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And we're back in the past and can check the eyrie archive
once again.
Here's where you can find this and more Pliable Lad
Action!:
https://archives.eyrie.org/racc/lnh/Series/Pliable.Lad/
And it's System Corruptors #9 and Pliable Lad #1 by
Mike Escutia!
Will we find out the best place to live in Net.ropolis if
you're incredibly evil?! Is it time for Pliable Lad
to give Kid Chivalry a tour through the LNHHQ and wouldn't
it by nice if there was some one who had the power to do that
and maybe they could be like a love interest or something?!
And will the Dvandom Stranger show up to tell us all that
some one's going to make a phone call here and we all
better be ready for it?!!!!!
Find out in...
_
| | Classic
| | =
| | ____ ____ _ ____ ___
| |__ | [] | | [] | | | | [] | | _ \
|____| \__] \__ | |_| \__/ |_|\_\
||
|_| OF NET.HEROES
ADVENTURES #411
=====================
System Corruptors #9 and Pliable Lad #1
=====================
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d88P d8P ,8P d8P 88 Trade EtherBack #1
d88P d8P ,8P d8P ,88 Stretching the Truth
d88P d888888P d8P ,8P Reprinting
d88P d8P d8P d8P ,8P Pliable Lad #1-6
d88P d8P d8P d8P ,8P (Prologue from System Corruptors #9)
d88P d8P d8P d888888P Copyright 1993 Mike Escutia
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===============================================================================
PROLOGUE: "The Doctor Is In"
Somewhere on the south side of Net.ropolis sits an abandoned factory,
its windows boarded up and its doors locked tight. Months-old graffiti
cover-
s most of the outside walls, and trash litters the surrounding area. The
pol-
ice never come down here, because nobody in their right mind would live
here,
and those people who pass through the area tend to speed up as they leave.
Even the supervillains stay out of this particular neighborhood, for a sense
of gloom hangs in the air thicker than molasses, to borrow a phrase. In
short,
you'd have to be incredibly evil to live here.
Unfortunately for Net.ropolis, somebody is living here.
_-<+*+>-_
In the factory that is the centerpiece of the above travelogue, a
dark figure is seen walking out of a small room. The lightweight armor he wears reflects the dim light cast from overhead. Pausing, he takes in his surroundings. He is standing on a balcony, some thirty feet above the
factory floor. Below him, several technicians and workers labor intensively
on a large machine (if that is what it is) standing on a platform in the
middle area. They seem to be oblivious to the armored man's presence.
As he stands there observing the going-ons below, he reflects on the
past few months and how things had changed drastically for the better for
him.
(---)
It all started when he took over the New Alpha Space Station, which
he planned to destroy with an omega bomb (the type that could not be
stopped).
The fun part was that the combined energies of the bomb and the rift would destroy the universe, which is exactly what he wanted.
Perhaps some explanation is in order. The New Alpha Space Station
(NASS, for short) was a scientific research station devoted to researching extra-dimensional energy as a power source. The rift was an artificially
cre-
ated rift in the space-time continuum, kept under control via a series of highly advanced computer systems. The reason for the creation of the rift
was to allow the scientists aboard the station easy, but still limited,
access
to the extra-dimensional energies they were interested in. If they could
find
a way to harness the energies, the world would no longer have any energy
short-
ages.
Which was why he wanted to destroy it. If the world had that energy,
*anybody* could stop his plans for world conquest, and he didn't even want
to
think about the whole world teaming up against him with it.
So he attacked. Teleported straight into the space station (but
away from the rift), and killed most of the people on the station. By the
time he had reached the rift, the Knightforce Elite had already arrived, but
he wore his most powerful armor, so they were no match for him. Destroying
the machines that kept the rift under control (but not the ones that kept it open), and planting the omega bomb near it, he blasted the decks above the heroes and jumped through the rift.
Figuring that the explosion would not expand into the rift, he felt
relatively safe, for he knew that he would come out in some new, unexplored universe ripe for conquering.
But he figured wrong. As he tumbled through non-space, he felt the
incredible force of the blast push him faster and faster (or, at least, it seemed that way) for what seemed like both eternity and no time at all. Eventually, he entered a part of non-space that was rather surprising
to him (he had become used to the blackness that had surrounded him during
his journey up until this point. There were hundreds of what could only be described as abnormalities in the bleakness of non-space. Some of them
sphere-
shaped, some circular. Some were large, some were small. He realized that they were not only abnormalities, but other rifts. To other worlds.
Picking a rather interesting-looking rift, he turned on his suit's
thrusters and made his way to it. With a >SZAZ<, he burst through it...
...And found himself miles above the surface of what looked like Earth,
yet subtly different. Down, down he fell, disoriented from re-entry, until, finally, the suit's thrusters kicked in and his descent slowed.
Having collected his wits by the time he reached the ground, he put
his feet firmly under himself and landed safely, just as if it was a normal trip somewhere. Taking in his surroundings, he found himself on a hill
over-
looking a sprawling city. And, yet, there was something different about
this
world, something he couldn't place. But, he decided, it could wait.
At least until he conquered this new world, that is.
(---)
Now, in the present, a short, slightly-overweight technician approach-
es the tall man in light armor and a cloak. Down on the factory floor,
where
the techie came from, the strange machine still stands in the middle of the platform, illuminated by overhead lights that cast an air of danger upon the device.
Cautiously, the technician approaches the taller man, who completely
and utterly ignores him, his gaze fixed on the machine.
