Chapter 1: Origins: First Encounters Hurt The Most ID#12205 Togood

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Chapter 1: Origins: First Encounters Hurt The Most ID#12205 Togood

Togood
This post was updated on .
Contest Entry: Chapter 1: Origins:First Encounters Hurt The Most ID#12205 Togood
Title Edit: 9/30/19

The wind started to blow, in gusts. The crystal blue skies became darkened and all sorts of weird shades of colors were flashing all around. It was like the Aurora Borealis, only way more intense. Lightning was striking all over close. I began to feel funny. I was like, what in the world is going on? All of a sudden, another bolt of lightning had struck. I was aware but not quite conscious. Was I just struck by lightning and what is this strange feeling? My thoughts faded. I became fully unconscious.

Days later, I awoke, feeling better than I had in a very long time. I was no longer in any pain but I about freaked when I saw my reflection in the mirror. I looked thirty years younger. How bout dat, I thought. I checked myself out of the hospital and headed home but these sensations were still effecting me. I think someone was following me, maybe not.

I made it home, I felt great but my body started to change yet again. There were growths on my back growing at an alarming rate. Holy crap!!! I had grown a fully functioning set of wings and my skin hardened like steel. There was a knock at the door. I answered it. Someone was following me just like I thought. It was a scruffy old man, He said, "My name is Nova and we need to talk."

"Oh, okaay, come on in", I said as I walked over to the window. Things were still crazy looking outside. "I bet you got questions", Nova said. I replied, "Yes I do." He began to explain.

Nova said, “What you’re seeing out that window is the result of a dimensional rift caused by trans-dimensional beings known as ‘The Legion’. They are ruthless planet killers and our planet is their next target.” These people have power beyond your imagination; basically, all the things you see in the comics come to life.

Nova remarked further, “I see you have begun the change. It’s a result of what the Legion call, Morphons, which they released into our atmosphere so they could breathe as they decimate our planet but they didn’t expect it to change us humans or give us our own superpowers. Imagine their surprise when we were able to fight back and win. You now possess abilities to help conquer these intruders.”

I said, “Wait. I’ve got superpowers?” Nova replied, “Well, you’ve already grown a set of wings, so you can probably fly.” As you learn your powers, train and defeat others affected that chose to be evil, you will likely have the ability to absorb powers of those you defeat along with the powers given you by the morphons. Use your imagination and see what you can do. We all manifest different powers. I will watch over you and when you are strong enough, you will come with me and we will defeat the Legion. Later, he said. “

I discovered I could fly at the speed of light, had enormous strength with my new youth, energy blasts from the eyes that destroy. I could no longer be shot or stabbed as my skin had become invulnerable, far as I could tell. I thought this is all just too good and if I’m gonna fight evil, I’m gonna need a new identity.

In the distance I hear screams but from where? I go investigate, four blocks from home I find source of the screams. I must have super hearing also as four blocks is pretty good distance.

What I find disgusts me, some guy was mugging a group of young ladies. In the blink of an eye, my wings had carried me forward to protect these innocents. He turned to me and yelled, “Who do you think you are? He began to attack with a knife, stabbing wildly, not a scratch. He tried to shoot me and that also had failed. In a single thought a blast of energy shot forth from my eyes and removed his gun hand. I was like, “Holy crap”; I don’t know my own strengths yet. He ran off screaming something about, “You gonna get it now! Just wait till the boss sees what you done to me, you’re gonna pay you SOB! Just wait until the boss finds you!”

I got the young ladies safely to their parents and was returning home. I was nearly home when I heard someone yell, “Hey! Are you the one that took my employees gun hand?” I replied, “Yes, he was mugging a group of young ladies and needed to be stopped, so I stopped him. Who are you by the way?” He said, “I’m the boss here and people call me Killer Kelly and you gotta pay!” I said, “It sounds like a girl’s name.” That’s when the fight began.

In an instant he was upon me. He punched me so hard that I landed a block away. He was strong, pretty fast too. I was caught off guard. This fight is gonna be different than with his street rat. I heard him mumble some sort of chant then I felt a severe pain across my chest. "Feel the magic powers of Killer Kelly!, he yelled. I had an opened slash wound and it bled only a little but now I was ticked.

I flew into a rage, literally. Instinctively spinning, wings tucked around my body like an arrow towards my foe Killer Kelly at light speed. I couldn’t slow up fast enough and flew through him. He was done for, lying there, close to death. “I was just a weakling, Kelly said but beware there are others much stronger than me with “The Legion”. Who are you, he asked as I absorbed his strength? “For now, just call me Togood.

“Take this power ring, you’re gonna need it when you face the Legion. Consider it a gift. It has the power to weaken a foe’s strike, Kelly remarked.”

