"Boy, there sure are a lot of things to see here, Cassie," the man said while paging through the guide on Midtown Manhattan. "And this doesn't even begin to cover things we could see Uptown or on the Lower Side."
"Well, how about we walk around awhile, Steve, and see what else we run into?", Cassie offered. "Besides, the sun is starting to peek through. I don't want to spend the whole day inside."
"Sounds good to me, kiddo. But I figured Firestar could make her own sunshine. Hey, how about a couple of New York's famous dogs? I'm getting hungry."
"Sure thing. This has been fun. I'm glad you finally told me your real name, Musky."
"Well, you're the only one who knows so far. Us newbies have to stick together you know," the man known to the world as Muskateer explained.
"You don't have to worry about any of the others knowing who you are," Cassie said to him, "Diamond, Gwen, 'Gale, they're all great once you get to know them."
"I don't doubt it. I just take a little while to open up to new people. It takes me a bit before I get close enough to someone to let my guard down, I guess."
"I'm flattered."
"You should be," Steven said with a smile. Firestar was the closest thing to a real friend that he had on the Avengers so far. Steve enjoyed hanging out with the Thing, but he was, well, the Thing. Ben was a legend already and drew lots of attention everywhere he went. With Cassandra, he felt like he could be himself.
Only, it was beginning to get complicated. Steve found himself attracted to Cassie, as well. It didn't help that she was still only seventeen. He decided to try and not think about it.
Later, the pair found themselves exiting from the Empire State Building.
"Too bad it started to get cloudy again," Cassie complained. "We could hardly see anything up there."
"It gets like that in Chicago sometimes too," Steve explained. "I've been to the Sears Tower when it looked like the observation windows had been pasted over with gray contact paper. At least we could see a little ways today."
"The city just keeps going and going. You can hardly tell where New York ends and New Jersey begins from up there," said Cassie.
"And everywhere there are sights to see. We'll never make it around to half the things we were talking about this morning at the mansion." Steve offered.
"Especially having to rely on New York's famous cabbies, huh?"
"I'm going to have to get myself a new car."
"Why deal with all this traffic?", Cassie asked. "Oh, you can't fly either."
"Yeah, rub it in, hot stuff."
"Sorry. It's something that I tend to take for granted. Almost like walking. You forget not everyone can do it."
"At least now that we're Avengers, paying for a new car won't be a problem."
"I'm really not sure what I'm going to do with my earnings," Cassie stated. "Think I should go to college?"
"Yeah, college is definitely worth it. Who knows how long this superhero gig will last," Steve answered. "Then you have something to fall back on. Or maybe you'll find something more fulfilling."
"Like a wealthy, incredibly handsome boyfriend?" Cassie added with a smile. "So in other words enjoy this while it lasts?"
"I think so. I mean, when you think about it, being a superhero can be a pretty superficial job. Sometimes I think the world might be a better place without all of us super-types."
"I never really though about it like that. Pretty much, I've spent most of my life just learning how to control my powers," Cassie explained. "I never gave much thought to a career other than being a hero."
"What sort of things interest you?", Steve asked.
"What interests me...," Cassie stopped to think for a few moments. However, like many high-school seniors she was having a hard time answering that question. "I really don't know what interests me."
"You could always declare a non-major at first and see if anything comes up while there at school," Steve said. "You know, take a little of this and a little of that. Maybe you'll find an interest you haven't been exposed to yet."
"I guess. I hope I find something interesting though. I mean, I doubt that you can major in guys."
"No, that's for out of class time," Steve quipped. Cassie had to laugh out loud at that.
"I'm really going to have to think just what I'm going to do with my life."
"You got time, kiddo."
"You'd be more fun as a teacher than Chris," Cassie finally said.
"Well, sometimes I think having a root canal would be more fun than 'Gale."
"That's a mean thing to say," Cassie said. She had spent a lot of time around Nightingale lately. "I'm guessing that she has a lot of mental baggage with her."
"I wasn't being mean, just honest," Steve answered back. "She may be a nice person, but she has the personality of ceiling tile,... around me at least."
"Ceiling tile?"
"I think she's as uncomfortable around us, or me, as I am around her," Steve explained. "Messing with people's minds seems a little wrong to me."
"Well, I know that I'd be creeped out if I could read people's minds all the time."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Steven finally said, after thinking on it for a few moments. "So how is she as a teacher?", he added.
"She's really smart," Cassie replied. "Did you know that she's a medical doctor and an expert on parapsychology too?"
"No, I didn't, but then there's a lot I don't know about a lot of this group."
"She's very demanding... " Cassandra added. "Always trying to push me along."
"Not a bad thing. Teachers should expect the best from their students," Steven- answered. "You may not enjoy it at the time, but looking back, those are the best learning experiences."
