The Freedom Force Fan Fiction!
by countless hords

This is a story by committee written without any planning or coordinating, so naturally, it's going to be a little erratic. There were times where two people would end up posting at the same time and go in completely different directions (I being guilty of this in several instances). Still, the end result was a fun romp.. so, now for your viewing pleasure, the original the Freedom Force Message Board group fan fiction, complete in it's entirety, misspellings, continuity gaffes, and all. Enjoy.
-Glitch Girl

Page 1 2

Feel free to pick up the storyline, add to it, throw in your own characters, take it in unexpected directions, and above all have some fun. All I ask is that it stay true to the "Spirit" of the game. (Knockouts instead of death, etc.)

Figured I'd start with the secret origin of one of my customs from the game, who is somewhat a hodgepodge mix of Thunderbird of the Xmen, Shaman of Alpha Flight, my shaman from Everquest, and a wee bit of myself.

*Dramatic Freedom Force Music*
*The Secret Origin of Spiritcaller*

Hessky left the family farm after high school to enlist and see the world. He proudly and honorably served his country and after four years received his discharge. He returns to his parents farm.

The family had given him a warm homecoming, and now he went up to his old room, surprised to see that everything had been left exactly as it was the day he left.

"I've spent the last four years defending the Constitution and making the world safe for democracy. Now what do I do with the rest of my life? Milking the cows seems to pale in comparison."

He unpacked his bags and began to put things away. While in the closet, he noticed some of his old games in the corner. He pulled out the stack and looked through it. On the bottom of the stack was his old Ouija Board. He looked over to his dresser and the picture of his long departed Cherokee grandfather.

He looked at the board again and smiled."This thing never did work, but what the heck, maybe this time it will and Gramps can tell me what to do with my life now."

Hessky begins to pull the Ouija Board out of the box when suddenly:

KABOOM!

He finds himself on the floor and notices he is pulsing with a strange violet glow. "What was that?!" he says to himself.

"That was Energy X, young one." a strangely familiar voice says to him. Hessky looks around and sees he is alone in the room. "Who said that?" he asks.

An apparition appears in front of him. "Grandfather?" He shakes his head in disbelief and says " I gotta be dreaming."

The ghostly form begins to speak. "No, grandson, it is not a dream. The Energy X has given you the power to speak to the Spiritworld. Some of the Spirits will even lend you aid in times of need. Use this newfound power with wisdom, my grandson." His Grandfather fades away.

Hessky thinks to himself, "There's not much need for my powers in this small farming community. I'll head to Patriot City and begin using my abilities to fight crime in the big city."

Hessky begins to pack his bags.

TO BE CONTINUED.....(Hint for others to jump in)

One bright afternoon, Greez McSleeze, owner of McSleeze Used Cars, was about to make the best deal of his life. The old lemon of a car that had been sitting on his lot for the last two years was finally being sold, to a little old lady from Pasadena.

"As you can see, it comes equipped with a variety of features, such as a steering wheel..."

"I'll take her, sonny."

Suddenly, a bolt of purple lightning flashed out of the sky, striking Greeze and knocking him too the ground! In panic, the old lady hopped into the car and sped away, running for the hospital.

At the car lot, Greeze sat up, rubbing his head. "What happened? That purple energy...I feel different. Like there's some kind of power flowing through my veins..."

SCREEEEECH!!!

Greeze looked up, just in time to see the old lady's car skid across the road, about to fall off of a bridge!

"I've got to save her, and fast!" he cried.

Using the speed of a 1962 Mustang, Greeze McSleeze charged after the falling lady...and, just in time, grabbed the rear end of the car and pulled it back onto the road!

"You're safe now, miss."

"Oh, thank you, sonny! You're all right!"

"Indeed I am. And from this day forward, I will use my powers to combat evil and save innocents! I will become..."

----------
Meanwhile, in another part of the galaxy...

[insert omninous evil overlord music]

Lord Dominion was not a happy camper.

True, he would have no idea what the term "happy camper" meant, as his race had no equivalent expression (let alone a word for "happy" or "camper"), but it was an apt phrase to describe his current mood.

It had been many tans (a tan is the Dominion equivalent of a week) since he'd been humiliated by Mentor's little lap dogs the Freedom Force and forced to help them return to the present (see issue #10 of Freedom Force true believers - ED) In fact the only good to come out of it was the fact that at least that Rexlor-cursed Time Master was no longer a problem.

Even so, one does not KO the Dominion and get away with it.

"My lord," squawked the new Praetor, "The portals are ready."

"Good," rumbled Lord Dominion. "And the secret weapon?"

"It is prepared."

"Excellent. Send it to earth. It is time that Mentor and those insipid humans had a true taste of our power."

"My lord, didn't they already taste our power and send us packing?"

There was a sickening "ZORCH!!" of an interdimensional paralaxer where the Praetor stood, signal ling that it was time to get another new Praetor.

"Yes," said Lord Dominion as if he hadn't been interrupted, "Now the earthlings shall taste their doom at the hands of... THE DOMINION!!! BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!"

To be continued...

------------------
-Mea
a.k.a: Glitch Girl
"Flash, quit heckling the supervillain!" - John Stewart

See my skins at Electric Freedom

Life seemed so... empty, somehow. He had spent so much of his time working on a cure for Manbot's condition, and now...

He strolled out into the meeting hall and gazed at the gold-plated statue which had been erected to honor the memory of the metal-plated hero. It didn't do him him justice. Ah, well... Mentor had lost friends and alies before, among his own people.

Suddenly, a small, blue form rushed around the corner, colliding with the alien hero.
"Oh! Sorry, Mentor! Have you seen my cat Catfish?"

Mentor smiled down at Sea Urchin. In truth, he was happy for the interuption. "It is quite all right, young one. Now, tell me, when did you get a cat?"

"I found her outside, down by the docks," replied the youngest member of Freedom Force.
She opened her mouth to say more, but she didn't get the chance.

Suddenly, Mentor fall forward, screaming in agony. "AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!" Sea Urchin rushed to his side. "Are you all right?"

Mentor stood unsteadily. "No," he said. "None of us are... 'all right', as you say.

"Lord Dominion is up to something.

Welcome to Patriot City, home of fine museums, excellent eateries, the worst drivers in the United States, and FREEDOM FORCE.

Hessky, a.k.a: Spiritcaller, walked down Main Street, marveling at the hugeness of the city. They had nothing like this back home. come to think of it, they had nothing like this in most of the country. As he walked, trying not to bump into the occasional passer-by, he wondered why the spirits has been so insistent that he come specifically HERE to this street.

