[LNH] Flame Wars VI repost #1

In this post

Hell's Titans #-18
Flame Wars VI #-2
Hell's Titans #-17
Hell's Titans #-18
Flame Wars VI #-1
Flame Wars VI #0

All but a very little bit in Flame Wars VI #0 is by Jesse Willey.

Martin


Hell's Titans #-18
          Calm before the Storm
           By Jesse N. Willey

         Rick Henkerton got quite a chill walking down
the streets of Sig.ago.  It had been almost two years since he had
stopped protecting the city he called home.  His moments in the sun
were over.  But he was not coming to Teenfactor headquarters as a
hero.  He was coming to visit from some old friends.  These days two
groups of heros had their base of operation in the same building.
Teenfactor, whose name was splashed all across the building, had the
official government contract to the property. The other group also had
government clearance, but that was known only to a select few.

     "Identify yourself," the computer said.
    "Not again," he said to himself, remembering an incident like this
a few years before.  "Rick Henkerton, Legion of Net.Heros clearance
Beta Charlie Seven."

    Even without his powers, Rick Henkerton had found a way to get a
job with the Legion of Net. Heroes.  He had become somewhat of an
expert on nano-technology. Nanites were becoming more commonplace
every day.  Ever since the FDA had approved several dozen types of
nano-surgeries, the black market had become flooded with hundreds
different types of jury rigged uses for nanotechnology ranging from
the cosmetic to the perverse. He hated what happened when super
villains got their hands on the microscopic machines.  They tended to
create things like the Scrambler plaugue, which made superhumans lose
control over their powers.

      "Access granted.  Miss Forge wishes to speak to you immediately.
Samuel wishes to know what you got him for Christmas," the computer
replied.
     "Tell him to wait till Christmas morning," Rick replied.
     "Very well," the computer responded as the doors opened.

        Rick walked down the hall, his face showing
signs of disappointment.  In some part of him was wondering why
he came all the way out to Sig.ago, when the person he really wanted
to spend the holidays with was back in Net.tropolis.  Of course, Rick
knew that the objection of his affection saw him as only a friend and
that was driving him crazy.

         "Rick!  Glad you could make it," Carolyn
said.  "Alison will be back in a few minutes."
        "Is Sky around?" Rick asked.
        "No.  He's out Christmas shopping.  We made sure he wouldn't
buy Alison's gift while she's in the bathroom room again," Carolyn
said with giggle.
         "He did that?  I thought Nick was joking when he sent out
those Christmas Cards last year," Rick replied with a quick smile.
         "I mean, at least while you two were a couple
you didn't take advantage of her disabilities," Carolyn replied.
         "Of course I didn't.  I know how it feels.
That's why we were able to get together in the first place.  But, it
just didn't last between us.  We both knew we just weren't right for
each other. Of course, when have any of my relationships worked out,"
Rick said becoming depressed again.  Rick had the worst luck with
women.  Even when he went cruising down the streets as Boy Redundant
Lad his chances of picking up a girl was about as equal his chances of
digging thru dry sand with a plastic fork.
         "Rick, cheer up.  This is supposed to be a happy season.  If
you miss your friends from the LNH so much, call them.  Who knows may
who your current mystery crush is will answer," she replied.
         "How did you know?"
         "Think.... HOW long have I known you?" she
asked.
         "Thirteen years, two months and fourteen
days," Rick replied. "Give or take a few hours."
         "Right.  I wouldn't have to be a super genius to figure it
out," Carolyn replied.
         "What?  Does Rick have another crush?" asked Nick Starless as
he walked up the stairs to The Team's independent complex.  "Let's
see, who could it be..."
         "Nick, dear, I don't think that you be
polite," Divine said as her voice was heard faintly behind him.
        "It's all in good fun.  Let's start with the
M's.  I don't know why, but it seems to be a pattern with this guy.
First there was Mary and then Mystery. (Okay, so Alison doesn't begin
with 'M', but that was only a two day thing...)  Mollusk Woman, wait
Rick would only a go for a woman with that figure if she wore glasses.
Moose Girl, no definitely out of the question.  Wait, could it be
Mou-" Nick said as Rick pulled his friend's bandanna over his mouth.


         **************

     Alison Delphi felt something disturb her usual calm.  The psychic
ether of The Team headquarters was facing oddly backward in time.
During the Christmas season people tended to look back more in this
time of the year there was something else driving them backward.
Whether or not this had anything to do with the onslaught of the new
Millennium or not was an issue for theologians.  She was just a blind
prophet.
     She felt the pain and remorse as it soaked thru the ceiling from
the floor.  It had a familiar sense of compassion as if it were a
friend.  She scanned more closely in order to identify it.

     "So, Rick was the surprise guest Sky was trying to hide from me.
Sky must realize that what happened between Rick and I is over,"
Alison
thought.  " and judging from his mental state I see
that he's finally beginning to move on."


          *********************

     Sam Guildenberg looked around his quarters with surprise.  Had it
really only been three years since he had started his career as a
super hero?  It seemed like a lifetime since his trip to Paris.  There
had been so many changes in his life since then.

         "Yo, Sam, how's it going," came the high
pitched hyperactive voice of Absurd Lass.
         "Same as always," he replied.  "How are things going?"
         "Oh, fine.  Things just haven't been the same
since, well you know," she said.
         "I know.  Iota was a great guy.  It's a shame nobody even
noticed that he died," Sam replied.  "He should of joined us when he
had the chance.  But what's done is done."

     A scheme entered Nicole's mind.  Her ideas did not come along all
that often but when they did, they were usually bad ones.  She had
almost gotten them killed on many occasions.

