Issue #2 - Smoke and Mirrors (Currently Being Revised)
[Arctic: Oh, that doesn't look good.]
*Morning*
*Arctic stopped his casual stroll down the neighborhood after watching a steady smoke cloud rise into the air. At first, he walked toward the smoke while it spewed out from a house a block away. Seconds after, a small eruption of fire burst from within the smoke. Arctic's walk turns into a sprint toward the smoke cloud once seeing it become wider and darker.
When he arrived, he gazed at the blazing inferno. Glass blew out of the kitchen window, fires were spreading across the roof, and the siding of the house was being blackened by the flames. His attention then snaps to a boy who sprints inside the burning house. In the next moment, he spots the boy's mother, who could barely hobble over toward the front door. Arctic bolts toward the front door while looking in the mother's direction*
Arctic: I got him, just stay out here!!!
*The mother sharply turns to Arctic, stopping in her tracks. She watches him rush inside the entrance then gazes back to fire spewing out the window. Arctic constantly glanced around the raging fires. He looked up at the ceiling, which was somewhat obscured by the smoke. Then to the kitchen that became a blazing inferno completely engulfed in flames. The fire from the kitchen spread across the nearby living room, slowly making its way toward the front door. Arctic tried to freeze over the fire growing toward the entrance, but only a short cold mist shot out of his hands. He cupped his hands together toward an inflamed couch. He focuses his energy with only a longer cold mist coming out, evaporating within seconds from the hot air*
Arctic: Of course it's too hot.
*He dashes further inside, scanning around the house for the boy. He goes toward a staircase straight ahead while gazing past the fires in the living room*
Arctic: Hey! Kid!! Where you at!?!?!?
*Cough*
*Cough*
*As soon as Arctic heard coughing from upstairs, he raced up the stairwell. On the second floor, Arctic saw the boy with his shirt over his mouth trying to open the door. He struggled to open the door, constantly turning and twisting the knob while pulling on it*
Boy (Muffled): Mary!
Arctic: Hey kid! We have to get out of here!
Boy (Muffled): My cousins are still inside!
Arctic: Alright, let me give it a try then!
*Arctic vaulted over the railing that divided the two. He steps back then gives a heavy kick next to the knob, forcing the door to swing open. The two went into the room, searching for the girls while smoke slowly blew into the second floor. Arctic saw the nearby closet opened up, revealing the two little girls. Arctic's attention suddenly snapped to the ceiling, seeing small flames burst through the air vent above the window*
*Crackle*
Arctic: Oh, that is really not good!
*Arctic turned to the closet, going up to the six and four year old girls that were inside of it*
Arctic: Come on you two, we have to get out of here.
*Both remain still, gazing up to the flames creeping out from the vent then back to Arctic. The boy, with wide eyes, staggered back while he stared at the smoke coming from the hallway*
Arctic: Hey, don't worry; I'm one of the new heroes on the block.
*The boy briefly glanced beside himself to Arctic then back over to the smoke. Arctic went in front of the boy, blocking his view of the smoke while hunching over to him. The boy's trance broke with Arctic pointing his thumb to himself*
Arctic: Names Arctic and don't worry we're all going to make it out of here.
*Arctic's helmet screen then made a happy face emoji [🙂]. The boy ogled and touched his helmet. Arctic then turned to the cousins*
Boy: Wow, that's really so cool!
Arctic: So, you all ready to get on the Arctic train?
*The two little girls gazed upon Arctic's emoji, stepping closer towards him. Once they were close, Arctic carried the two cousins in his arms then turned to the boy*
Arctic: Get on my back and hang on.
*The boy got on and fiercely gripped his back. Arctic slowly rose up, scanning the smoke filled surroundings. They all looked back to the vent, which pumped a large puff of smoke along with a loud crack of wood from above*
*Crack*
*Multiple fires burned holes through the ceiling. Arctic stepped back from one of the fires bursting close to the window, looking back at the door. He gets to the door, touching the doorknob and gets ready to run out of the room*
Arctic: Everyone! Hang on tight! And hold your breath!
