As the sun slowly makes its ascent over this sprawling metropolis, a picture of devastation emerges. The skyline is smoldering as smoke billows from a number of buildings, including Gentry Towers where the President is scheduled to visit next week. Fire rages throughout midtown with flames leaping from storefront to storefront, blanketing the city in ash.
The streets are in shambles, the asphalt buckled and broken. Huge swaths are in ruin, the city's main artery inoperative. Downed wires are sparking, threatening to ignite more shops.
Broken glass litters the sidewalk. A large chunk of Gentry Towers sheers off, the brick and glass landing with a huge thud on the pavement, creating a large crevice. Other buildings begin to list, the steel bending under the enormous pressure from the intense heat.
A strange film also appears on some buildings, a gelatinous mix that emits an eerie glow.
The utter destruction to Auld City is mind-blowing, a city that looks like it came under a nuclear attack.
But somehow the scene is calm amid the chaos. Only a few blocks away from the midtown mess, a family laughs as they enter a bagel shop. In fact, a number of people react as if there is nothing out of the ordinary, going about their normal routines without any hesitation on this crisp autumn morning.
This contrast is part of the reason why Matt Murdock has a microphone in his hand as he follows a huge man in a black maintenance outfit, the letters CRRW (City Restoration and Recovery Worker) emblazoned down the right side of the uniform. In his hand is a large broom, a tool of the trade for this massive man who is surveying the damage.
Murdock is on assignment for the Auld City Herald, as indicated by his badge. He is wearing protective gear as he strolls among the rubble with the CRRW employee. He watches as the man, who has identified himself as "Sweep," takes inventory of the wreckage.
"Superheroes make a huge mess," says Sweep, his arms extended to show the scope of the damage. "Look at this typical encounter between Apexx and Tyrantula. It's not your garden variety aftermath from a conventional battle."
Murdock nods. He never realized the extent of the damage before. He's also been oblivious to the enormity of the collateral damage when a supervillain and superhero clash.
Sweep gestures toward that glowing substance dripping from an awning. "See this stuff? Apexx has a galvanized sword that leaves deadly amounts of Zelenium..."
The word deadly has Murdock backtracking, his face suddenly ashen.
Sweep smiles. "With Sweep on the job, everything's fine." He adjusts the broom head with a turn of a switch, transforming the nylon bristles into a wider fiber that will capture the toxin. He lifts the broom, and with a mighty twirl of the handle, the gelatinous material disappears.
"That'll do it," says Sweep, disposing the broom head into a protective bin.
Murdock is speechless. Sweep's broom was a blur, the action so fast it was like watching a centrifuge.
"See, ya can't have this stuff hanging around downtown," says Sweep, cleaning up the next batch of Zelenium. "People would be keeling over left and right. Not good for business."
Murdock glances toward a skyscraper, the building making an ominous creaking sound. Sweep stabilizes it, using his brute strength to shore up the walls with some concrete he prepared earlier. He lifts large blocks into place, removing damaged portions and making it whole again. He does this with great speed that nearly defies description.
"Apexx is notorious for busting up the place to get the job done," says Sweep, lifting another large block into place. "He doesn't cut any corners. So that means plenty of buildings get demolished with lots of live wires dangling about.
"You gotta be able to cut of that power supply with a little brute strength and savvy."
Sweep takes a live end of a large cable and twists it into a knot. "Like that."
Sweep walks over to a water main that's spewing. "And don't get me started about Tyrantula. He's gotta be one of the worst villains.That guy is a walking nightmare. One big toxic mess. Enough venom to paralyze a whole city. Nasty, nasty stuff."
As Sweep repairs the busted pipe, a faint cry catches his attention. The sound is coming from a large pile of rubble adjacent to Monocacy Manor, a downtown high rise.
"Help...help..."
Sweep rushes to the large mound of debris, quickly tossing aside the huge chunks of concrete that have pinned the victim. He sees a hand, its outstretched palm reaching for help. He grabs it, carefully lifting the person from the skein of metal and concrete.
"Thanks," says the man, brushing the dust from his body. Once he removes the chalky coating, Sweep realizes who he just pulled from the pile.
"Donald, what the..... I should have known. You have a habit of showing up at fight scenes. You know, you're going to get seriously hurt one of these days..."
"I'm sorry, Sweep," says Donald, shaking some pebbles from his shoes. "But it was an awesome battle. You should have seen it. They were really ripping it up...simply exhilarating."
"Exhilaration can lead to extermination," says Sweep.
"Or entombment," adds Murdock.
Donald's been a frequent visitor to the restricted area, ignoring the many signs that warn citizens of the dangers associated with venturing beyond the perimeter. He also likes to watch superheroes and villains tangle, often taking pictures that he places in a scrapbook and online.
"Apexx swooped down from the Towers, brandishing Pentaver, and catching Tyrantula with a vicious uppercut," says Donald, pantomiming the action. "That blow sent him spiraling backward and he knocked out this whole wall. Boom!"
"You're lucky you survived that fracture," says Sweep, escorting Donald to the safe zone. "But your luck is bound to run out on of these days."
"I protected my camera, and that's the main thing," says Donald. "Wait til I upload these on my fan page. Those guys will be so jealous."
Murdock shakes his head. "I don't think this will be the last time you'll see that guy in harm's way."
In the distance, another man wearing a CRRW uniform is tending to the burning buildings. He raises his hands, crosses his outstretched arms and unleashes his electromagnetic field, lifting a huge blanket of foam over a section of downtown that's engulfed in flames. He then drops the foam onto the buildings, quickly extinguishing the flames. Next, he takes mangled cars, raising them with his EM field, and deposits them on a carrier.
