The Heist-

*"Framed for a crime they didn’t commit, Maj General Kawallis, Mari, Nico and Sir Percival are forced to steal sensitive information to clear their names.  However, Lt. General Morelli is determined to put them all in prison."*

The Heist is the 3rd Story Arc of the revived 2021 version of Mari Solinski and The Wonder Kitty taking place after the events of The Prisoner Agenda but before the events of Something Big and Ken Bailey's THE MIGHTY ENERGYGIRL ISSUE #40 Cats Meow and ISSUE #41 Cat To the Future. It was co-written by J.L . Barrera who helped with the premise and helped plot out the story.

## Original Run 2021

The Heist was originally ran beginning on 6 August 2021 in the Academy High School L*ION GAZETTE* as the first story arc of the 2021-2022 School and is, thus, the first totally new story since 2016. It takes place a few months after The Prisoner Agenda at a point where Mari and Niko are are more settled into their work but are still seeing the emergence of new powers.

The Heist was announced in the 30 July 2021 issue of THE LION GAZETTE.

## Versions

### The Lion Gazette Version

The Lion Gazette version suffered greatly from delays in publication and cancelled issues due to school related closures due to COVID-19 and other considerations. Thus, the publication lost momentum requiring more intensive recaps and even some repeated segments. So disrupted was the publication schedule that the final part had do be presented as a narrative with the climax remaining undrawn.

### Facebook Version

A Facebook Photo Album version of the heist was posted as a weekly serial on 31 December 2021 as was the first property to be posted in the more traditional comic book page size of 6.5 x 10.5. This version varies slightly from THE LION GAZETTE version adding some additional scenes. Due to publishing issues and school related issues, the last part of The Heist had to be printed in narrative from in THE LION GAZETTE. These scenes were fully drawn out (with some revisions) in the Facebook version.

## Plot

The story opens at the offices of THE LION GAZETTE where Security Chief Charlie Murphy is assisting Zandra Marie Niko and Mari Ashley Solinski with a particularly large volume of mail resulting from a three-day weekend. Mari calls out Niko for brazenly flirting with Charlie leading Niko to realize she actually was doing so and seems to have developed some feelings for him citing Charlie's more regular visits to the mailroom. Mari disapproves because she feels it is interfering with their work. Niko laments the relationship to which Mari recommends they go to a new restaurant, Boo's Bistro to get he mind off her overthinking. Niko is, however, not cheered up citing that they only have a 30 minute lunch. This prompts a strange reaction from Mari who, after noting Mr. Larkin said they could do "reporter stuff" and go to lunch when they finished, seemingly delivers the mail so swiftly that it is completely delivered by the end of Niko's sentence causing some shock. The agree that Major General Kawallis should be informed.

Meanwhile, Major General Kawallis was receiving a morning briefing from his new British Exchange Officer, Flight Lieutenant Percival Forbes-Smyth who was attached to LION SQUAD after their recent adventure in Europe. Major General Kawallis offered Forbes-Smyth command of Wrangler Squadron to which Forbes-Smyth initially had concerns. In the end Forbes-Smyth accepted the commander after discussing some personal issues with the General.

As Mari and Niko excited entered the General's office, the morning briefing indicated several items of interest including the fact that Major General Kawallis was being sent to inspect an installation at the South Pole and that Organization ORKO was collecting artifacts from the time of the Bronze Age. This, however, was interrupted by the exchange of insults and words between Mari and Niko and Flight Lieutenant Forbes-Smyth.

Major General Kawallis admonished the trio for their behaviors and pointed out that Lt. General Morelli had called for Mari and Niko to receive more training and that Dr. Harvey Lemmeck, of the South Polar facility had recommend that they take their findings about Mari and Niko's powers to a Dr. Willoway Jacobs. Dr. Jacobs is an old aquantience of Major General Kawallis from his days with the F.D.I.

