Annual 1
Panel 1
The panel is dark. There are two costumed thieves outside of a bank. One is wearing purple bell bottoms and is shirtless. He has on a pair of roller skates. The other is a female with a large Afro. She is wearing silver and gold tights, also bell bottoms. She has large gold hoop earrings. The man has one hand going through a building, the female is keeping looking out, she is holding a large sack.
Silver Fox: Hey, hurry, Loop Hole, there may be costumes around this bank.
Loop Hole: Hey, chill, foxy lady! There hasn’t been an Ax in town for at least 2 months! Besides, the League of the Insidious takes care of its own.
Off Panel Voice: I cannot believe that is what you are calling yourselves.
Panel 2
It is a dark alley. Silver Fox is looking down the alley.
Sliver Fox: Whose there?!
Panel 3
There is a match being lit in darkness.
Panel 4
Annie’s face is illuminated, the cigarette hanging from her lips.
Annie: No costumes, huh?
Panel 5
Silver Fox is throwing silver daggers at Annie.
Silver Fox: You stupid bitch! This is a million dollar heist! You ain’t stopping us.
Panel 6
There is a spray of water hitting the ground. Annie is touching the spray with her hand.
Annie: O, look at that. You hit a fire hydrant. And you knooooooooooooooooooooow what they say about water and electricity…..
Page 2
Annie is standing up, beside the villains who are hunched over and tied to one another.. She is flicking out a cigarette butt. Her costume is a slight variation of her original one. One noticeable difference is the big red “A” on her chest is gone. She is wearing sunglasses and a leather jacket. Her hair is shorter.
Annie: You know, they don’t make cannon fodder like they used to……
Panel 2
Annie is pulling out a black communicator from her pocket
Annie: Regal? All clear, I stopped Loophole and Silver Fox, how did you make out.
Regal: I have felled AirRaid and Photon. This….League is annoying.
Panel 3
Annie is looking down at the communicator.
Annie: You’re telling me. Ruckus?
Michael: All clear in the Blotner area, no activity tonight, it’s very slow and quiet.
Panel 4
Annie is smiling and looking at the communicator.
Annie: Good for you, you said you wanted a quiet night, Vigilance?
Richard: Yeah, yeah, I busted Hardwire and Haywire, hey where hell do these guys pick their names from? They don’t even sound cool.
Panel 5
Annie is still smiling.
Annie: Names aren’t as important as what you do with your gifts. I’m out guys, I’ll meet you at the usual meeting spot in 30 minutes. Glitch out.
Page 3
Panel 1
They are at the Java Cup. Annie is sitting next to Michael. They are both in T-shirts and jeans. Richard is in his wheelchair at the end of the table. There is also a middle aged man with graying temples. He is dressed in a tweed suit. Michael and Annie are drinking coffee, Richard is drinking juice, and the man is drinking a glass of water.
Annie: It’s just weird seeing you dressed like that, T’Sa-Thad. How’s your civilian identity going?Regal: It’s….different, I am not accustomed to it. I am out of practice, but I will admit, learning again to live as one of you is humbling and refreshing. I should never have let myself stray from humanity.
Michael: Well, I can’t really compare the two, but Thad if you need anything….
Richard: Yes, because you’re an such expert at being human.
Panel 2
Annie is glaring at him.
Annie: Richard, I know that you been nice enough to share your time and razor sharp wit with us and I just want you to know that it means so much to me.
Richard: Really?
Annie: Really? No, you’re an ass and you need to shut up. Look, guys, we’ve been doing good, but we can’t keep this up. The number of criminals in this town has grown and we are barely doing enough to contain it. I think we need more members.
Panel 3
Regal is looking at her.
Regal: Annie….we discussed this. The others don’t want to join, and it would be too lengthy to train new recruits. I think we just need to talk strategy.
Michael: I think she’s right. The only reason that we haven’t actually contacted the others is because of how bad things went last time, we need to try and finally end this. Two months is too long.
Richard: I would have to agree with them, Thad. It has been way too long, I have not spoken to anyone else except this group and I have not spoken to my sister in this length of time. I guess she felt as if dealing with our father attempting to kill us was something that didn’t need to include me. Hell, Annie should be the one with the most to fear, she almost killed all of us.
Panel 4
The table is quiet, everyone looks uncomfortable except for Richard who is sipping his drink.
Panel 5
Regal is looking at Richard, his eyes are glowing dimly.
Regal: I think that is just about enough from you.
Michael: It’s OK, I removed his voice. But he does have a point. Annie, are you sure that you want to talk to them, it has been a while.
Panel 6
Annie is smiling at him.
Annie: I think it’s time. It’s been two months and I gave up trying to talk to them, so let’s divide this up. I’ll talk to Aurora and Evelyn.
Page 4
Panel 1
Michael is looking back at her.
Michael: Let me talk to Aiden and Jeffery….I said somethings to Jeffery that I need to make up for.
Panel 2
Regal is nodding.
Regal: I will speak to Hector and Princess Rylah. Although you came to know them as I do, I have a longer history with them.
Panel 3
Richard is looking at his coffee. Annie is giving him an annoyed look.
Richard: Great, you guys talk to the others, I’ll scratch my ass….
Panel 4
Annie is smiling at him.
Annie: Do you really think that is all you’re going to do? You have the important job of all….you get to recruit Deborah.
Panel 5
Richard is looking surprised.
Richard: My sister?! No, No, No! She said no, when I asked her a few weeks ago. Now she isn’t returning my calls…
Annie: Not up to the challenge?
Richard: Are you trying to goad me into asking her? How childish. It’s appropriate.
Annie: Hehe, sarcasm? How childish. You’re doing it end of story. Besides I know how to get you, Michael and Thad in…..
Page 5
Rachel is cooking in a spacious kitchen. She has her long hair pulled back and has a slight bulge from her stomach. She is adding spices to a sauce pan and there is a larger pot with visible spaghetti sticks from the top. Rachel has her head turned and is yelling.
Rachel: AIDEN! Dinner is almost ready!
Panel 2
There is a small dog running in to the kitchen. Rachel seems annoyed.
Aiden: I’m here!
Rachel: What did I tell you about switching forms when you’re in the new house? Oh my GOD! What are you some kind of idiot? Why do I even try to have nice things when….
Aiden: Shhhhhhh….
Panel 3
Aiden is back in human form, he has his arms wrapped around Rachel.
Aiden: See, look no harm done, if it will make you feel better, I’ll vacuum up the dog hair. You feel ok, now? Better?
Rachel: No, I hate feeling like this, and don’t you dare use that pregnet woman’s excuse, I hate that more than anything….
Aiden: Shhhhh, now I wasn’t going to say anything of the sort, you just relax, I’ll finish the cooking…
Rachel: No, you’ll mess it up…
Panel 4
Aiden looks annoyed.
Aiden: Excuse me?Rachel: No, it’s a recipe that I have been working on for a while for the sauce and I can’t write it down because it’s part of my “knowing” thing. Look, we need to talk, I…
Panel 5
Rachel is looking angry, Aiden is switching into a rabbit.
SOUND EFFECT: DING DING DONG!
Rachel: Aiden…
Aiden: I got it!
Rachel: I said no switching!
Page 6
The image is Aiden switching from rabbit form to his human one, he is opening the front door.
Aiden: Look, when dinner is over, how about you and I….
Panel 2
Michael is standing there at the door. He is grinning. In one hand he is holding a store bought pie, and the other a bottle of wine.
Michael: Room for one more?Panel 3
Aiden is attempting to slam the door.
Aiden: Go eat an enema, I told you I never wanted to see you again, what are you…
Rachel: AIDEN! I invited Michael to dinner, now show him in and be nice.
Panel 4
Michael is walking in, smirking at Aiden. Rachel is in the doorway to the kitchen.
Michael: Yeah, listen to the lady, besides, I have a pie.
Rachel: Michael, don’t tease him, now come on, dinner is almost ready and I have to study in a bit.
Panel 5
Rachel is handing Michael a plate with food. Aiden is sitting at the dinner table sulking.
Michael: Thank you Rachel.
Rachel: Aiden, aren’t you going to fix a plate for yourself?
Aiden: You’re not going to do it for me?
Rachel: Quit being such a baby and just make yourself a plate.
Panel 6
Rachel, Aiden, and Michael are sitting at the dining room table in silence.
Page 7
Aiden is looking at Michael.
Aiden: I don’t care if Rachel invited you, you shouldn’t have come, I told you I never wanted to see you or any of the others again.
Michael: Why are you mad at me? Annie is the one that almost killed us. And I mean that, almost.
Aiden: It doesn’t matter, you agreed to it. You said you would have done the same thing. I was almost dead.
Panel 2
Michael is looking at him.
Michael: I would have done it, and I haven’t changed my mind, I just want you to know that is what we do. We do what we need to do to make sure that innocent lives aren’t lost. That’s what you wanted to do right? I mean that’s what we did, what do you think Keller would have done in charge of an army of vampires?Panel 3
Michael is looking him, taking a bite.
Michael: Well?
Aiden: Well what? Why did you accept Rachel’s invitation to come knowing I didn’t want to see you.
