March 2001
Tunnel of Doom
by Paul A. Hahn
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March 2001 |
Tunnel of Doom by Paul A. Hahn |
In one of their larger gambits, the White King of the cabal manipulated the mind of Linda Danvers, founding YJ member Firebird. Jason Wyngarde was his name, and through means unknown, controlled the young woman's mind and vast powers. But he would not be allowed to get away with it.
Superboy was the man in love with her. Well, boy. And she loved him, too. As much as an 18 year old girl and a permanently 16 year old boy could love each other. But Superboy and Young Justice fought back and saved Linda. Firebird returned to the man she loved and the team she belonged with.
But there were still questions. How did Wyngarde do it? And was he responsible for the huge increase in power Linda had undergone? If not, then who? Or What?
[[Most of the events occurred in Young Justice #12, with little hints throughout the first story arc, soon to be collected into three collected editions! - Paul!]]
His name was Kon-El. His origins were a mystery to most, even himself. One day, he woke up in some sort of giant test tube. He had no memory of what had led to him being there. But he escaped. His tube had the name Kon-El on it. Not knowing his real name, he took it. After discovering his powers, and the tactile telekinesis that fueled them, he set out to be a hero, like his idol Captain America. At first he wanted to become Bucky, and be Cap's sidekick. But he eventually realized he'd be better off on his own, not meeting Cap until he was good enough. So he created a shield, like Cap's, made out of photonic energy, and became Superboy! He could fly, he was invulnerable, and he had super strength. He was a hero.
Her name was Linda Danvers. She grew up in a normal family. A mom, a dad, even a younger sister Sarah. She was living the American dream. Her family wasn't rich, but it was more than stable enough for both sisters to have good, carefree lives. And she was a blond-hair, blue-eyed, popular girl. But the life of the teenage cheerleader was not meant to be. Shortly after puberty, she realized that she was a mutant. She had super strength, invulnerability, flight, and even limited telekinesis. Yet, as time went by, she found an additional power: Her fiery wings. Her codename of Firebird came from these. She knew the power was not natural . . . but said nothing. It gave her an incredible edge . . . and little did she realize just what power she had.
"I'm so glad you're back," Kon grinned at her.
"It's good to be back," she smiled in return. "But . . . I am a little nervous. Cannonball and Magik have only known me as an enemy . . . and, well, you seem ready to take me back with open arms, but what of the others?"
"Jen's your best friend," Kon replied. "She's glad you're back. Impulse likes anybody, so of course he's glad you're around."
"But what about Cassie or Cissie? I mean, Arrowette and I never really connected . . . and Cassie, well, I think she was jealous of us. And then Rob . . . I mean, how much can he really trust me? After I decimated the team?*"
*(As retold in YJ #1-3, an event that actually occurred before YJ #1. Keep an eye out for YJ #0 - Paul)
"He likes you, Linda," Superboy shook his head. "He's glad the only member of the team he's ever lost is back. This is his first leadership gig, after all. Keeping everyone safe and sound is one of his top priorities."
"Whatever you say, Kon," she sighed, not convinced. "So, fill me in! What have I missed?"
"Well," Kon pondered, not minding the subject change. "Well, you know about our fighting with the Hellfire Club and the Hellions . . . umm . . . not too long after we lost you, we gained Magik and Cannonball, when the New Mutants disbanded. We went up against some sort of techno-organic creatures called the Phalanx . . . we tackled the Mutant Liberation Front . . . went to Hell . . . fought the Point Men, some group of terrorists . . . they actually killed Sam, but he got better . . . went up against some SHIELD agents . . . some screamin' guy . . . umm . . . oh, and Sam found some kinda underground group of mutants called the Morlocks!"
[[That about covers YJ 1-12, Screams of Angar, and YJ Annual #1 - Me again]]
"Sounds like you've been busy," she replied. "But what was that about . . . Morlocks?"
"Morlocks. They're this society of mutants that live underneath Manhattan. We haven't had much to do with them . . . "
"I'd be curious to see this," Linda said. "It sounds . . . intriguing."
"I'm not sure that's the best idea . . . " Kon frowned.
"Come on, where's your sense of adventure? I just got back . . . I'm looking to get back into the game! Come on, show a gal a good time!"
"Well, if you think New York City's sewer system is a good time . . . "
They are called . . . Morlocks. Given the name by their founder and leader, Callisto, for H.G. Wells' "Rulers of the Netherworld."
Some are normal people with nowhere else to go. Some are failed super powered beings. Most are mutants. All are outcasts. Society had no place for them. So they found a place where they had no room for society. Where they could live on their own, underground, without needing to fear for their lives. It was their domain.
Outsiders were not welcome. At all.
"Those upworlders didn't know what hit 'em!" a girl grinned.
"No kidding," a boy smiled.
"Yeah . . . " another girl said, frowning. Her name was Skids. She, like her friends Arcadia and Rusty, were Morlocks. Three of the rare members of that secret society who weren't there because of what they looked like. The three of them could pass as normal teenagers. They wouldn't be underground if they could control their powers, or had places to go. But they didn't. And in New York, all outcasts found a home with the Morlocks.
"Nobody messes with the Morlocks," Arcadia grinned. The three had just returned from a raid on a local grocery, stealing food. She and Rusty never seemed to mind. But Skids . . . she just didn't have the stomach to break the law.
