Project: MI
Chapter 23

MalcolmMaher ejected the thumb drive from his computer and quickly pocketed it.

All set. I have everything I neednow. Turning his gaze up to his wall ofcomputer screens, he focused on the one video-feed displaying Kira in aheroi-proof prison. She was sitting in a corner, surrounded by white, paddedwalls and numerous ‘speaker’-like devices—Q-Field jammers—unable to do anythingexcept wait. Wait for either a federal officer to show her down the road to therest of her future, or for himself, her ‘partner-in-crime’ to come and breakher out.

Thank you for everything,he thought, turning that particular screen off first before moving down theline and repeating the action. I reallycouldn’t have gotten what I needed without you.

Oneby one, screens went black, save for one showing a part of the fencesurrounding the junkyard. He took his time. He wasn’t in any particular hurry.Through his calculations he had determined the most likely courses of action asto when the CHC would come for him and discover his hideout. His own attemptsat keeping a media-blackout on Kira’s involvement in the ‘scuffle’ earlier inthe day would lead them back here, but it would take time. Time for them tonegotiate with Kira’s mother about the girl’s future. It was the least he coulddo.

Returningto his computer, he tapped in a few commands, prompting a timer to appear onscreen, starting at one hour. Just enough time. Another tap on his keyboard andbehind him the transmat device flared to life. Looking back at the lastremaining screen, he folded his hands against his chin and waited.

It’s almost time… In three… Two…One…

Thefence warped and in popped a familiar nine-year old visitor.

There we go. Welcome back, Teruo.

Teruostepped into the junkyard and inhaled the air, reveling in the smell of rust,oil, and old dust that permeated the landscape.

As good a place as home used tobe, he thought. Well, home was almost asgood. Cleaner, and you couldn’t turn a corner and expect to replace what youneeded.

Home…He frowned slightly, becoming a bitsomber as a thought occurring to him. Iwonder if the metamorph could help me get in touch with home… He filed theidea away for later consideration. Right now they both had more importantthings to take care of.

The situation with her friendsounds really bad, he mused, starting to pick hisway through the debris. Can I really helpher? Why’s it even matter to me anyway? I mean, he’s an Omega. If he goes crazyhe deserves whatever he gets. As he continued on his way, he picked up asteel pipe and dragged it along the side of a Silver Age car. And maybe…maybe this is too hot for me toeven touch. I’ve got other stuff, like the city, to investigate. I mean, it seemedfun at first…my first Omega, but now… He brought the pipe to a horizontalposition and brought himself to rest against it, allowing the thought to driftoff unfinished. After a moment he sighed despondently. Well… Either way, I want my spider bot back. Can’t do much without itanyway.

Heresumed his trek through the junkyard, dropping the pipe with a hollow clang. Probably should have risked taking theGuardian the morpher ‘knocked out’ earlier, he mused. Probably make it easier locating it.

Nah. That would have been a badidea…

“Whereto start?” he asked aloud, cracking his knuckles.

Hesurveyed his immediate surroundings. He had approached the junkyard from thenorthern end, but the oddities of the spatial warp enveloping the whole of theplace ensured that with but a step forth he was simultaneously at the northernfence and in the western end. It was enough to make him a bit unsettled, andfor the first time he wondered if the spatial warp could inadvertentlytransport him inside an object. He shuddered at the thought and returned hisattention back to the matter at hand.

Would have been better if Ihadn’t popped in on this end of the yard, hethought irritably. It’s going to be oneheck of a long trek to the original meeting place. At least my ankle is inbetter shape but still…

“Whatdo you say? Do you feel generous?” he asked his surroundings sarcastically.Somewhere close by he heard the sound of scrap metal shifting, as if inresponse. He snorted and took a step forward. His surroundings did not so muchas change by his movement.

“Ithought so,” he snorted again. “Going to make me work for it, aren’t you?”

“I wouldn’t say that…” spokeup a voice all of a sudden, causing Teruo to whirl around in surprise. “But if you would prefer labor toinspiration, I’m certain that can be arranged.”

“Who…?”Teruo spied a dark-haired man smiling companionably at him and he instantlyrecognized him as the Mister Maher—orrather Kitsune—that teleported him tohis room after his last visit. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Is that how you greet people?”Malcolm asked with a raised eyebrow.“Especially a friend?”