Just then, Nova appeared, "time to take Kelly off to BADGE LOCKUP." Nova looked at me and said, “You did good kid but Kelly will survive. You got a lot to learn and work on your new name, Togood is weak for a superhero name.” With a chuckle, Nova and Kelly were gone.
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Chapter 2: Contemplation and Training Introductions ID#12205 Togood

Togood
……………………………………Chapter 2: Contemplation and Training Introductions…………………………
Back at home, I healed up pretty fast, thinking to myself, it’s been a weird few weeks for me. Boy that Nova guy sure doesn’t hang around long. One minute he is there and the next second gone in the blink of an eye.
 
I start to recount all that’s happened recently. It amazing really, just a short time ago, before all this Legion hoopla started, I was an old fart in my 60s starting my retirement from civil service. Waking up just like any other day, old and creaky. Everything hurtin from the hair down and when you're hurtin from the hair down, you're hurtin pretty good but that’s no longer a problem since these morphons started raining down giving me this young super strong new body and these wings.

These wings! Flight is cool and all but you ruin a lot of shirts when you gotta cut holes in them for wings to fit and what were those beams that shot out of my eyes and took that bad guys hand off? How did I do that? How do I control it? Is my body gonna keep changing? What the heck is BADGE?  I could really use a beer or something to calm my nerve right about now.

 I walked to the fridge and grabbed a few cold ones and sat down and tried to relax. It didn’t last, that Nova guy was back with friends and he didn’t knock this time. “How did you get in? The door was locked, and who are these people with you, I glared. I don’t really like visitors just showing up and especially when they don’t use the door.  It kinda ruffles my feathers. Pun intended. Now what do you want and why are these friends of yours here?”

Nova spoke up, “First of all, calm down, we are all friends here, so don’t wanna ruffle your feathers. Second of all, you gonna drink all them beers or can I have one and third of all, these folks are gonna train ya and try and answer questions I’m sure you have.” I handed him my last beer. He took the beer and said, “Now let’s meet everybody.” The introductions began.
Nova started by reminding me that we all manifest different powers and with he said, “These guys are gonna test you for attributes and strengths so you can start training. They will also show you how gear is used. Now listen up, starting left to right.

This is Inferno, his core strength is magic. It is his strongest attribute. He is proficient in casting spells and making potions amongst other things. He has survived the gravity of a black hole while escaping his destroyed home world. So don’t take him lightly, he’s not your everyday magician. He’ll turn you into your sister. He will teach you some spells that can help you in future fights.

To his right is Drift, he is an elemental and he can control and manipulate all the elements.  He is a dedicated tactician and he is relentless. He will test you for any elemental abilities you may have and teach you the art of fighting. Pay full attention to him. The last guy he trained didn’t so he gave him an actual lead foot. He dragged it around for a month before Drift returned his foot to normal. Drift put his head down and snickered quietly.

Beside him is Uptown Knight, his core is physical. He is one of the most physical heroes we have here. His strength and agility knows no limit and he can beat you so bad you’ll have a new hairdo. He also likes his own hair. You probably shouldn’t mess with it. He is gonna see what kinda shape you’re in and make you stronger and faster. It ain’t gonna be fun.

To his right is Captain Aim Eric Ah, a marvel to be sure. He is in his 80s and doesn’t like the cold but is still sharp as a tack. He has superior mental abilities. He can move things with power of his mind. He will teach you how to destroy your enemies with your brain. Oh, and fair warning, don’t gamble with him. He can’t be beat in a game of cards and whatever you do, don’t call him a Cap-Sicle. It brings back bad memories and he gets a lil rowdy. Cap nods in agreement.

Next to him is Super Rakly. He specializes in anything techno. If it needs built, he can build it. He will teach how to build some high tech gadgetry to help you in battles. He can mechanically enhance just about anything or anyone including himself. Rakly looked at me and shook his head and said, “he’s gonna need some armor, then yelled, “Fear the red armor!””

Lastly, this is our supernatural expert, Biggus Dickus, he is the wowdy guy from Wome.  He’s a super hero by day and a stripper by night.  He will teach you about all things, living or dead. He can communicate with spirits and other supernatural entities. If you thought vampires and werewolves were just a thing in the movies, you would be wrong.  If you’re in a bind and need some undead fighting buddies, this guy can get them for you.”

Nova then looks at me and asked, “Did you work on your superhero name like I asked?” I replied, “I haven’t come up with a good name yet.” I said,” I was thinkin about Incontinentia Buttocks but then Biggus Dickus started glaring at me like he wanted to throw me to the floor. Nova shook his head and said, “There’s a good reason for the stare. It’s his wife’s name.” Well, crap, that name is out, I thought out loud to myself as Nova introduced me to the guys. “This is Togood,” and everyone kinda laughed to themselves.  You still need to work on that name said Nova.

