It seems to me someone wanted a new villan (or set of Villans) for the LWMBP to fight. OK guys here they are.
Jump in and have some fun...
[ January 06, 2004, 07:53 AM: Message edited by: Abin Quank ]
Posted by Almost New Kid on :
Emma Grundy harrumphed softly to herself as she walked past SHAKES.
“Not MY kind of place,” she thought bitterly, “actually Legion World itself isn’t my kind of place. It shouldn’t exist in my universe. I don’t like these people, they’re frivolous and preoccupied with sex, and it’s disgusting.”
She reached the end of the building and peered into the narrow alley separating SHAKES from The Starfield Lounge. The alley itself served as a delivery stop for both establishments, at the back of the alley the two buildings were connected by an enclosed walkway. Halfway down the alley twin loading docks faced each other. Both establishments used many of the same suppliers and the owners found the dual arrangements very convenient.
Neither establishment was run in a strict business model fashion, they were more like clubhouses than businesses, places for good friends to gather and enjoy each others company. Making a profit was not a consideration for either owner.
Emma snorted at that thought, “Just another reason to put them out of business.”
She looked around quickly before entering the alley, “I don’t want to be seen here, especially tonight.”
The thought of her friends reactions, should any of them find out that she had actually ventured inside either of these dens of inequity, caused her to shudder in horror. Why they would be absolutely appalled. Her name would be stricken from the “Saint’s List” at the United Charlatan Church. Why, decent people would cross the street rather than be seen anywhere near her. And, worst of all, rumors would spread that she secretly enjoyed the barbaric, hedonistic, and animalistic perversions that all of her friends knew took place inside.
She had never entered such an establishment. They were the work of the devil. Pastor Upright N. Uptight preached about the evils of these establishments constantly and she believed him. She knew that a man of the lord would have his facts straight. Why, no preacher would ever rant and rave against anything unless he knew for certain that evil was behind it. Well, Some of those new women preachers now, they didn’t seem as fiery, as committed to stamping out the work of the devil as the older men.
She snorted again, “Play-acting, they know they’re not real preachers, they know the Charlatan Church only gave them their frocks to quiet down the stupid liberals. Well, their turn will also come.”
Satisfied that the street was clear and no one had seen her, she stepped into the alley.
She stayed in the shadows at the side of the alley until she reached the SHAKES loading dock. “No sense in taking any chances,” she thought, why any low life scum could walk by and see her if she wasn’t careful. The loading bay door was open and she could hear the sounds of laughter echoing from the club’s interior. “Those evil fools won’t be laughing in a moment,” she thought grimly.
She removed the long cloak which had kept out the chill of the early autumn air. Underneath it she wore a proper woman’s dress that covered her from chin to ankles. Some of her friends thought she was too daring in her choice of clothing, but she hated the idea of ruining her dresses constantly because the hemlines dragged the floor. She pulled up the right sleeve of her dress. Strapped to her wrist was a square device. She pressed a sequence of studs on the device and her outline began to fade. Within seconds Emma Grundy was gone, in her place stood the android waitress Candy.
Inside SHAKES it was crowded and noisy. Behind the bar the co-owners, Semi and Vee, joked with some of the regulars as they skillfully mixed drinks and repartee. Laughter echoed from the back room where Icefire and shark lad frolicked in an inflatable pool. In one corner Outdoor Miner and Arachne entertained some newbie’s with an outrageous story. Cobalt Kid sat at a newly installed upright piano playing requests and making ribald comments as Kara and Harbinger danced to his tunes in mid air, each trying to outdo the other with the inventiveness – and outrageousness – of their moves. Sonnie, Italian Boy, Numf-el, and Dev-em stood around the piano laughing at the girl’s antics. The android waiters and waitresses moved swiftly around the room anticipating the needs of the various patrons and fulfilling them without waiting to be asked.
“Semi, when you opened this place, did you have any idea what a success it would be?” It was a question Vee asked Semi every night.
Frowning, Emma Grundy surveyed the room. Pastor Uptight was right, she thought, this cannot be allowed to continue. She pressed another of the studs in her wrist device. The android waitress Candy, who had been sitting with Almost New Kid and keeping him from inadvertently annoying the other customers – his control of his power was marginal at best – suddenly excused herself, politely of course, and walked toward the spot where Emma was hidden.
Emma Grundy smiled to herself, “and so it begins…”
Posted by Almost New Kid on :
The android reached Emma’s hiding spot without attracting undue notice. She was ready when it arrived. She removed a small disk shaped object from a pocket in her dress and cupped it in the palm of her left hand.
“I sense you need the attention of a willing and nubile female surrogate. I am here to serve you.” The android’s hand reached out to gently caress the side of her face. “I can ease your pain and frustration. It is what I do.”
For a split second Emma’s resolve wavered. The gentle tones of the girl’s voice, the lightness of her touch…
NO! The image of Dr. Uptight appeared in her mind.
“They are the spawn of the devil, Emma. They will tempt you with their perversions of the creator’s laws. They will attempt to subvert you by offering release. You must be strong. You must resist. You must remain true to the creator. You must remain true to me.”
The memory of her last private prayer session strengthened her. She knelt before him as she always did in their private rituals, her hands and mouth praying in ecstasy, releasing him from the temptations that the creator set as tests in the path of the faithful. She had received his blessing – as he received release.
“It’s not a girl it’s a machine,” she thought savagely. “A perversion designed to subvert and destroy.” Despite the sudden burst of inner revulsion, she smiled as she allowed her hands to slide over the android’s torso. She let her left hand trace the string bikini top until it rested between the androids breasts. She applied the device hidden in her hand to the androids synthetic flesh.
Candy’s demeanor instantly changed. The warmth and seductiveness vanished, replaced by an air of docile servitude.
“Mistress, I await you command”
Emma smiled as she removed a package from another of her dresses many pockets. It contained a large number of thumbtack sized devices. She handed the package to Candy.
“I understand that you are capable of hyper-speed operation. Has the controller affected that?”
“No Mistress.”
“Good. I want you to attach one of these to every human in this room. Don’t waste any on the part human freaks; they will be dealt with later. They are to be attached to the base of the neck, between the seventh and eighth vertebrae. Be precise, and do not allow yourself to be seen. Hmm… Better start with the owners.”
Semi felt a feathery touch at the back of his neck. He was laughing at one of Healex’s comments as he mixed a drink for Danny. For a split second he felt an eerie sensation. A chill passed over his entire body and was gone. He blinked momentarily to clear his suddenly blurred vision and looked in the direction of the back room. “I’ll have to speak with Icefire, again, about using his powers to impress the ladies.” He shook his head, knowing that sometime soon his younger brother’s constant womanizing was going to cause trouble.
Vee stood at the back of the bar leaning against the liquor cabinet and surveyed the room. As usual the size of the crowd gave him a warm feeling. But, not as warm as the feeling he would have later as he and Semi counted the evenings take. The crowd around the Piano alone must have run up a several hundred credit tab already, and the evening was still young.
Cobalt halted his playing. What in the hell did Kara think she was doing? Dancing in mid air and showing off her body that way?
“Kara, Come down here.”
She was at his side instantly, apologizing profusely for having embarrassed him. He stroked her hair and murmered, “It’s OK babe, I’ll let you make it up to me later.”
Having settled that, Cobalt let his eyes wander around the room. He noticed that Harbinger had also stopped her dancing and was now talking to Sonnie and Numf-el. She was red-faced with embarrassment. Typically, Sonnie was berating her with sarcastic comments. Something seemed very wrong with the way she was meekly accepting his criticism but try as he might, Cobalt could not pinpoint what it was.
In the back of the room a minor disturbance was starting.
"Time to earn my pay as security chief," Cobalt thought wearily as he rose from the piano and headed for the back.
In the Legion World Security Office, Space Ranger and the Emerald Empress belatedly opened the security channel to SHAKES. The alarm had been going off for almost a minute before either of them noticed the persistent buzzing noise. The Ranger put on his best face as he stood close to the Holo-pick-up relay, while the Empress moved quickly out of range. “Dammed, duty bound, Boy Scout just has to answer that thing, no matter what!” she muttered as she refastened her clothing.
Vee’s face appeared hanging in mid air.
“I don’t know if Cobalt needs help, but I figured I better call just in case. It’s those damm freaks again, Outdoor Miner and Shark Lad, Miner had the nerve to paw at Arachne and Shark Lad actually tried to put some kind of move on Icefire. Can you imagine that? Sharkey apparently thought that Icefire might be interested in him.”
The Holo-Image of Vee seemed to be very amused by the possibility that Icefire might be interested in a gay relationship.
The Ranger looked questioningly at the Empress. The conversation stunned him. Icefire had been pursuing Shark Lad’s attention for weeks. Now Vee wanted Shark Lad removed from SHAKES because he had responded to Icefire’s constant flirting? And the Miner/Arachne thing made even less sense. The two had been constant companions ever since the mission to Taltar. From what the Ranger had seen she was the one constantly pawing at him. The Empress was making kill it motions at him from the other side of the room. He decided to end the conversation without asking the obvious questions.
“OK, Vee, we’re on our way.”
“I talked to Cobie on the other line,” the Empress’ voice sounded strange, “He want us to bring the wagon. He said something about Half Human Scum…” She looked at him with a mystified expression. “Three prisoners, he said. Outdoor Miner, Shark Lad, and Greybird, the charge is attempting to incite civil disobedience.”
“Greybird? What did he supposedly do?”
“Apparently he stood up to Cobalt and began reciting something about Equal Rights.”
“OK, that sounds like him. But when did that become a crime?”
The Empress shook her head sadly, “it gets worse Rangey, Cobalt was going off about ‘Uppity Half Breeds’ and the need to ‘Keep them in their Place.’ What the sprock is going on?”
Before he could answer, the door to the security office opened and a tall man wearing the frock of a minister in the United Charlatan Church entered the office.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Super Lad Kid walked through the streets of Legion World, when suddenly it hit him: the streets were empty. And there was no music coming from SHAKES. He began realizing something could be wrong. "But out of all the LMBers, what can I do?" he thought, always under-estimating hiimself. He quickly ducked into an ally way, and watched from the shadows. He could hear Greybird arguing with Cobalt Kid, which he knew would never happen. Even worse, it was about equal rights?
Then it happened: men in grey overcoats walked through Legion World, but stayed in the shadows, as if waiting for something to happen. Things were heating up. "I need help" he thought, but before he could answer himself, he saw Shark Lad burst out of SHAKES!
Suddenly he heard a scream at Cobalt's security office, where Space Ranger and Emerald Empress were...
Posted by Space Ranger on :
As Super lad Kid turned to run towards the Security Office he saw Shark Lad out of the corner of his eye. He had been encased in a block of ice and had skidded into the side of a building head first. Torn between finding out what was happening at the security office and going to help his friend he hesitated a moment. Everything went black…
Outdoor Miner sat in his cell in the legion world detention center and ran through the events of the previous evening for the hundredth time. What in the hell had happened to everyone? One moment he was sitting with Arachne telling a group of newbies about the recent mission to Taltar and the next Archne was on her feet screaming at him to keep his filthy claws off of her. She actually began spinning a web around him! The group of newbies, people who had been admiring fans just a moment earlier, were screeching vile epithets in his face and Cobalt kid, his friend and drinking buddy, hadn’t listened to a word he said. Instead he had thrown a magnetic containment sphere around him and told him to shut his filthy half breed mouth while he talked to the real people.
Miner wanted badly to leave at that point, to go away and think this thing through. Unfortunately using his spatial displacement power took concentration. And even though he wanted very badly to be somewhere else just then, the unexpected eruption of total insanity surrounding him left him disoriented and unable to concentrate.
“Well,” he thought, “I can leave any time I want to now.” He knew that the legion world detention cells wouldn’t hold him any longer than he chose to let them. “Cobie doesn’t seem to understand how my power works.” The security system restraining fields were set for teleportation disruption. He could feel the limitation of the field around his cell and he knew he could slip right past it.
It struck him as odd that the Ranger, who normally kept a close eye on how the security set-up was configured, would let that mistake get past him.
“But, considering the events of last night, maybe I don’t know any of these people as well as I thought.”
Shark Lad floated in his cell still half frozen. He was still disorientated from the previous evening’s events. A vision of Furball peering into his cell came and went. “Let that poor excuse for a bearskin rug gloat,” he grumbled, “sooner or later I’ll get out of here and then he’ll pay. They’ll all pay, especially that cheap slut Icefire.”
“Any change Furball?” Greybird’s voice was low and he glanced down the corridor as he spoke. At any time one of the security force members could come into the area. Super Lad Kid had been through at least twice already this morning, with an uncharacteristically smug expression on his face as he checked on the prisoners. Grey had no idea what had come over his friends so suddenly. He was enjoying dinner and a good natured argument with He Who Wanders in the Starfield Room when the commotion had broken out next door in SHAKES. He and HWW went across to the other building more out of curiosity than anything else. When the reached the other building everything changed, people he had known for years started acting like bad parodies of themselves. Cobalt kid was the worst. At first he thought the whole situation was a bad attempt at comedy, a common occurrence on LW.
But when what at first seemed to be a bad impersonation of a backwoods red-neck sheriff went steadily down hill. And, when Cobalt carried things much further than he needed to, by insulting and abusing Miner, Greybird had interceded, only to be insulted and abused himself before being arrested. The insult on top of the injury was the reaction of his supposed friend. He Who Wanders stood by laughing as he was hauled off to jail. Now he sat in a cell, which didn’t officially exist on Legion World, and worried about the fate of his friends.
Furball stood outside the cell holding Shark Lad and glared at the semi comatose occupant.
Furball shook his head sadly at Greybird then left by the way he had entered, a method known only to him…
[ October 14, 2003, 05:44 PM: Message edited by: Space Ranger ]
Posted by Almost New Kid on :
SHAKES
ANK entered SHAKES cautiously, after the ruckus caused by some of the half breeds last night, he knew that Vee and Semi would most likely be a little testy this morning. As soon as he pushed through the triple marine varnished antique doors he knew that he hadn’t overestimated the situation.
“In or out, Kid, you’re blocking traffic,” Semi snarled from behind the bar when he paused for a second in the doorway.
The interior of the bar looked quite different. The new piano had been moved from it’s prominent location in the middle of the room to a corner, and a small railing had been set up around it. There seemed to be quite a few patrons inside but the room was oddly quiet, and seemed emptier than it should have. With a small start ANK realized that he didn’t recognize most of the people seated around the room. Nor did he recognize the five female androids that flitted from table to table. Not only were they much slower than he remembered but they were dressed in standard, if loose fitting, long skirted, and drab, could be called standard, waitress outfits. The usual male staff androids, Troy, Biff, and Lord were nowhere to be seen.
