Caught And Released
10/7/1948, Peterson Residence, Blue Harbour
The Atlantean had been reading the newspaper before he heard a noise which made him look and see that there was a call from the phone, so he went to pick it up, “Hello–?” “Namor, it’s Victor, Victor Creed.” He said, making the man sit up straighter, “Victor? Where have you been?” he asked the man, “Here and there, usually I just stay by Asia and Eastern Europe.” He told the man.
“So where are you now?” he asked, “Well, one of Zarda’s new teammates had called me, wanted to talk to me about my genetics for some reason, I just came in to Maine and I heard you lived around here, so I was wondering if I could stay there for a bit?” He asked of Namor, “I’d have to ask the Peterson Family, but I don't think that it’ll be too much of an issue.” he told the man.
“Great, I’ll see you then.” He told the Atlantean, making him a but worried but he already hung up, taking a breath, the Prince went and headed towards the others, “Hey, Randal, one of the old boys is coming here for a visit.” he said, making the man confused, “Huh, who?” he asked of him, “Victor Creed, you know, the brunette with the claws.” he explained to him.
Randal whistled towards that as Nammu came in, “Which one’s Victor Creed again?” She asked and hearing that, Namor thought, “Think of Namor like… a Lion pretending to be a man.” he explained, making Nammu curious about that, “Okay, so is he someone we should keep Nay away from or what?” The woman asked and hearing that, Namor thought, “No, he doesn’t hurt kids, it’s one of his rules.”
They were relieved by that as they started to walk away, the moment that they did so, the trio starting to think on how they would have to deal with him and what he would be able to do for the person that was calling him in, “Well then, wonder whose going to be asking him all of those questions?” Nammu asked and the three of them were all in agreement on what that could be.
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The five of them watched as they saw a man walk up to the building, he had on a military outfit with a bag over his shoulder, the sunglasses reflecting them back as he gave a toothy grin towards them, “Namor! Great to see you bud!” The man said, walking over to him and taking his hand, shaking it, “Randal, been a minute.” he told the other man, both of them surprised and glad that he was here.
Nay looked towards him with confusion and some curiosity, “Are you a Lion?” she asked, seeing his teeth, making Victor chuckle, “No, but my mama used to say that my family were all Bears.” he told her, making Nay surprised by that as he went to walk in, “And these must be Veronica, Nammu and Namor Peterson.” he said, making Veronica curious, “How did you–?”
“I keep people I care about on my radar.” he explained to them as Randal went and got him a glass of water, “So what are they asking you about?” Randal asked and hearing that, Victor shrugged, “Apparently, because I’m not 100% human, they want to know why I’m so different from them.” he said and hearing that, Namor raised an eyebrow, “Wait, you’re not human?” he asked.
“Well I’m about One Hundred and Nineteen Years Old, so no, I don’t think I am.” he said towards them, surprising both of them that he was that old, “Me and my siblings had met others like us over the decades, we always called ourselves Strangers cause we have a bit of Strange in us.” The Man said and hearing that, Namor was confused while Nammu looked to The Prince, “Do you think you’re a Stranger?” she asked.
Hearing that, Victor paused in confusion towards that, “Why? Cause of the wings? The Pink Skin? Or the fact that he’s stronger than Meranno?” he asked, making them all look towards him, “You thought the same?” Namor asked, making him shrug, “Me and my siblings watch and listen like everyone else.” he told them, making Randal speak, “Wait, you said siblings, but I thought James Howlett was your only sibling?”
That made the man smirk, “Technically? I have three, four if we include Jimmy’s big brother.” he told them, going to pull out a photo, “Here they are, I found a few photos and decided to keep them,” he said, showing the duo in question, “That’s John Howlett Junior, Jimmy’s brother, after him is the oldest of us, Dog, yes, that’s his name and he doesn’t give a sh– uck that he’s called that.” Victor explained.
Namor looked at them with the Petersons, looking to see how they were different, the one called John Howlett had appeared like a willow with a scowl, he seemed to prefer his hair long and Japanese attire, the other though was quite different, he was the only one that had scars, three down his face and he seemed like he was planning for another adventure with the hat and clothes that he had one.