“I’mstill trying to get over the idea that one of my best contacts was living rightunder my nose,” Teruo said, picking up a piece of metal and absently chuckingit at the man, who took it unwaveringly, allowing it to pass through him anddisrupting his light-projected image with little more than a critical look.

“Justchecking,” Teruo replied, folding his arms over his chest. “What do you want?”

Malcolmspread his arms outward in a ‘how could you ask me such a question?’ gesture.

“Nothing too grand. I have afinal gift for you. I’m going to be leaving this place soon and would like foryou to have something to remember me by. It would even help you with your ownproject.”

“Youlike to give me free things don’tyou?” Teruo asked with more than a little sarcasm as he folded his arms overhis chest. “What are you getting out of me this time?”

“I’m pulling up roots,”Maher replied. “I can rebuild anywhere Iwant. I have all the time and resources I need right here. Unfortunately I needto engage in a little…demolition before I can create anew.” Malcolmgrimaced slightly. “There are some thingsI would prefer to not completely destroy and you can also use some equipment.You could consider it a loan.”

“I’mlooking for my creation,” Teruo replied. “I don’t have enough time to deal withyou and search for it at the same time. So if you don’t mind I’ve got somebusiness to attend to…”

“Is it more important than havingyourself a working transmat device?”

Teruo’sears pricked at that.

“Saywhat…?”

“I see I have your attention.It’s not just anytransmat device, it’s the type 16 Alpha D that you saw in my base. I’d like foryou to have it.”

“Okay,you’re currently in the top ringer with a serpent and a devil for used-carsalesman bargaining.”

“I don’t plan to steal yoursoul,” chuckled Malcolm.

“Neitherdid the serpent,” Teruo reposted. “You’ve got me biting anyway, but I’vealready got misgivings about this whole thing.” He rocked back and forth on hisfeet. “I’ve got a price.”

Malcolmtilted his head to one side, somewhat surprised by this turn of tact. “You intend to make me pay for giving you agift?”

“Youkeep giving me things. I almost think you want me to have them specifically forsome kind of dastardly plan or something.”

“Once is chance. Twice iscoincidence,” quoted Malcolm.

“Saysthe guy living in a secret underground base in a junkyard full of godly tech,”Teruo fenced.

Throwinghis head back, Malcolm let out a loud, booming laugh.

“All right. Name your price.”

Teruothought about it for only half a second before deciding.

“There’san Omega in town. Potential Omega anyway.” Teruo met Malcolm’s eyes levelly. “Iwant everything on him. Every scrap of information.”

Malcolmreturned his gaze and furrowed his brow slightly. “That’s your…?” He shook his head, as though in disbelief. “That…will take time… More than I haveright now, and my gift has a time limit…”

“Oh,I’ll take the gift, but since you’re so keen on me having it I’ll just have itgather dust or use it for spare parts until you get me the information I want.You’re a tecker. I’m pretty sure that’s the lastthing you want.”

“I don’t have to give thetransmat device to you, you know…”

“AndI don’t have to talk to you either or anything.” Turning, Teruo started backtoward the fence. “Enjoy blowing your stuff up.”

“All right,”Malcolm laughed, throwing up a hand. “Ifthat’s how you want it, then fine. I’ll do both. The information on this Omegawill take time, like I said.”

“Ican live with that,” Teruo said, stopping in his tracks and looking back athim. “But how am I going to be able to get to your place from all the way…”

Spacewarped violently behind Malcolm’s hologram in response, folding and reshapingitself like clay until it took on a tunnel-like form, its walls badly distortedlike splashes of paint. Teruo felt intensely sick to his stomach looking at thesight, and he wondered if it showed.

“…here…”he finished, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Just go to the end of thetunnel,” Malcolm smiled. “You might want to be quick though. The CHC will have detected thisspatial warping and will respond accordingly.”

Dariacouldn’t have been happier to know that Bruce Kane was at Clark City GeneralHospital, for as long as he was there he wasn’t here, interfering and askingquestions that she would most definitely notwant to answer.

Herfootfalls down the hallway to the interrogation room where Amanda Baker washeld echoed loudly, puncturing her ear drums with every step. It was times suchas these that made Daria resent her appointment. Whatever happened with thisdebacle… How much of it went out…she would undoubtedly receive some measure ofthe blame.