Nova gave a little speech about how important it was to train and learn these new skills these guys were about to teach me. Learn well and get strong enough to fight The Legion. Use these new skills in New Amsterdam, There are a lot of bad guys there that misuse their new morphon powers. I’ll be watching your progress.  He raised the beer up as to salute everyone and said, “Onward and upward to greater glory.” That last part sounded familiar.  I just can’t remember where I heard it. I turned to grab my beer to return the salute and as I turn to face Nova,  he was gone again that quick.

I asked my new mentors, “ Does he always vanish like that, that quickly?” They replied,  “Pretty much, he says what needs to be said and then gone, no one ever sees him really leave.” Drift spoke up, “never mind that for now. You gotta get ready for training tomorrow. Bright and early, you meet the elements.”
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Chapter 3: Training Days The Hard Ways ID#12205 Togood

Togood
……………………………………………….Chapter 3: Training Days the Hard Ways………………………………………………….

Drift wanted me to get ready for training, so I headed for bed. I like a good sleep to recharge and dream peaceful sweet dreams.  I was having a wonderful dream about the life I had had with my wife and kids.

 My dreams, like movies playing back memories of the great times we had together and watching the kids growing up playing ball and taking dance lessons. My wife Beth always making me laugh with her silly antics, Bret doing his funny touchdown dance and Susan on her way to becoming the graceful ballerina I knew she would always be. I was having the greatest dream but the dream ended abruptly with horribly great banging sounds of crashing metal and loud screams.  Just as the crash took my family, the sounds of Drift beating a metal trash can and screaming, “WAKE UP! YOU GOT WORK TO DO!” waking me at 5 am ended my sweat dream.  I was groggy and not amused.

I bolted out of bed, startled by the rude awakening I just received and fired off an energy blast through sleepy eyes that nearly struck Drift. “Don’t you ever wake me like that again”, I yelled.  You could get hurt like that. Drift kind of laughed and said, “Sorry about that but at least I know how quickly your fight responses are.” He said, “Not bad but always be ready for anything at anytime. Now get dressed and be on the practice field with the rest of the team in ten minutes for your first lessons.”

Drift began the first lesson by laying down a little truth about these morphons bombarding us constantly. He said, while we all manifest powers and strengths differently, you should understand as long as these morphons continue to flow down upon us, our powers will continue to increase and with training, study and sheer will. Eventually, we may all have similar abilities but we’ll be strongest in one.  Drift was an elemental, whatever that meant.

Drift explained, “I am an Elemental and Elementals have the ability to control and manipulate the elements. Not only can we control the elements of wood, earth, water, fire and metals by simple thought, we can command the transmutation of all elements on the periodic table for devastating offense and defense.  Allow me to demonstrate.”

Drift began his first demonstration. I was still a bit groggy from just waking up and I yawned and stretched out loud disturbing his concentration and he turned to me un-amused by my rudeness and turned the ground below me into a watery muddy mess to which I sank up to my arms. “What the hell!” I hollered.

 Drift hollered back,”What are you going to do! Protect yourself! Will the elements around you! Concentrate! Think! Hurry! Save yourself, “Mr. ToBad”, he taunted. You’re sinking faster! Do something to protect yourself or you will be buried alive!

 “Think dummy”, he barked. The answer is simple. Use the elements around you and control them with your will!

By know I was a bit scared and miffed at the same time. That muddy mess was thickening and almost above my chin. I had to calm myself and think then I remembered the way out of quicksand.  I needed a rope or a stick of some kind to get out of this mess. In my mind, I saw a thick vine growing fast towards me and as my anxiety calmed I was able to will a vine of oak to actually grow towards me and wrap around my arms.  I sank even further. The mess Drift put me in was now above my mouth. I was almost buried.

Drift Yelled at me, “Good! You have a little elemental in you, but you’re only halfway to escape! You better hurry!” I thought to myself, “You son of a, you’re not making this any easier. When I get out of this mess, we’re gonna have a prayer meeting.” I concentrated the hardest I probably ever had and willed the oak vine to grow away from me, pulling me out of Drift’s thick muddy mess. I was safe but I was wet, filthy and angry.

Drift walked over to me, smiled and apologized for his pedagogical way of teaching.  He said, “Man, I’m sorry I had to teach this lesson in such a manner but time is short and we need capable fighters to take on The Legion and need them quick.  The emotions you felt in the mud pit propagated a need for resolution. You were able to calm your mind and think and to concentrate and use the will of your mind to create what you needed from the elements to resolve the problem. You might have done it a bit faster though.”  I looked at him and growled under my breath as he pushed me further.