"It's done, boss.", the technician says when he is a few feet away
from the taller man.
"Excellent!", the cloaked man booms. "Tomorrow at this time, all of
the major countries of this world will have surrendered to me (we hope), and soon the entire world will have fallen to ...DR. ARMAGGEDDON!
MU-HA-HA-HA-HA-
HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!!"
==============================================================================
CHAPTER ONE: "Preludes and Stretchings"
"Fabulous First Issue!"
--any Marvel title's first issue cover
...The bomb was about to go off, starting a chain reaction in the
space station's extra-dimensional power supply that could destroy the
universe. Most of the other Knights lied unconscious on the deck, and those few who were still conscious were probably in the Knightflyer's sickbay...or dead.
Plymax struggled to get free of the rubble that had pinned him not
more than two minutes ago. Dr. Armaggeddon's blasting of the deck above the team proved to be a major setback for them, as most were unable to dig themselves out. But that couldn't stop Plymax; somebody had to stop Armaggeddon before he destroyed the entire universe.
Thin as a paper clip, Plymax pulled himself free of the metal
debris. Snapping back to his normal form, he looked around wildly for any other Knights--but found none.
"Stormguard! Fireclaw! Anybody! We've gotta stop that bomb--and
fast!" Plymax shouted, but his cries for help fell on deaf ears. The high-intensity noise being put out by the extra-dimensional rift drowned
out his voice before anybody could hear it.
Then he saw it. Movement. Over there, half under the station
insignia, a hand moved. Plymax ran over to it and struggled to free the
body underneath.
It was Dr. Q.
"Doc!", Plymax shouted. "We gotta do something!"
"Ply...", the team's resident scientific genius coughed. "The
bomb...if it goes off...<gaaak>...on this side of the rift....<cough>....the whole universe....<wheeeeze>...could be destroyed!....You've got to... <hwaak>....get the bomb....through....to the other....". The older man struggled on his words. He would not be able to stay conscious much longer. "...side.", he added before passing out.
Plymax ran over towards the rift. The bomb was right there. Clamped
to the floor so as to not be sucked into the rift, and yet close enough to
the rift to cause some serious...you know.
Unscrewing the clamps, Plymax picked up the bomb in both hands (it was
small for such a powerful thing), and struggled to get to the rift. But
the
closer he got, the more he realized that he couldn't just throw the bomb through; if it missed its target, the universe would be destroyed. So he
did
the only thing possible.
He jumped through the rift. Bomb and all.
And, as he did, the second-to-last thought that entered his head was,
"It's happening again..."
The last thought was "...Again?"
And then he woke up.
_-<+*+>-_
Pliable Lad shot up in bed like fireworks on the Forth of July. (In
fact, his head continued shooting up, even after his body had stopped.) He
sat there for a good two to four minutes just trying to calm himself down. About ten minutes later, he built up enough nerve to get out of bed and
get something to drink. Normally, he wasn't easily scared, but these dreams were, well, scaring him.
Having had a cup of cold water, he then proceeded back to bed. Tomor-
row would be yet another long day for him. He tried to think happy thoughts (Panta), but he couldn't keep the dream out of his head.
He laid there for over an hour before falling asleep.
_-<+*+>-_
[An abandoned factory in Net.ropolis....]
He stood there in full regalia, overseeing his henchmen as they
labored intensely to complete construction on his secret weapon. His light- weight body armor, currently set to appear black, made him virtually invisi- ble in the shadows he stood in just outside the circle of light that
covered
most of the floor. His black cloak, fully extended, wrapped around him and covered all but his feet and head. It was quite spooky. In fact, if he had bat-ears on his helmet, he would be mistaken for a certain Dark Knight... "Soon", he thought. "Soon I will have the entire world on its knees! MU-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!", he cackled with delight. And then, abruptly, he
stop-
ped laughing.
"Where the h*ll did I get that laugh?"
_-<+*+>-_
[LNHHQ, the next day....]
Pliable Lad had just given the grand tour of the LNH to the group's
newest member, Kid Chivalry. He was glad to get it over with. It wasn't
that he anything against the newcomer, but rather, he was annoyed that
Ultimate Ninja had assigned him the task of playing tour guide whenever one
was needed. Sure, he had yet to prove himelf, but he really wasn't getting much of a chance. Maybe one of these days...
"Just maybe", he muttered.
"I'm sorry", said Kid Chivalry, who had been distracted by staring
with his jaw hanging at various walls along the corridor. "I didn't quite catch that."
"Oh,", said PL, suddenly realizing what he had done. "um, nothing.
I was just thinking out loud. Well, partially out loud.", he added.
"Oh,", said KC [Am I using too many abbreviations? Let me know.
Call 1-800-ABBREV8.]. "Okay."
"Anyways...", said Pliable Lad. "Here we have the cafeteria, where
most everybody eats. I say most because some LNHers prefer to eat out. Ac- tually, most of us do, especially at the Pizza Pit." Pli, as he was known
to his friends, leaned in close to the newcomer's ear. "And especially when Cheesecake-Eater Lad is cooking.", he whispered.
Kid Chivalry was confused at first, but then he figured it out. C-E
Lad had already tried to get the net.hero to try his latest cheesecake crea- tion, which virtually exploded when Kid Chivalry put his fork into it. It
made quite a mess.
Pleased that Kid Chivalry understood, Pliable Lad continued on.
