Sam stood on a narrow iron girder that had been twisted into an S-shape and tried to keep the two juggling balls in the air whilst getting to the end of the beam. Suddenly a third ball came out of the darkness aimed directly at head height but Sam was prepared, this time. He tossed his two balls high into the air one after the other and used his wings to blast the other ball away before catching the plummeting balls and sending them back up into the air again in a circular motion as he jumped off the end.
Clapping came out of the darkness of his Black Room as Mikey stepped forward. “Well done, you’re getting better.”
“Beginners luck.”
The mischievous young imp smiled. “The first few times, yes. Now? I think you’re growing into yourself. Again, this time try it with three balls and don’t be afraid to use the size of your hands and those big, beautiful wings…”
Mikey grabbed a pile of juggling balls off the ground and stepped back into the darkness that enveloped the room waiting her moment to bombard him and try and catch him off-guard.
When Adam had first said he needed another person to help with the base renovations, Mikey was definitely not what the team had expected.
Michaela Angelo or “Mikey” as she preferred to be called was 17, stood 5’1” tall, extremely petite with short pageboy-style blonde hair and a cute upturned button nose. Dressed in a Butt Monkeys t-shirt and decaying jeans she’d arrived at the BASEment and immediately showed what a meta-human should not be able to do; ever.
She made equipment, or to be precise she made equipment make itself; into whatever she could imagine. The only daughter of an Italian engineering genius father and an ex-Russian scientist in bio-mechanics, Mikey was a technical virtuoso who loved art. Named after her father’s idol, Michelangelo, she had grown up unable to separate out mechanics from art (and art from mechanics).
Her power was what she called Mecha-Kinesis (though she insisted on calling it “Mekha” with a “k” for some obscure reason); the ability to make machines out of scrap or even other machinery. Equipment just naturally formed into what she wanted, gathering the necessary cables and circuitry together to work the way she wanted. It was a little creepy to see her wave her fingers and cables and equipment come apart and rewire themselves in new and original ways for her as though they had come alive. Her work was almost organic when completed and should never work in a million years yet somehow they always did. She needed box after box of components, Adam for the reshaping and welding of metal and Annie for the programming but the functionality was pure Mikey.
Given her focus then, Sam was surprised when he’d decided to use his black painted gallery as a training area to improve his dexterity and Adam had suggested he should ask Mikey for some help.
It turned out that Mikey had circus skills training when she was about ten and was happy to assist… Next morning Sam arrived to find his Firing Gallery converted. It had always been painted black so not to show up the scorch marks and smoke damage and had always had its several flame-retardant target dummies scattered around the room but now Mikey had rewired the lighting to go dark on voice command (and even strobe, damn her demonic little heart) and had fitted several reshaped iron girder beams on the floor both flat and angled up at a slope, and even hanging from the ceiling as well as large dark, metallic panels to hide behind. The fact that the dummies now moved independently around the room creeped him out though.
She taught him to juggle, first with one then two balls and finally three then insisted he tried to do so whilst walking on and jumping between beams. If Akira could have a “white room” then this would be Sam’s Black Room she declared. Annie loved it.
He’d fallen off the beams and dropped the balls more times than he wanted to admit but Mikey (and Annie who was a quiet but appreciative audience for a couple of the sessions) were extremely patient with him. Both encouraged him to stop thinking of himself as the uncoordinated human youth he had been and embrace his new form. Big hands, clawed toes for gripping, his wings as extra limbs, even his tail could all be used to his advantage as a balance.
He was a long way from being perfect but they encouraged him to think of himself as a working whole; tail as a third limb, wings which might not be able to grasp but they could be bounced off and manoeuvred as required. It took time but they even got him to grasp the concept that the tips of his claws were as strong and as dexterous as fingers if he remembered to use them as such. He had never thought peeling an orange could be so much hard work.
Today though it was back to juggling as he walked on beams in the dark whilst being targeted by Mikey.
Few hours later having mastered the art of three balls whilst on the beams and using his wings to bounce them off, he stopped and thanked Mikey for her assistance.
She smiled, “its ok I enjoy the break and thankfully once I give equipment their marching orders they don’t stop until they are completed even if I’m not there to crack the whip so to speak.”
Sam rolled his shoulders. It’s been a long time since he felt that semi-exhausted ache all over. Muscles used that he didn’t realize he had, it would take at least a full nights’ sleep to start feeling almost all-together again. Mikey was certainly a good trainer. Odd skill-set, but a good trainer nonetheless. He’d never thought about juggling before and the whole team were very patient and understanding with him.
He looked down and twisted, observing his physique. It was very strange to start thinking of himself as a whole being, rather than the sum of his draconic pieces. He frowned, this was all very undeserving. This focus, this attention, the dedicated training, the bestowed powers, who was he in the grand scheme of things?
He walked with Mikey towards the main corridor and as they passed the junkyard entrance she seemed to hesitate then turned to look him in the face “You do know you may have the ability to become human again, if you wanted to?”
His face showed his surprise. She continued, “This Tiamente? Dragon? Annie said if I understand it right, he was also somehow your ancestor, at least that’s what you think it told you? To do that it must have been able to assume human form in order to breed with a human mate and they apparently were capable of changing sexes as required so shapeshifting has to be part of a Dragon’s DNA or mystical nature. If it could do it then presumably so can you..?”
She stopped “while you’re dwelling on that, I want to ask a favour?” She paused as thought gathering up the courage to continue. “I know some of you weren’t overly ecstatic about my spider installation above the junkyard front gate as you worry it might attract too many sightseers to be around when you have to leave the BASEment but I would really enjoy making it a working business again and even using some of the material for my sculptures and I think the 3 amigo’s (by that I mean Adam, Annie and I) could come up with a stealth shield above the hangar bay so that no-one would be able to see the Raft leaving even if they were standing beside it… It seems such a waste to have the place stand idle when I could use the material for my art. What do you say? Would you ask the others for me? Pretty please???”
Sam was caught by surprise and slightly off- guard; he was not prepared for either of those questions or suggestions. Beside her obvious talents, she was also a master of social timing it seems. “Uh, um. Sure Mikey, yeah, I’ll talk to them. You’ve done more than enough for the team and if it’s stealth shielded? I really can’t see the harm. I don’t mind the art or your skills; I quite enjoy the spectacle actually. We’re just concerned about the innocent that’s all. As I’m sure you are.” He gave her a knowing, long look.
“Have you ever considered a side project in a gallery or studio somewhere? I’m sure Wessex isn’t short of local junkyards.”
She glowered slightly “Not as many as you’d think… Too many big businesses into recycling these days and I’m not exactly rolling in cash. Just ask the others for me, that is all I ask, please? Studios are great for selling art but I don’t really want people to realise my art’s the product of my meta-ability. How long do you think it would be before I was fire-bombed?”
Sam could understand the worry. “I’m not sure if you’ve wanting to hang around the BASEment for long,” he waved his hand around the base, “you’ve certainly made yourself at home here. We wouldn’t ever think of holding your skills or creativity back, unless it brought risk to anyone… or everyone, I wouldn’t put it past you.” he teased and stuck his tongue out a little.
Mikey stopped and turned with her clasped fists on her hips; “I’m not deserting my life and friends back in London but living costs are cheaper in Wessex especially for an impoverished student like me and I’ve been considering swopping Universities anyway. I’m not planning on moving in down here – I like the sun too much, but… Up there?” She pointed towards the junkyard entrance. “ Possibly, and an empty junkyard is gonna be a beacon attracting kids, scroungers and thieves so leaving it empty and unused will soon work against you, anyway… Now the security lights and sensors in the Arachne sculpture provides a security net for Frankie all around the yard and if I moved in possibly with a few security dogs roaming the grounds it would actually discourage visitors..?”
Looking up, he remembered his train of thought: “Ahem, yes! Certainly, I’m sure you’ve got it handled. I wonder if any other members of the balance have certain spider phobias or other hang-ups? You know me, I’m not trying to keep any secret identity or low profile, I just don’t want the public to be targeted because of us and where we live.” He allowed for a brief pause.
“The balance shouldn’t be worried about the 3 amigo’s should we? I’d hate for there to be any competition or any kind of negativity or tenseness between us all. We’re a team, right? ‘The balance’ would be totally lost without you and the others, as I’m sure you already know.” He tried not to sound too desperate and pathetic as he pleaded with the pixie-cut 17 year old as subtly as he could. The others did spend a lot more time in the BASEment then they did, after-all, it much more belongs to them rather than us – Sam thought.
Mikey smiled “Do you honestly thing there are only three members in your Balance? You need to trust more…” she waved as she walked away towards the dwarves working on the training facility whilst Sam turned back towards his room.
He walked in and flopped to the floor and sat and stretched, trying to make himself more comfortable. He briefly considered asking Annie is she was qualified in sports massage and physio-therapy, but he wasn’t sure that his biology counted towards the mass of research on the subject (or if that was too much of an intimate suggestion for how long they’ve know each other!).
As he relaxed his thoughts caught up. Oh yeah! What was that before about Shapeshifting again? Not sure that he had caught the full explanation, he was still confused about it. Was he still suffering from having juggling balls thrown at his head or something?
What had been suggested though, made sense – but at the moment, that was all it was, an idea. Sam was draconic, that’s all he’d ever known recently. If he could switch, he had no instinct or ability to control. It would be like a muscle he wouldn’t know how to control? He would certainly require more guidance or training perhaps. But from where? The Library possibly? The Librarian Dragon Lady would definitely know..?
Annie walked by and smiling stopped in the doorway for a brief moment. “I hear today went well. By the way any idea why a local Triad crime lord would be calling himself Joey Tiamente? Did your Tiamente have any Chinese links? Anyway a trawl of Police intelligence has revealed that triad leader Joseph Kuang, youngest son of Kuang Ma of the Choy Lok On Tong in Dragon’s Gate, Wessex has taken recently to referring himself as Joseph or Joey Tiamente on the streets? Worth checking out?”
He propped himself up with his hands and arms until he was sitting upright. He rolled his shoulders again. Fruitless, that ache just wasn’t shifting. He looked at the smiling Annie and was dumbfounded; presumably she found either his training or the triad leader situation quite amusing.
Nodding to himself the shapeshifting malarkey would have to wait.
“Hm. Not sure. I know the symbol of the dragon is prominent in Chinese art, history and mythology, but when we were ‘linked’ Tiamente did not mention anything like that to me, mind that our conversation was interrupted and kept rather short.” He scratched his chin, “I’ll try and work on re-establishing a link sometime, but I’m not sure if I’d succeed in the short-term. This Joey Tiamente is totally worth checking out though; I’ll get right on that now, given my schedule is currently free.”
He stood and walked towards his door and the awaiting Annie. He looked into her eyes. “Annie, I didn’t get the chance to say after we finished stripping the lorry from our Dalton operation; thank you for your help that day. It really wouldn’t have been at all possible without you. It was fun to hang out with you though. We don’t normally get the opportunity to work with one another. Who would’ve thought my advanced first aid training certificate would have come in handy for something after all?”
She laughed “Next time though I get to programme the belt first to ensure you’re in a more appropriate costume if you’re going to assist – misandrist that I am… I think you’d look cute in white stockings and a nurse’s uniform!”
Sam rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her as she skipped out of the way and poked him in the chest.
He started walking towards Annie’s room and ‘Frankie’: “So! This Joey? It could be just a coincidence, happens all the time with internet nick-names. Could be a new fan, perhaps? We have been putting out a lot of social media content recently. Could be a trap, or a challenge to myself? That’s not uncommon in our line of work is it?”
“Possibly but I don’t think you’ve ever actually mentioned Tiamente by name though at any time? At least publicly.”
Had he? If not, where’d the choice of name come from?
“If the Triad’s involved, you can bet that they’re up to something.” He shrugged. “Not sure if I’m the go-to man on this one though, I generally stick out like a sore thumb, unless we’re looking for a direct approach. I’m usually the one people call when things go from bad to worse. I may need to ask Akira if he’s busy at some point.”
Annie gave him a stern sideways look of annoyance and he suddenly thought I’ve put my foot in it, but he was not sure why or how…
Annie carried on walking. Nothing for it but to keep up the conversation. “In the meantime what else are those classified police files telling you, Annie? What have they been up to recently and how would we find them? Maybe we should have a quick chat with the inspector and Wessex’s finest?”
She walked over to Frankie and switched on a trio of monitors. “Tong not Triad.” She started to read “The Choy Lok On tong is the second largest of the three main tongs operating within Southern England after the Wing Chao, with a current roster of approximately 220 criminal members. Dating back to the earliest days of Dragon’s Gate, the Choy Lok On is believed to be the largest tong in Wessex.
The information on them is very sketchy – believed involved in drugs, extortion, human trafficking and gambling particularly in Dragon’s Gate and almost anywhere outside of London’s East End but there is a serious lack of actual evidence against them. As a group they appear to prefer to remain in the shadows, protected by the Chinese communities they terrorise. Appear to be led by a Kuang Ma, apparently the “dragon head” of the Choy Lok On tong – well there’s a dragon connection.
His son is the one who now calls himself Joseph Tiamente. Both have clean records and are officially owners of Shaou Ni Imports, the largest importer of Asian goods in Wessex. Various authorities have tried for years to link the company to the activities of the Choy Lok On but they always fail as Kuang Ma appears to make sure that his legitimate businesses and the tong remain completely separate.
They appear more traditional than the other tongs but recently it’s believed they may have started to recruit meta-human assistance, though information is very sketchy.
As you say Marcus may be able to provide you with more information but he’s on leave at the moment. Some family issues with his son Luke. Look I’ll catch up with you later, ok. I need to pop over to the offices. I’ve a missing girl to track down. Ciao!”
As he watched her leave, he realised he’d also have to deal with Mikey’s request and try and convince the others to consider her wishes regarding the junkyard though, who knows? If she did want to live and patrol above ground and attend Wessex University and still be part of the team, she could have a very bright future here. Sam wondered if she ever considered a career in managing and running a scrapyard. They certainly have an opening, and could afford a few years of losses while she learned the ropes assuming this wasn’t just a way to further develop her art? Did it matter? They’d bought the yard as a means of acquiring the BASEment and until Mikey raised it they had no plans to commercialise the junkyard as a business…
Superhero Adventures, UK Style 