From all the corners of the earth they come! Heroes all! Drawn together by a single man with a uniqueness of vision to create the worlds only truly international Super-team. More then just a fighting team, this group of unique individuals is a concept, in both vision and execution of the perfectly orchestrated Super team. They are all unknowns, but that will not be for long. Soon all the world will come to know the name of
From an idea by Mark Bousquet.
From high above the world, in a hidden mountain lair, the man known as Albright looks
down upon his surroundings. Helix Mountain is deep in the Rocky Mountain range, and
totally ordinary. Albright looks down at the seemingly endless expanse of land and smiles.
Now it is time.
Half a world away the man the world will know as the "Hayabusa" soars high
above the streets of Tokyo. Cloaked in a white and brown costume, like unto a man sized
hawk, his underarm wings spread wide as the falcons beak he wears hides his face in
shadow. The chest emblem of his costume is a descending hawk in shadow, wings
outstretched, claws poised for the attack. His power of super speed flight allows him to
easily follow his prey. This proud city has seen many things in its time, including
marauding monsters and mutant heroes and villains. So for the ordinary passerby to all but
ignore the swift winged flying man is not untoward. Below Hayabusa, the car careens from
block to block, cutting between stopped vehicles and through red lights. Every so often a
passenger stares from a car window out, and up. Looking for the man they know is chasing
them, looking for Hayabusa!
"Dogs" ,Growls the Hayabusa inwardly, "They have no honor. Striking like
Gaijin , they kill innocents and cause pain and suffering. Now will they learn the price
for their evil, now will they face the Hayabusa!"
Swooping down wordlessly, the hawk-like figure has waited long enough! The car is now
clear of the east end of Tokyo, traffic has waned, the Police are long since lost by the
killers in the speeding sedan. With a scream not unlike a hunting falcons, Hayabusa flies
into the car from the side, smashing it sideways mightily, causing the speeding vehicle to
run off the road in a cloud of dust , sand and gravel!
Ba-Room!
His impact buckles the cars right side, almost flipping it over! A frantic moment later the driver has the vehicle stopped. The passenger is unconscious, blood runs from a forehead wound, as the driver rolls from the door , pulling a gun he fires on the slowly walking Hayabusa!
"Die you super-powered freak! You're not taking us in anywhere! I'll kill you first!"
Poom, Poom Poom! The gunshots ring through the air, as they strike Haybusas' chest!
"Unngh" He grunts painfully, but continues to advance, as the shells fall to
the ground from his body.
"Your not human!" The gunman cries, "You should be dead. You must be a
mutie freak!"
"Bigot" Speaks the Hayabusa, anger gleaming in his eyes,"You kill
innocents for no reason other then your own sick pleasure."
"Is that why you've been chasing us?" The frightened gunman stammers,
"Because of that old man? He ain't worth it! The old fool would've died anyway soon
enough without any help from us."
Hayabusa sighs and shakes his head, while he continues to advance.
"You are reprehensible. The old man did nothing to you. Yet you insisted on
running him down as he painfully crossed the street. Did you roar with laughter as he
died?"
He grabs the gunman by the collar as the man shakes with fear.
"He was an old man, harmless to all. Yet you killed him. For no reason other then
your own twisted idea of fun."
He effortlessly lifts the horrified gunman above his head single handedly , and with no
strain at all.
"You sicken me. The American ways are evil and infect our country. You are proof
of this. I should treat you with the same contempt that you have brought upon others. But
I will not. I am a man of honor!" He backhands the driver, smacking him to the
ground, "You are a disgrace to Japan."
With a sickening thud the man hits the ground like a sack of cement. Only then does
Hayabusa hear the clapping.
"Eh?"
He turns towards the sound to see a dapper dressed man standing on the street. His suit
is impeccable , and his grey hair neatly combed.
"Who are you? What do you want American?"
The older man smiles " My name is Albright, and I have a proposition for you. Come
with me to America. Use your powers for the good of the world. There is a storm on the
horizon my friend. New powers are needed to combat it. Your powers."
"Bah. Leave here old fool. I have no use for Americans, and less for
salesmen."
Albright smiles, and walks closer to the winged man, looking at the wrecked car and the
two unconscious men.
