Revenge: Act 1: A Time To Die - part 2
by BlueBard

Previously...

In the face of an alien invasion by the Domain, AlcheMiss, Microwave, and Man O'War race through time in attempt to close the dimensional portals used by Lord Dominion's shock troops.  Though only seconds have passed since the sixth portal opened, AlcheMiss and the others have been fighting the aliens for over an hour, transported through time by the cosmic powers of Man-Bot.  Meanwhile, Minute Man and the other founding members of Freedom Force, Mentor and El Diablo, are engaged in a desperate battle for their lives against overwhelming odds.

El Diablo rocketed toward the aliens protecting the second portal.  Deadly beams speared upwards, narrowly missing him and forcing him to evade backwards.  "Ay, Caramba!  I can't even get close enough to drop my Inferno blast on them!  Looks like that portal's about to open again.  I'm gonna try it one more time!"  El Diablo spiraled back toward the portal just as it flared brilliantly.  "There's three more coming!  I'm gonna try to nail them before they get all the way through!"

Mentor shouted telepathically, "Diablo!  Wait!  Those aren't -- "

A searing ball of fire shot from Diablo's hands toward the portal just as three figures stepped through.  They looked up in surprise as the deadly projectile rolled down upon them, just as Diablo recognized who they were.  "Mi Dios! No!" he cried in anguish.

A blast of water shot up to meet the flaming projectile, exploding in mid-air in a ball of superheated steam.  "Douse that flame, y'chowder-brained hothead!" Man O' War shouted angrily.  "What d'ya think this is, a fish-fry?!"

"Ah prefer catfish, mahself," AlcheMiss quipped as she sent the aliens surrounding her soaring up into the air.  "Peaches and Cream!  It's rainin' aliens!" she mocked as they slammed into the ground all around her.  AlcheMiss called up her own mystic shields to protect her as she began to exert her powers on the portal.  Microwave stood guard over her, creating another duplicate to help even the odds, while Man O 'War streaked into the air to attack one of the flyers.

"Alright!" Minute Man shouted exultantly.  "For Freedom!!!"  The sudden appearance of AlcheMiss and the others threw the invasion force into disarray, and Minute Man planned to take full advantage of it.  He dashed from cover toward the aliens nearest the first portal and launched his Minute Missile at them.  Mentor likewise stormed the alien position.

The silver eagle from Minute Man's battle staff screamed in defiance as it soared majestically into the band of invaders, clipping one warrior across his temple before zooming into a second alien's midsection and knocking the wind out of him. 

In the meantime, Mentor focused his will on a sergeant flying directly over the portal.  "Your mind is an open book to me.  You feel a great rage.  Your enemies are directly below you; attack them!" he commanded telepathically.

"Raargh!" the flying invader screamed violently.  "Die, Scum!"  WHOOSH!  He fired his plasma rocket directly below him, at maximum power, into the tangled knot of warriors guarding the portal.  BOOM!  The tremendous blast lifted them off their feet and scattered them across the scorched pavement.

The enraged rocketeer focused his weapon on the next closest target still standing, which happened to be Mentor, when a fiery blast took him from behind.  El Diablo soared past as the flyer corkscrewed to the earth trailing black smoke.  "Anyone for a barbeque?" he mocked as he spiralled away to recharge his power.

At the second portal, AlcheMiss finished the final gesture that unlocked her gift and caused mystical energy to flow from her to the dimensional gate.  Mentor had tried to explain her powers to her once; he claimed that Energy-X allowed her to tap into raw extra-dimensional energy he'd called Chaos Flux.  The gestures and the phrases she uttered worked the way they worked because she believed they did, he'd said.  A lot of mumbo jumbo, as far as she was concerned.  All she cared about at the moment was that they worked.  She could feel the churning energy around the portal suddenly twist in on itself, as the portal flared and disappeared.  She'd tried to describe the sensation to Mentor.  It was sort of like a slip knot in the middle of a rope; pull hard on both ends, and the knot unraveled itself.

The effort was draining, and she felt very tired.  She had been exerting herself almost non-stop since Microwave had freed them from Techmaster's holding cells.  How long had she been at it?  An hour?  Two hours?  She'd lost all sense of the passage of time by now.  Feeling a little weak and lightheaded, she slumped to a sitting position on the ground near Microwave's feet.  AlcheMiss silently swore off on any more time travel for a good long while, as her head began to ache and throb.

"entity designate: alchemiss," droned Microwave, "there is one dimensional portal remaining on my scanners.  you appear to be incapacitated.  is alchemiss entity able to proceed with closure of dimensional portal?"

At that moment, AlcheMiss felt the other portal build up a surge of power and then spew it out, creating a rift in the dimensional walls.  Three more aliens stepped forth to replenish their seemingly endless numbers.

"Ah can't, Lightbulb," she panted.  "All this... runnin' around through time... too much for me.  Ah need ... to rest... a spell."

Mentor's voice came through the telepathic link.  "There is no time, AlcheMiss!  You must hurry and close this portal!  The longer it stays open, the weaker the dimensional walls become.  In moments the veil that lies between the Dominion and this world will rip wide open, and a full battle fleet will emerge to rain destruction down upon the Earth!"

