. "Of course, given the weather that's not too unexpected. With the combination of the missing supers and this fake Energia, though, I think we better send out a yellow alert. Someone could be targeting masks."

"Meanwhile," said Solange, to Energia, "you keep a low profile. No heroing unsupervised."

"Aw," said the younger Mask. "Okay. I can see why. I just don't like it. Anyway, I'm heading back to school, soon, so there's not much chance of action for a while."

* * *

"Well, I'm glad Falcon Eddie and some of the other missing supers are home, safe and sound," said Randy, when he checked in with the Intrepids himself later that day, and was updated on his niece's problems as well as the status of the supers folks were worried about. 

"Yeah," said Bowman. "Turns out each had a pretty good reason for being out of touch. Falcon Eddie was holed up inside the back of a semi with a bunch of stranded motorists, keeping warm, and his com just wouldn't penetrate the metal walls. No-one who knows him is surprised he didn't simply go outside. Another missing Mask was working undercover, and so on. I think we're all a bit on edge from recent events and overreacted."

"This is just when they'd strike, though, to take advantage of that," said Rapscallion, muttering direly. 

* * *

School was in session as scheduled the next day. Many of the students had arrived early, up to a week in some cases, but there were still many just arriving. Most of the student body were veterans of at least one semester, but sixteen were new to the school, the smallest growth since it opened. With all this, the first day was devoted to settling in and socializing, with teachers and experienced students showing the newcomers the facilities. 

Late that afternoon the first staff meeting after Spring Break was held in the main conference room. 

"Well, Congress tabled the matter of the island's status, again," said Eve, sourly, after more immediate business had been addressed. 

"It's not really an urgent issue," said Andrea. "Most of the things we thought we needed the status determined for have either been postponed or handled in other ways."

"Frankly, I'm just glad to be back here," said Cyclone Ranger. "It seems anti-super sentiment is growing in some factions of the press, and among some politicians. There are several reasons, none of which seem connected to each other. Just coincidence - or bad luck - we're having several at once. Out here, we're away from most of that."

"True," said Andrea, nodding. "Just remember, we're not away from all of it, even out here."

* * *

"So, what did you folks do over Spring break?" asked Rubber Maid, flopping onto the couch in the lounge of the girls' dorm and stretching.

She had arrived late at the school, due to family commitments, only reaching the island shortly before lunch. Now, with supper over and bedtime nearing, she was finally able to finish catching up.

"Watch it!" said Allessandra, from across the room, where she was reading a magazine. "If I want your help turning pages I'll ask for it!"

There was excited chatter for a while about various vacation adventures. Gadgetive, grinning, waited for the others to wind down before making her big announcement.

"Well, the break was fun, but just before leaving for here I learned that this Summer I'm going to get to do something I've been dreaming of," said Gadgetive, eagerly. "I'm going to Camp Wannamakabigboom!"

"Camp... What?!" said Energia. 

"A special camp for gadgeteers," said Rubber Maid, snickering. "It's out in Nevada, near the nuclear test site. They figure those with more enthusiasm than sense can't hurt much there."

"Yeah! I'm gonna test my new fractal bomb!"

"Completely missing the part about 'sense,'" said Energia, with a smirk. 

"Huh?"

"It's the brain, you know," said Allessandra, dryly. "The part of the brain that in most people provides caution and common sense, in gadgeteers and mad scientists is used for gadgeteering and mad science."

"You all just envy my technical competence," said Gadgetive, scowling. 

"Who was it needed help programming the CDR last month?" said Energia. 

"Not my fault. The thing's not just not-intuitive, it's anti-intuitive. And you won't let me improve it."

"All right, children," said the dorm mother, entering and clapping her hands. "Time to get ready for bed. You'll need an early start tomorrow."

With a bit of teen protest, the girls started wandering off to various night time tasks. 

Part Five: The Thick Plottens

Still the storm caused trouble, though it was by now greatly weakened. Mostly those working to correct the problems the blizzard had brought were in the cleanup phase now, finding the last few of the stranded motorists, restoring power to dark and freezing homes and tending the injuries of those unlucky or careless.

