Hath No Fury
Her heels clicked along the tile floors as she followed behind the very familiar man before her. Commissioner Ian Hudson had put on a little bit of weight since she last saw him. His once brown hair had become silver, and it made Karmen check her own subconsciously. Her hand gingerly pulled her ponytail over her shoulder. Inspecting it, she grimaced seeing two grey strands. When she looked back up, Ian was smirking at her.
"We've all got to get old sometime." Ian said.
Karmen scowled. "Some sooner than others."
Ian shrugged. "I like my hair. Makes me look wiser than I am."
Karmen raised a brow. "So you're saying you're not wise?"
"Well I lost you didn't I?" Ian reminded.
They refocused on where they were walking. Karmen had to look away slightly. Remembering the good ole days. Her fingers played with the wedding ring on her finger. 'You didn't lose me completely' she thought.
"How's Mylli?" Karmen asked.
"Still pissed about her name's spelling." Ian chuckled. "Aside from that, she's doing well. She got an apartment two blocks from here."
"Good, good. I'm glad she's doing well." Karmen said slowly.
After a moment, they reached the end of the hall. A metal detector blocked the way to the elevator, and a desk was stationed beside it. Ian moved to the officer at the desk.
"Checking into interrogation rooms 7 and 10." Ian said.
The officer smiled and nodded. "Sure thing sir. Just need your signatures." The officer handed a clipboard over and Ian signed it quickly. His usual scribble that was supposed to resemble a cursive I and H, but ended up never looking close. Karmen was next as she wrote Karmen Hudson in clean pretty cursive. Ian seemed to notice, but didn't comment. Once through the metal detector, they got into the elevator. Ian pressed a button and the doors closed. The silence was awkward, claustrophobic. Finally Karmen cleared her throat.
"So…" She started, trying to come up with something. "You… seeing anyone?"
Ian shrugged, patting his belly. "With a gut like this? Not a chance."
Karmen wasn't sure she liked how depressing he sounded. When the doors opened, she was grateful. She gave him a glance, and saw the dark circles under his eyes. Then she saw just the faintest end of a cigar in his chest pocket. He was getting worse, but… she couldn't go back. Not now anyways. They walked once again, passing various interrogation rooms that were reinforced so well, a nuclear bomb would only dent it.
"Power Rooms. Specially designed to contain any powered individual for interrogation." Ian explained. "Finally got the funding for it when we signed a deal with TrinTek."
Karmen rolled her eyes. "I'm well aware. I'm the one who typed up that deal."
"Oh…" Ian said awkwardly. "Right."
They approached the interrogation room, and Ian pulled out a key card. He unlocked then opened the door for her letting her in. Karmen adjusted her glasses, focusing her mind on the task at hand.
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The flight from Montana went rather well. As Shelbie hovered over the city, she bathed in the warmth of the sun, and listened to the sounds of the city below. She couldn't hear much, lacking superhearing, but she could still hear the downtown traffic honking their horns wildly. It was… nice up above the city. However, soon the peace was disturbed by the sound of a small explosion. Shelbie scowled. She looked down at her outfit. A pair of jeans with a blue shirt and a white button up. She sighed, then reached into her pocket. She pulled out a shining bronze brace, and clasped it over her left wrist. Suddenly her clothes hugged her body and reshaped into a long sleeved black top with bronze accents, and a symbol resembling two crows facing away from a glowing blue eye. Her lower half gained a skirt with shorts underneath, and bronze boots for her feet. Finally, her hair changed to a jet black and smoothed out.
She hovered, testing her suit for a second. "Not the most ideal material for my suit, but it's not like I've got time to waste." She immediately turned and with a sonic boom, flew down towards the scene of the explosion. "I swear if it's another fire villain, I'm going to drown his eyes in pepper spray. I'm so sick of my costumes being burned off in public."
She slowed just before landing, letting herself hit the street with a bit more grace while also avoiding property damage. Police and fire were already arriving, but to her dismay, she saw the villain responsible.
"I take it back. I'd rather deal with a fire villain." She muttered with disdain.
"Mwahaha! You'll all fear the might of Pop N' Crack!"
The villain was thin and sickly wearing a blue vest over what seemed to be pajamas. On his chest was a dynamite symbol he probably got off the internet. He flicked his hand and a car exploded.
Shelbie sighed deeply. "I hate explosion villains."