In the privacy of darkness, a figure watched them. It was his job. He was to observe . . . map these tunnels. And report back. He wasn't clear why. But it was just a job, one safer and better than his last one. He watched curiously sometimes, and sometimes with fear. Like at that moment, when he observed someone else enter the playing field . . .
"Mutants!" a booming voice yelled.
The three kids jumped and turned, startled.
"I am Doom," the voice boomed again. "Take me to your leader . . . or suffer the consequences!"
The figure tensed. What should he do? He's supposed to stay hidden. He's not allowed to get involved. But what if this . . . Doom . . . is going to hurt those kids?
He watched carefully. The kids were tensed, but calmer heads prevailed. Not knowing any better, Arcadia bid him to follow. She would lead him to . . .
Superboy and Firebird hovered in the air, slowly lowering and gently landing inside the tunnels.
"I still think this is a bad idea," Kon frowned. "They've got this place filled with mutants . . . hostile mutants."
"Got something against mutants?" Linda asked.
"No, 'course not," he frowned. "Not mutants in general. But evil mutants that want to kill me and eat my spleen, yeah, those I've got something against."
"Just because they live in sewers doesn't mean--Ahh!!"
Kon spun around, his fists flaring at her scream. Two figures stood before her. One, a giant. The other a short, hunched over creature covered by a cloak.
"Who?" he asked.
"Not a pretty sight, are we?" the hooded figure asked. "Morlocks aren't pretty. Sunder here is strong, though. Stronger than the pretty upworlders. And Masque . . . Masque can make you ugly . . . "
"Who calls?" Callisto asked, walking from another connected tunnel to the main chamber. Several dozen Morlocks were already gathered around, looking at the stranger.
"This man came to us in the tunnels," Arcadia explained. "He said he wanted to talk to you."
"We don't bring insiders to our tunnels," Callisto said through gritted teeth.
"Doom is brought by no one," the man said. His face, indeed, his entire body was covered by metal. "I came here for a purpose, woman. To make a proposition to you."
"And what would we want with an upworlder?" she asked.
"He doesn't look like an upworlder, boss," another Morlock said.
"Shut it, Plague," Callisto reprimanded the elderly looking woman. "Speak, stranger."
"Be careful of your tone with me, woman," Doom sneered. "Doctor Doom will not tolerate insolence. I have come to make you an offer. One that I would extend to you and all your . . . Morlocks . . . "
"Which is?"
Doom grinned. "I wish to include you in my new army . . . an army of super powered beings who will conquer the world!"
"You would dare to order me?" Masque asked. "Sunder . . . show him his place."
Sunder pulled an arm back and slammed it forward in one massive punch. A blast of light resulted in the hit. After the light cleared, Superboy stood still, his photonic shield having absorbed the kinetic energy, it stored it to power itself.
"That was your shot," Superboy replied. "Here's mine!"
This punch, fueled by tactile telekinesis, had the desired effect of knocking Sunder across the tunnel.
"You shall pay, boy," Masque said. "But first, your woman . . . "
Masque reached forward, grabbing Linda's face, instantly mutating it, making it ugly and deformed. But halfway through, he stopped. His eyes went wide. He stared.
"Wh . . . What?" Linda asked, not understanding as Masque's powers began to undo themselves.
"Th-Th-The l-l-l-light . . . " he gaped. "So . . . bright . . . "
And then he collapsed.
"Linda, what did you . . . ?"
"I didn't do anything!" she exclaimed. "But . . . I think we should get out of here. You were totally right, this was a bad idea . . . "
Firebird's fire wings burst from her back as she began to hover. "Let's go, Kon . . . "
Superboy merely followed. Little did he know, another figure was watching. The pale, white skinned creature stepped out from his hiding place, looking up at the diminishing light created by Linda.
"Caliban . . . knew it was true," he smiled to himself. "She is here at last . . . The Earth-Born Angel . . . "
"You dare mock Doom?"
"The Morlocks are no one's army," Callisto replied. "We serve no one but ourselves. And we will not be exploited. Leave this place . . . now!"
Doom glared at Callisto through his mask. "I shall not forget this woman . . . you will rue the day of your affront to Doom."
Callisto didn't reply. She merely watched him leave.
Fools . . . Doom thought. When I rule the world . . . they shall be tortured and killed as an example to all who defy my will!
And once more, a figure watched. He wasn't exactly sure what had happened this day, but he knew to report it. He didn't know how long he was to observe . . . but he knew something big was going on. And that he was soon to begin a new assignment . . . one to locate powerful, dangerous mutants . . . but why? What for? Only time would tell . . .
Happy Harbor, Rhode Island. Secret Headquarters to Young Justice.
Beneath New York City lay an elaborate system of underground tunnels. Not subway tunnels, not quite sewers. Some say they were originally built as part of a huge bomb shelter to protect the city's inhabitants in the case of nuclear war. Some believe they weren't even built by humans, but by something not of this earth. And the term 'some' is used loosely. Because the only people who really know of the tunnels, are the ones that live there.
Elsewhere in the tunnels.
" . . . Callisto!" Arcadia called, the three of them ad their 'guest' following behind her.
"Back off, buddy!" Superboy yelled.
"You're joking, right?" Callisto asked. "An army to conquer the world?"
Concluded in Week of Doom: Omega.