Beyond Shazam's Magic #3

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Beyond Shazam’s Magic #3
Heavy Metal

Written by G. Brown
Edited by Daniel Dyer

Inside an underground bunker

Two figures watch a large video screen of the emptying of the Tomb of Teth-Adam. They are a man and a woman. They both wear the standard uniform of the Save the Savannah Foundation. The man sits in a chair and appears to be well built. The woman stands behind him, leaning on his shoulders, her tight fitting uniform displaying her perfect body. Both of their faces are hidden in shadows.

“Another wild goose chase!” The man slams his fist on the arm of the chair in aggravation.

“We found many interesting Artifacts, my brother.” She begins to rub his shoulders.

“Yes, but no Pit. We’ve failed yet again. How many times can we come up empty?”

“Relax, my brother. We’ll find one. We haven’t run out of leads and thanks to all our bleeding heart backers, we have plenty of money and resources.”

He took a deep breath and leaned back into her massaging hands, trying to relax. “Yes, you’re right, but how much time does He have? How long before it’s too late even for the Pit to help him?”

“Have faith... have faith in him. He has thought of everything.”

“True. No truer words have ever been spoken. We’ll ship the collection of Teth-Adam to the Neo Fawcett Museum of Natural History. The press coverage alone will keep the donations flowing.” A smile spreading across his face.

“Now you’re thinking straight. Do you think the reports are true? Could she be a Marvel?”

The brother shook his head. “I doubt it. There hasn’t been a Marvel seen in over twenty years. It’s probably one of those New Titans or something. Still, if she is, the irony wouldn’t be lost on him. Quite a coincidence.”

“He never believed in coincidence and neither do I. I think she is for real. We’ll find the Pit soon. She’s a sign.”

The screen goes blank and the mysterious siblings leave the lair still hidden in shadows.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

STS Foundation Kandahq Base camp

A full week had passed since the battle between Anaconda and Captain Marvel. The STS staff and volunteers were still buzzing about it. Since then the Captain had yet to make another appearance.

Abigail Freeman had been the only eyewitness to the battle and was just about sick of talking about it. Sure a few members of security watched her drop off the bad guy and fly away, but she had supposedly seen the fight up close. The main problem with the retelling of the tale was that she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs that she WAS Captain Marvel. Of course, she knew that was impossible and more so a very bad idea. The Wizard clearly warned her that the Captain had many enemies, enemies that would love nothing more than to get to Abbey through her loved ones. Not to mention the danger to herself when in her more fragile form.

The STS was moving out today. Everything that could be excavated from the Tomb of Teth-Adam had been loaded and catalogued. Kandahq was glad for the discovery and was more than happy to loan many of the relics to the Foundation for display back in the States and worldwide. The Foundation had built irrigation systems and helped to create fields for growth of food that hadn’t been possible previously. The Foundation could work wonders with their teams of scientists. War had been breaking out globally and the countries neighboring Kandahq were involved with the conflict. It made bringing outside supplies harder and harder these days.

Abbey’s hoverchair hummed as it passed the staff busy with the work of packing up the large convoy buses the Foundation used to travel from area to area. She had finished her part of the packing and even had time to fix and upgrade her chair. It was running like a champ. She started early today, because today was the day that Spence was cleared to leave the infirmary.

Her face brightened instantly when she saw him standing near the checkout desk all dressed to leave.

“Well, if it doesn’t look like the dashing Rogue Spencer isn’t all ready for adventure.”

He smiled as well, turning his attention away from the STS Nurse to greet Abbey.

“Not quite ready for action.” He lifted his arm which was wrapped in a plasti-sling.

“But still dashing.” Did she really say that out loud? Abbey started to blush and turn away. It seemed knowing you are Captain Marvel seemed to give her a new sense of boldness. She began to bite on her lower lip.

Spence grinned, picking up on it, but carefully ignoring her slip.

“Truth be told, Abbey, you were the heroic one. If not for you, who knows what would have happened to me?” He began to step closer to her as he spoke. “Lady Abigail really showed her stuff. I never had a chance to thank you.” By now Spence was leaning into her chair. He leaned down and in close so his face was inches from hers. “Honestly Abbey, I’d like to thank you. Properly... I...”

