Issue #18

Thunder awakens in the company of a team of Epsilon troopers, who inform him that the Powermongers have stolen a pick-up truck and are speeding southward; bound either for the Winnipeg City itself and/or the Canada/US border.

Thunder remains on high alert until the sensors reveal that the villians have settled in the city, near the industrial area in a place called "Bodner's Storage". Making his way there less than 2 hours after his last confrontation, he finds that their storage garage-locker is empty, despite the "tag" sensor readings, save for a number of crates and a small hi-tech workshop. As Thunder rumages through the place, he finds the prisoner tags, but no prisoners, even as he trips the heat sensor on a bomb. The entire garage, along with the ajoining two, and part of the two that ajoining those on either side, are levelled by the blast. As for Thunder, he is a little shaken, but relatively unharmed.

As the authorties begin to scour the area, Thunder is given permission to return to the local Canadian Forces Base and get some sleep.

Things remain quiet until early the next evening (Friday), when, while patrolling the downtown area, Thunder hears an explosion in the derelict core of the city and rushes to the scene to find an armoured car over turned, its guards strewn unconscious through the street, and the Powermongers speeding away in a Uhaul (needed to carry 8' tall, 1000 lb. Fist around). Pursuing the vehicle, Thunder soon takes it out with a massive charge from on high. Both Powerblast and Fist are quick to get back on their feet and engage Thunder in battle, with Diehard joining them not long after. They nearly escape when Fist Fist hurls the Uhauls engine at the flying Thunder, who is forced to chase and catch it before it takes out a number of nearby vagrants. Nevertheless, our hero quickly tracks the group down again and a protracted battle begins to rage through the streets of old downtown Winnipeg.

Thunder begins to feel the weight of the fight and calls in for asssistence from the Epsilon's, but before they arrive, a naked guy with powers strongly resembling those of Powersurge arrives on the scene and helps to finish off both Fist and Diehard. As the Epsilon shuttle nears however, both Powerblast and the newcomer begin to flee. Thunder is ordered to pursue and apprehend Powersurge, leaving the muchly weakened Powerblast to the Epsilons.

Powersurge races south, and in due time begins to skim the surface of the ground, until at last giving in to Thunder's amplified pleas to stop and talk. Thunder is finds himself at odds with his orders. Powersurge is entirely unsympathetic to Thunder's plight, to the point of offensiveness. Thunder tries to sucker Powersurge, but the veteran proves to be prepared. Before long the muchly weakened Thunder is KOed and Powersurge once again escapes.

Returning to Winnipeg, Thunder learns that all of the Powermongers are now in custody. He once again feels the sting of Mr.White's criticism of his failure, and while anxious to get back to Toronto for his picnic with Sue and Brent tomorrow, he is informed that he will be remaining in Winnipeg just in case Powersurge shows himself again.