In the middle of a chain reaction part2

what happened previously in Lins Blog

I leave the lair. I end up in the closet and there's someone there waiting for me.
"Hey Austin." Its Chroma.
"Not now Christine." I tell her.
"Whats up lover?" she asks. I tell her about Lin and the seismic generator and the nuclear power plant.
"Ouch!" Chroma winced "Also you can't leave unless Prescott gives you permission can you?"

She was right. I'm not in command of anything anymore. So its off to see Prescott.

"So your telling me the synthoid that you created now has a seismic generator and is going to use it on a nuclear power plant." summed up Prescott.
"Yes." I confirm.
"Your sure you can resolve this without bloodshed and contamination." he asks.
"With Chroma and Crater I definitely can." I answer.
Prescott paused and scratched his chin.
"Can't let you have Crater. But I doubt I could stop Chroma going with you. I can only give you 12 hours. If you haven't succeeded by then I will alert the American authorities." He returned to his paperwork. Chroma and I got suited up.

-voip!-

We arrived in the power stations control center.
"Who the hell are you?" shouted one of the technicians. I didn't have the time to explain. So it was out with my weapon of choice the neural destabiliser.
"So thats what it looks like." said Chroma.
"What what looks like?" I snap back, technicians slumped over their desks. "We're here to avert a nuclear catastrophe Christine."
"She meant thats what your neural destabiliser looks like." said a voice from the shadows.

"Henchy!" I exclaimed. "Dude what are you doing here?"
"There's a mole in the union. I've tracked him down to here. When I get my hands on Captain Boomerang he's going to find out just what union busting is all about."Henchy was livid. I'd seen Henchy angrier but I certainly don't want to be in Boomerang's shoes.

"We need to shut the plant down and lock down the reactor core." I give the instructions for Chroma and Henchy to help me shut down the plant.

"So shutting down the plant will help?" asks Chroma.

"If the reactor core is tough enough to take the quake, yeah." I answer. "A small leak is possible but this way we don't end up with a 3 Mile Island and not a Chernobyl."

Chroma doesn't ask anymore questions and we finish in silence.

Then the first quake hits.

"If it comes to it are you willing to go all the way Koma?" asks Henchy coolly. "Cause if you can't I can.."

"No I can do it if I have to you two just get ready. Lin has company, hit hard hit fast we'll take them by surprise." I can do it. But it was nice for Henchy to ask.

-voip!-

this saga is finished in Lins Blog

Prescott has something to tell me

read what happened in Lin's blog

I'm in the lab working with Dr Tran. He knows his stuff but he's unable to make the right connections in his mind to follow the steps required to rebuild the Transfer relay.

"But if you just open the wormhole the cosmic energy will flow out anyway. So you need to make the Transfer relay so you can use the cosmic power in small amounts." I explain.

"But small amounts are not enough we need power." retorts Tran.

"Tran you have to start small and build up the power. The reason why it didn't work last time was that we thought we could transfer the cosmic energy through the portal and use it here. Thats the mistake. We need to redesign the Transfer relay so that we use the cosmic energy in the portal and generate the electricity through the Transfer relay." I thought I had explained myself more that enough but his expression was blank. "We turn the Transfer relay into a cosmic water wheel. The flow of the cosmic energy will enable us to generate electricity." I explain it at its most simple.

Then the penny drops.

"Ah!" replies Tran. "Its so simple and it's safe as well."

He rushes off to his team. It takes too long to explain all of this to Tran and his team. I could have this up and running in two weeks. Its going to take two months with Tran. Then Prescott turns up.

"Yes what do you want." I complain.
"There were some abnormalities in the results of your tests." he's blunt.
"The medical check we all took when we came back from Fiji?" I ask.
"Yes. That one." replies Prescott. "You were all given the standard tests CAT scans, radiation, tox-screen, blood, DNA. Standard Spearhead policy for post-assignment debrief."

"And..." I poke.

"The tests revealed above average mental and physical abilities." He smirked. "Putting it simply Koma you've lied to us."

"No you didn't ask." I clarify. "You assumed apart from the synthiod implants I was normal."

"Yes we did." the smile left his face briefly. "But now we know your not. Cosmic energy was detected. You will be evaluated as to your power levels and your threat level will be amended. Do not leave the base." He teleported out.

Do not leave the base 'eh! I walk into the closet. Instantly I'm in the lair. I smell something.

"Vadar Lin's been here hasn't she?" I enquire. She still wears the perfume I gave her.

"YES." answers Vadar. "SHE CAME FOR SOME EQUIPMENT."

"What equipment?" I ask. I'm naturally curious.

"A SEISMIC GENERATOR" answers Vadar.

"Ok what would Lin need a seismic generator? And why does that scare me." I say to myself.

"TO STOP A NUCLEAR POWER STATION." answers Vadar diligently.

Oh crap!

continued in Lin's blog

I blame the beer.

Please follow the links as it will help you remember just whats com before, yes Jon IG this is for you.

Its been about 12 hours since we wrapped things up in Fiji.

The bad guys got beaten. The Australian embassy staff were saved during our fight with the International Guard.

Prescott, you remember him.

Stuck up tight-ass Englishman who thinks he's in charge of me. Well while I was saving the team, Prescott had an Special Forces team teleported in and the embassy staff were saved with little fuss. Not one person was killed.

When I got back with Psykan, Xeenon, and Major Force in tow I thought it would at least bring a smile on the Administrators face.

Well she was pissed. She went at me.

"You think I'm going to be impressed." her tone was caustic. "It was just a simple extraction and your super-buffoons screwed it all up."
"Buffoons!" I exclaimed.
"Yes buffoons. Your supposed to be an elite team but all you ended up doing was losing a member to a telepath and untold property damage in downtown Suva." she stopped there. Composed herself, sat down behind her desk. She did a few things on her laptop.
"You are no longer Assistant Administrator. If it was up to me your only concern would be Slipstream. But Prescott believes the team needs you, especially now with Ki-Yama injured. You can go know. But when your not playing super-hero you WILL be in the lab."

With that I was dismissed. Slipstream is a problem, the Administrator is under pressure to get the cosmic energy program back online. Free energy is a big thing. But last time it killed many and changed myself and two others. (my flashback of Slipstream)

I was then accosted by Vince (Vortex), Warren (Crater) and Justice Nichols.

Now Warren's only been here a few weeks He and Justine look rather close, he works fast.
"Koma now your coming to the party." slurs Vince.
"Party?" I ask.
"Yeah. Were having a bit of a celebration. For a first job well done." says Warren smugly.

Ki-Yama turned up, her arm in a brace. Even Aryis was there. The beer was nice. How Warren got Corona here I don't know.

