The Thunder

AUTHOR'S DISCLAIMER: Before I get started, there are a few things I need to get out of the way.

First, these characters are obviously not mine. They are the property of people who have a whole lot more money than I do. I'm just borrowing them, and if that is a problem, then the story can be rather easily erased and forgotten.

That said, I have tried my best to keep this story accurate with the stories we all know and love.

I'm not sure if I'll try one about Pilot joining the team, as several others have done a rather fine job with that story already. We already know a lot about the Captain and Hawk, so I'll probably leave them alone. I just thought I'd try to develop two terribly underdeveloped characters. I hope you enjoy it, and you can let me know what you think at toastman@wabash.net.

THE THUNDER - PART 1

A huge explosion. The blast throws him over the railing. He grabs the rail and holds on for dear life. A strange, yet familiar form swoops out of the sky and grabs him.

"You O.K., Jon?"

"Yeah, Matt, but..." The young man looked back at the fiery base. "...he was in there."

"I know, Jon. I know. Let's get you home"

Matt Masterson had been watching Jon for a few minutes. He wished he could do something to help his friend. He couldn't help thinking that Jon needed to let his feelings out more. Hawk was sure that sooner or later, something was going to send Jonathan Power over the edge, and heaven help everyone when that happened. He hoped Jon would stop blaming himself for his father's death. Matt knew there wasn't anything he could do, at least not now.

"Captain" Power noticed Matt standing in the doorway. He silently chastised himself for becoming distracted again. He wondered how long "Hawk" had been there. Jon didn't get a chance to ask. On the screen, the words "Incoming Message" appeared.

Power pressed the necessary buttons. The message came up on the screen.

"...almost gone. We need help! I say again, we are under attack. There are bio-mechs everywhere. Please someone help us. Our supplies are almost gone. We need help! Someone, please!"

"Mentor"

"On line, Captain"

"Where did that message come from?"

The message came from Babylon 5, a genetic research colony located in Sector 32 coordinates 4 by 8, in what used to be Chicago.

"Hawk, let's go."

Dread-heads, clickers, tin cans, he didn't care what name anybody called them. Michael hated every last one of them. He grabbed the nearest Bio-mech and used it as a shield.

"Come on, we've got to move!" Ellis knew they were moving as fast as they could, but it wasn't enough. Dread's forces were getting closer. He used the clicker's laser to blast the three that now stood in their path. Then Michael saw a metallic form flying overhead.

"Great, a party," he thought. "I wish they'd forgotten to invite us. The clickers he could handle, but Soaron, he wasn't so sure about. But he didn't have to worry for long because he then saw a blue form streaking toward the Bio-Dread. Suddenly, Soaron had other business to attend to.

Meanwhile, Michael noticed another form in gold armor blasting bio-mechs left and right while taking an occasional pot-shot at Soaron. This must be Captain Power. He'd heard the stories, just like everyone else. But he thought Captain Power was a myth, just like Eden II. He got the people to a cave, then watched the battle. Soaron was completely occupied with his current adversary. Something looked familiar about that figure in the air, but he wasn't sure exactly what it was.

Ellis turned his attention to Power, who looked like he could use some help. Some 20 to 25 Dread-heads had the Captain surrounded. Michael never could stand an unfair fight, so he grabbed another blaster and headed for Power. He snuck up behind one and tore it's head off, threw it's body at another one, then lasered 2 more. Power took out five others. By this time, "Hawk" had temporarily disable Soaron, and had joined the ground battle after taking out a couple from the air. Between the three men, the rest were quickly taken care of.

Power took off his helmet as he approached the man who had just fought with him. He took a good look at the man. He was about the same height as Jon, yet almost twice his size. He seemed both a ferocious fighter and a gentle man at the same time.

"Thanks for your help. Are your people safe?"

"For now," Michael replied "but they need to get out of here. Can you get them to safety, Captain Power?"

"Yes, we can. We can take them to the passages, they'll be safe there." Hawk had made his way over the where the two men were talking. The man Jon was talking to stirred a memory, but he couldn't place it.

Power said to the man "The way you fought just now... I've never seen anything quite like it. We could use someone like you on our team, if you're willing. What's your name?"

"Michael Ellis"

Suddenly, the memory clicked in Matt's brain. He took off his helmet and said "Tank?"

"Hawk, is that you?" Michael couldn't believe it. He hadn't seen Masterson for 10 years, during the Metal Wars. He was one of the best soldiers Ellis had been privileged to fight with.

"Tank? Tank! I don't believe it!" Matt also recognized Ellis. They exchanged greetings. Jon hated to break up the reunion, but they had to load the colonist on to the jumpship and get out now. The two friends knew it, too. They quickly loaded everyone onboard and lifted off. On the way, Hawk and Tank had a chance to catch up on the last 10 years. After they had discussed all they wanted to, Power interrupted.

"So, Tank? Have you thought about our offer."

Tank had. He knew that he would miss his friends from Babylon 5, but he also knew that he would be able to help them, and all humans, even more if he were to join Captain Power. "When can I start? Do you need a résumé?"

