Heroes, Villains, and Renegades Fiction: Trial of Strength Part 1

Two years ago

Director Nova sat back in the theater seat, thumbing through the folder in his hands. Another assessment on what was already feeling like a very long day.

“Brenda Abernathy?” His tone was professional, though a hint of tiredness crept in.

Chase, seated beside him, tapped her wrist comm. “Gar, send in Ms. Abernathy.”

A middle-aged woman in a tracksuit stepped into the testing chamber. She squinted at the glass wall and offered a nervous smile. “Hello, my name is Brenda. I’m from Hoboken, New Jersey. I have a degree in early education…”

“We have your file,” Nova interrupted gently. “Please demonstrate your morphonic abilities.”

Brenda nodded and braced herself. “You might want to cover your ears.” She took a deep breath and let out a powerful opera note that rattled the reinforced walls. The nearly impervious glass cracked. She stopped immediately. “Oh dear, I didn’t mean to break your nice wall.”

“No harm done,” Nova said as the glass slowly repaired itself. “You’re cleared for training. Gargoyle will show you to orientation.”

Once she was gone, Chase asked, “Any more today?”

“One,” Nova replied. “A Mr. Jordan Moore.”

Jordan Moore entered a few minutes later. He was medium height, balding, and fit without being overly muscular. He looked as nervous as a kid on his first day of school.

Nova didn’t waste time. “Welcome to the exam, Mr. Moore. Demonstrate your powers. And if they’re loud, please warn us first.”

Jordan gave a small, sheepish smile. “Yeah, I heard that out in the hall.”

He shook off his nerves as best he could, let out a yell, and struck one of the reinforced walls with a powerful spinning kick. The metal chunk broke free and slammed into the glass. Jordan bounced on his toes like a victorious boxer.

Chase ran the agility test next. Swinging obstacles zipped toward him, but Jordan weaved through them with surprising grace, never getting touched.

Nova and Chase reviewed the sensor readings in silence.

Nova finally spoke. “Your power level is very low. Our system shows little room for improvement, and your strength falls below our threshold for strength-based heroes.”

Jordan’s face fell. “But I trained for two years with fight experts. The guy at the Fight Club said I had morphonic powers.”

“You do,” Chase said. “But not all morphonic powers are equal. Yours aren’t strong enough for superhero work. We won’t be accepting you into the program.”

Jordan looked down at his hands. “What happens now? Do I have to take those suppression drugs I read about?”

“Your powers aren’t dangerous enough to require them,” Nova replied. “We’ll keep an eye on you, but otherwise… go live your life.”

Chase offered a small, kind smile. “There are other ways to use limited powers. Not everyone has to be a superhero.”

Jordan nodded, looking defeated. “Thank you for your time.”

---

Today

The theater screen played a loud, flashy wrestling match filled with pyrotechnics and roaring crowds. Nova sat alone in the audience, watching with mild disinterest as he muted the volume.

Chase entered with EB bouncing excitedly beside her. “Sir, I need you to look over this vendor contract and— what are you watching?”

EB leapt into the seat next to Nova, eyes wide. “OOOOH, IT’S THE MAD MARAUDER AND DYNAMITE DEVIL! I’ve watched all their matches! Marauder’s such a big fat jerk. I hope Dynamite shoves a sparkler right up his—”

“I’m not just watching this,” Nova said, cutting him off.

Chase cocked her head at the screen. “Then what are you doing? This is hardly a study in tactics.”

“Hardly,” Nova muttered.

EB grinned. “No, this is amazing storytelling! The drama, the intrigue, the body slams… Did you know Marauder gave Dynamite his start by putting him in his group? They were tag-team partners! Then a year ago, Marauder refused to tag in and Dynamite got pummeled into putty. That started all the drama! And then there was that time—”

“It’s all fake,” Chase said flatly.

EB frowned. “I’m not stupid. I know it’s a show. But it’s still really good.”

Nova allowed a small smirk. “Don’t belittle it. It’s entertainment. Storytelling with fists. I’ve seen far worse over the centuries. Trust me, the old gladiator arenas were just as popular… though people usually left feet first.”

