Caterwaul could feel his wounds healing. Wipeout was unconscious, and that meant his powers weren't working. Still, with his wounds healing, he could not move. Tremor had knocked him through a wall, and rubble landed upon him, pinning him down.
 Tremor leapt upon the stones and rubble, standing over Caterwaul.
"I don't know who you are, what your gig is, but it ends here!"
 "Now, now," came a voice, and before Tremor could realize what was going on, he found himself lifted into the air. "Our resident psycho-path isn't the most friendly on the team, but he is a part of the team nonetheless, and as much as I hate to do it, I guess I have to rescue him, since he is on my team!"
 Tremor looked up and who had him. "Talonhawk's the name," his capture laughed. "And since Caterwaul forgot to introduce us, we're Next Flight… a division of the infamous Alpha Flight, and we're here to put an end to your madness!" He saw Tremor about to do something, and added with a coy smile. "I wouldn't do anything if I were you… because if I drop you…" He looked down. "Well, I just don't think you'd survive the fall…"
 Just then it felt as if Talonhawk's were made of pure steel, his bones as thick as metal, and he began spiraling downward, his weight doubling nearly ever second.
 "Name's Compact," someone called from the ground. "I am doubling your mass every two seconds… what's the matter, little angel, can't fly when you weigh more than a truck?"
 He had no choice now but to drop Tremor, to lighten his load as much as he could and try to control his rapid decent toward Mother Earth.
He screamed as he tried to tilt upward, and concentrate on flying…
 Spectra, who was at the time intangible, and thus lighter than air, caught Tremor in mid-fall, and with her touch made him intangible as well, making them both lighter than air. When they landed upon the ground as gently as a feather, Tremor held up his hands. "I am going to guess you guys are supposed to be the new Next Flight? Well, prepare to be called Dead Flight! This is ending now!"
 "No!" a hand fell on Tremor's shoulder. "Magistrate is badly hurt! We have to get out of here, and we have to get out of here now!
Wipeout's unconscious also, and bleeding severely!"
 "This isn't over … 'heroes'… Not even close!" Tremor screamed.
 Just then, they all vanished.
 "What the - ?!" Thermal screamed. "Where'd they go?"
 "I have done a mindscan and I can't sense them," Mindscan hissed between clenched angry teeth.
 "They didn't tell us they had a teleporter…" Coldfront ran up along side Mindscan. "How'd they do that?"
 "Not a teleporter…" Caterwaul moaned, holding his ribs as he came limping by their side. "Marquee… remember… she can cover the 'psi-essence' of people… So much so that not even known Sentinels or the legendary telepaths could sense… No offense to you Mindscan," Caterwaul groaned. "But she's going to have no problem 'psi-screening' herself from an amateur like you…"
 "Can't you track them with your heightened senses Caterwaul?" Thermal inquired.
 "Could… if they were fully functional…"
 "What do you mean?"
 "Wipeout knocked out my powers, till he got himself rendered unconscious… my healing factor is barely beginning to kick in and mend the bones and tissue… My sense of smell is probably no better than your own right now…"
 "Then they've won."

 The office was silent.
 "They didn't win. Neither did we."
 "You calling this a tie, general?"
 "No. I am calling it a lesson."
 "I don't understand," Mindscan inquired.
 "Rogue Force has been around for some time… they even trained with us for quite a bit of time, before going rogue on us… They had experience under their belt. I hate to admit this… though there is a lot of room for improvement for you little kids… You held your own against a greater number than yourselves, who were also more experienced… and came out of it… for the most part, unscratched, and all the civilians were safe… Very impressive indeed."
 
