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#8
MAY 12 |
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“Blackout”
CM3 took a step backward as the smoke from the lightning strike cleared. The thief who had just robbed Adrianna’s diner was gone, leaving his true form: Black Adam.
Black Adam looked up. “Where am I?”
“Ivy Town,” CM3 said as he braced for the onslaught that was doubtless coming.
Black Adam nodded slowly and lifted himself into flight. CM3 watched as Adam soared higher and higher. A moment later he took off as well.
Inside the diner, Mary knelt down beside Adrianna. Amon sat up as blood flowed down his face from the wound on the side of his head.
“How is she?” he asked.
Mary held a dish towel to a wound in Adrianna’s chest. “I’m not sure.” She turned and saw him and reached under the counter to hand another towel to Amon. “Sit still. You’re hurt, too.”
Tears began to run down Amon’s cheeks. “Don’t let her die,” he said as he held the towel to his wound. “She’s all I’ve got.”
“She’s not going to die if there’s anything I can do,” Mary said. “There’s an ambulance on the way now and CM3’s handling the thief.”
Amon nodded silently as his eyes never left his wounded sister.
CM3 flew up beside Black Adam, who was studying the city. “Where is Captain Marvel?” Adam asked without looking at him.
“I think he’s back in Fawcett City,” CM3 said.
“And yet you and Mary are here,” Adam said.
“I’m enrolled in college,” CM3 explained, “and Mary’s just visiting.”
CM3 wasn’t prepared as Adam turned to look at him. Adam’s eyes pierced CM3 to the core. “And you are not attacking me,” he said.
“I don’t want to fight you,” CM3 said, “but I’ll stop you if I have to.”
“From what?” Adam asked. “I’m simply here, looking at the sights.”
CM3 nodded but didn’t back down.
Ray Palmer looked up as Ryan Choi walked into his office. “I got your message,” Ryan said. “What’s up, Doctor Palmer?”
“Finally,” Ray said as he jumped up from his chair. “Come with me.” Ray led the way into a small storage closet beside the office. Ray and Ryan stepped inside and Ray closed the door.
“Professor, I’m really not interested in seven minutes in heaven with you,” Ryan said.
Ray smiled. “Funny you mention heaven,” he said as the room filled with a hum as the world dissolved into light.
When Ryan could see again, he was standing in the Watchtower’s teleport room. Ray was already leading him toward the lab. “I need to show you something,” Ray said as Ryan followed.
“Can I—?” Ryan started.
“No, you cannot take the teleporter apart,” Ray said. He led the way into the lab’s control room and motioned for Ryan to take a seat. He manipulated a control board and a radiation signature appeared on a display screen. “This is from the meteor that gave me my powers.” Ray pushed a button and another readout appeared beside it. “Do you notice something?”
Ryan leaned forward and studied the two displays a moment. “There are definite similarities,” he said.
Ray nodded. “Go into the next room and take off your clothes again. There’s a test I want to run.” Ray held out a small earpiece. “Take this with you so I can communicate.”
Ryan sighed and obeyed. He finally stood in his I love New York boxers and looked up. “What’s the test, Professor?” Ryan asked after placing the earpiece in his ear.
Ray pushed a button.
Ryan let out a cry as the room started to compress. He instinctively squatted down as the ceiling and walls drew nearer to him…
…and then something happened. Suddenly the walls seemed to retract and then he was wrapped in some sort of fabric. Gasping for air, Ryan fought free. He crawled away and felt the wall which was no longer moving. He looked up and saw that the door was still locked. He was trapped.
Ryan looked up as a light shined and Ray Palmer appeared before him, once again in his Atom costume. Ray held out a lab coat. Ryan wondered why and looked down to discover that he was naked. “What happened to my shorts?” he asked as he pulled the coat on.
Ray pointed at the fabric that had engulfed him. “Congratulations, Ryan,” Ray said. “It looks like you have my powers.”
A smile split Ryan’s face as Ray sat down. Ryan joined him as Ray started explaining how his powers worked.