A few blocks away, Greez McSleeze, the Used Car Salesman, was trying unsuccessfully to get a bagel, LIGHTLY toasted, from a street vendor.

Neither of them heard the alarms going on inside Freedom Fortress.

However, both of them heard the electric explosion coming from the corner of Main Street and Kirby Avenue.

Both of them came to the same conclusion: this looked like a job for...them.

As they maneuvered their way through the crowds and bad drivers retreating from the scene screaming "Help!" "Save Us" and "Oh No, not again!", they could make out a giant glowing tear in the fabric of reality, pulsing with an unearthly energy.

The street shook as something stepped out.

It was easily the size of a building and looked vaguely reptilian, but with soft lines that gave the creature an almost stuffed-animal look. It's body was covered in a deep purple skin that didn't seem to be scales or metal, but still looked pretty tough. As it emerged, it seemed to smile and let out a strange evil laugh that could be heard for all over the city:

"BHUHUHU-HU-HU!!"

Then, it began to sing...

"I'll crush you,
You'll hate me,
But I'm as happy
as can be..."

For blocks, ears began to bleed as people screamed at the sound. But there was something more insidious in the song... a strange hypnotic effect that made the singing, and the monster seem not quite so bad. Hessky and Greez were vaguely aware that something was trying to control their minds, and whatever that something was, was EVIL!

To be Continued...

------------------
-Mea
a.k.a: Glitch Girl
"Flash, quit heckling the supervillain!" - John Stewart

See my skins at Electric Freedom

"Mentor, are you OK? Mentor!"
Sea Urchin gently lifted up the alien -- twice her size -- and helped him onto the medical/diagnostic/reprogramming table.
Mentor struggled to speak.
"Must.... contact.... Freedom Force... strike team...."
Suddenly Mentor collapsed from exhaustion.
"All right," Sea Urchin said to herself. "Everyone else is out of the office for the day, so, as usual, its up to ole' Cute, Blue, and Ready to Rumble to save the day!!"
Sea Urchin pressed the communications link button on the main control panel. "Come in, Freedom Force members... this is a red alert!"
A static discharge was the only response. What could be interfering with the ultra-sophistocated telepathic transmission equipment? she wondered.
Just then, she thought she could faintly hear a noise echoing in the halls of the Freedom Fortress. It sounded like.... singing??
"I'll crush you..."
Suddenly Sea Urchin realized the voice singing was her own.
"You'll hate me..."
As if a spectator in her own body, Sea Urchin watched as she leaned over to pick up her bubble gun from a nearby counter, and cranked the switch up to "FULL POWER"...

Spiritcaller heard his own voice, "With a great big hug and a fist from me to you!" He fought the effect with all his willpower. With great difficulty he was able to shrug it off.

"By the Spirits!" He had seen pictures in childrens books of this, the most fearsome of the Great Spirit's creations.

BARNASAURUS REX!!!!

Spiritcaller raced forward to battle this evil menace, praying to the Spirits for guidance in defeating this beast.

(Editor's note: Does anyone else think we need to take the purple T-rex and skin him into Barnasaurus so we can make a mod out of this.... )

AlcheMiss stared out the top floor window of the Freedom Fortress at the massive magenta monster (boy I love alliteration ) towering over buildings in the downtown area. It had just ripped down the giant saxophone that was part of a nearby music store's signage and hugged it into oblivion. What was worse was the creature was singing (and badly at that) and the southern sorceress could feel the hypnotic power of its voice in every sickeningly sweet word. Fortunately, her mystical powers protected her from the spell, but what about the rest of Patriot City?

What would Minute Man do?

"Ah know this is ol' blue's line," she said to herself, "but this looks like a job for... The FREEDOM FORCE!"

Quickly she hurried downstairs to the main control room as alarms sounded around her. On her way down she happened to glance into one of the medical bays and skidded to a stop on the tile floor at what she saw.

Sea Urchin... little sweet Sea Urchin... was pointing her bubble gun at the prone form of Mentor. Her eyes were glazed and barely focused and she was singing along with the monster outside.

"Sorry 'bout this, sugar," said AlcheMiss before she called forth the mystic power of the goddess, knocking the small heroine back into the far wall.

AlcheMiss ran over to Mentor. He was unconscious, almost comatose. This was a bad sign.

"I'll... crush... you.." she heard a young girl sing. "You'll... hate... me..."

Sea Urchin was getting up.

[Goodness, this is taking a dark turn, can no one save us from the HORROR OF BARNASAURUS REX???]

[And yes, this could be a fun mod, especially with B*rney sound clips ]

------------------
-Mea
a.k.a: Glitch Girl
"Flash, quit heckling the supervillain!" - John Stewart

"By the Goddess! Urchin! Sea Urchin! Stop it, honey!"

The Aquatic Angel turned slowly, as if in a daze, and sang along, "...but I'm as happy as can be..." And as if in proof, a taut grin decorated her face like a cheap ornament.

Alchemiss started toward her, but Sea Urchin drew her bubble gun and discahrged its deadly projectiles. The destructive bubbles slowly wafted toward the Southern Belle.

"Oh no!" AlcheMiss started moving aside to dodge, but watched in horror as the bubbles tracked her movements... and approached closer, and closer...

In resopnse, she ducked her head and pressed her palms to her forehead, and began whispering the words of power to summon the abilities of the Goddess. A moment later, the air in the chamber starting roiling and churning, and began blasting at the bubbles.

Sea Urchin stood almost petrified, still singing along, as the spheres slowed... but did not halt their deadly trajectory.

"Have to try harder... must use... more power..." AlcheMiss focused and redoubled her concentration. The howling winds grew, and almost as in a dream, the bubbles slowly rose towards the ceiling... only to explode on impact.

Chunks of mortar and dust rained down as AlcheMiss fell to her knees, drained, gasping for breath. "That... could have... been me! Urchin... what's wrong, sugar?"

The mesmerized girl didn't respond in any way as she turned towards Mentor again, and slowly drew her bubble gun once more...

Until a projectile hit her, and burst in a flare of Energy X. Sea Urchin slumped back against the wall, even more dazed, as Liberty Lad and Man O'War burst into the room.

"Good thing my stun grenade stopped her!" the Young American said. "Urchin! Hey, Urchin, what's goin' on?"

Man O'War airswam over to AlcheMiss to help her to her feet. "And just what seems to be the problem here, Missy?"

"It's... Sea Urchin..." she said slowly. "She just attacked Mentor... for no reason!"

