Where Have All The Heroes Gone: #4 - Task Force

[Paragon Avenger]

“Ok, so what are we going to do with these clowns?”  Super Fire Dragon asked.
“Well, we must defeat them so that they don’t tell nobody that Ms. Liberty is a guy in drag.”  Rare Earth said.
“I thought he had gotten the complete treatment.  She is awfully convincing.” Necrophillia said.
“That is a good question, is he pre-op or post-op?”  Vince dastardly wondered.
“Yeah, it’s the kind of thing you wonder about, but then you realize that you really don’t want to know.”  Ice Mannix offered.
“Ice is right, for a change, we should just offer his choice and live and let live.”  Rare Earth suggested.
“Hey, what do you mean, ‘for a change’?”  Ice Mannix demanded.
“Don’t take it personally, deary, but you’re not the sharpest bulb on the Christmas light string.”  Kolissa explained.
“I think we’re getting side tracked here.  With those outfits she wears, she has to be post.” Marshal Darkness said.
“Have you been looking at Ms. Liberty behind my back?”  Rare Earth accused Marshal Darkness.
“Well, I …”  Marshal Darkness started.
“Listen, you best be keeping your nose and eyes on this prize.  If you know what’s good for YOU.”  Rare Earth threatened.
“She’s not even a woman.  Come on, Melissa.”  Marshal Darkness pleaded.
“Well technically and legally, if he’s post operative, I think he’s a woman now.”  Necrophillia offered.
“I wonder how Statesman took the news when his nephew turned into his niece.”  SFD wondered.
“You know, kids these days do all kinds of crazy things.  They are getting tattoos, piercings, and sex-change operations.”  Kolissa said flippantly.
“Yeah, it’s like they are crying out for attention.”  Vince dastardly said.
“It’s this whole ‘me’ generation thing.  Everybody is so wrapped up in themselves that nobody cares or notices outrageous stuff anymore.” 
“It’s like the other day; I was at the grocery store.  I saw some perfectly healthy jerk park in the handicap stall.”  SFD said, “I had to chase down that wheelchair to give that jerk a piece of my mind.”
“I don’t think you should have done that, deary, I don’t believe that you can spare it.”  Kolissa said.
“Speaking of jerks in wheelchairs, shouldn’t we check-in with Ms. Liberty?”  Necrophillia said.
“Why do you hate me?”  Kolissa asked.
“I think it’s sooo funny when you get him screaming over the communicator.”  Necrophillia said laughing.
“Ok, first, let’s refer to Ms. Liberty as ‘she’.  I don’t want to accidently call her a guy in front of the wrong company.”  Vince dastardly said.
“Yeah, ok.  I like it when you get ‘her’ yelling and screaming into the communicator.”  Necrophillia said making those quotation marks in the air with her fingers.
“And second, how does a jerk in a wheelchair remind you of Ms. Liberty.  ‘She’ is neither.”  Vince Dastardly asked also making quotation marks with his fingers.
“Well, I would explain, but Rare Earth will probably say, ‘Eeeewww’ again.”  Necrophillia said.
“Eeeewwww!”  SFD said.
“What is it, Dragon?”  Vince dastardly asked.
“My imagination is probably worse than whatever Necrophillia was thinking.”  SFD explained.
“Uh, probably not.”  Necrophillia countered.
“You know, this talk about guys becoming chicks and whatever Necrophillia does for kicks, is starting to turn my stomache.  Can we change the subject, please?”  Ice Mannix said.
“Sorry, Ice.”  SFD apologized.
“Yes, let’s talk about Ms. Liberty’s Alzheimer’s.  Maybe that’s why ‘she’ you know.”  Kolissa said making quotation marks with her fingers.
“She got confused one day and asked to be made a woman.  That makes sense.”  Vince dastardly said.
“Poor thing, what she must be going through.”  Rare Earth said.
“Come to think of it, does anybody know Ms. Liberty’s first name?”  Necrophillia asked.
“I do.  It’s Ms.”  SFD offered.
“Deary, the grown ups are talking.  Please be quiet.”  Kolissa said condescendingly.
“Yeah, shut up, Dragon.”  Ice Mannix yelled.
“Hey, I got an idea.  Let’s fight these Carnival of Shadows freaks to take our minds off of the suffering Ms. Liberty.”  Vince dastardly suggested.
“Great idea.  I love this plan.  Lead on, Dragon.”  Marshal darkness said.
“No.”  SFD replied calmly.  “You guys were mean to me.”
“Awww, Dragon.”  Rare earth said.
“I take back half the mean things I said about you, behind your back.  With my fingers crossed.”  Necrophillia said trying to confuse the dragon.
“Alright, Dragon, you win.  I’ll buy you some cheese when this is over.”  Kolissa said.
“No!  Kolissa!  You mustn’t get off the wagon.  You gave up cheese.”  Necrophillia said.
Kolissa shot her with a poison dart.

[Paragon Avenger]

“I can’t believe you did that.  Thanks, by the way, but I can’t believe you did that.”  Ice Mannix said to Kolissa after she had shot Necrophillia with a poison dart.
“Necrophillia, are you alright?”  Rare Earth asked.
“Never better.”  Necrophillia moaned and collapsed.
“Anybody got a wakie, for Necrophillia?”  SFD asked.
“The hospital is across the street, and besides, well, you know.”  Vince dastardly said.
Necrophillia disappeared as she was transported to the nearest hospital.
“Shall we wait?”  Marshal Darkness asked.
“Well, we can differently use her zombies.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Hey, is that a crack about my tanking?”  SFD accused.
“Dragon, why are you so touchy?”  Kolissa asked.
“You guys have been picking on me ever since we started this lousy task force, and it’s starting to tick me off.”  SFD complained.
“Awww, come here, Dragon.  Let me give you a hug.”  Rare earth said.
“I thought you were afraid of the giant lizard?”  SFD snapped.
“Now, Dragon, calm down.  We all like you.  Well, except for Ice, but you’re fire; he’s ice.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Yes, Dragon.  I like you.  I think you’re a dim witted sub-humanoid, but I like you.”  Kolissa offered.
“That means a lot coming from you.”  SFD said with a tear in his eye.
Just then the doors burst open.  It was Necrophillia and 6 zombies.
“Attack my target!”  Necrophillia screamed.
The zombies dutifully obeyed and attacked Kolissa.
Recovering from a zombie slap, Kolissa sprung to her feet and fired off a confuse aura.
The zombies suddenly turned into the 3 stooges.  One of them even said, “Oh, a wise guy.”
Necrophillia attacked Kolissa and sent her to the hospital.
“She drugged me, kidnapped me, and now shot me with a poison dart.  I got riled.”  Necrophillia said.
“You get riled with style, girlfriend.”  Rare Earth said.
“So what did I miss?”  Necrophillia asked.
“Oh Ice getting under the dragon’s skin.”  Rare Earth answered.
“Ice!  Leave the dragon alone.  He’s our friend.”  Necrophillia commanded.
“Ok, Ok, whatever you say, nice lady.”  Ice Mannix replied a bit frightened by Necrophillia.
Just then the doors burst open.  It was Kolissa.
“Ok, I deserved that.  If you do it again, there won’t be enough cheese in the world to stop me from getting my revenge.”  Kolissa said.
“I don’t know if I should be offended or scared, or start laughing.”  Necrophillia said confused.
“Confusion still works.”  Kolissa said.
“Kolissa, you still got it.”  SFD said.
“Thanks, Dragon.”  Kolissa said.
“Ok, I say we start this task force, before somebody gets hurt.”  Rare Earth said.
“Pretty and smart.  You are the complete package.”  Marshal darkness said to Raer Earth.
“Eeeewwww.”  Necrophillia said.
“Come on let’s go.  Dragon lead the way, I’ll call out the turns.”  Vince dastardly said becoming invisible.
Super Fire Dragon started walking and walked right into a wall.
“Dragon!  What are you doing?”  Kolissa asked in a strained whisper.
“Vince didn’t say to turn.” SFD said.
“Dragon, avoid running into things.”  Vince Dastardly recommended.
“Now he tells me.”  SFD said.
“It was assumed, deary that you knew how to walk.”  Kolissa quipped.
“Well, I was just trying to be a team player, you know.”  SFD defended.
“Ok, turn right at the end of the hall.”  Vince said quietly.
“Right is the only way we can go at the end of the hall.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Ice, after what just happened, maybe Vince should state the obvious.”  Necrophillia said.
When the reached the end of the hall, they turned right and saw a big room with several groups of Carnival of Shadows members.
“It’s about time you guys showed up, been worried sick about you.”  A Bronze Strongman said as he charged into the heroes.