After clearing the damaged vehicles, he concentrates on the littered sidewalks and streets, gathering all that material and placing it in a row of dump trucks. Once the debris is removed, he begins fixing the buildings using his EM field to piece together the structures, and within minutes the buildings are restored to their original states.
The foam is quickly cleaned up by Sweep using another attachment on his broom.
"You're pretty handy with that thing," says Murdock.
"I got everything I need to handle these bust-ups right here. It's multi-functional."
The action overhead has caught the attention of Murdock. He watches in amazement as the city transforms in front of his eyes, the remnants of the titanic struggle between Apexx and Tyrantula virtually gone.
"Velk and me will have this city back together in no time," says Sweep. "See, we belong to a specialized force that's trained to handle these situations."
"You guys do an amazing job," says Murdock. "I'm almost embarrassed to say that I had no clue what you did or how proficient you were."
Sweep begins to assess the damage to Main Street. "Don't think traffic is gonna get by with the street chewed up like this."
Just as he finishes that thought, Sweep begins to pulverize the asphalt, his two fists working like pistons. The fury of his blows creates so much heat that the large broken pieces are converted back into a spreadable mix which he then smooths out with another attachment on his broom. In a matter of minutes, Main Street is back to a functioning thoroughfare.
"That ought to do it," says Sweep. "We'll have this city back on its feet in no time."
"That's pretty impressive," says Murdock.
"Well, we have a job to do and nobody does it better than The Crew."
"The Crew?" says Murdock.
"That's us," says Sweep, motioning toward Velk. "You have Velk, me...affectionately known as "The Sweeper," and the last member of our team, Stitch."
A man with a rat-like face approaches Sweep and tosses a uniform at him. "Make sure Apexx gets this back by five o'clock." And not a minute later."
"Who is Stitch?" says Murdock
"That's where I'm headed now," says Sweep, tucking the costume under his arm. "Stitch has to work his magic."
"May I come along?" says Murdock, eager to get as much information as possible from this mysterious outfit known as The Crew.
Sweep sees an overturned semi and and some abandoned cars that are resting on their roofs. "Hold on a minute. Let me tie up a few loose ends. We wanna keep it tidy."
He hands the costume to Murdock. "Here. Hold this."
Sweep lifts the 16-wheeler off its side and sets it back on the street. He then turns his attention to the cars and places them upright. Sweep then proceeds to take down the warning signs skirting the perimeter which is ringed by yellow tape.
"Now we can go," says Sweep, taking back the costume.
"That's Apexx's costume," says Murdock. "You guys also run errands for Apexx?"
Sweep stops. "I'll let you in on a little secret. Superheros have a pecking order. There's a definite hierarchy. And Apexx is at the top."
"Where do you rank?"
"I'm not a superhero," says Sweep, the agitation apparent in his voice.
"You're not a superhero?"
"You heard right. I'm not accredited. I didn't make it out of Q-school. I'm not allowed to call myself a superhero even though I'm more qualified..ah....never mind."
"I must admit I'm startled by this revelation," says Murdock as he begins to take off his Haz-Mat suit. "I just assumed you were a superhero."
"Nope."
"There must be a reason? Why aren't you qualified? Flunk the written exam? Cheat off another
superhero's test?"
Sweep leans into Murdock, his nose practically scraping the reporter's forehead. "This is off the record. UNDERSTOOD?"
"Sure, sure," says Murdock, slowly backing away.
"I have a balance problem. It's something that occurs intermittently. It's not chronic..."
"And how does that affect your superhero status?"
"It doesn't," says Sweep, bending a stray steel beam that's blocking the sidewalk. "But the powers that be said it was a condition that was too dangerous and couldn't hold up to the rigors and demands of a superhero."
Sweep tosses the beam into a construction bin. "It's BULLSHIT. I can kick ass with the best of them. So can Velk and Stitch. We don't take a backseat to anybody."
"So...The Crew is really a club? What?"
"Technically, we're support staff for the superhero community. That's our official designation."
Sweep gives Murdock a wry smile. "Unofficially, we're the baddest threesome on the planet."
A man who is part of Apexx's entourage appears around the corner. He barks at Sweep. "Hey! Get movin' on that costume."
Sweep says nothing as he silently stews. He knows he belongs among the superheroes yet he's little more than a gopher for the legion of defenders working in Auld City.
"So...what paper you from, kid?"
"I'm not affiliated with any paper. I freelance. This particular assignment is for the Auld City Herald."
"Looks like we got something in common."
"I didn't say talk, I said move," the man barks.
Sweep growls. "Let's get this over to Stitch before I do something that I may regret, though I doubt it."
"What does he do?"
"Stitch puts Apexx back together again. Well, his costume, anyway. That guy blows through ten costumes a week sometimes. And Stitch can mend them in a blink of an eye."
"You're kidding?"
"It's verifiable. The guy is a machine."
The two men enter the restaurant district, and wander down an alley, through a bustling array of people carrying supplies into places that serve almost every type of cuisine imaginable. Sweep stops and takes a deep breath, savoring the smell of this block.
"Mmmm...putting the city back together builds up your appetite," says Sweep, extending his hand to Murdock. "Well, this is where we part ways. It was nice talking to you."
"But I'm not done with my interview. I want to talk with Stitch and Velk..."
"Velk ain't a talker. I can tell you that. As for Stitch, why don't you meet us at Carnahan's later. At 9 o'clock. You know the place? It's on the west side. Nothing fancy, but it's ours."
"I'll find it," says Murdock as he watches Sweep disappear into the shadows.
*******
A thunderstorm is brewing. A lighting bolt pierces the late afternoon sky, followed by a booming thunderclap.