"Now that doesn't sound like my girl. Are ye sure that's what ye saw?"

"She just attacked me, Man O'War! I know what I saw!"

The Aquatic Avenger scratched his head. "I'm not sure I can believe this... but then, I'm a bit at sea anyhow, between those blasted alarms and those voices singin'... I heard 'em while I was asleep in my water bed."

"VOICES? Plural?" AlcheMiss shouted. And surely enough, a male tenor had been added to the soprano voice singing through the Freedom Fortress. Both adults turned to see Liberty Lad, his eyes glazing over, and lobbing another stun grenade... right at them.

TO BE CONTINUED!

One of them is webbed hands with lots of surface area.

Man O' War pushed in front of AlcheMiss and easily batted the grenade away where it exploded harmlessly against the wall.

"Now lad," he said, "Let's not be doin' any more o' that here."

Liberty Lad acted as if he hadn't heard him. The son of Liberty pulled back his fists and swung at the aquatic avenger, singing "I'll CRUSH you..! You'll HATE me..!"

On his third swing, Man O' War caught his fist in a webbed hand and sent a charge of electricity through the boy, just enough to stun him, and Liberty Lad dropped like a damp rag.

The old salt rubbed his jaw; the kid had a mean right hook, that's for sure.

"MAN' O WAR! LOOK OUT!" warned AlcheMiss.

The scaled superhero turned and found himself nearly nose-to-nose with the muzzle of Sea Urchin's bubble gun.

It was covered in ice.

So was Sea Urchin. She was completely frozen in a block of crystalline water.

"Thank the goddess," breathed AlcheMiss, cathing her breath. I was hoping that would work." The glowing pentagram beneather her feet faded away as she spoke.

"Much obliged lassie," said Man O' War. "I'm beginning to swe've got ourselves a knotty problem 'ere". He picked the fallen Liberty Lad up off the floor and slung him over his shoulder. "We should probably put the wee tikes someplace where they can't hurt themselves."

"Or us?" added AlcheMiss sarcastically.

"Aye, or us. Somethin' bad is going on, and it's best that we be seein' to it as soon as we can.

----

Meanwhile...

[cue the sickeningly sweet, yet somehow sinister music]

Used Car Salesman reluctantly opened his eyes and groaned. He felt like he'd been hit by a truck (specifically, a 1957 Chevrolet Half-Ton pickup truck with bad tire pressure in the right front wheel). There was something jammed in his mouth that tasted orange.

Not the fruit "orange", but the color "orange".

He tried to reach up to take out the disgusting sweet, but couldn't move his arms. After a moment, he managed to spit out the massive lollypop that had been used as a makeshift gag. The world around him slowly came back into focus, making him wish he'd stayed unconscious.

He was in the park, at least he thought it was the park. It kind of looked liked the park, except that most of the foliage had been replaced by huge brightly colored shapes and giant pieces of candy in a sort of surreal, sugary-sweet landscape. He was pinned to a candy cane tree by some sort of sticky substance that reminded him of chewed bubblegum.

"Psst," A voice next to him hissed. "Used Car Salesman, can you hear me? Are you okay?"

He gave his head a quick shake and turned. Attached to the candy cane nearby was the man he'd met in the street when the monster first showed up. Apparently, they were in the same boat.

"...yeah," said Used Car Salesman. "Kinda I'm still breathing if that's what you mean. What happened? And I don't think I caught your name earlier?"

"I'm the Spiritcaller." the other man said.

"Nice to meetcha Spiritcaller. Wish it was under better terms. What happened to us?"

"The new servants of the Barnasaurus Rex overwhelmed us," said Spiritcaller. "They must have brought us here for a reason."

"Barnasaurus Rex? Is that what that big ugly is?"

Spiritcaller nodded glumly. "It is an immensely evil spirit creature that uses children as its pawns like a..." he tried to think of an analogy.

"A prehistoric plush Pied Piper?" Used Car Salesman said helpfully.

"...That's close enough. We have to get out of here and stop it soon, before it gets any more powerful and..."

"And what?"

"It's too hideous to be said aloud. I hae an idea that might work, but first, we have to get free."

"All righty then," said Used Car Salesman, taking a deep breath, "Let's just see if this pink gunk can take on the King of the Road!"

With that, he strained against his bonds with the power of a 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air, hoping to win the battle of man verses mucilage...

To Be Continued...
(oh ,and [bump])

------------------
-Mea
a.k.a: Glitch Girl
"Flash, quit heckling the supervillain!" - John Stewart

SHEEPDOG

NARRATOR: Like any patriotic American teen, Frank Torpor had dreams of going to college. Unfortunately, the only way he would be able to go is if he earned his own money.
FATHER: I was working when I was half your age!
NARRATOR: Donning an apron and name tag, young Torpor battled the forces of hunger and dirty dishes at the local Pizza House restaurant in downtown Patriot City. He was a hard worker, and when he was on the job no customer ever got their pizza late!
CO-WORKER: I don't get it. Nobody else takes this job seriously, but he acts like it's some great responsibility!
TORPOR (thinking): If only they understood the feeling that comes from hard work and responsibility. And the overtime helps a little to ease the tedium of washing dozens of dirty dishes.
CO-WORKER: Hey, Torpor, we're cutting out early to go to a party!
TORPOR: But, you were supposed to help close tonight!
(Screeching tires as coworkers drive off laughing)
TORPOR: Great! I'm stuck washing all these dishes by myself. They work me like a dog! And now the grease trap is backing up!
NARRATOR: Little does he realize that the sludge oozing up from the grease trap is more than just discarded oil and tomato sauce -- it has been endowed with ENERGY X!
(Suddenly a purple glow envelops Torpor).
TORPOR: AARGGHH! My skin... growing fur... I'm turning into... a giant sheepdog???
(Suddenly the Sheepdog finds himself cleaning dishes as if he were tossing frisbees, landing each clean dish in its perfect place on the counter).
SHEEPDOG: This is amazing! I've gained super speed! (He lifts up the dough machine with ease and sweeps underneath) And strength!
From this day forward I will help the others opressed by crime, violence, and low pay. I will call myself...

Man O'War and Alchemiss stood sadly outside the detention cells inside the Lair of Liberty, looking at the youngest members of the team. Both were still dazed, but struggling to be free. And both were, insidiously, still singing... "I'll crush you... you'll hate me..."

"Aye, an' it's a lucky thing we reinforced the bars on these cells. Neither of those two are guppies when it comes t'strength," Man O'War observedas he put their confiscated equipment in a secure locker. He sealed Liberty Lad's bombs and Sea Urchin's gun, and assigned a code only he knew.