I’ve let things go too far,she thought to herself, stopping in front of the door leading to theinterrogation room. That’s what they’lltell me. There’s only one way to break out of this, and this is it. Takinga deep breath, she opened the door and let herself into the room, where shefound Amanda’s gaze already on her.

“So…”the woman began. “What news?”

“Youfeel it, don’t you?” Daria asked. “Even with your powers suppressed?”

“Feelwhat?” Amanda asked, raising an eyebrow. Daria sighed.

“Iguess I give your abilities too much credit.” Seating herself, she folded herhands together. “I’m going to make this simple. The junkyard’s spatial fieldhas suddenly…altered itself. Nothing can get in it at the moment. We will needto send in some kind of Special Forces, but I would rather that this be kept asquiet as possible and not alert theEpsilon about what’s going on. The longer this drags out, the harder it will beto keep things under wraps.”

“Soyou need me, is that it?” Amanda asked.

“Yourinvulnerability, strength, and aura are estimated to be enough to penetrate thedistortion field. Your records from the Bronze Age, while incomplete, confirmthis. The only one who comes close in the city would be the Epsilon Sentinel,and as I said…”

“Soyou need me,” Amanda reiterated. She leaned forward and at once sheseemed…amused. “Go to Hel.”

Dariabristled at that, but she kept her cool.

“Iam prepared to offer a deal for your daughter…”

“Notyour deal. I’m not taking it.” Shepointed at herself. “There is only my deal.”

Darialeaned back and folded her arms beneath her breasts, tapping one finger on herforearm.

“Whatis your deal?” she asked through clenched teeth.

“Nothingthat should be too hard for you,” Amanda replied. “You still get to bring in acriminal for the Romana Pax break in and attack. It’s just going to be me inprison. Kira has zero involvement. I don’t want to even hear anyone reportingthat she has powers.”

Dariablinked. That seemed…unusually reasonable. The matter with Kira remained, butshe doubted that she couldn’t keep the girl under her thumb when it counted.

There’s got to be something moreto this deal, she thought. “And?” she prompted.

Dariacaught a brief glimpse of uncertainty on Amanda’s face before the womanreplied.

“Iwant you to take care of her.”

Doubleblink. Daria most certainly did notexpect to hear that.

“I…Excuse me? You want me to take care of Kira? Like…”

“Likea mother, or an older sister,” Amanda finished. “Or just a legal guardian ifyou don’t like those. I just thought you might prefer something a bit morefamily oriented.”

Daria’sfingers curled into her palms, the muscles in her wrists standing out likegreat, thick cords as she trembled. Rage was quick to build up inside her atthe…the impertinence of the otherwoman’s so-called ‘deal’. Did she even know what she was asking? Family?!

Dariaforced herself to her feet.

“Anagent will come to give you a counter-suppressant. Your powers will berestored. You will handle the issue with the junkyard and you will surrender yourself back ourauthority once you are finished. Is that clear?”

“As long as you fulfill yourend, I don’t care what you do to me now,” Amanda replied, looking relieved.

Inthe depths of Malcolm’s base of operations, Teruo received the transmat devicefrom the man. He inspected it carefully—or as carefully as he could given thelimited resources and lighting to do so. Malcolm chuckled a little at this.

“Youmight want to take care of that at home,” he said. “Things are going to begetting messy here real soon.”

“Soyou said,” Teruo remarked, lowering the transmat device. “All right. I’ll getout of here now. I’m still going to be expecting that info.”

Malcolmnodded. “I’ll be sure to remember it. As I said though, it will take time, sodon’t come calling for me anytime in the near future.”

Teruosnorted, but chose not to comment further. Instead he looked over at theplatform and grimaced. “Can’t use that to zap me back home, huh?” He glancedover at Malcolm, who looked at him impassively. “Fine,” he said with a shrug.“I’ll walk. That warp is still up anyway, so I’ll be snapped back to where Istarted. That should be a good distance.” Turning, the young boy took off at arun, quickly parting the lab without so much as looking back or saying goodbye.Malcolm watched him go, feeling somewhat hurt by their lack of conversationthis time, but unable to fault the boy for it.

