Black Lightning and Static #5

Robert Hawkins was frozen. He was in a familiar place, surrounded by familiar people, but he still felt alone. His vision was blurry, but one by one the people in the room came into focus. One of the figures was Jefferson Pierce, a longtime friend, also known as the superhero Black Lightning.

“Jeff, you gotta help me here. I can't move.” Robert said.

“Sorry pal, but I've got too much going on in my own life right know.” Jeff responded. “I have no purpose, nothing feels right. Y'know, if you hadn't abandoned me years ago I might still be keeping my sanity, but now...I don't know Black Lightning works without Gear on the team.”

“But you have that new kid, Static.” Robert noticed the young hero Static appear in front of him as he said this. “You can help me, right? I've never met you, but if Jeff trusts you, that's enough for me.”

“You really haven't figured it out yet, have you? Too wrapped in your high end job to pay attention to what I've been doing.” Static replied.

“What are you talking about? I don't know you. You do remind me of--” Robert's vision allowed another person into his vision. “Virgil! Son, help me out here.”

“Dad, you haven't even been around that much over the past few weeks. Don't you know that I've had a lot of stress after the Big Bang? I want to help my friends, they need me.” Virgil said to his father.
“Virgil, I need you. I've made a big mistake and I need your help.”

The figures began to blur again and Robert found himself alone again. Something was still there though. First it’s a voice then a man, then tables and lab equipment. Robert then realized where he was in Alva Lab’s.

“I remember what happened.” He whispered to himself as he looked around and saw that he was tied to a chair.

“Good for you.” The voice responded. In front of him was Dr. Neal Emerson, or as he referred to himself not long ago, Polaris. The man let out a chuckle.

“Oh how the mighty have fallen.” He paced back and forth before the drowsy Robert Hawkins.

“Graduating at the top of your class, and designing for the “hot superheros” of Star City. Now look at you, a broken shell of a man who can't even provide for his family. I was informed that your son was shot during a drive-by. That must have been what led you into a job that paid more. It's unfortunate that you couldn't keep your mouth shut long enough to create a good life for you and your loved ones.”

“I won't let you do this. It could kill so many people, for what a science experiment?” Robert mumbled.

“Science experiments please give me more credit than that. This could be revolutionary. What if we could figure a way to manufacture this chemical? Think of how much could be profited off of selling superpowers.”

“So it's about the money.”

“For Alva, sure but while I need cash to fund my endeavors, my interest is in the advancement of science. I could be remembered in history forever for creating this, this world changing drug. I will be the catalyst for evolution.”

“You won't get away with this, I've seen things, and before long someone will find me.”

“Oh Robert haven't you learned anything from dealing with Alva...?”

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Virgil Hawkins shut yet another cardboard box and put next to all the rest in the main room of his house. He had been doing the same task for days as the family prepared to move out. He looked up to the light fixture and noticed something.

“Hey mom, we're bringing this guy, right?” He yelled to his mom in the other room. Jean Hawkins rolled her wheelchair into the room.

“What are you talking about Virgil?”

“Him.” He pointed up to a superhero action figure hanging from the light on a clear string. “I remember when you first put it up there; I was convinced he was flying. But then there was that one day he fell off.”

“You were devastated. Why would you still want to keep it?”

“Even after it fell and you put it back up with that string, I still convinced myself that it was flying. I always hoped one day the string would break and it would still be up there. I guess it was like something that gave me hope that someday I could do something great like that.”

“Oh Virgil.”

His mother began to tear up a little when Virgil noticed a news report on the TV.

'...on the Star City bridge, with three bang babies holding the cars hostage and demanding the other bang baby gang, The Heat...'

“Uh, I almost forgot, I need to be somewhere.” Virgil said.

“Where are you going?”

“I've gotta say goodbye to some friends.”

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Static stood on a manhole, hovering high up in the air. Even from far away he could see the damage coming from the bridge. As he approached, a car came flying his way. He quickly grabbed it with a field of electricity and lowered it to the ground.

Was that Chris? He thought. As much as I hoped that he wasn't affected by this, or didn't return to his old habits, I had to figure that he would be at the forefront of this thing.

He finally made it to the bridge to see the Bangers all causing destruction and yelling for The Heat. He noticed a familiar face, Spinner, pointing at objects and creating small whirlwinds. On the opposite side of the bridge was a large teen, evidently made of rock or another hard substance, hurling cars and smashing the ground. In the middle was what he had feared seeing, Chris was directing the whole operation. He was raising his arms in the air, an action that was quickly followed by crystal formations piercing out from under the ground. Static flew towards him.

“Hey!” Spinner spotted him flying and whipped his arms over towards Static. Static felt a gust push him, almost making him fall off of the manhole. “Which side are you on?”

“I'm on my own side.” He said, shooting electricity at him. “Go home Spinner.”

“The name's...Spin Cycle.” He said as he staggered around out of breath.