*The kids clung tight onto Arctic, wrapping their hands around him. He opens the door and rushes out to the hallway. He glances ahead, noticing more fire spewing down from holes in the ceiling. The surrounding wood thunderously crackled with a part of the roof, partially collapsing into a bathroom. Arctic bolts downstairs and into the smoke and flame covered first floor. The girls screamed in terror as they saw fires burst from behind*
Arctic: We're almost out of here!
*Arctic dashes toward the entrance around the raging fires, nearly escaping fires inches away. Arctic carries them all out of the house, only stopping once he got onto the sidewalk. He lets go of the two girls while the boy dropped down from his back. The boy's mother shambles up to them, appearing completely relieved. Everyone looked over to a fire truck and ambulance pulling up nearby with Arctic giving a firm nod. The boy, in awe, gazes at them while backing into his mother. The mother hugs her son with his gaze now going over to Arctic*
Boy: Thanks Arctic!
*Arctic looks over and gives him a firm nod. The emoji on his helmet changed to an excited face emoji[😃] while he knelt toward him*
Arctic: You have to be the bravest kid I've ever seen but you gotta be careful.You made me and your mom scared.
Boy: Sorry...
Arctic: But you did some good hero work, if I ever need a sidekick I know who to go to now.
*The boy smiled at Arctic, nodding to him. Arctic waves to him and walks back along the sidewalk*
Arctic: I'll catch you later okay.
Mother: Hey!
*Arctic turned to the mother as his emoji went away*
Mother: Who are you?
Arctic: I'm Arctic! A new local hero.
Mother: Thank you, Arctic. I'll never forget what you did here.
{End of Scene#1}
*Back in Their House*
*Gyro's Bedroom*
*Gyro woke up bewildered and groggy, still lying around on her rugged carpet. She lies on the ground in silence, softly groaning and glaring at the curtain-less window amongst an empty room. She slowly pushes herself up from the carpet but suddenly stops herself after hearing someone knocking on her door*
*Knock*
*Knock*
Gyro: Heat!?
[Sparky (From Outside Room): Close.]
*Gyro shambled toward the door and opened it to see Sparky who's expression read both tired and nervous*
Gyro: Damn, I guess you couldn't sleep well either huh?
Sparky: Well...yeah. I've noticed how we all couldn't sleep and...there was this place I found called Walmart that runs twenty-four hours...and there was an ATM nearby...how mad do you think Heat is going to be?
Gyro: How much did you buy?
Sparky: Well, enough to furnish the house...and some food.
*Gyro peeked down the hallway to the last door on the left. She noticed how it was slightly open with her head turning back to Sparky*
Sparky: All in a storage truck outside.
Gyro: Maybe if we can get Arctic right...and the three of us quietly-
[Heat (From Heat's Room): Why is there a moving truck in our driveway!?]
*The two looked over to the cracked opened door. It opened up more and more with Heat poking her head out the door. She glanced back into her room, then walked out the door towards them. As she walked down, Gyro glances back at Sparky*
Gyro: Never mind.
Heat: Does anyone know?
*Knock*
*Knock*
*They all quickly turned to the direction of the front door of the house. Once, at the front door, Heat slowly opened the door to reveal Arctic. He waved then pointed his thumb to the moving truck*
Heat: Arctic, did you get that?
Arctic: Well...no.
Heat: Then who did?
*Sparky heavily sighed causing Heat's attention to go to him*
Sparky: I did, it's my van. I am responsible.
Arctic: Wait...I'm responsible for this too, I let him go out to get the new furniture and stocked it on the truck with him.
*Gyro nodded to her putting her hand on Heat's shoulder with them locking eyes*
Gyro: Yeah, Heat...they're both totally responsible for that, not me.
Heat: I'm not really sure how you would've been a part of-
*Sparky cleared his throat*
Gyro: Except I am a little too, I was about to help unload and hide it from you.