He seated himself at his usual table and waited for a waitress. He was already slightly annoyed by the service, or lack thereof, he could never remember a time before when his usual cup of java wasn’t already at his table when he sat down. Two of the waitresses he noticed were standing at the corner of the bar chatting, neither of them seemed to have noticed him. A third waitress was stationed near a newly installed large table in the back of the room. That table, large enough for a dozen people, had two occupants. A sharp faced woman dressed in a floor length calico dress, sat taking quietly to a large man in a gray overcoat and black slouch hat. The hat was pulled low over his eyes and the resulting shadow all but hid his face. The remaining two waitresses were moving lackadaisically around the floor.
He was almost ready to leave when a waitress approached his table.
“Good morning sir, welcome to SHAKES, may I take your order?” She asked in a bored voice, snapping her gum in between each word.
Before he could answer, two people coming in the front door caught his attention.
The Space Ranger and the Emerald Empress both looked like they had just been through a war…
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
...as Space Ranger flew at the man in the overcoat with amazing speed. Not a man to mince words, Space Ranger no longer had the patience to play games. The Emerald Empress let loose a blast as well to push back the customers!
"Let's go EE!" yelled the Ranger, "we have to make this quick"
"Like Claremont said, quarter will be neither asked nor given here!" yelled back EE.
Before Space Ranger could get to the man in the overcoat, however, Ms. Grundy moved with lightning like speed and landed a massive overhand right into Space Ranger sending him through the wall of SHAKES. Leaping at the Emerald Empress, Emma Grundy showed her massive strength and invulnerability as she began to pound on the Empress! While Space Ranger got ready to regroup, he looked up to see Cobalt Kid, Lash Lad and Icefyre, all ready to take him out! "Well?" said Cobalt. "Kill him" replied a voice from the shadows, as a figure stepped out. The figured revealed him/herself to be...
Posted by Almost But Not Quite New Kid on :
*Interlude*
At the end of the universe, where time and space meet their distruction in a horrifyingly beautiful light show, there is a wall.
The wall is an immense solid black slab of obsidian. It has one flaw.
In the exact center of the wall is a hole, a mouse hole.
Inside that hole sits a mouse wearing a garish purple cloak. The mouse watches the struggles of the LMBP and squeaks happily to itself.
"Cobalt Kid, you'll never realize how far you have fallen this time. There is nothing that you can do. My agents have finally found a way to isolate you. This time you must fight me in a non-silly thread. The LMBP will not rally to your side and rescue you.
quote:Originally posted by Almost But Not Quite New Kid: *Interlude*
At the end of the universe, where time and space meet their distruction in a horrifyingly beautiful light show, there is a wall.
The wall is an immense solid black slab of obsidian. It has one flaw.
In the exact center of the wall is a hole, a mouse hole.
Inside that hole sits a mouse wearing a garish purple cloak. The mouse watches the struggles of the LMBP and squeaks happily to itself.
"Cobalt Kid, you'll never realize how far you have fallen this time. There is nothing that you can do. My agents have finally found a way to isolate you. This time you must fight me in a non-silly thread. The LMBP will not rally to your side and rescue you.
"Kill him" replied a voice from the shadows, as a figure stepped out. The figured revealed him/herself to be...
...Kid Prime! Yes, the LMBPer who had left the fold for a time had come back only to join the side of United Charalaton Church! Icefyre blasted Space Ranger with a cascade of Ice, as Lash Lad hurled a whip around his neck. "Sorry Ranger, I liked you. But when you decided to side with the Empress, it was over for you. Just the way it goes" said Cobalt Kid, as he held him in place magnetically. Kara, Dev-Em, and Harbinger stepped forward, while the three LMBers held him down, and began to pound him.
As Emma Grundy continued to pound on the Emerald Empress, Pastor Uptight watched on with delight. A rueful smile crossed his face. Kid Prime walked into the bar to watch on, as Semi and Vee made sure no customers left without paying their tabs. Kid Prime turned to Super Lad Kid who had slipped in as well, as they prepared to join in. Suddenly something came out over Super Lad Kid's omni-com. "It's Grey Bird boy, Kid" said Sonnie Boy. "He's starting a prison riot and prepared to break out" "Let's go" said Kid Prime
As the two went to the prison, no one had any notion that Kid Prime was really faking it and wasn't under the control of Pastor Uptight. "It's time to gather whatever forces we can get" he thought, "and then go back for EE and SP. I hope they're OK in the meantime..."
Posted by Faraway Lad on :
On the way to the prison, they bumped into Faraway Lad who was on one of his infrequent visits to this sector of Legion World.
“Kid Prime” Far shouted “I haven’t seen you in ages, how’s things? I was just about to go into Shakes for a beer want to join me?”
Frantically pulling Faraway into a side ally and making hushing noises Kid Prime swiftly filled Far in on what was happening.
“well that seems very strange behaviour” said Faraway, “ I mean I’m used to walking into strange situations on legion world but this is not the LMBP I know and love”
With a worried look out into the street Kid Prime said “we are off to rescue Outdoor Miner and Greybird, for some reason they seem immune to whatever is going on. Come to think of it how come you are unaffected Faraway?” asked Kid Prime, “ I mean how do we know we can trust you”
“You don’t” agreed Faraway “ but usually in these adventures I am so rarely used that the plot authors never do anything with me so I guess the Faraway power makes me immune to these reality altering things”
Arriving at the prison they heard Greybirds voice raised in a spirited argument
“this is totally unconstitutional you unexpunged expletive deleted son of a dead race. I have full diplomatic immunity from the Starhaven consulate. When my family hear of this indignity they shall visit the full force of an entire planets opprobrium and contempt upon your stylistically challenged head” Said the legions resident curmudgeon
“That’s my Grey” said Faraway smiling “KP I need a diversion”
“OK Faraway” said KP and transforming himself into a ……
Posted by Vee on :
“OK Faraway” said KP and transforming himself into Austria …… (or was it France?) Well it makes no never mind because KP said "Shit!!!!! Not again! I don't want to be stuck as a country again!"
To which Faraway replied, "Well you did it to yourself this time. You have no one to blame but yourself. Besides, I fail to see how becoming France or Austria is going to provide me with an adequate diversion. It's not like they're really interesting countries with lots going on like...Uzbekestan or Chad. Yeah, at least Chad was critically important during the US elections a few years ago."
KP got so annoyed that he found a way to revert to his old self and then quickly transformed into....
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
...a robotic power drill (OK, if I'm screwing up Kid Prime's powers, I apologzie), and drilled into the prison cells!
As guards swarmed the prison cells, Kid Prime pushed them back, as he and Faraway freed Grey Bird, Outdoor Miner and Shark Lad from their prison cells! Super Lad Kid had no time to react, as he was duped by the two! As guards began to swarm them, Faraway then used his power on the five LMBers, and sent them Faraway!
When the next appeared, they were...
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
...in another solar system! The five LMBers now realized they were the last chance the LMB had, and had to come up with a plan to get back to Legion World and stop the maddness.
Meanwhile, Cobalt Kid laughed as Dev-Em, Harbinger and Kara all took turns beating Space Ranger to a pulp. Semi, Vee, Icefyre, Lash a few others were all in a circle around the Emerald Empress laughing, as Ms. Grundy went to down pounding on her.
"I have an idea of what to do with these two", said Pastor Uptight, "we'll put them in the...
Posted by Almost But Not Quite New Kid on :
"Basement of the United Charlatan Church."
"And once they are there my elite angelic guards will ensure that no escape is possible."
Smiling he turned to Vee and motioned to the cash register.
"I trust that your weekly tithe to the church will take into account the extra business you will now receive, once I have removed your establihment from the forbidden list?"
Vee looked at Semi, then forced a smile onto his face.
"Of course Pastor, but who is to pay for all the damages?"
"Send that bill to the Palace. After all most of the damage was caused by the Princess's two rogue security agents."
Smiling happily Pastor Uptight N. Upright walked to the front door, pausing only long enough to deliver a kick to the head of the unconsious Emerald Empress.
As he watched the Pastor leave, Cobalt turned to Semi and said...
Posted by Outdoor Miner on :
.....something really clever, I'm sure.
But meanwhile, in another solar system.....
"Anybody know where we are?" asked KP, surveying the alien landscape.
"Never been in these parts before", replied Shark Lad. "Miner?"
"Give me a minute to clear my head and I'll get us all back" said Outdoor Miner.
"We may not have a minute", said Faraway Lad. "Look!"
Turning towards Faraway, the LWMBers saw.....
Posted by Space Ranger on :
A shimmering golden female. She hovered a few feet off ov the barren rocky soil of the desolated planet on which they stood. None of the LMBPers recognized her as her face was compleely hidden by the glowing golden light eminating from her form. They stood, transfixed by her radience, staring open mouthed at her.
"Well boys, I know I haven't seen you in a while, but you all look like you've never seen a girl before."
"Who Are You?" Shark Lad managed to ask in a low voice.
"Don't you recognize me Sharkey? We shared some wild adventures a while back. How could you forget me?"
Faraway Lad stared hard at the glowing, sparkling golden form. The voice was familiar but he couldn't quite place it.
"I shouldn't tease you guys. I've changed quite a bit since I last visited Legion World. It's not surprising that you don't know me any more."
She extended a hand and an energy bupple enclosed the LMBPers.
"I'll take you guys home, if you'll tell me where home is now. I've been searching for a long while, but I haven't been able to find it."
Meanwhile back at SHAKES
Cobalt Kid turned to Semi and said, "You really ought to think about taking down that painting."
He pointed at the six foot by ten foot painting which proudly adorned the wall above and behind the bar.
"The Lounging Lad" was painted by the great French artiste Lord Compt De Gayette in 1699. It depicted a stunningly beautiful young man reclining semi nude on a brightly colored divan. The smiling youth in the portrait held a glass of wine in one hand and extended the other towards an unseen lover. How and when Semi originally acquired the portrait had long been a matter of speculation among SHAKES guests.
"It's just so gay. The pastor mentioned to me yesterday that he would feel much better about removing SHAKES from the forbidden list if that disgusting thing was gone."
Semi looked up at the picture as if he was seeing it for the very first time, confusion covered his face. In the back of his mind a small voice began to make itself heard. "Jesus, No, not the portrait, don't take down the portrait." But before he could say anything Vee's voice broke through the gathering fog in his mind.
"Cobie, consider it gone. I've never understood what Semi sees in that blasphemous monstrosity any way."
A wave of Vee's hand caused the portrait to begin shrinking. Semi had to leap to catch it as it fell from the wall.
"No Vee, It's worth Millions." He cried out as he grabbed the portait out of mid air.
Semi knew exactly which buttons to push in order to get his greedy partner to listen. The portrait stopped shrinking.
"Millions? That's interesting." Vee's voice assumed a tone that only came out when his favorite subject, money, was involved.
Semi could see the wheels turning behind his partners eyes. "No you bastard, you won't sell this," he thought savagely. But with a supreme effort he kept his face neutral.
"I'll put it in a safe place," he said slowly. "We can decide what to do with it later."
But even as a massive headache begand to bulid in the back of his head, Semi was beginning to experience an emotion completely new to him, Hate...
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
The last LMBers continued along with the Golden girl who claimed to be an old friend. However, the more they tried, they just couldn't figure out who she was. "No doubt the doing of some magic" thought Grey Bird boy. "we'll just have to go with it. I don't know how long it'll be before we can come up with a plan. Just the six of us, against all of Legion World..."
On Legion World, Semi spent the next part of his day plotting the terrible murder of Vee. Hate had now consumed him, and he willingly gave in. Vee however had spent most of the day cutting costs by laying off most of the staff and trying to take over the Starfield lounge financially. He was stopped though when he learned that Cobalt Kid had turned it into an undergroud prison camp for "enemies of the state". Icefyre now roamed the streets attacking anyone he saw flirting or engaging in sexual innuendo. And Ms. Grundy waited for the return of the missing five...
Posted by icefire on :
As Icefire roamd the stets his head began to clear "What the Hell just happened" he said aloud.
I just lost my job and my brother doesn't seem to know me!
Suddenly a bright light blinded him
"Icefire I need you."
"What" said Icefire
"Take my hand there are 4 others we must find"
I take her hand and we are gone!
Posted by icefire on :
The next thing I remember is seeing Arachne and a voice saying "Arachne I need you"!!!!
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
*alright, Icey's here!*
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
Meanwhile, back at SHAKES, an overweight man dressed in a loud go-go checks walked up to the bar.
"Hi guys! I'm Hi-Risk von Tingle and I'm the new manager here at SHAKES. Pastor Uptight told me to get this place into shape. We're gonna make it a real profit center, starting today!"
Vee looked at Semi, who was clutching his head and searching for Tylenol. "Hi-Risk who?" he asked. Semi just shook his head in confused frustration.
"Von Tingle, Von Tingle - haven't you seen my ads on late night holovision? I'm a marketing genius, if I do say so myself. Trust me lad, I've got what it takes to turn this place around. Of course, you'll have to step down from the bar. Maybe I could use you to polish the glasses. Now, what was this I've heard about a valuable painting you've got here?"
Just then, Cobalt walked in...
Posted by Semi on :
"Hi-Risk, nice to meet you. Why don't I get us some refreshment and we can sit down and talk about my duties," said Semi, thinking quickly.
"Well, I could use a forbidden libation, if you catch my drift," Hi-Risk drooled, as his jowls jiggled in anticipation.
Vee reddened, hate for for this grotesque carnival clown brimmed from every pore of his body. Semi shot him a warning glance. Vee still possessed sufficient memory of his real life, to know, "Don't go there."
"Take a seat over there in the corner," Semi said sweetly, all the time thinking, "where the light is dim so you don't scare the customers, pig." Semi busied himself behind the bar. He took two Christophle diamond cut highballs, filled them with ice, and poured in 2/3 rum and 1/3 Koko-cola. Into the left glass, he added a lavender powder.
"Here we go, Hi-Risk. Let's talk."
Posted by icefire on :
"Arachne what is going on?" said Icefire
"I have no Idea Icey"
"3 more will join you then all will be explained" said the cloaked figure!
Posted by icefire on :
"They have arrived Stu, Fat Cramer and Outdoor Miner"
" The 5 of you will risk your lives to save Legion World"
Posted by Almost But Not Quite New Kid on :
Icefire woke after a strange dream in his large four poster bed. The room looked a little blurry as he swung his legs over and searched for his slippers. He shook his head to clear the cobwebs and realized that his mouth tasted odd. Mumbling he stumbled to the bathroom off of his opulant bedroom and began running a hot shower.
He knew that the mansion's antiquated piping would take a few minutes to flush out the cold water enough to make his shower comfortable. But, once it reached the required temperature, he knew he could not stay in the shower long enough too cause the steam boiler fed system to lose enough heat to make his beloved Umber's shower cold. He grabbed a bottle of listerine and began to wash the odd taste out of his mouth.
He could hear her moving around in her bedroom. Privately he had been amazed when her parents had asked him to stay at the mansion until the wedding. And, Semi had been only too happy to say yes when he asked his older brother for permission. That still rankled him a little but he realized that Semi was only looking out for him. He knew that her well connected parents could provide Icefire with all sorts of the various social and political influences that a mere bar owner could never hope to match.
