Heroes, Villains, and Renegades Fiction: Part 9

 

A hero named Whirl flew as winds carried her over the plains. She had a white outfit with a draping cloth wrapped around her that made her appear almost like a wingless angel floating over Kansas as she patrolled. A beautiful spear she carried with her complemented her powers. Her training with the weapon was excellent, but it often felt like an affectation rather than a true weapon.

This was her first week on the job as an official Ranger. She graduated from the BADGE program and chose to be a solo act, working as a Ranger. She loved the wide-open, windy spaces. Her powers let her play in the gales, and this part of America gave her ample room to play. However, it was rather boring. Wheat fields as far as she could see, bisected rarely by a road with perhaps one car on it.

“What is that?” Whirl saw someone walking across the dormant wheat field.

If it were a farmer, she would like to greet them and tell them she was now their official Ranger for the area. However, this person did not look normal, and she was bored enough to check on them. Also, they kept looking up at her, and she was certain their eyes were abnormal. As she lowered through the air, she noted this person had something on his head. Branches or antlers... she couldn’t tell which.

“Greetings. I am Whirl. I... what in the world are you?” She hovered just above the ground on her twisting winds as she saw this being had draping clothing, and a black body with green sparkling light inside. This wasn’t a human, it was something she could not identify. “What are you?”

“Feed the will.” A voice emitted from its faceless head, and it reached up.

“I don’t know what you are, but you are freaking me out. Identify yourself now.” She held her spear ready for a fight.

It walked toward her. “The will must be fed.”

She backed up as it approached. “Okay, creep, that’s enough. This is your last warning. Tell me who you are and what you want, or I’ll take you down and send you straight to BADGE authority.”

“The will must be fed.” The pace picked up as he ran toward her.

She flew up higher away from it and then cast a strong wind toward it, which stumbled it.

It fell on its back and then pressed its hand into the tilled soil. A vine sprouted upward at her. She dodged it and then swiped her spear to the side to slice another vine from getting her. Dozens of vines came rushing up at her. She flew up much higher, moving faster than the attacks.

“Fine, you want to know one of the few exciting things about Kansas?” She held her spear up above her, and it spun, as did the surrounding winds. In a few seconds she churned a tornado on this bright blue sunny day. The funnel of twisting air roared across the ground, crashing into the attacking creature.

The vines stopped sprouting, and the column of twisting winds took the creature up. She could see the creature going and coming around her, completely at the mercy of the tornado. Using all her will she could muster, she threw the creature out of the tornado, directing all the winds to slam it back into the ground. It exploded in a black, misty fog and left nothing behind but a few dead vines.

She landed and used her spear to hold herself up. A tornado is a powerful use of her abilities and always exhausted her. She clicked her comm, “Hey, Kansas City Strikers, I could use the league out at my location for an investigation. There -“ She gagged as a vine gripped around her throat. She dropped her comm and grasped at the vine.

The creature sprang up from the earth and held its claw at her head. “You will feed the will.”

The blue phone box hovered in this realm of shadowed light. Cracks of energy sprouted all around them like a massive, noiseless storm.

Both of them looked out the open door of the box, the tight fit uncomfortable but their only sold ground to stand on.

Dr. Fagan asked, “What is this place?”

EB shrugged, “Search me. I’ve seen all sorts of strange realms, traveled in time, and even been on various planets... but nothing like this. It is so quiet, so strange.”

“I want to go back to our planet now,” Lily stated.

EB said, “Sure, but... um... how?”

“I’m not qualified to answer that. I would hope you would know. Can’t you zap us out of here?”

“I’ll try.” EB put his paws together and energy glowed between them, but then vanished. “Nothing. That’s strange. I’ll try again.” He concentrated, and that energy appeared, and then faded. “This is not normal. I mean, before my powers failed, but they kinda worked. This is like my powers are gone. Sapped away...” He gasped, “Sapped. My powers are being absorbed when I use them. I can feel it.”

“That’s not good. We can’t stay in this phone box forever.”

EB called out, “ANYONE THERE?”

“What are you doing?”

EB said, “Hoping someone else is here that can help us. Duh.”

“I don’t think anyone is -“

EB’s ears perked up, “Wait, I hear something. The lightning in the distance is getting stronger, and the flashes are coming faster.”

“What does that mean?”

“Like I know. It means something. And that’s more than we’ve seen so far.” He wiggled around and slammed his shoulder into the side of the box. “If we can turn, we might see what’s going on around us. Maybe... WOAH!”

An angelic figure flew by, seeming as though someone had thrown it through the heavens. It fell a long

distance down into this realm of darkness, then turned and opened his wings and flew back up, gathering energy in his hands. He dodged streaks of green lightning.

“Is that an angel?” Dr. Fagan asked in utter shock.

EB frowned and then gasped in glee, “No, that’s the Avatar!”

“Avatar? Like the movie?”

“No, that’s the Avatar of the Morphons, well, one of them. That’s the dude over Supernatural. He’s this beefy angel being. Well, he took that form. I think he came from a painting or a statue, or something like that. But he’s really powerful.”

“If he is so powerful, who is fighting him?” She asked.

EB’s jubilant attitude faded. “Good question.”

The box jostled and tilted hard back until both of them were lying against the phone side with the open door above them. A dark shadow wrapped around the whole box like a giant claw, the fingers seeping inside.

“You are chosen.” A voice growled out.

EB held up his paw and failed to cast a shield spell around them.

The shadow seeped deeper into the box, every part reaching directly for Lily. She waved her hand at it, but as soon as her hand touched a small part of the shadow, she screamed and then passed out.

“Lily! Don’t do this! Lily! Hey, you stupid shadow, get outta here.”

EB cringed as it drew closer to him, his attempts at fighting curtailed as his power was useless.

A bright light flashed around them, and then a screeching like a wounded animal echoed across the whole realm while the shadowed claw retreated.

The Avatar of Supernatural suddenly crashed into the box, his hands gripping the sides of the open door. He said, “She must leave. It is not time. It is coming. Go!” He yanked the door shut, and they suddenly sped up. EB held Lily, who was still passed out, and shielded her from the chaotic tumbling.

“This is insane.”

Continue the Story

Heroes, Villains, and Renegades Fiction: Light and Dark Part 8

 EB and Lily appeared in the lab, which drew an instant shock by the surrounding people. The other researchers stopped what they were doing and checked on them.

“Doctor Fagan? Where did you come from?” A Korean scientist asked.

She said, “Long story.”