Annabell showed up but it wasn't her crowd.

She left after trying to interest me in a meaningful conversation. I didn't need that. Sure she was once my goth girl but I was a different person back then. But I still know she's one of the few here I can trust.

Well after the beers were flowing and the music got played. Chroma showed up.

The rest of the night was a bit of a blur.
I remember a few things to do with Chroma. But not much else.

Then I wake up in the morning, in bed and someones next to me......

I check myself first, I'm naked. Thats not completely a bad thing. I check the someone next to me, long blonde hair, smells of perfume, I look under the covers. Its female I'm very sure of it.
She stirs.
"Morning Austin. Some fun last night eh!." mentions Chroma.
"Yeah." I answer still quite taken aback.
"You don't remember a thing do you?" she's not accusing me but it sure feels like it.
I nod with a pained look on my face.
"Oh well then I better give you something to remember." her smile is delightfully wicked.

I don't kiss and tell so well leave it there.

The fight you've all been waiting for

I teleport in and Ki-Yama is looking worse for wear.
Her right wrist is broken, as are a few ribs but she's still soldiering on.
"Took them both on didn't you?" I asked in a parental tone.
She scowls at me.
"Got Force though." she spits back at me.
"Blowing up a car wont stop Chroma." I reply.

"Of course you know that Austin." adds Chroma striding through the flames.
"Do you specialise in psycho ex-girlfriends Koma?" quips Ki-Yama.
"Just get out of here." I summon a portal for her. "Crater's with Vortex, send him over."
Ki-Yama limps through the portal and it closes behind her.
"That was quite chivalrous of you Austin." congratulates Chroma. "But I don't think there is going to be much left of you when I'm done." She slams her right fist into the palm of her left hand to emphasise just how ready she is.

My old habit would be to just get the hell out of here and leave someone else to clean up the mess. Unfortunately I'm the one in charge here, so the buck stops with me.

Chroma stops just short of punching distance.
"What are you waiting for, an invitation?" I ask.
"Well you are the weaker combatant here so I was just waiting for your one shot and then I was going to take you out." she answers plainly.
"No, Ladies first." I offer.
"Ok, your funeral Austin." she winds up and swings straight through the hologram of me. The power of the blow, spins her around ninety degrees in the opposite direction. Where I'm standing at the other end of the street with two blasters drawn.
"CHEATER!" she screams as I fire repeatedly. The lasers don't even dent her steel armor, but I knew that. I'm only trying to piss her off. She breaks into a sprint aimed right at me. I stop with the blasters, she's not going to get anymore angry. I set the shields on full and wait for the impact.

Its huge.

I'm thrown back down the street bouncing like a ball. Eventually I run into a building, I tense up for the impact. Finally stopped I get up. There's not much left of the wall I hit.
"Well thats the best test those shields have ever gotten." I tell myself smugly.

"You know what I hate Austin?" yells Chroma still running up the street toward me. "I hate singles nights. I hate people telling me what to do. I hate those little sausage dogs. I hate screaming children. I hate this uniform. " Her pace slows and she stops again in front of me. "But you know what I really hate?"

"You hate this double life you've been living being a mole inside the International Guard." I answer.

Chroma's jaw drops. "How did you know?"

"Its time to come back Christine." I pause for effect. "If you want to give all this up?"

She smiles."You little smart-arse. Yes I want out."

I'm about to tell her welcome back or something when someone falls from the sky.
In a green spandex suit with a bad haircut, Xeenon lies bleeding and unconscious in front of myself and Chroma.
In the air above Ayris just smirks. Burn marks from Xeenon's laser blasts pocket his suit and the ones on his face are slowly healing.
I look at Chroma she looks back at me. "I'm not picking him up." she snaps in disgust. "That loser has been hitting on me since the start. I'm sure he was peeping on me once." Chroma kicks Xeenon in the guts, he groans.

Oh well at least thats over.

Psykan rhymes with garbage can

-VOIP-

I teleport just south of where Crater is. I can see him Psykan and Vortex.

It doesn't look good at all.

Psykan is doing the whole "I'm the psychic who's going to make your team-mate kill you." thing.

The problem is that Vortex can kill Crater.

Vince would never have worked it out but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if you can control air you can suck the air out of someones lungs.
Crater has worked this out and has encased himself in his telekinetic aura.
Which means that he's safe.
Until his oxygen runs out. Crater can't move away either cause Psykan has Vince creating a downdraft that is keeping Crater from moving at all.

"Warren, it's Koma. How long can you hold your breath for?" I ask over the communicator system.
"Oh about 2 minutes. Can't talk any more, breathing." he quips.

"Of course I completely understand. You wont be waiting long to inhale again." I really couldn't believe I said that. I'm getting so hero now I'm even doing the glib remarks.
I'd better concentrate otherwise Vince could notice I'm here and I'd be Gone with the wind. Ugh! I did it in my own head.

-VOIP-

I teleport right behind Psykan. He's chuckling away watching Crater slowly suffocate. It wasn't long ago I was in Psykan's shoes.
"What good is it being invulnerable when you can't breathe." gloats the green haired villain in his gravely voice. I realise I'm being tardy when Crater gives me a glare, which is detected by Psykan. He turns to see me.

"And you must be Koma." he deduces. "I can taste that brain of yours from under the psychic dampner." Psykan licks his lips. "I was told yours was a treat of cosmic proportions. They were right."

"Yuck!" I reply more than a little grossed out. "Your not getting anything, Garbage-can." I ignore the glib remark and press the button on Vortex's BULB remote.
(A BULB is a little device I made, its put in peoples brains, Its main job is to subdue the subject via painful headaches. It can kill but only if you press the red button)

Vince clutches at his head, funnily so does Garbage-can. I kick the telepath in the head, it doesn't knock him out but I do enjoy it. Then I go for the Neural Disruptor.
-Fizzzzzshum-
I had to set the Disruptor on high, telepaths are harder to subdue on the lower settings. He'll be hibernating this winter.

"Nice work Koma." thanks Crater. "You know for a moment there I thought you were going to join that green haired bastard."
"Not likely Warren." I tell him. "Stay here and protect Vince. He'll be groggy when the headache wears off."
"Your the Boss Koma." answers Crater.

Now its onto deal with Chroma. I just hope Ki-Yama has been able to reign in Ayris.

Commander Force is an ego-maniac

Continued from Project Spearhead

I teleport into the safe-house and there is only Ayris and Ki-Yama.
"Sent Crater after Psykan didn't you." It was a statement not a question.
Ki-Yama nods.
"Bad idea, Psykan is in control of Vortex. What else we're you going to do?" This was a question but Ayris answered it.
"Skulk in the shadows and take the IG's by surprise." he was rather disgusted with the plan and certainly made sure I knew he didn't like it.
"Good idea." I tell Ki-Yama. Ayris' jaw drops. "They're north of here 3 and half klicks. Concentrate on Xeenon and Force first if I can stop Vortex in time we can all be back home in an hour."
"What about Chroma?" snaps Ki-Yama.
"Leave Chroma to me." I order.

