Will Johnson didn't like it. At all.
This was Stormhold Penitentiary, the prison for all the so-called supervillains who either had no powers or simply weren't powerful enough to be sent to Monster Island. It was the prison facility for leg-breakers in dumb animal costumes, the geniuses who created power-suits or other kinds of high-tech weapons, and criminal masterminds with strange names and gimmicks.
Stormhold had a reputation for having cruel and malicious guards, a very violent environment and few even claimed that some of the prisoners actually ran the place, explaining the often occurring prison breaks.
But... It just seemed so... peaceful.
All the prisoners behaved. There was no conflicts between the inmates or the guards. And the corridors and yard was too clean to be true. Johnson had once been in Stormhold. Back then, it smelled like #%&@ and blood. There had been fights in the yard. Guards who gave out "lessons". And some of the inmates had their sleeves rolled up so that you could see their tattoos and gang marks.
That was one and a half year ago.
But now, the order in Stormhold reminded Johnson about the military more than anything. Actually, no. Much more orderly. Johnson noticed that all the guards and inmates had one thing in common; they were scared. They kept looking over their own shoulder, reacting on even the slightest sound.
And it was because of... HIM.
The guard locked Johnson into the cell of possibly one of the scariest men in the world. A man from a long linage of air-pirates who had been active since World War 2. A man with no real name.
A man only known as Hawk. Captain Hawk. The self-acclaimed ruler of the skies.
"Ah, Captain Johnson, isn't it?" The blond, muscular inmate who were doing yoga exercises inside the cell stood up to greet his guest. "I was afraid you would never show up."
"I take it you have been told about my visit?"
"Yes, though I was expecting it for a while now."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that I already know all about the Glory Guard initiative. Yeah, I'm sorry, I know that I'm not supposed to know the name."
"... Don't know what you are talking abo-"
"Oh, don't bother, Captain. You must realize that a man like myself has his sources. Don't let the cell and uniform fool you; I'm the only one in this prison who aren't trapped."
"Really? How come you are in this bird cage, then? Why not get out and fly to that secret sky-city of yours?"
"Oh, I don't HAVE a secret city. I told the interrogators that hundreds of times. But... If I had one... let's say that I do, just for the sake of the argument... then I would be pretty stupid to bail and return to it, so that I can be tracked down, and the people of the ground can steal my technology. But that's not the case here. I simply live here because it's free, and also to keep the order in this prison. ANOTHER thing you ground-people apparently can't manage. And that's a long list."
"Why do you care about the order in a prison? You are an anarchist."
"No, I do believe in order. Very much, in fact. Just not the one you ground people have." There was that word again; ground people. According to his file, Hawk had little to no respect to any laws but his own. A flying Nemo, of a sort. "I don't care how these vermin broke the law. I only care about all those innocent people they have harmed."
"Rich, coming from someone who has rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest criminal organizations in the world."
"Temporarily alliances, nothing more. Alliances I had to make because of all those flying superhero idiots. And I usually arrange it so that they get their just desert."
"You are a hypocrite."
"Now, now Captain. Not a great way to try and make me join your band of super-friends, is it now?"
One weekearlier...
"Sir... permission to speak freely?"
"Please do Johnson, I like honesty."
Will Johnson had been called to Washington, to the office of Frank Martin, the director of the SHA. He was about to go through the folder that explained the Glory Guard Initiative.
"... This group you want me to lead... their criminal background aside, I just don't see them as a very well-working team. The team dynamics are terrible."
"Exactly."
"Sir?"
"These three women, Hawk and that... creature... We need them. They are the LEAST unstable meta-criminals I could pick. But they are still dangerous. And I will bet my pants that they will look at the GG initiative as a chance to reclaim their freedom. But they can't do that alone. They have to work together to plan a way to escape. And if they can't stand each other, well..."
"...I see..."
"And that's why THIS guy is so important." Martin pointed at the photo of Captain Hawk. "Beside the fact that he is extremely resourceful, he is also very unlikable and arrogant. None of them would want to work with him, and he wouldn't consider them as anything more than idiots."
"But how am I going to make them work together?"
"The chance to regain their freedom as well as the nanobots in their bloodstreams will be all the motivation they need."
Johnson hated the idea. But it wasn't like he had a choice. This was the only way for him to redeem himself after that disaster in Iraq.
Present day
Johnson had had about enough of this smug %¤#&. Hawk sat on his bed inside a small prison cell, yet looked like he owned the place. He smiled at Johnson, as if he had told a dumb joke.
"What reason do I have to join your Justice Team? I already told you, didn't I? I really don't care for your nation. Sure, it's far from being as bad as other countries, such as... hmm... Denmark, but I see no reason to aid America in any way."
"Oh, I have a good reason alright." Johnson had waited for this. He was finally going to give Hawk a low blow.
"Oh really?" Hawk laughed. "Please, DO share with the class."
"You will be allowed to fly."
No arrogant remarks.
"We have to change your high-tech wings' appearance, as well as your costume... but as long as you serve the Glory Guards, you will be allowed to fly again. You do miss flying, don't you?"
"..." Hawk just gave Johnson a grim look. Like he hoped that staring at him long enough would somehow make him explode. Then, he said; "Does a decapitated bird miss its wings? Does a stranded whale miss its ocean? Yes, I miss flying very much... Fine, I will join your group, Captain Johnson. But honestly? I don't see it work."
"Neither do I." Johnson replied, as he opened the suitcase he had brought. He gave Hawk a contract that he signed right away and thereby acknowledging the dangers he would face and that the government wouldn't be held responsible if he should die in service. Johnson then told him that he tomorrow would be escorted to another facility to start training. Once Johnson had left the cell, Hawk called for a guard, and asked him to escort him to the courtyard.
Once Hawk entered the yard, all the other inmates stopped whatever they were doing, and paid full attention to Hawk.
"Fellow inmates." He said with a clear voice without raising it. "I'm going to be moved to another prison facility for reasons you do not need to know. What you DO need to know is that, most likely, I will most likely return to Stormhold. I expect all of you to behave..." He then turned his head, so that he looked as the guard next to him. "... And I do mean ALL OF YOU. If I return, and I assume will, I will personally punish any troublemaker. Is that clear?"
All the inmates and guards just looked at Hawk in silence.
"Glad we understand each other." Hawk smiled. "Guard, I wish to return to my cell."
"Yes sir." The guard replied, as if he talked to his superior.
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