Icey smiled as he looked into the mirror. Not only was he destined to marry the girl of his dreams, but because of that marrage his dreams could now be vastly upgraded.
As he stepped out of the shower he heard a delicate knock on his door.
"Icey, Icey dearest, are you decent?"
Her voice sent a small chill up his spine. He almost answered, "No but come in anyway." But caught himself just in time. Umber was nothing if not prim and proper when it came to their relationship. She could be daring at times but wouldn't tolerate any shenanigans from him. One careless remark could change her mind. He wasn't willing to risk that. If things got too bad he'd sneak over to SHAKES. He knew a few tricks he could play with Babbette's programming that would help him take the edge off.
"Just a second Umber Dear," he answered, as he hastily threw on a pair of chino slacks and pulled on his robe.
He opened the door and was amazed to find not only Umber but Arachne, Homecoming Queen and Yugo Lass waiting for him. Oddly he had to think a minute to get the last girl's name straight, it seemed to him that she had recently undergone a small retcon. Her old name brought to mind a large gas guzzling vehicle. "Oh well," He thought.
All four girls were dressed in identical outfits. Frilly white high collared and long slieved loose fitting blouses, with Poodle Skirts. to his surprise the skirts were daringly short ahnging only to about mid calf, why if they weren't wearing knee socks, and of course, sensible shoes...
"Umber, what is your mother going to say if she sees you?" He asked, even as he turned away to fix his pants and cover up a potentially embarassing reaction.
Umber's musical laughter filled the room. "Thats where you're going to help us out Icey. We're going downtown to do some shopping and to check out the new sorority that a few of the Bob Jones girls are starting. If they're cool enough to accept us in these risque outfits we might join."
The other girls all tittered and hid their faces at that comment. Umber could be so daring. It was one of the things he loved best about her.
"But anyway Icey dear, I need you to go down to breakfast and distract mother while we slip out."
"Umm... Umber, if your mother ever caught on that I was helping you get away with something like this..."
"Don't worry Icey, if she catches us just pretend to be as shocked and outraged as she is. If you do this Lover Tonite you get a real good night kiss." She licked her lips at the last comment and Icefire melted. He was hers and she knew full well how to manage him.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Meanwhile, the mysterious golden girl thought to herself, "Well, I'm not surprised that they don't recognize who I really am, but I thought they'd pick up on the body I'm using. Don't these guys ever visit the LW Hall of the Dead? I mean, I did modify Robotwoman's basic design a bit before implanting my brain in her lifeless, golden machine body, but most of the basic design elements are still in place."
Back on Legion World, Deputy Ambassador Eryk Davis Ester was...
Posted by Space Ranger on :
In the fourth sub basement of the United Charlatan Church four guards watched curiously as Space ranger regained consciousness.
In the cell across the hallway the Emerald Empress ground her teeth in frustration as she tried vainly to control the Emerald Eye of Ekron. Curiously, while the eye resisted all attempts to separate it from the Empress, even to the extent of destroying two of the ultra powerful “Emma Grundy” androids which had attempted to remove it from the Empress’s cell by force; it would only obey certain commands. Her cell was now comfortably furnished, and the Ranger’s horrible injuries were healed, but the eye refused to do anything else.
In the hallway Dev-Em stood cracking his knuckles, beside him Kara and Harbinger looked into the cell where the Ranger was beginning to stir.
“I hope he doesn’t get all stupid again,” Harbinger muttered softly, “I don’t want to have to fight him again.” Something stirred in the back of her mind as she spoke. He was one of the first people I met when I came here, she thought, and he was always friendly and helpful, what happened to him? What’s happened to all of us?
“Dev-Em’s voice cut off her thoughts, “’Binger, just be ready. If he does have a go at us, I’ll be the target. You and Kara need to hit him hard & fast from the sides when he moves. I don’t want to hurt him again if we don’t have to.”
Both girls immediately nodded their agreement.
Off to one side, the fourth guard, the real Emma Grundy, the human one with no super powers, watched her pawns with growing concern. “They’re fighting the control nodes. I’m going to have to replace their implants with the stronger version. The pastor thought that the more powerful ones would only be needed on a few of the LMBPers.”
Emma reached down to the Father Box on her wrist and adjusted the signals it sent to the devices implanted in the base of the LMBPers necks. Instantly the tone of their conversation changed.
“Let him come,” Kara sneered, “We’ll just fuck him up again. Maybe if we kick his nads a few more times he’ll learn his lesson.”
On the floor above them Numf-El waited and watched for his chance. He didn’t know what had happened to his friends, but he did know that he was not going to stand by and watch. The Ranger and the Empress were going to have some unexpected help whenever they made their move.
Posted by Space Ranger on :
*Story Interlude*
Sentients, we have a small problem here.
In absolute defiance of Legion World Tradition, this story actually has an established plot and sequence of events. I will summarize for those who may have jumped in without fully reviewing the action so far.
Legion World has been invaded by the forces of the United Charlatan Church, under the command of Pastor Uptight N. Upright and his right hand henchwoman Emma Grundy. Almost All LMBPers have fallen under their absolute control because of the "Control Nodes" Installed in their necks by the android Candy. These control nodes cannot be deactivated without killing the person(s) they have been installed in.
The ONLY free willed LMBPers Left are: 1. Grey Bird Boy, Outdoor Miner, Shark Lad, Kid Prime, and Faraway Lad, who have escaped to a neighboring solar system where they met the mysterious Golden Girl. Golden Girl claims to be a figure from the LMBP's Past who has radically changed since their last encounter. 2. Furball, last seen leaving the security office to get some unspecified help. 3. Emerald Empress and Space Ranger, Currently Prisoners In the lower levels of the United Charlatan Church. 4. Numf-El, Who is trying to rescue EE and SR.
EVERYONE ELSE has undergone a RADICAL PERSONALITY SHIFT. They are currently stuck in Far Right Wing Religious HELL. Their morals and attitudes have been adjusted to the worst form of PURITANICAL Hypocracy, and or Money Grubbing Nastyness, Imaginable.
Icefire is currently at the mansion home of Umber's parents eagerly anticipating his upcoming wedding. Vee has become the Ken Lay of legion world, Cobalt has become the John Ascroft of Legion World. Princess Crujectra is MISSING.
Of the people under the UCC's control ONLY Semi is close to breaking free. And that is only because of what has been done to his Beloved SHAKES.
Press your reset buttons and begin from that Premise.
*End Interlude*
Truth and Justice shall Prevail! (the clues on how to defeat the UCC have been planted)
Posted by Quislet, Esq on :
A brief case toting figure enters Shakes. "Hi Semi!" He looks around, noticing the piano has been shunted to the corner and the removal of the Lounging Lad. "Don't tell me you have had that portrait of you and Vee finally painted. I still think that the Lounging Lad draws in most of the customers. Unless of course the portrait of you and Vee is au naturale! Is Icey around? I'd like to find out what his favorite color is so I can wear the right thong for the pagaent." The figure puts his briefcase down and sits at the end of the bar. "My usual Diet Coke please. I was tied up in court all day. Not much of a crowd right now."
Semi places the Diet Coke in front of Quislet, Esq. "That'll be $3!" "WHAT!! Since when do you charge for drinks?" QUislet reaches into his pocket and pulls out a $5. "Here. I've been thinking about Sweats the Gym add on. I think there are a few people who would like to be able to exercise totally naked and some who'll just want to watch." Quislet chuckled "I was thinking of making a special area for those LWMBers"
Semi's mind is a whirl with all that Quislet is saying. It sounds familiar but goes against everything he believes in. Right? But why does the thought of a picture of him and Vee naked together excite him? Something was going on, but what?
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Semi had no time to think, as Eryk Davis Ester busted into SHAKES and took a blackjack to the back of Quis's head!
"Debauchery is not allowed here at Legion World, pal! That'll teach you!" he yelled as he smiled. Cobalt Kid walked in surrounded by goons, as they stormed through SHAKES. "Relax Semi, Vee paid up for the month. Your protected. We've been tracking this joker for a bit, and we've got 'em."
"Do what you need to do Cobalt" said EDE, Cobalt's superior, who was beginning to resemble the comic book character Wolverine. Cobalt smiled and hurled Quislet into his new death camp, the former Starfield Lounge.
--------- Meanwhile, Yugo Lass and Lard Lad walked down the street, giggly with anticipation of Icefyre and Umber's upcoming wedding. Lardy even thought about kissing Yugo Lass.
"Buffalo girls won't you come out tonight, won't you come out tonight..." they sang, on their way home from the dance. "I'm so glad Umber and Icefyre are tying the knot" said Yugo...
When suddenly, Furball landed in front of them!
Posted by Vee on :
Back at SHAKES, Semi finally walked over to meet with Hi-Risk von Tingle. In his hands were two drinks, and he was dreadfully certain of which was which.
"Mr. von Tingle, here's that Koko kola you wanted.
"My what lovely glasware you have!" von Tingle squealed. "It is such a pleasure to be working in such a high class environment. Unfortunately we can have others seeing these crystal glasses. It would seem ostentacious. Pack them all up and send them up to my hoouse. We'll store them in the basement for now until I can figure out how to make use of them."
"But that Christophe set has been in my family for ages!" Semi exploded "I won't...."
"I can see why the Pastor feels you need supervision, Mr. Translucent! You will do as I say or I will have that <yawn>...'scuse me, that hair brained Cobalt character bring his goons in here and smash every single piece to smithereens! <YAWN> As a matter of fact I <YAAAWWWNNN>...oh MY why do I feel so....." and with that his head dropped onto the table with a thud!
A slight smirk on his face, Semi glanced around to see if anyone else had noticed their argument. No one seemed to be paying attention, so Semi sat there for a moment trying to decide what to do next. He felt as if a layer of fog had lifted from his brain and he became more and more horrified at everything he began to remember.
"Need some help?" he suddenly heard whispered softly behind him. As he turned he saw a non descript woman in a brownish grey frock and white apron standing there. The woman appeared to be an ancient crone, all wrinkled and worn, but something about her didn't seem to fit.
A slight shimmer, like a soft breeze, passed between them and suddenly Semi saw her face again. It was no longer the face of a crone, but rather...
Posted by Vee on :
..."Princess! Oh my god! What are you doing here? They've been turning Legion World upside down looking for you! You have to get out of here before someone recognizes you!" Semi urged.
"No. No one will recognize me unless I choose to let them Semi, don't worry! Remember, I'm a Mistress of Illusion and none of these Charlatans including Pastor Upright N. Uptight or his number one bitch Mrs. Emma Gundy has the power to pierce my illusions."
"Are you sure?" Semi asked as he glanced around. Still, no one seemed to be paying attention to them, with the possible exception of Vee, although he seemed to be counting the evenings take at the moment. Semi's heart ached to see his precious Vee so beholden to the teachings of this new church and the almighty credit!
"Absolutely certain, my dear. But I have need of the LWMBP Espionage Squad and that means you!"
"But, how? I mean, I'll do whatever you ask, but I'm not sure what I can do alone. I don't even understand why I was able to break free of their control."
"You were able to break free because your power of invisibility is based on illusion and deception as well. Those of us with illusion based powers are better able to see through someone elses use of deception," Crujectra explained "And fear not, you won't fight alone. Ever since this all started, I've been planning my own little fun and games. But right now we have work to do! I need you to lure Vee into one of the back rooms where I'll be waiting. Once we free him from their control, we'll go get the others."
"Okay, Princess, let's go!" Semi said, his back straightening in determination.
Posted by Almost But Not Quite New Kid on :
High above Legion World in an invisible satelite, the newly retconed Anti-Moderator watches with interest as his pawn Pastor Upright N. Uptight goes about his business.
Dissatisfied with what he sees he reaches for a mikrophone, "Uptight, you fool," the words are hissed into the air, "have you found Crujectra yet? She could still appear and destroy our plans."
In the rectorium of the UCC Building, Pastor Upright N. Uptight suddenly sits bolt upright. He quickly shoves Emma Grundy's head away from his lap, interupting her dutiful prayers. God has spoken to him again.
"Emma, call out everyone, Princess Crujectra must be found and killed immediately. Oh, and have that fool Cobalt eliminate Semi and Vee, It seems they disagree with my choice of a new manager at SHAKES."
He pauses and stares thoughtfully at her moist lips. "Then, you may resume your prayer session."
Posted by Arachne on :
Meanwhile, at a fashionable boutique full of frothy white flowers and chairs upholstered in pastel taffeta, Umber, Arachne and Homecoming Queen sat pondering several wedding garters. Homecoming Queen had covered her eyes as Umber picked up a racy red one. Arachne began to titter as she imagined the gasps of horror that would come from the congrgation if Umber dared to wear such a scandalous accessory.
Titter? she thought. She shook her head, immediatly losing that train of thought. Composing herself, she smoothed out her white poodle skirt.
White poodle skirt!?![i] But what else would she be wearing? True, it was a bit scandoulous, but so much more practical than the really long skirts. [i]I just need a drink of -- of what? She couldn't quite recall. It was something black and rich. Koko-cola? No... As if she would ever touch something as strong as caffine! No, it's something different, something...
She felt as if the room was spinning.
[ October 21, 2003, 10:05 PM: Message edited by: Arachne ]
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
Meanwhile, in another galaxy, far far away, Faraway, Outdoor Miner, Shark Lad, KPand Grey Bird Boy looked hopefully at the mysterious Golden Girl.
"O Golden One, can you get us back to Legion World?" asked Shark Lad. "I fear terrible things are happening to our home and our friends, and I miss the Embassy Pool."
"The power to return and rescue Legion World is within each of you" counseled the Golden Girl. "I am the embodiment of tag-team stories past and future, the essence of your inspiration, imagination, general good will and all-out silliness. I appear at your darkest hour to restore your faith and give you strength to continue. Believe in me and succeed!"
A benign and beautiful golden glow settled over the far away galaxy, and Golden Girl disappeared, leaving a faint echo: "I will return when I'm needed..."
"We have to get back to Legion World somehow. Faraway, can you use your faraway force to transport us?" asked Miner.
With Grey Bird Boy's tracking abilities, my faraway force and your teleportation, Miner, we will return!" vowed Faraway Lad. The team concentrated on their home world and, suddenly, they were in the back alleyway between Shakes and the Starfield Lounge.
"What is going on here?" gasped Outdoor Miner. "The Lounge is surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards!"
" Watch out" hissed Shark Lad. "There goes Bob Jones Boy, dressed in a commandant's uniform. Who let that idiot out of the asylum? Looks like he's headed to Cobie's Security Office. Grey, can you fly after him and find out what's going on?"
Grey BIrd Boy flew upwards without a word.
"What now?" asked Kid Prime, as the rest of the team withdrew into the safety of the shadows.
Posted by Almost But Not Quite New Kid on :
Outdoor Miner looked at Kid Prime thoughtfully, then asked a question that had been on all of their minds.
"If that racist nutbag Bob Jones Boy is running around loose, who have they got locked up?"
Kid Prime thoght for a moment then replied.
"Maybe I can find out."