Michael: Well, because I thought we could talk things out, man to man. Or man to whatever you switch into.
Aiden: Yeah, ha….ha.
Panel 4
Rachel is putting garlic bread on the table. Michael and Aiden are looking at one another.
Rachel: Ok, guys enough fake testosterone. Did I tell you about a weird dream I had, I dreamed that I went in for my sonogram and it was in crayon! I couldn’t help but cry and tell the doctor, ‘I don’t see anything!’
Michael: How far along are you, Rachel?
Rachel: Only about four months, soon I can find out what the sex of the baby is.
Aiden: Wait, why are you even discussing this with him, why did you invite him?
Panel 5
Rachel is smiling and playing the spaghetti on her plate.
Rachel: Because, dear, I want you to join us, rejoin the team.
Panel 6
Aiden and Michael are looking at one another.
Page 8
6 Panels
Rachel is looking at both of them.
Rachel: What?Michael: When did you rejoin?Aiden: You joined Ax?
Rachel: Yes, yes I did. About a month ago, I saw Michael and Annie, fighting some ugly guy on stilts and I tracked Annie down to Michael’s apartment and then I rejoined, but only part time and no fighting or anything just as like a back up tech person. O and Diva is around when the team needs her.
Panel 2
Aiden is looking alarmed, Michael is surprised.
Aiden: Diva? I saw you dismantle that armor! I…No, you cannot join the team, I forbid it.
Michael: When did you see me and Annie take down TopFloor? And you’ve been to my-our apartment?
Rachel: Hush both of you. I dismantled the armor but her AI is all around, I have surveillance set up around the city and have been coordinating with Annie on hotspots, that’s how Ax has been effective so far, but this villain team is growing in numbers and we are just five people.
Panel 3
Aiden is looking at Michael.
Aiden: You honestly didn’t know that Rachel was a member?Michael: I swear on a stack of scripts, I had no idea, Annie didn’t say anything to me about it.
Rachel: I asked her not to, I just want a small number to know that I’m involved. Better for me and the baby anyway, let Aiden be the hero, not me. This way I can help and be part time.
Aiden: No, I wont have it, I’m the breadwinner here…
Panel 4
Rachel is looking at him seriously.
Rachel: And how are you going to do that? You have no job, no skills, you didn’t sign up for college courses like I asked you too, the only reason we have this house is because I patented that new microchip interface and motherboard and then told you that my aunt left me the house. Aiden, you can do so much more than joining this team, but you haven’t. You’ve moped like you’ve lost something, and I just want you to get it back. Plus, I know you’ve missed your best friend.
Panel 5
Michael looks surprised, Aiden looks embarrassed.
Michael: I..I’m your best friend?Aiden: Well, outside of Rachel…yeah, yeah you are. You were the first person I met here in Salvation that showed me how to use my powers and taught me how to fight with them…and yeah….I miss talking to you.
Michael: I don’t….I never had many friends, Aiden, and yeah, I’ve missed you too…
Rachel: OK, guys before this ‘bromance’ gets any more ‘meaningful’, eat my spaghetti! You haven’t told me how the sauce tastes, and Aiden, your new costume is in the basement. I had 4 produced so you’ll be ready for the meeting tomorrow night and have spares in case anything happens. Eat! Eat!
Panel 6
Aiden is eating and Michael is looking at him.
Aiden: Emphing See?
Michael: Ok, so now that your back on the team, you want to run an errand with me later?Aiden: Depends, it’s not gay is it?Michael: As a matter of fact…………
Page 8
2 small panels one large
Annie is looking at a rundown looking building with a neon light. She is flicking a cigarette. She is dressed in conservative street clothes and looking at the building with her head raised high. The reader should not be able to see the what the neon sign says.
Annie: Unbelievable.
Panel 2
Aurora is behind her, she is also dressed in street clothes, her long blonde hair in braids. In one hand, she is holding the staff. Annie is jumping with surprise.
Aurora: Annie, what are you doing here?Annie: AHHH! Crap, ‘Rora, that’s scary. Why didn’t you tell me that you were there?
Panel 3
They are now facing one another.
Aurora: I….knew that you would come, Silias told me. He’s one of the seers in the bathhouse coven. He saw a lot of things….I need to rejoin Ax.
Annie: And here I thought that it was going to take a lot of convincing.
Aurora: Don’t get me wrong, I am still furious with you, but….we did some good. I think we could do more…..a lot more. And…..I still can’t do magic, I can feel the connection, it’s still there, but……I can’t cast any spells. If I’m going to find a way to get around this censure I need to be around…..friends.
Annie: Ok, so no kiss and make up?
Aurora: Annie, I’m rejoining the team, we can work on our personal relationship later, but can I ask a favor now?
Annie: Sure, anything.
Aurora: Can I stay with you? This place is….well different to say the least, but….
Annie: Yeah, I’m staying with Michael, but we’d love to have you.
Aurora: Fine, this is not the kind of place I imagined myself living.
Annie: Where did you think you’d end up?Aurora: Up in the clouds.
Page 9
It’s Monument Park, Thad is there with a surveur’s glass. He has a clipboard and is taking notes. Behind him is a Hispanic man and a woman who has her head wrapped with a scarf.
Thad: Hello, Hector, Princess. I am sorry, but I thought I would be done with work by the time you showed up to meet me.
Hector: What do you think you’re doing Tsari?Thad: I am surveying the park for an expansion project that my firm is working on. And its ‘Thad’ now. T’sari is a super hero, Thad is a man, a human, and right now behind schedule.
Panel 2
The woman is now speaking.
Orchid: I believe this is what he is referring to, Re-Thad. When did masquerading as a human become so important to you? It never was before, you thought you were the pinnacle of perfection.
Thad: I had a revelation, after that incident with the Cabal, and seeing my sister’s reaction to the rest of the team, was a…an eye-opening experience. Even my perception towards the two of you has changed. We have been colleagues for years, but I never thought about you as people. You two were never….never anymore than coworkers. I didn’t even know you two were married until a few months ago.
Panel 3
Hector is looking at him with his head cocked.
Hector: If this is your pitch, it needs work.
Thad: This is my pitch, I am working on myself. I am working at becoming a human again. My alien heritage has given me nothing that I want to acknowledge. I am asking that you two, Lasombra and Orchid, who should have been my friends, join me. Let’s have a real relationship, I am seeing everything different now, let me be a part of your lives.
Panel 4
Orchid and Lasombra are looking at each other.
Panel 5
They are now looking at Thad.
Orchid: Did you honestly think we would refuse? We always planned on rejoining Ax, we were just taking a sabbatical to work on our relationship. Now would be as good as time as any.
Lasombra: Lasombra and Orchid are ready to go down this new path with you, friend.
Panel 6
Thad is smiling.
Thad: Excellent! And now, if you will excuse me for just a moment, I must get these measurements before my boss has a….kinipition fit as Annie would put it. I am working on my Earth expressions now….we have so much to catch up on…..
Page 10
Deborah is looking up from a desk in a lavish office.
Deborah: No.
Panel 2
Richard is across from her. He is looking bored.
Richard: I see…I thought you would say no, so I prepared a presentation. More businesslike, as I am sure that will appeal more to you….
Deborah: I said no, Richard. As a matter of fact, I have fielded calls from Annie, T’sari, Michael and now your visit. It means I have said ‘no’ four times. Now that father is gone, I believe that we can both go on with our lives.
Richard: So, that’s it then. Well, I can’t say that I’m surprised but I won’t pretend to understand, but you’ve made your choice. Ax will have to continue without you. By the way, have you had the opportunity to look over the company portfolio that I provided you a week ago?
Deborah: No, I didn’t, I have decieded to sell the company and ….
Panel 3
Richard looks shocked.
Richard: You didn’t look it over? Do you know what kind of business our father was involved in? What we are now involved in?! We have secretly sold weapons to terrorists, we told nuclear technology to third world nations, and then there are the ties to several black ops contracts for the government that involved older members of the team. Members of Ax committing espionage, murders, actions against our allies! Deborah, if you want to walk away, you picked a fine time to do it. This is not just something that involves his business, this is affecting other people. Since our name is on this company now, it means it involves us!
Panel 4
Deborah is shaking her head, her noise is bleeding. Richard is pointing at her accusingly.
Deborah: N-No, I-It can’t be, F-father would have told me, he…
Richard: You knew! You can’t lie, Deborah. You are stuttering and your nose is bleeding, it’s part of your gift, you can’t lie or be lied to, and….my God, Deborah! You’ve kept this from me, I’m telling the others, this has to stop.
Deborah: Richard…stop, look, yes, I knew and that’s why I can’t rejoin the team, I have to end this all by myself, this doesn’t have to concern you or the other team members….
Richard: It doesn’t concern us?! Look, Deborah, you and I don’t like each other, I have asked you multiple times about that and you always lie, but as your brother and now co-owner of this company, you and I are in this together. We have to stop this. Do you hear me, WE have to stop this.
Panel 5
Deborah is crying now.