“Fair,” Chase admitted, sitting down. “But I still don’t think this is your usual form of entertainment. What’s the deal?”

EB suddenly perked up. “Wait, I saw this match two days ago. What gives?”

Nova casually asked, “Did you see the new member of the team?”

“Oh, right! Lion Fists. Yeah, he reminds me of someone…”

Chase looked between them. “What are you talking about?”

Nova sped up the recording and let it play at normal speed. A new fighter dropped into the ring mid-match — masked, powerfully built, with a lion-like mane, clawed hands, and a tail. He grabbed Mad Marauder and hurled him out of the ring with ease, then let out a powerful roar that staggered Dynamite Devil. The crowd went wild.

Chase leaned forward. “Who is that? Some kind of new gimmick?”

EB bounced in his seat. “Sure it is! They call him Lion Fists. He doesn’t talk, just throws people around like rag dolls. It’s great storytelling, and he’s the best new addition they’ve had in years, and—”

“He is not a gimmick,” Nova said firmly.

He punched a code into the remote. The screen switched to a video call with a large man wearing glasses.

EB exploded with excitement. “THAT’S ROBERT LAYTON! He owns All World Wrestling! He’s the chairman, the owner, and the best writer in the entire business!”

Robert smiled down at the hyperactive bunny. “Thanks, little buddy. Glad to know I have a fan on the BADGE station.”

“Biggest fan ever! I even sponsored some of your events back in the late 90s through my chocolate companies—”

Nova cleared his throat. “Robert, I watched the match. I have an idea who — or what — your new fighter might be. Can you tell me anything?”

Robert held up a morphon sensor. “These readings are off the charts. He showed up, interrupted the match, and vanished. Didn’t hurt anyone, but he’s incredibly strong. I offered him a contract backstage. He didn’t say a word, just walked away.”

Nova’s expression grew serious. “This is more complicated than it appears. I’ll send people to make contact and determine whether he’s a threat.”

“I’d appreciate that,” Robert said. “If he decides to cause real trouble, this could get ugly fast.”

"I'll be in touch, Nova out."

After the call ended, Chase walked with Nova and EB out of the room down the corridor. She asked, “Who do you think he is?”

Nova said. “I’m not completely certain yet. But I intend to find out.”

EB bounced in front of him, eyes sparkling. “Send me! Please, please, please, please—”

Nova grabbed him by the ears and held him dangling in the air. “Stop begging. I was already planning to send you.”

EB’s face lit up. “Aw, don't say no, I .... wait....You said yes! HE SAID YES!!!!”

“I’m sending you and Gargoyle,” Nova continued, setting him down. “Find this person. Talk to him. Determine if he’s a threat. If things go badly, we’ll send backup.”

EB zoomed down the hallway, loudly announcing to the entire station that he was going to meet his wrestling heroes.

Chase watched him go with a sigh. “He’s going to be too busy fanboying to focus on the mission.”

Nova started walking. “Sometimes I like to be nice. Besides, Gargoyle will keep him on task. And if things turn dangerous, EB is more capable than he lets on. He’s smarter than we give him credit for, powerful, fast, and will defend what he loves like any hero.”

Chase gave him a sideways look. “That almost sounded like a compliment.”

Nova allowed the faintest hint of a smile. “He gets on my last nerve… but he’s a good hero. Never let him know I said that.”

Continue the Story

July Events and Sentinel Bonus

Last month's birthday events sure came and went quickly, and what an eventful month it was! July looks to be very interesting too, with the multiverse portal opening again and a special Dragon Portal, plus the Hero Olympiads. Check out the Calendar of Events for what's happening:



As always, all stories shared on the Sentinel and published will also get additional prizes as per the usual Sentinel monthly rewards.

Meanwhile, a new seasonal ops has started: Operation: Avatar's Challenge

The Avatar's of the morphons have been selecting worthy Supers to become their oracles, carry their immense power and become their voice to the world. The Oracle of Strength has decided he will choose his oracle through a fighting contest. However, this risks a villain winning and gaining the near-godlike power of an oracle. How will BADGE respond? Who will be found worthy?

