Staff Writer (APJ)
When we left off with our last installation, Natasha Reynolds, the woman better known as Pyra Banks was discussing the formation and ultimate dissolution of costmed vigilante team "The Five". If you missed our previous two parts, be sure to check them in the archives at the arcadian post-journal's website.
Pyra: So, what do you want to know?
APJ: Tell me about your teammates.
Pyra: Well like I said, it was [World B. Free] and [Dirty Ice]'s idea. They had known each other for some time, I think outside of the mask. Dirty was a nuclear physicist or something. World was a street kid who, who got a hold of some advanced technology.
Author's Note: Any Information that could lead to the possible identification of former vigilantes who have not come out has been omitted at the request of Ms. Reynolds
APJ: Is that how he was able to generate ice..
Pyra: Yes.
APJ: Ok, what about the others?
Pyra: Well the [Duke of Dark] suffered an accident that made him photosensitive. He had to always wear heavy clothing and suits to cover his skin. He was also a scientist. He created a machine that could either absorb or reflect ambient light. I'm not sure how it worked, but it allowed him to make things, well dark. And [Dead to Rights], well he was just a tough sonuvabitch.
APJ: Wow, you were all very talented. I guess we were all lucky that you turned those talents towards crime fighting, instead of, I don't know, dentistry.
Pyra: You know, we used to debate that sometimes. I still wonder what the world would be like today if the Duke was still around. He was a real genius.
APJ: How did you guys settle on the name?
Pyra: We didn't. The papers named us.Or, didn't, depending on how you look at it. The costumes were also often inspired by the press. They said it made us into something greater, a symbol.
APJ: So you guys formed a team and started kicking but, was it always that simple?
Pyra: I'm not sure it was ever that simple. Like I said, most of what I consider to be the real good that we did, never got covered by the papers. The press only wanted to bring light to the feel good stories, good triumphant over evil. Like we were in some sort of comic book. Never about drugs, streetwalkers or dead kids.
APJ: But you were in a comic book.
Pyra: That came much later. I had the pleasure to do my own voice for the cartoon. No, sometimes I still lie wake at night, remembering. The world has never been simple. Much to my therapist's delight (laughs).
APJ: Ok, so now for the hard question. '82
Pyra: (pauses for a long time) Yes, '82. I think I heard some writer somewhere call it the "War of the Immortals". I'm not sure why. We were all just human, mortal, sometimes much so.
APJ: If it's too much..
Pyra: No, it's ok. You know they don't tell about this in the history books. I know, I have a niece, I look after her. There wasn't anything immortal about it. But it was definitely war. A secret one. (another long pause) There was this nut, called himself the Arch-Fiend. He somehow got a hold of several nuclear devices. How and why we don't know. Most of us back then figure he was trying to start a world war. A real nihilist.
APJ: How did your group get involved?
Pyra: That's a good question. We were well known, sure, but up until that point, we were considered criminals. Most cops looked the other way though. Many secretly and often publicly agreed with us. But officially, we were outlaws. (pause) What they never mention anymore, is that Russia had their own super team. Called the Iron Curtain or something, lead by a man named Genrik Faustin.
APJ: Isn't he a UN Delegate?
Pyra: He is now, but back then he was called the Red Hammer. Well the US didn't like the idea of the "Reds" having such powerful operatives. So..
APJ: Are you saying the United States Government asked you for assistance?
Pyra: I don't know what I am, or what I can say. But all of a sudden we were official, we were provided equipment and vehicles. And we tried to save the world.
APJ: I'm pretty sure you succeeded.
Pyra: Actually, you may be surprised. For one, besides Dirty, none of us knew what we were doing. This operation went on for roughly 2 years. It took all of us, and I mean us in the biggest way possible, to track down all of the lost "packages".
All but one had been found. There was this base on a small island in the Atlantic. The superpowers were actually working together. We and the other team were sent in first.
APJ: You were working directly alongside the Russians.
Pyra: I can't say, but what I can say is that we almost lost that one. (pause) One of the "bad guys", called himself the Grandmaster. We had tangled with him in the past. Thought of everything as if it were a game of chess. Well he was working for the Arch-Fiend. But he had a change of heart at the last minute.
APJ: Why?
Pyra: My guess, the Arch-Fiend was going to do it. It wasn't a ransom scheme like everyone thought. This wasn't Saturday morning Super-Friends. Duke, the Duke was killed trying to disarm the bomb.
APJ: I thought [Dirty Ice] was the nuclear specialist.
Pyra: He was. He was also unconscious from a serious blow to the head. But even then, it was different. The device was hooked into some sort of reactor. [Duke of Dark] was close to shutting it down when the Arch-Fiend showed up and, shot him. It's ok, I can continue. His body fell into the energy stream, and that caused the whole thing to go crazy. World and I fought off the Fiend and, and Grandmaster disabled the device.We were barely able to get [Dirty Ice] out with us before the whole thing blew. It wasn't a nuke, thankfully, but I hear you still can't go to that island.
After that, we decided for our own reasons to go our separate ways. It's just as well. Congress started to blame the increase is costumed crime on us. Our old allies couldn't support us anymore. It was over.
APJ: Wow, you're right, that's not in the history books. Ms. Reynolds, if I'm understanding you correctly. You're saying that the United States Government used civilians as covert operatives in an international incident, and the world may have been saved by a terrorist?
Pyra: This interview is over.
Though our conversation ended abruptly, I would like to thank Ms. Reynolds for taking this time to sit down with me for this exclusive interview.
I may have not been born until 2 years after this "War or Immortals" was resolved, but Ms. Reynolds' testimony asks the question, what more is our government not telling us about these costumed individuals who used to roam the streets?
~ Tara Teal
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