And the winners is, Powerbottoms entry. Thanks for entering the contest, here is their story:
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(Original Story prompt by Dan Peyton)
The elevator doors slid open and Director Nova stepped out into BADGE HQ. He hated that two mile ride down, but this was the most secure location on Earth. The headquarters of the most advanced base on the planet were surprisingly vacant, but this was normal. Most of the work conducted here was done by robots along with the most sophisticated AI system in the world.
After a short walk down the corridor, Nova came into a large room filled with computer consoles and a massive set of screens. Two robots worked at the consoles as the only crew today.
“Let’s check in on the teams.” He stated. “Call up the world maps, I want to see where these leagues are?”
“Understood Director.” The computer answered and the screens filled with maps of the world. Each map had the location of the various teams of superheroes that worked for BADGE. They organized themselves into leagues so they could fight crime locally as well as more easily respond to a call for international emergencies.
“Unit 10915, contact the leagues around the Detroit area. I want to know why the crime rate there has doubled this week.” The robot at the computer stopped moving and nothing happened, “10915 respond.” Nova approached the rigid robot.
Before he could find out what was wrong both robots stood up and started dancing around, their bodies acting like puppets on strings.
“What the hell is going on?” Nova struck a fighting stance.
Just then the computer monitors buzzed and the lights flickered. The screens began to run through map after map, and then it all became fuzz. The two dancing robots flung themselves at Nova. He was pummeled to the ground, pinned down. He shoved on them, unhurt but furious. “GET OFF OF ME!”
One turned it’s head all the way around and then cackled at him. In a high, cracking voice it screeched, “Having fun yet?” and then laughed.
Nova finally shoved them off of him and backed away, “Okay, that’s creepy.”
A green energy streamed out of the robots and formed a sinister looking Jack-o-lantern in the air. It laughed in that same horrible voice and then flew around the room, passing in and out of the computers like they weren’t there. When it went through something, the already crazy machine went even more haywire. Computers exploded, the lights shut down, and the fuzz on the main screens became the only light in the room.
Nova pulled out a communicator and pressed a switch, “Nova to...” suddenly that Jack-o-lantern flew right into his body and he felt it filling him. He lost control of his left arm, his head twitched erratically, and his mind was slowly fading as if he were falling asleep. It didn’t take much to realize this creature was taking over his body. He managed to hold that communicator up, “To...any...heroes who can hear...me. BADGE has been compromised….help...”
(original story by Powerbottom)
PB came out of the closet, and entered BADGE HQ. taking a moment to
orient himself as he had just “switched” places with his Twin.
They had recently
discovered that the rings worked into their costumes allowed them to
“speak” over any distance (Twin chat) even into other realities;
It also allowed them to perceive and experience what the other twin
did (Double up); and finally it allowed them to trade places with
each other.
Which was
convenient, PB thought. His ability to travel instantly between gay
bars was great if you needed to travel to major metropolitan areas,
but his brothers ability to travel between closets was more
versatile, everywhere has a closet. Since this was an emergency he
let Underwatch “drive.”
Making sure that his
brother had returned safely and that they were Doubled Up, he
proceeded deeper into the facility.
He activated the
sight, the sense used by some magic users to perceive the
non-mundane. He noticed a green haze seemed to permeate the facility.
:Definitely a power
then.: He commented to Underwatch.
:Yup. Does “reality”
Feel stretched thin to you?: was the reply :I think this Event is
playing out in an untold amount of different ways:
PB snorted and
thought :Wouldn’t surprise me. Director Nova’s distress call was
open not private, and yet we seem to be the only agents on site.
Whatever we’re facing has enough juice to create enough alternates
to face the responders one on one.:
:Oh, I’ve more
than enough power to do that.: A voice interrupted, :You two aren’t
nearly as sneaky and clever as you think:
:And you’d better
hurry and guess the magic word. You’re running out of time, and
oxygen.:
The closet door
behind them vanished leaving only the door in front of them. It was
of course impervious to brute force, magic, and lock picks.
:Any chance the
magic word is Klpzyxm?:
:NO, and that’s
rather insulting, I’m so much more than a “fifth Dimensional
imp.”:
A third of the air
in the room vanished.