The flash from above illuminates "BREWSTER' S CEMETERY," a name that's inscribed in the wrought iron gate leading to this burial ground.
The lightning also reveals a lone figure standing among the grave stones, his eyes fixed on a small marble marker. The name on the marker is Daniel Grafton.
Another burst of light illuminates the man who is now addressing the young boy who lies beneath the marker. It is Velk. He has come here every day since the night of the robbery that led to Danny's death. Danny was a customer at a grocery store late one evening when a gunman burst into the building and demanded money.
(flashback)
The gunman enters the store, telling everyone they better not make a move as he brandishes a large semiautomatic rifle. The clerk hits the silent alarm, but the gunmen quickly leaps over the counter, striking the young man with the gun. He has some trouble with the drawer, and begins to get frustrated, finally riddling the register with bullets. The robbery doesn't yield much and the gunman is getting angry.
After he is through, he turns his attention to the customers who are inside. He tells them to empty their pockets and toss their wallets on the floor. Suddenly, his eyes catch Danny who was dialing 911 on his cell phone. The gunman opens fire, killing Danny. He runs from the scene, laughing as he makes his escape.
Danny's death struck a severe blow to "The Crew." He was a young man who made it a point to bring joy and happiness into other people's lives. He would often get The Crew coffee, or bring them snacks, always eager to help make their job of putting the city back together as pleasant as possible. He was genuinely interested in their lives, and would share details about his own upbringing.
Daniel was an orphan whose story struck a chord with Velk. He was abandoned at a young age and survived on the streets, using his wit, charm and determination to exist. However, that experience made it difficult for him to trust people. While Velk was not an orphan, his transformation that fateful June evening led to his isolation and withdrawal from society. They shared the pain of loneliness, each one trying to adjust to a world that didn't understand them.
As the storm rages, Velk makes a solemn promise to Danny. "I vow to bring your killer to justice. You have my word."
The storm intensifies, painting the sky black. That ominous canvas is interspersed with streaks of light that weave across the horizon. It's a night to seek shelter from the dangers that lie above, but Velk is undeterred.
A car's headlights catch Velk as he slowly leaves Danny's grave. The driver stops.
"Hey, don't you know it's dangerous out here! You could get killed."
Velk doesn't flinch. He keeps walking.
(flashback)
A man is standing on his porch. He sees storm clouds gathering in the distance. In a field beyond the home, a young boy plays among the sheep and goats on the family farm. The boy is Mark Thumboldt and he is 9-years-old.
As the sky grows darker, the man tells Mark to get the animals into the barn. Mark begins to herd the animals toward the barn, but a few of the goats aren't cooperating. He manages to get most of the strays, but the lightning, coupled with the cacophonous thunder, has spooked a couple of them into hiding.
Mark decides to pursue the strays and heads toward the open field. He sees one of the goats running toward the creek that marks the end of their property. As he runs to fetch the goat, a lightning bolt rips through the sky, striking Mark in his chest. The jolt tosses him a few feet in the air. It exits his arm, leaving Mark twitching on the ground, his clothes charred and torn.
His father, who witnessed the incident, quickly rushes to his side. He begins CPR, all the time yelling for his wife to call 911. He administers CPR, successfully resuscitating his son. The paramedics soon arrive and Mark is rushed to the hospital.
The doctors tell the family that Mark is expected to make a full recovery. In fact, they say it's a miracle he's alive since most lightning strikes result in death. Newspapers and television stations want to interview him. He's become a mini celebrity and all the attention is embarrassing.
Mark doesn't remember getting struck by the bolt, but something about the experience lingers. He feels different, like his body has been altered by the strike.
One evening, as he is lying in his bed, he reaches for a glass of water that is slightly out of his grasp. As he looks at the glass, a tingling sensation overtakes him. The glass lifts off the night table, and hangs in midair. This phenomenon surprises Mark, breaking his concentration. The glass falls to the floor. Mark stares at the glass, trying to digest what just happened. Did he really cause the glass to levitate? Or was he dreaming? Mark rolls out of bed, picks up the glass and puts it back on the nightstand.
He sits back on the bed and concentrates on the glass. He extends his hand, trying to draw the glass toward him. It begins to vibrate, finally lifting off the table, and eventually makes its way into his hand. This is unbelievable.
Mark lets the moment sink in, staring at his hand, the glass, his body. It's all very confusing, yet exhilarating at the same time. What is this new power he has? Can he summon it anytime he wants? He begins the experiment, choosing items to move around his room. He chooses a photo, then a trophy, and then his entire dresser. They all succumb to his wishes. It's true. He can manipulate objects at his command.
While out in the field one afternoon, an employee using the tractor to pull a disc harrow drives it too close to a slope, sending the machine toppling. Mark witnesses the accident and without thinking, he extends his hand, unleashing a wave of energy that stops the tractor in mid roll. He then lifts it back between the furrows onto level ground.
The man is dazed, but otherwise unharmed. He isn't sure how he got back into this position, but he's thankful, telling Mark that his Guardian Angel must have been looking out for him. Mark is a bit stunned as well, another confirmation of his extraordinary abilities.
After that incident, Mark is in the barn and has decided to do a little mid-air juggling using his electromagnetic field. Suspended above his is a rake, a hoe, an ax, and a pick. All of a sudden his arm goes numb, sending the implements crashing to the ground, the ax barely missing his head.
This stuns Mark, adding another layer of mystery to this new world.
While Mark doesn't fully understand what's happening, he knows the source of this new power was the lightning strike. He also doesn't know if he should tell anyone about it, even his parents. This also means that he is different from everyone else, a burden he will have to carry throughout his life.
