Jul. 28th, 2005

48.

There was a raging thunderstorm overhead, this was evident from the deluge of water cascading down through the ten story hole in Thunderbase opened by The Blaster.

Just to make it more unreal, every now and then a bolt of lightning would tear the sky above.

The message had been sent, received and accepted. There was a small change of terms.

The trio from Thunderbase would be accompanied by Mastadon and by Emo riding Rugglestump. These guards were to make sure that there was no variance from the terms of the agreement, but would not enter into the fight.

The time was coming quickly, and the preparations were done. Out of detection, the tower was encircled by a force that included every powerful individual available. At the given order Vadid Shastan would be set upon by an army like nothing he had ever seen before.

Folks had been building the “mechanicals” that would be the main tool in the scam.

He would have surprises coming from all directions, which is always the best if you can work it out.

It was expected that Shastan would also have forces waiting, but if the fight was going to happen then he should be the one battling the element of surprise, not them.

None of this made the act of waiting in the open to be assailed any easier to do.

The group left the tower with a good 10 minutes left before appointed hour.

Mickey thought he might have liked it better had they brought a deck of cards and played on Rugglestump’s back.

He tried to not look at Madame Mimic because it made him think about his mother. It was the last thing he wanted to do at this time. He was worried enough about what was going to happen than to spend some of his mental capacity sapped by the tears he knew he would shed anytime he thought of her.

Now, the thunderstorm ceased, almost on cue. The sky opened and showed a bright blue overhead.

A single sound brought the boy back to the moment that was real, and he dabbed his eyes.

The sound was that of the saucer whooshing overhead. It circled twice in wide arcing turns overhead.

He was using equipment to see if anyone was there and hiding. He wouldn’t find any. They were all too far away.

The only thing he wasn’t expecting was the object under the tarp that sat at Mickey’s side. No one had seen that but the boy himself (and Jeremy, and those who helped put it together).

The saucer slowed, and lightly set down on the grass. The portal opened and the ramp lowered to the ground.

Mickey knew, in a second, the single most powerful man on Earth was going to exit that doorway and set about to kill him and his brother.

He started the only emotional way he could cope with the situation.

Mickey began to get mad.

© 2005 by C. Wayne Owens

49.

Mickey lifted the tarp off what looked like a disco ball on a pedestal. The thing responded to his pushing the “Start” button by turning and displaying weak lights from holes cut in its mirrored surface.

Vadid Shastan walked slowly, majestically from his vehicle. He surveyed the scene like some ancient Pharaoh must have looked on a gathering of his slaves ready to build his pyramid. Then he saw the boy and the toy.

“I hope that is not supposed to effect me, because it has not,” He said in mocking tones.

“It’s our good luck charm,” Mickey said, with a childish air of fun.

“Then, by all means,” The murderous Immorti said, “Let it run while you all die.”

“You first,” Said Mickey, his anger beginning to bubble over.

At that moment robots landed, forming a circle around the clearing. They turned their backs on the looming combat area.

“They are just there to stop the ambush I expect to happen,” Shastan announced. David tried not to show his concern.

“These are my only warriors left, since my others have deserted me. The were-beasts and the vampires are cowards and would not stand against the Immorti allies you leveled against them.
These are human who will fight to the death because they all owe me their lives, for one reason or another.”

“Why don’t we stop the news broadcast and get down to some clobbering!” Jeremy said, coming from behind the tower.

“You have more than was agreed on,” Shastan said, “But that just means more will die today that would have had to.”

Madame Mimic began to shift her shape.

Mastodon grew to his full size.

Rugglestump took to the air, breathing flame.

David rose to about 10 feet and stood ready.

Jeremy filled his mouth with water, his cheeks bulged.

Mickey said the shortest of prayers.

The disco ball squeaked impotently as it turned.

© 2005 by C. Wayne Owens




50.

Mickey said a little thankful prayer for the meditation his mother had made him do. It had allowed him to do many things. Including the repetition ability to give people powers. Before this battle he had only been able to give one person one power once time. Now he could do the same thing with the same person over and over. That was possibly the greatest thing his schooling had given him.

This was going to be a cornerstone to the battle plan he had put together. His was the chess board now.

The turning wheel of the disco ball was rotating slowly, but no eye could scan the clearing and not wonder what its part in this game would be.

The first move belonged to the Sleepless Knight.

He looked around at the forces set against him. He didn’t look concerned in the least. He was the most confident countenance Mickey had ever seen.

What happened next took place in a span of less than 30 seconds.