Minute Man replied telepathically while striking down another invader, "Mentor, can't you see she's done in?   If she tries to close that portal in her condition the strain might kill her!"

"I am truly sorry, but there is no choice.  If the portal is not closed immediately we will all die, and the Earth will fall into Lord Dominion's merciless grip."

"Ah'll do it," she resolved.  "Ah have to."  She looked up at Microwave.  "Ah can't walk that far, Lightbulb.  Can you get me there?"

"affirmative," replied the android.  With a gentleness that surprised her, the futurian robot knelt down and lifted her in his arms.  "warning: teleportation will stress organic tissue.  entity designated: alchemiss will arrive in severely weakened state."

"Ah'm already weak.  No choice.  Do it."

"engaging teleportation sequence."

AlcheMiss cried out in agony as energy ripped through the cells of her body and brilliant light filled her vision.  Somehow she was aware that her body had been converted into pure energy.  She felt, rather than saw, a powerful presence that moved alongside her.  The presence pushed, and they leapt across space at unimaginable speed.  Then white-hot pain blazed through her as her energy form was converted back into matter.  She nearly blacked out.

As Microwave and AlcheMiss appeared, the aliens nearby turned to attack the two of them.  Microwave immediately duplicated himself, and the duplicate moved forward to intercept the attackers as the robot gently lowered her to the ground a few feet away from the portal.

"energy reserves depleted.  output redirected to servomotors for physical combat."

As Microwave strode purposefully toward the invaders, AlcheMiss painfully drew herself up on her hands and knees.  Microwave wasn't kidding about her being in a weakened state.  Every muscle in her body trembled as she sat up.  She lifted her eyes to the crimson, shimmering portal, totally unaware of the combat raging around her.  Up in the sky, she could see the ghostly outlines of hundreds of otherworldly flying ships as the veil between worlds stretched and thinned. 

As AlcheMiss began the mystical ritual that would invert the rift in space, she poured all the power she had left into it.  Every fibre of her being felt the rift devour the energy and demand more, like some monsterous serpent.  She had nothing left to give, except for her own lifeforce.  Her hopes and dreams flashed through her mind as she considered the cost of closing the rift. 

There is something in the very essence of a woman to give of herself for others.  A woman has a God-given passion to nurture, to heal, to bring forth new life; to love someone or something with all that she is, holding nothing back.  It is this indescribable capacity for love that causes a woman to suffer through the terrible pangs of childbirth and continue to want more children.  It is the love that commits a mother to fill her days with hard work to provide for her children, and to surrender her nights to the care of them.  It gives her the will to go on when the hour seems the darkest, and the determination to defend those she loves with absolute ferocity.  It is this mystery of strength through surrender that only a woman can completely experience; no man can truly fathom it.

At that very moment, Catherine knew she would rather die than to allow these invaders to destroy everything she held dear.  In giving up her own life, she would purchase life for others.  So be it.

"Goodbye, Ted," she whispered.

"No!" came the voice of her beloved.  "I won't let you die!  Here!  Take my power and live!"  A torrent of violet light welled up out of thin air and surged through her, filling her with raw energy and swelling the nimbus of eldrich force that swirled around her.  Friends and foes alike fell away from the terrible maelstrom as it filled the sky above her and bore her aloft.  AlcheMiss' eyes blazed fiercely with a deep purple illumination as she hung in midair.

"Begone, Evil Ones!" AlcheMiss' voice reverberated majestically as she spoke.  "This world shall be free of your foul corruption!  So swears the AlcheMiss!  In the name of Freedom, I banish you hence to your own place!  Never return!"

Incredible force blasted outward from her energized form, tossing her friends to the ground and violently hurling the aliens and their battle ships back across the dimensional barrier.  Thus emptied of power, AlcheMiss fell lifelessly to the earth and lay still.

"AlcheMiss!  No!" shouted Minute Man.

"Do not fear," Mentor reassured the team, "I sense that she is still alive, but injured from her fall.  The strain of channelling so much awesome might has rendered her unconscious.  I suggest that we get her and our other wounded comrades into the infirmary quickly.  The threat has been ended."

"analysis: incorrect," Microwave dissented, as he knelt down to pick up AlcheMiss.  "the techmaster entity stated that the entity designated: lord dominion is present in this space-time continuum and actively involved in the plot to neutralize freedom force."

"Lord Dominion?  Here?" Mentor queried with alarm.  "But how?  The dimensional portals have been closed!"

"unknown," replied the android, as he carried AlcheMiss toward the Freedom Fortress.  "self measured the subject's biorhythms during questioning of subject.  subject was under extreme duress, and stress levels confirmed well above tolerances.  probability of falsification: zero percent."

"We will need to interrogate Techmaster and find out what else he knows," Mentor said.

"subject was dimensionally transported to freedom fortress holding cells, and is available for further questioning."  Microwave cocked his head slightly.  "accessing freedom fortress computer.  error: subject designated techmaster is no longer in captivity.  sensor records indicate subject escaped from cell during a momentary power outage coinciding with the alien attack.  sensor sweep for current whereabouts: negative."