:How is he doing
that Underwatch, our costumes have life support?:
:Heck if I know, but
I’m having problems breathing too.:
:That’s
inconvenient. Is it “Open Sesame?”:
:Not likely. Only
enough air for one more guess kids.:
It was then that PB
noticed the doorbell, of all things, next to the door. “FFS” he
thought to himself as he and Leon both “spoke” at the same time.
:Trick or Treat:
:Good Guess, I
choose trick:
The air returned and
the door opened.
PB entered the
command center.
Director Nova sat in
his command chair surrounded by the green glow. To PB’s sight a
Jack O'Lantern appeared over the directors head. :What do I call
you?: he asked as he slipped his hand into his belt pouch to retrieve
the test kit. While verbalising the word “Christo…”
:My dear boy, call
me whatever you like, and don’t waste our time, I’m not a Demon,
Shifter, Fae, or a Tulpa.:
“Okay, Gourdy Mc
Pumkinface, what are you then? My worst nightmare?” PB asked.
:Oh, good one, if
not an original one. I did promise you a trick, however:
Music started
playing. Anyone who survived the ‘90’s could tell you the name of
the song.
:OMG He’s Mask-ing
us to the Macarena: PB whined.
At the same time
Underwatch whinged :He’s Beetle Juice-ing us to the Macarena.:
PB had a thought.
:Cartoon or live action?:
:Oh. Definitely
Tooney. Good call Brother mine. Go nuts:
Gourdy made a
gesture and mimed pulling a zipper in the air. A hole unzipped and
Underwatch fell out. “If You're going to ignore me and talk to each
other you can both play.”
Gourdy, spun around
in a quick change tornado and became a drag version of himself and
began lip syncing…
When I dance they
call me Macarena
And the boys they
say que soy buena
They all want me
They can't have me
So they all come
and dance beside me
Move with me
Chant with me
And if you're good,
I'll take you home with me
The song continued
and brothers danced along. Unlike Mask, Unlike Beetlejuice the twins
choose to dance, thus keeping their free will.
PB had intuited that
Gourdy was overlapping “reality” and the astral plane. The twins
had been trained to think of the astral plane as a “cartoon
universe” and were able to create havoc of their own towards their
host.
Thus instead of
doing the song’s eponymous dance into a bubbling vat labeled “acme
acid” PB pulled an anvil out of his pocket, dropping it into the
acid at the last minute sending the acid splashing skyward.
Underwatch pulled a
fan out of his pocket and sent the stream towards Gourdy.
Move with me
Chant with me
And if you're good,
I'll take you home with me
Gourdy pulled a
paintbrush out of thin air and created a hole beneath his feet, which
he vanished into.
Dale a tu cuerpo
alegría Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa'
darle alegría why cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo
alegría, Macarena
Hey Macarena
PB Grabbed a
conveniently placed trampoline and put it where he and his brother
were dancing.
Whilst Underwatch
applied wall paper paste to a wall that was coincidentally being
redecorated.
But don't you worry
about my boyfriend
He's a boy who's
name is Victorino
I don't want him
Couldn't stand him
Gourdy fell from
above, as he fell PB swung a baseball bat that had been carelessly
left out and sent Gourdy flying into the paste.
Now come on, what
was I supposed to do?
He was out of town
and his two friends were so fine
Before Gourdy could
escape Underwatch slid a candy bar into each of Gordy’s hands,
Full-size national brand candy not the fun size crap.
PB arrived at
Underwatch’s side and they both said “Gee,ain't I a stinker”
grabbed Gourdy’s face and gave him a cartoon kiss ala Bugsminster
Bunny.
The Music stopped.
Gourdy Turned bright
red, and laughed. “Well played. As you’ve given me a treat and
are exempt from further tricks, I shall take my leave until next
year.”
The Twins joined in
the laughter. “Thank you. Until then Lord Mc Pumpkinface.”
The green glow
faded, everything returned to normal. The Twins ran for the closet
before they had to explain things. “Every Holiday”, PB Groused.
“I know.”
Underwatch agreed. “I can’t wait for Thanksgiving, Even if it
does get an anthropomorphic personification all you need to fight a
giant turkey is a giant axe and 50 pounds of stuffing.”
“I hope those
aren’t famous last words Bro.”
