Part Nine

Good troops just need to be given a goal. Thanks to the preparatory work by Steel Lace and her people those masks responding to her call for help already had an idea of the organization and layout on the island. She assigned one team, made up of all the members from the Assembly who were present, to locate and escort to the airport all the civilian guests of the island administration, regardless of whether they were here for the legal bouts or the illegal ones, and regardless of whether they wanted to be rescued. Another team - made up of Blue Impact, Gadgetive and Vic - was to head for the offices and try to arrest any management types they could find. A third group, which was most of the Bay Area Guardians on site, were to find the barracks of the combatants and tell everyone there to stand down and not interfere with the operation. Then make that stick.

Everyone the teams found at their assigned targets except the supers in the barracks were to be brought to the airport hangar, and kept from leaving. Mesa and Maciste were to clear the hangar, then move Cong and those already captured into that structure and secure it. They were then to remain there on guard, of the prisoners, the vehicles and the control tower. Meanwhile, certified paramedic Mesa was to see what he could do for Cong and any other injured. With those two titans in place - especially if they could rouse Cong to add a third - and so many island supers and security personnel already defeated, the intimidation factor should be quite high. Cumulous was told to stay in the airport control tower. He was to have subsequent arrivals split into teams of two or three and go on scouting missions. Energia, as the only flyer on any of the teams so far except for the otherwise occupied Cumulous, was put on high cover lookout. She was to watch for and hopefully intercept anyone trying to escape by air, whether under their own power or in a vehicle. She would also warn those on the ground of any defending forces approaching any of the teams.

The large group of supers immediately divided and dispersed as directed. Not mentioned was that all of them except Tiger and Sharma had active anti-neutralizer devices. They, as supernaturals, didn't need those. Likewise, everyone except Tiger and a few others had something to help them resist mind control.

* * *

Blue Impact, Gadgetive and Vic took a direct route from the airport to the offices of the Super Battle Federation. Making this easy, the island possessed a proper network of paved roads, though all the vehicles they saw were various types of electrics. There were also large, plainly written signs in English giving directions, including to the administration building. The trio kept seeing people - some in costume - in the distance. Those gave the hurrying trio brief, mildly curious looks, but otherwise kept on as they were.

"Looks like word hasn't spread, yet," said Gadgetive.

"Don't count on that being true in the administrative building," said Blue Impact. "Somebody sent those people after Cong."

However, as they neared the target building a costumed man hailed them and hurried into formation with the trio.

"Hey! I'm on your side! I'm currently going by Bombardier and wearing a different costume, but am usually called Satchel!"

"Yeah, I recognize you," said Vic, not mentioning that this was due to her sense perception making his mask irrelevant. Things like that tended to make masked supers very nervous.

"Yeah, I thought you were one of Wol... I mean, Trujillo's students. Great! So, you guys need any help?"

Blue Impact and Gadgetive, getting the high sign from Vic, moved on as she and "Bombardier" stopped.

"Look, I appreciate the offer, and the willingness to help, and am aware of your history as a mask, but..." Vic waved her hands. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm investigating," he said, smugly. "Figured I'd come back in disguise and learn more about what was going on. Then either wreck their plans myself, or call in the cavalry."

Vic did not say "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." Instead, she told "Bombardier" to head to the airport.

"I'll let them know you're coming. Right now there's only two people guarding a lot of prisoners. I'm sure they'd appreciate the help."

"Gotcha'a!" said "Bombardier," grinning. He hurried off. Fortunately, in the correct direction.

After he left, Vic told Cumulous, Mesa and Maciste that he was coming, with a description, and that he was a friendly, there to help. Then she hurried to catch up to Blue Impact and Gadgetive.

As it turned out, she was just in time.

At the front entrance to the administration building - which like many of the structures here was clearly, even proudly labeled - Blue Impact and Gadgetive were beset by half a dozen guards.

Like those at the airport, these men were armed with several weapons, including stun batons, and wearing body armor, which included heavy gloves and helmets with face shields. Two of them were already down, but three of the remaining four were after Blue Impact. Though they were unempowered humans they were armed, protected and very well trained.

Gadgetive was far from helpless in a fight, but this sort of melee was not her strong suit. However, her own body armor was for the moment keeping her from harm. On the other hand, Vic could tell that two of the men on Blue Impact were trying to hit her neutralizer counter unit with their batons. This told Vic that they knew what it was, and that they had neutralizers at the ready. She broke into a run, and covered the last of the distance to one of those two men in a leap.

People were often surprised at how well Vic could jump in her armor. It was light, provided little hinderance to her movement, and she was strong and fast. The man's expression just before Vic's flying side kick connected with his face shield was priceless.

Vic and Blue Impact made quick work of the other two men fighting the leader of Tricorne. Seeing this, the man on Gadgetive broke and ran. Only to find Vic cutting him off.

"Vic Peltior, Bureau of Special Resources," she announced, holding up her badge. "You're under arrest for unprovoked assault, illegal imprisonment and other charges to be named later. Now, where are your bosses?"

