Church Street Station

Posted on Mon Apr 11th, 2022 @ 9:06pm by Watch Leader Frederick Hollywood

Mission: HYDRA: Another Head Rises
Location: Orlando Florida
Timeline: Present

Frederick had decided a while back to start doing some things for himself in this world. So far they had mostly been for the enrichment of others. It hit him that there were several things in his life he still wanted to be able to say he had done before all was said and done. So he asked Aryel to scan the local timeline to see when would be the best time to show up at one of his favorite bars and be able to sit in on a set. She gave him a date just a few days off and the time traveler couldn’t help but smile.

When he entered the bar he went up to the counter with his white and gold trumpet case in hand. He sat down and asked the bartender to bring him a root beer float. This bar’s specialty was old fashioned ice cream. Frederick loved how the place was a mix between a brass German bar and some pub from the Roaring Twenties. Behind the bar was a mirror that stretched all the way across the wall. Frederick suspected it might even be made of silver. It was engraved with the name of the place and had micro pitting showing some of its age.

Just about the time Frederick had just finished his drink the singer asked if anyone wanted to come sit in with the band. The tall blonde man raised his hand with his case. They called him up and asked him if he had something in mind. He wanted to play “When the Saints Come Marching In.” After a bit of banter back and forth the band started to play and Frederick started to let loose with his trumpet. For the most part it was a fairly close rendition of the version by Louis Armstrong until he started to sing. He made the song have a very sad tone. As though being told by someone that might not ever be in that number, or very badly wanted to be in it now. For him the song was quite personal. He always felt like the odd man out. Even when it came to the spiritual world.

So at one point he caught the eye of one of the patrons that clearly caught the meaning of the version of the song he was going for and Frederick gave the man a knowing nod and pointed at him letting the guy know he was happy someone else got it. He got off the stage and walked through the crowd a bit playing his horn and singing. Playing and singing in this body and the last was far easier than in his original body.

When the number ended Frederick thanked the band and stepped off the stage. He had the intention of getting a vanilla frappuccino, with the idea of thinking about his long lost love when he sat down and watched the rest of the show, but an elderly man stepped up to him and said, “Mister Hollywood, I am here to arrest you. Now I don’t want to make a scene in front of all these nice people so if you just come with me I won't even put the cuffs on you. If you give me any trouble I will jerk this Roscoe out so fast it will make your head spin.”

Did he just say “Roscoe”? Lorde couldn’t stop his mind from churning. The old guy spoke like one of John Wayne’s characters. He decided to roll with it for a bit. One reason being the man had been polite. Another was he wondered just what infraction he was being taken in for. “Well I got just one question Marshal? Mind if I get one more while you tell me what I am being arrested for? Heck if you want something I am buying.”

In short order the two men had sat down at a table, Frederick with his frappuccino and Marshal Buckman had ordered a steak dinner and a vanilla shake. Buckman explained as he packed away his rare steak that Frederick was wanted for questioning in connection with a series of murders that happened right around the time he had taken Sam and Mary to the premiere. Once the time traveler had heard this he nodded and smiled. “Then I can assure you that I in no way had anything to do with those murders. I went straight home afterwards and I can prove it.”

Buckman sat back and took a deep breath and patted his belly. “So I am guessing you have video evidence to prove this?” The lawman then took a deep drink from his shake as he waited for the young man’s response.

“Oh yes, time stamped everything and me and my group were back home moments after we left Hollywood.” He looked over the old guy. Wondering how he would react to that fact. Also he couldn’t help but think there might be another way to appease him, if he dared ask.

The old man nodded. He had dealt with super powered individuals quite a bit in his time. “Well I would have to see and get a copy of this evidence before I could really just let you go.”

After sipping down the last of his shake. He thought about how if Aryel was here she might already have a sword to this guy just for threatening to arrest him. She had always stood up for him. “So I have no problem with that Marshal. Have you ever been near my office? I mean like do you know the way?” Frederick smiled brightly thinking that if not this guy might be in for a real eye full.

“I can’t say that I have Mister Hollywood. Is it far?” The old lawman really wasn’t looking forward to an all nighter at this point. That sort of thing was for the new recruits and party people.

“It's about forty minutes from here along I-4. So really not far at all and I rarely get a chance to show the place off to outsiders.” Lorde smiled wondering what the marshal might think of his town.

After finishing up the two walked out of the bar. Buckman hit the button on his key fob to let Frederick into the car. Once he made sure his prisoner was securely in the passenger seat he walked to the driver’s side and sat down himself.

Just before Buckman could start the car Frederick caught something coming up behind them in the rear view. Something with a really big turret taking aim at the car. He pushed the oldman down into the seat as best he could, trying to shield him just before the blue 1977 Ford LTD became a convertible.

When Frederick looked back the parts of the car that had connected the roof had a white hot glow to them. “That’s a tank, Marshal Buckman. You might wanna keep your head down.”

People on the street were either running into buildings or trying to run away from the massive metal monstrosity. Suddenly a voice boomed over a loudspeaker with a kind of tin can sound to it. “I am The Brigadier. Frederick Hollywood, quickly get out of the vehicle. You are wanted for terrorist actions against the United States and abroad.”

Before the mad time traveler could react Buckman leveled a hand cannon at the tank that would make “Dirty Harry” blush. “US MARSHAL!” Frederick could only stare in awe as the aged law man made this stand against the tank. “This is my prisoner. You are interfering with a federal investigation!”

The massive pistol in Buckman’s hand suddenly started to glow bright orange. Then with a noise so loud it hurt Lorde’s ears and a boom that moved him back a couple of inches a bolt of energy slammed into the tank sending it back twenty feet. “That was a warning shot General! Don’t force me to argue jurisdiction here! Clearly you are at a disadvantage!”

Lorde decided to use the distraction to activate his emergency beacon.

-----

Byte Mi’s watch becan to make a tone only she could hear. She thought she would never get a distress call from the boss. Heck most times he wasn’t even in the same time period as the team.

The golden haired super woman looked down at the rest of her team. “I am very sorry but duty calls. I will be back as soon as I can and be mindful of your chaperones!” She leapt into the air at speeds rivaling the speed of sound.

Mary watched her hero disappear into the sky. “Sister Catherine, do you think she is going to help Frederick?”

Mindful that most of the youth bowling league was standing around her, Cathrine decided to answer the young mutant carefully. “One thing is for sure, young lady, she is going to fight for truth, justice and the American way.”

Mary smiled brightly when she heard that answer. She looked down at her little furry companion. “Oh I am sure she will be back soon Oscar.”