"You don't really expect me to do that , do you Hayabusa? You would be either a
fool or a complete and total ass. And I believe you to be neither. The Great war ended
over fifty years ago. Your mother wasn't even born then, let alone yourself young man. If
you are harboring some ridiculous anger towards Americans , then I suggest you get over it
and make your powers useful to the rest of the world."
Hayabusa approaches Albright, anger streaming from his shadowed face.
"You go to far old man."
"Do I? I think not my friend. Perhaps you are a coward. Afraid to do more then
chase fools who have no chance against your mighty powers."
He gestures towards the unconscious thugs.
"They had no chance against you and you know it. Yet you do not use your powers
against larger threats. And now is your chance to do so. Why do all Japanese Super-heroes
continue to hide from the public eye? Come to America, prove me wrong. Prove to the world
that you are heroic. Make a name for your people as the most heroic of the heroic. Or at
least try. Or do not. The choice is yours."
Hayabusa shakes angrily for a moment, then nods.
"I will ..........come with you American. But only to see what you have to offer.
I make no promises."
Albright smiles
"That's all I ask of you young hero. "
Twenty four hours later......
The streets of Mexico city ring with gunshots as a young man using a staff pole vaults over a pistol firing thug ! Then landing like a cat , he swings his staff outwards, knocking the man from his feet effortlessly. Smiling beneath his mask bandanna that's wrapped around his face, obscuring his face save for his eyes mouth and nose.
"So you think to escape the hero of Mexico city my friend? I think not. No .
You'll pay for your crimes. No one robs from the poor and destitute . Not while
"Libertad" is protecting these streets!"
The young hero stands smiling as onlookers cheer when suddenly a course voice rings
out!
"Halt Libertad! You are under arrest for assaulting this man!"
The hero of Mexico City turns and faces several police with guns trained on him.
"So , once again Captain Gonzalez, you seek to use a typical criminal to turn the
peoples protector into a rotting dreg in some prison eh?"
Gonzalez smiles. "Resist arrest Libertad, please."
"Of course mi amigo, I aim to please!"
With a leap, Libertad is in action! A blur of ebony, he strikes! His staff cuts the air
like lightning, while his feet strike like thunder! More gunshots ring out in the street,
as Libertad strikes the slow moving, lethargic policemen!
"Your men are slow and out of shape Gonzalez. Perhaps almost as much so as yourself!"
With a slash of his staff he whacks Gonzalez in the head, rendering him instantly
unconscious. With a laugh he's gone, climbing convenient fire escapes and leaping across
rooftops, laughing all the way, until a now familiar figure stops him in his tracks.
"Who are you ? Another of Gonzalez's lackeys sent to stop me? Perhaps a well paid
hitman of some kind judging by your expensive suit?"
"No my friend ,"Answers a smiling Albright,"I am a man with an offer for
you. As one can tell, things have gotten a bit hot here in Mexico city of late. How would
you like to ...relocate to America for a while, or perhaps longer. The choice is
yours."
"And what would be my impetus for joining you , besides your smile, eh?"
"I am recruiting heroes for a new organization . A new Super-team. The world is
facing some dark times in the coming months, and new faces and powers will be needed to
combat the darkness. You are such a man as is needed. "
Libertad stands in thought. He walks slowly to the rooftops edge and looks out at the
setting sun. "You make me an offer at a time when one is needed. Things have indeed
gotten a "Bit hot." here for me of late. You are correct. Gonzalez will now make
me his primary concern. He is corrupt, and in league with drug runners, slave laborers and
all manner of evil that see fit to line his pockets. But he has the forces of
"right" on his side, and allied against me. Now that I have publicly humiliated
him he will seek to publicly destroy me. I will accept your offer my friend."
"Good" answers Albright.
Libertad turns to shake Albrights hand, but the older man is gone, as if he never was
there. But his voice lingers in the air.
"There will be a plane waiting for you in Mexico City airport. Go to gate 34. It
will be a private jet. Speak my name, "Albright" and you will be given safe
passage from this area to your new home."
Libertad stares , searching the rooftop for the mysterious Albright, but does not find
him. "How can I trust a man who disappears like a ghost, a spirit?"
Suddenly Albright shimmers into view like a video image slowly come to life. "My
friend, if I wanted to kill you, you would be dead already. Believe me. I am not here to
harm you, but to benefit you and the world." And with that he disappears yet again,
leaving a stunned Libertad shaking his head, but smiling as he continues his rooftop
escape.
24 hours later.....