And with that I teleport out of there.

I just had to get to Crater before Vortex kills him.

Oh no another team of super humans

What a cliche. I thought. Another team of super humans fighting against my super humans. Annabell and I arrive in the situation room Prescott is dealing with the situation calmly but there is panic in the others around him.
"ASIO told us of their arrival as they attacked." informed Prescott.
"Who are they?" asked Annabell.
"They are mercenaries who go under the title The International Guard. They sell their services to any country who can pay for." explained Prescott. "Putting it simply they're trouble."
"Do Ki-Yama and the others know who they're up against?" I ask.
"No but they have just been attacked telepathically." Prescott's tone hasn't changed since we began. He's so damn stiff upper lipped I'd bet he staples it when he goes to bed.
"I gave them psychic dampners. In fact I gave them everything. How did the Fijian military find out what we were doing?" I ask.
"I suggest we work that out later and deal with the current situation. It seems our trojan cyclone has been discovered." Prescott points to a satellite picture of the cyclone created by Vortex breaking up.
"The telepath's in control of Vortex." I deduce.
"Yes."Prescott pulls up the Vortex's ECG readings. He points to the recent surge in brain activity. "Vortex doesn't think that much."
"Who's there for the International Guard?" I ask.
Prescott changes the screen in front of us and give me the ASIO intel.
"Psykan we already know is there. We have pictures of the whole team coming in as we speak." relays Prescott. "Mr Haynes is it here, yet." requests Prescott.
"Its here Sir. You have it now." responds Mr Haynes.
"Oh crap not him." I gripe.
"True but look at her. Is that who I think it is?" asks Prescott with a sneaky smile.
"Mr Prescott I do believe your right." I reply. "I think this is going to be easier than we both thought."
I leave to suit up. Annabell follows me to the lair. I get to the storeroom door which will open into the lair and she stops me.
"That was Chroma wasn't it?" she asks.
"Yes." I reply.
Annabell screws up her face. Begins to say something and then walks off in a huff.
"Annabell I don't need this right now." I call after her. She doesn't respond. I go into the lair and suit up.

continued in Project:Spearhead

Koma's Flashback

When the Adminstrator left it was just me and Annabell in the Slipstream Lab. I looked at the lab and I remembered.

I could see it all. Dr Wicker standing expectantly in front of me with the other scientists milling about and of course the Cavilier. He was there just in case things should go wrong.

It begins the same way as before. Dr Wicker gives the order to open the time-slip wormhole. It opens prefectly. We can view the point in time we require just like before. Wicker turns to me and smiles.

"And you thought the Cosmic energy would break the time-slip shielding." She jibes.

"I said the shields wouldn't hold after the power transfer was initiated." I warn back.

"And as I said before Austin it wont happen if we limit the transfer." Dr Wicker returned. "Begin the transfer." She orders confidently.

The Transfer Relay looks like a gigantic trident. It pierces the time-slip shielding and the power starts being registerd in the storage batery.

"Point 04 percent of capacity registered." I announce.

"Whats the influx setting ?" Wicker demands.

"Influx setting is at factor 3 and holding." I reply.

"Thats not too high. It should fill the storage batery in fifteen minutes." calculates Dr Wicker.

The Cavilier flies over from the Transfer Relay manual controls.

"Well done Dr Wicker. This looks like a great success." He congratulates.

"This is only the first step Cavilier. Soon we will be able to power the whole country this way." replies Wicker confidently.

And then it starts to go wrong.

"Influx factor rising to factor 4, 4.5. Storage capacity at 25% percent and rising fast." I relay. "Now at factor 5, 6. Dr Wicker we should end the test now, it we overload the storage battery..."

"Yes Austin I agree." Orders Wicker. "Shut it down."

I go to retract the Transfer Relay.

"The Transfer Relay is stuck." I report.

"No problem I'll get it in." replies the Cavilier calmly. He flies over to the Relay and attempts to operate the manual controls. He puts his whole strength into it and the wheel shatters.

"Influx at factor 11, Storage at 75% and rising fast we have only 30 seconds till we hit overload. We should shut down the Wormhole." I advise.

"No!" Protests Dr Wicker. "If we shutdown the wormhole we loose the Relay. That took 2 years to build. I am not letting this beat us."

The Cavilier has by this time got a grip on the Relay arm and is struggling to remove it under his own strength.

"We need to shut down now Nova." I beg using Dr Wickers surname.

"No!" She shouts back.

The storage reaches 95%. I get up and go to the wormhole console and shove the operator out of the way. I begin the shut down sequence when Dr. Wicker lunges at me.

"You can't stop it. I wont let you ruin it." she screams at me. Her rage overpowers me and pushes me over. I get back up just in time to see the Cavilier with one last pull, pry the Relay from the wormhole. The emergency claxon sounds. Dr Wicker and I both turn to see the shielding crack. The Cosmic energy spills out into the lab in waves. I manage to finish the shutdown sequence but its too late the Cosmic wave hits the Transfer Relay sending the Storage Battery into overload. The light is blinding, I can feel the wave as it comes towards me. I feel it brushing me for a scant second. Then i fall unconscious.

"Austin, Austin." She called after me. Annabell stood in front of me. How long she'd been calling my name I didn't know.

"I haven't seen that look on your face for a long time. Thats fear. Isn't it." Accused Annabell. "What is the great Captain Koma afraid of ?" Annabell continued to glare at me I avoided her eyes for a while.

"I'm not afraid. Not exactly its just that this room, its.." I trailed off.

"Yes that room is what ?" She prompted.

"I was one of the three survivors of Slipstream. I hadn't been in this room since the accident." I answer.

"So you were having a flashback ?" she asks.

"Yeah. And I am not going to let that mistake happen again." I answer.

Just my pager goes off.

Its from Prescott the Teams in trouble.

 

The Administrator..... I don't trust her.

this blog comes after Crater's post on Project: Spearhead

Ok its has been 12 hours since I got pulled off MY Teams first mission and I'm still waiting for the meeting with the Adminsitrator.

At first I took my time. I tried to get there late. Well it seems the Administrator is a lot more canny than I gave her credit for. In fact I think she's dangerous. I get hourly updates from Prescott about the status of the mission, I wonder if he's a part of this.

An hour later and now Annabell shows up.