EB zipped around the lab so fast that all people saw was a white blur. Several bottles broke, and a laptop computer almost crashed to the ground if that girl hadn’t caught it. EB stopped in front of Lily and held up his comm. “Found it. Musta set it down when we were looking over the sensor scans. Okay...” he clicked it.

An older man walked up, “Doctor, is something wrong?”

“Yes. I don’t know what is out there, but we were attacked. We need to contact BADGE.”

EB said, “I’m trying. The comm unit is dead. I mean, it is really dead.”

Lily said, “Then zap yourself up to the station.”

“I hate leaving you guys down here with that weirdo.”

“Weirdo?” the Korean asked.

Dr. Fagan shook her head at him and then said, “They need to be warned. Go.”

EB nodded quickly and then clapped his paws together. He flashed and reappeared a foot away. “Uh, that’s not right.” He clapped and appeared another foot away. “This has to work.” He did this a dozen times and merely moved twelve feet across the room. He wobbled after the last one and then fell flat on his back. “That made me dizzy.”

The older man looked over his computer screen. “I don’t know if this means anything, but there is a strange reading outside right now. The morphon levels here are spiking. I’m picking up some kind of cloud of them focusing on us.”

“Look at the crystals.” The Korean scientist pointed at their specimens. The crystals were pulsing with a bright green light .

“There is something else,” the older man said. “I can’t explain it, but I’m picking up a growing morphon signature heading this direction.”

EB zipped over and stood on the console to look at the screen. “Oh, chocolate sauce, that thing is heading this way. What does she want?”

“Doctor Fagan, we... Doctor?” The older man gasped.

EB looked over to see that she had green glowing eyes and was breathing quickly in panic; vines were growing out of the potted plants in the back. “Doctor!” EB held up his paw, and a wave of energy spread out, slowing the vines down.

She looked around, “Sorry. I don’t know how I did that. I’m just so scared right now.”

EB said, “Okay, guys. This is the time you get your butts outta here. Whatever that thing is, it is heading this direction. You need to move. Get to the police and tell them to get people away from that creature and from here. I will get Dr. Fagan to safety by any means necessary.”

“Are you serious?” The older man asked.

EB hopped up on a table and yelled, “Do I look like I’m playing games! This is a direct order from the BADGE official. GET OUT!”

This startled everyone, but they obeyed quickly.

Dr. Fagan asked EB, “Why did you do that? That thing is out there.”

EB said, “Because it’s after you. It was only interested in you in the cave, you’ve gained some odd powers, and right now it’s marching this way. The first order of business as a BADGE hero is to get civilians out of harm’s way. So, don’t worry, I plan on getting you out of here as well. I just need them running back into town.”

“You can’t zap us out of here, you can’t teleport five feet.”

EB frowned, “Thanks for the reminder. No, I have another idea.”

The laboratory scientists and assistants ran from the hidden entrance and raced across the street. The sky was dark and crackling with green energy, and people were screaming. A strange, milky mist oozed across the ground while the strange woman walked relentlessly toward the lab.

“What’s going on?” A police officer yelled at the scientist.

The older man stopped and said, “I don’t know. EB said you should get people away from... whatever that thing is.”

The officer pointed his gun at the creature, which wasn’t even looking at him. “Is it dangerous?”

“I think so. I don’t know. EB was scared of it.”

“Who is EB?” The officer’s tone was irritated.

The scientist said, “The BADGE representative here.”

The officer pulled a megaphone out of his car and yelled into it, “Whoever you are, stand down and surrender!”

The creature simply continued walking.

“We will contact the local hero league if you do not stand down!” The officer stated.

Still, it kept moving.

The officer shot his gun so that it hit the pavement near the creature. “This is your final warning.”

This got her attention. She looked at them with a snapping motion of her head and then thrust her hand up. Vines sprouted from the ground and entrapped the officer, lifting him and tangling his arms and legs in the natural binding. Another thicker vine sprang up and wrapped around his car, squeezing it until it broke in half.

While people tried to free the officer, the creature walked a few more steps and then looked down. Leaves and flowers sprouted up through the pavement as she walked further, each step taking her lower into the ground as though she were moving through water.

“Are you sure about this?” Lily said as she looked into the fake phone booth they used as an elevator.

EB held his paws up to cast a spell that spread energy over the booth. “Yes. This is going to work. See, I’m going to charm this to connect to a special crystal egg that I gave Nova. The crystal eggs are a unique little trinket I make and give to people I really especially trust. And Nova is my bestest buddy in the universe. And if he ever, I mean ever, needed my help, he just breaks the egg, and it alerts me to come to his side right away. He’s never used it because he is so awesome and strong and cool. But if the day comes that he needs help, EB to the rescue. I would be there so fast that it would be amazing, and any villain trying to hurt him would be really super sorry for doing whatever they would try to do. This one time, he was stuck in an illusion by the Spirit of Halloween and I...”

“You’re rambling again. Why don’t we just leave with the others?”

EB, still casting his magic over the booth, said, “We need to get far far far away from that witchy woman. If we just keep running, it will be a mess. Like a movie that just keeps going on and on with the chase scene that everyone sleeps through. I want to get right to the part where we are with BADGE figuring this out, not just running. Now, I am about done enchanting this box.”

“How does this help us?” Lily interrupted his random thoughts.

“Oh, yeah, the egg. Well, it is super powerful and connected to me. So, with this spell, I will turn this little elevator thing into a rocket, and it will launch itself and fly directly to Nova. And there is nowhere safer than being with Nova. He is like some super angelic warrior being from... well, I am not entirely sure. There was this thing with Lady Echidna and...”

A cracking and popping sound interrupted his stray thoughts. Roots and twigs sprouted up from the floor of the lab. Between the newly formed cracks spilled that thick mist.

“Oh, crap. She’s here,” EB said.

The mist rose and took the shape of a woman. Blowing away, she revealed herself in all her ominous glory. Her eyes locked on Dr. Fagan, and her hand lifted. “You will become.”

“Let her have it.” EB said.

Lily looked the woman straight in the eyes and said, “This is a Section 9 laboratory. You made a mistake by coming here. This is Doctor Lily Fagan, Code Red. Self Destruct. Authorization seven four seven Leprechaun.”

EB grabbed her and shoved her into the phone booth. “God, I hope this works.” He slapped the side of the box and it rocketed straight up at an accelerated speed. A ball of fire sped after them from below, and the phone box sparkled with magical light. They both braced themselves for the impact. The box blasted through the surface and shot straight into the sky.