Reviews, role play and commentaries on the events are greatly encouraged; these types of editorials are very useful for the game, and we've had many excellent ones in the past, but as the game evolves, we need more player guides like these especially on all the new features introduced. Players guides, reviews, players PoVs, and role-play tied in to game lore, etc, are most welcome. Feel free to share your thoughts and options by submitting them to the Sentinel Facebook page.

The usual editorial bonus for reviews, commentaries, game guides, gear talk, fan-fiction, and origin stories applies to all submissions that are published.

REWARDS:

PLATINUM: 7 Strange Fiction cards (only reserved for EXCEPTIONAL submissions)

GOLD: 5 Strange Fiction cards

SILVER: 3 to 4 Strange Fiction cards

BRONZE: 1 to 2 Strange Fiction cards

These rewards go out after the end of each month and are IN ADDITION to the usual Sentinel rewards from Daniel Andrade for published entries.

Here are the categories/prompts:

Category One:
REVIEWS/COMMENTARIES of ad hoc and regular events, including fan-fiction role play, etc.

Category Two:
GAME GUIDES, GEAR TALK, and other editorials about game mechanics.

Category OPEN:
What is your origin story? How did you end up in the Heroes Rising universe?
(And any other Fan-Fiction.)

REMINDER:

Post your submissions to the Sentinel page as usual for Categories One and Two. To enter the OPEN CATEGORY post your entries to the with the following in the title: JULY CONTEST" and the title of your entry. Please also add a link to your entry in the Sentinel page so that we can monitor all entries.

Yours Quackily,
SQ

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HAPPY 7TH ANNIVERSARY, HVR!

Happy Birthday to Heroes, Villains, and Renegades! This month comes packed with sales as well as a variety of updates to start with and still more to come, so stay tuned! Check out the Calendar of Events for what's happening:



As always, all stories shared on the Sentinel and published will also get additional prizes as per the usual Sentinel monthly rewards.

Meanwhile, a new seasonal ops has started: Birthday Operations.

It's the Birthday season, where Cake and Parties Reign, and the Morphon Particles flow like a raging chocolate river! Surely there is nothing to lookout for during this time of Merryment? Who would dare try and ruin Birthday Festivities?

Reviews, role play and commentaries on the events are greatly encouraged; these types of editorials are very useful for the game, and we've had many excellent ones in the past, but as the game evolves, we need more player guides like these especially on all the new features introduced. Players guides, reviews, players PoVs, and role-play tied in to game lore, etc, are most welcome. Feel free to share your thoughts and options by submitting them to the Sentinel Facebook page.

The usual editorial bonus for reviews, commentaries, game guides, gear talk, fan-fiction, and origin stories applies to all submissions that are published.

REWARDS:

PLATINUM: 7 Strange Fiction cards (only reserved for EXCEPTIONAL submissions)

GOLD: 5 Strange Fiction cards

SILVER: 3 to 4 Strange Fiction cards

BRONZE: 1 to 2 Strange Fiction cards

These rewards go out after the end of each month and are IN ADDITION to the usual Sentinel rewards from Daniel Andrade for published entries.

Here are the categories/prompts:

Category One:
REVIEWS/COMMENTARIES of ad hoc and regular events, including fan-fiction role play, etc.

Category Two:
GAME GUIDES, GEAR TALK, and other editorials about game mechanics.

Category OPEN:
What is your origin story? How did you end up in the Heroes Rising universe?
(And any other Fan-Fiction.)

REMINDER:

Post your submissions to the Sentinel page as usual for Categories One and Two. To enter the OPEN CATEGORY post your entries to the with the following in the title: MAY CONTEST" and the title of your entry. Please also add a link to your entry in the Sentinel page so that we can monitor all entries.

Yours Quackily,
SQ

Continue the Story

April Fiction Contest story, First place

By Captain Marvel... aka... Dennis West

The rain slammed against the grime streaked windows of my office, like a chorus of angry hornets. I was nursing a glass of cheap scotch and a headache that felt like a freight train had derailed in my skull.

Then he hopped in.

