The day after the Saturday Massacre…

That had been one hell of a match last night. I got out of bed, complaining about Sasa Dark and that bitch Kashumi. I find that griping about things in the privacy of your own home, helps relive the tension. After a generous breakfast I set about thinking about my next set of problems for the day, namely my formal entrance into ACU. I looked at the clock. 6:30…Well I had better get my stuff packed up.

One hour later…

*ZIP*

Ethan: Hmmm…I think that’s everything.

I looked down at Ratbert and Rattikate.

Ethan: Ready you two?

Ratbert and Rattikate: ^_^! SQUEAK!

Ethan: Let’s go then.

We headed off through the city. I was carrying two large duffle bags full of my stuff while Ratbert and Rattiake followed close behind. Anime City University looked calm in the morning light, just like it had the last time I stopped by. I knew where the Campus Admin building was this time, and I didn’t waste any time getting there.

Well…I didn’t waste any time, but other people certainly found ways to waste it for me. The same bunch of preppies that I ran into last time managed to waylay me half way to the Admin office.

Ethan: >=|…GO AWAY!

Lead Preppie: Well look who it is! Dice Bag!

Ethan: …..

I made a mental note to kill Sasa for coming up with that name. The preppies surrounded me and cracked their knuckles menacingly.

Ethan: -_-…You have GOT to be kidding me!

Lead Preppie: >=|!! No Dice Bag! We aren’t kidding! We don’t want you in ACU! So get the hell out!

Preppies. One of the great plagues that had been unleashed upon man kind. Some wonder why these people seem to gain their strength from the misery of others. When they ask this question, they usually get the same answers. That they came from broken homes and are insecure and that they need to look down on people to make up for their past trauma. Or how they’re just misunderstood…well I can tell you that it’s all bullshit. I can tell you why Preppies act the way they do.

When I lived in Muncie, there was an ivy league college across town. I watched this place intently. And I had never been more amazed in my life…for these uber rich kids there was never anything to worry about. They KNEW they would pass their tests, they KNEW they would graduate and they KNEW that everything would work out fine. It was like Privilege World, where everything worked out the way it was supposed to. (Don’t blame these people, they’re the victims of social promotion.) But, despite all this they were never rude. (As one girl informed me "Only vulgar people insult the lower classes.")

Now lets turn our attention to the true preppie. Preppies are members of the rapidly expanding upper middle class, sons and daughters of dot-com millionaires, and venture capitalists. However, they don’t want to be part of the middle class. They want to be those Ivy League nobs, who never have to worry about a thing in life. Thusly, they look down on the rest of middle class America. Well, that’s my theory at least…it might help explain why I was facing down a bunch of idiots who didn’t want me to come to the college they thought was theirs…Anyway…I had been thought one hell of an adventure last week, and I wasn’t about to let these fuck faces lord it over me….

Ethan: >=|!! *nut shot*

*WHAM*

Preppie: X_X….*sinks to the ground*

Taking advantage of the gap I had just made, I tore off through the campus with the idiot brigade right behind me.

Ethan: >=|!! *pulls a d100 from his bag* Let’s see how you like these odds…

*TOSS* *BOUNCE* *BOUNCE*

Preppies: O_o?

*KA-BOOM*

Preppies: X_X…

Ethan: >=)!! HEH!

After dealing with the stooges, I made my way to the Campus Admin building for the second time since I had come to Anime City. I headed to the front desk and got the attention of one of the registrars.

Registrar: Can I help you?

Ethan: I passed the entrance exams last week. I came to get my dorm assignment.

After giving her my name she called up something on her computer. While she did whatever it was she needed to do, I let my mind wander, as I have a habit of doing when I have nothing to do.

Registrar: Mr. Rice?

Ethan: O_O! Oh! Sorry…

She handed me my student ID.

Registrar: You’ve been placed in S&M Dorm. With a little bit of luck you might graduate from this place.

Ethan: Thanks. *begins to walk off*

Registrar: *under her breath* You’re gonna need it kid…

Ethan: O_o? What did you say?

Registrar: O_O!! Nothing! Just wishing you a good term.

Somehow I had a feeling she hadn’t done anything of the sort. But considering that I couldn’t prove it, I let it go and got on with finding my dorm. That proved to be an easy enough task. There was a map of the campus in one of those kiosks right outside the Admin building, odd enough I hadn’t noticed it last time I had been here.

S&M was obviously the smallest dorm on campus in fact, when compared to the dorm next door it looked down right insignificant. For a second I considered asking for a transfer to the huge dorm, but that thought was driven from my mind when I saw a gaggle of preppies leave the building.

Ethan: >=|…

With that decision out of the way I slid my card through the door scanner. The door clicked and I headed inside. The first stop was the admin office that you could find in any given dorm in any given campus across the USA. I got my room assignment, from a rather cranky administrator who didn’t seem to happy to be stationed in this dorm.

Administrator: You got a room on the third floor. *tosses Ethan a key* Now get out. >=|…

Ethan: *after he leaves* >=|! Hmmmppphhhh…Who put a bur up his dice bag?

Ratbert/Rattikate: -_-…Squeak…

Ethan: No, I have not heard any weird stories about this place for your information…O_o…Though I can’t shake the feeling I’ve heard about this place before…

I shrugged it off and headed up to the third floor. I found my room, (312) and partially collapsed through the door. To my surprise, the room was already occupied by someone. He had tangled brown hair, and he was hunched over a computer, with his nose no more than an inch away from the screen.

Ethan: O_O! Sorry! I didn’t know you were in here!

Neo-Yo: *typing*

Ethan: O_o? Hello?

Neo-Yo: *keeps typing*

Odd. He must be really wrapped up in something. Sighing, I decided to un-pack. I pulled my shirts out of my duffel bag and crammed them into an empty drawer in one of the dressers in the room.

Ethan: What’s your name?

Neo-Yo: *keeps typing*

Ethan: e_e…

What the hell could he be working on? Did he even know I was IN here?

Ethan: So, what are you working on anyway?

Neo-Yo: *keeps typing*

Un-frikin believable… I shot a glance at my rats, who looked just as bewildered as I did. I kept un-packing and trying to make conversation at the same time.