Lily screamed in fear, holding the sides of the box. Her hands crackled with a green energy that spread across the box. Green lightning outside in the sky hit the box a dozen times. EB covered his eyes as everything turned bright green. There was a popping explosion, and they stopped moving so fast. In fact, it felt as though they were floating in the air.

“Where are we?” Lily asked.

EB opened his eyes and looked out the glass of the door. They weren’t over Carlingford any longer, they weren’t over Earth. From the distant horizon to horizon, they were in a space between two layers of dark clouds. Massive bolts of energy jumped from the top to the bottom later, and then from the bottom to the top. There was no land, no sky, no sun or moon. They had left reality.

“I... don’t know.”

Continue the Story

Heroes, Villains, and Renegades Fiction: Light and Dark Part 7

 Carlingford grew darker than it should be. The sun hadn’t entirely set yet. However, the clouds in the sky grew dense and a strange green glow peeked out from areas.

Dense mist rolled across the hills, creeping along the ground in a fluid motion. Cars and people stopped when the mist moved through them. People asked questions, but no one had answers. Many ran indoors and a siren on a police car started.

The mist moved toward the old Leprechaun home. BADGE robots stationed there prepared their weapons.

“Signal... blocked... signal... blocked,” The robot kept repeating.

The mists undulated around the hole in the ground, and a single blob of the mists formed. It became a

beautiful woman in a revealing dress. The dress moved like liquid. Natural designs adorned her otherwise pristine skin. Long evergreen hair fell down her shoulders to the middle of her back. Wooden antlers grew from her head that shed iridescent leaves that floated around her. Her eyes beamed a green light, yet her face was calm and lacked emotion.

She strode forward with delicate steps, her demeanor soft and uncaring. The weapons of the robots did nothing to stop her or even frighten her.

“Clearance required, do not approach,” The robot stated.

She held up her hand, and the robot lifted from the ground. Her mellifluous voice softly said, “I will not be stopped.” Casting the robot aside, the mechanical agent rolled across the ground.

Another robot fired laser bolts at her, but she waved her hand, forming a large, leaf-shaped energy shield that deflected the lasers. Protected from their attacks, she continued walking toward the opening into Leprechauns old home. A robot jumped at her to attack, but she thrust her hand out and vine sprung from the ground and trapped the robot.

“Lily, are you okay? Here have some chocolate.” EB stood next to her as she sat on the ground, holding her head.

“Oh, thank you. I think I’m okay. I don’t know what happened.” She took the egg and then frowned at the computer station still beeping. “That is mighty irritating. I can turn it off.” She went to stand up but sat back down. “Oh, I think my head still needs some time. I wish I were like you, could just flick my hand and...” she flicked her hand at the computer station and a series of vines grew instantly underneath it and threw it across the room, smashing it against a dirt wall.

EB’s eyes widened. “Oh, that’s not right.”

Lily looked at her hand, which now had a green glow around it. “Did I just do that?”

“Looks like it. Oh, this is really strange. I mean, totally strange. Super strange. The strangest of...”

“It’s strange. I get it,” Lily said.

“Sorry, I ramble. Uh, this is something we should report to BADGE,” EB patted himself. “Oh, Cadbury! I left my comm unit at the lab.”

Lily took a bite out of the chocolate egg and then smiled. “Oh, wow. This put some pep back into me. I feel better right away.”

“Magic eggs.” EB said, “Not on the market, but really effective.”

She stood up, “I feel much better. Let’s head back.”

“Good idea.” EB walked toward the opening in the cave. “You know, I really should market those energy eggs. I don’t have to tell the public the energy is magic-infused. It’s healthier than most of the stuff in energy drinks. But I’d have to do some medical tests and then...” He jumped back when they both heard an explosion.

“What’s that?” Lily asked.

EB shook his head, “I don’t know. Sounded like something went boom outside.”

“Yeah, I got that,” Lily said.

A mist poured through the opening across the floor. The woman with antlers stepped through, casually staring directly at Lily.

EB stood between this woman and Lily. “Hey, no bueno, lady. This is a restricted area. Who the heck are you?”

She casually glanced down at him. “So much power. So much to feed on.” Then she looked at Lily, “You will become.” Then she reached up with her hand and walked toward Lily.

Lily backed up and held up her hands. “No. Stay back.” A vine sprang out of the ground, but the strange woman grabbed it and took control. The vine grew fast and started wrapping around Lily.

EB jumped up and threw an exploding egg. The egg erupted on impact with the woman and threw her back. “I said. NO BUENO!”

The woman staggered, but then returned to her relentless pursuit, eyes fixed on Lily.

“What does she want?” Lily struggled to detach herself from the ever-growing vines.

“I don’t know.” EB said, “But this ends here.” He threw another egg.

The woman caught it, and it did not explode. “Do not interfere with the will.” She tossed the egg aside.

EB said, “I see you have some power. Great. But this is my friend’s home, and this woman is my buddy. You’re not welcome.” He jumped up and put both paws together. He cast a blinding light energy that hit the strange woman and blasted her out of the cave, through Leprechaun’s old home and outside.

Lily said, “Woah, that was amazing.”

“I’m not just the Easter Bunny, I’m a Vexillian who’s survived Legion multiple times.” He grabbed her hand as she was still being taken by vines. “Take a deep breath and...” In a flash, they both vanished, leaving the vines to fall freely on the dirt floor.

Gargoyle watched the map of the world on the monitor in Operations. Justin had gone to bed for the evening, leaving him in charge. A constant sweep of sensors moved back and forth across the planet.

Chase walked in, looking over a computer tablet. “Hey, Gar, how are things looking?”

“Normal. I don’t know what we are going to find.”

She looked up at the map. “Nova said to look for morphon elevations, even small ones.”

Gar nodded, “I know. We have found four hundred spikes in the past twelve hours. Every time it is a false alarm. Nova said he is tired of me telling him about every spike. But he asked me to contact him.”

“Nova is just annoyed with the task at hand. This part of the job is tedious.”

Gar said, “I just tell him it’s an all-clear, not an actual emergency.”

There was a playful smile on Chase’s face. “At least there aren’t any dangerous issues.”

“Why are you smiling like that?”

She shook her head, “It’s nothing.”

“Tell me. I am very bored.”

Chase said, “You have grown so much over the years. When I first worked with you, you were like a child. You hardly understood most things and were simple. Now, you talk like a normal agent.”

“I like that. I have read many books and things to be more mature. Director Nova wanted me to be a better person, so I am working on it.”

Chase said, “I’m glad. But don’t disregard the childlike element in your heart. It’s what makes you so gentle and sweet.”