      "Why don't we just go back in time and, y'know, change things?
Then what's done can be undone!" she said with an uncomfortable smile.
     "No, that is just wrong.  He willingly sacrificed himself for
others. What right do we have to make him change that choice?" Sam
replied.
     "Excuse me, for just pondering a feasible way to save a friend,"
she said.
     "In hindsight, you can think of zillions of ways to solve
problems. But the thing is people only get a zillion chances to do
thing in movies. The debate with me has never been CAN we change the
past.  It has always been SHOULD we change past," Samuel replied.
     "Excuse me Mister Morality," Nicole replied.  "It's just that I
miss him."

          *************************

     Sky entered headquarters and put his coat down on a chair. He
then sat down.

     "Hey Rick, how's it going?" Sky asked.
     "Glad to see you're not mad at me for..." Rick said.
     ". . .  trying to steal Alison.  I wouldn't have interfered in
that as long you made sure she was happy.  But you sacrificed your own
happiness for my sake.  I appreciate that," Sky replied.  "So, how are
things with you?  We really haven't heard much from you in a while."
     "There's not much to tell.  Simon is coming along
in his training, especially now that Phil and Mary are there to help.
I'm still failing at practically everything. .  ." Rick said.
     "And you have a crush one your teammates," Alison said.  "Sorry,
it's a bad habit for a psionic.  Yes, I know how it turns out, but
you're not getting any answers out of me."
     "I don't want to know what the future holds.  That takes all the
fun out of it," Rick replied.
     "This coming from someone how once thought out a scheme commit
temporal lotto fraud?"  Carolyn asked.
     "Will you cut that out.  We were eight years old. You are never
going to let me live that down are you?" Rick replied angrily.  As if
on a cue, his communication card buzzed.  A black haired boy two years
younger then him appeared on the monitor.
      "Yo!  Rick, Merry Christmas," the boy said.
      "Same to you Simon," Rick said.  "I'm kind of
busy, can this wait until tomorrow?"
     "Well, it could," Simon said mischievously.  "But then I won't
tell you came by your lab today...."
     "I don't have time for this Simon," Rick said.
     "You don't have time for something about Mouse.  This is
shock..."
Simon said.
     "Good bye, Simon," Rick said.  "Sometimes I
wonder why I gave that guy my old powers."

                         *******************

       Simon McGillis loved baiting his mentor.  When Mouse showed up
at Rick's lab in the middle of the afternoon, Simon couldn't help but
laugh. Mouse had come by to give Rick a Christmas gift, but he had
left
early that morning for Sig.ago.  Simon knew how Rick felt about her,
and it was the perfect way to get him mad.  But now he was feeling
guilty.  Rick had saved Simon from a severe case of Neurosynaptic
Metamorphosis Disorder. Around the time Simon was fourteen he lost his
ability to walk, and could no longer play soccer.  Now that he was the
new Boy Redundant Lad, he could kick a soccer ball clear out of the
city.

     "Phil, why did I do that?  Rick is my pal.  He really helped me
out, and then I go doing stuff like that to repay him.  What kind of
friend am I?" Simon asked.
      "A bad kind," Phil replied.  "But, so was I when I was your
age."
     "So, I guess Rick isn't the only one who sees a
bit of himself in me," Simon replied.
     "What do you mean?" Phil asked.
     "I mean he once had Henkerton's synaptic metamorphosis syndrome
and when he had to choose the new Boy Redundant Lad he chose the only
other person with HSMS," Simon replied.
     "Well, I guess, but unlike the original Boy
Redundant Lad you haven't flirted with my sister," Phil replied with a
smile that showed approval.
     "Shows what you know," Simon said with a smile.
     "What?!" Phil said in shock.
     "Hey, can she help if she's hot?" Simon replied.


          *****************

     He fell from heaven like an infant out of the womb.  He was far
from an infant.  He was the man from within the demon and the demon
within man. He was destined to destroy civilization as we know it.  He
was The Cabbage Wielding Angel of Death, the gruesome son in law of
Satan.

     "Goooooooood Morning Net.tropolis!" The Cabbage
Wielder yelled.
     "We must destroy our enemies and then every life on this planet!
(Well, maybe not Gene Chalet)," Wotana replied.
     "But first we must be tested, to make sure we are suited to
destroy the world," Cabbage Wielder replied. "and two men, who are
actually one man, can prove that for us."
     "You don't mean..." Wotana replied.
     "Yes, I do.  We must find our old friend, Carter Darson!" he
yelled with delight.
     "Then let us go to The Sixteenth Level," Wotana
replied. "the bar that has gone straight to hell."

          To Be Continued.....


      Be here for The Armageddon Game.....

Terrence Coffee, Carolyn Forge and Teenfactor belong
Tom Russell Jnr. Mouse belongs to Jaelle. Carter Darson belongs to
Sean Daugherty.  Everyone else is mine.  The story itself is mine.

Prologue

Their names were Don, Rick and Beth.  Their world was not the best
defined world amongst the myriad of universes.   Far from it in fact.
It was so disordered that even time itself was becoming a fading
ember.

Billions of years ago, two warring alien species had put aside their
difference just long enough to put together a failsafe.   They encoded
the entire genetic code of everything that existed on their planet
into a series of bio-microchips and left them on some nondescript
planet called Sol III.  Once these chips were on the planet they were
designed become basic life forms and wait for new orders.
Unfortunately sometime between 400 million and 100,000 years ago some
these chips malfunctioned and formed a species called Homo Sapiens
Sapiens.   Some people, like the aforementioned Don, Rick and Beth,
were more intoned with their true natures. *

So....


He came.   The unmaker of things.   He who unweaves tapestries.   The
Annihilator, The Destroyer.   The Anti-Moderator.

"No, this isn't the one.   It is dead weight, but it's not the world
I'm looking for," he muttered to himself.

The Anti-Moderator grabbed the walls of universe with his hands and
began to pull.   Literally ripping the reality in half, he crumbled it
up, shoved it in his pocket and forgot about it.


Flame Wars VI #-2
A Penny Game
By Jesse N. Willey
Plot By Martin Phipps and Jesse N. Willey

Sandra sat in her studio apartment in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  She
woke up in a sweat and screamed as if part of her had died.  She
scratched at her neuroimplant, and did a subspace radio check.   TJ
was still transmitting, which meant he was alive.  He might not be in
this dimension, but he was still alive.
"Just an awful dream," she said.