“And that there is the only girl in our generation, Clara.” he explained and hearing that, the group looked to the image of the woman and they were shocked at the sight of her, how she had been scarred, half her face melted off, “And that’s our sister, Clara, and if you want to know what happened to her face, that’s private, and the asshole that did it isn’t going to be a problem ever again.” he told them.
Namor nodded towards that, if anyone had tried to hurt Fen or Dorma, or even Nammu that way, he would kill them as well, “So which member of the Squadron was dumb enough to ask you for help?” Veronica said, not sure how she was going to deal with that before another thought came to her mind, “I have no idea, all they said is that it’s somewhere private and I can’t tell anyone.” he told them.
Hearing that, the group had gotten concerned, “Are you sure that it was Zarda that asked you?” Nammu asked and hearing that, Victor nodded towards that, “I’m sure, she used the codeword.” Victor explained and hearing that, Namor nodded, “Okay… if you need a place to rest after, just let me know, okay?” Namor asked, making him nod towards that, “Course, but my ride should be coming soon.” he told them.
That made Nay run out and look towards everything, the little girl smiling towards a sight, “It’s The Rainbow Man!” Nay shouted, “The Doc?” Victor asked of Namor who nodded, “The Doc.” he said and hearing that, Namor smiled as he went to get up, The Petersons, Nammu and Victor following him close behind where they saw that there was Joseph who was smiling at them underneath his mask.
“Hey there, everyone, Nay, great to see you again.” The man said, going to hug her, as he did so, Victor walked over to him, “So, should I wear a blindfold, are you gonna chloroform me or is there something–?” he started to asked before Joseph started to create a bubble which made the Stranger surprised, “Guess that’s the answer.” he said as Joseph looked towards them.
“See you guys all later.” he said with a smile, making the family and Atlanteans do as much before they started to head back in, “I wonder what that was about.” Veronica said, Randal nodding towards that, “Maybe they’re going to ask about his… his Strange.” The Prince told them, looking down at his hand and thinking of what Victor said, making him wonder if he really was a Stranger like him,
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10/7/1948, Seattle, Washington
Bobo had been called here for a reason he couldn’t really understand, it was a letter from someone by the name of John Howlett Junior, he had read up about the man, he was a rich man, an explorer from a long line of them, John Howlett had gone everywhere and met quite a few people, he seemed legit and fine, but Bobo was concerned and not sure if he was safe.
Taking a breath, the man started to look around before seeing that there was the man in the photos, looking towards him, The Atlantean walked over and sat down in the chair that was opposite of him, “Hello there, Mister John Howlett.” Bobo said with a smile, making the man pause from looking at the menu to look towards him, “Hello there, Bobo, The Atlantean.” he said to him.
“I heard that you had found a lab that was operated by Doctor Dorcas in Tacoma?” he asked, making the man look towards John Howlett with confusion, “Uh… yes, I did, but why do you–?” “As you probably have learned from your own research, my family and I have traveled the world, gathering a fortune and connections,” he explained, making the man unsure what this was about.
“Decades ago, back in the 1840’s, my family had headed up to Tuktut Nogait,” he explained, making Bobo curious as John Howlett revealed a few photographs that were there, “There, they discovered that one of their ancestors from 1710 had met… something.” he told them, making the man confused by that, “Tuktut Nogait?” he asked, “It’ll be Sixty Three Kilometers East of Aklavik, they're planning to survey it in six years.”
That made Bobo confused, how could a place have a name if they hadn’t even surveyed it? “Anyways, hidden there is a clan of people, people that worshipped the moon for as long as anyone could remember.” he explained towards him, “Anyways, in Tuktut Nogait, they live there, they are more… primal than humanity… born with healing factors, enhanced senses, and these.” John Howlett said.
He proceeded to pop his claws and once he did so, making sure only Bobo could see it, Bobo had been shocked by the sight, having never seen anything like that before, “Anyways, I had people in Aklavik watching Tuktut Nogait, just to make sure that they were safe, and one day, my people told me that soldiers, Americans, came in and they came out with one of them.” he told the man, flipping over the page.
On it had shown the image of soldiers who had something being lugged around, they appeared to be a woman, a small woman with long hair and almost animalistic features, “The people there told me that followed them had found that they came here, to Washington.” John Howlett explained towards him, “If you were able to find Dorcas, then you must be able to find her, correct?” he asked.