KP's form began ro shift, but before he could complete the transformation. Grey Bird Boy returned.
"Problems guys, I just got a look inside that compound..."
Posted by Harbinger on :
"it looks like they're decorating it for the most over the top, lilly filled wedding! There's flowers everywhere, there's a pulpit been put into the far end with two rows of pews stretching out from it"
"But who wants to get married?" Asked someone else (I've forgotten who else apart from Grey Bird Boy is on side right now so bear with me, use your imagination if you're totally stuck, if you haven't got an imagination then this whol;e thread is propbably a lost cause on you anyway so don't worry anyway and sue for breach of entertainment value if you are really feeling pedantic - there's plenty of space lawyers hanging about the edges of these sort of events just awaiting a casualty to approach with their cards.... the vultures! Whatever, I'm not going too much further with this right now anyway so just hang on in there. Though the realisation that I could have saved myself from an awful lot of typing if I'd only pressed the 'back' key on my task bar I could have read who else was in this scene - d'oh!! And I think I've remembered that Outside Miner was one of them so let's all agree it was him who asked the question okay?)
ANYWAY from behind them came an unexpected voice saying "You'll never live to find out! Bwah ha ha ha ha"
Oh NO! What dastardy plot had our intrepid heroes landed in now?
And will they survive to reach the end of this thread?
And who's turn is it to ut the kettle on?
Stay tuned - or even better and definitely preferably, write it yourself!
Posted by Almost But Not Quite New Kid on :
*Interlude*
Was SHE, talking to ME? Cause If She was talking to ME...
*End Interlude*
Posted by Harbinger on :
interlude*******
Probably.
Wanna make something of it?
I think it would make a nice table dressing if printed off and folded correctly like you find in swanky restaurants, but that's probably just me
end interlude*******
Posted by Vee on :
Inside SHAKES
"Okay, Princess, let's go!" Semi said, his back straightening in determination.
Another breezelike shimmer passed across the Princess' face and she was back in her disguise of the old crone. With a wink to Semi, she began...
"Oy! Look at 'im! Soused and spread out like a sow in the trough! Me Mistress, the Madam Von Tingle will be properly livid when she eyes 'im, for sure. Master Keep, would you be so kind as to help this poor woman remove his sorry corpulence out of your establishment? These old bones ache at the thought of his flabbiness already and I've yet to try movin' 'im!"
"Of course, Pri.. ! <Whew! almmost blew that!> Pray tell, how are you going to get Master Von Tingle home? Surely you can't carry him?"
"Me cart's out back in the alley. With your kind help getting him to there, I kin manage 'im from there."
A quick glance around the room assured Semi that no one cared enough about what was going on nor would any offer assitance. Semi hoisted Von Tingle up in a fireman's carry and he and the crone headed for the back rooms and rear entry.
Once out of sight, the Princess dropped her illusion and the two of them quickly took Von Tingle to the back door and tossed him into the alley in a heap. Shutting the door quietly, they moved back down the hallway to one of the stockrooms.
Inside, the Princess turned to Semi and reminded him of his task. "Remember, get Vee to come back here with you as soon as you can. Once you get him in here turn invisible immediately and stay that way until I tell you it's okay to materialize. Lots of our friends are in trouble and it's time we started taking matters into our own hands!"
"Be right back," Semi nodded and went back out into the common room.
Things there were pretty much as he had left them, although Vee was over by the piano, inspecting it as if he could tally up it's worth by simply staring at it.
"Vee," Semi said as he moved up next to him.
"Hmm? Yes, what is it?"
"We need to talk," Semi continued trying to get Vee's attention away from the piano.
"Later. Right now I'm trying to figure out what we can get for this if we sell it before Von Tingle takes over. It's got to be wortha few hundred credits at least."
"A few hundred?!!! Are you crazy?" Semi exploded then caught himself <Chill, Semi chill! Don't blow it!>
"What? You don't think so? Shows you what you know about value! Huh, it's a good thing I'm here!" Vee smirked.
"It just surprised me that it could be worth that much," Semi lied through clenched teeth. "But, if you say so." he added with a shrug "Actually I was thinking along the same lines. Remember the painting I had over the bar?"
"Yeah?" Vee said, still inspecting the piano.
"Vee listen to me. That painting is worth a whole lot more. Ten time, no a hundred times more than this piano."
"Whoa! That crappy painting, you must be crazy."
"Vee, I know what I'm talking about. It was painted by one of the true masters of old Earth. We need to do something with it fast or we're going to be out a whole lot more than just a few hundred credits!"
"Are you serious? You are, aren't you?" Vee said, a sudden gleam in his eyes. "Where is it? I remember you stopped me from shrinking it. What did you do with it?"
"I put it away in one of the backrooms until..." Semi started to explain but didn't get very far.
"Show me! Show me where it is!" Vee insisted, grabbing Semi by the arm.
"Alright, it's in back..." Semi said and led Vee into the back hallway and to the room where Crujectra remained hidden.
"It's in here, on the top shelf. Back there, see it?" he said as he pointed to the very back of the room.
Vee immediately hurried into the room and Semi instantly turned invisible after shutting the door behind them....
Posted by Almost But Not Quite New Kid on :
Icefire tugged at the collar of his heavily starched shirt and for the tenth time adjusted his bow tie as he examined himself critically in the full length mirror. He was not about to risk having his appearance be less than perfect on the most important day of his life. In the mirror behind him he could see his friends. Italian Boy was serving as his Best Man, while Healex, Sonnie Bozzo, STU, and Danny Blane were his ushers; they stood quietly in a semi circle behind him, silently waiting for him to be satisfied with his appearance. And he had been satisfied a moment ago, until Italian Boy had jokingly commented that the bow tie made him look like Tucker Carlson.
Italian Boy obviously thought that the reference would ease his nervousness. He knew how much Icefire admired the brilliant young liberal Televangelist, but the ploy had backfired. And, now Icefire was even more concerned than ever about his appearance.
“Still, after last night…” Icefire thought to himself, “She seemed so eager…”
The previous evening when Umber had returned home, she had been flushed with excitement over the success of her daring escapade. And, she had made good her promise, Tongue kissing him not once but twice in the hallway outside her room. The second kiss was especially memorable. He had started to turn away after they broke apart the first time but she pulled him back into her embrace. Then she actually threw her arms around his neck instead of keeping them against his chest to provide a proper separation between their bodies. For the first time he had felt her bosom pressed tightly against his chest. Rockets seemed to go off in his head; the sheer excitement lifted him to dizzying heights. He almost fainted when she allowed his tongue to penetrate beyond her teeth and actually began to suck on it lightly. His body’s reaction almost frightened him but she seemed to like it and responded to his arousal by pressing herself even more tightly against him. He had to wonder, considering her daring, what would have happened if the maid hadn’t chosen that moment to wander down the hallway. Why he might have gotten to second base, before they were married. The anticipation he now felt for their wedding night…
As he wandered slowly around the mansion’s grounds, observing the preparations for the wedding, Pastor Upright, N. Uptight allowed himself a small self satisfied smile. This wedding was one of the three phases of his godlike masters plan to finally conquer Legion World. He would ensure that it came off perfectly.
“How far I have risen,” he thought to himself wonderingly, “from that lowly day so many years ago on Bourbon Street when the master found my drunken and lecherous, alternate self and separated me from him.”
A small laugh escaped his lips as that thought crossed his mind. How would the LMBPers react if they ever discovered his true origin? Would they understand his need to have Semi and Vee out of the way? Especially Vee, he could never claim to be his own man while Vee still existed.
That question died in his mind when a small puppy, which had been frolicking among the chairs, being set up for the ceremony, ran to him and jumped against his leg. The filthy little thing had soiled his sparkling white formal robes. Instantly a towering rage overcame him, and with a thought both the dirt spot and the puppy shrank to invisibility.
Something Amazing carefully checked the contents of his amazing catering truck. The unexpected call to provide the food and other refreshments for this amazing wedding had come only two days ago. Apologetically, he had informed the pastor’s secretary that on such short notice he could not possibly provide the type of amazing menu that his service was so amazingly famous for. Amazingly, that sad admission had not elicited the expected disappointment from the pastor’s secretary. Her musical laughter still echoed in his mind as he checked the contents of his warmers. “I’m positive, Mr. Amazing,” She said, “that your menu will astound the guests at the wedding.” He almost objected to the inappropriate adjective use, but the figure she quoted, and paid in advance, silenced him. It also allowed him to pay the exorbitant fees necessary to import some prime delicacies in time for this gala affair.
In the fourth sub-basement of the United Charlatan Church Headquarters the Emerald Empress glares at the laughing figure of Emma Grundy. The source of the redoubtable Mrs. Grundy’s amusement is the sight of the Space Ranger writhing in pain on the floor of his cell after repeatedly being blasted by the laser vision of Kara, Dev-Em, and Harbinger.
“Your precious Ranger can’t take much more,” Emma smilingly comments as she turns toward the Empress, “and even the eye can’t repair all of the damage they’re doing.”
One floor above, Numf-El is engaged in a furious conversation via his LMBP communicator. He is so angered by what is happening one floor below that his accent is starting to show, slightly.
“Princess, he cannae take much more o’ this. I’ve got t’ get them outa theer.”
“Numfie, I know it’s difficult. But the Ranger and the Empress knew what they were in for when I sent them back into SHAKES. They have to keep those three occupied in order for our plan to work. I’ll signal you when the time is right for you to move. Now I’ve got to go, Semi is bringing Vee to me as we speak and I have to handle this very carefully.”
Numf-El came as close as he ever has to disobeying royal orders at that moment. But, his long held traditional British beliefs won out in the end and he gritted his teeth as he waited for Crujectra’s signal.
On the floor below, the Empress made a solemn vow to herself that she was going to personally kick Emma Grundy’s sprocking bitch ass all over the galaxy when this charade was over.
In an alley outside the Starfield Room, five figures huddle in the shadows as Outdoor Miner attempts to make sense of the scene reported to them by Grey Bird Boy…
Posted by Almost But Not Quite New Kid on :
* Interlude *
Just in case anyone is interested, here is the menu prepared by Somethig Amazing for the Gala Wedding. He appologizes for how plain it is, but he was working on short notice.
The Wedding of Icefire and Umber
Reception Menu
Catered by: Something Amazing Catering Service Amazing Cave Legion World Galaxy M81 (247) 247-2470
Main Course Options:
Curried Yak Sak in Bitterroot Sauce Pigmy Railroad Trunk Al Dante Amazing Allegory Tale Tartar
Side Dishes:
French Fried Watercress Lettuce Pray Salad with Sulfur and Brimstone Dressing Amazing Artichoke Heart’s Delight in Albanian Assurance Sauce Brussels’s Sprouts basted with Cod Liver Oil Poached Fish Eggs Rocky Mountain Oysters with garlic & sage dressing
For desert:
Devils Food Cake (served by the pastor with a stern warning) Death by Stoning Delight (with real granite chunks) Angel’s Food Cake (all you can eat) Used Rice Pudding (late comers only)
From the Bar: Holy water Holy water with lemon Holy water with lime Holy water with Miss Cherry Delight (small donation required)
* End Interlude *
[ October 23, 2003, 08:17 AM: Message edited by: Almost But Not Quite New Kid ]
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
As the ushers made their way down the aisle, Pastor Uptight smiled. "Here we go..." he thought.
Greybird Boy, Kid Prime, Shark Lad, Outdoor Miner and Faraway Lad huddled in the ally, all with gray cloaks over them now. Greybird Boy sadly explained the situation in the Starfield Lounge. "It looks like Eyrk Davis Ester and Cobalt Kid have created a prison camp that puts anything I've ever seen to shame. They just got through beating Quis. Worse, they keep referring to the torture of Emerald Empress and Space Ranger, which must be even worse. Still, I don't know why they're using the Starfield Lounge when they could just use the other prison..."
Kid Prime suddenly realized why. "They're going to kill him. That's why. They're using it to kill the Legion World citizens who somehow haven't fallen under the spell." Dread and fear came across their faces. "We have to do something"
"Wait!" said Furball suddenly, coming out of the shadows. Like Shark Lad, it was hard for him to hide himself. In his arms he held Lard Lad and Yugo Lass (Hummer Lass). "Ri ridn't know rut to ro..." he said, explaining that he was unsure of what to do and kidnapped Lardy and Hummer Lass, two LMBers he thought he could count on.
However, LardLad looked slim and in shape, with his beard shaven off. Hummer Lass was now Yugo Lass, who was known only for her being easy when she kissed on the first date. "We'll have to try something to make them come back to us..."
What they didn't know was that Yugo Lass was a bridesmaid in Umber's wedding, and they were wondering where she was...
Posted by Quislet, Esq on :
Icefire stood beside Italian Boy, watching the groomsmen escorting the bridesmaids down the aisle. "My, how handsome all the groomsmen look" thought Icefire. And they were all handsome in their tuxedoes. Icefire glanced at Italian Boy. Italian Boy flashed a smile at Icefire. "This is it buddy, your last chance to escape." Italian Boy joked with a wink and a mock punch to the arm. Icefire felt a little dizzy. Italian Boy reach out and steadied Icefire, who looked like he was about to collapse.
Italian Boy's hands felt strong and Icefire felt ... safe in them. Icefire took a deep breath. He could close his eyes and tell it was Italian Boy next to him just by the scent. "Heh Heh. I know why you are wozzy!" said Italian Boy as he looked down at Icey's pants. "Thinking about the honeymoon already, eh loverboy? Well this will probably be the last time I get to do this." Italian Boy adjusted Icefire's tuxedo to hide his embarassment. Icefire blushed. "Why didn't this happen last night when I was kissing Umber?"
Just then the Wedding March began and Umber started down the aisle. Icefire and Italian Boy began walking to met her. A thought in Icefire's head bothered him. What did Italian Boy mean by "last time"?
[ October 23, 2003, 11:53 AM: Message edited by: Quislet, Esq ]
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
"Last time, last time?" whirled through Icefire's brain. He began feeling slightly ill. Something was seriously wrong. He scanned the church. The colour scheme was not his favourite, but that had been Umber's choice...there was a bridesmaid missing, one of the ushers was walking down the aisle alone and, boy, was he hot, that long blonde hair tied back with a black ribbon, those broad shoulders...
"What am I thinking?" Icefire cried, clutching his head. He reeled; Italian Boy reached out to steady him, one hand brushing the back of Icefire's neck. A small device fell to the carpet and Icefire gasped.
"I DON'T! I WON'T! I CAN'T MARRY YOU UMBER!" he cried out in horror.
Meanwhile, in the alleyway behind SHAKES, Grey Bird Boy was trying to communicate what he had seen to the team. "Horribile dictu" he gasped. "Delendo computarum ecclesiorum!"
"Oh no, he's speaking in Latin...he must have encountered the Royal Inquisitor" surmised KP. "But I think he's saying we have to destroy a computer in the church."