Situ and the Azure Fox had just finished helping some paramedics extract three people from a wrecked car which had been accidentally buried by a snowplow two days previously. Situ - aka Stu to his teammates - was irritated at Blue Fox for almost missing one of the victims. 

"You know better than that, Foxy," said Stu, with a stern expression. "Paramedic Rule #8: Always look under the air bag." 

"Fuck you," the Violet Vixen snarled, very much uncharacteristically. "Fuck them, too. I'm tired of helping people who don't deserve it."

She turned to glare at the shocked paramedics and firemen. 

"And you can quote me! All you helpless, useless humans can go straight to Hell, and I'll be glad to see you gone!"

She turned and stormed off, seemingly oblivious to two people recording her tirade on their cell phones.  

* * *

The weeks passed quickly for the students at the Pine Academy. A little less so for the staff, who were more closely connected to the outside world. 

"Is this some form of mass insanity?" said Cyclone Ranger. "Over two dozen veteran Masks committing public faux pas in the past month. And all the enemies of costumed heroes are making hay from the events."

"I wonder if the political situation is getting to them," said Chestnut, chewing her lip thoughtfully. "I know a lot of folks are fed up with governments and TV networks basically blaming them for everything up to and including the AIDS epidemic."

"I'm actually worried for the students who are going back to the US this Summer," said Template. "Most of them aren't active supers, of course, but some are, and others have family who are. If things get really bad some of the others could be impacted too."

"I wonder if that would be a bad thing," said Andrea, musing. "Having children affected by their measures would give many politicians and self-appointed speakers pause."

"We can hope," said Cyclone Ranger, dryly.

"Still... we have an obligation to try and make sure each student is near someone who can keep an eye on them and help out of there's a problem. I mean, that there's someone nearby we can count on to keep an eye on the student."

"Oh, very good idea, Burgundy," said Template, leaning forward and nodding. "We'll keep this as quiet as we can, though. Not even tell the students unless we have to. We'll need someone to cross reference student locations with supers we can count on in the same area."

"Should we go even further?" said Chestnut. "Maybe have planned escape routes and safe houses?"

"Maybe... I'll contact the Black Mask and ask him for ideas. He probably has more experience with that sort of thing than even most spies."

* * *

"Adjustment of our schedule is required," said the Theengrumb manager in charge of the project to capture Maldren. "Matters did not peak soon enough, and now threaten to peak when the boy is not available. If the planned response to our stimulus occurs while the Primus is offplanet most likely he will not return. Therefore, I recommend a reduction in stimulus until school returns to session, then resume."

"Agreed. Be aware that this plan would likely require even greater stimulus to achieve the desired response later, given desensitization resulting from the initial effort."

"Understood. Projections show this would still allow completion of the project within budget."

* * *

For the next several weeks things calmed a bit. There were still problems with occasional supers making politically unpopular statements, and non-supers taking advantage of this. However, except for a few, isolated incidents there were no actual official actions taken against supers. As school ended for the Summer there were hopes that the students would have a peaceful vacation.

* * *

"How did I get talked into this?" muttered Blue Impact. She was dissembling, of course. She wasn't supposed to tell her charges that their Summer work with her was to help protect them.

"Gadgetive needed somewhere to go after her camp was cancelled, due to all this fuss over those supers losing their cool, and I need help with class stuff and this is better than Summer School," said Energia, answering a question intended to be rhetorical.

"And Gadgetive could also use some tutoring," said Blue Impact, giving the youngster a stern look. "You do fine on a lot of subjects, but you still need to work on others."

"Funny how all that 'fuss' just died away, once what I wanted to do was cancelled," said Gadgetive, scowling as she tried to change the subject. 

"I didn't know you bought into conspiracy theories," said Energia, teasing. 

"Only when they affect me personally."

Blue Impact gazed back and forth between the pair for a few seconds, deep in thought. Part of the reason for this, over and above the whole problem of possible actions by governments or self-righteous groups or individuals against unprotected young supers, was the matter of Energia's double. There had been three other appearances, all in the area but all outside the city. Blue Impact was hoping that actually having Energia here and publicly active would flush the dopple out and/or draw attention to the distinction between her and the real Energia. 