[Paragon Avenger]

“How odd, we weren’t concerned for your well being at all.”  Ice Mannix said as he landed a right upper cut to the chin of the Bronze Strongman.
“Now, Ice.  That isn’t nice.”  Rare Earth said.
“Yes, Mr. Bronze Guy, I was hoping you would join my team.”  Necrophillia said as she unleashed her zombies on the Carnival of Shadows.
“You guys really should make our hosts feel more appreciated.  I’ll have some tea, while you’re up.”  Kolissa said firing her poison darts.
“One tea coming right”  The Bronze Strongman said right before he collapsed.
“That was fun.  See what happens when we work as a team?”  Super Fire Dragon asked.
“Yeah, we do all the work and you stand around looking stupid.”  Ice Mannix said to the dragon.
“Ice!  That’s not very nice.  Super Fire Dragon can’t help looking stupid.”  Necrophillia said.
“Hey!”  SFD replied.
“It’s all right, deary we still love you.”  Kolissa cooed.
“Help!  A giant lizard!”  Rare Earth yelled.
“Thanks, Melissa.  And I love you too Kolissa.”  SFD responded.
“I love you too, Dragon.”  Ice Mannix said puckering up and reaching for SFD.
“Eeewww!”  SFD said.
Everybody laughed.
“Quit your clowning, and start working on these clowns.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Hey, maybe you should call Ms. Liberty and report.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Hey, yeah.”  Kolissa said.  “Task Force Arrow calling HQ, come in HQ, this is Blue Lightning calling Ms. Liberty.”  Kolissa said into her two-way communicator wristwatch.
“Kolissa!  So did you guys stay inside the fricking warehouse this time?”  Ms. Liberty said over the Kolissa’s two-way communicator wristwatch.
“Yes.  Super Fire Dragon is leading us and Vince dastardly is our guide.”  Kolissa replied to Ms. Liberty via the communicator device.
“Excellent!  Sounds like a plan.  Any sign of the Carnival of Shadows.”  Ms. Liberty sounded cheerful over the communicator device.
“Indeed.  We have met the enemy and it is ourselves.  Kolissa out.”  Kolissa said into the communicator.
“What?  No.  Wait!”  Ms. Liberty said over the communicator right before Kolissa shut it off.
“That will keep her guessing.”  Kolissa giggled.
“Damb, girl you are a joker.”  Rare Earth said admiringly.
“Everybody, shut off your communicators to HQ.  We are going to prank Ms. Liberty hard.”  Necrophillia said.
After the team had adjusted their communicators, they began again venturing into the warehouse.
They fought group after group of Carnival of Shadows to the point of it being boring.
“Ok, here’s the tricky part.”  Vince Dastardly said.  “One of these doors leads to the boss.  The other leads to the alligator holding tank.”
“Are they alligators or crocodiles?”  SFD asked
“What’s the difference”  Vince asked.
“Crocodiles have long, narrow, V-shaped snouts, while those of alligators are wider and U-shaped.”  SFD said.
“I meant, ‘What difference does it make?’”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Well, to another alligator or crocodile of the opposite sex, it makes a whole lot of difference.”  SFD answered.
“I meant, ‘What difference does it make to this task force team here and now?’”  Vince dastardly responded trying to hold in his anger and frustration.
“Well, why didn’t you say so?”  SFD asked risking his life.
“So, Vince which door is which?”  Necrophillia said coming to the dragon’s rescue.
“That’s the thing.  Each time it changes.”  Vince Dastardly said calming down.
“Oh my.  Can you stealth it?”  Kolissa asked.
“Yes, but when I open the door it will get the reptile’s attention.”  Vince dastardly said.
“So everybody move back.”  Rare earth interrupted.
“Exactly.”  Vince dastardly replied.
“Come on, Dragon move back out of the line of sight of the door.”  Marshal darkness said.
“But I want to find out if they are alligators or crocodiles.”  SFD insisted.
“Well gators are native to Florida and crocs are native to Africa and Australia.  Rhode Island is closer to Florida.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Yes, considering shipping costs.  Let’s go with gators.  Ok?”  Necrophillia said.
“Now can we get on with it, Dragon.”  Ice Mannix asked.
“You guys are just guessing.”  SFD said.
“Dragon!”  Kolissa said aiming her wrist dart gun at him.
“And it works for me.”  SFD said quickly backing away from the doors.

[Paragon Avenger]

Vince Dastardly opened the first door.  The room had a bunch of hungry crocodiles or alligators.  Who cares, just close the door.  Vince closed that door and the team formed up on the second door.
“Ok, does everybody know the plan?”  Vince dastardly asked.
“Of course, we’ve done this sort of thing a million-billion times.”  Super Fire Dragon said rolling his eyes.
“The dragon is right, this game is monotonous.”  Ice Mannix said.
“You know, Farmville on Facebook looks kind of interesting.”  Necrophillia said.
Everybody looked at Necrophillia.
“Well, I don’t always just play with zombies.”  Necrophillia said.
“Yes, but Farmville?”  Marshal Darkness asked in surprise.
“Well there are other games, like Candy Crush, we could play.”  Kolissa offered.
“’Taste the Power of Candy!’, Kolissa?”  Rare Earth asked.
“Well it was just a thought.”  Kolissa explained.
“Second Life could be interesting.”  SFD suggested.
“I’ve heard that Champions Online is a lot like this, but different.  It might make a change of pace.”  Vince dastardly said.
“I would rather go in a completely new direction.”  Ice Mannix said.
“So, Star Trek Online?”  SFD asked.
“Dragon, I’m not stupid.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Hey, STO is not stupid.  I play it from time to time.”  Kolissa confused.
“Let’s not fight over which game is stupider than which.  They are all stupid.”  Rare Earth said.
“What do we do now?”  SFD asked.
“Is there anything good on TV?”  Vince dastardly asked.
“TV is so passive.  I want to DO something.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“We could go camping.”  Necrophillia suggested.
“That is so campy, deary.”  Kolissa said.
“We could have a costume contest.  Theme: best looking dragon!  I win.”  SFD said.
“No, Dragon!”  Ice Mannix shouted.
“Fool, Dragon.  We need something we all can do.”  Rare Earth admonished Super Fire Dragon.
“How about gathering exploration badges from all the zones.”  Kolissa asked.
“Been there; done that.”  SFD replied.
“Does everybody have the Atlas Medallion?”  Necrophillia asked
“I have all 4 accolades.”  Marshal Darkness responded.
“Me too.” Vince dastardly said.
“Hey, we could go water-boarding.”  SFD suggested.
“Dragon, water-boarding is a torture technique.  Not a game.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Maybe he means wind-surfing.”  Vince dastardly said.
“Nope, I was thinking about the torture thing.  I thought it was like musical chairs.”  SFD explained.
“I know, we could go to the Arena and let Ice and SFD settle their differences.”  Necrophillia said.
“I like that plan.”  Kolissa said.
“Yeah, maybe we could get something done without those two constantly bickering.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Wait a minute.  I want to beat the cheese out of the dragon as much as the next guy, but I stink at PvP.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Not just PvP there, Ice.”  SFD said.
“Why you.”  Ice Mannix said as he made it rain ice above Super Fire Dragon.
“Ice, no!”  Rare Earth exclaimed.
Super Fire Dragon used his combustion power to melt away the ice rain.  Unfortunately, it also caught the door on fire.
“Great, just great.”  SFD said.
“Do you see what you just did, Ice?”  Rare Earth complained.
“Me?  It was that stupid dragon who set the door on fire.”  Ice Mannix explained.
“Yes, but you made him do it.”  Necrophillia said.
“Better get out the zombies.”  Marshal Darkness advised.
Both Marshal Darkness and Necrophillia summoned their zombies.
Kolissa fired off confusion, and the zombies began fighting with each other.
“Kolissa, you fool!”  Necrophillia yelled.
“Kolissa, why did you do that?”  Marshal Darkness asked.
“I love to see zombies itch slap each other.  It’s hysterical.”  Kolissa explained it all.
“It is funny.”  SFD said laughing.
“Yeah, you probably don’t see it, because they’re your zombies.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“This is the most fun I’ve had on this task force team, so far.”  Rare Earth stated.