 

 He hated the smell of smoke.  He paced back and forth trying to avoid the smoke that lingered up from the cigar. His name was Thomas Wolfe, better known to his teammates as Mindscan, and leader of Next Flight.
 "So what do you want kid?" the general puffed at the cigar.
 "For you to stop puffing on that … thing," was his first reply.
 The general only returned the comment with a look and cold stare.
A stare that might have normally turned someone's blood to ice. But if there was one thing Thomas Wolfe was used to - it was callous stares - he got enough of them from his own team mates. 
 "Well yer not getting that kid, so what else do you want or are you leaving now?" the general took a deep breath, and exhaled a large amount of cigar smoke into the air intentionally to annoy Mindscan.
 Mindscan parried the smoke with a sarcastic smile. "I'm here to talk about Adam."
 "What do you want to talk about?"
 "Sir, we don't know anything about him. No telepaths have been able to probe his mind. He acts on his own. We don't know much about him except for his name - and for all we know that may even be incorrect.
Sir, we couldn't even place him by fingerprints. It's like he came out of thin air."
 "Yeah, stranger things have happened. You will get used to that when you work with this department."
 "What scares me is his affection for Coldfront - I'm sure you've noticed it."
 The general paused for a moment, tapping the tip of the cigar.
"No. No I haven't."
 Mindscan rolled his eyes. He knew the general had noticed. He knew that the general, along with the rest of the department, was banking on that they could use Coldfront to keep Caterwaul under control. "Sir, should anything - or anyone - harm Coldfront, there will be no stopping Caterwaul… You do realize this, don't you?"
 "If it ever comes to the time where we must bring down our own, we will worry about it then."
 "We can't worry about it 'then.' Caterwaul is too dangerous. Sir, he could have probably taken out half of Rogue Force on his own! Who's going to stop him if he goes berserk?" 
 The door swung open, and one of the officers blurted. "Alpha Flight!"
 The general sat up. "What? What? What are you talking about officer?"
 The cigar fell to the ground, now forgotten.
 The officer glanced at Mindscan and quickly said, "Sorry." He turned back toward the general. "Sir, radar just detected Alpha Flight at the airport…"
 "Well let's get a team down there!"
 "Sir… that's the thing…"
 "What? What is 'the thing'? You're trying my patience boy, and you just got here!"
 "Sir, we tried to radio the airport when the sensors detected their presence…"
 "And?"
 "And there was no answer sir."
 "So?"
 "We sent a helicopter team… sir… they said the entire airport has been laid to waste… there's dead bodies everywhere… like one large grave…"
 "Christ," the general whispered. "I don't believe that crazy Indian was right…"
 "Excuse me sir?"
 "Michael Twoyoungmen… he said something about 'a great evil from far away' was coming back to Canada… he mentioned when we reinstated Alpha Flight long ago… how they fought one of these creatures called The Great Beasts*…"
 "Sir, we can help…"
 "You're kids," the general snapped at Mindscan. "Nothing more than kids…"
 
 

 Weeks later…
 His wings beat against the wind.
 "I grow increasingly tired… every beat of my wings feeds my hunger further… I must feast soon… or perish…" His voice was raspy, and from the clear skies high above; with his vulture like eyes; he peered down looking for something… someone to feast upon… and it would have to be soon…

 "Can you believe those little punks, Radius, Murmur and Flex made it into Alpha's next training class?" Alex grumbled. "Especially that Radius punk. Where did these kids come from?"
 "I dunno," Samantha admitted, shrugging her shoulders. "Yeah, like they'd take any one of us into Alpha Training. We're a 'new project' as they say."
 "Well it stinks," Alex complained. He looked up. Classes for college were about to start soon. "Hey! There's Dawson!" He started running after him. "Say, Dawson, have you seen Joey anywhere? Has she asked about me?"
 "Yeah," Dawson's friend, Pacey laughed. "She did ask about you."
 "Really?" Alex asked. "What'd she say?"
 "She said, 'When's that freak Alex gonna leave me alone?'" Pacey laughed.
 Alex pushed Pacey. "Yeah, you're a riot."
 "Look," Dawson said stepping away. "You two can keep this up, I am going to go meet Jen in the film class… I'll catch you guys later."
 "Sure Dawson," Pacey laughed. Turning his attention,  "So, Samantha," Pacey smiled. "What are you doing later tonight?"
 Samantha walked past Pacey, and looked over her shoulder.
"Probably the same thing I always do."
 "What's that?" Pacey smiled, striking a "manly" pose while winking at her.
 "Doing everything I can to avoid you," she smiled and walked off.
 "Ouch," Alex grinned. "That had to hurt."
 Pacey threw his arm around Alex. "She loves me. She just doesn't realize it yet."