*Heat backed away from all of them. She shook her head, glaring to each of them*
Heat: How would you have hidden that from me? You think I wouldn't of notice the house being filled with- wait Sparky you told me it would be that one time.
Sparky: We've been sleeping on the ground.
Arctic: And some of us have rooms with no carpet.
Heat: Damn it guys.
*Gyro cleared her throat*
Gyro: Guys?
Heat: Whatever, if we keep on doing this people are going to start thinking that we're bad. They're going to send us to prison and who knows what then. I'm not trying to be the stick in the mud, but we have to do things honestly.
Arctic: And that's why this really will be the last time, right Sparky?
Sparky: Yes, this is it...no more.
Heat: Is it Sparky?
Sparky: Yes, Heat this is definitely it.
Heat: Because if it isn't...me and you are going to have a long heated conversation.
Arctic: Fire puns? Really?
Sparky: As long as Arctic gets to be the mediator to cool down-
Heat: Okay, bad habit, no more puns.
Sparky: You were the first to spark that fire.
Heat: Do you want me to help move the furniture or not?
{End of Scene#2}
*Behind A Local Grocery Store Parking Lot*
*The Goth Cashier, from Issue #1, walked behind a grocery store parking lot. She peered around, scanning the empty lot and the surrounding forest. She then scoffed as she then got out her phone*
[Man (Distance): Good, I see you want to make the deal.]
Goth Cashier: Where are you?
[Man (Distance): Did you bring the money?]
Goth Cashier: Of course I did-
*Smoke fumes soon rose a few yards in front of her. She at first backs away then coughs from the smoke while more accumulates. With the smoke expanding several feet, a mysterious masked man slowly rose from the smoke*
Man: Now you can do business with me, Smoke Screen!
*Smoke Screen [A Dopey Drug Dealer] appeared up from the smoke while it slowly dissipated. He stood in the smoke, posing with his black tights, fluttering cape and his "SS" logo on his chest. The Goth Cashier backed a few steps away from him, swatting at the smoke still around her face*
Goth Cashier: What the hell is wrong with you, can you turn off the smoke?
Smoke Screen: It's a part of my powers, deal with it or we don't deal.
*The Goth Cashier hastily pulled up her shirt over her nose, pulling out some cash from her pocket. Smoke Screen gave her a dime bag of weed while laughing maniacally. Continuing to laugh, they did the trade with the Goth Cashier scoffing soon after*
Goth Cashier: It is not that serious-
Smoke Screen: And now! With this money, I can control the gambling scene!
*The Goth Cashier rolled her eyes to him*
Goth Cashier: Yeah, see you next week after you lose most of your cash gambling...again.
*Smoke Screen glared at her but then noticed she flipped him off*
Goth Cashier: And you better cut the smoke or I'm finding another dealer.
*The Goth Cashier started to walk away, turning her back until*
Smoke Screen: Wait, she is right! All this time, I've been trying to own the gambling scene only to lose my money in the process. I guess that means I'll have to change plans then...or...I can fully control the drug scene! Then when I get enough money, I can gamble and eventually buy out the casino! And once I control the casino, I'll never lose! Never!!!
*The Goth Cashier stared at Smoke Screen with a concerned yet baffled gaze. He fiercely raised his arms, in victory*
Goth Cashier: Ugh? You all right-
*Smoke Screen maniacally laughed catching the Goth Cashier off guard. She darted away from him, dashing into the forest*
{End of Scene#3}
*Hours Later*
*Phoenix Pact's Living Room*
*Heat walked out of Sparky's room looking over to Arctic and Gyro who were sitting on the couch. The two were casually playing video games on the couch in their newly furnished living room. Heat walked up behind them while briefly staring at the game being displayed on their flat screen TV then to them*
Heat: Hey, gamers!
Gyro: Heat you have to play this game it's called Street Fighter and it's so awesome!
