Issue 101: Champions: Assemble (Part 1)
It was a normal Wednesday evening in Metropolis. Haley Scott had rented time at the observatory outside of the city and observed a mysterious meteor approaching the Earth. As it entered the atmosphere he saw it change trajectory and speed. Thinking this could be trouble Haley donned his armor to make his debut as Blue Nova. Meanwhile Gladiator and Arcano was on their patrols and encountered each other. Arcano managed to stick to Gladiator's Sky Chariot and words were exchanged. The two also saw the meteor entering the skyline. Sensing trouble they gave pursuit.

The meteor adjusted its course several times to avoid buildings but its wake caused power shortages. This alerted the Grey Falcon and Gore to the impending trouble. Each of them transformed and joined the pursuit of the strangely behaving meteor. It crashed in the middle of Global Tech's Research Park during a protest. The heroes met up and investigated the crash. It did not appear to be a meteor but a space craft. As the group closed in a hatch blew off and four armed insectoids jumped out. They were carrying blaster weapons and a fight ensued.

The insectoids had incredible strength and was capable of jumping great heights. They used their weapons and claws to focus attacks on troublesome heroes. Gladiator could withstand the majority of their attacks. The heroes fought valiantly but the combined tactics of the insectoids allowed them to escape through a sewer grate. As they made the escape the heroes spotted another spacecraft of similar design hovering above the crash site. What does this new arrival mean for the group of assembled heroes? To be continued...

Issue 101: Champions: Assemble (Part 2)
The assembled heroes stared at the alien space craft, with the exception of Arachno who was contemplating entering the sewer system in pursuit of the insectoids. Gladiator pointed his sword at the the space craft and it responded by pointing its blasters at him. A green and black armored figure emerged from the craft. After a few tense moments the Grey Falcon broke the ice and asked why did he come to Earth. The new comer had problems responding but finally revealed that he was an officer with eth Alpha Centauri Republic who had been sent to capture the Tha'Korians. They were wanted for the destruction of an agricultural colony through their experimentations with hyperspace conduits. The officer, Gilda Pernol, stated that the group would first acquire the power the needed and he could track them with drones. He deployed his drones, but Johnny Phaze realized that Stellar Labs would probably be their target of choice. Unfortunately before they could depart the crashed ship exploded and damaged Gilda's ship. As it started careening into the ground the assembled heroes reacted and was able to slow its decent and set it down gently.

The group set out for Stellar Labs and Gilda and Blue Nova stayed behind to repair the damage to the ship. The heroes arrived at the lab just after the Tha'Korians had broken in. They were on the third level of the facility. Arachno and Johnny Phaze entered the level first with their quick speeds. Gore decided to take a more conventional approach and entered the building on the ground floor. One there, he burrowed up through two floors and emerged in the middle of the battle. All the Tha'Korians turned their blasters on him and knocked him out of the window and into the Grey Falcon. The battle was quick and the heroes gained the upper hand.

Johnny Phaze turned intangible and peeked through one of the lab walls and found the remaining Tha'Korians stealing a micro-fusion reactor. Gladiator decided it would be best to make a quick entry and smashed a hole in the wall destroying valuable computer equipment. Gore entered as well and uses his tentacles to throw pieces of lab equipment at the two Tha'Korians. With great effort the heroes prevailed over the Tha'Korians just as Gilda Pernol arrived. He thanked them for their help and the group loaded the captured aliens into his ship. The heroes cleaned the damage up as best as they could and departed the area.

Issue 102: Day of the Ninja
It has been several weeks since the heroes apprehended the Tha’Korians. Individually they have been fighting crime throughout the city.

The adventure opened as Kano Takeda, the CEO of Kano Advanced Industrial Design, visited the science department of the University of Metropolis to promote a co-op program between his company and the University. Andrew Berkerwitz, Johnny Phaze, was in attendance and noticed that the CEO’s assistants seemed to have laser weapons under their suits. Andrew is extremely interested in participating in the program. As the presentation came to a close a strange armored ninja appeared out of the shadows.

Elsewhere Haley Scott was attending a luncheon hosted by Global Tech. The company invited the twenty most capable freelance inventors to the function and served first rate food. Haley recognized several people and spotted a new comer, an attractive active Asian woman with emerald green eyes named Yukio Ardachi. She was well dressed and specialized in automated systems. After the inventors had eaten Rotada Hikari, a representative for Global Tech, entered the room and began the presentation using a holographic system. The company needed proposals for an efficient engine that could operate in a near vacuum for a secret project. Just as Hikari neared the end of the presentation the doors exploded and a red armored ninja burst into the room.

Back at the university Andrew Berkerwitz, decided that he needed to act and used the attack as a distraction to phase through the floor where he ended up in a bathroom. He then changed into his costume. Johnny Phaze then teleported back into the auditorium where he witnessed the ninja takes out both of Kano’s guards. At the Global Tech facility the ninja jumped onto the table, and drew two throwing stars. Haley struggled to figure out what he could do without access to his speed suit. The ninja started running across the table, intent on attacking Hikari. Johnny Phaze teleported in front of the CEO and expanded his airfield to protect him. The ninja throw a star at him and it bounced off the field. The ninja then drew a sword and jumped towards them and a battle began. Johnny Phaze suffered a wound and was knocked down. The ninja then struck the CEO with the sword just as campus security arrived. The ninja then made an escape through the security forces. Johnny noticed that the CEO was still alive and grabbed him and teleported to the trauma ward of the hospital.

