Mightiest Mortals #5

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Mightiest Mortals
#5: “Scenes of a Day”
Written by Don Walsh
Art by Roy Flinchum

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Swayze Circle
“Okay, explain this to me, Chief Kitchens!” demanded the professionally dressed woman, her face filled with an indignant look. She slapped three manila folders onto the top law officer’s desk, each folder adorned with an abstract lightning bolt sticker.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Barr,” replied the burly man. His powerful build was just beginning to sag from middle age, but with his midnight blue uniform, Henry Kitchens was still an imposing figure. He stood up and reached his hand across the desk.

“That’s Kent to you, Chief, and you haven’t answered my question!” she fired back without shaking his hand. “What is this all about?”

”They’re my officers’ police reports, D.A. Kent,” Kitchens replied in a stiff, formal tone. “I would have thought that you and your office would be familiar with them by now.”

“I am referring to this sticker, Chief,” Susan Kent Barr stated as she jabbed her finger into the lightning bolt on the top-most folder.

“That’s what my men have started using to mark cases involving Captain Marvel,” he explained calmly. “We’ve found that his help means that those cases take special handling. So we mark them that way to keep better track of them.”

“That needs to come to a stop,” she said in an exasperated voice. “What’s next? A signal on the roof so we can call him whenever we need him?”

“Now you’re just being silly, Mrs. Kent,” Kitchens answered. “He’s been a tremendous help, and so far every arrest that’s led from his help has stood up. It’s almost like he knows what we need, and takes great pains to provide it. I’m sure it’s helped your side of the workload too.”

”He’s a vigilante,” she replied coldly. “We do not need his help.”

“He’s the best thing to hit the Fawcett since Spy Smasher and Captain Triumph back in the Forties,” Kitchens argued as he tried to keep his patience. “And to be perfectly honest, if he can help us put down Ibac and Sabbac and their hold on this city, then more power to him, I say.”

“Well I don’t say,” Susan snapped back as she stood up sharply. “In fact, I say just the opposite. We know next to nothing of this man, except for what he’s chosen to tell some teen-age boy. We have no control over this man, and he’s demonstrated a tremendous level of power. This comes to an end. Your men will bring him in for questioning on the matters of Ibac and his gang, and Sivana’s activities. And you will have your men stop working with this loose cannon from now on. Understood?”

Henry Kitchens stood up and stared hard at Susan Kent Barr, in her smart business suit, bobbed auburn hair and dark green eyes. His own hazel eyes looked deep into hers and then he finally spoke.

“I am the chief of police,” he growled. “I’ll run this department the way I see fit. If the District Attorney is insisting on issuing a bulletin on Captain Marvel, then I had better see the official paperwork. Until then, get used to those damn lightning bolts. Have a good day, Mrs. Kent.”

“This isn’t over,” Susan said as she gathered the files up. “You want paperwork, you want official? You’ll get both, I assure you!” She turned on her heel and marched out the door.

Kitchens watched her storm from the office, then dropped heavily into his chair. “That can’t be good,” he muttered as he rubbed his temple.

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Brick Town
The Beck Memorial Hospital always smelled bad to Freddy Freeman. It was too clean and too sick all at once, and it always made Freddy’s skin crawl. Now he was back in the one place he hated the most, looking down at his cousin Kit. Tubes and tape and stitches and dark purple colors buried the young man as electronic beeps and mechanized breathing broke the stillness

“I have to go now, Freddy,” Billy Batson said softly, almost apologetically. “Work stuff. You understand?”

Freddy nodded without turning around. “This is stupid, isn’t it? I should be tougher than this by now. But no, I sit here and bawl like a big baby. This is stupid.”

“It’s not stupid,” Billy replied quickly. “It’s family. I don’t think anything like this is supposed to get any easier.”

“Take off before you’re late,” Freddy said. “Workin' at the station is bringin' in the subs and soda. I’ll go to the news stand later this afternoon, okay?”

