"Mr. and Mrs. Bromfield you have to understand, kids who have runaway before often do it again. I'm sure you are worried over nothing. Mary will turn up again and she will be fine.." The officer gave a reassuring smile to the couple, knowing it would do nothing to alleviate their concerns. Truth be told a missing persons case was nothing he wanted to deal with either. Even if they ran away often.. these things never ended happily. The kids might end up just running away again, be found in a ditch with awful things done to them, or worse.. never be found.

"You don't understand this is Mary!" Nora Bromfield opened her mouth to continue but her husband beat her to it.

"This just isn't any kid Officer. This is OUR daughter. This is Mary. She wouldn't run away again. We were having problems but those problems are gone. This is our daughter.. now I ask again.. what are you going to do to find her." Nick Bromfield's tone was harsh and cold, quite unlike him. If anything it showed how very scared the man was.

The young officer started stammering with panic and nervousness, there were a few things he hadn't learned at the academy. And that was how to deal with the powerful and panicky parents. It wasn't a surprise that when the giant man in red landed he gasped out, "Captain Marvel, sir, thank god!"

The tall man nodded to the officer, he stood a head taller than Nick did. "Mr. and Mrs. Bromfield, I heard the news. What happened.."

If anyone had known the relationship between these three people perhaps the officer would have understood why they seemed particularly relieved to see the Captain. Then again the way the police had been behaving could also explain soooo so much.

"Bil..Captain Marvel.. our daughter is gone. The police think she's run away but its not possible.. its simply not possible." Nora gasped out tears streamed along her face. Her body sagged against her husband as she gazed up at the alter ego of her other child. Nick rewrapped his arm about his wife and continued quietly. "The door was left wide open, we found her books all left open her homework was on her bed and the radio was still on. She wouldn't have run away."

Captain Marvel closed his eyes for a moment stretching out with his Wizard gifted senses. Seeking a slight sensation for something out of place, no sign of Mary other than the lingering touches from when she was around as Mary marvel.. but no recent transformation. There was something else though that was fresh. Magic. Not like theirs, but something darker something acrid and impure. His eyes snapped open and he looked at the Bromfields. "She was taken...there's a magical residue of who ever did it. I couldn't place it. But I will find out who did it..."

He shot his eyes over to the officer, and his voice rang out with authority that would be respected in Fawcett City, "Call a crime scene unit.. everything needs to be checked over. Every thread, grain of sand, blade of grass must be looked over. Mary Bromfield will be found and nothing can be left unturned in her search." The rookie blinked then picked up his radio calling in the request turning away from the family and the super hero. The Captain's eyes looked towards the Bromfields with a world of worry that equaled their own, he simply whispered, "I'll find her. I promise."

The pair nodded and Nora murmured softly just for the Captain, "Be careful Billy, we love you."

The man quirked a corner of his mouth, to show he heard her. With that he stretched his fist upwards and rocketed skyward in a blazing red streak.

Freddy Freeman tried again. He punched in the number and then all that he got was a busy signal. Who was Mary talking to. And why the hell don't the Bromfields have call waiting.

He leaned back on his stool and scowled a touch. His eyes trailed over the various customers and again he wished that they would go. Sgt. Michalson came up and grinned with her usual cup of coffee.

"Y'know Sarge, you should lay off the caffeine. Probably make you happier in the long run."

"Cute Freeman, last thing I need is less caffeine. Only thing that keeps me from slaughtering half the city some nights." The redhead gave him a slight wink, while taking up a copy of one of the fashion rags. The radio on her hip started to pop and hiss with life, "Hey Michalson, Come in. We need the CSU over to the Bromfield house. The address."

"Wish I could stay and flirt with you some more Freeman but duty calls.." As she looked up though the newsstand was abandoned, there was no sign of the crippled teen at all as if almost as if he'd never been there at all. She shrugged, "Weird kid." A crack of thunder rolled throughout the city and she tightened her coat about her, "Better not rain might damage the evidence."

The blue streak rocketed through the city. Sonic booms echoing behind him as he picked up speed. Captain Marvel Junior as he was named, or CM3 as he called himself sped through the city looking for one person. That one who most likely knew what was up, and the first opportunity he was going to flatten him for not summoning him. He damn well should have been contacted before the police were. He should have been there! What could have happened!

Another blur of color raced through the night sky, that one red. CM3 was swift to alter his direction rushing towards Captain Marvel. He positioned himself between the man and the direction he was headed forcing the big red cheese to slam to a halt in mid air. "BILLY!" The teen snarled out at the older hero, "WHAT is going on? What happened to the Bromfields.."