"A pity," Mentor said.  "This Techmaster is too dangerous to be at large, but confronting Lord Dominion must be our highest priority.  Did Techmaster reveal Lord Dominion's secret base?"

"affirmative.  subject is sequestered at abandoned steel mill, sixteen point five kilometers south of city limits, point five kilometers west of route twelve."

"I know the place," Minute Man nodded.  "Let's assemble a strike team and go get him once and for all!"  Minute Man paused for a moment to consider strategy.  "We'll have to take the Freedom Flyer to get there before Lord Dominion can cause any further mischief, so we can only take four of us.  I'll lead the strike team.  Mentor, we'll need you there to deal with any Dominion technology we encounter.  Microwave, your resistance to their radiation weapons will come in handy; we'll need you along as well."

"I'm going," Man O'War asserted in a tone of voice that left no room for discussion.  "That dome-headed megalomaniac nearly did us all in."  He shot Minute Man a look that dared him to say no.

"What about me?" asked Diablo with an edge in his voice.

Minute Man sighed.  Sometimes dealing with the strong-willed individuals on this team wasn't easy.  A little diplomacy was called for.  "Diablo, I'd appreciate it if you would stay and get AlcheMiss settled in the infirmary.  I don't want to leave the Freedom Fortress vulnerable in case Dominion's got a follow-up attack planned, and you're the man for the job."

"Why not him?" Diablo pointed at Man O' War.  The blue-skinned hero's face darkened with anger.

Minute Man spoke quickly before the salty mariner could interject.  "Diablo, we'll be inside the factory.  To put it bluntly, your mobility would be greatly limited, and your most powerful attacks could be a liability in such a confined space.  You'll be more effective protecting the Freedom Fortress."

"Alright," Diablo relented grudgingly.  "But if any bad guys show up here, they're gonna get more heat than they can handle."  He took AlcheMiss from Microwave's arms and carried her inside.

Minute Man turned toward the others.  "Come on, team!  There's not a moment to lose!  To the Freedom Flyer!"

Praetor watched the large monitor with alarm as the Freedom Flyer streaked into the sky toward their secret base.  He turned to face Lord Dominion.

"Your Excellency!  Freedom Force is on their way here!"

Lord Dominion glowered at the viewscreen, brooding silently from his lofty throne.

"My Lord," Praetor prompted urgently, "What is your command?"

The tyrant snapped his baleful gaze upon his vizier.  "My command, Praetor, is that you stop your infernal screeching.  I am well aware that Mentor and his misfits are en route."

"My apologies, Your Majesty!"

Dominion pressed a button and the throne descended to the ground.  His cape swirled about him as he stood and walked into the adjacent room, Praetor dogging his heels like a beaten cur.  The despot looked up at the massive figure towering in the shadows.

"It appears that I will have need of your services, My finest warrior."

The figure spoke in a rumbling voice.  "I am yours to command, my Liege.  Upon whom shall I execute your wrath?"

Lord Dominion grinned evilly.  "The traitor Mentor and his pathetic band of do-gooders will soon be here.  Kill them.  They must not be allowed to stop the holocaust I intend to visit upon this contemptible planet.  In reward, I will heap riches upon your head and the pleasures of a thousand worlds will be yours!"

"Consider it done, my Liege."

The evil overlord turned back to Praetor with bared teeth.  "I am through toying with this backward world.  There will be an end to the humiliation I have suffered at Mentor's hand.  Once nothing is left to stand between Me and total dominion, we will deal with the arrogant fool who calls himself the Guardian of Time and I shall place my throne at the very heart of the Celestial Clock.  Make the final preparations, Praetor; my revenge is at hand!"

The Freedom Flyer circled above the abandoned factory complex, as Mentor consulted the sensor readings.

"I don't like it," gruffed Man O'War.  "The place ought t'be swarmin' wi bogeymen, and we ought t'be dodgin' death rays."

"It's a trap," Minute Man agreed.  "Dominion's got us at a disadvantage, though.  We have to go in after him, like it or not."  Minute Man turned toward his alien protege.  "Anything on the sensor scans, Mentor?"

Mentor considered his findings a moment before answering.  "I detect an energy source of some kind in the heart of this complex, in the largest building.  The energy levels are rising rapidly, as if something is powering up.  I have grave concern, Minute Man.  These readings are unlike anything I have ever seen.  Microwave, what is your analysis?"

The robot never paused in his piloting of the aircraft as he answered.  "statistical analysis: progression of energy levels appears to fit the pattern of a metafrequency quantum-effect curve.  self also scanning nanoscopic molecular displacement consistent with the theoretical model of a multi-tesseract inversion."

For the first time ever, Minute Man caught a blank look on Mentor's face.  Mentor stared at the robot a moment before admitting, "Microwave, I have no idea what you just said.  Please explain."