The wilds of New Zealand. A young boy playing in some caverns disappears and dozens of
rescue workers have come up empty. A helicopter lands and a gangly, thin man exits along
with several others. The man in charge of the rescue operation runs up to the tall, thin
man.
"Professor Underwood? I'm Miles Lotran . We've been trying to locate young Billy
Barker for the last day, and have no luck . We've about given up hope of finding the lad
alive."
Tom Underwood merely smiles.
"I'll see if I can help Mr Lotran."
Tom walks away from the crowd, as others begin to follow he waves them away and
continues on towards the underbrush covered cave entrances. Once out of sight, and with
several glances to make sure he's alone , Tom Underwood suddenly dives into the solid rock
wall, as would a man into a pool!
Back at the base of operations for the rescuers, they've all lost sight of Tom
Underwood. Miles Lotran approaches a young female aid who arrived with Tom.
"Where's he going Miss?"
"Dr. Underwood prefers to work alone in most cases like this. He's found literally
dozens of people who've been lost or missing. If this little boy can be found, Dr.
Underwood is the man to find him. And by the way, my name is Betsy, Betsy Farmer"
Lotran nods , understandingly as he pulls out a pipe and begins to fill it. It's an act
of nervousness he performs whenever he's stressed, and right now he's very stressed.
Deep beneath the Earth, Underwood stops his downwards motion and listens intently to
the very strata he's "swimming" through. Suddenly he changes direction and cuts
to his right, slowly, as to not startle the boy he slides his face forward in the rock
until only his face is showing. There, asleep, is Billy Barker. Tom slides out of the rock
face and kneels down beside the still boy. Touching the boy gently on the shoulder,
Underwood awakens him.
"Hey, wake up kipper. There are people looking for you. C'mon, we can't keep your
mum and pa waiting."
Billy's eyes slowly open as he sees the thin man before him. At first he's almost
frightened, but then he quickly grabs the stranger and hugs him, tears already welling up
in his eyes.
"S'okay little one. You're safe now. Hold my hand and we'll be out of here in a
moment."
Tom leans on the wall momentarily, as if resting a moment. But in reality he's
searching. Finding the pathways out of hidden cave.
Twenty minutes later Tom Underwood and Little Billy Barker emerge from the very cave
Billy got lost in. Within minutes they're surrounded by the searchers who had all but
given up hope.
Moments later....
Away from the melee Tom sips a cup of tea and smiles contentedly to himself, when a
hand is suddenly placed on his shoulder. Tom turns , startled. Behind him is an older man,
smiling in a way that conveys no ill intent.
"Hello Mr. Underwood, my name is Albright, and I've come to make you an offer
concerning your wonderful gifts."
3 hours later........
The android hero "Auto-American" stands his ground in the middle of the Las
Vegas strip, as the hijacked armored car bears down on him heavily. His face is the color
of the flag, red, white and blue, with the blue stars portion covering his right eye, and
the stripes covering the left side of his face. His body is a dull silver with a simple
blue stripe around his waist and matching blue around his wrists. His chest is emblazoned
with a blue star. If one were to listen, they would hear Auto-American having a heated
conversation , with himself!
"What are you doing? Trying to get us both killed? These guys just robbed a
casino. Let 'em have what they took. It's no skin off our nose. "
Suddenly Auto's whole facial expression changes, from emotionally excited, to controlled, and almost expressionless.
"No, it is our problem Beck. We are "Auto-American", and we have to stand for what's right
against those that would seek short cuts at the expense of others ."
The truck bears down on them , when suddenly Auto-American throws himself to the ground
under the rolling truck, to just as quickly stand bolt upright, throwing the truck into
the air, heaving it off his back and through the air, as it skids on its back through the
street, to slide to a halt as the thieves flop out of the confines . They immediately fire
automatic weapons at the advancing android. The bullets are drawn to his metallic skin and
adhere there magnetically, doing no harm to the Auto-American, but keeping the stray lead
from harming civilians.
"Take them down Auto, what are you waiting for?" The android asks himself.
"Patience Beck." He answers, as his facial expressions again change between
personalities, "They will now be dealt with since civilians are now safely out of
danger."
Auto raises his hands, spreading them wide, and releases energy from both hands, that
stun the assorted villains into somnambulance.
"Excellent work young man, excellent!"
