Issue 4: Tangled Web
“Now, I might’ve been out of the game for a little while,” the Mane-iac continued, “but I’ve been keeping track of everything that’s been going on in my favorite little city. And word is that there’s a little birdie out there who’s been looking for me. So if you’re listening right now, little bird, then today’s your lucky day. Right now, I’m broadcasting from the observation deck of One Maretropolis Square, the city’s tallest building. And I have a wonderful little surprise in store for you. Hurry along now- I’m not the sort of girl who likes to be kept waiting.”
Mane-iac’s words echoed over the city for a moment, before fading away, leaving only the silence of the night.
“It’s a trap,” Matter-Horn said aloud. “You know that, don’t you?”
She received no answer. So she looked back.
He was gone.
A small burst of static filled Matter-Horn’s radio. Matter-Horn wasn’t surprised by it- she had specially designed the team’s radios to be resistant to EMPs, and most types of signal jammers. After a moment, Saddle Rager said into the radio, “Did everyone hear that?”
“We did,” Mare-velous replied. “Your orders, Matter-Horn?”
Matter-Horn replied, “We go to One Maretropolis Square. And we stop whatever the Mane-iac is planning.”
Zapp asked through the radio, “What about Nighthawk?”
“He escaped. But I know where he’s going.”
“…Mane-iac?” Fili-Second asked.
“Yes.”
“I see,” Radiance replied. “I’ll give you a lift to One Maretropolis Square.”
“Thank you. And Fili-Second, I need you to grab my backup blaster from the sanctuary.”
“Why?” the speedster asked.
“Nighthawk disabled my primary blaster with an EMP grenade.”
“Aw man, don’t tell me the mines got hit too,” Mare-velous complained.
“Unfortunately,” Matter-Horn replied. “He was better prepared than I’d expected.”
“Dammit! It takes me forever to make them…” Mare-velous muttered, before saying, “But that’s not important right now. We need to get to One Maretropolis Square. Now.”
Atop One Maretropolis Square, a green-haired woman stepped out onto the observation deck. She rested her hands on the railing, the locks of her hair winding around it for an extra-firm grip, and gazed out over the city. It sparkled and glimmered in the darkness, like a shining gem bringing hope to the world.
How she hated it.
Her grip on the rail tightened in anger. How could they do it? How could these people trudge through their meaningless lives, when the world stood ready to tear everything away from them at a moment’s notice? It was sickening, no different from being dead. And that wretched Power Patrol was worse than the civilians. Trying to protect the ignorance of the people, to shelter them from the true nature of the world. But they would learn. All-
“We meet at last,” a voice said.
She turned- inside the building stood a man clad in red and black, a long cape flowing behind him.
She grinned. “You must be the little bird I’ve heard so much about.”
“Nighthawk.” She couldn’t see his face, but from his tone, she could tell he was glaring.
She approached him. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting to meet you? Because I actually have no idea. But anyway…” She stopped. “We’re alike, you and I. Did you know that?”
“I’m nothing like you.” His words were so stereotypical that she heard them in her head before she ever said them.
“Oh but you are. You and I… we know how the world works. We know that the world will you up, spit you out, and not even say thank you afterwards. We know that all the world cares about is what it can take from you.” She touched his shoulder. “I’ve seen what you can do, the way you fight. You’re angry. Angry because the world has taken something from you.” She slipped her other arm around his waist. “Tell me- what have you lost?” She brought up a hand to touch his face…
But Nighthawk grabbed it. “My patience.” He pushed Mane-iac back. “You and I are nothing alike. You might think others are one push away from becoming like you, but you’re wrong. You’re alone. I did what I had to to lure you into the open, because I knew you were too vain to resist someone calling you out. I don’t need your sympathy. All I needed was your attention.”
A broad, crazed smile broke across Mane-iac’s face. “…Well, now you have it.” She spread her arms. “So, what are you going to do now, little bird?”
Nighthawk brought up his fists. “What I’ve been waiting to do for a very long time.”
Her smile broadened. “We’ll see about that.” She concentrated, and several locks of her hair whipped out at Nighthawk. He leapt back, reaching into his belt, and threw out a canister- it exploded, splattering a thick beige goop over her hair. The locks dropped to the floor- whatever the substance was stuck her hair together, making it heavy and nearly impossible to control.
“Glue grenade,” he said, before she could ask anything. “Specially made. Just for you.”
“While I do love a gift…” she began, “do you think my hair is my only weapon?” Mane-iac pulled out a hair dryer and aimed it at him- it fired a bright blue beam when she pulled the trigger. He leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the beam as it shot past and scorched the wall behind him. He charged- she aimed, but he knocked the dryer from her hand with a swing of his arm. Then he pulled back his arm and threw a powerful punch.
She caught his fist in her hand. She pulled back her other arm and threw a punch of her own, but he caught it. Then, before he could stop her, she leapt up and kicked both of her feet into his chest, driving him back. The opening was brief, but it was all she needed. She reached and pulled out a pair of canisters, pulled their pins, and threw them towards her adversary.
The canisters exploded into thick clouds of purple smoke. The clouds rapidly filled the entire room, ensuing there was no way for the little bird to escape.
She strode through the clouds, sweeping her eyes across the room, looking for a paralyzed form. She didn’t need to worry about being affected by her paralyzing spray- her penchant for testing all her “recipes” on herself made her more or less immune to everything. But no matter where she looked, she couldn’t see the silhouette of a paralyzed man.
Where could he have gone? It wasn’t like this room was very big. And without any sort of protection, the gas would’ve taken effect instantly. She stopped, held her breath, and strained her ears. But she heard nothing: no breaths, no footsteps, nothing to indicate there was another person in the room with her. Had he escaped? There were a few other doors out to the observation deck, but-
At that moment, something struck her in the back. Hard. She stumbled forward, and quickly turned around to face her attacker.