The storm rages around him as brilliant flashes of light illuminate the cemetery. One such strike reveals a name on a tombstone. It catches Velk's eye. The name is Jubal.
Flashback:
A young boy is dangling over a cliff. His sole hope for survival rests in the strength of his hand. That hand is clinging to Mark, his older brother who is trying desperately to pull him to safety.
"Don't let go," says Jubal, the rocks beneath him plummeting into the ravine as he knocks them loose trying to gain some footing.
Mark wants to use his power, the mystifying force he has at his disposal, but he's still torn between revealing his secret, as well as his ability to harness it exactly as he wishes.
He relies on his strength and begins to pull his brother up the cliff wall. However, Jubal's hand is slipping. His brother is losing his grip.
Mark frantically looks for something to brace himself, but there's little on the plateau that will give him leverage. With every ounce of strength he can muster, he pulls Jubal toward the top.
Jubal losses his struggle, his fingers slipping out of his brother's hand as he's pulled close to the summit. He begins to plummet 200 feet to the bottom of the ravine.
"JUBAL!"
Mark crosses his arm, summoning his EM field, but his arms are numb. He desperately tries to awaken his limbs.
His brother's body continues to free fall.
"Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!"
Another lightning bolt rips across the sky as Velk exits the cemetery.
Sweep descends some stairs and then winds through a series of underground chambers interconnecting the restaurant district that uses these catacombs to ferry supplies in and out of the dozens of eateries that occupy the area. He finally arrives at a place that appears to be a dead end. He dislodges one of the bricks that line the east wall, revealing a numerical panel. He punches in a code and a section of the wall slides open.
He arrives in the foyer of their home, a small two-story structure that serves as their workplace and living quarters. The work they do here is secret, something that has been occupying most of their free time.
Sweep calls out.
"Got another rush job, buddy! Like that's a surprise."
Stitch comes into the room and greets Sweep. "That can wait. I wanna show you something, first."
Stitch takes Apexx's costume and brings it into the library. This space serves as a work area, with one table devoted to Stitch's work as a tailor.
Stitch opens a closet, and turns on a switch that rotates a rack of costumes, most of which belong to the accredited superheroes. However, he stops the carousel when he gets to a row of glimmering costumes, ones that are unrecognizable to Sweep.
"Whose are those," asks Sweep, stepping in to get a closer look.
"Ours. These are the prototypes I've been working on."
"But nothing's official yet, Stitch. This may not come to pass."
Stitch pulls a costume off the hangar. "You don't believe that. You feel the same way I do. Here...this is yours..."
Sweep takes the costume in his hands. It's a black unitard with a shimmering interlocking sideways S on the front that is positioned inside a shield. It also has a silver and black cape, along with a utility belt that will hold Sweep's favored weapons.
"Well, would you look at that," says Sweep, admiring Stitch's handiwork. "I'm practically speechless."
"It's designed to withstand any number of projectiles and will absorb impact up to six Gs."
Stitch points to a triangle on the belt. Inside the triangle is a a series of three Cs that form a circle. Each section lights up individually. Stitch demonstrates.
"This is the Unifier...let me show you how it works."
Stitch depresses a section of the circle, illuminating a "C". "When one of us is in trouble, or needs help, he pushes a section, and see..."
"It lights up," says Sweep.
"Once we see the signal, we respond by lighting up another section, indicating the message has been received and we are ready for action."
"The Unifier," says Sweep, nodding his head.
Sweep holds up his costume, soaking in all the detail. "Pretty impressive. But...it's missing one thing....
Sweep walks over to a wall compartment secreted behind a statue of a grenadier. He pulls out what looks to be a broom, but upon closer inspection, this broom isn't something found at a hardware store. This broom's bristles are made up of tiny blades, an instrument that can inflict a lot of damage.
"Now, that's what I call an accessory," says Stitch.
Stitch pulls another costume from the rack. This one is green and black unitard with crisscrossing blades set inside a shield. It also has a cowl, with spaces for the eyes, nose and mouth.
"And this is mine."
He reaches behind him where a large quiver is secured with Nylon straps. He pulls out a cutlass and a broad sword "And these are my accessories."
"Hmmmmm...not bad," says Sweep.
Sweep studies his costume again. "You hear from Velk?"
"No," says Stitch, putting his costume back on its hangar.
"He disappeared after he left the site. He's been doing that a lot lately."
Sweep suddenly remembers Apexx's costume. "Hey, I almost forgot. We gotta get 'His Majesty's' costume back to him ASAP."
Sweep tosses Apexx's costume to Stitch and watches as he takes a bolt of fabric and begins to mend the garment, his hands as nimble and quick as a hummingbird's wings. He hands the costume back to Sweep.
"Finished."
"You never cease to amaze me, Stitch. You got some mad skills."
The two friends sit in front of the fireplace as they wait for Velk to arrive. "You know, I was tempted to deck this Apexx flunkie today. I was with this reporter...."
"Reporter?" says Stitch, a bit taken aback.
"Yes. He was doing a story on us and what we do."
"Why?"
"I think he said something about a human interest angle.."
"Human interest? That's a stretch. When's the last time any of us felt human? Or part of that world?
Sweep settles into his favorite chair. He switches on his laptop. "What's eating you?"
"You have no idea what today is, do you?"
"Thursday."
Stitch ignores the sarcasm.
"No one knows, it seems, Well, it's my birthday, and it's supposed to be a cause for celebration..."
"Well, Happy Birthday, Stitch."
"Thanks. But it's hard to feel happy when you don't feel connected to anything. We straddle these two worlds, and we're unwelcome in both."
Sweep closes the laptop. "What is it bothering you? This is more than a forgotten birthday."
