by Libbylawrence
Courtney Noble, now known as USA the Spirit of Freedom, had no idea that her mother had undergone such a wonderful transformation, but that was because she was preoccupied with her own rebirth as a patriotic super-heroine. As sunlight played across her flowing blonde hair and silvery sandals, she laughed with pleasure at the excitement of it all.
I just know by instinct what I can do now! she thought. It’s all becoming natural to me! She had crossed the country in minutes, and her super-swift flight took merely the smallest effort of her newfound powers.
Feeling the downward tug of her flag-like cape, indicating a problem that she needed to address, USA glanced down to see a fire raging through an old tenement. As smoke poured from the crumbling structure, heroic firemen aimed bursts of water at the damaged building. Occupants and merely curious onlookers lined the street across from the fire.
I have to help! I’m needed down there! she thought.
As the crowd of onlookers and harried firefighters saw the patriotically adorned flying girl swooping down from above, they cheered. Whether they merely recognized her as a heroine or were somehow inspired to levels of patriotic fervor because of the mystical bond she shared with the idea of American freedom, USA could not say, but she felt empowered by their faith as she aimed her torch at the roof below.
As it glowed brighter, the mystic torch drew all the flames into its glowing tip. The remarkable device swallowed the fire and heat with such thoroughness that USA didn’t even feel the heat as it swirled toward her.
USA frowned as she spotted a section of wall breaking away and falling toward the pavement below. Diving downward, she managed to position herself between the falling rubble and the street. As she concentrated, the charred rubble froze in midair as if gravity had been suspended around it. Moments later, the rubble flew back to the building, and with a final burst of light USA restored the building to pristine condition.
Cheers rang out as she winked at the crowd and flew away.
That totally rocked! she thought. Now to find and free Old Glory!
She soon reached a massive complex in the heart of Brooklyn. Flags swirled around the huge building, and uniformed soldiers patrolled its glistening walkways.
The so-called Führer of Brooklyn lives there, she thought. I don’t exactly know how I know he doesn’t belong in power, but I just do! Being the feminine Spirit of Liberty sure has its share of perks!
She landed with an almost girlish flounce and approached the guards who stared at her with uniformly grim expressions on their faces.
“Hi there! I’m going inside. Stay cool, ‘kay?” she said, strolling by the apparently oblivious guards. “Hmmm… cute blonde in a skimpy tunic, carrying a flaming torch and magical flag-cape doesn’t even get a wolf whistle! If I wasn’t using my power to dazzle them, I’d feel a bit hurt!”
Hurrying through the doors of the main building, she instinctively made her way to a specific room where dozens of somber officials regarded a young man with looks of adoration. He was almost nineteen years old, but his rather frail body and bright eyes made him seem even younger.
While the others were blinded to her arrival because of her dazzling power, he merely leaned forward and smiled at her. “USA! This is wonderful!” he said. “I always wanted a wife!”
In spite of her superhuman power, USA lowered her torch and stared at him, complete shock written upon her young features. “Uh… what?!” she gasped.
***
The assembled Freedom Fighters, clad in their costumes once more, soon arrived at the same massive complex in Brooklyn. The Red Torpedo had piloted his ship to a perfect landing, and concealed it with a built-in cloaking device. The heroes climbed out and stealthily approached the nearest entrance.
“I see around seven guards,” said the Invisible Hood. “May I do the honors?”
Neon the Unknown nodded and said, “Of course — you are the best man for the job!”
The Hood knelt down to a grate on the sidewalk and carefully aimed the small gun he usually carried on one hip. As the vapor from the gas-gun filled the immediate area, the guards collapsed.
“They will sleep for an hour or two! I think Alchema improved my formula considerably back at the Mermazon lab!” he said, recalling the beautiful blonde scientist.
The others followed the acrobatic hero as he lowered himself through the now-open grate and passed by the stunned guards. As they moved further into the complex, the heroes knocked out guard units with relative ease. Magno was able to stun them with concentrated bolts of magnetic force, while the Torpedo and Kriemhild simply used raw, expertly aimed force. Miss America trapped each guard in a smothering cocoon of conjured silk, dispersing just enough of the fabric so that they would not choke to death.
The Invisible Hood had lowered the hood of his cloak so his transparent form would not accidentally be struck by one of his allies. He knew he could return to full invisibility with ease by merely pulling the hood over his head again.
Neon shot precisely aimed bolts of neonic energy and stunned guards as he moved through the facility, not bothering to look back at his targets. He knew his own power well enough to rest assured that each guard had been stunned. He was wary of John Grant, but he was a brave man and was prepared for any challenge — except for the one that faced him as he and his friends rounded a corner.
There were three guards like the countless others that had already been defeated easily, but those three were accompanied by the Führer’s personal task force. Magno whistled softly as he recognized some of the colorful figures.