I said, “I’m all wet and dirty and my feathers are all matted with mud.  I ought to give you a good punch in the mouth!”  Drift replied, “Whoa truckin’ horse, whoa truckin’ horse, you need to calm down. You got a short temper don’t ya? You just learned what you can do with the elements, use your head and think. Will the wet to evaporate off of you then will the sandy mud back to the ground. After some heavy concentration I was able to make that happen.”

“As for your wings, you can make them appear and disappear as needed with practice now.  Remember, everything around you is an element and you can learn to control them all. Here, take this book I wrote on controlling the elements and read over and over. “It’s called “How to Win Friends and Influence Their Elements.” We laughed, goooood book title, I thought.  Drift had one more thing to show me.

“Now that you can control the basics of the elements and you got my book to read for further study, let me show you a small example of how powerful the elements can be.  You see that old Chevy truck over there?”” Yes”, I said. Drift snapped his fingers and the truck and all its parts were reduced to separate piles of the elements that it was built with.  I slowly turned my head to look at Drift all perturbed and I Hulk punched him right in the mouth. “That was my old Chevy truck! Now fix it back!” Drift got off the ground and laughed and said, “Hehehe, you do got a short temper! But nope!  Read the book and use the truck for practice and make that old truck look new again besides you got wings when you need them, you don’t need a truck.  You got about a week to practice before I hand you over to Uptown Knight for physical training. Strong body, strong mind. You’ll thank me later.” He flew off as I cussed a bit to myself and thought, you irritating joker, we gonna get along just fine.

*More to come*
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Re: Chapter 4: Give As Good As You Get ID#12205 Togood

Togood
**********************Chapter 4:  Give As Good As You Get****************************
It’s been a long week working with Drift and trying to cultivate some Elemental abilities. I’m nowhere near the master of elements Drift is but I do have a few new tricks up my sleeve, after all, Drift reduced my ride to its individual elements and made me work on putting it back together for practice. What a Joker. It was good practice though but you know that old saying, “Don’t get mad just get even.” Just then Drift walked into the training room to give me a report on my progress.

Drift called me to the center of the room where he and Uptown Knight were waiting. “Hurry up ToGood or whatever your name is. You really do need a better superhero name but you can work on that later. I’ve got a hot date tonight and I don’t want to be late,” Scowled Drift.  Drift looked at me and said before I hand you over to ‘Knight’ for physical training here is your elemental score. Drift remarked, “You scored a six out of a possible ten and that’s not bad for just starting off. You just keep on reading my manual and keep training on the elements and you will be strong enough to take on the Legion.”

 I replied, “Gee thanks Drift, I couldn’t have done it without your special way of training. I will work very hard to improve and by the way, I must say, you are looking very sharp in that Armani suit of yours. I hope it doesn’t get dirty.”

Drift looked at Knight and said he is all yours. Train him hard and make him strong. Knight looked at Drift and said, I got this, and he won’t know what hit him.”  I smiled as he ran out of the training room to the parking lot in his pretty Armani suit and where his Cherry Red Lamborghini was parked. He was in a hurry for that hot date.

I said, “Nice to meet you Knight but before we start there is something that I just got to do and you might get a kick out of it, I know I will.” We watched as Drift backed out of his parking space and put it into drive and started to speed off to his hot date and just then, I snapped my fingers and with great concentration, Drift’s Lamborghini turned into a huge pile of red clay mud to which he was now buried up to his neck.  I hollered out to Drift, “Hey man, you got to be ready for anything.” Drift turned to look at me from across the parking lot and smiled as if to say, “Touché.”  Drift snapped his fingers and quickly restored his Armani suit and ride back to pristine condition and sped off to that hot date. Knight shook his head and laughed.

(To be Continued….)
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Re: Chapter 5:Test of Strength and the Wonky Roomt ID#12205 Togood

Togood

*******************Chapter 5:  Test of Strength and the Wonky Room***********************

Knight looked at me and said, “What I do is pretty simple. I use my strength and speed to kick some Legion butt and you if mess with my ride, I’ll break your head, although I must admit that was pretty funny.” Now let’s head over to the Mega-gym where I train.

We got to Knight’s Mega-gym and it was, well, mega huge.  Everything there was meant for heavy training and speed.

Knight started with the basics. He took my blood pressure and put me on a scale to see how heavy I was and took some blood to check my cholesterol and also to determine my morphon count. I guess the higher the morphon count the higher probability for stronger abilities. I said, “Man, what is with all these tests? You’re as bad as a doctor.” Knight smiled and said, “That’s my day job.”

Knight was shaking his head while looking at the test results. I said Hey man. “Why are shaking your head, is something wrong with my results?