[Paragon Avenger]

The burning door collapsed with a bang.
“Heroes!  I might have known.”  Giovanna Scaldi a Carnival of Shadows A/V said.  “You have no regard for personal property.  That door has been in my family for generations.”
“Well, maybe a nice pocket door would work there.”  Super Fire Dragon said.
“Sliding doors are cool, but how about using strings of beads as a walkthrough curtain.  I like those.”  Necrophillia suggested.
“A nice set of accordion doors would go nicely, deary.”  Kolissa said.
“Ooo, I always liked those half doors, where you can open the top and leave the bottom closed.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Let’s think outside the box here.  How about a windbreak wall in front of the doorway?  That way, you just walk around the wall and through the doorway; hands free operation.”  Vince Dastardly said
“No!  We are not doing any of those stupid ideas.  You will replace my door, but first you will pay for this intrusion.”  Giovanna Scaldi insisted.
“How much does intrusion cost these days?”  SFD asked.
“Seize them!”  Giovanna Scadi ordered.
Just then a group of Carnival of Shadows Master Illusionists appeared.  Kolissa cast confusion.  Necrophillia summoned her zombies and ordered them to attack.  SFD rushed in to get their attention and used breath of fire of them.  Ice Mannix shot them with ice blast cooling off the effects of breath of fire.  Rare Earth encased the Master Illusionists in rock so that they couldn’t escape or charge.  Marshal Darkness summoned his zombies and ordered them to attack.  Vince Dastardly used stealth and assassins strike to arrest one of the illusionists.  The zombies slapped the illusionists.  The Master Illusionists didn’t get a chance to use their mental powers.  Giovanna Scaldi saw that the battle was lost and escaped by teleporting to another hideout.  The team didn’t notice her departure, and they continued fighting the Master Illusionists.  After the last illusionist had been arrested, the team looked around and saw that Giovanna wasn’t there.
“Great, just great.  The A/V is gone.”  SFD said.
“Oh man.”  Ice Mannix exclaimed.
“Drat!  Foiled again.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Who talks like that?”  Necrophillia asked.
“When your name is ‘Dastardly’ certain things are expected of you.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Ok, ok, call Ms. Liberty and report.”  SFD ordered.
“Task Force Arrow aka Blue Lightning calling Ms. Liberty.  Come in, please.”  Kolissa said into her two-way communicator wristwatch.
“Kolissa?  Did you guys turn off your communicators during a mission?”  Ms. Liberty said via the communicator.
“Ummm, no, deary, it must have been a technical glitch.”  Kolissa said to her communicator.
“Uh huh.  Ok, what is this business about the enemy being your selves?”  Ms. Liberty asked over the communicator.
“Oh that, heheh, Super Fire Dragon made me do it.”  Kolissa lied.
“Liar!”  SFD shouted.
“Whatever, so are you calling to tell me that you arrested the Carnival of Shadows leader?  Please, please.”  Ms. Liberty begged over the communicator.
“Not exactly.”  Kolissa said into the communicator.
“If you have left that warehouse again, I’m going to go down there and … “  Ms. Libert threatened via the communicator.
“No, silly, we arrested everybody here.”  Kolissa interrupted using her communicator.
“What?  That’s excellent news.  What about the leader?”  Ms. Liberty asked through the communicator.
“Giovanna Scaldi teleported away while we were battling her guards.”  Kolissa reported via her two-way communicator wristwatch.
“Ok, I think I know where she might have gone.”  Ms. Liberty said over the communicator.  “Give me a couple minutes to put the mission together.”
“Blue Lightning standing by.”  Kolissa said into her communicator.
“Does this mean what I think it means?”  Rare Earth asked.
“Yup!”  SFD said.
“Sorry, babe we got to do this all over again.”  Marshal Darkness answered for SFD.
“Ok, Kolissa I sent the next mission details.”  Ms. Liberty said via the communicator.
“Got it, Ms. Liberty this mission wasn’t a total lost.  We did manage to burn up a door that Giovanna said had been in her family for generations.”  Kolissa said into the communicator.
“Great, Blue Lightning: The Destroyers of Doors.”  Ms. Liberty said over the communicator.  “Anyway, good job, team.  You took your time getting started, but you pulled through.”
“Task Force Arrow, out.”  Kolissa said into her two-way communicator wristwatch as she shut it off.
“I say we open the other door, and make sure that they are gators.”  SFD suggested.
“No!  Dragon.”  Necrophillia said.
“Fool dragon”  Rare Earth commented.

[Paragon Avenger]

“So what do we do now?”  Necrophillia asked.
“We exit and go to the next mission.”  Kolissa answered.
“But what about this mess?”  Rare Earth inquired.
“Just leave it for the janitor.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“He’ll have a coronary!”  Vince Dastardly replied.
“I still want to open that other door.”  Super Fire Dragon informed the team.
“Dragon, if you open that door, the alligators will attack.”  Ice Mannix said.
“And we will be forced to kill them, I mean arrest them.”  Rare Earth said.
“That’s just not fair to the alligators.”  Necrophillia said.
“Oh, I guess you’re right.”  SFD said.
“I’ll take you to the zoo when this task force is finished.”  Kolissa said.  “But only if you behave.”
“Awww, I never get to have any fun.”  SFD said.
“Will you two stop role playing; you’re making me sick.”  Ice Mannix said.
“So what is the next mission?”  Marshal Darkness asked.
“Probably more Carnival.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“I’m kind of tired of fighting the Carnival of Shadows.  What else is there?”  Necrophillia asked.
“Hey, I have a leftover holiday mission.”  SFD said.
“Rescue the baby new year?”  Rare Earth asked.
“I don’t know, that’s even more tired than the Carnival.”  Necrophillia said.
“Hey, we could check the police scanner.”  Vince Dastardly suggested.
“No need for that.”  Kolissa offered.  “The next mission isn’t the Carnival per se.”
“Really?  I thought that we were chasing Giovanna.”  Ice Mannix stated.
“The next mission is in the Freakshow base.”  Kolissa said.
“Why would Giovanna be in the Freakshow base?”  Necrophillia asked.
“Maybe Ms. Liberty goofed.”  SFD said.
“Of course, her Alzheimer’s is acting up again.”  Rare Earth said.
“The poor thing, she sent us the wrong mission.”  Necrophillia sympathized.
“Ms. Liberty was one of the greats, now she’s all but crazy.”  Marshal Darkness lamented.
“Call her up and offer our help.”  SFD said.
“Task Force Arrow calling Ms. Liberty, come in please.”  Kolissa said to her two-way communicator wristwatch.
“Kolissa, why are you calling?  Are you guys at th Freakshow HQ?”  Ms. Librty asked over the communicator.
“About that, why are we suppose to go to the Freakshow base?  We were chasing Giovanna Scaldi of the Carnival of Shadows, over.”  Kolissa asked using her two-way communicator wristwatch.
“Kolissa, you know this is a PTT system, you don’t have to say over or come in or anything like that.  It’s kind of like a telephone.”  Ms. Liberty said via the communicator.
“This is worse than I thought.  Ms. Liberty now thinks she’s a telecommunications expert.”  SFD said.
“Statesman’s nephew, cut down in her prime.”  Rare earth said.
“Melissa, I heard that!  I’m not a transsexual, and Statesman was my grandfather not my uncle.”  Ms. Liberty interjected via the communicator.
“Humor her everybody.  I think she’s getting worse.”  Ice Mannix said in a soft voice.
“Yes, deary, whatever you say, but why the Freakshow?”  Kolissa asked into her communicator.
“Look, I’m in charge.  So if I say go arrest those guys over there, you do it.  But for your information, Giovanna is known to have worked with the Freakshow.  I have every reason to believe that she is hiding out in one of their bases until she can gather a stronger force to defeat you.  Do not let her get stronger.”  Ms. Liberty explained via the two-way communicator.
“Hang-up, Ms. Liberty is talking non-sense.”  SFD said.
Kolissa ended the communicator connection.
“Let’s just go get something to eat.”  Rare Earth said.
“Who wants waffles?”  Ice Mannix said.
“Not the ‘Waffles Episode’ again.”  Vince Dastardly said.

