Saturday Super Stories - The Event 4 A

"I have pulled from The Knowledge tales from the Event that ravaged two universes.  I start at the beginning and will tell the important parts, and while there are many stories to be told, this will be quick."  Chief Archivist of the Catalogers.

“Many things have been culled from this universe, many lives lost, some heroically, some fruitlessly, but everything and everyone met has had an impact.  Some people and places are the same regardless of the world on which it lay, it spreads like an infection.”

“A smart man once said ‘There is more than one of everything.”

The Event 4 - Dopplegang’land A “SuperDude Versus Aeon”

“Remember when we cross over to protect the device on your waistbands, it is the only thing holding you together in that world.  If you lose it you will be pulled back to this world, because you will act as a negative to the positive of their world, pushed away from them.  We do not know if the transfer will be safe, you might perish.”

“We are attempting to align you to your counterpart and you should appear near them.”

Aeon hovered in the air in front of Superdude and smiled.  “So you are the one who is just like me?”  He looked him up and down as SuperDude did the same in return.  “My abilities are many and are very powerful, they stem from a sun I ate during the imprisonment at the hands of my people.  I was forced to evolve and destroyed them with the very thing I was imprisoned with, it was quite ingenious really.”  Aeon paused his speech as SuperDude stopped and stared at the symbol emblazoned on Aeon’s chest, two angels ripping apart a helix of DNA.  “You are making me tell you all of this somehow are you not?”  SuperDude shrugged and smiled back at him.

“It’s part of the abilities within me, I inspire confidence in those around me, and I make other people better.”  He explained as Aeon snarled in response and attacked him.  SuperDude caught his rushing fist and launched into a grapple that Aeon reversed and twisted free of.  “We are equally matched and you will not win.”

“Oh I will win, and I know your one real weakness, this place, this world, I will take the fight to it if you do not surrender to me without a fight.  Your people attacked my world and you will pay for it.”

“My people, what are you talking about?”

 

“The one called Reader and his Family attacked my home and are now the prisoners of war.”

“I really do not think that’s the greatest course of action seeing as we have only just met and that’s a very bad idea.”  SuperDude shrugged back at him.  “I will be better than you because I must be, and you will never have a chance to hurt this world.”  In a blink SuperDude was on Aeon and then they were hurdling through space.

Nearby…

Android X watched the exchange and his onboard computer systems tracked the trajectory and calculated their destination as the asteroid belt just past Mars.  It appeared as if SuperDude had warped spacetime around him and blitzed them across the distance in several hops.

He retrieved files and began to cross reference the battles being waged across the Earth and watched readings begin to flood in as more and more cracks in reality began to appear.

This Event that were a part of was going to end all of creation.

Saturday Super Stories - The Event 2

"I have pulled from The Knowledge tales from the Event that ravaged two universes.  I start at the beginning and will tell the important parts, and while there are many stories to be told, this will be quick."  Chief Archivist of the Catalogers.

“Many things have been culled from this universe, many lives lost, some heroically, some fruitlessly, but everything and everyone met has had an impact.”

The Event 2 - Opening Salvo

Alpha stood over the pile of rocks that had once been Robert Garvey, the stranger from another universe, and frowned.  His installation had been attacked and compromised and he had been personally assaulted by a woman he had found inferior to him, and he had underestimated her, it would not happen again.

The pile shifted slightly it’s ‘face’ turning to look at him.  “You were not alone were you rock man?”  Alpha asked, “My agents within the DSA claim that three more people were taken into custody the night you arrived, each bearing strange abilities.  My people here in the Epsilon Facility have determined that you came from another universe and your ‘body’ is infused with cosmic radiation similar to that of a star.”

“I don’t know nuthin’ about all that, we got here by accident.  We was investigating a space anomaly and this guy showed up and then we were crashing into the earth.”  Bob’s voice was gravely like stones scraping against one another, which in a way was exactly what was happening.

“Hmm, there is power in the stone of Earth, and in the other elements, they all destroy everything that they touch, everything.”  Alpha reached down and took hold of Roberts stones and poured energy into them, he began to scream as they began to fuse together, the screaming grew louder and, louder until they cut off all together as Robert lost consciousness.

But still Alpha poured his energy into the stone and watched as they fused into a shape of a man, each piece locking into place like a puzzle until the whole of the man lay before him, “My gift to you.”

The Year 2199, Super U’niverse

Titan stood in the window of TitanCorp Tower and watched as the sun set on New York City, the shadows swallowing the city bit by bit, all encompassing darkness creeping in.  Some days he missed the stars, the lights of the city drowning them out, all except the three burning in the heavens watching down on the world.  He sighed, he missed the old days before the Mega-Corporations ate the world and there were parts of the countryside left, when nature was allowed to grow.  “I really hate the future,” he mumbled.

Then something slammed into the side of the building and the whole of it began to rock back and forth.  “What the frell?”  He walked over to the computers and found that three whole stories had been struck by an object that was slowly moving deeper into the building towards the main central supports.  He pulled himself into his armor and grabbed his gun and concentrated his mass enhancing as his muscle strength increased.

He strode down the hallway after the elevator had deposited him on the appropriate level.  A large robot was in the process of ripping into the walls next to one of the support beams as a large round hole in its chest began to spin and power up.  "Who in the twelve hells do you think you are, coming into my home and wrecking this much havoc, do you know who I am?"  He roared.

"It matters not, I have been tasked by Doctor Johann Spindlar to remove this structure from the world, and the ImpossiBot does not fail when given a task."  The machine replied.  Titan raised his weapon and aimed.  "I would advise against that, if you were to breach my core I would go into meltdown and much of the city would be lost."  Titan smirked and fired, the weapon appeared to do nothing but a low hum and the instantaneous vanishing of the robots head proved it had worked.  He smiled, and then quickly noticed the energy weapon still charging.

"Building prepare jettison, level 18 through 36, cache artifacts into the tesseracts and launch orbital displacement."

CONFIRMED

The building rumbled and was launched into the air like a rocket, inertia engines pushing the whole of it into space as the ImpossiBot exploded and destroyed the building, Titan grimaced as his armor strained against the force and fell into blissful unconsciousness as the attack claimed him.

The Present Day, Earth II

"This will be the second attempt at attacking the new universe, my calculations were off by .0003% and the ImpossiBot landed in that worlds future, the target was dead on but the year was wrong.  My second creation the ImprobaBot, a newer design, one that cultivates the Chaos and Order spheres of magic and is reinforced magically."  Johann Spindlar, Doctor and Super Scientist spoke to Alpha and a small camera that was recording the entire situation.

