The DCFuture Underground Fan Fiction Group acknowledges 
that DC Comics owns the name Damage and ALL DC-created 
characters and retains complete rights to said characters.  
These concepts are used WITHOUT permission for NO PROFIT, 
but rather a strong desire to peer into the future of the 
DCU.  We also acknowledge that the concepts and original 
characters introduced here are the intellectual property 
of the author.

Sometimes the only thing worse than thinking you're alone 
is knowing you're not.  Jack has found himself a team, but 
now he's about to find out he has family.

Damage DCF LS Issue 4
Brothers Under the Skin
Written by Oliver Kiemschies
Edited by Jason Tippitt

Chapter 1: The New Team


June 1,2112 -- 7:00 a.m.
The Abandoned Crazy-Cat Catnip Warehouse (new hideout of 
Horse)
The Southern Outskirts of Cleveland, Ohio

	David and Todd busied themselves connecting 
computer equipment, as Jack sat with Troy.  Metallo 
watched over Fever as she slept in a secluded section of 
the work area.
	"Destroyed the entire warehouse?  Damage seems to 
follow you wherever you go?"
	"It's a gift."
	"So what do we do about our guests?" asked David.
	"Can we keep 'em?  I promise I'll feed them and 
train them," Todd chimed in.
	"You want to take in three strangers?" complained 
David.  "Look, no offense to Jack, but he's already cost 
us one hideout."
	"How do you know they were coming after Jack?" 
interrupted Todd.
	"The girl confirmed the Ross-Tech connection.  
We've made a lot of people very mad, but, for reasons 
known only to Troy, we've done very little to Ross-Tech.  
I'm sorry, but I think they have to go," continued David.
	"No way!  These guys put us in the big leagues," 
contradicted Todd.
	"There's also the issue of trust.  Okay, maybe I 
trust Jack."
	"Maybe!" interrupted David.  "Jack risked his life 
to cover our escape.  Doesn't that count for anything?"
	"Okay, I trust Jack, but what about the other 
two?"
	"Can we trust them?" asked Troy to nobody in 
particular.
	Metallo walked into the room from where he had 
been watching over Fever.  Jack looked at Metallo and 
thought for a moment.
	"I know you're still trying to decide if I'm in 
the team or not, but I trust him," Jack answered.
	Metallo managed a liquid metal smile.
	"How's the girl?" asked Troy.
	"She has a name," Metallo protested.
	"Alright, how's... Teri, wasn't it?"
	"Teri McManus," he answered, "and she's resting 
comfortably."
	"So she's ready to quit the League?  Just like 
that?"
	"She never wanted to be in the League.  The 
concern Jack and I displayed for her was more than anyone 
at the League had ever shown."
	"That's believable," commented David.
	"David, how did Metallo's 'physical' go?" asked 
Troy.
	"He's clean," commented David.
	"We did as much of a check-out as possible; he's 
fully self-programming," added Todd excitedly.
	"He's also clean of any transmitters," added 
David.
	Jack's stomach turned at the memories this 
triggered.
	"He's replaced virtually all his weapons with an 
impressive array of sensor equipment."
	"I'd rather learn about the world around me than 
shoot at it," Metallo commented.
	"Well, it looks like we've gone from one new 
member to three," said Troy.
	"Names!  We've got to come up with names for these 
guys," said Todd triumphantly.
	"Good.  I'm not really fond of Metallo.  Please 
come up with a better one for me."
	"Damage over there seems to fit for our friend 
Jack," Todd contributed.
	"Well, it doesn't go with the motif, but it fits 
him.  Damage it is," declared Troy.