Kids will be kids,he mused, returning to his array of computers and flicking on two of them. Hesat there for a spell, watching the empty junkyard around where the entrance tohis base lay until Teruo lifted the lid and exited. He continued to watch untilthe youth closed the lid behind him—thoughtful, if irrelevant at this point—andtook off at a run back in the direction he came. He turned off that screen andmoved his attention over to another section of the junkyard, knowing full wellwhat he was expecting.

Ormore accurately, who.

Amandafound herself hovering over the top of the junkyard, peering down at the warpbelow. From her perspective, it looked as though the junkyard had a dome ofinky blackness situated in its center…or what looked to be the center anyway.Location was unreliable from her position, but it wasn’t that that she caredabout. The swirling darkness that made up the dome caused her to shiver. Itbrought back unpleasant memories from the Bronze Age, right before it camecrashing to an end, taking all of her friends with it.

It had been the end ofeverything, she thought before shaking herself. Enough of that. Think only about the now,Amanda. For Kira’s sake. Reorienting herself, she aimed dead center at theswollen void and shot forth. She crashed into the warp’s surface, and it struckher like a wall of adamant. Her Q-Field flared around her body and she strainedagainst the warp, the dark and light clashing and hissing like twin fightingsnakes. She strove against the warp and she began to feel pain from hermuscles…her very strength threatening to rip them apart if she didn’t quit inher Herculean war. She intensified her efforts, and her Q-Field grew along withthem. Her body would not give. Not even her strength could destroy her. Oh,there were limits, but the question was: which would reach their limit first? Atechnologically-born force that twisted space to its bidding? Or a mother whowould go to whatever lengths necessary to see to the safety of her child?

Thewarp began to give away, and Amanda fell inside its embrace, a shattering,crashing boom resounding around her as she shouted her way down.

Dustbillowed upward like a cloud as Amanda touched down, her hair, now tied in asimple ponytail, flapped slightly before dropping against her back. Casting hereyes around her, she took in the junkyard.

"Iknow you're watching me, Malcolm," she called loudly. "Come out andshow yourself already!"

Airshimmered before her before taking on the visage of the dark-haired young manthat she left earlier. Amanda narrowed her eyes at him as his body flickeredonce before stabilizing.

"Come to root me out?"Malcolm asked.

Amanda’seyes flashed dangerously as she held his gaze. "What did Kira getyou?"

“Why don't you askher?" Malcolm asked, a sardonic grin on hisface. "I'm not in the business to giving information to former heroithat abandon their duty."

Amandafelt a coal of anger flare slightly in her heart, but she quickly squashed it. He'strying to distract me, she thought. I forgot how he knows to push theright buttons to get what he wants.

“I’m only going to ask youthis one more time. What did she get you?”

Malcolmmerely smirked at her condescendingly. "Have you gotten hard ofhearing in your old age, ‘Liz’? I already told you that I'm not here to tellyou what I'm doing. I know that you had to be told things twice a lot when youwere a kid, but I thought that age brought wisdom. How about we just agree thatI stop having your daughter work for me and leave it at that?"

“You know as well as I doit’s not that simple,” Amanda growled, stabbing a finger at his hologram. “Youmake things complicated, and I know this won’t be the end of it!”

Malcolmchuckled. "So you have learned a thing or two during the time weassociated."

"Malcolm!"Amanda growled. "What did she get you?!"

Malcolmconsidered her for a moment before glancing away, making a tskingsound. All the while he didn't lose his smirk.

“I thought you said that you weregoing to ask me that only one more time… And that was before now.”

Amanda’sarms hung at her sides, her fingers flexing, ignoring that little jab. “RomanaPax is planning something huge, isn’t it?” Her experience told her that therewas something going on here. Malcolm never involved himself in something unlessthere was another layer beneath it.

“Whatis it? Is that what you were after?”

Malcolmtipped her a wink. “Here’s a hint for oldtime’s sake. Thinking back on allthe things we've lost since the City was banished, did you ever think about howbadly you wanted to see everyone again?"

Amanda’seyes widened. “Are they…?”

"I think that's enoughchitchat now," Malcolm said. "Untilyou replace me, you won't get anything more out of me."

Amandatilted her head to one side, her eyes narrowing as though she were listeningfor something. She was silent for a moment before speaking.

