Justice Issue Guide #10

Issue 27:
Dead End

While the National Security Council's paranormal annex collectively waited for a call from Quill to receive his instructions regarding the recovery of Angela Tensen, Justice made a point of vaporizing a rat that crawled into the room under a pipe. As Chauncy noted that killing them was a farce, since they'd just keep coming back, the phone finally rang - and Updike picked up after it did so twice.

Though he hung up before the government could trace his line, Quill delivered his instructions to Justice. The antihero was to give himself up to Quill at midnight, at a specific subway train station, or else he would follow through on his threats against Justice's daughter. As Justice fumed over how powerless he was in all of this, another rat did, indeed, crawl through the hole in the room's walls.

In Quill's hotel room, Angela was having a nightmare wherein she was chased by a giant rat into a graveyard. Not just any graveyard, though, but the one where Creeping Crud was buried. Seeing her own tombstone nearby, she ran away only to encounter the Crud, who was consumed by the monstrous rat that pursued her. Angela then fled before it resumed its chase, at which point she awoke with a start.

Bound and gagged, she was prompted by Quill to speak on the phone when he called the NSC once more, though he threatened to cut her throat if she screamed. Though she didn't do that, Angela definitely yelled into the phone for help, complaining about how Quill smelled and was leering at her before he cut her off. Though Justice threatened him again, Quill simply repeated his demand for him to surrender at midnight.

Hanging up once more, Quill got to talking with Angela, who begged him to leave the gag off, at which point he began to tell her his story. He told her about how he was an awkward kid who wasn't any good with girls, and how he was generally beat up by the guys. Though he didn't want to, Quill went to prom with a girl he wasn't interested in, but after the dance he was ultimately rejected when he put the moves on her.

Furious when his date struck him and fled, Quill raced after her in reverse, and quickly backed over the young woman. Feeling her die in his arms, Quill described the first time he ever felt ecstasy, and then fled his home to become an international assassin. He stopped talking when Angela asked if he felt the same when he murdered men, proclaiming that he didn't because, you know, he wasn't some kind of sicko.

In Victor's hospital room, Justice was desperate to find a hint as to Quill's location, and had Playback scouring the room looking for any psychic hint of his whereabouts. Quill had been careful not to touch anything, however, so she couldn't find a trace of the assassin. Justice then grew despondent, recalling a time from Angela's youth when he promised to protect her from monsters, and feared he wouldn't keep that promise.

At his hotel, Quill pulled a box out of the limousine's trunk, though he noted that the funk of Ralph's decomposing body was really starting to radiate. Resolving to do something about that, he returned to his room, where Angela begged him to grab her bag, which was holding her cat, Figaro. He did so, though he stated that Angela would have to do something for him in return.

As the cat suddenly sprang back to life in her hands, Quill then handed her the box, and implored her to put it on. Opening it, Angela saw it was a dress, and though she didn't want to, said she'd go into the bathroom to change. Quill then pulled his gun on her, forcing her to change in front of him. As she did so at gunpoint, he leered at Angela while she angrily got into costume for him.

Quill began to touch Angela with his revolver once she'd changed, stating his lecherous intent towards her, when a security guard suddenly knocked on the door. He'd been notified that the room's occupant was acting weird, so he went to check it out. Angela took that opportunity to scream for help, prompting the guard to kick in the door. Turning on the man, Quill shot him several times, seemingly killing him on the spot.

The guard nonetheless lurched after Quill after he turned his attention back towards Angela, allowing her to escape. He continued to maul Quill despite him firing all of his rounds into the bulky guard, angry that he didn't seem smart enough to know he was dead. Angela fled down the road for a while, trying to flag down a ride, but the only vehicle that seemed to notice her was a limousine... the one stolen by Quill!

Leaping off the road as he tried to run her down, Angela fled into the wilderness, ultimately finding herself in the graveyard that Creeping Crud was recently interred within. Followed by Quill, she was shot in the leg, coming to a stop right next to the Crud's fresh grave. As Quill prepared to finish her off, though, Angela lashed out in a rage, and with that, her parability finally manifested consciously.

Digging its way up from its grave, the body of Creeping Crud lumbered towards Quill, causing him to impotently shoot it. Fleeing as more corpses crept up from the ground, Quill leapt into his stolen limousine, only to be grappled from behind by Ralph's reanimated body! Strangled by his own victim, Quill's limo was ultimately surrounded by all the corpses Angela animated to defend herself.

Going into shock due to the horror she experienced, and then caused, Angela then collapsed into a shock-induced coma afterwards.

Issue 28:
Psi Anxiety

A doctor entered Angela's hospital room while doing his rounds, looking at her chart and IV, before preparing to move on. He was suddenly seized by her father, Justice, who disapproved of the fact that he didn't even bother to look at her. Holding him aloft by the throat with just one hand, he ranted and raved at the man before tossing him aside. While the doctor fled, Justice returned his attention to Angela.