Ethan: *puts his pants away* e_e…Do you spend a lot of time on that thing?

Neo-Yo: *still pays no attention to Ethan*

Ethan: >=|!! Are you this arrogant ALL the time?

Neo-Yo: *keeps typing*

Things continued along these lines until I had managed to put all my crap away. Then I turned to my less than social room mate and made one more attempt to get his attention.

Ethan: *stalks over to Neo-Yo* >=|! HEY! Are you gonna ignore everything I say? Or can we take a stab at actual conversation.

Neo-Yo: >=|!! *slams his hands on the desk* DAMN IT! Why can’t I get past this damn firewall?!

Ethan: e_e…*reaches over his shoulder and taps on a few keys*

Neo-Yo: *watches the fire wall disappear* O_O…>=|!! Ok…how the hell did you do that?

Ethan: Gamer’s luck…

Neo-Yo: O_o…

Ethan: What the hell are you working on anyway?

Neo-Yo: I’m trying to crack the Matrix!

Ethan: O_O…The Matrix? …as in the movie Matrix?

Neo-Yo: e_e…Yeah…you’re gonna make some kind of smart aleck comment about that?

Ethan: O_O…NO! I know the Matrix is real! I’ve seen it!

Neo-Yo: O_O!!!

Ethan: Yer just looking in the wrong place…

Neo-Yo: O_o…And the place I’m supposed to look?

Ethan: e_e…Well…I could tell you…but then I’d have to kill you…

Neo-Yo: LOL!!! o_o…Wait…you’re serious…

Ethan: e_e…Yes…

This lead to an awkward silence, which I didn’t really care for. I decided to break the ice.

Ethan: *sticks out his hand* Since we’re going to be room mates I guess I should introduce myself. Ethan Rice, gamer and general lunatic.

Neo-Yo: *shakes Ethan’s hand* Neo-Yo

*MREEP* *MREEP*

Ethan: O_O!! Uhhh…excuse…

I dashed out into the hall and answered my Gaming Guardian line.

Ethan: Hello?

EDG: >=|! Get your ass back to base…NOW…

Ethan: O_O! What?!

EDG: We got a major situation here! And we need you on deck!

Ethan: e_e…You’re guys timing really sucks…

EDG: So what? Look, you have your instructions, and I expect you to follow them. Is that understood?

Ethan: -_-….yeah…

Sighing I hung up the phone. What the hell had gone wrong this time?

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

I made my excuses to Neo-Yo and then left the building. I ducked around the side of S&M before I fired up my Jaunt system. When I phased back in a GG HQ, I could tell that something real bad had gone down. The halls were bathed with a red light from the warning lights. Also EDG was waiting for me.

EDG: >=|!! About time you got here! We got a major situation!

Ethan: What kind of situation?

EDG: Some wise ass GM was running a session of Brave New World. He thought, "Wouldn’t it be great if a famous Super Hero like Spiderman was in Brave New World?" So he promptly stole a jaunt system and arranged it so Spidy blundered right into Washington DC!

Ethan: O_O!! DC in the Brave New World System!!? X_x…He’s dead…

In the BNW system, about 100 Alpha level Super Humans guarded DC. What do I mean by Alpha level? Think Superman, but minus the invincibility. Laser eyes, super strength, energy blasts, super speed, whatever…And Spidy had another problem. In that world the penalty for being an un registered Super Human was DEATH.

EDG: I imagine you know how much trouble he’s in.

Ethan: O_O…*nods*

EDG: Good! Cause the big men upstairs want you to go in and get him!

Ethan: O_O!! ALONE? I can't! I'm still a rookie! You can't expect me to do this!

EDG: No! Ethan…its time we set you up…your own Gaming Guardian team. You’re team will go in and perform the extraction. Consider this your trial by fire!

Ethan: O_O…What about the GM who caused all this?

EDG: The rest of us are mobilizing to get him! Now come with me!

I followed EDG through the winding corridors of GG HQ. Eventually we came to what looked like a meeting room. EDG slammed his hand against the keypad and the door slid open. There were three people inside already.

EDG: Ok freaks! This here is your new Squad Leader!

At once two of the figures stood and faced me. They were both lizards, about 4 ft tall and with chameleon like eye stalks. They looked like twins…but then again all members of their species may look like that…

EDG: Ethan, meet Ulhass and Ristlin.

Ulhass/Ristlin: *bow to Ethan* We greet you superior sir!

Ethan: O_O! Superior sir?

Ulhass: You are squad commander are you not?

Ethan: O_O…Yeah…

Ristlin: Then its only natural we call you "superior sir".

Ethan: O_O…..whatever…

The third person in the room was a half bat half human male. His wings were draped over his shoulders like a cape and his arms were crossed. His pants were torn and ripped, and they were held around his waist by a knotted rope.

EDG: Ethan, this is Da Boom Bat.

Boom Bat: *gives Ethan a glance* e_e…Doesn’t look like much…

Ethan: >=|!!!

EDG: I don’t give a rat’s ass what you think he looks like Double B! He’s your commander and you’ll do what your told! Understood!?

BB: e_e…Sure…

EDG: >=|!! Right! Now we gotta get you some equipment! Head down to out fitting! Then you’ll Jaunt straight to DC! Understand?

Ethan: Yes!

A little bit later…

The out fitting department is where Gaming Guardians get assigned equipment before heading out on a mission. It’s kind of a sub division of the weapons’ department. The department looked like the Q’s lab from a James Bond movie. They were already expecting us when we arrived.

Worker: Ulhass and Ristlin! Get over here! We gotta get you some weapons!

Ulhass/Ristlin: It shall be done superior sir!

The worker flipped a switch that was situated on the wall and a panel moved aside to reveal the most extensive collection of MIB style energy weapons I’ve ever seen. Ulhass and Ristlin were over joyed. Hissing happily they dashed over to the wall and proceeded to select the best weapons they could get their scaly mitts on. Another worker approached me.

Worker #2: Now, you already have a Conversion Matrix so we don’t need to give you much. However, we do have a rather useful tool that you should recognize.

He held up what looked like a high tech cigar.

Ethan: O_O!! Hey! That’s Neurolizer!

