May 2001 - #3
| May 2001 - #3 |
The speeding truck wasn't just any old truck. It was illegally carrying nuclear wastes through downtown Manhattan. When the truck swerved to dodge the old man, a barrel of waste went flying into the street. The last thing I truly ever saw was globs of green flying at me. Toxic, nuclear waste. Now, I live in perpetual darkness. I tried to be the hero. Now . . .
I'm blind.
My name is Matthew. Matthew Michael Murdock. I'm blind. Blind like the law. I think it helps make me a better lawyer. I became strong . . . swift . . . like justice. Because, while my name is Matthew Michael Murdock . . . I also go by another name. Something that you'll only hear in the hushed whispers of criminal punks selling crack on the streets . . .
Daredevil.
Though I lost my vision, the same nuclear waste heightened my other four senses to a point where it almost hurts. I can hear a cat's heart beat two city blocks away. Someone walking down the street had garlic bread with his lunch? I'll smell it. If there's a draft in a room . . . I'll feel it, and know exactly where it's coming from.
I'm blind. But that doesn't mean I don't see injustices. It doesn't mean I can't right the wrongs. As Daredevil I clean up the streets . . . and as Matt Murdock, Attorney at Law, I put the trash where it belongs . . . in jail.
Hell's Kitchen is one of the last true neighborhoods in the collective whole of New York City. It's where I've come on a case . . . for both jobs.
To anyone not in the super-hero gig, I'd sound crazy. I mean, I put on this crimson red costume (at least, I'm assuming it's crimson red, because that's what I was told it is) and leap around the Kitchen fighting crime. The cane that I use as Matt Murdock turns into a two-piece billy club that fits in a holster on my left leg. One half is purely a physical weapon. The other contains a rope and a launcher that I can use for various purposes.
And that's me. I'm blind like justice . . . swift, like the law. I'm Daredevil.
"Come on, come on . . . work faster, man . . . "
"I'm goin' s'fast as I can, dawg . . . "
"Don't 'dawg' me, y'little poser, jus' get the damn door open!"
"Shh, keep your voice down, man . . . "
"No one's gonna hear us. This whole city's gone t'hell, and everyone's lootin' everything . . . sooner we get in there an' get the goods, the sooner we can go back home and sit this out without gettin' our asses capped!"
"We gonna be rich, yo . . . "
"Soon's you get that damn door open, 'yo'."
"Excuse me, gentlemen."
The two street punks spun around and found themselves gaping at a strangely dressed man with short blond hair holding a strange looking gun.
"What the hell are you, some kinda cop?" one of the two asked.
"Not at all," the strange man replied. "But I see you two were trying to do some looting . . . and I can't let you. Because I was planning on doing that exact same activity."
"Who the hell . . . ?"
"I'm the Looter!" the man replied, aiming his gun. "And the meteorite in this gun is just dying to put you punks outta your misery!"
"Umm . . . dawg?"
"Run!"
The two punks made a break for it, and the Looter only stood watching and laughing. He aimed his gun at the door to the jewelry shop he had been casing, and shot it down with an energy bolt. He stepped inside. "This is what I'm talking about . . . "
Rumor has it the entire city is pitch black. Some sort of EMP wave hit. This late at night, everyone is sitting in complete darkness. Looting's wide spread. The police are stretched thin and outnumber a hundred to one, probably more. And without the help of anything electronic, they're screwed.
But I'm not. I'm always in darkness. I'll have the advantage over anyone. Now I--eh?
Daredevil jerked his head one way, his ears working quickly to zone in on the sound of glass shattering. Not far away, he picks up two distinctly different heartbeats, each one racing fast, with four legs pumping faster. He adjusted his head again. Another heart beat, slightly muffled, near the place where the glass was shattered.
Looks like I'm on . . .
"Where're you off too?"
The only woman I know who can sneak up on me . . .
"Shouldn't you be busy elsewhere, Dinah?"
"Why Matt, I'm shocked," the woman with short blond hair replied. "Why would ever be anywhere else but beside you?"