[Paragon Avenger]

One by one they each clicked the blue button to exit the warehouse.
“Should I fire up the team transport to go to the next mission?”  Necrophillia asked.
“Hold on a minute, let’s consider this.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Yeah, I’m not convinced that Ms. Liberty isn’t sending us on a wild goose chase here.”  Marshal Darkness stated.
“What choice do we have?  We must complete the task force.”  Rare Earth summarized.
“We don’t have to finish this stupid task force.”  Super Fire Dragon said.
“But, if we don’t finish it, Ms. Liberty will eat our lunch, for breakfast.” Vince Dastardly said.
“Ha!  That’s funny Vince.”  Necrophillia said.
“I say we do the darn mission.”  Rare Earth said.
“Well we could do the next mission of the task force, deary, but I think the team feels that Ms. Liberty is just yanking our chains.”  Kolissa said.
“Yes.”  SFD said.
“I agree.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Yeah, Melissa, Ms. Liberty is all wet on this one.”  Marshal Darkness added.
“Can we just ignore a direct order from Ms. Liberty?”  Rare Earth asked.
“Maybe we should vote.”  Necrophillia suggested.
“All those who think Ms. Liberty has flipped her lid, signify by saying ‘Rumpelstiltskin’.”  Kolissa ordered.
“Rumpelstiltskin.”  SFD said.
“Rumpelstiltskin.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Rumpelstiltskin.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Rumpelstiltskin.”  Necrophillia said.
“Rumpelstiltskin.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Motion passes.  Ms. Liberty is nuttier than squirrel poop.” Kolissa said.
“I object!”  Raer Earth asserted.
“On what grounds, deary?”  Kolissa asked.
“Cause, I done lost.  That’s what grounds.”  Rare Earth said.
“Over ruled.”  Kolissa responded.
“So lets’ head back to HQ and confront Ms. Liberty.”  Ice Mannix said.
“First, we need to use some tact.”  Kolissa reminded the team.
“Good idea.  I like taffy.  We should definitely use taffy.”  SFD said.
“No, not taffy you, idiot.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Let’s call up Ms. Liberty on the communicator.”  Necrophillia suggested.
“Task Force Arrow, calling Ms. Liberty, come in, please, Blue Lightning standing by.”  Kolissa said into her two-way wristwatch communicator device thingie.
“Kolissa?  What is it, now?”  Ms. Liberty replied via the communicator.
“We are unsure of our orders … “  Kolissa said to Ms. Liberty via her communicator.
“What do you mean ‘unsure’, just go and do it.”  Ms. Liberty exclaimed over the communicator.
“We have reason to believe that further discussion is necessary, regarding these orders and this task force.”  Kolissa said into her wristwatch communicator.
“Fine.  Come quickly to HQ, but we don’t have a lot of time to waste.  Giovanna is growing stronger by the minute.”  Ms. Liberty could be heard over the communicator.
“Roger, 10-4, wilco, over and out.”  Kolissa said into her two-way communicator wristwatch as she ended the communication.
“Kolissa, why do you use that old radio jargon?”  Ice Mannix asked.
“It makes me feel important and professional.”  Kolissa said.
“Ok, use my base if you want.  I have a telepad to Atlas.”  SFD said as he fired-up his SG base teleporter and disappeared.
“Atlas?  I’ll just use LRT for that.”  Ice Mannix said as he fired up long-range teleport.
“Here’s Ouroboros.”  Necrophillia said as she brought up her Ouroboros portal.
The rest of the team used the Ouroboros portal to travel to Atlas Park.

[Paragon Avenger]

“Now Ms. Liberty, calm down.  It was that fool dragon that made us come here.”  Necrophillia said.
“Liar!”  Super Fire Dragon said.
“Now Dragon, don’t throw around pointless accusations like that.” Kolissa said.
“But, but, but.” SFD stammered.
“I won’t calm down until I see Giovanna in the Zig.  Do you understand?”  Ms. Liberty interrupted.
“Well, Ms. Liberty, since I’m the team spokesperson and all, we feel that your Alzheimer’s has gotten the better of you.  And besides, nobody knows that you are a transsexual.  Your secret is safe with us.  Now make the memory of your uncle proud, and step down.  Let somebody else more reliable, more stable, more sane take over.”  Kolissa explained.
“I see.  Is this how you all feel?”  Ms. Liberty asked.
“Yes.”  SFD said.
“Yes.”  Necrophillia said.
“Yes.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“I’m afraid so.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Me too, girlfriend.”  Rare Earth said.
“uh, whatever.”  Ice Mannix said briefly looking up from his cell phone upon which he was texting.
“Ok, you leave me no choice.”  Ms. Liberty said pushing a button on her desk.
“We still like you, it’s just that lately things have been kind of weird …”  Rare Earth started.
Just then the doors burst open and several well-armed Longbow stormed in.
“Guard them.  And send in Task Force Blue-Alpha to hunt down Giovanna.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Guys, listen.  Ms. Liberty is suffering from Altzhiemer’s.”  Kolissa said.
“No she’s not.  Now shut up and sit down.”  The Longbow Warden said.
One of the Longbow left presumably to contact Task Force Blue-Alpha.
“Ok, you guys have been working way too hard.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“No, don’t do it.”  SFD pleaded.
“You wouldn’t do it.  Not again?”  Necrophillia asked.
“I’m going to give you guys a vacation.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Please no.  We’ll be good, I swear!”  Vince Dastardly swore.
“Think of what you’re doing, deary”  Kolissa said.
“You leave me no choice.  I’m shutting the game down.”  Ms. Liberty said.

[Paragon Avenger]

“Ms. Liberty, NO!”  Necrophillia cried at the news that Ms. Liberty was going to shut the game down.
“Can she do that?  Shut down the game?”  Ice Mannix wondered.
“She has before.  Have you ever seen your screen freeze and the words ‘Lost Map Server Connection’?”  Super Fire Dragon asked.
“Yeah, so?”  Ice asked.
“Well, it turns out that those messages weren’t telling us that the Lost have their own map server connection.  It was really Ms. Liberty having an ‘episode’.”  SFD explained.
“Don’t tell him that?”  Ms. Liberty exclaimed.
“Why?  It’s the truth.”  SFD stated.
“Yes, but don’t tell him that.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Oh, Ice, that’s one of those secrets you’re not supposed to go blabbing.”  SFD said.
“Fool dragon.  We all heard it.”  Rare Earth said.
“Look, I can explain.”  Ms. Liberty said trying to regain control over the situation.
“No need to explain, deary.  We all wondered how you could stand having 10,000 level one’s a day ask you the same question.  Frankly, it would drive me homicidal.”  Kolissa confessed.
“Ms. Liberty is special.  She usually has a smile on her face, and greets everyone with ‘You’re doing well’.”  Rare Earth said.
“Thank you for understanding.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Does that mean that you won’t be shutting down the game?”  SFD asked.
“Oh, I’m shutting down this pig.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Please, reconsider.”  Necrophillia begged.
“Give us another chance.”  Vince Dastardly pleaded.
“Listen, I’m 8 foot tall and poison darts shoot out of my wrists.  There’s nothing I can do, except be a super.”  Kolissa said.
“I’m a dragon, sure, but I’m only 4 foot tall.  The other dragons make fun of me.  When I became a hero, they started to play fewer and fewer pranks on me.  Don’t take that away from me.  There’s a limit to the number of flaming sacks of poop I can stand to stomp out.”  SFD said.
“Well, I … “  Ms. Liberty said mulling over her decision to close City of Heroes.
“Ms. Liberty, I know they killed off your uncle, but that is no reason to take it out on the rest of us.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Oh, that is it!”  Ms. Liberty shouted.
“What did I say?  What did I say?”  Marshal Darkness asked.
“For the last time, before I throw you all in the Zig for libel, Statesman was my grandfather.”  Ms. Liberty warned.
“Deary, I’m no lawyer, but libel is a civil action not a crime.”  Kolissa cautioned.
“1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10!”  Ms. Liberty counted to 10 and then decked Kolissa.
“Quick, Necrophillia, wake Kolissa.  I want to see that again.”  SFD ordered.
“Me too, but nah.”  Necrophillia agreed.
“Ms. Liberty, are you alright?”  Rare Earth asked.
“I do feel better, my hand hurts, a little, thanks for asking, Melissa.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Ms. Liberty, not to upset you again, but just because they killed your uncl—grandfather, please don’t shut down the game.”  Marshal Darkness said narrowing avoiding saying uncle instead of grandfather.
“That’s not the reason.  Sure, that made me mad, but that isn’t the main reason.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“What is the main reason?”  SFD asked.
“Have you seen my beloved Atlas Park, lately?  It looks like somebody dumped a ton of polish on it.  It’s all shinny.  I hate it.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Oh, it’s not that bad, is it?”  Ice Mannix asked.
“Well, no.  But now I have to be a tailor.  I train superheroes, not hide belly fat!”  Ms. Liberty complained.

