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#12
MAY 13 |
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“Revelations and Endings”
Dean Mayland frantically dialed his phone. The destruction of the statue of Ivy University’s founder had proved that Dwarfstar was serious about his threats. The conversation with Ray Palmer that implicated Dwarfstar in previous explosions on campus only proved that the threat was too serious to ignore.
After an eternity the security office answered. “This is Mayland,” he said quickly. “Evacuate the campus. No one left. Do it immediately.” He hung up the phone and turned to his window. He soon saw students begin flowing out of class buildings and being herded toward the nearest campus exit.
He returned to his desk and began gathering paperwork that he shoved into his briefcase. He knew that he would be one of the last off the campus.
“Good,” Atom said. “Mayland’s evacuating. That’ll take most of the victims off the table for Dwarfstar and buildings can be rebuilt.” He turned to face Ryan and CM3. “You two need to go help get the campus cleared.”
“Where will you be?” Ryan asked.
“I’ll be finding Dwarfstar,” Atom said. He watched as Ryan and CM3 headed to help direct the flow of students. As he turned his mind was racing. Whoever Dwarfstar was, he obviously had access to Ray’s technology. He’d copied the belt that Ray used for his powers and had even irradiated other animals to throw them off the scent. Atom smiled as he ran across the campus. All he needed was access to his files.
Dwarfstar had made a major mistake.
Dwarfstar cackled as he started setting off more explosives. He needed the other two out of the way before he paid his respects to dear Professor Palmer.
“Ryan!” CM3 yelled as he saw a blast tear through a dormitory, threatening to drop its façade on fleeing students.
“I see it,” Ryan yelled back as he enlarged and caught the wall. “Hurry up!” he told the students. “I don’t know how long I can keep this together!”
Bethany Silver walked out of the diner with Amon Tomaz. They saw plumes of black smoke rising from the campus. Another explosion sounded before glass fell and shattered inside the diner.
“You need to be inside,” a familiar voice said. Bethany turned to see her brother standing there.
“Marcus!” she said. “What’s happening?”
“The TV!” Amon said as he rushed back inside. “We’ll turn on the news. They’re bound to have something on this!” Amon clicked on the TV and a reporter appeared on the screen, talking about the explosions on the campus.
Bethany pulled her phone out of her pocket and started dialing as everyone in the room stared at the screen. “Why don’t you answer, Freddy?” she muttered as she got only voice mail. “What’s happening?” she asked as she watched the screen as well.
Ray Palmer, now back in his lab, frantically retrieved records. He didn’t know how long he had but he knew that this building was definitely a target.
His jaw dropped as he got a result. “It can’t be,” he murmured.
“But it is.” Ray turned to see Dwarfstar standing behind him. “I’m curious how you figured out my identity, though.”
“Each belt I gave out to others had a particular energy signature that was unique,” Ray said. “It had been so long since I put the list together, that I’d almost forgotten about it. All I had to do was compare. You’d given me enough samples with your little trick on the rats.”
Dwarfstar smiled.
“But I don’t understand why. Why are you doing this, Adam?” he asked.
Dwarfstar pulled back his mask, revealing the face of Adam Cray. “Why else?” He tapped his chest. “You’re responsible for nearly getting me killed on that Suicide Squad mission years ago. You put me in your colors while you hid out safely!” Adam fought down his rage before continuing. “You destroyed my life and nearly caused me to lose it. Now it’s payback time. Your two super-buddies can do what they want to out there. Your battle’s in here with me.”
Ray shrank to his six-inch size, followed a moment later by Dwarfstar. “Let’s do it, then,” the Atom said.
Johnny Peril ran into the dorm. “Boss?” he called. He knew that Kid Eternity wouldn’t have evacuated. He opened the door and stepped into an empty room. Peril didn’t waste time searching the room; instead, he ran back down the hall toward the exit. Wherever Eternity was, he would be where he needed to be.
CM3 flew up to Ryan. “Looks like most of the students have gotten clear,” he said.
Ryan nodded. “That just leaves us with one problem: where’s Dwarfstar?”
“I don’t know,” CM3 admitted. “We’ve just got to trust the professor. We’ll join up with him when this place is empty and everybody’s safe.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Ryan chimed in as the two turned to direct another rushing crowd of students.