"I was going through some personal items today and I stumbled across an unopened letter. It was a letter from my parents who were congratulating me on my acceptance to Biddleton University. It also included a check...and a...
Stitch pauses. He leans back in his chair.
"And I never got to thank them."
(flashback)
High in the Andes Mountains, Dr. Anderson Talbot has set up camp not far from a village that lies about 20 kilometers from Machu Picchu. He is doing research on this little-known tribe that still clings to its pre-Columbian roots. His family accompanies him on this trip, including his wife Margaret, his son, Benjamin and daughter, Lisa.
On a cloudy afternoon, 17-year-old Benjamin has decided to go exploring on his own. Armed with a rucksack filled with materials he'll need for his journey to the ruins of Gardalezco, he begins the ascent to the famed temples. His plans are to stay a few nights, then travel to the Pezentz Plateau, eventually reuniting with his family at Teneculpta.
The trip up the steep slopes is dangerous, but the sheer majesty of the snow-covered peaks that climb toward the heavens is awe-inspiring. Even though Benjamin is a seasoned climber, he still has to watch his footing. He's slipped a few times, but avoided any major falls, vowing to slow down and enjoy the view. With each step, Benjamin can almost touch the clouds. He's never been in such an enchanted place.
Benjamin arrives at the temples and sees that the people who live in Gardalezco are on edge. They tell him some men have been by searching for gold, and destroyed some artifacts in their ravenous quest for the precious metal. These men also threatened their lives when their search proved fruitless.
Benjamin gets a description and promises to forward the information when he returns to Teneculpta.
Benjamin is investigating the largest temple, one that was the suspected burial site of the mighty Zomoltak, Gardalezco's revered chief who allegedly lowered the sky so his people could walk among the clouds.
As he crawls in dark corners, searching for anything that may confirm Zomoltak's existence, he is unaware of a rare celestial event that is taking place. Even though his father mentioned the solar eclipse en route to the Andes, Benjamin forgot that today was the day it was to take place.
He's inside the upper chamber when the light that has been streaming through an observatory opening cut into the wall starts to diminish. Benjamin is so absorbed in reading some hieroglyphs that he doesn't notice the change.
Within moments, the room suddenly gets dark, so dark that even a light can't seem to penetrate. When Benjamin gets up to investigate this strange occurrence, he's knocked back by a brilliant light. The eclipse over, the sun has come though the small opening in the pyramid with blinding force.
Benjamin slowly regains consciousness, and makes his way out of the temple pyramid, his eyes still trying to adjust after the blast. He looks around, surveying his surroundings. He glances back at the temple.
"What the hell just happened?" he says to himself.
His departure from the temple catches the attention of a tribal elder, Jon-Dos Pentachez, He approaches Benjamin.
"Were you inside the temple during the eclipse?"
"That was an eclipse?" says Benjamin, who has trouble believing he was dropped by a ray of light. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, it was a total eclipse. You were exposed to it while in the temple."
"Wait...you're right. Father did say we would be here when that occurred. With all the excitement, I just forgot. Weird...that really packed a wallop."
The elder extends his hand. "My name is Jon-Dos Pentachez. I am with the people of Gardalezco, and these temples are sacred to us."
"I know," says Benjamin. "I respect the history and the significance of places like these. I would never disrespect that. I was just transcribing the hieroglyphs."
"Tell me, did you bring anything into the temple with you?"
The question surprises Benjamin but it also jogs his memory. "My bag, I left my bag inside."
Benjamin returns with the rucksack and thanks Jon-Dos for reminding him about his belongings. However, Jon-Dos stops Benjamin before he enters his tent.
"We believe that during an eclipse, the sun is gaining strength so it can shine again. And when it emerges, it has the strength of many suns, so that's what you felt. It's what helped give Zomoltak his power. But is has dangers, too.
Benjamin respectfully nods at this bit of tribal lore. He knows it's important for the man to inform him of their superstitions, something they regard as undeniable truth, but Benjamin has the skepticism bred in most Westerners.
Jon-Dos inches close to Benjamin. "You must also be aware that you will have a powerful connection with whatever was inside the temple."
Out of curiosity, Benjamin looks inside the rucksack and pulls out a needle and thread he uses to repair his tent, along with two knives, a scissors, an ax, and a hammer.
"Is that all?" asks Jon-Dos.
Benjamin nods his head. "Yes. The rest of my gear is in the tent."
"Some things will appear strange and new to you. However, your answers will come in time."
Benjamin watches as Jon-Dos descends the slope leading from the temple grounds. He ponders what Jon-Dos said. What does it mean? Strange and new? Answers in time?
Benjamin packs up the rest of his belongings and prepares to leave this beautiful mountain where time stands still. He hoists his bag over his shoulder, anxious to get back to Teneculpta and his family. He has a bunch of new hieroglyphs to decipher, and he's eager to start working on them. He gives the temple grounds one last look since he'll be leaving for Biddleton College in a few days, and he doesn't know when he'll be back.
As dusk settles over the mountains, Benjamin's journey becomes more perilous. He slowly navigates the rocky terrain, realizing that one misstep could be fatal.
Suddenly, a condor swoops by, startling him. He loses his footing and tumbles down the jagged slope. He clutches at some vegetation, but it slips through his fingers. He keeps tumbling, tumbling, tumbling and believes he's going to die. In desperation, he throws out his hand and miraculously snags a Polylepis that is among a stand of bushes on the south face.
It takes all his strength to maintain his position, an astonishing feat given the condition of his body. Several large gashes on his legs are gushing blood, with the most serious being a large wound on his right thigh that is spewing buckets.