"definition: a metafrequency quantum-effect curve: the energy levels observed do not follow a strict logical progression, but the quantum variances continue to increase at an exponential rate.  self hypothesizes that the upper limits of this energy build-up will exceed any known ability to measure.  unknown how this energy is being contained."

"You're saying that this energy acts like some kind of exaggerated wave-particle, like an unnaturally energized photon, and will grow to incalculable levels," Minute Man stated.  Mentor raised an eyebrow, and Minute Man chuckled.  "I know it's hard to remember, even for me, but I am one of this planet's few theoretical atomic physicists, Chum.  For once I have a clue what you're talking about.  But what's a multi-tesseract inversion?  What's a tesseract, for that matter?"

"A tesseract is the fundamental temporal element that seperates the dimensions and the time streams from one another," answered Mentor.  "Tesseract manipulation is what makes dimensional and time travel possible.  In the future from where Microwave comes, they are at least aware of the fundamentals of time travel.  Not even I comprehend what a multi-tesseract inversion might be.  Microwave, please define."

"definition: a multi-tesseract inversion is a cascading deconstruction of the temporal fabric of a dimensional realm.  theoretically, a tesseract may be broken, in which case it would begin to disassemble itself.  this could theoretically induce neighboring tesseracts to also disassemble, if the force which sundered the initial tesseract were still applied with ever-increasing power.  the result of such an event would cause a total breakdown of reality in this dimension as the temporal fabric resisted dissolution.  ultimately, this dimension and all parallel time streams would collapse and cease to exist."

"By the Pulsars of Peridium!" exclaimed Mentor, as his greyish pallor began to pale.  "That cannot be possible!"

Man O'War bristled with aggression.  "Fine," he snapped.  "Now if you jabbering eggheads are through going on like a bunch o' sissy professors, let's land this contraption and go get this lunatic.  Otherwise, open the hatch and let me jump out before m'brain explodes from all this theoretical claptrap!"

"self concurs. time is of the essence."

"Literally, from the sound of it," replied Minute Man.  "Land near the main building, Microwave.  We'll stop Lord Dominion no matter what mad scheme he has planned!"

"affirmative.  this unit will comply."  The Freedom Flyer swooped low, powerful ramjets blasting to slow their descent as the airship settled to the ruined pavement below.

The four heroes quickly disembarked and surveyed the abandoned complex.  Soot and grime mixed with metal shavings clung to every surface of the old steel mill and littered the broken asphalt.  The place was silent and dead.  Mentor noticed that only a few sickly weeds grew here and there, and speculated to himself that the primitive chemical processes used by the factory must have been carelessly allowed to leach into the soil of this place.  This was a place of death.

Minute Man pointed his staff at a large garage door.  "There's a door in that wall.  That's our way in."

"Closed," Man O' War rumbled.  "But not f'r long."  He floated over to the large metal door and dug his fingers in.  With a mighty heave, he rent the steel like tin foil and tossed the pieces to either side of him.  The Scotsman was in a foul mood and eager to find a suitable target for the rage welling up inside of him.  Ever since Lord Dominion's troopers had nearly killed Sea Urchin, a real tempest had been brewing inside of him.

Truth was, he was disappointed there had been no opposition so far.  True to his name, Man O' War was spoiling for battle and wanted nothing better than to wring a few skinny grey necks.  His greatest ire was reserved for Dominion himself.

He kept playing over and over in his mind the sight of Merry lying bleeding and broken on the docks, felled by the blast of an alien plasma rocket.  If Law hadn't gotten there when she did...  He didn't want to think about it.  The little orphan girl had become the closest thing he had for family.  He couldn't have beared it if she had died.  All because some two-bit tyrant couldn't just leave them all be in peace.  Dominion was going down, or he'd die trying.

"Payback time," he muttered to himself as the team entered the cavernous factory through a veil of cobwebs.  The place was as silent as a tomb, save for the sound of their footsteps.  They cautiously picked their way through a dark maze of rusted machinery, expecting to be ambushed at any time.  Microwave generated a light from his energy emitters for the benefit of the others so they could see where they were going.  Gradually, they became aware of a low humming noise, a subtle vibration.

"Microwave, where is that sound coming from?" Minute Man asked.

"self attempting to triangulate," Microwave said, as he moved away from the others a short distance.  "source coordinates: twelve degrees west; approximate distance one hundred, fifty-six meters."

"What the devil is a meter?" Man O' War growled.

Minute Man shook his head.  "Microwave, we don't measure distance in meters.  How many feet?"

"self has two feet."

"Distance, Microwave," Minute Man snapped impatiently.  Man O' War rolled his eyes in exasperation, but said nothing.  Minute Man glanced sidelong at Mentor, who he could have sworn was more or less suppressing a snicker.  Mentor merely stared back at him.

Microwave paused, then answered, "syntax error: feet: archaic unit of measurement.  recalculating.  approximate distance five hundred, twelve feet."

"Let us proceed," said Mentor.  "I am detecting thought-waves in that direction."

The four heroes continued onward, with Minute Man in the lead and Man O' War close on his heels.  Minute Man sensed that the man was on edge, but this wasn't the time to find out what was wrong with him.  He hoped he wouldn't regret his decision to bring him.

