Maverick Effect - part 1 "Hunting Party"
by Gary Hamrick Jr.

Ricardo Ramirez finally understood the saying "You can't go home again". Better known as the costume crime fighter El Diablo, Ricardo had chosen this evening to begin this very attempt. His girlfriend, Estella, had suggested that he take a few days off of saving the world and turn his attention to cleaning up some of the gang fighting in the very Barrio where he had spend his adolescence.

Some things had not changed about The Barrio. Most of the shops were still in some semblance of thriving. The kids were still playing stickball in the street in the late, humid afternoon. Ricardo had spent most of the afternoon in his hero identity organizing a clean-up effort of some of the local gang vandalism. The rest he spent incognito in his civilian identity doing what he was doing now: enjoying a much needed break from the influx of super-powered, Energy X fueled criminals that had made Freedom Force such a valued commodity in Patriot City.

The problem began just after sunset. Two gangs from outside areas and two gangs that had been rather active in the Barrio started up activities with each other. Their activities had nearly turned to an all out turf-war by the time Ricardo emerged onto the street as El Diablo. Two hours later, most of the fighting had settled down. Casualties were not been common. Especially not when he was leading the gang that he had the head of a gang in his youth. Ramirez glanced at the newspaper. More race riots in Detroit. At least it was not that bad here.

He wound up in the alley where he and his amigos had been the night he was struck by the Energy X. At the end of the alley was a figure who, at first, could've been mistaken for homeless person in the shadows. A closer look would reveal that this "homeless person" was holding something in his hand and rocking back and forth.

"Who are you?" asked El Diablo in his heavy Latino accent.

The figure, which appeared male, said nothing. In fact, the man did not even acknowledge the colorfully-clad hero as being there at all. Suddenly, the figure stopped and looked up at him with a pair of distant, hollow eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said.

With that, El Diablo suddenly felt himself propelled backwards and into the street. The force that sent him reeling did not seem leave any serious damage to the surrounding area but still left the area looking like a wind storm had hit it. El Diablo jumped to his feet but found the figure in the alley had vanished.

Hours later, The Freedom Fortress.

"Where is Minuteman?" El Diablo asked as he hurried into the room.

"He, and Mentor are offering their assistance to the Patriot City School System for the rest of the week," Alchemiss answered with a clearing of her throat as she worked the computer and read one of her strange books.

"I just saw the strangest thing down in the Barrio last night," El Diablo exclaimed as he rushed in, "There was a guy in an alley . . . least it looked like a guy. Then the next thing I know, I am laying in the middle of the street and the alley looked like a tornado hit it. There was no sign of the guy."

"What are you babblin' about, sugah?" Alchemiss asked.

Microwave entered the room; "Unit has detected no new readings of Energy X in the last 48 hours. Unit did detect three temporal disturbances in the last twenty-four hours. No evidence as to a cause. Unit attempted to investigate but found nothing. "

"Interesting," El Diablo replied.

"Shall we investigate then?" Alchemiss asked as she put her book down.

"Unit concurs affirmatively," Microwave said.

Patriot City Jr. Schools

It sounded like an easy enough request from the Mayor of Patriot City. Hoping to be at the forefront of the growing movement to grant equal rights to both women and what was often termed as "colored-folk" by those in the Southern States, The Mayor had began a slow process of upgrading the facilities to accommodate all equally. In reality, most of this was just a front to help him in the next election. To some, a little talk can go a long way. To help this effect, he had asked Minute Man and Mentor, arguably the two figureheads of Freedom Force to lend some assistance in getting the first group of "colored kids" safely into the school buildings at their appointed times. To this effect, Minute Man and Mentor had spent the better part of the morning fending off dozens of angry citizens who were displeased that their status quo was being disrupted. The riot-like atmosphere outside did little though to eas the comfort level and nerves of the children inside.