"Over here is the monitoring room, where you can usually find Multi-Tasking Man, W.I.L.B.U.R., or Deductive Logic Man. And down there is the elevator
to the peril room.", he says, stretching his right arm to point in the dir- ection of the object in question. [I just *knew* you would like that, An- dre'! :)]
On their way to the cafeteria, the two net.heroes passed Master Blaster
and Particle Man, who were on their way back from the Peril Room. Particle
Man
was saying something about an origin story coming on, but they missed it.
_-<+*+>-_
They also didn't notice a small figure, no more than a centimeter tall,
jump off of Pliable Lad's boot and on to Particle Man's. As Particle Man
and
Master Blaster passed through the main foyer, the figure hopped off and
headed
towards the main door.
Suddenly, the figure darted to the nearest wall, and hid behind a door-
stop (you know, one of those thingies that keeps the door from crashing into the wall whenever Ultimate Ninja storms out of a membership meeting. >;-)
as a
man walked by muttering about something before turning a corner. Waiting a full minute, the figure quickly ran to the door, under it, and out.
Had anyone actually been there to hear the figure, they would have
heard it mutter something along the lines of, "Your days my foot."
_-<+*+>-_
In the LNH cafeteria, Pliable Lad and Kid Chivalry were sitting at a
corner table eating ice cream. The two net.heroes had finished the tour and decided that they were rather hungry. They were actually left alone this
time; Cheesecake-Eater Lad apparently had to run to the store. Kid Chivalry nearly busted a gut laughing when Pliable Lad started praying thanks to the gods above. (Wouldn't you?)
Anyways, Kid Chivalry decided to feast on a banana split, while Pliable
Lad got himself a hot fudge sundae...triple scoop, that is.
"...so that's how I got here.", Kid Chivalry was saying between
bites into the banana. [See the Kid Chivalry one-shot for the complete
story. Of his arrival, not the banana. :-) --MRE]
"That's pretty neat.", Pliable Lad said. "You lasted in the PerilRoom
far longer than I did!"
"Almost fourteen seconds!", KC boasted. "Ultimate Ninja is probably
*still* trying to figure it out!" The two laughed as thoughts of the LNH's leader in a thinking position entered their heads.
"Say, I've been wondering.", Kid Chivalry said. "How did *you* join
the LNH?", he asked.
Pliable Lad looked down at his ice cream for a moment. It was
starting to melt. "It's a long story.", he said, looking up. "But it was printed in Tales of the LNH #274-275*. If you want to, you can borrow my copies." [Soon to be reprinted. --MRE]
"Sure,", KC said. "Thanks!"
Just then, a familiar voice called to them from across the room. "Heeeeeeeeeyyyyyyy, guys!" The two net.heroes turned to see who it was,
and their faces paled.
Guess who was back from the store.
_-<+*+>-_
The small figure that had snuck out of LNHHQ hopped straight across
the street and headed straight towards an nearby alleyway, growing to just
over four feet tall as it did.
Five people in costumes stood just inside the alley, looking as if they
were waiting for someone...or something. They sighed with collected relief
as
the figure approached them.
"It's about time.", one of them growled.
"Sorry, Fireclaw," the small one said. "This took a little longer than
I thought. Did you know there's a ninja in that group?"
"Nightblade will be pleased, I'm sure.", the one called Fireclaw said sarcastically.
"Did you find him, Bug?", another asked.
"Who, the ninja?"
"Bug."
"Sorry. Yeah, I found him.", Bug replied. "He's still wearing his
costume! But he's changed his name to 'Pliable Lad' now."
"I take it he's joined this 'Legion of Net.Heroes', huh?"
"Yup."
"Stormguard," said the group's only female member. "what if they've brainwashed him?"
"We'll let Dr. Q look at him," Stormguard said. "once we get him back
to the ship." He spotted a phonebooth nearby and pulled out a piece of
paper
from his pocket. The paper was an ad.
****************************************************
Have a mystery that needs to be solved?
Net.villains breathing down your neck?
A giant monster about to bite your head off?
Call the Legion of Net.Heroes!
1-800-99-LNHHQ
****************************************************
"Anybody got a dime?"
_-<+*+>-_
Pliable Lad and Kid Chivalry were in a three-way argument with Cheese- cake-Eater Lad over whether dining hall food was better than eating at home, and why. However, in the interest of good taste, it will not be printed. Eventually, the argument became rather two-sided, between KC and C-E
Lad. Without interrupting, Pliable Lad quietly slipped away from the two
and
left the cafeteria on his way back to his quarters for a good nap.
But, as he turned the corner on his way to the stairwell, he nearly
bumped into a tall, trenchcoat-clad figure. Who then started off on a mono- logue.
"Once, I would have greeted you like a good friend, chatted about the
latest issues of HULK and SPIDER-MAN 2099, and even helped you pick out a
tie
for your next date [! --MRE], but for now, I must remain--"
"Yeah, yeah, a Stranger.", Pliable Lad said, interrupting him. "What's
up?"
The Dvandom Stranger sighed. It was always like this. "Forces are
con- verging, plotting and planning to ensnare you in their plans. Forces
that are right now--"
Pliable Lad didn't really feel like decoding the other's monologue, so
instead he stretched his legs until he stood a good head (and then some)
higher
than the Stranger. "In English, please.", he said, looking down at the now smaller of the two.
Momentarily surprised (which was surprising in itself) by the
net.hero's sudden growth spur, the Dvandom Stranger simply said, "You're
about to get a phone call."
_-<+*+>-_
Fuzzy was passing by the phone in the monitoring room when it started
ringing.