“Sure. That’s fine, pal,” Billy answered with a nod. He turned and left the room. He started down the hall as Tim Karnes came the other way and passed him.

“Hey, kid,” Tim grinned as he spoke to Billy. “Congrats on the radio gig. Say, do you really know Captain Marvel personally?”

“Yeah,” Billy shot back fast, a hand curling into a fist out of instinct. “What about it?”

“Cool.” Tim shrugged. “Be careful out there, squirt.” And then he entered Kit’s room.

“Freddy! Bro!” Tim cried out as he walked in with arms wide to hug his step-brother. When he got no reaction at all from Freddy, he let his arms drop to his sides with a slap against the expensive leather jacket. “He’s not looking so good. He gonna make it?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Doctors ain’t sure, but Kit’s tough,” Freddy said.

“I’ll say,” Tim muttered with grudging respect, knowing how powerful his other form was. Louder, he added, “That’s good then. Good for him.”

”That was you that was supposed to get hit, wasn’t it?” Freddy asked in an accusing voice.

“Guess so,” Tim lied without missing a beat.

“Because of your gang buddies?”

“Yeah. What of it? I mean, I’m sorry he got caught in the middle, but I’ve told him before to stay the hell out of my way.”

Freddy’s face grew dark and angry at Tim’s words, and he stood up to face his step-brother. “I’ve told you to get out of this crap, and you said no. Now Kit could die, and you still won’t get yourself out of this? Dammit, Tim, why?”

“You don’t get it, Freddy,” Tim explained as he moved towards the door. “I don’t need this. I came here for you, not him. You don’t walk out on Big Boss S, Freddy. Kit there, he’d tell you. If he could.”

“He will, you’ll see,” Freddy boasted as he watched Tim begin to leave. “He’s not supposed to die yet, I know it. It’s not his time. And he’s going to get better, and he’s gonna go and turn in those bastards that put him here. And won't you just be surprised!”

“I bet I would,” Tim replied as he closed the door. He stalked down the hall and stopped at the nurses’ station. He smiled at the pretty young nurse at the computer and handed her a small envelope. “Poor Kit, isn’t that right, Kaylie?”

The nurse took the envelope and slid it into her cleavage with a lusty grin. “Poor Mr. Freeman,” she confirmed.

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Skies above Fawcett City
“Squirt? Kid?” Captain Marvel muttered as he soared through the blue skies and between the soft puffy clouds. “Who does he think he is? Someday, Tim Karnes is going to get his, and I hope I’m there to see it.”

The crimson streak dipped down and alighted in front of the office building labeled with “Bromworks Construction” over the large front doors. He entered the building and was met by a slender, short man in blue jeans and white shirt. Reddish curly hair framed a round, jovial face as he stepped up to greet the Captain.

Behind him trailed a young girl of thirteen. Flowing brown hair ended just above her shoulders, and bright blue eyes gazed at the tall, powerful figure. Her face was round and adorable, and she was dressed in a lovely blue blouse and dark blue skirt, the hem of which she tugged and smoothed down with fidgety fingers.

“Captain Marvel, I am so glad you could come to meet with me, with us,” the man said as he clasped the Captain’s hand in his two. “Nick Bromfield. I’m sorry it’s taken this long to set this up, but I’ve been up in Seattle the past week.”

“Not a problem, Mr. Bromfield,” Captain Marvel answered with his trademark grin. “It was a pleasure to help save your new foundry, and it’s a privilege to meet you and your employees now.”

“Please, it’s Nick,” he said with a playful grin of his own. “I don’t even let the employees call me Mr. Bromfield. I may pay them to work for me, but I’m not better than anyone else. So no titles.”

“Very well…Nick,” the Captain replied with an uncomfortable nod. “And who’s this young lady hiding behind you?”

“This is my daughter,” he replied as he took her shoulders and moved the young lady before him. “Captain Marvel, this is my pride and joy ---“

“Mary,” Captain Marvel said in shock as he stared at her. Mary looked up in surprise as he spoke her name.

