The Reliance, #4

Prologue-
Road Warrior found himself separated from the team, the possible victim of alien abduction. It would appear that the mysterious origins of his powers will be discovered after learning more about his captors. However he couldn't help but feel that he is someone's "experiment", a prototype design for some sinister agenda.


Flashback-
Alex Noir made it to his meeting with Bruce Wayne with plenty of time to spare. The meeting was a great success, and Mr. Wayne couldn't have been more pleased with the work Alex has done. However, the billionaire playboy seemed to be probing Alex with his words as he introduced the topic of "Iron Hand" and the similarities between his armor and the armor Alex is "designing" for WayneTech. Alex can't be sure if Bruce Wayne suspects something, or if he already knows, but he was under the distinct impression that his employer wasn't being altogether straight-forward with him.


The King Of Crime, Part 2
Surge, determined not to let Mirror Master out of his sight, elected to stay at the police station and watch the prisoner.
Candice tried to determine the mystical workings of the Scottsman's equipment, but to no avail.
Realizing the need for assistance on this case, Candice took up Iron Hand on his offer to be brought on should back-up be required.


After some clever word-play and manipulation of packaging labels, Alex managed to secure funds and clearance for a super-sonic WayneTech jet to bring both him and Road Warrior (along with Iron Hand's armor) to Central City.


With little time to spare before a potential criminal act, Alex put his brilliant mind to work in an effort to choose the event most likely to be sabatoged by criminals. Statistically, the outdoor concert seemed a more likely target and so the team headed out to the location, ready for the unknown. Though not as ready as they may have liked.


Forty-five minutes before the concert, the orchestra was warming up, and hundreds of other anxious audience members were claiming their seats. As The Reliance arrived on scene, as if on cue from the conductor, all sound was swallowed in silence and the ground beneath the park began to tremble. With a taunting sneer, the Pied Piper mocked the heroes and used sonically induced hypnotism to turn the crowd into rage-filled zombies, intent on thrashing the heroes.


Before The Reliance had time to strategize against ONE powerful villain, a sniper shot catches Road Warrior square in the chest, instantly rendering him unconscious and at death's door. While Candice attacks with a blast of magic that The Piper shrugs off, Iron Hand speeds his wounded friend out of harm's way until he is healed, though still partially injured, a moment later by Candice.


Iron Hand, after taking a harmless shot to the side of his head, analyzes the area and locates the sniper, the mercenary assassin known as Deadshot. Even a successful shot to Iron Hand's eye-piece proves ineffectual against its brilliant design. In a burst of speed he flies to the trees the villain takes cover in, but misses him as Deadshot nimbly rolls and lands on the ground away from the metallic juggernaut.


Candice unleashes angelic dread, freezing both Piper and Deadshot in their tracks.
Following up with another mystical attack, Candice makes the Pied Piper fall down for the count.


A moment later, a third villain appears from behind the orchestra, covered in flames that he manipulates into whatever useful object he desires.
Once again, Iron Hand's magnificent armor ignores the lethal attack of flames, while Road Warrior snuffs the villain's fire, stealing it for himself.


The weakened villain uses his last reserves of power to fly off at an incredible speed, making him impossible to follow.
Deadshot, however is captured by giant hands of fire produced by the empowered Road Warrior. Although he temporarily shoots his way out of Road Warrior's novice construct, the Warrior follows up with a massive "boot of fire" to Deadshot's escaping backside, sending him flying halfway across the park and leaving him broken and near death.


Candice, recognizing that an "eye for an eye" can be fun but non-conducive to hero work, quickly healed Deadshot into a stable but unconscious state.
The crowd and orchestra are in shock, recovering from an ordeal that they cannot understand.


Meanwhile, the clock is ticking as somwhere an "ice cold drink" will soon be enjoyed, while the city's largest diamond is at risk of theft.