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MARVEL 2000 PRESENTS...
"THE ADVENT OF THE BRAINWASHER"
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| PREVIOUSLY IN ALPHA FLIGHT: Defeated by Alpha Flight, Mr. Satan has regained his powers and under the new guise of the Brainwasher has targeted the team for his big revenge plan. Guardian
assembled his team of Alpha Flight within their Canadian headquarters.
No one knew what this meeting was all about, including Guardian. Sitting
in a comfortable swivel chair in their office was the chief of Police,
a man known only as Sarge. “Well,
I think you’ve held us in suspense long enough, Sarge,” Guardian
said, speaking as he was, the leader of Alpha Flight. “Tell us why
you’ve gathered us.” “I
know the suspense is killing me as us all,” Heather commented. Every
man and woman had their arms folded across their chest, in anger as to
what the silence was all about. “I
think it’s time that I let you know,” the man called the Sarge
said. He was smoking on an old stogie, changing between that and a Cuban
cigar. “It’s very important that you gather your team, Guardian,
because some of your team members can not be trusted for they may be the
enemies that you face.” “What
the devil are you talking about?!” Guardian shouted at the man who
until now he was proud to call his friend. There was uproarious chatter
between individual members of Alpha Flight, talking about what gall the
Sarge had. “Okay,
okay,” Sarge said. “You can all settle down now. To put it
simply, a criminal is setting up shop in the Big Apple, reaping a massive
crime wave throughout the city and recruiting several super heroes and
there is word on the street that your team has been targeted.” “So,
you think that Alpha Flight may have some compromising members,"
Guardian said. “Your accusation is noted and denied. We won’t
handle any of your so-called traitor within the ranks accusations. You
can take your leave now. We will solve your crime wave case within the
week.” Guardian nodded and acknowledged the warning. The rest of Alpha Flight denied it, as he silently did. Solarman
flew over the Canadian skyline, on his way to work at JC Penney’s
at the West Edmonton Mall. Below, there was a steady onrush of traffic,
almost a traffic jam, because it was near rush hour in the morning. For
him, there was no sense in getting a driver’s license when he could
fly wherever he needed to go post haste. As in most
places where Ben worked, he had to enter through the back entrance because
that was the associate’s entrance. Cool enough for him. It was the
shady and mysterious side of his double life now. He landed
on the roof, where no one would be likely to see him. On his back was
a backpack that he used for school where he stored his work clothes, which
consisted of a white shirt, a tie, and black slacks. He also carried penny
loafers. Perfect for a day of work at Penny's’ Then, he remembered
that he didn't have to work today. But he always liked to dress for success. He stuffed his casual clothing in his backpack, slung the pack over his shoulders, and making sure that no one was around for miles, jumped off the roof to the safety of terra firma below. Cool as whip cream, for him. Passing
the men’s department as his way to the elevator, he waved and said
hellos to Felicia and Amber, who were busy waiting on customers at the
height of the store opening. With a large
grin on his face, Solarman walks over to the elevator and bumps into Jenny,
on her way to clock in. She also has an equally large grin painted upon
her pretty face and she is positively aglow with new vitality and energy.
She is a tall, slender built girl of blonde hair with a face and body
to match. She hugs him and presses her breasts against his hard, muscular
chest. He responds in kind, kissing her fully on the mouth. They back
into the empty elevator and once inside and the door swishes closed, he
presses the button marked floor two and they are alone for the nonce.
“Hey,
keep it down, Jenny. Someone may hear us.” “In
case you haven’t noticed, we’re in a sound proof room away
from the nearest person. No one can hear us while we’re in this
elevator, smart guy.” “Oh,
yeh, right. Forgot. I apologize. What’s up?” “I
just want to know when I’m going to meet the rest of your club members.
You can’t keep me all to yourself forever.” “What
are you talking about?” “Alpha
Flight. Duh. Your secret club that you haven’t told me about yet.
If I know your secret why can’t you share me with them?” “Jenny,
it’s not time yet. The timing is all wrong. Give me a little more
time.” He gave
her a stern look that that scenario wouldn’t happen for a long time
yet. “Okay.