[Paragon Avenger]

"Ms. Liberty, we love you."  Necrophillia said.
"Yes, we do love you."  Rare earth said.
"Yeah, I like you, I suppose."  Ice Mannix said.
"Ms. Liberty, you are the cats pajamas, whatever that means."  Vince Dastardly said.
"Well, for a trainer, you're alright."  Super Fire Dragon said.
Just then Kolissa woke up.
"Ms. Liberty, prepare to die."  Kolissa threatened.
"Now Kolissa, calm down."  SFD said.
"Yes, Kolissa, you have been acting tense lately."  Ice Mannix said.
"Listen, girlfriend, Ms. Liberty is only trying to do her job, whatever that is."  Rare Earth stated.

[Paragon Avenger]

"Come on guys, nobody decks me without paying for it."  Kolissa pleaded.
"Kolissa, we all respect you, but let this one go."  Super Fire Dragon said.
"Girlfriend, lay off Statesman granddaugther."  Rare Earth said.
"No, Statesmans was my ... Thanks Melissa.  That's right, Statesman was my grandfather."  Ms. Liberty said in shock.
"Yeah, yeah, and positron was my sister, can we please get on with it."  Ice Mannix said.

[Paragon Avenger]

“Look, I don’t want to kill Ms. Liberty, but I have my honor.”  Kolissa said.
“You, ha, honor.”  Vince dastardly said.
“He learns so quickly, I’m kvelling whatever that is.”  Super Fire Dragon said.
“Listen, Kolissa you deserved that, but I can say that I’m sorry.”  Ms. Liberty said holding out her right hand for a hand shake and keeping her left hand behind her back with her fingers crossed.
“Ok, fine.  But don’t touch me.”  Kolissa said.
“Finally, now can we please talk about the game getting shut down.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Yeah, Ice is right.”  Rare earth said.
“Ok, I know you guys don’t want to see the game shut down.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Do you really think that she would shut down the entire game because we called Statesman her uncle.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Yeah, Ms. Liberty isn’t THAT petty.”  SFD said.
“I don’t know, she can be pretty stubborn.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Hello, I’m standing right here!”  Ms. Liberty said.
“And those costumes she wears, girlfriend who is her tailor?”  Rare Earth said.
“What do you mean, Melissa?”  Necrophillia asked.
“I mean, she ought to find another tailor.”  Rare Earth said.
“I agree, deary.  She should go on that show, ummm, ‘What Not To Wear’.”  Kolissa said.
“Hey!  Statesman helped me pick out this costume.”  Ms. Liberty said defensively.
“And that hairdo.  What does she think it is, 1940?”  Rare Earth asked.
“You nailed it.”  Necrophillia said.
“Hold on one second …”  Ms. Liberty shouted.
“What about her fake boobs?”  Necrophillia asked.
“You’re one to talk, deary.”  Kolissa said.
“That’s different.  My former employer made me get these.”  Necrophillia said lifting and letting bounce her mammary glands.  “He thought that they would bring in more business.”
“Well, why haven’t you had them reduced?”  Rare Earth asked.
“I’m afraid to go under the knife.”  Necrophillia admitted.
“The fearless Necrophillia, who commands zombies and does unspeakable things for kicks, is afraid of a simple operation?”  Kolissa mocked.
“Kolissa, don’t go there.”  Necrophillia said.
“Or what?”  Kolissa threatened.
“Kolissa, come on.  We all have our phobias.”  Rare Earth said.
“Yeah, Kolissa aren’t you afraid of the Nemisis?”  Vince Dastardly asked.
“That’s different.  They want to take $10,000,000.00 out of my hide.”  Kolissa stated.
“I’m afraid of spiders.  Kolissa freaks me out sometimes.”  Marshal Darkness confessed.
“I’m afraid of giant lizards.  Super Fire Dragon freaks me out sometimes.”  Rare earth joined in.
“Invisible people freak me out, especially Vince.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Necrophillia just creeps me out period.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Ms. Liberty shutting down the game, scares the cheese out of me.”  SFD said.
“Oh yeah, Ms. Liberty had better not shut down the game.”  Necrophillia said.
“Why not, Necrophillia?”  Ms. Liberty asked.
“I can make Statesman do whatever I want, now that he is dead.”  Necrophillia mused.
“No, No, you wouldn’t dare.”  Ms. Liberty pleaded.
“Granted, I had some respect for the man, when he was alive, but now, he is just another potential playmate.”  Necrophillia said cruelly.
“Necrophillia, that’s hitting below the belt.”  Ice Mannix said.
“All those who find Necrophillia creepy and frightening, say ‘eeewww’.”  SFD suggested.
It was unanimous.
“What can I say.  I LOVE my work.”  Necrophillia said.
Which brought on another round of ‘eeewww’s.

[Paragon Avenger]

“Necrophillia, I’m warning you.  I will be everything down on your head that I can muster if you desecrate the memory of Statesman in any way.”  Ms. Liberty threatened.
“And I will help her.  Even if she shuts down the game and makes thousands of people sad and angry.  Ummm, maybe I’m with Necrophillia on this one.”  Super Fire Dragon said.
“I will stand with you Ms. Liberty.  Even if you do shut down the game and I lose all my powers and have to work at a fast food drive-in.  Dragon, is it too late to team with you?”  Kolissa said.
“Unlike those disloyal heroes, I will stick by you Ms. Liberty.  Statesman was a great hero and deserves our respect.  Sure, you might shut down the game.  Sure thousands of fans will be upset and disappointed.  Sure I’ll lose my powers and have to work at a car wash.  But I’ll stick with you Necrophillia against the evil Ms. Liberty.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Let’s see.  Creepy Necrophillia or lose my powers?  I love you creepy Necrophillia!”  Ice Mannix said.
“Girlfriend, you won’t really shut down the game, right?”  Rare Earth asked.
“You guys have left me no choice.  I must shut down this game, once and for all.”  Ms. Liberty insisted.
“I don’t care if I lose my powers.  I don’t care if millions of fans are disappointed.  I don’t care to stay loyal to you anymore, Ms. Liberty.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Sure, I’ll help Super Fire Dragon and the others.”  Rare volunteered.

[Paragon Avenger]

“Don’t worry if Ms. Liberty shuts down the game, Nabisco will purchase the IP and re-brand it and market it.”  Super Fire Dragon said.
“Yes, but we can’t be absolutely sure about that.  Keebler might try to out bid them.”  Ice Mannix said.
“If Keebler got into a bidding war with Nabisco, Frito-Lay could stage a hostile take over.”  Vince Dastardly offered.
“Look, you guys are nuts.  The only company with the brains to buy City of Heroes would be Apple.”  Rare Earth suggested.
“Yes, but then it would be iCity of iHeroes.  Deary.”  Kolissa replied.
“I’ve heard that Sysco was thinking of buying City of Heroes.”  Necrophillia said.
“Who?”  The others asked.
“Enough of this non-sense.  Ms. Liberty, if you shut down City of Heroes you will regret it for the rest of your life.”  SFD said.
“Well …”  Ms. Liberty started.
Just then a longbow burst into the room, panting and out-of-breath.
“What is it?”  Ms. Liberty asked.
“Task, Force, Blue, Alpha, is, dead.”  The longbow said gasping for breath.
“What?”  Ms. Liberty said in shock.
“I ran from the com center as fast as I could.”  The longbow said regaining his breath.
“Expletive!”  Ms. Liberty shouted.
“Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?”  Necrophillia asked.
“You would only kiss a dead mother.”  Kolissa joked.
Necrophillia glared at Kolissa in a way that made Kolissa fell like she was stealing her very soul.
“Stop it!  Stop it!”  Kolissa cried.
Necrophillia kept staring.
“Girlfriend, this is messed up.  Kolissa was only joking around.”  Rare Earth said.
Kolissa fell to her knees as if her strength had been taken out of her.
“Necrophillia!  Stop it, now!”  SFD ordered.
“Yeah!”  Ice Mannix backed the dragon.
“Oh, sorry.”  Necrophillia said breaking her trance.
Vince Dastardly helped Kolissa to her feet.  Kolissa was gasping for air.
“I let my anger get the better of me.  I am sorry, Kolissa.”  Necrophillia said.
“Get, her, <cough>, <cough>, Get her out of here!”  Kolissa recovered.
Necrophillia walked out of the room.
Marshal Darkness followed her.
“What just happened in there?”  Marshal Darkness asked as the two walked to another room.
“I got angry.  I didn’t mean to do it.  I just lost control for a second.”  Necrophillia said.
“But what did you do to her?”  Marshal Darkness asked.
“I sent her soul to hell, one piece at a time.”  Necrophillia said.
“What?”  Marshal darkness said.
“It’s an incarnate superpower.”  Necrophillia said.
“Did you send all of her soul to hell?”  Marshal Darkness asked.
“No, before I could finish, Super Fire Dragon brought me back to my senses.”  Necrophillia said.
“Are pieces of her soul still in hell?”  Marshal Darkness asked.
“No, until the whole thing is drained from the body, it returns.”  Necrophillia explained.  “But she will never be the same.”
“What do you mean?”  Marshal Darkness asked.
“Her soul experienced hell.  She will either become religious, insane or totally evil.”  Necrophillia answered.
“Necrophillia, what have you done?”  Marshal Darkness wondered aloud.
“I was so stupid.  Why couldn’t I control myself?  It was just a dumb joke.”  Necrophillia sobbed.