Posted by Vee on :
Inside SHAKES
As he moved towards the back of the room, Vee heard the door close but thought nothing of it, so focused was he on the value of that immoral piece of art. "You'd better be right about this piece of trash, Semi. Either way, we're going to be getting rid of it. There's no place for it here."
Semi of course didn't answer. Now invisible, the semi translucent one moved carefully off to one side, unsure what the Princess was about to do but anxious to see this nightmare end. "What could the bitch & bastard have done to my Vee to get him to change so drastically! It's almost as if he's a completely different person! Then again, I sure wasn't acting like myself either. My god! I can't believe I actually was planning how to KILL him! How could someone twist our personalities SO much"
As Vee reached the back shelves and pulled down the painting, Crujectra made her move.
"Beautiful isn't it?" she asked softly as she motioned slightly with her right hand. "Remind you of anyone?"
"Who?..." Vee reacted and spun around. When he did though he was plunged into a nightmare vision! He was no longer in the storage room. Instead, he appeared to be in one of the lower levels of the jail.
In one cell, he could see that wicked seductress, Emerald Empress, kneeling on the rough concrete floor, her hands tighly gripping the bars as she looked on in horror. In another cell, Space Ranger lay sprawled on the floor, beaten and bruised with what appeared to be charred, still smoking burns all up and down his arms, torso and legs. The look of intense, horrific pain on his face was enough to make you puke!
Vee barely registered both of those visions because in the central area between the cells, were Semi, Mistress Grundy, Pastor Upright N. Uptight, Dev-Em, Kara & Harbinger.
Semi was on his knees on the floor, Kara gripping and twisting his left arm and Harbinger his right. Dev-Em had his foot planted in the small of Semi's back while his hand yanked Semi's head painfully backward by the hair.
"That's it, my children, hold him. Don't let him move!" the pastor was saying. "Mistress, this one has been found guilty of sins beyond forgiveness! You may have the honor of dealing with him.
It was then that Emma Grundy stepped forward, a gleaming stilletto in her right hand. "Shall I remove the offending parts from this filth first?" She asked, the stilletto pointing at Semi's groin...
Posted by Almost But Not Quite New Kid on :
Icefire’s outburst Caught Pastor Uptight completely off guard. In seconds the entire crowd gathered for the wedding was in an uproar. Umber’s father almost charged the alter before her mother grabbed his arm and held him back. The groomsmen surrounded Icefire bombarding him with questions. The bridesmaids were in a tight knot around Umber, who was alternately crying and screaming “Icey, I love you, why are you doing this to me? WHY?”
Knowing that he only had seconds at best to regain control of the situation, Pastor Uptight reached for the Father Box strapped to his arm and increased the signal strength of the input to the control nodes worn by everyone at the wedding, the uproar quieted, but only a little.
Italian Boy stared at Icefire as if he was seeing him for the very first time. His best friend looked shaken, wobbly and unsteady on his feet, and the things he was saying…
“I just can’t do it. I like Umber a lot, but I love someone else, Hell I love more than one other person, and I can’t decide who I love the most, Sharkey, or you Italian Boy. I can’t marry her when I know it’s not her I really want.”
For a second Italian Boy understood his friend completely, he knew what Icey was struggling with, the love that… But, how could this… Icey would never…
Then Umber’s screams caught Italian Boy’s attention, and from somewhere in the back of his mind, a puritanical vision of how things should be, how things had to be, no matter what, because it was right and what Icey was saying was wrong. Icey couldn’t love him. Icey couldn’t love that damm freak Sharkey. It wasn’t right. It couldn’t be allowed. He had to bring his best friend back to his senses, to make the marriage happen, once Umber had a chance to work her magic on him again, Icey would thank him…
Pastor Upright N. Uptight was forced to hold his emotions in check when he saw Italian Boy’s punch drop Icefire. “Young fool never saw it coming,” he thought, “good thing his was the only malfunctioning node. Still I have to move fast.”
With an expression of concern painted onto his face he moved quickly to Icefire’s prone form. Kneeling down next to him and pretending to examine him while his fingers searched for the malfunctioning node. It wasn’t there!
He reached into his robes and pressed a button on his belt. Miss Cherry Delight, (better known as the android Candy) who was assisting Something Amazing with the final setup for the reception dinner, suddenly disappeared and at hyper-speed a new control node was delivered to the pastor. He replaced the node and palmed a second device as he stood. There was a way out of this if he acted fast.
“Brethren,” his amplified voice resounded through the congregation, “Brethren, listen to me a heinous and ungodly act has been committed here.” The congregation turned their eyes to him. His words, amplified by the stronger signals being sent to their control nodes, reached out to the angry congregation and held them fast.
He held his left hand up displaying the small device. “This is the cause,” he proclaimed in stentorian tones, “this mind control device was attached to Icefire’s neck. That was not him you heard speaking. It was whoever planted this device on him. This fine young man is not at fault, he has been used to further someone else’s evil plan.”
As he spoke his sweeping motion of his right arm indicated Icefire, who was slowly being helped to his feet by Italian Boy and Sonnie Bozzo.
“But who would do such a thing?” Umber’s father’s voice resonated through the still air.
“Who indeed sir,” the pastor replied, “Who among the people who should be celebrating today, has not shown his face?”
“Semi!” Pure hatred resonated in Umber’s father’s voice as he shouted the name. “Semi is the bastard who ruined my beloved daughters wedding. We have to do something, to show him he can’t do this to us.”
“Burn SHAKES to the ground!” Umber’s mother was standing on a chair as she screamed to the crowd. “Burn it I say.”
“NO!” Icefire’s voice cut off the rising mob mentality. “NO! We can’t lower ourselves to his level.” He looked directly into Umber’s eyes. “Umber, I Love You. I want to marry you. Please, Forgive me…”
Umber practically shoved her father and mother back into their seats as she rushed the last few steps to the altar. “Icey, I Love You! I know it wasn’t you!!”
Pastor Upright N. Uptight smiled to himself as he picked up his prayer book and said, “Dearly Beloved, We Are Gathered Here…”
There were no further interruptions.
The Anti-Moderator sat observing the wedding his finger poised over the button that would flash fry the pastor if it were pressed and watched with grim satisfaction as his master plan continued. His other hand manipulated a control that ensured the master computer would feed the majority of the control signal to the wedding party. He would brook no further interruptions.
In the fourth sub basement of the United Charlatan Church building Harbinger stares in horror at the smoking ruin that was once Space Ranger. Just an instant ago she was gleefully burning away with her laser vision, enjoying the pain that she could actually feel resonating off of the Ranger’s body. But, now it hurt her as much as it did him.
“Oh, Ranger, what have I done?” She moaned softly to herself. Then she realized that Dev-Em and Kara were still burning away at the Ranger. Her decision and action were instantaneous…
[ October 24, 2003, 06:48 AM: Message edited by: Almost But Not Quite New Kid ]
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
She punched Dev, slamming him through the wall! She turned and wailed on Kara, sending her flying as well! Emma Grundy was in shock, as she turned around. Before she could, Harbinger swung around, scooping up the Empress, as the Empress blasted at Emma Grundy. "What...?" said the Empress, too tired to move anymore. "Sh. I don't know what's happening, but we need to get out of here." Harbinger swung back around and picked up the burning Space Ranger, knowing that she was hurting him by carrying him so, but knowing it was for the best. Next, she busted through the roof of the prison, knowing that she had no plan whatsoever, and had no idea what to do. She just flew away as fast as possible. -----------
Over the intercom, Eryk Davis Ester and Cobalt Kid heard from Emma Grundy of Harbinger's escape with Space Ranger and the Empress. "Traitorous witch." said EDE. "I'm gonna rip them all to shreds" said Cobalt "I'm tired of this pussy-footing around. Let's just kill these bastards" The looked at Quis, who was being torutured by the Royal Inquisitor, who was newly arrived and appeared to agree with Pastor Uptight's ideas. "I'll go" said Cobalt, then turning on his inter-com "Super Lad Kid, Lash Lad, Lucien, I need you to come with me."
As Cobalt prepared to take off, Outdoor Miner and Greybird Boy saw their chance. Miner teleported to where Harbinger was.
Harbinger flew with Space Ranger and Emerald Empress, until suddenly she saw the shape of Greybird Boy in front of her. "Wait!" he yelled. "Grey, I don't know..." "Sh. I do. Stop, we'll land over there. We need to find some sort of place to set up shop, and I know where we could."
As Furball and the unconcious Lard Lad and Hummer Lass, joined them, Kid Prime, Faraway Lad and Shark Lad prepared to break into the Starfield Lounge and rescue Quis from imminent death...
At that exact moment...
Posted by Quislet, Esq on :
At that exact moment, Icefire was kissing his new bride Umber.
Meanwhile, the Royal Inquistor was about to turn the wheel on the rack to which Quis was straped to. "No.. No Please.." begged the plucky lad. "In..in my pocket.." The Royal Inquistor reached into Quis' suit coat pocket. There was a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, the Royal Inquistor read "Restraining Order: by Order of Legion World Leader Princess Crujectra, no one shall torture the bearer of this Order. Violators will be subject to the wrath of Legion World" "HA! You think this piece of paper from a known pervert will save you?" The Royal Inquistor gave another turn of the wheel. "AAAARRRGGHHH!!!!!" cried out Quis. Suddenly the floor around the Royal Inquistor turned into a giant hand, grabbed him and pulled him down into the floor.
Cobalt Kid and Eryk Davis Ester looked in shock. From the rack, Quis said defiantly "There's more where that came from if you don't watch out."
Somewhere out in space the Anti-Moderator watched and wondered if his plan will succeed or not.
[ October 29, 2003, 12:05 PM: Message edited by: Quislet, Esq ]
Posted by Vee on :
Inside SHAKES
"Shall I remove the offending parts from this filth first?" She asked, the stilletto pointing at Semi's groin...
"Whatever pleases you, my dear, though I must say that it would be fitting if the last person to touch him there is a woman," smirked the Pastor. "Just be sure he's very dead when you are done so we can be certain he's finally received his just rewards!"
Grundy moved forward and reached out with her left hand to grab the waistband of Semi's pants. As she began to slice through the material with the stilletto, Semi looked directly at Vee.
"Vee! Please! If I mean anything to you at all, do something! Help me!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RAGE...rage had been building gradually inside Vee. It had been there...somewhere deep inside, right from the very start of this nightmare. He had known it was there, or at least what remained of the real Vee had known it, but something had made him keep it bottled up along with all his other desires and emotions.
Suddenly he knew...he knew how to let it out...
"Semi !!!!!!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.
...and the bottle shattered into a million tiny shards, sending silver slivers flying in all directions, slicing through his soul, his innermost self...like a stilletto...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
RAGE...a hurricane raged through Vee's mind, tearing at him, scouring his soul. Lightning flashes illuminated long buried memories and the waves thrust them upward...outward where they could be examined and put on public display for anyone to see.
"NOOooooooo!!!!!!!" he sobbed, as tears washed down his anguished face like sheets of raindrops. "I don't want to remember!!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"NEW ORLEANS...Bourbon Street. What the hell am I doing here? I swore I'd never come back! EVER!" he thinks to himself as he walks down the very center of the pavement, past all the strip clubs and sleazy bars. Suddenly the mist parts ahead of him and he sees...
[ October 24, 2003, 02:51 PM: Message edited by: Vee ]
Posted by Almost But Not Quite New Kid on :
The Hall of Mirrors.
The incongruity of the decaying carnival attraction tucked away among the various establishments pandering to every variation of sexual deviation on Bourbon Street always brought him a wry smile. It was just so tacky, and on Bourbon Street that was saying a lot.
Then out of the corner of his eye he saw them, Jamie and Jessie Quickly, the fastest set of twins in the freshman class at SSU (Super-Hero State University). The brother and sister twins were reputed to do everything together, and more often than not before the first date. Rumor had it that you had to be Quicker than the Quickly’s to get to a first date. It was also widely rumored that the red-headed twins had worn out Lash Lad and Lost in Lust Lad in less than ninety seconds during Super-Hero Fraternity Rush Week and then proceeded to lay out Princess No-Protection and Hummer Lass, along with their volunteer manager Lard Lad, during the AlNeKid College Crisco Rasslin Championships just two hours later.
Varilent turned to enter the Hall of Mirrors just as the pair noticed him.
Jessie called out to him as he stepped towards the entrance to the Hall of Mirrors, “Varilent, buddy, you don’t want to go in there alone. Wait for Jamie and me.”
Instantly the twins were beside him at the entrance. As usual Jessie did the talking while Jamie let her hands wander. The tag team assault annoyed him, momentarily, but he was in to good of a mood to let it ruin his day, especially when Jessie started talking again.
“Dude, did you know that they put in some new attractions? Instead of just walking through, now there are rooms where you can relax on a king size bed and the mirrors around you constantly change. It’s really wild”
His hand found it’s way to Varilent’s arm, and with a gentile pressure he began to guide him towards a booth that hadn’t been there on Varilent’s previous visits. Inside the booth a bored looking pink haired woman eyed the twins, and gave a little snort of amusement.
“You two back again? Look I told ya before, no refunds. You pay for an hour, you can stay an hour, you leave early, it’s your own choice. You don’t get nothin back. “
For just a split second, Varilent wanted desperately to leave, something wasn’t right, the people he hung with at school prowled Bourbon Street on a regular basis and the Hall of Mirrors was a standing joke among them. None of his friends had mentioned this recent addition to it. Then Jessie’s hands were moving again and he was just high enough to let his caution slip away.
“I’m sure that this time we won’t get bored so quickly.” Jamie’s voice seemed to come from far, far, away as he let himself respond to her brother’s attentions.
In a moment they were alone in a strangely lit room. Varilent couldn’t see the light source but effects it created were startling. Various colors and intensities of light seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere in a constantly changing panorama. And as the light changed so did the mirrors the room seemed to fill with a thousand variations of the three of them. It was an insanely erotic show. First Jessie – and a thousand variations of him – got up and began a slow strip, teasing Varilent with his motions, with the constantly changing images that swirled around him, enticing him with suggestive words and provocative poses. Then Jamie – and a thousand variations of her – got up and began her dance as Jessie slid into his arms. Somehow his clothing had vanished. And dispite his protestations Jessie directed his attention to Jamie and Varilent found himself wanting her just as badly as he wanted him. From somewhere the twins produced a bottle of strangely sweet and syrupy liquor along with a single glass that they all shared. The three became one… and then two… and then one again… and for a moment before his head seemed to explode in pure pleasure a vision of two couples crossed his mind… he lay with Jessie entwined in pleasure, closer than he had ever been to another human being, their minds and bodies joined as one… blissful sweet and serine. While a few heartbeats away from them he also lay atop Jamie, her legs wrapped around his waist, their bodies sweating in unison, a surreal dance as he watched him give himself fully to her greedy lust. He felt his own pleasure from afar as he spent himself into her, and knew at that instant that they had created a new life. He lay his head back on Jessie’s chest. He was totally alive… totally committed to the both of them… happier than he had ever been before…
He was alone; face down in an alley outside the Hall of Mirrors, Nude and lying in a disgusting pool of vomit, urine, and feces. Every breath was a struggle, every movement brought an eternity of pain, he tried to understand… to comprehend… even thinking hurt. Her voice was filled with laughter. Laughter fueled by his pain. “Will he live?” She asked. “I doubt it.” He answered, “Leave him there, and pour some of the cheap whisky on him, light it if you want. We have the part of him we need. And you have what you want.” A third voice joined them, a familiar voice – a voice that told him the nightmare was real – that he would never be whole again. “Leave him; no one will ever believe his story. And someday…”
Everything faded to black…
Semi found me in that alley… he didn’t know who I was then… he only knew I needed help. I lied to him about what had happened to me… told him I had been rolled by a couple of guys I met in one of the bars. He took me in, nursed me back to health, covered for me at school, held me when I’d wake up screaming in the night.