No, your blood pressure and cholesterol are fine but you are a bit heavier than you should be even with that stone like hide of, but I’ll take care of that.  I’ll also need a sample of your skin and feathers to learn more about your physiology but the most notable thing on your test is the level of morphons in your body, they are quite high. You have an uncanny ability to absorb and retain high amounts of morphons.

I asked, “Is that a bad thing?” Knight replied, “No, on the contrary, it’s quite good. The greater number of morphons you can absorb the more attributes you may attain, thus the stronger you can become but enough about that for now. It’s time to test your strength.”  

We left the lab and walked into Knight’s weight room.  This was not your normal weight room. There were no small dumbbells and machines like what I was used to. On the far wall, inside the running track, was a row of dense Osmium-titanium alloy wrecking balls of increasing size and weight with only heavy duty handles to lift with. The smallest was one half ton and the largest had 50 tons written on the side and there was one for each hand. There was a heavy bag made of soft misshapen lead and a boxing ring on the other side of the room for sparing and on the far side was a heavy vacuum sealed door marked ‘Morphon Time and Gravity’. I don’t know what that is all about but I’m sure I’m about to find out.

Knight walked me over to the wrecking balls and said, “Alright, let’s see what you got for strength.”  I looked at him like he was nuts. I’ve not too long ago started this change. “There is no way, I can lift those,” I said.  He told me, “We don’t say No or I Can’t here, you start at the half ton and lift it!”

To my surprise, I lifted it with ease. Not bad said Knight. “Skip over the next to set and try the ten ton wrecking balls.” I felt the weight but still raised them up to my chest.  Knight cheered me on and then instructed me to go to twenty-five ton set and lift them while hovering in flight. I barely got the wrecking balls off of the floor when he said to fly around the running track with the weight and don’t touch the floor. Well, I struggled around the long track and failed to complete the full lap. He stopped me before I said “I can’t do this” and told me to take a break as he wrote something on his clipboard.

He took me over to the door marked ‘Morphon Time and Gravity’ and lead me through the door.  The room was empty except for a pair of osmium armbands and weight boots.  Knight explained, “This room was specially designed to do three things. Firstly, you will experience time different in here, one hour inside will equal one week of training outside the room, secondly, you will experience the weight of gravity increase by two times each hour you are inside and lastly, the apparatus on the ceiling funnels morphons into the room to help raise your strength and healing abilities. Put on the armbands and boots and get ready to lift and fly with the weight around the room. Don’t touch the floor or you will get a zap.

You will be inside for eight hours. That is roughly two months of speed and strength training. There will be a ten minute break every two hours. If you survive, you will have speed and strength to move mountains.  I’m setting the starting weight for the armbands and boots at one half ton each.” Knight closed the door and locked it down. I heard him speak through the intercom, “Get ready for hell in five seconds.”  I readied myself and began to fly around the room with the weight. It got intense quick.

The time in the room had barely begun before I started to tire and the pain of constant flight and increasing weight took its toll. After the first hour, the gravity increased two fold and I hit the floor at which time an alarm sounded and a computerized voice warned, “You have five seconds to rise from the floor before penalty shock.”  I didn’t make up in time and got a whopper of a shock.  I lifted the weight again into the air, struggling and breathing hard.

I made it thru the second hour and was happy for the small break. I collapsed on the floor from exhaustion. Ten minutes equals nearly an hour in “The Wonky Room of Time.” That’s what I call it now.  Just enough time to rest and make conscience effort to absorb all the morphons filtering into the room to repair and renew strength to worn out muscles.  The computerized voice warned, “You have five seconds to resume training before penalty shock.”  Six hours of hell training to go.  I had better get to it.

The weight on the armbands and boots doubled again as raised above the floor, flying around in circles. I felt stronger but as the weight doubled yet again at the end of the third hour, I was forced to the floor once again. Same warning but a bigger penalty shock. This routine continued until the end of the seventh hour and by this time I developed a tolerance to the ever rising penalty shock.

It started to feel good as I walked around the electrified floor just curling the max weight of fifty tons for the remaining hour.  The computerized voice warned, training time ending in five seconds.  

The armbands fell off and the weight boots were no longer weighted. The gravity was restored to normal and the door opened. It felt like I was floating as I stepped through the door.  Normal Earth gravity could not hold me anymore.  

Knight congratulated me on my survival and successful completion of training in ‘The Wonky Time Room’.

“Knight said, “There is a final test of your training here.  Let’s see how you handle the fifty ton wrecking balls now.  Pick them up and fly around the running track as fast as you can. I’m gonna time you for one lap. On your ready! Go! “I was gone and back before he could start and stop the timer. “Excellent,” Knight exclaimed.