A dim fluorescent red glare exploded into the room.   The red and
black armored super hero called Virtronus slowly crawled out of the
light.  Steam evaporated off his body rapidly.   Sandra jumped her
feet.

"TJ?  Are you okay?" she said.
"Just peachy," he grumbled.
"It's been almost two years...  Where the hell have you been?  Did you
find Jason?" she asked.
"I've been here and I've been there and I've been inbetween," TJ said
with a chuckle.
"Not funny!" she yelled.
"Seriously, I-I think I just watched an entire universe die... but I
didn't find Jason," he said.
"Oh god, how did it happen?" she asked.
"I don't know.  I was hopping through the local cluster of universes,
and one of them just went nova," TJ said.
"Well, at least I got some good news for you.  Greptile and SPLoTcH!
came back," she replied.
"Good, two less missing super heroes to worry about," TJ said, as he
walked over to the fridge to get something to drink.
Sandra stared at TJ, and then toward her clock.   She then turned to
look back at TJ.
"Crap!  You have to change back to normal before Derek gets home.
It'll be hard enough explaining why my ex-boyfriend is here, let alone
a super human," she said.
"Ex-boyfriend?  Since when am I your EX-boyfriend?  Who's Derek?" TJ
said shifting back to his human form.
"Look, a lot of things happen in two years.  For almost a year, I
thought you were dead.   Then four months ago you started transmitting
again, and I knew this moment would come and I really didn't want it
too.   I-I still love about you... but Derek is more.."
"I understand..." Tj replied.
"By the way, you look like hell and you smell like the icky stuff
Greptile released when he molted.  You're as thin as a rake," she
replied.
"Feh... that.   Figures... I haven't gone back to this form in eight
months.   Perhaps I should shower," he replied.

       ********

Tango Deltorian of the Stellar Patrol Legion was the first to respond
to the accident.   It had taken a year for him to get there.  It was
another year before Admiral Praddock determined it was safe to enter
the remains of the solar system.   He shuddered, pondering the fate of
his former teammates.  If anyone could survive a star spontaneously
going from a yellow giant to a red dwarf, it would be them.

"Kid Saturn?   Kid Saturn?  Anybody there?" he screamed.
"Face it kid, the Saturn Brigade is dead," Praddock said.  "And may
Eris have mercy on their souls."

*****

The SUV sized ship landed in Net.ropolis with a soft swoosh.    Two
heroes arrived at the doors.   The doors did not open.   One of the
heroes grabbed hold of the side and tore the hull of the ship straight
off and went walking in.  The other simply waited.

"Honey, what's going on. Is something wrong?" came a voice from inside
the ship.
"Um... a just a little Mariah.  We got off at the wrong exit.   We're
being attacked by some the local superhuman authority," the man said.
"Cool, dad, can I see," said their son.
"Absolutely not.  I'm going to straighten this out, and this get us
back to onto the road," the man said.
"Oh, Stanley, surely there's no harm in letting him take a quick
look," she said.


   Mariah's eyes brightened as she turned around to look into the back
seats.  She spotted a super hero right in their transdimensional car.
He was dressed all in red except for his silver watch.

"Who is that?  I've never seen him in the newspapers before," little
Thomas said.
"Why that's... that's," she said.
"Blood Red.  I belong to a group called The Team," he said.  "Welcome
to future, Mister and Mrs. Griffin.   Unfortunately, due to a horrible
experience a few decades back, we are no longer accepting extra-tempro
dimensional immigrants at this time.   Try back later at an earlier
time, and perhaps we can find some way to help you," Blood Red said.
"Virtual, load the proper coordinates into the Griffin's computer."
"What?  I'd expect this type of behavior when you're Sarah/Patrick...
but not when you're like this.  I'm sorry, but protocol strictly
states that any immigrant ships entering after the year 2004 are to be
destroyed.  The sole exception is..."
"Code 1345," Blood Red replied.
"Oh..." Virtual replied.
"Yo, Reddie, you coming?" came a gruff cry.
"Coming Elektra," said Blood Red.



Elektra belongs to Tom Russell, but we kind of have an understanding
with this character.   The Anti-Moderator created by Martin Phipps.
Everything else created by Jesse N. Willey.

Brain-O ran through the ally.  He knew it was over.  He had to chance
to escape destruction.   He'd make his time.   He saw the
Cabbagewielder approach him.    He cursed himself.

"So, you still want to go through with this?" Brain-O
said.  "You want me to test you to make sure you are evil?"
"No, I want to make sure I'm a good tennis player," The
Cabbagewielder replied.
"What?  Really?" asked Wotana.
"No, you stupid bitch, I want to know if I'm evil!" The
Cabbagewielder yelled.
"How dare you!" she said.
"Shut up, I only you married you for status," The Cabbagewielder
replied.  "Now, as you were saying, Carter?"
"Well, I just can't see the logic of it.  I'm the most evil man in
the world.   Sure, I'd know if you were evil, but how could you trust
my judgement.   I lie through my teeth.  You'd be better off testing
your evilness one of the pure hearted and honest people in the world,"
Brain-O said.
"Are you saying I can't trust you?" The Cabbagewielder asked.

Carter snickered.  Wotana's eye shot a blast of hellfire.   Brain-O's
guts exploded out of his abdomen.    The Cabbagewielder turned to his
lover.

"You knew it was all for show, love?"
  "Of course," she said.  "You know bad cop worse cop routine
turns me on."
"Come dear, let's go find Henkerton," the Cabbagewielder said.


  Hell's Titans #-17
  A Flame Wars VI Tie-In
  Counting Cards
  By Jesse N. Willey

"Gack!  Damn you Nicole!" Roxanne yelled.