"I guess. It took a while to get over her reading my mind all the time." It bothered Cassie to try and learn from someone who always seemed to know what she was thinking. But she was starting to get used to it.
"How did that test go on Wednesday, anyway?", Steve asked.
"I just passed," Cassie said dejectedly.
"Better than just not passing, eh?", Steven tried to cheer her up again. "If you ever need help in Math, I did some tutoring myself, in college."
"Cool!" She brightened up at that suggestion. "Algebra gives me a headache. I mean, is it a number or is it a letter?" Steve had to chuckle at that. Some people just weren't naturally inclined to mathematics.
"Let's save the heavy math discussions for later, okay?" He decided to change the subject back to their sightseeing tour. "Whatcha want to see next? Maybe the Staten Island Ferry Tour?"
"How about the Statue of Liberty?" Cassie said, while reading the tour guide. "According to this, it's the Statue's 100th birthday?"
"Alright, does your map say how to get there from here?", Steve asked. "It's been awhile since I was here last. I remember it gave a great view of the skyline."
"Uhm, Battery Park," Cassie decided. "From there you take a ferry to the Statue. Oh, and to Staten Island as well. We can do both!"
"Great! Sounds like a plan."
"Says here that the Castle Clinton National Monument is there as well," Cassie continued, still reading from the tour guide. "It's a restored fort that dates back to 1812. That could be cool!"
"Well I do have quite the interest in military history," Steve explained. "The battle of 1812 is very cool."
"You like wars and things like that?", Cassie asked quizzically.
"You could say that. I enjoy the strategy and tactics of it all." The two finally managed to hail a taxi and soon were on their way towards Battery Park. "Plus some of the uniforms and armor is incredible."
"Must help out as a hero too. I mean using strategy and such."
"I guess so... Hadn't thought of it like that much," Steve said. "I think I'm still having too much fun with the novelty of it all. I mean we're Avenger's for cryin' out loud. Avengers! People would kill to trade places with us."
"Yeah. It's nice to have some back up in case things go wrong," Cassie said. She didn't have the confidence that Muskateer had, even though both were relative newcomers to the superhero scene. "Fortunately, St. Louis didn't see very many heavy villains."
"They seem to like to limelight for some reason. Either LA or New York."
"Other than that time that IMAGE tried to recruit me," said Cassie. "That was hairy."
"I can imagine. What did you do?", Steve asked.
"Said no and turned tail," she said, with a half-hearted chuckle. "Fortunately, it was their support agents and not the main team. I guess Commander Murdock didn't think I was worthy of their primary forces."
"I know what you mean. I had a couple run-ins with Iron Maiden's goons." Muskateer had enjoyed the first encounter he had as a superhero. Now that he some experience under his belt, he was really looking forward to a re-match.
Without warning, a massive explosion erupted up ahead in the snarled traffic, interrupting their thoughts.
"What the heck was that?", Cassie finally said, as traffic groud to a halt. Horns started honking and another smaller explosion followed the first.
"Whatever it is, it can't be good!", Steve answered. "Looks like our cue. I just hope it's not some kind of April Fool."
"Darn, and I was having fun today too," Cassie said with a sigh. "I guess we better check it out."
"After you, hot stuff." Steven paid the driver, who was too busy watching the flames shooting high into the afternoon sky.
"Uhm, you like, need to change?" Fortunately, Muskateer had been prepared. He didn't have his sword with him, but he did have his costume stowed away in the duffel bag over his shoulder. Firestar had no need for such mundane worries. She could change into her costumed form with a single conscious thought.
"Yeah, but I'll find a dark corner or a phone booth or something...", Steve said.
"Hey, are you okay?", Cassie asked. "Your chest wound from Mechassassin..."
"...is fine enough, Cassie," Muskateer interrupted. "I heal fast. And I wasn't hurt as bad as Ben."
"If you say so."
"Go on ahead, but don't get in trouble on your own, okay?" The two ducked down a nearby alley and slipped behind a large garbage dumpster. Accompanied by a bright flash of light, Cassie quickly changed to her Firestar identity in a mere instant. Steve meanwhile began the slightly more tedious task of changing into Muskateer. "I guess the winos won't mind me borrowing their 'veranda'."
Firestar then flew into the air and headed quickly off towards the sight of the explosion. "Be careful, 'Star." When she was out of sight, he added: "Geez, now I'm starting to sound like Black Diamond." After a few more moments of furious changing, Steven had finally transformed himself into the Muskateer. He started running towards the direction Firestar had flown off towards. After covering a few blocks, he could see Firestar flying back towards him.
"What's up, 'Star?"
"A bunch of thugs stole an armored car! They've got some heavy type of energy weapons-- like laser machine guns!", she said, while landing. Muskateer immediately noticed that her costume was torn on her shoulder.
"Hey, you've been hit!"