Now go and give the lead heavy bag a good punch.  I punch so hard and fast my fist created a huge hole in the bag.  Oops! I didn’t think I would break it. Knight put me at ease when he said; you’re not the first to destroy the lead bag. Nova will be pleased to hear these results. You have earned my respect but tell me. What is your real name? I said, “My real name is Donald Blake.”  “Well, that sounds better than Togood,” remarked Knight. I dub thee Donald Blake MD, he said. I asked, “What’s the MD for.  Knight laughed and replied, “My Dawg.”

Knight ordered me to report to Inferno for Magic Studies next week. You get a few days to recoup. You’re gonna be sore tomorrow. Knight sent me on my way with an open invite for more ‘Wonky Room’ training and a last bit of advice. He said simply, “Remember to keep your cool. You’re way stronger than you’re used to, so be gentle, until you can’t.”

To be continued….


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Chapter6 PUNKIN HEADS ID#12205 Togoode

Togood
This post was updated on .
**********************Ch.6 PUNKIN HEADS ID#12205 Togoode******************

It’s that time of the year. The time when the days cool down and the nights get colder, hot chocolate is the drink to warm up with. The leaves of trees are turning all shades of red and orange, a wonderful sight to behold and even a better sight if you live at the Appalachians Mountains Range BADGE facility, where the guys have been training me.

It’s also the time of the year to celebrate Halloween, dress up in fun costumes, to tell ghost stories, party and pull the occasional prank or two for fun. We all got the week off from training to celebrate Halloween and we’re gonna make it count.  We all got together with some of the Colony crew for a weekend Halloween party. There is no telling what kind of mischief we’re gonna wonder into but it sure to be fun.  
We were having a great time at the party. Everyone is dressed in their favorite costumes.

Knight was doing the DJ thing, playing tunes like ‘The Monster Mash’ while Biggus Dickus was over at the dance floor twerking around the stripper pole for Funsize bars. Super Rakly and friends were bobbing for Hater-aids while Inferno was magically making them disappear. Drift was judging the contest for best costume. Cap dressed as that Avenger guy with the shield, some of those Colony guys were dressed as buff penguins and I looked like a mean version of Big Bird but some chic with whips took the prize for first place.

Everyone was getting hungry so Inferno made a bonfire outside and we all gathered around to roast our weenies and warm our buns while taking turns telling ghost stories.  Anomaly was telling a good one about ‘The Chef’, the programmer that was killed when his AI system, SkyWeb, went all apocalyptic. The story was just getting good when everyone’s BADGE communicator beacons rang out a distress signal from Director Nova. “BADGE HQ…has …been …compromised…help!” Everything stopped and we look at each other as if this might be a Halloween prank but Nova has never been the prankster type according to Gargoyle. Gargoyle suggests we all get to BADGE HQ and check around.

Zen said, “Looks like the party’s over gang, everyone get your gear ready, we’re gonna go check HQ and save the director.”  Drift yelled at me, “Donald get it together, you’re coming too. You’re gonna get some on the job training, you’ll do fine. You have been progressing nicely; just remember what you’ve learned so far.” All of the magicians at the party started reciting transport spells and suddenly we were all at BADGE HQ, the alarms were blasting an irritating noise. Rakly used the wrist gadget he made, hit a few buttons and the alarms stopped. It was quietly creepy.

We all split into teams and each team leader decided it would be best to Split into groups of three to cover more ground while doing recon in different parts of the complex. Everyone watch your back and be ready for anything commanded one of the other team leaders. We all spit up and went in to find Nova.
Myself, Drift and Knight, team 3, went down the left corridor leading to the control room were Nova’s tracking beacon lead us. HQ was in shambles. Only emergency lights flashed in the darkened smoke filled hallways.  There were small electrical fires everywhere and all the computer terminals were on fire and would emit arches of lightning strong enough to melt metal and hot enough to fry non-metas.

We could hear demented laughter and screams coming from the other corridors. Our communicators blasted a warning. TEAM TWO DOWN! TEAM FOUR DOWN! Rakly and his tech teams were short circuited and incapacitated and out of this mission. The last transmission from Rakly was, “It was Director Nova and he’s got a.” The communicators went silent and the message incomplete. “That don’t sound good”, I said. Drift and Knight agreed. We continued on to the control room with caution.

We made it thru the dark corridor and met up with teams one and five and we all stood across from each other at the entrances to the control room. “Do you all see anything on your side? Our view is blocked over here on this side,” exclaimed Knight.  Team one, Whips, Evo and Zen hollered out, “We can’t see anything either.” Team five spoke out, “We got eyes on Nova. He looks unconscious, lying out on the floor.” At that moment, our communicators sparked and caught fire. We all threw them down immediately.  Someone yelled, “Be on your toes. It’s about to hit the fan.”