Haley flipped the table over but the ninja was not detoured by the action. Her stars hit their mark multiple times. Hikari fell and the stars seemed to crackle with electricity. Haley search the underside of the table for some electronics he could utilize and found an emergency alarm system that was damaged. He quickly repaired it and hit the alarm. Klaxons sounded and heavy security came into the room a few seconds later. The ninja dodged the attacks and escaped out of the window. Haley checked Hikari and discovered he was a robot. A few minutes later the real Hikari entered the room and continued the presentation.

Later that night Gladiator was on patrol and saw Aracno web swinging through the city. Gladiator decided to avoid him and then without warning his Chariot was struck by a blue beam. Deprived of power the chariot began to fall towards a busy intersection. As he climbed to the exterior of the chariot, Gladiator spotted his assailants on top of a building.

Nearby Alison Hatly was enjoying diner with her grandmother who was the original Grey Falcon. The two talked about the recent appearance of the hero and pondered the reformation of Freedom Force. The two notice a strange looking man with arcane symbols on his trench coat making an exit from the restaurant. Suddenly there was a crash as Gladiator landed in the intersection in front of the restaurant. The strange man stepped out of the restaurant and yelled “Hey Gladiator, Crime Baron says hi” before he hit him with a powerful arcane blast. Gladiator was knocked back into a vehicle.

Alison ducked into the back and transformed into the Grey Falcon and made an appearance only to hit by powerful blast from the stranger. A battle ensued in the middle of the intersection and in the end the heroes were standing. Just then a missile arcs out of the sky to strike Gladiator. He reacted fast enough to deflect the explosion with his shield. The Grey Falcon went after the team with the rocket launcher and captured them. The stranger, whose name is Warlocke, and thugs were turned over to the police. Reporters swarm the scene and many questions were asked of the two heroes.

Later that evening the local news had plenty of coverage of the day’s events. Kano Takeda was reported to be in stable condition. Unfortunately his bodyguards were not as lucky. The reporter interviewed Captain Gilmore of the Metro Guard as to the readiness of the police for the arrival of Shirow Sadao, the CEO of GENOM. GENOM is a large Japanese company that builds robotics and other advanced automated systems and wanted to build a manufacturing facility in Metropolis. The Metro Guard does not seem adequately prepared to deal with the potential attack. Individually the heroes decide to help the city protect the arrival of Sadao.
Gladiator and Grey Falcon arrived at the airport shortly before the GENOM plane landed. They discussed the possibility of reforming Freedom Force. Blue Nova also joined the gathering followed shortly after by Johnny Phaze who popped in. Just as they are all talking, a man in a dress appeared. It was Magical Girl Joel! He showed up to safe guard the Japanese company so it can bring anime to America. Joel was accompanied by an annoyed man in a tuxedo that stated Magical Girl Joel was gay. After a while the GENOM airplane safely landed and taxied onto the tarmac. The CEO walked off the plane with four guards and entered a limo. The vehicle drove off the tarmac was joined by police escort. Johnny Phaze and Gladiator shadowed the limo in Gladiator’s chariot. Blue Nova and Grey Falcon followed a moment later. A short time later chaos ensues as the two lead bikes suddenly explode and skid out near an intersection. The caravan came to a stop and suddenly the two ninjas from the day before appear. The heroes moved to protect the limo as the police scrambled to deal with the ninjas but proved to be only a small hindrance.

The ninjas bounded their way to the limo hurling stars as they went. Blue Nova tried to stop the blue ninja with several different attacks. Grey Falcon projected her force field to protect the police agents and added her fire power against the blue ninja. Blue Nova managed to hit him once and then the ninja retaliated with a sword strike and brought the hero down. The ninja then disappeared. The Metro Guard arrived in a battle van and swarmed out to help the heroes. Unfortunately most of them were taken down by the red ninja.

Gladiator fought against the red ninja. Just as the battle was turning against her the red ninja activated two hidden robots that were disguised as cars. The robots activated and brought their weapons online. Gladiator tangled with one while Johnny Phaze and Grey Falcon fought the other. The Heroes had a hard time against the robots until Gladiator brought one down. The other was destroyed by the last group of the Metro Guard with a rocket launcher.

The blue ninja reappeared and resumed his attack on the limo. Grey Falcon managed to entangle him with her force beam several times but he kept shrugging it off. The red ninja moved to help and blinded the Grey Falcon with a flare shuriken. Gladiator ran to help in the fray but was taken down by a combination attack from both of the ninjas. When Grey Falcon recovered from being blinded she put everything she could into her stun bolt and blasted the blue ninja who crumpled and fell. The red ninja tried to make her escape but the Grey Falcon hit her with her Holding Beam and called to Johnny Phaze to shoot her with his power before she escaped. Johnny struck the Red Ninja with his Force Blast and knocked her into the Metro Guard’s van. As the Red Ninja passed out she said “We have failed Hydra.”

