America's Personal Meta-Team...

“The Gathering of Immoral Souls”
Task force X #2 - September, Year Four by Matt Hrubey

 
TWO WEEKS FROM NOW…

THE CITADEL
JUST OUTSIDE WASHINGTON D.C.

Amanda Waller stared out the window of her office.  A car had just pulled up to the front doors and let out a familiar face, an Asian woman with a past.  One more of the team had arrived.
    
They had been arriving all morning.

Today was the day it all began.  Just about two months ago, the President of the United States had called Waller into the Oval Office.  In addition to her responsibilities as the President’s Director of Meta-Human Affairs, she was placed in charge of creating a new, federally funded meta-team with no direct ties to the Executive Branch of the government but whose mission parameters came directly from the White House.  Task Force X was a mouthful and full of paradoxes, but Waller could not go against an explicit executive order.  Two months of hard work had led to today.  The team would be a reality.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Amanda called out, spinning in her chair.

The door opened and revealed two men.  One was the head of Checkmate, a man of many years.  He was dressed up in an Armani suit and looked better than he had in weeks.  The other individual had skin of glorious silver.  In the middle of his chest was a prominent atomic symbol, which subsequently gave away his identity.

“They’re here,” Captain Atom told Waller.  He had a smile on his face.

“All of them?”

Sergeant Steel nodded, wearing a matching smile.  “All of them.”


They strode forward like a wave.  They took a corner, turning left, Waller at the forefront.  “Where are they at?”

“The team was taken to the training room,” Captain Atom responded without missing a beat.  “I figured that with so many egos together for the first time, they might want some space.”

“Good thinking.”  She took a sharp left.

“Amanda,” Steel said, “the training room is straight ahead.  Where are you going?”

“Come with me,” Waller responded, heading for a nearby staircase.  “I want to see them.”


The observation deck overlooked the training room through a one-way mirror.  The doors were pushed open as Waller made her way inside.  Sergeant Steel and Captain Atom were right on her heels.

“We’re taking too much time,” the captain said.  “The troops are going to start getting antsy soon.”

“They can wait a few more minutes.”  Waller stepped up to the mirror, laying her hand upon the warm glass.  “Look at them.”

The assembly below was made of three individuals—two men and one woman.  One of them, an older looking man, was talking on a cell phone, standing away from the other two.  Waller wasn’t surprised.  The division between hero and villain had already been established.  It was highly expected.  Of the other two—the villains—the woman was standing, her eyes peeled on the last member of the trio.  Her eyes betrayed the distain she felt for him.  The man, draped in a familiar armor, was standing by himself.  He didn’t seem to be in complete control of his facilities as he mumbled to himself.

“It’s a crack team,” Steel muttered.  “I can see the failure already.”

“Give the captain a little more credit,” Waller countered, motioning toward Nathaniel
Adam.  “I have faith that he won’t let this little group fall apart.”

“The team has a great balance between power and strength, long range attacks and up close and personal fighters,” Captain Atom interrupted.  He turned to Waller, his face scrunched up in thought.  “My only question is how you managed to get them all to go along with Task Force X.  Some of them, especially Cheshire, strike me as those who would want to be on their own.”

“You have to find the one thing that each person wants,” Waller explained.  “And Cheshire?  She was, perhaps, the easiest of them all.  I tracked her down to China and gave her the one thing that even she couldn’t deny she wanted.”

“And what was that?”

“That, sergeant, was her freedom.”

They watched the woman, Jade Nguyen, for a moment as she looked around the training room.  Her eyes finally settled on the man with the cell phone.  Even from this distance, those watching knew that Cheshire was searching the man for his weaknesses.  She was  a killer, first and foremost.

“I don’t trust her.”

“With good reason, captain.  I would watch my back when I’m around her, if I were you.”

“She’s killed.”

“Lots of people have killed.  There are circumstances.”

“She’s murdered,” Captain Atom reiterated.  “She’s murdered in cold blood with no reasoning.  And you want her defending the free world?”

“I want the best,” Waller answered, “and she is the best.  She’s an asset, regardless of her past.”

“You’re insane.”

“So I’ve been told, captain.”

“This is not the last time we’re going to discuss.”  Captain Atom searched the other two members of his team.  The guy in the armor looked familiar but he couldn’t place the name.  “Who is that guy?”

“Doctor Polaris,” Steel answered.  “Amanda picked him up recently in Metropolis, if I’m not mistaken?”

