Chapter 39

The Fastest Man Alive 

Chapter 39

DETENTION CENTER

 

When I heard the singing from the command center while checking the video feed, I knew I had to meet this man. So without a second thought, I packed my things up and made my way down to the detention center. The elevator ride was quick, but once I stepped out and made my way past the security measures, I heard the funniest thing ever.

 

{ The state where you never find a dance floor empty

And pimps be on a mission for them greens

Lean mean money-making-machines servin’ fiends

I been in the game for 10 years makin’ rap tunes

Ever since honeys was wearin’ Sassoon

Now it’s ’95 and they clock me and watch me

Diamonds shinin’, lookin’ like I robbed Liberace

It’s all good, from Diego to the Bay

Your city is the bomb if your city makin’ pay

Throw up a finger if you feel the same way

Dre puttin’ it down for Californ-i-a }

 

“Shut up, shut up, shut up,” Guard B yelled while banging on the force-field with his baton.

 

“He sounds like he is charming the guards already,” Natalia laughed at my side.

 

“True, but I believe it’s time for us to say hi,” I replied as I waved the guards away. Looking into the cell, I watched as the man named Klaue paused mid-verse.

 

“Why hello deary,” Klaue chirped from the bed within the eight-by-eight prison cell. The ceiling was a solid clear ceramic that allowed flood lighting. The walls of the cell were a sky blue that matched the clear window which gave a view of the sky outside.

 

“Hello to you too, but you’re not my type, so please don’t drool,” Natalia replied with a smile playing at the corner of her lips.

 

“Damn, I thought I was going to catch you doing another Tina Turner song, so I could get the chance to go Ike Turner on you for a while,” I chuckled out softly as Klaue pulled back at my statement.

 

“Well, that’s just mean,” Klaue huffed. “So, what do you want with me boy-o.”

 

The world shifted around me before I even realized I had moved, purely reflexively. There were so many things in the world that I hated with a burning passion. Yet there was nothing that I hated more than being called ‘boy’ to my face. The force-field didn’t stop me even with its 0.00003 millisecond phase-shifting oscillation. The speeds that I had reached within that infinitesimal moment meant that I still had Natalia’s arm wrapped firmly around the waist of my afterimage, no one even aware of my change in location. Pure speed force flowed through me, unfiltered and raw, before I even realized what I was doing.

 

“You will speak to me with respect and drop that word from your vocabulary when you address  me, or it will be the last thing you ever say, do you understand?” I asked as I held Klaue up by the throat against the back wall of his cell, my hand around his throat so tight his face was turning such interesting colors.

 

“Shit, Ben, we need what’s in his head!” Natalia yelled as her eyes widened with the vanishing of the after-image within her arms.

 

My grip was like a vice, and Klaue was struggling with the hand choking the life out of him, his legs kicking the air ineffectually, almost like a child. Turning around to face Natalia, the flash of anger that had caused me to lose control bled out of my system. “Get one of our telepaths to brain drain him.”

 

With that order, I released the man and let him fall to the ground of the cell, loud choking gasps echoing in the small space. I sped back up again to step back out. With one last look at my prisoner and a snort of disgust, it was time to leave with my little entourage. 

 

O.o.o – o.O.o – o.o.O

 

Jean Grey – Manhattan

 

“Come on girls, how are we going to kick ass while being stuck inside all day?” Jean said in a huff from where she was floating in the air. “Come on Felicia, Ben’s off to the island, so let’s grab Gwen and go kick some teeth in.”

 

“I wish I could, but I can’t,” Felicia replied from behind the large oak desk. “I’m the boss now, and I gotta lay down the law.”

 

Jean did a twirl and looked down at her friend. She watched as Felicia had her legs up on the desk as she ate a Caesar salad. Jean’s stomach growled a little bit, and that made her place her current plans to cause havoc amongst the riff-raff of the city for later. With a minor telekinetic pull, the second salad was brought to her hands, along with the fork and napkins.

 

Slowly, Jean levitated down and landed herself at Felicia’s side. As she ate her salad, Jean enjoyed the relaxing moment with Felicia as they both watched the large monitor located on the right wall overlooking the office.

