A guy gets hit by a truck and wakes up in a World War II comic book universe
The Superhero, the Cellphone, & the Isekai
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Shcpis
New
- Location
- New England
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA
September 5, 2018
Leonard Michael Hughes was on his way to Million Year Picnic. He liked discussing comics with the staff there. He especially liked the Redhead that worked there. Her name was Cherie Jones. Everyone called her "C.J.".
They had been talking for over a month. Leo had finally gotten up the nerve to get her number. She had wrote it down on the inside of his issue of Savage Dragon #237. Malcolm Dragon was fighting a villain called the Scourge. This made Leonard recall the Scourge of the Underworld and the Bar with No Name in Marvel comics.
"Man," Hughes lamented, "Marvel Comics had been so much better back in the day."
Things got only worse when the skies opened up. Hughes stuck the issue in the inside pocket of his coat. He then hurried through the rain across Auburn Street to get to the basement that housed the comic shop.
It was too late that He saw the out of control careening truck.
The blare of the horn filled his ears. The headlights blinded Hughes. Instinctively He braced for what would surely be a fatal impact. Then his world filled with light.
When the light faded the truck was gone. The Young man spun around as snow fell around him. Suddenly a high pitched old fashion horn screeched at him. Hughes backpedaled onto the sidewalk. The packard whizzed past him.
"Hold on . . .," Hughes whispered as he took in what looked like a colorized version of it's a wonderful life.
The few cars that were out on the street were all classics. Most looking like they were from the 40s or 30s but there was also what looked like a Model T making their way through the snowfall.
Hughes decided to take a picture with his phone. His phone was not his phone. The cellphone he took from his pocket was definitely larger. It also felt more sturdy. Leo's thoughts began to whirl. He wondered if He was going mad.
Hughes decided to call someone. He opened the mystery phones contacts.
"Empty?!?," Leo blurted out with frustration.
He went back to the main screen and there were a myriad of applications to choose from. One of them was in the center of the others making it appear prominent. It looked like a minimalist version of a caped superhero. Leo squinted. Below the icon it read "SUPERIFICATE!".
Hughes went to his facebook. He did not notice the strange fog emanating from the alley next where the comic shop should have been. The fog became thicker and covered the street all around Leo. Suddenly multiple spiked creatures came rolling out of the alleyway.
"Farg!," Hughes screamed as they came at him.
The spiked balls of fur growled and bounced up at Hughes to kill him with their sharp protrusions and then feast on his flesh. Hughes started to run. He ran as fast as He could.
Thinking quickly Leo hit the SUPERIFICATE! icon. A strange light appeared. It circled around him. He was covered in the spectral energy. When it evaporated Hughes was transformed.
"A Gingerbread Man?!," Leo complained out loud in a high pitched voice when He saw his new body.
The bouncing spiked death balls closed in. Hughes wondered if this was the nightmare of someone dying after getting run over by a truck. He ran away as fast as He can.
Cambridge, MA
September 5, 2018
Leonard Michael Hughes was on his way to Million Year Picnic. He liked discussing comics with the staff there. He especially liked the Redhead that worked there. Her name was Cherie Jones. Everyone called her "C.J.".
They had been talking for over a month. Leo had finally gotten up the nerve to get her number. She had wrote it down on the inside of his issue of Savage Dragon #237. Malcolm Dragon was fighting a villain called the Scourge. This made Leonard recall the Scourge of the Underworld and the Bar with No Name in Marvel comics.
"Man," Hughes lamented, "Marvel Comics had been so much better back in the day."
Things got only worse when the skies opened up. Hughes stuck the issue in the inside pocket of his coat. He then hurried through the rain across Auburn Street to get to the basement that housed the comic shop.
It was too late that He saw the out of control careening truck.
The blare of the horn filled his ears. The headlights blinded Hughes. Instinctively He braced for what would surely be a fatal impact. Then his world filled with light.
When the light faded the truck was gone. The Young man spun around as snow fell around him. Suddenly a high pitched old fashion horn screeched at him. Hughes backpedaled onto the sidewalk. The packard whizzed past him.
"Hold on . . .," Hughes whispered as he took in what looked like a colorized version of it's a wonderful life.
The few cars that were out on the street were all classics. Most looking like they were from the 40s or 30s but there was also what looked like a Model T making their way through the snowfall.
Hughes decided to take a picture with his phone. His phone was not his phone. The cellphone he took from his pocket was definitely larger. It also felt more sturdy. Leo's thoughts began to whirl. He wondered if He was going mad.
Hughes decided to call someone. He opened the mystery phones contacts.
"Empty?!?," Leo blurted out with frustration.
He went back to the main screen and there were a myriad of applications to choose from. One of them was in the center of the others making it appear prominent. It looked like a minimalist version of a caped superhero. Leo squinted. Below the icon it read "SUPERIFICATE!".
Hughes went to his facebook. He did not notice the strange fog emanating from the alley next where the comic shop should have been. The fog became thicker and covered the street all around Leo. Suddenly multiple spiked creatures came rolling out of the alleyway.
"Farg!," Hughes screamed as they came at him.
The spiked balls of fur growled and bounced up at Hughes to kill him with their sharp protrusions and then feast on his flesh. Hughes started to run. He ran as fast as He could.
Thinking quickly Leo hit the SUPERIFICATE! icon. A strange light appeared. It circled around him. He was covered in the spectral energy. When it evaporated Hughes was transformed.
"A Gingerbread Man?!," Leo complained out loud in a high pitched voice when He saw his new body.
The bouncing spiked death balls closed in. Hughes wondered if this was the nightmare of someone dying after getting run over by a truck. He ran away as fast as He can.
#2 - Pahk Ya Cah at Hah Vahd Yahd
New
- Location
- New England
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA
Leonard Hughes was running for his suddenly very weird life. Large fur balls covered in spikes were rolling after him. His strange cellphone had changed him into a Gingerbread Man. Hughes ran up a lamp post then jumped down to a mailbox and bounced off trying to lose his pursuers.
"I'm gingerbread!," He yelled at the furballs that were after him, "do You even like gingerbread?!"
The sound of galloping caught Hughes attention. He looked in it's direction. A man in White rode up on an equally White horse. He brandished a six-shooter.
"These here varmints are out to get you child!," the cowboy hollered while shooting the round creatures closest to Leo.
While the White Rider fired the horse spun and lowered itself so that Hughes could land upon it. He landed in the gunslingers lap.
"Don't worry Me and the Super Horse will have you back with your Momma in no time!," the cowboy told Hughes while he continued to fire.
"I'M NOT A KID!," Leo blurted out, "I'M A MAN!"
He did not include the Ginger part.
"Hold On!," the Rider told him while his horse avoided the dangerous creatures.
A caped duo appeared in the sky. They wore matching Blue suits with Romanesque helmets. They drew their sidearms and fired lightning bolts down on the spiked fur balls.
The woman landed on rooftop while the man flew down to Leo and the cowboy.
"Who are You?," the man demanded, "What are these things?"
"Jovian Lunar Spike Balls," a voice announced over what sounded like a loud speaker.
"Oh Man," Hughes rolled his candy eyes.
A Man in a Green and Yellow spacesuit flew above them with a jetpack. He fired lasers down at the creatures. The multiple attacks finally stopped the horde and the creatures scattered to save themselves.
"This is Blue Bolt," the woman told Leo, the Cowboy, and Spaceman as She landed in front of the while holstering her gun.
"And She is my assistant," Blue Bolt told Hughes and the others.
"The White Rider," the Cowboy replied tipping his hat, "and this here is Super Horse."
The White horse whinnied upon being mentioned.
"Spacehawk," the man in the retro futuristic suit informed everyone.
The woman went over and started petting the Super Horse. The White Rider asked if anyone knew the child He had rescued. Hughes sighed and jumped down from the horse.
"I am not a child!," He squealed angrily.
"Ooooh!," the caped woman cooed when She saw him.
The man known as Spacehawk raised his wrist to check something before asking a question.
"What year is it?," He questioned.
"2018," Leo replied.
"1876," The White Rider answered and the Horse whinnied again.
"January," the woman told the Space Man.
"1941," Blue Bolt interjected.
"So it is what I assumed," Spacehawk told those assembled, "We have been sucked into the past."
Leo nodded.
"The future," the Rider countered after the Super Horse whinnied at him.
"Is the 21st century predominated by a race of cookie based life forms?," the woman asked Hughes.
"Uh," He stammered , "No."
Leonard quickly started looking for the cellphone and the app that had caused his transformation. A fear of his state being permanent filled his with dread. Luckily on his belt there was a pocket and the Cellphone was in this gingerbread orifice.
"This is a nightmare," He told the others as he took out the device.
He clicked of SUPERIFICATE! application. It showed a picture and description of the Gingerbread Man. It listed the date the character was created, 1875, and other basic information.
"1%?," Hughes blubbered when He saw the picture of the Gingerbread man.
Above the picture it read "LOADING . . ." while below it read "1%". Leo shook the phone but the percentage did not go up. He also could not find a button to either turn back to normal or switch to another body. He figured the phone had to allow him to switch to other forms. It would not say "SUPERIFICATE!" if it only made him a Gingerbread Man. He reasoned it would say something like "GINGERFY!".
"Is everything okay?," the one called Blue Bolt asked Hughes.
"I am not sure," He replied in the high-pitched squeaky voice.
Leo became concerned. What if when the Gingerbread Man was done loading on the Cellphone it became his permanent form? Maybe He began to worry He needed to find a way to reverse the transformation before it became permanent.
"I apologize about the Lunar Spikeballs," Spacehawk told locals, "they were chasing Me when an unexpected temporal event brought Me here.
The Super Horse whinnied.
"Me and Super had just dropped off some good for nothing hooligans when a wind and strange light brought us here," the Rider explained.
"We shall take you to Dr. Bertoff," Blue Bolt told the misplaced men.
"Dr. B is a real genius," the woman told them enthusiastically, "if anyone can get you home again it's the Doc."
"OUCH!," Leonard cried out as his shoulder got crunched.
He looked up to see the Super Horse chewing and swallowing a bite of his shoulder.
He quickly ran away from the horse. He examined the large bite mark then took out the Cellphone.
"1%!!!," He bemoaned, "AAARrrrrggGH!!!"
Cambridge, MA
Leonard Hughes was running for his suddenly very weird life. Large fur balls covered in spikes were rolling after him. His strange cellphone had changed him into a Gingerbread Man. Hughes ran up a lamp post then jumped down to a mailbox and bounced off trying to lose his pursuers.
"I'm gingerbread!," He yelled at the furballs that were after him, "do You even like gingerbread?!"
The sound of galloping caught Hughes attention. He looked in it's direction. A man in White rode up on an equally White horse. He brandished a six-shooter.
"These here varmints are out to get you child!," the cowboy hollered while shooting the round creatures closest to Leo.
While the White Rider fired the horse spun and lowered itself so that Hughes could land upon it. He landed in the gunslingers lap.
"Don't worry Me and the Super Horse will have you back with your Momma in no time!," the cowboy told Hughes while he continued to fire.
"I'M NOT A KID!," Leo blurted out, "I'M A MAN!"
He did not include the Ginger part.
"Hold On!," the Rider told him while his horse avoided the dangerous creatures.
A caped duo appeared in the sky. They wore matching Blue suits with Romanesque helmets. They drew their sidearms and fired lightning bolts down on the spiked fur balls.
The woman landed on rooftop while the man flew down to Leo and the cowboy.
"Who are You?," the man demanded, "What are these things?"
"Jovian Lunar Spike Balls," a voice announced over what sounded like a loud speaker.
"Oh Man," Hughes rolled his candy eyes.
A Man in a Green and Yellow spacesuit flew above them with a jetpack. He fired lasers down at the creatures. The multiple attacks finally stopped the horde and the creatures scattered to save themselves.
"This is Blue Bolt," the woman told Leo, the Cowboy, and Spaceman as She landed in front of the while holstering her gun.
"And She is my assistant," Blue Bolt told Hughes and the others.
"The White Rider," the Cowboy replied tipping his hat, "and this here is Super Horse."
The White horse whinnied upon being mentioned.
"Spacehawk," the man in the retro futuristic suit informed everyone.
The woman went over and started petting the Super Horse. The White Rider asked if anyone knew the child He had rescued. Hughes sighed and jumped down from the horse.
"I am not a child!," He squealed angrily.
"Ooooh!," the caped woman cooed when She saw him.
The man known as Spacehawk raised his wrist to check something before asking a question.
"What year is it?," He questioned.
"2018," Leo replied.
"1876," The White Rider answered and the Horse whinnied again.
"January," the woman told the Space Man.
"1941," Blue Bolt interjected.
"So it is what I assumed," Spacehawk told those assembled, "We have been sucked into the past."
Leo nodded.
"The future," the Rider countered after the Super Horse whinnied at him.
"Is the 21st century predominated by a race of cookie based life forms?," the woman asked Hughes.
"Uh," He stammered , "No."
Leonard quickly started looking for the cellphone and the app that had caused his transformation. A fear of his state being permanent filled his with dread. Luckily on his belt there was a pocket and the Cellphone was in this gingerbread orifice.
"This is a nightmare," He told the others as he took out the device.
He clicked of SUPERIFICATE! application. It showed a picture and description of the Gingerbread Man. It listed the date the character was created, 1875, and other basic information.
"1%?," Hughes blubbered when He saw the picture of the Gingerbread man.
Above the picture it read "LOADING . . ." while below it read "1%". Leo shook the phone but the percentage did not go up. He also could not find a button to either turn back to normal or switch to another body. He figured the phone had to allow him to switch to other forms. It would not say "SUPERIFICATE!" if it only made him a Gingerbread Man. He reasoned it would say something like "GINGERFY!".
"Is everything okay?," the one called Blue Bolt asked Hughes.
"I am not sure," He replied in the high-pitched squeaky voice.
Leo became concerned. What if when the Gingerbread Man was done loading on the Cellphone it became his permanent form? Maybe He began to worry He needed to find a way to reverse the transformation before it became permanent.
"I apologize about the Lunar Spikeballs," Spacehawk told locals, "they were chasing Me when an unexpected temporal event brought Me here.
The Super Horse whinnied.
"Me and Super had just dropped off some good for nothing hooligans when a wind and strange light brought us here," the Rider explained.
"We shall take you to Dr. Bertoff," Blue Bolt told the misplaced men.
"Dr. B is a real genius," the woman told them enthusiastically, "if anyone can get you home again it's the Doc."
"OUCH!," Leonard cried out as his shoulder got crunched.
He looked up to see the Super Horse chewing and swallowing a bite of his shoulder.
He quickly ran away from the horse. He examined the large bite mark then took out the Cellphone.
"1%!!!," He bemoaned, "AAARrrrrggGH!!!"
#3 - B is for Bait 🪤
New
- Location
- New England
Luigi's Delizie
Harvard Square
January 23, 1941
"This can't be happening," Leonard Hughes repeated while he blinked his gumdrop eyes.
The owner of the pastry shop had cut a cookie in the shape of the chomp the Super Horse had taken out of Leo's shoulder. The successful immigrant was now applying frosting to hold the shape in place.
'fraid it is partner," the White Rider told him with his slight drawl.
His equine partner was outside staring through the window. Despite the lack of a nervous system Hughes shuddered.
"Please Senor Cookie," Senor Bienevento scolded, "do not be a moving while I do my work."
Hughes sighed. He had been in this strange past for 2 hours. He picked up the cellphone and clicked the caped man app. It read 5%.
"Dang," the cowboy smirked, "a wireless telegraph that you can talk through?"
Leo looked up as He was so short even standing on a chair. The masked man was from even further in the past. Hughes still thought He had it worse off.
"Poppa!," a young woman came running in with a large, clunky, old fashioned camera.
"Antoinetta," her Father groused, "davvero ragazza?"
"Dici Formaggio!," Antoinetta called out before the flash.
Hughes tried to figure out what to do. He wanted to smash the phone. His hope being that it would return him to normal. Also, it may return him to his time and place. A horrible thought popped up. What if returning to his time and place left him laying in the street in the rain with tire tracks across his face as he gasped his last breath in a pool of his own blood?
"My Father," Antoinetta told the Rider, "He is the best pastry chef in all of Boston."
"Well," the Rider responded his smile hidden by his mask, "that sure is fine to know."
The were soon joined by Senora Bienevento and her twin brothers Luigi, Jr. and Mario.
"I want to eat his buttons!," Luigi, Jr. demanded.
"Poppa," Mario asked, "can You make a Gingerbread Momma for Senor Gingerbread?"
Again Leo rolled his candy eyes. Somehow He had become a confectionary Frankenstein and this kid wanted to have his Dad make him a bride. Thoughts of the B-Movie "The Gingerdead Man" entered his gingerbread head.
"We need you," the lady who was dressed like Blue Bolt said as She entered the shop.
"You got it," the Rider replied while spinning his six-shooter.
"No," She told the cowboy while pointing at Leonard, "him."
"Me?!," Hughes squeaked.
The woman nodded and told him that they were hunting down the fleeing spikeballs.
"Spacehawk," She explained, "He says if they escape and breed it could be problematic."
"You don't want them critters running rampant through your streets," the White Rider agreed.
"Yeah," Leo squeaked, "so what do you need me for?"
"Well," the woman put her hands on her hips, "You're small enough to get into the holes these things have rolled into."
"I don't have any weapons," Leo reminded her, "Are you going to give me your lightning pistol?"
"Oh no," She chuckled, "it wouldn't wor for you anyways."
Thoughts of the Gingerdead Man with a large knife entered Hughes thoughts again.
"You'd be bait," the woman explained, "You smell delicious and when they chase you you would lead them straight to us."
"I just go, umh, repaired," Leo protested while motioning towards his shoulder.
The woman smirked and told him He could run really fast so He was not in any danger. She also pointed out how important this was. Hughes' angry face was so cute.
"C'mon little guy," She told him, "Gingerbread Man Up!"
Later outside they were all together again. Leo looked down the drainage pipe. He swore He could see things moving inside.
"Get going," the man from 2441 A.D. told him, "We'll be right here."
Blue Bolt and his assistant had their lightning pistols out. The Rider had his six-shooter. Spacehawk had his laser gun but He called it his Death Ray. Leo again glanced down the pipe and rubbed his repaired should.
"My feet will get soggy," He complained, "and gross."
The Super Horse whinnied. The woman with Blue Bolt reached down and patted him on the head.
"If you're gross no one will want to eat you," She consoled him with a smile.
Hughes swallowed. Spacehawk reached into one of his many pockets and produced a small disc. The man from another future placed it on Leo's chest. It lit up.
"Thanks . . .," Hughes muttered before He started towards the pipe.
Leo did his best to avoid the water and ice. Soon he reached their quarry. Several of these alien creatures stopped and pivoted to face him. If Leo had a heart it would have skipped a beat. Instead of adrenalin He felt a sugar rush hit him. The creatures sniffed in his direction.
"Booga Booga!," Leo squeaked loudly.
The Jovian Luna Spikeballs did not take the bait. Instead they turned away. They were far more interested in their present involvement in the circle of life. The pipe started to fill with Jovian Luna Spikeball mating chirps. Leo winced.
Then it hit him. He knew what He had to do. He psyched himself up. He hoped his idea would work. At the very least He would be getting out of this godforsaken pipe.
♪ ♫ Run, Run, err, ROLL! as Fast You Can!,♪ ♫ Leo sang out, ♪ ♫ You Can't catch Me I'm the Gingerbread Man!!♪ ♫
"DON"T SHOOT!," Leo squeaked loudly as He rocketed out of the pipe.
The horny and hungry Spikeballs ran out in hot pursuit.
"SHOOT!," Leo hollered, "SHOOT NOW!"
Lightning, Lasers, and Bullets rang out. One of the creatures survived the gauntlet only to be crushed under hoof by the Super Horse. The White Rider whooped happily. Blue Bolt's assistant bent down and gave Leo a big kiss on the forehead.
"Great job Li'l Buddy!," She exclaimed happily.
Soon they were joined by the Boston Police Department. Blue Bolt engaged with detective Sean Flynn while Super Horse dealt with the animals in the mounted patrol. The next 7 hours were spent on the hunt.
"Hopefully," Spacehawk told everyone, "that is all of them."
Detective Flynn eyed the men from the future and the man and horse from the past. He looked over to Blue Bolt. He questioned the super-powered vigilante about them.
"If you're willing to take responsibility for them," Flynn finished, "I guess were good until I run it past immigration."
"I ain't Mexican," the White Rider told the officer defensively, "I'm from Texas."
The horse whinnied backing him up.
"I am an Earthling," Spacehawk informed Flynn, "although technically I was born on a rocket coming from Saturn."
"Riiiiiiight," Flynn nodded while taking notes He had trouble believing despite what his eyes could see.
Leo ignored them and checked the cellphone. He grimaced. It read 20%.
"Don't worry Sean," the woman told the detective, "Freddy will keep an eye on them."
"Lois!," Blue Bolt remonstrated her, "Our secret identities!"
"Oh," Lois smirked, "are We still doing that?"
"Yes!," Fred Parrish answered with much frustration.
"No sweat boyo," Flynn told the hero, "none of the lads seem to hear a thing."
"I need access to your top labatory," Spacehawk informed the police officer, "I need to find a way to return myself and the others to our proper times."
The detective looked the large man up and down. He then turned to Hughes.
"What's your story Candyman?," He looked down questioning Leo.
Hughes did not notice. Instead He was looking at all the apps on this new phone of his. Heaven or Hell this new afterlife had great phone service. He went to his contact list. He gritted his marshmallow teeth. It was empty.
"Cookie Boy," Flynn called out still trying to get a response.
Leo realized He did not know or could remember any of his friends or family's actual phone numbers. He just clicked on them now in his Contacts section. He tried to recall but could not.
Suddenly He recalled He had Cherie's number inside the Savage Dragon comic with the Scourge in it. He looked down at himself. Said comic had vanished with all the rest of his belongings when He became the Gingerbread Man.
"Someone get Me a large cup o' Joe," Detective Flynn called out, "I'm gonna dunk him."
"Alright," Blue Bolt smiled, "that's enough," he told Flynn, "I am taking everyone to Dr. Bertoff."
Blue Bolt told Spacehawk that Bertoff's lab was more advanced than any the surface world had to offer. Spacehawk nodded agreeing to go with him.
"Below the surface world?," the White Rider questioned, "What'cha got down there some sort of Secret Empire?"
"C'mon Li'l Buddy," Lois told Leo as She grabbed his Gingerbread hand.
"Below the Surface?," Leonard asked not quite sure what He had heard.
Meanwhile in the sewer tunnels that connected Boston and Cambridge a chirping could be heard.
Harvard Square
January 23, 1941
"This can't be happening," Leonard Hughes repeated while he blinked his gumdrop eyes.
The owner of the pastry shop had cut a cookie in the shape of the chomp the Super Horse had taken out of Leo's shoulder. The successful immigrant was now applying frosting to hold the shape in place.
'fraid it is partner," the White Rider told him with his slight drawl.
His equine partner was outside staring through the window. Despite the lack of a nervous system Hughes shuddered.
"Please Senor Cookie," Senor Bienevento scolded, "do not be a moving while I do my work."
Hughes sighed. He had been in this strange past for 2 hours. He picked up the cellphone and clicked the caped man app. It read 5%.
"Dang," the cowboy smirked, "a wireless telegraph that you can talk through?"
Leo looked up as He was so short even standing on a chair. The masked man was from even further in the past. Hughes still thought He had it worse off.
"Poppa!," a young woman came running in with a large, clunky, old fashioned camera.
"Antoinetta," her Father groused, "davvero ragazza?"
"Dici Formaggio!," Antoinetta called out before the flash.
Hughes tried to figure out what to do. He wanted to smash the phone. His hope being that it would return him to normal. Also, it may return him to his time and place. A horrible thought popped up. What if returning to his time and place left him laying in the street in the rain with tire tracks across his face as he gasped his last breath in a pool of his own blood?
"My Father," Antoinetta told the Rider, "He is the best pastry chef in all of Boston."
"Well," the Rider responded his smile hidden by his mask, "that sure is fine to know."
The were soon joined by Senora Bienevento and her twin brothers Luigi, Jr. and Mario.
"I want to eat his buttons!," Luigi, Jr. demanded.
"Poppa," Mario asked, "can You make a Gingerbread Momma for Senor Gingerbread?"
Again Leo rolled his candy eyes. Somehow He had become a confectionary Frankenstein and this kid wanted to have his Dad make him a bride. Thoughts of the B-Movie "The Gingerdead Man" entered his gingerbread head.
"We need you," the lady who was dressed like Blue Bolt said as She entered the shop.
"You got it," the Rider replied while spinning his six-shooter.
"No," She told the cowboy while pointing at Leonard, "him."
"Me?!," Hughes squeaked.
The woman nodded and told him that they were hunting down the fleeing spikeballs.
"Spacehawk," She explained, "He says if they escape and breed it could be problematic."
"You don't want them critters running rampant through your streets," the White Rider agreed.
"Yeah," Leo squeaked, "so what do you need me for?"
"Well," the woman put her hands on her hips, "You're small enough to get into the holes these things have rolled into."
"I don't have any weapons," Leo reminded her, "Are you going to give me your lightning pistol?"
"Oh no," She chuckled, "it wouldn't wor for you anyways."
Thoughts of the Gingerdead Man with a large knife entered Hughes thoughts again.
"You'd be bait," the woman explained, "You smell delicious and when they chase you you would lead them straight to us."
"I just go, umh, repaired," Leo protested while motioning towards his shoulder.
The woman smirked and told him He could run really fast so He was not in any danger. She also pointed out how important this was. Hughes' angry face was so cute.
"C'mon little guy," She told him, "Gingerbread Man Up!"
Later outside they were all together again. Leo looked down the drainage pipe. He swore He could see things moving inside.
"Get going," the man from 2441 A.D. told him, "We'll be right here."
Blue Bolt and his assistant had their lightning pistols out. The Rider had his six-shooter. Spacehawk had his laser gun but He called it his Death Ray. Leo again glanced down the pipe and rubbed his repaired should.
"My feet will get soggy," He complained, "and gross."
The Super Horse whinnied. The woman with Blue Bolt reached down and patted him on the head.
"If you're gross no one will want to eat you," She consoled him with a smile.
Hughes swallowed. Spacehawk reached into one of his many pockets and produced a small disc. The man from another future placed it on Leo's chest. It lit up.
"Thanks . . .," Hughes muttered before He started towards the pipe.
Leo did his best to avoid the water and ice. Soon he reached their quarry. Several of these alien creatures stopped and pivoted to face him. If Leo had a heart it would have skipped a beat. Instead of adrenalin He felt a sugar rush hit him. The creatures sniffed in his direction.
"Booga Booga!," Leo squeaked loudly.
The Jovian Luna Spikeballs did not take the bait. Instead they turned away. They were far more interested in their present involvement in the circle of life. The pipe started to fill with Jovian Luna Spikeball mating chirps. Leo winced.
Then it hit him. He knew what He had to do. He psyched himself up. He hoped his idea would work. At the very least He would be getting out of this godforsaken pipe.
♪ ♫ Run, Run, err, ROLL! as Fast You Can!,♪ ♫ Leo sang out, ♪ ♫ You Can't catch Me I'm the Gingerbread Man!!♪ ♫
"DON"T SHOOT!," Leo squeaked loudly as He rocketed out of the pipe.
