Powerhouse: Legend of the Archwave

Chapter 13 (Act II): Enroute To The Hub

We last read Chapter 12, in which Spraywatch vandals Valentina Valdez and Tyrone Hoover—quite possibly her closest friend among the gang—head to the Spraywatch Hub shortly before 8:00pm PST to gather the rest of the crew and alert them about the approaching arrival of James Markovsky a.k.a. Powerhouse and his new companion Isabela Acosta a.k.a. Archwave. Though Valentina's idea of inviting two superheroes to the main base of the Spraywatch gang is met by more than a little resistance, not only is Valentina quick to placate them.....but Tyrone also then reveals that he's come around on the former's decision to start gradually opening Spraywatch up further. He—along with other Spraywatch members who eventually voice their agreement—state that they're tired of being confined to a single area of the city and that they just want to be accepted despite being different. To that end, Valentina courteously instructs the Spraywatch gang to be nice, courteous, and to welcome Powerhouse and Archwave with open arms whenever they arrive, so as to make a good first impression and—hopefully—take the first steps to establish peace between Spraywatch and the local authorities.

After the crowd disperses, Valentina and Tyrone retreat into the indoor portion of the Spraywatch Hub, which is just as colorful and vibrant as the outer courtyard. There, the two of them sit near a long white-colored foldable table—with numerous types of card games in the middle—and Valentina reveals that she's texted the gang's Monarch about the arrangements.....and that even he is on board with it. Though this arouses Tyrone's suspicions somewhat—since the Monarch has allegedly always told him to distrust and avoid both the local authorities and the Paragons—Valentina states that this only emphasizes further how no one amongst the Spraywatch gang, not even their Monarch, are actually "bad" on the inside, and that they just want to be seen as themselves without fear of persecution. Tyrone points out the possibility that Powerhouse and Archwave could arrive at the Spraywatch Hub with multiple police cars already accompanying them—in order to perform a mass arrest—but Valentina rejects the idea, stating that true and just heroes strive to see all sides of a situation—rather than just one—before forming opinions. Tyrone then checks in on the tracking device that he implanted on Powerhouse's tricked-out convertible back at the Green Lake Pitch 'N Putt golf course—with Valentina looking on over his left shoulder—and reports that the heroic duo are on their way, to which Valentina gleefully pulls Tyrone out of his seat and drags him along with her to the front gates to welcome them.

This time, Powerhouse and Archwave have another conversation while enroute to the Spraywatch Hub, and are greeted by two familiar faces once they finally do arrive.....

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-Enroute to the Spraywatch Hub, Seattle, Washington-

"I was almost never allowed to stay up this late back home....." Isabela Acosta a.k.a. Archwave mused as she gazed with awe at the passing scenery of Seattle while her new partner and mentor James Markovsky a.k.a. Powerhouse drove both of them to the Spraywatch Hub for their meeting. "It all looks so beautiful here.....except for all the graffiti, of course."

"Oh, yeah. No, trust me.....it's way better without it. You'd think that things look better if they're colored.....but not in this case. Still.....I got another lesson to remind you of, if you're still wanting to be a Paragon," Powerhouse said. "A lesson that a lot of people—especially those in power—tend to forget."

Archwave looked over at him with interest. "And that is.....?"

"It's exactly what that 'Valentina' chick told us at the golf course. You remember what that is, right?"

Archwave nodded. "Hate and violence stem from a refusal to listen. That was it, wasn't it?"

If only the FBI would care to listen to me about why I'm here..... she thought to herself internally. Instead of immediately opening fire on me and an innocent Paragon.....