Just up ahead, a faint blue glow became visible.  The humming noise grew louder and the illumination grew brighter as they approached.  Just beyond a heap of broken machinery, a large space had been cleared to make room for a futuristic-looking structure that just fit inside the ruined factory.  Curved, silvery walls supported by thick metal fins stretched up to the high ceiling.  The blue glow was coming from inside an open doorway set in the side of the alien construct.

"Be careful," warned Mentor.  "I sense a great malice within."

"I'll show 'em malice," Man O' War rumbled menacingly.  He floated forward before anyone could stop him, and the others followed hastily after. 

As they entered the structure, they saw a great glowing viewscreen set above a high throne.  Upon the throne sat the Despot of a Thousand Dimensions, gripping his rod of power.  Below him, Praetor brandished his battle-staff.  Just behind the throne, the heroes could make out a figure looming in the shadows.

"Come in, Mentor," the tyrant spoke in a voice dripping with venom.  "We have been expecting you and your trained monkeys.  You are granted a final audience before my revenge is complete."

"Your mad schemes are about to come to a finish, Dominion," said Minute Man.  "Give up now, and things will go easier."

Lord Dominion barked a harsh laugh that echoed across the chamber.  "You amuse me, human.  If I had not already decreed your doom, you would make a fine Court Jester."

Minute Man raised his staff in anger, about to strike, when Mentor stopped him.  "Wait!  Do not act rashly, Minute Man.  There is much about this situation we do not know."  Mentor turned to face the alien overlord.  "I must confess that even I am perplexed, Lord Dominion.  I do not understand how you managed to evade my detection, nor what you can possibly hope to gain now.  Your invasion force has been repelled with extreme prejudice, yet you seem to believe that you hold the upper hand."

Lord Dominion chuckled.  "Capturing this puny planet for the Domain was merely a side issue.  My main goal is to have my revenge for the humiliation I have received at the hand of Freedom Force, and that goal is nearly accomplished."

"Evading your sensors was a simple matter for one as cunning as I, with the full range of Dominion technology available at my command.  This invasion actually began four earth-years ago."

"Time travel," Mentor stated with dawning comprehension.

"Exactly!" Lord Dominion grinned, the light of madness dancing in his eyes.  "Your sensors did not exist when I sent Techmaster here to prepare my way," he explained.  "His genius is the equal of your own.  Techmaster was able to construct a time machine from the primitive materials of this world, and used it to transport us from our time to then, and then project us forward to now.  Unfortunately, the massive energy needed to sustain the temporal connection limited the amount of mass we could transport across time.  Even one destroyer out of my whole fleet was out of the question.  But it was enough to move small amounts at a time.  Enough to build another of Techmaster's little toys.  My final revenge!"

"And what fiendish device is this?" prompted Mentor.

Lord Dominion gave him a sly grin.  "Even now it builds up power.  Even now the foundations of this reality begin to tremble.  Soon you shall trouble me no more."

"We will stop you," Mentor declared.

"I think not."  Lord Dominion snapped his fingers.  "Executioner!  Finish them!"

The massive figure stepped out of the shadows.  The grey-skinned alien stood over ten feet tall.  Glowing red eyes glared at them from under the bony ridge of his brow.  Bulging muscles rippled from under his red uniform, and dark purple gloves covered clenched fists nearly as large as Minute Man's head.  The floor trembled under the heavy trod of his purple boots.

"With pleasure, my liege," the huge alien rumbled in a deep bass voice as he started forward.

"Time to take your medicine!"  Man O' War shouted.  He drew back his arm as a ball of electricity coalesced in his hand, and threw the sphere of energy at the advancing titan.

A glittering aura of bright amber sprang up around the alien.  The white hot ball of lightning splattered against the protective field of power, then arcs of electricity played across its surface seeking a way inside.  Meanwhile, the hulking alien continued toward the heroes with grim determination.

"For Freedom!" shouted Minute Man as he and the others rushed forward to meet the attack.

"Feel the wrath of The Executioner!" the alien rumbled in his booming voice.  A wave of blue energy surged out from his body and struck Freedom Force with terrible power.  The four were flung back and knocked to the floor.

Minute Man was the first to recover from the blast, and charged at the massive alien with his battlestaff raised high.  A bolt of plasma sizzled over the Executioner's head and would have struck Minute Man square in the chest if he had not thrown himself to the side at the last moment.  The ball of energy smashed into the side of the alien construct and blew shrapnel outward into the darkened factory.

Standing imperiously atop his raised throne, the mad tyrant gripped his rod of power and cursed.  "By the Black Pits!  You're fast for a human!  I wonder if your companions will be able to dodge as well?"  Lord Dominion pointed his rod at Microwave, who was still slowly getting to his feet, and fired.

The blast was blinding, and when the dazzling light faded Microwave was gone.

"Haa!" Dominion barked, "Vaporized!  Stay dead this time!"

Light flared behind the despot, and Microwave appeared on the pedestal holding up the throne.  The robot thrust a dematerialized hand into the alien's back.