"It will work this time?"  Alpha questioned.  The doctor nodded and slammed a palm down on a large red button that triggered the launch.  The platform shunted the robot into the parallel reality like a cannon shot.  They turned to watch through a view screen, that was taking advantage of the fractures in reality that the HelixONE's breach had caused.

Meanwhile in the Super U'niverse

The sound was like fabric tearing and the building shook in its foundation.  Almost immediately the fire alarm sounded and the sprinkler system activated.  "RIPTEARSUNDERDESTROY"  The ImprobaBot wailed into the room and it began to rip apart the support structure.  It only took a moment for the main support to collapse and the building to crumble.

Sometime later...

SuperDude hovered over the massive sinkhole in New York City and listened to Dawnbringer as it explained what he was witnessing.  He called to the rest of the WMD and as they each arrived to the scene to investigate the ImprobaBot scanned each and fed the information back to the Epsilon Base.

'Soon...'

TBC in the Event 3

Saturday Super Stories - Stand Alone 10

“My life is a series of events, one thing after another, each of these things eventually culminating into some kind of life changing event that then alters my destiny from that point forward.  I was born in another universe and because of that I was in line for an Event that ripped our universe to the ground and forced us to go to war with a parallel universe that was invading us.”

“In truth we went to war with them because they accidentally invaded us and we retaliated in the only way we knew how, and at the same time an unseen hand was moving us forward to their own end for some unknown reason.”

“I watched as my universe was sealed away from me and lost my parents and family forever because the way back was gone.  This left me in the care of one of world’s greatest heroes and his training brought me against my greatest enemy, Zero.”

“Zero in turn forced me to locate a new source of knowledge so that I might continue my education and find a way to cure my…father, the man like my father.  I know it’s impossible, but we’re super heroes and that’s what we do every day.  So I will use the Knowledge and weed out the answers I need until I figure out a solution to the problem I have given myself.”  Sapphire looked at Zoe who nodded at her.  “I have to ask it the right questions, everyone has a boss, and that led me to Andreas Darkk, whom I stood over in Carcass his prison.  I saw the birth of Genesis, the Coming Darkness, the thing which is coming next and that which I am now preparing myself for.”  She rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed. “What are the right questions?  What can I ask to start and knit together the last threads to see the whole tapestry.”

Stand Alone 10 - The Little Things 1

“Who was Doctor Kirby?”

“Presenting Doctor Alexander Kellan Kirby noted physicist and quantum engineer.”  The crowd roared in approval as the Doctor came up on to the stage.  He waved his hands for calm and the group quietly rapidly.

“Good morning every one, I feel like a rock star.”  The crowd laughed at the joke.  “Today I am going to go over several of my recent discoveries relating to the evolution of stars.  We think that these celestial bodies are just lights in the sky that twinkle and eventually fade away, but I believe that they are so much more.”  He pointed at the white screen behind him and slides began to follow what he was saying changing from star type to star type across a common stars life cycle.  “What I am saying is…what if the stars themselves are alive and they follow an evolutionary life cycle from birth to death?”  Several people in the crowd gasped and in the silence someone muttered blasphemy.

“I am working with several government and businesses to attempt to draw some of the energy down from the stars and get long range readings; we are currently building several laboratories across the world to attempt to better understand my theories and possibly harness the energy to remove ourselves from a dependent resource like oil.  I would like you all to meet my main financier Rex Ruthless!!”  A young man barely into his twenties stepped onto the stage and joined Dr. Kirby at the podium.  He waved at the crowd.

“Hello everyone,” he spoke quietly but his voice carried, “I believe in Dr. Kirby’s theories and have put forth considerable resources towards this venture.  We already have several ARC, advanced research collectives, in multiple countries across the planet and construction has begun on the equipment that will draw some of the energy down to the Earth.  I have personally hired two doctors that have specialized in this field to oversee that project, and we should have results in a few years.”

“Who is Oswald Johnson?”

“Who are you really Oz?”  Rex Ruthless sat on the edge of his bed and stared at the young man before him.  “I have had some of my people look into you, since you are my roommate, and one cannot be too careful you understand.”

Oswald nodded, “That is a good question Rex.”  He turned and sat at his desk.

“Well?”

“Well what?”

“Who are you?!”  Rex’s voice raised a few decibels.

“I am the son of Kaliope and Jaswell Johnson.  My IQ is 37 points higher than yours.  I come from no money and a middle class background and have had to achieve all of my college funding through scholarships and holding three jobs during high school.  I also gamble occasionally and raised money that way as I am able to count cards quite easily.  Dr. Kirby put in a good word with the school board and found me placement here.  Other than that I am just a young man looking to make his mark on this world, and your roommate for now.”

Rex ground his teeth, “I knew all of that already but I think you are hiding something.”  Oswald turned in his chair and looked Rex right in the eye.

“Everything I told you was true,” he stared intently at Rex.  “The things I have left out about who I am are none of your concern and therefore none of your business.  So DROP it.”  The single word echoed slightly.  Rex looked away first and immediately felt ashamed, but he nodded.

‘You won’t be my roommate for long.’ Rex thought to himself as he stood and walked out of the dorm room calmly.  Oswald sighed as the door clicked shut and then smiled. 

‘Everything about that story was true Rex,” he thought to himself, ‘Except I’m not actually Oswald Johnson, I replaced him months ago.’ He started to laugh to himself.

Darwin Dexter the Baron of the Side-realms, and King of the Anathema went back to his homework, after all the Star Force wasn't just going to come to him without some work.

“Why was SuperDude in Nevada when Shrulk made its first appearance?”

‘I will guide you where you are needed most, when the greatest dangers arise on this world.’  Dawnbringer voiced its thoughts directly into his mind.  SuperDude banked left as a feeling began to pull him in that direction.

“So you are like a danger magnet?”  Superdude asked the entity that dwelled within him.

‘In a way, I go to the danger, I do not bring the danger to me,’ it responded.  SuperDude nodded.

‘I feel something towards the West Coast of this country, continue on this path and we may be able to prevent many deaths.’  SuperDude nodded again and pushed himself faster.

“How did Doctor Kirby die?”

“Why are you doing this?”  Kirby screamed over the wind howling through the alleys created by the skyscrapers of Megalopolis.