Dwarfstar staggered back. His costume was torn and he was bleeding. The Atom advanced as he rethought his plan to take Palmer in a one-on-one battle. “Time to go,” Dwarfstar said with a smirk.
“No!” Atom yelled as he jumped forward. He clamped onto Dwarfstar’s arm as the villain started to shrink. “You’re not getting away that easily.”
“Get off me!” Dwarfstar yelled as he punched at Atom. Atom dodged and threw a punch of his own that sent the shrinking enemy down onto his back as the two sank into a subatomic world.
CM3 groaned as another explosion sounded – this time from his empty dorm. He flew over to make sure no one was still inside. Below him, the crowds were thinning.
Johnny Peril fought to keep his footing as the building shook. “Figures he’d hit this one with me in it,” he grumbled. He backed up as the stairwell below him sheared off and crumbled to the ground. Peril quickly climbed back to the landing he’d recently vacated and opened the door onto a deserted hallway. He raced down toward a fire escape, anticipating another blast. He opened the door and discovered that the fire escape was gone.
“Wonderful,” he muttered. He was looking around for another way out when a large red hand appeared in front of the door.
“Going down?” Ryan asked. Peril stepped onto the hand and Ryan lowered him to the ground. “Get out of here,” Ryan warned when Peril stepped down. “It’s too dangerous to be here.”
Peril thanked Ryan and ran. He had to find the boss but had no idea where to even start looking.
Dwarfstar gasped as he reappeared in the tunnels below the campus. He’d managed to escape Palmer, but it had been a struggle. One eye was swelling shut and he thought he’d lost some teeth. The sleeve of his costume had torn off as he finally escaped.
“Never catch me,” Dwarfstar muttered as he returned to his hideout. He chuckled. “Looks like I got him upset. Good. Now I’m upset. Blow the whole place up.” He laughed and froze as he approached his hideout. Someone was there.
He shrank to his six-inch height and scurried into the room where a student with short black hair was inspecting his explosives. “You might as well come out,” the student said. “I know you’re there.”
Dwarfstar returned to his full height and glared into the kid’s eyes. “Sure,” he said. “It’s your funeral.”
“I don’t think so,” the student said without even removing his sunglasses. “I’ve already had one and don’t care to repeat the experience.” The student turned and seemed to look directly into Dwarfstar’s soul. “And you’ve had a funeral, too, haven’t you, Mr. Cray?”
Dwarfstar stepped back. “Who are you?”
“Someone who doesn’t like having his own affairs interrupted by a lunatic like you.” The kid slid his glasses down his nose and looked over them into Dwarfstar’s eyes. The kid remained calm as Dwarfstar started sweating. “And now it’s time for you to stop. Eternity.”
Dwarfstar screamed as the creatures summoned swarmed over him. Kid Eternity simply watched silently.
It didn’t take long. The creatures dispersed, leaving Dwarfstar quaking in the fetal position on the floor. Kid Eternity picked up a cell phone that Dwarfstar had planned to use as a trigger and dialed a number from memory. “Dwarfstar is here,” he said and laid the phone down before stepping back into shadows.
The Atom came through the phone a moment later and found Dwarfstar nearly comatose. The room was otherwise empty.
“So, you’re sure he can’t get out?” Ryan Choi pressed his nose against the glass wall of Dwarfstar’s prison.
“Positive,” Ray said. “I’ve gotten some Justice League mini-robots who’ll make sure he gets food and water. I’ve also taken his belt, so he can’t use his powers to escape. He’ll stay here until his trial.” Ray picked up the small glass-enclosed box and placed it on a shelf in his office. “We won’t have to worry about hearing from him again.”
Ray turned to Ryan. “By the way,” he said, “I’ve seen the news reports. You did an excellent job out there today.”
“Thanks,” Ryan said. “I just tried to do the superhero thing.”
“You did well,” Ray said, “but don’t get cocky. It’s still dangerous out there and I’m going to continue your training.” Ray glanced at his watch as a knock came from the door.
“Come in!” Ray called. Ryan got a confused look on his face as a young man walked in. Ray smiled and shook his hand. “I’d like you to meet my new graduate assistant,” Ray said.
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Next Issue: In CM3 #13: Things try to return to normal as we find out who the new assistant is, Adrianna returns to her diner, and Atom and CM3 find themselves confronting local authorities.
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