****

Ross-Tech Labs, Penthouse

	Duane Smithson sat in his office pouring over 
reports of Metallo's escape.
	"Technician!" he barked, keying his communications 
link.  A technician hurriedly entered his office.
	"I've read the report of Metallo v2.0's escape."  
The technician's stomach dropped.  "So it seems we still 
have no idea how the unit became self-aware."
	"No, sir," he answered nervously.
	"Unfortunate; such knowledge would be of more 
value than the unit itself."
	"If we had even expected such a thing were 
possible, we would have had security involved.  We..."
	"No, YOU wouldn't have,'" interrupted Smithson.  
"If I would have expected it were possible, *I* would have 
had security involved.  He wouldn't have simply walked out 
in a lab coat and hat, your hat, I believe."
	"Yes, sir," he added sheepishly.
	Duane looked carefully at the embarrassed 
employee.  "You don't strike me has a hat man; you 
shouldn't wear one, anyway," he added.
	The technician beamed. Duane Smithson recognized 
the expression.
	'With just the slightest notice, and of course a 
bit of metahuman charisma, you could get them to walk off 
a cliff for you,' he thought.  'And, of course, I have.'
	"I'd like a full status report on J2 and J4, or... 
what are we calling them... Iron Jack and Big Jack."
	"As you know, Sir, Iron Jack's training has been 
completed for weeks."
	"And Big Jack?"
	"Well, the invulnerability problems still persist.  
It will be at least a week before he's ready for 
commissioning."
	"That's to be expected.  You have three days for 
J4.  Well, let's set our trap; it's time for Iron Jack to 
do some shopping."


Chapter 2: The Bait

Headquarters of Horse
The Southern Outskirts of Cleveland, Ohio

	David was lying on the floor underneath his desk, 
attempting to modify the spaghetti wires he had spent most 
of the day hooking into his workstation.  Metallo sat 
watching him.
	"Not the red wire," offered Metallo.
	David ignored him.
	"Not the red wire."
	David continued to ignore him.
	"Unless the smoke that's currently emanating from 
your CPU is your desired result, I reiterate, 'Not the red 
wire.'"
	David quickly removed the red wire from where it 
had been plugged into his system.
	"But it's ALWAYS the red wire," he said.
	"Not, it would seem, this time."
	David pulled opened a panel in his system, and 
removed a smoking component.  "Damn, that was my last 
multi-gate processor."
	Metallo took the charred chip from David, and 
absorbed it into his liquid metal hand.  A moment later he 
opened his mouth and spit an apparently repaired chip into 
David's hand.
	"Neat... Gross, but neat."
	David placed the chip back into his work station 
and returned to his spaghetti wiring, being careful to 
avoid the red wire this time.
	"Uh, guys," called out Todd from his workstation, 
"where's Jack?"
	"I think he's on the roof with Troy, working on 
the satellite link.  Why?" replied David.
	"Because there's someone who looks just like him 
tearing up the Rolling Acres Consumer-Plex."
	Moments later all the members of Horse, including 
the three newest, were watching the news broadcast on 
Todd's workstation.
	"This is Walter King, repeating our top story.  An 
as-of-yet unidentified metahuman appears to be destroying 
the Rolling Acres Consumer-Plex.  We have no information 
as to a possible motive.  There have been no reported 
injuries so far.  This appears to be an act of random, 
senseless destruction.  Unsubstantiated reports indicate 
this is the same metahuman who recently rescued some 50 
people from an apartment fire on Euclid Avenue.  As to why 
he would want to destroy a shopping complex, we do not 
know.  Also unknown at this time is the ETA of the Justice 
League or the Cleveland Police."
	The display zoomed in on the man wrecking the 
building.  He was hovering in midair, using a plasma saw 
to cut through a load-bearing support.  He was wearing in 
a black jumpsuit, had large rifle slug over his back, and 
had two holstered pistols strapped on his sides.  What was 
most striking to the members of Horse was that he could 
have been Jack's identical twin.
	"So, Jack, you have a twin brother who REALLY 
hates shopping," quipped Todd.
	"Someone who looks just like me is causing wanton 
destruction, and NO Justice League yet?"
	"Your thinking setup, aren't you?" asked Troy, 
finishing Jack's thought.
	"What else?"
	"Your going to go, anyway, aren't you?"
	"Do I have a choice?"
	"Not really."
	"You know, this does provide me with an excellent 
opportunity."
	"I think I know what you're planning," added Troy.  
"Let's give this man the standard field trip care package.  
Jack, you've been briefed on its contents, have you not?"
	Jack nodded.
	"Actually," David interrupted, "I've modified the 
standard package to be more super-hero friendly."
	"Cool!  A utility belt!" commented Todd.
	"Very well.  Metallo, I want you in constant 
contact with Jack."
	David and Todd began to gather Jack's utility 
package from elsewhere in the work area as Jack and Troy 
quietly discussed Jack's plans.
	"God, what a cliche," Todd contributed.  "The 
scenario of a bad guy masquerading as a good guy trying to 
ruin the good guy's name has got the be the second oldest 
trick in the super-hero book."
	"Let me guess what the oldest one is," said David.  
"Two good guys beating each other up over a 
misunderstanding?"
	"You got it."
	Teri continued to watch the spectacle on TV.
	"Jack, you've got some kind of optic blast, don't 
you?" asked Teri.
	"Yes."
	"And some enhanced strength?"
	"Yes."
	"Telekinesis?"
	"Look, it's all on the resume; what's with the 
quiz?"
	"The guy on TV is using an awful lot of gizmos; he 
may not even be a meta."
	"No; early on, security opened up on him with some 
powerful weapons," commented Todd from across the room.  
"And he shrugged it off.  I've seen cement blocks fall on 
him, and he's shrugged that off, too.  He seems even more 
invulnerable than Jack."
	"He also seems to have more control over his 
flight than I do."
	"Different powers?" Teri offered.
	"It would seem so," commented Troy. "Jack, you'd 
better get out there."