Gar smiled with that innocent grin of his, “I like it when you say nice things about me.”

He didn’t know how to flirt, but he still harbored an attraction to her, and everyone knew it. Chase said, “I think I’ll finish my paperwork in the mess hall. Assigning people to the Rangers posts means a lot of paperwork needs to be approved by local governments. It is menial, but necessary.”

A flashing light and a beep stopped both of them.

Chase asked, “What’s that?”

“Another spike.” Gar looked up at the map. A light blinked over Ireland, with a series of numbers next to it.

“Is that normal?” She asked.

Gar’s innocent face grew worried. “That is big, really big. It is staying a long time.”

Chase asked, “Where is it?”

The robot at the map controls stated, “Signal in Carlingford, Ireland.”

Gar said, “That’s where EB went.”

Chase clicked her comm, “Chase to EB...” nothing. “Chase to EB...” nothing.

The comm robot stated, “Comm channels to that area are currently being blocked.”

“We have a team of permanent robots around Leprechaun’s old home. Can we get any of them?”

“Negative.” The robot stated.

Chase and Gar shared a worried glance.

Gar said, “Contact Director Nova, urgent.”

Continue the Story

Heroes, Villains and Renegades Fiction: Light and Dark part 6

Nova sat in the passenger seat of a BADGE shuttle with a robot piloting. They sped through a sea of puffy clouds rising above late winter weather below. On a screen in front of Nova were Justin and Gargoyle.

“I wouldn’t bring this to your attention if someone hadn’t died,” Justin said.

Nova nodded, “I understand. What about the local leagues? Anything from them?”

Gargoyle said, “The league in Georgia hasn’t been able to find much more. And the two leagues in Italy have found even less.”

Justin said, “I was ready to dismiss the encounter in Georgia as a hoax or drunkenness after the league couldn’t find anything at all. But the story from the fishing boat off the coast of Italy is too similar. A strange, almost mythical creature appears and attacks. There were a dozen eyewitnesses, and this time someone died.”

Nova said, “Any connections between the two incidents?”

Justin shook his head, “Nothing tangible. I haven’t got the medical data from the autopsy of the victim on the boat, which might shed more light. However, no connection exists between these people. We can’t find anything other than a mildly elevated morphon signature in the area.”

A chilling worry ran through Nova’s blood. After his conversation with the Oracle of Tech, this seems like it couldn’t be a coincidence. “I want all our morphon sensors going full force. If we see another elevation, I want to know about it.”

“But that could be anything. We pick them up all the time. Normally, it’s nothing.”

Nova said, “Someone has died. We can’t rule out anything that might provide us with a head start before someone else is attacked.”

“Understood. Will you be cutting your trip short?”

Nova said, “No. I will inaugurate this new league in Petoskey, Michigan, and then I will head back. This shouldn’t take long and will likely be highly uneventful. I’ll be back in three days.”

“I will keep you informed if anything happens.”

“Good. Nova out.”

EB followed Dr. Fagan through the small village out into the hills. The evening sun was setting beneath a calm winter cloud bank. He knew the area well, more than he wanted her to know. In the distance, surrounding an area, was a permanent security zone set up by BADGE. It marked the location where Leprechaun’s home was and where the incident happened where he lost his powers when Jinn betrayed him.

Dr. Fagan walked up to the robot at the border of a laser wall restricting access to the area. She held out her special badge, and the robot let her through. The robots’ programming recognized EB’s authority as a BADGE official, so he didn’t need to show anything.

“You run faster than anything I’ve seen, but you’re lagging behind me.” She looked back as EB slowly followed.

“This is a hard place for me.”

“This place?”

EB picked up speed and walked along with her, heading for an opening in the ground dug out to reveal the cave underneath. “How much do you know about the Jinn incident?”

“Who doesn’t know about it? He nearly destroyed the world.”

“And Leprechaun?”

She smiled, “I know. Leprechaun was part of his plan. I get to see some levels of secure information in my job. Especially since I work right here where it happened.”

EB said, “Did it tell you that Leprechaun wasn’t a real leprechaun, but a Vexillian?”

“It didn’t make that clear. It explained he was an alien, but I didn’t have clearance for the information.”

EB stopped at the edge of the hole in the ground, looking down at the well-lit, pleasant home buried under the ground. “He was a Vexillian, just like me. He was... a good friend once. His betrayal hurt badly, and his death... was hard for me. For centuries, we Vexillians lived here pretending to be your myths. We kept away from humans and only had each other to talk to, even though it was rare. He was one I got to talk to more than others, at least for a while. Coming back here reminds me of a man who I knew well and who I miss.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. We don’t have to go in. I just had some questions and.. we don’t have to. Come on, let’s get a pint and talk.”

He said, “No. I have avoided coming back here for too long. I want to remember him again, and let that memory rest.”

“If you are truly okay with going in.”

EB didn’t answer; he walked down the path into the small home. She followed behind, hunching down to get inside. They had dug it out bigger than it used to be, but a lot of the items remained.

Stopping near the old sitting room with a little hearth and shelves of books, a chair, and a pipe, EB slowly put a paw on the pipe and picked it up. “I can still smell the stench of his smoke. I remember how he loved to read human literature, especially fables about him. You should have heard him laugh, he had a friendly laugh.” A tear fell down EB’s face.

“He was a mighty good friend, which is a treasure to have,” she said.

EB nodded, “Yes. He made a fatal mistake and chose a path that was... unfortunate. He made amends by sacrificing himself to stop Jinn. But there is so much more about him I wish you knew.”

She said, “I knew him.”

EB put the pipe down and looked up at her with shock. “What?”

“You know when I said there was something else in my past? When I was a little girl, hardly in my first year of school, I loved fantasy and myths, especially Irish myths. I wanted to meet a leprechaun. Living here in Carlingford, leprechauns are a big thing. One day, I got scared when a bully threatened me at school. I ran away and came here. I didn’t know there was a leprechaun living under my feet, but I sat down and cried. I kept saying I wish I had magic like a leprechaun, then I wouldn’t fear bullies. It was raining, and I was soaked. Then, a little hand rested on my arm and the nicest little voice said, ‘Why all the tears, lassy?’ “

EB frowned, “He showed himself to you?”

She nodded, “Yes. He was so kind and nice. He told me that magic was real and that I had it in me. He said that all I had to do was believe in myself and I could do anything. I believed then that I had strength in me, magic in me. My ma and da both said I was dreaming and scolded me for running away. The kids at school made fun of me, but I never gave in. I always believed it really happened. When everything came out with Leprechaun five years ago... I knew it was real. Then, I discovered I had morphon powers, and I thought it was all coming true, I really had magic in me. But...”