Deborah: I…I don’t know how, the way that Father tied everything up it’s hard to figure oru who did what and when it was actually done. I…
Richard: Stop crying! Look, this is what’s going to happen, you are coming back to the team, and you will make this your top priority. And you will have help, but you will first need to help me do something….here, call this number, she will be more than happy to help you.
Panel 6
Deborah is looking at the piece of paper.
Deborah: Her!?
Page 12
Michael, Aiden, and Rachel are in Monument Park. Thad, Hector and Orchid are in the background. Aurora is walking up. Annie is nowhere to be seen.
Thad: Mikey! Good, you brought Aiden and Rachel with you.
Rachel: Mikey?
Michael: I hate that, Thad! You have Hector and Orchid. And Aurora!
Aurora: Hello, everyone. Who picked the park for a meeting? It’s beautiful weather and I will be very appreciative. There seems to be some kind of film crew filming ….wait a second…Evelyn might be here!
Panel 2
Michael is looking at Thad.
Michael: Hey, Thad, that’s why Annie picked this place….
Rachel: No, Jeffery was supposed to be here working security…Richard and I hacked it from the event site…
Panel 3
Thad is looking at Michael and gesturing toward Rachel.
Thad: I believe you are both correct. The film crew is filming a scene from a movie called Betrayal starting Evelyn, and I thought I had seen Jeffery earlier, but was unable to be sure as he has a shaved head and was wearing a security uniform.
Michael: Where is Annie? I thought she had wanted us to meet here…
Rachel: Wait! Look!Panel 4
Rachel is pointing at the crowd. Michael is behind her.
Rachel: That crowd is rioting….
Michael: There is someone flying….
Page 13
There is a large group of people running towards them. In the air above them is a man wearing a red and yellow costume on a flying platform, he is blasting in the crowd. The crowd is also parted in the middle and there is a woman walking through. She is holding two blades and is dressed in a mumu. Michael is pointing and shouting.
Michael: Everyone, if you have access to flash, do it.
Small panel 2
There is a large flash of light.
Page 14 and 15
It is a two page splash.
Left to right, the heroes are now in costume. Besides all of them are updated caption boxes.
Diva-Rachel Smith, Perfect understanding, Super learning. Wearer of the Diva Armor.
Switch-Aiden Christoph, Able to switch forms in to those of animals and inanimate objects
Rukus-Michael Floyd, Sound manipulator, co-leader
Lasombra-Hector Gonzalez, Master of the shadows
Orchid-Princess Ryla, secretes powerful pheromones
Captain Regal-Thad McKraken, Alien Powerhouse, co-leader
Aurora-Magical Expert, Caretaker of an arsenal of magical items.
Vigilence-Richard Keller, Telemechanic, wearer of the Vigilence armor
Michael and Captain Regal: AX ‘EM.
Page 16
Richard and Rachel are flying towards the flying man. He does not see them approaching.
HighJack: Come on, Blades! The League is paying us good to bust up this….
Rachel:…and now we are just going to bust some heads.
Panel 2
HighJack is blasting at Richard and Rachel.
Highjack: You think so? Those suits look pretty expensive, would hate to ruin all that shiny metal.
Panel 3
Rachel is blasting at him with a beam from the eyes of the Diva armor. Richard appears to be tapping something from his wrist.
Rachel: Don’t worry about the metal, uhm loser, I really need to work on my comeback.
Richard: Got Em!
Panel 4
Highjack is now falling from the sky, Rachel is unleashing a net from the chestplate of the armor.
Richard: I love taking control of electronic devices!
Rachel: You can tell me about your adult toys later, we need to do some crowd control.
Page 16
Orchid is walking amongst the crowd. Her face is expressionless as if she is lost in thought. The people around her are calm. There should be a blue aura around her.
Orchid: I am calming them, Hector, but we need to get to the source of this panic. I don’t believe those two had it in them to cause such panic.
Hector(floating word balloon):Si, but there’s too much going on, I’m going to piggyback on shadows until I get to that film crew.
Panel 2
Blades is standing in front of Orchid now.
Blades: Come on, baldy you want a piece of blades.
Orchid: No, no I don’t, you can knock yourself out, just to save time.
Panel 3
Blades is laughing and Ibrandishing both swords.
Blades: Big talk for someone who is about to sliced and diced. How about it? You wanna mix it up with Blades?
Orchid: At the risk of sounding crude, you are about to busy yourself with yourself in just a moment.
Blades: O, yeah? Hows that…….
Panel 4
Blades is tearing off her mumu. The swords are by her feet.
Panel 5
Blades is curled in the fetal position, nude. Orchid is walking over her calmly.
Lasombra: What did you do to her?Orchid: I used one scent to drive her to masturbate,right now, and then a hypnotic to make her think she had no genitalia, a little crude, I know, but first thing I thought of.
Lasombra: DUCK!
Page 17
Jeffery, Evelyn, and Annie are being blasted in to the air, towards the crowd, by a green beam of light. Jeffery is stressed in black and the words “SECURITY” are printed on his jacket. Evelyn is stressed in a white revealing dress, Annie is in costume. Besides each one is a caption.
Velocity-Jeffery Harris, able to move at superspeeds.
Allure-Evelyn Davis, able to alter her own density, super strength.
Glitch-Annie LeDuex, bio-electrical generator, leader.
Panel 2
Captain Regal is catching Allure.
Panel 3
Lasombra has enveloped Jeffery in Shadow.
Panel 4
Diva has caught Annie.
Page 18
All are on the ground now, looking at the source of the blast. Evelyn is yelling at Annie. Jeffery is besides Evelyn looking annoyed.
Evelyn: I had thought that I had made it clear that I did not want to see any of you again, now if you will excuse me,
Panel 2
Annie is enraged, grabbing her by the shoulders.
Annie: Fine, Go. But I want you to know Evelyn, that if you walk away from us, that means walking away from the opportunity to help them. Do you see those people over there? Do you see them cowering in fear? They are scared. People like us, did this to them.
Panel 3
It is a shot of the crowd looking scared, some are still running some are staring.
Annie(in voiceover): How can they defend themselves? Do you see anyone who can shoot lightning out their fingers, run at the speed of sound, alter their density? Do you think if they what kind of people would they be? Do you think they would help each other, or try and take advantage of that? What kind of person do you want to be, Evelyn?
Panel 4
Jeffery is looking down. Evelyn is looking away.
Annie: Fine. Evelyn, Jeffery, go. You think I did something horrible to you, but I acted and these people were safe. Does your lack of action make them safe?
Panel 5
Jeffery is grabbing Annie and Evelyn at superspeed.
Jeffery: GET DOWN!
Panel 6
There is an explosion where they were standing.
Page 19
There are four costumed figures. One is a large man,who is armed to the teeth, the other is a transparent woman in white robes, in the air is a man who is leaving a multicolored streak behind him, and finally there is a man who appears to be a walking tree. The large heavily armed man is pointing and speaking.
Ballistic: We represent the League of the Insidious. We are under orders to detain any and all suspected members of Ax because….
Page 20
Panel 1
Evelyn is leaping at him.
Evelyn: Your reasoning doesn’t matter to me, all I know is, you ruined my scene, you almost killed some of these good people, and now I’m going to kick your ass! And for God’s sake, someone PLEASE, flash a costume on me!
Panel 2
Jeffery is now in costume and is grabbing the tree man.
Jeffery: Come on guys, we are outnumbering…
Panel 3
The man has wrapped his “roots” around Jeffery’s leg. Jeffery is falling down at superspeed.
Flora: You think that we would be taken down that easy? You thought…
Panel 4
Flora is being blown apart into multiple pieces. The pieces should look like the seeds from a dandelion. Michael is screaming at him.
Michael: You stay the hell away from him!
Panel 5
Michael is helping Jeffery up.
Michael: Look, this is probably a bad time, but I said somethings and I just think you should know…
Jeffery: Michael, really there are somethings that are better left unsaid. I never thought you said any of things to hurt me and really we’re OK….
Michael: look, I just wanted to tell you that I guess, well, I have fe-
Panel 6
The scene is just over Jeffery’s shoulder. James is running towards them, in riot gear.
Michael: You know, what? You’re right. There are somethings that are better left unsaid.
Panel 7
Michael is turning around to rush back into action, Jeffery is reaching for him.
Jeffery: Michael..
Michael: yeah?
Jeffery: I…nevermind, be careful.
Panel 8
Jeffery is staring at Michael walk away. His expression should be one of thoughtfulness.
Page 21
The transparent woman is approaching Aurora and Orchid.
Orchid: Aurora, I think we can take…her, but I need to know if you can..
Aurora: Don’t worry about me, I have the staff.
Panel 2
The woman is smiling, upon closer inspection, the woman has what appears to be wailing faces that make up her body.
Panel 3
Aurora is in shock Orchid is standing in front of her.
Aurora: She’s…a…wraith.
Orchid: Pheromones aren’t working on her….
Panel 4
The wraith’s hands are in the panel, Aurora and Orchid are horrified.
Orchid: Run, Aurora! I can try and delay her..