Worker #2: Correct! When we found that world, we cut a deal with the MIB to let us have their Neurolizer technology. It’s come in quite handy as I’m sure you can guess.

Ethan: O_O!! Yeah…

Worker #2: Now for you Mr. Bat.

Boom Bat: >=|!! I don’t need your stinking equipment!

Worker #2: O_O….Right…Uhhh…Anyway! Good luck! Get out there and do your job! >=|!

Ethan: @_@…We’re gonna need it…

Meanwhile…

Ameri Commando: >=|!! HAULT! Un-registered Super Human! Surrender yourself for immediate liquidation!

Sipderman: O_O…*thinking* Does he REALLY expect me to do that?*

Everyone’s favorite web slinger is swinging for everything he’s worth, trying to get away from the horde of super humans that are on his ass. We all gotta feel sorry for the guy, to be minding his own business and then to be dumped into some world where everyone’s trying to kill him.

Spiderman: O_O!! Where the hell am I? And what kind of messed up world IS this?

He swings around a corner, and nearly collides with some bat-winged woman. She laughs in a Tira-dominatrix manner. She gabs Spiderman by his neck and slams him into a wall.

Woman: >=)!! Hmmmm…You look delish! I could eat you right up!

Spiderman: X_x?! Who are you?!

Nightshade: ^_^! Call me NightShade! >=)! Now to kill you!

In desperation, Spdiy gives her a spray of webbing right into the face. This forces her to let go. Quick as a flash, Spiderman wraps her up in webbing so tight she can’t even move. Then he takes off as a pair of green energy sphere’s slam into the building right where he was standing.

Spiderman: *swing* This…*swing* …is…*swing* insane!

Spidy shoots another web, but when he’s in mid swing an energy beam slices through the web. Spiderman drops a good 50 feet onto the streets below and hits the pavement with a resounding *SMACK*!

Spiderman: @_@…

He stands up, a little bit shaky on his feet. But then his Spider Sense begins to go haywire.

???: >=|!! TRAG CRUSH SPIDER GUY!!

Spiderman: O_O!

*WHAM*

Spiderman: X_x…

Spidy is sent flying across the street, where he crashes into a Ford Expedition. He shakes his head to get the clouds out of his skull. Looking up he sees what looks like a huge Triceratops-man holding a car above his head.

Trag: >=|!! RAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!! *tosses the car at Spidy*

Spiderman jumps out of the way and the car misses him by no more than an inch. The web slinger takes off again with the super humans still right behind him. Then, as he pulls level with an alley way…

Spiderman: O_O!! *is grabbed and dragged into the alley*

???: Don’t say anything and you might just live to get out of here.

Spiderman: O_O…*doesn’t say a damn thing*

Spiderman and his mysterious rescuer can see the horde of Super Humans searching the for them. The mystery person drags Spidy further into the shadows. Eventually the super humans give up the search and leave the area.

???: *let’s Spiderman go* Damn…that was too close…

Spiderman turns around to come face to face with the Boom Bat. Ulhass and Ristlin slink their way out of the shadows, guns in hand. Then Ethan steps from a doorway.

Ethan: >=|! Yer a long way from home Parker!

Spiderman: O_O!!! How do you know…

Ethan: …who you are? I know a lot of things Parker. And I know how to get you out of here.

Spiderman: O_o? Who are you?

Boom Bat: Gaming Guardians. And we’re your ride out of here!

Ethan: Ulhass, Ristlin! Watch the perimeter! I’ll prepare the Juant.

Ulhass and Ristlin scuttle to opposite sides of the alley and keep their eye turrets on the streets. Ethan pulls out his jaunt system and prepares to get them out of there.

Ethan: Junt in…5…4…3…2…

*KA-THOWM*

A small missile drops from the sky and impacts into Ethan’s hand.

Ethan: >_< ! SHIT! *grips his scorched hand*

Malicious laughter echoed through the alley, as a figure slowly lowered itself from the sky. Bright blue armor with a white star motif splashed across the chest plate, covered a figure that looked like a pro wrestler on steroids. The mask that was shaped like an eagles head he was wearing couldn’t hide the look of absolute distain that was on his face. Ethan and Spiderman backed up and considered going for the other end of the alley, but a cry from Ulhass quashed that idea. Ethan chanced a glance behind him. A glowing green human form had blocked that avenue of escape.

Ethan: e_e…I think we might be in trouble…

Boom Bat: e_e…You think?

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

Ok, let’s review shall we? I had been called in to get a misplaced Spiderman back to his home world. Upon arriving we had managed to save him from a horde of out of control super humans, but then RIGHT before we were gonna get out of there…some idiot destroys my Jaunt System, and that really sucked for two reasons. Firstly, we were now trapped in the "Brave New World" system…and the second? …They’d take the price of that Jaunt system out of my salary…Some days it really didn’t pay to be me…

Anyway. Here I was with my GG team and Spiderman, facing down a pair of super powered psychos whose only interest was to make sure we weren’t breathing by the end of our little encounter.

Boom Bat: e_e…So…does anyone have any suggestions?

Blue Armor Guy: e_e…I got one!

Boom Bat: e_e…I wasn’t asking you dickweed!

BAG: >=|!!!!

Ristlin: I have a suggestion! >=|! You put your hands above your head!

Ahhh! Good boy Ristlin. BAG, had interposed himself between Ristlin and the rest of us. Which meant he was exposing his backside to Ristlin’s high-powered energy cannon. The Lizard had the cannon pointed right at the base of BAG’s neck. However the armored superhuman looked quite un-concerned.

BAG: My my…it appears that the Spider has a little nest of friends…Though they don’t look like much…

Glowing Green Guy: Yes, Ameri Commando…they do look like runts…

Ameri Commando: Yes…I agree Plasmo…

In a form of response Ulhass pulled a huge ass knife from his belt. Plasmo didn’t seem to care. Now this worried me. Considering that we out numbered them, and that we had the drop on one of them, neither member of the pair seemed that concerned.

Ristlin: Hands above your head!

Ameri Commando shot a glance behind him.

Ameri Commando: e_e…As you wish…

He very slowly raised his hands as he turned on spot. Then Ristlin made the tactical error of lowering his gun ever so slightly. Ameri Commando didn’t take this mistake for granted. Before poor Ristlin even realized it, and armored fist had hit him squarely on his elongated jaw.