Sadao was pleased that the heroes had come to his rescue and offered to repay their heroics. Johnny Phaze stated that they could use communications equipment. Sadao agreed and within an hour the four had received their new communications gear. Magical Girl Joel showed up to use his Moon Healing Magic and help those who had suffered in the battle. Thus the day of the Ninja came to a conclusion.

Issue 103: The Staff of Anubis
Two weeks have passes since GENOM’s visit to Metropolis.

Arachno was in hot pursuit of a black van speeding down the street. The occupants had just stolen a small amount of nuclear material. The Metroguard were in pursuit but the vehicles were damaged. As they pasted the theater, Gore spotted the action.

He ducked into an alley and made his way to the top of a building. Gore launched himself into the air and glided in pursuit. Arachno managed to snag the van with his web line and pulled himself to hit. Using his spider abilities he scurried along the side of the van and attempted to blind the driver with his webbing. To his surprise the driver had a helmet with a protective faceplate. Archano’s webbing just slide off. Reacting, he grabbed the wheel and forced the vehicle to go out of control. It collided with another car and came to a stop. Meanwhile, "Freedom Force" received an alert that the harbor was under attack by flight capable power armor unit. The group rushed to the scene to stop the villain. When they arrived they found Meg attacking a small cargo freighter that had docked. Freedom Force sprang into action.

Archano and Gore fought side by side to defeat the armored thugs in the van. They did not put up much a fight, even though they were armed with energy blasters. Out of the van a man emerged wearing sandals and a toga. He asked Gore and Archano to surrender and gore responded by throwing one of the thugs into him. The stranger was not budged by the attack and looked at the heroes and said “So be it, you face the Titan”. With that he grew to 100 tall and smashed Archano with one punch. Gore grabbed Archano’s body and fled the scene only to be attacked by drones a few minutes later.

Meanwhile back at the harbor Freedom Force had proven to be a major hinerance to Meg’s plans. A bald headed man arrived in car and was horrified at the battle going on. Johnny Phaze teleported to the boat and shielded it with his air field. Meg used her speed to run down Grey Falcon and made one last attack run against the cargo freighter. Meg muttered "There is too many" before she ignited her jets and flew off.

Elsewhere Gore and Archano managed to destroy the drones. Archano determined that the camera on the drone was made by Aegis Science Corporation, since he spotted a sticker. Reporters swarmed the heroes just as Archano left the area. Gore was interviewed by the reporters.

Back at the harbor the heroes regroup. The civilians began clearing out the damaged rubble. The bald guy looks anxious because the freighter had suffered damage and there was a shipment of his in the boat. The cargo was apparently some Egyptian artifacts that are particularly valuable, one of which was the legendary Staff of Anubis. The heroes learned that the bald man was Anthony Hawthorne, an archeologist who had spent his inheritance financing his last expedition to Egypt. The heroes offered to escort the shipment to the museum and Hawthorne agreed.

Along the way Gore met up with "Freedom Force" and informed them of the situation with Titan. Once they arrived at the museum people come out and retrieved the artifacts. Hawthorne gave Freedom Force VIP passes to the opening. Gladiator also gave Gore a team communicator and the group departed to continue their patrols.

In the news there was a report on the attack on the harbor. There was also a reenactment of the battle between Gore, Archano and Titan. It was revealed that Titan has stolen some nuclear material. Feeling defeated, Archano tried to meet up with his girl friend but she had already made other plans for the evening. The next day the heroes arrived at the museum for the opening with the exception of Archano and Johnny Phaze. It was crowded and the event had even attracted the news media. While on patrol Archano spotted the event on the megascreen and decided to make his way there.

Once inside the heroes spotted the Staff of Anubis. It was suspended by a repulsion field under an orange skylight in the center of the museum. Hawthorne was busy and constantly surrounded by admirers and inquisitive visitors. Gore and Gladiator managed to speak with him about the staff. Suddenly, there was a flash of light and three people appeared. People move away in terror as they realize it was Sin-A-Star. Electra, Wizrobe and Doctor Steel made their way to the display. Doctor Steel announced "Sin-a-Star will claim the Staff of Anubis." Freedom Force sprang into action to protect the innocent and guard the artifacts.

Gore yelled to Sin-A-Star, “You were not invited” to which Doctor Steel Replied “Here is my pass” and blasted him. Electra and Grey Falcon traded energy blasts. Wizrobe made his way to the Staff display and found it to be protected. He summoned some demonic flying monkeys to hold off Freedom Force. Predator also revealed himself and changed into a Tyrannosaur rex! Archano showed up just in time to be whacked by a demon and critically injured. While the battle raged Wizrobe made the protective energy field disappear, but Blue Nova snatched the staff before Wizrobe could.

Gore formed a mace on his tentacle and hit Wizrobe back into a flying monkey demon knocking both of them out. Blue Nova raced to get out of the area but was blasted by Doc Steel and went unconscious. Gore hurled two cases full of priceless artifacts at Doc Steel. The cases smashed on the floor while Hawthorne screamed in disbelief at the act. Triumphantly he grabbed the Staff and teleported the villainous team away.