Dr. Jacobs is initially unwilling to entertain Major General Kawallis' requests, however, Dr. Jacobs relents when he realizes that Mari, Niko and the General will not leave until he hears them out. Jacobs agrees to help once he discovers that the three have months worth of data his supercomputer, *Odysseus* van process. As they leave, Dr. Jacobs and Odysseus decide to make a copy of the data for their own purposes.

Upon leaving Texas A&M University's Manning Hall, they are confronted by General Morelli who learned of his whereabouts from CMSgt Barker. Morelli is pushing for Mari and Niko to get more training, Major General Kawallis explains that the two had been rated as Public Affairs Technicians, however, Niko notices a butterfly and begins to try to catch it as it lands on Major General Kawallis' service cap. Embarrassed by Niko's unmilitary behavior, Major General Kawallis agrees to having them trained in military protocol while he is in Antarctica inspecting a research installation.

Major General Kawallis informs the trio of Mari, Percy and Niko that he is leaving for Antarctica and that he will be out of communication with them for the duration. Percy will be left in command of the base and indicates that her would look after the two girls.

The next week unfolds with Mari and Niko going to their jobs at The Lion Gazette in the mornings and attending training at Seeligson A.F.B. in the evenings. On the Wednesday of that week Dr. Lola Alotta informs the girls that there is a major journalism opportunity at the KINGSVILLE Museum of Science and History. The girls will get an exclusive look at a rare artifact, the Idrissa Stone, before any other reporters provided that can visit the museum on the Friday. This plan is put into jeopardy as Mari and Niko are forced into some training activity which would interfere with the museum visit. Mari is confident that they can do both.

When Friday arrives, Mari and Niko, who are ordered to purchase some ABU Battle Dress Uniforms, arrive at Texas A&M University Kingsville to receive some special training. This training consists of a dress down from a a former US Army Drill Instructor which General Morelli has transferred to the US Air Force and promoted to the rank of Major, Major Hardcastle. Percy, who is relishing in the girls misfortune, is flabbergasted when Mari and Niko use their powers to mitigate the the behaviors Major Hardcastle was using against them. This prompts Percy to further investigate Mari and Niko via the official files that Major General Kawallis left him.

Mari and Niko, with little time to spare, finally make it to the museum minutes before closing time. There they interact with the museum's curator who agrees to show them the mystical stone. Mari is unimpressed as Niko remains focused on gathering materials for her news story. For a brief minute, Mari enters a trance and begins speaking in a strange manner causing Niko to ask if she is ok. The Curator also begins to behave strangely and pulls out a device with causes Mari and Niko to call instantly unconscious.

The Curator turns out to be an agent of Organization ORKO, Roger Ratnik who is a noted thief. He makes off with the Idrissa Stone and leaves Mari and Niko behind to take the blame. Ratnick tips off the Military Authorities about the heist implicating Mari and Niko. Thus, when they awake the next day, Lt. General Morelli and a small unit of Military Police arrest the two and take them to Seeligson Air Force Base for questioning.

At the base, Percy is reviewing the records on Mari and Niko to attempt to better known their story. As he looks through the files he comes across records of the events which led the two to obtain their powers and is dumbfounded. At that time, Chief Barker informs Percy that Mari and Niko on the base and are to be submitted to hours of questioning by Morelli. Mari is replete with comebacks to Morelli's inquiries, however, Niko is showing strain. Morelli decides he needs to take the girls to a more secure Army facility at Fort Sam Houston. Percy and Barker, thinking fast, formulate a plan to thwart Morelli and allow the girls to escape his clutches.

Meanwhile, Roger Ratnick is held up in an somewhat abandoned old gas plant/pump station desperately seeking and extraction with the Idrissa Stone. His call, however, was intercepted by Dr. Tara Daffida who, out of envy and spite, purposefully delays the extraction much to Ratnick's frustrations.