Benjamin quickly sifts through his rucksack, locating some tent straps. He applies a tourniquet and stops the blood from pouring out. He knows he must get to a doctor as soon as possible and get that leg stitched up.
He soon learns that the strap isn't holding. With such a rigorous journey down the slope, the canvas strap constantly unravels. He now has to stop every few feet to redo it. This is an untenable situation, having to stop after taking a short distance and apply the tourniquet again. The blood keeps pouring out. He has to find another solution or he will certainly die.
Once again, Benjamin opens his rucksack and looks at the contents. He spots some matches and pulls them out. He closes his eyes.
"Maybe I should cauterize it. It may be my only chance for survival."
He lights one match, and ponders the next step. Suddenly, this strange feeling overwhelms him. He grabs his needle and thread. He looks at it, almost studying it. He grabs some alcohol from his shaving kit and douses the needle.
What happens next, astonishes him. In a matter of moments, he has stitched up the wound. Using his left hand to pinch the skin together, Benjamin has the wound sewn up in a flash. In fact, it was so fast he didn't feel a thing, the adrenalin combined with what he was seeing and doing, numbing him.
He attends to the smaller wounds and stops them from bleeding, fixing them all within seconds using the needle and thread. He has gone from the brink of death, to a full recovery in a blink of an eye, a process that mystifies him.
"Hmmmmm....that needle and thread was with me in the temple during the eclipse. Could there be any truth to what Jon-Dos said?"
With renewed strength, Benjamin begins his descent. He makes his way down the mountain as day as breaking. He marvels at his handiwork in the bright morning sun. A skilled surgeon could not have done a better job.
Benjamin can see the village of Teneculpta. As he approaches, he senses something is wrong. That's quickly confirmed when he sees two dead bodies lying in the entrance to the village.
"Mom, Dad...
In another part of the village, Merritt Grayson, otherwise known as The Marauder, is holding Dr. Talbot, his wife, and daughter captive in a small hut. He has with him two henchman who are pointing guns at the family.
"This is a relatively simple proposition," says The Marauder, using a knife to peel the skin from a pear. "You tell us where they have the gold, and I let your family live."
"There is no gold here. Everything these people had of value has all ready been plundered."
"You really don't expect me to believe that," says Marauder, dangling the knife in front of Talbot. "I know they have it hidden among these mountains."
"You leave my father alone, you dirty, thievin' scumbag!"
"Lisa!"
"You have quite a spirited daughter," Dr. Anderson. "It would be a shame if any harm came to her."
"I told you, there's no gold left here. Or silver, for that matter. You're a century too late."
The Marauder presses the knife against Dr. Talbot's throat. "That argument would be more convincing if you didn't have gold dust on your hands."
Dr. Talbot looks at his hands, his palm and fingers flecked with gold. His heart sinks. Would it do any good to tell this murderer that he was helping with the restoration of a panting, its gold shavings part of the composition that invariably rubbed off onto his hands? Probably not. He was helping to get the painting secured for the trip back to the Alistair Museum where they could do some professional restoration then display it for a time, eventually returning it to Teneculpta.
"I was helping to restore a painting," says Talbot, trying to make eye contact with the masked intruder. "It's an important piece of their heritage and I was getting it ready for transportation back to a museum."
"You're taking something of theirs for a museum? So that makes you a noble thief. C'mon, I'm growing impatient! Where is the gold?"
"For the last time, there is no gold."
The Marauder traces the knife across Talbot's throat. Margaret screams while Lisa bucks against the restraints.
"Why don't you return to the sewer, ya filthy pig," says Lisa, almost spitting the words. "And why don't you go out and earn the things you want.
"First, when talking to me, address me as the Marauder. Secondly, I work very hard putting up with ingrates like you. It's enough to drive a man insane...."
The Marauder laughs. "Now, for the last time, I want the location of the gold!"
Bursting into the room is Benjamin. His eyes are wild with anger as he gauges the scene. He makes a dash for his family, intent on freeing them from their bonds.
"Mom...Dad!"
"Benjamin," shouts his Mom, her face tinged with hope and fear.
He is quickly intercepted by the two henchman who grab him by the arms.
"Son, these mean are dangerous," say his father, blood trickling from his neck. "Leave now."
Benjamin easily breaks free from their clutches, and makes his way toward his Mom. Before he gets there. another henchman with a knife stands in his way.
"Move aside," says Benjamin, his eyes filled with anger.
Benjamin makes a move forward and the man lunges at him with the knife. Benjamin instinctively dodges the knife that's thrust toward his chest. What he does next surprises even himself as he whips off his rucksack and pulls out his knives. He then starts to wield them with dazzling speed, temporarily blinding his stunned adversary. The man recovers in time to make a swipe at Benjamin who easily deflects the charge.
Benjamin spins toward his assailant and in one swift motion, knocks the knife from the man's hand, sending it careening across the floor. This move prompts the other two henchman to close in and draw their own knives. Surrounded, Benjamin twirls the knives as he moves side to side to escape their jabs.
As he performs these maneuvers, thoughts invade his mind: How can I do these things? It's like the knives are part of me.
He knows he can't avoid their attacks much longer and makes the decision to end this dangerous encounter. He's never harmed anyone in his life, and the thought of killing another human being is repugnant, but necessary.
He takes a lethal stab at the first assailant, sticking him in the neck. That move is followed by a jab to the second assailant's heart, dropping him on the spot. The speed and finality of Benjamin's counter attacks prompts the third assailant to flee.
Faced with the proposition of engaging Benjamin alone in a knife fight, The Marauder, brandishes a gun.
"Not another step closer," says the Marauder, cocking the pistol.