When the universe began there were two major forces, good and evil.
Once human beings came into existence a third force arose.   This was
called stupidity.   That was when things got a bit muddled.  Is a
horrendous act considered wrong if the person committing it did not
posses the intellect to know the act was wrong.

Rick took a seat on the couch with a grunt.   Roxanne made a
frustrated sigh before taking a seat next to him.     Rick turned his
head to face her.

"What'd she do this time?" Rick asked.
"She ruined my surprise for Sammy," Roxanne replied.
"How?"
"Well, Carolyn has this stupid tradition.   She lets him open one
present on Christmas Eve," Roxanne gasped.  "And because Nicole's was
wrapped in the biggest box, he assumed it would be the coolest thing
he was going to get."
"So, what's wrong with that?" Rick replied.
"She got him fifty cans of dog food," Roxanne replied.
"But Sammy doesn't have a..... oh," Rick said.
"So, why'd you come in here anyway?" Roxanne asked.
"I had to get away from Carolyn.,,," Rick replied.
"That kid sibling treatment wears on you after awhile, doesn't it,"
she said.
"Yeah."
"Me too.   Y'know what I was thinking?  Do you remember the time
Carolyn tried to fix us up?  If Multiple Personality Lass hadn't shown
up do you think you and I could have..." she said as she stretched out
her arms over him.   Rick hopped back.
"Um...  aren't you seeing Shaggy?" Rick replied.
"I was... but that kind of ended weeks ago," she said.  "I mean we're
still friends and everything it's just that we aren't, y'know, like
that."
"Umm... in that case, er ungh... I don't know," Rick responded.

Roxanne glanced over at the wall clock.   She reached into her
pocket, grabbed a hair tye, and put her hair into a ponytail.    She
then walked toward the door.

"Look, I gotta go to my apartment to pick up Sammy's
present," she said.
"You have an apartment?" Rick said.
      "Yeah, the space around here has been rather crammed since The
Team moved in.  I opted to for larger accommodations elsewhere," she
said.
"Oh..." Rick said.
"You can come with me if you want," she said.
"Now, Mrs. Winters, I think you're trying to seduce me," Rick said.

   ***********

The Cabbagewielder and Wotana watched with their binoculars.   Wotana
turned her head while the Vegetable Throwing One kept watching.
Wotana grunted.

"So, you like to watch?" she said.
"I'm only seeing how our hero works," the Cabbagewielder said.
"He doesn't look to heroic to me," Wotana replied.
"He's as close as they come these days."
"So, do we strike them now?" Wotana asked.
"Wait for it.... Wait for it..."

     ************

Roxanne hopped out of bed.   She quickly nudged the dog, who had
fallen asleep on her underclothes.    She put her clothes on and tried
not to wake Rick.   He grumbled and sat up.

"Where are you going?" Rick said.
"To drop the present off," Roxanne said.
"You'll be back, right?" Rick said
"Look, Rick... as fun as that was...." Roxanne said.
"... it can never happen again.   Capice, I got it," he said.
"All for the best really.   I wouldn't want to mess up your chances
with whatshername," Roxanne said.
"Oh, yeah that.   No real chance of that," Rick said.
  "I have about as much of a chance with her as the looser of an
illegal dog fighting match."
"Don't be too harsh on yourself.  You were..." she said

There was a bright flash of light.   The Cabbagewielder and Wotana
crashed through the window. The glass went sailing into the room.
The dog yelped.    Roxanne covered it.   Rick ducked behind a
table.

"Oh no!  You again!" Rick yelled as he caught a glimpse of the
Cabbagewielder.
"Oh no!  Not him again," Roxanne said.


   ************

The construct walked up to the building.   The word Teenfactor was
written in big letters.   It seemed like the last universe he was in,
with the building with Saunders written on it.   The master had seen
that world's fit for destruction.  Still, the construct thought this
would be a good a place as any to continue his quest.

"Please identify yourself!" The Computer said.
"Rargh!" the construct said.
"Access denied!"

The construct released another growl before shoving its fist through
the computer panel.   Within seconds, the construct had pried open the
door.   Klaxons blared in the hallway.     Terrence Coffe, who was at
the monitor board, stared at the screen in shock.   He quickly pushed
the red alert button.

"Both teams, we have an intruder.  Ready defensive positions," he
said.

          *************

  Rick looked around for an exit.    The dog yelped and headed for the
door.   Rick slowly crawled forward.  A wall a flame exploded from the
door.  Rick grabbed the dog.  Roxanne pushed a small button on her
communications card.

"Years ago you underestimated me.    Now you die!" The Cabbagewielder
replied.
"Rerun!" Roxanne said.

The Cabbagewielder grabbed her by the neck.   She had called for
help.  It should be a few more seconds, and her neighbor would arrive.
When they found out who lived next door, they would run for the
hills.    Just a few more seconds, and she would hear the snap of
splintering dry wall of her friend's arrival.   She heard a loud snap,
but it was not the sound of the walls.  It was her neck as it was torn
clean off her
shoulders.   Rick was so scared that he shat himself.

   *************

Divine heard the klaxon, but ignored it.   She created a bright
lightand began to transcend the mortal plane.     Nick turned.    He
had long since grown accostumed to his lover's magic, and truly divine
miracles seemed commonplace.

"Terrence has called a full alert!  Where are you?" Nick said.
"Other business.   Don't worry.  Those you meant to survive will
still live.  I've seen to that," Divine said.
"But..." Nick said.
"We just lost Roxanne.   Do you want to loose Rick as well?"  she
asked.
"Well no but..."
"I'll be back," she said as she vanished into the light.

   *************

The bright light exploded into the room.   Two demons
fell to their knees.   The Cabbagewielder thrust his staff into the
dog.      A strange shadow cast itself near Rick.

"Be gone foul creatures!" shouted Divine.
"Let me guess.... Our bait wasn't Henkerton," Wotana said.
"Bingo," The Cabbagewielder said.  "What do you know. We got the
verdict we hoped for.   Now the real fun begins."