Merry Mason stared out the window somewhat teary eyed. Since becoming The Sea Urchin, she had gained not only an affinity for the watery depths but a distinct understanding of what it was like to be a different color than her classmates. It was not as bad for her. One of the older students at her school was her teammate Liberty Lad or Nick Craft. She tried to keep a secret identity by using an image inducer but found that it tended to lose power after short period. The Ant, who had created it for her, was still perfecting the device. In the meantime, the students had been fairly kind to her when she returned to school. She was never Miss Popularity before becoming Sea Urchin but now she was enjoying being the "flavor of the month" thanks to her new appearance and abilities.

Mason looked over her shoulder to see her teacher and another young man standing there. Other student started pouring in behind them but this young man had her undivided attention. He was a little taller than her, dark hair that was cut very close to his head, and deep looking mahogany eyes. He was the first black person her age that she had met at The Patriot City Schools.

"Ms. Mason," her teacher called, "This is Alexander Jordan. Alex will be attending our school starting this year."

Merry extended her hand, "Pleasure to meet you."

"You're Sea Urchin, aren't you?" he asked slightly awestruck, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I've read about your exploits and those of Freedom Force in the local papers back home. I never thought I would be meeting any of them so soon after moving to Patriot City."

"Likewise, Alex," Merry said cheerfully, "I think you will enjoy here. Where are you from originally?"

"My family use to live out in South Dakota," he replied somewhat easier by her friendliness. She had extended her hand, which he quickly met with his own.

"I would like you to show Alex around and help him out with getting use to the building today."

"Okay, no problem," Merry replied. She led Alex off into the hall to give him a quick "grand tour" before classes began.

The Barrio

El Diablo led the way for Alchemiss, Microwave and Man O'War into his turf to where he had encountered the stranger. Microwave stepped forward and began scanning the area. Alchemiss walked away from the group in her own direction. She stopped unknowingly at the very spot where the seven had disappeared.

"That's odd," she commented, "Diablo, what happened here? It seems like there is an aura of magic in this area."

"That's where he disappeared from." El Diablo explained, "It was like reality just shifted around him."

Man O'War sniffed the air, "I recognize that smell. Is there a fish marker around here?"

"A block up that way," Diablo pointed.

"Unit detects time travel energy signature," Microwave said and paused, "Unit also detects . . ."

"Let me guess," an unfamiliar voice finished, "Five unusual figures standing right behind you."

The Freedom Force members turned to face five figures, one of whom had a pair of swords on his back. There were two women in the party, one of them a striking red-head and the other a brunette. The final two were similar looking gentlemen who were likely brothers, one dressed in a football jersey and the other in a baseball cap.

"You care to tell me who you are, senor?" El Diablo asked.

"We were about to ask you the same thing," one of the two women in the party asked.

A second explosion suddenly burst from the alley. This time is was similar to a sonic boom but the effects were just as dramatic. The only difference was that El Diablo, Alchemiss and Man O'War were thrown toward the five newcomers. The five newcomers took a defensive stance and flipped the three over them.

"Was it something I said, Ember?" the man with the swords asked the red-head.

"Beats me, Jon," the red-head responded, "Then again, we still don't know where exactly we are."

The brunette hollered at her allies, "Let's find a place to regroup!"

The man with the swords turned to El Diablo and answered, "My name is Jon Mckenzie. I have been referred to as The Journeyman."

The Journeyman reached into his coach and pulled a glowing, indigo sphere from his coat and threw it at the ground. The five of them braced themselves as they were seemingly swallowed into the air around them.

El Diablo got to his feet and helped Alchemiss up. Man O'War was up as well rather quickly and the trio were soon joined by Microwave. The searched the immediate area for any sign of them and searched the alley but found nothing.

"Who were those people?" El Diablo asked.

"Dinnae ‘ave a clue, lad," Man O'War answered in his distinct accent, "But aye ‘ave a feeling this is far from over."

Still elsewhere . . .

"I have been here less than a day and I already hate it," a tall man in armor thought aloud, "Just as well though. It was a bit earlier than I hoped for but just as well."

The armored man known as Talos walked up the steps of the Victorian mansion that he had found abandoned. It would be wonderful for a hideaway. Now he just needed to find some local help.

To be continued...