That was sarcasm. Her name's Dinah Laurel Lance. Runs around in spandex and calls herself the Black Canary. Closet thing I've ever had to a partner. She doesn't have any super-powers. Just her own skills and instincts. And she's good. We're also a sort of, on-again off-again couple . . . but we don't need to get into that right now.
"To answer your first question, I was just about to investigate a crime-in-progress and then stop it," Daredevil replied.
"Sounds like fun," Black Canary answered with a grin. "Mind if I tag along?"
"Can't find your own crimes to fight?"
"I'm sure I could with the city in the condition it's in . . . but maybe I just get a kick out of watching you in action?"
"I bet I'd get a kick out of watching anything."
"Ha ha," she replied with more sarcasm. "Lead the way, spandex-butt."
"Down there," Daredevil said.
"I see it," she nodded. "A jewelry store. Front door's been shattered open, but the steel cage in front of the store had been opened smoothly."
"I heard two others running from the scene. It's possible they opened the cage, and a third, still in there, decided to take the place from them."
"Then let's go down there and kick some butt!"
She's a total action-junkie. And I think that's what keeps me so insanely attracted to her. She's got a great voice, too. She was a singer, once upon a time.
"You do know this is probably a waste of our efforts?" Daredevil asked. "Most other local heroes are probably working non-stop to try and do something to lend a hand here. And the two of us are working together against one guy robbing a jewelry store?"
"You just keep trying to get rid of me, don't you?" she asked. "Keep this up, and you definitely won't get me back to your place when we're done."
The two leapt off from their rooftop perch and landed on the street. They each took a side of the store front to take cover, just in case.
One heartbeat . . . and I smell something strange . . . definitely not anything from around here. He's carrying it with him . . .
"Are you gonna go, or should I?" the Canary barely whispered under her breath, knowing DD would pick it up.
My actions give her the response. In one fluid motion I grab my billy club and hurl it inside the store.
The Looter yelled out as the club separated him from his gun. "Ah! My precious meteorite!"
"What a loser," the Canary said as she leapt inside, kicking him below the jaw.
Daredevil followed her in and punched the Looter in the face. He went down.
"You're kidding me," Dinah frowned after he fell. "We beat him that easily? He couldn't even take a punch!"
"I told you this was a waste of our efforts," Matt shrugged. "What's the meteorite he mentioned?"
"Some kinda funky rock inside an even funkier gun," she answered. "But his costume's the funkiest. Blue and Green and flashy . . . he's dressed more like a super-hero than a villain. But he was stealing those rings and necklaces. Wonder if it's for a girl, or for himself."
Matt sighed. "There's so much more we could be doing right now, Dinah . . . "
"I agree," she replied. She reached her arms around Matt and pulled him close, kissing him. "So much more . . . "
"You know that's not what I meant."
"I know," she answered. "Maybe I just like to tease you."
"Well, save it for later," Daredevil said, picking up his billy club. "There's more where this guy came from. We might have to do this all night."
"All right . . . but then you're making the whole night up to me tomorrow."
END
"Have you seen Ryder?" Aron asked.
Rift shook his head. "Hasn't he been out for every night the past two months?"
Aron nodded. "I wonder what's been fascinating him so much that he must go there every night?"
"Maybe he's got a girl?"
"Yeah, sure. Do you notice how he acts? He can't even feel comfortable around us."
"So, maybe it's because we're all on his power level or something."
Aron shrugged. "I don't know. All I know is that this group is going to hell. I mean, we haven't had a vision for two weeks. Clea and Psylocke have been tapping into the minds of nearly every superpowered being in NYC. Sketch stays in her room all the time, and Ryder is MIA all the time."
"So, what's your point?"
"Why are we here?"
"Excuse me?" Rift asked.
"We kinda don't fit in here. You're only here to open the orb, and I'm only here because of my knowledge as a watcher. Plus, I don't think any of us really knows why Clea gathered us in the first place."
"That's obvious. We're here to see glimpses of the future, and possible futures."
"For what reason? What do we do with those visions?"
"If you had these doubts, why did you ever join?"
"I had recently been kicked out of the Watchers," Aron replied. "I needed a place to stay." He paused for a moment. "So, you want to go out?"