That, unfortunately, meant putting the girl in the public eye and at potential risk. However, the consensus of the school staff - including her uncle - was that the risk was minor and bringing things to a head now rather than later was a good idea. Her parents had agreed, showing more sense and courage than Blue Impact had expected. As well as more trust in her, personally, and the others helping with this.. 

"Okay, back to work..."

* * *

"Okay," said Blue Impact, starting that evening's tutoring. "Name a super and that super's common nickname."

"This is trivial," snarled Gadgetive. "Literally."

"It serves multiple purposes," said Blue Impact. "Among them memory training. Now, do either of you have an answer?"

"Topo, the Swami of Origami!" said Energia, enthusiastically. 

"Ooh, and a nice, obscure one!" said Blue Impact, pleased. "Gadgetive?"

"Cyclone Ranger," said Gadgetive, sourly. "Blowhard."

"Okay, valid, but too easy," said Blue Impact, with a sigh. 

They went at it for two hours, alternating between things Gadgetive needed to work on and Energia's weaknesses. When Blue Impact finally called a halt both youngsters were quite glad. 

"Okay, some relaxation time, then bed," she told them.  "Tomorrow we'll have more time, and will address a wider variety of issues. Including physical training."

"Great," muttered Gadgetive. 

"Mens sana in corpore sano," said Energia, in a lecturing tone. "The more fit your body, the better your brain works."

"Yeah, yeah," said Gadgetive.

"Extra credit for Energia," said Blue Impact, laughing. 

* * *

"Oh; here's a cell phone for you," said Gadgetive, the next morning, handing the object to Energia. "Specially shielded."

"Wow, thanks! What sort of account does it have?"

"Uh..." said Gadgetive.

"Figures," said Energia, rolling her eyes. "You focused on the physical object and neglected everything else."

"I'll arrange a cell phone account for you," said Blue Impact. "I've done it before, for myself and others."

"Thanks!"

"Hey, are you all right?" said Blue Impact to Gadgetive, while the other girl tested her new phone.

"I really wanted to have a chance to work with Dr. Device again," said Gadgetive, sourly. "Just this past year he was featured in Beaker and Electrode. He's even contributed to Maniagnosis and The New Journal of Malology recently. I haven't seen him since before I started with the school!"

"Oh, get over it," said Energia, pointedly, while waiting for someone to answer her call. "He'll be there next year. Oh, hi!"

"Gadgetive, if you really want to see Ike I can arrange a visit," said Blue Impact, sympathetically, while Energia chatted away. 

"I don't just want to visit," she said, almost pouting, "I want to collaborate!"

"Well, we've been trying to get him to come to the school for some work with advanced students. I'll remind Andrea about that next time I talk to her."

"Thanks," said Gadgetive, brightening some. 

* * *

The next morning, as soon as breakfast was digested, they did some physical training. Energia was still impressed with just how capable Blue Impact was in that area. Especially for someone who could pass as an unusually fit normal. After showers and clothing changes they started the more cerebral portion of the day's schooling. 

"Okay," said Blue Impact, "name three Masks with musical names and give one interesting fact about each."

She had picked that particular trivia question because of Gadgetive's interest in music, hoping this would help encourage the young gadgeteer to participate more. The tactic seemed to work. 

"Uhm, there's Guitar Wizard, who claims to be a direct descendant of the Norse god of rock," said Gadgetive, "and there's Drum Solo, who always works with the Crisis Intervention Squad. And..." 

An alarm rang, and a synthesized voice calmly announced "Rogue super alert. Class two physical threat: Ironmonger. Ironmonger is currently assaulting an armored car with the weekly payroll for Carstairs Industrial. Location: Five hundred block of Gorton Court, cross street Harrison Avenue."

"Let's roll!" said Blue Impact, jumping to her feet. "And make sure you're prepared! Ironmonger is a real tough guy. He and Saint Louis Mo got into a brawl, once, and leveled two city blocks before the heroes showed up. Then joined forces against them. Turns out they were just fighting for fun, and didn't get mad until the do-gooders spoiled things. So you kids keep your distance. If anyone has to get close, let it be me."

