Archer and the Schizos
Issue #1 - Road Trip: Birds of Gotham
Most of the heroes go to Dean Warner's office as requested, having a spirited discussion on superheroes, civil rights and sanctioning. (This sets up an impromptu meeting at the Circle with the Avengers' legal counsel, Jennifer Walters.)
The Dean has a request for the heroes. He would like them to take a road trip for their spring break, travelling to New Mexico to bring back an important sample from a scientist doing research in that area. It's all very hush-hush and the Dean doesn't want any attention drawn to this trip, but he does offer to compensate the team for their expenses ("save your receipts").
Hope contacts "Grandpa" to see if there is a vehicle she can borrow from the Avengers. Soon, her dad shows up with a
brand new vehicle that has been outfitted with various "necessities" for a cross-country road trip. In the meantime, Cady's roommate, Janis, finds out about the road trip and asks if she can hitch a ride to Gotham City. She has a one-week gig at the Iceberg Club and would like to save the money instead of paying for air fare or even bus fare. Still trying to conceal Cady's identity, they create a superhero persona for Janis: Miss-Andry. A roller derby queen of justice!
The next morning, the heroes, plus Hope's new dog, pile into the new vehicle and hit the road. "Miss-Andry" is also along and faces many questions about being a new "superhero" which Plastiq does her best to deflect.
Upon arriving in Gotham City, the heroes spot a small crowd of upset college aged women and a couple of besieged bouncers outside of the Iceberg Club. Janis finds out that the event has been canceled and the girls will only be getting the cancelation fee. Plastiq and Zoetrope get out to try to see what's going on while Ken, Hope and Michael continue down the road.
Plastiq and Zoetrope talk their way inside, with a little help from Zoetrope's powers, to meet with the boss; one Oswald Cobblepot. Normally a fastidious dresser, he seems disheveled and two pretty girls are trying to console him. Meeting the heroes, he quickly fixes himself up and explains that the spring break event that had been planned has had to be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your point of view, one of the girls blurts out that one of their friends, Jeannie, has been kidnapped. With some provoking, Cobblepot relates that the crime lord known as the Spider is trying to get a foothold in Gotham and is trying to force Cobblepot to sell the Iceberg Club, along with several other... side interests and has kidnapped one of Cobblepots "Chicks". The heroes negotiate a hefty compensation package for the girls hired for the week to be paid if the heroes successfully rescue Jeannie and put the kibosh on the Spider's plans for Gotham. Cobblepot shares the information that he gleaned that the Spider has set up a temporary headquarters in a warehouse on the docks. The heroes contact the rest of the team and plan their attack.
Scouting the warehouse, the heroes quickly find that there are several of the Spider's thugs guarding the location. However, what they were not expecting was a VIPER 8-team also guarding the location. The heroes quickly discover that the Spider has apparently made a deal with VIPER to help with moving into Gotham City. Spider's thugs are not happy about it. They also spot the supercriminal VIPER thug known as Boa Constrictor.
Using distraction and confusion, the heroes attack. Zenoscope disguises themself as one of the thugs then makes it appear that the van parked outside of the warehouse explodes and catches fire. Shrike engages Boa Constrictor who tries to smash him with a vending machine. Plastiq manages to get to Jeannie when Zoetrope creates multiple illusions of the hero and the captive. Angel sweeps in, catching up many thugs and VIPER agents in thick fungus. Hope tells Plastiq to get Jeannie to safety and to make sure she stays safe. Plastiq lifts Jeannie up onto the roof of the warehouse next to the Spider's warehouse and tells her to stay put. Plastiq then goes back in to help her teammates.
Zoetrope goes to help Shrike with Boa Constrictor. When Zoe uses their power, however, one of the versions of Boa Constrictor seems to be very badly hurt and seems to directly plead with Zoetrope to help him, but Zoetrope switches past him too fast and accidentally transforms Boa constrictor into a version that has several snake arms with venomous fangs. Hope manages to distract Boa Constrictor with a shot from across the warehouse which gives Shrike and Zoetrope the chance to take him out.
The Spider's thugs and the VIPER agents all decide that it's time to get out of there and start running to various exits. Hope blocks one exit with a wall of ice just as the Batmobile crashes in and Batman leaps out. Plastiq goes to get Jeannie and finds that she has company on top of the roof: one Harley Quinn.
Anxious to ge back on the road, the heroes depart leaving the Dark Knight and his "partner" to clean up and give the police a report on what happened.
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