****

Rolling Acres Consumer-Plex
The North-Side of Akron

	Jack arrived in time to see part of the roof of a 
major shoe store collapse.  He rushed in through the hole 
in to confront the man wearing his face.
	"Look, I know prices here are high, but that's no 
reason..."
	"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!" he screamed as he drew 
a pistol and shot at Jack.
	Jack was luckily quite a bit faster then his angry 
twin, and was no longer in the path of the projectile by 
the time the gun was fired.  The projectile hit the wall 
behind Jack and flattened into a large silver circle.
	"Hold on, handsome."
	"Don't you talk to me.  Don't you DARE ever talk 
to me," he threatened as he swung his plasma saw at Jack.
	"Fine," Jack said has he ducked the saw.  He 
struck his doppelganger square in the chest with a 
withering optic blast, sending him careening into a wall.  
The remaining portions of the ceiling collapsed burying 
the man.
	"Damn damn damn damn," repeated Jack as he rushed 
to the debris.  He began to pull chunks of cement from the 
pile.
	Several reporters rushed the scene and thrust 
recording devices into Jack's face.
	"What's your name?"
	"Was he your brother, or are you clones of some 
kind?" shouted another.
	"Was it you at the Euclid Avenue fire?  Why aren't 
you in the Justice League?"
	"What IS your name?"
	"Um.. Ja... Damage, my name is Damage.  Yes, it 
was me at Euclid Avenue.  Look, I don't know who this guy 
is, but right now, I'm trying to dig him out.  If you're 
not going to help, then get out of the way."
	"Damage, why try to save him?  He was trying to 
kill you a few moments ago!"
	"Because," said Jack, looking sternly into the 
reporter's face, "it's quite a simple rule, really.  
Superheroes... don't... kill."
	Several reporters chuckled, but Jack went back to 
clearing rubble.  Suddenly plasma began to arch and 
sputter from the debris.  Jack could hear faint laughter 
coming from under the debris.
	"He's cutting through!  Get back!" Jack yelled, as 
he gave the reporters a telekinetic push.
	Soon the last few bricks were cut away, and the 
nameless man stood on the wreckage in a dusty, tattered 
uniform, but no worse for the wear.
	"Who are you?" questioned Damage.
	"Well, our father has been calling me Iron Jack.  
Others have called me J2.  Once I kill you, I'll just take 
your name."
	Iron Jack drew his rifle and fired at Damage, who 
once again was able to dodge the shot.  A statue that had 
been in the center of the store was not so lucky, and was 
engulfed in a ball of blue energy but was not destroyed.
	"Damage," crackled Metallo's voice over the 
earpiece Jack was wearing, "we've got an analysis on the 
weapons he's using.  They seem to be non-lethal.  It looks 
like your new best friend is trying to capture you."
	'Interesting,' Jack thought as he dove at Iron 
Jack, striking him with his fists.
	"He seems to have top-class invulnerability, Jack, 
but no offensive powers.  What do you plan to do?"
	"Give up," whispered Jack.
	"Come again, Damage?" David's voice interrupted 
over the com-link.  "It sure sounded like you said you 
were planning to..."
	Iron Jack drew a bead on Damage with his rifle, 
only this time the blue energy struck its target and 
completely enveloped him.
	"Give up," finished David.
	Damage fell to the ground as the crackling blue 
energy began to fade.  Iron Jack paused for a moment, 
appearing disappointed.  He finally holstered his weapon, 
scooped up Damage, and flew away from the nearly destroyed 
structure.