A flame enveloped the two demons and they vanished.  Divine dimmed
her light, and the shadow grew stronger.  Rick could make out a figure
standing in the darkness.

"Things are not safe for you here.  Come with us if you want to
live," the figure said.
"Where have I heard THAT before," Rick commented.
"We're serious.  All the worlds are threatened if you don't come with
us," the shadow said.   "Help us find the chosen one."
"Rick, it's a trick.  That woman is a self serving witch.   In one
world she has done unspeakable things to you," Divine said.

Rick felt compelled to walk toward the shadow.  Something about its
presence felt inviting.   He stepped closer.

"Rick, don't do this," Divine replied.
"I... I..."

Before Rick could say another word, Divine discharge a mystic blast.
The shadow began to ripple.   The figure became more vague in
appearance.

"No worries, Divine, there is another," it said.

  With that Rick released a large gasp.


"You stay and talk with Detective Chesterfield when he arrives.   I
must get back to headquarters.   They have a crisis," Divine replied.
"Like I don't..." Rick said.

Much like other such occasions, Divine was already gone.

  To Be Continued...

How does this tie in to Flame Wars IV?
What is the construct?
Who is its deadly master?
      And who's the chick quoting Schwartzenager?


For answers to these questions read Flame Wars VI #-1.    For another
action thrill ride, be back here next time as Teenfactor battles the
construct.

  ______________________________________

Teenfactor characters created by Tom Russell and used
without permission, but this is quasi-elsewhirlish so
who cares.   Brain-O created by Sean Daugherty.   All
other characters are mine.

The Antimoderator strained.   There were far too many worlds to judge.
  He had lost track of how many of them there actually were.   An
infinite number multiplied by an infinite number of worlds all just
waiting for him take a peek at them, and if at all possible `review'
them.

"This would be easier if I had help," he thought.   "That's it.   I
will create agents.... The Headhunters. I will recruit untold legion of
minions across the worlds.   An inexhaustible horde that all worlds
have plenty of.   To enter my service is to embrace death!"


Hell's Titans #-16
Face Cards
A Flame Wars VI Tie-In
By Jesse N. Willey

Terrence looked at the small group that gathered around him.
Carolyn and Shaggy came right away.   That left only Roxanne from his
team that hadn't shown up.    The Team slowly staggered in.    Alison
looked a bit upset.  Sky had come with a utility belt full of
boomerangs.

"This is it?  Interior defense systems have this thing sealed in the
lobby, but who knows how long that will hold.   Where are Divine and
Roxanne?" Terrence replied.
"Divine went to handle some disturbance back at the Apartment.   She
said Roxanne was dead," Nick said
"CRAP!" Terrence said.  "Okay, here's the plan.  Carolyn, take the
new the Aero Woman suit that Rick built and get Sammy out of here.
We're gonna need cover fire.   Divine is not answer communication
card, I take it?"
"Yep," Nick said.
"Right, Alison, try to contact her telepathically.
Starless, you stay here and guard her. Patient Zero and Absurd Lass-
with me," Terrence commanded.
  "Righto, Cap'n," said Absurd Lass.
  "Lobby perimeter breached!" whined the computer.
"Let's go people!"

  *********

By the time Terrence reached the lobby there was a large cone shaped
hole in the floor.   It had been a genuine hole, but whatever had made
it had pulled large chunk of debris, and had only second before,
welding the crater shut at the bottom.  The ground around it was still
hot to the touch.

"What in the world could do that?" Patient Zero said.
"Let's see, from my experience it could be a demon, a
pyrokinetic, an evil android or an invincible undead killing machine,"
Absurd Lass replied.
"This is no time for joking," Terrence replied.
"C'mon, there always room for j-" Absurd Lass said.
"Carolyn and Sammy are down there," Terrence said.

  **********

Carolyn and Sky walked through the underground bunker that served as
The Team's headquarters.    This section of the base was designed by
the NSA to be indestructible.  Carolyn felt slightly comforted by this
fact.     The adrenaline didn't get pumped until the behemoth crashed
right thru the ceiling.   The alarms flashed.

"Threatcon Delta.   Warning, Threatcon delta," the computer warned.
"Oh shit!" Carolyn said.
"Mommy, you said a bad word!" Sammy yelled.
"Not now, Sammy," she whispered.

The monster looked toward them.   Carolyn walked toward the
hyperspatial corridor device.    The screen flashed a message about
how only Team members could access control panels during a threatcon
delta situation.  Sky rushed to the control panel.   He tried not to
blink as the retinal scanner took a shot of his eye.

"Waters, Sky, password 1-A, 2-B, 3-C," Sky said.

Sky turned around to see the monster directly behind them. He jumped
forward and threw a boomerang thru the creature's eye socket.   It
kept coming and threw Sky back against computer.  The portal opened,
and Carolyn pushed Sammy thru to the other side. Sparks began to fly
where Sky landed.

"Sky, get out of there," Carolyn screamed.
"Terrence said to protect you and Sammy, and I'll be damned if I
don't do just that," Sky yelled as he dodged a blow from the beast.
"I'm immortal, I can't get hurt.  Sammy's fine now," she
said.
"Not till I destroy the transport logs he's not.  Go... be with your
son.  I'll make it," he said as he luck held out yet again.  "I always
do."

Carolyn lept thru the portal.   Seconds later, as she
reached the other side she heard a loud explosion.

   ***************

Terrence and company entered the room just as the explosion occurred.
  Sky's limbs went flying off as shrapnel from the computer sliced
through him.    The monster simply shrugged it off.

"Oh my god!"   Patient Zero and Absurd Lass gasped.
"Where are my wife and son?" Terrence said.

The monster motioned toward the wreckage of the hyperspatial
corridor.   Terrence made a soft sigh of relief.   The creature
snarled again.

"They tried to escape my judgment.   The Lucky one.   He was brave.
He at least didn't flee from my master's wrath," The Monster said.