He was 3 feet of bad news, wrapped in mangy white fur. He didn't have a pink nose; he had a snout scarred by decades of fighting back in Super Hero City days. He had a twitch in his eye that said he would kill for less than a hand full of carrots. He wore a tuxedo that had seen better decades and smelled like gunpowder and stale jellybeans.

Cape he growled. His voice was a guttural rasp. "I'm the Easter Bunny. But you can call me da Boss!"

The Boss. I mumbled. "We have met before fur ball. Back in the SHC."

"YOU!" EB's face turned to the color of fresh hot lava and steam wooshed from his ears.

"Ahh come on EB, your not still holding a grudge are you?" I asked.

"Yes I am. But your lucky I need your services."

I didn't laugh. You don't laugh at a rabbit who’s carrying a customized Thompson submachine gun.

So tell me EB. Whats got your pantys in a bunch?

The easter eggs he spat, pacing my floor. All the Easter eggs were stolen from the vault. Without them, the holiday is ruined. No Easter egg hunt for all them kiddies. Im mad and when I’m mad, people start leaking red.

"Who stole them fur ball?" I asked.

"Violent Vixen," he hissed. "She’s holed up in a fortress of black glass and neon down on 3rd. She’s got the eggs, and she’s got the muscle. I need a heavy hitter. I need a guy who can fly through a brick wall and not ruin his hair."

I stood up, I wasn't DW today. I had a different job. I reached into the air and felt the lightning humming in my veins.

"SHAZAM!"

The thunder crackled through the office, shattering the scotch glass. When the smoke cleared. The suit was red, the cape was gold, and the power of the old gods was screaming for a target.

Lead the way Fur ball I said. "I've got a date with an evil dame."

The fortress was a spire of black marble and neon, in the center of the city. I didn't knock. I went through the front door at Mach two . Leaving a Captain-Marvel-shaped hole in the reinforced steel.

The lobby was crawling with henchmen. Hired muscle in black Kevlar. They opened up with automatic fire. The bullets hit my chest and flattened like discarded bubble gum. I didn't even break stride. I waded through them, throwing lefts and rights that sent them through the walls. It wasn't a fight; it was a demolition and I was the wreaking ball.

I reached the inner sanctum. The air was thick with the scent of patchouli oil and burnt ozone.

There she was. The Violet Vixen.

She was draped across a couch of red crushed velvet. Holding one of the stolen eggs. A pulsating, violet orb that hummed with forbidden energy. She was wearing a bodysuit of black latex that left nothing to the imagination and a mask that could not hide the predatory hunger in her eyes.

"Captain," she purred, her voice a sultry velvet trap.

"The eggs, Vixen!" I said, my voice booming with the authority of Solomon. I stepped toward her, the golden lightning flickering around my fists. "Now!! Before I have to get rough."

She stood up, tall and leathal, moving with the dangerous grace of a panther. She didn't look scared. She looked like she had found a new toy.

"You're so big," she whispered, stepping into my space. She was a head shorter than me. But she leaned in until I could feel the heat of her skin. She traced a finger over the gold lightning bolt on my chest. "Soooo powerful. All that divine strength... wasted on a rabbit’s errand."

"I don't play games, sister," I growled. As my hand caught her wrist. I didn't squeeze, but she felt the weight of the power I held.

Oh, I think you do, she breathed. Her eyes locking onto mine. She pressed the glowing egg against the small of my back, the magical energy surging through us both. It was a dizzying, heady rush. Why serve a rabbit when you could rule by my side? Stay with me, Captain. Let the world freeze. Let me be the fire you desire.

She was a siren. A beautiful, lethal distraction. Her body was a weapon, and she knew exactly how to aim it. She pressed closer, her lips inches from mine. Challenging the god inside the man.

"You are a hell of a woman, Vixen," I said, my grip tightening on her waist. Pulling her flush against the indestructible red silk of my suit. I let her feel the raw, dominant force of a man who could move planets. I was not just a hero; I was the law. "But you made one mistake."

"And what’s that?" she laughed.

"You thought I was the type to be led by an evil dame."