"Austin the Adminsitrator wants to see you in the Slipstream Lab. Now." She looks at me aplogetically.
"Ok. This is how it all begins doesn't it?" I ask rhetorically. I get up and walk slowly to the Slipstream labs. I get to the door of the lab and I hesitate.
"Damn! Not now." I mutter to myself.
"This is the first time you've been here since the accident isn't it?" asks Annabell. She remembers that day. Well I'm glad she wasn't there for it.
"Yeah!." I agree. To myself I thought what does the Administrator know.
"Time to shine Koma." I say outloud. I grit my teeth and enter a room I never thought I'd walk into again. I barge in.

"Good morning Dr Peters." Greets the Administrator.

"Thats Koma." I snap back. She wanted to get me angry lets see how she deals with it.
"Of course how could I forget. Only Professor Lorenzo can call you buy your 'old' name." she gestures to Annabell. "I have a question about your handling of Dr Tran's work. Are you meaning to put such a valuable project into mothballs again?" She sounded clear as if she was asking you to pass the salt.
"I know this project. It has possibilities but its too dangerous to continue the way it is right now. " I go to continue but the Administrator interupts.
"Yes I hear you were part of the last, failure." she emphasised the word failure.
"And if you continue to attack the problem the way you are going the same failure is imminent." I said it coldly. I knew the way Tran was going. His scatter shot approach would only get more people killed or worse.
"So is that the reason why you have decided to take on this project by yourself?" Again clear controlled no emotion in her questions.
"Yes as I wrote in my reported to you there needs to be more saftey measures. Also I still havent recieved any information on these dampners and wether they work at all. If we are going to harness the power here we need to make it safe." I emphasised the word safe.
"I was sent here for one specific purpose Koma." her tone was no longer clear now. "And I will have Slipstream up and running as the first Cosmic Powered Energy Station. Your here to make this happen Koma." she paused walked up to me and poked me in the chest. "Your not here to play super-human." Then she walked out of the room.

Yes I was right she is dangerous.

Our first mission, oh their first mission.

So I'd just made sure Warren wold be spending most of his time trying to not to flirt with Ms. Justice Nichols. Despite his very lame attempts and double entendre's he's going to succeed there. She thinks he's alright.
So after playing matchmaker I get back to the lab and there's Prescott standing waiting with all the lab rats trying not to get in his way.
Annable sldes up to me as I walk in.
"Austin, he's been waiting for you for a while. He's freeking out the others. Can you get hin out of here. Oh and tell him not to come back." she whispered in my ear.
I smiled at her and nodded.
"Sure I'll see what I can do." I left Annabell behind and strode over to Prescott."Your here for me I'm told?" I asked.
He handed me a few papers and then dissapeared.
It was a case file. Our first mission.
At that point the doubts filled my head and I got a bit worried.

I went to Spearhead control and set up the mission plan. It was a simple hostage extraction in Fiji. Suva to be precise. The plan took less than an hour to write and then I sent it to Prescott and the Administrator.
They both signed off on it and we were away. I alerted the team and we were in the training room rehearsing the plan.
"So all I'm doing is just being a distraction, this suck Koma." sulked Vortex.
"Vince this requires exact timing one little mistake will lead to death for the hostages and a big fight with the Fiji military. And we DON'T want to fight the Fiji army." I explained.
"So Vince (Vortex) makes with the fake cyclone, Crater, Aryis and myself go and get the hostages out. How?" asked Ki-Yama hands on hips.
"You can get out either by getting the hostages to the pick up point, where Amy will be waiting for you at the arainged time. Or you set up a gateway. I've taught Ki-Yama how to set one of them up. Then all you do is walk through. Now remember the gateway is not permanent it will self destruct after 2 minutes."
"Ok we get all of that Mother Koma. Now when do we go." asked Ayris.

The from behind me Prescott spoke.
"You are going 45 minutes. Koma has meeting with the Administrator in ten."
I turned and stared as angry as I could at him.
"I've been given oprotational command of this mission." Revealed Prescott. "If you leave know Koma, you wont be late." he chided.

And with that I stormed out of the training room.

Training is a mess

this is post follows on from Project: Searhead

Honestly I wasn't that impressed with the first training session. Ayris was being all high and mighty and trying to prove that he was more indestructable than Crater. I was a debarcle to watch. He pretty much just tried to do it all on his own. So I went and made it harder, well I made it impossible for him.
But it wasn't impossible for Crater. Aryis bombed out around the wall of adamantium which eventually crushed him. Well it would have crushed if I let it. And I was tempted. I then stoped the exercise ordered Ayris out, left Ki-Yama in charge of the team for the rest of the session.
When I got to Aryis he was bleeding from his forehead and was cradling his right arm.
"Anything we need to talk about?" I asked.
Aryis just glared at me. He wiped his head of the blood, the cut had healed. Slowly he raised his hand flexed his fingers, then clenched his fist and smiled.
"Super-Healing is a wonderfull thing." He began. "No if didn't know any better you just tried to kill me."
"No you don't know any better. If I had tried to kill you you'd be dead." I answered. "If I ever see you act like that again in training I will make sure you become someones little project. No more Cage, no more nice meals, no more comfy beds, and definatley no more conjugal visits."
Aryis' nasty snear was back. I had to make a point now otherwise he was just going to be a bigger problem.
"You've got two choices Aryis'. Prove me right, that your a waste of time. Nothing but an ego with super powers. Or you can prove me wrong and lead this team. Go back to the Cage and decide which one you want to be."
I left him there and went back to join the team in training.

Ayris don't know me very well, do he?

Next was Ayris. As Vincent correctly asked he is a clone of the Cavelier Australia's greatest Super-Human. A man of courage and honour, and these days too old to be saving the neighbourhood, let alone the world. So a few years ago scientists including yours truly were set to the task of cloning a replacement Cavelier. It was the Prime-Ministers idea, that and cloning Don Bradman. Cloning the 'Don' was easy but the Cavelier was tricky. In the process my then superior Dr. Nova Wicker went crazy. She dubded herself Dr. Nova-cane and escaped with the one of the clones. This clone was Ayris. He of course was captured but Dr. Wicker is still on the loose.

Ayris is kept in an area of Spearhead called the Cage. Its a nice place its got luxurious rooms, 24 hour kitchen, gym, and conjugal visits. If I was locked up anywhere the Cage is the place I'd want to be. Of course thats not the only thing that keeps Ayris in control.

I entered through the 20 inch thick adamantium doors and into the Cage's rather beautiful foyer. The whole theory is that if it looks like a hotel they'll treat it like one. It works, sometimes. Ayris was in the foyer wating for me. The staff (guards) were around but they kept a low profile.

