“The Hunt for Risk”
Gar Logan let out a silent whistle as he gazed upward. Smoke was billowing from a huge hole in the side of the Questcorp tower. He glanced to his side as Flamebird stepped up beside him. “Is there any chance that Vernon’s still alive?” she asked. Gar thought a moment. “I don’t know,” he finally admitted. “But I’m going to find out.” He turned to face the rest of the team. “Here’s the plan. Red Star and Breathtaker, we’re going up to the office to see what’s left up there. Flamebird, you, Terra, Bumblebee, and Vibe assist with the evacuation. I don’t want anybody else getting hurt.” Gar ran into the building and waited as Red Star pulled an out-of-order elevator’s doors open. “Feel like a bit of a climb?” he asked, looking up into the empty shaft.” “That won’t be necessary,” Breathtaker said. Red Star looked down to discover he was floating. “I can bring him along much more quickly.” ”Great,” Gar said. “Then let’s get going.” Gar transformed into a sparrow and led the team up the shaft. Golden Eagle landed behind a building on the campus and quickly shed his armor. Wearing what appeared to be white sweatpants and a tank top, he ran toward the smoking dormitory. “Oh no,” Jason whispered. “Alex.” “Jason?” Jason whirled around to see Alex standing there crying. He ran over and pulled her close. ”You’re okay,” he whispered, stunned. ”It was Tina,” Alex sobbed. “The fire department said it happened in my room, and she was the only one who would have been in there. Why?” she asked. “Who’s doing this?” Jason’s face grew hard. “I don’t know,” he lied. “But I can promise that I’m going to find out.” “This way,” Gar said as he landed on a chunk of rubble. He turned back into his human form and turned as Breathtaker and Red Star reached him. The woman raised a hand and the air began to circulate out of the room, clearing the air. Gar wiped his watering eyes and nodded at her. “Thanks,” he said. “Questor’s office was right through here.” He turned and saw Red Star staring at the shattered remains of Sarah’s desk. Gar laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sure she’s all right,” he said. Red Star simply nodded. Gar led the way into the devastated office. Gar’s face broke out in a grin as he saw that the center of the office was a giant metal cube. “I can’t believe that worked!” he yelled as he ran to it. “What is it?” Breathtaker asked, stepping forward as well. Gar knocked on the cube and got a return knock a second later. “All right!” he yelled. He reached around the cube and pressed a small button. Gar stepped back as the cube retracted into the ceiling, revealing Vernon Questor and Sarah Simms, completely unharmed. “It’s good to see you,” Gar said, clasping Questor’s hand. “I am quite pleased to see that this little device works,” Questor said, straightening his tie. “What is it?” Breathtaker asked again. “A security device,” Sarah explained. “All Mr. Questor has to do is press a button on his desk and his desk area is surrounded by an impenetrable promethium cube.” “Impressive,” Red Star said. Gar hit his communicator. “How’s the evac going?” ”Terra here. Minimal injuries and no deaths. We’re helping the last of them out now.” ”Great. We’re on our way out now.” ”Mr. Logan,” Questor said, “Why were we targeted?” ”Was it Cody?” Gar asked. ”Yes.” Gar nodded as he led the way down the hall. “It turns out that during his time with the Overseers he was having his mind messed with. He’s snapped.” Gar looked down an elevator shaft. “That’ll be tricky.” ”Has anyone tried the emergency stairs?” Questor asked with a dry look on his face. ”Oh, yeah,” Gar said. “Anyway, Cody’s targeting anybody he can think of. He’s already killed Hero Cruz and Karen’s secretary at STAR. He’s nearly killed Tara and me. And we’ve got reports that there’s been a blast at UCLA, too. Eagle’s investigating that one.” Questor frowned as Red Star pushed a warped door open, admitting them to the emergency stairwell. “He must be stopped.” “I know,” Gar said. “And we’re going after him. This isn’t going to happen again.” Three Days Later Leonid Kovar opened the door to the Blue Note and his date, a lovely Sonya Romanov. “This is wonderful,” she said as Leonid followed her inside. ”I am glad that you like it,” Leonid replied. “Mal has done an incredible job.” It was only a matter of moments until they were being beckoned to a table. As Leonid started to walk out of the lobby toward the table, a hand with a grip of steel grabbed his upper arm. Leonid looked up into the mad eyes of Cody Driscoll. Cody’s hair was uncombed and he looked like he handed slept in weeks. “Nice girl, Leo,” Cody said as he slowly reached inside his trench coat. “I wonder if her insides look as nice as the outside.” ”Do not do this,” Leonid warned. “Oh, I’m going to,” Cody said, pulling his hand out. Clenched in his fist was a dead man’s switch. “And then you can watch me eat her heart.” With a yell, Leonid threw a right cross, which impacted on Cody’s chin. The bomber flew through the front window and into an abandoned building across the street. Almost as an afterthought, Leonid clicked on his signaler as he strode across the street and looked into the gaping hole Cody had left. “Cody, where are you?” he asked as he slowly entered the room. “Right here!” Cody yelled as he dropped from the ceiling, knocking Leonid to the ground. Cody grabbed Leonid, placing the explosives between them. “Boom,” he whispered in Leonid’s ear as he let go of the switch. Flamebird screamed as the headquarters shook. “What’s going on?” she asked. Mal was already at the monitors. Gar and Vibe were on their way. “The Christopher Building just went up in smoke! I’m getting a signal – Leo’s in there” “Cody.” Gar’s voice was cold as ice. “Let’s go!” Across the country, May Bennett screamed as another explosion ripped through her home. She ran through the house, urgently searching for her daughter. Finally she heard Jessica’s voice and ran into the room. There stood her daughter, with red hands placed firmly on her shoulders. ”Hello, May,” Joshua said. “I need your help.” As Bennett walked into the room, Joshua smiled wider… Gar led the team into the ruins of the Christopher Building. “What’s this?” Gar asked no one as he pushed rubble aside revealing a dark hole. “A subway station?” Bette asked. “The subways don’t run anywhere near here.” ”That’s where he is,” Gar said. “Then let’s bust some heads!” Vibe yelled, jumping into the hole. Shrugging, Gar led the rest of the team in after him. As their feet hit the floor, Gar turned, trying to see anything through the darkness. Suddenly Golden Eagle let out a cry and fell to the ground. A moment later, pain was ripping through all their heads and the team fell to their knees. Gar’s eyes widened despite the agony as he saw Red Star lying there as well. “Tres bon,” a cold, mechanical voice said. “Exactly where you belong. On your knees before the Brotherhood of Evil!” Mallah gently set the Brain down before the assembled Phobia, Warp, Plasmus… …and Risk. To Be Continued... Next Issue: The end of the bomber storyline! It’s Titans West vs. the Brotherhood of Evil, and the fate of Risk is revealed! Previous Issue | Next Issue |