 Alex took to the air in the guise of Talonhawk. This is the only place I feel free… the only place I ever truly feel safe, he told himself. He dodged through the clouds, flew next to the birds. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have my wings, he told himself over and over again.
 It was then that two strong arms grabbed him. "What the?"
 He looked up and saw a large man… creature… "Look into the eyes of Sauron," it hissed. "And relax… relax…"
 Darkness took Talonhawk away…

 "There's been no word from Alex," Mindscan said, while pacing the room. "It's not like him."
 "The boy's love struck with some girl at school named, Joey," Samantha shrugged. "Probably flying around with his head in the clouds… quite literally," she smiled.
 "It's just not… like him to be so…"
 "Lofty," Caterwaul growled. "I say we're better off without fly boy. Less chatter from his big mouth."
 "Now look, Adam," Mindscan began. "I know how you feel about him…"
 "Not you don't," Caterwaul cut in. "Or else I wouldn't be a part of this team." He raked his nails down the steel wall, which without the slightest bit of effort, cut into them like a hot blade through butter.
 Mindscan took a deep breath and left it at that. "I've tried mindscanning… and it hasn't picked up anything… however, my mindscan is limited compared to others… I know this… but it just worries me."
 "So why don't we go find him?" Thermal smiled. "I kind of like the… fly boy."
 "You like any boy's fly," Caterwaul sneered.
 She smiled. Never denying a word.
 Mindscan cleared his throat. "Look, that's why I called everyone here. Department H doesn't even know that we're doing this."
 "Good," Caterwaul grinned. "Better off without their influence anyway."
 "Is there anyone you do like, Caterwaul?" Mindscan sighed.
 "Sure there is," Thermal grinned. "And her name's Samantha."
 Caterwaul growled furiously.
 "All right! All right! That will be enough of that!" Mindscan shouted. He shook his head and began to wonder how he ever got this far…
 
 

 He slowly opened his eyes. "Where am I?"
 "In my dark home," came a hissing voice from the shadows. "For now. Until I become stronger."
 Talonhawk cursed his eyes. He could not see anything. "Who… or what…" he amended, now vaguely remembering his attacker. "… Are you anyway?"
 "I am Sauron," the voice hissed.
 "Well, that's great sore whatever," Talonhawk grimaced. His head was pounding. "What is it you want with me anyway?"
 "Your life essence of course," the darkness answered.
 Talonhawk paused. "Of course. What was I thinking, like it'd be anything else," he muttered to himself.

 "His scent starts to trail off here," Caterwaul said sniffing at the air. "I can smell his arrogance for miles."
 Mindscan rolled his eyes. "Well, I am thankful for that. So where do we go from here?"
 "How about them rockies there?" Caterwaul smiled.
 "Into the mountains? Why there?" Mindscan asked.
 "Why not?" Caterwaul shrugged. "I could go for the exercise.
You?"
 "This isn't a game, Caterwaul!" Mindscan screamed. "This is serious!"
 "Yeah well, so am I. He's up there," Caterwaul said, pointing to the mountain peaks. "And it's gonna be a heck of a climb, too. Whoever… whatever took him has wings too…" He looked back. "Try a mindscan. Tell me I'm wrong."
 Mindscan closed his eyes; he felt his mind reach out; almost like an astral image of himself drifting forward; no longer confined by the rules of the Earth. There - he touched the mind of Alex Saiz - Talonhawk.
He looked down at Caterwaul who was smiling smugly. "One of these days you're going to be wrong, Caterwaul - and I just hope I live to see it, and that the error doesn't cost us our lives."
 "I'll never be wrong," Caterwaul chuckled. "Count on that."
 Thermal nudged Coldfront. "And he says Talonhawk has an arrogant attitude."
 Coldfront only smiled. Any friendship she felt for Thermal was farce. "We better get going," she finally said, as cold as her namesake she adopted. 
 Thermal grinned inwardly. My, she thought to herself. A bit defensive about our resident psycho are we?