* * *

They arrived too late to stop the robbery, but managed to track Ironmonger to an empty building nearby. This wasn't difficult; he had ripped the top off the armored car and used it as a travois to haul away the bags of money. The marks on the pavement were pretty obvious. 

Regular law enforcement was still notably absent. Blue Impact had wanted to simply keep an eye on the building until they arrived - hopefully with heavy weapons - but Ironmonger spotted them. Yelling profanity, he began throwing chunks of concrete, continuing even after they moved out of sight. 

Realizing this was endangering people in the area, Blue Impact went in, ordering her charges to keep their distance. Fortunately, neither youngster seemed eager to close with the brute.

Unfortunately, the brute ambushed her, then retained the upper hand in spite of every thing Blue Impact tried. Worse, he managed to maneuver her to a location where the floor had given way, and got her tangled up in debris.

Ironmonger was about to deliver a double downward hammerfist to the fallen Blue Impact when a bolt of lightning hit him in back, just below his right shoulder. He staggered... then spun around to look for the source.

"Oh, shit!" squeaked Energia, who, wide-eyed with alarm, quickly built up another charge. She was shooting through an empty window frame in the side of the building, but was well aware that the wall wouldn't be much of an impediment to the hulking super.

Her body pulsed with an auroral glow and her hair briefly fluttered from the building charge, before the glow surged into her hands and was spat out in concentrated form across the gap to Ironmonger. He staggered again. 

Before he could recover, Blue Impact lunged to her own feet. Ironmonger dodged sideways, out from between the pair. 

There was a muffled "Spoot!" as a launcher-deployed net dropped over him. He yelled in surprise and began tearing at it, but in the process was hit with another lightning bolt. 

"Keep it up!" Blue Impact yelled, as she grabbed an I-beam from the rubble. 

The next few seconds were frantic - and far from pretty - but by the end they had the brick subdued. Very thoroughly. 

"Wow," groaned, Energia, sagging. "I am just about tapped out. There's nothing nearby for me to recharge from."

"And I'm out of nets and webbing," said Gadgetive. 

"Just make sure that neural paralyzer is secured," said Blue Impact, from where she sat on a section of broken wall, massaging her left knee. She also had several minor cuts, plus bruises and abrasions and a rapidly blackening eye. "I'm going to have to carry him out of here, and I do not want him waking up halfway through. Just need a few minutes for my knee to heal."

The trip wasn't an easy one; given the uneven and uncertain footing the two younger members of the team scouted for the best path. Blue Impact could handle Ironmonger's weight, and thanks to her regeneration was soon almost back to optimum, but she occasionally found one or both feet breaking through the rubble into a cavity below. Still, they got him out of the building and into the middle of the street without serious incident. 

"I hear sirens," said Gadgetive, looking around. "Lots of 'em."

"Good," said Blue Impact, with a groan, as she laid him on the sidewalk. "The more the better, as far as I'm concerned."

Moments later vehicles pulled up. Officers and plain clothes LEOs jumped out and leveled guns at the small group of supers from behind open car doors. The trio was just starting to wonder if something they weren't going to like was about to happen when Lieutenant Barris - whom they had met after stopping BlueBot - started yelling over a bullhorn.

"Drop your weapons and put your hands up!"

Part Six: Uncivil Arrest

The command was so unexpected, so disconnected from the situation as the trio knew it, that they just stared at the uniformed police officers pointing weapons at them.

"Uh, you do know we just stopped a major crime, right?" said Blue Impact, when she realized they weren't kidding.

"Drop your weapons!"

"What weapons?!" said Energia, raising her hands and turning slowly. 

"Yeah, what she said," said Gadgetive, with a smirk. 

"Gadgetive, drop your pack," said Blue Impact, raising her hands. "Carefully. I don't know what's going on, here, but they mean business."

"Okay, okay," said the gadgeteer, grumpily, as she shucked off pack and belt. "But what about you two? You have major physical powers. How do you drop those?"

Uniformed officers swarmed forward, and soon had the trio leaning against a wall. Barris, himself, made a show of moving in to pat them down. He started with Blue Impact, who grimaced at the man's touch. When he started for Energia, though, she spoke up.