Abbey could smell his breath, smell his clean hair. She always secretly thought about Spence, wishing he would like her in that special way, but never thought it could be a reality. Her eyes widened. Could this actually be happening? Her stomach tightened in the good way. She was sure he was going to kiss her. Would her glasses get in the way? Were they on the bridge of her nose as usual? Did she even know how to kiss? Spence inched closer still...

“Abigail Freeman!”

Abbey snapped her head up at the call of her name. She was so nervous her head smacked Spence in the nose as she moved so fast. Spence grabbed his nose as Abbey apologized they both were interrupted by a blond girl, perfectly dressed and perfectly coifed. She was practically perfect in every way.

“Hi Sunny.”

It was Sonja Ross. Sunny, naturally. She was an STS Volunteer from Gateway City. She had been assigned to Abbey and Spence’s workgroup recently and even if she hadn’t interrupted this possibly monumental moment, Abbey had decided days ago, she didn’t care for her. It wasn’t due to anything Sunny had done. On the contrary, Sunny was very nice. Perfectly nice. As perfectly nice as her appearance was perfect. She was often described around camp as the nicest girl in the world. It was a claim no one could dispute. Not only was she blond, blue eyed and an absolute knockout, but she had the nerve to NOT be vain, mean or self centered. She was in a word... perfect. Of course Abbey had no choice but to hate her.

“Abigail, Abigail, Abigail... Our hero. You are so shway!” She gushed over Abbey leaning over so she could hug her without bumping into the hoverchair. She turned and hugged Spence as well. “You both are! The way you tried to fight off the grave robbers and then the best part... you saw Captain Marvel!”

Spence seemed less upset about the interruption than Abbey did and he really seemed to enjoy the hug or was that just Abbey’s imagination getting the best of her. Abbey was so confused, everything was happening so fast. Captain Marvel, her feelings for Spence, his feelings for her. It was all so much and right now watching Sunny Ross hug Spence made her stomach tightened again, not in the good way this time.

“Yeah, Sunny, it’s a great trip so far, if you forget about the snake splicer almost killing us,” Spence joked as he pulled away from the hug.

“But he didn’t! You both were saved by Captain Marvel! Say that again, Captain Marvel saved you guys! Tom, Abigail you just have to tell me all about it again. And Abbey don’t leave anything out about her. Is she pretty? Of course she is, the security men said she was beautiful. Was she tall? What color was her eyes? Come on, Abbey, I want to hear it all.”

Sunny seemed to speak all in one breath, with no pauses, not even for air.

“I didn’t see much. Abbey here pulled me out of the fire after I was knocked out. The Captain showed up later. Abbey is the expert. I was long gone by the time she arrived.” He flashed a warm smile at Abbey. Abbey returned the smile while pushing her glasses up from the bridge of her nose, wishing more than ever that Sunny had showed up just a few minutes later than she had.

She looked a lot like me! Abbey wanted to say, even if it wasn’t the truth. “I don’t know, Sunny, I told you everything I remember. It was dark and I was scared silly.” Ah! At last, a little truth, she thought to herself.

Sunny looked confused. “But after taking care of the splicer, Anaconda, she flew you back to the dorm.”

Now it was Abbey’s turn to look confused. She gathered herself quickly pushing her glasses off her nose as she answered. “That’s right, she did. How else did I get back?” Abbey sheepishly smiled. Boy was this secret identity thing a lot harder than she expected. “She was great, Sunny. She flew through the air like Superman. At least what I’ve seen of him on the Holovids.”

Sunny bounced on her toes and clapped with glee. “You flew, you flew... What was that like? Tell me, tell me everything.”

A smile spread across Abbey’s face. “It was like walking... walking on clouds.” Abbey’s face had a dream like quality, her smile fading as quick as it had appeared, when her gaze fell on her hoverchair. Spence noticed Abbey’s look change and skillfully interrupted.