AlcheMiss asked, "Man O'War, my magic is protecting me from that horrible music, but why didn't it affect you?"

He shrugged. "Could be I'm not quite human anymore either... could be that I was underwater when it started playin'... I dunno, lass."

The two heroes returned to the diagnostic chamber where Mentor lay, still barely conscious, still moaning about the Dominion. "Manny, I just don't know what t' do!"

"Ye can start by not callin' me Manny. As for what t'do... I see that Mentor isn't under that spell either. So mebbe it only affects humans?"

AlcheMiss snapped her fingers. "You just might be onto somethin'! Maybe we can get a little more help after all.." She ran to the mission monitor console, and started searching for the other members of Freedom Force.

It was disheartening. The others all seemed to be out of the Fortress, headed towards Patriot Park... as were many of the citizens of Patriot City. "Man O'War, have YOU ever seen anything like that big ugly purple monster?"

"Not in twenty years on the seas, missy. It doesn't look like any fish or creature I've ever seen." He was reviewing the scene between Sea Urchin and Mentor, trying to find some clue.

"Ah! Now here's a bit of treasure... AlcheMiss, he was talkin' about Lord Dominion. D'ye think he's lookin' for trouble, then?"

AlcheMiss continued scanning for members. "That sounds right... here we go! We've got one more member of Freedom Force to help us, Man O'War... as soon as we turn him back on!"

"Ye're talkin' about Microwave?"

She turned and ran down a corridor toward the living quarters. "That's right, sugar! He's in his room, but inactive."

"It must'a been Liberty Lad's doin'! He was comin' out of that room when I woke up an' answered your emergency call!"

They stopped outside Microwave's room. As a machine from the future, the Radioactive Ranger didn't need much in the way of furnishings... just a recharge unit. "He's not human either," AlcheMiss said, "an' so he's not likely to fall under that spell either!"

"Aye, that sounds like red skies to me, missy!" the Underwater Warrior replied, airswimming along as fast as AlcheMiss was running.

They stopped outside Microwave's quarters. The door into his room was partly open, and AlcheMiss pushed it open.

And two grenades resting against the door frame on top of the door fell, just as Liberty Lad must have planned when he left them there as an ambush...

To be continued...

Man O' War hit the wall hard and made a solid dent on the plaster before hitting the floor. The roar of the grenades continued to hum in his ears as he painfully picked himself up and looked around.

AlcheMiss was lying on the floor nearby. The southern sorceress didn't have a hide like the old sailor, which meant she was much worse for wear after the grenade blast. Checking her as carefully as possible (scales or no, he was still a gentleman), he made sure she didn't have any broken bones or other serious injuries. Luckily, she seemed to be fine, only unconscious which was a small relief. He'd take her to th medical bay in a moment, but first, there was Microwave...

The doorway was a wreck. Most of the door had splintered away, except for a small bit still attached by a remaining hinge. A large chunk of the upper frame had fallen away, making a ragged arch overhead. A thin layer of smoke hid part of the room from view, but he could still make out the inert for of Microwave lying face down on the rug. It looked like a panel on his back was open, but otherwise, the mechanical man seemed mostly undamaged.

Man O' War looked inside the futuristic construct; there were a lot of wires and crystally things and pieces of stiff plastic with bits of metal stuck to them, nothing that he was particularly familiar with. He knew something in there must turn the robot back on, but the question was... which "something" was it?

To Be continued....

------------------
-Mea
a.k.a: Glitch Girl
"Flash, quit heckling the supervillain!" - John Stewart

Circuits whir and gizmos whine. Microwave starts to stir.

Microwave rises and turns to face Man O War.

"Enemy must be annihilated."

To be continued....

"Blast me for a barnacle, what am I doin'? Tryin' ta talk sense to a machine!" Man O'War slowly regained his footing as Microwave began advancing on him.

"Enemy... must be... annihilated..."

"Thank ye anyhow, but I'll be passing on THAT offer!" Man O'War dove forward, slamming into the android like a tidal wave, barely missing AlcheMiss' prone form.

In a tangle of limbs, marine and machine struggled to gain an advantage on the other. Finally, Man O'War was able to clamp his arms down over those of the Atomic Android and he reared back and up onto his feet, hoisting Microwave up into the air.

"All right! Now ye're not makin' me any trouble, ye scurvy robot! I've got yer hands pointed away, and ye can't blast me 'less ye point 'em at me!"

In response, Microwave again responded, "Enemy must be annihilated," and his eyes began to glow with a hellish red glare.

"Eyebeams?" Man O'War gasped. "This is gonna hurt- AAARGH!" Twin lances of solar energy drove into the Marine Marvel's form, driving him to his knees.

He didn't let go of the androids arms - he didn't dare. For while the heat rays had hurt him, he knew that Microwave's radioative blasts would destroy him like a dinghy in a hurricane.

But still, the Mechanical Myrmidion pulled and pulled... slowly breaking the grip Man O'War desperately tried to maintain.

Enraged, he bellowed, "An' just how did that punk kid manage t' shut ye off anyhow, confound ye?!?"

Microwave's response was a swift kick that drove Man O'War back across the hall again. The android's hands began to glow, as Microwave repeated again, "Enemy must be annihi- annihi- >click<."

The radiation around his hands suddenly dissipated harmlessly, and the red lit eyes faded to black. Man O'War quickly got his bearings and stood up. "Not that I'm complainin', but how the devil did that happen?"

AlcheMiss leaned around the robotic form. "B'lieve it or not... sugar... I actually studied some robotics... when Microwave joined us..."

"An' ye shut off what I turned on? I s'pose it was pretty foolish t' just take a chance like that."

"Here, look at this." She showed Man O'War the open panel. "See, Microwave is designed to stay on. ManBot told me about... him..." She suddenly looked sad when talking about their time lost companion.

Man O'War looked almost shy as he said, "Lassie... I- I know how ye feel, I think, but 'tis not the time..."

"Not the time for sentimentality," she finished. "You're right, sugar. In any case, you can see how he was shut off right here," she pointed.

They peered at the internal workings of the Future Form, and both saw a small metal disk in the middle of an energy stream. It seemed to be deflecting the electrical energy, preventing it from completing the circuit.

"Liberty Lad didn't turn off anythin'," AlcheMiss said. "He just stopped the flow."

Man O'War reached in and pulled out the small circle, in a flare of sparks. Microwave immediately spoke again. "Intiating startup routine."