"Captain Koma."Smiled Ayris. "Why did you take that moniker? Its like your the poor cousin to Captain Cold."
I ignored that. He had to make himself superior to me, even if he was right.
"Ok you know who I am. You do know I'm required to be present on all missions." I smiled, he didn't.
Ayris wasn't happy.
"So your in charge, congratulations." a dirty snear crept across his face.
"Yes I'm in charge here in the complex." I began Ayris wasn't going to like the rest. "But in the field I'm no more than a member of the team."
"You expect me to accept that compromise. Having you a member of the team I'm going to be constatly looking over my shoulder." he was leaning forward his voice getting louder."And if I make a decision you don't approve of will you... No how can you stop me out there. Really do you even have the balls to tell me I'm wrong."
"Oh I do. But you are right it is a compromise, if I had it my way you wouldn't even be on the team." I left that hang in the air and before Ayris had a chance to reply I plulled out a small remote. Ayris knew what it was. It controlled the Brain implant Universal Locator Beacon. Or BULB for short. Apart from being able to pinpoint where ever Ayris was, it also had a small explosive charge.
He laughed.
"You wont have that in the field. Prescott has it."
He was right but I had an ace up my sleeve.
"Do you know you were captured and brought here before I left?" I asked as if changing the subject.
"No I didn't its nice to know you were one of those nameless lab-rats." again putting me down.
"Yes I was in charge of the lab back then. I invented the BULB. In fact I hand made the one in your very head. Put it there too." I was smiling now, gloating. "Now its not going to take me much to make something to blow your pretty face off now isn't it."
I could feel his hate burning against me. He was beyond words he lunged at me. Before he even got to me a million or so volts exploded through him. The cages security system turned off the current. Ayris slumped to the floor. Burnt, alive, and panting.
"Your a natural leader Ayris why would I not let you lead out in the field. But if you step out of line expect worse than what you just got." I left Ayris on the floor and walked away.

Introducing Vortex and Kiyama

Well with the lab in Annabells control and only the Adminstrators motives for re-opening Slipstream to be answered, I had to go and see the Spearhead team. There were four of them two months ago. On their last Mission they lost Black Titan. He was able to change his size and density. These abilities made him almost completley invulnerable. I say almost beacause even when you can become bulletproof, your still toast when fall into a lava flow. So part of my job was to find a new fourth for the team. Mind you I still had to introduce myself to the remining three. I decided to get the easy one over first.

His name is Vincent Saggers codename Vortex, wind manipulator. He's an adrenaline junky. He loves taking risks cutting corners. The only reason he sticks to the plan at Spearhead is that every mission is pretty much suicide.
"Hey I've met you before." He says as I enter the interview room. "Dr. Peters." I'm amazed he remembered me. I was his trainer when he was first tested for Pegasus.
"Yes and I'm the new Assistant Administrator." I introduced myself. "This our introduction. I have a few questions of you and if you have any questions for me then I'll answer them as well I'm allowed to."
"So Doc! What do you wanna know?" He was as forward and cocky just as the psych report told me.
"Vincent its Koma or Dr. Peters." I corrected. "Do you miss Black Titan?" I kept my face blank waiting for the answer.
"That arsehole. The only reason he died cause he thought he was immortal." He looked at me with disgust. "You think I'd miss him. He got what he deserved."
"You think the same about the rest of the team?" Still blank, still calm.
"Well Kiyama's a fox but she'd kill me if said anything bad about her. I've seen her kill this guy and man she got off on it." He shook his head. "She's cold Dr Peters. But as cold killing bitches go she one hell of a ride." He was smirking. It said 'Yeah I got some with her, and it was great.'
"And Ayris?" I asked keeping him on track.
"He thinks he's Jesus or somthing. I was told he was a clone of the Cavalier. It that true?" he wanted an answer.
"Yes its true." I answered. "I can't tell you the whole story of course. Are you scared of him?"
"If that bulb thing wasn't in his head he'd try take over the country again. So yeah he scares me. But don't tell him that." He was being honest with me. I had one last question.
"You have been told that I'll be a part of the team on most missions?"
"Now thats a joke isn't it." he smiled. I was blank and calm. "Oh really. Ok thats cool."

The female member of the team KiYama was in the gym. As Vincent said she's an assasin. Her powers. She doesn't miss, ever!. She too knew who I was but thats because we were introduced at the party last night.
"Well what do you want." she was in front of the weights. Vincent was right absolute fox.

"This the AA introduction thing. I gotta do it. I just did Vincent then its Ayris next." I made out like this was the boring stuff, merely procedure, nothing important.

"Bullshit." She saw right through me. "This the bit where you confirm all the psycho-babble you read in our files."

"True." I admitted "Also its the bit where you ask me questions."

She turned and gave me a hard stare.
"Ok can I put a name in for our new fourth."
"Sure you can." I already had a fourth picked out and he was well on his way to Spearhead. But it wouldn't hurt if I knew who she was thinking of. "Can you give me a name."

"Layla Rocococo." she smiled as she said it. And my sensors picked up a slight inrease in her temperature. As you all know I can manipulate computers and electrical devices so it was quite easy for me to get the details on Ms. Rocococo, codename....
"Colossal girl." I replied. "Yeah she's a straight fit for Black Titan, but I have someone already."
"Who?" she demanded.
"Warren Schneider, Crater." I answerd.
"Another male." she spat. "You really want to keep the boys club going don't you." She stood up and got right in my face."The Administrator promised me that there'd be less testosterone."

"I never made that promise." I didn't blink I looked her eye to eye. "And I'm not here to arrange sleepover parties. I'm here to make this the best team it can be. Sure, I'm open to discussion, but this Kiyama is bullshit." With that I turned my back on her and walked out.
I could feel her angry stare burn the back of my head as I left the gym.

Dreams and visions

**** ok from here on in Koma is going first person ****

"Austin, Austin..." Lin whispers softly in my ear.

I can see her walking thorough the garden while I sit in on the verandah of the bungalow.

Then I see a woman with a crow.

Then I see Lin again in dark glasses.
"I'm living my life now Austin. Its strange but I'm living it." Lins voice trails off and I wake up.

I should have cut off all connection to Lin but even if I did that VADAR would keep sending messages about where Lin was. VADAR is a little bit too overprotective of Lin but maybe thats a good thing. Anyway after last nights party its going to be hard enough trying to get all the jobs that need to be done today.

I get to the lab before everyone else. Well thats easy I don't need much sleep even after I'd had a bit too much to drink. Also it helps when you can open a door that changes an eqipment closet in the Lab into a doorway from the workshop. I look at the clock its 5:45am. I'm early. Oh well I get some time to go over the files of the super humans I'll be managing.