“Can I get out of the hospital finally and go pack. We can talk about the good Captain all day. Anywhere but here.” Spence began to walk ahead of them. “She’s still a girl, Superman is way more shway.”

“Superman is as old and grey as my dad, Thomas Spencer. The Captain is like a Holo-Star!” Sunny protested as she and Abbey trailed behind him. Abbey, slightly behind Sunny, smiled again. “A Holo-Star...Really?” she said to herself.

“You don’t have anything to worry about, Spence, I packed all your things and loaded it on the bus. It was the least I could have done for our wounded hero.”

Sunny’s smile could have lit up a dark room. Spence turned and paused as he looked at Sunny. “Thanks, Sunny. That was very sweet.”

Abbey had just caught up with them. She felt a new twist in her stomach as she watched Spence and Sunny look closely at each other and this time it wasn’t the good kind. “Yeah, Sunny that was... sweet.”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

High above the STS Caravan of buses flew an unseen observer. The armor worn by the observer in stealth mode. An energy field surrounding the armor distorting the light around it rendering it virtually invisible as it flies through the African sky.

“Iron Maiden to base. I have a twenty on the STS Convoy.”

Through the armor’s helmet came a voice laced with precision and experience. “Have you located the package?”

“10-4, Control. I have a lock on target.”

“Copy that Maiden. Our employer was very specific. Acquire the package before the STS can ship it stateside. Intercept the convoy and make your escape with the item. Expect minor resistance, the STS Security team has nothing on par with your hardware.”

“Roger that, Control. Engaging the convoy in sixty seconds. Be home before dinner. Iron Maiden out.”

The air around the armored figure shimmered to reveal a purple armored figure with a obvious female shape. Her helmet covered her entire face and head. Only outlines of eye sockets revealing twin white lenses marked her face at all. There were no markings for a nose or mouth. With a blast of jets from the base of her boots, she descended and made a sharp line for the buses.

“Resistance? I hope they put up a better fight then I’m used to,” the Iron Maiden said to herself.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Abbey sat strapped into a seat in the rear of the STS transport bus. She was in the last seat against the back window. She was always loaded last and placed into the handicap seat as everyone else watched and waited for her. One of the many indignities her life was filled with. In front of her, seated a little too closely sat Spence and Sunny. Spence did try to sit next to her, but Mr. Snow had nixed that idea. He needed to pile a few last minute boxes in the back next to Abbey. Why not? she thought. He may as well place it next to the rest of the cargo.

“Did you see that? I think it was a rhino.”

Sunny smiled her usual ‘Sonja’ smile as she turned around to try and include Abbey. Abbey looked out the window, but saw nothing but desert. She doubted any wild life was this close to a road, but couldn’t muster up an answer. She was too occupied with just how close Spence and Sunny were, each bump along the road pushing them ever closer. It was a huge seat! At least three kids could sit there, Abbey wanted to scream, but instead smiled at Sunny. “I must have missed it.”

The buses turned into winding road, everyone on the bus took a sharp inhale or made a loud ‘wow’ comment. When Abbey looked out her window she saw only blue sky. Down below her window she noticed that the road was only large enough for one vehicle and if not careful they could tip over the edge into oblivion.

BOOM! As if on cue, the entire bus shook and everyone screamed.

“Look! What is that?”

A female in purple armor flew by the window over the trench. She headed for some cargo trucks behind the students’ buses. Everyone’s heads followed the armored figure as it flew past their windows and opened fire on one of the trucks with some type of energy weapon from her wrists. Abbey was sure the figure locked eyes with her for a split second as it past her. The STS Security fired back at her with energy rifles, but were closer to hitting the student buses than the armored figure.

“She’s after the gold from Teth-Adam’s tomb!”

Spence had turned in his seat and sat up to talk to Abbey. Abbey stretched her neck and pressed against the window to see the action. Lasers from the STS team either missed completely as the purple figure spun through the air or bounced harmlessly off her armor. The woman fired purple energy from her writs knocking two security men back inside the vehicle. Abbey knew the team was severely outmatched, but didn’t know what to do. She was strapped into her seat with a bus load of students. She was right out in the open.

