August 16, 1987

At some point after our first meeting, a subjective eternity ago, Inferno decided that we all had to have an annual picnic. I figured she'd forget about it after a while, but she kept bringing it up. When I asked the others, no one could think of a reason not to, and since we're the ones with a base, naturally we all decided that the Revolution would host this first effort at cross-country amicability. I get the feeling that the Warriors get out even less than we do, which is saying something. It turned out to be an... interesting... afternoon for all of us.
    The appointed morning rolled around, a gorgeous clear day. We had a volleyball net, frisbee and so forth, plenty of food, and someone found a somewhat rusted half-drum grill in a storage closet and painted "The Mesquite Grill of Justice" on its side. Probably Scott, although what he'd know from mesquite I have no idea.
    Scott invited his employees along, Phoenix Talon brought Candi, and Dawn had Rick—I made an effort not to glower at him—but it made for a pretty small group. Muse was out on the road, but Stephanie and Felix came. The latter had mentioned that something seemed to be bothering the woman lately. "Hopefully this'll cheer her up."
    Speaking of that bunch, Molly sent me a note yesterday to let me know that she'll have the dress replicated, and felt a need to add "Well done so far my dear, well done." I wished that Javelin would show up sometime soon. Or maybe someone could try to kill me.
    The non-flying Warriors came in by airplane this morning, somewhat disconcerting the airport staff, who weren't used to dealing with Cold Steel and his predilection for destroying cameras aimed in his direction. Once everyone got out to the island, introductions and greetings went around for those who hadn't met before.
    "I'm just so happy to be here," Emily grinned, stretching her wings. "I've been waiting for this for months!"
    "She has," Trent sighed. "She's been insufferable."
    "So how've things been in Detroit?" I asked.
    "Remarkably quiet lately," he admitted.
    "Good, good. No squid monsters?"
    "No, which is somewhat worrisome. It's almost as if he has his attentions elsewhere," Trent remarked prophetically.
    Talon introduced Candi.
    "I've heard very nice things about you," she told the Warriors as a group.
    "You're very polite, aren't you," Emily observed with a smile, not unfriendly.
    "Throwing her in to see if she swims, huh, Phoenix?" I asked sotto voce. The gathered company had to seem a little odd to a normal person. This was my first real exposure to Ms. Rich as well. She's certainly pretty. A bit above average height, flowing blonde hair, the dimensions you'd expect of a model. Not really sure what to think of her dating Phoenix Talon, or Phoenix Talon dating anyone for that matter, but I suppose they're both adults.
    Cold Steel and Thunderbolt shared a peculiar glance upon their introduction, as if each was trying to place the other from some previous meeting. After a moment Steel nodded and said, "Constantinople Affair." The other man concurred. [Footnote: For a four-day period in 1978, every last world intelligence organization was running an operation in Istanbul, apparently toward different objectives. Naturally they ended up tripping over one another, and none of the participants ever talked about it afterwards.]
    Most of the group settled down to sharing war stories, comparing scars, etc. We regaled them with tales of our henchmen troubles, and I showed Emily the scrapbook I've been working on.

[Aside: Dawn]

    A rumble of distant thunder caught everyone's attention for a moment. Then another. A vast wave of black clouds was swooping in from the east. Our weather generally does not approach that way.
    "I don't really think that that's natural," Scott observed.
    "That doesn't look right at all," Trent agreed. "And I've been flying for years."
    "Anybody who doesn't do this for a living get back in the house, please?" the robot requested.
    "Hey sensei!"
    "Rick, take Dawn, get inside," Phoenix Talon directed.
    "There's a light flashing inside, on the control panel?" the Blood Board called.
    "I'll go take care of it," Dawn assured Talon.
    He ran in after them to see what it was.
    "Can somebody who flies faster than a walk take a look please?" Scott asked.
    Trent shrugged. "Needle, you want to come up with me while we check this out?"
    "Oh, sure. I'll try not to run into you."
    For some reason Stephanie looked cross as we flew off.

[Aside: Revolution Base]

    The storm was coming fast to meet us.
    "There's some sort of malign intelligence behind this," Trent told us. "Can't you feel it out there, on the edges of perception? No wait—"
    A cloud formed into a huge dark face nearby: Manta Master.
    "What the hell...?" I muttered in shock.
    "Head back to your pitiful island, Revolution, I'm not here for you today!" the thunder boomed. "But the Mariners will never, never have their grand opening! Their island shall be flattened!" Laughter shook the sky, lightning played around the edges of the storm.
    I called the lunatic's target.
    "Mariner Corporation."
    "Our buddy's back," I said succinctly.
    "Manny!" Sparky sounded delighted. "He have to do with that stormline out there?"
    "Why yes he does. I'd batten down the hatches if I were you guys, he's pretty pissed at you."
    "Any idea how he's doing this?"
    "Nope. I hope you're well grounded."
    "Guys, we're in for a storm," he told someone else. "Thanks for the call."
    "Anytime."

[Aside: Revolution Base]

    Scott gave me a call.
    "Yeah?" I answered distractedly.
    "Find him, could you?"
    "We're looking," I retorted. "Need to try to find his physical body somewhere in this mess. He's probably underwater."
    "Oh, wonderful," Trent sighed.
    "Anybody got the ability to sense electricity, circuitry, something like that? Magnetics?" the robot suggested.
    "No."

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