He was on his knees at Crujectra’s feet. He could feel her hands gently stroking his hair. An acid burning smell assaulted his nose and he felt her hands sharply pull something from the back of his neck. Images flooded his mind and were gone. Then Semi was there, and he could hear Crujeckie’s low voice.
“And now you know it all Semi, he’s been through hell, and you are the anchor that brought him back. Hold him now, he needs you. And I need to do something.”
Then he was safe again, Semi’s arms were around him, his low voice whispering in his ear, “Easy, Vee, Easy. Just lay here a moment and rest, she’ll be right back.”
Although her laid back style and easy humor make her a beloved figure on Legion World, there is another side to Princess Crujectra’s personality. It is a side that she is not particularly fond of and suppresses at all times. At this particular moment, that side is in full control. She has had enough, insult and injury to her she can and does laugh off easily. Insult to the friends and loved ones is another story. Her voice is diamond hard as she opens her communications channel to Numf-El.
“It’s time Numfie, Take that bitch out now.”
The best laid plans of mice and Princesses however, sometimes go awry.
“Princess, we have a problem, Harbinger Broke out of it on her own, when she saw what they did to the Ranger, she went nutso, Dev-Em is out, and Kara’s in bad shape. Binger scooped up Ranger and Empress and flew off. The bitch crawled out before I could get to her and this place is on full alert. There’s no way to get to that computer.”
Posted by Vee on :
"...I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride."
Bedlam erupted as Icefire turned and prepared to kiss his new bride but she wasn't willing to put up with any delay. Throwing herself against his body, she planted her lips on his and gave him the most erotic tongue lashing he had ever received! Icy was so startled (and so aroused!) that he had to pull away hastily before it became apparent to everyone just how excited he was about what was to come!
Strange as it may sound, it was Icefire that had to take the role of the responsible one and insist that they stay for a little of the reception. Umber wanted to blow the joint and head right to their room for the consumation part! Icy wanted to go back to the room also (truely he did ~ didn't he?) but felt they owed it to all of their guests to spend at least a little time with them all.
Umber continued to plead, getting more and more insistant with each passing moment. Finally, Icy decided that they had been gracious enough and agreed that it was time to escape.
"Oh goodie!" tittered Umber "Let's go!" and they did.
As the bride and groom said their goodbyes and headed upstairs, the reception began to wind down. The very last thing Icy saw as he left the ballroom was his friend Italian Boy, a big grin on his face and his arm draped over the shoulder of a cute young guy Icy didn't recognize.
"Who's that guy with IB?" Icy asked Umber "I've never seen him before."
"Silly, that Jessie Quickly, Pastor's nephew. His twin sister, Jamie is over there talking with the Pastor. They just moved to Legion World a few days ago. They seem really nice. I invited them to join us upstairs for a cocktail before we...teehee...you know, retire for the evening," Umber said as she waved at Jamie, who smiled and nodded.
"Oh, ah, okay, if you say so," Icy said, unable to take his eyes off of Jessie for some reason. Suddenly Icy realized that Jessie was retuning his stare, a curious gleam in his eye. As Icy broke the connection, Jessie nodded at him just as Jamie had a moment earlier.
With that our happy bride and groom headed upstairs.
Jessie, Jamie & Pastor exchanged glances and smiled knowingly. Then Pastor nodded and the twins began to disengage from the other guests and head towards the same doorway Umber and Icy had just used...
Posted by Space Ranger on :
“What did she mean by “Stone Cold Bitch Mode?”
The Emerald Empress let out a snort of non-humorous laughter at Harbinger’s question. The small group of free-willed LMBPers were holed up in the ancient, but surprisingly well preserved JSMBP Headquarters Cave. Faraway Lad, on one of his many exploration trips around Legion World, had found the site years ago. Aside from a few visits by several of the history buffs in the LMBP it had been deserted for centuries.
The Empress, Harbinger, Outdoor Miner, Grey Bird Boy, Kid Prime, and Faraway Lad sat around the old conference table discussing the surprising message they had just received from Princess Crujectra. The Space Ranger lay on a makeshift bed behind Harbinger and the Empress, Shark Lad floated in a water filled tank equipped with a communications system, which was imbedded in one of the conference room walls. The tank appeared to have been designed to make the legendary Spectacular Aqua-Lungs Lass, one of the founding members of the JSMBP, comfortable during her stay with the JSMBP. The beardless, trim, and fit Lard Lad and the primly dressed, shy, and reticent Hummer Lass, were now just a bad memory, both having returned to their original forms when Outdoor Miner, following P.C.’s instructions negated the distance between their control nodes and the moon.
Lardy, however was but a shell of his former self, his powers were fueled by the lard content of his body and that content was now down to less than 10%, which resulted in him looking like a muscle magazine cover boy, but being absolutely useless in a fight. Hummer lass had scrapped her Poodle skirt, frilly blouse and five layers of protective undergarments and was now clad only in a chastity belt, half bra, and high heels. She and Furball were out helping Lardy search for high fat content food in a desperate attempt to regain his powers.
The Empress hesitated a long moment before answering Harbinger’s question. To the group gathered at that conference table she seemed suddenly cold and distant. It reminded them that for all her recent good deeds, the green haired woman had once been one of the LMBP’s most vicious and persistent enemies.
“You have to realize,” She finally said in a thoughtful tone, “that Crujectra and I were raised in a vastly different social climate than the rest of you were.”
A small snort of amusement from Kid Prime stopped her momentarily, but his instantly abashed face brought a small smile to her lips rather than the expected sharp retort.
“Venegar and Psyonia aren’t really all that different or very far apart. Both worlds are traditional monarchies and the ruling families of each tend to send their children to the same schools and training academies. Crujectra was reminding me of something we were both taught early in life. Sometimes as a royal you have to do things for the greater good that it’s a “Stone Cold Bitch” to live with, after it’s over.”
“Hmm… That’s a little rough don’t you think Empress? I mean we know how to free our friends now, just get me close enough to any of them and Poof, they’re thinking for themselves again. And, that rat bastard pastor deserves whatever happens to him. What could be hard to live with?” The confusion in Outdoor Miner’s voice echoed the sentiments of everyone in the room.
“OM it’s not quite that easy,” The Empress’s face went hard and cold again as she spoke, “those “Control Nodes” are nasty little devices, and very powerful. I’m afraid, and Crujectra is too, that some of the changes they’ve made in certain people may be irreversible. We may have to take those people down hard. That won’t be easy to do to our friends.”
“Who are you talking about?” Harbinger voiced the question that absolutely no one in the room wanted to hear answered.
“Apparently the “Control Nodes” used on the members of the security force are much stronger than the ones used on the general population.”
The Empress’s answer avoided naming names, but everyone in the room knew who she meant. Cobalt Kid, Lash Lad, Super Lad Kid, and Eryk Davis Esther were going to have to be stopped before they could move against the forces of the United Charlatan Church.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
With the LMBPers safely away, Princess Crujectra new that she, Semi and Vee could now work as an Espionage Squad to stop the schemes of Pastor Uptight. However, things had heated up in Legion World, as the Security office stormed the streets, now all wielding Liefield-esque guns.
Meanwhile, the only two Legion Worlders not caring about this were Icefyre and Umber, who made passionate love to one another over and over again! "Pastor Uptight must have cured me!" thought Icey as he thrusted, "four times in one night..."
Posted by Abinquank? on :
“Icey, be a dear and pour me another drink of that marvelous liquor that Pastor Uptight gave us as a wedding present.”
He complied with her request enthusiastically. That ‘marvelous liquor’ seemed to be some sort of aphrodisiac, a glass after each time they made love, seemed to rekindle the flames of passion between them. This time however he stopped Umber as she raised the glass to her eager lips.
“Wait a moment love,” he murmured as he drew her back into his embrace, “there is something to be said for cuddling also.”
Her warm response to that statement only increased their mutual pleasure.
A few feet away from the lovers, the Pastor and the Quickly twins watched in amusement as the young lovers languished in each others arms. They were hidden from the pair’s perceptions by the combination of the twin’s vibratory powers and the commands being sent to their control nodes by the master computer. In effect the computer was ordering their brains to ignore the people who shared their honeymoon suite. And, the combination of the special liquor’s hallucinatory qualities, and the computer commands had allowed the Quickly Twins to insert themselves into the honeymooning couple’s lovemaking without their knowledge. Each of the twins had enjoyed each of the couple’s attentions. And that fact amused Jamie Quickly immensely.
“Maybe you should shut their nodes down for a moment Pastor,” She giggled, “I’d love to see Umber’s face when she realized that she just spent a half-hour munching my Muff instead of Icey’s pole.”
The Starfield Room
Cobalt, EDE, and Lash froze in place when the floor reached up and grabbed the Royal Inquisitor. None of them could believe what they were seeing. Lash broke out of it first and with a flick of his wrist sent his deadly leather toy speeding at Quislet, Esq. He’d show the little wimp what happened to those who defied the new inquisition.
To his astonishment his favorite lash simply vanished. One second it was in his hand, the next it was gone. In astonishment he turned to Cobalt and EDE but that pair had their own troubles. Cobalt was being tossed from one wall of the interrogation room to the next by some unseen force and EDE’s trademark hat had grown to huge proportions and was attacking it’s owner. Lash lunged to help EDE but was stopped short when a ghostly translucent visage of Princess Crujectra appeared before him.
“Pain” The word echoed in all three of the security team member’s minds for a few eternal seconds. Then total and absolute blackness engulfed them.
Vee freed Quislet, Esq. from the rack with a grim smile on his face. Semi and the Princess were in the process of removing the Royal Inquisitor’s helmet.
“So, Quis, how did you manage to avoid the Pastor’s control?” Vee asked as the last of the straps fell away from his young friends body…
Posted by Quislet, Esq on :
"Who's control?" responded the freed lad. "I had been in court all day dealing with potential copyright violations. Then I went to Shakes and was talking to Semi, when I got whacked on the head. When I woke up, I found myself on that rack. Eryk and Cobalt Kid were acting very strange, almost evil. Then the Royal Inquisitor came in and started in on me. Luckily I was able to use my "Generate an Enforcable Legal Document" power. Although, heh, I did lie to Cobalt Kid and Eryk when I said there was more where that came from, because I can only do it once per day."
At that point Quis' legs gave out and he collapsed onto the floor.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Suddenly, the Royal Inquisitor dissapeared without a trace! "Damn Inquisitor! Hm, it didn't seem like he fit into this plot anyway" thought Semi.
With Non-Sequitor collapsed on the floor, Vee picked him up and joined Semi and Princess Crujectra, as they ran off with him. "Now it seems that all the LMBers who aren't under control are safe" said the Princess. "Now we have to take our next plan of action. We need to find a way to help the other LMBers under control and then take out the Pastor. And I owe Ms. Grundy a certain ass-kicking..."
Meanwhile, Umber and Icefyre cuddled in the bathtub...
Posted by Arachne on :
A small spider continued it's hunt along the streets of Legion World. A search of the wedding banquet had been unsuccessful and it was getting anoyed. If only it knew what it was searching for!
It paused outside a building bearing the name "Shakes". There was something familiar about it...
Posted by Space Ranger on :
Completely surrounded by an impenetrable bramble of ten foot tall and five foot deep Japanese Rosebushes, the Mansions grounds are a vast immaculately sculpted memorial to a long gone era. The 35 acre grounds are dotted with huge ancient trees; paths lead to fountains, gazebo’s and vine sheltered alcoves. Carefully maintained grottos display a wide variety of artwork; in one area an exact replica of Michelangelo’s “David” overlooks a grove of olive trees; in another a cartoon rabbit asks the rhetorical question, “What’s up, Doc.”
The manor house has stood the test of time. Despite numerous remodeling the original intent of the builder has been carefully maintained. Only carefully selected master craftsmen have been allowed to add the fruits of their labor to this magnificent edifice.
The current owners, Lex and Lana Herosbane, purchased the estate shortly before the adoption of their beloved daughter, Umber, became final. No work has been done to the mansion during their tenure as owners. Today they celebrate her wedding, in the manor house that was originally known as “Stately Wayne Manor.”
The secrets of Wayne Manor are largely forgotten now. For centuries the legends of the heroic Bat-Clan have been slowly fading. But not all of Legion World’s inhabitants have allowed that legend to slip quietly into the mists of time. Princess Crujectra is well versed in the practical applications of the old saying; “Knowledge is Power.”
Three teams of free willed LMBPer’s quietly exploit the mansions secrets for their own purposes.
Deep underground, Princess Crujectra, Vee, and Semi activate a long forgotten computer system…
On the edge of a secluded grotto Outdoor Miner, Greybird, and Faraway Lad watch as the Quickly twins lure their latest victims, Danny Blane and Italian Boy, to a pre-arranged tryst…
And, above the mansion, shielded from detection by the power of the Emerald Eye, the Empress, Harbinger and the Space Ranger prepare to take the offensive…
Meanwhile in the third sub-basement of the U.C.C. Building, a battered Numf-El vainly tries to escape the clutches of three ultra powerful “Candy” androids. He fights with a grim smile on his face. His original mission had to be aborted when Harbinger’s independent streak caused her to break free of the church’s control early. But, if Crujectra’s latest plan works, he knows that the beating he is about to take will have been worthwhile…
In Lex Herosbane’s private study a group of four people have gathered; Lex and his wife Lana, Pastor Upright N. Uptight, and Mrs. Emma Grundy. The conversation is light and banal, the mood happy, the ladies chatter about the fashions on display at the reception, the food, which was excellent if a bit odd, and the scandalous behavior of a few of the younger male guests and a certain Miss Cherry Delight. The men excuse themselves after a short time and retire to Lex’s smoking room; once inside their manner changes abruptly.
“Master,” The voice of Pastor Uptight is low and hesitant, “you must forgive your humble servant. Please, I had no idea that she would cause such trouble…”
Lex Herosbane’s face is dark with rage. His body has morphed into a Darksiedesque form. His voice seems to have been crafted in the deepest of hell’s pits. A bolt of blue force leaps from his eyes and the pastor writhes in pain on the floor.
“See to it that Crujectra is dead before sunset, dog, or that small pain will grow.”