AlcheMiss took Man O'War's hand and cried, "Are you okay?"

"Aye, lassie. There's advantages to bein' able t' control electricity. Now, let's see what this is that was blockin' the plumbin'..." He turned the small coin over...

And on the other side was the legend, "El Diablo Fan Club."

To be continued...

Eric L. Sofer
The Silver Age Fogey
x<]:-){
"WWMMD?"

The robot shudderd to a halt. Moments slid past as Man-o-war waited, ready with a StormBolt.

"Systems reboot complete," Microwave anouced. "Primary target reaquired, proceed to park."

Man-o-war allowed himself a smile of grim ammusment.

"Well, that could have go a lot worse. Looks like it's you and I, laddie."

"You, me, and AlcheMiss," Man 'O War corrected himself.

"Query: Primary target is of unknown classification. Request further information."

"You're guess is as good as mine, tin man," said AlcheMiss. "All we know is that it's controllin' most of the children, and probably some of the adults as well."

"Aye," agreed Man O' War. "And it looks like it's up to us to save Patriot City. After all," he added jokingly, "Who else is going to do it?"

--------

"Are you sure we're up to saving Patriot City?" asked Sheepdog.

"What kind of question is that?" said Used Car Salesman.

"Nothing. It's just... well that thing is BIG!"

The "thing" Sheepdog was referring to was the massive Barnasaurus Rex sitting in the middle of the park. It hadn't noticed the trio of escaped heroes yet, preoccupied with the masses of children that gathered around it, singing the same hypnotic song.

"You're not thinking of backing out, are you?" said Used Car Salesman

"Of course not!" countered Sheepdog. "I was simply stating that-"

"Both of you, shh." Spiritcaller shushed them. "We still have to get in closer."

"If you say so."

"Good thing it hasn't noticed us yet," remarked Sheepdog. "Otherwise this would be a lot harder."

"Um..." said Used Car Salesman. He pointed up.

The Barnasaurus Rex was slowly turning around, its black beady eyes focused on the three heroes.

"Oh, this is bad," said Spiritcaller.

------------------
-Mea
a.k.a: Glitch Girl
"Flash, quit heckling the supervillain!" - John Stewart

ZZZZZZTTTTTTTT!
Just then, a bolt of electricity struck the upraised foot. The bolt appeared to have done no more damage to the beast than the candy cane. However, it did distract the dino just long enough for the Salesman to roll out of the way.
"All right, ye dried-up behemoth! Let's see how ya like this!"
Suddenly every fire hydrant within a three block radius was exploding from the ground, and streams of water converged on the focal point of Man O' War's hands.
The gush of water hit the beast square in one of its plush arms -- but didn't take it back a bit.
Alchemiss was not standing still by any means - but she had never teleported something that big into a temporary pocket dimension, nor could she muster the strength to alter its form. Instead she simply pelted the thing with mystic bolts, hoping to slow it down.
Right at the spot where Man O' Wars water deluge hit, he noticed the beast's arm sagging -- as if... "I think I know how t'stop it!" he said to himself.
Microwave, also no slouch in the energy beam department, had paused for a moment to analyze the situation.
"Curious -- the beast could have easily taken us out with a swift attack. Observation: Creature acts much slower than it must be capable of. Conclusion: It's attention must be drawn else--"
Microwave's voice twitched with static as a slingshot bullet knocked his head sideways.
The Freedom Force - along with Patriot City's newest heroes - found themselves being rushed by a crowd of children and adults.
"We can't fight half the city!" Alchemiss said.
"Well, we'd better do somethin', or we're going to be in more trouble than a flounder in the desert," Man O' War said, posturing himself in a defensive stance.

A few days ago...

In a darkened movie theater sits 18-year-old Nick O'Thyme. Nick has recently graduated from high school and lives with his step-mother and 8-year-old genius brother, Clyde. Yes, Nick may seem fairly ordinary on the surface, but he has a dark secret...

You see, Nick O'Thyme is obsessed. Obsessed with... old movie serials!

Yes, this is what brings a seemingly ordinary young man to a small, dark theater where black-and-white images dance across a flickering screen. And this is what keeps his eyes glued to that screen until...
The End.

Nick's mind was still in the movies as he made his way home. He didn't notice the people walking past, the cars that zoomed past the non-functioning traffic lights (a major problem in Patriot City), or the strange canister under his foot...

Suddenly, Nick found himself lying on his back, looking up at the sky. He felt strange, tingling as if filled with some indescribable power...

Reaching home, Nick made a startling discovery. His entire body was somewhat more muscular than before. He felt better than he ever had. Better, stronger, faster...

Only one person he knew might be able to make scense out of all of this...

"hey! Clyde! C'mere!"

Hours later, the 8-year-old genius had put Nick through more tests than he could remember.

"Well, Nick, it seems that you have come into contect with some sort of strange energy which has transformed you, granting you super powers!"

"Super powers? You mean like Freedom Force?"

"Of course! Further, my tests have shown me something of the nature of these powers.
"Firstly, your physical attributes- strength, speed, etc.- have been hightened, though not to superhuman levels.
"Secondly, you seem to have a special relationship with the very nature of Time itself in our reality. It seems, if my theory is correct, that time is broken up into descreet chunks, let us call them 'episodes'. Apparently, by concentrating, you can transport yourself through space at the end of any one of these 'episodes', appearing only at some spot where the 'episode' ends in a potentialy dangerous manner-"
Nick got the idea. "A cliffhanger."
"Exactly.
"Thirdly, you have a related ability to detect the end of a current 'episode', especialy if it ends in- well, what you called a 'cliffhanger'.
"Fourthly, for some reason, you some to have the ability to hang off of the edge of any object or location indefinately. I cannot figure out how this relates to your other powers."
"Hmm..." Nick was considering the possibilities.

Later,
Unfortunately, costume-making was not one of Nick's newfound powers.
"So, Clyde, what do you think?"
"Looks pretty awful, though I should point out that it probably won't matter to someone whose life you just saved..."
"You think the cape's a bit much?"
"Actually, it would look worse WITHOUT the cape..."

And so was born... Captain Cliffhanger!

Over the course of the next few days, the new hero was busy, fighting such foes as Tree-Branch Man, the TrackTier (Nyeh, he, he!), and the beautiful but deadly (or was that deadly but beautiful?) Perilous Pauline.
Now, back to the present.

