[Mkguild] Return to the Island part 14

[cokane8116 at aol.com]

     It was a while before things settled down. TheCoast Guard took charge of the Willawaw (or what was left) and the NationalGuard, the Navy and Air Force arrived to help clean up. Amazingly there waslittle damage on land since most of it took place at sea. The mere sight ofLusca had scared away most people and their boats. Still the Department ofDefense would probably wind up paying for a lot of lost boats. Most people justchalked it up to another vile thing Maelstrom had done. And the governmentraised the reward for her death.    Misha had a long conversation with thecolonel who was most unhappy about losing to Maelstrom. He was REALLY unhappyto know she had access to a monster that large! The navy sent two attack submarinesjust in case it came back. But it didn’t.    Finally they were released and the heroesgot a well-deserved chance to relax. But first they had to pay their regards.   ***********************     The teleport back to the island worked welland this time they weren’t so rushed.    They found Geimhreadh waiting for themoutside. The sun was shining and sky was clear. A good sign that the spirit wasrelaxed and not feeling threatened.    Bob slowly stepped towards the massivefeline. He was well aware that he looked terrible. Covered with dirt, grime andparts of his clothing was burn, wet or both at the same time.    His carefully rehearsed speech was forgottenand most of his notes were reduced to a wet pulp.    He bowed slightly. “It’s a pleasure and anhonor to meet you.”  ****************     Soon they were back at the Sea Watch homebase. A good shower and a change of clothing later the group had settled ontothe lawn overlooking the dock.    Bob had invited all the supers involved andsoon a score of people were milling around or were relaxing in variousAdirondack chairs. Meanwhile Nor’easter was cooking up a large barbeque.    It was a rare chance to relax and unwind andmeet their fellow supers.    Moonlight Serenade was there and the softtones of Glen Miller sounded. All without the benefit of any radio or musicplayer.    Standing next to Moonlight Serenade was ahero dressed in combat armor that was colored white with light orange trim. Onhis chest was displayed an ice cream cone.    “Seriously?” Strela asked. “His code name isCreamsickle?”    “Well,” Stealth said and paused. “It fits.His powers are water and ice based.”    Talking to the Captain was a young womanwith long blonde hair. The woman’s costume seemed to consist solely of 2(small) bronze cups held together with some links of chain for a top. They onlycovered a tiny portion of her large breasts. And for below a small piece oftriangular shaped bronze strategically placed.    “Doesn’t all that bronze chafe?” Mishaasked.    “All?” Strela countered. “There is moremetal in the change in my pocket than in that costume.”    “That’s the Bronze Bombshell.”    “Brassboobs and the Hooters of Doom!” Mishajoked.    “That’s horribly sexist,” Strela scowled.    “Sexist but funny,”Stealth added.    “That much nudity mightbe a serious distraction,” Stealth commented. “While you’re busy looking at hercleavage she’s smashing you with that sword she carries.”    Both foxes nodded. “NowTHAT is an interesting trick,” Strela commented.    Nearby was a man if middling height. He wasin a shirt and pants that were both a riot of swirling colors and shapes. Onhis head was a beret of the loudest shade of violet anyone had ever seen.    “What happened to him? Looks like he wascaught in an explosion of a paint factory,” Misha asked.    “That’s Picasso’s Ghost,” the Nanitesresponded.    Something caught Misha’s eye. The man standingthere was wearing a chocolate brown colored, polyester Leisure suit that hadbeen out of fashion since the 70’s. His skin was a dark green and his headresembled that of as Komodo dragon. “Lounge Lizard?” Misha asked.    “Be good to him,” the nanites warned.“He’s a Fire/Fire Blaster.”    Seated in a chair and cheerfully enjoying aplate of shrimp was a woman wearing white leotards. She had a pair of the fake,costume bunny ears on and whiskers on her face made of wire. Leaning up againstthe side of the chair was a large assault rifle.    “That looks like a Halloween costume a kidwould wear,” Stealth commented.    “Ten rubles says she has the cotton tail ontoo,” Strela added.    “That’s Battle Bunny and at least she hasclothes on,” He countered.    “That weapon she is using is an HK423W,”the nanites added.    “I thought that was still experimental andnot issued yet,” Misha commented.    “It hasn’t been issued yet,” was thenanites response.    