****

Headquarters of Horse

	"What the hell did that moron just do!" screamed 
Todd.
	"Metallo, how are his vitals?" inquired Troy
	"Good, but he really is unconscious.  They knew 
what to hit him with."
	"Is our equipment is still working?"
	"At, or near 100%."
	"Do you think you can use the up-link to wake him 
up?"
	"I'm sure of it."
	"I bet he was, too.  Let's give him a few minutes, 
then wake him up."
	"So he was playing possum," said Teri.
	"He wanted to get inside; why not let them bring 
him in?"


Chapter 3: The Switch

A deserted Alley near the Rolling Acres Consumer-Plex

	Iron Jack was loading Damage into a JL transport.  
"Like my ride?" he asked his unconscious captive.  "It was 
thoughtfully delivered by JLer's who were contracted to 
bring you in.  Of course, Ross-Tech is expected to return 
it to the League now that the contract is up, but Mr. 
Smithson wanted to get some use out of the wonderful 
teleportation technology before he let it go."
	Iron Jack dropped Damage on the floor and began to 
prepare the teleport unit to whisk them away from the 
scene of the crime.
	"We want to get out of here before the Cleveland 
Police arrive.  After all, they can only be delayed for 
so long.  When they find the transport, I'm sure they'll 
be nice enough to return it to the League for us."
	As the small teleportation unit came to life, Iron 
Jack, through the corner of his eye, saw movement.  He 
turned to see a fully conscious Damage standing in front 
of him.
	"Surprise, handsome."
	Before he could move, Damage kicked Iron Jack in 
the chest, sending him backwards into the teleportation 
device.  Using as much speed as he could muster, Jack made 
a few changes to the teleport unit's settings and 
activated it.  Iron Jack disappeared, leaving behind his 
tattered black jumpsuit.

****

The middle of Lake Erie,
approximately 5 meters above the surface of the water

	A naked, extremely angry man popped into existence 
and fell, screaming with rage, into the cold water.