The horny and hungry Spikeballs ran out in hot pursuit.
"SHOOT!," Leo hollered, "SHOOT NOW!"
Lightning, Lasers, and Bullets rang out. One of the creatures survived the gauntlet only to be crushed under hoof by the Super Horse. The White Rider whooped happily. Blue Bolt's assistant bent down and gave Leo a big kiss on the forehead.
"Great job Li'l Buddy!," She exclaimed happily.
Soon they were joined by the Boston Police Department. Blue Bolt engaged with detective Sean Flynn while Super Horse dealt with the animals in the mounted patrol. The next 7 hours were spent on the hunt.
"Hopefully," Spacehawk told everyone, "that is all of them."
Detective Flynn eyed the men from the future and the man and horse from the past. He looked over to Blue Bolt. He questioned the super-powered vigilante about them.
"If you're willing to take responsibility for them," Flynn finished, "I guess were good until I run it past immigration."
"I ain't Mexican," the White Rider told the officer defensively, "I'm from Texas."
The horse whinnied backing him up.
"I am an Earthling," Spacehawk informed Flynn, "although technically I was born on a rocket coming from Saturn."
"Riiiiiiight," Flynn nodded while taking notes He had trouble believing despite what his eyes could see.
Leo ignored them and checked the cellphone. He grimaced. It read 20%.
"Don't worry Sean," the woman told the detective, "Freddy will keep an eye on them."
"Lois!," Blue Bolt remonstrated her, "Our secret identities!"
"Oh," Lois smirked, "are We still doing that?"
"Yes!," Fred Parrish answered with much frustration.
"No sweat boyo," Flynn told the hero, "none of the lads seem to hear a thing."
"I need access to your top labatory," Spacehawk informed the police officer, "I need to find a way to return myself and the others to our proper times."
The detective looked the large man up and down. He then turned to Hughes.
"What's your story Candyman?," He looked down questioning Leo.
Hughes did not notice. Instead He was looking at all the apps on this new phone of his. Heaven or Hell this new afterlife had great phone service. He went to his contact list. He gritted his marshmallow teeth. It was empty.
"Cookie Boy," Flynn called out still trying to get a response.
Leo realized He did not know or could remember any of his friends or family's actual phone numbers. He just clicked on them now in his Contacts section. He tried to recall but could not.
Suddenly He recalled He had Cherie's number inside the Savage Dragon comic with the Scourge in it. He looked down at himself. Said comic had vanished with all the rest of his belongings when He became the Gingerbread Man.
"Someone get Me a large cup o' Joe," Detective Flynn called out, "I'm gonna dunk him."
"Alright," Blue Bolt smiled, "that's enough," he told Flynn, "I am taking everyone to Dr. Bertoff."
Blue Bolt told Spacehawk that Bertoff's lab was more advanced than any the surface world had to offer. Spacehawk nodded agreeing to go with him.
"Below the surface world?," the White Rider questioned, "What'cha got down there some sort of Secret Empire?"
"C'mon Li'l Buddy," Lois told Leo as She grabbed his Gingerbread hand.
"Below the Surface?," Leonard asked not quite sure what He had heard.
Meanwhile in the sewer tunnels that connected Boston and Cambridge a chirping could be heard.
#4 - So Many Ups & Downs
New
- Location
- New England
Bertoff Lab
Inner World
"Things just keep getting' weirder and weirder Cloud," the White Rider told his faithful horse.
The Super Horse whinnied it's agreement. The Blue Bolt told the Rider it was very rare to see a horse be unafraid to go beneath the surface. The Rider laughed.
"The Super Horse Ain't afraid of nothing no how," the cowboy explained.
"Well," Space surmised after a once over, "it does seem very hi-tech for the 20th Century."
Leo looked around. The lab was at the end of a passage bedecked with glowing rocks of multiple colors. It was like an underground rainbow. He was not sure how high or low the tech was in the lab but many things in it were weird like the Rider had said.
"Looks like the Doctor is not in," Lois told the guest She and Blue Bolt had brought to the Doctor's labotatory.
"Doc Bertoff has more than just on lab," Blue Bolt explained.
"Can He cure Me of being a living, breathing cookie?," Leo winged.
"If anyone can," the Bolt promised, "it would be Bertoff."
"Don't worry Li'l Buddy," Lois smiled, "You are going to be fine."
Hughes wished He had her confidence. He took the strange cellphone He had since arriving in the 1940's world out of his gingerbread pocket. He blew the crumbs off the device and began to examine it. A Black Bar at the top read "NO SERVICE". He checked the Gingerbread Man Icon. It had taken them an hour or so to reach the Innerworld lab location. The phone read 23%.
"SO there is a whole other world underneath everything?," the White Rider asked and Blue Bolt nodded.
"Dr. Bertoff is fighting against the Empire of the Green Sorceress," Bolt explained.
"A floozie witch," Lois added while making a face filled with genuine disgust.
Leonard swallowed. A witch would be just what He needed. She would probably offer to help then cut him into little squares and pass the pieces of him out to her friends at their monthly coven tea parties. This was a fate He looked to avoid.
An hour later the esteemed Doctor arrived. Leo's new phone's Gingerbread Man icon was at 25%.
"Hmmmm," Bertoff thought before breaking off Hughes' pinky and eating it, "edible at the very least."
"HEY!?," Leonard squeaked angrily in pain.
"Oh do simmer down," the doctor told him sternly, "We shall bake you a new one."
Hughes bit his frosting lip. He did not want to say the wrong thing. It was then that He learned that yes he truly was indeed for better or worse very much delicious. He had to now forcefully remind himself to stop licking his lips.
"Hmmmmm," Bertoff weighed the options, "what happens when the counter reaches 100%."
"Yes," Leo nodded, "that is the problem."
Spacehawk took off his Green and Yellow helmet. He looked like the leading man from an old-time western. He told Bertoff that his technology was brilliant but had followed different paths than the technology He himself employed. Bertoff was intrigued and excited to work more with the man from the 25th Century. Working with the Gingerbread Man from the 21st was proving more problematic.
"I am going back up to the surface," Hughes told everyone, "See if I can call anyone."
"Let's go," Lois told him, "can't have you wandering out and about alone up there."
Leo was going to run at high velocity gingerbread man speed but instead the electric woman offered to carry him and fly to the surface. They were there quite quickly.
"Good thing your not a fox," Leo joked as they took off.
"You don't find me attractive?!," Lois asked making a hurt face.
Leo squeaked.
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA
"The NO SERVICE warning is gone," Leo told her.
"Oh good," She smiled, "Do you want my number?"
Hughes swallowed. A whole array of thoughts that were incorrect flooded his cookie mind.
"Uh, hold on," He told her holding up the hand with the missing pinky.
In his other hand He dialed 9-1-1.
"9-1-1," the operator greeted him in a level tone, "What is the nature of your emergency?"
"I was hit by a truck and thrown back into World War II where I have become a Gingerbread Man!"
The Operator hung Up.
Inner World
"Things just keep getting' weirder and weirder Cloud," the White Rider told his faithful horse.
The Super Horse whinnied it's agreement. The Blue Bolt told the Rider it was very rare to see a horse be unafraid to go beneath the surface. The Rider laughed.
"The Super Horse Ain't afraid of nothing no how," the cowboy explained.
"Well," Space surmised after a once over, "it does seem very hi-tech for the 20th Century."
Leo looked around. The lab was at the end of a passage bedecked with glowing rocks of multiple colors. It was like an underground rainbow. He was not sure how high or low the tech was in the lab but many things in it were weird like the Rider had said.
"Looks like the Doctor is not in," Lois told the guest She and Blue Bolt had brought to the Doctor's labotatory.
"Doc Bertoff has more than just on lab," Blue Bolt explained.
"Can He cure Me of being a living, breathing cookie?," Leo winged.
"If anyone can," the Bolt promised, "it would be Bertoff."
"Don't worry Li'l Buddy," Lois smiled, "You are going to be fine."
Hughes wished He had her confidence. He took the strange cellphone He had since arriving in the 1940's world out of his gingerbread pocket. He blew the crumbs off the device and began to examine it. A Black Bar at the top read "NO SERVICE". He checked the Gingerbread Man Icon. It had taken them an hour or so to reach the Innerworld lab location. The phone read 23%.
"SO there is a whole other world underneath everything?," the White Rider asked and Blue Bolt nodded.
"Dr. Bertoff is fighting against the Empire of the Green Sorceress," Bolt explained.
"A floozie witch," Lois added while making a face filled with genuine disgust.
Leonard swallowed. A witch would be just what He needed. She would probably offer to help then cut him into little squares and pass the pieces of him out to her friends at their monthly coven tea parties. This was a fate He looked to avoid.
An hour later the esteemed Doctor arrived. Leo's new phone's Gingerbread Man icon was at 25%.
"Hmmmm," Bertoff thought before breaking off Hughes' pinky and eating it, "edible at the very least."
"HEY!?," Leonard squeaked angrily in pain.
"Oh do simmer down," the doctor told him sternly, "We shall bake you a new one."
Hughes bit his frosting lip. He did not want to say the wrong thing. It was then that He learned that yes he truly was indeed for better or worse very much delicious. He had to now forcefully remind himself to stop licking his lips.
"Hmmmmm," Bertoff weighed the options, "what happens when the counter reaches 100%."
"Yes," Leo nodded, "that is the problem."
Spacehawk took off his Green and Yellow helmet. He looked like the leading man from an old-time western. He told Bertoff that his technology was brilliant but had followed different paths than the technology He himself employed. Bertoff was intrigued and excited to work more with the man from the 25th Century. Working with the Gingerbread Man from the 21st was proving more problematic.
"I am going back up to the surface," Hughes told everyone, "See if I can call anyone."
"Let's go," Lois told him, "can't have you wandering out and about alone up there."
Leo was going to run at high velocity gingerbread man speed but instead the electric woman offered to carry him and fly to the surface. They were there quite quickly.
"Good thing your not a fox," Leo joked as they took off.
"You don't find me attractive?!," Lois asked making a hurt face.
Leo squeaked.
Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA
"The NO SERVICE warning is gone," Leo told her.
"Oh good," She smiled, "Do you want my number?"
Hughes swallowed. A whole array of thoughts that were incorrect flooded his cookie mind.
"Uh, hold on," He told her holding up the hand with the missing pinky.
In his other hand He dialed 9-1-1.
"9-1-1," the operator greeted him in a level tone, "What is the nature of your emergency?"
"I was hit by a truck and thrown back into World War II where I have become a Gingerbread Man!"
The Operator hung Up.
#5 - Ch-Ch-Changes!
New
- Location
- New England
Luigi's Delizie
Harvard Square
January 23, 1941
The gumdrops fell like teardrops. The camera flashed. Mario ate the miniature candies that fell from Leonard Hughes' eyes. Luigi, Jr. Held the bowl that caught the sweet tears his brother was unable to capture.
"Are you going to be okay?," Lois Blake asked the visitor to her time and world while rubbing his back.
Leo forced himself to stop. Mario squealed unhappy the candy had stopped. Antoinetta took another photo. Leo gritted his marshmallow teeth.
"You are just so cute when your angry and determined," Lois told him as She stepped back and he began to dial again.
"I don't remember most of my friends numbers," Hughes told Blake.
"Can't you," Lois asked, "just ask an operator?"
"What?," Hughes squeaked.
Leo thought then started dialing again. Lois wished him good luck.
"Buona Fortuna!," Miss Bienevento added enthusiastically.
"C'mon," Leo muttered unhappy when the person He was calling did not pick up.
"Who are you trying to reach?," Blake asked.
"My Dad," He explained, "He never picks up regularly so I am not too surprised He is not picking up now."
Leo told the Superhero He was going to try his Mother next. He thought again for a second and started dialing again.
"Mom!," Leo answered in his Gingerbread voice when his Mother asked, "it's Me it's Leo."
When his Mother laughed He made a face. She told him nice try.
"My Leonard is standing right here in the kitchen," the Ex-Mrs. Hughes told her transposed, transformed Son.
"What?!," Leo blurted out surprised the situation was becoming worse and worse.
"What about the truck?," Leo asked wanting answers.
"What truck?," His Mom asked confused.
His Mother hung up. Leo stared blankly at the phone. Mario and Luigi ran over to catch more candy tears.
"Leo," Lois told him, "don't worry we will figure this out."
Leo quickly switched to the Facebook app. It asked for his password and He entered it. He grimaced when the phone told him it was incorrect. He retried it and the result was the same. Hughes tried an old password He could remember. It also did not work.
♪ ♫ Believe it or Not I am Walking on Air ♪ ♫
Leo's confectionary eyes went wide. His home number appeared on the cellphone's screen. He finally had hope. His Mother was calling him back. He clicked the Green ACCEPT button.
"Hello Leonard Michael," an eerily familiar voice greeted him.
"WHO IS THIS?!," He implored with a demanding squeak.
"No worries," the voice told him, "I am handling things here."
"Did You do this to Me?!," Leo asked angrily, "Who are You?!"
"Leonard Michael," the other told him in a cheerful tone.
"What?," Leo asked wondering what next.
"Be the Hero," the Voice told him then hung up.
Leo immediately called back. He was blocked. He tried two more times with the same result.
Bertoff Laboratory
Inner World
January 25, 1941
Leo sat on the examination chair. He had tried all his social media. They had all been blocked. Hughes was getting frustrated. This combined with his growing fear as the count grew near and nearer to 100%.
Bertoff told Leo he had powders that would help him calm down but He doubted they would effect his current cookie physiognomy.
"You were at 50%," Spacehawk stated, "after a day."
"And now 24 hours later," Dr. Bertoff looked at the equivelant of an Inner World clock, "You are at 99%."
"Don't worry partner," the White Rider reassured Leo, "You're going to be right as rain."
The Super Horse whinnied then walked over and tapped Hughes on the head with it's chin. Lois Blake held his hand with all it's fingers. Blue Bolt crossed his arms.
"We are here for you Mr. Hughes," the Azure hero told him.
The cellphone beeped. The LOADING . . . Switched to COMPLETE. Below it read 100%. The Cellphone started to glow. Lois smiled hopefully.
"Get back," Leo told her then repeated to the to the others, "Just in case."
Everyone backed away. Spacehawk put himself in between the glow and the rest. Blue Bolt then stepped in front of the man from the 25th Century in between Leo and everyone. The White Rider and Super Horse exchanged a glance.
The glow filled the room. Everyone shielded their eyes except Spacehawk. Dr. Bertoff grabbed his goggles. The glow faded. Everyone stared at Leo.
"WOOHOO!," Hughes exclaimed with relief when He saw that He was once again human.
The White Rider lead the cheer. Lois ran over and happily hugged the man from the 21st Century. Leo could not recall ever being more happy or relieved.
He looked down at his Cell. On the first slot was the Gingerbread Man icon with the word READY next to it. Below were 5 more slots with blank icons with the word EMPTY written next to them. Hughes would deal with them later. Right now He was feeling to good to be bothered.
Harvard Square
January 23, 1941
The gumdrops fell like teardrops. The camera flashed. Mario ate the miniature candies that fell from Leonard Hughes' eyes. Luigi, Jr. Held the bowl that caught the sweet tears his brother was unable to capture.
"Are you going to be okay?," Lois Blake asked the visitor to her time and world while rubbing his back.
Leo forced himself to stop. Mario squealed unhappy the candy had stopped. Antoinetta took another photo. Leo gritted his marshmallow teeth.
"You are just so cute when your angry and determined," Lois told him as She stepped back and he began to dial again.
"I don't remember most of my friends numbers," Hughes told Blake.
"Can't you," Lois asked, "just ask an operator?"
"What?," Hughes squeaked.
Leo thought then started dialing again. Lois wished him good luck.
"Buona Fortuna!," Miss Bienevento added enthusiastically.
"C'mon," Leo muttered unhappy when the person He was calling did not pick up.
"Who are you trying to reach?," Blake asked.
"My Dad," He explained, "He never picks up regularly so I am not too surprised He is not picking up now."
Leo told the Superhero He was going to try his Mother next. He thought again for a second and started dialing again.
"Mom!," Leo answered in his Gingerbread voice when his Mother asked, "it's Me it's Leo."
When his Mother laughed He made a face. She told him nice try.
"My Leonard is standing right here in the kitchen," the Ex-Mrs. Hughes told her transposed, transformed Son.
"What?!," Leo blurted out surprised the situation was becoming worse and worse.
"What about the truck?," Leo asked wanting answers.
"What truck?," His Mom asked confused.
His Mother hung up. Leo stared blankly at the phone. Mario and Luigi ran over to catch more candy tears.
"Leo," Lois told him, "don't worry we will figure this out."
Leo quickly switched to the Facebook app. It asked for his password and He entered it. He grimaced when the phone told him it was incorrect. He retried it and the result was the same. Hughes tried an old password He could remember. It also did not work.
♪ ♫ Believe it or Not I am Walking on Air ♪ ♫
Leo's confectionary eyes went wide. His home number appeared on the cellphone's screen. He finally had hope. His Mother was calling him back. He clicked the Green ACCEPT button.
"Hello Leonard Michael," an eerily familiar voice greeted him.
"WHO IS THIS?!," He implored with a demanding squeak.
"No worries," the voice told him, "I am handling things here."
"Did You do this to Me?!," Leo asked angrily, "Who are You?!"
"Leonard Michael," the other told him in a cheerful tone.
"What?," Leo asked wondering what next.
"Be the Hero," the Voice told him then hung up.
Leo immediately called back. He was blocked. He tried two more times with the same result.
Bertoff Laboratory
Inner World
January 25, 1941
Leo sat on the examination chair. He had tried all his social media. They had all been blocked. Hughes was getting frustrated. This combined with his growing fear as the count grew near and nearer to 100%.
Bertoff told Leo he had powders that would help him calm down but He doubted they would effect his current cookie physiognomy.
"You were at 50%," Spacehawk stated, "after a day."
"And now 24 hours later," Dr. Bertoff looked at the equivelant of an Inner World clock, "You are at 99%."
"Don't worry partner," the White Rider reassured Leo, "You're going to be right as rain."
The Super Horse whinnied then walked over and tapped Hughes on the head with it's chin. Lois Blake held his hand with all it's fingers. Blue Bolt crossed his arms.
"We are here for you Mr. Hughes," the Azure hero told him.
The cellphone beeped. The LOADING . . . Switched to COMPLETE. Below it read 100%. The Cellphone started to glow. Lois smiled hopefully.
"Get back," Leo told her then repeated to the to the others, "Just in case."
Everyone backed away. Spacehawk put himself in between the glow and the rest. Blue Bolt then stepped in front of the man from the 25th Century in between Leo and everyone. The White Rider and Super Horse exchanged a glance.
The glow filled the room. Everyone shielded their eyes except Spacehawk. Dr. Bertoff grabbed his goggles. The glow faded. Everyone stared at Leo.
"WOOHOO!," Hughes exclaimed with relief when He saw that He was once again human.
The White Rider lead the cheer. Lois ran over and happily hugged the man from the 21st Century. Leo could not recall ever being more happy or relieved.
He looked down at his Cell. On the first slot was the Gingerbread Man icon with the word READY next to it. Below were 5 more slots with blank icons with the word EMPTY written next to them. Hughes would deal with them later. Right now He was feeling to good to be bothered.
#6 - We're Not In Kansas Anymore
New
- Location
- New England
Morgana Building
Off Harvard Square
January 26, 1941
Hughes shook the cobwebs from his head. His mouth had that guishy feeling that one got when one had overselpt. What a weird dream He had had.
Leonard had dreamed that He had been killed by a truck, Sent back to World War II, and turned into a Gingerbread Man. He shook his head wondering if someone had drugged his Fresca. The last thing He remembered was being enroute to 1 Million Year Picnic.
"You're awake," Lois told Leo as She beamed down at him.
Fred jumped back on what He realized was not his bed. The woman from his dream was standing at his bedside beaming down upon him. She was as beautiful He thought as She was in his dream. The Spaceman and Cowboy were there as well.
"It wasn't a dream!," Leo blurted out.
Lois chuckled. She told Hughes they had been worried. He had turned back to normal, Eaten 3 dinners, ran to the bathroom, then lay down and conked out.
"Huh?," the young man replied.
"That's right buckeroo," the White Rider told him, "You've been sawing wood for a day now."
Spacehawk did not look away from his work but He did offer an answer.
"When you were in your alternate Cookie based form," He posited, "Your real form neither slept nor ate thus the reason for your actions when You transformed back to your original form."
Hughes gritted his teeth. Not only had he been stuck as a fictional character but He learned that He was also starving and losing sleep at the same time. All the while being trapped in the past. Lois put a hand on his shoulder and assured him everything was going to be alright.
"Yeah," He smiled back, "It will all work out."
"We haveta be here for a reason," the White Rider put forth, "things don't happen for no reason."
Spacehawk gave a wry smile. He told the man from the 19th Century that the universe was one of chaos. It was only through reason and science that law and Order were brought to the peoples of it's many worlds.
"Pardner," the Rider laughed, "Me and Cloud have enough trouble patrolling the County, let alone dealing with Moonites on the Moon!"
"Cloud?," Lois asked as She went over to make a pot of coffee.
"That's the Super Horse's real name Ma'am," the Rider informed her, "I'm Peter."
"Lois Blake," She returned, "Blue Bolt's secret identity is Fred Parrish."
"Your not being very secret with these identities," Spacehawk countered.
Hughes sat up and found his sneakers. He told them his identity wasn't secret. He was Leonard Michael Hughes. He lived at 25 Cook Street in Billerica. He was the assistant Manager at a nearby 7-11 convenient store.
"You, you are the Amazing Gingerbread Man," Blake reminded Leo with encouragement.
"I am not doing that again," Leo grumbled.
"The Fantastic Futureman!," Lois tried again with a flourish.
Spacehawk scoffed at the name suggestion.
Leo looked over to the table next to the bed. He grabbed the SUPERIFICATE Cellphone and looked at it again. He opened the Facebook app. He went to his FB page. Maybe He could contact one of his family friend via his social media.
There was a photo from yesterday. Leo swore under his breath when He saw a photo from yesterday. Or at least yesterday from where He would be if He was still in the 21st Century.
"What's the matter?," Lois asked running over and looking over his shoulder.
"That's Me," He told her while showing the picture on his facebook.
The picture showed Leo and his friends John and Miguel at the movie theatre with an Ant-Man and the Wasp poster behind them. Lois asked who the Ant-Man and Wasp where.
"Superheroes in the MCU," He explained, "that's not the point."
"What's this bee in your bonnet?," the Rider asked now also curious.
"What's an EmmCeeYou?," Lois questioned.
Spacehawk ignored them continuing his own work on connecting his tech to that of Dr. Bertoff and the Innerworld.
"Today would be Monday in my time," Leo explained, "I have been here, my time, since Friday," He finished adding, "this pic of Me, John and Miguel was taken last night, Sunday."
Blake reminded him it was Monday here and now as well.
"Someone," Lois put out there, "or something has replaced you?, is pretending to be you?"
"That's downright creepy," Peter the White Rider added showing his concern.
"It looks that way," Leo admitted unhappily before He realized the voice that had been on the phone that told him to 'Be the Hero' had been his own.
"Or," Spacehawk interjected as he could help but hear them, "You in the future return to your time meaning your are just seeing a future version of yourself in your future."
"Okay," Hughes thought about this new avenue for a second, "but why wouldn't I tell my past self this as I know now how concerning this is?"
Both Lois and Peter turned and looked over to the Spacehawk. The Man from the 25th century sighed and turned to them. He stopped and thought about the situation at hand.
"Possibly," He stated, "in our current futre," He put forward, "our Gingerbread hero is offered the chance to return to his future, which is my past, and one of the prerequisites for doing so is having his current memories of his time here erased."
"That was a mouthful," the Rider exhaled, "a real chow bag of high falutin' words Mister."
"Soooooo," Hughes scratched his chin, "my choices here are being replaced by an unkown, or I will forget everything I have done here?"
"You may not have had a choice," Lois told him, "it could be whatever brought you here erases your memories before returning you."
"The first bit of good news," Spacehawk closed with before returning to his work, "is that this possible itinerary of events means you survive your time here."
The White Rider nodded while stating He needed to find some old newspapers to find out what happened with him and the Super Horse. Lois told him a trip to the library would do the trick. Spacehawk mumbled something while concentrating on the diagrams He was generating for the links he needed to create.
"Are You going to try any of the ones that say READY?," Lois asked again glancing over Leonard's shoulder.
Hughes instinctively pulled the phone away so She could not see his screen. He looked down at the blank icons and bars below the Gingerbread one. He assumed hitting the Gingerbread icon would make him a cookie man again for two days. The other bars had to be other forms He told himself.
"Maybe you could become like Achilles," the Rider suggested when Leo shared his thoughts.
"Or Medusa," Lois warned him.
Leo nodded and asked where the bathroom was. Peter lit up.
"The outhouse is indoors," the Rider exclaimed happily while directing Hughes to where he needed to go.
"Thanks," Leo nodded and made his way into the lavatory.
He wondered had they brought him to this apartment while He was sleeping. It was not the end of the world but it did weird him out a little bit. Through the windows He saw people's booted feet going through the snow and ice. They were in a basement apartment.
"How do you flush this thing?," Leo called out not seeing the switch on the side of the bowl.
"Leo," Lois called out, "pull the chain."
Hughes eye'd the chain as he sat down to do his business. They had flip down seats at least. Although this one looked like it was made of wood. Leo worried of getting splinters where a guy does not want to get splinters.
"The person or thing with My voice," Leo told himself as he did his best thinking while on the john, "wasn't an amnesiac," He continued to think, "what am I hiding from myself?"
"Be the Hero," this other Leonard Hughes had told him.
While sitting there pondering the situation He saw and grabbed the comic from his coat.
"C.J.!," Hughes exclaimed when he opened the Savage Dragon comic and saw the phone number.
Leo quickly dialed. The phone rang. It rang again. It rang a third time.
"Who is this??," a perturbed Cherie Jones asked impatiently
Off Harvard Square
January 26, 1941
Hughes shook the cobwebs from his head. His mouth had that guishy feeling that one got when one had overselpt. What a weird dream He had had.
Leonard had dreamed that He had been killed by a truck, Sent back to World War II, and turned into a Gingerbread Man. He shook his head wondering if someone had drugged his Fresca. The last thing He remembered was being enroute to 1 Million Year Picnic.
"You're awake," Lois told Leo as She beamed down at him.
Fred jumped back on what He realized was not his bed. The woman from his dream was standing at his bedside beaming down upon him. She was as beautiful He thought as She was in his dream. The Spaceman and Cowboy were there as well.
"It wasn't a dream!," Leo blurted out.
Lois chuckled. She told Hughes they had been worried. He had turned back to normal, Eaten 3 dinners, ran to the bathroom, then lay down and conked out.
"Huh?," the young man replied.
"That's right buckeroo," the White Rider told him, "You've been sawing wood for a day now."
Spacehawk did not look away from his work but He did offer an answer.
"When you were in your alternate Cookie based form," He posited, "Your real form neither slept nor ate thus the reason for your actions when You transformed back to your original form."
Hughes gritted his teeth. Not only had he been stuck as a fictional character but He learned that He was also starving and losing sleep at the same time. All the while being trapped in the past. Lois put a hand on his shoulder and assured him everything was going to be alright.