Nova was surrounded by a green glowing smoky fog as he slowly raised off the floor and then we all saw that bulbous orange transparent pumpkin head surrounding the head of Director Nova.  Nova had been possessed by something and was controlling the Director and whatever it was, was not benevolent.

The entity that had taken over Nova’s body had great power as well as those that Nova wielded and fired two ectoplasmic bolts of energy in my direction. I quickly ducked and only got light singe on a few feathers but Knight took a direct hit and Drift was hit pretty well also. I got them to safety while the entity was busy attacking the other two teams. Drift said that they would be okay, to get back in there and assist the others and remember our elemental training.

I got back to the action. The other teams were dodging almost everything thrown by the entity. I charged straight into the back of Nova and the entity that controlled him while its attention was on the others.  Nova’s body was flung into the wall and was not moving. I hope I didn’t hurt Nova, I thought to myself. While the entity was down we had a little time to make a plan.

I got an idea I said. Listen up, We got to separate Nova from the entity without hurting Nova. This is what I need ya’ll to do. The plan was agreed to and set in motion. The entity started to stir.

As the entity that possessed Nova began to arise, our Supernatural specialist, Biggus, threw a canister on the floor in front of Nova and then used his power over the supernatural to hold them immobile. It was a struggle to hold them both.  Evo and Zen each grabbed an arm and Whips used her whips to wrap the legs of Nova together. This gave me the time I needed to separate the ghostly elements from Nova’s body like Drift taught me.  I separated the ectoplasmic mass from the flesh of Nova’s body and Evo froze the mass mid air and Biggus forced the frozen entity into the containment canister. Nova’s body collapsed from the exhaustion of being possessed but he was okay.  Whips began to heal Nova’s and the other wounded. We could hear a shrilling voice coming from the canister. “I want out of here!”

We look over at Biggus; his eyes were glowing golden yellow and we asked, “Can this thing get out?” He replied, “Only if I allow it.”

The voice again cried out from the canister, “I want out of here! Let me out! Please let me out, I’ll behave. I promise. I was just having a little fun. ”

Who are you? Biggus demanded to know, “Tell me now or you will never be released from this new prison I have put you in!”

The sound of crazed laughing came from within the canister along with a reply. “I am Jack, a spirit of Halloween, ‘a Trickster and a Treater’. I haven’t had this much fun in years. Release me and be rewarded.”
I was like, "Yeah right, we let you go and you will wreak more havoc.”  More laughter came from the canister. Jack replied, “I understand, you don’t trust me. I’ll have to let myself out then. Biggus is strong but not strong enough to hold me long.” The Trickster spirit flowed through the canister and rematerialized into a talking Jack-O-Lantern surrounded by a green glowing smoky fog.

Jack said, “I’m a trickster of my word. You bested me and that deserves a reward. I grant teams one, three and five an increase in your own powers and gift you one of mine. You now possess the power of illusion and trickery. Use it well, its time for me to leave.”

As the green glowing trickster Jack-O-Lantern started to fade into nothingness, Jack’s disembodied voice spoke out to Nova and asked, “Same time next year?”  Nova watching the faces of everyone and laughing out loud replied, “You bet, this illusion prank never gets old and the kids got some training and added powers at the same time. It was as much fun for me as it was for you.”

We all looked at each other,  with are jaws dropped, then looked at Nova, then back at each other, and back at Nova all confused. Drift was like, “Did that old geezer just pwn us and train us at the same time?”
 
Nova, laughing uncontrollably now, rolling on the floor replied, “Bwahahaahahaha, yep, you just got pwned, Happy Halloween suckers! Now let’s get back to that party.” We all started laughing out loud as Nova snapped his fingers and transported us all back to our party. Once back, all we could say was, “Good one.”
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Re: Chapter 7:CHRISTMAS CONTEST ENTRY-TITLE: THE SANTA RESCUE ID#12205 ToGood

Togood
CHRISTMAS CONTEST ENTRY-TITLE: THE SANTA RESCUE ID#12205 ToGood

“Inferno, I can’t believe that Nova tricked us all on Halloween, that was one of the best pranks ever and we all got some new powers. The power of illusion and trickery is a gift you already had as a magician Inferno, what power did you gain?”

Inferno replied, “My power was increased tenfold but there is much more for you to learn about magic. Rakly the tech and Captain Aim Eric Ah the mentalist will be assisting me in your magic training as magic uses the same basic scientific fundamentals. All magic is really different forms of science, whether it’s a hidden tech gadget or psychology to trick the mind or even knowing the right incantations and spells to control the time it takes for you learn the skills of the magician, mentalist and technician. I have a gift for you. This is my old Tome of Learning and once you grasp it, you shall have learned these skills in mere seconds.”