****

JL transport near Rolling Acres Consumer-Plex


	"Damage to Horse: thanks for the wake-up call.  
How's the jamming equipment working?"
	"Still functioning," replied Metallo, "but it 
won't hold up much longer.  Neither will this encryption 
channel.  Where's your twin?"
	"He went for a little swim.  Remind me to thank 
the Justice League for making their equipment so user-
friendly."
	"Not everyone in the League is a rocket 
scientist," offered Teri.
	"What's your plan now?" asked David.
	"I think a little turnabout would be fair."  
Damage began to replace his garments with Iron Jack's.  
"It looks like Iron Jack's uniform contains quite a bit of 
monitoring equipment.  Much of it is still functional.  Do 
you think we will be able to fool this stuff into thinking 
I'm him?"
	"Yes, the masking disks in your equipment pack 
should be up to the task," answered Troy.
	Damage removed two gray silver dollar-sized disks 
from his equipment pouch and placed them on his chest 
underneath the jumpsuit.  "Thanks; I'll call when I get 
the chance."
	Damage finished getting dressed and began to 
reactivate the teleport unit.  He reset the coordinates to 
Iron Jack's original numbers.  He stepped into the device 
and was instantly whisked away.

****

Ross-Tech Labs, Basement Level 1

	Jack rematerialized at the end of a corridor.  
Five bored security guards who had been waiting suddenly 
sprang to attention.  "Where's the target?" their leader 
asked.
	"I lost the target."
	"We briefly lost contact; explain."
	"There was trouble with the teleporter; that may 
have caused interference."
	"Damn!" complained the security leader.  "Johnson, 
take him to briefing room S23-1.  J2, Mr. Smithson won't 
be happy about this."
	"No... no, he won't," replied Jack.

****

Headquarters of Horse

	"How far do you think he'll get?" asked David.
	"I don't know, but if he can get into any of the 
protected systems... oh, man, I'm drooling over the Ross-
Tech data he may get," answered Todd.
	"Well, I know you're all disappointed at the lack 
of profitable information I arrived with," Metallo said as 
he sat at a workstation, "but hopefully I can make up for 
that now."  Liquid metal tendrils snaked from Metallo's 
forearms and interfaced with workstation.  "If Jack can 
get access to any of the protected systems for even a 
short while, I should be able to make the most of that 
time."

****

Ross-Tech Labs, Penthouse

	Duane Smithson was preparing his report to the 
Justice League regarding the contracted Leaguers and the 
missing transport.  Finally, the call he had been waiting 
for arrived.
	"Mr. Smithson, the retrieval team has returned 
with Iron Jack.  They're taking him to briefing room S23-
1.  Sir, he failed to retrieve the target."
	Duane Smithson briefly hung his head in 
disappointment.  "Very well; I'll be with them shortly."
	Duane Smithson was rightfully preoccupied with 
this report to the League.  Any report to the League is 
serious business . Luckily, he had three things going for 
him.
	First, with the defection of Fever and the obvious 
fire damage to unit 6/23A, the mission's failure could be 
placed on the Justice League team's shoulders.
	Second, when dealing with League lackeys and 
bureaucrats, Duane Smithson always had his unique brand of 
'charm' to fall back on.
	And finally, Justice, a man he would never dream 
of trying to manipulate, rarely involved himself 
personally in Ross-Tech's affairs.

****

Ross-Tech Labs, Sub-Basement Level 23

	A security guard was accompanying the man he 
thought was Iron Jack to the debriefing room on that 
floor.  As they passed an empty computer room, the guard 
suddenly froze.
	He couldn't remember where he was going.  He 
couldn't even remember where he was.  He was having 
trouble allowing any thoughts to form in his head.  As his 
brain was finally beginning to operate again, a sharp blow 
to the back of his head robbed it of consciousness.

****

Headquarters of Horse

	Five team members of Horse sat impatiently 
awaiting a call from their sixth team member.
	"You do realize that if he's in the sub-basement, 
the up-link equipment will be useless?" Metallo asked 
Troy.
	"He'll just have to figure out a different way to 
contact us, then; he's a clever boy."
	"I can't stand this waiting," complained Todd as 
switched the monitor on his desk to an infotainment 
channel.

