- "Is this really necessary? These weapons were designed specifically for our kids' powers."
"It's better to make sure no one's head explodes when they're used on people." - ―Robert Minoru and Geoffrey Wilder[src]
The Ambush on PRIDE's Employees was a successful plan organized by PRIDE in order to test their new weapons out on Megan and Mary.
Background[]
- "Unfortunately, I hurt my son. But that's not what I'm doing here. They'd just simply be tools to ensure our safety and, ultimately, theirs."
- ―Victor Stein[src]
Upon being informed by Flores that the Runaways were actively investigating against them and that they were willing to put up a fight, PRIDE, under the influence of Victor Stein, decided to design weapons specifically targeted against the Runaways' superpowers and equipment. Stein, helped by Robert Minoru and Janet Stein[1], created several pieces of equipment, including the Subsonic Wave Generator and the Multidirectional Tranquilizer Darts.[2]
In order to make sure that the weapons were not lethal, PRIDE decided to test them first on two PRIDE employees: Mary and Megan, who were summoned at the Stein Mansion.[3]
Ambush[]
- "What's crappening? Oh, my God, what's song with bee? You're messing with the pong weeples! This house..."
"...belongs to me." - ―Mary and Victor Stein[src]
Believing that they had been called to receive a promotion from PRIDE management, Mary and Megan joyfully made their way to the Stein Mansion. However, they were soon ambushed by several members of PRIDE, all dressed in black and wearing hoods in order not to be recognized. The Magistrate's Wife, who had infiltrated PRIDE by possessing Stacey Yorkes, activated a Subsonic Wave Generator, rendering Mary and Megan unable to speak properly.
Megan was quickly incapacitated by a Multidirectional Tranquilizer Dart, and Mary attempted to dissuade the attackers from assaulting her, mistaking them for a group of criminals targeting the owners of the Stein Mansion. However, she was also made unconscious by a dart shot by Victor Stein. Once the two women were incapacitated, PRIDE commented on the effects of the weapons and the necessary adjustments. Dale Yorkes then injected Mary and Megan with Synnergy Serum, thus erasing their memories of the whole encounter and enabling PRIDE to test the weapons again.[3]
Aftermath[]
Chase Stein, who had returned to live at the Stein Mansion with his parents, vaguely overheard the agitation going outside the house, but never realized what was happening. In the next morning, he was simply told by Victor Stein that some PRIDE employees had come to the mansion to pick up a few things.
Although they did not suffer any visible wound and had no memory of the brutal tests they had undergone, Mary and Megan were left pretty shaken by the whole experience. For example, they struggled to remember the current date and felt quite exhausted. Stein later found an empty vial of Synnergy Serum that had been used on the employees.[3]
The test enabled PRIDE to conclude that the weapons they had been designing were efficient and fulfilled their purpose. They later successfully used them during the Chase of the Runaways.[4]