Growing Dangers - part 6
by Bryan

Patriot City Penitentiary:

The Ant, Eve, Blackbird, Minuteman and Assistant DA Gloria Taveris followed the guard to the super cells. The heroes and DA looked on as the guard entered in the special twelve digit security code into the keypad next to the reinforced steel doors separating the rest of the jail and the so called 'super cells.' The larger doors opened revealing a smaller set of doors protected with finger print and retinal analysis. After the computer reads the man's eyes and finger prints the smaller doors open revealing a six foot hallway and more doors at the end. The doors open as the group reaches their destination, reviling the cells holding Patriot City's worst super villains. Each cell was incredibly strong and built to specifically hold the villain it contains. The group walked right to the first cell on their agenda.

Deja Vu's cell was simple. The only unique aspect was the collar around his neck. The collar acted as a nullifier towards his powers. Somehow it had failed, as Eve quickly pointed out.

"A clone! Nature is offended with your existence!" She voiced.

"Hehehe! You've almost figured it out it may seem, you now know I'm just one of the team!"

"Yeah, like that isn't going to get annoying." Ant said as he moved closer to the clone maker. He didn't have to look hard to find the problem. It was deactivated. "Someone used the key to turn it off."

"The one came to set the boss free, Deja Vu was full of glee. Out of gratitude, the boss adopted his favorite attitude. 'Two heads are better than one, time for a lot of fun,' he said. The boss joined the race, and left me here in his place!"

After trying, and failing, to get information for Deja Vu's clone, they went over to the next cell, Nuclear Winter's. The cold communist's cell was much more technical than Deja Vu's. The walls, ceiling, and floor were all heated to keep the temperature of the cell high enough to weaken the frozen fiend. They found what they had expected: the wintery wacko was another clone.

After leaving Winter's cell, they heard something that surprised them.

"I can help youse, heroes. I saw what happen'd an I can tell youse better than tha clones," came the voice from Pinstripe's cell.

"Pinstripe! What do you want from us?" Minuteman demanded.

"I only offer my assistance. youse are in way over your heads this time. I'm just letting youse know what you're in for."

Reluctantly, the heroes agreed to enter the cell and talk to the lavender gangster. The cell was dark and cold. Pinstripe looked different in his orange uniform and no cigar in his mouth. The fiend barely look up as the door slammed behind the group. There was complete silence for a long time before the shell of a man spoke.

"You're fighting a losing war, Freedom Force."

"What do you mean, Pinstripe?" the star-spangled leader replied with obvious distrust in his voice.

"You have no idea what you are up against. In an effort to create a leader who could take earth for them, the Domain recruited the worst man in the world. Unlike the Timemaster, this monster will take out his orders for the Domain has promised him exactly what he's always wanted.

The Secret Origin of Terror:

At the age of 18 Marcus Lee Cambrigg had already completed his junior year of college. He'd always been a genius. Yet, that didn't seem to be enough for his parents. They wanted him to be so much better. All the top schools wanted him, Yale, his hometown Harvard, Norte Dame, and Oxford were among the schools begging him to apply. Oxford got the bid and it still wasn't enough for his parents. "Should have gone to an American school, like a patriot," they told him. The fact he was in the world's most prestigious college did not even register to them.

On the eve of receiving his doctorate he was accused of plagiarism. The head master immediately suspended him. Unfortunately, Marcus was working with explosives. When the hearing about his academic dishonesty commenced, his was not present, but his work was. The bomb went off killing all senior faculty members. Not content with the death toll, Marcus shot many other students before stowing away on a boat headed to France. The end result was 23 dead, nearly 100 injured. After getting a plane to America he killed both his parents, his sister, and her new family.

Years later, at the age of 46, he has earned the recognition he's always wanted. Hundreds have paid the ultimate price for his hatred of authority. Wanted by the FBI, Scotland Yard, and INTERPOL, Cambrigg was the center of an international man hunt. He was planning the end all of his attacks. He was going to strike the White House. He knew he'd probably die. As he climbed the fence he heard the Secret Service shouting at him. Taking a grenade from his pocket he hurled it towards the guards and the building. Just before it detonated a bullet hit his shoulder. Falling from the fence he felt a bone crunch. Not wanting to be taken lame he ran to a predetermined spot and changed into a new disguise. As he limped back to his hotel, he passed the White House, it was undamaged. He could tell the body count was high, so he still considered it a victory. He took comfort as he watched news report to the world that not even the White House was safe from Marcus Lee Cambrigg. Not a single person would sleep tonight, from Sydney, Australia to Patriot City, USA. In America, from sea to shining sea they'd all wonder who was next.

At his hotel miles from Washington, D.C. Marcus found a note slipped under his door. Curious as to know who knew where he'd be on this night, he read the note. "I am a great admirer of your work. Meet me in Patriot City tomorrow night. You won't be disappointed."

The next night, Cambrigg was waiting at the designated location.

"I see you are at least interested in my offer," a low and somewhat distorted voice spoke.

"Yes, what do you want?" Cambrigg asked clutching his gun. He had a feeling this could be a trap, if so, he was ready. If that was the case, he'd take some feds with him.

"I want you to lead an army for me. It will be made of some of the earth's most powerful members. You will personally take out the heads of state for every nation."

After little persuading he agreed. The man was injected with a large dose of energy X and he became an evil incarnation of himself.

"The next day he was here and broke out Nuclear Winter and Deja Vu." Pinstripe finished.

"Why didn't you go with them?" the Ant asked, curiously.

"Terror, as Cambrigg now calls himself, is a murderer. I am a business man."

"You're business is thievery and murder, Pinstripe," Blackbird said with a callous hatred.

"You've got a brave tongue for such a beautiful lady," Pinstripe replied while reaching out to touch Blackbird. She replied with a quick kick to the head. She rushed out of the cell, the rest of the team following.

To be continued...