“Your powers are too weak.” EB finished the thought.

“I was sad about that. But I devoted my studies to understanding morphons better. And what better place than this. His old home is filled with them, and back here, let me show you what has happened.” She walked him back to another room, this one dug out considerably more than the others. In fact, she could stand up straight. A single piece of equipment sat in the middle, with a screen showing readings from sensors. However, it wasn’t the equipment that mattered at this moment.

A green glow covered everything, pouring out from dozens of impressive morphon crystals growing on the ground, the walls, and the ceiling. EB gasped and ran over to one. “This is amazing! These weren’t here when he was here, I know that.”

“The BADGE people started noticing them a couple of years ago and we’ve been studying them ever since.”

EB asked, “Why are they green? Morphon crystals are typically a purplish hue.”

Lily touched one, “They are almost entirely supernatural morphon resonance. And they have grown exponentially in the past four months.”

EB asked, “How did you discover they are all supernatural morphon-based?”

She waved her hand in the air, and the crystals all flickered with glowing light along with her movements. “My signature is supernatural, so they respond.”

“Wow.” EB clapped his paws and created a chocolate egg. The crystals all burned brighter green. The sensors in the middle of the room beeped wildly in response. “Wow, just... wow. I have never seen anything like this, I.... Lily?”

She held her head and swayed. “I feel something odd.”

EB jumped when green tendrils of electricity jumped between the crystals. “Okay, that is super not normal.”

A dozen of the tendrils hit Lily, and she shook for a moment and then fell on her knees.

“LILY!”

Continue the Story

Heroes, Villains and Renegades Fiction: Light and Dark Part 5

 A fishing boat gently rocked in the waves as its crew worked diligently to harvest a catch. The Mediterranean was beautiful, if chilly this time of year. The arms on either side of the boat were cranking hard to pull up the nets filled with the catch. Their target, anchovies.

“Hey! Watch that line!” A brash older man with years of experience etched into his face bellowed.

A young man grabbed part of the line pulling in the net and secured it. The boat lurched to one side as the net came further out of the water. They could already see the bountiful harvest coming their way, which meant bigger paychecks.

“Captain! We have a problem. Lines stopped!” The young man pulled and checked, but the net was now stationary.

The captain stormed over and pulled on it as well. “Keep your hands - “

They all paused when an eerie blue glow bathed them. One by one, they yelped and jumped back as they caught sight of the source of that glow.

A cloaked figure hovered over the filled net, over the water itself. It had the face of a bearded old man

with skin that was ocean blue, and his beard was sea-foam white. His lower body did not have legs, but strange wisps that appeared like tentacles, but they were fading in and out and did not seem attached to him. Hovering around him were scraps of objects, floating as though he were still in water. His hands were sharp and dark, reaching toward the young man.

“Mother Mary, save me!” The captain tapped his body in a cross and backed up.

The young man released the net and backed up so hard he hit a pole and fell down.

The hovering figure drew closer to them, its glowing blue eyes glaring down at the young man. Its hand reached out, pointing at him.

“DIE, DEMON!” A woman launched a tool at the figure, but it merely cast it away with a flick of its hand.

Unfortunately, the attack drew a counter, and the strange creature held up his hand, and a wave of blue energy shot out. The strange creature’s counterattack threw most of the crew overboard, but the captain and the young man remained. The attack did not even touch the young man, though it shoved the captain back.

The figure drew closer to him, its sharp finger pointing at his face.

“What do you want with me!” The boy yelled.

The finger touched his forehead, and the boy screamed in a shrill pitch of agony before falling dead on the deck. A blue flash and the figure was gone.

EB held up a scanner shaped like a large flashlight as he bounced around the enclosure that protected the Arx/Adrianne ice. He hummed a tune to himself in a joyful attitude.

Gargoyle and Dr. Henderson stood outside the enclosure in the seating area where they had set up a station to read the data.

Gargoyle asked through the protected iso-glass. “EB, why are you so happy? That is a sad sight.”

EB stopped, still pointing the sensor at the ice. “Because I’m happy we’re going to free them.”

“That’s only a theory, not a fact.” Dr. Henderson stated.

The sweet Irish voice of Lily came through the comm, “Aye. Dr. Henderson is right. It’s a wonderful theory, and I hope to make it a fact. But still not a fact yet.”

EB kept a cheerful smile, “Don’t care. I always keep my hopes high.”

“Hope is not enough.” Gar said.

EB stopped and looked at Gar with as serious a face as he could muster. “Listen here. Hope is our bestest of best friends. Without hope, we all will just be sourpusses and not do anything good ever.”

Lily said, “I agree. Now, I have enough readings for now. Can you come back and help me with another part of this?”

Dr. Henderson said, “I wish I could, but I have several new students to process for physical exams.”

Lily said, “I’m glad you are up to help if you could, but I was talking to my cutie little wee bunny.”

EB zapped himself out of the enclosure and was now standing next to the sensors. “Oh, I love when you call me that. I’ll be right there.” He clapped his paws together.

Dr. Henderson said, “Wait, don’t-“

He was gone.

She finished, “Take the sensor with you.” She let out a long sigh, “I hope he remembers that. It’s an expensive piece of equipment.”

EB hopped through the laboratory, dodging people as he headed for the area Dr. Fagan had set up for this study. He still held the sensor in one paw.

“Lily, I’m back!” he called out.

She was bent over a computer, looking at data, when she looked up. “Oh, you're a fast one.”

“Any hot girl calls me cutie and I’ll be right there.”

“Aren’t you the sweet talker. This data is really helpful, but I need to process it with the system. It’ll take a moment.”

EB cocked his head, “Then, why did you want me here so fast?”

She got up and walked him around the lab to where they had more of the morphon crystals. “I have another project that is my focus. Studying these crystals ties into what we’re trying to accomplish for your friends. I was hoping, since I am helping, that you might give me some insight.”

EB looked up at the crystals. “What’s this other project? BADGE has already studied those crystal thingies for years.”

“I know, I have most of their data. The crystals are just a part of the project.” She patted the top of the table next to the crystals to invite him up. She sat in a chair and he stood on the table, making them closer to eye level with each other. “See, I know you read my file before coming.”

EB nodded, “Sorta. BADGE tagged you five years ago, detecting your morphonic signature. You didn’t pass the initial exam and were sent back.”

“Do you know why they sent me back?” she asked.