Aurora: No, I….The staff isn’t responding, let me try…
Panel 5
There is a flash of light and ghosts of screaming faces flying in different directions.
NOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Panel 6
Aurora is on the ground holding a smoking bottle. Orchid is attempting to help her up.
Orchid: Are you Ok? What is that?Aurora: A jar of holding. It was the first thing I thought of, it’s an unbreakable jar with an all powerful pull. First thing I pulled out of my bag.
Orchid: You are full of surprises.
Aurora: Thank you, Orchid. By the way, that trick back there with the pheromones on that one freak was…..inspired.
Page 22
The Rainbow flyer is crashing to the ground, there are tendrils of shadow, coming off of him. Orchid and Aurora are jumping out of the way.
Roy G Bv: You think that’s gonna stop me? Huh, you think so, I’ll colorize your world, you….
Panel 2
Lasombra is kicking him in the face as he is taking his human form.
Lasombra: Shhhhh….
Panel 3
Lasombra, Orchid, and Aurora and looking down at him.
Lasombra: Move, I dare you.
Panel 4
Evelyn is getting shot at by Ballistic. She is not moving and there are bullets are bouncing off.
Evelyn: You think that’s going to stop me?
Ballistic: Get away from me, bitch!
Panel 5
Evelyn is punching him to the ground.
Evelyn: You interrupt my movie shoot, you endanger innocents, you fire at my friends? What is the matter with you lot? Villains? What defect or undersized organ motivates you?
Panel 6
Ballistic is throwing a grenade at her.
Ballistic: Eat concussion grenade, tramp.
Page 23
Captain Regal is holding Ballistic by the arms, Velocity is removing his weapons at superspeed.
Captain Regal: You need to watch how you speak to a lady.
Velocity: You don’t need to try and reason with him, Regal, just punch his lights out.
Panel 2
Ballistic is beginning to glow.
Ballistic: You think this is going to stop me? You think I don’t have powers? Let me show you what I can…..
Panel 3
Michael and Annie are running towards him in the background. Ballistic glowing even brighter.
Ballistic: The League sent me for one reason, to blow up Monument Park…..and….
Panel 4
Michael is knocking him back with a sound blast, while Annie is firing an electrical burst at his head.
Michael: I don’t think getting your ass handed to you was on your list.
Annie: Hit em hard, Floyd, I’ll light ‘em up.
Panel 5
Michael is kicking Ballistic in the face.
Panel 6
Annie is grabbing his head and causing electrical energy to crackle around her.
Page 24
Regal is punching at him, while Aurora is blasting him with her staff.
Panel 2
Richard is grabbing Rachel.
Richard: Look, do you see what’s happening?Rachel: Kinetic energy….they are going to cause him to explode!
Panel 3
Rachel is grabbing Aiden.
Aiden: Rachel, let me go! I have to…
Rachel: I need you to listen to me, you need to become [Xenon] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2 at the electron level….
Aiden: I don’t know what your talking about, what animal is that…
Panel 4
Rachel is screaming at him.
Rachel: Listen, it’s not an animal, you need to become inanimate and cover him.
Aiden: I..I can’t! It’s too hard to switch back and I…
Panel 5
Rachel is screaming at him.
Rachel: Aiden, that man is going to explode, and we are going to help him! Look I know it’s hard, but you have to…
Panel 6
Evelyn is getting up, she is looking at Aiden.
Evelyn: If….if you…can’t…then I will…
Page 25
Panel 1
Evelyn is shifting her shape to a blob like figure.
Evelyn: I got…..
Panel 2
Aiden is grabbing Evelyn and running towards Ballstic, his skin is now turning into a grey color.
Aiden: Come on, I need back up.
Panel 3
Ballistic is glowing, he is laughing.
Ballistic: You think that’s going to stop me, a bunch of punches and energy blasts? You just helped me…
Panel 4
Aiden is leaping on Ballistic. Aiden’s form is now liquid and he is grey toned. Evelyn is behind him, shifting phase as she is running.
Aiden: Ok, shut the f!*k up.
Evelyn: I must concur with that crude sentiment.
Panel 5
Aiden is wrapped around Ballistic’s body, Evelyn covering him. Ballistic is looking shocked and scared.
Ballistic: NO, NO, You can’t stop me….
Evelyn: Didn’t my teammate tell you to shut the f!*k up?
Panel 6
The ground is shaking and rumbling.
Page 26
Splash Page
There are various people who are falling, The center of page should be the center of Ballistics’ body which is covered with both a grayish type matter and a diamond material.
Page 27
Panel 1
The team is rushing to the smoking mass. Evelyn is reforming, Ballistic is now noticeably smaller.
Panel 2
Evelyn is looking down at Rachel. Evelyn is naked and Rachel is removing her helmet.
Rachel: Aiden, you did it. Aiden? Aiden!Evelyn: He isn’t responding? Aiden!
Panel 3
The rest of the team is around Rachel now, she is running her hand through the grey material.
Rachel: Aiden? Do you hear me? Come back to me, I….I thought you could come back from an inanimate form…I’m sorry…Aiden?
Panel 4
Rachel is now crying, there is a larger crowd forming around them.
Rachel: Aiden, come back to me! Please….I….need you….
Panel 5
Regal’s eyes are glowing. Annie’s eyes are giving off sparks of electricity.
Regal: I don’t detect any signs of life….
Annie: There is no bio-activity.
Rachel: NO! He is not gone, HE IS ALIVE, AIDEN, you stop this right now! This isn’t funny, you need to come back……please?Panel 6
Aurora is kneeling beside her, she is reaching into her pouch.
Aurora: No, he isn’t gone, I am not accepting that either.
Page 28
Panel 1
Aurora is holding a blank card in front of the mass.
Aurora: Aiden….if you can hear me, look at the card.
Panel 2
The card has an image of Aiden appearing on it.
Panel 3
Aurora is putting her hand in the mass.
Aurora: Aiden…..look, concentrate, you can do this……become this.
Panel 4
The mass is forming a body now. Rachel is laughing in relief and hugging Aurora.
Rachel: You did it! You saved him.
Aurora: I….It was nothing, Rachel, I just wanted to see you reunited with him…
Panel 5
Rachel is hugging Aiden who is back in his human form. Evelyn is behind them looking at the crowd. There are multiple flashes going on.
Aiden: Did…did we do it?
Rachel: Yes, You and Evee, did it. Well, you stopped him.
Evelyn: Yes, well, can someone PLEASE “flash” some clothes on us? I fear I will be downloaded and visually molested multiple times tonight.
Panel 6
Regal is looking into the crowd. Annie is besides him.
Regal: The local news is coming….
Annie: Regal, give a short statement and get rid of them.
Regal: With all due respect, Glitch, you are the field leader and I believe we are in the field.
Annie: Yeah knew that would bite me in the a…
Page 29
Panel 1
Annie, Michael, and Regal are having cameras shoved in their face. Annie looks uncomfortable, Michael, surprised, Regal apathetic.
Off panel: Is Ax reforming?Off panel: How does this affect Evelyn Davis’s film career?Off panel: Weren’t you in Tartuffe last month?
Off Panel: Regal, who does your hair?
Panel 2
Annie’s sparking with electrical energy.
Annie: WAIT! Look, I have something to say, well on behalf of the team I would like to say that, Yes. We’re back. I would also like to say this….if you’re a bad guy. You don’t operate in Salvation anymore. Period. End of story.
Panel 3
There is a group of kids watching television. One child has large black eyes. There is a Tall African woman standing behind them, with a young man leaning against the wall.
Annie(on television): This is not the Ax of a generation ago. We aren’t going to be satisfied to stop you, allow you to go to prison and escape. If you are part of a group, we will dismantle it. If you are the head of an organization, we are crippling the entire outfit.
Woman: Kids, pay attention. This is the reason that we are training you, everything she is saying, right there.
Panel 4
There is a man jumping up and down, he is glaring at a television. In the background, are various pictures of Evelyn, tacked to a wall in a collage.
Annie: All of us, from Evelyn Davis to Regal to myself are dedicated to stopping parahuman crime in all its form. You have powers and you misuse them, you’re on our list.
Man: Get that pierced freak off the television! We want to see more Evelyn! She’s the star!!
Panel 5
There is a man with a goatee and auburn hair looking disdainfully at a television. Beside him is an older woman and a younger brunette with bright blue eyes and a big chest.
Annie: Old foes? New foes? Anyone who made the choice to hurt, swindle, or cause harm to another human being? You’re on the list.
Fruit Fly: Wait till they get a load of the new Fruit Fly and Nancy Boy!
Panel 6
Trish is sitting in a lone room, her head is turned away from the television. She is reading.
Trish: Good thing my tip was right……
Panel 7
Annie: That is all….
The television is on in a dark room. Chris, Gavin, and Nexus are watching it. Nothing is being said.
Panel 8
The team is walking away, one reporter is walking up to her.
Reporter: Wait! Glitch! Any last comments?
Annie: O yeah, I have one….
Page 30
Splash page.
Annie is turned. Her hand is an upside piece sign, making an ‘A’.
Annie: Yeah, you’ve been reading Reconstruction by Jessie Robles.