****

Ross-Tech Labs, Sub-Basement Level 23

	Jack completed the installing his state-of-the-art 
hacking equipment at a workstation in the empty computer 
room.  He knew that once he unleashed the Intelligent 
Agent software, it was only a matter of time before he 
would be detected.  He had to find a way to get a link to 
Horse that wouldn't be detected.
	He sat for a moment observing the Infotainment 
link running in the corner of the room, just above the 
bound, unconscious guard.  There was a commercial for 
nano-bonded floor wax that he found particularly annoying.  
He reached out with his telekinesis and turned it off.  As 
the picture faded, an idea struck Jack, and a broad smile 
spread across his face.
	"I hope someone's watching the game."

****

Headquarters of Horse

	Todd sat watching the infotainment link at his 
desk while the rest of a team sat waiting at Metallo's 
workstation.  "Uhm, guys."
	"Not now, Todd."
	"I think you'll want to see this."
	"Yeah, yeah.  Browns lose, big deal."
	"TROY!  LOOK AT THIS!"
	Todd swiveled the Infotainment monitor towards 
Troy.  Pages of data flickered across the screen.
	"Metallo, hook into our TV link!"
	"Already on it."  The robot briefly stared into 
the distance.  "It appears Jack has tied directly from 
Ross-Tech's corporate Link to our personal link."
	"That's Infotainment!" shouted Todd while 
monitoring the valuable data flow.

****

Ross-Tech Labs, Penthouse


	Duane Smithson had just finished filing his report 
with a Justice League Bureaucrat, once again dodging any 
kind of confrontation with the League hierarchy.  He was 
preparing to head to the debriefing room when he heard a 
light tapping on his outside window.
	"What the hell?" he muttered as he adjusted the 
environmental controls to allow outside light through the 
opaque windows.  He could have done without the image that 
now passed through the glass.  There, floating in front of 
his window, was a naked, wet, and angry Iron Jack.  
Smithson dove for his comm-link.  "Security, I need the 
location of Iron Jack, immediately!"
	"Sir, his security escort hasn't checked in yet."
	"Where was he last seen?"
	"He got off the elevator at sub-basement level 
23."
	"Send a security team... Hell, send a security 
ARMY to sub-basement level 23!  Shut down every exit and 
every data link in and out of this building!"
	"Right away, sir."
	"Oh, and send someone to my office with a towel 
and a change of clothes."

*****

Sub-Basement Level 23

	Jack's screen suddenly went blank as his link was 
cut off.  He checked his equipment and observed his IA 
software had executed its final command before it was shut 
down.  He rushed out of the computer room and flew towards 
the elevators.