Bethany Silver was smiling as she walked down the street. Talking to her brother always helped to ease her mood. Now all she needed was some of Adrianna’s apple pie and the day would be complete.
She stopped in her tracks as she saw police tape in front of the diner. An ambulance was backed up to the door and they were loading Adrianna in on a stretcher. Amon sat on the stoop with his head wrapped in bandages.
“Amon!” Bethany called as she ran toward him. “What happened?”
“Bethany?” Amon asked as he turned to her. He spoke as if he was in a daze. “Somebody tried to rob us and Mary Marvel was here.”
Bethany ducked the tape and ran to him. She touched his head. “Are you all right?”
“We got shot,” Amon said. “Adrianna’s…” Tears filled his eyes. “Adrianna’s not waking up,” he said before falling forward. Bethany knelt down and held him as he sobbed.
High above, Mary Marvel rejoined CM3. “How are they?” CM3 asked without taking his eyes off Black Adam.
“Amon got grazed, so he’ll be all right,” Mary said. “Adrianna’s in bad shape…she’s not responding. It looks like she’s slipped into a coma.”
“Who are you speaking of?” Adam asked.
“The people you hurt in that robbery,” Mary said.
“I did not,” Adam said. “You know that I have no control over what Theo Adam does.” He looked down and saw the ambulance pulling away. “Is that her?” Adam asked.
“Yes,” Mary answered.
“I will see her,” Adam said. He flew away from them and followed the ambulance.
Mary was starting to follow when CM3 grabbed her arm. “Freddy, what are you doing?” she asked.
“Let him go,” CM3 said. When Mary started to protest, CM3 explained. “He never even tried to attack me while we were up here. He just wanted to talk.” CM3 turned to watch Adam flying toward the hospital. “We can keep an eye on him. If he tries anything, we’ll be there to stop him.”
“I don’t like this,” Mary said. “You’re putting innocent people in danger.”
“Or maybe I’m giving Adam a chance to redeem himself,” CM3 said. He flew toward the hospital with a frowning Mary following.
After a quick stop at a clothing store, Black Adam walked into the hospital wearing civilian clothes. He walked the corridors of the hospital, searching for Adrianna. He finally discovered two doctors leaving the emergency room talking. Adam’s hearing picked up the conversation and he discovered that they had been Adrianna’s doctors. He tailed them at a discreet distance and learned that Adrianna had survived the bullet wound and would survive, but was comatose at the moment. Adam learned her room number and set off through the hospital.
As he walked down the corridor, Mary Batson watched him go.
Adam continued through the corridor until he discovered that Adrianna’s room was in a restricted area of the hospital so he turned and left the building. Adam quickly discarded his disguise and flew up the outside of the hospital. Adam searched the windows until he discovered her room. He hovered outside and peered through the window where Adrianna lay unconscious with Amon sitting beside her, talking to her.
Adam lightly touched the window as he watched the scene. A tear surprised him as it flowed from his eye and down his cheek.
CM3 watched from another building across the street but did not interfere.
Adam hovered for what seemed like hours until he streaked out of sight.
CM3 picked up his cell phone and called Mary. A lightning strike confirmed that she’d gotten the call and moments later she arrived beside him.
CM3 filled her in on what happened. “It looks like you were right,” Mary said. The two thought a moment. “Do you think that Adam’s really trying to change?”
“I don’t know,” CM3 said, “but as long as he’s not robbing or hurting anyone, I’m willing to let him try.”
Mary nodded as she laid a hand on his shoulder. “I have to get back to Fawcett,” she said, “but remember I’m just a phone call away and I can bring Billy if you need him.”
CM3 nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on him and I’ll remember that.” Mary gave CM3 a peck on the cheek before launching into flight. CM3 thought a long time on top of the building before his phone buzzed.
CM3 picked it up to discover a text message from Ryan. “BIG news!” it promised. CM3 smiled and took off to find out what Ryan had gotten into now.
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Next Issue: In CM3 #9: Giganta has decided to steal the Atom’s size-changing belt! There’s just one obstacle in her way…
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