MEANWHILE

“Kolissa are you alright?”  Rare Earth asked.
“I’ve seen it.”  Kolissa replied.
“What?”  Rare Earth asked.
“HELL!”  Kolissa shouted.
“Kolissa maybe you should lie down.”  Super Fire Dragon suggested.
Kolissa stumbled to the couch and stretched out on it.
“Yikes!”  Kolissa shrieked as she started to close her eyes and then popping them wide open.
“What’s wrong?”  Ice Mannix asked.
“I saw it again.  I will never sleep again.”  Kolissa said.
“Somebody call a doctor.”  Ms. Liberty ordered.
“And bring in a pitcher of Martinis.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Will that help?”  Rare Earth asked.
“It’ll help me.”  Vince Dastardly shuddered.
Kolissa continued panting and looking all over the room with her eyes wide open.
“This is freaking me out.  I got to get out of here.  I’ll be back later.”  Ice Mannix said as he left the room.
“I’m going to go check with Marshal; I’ll be back.”  Rare earth said as she left the room.
“Kolissa, you must calm down.  It’s all over with now.”  SFD said sitting beside Kolissa and holding her hand.
“You didn’t see it.  You weren’t there.  I was there.  Super Fire Dragon, I was [grapefruit] there!”  Kolissa said nervously.
Just then a few porters came in with drink and food trays.
“Kolissa, eat something.  Try to relax, honey.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“I don’t want to eat anything.  I never want to do anything again.”  Kolissa shouted.
“Kolissa, it’s alright.  I know it was frightening, but it stopped.  Let the healing begin.”  SFD said.
Kolissa continued panting nervously.
“What happened to her, Dragon?”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Necrophillia sent part of her soul to hell.”  SFD stated.
“What?  How?  Only part?  How do you know?”  Ms. Liberty asked.
“I recognize the curse.”  SFD said.  “Necrophillia can only send a piece of the soul to hell at a time.  Thank goodness I realized what she was doing.  If she had finished, Kolissa would be dead-dead.  Kolissa will be alright when the rest of her soul returns.”
“That is good news.”  Ms. Liberty said relieved.
“Well, if she can recover mentally.”  SFD said with a look on his face that let Ms. Liberty know that that wasn’t a great hope, but he didn’t let Kolissa see his look.
“Oh, the doctor is here.”  Ms. Liberty said turning around so as to not let Kolissa see her reaction to SFD’s body language.
“Hello, my name is Doctor Xavier Reyes, but you may call me Dr. X-Rays.”  Dr X-Rays said.
“Wow, that doctor is shorter than I am.”  SFD commented.
“I don’t treat animals, call a vet.”  Dr. X-Rays said.
“No, Doctor, your patient is lying on the couch.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Oh my, what happened to her?”  Dr. X-Rays asked.
“A necromancer cast soul drain on her.”  SFD replied.
“Is this true?”  Dr. X-Rays asked.
“I’ve seen it, doctor.  I’ve seen hell.”  Kolissa said worried.
“Not to worry, there is a new drug on the market for this sort of thing.  It will have you right as rain in no time flat.”  Dr. X-Rays said as he pulled out of his bag a syringe.
“What’s that for?”  SFD asked as he passed out at the sight of the needle.
The doctor gave Kolissa a sedative.  He also got SFD to a chair and sent for an ice bag.
“Did you give her that new drug?”  Ms. Liberty asked.
“I gave her a sedative.  She will sleep without dreaming.  I’ll call in the script.”  Dr. X-Rays said.
Kolissa rested on the couch.  The doc called in the drug order.  SFD got an ice bag for the bump on his head when he fell.  Necrophillia walked back into the room.  Upon seeing Kolissa lying on the couch she began to weep.
“Kolissa!  Oh Kolissa, I am so so sorry.”  Necrophillia said as she knelt by her body.
“Are you the necromancer responsible for this?”  Dr. X-Rays asked.
“Yes.”  Necrophillia said meekly.
“Young lady, do you have any idea what you might have done to her?”  Dr. X-Rays scolded.
“Yes, I know.  I was just so angry.  Doctor, is there anything you can do.”  Necrophillia pleaded.
“Yes, actually.  But first I want to make sure you will never do this again.”  Dr. X-Rays said.
Just then a longbow walked in with a white paper bag.
“Is there a Dr. Rye here?”  The longbow asked.
“Dr. Reyes, here boy.”  Dr. X-Rays said.
“Sorry, doc.”  The longbow said as he handled the bag to the doctor.
Dr. X-Rays gave the medicine to Kolissa and instructed Ms. Liberty on its administion.
“Young Lady,” the doctor said, “if I hear of other people getting this soul drain thing cast on them, I’ll have you arrested.”
“I understand.  I will never do it again.”  Necrophillia promised.
“Madam, you really should keep your pet talking dragon on a leash.  Good day.”  Dr. X-Rays said as he left the room.
“He isn’t my … “  Ms. Liberty started, but couldn’t finish before the doctor left.
“What a strange doctor.”  SFD said recovering from his fainting spell.

[Paragon Avenger]

“I’m sending you guys in on the trail of Giovanna.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Didn’t we do that already?”  Super Fire Dragon asked.
“Yes, and you kicked us off the case.”  Marshal darkness replied.
“And we were worried about you, at the time.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Speaking of worried about, where’s Kolissa?”  Vince Dastardly asked.
“She is still recovering from that vicious and unwarranted attack.”  SFD said.
“Yeah, what is wrong with Necrophillia?”  Marshal Darkness wondered out loud.
“Where do I begin?”  Ice Mannix asked.
“Necrophillia is on suspension and in Longbow custody.”  Ms. Liberty answered.
“You throw her in prison?”  SFD exclaimed.
“Without a hearing or a trial or nothing?”  Rare Earth asked.
“Protective custody”  Ms. Liberty said.
“We can’t do a mission with only 5 of us.”  SFD said.
“Girlfriend, what are you thinking?”  Rare Earth asked.
“I will assign more teammates to your group until Kolissa is back to her old self and the Necrophillia matter is settled.”  Ms. Liberty stated.
“You hear that, guys.  We are all replaceable.”  SFD said.
“Now, Dragon.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Yup, you risk your life, work hard, do good and made one little mistake and the next thing you know you have been replaced by a younger hero, a hungrier hero, a younger hero.”  Ice Mannix said.
(Author’s note:  The Despicable Me series of movies has ruined me, as the above quote demonstrates.)
“Ice, draining someone’s soul, even if it was Kolissa’s isn’t merely one little mistake.”  Ms. Liberty defended her position.
“Free Necrophillia Now!”  SFD started chanting.
“Free Necrophillia Now!”  Vince Dastardly joined in on the chanting.
“Free Necrophillia Now!”  Rare Earth joined in on the chanting.
“Free Necrophillia Now!”  Marshal Darkness joined in on the chanting.
“Free Necrophillia Now!”  Ice Mannix started chanting even.
“Giovanna will never be arrested.”  Ms. Liberty interjected.

