Power Pack

Issue #22 – And Then There Was Seven

Empire University – Dorms

“So what are you doing now?” Valeria Richards asked as she looked over Julie Power’s shoulder.

“I’m trying to get my homework done. I told you, give me thirty more minutes and we can go do something fun,” Julie said as she tried to concentrate on the book in front of her.

Julie shook her head as she tapped her pencil. She still had no idea how she had managed to get stuck babysitting little Valeria Richards. One minute she was sitting around the table visiting with her mom and Sue Richards the next Sue was thanking her for agreeing to watch her little girl. She really didn’t have the spare time, especially since her teacher assigned a ten page paper that had to be done over the weekend. She just didn’t know how she could get this paper done and watch an eight year old at the same time.

“Maybe we can go look for bad guys? We can call ourselves the Fantastic Duo,” Valeria cheered.

Julie began to pound her head on the table. She really wished she could be in two places at the same time. As she began to pound her head more and wishing as Valeria got louder she felt her chest burning. She looked down and saw that her locket was giving of a strange purple glow and warm heat. Just as quickly as it had started it went away. Before Julie could make out what just happened, she realized one other thing. Valeria had not only gone quiet, but she was gone.

“Val?” Julie asked in panic as she got up and searched the empty room with nowhere to hide.

She was about to panic when she heard voices, both sounding familiar. She went to her window and looked out to see a little girl walking out of the building with a young woman. Julie gasped when she saw it was Valeria, but who was she with? Julie started to open the window to call out to Val when the stranger turned around. Julie about fainted when she saw that the girl Val was with was her. How could that be? Was it a villain impersonating her?

“Val, get away from her!” Julie screamed as her locket flared with heat.

“Get away from whom? What’s wrong?” Valeria asked looking up at Julie.

“From,” Julie began to say and then stopped.

She was now standing on the street with Valeria. What was going on? One minute she was in her dorm room and now she was on the street. Her head began to hurt as she realized she was recalling memories of being in her room but also of asking Val if she wanted to go to the park and then heading out. It was like she had been in two places at once. Could that even be possible? She looked up and saw the empty window of her dorm room. This was just too weird. Maybe she would have to talk about this with Alex when he got back, just incase a villain was playing tricks on her.

“Is everything okay?” Val asked again.

“Yes, just a little stress from the homework. Let’s get to the park,” Julie said as she took Val’s hand and lead her down the street.

After a few minutes they had reached a small park near campus. It was nothing fancy, but it was a pretty and peaceful place for students to come and study. They walked over and sat down on the ledge of the water fountain. It was so pretty and one of Julie’s favorite things. Watching the water move always reminded her of her old roommate, Samantha. She just knew it in her gut that she hadn’t died during the Demon Storm, but where was she and why hadn’t said good-bye? Julie sighed when a loud splash brought her back to reality.

“Get out of there,” Julie said as she saw Valeria playing in the fountain.

“Other people are doing it,” Valeria said.

“Yes, but you don’t have the right clothes or a change of clothes and you’re getting soaked,” Julie said trying to reach for the girl.

“So, all I have to so is switch to my costume and back and my clothes will be fixed,” Valeria said with a smirk.

“Val, not so loud,” Julie said glancing around her at the other students walking by.

“Look, I found gold!” Valeria shouted as she bent down to pick up a gold colored rock.

“It’s not real gold,” Julie laughed as she saw Val close her hand around the rock.

“Yes it is, see,” Val said running up to Julie and opening her hand to show her the rock.

“What the?” Julie asked in surprise as she looked at the item in Val’s palm.

“Wow, it’s a charm bracelet. I could have sworn it was a rock. How cool is this? Julie, please help me put it on,” Val said dangling the gold bracelet.

“Sure,” Julie said wiping her eyes.

Julie could have sworn it had been a rock too. This had been a strange day. First she thought she had been in two places at once and now she was seeing rocks becoming bracelets. Julie didn’t know what was going on, but she did know that she would think long and hard before she agreed to watch one of the Richard’s kids again.

“It’s really pretty. Look it even already has some charms on it,” Val said holding up her wrist.

Julie smiled as she saw the six charms dangling from the bracelet. They all looked like gems on one side with pictures on the other. The gem side seemed to shift from gold to another color and back while the picture on the other side almost had an animated movement to it. It was almost like a holographic effect. Who ever lost this must have paid a fortune to make it. She took a closer look to admire the handy work.