Benjamin stops in his tracks.
"I've always said, 'there are consequences for actions, and in this case, inaction. It's a pity people don't listen.'"
The Marauder fires then gun, first at Dr. Talbot, followed by his wife and daughter.
"Noooooooooooooooooo," screams Benjamin, lunging toward The Marauder.
The Marauder fires, Benjamin dives......
Back in the study, Benjamin wakes with a start, his hands clenched, his brow sweaty. His eyes now focus on a figure walking toward him. Who is this?
Mayor's office--
High above Auld City.
It's the office of
Martin Skerlow, mayor of Auld City. It is an ornate office, lavishly
decorated, with pictures of the mayor and other dignitaries adorning
the walls. The office rests on the 54th floor of the Sernad Towers.
"What did you learn," says Skerlow, grabbing a cigar from the humidor.
"Mostly about their role as support staff and Sweeper's balance problem," says Murdock who's engulfed in the large leather chair in front of Skerlow's desk.
"That's it? That's a matter of public record. That's nothing new."
"I didn't have a lot of time. They work fast as a team. Pretty efficient, that Crew."
Skerlow tosses the report on the desk. "Some investigative reporter."
Murdock fidgets. "I'm meeting them later at Carnahan's I'll find out more then."
"You better, or you'll find yourself off the payroll."
Murdock exits leaving Skerlow and Frank alone in the office. They stare out the window overlooking the city.
"Your poll numbers are sagging," says Frank, flipping through some notes.
"You see any reversal of that? We have an election coming soon."
"Well, you have the standard options," says Frank as he rips off a sheet. "And that's always good for a boost."
Murdock takes a huge puff of his cigar, his head enveloped by smoke. "That's what bothers me about this latest downturn in crime. Something's happening beyond my reach. I have to find out why."
"Hence, Murdock?"
"I'm hoping he'll be a useful stooge."
"What about Apexx?"
"What about him?"
"Any problems there?"
Skerlow watches as a crowd gathers outside his downtown office. "Still a team player."
"Well, maybe Murdock will uncover something."
Skerlow sees that a few of those in the crowd have large signs that read: SACK SKERLOW. "He better."
The Crew's Loft
A startled Stitch bolts up from the chair and reaches for a knife, unsure who this intruder is...
"Easy there, Stitch," says Velk who is wearing the new costume specially tailored for him. "I just wanted to say that it's absolutely awesome. A perfect fit."
"Jeez, Velk. I had no idea...I thought someone broke in."
"I had to try it on once Sweep showed it to me. Didn't mean to startle you."
"Glad you like it. It still can be refined. Like I said, they're prototypes."
Sweep plops onto the sofa. "Seems a shame we can't break them in tonight."
Velk walks over to the window. The storm is still raging outside, the window streaked with ribbons of rain. He watches as a bot of lightning illuminates Auld City.
"Well, I guess it's time we discuss what path we're taking." says Velk, turning on his computer. "There's a lot to consider."
"Nabbing Johnny's killer is enough for me," says Sweep, his fist clenching. "Don't need nothing else."
"Velk studies a spreadsheet for a second. "First, we must keep this completely secret. We can never talk about what we're doing or reveal our Superhero identities. That's first and foremost.
"If that occurs outside our control, and we're pressured to divulge the names of others involved, we must swear that we'll keep quiet no matter the consequences."
Stitch pops open a bottle of water. "That goes without saying. We all know the stakes. We're violating the Superhero Enforcement Act by not declaring as Superheroes."
"We also run the risk of losing everything we worked for in the event we're exposed," says Sweep.
That's why we need to discuss this matter and weigh all the pros and cons," says Velk.
"Still doesn't change how I feel," says Sweep. "I'm in."
"Me too," says Stitch.
"One last thing. It's the elephant in the room. The reason we were denied superhero status in the first place. We're vulnerable at certain times, and as for me, I never know when an episode will strike..."
"That's why we have to stick together," says Sweep. "We can compensate for one another. But I'm not worried. No small affliction is going to stop me.
Stitch nods his head. "Together we're an unstoppable force."
Sweep bounds off the couch. "The bad guys won't know what hit 'em."
Then it's settled. We are now, and for all time, "The Crew."
The three friends each form a "C" with their thumb and forefinger, and then raise their hands connecting the "Cs."
"The Crew," they say in unison.
Sweep twirled his broom. "The world will never be the same."
Auld City at night.
Howling winds kick up debris that skitters along the streets, forcing pedestrians to shield themselves as they walk.
A man in a dark trench coat, his face obscured by a Fedora, walks across Lansing Street. As he approaches the curb, he thinks about what happened a few minutes ago. Once he raises his head, we see that it's Velk.
Velk passes shattered store front windows and businesses that are boarded up and padlocked. An iron gate descends over Sherman's Dry Goods.
"Maybe I should have told them about my suspicions. I crunched all the numbers and it just doesn't add up. When Mayor Baxter left office we had 1,100 police officers and 15 superheros patrolling the city. Crime was at 4.8 percent. Now we have 1,600 uniformed officers and 22 registered superheroes, yet crime has gone up for the last four years and the population has remained virtually the same. We also have an elaborate security system that links retailers with the police as well as the superhero community, but armed robberies have also increased.
"We should see a drop, but crime has risen. And it's not a spike...an anomaly that could account for the upswing. This has been s steady increase...and that's only what's reported.
"I don't know what the deal is, but I'm going to get to the bottom of it. I didn't want to say anything unless I was sure. But something is afoul."
BOOM!!!!!!!
A manhole cover erupts from the street, landing with THUD just a few feet from Velk.
"What the..."