That made Bobo consider, looking at the woman and then at him, “Any region in particular?” he asked, not wanting to leave the woman to whatever fate that these men had in mind, “Around Mount Rainier or so, at least that’s what I was told.” John Howlett said and hearing his response, Bobo nodded, “Of course, I’ll be sure to find her, you have my word.” He said, thinking on where to go first.
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10/7/1948, Mount Rainier, Washington
Bobo had been walking up the mountain and as he had done so, The Atlantean looked towards John Howlett who were coming with him, dressed ready to fight, as they continued to march forward, there was a noise which made the two of them look and see that there was a bright light, almost like a mini sun which blasted towards the pair, Bobo moved out of the way while John Howlett appeared to vanish.
It made him confused, but he wasn’t going to argue as the man grabbed his rifle that he had with his pack and fired towards the sun, but there were blasts, incinerating the lead, he had fired towards the sun still, making sure that they were getting distracted as he saw that there was a hole there and John Howlett was waiting, “Come on!” he shouted, making Bobo nod before going to leap in.
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10/7/1948, The Foundry, Mount Rainier
The two men entered and as they did so, Bobo looked towards John Howlett, “Where were you? What the Hell happened?” he asked, making John Howlett sigh, as he did, his body seemed to fade into smoke before reforming into his old self, “I am… a being that was born with abilities.” he explained towards her, making a fist with one hand before three claws popped out.
They surprised Bobo, wondering what he was before John Howlett looked towards area, “We need to find the woman, she’s–” “Like you, isn’t she?” Bobo asked, making John Howlett glare towards him, “Yes, that’s why I’m trying to help her.” John Howlett said towards him, making Bobo give a look towards everything before he had an idea, “Huh, there’s something coming.” John Howlett said.
“What’s ‘something’?” Bobo asked as he grabbed Bobo and moved, just as a large blue man wearing armor with an ax walked through, looking around before they saw how the giant was leaving, seeing that, John Howlett released his grip and looked towards the man, “What was that?” Bobo asked, “I have no idea, but we’re not here for them, we’re here for the woman.” he said towards Bobo as they proceeded to move.
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10/7/1948, Project Moonbeam, The Foundry
The woman, The being that was a part of a clan they had no way of contacting in The Tuktut Nogait, had been strapped down and tested, they were seeing how her abilities worked and samples had been taken when all of a sudden, the woman started to thrash, appearing to smell something, the scientists there all confused by what it was when there seemed to be some strange smoke coming in.
“Is that a fire–?” one of them started when they saw that the smoke took a humanoid form, just before a man appeared and popped out his claws, slashing towards them with fury as the door opened up, The Atlantean coming in and tearing the restraints off, they looked at the woman who seemed weak in appearance as John Howlett took the woman up in his arms.
She seemed too weak to do anything but make noises in protest, but otherwise nothing else, “Okay, we need to leave before–” Bobo started before the clarion went off, “Get us to the exit, after that, I’ll get us all through.” John Howlett promised and hearing that, the man groaned before he cocked the rifle again and kept it on a bead, watching the area as he went to walk through, the pair of them quick to follow the man.
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10/7/1948, The Foundry, Mount Rainier
The three of them moved through the area and as they did so, the two of them trying to keep themselves alive, they had been spooked, cautious of everything before they saw that there was something that made Bobo surprised, seeing that a woman in green had glowing hands, “Apologies, but you can’t leave with her.” She said, making the two look before Bobo saw there was an opening at the wall.
It was a slot for a window, making Bobo look to John Howlett who smiled, “I’m sorry, but I think we can’t stay too long.” he explained, making the blonde woman confused before they noticed that he opened fire, making the green woman develop a barrier right before she fired a blast towards the Atlantean, he dropped the rifle which polymorphed into glass, shattering as it fell while he opened the window.
Seeing that, John Howlett had grabbed at him and the three of them vanished into the smoke and went through the window that was available, “No!” The woman in Green shouted, but it was too late, they had gotten out and as they did so, the wind seemed to shift around them as the three started to head into the woods towards the trees as fast as they could.
