Jean watched as the man emerged from the evaporating chocolate dust. Whatever had happened to him it had washed away a few decades off of him, the grey hair was gone and in its place was a full head of brown hair, in addition to that he was now buff, almost like the Governator in his brown suit.
“Madam Grey,” He bowed once he got up, “It is my humble pleasure to meet you.”
“You think you are on par with me Temple?” Jean asked, posturing with her legs shoulder width apart and one hand pulling her black leather long coat aside and gripping her waist.
“I am not,” Temple smiled, “But you are interrupting one of my endevors.”
“Oh? A famous Clock King Capper?” Jean responded.
“Tick, tock,” Temple smiled, “Since you’re Psychic have a look, but please hurry.”
Jean looked in his head and a cruel Grinch Who Stole Christmas grew across her face. She stepped back out on to the side walk and walked a short distance down the street and then turned and looked back at Temple who smiled. Jean smiled back at him knowing what to do next.
*
“Look Mike,” the Hispanic Security Guard said, “You know I am not some KKK member, but I just can’t get behind BLM. Remember the videos of the Equal Rights movements protests of the sixties?”“You know I keep watch those Juan,” Mike said keeping his eyes on the road, “What’s your point?”“In those, the cops are the ones breaking everything and hurting people,” Juan said, “All the bee-el-ehm ‘protests’ end up bringing back memories of being back in LA during the ’92 riots.”
“Oh shit!” Mike screamed slamming on the brakes.
“What?” Juan asked.
“Did we hit her?” Mike asked in a panic.
“Who?” Juan asked.
“The girl,” Mike shouted, “She just walked out in front of the truck!”
BOOM!
*
Temple stood back as the Armored Truck slammed on the brakes right next to the fake Postal box. It then exploded. The hidden shaped charge tore into the side of the armored truck exposing it’s interior and valuables inside. Temple walked over and reached in grabbing the security box and pulled it out. Jean joined him as the crowd around them was frozen in place. Jean put an arm around his and the pair strolled off.
“You wouldn’t mind if I did one last thing,” Jean leaned in close to Temple.
“Not at all,” He responded.
*
Juan came too with a pain emanating from his hand. He looked over and saw that Mike was missing half his torso and green goo was oozing from the wounds. The term Zombie stuck out in Juan’s head. Juan pulled the revolver from his holster and shot Mike in the head. That was when he saw the bit starting to oozed green goo on his hand. He only had one choice, he placed the revolver to his head and squeezed the trigger.
*
“Well Mister Fugate,” Jean leaned in close, “I’d say we make a great team. What do you say we keep working together?”
“Madam Grey,” Temple said, “I am known as the Clock King, but I would give up that tittle to serve you Black Queen.”
“I like my jacks to know their place,” Jean said, “And I reward those that please me, and please me in bed and I will reward you very well.”
“Will the Black Queen accept this servant as a slave?” Temple asked.
“Hmm, Clock King as my Clock Slave,” Jean smiled.
*
“Megan,” Mary took a sip of the Chia Latte, “It’s nice to see you, but ah, where have you been? What have you been up too? What are you wearing?”
“Megan! Your Green Tea Crème Frap is ready!” a man called from the counter.
Mary was left to stew while Megan skipped over to get her drink. Gone was the 1950’s cute and sweet, skirt, knee socks, shirt and top look and in its’ place was hell bent for leather. Sure Mary had seen Megan in jeans plenty of times, but leather jeans? Tucked into her jeans was one of those “Liquid shine” spandex turtlenecks and a leather jacket completed the look. If Megan tinted her hair black she might be able to pass off as a Joan Jett impersonator and make some money. Mary tried to stay calm as her friend bounced back and sat at the table. Megan instantly started sucking the green drink throw the straw.
“So, answers?” Mary prompted.
“Can you keep a secret?” Megan put the drink down and got close enough to kiss Mary, “Silly question I know, but can you keep a secret from ‘our friends?’ Because the last thing we need is the boys acting like idiots.”
“Yeah,” Mary said, “Sure. Now spill it.”
“I got a boyfriend…” Megan giggled.
Mary’s instinctual reaction of calling the Justice League, Teen Titans, X-Men, Avengers and Batman and putting them speaker phone with Megan was blotted from her mind as soon as it appeared. Instead she wanted to know more.
“A boyfriend? Who? Does he know about… your immigration status?” Mary struggled to keep her voice at a whisper.
“Eh, yeah. You see he is a low grade psychic,” Megan took another sip, “As soon as we met, he answered a question I never verbally asked. We have a natural sympathetic relationship. So he has seen parts of me internally.”
“But has he seen… You know?” Mary tried to keep from saying too much, “Your baby pictures?”
“He’s cool Mary,” Megan said, “Relax. If you are concerned, you should come and meet him.”
“Yes…” Mary whispered in a slight daze, “Come meet him.”
*
The Sucubunny smiled holding her pick rabbit in one hand and a Cherry and Mint milkshake. She was going to like the corrupted Mary Marvel. She just had to follow the two back to Edgar’s place.
*
A message flashed, Question opened it and looked at the notes from the police report. The timing was Clock King precision. Yet something was horribly wrong… the witness statements indicated someone was manipulating the minds of the people at the scene and that was completely outside anything Clock King could do. He needed to get a hold of Batman, maybe Scarecrow was involved since? The driver was killed by the assistant who committed suicide, and both had looks of pure terror on their faces. Still something was completely wrong about this…