"AArrgh!" he screamed in agony.

"My Liege!" shouted Praetor.  He flew up and smashed the android off the pedestal.  Man O' War took to the air as well and launched a bolt of lightning at Praetor which barely missed.  The two engaged in an aerial duel, with Praetor firing deadly bursts of radiation at Man O' War while trying to dodge the hero's crackling bolts of electricity.

Meanwhile, Mentor and Minute Man concentrated on the elite warrior.  Mentor distracted the Executioner with his electron beam, while Minute Man closed the distance.  The Executioner shrugged off the energy beam and lashed out with one of his own that narrowly missed Mentor's head and burned a glowing hole through the bulkhead.

Concentrating all of his power through his own battlestaff, Minute Man swung a mighty blow at The Executioner.  Incredibly, the massive alien staggered but did not fall!  Then, springing forward with a furious attack, he connected with a ham-sized fist that snapped the Sentinel of Freedom head over heels into the air and hurtling through the gaping hole in the wall.

"You were a worthy foe, human, but none can stand against The Executioner!"  Suddenly, a wave of confusion settled over the behemoth's mind like a smothering cloud, and his jaw sagged.

Behind Executioner, Mentor lowered his hands.  "You forget, warrior, that more battles are won with the mind than with superior force."  Telepathically, he reached out to the other heroes.  "Hurry, Freedom Force!  I sense the Executioner will not succumb to my suppression of his thoughts for long.  Even now he fights to regain control of his mind!"  Mentor struggled telepathically to keep the alien warrior's conscious mind from resurfacing.

Lord Dominion gasped for breath as Microwave hammered away at his hastily-erected energy shield.  "Praetor! Executioner!" he screamed in panic, "Attend me!"  He leaped off his throne to escape the slower moving android and ran toward a bank of alien machinery.

The Executioner clutched at his large gray skull and howled defiantly.  "NO!  I will not be tamed by mental trickery!  So swears The Executioner!"  Another wave of force projected outward from his body and threw Mentor backward out of range.  Across the room, Praetor kept up a lethal barrage of radiation upon the flying Man O' War.  Many of his shots were connecting and weakening the Aquatic Avenger, but Man O' War doggedly refused to withdraw and continued to press his attack upon the increasingly worried alien.  At the same time, Lord Dominion reached the futuristic instrument panel of the gleaming machine, whirled, and fired a blast of plasma at the advancing android.  The exploding ball of energy hurled Microwave away.

The evil overlord quickly worked the controls of the machine, and the low vibration that had previously gone all but unnoticed in the melee suddenly intensified.    He chuckled evilly.  "Heh-heh!  Now this dimension will suffer for the indignities it has heaped upon me!"  He raised his rod of power and a small portal opened.  "Farewell, Earth!  I leave you to your DOOM!"

Minute Man leapt into the room, catching the tyrant by surprise.  "Not so fast, Villain!  FOR FREEDOM!"  He launched his gleaming silver Minute Missile at Lord Dominion and the potent projectile bashed into the alien, stunning him.

"Praetor!" he cried.

"I am coming, My Liege!"  Praetor swooped away from Man O' War toward his dazed master.

"You'll not be gettin' away from me that easily, y' hobgoblin!"  Man O' War flew after, only to be battered by a powerful beam of coronal energy from the Executioner and knocked into a wall.  The giant whirled and likewise blasted Mentor, who had been trying to sneak up on him, then charged toward Minute Man.  The powerful patriot was put on the defensive as the alien threw a flurry of punches at him, valiantly deflecting the giant's blows.

Praetor landed, grabbed Lord Dominion around the waist, and half-carried him toward the open portal.  He hesitated.  "Lord Dominion!  What of the Executioner?"

"Leave him!" the alien overlord shouted.  "We must flee!"  The two aliens entered the portal.  With a flare of crimson light, the dimensional hole closed and they were gone.

The giant alien backhanded the Star-Spangled Wonder and sent him tumbling across the floor.  "Betrayed!" snarled the Executioner as he realized that Dominion and Praetor had fled.  The distraction cost him as a massive bolt of white-hot electricity plunged into his back like a sword.  The warrior shrieked in an unearthly voice as arcs of energy crawled over his flesh, and he dropped to the ground.

"Man O' War!" Mentor shouted telepathically.  "The Executioner's cybernetic implants appear to be vulnerable to your electrical powers!"

The blue-skinned hero swooped in.  "Now that's the best news I've heard all day!"  Man O' War landed right next to the alien as he tried to regain his feet, and snapped off an electrically-charged punch that sent the giant reeling.  "If I canna get m'hands on that miserable Dominion, you'll do for a punching bag!"  Man O' War savagely hammered away at the stunned warrior, again and again.  The giant slumped to the ground in a daze, but he kept up his enraged assault.

"Man O' War!" cried Minute Man in an alarmed voice.  "Stop!  You're killing him!"

The Aquatic Avenger paused, breathing heavily, his face contorted in a grimace of hatred.  "I've waited all damned day to get m'hands on the frog-faced goon that started all this!" he spat in a gravelly voice.  "This mis-begotten troll cost me my chance at him!"