When the heroes were collecting themselves they heard a disembodied voice echo through the museum. The voice said “In the most desperate hour, Mr. Destiny appears to turn back the tide of Darkness”. There was another flash of light and a man wearing a tuxedo and a silver mask appeared. Mr. Destiny explained he had sensed a disturbance and came to help. He warned the assembled heroes that the Staff of Anubis was a powerful relic from another time that was best forgotten and if Sin-A-Star had it then there was only one place they would go to use it. Gore inquired where that would be and Destiny replied “A place between moments in time”.

Johnny Phaze popped in while Mr. Destiny healed Archano with a mystic spell. Archano tried to slink off but Gladiator and Gore grabbed him and the team of Heroes teleported with Mr. Destiny to a more surreal place. The museum faded away and the assembled heroes arrive on a rock in area of purplish pink space. Below them was a dark red darkness while the sky faded into a white void. There were floating platforms of rocks drifting about. Mr. Destiny pointed out the direction the party must travel. Johnny Phaze teleported Gladiator with him, while the others made their own way through the dimension.

After a while they spotted an archway in the distance that was glowing with mystical energy. Mr. Destiny stated that the path lied through that gate. As the party approached the gate Titan appeared out of it. He spared verbally with the party telling Gladiator that this time he will be victorious and then grew to his titanic size.

Gladiator, Gore and Grey Falcon begin an assault on Titan. Titan grumbled that Gladiator has no honor and called out for assistance from Meg. Meg came barreling through the gate and opened fired on Johnny Phaze. Grey Falcon turned her attention on Meg and managed to knock her out of the air with a well placed shot just as Gore and Gladiator brought down Titan. Mr. Destiny cast a spell and sent the two back to Earth. The Heroes take a brief moment to recover and then moves through the gate. Beyond they find a black pyramid in the center of a land mass with spidery walk ways starching as far as the eye can see, just beyond the Pyramid there is a sinister looking spacecraft. There was also Doctor Steel and Electra waiting in front of the pyramid. Mr. Destiny informed the party that they were looking at the Onyx Pyramid of Anubis that was sent here eons ago. The structure serves as a spiritual conduit with Earth.

Doctor Steel yells out that Freedom Force will not prevent them from becoming as Gods and opens fire on Archano. As the team moves in a half dozen Anubite warriors rise and leaped into the fray. Johnny Phaze held some of the back with his air field. A few attacked Gladiator and Gore. Electra blinded Archano and then blasted Johnny Phaze which allowed the Anubites to bring him down. Mr. Destiny moved forward slowly, protecting himself from combat. Gladiator also was knocked out by the Anubites. Things were looking grim for the heroes.

Gore turned the tide of battle with a clean hit that knocked two Anubites off the stone bridge. Mr. Destiny used a spell to revive Gladiator and Johnny Phaze while Archano ineffectively attacked Doc Steel. Mr. Destiny moved into position and began casting a powerful spell. Grey Falcon and Electra once again traded energy blasts. As the battle raged the heroes could see Metropolis beginning to merge with the dimension.

Gore and Gladiator joined the battle with Doc Steel and managed to knock him off the bridge just as Electra was knocked out of the air. She rose up only to be teleported away. The sinister spacecraft began to move closer. Mr. Destiny asked the heroes to protect him while he finished his spell. They closed in and used their area defenses to create a barrier. The space craft fired a megabeam at the group and Gladiator jumped to reflect it away with his shield. He failed to reflect the shot but took the brunt of the energy.

Mr. Destiny’s spell activated and formed a mystical white dragon of energy that attacked the Onyx Pyramid. Mystical lightning shot out and ended the merging of the two dimensions. A bolt hit the spacecraft and it disappeared.

There was another flash and the heroes found themselves back in Metropolis. Gladiator gave Archano a team communicator. Archano inquired what the item was and seemed reluctant to commit to joining the team. Gladiator asked what had happened to the Staff and Mr. Destiny replied that it was sent to where it would not trouble mankind anymore.

Issue 104: Rise of the Superman
Thursday found Freedom Force attending to their own individual lives. Mick Daniels, secretly Gore, was had at work supervising the repair of a strip of road that had been damaged by another super villain. Casey Wayland, was shopping at the local comic book store. He found some Hypnos comics, but elected to not purchase them. Elsewhere Haley Scott (Blue Nova) was hard at work in the observatory.

Johnny Phaze was in Professor Lamons’ class at Metropolis University listing to a lecture on condensed matter physics. The class heard a scream come from another, nearby classroom. Professor Lamons excused himself so that he could investigate the disturbance. Despite being told otherwise, several students followed.

Johnny Phaze used the distraction to teleport to a bathroom where he could change into his costume. He peered out of the restroom and located the source of the scream. Johnny decided to teleport in for a closer look and ended up in a supply closet. He desolidified his state and passed through the wall into the lab.

Johnny Phaze saw that there were several students forced into a corner and several men dressed in VIPER uniforms. One of the VIPER agents appeared to be searching for an item, while the others held the room. Johnny Phaze hit the emergency call button on his communicator to alert the rest of Freedom Force.

