The neon light flashes blue across Pete's face as he steps under it and through the doorway of the Blue Moon Tavern. The wall inside also bears the tavern's logo, with a scantily clad girl hanging off the tip of a crescent moon. Pete pauses a moment to look at it -- he's been away a long time. 

It's Friday night and the place is teaming with people, mostly the guys who work down here near the docks, and the gals who hang around them. He strides in, taking his place among the patrons at the bar, ordering a beer with a nod. The bartender is a Korean guy, someone new, but after eight years Pete figures a few things have gotta change. The live band is pretty good, sort of a rockabilly sound, and a pretty blonde with big lungs fronting.  

The beer goes down fast while he takes in the basketball game on the television behind the bar. He orders another and heads for the pool table. The table is busy, so he throws darts for a while, then cycles in to rack up the balls and play against the winner. The guy isn't that good, but Pete hasn't played in eight years. Conversation turns to who's who in the local arena, who's been put away, who's taken their place. The names have changed, but the scene is still the same.

 "You been around here before?" the guy asks. "I think I know you from someplace, maybe."

 "Naw, never been here," Pete replies, and begs off the next game, returning to the bar for another beer. The bartender sets the mug in front of him, but lingers there. After a moment Pete realizes that someone else is leaning up to the bar next to him -- the blonde from the band. Never one to miss his shot, Pete pipes up, "Another one for the Lady." She smiles and settles onto the stool.

"You're new here?"

"Not really. Just been... outta town for a while."

She nods knowingly and sips her beer. She knows what "out of town" means coming from a guy in this place. They chat for a few minutes, about her mostly. She's trying to make it singing but all she can get is gigs in places like this; Pete sympathizes. Seems like all he can ever get is jobs of one kind too. She seems nice, but something's wrong, not with her, but with... he can't put his finger on it. He's almost made the feeling go away, when he feels the rough tap on his shoulder.

"I know you." It's the guy from the pool table.

"No," Pete answers firmly, "you don't."

"Yeah I do -- you're The Dynamo -- one of them paranormals. I saw your picture in a magazine article about Stronghold." The guy shoves his finger at Pete's chest. "You're a supervillain!"

Pete stays calm, but he's getting pissed. "Listen buddy, I ain't got no beef with you. Just buzz off or I'm gonna feed you that finger."

A small knot of people is gathering behind the guy. He's a regular and nobody knows Pete from Adam. The bartender is taking notice from the other side of the room; the blonde still sitting next to him looks nervous.

Emboldened by the back-up, the guy pushes his luck. "This ain't a place for you. Take your mutation someplace else."

Pete stands up. The crowd fades back a pace.

"I ain't no mutation."

"Prove it." Someone hands the guy a pool cue. "Come on."

Pete looks around quickly, evaluating his ways out, but they're all blocked by the watching crowd. He scowls and puts up his fists.

The guy shoves the cue at Pete's chest, striking him with the point and driving him back into the bar. Pete grabs the cue, holding onto it while he drives his right fist into the guy's face.

Stumbling back, the guy manages to keep hold of the cue, and quickly recovers to take a swing. Dodging to the side, Pete deflects the blow with his forearm, which hurts, but isn't as bad as getting tagged in the skull. Now they've moved into the center of the bar and the crowd is going crazy, screaming for a good fight.

Pete rushes forward and plants his shoulder in the guy's stomach, driving him back against the wall payphone with a crash. The smell of ozone crackles through the air as Pete pulls back his fist for another punch. Electricity arcs to the wall and floor around him. The crowd backs up, gasping. Stunned, the guy stands there and takes a couple of more punches, finally slumping to the floor with a groan.

"HEY!" Pete turns to confront the new threat and sees the crowd parting to reveal the bartender pointing a shotgun at him. Pete's hand shoots up in response, electricity ready to blast out of him, but he stops himself, the sparks flowing around his body like water.

"Just get out of here." Says the bartender, his English a bit stiff.

Pete switches to Korean, "He attacked me."

The bartender responds similarly, "I know you were a regular here before, so just get out of here. No police, okay?" Pete looks around at the crowd. Nobody wants him to stay, not even the blonde. She's in the protective arms of some other guy already. Protecting her from Pete.

With a grimace, he stalks out the door and into the night. A few minutes later, a crack of lightning sounds through the clear, cloudless night.