At 7:30am the lab rats start filing in. They all great me with a hello or a hi they don't know me. Only Annabell worked here when I last worked here. When she comes in all eyes are on us.
"Good morning Dr. Peters" her smile is polite and cordial. Whats she up to.
"Morning Professor Lorenzo." I smile back just as polite. The lab rats all know the history between us. I can read it from the messages they are currently sending each other.
"So you've beaten us all here this morning. Have you reviewed our current projects?" asks Annabell.

I tell her I have but I'd like to go over the project with her and the team leaders. She gives me the usual polite office talk and tells me that they all are very happy to have me as the new Asisstant Administrator. Annabell arranges the meeting with the project leaders at 11am. I go back to the psychological reports on the super-humans.

At 11am Annabell came to get me.
"The team leaders are waiting in the conference room for you Dr. Peters." her tone was the same cordial polite office tone. Something was wrong I had to ask her now otherwise I'd be thinking about it all the way through the team leaders meeting.
"Whats wrong Annabell?"
"Pardon." she replied.
"Look this charade of Dr. Peters and Prof. Lorenzo. This have anything to do with last night?" I had to ask. Last night was a nice time but Annabell was a bit over clingy.
Annabell gave me a look of frustration and muttered something like 'Bring it up now why don't you.' Then she took my hand and dragged me into the closet. Now because I was entering the closet the gateway portal activated and we ended up in the workshop.

At first Annabbell didn't realise that we weren't in the closet anymore.
"Austin you very well this isn't just about last night this is a..bout...." She stopped there and looked around.
"Cool Austin very cool." she chuckled a bit and then remembered why she'd dragged me into the closet in the first place. He face changed from amazment at the workshop to a firm mask of determination.
"Last night I was drunk and yes I wasn't totaly in control of myself. But I thought we could pickup where we left off. But seeing you want just a professional realtionship...." she was hurt. Even a blind man could see it.
"Annabell at the moment I can't have you throwing youself at me in front of everyone."I explained.
"Oh so thats it. Your still with Lin." she snaped.
"No thats not it." I snapped back. "We need a realxed feel in the lab, but what we don't need is the lab rats thinking they can sleep with the boss to get a promotion."
"Me promoted. Your putting me in charge of the lab. really?" she shouted excitedly and then the penny dropped. "Ohhh! so because your promoting me you don't want everyone to think that I got the job cause I was sleeping with you."
"Exactly." I explained. "Anyway from what I hear you just got dumped too."
"Yeah one of the pilots got transfered a while ago. Sorry I went all clingy on you."
appologised Annabell. "Oh and by the way this is a really cool lair."
"Its not a lair its my workshop." I corrected.
"Its lair Austin. And I'll prove it. Your name Santa?" she asked
"No." I answered
"Well then its a lair." She put her hands on her hips and triumphantly.

"SHE HAS A POINT MASTER." chimed in VADAR.

"Et tu VADAR." I exclaimed.

"And you have a talking computer thingy." she added. "This is so a Lair."

After that we went to the conference. It was the usual stuff for a secret govenment lab. Weapons, drugs, robotics, genetic mutation of farm animals. Then a project code name came up that got my attention.
"Slipstream! Your working on that!" I rudely interupted the young scientist who name was Fletcher Tran.
"Yes Dr. Peters. The Adminsitrator reopened project Slipstream last year. As to date we have made no headway at all. Because of this the Administrator has diverted almost all funding into Slipstream, and still we have made no progress." Tran sounded as if he was defeated by the Slipstream project."But with you here now Dr. Peters I believe you can give us the support to finally deliver a brekthrough." Trans confidence in my ability to make the breakthrough was optimistic, but well placed.
"I'm sure your right. But Slipstream was closed down because of saftey concerns how have you gotten around this?" Slipstream delt with a dimensional construct similar to time travel yet quite different. When opened the 'Gateway' as it was named would create localised gravity and time distortions.
"We have been able to create saftey barriers that keep the disturbances to a smaller area then before." ansered Tran.
I had my reservations about such barriers but I felt it was better to see them in action. I asked for a demonstration. Tran was very happy adn wanted to give a demonstration right away. Annabell said it'd be better for the demostration to be tomorrow. I agreed and with that the meeting ended and the project leaders walked out. Annabell stayed behind.
"So you want to help Tran or stop him?" she knew what happened last time Slipstream was opened up we both did.
"Cut his funding, cut his team back to five. Tell him he has my full support but he does't need the resources." I replied.
"You want to stop him?" asked Annabell. "The Administrator isn't going to like that."
"Tran will continue but under my direct supervision, the Administrator's just going to have to take it. Now I've got to deal with the Super-Humans."

The New Job

Still in the roadhouse Koma gets more information dealing with the new job he's just agreed too, of which he knows nothing about.

"So I'll be working in which division of The Pegasus Agency. R&D?" asks Koma optimisticly.

"Spearhead." replies Falstaff.

"What. Thats just the Australian knock-off of the suicide squad. Murderers, criminals..." begins Koma.

"Evil geniuses." adds Falstaff.

"Oh!" stops Koma. "OK so what am I doing with these fellow scoundrals."

"Your the new Assistant Administrator." answers Falstaff.

"Well thats good sit back do the lab stuff and notify the next of kin when one of them dies." smiles Koma.

"No your going to be the on-field assistant administrator." corrects Falstaff. "There are two AA's. The other is comming to pick us up about.... now."
Instantly a man in a suit and tie appears beside Falstaff and Koma. "Koma this is Prescott. He's the other AA. He's taking us to Spearhead central."

--- Later at the end of the tour of Spearhead central---

"And here Koma is where you'll be doing most of your work." explains Falstaff. "But you've been here before haven't you?"

"Yeah I ran the labs here after Dr Wicker went nuts. Does the old crew still work here.?" inquires Koma.

"Go on in and find out." urges Falstaff.

Koma steps forward to enter into the lab, pauses.
"Falstaff..." he begins but Falsatff is gone. "Damn. Well lets just get this over."

Koma opens the door and enters.

"Austin!" shouts the woman in the lab. She rushes up to Koma and hugs him. "Its so good to see you again. We've all been following your exploits as 'Captain Koma'. So is it true about you making a synthiod copy of Lindsay Lohan? 'Cause Vincent thinks you did, I'm not sure. We all we're so excited when Prescott told us you were comming. Its so excting."

"Thats a lot to answer Anabell but, its good to see you too." Koma smiles, looks around the lab. "Its good to be back home."

"We're having a party tonight. You are the guest of honour and you need to be their and you can't go alone. Soooooo." Anabell rocks on her heels arms folded looking elsewhere, waiting for Koma's reply.

"Are you free tonight Anabell." asks Koma. "Cause if I had to choose anyone it'd have to be you."