Nick and Clyde were sitting, watching TV, when the annoying singing started. At least, Nick thought it was annoying. Clyde reacted more... oddly.
"Aargh!", yelled the child genius as he fell to the floor.
"Jumpin' Junior G-Men!", cried Nick. "Are you allright?!?"
Clyde struggled with all the power of his amazing mind to resist the spell. "Purple dinosaurs... I hate y- No!! Ugh. It's up to you, Nick... Use... power..."
And with that, the young genius passed out.
"What in the name of Buster Crabbe?!?" cried Nick. He checked his brother, seemed all right, just unconscious. Clyde had had an idea in the big brain of his, something about Nick's powers...

Nick quickly changed to his Captain Cliffhanger costume. He thought he understood what the heroic youngster had tried to tell him... "Use... power..."

"I hate you, you hate me, but I'm as happy as can be..."

Something inside would not accept servitude. Something rebelled against the mental domination inflicted upon him. Something clean and pure and bright...

"I hate you..."

All men are created equal...

"You hate me..."

Of the people, by the people, and for the people

"But I'm as happy as can be..."

The land of the free... the home of the brave...

His shuffling walk had led him to the defeated members of Freedom Force. MinuteMan stood staring at the forms of his teammates, now bound and unconscious. Microwave... a heroic android from an alternate future that might not even know a United States, but who fought bravely for their cause. Man O'War, a crusty old sailor turned powerhouse... a true patriot, striving for his country and her citizens with his all, no matter how he might put up a false front of complaints. And AlcheMiss... pretty AlcheMiss. Always a gentle taunt about his patriotism, about his feelings... but always as staunch a defender of truth and liberty as MinuteMan would ever care to have at his side.

Softly, he muttered, "It's... not... right..."

The children milled around, still singing the whining song of the evil purple purveyor of peril. Their eyes were glazed over, but a man could see... deep inside, under the spell that held them... the spirit of young Americans, crying out, desperate to break free.

"It's... not... right..."

Three other heroes were already tied up, hanging from... from gigantic candy canes. A man in a neat blue suit along with a black domino mask... a men dressed almost as an Indian shaman... and strangest of all, what looked like a bipedal dog... a sheepdog. In his stupor, MinuteMan had absently watched them strive, along with his comrades, against the Barnasaurus Rex. And he felt that in them resonated the power of Energy X as well... as well as the burning desire for freedom and liberty.

"It's... not... RIGHT!!!"

To be continued...

------------------
Eric L. Sofer
The Silver Age Fogey
x<]:-){
"WWMMD?"

One night Ben came back to his dorm room drunk to see Eric studying a frog, Ben started laughing at him and Eric leaped at Ben in a rage. As the two tummbled on the floor untill a strange bolt of purple energy struck through the window and hit Ben, there was a huge explosion and when the smoke cleared Ben found Eric on the floor- dead.

The Barnasaurus Rex was the best thing in the whole wide world.

The Frog aimlessly wandered up to one of the many sappy-happy people around him and said "I love that song. Let's sing some more."

Strangely enough, the person he was talking to didn't seem to be as sappy-happy as everyone else.

"Don't you want to sing? asked Ben.

The man still hadn't looked at him. He seemed lost in his own fog.

"Singing is good," said the Frog. "Singing makes us-"

"It's not right..." the man said quietly.

The Frog stopped. What wasn't right? Everything was right now that the Barnasaurus was here. "Does somebody need a hug?" he asked.

The man, who happened to be dressed in stylized colonial clothes, blinked hard and said much louder "It's... not.. RIGHT!!!"

Something in the Frog's brainwashed skull told him that this person wasn't going to be sappy-happy any more and that was bad. This person needed to learn that it wasn't good to not be sappy-happy like the Barnasaurus Rex wanted. He leaped up and swung out one of his powerful legs at the interloper.

Fortunately, Minute Man had recovered his senses enough to block the kick with his walking stick. Even so, the force of the blow threw him into the base of the candy cane stockade which shook with the impact.

"No Frog, wait!" the amazing american called. "You're being controlled. Fight it man, FIGHT IT!"

"Barnasaurus Rex says you don't like to share," said the Frog. "He wants you to go away." He jumped skyward and aimed both feet at Minute Man's head.

The patriotic pugilist ducked and the Frog's kick shook the sugary stocks. He bounded off, twisted in the air, and landed just in range of Minute Man's fist. The punch smashed into his face, sending him backwards, but instead of falling, he caught himself with his arms and frogkicked out, catching Minute Man in the stomach and almost knocking the wind out of him.

Minute Man staggered back as the Frog bounded to his feet. He took hold of his walking stick in both hands, stared darkly at his opponent and said "I'm sorry Frog, but... FOR FREEDOM!!"

He swung the eagle-tipped staff at the Frog, catching him across the jaw. If he had been playing baseball, this one would have been out of the park. Instead, the amphibious adventurer reeled and landed hard in the grass, out as cold as a toad in December.

"Well, don't just stand there laddie," said a voice behind him. "Get us loose!"

Apparently the candy canes had shaken enough to rouse most of the Barnasaurus Rex's unwilling guests. Minute Man rushed over to his friends and began chipping away at their bonds.

"That thing has to be stopped," he said. "It's a threat to all that is good and -"

"We know," interrupted AlcheMiss. "We have to think of somthin', fast."

"Minute Man, I have a plan!" Spiritcaller and Man O' War said in unison.

"You have a plan?" they said in unison again.

"My plan will work, I'm sure!" they said in unison once more.

"Will you boys stop gabbin' and just do somethin?" AlcheMiss snapped.

Used Car Salesman smiled. "I think I'm in love."

"Shouldn't we save the world first?" said Sheepdog sarcastically.

"He's right," announced Minute Man. "So, let's hear this plan..."

To Be Continued...

------------------
-Mea
a.k.a: Glitch Girl
"Flash, quit heckling the supervillain!" - John Stewart

[Insert ominous evil overlord music]

Lord Dominion was watching all of the chaos in Patriot City on his viewscreen. He smiled evilly to himself.

"Hahahaha! The fools don't realize the dinosaur is but a distraction. While they waste time with the Barnasaurus, my other agent prepares the trap which will rid me of these witless do gooders."

A light begins to blink beside the viewscreen. Lord Dominion presses a button and a shadowy silhouette appears on the viewscreen.

"How go my plans Agent X?" Lord Dominion asks the viewscreen.

"All proceeds just as you envisioned, my master," the viewscreen replied. "The foolish humans and the traitor will never suspect a thing until it is too late for them, and Earth."

To be continued.....

Finally, the Speaker of the Spirits turned and said, "WILL you shut up?"