So I took a hold of the magician’s tome and when I did, all knowledge filled my mind and I could do pretty much do all that my mentors could do, however, it will take time to master this new knowledge. Inferno also failed to mention that receiving so much knowledge that fast would feel like getting kicked in the head. I got on heck of a migraine now. I hope it passes quickly.

No sooner had I received this new knowledge and migraine from hell, our communicators sounded and alert. “Nova to all heroes, I need anyone who can help me find Santa, this is a matter of planetary emergency!” Gar responded and added, “Attention heroes! Our location is 90.0000° N, 135.0000° W, wear something warm, these coordinates are for the North Pole. Meet Nova and I here. “

The four of us stopped our learning session and I was instructed by Inferno to create a transport orb that would get us to those coordinates instantly. Inferno called it practice. A glowing orb was created large enough for us all and as I was the last on to step in, the orb surrounded us and we were instantly transported to the North Pole where Gar and Nova were waiting.

Gar told us of the evil demon creature he faced and how he disappeared in a puff of black smoke. Nova said, “His name is Krampus and we need to find out what he has done with Santa with his new found morphon powers and stop him from hurting the world’s children. He has a rather large appetite for naughty kids and he can enter Santa’s palace now and that’s how he abducted the Ole Jolly guy.”
I asked Nova, “How are we gonna find Santa Claus in this wide open expanse of cold white nothingness? I thought Santa was just made up fiction.”

Nova replied, “No, he’s not a work of fiction. He is real, just like all the stories you heard growing up and some you didn’t. Santa and I are old friends and he has a micro tracking device implanted in his shoulder. I put it there on a mission we did years ago. All we have to do is turn on the tracking receiver and it will lead us straight to him.” I said, “Wait! You and Santa were on a mission together?” Nova answered,”Yes and it’s still classified, so don’t ask.”

Nova turned the tracking receiver on and we traced the signal to an old set of ruins located in Austria.
With a snap of his fingers, Nova had us there in the blink of an eye. It was the ruins of an old castle. There was old water well in the center courtyard surrounded by a foggy haze and the well glowed red from the inside. This is where the tracking receiver has pin-pointed Santa’s location but no Santa was in sight. Nova sighed, “Grrreat.”

“What is it Nova?” asked Rakly. Nova replied, “It’s a portal to Hell and we have to go through it and it’s sure to be protected by Krampus’ evil minions, dark elves on the other side. Good thing we got some spell casters here. We’ll need a spell to open the portal and a Shield of Protection spell to protect us until we are all, all the way through to the other side.”

Spells were cast and we descended the glowing portal. Drift and Rakly took point. We were through to the other side and Nova warned, “Be on your guard, Krampus’ minions are sure to be close by and ready to protect his biggest prize, St. Nick.”

We went forward from the portal down a dark dank pathway until we detected the dark elves presence in the distance and saw them surrounding Santa and taunting him. They were some ugly critters; they look like Krampus only smaller, smelled bad and sang even worse.  They were singing a Krampus poem, Krampus Krampus in the style of Baa Baa Black sheep. It was intolerable and it was time to move in and rescue Santa.

We charged in and confronted the evil little Krampus minions. There were like five of them guarding Santa. We each took a minion while Nova tried to free Santa from his strange bonds. St. Nick looked at Nova and said, “It’s about time ya’ll got here. Can you get me out of this enchanted naughty kid sack? Krampus trapped me in the kiddy sack so I could not absorb morphons as he did. I must get out and absorb morphons as well so I can face him and put back in hell where he belongs.”

Nova replied, “Hang on, I’m trying but nothing I do is working.”

Meanwhile, I hollered over at Nova, “Hey! How’s coming over there, these minions aren’t dying no matter how hard we hit them.” Santa hollered back and said, “You can’t kill them, they’re immortal, you have to trap them somehow.”

We were like, “Good to know.” Then we used the elemental power and turned them to stone which trapped them like statues.

We all tried helping Nova release Santa from the enchanted kid sack but the sack would not open for any of us. Then I had an idea. I Said.”Santa, hold on. I’m gonna fly you outta of this hell hole.” I lifted Santa in my arms and flew him through the opened portal and sat him down in the sunshine where he could absorb morphons of his own. Santa began to glow as he absorbed morphons at a tremendous rate and within minutes he burst out of the kiddy sack all aglow and for a jolly guy, pretty ticked and ripped.
The others arrived through the portal just in time to see Mad Santa in all his glory. “Come on guys, it’s time to regroup at my palace; I’ve got something very special planned for Krampus. It’s not his time yet.”
Once at the palace, Mad Santa looked at Nova and said, “Do you even gift bro?” with a jolly laugh. He gave us all a gift. He was like you get a gift and you get a gift and you get a gift…He loves Oprah. Don’t open till Christmas.

Mad Santa