Panel 1
The panel is dark. There are two costumed thieves outside of a bank. One is wearing purple bell bottoms and is shirtless. He has on a pair of roller skates. The other is a female with a large Afro. She is wearing silver and gold tights, also bell bottoms. She has large gold hoop earrings. The man has one hand going through a building, the female is keeping looking out, she is holding a large sack.
Silver Fox: Hey, hurry, Loop Hole, there may be costumes around this bank.
Loop Hole: Hey, chill, foxy lady! There hasn’t been an Ax in town for at least 2 months! Besides, the League of the Insidious takes care of its own.
Off Panel Voice: I cannot believe that is what you are calling yourselves.
Panel 2
It is a dark alley. Silver Fox is looking down the alley.
Sliver Fox: Whose there?!
Panel 3
There is a match being lit in darkness.
Panel 4
Annie’s face is illuminated, the cigarette hanging from her lips.
Annie: No costumes, huh?
Panel 5
Silver Fox is throwing silver daggers at Annie.
Silver Fox: You stupid bitch! This is a million dollar heist! You ain’t stopping us.
Panel 6
There is a spray of water hitting the ground. Annie is touching the spray with her hand.
Annie: O, look at that. You hit a fire hydrant. And you knooooooooooooooooooooow what they say about water and electricity…..
Page 2
Annie is standing up, beside the villains who are hunched over and tied to one another.. She is flicking out a cigarette butt. Her costume is a slight variation of her original one. One noticeable difference is the big red “A” on her chest is gone. She is wearing sunglasses and a leather jacket. Her hair is shorter.
Annie: You know, they don’t make cannon fodder like they used to……
Panel 2
Annie is pulling out a black communicator from her pocket
Annie: Regal? All clear, I stopped Loophole and Silver Fox, how did you make out.
Regal: I have felled AirRaid and Photon. This….League is annoying.
Panel 3
Annie is looking down at the communicator.
Annie: You’re telling me. Ruckus?
Michael: All clear in the Blotner area, no activity tonight, it’s very slow and quiet.
Panel 4
Annie is smiling and looking at the communicator.
Annie: Good for you, you said you wanted a quiet night, Vigilance?
Richard: Yeah, yeah, I busted Hardwire and Haywire, hey where hell do these guys pick their names from? They don’t even sound cool.
Panel 5
Annie is still smiling.
Annie: Names aren’t as important as what you do with your gifts. I’m out guys, I’ll meet you at the usual meeting spot in 30 minutes. Glitch out.
Page 3
Panel 1
They are at the Java Cup. Annie is sitting next to Michael. They are both in T-shirts and jeans. Richard is in his wheelchair at the end of the table. There is also a middle aged man with graying temples. He is dressed in a tweed suit. Michael and Annie are drinking coffee, Richard is drinking juice, and the man is drinking a glass of water.
Annie: It’s just weird seeing you dressed like that, T’Sa-Thad. How’s your civilian identity going?Regal: It’s….different, I am not accustomed to it. I am out of practice, but I will admit, learning again to live as one of you is humbling and refreshing. I should never have let myself stray from humanity.
Michael: Well, I can’t really compare the two, but Thad if you need anything….
Richard: Yes, because you’re an such expert at being human.
Panel 2
Annie is glaring at him.
Annie: Richard, I know that you been nice enough to share your time and razor sharp wit with us and I just want you to know that it means so much to me.
Richard: Really?
Annie: Really? No, you’re an ass and you need to shut up. Look, guys, we’ve been doing good, but we can’t keep this up. The number of criminals in this town has grown and we are barely doing enough to contain it. I think we need more members.
Panel 3
Regal is looking at her.
Regal: Annie….we discussed this. The others don’t want to join, and it would be too lengthy to train new recruits. I think we just need to talk strategy.
Michael: I think she’s right. The only reason that we haven’t actually contacted the others is because of how bad things went last time, we need to try and finally end this. Two months is too long.
Richard: I would have to agree with them, Thad. It has been way too long, I have not spoken to anyone else except this group and I have not spoken to my sister in this length of time. I guess she felt as if dealing with our father attempting to kill us was something that didn’t need to include me. Hell, Annie should be the one with the most to fear, she almost killed all of us.
Panel 4
The table is quiet, everyone looks uncomfortable except for Richard who is sipping his drink.
Panel 5
Regal is looking at Richard, his eyes are glowing dimly.
Regal: I think that is just about enough from you.
Michael: It’s OK, I removed his voice. But he does have a point. Annie, are you sure that you want to talk to them, it has been a while.
Panel 6
Annie is smiling at him.
Annie: I think it’s time. It’s been two months and I gave up trying to talk to them, so let’s divide this up. I’ll talk to Aurora and Evelyn.
Page 4
Panel 1
Michael is looking back at her.
Michael: Let me talk to Aiden and Jeffery….I said somethings to Jeffery that I need to make up for.
Panel 2
Regal is nodding.
Regal: I will speak to Hector and Princess Rylah. Although you came to know them as I do, I have a longer history with them.
Panel 3
Richard is looking at his coffee. Annie is giving him an annoyed look.
Richard: Great, you guys talk to the others, I’ll scratch my ass….
Panel 4
Annie is smiling at him.
Annie: Do you really think that is all you’re going to do? You have the important job of all….you get to recruit Deborah.
Panel 5
Richard is looking surprised.
Richard: My sister?! No, No, No! She said no, when I asked her a few weeks ago. Now she isn’t returning my calls…
Annie: Not up to the challenge?
Richard: Are you trying to goad me into asking her? How childish. It’s appropriate.
Annie: Hehe, sarcasm? How childish. You’re doing it end of story. Besides I know how to get you, Michael and Thad in…..
Page 5
Rachel is cooking in a spacious kitchen. She has her long hair pulled back and has a slight bulge from her stomach. She is adding spices to a sauce pan and there is a larger pot with visible spaghetti sticks from the top. Rachel has her head turned and is yelling.
Rachel: AIDEN! Dinner is almost ready!
Panel 2
There is a small dog running in to the kitchen. Rachel seems annoyed.
Aiden: I’m here!
Rachel: What did I tell you about switching forms when you’re in the new house? Oh my GOD! What are you some kind of idiot? Why do I even try to have nice things when….
Aiden: Shhhhhhh….
Panel 3
Aiden is back in human form, he has his arms wrapped around Rachel.
Aiden: See, look no harm done, if it will make you feel better, I’ll vacuum up the dog hair. You feel ok, now? Better?
Rachel: No, I hate feeling like this, and don’t you dare use that pregnet woman’s excuse, I hate that more than anything….
Aiden: Shhhhh, now I wasn’t going to say anything of the sort, you just relax, I’ll finish the cooking…
Rachel: No, you’ll mess it up…
Panel 4
Aiden looks annoyed.
Aiden: Excuse me?Rachel: No, it’s a recipe that I have been working on for a while for the sauce and I can’t write it down because it’s part of my “knowing” thing. Look, we need to talk, I…
Panel 5
Rachel is looking angry, Aiden is switching into a rabbit.
SOUND EFFECT: DING DING DONG!
Rachel: Aiden…
Aiden: I got it!
Rachel: I said no switching!
Page 6
The image is Aiden switching from rabbit form to his human one, he is opening the front door.
Aiden: Look, when dinner is over, how about you and I….
Panel 2
Michael is standing there at the door. He is grinning. In one hand he is holding a store bought pie, and the other a bottle of wine.
Michael: Room for one more?Panel 3
Aiden is attempting to slam the door.
Aiden: Go eat an enema, I told you I never wanted to see you again, what are you…
Rachel: AIDEN! I invited Michael to dinner, now show him in and be nice.
Panel 4
Michael is walking in, smirking at Aiden. Rachel is in the doorway to the kitchen.
Michael: Yeah, listen to the lady, besides, I have a pie.
Rachel: Michael, don’t tease him, now come on, dinner is almost ready and I have to study in a bit.
Panel 5
Rachel is handing Michael a plate with food. Aiden is sitting at the dinner table sulking.
Michael: Thank you Rachel.
Rachel: Aiden, aren’t you going to fix a plate for yourself?
Aiden: You’re not going to do it for me?
Rachel: Quit being such a baby and just make yourself a plate.
Panel 6
Rachel, Aiden, and Michael are sitting at the dining room table in silence.
Page 7
Aiden is looking at Michael.
Aiden: I don’t care if Rachel invited you, you shouldn’t have come, I told you I never wanted to see you or any of the others again.
Michael: Why are you mad at me? Annie is the one that almost killed us. And I mean that, almost.
Aiden: It doesn’t matter, you agreed to it. You said you would have done the same thing. I was almost dead.
Panel 2
Michael is looking at him.
Michael: I would have done it, and I haven’t changed my mind, I just want you to know that is what we do. We do what we need to do to make sure that innocent lives aren’t lost. That’s what you wanted to do right? I mean that’s what we did, what do you think Keller would have done in charge of an army of vampires?Panel 3
Michael is looking him, taking a bite.
Michael: Well?
Aiden: Well what? Why did you accept Rachel’s invitation to come knowing I didn’t want to see you.
