ISSUE #52

After each of the Hellions had their chance to enjoy their trial run, the Kingmaker had them all summoned back to his headquarters where they would be forced to either make the choice to go forward with the deal or back out of it.

" I was skeptical at first. But Julian... The kingmaker found my mother. He thinks he can help her move to this country." Sooraya stated.

" That's great, Sooraya. You gonna stay at the school, if she moves here?" Julian asked.

" I will have to discuss it with her. But it is my wish to do so." Sooraya explained.

for Ian, it was nice to see that Sooraya had finally been reunited with her mother, but she wasn't the only one to receive a great gift from the kingmaker. Kevin was also blessed by the kingpin.

" So, if I take this cure twice a day, my death touch is off. I'm just a normal guy!" Kevin explained to Cessily.

" You can touch anyone now, Kevin?" Cessily asked.

" Anyone at all." Kevin replied. For the first time in a very long time, Kevin seemed truly happy with his life.

" So, Kev, you gotta get started on the touchin, you know what I mean? You got options now!" Santo told the boy. He didn't mean it, but Santo often had a tendency to say whatever was on his mind, which most time ended up hurting others. In this instance Cessily.

" Excuse me, guys. I need to... Go... For a sec. Tell the Kingmaker I'll be right back." Cessily spoke.

" Cessily...?" Kevin called out to the girl, but she ignored him.

Kevin, Julian, and Ian all turned and glared at Santo.

" What'd I say?" Santo asked.

" You idiot." Julian exclaimed. He went to get up, but Ian stopped him.

" Nah, Julian, I got it." Ian told the boy.

" You sure man?" Julian asked.

" Yeah, let me go." Ian hopped to his feet and jogged out of the room after Cessily.

When Ian found her sitting at a bench by a streetlight, he was surprised how far the woman got in such little time.

" You alright, Cess?" Ian asked the girl.

" Look... I'm happy for Kevin. Really." Cessily told the man.

" I know you are. But it was kinda nice when you were the only one, he could touch, huh?" Ian asked the girl.

" A little bit... Yeah." Cessily replied. " But that makes me a terrible person, Ian."

" No, it doesn't. It makes you a girl with a crush. And I'm sorry he doesn't get that. You're a very beautiful young lady." Ian told the girl.

" Thanks." Cessily replied.

" You never need to thank me, Cess. Now, how about we try talking about something good? How did your wish go?" Ian asked the woman.

" My parents... They accept me for who I am now. It's great!" Cessily explained. She seemed to be so happy about it and Ian understood, he wished his parents would do the same.

" That's great, Cess! I'm glad to hear they've finally accepted you for who you are And-"

" Well, my friends... It's time we talked." The Kingmaker spoke, cutting Ian off as he and Cessily talked.

Ian grunted and glared at the Kingmaker.

" Come on, Ian. Let's go." Cessily spoke. She was the first to get up and Ian followed after her.

Once they were back at the office, The Kingmaker brought out contracts for the group to all sign.

" Here are your contracts. It's time we put our working relationship down on paper." The Kingmaker stated.

" Hey, Kingmaker, we don't sign in blood or anything, right?" Santo asked the man as he eyed his paper.

" No, not in blood. I'm a simple businessman." The Kingmaker told the boy.

" Wait, are you kidding?" Kevin asked. " We're out of time? That's it?"

" Yes, that's it. You'll get this back once you've done me my first favor." The Kingmaker told Kevin as he dangled the cure over his face. " You've all received a wonderful test drive. But now it's time to buy the new car or get out."

" Um... Can I ask what's the first favor we'll be doing for you?" Julian raised his hand and asked the man.

" Still looking for more answers? You have to know before you sign?" The Kingmaker asked.

" Of course, that only seems fair. Wouldn't you agree?" Ian asked the man.

" Of course, it does." The Kingmaker replied. He pulled out a remote and the lights turned off and an image appeared on a screen in front of the group. " This is Genetassist. A research company. They work on the human genome project. They're a real help humanity type of outfit. My clients. They just finished up a new project. And they must have a leak, because everyone in the underworld wants it for themselves. There are a handful of dangerous groups-- Terrorist groups who may be sending people in after it. The project is not safe there anymore. Stop it from being stolen and bring it to me." The Kingmaker explained the mission to the group thoroughly. " They will likely send operatives after this. Gunmen, Thieves, nothing you can't handle. But there are also greater threats." The Kingmaker explained. Two images of costumed super-villains showed up on the screen.

The first man was wearing a purple and black suit with blue goggles.

" His name is Paladin. Real name unknown. Mercenary with Heightened strength and agility. And a stun gun, His motto: Have gun, will travel." The Kingmaker explained.

The next person was a woman in blue and purple.

" And this is Diamondback. Real name Rachel Leighton. A former member of the very dangerous serpent society. Current affiliation unknown. Uses an array of throwing diamonds." The Kingmaker explained.

" They've been hired to steal from Genetassist, and my sources say they're striking tonight. They must be stopped." The Kingmaker explained.

" But Diamondback reformed. She worked with Captain America. She became a hero!" Kevin told the man.

" Was a hero. Past tense. She's a mercenary now." The Kingmaker told the boy.

" Why?" Cessily asked.

" Who knows?" The Kingmaker replied nonchalantly. " But I do know this- Is she with Captain America anymore? No. Cessily, you're a shape shifter. You know how it is. Sometimes you can change to please people, and they just don't care. And when that fails? You're the same person you always were." The Kingmaker told the girl

" Fine... I'll do it." Cessily stated. She was the first person to sign the contract followed by the others.

" If this will get my mother to America." Sooraya spoke.

" I need that cure." Kevin stated.

" Why not? I'm a hero now. And Heroes fight Villains." Julian stated as he signed his sheet.

Santo and Brian quickly signed leaving only Ian the last remaining person.

" Come on, Mr. Sinclair. You're the only one left." The Kingmaker stated.

" Yeah, come on dude. Let's go." Julian exclaimed.

" Come on, Ian. I need that cure man." Kevin told the man.

" Please, this is my only chance to get my mother back." Sooraya spoke. Her voice was soft and full of need.

" Please, Ian." Cessily begged.

Ian knew how much this meant to each of them, and he also knew how much trouble signing this contract could cause not just for him but for all of them. But The Kingmaker was right, this may be the only chance for Kevin to have a normal life, for Cessily to be loved by her parents, and for Sooraya to finally have her mother back. He couldn't refuse them the chance to be happy. Ian sighed and signed the paper, much to his own dismay.

" Wonderful! We have a deal!" The Kingmaker looked at all of the teens and smiled. While Ian just glared at him.