EB fumbled around for an answer, since it might not be good. “Yes... I mean, sure... it’s not bad. Many people have too low a morphon signature to have powers or anything. It’s not like we didn’t like you or anything, or that you did something wrong.”

“Oh, don’t think I’m upset. I know my limitations. I have powers, but they are so incredibly weak, they are of no use or threat. I don’t even have to take any suppressor medication or be checked on.”

EB said, “I wondered about that. The file only said you had a zero-level power, but it didn’t say what it was.”

She waved him to follow her to a row of potted plants. “I keep plants around because they remind me I have powers at all. Here, watch this.” Putting her hand on a small branch of the miniature rose bush, and slowly pulled it away. A bud opened and bloomed.

“Very nice.” EB clapped his paws together.

She shook her head, “Hardly anything. I can’t make it grow much, just a little. I can’t even help farmers or anyone.”

“So, you went into morphonic sciences instead of agriculture. Why?” EB asked.

She said, “I have always had a fascination with science. However, since I was a wee little girl, I had an even greater love of supernatural things. Leprechauns were a passion. The old fables of this land thrilled me. When I learned that my own morphonic signature is supernatural, I was so happy. Then, it turned out to be nothing.”

“Sorry. It doesn’t always work out.”

She walked him back over to the crystals. “Maybe it can. I have been studying the morphons from around here, which congeal into these crystals. The most prominent morphon here resonates with the supernatural signature. I got my degree in this so I could study and maybe enhance my own powers.”

EB hopped up on the table and held up his paws. “Whoa, wait. Be careful. That kinda talk sounds a little mad sciencey.”

“I know it sounds a little mad. But I have no intention of world domination or even hurting a butterfly. I want to help people. I want to connect to something that is already in me. And I want to make sure all of BADGE is aware of my work and knows what I’m doing, so if I tread dangerous waters, your people can keep me in check. Now, does that sound like a mad scientist to you?”

EB stroked his chin, “No. I guess not.”

She said, “There was something else. Something in my past... no... it really isn’t worth mentioning.”

EB frowned, “Oh, don’t leave me hanging? What is it?”

She shook her head, “A silly thing. I shouldn’t have brought it up. Now, I would love to go to the place where the supernatural signature is the strongest in this area, and where we find the morphon crystals to study. I would like to get some scans and even let you help me look them over.”

“Oh, where would that be?”

She said, “There’s a cave that is strange. If I didn’t know better, it looks like a leprechaun lived there. It showed up after that strange incident with all the gold coins.”

EB lost all of his jubilant attitude as he said, “Leprechauns cave.”

“You know it?”

“Yes, I do.”

Continue the Story

Heroes, Villains, and renegades Fiction: Light and Dark Part 4

Justin appeared in the Operations center of the space station. His head spun for a moment, and he felt incredibly queasy. With a lot of effort to overcome the wave of nausea that made him not want to put anything in his mouth, he took a bite of the green egg EB gave him. The mint was strong but pleasant. As soon as he swallowed, the queasiness subsided and the nausea faded.

“Wow, that was good thinking on his part.” Justin said.

Gar asked, “Who?”

Justin realized he had been standing in the middle of the command floor next to Gar throughout this episode. “Sorry. EB’s teleportation made me ill, but this fixed it. Now, what did you need me for?”

Gar pointed at the large screen. Two windows were open with paused video feeds. “The Southern Peaches League sent this to us. I don’t know if it is dangerous or not.”

“Show me.” Justin said, and a robot activated the screens.

A news reporter spoke, “Earlier today, Clem Boyle and Jeremy Rutherford were hunting in Habersham County in North Georgia, and they claimed to have had an encounter with a strange beast. Clem Boyle sustained severe lacerations and is in the county hospital. Jeremy claims he shot the creature, but also claims it turned into a dark mist and left. Authorities are uncertain whether this is a genuine case of a superhuman being or a hoax to cover illegal hunting. Doctors have yet to comment on the injuries. The local superhero league, Southern Peaches, has also investigated in case this is a superhuman event; they have only said they cannot make a conclusion yet. Authorities advise that no one should go into the woods in Habersham until the situation clears.”

The video ended.

Justin turned his attention to another screen that had a stylized peace emblem spinning on it. It beeped, and then the face of a woman appeared.

“Agent Justin, did you see the report?”

“I just watched the news broadcast, I haven’t read any reports. Do you have anything more than what the news relayed?”

The woman shook her head, “Not yet. We have used every sensor we have and we can find a mildly elevated morphonic background signal, but nothing to worry about. Sprinter has run all over the forests in the area and found nothing unusual.”

Justin said, “This feels like a hoax.”

“I would have said that too, and not bothered you with this, but there is one thing that really bothers me.” She said, “I spoke to both of the men involved... they told me what they saw. With a few minor differences, their descriptions are nearly identical. And they describe the encounter with nearly identical stories too.”

“You spoke to them separately?” Justin asked.

She nodded, “Yes. It took some doing to get the hospital to talk to me. But, yes. I did. Look, I took a journalism course at Georgia Tech. This has the hallmark of a true story; both tell almost the same thing, but with enough differences to make it believable. And I know the doc said they weren’t drunk at all. I think they really saw something, and if it is like they described, it is one heck of a strange critter.”

Justin said, “That is worrisome. Are you sure they didn’t just make sure this story was believable?”

She laughed, “Listen, I know these kinda country boys. They ain’t all that clever. If they wanted to get outta being nabbed for illegal hunting, they would’ve just gone home and tried treating their injuries at the house and then said they had an accident on the farm or something. This is too wild and too precise. I think we should keep looking into it.”

Justin nodded, “Okay. Keep looking and send all your scan data to us, everything you get. I won’t raise any alerts yet, but we will monitor this.”

“Of course. Peach out,” the signal ended.

Gar asked, “What do you think this is?”

“I don’t know. We’ve had several months of relative peace since the Drocha incident. Something crazy was bound to happy. Let’s hope if this is some morphonic person, they turn out to be a minor threat.”

“Should we tell Nova?”

Justin shook his head, “Not yet. He has his work to do and said he doesn’t want to be bothered unless it’s a genuine disaster. This isn’t a disaster yet. One reason we have leagues out there is to deal with minor issues on the field without having to involve BADGE too much. We’ll aid them, but let’s leave them to this and hope it doesn’t turn into a disaster. Nova can focus on his own work.”

After leaving the inauguration of a new league in Port Angeles, Washington State, Nova headed for a special meeting with an old friend. A BADGE shuttle landed in the parking lot of the TACC building in Austin, Texas. It was no longer a part of the college, as it had become the residence of the Oracle of Tech, a strange being crafted by the morphons through a man. However, students from the university came and went from the building as usual.