“Because I tire of your repeated failures, I have invested too much time and money on you and your protégés, perhaps your suicide will spur them onto greater achievements.”  He shoved and the good doctor fell down from the penthouse of Ruthless Unlimited.

TBC in Skullduggery 110 Part 1

Team-Building 104 - Epilogue

Team-Building: Epilogue

Deep in the reaches of space...

He laughed at them, the sound carrying into the void. Heroes. Everywhen he went there were heroes and they were all the same; idealistic morons with a blown-up sense of self-importance, each one a carbon copy of another, greater hero.

But he was free now... free of that hellish void. He would be this world's ”Genesis…”

* * *

Central Park

The assembled heroes stood around as the various members of the Column and other federal organizations moved about them, collecting the Harvesters that managed to live through the attack. The ground still shifted underneath the ship and SuperDude watched it with a cautious eye. He had noticed the Dark Avenger vanish inside it earlier. Then he noticed Jack Rabbit blurring in and out over the span of several minutes.

“I have an idea about how we can make this work to our benefit,” he had said. So SuperDude had let him go, but continued to watch the Earth.

Suddenly an arm broke free of the ground and began to pull itself up, bringing with it a stony form. Its rocky head swiveled around and took in the scene as it continued to pull itself free. A look of confusion passed over its face and it looked up at him and spoke quietly. “I am awake again?”

“Again?” SuperDude responded.

“I was once there.” It waved at the sky. “Then I fell here, and slept for eons. Now I wake and find the world has changed. But Dawnbringer still looks down on me.”

SuperDude cocked an eyebrow. “How do you know that name?”

It laughed, a grinding noise coming from the rock comprised of its body. “We are brothers. I was once like you... filled with power. And now I am weakened, but powerful all the same. This time I feel imbued with strength from another... a cousin perhaps, not of this universe. I am to be the first of an army.”

“An army?” SuperDude asked.

“The Star Force Centurians, the protectors of the universe. And after I have completed delivery of the power to those who deserve it, I will return to Earth, as it has been designated my purvue.”

SuperDude smiled. “I welcome an ally that may aid us in our future endeavors.”

The rock man lifted off into the air and soared into the sky.

“Yeah that was all well and good, but what the hell just happened?” Nicolette asked from the ground. SuperDude glanced around at the crowd watching him. He shrugged. “Why did a rock fly away from the scene?”

“Had better places to be, I suppose.” He smiled and looked back at the rock as it hit the stratosphere. “Good journey, friend.”

* * *

Later

“I call it the Hub.” The Dark Avenger spoke to the assembled WMD and IED. “I have placed it in the center of Megalopolis because of its location and centralization to most of our home cities, towns or islands. I am in the process of reverse-engineering the technology and crafting a platform for your homes so that we might be able to move around the world to do the most good.”

“So we stole the alien tech so we can teleport?” Jack Rabbit asked.

The Dark Avenger nodded. “It’s powerful, and does not need that much energy to use. The hydro-electric dams along the joined rivers running through the city are more than enough to power it. I will be able to set up solar power for the platforms, and therefore reduce any impact on the environment.”

“So, Here we are. Sixteen strong. Who’s ready to change the world?”

TBC in ????

Team-Building 104 - Part 4L

Team-Building 104: Part 4L - "The Voyage Home: The Harvest"

7 Days Ago – The armor touched down safely on the rooftop of one of the tallest buildings in Megalopolis and immediately started to klaxon loudly. It didn’t take long for the resident superheroes to arrive on the scene to investigate.

“What are you doing here?” SuperDude asked it.

“Looking for you, actually,” It responded. “I have been sent by the government of the United States in an attempt to recruit you to be a part of a team of like-minded individuals.”

“That work at the beck and call of the bureaucrats?”

“Not entirely. I work with a business man that will be able to provide funding should we need it. But the government is starting to grow scared of the amount of heroes/vigilantes that are popping up these days and does, in a way, want to police them. That’s why they are forming the WMD, the Weapons of Mass Destruction. If I am able to gather enough people, there are plans for a small satellite group called the IED.”

“It seems like a solid idea. Let me think about it Mr…?”

“Warmonger. I am called Warmonger.”

6 Days Ago – “What in blazes?” His fingers stabbed at the keyboard and pulled up the satellite imagery. A small craft was entering the Earth’s atmosphere and heading towards North America. He started to get readings and suddenly it vanished. He growled under his breath and set another program to estimate where it was headed based of the telemetry.

Several hours passed and he had a guess. New York City. Suddenly another computer pinged as strange readings appeared in Megalopolis. The Dark Avenger stood and pulled on his cowl.  It was time to meet the man called SuperDude by the press.

5 Days Ago – The Dark Avenger watched the one called SuperDude from the shadows on top of a building nearby. The readings had led him to an alien being attacking the hero of Megalopolis. He watched as they talked; a guttural growling noise that ended in a question. He dropped down and spoke up. "Not everyone likes you."

* * *
Thomas walked through the streets of downtown Detroit searching for the local hero he had heard rumors of, a young black youth who called himself Jive. Apparently he was a sound-manipulator of some kind.

He rounded the corner as two thugs peeled away from the shadows of an alley to follow him. They were quickly joined by another two and then a fifth. He smiled and continued to walk until they totaled seven strong. He stopped in the middle of the street and turned to acknowledge them.

“Evening, gents. I don’t suppose you’re the welcoming committee?” They snickered and two pulled out knives.

“That’s funny. Rich guy like you gots to have a wad of cash on you as thick as my…” A roar ripped through the street and he was blasted right out of his shoes and into the wall next to a parked car.

“JIVE!”

“Damn right!”

4 Days Ago – SuperDude frowned at the position of leadership, but everyone seemed to listen  to him. Amazona had taken off to find her ‘god’ and they were headed to a Veterans Hospital outside of New York City on the insistence of ‘Jack Rabbit’. He secretly wished that this Dark Avenger fellow would step forward and flat out say he wanted to lead but he could feel him nudging him in the right direction. Within a day and a half they already had five people, and possibly by days end two more. How many powered people were out there in the world?

3 Days Ago – Finding the Mystic City of Sham’bala had been difficult and the recruitment of one of its most powerful sorceresses had been surprisingly easy. She had been bored and eager to escape the confines of her ‘prison’ to go out and visit the real world beyond the mountains and fogs that hid the city from the world. She had mentioned another student of the magickal arts who may be useful; a master who could use literary works to summon assistance.

* * *

She was called the Wolf and she was tracking poachers through the wilds of Africa. They had been killing elephants and harvesting their ivory for weeks.  She had begun to track them down and eliminate them one by one.