Auto spins towards the sound of the voice to see the dapper man known as Albright
standing nearby, smiling his soothing smile towards the android.
"Auto, who is this guy? What do you think he wants?"
Again the facial expression changes.
"I do not know young Beck. We will both discover that I assume."
"My name is Albright good sirs. I learned about your unique existence through my
connections with the various world authorities. You are an unknown factor my friends. That
is a good thing, you can be very useful in my organization. Useful to both myself and your
country and world."
"I don't trust you old man, why should we want to put ourselves in harms way for
anyone?"
"Because Mr Beck, it is the right thing to do when one is possessed of powers and
abilities beyond mortal mans. You owe the masses the use of your powers."
Again the face change, and this time the colder, more logical appearance takes over.
"You are of course, correct Mr Albright. We will be happy to at least join you and
hear what you have to offer."
Albright smiles once more, "Splendid my friend, I guarantee, you will not be
sorry."
Another 24 hours later and Helix mountain suddenly is filled with activity, as a
mountainside doorway, large enough to allow several private jets entry, opens and closes
several times, as many planes come and go. Some carrying cargo, others people.
Down in the valley surrounding Helix mountain, a figure wearing a back pack watches the
planes coming and going, as he has all day. He continues hiking towards it.
Inside the huge, cavernous base , Hayabusa walks , his young eyes wide in amazement,
another approaches him, smiling.
"Hello my friend, I am called Auto-American, and you?" He extends his hand as
he speaks. Hayabusa stares at the hand before slowly taking it.
"I am known as the Hayabusa. "
"Ah, the Japanese name for the Peregrine Falcon. I gather you fly quite quickly
then?"
"Yes mechanical man, that is correct."
Suddenly the demeanor, the very body language of Auto-American changes quickly.
"Hey, we ain't just a mechanical man feather head. We're a lot more'n that."
Hayabusa is momentarily taken aback , not really knowing how to respond, but another
joins them, defusing the moment.
"Hello, my name is "Rush" . Well it's my stage name actually, or
super-hero identity. Who are you guys?" He shakes hands all around.
Again Auto's demeanor changes as the mechanical personality again comes to the
forefront.
"What are your abilities Rush?"
"I can run faster then any world class athlete, and my strength level is a bit
higher."
"So you're a mutant then?"
"No Hayabusa, I've found a way to access a chemical in my system called
"Super Adrenaline" . I injected myself with "S A" a few years ago, and
its slowly been replicated by my body to the point where I no longer need to take the
injections. My body now replicates it itself ."
"Interesting ." Nods Auto-American.
Just then a jump suited worker carrying a clipboard and a radio approaches the heroes.
"Gentlemen," He begins, "Mr Albright has requested your presence in the
auditorium."
"Auditorium?" Questions Auto, "Hey does this place have a movie theater
too? Maybe we can catch the new Star Wars flick here."
The others stare at him oddly, as once again his facial expression grows less
passionate, less expressive.
The worker nods again towards the auditorium as the others look at each other. Hayabusa
shrugs once and they fall in line to enter a medium sized auditorium.
Once inside, they meet the mysterious Mr Albright, as he stands upon a stage ready to
address them all.
"Gentlemen,"Albright begins, "You've been called here from the four
corners of the Earth and have responded only on the strength of my offer. For that I thank
you. But now is the time to teach you of the reason you've been brought here. For that I
hand the podium over to our last comrade in this magnificent venture, the man responsible
for bringing you all together. It was his insight to our worlds problems, and the real
reasons they have occurred, that we were all brought together. May I present to you,
"The Ambassador!"
Albright holds his hands to the left, and a man enters the podium from that direction,
but this isn't any normal man, as is evidenced by the reactions of everyone in the room,
especially Hayabusa, who blurts out,
"A-a-a SKRULL!?!"
To Be Continued!
This is a team project, the creators of "Strikeforce: Freedom " are Scott
Harris,("Al", you haven't met him yet, except for one scene in this issue which
I won't mention.) TJ Burns("The Ambassador"), Ryan Donovan (Auto-American), Jess
Nevins (Libertad),Wade Trupke (Rush), Randy Harrison (Trapdoor), and myself (Hayabusa) .
And right now I invite everyone who submitted a character to write an origin for their
hero, which will run in subsequent issues!
Let me know what you thought of the Gathering, as next issue will feature a big blowout
battle, but not in the way you think.
Ralph