"Yeah," He smiled back, "It will all work out."
"We haveta be here for a reason," the White Rider put forth, "things don't happen for no reason."
Spacehawk gave a wry smile. He told the man from the 19th Century that the universe was one of chaos. It was only through reason and science that law and Order were brought to the peoples of it's many worlds.
"Pardner," the Rider laughed, "Me and Cloud have enough trouble patrolling the County, let alone dealing with Moonites on the Moon!"
"Cloud?," Lois asked as She went over to make a pot of coffee.
"That's the Super Horse's real name Ma'am," the Rider informed her, "I'm Peter."
"Lois Blake," She returned, "Blue Bolt's secret identity is Fred Parrish."
"Your not being very secret with these identities," Spacehawk countered.
Hughes sat up and found his sneakers. He told them his identity wasn't secret. He was Leonard Michael Hughes. He lived at 25 Cook Street in Billerica. He was the assistant Manager at a nearby 7-11 convenient store.
"You, you are the Amazing Gingerbread Man," Blake reminded Leo with encouragement.
"I am not doing that again," Leo grumbled.
"The Fantastic Futureman!," Lois tried again with a flourish.
Spacehawk scoffed at the name suggestion.
Leo looked over to the table next to the bed. He grabbed the SUPERIFICATE Cellphone and looked at it again. He opened the Facebook app. He went to his FB page. Maybe He could contact one of his family friend via his social media.
There was a photo from yesterday. Leo swore under his breath when He saw a photo from yesterday. Or at least yesterday from where He would be if He was still in the 21st Century.
"What's the matter?," Lois asked running over and looking over his shoulder.
"That's Me," He told her while showing the picture on his facebook.
The picture showed Leo and his friends John and Miguel at the movie theatre with an Ant-Man and the Wasp poster behind them. Lois asked who the Ant-Man and Wasp where.
"Superheroes in the MCU," He explained, "that's not the point."
"What's this bee in your bonnet?," the Rider asked now also curious.
"What's an EmmCeeYou?," Lois questioned.
Spacehawk ignored them continuing his own work on connecting his tech to that of Dr. Bertoff and the Innerworld.
"Today would be Monday in my time," Leo explained, "I have been here, my time, since Friday," He finished adding, "this pic of Me, John and Miguel was taken last night, Sunday."
Blake reminded him it was Monday here and now as well.
"Someone," Lois put out there, "or something has replaced you?, is pretending to be you?"
"That's downright creepy," Peter the White Rider added showing his concern.
"It looks that way," Leo admitted unhappily before He realized the voice that had been on the phone that told him to 'Be the Hero' had been his own.
"Or," Spacehawk interjected as he could help but hear them, "You in the future return to your time meaning your are just seeing a future version of yourself in your future."
"Okay," Hughes thought about this new avenue for a second, "but why wouldn't I tell my past self this as I know now how concerning this is?"
Both Lois and Peter turned and looked over to the Spacehawk. The Man from the 25th century sighed and turned to them. He stopped and thought about the situation at hand.
"Possibly," He stated, "in our current futre," He put forward, "our Gingerbread hero is offered the chance to return to his future, which is my past, and one of the prerequisites for doing so is having his current memories of his time here erased."
"That was a mouthful," the Rider exhaled, "a real chow bag of high falutin' words Mister."
"Soooooo," Hughes scratched his chin, "my choices here are being replaced by an unkown, or I will forget everything I have done here?"
"You may not have had a choice," Lois told him, "it could be whatever brought you here erases your memories before returning you."
"The first bit of good news," Spacehawk closed with before returning to his work, "is that this possible itinerary of events means you survive your time here."
The White Rider nodded while stating He needed to find some old newspapers to find out what happened with him and the Super Horse. Lois told him a trip to the library would do the trick. Spacehawk mumbled something while concentrating on the diagrams He was generating for the links he needed to create.
"Are You going to try any of the ones that say READY?," Lois asked again glancing over Leonard's shoulder.
Hughes instinctively pulled the phone away so She could not see his screen. He looked down at the blank icons and bars below the Gingerbread one. He assumed hitting the Gingerbread icon would make him a cookie man again for two days. The other bars had to be other forms He told himself.
"Maybe you could become like Achilles," the Rider suggested when Leo shared his thoughts.
"Or Medusa," Lois warned him.
Leo nodded and asked where the bathroom was. Peter lit up.
"The outhouse is indoors," the Rider exclaimed happily while directing Hughes to where he needed to go.
"Thanks," Leo nodded and made his way into the lavatory.
He wondered had they brought him to this apartment while He was sleeping. It was not the end of the world but it did weird him out a little bit. Through the windows He saw people's booted feet going through the snow and ice. They were in a basement apartment.
"How do you flush this thing?," Leo called out not seeing the switch on the side of the bowl.
"Leo," Lois called out, "pull the chain."
Hughes eye'd the chain as he sat down to do his business. They had flip down seats at least. Although this one looked like it was made of wood. Leo worried of getting splinters where a guy does not want to get splinters.
"The person or thing with My voice," Leo told himself as he did his best thinking while on the john, "wasn't an amnesiac," He continued to think, "what am I hiding from myself?"
"Be the Hero," this other Leonard Hughes had told him.
While sitting there pondering the situation He saw and grabbed the comic from his coat.
"C.J.!," Hughes exclaimed when he opened the Savage Dragon comic and saw the phone number.
Leo quickly dialed. The phone rang. It rang again. It rang a third time.
"Who is this??," a perturbed Cherie Jones asked impatiently
#7 - Call Me, Call Me Any, Anytime
New
- Location
- New England
Morgana Building
Off Harvard Square
January 26, 1941
"It's Leo," Hughes replied, "Leonard Michael Hughes."
"Hello Leonard Michael Hughes," Cherie answered back in a cheery tone.
"Hey," Leo muttered not wanting to repeat the mistake He made with the 911 Operator.
"We're still on for Wednesday right?," Jones questioned, "What's up with the weird phone number? Get a new phone?"
"Uh," Leo paused, Yeah, weird? Wednesday?"
"Your new phone number is weird," C.J. told him adding, "You said Crazy Rich Asians Wednesday at 7, and I remind You that includes popcorn, candy, and an iced beverage."
"What?," Hughes gulped.
"Change your mind Leonard Michael Hughes?," C.J. wondered aloud.
Leo knew He had not yet had the chance, actually the gumption, to ask Jones out on a date. Also, what the Hell, She was supposed to some sort of feminist what was She doing accepting an offer, supposedly by him, to go on an expensive date that He pays for. The Popcorn is almost as much as the movie itself Hughes recalled bitterly.
"I asked you to go to the movies?," Leo questioned even though He regretted asking as the words slipped out between his lips.
"I gave You my number," She reminded him, "You called Me and asked Me out, that is how it works Leonard Michael Hughes."
Leo felt like an idiot when She used his full name. He wanted to ask when did He supposedly ask her out. He wanted to but started to trry to think of a smooth way of getting that information from her. He told himself to be smooth.
"Well?," C.J. asked sounding a bit irritated.
"Uh," Leo had to decide, "Yeah," He chose, "See you Wednesday."
"Leo," Jones demurred, "You will probably see me tomorrow at the Shop, either way I will see You Wednesday."
"Wait," Leo hurriedly called out.
Jones did not hang up.
"My new number is weird how?," He pressed.
"It's all Twos," She told him, "222-222-2222."
"Who is Number 1?," Leo asked instinctively.
"You're number 2 Babe," C.J. shot back.
For a moment Leo's head swam. She called him 'Babe'. He smiled but then shook his head to get back to business.
"Did my phone come up all 2s when I asked You out?," He furthered.
"No," Jones answered in a way that sounded like She was wondering if he was okay, "don't you know when you got the new, Weid, phone number?"
"I gotta go," He told her quickly as an idea grabbed Mr. Hughes and he hung up.
"Everything Okay pardner?," the Rider asked as He saw the look on Leo's face.
Hughes nodded to the White Rider and quickly dialed 111-111-1111.
"Hello," a man answered, "Who is this?"
"#2," Leo told the man on the other end of the line, "Who are You?"
Off Harvard Square
January 26, 1941
"It's Leo," Hughes replied, "Leonard Michael Hughes."
"Hello Leonard Michael Hughes," Cherie answered back in a cheery tone.
"Hey," Leo muttered not wanting to repeat the mistake He made with the 911 Operator.
"We're still on for Wednesday right?," Jones questioned, "What's up with the weird phone number? Get a new phone?"
"Uh," Leo paused, Yeah, weird? Wednesday?"
"Your new phone number is weird," C.J. told him adding, "You said Crazy Rich Asians Wednesday at 7, and I remind You that includes popcorn, candy, and an iced beverage."
"What?," Hughes gulped.
"Change your mind Leonard Michael Hughes?," C.J. wondered aloud.
Leo knew He had not yet had the chance, actually the gumption, to ask Jones out on a date. Also, what the Hell, She was supposed to some sort of feminist what was She doing accepting an offer, supposedly by him, to go on an expensive date that He pays for. The Popcorn is almost as much as the movie itself Hughes recalled bitterly.
"I asked you to go to the movies?," Leo questioned even though He regretted asking as the words slipped out between his lips.
"I gave You my number," She reminded him, "You called Me and asked Me out, that is how it works Leonard Michael Hughes."
Leo felt like an idiot when She used his full name. He wanted to ask when did He supposedly ask her out. He wanted to but started to trry to think of a smooth way of getting that information from her. He told himself to be smooth.
"Well?," C.J. asked sounding a bit irritated.
"Uh," Leo had to decide, "Yeah," He chose, "See you Wednesday."
"Leo," Jones demurred, "You will probably see me tomorrow at the Shop, either way I will see You Wednesday."
"Wait," Leo hurriedly called out.
Jones did not hang up.
"My new number is weird how?," He pressed.
"It's all Twos," She told him, "222-222-2222."
"Who is Number 1?," Leo asked instinctively.
"You're number 2 Babe," C.J. shot back.
For a moment Leo's head swam. She called him 'Babe'. He smiled but then shook his head to get back to business.
"Did my phone come up all 2s when I asked You out?," He furthered.
"No," Jones answered in a way that sounded like She was wondering if he was okay, "don't you know when you got the new, Weid, phone number?"
"I gotta go," He told her quickly as an idea grabbed Mr. Hughes and he hung up.
"Everything Okay pardner?," the Rider asked as He saw the look on Leo's face.
Hughes nodded to the White Rider and quickly dialed 111-111-1111.
"Hello," a man answered, "Who is this?"
"#2," Leo told the man on the other end of the line, "Who are You?"
#8 - Creepy Crawlies Under the Bed
New
- Location
- New England
Morgana Building
Off Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA
"My name is Richard," the man on the other end of the line replied evenly.
"Okay," Leo paused to think, "what's up with your Phone Number being all Ones?"
"Why is yours all Twos?," Richard asked in turn.
"Where are You?," Leo instead questioned the mystery man.
The White Rider and Lois walked up behind Hughes. Spacehawk continued on his calculations. He did throw in his two cents though.
"Ask when He is," the 25th Century man told Leo without looking away from his work.
There was a pause. This Richard finally answered.
"My name is Richard Blaine and I am staying in rooms above the Morocco Cafe which is situated just outside Poughkeepsie, New York," the man on the other end of the line told Hughes before asking for the same information from him.
"Make something up," Lois whispered to Leo.
Hughes gave her a look. Instead He told Mr. Blaine what He requested. Richard thanked him.
"Well Leonard Hughes it is very nice to meet You," Blaine continued, "are you talking to Me on what would be called a cellphone perhaps?"
Leo pumped his fist. This guy was from the 21st Century just like him. Maybe, hopefully, this Blaine guy would know how to safely return back to 2018. Leo had had enough of the 1940s.
"You're from the future," Leo told Blaine.
"And you?," the man returned.
"2018," Leo informed Blaine.
"Tell him that Me and Cloud are from 1876," the Rider interjected.
Lois swatted the cowboy and Leo ignored him. Blaine suggested they meet. Leo readily agreed. He asked Blaine what was going on with the phones, and the truck, and everything.
"Ask him if He can turn into a Gingerbread Man," Lois suggested.
Leo gave her a look. He thought that a dumb idea. He asked Blaine if He should go to Poughkeepsie or if Blaine would come to Harvard Square.
"New York from here?," the Rider told Hughes, "that'd be a bit of a ride even for the Super Horse."
"Lois could carry Leonard to Poughkeepsie quite quickly," Spacehawk offered without stopping his work.
"Oh, I don't know," Lois replied in a bit of a huff, "Leonard doesn't seem to need or want my help."
"Where are You exactly right now Leonard?," Mr. Blaine asked.
Leo gave him his address at the Morgana Building. Hughes asked if Blaine had a quick way of getting to him. Blaine paused then told him He had to go but they could talk more about it tomorrow morning.
"I will call you at 10," Blaine told Leo.
"What??," Hughes thought, "What was this guy doing??"
Leo had way too many questions. When He to Richard this Blaine responded that He really had to go but He would call him back tomorrow morning. Leo stammered.
"Ugh," Lois spoke aloud, "don't be so desperate."
"The little lady is right there bucko," Peter concurred.
Spacehawk grunted.
"Ok," Leo said quickly before Blaine disconnected, "I will talk with You tomorrow!"
The rest of the day seemed to go by in slow motion. Leo felt like a kid on Christmas Eve. When it was time to go to bed He could hardly sleep. Blue Bolt came by and picked up Lois. She told Fred what had happened with the Cellphone.
Spacehawk went below to the Inner World to confer with Dr. Bertoff. The Future Hero was well on his way to adapting his tech to that of the subterranean peoples. He showed Leo the secret passage from their basement apartment to a shaft leading beneath the surface.
"This building," Spacehawk informed Leo and Peter, "is a safehouse for Bertoff and his people."
The White Rider left to check on the Super Horse. Cloud was currently staying with the Boston Mounted Police. This would be until the Rider could find them their accomodations.
"Get to sleep," Leo told himself for the umpteenth time alone in the dark.
He was quite happy that He had found someone else in the same boat He had found himself in. He went through all the questions He would ask Richard Blaine when they talked tomorrow. Then He would get Blue Bolt or Lois to fly him to the Morocco Cafe in New York. Then, with any luck, Leonard Michael Hughes would be going home.
Finally sleep arrived for young Mr. Hughes. As he slipped off into dreamland He did not notice the strange fog rolling out from the bathroom with the pull chain flush. He did not notice the tentacles moving across the wooden floor.
Off Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA
"My name is Richard," the man on the other end of the line replied evenly.
"Okay," Leo paused to think, "what's up with your Phone Number being all Ones?"
"Why is yours all Twos?," Richard asked in turn.
"Where are You?," Leo instead questioned the mystery man.
The White Rider and Lois walked up behind Hughes. Spacehawk continued on his calculations. He did throw in his two cents though.
"Ask when He is," the 25th Century man told Leo without looking away from his work.
There was a pause. This Richard finally answered.
"My name is Richard Blaine and I am staying in rooms above the Morocco Cafe which is situated just outside Poughkeepsie, New York," the man on the other end of the line told Hughes before asking for the same information from him.
"Make something up," Lois whispered to Leo.
Hughes gave her a look. Instead He told Mr. Blaine what He requested. Richard thanked him.
"Well Leonard Hughes it is very nice to meet You," Blaine continued, "are you talking to Me on what would be called a cellphone perhaps?"
Leo pumped his fist. This guy was from the 21st Century just like him. Maybe, hopefully, this Blaine guy would know how to safely return back to 2018. Leo had had enough of the 1940s.
"You're from the future," Leo told Blaine.
"And you?," the man returned.
"2018," Leo informed Blaine.
"Tell him that Me and Cloud are from 1876," the Rider interjected.
Lois swatted the cowboy and Leo ignored him. Blaine suggested they meet. Leo readily agreed. He asked Blaine what was going on with the phones, and the truck, and everything.
"Ask him if He can turn into a Gingerbread Man," Lois suggested.
Leo gave her a look. He thought that a dumb idea. He asked Blaine if He should go to Poughkeepsie or if Blaine would come to Harvard Square.
"New York from here?," the Rider told Hughes, "that'd be a bit of a ride even for the Super Horse."
"Lois could carry Leonard to Poughkeepsie quite quickly," Spacehawk offered without stopping his work.
"Oh, I don't know," Lois replied in a bit of a huff, "Leonard doesn't seem to need or want my help."
"Where are You exactly right now Leonard?," Mr. Blaine asked.
Leo gave him his address at the Morgana Building. Hughes asked if Blaine had a quick way of getting to him. Blaine paused then told him He had to go but they could talk more about it tomorrow morning.
"I will call you at 10," Blaine told Leo.
"What??," Hughes thought, "What was this guy doing??"
Leo had way too many questions. When He to Richard this Blaine responded that He really had to go but He would call him back tomorrow morning. Leo stammered.
"Ugh," Lois spoke aloud, "don't be so desperate."
"The little lady is right there bucko," Peter concurred.
Spacehawk grunted.
"Ok," Leo said quickly before Blaine disconnected, "I will talk with You tomorrow!"
The rest of the day seemed to go by in slow motion. Leo felt like a kid on Christmas Eve. When it was time to go to bed He could hardly sleep. Blue Bolt came by and picked up Lois. She told Fred what had happened with the Cellphone.
Spacehawk went below to the Inner World to confer with Dr. Bertoff. The Future Hero was well on his way to adapting his tech to that of the subterranean peoples. He showed Leo the secret passage from their basement apartment to a shaft leading beneath the surface.
"This building," Spacehawk informed Leo and Peter, "is a safehouse for Bertoff and his people."
The White Rider left to check on the Super Horse. Cloud was currently staying with the Boston Mounted Police. This would be until the Rider could find them their accomodations.
"Get to sleep," Leo told himself for the umpteenth time alone in the dark.
He was quite happy that He had found someone else in the same boat He had found himself in. He went through all the questions He would ask Richard Blaine when they talked tomorrow. Then He would get Blue Bolt or Lois to fly him to the Morocco Cafe in New York. Then, with any luck, Leonard Michael Hughes would be going home.
Finally sleep arrived for young Mr. Hughes. As he slipped off into dreamland He did not notice the strange fog rolling out from the bathroom with the pull chain flush. He did not notice the tentacles moving across the wooden floor.
#9 - Things Man Was Not Meant To Know
New
- Location
- New England
Pacific Street
Cambridge, MA
"Well," Peter the White Rider sighed, "I guess You were right," He admitted to his mount, "We should not have gone into the glowing cave."
Cloud the Super Horse came to a sudden stop. The horse snorted an indignant snort. Peter apologized.
"I mean I should not have gone into the glowing cave," he told his horse while patting his head, "but thanks for coming in after Me."
The Super Horse whinnied now happy with the Rider's framing. The Cowboy took in the city from the future. A disgruntled look played across his face.
"Musta been some sort of Great Horse Plague," He reasoned to his horse, "wiped out all the horses," the Rider guessed out loud, "Everyone had to make due with these Horseless Carriages We see everywhere," He relayed sadly, "now only the lawmen get the few horses that survived."
The Super horse whinnied. Peter chuckled.
"No," He reassured his partner, "I am not worried about you," He explained, "Plagues burn out, no worries, You never get sick."
Peter told the Super Horse that despite the indoor Outhouses and oil-less lamps of this century they still needed to get back to their time. There were too many people that needed their help. Peter had to admit they were more of a help in 1876 than in 1941. The Super Horse nodded it's agreement.
"They have an elevator for supplies and such," the White Rider explained, "I can get you into the basement."
Cloud answered with a cautious sounding noise. Peter chuckled and patted his head again.
Suddenly the Super Horse broke into a gallop. It ran straight through the snow and ice to the Morgana Building. The White Rider was taken by surprise but managed to stay in the saddle.
"What is it?!," Peter asked looking ahead.
The Horse whinnied while running at a breakneck speed.
"A commotion?," Peter asked, "At the Morgana?"
They reached Innerworld safehouse just in time to see the horrible creature smash through the front facade of the building. Shattered glass and framework flew in all directions. The White Rider pulled back on the reins in horror.
The thing was not of this world. It stood at least 10 feet in height. It's putrid mass topped by a head with large Black bulbous eyes. Below the eyes a mass of tentacles writhed with a frenzy most disconcerting. The creatures limbs ended in claws that were like large sharp cleavers. O it's back were demonic wings. It roared a sound that would make lesser souls crumble.
"Jesus, Mary, and Up Jumped Joseph!," Peter blurted out crossing himself.
The Super Horse whinnied loudly. Peter nodded and dismounted drawing his six-shooters. The large creature turned to face them. The White Rider shot the creature with both guns aiming for it's particularly large eyeballs. The Super Horse charged.
Cloud reached the eldritch horror and spun around so they could hit the thing with both back hooves. It knocked the monster backward. Peter continued to fire on the creature. It roared swinging wildly.
"Good Job!," Petr told his mount when the behemoth collapsed.
The Super Horse got between the Rider and the thing while eyeing it. Both Peter and Cloud watched as the things eyes regenerated. All of the injuries they had just caused disappeared.
"Well, Gosh Dang it!," the White Rider spat out while quickly reloading.
The Super Horse whinnied.
"Right," Peter nodded, "Keep people safe, keep it busy until help arrives."
The White Rider grabbed his lasso and quickly ensnared the monster's tentacles where it's maw was located. The egregious smell hit him and Cloud. They both gagged. The White Rider quickly tied the rope to his saddle. Cloud began to pull the creature keeping it off it's feet.
They barreled down Pacific Street. Peter ran over remounting his steed. Several horseless carriages had swerve to avoid the strange rodeo action. They were about a block away when the thing managed to grab the lasso.
"PULL!," the Rider yelled and the Super Horse pulled.
The Rider unloaded with both pistols again into the monstrosity. Suddenly the thing was struck by a bolt of electricity from above. The creature collapsed. The electricity traveled up the lasso and also knocked down the Rider and Super Horse.
"Good Job Fred," Lois told Blue Bolt as they floated in the winter night sky above the fray.
"I didn't see the rope," Parrish growled in his defense.
The Cthuloid thing recovered first. Blue Bolt instead of shooting it again dove down and pistol whipped the creature. Lois Blake flew down and checked on Peter and Cloud.
"What hit Us?," the dazed cowboy asked as He tried shaking off the effects of electrocution.
The Super Horse struggled back up onto it's hooves. Blue Bolt found the lasso and snapped it. With the Cowboy and his ride separated from the monster Bolt took the half still attached to the behemoth and sent thousands of volts into the creature. An inhuman scream echoed through the streets of Cambridge.
"I am going to check on Leo!," Lois yelled out with concern and flew to the Morgana.
Blake flew through the hole in the front of the building created by the creature. The building was filled with fog. The man at the front desk Was an Inner World agent. He lay dead on the floor covered in ichor. Through the fog Lois made her way to the basement apartment.
"LEO!," She called out as She floated down to the door.
Despite her cries there was no answer. The place looked like it had been wrecked. There was slime all over everything. The smell made Lois gag. It only got stronger as She approached the apartment. She kept calling out Leo's name with no response.
Blake opened the door. The tentacles flooded out wrapping all around her. She tried to scream but to no avail. The writhing appendages were everywhere. Her gloved hand sinking below the mass of moving squalid flesh the last thing to be seen.
Cambridge, MA
"Well," Peter the White Rider sighed, "I guess You were right," He admitted to his mount, "We should not have gone into the glowing cave."
Cloud the Super Horse came to a sudden stop. The horse snorted an indignant snort. Peter apologized.
"I mean I should not have gone into the glowing cave," he told his horse while patting his head, "but thanks for coming in after Me."
The Super Horse whinnied now happy with the Rider's framing. The Cowboy took in the city from the future. A disgruntled look played across his face.
"Musta been some sort of Great Horse Plague," He reasoned to his horse, "wiped out all the horses," the Rider guessed out loud, "Everyone had to make due with these Horseless Carriages We see everywhere," He relayed sadly, "now only the lawmen get the few horses that survived."
The Super horse whinnied. Peter chuckled.
"No," He reassured his partner, "I am not worried about you," He explained, "Plagues burn out, no worries, You never get sick."
Peter told the Super Horse that despite the indoor Outhouses and oil-less lamps of this century they still needed to get back to their time. There were too many people that needed their help. Peter had to admit they were more of a help in 1876 than in 1941. The Super Horse nodded it's agreement.
"They have an elevator for supplies and such," the White Rider explained, "I can get you into the basement."
Cloud answered with a cautious sounding noise. Peter chuckled and patted his head again.
Suddenly the Super Horse broke into a gallop. It ran straight through the snow and ice to the Morgana Building. The White Rider was taken by surprise but managed to stay in the saddle.
"What is it?!," Peter asked looking ahead.
The Horse whinnied while running at a breakneck speed.
"A commotion?," Peter asked, "At the Morgana?"
They reached Innerworld safehouse just in time to see the horrible creature smash through the front facade of the building. Shattered glass and framework flew in all directions. The White Rider pulled back on the reins in horror.
The thing was not of this world. It stood at least 10 feet in height. It's putrid mass topped by a head with large Black bulbous eyes. Below the eyes a mass of tentacles writhed with a frenzy most disconcerting. The creatures limbs ended in claws that were like large sharp cleavers. O it's back were demonic wings. It roared a sound that would make lesser souls crumble.
"Jesus, Mary, and Up Jumped Joseph!," Peter blurted out crossing himself.
The Super Horse whinnied loudly. Peter nodded and dismounted drawing his six-shooters. The large creature turned to face them. The White Rider shot the creature with both guns aiming for it's particularly large eyeballs. The Super Horse charged.
Cloud reached the eldritch horror and spun around so they could hit the thing with both back hooves. It knocked the monster backward. Peter continued to fire on the creature. It roared swinging wildly.
"Good Job!," Petr told his mount when the behemoth collapsed.
The Super Horse got between the Rider and the thing while eyeing it. Both Peter and Cloud watched as the things eyes regenerated. All of the injuries they had just caused disappeared.
"Well, Gosh Dang it!," the White Rider spat out while quickly reloading.
The Super Horse whinnied.
"Right," Peter nodded, "Keep people safe, keep it busy until help arrives."
The White Rider grabbed his lasso and quickly ensnared the monster's tentacles where it's maw was located. The egregious smell hit him and Cloud. They both gagged. The White Rider quickly tied the rope to his saddle. Cloud began to pull the creature keeping it off it's feet.
They barreled down Pacific Street. Peter ran over remounting his steed. Several horseless carriages had swerve to avoid the strange rodeo action. They were about a block away when the thing managed to grab the lasso.
"PULL!," the Rider yelled and the Super Horse pulled.
The Rider unloaded with both pistols again into the monstrosity. Suddenly the thing was struck by a bolt of electricity from above. The creature collapsed. The electricity traveled up the lasso and also knocked down the Rider and Super Horse.
"Good Job Fred," Lois told Blue Bolt as they floated in the winter night sky above the fray.
"I didn't see the rope," Parrish growled in his defense.
The Cthuloid thing recovered first. Blue Bolt instead of shooting it again dove down and pistol whipped the creature. Lois Blake flew down and checked on Peter and Cloud.
"What hit Us?," the dazed cowboy asked as He tried shaking off the effects of electrocution.
The Super Horse struggled back up onto it's hooves. Blue Bolt found the lasso and snapped it. With the Cowboy and his ride separated from the monster Bolt took the half still attached to the behemoth and sent thousands of volts into the creature. An inhuman scream echoed through the streets of Cambridge.