*WHAM*

Ristlin: X_X!!!

He flipped head over tail and landed in a pile of garbage cans. Ulhass spun around.

Ulhass: O_O!! Ristlin!

*WHAM*

Ulhass: X_x…

That was Plasmo executing a nice kick on the side of his skull. Ulhass kind of folded up like an accordion and rocked back and forth. Well, that was two members of the team down…so that left, Boom Bat, Spidy, and me.

*CRACKLE*

Ethan: O_o?

*FWOOM*

The next thing I felt was a searing pain in my stomach as an energy blast hit my hard. I fly rapidly out of the area and was slammed into a car. The glass and metal crumpled under the impact.

Ethan: X_x…*coughs up blood*

Well that was a fun learning experience! From now on when I see a glowing green guy that PROBABLY means that he can shoot energy beams of some kind!

Plasmo: >=|!! *flies after Ethan*

*WHAM*

Ethan: X_x…*coughs up more blood*

That was the aftermath of him punching me in the gut. Well, if I didn’t fire up my Conversion Matrix within the next five seconds I was gonna be dead. So I decided to give our green friend a little surprise.

Ethan: X_x…>=|!!!

*KA-THWOOM*

Plasmo: O_O!!! *is blown into the side of a building*

Yes! I felt charged! I felt alive! I felt POWERFUL!

Plasmo: O_O!! What are you?

Ethan: >=)!! *with blue skin and lighting crackling around his hands* I am a Gaming Guardian! >=|!! AND YOUR’E SCREWED BOY!!

Meanwhile…back with…Spidy and the Bat…

Ameri Commando: >=|…Surrender and I promise you that your deaths will be quick and painless.

Spiderman: e_e…And you really expect us to do that?

Ameri Commando: -_-…Not really, but we’re required to give that warning to all wild super humans. It’s kind of like Miranda rights.

Spiderman: >=|!! You’d compare THAT to Miranda rights!

Ameri Commando: o_o…Yeah…

Spiderman: >=|!! WHAT KIND OF SCREWED UP WORLD IS THIS!?

Boom Bat: >=|!! Enough talk Commando! Let’s dance!

Ameri Commando: My pleasure!

Commando and Boom Bat take to the sky. Spiderman watched them clash.

Spiderman: O_O…e_e…Boom Bat is a bit on the arrogant side…

Spidy climbs up the side of the building so that he can get a better view of the battle. Meanwhile Boom Bat is doing his best to rip Ameri Commando to shreds. He dives at Ameri Commando, claws extended and attempts to rip his throat out. Ameri Commando jets out of the way and snaps off a couple of missiles from his armor. Bats get’s slammed into the roof of a building, and Ameri Commando follows up with a double knee drop.

Boom Bat: x_X!! Son of a bitch!

Ameri Commando: >=)! Now to finish the job!

He raises his arm and prepares to give Boom Bat a point blank missile barrage. However…

*FWAP*

Ameri Commando: O_O!! Wha…

Spiderman has wrapped his webs around the Ameri Commandos arm to prevent him from finishing Boom Bat off.

Boom Bat: X_x…>=|!! Stay OUT of this Spiderman! This is MY fight! *tackles Ameri Commando around the waist*

Spiderman: -_-….

However…Ameri Commando isn’t amused with Boom Bat’s vigor.

Ameri Commando: >=|! Vermin…

He knees Bat in the chin and hurls him across the sky. Bat rights himself…just in time to see Ameri Commando launch his finishing technique. A trio of missiles, a pair of fire balls and a great blue laser beam slam into Boom Bats. He plummets from the sky and lands inside a dumpster that happened to be open. Ameri Commando then turns his attention to Spiderman.

Ameri Commando: >=|…

Spiderman: O_O…

Back with Ethan and Plasmo

Ethan: >=|!! *fries Plasmo with a huge ass bolt of lighting*

Plasmo: X_X!! >=|! *fires a plasma beam back at Ethan*

*KA-BOOM*

This wasn’t getting us anywhere. We had been trading energy beams for the last 15 minutes and neither one of us had gotten an advantage on the other. So I decided a change of tactics was in order. I charged Plasmo, shifting into Street Samurai mode along the way. He shot another beam at me, which I jumped over. As soon as I landed be hind him I extended my blades and ripped a good chunk out of his back, then it was a quick shift back to super hero mode and a lighting blast to the back as well.

Plasmo: X_X! *is slammed against the wall*

Before I could follow up, a firework of some kind leapt skyward and exploded. Plasmo seemed to take heart from this.

Plasmo: >=)! So long sucker!

He raised his hands and let loose some kind of plasma flash. It blinded me temporarily, and when I got my vision back Plasmo was gone. A cough from behind me caught my attention.

Ethan: O_O…Oh my god…

Ulhass and Ristlin were supporting Boom Bat on their shoulders. The poor guy’s skin was scorched all over and he looked like he was barely conscious.

Boom Bat: X_x!! He got him!! The Ameri Commando kidnapped Spiderman!

…Great…things were going to hell and a hand basket…and it was all going to come down on my shoulders…

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

Boom Bat: Ok…we lost Spiderman. Now what?

That was Boom Bat after we had treated his wounds. Batz and I were hiding in the basement of an abandoned apartment complex, in the now run down slums that was the residential area of the city.

Ethan: We go get him…

Boom Bat: >=|! Where are we supposed to FIND him! It’s a big city and by the time we track him down they’ll probably have executed him.

Ethan: e_e…Don’t you know anything about this system?

Boom Bat: O_O…uhhhh…

Ethan: >=\!! I’ll take that as a no. In this world, Dictator for Life JFK always goes for public executions, and he always makes the location public knowledge!

Boom Bat: O_O…ahhhh…

Ethan: >=|…Anyway…Ulhass and Ristlin should be back soon…

Sure enough, the lizards came scuttling into the room. They had several fliers in their hands. Ulhass unrolled them on the floor. They were quite to the point. The execution was to take place in two hours at the White House.

Boom Bat: e_e…That’s all well and good, but how do we know that’s where Spiderman’s actually being held? They could just have some kind of video feed set up…

Ristlin: No superior sir! We asked the local super hero underground, and Spiderman will be held in a basement room of the White House.