"Yep. They are a pain." She heard. She turned to her left and saw what she could only describe as a homeless guy.
"Who are you?" Shelbie asked.
The man rolled his eyes. "Jack, but everyone calls me The Every-Man." He smirked.
Shelbie recognized the name. "You're that drunk hero."
"Ouch. Couldn't you be a bit nicer? I mean here I am about to fight Firecracker here…"
"Pop N' Crack."
"Whatever." Jack sighed. "I'm about to fight Pop a Crack here so you don't get another mob of paparazzi trying to catch photos of you in your birthday suit."
Shelbie crossed her arms.
Jack raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, I'll leave it to you then." He said, turning to walk away.
"No wait!" Shelbie exclaimed, then cringed to herself for sounding so desperate.
Jack turned.
Shelbie sighed. "I'll… I'll buy you a bottle for your help. I'll handle the civilians."
Jack smiled wildly. "Hell yeah, let's kick Mr Pop-It's ass." He snapped his fingers, then gasped. "Oh damn your powers are nice."
"What?" Shelbie asked, confused. She looked to him, then realization dawned. "Did… did you just copy my powers!?"
"Nope!" Jack lied before rushing off with a sonic boom.
Shelbie huffed annoyance before flying up to examine the scene. She saw an apartment building burning, ready to collapse. She rushed over then looked down at the entrance. A few people ran out to a crowd of survivors gathered in the street. Then she heard a thump sound. She looked up, and saw a blond woman pounding on the window. She flew up, and looked inside. The room the woman was in had large flames. If she broke the window open, fire would explode outward in a backdraft.
"Stay low! I'm coming to get you!" She shouted to the woman. She looked down, saw the firetruck and flew down.
The fire chief stepped up to her. "Someone in there?"
"Yes, ninth floor. You won't get there in time."
"Shit. What do you need?" The chief asked.
"One of your suits, and a mask for the victim."
"One of our suits?" The chief questioned.
A few seconds later Shelbie was flying up the stairwell, wearing a fire fighter suit over her costume. Mask in hand she flew faster, and punched a piece of debris into splinters. Mentally counting the floors, she suddenly burst right, going down a hall till she reached an open door where a woman was screaming. She rushed in and saw the blond woman, blue eyes full of fear. Shelbie quickly moved to her and placed the mask over the woman's head.
"What's your name?" Shelbie asked.
"Clarie." The woman cried.
Shelbie nodded. "Hold me tight Clarie. You're going to be okay."
The woman nodded, and hugged Shelbie in a death grip. Shelbie lifted her up, something like a bridal carry, and flew quickly back the way she came. When she got to the hall, a massive section of the tenth floor fell in front of her causing her to pause. She kicked the debris obliterating them out of her path before flying back down the stairs.
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Jack laughed as he flew around Pop N' Crack. The villain growled as he watched the reckless hero. "Seriously dude, did you make that suit yourself, or buy it from a Halloween store?" Jack taunted.
"You insufferable idiot!" Pop N' Crack shouted. He waved his hand and Jack's jacket exploded sending Jack through a nearby building.
Jack waved the smoke away with his hand as he righted himself. Looking down he became annoyed. His shirt had completely blown up, leaving his bare chest exposed. Though he realized quickly he'd gained muscle definition.
"Aw dude! I've got abs?! Hell yeah!"
"Is that seriously what you're concerned about?!" Pop N' Crack shouted.
As if snapped out of a stupor, Jack remembered he was in a fight. With a sonic boom he flew back to Pop N' Crack. The villain screamed in fear covering his face with his arms only to be blown back by a massive gust of wind. Yet… no punch came. He moved his arms away to see Jack's fist only an inch away from him. Jack then flicked Pop N' Crack in the head, the force instantly knocking the villain out cold.
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Karmen checked the passenger seat, reassuring herself that the info she'd interrogated from those two men was still there. Then she looked back out the limo's driver window to the chaos blocking traffic. She'd seen two heroes. Lady Astra, and The Every-Man had taken down Pop N' Crack. She was impressed, Matthew had encountered the old science professor many times. Despite his appearance, Pop N' Crack had caused the deaths of a large number of bystanders in the past. Seeing him taken down so quickly, and Lady Astra's quick response to the fire, it was inspiring. Karmen smirked to herself as an idea creeped into her mind. One that just might lessen the load for Matthew.