Johnny Phaze attempted to talk the VIPER agents into surrendering, but they took hostages instead. It was not long before one of the agents took something out of the wall in the lab. Just then, Blue Nova showed up and zoomed in to stand beside Johnny Phaze. Blue Nova sprang to action and tried to disarm one of the VIPER agents using his blinding speed.

VIPER started to retreat from the lab, and they grabbed hostages. Once again Blue Nova tried to disarm one of the VIPER agents, only to fail and watch as a female student was shot! Two of the other agents opened fire on Blue Nova with heavy weapons.

Arachno decided to answer Johnny Phaze’s call for help and was web slinging across the city. As he passed an office tower his nemesis Wasp ambushed him. Wasp flew at him firing a series of gas pellets as she went. Arcahno tried to dodge but was struck by a capture foam round and began plummeting towards the ground below.

Meanwhile, back at the university Blue Nova managed to take out down two agents using his rapid fire strikes. Johnny Phaze knocked another one out with his force blast. Blue Nova sped out of the lab to stop the remaining VIPER agents. Unfortunately a VIPER hover van had arrived to extract the agents and it opened fire on him using an automatic blaster. Blue Nova fell and was badly wounded.

Elsewhere Wasp reveled in her success and flew off to commit another crime. Arachno continued to fall towards the busy streets below. He struggled against the capture foam and was able to break free, just in time to web swing over traffic and some road construction.

Back at the University, security had taken the three capture VIPER agents to their holding cell. Gore, Gladiator and Arachno joined Johnny Phaze and Blue Nova. They investigated the lab and found that VIPER had removed something small from the wall. Gladiator and Gore went down to campus security headquarters to question the VIPER agents. The security officer on duty told them that they did not have anyone in their holding cells. Gladiator and Gore was shocked by this revelation. Unable to do anything else, Freedom Force departed.

Later that evening the news reported on the incident at the University. The wounded student was expected to make a recovery. Unfortunately the news had captured Freedom Force bickering with each other at the university.

Freedom Force was determined to learn what VIPER’s sinister plan was, and started researching the matter. Johnny Phaze searched through the internet and university documents to learn that the science building was almost one hundred years old. It had been renovated in the last decade by several different construction companies.

The next day the Grey Falcon went to city hall and was granted access to the blue prints and construction notes on the science building. She noticed that there was a notation that a Mr. S Dean insisted that four certain walls not be touched structurally. He had donated a large sum of money to the university in exchange for the restriction.

Blue Nova caught up with the Grey Falcon while she investigated the mysterious Mr. Dean. In an effort to gain information, Blue Nova attempted to hack a government database. He is countered by a more skilled programmer and then all of the Freedom Force communicators go off simultaneously. An unknown person on the communicator indicated that he knew what VIPER was after and desired a meeting at the fountain in Metro Park.

Freedom Force raced to the park and found it crowded with people. They arrived at the fountain and waited for their mysterious informant to appear. Nearby there was an area of visible distortion and an elderly man in a wheel chair rolled out of it. The man was flanked by two muscular men in suits and introduced himself as Steven Dean.

Steven Dean told the heroes that he had worked on the project that created Captain Amazing, one of the founding members of Freedom Force. Grey Falcon was familiar with Captain Amazing since she was also a founding member of the team.

VIPER was after the super solider formula that had been developed by his team. They had already succeeded in obtaining the first part of the formula. The other part was the catalyst and it was locked away in a safety deposit box. Steven pointed out that if VIPER did have the German chemical engineer Leonard Oswald, who was reported missing; it was very likely that they could recreate the catalyst. Oswald had been suspected of participating in the Nazi Űbermenschen program during World War 2.

Steven gave the key to the lock box to the Grey Falcon and told Freedom Force that they must act fast. The heroes departed for the First Bank of Metropolis and arrived in a short time. Arachno decided to cover the roof while the rest waited at the front entrance much to the delight of several onlookers.

Grey Falcon and Johnny Phaze entered the bank. They are stopped by a security guard who stalled them for a moment. Grey Falcon insisted that she be allowed to speak with the bank manager and the guard went to get him. The security guard seemed to nod at a nearby teller and suddenly a guy in a green VIPER outfit pops up from behind the teller counter. The VIPER agent fired his beam weapon and struck the Grey Falcon.

Grey Falcon activated her communicator and alerted the rest of the team to the danger inside. Before Gladiator could move into the bank he was attacked by a blast of lightning from Baron Lightning’s spear. Inside the bank, two of the tellers deactivate their holographic suits and reveal VIPER uniforms. They also produce beam weaponry and opened fire on the Grey Falcon and Johnny Phaze.

Gladiator had no idea who Baron Lightning was or why he was attacking him but responded to the attack by hurling a truck at the Baron. The Baron dodged out of the way and called for his Valkyries to aid him. Four women dressed in battle armor flew in on jet packs and began to attack Freedom Force. Arachno launched himself into the fray and engaged the Valkries.