From the ground, the beaten warrior muttered, "Kill me.  At least I'll die a warrior's death, and not from that coward's plaything.  I am ready to die."

For a moment, it looked like Man O' War was about to give him his wish.  He fought with his rage, clenching and unclenching his fists reflexively.  Visions of Merry lying crumpled and bleeding mixed with his violent imaginings of what he'd wanted to do to Lord Dominion.  He coldly regarded the prone form of the behemoth lying at his feet.  Then he reached his decision. 

"No," he sighed.  "I'll not become a murderer... though I'd be sorely tempted if you were Dominion.  One more false move, though, and I'll fry you where y'stand."

"I yield," said the Executioner as he slowly rose to his feet again.  "There is no point for me to continue this battle; we are all doomed."

"Speak, Warrior," said Mentor.  "Tell us of this device of Lord Dominion's; there may yet be a chance to avert disaster."  In the background the humming vibration continued to increase in intensity, forcing them all to raise their voices to be heard clearly.

"I am no scientist.  I know only that it was meant to destroy this entire dimension and that it requires vast amounts of energy to operate.  There is also some sort of fail-safe mechanism to prevent anyone from shutting it down.  I overheard Lord Dominion bragging about it."

"Come, Microwave," said Mentor.  "Let us examine this device together.  Perhaps we can discern a way to stop this process."

"Better make sure the control panel isn't booby-trapped first," cautioned Minute Man.

"scanning," replied Microwave.  "analysis complete: console is protected by an invisible energy shield which will discharge on contact."

"Can it be approached safely?" asked Mentor.

"analyzing available datum."  The futurian android devoted all of its' processors and memory banks toward a solution.  "error: the only sentient being capable of making contact with the console is enemy subject designated: executioner."

Minute Man turned toward the giant decisively.  "Well, Executioner?  Will you help us?"

"You would trust me?" the Executioner asked incredulously.  "I tried to kill you all!"

"Yes, under the orders of Lord Dominion," replied Minute Man.  "But the nation I serve with my life believes in the opportunity to better oneself.  You seem to be a person with a sense of honor, and I'm willing to give you the opportunity to redeem yourself and do the right thing."

"Perhaps there is something worthy about your human ideals.  If time were not an issue, I would ask to hear more about them.  Tell me what you wish me to do; I will assist."

"Have you all gone daft?!" shouted Man O' War.  "He's a flunky for Dominion!"

"Perhaps that was true," Mentor loudly replied, "but now he is our best hope.  I sense that his offer to assist is genuine."

"Ach," Man O' War shook his head.  "Now I've seen everything.  Go on.  Do what you please.  I'll just be over in the corner fiddlin' while Rome burns."  The Mighty Mariner scowled and folded his arms.

Mentor turned toward the Executioner.  "Approach the console, Warrior.  Let me guide your hands and see with your eyes.  I will join with your mind."

Executioner hesitated, then nodded his head.  He lumbered forward and layed his hands on the controls.  "I see," said Executioner/Mentor.  "Our own energies are of the same form as that protecting the device."  The giant studied the console for a moment.  "Microwave, our cybernetic implants should allow us to interface with your consciousness directly.  Please open a channel into your processor core."

Microwave stood rigidly, and the giant spoke again in a loud voice to make himself heard over the intensifying reverberations.  "Ourselves integrated.  Let us examine this alien device."

"And I thought Mentor was strange all by himself," Man O' War stated in a near-shout.  "This beats all!"

"Ourselves recognize temporal circuitry," boomed the giant.  "We surmise this device is a modified time machine.  This explains why ourself detected signs of tesseract manipulation."

"Don't waste your breath trying to explain it to us," shouted Minute Man, his voice now barely audible over the vibration.  "Do what you have to do!"  The whole factory began to shake and rattle.  Dust billowed into the chamber, causing the organic beings inside to cough.

The combined consciousness of robot, warrior, and scientist continued to converse telepathically with themselves in a vastly accelerated stream of thought, as the giant's hands danced over the controls.  The ground began to tremor, forcing the heroes to fight to stay on their feet.

Mentor: Ah!  Behold!  This device is drawing power from the very energy being created by the tesseract tearing itself apart!  Ingenious!

Executioner:  Why not just destroy the machine?

Microwave:  inadvisable.  resultant power feedback through the temporal loop would accelerate process of temporal dissolution.

Mentor:  There must be some way of interrupting the cycle!

Microwave:  self has discovered an unprotected circuit in the matter-transmission chamber.  analysis: a neutralizing factor might be introduced at this point.

Mentor:  Theoretically, an injection of anti-gluons would stablilize the matrix.  Can we produce such an effect?

Executioner:  I can generate a high-intensity focused Theta-Wave.  Would that help?

Mentor:  The interaction between Microwave's nuclear emissions and your Theta-Wave would produce the anti-gluons required.  Hurry to the transmission chamber!  There is not a moment to lose!

