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Authors: Andy Briggs
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his scuffed glasses back on his nose, pulled himself proudly to his full height, and nodded in agreement. âI say we fight.â
Pete was right, few people ever looked up. As if they have a phobia of the void above, people rarely venture to look higher than eye level when they walk down the street. It was this fact that allowed Doc Tempest to fly through the sky undetected. Below him the few tall towers in the city began receding. Tempest was sure a businessman had been peering from his window, but knew that the manâs brain would convince him heâd seen nothing more than a large bird swoop past. His skiff gained speed and altitude.
The loss of his hired mercenaries was unfortunate. Running an evil empire was not much different from running any other business. He had a limited budget for hiring muscle, especially after blowing all his cash on hisnew secret base and the army he kept there. It was that financial restriction that forced him to perform smaller robberies to finance his ultimate plan. Banks were never too willing to give loans to supervillains. Even though he would rather have worked alone, Tempestâs scheme called for some additional protection while he amassed new funds. He knew the surviving men wouldnât talk when arrested. They knew better than that.
As usual, the authorities would describe the bank robbery as the work of just another organized gang trying to make a quick profit. Supervillains didnât fit well in police reports or media broadcasts, even though they were involved in a majority of crimes. People would rather not think there were such things as villains with extraordinary powers and their own political and financial agendas. It was too scary a concept for most of the population.
Tempest adjusted the speed of the skiff with a joystick on his wrist controls. Heâd bought the control system from a secret supplierâa supplier named Basilisk. The technology was well beyond what was readily available in most countries. The wristband controlled the platform like a radio-controlled plane, and it allowed him to keep tabs on his evil empire. It was powered by his biometric pulses; another technology that was far advanced.
Doc Tempest had had the unique ability, since hischildhood
accident
, to manipulate the weather. Although his powers were limited to his immediate environment, he had been focusing his efforts on creating a super weapon, something that could alter the global weather patterns on his whim. With such a devastating weapon he could hold governments at ransom. Tempest had a vision: the world at his feet, every citizen a minion or a slave, and the planet basking in a perpetual ice age. This was the paradise he saw every time he closed his eyes.
What Doc Tempest didnât see were four figures gliding low toward him. He wasnât aware of their presence until a heat ray blasted the edge of the skiff. A chunk of metal was torn away, rocking the machine and forcing Tempest to grip the handrail as his feet slipped on the bucking floor.
The four superheroes powered toward Doc Tempest, determination etched on their faces. Toby led the formation.
âFire again!â he yelled.
But they had lost the element of surprise. Tempest banked the skiff down and to the right, forcing Lornaâs second blast to miss. Pete was quicker off the mark and pushed himself into a dive, Toby and Emily following.
The buildings rushed up to greet them as Tempest raced between rows of tall tower blocks. They had traveled so far that they were over a different town now.
âHow do we stop him?â yelled Toby.
âIâm going for the controls on his wrist!â screamed Pete above the noise of the wind. He stretched a hand toward Tempest.
Something suddenly occurred to Toby. âPete! Your glasses! You canât see â¦â
With only one scarred lens to see through, Pete aimed at the blur that leveled in front of him. Power surged down his arm and
Pete was right, few people ever looked up. As if they have a phobia of the void above, people rarely venture to look higher than eye level when they walk down the street. It was this fact that allowed Doc Tempest to fly through the sky undetected. Below him the few tall towers in the city began receding. Tempest was sure a businessman had been peering from his window, but knew that the manâs brain would convince him heâd seen nothing more than a large bird swoop past. His skiff gained speed and altitude.
The loss of his hired mercenaries was unfortunate. Running an evil empire was not much different from running any other business. He had a limited budget for hiring muscle, especially after blowing all his cash on hisnew secret base and the army he kept there. It was that financial restriction that forced him to perform smaller robberies to finance his ultimate plan. Banks were never too willing to give loans to supervillains. Even though he would rather have worked alone, Tempestâs scheme called for some additional protection while he amassed new funds. He knew the surviving men wouldnât talk when arrested. They knew better than that.
As usual, the authorities would describe the bank robbery as the work of just another organized gang trying to make a quick profit. Supervillains didnât fit well in police reports or media broadcasts, even though they were involved in a majority of crimes. People would rather not think there were such things as villains with extraordinary powers and their own political and financial agendas. It was too scary a concept for most of the population.
Tempest adjusted the speed of the skiff with a joystick on his wrist controls. Heâd bought the control system from a secret supplierâa supplier named Basilisk. The technology was well beyond what was readily available in most countries. The wristband controlled the platform like a radio-controlled plane, and it allowed him to keep tabs on his evil empire. It was powered by his biometric pulses; another technology that was far advanced.
Doc Tempest had had the unique ability, since hischildhood
accident
, to manipulate the weather. Although his powers were limited to his immediate environment, he had been focusing his efforts on creating a super weapon, something that could alter the global weather patterns on his whim. With such a devastating weapon he could hold governments at ransom. Tempest had a vision: the world at his feet, every citizen a minion or a slave, and the planet basking in a perpetual ice age. This was the paradise he saw every time he closed his eyes.
What Doc Tempest didnât see were four figures gliding low toward him. He wasnât aware of their presence until a heat ray blasted the edge of the skiff. A chunk of metal was torn away, rocking the machine and forcing Tempest to grip the handrail as his feet slipped on the bucking floor.
The four superheroes powered toward Doc Tempest, determination etched on their faces. Toby led the formation.
âFire again!â he yelled.
But they had lost the element of surprise. Tempest banked the skiff down and to the right, forcing Lornaâs second blast to miss. Pete was quicker off the mark and pushed himself into a dive, Toby and Emily following.
The buildings rushed up to greet them as Tempest raced between rows of tall tower blocks. They had traveled so far that they were over a different town now.
âHow do we stop him?â yelled Toby.
âIâm going for the controls on his wrist!â screamed Pete above the noise of the wind. He stretched a hand toward Tempest.
Something suddenly occurred to Toby. âPete! Your glasses! You canât see â¦â
With only one scarred lens to see through, Pete aimed at the blur that leveled in front of him. Power surged down his arm and
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