"You really think it's safe?"
"So what if the power's out? We got power of our own."
Rift stood up. "Let's go."
"That's Ryder!" Aron exclaimed. "C'mon! We gotta help him!"
The two Visionaries ran down the street. Rift took a flying leap, and his feet collided with the cop's side. He fell over. Aron bent down to help his teammate.
"What happened, Ryder?"
The man known as Matthew Ryder, and as Hourman mumbled, "I don't know. I was just walking, and he attacked me . . . "
"Guys," Rift said. "We have a problem."
Aron turned his head and saw the cop standing behind him, flesh torn off, exposing a metallic skin underneath.
"Must be one of those Manhunters I heard about earlier tonight," Hourman whispered.
The cop took one step forward. Rift tried to slow him down by punching him in the stomach. All that accomplished was distributing sharp pain across his fist.
"Rift! Use your power!" Aron shouted. He put his shoulder under Hourman's arm. "We gotta get you out of here." The two began running back toward the Visionaries' home.
They heard Rift coming up behind them. He came up beside Hourman, and supported his other arm.
"Why do I still hear that cop coming?" Aron asked.
"For some reasons, my powers don't work on him! I don't know why!" Rift answered.
Aron turned and saw the Manhunter following them.
"Stop," Hourman said. "No matter what he is, he's still subject to the laws of time. Laws that I can control."
Aron and Rift looked at each other, and then turned around. They let Hourman down, and he was able to stand on his own. He held out his arms, and two waves of chronal energy radiated from him. The waves surrounded the Manhunter, and he slowly vanished.
"Where'd you send him?" Aron asked.
"I'm not sure," Hourman replied. "I know it was somewhere where time does not exist. Beyond that, I'm not sure."
Aron noted the uncertainty in Ryder's voice. "Come on," he said. "Let's get back home. Clea will want to hear about this."
Well, well. It looks like there's more to Hourman than I thought. This can only get better . . . for me, at least!
END
He used to be Eric Kendel, agent of the CIA. But that was before . . . Before he became a Manhunter. He was no longer the man he was. No longer really a man at all. He was better than mere mortals now. And he had an assignment.
Kendel snuck into the "morgue", where the government kept old secrets and outdated information. It wasn't well guarded and Kendel knew the routine of the security personnel. He got in easily and went to the section concerning World War 2.
After a few minutes of looking he found what he needed . . . The Super-Soldier Project. And the name of the first and best success of the project -- Steve Rogers, A.K.A. Captain America, that most legendary of heroes. And now, armed with the real name and physical description of Steve Rogers, the Manhunters could begin their search. Starting around the area of the Avengers League Hall of Justice, they would prove why they're called Manhunters and locate Steve Rogers. And they will find out where Captain America spends his time when he isn't in costume. And they will watch, and record it all. Because the legend of Captain America could be pivotal in the weeks and months to come.
Captain America looked out at the city. He was starting to get tired, just like his teammates. Half of the team was away, fighting the Manhunters at the NORAD headquarters. Cap and Wonder Woman had already spent nearly eight hours trying to restore peace during the blackout, while Martain Manhunter and Wasp worked at the Hall of Justice, trying to solve the dilemma.
He knew this blackout was the work of the Manhunters, and he thought back to his encounter with one of them a couple of days before . . .
Steve Rogers was walking through the park in Keystone County, Pennsylvania, unaware that he was being followed by a Manhunter. Steve's mind was on other things, such as the long delayed reunion with a man who was a close friend and teammate of his sixty years ago. While Steve looked around, the Manhunter, who was in the guise of a policeman, watched. A hidden camera filmed Steve's every move.
Steve noticed an old man staring at him, smiling. Steve took a closer look. Was it . . .Yes! it was him. He had changed so much, but there was no mistaking Jay Garrick, who Steve had known many years ago as the Flash!
"Jay," Steve said affectionately, as he shook Jay's hand.
"Hiya Stevie," Jay said. "It's been forever."
Steve couldn't help thinking about how old Jay looked. It's not surprising, since Jay must be almost 90 years old by now. But since Steve himself had been frozen for 50 years, he had hardly changed at all. Seeing the change in Jay drove home the point of how much history Steve had missed.