While Spinner was recovering he quickly made his way to Chris. The rock creature saw Static from the other side and began running to Chris.

“Stand down Igneous.” Chris waved his hand up. “You're Static, that kid from TV.”

“Chris, it's me--”

“Virgil!” Static was interrupted by Hot Streak. He arrived on the scene holding the unconscious body of Spinner and accompanied by Puff and Lickety Split.

“Virgil? You're Static?” Chris said.

“As much as I want to see this reunion, we have some unfinished business.” Hot Streak threw Spinner's body into a small crowd of people. “All of us.”

“Chris do not do this.” Static pleaded.

“I'm sorry V, but you need to pick a side or get out of my way.” Chris responded as he made his way towards Hot Streak. Before he could get far, Static grabbed him and slammed him into a car.

“I can't let you do this again Chr--” Static paused and he was lifted into the air. When turned around, he was face to face with Igneous.

“So you are betraying us again Virgil?” It said in a low, gritty voice.

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I'm upside down. I'm in the air. I'm falling. Static rubbed his eyes to see that was in fact falling towards the ground from up in the sky. That's right; the rock guy threw me up here after swinging me around his head like I was a shirt. He pointed his hands towards the bridge, specifically, a car door. With a pulling motion, he ripped the door off and gradually put it under his body. As he hovered above, he saw that Igneous had turned his back to him.

“Hey Rocky!” He yelled as he charged towards the creature. “I'm not done with you.

“Back for more? That's good, I wanna see if I can break my record and get you into the clouds.” Igneous said, smashing his gigantic fist into the other hand.

Before Static reached the monster, he pulled up on the door, using it as a shield, and rammed into him. Igneous was knocked to the ground with Static on top of him.

“What the—you hurt me!” Igneous said as he looked down to see molten lava dripping out of crack in his torso.

“Yeah, well, I hurt myself too, I guess we're even.” Static said rubbing his head. Before Igneous could get up, Static ripped the hood of a van off and covered him with it. The rock creature was pinned.

While Igneous stayed trapped in the metal, yelling obscenities and death threats, Static scanned the area. Chris was fending off Puff and Hot Streak, while there was no sign of—

“Lickety Split.” Faster than Static could say his name, the speedster rushed past him and push him onto the ground.

“You remember me? I'm flattered.” Split chuckled.

“I don't have time for you.”

“Oh? Well I've got plenty of time for you. Ever since my feet went into fast forward, it's been like my life is in slow motion. I have all the time in the world.”

“Split!” Static pointed his finger at Split. Split readied himself to dodge an attack.

“Heh you think you can just shoot electricity at me? I'll dodge it. Easy.” He said, playing off his edginess.

“No. I just wanted to tell you to duck.” Static pulled his arm in and a car door slammed into Split, knocking him unconscious. “This is crazy coming from me but, you talk way too much.”

Static flew over to the other end of the bridge as Chris was still fighting off Puff. Every time she took human form, he quickly form crystals in her location. Puff dodged and went into gas form, evading all of his attacks. Hot Streak finally decided to jump in.

“Okay, this has gone on long enough.” He pushed Puff aside. “Go home baby, I don't need you here anymore.”

“But--” Puff reached out to him and he shot back a glare. She broke up into a cloud and drifted away.

“Now there will be no more interruptions just you, and me.” Hot Streak said in a stare down with Chris.

“You've had this coming a long time Francis.” Chris responded.

“Speaking of long time.” Static lowered himself down in front of the two. “That's exactly what both of you are gonna be doing.”

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“Please Chris; it doesn't have to be like this!” Static yelled out. Hot Streak was on the ground, knocked off of his feet seconds ago. Chris was creating large crystals out of the ground and slamming them into Static, who was flying around dodging them.

“First you rat us out, now you're practically on your knees crying. When are you gonna grow up Virgil?” Chris yelled. He created a wall and blocked off Static as Hot Streak ran over to him. Hot Streak's hands burned with fire. Chris slammed his fists into the ground. As he did this, crystals formed over his hands. When he released them from the ground, his hands were covered in rock hard shells. Chris caught Hot Streak off guard with a punch to the gut. Hot Streak's armor protected him from most of the pain, but he still was taken back a few steps. Hot Streak shot fire into Chris' fists, but it was just deflected.

Static showed up from coming around the large structures. He shot electricity at Hot Streak and Chris at the same time. Chris pulled up a crystal to block the shot, and Hot Streak dove away from it. Chris grabbed a car and threw it at Static. Static noticed the people still inside of it and carefully absorbed most of the velocity and gently lay the car down.

Hot Streak shot another burst of fire at Chris while he wasn't looking.

“Chris!” Static yelled out. Alert to the fire, Chris held up his hands and it was deflected into a car. The car quickly began to burn.

“Chris, I don't want to fight. Look at all these people on the bridge. They don't deserve this. Just come in with me, we'll straighten this all out.” Static pleaded.