"I am going to check on Leo!," Lois yelled out with concern and flew to the Morgana.
Blake flew through the hole in the front of the building created by the creature. The building was filled with fog. The man at the front desk Was an Inner World agent. He lay dead on the floor covered in ichor. Through the fog Lois made her way to the basement apartment.
"LEO!," She called out as She floated down to the door.
Despite her cries there was no answer. The place looked like it had been wrecked. There was slime all over everything. The smell made Lois gag. It only got stronger as She approached the apartment. She kept calling out Leo's name with no response.
Blake opened the door. The tentacles flooded out wrapping all around her. She tried to scream but to no avail. The writhing appendages were everywhere. Her gloved hand sinking below the mass of moving squalid flesh the last thing to be seen.
Last edited:
#10 - You Be You
New
- Location
- New England
Morgana Building
Off Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA
"NOOOO!!!," Lois Blake screamed.
Her words went unheard muffled by the tentacles writhing all around her from head to tow. She could not see and the warm ichor being exuded was making her grow weak. Lois gasped as breathing was becoming more and more difficult.
She tried to fly free but that was to no avail. She tried her Super Strength before it could completely fade. When She ripped one tentacle loose two more rolled out to take their place. A faint guttural, panting, laughter started to emanate from whatever was controlling the appendages binding Blake.
The laughter grew louder. The tentacles squeezed tighter. Blake was losing consciouness.
Pacific Street
The Super Horse whinnied. The White Rider had switched to his shotgun. He had just put both barrels into the Monster. He nodded to his horse.
"Your right!," He concurred, "this walking scab just keeps healing!"
A bolt of electricity struck the creature. It kept regenerating but at least the heroes were keeping it off it's clawed feet. They could not kill it but they could keep it from going on a rampage.
Police sirens announced the arrival of the local law enforcement. The ones who overcame the fear of the thing also opened up on the eldritch horror.
"We need Spacehawk!," the Rider Yelled to Blue Bolt.
"We need my partner!," Parrish answered making sure to not use Lois' name, "Where the heck is She?"
Cloud whinnied again.
"Well," Peter told the animal, "Leo should be here too!"
Morgana Building
"ARGHHH!!!!," Lois Blake screamed.
Her eyes lit up. The electricity flowed into her attacker. Lascivious laughter turned into cries of pain. Undulating tentacles burned and exploded.
The room was covered in smoking ooze. Amputated tendrils squirmed uncontrolled. Blake floated in the middle of the mire. She quickly wiped the guck from her face. She gasped when She saw what had been the rooms the visitors from other times had been staying in.
"Ewwwww," Blake spat out as some may have gotten into her mouth.
The first thing Blake saw when She was able to see clearly again was the scintilating mist coming from the bathroom. Outside the bathroom in the slime was a man. Lois flew down to him.
"LEO?!," She exclaimed hoping the 21st Century guy was okay.
When She got to the man on the floor. It did not look like Leo. He appeared to be made out of a million broken mirrors. Then She saw the cellphone in his hand. Despite the sharp edges and ichor Blake hugged Hughes.
"Leo," She asked him as He came to his senses, "are you alright?"
"Uh . . .," He thought for a second before blinking and swallowing, "Yes, I am quite alright, thank you."
"Hey," She smiled, "at least you're not a Gingerbread Man this time."
"Quite," Leo nodded.
Blake told Hughes about the Monster on the street above them. She asked Leo if He knew what powers he may have in his current Shattered Man form.
"Shattered Man?," He answered while examining himself.
"The Police have arrived," Lois told him when She heard the sirens.
"Good," He replied Getting to his feet, "They can certainly help us."
Lois nodded. In the corner of her eye she saw something lit up in the ooze on the wood floor. She started to run over to it but lost her footing slipping on the slime. As She fell She started to float and and had herself hover over to the glowing object.
"It's another one of your magical wireless telephones!," Lois exclaimed as She scooped up the device.
She was happy to still have gloves. Her uniform was torn asunder. One of her boots had gone missing. She readjusted her smock while checking out the other magic phone. The SUPERIFICATE app was open. The top bar showed the Gingerbread Man icon with a bar next to it with the word READY on it. Below that was an icon with the Cthuloid creature on it. The bar next to it read LOADING 1% which turned to 2% as Blake was looking at it.
"Huh?," Lois muttered while trying to figure out what this meant.
She looked over to the Shattered Man. He turned and ran into the bathroom the glowing fog was coming out of. He laughed as he fled.
"Hey!," Blake yelled and turned to fly after him.
"BE SEEING YOU!," the Shattered Man yelled out with much mirth.
Blake should knew She should have known better than to fly at high speed indoors. It never ended well. She zoomed into the mist-filled bathroom. She ended up slamming into the sink and mirror shattering both. She fell to the slimy floor landing on her butt. Water from the sink pipes sprayed out on her.
Suddenly behind her the secret passage to the Inner World opened. Spacehawk flew up and out of the apartment towards the sound of sirens and gunfire. Lois shook her head trying to shake off the pain. She took off after the 25th Century Man.
Pacific Street
"STAND CLEAR!," the Spacehawk announced over the speakers built into his armor.
The eldritch thing was surrounded. The Police, White Rider and Super Horse all stepped back. Blue Bolt Flew higher but remained firing electricity at the creature. A quartet of mini-missiles fired from the Spacehawk's suit hitting the Monster and exploding.
Where the eldritch thing had been was now only broken smoking remains in a pool of ooze.
"Give it a second," the White Rider warned the lawmen around him.
"It's recombobulating," Spacehawk told Blue Bolt.
"Not for long old Chum," the Bolt smiled, "If we hit it one more time like this that ought to do the trick."
"WAIT!," Lois hollered as She arrived.
"It's about time," Blue Bolt admonished her.
"The addition of your firepower will more than do the trick," Spacehawk told Blake.
"No!," Lois told them while holding up Hughes' wireless telephone, "Look!"
"Where is Leo?," Blue Bolt asked seeing the phone, "What happened to You??"
"Did this thing eat him?," the Rider asked while aiming his reloaded shotgun.
The Super Horse looked up at the phone then galloped over putting itself between the creature and it's attackers.
"It's possessed Cloud!," the White Rider exclaimed upset.
"No," Spacehawk told everyone, "stop shooting!"
"It will reform!," Blue Bolt argued.
Super Horse whinnied. The White Rider raised his shotgun and also signaled for the policemen to stop their assault. The Monster literally pulled itself together. It's inhuman flesh bubbling back to where it had been burned away. Lois flew down
to be eye to eye with it's bulbous black orbs.
"Leo??," She asked with a mix of fear, uncertainty, and concern.
Off Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA
"NOOOO!!!," Lois Blake screamed.
Her words went unheard muffled by the tentacles writhing all around her from head to tow. She could not see and the warm ichor being exuded was making her grow weak. Lois gasped as breathing was becoming more and more difficult.
She tried to fly free but that was to no avail. She tried her Super Strength before it could completely fade. When She ripped one tentacle loose two more rolled out to take their place. A faint guttural, panting, laughter started to emanate from whatever was controlling the appendages binding Blake.
The laughter grew louder. The tentacles squeezed tighter. Blake was losing consciouness.
Pacific Street
The Super Horse whinnied. The White Rider had switched to his shotgun. He had just put both barrels into the Monster. He nodded to his horse.
"Your right!," He concurred, "this walking scab just keeps healing!"
A bolt of electricity struck the creature. It kept regenerating but at least the heroes were keeping it off it's clawed feet. They could not kill it but they could keep it from going on a rampage.
Police sirens announced the arrival of the local law enforcement. The ones who overcame the fear of the thing also opened up on the eldritch horror.
"We need Spacehawk!," the Rider Yelled to Blue Bolt.
"We need my partner!," Parrish answered making sure to not use Lois' name, "Where the heck is She?"
Cloud whinnied again.
"Well," Peter told the animal, "Leo should be here too!"
Morgana Building
"ARGHHH!!!!," Lois Blake screamed.
Her eyes lit up. The electricity flowed into her attacker. Lascivious laughter turned into cries of pain. Undulating tentacles burned and exploded.
The room was covered in smoking ooze. Amputated tendrils squirmed uncontrolled. Blake floated in the middle of the mire. She quickly wiped the guck from her face. She gasped when She saw what had been the rooms the visitors from other times had been staying in.
"Ewwwww," Blake spat out as some may have gotten into her mouth.
The first thing Blake saw when She was able to see clearly again was the scintilating mist coming from the bathroom. Outside the bathroom in the slime was a man. Lois flew down to him.
"LEO?!," She exclaimed hoping the 21st Century guy was okay.
When She got to the man on the floor. It did not look like Leo. He appeared to be made out of a million broken mirrors. Then She saw the cellphone in his hand. Despite the sharp edges and ichor Blake hugged Hughes.
"Leo," She asked him as He came to his senses, "are you alright?"
"Uh . . .," He thought for a second before blinking and swallowing, "Yes, I am quite alright, thank you."
"Hey," She smiled, "at least you're not a Gingerbread Man this time."
"Quite," Leo nodded.
Blake told Hughes about the Monster on the street above them. She asked Leo if He knew what powers he may have in his current Shattered Man form.
"Shattered Man?," He answered while examining himself.
"The Police have arrived," Lois told him when She heard the sirens.
"Good," He replied Getting to his feet, "They can certainly help us."
Lois nodded. In the corner of her eye she saw something lit up in the ooze on the wood floor. She started to run over to it but lost her footing slipping on the slime. As She fell She started to float and and had herself hover over to the glowing object.
"It's another one of your magical wireless telephones!," Lois exclaimed as She scooped up the device.
She was happy to still have gloves. Her uniform was torn asunder. One of her boots had gone missing. She readjusted her smock while checking out the other magic phone. The SUPERIFICATE app was open. The top bar showed the Gingerbread Man icon with a bar next to it with the word READY on it. Below that was an icon with the Cthuloid creature on it. The bar next to it read LOADING 1% which turned to 2% as Blake was looking at it.
"Huh?," Lois muttered while trying to figure out what this meant.
She looked over to the Shattered Man. He turned and ran into the bathroom the glowing fog was coming out of. He laughed as he fled.
"Hey!," Blake yelled and turned to fly after him.
"BE SEEING YOU!," the Shattered Man yelled out with much mirth.
Blake should knew She should have known better than to fly at high speed indoors. It never ended well. She zoomed into the mist-filled bathroom. She ended up slamming into the sink and mirror shattering both. She fell to the slimy floor landing on her butt. Water from the sink pipes sprayed out on her.
Suddenly behind her the secret passage to the Inner World opened. Spacehawk flew up and out of the apartment towards the sound of sirens and gunfire. Lois shook her head trying to shake off the pain. She took off after the 25th Century Man.
Pacific Street
"STAND CLEAR!," the Spacehawk announced over the speakers built into his armor.
The eldritch thing was surrounded. The Police, White Rider and Super Horse all stepped back. Blue Bolt Flew higher but remained firing electricity at the creature. A quartet of mini-missiles fired from the Spacehawk's suit hitting the Monster and exploding.
Where the eldritch thing had been was now only broken smoking remains in a pool of ooze.
"Give it a second," the White Rider warned the lawmen around him.
"It's recombobulating," Spacehawk told Blue Bolt.
"Not for long old Chum," the Bolt smiled, "If we hit it one more time like this that ought to do the trick."
"WAIT!," Lois hollered as She arrived.
"It's about time," Blue Bolt admonished her.
"The addition of your firepower will more than do the trick," Spacehawk told Blake.
"No!," Lois told them while holding up Hughes' wireless telephone, "Look!"
"Where is Leo?," Blue Bolt asked seeing the phone, "What happened to You??"
"Did this thing eat him?," the Rider asked while aiming his reloaded shotgun.
The Super Horse looked up at the phone then galloped over putting itself between the creature and it's attackers.
"It's possessed Cloud!," the White Rider exclaimed upset.
"No," Spacehawk told everyone, "stop shooting!"
"It will reform!," Blue Bolt argued.
Super Horse whinnied. The White Rider raised his shotgun and also signaled for the policemen to stop their assault. The Monster literally pulled itself together. It's inhuman flesh bubbling back to where it had been burned away. Lois flew down
to be eye to eye with it's bulbous black orbs.
"Leo??," She asked with a mix of fear, uncertainty, and concern.
#11 - And You Be Me
New
- Location
- New England
Hemenway Gymansium
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Leo stood at the bottom of the pool underneath the water. It made him so sleepy. Underwater he felt like He could sleep for a thousand years. In fact in had only been about hald a day.
After the other discovered He had become the monster Blue Bolt had sent him to the Hemenway to get him out of sight. When they got back Lois told them they had gone after the Shattered Man. Blake told him this strange fellow had a magic telephone that looked like his own.
Looking up lazily there were many staff and students of the university coming to see him. He was causing quite the stir on Campus. First, Harvard has Blue Bolt and now they had an actual monster on their grounds. Hughes yawned and bubbles floated to the surface.
Bertoff Laboratory
Inner World
"It is quite the intriguing device," the Blue Bolt told Bertoff and Spacehawk as they examined Leo's cellphone.
"Young Mister Hughes really needs to activate the security protocols the device has to offer," Spacehawk, the 25th Century Man, told the others.
"He is lucky it is us and not that Ne'er-Do-Well Miss Blake encountered going through the device," Bertoff added while peering over the Blue Bolt's shoulder.
"Ones like the one called Facebook and Twitter," the Bolt told the others, "they are locked."
"Well at least that's something," the Spacehawk nodded.
"What's a Google?," Bertoff asked noting how often it seemed to come up.
"No idea," Blue Bolt told the Inner World scientist.
"Much of my history," Spacehawk admitted, "your present, was lost in the Great Travails of the 21st and 22nd Centuries."
"I suppose we should see if we can find a John Google," the electric hero offered, "the creator of the company being referenced."
"We have to go," Bertoff told them pointing to the SUPERIFICATE App.
Hemenway Gymnasium
As Leonard Michael Hughes drifted towards sleep the Cosmos sang to him. He should devour his friends. He should devour 1941 Harvard Square. The Old Times would return and he would sit atop a bone of humanity's bones in a reign of blood.
Something tapped Hughes on his currently inhuman forehead. The large Black orbs that were his eyes opened slowly. What they saw was Lois Blake in a 1940s bathing suit. She had a boomstick and was conking him with it under the water.
She smiled when his eyes opened. She smelled delicious. She motioned for Leo to follow her and She exited the pool. Many of the Harvard men present gasped as Hughes got out of the water. They all stepped back. A camera flashed.
The rest of the gang was poolside.
"10, 9, 8 . . .," the Blue Bolt counted down to Zero while looking at Leo's Cellphone.
When the superhero reached Zero the same strange glow returned. When it faded Leo was agin himself. Again Lois hugged him happy for his return to normal. This time She was wet and He was not. At least until her embrace.
"No sign of this 'Shattered Man'?," Leo asked as He yawned.
"Not a peep," Peter told him while handing him a bag with several sandwiches in it.
The White Rider did let Leo know that the Super Horse was still out searching for the mysterious miscreant. Hughes thanked him and tore into the sandwiches. His stomach felt like an empty pit.
Blue Bolt handed him his phone. Leo finished off the sandwich in his hand with big swallows. He then dialed 111-111-1111. The phone rang. Richard Blaine picked up on the second ring.
"I was wondering why You had not called," Blaine told him, "are you are sure your quite alright?"
"Tired, hungry, thirsty," Leo told Blaine.
"I talked to one of your friends at 10 the next morning," Blaine told Hughes.
"That was Me," Lois chimed in.
"Hello Miss Blake," Blaine greeted her, "It was delightful talking to you, quite delightful."
Leo told Blaine How He had been a Gingerbread Man and just recently for the last 48 hours He had been a Monster. At first Richard did not respond then He told Leo that He had an app on his Cellphone called EXCALIBRATE. With this unique App He told Hughes He was able to turn into a figure or creature from Arthurian legend. He told Leo he had last been the Green Knight.
"Your Cellphone magic does seem to far exceed mine," Blaine admitted with what sounded like a tinge of jealousy.
"Can He become Merlin?," the Blue Bolt asked overhearing the conversation.
"Tell your friend," Richard told Leonard, "I have not been able to become the wizard in question but I have been able to become a dragon."
"Maybe," Lois offered, "Merlin, or someone like him, is behind all of this."
"We will meet you in Poughkeepsie," Hughes told the other Magic Cellphone Wielder, "Once I get some food and some sleep."
"Call Me when You are on your way," Blaine told the Young man before disconnecting.
One of the Harvard Men brought Leo a large glass of water. Everyone there had so many questions.
"Gentlemen," Blue Bolt told the staff and students, "there will be time enough for all your questions soon enough!"
"Too bad Freddy Parrish ain't here to see it!," a classman called out.
The Electric Hero glared over at His lineman, Endicott "Chub" Peabody. Chub was a good lineman, both ways, but off the field his mouth could run faster than the Golden Gopher Bruce Smith. Peabody brought Hughes a thermos with water in it.
Hughes looked at the thermos warily before gulping down the contents. He could tell He was tired as he was far too concerned wondering How He could be wet on the outside and so dry on the inside. He was soon taken to a dorm and normal sleep and somewhat more normal dreams took him away.
Poughkeepsie, NY
Blue Bolt and Lois had flown with Leo to Poughkeepsie. They had landed at the Town Hall and were greeted by one of the two Special Policemen that patrolled the college town. Vassar was just down the street.
"Brewer Country," the Radcliffe girl sniffed, "lovely."
Officer Vincent Smith walked over and shook everyone's hands.
"I'm Lois," Blake started the introductions, "And this is."
"Blue Bolt," Fred interrupted.
Special Policeman Vincent Smith nodded as Parrish gave him a firm handshake.
Next He looked over to Leo.
"Quentin Tarantino," Hughes told the policeman while shaking his hand.
"Morocco Café?," the officer laughed once He was asked, "there is no such place, unfortunately."
Smith went on to tell them that the town and the college had more than enough little diners and cafes for the ladies at Vassar. None of them were or had ever been called the Morocco. When asked if He knew a Richard Blaine again Smith shook his head. Neither, he or the other officer in town had ever encountered anyone by that name.
"111-111-1111 Man is a lie," Hughes groused as they made their way to a diner that actually existed.
"We should probably check the town records for Richard Blaine," Lois offered, "Just in case."
"Most likely a waste of time," Fred informed her, "but You go ahead."
Lois turned back to the Town Hall. Leo and Fred got a corner table at the Arlington Diner. While a waitress took their orders the Cellphone buzzed. It was Cherie.
"What the FUDGE?!?," but Leo didn't say 'Fudge', Oh No, He said the other word.
On his phone was a selfie of C.J.. She was in front of her mirror wearing a very sexy Black outfit. He had only seen her at work. The closest to this sort of thing He had seen her wear in person was when She wore a Goth outfit to the comic book shop on Halloween.
"Had a Great Time at the Movies last night," her text read underneath, "tonight come on over, We can just Netflix & Chill
,"
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Leo stood at the bottom of the pool underneath the water. It made him so sleepy. Underwater he felt like He could sleep for a thousand years. In fact in had only been about hald a day.
After the other discovered He had become the monster Blue Bolt had sent him to the Hemenway to get him out of sight. When they got back Lois told them they had gone after the Shattered Man. Blake told him this strange fellow had a magic telephone that looked like his own.
Looking up lazily there were many staff and students of the university coming to see him. He was causing quite the stir on Campus. First, Harvard has Blue Bolt and now they had an actual monster on their grounds. Hughes yawned and bubbles floated to the surface.
Bertoff Laboratory
Inner World
"It is quite the intriguing device," the Blue Bolt told Bertoff and Spacehawk as they examined Leo's cellphone.
"Young Mister Hughes really needs to activate the security protocols the device has to offer," Spacehawk, the 25th Century Man, told the others.
"He is lucky it is us and not that Ne'er-Do-Well Miss Blake encountered going through the device," Bertoff added while peering over the Blue Bolt's shoulder.
"Ones like the one called Facebook and Twitter," the Bolt told the others, "they are locked."
"Well at least that's something," the Spacehawk nodded.
"What's a Google?," Bertoff asked noting how often it seemed to come up.
"No idea," Blue Bolt told the Inner World scientist.
"Much of my history," Spacehawk admitted, "your present, was lost in the Great Travails of the 21st and 22nd Centuries."
"I suppose we should see if we can find a John Google," the electric hero offered, "the creator of the company being referenced."
"We have to go," Bertoff told them pointing to the SUPERIFICATE App.
Hemenway Gymnasium
As Leonard Michael Hughes drifted towards sleep the Cosmos sang to him. He should devour his friends. He should devour 1941 Harvard Square. The Old Times would return and he would sit atop a bone of humanity's bones in a reign of blood.
Something tapped Hughes on his currently inhuman forehead. The large Black orbs that were his eyes opened slowly. What they saw was Lois Blake in a 1940s bathing suit. She had a boomstick and was conking him with it under the water.
She smiled when his eyes opened. She smelled delicious. She motioned for Leo to follow her and She exited the pool. Many of the Harvard men present gasped as Hughes got out of the water. They all stepped back. A camera flashed.
The rest of the gang was poolside.
"10, 9, 8 . . .," the Blue Bolt counted down to Zero while looking at Leo's Cellphone.
When the superhero reached Zero the same strange glow returned. When it faded Leo was agin himself. Again Lois hugged him happy for his return to normal. This time She was wet and He was not. At least until her embrace.
"No sign of this 'Shattered Man'?," Leo asked as He yawned.
"Not a peep," Peter told him while handing him a bag with several sandwiches in it.
The White Rider did let Leo know that the Super Horse was still out searching for the mysterious miscreant. Hughes thanked him and tore into the sandwiches. His stomach felt like an empty pit.
Blue Bolt handed him his phone. Leo finished off the sandwich in his hand with big swallows. He then dialed 111-111-1111. The phone rang. Richard Blaine picked up on the second ring.
"I was wondering why You had not called," Blaine told him, "are you are sure your quite alright?"
"Tired, hungry, thirsty," Leo told Blaine.
"I talked to one of your friends at 10 the next morning," Blaine told Hughes.
"That was Me," Lois chimed in.
"Hello Miss Blake," Blaine greeted her, "It was delightful talking to you, quite delightful."
Leo told Blaine How He had been a Gingerbread Man and just recently for the last 48 hours He had been a Monster. At first Richard did not respond then He told Leo that He had an app on his Cellphone called EXCALIBRATE. With this unique App He told Hughes He was able to turn into a figure or creature from Arthurian legend. He told Leo he had last been the Green Knight.
"Your Cellphone magic does seem to far exceed mine," Blaine admitted with what sounded like a tinge of jealousy.
"Can He become Merlin?," the Blue Bolt asked overhearing the conversation.
"Tell your friend," Richard told Leonard, "I have not been able to become the wizard in question but I have been able to become a dragon."
"Maybe," Lois offered, "Merlin, or someone like him, is behind all of this."
"We will meet you in Poughkeepsie," Hughes told the other Magic Cellphone Wielder, "Once I get some food and some sleep."
"Call Me when You are on your way," Blaine told the Young man before disconnecting.
One of the Harvard Men brought Leo a large glass of water. Everyone there had so many questions.
"Gentlemen," Blue Bolt told the staff and students, "there will be time enough for all your questions soon enough!"
"Too bad Freddy Parrish ain't here to see it!," a classman called out.
The Electric Hero glared over at His lineman, Endicott "Chub" Peabody. Chub was a good lineman, both ways, but off the field his mouth could run faster than the Golden Gopher Bruce Smith. Peabody brought Hughes a thermos with water in it.
Hughes looked at the thermos warily before gulping down the contents. He could tell He was tired as he was far too concerned wondering How He could be wet on the outside and so dry on the inside. He was soon taken to a dorm and normal sleep and somewhat more normal dreams took him away.
Poughkeepsie, NY
Blue Bolt and Lois had flown with Leo to Poughkeepsie. They had landed at the Town Hall and were greeted by one of the two Special Policemen that patrolled the college town. Vassar was just down the street.
"Brewer Country," the Radcliffe girl sniffed, "lovely."
Officer Vincent Smith walked over and shook everyone's hands.
"I'm Lois," Blake started the introductions, "And this is."
"Blue Bolt," Fred interrupted.
Special Policeman Vincent Smith nodded as Parrish gave him a firm handshake.
Next He looked over to Leo.
"Quentin Tarantino," Hughes told the policeman while shaking his hand.
"Morocco Café?," the officer laughed once He was asked, "there is no such place, unfortunately."
Smith went on to tell them that the town and the college had more than enough little diners and cafes for the ladies at Vassar. None of them were or had ever been called the Morocco. When asked if He knew a Richard Blaine again Smith shook his head. Neither, he or the other officer in town had ever encountered anyone by that name.
"111-111-1111 Man is a lie," Hughes groused as they made their way to a diner that actually existed.
"We should probably check the town records for Richard Blaine," Lois offered, "Just in case."
"Most likely a waste of time," Fred informed her, "but You go ahead."
Lois turned back to the Town Hall. Leo and Fred got a corner table at the Arlington Diner. While a waitress took their orders the Cellphone buzzed. It was Cherie.
"What the FUDGE?!?," but Leo didn't say 'Fudge', Oh No, He said the other word.
On his phone was a selfie of C.J.. She was in front of her mirror wearing a very sexy Black outfit. He had only seen her at work. The closest to this sort of thing He had seen her wear in person was when She wore a Goth outfit to the comic book shop on Halloween.
"Had a Great Time at the Movies last night," her text read underneath, "tonight come on over, We can just Netflix & Chill
,"
#12 - Seeing is Be Leafing
New
- Location
- New England
Boston Common
The tall man in the long Grey trench coat walked across the snow to where the plaque was located. His long Black & White striped scarf dancing in the wind. If anyone had been around they may have noticed the lack of footprints in the ominous fellow's wake. The snow on the plaque melted away when the man reached it.
"Egrus!," the man's scratchy dry voice chanted as he removed his Black leather glove and placed his Orange hand upon the words describing the Great Elm and it's fate, "Egrus Sutanmad!"
The tall man Stepped back. The ground underneath the plaque began to shake. The fellow's eyes glowed under his fedora.
Hemenway Gymnasium
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Hughes was sitting at a table in what had been a squash court. He had C.J. On the line. She was regaling him with highlights from 'Their' date. Hughes fought the urge to smash the cellphone into a million pieces.
"Crazy Rich Asians," Cherie informed Leo, "was a lot of fun," then added, "but the karaoke was a surprise."
"Karaoke?," an even more surprised Leo blurted out as He never did karaoke.
♪ ♫ I took a Pill in Abiza ♪ ♫, Jones started to sing recalling the previous evening.
When She asked if He had found her scarf in his car Hughes' head began to spin. What were they doing in his car? What was He going to do?
He needed to talk to this doppelganger. If it was actually him but from the future He needed to hear it from himself and believe it. He was going mad thinking there was some ersatz version of himself that was going to steal any chance He had with C.J..
Leo told Jones He would call her back. He dialed his home number again. Again He found himself blocked. He called his 21st century cellphone number. It too was blocked. Jones tried to remember any of his friends numbers. Unfortunately, No longer having to store the info in his head his brain must have forgotten the numbers He had once memorized to make space for other things. Leo's frustration grew.