Heat: Pause the game. Sparky has a history lesson for us.
*Sparky's Room*
*Sparky sat by his wide desk, which had several disassembled cellphones and dual monitors all spread across the table. One monitor showed the Avengers' website while the other had another superhero group. Sparky took a long glance to each of the screens then turns back to Heat, Gyro and Arctic*
Heat: Alright Sparks, what you got for us?
Sparky: Okay, so there's a lot to go over...uhm. We got Mutants AKA humans with a superpower gene, kind of like us, then we got Inhumans-
Heat: Inhumans?
*He looks back to the monitor, reading off his notes off of a notepad document*
Sparky: Who are a little like Mutants but they were engineered by aliens which also means we got a lot of aliens...none that we are familiar with.
Gyro: Well that sounds like a lot to digest-
Sparky: After that we got things called elder gods, Asgardians and other things called demons and a lot of cosmic beings which are in a...Heven or something and a lot of parallel universes that tend to converse with this universe.
Arctic: I miss our world even more now; it was such a simple place.
Gyro: So out of that whole cluster f*ck, is there anyone who can actually teleport us back?
*He looks back to Gyro*
Sparky: To what I've read, these cosmic beings would have the ability to do so.
Heat: Good, so maybe if we contact them we could teleport back into our earth.
Sparky: Though the thing is that they're very hard to contact but there is one person, who doesn't live too far, that can help us. A man named...Doctor Strange.
*Arctic snickered then laughed*
Arctic: Okay, I get the name, but why is he called that? Was that seriously the best name he could think of?
Gyro: Or is there another, less ridiculous sounding person we can talk to?
*Sparky chuckled while pulling up another website*
Sparky: The Fantastic Four.
*Arctic face palmed his helmet, dragging his hand down his visor. Heat folded her arms, for a moment baffled then shrugs her shoulder*
Heat: Well, at least they got alliteration.
Sparky: Worse thing is they constantly fight a guy named Doctor Doom.
Heat: Well uh...Doctor Doom, huh?
Arctic: Face it Heat, these people are being named by children.
Heat: Well, either way, we need to see Dr. Strange; he can get us back into our world, right?
Sparky: I think so but at the same time if we presume he can teleport to other universes, he may be anywhere but this universe.
Heat: Still not a bad idea to make a house call.
Sparky: Or we could browse and find other ridiculous supers.
Gyro: Rather not, I don't want to start pitying these people.
{End of Scene#4}
*Early Afternoon*
*Manhattan, New York*
*They all got out of a taxi right outside onto the bustling street of Manhattan. As they stroll down the block they gaze up at the three story tall Sanctum Sanctorum. Once at the doorstep, Heat went up to the door and loudly knocked on the door*
*Knock*
*Knock*
*They waited in silence, glancing from the door then each other. One by one they sat on the stoop, taking one last glance back to the door*
Gyro: So, how long is this going to take?
Heat: If it means going back to our universe then we'll be here as long as it takes.
{End of Scene#5}
*An Hour Later*
*Heat heavily sighed with her looking at the group who were nearly asleep. She loudly snaps her fingers with the rest jolting up and looking to her*
Sparky: Is he here?
Heat: No, not yet. Do you think he might be out to eat or something?
Arctic: That or he could be on vacation...very far away vacation.
Sparky: Great, so we're going back home- er the house?
Heat: Yeah, we probably should leave a note though.
Sparky: More like a letter, unless any of you have a pen and paper on you.
Gyro: Eh, we'll do it tomorrow.
*Sparky looked at Heat then to Gyro*
Sparky: So do you two think you can fly us back? Or another taxi?
*Heat and Gyro glanced to each other and then back to Sparky*
Gyro: I'm too tired for that sh*t.
Heat: Yeah...and carrying one of you is a pain in the neck, besides I feel like exploring this big city anyway.
*They all started to get up*
Arctic: Fair enough, at least we can figure out what's in this city.