“You’re not,” Waller responded, recalling that affair in her mind.  “He was being a royal pain in my ass.  Superman’s too.  I figured he was more beneficial out in the field than rotting away in a cell.  He’s kind of crazy, so when I went to see him, I wasn’t sure how it would go.”

“How did it go?”

“Well, Sarge, he is here, isn’t he?”

LOCATION CLASSIFIED

When he didn’t have his armor, he felt at his most vulnerable.  The lack of light was comforting but he couldn’t help but hide the best he could.  It was no real protection, however, for the area within the cell has open and could be seen by anyone who passed by.

Neal Emerson cursed the captors who had locked him in this cage.  The cell had been specifically made with him in the mind, keeping his powers negated and locked down.  His body was being poisoned by the faint energy given off by the ceiling.  He needed to get himself free but he couldn’t think of a plan to do so.

That was the problem with being schizophrenic.  Whatever he could be thinking one moment could easily be forgotten the next.

“Doctor Polaris.”

He looked up, immediately recognizing the face staring at him.  The doctor jumped up from the corner and ran at the door, wanting the blood of Amanda Waller on his hands.  She was responsible for Neal Emerson being stuck here in the first place.

The moment the doctor touched the door, an electric shock swept through his body, knocking him off his feet.  Doctor Polaris was still for a moment, his body paralyzed by the electricity.  His motor control returned soon enough and he sat up, only to find Amanda smiling at him.

“Go to hell,” Emerson told Waller.  “I’m sure we’ll meet there someday.  Then, you’ll pay for what you’ve done to me.”

“I did nothing to you, doctor.  You’re in here because you decided to take your frustrations out on Superman and the citizens of Metropolis.”  The doctor snared at the remark but Waller continued as if she hadn’t noticed.  “However, I am here with an opportunity that will get you out of this cell.”

Polaris perked up.  “Speak.”

“I’m reforming Task Force X.”

“The Suicide Squad?”

“No, not the squad.  Task Force X.  This is going to be legitimate venture and I want you to be a part of it.”

“Why?”

“Honestly, because you’re here and I need bodies to round out the ranks.  Plus, your abilities aren’t too shabby and I need the raw power,” Waller answered.  “What do you say?”

“I’ll do anything that gets me out of here.”

“Before you sign with your blood, I want to get two things straight,” Amanda said.  “One, you will obey every single order that I give you.  If you don’t, you’re coming right back here.  And two, I know you’re not always in control of your actions, but I think I’ve found a way around that.  Interested?”

Doctor Neal Emerson smirked and nodded his head…



“I don’t know if I’m comfortable with one of a Rogue being on this team,” Captain Atom said.  “I mean, what happens if he has a psychotic episode in the field?”

“I told him that I had a means to control his mental behavior and I wasn’t lying,” Waller replied.

“Well, what is it?”

“You’ll see.”

“I am not admiring your ambiguity at this moment, Waller,” the captain shot back, angry.  “I’m not going to take part in this operation unless you start giving me some answers.  At the moment, I’m going to be going out in the field with two villains and a middle-aged man backing me up.  That just screams safety.”

“You don’t recognize that man?”

“Should I?”

Waller shrugged.  “How about you, Sarge?  Do you know who that is?”

“Only from the preliminary files.  I’ve never seen him in person before.”

“Well, I’m not surprised,” Waller replied.  “This human visage is not the one everyone is familiar with.  Tell me, have either of you ever heard of the Star-Spangled Kid and S.T.R.I.P.E.?”


Blue Valley, Nebraska
16 Days Ago

“Pat, honey!  You have a visitor!”

There was a rustling from the top floor as Pat Dugan made his way down the stairs.  He pecked his wife on the cheek as he passed her.  He was wearing a large smile until he saw the woman standing at the front door.  His body became rigid, his mind wondering what the presence of Amanda Waller could mean.

“Mr. Dugan,” she commenced, “my name is—”

“I know who you are and you know who I am.  Let’s skip the pleasantries.  What do you want, Ms. Waller?”

“Pat!”

“Oh, its alright, Mrs. Dugan,” Amanda said, her smile remaining.  “I have quite a history with the superhero community.  And not a good one I must say.”

“That’s an understatement,” Pat responded, motioning for Amanda to move back outside.  He followed after and shut the door in their wake.  Making sure that they were alone, Pat turned back to the President’s Director of Meta-Human Affairs.  “Listen, Ms. Waller, I haven’t worn the suit in years.  I don’t see what you could possibly want with me.”

“I have an opportunity for you.”

“No.”

“You haven’t even heard my offer.”

“I don’t need to.  I’m not getting back in that suit.  I have a family.”

