The Reliance, #7

Fire and Ice, Part 1

The brutal death of Chronos has left the team sobered and wiser. Each team member has dealt with the grief in their own way, some escaping to work and some simply retreating inside themselves.

Looking for a new start, The Reliance re-establishes headquarters in the slowly growing Coast City. Nick-named "Ghost" City for its considerable emptiness, the core population sits at close to 1 million and is slowly but steadily growing, with room enough for 6 million before more real estate development is required.

The Reliance has chosen to re-examine their mission and team goals in light of recent events. Although they greatly value opportunities to improve the lives of citizens, they've come to realize that this goal cannot take priority over stopping the forces of evil that will only cause more destruction if left unchecked.

With headquarters established in a brand-new unused firehouse, the team spends every waking moment outside of their civilian duties, watching and waiting, determined to subdue the forces of evil wherever they may appear.
It wasn't long before the forces of evil came to them.

S.T.A.R. Labs biological research scientist, Thomas Typson, staggared to the doorstep of The Reliance HQ, begging for help. Hot on his heels were 3 pursuers, one of whom possessed electrical powers that easily destroyed the front door and nearly the scientist himself. Luckily, Surge quickly became aware of the situation from the top floor and managed to shock the intruders into submission before any more harm could be done.

After being awakened and rejuvinated some by the life-giving energies of Candice (now called Phanuel while working with the Reliance) the weary scientist pleaded for the heroes to make their way to S.T.A.R. Labs and stop the criminals that he saw there.

Not wanting to leave the captured criminals and wounded scientist alone, The Reliance calls for police and ambulence assistance. Phanuel takes the three prisoners into the equipment vault of their headquarters. Through mystical fear and intimidation, Phanuel pulled some information out of her captured victims:

They were hired by a man they do not know to follow Typson. Typson saw them breaking into S.T.A.R. Labs and so they had to "silence" him.
One of the thugs observed that they've known George, the perp with electrical powers, for awhile, and he didn't used to have these electrical abilities. Once they captured Typson, they were to bring him back to the Lab, where the others are.

Amidst this interrogation, police and a camera crew arrived (filming "Cops") and spent their time focusing mostly on Iron Hand. Iron Hand did his best to handle the situation, but let Phanuel's civilian first name slip twice when referring to her. Given that this was caught on camera, Phanuel will no doubt have to deal with the consequences eventually.

Soon the team was once again ready for action. Taking Dr. Typson's security clearance card, The Reliance quickly heads out to the laboratory, hoping that they aren't too late.