Part Eight

"Place is dead," said Gadgetive, frowning, later that day. "No power. No water. No active communication lines. It even looks abandoned. Windows are dirty, door tracks are rusty..."

"You just know someone is watching the place, though," said Energia. "Maybe constantly, but at least checking several times a day."

"Hmph," said Vic, irritated. "too bad about the lack of obvious activity, though. If there were any sign of something going on in a supposedly empty warehouse that might constitute probable cause."

She frowned.

"Though I'm surprised there aren't even any alarms set."

"That could actually attract attention, since the place is supposed to be empty," said Gadgetive, waving her hands. "You'd need some way to supply power, active alarms probably of several sorts, and some way to alert someone if one of them trips... et cetera."

"What is the legal status of that place?" said Energia, now also frowning.

"It's legally owned, all taxes paid, the facilities are in compliance with city and Port Authority regulations," said Blue Impact, sounding aggravated. "Nothing suspicious in the paperwork at all, except for the obfuscation involved in the ownership."

They were in the team's large flyer, hovering in stealth mode over the roof of a damaged warehouse not far from the object of their examination. The building under them had been severely impacted during the Tritonicus II attack - gutted by fire, in fact - and then sold for a dollar to the port by the previous owner. The plan was to demolish it to make room for something more modern. Just now, it stood empty and useless. While the four in the flyer were technically breaking the recently passed "no fly" law, since that was on hold until several court challenges were decided that was not a serious consideration.

"What I'm seeing," said Gadgetive, scowling at her console displays, "is what my grandma would call 'a whole lotta nuthin'.' Can't even see well enough through those sturdy walls to tell whether or not there's anything in there but dust."

"Great..." said Energia.

"We might just have to wait for someone to make a mistake," said Blue Impact. She gave a humorless laugh. "I just hope it isn't us."

"What about provocation?" said Energia. "I could fly past - staying off the private property - and see if they react."

"If all you do is fly past, maybe looking around, that would be legal," said Vic, as Blue Impact nodded. "That lane is a city street. We'd have to count on them being on edge and responding to that, though. Responding inappropriately, I mean."

"Hang on," said Gadgetive, coming alert. "There's a car heading for one of the side gates. An unmarked car."

"Swing us around there," said Energia, to Blue Impact.

"No, wait," said Vic, unfastening her harness. "Go down to ground level and let me out first."

Blue Impact moved the flyer over an alley beside the burned-out building and descended to land. Vic jumped out the back even before the flyer touched down. The martial artist headed at a quick walk for the side gate in the fence around the building where the car had stopped. She came into view of the person in the unmarked car just as he was swinging the gate open. He was using a set of keys which were obviously separate from his car keys, since the engine was still running. The man looked up as he noticed Vic's approach and froze. He then jumped back in his car and reversed frantically away from the gate. Only, instead of turning so he could drive forward out of there, he continued backwards at high speed, aiming directly at Vic.

The driver accelerated hard. Vic watched calmly, and at the last moment simply jumped straight up, armor and all, tucking her legs to clear the roof. The driver turned and stared out the windshield as she landed, untouched... and backed at high speed into the side of the burned out building the team had been hovering above. Thanks to the fire damage to that structure, the rear of the car actually went partly through the wall. Vic stared for a moment in disbelief, then ran over to check on the man.

"Well, we got lucky," said Energia, as she flew down to join the martial artist. "Of course, that was only because he got really stupid."

"I think he's just stunned," said Vic, after opening the door and leaning inside to check on the guy. "He didn't have time to fasten his seat belt, but the impact just shoved him back into his seat. I'll call 911. You and the others need to grab those keys he left in the gate and check inside. I'll join you when I can."

"This is a valid reason?"

"Yeah. His actions are very suspicious, to say nothing of counting as assault on a federal officer. I'd say they're a pretty good indication that he was trying to cover some sort of illegal activity."

As Energia flew to the gate, Blue Impact headed in the same direction on her motorcycle, Gadgetive riding double with her. Energia swooped down and grabbed the dropped gate keys on the fly, then went to the human-sized door in the wall beside the enormous, double doors on that side of the building.

"Wait for us!" Blue Impact called out.

Energia ignored her, but did leave the small door fully open as she went in. Blue Impact simply drove inside.