[Paragon Avenger]

She looked sad.  She had her trademark Goth makeup washed off, and in place of her naughty short pink dress; she wore orange coveralls.  Well the top buttons were straining to stay closed.  She sat down at the desk facing the Plexiglas.  She picked up the telephone handset and motioned for Super Fire Dragon to do the same.
"Hello, operator.  I want to make a short distance call."  SFD said into the handset.
"Super Fire Dragon, you could always make me laugh."  Necrophillia said laughing.
Ice Mannix tore the phone away from SFD and said,  "Necrophillia, see, we're busting you out of this joint, see."
"Ice, keep working on that impersonation.  You are getting better."  Necrophillia said.
"I want to say something."  Rare Earth Said.
Ice handled the phone to Melissa.
“We miss you and want you back.”  Rare Earth said.
“Watch this.”  Necrophillia said.  “Guards bring the prisoner Necrophillia to my office at once.”  Necrophillia said imitating Ms. Liberty.
Just then 3 guards came over to Necrophillia.
“Ms. Liberty wants to see ya.”  One of the guards said.
“Tell her she will just have to wait, deary.”  Necrophillia said imitating Kolissa.
“Ms. Liberty, calling Ms. Liberty.”  One of the guards said into his walkie-talkie.
“Yes, what is it.”  Ms. Liberty replied via the walkie-talkie.
“The prisoner Kolissa said that you’re just going to have to wait for Necrophillia.”  The guard said.
“What, I didn’t … Is she?  Put Necrophillia on the radio.”  Ms. Liberty said.
The guard handed the walkie-talkie to Necrophillia.
“Darling this simply won’t do.  This place is decorated in modern prison.  I specifically asked for neo-modern prison.”  Necrophillia said into the walkie-talkie imitating Ms. Liberty.
“Necrophillia, the smart law enforcement officers are out protecting the city.  The ones guarding you are not very bright.  Please stop teasing them.”  Ms. Liberty said.
Necrophillia, SFD, Ice Mannix, Vince Dastardly, Marshal Darkness and Rare Earth all laughed.
“I’m glad to see that you’re keeping busy.”  SFD said wrestling the phone back.
“My hearing is set for Wednesday.  It should be a breeze; my lawyer says that my record of service to the city cannot be ignored.  Plus, SFD, he will be summoning you to testify that Kolissa kidnapped me.”  Necrophillia said.
“Already got the subpoena.”  SFD said.
“The strategy is not to tear Kolissa down, but to explain way I might have lost my temper with her.”  Necrophillia explained.
“But didn’t you already get even for that when you had your zombies attack her?”  SFD asked.
“That was more for the poison dart, and besides the idea is that she provoked me beyond even super human limits.”  Necrophillia said.
“Yes, but that joke wasn’t that bad.”  SFD said.
“Hey, whose side are you on?”  Necrophillia demanded.
Just then one of the top buttons of Necrophillia’s coveralls popped.
“Oh my, I gotta go.  Thanks for visiting.  Later guys.”  Necrophillia said as she tried to keep the coveralls closed over her braless bossom.
“What’s the rush?”  SFD asked.
“I lost a button, and they don’t allow us to wear bras.  I’m still on suicide watch.”  Necrophillia said.
“Suicide watch?”  SFD questioned.
“Yes, I was still crying and feeling sorry for Kolissa when they brought me in here.”  Necrophillia said hanging up the phone and walking away.
“I was there for Kolissa.  Now I have to be there for Necrophillia.”  SFD said.
“Ok, Dragon.  We’ll meet you in Ms. Liberty’s office.  Come on guys.”  Ice Mannix said.
They all left.  Super Fire Dragon asked to speak to the warden.
“Hello, Super Fire Dragon.  I have heard so much about you.  You are one of my favorite heroes.”  The warden said.
“Hello, Warden Pilcher.”  SFD said.  “I am very impressed with what I have seen of the prison.”
“Thank you for saying so.  Now, how may I help you?”  Warden Pilcher asked.
“I don’t mean to complain.  I’m sure you hear lots of complaints in your line of work.”  SFD said.
“So, you didn’t come to compliment me on my prison after all, did you?”  Warden Pilcher insisted.
“Now, Warden.  I just want to make a small request.”  SFD said.
“Alright, what is it?”  Warden Pilcher asked.
“Can the prisoner Necrophillia be removed from the suicide watch list?  When she arrived, she was under a lot of stress, but she seems so much better now.”  SFD said.
“Can you vouch for her that she won’t try to off herself?”  Warden Pilcher demanded.
“Yes.  Yes, oh yes.  You see she is a necromancer with necrophilia.  She doesn’t want to become a corpse anytime soon.”  SFD said.
“Yes, I see what you mean.  We have been watching her closely.  As we do whenever a super is entrusted to our care, she has been remarkably calm.  We assumed that it was an act of some sort.  But in light of these new facts, she will be removed from the suicide watch list.”  Warden Pilcher prattled.
“Thank you Warden.  And this really is a nice prison you have here.”  SFD said.
“Goodbye, Super Fire Dragon.”  Warden Pilcher said.
“Goodbye, Warden.”  SFD said as he left the warden’s office and headed for Ms. Liberty’s office.

[Paragon Avenger]

"Super Fire Dragon, come in, sit down, I was just about to introduce one of the substitutes."  Ms. Liberty said.
"What is this; a trap?"  SFD asked suspiciously.
“Yeah, Ms. Liberty, don’t you try to trick us.  We know what’s what.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Girlfriend, why you trying to trick Super Fire Dragon all the time?”  Rare Earth asked
“This isn’t a trick or a trap.”  Ms. Liberty started.
“Then why do you want the dragon to sit in THAT chair?”  Ice Mannix asked playing along.
“What has happened in your life to make you so evil, Ms. Liberty?”  Marshal Darkness asked.
“Is your Alzheimer’s flaring up again?”  Rare Earth asked.
“I don’t have Alzheimer’s.”  Ms. Liberty insisted.
“Ok, ok, no need to get your knickers in a knot.  I’ll sit over there.”  SFD said.
“Excellent!”  Ms. Liberty said with an evil laugh.
“What?”  Vince Dastardly said in shock.
“Can’t I have fun too?”  Ms. Liberty asked.
“Very funny.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Alright.  Alright.  I am pleased to bring you Flower Knight straight from the OutBreak training area via Ouruborus.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Flower Knight here?  That’s fantastic.”  SFD marveled.
“I’m not Flower Knight.”  The Flower Knight look-a-like said as she walked in.
“You look like Flower Knight.”  SFD said.
“I know.”  The look-a-like said.
“Ms. Liberty, this is an imposter!”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Wait a minute.  You said that your name was Flower Knight over the phone.”  Ms. Liberty questioned the stranger.
“Well, over the phone it might sound like Flower Knight.”  The stranger replied.
“Come on girl, tell us your name already.”  Ice Mannix said.
“My name is Flower Night.”  Flower Night said.
“But isn’t that what I said your name was?”  Ms. Liberty asked.
“Listen you, what are you trying to pull?”  Vince Dastardly threatened.
“I just want to make it clear.  My name is Flower like a blossom and Night like after sunset.”  Flower Night said.
“Oh hello Blossom, where’s Six?”  SFD said.
“I get it, Flower Night without the ‘K’; very clever.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Thank you.”  Flower Night said.
“You couldn’t get the real Flower Knight?”  SFD asked Ms. Liberty.
“Be thankful I didn’t get Flour Knight, the baker.  I didn’t even know that there was a bread powerset.”  Ms. Liberty said.

[Paragon Avenger]