Night had slowly crept in and she was nearing the final camp deep in wilds. She had lost the scent hours ago but she knew deep in her soul that she was close. Suddenly the night was lit up by a flare and she turned in the direction of it, moving slowly.

Sounds of fighting came in with the wind. She moved faster and witnessed a heavily armored warrior fighting against the remaining poachers. Their guns fired uselessly against the metal hide and she thought she could hear it laughing at their attempt.

She paused and pulled the hood around her and shifted into her wolfen form, growing in size and strength. Calling on the gifts of her ancestors filled her with awe and calm, knowing that she was carrying on the heritage of her people.

Leaping into the fray against the poachers caused immediate panic among them, and gave the armored warrior pause for a moment.

“Wolf?” It asked in a male metallic voice. She growled in response and began her attack. “Oh, she’s gonna be a complicated one…”

2 Days Ago – They watched from the shadows as William Tell ran around his city using whatever technique he could to go from place to place quickly. His accuracy was deadly when needed but also passive. In a matter of several hours he had caught several looters, robbers and he was tracking a rapist.

“He is going to kill that man.” SuperDude spoke up from the long quiet.
The Dark Avengers eye’s narrowed. “You’re right. We have to step in.”

1 Day Ago – “I know of a ship that can get us to the depths where we think this city is.” Jack said when they were flying towards England.

“Really?” The Dark Avenger said over his shoulder.

“I wasn’t always a hero. For a while I was a pretty damn good explorer of the unknown. That’s how I stumbled on to Amazona and her people. We have a ship that I modeled after the Nautilus from that book.” Jack seemed proud as he reflected.

“That’s better than the submarine I would have stolen, I suppose.” The Dark Avenger smirked.

* * *

Warmonger had recruited his last two heroes in Brazil and Antartica; a plasma-wielder protecting his village from slavers and the Columbian Mob attempting to find a beachhead to move their businesses forward. The other was a creature made of energy, hiding in the icy wastes to avoid killing anyone because of its nature.

Thomas had convinced them easily to come to America and attempt a new life there. So he had picked up the others from one of his bases and started to track the attacks on the other heroes, some of which had hit the news. ALIENS ATTACK EARTH, the headlines blared.

Now…

::MANY OF OUR BROTHERS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THIS WORLD!!::
::THOUGH WHEN WE CAME HERE WE WERE ONLY THIRTY FIVE HIGH-BLOOD STRONG, WE NOW HAVE A HUNDRED LOW-BLOODS!::
::WE SIT UPON THE PRECIPICE OF AN ANCIENT STAR FORCE THAT POWERS THE HIVE MACHINE AND BOLSTERS OUR NUMBERS!!::
::THE PRIME ARRIVES SOON, AND WITH HIM WE CAN TAKE THIS WORLD... AND THEN THE UNIVERSE!!::

The Harvesters roared in agreement.

********

SuperDude spoke to the Harvesters as they exited their ship. “We do not wish to fight you. Get back in your ship and leave the Earth and we will allow you to do so as long as you promise to never return to this place.”

“Do you really think that will work, buffoon?” Amazona called up to him. SuperDude shrugged.

::YOU WILL FEED US FOR CENTURIES ALONE, FLYING ONE!! WE WILL TAKE THE PRIME AND ALL OF THE OTHER SUB-FORCES AROUND US. THEN WE WILL DIG AND TAKE FROM THE SOIL!!::

Conjuressa gasps quietly.

SuperDude looks down at her. “You understood that?”

She nodded.

“We all understood that.” The Dark Avenger said. “She magicked us, I think.”

She nodded again. “Understand, but not speak it. Our throats won’t make those sounds. I have no idea how SuperDude is able to,” she frowned.

::SILENCE!! YOU ALL STAND IN THE WAY OF THE HARVEST, AND WILL DIE OR BE CONSUMED!!::

The Harvesters all leapt forward and began the attack on the WMD and the IED.

* * *

A pair of Harvesters circled below SuperDude as he hovered above them. They glowered up at him and punched a few buttons on their harnesses and twisted a dial. He felt energy drain from him. He glared back at them and plasma lanced from eyes and slammed into them, superheating the metal and burning their skin.

“They still seem to want to eat me.”

“No shit?” Conjuressa said. Fire blasted from her hands and froze three smaller Harvesters in place. “HAH HAH FUCKERS!! Didn’t see that coming did ya, bitches?!”

* * *

The Dark Avenger took two quick steps forward and drew a large knife from the small of his back. Spinning around as he drove the blade into the elbow joint of one of the Harvesters he sliced clean through the bone and muscle dropping the limb to the ground. It roared in defiance. “I think I noticed something.” He spoke into his headpiece. “Each one this guys has an insignia on their harness at the left shoulder. Like a rising sun only the rays are between two and seven in number. The five, six, and sevens all drop pretty easy.  Whoever is number one is the leader.”

“I have eyes on number one, he’s coming out of the ship and he looks... human.” SuperDude spoke and he flew overhead providing support where it was needed.

* * *

Warmonger spoke up finally, “I’m inside the ship.”

SuperDude glanced to the armor fighting three of Harvesters by itself. “I can see you fighting --” he started, before being interrupted.

“Yeah, I multitask really well. Anyways, they have some crazy readings in here, and if I’m reading this correctly their main objective is SuperDude and secondary targets are Conjuressa, Amazona, King Hrolf, King Carp and Jack Rabbit. Plus they are mining some kind of power source from Central Park and I think they have one chained in their ship.”

“We need to crack the ship open then, and release it, and that will stop the harvest of the Central Park source.” SuperDude said.

“Can you upload the ships specs to me?” The Dark Avenger asked.

“It’s uploading now.”

“Enough talking,” Amazona ripped the insides from one of the aliens and swung them into the oncoming horde of weaker ones attempting to overwhelm her. Hrolf dropped down and sliced through three of them in a single swing.

“I agree.” He said before spinning around and bringing another two down.

“Keep them busy and I’ll figure out the weak spot on the ship and have SuperDude crack it open like an egg.”

“We also need to figure out what the leader is planning. He’s just standing there, and I think he has some kind of shield protecting him.,” Jack Rabbit responded.

“Why do you say that?”

“I keep getting bounced or shuffled away from him when I get close. A few feet for sure are no man’s land.”

“Damn.” The Dark Avenger started reviewing the schematics and knelt down as his brain worked through the information.