An unbelievable bright light burst into the basement.
   Divine stepped out.

"If it ever needed your judgment," Divine said softly.  "Observe the
truth which I have magically hidden from you."

The monster stared at her for a moment, as if to sniff the air with
his sixth sense.    The creature blushed and look rather ashamed of
itself.

"Oh, sorry.  I didn't realize what reality I was in.  This is the
Hive world, only a few weeks before my creation.     This is all a big
mistake," the creature said.   "The judgment has already been made,
and not by those like me.  I'm sorry for your needless loss."
"It is not your fault.  It part of our final
destiny," Divine said.
"If you were not what you are, I would smite you where you stand,"
the creature said.   "Headhunters do not like being tricked.  As it
is, I have another appointment."

The Headhunter vanished into a bright flash of light. Starless and
Alison stepped down the stairs.   It was obvious that they came to
report that they were able to reach Divine.

"Team MEETING!" Patient Zero said.  "In compliance with Team
constitution article two section six, I'd like to place on the table
an expulsion order for Divine."
"Seconded," Absurd Lass said.
"Overruled," Nick Starless said.
"On what grounds," Patient Zero said.
        "Maybe I should be leaving," Terrence whispered.   Patient
Zero motioned him to stay.
"I love..."
"Don't let your personal feelings factor into this.   She has
admitted to conspiring with some `higher being' to kill a fellow team
member," Patient Zero said.   "This qualifies for expulsion."
"Yeah, even I have my doubts about murder in the name
of God," Absurd Lass said.  "and we know how scatological I can be."
"Alison?" Starless replied.
"I agree with Sam," she said.
"Good, now that the matter is put to rest," Patient Zero said.   "I
resign from The Team to take a post on the now seriously under staffed
Teenfactor.   That is if Terrence will let me."
"Of course," he said.
"Hey wait, where thought goes, recklessness follows," Absurd Lass
said.
"Um... mind if I join up too?" Alison said.
"WHAT?  That leaves only me..." Nick said.

A bright light flashed. He and Divine vanished.

"Damn it, we forgot to cuff her," said Terrence.
"Not like it would have helped.  You do know who she works for,
right?" Absurd Lass said.  "It'd be like trying to lift a rock that's
so big you can't lift it."

   **************

Carolyn appeared in the Oval office.    An old bald man grumbled
softly.

"You see this proves it, Eric," the man said.  "The
Queen of England and Henry Kissinger are plotting with ID software to
undermine our country and kill me."
"Yes, Mister President," Eric said.

The portal shracked open.

"See!  They broke through or defenses!" The President screamed.
"Sorry about the interruption President Laroushe," Carolyn said.
"Do I know you?" he said.
"Yes.   I'm Carolyn Forge, of Teenfactor," she said.
"Ah, yes, the government sponsored super team that helped dethrone
the dictator of New Brunswick and helped the Red Cross commit Genocide
in Somalia," Lyndon said.
"Look, Mister Laroushe, have you seen a child around here?" she
asked.
"There are no children here.  And people call me delusional," he
said.
"WHERE IS MY SON?!" Carolyn screamed.




  To Be Continued in Flame Wars VI #-1

___________________________

       The Team characters created by Jesse N. Willey and are strictly
reserved.  Teenfactor characters created and reserved by Tom Russell.
I really don't think he'll mind


Flame Wars VI #-1
A Nickel and Dime Game
By Jesse N. Willey
Based (Loosely) on a Plot by Jesse N. Willey and
Martin Phipps

All her life, Electra wanted to die.   She hadn't had
much of a childhood.   She hadn't been able to help one of her best
friends.    Then came the bad times, when she tried to cure another
friend and ended up killing him.      Then the ruthless dictators who
experimented on her... gave her lightning powers and made her do
horrible things.     Then her entire reality died.  She got dragged
kicking and screaming to a new reality.  Here she had to deal with
Carolyn
Forge, the woman she could have become if fate had been kind.

That's what brought her to the ledge of the Empire State Building.
She had repulsed the guardrail with her lightning bolts.    It went
crashing down to the streets below.   She didn't know if it hit
anyone, and didn't care.   This was it.  Not like those other times.
This time she was going to do it. She crawled out to the ledge, and
took two steps off the ledge.   She began to fall.

Electra closed her eyes and blinked.  She looked around.   The normal
world had vanished and a mysterious steam that glowed in a strobe like
pattern surrounded her.   A teenaged girl emerged from the light.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Electra asked.
"Elektra, my name is Autumn.   You and I are going to save a
universe," the girl said.
"Yeah right.  Us and what army?" Electra replied.
"This one," Autumn said.

As the light cleared, Elektra saw she was in large meeting room in.
It the walls were cold and tiled and looked vaguely like a subway
tunnel.   Four other super heroes aside from Autumn were seated in
nearby chairs.   She did not recognize a single one of them, though
one of them had a slight resemblance to Brain Boy.

"What the--?" Electra said.
"Oh sorry, allow me to introduce some of my teammates," Autumn said.
First she pointed to a barely clothed teenaged girl who was built like
a model.  "This is Niceass."
"You really think so?   Cause I think it's a bit too big," the girl
said.
"And Lazarus Lass and Reincarnation Boy," Autumn
continued.
"We're met before... but I doubt she'd recognize us," Lazarus Lass said
with a distinctly male voice.
"I told you the body intended for me was on the left and the one for
you was on the right but did you listen to me...." said Reincarnation
Boy.   "NO... thanks to you we're stuck in the wrong bodies... dumbass."
"Let me guess... Patient Zero and Absurd Lass came back
from the dead?" Electra said.
"We're on loan from the afterlife," corrected Lazarus
Lass.
"Oh god, now I'm wondering what's in the Churros on
the L train," Electra said.
"I assure you this is all real," said the fourth member.
"And who are you?" Electra asked.
"You can call me Brain Man," he said.
"Look, just tell me where the hell I am so I can get out of here,"
she said.
"I'm sure our other three members will be more convincing," Brain Man
remarked.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out her communication card.
The beacon was blinking the words Sig.ago.  Steel doors in front of
her opened and a bright light emerged.  A woman in a light blue tank
top with a white lightning bolt down the cleavage line stood in the
doorway.   The woman had long brown hair, which even though she in her
mid thirties, had a small grey streak.  She tilted her head so that
her facial features were blurred.