I reached back, plucked the egg from her hand, and held it high. With my other arm, I swept her off her feet. Pinning her against me.

"The Rabbit gets his eggs," I told her, my voice like rolling thunder. "And you? You get a cell with a view of the moon."

I burst through the skylight. The cold night air hitting us as we soared above the city. She didn't fight me. She just clung with a death grip around my neck. Watching the world shrink below us, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and a strange dark adoration.

I dropped the crate of eggs at the Easter Bunnys feet. He counted them with a twitching snout, a dark smile slowly curving across his furry face.

"Good work, Captain," he rasped. "The hunt is back on the menu."

I didn't answer. I looked at the Vixen,. Who was being hauled away by the authorities. Her violet eyes still fixed on me through the window of the police car.

The lightning faded as I whispered the word. I was just a man again, standing in the rain. Smelling the quickly fading scent of her perfume over the smell of the city's decay. It was a dirty job, and the stakes were higher than a 7 foot chocolate bunny, but that’s the way it goes in this town.

You save the day, you lose the girl, and you try to forget the way she felt in your arms. But the memory of the lightning stays with you long after the storm is gone. And so ends another day in the life of Captain Marvel.

Continue the Story

Fan-Fiction Contest: Furious Squirrel Part 5 (Conclusion)

"Hold him!" Dr. Eggzecutioner ordered and his minions stopped trying to harm Furious, merely restrained him.



"You won't get away with this!" Furious declared and then realized how cliche that was.

"Valiant effort, but you are no match for what I have accomplished here. I don't mean to take over the world or rob banks, just take this holiday as my own. People will celebrate me, give me gifts, make me their mascot."

EB said, "It's not about what people give me, it is about spread.... OW!" Dr. Eggzecutioner jabbed a metal prong into EB's leg.

"Shut up. You're defeated."

"I won't shut up."

Dr. Eggzecutioner said, "You never shut up. That incessant prattling, on and on about everything. Working with you was like working with a toddler on caffeine."

Furious had to agree that EB could be annoying talkative. However, he also realized Dr. Eggzecutioner wasn't looking closely. With a hard yank, he pulled his arm free and fired his raygun into the head of a marshmallow zombie and even broke the soldier behind him. Five soldiers piled on him.

"Now, now, hero. Don't be foolish. You are alone. You can't win." Dr. Eggzecutioner said.

Furious said, "I will never give up."

"Pointless. Oh, well. Drag him away." Dr. Eggzecutioner waved a hand dismissively. EB yelled, "Think good thoughts, Furious. Think good thoughts."

"I said shut up!"

Furious, who was now being dragged across the floor, wondered why EB would say that so emphatically. Then, he realized it wasn't just a positive affirmation, but a command. Finally, he thought about the basket still on his arm. Goodness made it work, and this was a special basket. Furious Squirrel thought about the times he saved people recently. The muggings he stopped, that cat he saved from the tree, the time he gave the orphans a ride in his dirigible around town. He thought about the happiness and joy he brought to people by thinking of them first. How he could make the world a better place by never giving up.

"What... what is this?" Dr. Eggzecutioner yelled.

Furious opened his eyes and saw the eggs in the wall all rattling and shaking. One broke loose and raced toward his basket. When it got inside, it vanished away like the others would. Then another and another.

"STOP THIS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Dr. Eggzecutioner screamed.

Furious concentrated on the good deeds he had done and how it made people's days better. Eggs flew across the room, some coming out of boxes where they were stored. As the wall of egg holding units was vacated, the minions all began to fall over. The marshmallow zombies melted and the egg soldiers broke. With the last egg, EB's container broke and he was now free.

In an instant, EB zipped around Dr. Eggzecutioner, tying him up with a magical cord he created, made of black licorice. "HA!"

The entrance to the cave grew loud as a dozen heroes, led by Director Nova, arrived.

"Furious Squirrel, what is going on?" Nova asked.

EB dragged Dr. Eggzecutioner over by the black licorice rope. "He just saved me and all future Easters."

Nova looked at the egg themed villain, "Oh, no. Is that who I think it is?"