Captain Marvel took a breath trying to catch it to regain his center. Now was not the time for the young hero to be in this kind of situation. He and Freddy had been on an edge for a while now and it was not going to be worked out now. They had a duty.

With a calmness that was bordering on a raging storm Captain Marvel spoke through clenched teeth, "The Bromfields. are fine. Mary has been kidnapped."

The teen reacted as if a knife had been slid between his ribs. The mouth opened the eyes widened his face grew pale. He stammered for a moment to let the words begin to come to him, "What.. but that's. impossible." Freddy blinked up at Billy looking for a sign that this was a sick joke planned by Mary and the other hero. But there was no sign of flickering humor at all.

"No.. they got her before she was transformed.. probably gas.. and I can't sense her.. so that means she didn't get to transform.. no sense of her magic other than old traces." Fawcett City's protector scanned over the horizon. "I'm headed to the Rock now. The old Wizard is going to have to help us find her. " Again he ground his teeth, "C'mon. I don't want to lose anytime."

Junior firmed his bottom lip up taking on a determined look and nodded. With that the two heroes returned to their desperate flight disappearing into the sunset.

A soft chanting filled the cave. The air was redolent with the scents of moisture, earth, and decay. A match was lit and touched to some incense, its pungent perfume filling the area much like an eel slowly gliding through water.

The chanting didn't cease its rhythm though the volume began to rise. A girl lay in the shadows tied to a table. Mary Bromfield stared up at the rough stone ceiling and worked at her bonds furiously she twisted her wrists trying to pull herself free. The harsh rope had already left raw marks on her skin and she could feel the blood start to flow. The gag could not be removed until she had her hands free. 'Just wait.. just wait till I get free. man I like watching Wendy never wanted to be an extra..'

The figure in the black cloak just laughed, "No need to struggle Mary. Its all over now.." The chanting still carried on in the background and from the folds of the cloak came forth a hand clasping a wickedly edged knife. It gleamed in the faint light of the cave. Mary's eyes grew wide. 'Billy . Freddy. where are you.."

Then with a swift move the knife plunged into the slim girl, a muffled shriek of pain tore into the air silencing the chanting.

"Sir?"

The cave was quiet. Captain Marvel and CM3 stepped along the hall. Each of the statues looked the same as they always did. Creepy. The seven deadly sins. They moved until they came to the chamber and there he was. Flowing beard and hair the color of the first fall of snow. Robes from an age long past. Shazam, the wizard, was settled on the throne. "I know already of the issue you are trying to solve and I have worse news."

The pair were frozen in their steps and stared at the wizard. He wasn't hiding what he said, he wasn't being cryptic. "You both could not sense Mary because she hadn't transformed.. I was able to sense the child until a few moments ago."

"Until. a few moments."

Freddy just sank to his knees looking as if the world had ended in one horrible moment.

The Captain just spoke again, "Is she dead?"

"I do not know."

"So that's all he has to say.. I don't know.. I'll keep looking.. she can't be found.."

"Shut up Freddy."

The pair were flying in Fawcett City it had been a completely futile visit to the Wizard. Now they just flew through their city and searched. The teen ranted on not even containing his rage.."No he does this all the time.. you'd think that with all that goddamned power he could find one teenage girl. Especially a Teenage girl he KNOWS!"

"Shut up Freddy."

Now Cm3 rounded on Captain Marvel, "And you .. she's your SISTER. And you just sat there listening to him nodding your head.. being his little do boy agreeing to whatever it is he thinks is necessary. I'm tired of this crap. TIRED of it."

It happened more swiftly than Junior could move. The figure in red grabbed Freddy roughly by his uniform and slammed him into a building. The sound from the force of this roared through out Fawcett like a thunderbolt. Cap's fists pinned Freddy into place as he spoke through clenched teeth.

"I said Shut Up. We are going to do this. We are going to let the Wizard use all his powers and abilities to find her. He found her once before he can do it again. I did not find Mary only to lose her again. She is MY sister. Shut up Freddy. Whatever feelings you think you have for her forget about them. All that matters is getting her back to me and the Bromfields. Just Shut up and lets do this.. we will find her and I will NOT listen to one more moment of you whining like a spoiled brat. Until we get a solid lead its business as usual. We take care of Fawcett. Its what Mary would have wanted."

Junior stared into Cap's eyes. They were so harsh.. so cold. So lost. He'd never seen him like this ever. He snarled back at the man unable to resist the urge, "So what.. what she means to me.. doesn't Matter? Everything I feel is negated because I'm not blood. Because I'm not one of you.you're right Billy. None of it matters right now. But as soon as Mary's back..count on us revisiting this. I'm sick of being the blue monkey in our little outfit."