"You haven't changed a bit," Jay continued. "And don't even think about telling me I haven't either."
Steve smiled. He's still the same honest, earnest Jay. "It's so good to see you again, Jay. How are you?"
Jay shrugged. "I'm good. Obviously, I got old. I've got aches and pains and cramps and I'm losing my hair and I pee a lot. But I'm pretty good. And you?"
"I'm fine," Steve replied.
"You never were much for small talk," Jay said, smiling. "It's nice to see that some things never change. Come on, let's sit and talk."
Steve and Jay walked over to a bench. Steve noticed how much slower Jay walked now.
The cop/Manhunter changed position so he could see them better.
"How's Joan?" Steve asked, hoping that Jay wasn't going to say that she's dead.
"She's okay," Jay answered, to Steve's relief. "She had heart surgery a few years ago but she's made a great recover. She still works in her garden. Chipper as a jaybird, God love her."
"Listen Jay," Steve began, "I'm sorry. I should have looked you up years ago. Right after the Avengers League revived me,* I should have looked up my old friends. I don't know why I didn't. I guess adjusting to this new life, this new time, was too overwhelming. I spent too much time looking back. I wanted to look forward. I wanted to break with the past. But I shouldn't have ignored my oldest friends. I mean, I spoke to Alan, but that was Avenger's League business. I should have called you."
*(Legends of the Avengers League #4)
"Don't give it another thought," Jay answered. "When I heard that you were back, I was overjoyed. I asked Alan about you. He kept me updated. I knew what you were dealing with. I never felt offended. The world needed Captain America more than this old man needed a visit from an old friend. But I'm glad you're here now. Seeing you, unaged and perfectly preserved, I get nostalgic for the old days. When we were on the Justice Society together. When I was young. When I was the Flash."
"Do you still have your speed power?"
"Yeah, it'll never go away," Jay said. "But the flesh is weak. I can't move the way I used to. Not as far or as fast. The last time I tried to run at full speed was on my 85th birthday. I was barely able to outrun a car, and not for very long. I reached about 90 miles per hour and then I had to stop. My heart was pounding. What a comedown from the days when I could almost reach light-speed. I haven't tried again since then. I'm not the Flash anymore more."
"You'll always be the Flash to me," Steve said.
Jay smiled, "Thanks, but those days are past. Gone with the JSA."
"I miss those days sometimes," Cap said.
"You've got the Avengers League now," Jay said.
"They're a good group," Steve said. "But there'll never be another JSA. There was something unique about us. Something mythic! And it's not just the Justice Society I miss. The world has changed. Things were simpler back then. I knew who the bad guys were then. Nothing is black and white anymore."
"I know what you mean," Jay said. "I miss the old days too. I don't know if you know, but a lot of the old gang is gone."
"Yeah, I know," Steve said. "Alan told me."
Jay looked sad. "Terry Sloan, Sly Pemberton, Shiera Hall..."
"Bucky," Steve added sadly.
"And Bucky," Jay repeated. "And no one knows what happened to the Human Torch."
"I met Namor recently," Cap said. "He hasn't changed."
"I'm not surprised," Jay answered. "He was always stubborn. I guess Polly is the same as ever too. You guys don't know how lucky you are. Staying young, I mean. Being old is no fun!"
Steve was staring off in the distance.
"Am I boring you?" Jay asked.
Steve was still staring, "Hmmm? Oh no, nothing like that. It's just that officer over there. Have you noticed how he's been staring at us?"
"Really?" Jay said. "I wonder why?"
The Manhunter/cop saw Steve looking at him. Had he blown his cover?
A teenage girl came over to the imposter policeman. "Officer," she said, "Can you tell me . . . "
"Go away!" The Manhunter said, trying not to stare at Steve and Jay.
"But officer . . . "
"Go away!!" The Manhunter yelled.
The girl backed away, startled. Steve stood up. Even in this day and age, policemen didn't act like that. All Steve's instincts were telling him that there was something wrong about this cop.
"I'll be back in a minute, Jay," Steve said, walking towards the cop.