   "You were about to say `Sig.ago?  That's impossible.  Nothing like
this exists in Sig.ago anymore'," the woman said.
  "And you are?" Electra said.
  "Erin Joy, sometimes called Electra..." she said.  "...though very long
ago I was known as Carolyn Forge."

  **************

The Antimoderator wandered the twists of worlds.    Finally, he
spotted the Earth he was looking for.   He would not destroy it.   At
this point in time, it was too useful.  It was full of the dead.   All
the titans of hell could not stop him from remaking them.

"Life on this world ended in January of 2000.   Mars is so under
populated that it isn't worth bothering with.  This will do for a
first take," he said.

The bodies of all those who died during the reign of The Cabbaged One
rose out of the group.    The Antimoderator smiled.

"What do you wish of us?" chanted the corpses.
"Travel the worlds.   Observe the superhumans.  Interact with them.
Cause trouble.   All I ask is that you bide me some time," he said.
"Yes, master," they chanted.

  *********

Tj slept on Sandra's couch.   The new guy was being very civil about
his presence.  If their positions were reversed, he wasn't sure he
would do the same.    After a few hours he got up.  Sandra was asleep.
  He left a note and walked out the door of her apartment.


Gaithersburg had changed very little since he left.  A large office
building filled the parking lot where he once fought some major super
villain.   There was now a Subway fast food joint a block away from
city hall.    Many of these changes had occurred on other worlds he
had visited.   He hoped the old meeting spot was still there.    He
walked toward the Old Town Shopping Center.
   It was a two story building with four or five stores lining each
floor.

He climbed to the second floor.   There had once been
a comic store up there, but it collapsed in the late nineties when one
their competitors moved to the mall.
   Truth be told, it hadn't been a great comic store.  They had great
50 cent books which during the final months a had become dime boxes.
  Of course, the entire comics market had to reshift itself during the
90s.    Superheroes were a commonly accepted fact.   Why buy a comic
for several dollars when you could get USA Today for twenty five
cents?

Two men in trenchcoat waited in the metal hallway.

"Greeting, gentelemen and I use the termly loosely," Tj said.
"Hey Teej.   Long time no see.    What's shakin man?  Greps kinda mad
you woke him up.  He's supposed to a contestant on Elimidate
tomorrow," SPLoTcH! Said.
"Shut up!" Greptile yelled.
"Sandra you said went to another reality.   What was it like?" Tj
said.
"You wouldn't like it.  Silly named cities.   People with even
sillier names," Greptile said.   "Eating cheesecake was considered a
super power."
"Absurd Lass was hot," SPLoTcH! replied.
  "Any sign of Jason?" Tj asked.
"Nope," SPLoTcH! said.  "But Teej... you're looking
good.   You look like you taken off thirty pounds.  The beard looks
cool too.  I grew a goatee for awhile, but some girl at a club thought
it looked stupid... so I took it off and put it in my pocket.   When I
went to put it back on, it was gone."
"Look, I've got this weird feeling that something strange is going on
within the myriad of worlds.  I must take my leave," Tj said.

   He charged up his Cybernet powers and vanished into
thin air.

           **********


  In another universe and a few months in the future,
Miss TranslaXXXion called her friend into the room.

"Why did you call me now here?"
"Children of two there are," replied Miss TranslaXXXion.
"What? Is this about the time we... y'know?"
"Not one is only.  I will be having the expulsion of two in four
months.   You be understanding?"
"I think so."

A child, no more than three years old, walked into
the room.

"Where did he come from?"
  "Tell you me not means not knowing."
"We'd better get him down to someone who knows stuff."

   To Be Continued...

Electra created by Tom Russell.   Autumn Gully, Lazarus Lass and
Reincarnation Boy,  Tj, Splotch, Shadowfire and Greptile created by
Jesse N. Willey.  Brain Man is the LNH2 version of Brain Boy created
by
Sean Daugherty.  Antimoderator and Mrs. Translaxxxtion created by
Martin Phipps.


Tango Deltorian floated in the deepest end of the Sol system.
Something emerged from the dust of the asteroid field.  As it came
into focus it looked human shaped.   It wore an intricate spandex
outfit with the letters LNH on its belt.

"Graa!  Your world was judged a long time ago.  Why won't you die!"
the man screamed.
"What are you?"
"I am the Ultimate Headhunter!"

Ultimate Headhunter flipped his wrist a sword jetted out from nowhere.
  Before Tango could blink, the sword was sticking out of his gut.

"Why?  Why are you doing this?"
"Judgment complete.   Now all is left is for the master to come and
clean up the mess," The Ultimate Headhunter said.

Flame Wars VI #0
Bigger Stakes
By Jesse N. Willey and Martin Phipps

The Team Headquarters, 2017

Autumn looked around the table.  They had plenty of work to do.
Despite her normal means of transportation, they had a limited amount
of time to get it done in.   She pushed a button and four holographic
images hovered over the table one was a little boy, the second, the
second was man made of some sort of black and silver armor like flesh,
the third was some sort golem, was an image that kept flickering.