 "You fly as I do," Sauron hissed. He touched Talonhawk's wings.
"Your essence is so strong… in my weakened condition, I could not take it all at once."
 "Yeah, that's pretty great," Talonhawk groaned, struggling against the bonds. "So what are you doing here in Canada anyway?"
 Sauron smiled, and turned. "There are no mutants in the Savage Land… I have tasted the essence of mutants… and now, none other will do… such… power…"
 "Wonderful," Talonhawk grunted. He was trying to buy himself more time; for what he did not know. He prayed that the others would come looking for him soon…
 "Havin' a high flying party, fly boy, and not inviting me? I'm wounded. Didn't peg ya for the whips and chains kinda guy, either," came a voice at the cave entrance.
 Sauron turned. "Who? No human could climb this high!"
 "One day," the shadowy voice seemed to chuckle. "You're going to be wrong. And you're not going to live to tell about it - because that time is now."
 Claws glistened in the sun's light.
 "Caterwaul?" Talonhawk questioned. "Is that you?"
 "Ya know anyone else who calls you fly-boy?" the shadowy figure stood up. "Never mind. Don't answer that. It's probably somethin' I don't wanna know."
 "Another mutant!" Sauron hissed.
 "Yeah. So who are you, gruesome? What do you want with our resident fly-bird?"
 Sauron didn't hesitate; did not wait to answer. He quickly lunged forward.
 "Watch out!" Talonhawk screamed. "He'll hypnotize you and he can absorb life essence!" He paused and whispered. "I guess anyway… from what he's told me…"
 Sauron's hands fixed on Caterwaul's cheeks. "Stare into my eyes, and know the power of Sauron!"
 Caterwaul could feel an intense burning in the back of his head; a nauseating feeling coming forth. With his feet, he kicked Sauron off him. "Don't much care for having my head messed with."
 "Impossible!" Sauron screamed.
 "Why do people keep thinking that things are impossible around here?" Caterwaul groaned, holding his head. Before he knew it, Sauron was upon him once again.
 "If you resist my gaze, you are a threat… I must feed off you now!" Sauron wailed madly.
 "Not… sure… if… I like the sound… of that…" Caterwaul stammered, feeling something tugging at him within at the touch of Sauron.
 Sauron was glowing brightly. "Yes! Yes! I feel it! Deep! Vast!
Endless!" Suddenly Sauron flew backwards. Convulsing on the ground, he held his head and screamed. "No! Make it stop!"
 Caterwaul used the wall to help himself to his own feet. He grabbed Sauron by the throat, his talon's digging into Sauron's flesh. "I don't take kindly to people mucking with my head… or tampering with my life…"
 Sauron at that moment began to change in Caterwaul's hand… becoming less bestial… and more… human!?
 In a matter of moments, Caterwaul held a half naked frightened man in his grasp. "Kill me…" the man pleased. "Please end the curse of Sauron…"
 "Don't!" Talonhawk screamed. "You can't do that, Caterwaul!"
 "He tried to kill you. Me. He wants to die."
 "It's not our place," Talonhawk screamed again, struggling against the chains. "We need to turn him over to Department H and see if they can help…"
 "Department H can't help. All they do is muck things up."
 "Please," Talonhawk pleaded.
 Caterwaul snarled and threw the man down. "Change back, and you're mine," he threatened. Walking by Talonhawk, and not even pausing he struck at the chains, which sliced apart with ease against his talons.
"Lizard man is your responsibility then. You turn him into Department H.
I'd much rather turn him into the morgue."
 Talonhawk rubbed his sore wrists. "Where's the others?"
 "The climb was too high for them. All they did was slow me down anyway."
 Talonhawk sighed. "Look, I just wanted to say -"
 "Can it. I don't wanna hear it from you, and you're gonna need all your strength to be carryin' yerself and Lizard Man back down to the ground…"
 "What happened when he tried to absorb your life essence?"
 Caterwaul turned and grinned. "Guess I tasted good, but had a terrible after taste."
 With that, he began the journey down the mountain…
 