"I know! It hurts like the dickens!" Muskateer took a brief look at her injury. There wasn't any bleeding. Apparently, the laser that hit her had cauterized her wound already.
"Are you okay...?", Muskateer asked. "It doesn't look too serious. But it will probably be sore tomorrow."
"I'll be fine, Musky."
"Good. Well, I guess it's up to us to stop them then. The police are not going to be able to handle them, if they have that kind of weaponry."
"Say, you think that those could be the guns that Black Diamond warned us about?", Firestar asked.
"Could be. Let's go get us a couple..."
"Yeah, traffic is all tied up too. They won't be going anywhere fast."
After covering the final few blocks to the sight of the scene, Muskateer saw that the situation was still much like Firestar had described. There was a Brinks armored car smashing around in the traffic. People were franticly abandoning their cars left and right. A few cars had been blown up or were still on fire.
"We have to be quick with this," Muskateer said, after sizing up the situation. "Make sure we don't get hurt and no one else is hurt if any more of the cars explode!" He could see that the back door of the armored car was open and two gunmen were stationed there. One fired a blast which ripped into an abandoned car, shredding the metal like paper.
"Any suggestions? I doubt that anyone would want me to burn the money in there!"
"Okay, 'Star, here's the plan. We need a few fireworks to draw their attention," Muskateer first explained. He could see another gunman up front next to the driver.
"What do you want me to do?", Firestar asked. She wasn't sure what he had in mind, but she was currently out of ideas.
"I'll try and get close to them and then we need a huge fiery blast in the sky."
"I can do that."
"As big and loud and impressive as you can do. If you can get them to look at it, I might be able to take out the gunman in the front seat."
"Alright. I hope I don't get shot again." Firestar took to the air once more. She looped out and around the area, so as not to give the gunners in the back another shot at her. She hovered some 20 feet off the ground, ahead of the armored car.
Meanwhile, Muskateer moved in from the side, climbing over and around cars. The armored car had rammed into a Ford Bronco and knocked it on its side. The armored car stopped, backed up and rammed the damaged vehicle again, trying vainly to clear a path through the stopped and snarled traffic. Using the smashed Bronco to shield him from the thugs' view, Muskateer waited for Firestar to do her thing.
Suddenly, the sky was on fire! The flames and bright light shot outwards from Firestar's body like a nova. It grew rapidly, stretching out over twenty feet from her. Muskateer was genuinely impressed by the display. The thugs, as well as everyone else in the area, could only stare in wide-eyed wonder at this new star.
"Not bad, 'Star," Muskateer said to himself, while quickly closing the gap to the armored car. "That must be why she calls herself Firestar!" He grabbed the large side mirror and deftly swung himself up towards the window. With both feet, he connected solidly on the unsuspecting felon and sent him sprawling back forcefully into the driver. Seeing that both men were stunned, Muskateer quickly opened the door and flung both of the men out into the street.
"End of the line, guys!" The flare effect in the sky had faded by now. "Okay, now what?"
Just then, he heard a slight sound and turned to see a gun barrel coming out through the slot between the back and the driver's compartment. A voice could be heard on the other side. "Hey, Frank, what's going on up there?!"
"Tom's actin' stupid...", Muskateer finally said in a deep baritone voice.
"Tom? Who the hell's Tom?"
"Beats me!", Muskateer yelled. With that he grabbed the barrel and pulled as hard as he could. A muffled thud followed and the gun was suddenly free in his hand. But it was still too big to fit through the slot. "Hey! No fair!"
Muskateer slammed the barrel against the side of the slot, hoping to bend the barrel and make it unfirable, but didn't have enough leverage to do any real damage. After a moment's thought, he quickly jammed the gun barrel back through the slot and closed the panel. "So far so good. Considering I'm making it up as I go!"
Looking around again, Muskateer took in the surroundings, trying to find a solution to the stalemate. Firestar landed nearby and slipped in through the passenger side door. The armored car was smack in the middle of the street, three lanes in each direction. Cars were everywhere and no one was moving in the least. Most of the cars were actually abandoned or already destroyed.
"Nice diversion," Muskateer offered.
"Thanks. That stunt always takes a lot out of me. Now what? Wait them out?", Firestar asked. "They bottled up the back door, just a second ago."
"If I had my sword this would be easy," Muskateer said. "Let me think..."
"They can't go anywhere."
"Yeah, but we don't want them trying to make a break and running out into traffic and shooting people." Muskateer thought for a few more moments, then settled down into the driver's seat. "I have an idea. All we need to do is back this thing up to a building and they won't be able to get out."
"I don't know... Should we try to get them out of there? Someone is going to have to take those guns away from them." Firestar sounded skeptical.
"A little tear gas should be enough," Muskateer explained. "We probably don't have much time..." Restarting the armored car, Muskateer began steering the vehicle towards a nearby brick building. He narrowly avoided a small compact car, with passengers still huddled inside, but smashed roughly into the front end of a Mercedes, knocking it out of the way as he barrelled by.