"Who are those people?" Niceass asked.
"The Golem is Team founding member Guardian Knight," said
Reincarnation Boy.
"The kid looks like Sammy Coffee," Electra said.
"Who?" most of them echoed.
"Her... er... my... Our counterpart from this reality's son," Erin said.
"Long story.   Really, really really long story."
"These four people are the ones that conspiracy theorists over the
past fourteen years have thought might be the super hero known as
Excess," Autumn said.
"Who?" they echoed.
"It's better that you don't know," she said.  "Anyway, I'm going to
send you to the proper times and realities to protect the possible
heroes.    Electra, Erin and Brain Man... you go back and look for
Guardian Knight.     Reincarnation Boy, Lazarus Lass, and Niceass--you
go looking for Sammy.    I'll track down Red and then go look for our
mystery person."
"What about the armored guy?  You have nobody covering that one,"
said Electra.   "What if he's the one?"
"I have a feeling somebody is out there looking for him." Autumn
replied.

  **************

Virtronus phased through the mists of time, space and otherness as he
had done many times before.   Millions of worlds passed by him.   He
was pretty sure they weren't what he was looking for.   Some of the
worlds he had visited.  Most of these were variations on a theme.
The same people only in Roman times, or worlds where someone else was
using the protomatter Cybernet forms.    On some other worlds the
variations weren't even that big.   He once encountered a reality
where a local university served chili on Wednesday instead Thursday.

A small metallic orb flew toward him.

"Protomatter dimensional vibration pattern confirmed.   Genetic
makeup:  Match," the orb said.
"The hell?" Virtronus said.
"Engaging Tractor beam," said the orb nonchalantly.
"Gack!  Where are you taking me?" yelled Virtronus.
"All will be revealed shortly," the orb replied.

  **************

Vincent Stomper looked at the results of the test on the child Miss
Translation brought in.   Why she was wearing almost no costume, he
didn't know.   Still, New Look Lass worked on just about everyone
else.  It was only a matter of time.

"Well, Miss Translation, this kid shows signs consistent with
absorption of high level of tachion radiation.   It could be signs of
some sort of temporal or dimensional travel," Stomper replied.
"Improper Linguistics?  Am this who? Through X three I am," said
Miss. Translaxxtion.
"New Look Lass give you a new name to go with the clothes?" Stomper
asked.
"WhatyoutalkingaboutWillis?" Miss TranslaXXXtion replied.
"I might be working too hard," Stomper said.
"Time some later see," Miss TranslaXXXtion said.

Mrs. TranslaXXXtion walked off.    A man who appeared to be
half-human and half Dorf came out from the back area of the Lab.    He
was wearing a blue and grey Legion uniform.

"Yo!  Vinnie, need help," the man said.

                 Stomper looked even more befuddled.

  "Who are you?" Stomper asked.
"Frig-nass it, Vinne.  It's me.... Vel.  Your lab assistant?  Remember?
  We met on the haven planet.   I helped you beat Cute Anna's
sister.....," he said.
"What?" Stomper said.
"How are you and Carina doing by the way?   You two were pretty tight
there for awhile...." Vel said.

Carina Paschall... Sing Along Lass.    Stomper tried not thinking about
her.   He couldn't get her, and what happened between them, out of his
mind.  He knew it didn't happen... and never could happen.   As for Vel...
he had no memory of him at all.

  **************

wReamHack couldn't believe the reports that were coming in.  Suddenly
it  seemed as though the neta.human population of Looniearth had
suddenly  doubled.  He got up from his chair in the LNH HQ Monitoring
Room and made his way through the passageway that lead to the Central
Control Centre.   There he saw Irony Man and the Ultimate Soldier who
apparently were also  monitoring the same reports.

  "Is there a reason why you've deserted your post, legionaire?" the
Ultimate Soldier asked him.
   "I think this deserves our immediate attention," wReamHack told
them.   "It's about Dr. Phipps.  There are reports that he's somehow
managed to escape from his cell at Alt.ham Asylum!"
   Irony Man cringed under his face plate.  "I'm not looking forward
to
another battle with Deja Hulk!"
   Ultimate Soldier mused for a moment.  "I'm beginning to think that
things are not necessarily what they seem."  He did a quick search of
his own  and then addressed wReamHack directly.  "Is there any reason
to believe  that Dr. Phipps could be both in Alt.ham Asylum and, at
the same time, walking  the streets of Net.ropolis?"
   "What do you mean?" wReamHack asked.
   Ultimate Soldier sighed.  "His cell at Alt.ham Asylum was supposed
to  be inescapable.  There haven't been any reports of a breakout at
the asylum... and yet here he is walking around Net.ropolis in that...
bright multicoloured costume."  Ultimate Soldier called up an image of
the man in question onto the main viewer as he spoke.
   "Where did he get those clothes?" Irony Man asked in amazement.
   "There's something screwy going on," Ultimate Soldier realized.  "I
can't quite put my finger on what."
   "Thou dost protest too much!" Kid Shakespeare told them.  "For all
the world is a stage and we are all but players who just act out our
trifling lives and then exit.  It dost signify nothing."
  Irony Man leaned forward and whispered to his boss.  "I think you're
right, US.  I mean, look, first Phipps and now Kid Kirby.  What's
with these sissy costumes that everybody seems to be wearing?"

   ****************
TJ continued whining till the orb dragged him to a tropical island,
complete with sunshine, floating on nothing.   If his protomatter form
had eyelids, they would have been wide open.    What little he knew
about transdimensional physics said this couldn't happen.  Even if the
land could move, there was no way the plants could survive.

"Can I get my explanation now?" Virtronus asked.
"Tj, ol' buddy, I knew you'd make it," same a bellowing voice.
"Jason?" he asked.


To Be Continued....



Oddball LNH created by Ken Schmidt.  Society of Net.Heroes and Miss
TranslaXXXtion  created by Martin Phipps.  Electra, Sammy Forge, and
Erin Joy created by Tom Russell.   Brain Man is the LNH2 counterpart
of Brain Boy (created by Sean Daugherty).  Sing Along Lass created by
Drizzt.  New Look Lass created by Charles Fitzgerald.   Cybernet
Characters, Reincarnation Boy, Lazarus Lass, Blood Red, Guardian
Knight, Autumn Gully and Vel created by Jesse N. Willey.

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