“What is the matter?” inquired Malcolm Cage, turning to the man sitting next to him. “All this rain too much for you?”

“Hell yes,” replied Tao. “I am a Cali boy, through and through. Take me away from my sun and sandy beaches, and I just can’t deal . . . ”

“Drama Queen,” commented Kristan Marwan, a devilish smirk coming across her face. Suddenly, the back seat of the limousine seemed very crowded, even though there were only four individuals sitting there. Kristan had seen this situation brewing before-Malcolm and Tao’s personalities seemed to completely clash. Whenever they had to share space, a fight inevitably broke out. Kristan had decided to head it off before it began.

“You know it sister,” replied Tao, snapping his fingers, and waving his arm into the air.

Malcolm rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“Do you have a problem with homosexuals Malcolm?” asked Tao, a look of annoyance on his face.

“Just superficial flamboyant Californian pretty boy ones that whine way too much and think they are bad because they listen to gansta rap,” replied Malcolm.

“Boys . . . ” said Kristan, hoping to stave off the coming battle.

Now it was Tao’s turn to roll his eyes, “The black man has something against his people’s music . . . ”

Malcolm took a very serious look to his face, “That is not MY people’s music. We don’t advocate criminal behavior or degrade ourselves in lives filled with criminal behavior, illicit drugs, and abuse of our fine Nubian sisters. Maybe you should pull your head out of your ass and listen to Miles Davis or Marvin Gaye or . . . ”

“ENOUGH!”

Suddenly the entire back area of the car was filled with a blinding flash of white light. Tao, Malcolm, and Kristan all were blinded by the blast. When the damage faded, the three stared at their silent fourth companion, Tandy Bowen.

“Will you guys please shut up?” Tandy shrieked. “We are here in Seattle because that is where Warpride wants us to be. We have a mission to complete, and we are going to do it. You are all going to do that job, and shut the hell up, or I am going to go nuts and KILL YOU ALL!”

“Geez, honey,” said Tao, rubbing his eyes, “maybe you should stop drinking those triple-shot espressos . . . ”

“Well,” said Ted, smirking and gnawing upon a toothpick, “they certainly seem to be jelling quickly into your own unified Avengers League . . . ”

“Oh,” said John, turning to his mentor, “I am sure that when that World War II group of yours first formed, everything was all sunshine and roses . . . ”

Ted’s smile got even bigger. “Of course, but then, they had me around to smooth out all the rough edges. Why me and Liberty Belle, by ourselves formed a perfect -- ”

“Whoa old man,” said John, his demeanor softening. “I don’t need to here your lurid tales of you and all your super conquests anymore. The team is young and spirited and full of their own very distinct personalities. They will get it together, they worked well against those Son of the Serpent thugs . . . ”

Ted gave John his furrowed-brow look. “Those punks were two-bit amateurs with big guns and no brains or skills. You know that. Triumph and his group are some entirely different. They have skills and serious experience, and they aren’t afraid to kill to attain their means. Hell, Mystique alone is one of the baddest babes I’ve ever tussled with. Maybe these kids aren’t quite ready…”

“We really don’t have much of a choice,” noted John, “I would have preferred to wait until Reaper was fully healed* and give the team some more time to practice and find some unity. There just isn’t time. If Triumph and Mystique really have that information, I want it. Plus, if we can haul in a bunch of known criminals, all the better. Besides, we’ll have surprise on our side . . . ”

*(Reaper was shot last issue)

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by the John’s cell phone ringing. He quickly flipped the phone on.

“Hello. Why? Okay. We’ll do that . . . ”

John grabbed the remote control from his side, and changed the station on his television from inside the other limousine to a local channel. A special news report was on. Both Ted and John turned their information to the television, as John turned up the volume.