Boom Bat: e_e…One last thing…how are we gonna get in?

Ethan: >=)!! Leave that to me…

* * *

The White House lawn was packed with people, who were milling around in excitement over the up coming event. It made me sick to my stomach, and painfully reminded me how much can go wrong over one changed event in history. What’s that event you ask?

Well, remember when JFK was assinated? In this world a group of super humans tried the exact same thing. The main difference being that JFK managed to avoid the bullet…but Jackie didn’t. With his wife dead, Johnny went a little bit off the deep end. Now a days the Land of Liberty has become a rough equivalent of Nazi Germany, with Super Humans as the brand new SS. Twisted you say? Tell me about it…

I pushed my way towards the front of the crowd, with Bats and the Lizard twins in tow. They were wearing heavy trench coats and wide brimmed hats to hide themselves from prying eyes.

Boom Bat: O_O…I don’t believe that actually WORKED!

Ethan: >=)!! A little trick that Mao Se Tung taught his men. Most people don’t pay any attention to those around them. So its quite easy for sneaky gits like us to move around un seen.

Ulhass: Ahhh yes…I’ve read the teachings of this Mao! His economic ideas were inherently flawed, but he was an excellent guerilla fighter.

We stopped at the velvet ropes that separated the crowd from the podium where JF Hitler would be speaking.

Ethan: e_e…Ok…I’ll raise a ruckus out here. You guys get the Spider. Got it?

Bat/Lizard Twins: >=|!! RIGHT!

They moved back out into the crowd and I waited for the show to start. There was a large movie screen behind the podium. After a few minutes a hidden band began to play "Hail to the Chief" and Kennedy, looking much older than the pictures I saw in my History books, climbed onto the podium.

Kennedy: ^_^! Welcome my fellow countrymen to another Rouge Super Human execution!

Crowd: *POPS*

Ethan: -_-…

Kennedy: ^_^!! Now…this execution is a special case! We will be using 100% toxin and 0% anesthetic! Which means our subject will be experiencing ALL of the excruciating pain!

Ethan: o_o…*these sick, sick fucks*

Kennedy: ^_^! Now! Let’s get this thing started…

It was now or never. Summoning up all my courage I shouted at the top of my lungs.

Ethan: >=|!! HEY, HEY JFK! HOW MANY KIDS DID YOU KILL TODAY?

Crowd: *gasps*

Kennedy’s face immediately lost its kind, paternal matter. What I saw in its place was malice in its distilled form.

Kennedy: >=|!! WHAT DID YOU SAY?

Ethan: >=|!! HEIL HITLER! You’re nothing more than a fucking Nazi!

Kennedy began to shake, and his face turned a nasty beet color.

Kennedy: >=|!! Ameri Commando! Plasmo! Teach this…boy…some manners…

The two monsters from the other day floated down from the roof of the White House and landed before me.

Ethan: ^_^! Ossu!

Ameri Commando: >=|!! Plasmo you should have finished the kid off back there!

Plasmo: e_e…Well you CALLED me!

Kennedy: >=|!! JUST SHUT UP AND KILL HIM!

Ameri Commando: e_e…Right…

Using the Matrix I shifted back to the blue skinned lighting tosser I was earlier on. Ameri Commando rushed me like a line backer. I took to the sky, not wanting to involve any innocents…even if they were scum…

*WHAM*

Damn it! That’s what I get for my private musings! A boot to the stomach. I returned the favor by placing both my hands against his mask and letting loose a high-powered electric blast.

Ameri Commando: X_x!! FUCK!

I smirked, but my jubilation was short lived. A searing energy blast ripped into my back and gave me a nice face first view of the ground.

Ethan: X_x…*eats turf*

Ameri Commando landed a nice drop kick on my neck, (I’ll give him an 8.9 for form.) before hauling me up by my collar and giving me a bitch slap to end all bitch slaps.

*BLAOW*

Ethan: X_x…*sails through the air and lands against the iron fence…HARD*
Oh, son of a bitch!

However, my opponents became somewhat distracted at this point. When I was able to look up again I noticed that the movie screen had come on…what I saw made me laugh my ass off.

Boom Bat/Ulhass/Ristlin/Spiderman: ^_^!! *waving at the crowd*

Kennedy: >=|!! RRAAAAAAAAGGHHHH! CAPTURE THEM!!

Ethan: >=)!! *clothesline on Plasmo and Ameri Commando*

They flipped right over and I gave them a nasty shock just for the hell of it.

Ethan: >=|! Eat it motherfuckers!

The front of the White House was blown away. Ulhass and Ristlin lead the mad dash for the gat, followed by Spiderman, and with Boom Bat bringing up the rear.

Ethan: Let’s MOVE people!

One daring escape later…

Where in the Oval Office and JFK is looking like he’s about to go into cardiac arrest! Ameri Commando and Plasmo are on the other side of the desk and looking really embarrassed.

JFK: >=|…You let them escape…

Ameri Commando: O_O…

Plasmo: O_O…Sir…permission to speak freely…

JFK: >=|…Granted…

Plasmo: Those people seemed more interested in getting away…I don’t think they’re subversives…perhaps we can just let them go….o_o…

He stops taking at once, cause JFK is giving him the old evil eye.

JFK: >=|…Perhaps you want to re-think what you said. Because if we go easy on these giys…then every rouge super human will take that as a license to do what ever the hell they want! And then…it won’t stop…IT WILL NEVER STOP!! >=|!! Now… you WILL track down those supers…and you WILL kill them! Is that understood? >=|!

Ameri Commando/Plasmo: -_-…Yes sir!

Meanwhile…

Ethan: Ok…now how are we supposed to get out of this system?

Ulhass: I’ve managed to put together a make shift Jaunt system…however…it lacks the strength to totally break the dimensional barrier…

Boom Bat: So we’re stuck?

Ulhass: Not so! There are a few weak places in the barrier in this world…in these places our makeshift system can get us through.

Spiderman: Where’s the closest one?