Jay grinned. Just like old times. Trouble always followed heroes. It stopped following Jay years ago, but it was obviously still following Captain America.
The Manhunter saw Steve Rogers approaching him. Clearly his cover was blown. The surveillance was over, at least for the day. The information he had gotten so far would have to be enough.
The Manhunter turned and ran, with abnormal speed. Steve gritted his teeth. "I knew he was no good!"
Cap raced after the Manhunter, but the Manhunter's speed was superior and Cap didn't bring his shield to throw. Back at the bench, Jay stood up. He didn't know what was happening, but obviously Steve's instincts were right on the money. That was no cop. And he sure was fast. He was almost out of sight. Jay wondered if Steve could catch him.
More than that, Jay wondered if he could catch him.
Across the park, Cap was straining to catch up to the mystery man. He was afraid that the fake cop would get away. And then something caught his attention on the left. Someone ran past him. Someone familiar. Steve smiled. The Flash is back! he thought.
Jay was barely able to catch up to the Manhunter. His heart was pounding in his chest. He could hardly breathe. But he was determined to catch this man, whoever he was. He may have given up being the Flash long ago, but he still was the same man, just older -- much older.
Jay was starting to lose velocity. He managed to pass the Manhunter, and with the last of his strength, he vibrated. He hadn't done that in years and was delighted that he still could. He vibrated his foot through a stone. He got as far away from the stone as he could because his passing through it altered it's molecular structure and turned it into an accelerated molecule bomb. The stone exploded when the Manhunter was only ten feet from it. He was caught in the blast.
Cap reached the scene and looked around. The man was down. His body was damaged and wiring was exposed. He was some sort of robot or cyborg. Steve looked further and saw Jay laying on the ground. Cap knew that the mystery man was not going anywhere, so he ran to see what Jay's condition was. He kneeled beside his old friend.
"Jay?" Steve said. "Are you all right?"
Jay was laying on the ground, gasping for breath, "I'll . . . I'll be all right. I just got dizzy. I'm out of breath. Just let me lay here for a few minutes."
"Ok," Steve said, "I'll be right back."
Steve went over to the damaged Manhunter. "Who are you?" he asked.
The Manhunter looked up, unable to stand. "Who I am doesn't matter. But I know who you are . . . Captain America!"
Steve tried not to react. This person knew who he was. "What do you want?"
"I didn't want anything," The Manhunter said. "I just came to watch."
"To watch me?"
The Manhunter nodded slightly. "You are a legend. Your presence affects people. In a time of crisis, people will look to you. You have the power to inspire hope. Therefore, you will be a major player in events to come."
"What events?"
The Manhunter shook his head, "You'll see."
"I'm taking you to headquarters," Cap said. "Maybe J'Onn can make something of you."
Jay got to his feet and came over to Steve. "So what's the story?" Jay asked.
"I'm not sure," Steve said. "But this . . . whatever he is, is an enigma, wrapped in a puzzle, surrounded by a mystery. I need to find some answers. Do you want to come, Jay?"
Jay shook his head. "No thanks. I exhausted. I'm going home."
"Sorry to cut our reunion so short," Steve said. "Maybe we can get together again soon."
As Steve said it, he didn't really believe that there would be time for socializing soon. His instincts were telling him that whatever this machine-man was talking about, it was going to be big, and it was going to be bad!
Captain America activated his communication badge. "J'Onn," he said.
Martain Manhunter answered, "What can I do for you, Captain?"
"That Manhunter I brought in . . . the one we've been investigating . . . "
"What about it?," J'Onn replied.
"Is it still at the Hall of Justice?"
"Of course. It's right in front of me. Wasp and I were still studying it when the blackout occurred. Why?"
Captain America gritted his teeth. "I think I just figured out two of our problems."
Continued . . .
The present . . .
Next: Read Batman #13, and then Avengers League #3 to see what happens when Captain America leads his team against the Manhunters. Also, read Agents of SHIELD #12 for the conclusion of the Manhunter Agenda!
Next Issue: DCM Showcase #4 introduces several new characters and concepts to the DCM universe. It's like nothing you've seen at this site before!