“ . . . turning the entire city block into a war zone. Witnesses say it was like any other day down here, with dockworkers filling in past the large number of warehouses. Then, out of nowhere, explosions ripped through several of the buildings. Soon, a handful of either robots or people in armor appeared flying through the area. Then a number of costumed vigilantes appeared. Soon the entire area was filled with explosions and blasts from firearms. Several of the vigilantes have been identified. One is a costumed villain known as the Killer Wasp, apprehended several months ago in New York City by Captain America and Quasar. Another is known as Firewall, a young woman from the country of Laos, and a member of radical environmental terrorists known as Forces of Nature. She was apprehended . . . ”

Ted looked at John, “Killer Wasp and Firewall. Aren’t they part of . . . ”

John rubbed his temple. “Triumph’s group? Yes, they are. It looks like someone found them before we did. This complicates things . . . ”

“It is on the police frequency, John," whispered Ted, listening to the headphone in his ear. “The cops are all being told not to enter the area. It is an official order.”

John frowned. “That can’t be good, means that this other team that is after Triumph’s are federal agents or some special government taskforce or something similar.”

“Should we be getting into the middle of this?” asked Malcolm Cage, curious as to why they were dragging themselves into the middle of this battle. So far, their benefactor John Proudstar had been very mysterious in their motivation on this excursion. Actually, he was very mysterious about most of his motivation. Sometimes Malcolm wondered why he had accepted John’s invitation to join the group. The money he offered was good, but Malcolm didn’t need money-his father, Luke Cage, had a lucrative movie career that paid for all of his family’s needs. It was curiosity he guessed, and perhaps the need for adventure, a bug that had also struck his father at a similar age, and had sent him running to join his own group in the early eighties - The Champions.

“Absolutely,” said John, as they inched closer to the sounds of battle, “this will be excellent experience for this group, a chance for us to strengthen our battle skills and team unity . . . ”

“You are holding back on us, John . . . ” said Kristan, giving him a stern look.

John thought for a second before he responded. Kristan Marwan, a.k.a. Raven, had some degree of telepathic and empathy abilities, as well as some precognition and other powers which seemed to be newly discovered on daily basis. John wasn’t sure yet if her powers were mystical or mutant in nature-but they seem to be growing everyday.

“True enough,” said John, opting for at least some of the truth. “Triumph has in his possession some stolen disks. Those disks contain some very . . . important . . . information. The kind of information that if it falls into the wrong hands, could cause a lot of trouble to a lot of people. I want those disks . . . ”

“Apparently, you might not be the only one . . . ” commented Malcolm.

“Indeed,” remarked John. “Seems like someone wants those disks as well, or maybe Triumph just pissed someone off. Either way I am hoping we can slip in, amidst the chaos and get those disks . . . ”

“These disks are that important?” asked Tandy. To be honest, she was quite curious. The money she was getting paid by Proudstar was good, but something that all these people were clamoring so hard to get at was probably worth a lot more. She wished that Reaper were here.

“Yes they are,” stated John, bluntly.

“Well then, bossman,” said Malcolm, cracking his knuckles, “to quote the great Marvin Gaye, ‘Lets Get It On’ . . . ”

The six slipped around several more warehouses, edging closer to the sounds of battle. Suddenly, almost ready to turn a corner, a loud explosion sent a fiery ball of something into a nearby wall, exploding through the metal wall. All six stood battle ready as the armored figure pulled himself from the hole in the wall. Then noticed the six of them standing there.

“Everybody scatter!” shouted Tao, and the six people all fell to the ground or hugged the side of the building as the armored figure fired a blast of energy in the direction they had been standing.

“More of Triumph’s goons!” shouted the armored figure, firing more blasts. Either he was a terrible shot, or he was still disoriented from his encounter with the wall, because none of the shots came close to hitting any members of the team.

“Dagger?” shouted John, looking towards the blonde.

“I’m on it boss,” said Tandy, steadying herself against the wall, closing her left eye, and pointing her hand at the armored man like a gun. Suddenly a small burst of white light formed and flew straight towards the armored man. The blast pierced straight through the metal, striking the man underneath. He screamed, suddenly finding himself paralyzed.

“Okay,” noted Wildcat, Ted Grant, “so this one, at least, isn’t a robot. We have men under there.”

“Cool,” said Wise Son, Malcolm Cage, as he left his spot on the ground, and made his was towards the paralyzed man.

“Who are you, tinman?” asked Wise Son, as he came with several feet.

“Rampage, you son of a bitch,” said the armored man, unable to move. Despite his bravado, Malcolm could hear the fear in his voice. Malcolm was sure the man figured he was going to kill him.

