-The Dock-
The air was crisp, with the salty tang of the ocean filling the quiet dock as the sun began to set. Wally, now donning his red suit, leaned casually against a crate, his arms crossed as he watched Nick Fury pace nearby. His impatience was evident as he glanced at Fury, then back at the horizon where the water shimmered under the fading light.
Wally: So... what exactly are we waiting for?
Fury stopped his pacing, turning to face Wally with his usual stern expression.
Nick Fury: A friend.
Wally raised an eyebrow under his mask, clearly unimpressed with the vague answer.
Wally: That's it? A friend? We're just standing here twiddling our thumbs for some "friend"?
Before Fury could respond, the low hum of an approaching engine drew their attention. A sleek yacht glided toward the dock, its polished exterior gleaming in the fading sunlight. It slowed to a stop, and a gangplank extended smoothly to the dock.
From the yacht emerged a well-dressed man in his 40s, exuding a confident yet approachable demeanor. His dark suit was sharp but casual enough to suggest he was no stranger to action. He stepped onto the dock with a grin, his eyes immediately locking onto Fury.
Jimmy Woo: Long time no see, Fury. Look old at all?
Nick Fury allowed himself a rare smirk, stepping forward to shake Jimmy Woo's hand firmly.
Nick Fury: Same to you, old friend. Still running those undercover gigs, I see.
Jimmy Woo: You know me always keeping busy. So, what's the big deal that dragged me out here?
Fury turned, gesturing toward Wally, who stood there with his arms crossed and a playful grin under his mask.
Nick Fury: Here, I want you to meet someone. This here's Wally West. But you can call him "Red Runner." and Wally this is James "Jimmy" Woo.
Jimmy Woo froze mid-handshake, staring at Wally as though he'd just told him the worst joke he'd ever heard.
Jimmy Woo: Red Runner? That's the worst and trashiest codename I've ever heard in my life.
Wally threw his hands up in mock offense, groaning dramatically.
Wally: Oh, come on! Why does everyone keep saying that? It's catchy!
Jimmy Woo chuckled, patting Wally on the shoulder as he sized him up.
Jimmy Woo: Catchy? Sure. But "Red Runner" sounds like a soda brand, not a hero name.
Wally sighed, clearly outnumbered but still holding onto his stubborn pride.
Wally: Well, it's staying, so you'd better get used to it, pal.
Jimmy Woo turned back to Fury with a grin.
Jimmy Woo: This kid always this full of himself?
Nick Fury: Pretty much.
Nick Fury: Enough about the name. Jimmy, we've got a problem. I'm going to need your help on this one.
Jimmy's humor faded, replaced by the sharp focus of an experienced operative.
Jimmy Woo: If it's big enough for you to call me in, it must be serious. What's the situation?
Nick Fury glanced at Wally, his tone turning grim.
Nick Fury: A rogue ex-agent, Marco Mardon, better known now as Weather Wizard. He's planning something, and it's bad. Wally here is part of the solution.
Jimmy looked back at Wally, this time with genuine interest.
Jimmy Woo: All right, Red Runner, let's see if that name of yours holds up in the field.
Wally smirked, feeling a bit vindicated.
Wally: Don't worry, I'll make sure it does.
Jimmy Woo stood near the entrance, gesturing toward the open doorway leading further inside.
Jimmy Woo: Alright, Red Runner, get inside. My team's waiting, and we've got some planning to do.
He turned to step in, expecting Wally to follow, but as he glanced back, the space where Wally had been standing was empty. Woo froze, his brow furrowing as he scanned the dock and the deck of the yacht.
Jimmy Woo: What the heck? Where'd he go?
Behind him, Nick Fury casually walked by, his hands clasped behind his back. Without breaking stride, he spoke in his usual calm yet sarcastic tone.
Nick Fury: Superspeed, Jim. Superspeed.
Jimmy Woo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he muttered to himself.
Jimmy Woo: Great. Another speedster with zero patience like Quicksilver. Just what I needed.
Meanwhile, inside the yacht, Wally was already lounging on a couch in the main room, casually flipping through a file he'd swiped from a nearby desk.
Wally: Hey, guys, nice digs. So, where's the snacks?
Woo entered moments later, shaking his head as he saw Wally grinning like he hadn't just vanished on him.
Jimmy Woo: You know, you could've waited two seconds like a normal person.
Wally: Normal? Mr. Nice Guy, I'm a guy in a red suit who outruns bullets. "Normal" doesn't exactly come with the territory.
Woo rolled his eyes but couldn't hide a faint smile as he motioned for Wally to follow him deeper into the yacht.
Jimmy Woo: Alright, hotshot, let's meet the team. And for the love of everything, try to stay in one place for five minutes.
The conference room was well-furnished with a long table, holographic projectors, and monitors displaying various tactical maps and schematics. Four figures were gathered around the table, chatting casually but with an air of readiness.
The room was alive with activity, each member of Jimmy Woo's team occupying themselves in their own way. Sam Wilson, aka Falcon, leaned against the wall, arms crossed, scanning a holographic tablet. Monica Rambeau, aka Photon, adjusted the settings on a glowing device. Clarice Ferguson, aka Blink, sharpened a small knife with effortless focus, while Greer Nelson, aka Tigra, lounged on a couch, flicking her tail lazily.
Jimmy Woo entered with Wally, his voice cutting through the room.
Jimmy Woo: Alright, team, meet our new recruit: Wally West, aka... Red Runner.
Tigra snorted a laugh.
Tigra: Red Runner? Who let that name pass?
Wally ignored her, his gaze immediately locking onto Blink.
Wally: Clarice?
Blink looked up, startled. Her green eyes widened as recognition dawned.
Blink: Wally?
Jimmy Woo looked between them, his curiosity piqued.