[ November 03, 2003, 02:38 PM: Message edited by: Space Ranger ]
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Under the protection of the Emerald Eye, the Empress, Space Ranger and Harbinger prepared to take the offensive and win back Legion World. Between the three of them, they had a lot of firepower to use, and knew that if they played their hand right, they could get a lot accomplished.
Unfortunately, things would be uglier than they thought. Harbinger suddenly felt her body being crushed, as if someone had their hand around her and were trying to squeeze her to death. Space Ranger turned, as saw the figure of Cobalt Kid, or at least what was once his friend. He now was adorned with a long red cape, and an evil devilish grin. Around him was a magnificent magnetic globe, virutally impenetreble.
To Cobalt's right was Lash Lad, with two whips that were now adorned in spikes and blades. Where once his handsome face was shown, there was only a mask with two eye holes. He looked terribly menacing.
And to Cobalt's left was Kara, the shy beauty who also was a powerhouse. Except now she looked like a dark queen, in a black leather outfit with a matching cape. And fire lit around her eyes, as she prepared to fire her heat vision.
The Empress knew that they were in for a fight. They didn't want to hurt their friends, but they might be forced to...
Below, Eyrk Davis Ester and Super Lad Kid looked on, hiding below. EDE had a long bow in his arms, with a flaming arrow knocked and ready to fire. He knew that once things got going, he would strike at least one renegade down...
Posted by Abin Quank on :
The Empress’s reaction was instantaneous; the appearance of the mind controlled LMBP security force could upset Crujectra’s plan and she wasn’t going to let that happen. A bolt of green energy flared from the eye and Lash’s whips were wrenched from his hands. She hurled them into Cobalt’s impenetrable magnetic shield.
“Switch partners and dance,” She yelled to the Ranger and Harbinger as the momentary distraction allowed Harbinger to break free of Cobalt’s magnetic grip.
Instantly Harbinger changed course, she had been being pulled toward Cobalt, who awaited her arrival with open arms and a malicious grin. Now she was speeding toward the defenseless Lash Lad who quickly chose the better part of valor and dove in the direction of EDE and SLK.
Cobalt found himself surrounded by a sphere of rapidly tightening emerald energy and was forced to use his prodigious magnetic might to prevent being crushed. He was able to magnetically stop the sphere’s contraction but just barely. It took all of his energy to maintain the standoff.
The scattering of the opposition forces caught Kara off guard. Her blast of heat vision missed Harbinger and ignited a small grove of trees on the estate grounds below. Then as she turned her attention to the Ranger, she saw the sphere of emerald energy surround her beloved Cobalt. Her decision was instinctive. She pulled off her cape and flew at the eye intending to snag it and slingshot it into space. She never saw the Ranger’s punch coming and landed squarely in the middle of the burning grove of trees previously ignited by her heat vision.
As Lash dove in the direction of EDE and SLK, Eryk saw his chance. Harbinger was just a few scant inches behind Lash when his specially prepared flaming arrow caught her squarely in the chest. Instantly the Scottish Super Heroine burst into a roaring ball of flames.
EDE had barely begun a victory laugh when the flames vanished in a great WOOSHING sound. The weaponless Lash had landed just to his right and Super lad Kid stood on his right. The three of them stared at the momentarily blurred ball of incandescence that had been Harbinger.
Above them Cobalt reached down deep into reserves of power that even he didn’t know he had.
In the burning grove, Kara shook her head slowly to clear the cobwebs as she dragged herself out of the deep furrow created by the impact of her landing. A glance told her that she was not alone in the grove. A pair of obvious brother and sister twins that she didn’t recognize stood gaping at her in openmouthed astonishment. Behind them lay the unconscious forms of Italian Boy and Danny Blane. The female twin began to giggle at her, “Oooh, look brother, a new toy for us to play with.” Dazed by the force of the Ranger’s blow Kara was only able to offer feeble resistance as the twins suddenly began to assault her at super speed. Thick syrupy liquor was forced into her mouth. An ungentlemanly assault on a private part of her anatomy caused her to gasp and some of the liquid flowed down her throat. The world began to spin…
A few feet away the ever pragmatic Outdoor Miner laid his hand on Greybird’s shoulder. The scene in front of them was becoming increasingly ugly as it became clear that the twins were going to rape Kara. The three hidden LMBPers were repulsed by the twin’s obvious intent. It was clear to them that the brother and sister were ruled entirely by their own perverted lusts. Kara was on their side, under the control of their master. But because of a turn in the battle going on above them, she had been dumped into their midst, dazed and confused. Instantly in the sick and twisted minds of the twins, she shifted from being an ally to being a target of opportunity. Italian Boy and Danny Blane, their original targets, were forgotten. The pair had been rendered unconscious by the twins at super speed the moment Kara hit the ground. Now all of their attention was focused on her.
“Miner,” Greybird whispered urgently, “we can’t let that happen!”
“We won’t,” came the quiet reply, “or rather she won’t.”
Greybird’s attention shifted back to the prone forms of Italian Boy and Danny Blane. Over them stood a third person, someone who was not supposed to appear in this space time continuum simultaneously with Danny. Somehow the grimly satisfied expression on Faraway Lad’s face didn’t surprise either Miner or Greybird.
Deep underground a long unused computer system flares to life. It’s defensive systems are shut down barely in time to prevent serious injury to the three occupants of the vast and ancient cavern.
“Umm… Princess, I’m not one to complain… But that was too Damm Close!”
Crujectra’s patented smile is barely enough to quiet the shaken Vee. At his feet a scorched spot reveals the fact that a laser defense system was about to complete it’s function as the final access codes were accepted by the computer controlling it. A few feet away Semi slowly becomes visible.
“The access tubes leading to the mansion appear to be in working condition.”
Crujectra’s fingers fly over an ancient keyboard. Several long unused portions of the cavern are flooded with light. It is obvious that this was once the home of an impressive fighting force. Row after row of crime fighting equipment racks are illuminated. Finally an alcove at the far end of the room is flooded with light. In that alcove stand several lifelike statues. Batman, Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and Catwoman stare impassively at the approaching trio of modern heroes. The Princess’s hand brushes a control and the android figures come to life.
“The computer has updated us on the situation above.” The voice is deep and resonant, yet eerie. It sends a strange chill down the collective backs of the three LMBPers. Even Crujectra, who long ago learned of this cavern’s location and commissioned her brother, the Crusader, and the slightly erratic genius Invisible Brainiac to restore it’s systems to working order, is taken aback by the power of that voice. She stares into the blank eyes of the Batman android, barely aware of her own voice as she speaks.
“You understand what must be done? And why?”
“Of course, but you must understand that we will not survive long against his power. Still, our sacrifice should buy you the time you need to complete your part of the mission.”
Semi and Vee can only stare in wonderment at the scene before them. Neither had ever understood the amazing depths of the hidden side of Crujectra’s personality.
“Boys, it’s time to visit the church and pay our overdue respects to the Pastor.”
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Semi and Vee watched on as the androids joined Crujectra and prepared to make their way to the Pastor now that the rest of the LMBP were keeping everyone busy. Vee nodded to the Semi and the two followed...
--------------------------------
Outside, the twins were preparing to do the most horrific deeds possible to Kara, as she was too weakened to do anything about it. Suddenly, the form of Mantis stepped forward over the bodies of Italian Boy and Danny Blaine, and landed a viscious chop on Jaime Quickly, causing the twin to fall to the ground holding her throat! She landed a hard kick into his stomach, as she then battled Jesse, the other twin.
Looking on, Faraway Lad was exhausted from using his power so powerfully in disrupting the space/time continium. Numf-El joined him, battered and bruised as well, tired after taking a beating to act as a decoy. Greybird had enough. He rushed in to grab Kara, Danny Blaine and Italian Boy, no longer caring about any plan. He was far too humane to allow his friends to be hurt like this. While Mantis battled on, Jaime began to rise up again, when Outdoor Miner stepped in, and blasted her with his power. Sending her into the far reaches of space, Miner no longer cared what would happen to her. "She'll probably die without oxygen, but I've had enough as well". Her brother Jesse looked on in horror, as his sister dissapeared. Mantis attacked again.
*Interlude*
(Of course, if you need her for more of the story, just bring her back through the Anti-Moderator)
*end interlude*
Up in the sky, the Emerald Empress struggled with Cobalt Kid, who found new reserves of energy that he thought he never had. Pushing her back, sweat began to drip down his face. But all this energy he was expending seemed to start clearing his mind... why was he fighting the Empress?
EDE, Lash Lad and Super Lad Kid all looked on, as what was thought to be a flaming Harbinger, only to see that it was Lard Lad putting out the flames! Hummer Lass, Kid Prime and Shark Lad appeared, as they had been waiting in the back round as reserves for Crujeckie's plan. Space Ranger suddenly came in hard and grabbed EDE by the waist, flying into the air with him far away. Hummer Lass landed a kick on Super Lad as Kid Prime and Shark Lad double-teamed Lash. "Looks like we're winning this battle" thought Harbinger, "but all we're doing right now is fighting each other. Now we have to bring the fight to them..."
As Vee and Semi followed Crujeckie, the felt confident that things were working to their advantage. They had no idea that Dev-Em was being held in reserve, one of the most powerful LMBers of all with Emma Grundy, with specific instructions to kill Princess Crujectra...
Posted by Space Ranger on :
“Is she among them?”
Lex Herosbane stood stoically with his back to the window. His hands were clasped behind his back and on his countenance was a mixture of extreme annoyance and intense concentration. By contrast the figure of Pastor Upright N. Uptight paced the room moving from window to window watching the action on the mansion’s grounds. He frequently checked the Father Box strapped to his wrist and made adjustments to the control signals being sent to his legion of mind controlled puppets.
“They’ve brought in their reserves,” he noted almost absently, “Lard Lad is the only one with enough power to…”
“Silence, Fool!”
A small scraping sound caught his attention. He turned away from the windows and looked directly at Lex, who had ponderously repositioned himself directly in front of a row of bookcases.
“Now the true battle for control of Legion World begins…”
Two rooms and three sound proofed walls away, Emma Grundy and Lana Herosbane continued their banal conversation as each made preparations for the impending battle. Both women had long ago voluntarily accepted their roles and the extensive reprogramming that accompanied them. The similarities between the two women however, ended there.
Emma Grundy stood, her body covered from head to toe by a severe black dress. Her grey hair was tied in a bun at the back of her head. She pulled a hooded black cloak over her shoulders and picked up a four foot long ash-wood switch in her left hand and placed her right hand on the book of Morality. Her eyes began to glow with the fires of internal righteousness. She cleared her mind of all doubt. Her way was the right way and must be imposed on all. A stern frown imbedded itself on her face, her enemies would fall before her righteous anger.
Lana Herosbane faced the full length mirror and smiled. In sharp contrast to Emma Grundy she was nearly nude. Her attire consisted of sandals, crotch armor and oversized metallic pasties. A wide smile radiated from her features. The day had finally come. For seventeen long years she had hidden herself behind a bland and dowdy exterior, playing to perfection the role of “Umber’s Mother”. But now, the day of glorious battle had arrived and she was free to reveal herself, free to grab and hold the power that should have been hers by birthright. She twirled in front of the mirror, extending her arms above her head for maximum effect, enjoying the sight of her sleek muscles as they played below her golden skin. Her training in the fire-pits, her battles with the other girls at the school, the degradation she had endured while ascending the ranks by whatever means necessary and eventually displacing Granny Ghoul as the School’s Headmistress and finally winning the greatest prize of all, his personal attention, would all be eclipsed by the events of this day. Today she would be instrumental in realizing his dream. Today she would ensure that no other hell-spawned bitch could ever wrest her place at his side away from her. Today she would lead the conquering hordes of Prince Evilseid, the Anti-Moderator, as they overran Legion World.
She flexed her long fingers and laughed in delight as twin bolts of crimson destruction leapt from them and shattered the mirror.
Behind her the chamber doors were flung open and her elite attack force assembled. She turned to inspect the troops that would lead the thousands of near-demons assembled on Botoxalips ready and eager to launch their attack when the BOOB Tubes formed.
In front stood Umber, Icefire, Dev-Em, and Sonnie Bloke, their control nodes having been replaced by slave collars. Behind them stood the three demons whom she had chosen to guard and nurture her adopted daughter Umber. Brock, Ashe, and Cliff no longer resembled teen-age boys; instead their true forms were on display for the first time in many years. Three huge stone golems formed a semi-circle behind Umber and Icefire. In the eyes of all of her pawns the anticipation of final battle glowed.
Emma Grundy took her place on her right side. While on her left Jamie and Jessie Quickly, her true children stood with their heads bowed. Only the swift actions of Dev-Em had saved Jessie from death, and they both knew that their actions would have to be answered for in the near future.
Princess Cru’Power smiled inwardly at the twins. She knew that they were totally enslaved by their vile lusts, powerless to control their cravings, she wanted them that way and she kept them that way. They would never be in a position to bring her down, to strip her of power and position, to humiliate and destroy her, the way she planned to bring down her sister…
Posted by Abin Quank on :
Outside the mansion the battle had boiled down to a contest of wills between the Empress and Cobalt. Despite the growing questions in his mind about why he was fighting one of his officers, the young security chief was pouring every iota of his formidable will into the battle. A grim resolve had taken hold of his mind. The only thing he could see was the Empress’s face and the EYE floating next to it. Slowly his magnetic shield was pushing back the emerald energies. He could feel a gap forming in the containment sphere and he focused on that. Escaping the Empress’s sphere became the sole focus of his existence. He could answer the why’s later, first he had to win.
Below the two combatants Space Ranger was directing the final mop up operations on the ground. Outdoor Miner moved from person to person ensuring that their control nodes were safely removed. All of the mind controlled LMBPers on the mansion’s grounds, with the exception of Cobalt, were now free. Several of them required immediate medical attention. But none of them were willing to withdraw, the mansion loomed before them, and they all knew that the fight had just begun.
“Ranger, Harbinger, it’s time to end this.”
The Empress’s voice rang out. She had held Cobalt long enough to allow her team-mates to secure (and free) the rest of the mind controlled members of the LMBP Security Force. Now it was time to deal with their leader.
Harbinger scooped up Outdoor Miner and flew in the Ranger’s wake. The trio headed directly for the escape route that Cobalt was grimly burrowing thru the Empress’s energy sphere. They arrived just as he broke thru the containment. The Empress dropped the containment sphere just milliseconds before Cobalt would have broken thru. The sudden release of the pressure on his magnetic field sent Cobalt into a tumbling disoriented spin and allowed the Ranger to grab him before he could reform his shields. Cobalt instantly focused all of his remaining strength into pushing the Ranger away. But the Ranger had already grasped him in a bear hug and swung them both into harbinger’s path. The Miner reached out to touch Cobalt’s neck and suddenly the battle was over.
Moments later, on the ground, the Ranger, the Empress, and Cobalt stood and surveyed the damage.