I can take a hint.” The elevator
pinged and the doors opened. Ben walked out with Jenny. They kissed lightly
on the mouth and he was off. “Sorry. I have to get my check and
skedaddle.” “Don’t
forget to change,” Jenny said, pointing at his backpack. He knew exactly what she meant. Sasquatch
landed on a rooftop, entering his apartment that he shared with Aurora.
He entered the apartment through the back way and changed into casual
clothing. He knew that Solarman was recently concerned over Jenny wanting
to know more about Alpha Flight. “I’m
home,” Walter said. There was no answer. “I
know you’re here, ‘cos I saw your car here.”Still no
answer. Now I’m
getting suspicious, Walter thought. Maybe she went for a fly. He entered
the kitchen, saw a note and read it. It said that Aurora went food shopping
in her car and will be back in an hour’s time. This is
good, Walter thought, now I‘ve got some alone time. Never thought
that I would say that since I’m a busy super hero but I’ve
finally got some time to relax. Walter sat
down on the couch and flicked on the television set. He might as well
catch the news and it was not sweet. He saw the news report of Jenny,
Solarman’s girl, robbing a couple more banks and Solarman racing
all over town to try to stop her to no avail. The next
report was of more criminal acts, this one by two members of the team;
Heather Hudson and Jeanne-Marie Beaubier. Walter couldn’t believe
his eyes and ears. His two favorite girls were turning into criminals.
So that was what the two girls were doing instead of going food shopping.
And he knew who was next, Narya and Talisman. He quickly
changed back into his work clothes and clicked on his radio transceiver
to contact his partner. He was at the Alpha Complex in his identity of
Mac Hudson Walter locked
the doors behind him and got into his car to drive to the Alpha Complex.
It was a long drive and he knew that Mac was waiting for him. “Get
in,” Walter said. “We’ve got business to discuss.” “What’s
up?” Guardian asked. “You sound serious.” “I
am. It seems that our two favorite wives have gone rogue.” “Don’t
tell me, they’re brainwashed.” “Exactly,
so that means that we have to fight our own members to fight our way to
the Brainwasher.” “Oh
boy.” Over the
Canadian skylines, Guardian soared, carrying Walter, of course in his
human form, over the city. Walter searched the city for Heather and Aurora.
For the longest time, they were nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, they saw
the two ladies walking on the opposite sides of the street, carrying with
them their groceries. Heather’s red El Dorado was down the block
from the supermarket. Walter pulled his car right beside Heather’s
and parked it. He pocketed the keys and he and Guardian got out of the
vehicle. “What’s
up?” Aurora said, as she and Heather stopped in their tracks. They
put their groceries in the trunk of their car. “There’s no
danger here.” “This
must be a fake,” Aurora said. “This can’t be us. You
must know that anyone can put on a costume and impersonate us. You have
gotta be kidding me with this. Anyway, I should be angry with you the
way you treated me the last couple of days. I thought we had a relationship,
Waltair. How could you even remotely suggest this? I trusted you.” Aurora slapped
him with her hand. When Walter reacted to the physical violence by reaching
out to Aurora’s arm, Heather used her glove gauntlet on her geothermal
suit to propel heat to Walter’s all too human hand. Walter gripped
his hand and watched as the flesh healed itself. Guardian raced over to
his side. “Are
you all right, Walter?” his best friend asked him. “Yeh.
But have you noticed something?” “What’s
that, Walter?” “That,
James, these two girls had the same reaction that Jenny had with Solarman
when she wanted to join Alpha Flight.” “Yeh.