EB smiled, "Yes, Dr. Eggzecutioner. Toldja he existed."

"Take him away." Nova commanded the heroes.

While the belligerent scientist was taken out, EB hopped around Furious Squirrel. "You did an amazing job. This calls for something special."

Nova said, "I suppose it does. A special commendation from BADGE and..."

"No, even more special." EB clapped his paws and all three vanished away.

They found themselves in the candy shop in the middle of Easter Town. EB was already on the counter getting the special hot chocolate machine running. "This'll take just a minute."

Nova growled, "I told you NEVER to zap me here without my permission."

"Oh, poo. This is a celebration. Relax." EB went to work on the chocolate.

Nova said, "Furious, that was good work. Sorry we didn't believe you sooner. EB has warned us about this villain for years, but he never made a move so we didn't think he actually existed. Your initiative was spot on."

"Honestly, an Easter villain with Marshmallow zombie minions and eggs turned into soldiers is not something most people will think is real. I'm just glad EB had a way for me to defeat him."

"We do owe both of you for this. Now, I suppose some hot chocolate would be nice."

EB delivered three tall mugs of the best hot chocolate they'd ever tasted. They drank to a job well done as the people of Neo Utopia and the rest of the world go on blissfully unaware that Easter was almost changed forever by a madman in an egg helmet.

Continue the Story

Fan-Fiction Contest: Furious Squirrel Part 4

Furious Squirrel ran after the direction the net zapped away. He tapped the wrist comm and called out, "Hey, BADGE, we gotta situation!"



"What is it now, Furious?" Nova demanded.

"EB was just captured and I think it's Dr. Eggzecutioner."

"You are kidding me. EB makes up that guy every year like he's a real supervillain. We've never had..."

"I don't care if he is real or not, someone just nabbed EB with a magic proof net and I am in pursuit. Send help to Dynasty Park!" Furious cut the comm channel and rounded a tree trunk

He watched the small bundle with EB inside zip across the ground and go right through what appeared to be a boulder, though it left no hole or mark.

"So, he's got a hologenerator." Furious stopped, panting while he sized up the area. He tapped the side of his goggles and they scanned the rock. It didn't look like anything but a rock, it read as solid and cold.

Approaching this boulder, he put his hand out hoping it would go through, but it didn't. It was solid still. "This can't be real. Let's see," He stood back and checked his gun. "This should do it." He trained his gun on the side of the rock and a wide beam came out of it. "I may be from the 19th century, but I am a scientist and engineer, I learn and adapt." The stone didn't change for a moment, then it buzzed and faded, revealing a hole that dove down into the ground. His goggles immediately registered heat and moving objects below the surface. "The master minds lair. I should wait for back up, this doesn't look good."

"HEEEELP!" EB cried out again from within the cave.

Another voice said, "Shut it you moron, my cave is protected by highly technical stuff you don't understand. No one can hear you scream."

Furious smiled, "Oh, yeah." Disregarding his concerns, he raced down the hole.

Furious Squirrel dashed down the corridor, rounded a corner, and slid into a room with his weapon ready, but not his eyes for what he was going to come across. EB was in a cage in the middle of a wall of small compartments, each holding an egg that was being drained of power. A man in a lab coat with an egg shaped helmet on his head, and a belt made up of colored Easter eggs, stood behind an army of egg faced minions and marshmallow zombies. Dozens of eyes all turned on him the moment he stopped.

"What the Casbury Cream egg is this?" Furious said.

EB cried out, "Stop him!"

"Shut up!" Dr. Eggzecutioner smiled at Furious. "Ah, the annoying hero who has been trying to find me. Well, congratulations, you found me. You can be witness to the end of the Easter Bunny's rule, and the beginning of mine. This holiday will be mine!"

"The holiday is long since over for the year and it belongs to the church, not even EB." Furious said with as much forced confidence as he could muster.

Dr. Eggzecutioner jumped up and down like a spoiled brat. "It's mine, it's mine, it's mine! Take him down!"