"Foundyou."

Atthat, Malcolm's eyes went wide, and at once he vanished from sight,disappearing in a shower of sparkles. Amanda wasted no time however as shejetted forward, her surroundings blurring as she accelerated. Wreckage explodedaway from her as she flew forward…only to be abruptly stopped as a metallicclaw ripped its way free from the ground and snatched hold of her. Amandagrunted as the steel trap pinned her arms to her side. Looking down, she sworeas a massive, heavily plated robot lifted itself from out of a pile of metal garbage.

Damn it! How did he…? Nevermind! Just…I've just got to get free! He can't have much time to escape!

Witha loud scream, Amanda threw all her strength against the robot's claw-likeclamps. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, the claw began to pull apart. Shifting forbetter leverage, she continued to press her strength against the machine. Withone final scream, the ancient war-bot's claw ripped apart with explosive force.Grabbing hold of one of the pieces, she sent it hurtling into the robot's head,smashing through its eye and skewering its computer brain. Not finished withthe metallic monster yet, Amanda flew forward. Pulling one arm back, shesmashed a fist into the machine's chest, sending sparks of electricity arcingall along its abdomen and slashing at Amanda's body, causing her to be blastedaway by the shocks and sent flying backward into a heap of jagged trash. Sheburst free from the pile moments later and, after taking a quick look at hercybernetic attacker, she took to the air once again, returning to her originalcourse.

Amandatore through the junkyard at breakneck speed before finally slamming back downto ground. Behind her, debris and old artifacts came crashing down behind her.

"I'mhere now, Malcolm," she said in a low, dangerous voice. "You're goingto tell me what I want to know."

Concentrating,she listened carefully until she heard the slight buzzing that she had beenexpecting to hear. Zeroing in on a dirty metal plate she surged over to it andripped it off, flinging it to the side. She paused for a moment, consideringthe possibility that she was walking into a trap.

He wouldn't be thiscareless, and so far I've only ran into one of his 'guards'.She narrowed her eyes, but quickly dropped down the tunnel. Regardless ofwhether or not she was walking into a trap, she had to press forward. Landingat the bottom, she took a quick glance around her before heading off in thedirection where light was coming from. Within short order she burst into a roomfull of computers, screens, and electrical wires spread all over the place.

He escaped,she thought bitterly, pulling one hand into a tight, angry fist. Attempting torelieve herself of her frustration, she swung to the side, smashing her fistinto the dirt wall. The empty room shuddered a little, causing some clods ofdirt to fall around her. Amanda breathed a heavy sigh, not feeling much better.I should have known…

Thelights on the computer screens lit up, revealing Malcolm's smiling face.

"Hello,Elizabeth," he greeted. "While Iadmit that the speed that you discovered my main base surprised me, justdiscovering it was well within my ability to predict. I am familiar with all ofyour powers, as you well know."

"Malcolm…"Amanda began, but the dark-haired youth shook a finger at her to silence her.

"I'm already far awayfrom here. You can trace this signal if you want, but the properties of thisplace will ensure that will be problematic for you and anyone else. That and Iwon't give you enough time to do so."

Amandawhirled around as a heavy-steel door rose up from the ground behind her,locking her in the room.

"I hoped that we couldhave talked more, but since you don't want to listen, I'm afraid I'm going tohave to terminate negotiations. And this base as well. Sorry about that. Goodbye."

Tippingher a wink and a salute, Malcolm's visage disappeared, dissolving into a bluescreen with a countdown number on it, starting from five. Her eyes growingwide, Amanda dashed to the steel door and slammed her fists into it. The doorshuddered and it strained, but did not fall.

Three… Two…

Amandaspun and kicked at the door. With a heavy groan, it started to collapse.

One…

Whitelight and fire accompanied by thunder exploded around her, blinding the womanas the base collapsed all around her.

Teruostood a mere foot away from the fence that would take him outside the junkyard,considering if he should continue with his original mission of trying to locatehis spider-bot when he heard the faint rumble of an explosion behind him.Looking over his shoulder he saw smoke starting to rise into the air, and thatmore than made up his mind.

Shiftinghis grip on the transmat device, he disappeared through the fence. The scenewas about to get too hot for his tastes.