It's followed by a second BOOM a few blocks away as another manhole rockets into the sky. That's quickly followed by another BOOM as a third manhole explodes. He sees that one of the covers is set to strike a woman who is frozen with fear. Velk guides the manhole cover away from the woman and places it safely on the ground.
"I have to find out what's going on..."
Velk can feel the sudden rush of heat. He also knows that the manhole covers are popping in succession, indicating the heat is traveling down the utility tunnel. As he approaches the manhole, he sees the unmistakeable glow of a fireball. The intensity of heat must mean this is a huge fire, most likely a substation...
Just as Velk pulls back from the opening, he hears a distinctive cackle. It's FIREBUG.
"Firebug...this is not good. I'm going to have to put a stop to it..."
Velk heads toward a secluded spot. "I didn't tell the others I was secretly going on some missions, heading out at night to fight crime...but I had to confirm my suspicions. Delays. inaction, neglect, it's all been chronicled. And again...not a cop in sight.
"This is going to take a superhero effort to take down Firebug and extinguish these fires."
He also knows that time is of the essence, and he needs to act quickly or lives will be lost. He tosses off his trench coat and reveals his costume. He depresses a section of the circle, lighting up his portion of the "C".
Velk begins his pursuit of FIREBUG. He chases him through the underground labyrinth that criss-crosses the city.
FIREBUG sees he's being chased and throws a fireball toward his pursuer. "I certainly hope you're not here to spoil my fun. It's always such a shame when someone wants to disrupt my plans."
"You're fun is over," says Velk, shielding himself against a wave of fire with his EMF.
"HA! Not before I turn this place into a living HELL!"
The Loft:
Stitch is in the study when he sees the belt light up. He punches the GPS tracker into the belt's computer module and sees it's coming from downtown, at Madison and Empire.
Stitch notifies Sweep about the alert. "Velk is signaling us."
"He took a costume?"
"Apparently..."
"Well, let's go!"
Sweep and Stitch race to the location in their costumes, careful to be as inconspicuous as possible until they're facing imminent danger.
Under Auld City
FIREBUG is continually starting fires, which Velk just as quickly puts out.
As Stitch and Sweep arrive on the scene, they see that a large area of downtown is burning. Fire has engulfed huge swaths of land.
A young girl dangles from a fire escape, flames nipping at her from the apartment window.
"We gotta get to this," says Stitch. "We got no time to spare."
"You see Velk yet?" says Sweep.
"No," says Stitch, taking a broadsword from his quiver. He ties a rope to the hilt. He flings the sturdy weapon at the burning building, aiming for a wooden beam that rests above a window where the girl is trapped. The tip securely lodges in the beam.
Stitch pulls himself up the rope, rapidly ascending toward the girl. "Climb on my back. Now, hold on tight."
The girl clutches to his neck as he repels to the ground. "Thank you," she says, still shaken from the experience.
"Anyone else trapped in the apartment?," says Stitch, grabbing the rope again.
"I'm not sure."
Stitch hoists himself back up the rope, entering the burning building.
Sweep attacks the fires, punching through the street to dislodge a water main. He directs the water at the fires, dispersing the stream with a drain grate. The results are immediate.
"Our daytime work as has its benefits. I knew exactly where those pipes were," says Sweep.
Suddenly, a huge chunk of fiery debris threatens a family who is fleeing the inferno. Sweep rushes over to the spot and catches the material before it crashes on the family. He tosses it aside and ushers the family to safety.
The young boy of the family is awestruck. "Wow, that was cool."
Below the city, Velk is closing ground on Firebug. The flames wielded by Firebug haven't made a dent. This infuriates the man of embers.
"You think you can stop what needs to be done?" You have know idea who you're messing with. This town will be reduced to rubble in a few minutes."
Firebug unleashes a torrent of fire. The energy is so powerful, it takes all the strength Velk can muster to shield himself from the blast.
"Not if I can help it..."
Carnahan's Bar:
The
establishment is filled with patrons who make up a large portion of
the “outsider superhero” population, most of whom are support
personnel. They are swapping stories and having a good time.
Sweep and Stitch are
seated in the corner of the bar. They are joined by Lugg
,(Anthony LaTrava), who works on the fleet of superhero vehicles.
Sweep surveys the bar. "What is keeping Velk?"
Murdock enters the bar.
He scans the establishment looking for Sweep.
Sweep gets Murdock's attention, inviting him to their table. "There’s
that reporter. I told him to meet us here."
"What
does he want?" says Stitch
The Crew and other
support staff are drinking at Carnahan’s bar. The door bursts open
and three giant shadows appear. A hush falls over the bar.
These hulking shadows
belong to Cronos, Rapier and Apexx. They knock over tables
and chairs as they head to the bar.
Cronos is from a race
of Titans, and has strength and size that is superior to most superheroes.
Rapier is a master of weaponry, and is the most renowned swordsman in
the world. Apexx is a beast. He is the crown jewel of the superhero
world. He has the power to summon forces that bend reality.
“I
need a little more elbow room when I sit down and throw a few back," says Cronos, pushing people aside on his way to the bar.
Cronos picks up one of
the support staff employees and tosses him out the window.
“I
have the same feeling," says Rapier, tossing another person out of the plate glass window.
Skerlow's office:
You're weren't the only ones to fail. It was a rigorous vetting process.
You're weren't the only ones to fail. It was a rigorous vetting process.
“I
have the same feeling.”
Cronos picks up one of the support staff
employees and tosses him out the window.
“I need a little more elbow room when I sit
down and throw a few back."
See Velk, developed this quick-drying concrete that hardens within minutes
Villain : INFINITUM Power: An infinite amount of multiple copies (clones) at his disposal