"Whoah..." said Energia, pulling up high inside the huge, mostly empty space. She hovered, looking at the container, trailer and truck from above.

The vehicle and its cargo sat in a cleared area which extended to the large double doors next to the small door they had entered through. It had apparently been backed in, since it was facing the big doors but the cleared area was not large enough for it to turn around in and there were no tracks in the uncleared section of floor.

"Somebody made sure this was ready to leave in a hurry," said Energia, while Blue Impact parked her bike and Gadgetive jumped off.

"It's been crudely spray painted," said Blue Impact, as those on the ground slowly walked around the truck and semi-trailer. "Probably before being moved in here. Otherwise it looks exactly like the one that's missing."

"How do we tell for sure?" said Energia, still flying well above the others.

"Whatever you need to do, do it quick!" yelled Vic, as she yanked the keys from the door, pulled it closed, and locked it from inside. "There's about fifty guys with guns, clubs, knives and - get this - at least two neutralizers heading this way at a run. They've already cut us off from the flyer."

They each quickly checked to make sure their neutralizer counters were on. Then, while Vic - still with her cell phone out - frantically updated the 911 operator the members of Tricorne gave the container a quick examination.

"Okay, here's one of the things Constantine told us to look for," said Gadgetive, from the rear. "The Moldarian seal on the doors! Still intact!"

Gadgetive was shining a light on the object to make it more visible. A braided strand of plastic optical fibers had been wrapped around the handles on the rear doors. This had then been crossed over, and the crossing heated and squeezed with some sort of tool to fuse it closed in a loop, at the same time printing the Moldarian national symbol on the softened plastic. The actual seal was small, and very distinctive. The thing was inconspicuous, yet difficult to fake.

"That's it," said Vic, nodding and putting away her cell phone as she examined the seal. "This is the missing container."

"Or a fake someone left as a red herring," said Energia.

There was a huge thump on the door they had entered through. Dust loosened by the impact sifted down from overhead.

"Okay, we need confirmation," said Blue Impact. "Both that this is the real thing and that it hasn't been opened, even by someone cutting through the side. Vic, did the operator say when they'd have someone here?"

"I got cut off when I moved away from the front of the building," the martial artist said, with a grimmace. "I told them where the accident is, and that there was a mob chasing me, but don't know if they heard about the container."

There was a harder thump from the door. More dust sifted down, now accompanied by larger particles. Blue Impact thought quickly.

"Okay, change of plans; we'll confirm later. Gadgetive, send a general call for super help. Energia, you help me barricade the doors. Vic, get the truck started. We may have to make a run for it and we're not leaving that behind."

So far, those trying to break in were only applying their attentions to that one, human-sized door, since that was where they saw the costumed figures enter. Energia quickly spot welded the steel-clad security door to the steel frame at several points. However, there were at least four other human-sized doors to the outside and one other set of large, vehicle doors. She got busy.

Vic reached up to yank the driver's side door open and climbed into the cab. She got into the seat, then stared at the controls with the rapidly dawning realization that this vehicle was far more sophisticated than she had imagined. The only bit of good luck that she could see was that the keys were in the ignition switch.

"The Assembly says they have some people in the area!" Gadgetive yelled, from where she stood on the concrete floor of the warehouse, beside the passenger door of the truck's cab. "They'll be a while getting here, though. Still trying for The FX, but I think they're busy with a fire!"

"Hurry and get that thing moving before their reinforcements arrive!" said Blue Impact, who was busy piling some of the small amount of debris present in the huge warehouse against the door they had entered through. "Get it started!"

"I can't drive this thing!" said Vic, alarmed, as Gadgetive climbed in the other side of the cab, still talking to someone over her com. "Somebody else get up here!"

"I ride a motorcycle," said Blue Impact. "I've barely ever driven a car, and those were all automatics. You're the one with the manual transmission car!"

"This thing is about as close to Monstro as your flying pod is!"

"Manual transmissions are a bane on the driver's existence," said Gadgetive, firmly, when Vic glanced towards her, where she was sitting smugly in the passenger seat. "They take attention away from..."

"You don't have a license, anyway," said Blue Impact, cutting her off before Vic could even begin her impassioned defense of manual transmissions.

They looked at Energia.

"I can fly. I've never bothered learning to drive."

"So it's me," said Vic, mournfully.