"You do know she's underage, right?" said Blue Impact, icily. 

"Then she shouldn't dress like that!"

"So it's the girl's fault you're aroused?"

"Yes! What?! I mean, no! Look, I'm not..."

"No wonder you've been through sensitivity training five times."

"I have never been through sensitivity training!"

"Past time you were, ask me," said Gadgetive, with a smirk. 

The Lieutenant was left sputtering as the trio was placed in separate squad cars. 

At the station the booking sergeant seemed as baffled by the arrest of the trio as they were. Barris moved in to take charge.

"Book 'em for armed robbery," he announced, loudly.

"We stopped the robber, you idiot!" snapped Gadgetive. "We put our lives on the line doing it!"

"Yeah, if we were in on it, why did we fight Ironmonger?" said Energia.

"A falling-out among thieves," said Barris, smugly. "A stroke of fortune for us."

The booking sergeant made clear his skepticism, and from the attitudes of the people around them he wasn't alone in that, but Barris bulldozed the process through and had them placed together in a cell with a neutralizer.

"I hate those things," said Energia, a bit sick and not entirely from the neutralizer. 

"Feel like my head's full of cotton," said Gadgetive, looking green. "Wish we still had the countermeasure modules."

"There's something weird going on, here," said Blue Impact, scowling as she paced around the small space. "They have to leave our masks on, but they should have made us change into prison clothes, since costumes usually have hidden gadgets. They didn't even search us all that well, just went through the motions. And they shouldn't have put us all in one cell."

"Maybe they only had one with a neutralizer," said Energia, huddled on a bunk, knees drawn up to her chin.

Blue Impact tipped her head, then moved over to a corner of the cell, listening. 

"Sounds like a mob. Or a group of reporters."

The others couldn't hear that, but trusted their teacher's keener senses. 

"Yeah, I think I get this, now. Leave us in costume and then parade us like trophies in front of the press."

This is indeed what happened. Someone made an announcement that the "felons" were "too dangerous" to leave in the precinct jail. Therefore they were to be transfered to the courthouse downtown, where the facilities were better equipped for handling super criminals. 

"Aren't they supposed to call us 'suspects'?" said Energia, as the door into the cell block opened. 

"This is all a political power play of some sort," said Blue Impact. "Look as innocent and distraught as you can."

"Well, since I am innocent and am distraught, that will be easy," said Gadgetive. 

The Masks were paraded through the building and out a back door, into a parking lot crowded with press. 

"No neutralizers," said Energia, quietly. "Should we make a break for it?"

"No!" said Blue Impact, almost hissing. "Just think of the impression that would make on the evening news. In fact, I think that may be what the jerks who arranged this want!"

There was no opportunity to address the reporters and microphones. The trio was hustled into a prisoner transport van with a neutralizer already on inside. They were securely shackled to the benches in the vehicle and the rear doors closed. The van lurched into motion.

Not much later, at the courthouse, they were paraded through another gauntlet of shouting reporters and staring TV cameras. Inside they were taken to a small conference room, where the three supers were confronted by an angry Assistant District Attorney, one Clarence Langson, according to his ID badge. Oddly, he was also wearing a VISITOR badge, perhaps and indication he wasn't part of the workforce in this building. Heavily armed SWAT personnel stood wary guard. Again there were no neutralizers, but the SWAT members had weapons potent enough to be a threat even to Blue Impact.

For someone supposedly dealing with dangerous super criminals, Langson seemed inordinately happy. He beamed up at the trio from behind a heavy table.

"So, not only do we finally have you, we have your accomplices! And they're both underage!"

"What do you think's going on here?" said Blue Impact, outraged. "You do know I'm one of their teachers, right?"

"You'll be charged with aiding in the delinquency of a minor, under the guise of being a trusted classroom instructor. And whatever else I can think to throw at you!"

"Does anyone know what he's talking about?" said Gadgetive, looking around the room. "'Cause it's not us."

"This one," said the ADA, pointing at Energia, "we can hold on her own! And I'm sure once we dig into things more thoroughly, we can find charges against the short one."
"Hey!" said Gadgetive.