One charm was purple for the shifting color while the picture was of a rainbow moving through space. The second was blue and a picture of a pulsing brain. The third was yellow with a picture of a landscape that seemed to distort and change with ice and fire and then shift back to normal. The fourth gem was orange & red and had a picture of an hour glass, but instead of sand it looked like smoke pouring from one end to the other. The fifth charm was reddish pink and had a picture of what looked like a person pulling objects towards him and then crushing them with his pare hands. Very odd charms indeed but who was she to judge taste? She then looked at the last one.

“Oh, looks like this one is broken. It barley has a green tint and the picture side is blank,” Julie said.

“That’s okay, it’s still pretty and makes me fell like I can do anything,” Valeria smiled as Julie took her hand and lead her back towards her dorm to change. They were both so caught up in talking that they didn’t notice the last charm finally flare and come to life.

Get Moving – Local Roller-skating Rink

Kat sat around the table sipping her soda. A part of her wanted to take a spin around the rink but she knew that wouldn’t be cool. Her and her friends, Marci Becker and Tracy Silverspoon had come here to check out boys, well one boy, Brent Taylor and his friends. Everyone knew that you came to the rink to hang out and make fun of those that tried to skate. You didn’t actually go out onto the rink, that would be very uncool. So Kat sat there as she glanced from the rink to her lifelong love, Brent.

“Go over there and talk to him,” Marci said as she gave Kat a small shove.

“Yeah, I can tell he keeps looking over at you,” Tracy added.

“No, I can’t,” Kat said bashfully.

“Why?” Her friends both asked in unison.

“I don’t know. Ever since that attack and him being on television about it, it seems like he is way out of my league,” Kat lied, knowing that she really feared that he might get hurt if he ever got close to her and her super hero lifestyle.

“I just think you’re a scardy Kat,” Marci laughed at her joke.

“I am not!” Kat said standing up and trying to balance on her roller skates.

“Then go over there,” Tracy said as she gave Kat a push that sent her rolling at Brent and his friends.

Kat felt her heart beating as she found herself moving right at Brent. She couldn’t stop and she just knew she would end up killing her friends after this was over. Her trip came to an abrupt stop when she slammed into the counter next to wear Brent was standing. She steadied herself and turned to see Brent and his friends staring at her.

“Hi, Kat,” Brent said smiling as his friends snickered and rolled their eyes at her.

“Hey there. Been awhile since I’ve put on a pair,” Kat said trying not to die.

“What ever,” one of the girls whispered just loud enough for Kat to hear.

“You thinking about going out on the rink?” Brent asked.

“Like she knows how,” another girl mocked in a whisper.

“Yes I know how. Come on Brent let’s go,” Kat said as she turned to grab Brent.

The next moment was a horror show in slow motion. Brent had turned at the same time causing Kat to miss him. As she grabbed air, she lost her balance and her feet went out form under her. The next thing she knew, her feet were up in the air and she was hitting the floor with her but and landing flat on her back. She opened her eyes and looked up as everyone in the rink was laughing at her. Kat officially wanted to die.

“I would move to another country if that had been me,” one of the girls said to the other.

“You okay?” Brent asked trying to hide his smirk and laughter.

“I’ll be fine. Just leave me alone,” Kat said in embarrassment.

“Are you sure,” Brent snickered.

“Yes, just go,” Kat snapped as she sat up and leaned against the bottom of the counter.

“Here, I got this out of the novelty toy machine,” Brent said as he tossed an object into her hand and walked off with his friends.

“Someone shoot me know,” Kat whispered as she looked at the clear plastic container that had something green inside.

“OMG, Kat are you okay?” Tracy asked as she and Marci rolled up to her.

“I’m fine,” Kat said as her friends helped her to her feet.

“At least you got to talk to him,” Marci smiled.

“True, and he did give me a gift,” Kat said holding up the object in her hand.

“What is it?” Tracy asked pushing Marci out of the way.

“Not sure, looks like a rock or something,” Kat said as she opened the plastic container.

“Is it a rock?” Marci asked pushing her way back.

“No, wait it’s one of those temporary tattoos,” Kat said as the thing seemed to unfold into a small piece of paper with a green heart on it.

“Here, this will look so cute,” Tracy said taking it and a piece of ice out of her drink.

“Yeah, and it’ll be like Brent is always with you,” Marci said as she watched Tracy apply the tattoo.

“Ouch, that burns,” Kat said as the spot on the back of her neck, behind her ear started to itch and burn.

“It looks way wicked,” Tracy said.

“Hope my parents don’t get mad,” Kat said taking a compact from Marci.

“Who cares, it’s not real. Not like its permanent,” Marci said.

“I do like it and it is from Brent,” Kat smiled as she touched the green heart behind her ear.

“We better go, my dad’s here,” Marci said as she received a text on her phone.

“Yeah, I’m so over this place,” Kat said as she took off her skates, rubbed her new tattoo and took one final glance back at Brent before leaving with her friends.