"Fine. When Mary's back. you and I will have this out once and for all.." The older hero held Freddy in his place for another moment. The pair just glaring at each other then finally released him. They flew on in sullen silence, the words they had shared weighing heavily on their minds.

They had been on patrol for a long time now. Each hour spent seemed to stretch on and on. Of Mary there wasn't a sign. They stopped muggings, stopped robberies. They rescued orphans from a fire. It was a busy night in Fawcett City. And it was getting busier.

Captain Marvel lifted a bus off a bridge from where it teetered precariously. The teens inside cheering him on as he saved the band from plunging into the rocky waters below. CMJ was holding on to a corvette that was desperately trying to speed away despite the fact that the front was smashed in. "Honestly . you're that drunk you think you can get away..pfffff."

The captain pulled open the bus freeing the students who were stranded inside. "Out quickly.." It didn't take much for a scramble of teens and instruments clad in embarrassingly teal uniforms to emerge. It had started to ignite just as the last sousaphonist tumbled out. It was tempting to Billy to toss it into the water to put it out immediately but already the Wisdom of Solomon was working he just took a step back and slammed his hands together with all the force he could muster. The concussive force blew out the flames. Cheers rose up from the kids and the captains both gave a slight wave normally things like this gave them a rush. Made them remember what was worth doing. but as they both rose into the sky they just were silent.

They landed on the water tower. Captain Marvel and Captain Marvel Junior..their eyes watching the city. Everything had changed in a matter of hours for them. Everything.

Freddy had lain back against the metal his eyes again drawn towards his compatriot. Neither had said a word to the other in hours. The silence was grating but what could he do. And right now, an apology was out of the question. There was too much on his mind and all of it roaming about the events of the day. The day that was rapidly turning into night. How long had it been since she'd been taken. Only about 4 hours. He raked his hand across his face and tried to think about anything else. If he could he'd tear apart this city looking for her, but that would probably do almost no good.

Captain Marvel's eyes lashed over the city not looking back to his comrade in arms. His thoughts not much different from Junior's. Mary. How long? What could they have done to her in that time. Everything was different for him and none of it was good. Would he truly be an orphan this time? No matter how Nick and Nora had taken him in as well it was Mary who would always be the only person left in his family.

The only sound that filled the air was that of the evening traffic. People returned to their homes. Lights flicked on in the city and it should have been all right. Everything peaceful and calm.

*KRAKOOM*

An earth-shattering explosion echoed through out the city. With the speed of Mercury to send them soaring swiftly, Captain Marvel and Captain Marvel Junior rose up to take care of the situation.

It wasn't hard to spot where it had happened, the inferno roared on the main interstate. Traffic led them to the site. A gas tanker had blown fiery debris across the roads. Chaos was dominating the area.

"Man.. when it rains it pours. "

"CM3 see if there are any injured near by.. I'll take care of the fire."

Again the teen chafed at the orders but moved. Now was not the time for their dispute. He started moving people that were too close to the fires away. The blue clad hero gave them a bold grin, what was he afraid of .. a little fire. No. He was going to help each and everyone here who needed it.

The Captain swooped up into the sky much to quickly to be seen by most. He'd been putting out fires all day and it seemed like there wasn't anything he could do about the situation going on. His sister kidnapped his supposed friend treating him like he was a great big slug. He was tired of this as well. Billy was a hero and he wasn't going to stop being that because of the things that really mattered to him. He snagging clouds in his wake herding them into a growing mass over the burning fuel. A simple clap of the hands wasn't going to put out this fire. However a torrential downpour. The odds were definitely in the favor of that. Just had to make it so there were too much clouds for the area until...

The rains fell to earth each drop smothering the blaze until the air was thick with steam and smoke. The Captain landed to watch the storm work. He heard someone land near him and sighed, "What now CM3. another problem in the city."

A slender hand landed on his shoulder forcibly spinning him around, "Hey Billy.." The woman slammed her fist into his face knocking the big red cheese off his feet and onto his back amongst the smoldering shrapnel.

The woman was garbed in black. It was a dress of sorts.. sleeveless held on her shoulders by a pair of silver clasps. A sash wrapped snugly about her waist and the long skirt was more a rather lengthy loincloth than a dress. The sides of her legs left bare. What had once been a sweet beauty had turned cruel. Her dark hair fluttering about her shoulders, her blue eyes sharpened like a hawk's. And a thunderbolt of silver emblazoned on the front of her torso.

"M-Mary.."

"That's my name big brother..you won't get a chance to wear it out.."

Then Mary laughed..

NEXT ISSUE: Mary.. Mary Quite Contrary. What has happened to the Mary Marvel we all know and love.. what can be done to put her right.. can anything be done? Join us in Thirty.