Gore entered the bank and began assaulting the VIPER agents inside. Grey Falcon moved into the Bank Managers office and found yet another VIPER agent holding an Asian woman at gun point. The bank manager was on the floor, cowering. The VIPER agent orders Freedom Force to stand down.

Meanwhile, outside Arachno tried to entangle one of the Valkyries with his webshooters but missed. Baron Lightning blasted Arachno and pushed him into the front of the bank with his lightning blast. Gladiator grabbed a van to hurl it. Much to his surprise the door opened and a VIPER heavy weapon team blasted him with a large cannon. Gladiator is hurled back over 100 feet and was knocked unconscious. Baron Lightning claimed victory for the Crime Baron and flew away, laughing.

VIPER agents poured out of the van and Freedom Force reluctantly stands down after they were informed that there were two bombs placed in the city. The agents boarded into another hover van and escaped with the Asian girl, who turned out to be Myuki, Arachno’s alter ego’s girl friend!

Freedom Force mobilized and located both bombs. One was on the 3rd level of the bank and Johnny Phaze started disarming it. The other was placed in the park. Blue Nova found it with ease and disarmed it. He then took it and placed it at the North Pole before he rejoined Johnny Phaze and helped him disarm the first bomb.

Grey Falcon spoke with the bank manager and checked the safety deposit box. VIPER had melted the lock and stole the contents. Once Gladiator recovered, he contacted Steven Dean and arranged a meeting with him. Arachno departed and began the search for the abducted Asian girl.

The rest of Freedom Force met with Steven Dean and asked many questions and sought suggestions on how to proceed. Dean informed the group that with both the catalyst and formula VIPER now could create a small unit of super soldiers. They did not need an extensive lab for the process. Gladiator mentioned Dr. Oswald, the German scientist who was kidnapped. Dean replied that Oswald could possibly replicate the formula, and that Oswald might be blackmailed into recreating the formula for VIPER.

Johnny Phaze inquired what was in the formula and Steven Dean would not reveal the exact ingredients but did mention that the formula had a specific radioactive signature that could be followed. He gave the team a set of multi-function sensor devices specifically tuned to scan for that signature. Unfortunately the range was limited.

The heroes split up to search the city of Metropolis. Gladiator and Gore head to the Hilton hotel where Oswald was kidnapped from, in hope to find more clues there. There was much fan fair with their arrival and the front desk attendant thought that the two heroes desired a discrete room. Gladiator asked to speak with the hotel manager and convinced him to allow the heroes to see the room where Oswald was abducted from. Unfortunately the search did not reveal any new clues except the kidnappers probably could fly. Gore collected several hotel amenities and warped a towel around his neck like a cape.

Gore and Gladiator run into Aracno on the way to the police station to speak with the detectives that searched the crime scene. They updated Aracno on the situation and gave him a sensor unit. The three heroes thought they heard the sound of singing, and suddenly Baron Lightning appeared! He yelled “East Wind Blow” and pointed his spear at Gladiator and fired a lightning blast at him.

Elsewhere Johnny Phaze spotted something unusual in an alley. It looked like an elderly gentleman was getting robbed. Johnny Phaze sprang to action and teleported next to the elderly man. Then he extended his protective shield around the elderly man and ordered the robber to surrender. The robber opened fire with his pistol.

Blue Nova raced between locations in an effort to cover the most ground possible. He also spotted some masked men running out of a jewelry store with duffle bags. Thinking quickly, Blue Nova rushed through the middle of them and struck one as he passed by. Annoyed the robbers pulled out submachine guns and opened fire.

Gladiator returned fire and did not seem to affect the Baron. The Baron called for his Valyries to aid him and once again the four women showed up. Aracno joined the fray by swinging into melee combat range. Gore struck one of the Valkyries and knocked her unconscious, but grabbed her before she could fall to her death. Arachno blinded Baron Lightning with his webbing and then the Baron called for a general retreat. As quickly as they showed up, Baron Lightning and his Valkyries departed.

Johnny Phaze and Blue Nova were able to apprehend the trouble makers they had encountered with ease. Freedom Force resumed the search and it was not long before Blue Nova had located the signature. He called the rest of Freedom Force and they converged at an old fire house.

Gladiator and Gore attempted to check out the roof, but an automated defense system fired an electromagnetic bolt at them. It caused Gladiator’s Sky Chariot to lose power and crash. Gladiator broke down the front door and revealed a small VIPER lab. There were six extremely muscular men in VIPER uniforms who posed for a second and then opened fire on the heroes.

The first VIPER superman ran up to greet Freedom Force. He told Gladiator that he was a big fan of his work, and then punched Gladiator with all of his might. Gladiator was knocked back into the door frame. Arachno leapt forward and attacked the VIPER superman. As Gladiator stood back up, Arachno was knocked into him by the force of the superman’s blow. Arachno slumped down unconscious. A fierce battle ensued and when the dust cleared Freedom Force was victorious.

Freedom Force rushed into the fire house to search it for the missing Asian girl. Gladiator and Johnny Phaze checked the downed VIPER supermen. Some of them had started to twitch in a disturbing fashion. This bothered Johnny Phaze and then Gladiator discovered that the VIPER agents had no pulse.