Shastan leapt into the air, and his face grimaced as he went twice as far as he had estimated he would. Taken so by surprise the blast of flames from Rugglestump knocked him back down to the ground.

The Super Immorti grunted and stood, but was unable to lift himself from the ground. He didn’t even feel the second blast of flames.

Then he pushed himself off the ground and found himself facing himself flying in the air. Before he could strike his reflection disappeared.

He slammed back into the ground and nearly lost consciousness. As he pushed himself to stand, a giant human appeared and smacked him with a powerful stroke and he flew into the side of his saucer. Suddenly pain shattered his concentration.

Something was falling from above that nearly cut through his skin. It was like the purest acid he had ever encountered.

In real pain he looked up to see a boy with his tights down around his ankles, and a constant flow of yellow substance streaming down at him.

Before he could take aim at the boy, he found himself flying away from the saucer and hit by the tail of a flying dragon.

He grabbed the tail and would have held on, except the dragon was now crashing to Earth, with a mass of unbelievable proportions.

On the ground he was picked up by the flying boy who shouted, “Batter up!” He was then dropped with the same kind of mass infesting him as had been on the dragon a minute before.

Then it was gone and he was just in mid-air.

Racing towards him was Maria, so he readied himself for the impact from the superhuman woman, but instead was hit from behind by the giant human flying through the air at a prodigious rate of speed.

After the impact he found himself falling to the ground again.

“Ya’ ain’t playing with kids anymore,” The older brother said.

“Well actually he is,” Said the younger one, “He just can’t measure up.”

He hit the ground and an immense dragon smashed down upon him with a mass that could have leveled a mesa.

Mickey waited till he crawled out from under the dragon, and turned up the disco-ball’s speed. It also added some music as it went.

“Recognize that, Punk?” The acid boy said, “It’s my favorite song for you.”

Shastan exploded and jumped towards the boy who had dared speak to him thus, only to find he was going at double the speed and distance he had planned. He ran head first into one of his robots, demolishing the thing.

That was the first 30 seconds.

At this point the forces from the base entered the battle. They were attacking the Robot circle with the ferocity of a mother bear protecting her cubs.

The robots were fighting valiantly, but Mickey knew that is was Shastan that had to fall. He also knew that he didn’t have long before the evil guy started to catch on to what was going on.

“Attack Plan B!” Mickey shouted, and everyone gave him their planned hi-signs.

Suddenly there were two of Mickey standing on either side of the disco-ball.

The song “Another One Bites The Dust” rang out though the woods.

As angry as Mickey had gotten, now Shastan was even more insane with emotion.

“Now,” Mickey thought, “we got you.”

Shastan flew straight up 100 feet and began a dissent that would be fatal to all who got in his way.

Only suddenly there was no one in the clearing.

He hovered in the center of the woods.

There was a terrific battle going on yards away, but there was no one here.

Then, he was aware of the McCauley boy, grinning childishly at him, flying only a few feet away.

Then there was another one, on the ground.

The music blared, fanning his rage.

The air above his head rained acid on him.

Flame came from an unseen source below.

Then he was batted by something he also couldn’t see.

Then he slammed into the ground again.

“You’ve been angry so many years,” Maria’s voice whispered in his ear, “Maybe it’s driven you insane.”

He slapped at the source of the unseen voice, and may have hit something, but couldn’t be sure.

The music changed to “They’re Coming To Take Me Away!”

He now knew what the problem was.

That damn ball was some kind of super weapon. That was what he was going to have to destroy.

He walked, taking care not to try to fly, over to the disco ball.

Mickey was standing by, and looked worried as he approached.

“After I destroy this,” Shastan growled, “Then you will all die by my hand.”

“Not the Omegatron 13?” Mickey gasped.

Shastan raised his foot and smashed the device. The music stopped.

He had won.

Mickey took a walkie-talkie out of his pocket and turned it one, “He guys, bring out the Omegatron 14, will ya’.”

At this point several invisible people carried at least five more of the devices onto the clearing ground, all playing “Yummy Yummy, I Got Love In My Tummy,” for no good reason.

A blast of fire snapped Shastan back to the moment. He turned to answer the attack and was thrown by his own strength, which was more than he thought.

Salt water splashed on the cuts from the acid and inflicted some severe pain.

Robots were falling on the sidelines.

He was confused in a way he didn’t think possible. The only thing he truly trusted was his own power, but now that wasn’t trust worthy.

“Surrender, we’ll sign a truce with you,” Mickey said.

“Never,” Came the answer and his hand reached out and it wrapped around the throat of the boy.

Mickey felt the air stop entering his body, and he feared he would pass out.

© 2005 by C. Wayne Owens




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