"Me? Laddie, ye're the one speakin' through yer blow hole!" Man O'War answered, and he grabbed Spiritcaller by the upper arm. "Now shut yer hole!"

Spiritcaller coldly answered, "Unhand me, fish-man."

"Oh, no," AlcheMiss said. "Boys, we don't have time for this! What about... about..." She stopped midspeech, and shook her head. "It's still affectin' them... it's affectin' us all!"

"Say," Sheepdog said to the Goddess' Gladiatrix, "do you mind if I sniff your butt, just for a moment?"

Used Car Salesman suddenly sidled up to AlcheMiss. "Now just a minute, puppy boy! If anyone is going to make time with this little peach, it's going to be me!"

"Illogical," Microwave. "Human behavior is illogical. Proposition: Proximity to the Barnasaurus Rex is causing more extreme reactions. Observation: The number of Patriot Citizens in the park has increased. Corollary: The Barnasaurus Rex' power increases in proportion to its thralls."

And thousands of young voices warbled, "I HATE YOU... YOU HATE ME..."

"Further observation: That song annoys me," the Radioactive Ranger concluded.

"BUT I'M AS HAPPY AS CAN BE..."

"NO!" Suddenly, MinuteMan leapt up to the top of the statue which had imbued him with the energy X radiation, which had made him the hero he was. "This isn't right! You're not slaves! You're Americans! You're free!"

"Listen to me, all you youngsters!" the Sixty Second Sentinel cried. "You're being used! You're being manipulated, against your mothers and fathers! Against your friends! Against your country!"

Thousands of young voices suddenly hesitated in their chanting, just a tiny bit.

"There's nothing more important than your liberty! You have to be free, children! Think of the red, white, and blue! Think of what America means! You are the American dream! You and your moms and dads, and your brothers and sisters, you're the future!"

The evil song slowed in its tempo even more, as more and more of the children turned to look at MinuteMan.

"America is a great, glorious, free country, and it takes all of us to make it happen! You can be free to do whatever you want! Be free, youngsters! Fight off that evil voice in your heads! Tell it to go away! Tell it that you're Americans!"

The lyrics faded into a loud rumble as the children looked just a bit less dazed. The Freedom Force and heroes were all watching MinuteMan intently, as were the rest of the adults, suddenly waking from their confused states.

The purple prestidigitator of panic suddenly bellowed in rage and began advancing on the statue where Patriot's Paladin spoke.

"Say it with me, kids, grown ups! Tell that monster you're free!" MinuteMan pointed at the flag held proudly aloft by his sculpted namesake, and, putting his tricorner hat over his heart, recited aloud.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag..."

A thousand voices began echoing, "...of the United States of America..."

"Come on, everyone!" MinuteMan said. "And to the republic for which it stands!"

A roar answered him, "One nation under God, indivisible!"

And in unison, youngsters, adults, and heroes all roared at the gigantic purple menace, "WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!"

MinuteMan turned to his fellow heroes and said, "Let's take out that monster, team! FOR FREEDOM!"

To be continued...

They didn't notice the two heroes hanging back.

"I can't belive that worked," said Spiritcaller.

"Aye, neither can I," Man-O-War agreed. "Well, you know what they say... If it's stupid and it works..."

"...it's not stupid," Spiritcaller finished.

They both laughed.

"Come on laddie. We don't want to miss all the fun."

"Right behind you."

They hurried after the crowd.

To be continued...

(just think of this as a character centered [bump])

Brava, madame, brava! An excellent bit! I loved it! Vociferous applause!

Back in story context...

Meanwhile, on Mt. Rainier in Washington state...

A flare of light appeared near a towering summit, staring high over the rocky ranges. When the burst died down, a man in a curious, home made costume was seen to be hanging upside down to a ledge over a thousand foot drop into a roaring river.

"Damn it," Captain Cliffhanger muttered. "Missed AGAIN!"

To be continued...

[Insert loud roar]

No longer was this a mind controlling creature bent on conquest. The violet villain had become the most fearsome of all foes. This was a mother protecting her young! The Barnasaurus shrugged off the attempts by many of the heroes fighting her and headed straight towards Spiritcaller and Man O War.

Spiritcaller had just called upon the Spirits of Fire to torch some of the hatchlings when he heard the deafening roar. He turned and saw the large lizard leap over Minuteman and head straight towards him and the recently crisped critters.

[Insert loud pop]

Spiritcaller looked to his left and saw a strangely clad young man beside him. The newcomer said "Greetings, I'm Captian Cliffhanger and..." his voice trailed off as he felt a warm gust of wind on him.

Spiritcaller and Captain Cliffhanger turned and saw that the Barnasaurus was standing directly in front of them looking at her recently destroyed eggs. Her breath was warm and heavy upon their faces.

"Oh my," Captain Cliffhanger said quietly.
"I think this is gonna hurt," Spiritcaller said even more quietly.

Lord Dominion fairly leapt up from his throne, watching the scene playing itself out in Patriot City on Earth. "YES! Yes... they will soon fall... Get me Agent X! NOW!" he bellowed to his communications operator.

In Patriot City...

A furtive figure strayed behind the largest tree in Patriot City, cloaked in shadow. He watched the spectacle as Freedom Force and their new friends struck forth at the violent violet threat from another world. In its path were a series of spotted spheres, some cracked and shattered, and Man O'War, SpiritCaller, and some newly appeared costumed character.

He thought, Another fool for our trap... more grist for Lord Dominion's grinding mill!

Agent X pulled the metallic frame over his head that allowed him contact with the Dominion. He closed the contacts and his mind filled with the voice of Lord Dominion.

"Slave! Prepare to trigger the trap!"

"Now just a minute!" Agent X subvocalized back. "I know you sprung me from prison, and I agreed to work for you as Agent X, but you don't call me a slave! I'm an American!"

In response, a flash of mental energy tore through Agent X' synapses. He roared in agony, collapsing to the ground, as Lord Dominion's voice played through his tormented mind. "Shall we continue this discussion, or will you DO AS I SAY?!?"

"Yes... MASTER," Agent X thought back in rage and pain. "I am readying the device now."

The overcoated figure pulled out what looked like an oversized radio transmitter attached to a trombone bell. He spent a minute activating it...

***************************
Part of Freedom Force was occupied in clearing adults and children from Patriot Park, out of the magenta monster's way, as the rest of the team continued to batter it.

In front of the Barnasaurus, the newly appeared Captain Cliffhanger disappeared in a flare of light. "Go get him," Spiritcaller cheered.