The discussion was interrupted by the opening of a door in back of the vehicle bay. Three VIPER technicians come out of the back room with the Asian, Miyuki. One of the Technicians had a viper handgun pointed at her side. Another yelled, “Stand aside Freedom Force or the girl will have a bad day.”

Grey Falcon moved to the front of the group and spoke, “She has already had a bad day. You kidnapped her at the bank and have held her hostage since then.” Power began to build up around Grey Falcon as she continued. “You have already broken your word once to us and there is no reason to believe you will keep it this time. VIPER has no honour and I will not allow you to continue to jeopardize an innocent. We have already beaten your supermen. You will release her and face judgement for your vile actions or we will stop you and you sill will face judgement.”

As Grey Falcon’s soliloquy ended, several black vans pulled up outside the fire house. The VIPER technicians hesitated, which was long enough for Freedom Force to spring into action. Gladiator hurled his shield, knocking the handgun out of the VIPER technician’s hand. Grey Falcon’s lifter beam grabbed the girl and moved her safely behind Johnny Phaze who erected an air barrier. The three technicians raised their hands in surrender as a dozen men dressed in black suits and sunglasses rushed into the fire house with their weapons drawn.

One of the men flashed a badge and shouted out “FBI” and they secured the room. The VIPER agents were cuffed and taken into custody. Miyuki briefly thanked Grey Falcon and Gladiator for their heroics before she was too was removed from the site. A moment later, Steven Dean wheeled himself to the gathered members of Freedom Force.

“Good job Freedom Force, we’ll take it from here. I had every confidence that you would be able to locate the VIPER lab before an army of Supermen was created” said Steven as he wheeled closer.

Johnny Phaze asked inquisitively, “Steven, would anything in the formula cause those who took it to not have a pulse?”

Steven glanced at one of his associates and then back at Freedom Force before he replied “Oh, you noticed that. They are class five synthetics, robots that look and act just like humans. I guess some of them were damaged in the fighting. With the disappearance of Oswald, the possibility of VIPER obtaining the capability to create their own army of supermen became a very real threat. VIPER would have the power to succeed in their plans of Global domination. We had to test the mettle of the newly formed Freedom Force.”

Grey Falcon calmly responded, “Then both the formula and the catalyst attacks were staged?”

Steven continued “Correct, now the formula and catalyst are contained at a more secured site. It was something that should have been done years ago.”

Gore interrupted, “Aren’t you concerned that VIPER will unravel the formula?”

Steven cleared his throat before he continued, “The possibility does exist especially if Oswald is in fact a guest of VIPER. However, the primary component of the formula cannot be found naturally on Earth, nor can it be manufactured. To our best estimate, the element came from somewhere outside our solar system. The chances of locating another such fragment are extremely remote, but not inconceivable.”

He turned his wheelchair around and the group began departing as quickly as they had arrived. Steven remarked, “Freedom Force may be a little rough around the edges, but your hearts are in the right place. Very much like the original team. I would not stick around here for long, the building is rigged to collapse in on itself and ignite in the next few minutes”

Johnny Phaze seemed puzzled and then called out, “You said we… who do you work for?”

Steven paused and turned, “Who decides that the work day is from nine to five, instead of eleven to four? Who decides that the hem lines will be below the knee this year and short again next year? Who draws up the borders, controls the currency, handles all of the decisions that happen transparently around us?"

Johnny Phaze replied, “I don’t know.”

Steven smiled, “Ah, I work for them. Same group, different department. Don’t do yourselves a disservice and think of me as an enemy. I am a patriot first and foremost.”

He then continued and boarded one of the black vans which pulled away just as Arachno and Blue Nova staggered back in to the building.

“Where is VIPER and the Asian girl? asked Arachno with a tone of concern. Nobody responded. Freedom Force departed with Arachno following behind them “Guys? What did I miss?”

Issue 105: Night of Nuclear Terror
It was another Thursday evening in the bustling city of Metropolis. It was raining, but not too heavily. Mike Daniels, Gore's alter ego, was hanging out with an old football buddy, Rex! Rex invited Mike to come out and play in a new league sponsored by various pharmasudical companies, including Aegis Sciences Corporation. Mike was hesitant. Gladiator was out on patrol. The others were living their lives as their alter egos.

Casey was out to dinner with Miyuki and some of her friends at Cyrano’s Bistro, the finest French restaurant in Metropolis. Adam seemed rather well off since he was a surgeon with Metropolis General. Carol, an attractive blonde, was his wife and she mostly stayed home and spent her husband’s money.

Andrew Berkerwitz was participating in a study group for his advanced physics class. Overall it was a fairly normal night. Much to his delight Sierra Stanberry was there. Unfortunately so was Ken, a fellow student who was a surfer that Andrew disliked.

Meanwhile, back at Cyrano’s the conversation continued and became a bit awkward when Adam talked about performing surgery in comparison to Casey’s work on comic books. The topic of Freedom Force was brought up and Miyuki complimented the look and heroism of Gladiator. Casey said that Arachno should be arrested.