"You're not a cop! They warned us about you!"

"I am a federal law enforcement officer with arrest powers. Where. Are. Your. Bosses?"

He refused to cooperate, continuing to deny that Vic was a law enforcement officer. Not that she didn't have jurisdiction on this disputed island, but stating flatly that she had no arrest powers anywhere, because she was only a pretend cop.

"Great," muttered Vic, who was tired of being labelled what one of her co-workers jokingly called a pseudo-fed. "Okay, Gadgetive, kill his radio and let's disarm him and fasten him so something secure until someone can pick him up."

That was quickly done, and they finally were able to reach the doors. Which were locked. They could see more people - including more-conventional security guards - watching them from inside.

"Wow," said Blue Impact, after unsuccessfully trying to force one of the deceptively normal-looking doors. "These are stout. Gadge?"

"I could burn through them," said their gadgeteer, as she set to work, "or use a shaped charge. However, the easiest thing is to short the control system for the lock. It should be designed to fail safe, which means it will then unlock."

There was a loud, bright spark from the device she was holding to the frame. Then came a comparatively muffled but still distinct click. Gadgetive smirked as she pulled the door open. Beyond, the additional security guards - these not armored and carrying only sidearms - and a panicked-looking receptionist awaited them.

"The cops are on the way!" said the woman, in what was almost a shriek.

Vic again presented her badge.

"I am a cop. A US federal law enforcement officer. You are all culpable for the offenses we have already seen here. If you don't want to be arrested, stand down."

"She's not a cop!" screamed the woman. "Just look at her! She can't be a cop! Kill her!"

Gadgetive popped a grenade which foamed the feet and legs of her and about half the guards, gluing them securely to the floor. Blue Impact and Vic quickly dealt with the rest.

"Elevators are out," said Gadgetive after examining the control panel for the devices. "Locked out, I mean. Looks like we'll have to take the stairs."

"That's probably safer, anyway," said Blue Impact. "This building isn't all that tall. Won't even be much of a workout."

* * *

The team at the barracks was having a much easier time. The doors had been secured from the outside. Once the handful of guards were taken care of - two of them actually ran before the fight started - and the doors opened the team from the Assembly saw that beyond was one large room full of cots. Most were occupied. There was also a fitness section, where several people were working out. All those inside seemed... listless. As if even the physically active ones doing their training were just going through the motions.

"You are ordered to stand down!" said Champion in a loud, clear voice. "There is a law enforcement raid underway on the offices of this facility. Do not interfere!"

Most of those present looked over at her, then back to what they were doing. Or not doing. Only a few took more notice, and they just appeared confused.

"Yeah, these guys have definitely been in zombie mode for quite a while," said Thunderer, with distaste. "I bet they're kept under like this to reduce the chance of causing trouble, and only brought out of it when they're supposed to fight. What's the mechanism, though? Drugs?"

"That doesn't mean there aren't some supers with security who are fully alert," said Champion. "Remember those at the airport?"

"Tiger said the supers there were a bit out of it, as well. I don't recall him saying anything about the guards."

"I believe I could rouse them, with a spell," said Sharma, helpfully.

"Not a good idea, at least not right now," said Champion, after a moment of thought. "Let's take a quick look around, then resecure the doors and get those guards to the airport. I'll bet those main doors are the only way in or out, too."

* * *

"Hey, Vic, Blue Impact and Gadgetive," said Mesa, over their coms. "We've been talking to that guy you sent here. Bombardier. He's a gold mine of information about this place. Unfortunately, most of the news he has is bad. They have a bunch of super mercenaries - about three times as many as were at the airport, and they're all alert and competent - and one of their priorities is guarding the brass here."

"Roger," said Blue Impact. "We're climbing the stairs, almost to the top floor of the admin building. So far, no supers. Just guards and secretaries."

"What?! No! The admin building was evacuated except for some guards and the receptionist. The top brass aren't there, anyway! They're on a different island. That place is just for administration. If Bombardier is right, they've set a trap. Not necessarily for you, but anybody who gets to the top of the admin building. Whole place is rigged to blow."

"That should have been the first thing you told us!" said Blue Impact, startled.

Vic was about to put her hand on the handle of the door at the top of the stairs. She stopped, and looked at the others.

"Well, Vic?" said Blue Impact. "Just how reliable is this guy?"

"He's trustworthy," she replied. "Reliable is... iffy."

"Move back and let me do a scan," said Gadgetive.

"Oh," said Mesa, resuming when he heard this. "He also says the trap will trigger if there's any sort of electromagnetic disturbance. Says he seduced a female tech who was one of those who did the work and she was very proud of what they did. She bragged about all the elaborations."

"Shit," said Gadgetive. She looked at her team leader. "What do we do?"

"I am sensing... something attached to the handle on the other side," said Vic, worried. "Can't tell for sure what it is, but it doesn't seem to be a normal part of a door."

"There's an easy way to test this."