Nova walked in and navigated through the halls. It seemed like any other computer lab until he got closer to the back. Computer tech had grown into the walls like moss creeping up stone walls. By the time he reached the door to the supercomputer room, the hall was entirely tech, and the door had a forcefield that buzzed with words written on it, Domain of the Oracle of Tech.

“I need to see the Oracle.” Nova held up his ID.

The voice of the oracle spoke around him. “I’m aware of your arrival. Come in.”

The forcefield shut down, and he was allowed in. He walked through the nearly alien environment that was like stepping into the heart of a computer. Men and women walked around, looking at monitors and interacting with it. In the back of the room, seated on a throne of tech, was a white-haired professor who was partially metallic and connected to the computer with cords and tubes.

“Director Nova, it is good to see you.”

Nova approached and said, “Dr. Hermes, or do you prefer Oracle of Tech?”

“Either. But for friends, you can call me Dr. Hermes. Since I became bonded with this, the avatar of tech has become something more, a being combined with myself. I have grown as a being beyond that which we call human. I am part of the machines, part of the morphons themselves. However, the avatar inside me has grown to understand emotions and life as an organic being. We are... one.”

Nova said, “I’m glad you seem pleased with your circumstances. I was hoping you could answer some questions for me.”

“You want to know about the Malevolence.”

Nova felt genuine surprise. “Yes. Did Santa come to visit you? He suggested you probably know more about it than the Vexillians.”

“He is correct; I know more than any other living being. However, he did not come to seek my knowledge. I have a connection to all tech. I know what you have researched.”

“You’ve been spying on my search history.” Nova dryly joked.

Dr. Hermes smiled, “I cannot help it. As the Oracle of Tech, I am connected to all tech. But I am an observer only. However, in this matter, I wish to be a little more. An advisor.”

“Go ahead.”

“Morphons permeate this universe, but mostly it is very mild. Humans call it dark matter, not knowing exactly how to describe that which they truly cannot see with all their tech until recently.”

Nova said, “I know this. You’ve told me this before.”

“There is more. Where there is light, there is also shadow. Since the beginning of the morphons, there has been an element in this universe that is the darkness left in the path of the morphons. We cannot truly understand it because it is so contrary to our nature. All we can know is that it is a seeking darkness, a vicious monster that wants to exist in our reality, but cannot without help.”

“Who would help them?” Nova asked.

“Drocha began the process to help them. Dark morphons, a bastardization of the morphon particle. That is what they want: their own existence. Without it, they cannot thrive in this universe.”

“If they can’t live here, where are they?”

Dr. Hermes said, “We... do not know. It is not possible for us to see them, as they are our opposite in all natures.”

“Are they a threat?” Nova asked.

“They are a threat, but we do not know how much of one. Drocha started something that might have died with his failed plan, or he might have ignited something we cannot see yet. What I can tell you is that we feel something has shifted; something dark is out there. It could be entirely unique and not related to them, but it has touched all the avatars and we are all worried it could be the dark morphons.”

“How worried?” Nova asked.

“We call it The Malevolence for a reason. It doesn’t just want to exist, it wants to dominate. It wants to supplant the morphons with its dark and foreboding purpose. This world has experienced a level of morphonic activity like few places and has experienced it the longest ever. If the Malevolence is seeking to find existence, the good fortune of your world might just be the bait they cannot resist.”

“What would they try? What should I watch out for?” Nova asked.

Dr. Hermes said, “The Malevolence has tried before to exist, but it can only thrive in this universe for a short period before having to go back to wherever it lives. Therefore, it needs hosts, dark oracles. It might even try to take over one of the avatars. So, be mindful of strange behavior.”

Nova refrained from commenting on how to define strange behavior, considering the strangeness of daily life for some people. “Can you help?”

Dr. Hermes looked down and then gave a soft shake of his head. “The Avatars of the Morphons have always been observers. We hold no power over each other, and we cannot assert dominance, otherwise we risk turning dark ourselves. Thus, we cannot interfere, only advise. I wish... we could do more.” Nova realized these were the sad words of Dr. Hermes more than the avatar living in his body.

Nova said, “Thank you, I may have more questions.”

Dr. Hermes waved his hand, and Nova’s comm unit buzzed. “You now have a direct connection to me.”

“Thank you.” Nova turned to leave.

Dr. Hermes said, “Something dark is out there; that much we are certain of. Be careful, my old friend.”

Continue the Story

Heroes, Villains, and Renegades Fiction: Light and Dark Part 3

 

A drizzly sky graced the area with a mild, cold mist, bathing the pristine green hills in a dingy gray. This was about average for Carlingford, Ireland, in March.

A flash of light appeared near a vacant hill, and from it stepped EB and Agent Justin.

“Oh, that always makes my head spin.” Justin held his head and stabilized himself after that instant magical transportation.

EB said, “Everyone says that.” He was uncharacteristically quiet as he stood there, looking at the quaint little Irish seaside town.

Justin took a step, but found EB hadn’t moved. “Something wrong? I thought you were all hyped about coming here.”

EB nodded, “I am excited to fix Arx and Adrianne. I... I just haven’t been back here since he died.”

Justin frowned and looked up. “Um... who?”

EB softly said, “Leprechaun, the Vexillian who lived here for years. Before he went all batty and did those bad things, he and I were good friends. This place was his home. I almost didn’t accept the offer of help for Arx because it would mean coming back here.”

Justin said, “I’ve never heard you so solemn.”

EB looked up at Justin, “All the Vexillians that survived the destruction of our world relied on each other. We lived here for centuries with each other as the only people we could talk to. We all became friends, closer than friends; we were a family. You don’t know how hard it was to have to fight those that sided with Jinn in the end.”

“I never thought about that. You are always so... bubbly.”

EB smiled, “I choose to live in happiness. But today, I’m going through a few things. Right now, let’s head for the lab and focus on this project. Hey, I know, a little chocolate never hurts.” He clapped his paws together, and two chocolate eggs appeared. He handed one up to Justin. “Chocolate always makes things better.”

Justin accepted the egg and ate it as he and EB walked into town. The small village seemed unlikely to be home to a top-secret laboratory, but that is part of how it is protected. People saw them, and some waved at EB and snapped pictures with their phones.

“Is it nicer now that you are famous and everyone knows who you are?” Justin asked.