Ulhass: …New York City…just off the 82 floor of the Twin Towers…

Ethan: >_<…Beautiful…

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

I yawned and rolled over in the bus seat. It was uncomfortable as hell, and I had gotten almost zero sleep on the way to New York. Why were we on a bus you ask? To be inconspicuous. JFK’s goons were most likely watching the planes, so we’d slip in by bus.
Boom Bat was in the seat next to me, blanket pulled over him so that no one could tell he was a Super Human. Ulhass and Ristlin were hiding in the baggage compartment beneath the floor, and Parker…

Parker: -_-…..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Ethan and Boom Batz: >=|!!

Ethan: *whacks Parker upside the head*

Parker: O_O!! I’m up!

Boom Batz: *rolls eyes* Glad you could join us. We’ll be arriving in NYC soon. After that it’s a straight shot to the Twin Towers. I assume you still got your costume on you?

Parker: =\…Yeah.

Boom Batz: Very good.

Ethan: Parker. I got something for you.

Parker: O_o…What?

I held out what looked like an undersized conversion matrix.

Ethan: This is what we call a Mini Matrix. A full Conversion Matrix like the one I got implanted in my spinal cord, allows me to shift into full different forms. Like a superhero or a Street Samurai…

Parker: O_O…ok…

Ethan: Now, a Mini Matrix allows someone to enhance abilities that they already have. Such as speed or strength depending on the Matrix. This model I have here is a speed booster. That should give you a little bit of an edge on Plasmo and Ameri Commando.

I handed the Mini Matrix to Parker.

Parker: O_o? What am I supposed to do with it?

Boom Batz: Just press it against the back of your neck.

Ethan: Now you’re gonna feel a sharp pain…

Parker: *presses it against his neck* X_x!! @#&*#%!!!

Ethan: O_O…I told you you’d feel a sharp pain…

Parker: -_-…To you Guardians always have to do things the most brutal and straightforward way possible?

Boom Batz: …Yeah…pretty much so.

Ethan: O_O…*nods*

Parker: O_O!!! *face fault*

Anyway…we pulled into NYC a little bit later. The general plan was to hole up in a hotel until darkness fell. At least then we’d have a little bit more cover from prying eyes. So, we found a cheep motel (hey, the GG"s don’t refund all my expenses) and shacked up for the day. However, tensions began to grow as time went on. Boom Batz was far to arrogant and self-serving for my or Parker’s taste. On the other hand was Ulhass and Ristlin. They were quite laid back and seemed to take this entire mission as one big game. So between dealing with Batz’s hot dogging, and the Lizard Twins "who gives a damn attitude" Parker and I were getting really close to snapping.

Ethan: e_e…*grinds his teeth* This team is going to be the death of me…

Parker: e_e…You have my sympathies…

It was getting dark. Time to get going.

Ethan: Ok. We’re gonna split off into two separate groups. That way they won’t be able to get us all at once if they find us. Ulhass! Ristlin!

Ulhass/Ristlin: Yes superior sir?

Ethan: Head out into the city, move around a bit, then come at the Towers from the west. Spidy, Boom Batz and myself will do the same, but come from the east. We’ll then meet on the roof of Tower #2. Then it’s a literal hop, skip and jump over the edge to the portal.

Spidy: Sounds dangerous. What if the portal doesn’t open?

Ethan: Then we’ll all make a nice splat mark on the cement, and we won’t have to worry about the mission anymore.

Spidy: …

Ethan: Let’s just get going…

As soon as we hit the streets the Lizard twins went one way, and we headed the other. Now, let me tell you something, as stable as American may be in the Brave New World system, it came at a price. And that price came down on the shoulders of the basic citizen of this world. All around squalor and filth was the order of the day, and not one city official gave a damn about it. Sickening really. Even from our route of travel, (the roof tops and sky), we could still see the results of dictator for life JFK’s fucked up policies. After traveling for a while we came to a stop for a quick rest.

Spidy: Seems a rather quiet…

Ethan: To quiet…I don’t like it at all…call me crazy…but I think we’re being followed…

*KA-BOOM*

A massive explosion that ripped the roof to shreds pitched me forward. Shifting as I rolled, I came up in full Super Hero mode. Plasmo and Ameri-Commando was hovering over our heads.

Ethan: e_e…Well, look who’s here! It’s the stooges!

Plasmo/Ameri Commando: >=|!!

Boom Batz: >=|!! *cracks his knuckles*

We stared at each other for a few seconds…and then we launched ourselves at each other. I head butted Plasmo into the façade of a skyscraper as Spidy and Batz concentrated on Ameri Commando. Plasmo recovered from my head but rather quickly, and he gave me a point blank blast to my face with his freaking plasma!

Ethan: X_x…*crashes into another building*

Plasmo swooped after me, and slammed his fists into my stomach. I grabbed Plasmo by the back of his head and smashed it into the concrete. While he was distracted I darted behind him and lit him up with an odd 200,000 volts of electricity.

Plasmo: X_x…*twitches* >=|!!!

Plasmo formed a ring of energy in his hands and hurled it at me. I tried to deflect it away with a lighting blast, but it ripped right through my lighting and wrapped around me. The next thing I knew pain was ripping through every fiber of my being.

Ethan: X_x!!! #&@*&*&@!!

Meanwhile…

Spiderman shoot some of webs around Ameri Commando’s leg, and pulled. Ameri Commando hit the roof with a grunt. However, the impact didn’t throw the super human off that much. He turned towards Spiderman and raised his arm cannon.

Spiderman: O_O!!

Americ Commando: >=|!!! *opens fire with a laser gatling gun*

Spiderman goes into a Matrix style dodging frenzy. Energy bullet after energy bullet streaks by Spiderman. But as close as a few come, not one of them manages to hit the web slinger. After the barrage is over, Spidy rushes Ameri Commando and hits him in the chin with a nice roundhouse kick. Of course, Ameri Commando is livid.

Ameri Commando: >=|!!! DAMN YOU!! You’re not that fast!! You weren’t that fast before!

Spiderman: O_O…*thinks* That speed boost is really working…

Ameri Commando takes a kick right in the back from Boom Batz. While Commando is kissing the concrete, Boom Batz is getting ready to unleash a little…surprise on the super hero’s ass. Boom Batz opens his mouth wide and fires off a blast of sound waves. The sound waves drill Ameri Commando through the roof and following floors. Boom Batz chances a glance at his watch.