{End of Scene#6}
*Late Afternoon*
*Central Park*
*They were casually strolling through central park's trail, gazing at the luscious green scenery. A few people were jogging around them, ogling at them for a short moment while the group took in their surroundings*
Gyro: This would be a good spot for a mini camping trip.
Sparky: Definitely...if we could just get rid of the people.
*Sparky stopped himself, watching several squirrels hastily climbing a tree. While he stared on Heat noticed a shifty eyed person, wearing a hoodie, fast walking toward a man in a well dressed suit. Heat turns to Gyro as Arctic glanced over to Sparky then to the tree he stared at*
Heat: Hey, check that hoodie guy out. I think he may be up to something.
*Even more squirrels quickly gathered up, scampering up the tree. Sparky pointed at the tree, glancing rapidly from the group to the tree*
Sparky: Uh, what's going on with those squirrels?
Heat: Forget the squirrels...
*Heat, at first, glance then stared at the mass amount of squirrels going up the tree*
Heat: Do squirrels just do that here?
Arctic: Other than me and Sparky, no one else has a pair of nuts on them, right?
[Man (Distant): Hey Stop! My wallet!!]
*They all turn their attention to the shifty eyed man running away from the man in the suit. Heat sprinted toward him with the shifty eyed man bolting down the path. She long jumps into the air, then jetted toward the shifty eyed man using a burst of fire from her hands. Heat then slammed herself into the man, pinning him to the ground. As she looks up, she sees a horde of squirrels appearing around her. Heat was baffled, then completely stunned when a wolverine scampered up to her. She gazed at the wolverine with an open mouth as the wolverine stared back into her eyes*
Heat: Are you the leader of these squirrels, animal?
X-23: Gabby!
*Heat looked up to see Gabby [A clone of a clone, yeah that's not confusing] grabbed the wolverine from the ground, clinging it close to her. X-23 [Wolverine's female clone...not the pet Wolverine] pulled back Gabby behind her while Squirrel Girl [Title says it all] jumped out of a nearby tree*
X-23: Who are you?
Heat: Ugh...Heat...
*Heat stared in astonishment at the three. Arctic, Sparky and Gyro walked up to her with Heat grabbing the wallet from the man while she slowly got up*
Heat: You three with this guy?
X-23: I was about to ask the same thing about you.
*Gyro eyed Squirrel Girl's huge buck teeth. She smirks and leans over to Arctic*
Gyro (To Arctic): Look at that girl's overbite.
*A squirrel then jumped onto Gyro's hair, pulling and scratching it. Gyro tried to rip it off while it clung tight onto her hair*
Gyro: Augh, stupid squirrel!
Squirrel Girl: Hey! Squirrels aren't stupid!
*Arctic tried to get the squirrel out of Gyro's hair while the shifty eyed man swiftly slipped away and ran off*
Squirrel Girl: Wait! Get him!
*All the squirrels, including the one in Gyro's hair, raced to the man. Within seconds the squirrels tripped then pinned him to the ground. Gabby gawked at Squirrel Girl, glancing between her and the army of squirrels*
Gabby: Nice one Squirrels!
*Heat gave the wallet back to the well dressed man who just caught up to them. While he walks away, Heat goes next to her group, staring in total shock and confusion along with them*
Sparky: So, she controls the squirrels?
Gyro: Did she make the squirrel get in my hair?
Heat: And she tripped the man with the squirrels?
Arctic: What's her name again?
*Squirrel Girl quickly turned to them, with her putting her hands on her hips and leaning towards them. They could only glance at each other in confusion, unsure of what was about to happen*
Squirrel Girl: Heat!
*Squirrel marched over to her with X-23 and Gabby slowly walking behind her*
Squirrel Girl: Care to explain this!
*Squirrel Girl held up a burnt acorn*
Heat: What are you talking about, it's just an acorn?
Squirrel Girl: An acorn you burned that was about to be food for my squirrels.
Arctic: So which one of us is going to make the obvious joke?