* * *

Jive spoke up, “I got this one.” He opened up his mouth as wide as it would go and began to scream. It was a slow build, and low, until it started to build towards its crescendo which erupted in a cone outward from him. Waves of soil were pushed away as the sound headed for the ship. The ship rang like a bell when the sound wave first struck it, and then it began to vibrate.

The heroes defended Jive from the waves of Harvesters looking to protect their home, ship, and food supply from the attack. Finally the ship cracked along the seam that the Dark Avenger had spotted and the roof slid open. The ground started to rumble along with the ship as light spilled forth from the opening.

One massive shudder ran the entire length of Central Park, knocking everyone to the ground. The ship hopped into the air, the landing struts ripping free of the soil beneath them. Trees toppled and a wave of water crashed against the far bank of the lake.

The Harvesters seemed to panic with these developments, some fumbling with their harnesses which seemed powerless now. The weaker of the Harvesters collapsed as if drained or they just had their strings cut by an invisible puppet master. The remaining High Blood dropped their weapons and placed themselves on the ground in a passive position, surrendering.

“Well I would have loved to say that was easy…” Rabbit popped in.

“It’s not done yet.” The Dark Avenger said. “The leader is still standing.”

“He didn’t fall when all of you did, either.” SuperDude said.  He turned in the air to face the leader. “We’ve beaten you. Surrender now and perhaps we can confine you to a lower security prison and not the SPIRaL.”

The leader began to laugh. “That’s funny. I cannot be contained. I am the last survivor of a dead universe. I have lived countless eons alone. That is until I found the Harvesters, parasites eating at the edge of existence. They need the Star Force to live and I needed pawns to break free of my tether in the dead universe I was lost in. So we struck an accord. I fed them one of the greatest Star Forces ever created and brought them here as soon as I could sense another like myself out in the void. A few weeks ago I sensed one.” He paced back and forth on the ground in front of the ship as the soil continued to churn.

“Are you seriously doing a monologue? Wait does this make him our arch-enemy or something?” Jack Rabbit asked.

“That does seem to be the case.” SuperDude responded. “Do you have a name, fella?”

“Yes I do, but unfortunately I tire of this game. We shall soon meet again.” The leader vanished in a pop.

“So.. we won?”

TBC in Team-Building: The Epilogue

Team-Building 104 - Part 4J

Team Building 104 Part 4 J "The Voyage Home: The Next Generation"

“AQUA BLAST!!”  King Carp screamed at the top of his lungs and the water around him boiled with foam and lanced out and speared the Harvesters one after another forming a chain of six when the attack was finished.  “Ha HAH!!”  The Harvesters blood poured from their bodies and filled the surrounding ocean.  The closest of the sharks swam in to feast.

He turned in the water to look at the newcomers.  “Um?  You wanted something?”

SuperDude and the Dark Avenger floated in a pod.  SuperDude nodded.  “We were hoping to recruit your mother in our cause but found out she passed recently and you have inherited the throne.”  King Carp nodded.

“How did you know my mother?”

“That would be my doing son.  I worked with her in World War II.”  The Commander stepped around the duo and into the view port.  “We were told by some that the balance of power had shifted in the oceans and came to see if it was true.”  Carp nodded again.

“She passed after the war with Atlantis from the wounds she received from its King.  We razed the city to dust and made sure no one survived.  Their species is gone now.”  SuperDude frowned and started to say something but the Dark Avenger placed a hand on his chest to silence him.

The Commander nodded.  “She spoke of the alliance between Atlantis, Aquatopia and Aquatopolis during the war.  She said that the old king of Atlantis had passed during a U Boat attack near the city and that his son the Mariner would inherit the throne when he came of age.”

“He went insane because of his parents’ death at a young age and some said he went to land to find a Dark City to gain power to take the throne early.  The war lasted months and cost us greatly.”  SuperDude saw a tear leak from Carps eye and blend immediately with the surrounding water but said nothing out of respect. 

“Our offer stands with you.”  The Commander said.  “We would be glad to have a King and a Warrior of your caliber with us against this alien threat.”

King Carp nodded.

********

“The powers of all the Oceans creatures are yours to command.”  Words his mother Neptuna had once told him.

Unfortunately he suffered from a rare genetic defect that sometimes afflicted the royal line of the cities of the Alliance.  He needed proximity to the creatures before he was able to control their gifts as his own.

So one day he grafted a suit built of parts of the creatures he sometimes ruled over.

The blubber of a whale padded his breast plate, providing him with durability to withstand great force. 

A starfish adorned each of his shoulders and allowed him to regenerate damage tissue over time.

Barnacles cover most of the exposed armor plating on his suit, appearing as a chainmail like structure, and providing some increased hardness to the already tough metal.

Sponge wraps his lower legs like some kind of undersea leg warmers.

Jellyfish

An octopus is attached under his cape, the tentacles wrapping around the rib-cage and holding it in place.  Which allows him an ink defense to escape or flee as needed from combat it disperses differently on land as a black vaporous cloud.

He wears twin bracers, one on each forearm, that have several different forms of coral grafted onto them.  They provide a close range weapons for combat.

His helms edge is lined with shark’s teeth granting him an enhanced sense of smell over vast distances.

A pair of eels flanks his neck and flow down his back following the spinal cord.  Calling upon these he can generate a field of electricity around him and charge his melee attacks.

His pant legs are made up of multiple fish scales.  They seem ordinary but are vibrant in their color and display.  Although a fin sprouts from the leg on the outer edge of the thigh and gives him a limited form of echolocation like a dolphin or whale.

His belt buckle has two small sea horses.

He also has a long flowing cape of brilliant sea foam.  This oddly enough is the only part of his entire suit that makes sense and alone wouldn't clash with his unadorned armor.

TBC in Team Building 104 Part 4 - K

Team-Building 104 - Part 3I

Team-Building 104: Part 3I - "Galaxy Quest: Deep Space... NEIN"

"Oh, I borrowed him from the Chronicon Helveticum (1734–36), by Gilg Tschudi. The poor bastard didn't have the stones to return to the tale I stole him from." The Literary spoke quietly through the pane of glass separating him from the costumed hero.

SuperDude frowned. "What do you mean 'borrowed?'"

The Literary smiled. "I absorb books you see. Through that absorption I am able to summon things from them, be it a person, place or thing. With significant preparation I can summon events." The Literary stopped, a confused look on his face.

SuperDude smiled. "Thank you for your assistance." He turned and walked away from the visitor area of the prison. "You were right."