“You know me?” she asked softly, her eyes shyly darting from his stare to the floor.

“Um, just…remember reading about the Bromfield family,” Captain Marvel said as he tried to cover for his reaction. He struggled to understand why the name, and the girl, was holding such fascination for him.

Nick noticed the odd exchange, but said nothing more. Instead, he broke the uncomfortable pause by suggesting they move to the ceremony.

“You know, sir…er, Nick, this wasn’t necessary,” Captain Marvel said.

“It’s not just me, Captain,” Nick explained as he led the hero into a large lecture hall filled with workers of all levels. “They wanted to do this as much as I do. You saved their jobs with how you handled Ibac.”

“That’s fine, I can understand that,” Captain Marvel answered as he waved to the assembled crowd. “I don’t want anyone thinking they can’t reach me. That doesn’t help anyone out in the long run. That reward you and your people insisted on, that’s going to the charity I said, right?”

“Absolutely. When they heard you wanted to give it to the Fawcett Homeless Children’s Foundation, they made a second pass of the hat. Apparently you struck a soft spot.”

“Let’s just say I want to see more lucky young kids like your Mary, and fewer like Freddy Freeman.”

“Who?” Mary asked as she blushed from the compliment.

“A friend who’s having a particularly rough time.” They reached the stage and the crowd cheered and applauded, all rising to their feet. “Guess it’s showtime,” Captain Marvel said, as the three stepped up to the podium.

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Upwater
The powerfully built, menacing form of Sabbac swept into the large conference room and took his seat at the head of the assembled criminals and gangsters. Sulfurous yellow eyes swept over the lieutenants of his organization with disdain as a young woman in diaphanous garments curled up next to him, hugging the massive bicep of his left arm. She ran her slim fingers through the thick black mane on his head, and smiled as she watched him.

“So Ibac’s network is stretched,” Sabbac said simply after allowing his presence to settle over the room. The gangsters nodded and murmured as they looked at their demonic boss and the blow-dried blond hanging off his arm. “Captain Marvel has opened up our opportunity?”

One of the men, an Asian fellow of middling age and frighteningly thick build, nodded. If not for Sabbac, this man might well make others shake in fear, but even he paled before his master.

“Ibac’s coffers are drying up, thanks to Marvel,” He explained. “It’s making Ibac’s people nervous and fraying loyalties in his organization.”

A different man, with graying hair and sallow skin, added, “We’ve identified three centers of operations for his network. If we wipe them out, we can force a significant loss of men and resources.”

“Significant? Define ‘significant’.”

“At least a third of his total operations,” The Asian man answered with a cruel smile. “Taking into account his losses from the hero. Enough to let us secure the Cobblestones from him, possibly even the Terrace.”

Sabbac nodded and grinned and stroked the blond at his side like he was petting a cat. “Excellent. Bring the men in. I want this done in thirty-six hours, hard and bloody. Cut a swath. I want it to be my message to everyone that I’m running the show from now on.”

The men nodded and murmured in cowed agreement again and Sabbac sneered at them. He stood up and stalked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

“What about Captain Marvel, Mr. Sabbac, sir?” the blond asked as she chewed on her thumb and trailed behind him. The villain stalked to his private rooms, and opened the door to admit her and then he followed her in. He slammed the doors behind them both and then answered.

“What about Captain Marvel?” he growled as he snatched up a cigar. He stood before the balcony that offered him a view of the Pacific he had paid so much for. He tore off the end and swallowed it, and then puffed hot sparks over the top end of the cigar to light it up. He then took a deep and thoughtful drag.

“Won’t doing this bring him down on you too?” she asked him as she poured scotch into a large tumbler. She padded to him and handed the glass over.