 

[ – Queen’s Jewel arriving tonight at the Manhattan Museum – ]

 

“Hmm, that sounds like a pretty bird.” Felicia hummed beside Jean in the office chair.

 

“Alfred, get us the blueprints to this museum, please, and thanks,” Jean spoke out loud and watched as the hologram technology built into the desk changed, bringing up the requested information.

 

“I would never have thought you would be interested in helping me on a job,” Felicia said with a smile in Jeans’s direction.

 

“This Phonex is a hero babe, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be distracted from your actions while I’m fighting elsewhere,” Jean replied as she snapped her fingers and then flicked it to the left. The flick sent the blueprint into motion as the structure changed to show the museum’s interior.

 

“Okay, let’s give Gwen a call and see if she wants in,” Falicia replied with a smile as she pulled up her cell phone.

 

O.o.o – o.O.o – o.o.O

 

Eden – School of the Gifted

 

“Come on Anna, let’s go explore,” Maya laughed as she pulled on the hands of her new best friend.

 

“Okay, but shouldn’t we bring the others?” Illyana asked as she looked back while walking behind Maya. “Maybe Carla would like to come?”

 

“Okay,” Maya chriped as she jumped into the air and flew over to her other friend. Looking around from up high, Maya found her friends sitting on one of the bean bags next to the window that allowed the sun to light up the room.

 

“Hmm, Carla would you like to go explore with me?” Maya asked shyly as she touched down before her friend.

 

“I don’t know, Maya,” Carla returned as she closed her book. “I heard we were going back soon.”

 

“Come on, we can go explore the island,” Maya pleaded to her friend as she tugged on her arm.

 

“But… but the headmistress said–” Carla began to say as she wrung her hands a little bit.

 

“It’s fine, mommy would be okay if we explore a little,” Maya chirped. Without waiting for her friend to say anything more, Maya pulled her along as she began to float up into the air. As she flew up into the air, Maya smiled at the sight of her friend’s wings as they were revealed from behind her back. Maya watched as the small flaps located in Carla’s shirt shifted to allow a set of wings to touch the air. A set of ethereal blue wings appeared behind Carla, and she took to the air alongside Maya as she flew back to the front of the dining hall.

 

Pushing open the door, Maya made her way outside with her friends in tow. Taking a look around, Maya noticed that no one was paying attention to them. So, with a smile and a tug, Maya ran with her friends to the garden out front, then made her way to the forest that lay at the edge of the school grounds.

 

“No fair! Slow down!” Illyana yelled as she ran behind her two friends. Maya and Carla slowed down in the air as they waited for Illyana to catch up to their location.

 

“I have an idea,” Maya said with a pout.

 

“What’s that?” Both of the girls asked in unison.

 

“Easy, I hold one hand and Carla holds the other,” Maya chirped with a smile. “This way, we can fly past the forest and explore the other city my daddy built.”

 

“It’s not fair, I wish I could fly too,” Illyana pouted as she held both of her hands up.

 

“Carla, grab her right and I’ll grab her left!” Maya yelled merrily as she grabbed her friend’s hand. With Carla on the right, they were able to lift Illyana up off the ground. With Illyana between them both, they flew through the forest with smiles on their faces.

 

“So where are we heading?” Carla asked from the side of Maya as they slowly flew through the forest.

 

“Hmm, I don’t know,” Maya answered as she tilted her head to the side. “I heard mommy talking with my other mommy about the new cities that daddy built, and that they would be opening them soon, but I want to see it before everyone else.”

 

They flew for a moment before Carla spoke up.

 

“Do you have a map?” Carla asked as she brought them up to hover in the air. 

 

“Let’s check,” Illyana said from beneath them both. “Let’s try the smartband.”

 

“Okay, let’s take a break by that stream over there,” Maya chirped as she turned towards the clearing in the trees. With a nod from her friends Maya directed their flight path down past the trees and beside the stream. With Illyana placed down steadily on the ground, Maya landed next to her while Carla landed on the other side.