"Okay, I think I see where this is coming from," said Blue Impact, icily. "Part of it, anyway. Though it still makes no sense. You do know the 'Energia' who caused the damage on the freeway was wearing a different costume, right? And this Energia arrived on the scene less than five minutes after the culprit left. This was all explained in a press release, along with follow-ups each time the double reappeared."

"A typical Mask attempt at misdirection!"

"He's crazy," said Energia, creeped out and a little scared.

"No, he's politically ambitious," said Blue Impact. She leaned forward to rest her palms, arms straight, on the man's desk. In spite of its apparent solidity, the piece of furniture groaned a bit under her weight. "Took me a moment to place you. You're the same guy who tried to prosecute a teacher who took her class to the natural history museum. You said she was an atheist who was promoting godless evolution. Then had to rather clumsily take it all back when she turned out to be a deacon in her church, and the trip was one of several such outings which are part of the standard curriculum. Well, we're no more guilty than she was, and you won't be any more successful in using us to further your political aspirations now than you were with her then."

Langson jumped to his feet, face red, and began swearing incoherently.

"How dare you talk like that in front of children!" Blue Impact shouted back, quickly straightening to glare indignantly at the man. 

The door was shoved open, and an older man in a suit barged in. 

"Dammit, Langson! You were supposed to wait!"

"Not my fault you're late," said the ADA, smugly. "Pull up a chair."

"I'm not staying. Neither is anyone else."

He motioned six matrons in to quickly take the trio out of the room. Langson was left sputtering in incoherent rage. 

"I'm sorry about that. He's not even authorized to interrogate you. Nothing said in there will hold up in court."

"Pity," said Blue Impact, in a tight, angry voice. "He was digging a pretty good hole for himself."

This time they were taken through the proper procedure. A short time later, freshly showered and in orange jumpsuits but with masks (and Blue Impact's wig) still in place, they were reunited in their new cell.

"Back together again," said Energia, looking wanly up at the neutralizer. "Why didn't they keep us separated?"

"Y'know, I remember something about budget cuts meaning they could only have one cell equipped with those per jail," said Blue Impact, regarding it with less trepidation. "Ah, well; people know where we are. Hopefully, we'll be bailed out of here in a few hours."

* * *

"They did WHAT?!" Randy shouted into the phone. "Why, those..."

"Please, calm down," said Eve. "They're not in any danger and our attorneys are already working on the problem. I understand your concern, but do not go flying off to rescue them. They don't need rescuing."

Randy took a deep breath, and nodded. 

"All right," he said, realizing Eve couldn't see him. "I'll stay out of it."

"Oh, you don't need to do that. I'll put you in touch with the attorney handling this for us. As a representative of the school we may be able to get you in to visit them. However, I do request that if you go there you do so as Template."

"That's probably a very good idea," said Randy, a bit ominously.

* * *

"This is Radio Nowhere, coming to you from everywhere," said the sultry voice. "Rumor has it that the government of the United States has finally decided to take open action against the people who protect it against rogue supers. Besides numerous arrests by police, several major teams have experienced attacks from a mysterious paramilitary group. Some of those teams have had many or even all of their members captured. As well, many individual Masks have been ambushed and some of them captured, and more are missing in action. The administration is refusing to comment on these events, which itself is suspicious. Law enforcement agencies have uniformly denied involvement in these actions, including those in administrations known to be Mask friendly. Many law enforcement agencies are actually holding prisoner some of these paramilitary operatives, who are refusing to answer any questions. Stay tuned and we will transmit the updates as we receive them."

Her tone changed, became more intimate, as if she were leaning closer to the mike. 

"You know, you keep seeing this, throughout history. Unless they are very noble or enlightened, those in power fear anyone who can defy them. Because they crave their power and don't want it challenged. And only those sufficiently noble or enlightened are able to resist that fear, and the temptation to remove the challenge which it generates."

* * *

"Good thing you contacted us so quickly," said Lucille Cedar, the attorney sent to help the trio. "Even then, if we and the judge hadn't given you top priority because there are minors involved you might have been here for days instead of hours. As it is we were able to get the judge to take prompt action in spite of the legal system being very busy right now. You see, it's not just you who's in jail."