"I usually am." The Dark Avenger responded. "Whilhelm Tell is his given name. and he's Swiss. I suggest we start there."

"I'm en route," Jack Rabbit spoke up.

"I could have teleported us," Conjuressa interjected.

"We're good," three of them hastily responded at the same time.

********

He drew back the string and pulled it taut. He held the shot and his eyes followed the tip of the arrow as he targeted the criminal about to attack the civilian. He smiled wryly and let the bow do its job. It flew straight and true and punched right through the man’s jacket at the shoulder and popped into a seam in the brickwork behind him; pinning him in place.

The woman continued on her way as the man struggled to get free. William walked into the alleyway casually and stopped in front of the man.

“Who are you?” the man spoke in his native German tongue.

“William Tell,” he replied quietly. “You will be punished for your crimes.”

“But I didn’t commit a crime, you stopped me!” The man countered.

“That may be true. But the reason I knew of you was because this was not your first offense. That would have been your third. I tracked you by talking with the women you raped. You are not a killer, but what you do is punishable by death.”

“Death?!…But…”

William pulled a blade from his boot and drew his hand back to plunge it into the man’s heart.

“…Stop!” He cried out.

“Yes. Please stop," said a voice from above spoke. William turned to find SuperDude floating behind him. “Heroes do not kill.”

William narrowed his eyes. “Who are you to judge my actions, foreigner?”

“An ally, I hope. We have heard stories of your deeds around this city and wanted to recruit you in our cause against the Harvesters.” SuperDude continued to speak clamly.

“I have not heard of these 'Harvesters.' Why should I care?”

“Because what they are planning threatens the whole world. Truth be told, there are not many heroes with the capabilities to fight them head on.”

William narrowed his eyes even further and placed a hand on the bridge of his nose and rubbed it. “If they attack the world, then they will eventually attack my beautiful city. I will help you... for a time.”

TBC in Team-Building 104: Part 4J

Team-Building 104 - Part 2E

Team-Building 104: Part 2E "Nemesis: Generations"


"Commander, do you remember me?"  

The Commander looked up from his work bench and nodded.  "You treated me after I arrived in this time."

"This time?"  The Dark Avenger asked.

"He arrived from World War II because of an explosion.  Chronal time platform or something... I forget exactly what,"  Jack Rabbit responded.

"I was disoriented after my arrival and the good doctor here helped me out,"  The Commander replied.

"But you are a medical doctor,"  SuperDude followed.

"I have three doctorates; only one in medicine, another is in psychology.  Anyway, these men are recruiting a team of able-bodied individuals like yourself. Are you interested?"  

"Commander Roger Stevens at your service."  His heels snapped together and he saluted.

*********

"I understand that you and your team suspect this... Dr. Cro of suspicious activity?"  The General asked.  Stevens nodded his agreement.  "But you do not have any proof of this activity?"  He shook his head.  "Then why are you here?"

"I would like my team to try and gather evidence against Cro and his plans to aid the Reich,"  Stevens replied.

"How many men do you have in your squad?"

"Six, sir.  But they are not all men, I have a woman and an android."  The General cocked an eyebrow.  "I don't discriminate, sir.  Well, unless she wants to vote! Good thing she isn't an American."

The General's mouth opened and closed.  Rogers cut off his response, "She's the leader or Queen, if you will, of an underwater kingdom.  One of our allies, called Aquatopia.  She is one of the reasons we are winning the sea-side part of this conflict."

"Who else is in this squad of yours?"  The General sat back in his chair and twisted to watch as Stevens pulled out a photo album from his Go Bag.  He pointed to each individual as he spoke their name and gave some information of their duties.

"This is Sentinel.  An Android crafted by...I don't know who created him, actually.  Never seemed important.  He is my right hand and main firepower."

"Queen Neptunia, Matriarch of Aquatopia. She's like a tank, sir.  Draws on the power of the oceans or some such.  I have yet to meet something that can make her bleed."

"Gino Torelli, nicknamed The Italian by the group, mostly because he hails from Italy.  He's my runner and small arms expert."

"Harry English.  British face-man able to disguise himself into pretty much anyone he can see.  I use him for intelligence gathering and honey pots, mainly."

"Finally there's me.  Roger Stevens also known as the Commander.  I provide leadership and tactical expertise, as well as combat techniques from across Europe.  The final member of my unit is unavailable at this time so I need not go into those details right now."  The General nodded his agreement.  "Together we have been calling ourselves Freedom's Legacy.  One of the newswires started calling us that after we fought The Thunder Driver at Big Ben a month after we went active."

The General nodded again.  "I will approve this information-gathering mission against Genetic Innovative Cro Organic Nanotechnologies, or Genicon for short, but only as an info-gathering mission and not an attack.  I want proof that he is a threat before I will order an attack."  

The Commander nodded.


TBC in Team-Building 104: Part 2F

Team-Building 104 - Part 2D

Team-Building 104 - Part 2 D: "Nemesis: The Search For..."

The servos in his suit's joints whined and he took the turn at 60 miles an hour. His shoulder skipped the brickwork, and pain erupted along his side. "WHYINTHEHELLISTHISTHINGAFTERME??" His words blended together.

"Hunting people with abilities," the voice in his ear spoke. "Take the next right and stop at the end of the alley." Jack Rabbit slowed to 45 and slid into the alleyway and stopped. The Harvester arrived seconds later; he roared at Jack and stalked him slowly, using its massive, long forearms, knuckling the ground like a gorilla. It paused and its mouths opened, and it seemed to taste the air. Its head turned up just as SuperDude landed hard on top of it, driving it into the ground like a nail.

"Good plan," SuperDude spoke over his shoulder.

"All my plans are good." The Dark Avenger stepped from behind Jack Rabbit. "Smart thinking, putting the police band in your head piece. Easy to hack though."

"Who are you people?" asked Jack, shaken.

"Allies, and maybe future friends." SuperDude said.

"Huh, well if you're recruiting, I have the perfect candidate for you."

*******

I'm a pretty normal fella. I was raised by two loving parents with two younger brothers and a cousin that we adopted when she was younger, right after her parents had died in a car accident. I was always a bright guy and really took to learning, absorbing any knowledge I could get my hands on. I suppose that's why I became a doctor.

I have two degrees, and my doctorate is in Progressive Molecular Biology. In layman's terms, I use biological nanotech to augment a person, helping them overcome their physical limitations. I make humanity better through the application of science.