 

Maya brought up her wrist causing the Sanskrit beads to come alive with a beautiful hologram. The other two girls that came with her gathered around to take a closer look. Illyana poked her finger within the picture, the gesture causing it to rotate, while Carla had a hand on her chin while she pouted.

 

“Here is the tab for the map,” Illyana said as the hologram shifted for them.

 

“Ohh, what’s this city?” Carla asked as she pointed to the north on the map.

 

“Hmmm, it says…it says Vinyamar,” Maya returned as she scrunched her lips together, struggling to say the unfamiliar name.

 

“Well, the map says it’s close,” Illyana replied as she pinched at the map to zoom out and get a sense for how far it was from their current position. “It will take some time to get there. Sigh… I wish I could fly.”

 

“Hmm, maybe we should ask for help from one of the teachers?” Carla asked as she looked up at her friend.

 

“So, the city is that way,” Maya said, perking up as she pointed to the east of the island.

 

“You think the teachers can show me how to fly?” Illyana asked while looking at Carla.

 

“Let’s go before they know we’re gone,” Maya huffed at her friends.

 

“We will, but I wanna fly and not be carried,” Illyana replied with a pout at her friend.

 

“Okay, okay,” both friends agreed before they got back into position to carry her to the city.

 

Slowly the girls flew through the forest as they listened to the chirps and songs of the many beautiful and colorful birds that called the island their home. Before they knew it the sounds went silent and they came upon a new sight. Out of the ground was a large standing tower with a hoop attached to the top. At the bottom of the tower the girls came up alongside the workers that were finishing the installation.

 

The first thing Maya noticed about them were the bright yellow jumpsuits they wore with reflective strips along their arms and legs.

 

The girls touched down near the tower and took in the sight of it. Maya noticed another tower with a hoop located at the top was also nearby their location at what seemed like a carefully planned distance and spacing.

 

“Princess, you and your friends are not allowed within this location without your father’s permission,” sounded a voice from behind the girls that mightily spooked the trio of little girls.

 

“Who’s there?!” The girls all yelled in unison at the voice that had just scared them so.

 

Five forms rippled out of thin air as the Spartan-armor clad guards appeared.

 

“We are your bodyguards,” the lead Spartan answered as she removed her helmet. Under the helmet was a beautiful lady with orange hair and cat’s eyes for pupils.

 

“It’s not safe to be near the construction area for the train system,” replied the second guard in the jungle-camo patterned armor.

 

“I thought trains went underground?” Maya asked, as she turned to look at the large tower in the distance with what looked like a hoop attached to the top.

 

“They normally do, Princess, but our King believes that people should be able to enjoy the beauty of nature, even while traveling, especially since our transportation system runs on clean energy,” replied the lead guard.

 

“Okay, hmm, please don’t tell daddy we are out here,” Maya begged, as she put on a pout that struck with a resoundingly critical hit to the hearts of her guards.

 

“Princess it’s already far too late for that,” the lead guard explained calmly, as she bowed her head towards her little charge.

 

“Why?” Little Illyana asked as she tilted her head to the side in confusion.

 

“Because our great King keeps an eye on everyone and everything, little lady, most especially you,” the second guard explained with his head bowed.

 

“Oh… Can you give us a ride to the city please?” Maya asked as she put on a pout that struck another critical hit to the hearts of her guards, men and women who would have little issue brutally killing dozens if it meant that their King and his family were safe and protected.

 

The bodyguards stilled and took a moment silently communicating with each other over their armor’s internal communications link, speaking about the situation they now found themselves in. When they were undercover, in stealth mode, they had watched and followed as the little princess and her friends made their way through the forest and they were proud. Now that they had given up their cover, the little princess had asked for their assistance. They didn’t know how to turn the princess down so she could make the journey back under her own powers and talents. For a while the guards spoke back and forth before they came to a silent decision.

 

The lead bodyguard turned around and took a step forward with her helm tucked firmly under her arms. With a cough to clear her throat, she spoke.