“I just don’t understand how they could do all of that to us.” Cobalt’s voice was shaky as he slowly began to realize the magnitude of the attack against Legion World. “Who is this guy Upright? And where did he get the technology to create these?” In his hand were the two deactivated control nodes originally intended to be used on the Empress and the Ranger. As he spoke Cobalt’s eyes drifted from the objects in his hand to the mansion. A smoldering fire seemed to erupt in those eyes and a grim determination fueled his voice as he suddenly turned to the waiting crowd of LMBPers who stood just a few yards away. Answers could wait, it was time for action.
“Sweet Ass Sweet,” His battle cry rang out. “Let’s take those bastards DOWN!”
“NO!!…Hold your ground!” The Empress’s countermanding order, amplified by the power of the eye, stopped the battle ready LMBPers in their tracks. The Ranger reached out and spun Cobie around to face him.
“Cobie, you’re not in charge this time. This isn’t the time for one of your hell bent for leather charges. Princess Crujectra has taken personal command of Legion World’s defense. Her plan is working so far. We wait for her signal to attack.”
He hesitated a moment to allow the message to sink in. then grasped Cobie’s clenched hand and forced it back open. Inside were the two deactivated control nodes.
“You asked a moment ago where the Pastor got the technology to create those.” Look at them. There is only one place they could have come from.”
Cobie’s eyes traveled from his friend’s face to the twin terrors in his hand. Understanding began to dawn on his features. A strong, cold, hand tightened it’s grip on his heart as the answer became obvious.
“Botoxalips.”
Greybird, who had been tending to the still hallucinating Kara, was the first to notice the subtle change. The mansion began to glow with an eerily threatening crimson aura. The grounds were suddenly still and quiet and a hint of sulfur and brimstone began to assault their nostrils. An air of oppression suddenly seemed to blanket the assembled group of LMBPers. All because of that single word, Botoxalips.
As one the assembled group turned to stare at the mansion. Suddenly they knew that inside was the single force that the LMBP had never been able to defeat. In the past they had faced his agents, Beigesied and Comicsban, and barely defeated them. But, they had never faced HIM.
Suddenly, a tremendous explosion rocked the mansion’s grounds…
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
*interlude*
Eagerly awaiting for Chuck's next post to further understand the evil of Botoxalips! Afraid my next post may be a vital one and mess up the direction of the story!
*end interlude*
Posted by Vee on :
*******Interlude*******
Yeah, what he said up there.
********End Interlude*******
Posted by Abin Quank on :
Inside the mansion, Lex Herosbane’s study is totally destroyed, and his disguise has been ripped away. His true form and features have been revealed, Prince Evilseid faces the final remaining Bat-Clan Android, Nightwing, in single combat. That combat does not last long. But under cover of that combat a three heroes infiltrate the mansion, using his size altering abilities Vee shrank himself and Semi down small enough to fit into pockets in Crujectra’s cape. Semi then used his abilities to make the three of them virtually invisible, while Crujectra’s illusions mask any sound they may make.
Watching the short and extremely violent battle unfold as they slip quietly through the study, Crujectra can hear the surprised gasps of her companions Semi and Vee, as they realize what she has known for some time now, the true identity of their opposition’s leader.
Botoxalips, the very name of the planet strikes fear into the hearts of brave souls throughout the known universe. Botoxalips, the home of the last remnant of pure evil the form of it’s leader, Prince Evilseid.
As the Old Gods died out, a race called the New Ones rose and attempted to take their places. But, knowing that they were younger and less powerful than their predecessors they took an extraordinary step to ensure the safety of the universe. Fearing the duality of their natures they decided to protect the universe from the possibility of a god gone mad. Using the magic of the old gods they expunged the darker sides of their natures and trapped that distilled essence of evil in the single place that they thought could contain it; the fiery core of the planet Botoxalips.
They were wrong. The evil could not be contained. But they were not around to see the rise of Prince Evilseid from the ashes of the planet Botoxalips’ burnt out husk.
After expunging all traces of evil from their souls the New Ones were creatures of ultimate goodness. The universe however is not one sided. Just as there must be a light to balance the darkness, at times their must be a darkness to shield away the light. They burned brightly and did many great things, but they were not the old gods. They were not omnipotent. They could fail and without the darkness to balance their souls they could not abide that failure. Their brilliance dimmed and slowly faded. In the end only one survived.
Prince Evilseid grew in power as the New Ones faded. He rebuilt the planet Botoxalips in his own image. He traveled the galaxy searching out and finding those whose souls came close to the darkness of his own. None could match his dark fury, he was after all the distilled essence of all of the evil in a god-like race, but many came close. Those who would swear eternal allegiance to him he brought back to Botoxalips, the rest he destroyed.
But evil was not destined to reign unchecked in our universe. The last surviving member of the race known as the New Ones, settled on a small planet in the same spiral arm of our galaxy as Legion World. The Planet was called Psyonia. She took the name Suzyn Jectra. She married the King of that planet and bore him two daughters and a son. Two of them are now called heroes; Princess Crujectra and The Crusader, the third vanished without a trace many years ago.
“Princess Crue Jectra, dear, daughter of King Roo and Queen Suzyn Jectra of the planet Psyonia,” The words ring hollowly in her mind now, the haughty voice she used in uttering them in to a recalcitrant subject is gone. In fact, all traces of her royal upbringing are gone save for her training. She has reverted to the role that she has been training for her entire life. She is the daughter of the last surviving member of the race that gave Prince Evilseid life and, she is a warrior.
Today, in this mansion, she must face a destiny she has feared since her earliest childhood…
[ November 13, 2003, 06:02 PM: Message edited by: Abin Quank ]
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Further inside the mansion, Invisible Brainiac and the Crusader move around also unseen and unheard. Their powers match well together, and they entered through a combination of Crusader's psionic power and Invisible Brainiac's intellegence that he can enact when he's invisible. They two knew what their purpose would be, and were ready to set their plan in motion.
Outside, the rest of the LMBP knew they had to wait for Crujeckie's signal. However, up until this point, they had some notion of what the plan was, although now they were virtually left in the dust. After years of watching her brother in action, the Princess knew that people's minds could be read easily and if too many people knew the plan, even if they were well-trained LMBPers, things could easily go wrong.
Greybird, a bastion of hope throughout this entire affair, picked up the hurt Kara in his arms, as well as Italian Boy, Danny Blaine and Numf-El, who held onto his back. All four LMBPers needed medical treatment after the beatings they had taken, and he knew that was a priority that needed to be taken care of while the others dealt with the coming evil. He flew into Legion World with them, to find Doctor Juan, the Legion World resident doctor, for help.
The other LMBPers watched on, knowing that Grey could make sure their friends were safe so they could concentrate on the problem at hand. Cobalt took a cue from Space Ranger and waited uncomfortably for something to happen. Suddenly, he felt a terrible force in his head, and as he looked around, he could see the others were feeling the same thing.
Cobalt saw images of his dead wife Space Tart, and felt the grief of learning that her last few months alive were spent believing he was dead. He remembered the grief he felt to learn his child was an evil demon, and then his next child was an evil avatar, and how he was cursed to never be able to have children...
Emerald Empress suddenly felt all the old feelings of being on outcast among Legion World and the LMBP, and how hurtful their distrust of her had been. The secret pain that she felt while she put up a stern front seemed to rush back into her...
Super Lad Kid put his hand up to his face, as he remembered the insecurity he felt with his super power and how he felt so useless among the LMBP for so long. It had taken him a long time to overcome that fear, and now it all rushed back to him...
Shark Lad remembered what it was like when he became evil for a time, and the guilt that haunted him after that. It was something he never got over, and now he felt it rushing back to him again...
All around, the LMBP felt their worst fears and most repressed feelings coming back to them. The cringed in horror as old memories and insecurities were brought back into their minds. Evilseid's first attack was mental, he slowly began breaking the will of all the LMBPers that stood in front of his mansion...
Posted by Space Ranger on :
Inside the mansion Crujectra quickly reached her first objective, the massive computer complex. She left Semi and Vee there with instructions on what they must do.
Behind them in the ruined study, Prince Evilsied is in a towering rage. The remains of the Bat-Clan Androids are strewn throughout the room. Pastor Uptight is cowering in a corner. Evilsied holds a Father Box in his hand as he looks down the hidden elevator shaft to the Batcave.
“FOOL!” the voice was thunderous; its sheer volume caused cracks in the walls to widen and damaged plaster and mortarboard to fall around Uptight’s head. “She hid right below us… AND YOU never had any idea she was there!!”
Princess Cru’Power entered the room holding a large projector and quickly set it up facing the largely non-existent outer wall of the study. Within seconds it is in operation.
“This will keep her companions occupied while we hunt the little bitch down,” her shark-like smile betrayed her anticipation. “I’ve set her former friends on her tail. They’ll find her soon enough. And when they find her… I’ll make sure she never troubles us again.” She turned to the Pastor as she spoke. “And you need to go verify that everything is ready in the computer complex.”
Ever since she entered the Batcave the mental presence of Prince Evilseid has been a clear beacon in Princess Crujectra’s mind. She knows exactly where he is at all times. She cannot read his mind, that ability belongs to her twin brother, the Crusader, but she can feel his presence. But strangely, she has also begun to detect another familiar mental presence. At first she thought it was her twin but subtle differences and a distinctly female aura quickly dispelled that idea.
“She can’t be here… She just can’t be…”
Out on the mansions grounds, the LMBPers were under a viscous mental attack. Only the Space ranger seemed to be unaffected. But he also failed to notice the subtle changes coming over his companions.
Certain people just seem to radiate a calm assuredness that tells the world they are always in command of any given situation. The Space Ranger is one of those people who always seem to be unfazed by events that rattle and/or terrify other people. He has no fear of death, and is unashamed of anything he has ever done in his life. He is secure in the knowledge that he always has and always will do the right thing. While he can accept moral ambiguity in other people he personally has none. To him the universe is a stark place of contrasting blacks and whites, things are either right or wrong, there are no grey areas. He has no regrets about anything he has ever done because he firmly believes that he has always done the right thing.
Without ever understanding that the LMBP was under attack or realizing that his companions were slowly withdrawing from the open area where he stood staring at the mansion, he stood like a bulwark and began to absorb more and more of the mental pressure being hurled at the LMBP. He rejected doubt without ever realizing it existed. He has painful memories but he came to terms with them long ago, they no longer haunted him. Not all of his choices have been right but they were made for what he firmly believes to be the right reasons and he has always sought to temper justice with mercy. He’s made mistakes but his own sense of honor would never let him rest until his mistakes had been corrected and he had zealously and aggressively done everything in his power to make things right in the aftermath. He accepted the fact that he is not perfect but tried to grow a little closer to that lofty goal each day, despite knowing it was unattainable. In him there was nothing for Prince Evilsied’s attack to grab on to and despite the increasing focus on him (and away from the other LMBPers) he became, without knowing it, a seawall that shielded the other LMBPers from the mental storm.
Harbinger and the Empress were the first to realize what was happening. As more and more of the malevolent mental pressure was brought to bear on the Ranger the barrage of doubt and insecurity affecting the others lessened. The Empress used the Emerald Eye to create a safe haven and Harbinger quickly herded the others into it. Protected by the power of the eye they stared in silent amazement at the lone figure outside the enclosure.
Space Ranger could see the activity inside the mansion and the strange device that was set up in the opening in the ruined wall. But, he didn’t want to upset the princess’s plans so he waited for some indication of its purpose, confident that he could protect his friends from whatever effect it might have. He stood and watched totally oblivious to the fact that it was already in operation…
[ November 14, 2003, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: Space Ranger ]
Posted by Varalent on :
*****INTERLUDE******
I most definitely want to get back to this and wrap up some lose threads. This is too good a story to let fade away into obscurity.
V
****END INTERLUDE*****
[ December 06, 2003, 04:25 AM: Message edited by: Varalent ]
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
*interlude*
Agreed!!!
*end interlude*
Posted by Harbinger on :
*interlude the third*
Then don't just talk about it, do it already.
tsk! Men!
*end interlude*
Posted by Abin Quank on :
The Boob Tubes formed on either side of him, the legions of Botoxalips rushed to the attack. From the right came Emma Grundy, leading Icefyre, Umber & the Boyz, Sonnie, and Danny. From the left came Pastor Uptight N. Upright leading a horde of Zealots. Within seconds the Ranger was swarmed under…
Inside the mansion Prince Evilseid smiled as he watched his mind controlled troops viciously attack the lone figure on the hilltop. Next to him, Princess Cru’Power waited, knowing that her part would come next, she was not disappointed.
“Go, find your sister and kill her… Throw her lifeless body to her subjects as our troops destroy them… Their despair will make our victory that much sweeter…”
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
Outside, the Legions of Botoxalips swarmed the LMBers that faced them. Knowing that Princess Crujectra had her own plan, Cobalt waited for a signal from either her or Space Ranger to tell him when they would be needed for the plan. Until then though, he knew that he could be useful outside, in the midst of this huge battle. Using his incredible power of magnetism, he focused on the hordes of Botoxalips, grabbing them by the dozens and hurling them to the side, crushing them down. Outdoor Miner and Faraway Lad joined him, hoping their abilities might be useful in some way, to send them back through the boom tubes.
Icefyre sprayed freezing ice onto the LMBers, as they dodged out of the way. Shark Lad leaped onto his back, trying to pull him to the ground. Caught between his savage nature and the feelings he had for Icefyre, Shark Lad fought a parrallel battle in his heart.
Eryk Davis Ester and Super Lad Kid leaped at Sonnie and Danny, trying to shake them free from the technology that was ravaging their minds. Lash Lad hurled his whip at Umber, trying to get her back in control, but the young teen seemed too out of it. He felt bad for her, she really had no evil intentions about her, but was so easily taken advantage of. Brocke, Cliff and Ashe, her 'boys' swarmed Lash too, only to be suddenly pummeled by Kid Prime, who entered the fray.
The big gun of controlled LMBers, Dev-Em, flew out at full speed, looking to ravage his teammates. A half-Daxamite, half-Durlan, Dev was immensely strong and some considered him the most powerful LMBer. He also was brave and smart, and never, ever gave up. Knowing that Dev could take out any LMBer he wanted if they were distracted, Lardy realized that he'd have to think of something quick. With his Lardforce, Lard Lad had always been 'THE big gun of the LMB', one of the few who probably was more powerful that Dev-Em. Lardy quickly used the Lardforce to port himsefl and Dev miles away, so Dev couldn't do any immediate damage. Then, while he was distracted, Lardy used his Lard-force to attack the mighty LMBer, hoping that the mind-control was messing up his head.
Harbinger and Emerald Empress saw Emma Grundy dead in their sights. That witch had been what kicked off this whole thing, and they wanted her to feel their wrath.
Space Ranger was swarmed by the hordes of Botoxalips, but to his left his saw the perfect target: Pastor Uptight N. Ranger didn't know what power this man held, but he was willing to be that he could take him out. He flew at him at top speed.
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! <Whew! almmost blew that!> Pray tell, how are you going to get Master Von Tingle home? Surely you can't carry him?"![[bump]](graemlins/bump.gif)
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