Michael: Well, because I thought we could talk things out, man to man. Or man to whatever you switch into.
Aiden: Yeah, ha….ha.
Panel 4
Rachel is putting garlic bread on the table. Michael and Aiden are looking at one another.
Rachel: Ok, guys enough fake testosterone. Did I tell you about a weird dream I had, I dreamed that I went in for my sonogram and it was in crayon! I couldn’t help but cry and tell the doctor, ‘I don’t see anything!’
Michael: How far along are you, Rachel?
Rachel: Only about four months, soon I can find out what the sex of the baby is.
Aiden: Wait, why are you even discussing this with him, why did you invite him?
Panel 5
Rachel is smiling and playing the spaghetti on her plate.
Rachel: Because, dear, I want you to join us, rejoin the team.
Panel 6
Aiden and Michael are looking at one another.
Page 8
6 Panels
Rachel is looking at both of them.
Rachel: What?Michael: When did you rejoin?Aiden: You joined Ax?
Rachel: Yes, yes I did. About a month ago, I saw Michael and Annie, fighting some ugly guy on stilts and I tracked Annie down to Michael’s apartment and then I rejoined, but only part time and no fighting or anything just as like a back up tech person. O and Diva is around when the team needs her.
Panel 2
Aiden is looking alarmed, Michael is surprised.
Aiden: Diva? I saw you dismantle that armor! I…No, you cannot join the team, I forbid it.
Michael: When did you see me and Annie take down TopFloor? And you’ve been to my-our apartment?
Rachel: Hush both of you. I dismantled the armor but her AI is all around, I have surveillance set up around the city and have been coordinating with Annie on hotspots, that’s how Ax has been effective so far, but this villain team is growing in numbers and we are just five people.
Panel 3
Aiden is looking at Michael.
Aiden: You honestly didn’t know that Rachel was a member?Michael: I swear on a stack of scripts, I had no idea, Annie didn’t say anything to me about it.
Rachel: I asked her not to, I just want a small number to know that I’m involved. Better for me and the baby anyway, let Aiden be the hero, not me. This way I can help and be part time.
Aiden: No, I wont have it, I’m the breadwinner here…
Panel 4
Rachel is looking at him seriously.
Rachel: And how are you going to do that? You have no job, no skills, you didn’t sign up for college courses like I asked you too, the only reason we have this house is because I patented that new microchip interface and motherboard and then told you that my aunt left me the house. Aiden, you can do so much more than joining this team, but you haven’t. You’ve moped like you’ve lost something, and I just want you to get it back. Plus, I know you’ve missed your best friend.
Panel 5
Michael looks surprised, Aiden looks embarrassed.
Michael: I..I’m your best friend?Aiden: Well, outside of Rachel…yeah, yeah you are. You were the first person I met here in Salvation that showed me how to use my powers and taught me how to fight with them…and yeah….I miss talking to you.
Michael: I don’t….I never had many friends, Aiden, and yeah, I’ve missed you too…
Rachel: OK, guys before this ‘bromance’ gets any more ‘meaningful’, eat my spaghetti! You haven’t told me how the sauce tastes, and Aiden, your new costume is in the basement. I had 4 produced so you’ll be ready for the meeting tomorrow night and have spares in case anything happens. Eat! Eat!
Panel 6
Aiden is eating and Michael is looking at him.
Aiden: Emphing See?
Michael: Ok, so now that your back on the team, you want to run an errand with me later?Aiden: Depends, it’s not gay is it?Michael: As a matter of fact…………
Page 8
2 small panels one large
Annie is looking at a rundown looking building with a neon light. She is flicking a cigarette. She is dressed in conservative street clothes and looking at the building with her head raised high. The reader should not be able to see the what the neon sign says.
Annie: Unbelievable.
Panel 2
Aurora is behind her, she is also dressed in street clothes, her long blonde hair in braids. In one hand, she is holding the staff. Annie is jumping with surprise.
Aurora: Annie, what are you doing here?Annie: AHHH! Crap, ‘Rora, that’s scary. Why didn’t you tell me that you were there?
Panel 3
They are now facing one another.
Aurora: I….knew that you would come, Silias told me. He’s one of the seers in the bathhouse coven. He saw a lot of things….I need to rejoin Ax.
Annie: And here I thought that it was going to take a lot of convincing.
Aurora: Don’t get me wrong, I am still furious with you, but….we did some good. I think we could do more…..a lot more. And…..I still can’t do magic, I can feel the connection, it’s still there, but……I can’t cast any spells. If I’m going to find a way to get around this censure I need to be around…..friends.
Annie: Ok, so no kiss and make up?
Aurora: Annie, I’m rejoining the team, we can work on our personal relationship later, but can I ask a favor now?
Annie: Sure, anything.
Aurora: Can I stay with you? This place is….well different to say the least, but….
Annie: Yeah, I’m staying with Michael, but we’d love to have you.
Aurora: Fine, this is not the kind of place I imagined myself living.
Annie: Where did you think you’d end up?Aurora: Up in the clouds.
Page 9
It’s Monument Park, Thad is there with a surveur’s glass. He has a clipboard and is taking notes. Behind him is a Hispanic man and a woman who has her head wrapped with a scarf.
Thad: Hello, Hector, Princess. I am sorry, but I thought I would be done with work by the time you showed up to meet me.
Hector: What do you think you’re doing Tsari?Thad: I am surveying the park for an expansion project that my firm is working on. And its ‘Thad’ now. T’sari is a super hero, Thad is a man, a human, and right now behind schedule.
Panel 2
The woman is now speaking.
Orchid: I believe this is what he is referring to, Re-Thad. When did masquerading as a human become so important to you? It never was before, you thought you were the pinnacle of perfection.
Thad: I had a revelation, after that incident with the Cabal, and seeing my sister’s reaction to the rest of the team, was a…an eye-opening experience. Even my perception towards the two of you has changed. We have been colleagues for years, but I never thought about you as people. You two were never….never anymore than coworkers. I didn’t even know you two were married until a few months ago.
Panel 3
Hector is looking at him with his head cocked.
Hector: If this is your pitch, it needs work.
Thad: This is my pitch, I am working on myself. I am working at becoming a human again. My alien heritage has given me nothing that I want to acknowledge. I am asking that you two, Lasombra and Orchid, who should have been my friends, join me. Let’s have a real relationship, I am seeing everything different now, let me be a part of your lives.
Panel 4
Orchid and Lasombra are looking at each other.
Panel 5
They are now looking at Thad.
Orchid: Did you honestly think we would refuse? We always planned on rejoining Ax, we were just taking a sabbatical to work on our relationship. Now would be as good as time as any.
Lasombra: Lasombra and Orchid are ready to go down this new path with you, friend.
Panel 6
Thad is smiling.
Thad: Excellent! And now, if you will excuse me for just a moment, I must get these measurements before my boss has a….kinipition fit as Annie would put it. I am working on my Earth expressions now….we have so much to catch up on…..
Page 10
Deborah is looking up from a desk in a lavish office.
Deborah: No.
Panel 2
Richard is across from her. He is looking bored.
Richard: I see…I thought you would say no, so I prepared a presentation. More businesslike, as I am sure that will appeal more to you….
Deborah: I said no, Richard. As a matter of fact, I have fielded calls from Annie, T’sari, Michael and now your visit. It means I have said ‘no’ four times. Now that father is gone, I believe that we can both go on with our lives.
Richard: So, that’s it then. Well, I can’t say that I’m surprised but I won’t pretend to understand, but you’ve made your choice. Ax will have to continue without you. By the way, have you had the opportunity to look over the company portfolio that I provided you a week ago?
Deborah: No, I didn’t, I have decieded to sell the company and ….
Panel 3
Richard looks shocked.
Richard: You didn’t look it over? Do you know what kind of business our father was involved in? What we are now involved in?! We have secretly sold weapons to terrorists, we told nuclear technology to third world nations, and then there are the ties to several black ops contracts for the government that involved older members of the team. Members of Ax committing espionage, murders, actions against our allies! Deborah, if you want to walk away, you picked a fine time to do it. This is not just something that involves his business, this is affecting other people. Since our name is on this company now, it means it involves us!
Panel 4
Deborah is shaking her head, her noise is bleeding. Richard is pointing at her accusingly.
Deborah: N-No, I-It can’t be, F-father would have told me, he…
Richard: You knew! You can’t lie, Deborah. You are stuttering and your nose is bleeding, it’s part of your gift, you can’t lie or be lied to, and….my God, Deborah! You’ve kept this from me, I’m telling the others, this has to stop.
Deborah: Richard…stop, look, yes, I knew and that’s why I can’t rejoin the team, I have to end this all by myself, this doesn’t have to concern you or the other team members….
Richard: It doesn’t concern us?! Look, Deborah, you and I don’t like each other, I have asked you multiple times about that and you always lie, but as your brother and now co-owner of this company, you and I are in this together. We have to stop this. Do you hear me, WE have to stop this.
Panel 5
Deborah is crying now.