Leo opened Facebook. His friend's pages had all blocked any of their posts from being read by strangers. Hughes grimaced.
"Derek Simonson!," Leo suddenly recalled.
Simonson was a nice enough guy. He was also a complete idiot. Leo had not added him as a friend because the guy was just too annoying.
Leo inhaled holding his breath. He quickly created a new account. He used 'LEONARD' instead of the 'LEO' that was on his actual FB name.
Leonard: Hey Derek
DeReK S: Helloooo Leo!!! ,
Simonson sent a large smiling Teddy Bear Emoji.
DeReK S: HELLEO, LOLLOLOLOLOLOL!!!
Leonard: Uh, nice.
DeReK S:Thanxxx for friending Me!
Leonard: No Problem, How are things with you?
DeReK S: I havent seen you since that time you came in to the shop
Leonard: I just wanted to say Hi.
Hughes had actually stopped by the tool store Derek's family owned to use their ATM. Derek had spotted him and chewed his ear off about how great Green Lantern was with Ryan Reynolds. Leo had nodded and reacted for as long as He could stand before making his escape.
DeReK S: O i see, HELLEO!!!!
Leonard: I meant when I saw you at your folk's place.
DeReK S: O
Derek asked Leo if He wanted to go to a Revolution game as His dad had season tickets. Simonson assured Leo the Revs were going to win the MLS championship this year for sure. He told Hughes He did not want to miss it. This year was a lock.
"Sounds fun," Hughes admitted typing, "I am currently very busy," He told Simonson honestly, "maybe once I get things worked out."
He asked Derek if He could check his other Facebook. He also asked for some of their mutual acquaintances phone numbers. He thanked Simonson and told him He would be in touch.
Next He called Richard Blaine at 111-111-1111.
"What the heck?," Hughes asked aloud when Blaine did not pick up.
"What was that?," Lois asked as She walked in and heard the text ding.
"Blaine," Leo told Blake as he checked the message, "hopefully."
PrisonerFan06: Hey Leo, can't talk right now
LMHughes551: Rick?
PrisonerFan06: Yes, can't talk right now, wassup?
LMHughes551: Can't talk?! THERE WAS NO MOROCCO CAFE!
PrisonerFan06: That was a test, Had to be sure, You can never be too sure
LMHughes: Test? WtF??
PrisonerFan06: We should Meet in person, are you still at the Morgana?
LMHUghes: Not currently, explain when we meet, Where are you really?
PrisonerFan06: I move around, currently at the Hollywood Bowl
Leo showed the messages to Lois. Blake made a face. She told Hughes there was something up with Mr. Blaine. Leo reluctantly agreed. She asked what else He had tested. He told her He had called Jones and Blaine and messaged a friend.
"Hollywood?," Lois calculated, "Tell Blaine to get on a train," She told Hughes "He can meet us in Boston."
Leo did as She suggested. Blaine told them He would call again when He was in Massachusetts. Hughes hit the speaker button then dialed 333-333-3333.
"This number is not in service," an operator's pre-recorded voice told him.
Leo and Lois exchanged a glance. He dialed 000-000-0000.
"Operator," a live voice answered.
"Uh Hy," Leonard stammered while Blake made a face, "What phone system is this? what is going on here?"
"Oh Leo," the generic grandma voice replied, "There is a selfish person, an evil schemer, and You need to stop them."
"What?," Leo gulped while Lois blanched, "WHo?, Where?, Who are You?"
"I could tell you," the voice replied sweetly, "but there is no fun in that."
"COME ON!," Hughes exclaimed upset with the mysterious messenger.
Lois put a hand on his arm to calm the young man down. Leo got a hold of himself.
"If I defeat this evil guy," Leo started.
"Person," the Grandma interjected.
"If I defeat them," He asked in a demanding fashion, "You will send Me home?"
"That is what you wish?," She questioned.
"Yes," Leo answered holding back exasperation.
"So Be It," the woman announced before the connection clicked and disconnected.
Wellington Apartments
Roxbury, Boston
"Can Davey come out to play?," the kid in the Braves baseball hat had asked Mrs. Davis Earlier in the day.
"We're going sledding," the tubby kid with the sled in hand had pleaded with their friend's Mother.
"David D. Davis has a test tomorrow," Mrs. Davis had reminded his friends, "And I think so do you."
Davey had brought home a 'C' from his math test last week. His parents were not happy. He argued that a 'C' was average and indeed a passing grade. His father had admonished him for such laziness and lack of foresight.
"I do not care one wink what your teachers or your friends, or your friends' parents might say on the matter," his Father had told him while waggling his forefinger at him, "but 'Average' and 'Passable' are just plain unacceptable as long as you live under the roof of a Davis household."
Because of this young Davey Davis had spent his day unraveling the mysteries of Algebra and then He had to practice writing pages from the Bible in cursive. All the while He could see his friends having fun going up and down the nearby hill.
"I wish I was not under this roof," David D. Davis whispered ruefully to the night as He stewed in his bed unable to sleep.
Boston Common
The two patrolmen rode their horses down the cobblestone path along the Common's perimeter. Both of their mounts started getting antsy. One whinnied.
"Calm down Sabre," Officer Ed Beddowes told his steed.
"Is there something moving over up ahead?," Officer Bill Braxton asked his partner while pointing to the trees before them.
The horses were afraid. Despite this when Beddowes and Braxton urged them forward the animals did as they were commanded. The pair road through the falling snow.
"SWEET JESUS!," Ed Beddowes called out when the giant thing stepped out from the other trees.
The Great Elm towered over the pair of policemen. On it's it's trunk glowing hellish Orange eyes glared. A crooked smile with sharp teeth curled beneath. Undead criminals hung from the branches spasming and contorting. Their cackling cries beginning in earnest.
"EREDICCO!," a scratchy dry voice called out.
Braxton drew his service revolver. Before he could get a shot off a buxom woman with a noose tight around her neck swung down grabbing her into her undead embrace. The woman being one of those accused of witchcraft long ago and actually being guilty. Braxton got off several shots but to no avail as he was pulled off his mount and up into the claw-like branches.
Beddowes saw the 18th century pirate falling towards him. He too opened fire. His gunshots doing as much use as Braxton's. Officer Beddowes did manage to spur Saber forward and the undead pirate with the wooden leg swung behind him failing to grab the mounted police officer.
Both horses were now fleeing as fast as they could. Beddowes forced himself to look back. He needed to know what to report when He reached a police box. The empty noose flew out of the chaos of the razor sharp branches. It looped around the policeman's neck and plucked him up and off his horse.
Edward Beddowes flew up into the branches. Sabre and Braxton's horses continued their escape.
The tall man's scarf danced behind him. He straightened his long Grey trenchcoat. He was holding the plaque to the Great Elm in one hand. He tossed it aside.
"Eredicco Muelureac Nemluf!"
The Arboreal horror turned lumbering in the direction of the Charles.
The tall man in the long Grey trench coat walked across the snow to where the plaque was located. His long Black & White striped scarf dancing in the wind. If anyone had been around they may have noticed the lack of footprints in the ominous fellow's wake. The snow on the plaque melted away when the man reached it.
"Egrus!," the man's scratchy dry voice chanted as he removed his Black leather glove and placed his Orange hand upon the words describing the Great Elm and it's fate, "Egrus Sutanmad!"
The tall man Stepped back. The ground underneath the plaque began to shake. The fellow's eyes glowed under his fedora.
Hemenway Gymnasium
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Hughes was sitting at a table in what had been a squash court. He had C.J. On the line. She was regaling him with highlights from 'Their' date. Hughes fought the urge to smash the cellphone into a million pieces.
"Crazy Rich Asians," Cherie informed Leo, "was a lot of fun," then added, "but the karaoke was a surprise."
"Karaoke?," an even more surprised Leo blurted out as He never did karaoke.
♪ ♫ I took a Pill in Abiza ♪ ♫, Jones started to sing recalling the previous evening.
When She asked if He had found her scarf in his car Hughes' head began to spin. What were they doing in his car? What was He going to do?
He needed to talk to this doppelganger. If it was actually him but from the future He needed to hear it from himself and believe it. He was going mad thinking there was some ersatz version of himself that was going to steal any chance He had with C.J..
Leo told Jones He would call her back. He dialed his home number again. Again He found himself blocked. He called his 21st century cellphone number. It too was blocked. Jones tried to remember any of his friends numbers. Unfortunately, No longer having to store the info in his head his brain must have forgotten the numbers He had once memorized to make space for other things. Leo's frustration grew.
Leo opened Facebook. His friend's pages had all blocked any of their posts from being read by strangers. Hughes grimaced.
"Derek Simonson!," Leo suddenly recalled.
Simonson was a nice enough guy. He was also a complete idiot. Leo had not added him as a friend because the guy was just too annoying.
Leo inhaled holding his breath. He quickly created a new account. He used 'LEONARD' instead of the 'LEO' that was on his actual FB name.
Leonard: Hey Derek
DeReK S: Helloooo Leo!!!
, Simonson sent a large smiling Teddy Bear Emoji.
DeReK S: HELLEO, LOLLOLOLOLOLOL!!!
Leonard: Uh, nice.
DeReK S:Thanxxx for friending Me!
Leonard: No Problem, How are things with you?
DeReK S: I havent seen you since that time you came in to the shop
Leonard: I just wanted to say Hi.
Hughes had actually stopped by the tool store Derek's family owned to use their ATM. Derek had spotted him and chewed his ear off about how great Green Lantern was with Ryan Reynolds. Leo had nodded and reacted for as long as He could stand before making his escape.
DeReK S: O i see, HELLEO!!!!
Leonard: I meant when I saw you at your folk's place.
DeReK S: O
Derek asked Leo if He wanted to go to a Revolution game as His dad had season tickets. Simonson assured Leo the Revs were going to win the MLS championship this year for sure. He told Hughes He did not want to miss it. This year was a lock.
"Sounds fun," Hughes admitted typing, "I am currently very busy," He told Simonson honestly, "maybe once I get things worked out."
He asked Derek if He could check his other Facebook. He also asked for some of their mutual acquaintances phone numbers. He thanked Simonson and told him He would be in touch.
Next He called Richard Blaine at 111-111-1111.
"What the heck?," Hughes asked aloud when Blaine did not pick up.
"What was that?," Lois asked as She walked in and heard the text ding.
"Blaine," Leo told Blake as he checked the message, "hopefully."
PrisonerFan06: Hey Leo, can't talk right now
LMHughes551: Rick?
PrisonerFan06: Yes, can't talk right now, wassup?
LMHughes551: Can't talk?! THERE WAS NO MOROCCO CAFE!
PrisonerFan06: That was a test, Had to be sure, You can never be too sure
LMHughes: Test? WtF??
PrisonerFan06: We should Meet in person, are you still at the Morgana?
LMHUghes: Not currently, explain when we meet, Where are you really?
PrisonerFan06: I move around, currently at the Hollywood Bowl
Leo showed the messages to Lois. Blake made a face. She told Hughes there was something up with Mr. Blaine. Leo reluctantly agreed. She asked what else He had tested. He told her He had called Jones and Blaine and messaged a friend.
"Hollywood?," Lois calculated, "Tell Blaine to get on a train," She told Hughes "He can meet us in Boston."
Leo did as She suggested. Blaine told them He would call again when He was in Massachusetts. Hughes hit the speaker button then dialed 333-333-3333.
"This number is not in service," an operator's pre-recorded voice told him.
Leo and Lois exchanged a glance. He dialed 000-000-0000.
"Operator," a live voice answered.
"Uh Hy," Leonard stammered while Blake made a face, "What phone system is this? what is going on here?"
"Oh Leo," the generic grandma voice replied, "There is a selfish person, an evil schemer, and You need to stop them."
"What?," Leo gulped while Lois blanched, "WHo?, Where?, Who are You?"
"I could tell you," the voice replied sweetly, "but there is no fun in that."
"COME ON!," Hughes exclaimed upset with the mysterious messenger.
Lois put a hand on his arm to calm the young man down. Leo got a hold of himself.
"If I defeat this evil guy," Leo started.
"Person," the Grandma interjected.
"If I defeat them," He asked in a demanding fashion, "You will send Me home?"
"That is what you wish?," She questioned.
"Yes," Leo answered holding back exasperation.
"So Be It," the woman announced before the connection clicked and disconnected.
Wellington Apartments
Roxbury, Boston
"Can Davey come out to play?," the kid in the Braves baseball hat had asked Mrs. Davis Earlier in the day.
"We're going sledding," the tubby kid with the sled in hand had pleaded with their friend's Mother.
"David D. Davis has a test tomorrow," Mrs. Davis had reminded his friends, "And I think so do you."
Davey had brought home a 'C' from his math test last week. His parents were not happy. He argued that a 'C' was average and indeed a passing grade. His father had admonished him for such laziness and lack of foresight.
"I do not care one wink what your teachers or your friends, or your friends' parents might say on the matter," his Father had told him while waggling his forefinger at him, "but 'Average' and 'Passable' are just plain unacceptable as long as you live under the roof of a Davis household."
Because of this young Davey Davis had spent his day unraveling the mysteries of Algebra and then He had to practice writing pages from the Bible in cursive. All the while He could see his friends having fun going up and down the nearby hill.
"I wish I was not under this roof," David D. Davis whispered ruefully to the night as He stewed in his bed unable to sleep.
Boston Common
The two patrolmen rode their horses down the cobblestone path along the Common's perimeter. Both of their mounts started getting antsy. One whinnied.
"Calm down Sabre," Officer Ed Beddowes told his steed.
"Is there something moving over up ahead?," Officer Bill Braxton asked his partner while pointing to the trees before them.
The horses were afraid. Despite this when Beddowes and Braxton urged them forward the animals did as they were commanded. The pair road through the falling snow.
"SWEET JESUS!," Ed Beddowes called out when the giant thing stepped out from the other trees.
The Great Elm towered over the pair of policemen. On it's it's trunk glowing hellish Orange eyes glared. A crooked smile with sharp teeth curled beneath. Undead criminals hung from the branches spasming and contorting. Their cackling cries beginning in earnest.
"EREDICCO!," a scratchy dry voice called out.
Braxton drew his service revolver. Before he could get a shot off a buxom woman with a noose tight around her neck swung down grabbing her into her undead embrace. The woman being one of those accused of witchcraft long ago and actually being guilty. Braxton got off several shots but to no avail as he was pulled off his mount and up into the claw-like branches.
Beddowes saw the 18th century pirate falling towards him. He too opened fire. His gunshots doing as much use as Braxton's. Officer Beddowes did manage to spur Saber forward and the undead pirate with the wooden leg swung behind him failing to grab the mounted police officer.
Both horses were now fleeing as fast as they could. Beddowes forced himself to look back. He needed to know what to report when He reached a police box. The empty noose flew out of the chaos of the razor sharp branches. It looped around the policeman's neck and plucked him up and off his horse.
Edward Beddowes flew up into the branches. Sabre and Braxton's horses continued their escape.
The tall man's scarf danced behind him. He straightened his long Grey trenchcoat. He was holding the plaque to the Great Elm in one hand. He tossed it aside.
"Eredicco Muelureac Nemluf!"
The Arboreal horror turned lumbering in the direction of the Charles.
- Location
- New England
SLOT 001
GINGERBREAD MAN
St. Nicholas magazine, 1875
POWERS & ABILITIES
Super Speed (Running)
- The GBM can reach speeds of up to 100mph
Cookie-based Anatomy
- The GBM does not need to eat or breathe as He is a animated bakery good.
- The GBM can be repaired through the use of other baking goods
WEAKNESSES
The GBM is delicious
The GBM gives off an aroma of being delicious
The GBM is undersized comparative to the average human
The GBM can become soggy and weak if it gets wet
The GBM can fall apart if exposed to liquids for a prolonged period
GINGERBREAD MAN
St. Nicholas magazine, 1875
POWERS & ABILITIES
Super Speed (Running)
- The GBM can reach speeds of up to 100mph
Cookie-based Anatomy
- The GBM does not need to eat or breathe as He is a animated bakery good.
- The GBM can be repaired through the use of other baking goods
WEAKNESSES
The GBM is delicious
The GBM gives off an aroma of being delicious
The GBM is undersized comparative to the average human
The GBM can become soggy and weak if it gets wet
The GBM can fall apart if exposed to liquids for a prolonged period
#13 - Don't forget that Whole Monster Thing
New
- Location
- New England
Boston Mounted Police
Brandegees Estate
Franklin Park
12:15am
Friday, January 30, 1941
The riderless horses Sabre and Trotts galloped as fast as they could back to their palatial stables on the Boston/Brookline border. They were met there by Cloud. The two police horses stopped when the large white stallion looked in their direction.
Sabre whinnied while Trotts nodded. The Super Horse's ears perked up. The large White beast motioned the Law enforcement animals into their home. Cloud the galloped away at breakneck speed.
Hemenway Gymnasium
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
"So what are you going to do about the doppelganger?," Lois Blake asked the man from the future.
"First thing," Leo informed her, "is sick Derek on him."
"Is He reliable?," Blake questioned.
"No," Hughes admitted.
The doppelgänger that had replaced him back in 2018 was macking on his would be girl. Leo gritted his teeth. He had wanted to ask Cherie out on a date since forever. Now He gets blasted into World War II world and this copy was going to steal her away.
"Unless," Leo stopped his negative internal rant, "unless the doppelgänger was actually him from the future."
He still held out hope that it was actually him himself hooking up with C.J.. The problem of course was proving who this possibly other self was. It was driving Leo crazy. He wondered if his future self knew this. If He did why was He torturing himself?
"You should tell this Jones girl what is happening," Lois finally decided adding, "it's unfair to her for you to let her engage with an evil copy of yourself."
"Possible evil copy," Leo countered.
"Either way," Blake informed him, "the truth is the best policy."
"The Policy of Truth?," Hughes asked with a smile.
"Yes," Blake nodded, "if it's an evil copy She needs to be warned, if it's you from the future then your future self needs to be honest with her."
Hughes made a face. He recalled the 911 operator hanging up on him when He told them the truth. If Cherie did the same thing he may never be able to get a hold of her again. Still Hughes looked over to Blake. She was not wrong.
A loud horse's whinny distracted both of them. It was followed soon by the white Rider running into the laboratory. He was in a hurry.
"There's a giant Hangin' Tree attacking the city!," the cowboy hollered.
"Hanging Tree?," Lois asked surprised.
"A tree?," Leo followed up.
"Yeah," Peter told them frantically, "We have to stop it rampaging all over the city!"
"I'll call Bolty!," Lois told the men.
"Turn into the Cookie Man and lets go!," the White Rider told Leo as he turned to remount Cloud.
"What?!," Hughes blurted out.
"That Monster thing of yours creeps the bejeebers outta me," the Rider admitted as He hopped back in the saddle, "turn into the cookie guy."
Leo looked up at the White Rider and Super Horse. He wondered if Pete's hat was too tight around his head and cutting off the oxygen to his brain. What the Hell did this lasso twirling gunslinger think the Gingerbread Man was going to do against a killer tree?
Leo took out the Cellphone provided him since his arrival. Both the Gingerbread slot and Cthuloid slot read READY. Leo gritted his teeth steeling himself.
"YAHTZEE!," He cried and hit the button for the unclaimed third slot.
The Super Horse whinnied and reared back on it's hind legs as the strange bright light enveloped Leo Hughes. Peter shielded his eyes from the mystical glow. Leonard Michael Hughes became someone else.
"HOLY SHIT!," Leo cried out in a deep sonorous voice when He saw the Adonis He had become.
The body He was currently in looked like it had fallen off the cover of some Men's health magazine. It was wearing a Blue body suit with two stars on the chest. His gloves and boots were Red.
"Whoah," Peter muttered as Cloud whinnied again.
The three of them stared at Leo's new body. They were still doing so when Lois flew out of the Gymnasium to join them.
"Fred is on h . . . .," Blake started to say then her jaw dropped.
"Lois," the deep manly voice greeted her.
"hi . . . .," Miss Blake said meekly as an uncontrollable smile appeared on her face.
"Lois it's Me," Leo told her, "We have to go check out this Tree thng!"
"Tree thing," A stunned Blake responded, "Anything you want, yes."
"Lois?," Leo asked in the voice that was not his.
"Uh," She shook her head, "Leo?"
"Let's Go!," The Rider yelled at them.
"Yes," Hughes nodded his head with the square-cut jawline.
"Can You fly?," Blake asked while pointing out He was wearing a Red cape.
"Dunno," Leo shrugged and Lois turned red biting her lip.
"Your obviously strong," Blake informed while taking off her glove and putting her barehand on his bicep, "Are You bulletproof? Can You shoot Death Rays?"
The Super Horse whinnied. The White Rider pointed his sixshooter at Leo. Hughes ducked.
"WHAT'RE YOU DOING!!," Hughes hollered.
"We have to get a move on," the Rider reminded them, "I was checking to see if you was bulletproof."
"By shooting Me?!?!?," the deep voice whined.
"I was aiming for the shoulder," The Rider replied in his defense, "the right one."
"Okay," Blake told them, "Blue Bolt and Spacehawk are down below with Dr. Bertoff so We have to hold off this whatever it is until they can get to the surface," She turned to the taller, larger Leo, "Try activating a power."
As Blake said this the Super Horse backed away from Hughes just in case.
"Activating a power?," Leo muttered.
"Yes," Lois told him as She floated a few feet into the air and her eyes lit up with electricity, "activate whatever powers this exquisite new body may possess."
"Okay," Hughes answered trying to think of how exactly this was done.
Leo saw his Cellphone. It was in a pocket on his Blue bodysuit's belt. He took out the phone. A well chiseled face was now in the third slot. It was at 1%. he was going to be Captain Handsome for two whole days.
He started going through the apps. The Rider again yelled at him to hurry. Leo waved a gloved hand at him to tell him to calm down. Lois told him to just concentrate. She said his powers if He had any should come naturally.
Leo stopped and exhaled. He closed his eyes and concentrated. When He opened them again they were glowing. The Super Horse Whinnied and shook it's hoof. The Rider yelped with joy. Lois landed and patted his shoulder.
"LOOK OUT!," Peter yelled while quickly lassoing Blake and pulling her from harm's way.
Lois would have been struck by the large glowing light that flew quickly to Leo's side. The light looked eerily familiar. When it faded next to Hughes was a young tween in a Red bodysuit with a Blue cape and two stars on his chest.
"wHat iS GOinGG OnNn??," Davey D. Davis blurted out when He arrived from his bedroom in Roxbury to Harvard.
The White Rider asked was confused and if Leo's newfound powers involved summoning N-Word children.
"Wait?," Leo paused surprised by the casual use if the racial epitaph, "what?"
"It's the 20th century," Lois corrected the gunslinger, "the proper term is Colored Person."
"Uhm," Leo looked down at the kid, "Hi."
"You're a superhero!," Davis exclaimed realizing who He was with.
"Yeah," Leo told the tween, "We'll be right back."
"Lady Blue Bolt!," Davis blurted out when He saw Lois, "Is Blue Bolt here? What's your name?," He questioned Hughes before asking, "Can I have your autographs?"
"We have to go fight a monster," Leo told Davis, "Stay here until we get back."
Leo went over and stood close to Blake. He wrapped an arm around her so She could fly him to wherever this monster was. She quivered in his embrace. He had not been with a girl in over a year. He and Sandy Carbo had dated for only a little while.
"Lois," Leo said after a cough, "Let's go."
"Alright," She nodded as He felt her tense up.
The pair took to the air and followed after the White Rider and Super Horse.
"Wait!," Davey called out, "I think I'm your sidekick!," He yelled out while checking out the two stars on his chest, "I'm supposed to go with you!"
"NO!," Leo called back, "Stay there!," He ordered the 12 year old, "We'll be right back!"
At the Longfellow Bridge they found the giant arboreal abomination they sought. It ambled from Boston into Cambridge. The trio went to the Cambridge end of the Longfellow to intercept the evil creation. Walking upside down under the bridge it's creator's Black & White striped scarf fluttered in the wind coming up off the Charles River.
Brandegees Estate
Franklin Park
12:15am
Friday, January 30, 1941
The riderless horses Sabre and Trotts galloped as fast as they could back to their palatial stables on the Boston/Brookline border. They were met there by Cloud. The two police horses stopped when the large white stallion looked in their direction.
Sabre whinnied while Trotts nodded. The Super Horse's ears perked up. The large White beast motioned the Law enforcement animals into their home. Cloud the galloped away at breakneck speed.
Hemenway Gymnasium
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
"So what are you going to do about the doppelganger?," Lois Blake asked the man from the future.
"First thing," Leo informed her, "is sick Derek on him."
"Is He reliable?," Blake questioned.
"No," Hughes admitted.
The doppelgänger that had replaced him back in 2018 was macking on his would be girl. Leo gritted his teeth. He had wanted to ask Cherie out on a date since forever. Now He gets blasted into World War II world and this copy was going to steal her away.
"Unless," Leo stopped his negative internal rant, "unless the doppelgänger was actually him from the future."
He still held out hope that it was actually him himself hooking up with C.J.. The problem of course was proving who this possibly other self was. It was driving Leo crazy. He wondered if his future self knew this. If He did why was He torturing himself?
"You should tell this Jones girl what is happening," Lois finally decided adding, "it's unfair to her for you to let her engage with an evil copy of yourself."
"Possible evil copy," Leo countered.
"Either way," Blake informed him, "the truth is the best policy."
"The Policy of Truth?," Hughes asked with a smile.
"Yes," Blake nodded, "if it's an evil copy She needs to be warned, if it's you from the future then your future self needs to be honest with her."
Hughes made a face. He recalled the 911 operator hanging up on him when He told them the truth. If Cherie did the same thing he may never be able to get a hold of her again. Still Hughes looked over to Blake. She was not wrong.
A loud horse's whinny distracted both of them. It was followed soon by the white Rider running into the laboratory. He was in a hurry.
"There's a giant Hangin' Tree attacking the city!," the cowboy hollered.
"Hanging Tree?," Lois asked surprised.
"A tree?," Leo followed up.
"Yeah," Peter told them frantically, "We have to stop it rampaging all over the city!"
"I'll call Bolty!," Lois told the men.
"Turn into the Cookie Man and lets go!," the White Rider told Leo as he turned to remount Cloud.
"What?!," Hughes blurted out.
"That Monster thing of yours creeps the bejeebers outta me," the Rider admitted as He hopped back in the saddle, "turn into the cookie guy."
Leo looked up at the White Rider and Super Horse. He wondered if Pete's hat was too tight around his head and cutting off the oxygen to his brain. What the Hell did this lasso twirling gunslinger think the Gingerbread Man was going to do against a killer tree?
Leo took out the Cellphone provided him since his arrival. Both the Gingerbread slot and Cthuloid slot read READY. Leo gritted his teeth steeling himself.
"YAHTZEE!," He cried and hit the button for the unclaimed third slot.
The Super Horse whinnied and reared back on it's hind legs as the strange bright light enveloped Leo Hughes. Peter shielded his eyes from the mystical glow. Leonard Michael Hughes became someone else.
"HOLY SHIT!," Leo cried out in a deep sonorous voice when He saw the Adonis He had become.
The body He was currently in looked like it had fallen off the cover of some Men's health magazine. It was wearing a Blue body suit with two stars on the chest. His gloves and boots were Red.
