Episode 2: The Real McCoy

Fenris and Crucible are drinking beer and shooting pool at the Spector mansion when there is a visitor at the door - Hank McCoy.  It seems that their visitor yesterday was not the real McCoy!  As they are discussing this develpoment, Frenchie sees on television that a large gleaming metal man is tearing up the waterfront, screaming in a language that Hank identifies as Russion.  Everyone realizes that this is one of the kids that the imposters absconded with.  While they watch, Spider-Man arrives on the scene and tries to subdue the metal man.

Hank says he has to keep a law profile, but suggests that they go to assist.  Frenchie flies them to the location where they jump out onto a nearby rooftop.  As they assess the situation, they see Spider-Man still trying to stop the angry young man as he tears the place apart.

They quickly join the fight, teaming up with SPider-Man and coordinating their efforts to slowly wear down the powerful steel marauder.  When they finally bring him down, Spidey webs him up, and Fenris and Crucible tell him they have a place to take the young mutant to get him help.

Spidey vaguely remembers Dr. Strange talking about these new heroes, and so agrees with them.  They slip into the sewers with the young russian, who had just reverted to his human form, and Spidey seals the manhole cover shut with a bit of webbing.

After rendezvouing with Frenchie, they fly back to base under cover of darkness, and turn the Russian over to Hank.  The two mutants are picked up by a sleek black jet hovering over Spector's mansion, and Crucible and Fenris have just cracked a beer when they hear a scream from downstairs.

They find Frenchie laid out on the kitchen counter, with a stiletto protruding from his chest.  A note is attached, and Fenris tris to read it but can't, and Crucible determinesit is written in ancient Greek, and it says they are to go to an abandoned warehose at midnight if they want to save the Russian girl.

They call Malpractice, who catches a cab to the Mansion and begins to try to revive Frenchie.  He will live, but this is more proof that the life of a henchman is very dangerous: first Wong, now Frenchie!

They prepare themselves to go to the warehouse, and once again put the beer back into the fridge!



(published June 14, 2014)