Part 78: Fight Me Baby

                                    

                                          
As the hero zipped through the city as fast as she could fly, she did her best to hide her grin, because though she was incredibly thrilled by tonight's change of events, she knew the rest of the city was not. She systematically flew through the streets of downtown, covering the high traffic areas first because she knew how much Toxic loved an audience. 
"You're getting warmer." The villain would encourage through the city’s now hijacked P.A. System. 
"Woah... colder!" He laughed when she seemingly made a wrong turn. He was leading her towards the port. Galaxy Girl reached the docks and began searching through the multitude of lots filled with storage containers.
                          
"Marco!" The super-criminal's unmistakable voice called out from the water beside her, rippling just like the waves did. Galaxy Girl stopped in midair, pulling her fold-up night vision glasses from their compartment in her utility belt, and she used them to gaze out into the pitch black body of water. "You’re supposed to say Polo." The voice asks in disappointment, and though she couldn't see him, she just knew he was shaking his head. 
                          
In a blinding flash of light, a large vessel was lit up. Vague at best through the night vision goggles, she drew them back from her face to see that Toxic had converted a huge trash barge into what could only be described as a death trap.  Over the top axes swinging like pendulums, rotating blades, spikes and mace, each undoubtedly made from titanium, lazers mounted on all four corners, and in the very center of it all was the Mayor; the man was bound, gagged, and clearly distressed. The Mayor was trapped inside a clear bubble, filled up to his neck with Toxic's demobilization goo. 
                          
Toxic was standing on a pedestal atop the bubble, a wicked grin carved onto his glowing face. She closed the distance, stopping right above the floating eyesore. 
"Welcome to the party Galaxy Girl. The entire city is going to watch you fail tonight." He motioned back to the shore, this encounter being displayed on every screen in town. 
"Look at this deathtrap, seriously?" She brushed away his threat. 
"On a garbage barge of all things. How 80's." Galaxy chuckled. 
"I'd say it's a bit excessive, but you don't have a shark tank so..." She'd never say it, but she actually kind of liked the retro.  
"Wait a minute..." A twinkle appears in the hero's sky blue eyes. 
"Didn't my dad and your dad...?"
                          
"Yes, 1987!" Toxic grins, happy that she remembered. 
"Right over there." He pointed at a nearby spot in the water about 50 yards away. 
"That's the same pendulum too." He pointed at the giant axe swinging back and forth. 
"Nice touch." The hero couldn't help but laugh. 
"But don't you remember what happened that day?" 
Galaxy Girl called out.  
"Just like my dad did back then. You know I'm just gonna break right through all that. Impervious remember?" 
She reminded him smugly, watching the news helicopter that was now circling the scene, admittedly enjoying the limelight.
Man it was good to be back.
                          
"True Hero, quite true." He said, as he began pulling off his gloves. 
"But you are not your father now are you? He's impervious to my radiation..." Toxic places his glowing hands onto the bar in front of him. "You're not." his face strained as he pumped his green aura, lighting up every blade, spike and titanium weapon of his barge. 
"Guess who finally found a conduit."
                          
"Oh, great." Galaxy Girl grumbled under her breath.
Toxic watched with a childish glee as the color disappeared from her usually rosy cheeks. He had finally done it, yes he had created a substance that could, for the most part, carry his raw radiation to a level that theoretically, could affect Galaxy Girl.
His entire life; he had tried and failed to find a suitable conduit in which to carry his green aura in its most raw form, because once the unearthly green glow left the direct vicinity of his body, it becomes effectively harmless. 
                          
But his recent discussion with his father had changed his perspective about his own creation and his abilities. They had sat side-by-side in full body restraints, the prisoner transport pod on the way to Super-Max; a new prison on the moon built under the direct supervision of Captain Galaxy. This event marked the first time both father and son would be in the same prison at the same time.