"I got it!", she yelled to Multi-Tasking Man, who was busy playing
three games of Net.Trek (the Klingons were in big trouble now!), creating
new characters on five or six MUDs (or were they MUSHes?), reading the newsgroups (Cowling was frisky again), and stirring his coffee
(decaffeinated).
Not that he couldn't answer the phone himself.
"Hello. Legion Writers' Guild. You make 'em, we pay 'em. Head pay-
check speaking.", the Confounding Crusader said into the phone.
"Is there a 'Pliable Lad' there?", the male voice at the other end
asked.
"Sure. Hang on a sec..."
_-<+*+>-_
Pliable Lad was still towering over the Dvandom Stranger, who had just
told him he was going to get a phone call, when the intercom beeped to life. "Yo, Pli!", came Fuzzy's voice.
"What is it, Fuzzy?", Pliable Lad asked, turning to the intercom
speaker.
"Phone call!"
"I told you.", came the Dvandom Stranger's voice from behind him. Pli-
able Lad whirled about, but the wielder of the Editorial Staff had already
van-
ished.
"Wonderful."
Pliable Lad turned around and jogged briskly to the monitoring room.
When he got there, Fuzzy was standing by the phone with the receiver
hanging by
her...toe.
"Who is it?", he asked her.
"Beats me.", she replied. "Claims he knows ya, though."
"Okay. Thanks."
"No prob."
Carefully picking up the receiver so as not to disturb Fuzzy's
balancing act, he spoke into it. "Hello, Pliable Lad here."
"We need to meet with you. Be at the fourteenth alleyway north of the intersection of Kogutt Road and Savoie Street at 1700 hours."
CLICK<.
Pliable Lad was silent for a moment. Then he spoke.
"Oh, boy."
===============================================================================
==========
Next Week: Something Something LNH!!!
==========
Arthur "Same Classic Channel. But Same Time? Probably not." Spitzer
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<div dir=3D"ltr">And we're back in the past and can check the eyrie arc= hive <br>once again.<br><br><br>Here's where you can find this and more=
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https://archives.eyrie.org/racc/= lnh/Series/Pliable.Lad/">
https://archives.eyrie.org/racc/lnh/Series/Pliable= .Lad/</a><br><br><br>And it's System Corruptors #9 and Pliable Lad #1 b= y<br>Mike Escutia!<br><br>Will we find out the best place to live in Net.ro= polis if<br>you're incredibly evil?!=C2=A0 Is it time for Pliable Lad<b= r>to give Kid Chivalry a tour through the LNHHQ and wouldn't<br>it by n= ice if there was some one who had the power to do that<br>and maybe they co= uld be like a love interest or something?!<br>And will the Dvandom Stranger=
show up to tell us all that<br>some one's going to make a phone call h= ere and we all<br>better be ready for it?!!!!!<br><br>Find out in...<br><br= ><br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 _ <br>=C2=A0=
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=C2=A0 d8P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0d88888P<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0d88P =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d8P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d8P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0d8P =C2= =A0d8P =C2=A0,8P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0d8P <br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 d88P = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d8P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d8P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0d8=
P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0,8P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0d8P <br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0d8=
8P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d888888P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0d8P =C2= =A0d888888P =C2=A0d888888P d888888P<br>=C2=A0 d88P =C2=A0 =C2=A0d88P<br>=C2= =A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0d88P<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d88P =C2= =A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d888888P =C2=A0d88888 =C2=A0<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2= =A0d88P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d8P =C2=A0,8P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A088 =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Trade EtherBack #1<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d88P =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d8P =C2=A0,8P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0,88 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0Stretching the Truth<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0d88P =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
=C2=A0 d888888P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0,8P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2= =A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0Reprinting<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 d88P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d8P = =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0,8P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2= =A0Pliable Lad #1-6<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0d88P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d8P =C2=A0d8P=