"Whoah," Peter muttered as Cloud whinnied again.
The three of them stared at Leo's new body. They were still doing so when Lois flew out of the Gymnasium to join them.
"Fred is on h . . . .," Blake started to say then her jaw dropped.
"Lois," the deep manly voice greeted her.
"hi . . . .," Miss Blake said meekly as an uncontrollable smile appeared on her face.
"Lois it's Me," Leo told her, "We have to go check out this Tree thng!"
"Tree thing," A stunned Blake responded, "Anything you want, yes."
"Lois?," Leo asked in the voice that was not his.
"Uh," She shook her head, "Leo?"
"Let's Go!," The Rider yelled at them.
"Yes," Hughes nodded his head with the square-cut jawline.
"Can You fly?," Blake asked while pointing out He was wearing a Red cape.
"Dunno," Leo shrugged and Lois turned red biting her lip.
"Your obviously strong," Blake informed while taking off her glove and putting her barehand on his bicep, "Are You bulletproof? Can You shoot Death Rays?"
The Super Horse whinnied. The White Rider pointed his sixshooter at Leo. Hughes ducked.
"WHAT'RE YOU DOING!!," Hughes hollered.
"We have to get a move on," the Rider reminded them, "I was checking to see if you was bulletproof."
"By shooting Me?!?!?," the deep voice whined.
"I was aiming for the shoulder," The Rider replied in his defense, "the right one."
"Okay," Blake told them, "Blue Bolt and Spacehawk are down below with Dr. Bertoff so We have to hold off this whatever it is until they can get to the surface," She turned to the taller, larger Leo, "Try activating a power."
As Blake said this the Super Horse backed away from Hughes just in case.
"Activating a power?," Leo muttered.
"Yes," Lois told him as She floated a few feet into the air and her eyes lit up with electricity, "activate whatever powers this exquisite new body may possess."
"Okay," Hughes answered trying to think of how exactly this was done.
Leo saw his Cellphone. It was in a pocket on his Blue bodysuit's belt. He took out the phone. A well chiseled face was now in the third slot. It was at 1%. he was going to be Captain Handsome for two whole days.
He started going through the apps. The Rider again yelled at him to hurry. Leo waved a gloved hand at him to tell him to calm down. Lois told him to just concentrate. She said his powers if He had any should come naturally.
Leo stopped and exhaled. He closed his eyes and concentrated. When He opened them again they were glowing. The Super Horse Whinnied and shook it's hoof. The Rider yelped with joy. Lois landed and patted his shoulder.
"LOOK OUT!," Peter yelled while quickly lassoing Blake and pulling her from harm's way.
Lois would have been struck by the large glowing light that flew quickly to Leo's side. The light looked eerily familiar. When it faded next to Hughes was a young tween in a Red bodysuit with a Blue cape and two stars on his chest.
"wHat iS GOinGG OnNn??," Davey D. Davis blurted out when He arrived from his bedroom in Roxbury to Harvard.
The White Rider asked was confused and if Leo's newfound powers involved summoning N-Word children.
"Wait?," Leo paused surprised by the casual use if the racial epitaph, "what?"
"It's the 20th century," Lois corrected the gunslinger, "the proper term is Colored Person."
"Uhm," Leo looked down at the kid, "Hi."
"You're a superhero!," Davis exclaimed realizing who He was with.
"Yeah," Leo told the tween, "We'll be right back."
"Lady Blue Bolt!," Davis blurted out when He saw Lois, "Is Blue Bolt here? What's your name?," He questioned Hughes before asking, "Can I have your autographs?"
"We have to go fight a monster," Leo told Davis, "Stay here until we get back."
Leo went over and stood close to Blake. He wrapped an arm around her so She could fly him to wherever this monster was. She quivered in his embrace. He had not been with a girl in over a year. He and Sandy Carbo had dated for only a little while.
"Lois," Leo said after a cough, "Let's go."
"Alright," She nodded as He felt her tense up.
The pair took to the air and followed after the White Rider and Super Horse.
"Wait!," Davey called out, "I think I'm your sidekick!," He yelled out while checking out the two stars on his chest, "I'm supposed to go with you!"
"NO!," Leo called back, "Stay there!," He ordered the 12 year old, "We'll be right back!"
At the Longfellow Bridge they found the giant arboreal abomination they sought. It ambled from Boston into Cambridge. The trio went to the Cambridge end of the Longfellow to intercept the evil creation. Walking upside down under the bridge it's creator's Black & White striped scarf fluttered in the wind coming up off the Charles River.
#14 - FIGHT!
New
- Location
- New England
Longfellow Bridge
Charles River, Cambridge
"Dang!," the White Rider blurted out when he saw the monstrosity crossing the bridge from Boston to Cambridge.
"So," Lois swallowed, "What exactly can You do now Leonard?"
"Don't know," He told her as they both took in the large thing approaching.
The tree had sinister glowing eyes and a sinister glowing maw to match. Long dead criminals gayly swung from it's branches. Screams mixed with cackles mixed with sea chanties. An empty noose flew out and grabbed a motorist who had abandoned his car.
"Oh No ya don't buckaroo!," the Rider yelled out as he shot the rope freeing the fleeing motorist.
The Great Elm roared an angry roar. The long condemned shot out swinging at the cowboy.
"Doesn't the magic telephone tell you what each new form can do?!," Blake questioned.
"Not until after they're done loading," Leo admitted.
Lois flew down and placed Hughes down on the end of the Longfellow. The Tree Creature had reached the Salt & Pepper shaker shaped towers at the middle of the Longfellow. The Wite Rider and Super Horse were busy dodging the undead being flung at them.
"Let's get cracking!," Blake told Leo as She drew her Lightning Gun from it's holster and turned to join the fray.
Gunshots and lightning filled the air. Again the animated long gone landmark roared. Leo forced himself to calm down and concentrate. He needed to figure things out quickly.
The first thing He sensed was the ability that had summoned the kid. Leo made sure not to activate that. He wasn't going to drag a young boy into a combat zone to fight monsters. That was crazy. It was probably also child endangerment.
The Creature roared again. The Super Horse whinny could barely be heard over the din of the dead. Another of Lois' bolts flashed. Hughes found a second possible internal feeling that may be an untapped ability. He concentrated on this one.
"Yikes!," He yelped when metal tore of the nearest abandoned car.
The metal flew off the automobile and wrapped itself around Leo's hands and forearms forming perfect meta gauntlets. They were cool Leo thought but not helping at the moment. He started to go back to concentrating when the skeleton with a pegleg and rusty sword flew down at him. He immediately flew up to avoid the attacker.
"YOU CAN FLY!," Blake hollered out as She continued shooting the Tree and the undead on it's ropes.
Leo turned and smiled an incredibly handsome smile at Miss Blake. He was immediately tackled by a man who stole a cow back in the 1780s. The man had been in love you see. This had lead to his public execution. Now the lovelorn spirit in the desiccated corpse wanted the modern world to share in its decades of pain.
Lois could not come to his aid. She was barely holding her own. The White Rider and Super Horse were in the same boat. The boney hands like talons wrapped around Leo's current throat. He began to gasp for air. The bones dug into his flesh.
"NO!," Hughes exclaimed angrily.
He had a new body that wasn't a cookie or a tentacled monster. He was determined to not lose this new addition to his cellphone choices. His eyes glowed. The car He had gotten the metal for his gloves suddenly flew at him slamming into his decaying attacker.
The Super Horse whinnied his approval.
"Good job Leo!," the Rider added as He continued to shoot at the nooses.
When the nooses were cut the Pirates, Witches, and other undead ceased to be animated and fell to the ground and their mortal remains scattered. Lois saw this and started flying over and breaking the ropes with her superstrength.
Without thinking Hughes waved his metal covered hand and the car that He had just struck the noose-zombie with flew away. Realizing this He moved his gauntlet adorned hand and the car flew into the Great Elm. Leo whooped with excitement.
"Here We Go!," He yelled out before baring down.
He started waving his hands. Cars started flying at the Tree Thing. One after another they hit the creature. One truck slammed into it. The Super Horse whinnied. The Rider nodded and shot at the large vehicle. Blake did the same. The truck exploded in flames.
The Great Elm roared again but this time in fear. The thing's branches and the undead hanging from them started to burn. the night air was filled with the inhuman shrieking of the burning dead.
Hughes' adrenalin was really going now. He kept throwing vehicles from the nearby streets into the growing inferno. Lois continued firing as well. The Super Horse sniffed the air and left the fight.
"What's goin' on Pardner?," Peter asked Cloud as the steed went to the side of the Bridge.
The White Rider was greeted by a tall man in a Grey Trenchcoat. His Black & White scarf flowing behind him. Beneath his fedora his eyes had a fiery glow. His smile was one of someone who was only momentarily inconvenienced. He took off his glove revealing his orange hand.
"O.K. buddy," the Rider told the strange fellow, "put those Orange hands in the air where I can see them."
"Elav!," the entity called out instead as it slammed it's Orange hand to the ground.
The White Rider opened fire with both barrels. His bullets had no effect. A crack started to form where the Tall Man's hand touch the snow covered ground. The ice began to melt. The sound of burning and screams escaped from below. The crack grew into a chasm straight at the Rider.
The Super Horse did not miss a beat. It ran towards the growing chasm and then over. Flame shot up but both the Horse and Rider went over unscathed. The Tall Man in the Grey coat hiss and leapt into the fires.
"Jesus, Mary, & Joseph!," the Rider exclaimed when he and Cloud landed and the chasm closed behind them.
The Super Horse whinnied.
"Yeah," the Rider agreed, "sure does smell like sulfur."
"We Did It!," Lois exclaimed as She flew over and hugged Leo midair.
The pieces of the burning tree fell onto the bridge and into the Charles. Hughes returned the hug. They were still embracing when the White Rider called up to them.
"You ain't gonna believe what I just saw!," Peter called up to Lois and Leo.
The Super Horse snorted.
"Ha," the Rider reacted and patted his mount on the side of the head, "very funny."
Leo realized what they were doing and flew backwards.
"We did do it," He smiled.
"Yes!," Blake answered.
"IS EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL?," the arriving Spacehawk asked over his loudspeaker.
"Bolty!," Lois turned quickly and flew over to Parrish.
"Looks like You didn't need us," Blue Bolt told the Leo and Peter with a smile.
Blue Bolt held out a gloved hand to introduce himself.
"It's Me," Hughes informed him.
"It's Leo's new body," Lois added.
Parrish looked the 21st Century man's physique over.
"Can You catch a pass?," the Crimson's star Quarterback asked hopefully.
Everyone was laughing when Blue Bolt quickly drew his own Lightning Gun.
"Fred?!," Lois called out surprised.
Leo looked to see what Blue Bolt was shooting at. It was Davey. The Electric Man fired.
"STOP!," Leo yelled too late.
The young boy was hit by the bolt. He spasmed and went from flying to falling. Hughes quickly threw up his metal gloved hands. His eyes glowed and instead of plummeting to the ground young Davis started to glow and flew down to Hughes.
"It's the colored boy," the Rider stated while looking over to Lois.
"FRED!," Blake exclaimed while running to check on the child.
"I told him to stay put!," Leo lamented out loud.
"I thought He was one of the attackers," Parrish told everyone in his defense.
Sirens could be heard getting closer. The police and fire departments from both cities soon arriving. Spacehawk told everyone to step back. He started to administer what looked to Leo to be a version of CPR. He noted the man from the 25th century was doing compressions but not mouth to mouth.
"Thank goodness," Lois exclaimed with relief when Davis coughed and opened his eyes.
"Blue Bolt!," the tween exclaimed surprised and happy to see his hero.
Leo and the White Rider and Super Horse all exchanged a glance.
Charles River, Cambridge
"Dang!," the White Rider blurted out when he saw the monstrosity crossing the bridge from Boston to Cambridge.
"So," Lois swallowed, "What exactly can You do now Leonard?"
"Don't know," He told her as they both took in the large thing approaching.
The tree had sinister glowing eyes and a sinister glowing maw to match. Long dead criminals gayly swung from it's branches. Screams mixed with cackles mixed with sea chanties. An empty noose flew out and grabbed a motorist who had abandoned his car.
"Oh No ya don't buckaroo!," the Rider yelled out as he shot the rope freeing the fleeing motorist.
The Great Elm roared an angry roar. The long condemned shot out swinging at the cowboy.
"Doesn't the magic telephone tell you what each new form can do?!," Blake questioned.
"Not until after they're done loading," Leo admitted.
Lois flew down and placed Hughes down on the end of the Longfellow. The Tree Creature had reached the Salt & Pepper shaker shaped towers at the middle of the Longfellow. The Wite Rider and Super Horse were busy dodging the undead being flung at them.
"Let's get cracking!," Blake told Leo as She drew her Lightning Gun from it's holster and turned to join the fray.
Gunshots and lightning filled the air. Again the animated long gone landmark roared. Leo forced himself to calm down and concentrate. He needed to figure things out quickly.
The first thing He sensed was the ability that had summoned the kid. Leo made sure not to activate that. He wasn't going to drag a young boy into a combat zone to fight monsters. That was crazy. It was probably also child endangerment.
The Creature roared again. The Super Horse whinny could barely be heard over the din of the dead. Another of Lois' bolts flashed. Hughes found a second possible internal feeling that may be an untapped ability. He concentrated on this one.
"Yikes!," He yelped when metal tore of the nearest abandoned car.
The metal flew off the automobile and wrapped itself around Leo's hands and forearms forming perfect meta gauntlets. They were cool Leo thought but not helping at the moment. He started to go back to concentrating when the skeleton with a pegleg and rusty sword flew down at him. He immediately flew up to avoid the attacker.
"YOU CAN FLY!," Blake hollered out as She continued shooting the Tree and the undead on it's ropes.
Leo turned and smiled an incredibly handsome smile at Miss Blake. He was immediately tackled by a man who stole a cow back in the 1780s. The man had been in love you see. This had lead to his public execution. Now the lovelorn spirit in the desiccated corpse wanted the modern world to share in its decades of pain.
Lois could not come to his aid. She was barely holding her own. The White Rider and Super Horse were in the same boat. The boney hands like talons wrapped around Leo's current throat. He began to gasp for air. The bones dug into his flesh.
"NO!," Hughes exclaimed angrily.
He had a new body that wasn't a cookie or a tentacled monster. He was determined to not lose this new addition to his cellphone choices. His eyes glowed. The car He had gotten the metal for his gloves suddenly flew at him slamming into his decaying attacker.
The Super Horse whinnied his approval.
"Good job Leo!," the Rider added as He continued to shoot at the nooses.
When the nooses were cut the Pirates, Witches, and other undead ceased to be animated and fell to the ground and their mortal remains scattered. Lois saw this and started flying over and breaking the ropes with her superstrength.
Without thinking Hughes waved his metal covered hand and the car that He had just struck the noose-zombie with flew away. Realizing this He moved his gauntlet adorned hand and the car flew into the Great Elm. Leo whooped with excitement.
"Here We Go!," He yelled out before baring down.
He started waving his hands. Cars started flying at the Tree Thing. One after another they hit the creature. One truck slammed into it. The Super Horse whinnied. The Rider nodded and shot at the large vehicle. Blake did the same. The truck exploded in flames.
The Great Elm roared again but this time in fear. The thing's branches and the undead hanging from them started to burn. the night air was filled with the inhuman shrieking of the burning dead.
Hughes' adrenalin was really going now. He kept throwing vehicles from the nearby streets into the growing inferno. Lois continued firing as well. The Super Horse sniffed the air and left the fight.
"What's goin' on Pardner?," Peter asked Cloud as the steed went to the side of the Bridge.
The White Rider was greeted by a tall man in a Grey Trenchcoat. His Black & White scarf flowing behind him. Beneath his fedora his eyes had a fiery glow. His smile was one of someone who was only momentarily inconvenienced. He took off his glove revealing his orange hand.
"O.K. buddy," the Rider told the strange fellow, "put those Orange hands in the air where I can see them."
"Elav!," the entity called out instead as it slammed it's Orange hand to the ground.
The White Rider opened fire with both barrels. His bullets had no effect. A crack started to form where the Tall Man's hand touch the snow covered ground. The ice began to melt. The sound of burning and screams escaped from below. The crack grew into a chasm straight at the Rider.
The Super Horse did not miss a beat. It ran towards the growing chasm and then over. Flame shot up but both the Horse and Rider went over unscathed. The Tall Man in the Grey coat hiss and leapt into the fires.
"Jesus, Mary, & Joseph!," the Rider exclaimed when he and Cloud landed and the chasm closed behind them.
The Super Horse whinnied.
"Yeah," the Rider agreed, "sure does smell like sulfur."
"We Did It!," Lois exclaimed as She flew over and hugged Leo midair.
The pieces of the burning tree fell onto the bridge and into the Charles. Hughes returned the hug. They were still embracing when the White Rider called up to them.
"You ain't gonna believe what I just saw!," Peter called up to Lois and Leo.
The Super Horse snorted.
"Ha," the Rider reacted and patted his mount on the side of the head, "very funny."
Leo realized what they were doing and flew backwards.
"We did do it," He smiled.
"Yes!," Blake answered.
"IS EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL?," the arriving Spacehawk asked over his loudspeaker.
"Bolty!," Lois turned quickly and flew over to Parrish.
"Looks like You didn't need us," Blue Bolt told the Leo and Peter with a smile.
Blue Bolt held out a gloved hand to introduce himself.
"It's Me," Hughes informed him.
"It's Leo's new body," Lois added.
Parrish looked the 21st Century man's physique over.
"Can You catch a pass?," the Crimson's star Quarterback asked hopefully.
Everyone was laughing when Blue Bolt quickly drew his own Lightning Gun.
"Fred?!," Lois called out surprised.
Leo looked to see what Blue Bolt was shooting at. It was Davey. The Electric Man fired.
"STOP!," Leo yelled too late.
The young boy was hit by the bolt. He spasmed and went from flying to falling. Hughes quickly threw up his metal gloved hands. His eyes glowed and instead of plummeting to the ground young Davis started to glow and flew down to Hughes.
"It's the colored boy," the Rider stated while looking over to Lois.
"FRED!," Blake exclaimed while running to check on the child.
"I told him to stay put!," Leo lamented out loud.
"I thought He was one of the attackers," Parrish told everyone in his defense.
Sirens could be heard getting closer. The police and fire departments from both cities soon arriving. Spacehawk told everyone to step back. He started to administer what looked to Leo to be a version of CPR. He noted the man from the 25th century was doing compressions but not mouth to mouth.
"Thank goodness," Lois exclaimed with relief when Davis coughed and opened his eyes.
"Blue Bolt!," the tween exclaimed surprised and happy to see his hero.
Leo and the White Rider and Super Horse all exchanged a glance.
#15 - We're Gonna Need a Montage!
New
- Location
- New England
Harvard Stadium
Allston, Boston, MA
Saturday Morning, January 31st
"You didn't complain when I was tearing up the field during the season," quipped Fred Parrish when Coach Lamar brought up his concerns over the safety of the playing field.
Leo had landed with the others at the 50 yard line. Snow covered the U-Shaped stadium. At the top of the U were steel bleachers for additional seating. A banner hung above the pressbox. It read "1940 UNDEFEATED AP EASTERN CHAMPS!!!"
"Nice job with the secret identity you care so much about," Lois reminded her boyfriend and crimefighting partner.
"Coach," Fred sighed, "He needs to know when I am doing Blue Bolt things," He explained, "It effects the schedule."
Leo, Lois and Fred were at the stadium to test out SLOT #3's abilities. Spacehawk had returned to the Inner-World and the White Rider and Super Horse were tracking down any clues they may be able to uncover.
"That reminds Me Freddy," Lamar spoke after taking the cigarette from his mouth, "I have the boxing teams schedule all set."
"Alright Coach," Parrish nodded, "I will do what I can as my activities in the Inner-World and fighting crime allow."
"Damn," Coach Lamar smiled, "I get the best athlete in the history of mankind and the one ability He is lacking in is 'Availability'."
"Mr. Lamar," Lois cleared her throat, "I could play on the team," She added, "I have the same powers as Bolty here."
Lamar and Parrish got a laugh from that. Lois frowned. Leo thought She had a point but still He reminded himself, 1941. Another thought He had was how fair was it to let a superpowered person play against normal people. Coach Lamar and Blue Bolt did not have a problem with this it seemed.
"They're here," Lois broke up the laughter looking to the Groundskeeper directing the Davis family onto the field.
Davey was there with his Parents and younger sister. Both Davey and his sister smiled when they saw the costumed heroes. Davey started to fly over.
"David Dean Davis!," His Mother called out.
Davey immediately landed and returned to his parent's side. Leo inhaled. She had used his middle name. The kid looked worse off then when Blue Bolt had shot him.
"You didn't tell them," Leo told Parrish.
"What would be the point?," Fred answered.
"It was an accident," Lois reminded Leo.
Hughes eyed the Blue Bolt. Parrish had stiffened up. A smile was forced across his face.
The Davises walked across the snow. They looked like they were dressed for church.
"Lady Bolt!," the young girl exclaimed when She saw Lois, "Your beautiful!"
"Delilah," Mrs. Davis said aloud to calm her daughter's enthusiasm as if it were being rude.
Blake knelt down and smiled eye to eye to Delilah Davis. She thanked the little girl for her kind words. Mr. Davis walked past Lois and straight to Parrish. He held out his hand and Fred shook it.
"We got the check," Darius Davis told the hero, "thank you very much."
Davis introduce his wife Beatrice and his children. Mrs. Davis asked what exactly they wanted her son for. She also asked if they were church going folk. She did not want her Son associating with the wrong type of people.
"Every Sunday," Parrish told her, "except when duty calls."
She looked over at Hughes. He quickly lied. He went to Church on Christmas if the weather was nice and his family forced him. To be honest other than other people's weddings and the like He was quite organized religion adverse.
While lying about going to church a part of him thought may be a worse lie Leo also thought what He did or did not do in his free time was none of her business anyways and what right did she have to ask. Also, He just knew if He told her the truth it would just make things more difficult for no good reason.
"Well," Parrish smiled down at Davey, "hopefully you can fix the window that was broken when We summoned your Son As quickly as possible."
"I have not read about you," Davey turned to Leo, "but we are wearing similar suits."
"I'm not in the comic books yet," Leo told who probably should be his side kick, "Not yet anyways."
"What's a comic book?," Lois asked as if She was hearing the term for the first time.
Leo turned to her making a face. Parrish repeated the question. Mr. Davis offered that He was talking about the books that collected the old comic strips from newspapers into one place.
"I have all of Volume 1 of the Blue Bolt hero magazine," Davey interjected with pride.
"It was the one thing I could always get David to read," Mrs. Davis added, "when I taught him how to."
"You guys don't have Comic Books?," Leo asked again not believing what He was being told.
"We are not in comic strips," Fred shrugged.
"The Tyrant is a hero in comics," Davey informed Leo.
"He's not real!," Delilah told her older brother.
The sound of a whistle blowing got everyone's attention. Coach Lamar looked the group over. He reminded them why they were all here at the Stadium. Parrish nodded and told Leo and Davey to go to opposite ends of the field.
"Can I fly Mom?," Davey asked permission this time.
Beatrice looked over to Darius who gave her a curt nod.
"Yes," She resigned herself to, "but slowly, no more than ten feet off the ground."
Davis winced but accepted the conditions his parents gave him.
"I wanna fly to!," Delilah blurted out.
"Delilah Desiree Davis," Her mother corrected her, "It is 'I want to' and no you shall do no such thing."
Leo flew to the other endzone. He exhaled and saw his breath. It was cold and the wind did not help. still his current physique seemed to hold up better than his real one. Parrish nodded to Leo.
"Summon Master Davis," Fred said loudly.
"Power 01," Leo told himself and his eyes glowed.
Davey whooped with excitement when He started to glow and traverse through the air. Lois took flight next to him just in case. His sister blurted out something jealous and unintelligible.
Lois and Fred flew over to Hughes and Davey. Coach Lamar and the Davises remained at the 50 yardline.
"Power #2," Lois told Leo.
"Wait," Davey suggested, "Let Me try to summon someone!"
"Wait," Fred held up a hand, "that may be your Sister who gets summoned."
"Right," Lois finished the sentence, "your Mother may not be very happy if that happens."
Davey laughed. He was not about to give Del super powers. Just what He needed to have his little sister tagging along when He and this guy Leo go on the type of adventures he read about in the Hero Magazines.
"#2," Parrish restated.
Leo concentrated and the metalic gloves on his hands disbanded. Davey did the same thing and several pieces of the steel bleachers at the other end of the stadium flew onto the youth's hands forming into steel gloves.
"Ah," Hughes noted and the metal that had fallen from his hands flew back up reforming into the steel gauntlets He had previously.
"Be right back," Blue Bolt told everyone and He took off.
"Number Three," Lois chimed in.
"Okay Lady Bolt," Davey told her.
"What?," She asked and He explained that was what they called her in the magazines.
"There's your Hero name," Hughes teased.
"Okay Captain Telephone," Lois shot back.
"Huh?," Davis exclaimed with confusion.
Leo realized He did not have a Superhero name yet. He also realized he had better come up with one before this Captain Telephone stuck or the Lady Bolt came up with something even worse.
"#3," Lois repeated.
Davey immediately took to the air. His Mother glared from across the field and he immediately landed. Leo also took to the air. Being less intimidated by Davey's Mom He did not land.
"Four!," Blake called out.
Hughes again shifted his mental interaction with the strange energy controls that he found within his mind. An old 3-Man Sled on the side of the field shook off the snow and floated into the air. Davey's eyes started to glow and another piece of the steel bleachers at the end of the stadium tore free. A whistle blew.
"Who evers doing that to," Lamar motioned towards the bleachers after blowing his whistle, "Cut it out!"
Davis' eyes stopped glowing and the metal fell into the snow. Leo on the other hand flew the sled around the field several times. This started attracting onlookers. He landed the sporting equipment. It was then that Parrish returned carrying several dumbells.
"Stronger," Blue Bolt told both Hughes and Davis, "but not as strong as Me."
Parrish then took the weights Leo and Davey were struggling with one in each hand and lifted them over his head.
"Don't worry," Lois winked at Leo while also picking up impossibly heavy weights, "I'll protect you."
"No need," Leo smirked and his eyes glowed.
Both Blue and Lady Bolt gasped when Hughes took the weights from them both. He juggled them in the. Air with out physically touching them. Davey fist pumped.
"Captain Telephone and Kid Telephone!," He blurted out before turning to Hughes and asking if they may not get btter names before they get published in a hero Magazine.
"Numero Cinco!," Lois exclaimed.
"I've got nothing," Davey admitted after trying.
"Have!," his mother hollered from the sidelines "You have nothing."
Leo could sense he did have a #5 ability in this awesome new form. He concentrated as hard as he could. Suddenly, He was looking through someone else's eyes. He could see his current body and Lois and Fred.
"Davey?," He thought.
"Mr. Hughes??," He could hear Davey both say and think.
"I think I am in your head," He told the tween.
"Whoah," Davis exclaimed.
"Wait," Hughes suddenly realized there was another level.
He went to Power 6. Everything glowed. Davey's thoughts grew fainter and fainter. A horse whinnied.
By the Charles River
"Hey Pardner," the White Rider was on Cloud trotting down the Streets around the Charles and He addressed the lamp on display in the repair shop window.
