Volume II: Prison Break

11th of October, 2023. Westview high, Brooklyn

Almost everyone turned up for the Thunderbolts first game of the season. Westview was playing Brooklyn Tech, the rivalry between the two schools spanning decades and extending far beyond the football field. Positioned on the East River, Westview’s football field had a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline – the lighted windows of the high-rise buildings and skyscrapers created a shimmering tapestry across the night sky. The bleachers were already packed. The diehard fans of the Thunderbolts were wearing purple and gold, with the more enthusiastic of them painting their faces as well.

The game was about to kick off in a few short minutes. Students were hurrying to their seats from the concession stands, carrying hot dogs, cheese-smothered nachos, and folded-up banners.

Among them was Stacy Mulligan. Her online campaign to expel the Ogre from the school has been successful. The administration pulled him out due to numerous safety complaints from concerned parents. What’s worse – Stacy’s Instagram followers flocked to his neighborhood after she doxed him and organized a picket outside his home. His mother was adamant about her son going to school and leading a normal life, but she had to reconsider after a brick went flying through their kitchen window. Last everyone heard, the Blairs were selling the house, and moving to Montana. As always, Stacy was chaperoned by Lisa, the bootlicker following the haughty blonde like a suckerfish a shark. The last of the three Harpies, however, was on the field itself, getting ready to lead the cheerleading squad to encourage the spectators to ever louder and more enthusiastic roars for the home team.

As the Thunderbolts took the field, the entire crowd rose to their feet, the cheers rising to a near-deafening thunderous applause. It was only the first game of the season, but expectations were high from the team this year. Whatever was the outcome, the fans could at least expect a good showing, and an opportunity to unwind a bit and forget all about the heavy school workload and the upcoming exams looming over the horizon.

Hanna was used to being gawked at by the boys at school, but this was something different. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she just knew someone was staring at her. Someone dangerous. The back of her neck prickled, as if a chill slipped down her spine. She didn't spot who it was yet, only that it couldn't be anyone good.

Harmonia reaches with her senses and finds the source of the disturbance. It is someone sitting on the bleachers, not too far behind her.
Will she risk taking a look?

The game got off to a bad start; the Thunderbolts were trailing seven points after the opening drive, and their first possession ended with a fumble. Brooklyn Tech had a formidable defense, and despite a few long gains and determined efforts, the Thunderbolts were unable to close the gap till the very end of the second quarter.

The crowd still remained hopeful that the home team would overcome the deficit and shift the momentum in their favor. Cameron tried to squeeze a few extra plays with the short time they had on the clock, throwing the ball to the receivers on the sidelines so they can step out of bounds and stop the timer.

Lauren, who hadn't been paying too much attention to the game thus far, had barely a split second to react before one of the players, who lunged toward the sidelines to secure the catch just inches from the out-of-bounds, would smash right into her after skipping over the first row of seats.

The heroes stepped through the swirling darkness of the rift in space to find themselves standing on the cracked asphalt just outside the prison’s formidable walls. The tumult of the scene immediately engulfed them; the night sky was lit with the flickering light of explosions, and a distant, pounding of gunfire cut through the heavy smoke pouring out from several buildings, punctuated by the wail of sirens that seemed to pierce right through the ear-splitting commotion.

High above, police helicopters hovered above them, their searchlights slicing through the smoke and illuminating the swirling chaos below.

What do you do?

Wrecker and Mimic emerged from the shadowy portal, standing beside a gaping hole in the side of the building. Peering through, they could notice that every wall between their vantage point and the staircase had been utterly pulverized, leaving a scene of devastation in its wake. The guards must have displayed a rare sense of self-preservation; all smart enough to retreat rather than confront the supervillain responsible for the destruction. But as they ventured deeper into the chaos, they could hear the sharp cracking of gunfire echoing from the sublevel below them.

What do you do?

Peering down the dimly lit stairway, it quickly becomes clear that the supervillains have a well-defined objective. The metal door three flights down lies crumpled on the ground, ripped from its hinges as if it were made of paper, while every other door stands untouched, and undamaged. The destruction of the one single door suggests purpose; the supervillains are not here by chance. They are hunting for someone—or something—very specific.