Back atSeeligson,, Morelli orders his helicopter to be readied for the trip, however, Chief Barker ordered the maintenance crew to disassemble it citingan issues with its engine. Morelli s furious and allocates Major General Kawallis' helicopter for his needs. Chief Barker introduces Percy to 1st Lt. Eric Robinson who is on flight restriction for having been exposed to measles. Robinson is grounded and is sad to miss the CORSS COUNTRY flight which Wrangler Squadron is scheduled to launch. Percy, at first perplexed, realizes that Barker has set it up where Robinson will fly as Percy freeing Percy to address the needs of Mari and Niko.

Morelli, waiting on the flight-line, has a very frightened Mari and Niko loaded onto the helicopter in handcuff. Percy, disguised as helicopter pilot Capt. Kenneth Peabody, steals the helicopter leaving Morelli behind. The girls soon discover that their pilot is actually Percy and Mari snaps the chains from her handcuffs.

Flying Northwest from Seeligson, Percy sports a train and lands the helicopter near. Niko asked Mari to break her handcuffs also, but Mari suggests she KITTYFORM to be physically smaller in volume, it works. Percy is perplexed at the change and realizes that this must be Niko's superpower. He also asked what happens to Nikos clothes when she does that only for Mari to accuse him of perversion.

Percy denies this citing that it is a legitimate question and then asks the girls to remove their uniform items. The idea is to appear that they hopped the train to escape. The train crew pulls out and the trio wander the countryside for nearly an hour until Mari, frustrated with the situation, lashes out at Percy triggering an argument.

Nikos breaks up the argument an notes an old structure obscured by decades of growth. She recommends they shelter there as their daylight is limited. The others agree and they make an attempt to clean the area. Percy recommends that they plan their next move, however the mentally and physically exhausted girls pass out and are fast asleep.

Taking advantage of the girl's incapacity, Percy wanders into town. Unaware of if the authorities are aware of their escape, Percy purloins some clothing from a church donation drive to cover his borrowed flight suit. He then makes his way to the local discount store and secures food and clothes for the girls using the emergency currency the flightsuit's owner stored in a pocket. Percy return to find Niko and Mari awake and livid that he left them alone in the shed. Percy, however, redeems himself with the food and clothes items he brought. He also has two newspapers which don't seem to report on the museum robbery or the escape leading them to conclude that Morelli had not informed the civilian authorities. This allowed the trio to move around more freely.

The group makes their way to a local agricultural COOP and Mari and Niko are startled by Helladias Gonzalez, a local large scale farmer. Gonzales believes Mari and Percy are soon to be married and lends him the use of a produce truck to help the two lovebirds. They proceed to drive the truck to Welliris Ranch near Premont, Texas which is, incidentally, near Seeligson Air Force Base.

After changing into their tactical clothing, Niko is able to sneak into the base in KITTYFORM in an attempt to retrieve a notebook which Major General Kawallis had complied on the activities of Organization ORKO in South Texas. Despite Morelli's guards monitoring the base, Niko is able to retrieve the notebook thanks to the intervention of Chief Barker.

Upon returning, the trio discovers a list of possible safe houses in South Texas. They decided to investigate them one at a time starting with the nearby Gas Compressor station South of Premont citing that, while improbable, it was close and that they had escaped Morelli by hiding in the unlikely nearby places.

On arrival, the group splits up to search the buildings unaware that Roger Ratnick is hiding in the main building with the stolen Idrissa Stone. Percy and Mari search the bottom story of the main pump house as Niko explores the upper part of the pipe works. Ratnick get eh drop on Niko and renders her unconscious with his Ultra Sonic immobilizer which allows him to tie her to the pipe work structure and manipulate the valves.

Niko recovers consciousness well earlier than expected and starts yowling for Mari and Percy much to Ratnick's surprise. Mari makes her way up the ladder to confront Ratnick who intends to immobilize her as well. However, Mari makes use of her super strength to best Ratnick in a fight which results in Mari flinging him from the upper level to the ground floor where Percy apprehends Ratnick.