Microwave teleported across the distance to the open transportation chamber and stepped inside.  The Executioner staggered over the violently quaking ground.  Iron girders began to fall from the ceiling of the dilapidated factory onto the alien structure, bouncing off with a deafening ring.  A particularly violent tremor knocked everyone to the ground.  Executioner doggedly crawled toward the chamber on his hands and knees and climbed inside.

Mentor crawled toward the control panel.  "Now I must activate the temporal wave!"

Suddenly, the floor of the alien construct cracked and a fissure opened.  Mentor was nearly swallowed by the crevice, and hung on to the side desperately to avoid being shaken into the maw.

"No!  I cannot reach the device!"

Man O' War took to the air and flew toward the console as Minute Man struggled to reach Mentor.  "I can do it!  Just tell me what buttons to push!"  Mentor projected a brief image of the console into Man O' War's mind.  "Got it!  Here goes!"  Hovering above the alien control panel, the Mighty Mariner reached down and touched the controls.  Gritting his teeth against the pain, he pushed a button and twisted a dial before being overwhelmed by the powerful energy discharge and thrown clear.

The bone-rattling hum changed to an ear-splitting whine as the transportation chamber filled with blinding light.  The factory began to collapse around them, crushing the futuristic structure inward, the roar of its' demise drowned out by the deafening sound of the alien death-machine.  The sound abruptly ceased.

Darkness.  The sepulchral silence of the grave.  Billowing dust.

A hand... pushing aside debris, and the shifting of rubble.

A voice... breaking the silence. 

"Did anyone live through this besides me?" coughed Man O' War as he shoved aside the wreckage that had nearly buried him.  Pain shot up his left side, probably from a cracked rib or two, he thought.  He sat up, a painful cough racking his lungs as he struggled to breathe through the cloud of dust.

There came a tortured shriek of metal as the ruined time machine was torn apart from inside by massive hands.  The Executioner climbed out while Microwave teleported free.  "affirmative," replied the android.

"Where's Mentor and Minute Man?" asked Man O' War with alarm.

A reassuring telepathic voice rang through their minds.  "We are safe.  Minute Man wisely decided the safest place was at the bottom of the fissure, and carried me down as he leapt inside.  He would appreciate some assistance, as he is holding up approximately two tons of debris threatening to crush us."

"All's normal, then," replied Man O' War wryly.  "We save the world, then we clean up the bloody aftermath."

Some time later, in front of the Freedom Fortress, the battered band of champions gathered around the massive alien.

The Executioner looked about him at the collected heroes.  "In my short time among you, you have shown me that there is a greater purpose than serving the mad whims of a despot.  One of your own philosophers has said there is a time to every purpose under the heavens, including a time to die.  I have decided that it is time for the Executioner to die."

"What?" exclaimed Minute Man.  "Wait!  We don't understand!"

"I believe you, of all people, will understand.  In associating with all of you, I have seen greater honor and courage than I have ever known among the Domain.  A greater purpose.  My thoughts and my warrior's heart have been given a new vision and a new direction.  The Executioner ceased to exist the moment you spared my life and gave me a new chance.  And so I declare the Executioner to be dead, so that I may seek a new life."

"Yes, it is fitting," replied Mentor.  "And have you decided what this new life will be?"

The hulking alien smiled grimly at Mentor.  "You yourself have shown me.  If it is possible, I would like to return to our homeworld and begin a resistance movement against Lord Dominion, to give our people a chance at the noble purpose it once had and to reclaim our lost honor.  My new purpose will be to liberate our race from the evil bondage of the Domain.  From now on, I will no more be known as the Executioner.  Instead, I will call myself the Liberator."

"You face a nearly impossible task," warned Mentor.  "Are you prepared to live your life in mortal danger?"

Liberator snorted derisively.  "Bah!  I am a warrior accustomed to danger.  I do not fear what the Domain can do to my body; I have gained my soul.  I do not doubt there are others who have no love for Lord Dominion.  I will begin my resistance movement with them.  In due time, the tyrant will see his corrupt empire crumble...  So swears the Liberator!"

Mentor nodded.  "A worthy goal, indeed.  May your journey be swift, and your victory sure!"

"You can send me back, then?" the Liberator asked.

"In a flash, Sugah!" winked AlcheMiss.

Man O' War stepped forward.  "If you ever have need o' stalwart friends, y'have a bonny band of 'em right here."

"I thank you, Man O' War.  I could think of no finer shieldmates."

Minute Man extended his hand and shook one of the giant's fingers.  "Farewell and godspeed!  For Freedom!"

"To Victory!" Liberator smiled.  "I am ready."

"One express portal to the Domain, comin' right up!"  AlcheMiss made an arcane gesture and a shimmering blue portal opened before him.  The proud warrior stepped through and was gone.

"Think we'll ever see him again?" asked Liberty Lad.

Mentor contemplated briefly.  "I of all people know the difficulties he will face.  Still, he has courage and he stands in the path of truth.  As one of your own prophets has said, 'the truth shall make you free'.  In the end, the forces of Right must always win.  That, my friends, is the truth that will one day free my people from being enslaved to evil."

A NEW BEGINNING...