=C2=A0d8P =C2=A0,8P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 (Prologue from System Corruptors #9)<br>= =C2=A0 d88P =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 d8P =C2=A0d8P =C2=A0d888888P =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0Copyright 1993 Mike Escutia<br>=C2=A0d888888888P =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 <br>d888888888P<br><br>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br><br>PROLOGUE: &qu= ot;The Doctor Is In"<br><br><br> Somewhere on the south side of Net.ro= polis sits an abandoned factory, <br>its windows boarded up and its doors l= ocked tight.=C2=A0 Months-old graffiti cover-<br>s most of the outside wall=
s, and trash litters the surrounding area.=C2=A0 The pol-<br>ice never come=
down here, because nobody in their right mind would live here, <br>and tho=
se people who pass through the area tend to speed up as they leave. =C2=A0<= br>Even the supervillains stay out of this particular neighborhood, for a s= ense<br>of gloom hangs in the air thicker than molasses, to borrow a phrase= .=C2=A0 In short,<br>you'd have to be incredibly evil to live here.<br>=
Unfortunately for Net.ropolis, somebody is living here.<br>=C2=A0 <br>=C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 _-<+*+>-_<br><br> In the factory t=
hat is the centerpiece of the above travelogue, a<br>dark figure is seen wa= lking out of a small room.=C2=A0 The lightweight armor he<br>wears reflects=
the dim light cast from overhead.=C2=A0 Pausing, he takes in his<br>surrou= ndings.=C2=A0 He is standing on a balcony, some thirty feet above the<br>fa= ctory floor.=C2=A0 Below him, several technicians and workers labor intensi= vely<br>on a large machine (if that is what it is) standing on a platform i=
n the<br>middle area.=C2=A0 They seem to be oblivious to the armored man= 9;s presence.<br> As he stands there observing the going-ons below, he refl=
ects on the<br>past few months and how things had changed drastically for t=
he better for him.<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 (---)= <br><br> It all started when he took over the New Alpha Space Station, whic=
h<br>he planned to destroy with an omega bomb (the type that could not be s= topped).<br>The fun part was that the combined energies of the bomb and the=
rift would <br>destroy the universe, which is exactly what he wanted.<br> =
Perhaps some explanation is in order.=C2=A0 The New Alpha Space Station <br= >(NASS, for short) was a scientific research station devoted to researching= <br>extra-dimensional energy as a power source.=C2=A0 The rift was an artif= icially cre-<br>ated rift in the space-time continuum, kept under control v=
ia a series of<br>highly advanced computer systems.=C2=A0 The reason for th=
e creation of the rift<br>was to allow the scientists aboard the station ea= sy, but still limited, access<br>to the extra-dimensional energies they wer=
e interested in.=C2=A0 If they could find<br>a way to harness the energies,=
the world would no longer have any energy short-<br>ages. =C2=A0<br> Which=
was why he wanted to destroy it.=C2=A0 If the world had that energy,<br>*a= nybody* could stop his plans for world conquest, and he didn't even wan=
t to<br>think about the whole world teaming up against him with it.<br> So =
he attacked.=C2=A0 Teleported straight into the space station (but<br>away = from the rift), and killed most of the people on the station.=C2=A0 By the<= br>time he had reached the rift, the Knightforce Elite had already arrived,=
but<br>he wore his most powerful armor, so they were no match for him.=C2=
=A0 Destroying<br>the machines that kept the rift under control (but not th=
e ones that kept it<br>open), and planting the omega bomb near it, he blast=
ed the decks above the<br>heroes and jumped through the rift.<br> Figuring =
that the explosion would not expand into the rift, he felt <br>relatively s= afe, for he knew that he would come out in some new, unexplored<br>universe=
ripe for conquering.<br> But he figured wrong.=C2=A0 As he tumbled through=
non-space, he felt the<br>incredible force of the blast push him faster an=
d faster (or, at least, it<br>seemed that way) for what seemed like both et= ernity and no time at all.<br> Eventually, he entered a part of non-space t= hat was rather surprising<br>to him (he had become used to the blackness th=
at had surrounded him during<br>his journey up until this point.=C2=A0 Ther=
e were hundreds of what could only be<br>described as abnormalities in the = bleakness of non-space.=C2=A0 Some of them sphere-<br>shaped, some circular= .=C2=A0 Some were large, some were small.=C2=A0 He realized that <br>they w= ere not only abnormalities, but other rifts.=C2=A0 To other worlds. =C2=A0<=
Picking a rather interesting-looking rift, he turned on his suit's<=
thrusters and made his way to it.=C2=A0 With a >SZAZ<, he burst th= rough it...<br> ...And found himself miles above the surface of what looked=
like Earth,<br>yet subtly different.=C2=A0 Down, down he fell, disoriented=
from re-entry, until,<br>finally, the suit's thrusters kicked in and h=
is descent slowed.<br> Having collected his wits by the time he reached the=
ground, he put<br>his feet firmly under himself and landed safely, just as=
if it was a normal<br>trip somewhere.=C2=A0 Taking in his surroundings, he=
found himself on a hill over-<br>looking a sprawling city.=C2=A0 And, yet,=
there was something different about this<br>world, something he couldn'=
;t place.=C2=A0 But, he decided, it could wait.<br> At least until he conqu=
ered this new world, that is.<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2= =A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 (---)<br>=C2=A0 <br> Now, in the present, a short, slightly-overweig=
ht technician approach-<br>es the tall man in light armor and a cloak.=C2=