I was in a general medical practice for several years before being recruited by Genicon, a cutting-edge technological firm that had been around since the 1940's. Here I would find my niche, and move the world forward one augment at a time.

After little more than a year I was brought in to assist with one of the few government contracts that the company held. It was related to my field and dealt directly with augmenting humanity using the nanotech techniques I had developed. They were farming raw DNA from a subject and boosting the augmenting process by leaps and bounds past what I had been using.

Using these new techniques, I developed the Accelerons that I tested on myself, granting my already-athletic body greater speed and stamina. Further testing was needed because there was a flaw; my metabolism had also been enhanced, and I needed to eat constantly. Also, my body was vulnerable to the friction that my enhanced speed generated. My skin burned as I ran.

Some time passed before I realized that Genicon had been infecting people at random using inoculations and tracking the random drug trails to test the effects of their augmentation process. They were creating a world of super-powered individuals. I left right after that with the intent of finding a way to fix everyone.

This was when I recruited my brothers and cousin to check out some rumors. We found a woman in Greece, and from her I found religion and a suit of armor that prevented my eventual combustion. One of her deities was affiliated with rabbits and speed, and I adopted his mantle as I way of worship after I left her lands. Covering the modified armor in the fur of hares, I became... Jack Rabbit!!

TBC in Team-Building 104: Part 2 E

Genicon: "Making You a Better You, Organically"

Team-Building 104 - Part 1B

Team Building 104 Part 1 "First Contact" B - Enterprise

"Who?"  SuperDude turned at the sound of the voice behind him.  A shadowed figure stepped into the weak light of the lamps lining streets.  He was armored, and some of the webbing holding his gear looked military.

"They call me the Dark Avenger.  I tracked this thing and it's friends to your city.  But I have been tracking similiar drops all over the Earth."  He pulled a gun from the small of his back then pointed it at the creature.  It's jaw seemed to unhinge slightly and rows of sharp teeth lined the edges and a second mouth snapped the air.  "It likes you."

"He said I was it's food source I think."

"You think?"

"The source of my abilities can translate alien languages it seems.  I haven't ran into many aliens though, this is sort of a first for me."  SuperDude shrugged.

The Dark Avenger shrugged.  "They say you learn something new everyday."  He fired the gun into the creatures chest and it started to slow and stop.  "Momentum bleeder, robs a thing of its kinetic energy and shifts it into the local area."  Already the ground around the alien began to crack into dust.

"Well then maybe I should finish this fight?"  He jumped forward and slammed a fist into its chin, and rocked the creature up several inches.  The ground around it vaporized in a cloud and the gun exploded in the Dark Avengers hand, he cried out.  The alien fell back down unconscious.  "I'm sorry about that."  The Dark Avenger growled back in response.

"We need to go to Greece, there's someone there that these things are targeting almost as much as you."  SuperDude nodded.

*********

Bryce turned to Bryan and sneered.  "Come on you woman.  They aren't going to kick their own asses."

Bryan laughed.  "Always acting like you have something to prove."

"Only against you brother."  He whipped a heel into the drunks face and teeth shattered.  Bryan backfisted the thug sneaking up behind him and turned to throw a punch into his solar plexus,  He collapsed in a heap.  Bryce smirked.  "You love this."

Bryan frowned.  I actually don't.  I'm just here saving your ass again, you really need to pick a better class of people to be around."

"Look who's talking."  He dodged a jab and uppercutted the guy in throat.  "If it wasn't for being in between tours Mom and Dad would never see you."

"I'm home now and that's what matters."

********

Three days later I had gotten a call from Black and I was out in the world again.  It would be my last tour of duty as I retired from active duty afterwards without the dishonorable discharge that should have been forced on me after striking a superior.

I hadn't always been a cog in the military machine I had started out life as a spoiled rich kid.  But the life of luxury had never sat well with me and the day I turned 18 I enlisted.  It turned out I was sort of a prodigy when it came to putting my mind to something, be it military then or the family business later.

I served all over the world participating in major and minor conflicts for several years before I met Black and was recruited into the Column side of the United States hierarchy.  You would be surprised at how many pies they have their fingers in.  Hint.  It's a lot.

So I became the perfect covert soldier for the Column and the lap dog of Black.  I was very good at my job.  So a few years later I was becoming burned out by the politics and miscellaneous crap involved and decided to take a long overdue leave of absence and head back home to see my family.

This would turn out to be the last time I saw them. Soon after I arrived I was called back to one last job and while I was away they were killed.  My mother and father first and then my brother when he tried to figure out what happened.  We never recovered his body, and at the time I had no way of knowing that he would become my greatest enemy.

Years passed and I inherited the family fortune and businesses. I became the peak of efficiency when it came to handling the day to day activities involved in running one of the 8 largest corporations in the world.  This was before Ruthless started to buy out the others and make his way into the number one spot.

More time passed and my need to discover answers drove me to the brink of insanity.  So I left the company in the hands of Hanson and Young, two of the brightest employees I had.  It helped that they were trustworthy.  Young's daughter handles many of the day to day operations today.

With the help of one of my old military buddies, Walker, and a weapons specialist called Stryker I began my war on the crime in NeoGothic City as the Dark Avenger.  It would be a few months later that SuperDude made his first appearance in Megalopolis and catapult the age of the powers into the public's eye.

CLASSIFIED MILITARY FILE: PERSONNEL

Real Name: Bryan Walters
Weight: 205 lbs
Height: 6'1"
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue
Sex: Male
D.O.B.: REDACTED
Age: REDACTED
Place of Birth: REDACTED
Known Relatives: (Father), (Mother), Bryce Alan (Brother)

History
REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED and once that's done REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED gelatinous Laser that fills up the box REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED and then you need to kidnap Chris Rock REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED Put all the goats in a blender REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED still more work to be done REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED re-calibrate the kinetic-scope REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED John Cougar Mellencamp REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED if you could put yourself right about here REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED as long as you make sure you thoroughly paint the pigeon REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED 

Team-Building 104 - Part 1A

Team Building 104 Part 1 "First Contact" A - Voyager

He slammed into the ground and debris shot into the air.  He narrowed his eyes and scanned the area for his opponent, one of the alien creatures called the Harvesters.

He found the being and molten heat lanced from his eyes and scorched the air in its wake.  SuperDude stood as his attack burned in the metallic harness that was pinging his location back to the others of his group.