“So, Flower Night, tell us about yourself.”  Ice Mannix asked.
“Well, there isn’t much to tell … “  Flower Night started.
“Ok great.  So, what powers do you have?”  Super Fire Dragon asked interrupting.
“Oh, well, I have archery and … “  Flower Night started … again.
“Wow, archery.”  SFD interrupted … again.
“Hey, let the lady finish.”  Marshal Darkness insisted.
“Yeah, guys, where are your manners?”  SFD said.
“Us?  It was you who …”  Vince Dastardly accused.
“Let’s not quibble over who said what.”  SFD said.
“But, but, but.”  Vince Dastardly tried to say.
“Keep working on it, Vince.  You’ll get it.”  SFD said.
“Look, Dragon.  You’re being rude, again.”  Ice Mannix said.
“And that surprises you?”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Yeah, Ice, you should know me better than that by now.”  SFD said.
“Do you guys always banter back and forth like this?”  Flower Night asked sheepishly.
“No, usually the dragon is much worst.”  Marshal Darkness said.
They all laughed.
Just then Ms. Liberty walked back into the room.
“I have another substitute.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Who is it this time; Allison Ing?”  SFD asked.
“Very funny, is it my fault that somebody grabbed the better name first?”  Flower Night said defensively.
“Allison Ing.  That is funny.  Like there is some strange shortage of ‘K’s.”  Vince dastardly remarked.
“I bring you, The Fattinator!”  Ms. Liberty said with flourish.
Just then an eight foot tall three foot wide gentleman walked in wearing a top hat and tails and even a cape.  Everything was a bright yellow or a gleaming white.
“Hum-a-ma, hum-a-ma.”  SFD stammered.
“You said it.”  Ice Mannix agreed.
“Greetings, teammates.  I AM The Fattinator!”  The Fattinator said.
“I don’t doubt it.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“The Fattinator was a villain turned hero, like you Vince.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“He ain’t nothing like Vince.”  Ice Mannix said.
“So what’s with the name Fatter Nutter?”  Flower Night asked.
“My name is The Fattinator, madam.  And I would appreciate it if you would remember it.”  The Fattinator said.
“I will, I will.”  Vince Dastardly replied.
“Same here.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Hum-a-ma, hum-a-ma.”  SFD stammered.
“So, Mr. The Fattinator, what are your powers?”  Marshal Darkness asked.
“Call me, The Fattinator.”  The Fattinator asked.
“Of course.  What are your powers, The Fattinator?”  Marshal Darkness asked nicely.
“I am a robots / poison mastermind.”  The Fattinator replied.
“No sh*t?  I’m a zombies / darkness mastermind.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Watch your language, there are ladies present.”  The Fattinator insisted.
“Umm, ok, sorry ladies.”  Marshal darkness said.
“Can you explain your name, please?”  Ice Mannix asked.
“Yes, of course.  You see people think fat is bad.  They think fat is harmful.  I’m here to let them know that fat is good.  Fat can be helpful.  Fat works, the fools.”  The Fattinator said.
“Are you human?”  SFD asked.
“Do I you human?”  The Fattinator asked.
Everybody shook their heads and say no.
“Of course I human you fool dragon!”  The Fattinator said.
Everybody nodded their heads and say yes.
“Flower Night seems like a good sub for Kolissa who is still recovering.  And The Fattinator seems like a good replacement for Necrophillia.  Their both being masterminds.”  Ms. Liberty attempted to explain her choices in substitutes.
“How is Kolissa?”  Rare Earth asked.
“She seems calm and she is eating and resting, but she talks to the wallpaper.  The doctor thinks that that might be temporary.”  Ms. Liberty answered.
“Wow, this Giovanna must be tougher than I thought Carnival of Shadows were.”  The Fattinator said.
“Why?”  SFD asked.
“If she could incapacitate the famous Kolissa, she must be very powerful.”  The Fattinator said.
“No, it wasn’t Giovanna who did that to her.”  SFD explained.
“Than what miscreant did that to one of my favorite heroes?”  The Fattinator asked angrily.
“Well, long story, you’re going to laugh … “  Rare Earth said.
“I’m not laughing.”  The Fattinator said.
“Kolissa insulted Necrophillia’s mother, and she got upset.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“What?”  The Fattinator shouted.
“I take it back.  Please don’t kill me.”  Vince Dastardly pleaded.
“A teammate did that.  You guys play rough.”  The Fattinator said.
“You don’t understand, it was just a one time thing.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Anyway, you guys need to head to Brickstown and search these known Freakshow hangouts for Giovanna.”  Ms. Liberty interjected.
“You mean you let her get away?”  SFD inquired in frustration.
“No!  You guys let her get away with this constant bickering.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“How do you like that?  We were worried about you and your face lifts and your Botox and your Alzheimer’s and this is the thanks we get.”  Rare Earth complained.
“If you call Statesman my uncle, so help me I’ll … “ Ms. Liberty interrupted.
“Ms. Liberty, Statesman was your grandfather.”  The Fattinator said.
“Ugh!”  Ms. Liberty yelled as she left the room.

[Paragon Avenger]

“I think that maybe we just should go now and do this mission.”  The Fattinator suggested.
“You can’t just go to a mission map and do a mission.”  Super Fire Dragon informed.
“Yeah, Mr. The Fattinator, sir.  That sort of thing isn’t done.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“There are ways to do these things; protocols that must be followed.”  Ice Mannix said.
“Oh really, can you give us a for instance as an example?”  Flower Night asked.
“Well, for instance, as an example … “  Ice Mannix said.
“For instance, we have to travel to the mission door first.”  Rare Earth offered.
“We have to pick a team leader.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“We have to organize and synchronize our strategies.”  Marshal Darkness stated.
“It sounds like you have to make excuses.”  The Fattinator said.
“Potato, tomato.”  SFD said.
“What does that even mean?”  Flower Night asked.
“It means that we call it one thing and you call it another, but what’s in the name.”  Vince Dastardly said.
“Wow, that dragon language is compact.”  Flower Night remarked.
Just then Necrophillia walked into the room.  She wasn’t wearing her trademark short pink dress, but she wasn’t wearing a prison jump-suit either.  She was dressed in normal street clothes.
“Hi guys.”  Necrophillia said.
“Hey, Necrophillia.”  SFD said.
“Necrophillia?  Are you the one who tried to destroy Kolissa?”  The Fattinator asked.
“Who’s big yella?”  Necrophillia asked.
“I am The Fattinator!”  The Fattinator replied.
“Look, fatso, what happened between Kolissa and I is none of your business.  Got it?”  Necrophillia threatened.
“Listen, lady.  I respect Kolissa.”  The Fattinator said.
“Fine.  You want to know what happened?”  Necrophillia asked.
“Yes.”  The Fattinator replied.
“You want to know what happened?”  Necrophillia asked.
“Yes.  Yes, I want to know.”  The Fattinator replied.
“You want to know what happened?  Ask her.”  Necrophillia said.
“I think that maybe we just should go now and do this mission.”  The Fattinator suggested.

[Paragon Avenger]

“So Necrophillia, are you back now?  Are you reinstated, girlfriend?”  Rare Earth asked.
“Well, yes and no.”  Necrophillia stated.
“What do you mean?”  Rare Earth asked.
“I’m out of prison; I’m a superhero again; I even have some of my powers back.  Watch this.”  Necrophillia said.
Necrophillia began summoning her zombies the way the team has seen her do before, but this time was different.
“Hello, there.  Can we be friends?”  The ghost Necrophillia summoned said.
“Necrophillia, what is that?”  Super Fire Dragon asked in disgusted.
“I’m Casper the friendly ghost.”  The ghost said.
“Yup, until I learn to control my anger, the only undead I can summons is Casper.”  Necrophillia said.
“Hey, I can help out on quests and adventures and … “  Casper said.
Necrophillia sent Casper back from whence he came.
“Thanks, Necrophillia.  That was a close one.”  Marshal Darkness said.


Meanwhile

Kolissa and Rev. Frank met outside of Saint Jeroboam’s Church.
“My name is Kolissa.  I want to become a missionary for the church.”  Kolissa said.
“Admirable, young, tall, lady, but we don’t do that here.”  Rev. Frank replied.
“Well, I could shoot atheists with poison darts.”  Kolissa offered.
“Oh my, no we try to reach out to those lost souls.”  Rev. Frank explained.
“Well, I could cast confusion on the acolytes.”  Kolissa suggested.
“What good would that do?”  Rev. Frank asked.
“Well, while the spell lasts, they would fight each other.”  Kolissa replied.
“Why would we want that?”  Rev. Frank asked astonished.
“It will be hilarious.”  Kolissa answered.
“Perhaps you’re more of a Pentecostal.”  Rev. Frank instructed.


Meanwhile

Ms. Liberty rushed into the room with the team.
“Kolissa is missing; I was hoping she was with you guys.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“Kolissa?  Never heard of her.”  Super Fire Dragon replied.
“Now Dragon, this is serious.”  Ms. Liberty said.
“How long has she been gone?”  Rare Earth asked.
“I checked in on her about a half an hour ago.  She was quietly watching TV.  I went in just now, and she’s gone.”  Ms. Liberty said worried.
“Ok, ok, we will find her.”  SFD reassured.
“I hope so, it is about time for her medication.”  Ms. Liberty offered.
“Right, no time to lose.”  Marshal Darkness said.
“Marshal, Ice, Vince, you guys look East and check the hospital.”  SFD commanded.
“Right chief.”  Ice Mannix said as they walked out.
“Wait a minute, that dragon is in charge?”  The Fattinator asked.
“Well, yes.”  Rare Earth said.
“I thought he was the mascot.”  The Fattinator said.
“Very funny, The Fattinator, you check dockside.”  SFD said.
“Ok.”  The Fattinator said as he walked out.
“Flower Night, you cover north.  Check in with Ms. Liberty every 30 minutes.”  SFD instructed.
“Rare Earth, you’re with me.  Covering west and south to the docks.”  SFD said.
“Help!  Help!  A giant Lizard!”  Rare Earth teased.
“You know, that loses something every time you do it.”  SFD said.
“Well, this seemed like old times.  I was feeling nostalgic.”  Rare Earth explained.