Maybe we should keep this hush-hush quiet with the girls until we find
the Brainwasher.” “What
are you two talking about?” Aurora asked. “Y’know we
don’t like secrets.” “Oh,
nothing, baby. We’ll meet you back home, after we do some patrolling…” The girls
frowned disdainfully. “Yeh. Whatever.” By
the time that Walter and Guardian were having a few choice words with
Heather and Aurora, Puck had no idea that his own team members were fighting
amongst themselves and that soon his own team member of Alpha Flight would
be fighting himself. Then, the
music stopped and Snowbird pushed her way onstage and started to speak
into the microphone. “Excuse me, everyone, I’ve got something
to tell all of you. You may know me as Snowbird, goddess supreme. But
I have another name, that’s Anne Mackensie, RCMP. And that man over
there—“ she stopped as a spotlight shone on Puck. “He’s
Puck, my team-mate. Or as I like to call him Eugene Milton Judd.” Puck locked
eyes with Snowbird. What had gotten into her? He asked in his mind. She
must have flipped her lid. Gone insane. Or just another victim of the
Brainwasher. He had to stop this now. Puck stood up and said in a firm,
but relaxed tone, “I think my friend has had a little too much to
drink. If the management doesn’t mind, I’d like to take her
home now.” Sighs of
relief were all heard from all members of the audience. Puck sighed a
sigh of relief of his own as he realized that they must have believed
his ploy. “Why
won’t you believe me??” Snowbird screamed at the top of her
lungs and hurled Puck across the nightclub to the back. He slammed against
a wall, his shirt all ripped and in shreds. It was obvious to Puck that
she wanted to reveal to everyone that he was a member of Alpha Flight.
“You know something, Pucky, you stink.” The audience
thought that a small earthquake or bomb had gone off. They all rushed
out of the bar and headed for the streets, leaving one angry Snowbird
and one bewildered Puck about to face one another. “Listen,
Narya, I don’t want to hurt you but I will if I have to.”
“You
have gotta be kiddin’ me!” Snowbird’s brow was furrowed.
She clenched her fists. “You—you just have super human strength.
You have to have a weak point and I will find it. Before or after I kill
you, is the point of the matter.” “Don’t
do this, Snowbird! Please!!” Snowbird
punched the air with both fists and out from them came twin white sasquatch
arms. But this time it didn’t hit Puck head on. He lifted up a table
and the two arms shattered the table. “Fancy
moves there, darling, but no one defies the Brainwasher.” “Who
is the Brainwasher? What kind of hold does he have on you?” “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Snowbird turned around and blew a hole in the wall, running off into the night. Puck knew that following her would be where his heart wanted to go but it wouldn’t break the hold the Brainwasher had on her and the rest of the females in their group. He had to regroup and find an answer to this.
“Okay,
people,” Puck said, “you all know why I called you here today.
It seems that someone called the Brainwasher has the super human ability
to brainwash our loved ones and have them attack us against our will.
The good thing is that since our loved ones aren’t killers they
can’t be brainwashed to kill us. But the question remains; how will
we stop them short of killing them ourselves?” Solarman
spoke up. “I’m more worried about Jenny. She is a normal person,
not possessed of superhuman powers like us. One solar blast at her from
me and I could kill her. Your question of how do we defeat them without
killing them is a valid one.” Walter eyed
both Solarman and Puck. “I think the question is can we kidnap them
and capture them so that we can find a way to deprogram them. It’s
possible but all we have to do is stop them and make them go beddie-bye.” “I
don’t like the idea of even fighting them in the slightest degree,”
Solarman said. He paused and then spoke again. “But if that is the
only way. Then, let’s do it.” Suddenly,
the front door to their apartment slams open and five very angry women
enter the room. Those women are Snowbird, Heather Hudson, Aurora, Jenny,
and Talisman. They had one motive in mind; to kill Alpha Flight. Solarman
stood up and placed both hands on the table. “Jenny, you don’t
have to do this! We’re your friends and we don’t want to hurt
you. And I know deep down that you don’t want to hurt me.” Jenny smiled.
“Girls, attack them!” With that, the girl members of the team launched into battle, those with powers charged up their hands with their powers and fought those that they once loved.
These were
odds that Puck didn’t want to face on even his best days. Puck raised
his hands in defense against Talisman’s fierce punches and kicks.
She did a roundhouse kick to Puck’s head, hurling him forever back
against a corner. Snowbird
was laughing like the villain she and the rest of the girls had become.
In between the blows that Talisman hit Puck with, Snowbird transformed
her arms into white sasquatch arms and hurled them at Puck’s chest
and stomach. Puck knew
that to win this fight that he had to defend himself and kick some butt.