The hoard of Easter themed enemies rushed at Furious. Furious fired his weapon, blasting a killing ray through dozens of marshmallow zombies and fracturing egg faces all over the place. It didn't deter the others as they rushed him. He kicked, hit, and elbowed several as he fired again and again. Slapping his controls on his chest, his steampunk jetpack blasted off and he was lifted up into the air, away from the seething hoard. He fired and fired, melting more marshmallows.

"Keep fighting, my soldiers are limitless." Dr. Eggzecutioner proudly proclaimed.

Furious Squirrel saw the mounds of marshmallow gooing together and returning to form. The bodies of the broken egg soldiers grabbed shards and shoved them into their helmets, reforming their faces. They were easy to stop, but seemingly impossible to destroy.

While still firing his weapon, the enemies gathered under him and began to pile on one another. Soon, they were able to reach him and he had marshmallow creatures clawing him down to the ground. His jetpack couldn't support the sheer weight against him. Finally, he was on the ground, nearly smothered by the enemies.

(To be continued...)

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Fan-Fiction Contest: Furious Squirrel Part 3

"You know who's behind this?" Furious asked.



"I have a good idea. Back, a few years ago, before I was seriously working with BADGE, I had this whole thing where I tried to partner with a scientist to create new methods of candy making. He turned out to be a quack with delusions of using my powers to make his schemes come true. He wanted to ultimately take over Easter and use the magic of the season to create his own world order."

"Who is this nutjob and why hasn't BADGE put him in Purgatory Penitentiary?"

Dr. Torrance Egelbert, who calls himself Dr. Eggzecutioner...ugh, what a dork. That jerk stole some of my best recipes for special chocolates. He even got me to help him design some new stuff. You know, I had to patent everything so quickly so he didn't nab it all. What a dork. I already said that, I know."

"What on earth did you two design that would create zombie marshmallows?"

EB smiled with a coy grin, "Well... he had this great idea to make parade props. You know big walking marshmallow bunnies and eggs for all the Easter Parades. And, best yet, afterward, everyone c an eat them."

"Have you ever watched Ghostbusters?" Furious asked.

EB said, "Okay, he sold me the idea at the time, but it was just a ploy so he could use confectionery magic to create an army. And, looks like he succeeded."

"Why hasn't BADGE already picked him up if he's so dangerous?"

EB said, "Truth is, all the tech he got from me uses magic to fuel it. He has to have my magic to make it work. Otherwise, he has nothingburgers sitting in his garage." "And now he probably has five dozen pure power eggs filled with your special magic and morphons to boot."

"Yeah, so, we gotta get him before this gets really sticky." EB clapped his paws and another easter basket appeared.

Furious asked, "What's that for?"

"This one's special. The other basket just makes the eggs appear to you, this one will draw them to you. This was my first design, but I wanted everyone to have a fair chance and now let someone just suck them all up quickly. But, in this case, you get to use this bad boy." He handed Furious the basket.

Looking at the brightly colored basket, Furious wondered about what everyone would say about a super weapon that looks this frilly. "Whatever, lets get this over with."

"Great." EB clapped his paws again and they both vanished away.

EB zipped back and forth around trees and bushes while Furious took a more directly approach walking through the park. A basket over his arm and his raygun ready, Furious Squirrel watched for any signs of enemy movements. EB held a colorful tiny gun that had an egg shaped grip, it looked more like a squirt gun than a real weapon, but Furious has come to trust not to pre-judge what EB can do.

It was the middle of the day, so it wasn't easy for them to sneak around. However, the park was empty with the police keeping civilians away for now.

"I don't see anything?" Furious looked around with his techno-goggles that scanned for movement and heat.

EB twitched his tall ears. "Nothing. Odd." He hopped out into the open from behind the bush where he had been sneaking. "Maybe we're wrong... or he's already moved."

"Or..." You began to postulate something else when something through the bushes and EB was trapped in a net that wrapped him up and held him down.

"HEY, What the.. this isn't fair." He wiggled around and the flashed like he was going to zap away, but only reappeared in the net. "What the... not fair, not fair." A cord attached to the net went taut and he was dragged away quickly. 'HEEEEEEELP!"

(To be continued...)

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