"Sorry!", he yelled, looking out the side window. Firestar just shuddered as he continued on his bludgeoning path.
"Well, wouldn't they just open the door and shoot the wall out?", Firestar asked.
"If we back all the way to the wall, the doors won't open," Muskateer says matter of factly. After a few more moments of harrowing auto shoving, the armored car rested snugly against a brick wall. The doors were blocked, unable to be opened. "Now, they're stuck in an armored car and we can't get in. But they can't get out. Talk about a couple of April Fools."
Firestar exited the armored car and flew up to the roof, landing lightly. "Now we just wait for the police?"
Muskateer also exited and moved off to the side of the vehicle. He quickly recovered the discarded weapon from the thug he had earlier flung onto the sidewalk. Both of the men were still unconscious on the ground. "I guess so. Unless you have a way to get them out of there without going in."
Suddenly, Firestar shrieked loudly. Laser blasts ripped through the roof of the armored car all around her. Firestar quickly flew off to one side and away from the car, trying her best to avoid the random blasts. As Muskateer tried to decide what to do, there was a tremendous explosion from inside the back of the armored car, followed by a few pitiful screams.
"Damn!", Muskateer said, disgustedly. "Those morons! There goes everything..." After that, it's all pretty quiet inside. Muskateer pulled the armored car away from the building and went around to the back. He opened the doors cautiously and peered inside. The sight that greeted his eyes was a messy one. One of the goons was already dead, while the other had been badly injured by the exploding weapon.
We need an ambulance, 'Star!" Muskateer saw another intact weapon and quickly grabbed it. Firestar then flew in and landed nearby. "Looks like the joke was on these guys, huh?"
"Right! Geez, this is gross!" Firestar moved away and used her Avengers communicator to radio the authorities. Meanwhile, Muskateer stepped inside and confronted the remaining gunman. Apparently, the laser gun had exploded, much like Black Diamond had explained previously. (Editor's Note: See Avengers #2) for details)
"Not too bright, chuckles... Where'd you get the hardware?"
The man coughed weakly. Blood oozed from the wounds on his head, neck and arms. "Crazy prices...," the man managed, before falling unconscious.
Muskateer stepped out of the back of the armored car, looking over the weapon in his hands. "Well, Di should be pleased. We managed to get our hands on two working units." Sirens could be heard in the distance, coming closer.
"Yeah-- no wonder she warned us. Those things are nasty!", Firestar said.
"More nasty to the shooter, from what I can see," Muskateer answered. "I'm going to have to see what makes one of these things tick. Hey, what happened to your shoulder?" Muskateer had just noticed that Firestar's injury had miraculously healed.
"Oh, just another of my powers. I heal really fast when exposed to fire. It healed when I created that diversion. There won't even be a scar."
"Must be nice..."
Later that evening, Muskateer was hard at work in one of the labs, back at Avengers Mansion. Most of the mansion was quiet. On one table set a mass of disconnected parts. Nearby an intact weapon rested in a harness, with numerous sensors and other machinery attached to it. A small television was active in the background. The Knicks and Bulls were playing what amounted to a meaningless game late in the season. Muskateer had a passing interest in the game, rooting for the Knicks, even though he was from Chicago.
"An impressive bit of weaponry on the surface. Fully automatic. Energy clips hold fifty shots each. Light based, laser ammunition. But the design is weak. It doesn't fully release all the energy created for each blast." Muskateer had been working on the weapon for hours. "I'm guessing that's what causes it to blow. It eventually gets so hot that the magazine itself explodes and everything just goes blooey!"
"What's all the commotion down here? I heard a big boom just a bit ago." The Thing saw the light and strolled into the room, wearing a large robe. He held a platter with a massive sandwich spilling over the sides. "Oh, it's you, Junior. Whatcha up to?"
"Well, Ben, the toaster broke and I'm trying to fix it."
The Thing looked around at the bewildering array of circuits, components and mechanical parts and just shook his head. "Sure kid. I can't believe how bad the Knicks are this year. That Jordan kid is pretty good. I just needed a snack. Wanna bite?"
"No thanks."
"Just don't go an' wake us all up, like Hunter used ta do," the Thing said as he lumbered off. "Blowing stuff up in the middle o' the night, an' all. Sheesh!"
"Fortunately, I think we're beyond that now," Muskateer said to himself, the Thing having left earshot. "The only question that remains is: how do I find out where this thing came from?"
Suddenly Muskateer's attention was drawn to the television and one of the local commercials...
"So come on down to Crazy Teddy’s Slightly Used Bargains! Our prices are craaazzzyyyy!"
"Hhmmm.... It might be time to do some bargain hunting," Muskateer thought to himself...