Puck took a metal table and used it in front of his body as a shield and
walked forward, ever slowly forward, to his wife. Snowbird meanwhile swung
her arms to drive Puck back. Puck turned
around. Talisman used her long red fingernails to scratch him in the face.
He screamed in pain. He wasn’t invulnerable. But he was super strong
so that the wounds were even beginning to heal so the slash marks burned
him. Puck grabbed his face, as he was a little bit blinded by the attack.
He had to make this quick. As Talisman
hurled herself in the air, Puck grabbed her legs and flung her against
Snowbird’s body. Both of them fell against the wall and it knocked
them both unconscious. Puck then used some twine to tie them up together,
back to back. He put a gag in Snowbird’s mouth so she couldn’t
use her powers to escape. It looks
like his work against his loved ones was over and done with. But would
he be able to keep them powerless and captured until the time when they
had to deprogram them? Only time would tell. Walter was
troubled and very angry at his present situation. Here he was in the apartment
with his wife, ready to battle him and his partner, Guardian. He didn’t
know how he should react to this. His wife had no super strength of her
own as Aurora but she had super speed. ‘You
don’t have to do this, Aurora,” Walter said to Aurora. He
easily evaded her scratching, avoiding heavy cuts and bruises. “I
don’t want to hurt you,” Walter said, launching into battle.
”But sometimes you have to do that to save the life of the woman
you love.” Before she knew what hit her, Walter tapped her on the
back of Aurora’s head, knocking her out cold. Guardian smiled, as
he saw this crass deed, knowing that half the battle was over with. Now,
all they had to do was finish off Heather. She was one of the most powerful
members of the team, barring Solarman. “And
here, all day, I thought Aurora was the love of your life,” the
woman who was once Heather Hudson said. “It’s playtime, Walter.” “You
may be a geothermal powerhouse when it comes to sheer force of will,”
Walter said, picking up one of Kamikaze’s bola sticks. “But
sometimes, you just can’t cut it.” “And
you think a simple ninja brand of weaponry will stop me??” “No,
he will.” Heather
looked behind her, temporarily forgetting about Guardian, as her husband
had created a bonfire around her, focusing the heat to make her collapse. “Thanks, Walter. Let’s catch up to Puck and see how Solarman and Puck are faring against the others.”
“I
don’t want to hurt you, Jenny,” he said. He charged his fingertips
with solar energy but he usually saved using these powers for extraterrestrial
beings and cosmic wayfarers. He had to stop Jenny, somehow. “This
is crazy, Jenny. I love you with all my heart. Why are you doing this
to me, to us. What hold does the Brainwasher have on you? Who is he? What
is he? How did you meet him? Did he kidnap you and then have you kill
us for no reason because of the thrill of it? I’ll try to deprogram
you if it is possible.” “Shut
up, no more talk!” Jenny shot her pistol at her lover. “I
hate you, you try to trick with every kiss, every tender touch. You have
lied to me over and over again. You lied to me when we first met. You
didn’t tell me that you were really Solarman. And your friends,
the high and mighty Alpha Flight, are no prize either.” “You’re
talking gibberish, Jenny,” Puck said, as he tried to blind her with
a blindfold aimed directly at her eyes. But it wasn’t lethal or
permanent because he had total control. All he did was make her see spots
for several seconds. “Puck,
what are you doing?!” Solarman yelled at the top of his lungs. “That
was the woman I loved!” Solarman blasted Puck, his friend and partner
and team-mate, with a solar blast sending him hurling against the back
wall. He couldn’t see his girlfriend hurt or harmed. “Solarman,
yer crazy just as crazy as yer lady-friend,” Puck said. “It’s
me, it’s Puck, yer friend. I don’t want to hurt yer girl and
I didn’t. I only disoriented her.” “What?
But I thought—“ Solarman seemed to be on the verge of apologizing.
“We
shouldn’t be fighting amongst ourselves but trying to deprogram
Jenny here.” Solarman
turned to Jenny. “I see your point. You’re right.” Jenny had
hurled a grappling hook around Solarman in a failed attempt to ensnare
him. “The Brainwasher will know what to do with the likes of you.” “Oh, Jenny, what have you got yourself into now?” Solarman said. TO BE CONTINUED...    |