Heat: Look, I'm sorry.
Squirrel Girl: If you are sorry, then say sorry to all of them.
*Heat stepped forward in front of a fair amount of squirrels that circled ahead of her. Heat peered back at the group, who were smirking and silently chuckling. She then looked back at the squirrels, completely baffled at the situation*
Heat: I'm sorry...for burning your-
Gyro: Nuts!
*Chuckling and cackling was heard with Heat turning back to them and chuckling with them*
X-23: So, who are you four?
*They all looked at X-23 who walked over to them*
Heat: Like I said, I'm Heat, the helmet guy is Arctic, the techie dude is Sparky and...Gyro.
Gyro: No description for me? You really know how to make a girl feel special, Heat.
*Heat gave an exhausted sigh and then rolled her eyes*
X-23: I'm X-23 and this is Gabby.
Squirrel Girl: And I'm Squirrel Girl!
*Heat smiled and kneeled to Gabby*
Heat: You both look quite alike, she's your older sister?
Gabby: and Clone.
*Heat's smile quickly turned to a bewildered stare. Sparky went up to them, giving a single wave to Gabby*
Sparky: Clone, huh?
X-23: It's a long story.
Heat: Well, either way, I'm sure she's happy to be with uh...her guardian, in that case?
Gabby: M-hmm, and my cool pet wolverine.
Squirrel Girl: So I'm guessing you all are wanna be avengers?
Sparky: As if, just regular superheroes.
Arctic: Except our gimmick is that we're from another world.
*Squirrel Girl looked at each of them with starry eyes*
Squirrel Girl: Oh really!?
*Gyro silently sneered at Squirrel Girl. X-23 lightly chuckled then crossed her arms, glancing to them all*
X-23: Are you all stuck here?
Sparky: Yeah, we were trying to find a Doctor Strange. We even went to his house and everything.
X-23: Huh well, I wouldn't know anything about getting you all back to your world unfortunately.
Sparky: We already figured it'd be awhile until we got back.
[(Sinisterly Cuddly Voice): They're onto us!]
{End of Scene#7}
*The White Space*
*The floating flat screen TV, from before, was now prompted on a small wooden table amongst the vast white plane of the White Space. As the TV shows the Phoenix Pact continuing to talk to X-23 and Squirrel Girl, a dark brown paw of a teddy bear hits the TV monitor repeatedly. The paw of the dark brown teddy bear dragged down on the TV with the bear giving an infuriated sigh. As it's faced the TV, staring inches away from, another person could be heard pacing behind it. The person was seemingly a man in a padded suit that resembled a hazmat suit with a reinforced metal head covering. The man cautiously gazed at the teddy bear who took a single step closer with there being no space between the Teddy Bear and the TV*
Teddy Bear: I'm watching you all...heavily!!!
Man in Hazmat Suit: Interesting, and why are you doing that?
Teddy Bear: They expect to be there for a long time...as if they knew- He must have tipped them off once he gave them the house, snitch.
Man in Hazmat Suit: Well,I doubt it. Come, we have a few more plans to unfold and hopefully more lives to preserve.
Teddy Bear: I want those other super losers to follow in with them to find us! Avengers, Iron Man, and whatever else is here...then we'll kill them all!
Man in Hazmat Suit: That doesn't sound like you want to stick to our plan, we all agreed on-
*A person covered and cloaked in a long dirty gray rag shuffled toward them. Though the person's face was hidden within a makeshift hood attached to the rag, they looked toward the two who also peered to the person*
Person Cloaked in Rags (Distorted Voice): The eyes that were on them are now on us.
Man in Hazmat Suit: Wait...does that mean he's done? Or is he fooling around once again?
Teddy Bear: I'd say the ladder.
Person Cloaked in Rags (Distorted Voice): He is close to completion, we are just waiting on the...Strange mortal to make...a house call.
Teddy Bear: Wait!? Doctor Strange is a mortal!? I am so killing him first!
{End of Scene#8}
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