A handsome black-haired man with rippling muscles and a blue-black cloak and shorts hovered in front of the others. Next to him stood a completely covered figure with a hood that concealed his head, whose silvery-white bodysuit and gloves were famous around the globe. A sexy, dark-haired woman in a very brief yellow and green costume and slippers crouched as if ready for a fight, green goggles covering her lovely eyes. Another dark-haired woman with red goggles brought up the rear, dressed in a costume of yellow, red, and maroon emblazoned with a familiar-looking hourglass symbol. A third woman in a red leotard with a pink blouse tied at her waist stood with gloved fists raised defiantly. Finally, next to her stood a fourth woman, this one with very short blonde hair and the brief leather outfit of a carnival weightlifter, who towered over the others.
“The other Freedom Fighters!” cried Miss America.
The Invisible Hood knew all about the other Freedom Fighters. Before his confinement, he had read about some of them as solo crime-busters, although he had started his career before any of them. He recognized the Black Condor and Phantom Lady from that time. He had also studied the information Queen Klitra had collected in her library, so he knew the basic facts about the prolonged war and the role these heroes had played in it. He was sharp enough to recognize the red-haired woman in red and pink as a female Firebrand, even though he had never heard of a woman wearing the costume once used by the male Freedom Fighter. The other two women he did not recognize by costume or reputation, though the hourglass symbol reminded him of his fellow Freedom Fighter, Hourman, which raised some questions of its own. Hourman’s daughter? he idly wondered, though he also couldn’t help but see a resemblance to Phantom Lady.
Kent Thurston didn’t have time to study them much, since Phantom Lady herself dived at him and connected with a spinning kick to the head. She had moved so swiftly that he didn’t have time to turn invisible. Lurching backward, he caught her ankle as she aimed a second blow to his head. He shoved her backward and tackled her as she fell. They struggled furiously, and he realized that while he was stronger, she had far more combat experience due to his time in the Nazi trap.
She’s good! he thought. Really good! I guess I’ve gotten a bit rusty!
Ripping her goggles away from her head, he gasped as he recognized her as socialite Sandra Knight, daughter of old Senator Henry Knight. She punched him in the face twice, and he staggered back, but managed to trip her and follow up with an elbow to her head.
Flipping his hood over his head, he vanished from view, as did she after she cast her black-light beam over her own body. Great! he thought. I guess she can do a lot more than just cast darkness now!
As he concentrated, a female outline slowly appeared before his eyes. I can see her! he thought. Maybe there’s something about my hood that enables me to do so!
Phantom Lady was clearly unable to see him, so he had a moment to plan. I can literally see through her! he mused. I think she’s become a wraith!
Hesitating for a moment, the Hood agilely moved forward and finally delivered a stunning martial arts blow to the neck. As Phantom Lady collapsed in his arms, he lowered her to the ground.
I was able to touch her even though she had become intangible! he realized. My powers may have more applications than I ever knew before! I was able to see her after I concentrated, and I was even able to touch her, too!
Meanwhile, Magno was facing the Black Condor. Magno had always been a voracious reader, and he had studied the chronicles Klitra had provided with more thoroughness than the others, with the possible exception of the Invisible Hood. He recognized the handsome hero, and he knew what his capabilities were. The desire to keep learning had come from Tom Dalton’s sorrow over his inability to complete his own college career due to the financial hardships his late father had suffered due to losses caused by the Great Depression.
Magno ducked as the Condor swung at his head. Rolling aside, he glanced up to see the graceful man in blue soaring upward. I can follow him easily enough, he thought.
Raising his arms, he concentrated on the metallic gauntlets he wore on each wrist that acted as induction coils. Magno flew upward, only to miss the far more agile Black Condor, who dodged easily. Okay, I’m faster, but he can fly so skillfully that I can’t touch him! he thought. Well, I’ll just bring that aerial mountain to Muhammad, to use a variation of that old phrase!
As Magno concentrated, his magnetic might drew the Black Condor downward and into range of one of his magnetic bursts. The blast struck the bigger man, yet he refused to fall. The Condor was made of sterner stuff. He swung at Magno, who shielded himself with a force-field.
He is strong, but he can’t break through my field, he thought. I guess I’m going to have use more force than I wanted! I know he can’t help himself. He’s a true hero, but he’s under the spell of our would-be ruler!
Magno drew the Black Condor closer by using his power to attract the metal in the hero’s belt, connecting with a stunning punch that knocked the hero out. I hated to do that, but I think if I had hesitated, he might very well have found some way to beat me! he thought as he bent over to check the fallen hero’s vital signs. To his credit, he never once used that strange-looking pistol he carries in his belt holster. I’m sure I would’ve been hard-pressed to stop it — whatever it can do!