“So what? I’m not some goofy scientist with a complex, or a frustrated Caesar with complicated tactics and delusions of grandeur,” he replied. He swallowed the liquid in a gulp then faced the woman. “I’m raw power and fierce brutality. Marvel wants to stick his head in where it doesn’t belong, I’ll bite it off. Now I think it’s time some of that raw power and brutality found some other uses, don’t you agree, Stacy?” He leered at her as he took another drag of the cigar.

She nodded and slipped her garments off as she headed for the large four-poster bed. She eyed the assortment of implements above the headboard, and then looked coyly back towards Sabbac. “Yes, sir.”

[Lissilambe]

Brick Town
Captain Marvel was heading out of the Bromworks Building and to the courtyard when he heard a woman calling his name. He saw her appear in the dispersing crowd. He didn’t want to stay, he wanted to get back to Freddy and to puzzle out why Mary Bromfield was haunting his mind, but the desperation in the woman’s voice made him stop.

“What can I do for you, miss?” he asked in a concerned, soothing voice

“Captain Marvel, please you have to do something,” the woman said. Her blue eyes were filled with worry as she looked up at the hero. Soft, straw-colored hair fell in waves to the middle of her back, and bright ruby-red lips spoke with worried words. “There’s going to be trouble in the Cobblestones, terrible trouble.”

Captain Marvel looked down at the woman, unable to keep from noticing her generous curves beneath the clothing designed to accentuate them. Deep inside, Billy really started to understand the word ‘beautiful’.

“What’s going to happen?” he asked as he heard her anxious tone.

“Violence,” she answered as she put her hand out to touch his forearm. “Sabbac is planning to move in on Ibac because of your activities. He’s a terrible man, frightening man, and he’s going to hurt a lot of people to do this.”

“You truly believe it will be that bad?” Marvel questioned her further, watching her posture, her movements, captivated by her fluid grace.

“He’s a monster,” she whispered. “He’s nothing but cruelty and violence incarnate. Look what he did to Christopher Freeman.”

The name, and her mention of it, made Captain Marvel stiffen and eye her in surprise. “Sabbac attacked Ki---Christopher?”

She nodded, her full lips pursed in worry, blond curls bobbing. “He did it personally. He said he was tired of the Freeman boy getting in the way.”

“Holy Moley!” Captain Marvel whispered in shock. “When is this next attack supposed to happen?”

“Sometime in the next thirty-five and a half hours, but I can’t say more precisely,” she answered in a conspiratorial whisper. “His men are still planning the details.”

He nodded his head and put his hands on her shoulders. “If you get more information, get it to Billy Batson at Radio-Whiz, okay? He knows how to get in touch with me.”

“Oh.” She sounded disappointed. “I was hoping to talk to you, personally. Get to know you better.”

Captain Marvel tugged at the golden cord holding his cape nervously and swallowed. “Maybe in time. Right now, I need to move on this. Thanks, Miss…”

“Minerva,” she said with a smile. “Call me Minerva.”

“Right,” he replied as he gave her a funny look. Then he lifted off slowly and gave a friendly salute farewell. “Thanks for the tip, I’ll make sure to look into it right away.”

And then he was gone in a blink, leaving Minerva behind, smiling.

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The Terrace
James Barr was in his lab, surrounded by bubbling beakers and smoking glass vials and an array of electronic equipment. He stood up with a great big look of joy and excitement as he held a thin sheet of gray-green metal with a pair of tongs. His other hand ran through the unruly mop of tawny brown hair as his mocha-colored eyes danced over the sight of the metal.

“God damn it! I did it!” he exclaimed as he took the metal over to the scanning equipment. “And they called me mad at the academy! Bwah-hah-hah!” He then laughed normally at his joke as he started a battery of diagnostic tests. “If this is what it’s supposed to be, and has the properties it’s supposed to…” His voice trailed off as he paused to think. “Oh, what I can do with it.”

He leaned back in his chair as the computerized equipment went through their motions. He stretched out, put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes to ponder.

“Oricalchum. Damn.” And he chuckled.

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Join us in thirty days for Between Opposing Forces!