Boom Batz: >=|!! We got less than an hour before our window of opportunity closes! After that there’s no telling how long we’d have to wait before we can make another attempt at Jaunting off system!

Spiderman: >_=|!! RICE!! We gotta move!

Ethan: X_x!! I’m a little busy at the moment!!

Plasmo: >=|!! *is chocking Ethan*

Boom Batz: >_

Spidy and Batz head for Ethan, but Ameri Commando plows through the roof and intercepts the pair. Things are beginning to look rather bad for our heroes, when a pair of missiles streak out of the darkness and slam into Plasmo and Commando. Both super humans are knocked away. Ulhass and Ristlin come flying in on a pair of sky boards.

Ulhass: >=|!! *lowers an energy cannon at Plasmo* HISSSSS!!

*FRRRZZZAAAPP!*

*WHAM*

Plasmo: X_x…*goes flying*

Ristlin leveled a similar gun at Ameri Commando, and sent the red white and blue warrior on a similar ride. I had never been so happy to see someone as I had been right then and there.

Ethan: ^_^! Smooth move guys!

Ulhass/Ristlin: ^_^! HISSS!

Boom Batz: >=|!! Let’s save the congrats for when we get out of here!

Spiderman: I’m inclined to agree!

Ethan: Then lets get going!

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

The Twin Towers. I sight for sore eyes for someone like me who had seen 9/11 in all its graphic detail. And though the Towers looked as beautiful as I remembered it, I highly doubted the price that was paid to keep them intact was worth it. Anyway, they were our ticket out of here and I was glad that in an hour’s time, we’d be back in Prime System.

Ethan: Ok…how should we get up there? The elevator or the outside?

Spiderman: =|…Outside…

Batz: =|…Outside…

Ulhass/Ristlin: =|…Outside…

Ethan: Well, we’re all in agreement then! We’ll scramble up the out side of the building. The weak place in the dimensional wall should be right outside the 82nd floor on tower #2.

Batz: If we move, we might be able to get there before the super dweebs catch up with us.

Leave it to Batz to put everything into perspective. Not wasting anymore time we made for the Towers with all possible speed. We landed on the #2 Tower someplace around floor 24. Spiderman climbed up the side while the rest of us flew, either under or own power or with Sky boards. As we were reaching floor 45, I was going over the report I’d have to write in my mind, when something impacted into my side and exploded.

Ethan: X_X!! >=|…That better NOT be who I think it is…

Plasmo and Ameri Commando once again floated down from where ever they had been watching us, there faces set in those damn annoying confident smirks they were wearing every time they managed to find us.

Ok, by this point we had been attacked by them several times. We were all tired, and sick of being chased by these two dumb fucks, and with less than an hour to go before our window of opportunity closed tempers were running as high as they possibly could be.

Ethan: >=|!! THAT’S IT!! I’ve had enough of you!! *cracks his knuckles* >=|!! When I get done with you, you’re gonna scream "momma" in six different languages!

Spiderman: >=|…I’ve been dragged from my home world, and almost EXECUTED by that madman who pretends to be some kind of hero, and now you two show up again! I’VE HAD ENOUGH!

Boom Batz: e_e…I just want to crack some skulls.

Ulhass/Ristlin: >=|!!! HISSSSS!!! *slap some fresh power cells into their energy cannons*

Ameri Commando: e_e…Well look at this! We got a bug man, a geek boy, a pair of lizards, and a BAT going against the best two Alpha Level warriors to EVER be seen in the USA!

Plasmo: e_e….It is to laugh…

Ok. That did it.

Ethan: *SNAP*… o______________o…>=|!! RAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

*WHAM*

Plasmo: X_x…

That was Plasmo right after I gave him a well deserved kick in the nuts. After that I grabbed him by his leg and flew right at the ground.

Plasmo: X_x…What…are…you…

Ethan: o______________o!!! HE HE HE HE!! I’M GONNA GIVE YOU A NICE STREET LEVEL TOUR OF NYC!!

Plasmo: O_O!!!

*CRASH*

Right through the pavement into the subway station below. Plasmo hit the tracks and bounced a good 3 feet back into the air, where I kicked him into the wall. While he was stuck there, I gave him another zap from my lighting power.

Ethan: o______________o!! He he he! How do you like THAT green boy!

Plasmo: X_x…You’re not sane are you?

Ethan: Something my high school class could testify to. >=|!! But to be honest, you and red/white/blue boy up there just pushed me a LITTLE to far!

Plasmo: X_x…Beautiful…

*CRASH*

Ethan/Plasmo: O_o?

Boom Batz stood up, rubble sliding off his body. With his face still set in a that constant scowl of his, he brushed his pants off, nodded to us, spread his wings, and took of thought the hole in the ceiling his body created.

Ethan: o_o…He’s an odd one…

Plasmo: o_o…*nods* …>=|!!!

*WHAM*

Ethan: X_X…

Boot to the head! This guy was no slouch. If this had been another world, he could have joined the UCTF. Too bad that wasn’t an option around here. Plasmo hit be with a plasma blast, and I was blown into the opposite wall of the tunnel. Plasmo picked up an iron rod, and threw it at me like a javelin.

*THUNK*

Ethan: X_X!!! MOTHER FUCKER!!

Yeah, that damn rod was sticking out of my shoulder. And let me tell you, it hurt like a mother! Plasmo hadn’t even begun to deal with me. This time he had a huge slab of concrete in his hands. And it appeared that he was preparing to crush my head with it.

Ethan: >=|!!!

Plasmo: >=)!

*FWAP*

Plasmo: O_O!!

He was pulled off his feet and landed on his ass. Spiderman was holding onto a long strand of web that he had wrapped around Plasmo’s wrists. Spidy then swung the web strand, and the attached hero, above his head.

*WHOOSH* *WHOOSH* *WHAM*

Plasmo: @_@…

And right into the wall! Though I had to admit. All the human shaped imprints in the walls looked somewhat funny. But no time to worry about that! We had some super humans to deal with.

Ethan: Spidy! How are the others faring?

Spiderman: >_

Ethan: =|…*glances at the assed out Plasmo* >=|!! Let’s move!