While Justice wondered how she was reduced to a comatose state, we look back to the cemetery, when the police were investigating the mess she'd made of the place during her battle with Quill. While the police questioned the groundskeeper about the pile of decomposing bodies heaped on the stolen limousine, several cemetery laborers had the unenviable task of collecting the corpses for identification purposes.

At a nearby hospital, Victor's continued recovery was interrupted by a nurse who informed him of Angela's arrival at the facility. At least they thought it was her, as they recognized her from her many visits to his room. Laying eyes on her, Victor readily identified Angela, though he was distraught at seeing her laid up in a hospital bed. As soon as he could, Victor got on the phone to update Updike.

Around that time, Justice was returning to the NSC's headquarters, having waited until midnight at the subway station per Quill's instructions, only to be stood up by the man. As he trudged towards Updike's office, Justice's ostensible superior was waiting for an update by phone when he was instead called by Babel, leader of the Medusa Web, and angrily hung up on the freelance espionage agent.

Shortly after he smashed the phone down on his desk, Justice arrived, and he took out his ire on Chauncy - much as everyone else seemed to do. The phone rang again before he could really light Updike's lieutenant up, however, this time when Victor called. Though Updike didn't want to talk to Victor either, his attention focused on Angela's fate, he was surprised to hear that the young woman was in his hospital.

Heading there, the trio checked on Angela, only to find her heavily injured and completely unresponsive. At least happy to find her alive, Updike tried to convince Justice to head home, to catch up on days of missing sleep. The antihero refused, however, insisting he watch over his daughter lest anything else happen to her. Or, should she recover, he at least wanted to be there for her when she did.

Shortly afterwards, an older doctor entered the room, followed by a gaggle of students. He was there to teach students, describing Angela's condition in cold, clinical terms, and Justice wasn't having it. Terrorizing the teacher and his medical students with his powers, Justice chased them right out of the room. He was somewhat kinder to Victor, however, when his coworker entered the room to check on Angela again.

As the two got to talking, the subject of the battle between Rodstvow and Psi-Hawk came up again, and Victor noted that Angela had wanted vengeance for Victor's injury. In his exhausted state, Justice decided that this was God himself speaking to him through his daughter, prompting him to resume his mission to dispense justice to dangerous paranormals. He then returned to the NSC to speak with Updike.

Asking if he had made progress on finding Rodstvow, Updike didn't tell him anything he wanted to know at first. However, he did let it slip that Babel had called him about 'borrowing' Justice to rescue Psi-Force and take the monster down, and Justice wanted in. Though Updike initially refused, Justice coerced him into relenting, at which point his 'boss' went ahead and called Babel back to set up a meeting.

When they arrived, the Medusa Web team consisted of Babel, Imprint, and Troublemaker, the latter of which felt the need to taunt Shudderbug. The NSC's new addition took it in stride, knocking the loudmouth to the floor with his vibration powers. Pulling him away, Babel then made for Updike's office, where Troublemaker then began to mock Justice for his appearance. And his current odor.

As Updike and Babel worked on stopping the two from wrecking each other, the latter described the situation with their hunt for Rodstvow, and without hesitating Justice declared that he wanted in. Though Updike wasn't too thrilled with how readily Justice agreed to join the Medusa Web on this operation, he nonetheless relented, considering he wanted Rodstvow dealt with almost as much as Justice himself did.

Back in the present, after he rousted two more hospital employees trying to throw him out, Justice let Angela know that he was off to Russia, intent on dealing with one of the monsters that endangered her life and hospitalized Victor. Though he didn't see it as he walked out of her room, Angela slowly began to respond to his words, finally snapping out of her comatose state, even if she just missed her dad leaving.

(to be continued in Psi-Force # 29!)

Issue 28 (Backup Tale):
the Travest Termination

As he was being transferred from the Fort St. James correctional facility in British Columbia, American agent Jake Travest was broken free by Medusa Web operatives Dustoff, Potiphar, Skybreaker, and Troublemaker. Telling him that they did so on behest of the United States government, they convinced him to join them on an operation to recover the Mark 3 MAX armor that the Canadian government was holding.

Arriving at the facility where it was being held, the Web dealt with the facility's security and blasted their way inside. There, Jake lost control and eagerly ran over to the disassembled MAX suit. He then let slip that the suit held a complete schematic stored on a disc within, with which its current operator could repair - or at least kludge together a temporary fix - should something go awry in the field.

Thinking his new friends wanted to salvage the MAX suit, Jake extracted the schematic disc so he could get it running, but then the Web operatives stole the disc from him and left him for dead. They did this literally, because they bombed the entire facility to mask their intrusion within, blowing Jake up with it in the process. Their mission to acquire the ability to build MAX armor successful, they then left!

Issue 29:
Heavy Psi

(continued from Psi-Force # 29!)

In a Washington, DC hospital, Victor was lamenting the condition of the woman he loved, wishing there was something more he could do for Angela, when suddenly she woke up on her own. Of course, she wasn't quite all there yet, and managed to hurt his feelings by calling him 'Kleenex (R)' instead of Victor. But Victor was happy she was at least partially responsive again, even if she only wanted to talk to Justice.