What do you do?

As Wrecker distracted the villain, Mimic slipped into the prison cell unnoticed. The space was anything but ordinary; behind the bulletproof glass was a middle-aged man, stretched out in an X position. His arms and legs were encased in bulky titanium, rendering him immobile and vulnerable. The stark, sterile environment was illuminated by harsh fluorescent lights, casting an eerie glow on the man’s expression, which seemed to blend defiance and dangerous nonchalance.

Surrounding the cell were numerous hazard signs warning of ‘high voltage’. In the adjacent security room, a computer panel offered a direct view of the cell. The teenager Mimic had been chasing stood there, fingers flying across the keyboard, his eyes darting between the screen and the cell, clearly focused on something crucial. Just as Mimic stepped into the room, he paused, his finger hovering hesitantly above the ‘enter’ key.

What do you do?

Mimic pushed the boy into Wrecker’s arms just before the torrent of collapsing debris descended upon them. As the dust settled, Wrecker was trapped beneath a mountain of concrete and steel. He was unharmed, as were Shockwave and Carl – both of whom were pinned tightly between his body, and the floor.

Blue Reaper feels a wave of vertigo wash over her once she teleports into the helicopter's cockpit. The world outside was spinning uncontrollably as the helicopter spiraled downwards uncontrollably, despite her desperate attempts to regain control. With a thunderous impact, it crashes into the building, erupting in a brilliant orange fireball that illuminates the night sky. The flames that consumed the wreckage licked the sides of the structure, the fire quickly becoming a raging inferno.

>>>Wrecker, Ronnie, stopped at the cracked entrance to the surface as he saw the rest of the team trying to stop his Dad. The crash if the helicopter and the flash of it delivering snapped him out of his momentary fugue. He didn't want to fight his Dad but he couldn't not fight him either. His Dad was dangerous and apparently unpredictable right now.
>>>Ronnie ran to the scene as fast as he could over the rubble-strewn terrain as he tried to think of how to handle the situation. If it were anyone else, he'd go in swinging. Provide a target, if nothing else, and let Blacklight or Mimic or someone smarter figure out what to do. But this time, it wasn't just anyone he was going up against... "Woah, woah, woah!" he called out, interposing his big frame between his team and his Dad. "Hey, don't throw this chance away. Don't let em charge you with attempted escape when you're this close to finishing your sentence... It's not your fault. Let us take you in and explain what happened." He plead with the senior Wrecker, unsure of the outcome but he couldn't let slip by the opportunity to at least try to reach out to him.

Wrecker jr charges across the flooded battlefield and slams into the supervillain like a linebacker. The collision is explosive, sending Wrecker Sr flying backward, hurtling right through the dark portal. He disappears into the abyss leading to the very bottom of the ocean. The portals flicker and then wink out of existence, leaving no trace of his fate.

The heroes remain standing amidst the wreckage of a battle that left Rikers Island a warzone. A massive crater, charred remains of a helicopter, and debris scattered all across the soaked grounds. The air still buzzes with the faint echoes of helicopters hovering above, and of police sirens in the distance. There might still be other escaped prisoners roaming free on the Island, but now that the main threat have been contained, they could likely be picked up by the police without too much hassle.

What do you do?

Just as the situation seemed to be finally stabilizing, the heroes were jolted by a deafening explosion. Its source - a massive, fiery orange inferno consuming the southern tip of the island. The raging fire seemed to engulf the entrance to Riker's island bridge - the sole access point connecting the island to the mainland.

What do you do?

Blacklight and Wrecker arrived at the bridge, now completely engulfed in flames, to find a group of armed prisoners slowly retreating in desperation. They had originally intended to use the chaos as cover to make the crossing, but the growing inferno and the looming threat ahead had made that impossible. Just as they began to consider turning back, a figure emerged from the blaze, his silhouette dark and imposing against the fiery backdrop.

Clad in pitch-black armor and a menacing face mask, the very sight of the Scourge sent the convicts into a panic. Without hesitation, they dropped to their knees, hands raised high in submission. Those who hadn't immediately recognized him were swiftly corrected by their more seasoned comrades, urging them to surrender - and to do so as quickly as humanly possible.