“Ah yes, Barbara and Patricia.  Michael.  Your ex-wife.  And, of course, your stepdaughter, Courtney Whitmore.”

“Why did you say her name like that?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t play games with me, Waller,” Dugan replied, straightening up.  “I know all about you and the lengths you go to get something accomplished.  I will not have you putting Barbara, Patty, Michael, Maggie, or Courtney in danger.  If you try otherwise, all the Gods in the heavens will not be able to keep me from you.”

”Testy.  However, I’m afraid your bravado is lost on me.  I need you.  The President needs you.”

“No.”

“Please, don’t mistake my demand for an offer.  You will be in Washington D.C. two weeks from now.”

“I will?”

“You will because if you aren’t, I’m afraid the Department of the Treasury will have to foreclose on your home.  I’m afraid you’ll be unable to provide for your family.  And I’m afraid that the world will learn that young Courtney Whitmore is indeed the infamous Star-Spangled Kid.  My fear, however, depends on you, Patrick.”

Pat Dugan was fuming.  This woman had come to his home and was blatantly threatening him with the safety of his family.  If it had been anyone else but a presidential aide, Pat would have likely strangled them to death and felt no remorse afterward.  However, the robust woman standing before him was not only talk.  She had the contacts and the power to back up every threat.

“You can’t do this.”

“Believe me, Mr. Dugan, I’m nowhere near the devil that I once was, but leopards can’t change their spots.  I need your experience.  I need the S.T.R.I.P.E. armor.  And I need you.”

“Barbara isn’t going to be happy,” Pat barely whispered.  “I’m going to fight you, Waller.”

“Feel free.  Just make sure that it doesn’t interfere with your work.  Lives are going to depend on it.”

Pat looked down at the ground, defeated.  Waller felt a pang of guilt.

“With the money that you will be making, Mr. Dugan,” she explained, “your family will be on easy street.  You won’t have to worry about making ends meet again.  Uncle Sam takes care of his soldiers.”

“I can’t believe you’re doing this.”

“Oh, believe it, S.T.R.I.P.E.”

Pat rubbed his forehead.  This day had just taken a turn for the worst.  “Where do I sign my life away?”


“This is what you’re leaving me with?” Captain Atom asked after Waller had finished her statement.  “An assassin, a schizophrenic sociopath, and a retired superhero?  You want me to die in the field, don’t you?”

“Far from it,” Waller replied, heading for the staircase to the training room.  “Cheshire can more than take care of herself or any other situation in the field.  Doctor Polaris, when properly controlled can be stronger than even you.  And S.T.R.I.P.E. has the experience.”

“I have experience.”

“Of course, you do.  Maybe you two can share war stories.”

They moved down the stairs, Captain Atom in the lead.  He stopped, looking up at Waller and Sergeant Steel.  “Who said ‘no’?” the captain asked.  “I mean these can’t be the only three you approached.”

“I went to Arsenal and Black Canary, both of which have been active Checkmate agents in the past,” Steel responded.  “Arsenal is active with the Titans and didn’t feel comfortable doing this.  He has a daughter to take care of.  Canary is already an agent for an independent liaison.  Plus, she’s been having some personal issues lately.  Ah well, you can’t get them all.”

“Speak for yourself,” Waller replied.  “All five people I approached, yourself included, accepted my offer.”  She pushed past the captain and continued downward.

“Five?”

Waller stopped and looked back at them.  “What?”

“Five,” Captain Atom repeated.  “There are only four of us.  Who’s the fifth?”

“There is no fifth.”

“But you said—”

“You must have been mistaken, captain,” Waller interrupted.  “Maybe you should get your ears checked.”

Waller moved to the wall and depressed a single button.  The doors to the training room began to open.  She walked in, watching from afar as Captain Atom greeted his teammates for the first time.  There was obvious hesitancy but Waller had faith in Nathaniel Adam.  He was picked to be team leader for a reason.

All the pieces were falling into place, finally after what seemed like a lifetime.  This was the second assemblage under her command to take the alias Task Force X, but Waller swore to herself at that moment that this defense squad would be nothing like its predecessor, the Suicide Squad.

She linked eyes with Sergeant Steel, who gave her a reassuring nod.  It was an unnecessary gesture.  Amanda was confident about every move that she had made thus far and all the ones that were soon to come.

It was a new era.

Next Issue:  How will Task Force X survive when there’s DISSENSION IN THE RANKS?

 

 

Story © 2006 Matt Hrubey and may not be reproduced without permission.