Leo felt like He was having an out of body experience. He was one the reverse side of the window that read CAUSEWAY REPAIRS backwards. The White Rider and Super Horse were outside on the other side of the shop He was now in.
Peter dismounted and knocked on the glass. He asked Leo how was he projecting his face like that. The Hughes projection admitted He did not know.
"Find anything?," Leo questioned the cowboy.
Cloud nodded. Peter pointed to the plaque on the Super Horse's back. Hughes noted how strong Cloud must be to be carrying it with such ease.
"Cloud says it's a clue," the Rider told the projection of Leo's current face.
"I have an idea," Hughes told Peter suddenly.
"Gotcha," the Rider replied while tipping his hat, "we'll meet you back at the field."
Hughes nodded. He thought about another place. The projection disappeared from the display lamp.
The Inner-World
"Leonard?!," Dr. Bertoff blurted out surprised by the face projecting on his Televisor.
"It worked!," Leo exclaimed with joy.
"Amazing," the scientist in the Earth added while examining the event happening in front of him.
"HOLD ON!," the projection yelled, "BE RIGHT BACK!"
Everything glowed. Leo concentrated on the 111-111-1111 Cellphone.
The Glow started to fade. Leo looked around. The room though sumptuous still appeared to be a 1940s room. He looked at the people in the room. They were at a table. One of the men wore a old fashioned business suit. The Other wore the uniform of the SS. On the opposite ends of the table were the nonhumans.
To the right was a tall robed being with a wet Green complexion. Its bulbous head covered in barnacles were it's hair should be if it had been human. The barnacles breathed in and out. Behind the alien being stood the behemoth. A musclebound thing only part human with a Moe Howard haircut and a noticeable overbite.
On the left was a topless woman with talons for hands and her feet. Large wings were on her back. Her long hair was wild an
d unkept. Her snaggled teeth were all fangs. She was wearing only some guy's pajama bottoms. She looked up from the map on the table.
What the F . . . .," Leo whispered as everything glowed and He fled the scene.
Allston, Boston, MA
Saturday Morning, January 31st
"You didn't complain when I was tearing up the field during the season," quipped Fred Parrish when Coach Lamar brought up his concerns over the safety of the playing field.
Leo had landed with the others at the 50 yard line. Snow covered the U-Shaped stadium. At the top of the U were steel bleachers for additional seating. A banner hung above the pressbox. It read "1940 UNDEFEATED AP EASTERN CHAMPS!!!"
"Nice job with the secret identity you care so much about," Lois reminded her boyfriend and crimefighting partner.
"Coach," Fred sighed, "He needs to know when I am doing Blue Bolt things," He explained, "It effects the schedule."
Leo, Lois and Fred were at the stadium to test out SLOT #3's abilities. Spacehawk had returned to the Inner-World and the White Rider and Super Horse were tracking down any clues they may be able to uncover.
"That reminds Me Freddy," Lamar spoke after taking the cigarette from his mouth, "I have the boxing teams schedule all set."
"Alright Coach," Parrish nodded, "I will do what I can as my activities in the Inner-World and fighting crime allow."
"Damn," Coach Lamar smiled, "I get the best athlete in the history of mankind and the one ability He is lacking in is 'Availability'."
"Mr. Lamar," Lois cleared her throat, "I could play on the team," She added, "I have the same powers as Bolty here."
Lamar and Parrish got a laugh from that. Lois frowned. Leo thought She had a point but still He reminded himself, 1941. Another thought He had was how fair was it to let a superpowered person play against normal people. Coach Lamar and Blue Bolt did not have a problem with this it seemed.
"They're here," Lois broke up the laughter looking to the Groundskeeper directing the Davis family onto the field.
Davey was there with his Parents and younger sister. Both Davey and his sister smiled when they saw the costumed heroes. Davey started to fly over.
"David Dean Davis!," His Mother called out.
Davey immediately landed and returned to his parent's side. Leo inhaled. She had used his middle name. The kid looked worse off then when Blue Bolt had shot him.
"You didn't tell them," Leo told Parrish.
"What would be the point?," Fred answered.
"It was an accident," Lois reminded Leo.
Hughes eyed the Blue Bolt. Parrish had stiffened up. A smile was forced across his face.
The Davises walked across the snow. They looked like they were dressed for church.
"Lady Bolt!," the young girl exclaimed when She saw Lois, "Your beautiful!"
"Delilah," Mrs. Davis said aloud to calm her daughter's enthusiasm as if it were being rude.
Blake knelt down and smiled eye to eye to Delilah Davis. She thanked the little girl for her kind words. Mr. Davis walked past Lois and straight to Parrish. He held out his hand and Fred shook it.
"We got the check," Darius Davis told the hero, "thank you very much."
Davis introduce his wife Beatrice and his children. Mrs. Davis asked what exactly they wanted her son for. She also asked if they were church going folk. She did not want her Son associating with the wrong type of people.
"Every Sunday," Parrish told her, "except when duty calls."
She looked over at Hughes. He quickly lied. He went to Church on Christmas if the weather was nice and his family forced him. To be honest other than other people's weddings and the like He was quite organized religion adverse.
While lying about going to church a part of him thought may be a worse lie Leo also thought what He did or did not do in his free time was none of her business anyways and what right did she have to ask. Also, He just knew if He told her the truth it would just make things more difficult for no good reason.
"Well," Parrish smiled down at Davey, "hopefully you can fix the window that was broken when We summoned your Son As quickly as possible."
"I have not read about you," Davey turned to Leo, "but we are wearing similar suits."
"I'm not in the comic books yet," Leo told who probably should be his side kick, "Not yet anyways."
"What's a comic book?," Lois asked as if She was hearing the term for the first time.
Leo turned to her making a face. Parrish repeated the question. Mr. Davis offered that He was talking about the books that collected the old comic strips from newspapers into one place.
"I have all of Volume 1 of the Blue Bolt hero magazine," Davey interjected with pride.
"It was the one thing I could always get David to read," Mrs. Davis added, "when I taught him how to."
"You guys don't have Comic Books?," Leo asked again not believing what He was being told.
"We are not in comic strips," Fred shrugged.
"The Tyrant is a hero in comics," Davey informed Leo.
"He's not real!," Delilah told her older brother.
The sound of a whistle blowing got everyone's attention. Coach Lamar looked the group over. He reminded them why they were all here at the Stadium. Parrish nodded and told Leo and Davey to go to opposite ends of the field.
"Can I fly Mom?," Davey asked permission this time.
Beatrice looked over to Darius who gave her a curt nod.
"Yes," She resigned herself to, "but slowly, no more than ten feet off the ground."
Davis winced but accepted the conditions his parents gave him.
"I wanna fly to!," Delilah blurted out.
"Delilah Desiree Davis," Her mother corrected her, "It is 'I want to' and no you shall do no such thing."
Leo flew to the other endzone. He exhaled and saw his breath. It was cold and the wind did not help. still his current physique seemed to hold up better than his real one. Parrish nodded to Leo.
"Summon Master Davis," Fred said loudly.
"Power 01," Leo told himself and his eyes glowed.
Davey whooped with excitement when He started to glow and traverse through the air. Lois took flight next to him just in case. His sister blurted out something jealous and unintelligible.
Lois and Fred flew over to Hughes and Davey. Coach Lamar and the Davises remained at the 50 yardline.
"Power #2," Lois told Leo.
"Wait," Davey suggested, "Let Me try to summon someone!"
"Wait," Fred held up a hand, "that may be your Sister who gets summoned."
"Right," Lois finished the sentence, "your Mother may not be very happy if that happens."
Davey laughed. He was not about to give Del super powers. Just what He needed to have his little sister tagging along when He and this guy Leo go on the type of adventures he read about in the Hero Magazines.
"#2," Parrish restated.
Leo concentrated and the metalic gloves on his hands disbanded. Davey did the same thing and several pieces of the steel bleachers at the other end of the stadium flew onto the youth's hands forming into steel gloves.
"Ah," Hughes noted and the metal that had fallen from his hands flew back up reforming into the steel gauntlets He had previously.
"Be right back," Blue Bolt told everyone and He took off.
"Number Three," Lois chimed in.
"Okay Lady Bolt," Davey told her.
"What?," She asked and He explained that was what they called her in the magazines.
"There's your Hero name," Hughes teased.
"Okay Captain Telephone," Lois shot back.
"Huh?," Davis exclaimed with confusion.
Leo realized He did not have a Superhero name yet. He also realized he had better come up with one before this Captain Telephone stuck or the Lady Bolt came up with something even worse.
"#3," Lois repeated.
Davey immediately took to the air. His Mother glared from across the field and he immediately landed. Leo also took to the air. Being less intimidated by Davey's Mom He did not land.
"Four!," Blake called out.
Hughes again shifted his mental interaction with the strange energy controls that he found within his mind. An old 3-Man Sled on the side of the field shook off the snow and floated into the air. Davey's eyes started to glow and another piece of the steel bleachers at the end of the stadium tore free. A whistle blew.
"Who evers doing that to," Lamar motioned towards the bleachers after blowing his whistle, "Cut it out!"
Davis' eyes stopped glowing and the metal fell into the snow. Leo on the other hand flew the sled around the field several times. This started attracting onlookers. He landed the sporting equipment. It was then that Parrish returned carrying several dumbells.
"Stronger," Blue Bolt told both Hughes and Davis, "but not as strong as Me."
Parrish then took the weights Leo and Davey were struggling with one in each hand and lifted them over his head.
"Don't worry," Lois winked at Leo while also picking up impossibly heavy weights, "I'll protect you."
"No need," Leo smirked and his eyes glowed.
Both Blue and Lady Bolt gasped when Hughes took the weights from them both. He juggled them in the. Air with out physically touching them. Davey fist pumped.
"Captain Telephone and Kid Telephone!," He blurted out before turning to Hughes and asking if they may not get btter names before they get published in a hero Magazine.
"Numero Cinco!," Lois exclaimed.
"I've got nothing," Davey admitted after trying.
"Have!," his mother hollered from the sidelines "You have nothing."
Leo could sense he did have a #5 ability in this awesome new form. He concentrated as hard as he could. Suddenly, He was looking through someone else's eyes. He could see his current body and Lois and Fred.
"Davey?," He thought.
"Mr. Hughes??," He could hear Davey both say and think.
"I think I am in your head," He told the tween.
"Whoah," Davis exclaimed.
"Wait," Hughes suddenly realized there was another level.
He went to Power 6. Everything glowed. Davey's thoughts grew fainter and fainter. A horse whinnied.
By the Charles River
"Hey Pardner," the White Rider was on Cloud trotting down the Streets around the Charles and He addressed the lamp on display in the repair shop window.
Leo felt like He was having an out of body experience. He was one the reverse side of the window that read CAUSEWAY REPAIRS backwards. The White Rider and Super Horse were outside on the other side of the shop He was now in.
Peter dismounted and knocked on the glass. He asked Leo how was he projecting his face like that. The Hughes projection admitted He did not know.
"Find anything?," Leo questioned the cowboy.
Cloud nodded. Peter pointed to the plaque on the Super Horse's back. Hughes noted how strong Cloud must be to be carrying it with such ease.
"Cloud says it's a clue," the Rider told the projection of Leo's current face.
"I have an idea," Hughes told Peter suddenly.
"Gotcha," the Rider replied while tipping his hat, "we'll meet you back at the field."
Hughes nodded. He thought about another place. The projection disappeared from the display lamp.
The Inner-World
"Leonard?!," Dr. Bertoff blurted out surprised by the face projecting on his Televisor.
"It worked!," Leo exclaimed with joy.
"Amazing," the scientist in the Earth added while examining the event happening in front of him.
"HOLD ON!," the projection yelled, "BE RIGHT BACK!"
Everything glowed. Leo concentrated on the 111-111-1111 Cellphone.
The Glow started to fade. Leo looked around. The room though sumptuous still appeared to be a 1940s room. He looked at the people in the room. They were at a table. One of the men wore a old fashioned business suit. The Other wore the uniform of the SS. On the opposite ends of the table were the nonhumans.
To the right was a tall robed being with a wet Green complexion. Its bulbous head covered in barnacles were it's hair should be if it had been human. The barnacles breathed in and out. Behind the alien being stood the behemoth. A musclebound thing only part human with a Moe Howard haircut and a noticeable overbite.
On the left was a topless woman with talons for hands and her feet. Large wings were on her back. Her long hair was wild an
d unkept. Her snaggled teeth were all fangs. She was wearing only some guy's pajama bottoms. She looked up from the map on the table.
What the F . . . .," Leo whispered as everything glowed and He fled the scene.
#16 - Here's Looking at You Kid
New
- Location
- New England
Boston Mounted Police
Brandegees Estate
Franklin Park
Saturday Afternoon, January 31, 1941
"Checkmate?," the White Rider looked down at the board and tilted back his ten gallon hat to scratch his head, "Are you sure?"
Peter and Cloud were sitting in a corner using a barrel of nails as a table for the board the Rider had purchased while in the future city. The other Police Mounts stood by watching them play. Behind Cloud lay the Great Elm Plaque.
The clerk had sold the chess set for just one Seated Liberty. The proprietor's eyes had lit up when Peter offered the dollar coin. The Rider wondered why things were so cheap in the future. He chalked it up to science.
"2 out of 3," the Rider told his mount.
The Super Horse shook it's head.
"That first game counted?," Peter grunted, "I thought we was practicing, O.k., 3 out of 7."
Cloud gave his rider a look and neighed. Peter sighed and stood up to stretch. Turning around he cricked his back. Looking down He stared at the Plaque.
"Let's get back to business," he told the Super Horse.
The animal made a noise which the other horses joined in on.
"I am not a sore loser," Peter defended himself, "You're the one who wanted to drag this thing around."
The Steed snorted and walked over to the corner. It examined the metal plaque on the large rock and the writing upon it. When it was done it whinnied. Listening Peter leaned in and took a closer look.
Peter did wonder why the evil Scarf Man had the marker with him. Could it be the key to controlling the Tree Monster? The cowboy could see the plaque had originally read;
"SITE OF THE GREAT ELM: here the Sons of Liberty assembled; Here Jesse Lee, Methodist Pioneer, Preached in 1790. The landmark of the Common, the Elm blew down in 1876. Placed by the N.E. Methodist Historical Society."
Now it had several of it's letters scratched out.
"SITE OF THE #RE#T ELM: here the Sons of #i#erty assembled; Here Jesse Lee, Methodist Pioneer, Pr##ched in 1790. The landmark of the Common, the Elm blew down in 1876. Placed by the #.E. #ethodist Histo#ical Society."
"Hey!," Peter exclaimed, "1876!"
The Super Horse nodded it's agreement. The Rider went over to where Cloud's saddle was hanging and took out pen and paper. He quickly scrawled down the letters that had been clawed out.
"GLEAM BARN?," Peter read aloud as the light flickered in the luxury stable.
Leo watched all of this from the lightbulb above. When the cowboy read the words the power had briefly disconnected. This caused Hughes to disconnect and his consciousness to return to his body.
Bertoff Laboratory
Inner-World
"What happened?," Dr. Jimon Bertoff Asked when he saw the readings on his screen spike then collapse.
"Something interfered with flow of power," Spacehawk told his fellow scientist.
Leo was on the examination table. He was still in his newest form. On his head He was wearing a headset that Bertoff and the 25th Century man had whipped together. He had told them about his ability to see other places and the room with the Nazi and the monsters. Bertoff hoped to trace the location of what He was sighting.
"Well that test was contaminated," Bertoff sighed, "Let's try another."
Leo nodded. He activated SLOT #3's last discovered ability. This time He thought of Lois. everything glowed. When the glow faded He was looking out from a round orb shaped light on the ceiling of her bathroom.
Blake Apartment
Porter Square, Cambridge
"Well there is no sign of the master of the Great Elm," Parrish told Lois as He hung up his helmet.
Lois nodded as She went in to her bedroom to change. Fred asked where her room mate was.
"Page?," Blake asked, "She's in California," Lois informed him, "I was going to have her check out the Hollywood Bowl while She was out there."
"Good Idea," Parrish told her, "There is something queer about this Mr. Blaine."
When Lois emerged from the bedroom She was wearing a Pink bathrobe and had her shower accessories. Fred gave her a once over and smiled. Lois smiled. Back. This was followed by a frown.
"What's the matter?," the star athlete asked wondering what He had done this time.
"That poor kid," She told him.
"He's fine," Fred told her defensively.
"No thanks to the Great and Powerful Blue Bolt," Blake countered.
"A Monster had just attacked," Fred reminded her, "I saw something weird, I reacted."
Lois eyed her boyfriend and crimefighting partner. She had more questions but was unsure of how to ask them. She could tell Fred was holding back on something. She bit her tongue.
"You know," She bit her lip next, "Page won't be back for a couple of days."
Blake glanced towards the bedroom She just exited. Parrish smiled. He walked up and kissed Lois passionately. Then gently separated from her.
"I told you," He smiled, "we graduate in May, We get married in June."
"Practice makes perfect," Lois half-joked hoping to change his mind.
"Funny girl," Fred laughed slapping her backside in the direction of the shower.
Somewhat disgruntled Miss Blake made her way to the bathroom and kicked the door behind her shut with her bare foot before tossing off the bathrobe.
"Yikes!," Leo's projected face blurted out from the orb on the ceiling.
Blake looked up having thought She heard something but by the time She did Hughes was gone.
Bertoff Lab
Inner-World
"Now to see if the trace worked," Spacehawk told the 21st Century Man.
"Televisor activated," Dr. Betoff told his future compatriot.
As the inner-World scientist adjusted the dials the static slowly diappeared.
"I definitely saw Lois," Leo told Bertoff and Hawk as his mind relocated to his current form.
All three men stared at the televisor showing Lois as She was showering.
"Definitely," Spacehawk agreed.
"Televisor De-activated!," Bertoff announced while clearing his throat and quickly turning the dials again.
"Leonard," the Spacehawk said to Hughes in a tone implying what a scoundrel He was.
"Hey," He returned, "I have no control over what people are doing when I zoom in like this."
"Well," Bertoff considered too late, "I suppose we could have communicated our doing the test ahead of time to Fred and Lois."
"We do have multiple ways of communicating," the Spacehawk added.
"Oh," Bertoff muttered seeing Hughes had already headed to the next test.
Wellington Apartments
Roxbury
"They're going to get our boy killed," the Woman's voice argued.
Leo's face appeared on the Tyrant night light that Davey Davis had plugged in. It was the only source of light. The room's previously shattered window was boarded up. Young Davis was on his bed adjusting his glasses while going through a pile of his Hero Magazines.
The most current headline read "TWISTER, THE BOY TORNADO, DEFEATS KILLER SWARM!"
The voices of his parents Darius and Beatrice could be heard coming from the next room.
"Bea," Mr. Davis argued, "this is a great opportunity for Davey."
The Mother harrumphed. She did not see the point of opportunities that may harm her oldest in any way. Darius inhaled seeing He had his work cut out for him.
"You know," Davis started out, "I could have stayed in Petal," He reminded Beatrice, "got married and just repeated my parents' lives all over again, it weren't bad."
"No," Mrs. Davis answered slowly, "instead you packed up all of your worldly goods, put them in the glove compartment of your old truck and drove to the Big Apple where you met the most Beautiful Woman in the world!"
"Ah," Mr. Davis told her, "You've heard this story!"
"Too many times," Bea replied with feigned exasperation.
"The moral of the story is," Darius started to explain.
"You took a risk," Beatrice interjected while surrendering the point.
The parental voices went quiet. Leo saw Davey smile.
"Hello Davey," Leo called out.
"MISTER HUGHES!," the Boy exclaimed.
"Just checking in to see if You were alright," Leo told the tween.
"Right as Rain," Davey informed him.
"Good to here," Leo told the kid, "remember don't do anything Hero-wise unless your with Me or one of the other heroes, got it?"
"Yes," Davis reluctantly agreed.
"Good Boy," Hughes told him with relief, "Talk to You soon!"
Leo's projection vanished.
Davey looked at where the project ion had been. He snapped his fingers. Young Davis had an idea. His eyes began to glow.
Bertoff Lab
Inner-World
Leo opened his eyes and again was back in Bertoff's lab. The Scientist and Spacehawk were watching Davis on the Televisor. They were doing so with difficulty. Bertoff had to keep adjusting the knobs.
"We believe your sidekick is projecting," Spacehawk told Hughes.
"It's disrupting the Televisor signal," Bertoff added.
Leo began think of any trouble the kid could get into. Luckily nothing too dangerous came to mind. he was about to beam in and tell Davis to stop anyways just in case when Bertoff interrupted him.
"The tracer works," He told Hughes as he pointed to a map that showed Blake's apartment and the Wellington Apartments in Roxbury.
"Ready?," Spacehawk asked.
"As I'll ever be," Leo nodded.
He looked quickly to the Cellphone. His current form as at 68% loading. Sometime soon it would finish and He would get booted. They needed to act quickly.
"Richard Blaine," He concentrated, "111-111-1111."
He had previously projected into a meeting room with light maroon wallpaper. Outside the windows there had not been any snow. This time He looked like He was in a large kitchen. He appeared on a clock.
"YIKES!," He exclaimed as the flames rose all around him.
Two masked men in suits like Blue Bolts walked around with strange flamethrowers. They sprayed fire left and right, up and down. Outside through a shattered window Leo saw the guy in the suit and the Harpy.
"WAIT!," Leo hollered as the Masked Man turned his nozzle in Hughes direction.
The clock was melted instantly.
Brandegees Estate
Franklin Park
Saturday Afternoon, January 31, 1941
"Checkmate?," the White Rider looked down at the board and tilted back his ten gallon hat to scratch his head, "Are you sure?"
Peter and Cloud were sitting in a corner using a barrel of nails as a table for the board the Rider had purchased while in the future city. The other Police Mounts stood by watching them play. Behind Cloud lay the Great Elm Plaque.
The clerk had sold the chess set for just one Seated Liberty. The proprietor's eyes had lit up when Peter offered the dollar coin. The Rider wondered why things were so cheap in the future. He chalked it up to science.
"2 out of 3," the Rider told his mount.
The Super Horse shook it's head.
"That first game counted?," Peter grunted, "I thought we was practicing, O.k., 3 out of 7."
Cloud gave his rider a look and neighed. Peter sighed and stood up to stretch. Turning around he cricked his back. Looking down He stared at the Plaque.
"Let's get back to business," he told the Super Horse.
The animal made a noise which the other horses joined in on.
"I am not a sore loser," Peter defended himself, "You're the one who wanted to drag this thing around."
The Steed snorted and walked over to the corner. It examined the metal plaque on the large rock and the writing upon it. When it was done it whinnied. Listening Peter leaned in and took a closer look.
Peter did wonder why the evil Scarf Man had the marker with him. Could it be the key to controlling the Tree Monster? The cowboy could see the plaque had originally read;
"SITE OF THE GREAT ELM: here the Sons of Liberty assembled; Here Jesse Lee, Methodist Pioneer, Preached in 1790. The landmark of the Common, the Elm blew down in 1876. Placed by the N.E. Methodist Historical Society."
Now it had several of it's letters scratched out.
"SITE OF THE #RE#T ELM: here the Sons of #i#erty assembled; Here Jesse Lee, Methodist Pioneer, Pr##ched in 1790. The landmark of the Common, the Elm blew down in 1876. Placed by the #.E. #ethodist Histo#ical Society."
"Hey!," Peter exclaimed, "1876!"
The Super Horse nodded it's agreement. The Rider went over to where Cloud's saddle was hanging and took out pen and paper. He quickly scrawled down the letters that had been clawed out.
"GLEAM BARN?," Peter read aloud as the light flickered in the luxury stable.
Leo watched all of this from the lightbulb above. When the cowboy read the words the power had briefly disconnected. This caused Hughes to disconnect and his consciousness to return to his body.
Bertoff Laboratory
Inner-World
"What happened?," Dr. Jimon Bertoff Asked when he saw the readings on his screen spike then collapse.
"Something interfered with flow of power," Spacehawk told his fellow scientist.
Leo was on the examination table. He was still in his newest form. On his head He was wearing a headset that Bertoff and the 25th Century man had whipped together. He had told them about his ability to see other places and the room with the Nazi and the monsters. Bertoff hoped to trace the location of what He was sighting.
"Well that test was contaminated," Bertoff sighed, "Let's try another."
Leo nodded. He activated SLOT #3's last discovered ability. This time He thought of Lois. everything glowed. When the glow faded He was looking out from a round orb shaped light on the ceiling of her bathroom.
Blake Apartment
Porter Square, Cambridge
"Well there is no sign of the master of the Great Elm," Parrish told Lois as He hung up his helmet.
Lois nodded as She went in to her bedroom to change. Fred asked where her room mate was.
"Page?," Blake asked, "She's in California," Lois informed him, "I was going to have her check out the Hollywood Bowl while She was out there."
"Good Idea," Parrish told her, "There is something queer about this Mr. Blaine."
When Lois emerged from the bedroom She was wearing a Pink bathrobe and had her shower accessories. Fred gave her a once over and smiled. Lois smiled. Back. This was followed by a frown.
"What's the matter?," the star athlete asked wondering what He had done this time.
"That poor kid," She told him.
"He's fine," Fred told her defensively.
"No thanks to the Great and Powerful Blue Bolt," Blake countered.
"A Monster had just attacked," Fred reminded her, "I saw something weird, I reacted."
Lois eyed her boyfriend and crimefighting partner. She had more questions but was unsure of how to ask them. She could tell Fred was holding back on something. She bit her tongue.
"You know," She bit her lip next, "Page won't be back for a couple of days."
Blake glanced towards the bedroom She just exited. Parrish smiled. He walked up and kissed Lois passionately. Then gently separated from her.
"I told you," He smiled, "we graduate in May, We get married in June."
"Practice makes perfect," Lois half-joked hoping to change his mind.
"Funny girl," Fred laughed slapping her backside in the direction of the shower.
Somewhat disgruntled Miss Blake made her way to the bathroom and kicked the door behind her shut with her bare foot before tossing off the bathrobe.
"Yikes!," Leo's projected face blurted out from the orb on the ceiling.
Blake looked up having thought She heard something but by the time She did Hughes was gone.
Bertoff Lab
Inner-World
"Now to see if the trace worked," Spacehawk told the 21st Century Man.
"Televisor activated," Dr. Betoff told his future compatriot.
As the inner-World scientist adjusted the dials the static slowly diappeared.
"I definitely saw Lois," Leo told Bertoff and Hawk as his mind relocated to his current form.
All three men stared at the televisor showing Lois as She was showering.
"Definitely," Spacehawk agreed.
"Televisor De-activated!," Bertoff announced while clearing his throat and quickly turning the dials again.
"Leonard," the Spacehawk said to Hughes in a tone implying what a scoundrel He was.
"Hey," He returned, "I have no control over what people are doing when I zoom in like this."
"Well," Bertoff considered too late, "I suppose we could have communicated our doing the test ahead of time to Fred and Lois."
"We do have multiple ways of communicating," the Spacehawk added.
"Oh," Bertoff muttered seeing Hughes had already headed to the next test.
Wellington Apartments
Roxbury
"They're going to get our boy killed," the Woman's voice argued.
Leo's face appeared on the Tyrant night light that Davey Davis had plugged in. It was the only source of light. The room's previously shattered window was boarded up. Young Davis was on his bed adjusting his glasses while going through a pile of his Hero Magazines.