As the trio secure Ratnick for transport, the compressor station suddenly explodes as they realize that Ratnick had intended to kill them by causing the pressure in the compressor to reach danger levels. They decided to turn themselves in.

Meanwhile Lieutenant General Morelli is closing in on what he believes to be Mari and Niko at a railroad yard in Houston, Texas. Right as he is about to raid a boxcar, he is informed that Mari and Niko had turned themselves in. It is then revealed that he had been tracking a hobo and stray cat.

A few days later, a court martial hearing in convened at Seeligson Air Force Base presided over by General Howard "Howie" Howitzer. Jenny Jeffers of The Jenny Jeffers Show is on hand to cover the proceedings prompting Dr, Lola and Peggy O'Shea concern as Jeffers in know for "questionabel journalistic practices." Mari and Niko, represented by Captain Douglas MacKillroy, stand for the reading of the charges as General Morelli calls for the changes to be be dismissed. This encourages General Howitzer to chastise Morelli for denying Mari and Niko due process of law and forbids Morelli from dealing with Mari and Niko without official orders. The case is dismissed to a grand celebration of friends and family. Percy appears to congratulate the girls pretending he was not involved causing Mari's mother, Selinda Solinski, to suggest Percy and a potential boyfriend for Mari. Mari is horrified by this.

At a later time, Major General Kawallis returns with his associate, the noted Us Air Force scientist Colonel Dr. Harvey Lemmeck. While initially pleased at his return from the South Pole, his attitude changes and the listens to the tale of what transpired in his absence.

## Characters (in order of appearance)

* Charlie Murphy
* Mari Solinski
* Zandra Marie Niko
* Flight Lieutenant Percival Forbes-Smyth
* Major General Joseph E. Kawallis, USAF
* CMSgt Lewis Barker
* Dr. Willoway Jacobs
* *Odysseus*
* Lt. General John F. Morelli, USA
* Dr. Lola Alotta
* Peggy O'Shea
* Museum Curator
* Roger Ratnick

## Commentary

There are several themes in "The Heist" which make themselves known only gradually. The first is the idea that Mari Solinski and Zandra Niko are more than just the "adventurers" we see in the various story arcs. Things happen in between the stories. They lead a rather normal life as mail clerks at THE LION GAZETTE, not boring *per se,* but more routine. They also advance as characters during these scenes. One such activity which shows this from the start is that Niko and Charlie Murphy's are developing a relationship. Although mostly occurring "off screen," it is clear that there is more to Niko and Charlie than what was shown in "Origins" and "The Prisoner Agenda." It might be most fitting that this relationship has moved to a stage where it is affecting Mari and Niko's daily activities. In fact, at the start of "The Heist" Niko only realizes the true extent of her feelings for Charlie. This occurs, additionally, while Mari discovers a new power.

Additionally, this story arc bring the character of Flight Lieutenant Percival Forbes-Smyth more to the center. His initial appearance in "The Prisoner Agenda" is almost caustic as his arrogant attitude clashes with Mari Solinski in a very negative way. This will have lasting effects over the next few story arcs as we discover that "Percy," as he comes to be called, is more than just a that one-dimensional character.

Mari and Niko also end up in a strange position as Major General Kawallis is called away for most of the story. This leaves the girls to "fend for themselves" and "buddy up" with Percy. This came about because it was pointed out that Major General Kawallis seemed to be poised to "save the day" again and again from his position above them. Removing Kawallis for the better part of the story let's the protagonists become tempered by the situation.

ORGANIZATION ORKO was referenced in The Prisoner Agenda as the power behind Duke Daniel's attempted coup, however, no operatives other than the Duke were seen. In The Heist, we get a bit more ORGANIZATION ORKO, however, Roger Ratnick is only rather working on half of it's Supreme Leader, Lucien Petty. Only Dr. Tara Daffida is seen in the action,.