=A0 Down on the factory floor, where<br>the techie came from, the strange m= achine still stands in the middle of the<br>platform, illuminated by overhe=
ad lights that cast an air of danger upon the<br>device.<br> Cautiously, th= e technician approaches the taller man, who completely<br>and utterly ignor=
es him, his gaze fixed on the machine.<br> "It's done, boss."=
, the technician says when he is a few feet away <br>from the taller man.<b=
"Excellent!", the cloaked man booms. =C2=A0"Tomorrow at t=
his time, all of<br>the major countries of this world will have surrendered=
to me (we hope), and<br>soon the entire world will have fallen to ...DR. A= RMAGGEDDON!=C2=A0 MU-HA-HA-HA-HA-<br>HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!!"<br><br>=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D<br><br>CHAPTER ONE: "Preludes and Stretchings"<br><br>"F= abulous First Issue!"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 --any Marvel title's first = issue cover<br><br><br> ...The bomb was about to go off, starting a chain r= eaction in the<br>space station's extra-dimensional power supply that c= ould destroy the<br>universe.=C2=A0 Most of the other Knights lied unconsci= ous on the deck, and those<br>few who were still conscious were probably in=
the Knightflyer's sickbay...or<br>dead.<br> Plymax struggled to get fr=
ee of the rubble that had pinned him not<br>more than two minutes ago.=C2=
=A0 Dr. Armaggeddon's blasting of the deck above the<br>team proved to =
be a major setback for them, as most were unable to dig<br>themselves out.= =C2=A0 But that couldn't stop Plymax; somebody had to stop<br>Armaggedd=
on before he destroyed the entire universe.<br> Thin as a paper clip, Plyma=
x pulled himself free of the metal<br>debris.=C2=A0 Snapping back to his no= rmal form, he looked around wildly for any<br>other Knights--but found none= .<br> "Stormguard!=C2=A0 Fireclaw!=C2=A0 Anybody!=C2=A0 We've gott= a stop that bomb--and<br>fast!" =C2=A0Plymax shouted, but his cries fo=
r help fell on deaf ears.=C2=A0 The<br>high-intensity noise being put out b=
y the extra-dimensional rift drowned<br>out his voice before anybody could = hear it.<br> Then he saw it.=C2=A0 Movement.=C2=A0 Over there, half under t= he station<br>insignia, a hand moved.=C2=A0 Plymax ran over to it and strug= gled to free the<br>body underneath.<br> It was Dr. Q.<br> "Doc!"=
, Plymax shouted. =C2=A0"We gotta do something!"<br> "Ply...= ", the team's resident scientific genius coughed. =C2=A0"The<= br>bomb...if it goes off...<gaaak>...on this side of the rift....<= cough>....the<br>whole universe....<wheeeeze>...could be destroyed= !....You've got to...<br><hwaak>....get the bomb....through....to=
the other....".=C2=A0 The older man<br>struggled on his words.=C2=A0 =
He would not be able to stay conscious much longer.<br>"...side."=
, he added before passing out.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0Plymax ran ove=
r towards the rift.=C2=A0 The bomb was right there.=C2=A0 Clamped<br>to the=
floor so as to not be sucked into the rift, and yet close enough to<br>the=
rift to cause some serious...you know.<br> Unscrewing the clamps, Plymax p=
icked up the bomb in both hands (it was<br>small for such a powerful thing)=
, and struggled to get to the rift.=C2=A0 But the =C2=A0<br>closer he got, = the more he realized that he couldn't just throw the bomb <br>through; =
if it missed its target, the universe would be destroyed.=C2=A0 So he did<b= r>the only thing possible.<br> He jumped through the rift.=C2=A0 Bomb and a= ll.<br> And, as he did, the second-to-last thought that entered his head wa=
s, <br>"It's happening again..."<br> The last thought was &qu=
ot;...Again?"<br> And then he woke up.<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2= =A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 _-<+*+>-_<br>=C2=A0<br> Pliable Lad shot up in bed like=
fireworks on the Forth of July. =C2=A0(In<br>fact, his head continued shoo= ting up, even after his body had stopped.) =C2=A0He<br>sat there for a good=
two to four minutes just trying to calm himself down.<br> About ten minute=
s later, he built up enough nerve to get out of bed and<br>get something to=
drink.=C2=A0 Normally, he wasn't easily scared, but these dreams<br>we= re, well, scaring him.<br> Having had a cup of cold water, he then proceede=
d back to bed.=C2=A0 Tomor-<br>row would be yet another long day for him.= =C2=A0 He tried to think happy thoughts<br>(Panta), but he couldn't kee=
p the dream out of his head.<br> He laid there for over an hour before fall=
ing asleep.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 _-<= ;+*+>-_<br><br>[An abandoned factory in Net.ropolis....]<br><br> He stoo=
d there in full regalia, overseeing his henchmen as they <br>labored intens= ely to complete construction on his secret weapon.=C2=A0 His light-<br>weig=
ht body armor, currently set to appear black, made him virtually invisi-<br= >ble in the shadows he stood in just outside the circle of light that cover=
ed <br>most of the floor.=C2=A0 His black cloak, fully extended, wrapped ar= ound him and<br>covered all but his feet and head.=C2=A0 It was quite spook= y.=C2=A0 In fact, if he had<br>bat-ears on his helmet, he would be mistaken=
for a certain Dark Knight...<br> "Soon", he thought. =C2=A0"=
;Soon I will have the entire world on its knees!<br>MU-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!&q= uot;, he cackled with delight.=C2=A0 And then, abruptly, he stop-<br>ped la= ughing.<br> "Where the h*ll did I get that laugh?"<br><br>=C2=A0 =