They can handle this, they’re professionals. It’s what they do, she thought to herself.

Just then the purple figure flew between the rear of Abbey’s bus and the convoy. Abbey had a prefect view as the woman fired off several more blasts hitting the vehicle head on! The vehicle sputtered and slowed and then was rear ended by the trailing vehicle! The two vehicles collided front to rear and the security vehicle tipped over as if in slow motion. It seemed to move in slow motion as it went over the edge. The entire vehicle fell off the small ledge of a road and free fell down the deep trench.

“Oh my G.....”

Sunny’s cry was drowned out by the cries and yelling of everyone on the bus. Abbey had to act. If she didn’t everyone on board the security vehicle was dead. Identity be darned, she didn’t have any time to lose. She was about to say the word, when a stray laser blast missed the armored lady and hit the back of the bus. All the students were jostled forward and Abbey seized the moment. She reached out and with one arm pulled the emergency exit door, being in the rear seat it was right next to her, and with the other hand she released her seat belt. She acted without thinking and without the use of her legs, she was thrown from the bus much faster than she expected. To anyone in the bus it would look as if she fell from the vehicle accidently. She saw as Spence and Sunny screamed and reached for her. In a split second they were gone from sight as she fell at an amazing speed toward the bottom of the trench. With the wind rushing through her hair she spoke. “Shazam!”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Equipment and weapons were tumbling all over the deck of the security transport. Most of the personnel were strapped in, for what it was worth. They all knew in seconds that they were dead. The fall seemed to take longer than any had expected. The anticipation feeling worse than the fate they knew awaited them. Then as sudden as they fell, they stopped... on a dime. No crash, no deaths, just stopped. Rough to be sure, but rather safely all things considered. A second’s pause and then the entire vehicle began to rise upward as if in defiance of gravity itself. The security members looked at each other in bewilderment until the driver yelled in a voice filled with relief. “It’s her! It’s Captain Marvel!”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Abbey flew upward, carrying the STS security transport vehicle above her. It was surprising to find that she could sweat as Captain Marvel. Beads of sweat dripped down her cheeks and down the back of neck. Her transformation was instantaneous and she had to move incredibly fast. As soon as she changed, she raced to the bottom of the trench with all of Mercury’s gift at her disposal. Even pushing faster than she thought possible, she barely slid underneath the bottom of the falling vehicle in time. Hercules gift checked in as she found it a tough catch, but nothing she couldn’t handle and the Stamina of Atlas was working as well, although judging by the sweat she felt on her face this maneuver was putting her to the test. She wondered if everything got easier with practice. She placed the vehicle down upright a few hundred yards behind the rest of the convoy. She couldn’t stick around, she immediately flew off toward the rest of the convoy and the purple attacker as several security personnel exited the vehicle waving to her.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The convoy rolled on, with the exception of the cargo truck that the Iron Maiden had now stopped. The Maiden backhanded the last security member brave enough to confront her.

“Maiden to Control. Resistance has been eliminated. Beginning retrieval now... Wait, I’m picking up something on radar... fast..”

The Maiden turned around just in time to see Captain Marvel barreling into her like a running back smashing through a goal line stand. Abbey hit her hard and carried her into the canyon wall with a crash. The Captain stood over the fallen dust covered Maiden.

“Whoever you are, I can’t let you go around throwing trucks filled with innocent people off of cliffs, and it doesn’t take the Wisdom of Solomon to tell me you are trying to take something that doesn’t belong to you. I suggest you stay down.”

Iron Maiden couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was this lady serious? She was standing over her with her hands on her hips giving speeches when she should be finishing her off. Her mistake. With a series of lighting fast clicks, a huge purple mace appeared in the Maiden’s hands! Abbey was surprised and before she knew it, the mace hit her under the chin! Abbey felt the blow, the armored woman was stronger than Anaconda. Captain Marvel staggered back a step. “That’s what I think of your suggestion.”

In a flash the Maiden was on the Captain, a combination of three blows in a row sent Abbey spinning to the desert floor. She was dazed, the woman was fast and her moves were precise. She was a trained fighter. Abbey suddenly realized she had no idea how to actually fight. She fought back a twinge of panic.