"Hurry!" shouted Blue Impact. "I hear something with a motor coming!"

Something again hit that first, small door. Hard.

"Shit," said Vic, reflexively looking at that door. "No time. I'll have to learn as I go."

Fortunately, starting a modern large diesel truck was relatively easy, if not quick. Unfortunately, starting the engine turned out to be the only easy part of driving the vehicle, and it took a nerve-stretching amount of time.

As soon as she turned the ignition on, a display announced "WAIT TO START." Vic remembered that diesel engines on highway vehicles needed to heat a glow plug.

Something hit the wall of the building at the small door. Hard enough to push a dent through the wall on either side of that entrance.

The WAIT message disappeared after a few seconds, and Vic hesitantly turned the key further. The engine cranked vigorously for several turns, then caught. Vic immediately released the key; the engine kept running. She breathed a silent prayer of thanks and pushed the clutch pedal in, though with effort. Vic felt very grateful that the trailer was already attached. Just unlocking the brakes took precious seconds, and was only that quick because the air tanks were still nearly full.

Whatever motorized device or gadget or vehicle those outside had brought up to force an entry struck again. This time apparently at an angle, since there was only one new dent and it was in the middle of the door. Fortunately, the lock - and Energia's welds - held.

Even paying attention to the shift pattern on the dash, Vic still nearly stalled the engine on her first attempt getting the thing moving. However, on the second the rig started rolling. Backwards. Vic frantically hit the clutch and brake pedals. She discovered that the seat was too far back for her and she almost didn't stop the rig before it backed into the far wall.

"Gotta adjust the seat!" she yelled at the others. "Hold the door just a few more seconds!"

While Blue Impact and Energia - each in her own way - did what they could to keep those doors closed, Vic frantically slid the seat forward and down. She had to compromise with the seat a bit high for the pedals in order to see over the dash, but there was no time for fine tuning. She picked what she thought was the right gear, revved the diesel and eased the clutch out. The rig started forward, chugging and shuddering as the engine logged down, then recovered. Vic quickly hit the rev limiter and (with a bit of clashing) shifted into what she hoped was the next gear. The rig accelerated sluggishly, but she immediately had to shift up again. Vic looked up from the arcane shift pattern on the dash and realized she was getting close to the doors... and her companions! She hit the horn, and shifted up again.

Blue Impact and Energia quickly moved out of the way. The rig hit the doors squarely at the seam, shoving the bottoms outwards and pushing the right one completely off its tracks. It fell to the pavement beyond. The people outside - one of whom turned out to be driving a forklift towards the large pair of doors - weren't so prompt. They all got out of the way, but some only with the help of the doors impacting them. The heavy forklift was fortunately hit off-center as the driver frantically tried to turn away from the doors and charging truck. It got shoved to one side of the still slow-moving rig. The forklift scraped down the side of the trailer with a horrible noise, jerking and occasionally throwing sparks from the friction as Vic drove by. The driver looked terrified, but there wasn't much Vic could do about that.

By now the turbocharger was roaring. Vic shifted up, floored the pedal, and looked over at Gadgetive. Who appeared completely calm and unflustered.

"Welcome aboard the Moldaria express!" Vic yelled, giving her a quick grin, then shifting up.

"You'll need to get into the next gear range, soon," said the gadgeteer, mildly.

"The which?!"

"Steer left!"

Gritting her teeth, Vic heaved the rig around to the left in order to pass through the open gate. Then she immediately had to crank the wheel to the right to get into the lane between buildings. There was a great deal of tire whining, though no real skidding. Energia flew past on the right and Blue Impact passed on the left, riding her motorcycle.

Those of the attackers who were still capable of it chased after them. The closest ones tried to catch up on foot, while those further back realized the rig was pulling away from the runners and headed for vehicles. Vic leaned on the horn as she turned - barely - onto the bigger lane past the end of the warehouse they had just left. Other trucks and pedestrians in the area got out of the way of the rig as best they could, some just barely. Then they had to dodge the vehicles of the pursuers. The big truck was now heading directly towards the main highway entrance for the port. At least Vic managed to get into the next gear range, eventually, and there was fortunately no crossing traffic to swerve around. By now they were moving at almost half the speed limit. Vic just hoped there was someone nearby who could come to the aid of the four supers. There were still a lot of people after them. Fortunately the pursuers seemed to have left the heavy, older style neutralizers behind at the warehouse.