At first, all she could see was a shadow, striding towards her through the clouds. But as he approached, the details became more distinct. Of course. There was only one person it could have been- the little bird, with a clear mask over his nose and mouth.
Mane-iac rose to her feet. “You’re just prepared for everything, aren’t you?”
“I’ve studied your patterns for months. There’s nothing you can do to that I can’t counter. Surrender, Mane-iac. You can’t beat me.”
She grinned. “…Sorry. But I’m not the sort of girl who likes to be told what to do.” She charged, and leapt at him…
But he reached out and caught her by the neck. She struggled, but his grip was firm, and she still couldn’t manipulate her hair. With ease, he carried her out onto the observation deck… and slammed her back-first into the railing. Mane-iac cried out in pain…
…but then she began to laugh.
“Why are you laughing?” Nighthawk growled.
“Because you honestly think that you can scare me!” she laughed. “You have nothing! Nothing to threaten me with! And I know you! You won’t kill me!”
He pulled her up by the collar to look her in the eye. “I’ve spent more time than I can imagine hunting you down. Is that really something you’re willing to bet on?”
“As a matter of fact…” she began.
But suddenly, a beeping noise sounded. Nighthawk looked to his wrist- a red light was flashing there.
Mane-iac noticed the sound as well, and looked down at Nighthawk’s wrist. “Oh, what’s that? Is it time to take your medicine?”
He threw her back onto the deck. “That’s none of your business.” He reached into his belt and pulled out a small vial filled with red liquid. He undid the cap and brought it up to his mouth…
But suddenly, a lock of green hair wrapped around his wrist. He tried to grab it, but another lock seized his other wrist, while a third forced the vial from out of his grasp.
Mane-iac turned, so that Nighthawk had his back to the railing, as she brought the vial back to herself and examined it closely. “Well, this looks important.” She flung it over the edge. “…oops.”
Nighthawk pulled up both feet and kicked Mane-iac square in the chest, forcing her back and making her release him. She gasped from the blow. He strode toward her, his teeth gritted in rage. “I’m going to make you regret that.”
Suddenly, steam began to shoot from Nighthawk’s body. Mane-iac backed away- the moisture could render her hair just as useless as any glue could. Through the steam, she could see Nighthawk’s silhouette shrink, until it was only half her size. The steam began to disperse, leaving behind only a boy wearing a red and black costume that was far too big for him.
Mane-iac approached slowly, unsure of what to expect- she’d heard lots of rumors about the bird and his abilities, but this was something unexpected. She reached towards the boy with one of the locks of hair she could still control. “Are you-”
Without hesitation, the boy reached into his belt, pulled out a metal wing, and threw it at her with all his strength.
She caught it with a lock of her hair. “Wait, are you…” Then, Mane-iac began to laugh, a horrible, unsettling sound. “Oh, this is glorious! I can already see the headlines: Power Patrol defeated by child! This is better than any plan I could’ve made, and it’s all thanks to you, little bird.” She knelt and brought her face close to his, rubbing the underside of his chin with a lock of her hair.
He pulled his fist back and sucker-punched her in the face.
The Mane-iac stumbled back, stunned. That… actually really hurt. She looked back to the boy and glared down at him. “Trust me, little bird- I’m not someone you want to have as an enemy.”
He cracked his knuckles. “You already are.”
“Oh but you’re not my enemy anymore, little bird.” She wrapped a lock around his ankle and pulled him into the air, before wrapping up the rest of his body tightly. “Now, you’re my hostage.”
Radiance flew over the streets of Maretropolis. Behind her, within two spheres emerging from her bracelets, she carried Matter-Horn and Mistress Mare-velous.
“Hey, pick up the pace, Radiance!” Mare-velous called.
Radiance looked back and snapped, “Well, excuse me! But flying and carrying both of you is difficult enough as it is! Unless you’d like to get out and push…”
“Enough.” Matter-Horn said. “Save your aggression for the Mane-iac.” She then touched her radio. “Fili-Second, status.”
“I’m at the base of One Maretropolis Square!” she replied. “Zapp and Saddle Rager are just a couple blocks behind me!”
“Fili-Second, make your way up the observation deck. Tell Zapp and Saddle Rager that we’ll meet you all there.”
“Got it!” Static, then silence.
“Are you sure about this, Matter-Horn?” Radiance asked. “I’d feel more comfortable taking on the Mane-iac if all six of us were present.”
“No way,” Mare-velous said. “The only reason Mane-iac would disappear is if she was planning something bigger than anything she’s done before. And we’ve wasted too much time already. Whatever’s waiting for us up there, we have to stop it. Now.”
“I asked Matter-Horn, Mare-velous…” Radiance flew up the outside of One Maretropolis Square, pulling her arms back. “Brace yourselves.” Radiance flew up past the observation deck- she swung her arms forward, throwing Matter-Horn and Mare-velous towards the deck. The two braced as they crashed through the windows of the skyscraper, before rising to their feet, ready to fight. “Game’s over, Mane-iac!” Mare-velous called.
“Ah, late to the party as always, I see,” the Mane-iac laughed. They looked, but couldn’t see her. “And you seem to be a little understaffed at the moment. Did you want to see me so badly that you couldn’t wait for your friends to catch up?”
Fili-Second shot into the room, followed by Radiance. “…Where is she?” Fili-Second asked. “She said she’d be here!”
“I’m right here.” The Mane-iac slinked into the room from a side door. She was bruised and cut, as if she’d already been in a fight before the Power Patrol reached her, and strange beige lumps were clumped into her long locks.
But Matter-Horn was more alarmed by the child Mane-iac held in her grip.