Elsewhere at the study group Andy heard some screams in the Library’s main reading area. Andrew went to investigate and spotted some students running off trying to hide from something that was glowing. It was not long until Andrew saw the source of the glowing green light. Several ragged people were glowing and shooting beams of energy out of their mouths. Andrew crept his way back to the study group and urged them to escape the library.

At the Cyrano’s there was a disturbance when the matradie went flying across the dinning room. Casey looked up and saw two ragged glowing people and told Miyuki it was time to leave. Miyuki responded, “Daddy bought me some protection for such an emergency” and pulled out a pocket warning system. Miyuki pulls out a device and pushes a button. The green glowing people continued to move through the restaurant and panic ensued. After a moment the door burst opened and several Asian men show up and collect Miyuki and whisked her away leaving Casey all alone and confused.

Meanwhile, back at the library Andrew lead his study group to the outside of the library. As the Ken left the building he stopped and asked where Andrew was going. Andrew responded that he was going to go back and call campus security. Ken pulled out his cell phone and Andrew just blinked and shoved him out of the library entrance with a stern “Go home”. Once the door shut and Ken wandered away confused Andrew changed his clothing to become Johnny Phaze!

At the restaurant, Casey entered the bathroom and spotted a small window. He tried to crawl out through it only to get himself stuck! Just a few feet away he could see Miyuki getting into an armored limo that pulled away rapidly. He managed to pop himself out and land in the alley. Unfortunately there was too many people fleeing the chaos and he could not change as he wished. Thinking fast, he jumped into a dumpster and changed into Aracno! Amazingly no one noticed him. Arachno then heroically entered Cyrano’s through the front door and engaged the strange glowing people. One of the strange green energy rays struck him and drained his life force. Arachno felt weak afterwards.

Johnny Phaze notified Freedom Force that he was engaging a group of green “zombies” at the campus library. The Grey Falcon, Gore, and Gladiator responded. The fighting continued at both locations. Eventually Aracno called out for help and Gladiator arrived in time to assist. Aracno updated him on the situation and Gladiator went inside the restaurant and exclaimed “This restaurant has terrible service” as he attacked the nearest green glowing foe.

Gladiator and Aracno managed to dispatch the now four green villains just as the media showed up at Cyrano’s. The reporter asked several questions including how Arachno knew that there was a disturbance inside. Arachno had no answer and once again looked foolish on the news. The police took away the green glowing men.

Johnny Phaze was able to subdue the foes in the library. His solution was to use his gravity entangle and cover the heads with trash cans. Campus security showed up to collect them. Johnny warned the security officers about their strange energy beams and removed a trash can just in time to get blasted by one.

Freedom Force assembled at the library and discussed the situation. Blue Nova called in to say he had fought some similar green glowing men and had defeated them. Blue Nova also said he dropped them off in the Antarctic. Johnny Phaze suggested that was not a good idea nd Blue Nova went to retrieve them.

A group of police vehicles rushed by the area with their sirens blaring and Freedom Force joined in their pursuit. Gladiator tuned in to the police scanners. The chatter indicated the city of Metropolis was experiencing many disturbances with similar reports of glowing green men. The police vehicles arrived downtown at a roadblock. In the distance Freedom Force could see a faint green glow approaching the area in the distance.

Grey Falcon and Gore speed off to investigate and see hundreds of green glowing people heading towards the road block. Gladiator and Aracno meet with the officer in charge of the situation which turns out to be Captain Gilmore of the Metroguard. The captain explains that they intent to stop the “zombies” at the road block before they spread through the entire city. Gladiator offered the services of Freedom Force and took position beyond the road block as the Metroguard readied grenade launchers.

Grey Falcon spotted a strange green beam of light rising out of the industrial district a few miles away. She informed the team of the sighting and Freedom Force headed to investigate. The light source seemed to be coming from a run down chemical factory. Outside there was an over turned tanker that was leaking a green glowing chemical. Another man who had just a skull for a face was glowing nearby, and directed more “zombies”.

The glowing skull faced villain mocked Freedom Force and blasted Gladiator with a powerful life draining ray.

Grey Falcon ordered the majority of the team to take on the minions while she and Johnny Phaze sealed the leak on the truck. Suddenly Wasp showed up and opened fire on Aracno! In her hands was a satchel of stolen goods. Grey Falcon used her lifter beam to turn the tanker over and then one of her energy blasts to seal the puncture shut. Johnny Phazed teleported to the tanker and inspected it. He gave the thumbs up signal to indicate the weld was holding.

Aracno was busy dodging deadly chemical attacks from Wasp. Gladiator and Gore continued fighting their way through a mass of minions and it took every bit of strength they could muster. The minions closed in on the heroes. Just when things looked bad, Gore surged with uncanny strength and knocked a handful of minions away from him! The ranks had begun to thin.

Grey Falcon and Johnny Phaze engaged the unknown villain with the skull face. Grey Falcon pelted him time and time again with her most powerful energy beam and finally managed to knock the main villain out. He staggered back and fell down. A few seconds later the minions all collapsed and the green glow slowly faded away. Seeing that the heroes were no longer occupied, Wasp jetted away.

Once again Freedom Force saved the day for the citizens of Metropolis.