“All these years, I knew you were soft. But I thought you'd grow to be a great man a leader. Someone inspirational, you know? I never thought you'd be a coward.”

“Chris, I'm a better man than you'll ever be.” Static ripped the hoods off of two cars and wrapped them around Chris and Hot Streak. “Now, let's take this to my level and talk.” He flew up in the air with the two close to him.

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With Chris and Hot Streak wrapped up in metal, Static stood on his manhole high above the bridge.
“Now, are we going to be able to settle down and talk like this?”

“I have nothing to say to you V. You betrayed me--” Chris said as Static interrupted him.

“No, I was nothing but loyal to you. You betrayed me by draggin' me into that gang war. That's what started all of this. This is a pointless feud.”

“What do you know Virgil? You never saw it from our point of view; you don't have the same fire running through your veins. You're soft.” Hot Streak yelled. Static shot a jolt of electricity into his face and Hot Streak received a small shock.

“That's enough out of you for now.” He returned his attention back to Chris. “When are you going to realize that nothing good can come from this violence?”

“When are you going to realize that you can't help me?” Chris kicked his shoe off into Hot Streak's face. Angered, Hot Streak began struggling and Static lost control of his hold on Chris. Chris fell down to the ground and Static flew after him.

Static was closing in on Chris, but he couldn't gain enough speed to catch him. I could drop Hot Streak and catch him he thought. But that would kill him as much as this pains me...

Before he hit the ground, a large crystal flew up and engulfed Chris' body. Static lowered himself and looked all over. There was no sign of Chris.

“Wherever you are Chris, I'm always gonna try to hold you up. Someday I'll get you to fly.” Static spoke under his breath. “I hope you were worth holding onto Francis.” He looked over and saw that Hot Streak was free.

“You must not have been paying attention Virgil. Listen, you took out a banger and one of my guys, let's just call it even today and finish this dance some other time. I think I'm about to burn out.” Static began to charge him. “Oh, speaking of which.” Hot Streak shot fire at multiple cars with people in them. “You've got a fire to put out.”

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“This is Angela McDonald reporting from Channel 19 news.” She said frantically holding the microphone while running towards the bridge. “We're on the scene of a recent Bang Baby fight on the Star City Bridge. Our helicopters have reported seeing the teen hero, Static, taking down many of them. Right now he is carrying the remaining citizens who were in the middle of this disaster. We have with us a survivor of this terrible incident.” She handed the mike to a man standing next to her. He sported burn marks and bruises on his face.

“It was nuts. Here I was in the middle of this battle between three of them, when this kid picks up my car and throws it.”

“What happened?”

“That Static kid caught me. I saw his face, looked like he was moving a mountain, but he kept on pushing until I was safe on the ground. Then after that I--”

“There he is now! Static!” The reporter yelled out as she ran up to him. Static walked off of the bridge with his coat over his shoulder. Sweat was pouring down his face, his clothes were torn, and every time he moved he winced in pain.

“Hey Angela, it's nice to see a pretty face after so much ugliness.” He smiled, and then rubbed his bruised shoulder.

“That's very nice of you. I'm sure you have a lot to say about this.”

Static bent over to catch his breath and stood back up.

“Sorry, but I'm just really damn tired, so any other questions are gonna have to be asked in some sort of private interview. Let me know when we can have dinner Angie.”

“Ahem.” Angela cleared her throat, blushing. “We'll have to talk more about that some other time. For now, on behalf of Star City I'd like to thank you. I know a lot of people are grateful for what you've done today. It's too bad those bang babies had to destroy the bridge and the star on top of it that has guided people for so long.”

“Y'know, that's just the thing.” Static said looking up at the shattered remains of the Star that once stood on top of the bridge. “Those guys aren't horrible people, they're just misguided. But if KRS-ONE and Marley Marl can come together after all these years of beef, then the bridge is never over. Yes, that's an old school hip hop reference for all you kids out there listening to the garbage on TV and the radio today.” The reporter met Static's comment with a confused look. “Look, I think I can do something about the star. I can understand the need of something to give you direction and hope.”

Static flew up to the top of the bridge. He grabbed pieces of metal, formed a star with them, and set it in place of what had once been there. He then flew away holding up a peace sign to the camera.

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Back inside, Robert walked downstairs to see Virgil.
“Hey dad it’s been a while since I've seen you.”

“I know Virgil. That's going to change though. I quit that job with Alva.”

“That's for the best, right? It didn't seem like a good fit for you anyway. I'll go tell mom to start unpacking.”

“We're still moving. I'm going to get a job at a hospital closer to our neighborhood, but money's gonna be tight. We might need you to get a job, and one that will actually make money.”
Virgil opened his eyes wide.

“So you know about--”

“Someday we'll talk about it, but for now I just want you to know how proud I am of what you're doing. We'll leave it at that for now.” Virgil embraced his dad in his arms.

“Thanks dad.”

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