Rush #4

Story Title: “A Little of the Old Ultra-Violence”

A worried group of hoods meets in a warehouse to discuss their options: either band together or get taken out by the Sazia family. They reach an agreement and are ready to make their plans when one is taken out by an energy bolt; another is nearly decapitated by a speeding clothsline; still another is seized with an overwhelming desire to claw his own eyes out. The group of young superhumans known as the Brood sweep through the remaining criminals, making short work of them, with the exception of one who simply falls over dead; the young metahuman is shot in the head by an unseen sniper in a dark corner. As the Brood revels in their victory, Angela Moorhead steps out of the dark corner. “Good, much improved. Speed and savagery will make them fear you. However one of you got sloppy,” she says, pointing out their dead comrade. “Take the body. We leave no one behind, and we watch each other’s backs.”

At least until the drug finishes burning you all out, she thinks.

Meanwhile, Tish Montague goes to the office Alan works out of in his messenger job, wondering what happened to him at the museum. When she finds him, she asks to follow him on his rounds. He warns her he moves pretty fast, but she says she can keep up. Alan is torn between wanting to use his time hunting for the Brood and his growing attraction to Tish.

Using information gleaned from his forays into the dark side of the city, Alan arranges for several packages to be delivered to known criminal fronts, and uses his own super speed to ensure that he is the one making those deliveries. He gets a good look at the inside of many of the buildings, although some of the security in the building wonders about the young woman with the camera phone that seems to show up outside many of their offices. As a messenger, Alan is almost invisible in the bustle of downtown—an artist-type like Tish sticks out a great deal more. One of the security men decides to check up on the mysterious girl.

The pair takes lunch in a diner when a police officer comes in. It is Tish’s father, Sgt. Frank Montague, who she called to meet her new friend. He is suitably intimidating to the young man as the three sit down to eat. As the issue closes, the Sazia torpedo calls his boss. “Sorry to disturb you, ma’am, but we may have a problem that will require a permanent solution.”