"I don't want to fight you!!"  He screamed at the creature as it landed and growled at his.  "We don't have to do this."  It spoke back to him.

::I AM AFRAID I DO.  I MUST FEED.  YOU ARE THE SOURCE.  I WILL HAVE YOU FOR MYSELF.::  SuperDude blinked.  Internally the Star Force, Dawnbringer, allowed him to understand the alien language at a basic level.

"Well that's new.  What do you mean by source?"

::THE SOURCE IS FOOD FOR US.  POWER OF THE STARS.  WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS?::

SuperDude smiled.  "People, including enemies and aliens it seems, just like me."

"Not everyone likes you."  A voice from the shadows behind him spoke.

*******

My name is Calvin Kellerman and I was once just like you, normal.  Many years ago I was given a chance to be greater than what I was, and I have used that to become the greatest hero in the world.  I am getting ahead of myself however; allow me to start at the beginning.

It was a day like any other.  The sun was out.  The weather was clear and the forecast was cool.  Across the Universe something awoke, something that sensed me, or something inside of me.  A purity of purpose and spirit.  That was when I was chosen by the Star Force.

A beam of pure intent lanced from the Heavens and buried itself deep inside of my soul; we bonded instantly as I accepted everything that it offered.  Power and enough that I could change things in the world for the better.

It told me that it was called Dawnbringer and that together we would show the world our light, one that will change the way humanity views the augmented, and different.  It also told me that it was not alone and there were other Star Forces in the universe with less than noble intentions.  They would be our enemy and would stand in the way of our purpose.

I wept then.  Before being chosen I was no one.  I had a desk job.  I ate dinner alone.  I was just an average Joe, one of the working class, and I moved through life oblivious to the greater universe and the underpinnings of how the way things worked.

I soon learned of the greater Darkness and of Those That Came Before, of the Entity and the War of Sorrow, of the Kaleidoscope Cascade and the ruptures.  Many things in the Universe that tried to tear it apart just because they could.  I was the first of the new breed of champions, and I would excel beyond Dawnbringer's wildest dreams.

Soon I would meet more like myself, but that is a tale for another day.

TBC in Team Building 104 Part 1 - B

History 101 - Part 3

My name is Mercedes Whitman and I am a hero on a foreign world. I'm the daughter of two heroes, and was trapped on this Earth during an Event that sealed the way back home forever. They call me Black Sapphire when I'm out patrolling the streets, and this is my Blog.

SATURDAY SUPER STORIES - HISTORY 101 Part 3: "Original Sin"

Their hands locked and the test of strength began, neither willing to give ground. Shrulk drove her back a step, sweat beading on her forehead. "Why don't you die?!"

"Can't... have...a...date...TONIGHT!" She twisted her left heel and pivoted, turning into the grapple and pulling, forcing a shift in their momentum which her power latched onto and increased. Shrulk lost its footing and flew half a block away, into a parked SUV.

"YES!!" She hopped a little.

"Don't get cocky." The voice growled into her ear-piece.

*******

Rex Ruthless smiled as Shrulk was unloaded from the Column special transport. He held out his hand and the creature shook it. "We haven't been introduced. I am Rex Ruthless, and I have facilitated your release."

"We know who you are Mr. Ruthless. What we don't know is why?" It responded.

"That's the easy part. Because I crave knowledge, and through that knowledge I can gain power. My dream is to someday rise above the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world... not that I am not already ridiculously rich and powerful. I wish to have a legacy that stretches far into the future, and to do that I must start here, in the present." The creature nodded its head. "So to begin that quest I have freed you and built you another lab. I call it ARC One, the Advanced Research Collective, the first of many such facilities that I hope to build all over the Earth. You have carte blanche to continue your research, and maybe someday you will find a cure for what ails you."

"What if we don't want to be cured?"

"That, of course, is up to you."

Shrulk nodded again.

"Allow me to leave you to your task." Rex turned and climbed in his limo and it drove off, leaving the Jessup's to their life as it was.

Months pass...

The last of the switches were hit and the system powered itself on. Various bits of machinery twisted and adjusted themselves as the perfect trajectory was plotted. Shrulk hit the last button. The machine pulsed and immediately the screens around the room lit up with data.

He/She looked over the readings and smiled. "This proves that Dr. Kirby was right, the Star Force is real. The Universe is evolving." Randall spoke quietly.

"At least the Stars are." Erica replied.

"These other readings prove that we have been imbued by a portion of one of these Star Forces, and also that there are more than a dozen readings scattered around the globe."

"This proves our theory on SuperDude."

"What we sensed has to be a Star Force."

"But not diluted like ours. Pure."

"He rarely leaves the confines of Megalopolis. I wonder why he engaged us back then?"

"Someday we will have to ask him."

"Does this mean I can track SuperDude?" Ruthless spoke from the observation platform. Shrulk looked back and up towards him.

"Not in the way you would like." Their voices in unison once again. "This only gives a general location. We would have to refine it, and that would take more time, funds and information. We would have to develop a new tool and scans of SuperDude would be needed as each of the Star Forces seem to vary in degree and strength. Personal readings." It nodded to itself. "We can get these for you. We have been waiting for another chance at... him."

"Make it so." Ruthless spun on his heel and exited." Shrulk went back to the computers and began to work.

More time passes...

The Jessup's looked down on the city and watched SuperDude as he patrolled the East Bank of the river. Their scanners had taken weeks to install and were all working perfectly, passively scanning him as he patrolled the city each day, each scan narrowing the power down.

The creatures arm pinged, and it looked down at the forearm scanner. 98% complete. Data was being mined and collated. "Another few passes and we will have the complete genetic code and power set of SuperDude."

"Really?" Shrulk jumped a bit. They turned and saw SuperDude standing behind them. "I would hate to burst your bubble, but the scans you have been taking are false positives."

"What?" Shrulk lifted its arm and watched as the counter pinged to 100%. PROFILE COMPLETE. SUBJECT SHRULK ALREADY ON FILE. "How?!"

"I have been using my super-speed redirect the scanners, faster than you can even blink. One of my associates gave me the hint that something was up."

Shrulk growled.

"But since you haven't actually committed any crimes yet, I can't take you back to the Spiral. But..." SuperDudes hand popped Shrulk in the chin and she/he went flying. "STAY OUT OF MY CITY!!" he shouted.

Elsewhere...

SCAN COMPLETE. 100% OF GENETIC DATA RECEIVED. Rex Ruthless smiled and steeples his hands together. "Excellent."

END PART 3