Malcolm grabbed the armored helmet and pulled it from the man’s head. He was preparing to deactivate some of the armor’s systems when he suddenly doubled over, waves of nausea making it impossible for him to move. In the sky the other team members saw the person whom had blown Rampage from the sky. Both Warpride and Wildcat recognized the man, a former Suicide Squad member known as Count Vertigo, a dethroned Eastern European Prince with the ability of flight and the power to create waves of vertigo in living beings.

“More government agents?” inquired Vertigo, seeing the six new people enter the fray. Vertigo spread the area of his power’s influence, enveloping all of them inside his waves of nausea. All the Titans members fell to the ground, unable to concentrate on anything with all the spinning in their head.

“Not a very tough bunch,” replied Vertigo, impressed with himself, “but, I had better get to Triumph and tell him about you. When we are done with these ‘Heavy Metal’ goons, you will be the dessert . . . ”

Suddenly, something began to happen to the body of Kristan Marwan. He body began to spasm worse than the others. A form rose from her, a creature of pure energy, in the form of a black raven. The crow flew straight towards Count Vertigo.

“What in the hell is that?” shouted Vertigo. The creature of energy flew to him, then enveloped him. Vertigo screamed and fell to the ground, unconscious. Then the energy bird flew back into Kristan.

“Geez,” said Ted Grant, standing, “I haven’t felt that sick since Alan Scott’s 50th birthday. One too many tequila shots that night . . . is everybody alive and well?”

“Alive, said Tao, wiping the spit from his mouth, “but not very well.”

The other team members nodded in agreement, each slowly rising and regaining their composure.

Malcolm walked back, “That ‘Rampage’ fellow is out cold. Guess it was all too much for him. What is the plan now.”

“I feel a great presence,” said Kristan, her voice weak, “inside that next building. There are around ten people in there, some powerful. I believe it is the rest of both their teams . . . ”

John addressed his team, “Let’s use this whole battle to our advantage. Instead of attacking head on, lets use our stealth and sneak in. All we want is the disks now. Let these two beat the crap out of each other. Vertigo thought we were government agents, which must mean that this armored guy is part of some group sent to stop or retrieve Triumph.”

“Rather poorly I might add…”

Suddenly the team scattered as another armored man fell from the sky, falling to the ground with a thud. The team turned to the voice and saw several people. Triumph, who had spoken, was in the sky, along with Killer Wasp and Firewall. On the ground stood the former gang member known as Brickwall and a western-themed costumed woman known as the Wrangler.

“Now who are you and what do you want?” asked Triumph, more curiosity than annoyance on his face.

Warpride looked around as assessed the situation. Triumph had, apparently, tore apart a team of heavily-armored government agents with relative ease. He wasn’t sure his team was up to this . . . yet.

“I am here to make you a deal . . . ” said John Proudstar.

“Let’s talk then,” said Triumph, smiling.

“You have my disk, Mr. Proudstar?”

John turned to face Henry Gyrich, who had slinked up behind him. He didn’t like the man, but then he doubted there were many people who did. He was a government beauracrat, through and through, and John wouldn’t trust the man farther than he could see him.

"Of course,” said John throwing the disk into Gyrich’s chest, “and you have honored your part of the bargain?”

“Yes,” said Gyrich, handing the disk to a man standing behind him. The man placed the disk into a computer, checked the contents, then nodded to Gyrich.

“Talon Industries will receive the government contact for the Star Carrier Project. I assume this makes you happy?”

John smiled. “It makes the thousands who work for the Talon Industries Plant in Tuscon happy. And their families.”

“Tell me something,” said Gyrich. “How is it that you got this disk when an elite armored Marine squad could not?”

John’s smile widened, “Guess that is my little secret, though, if I was you, I’d reassess my personal definition of the word ‘elite’. If you ever need anything like this again, maybe you should contact me, and we can make another deal.”

Gyrich scoffed at the notion, “I wouldn’t have let everyone but Count Vertigo on Triumph’s team get away. Oh, by the way, did you happen to see the contents on the disk? Did you see any copies?”

“There were only the originals,” said John, turning to walk away, “and if I looked at the disks, then I guess you will find out, if you decide to betray me and go back on our deal. Goodbye Mr. Gyrich, a pleasure doing business with you.”