"I'd be delighted too Austin. Or should I say AA , sir." salutes Anabell.

"Sir? Thats a bit too formal." corrects Koma. "So do I pick you up or are you gonna find me."

"Oh I'll find you." smiles Anabell suggestively. She turns and leaves the lab. Koma exhales.

"Not ready for that were you." Behind Koma is Prescott.

"You always 'port in without even a voip or a bamf. Its just not polite." complains Koma."And yeah I didn't expect that."

"So how are we going to do this. You going to hate my guts from the start or are we going to try and make a go of this." Prescott folded his arms waiting for the answer.

"I don't even know you. But I get the team, the labs, and the risk. You get the administration, paper work, and have to ring the next of kin. Sounds good to me." answers Koma.

"No you have to ring the next of kin. Apart from that your right." corrects Prescott

"Ok deal." Koma holds his hand out for Prescott to shake.

"I don't make deals. Consider this a verbal agreement." And with that Prescott dissapears.

"Arrogant bastard." mutters Koma.

Koma's new direction

Koma sits in the workshop, alone.

'THE MISTRESS HAS LEFT THE BUNGALOW.' announces VADAR.

"Did she take the gift with her?" asks Koma

'AFIRMITIVE' answers VADAR.

'Well thats all I can do for her right now' thinks Koma.'That could have gone better. But I did better than when I broke up with Kerrick.'

'WAS THIS A GOOD DECISION?' asks VADAR
"Pardon!" responds Koma."Who gave you a brain?"

'THE MISTRESS UPGRADED ME.' replies VADAR. 'WAS THIS A GOOD DECISION?'

"I'm not sure VADAR." questions Koma. "I hope she understands why I've done this."

'YOU KNOW SHE DOES NOT.' states VADAR.

--- A few days later at a dingy roadhouse somewhere in Australia ----

Koma walks into the roadhouse. He looks up and down the interior.

"You lookin for sumone." enquires the lady behind the counter.

"Yes. A man named Falstaff." answers Koma. "But I see there's noone here but you."

"You blind." accuses the lady.

"Excuse me." replies Koma.

"Did you not see the bloke in the last booth." the lady points to the man in the booth. Who wasn't there when Koma looked before. Koma doesn't bother to reply and walks to the booth.

"Take a seat Koma." orders Falstaff.

"You can take the major out of the army but you cant cure him of ordering people around." quips Koma as he sits opposite Falstaff.

"You were never good at jokes Koma." grimly replies Falstaff."And the fact that your here means your in and this.." Falstaff tosses a picture of Lin at some resort. "Proves you have pushed IT away."

Koma picks up the picture glances at it.
"Thats Lindsay Lohan not Lin. I know the difference." Koma passes the picture back. "Lin is in the Mojave desert. ANd if you call her IT again I'll find a way to kill you."

"You threaten me." Falstaff smiles and chuckles. "I had my doubts about you. But that puts you in the lead for this job."

"How many people did you ask?" enquires Koma.

"Just you." answers Falstaff.

Koma can't play.

"This week uhhh. I can't do it this week Fred. I'm so sorry. Gee that really sucks." Koma snaps his fingers in annoyance.

"Why can't you come? You are part of my plan, your neural detabiliser would very helpful." Compliments Fred in the hope that a bit of ego stroking will get Koma onside.

"Thats nice of you to say so Fred but I've got a family celebreation this week and I can't be late for it." explains Koma. "If I could rearange things that'd be great but I can't, sorry."

"Thats quite all right I can manage without you." accepts Fred. "But you'd better leave soon he'll be waking up in a while."

"Thats no problem well just go to the workshop." replies Koma.

"Umm just where is this workshop?" Enquires Fred. Who quickly reassures with. "In case I need to contact you."

"You can't read my mind Fred." Koma taps the side of his head. "Psychic dampners. But if I needed to tell anyone of the good guys. It'd be you."

Koma gestures and a portal opens. He and Lin walk through into the workshop.

"You didn't tell me you had a family party happening." Pouts Lin.

"It was a surprise. I thought we had some free time so I aranged for you to meet the folks." Koma waits for the response from his synthetic lover.

"Oh thats amazing. I finally get to meet your family. Oh this is a big step. Ohh! I must tell Sky she'll be so jealous. Magneto hasn't even introduced her to his children. She's going to be soooo jealous. Ha!" Lin jumps in the air. "Oh and you" she points a Koma."You're getting something special tonight." She grabs him by his shirt and pulls him toward her. Her kiss is passionate and quick. "Thats to keep you in suspence." She runs off to the workshop living quarters. "Ooooo! so much to do. So little time"

Koma smiles a happy smile. 'Well at least I'm getting thanked before she meets my Grandparents.'

Finally some peace and quiet.

In the workshop Koma comes to the end of a long day.

"VADAR does it work. Confirm." orders Koma.

'CONFIRMED ALL MAJOR TELEPATHS ON EARTH HAVE BEEN DETECTED AND MARKED.' answers VADAR.

"And Onslaught is where?" asks Koma.

'Xavier/Onslaught is on the North American continent. New York state, Westchester.' replies VADAR.

"Brilliant. That scan of cerebro that I did while we were at Xaviers has proven to be very profitable." Koma smiles."Xavier Onslaught whatever the chromedome wants to call himself wont get near without us knowing about it. Ahhhh! Well time for a well deserved rest."

Koma leaves the workshop. Enters the bungalow in New Zealand.

"Finished have we know?" asks Lin. She's in the kitchen waiting. Koma walks into the kitchen.

"Yes I'm finished." He leans over and pecks her on the cheeck. "But we have yet to start." He smirks a nasty litlle smile. Lin grabs him they kiss ferociously.

"Well," exhales Lin. "thats the entree. Now go sit outside while I make the main course. Then later desert."

Koma walks outside onto the verandah sits back and relaxes.

'Well thats all that.' Thinks Koma to himself. 'Onslaught can't come near without me knowing it. Magneto is busy with Mystique. Henchman and Magdelena have their little quest. Lin is back together.' Koma opens his eyes and looks around checking the surrounds then does a quick sensor check of the bungalow, the town, the entire North Island, New Zealand, and finally the Southern Pacific. Only an earthquke warning in Rotarua. He relaxes. 'All is well.'

Koma brings a friend.

Read Henchman, Gaia, Magdelena, Prof X, Wolverine.

Continued from Lins Blog.

Koma left the unconscious pair Xavier and McCoy behind him with Lin in tow. He gets to the classroom. Thinks about the ways he could enter and decides on dramatic and violent.

BANG!

Several people in the class screamed. Koma stood in the doorway dramtically framed in smoke from the incinerated door. He smirks and thinks 'Everythings working now. This is great.' And then Lin ruins it.