 

 Sunny San Diego, California.
 Coronado Beach. Popular because of the cleanliness. Popular because of the large homes that surround it. Popular because of Hotel Del Coronado, where many stars stay. Popular because it is a beach usually filled with beautiful women and men; all of who are usually quite rich.
 "Thought school was never going to end," Stephanie sighed, breathing in the sun's rays. "And I can't believe that Department H even let us out of Canada." She lowered her DRAGON sunglasses and looked at the others. "Don't you think that's strange?"
 "No," Mindscan smirked. "See those two people to the left of us."
 "The couple?" Talonhawk asked, sitting up.
 "Hardly a couple. They're Department H people."
 "You're kidding me?" Coldfront sighed.
 "'Fraid not," Mindscan sighed. "I noticed them at the San Diego Airport. Didn't think anything of it till I happened to see them at the store. Then saw them here. I did a quick mindscan… sure enough, loaded with Department H memories."
 "Why would they do that?" Coldfront asked. "Didn't they think if they got spotted that you would mindscan them?"
 "It's Department H's way of lettin' us know we're still on their leash," Caterwaul growled.
 "Had to admit it," Mindscan said matter-of-factly. "But he's probably right."
 "Figures," Thermal sighed, and put her DRAGON sunglasses back on.
 "Hey," Mindscan said, standing up and brushing himself off. "I'm headed up to the store. Anyone need anything or wanna come with?"
 "Wouldn't wanna cramp yer style," Caterwaul grinned.
 "I could go for a Diet Soak," Coldfront said, shaking her head.
She began digging into her purse. 
 Mindscan shook his head and grinned. "I got it, don't worry."
 She smiled. "Thanks."
 "Anyone else need anything?" Mindscan asked.
 "Yeah," Thermal finally spoke up. "If you could get out of my sun, Thomas."
 Mindscan bit his lip. "Sure thing," and headed for the store just up the street.

 "Why don't the rest of you go off and do something," Thermal grinned. "You're all… 'cramping my style.'"
 Coldfront jumped to her feet. "You know, Stephanie… it's amazing anyone tolerates you. Is that why your mother sent you away?"
 With that Thermal was on her feet. Her hands glowing. "How dare you!"
 "This isn't the time or place!" Talonhawk quickly jumped in.
"Stand down Thermal. Now." He looked over and saw the couple staring at them. "I said stand down now."
 Thermal twitched and looked away. "This isn't over, Sam'," she hissed through clenched teeth. "Far from over…"
 Talonhawk grabbed Coldfront and Caterwaul. "Come on, let's go for a walk on the beach…"

 "What got into you back there, Sam?" Talonhawk asked.
 "There's only so much of her mouth I can take, Alex," Samantha replied. "Her and her big shot attitude."
 Alex Saiz sighed. How he longed to rip off this accursed shirt, and remove the "hollowed" backpack that held his folded wings. "I don't think there's anyone who gets a long with anyone around here," Alex muttered. "I mean we got Sylvester here who can't stand me," Alex said, watching Caterwaul's reaction, which happened to be none. "I can't really get along with our fearless leader. You and Sylvester can't get a long with Thermal. We just all have a lot of angst towards one another."
 "Speaking of angst," Caterwaul chuckled. "Surprised you didn't invite Joey to come along with us on Spring Break."
 "Well, it seems their film class scored big," Alex shrugged.
"Her, Pacey, Jen and Dawson supposedly all got some kind of television show kind of deal."
 "Must be nice," Coldfront sighed. "To lead a normal life…"