 

“We do not mind helping your young friend, Illyana, but we have come to an agreement that we would like to see you get to the city using your own powers,” The lead guard answered with a small smile. Silence fell over them as Maya thought about this.

 

Hearing that the girls gathered around in their own little circle to discuss the situation. Illyana made some good points while Carla made counterpoints about the guards. The person that broke the stalemate was Maya.

 

“Okay, deal!” The girls shouted, turning around to look up at the lead guard. With a nod from the guards, Maya rose up in the air with Carla beside her. With Illyana in the lead guard’s arms they flew past the tower that would someday soon hold the rail system for the island’s train systems.

 

The three girls and the guards flew above the forest to the city on the side of the island that would soon become the great trade hub of the entire island. The group flew for a while before touching down on a large circular ring located within a park outside the city center on the coast.

 

O.o.o – o.O.o – o.o.O

 

After leaving the detention center, Natalia and I traveled to the coastal city. While we were in the new city of Vinyamar, I showed Natalia the important infrastructure that would keep us going even if the rest of the world suffered a nuclear Armageddon or a zombie apocalypse. As we sat in one of the highrise cafes taking in the beautiful view, I noticed something strange coming out of the park that led straight into the jungle.

 

“What’s so interesting?” Natalia asked me as her legs gently rubbed against my own. Turning with a smile, I pointed towards the distance to show her what drew my smile and attention. 

 

“Spirited little firecracker, isn’t she?” Natalia joked, seeing my daughter and her friends.

 

I laughed at that. Yes, Maya was certainly a spirited one, just like her mother and father. We watched from on high as the girls walked past us to explore the city. With a double-tap on the logo of a heart tree built into the table, a hologram sprang to life, giving us both access to the island’s interface. Placing my hand with my smart band within the hologram, my identity was confirmed via a dozen different methods and full access was granted to the island’s systems.

 

With a few quick swipes and checks, I coordinated with one of my assistants for the party being hosted tonight in Los Angeles that I would soon attend. Once that was done, I brought up the real-time tracking on my daughter and watched for a little bit as she went about exploring the city with her two friends. Natalia laughed heartily at seeing this and called me overprotective as I watched the video feed showing the guards following Maya while cloaked. 

 

As a King, I knew that my enemies would not hesitate to strike at me through my only daughter and heir, even here in the heart of my power, hence the group of highly trained and ruthless killers assigned to protect her from all dangers, but I still wanted to give her a chance to be a little girl, to have fun, to make mistakes, to get into a bit of trouble. It was a delicate balancing act, but I was committed to trying as best as I could to give her that. In the future, as a Princess, she’d have enough duty and responsibility thrust on her shoulders to make anyone struggle under the weight of it, so for now I would do whatever was in my power to give her a childhood free of those burdens.

 

With a shake of my head at these heavy thoughts, I changed the monitoring program that was running and swapped to the one for my satellites. One of the first things I noticed was that we had received a sensor ping from under the ice in Greenland. That took me a moment to process because there’s only one thing I know which would show up in Greenland right now. And there was no way I was going to let such a valuable asset fall into the hands of Fury, uncle or not.

 

Damn…this Greenland situation could easily become a clusterfuck, but I think I had a way to make the best of it. It would probably be best to not use a stealth approach. With my mind made up, I sent a message to Emma for us to collaborate on a large mining project and make it as public as we could. This was just for show because I wanted her to acquire the voluntary cooperation of the asset with her abilities and convince said asset to work for our side and goals. With that message sent off, I turned and showed Natalia the map and explained the situation with Greenland as she took a sip from her cup of tea.

 

Slowly she took a sip and thought about what I had just shared. I could see the gears working behind that sultry look she likes to give me. 

 

“Let’s put a bullet in the head of the ‘would-be-asset’ and just call it a day,” Natalia said after placing down her cup of tea.

 

That caught me completely off guard, and I almost sputtered like a fool.

 

Sigh. “You’re thinking if we can’t have the asset once we go public, no one else should?” I answered the unasked question from the look she was giving me.