Man O'War grabbed the Speaker to the Souls and pulled him up into the air. "A fine spirit ye have, lad, but it's time we were making a wake out of that beast's course! An' unless I miss my guess, El Diablo's gonna have somethin' to say about these roe!"

Surely enough, as Man O'War ascended, Diablo circled around through the air, and called to his tempestuous teammate, "Heads up, Manny! Hot stuff comin' through!"

"Aye, then let's give this purple puss somethin' t' keep her busy while Diablo cooks up some eggs!" He carried SpiritCaller higher up, attracting the Barnasaurus' attention.

The beast was surrounded with force and energy, assaulted from every side. Ant and Spiritcaller assailed it with supersonic shrieks; Man O'War blasted a lightning bolt into it; and nearly a dozen heroes slammed, kicked, stabbed, and hit at it from the ground.

"What th-" Man O'War suddenly stopped a moment, feeling an odd sensation in his mind... almost a tickling sensation...

While the mauve menace was distracted, El Diablo hovered right above the eggs, focusing his flaming aura into an Inferno blast. He laughed richly as his power built, until he roared aloud, "DIABLO TIME!" and discharged the flaming bolt into the heart of the eggs.

In that far distant galaxy...
"Steady... Agent X, stand ready... I recognize this fool, and I know of his powers! Be ready, Agent X, be ready!"

Patriot Park, Patriot City, Earth
"I'm ready, I'm ready," he grumbled. The energy in the device began to build up slowly as Agent X aimed it directly at the Barnasaurus.

Diablo's fire blast slammed into the eggs, and incinerated them. And, as had happened, the Scorching Warrior had overpowered his blast in his eagerness and excitement. The force of the fiery explosion knocked most of the heroes for a loop, and those few in the air or strong enough to resist were still battered by shock waves.

Diablo himself was flung into a grove of small oaks, and found himself dangling upside down on a branch, next to AlcheMiss also hanging from a limb.

"Next time, hotshot, maybe some more focus and less hocus pocus?"

"Hey, bonita, I thought that was your business?" he jested back.

Slowly, the heroes picked themselves up, to find that the Barnasaurus, by dint of its proximity to the fiery bomb, had been knocked down and was nearly unconscious.

"Justice has been served!" Order cheered, and his sentiments were echoed by many of his comrades.

Agent X heard the cry in his head - "Now! NOW, FOOL! Trigger the device!"

Agent X laughed long and loud. "Now, MinuteMan, I get my revenge!" And O'Connor slowly threw the switch...

To be continued

------------------
Eric L. Sofer
The Silver Age Fogey
x<]:-){
"WWMMD?"

[This message has been edited by Silver Age Fogey (edited 05-17-2002).]

Fuji-San, the active volcano of the Japanese Isles, stands impassively watching over its charges below. It is a majestic statement of the power of the Earth, of land above water, of fire and air.

Just inside the lip of Mt. Fuji is a costumed figure, clinging to the rock and struggling desperately to avoid the burning vapors and steam rising up to barbecue his butt.

And Captain Cliffhanger screams, "CONFOUND IT! MISSED AGAIN!!!"

All of this happened in less than an eyeblink.

The crowd turned in a collective gasp of horror. No one could bring themselves to say anything as the shock hit them like a battering ram.

The Minute Man... protector of Patriot City... gone!

(The crowd didn't even notice that the Barnasaurus, bruised and beaten had started to whither away. Weakened from laying the eggs and losing the steady stream of the enslaves souls of Patriot City, the magenta monster didn't have the strength to maintain its physical form in this world. There's be another time it thought before its body, now the size of a bread box, dried up and blew away as purple dust.)

"By the goddess," breathed AlcheMiss at last, breaking the morbid silence. She was shaking.

"I don't believe it," said Sheepdog numbly. "What happened?

"Who could have done something like this?" someone asked.

"Whoever he is, he better hope I don't find him first," El Diablo growled with barely contained fury. Around his feet, grass smoldered.

"It's not right," said Used Car Salesman. "That was Minute Man. He's not supposed to be dead!"

"He's not dead," said Spiritcaller quietly.

All heads focused on the young hero.

"Lad," Man-o-war said in his best comforting tones. "You saw the same thing we all saw. I know it's hard but... " he paused to wipe a tear that had started to trickle down from his one good eye, "...but you have to-"

"You don't understand," protested Spiritcaller. "I know. His spirit... I'd feel it if he was dead, but he isn't."

"What are you sayin'?"

"Minute Man's still alive. I'm sure of it. I don't know where he is, but where ever it is, he's still alive."

-----

In that far distant galaxy...

Minute Man staggered. It felt like he'd just been ripped out of reality and then forcibly shoved back in.

He wasn't in the park.

That was bad.

He only had time to register that he was indoors and where ever he was had strange alien architecture before he heard a low evil laugh behind him. He spun around quickly. He knew that laugh, it belonged to...

"Lord Dominion commands you to bow, earthling!" the alien overlord boomed from his angular throne overlooking the great hall. He was smiling the smile of one who knew he'd won a game and was going to be a very obnoxious winner about it.

"I don't bow to the likes of you, villain," Minute Man challenged. "Why have you brought me here?"

Lord Dominion didn't look like he was in the mood to share information. "Guards," he ordered the aliens around him, "Make him bow for me.

It took nearly all of Lord Dominion's personal guard to force the defender of liberty to his knees. Even so, the hero of Patriot City continued to glare defiantly at the alien overlord.

"Ah," oozed Lord Dominion, "Much much better. Let us see how the traitor Mentor likes it when I break his friends, one by one, starting with his oldest earthling ally, BWHAHAHAHA!!!! Guards, to the Mines of Motax with him!"

To Be Continued...

-----
Oh CRUD! I took so long to write that that I'm three posts behind! Argh!

I'm trying to decide if I should delete this post or try to rewrite it to fit what's going on. Suggestions?

[update] well I can't think of how to edit it so it fits, and I don't want to delete it either, so I guess I'll let you guys decide if you want to ignore it or not.

[This message has been edited by Glitch_Girl (edited 05-17-2002).]

Mentor awoke with a cosmic-size headache and visions of evil, singing purple things dancing through his brain. He could feel the evil aura of the Barnasaurus disipating, and yet...

And yet...

There was something more.

Something more subtle, yet, perhaps even more evil, more dangerous...

Lost in his meditations, Mentor failed to hear the pittiful yowlings of a scared, hungry cat outside the building. Even had he heard, it is doubtful he would have grasped the true significance of the sound.

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