The Univengers

Chapter 2: The Team

Monday, November 9th. California. The Redwood National Park. Nighttime. The smell of pine engulfed the forest. It was quite beautiful. A 3-foot creature tended to some planets. He had blue, puppy dog eyes, no hair, and many wrinkles. He could also stretch his neck. On Earth, he was called E.T. When he wasn't on his home planet, The Green Planet, he would spend his time examining all the plants in the forest. His teacher, Botanicus, helped him into the alien he would be today. E.T. noticed a black Mercedes entering the forest. He lowered his head in suspicion. General Morshower stepped out of the car and approached the creature.

"It's alright," he said with his hands open in front of him. "I'm not gonna hurt you. Nor am I gonna take you in to get tested by scientists." E.T. moved toward the General. He reached out his hand and was holding something. Morshower squatted down and held out his hand. Reese's Pieces dropped from E.T.'s hand. Morshower grinned.

"Can you help us?", he asked.

The next night, Morshower and E.T. traveled 734 miles to Los Angeles. Two years prior, there had been numerous highway truck robberies by a certain group of five people. One of them was a woman named Letty Ortiz. After a failed highway robbery, the criminal group parted ways. Ortiz Mechanics sat in a secluded street. The owner, Letty Ortiz, was a bonafide car expert and a hell of a fast driver. She was Latina with long black hair and was a bit muscular. While she had not done as much street racing in the past to lay low from the law after the failed robbery, she would race now and then. To make ends meet though, she opened her mechanic shop called Ortiz Mechanics. Morshower parked in front of the building and walked into the open garage. Watch Your Back by Benny Cassette was playing on a radio.

"Letty Ortiz?", Morshower said. The 25-year-old racer got up from fixing a motorcycle.

"Yeah? Can I help you?", She was wearing a black tank top with brown khaki pants.

"My name is General Morshower. Two years ago, there have been reports of highway truck robberies in this area. The prosecutors described the likenesses of the people involved and we believe you may be one of them." Letty sighed. It was impressive that she lasted this long without getting caught. Any other criminal would've run for it since it was just Morshower but Letty knew better. There may have been policemen outside waiting to open fire if she tried to escape. Either way, she was glad she gave up crime life.

"Okay," said Letty. "You got me."

"You should be arrested but we could use your expertise," said Morshower. "The judge and prosecutors could see you in a better light if you help us. I've heard you're quite the speed demon, and that's what we need for this operation. You have two choices: possible redemption or solitary confinement." Letty nodded slowly.

"The first one", she chose.

"Then welcome to the team," said Morshower. They shook hands. "I'll introduce you to one of your cohorts. He might give you a bit of a shock at first." Morshower stepped to the right to reveal E.T.

"Letty, this is E.T." The alien gave a small wave. Letty was totally bewildered.

"Is he, like, an endangered species?", she asked.

"He's definitely not from here," responded Morshower. "But he's not the only alien we're gonna need."

"Oh, there's more of them?", said Letty. Morshower nodded.

"I'm sure you'll need to pack," said Morshower. Letty nodded.

"My house is ten minutes away. You can follow me."

Letty turned off the shop lights and closed the garage door from the outside. Morshower's Mercedes and Letty's 1970 Plymouth Barracuda disembarked from the mechanic shop. I could just leave them in the dust, Letty thought. One step on the gas and I could live a new life in Mexico. Aw, who am I kidding? This general has a frickin alien with him. If that's possible, then I'm not gonna last five minutes if I try to escape. Letty and Morshower arrived at the former's house. Morshower and E.T. waited in their car until Letty was ready to go 10 minutes later. They traveled to the Mojave Desert.