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 _-<+*+>-_<br>=C2=A0<br>[LNHHQ, the ne=
xt day....]<br><br> Pliable Lad had just given the grand tour of the LNH to=
the group's<br>newest member, Kid Chivalry.=C2=A0 He was glad to get i=
t over with.=C2=A0 It wasn't<br>that he anything against the newcomer, = but rather, he was annoyed that<br>Ultimate Ninja had assigned him the task=
of playing tour guide whenever one<br>was needed.=C2=A0 Sure, he had yet t=
o prove himelf, but he really wasn't getting<br>much of a chance.=C2=A0=
Maybe one of these days...<br> "Just maybe", he muttered.<br> &q=
uot;I'm sorry", said Kid Chivalry, who had been distracted by star= ing<br>with his jaw hanging at various walls along the corridor. =C2=A0&quo= t;I didn't quite <br>catch that."<br> "Oh,", said PL, su= ddenly realizing what he had done. =C2=A0"um, nothing.<br>I was just t= hinking out loud.=C2=A0 Well, partially out loud.", he added.<br> &quo= t;Oh,", said KC [Am I using too many abbreviations?=C2=A0 Let me know.=
=C2=A0<br>Call 1-800-ABBREV8.]. =C2=A0"Okay."<br> "Anyways.= ..", said Pliable Lad. =C2=A0"Here we have the cafeteria, where<b= r>most everybody eats.=C2=A0 I say most because some LNHers prefer to eat o= ut.=C2=A0 Ac-<br>tually, most of us do, especially at the Pizza Pit." = =C2=A0Pli, as he was known <br>to his friends, leaned in close to the newco= mer's ear. =C2=A0"And especially when<br>Cheesecake-Eater Lad is c= ooking.", he whispered. =C2=A0<br> Kid Chivalry was confused at first,=
but then he figured it out.=C2=A0 C-E<br>Lad had already tried to get the = net.hero to try his latest cheesecake crea-<br>tion, which virtually explod=
ed when Kid Chivalry put his fork into it.=C2=A0 It <br>made quite a mess.<=
Pleased that Kid Chivalry understood, Pliable Lad continued on. =C2=A0<=
"Over here is the monitoring room, where you can usually find Multi= -Tasking<br>Man, W.I.L.B.U.R., or Deductive Logic Man.=C2=A0 And down there=
is the elevator<br>to the peril room.", he says, stretching his right=
arm to point in the dir-<br>ection of the object in question. =C2=A0[I jus=
t *knew* you would like that, An-<br>dre'! =C2=A0:)] =C2=A0<br> On thei=
r way to the cafeteria, the two net.heroes passed Master Blaster<br>and Par= ticle Man, who were on their way back from the Peril Room.=C2=A0 Particle M= an<br>was saying something about an origin story coming on, but they missed=
it. =C2=A0<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 _-<+*+>-_<br>=
<br> They also didn't notice a small figure, no more than a centimeter =
tall,<br>jump off of Pliable Lad's boot and on to Particle Man's.= =C2=A0 As Particle Man and<br>Master Blaster passed through the main foyer,=
the figure hopped off and headed <br>towards the main door. =C2=A0<br> Sud= denly, the figure darted to the nearest wall, and hid behind a door-<br>sto=
p (you know, one of those thingies that keeps the door from crashing into<b= r>the wall whenever Ultimate Ninja storms out of a membership meeting. >= ;-) as a<br>man walked by muttering about something before turning a corner= .=C2=A0 Waiting a <br>full minute, the figure quickly ran to the door, unde=
r it, and out. =C2=A0<br> Had anyone actually been there to hear the figure=
, they would have<br>heard it mutter something along the lines of, "Yo=
ur days my foot."<br> <br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 _-<= ;+*+>-_<br><br> In the LNH cafeteria, Pliable Lad and Kid Chivalry were =
sitting at a<br>corner table eating ice cream.=C2=A0 The two net.heroes had=
finished the tour and<br>decided that they were rather hungry.=C2=A0 They = were actually left alone this<br>time; Cheesecake-Eater Lad apparently had =
to run to the store.=C2=A0 Kid Chivalry<br>nearly busted a gut laughing whe=
n Pliable Lad started praying thanks to the<br>gods above. =C2=A0(Wouldn= 9;t you?)<br> Anyways, Kid Chivalry decided to feast on a banana split, whi= le Pliable<br>Lad got himself a hot fudge sundae...triple scoop, that is. <=
"...so that's how I got here.", Kid Chivalry was saying b=
etween<br>bites into the banana. =C2=A0[See the Kid Chivalry one-shot for t=
he complete<br>story.=C2=A0 Of his arrival, not the banana. :-) --MRE]<br> =
"That's pretty neat.", Pliable Lad said. =C2=A0"You last=
ed in the PerilRoom <br>far longer than I did!"<br> "Almost fourt=
een seconds!", KC boasted. =C2=A0"Ultimate Ninja is probably<br>*= still* trying to figure it out!" =C2=A0The two laughed as thoughts of = the LNH's<br>leader in a thinking position entered their heads.<br> &qu= ot;Say, I've been wondering.", Kid Chivalry said. =C2=A0"How = did *you* join<br>the LNH?", he asked.<br> Pliable Lad looked down at = his ice cream for a moment.=C2=A0 It was<br>starting to melt. =C2=A0"I= t's a long story.", he said, looking up. =C2=A0"But it was<br= >printed in Tales of the LNH #274-275*.=C2=A0 If you want to, you can borro=
w my<br>copies." [Soon to be reprinted. --MRE]<br> "Sure,", =
KC said. =C2=A0"Thanks!"<br> Just then, a familiar voice called t=
o them from across the room.<br>"Heeeeeeeeeyyyyyyy, guys!" =C2=A0= The two net.heroes turned to see who it was,<br>and their faces paled.<br> =
Guess who was back from the store.<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 _-<+*+>-_<br><br> The small figure that had snuck out of LNHHQ=
hopped straight across<br>the street and headed straight towards an nearby=
alleyway, growing to just<br>over four feet tall as it did.<br> Five peopl=
e in costumes stood just inside the alley, looking as if they<br>were waiti=