Epilogue One

“No!” Adam screamed as clutched his forehead and fell to one knee.

“Are you okay?” One of the students that had been walking down the hallway asked at the sight of the golden skinned man’s collapse.

“I’m fine. Migraine took me by surprise,” Adam said as he got up and quickly made it back to his living quarters.

“You look like space dung,” the lady with green skin smiled as Adam shut the door to his room.

“We have problems. I just felt my soul gem activate. That means all seven gems are now in play,” Adam said taking a seat and rubbing his temples.

“Wait a minute, seven? I thought there were only six?” The lady in green asked.

“Yes, but not too long ago the gems fell into another universe. When they finally came back to our universe, a long lost seventh gem returned with them. With this new gem, combined with the other six, will unleash a power unlike anything this universe has experienced,” Adam said as he looked over to the lady in green.

“Adam Warlock, ever since you were reborn and sought me out, I was doing just fine by myself. Now you got me following you on another lame adventure,” the lady in green growled.

“I know, but you’re the only one I trust to help me hunt down the Infinity Gems. With my new abilities, not only have I sensed them in play, but with the last gem activated, I’ve also sensed something very dark coming for them too. Time is running out and we have to find the holders of the gems before its too late, Gamora,” Adam Warlock said as the world deadliest woman nodded.

Epilogue Two

“I can’t believe we are moments from being home,” Jesse said as he leaned back in their flying car.

Jesse was still getting used to the flying car. Reed Richard’s had given it to Alex and it came in real handy. Thanks to Friday, they ad upgraded it a little so it tied in more with Friday and their computer systems back at the Pack Pad. As nervous as it made him to be in a flying car, but it also had a very free feeling. The fact that they were cloaked and high enough in the clouds not to be spotted made it nice. Jesse smiled, but also couldn’t wait to have four wheels back on the ground and soon.

“I know, be weird getting back into the swing of things,” Alex said as he smiled over at his new husband.

“Well, I can think of, wait, wait, what’s that noise?” Jesse asked at the sudden beeping sounds.

“It’s the com system Friday installed. G-Force here,” Alex smiled as he activated a small monitor system in the middle of the dash.

“Alex, a high priority message has come in and I’m redirecting it to you,” Friday’s voice boomed through the speakers.

“Thanks, Friday, send it through,” Alex said with a worried look on his face.

“Alex, this is Mickey,” his old friend and teammate said with panic in her voice.

“Hey, haven’t seen ya since the wedding. How are things with Phil?” Alex said trying to lighten the mood.

“Alex, I don’t have time for pleasantries. I tried calling Thrash, but I can’t get through to him and you’re the only other one I knew to call,” Mickey said in fright.

“Mickey, what’s going on? Where are you?” Alex said suddenly growing worried.

“I’m in New Jersey,” Mickey said quickly.

“What are you doing there?” Alex asked as Jesse gave him a worried look.

“I received a distress call from Carlton LaFroyge saying he was in danger and needed help. As the only member to really tolerate the guy I agreed to come see him. Oh God, Alex,” Mickey began to sob.

“Mickey, talk to me,” Alex said in a panic.

“He’s dead, Alex. Hindsight has been murdered,” Mickey cried.

“Don’t worry, Mickey. I’m on my way,” Alex said entering the address into his GPS.

“Alex, what’s going on?” Jesse asked with great concern.

“Look’s like were taking a detour and visiting a couple old friends,” Alex said as he sent a message to Friday to let the Pack know that they’ve just taken an extension on their trip and sent the car soaring to New Jersey.

Next: Issue #23 – Wolf in Principal’s Clothing – Part One & New Warriors: Warriors Hunt - Part One

Author’s Note: Starting next month, all current titles will start featuring a back up story for a limited time. Here’s a teaser list:

Salem-X #27 - Featuring Wiccan & the Young Avengers: Will see the formation of the team.

New Exiles # 26 - Featuring Black Axe & the Outsiders: Will tell the origin of the Time Quake World & the Outsiders.

Mutant Generation Force #24 - Featuring the Original New Mutants & the Secret New Mutants: Will tell Moira MacTaggert’s secret mutant team’s origin and the search for Daken.

Power Pack #23 - Featuring G-Force & the New Warriors: Will see an old foe coming back to hunt down anyone that has been a member of the New Warriors.

X-Calibur #23 - Featuring Lionheart(future) & Black Knight(present day) & the Avengers: Will see the government creating a new Avengers Initiative & sanctioned team.

Sensational X-Men #23 - Featuring Wolverine & Alpha Flight: Will see what happened to the Canadian Heroes after the Demon Storm.