The most current headline read "TWISTER, THE BOY TORNADO, DEFEATS KILLER SWARM!"
The voices of his parents Darius and Beatrice could be heard coming from the next room.
"Bea," Mr. Davis argued, "this is a great opportunity for Davey."
The Mother harrumphed. She did not see the point of opportunities that may harm her oldest in any way. Darius inhaled seeing He had his work cut out for him.
"You know," Davis started out, "I could have stayed in Petal," He reminded Beatrice, "got married and just repeated my parents' lives all over again, it weren't bad."
"No," Mrs. Davis answered slowly, "instead you packed up all of your worldly goods, put them in the glove compartment of your old truck and drove to the Big Apple where you met the most Beautiful Woman in the world!"
"Ah," Mr. Davis told her, "You've heard this story!"
"Too many times," Bea replied with feigned exasperation.
"The moral of the story is," Darius started to explain.
"You took a risk," Beatrice interjected while surrendering the point.
The parental voices went quiet. Leo saw Davey smile.
"Hello Davey," Leo called out.
"MISTER HUGHES!," the Boy exclaimed.
"Just checking in to see if You were alright," Leo told the tween.
"Right as Rain," Davey informed him.
"Good to here," Leo told the kid, "remember don't do anything Hero-wise unless your with Me or one of the other heroes, got it?"
"Yes," Davis reluctantly agreed.
"Good Boy," Hughes told him with relief, "Talk to You soon!"
Leo's projection vanished.
Davey looked at where the project ion had been. He snapped his fingers. Young Davis had an idea. His eyes began to glow.
Bertoff Lab
Inner-World
Leo opened his eyes and again was back in Bertoff's lab. The Scientist and Spacehawk were watching Davis on the Televisor. They were doing so with difficulty. Bertoff had to keep adjusting the knobs.
"We believe your sidekick is projecting," Spacehawk told Hughes.
"It's disrupting the Televisor signal," Bertoff added.
Leo began think of any trouble the kid could get into. Luckily nothing too dangerous came to mind. he was about to beam in and tell Davis to stop anyways just in case when Bertoff interrupted him.
"The tracer works," He told Hughes as he pointed to a map that showed Blake's apartment and the Wellington Apartments in Roxbury.
"Ready?," Spacehawk asked.
"As I'll ever be," Leo nodded.
He looked quickly to the Cellphone. His current form as at 68% loading. Sometime soon it would finish and He would get booted. They needed to act quickly.
"Richard Blaine," He concentrated, "111-111-1111."
He had previously projected into a meeting room with light maroon wallpaper. Outside the windows there had not been any snow. This time He looked like He was in a large kitchen. He appeared on a clock.
"YIKES!," He exclaimed as the flames rose all around him.
Two masked men in suits like Blue Bolts walked around with strange flamethrowers. They sprayed fire left and right, up and down. Outside through a shattered window Leo saw the guy in the suit and the Harpy.
"WAIT!," Leo hollered as the Masked Man turned his nozzle in Hughes direction.
The clock was melted instantly.
#17 - Sweet Dreams Are Made of These
New
- Location
- New England
Bertoff Laboratory
The City of Science
Inner-World
"What color are these uniforms?," Dr. Bertoff asked immediately while suspecting He knew the answer already.
"Green," Leo told the the older man.
"The Green Empire strikes again," Bertoff replied remembering past conflict.
"The Green Empire?," Hughes questioned not knowing about the politics inside the 1940s Earth.
"Twin Oaks," Spacehawk interjected before Bertoff could explain, "in one of the other American States, the Northern Carolina."
Bertoff quickly turned to his Televisor. He hit a preset button and the screen filled with static. When the static faded He was looking at Fred Parrish's living room. The sound of the shower could be heard. The phone by the kitchenette began to ring.
"Hello?," Parrish wrapped in a towel asked He ansered.
"Greetings my boy," Bertoff spoke into the microphone in front of his device.
"Just had to take a cold shower," Fred informed the trio in the lab beneath the surface.
"Get dressed," Bertoff told him, "It's the Green Empire."
"We have located Mr. Blaine's true headquarters," Spacehawk added.
Hughes was putting things together in his head. Blaine was working with or for this Green Empire. It appeared that they were the bad guys in this scenario. Leo needed answers. That meant confronting Richard Blaine.
"Contact Miss Blake," Spacehawk suggested as Parrish through on his uniform.
Fred shook his head. He told them that his girlfriend had been through enough lately. He told the other guys She needed her beauty sleep. Bertoff laughed a short laugh.
"He's going to see the Green Sorcerer," the Scientist told Leo and the 25th Century Man, "Fred doesn't want Blake to know."
When Leo asked ho that was Bertoff informed him that She was the Supreme Ruler of the Green Empire. He told the other two that when She wasn't being a sadistic megalomanic the verdant woman could be quite lovely. It was Spacehawk's turn to laugh.
"I know that type," He let the others know.
"We need to get to Twin Oaks," Spacehawk told everyone, "quickly."
Leo agreed but another thought entered his mind. Beroff told him to summon his new sidekick. The scientist suggested field testing what abilities the youth had.
"We're not dragging a little kid into what could be really dangerous," Leo let Bertoff know before adding, "but before we go I want to find the Operator, okay?"
Spacehawk and Bertoff looked at each other and then back to Hughes.
"We are waiting for Blue Bolt," the armored man posited.
"Quickly then," Bertoff nodded and turned to his machines and dials.
Leo readjusted the equipment strapped to his current form's skull. He only had a few hours before it finished loading. When that happened He would get bounced back to himself and have to go the bathroom, eat food and sleep for several hours. Leo told himself they needed to do a lot of things before that could happen.
"The Operator!," Leo said clearly, "000-000-0000!"
The scientists ready to locate the mystery woman Leo had spoken to briefly. Screens began to fluctuate. Several filled with static. The lights flickered and then died. A surge of energy crackled across the 25th Century Man's armor and he collapsed slamming don onto his back with a loud clang.
"SPACEHAWK!," both Hughes and Bertoff blurted out before turning to their fallen comrade.
The only light remaining in the lab emanated from the monitor showing the pair of guards in the hallway protecting the City of Science's greatest mind. Leo and Bertoff, checked on Spacehawk. His armor which was meant to protect him now being a hindrance to his receiving any aid.
Movement on the remaining monitor caught Hughes attention. He and the scientist turned to the screen. The door at the end of the hallway slid open. A man in a rumpled white suit walked in a jerky jittery manner down the hallway to the lab. The guards did not seem to notice him. The door to the lab slid open.
"David Bowie??," Hughes blurted out in surprised shock.
The man resembling the musician/actor walked in and turned to Bertoff putting his trembling finger in the White haired man's face.
"We're not going to talk about Susie," He informed the Inner-World leader moving his trembling finger to his lips.
Leo and Bertoff stood up exchanging glances.
"Oh No," the Bowie-esque fellow continued as if He was in pain, "We're going to keep Susie out of this," He tittered bitterly, "We are NOT going to talk about Susie at all."
"Mr.," Bertoff paused before continuing, "Bowie, What are you talking about?"
The jittery man reached out putting a hand tentatively on Hughes.
"Who do You think this is?," He questioned Bertoff.
"Leonard Michael Hughes," the Scientist answered, "from the year 2018, currently in his third new form via his strange Cellphone device."
"We," the jitteryman struggled to keep speaking, "We live within a Nightmare."
His hand tightened into a grip on the twin stars on Leo's chest.
"The Nightmare," the Man looked around as if He feared He was being watched, "His Nightmare, is only beginning."
The monitor died. The room went completely Black. All at once the electronics flickered back to life. Spacehawk sat up.
"WHERE'D HE GO!?," Hughes exclaimed.
The jittery man had vanished.
The two guards in the hall burst into the lab.
"What's going on?," the first guard asked ray gun at the ready.
"Are you alright Doctor?," the second added.
"Why did You let that man into my lab unbid?!," an exasperated Bertoff demanded.
"What Man?," both Science City Sentinels asked in unison.
Scollay Square
Boston, MA
The decorum of the surrounding metropolis grew worse as the Cowboy and Stallion went deeper into Boston. The shanties of Scollay Square all around them. Music played from the burlesque halls.
"That feels like cheating," Peter responded when his mount suggested they find some history books to bring back with them to 1876.
The Super Horse whinnied. The White Rider laughed. He told the animal that also applied to books on science and technology. The horse bucked slightly to show what it thought of it's rider's mindset.
"Enough about finagling the history books," Peter told Cloud firmly, "We need to figure out this evil scarf desperado."
The Super Horse whinnied. The White Rider was glad his partner was back on task. Even so they needed a new lead. Instead of this wandering randomly hoping to think of something.
"LAME BRANG!," the Rider exclaimed again causing lights to flicker.
The Super Horse neighed. The cowboy agreed that possibly the interference with all this 20th century electricity may increase the closer they got to the actual name or word they were searching for. Still Peter sighed.
"There is just so many choices," the cowboy lamented.
Super Horse whinnied and the surrounding street lights flickered.
"We need a wizard," Peter threw out there, "a magician of some type."
The Horse whinnied.
"Salem?," Peter asked, "what about it?"
The Horse explained.
"How'd you learn about that?," the Rider asked his curiosity piqued.
The steed snorted.
"I can read," Peter answered defensively.
The yelling broke up their ambling investigation. The Rider snapped the reins and the Super Horse galloped towards the commotion. A large man with a scar running down the center of his forehead down to his chin had a scantily clothed woman by the arm.
"Unhand the lady," the White Rider called out as He stopped in front of the scene.
"You like costumes?," the big man laughed you don't wany Maggie," He chuckled, "go see Annie May on the 3rd floor."
"I sure this Annie May is most entertaining Bucko," the White Rider told the the bulky man, "but I repeat let the woman be or we'll be more than jawin' with each other so civil."
The Super Horse glared down at the man who was unused to being looked down upon.
"She stole the money She owes me pally," the big fellow angrily informed Peter, "buzz off!"
"I Ain't Done Nothin'!," Maggie hollered.
Several other of the provocatively attired ladies joined in proclaiming her innocence. The White Rider smoothly dismounted and stood in front of the large angry pimp. the scarred man tossed Maggie easily aside.
Peter quickly drew his pistols and spun them around before aiming them at the large guy.
"HEY!?!," The bulky man blurted out.
The White Rider chuckled before turning to put his weapons in his saddle bag. The large guy took the opportunity to grab a sap from his jacket pocket and lunge at the Rider while his back was turned. Cloud quickly stepped forward knocking the big man on his butt.
The Super Horse whinnied. The Rider nodded while brandishing his fists.
"Marquess of Queensbury Rules?," the Rider asked the big man as the street thug climbed back up onto his feet.
"Whatever," the angry guy spat out as he dusted the snow off of himself.
The big guy raised his fists. The Rider nodded. The two started to circle each other. The Super Horse stepped back to give them room.
"Thanks Pardner," the Cowboy told his Steed.
This was followed by a quick jab. It connected with the large pimp's jaw. He was knocked up and off his feet. He was unconscious with a broken jaw before He hit the slush. The ladies of the night cheered.
"Yer Welcome," The White Rider told his new coterie of fans with a tip of the hat.
Blake Family Home
Concord, MA
November 11, 1951
Lois was baking with the oven her Mother had taught her to bake with so many years ago. After her wedding they had purchased her childhood home and retired from the costumed crimefighting scene. Her husband as out with the kids. Lois took her birthday cake out of the oven so she could frost it.
Her hand went to her belly. #4 was on the way. She smiled wondering whether it would be a boy this time. They had had three girls in a row. Lois loved all of her daughters more than anything in the world but still a boy would be nice this time.
"We found the bestest gift ever!," Ginny the Gingerbread Girl exclaimed as the family had returned.
"I found it!," her younger sister Cthulu Cathy argued vociferously as She followed her older sister into the kitchen.
"Mommy!," Magnetic Marjorie called out as her Father carried her into the house while holding a big present under his other arm.
"Happy Birthday Mrs. Hughes!," Leo told her while smiling happily.
"LEO?!?!"
Blake Apartment
Porter Square, Cambridge
"LEO?!?!," Lois blurted out when She awoke suddenly from her dream.
The knocking came from her door.
"Yeah," Hughes called out, "it's Me, open up."
Blake checked herself as She got out of bed. She grabbed her bathrobe and opened the door for Hughes. He still had his very appealing form. He smiled. Lois smiled back.
"We got a hit on where Blaine is," He told her, "We need to fly there and check it out while I am still in my current body."
"What?," Lois asked surprised, "Where?"
"Somewhere in North Carolina," Leo told her in rushed tones.
"Uhm," Blake collected herself, "let Me change."
She quickly threw her costume back on. While doing so She asked about the others.
"Don't know where the Rider is," He admitted adding, "Blue Bolt and Spacehawk are going to meet with the Green Empire."
"Ha," Blake laughed coming out of her room dressed, "You mean with the Green Sorcerer," She let Leo know She knew, "that hussy!"
Leo explained how He had spotted Green Imperials with flamethrowers on the property that his Blaine search had come up on. He told Lois that Blue Bolt said He had a special relationship with the leader of the Empire.
"If it gets any more special," She countered, "I'll strangle the two of them with my own gloved hands."
Leo laughed at the joke. He swallowed the laugh when She shot a look at him.
"What is going on with your girlfriend?," Lois asked as they headed for the exit.
"She is not my girlfriend," Leo reminded her and himself.
"Consider yourself lucky," Blake informed him.
Leo grimaced. He needed to deal with the Blaine location. After that He would be out of commission for a while catching up on his sleep. The other Leo Hughes would do whatever He wanted with Cherie Jones. The real Leo made up his mind.
"Let's hurry," He told Blake, "We can deal with 000-000-0000 then I will deal with C.J."
"And I can deal with the Green Hussy," Blake added.
"Green Hussy?," a voice called out.
The clock on the mantlepiece was White with Roman numerals. Davey D. Davis' face projected from it. The boy smiled at the heroes.
"Davey," Leo told the young person effected by his current body, "Stop projecting."
"I have to go with you," He argued, "I'm Magnet Man's sidekick Magnet Boy!"
"Magnet Man?," Lois asked looking over at Hughes.
"That's not my name," Hughes told Davis.
"That's okay," Davey told him, "we need to get together I have a list of other names."
"Davey we don't have the time right now," Leo told him as they exited the apartment.
"What about Dr. Polarity?," Davis offered appearing in the street light when they reached the outside.
"Leo," Lois asked, "You're not a doctor are you?"
"It's just a name," Davey told her, "what about Captain Polarity then?"
"Go back to bed," Leo told the kid, "We can discuss all this later."
"Dr. Dynamo!," Davey threw out hoping to bring Mr. Hughes around.
"David," Leo used his full first name, "don't make Me project over and wake up your parents to tell them what your doing."
"Oooh," Davey complained making a face but then He disappeared.
Blake watched their interaction.
"Your going to make a great Dad someday," Lois admitted.
"Thanks Lady Bolt," Leo replied appreciating the somewhat out of the Blue compliment, "You are going to be a great Mom someday."
The two spent an extra moment quiet.
"Do you have a map?," Lois asked clearing her throat.
"Even better," Leo smiled producing his Cellphone.
Hughes pressed the Maps App and the pair took to the air
"Head Southwest 777 Miles"
The City of Science
Inner-World
"What color are these uniforms?," Dr. Bertoff asked immediately while suspecting He knew the answer already.
"Green," Leo told the the older man.
"The Green Empire strikes again," Bertoff replied remembering past conflict.
"The Green Empire?," Hughes questioned not knowing about the politics inside the 1940s Earth.
"Twin Oaks," Spacehawk interjected before Bertoff could explain, "in one of the other American States, the Northern Carolina."
Bertoff quickly turned to his Televisor. He hit a preset button and the screen filled with static. When the static faded He was looking at Fred Parrish's living room. The sound of the shower could be heard. The phone by the kitchenette began to ring.
"Hello?," Parrish wrapped in a towel asked He ansered.
"Greetings my boy," Bertoff spoke into the microphone in front of his device.
"Just had to take a cold shower," Fred informed the trio in the lab beneath the surface.
"Get dressed," Bertoff told him, "It's the Green Empire."
"We have located Mr. Blaine's true headquarters," Spacehawk added.
Hughes was putting things together in his head. Blaine was working with or for this Green Empire. It appeared that they were the bad guys in this scenario. Leo needed answers. That meant confronting Richard Blaine.
"Contact Miss Blake," Spacehawk suggested as Parrish through on his uniform.
Fred shook his head. He told them that his girlfriend had been through enough lately. He told the other guys She needed her beauty sleep. Bertoff laughed a short laugh.
"He's going to see the Green Sorcerer," the Scientist told Leo and the 25th Century Man, "Fred doesn't want Blake to know."
When Leo asked ho that was Bertoff informed him that She was the Supreme Ruler of the Green Empire. He told the other two that when She wasn't being a sadistic megalomanic the verdant woman could be quite lovely. It was Spacehawk's turn to laugh.
"I know that type," He let the others know.
"We need to get to Twin Oaks," Spacehawk told everyone, "quickly."
Leo agreed but another thought entered his mind. Beroff told him to summon his new sidekick. The scientist suggested field testing what abilities the youth had.
"We're not dragging a little kid into what could be really dangerous," Leo let Bertoff know before adding, "but before we go I want to find the Operator, okay?"
Spacehawk and Bertoff looked at each other and then back to Hughes.
"We are waiting for Blue Bolt," the armored man posited.
"Quickly then," Bertoff nodded and turned to his machines and dials.
Leo readjusted the equipment strapped to his current form's skull. He only had a few hours before it finished loading. When that happened He would get bounced back to himself and have to go the bathroom, eat food and sleep for several hours. Leo told himself they needed to do a lot of things before that could happen.
"The Operator!," Leo said clearly, "000-000-0000!"
The scientists ready to locate the mystery woman Leo had spoken to briefly. Screens began to fluctuate. Several filled with static. The lights flickered and then died. A surge of energy crackled across the 25th Century Man's armor and he collapsed slamming don onto his back with a loud clang.
"SPACEHAWK!," both Hughes and Bertoff blurted out before turning to their fallen comrade.
The only light remaining in the lab emanated from the monitor showing the pair of guards in the hallway protecting the City of Science's greatest mind. Leo and Bertoff, checked on Spacehawk. His armor which was meant to protect him now being a hindrance to his receiving any aid.
Movement on the remaining monitor caught Hughes attention. He and the scientist turned to the screen. The door at the end of the hallway slid open. A man in a rumpled white suit walked in a jerky jittery manner down the hallway to the lab. The guards did not seem to notice him. The door to the lab slid open.
"David Bowie??," Hughes blurted out in surprised shock.
The man resembling the musician/actor walked in and turned to Bertoff putting his trembling finger in the White haired man's face.
"We're not going to talk about Susie," He informed the Inner-World leader moving his trembling finger to his lips.
Leo and Bertoff stood up exchanging glances.
"Oh No," the Bowie-esque fellow continued as if He was in pain, "We're going to keep Susie out of this," He tittered bitterly, "We are NOT going to talk about Susie at all."
"Mr.," Bertoff paused before continuing, "Bowie, What are you talking about?"
The jittery man reached out putting a hand tentatively on Hughes.
"Who do You think this is?," He questioned Bertoff.
"Leonard Michael Hughes," the Scientist answered, "from the year 2018, currently in his third new form via his strange Cellphone device."
"We," the jitteryman struggled to keep speaking, "We live within a Nightmare."
His hand tightened into a grip on the twin stars on Leo's chest.
"The Nightmare," the Man looked around as if He feared He was being watched, "His Nightmare, is only beginning."
The monitor died. The room went completely Black. All at once the electronics flickered back to life. Spacehawk sat up.
"WHERE'D HE GO!?," Hughes exclaimed.
The jittery man had vanished.
The two guards in the hall burst into the lab.
"What's going on?," the first guard asked ray gun at the ready.
"Are you alright Doctor?," the second added.
"Why did You let that man into my lab unbid?!," an exasperated Bertoff demanded.
"What Man?," both Science City Sentinels asked in unison.
Scollay Square
Boston, MA
The decorum of the surrounding metropolis grew worse as the Cowboy and Stallion went deeper into Boston. The shanties of Scollay Square all around them. Music played from the burlesque halls.
"That feels like cheating," Peter responded when his mount suggested they find some history books to bring back with them to 1876.
The Super Horse whinnied. The White Rider laughed. He told the animal that also applied to books on science and technology. The horse bucked slightly to show what it thought of it's rider's mindset.
"Enough about finagling the history books," Peter told Cloud firmly, "We need to figure out this evil scarf desperado."
The Super Horse whinnied. The White Rider was glad his partner was back on task. Even so they needed a new lead. Instead of this wandering randomly hoping to think of something.
"LAME BRANG!," the Rider exclaimed again causing lights to flicker.
The Super Horse neighed. The cowboy agreed that possibly the interference with all this 20th century electricity may increase the closer they got to the actual name or word they were searching for. Still Peter sighed.
"There is just so many choices," the cowboy lamented.
Super Horse whinnied and the surrounding street lights flickered.
"We need a wizard," Peter threw out there, "a magician of some type."
The Horse whinnied.
"Salem?," Peter asked, "what about it?"
The Horse explained.
"How'd you learn about that?," the Rider asked his curiosity piqued.
The steed snorted.
"I can read," Peter answered defensively.
The yelling broke up their ambling investigation. The Rider snapped the reins and the Super Horse galloped towards the commotion. A large man with a scar running down the center of his forehead down to his chin had a scantily clothed woman by the arm.
"Unhand the lady," the White Rider called out as He stopped in front of the scene.
"You like costumes?," the big man laughed you don't wany Maggie," He chuckled, "go see Annie May on the 3rd floor."
"I sure this Annie May is most entertaining Bucko," the White Rider told the the bulky man, "but I repeat let the woman be or we'll be more than jawin' with each other so civil."
The Super Horse glared down at the man who was unused to being looked down upon.
"She stole the money She owes me pally," the big fellow angrily informed Peter, "buzz off!"
"I Ain't Done Nothin'!," Maggie hollered.
Several other of the provocatively attired ladies joined in proclaiming her innocence. The White Rider smoothly dismounted and stood in front of the large angry pimp. the scarred man tossed Maggie easily aside.
Peter quickly drew his pistols and spun them around before aiming them at the large guy.
"HEY!?!," The bulky man blurted out.
The White Rider chuckled before turning to put his weapons in his saddle bag. The large guy took the opportunity to grab a sap from his jacket pocket and lunge at the Rider while his back was turned. Cloud quickly stepped forward knocking the big man on his butt.
The Super Horse whinnied. The Rider nodded while brandishing his fists.
"Marquess of Queensbury Rules?," the Rider asked the big man as the street thug climbed back up onto his feet.
"Whatever," the angry guy spat out as he dusted the snow off of himself.
The big guy raised his fists. The Rider nodded. The two started to circle each other. The Super Horse stepped back to give them room.
"Thanks Pardner," the Cowboy told his Steed.
This was followed by a quick jab. It connected with the large pimp's jaw. He was knocked up and off his feet. He was unconscious with a broken jaw before He hit the slush. The ladies of the night cheered.
"Yer Welcome," The White Rider told his new coterie of fans with a tip of the hat.
Blake Family Home
Concord, MA
November 11, 1951
Lois was baking with the oven her Mother had taught her to bake with so many years ago. After her wedding they had purchased her childhood home and retired from the costumed crimefighting scene. Her husband as out with the kids. Lois took her birthday cake out of the oven so she could frost it.
Her hand went to her belly. #4 was on the way. She smiled wondering whether it would be a boy this time. They had had three girls in a row. Lois loved all of her daughters more than anything in the world but still a boy would be nice this time.
"We found the bestest gift ever!," Ginny the Gingerbread Girl exclaimed as the family had returned.
"I found it!," her younger sister Cthulu Cathy argued vociferously as She followed her older sister into the kitchen.
"Mommy!," Magnetic Marjorie called out as her Father carried her into the house while holding a big present under his other arm.
"Happy Birthday Mrs. Hughes!," Leo told her while smiling happily.
"LEO?!?!"
Blake Apartment
Porter Square, Cambridge
"LEO?!?!," Lois blurted out when She awoke suddenly from her dream.
The knocking came from her door.
"Yeah," Hughes called out, "it's Me, open up."
Blake checked herself as She got out of bed. She grabbed her bathrobe and opened the door for Hughes. He still had his very appealing form. He smiled. Lois smiled back.
"We got a hit on where Blaine is," He told her, "We need to fly there and check it out while I am still in my current body."
"What?," Lois asked surprised, "Where?"
"Somewhere in North Carolina," Leo told her in rushed tones.
"Uhm," Blake collected herself, "let Me change."
She quickly threw her costume back on. While doing so She asked about the others.
"Don't know where the Rider is," He admitted adding, "Blue Bolt and Spacehawk are going to meet with the Green Empire."
"Ha," Blake laughed coming out of her room dressed, "You mean with the Green Sorcerer," She let Leo know She knew, "that hussy!"
Leo explained how He had spotted Green Imperials with flamethrowers on the property that his Blaine search had come up on. He told Lois that Blue Bolt said He had a special relationship with the leader of the Empire.
"If it gets any more special," She countered, "I'll strangle the two of them with my own gloved hands."
Leo laughed at the joke. He swallowed the laugh when She shot a look at him.
"What is going on with your girlfriend?," Lois asked as they headed for the exit.
"She is not my girlfriend," Leo reminded her and himself.
"Consider yourself lucky," Blake informed him.
Leo grimaced. He needed to deal with the Blaine location. After that He would be out of commission for a while catching up on his sleep. The other Leo Hughes would do whatever He wanted with Cherie Jones. The real Leo made up his mind.
"Let's hurry," He told Blake, "We can deal with 000-000-0000 then I will deal with C.J."
"And I can deal with the Green Hussy," Blake added.
"Green Hussy?," a voice called out.
The clock on the mantlepiece was White with Roman numerals. Davey D. Davis' face projected from it. The boy smiled at the heroes.
"Davey," Leo told the young person effected by his current body, "Stop projecting."
"I have to go with you," He argued, "I'm Magnet Man's sidekick Magnet Boy!"
"Magnet Man?," Lois asked looking over at Hughes.
"That's not my name," Hughes told Davis.
"That's okay," Davey told him, "we need to get together I have a list of other names."
"Davey we don't have the time right now," Leo told him as they exited the apartment.
"What about Dr. Polarity?," Davis offered appearing in the street light when they reached the outside.
"Leo," Lois asked, "You're not a doctor are you?"
"It's just a name," Davey told her, "what about Captain Polarity then?"
"Go back to bed," Leo told the kid, "We can discuss all this later."
"Dr. Dynamo!," Davey threw out hoping to bring Mr. Hughes around.
"David," Leo used his full first name, "don't make Me project over and wake up your parents to tell them what your doing."
"Oooh," Davey complained making a face but then He disappeared.
Blake watched their interaction.
"Your going to make a great Dad someday," Lois admitted.
"Thanks Lady Bolt," Leo replied appreciating the somewhat out of the Blue compliment, "You are going to be a great Mom someday."
The two spent an extra moment quiet.
"Do you have a map?," Lois asked clearing her throat.
"Even better," Leo smiled producing his Cellphone.
Hughes pressed the Maps App and the pair took to the air
"Head Southwest 777 Miles"