EB said, “It is kinda nice. Ruins some of the mystery of being me, but I get to enjoy life with other people more. Oh, and I get to see people enjoying my chocolate. LOOKY, that store has all the new line of whiskey chocolates, and they look great. My ad department does an amazing job with the packaging stuff. Oh, and look at that, the kids’ store has the newest chocolate fountain.”

“How many of the chocolate factories are yours?” Justin asked.

“Most of them. Why do you think Cadbury’s mascot is a bunny?” EB grinned at him, his face smeared with chocolate.

Justin said, “Because it’s related to Easter?”

“What makes you think the bunny was an Easter icon before I came on the scene?”

Justin laughed as he said, “Oh, you're full of...”

“Here we are.” EB hopped up and down as he pointed at an old police telephone box.

“Where are we?” Justin frowned.

“She said to get in the police box and dial this number.” He produced a small slip of paper.

Making sure no one was looking, Justin joined EB in the tight space of the antiquated phone box. He picked up the old phone and asked, “The number?”

“72074.”

Justin dialed the number, and the floor jolted and then moved downward.

EB was as giddy as a preschooler. “Weeee, this is just like Harry Potter. I hope the Ministry of Magic is as amazing as in the movies. You know, the books were way better, but the movies were awesome too. I watch them all the time. Even though she got magic ALL wrong. I mean, who needs old Latin for spells? I...” The ride stopped with a jolt, and the door opened.

They were not in some mystical fantasy world out of a book, but inside a metal hallway with bright lights. A door at the end was the only other door along the way.

“This way!” EB ran ahead.

Justin said, “Glad you found your happiness again.”

EB said, “Chocolate helps, so does not being alone for this.”

Justin asked, “Is that why you brought me along?”

“Sorta. Plus, Nova said that he wanted you to be the official BADGE rep for this. You take better notes.”

“Great, I’m a glorified secretary,” Justin bemoaned.

EB laughed, “Don’t use shorthand, I can’t read that gibberish.”

Hopping up, he punched a button on the wall. A screen lit up, and an automated voice with a distinct Irish accent said, “Clearance ID, please.”

The ID card, which Justin updated with special clearance for the Section 9 labs, was placed on the screen. A quick beep later, and the doors opened.

Inside was a sprawling high-tech lab that appeared much like Dr. Henderson's lab on the station. A small group of scientists worked at stations, some examining data on computers while others peered at large morphon crystals inside devices.

“Lily!” EB called out.

A beautiful woman with red hair and a cheery face, wearing a white lab coat and protective glasses, leaned over and looked deeply at a morphon crystal. “Over here, EB!” she said as she jotted down notes.

Justin followed EB as he asked, “You know her?”

“We’ve talked a lot over the comms. She's really cute.”

“Don’t say that to her, we’re professionals representing BADGE. No flirting.”

EB stuck his tongue out at Justin. “You’re no fun.”

As they arrived at the station, they quickly curtailed their brief argument. The woman took off the glasses as she said, “The radiation of this specimen is not dangerous. We can dispense with these. Cole, check the data logs and make sure they are all saved. Everyone else, take a lunch break.” She turned to EB and Justin with a bright smile. “It’s nice to meet you in person. And you are just as cute as you said you were. I could just pick you up and pet you all over.”

EB smiled as he said, “Sounds like we have plans for later.”

Justin pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried not to comment on this highly unprofessional behavior. “Dr. Fagan, I’m Agent Justin with BADGE.” He held out his hand.

She shook his hand, “Nice to meet you. I’m surprised I don’t recall meeting you when I was at the BADGE assessment.”

Justin said, “You remained at the Ground Base location before they completed the station. You cleared as a low-level morphonic. I read the report about you. At the time you were being assessed, I wasn’t working in that area. I worked in the office at the United Nations.”

“I see. Well, I’m glad to meet you. I hope I can help with the problem.”

EB said, “I looked at all the stuff you sent me. Really smart stuff. You’re a super genius.”

She blushed and waved a hand at him. “Oh, I’m not all that smart. I got my doctorate in morphon studies, and it really has become a big passion of mine.”

Justin asked, “How do you think you can help with Arx and Adrianne?”

She led them over to a computer where she pulled up a selection of data. “I looked over all the information your Doctor Henderson sent about them. It is the most fascinating situation; I’ve never seen morphonic crystallization like this before.”

“Morphonic crystallization?” Justin asked.

She gestured to the crystals being studied around the room. “You know that since morphons became highly concentrated in our atmosphere, these crystals began showing up. They are not a byproduct of morphons, but rather a gathering of high levels of morphons. Where there are stronger morphons which are going unused by people for powers, they turn into these things. They are a mystery to geological sciences; they really aren’t a rock, but energy. Anyway, as I looked over Doctor Henderson’s data, I saw a correlation between these crystals and the ice that makes up the two frozen heroes.”

Justin asked, “So, they aren’t actually ice... they are morphon crystals?”

“I don’t know. I need to look into this more. But I think there is more to them than just water-based ice. And if that is the case, we might reverse-engineer the entire process that made them turn this way and discover a cure.”

EB said, “See, I told you. This isn’t just a mild hope, but a substantial chance.”

Justin asked, “Okay, what do you need from us?”

“Access,” she said. “If I’m going to figure this out, I need to get closer to the subjects.”

EB hopped up and stood on the computer panel, carefully avoiding punching buttons with his bunny feet. “That’s why I’m here.”

“What can you do?” Justin asked, with a strong hint of sarcasm in his voice.

“I’m not a scientist, though I’m smarter than you guys give me credit for. What I can do is teleport. I’ll help her study, and when she needs to pop up to the station for a scan, I can take her. Or, I can do the scans myself and bring back the data. It’ll be far quicker, and less bother for Doc Henderson.”

Justin let out a heavy sigh. “I’ll have to let Nova know this was your plan. You really should have made this clear before we came all this way.”

“He’ll be fine with it.” EB stated with all confidence.

Justin’s comm beeped at him, and he held it up. “Agent Justin here.”

Gar’s voice came through. “There is a strange issue coming through, and Nova said not to bother him while he is on the planet unless it was a present danger. Can you come take a look?”

“I’ll be right there.” Justin clicked his comm off. “Okay. EB, you work with Dr. Fagan. I trust you won’t cause any mischief. I’ll make sure to get Nova to clear this. And...” he let out a deeper sigh, “Can you send me back up.”

“Sure thing.” EB clapped his paws and created a mint green chocolate egg and handed it to Justin. “Here, in case you feel queasy from the trip.” Justin took the egg, and before he could say thank you, EB zapped him away.

Continue the Story