Power knew he was going to be glad to have this guy on the team.

THE THUNDER - PART 2

As she walked into the room, she saw what her son had been working on all day. It was the most beautiful thing she'd seen in a long time, but it also brought many painful memories. The conflicting emotions were just too much, and she began to cry. Her son looked at her and said, I'm sorry. She smiled, but she just couldn't stop crying. He was sure he'd done something wrong. His mom seemed to like the tree, but she seemed to not like it at the same time. Maybe one day he'd know what she felt.

A few days later, the BioMechs came. The boy and the other children, as well as a few adults, were hidden well enough, but they were able to see what was happening. Those machines killed most of the village. The survivors outside were too injured to run when Soaron arrived. All those who were hiding watched in horror as Soaron digitized their friends and families. Robert decided that none of this would have happened if he hadn't made that tree, and he vowed he'd never make one again.

Many years later, Robert Baker was in trouble. The resistance team he had joined was gone, killed in an ambush. He was fighting for his life. He had to get through. The information the team had gained had to be delivered, or countless others could die. But he also couldn't let the team's death be for nothing, so he fought with a fire that couldn't be quenched, almost.

Pain. A sharp pain in his right arm. He'd been hit. Robert ducked down and took a quick look at his arm. It's not that bad, he thought. He switched arms and kept firing. Then he saw it, that metal form flying through the air. He knew there wasn't much he could do on his own against this machine, but he had to try. He got a few good shots off, but his blaster was no match against a BioDread. Soaron landed about 50 feet away and started blasting. Robert's cover quickly began to disappear. He knew this was it.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a strange silver and blue figure streaked overhead. It looked human, but machine at the same time. It began firing towards Baker.

Soaron shook. The unexpected onslaught from above began reeling his metal body. Then, a gold and blue form began firing from the right. Then, the pinpricks from its former target resumed. It was beginning to overwhelm the warlord, and it logically concluded that it should leave. Then the camouflaged metal form stepped out from behind a rock and began its attack. It was finally too much, and the mighty Soaron blew apart.

Robert studied the three figures before him. The one in silver and blue had landed, and was obviously completely human. The one in camouflage looked rather menacing. And the one in gold and blue, he had a feeling he knew exactly who these people were. When one of the others called him "Captain", he knew for sure. Captain Power.

"Captain Power?" Robert had to be sure. He just couldn't believe that the legendary Captain Power and his team had just rescued him.

"Well, you seem to know my name," Power replied, "could you tell us yours?"

Jonathan Power smiled. He never ceased to be amazed at how many people knew who he was, even though they'd never seen him before. There were many stories floating around about him, some true and some so strange that he couldn't see how anyone could believe them. But if they helped to give hope to those resisting Dread's forces, then so be it.

"My name? My name is Robert Baker. Some call me Scout."

"Well, Scout, if you're ready, let's get you out of here. There's more troops on the way and we haven't got much time."

Robert was glad to get away from this place with his life, but to go with Power and his team was that much better. "Let's go."

On the jumpship, Scout met the other two members of the team. "Hawk" reminded him a little of his father, or at least he liked to think his father was like this. Baker's father had died protecting him and his mother when Robert was two years old.

And "Tank". To just look at him, you would be scared to death. He was big and strong. His form seemed to scream "BE AFRAID OF ME!" But Michael Ellis had a heart to match the size of his body. He was one of the funniest people Robert had met.

Robert helped the three men decipher the information he and his former team had gained. With this, the resistance would know what dread had planned for the next two months. The men were impressed at the skill of this young man. Jonathon also noticed something of himself in this "Scout." He had the look of one who had lost so much, but yet had even more hope for the future. Power knew that feeling so well. It was exactly what he himself felt.

"Scout" spent a few months in the Passages, but continued to work with Power's team. Jon had been considering asking Robert "Scout" Baker to join the team, but he had to be sure that he was the right person. But the more "Scout" worked with them, the more Power knew there was no question. The choice had been made. He just hoped "Scout" could live with it.

Baker had just returned from a reconnaissance mission. He learned that Dread planed to attack several settlements today. He gave his information to Power, who thanked him. Jon then asked him a question.

"Scout, would you like to join our team?"

Robert was taken completely by surprise. He had considered asking to join, but he was sure Power would never let anyone join the team. After getting over the initial shock, he felt very honored, and didn't even have to think about it. "Of course I would."

"I want you to realize, this isn't going to be easy. I know you can handle the physical side. But remember, you're going to have to stay at the base. Sometimes, the only people you see will be dead or dying. There are so many things that will be different for you. Are you sure?"

Robert knew he had made the right choice. "Captain, I am absolutely sure. This is the only way that I can have a chance to win this planet back from Dread. He has controlled things for far to long, and I want to help stop him. I have to join your team, Captain."

Jon knew for sure that this was one he had been looking for. "Scout, we're glad to have you with us. Now let's get those refugees to the passages. Then we'll get you to the Power Base and find a power suit for you.

END