"What do you mean it's not just us?" said Blue Impact, astounded. 

"Yesterday, the administration in DC quietly sent out word that any actions taken against non-government sanctioned Masks would be supported by the President," said Lucille. "We're swamped. I don't normally handle super cases, but practically the whole firm has been mobilized. After someone leaked the story, the White House at first denied the whole thing, then announced the same policy publicly. The president went on live TV last night and stated flatly that because superhumans aren't human the Bill of Rights 'don't apply to them.'"

Template was there with the lawyer, but had hardly said two words. Even her brief hug of Energia had been perfunctory. She seemed distant, preoccupied. Angry. Which did not reassure Energia at all.

"What?!" shouted Blue Impact, both outraged and frightened. 

"Any excuse whatsoever is being used to arrest supers, hero or villain. They've even called out the military to help. So far nearly half the established teams have been targeted, and over fifty freelancers. The rest are buttoning down and trying to figure out what to do."

"But... but... what about the Posse Comitatus Act?!" said Energia.

"Repealed, late last year," said Lucille, tiredly. "And civil liberties groups are outraged that the popular media ignored the fact."

"One thing in our favor, almost every judge with jurisdiction over the cases being brought against the supers targeted has granted bail, often on the charged person's own recognizance. The feds and all the administrators involved in this are screaming bloody murder at them for 'sabotaging' the effort and threatening to declare martial law. A few - fortunately only a very few - supers have taken direct action against those who are ordering the arrests. Which only encourages other politicians to take action against supers."

"How's the school doing?" said Blue Impact.

"They're fine," said Template, speaking for the first time in several minutes. Her voice was tight and low. "There's no local government to take action, of course, and so far the feds are apparently ignoring the Academy. Maybe because they're in a territory, rather than a state."

"Wait... don't you think that's odd?" said Energia. "I mean, that island is home - well, most of the year - to the largest group of supers on the planet, and even has a super team base on it."

"That does seem a bit strange," said Blue Impact. 

"Well, we do have more stringent security measures than even most teams," said Template. "Especially after all those androids. And it's security in depth, with multiple layers extending out and up several kilometers, something most team bases don't have. There are also nearly a hundred foreign nationals there to consider. And there's still a UN presence on the island. Don't worry about the school."

"Good point," said Blue Impact, nodding. "Several of them, actually."

"So when can we get out of here?" said Gadgetive, for once looking and acting her age. 

"Judge Messer started the paperwork and told me to get over here while it went through," said Lucille. "He's super-sympathetic, for several reasons. I'm just waiting for the clerks to finish and pass the word down, and we'll be good to go."

Part Seven: Civil Disobedience

"You're out of your mind!" said the radio conglomerate executive. "Not to mention exceeding your authority! Radio Nowhere is one of our most popular syndicated shows! No way are we pulling it!"

"You'll pull it or lose your license," said the FCC agent. 

"That's a violation of our First Amendment rights!"

"You honestly think any judge or jury will care about an amendment when the main body of the Constitution is being violated by these seditious programs of yours?!"

"You can't do this," said the radio man, more weakly, as he realized just how fanatical these people were. "You can't..."

* * *

"Super Control Force Division Fourteen ready," said Stevens, quietly. 

"You are go," came the voice over his secure radio.

"Move out," said Stevens, to the head of the assault unit.

He sat back - leaning back in his chair, actually - to take in the view of all the monitors in the mobile command center. They'd had to rush things, the order had been that unexpected, but given the time zone difference that meant they should have this wrapped up by normal quitting time. And one more group of costumed vigilantes would be out of business.

The three stealthed lifters approached from three different directions, one slightly in the lead. That contained - besides the vehicle crew and an assault team - the two psychics. Stevens had nothing against people with powers, he just wanted them in the chain of command, not "freelancing." The pair were well trained and experienced, and had worked together before. They knew what to expect from this mission, and what to do to achieve it.