“The Iron Maiden will take whatever she wants to. A fancy costume doesn’t make you a super hero, Sunshine.”

The Maiden swung her mace downward with two hands aimed for Abbey’s head, but this time Abbey was ready. With a burst of Mercury’s speed she flew to her feet avoiding the mace as it collided hard with the ground. “Very nice, girl, but not fast enough.”

As the Iron maiden twirled and again swung her mace, Abbey relaxed. Instead of panic, she let herself trust the gifts of the God’s. That first night the Wizard had told her to trust the gifts. She didn’t understand what he meant then, but she starting to get an idea. Abbey blocked the attack as her arm raised in time to meet the handle of the weapon. Undaunted, the Maiden attacked again with a two prong attack. Abbey stepped back expertly and with both her hands moving with ease and skill, she countered both blows keeping perfect distance between herself and her opponent.

“How in the... So you have some skill, after all,” a slight hint of hesitation detected in the Maiden’s voice.

Captain Marvel grinned at her. Abbey realized that courage was not the only gift she received from Achilles. The legendary hero’s courage came in part from his belief in his unparalleled combat skill. Skill Abbey was happy to be granted.

“Lets try this.”

The Iron Maiden created a huge purple hammer in her free hand and swung both weapons expertly at Captain Marvel. Abbey sidestepped the hammer and ducked as the mace rushed past her head. The Maiden stumbled off balance like an amateur. The Captain struck with a lightning fast punch perfectly placed in the center of the Maiden’s chest. The blow forced the Maiden off her feet! She dropped her weapons as she flew yet again into the cavern wall with a crunch!

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Control to Maiden. Your suit’s been ruptured. Evac immediately.”

“Negative, base. I have never failed a mission and I’m not about to start. I can handle her.”

“Control to Maiden. This is not a request. I say again, Evac immediately. You must not be captured. The armor must never be compromised.”

“No! I can take her! No one can defeat me. I AM the Iron Maiden!” The Maiden’s voice was frantic. She had never been in this scenario. She had never been bested.

“Negative, Maiden. You’re coming home. Remote override engaged. You WERE the Iron Maiden. Control out.”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Abbey landed in front of the Iron Maiden. She didn’t think she had hit her all that hard, but there was an obvious crack in her chest plate. Sparks were beginning to go off on various points of her armor.

“Let me help you get out of that suit. I’m Captain Marvel, let me help you. It can’t be safe.” Abbey cautiously stepped toward the unmoving Maiden. Was she a robot? Was there anyone in there at all? Just as she was about to touch the armor’s shoulder, when an ultra high pitch frequency assaulted Abbey’s ears. The sound was so painful it dropped her to her knees and made her see stars. Without a word the Maiden’s jet boots activated and she jettisoned into the sky. Captain Marvel struggled against the pain and got to her feet. By the time the frequency faded there was no sight of the Iron Maiden. It was as if she had faded into the sky and vanished. “No wonder everyone loves Superman so much. Telescopic vision sure would come in handy right about now.”

Captain Marvel headed back toward the ongoing convoy, she had already worked out her rescue story for Abbey in her head. It looked like she’d have to sit and tell Sunny more Captain Marvel stories. A steep price to pay for a secret identity.

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

As the Iron Maiden flew away in stealth mode, the person trapped inside, screamed in vain ever since hearing Control’s last transmission.

“I am the Iron Maiden! You can’t take that from me! You can’t! I’ll kill her! If it takes me forever, I will kill Captain Marvel!”

—

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Elsewhere

“Mother, your hired mortals failed to get the Amulet.”

“The Maiden was but a test, my son. A barometer with which to judge this new Captain.” She took her young son by the hand. “The Amulet will find one who is worthy. It does not need us for that. A Black Champion will rise. It is inevitable. Then our new Captain will be far too busy to interfere with us. At least not before it is far too late.” The woman in the golden mask walked her son away from the viewing mirror. “Come My son, we have other matters to attend to.”

Continued...