We headed out of the sub way tunnel and saw Boom Batz battling with Ameri Commando high above our heads.

Ethan: O_O! Where are the lizard twins?

Spiderman pointed to a pile of broken concrete blocks that was laying at the base of Tower #1. Ulhass and Ristlin were assed out and half covered by the bricks. Their Sky boards and guns were lying on the ground not to far away. Spdiy and I quickly got the stuff off of the twins.

Ethan: o_o…*lightly smacks Ristlin in the face* You ok Ristlin?

Ristlin: X_x…O_O!! >=|!! HISSS!!!

Ethan: Yeah. He’s ok.

Ulhass was coming around too. Both the lizard twins looked like they were ready to rip Ameri Commando’s heads off with their bare claws. They hopped back onto their Sky boards and flew off after Ameri Commando. Spidy and I were in hot pursuit. Batz was knocked out of the sky just as we reached them. Ulhass and Ristlin let loose with a hail of laser fire from their cannons, and a pair of missiles each from their Sky boards. Ameri Commando was sent reeling from the attack. While hanging on to the side of one of the towers with one hand, Spiderman shot some webbing from his other at Ameri Commando. The webbing wrapped around the man’s neck, creating kind of an impromptu sleeper hold.

Ameri Commando: X_x… GACK!!

Perfect! I swooped in on Ameri Commando’s left, as a recovered Boom Batz took the right. I nailed him with a blast of lighting at the exact same time as Batz hit him with one of his sonic waves. As soon as the attacks finished inflicting a world of hurt on Ameri Commando, he dropped like a stone. As he fell, I noticed Ulhass had swapped his energy cannon for what looked like some kind of laser sniper rifle. Ulhass lined up a shot and softly squeezed the trigger.

A thin laser shot drilled a neat hole through Ameri Commando’s skull, splattering brains all over the place. The sac of meat that was once Ameri Commando hit the ground with a wet *SMACK*.

Batz: We only got 15 minutes left!

Ethan: O_O!! Let’s move people!

We moved like I had never seen people move before. In the space of about 5 minutes we had managed to get all the way up to the 70th floor. However…just when we thought that we were in the clear.

*KA-TWOOM*

Ethan: X_x…GAHH!!

Plasmo had recovered from the beating we had given him and was looking livid.

Plasmo: >=|!! YOU KILLED HIM!! YOU KILLED AMERI COMMANDO!

Ethan: O_O…

He looked like he was about to explode. I turned to the others.

Ethan: Get out of here. I’ll hold this guy.

Batz: O_O! Are you crazy!?

Ethan: >=|!! Just get going! I’m squad commander remember? That’s an order!!

I turned back to Plasmo and charged up some electricity.

Ethan: >=|! Let’s dance green boy!

Plasmo didn’t need the encouragement. He rushed me and tackled me around the waist.

*CRASH*

We went through the windows of the #2 tower and rolled along the floor for a little bit. I landed on my back and Plasmo came up swinging. He beat me about my face before he slammed his knee into my neck.

Ethan: X_X!!! *COUGH* …

Plasmo then picked me up and slammed me through the floor. I think I fell through about 10 floors. But then again I couldn’t really tell. As I tried to get my bearings a beam of plasma impacted into my body from above. I was really hurting now… This body had taken a beating. I needed a new one. I shifted back to normal and scrambled away as I frantically searched for a more powerful form…

But Plasmo had caught up with me again. He burned his way right through the ceiling right in front of me. Hr grabbed my collar and gave me one hell of a bitch slap.

Ethan: X_X!!! *goes flying across the room, and out the window*

Ok. So now I was falling 70 some stories towards the streets below. If I didn’t shift NOW I was dead. I called up an old stand by form.

Ethan: X_x…>=|!!! *shifts into a Street Samurai*

I extended my blades and dug them into the towers. It managed to stop me from falling any more. I looked up. Plasmo was flying right at me, energy crackling around each hand. I waited, every nerve in my body tensed. Right before he reached me I un extended my blades and pressed off of the building with my free hand. I flipped over Plasmo just as he reached right where I had been a second before. Using the super reflexes of this body, I extended the blades again and slashed.

Plasmo: O_O…o_o…-_-…*his head falls off*

The decapitated Plasmo dropped and hit the ground in the same way as Ameri Command had. Breathing hard, I scrambled back up the side of the building, climbing as fast as I could. I managed to reach the Jaunt point not a moment to soon. I fired it up, and vanished.

* * *

After a long de briefing back at Gaming Guardian, its time to return Parker back to his world. However, during his stay at GG HQ, some idiot Rookie spilled the beans about how he’s nothing more than a comic book character to millions upon millions of fans across hundreds and hundreds of alternate worlds. Parker, as one would expect, is in a deep fit of depression as he Jaunts back to his system, with Ethan and his team in escort…

Parker: -_-…

Ethan: =\…Come on! It’s not THAT bad! Hell, I’m just a character in an On-line RPG! It’s not the end of the world.

Parker: e_e…All my life, I’ve believed that I’ve had free will. And now, I find out that everything I’ve done, everything that’s happened to me, has been the result of some guy back in Prime System controlling everything…

Batz: *shakes his head* There’s still no proof that worlds like this are totally dependent on the creators in Prime System. They theory is that these worlds do have a limited amount of autonomy…

Parker: >=|!! A theory isn’t proof. -_-…I wish that I had never been dragged out of my world.

I sighed. This was the part of the job that I hated.

Ethan: *puts on a pair of dark sunglasses and reaches into his pocket* Well Parker…I can’t do anything about that…but I can promise you something…

Parker: e_e…What?

Ethan: I can promise you that you won’t remember any of this.

Confused, Parker turned around and I pulled the Neurolizer from my pocket. Before he could react I flashed him. A familiar glazed look came over his face and I planted the scripted cover story cooked up by our Neuro department. I turned back to my team.

Ethan: Let’s go. We’ve done our job.

We Jaunted off system, just as Parker came out of his trance. Things would continue as normal for him. Once back at Prime System, I collected my pay for this mission and Jaunted back to ACU.

Ethan: -_-…Maybe I can finally get back to my normal life for a change. X_X…These GG jobs will be the death of me…

End...