 

“Correct,” Natalia coldly replied, as she became extremely serious about the situation. “You need to understand, this situation isn’t some small fire, this asset can set the entire world ablaze once they hear he is found. Everyone will want this asset, then they will create an accident to keep us silent about this discovery.”

 

“That’s what I actually want,” I replied with a savage grin of my own. “I plan to use a contingent of Spartans with the Exo suits before we make them available for public purchase, highest bidder and all that, but most of all, there is a certain old man on ice, a ghost, one used like their personal boogeyman by the multi-headed monster for the last sixty years. I’m certain you would like to have some words with him, especially since he did give you that nifty scar.”

 

That comment certainly caught her attention. The way she focused on me would have been downright terrifying if the sexy murderer didn’t turn me on and regularly cause me unspeakable pleasure in the bedroom.

 

“You will have your chance to have some fun, but you can’t kill him,” I replied coolly to Natalia.

 

“Why not?” Natalia growled out.

 

“Because he is the only family the asset has left in this world,” I answered smoothly, not phased by the return of the real Black Widow. “Give him the last of his family with a little mental nudge in our direction and he will be ours forever, which is more than what anyone else could offer him.”

 

“Fine, but I want to break a few bones,” Natalia replied with a pout, like a petulant child.

 

“We do have one of the most advanced medical facilities in the world, so, yes, you can break a few bones, my dear,” I offered magnanimously with a little over-dramatic wave of my royal hand, as I took in the smile she gave me at my silliness. Within moments Natalia turned from me to look back towards the holo-table. With a look of vengeance on her face, she went to work and began making plans, reallocating assets and personnel, and preparing a dozen different contingencies in the event of success, failure, or some mixture of the two. There was nothing I was going to say about her obsession with the Winter Soldier, but I know I’ll have to make sure she isn’t too hard on the poor brainwashed bastard. With a shrug, I went back to studying the sensor readings from my satellite network.

 

Over in China, there was a localized quantum phase shift within the mountains which the satellites were picking up, something that I would definitely have to take a closer look at later. The weird thing was that the only thing out there should be Kun-Lun, but they were on the mortal plane and that wouldn’t explain the phase shift being detected. The only other possibility that came to mind was a dimensional pocket. Perhaps other dragons?  But I thought Thor had killed all the dragons on Earth in the Marvel Universe. Well, shit, this looks like it might be one of those comic book variants in this dimension. Marking this for later investigation, I continued studying the other flagged anomalies, pausing over readings suggesting there could be an active power signature/source detected in the Atlantic Ocean. It was located deep down, somewhere between Europe and America, but for some reason the power reading was showing its position near one of the unexplored trenches deep within the ocean. That was mighty strange, there should be nothing that deep with a power signature that strong. Even a state-of-the-art nuclear submarine wouldn’t produce a power signature that strong. Hell, if these readings were right, there was enough power to run several large modern cities. If we were in the DC universe an over-the-top supervillain lair would be my first guess, but here?

 

Instantly, I was at attention, my heart racing as I began sending commands and distributing orders through my holo-table. I wanted a stealth shuttle in the water yesterday. No, the shuttle had to be an unmanned craft, with a 24/7 overlapping shift rotation with three hundred and sixty degrees of video footage coverage. The location the map showed underwater brought Namor the Submariner instantly to mind. Hell, just finding the location had the potential to spark a war, but there are things I can offer him in alliance. I needed the exact location though and with the power of my nation we can either stand as equals or I shall conquer. The best and worst of Atlantis is the location and I need that location. Atlantis was located not only within the ocean but also with some type of natural barrier. Gaining Atlantis or conquering them would give my nation a prime location with natural defenses.

 

Then again… Namor had a thing for Sue Storm and Emma Frost in the comics. Damn, now I might have to kill him because he likes to steal women, and that was something I would never tolerate. 

 

That’s unfortunate, for both of us, but I refuse to let him live if he acts like a savage. I would rather have angry Atlanteans after me than let that man steal my women and get away with it. This is something I’ll have to think about some more; plans and contingencies would need to be made. I received a reply that the shuttle would be ready for launch within thirty-six hours. With my go-order, I took a step back and allowed my science team to get it done.