There was a loud splashing and Dr Nicholssurfaced near the dock. The mermaid easily pulled herself up onto the dock. Herlong tail reminded Misha of a seal’s tail in shape even though it was coveredin a silver metal.    There was a soft hissing noise and her tailsplit open revealing the lower part of her body and a set of perfectly humanlegs. She stood up and stretched. The woman was wearing a silver-coloredbathing suit.    “Welcome to the home of The Sea Watch,” Bobsaid in a cheerful manner. “Pull up a chair and grab a burger or a dog.”    “I’m glad to see you in bettercircumstances,” The Doctor said. She reached into the opening in the tail andpulled out a large piece of cloth. She wrapped it around her waist like askirt. “Thank you for inviting me. I’ve heard a lot about your group.”    “Good I hope,” Orca added.    “This new suit of yours is very impressive,”Moonshine commented as he offered her a plate with a burger on it.    She took the offered the plate. “Thank you.I’ve been working on it for almost four years.”    “An impressive piece of workmanship,” Silvermanecommented.    “What happened?” She asked. “Where didMaelstrom get that giant octopus?”    Trickshot shrugged. “We’ve no idea.”    “But we intend to find out,” Bob added.    “They say the blast was heard thirty milesaway.”    “Wow! You guys never do anything small,”Miranda commented.    “It did the job,” Misha responded.    “What chances that it will come back?” TrickShot asked.    Orca shrugged. “No telling but if he’s likeregular octopi he probably fled to deep water or somewhere safe.”    “We hurt it pretty badly,” Moonshinecommented. “It won’t be back for a long time.”    “What happened to Steel Horn?” Nor’easter asked.    “I assume he went down with the ship,” Bobresponded. “We’ll have to recover it.”    “Who is Steel Horn?” Miranda asked.    “He was a robot drone,” Moonshine explained.“Shaped like the minotaur from Greek mythology.”    Miranda smiled. “I would like to get a lookat that.”    “He went down with the ferry.”    “Our little friends are not talking aboutwhat happened to him,” Misha added quietly to Stealth, Strela and Silvermane.    “That can’t be good,” Strela added.    “They’ve been playing the theme song fromthe Little Mermaid for the last two hours,” Stealth commented. “So they are upto something.”    Misha shrugged. “They are always up tosomething. We’ll find out eventually. They might be a bit odd but theygenerally know what they are doing.”    “I will definitely have to retrieve it,”Miranda said firmly.    “Speaking of which,” Orca added. “That suitof yours could be of great help in the salvage work.”    Miranda smiled. “I’ve already got severalcontracts. The money will help pay the bills and give me a real-world test.”    “Shame what happened to the Willawaw,” Orcacommented.    “The ship was insured,” Bob commented. “Thecaptain is already looking to getting it raised and repaired. The Smithsonianwho owns it is upset.”    “Why don’t they run a TV special,”the Nanites suggested. “The Life, Death and Rebirth of a Great Ship!”    “Now THERE is a great idea,” Strelacommented.    “Theycould sell a souvenir model of the ship. That is radio controlled and wouldsink and refloat upon command!”    “Kids willlove it!”    “Just kids?” Misha joked. “I’dbuy one of those.”    The party lasted for a whileand a good time was had by all. But soon the real world intruded. One by onethe heroes and heroines drifted away. Eventually it was just Sea Watch, Strela,Stealth, Misha, Silvermane and Miranda.    Down at the dock there was a loud bubblingand frothing in the water. Suddenly a metallic arm came out of the water and grabbedhold of the dock. A second arm soon followed as the figure pulled itself up andout.    Awkwardly Steel Horn rolled onto the dockand then slowly stood up. The metal figure remained there as water drained froma dozen different holes.    “Steel Horn lives!” The Nanitesannounced proudly.    The heroes gathered around the minotaur.    “This is Steel Horn!” Misha commented.    “WE BAD! WE BAD!”    “Anyone have an extension cord?”    “Anyone have a mop?”    “Did you walk all the way from the wreck ofthe Willawaw?” Nor’easter asked.    “Yes!” Came the energetic answer fromthe nanites. “Walking is good exercise. Great cardio!”    “You’d be amazed by the things we saw onthe bottom,” the nanites added. “Bangor University is already interestedin the shipwreck we found.”    “It’s an early 19th centurybarque.”    “And there is the one the blast uncoveredtoo. At least what’s left of it.”    “What are you going to do with that?”Stealth asked.    “Do with it?” The Nanites asked. “Whykeep it of course!” 
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