Jimmy Woo: You two know each other?
Wally: Yeah, we go way back. Clarice was one of my friends at the X-Mansion. Before, uh, I got my powers.
Blink smirked, twirling her knife.
Blink: And here I thought you'd fallen off the map. Speed suits you.
Before Wally could respond, Falcon cut in, his tone all business.
Falcon: Alright, Jimmy, what's the mission?
Jimmy Woo held up a hand, signaling for everyone to calm down.
Jimmy Woo: The target is Marco Mardon, but not today. Not right now.
Wally frowned, stepping forward.
Wally: What do you mean, "not today"? He's dangerous he's already hurt people.
Jimmy Woo turned to Wally, his expression steady but firm.
Jimmy Woo: Listen, Wally. I don't take orders from Nick Fury. I'm a former agent, and I don't share Fury's tactics of capturing people just because they're "a threat." In my division, you're free to act, free to decide. You don't have to follow orders blindly. You can do anything you want as in anything. Do you understand?
Wally paused, absorbing Jimmy's words. He glanced around the room, meeting the eyes of each team member, then back at Jimmy.
Wally: Anything, huh?
Jimmy Woo: Anything. Just don't screw it up.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Wally's mouth.
Wally: Alright, Jimmy you have my respect.
Tigra stretched lazily, her tail swishing behind her, before casually leaning forward on the couch.
Tigra: So, from what Falcon said, what's our mission, Jimmy?
Jimmy Woo stepped toward the center of the room, activating a hologram on his wrist device. A 3D image of Savage Island appeared, but it wasn't the lush, tropical haven it was known to be. The entire island was encased in thick sheets of ice, the once vibrant greenery buried beneath a crystalline white.
The room fell silent, the weight of the revelation sinking in.
Photon: Oh no... Shanna.
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried a tremor of anguish. She stood abruptly, her glowing aura sparking faintly with emotion.
Falcon's brow furrowed as he stared at the frozen image, his usual calm demeanor giving way to concern.
Falcon: Jimmy, what happened to Savage Island?
Jimmy Woo exhaled deeply, folding his arms.
Jimmy Woo: It seems the entire island has been frozen over by one person.
Photon's eyes blazed as she stepped closer, fists clenched.
Photon: Who? Who would dare do this to Shanna's homeland?
Jimmy hesitated before responding, his tone heavy.
Jimmy Woo: Blizzard.
The name hung in the air like a curse. Tigra's casual attitude vanished as her ears flattened, her sharp claws flexing instinctively.
Tigra: Blizzard? Isn't he some second-rate villain with a cold gimmick?
Jimmy Woo: Not anymore. He's upped his game. If this is anything to go by, he's stronger than ever. And he's not working alone.
Falcon shook his head, pacing as he processed the news.
Falcon: This isn't just about the island. If Blizzard has a team, this could be a coordinated strike. Shanna could be in real trouble.
Photon's voice was sharper now, tinged with anger and urgency.
Photon: Jimmy, we need to move now. If Shanna's there, she's in danger. And we can't let this slide.
Jimmy Woo nodded, though his expression remained cautious.
Jimmy Woo: I understand, but we need more intel before diving in. Blizzard may have turned Savage Island into his stronghold. If we're not careful, we could walk straight into a trap.
Jimmy Woo stood at the head of the room, his hologram of Savage Island still glowing as he paced back and forth. The team was gathered around, their attention sharp as he outlined the mission.
Jimmy Woo: Alright, listen up. We'll be splitting into three teams for this operation, each with a specific objective. Timing and coordination are key here, so pay attention.
He pointed to the hologram, highlighting a sector of the island.
Jimmy Woo: First team: Red Runner and Blink. Your job is to infiltrate Savage Island and locate Blizzard. Your primary objectives are to arrest him and rescue the Queen of the Savage Land:Shanna and her family. With Red Runner's speed and Blink's teleportation, you'll have the mobility to get in and out quickly. Blink, if things go south, open a portal and get your team out immediately.
Blink nodded, her expression serious as she glanced at Wally, who gave a playful smirk.
Wally: Fast and flashy, huh? Got it.
Blink: Just don't trip over your ego, Wally.
Jimmy smirked faintly but quickly moved on, pointing to another area of the hologram.
Jimmy Woo: Second team: Photon and Falcon. You two will be our eyes in the sky. Scout the island from above and provide intel on enemy movements. If things go bad on the ground, you're the backup. Photon, your energy powers might come in handy to cut off any reinforcements.
Photon: Understood. We'll make sure they stay grounded if they try anything.
Falcon: We've got this covered, Jimmy.
Jimmy's tone turned more cautious as he focused on the last detail of the plan.
Jimmy Woo: Third team: Tigra and me. We'll remain on the yacht, observing the operation and coordinating from a safe distance. Tigra's instincts will help us keep track of any unexpected developments.
Tigra leaned back in her seat, her tail flicking lazily.
Tigra: So I'm on babysitting duty with you, huh? Fine by me. Someone has to make sure the cat stays out of the chaos.
Jimmy gave her a knowing look, then addressed the group as a whole.
Jimmy Woo: This isn't just another mission. The Savage Land is a unique environment, and Blizzard's actions have escalated the threat level. Remember, our priority is to bring everyone home safe including Shanna and her family. Are we clear!
The team responded with nods and murmurs of agreement, the weight of the task settling over them. Wally, despite his usual bravado, seemed more focused now.
Wally: Don't worry, Jimmy. Blink and I will handle this. Blizzard won't know what hit him.
Blink: Let's just make sure he doesn't hit back too hard.
Jimmy Woo: Alright, people. Gear up and move out. Let's show Blizzard what happens when you mess with the Allies of Savage Land.
NEXT ISSUE: SAVAGE ISLAND