"Truck coming in on the right!" Energia yelled, swooping that way.

Blue Impact performed the impressive feat of cutting towards the semi, dumping her bike and sliding under the trailer, then popping back up on the other side and hitting the throttle. On seeing the pair of colorfully costumed supers heading for them the driver of the truck swerved into a tight U-turn - almost losing two of those riding in the back - and headed down a lane between warehouses, to a cacophony of sound and sparks as he didn't quite make the turn.

Vic kept frantically shifting up, and thought she was actually in just about the right gear for the speed limit and level road as they approached the main entrance to the port. The security guard stepped out when he heard the noise, looked at the oncoming rig, the accompanying supers and the handful of vehicles still chasing it for a short, frozen moment, then dove back into his booth. Vic felt proud that she got through the comparatively small opening without hitting anything.

As they passed through the dockyard entrance, two members of the Assembly stepped into the road ahead of them. Vic gave them three quick toots on the horn, and waved briefly through the windshield before having to shift again. Blue Impact - her motorcycle now back on Vic's left and just behind the trailer - whistled in joyous greeting. Gadgetive leaned out the passenger window of the tractor and shouted gleeful greetings to the duo. Maciste, who had been standing in the middle of the road - with Champion on the right shoulder - waved, and quickly stepped out of the way, then just as quickly stepped back into the road once the liberated big rig was past.

The remaining pursuers saw what was waiting for them, hit the brakes on their various work trucks, and rapidly began backing away. Unfortunately for them, Thunderer and Sharma had already cut off their escape. Though they were the least physically potent members of the Assembly's field team, they were far from useless in a fight, and had other strengths besides the physical. Including simply looking imposing. Those attackers who could not flee promptly surrendered.

Meanwhile, the quartet of supers who had recovered the cargo container were slowing. While Vic began wrestling the truck to a stop, Blue Impact pulled alongside and waved her on.

"First priority is getting the container to the Moldarian embassy!"

"Uhm," said Vic, glancing at Blue Impact as she continued to slow the rig. "Procedure requires the impoundment of the evidence, but given the international complications, uh..."

Champion - tall and unhurried - came up beside Tricorne's now stationary leader, nodding but so far saying nothing.

"We need to get this to the embassy now!" said Blue Impact, emphatically. "Vic, you can call this in to the feds, but I think that in this case we need to be proactive and not wait for the bureaucracy. Let it play catchup."

"Right," said Champion. She turned to her team. "Everyone with cameras take photos and videos of the truck quickly. As soon as we finish documenting the rig, Vic can drive it away. We'll get the rest after you four leave."

"Be careful," said Energia, lowering towards the pair talking to Vic to speak with them quietly. "They had neutralizers, and I think those are still back there, at the warehouse."

"Well, Sharma and I are both supernaturals," said Champion, unconcerned. "We can go back and guard the warehouse while Maciste and Thunderer guard these prisoners until port security arrive. She and I should be able to secure the area and take care of any neutralizers before any other supers get there."

"All settled, then," said Blue Impact, as she and a few others quickly took photos of the liberated big rig and its cargo. "Okay, Vic, let's go. I'll lead the way."

"Can't someone else drive this thing?" said Vic, almost whining. "I barely got it this far."

Unfortunately, none of the costumed heroes present had any more experience driving tractor-trailer rigs than what Vic had already gained. Fortunately, without the urgency of their escape, that very limited experience was enough for Vic to smoothly get the load moving again. Energia and Blue Impact led the way. The latter used the navigator on her motorcycle to find the best route, while the former flew high cover.

The biggest problem now was getting through traffic. Fortunately, while the embassy was on the other side of the city - nearer the airport than the ocean port - there were few turns and no narrow streets on the most direct path. Vic called her boss, Brade, during stops and updated her on the situation. The martial artist decided that it was far better for the Director of the Bureau of Super Resources to handle the tangle of red tape Vic and Tricorne were creating, and so kicked that part of the recovery upstairs.

Exactly what the bystanders along their route thought as they watched the truck moving along city streets, with two costumed heroes leading it (One of them flying!) and one person in armor driving and another riding shotgun, they kept to themselves.