"Hi Gaia! It's me, Lin!" she gave a little wave.

Koma shots Lin a quick glance. "Lin not now!" he chastises.

Lin's smile vanishes. "Oh, right..." she appologises.

Gaia looks at Koma and Lin. She turns her head a little to the side.

"I'm sorry, do I know you two?" Gaia asks.

'Xavier is there no end to your meddeling' thinks Koma to himself.

"Dude, that's Lindasy Lohan!" says one of the more stupid class members.

"Jonathan, sit." orders Gaia. "You are...?" she asks.

"Your worst nightmare." replies Koma quickly as he pulls out the Neural Destabiliser and fires at Gaia. Blue sparks fly and explode inside the little bubble Gaia made around the weapon. Koma swears and pulls his hand from the little fireworks display in front of him.

"Who the hell do you think you are?!" demands Gaia. She makes a sweeping motion with her hand and Koma slams up against the wall. "Interrupting my class and trying to kill me!"

Koma grits his teeth and thinks 'I'm going down like this without undoing some of Xaviers crap.'
"You destroyed New York! You almost destroyed the planet!" shouts Koma.

"What?" Gaia still doesn't believe and her grip around Koma intensified.Lin's eyes glowed and she powered up to help

Koma. One of the students holds her back magnetically.

WHOA!" the youth excalimed. "She's made of metal... She's a robot!"

While Koma continues to try and escape he also continues to give Gaia the truth "And then you had your little friend Xavier wipe everyone's minds, so you wouldn't remember!"

"You're raving." responds Gaia with a look of disgust.

"Am I?" asks Koma. He stops struggling for a eyeballs Gaia. "You can go ask Xavier for yourself later... Right now he won't do you much good... He's taking a little 'nap'."

"Wha-" Gaia rips Koma's mind open of Koma's recent memories to see Professor Xavier and Beast laying unconscious in the Professors office.

Gaia's grip on the Koma losens.
"Who are you?" she asks.

"I'm known as Captain Koma." offers Koma catching his breath. "You don't remember any of it do you?"

"No I don't. The Professor did this to portect me didn't he?" Gaia's question needs no answer.

"Hey, can you get Magneto Junior to let Lin go. Please." implores Koma.

"The names Override." protests the young mutant. He looks to Gaia, she nods he releases Lin. However they have no time to work out what to do next when.

'BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!' the evil laugh is heard in the mind of everyone.

"Theres a large spike of psionic energy comming from the Professors office." informs Lin. "Incredibly large."

"Off the scale." adds Koma.

"Oh no!" exclaims Gaia. "Its Onslaught." Gaia pauses then looks at Koma. "You can teleport or something can't you?"

"Yes, what are you thinking. Teleport Onslaught, I think he'll see it comming." snaps Koma.

"No get the students somewhere safe." explains Gaia.

"We don't need protection, were mutants" says Johnathan the stupid one.

"In training." responds Override. "We're not X-men yet." he adds. He said X-men with pride.

"Hmmm you'll be one." remarks Koma. "Where too Gaia."

After sending Gaia and her students away, Lin turns to Koma.

"Oz, you do remember Henchmans here." reminds Lin.

"Yeah and." replies Koma he checks his sensors. "They're out in the woods around the Mansion."

'HENCHMAN, TODAY YOU WILL DIE.' Koma hears the scream in his mind.

"Another psionic burst. What did you hear?" asks Lin.

"Onslaughts after Henchman." Koma answers. "We better go help them. You ok with that."

"Sort of. How do we beat Onslaught?" asks Lin.

"By being smart Lin. By being smart."

-Voip!-

Out in the woods Henchman and Magdelena are running from Onlsaught. Its a futile race, Onslaught catches them.

'I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE HENCHMAN. YOU ARE A WORM YOU NEED TO BE CRUSHED.' Onslaughts words scream into Hechman and Magdelenas minds.

"Get outta my head." screams Henchman back. He goes to leap into action, but Onslaught swats him back.

'HAHAHAHAHAHA! YOUR EFFORTS ARE NOTHING WORM.' gloats Onslaught. He turns to Magdelena. 'AND YOU WHORE WILL LEARN THE

ERROR OF YOUR WAYS'

-Voip!-

"Hey big red and stupid." shouts Koma. "Pick on someone your own size." Koma smiles. Behind him is a large green man, smiling the same wicked smile.

"Hulk smash big red man."*

* thanks to Ed Benes and comicartcommunity.com

Koma wakes

Lying in bed Koma opens his eyes.

'What happened?' Koma tries to remember. His memories don't remember anything of the last week but his wetware system tells him differently. He sees Gaia and her dark minions, henchmans sad face, and Lin. Lin exploded. She's dead, again.

"VADAR confirm." orders Koma.
'3 DAYS HAVE PASSED SINCE YOU WERE LAST AWAKE. WETWARE CONTAINS NO ANOMOLIES. MISTRESSES DOES EXIST' replies VADAR.

"What? Where is she?" demands Koma.

'Beside you.' replies VADAR.

Koma looks at the empty space on the other side of the bed. On the pillow is a chip. Koma picks it up. Teleports a light bee into his hand, inserts the chip and puts the light bee on the bed. Lin materialises.
"Oz what happened?" asks a surprised Lin. "I was sensing Gaia and then I ended up here." She goes to hug Koma and falls through him.
"Crap. I'm a hologram again." she screams.
'NEW BODY IN PROCESSING. TEN MINUTES TO COMPLETION.' informs VADAR.

--- Later after Lin's new body has been made. ---

"So what do we do?"asks Lin huging herself relieved to be corporeal again. Koma sits in front of a display of his wetware memory of the last week. It gets to the destruction of Lin.

"Oh dear!" she exclaims. "So that's what happened to me. Good thing we backed up that morning."

"We did but all the chips including the one in the protective safe was wipped. The chip your in now materelised from nowhere." explains Koma. "Somethings screwed up. Amazing!" Koma exclaims at first the vision from his eyes of the final battle, then at the vision of the archangel and Gaia battling in the sky.

"You don't remember any of this?" asks Lin.

"No my memory has been wipped like your chips." answerd Koma gravley.

'GAIA HAS BEEN LOCATED.' reports VADAR. 'XAVIER MANSION, WEST CHESTER, NEW YORK, USA.'

"Well that explains the memory wipe. Xavier has been up to his old tricks. Trying to protect people from bad things." Koma swivels his chair and gets up. "Time to go to Xaviers Lin."

"What about Gaia?" she asks wondereing why Koma's mind is closed to her right now.

"We'll see what happens with Gaia." replies Koma flatly. "We'll see."