Within minutes their influence had spread to the security staff. Though talented and trained, they were normal humans. The go-ahead was given, and the lifters moved to the rooftop heliport of the building. The team vehicles were all here, and from surveillance they knew most of the full-time members were, as well. The stragglers would be rounded up once the facility was secured. Stevens didn't have enough staff to chase them all down and take the base at the same time. Hopefully, once this was over that would change. 

Each in turn, the lifters dropped off personnel and equipment, then pulled back to wait. The mission leader gave the high sign, and sedative gas was pumped into the building. With the security staff dominated, the sensors and alarms were safely off-line. Those few inside who were not susceptible to the gas would be taken out by the mentalists. 

"All out but one," came the information over the assault leader's headphones. "Psis having a hard time getting a bead."

"That's what they get for not having a mentalist on the team," said Aftergood, with a slight laugh in his voice.

"We can handle one," said the assault leader, confidently. 

"Just to be safe, put Analyzer with the team going after him."

"Roger."

The team expertly swept the building. With the building's security crew having unlocked all doors before the gas rendered them unconscious this went quite smoothly. However, the psis still could not precisely locate that one person.

"His mind is slippery and snarling," said one of the psychics, sounding dazed and perhaps a little drunk.

Well, she always did when working.

"He's using the ducts and crawlways," said Analyzer, over his radio. "He'll be heading for security."

"Head him off, then."

The Analyzer's team was almost there when they heard a garbled exclamation over their headsets. There was no response from two of the five teams. 

"Somebody's been busy," said Analyzer, smiling. 

"Everybody on your toes!" said the assault leader. "Report status every ninety seconds!"

In spite of those precautions, within minutes only Analyzer's team was still active. 

"All right, we go back to that briefing room we just passed," he ordered the nervous team members. "Set up a defensive perimeter. Stevens, how soon until reinforcements get here?"

There was no response. 

"Sir, no outside coms. Not even through the relay we left on the roof."

"He's already re-established security," said Analyzer, beaming. "Better and better."

He loved a challenge. The more so when a challenging opponent fell before his brilliance. 

They were just entering the briefing room when a black-suited figure dropped down through the ceiling tiles. The team opened fire, to no apparent effect, as the mystery figure tore through them. Analyzer stood back watching. The costume was unfamiliar, but the moves weren't. Perfect; he knew how to beat Tiger.

The Analyzer watched with little concern as Tiger turned a crack unit into a group basket case. He'd already discerned the super's weakness from recordings of the man in action; he jumped around too much. Since he couldn't fly, each leap meant a short period when Tiger couldn't dodge. The Analyzer drew his pistol and waited. When Tiger had disabled the last agent the Analyzer made a point of deliberately aiming his gun at the super, right between the eyes. As expected, Tiger leapt... and his aura began glowing. All rational thoughts fled from the Analyzer's mind as the great, luminous cat leapt at him. Primal instincts kicked in, and he became an ape on the plains being attacked by a large predator. He screamed and turned to flee. The double impact of Tiger on his back and him against the floor rendered the Analyzer soundly unconscious. 

Tiger quickly disarmed and bound the men and women who had invaded the Bay Area Guardians' base. He used his suit to patch into the building's communications array and update the people he'd already contacted. 

"Threat neutralized. Air being flushed. Building sealed and secure."

"I hope you don't mind, but we're still sending a team over," said the Guardsman. "Just to be sure."

"Don't mind at all," said Tiger. "Just stay on alert. We may not be the only targets."

"We're sending out a general waring," the Guardsman reassured him. 

Tiger stretched and winced at his bruises. The suit was tough, but these people had been armed to go against supers. Still, he was in much better shape than if he'd not been wearing it.

The outfit had been designed by Ike Kenniman to compliment Tiger's abilities. Normally a quiet mover, in this suit he was all but silent. It was transparent to his enhanced senses while providing more, including a multi-function radio. The suit did not augment his strength, but compensated for its own mass and inertia so Tiger felt almost like he wasn't wearing it. Or anything, for that matter. The suit roughly doubled his resistance to damage, and provided many accessories. Including air filtration. He was just lucky his magically-enhanced stamina had allowed him to reach an oxygen tank in time...