Around the world, deep within Siberia, the Medusa Web had liberated Psi-Force from the Siberian Project and was attempting to escape in their helicopters. Pursued by three Soviet aircraft, they were seemingly being herded in a specific direction, which was noted by the occupants of the Web's transport helicopter. Elsewhere, in the Project building, the Soviet operatives were carefully monitoring the situation.

While they flew on, Justice considered how he'd gotten in this mess in the first place. Looking at Psi-Force, he found he was having difficulty with his intent to kill them, considering they were just kids. After all, Psi-Force member Lindsey Falmon reminded him of his daughter a lot more than he liked. And if Angela misused her powers, would he judge her as he planned to judge Psi-Force? Could he?

Snapped out of his thoughts by a nearby eplosion, Justice investigated, and was joined by Kathy Ling. Seeing another Soviet helicopter had joined the chase, she reached out with her telekinetic powers and annihilated the craft and everyone inside. Though he wasn't lamenting the loss of Soviet life, what with them intent on murdering him, Justice was distressed by just how little Kathy cared about killing them.

Just then, the Medusa Web's recon helicopter was finally struck by Soviet gunfire, forcing it down. Landing the transport helicopter to collect the downed pilots, the Web, Psi-Force, and Justice found themselves surrounded by elite Soviet soldiers. Cutting loose with their powers, the collected paranormals brutally dismantled theier Russian foes, quickly routing the communists with overwhelming super-powered force.

Meanwhile, in New York, Agent Chauncy was joined by both Playback and Shudderbug on an outing to Coney Island. The trio was there to investigate rumours of an extensive, underground paranormal community. While Playback drew her and Chauncy's initials in the falling Pitt ash, surrounded by a heart, Chauncy noted just how empty the place was. Sure, it was the off season, but they were the only people around.

Back in Siberia, the Red Sun team arrived at the Soviet ambush point to combat the Medusa Web and Psi-Force, hoping to recapture the latter. Losing track of her in the chaos, Justice was blindsided by Shivowtnoeh, who jumped him from behind and sliced his face open! Tossing her off, Justice tried to blast the bestial Russian, but with so much blood in his eyes, he had trouble seeing her.

As Shivowtnoeh leapt at him again, tearing at his flesh with her claws, Justice was saved by the intervention of Thomas Boyd. Kicking her away, Thomas began to fight Shivowtnoeh back, draining her energy with each punch and kick. Continuing to bludgeon her even after she couldn't fight back, Justice finally pulled Thomas off of her after he'd broken a number of Shivowtnoeh's bones, including those on her face.

Nearby, Gatto di Sangue was trying to take down Coojeechiscue, leader of the Red Sun. Dodging shots from nearby Spetsnaz operatives, she tried repeatedly to land a blow on the enemy leader, but failed to do so. This even though Coojeechiscue was somewhat distracted, as the Siberian Project's Syzmanski let her know that Rodstvow had awoken, and no longer valued any life but his own. And that he was on his way.

As the fracas continued, Wayne Tucker noted that the Soviets were withdrawing, and that Coojeechiscue was screaming orders to her people as loud as she could. Deciding it was time to go, Psi-Force and the Medusa Web ran back to their helicopter. As they did, Kathy found Wayne's cross earing, which Justice had brought with him after Playback failed to get a reading on it in an effort to find Rodstvow - though he'd dropped it.

Relaying Wayne's orders to Justice, Thomas was astonished to hear Justice wasn't ready to go just yet. Having seen enough while he watched Psi-Force fight their enemies, he was prepared to deal with them once and for all. However, Justice was interrupted before he could attack, as Rodstvow had arrived on the scene. And Rodstvow was ready to murder every last person present, friends and foes alike!

(to be continued in Psi-Force # 30!)

Issue 29 (Backup Tale):
the Will of the People

All around America, people are otherwise in control of themselves, though they nonetheless do as commanded. As he roamed the country during his Presidential campaign, Philip Nolan Voigt continually left 'suggestions' in the minds of those he encountered, using the powers of Wayne Tucker, among others. While he didn't implant suggestions within every American, Voigt managed to touch enough of their minds.

As he entered Voigt's office, the President-elect took the time to further emasculate Michael Dukakis with his powers. Not only had he stolen the Democratic nomination from him, but Voigt now used his borrowed mind control powers to compel his service as his Vice President. Voigt then left his minion, Mr. Chaney, and made his way to the stage. After all, he still had to perform for the vile, unwashed masses. For now.

As he approached the stage, Voigt ruminated on his recent past. How he had hit rock bottom after his Clinic was taken from him and subsequently destroyed. How he had seen the light in the wake of Pittsburgh's destruction. How he should rule the world. He then took the stage before the American people, and gave a Presidential acceptance speech that bordered on the apocalyptic - to resounding cheers.