AGONY'S GAMBIT: Issue 1, Chapter 1

Lincoln Township, Freedom City, Massachusetts.
Now.

Nine Lives took the corner hard onto Calhoun Street, wrenching the wheel around as tires shrieked on the pavement. He gathered acceleration as he shot towards the intersection at Warren Way. The traffic light ahead of him turned red. Far too late, he slammed on the brake and scraped the nose of his car on the pavement. Sparks flew out. The dented sedan fishtailed out of control, and it took a deft spin of the steering wheel to take it through a 3600 skid and leave it stopped right underneath the light.

Strobing blue flashed behind him, and a siren briefly wailed like a cat in heat. A motorcycle cop, taking advantage of Freedom City's unseasonably warm weather.

The traffic signal overhead turned green as the Freedom City police officer got off her cycle and sauntered up to the driver's side window. Nine Lives stayed put. He squinted slightly as she shone her powerful flashlight through the broken window into his eyes.

"All right, sir, step out of the car. That was the worst driving I've ever. . . oh! Nine Lives!"

"Good evening, officer."

She swallowed. "Good evening, sir. I'm sorry to have pulled you over. I didn't recognize this incarnation of the crime cruiser. I thought you had a different car."

"I did. I found out the hard way that the dealer warrantee didn't cover thrown girders."

"Ah." The police officer removed the beam of her flashlight from his eyes, and leaned over to touch one of the dents. The traffic light turned red again.

"But not a problem at all, officer. . ." Nine Lives squinted at her name badge. ". . . Brandt. I have nothing but respect for you and the FCPD. You make my job much, much easier." He smiled a friendly grin. She smiled back, flattered in spite of herself.

"Are you on your way to a crime, sir?"

"Not this time, Officer." His gaze turned inwards slightly, as if remembering something. "I've got a meeting scheduled with some old friends. Call it a reunion."

"Well, don't let me keep you, sir. Good hunting. And nice work stopping AxeBlade last week."

"Thanks, officer. He's better off behind bars, far away from anything sharp. Take care."

Officer Brandt stepped away from the crime cruiser just as the light turned green again. Nine Lives floored the accelerator, and the battered car careened at top speed down Calhoun towards Southside. He hadn't seen some of the former members of Code-4 in five years, and he was looking forward to it. He was looking forward to hearing what the government agent from AEGIS had to say.

It was going to be interesting.