ng for someone...or something.=C2=A0 They sighed with collected relief as<b= r>the figure approached them.<br> "It's about time.", one of =
them growled.<br> "Sorry, Fireclaw," the small one said. =C2=A0&q=
uot;This took a little longer than<br>I thought.=C2=A0 Did you know there&#= 39;s a ninja in that group?"<br> "Nightblade will be pleased, I&#= 39;m sure.", the one called Fireclaw said<br>sarcastically.<br> "= Did you find him, Bug?", another asked.<br> "Who, the ninja?"=
;<br> "Bug."<br> "Sorry.=C2=A0 Yeah, I found him.", Bug=
replied. =C2=A0"He's still wearing his<br>costume!=C2=A0 But he&#= 39;s changed his name to 'Pliable Lad' now."<br> "I take = it he's joined this 'Legion of Net.Heroes', huh?"<br> &quo= t;Yup."<br> "Stormguard," said the group's only female m=
ember. =C2=A0"what if they've<br>brainwashed him?"<br> "= We'll let Dr. Q look at him," Stormguard said. =C2=A0"once we=
get him back<br>to the ship." =C2=A0He spotted a phonebooth nearby an=
d pulled out a piece of paper <br>from his pocket.=C2=A0 The paper was an a=
d. =C2=A0<br><br> ****************************************************<br> =
Have a mystery that needs to be solved?<br> Net.villains breathing down y=
our neck?<br> A giant monster about to bite your head off?<br> Call the L=
egion of Net.Heroes!<br> 1-800-99-LNHHQ<br> ******************************=
**********************<br><br> "Anybody got a dime?"<br><br>=C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 _-<+*+>-_<br><br> Pliable Lad and =
Kid Chivalry were in a three-way argument with Cheese-<br>cake-Eater Lad ov=
er whether dining hall food was better than eating at home,<br>and why.=C2=
=A0 However, in the interest of good taste, it will not be printed.<br> Eve= ntually, the argument became rather two-sided, between KC and C-E <br>Lad.= =C2=A0 Without interrupting, Pliable Lad quietly slipped away from the two = and<br>left the cafeteria on his way back to his quarters for a good nap. = =C2=A0<br> But, as he turned the corner on his way to the stairwell, he nea=
rly <br>bumped into a tall, trenchcoat-clad figure.=C2=A0 Who then started = off on a mono-<br>logue.<br> "Once, I would have greeted you like a go= od friend, chatted about the <br>latest issues of HULK and SPIDER-MAN 2099,=
and even helped you pick out a tie<br>for your next date [! --MRE], but fo=
r now, I must remain--"<br> "Yeah, yeah, a Stranger.", Pliab=
le Lad said, interrupting him. =C2=A0"What's<br>up?"<br> The = Dvandom Stranger sighed.=C2=A0 It was always like this. =C2=A0"Forces = are<br>con- verging, plotting and planning to ensnare you in their plans.= =C2=A0 Forces<br>that are right now--"<br> Pliable Lad didn't real=
ly feel like decoding the other's monologue, so<br>instead he stretched=
his legs until he stood a good head (and then some) higher<br>than the Str= anger. =C2=A0"In English, please.", he said, looking down at the = now <br>smaller of the two.<br> Momentarily surprised (which was surprising=
in itself) by the<br>net.hero's sudden growth spur, the Dvandom Strang=
er simply said, "You're<br>about to get a phone call."<br><br= >=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 _-<+*+>-_<br><br> Fuzzy was pa= ssing by the phone in the monitoring room when it started<br>ringing.<br> &=
quot;I got it!", she yelled to Multi-Tasking Man, who was busy playing= <br>three games of Net.Trek (the Klingons were in big trouble now!), creati= ng<br>new characters on five or six MUDs (or were they MUSHes?), reading th= e<br>newsgroups (Cowling was frisky again), and stirring his coffee (decaff= einated).<br>Not that he couldn't answer the phone himself.<br> "H=
ello.=C2=A0 Legion Writers' Guild.=C2=A0 You make 'em, we pay '= em.=C2=A0 Head pay-<br>check speaking.", the Confounding Crusader said=
into the phone.<br> "Is there a 'Pliable Lad' there?", t= he male voice at the other end <br>asked.<br> "Sure.=C2=A0 Hang on a s= ec..."<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 _-<+*+>-_<br>= =C2=A0<br> Pliable Lad was still towering over the Dvandom Stranger, who ha=
d just <br>told him he was going to get a phone call, when the intercom bee= ped to life.<br> "Yo, Pli!", came Fuzzy's voice. =C2=A0<br> &=
quot;What is it, Fuzzy?", Pliable Lad asked, turning to the intercom<b= r>speaker.<br> "Phone call!"<br> "I told you.", came th=
e Dvandom Stranger's voice from behind him.=C2=A0 Pli-<br>able Lad whir= led about, but the wielder of the Editorial Staff had already van-<br>ished= .<br> "Wonderful."<br> Pliable Lad turned around and jogged brisk=
ly to the monitoring room. =C2=A0<br>When he got there, Fuzzy was standing =
by the phone with the receiver hanging by<br>her...toe.<br> "Who is it=
?", he asked her.<br> "Beats me.", she replied. =C2=A0"=
Claims he knows ya, though."<br> "Okay.=C2=A0 Thanks."<br> &=
quot;No prob."<br> Carefully picking up the receiver so as not to dist= urb Fuzzy's<br>balancing act, he spoke into it. =C2=A0"Hello, Plia= ble Lad here."<br> "We need to meet with you.=C2=A0 Be at the fou= rteenth alleyway north of the<br>intersection of Kogutt Road and Savoie Str= eet at 1700 hours."<br> >CLICK<.<br> Pliable Lad was silent for =
a moment.=C2=A0 Then he spoke. =C2=A0<br> "Oh, boy."<br><br>=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D<br><br><br><br>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br><br>Next Week: = =C2=A0Something Something LNH!!!<br><br>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br><= br>Arthur "Same Classic Channel.=C2=A0 But Same Time?=C2=A0 Probably n= ot." Spitzer </div>
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