Deborah: I…I don’t know how, the way that Father tied everything up it’s hard to figure oru who did what and when it was actually done. I…
Richard: Stop crying! Look, this is what’s going to happen, you are coming back to the team, and you will make this your top priority. And you will have help, but you will first need to help me do something….here, call this number, she will be more than happy to help you.
Panel 6
Deborah is looking at the piece of paper.
Deborah: Her!?
Page 12
Michael, Aiden, and Rachel are in Monument Park. Thad, Hector and Orchid are in the background. Aurora is walking up. Annie is nowhere to be seen.
Thad: Mikey! Good, you brought Aiden and Rachel with you.
Rachel: Mikey?
Michael: I hate that, Thad! You have Hector and Orchid. And Aurora!
Aurora: Hello, everyone. Who picked the park for a meeting? It’s beautiful weather and I will be very appreciative. There seems to be some kind of film crew filming ….wait a second…Evelyn might be here!
Panel 2
Michael is looking at Thad.
Michael: Hey, Thad, that’s why Annie picked this place….
Rachel: No, Jeffery was supposed to be here working security…Richard and I hacked it from the event site…
Panel 3
Thad is looking at Michael and gesturing toward Rachel.
Thad: I believe you are both correct. The film crew is filming a scene from a movie called Betrayal starting Evelyn, and I thought I had seen Jeffery earlier, but was unable to be sure as he has a shaved head and was wearing a security uniform.
Michael: Where is Annie? I thought she had wanted us to meet here…
Rachel: Wait! Look!Panel 4
Rachel is pointing at the crowd. Michael is behind her.
Rachel: That crowd is rioting….
Michael: There is someone flying….
Page 13
There is a large group of people running towards them. In the air above them is a man wearing a red and yellow costume on a flying platform, he is blasting in the crowd. The crowd is also parted in the middle and there is a woman walking through. She is holding two blades and is dressed in a mumu. Michael is pointing and shouting.
Michael: Everyone, if you have access to flash, do it.
Small panel 2
There is a large flash of light.
Page 14 and 15
It is a two page splash.
Left to right, the heroes are now in costume. Besides all of them are updated caption boxes.
Diva-Rachel Smith, Perfect understanding, Super learning. Wearer of the Diva Armor.
Switch-Aiden Christoph, Able to switch forms in to those of animals and inanimate objects
Rukus-Michael Floyd, Sound manipulator, co-leader
Lasombra-Hector Gonzalez, Master of the shadows
Orchid-Princess Ryla, secretes powerful pheromones
Captain Regal-Thad McKraken, Alien Powerhouse, co-leader
Aurora-Magical Expert, Caretaker of an arsenal of magical items.
Vigilence-Richard Keller, Telemechanic, wearer of the Vigilence armor
Michael and Captain Regal: AX ‘EM.
Page 16
Richard and Rachel are flying towards the flying man. He does not see them approaching.
HighJack: Come on, Blades! The League is paying us good to bust up this….
Rachel:…and now we are just going to bust some heads.
Panel 2
HighJack is blasting at Richard and Rachel.
Highjack: You think so? Those suits look pretty expensive, would hate to ruin all that shiny metal.
Panel 3
Rachel is blasting at him with a beam from the eyes of the Diva armor. Richard appears to be tapping something from his wrist.
Rachel: Don’t worry about the metal, uhm loser, I really need to work on my comeback.
Richard: Got Em!
Panel 4
Highjack is now falling from the sky, Rachel is unleashing a net from the chestplate of the armor.
Richard: I love taking control of electronic devices!
Rachel: You can tell me about your adult toys later, we need to do some crowd control.
Page 16
Orchid is walking amongst the crowd. Her face is expressionless as if she is lost in thought. The people around her are calm. There should be a blue aura around her.
Orchid: I am calming them, Hector, but we need to get to the source of this panic. I don’t believe those two had it in them to cause such panic.
Hector(floating word balloon):Si, but there’s too much going on, I’m going to piggyback on shadows until I get to that film crew.
Panel 2
Blades is standing in front of Orchid now.
Blades: Come on, baldy you want a piece of blades.
Orchid: No, no I don’t, you can knock yourself out, just to save time.
Panel 3
Blades is laughing and Ibrandishing both swords.
Blades: Big talk for someone who is about to sliced and diced. How about it? You wanna mix it up with Blades?
Orchid: At the risk of sounding crude, you are about to busy yourself with yourself in just a moment.
Blades: O, yeah? Hows that…….
Panel 4
Blades is tearing off her mumu. The swords are by her feet.
Panel 5
Blades is curled in the fetal position, nude. Orchid is walking over her calmly.
Lasombra: What did you do to her?Orchid: I used one scent to drive her to masturbate,right now, and then a hypnotic to make her think she had no genitalia, a little crude, I know, but first thing I thought of.
Lasombra: DUCK!
Page 17
Jeffery, Evelyn, and Annie are being blasted in to the air, towards the crowd, by a green beam of light. Jeffery is stressed in black and the words “SECURITY” are printed on his jacket. Evelyn is stressed in a white revealing dress, Annie is in costume. Besides each one is a caption.
Velocity-Jeffery Harris, able to move at superspeeds.
Allure-Evelyn Davis, able to alter her own density, super strength.
Glitch-Annie LeDuex, bio-electrical generator, leader.
Panel 2
Captain Regal is catching Allure.
Panel 3
Lasombra has enveloped Jeffery in Shadow.
Panel 4
Diva has caught Annie.
Page 18
All are on the ground now, looking at the source of the blast. Evelyn is yelling at Annie. Jeffery is besides Evelyn looking annoyed.
Evelyn: I had thought that I had made it clear that I did not want to see any of you again, now if you will excuse me,
Panel 2
Annie is enraged, grabbing her by the shoulders.
Annie: Fine, Go. But I want you to know Evelyn, that if you walk away from us, that means walking away from the opportunity to help them. Do you see those people over there? Do you see them cowering in fear? They are scared. People like us, did this to them.
Panel 3
It is a shot of the crowd looking scared, some are still running some are staring.
Annie(in voiceover): How can they defend themselves? Do you see anyone who can shoot lightning out their fingers, run at the speed of sound, alter their density? Do you think if they what kind of people would they be? Do you think they would help each other, or try and take advantage of that? What kind of person do you want to be, Evelyn?
Panel 4
Jeffery is looking down. Evelyn is looking away.
Annie: Fine. Evelyn, Jeffery, go. You think I did something horrible to you, but I acted and these people were safe. Does your lack of action make them safe?
Panel 5
Jeffery is grabbing Annie and Evelyn at superspeed.
Jeffery: GET DOWN!
Panel 6
There is an explosion where they were standing.
Page 19
There are four costumed figures. One is a large man,who is armed to the teeth, the other is a transparent woman in white robes, in the air is a man who is leaving a multicolored streak behind him, and finally there is a man who appears to be a walking tree. The large heavily armed man is pointing and speaking.
Ballistic: We represent the League of the Insidious. We are under orders to detain any and all suspected members of Ax because….
Page 20
Panel 1
Evelyn is leaping at him.
Evelyn: Your reasoning doesn’t matter to me, all I know is, you ruined my scene, you almost killed some of these good people, and now I’m going to kick your ass! And for God’s sake, someone PLEASE, flash a costume on me!
Panel 2
Jeffery is now in costume and is grabbing the tree man.
Jeffery: Come on guys, we are outnumbering…
Panel 3
The man has wrapped his “roots” around Jeffery’s leg. Jeffery is falling down at superspeed.
Flora: You think that we would be taken down that easy? You thought…
Panel 4
Flora is being blown apart into multiple pieces. The pieces should look like the seeds from a dandelion. Michael is screaming at him.
Michael: You stay the hell away from him!
Panel 5
Michael is helping Jeffery up.
Michael: Look, this is probably a bad time, but I said somethings and I just think you should know…
Jeffery: Michael, really there are somethings that are better left unsaid. I never thought you said any of things to hurt me and really we’re OK….
Michael: look, I just wanted to tell you that I guess, well, I have fe-
Panel 6
The scene is just over Jeffery’s shoulder. James is running towards them, in riot gear.
Michael: You know, what? You’re right. There are somethings that are better left unsaid.
Panel 7
Michael is turning around to rush back into action, Jeffery is reaching for him.
Jeffery: Michael..
Michael: yeah?
Jeffery: I…nevermind, be careful.
Panel 8
Jeffery is staring at Michael walk away. His expression should be one of thoughtfulness.
Page 21
The transparent woman is approaching Aurora and Orchid.
Orchid: Aurora, I think we can take…her, but I need to know if you can..
Aurora: Don’t worry about me, I have the staff.
Panel 2
The woman is smiling, upon closer inspection, the woman has what appears to be wailing faces that make up her body.
Panel 3
Aurora is in shock Orchid is standing in front of her.
Aurora: She’s…a…wraith.
Orchid: Pheromones aren’t working on her….
Panel 4
The wraith’s hands are in the panel, Aurora and Orchid are horrified.
Orchid: Run, Aurora! I can try and delay her..
Aurora: No, I….The staff isn’t responding, let me try…
Panel 5
There is a flash of light and ghosts of screaming faces flying in different directions.
NOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Panel 6
Aurora is on the ground holding a smoking bottle. Orchid is attempting to help her up.
Orchid: Are you Ok? What is that?Aurora: A jar of holding. It was the first thing I thought of, it’s an unbreakable jar with an all powerful pull. First thing I pulled out of my bag.
Orchid: You are full of surprises.
Aurora: Thank you, Orchid. By the way, that trick back there with the pheromones on that one freak was…..inspired.
Page 22
The Rainbow flyer is crashing to the ground, there are tendrils of shadow, coming off of him. Orchid and Aurora are jumping out of the way.
Roy G Bv: You think that’s gonna stop me? Huh, you think so, I’ll colorize your world, you….
Panel 2
Lasombra is kicking him in the face as he is taking his human form.
Lasombra: Shhhhh….
Panel 3
Lasombra, Orchid, and Aurora and looking down at him.
Lasombra: Move, I dare you.
Panel 4
Evelyn is getting shot at by Ballistic. She is not moving and there are bullets are bouncing off.
Evelyn: You think that’s going to stop me?
Ballistic: Get away from me, bitch!
Panel 5
Evelyn is punching him to the ground.
Evelyn: You interrupt my movie shoot, you endanger innocents, you fire at my friends? What is the matter with you lot? Villains? What defect or undersized organ motivates you?
Panel 6
Ballistic is throwing a grenade at her.
Ballistic: Eat concussion grenade, tramp.
Page 23
Captain Regal is holding Ballistic by the arms, Velocity is removing his weapons at superspeed.
Captain Regal: You need to watch how you speak to a lady.
Velocity: You don’t need to try and reason with him, Regal, just punch his lights out.
Panel 2
Ballistic is beginning to glow.
Ballistic: You think this is going to stop me? You think I don’t have powers? Let me show you what I can…..
Panel 3
Michael and Annie are running towards him in the background. Ballistic glowing even brighter.
Ballistic: The League sent me for one reason, to blow up Monument Park…..and….
Panel 4
Michael is knocking him back with a sound blast, while Annie is firing an electrical burst at his head.
Michael: I don’t think getting your ass handed to you was on your list.
Annie: Hit em hard, Floyd, I’ll light ‘em up.
Panel 5
Michael is kicking Ballistic in the face.
Panel 6
Annie is grabbing his head and causing electrical energy to crackle around her.
Page 24
Regal is punching at him, while Aurora is blasting him with her staff.
Panel 2
Richard is grabbing Rachel.
Richard: Look, do you see what’s happening?Rachel: Kinetic energy….they are going to cause him to explode!
Panel 3
Rachel is grabbing Aiden.
Aiden: Rachel, let me go! I have to…
Rachel: I need you to listen to me, you need to become [Xenon] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2 at the electron level….
Aiden: I don’t know what your talking about, what animal is that…
Panel 4
Rachel is screaming at him.
Rachel: Listen, it’s not an animal, you need to become inanimate and cover him.
Aiden: I..I can’t! It’s too hard to switch back and I…
Panel 5
Rachel is screaming at him.
Rachel: Aiden, that man is going to explode, and we are going to help him! Look I know it’s hard, but you have to…
Panel 6
Evelyn is getting up, she is looking at Aiden.
Evelyn: If….if you…can’t…then I will…
Page 25
Panel 1
Evelyn is shifting her shape to a blob like figure.
Evelyn: I got…..
Panel 2
Aiden is grabbing Evelyn and running towards Ballstic, his skin is now turning into a grey color.
Aiden: Come on, I need back up.
Panel 3
Ballistic is glowing, he is laughing.
Ballistic: You think that’s going to stop me, a bunch of punches and energy blasts? You just helped me…
Panel 4
Aiden is leaping on Ballistic. Aiden’s form is now liquid and he is grey toned. Evelyn is behind him, shifting phase as she is running.
Aiden: Ok, shut the f!*k up.
Evelyn: I must concur with that crude sentiment.
Panel 5
Aiden is wrapped around Ballistic’s body, Evelyn covering him. Ballistic is looking shocked and scared.
Ballistic: NO, NO, You can’t stop me….
Evelyn: Didn’t my teammate tell you to shut the f!*k up?
Panel 6
The ground is shaking and rumbling.
Page 26
Splash Page
There are various people who are falling, The center of page should be the center of Ballistics’ body which is covered with both a grayish type matter and a diamond material.
Page 27
Panel 1
The team is rushing to the smoking mass. Evelyn is reforming, Ballistic is now noticeably smaller.
Panel 2
Evelyn is looking down at Rachel. Evelyn is naked and Rachel is removing her helmet.
Rachel: Aiden, you did it. Aiden? Aiden!Evelyn: He isn’t responding? Aiden!
Panel 3
The rest of the team is around Rachel now, she is running her hand through the grey material.
Rachel: Aiden? Do you hear me? Come back to me, I….I thought you could come back from an inanimate form…I’m sorry…Aiden?
Panel 4
Rachel is now crying, there is a larger crowd forming around them.
Rachel: Aiden, come back to me! Please….I….need you….
Panel 5
Regal’s eyes are glowing. Annie’s eyes are giving off sparks of electricity.
Regal: I don’t detect any signs of life….
Annie: There is no bio-activity.
Rachel: NO! He is not gone, HE IS ALIVE, AIDEN, you stop this right now! This isn’t funny, you need to come back……please?Panel 6
Aurora is kneeling beside her, she is reaching into her pouch.
Aurora: No, he isn’t gone, I am not accepting that either.
Page 28
Panel 1
Aurora is holding a blank card in front of the mass.
Aurora: Aiden….if you can hear me, look at the card.
Panel 2
The card has an image of Aiden appearing on it.
Panel 3
Aurora is putting her hand in the mass.
Aurora: Aiden…..look, concentrate, you can do this……become this.
Panel 4
The mass is forming a body now. Rachel is laughing in relief and hugging Aurora.
Rachel: You did it! You saved him.
Aurora: I….It was nothing, Rachel, I just wanted to see you reunited with him…
Panel 5
Rachel is hugging Aiden who is back in his human form. Evelyn is behind them looking at the crowd. There are multiple flashes going on.
Aiden: Did…did we do it?
Rachel: Yes, You and Evee, did it. Well, you stopped him.
Evelyn: Yes, well, can someone PLEASE “flash” some clothes on us? I fear I will be downloaded and visually molested multiple times tonight.
Panel 6
Regal is looking into the crowd. Annie is besides him.
Regal: The local news is coming….
Annie: Regal, give a short statement and get rid of them.
Regal: With all due respect, Glitch, you are the field leader and I believe we are in the field.
Annie: Yeah knew that would bite me in the a…
Page 29
Panel 1
Annie, Michael, and Regal are having cameras shoved in their face. Annie looks uncomfortable, Michael, surprised, Regal apathetic.
Off panel: Is Ax reforming?Off panel: How does this affect Evelyn Davis’s film career?Off panel: Weren’t you in Tartuffe last month?
Off Panel: Regal, who does your hair?
Panel 2
Annie’s sparking with electrical energy.
Annie: WAIT! Look, I have something to say, well on behalf of the team I would like to say that, Yes. We’re back. I would also like to say this….if you’re a bad guy. You don’t operate in Salvation anymore. Period. End of story.
Panel 3
There is a group of kids watching television. One child has large black eyes. There is a Tall African woman standing behind them, with a young man leaning against the wall.
Annie(on television): This is not the Ax of a generation ago. We aren’t going to be satisfied to stop you, allow you to go to prison and escape. If you are part of a group, we will dismantle it. If you are the head of an organization, we are crippling the entire outfit.
Woman: Kids, pay attention. This is the reason that we are training you, everything she is saying, right there.
Panel 4
There is a man jumping up and down, he is glaring at a television. In the background, are various pictures of Evelyn, tacked to a wall in a collage.
Annie: All of us, from Evelyn Davis to Regal to myself are dedicated to stopping parahuman crime in all its form. You have powers and you misuse them, you’re on our list.
Man: Get that pierced freak off the television! We want to see more Evelyn! She’s the star!!
Panel 5
There is a man with a goatee and auburn hair looking disdainfully at a television. Beside him is an older woman and a younger brunette with bright blue eyes and a big chest.
Annie: Old foes? New foes? Anyone who made the choice to hurt, swindle, or cause harm to another human being? You’re on the list.
Fruit Fly: Wait till they get a load of the new Fruit Fly and Nancy Boy!
Panel 6
Trish is sitting in a lone room, her head is turned away from the television. She is reading.
Trish: Good thing my tip was right……
Panel 7
Annie: That is all….
The television is on in a dark room. Chris, Gavin, and Nexus are watching it. Nothing is being said.
Panel 8
The team is walking away, one reporter is walking up to her.
Reporter: Wait! Glitch! Any last comments?
Annie: O yeah, I have one….
Page 30
Splash page.
Annie is turned. Her hand is an upside piece sign, making an ‘A’.
Annie: Yeah, you’ve been reading Reconstruction by Jessie Robles.
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