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10/7/1948, Mount Rainier Woods, Washington
John Howlett solidified them and as they fell onto the ground, groaning, Bobo looked to the woman and grabbed at the hair she had, grabbing at a knife and cutting a lock and then getting some blood, “What are you–?” John Howlett started to ask, “They’re going to track us, you two move, I’ll head to Alaska, make them think we’re bringing her back.” he told him.
John Howlett had been surprised by that, looking towards The Atlantean with surprise before nodding, “Your payment will be at your home.” he promised to him, “Just make sure she stays alive, understood?” Bobo asked, making John Howlett nod towards him as they both faded into the smoke, making Bobo nod to the new situation until he turned and started to head towards The North.
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10/21/1948, Craig, Prince of Wales Island
Bobo had been breathing hard, panting as he looked towards the soldiers that were there, aiming their weapons towards him, “Give up! Where the Hell is The Native and The Other Man?!” the leader snapped towards him, but Bobo had only smiled, “Sorry! But I think I’m just going ot head home!” he shouted towards them, making the group confused as he tore his gill scarf off, the effect on his skin already happening.
“Shit! He’s an Atlantean!” The soldier shouted, aiming and firing towards him, but his skin was tough enough to survive the attack from it as he leapt into the water, his body loving the sea water as he began to head as fast as he possibly could towards the ocean when there was a shot, hitting him, they were starting to fire towards him, but Bobo was not an idiot as he started to move towards home.
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10/28/1948, Bobo’s Home, Long Beach
Bobo came into his home, panting and annoyed, shaking his head to get the water out of his long hair and his beard before he looked towards the payment in an envelope, a check made out to his bank account and smiled towards the sight until noticing that there was something else there, a threat, it was a deboned fish that had a message that was written down there.
“We know where you live, we know where your daughter and lover live, tell anyone, and you will die AFTER them.” It said and reading that, the Atlantean knew that there was something that made the man realize that he was in trouble and that the group they stole from was going to be quite dangerous, so he took a breath and wished that he had a burner on his person.
Worried and a little terrified for them, he started to pace, punching the wall of his home and the moment that he did so, there was a feeling, a feeling of dread and wondering what was going on right about now as he decided that it was time for him to call his oldest friends and hope that they would be able to survive what was going on in whatever capacity they were able to.
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10/28/1948, Peterson Residence, Blue Harbour
Namor had been sitting, looking over the files that they had before the man noticed that the phone was going off, curious, he went and picked up the phone, “Hello–?” “Bobo, I need you to promise me to stay away from Long Beach, it’s dangerous right now.” He warned, making the man confused, “Alright, why?” he asked, making the man sigh.
“Let me just say that things are dangerous right now, okay?” He asked of him, making the Prince nod, “Okay, I won’t, okay?” he asked, making the man give a sigh of relief, “Thanks, also, if you meet a man named Kitsunebi and he has a woman with him… help them out, however you can, okay?” He asked, making the Prince grunt, “I promise I will.” he said.
“Great… great… I gotta stay low for a while, be safe.” He said, making Namor worried before looking to Nammu, “What’s wrong?” she asked and hearing that, Namor sighed, “Bobo is in trouble, and I have no idea what’s going on, but he’s scared if we see him.” Namor told her and hearing that, Nammu got worried now as the two wondered what it was that their friend went through.
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10/31/1948, Blue Harbour, Maine
The group had been walking with each other and as they had done so, Namor dressed as a ship captain while Nammu had been in a white dress like Veronica while Randal had been in his military uniform while Nay had dressed up like a king like Namor told her they dressed in at Atlantis as the three of them started to walk through the town, as they did so, there was a sight.
It was Monako and it made the group worried, “Oh no, what now?” Namor asked of the man who sighed, “I’m not happy to be here either, I’m just here to make sure that the amulet’s still working.” he explained, making the group curious towards that statement but nodding towards his reasoning as Monako approached, about to touch the item until they saw there was a shadow.
Panicked, the group started to back away, thinking that it was another demon like that one who hunted him, when a spear shot out, almost hitting Namor as the person who held the spear glared towards them, a large muscular purple woman in black leather armor, she seemed to speak in an unintelligible language, “Imperius Rex.” he snarled before going to charge forth to fight her.