*****

Ross-Tech Labs
A freight elevator between Sub-Basement Level 12 and 13

	One of the downsides of the cavernous structure 
beneath Ross-Tech Labs was that it rendered use of stairs 
impossible.  The heavily armed and armored security team, 
which was rushing to stop a dangerous intruder, had to 
squeeze into a large freight elevator.  Just as this 
elevator was halfway between sub-basement level 12 and 13, 
the lights flickered, and their descent halted.  Damage's 
dying IA software had executed the exit command he had 
pre-programmed to aid in his escape.
	One of the security team members futilely pressed 
a few buttons on the lift's control panel.
	"We're stuck," another guard said, stating the 
obvious.
	"Comm-Center," barked the unit commander into his 
comm-link, "elevator six is stuck.  This is a security 
priority; get us out of here."
	"We're trying. but we can't even figure out what 
went wrong!"
	"Could you at least turn off the damn music?"
	"Negative; we have no interface with any of the 
elevators."
	A guard in the back raised a small hand weapon and 
shot the music speaker.
	"Thank you."
	Just under their feet, clinging to the bottom of 
the elevator, Damage quietly waited for his program to 
release the elevator.
	"Which elevator were you in again?" a voice on the 
comm link questioned.
	"Six, like your IQ...."  And suddenly the elevator 
resumed its decent.  "Thank you."
	"What? we didn't do anything."
	"We're moving again."
	"We didn't do it."
	Before the commander could question his good 
fortune, the destination had been reached. The elevator 
doors opened, and the troops began to exit with military 
precision.  Suddenly a recorded voice began to ring out 
over the elevator's emergency speaker.
	"This is an emergency.  All personnel, please 
evacuate the elevators immediately.  Repeat: This is an 
emergency.  All personnel, evacuate the elevators 
immediately."
	Around the entire complex, all the elevators 
announced the same message, as confused occupants hurried 
out.  After the last guard exited the lift, the doors 
shut.
	The confused team looked back to the elevator.
	"Sir, where is it going?" questioned a young 
security guard.
	"Up."
	All the elevators in the entire building rushed to 
the highest levels they could reach.  They paused, as the 
automated systems checked to make sure they were empty.  
Once that was established, all 30 personnel elevators and 
all 20 freight elevators in the building began to speed 
downward as quickly as their technology allowed.
	The security guards still stood, silently watching 
the elevator floor display and listening to confused 
reports over their comm-links.  "Where is it going now, 
sir?" asked the same young guard.
	"Down, son."
	"It's going awfully fast."
	The commander watched the floor display above the 
elevator as the numbers sped by at an increasing rate.
	"What's at the bottom, sir?" the young man asked 
his commander.
	"A maintenance access for the shaft, and below 
that, the sewers, I think."
	Inside elevator six, Damage made his way inside 
through the floor.  He, too, watched the floor display 
inside the elevator speed by.  He continued upward, out to 
the roof of the elevator and into the elevator shaft.  
Using his telekinesis, he grabbed hold of the walls of the 
shaft and stopped his own decent.  He watched as the 
elevator continued to rocket downward beneath him.  When 
the 50 elevator/projectiles struck bottom, the noise 
resonated up the elevator shafts and could be heard 
throughout the entire building, including Duane Smithson's 
office.
	"Damn, he's out," he said as he handed Iron Jack a 
towel.
	Below the building Jack made his way through the 
twisted metal, and exited into the Cleveland sewer system 
and freedom.

****

Epilog

April 1,2112 -- 7:00 p.m.
Ross-Tech Labs, Penthouse


	Duane Smithson had eventually calmed down, after 
he fired a few security guards.  He could finally reflect 
on the events of the day.
	"Personal Log entry 328.  Today's security breach 
was more than unfortunate.  Data regarding the nature of 
J1's birth were divulged.  Jack... Damage, knows that he 
was in fact born, if not conceived, naturally.
	"He knows that his presence is needed to create 
any second generation clones, and that they all seem to 
lack the complete genetic set of codes than the original 
carries.  From this he should be able to deduce that he is 
more useful for the wealth of metahuman genetic codes he 
carries than for the mediocre powers he displays.
	"He has uncovered enough information to confirm 
that his wife and daughter are both alive.  He also has 
enough circumstantial evidence to deduce why we are 
keeping his wife alive.
	"Most distressing of all the information that has 
been breached is the... personal information about my 
own... abilities.  How he will use this information, I do 
not know.  I have to be ready for anything.  In 
retrospect, I am now beginning to believe field testing 
was, in fact, a mistake."
	Smithson's reflection was interrupted by a buzz on 
his comm-link.  "What?"
	"Mr. Smithson, it's Mr. Baginski.  I have someone 
with me you should really meet."
	"If it's important, Mr. Baginski, set up an 
appointment with my secretary tomorrow."
	"With all due respect, sir, I really think you'll 
want to talk to him."
	"Very well, what is the name of this vitally 
important person?"
	"Dawson, sir.  Don Dawson."


*** End of Issue 4

And the future for Damage?  I'm working on an outline for 
an additional 3 issues to wrap up most (but not all) of 
the loose ends.

If there IS an issue 5:

A visit to Jack's alma mater proves you can't go home 
again.  Also a very small piece of a green glowing rock.

Suggested Music for this issue:

The Bait: Terrible Lie by Nine Inch Nails

The Switch  1st 1/2: Would I lie to you by The Eurythmics
2nd 1/2: Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel