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Post by starlord on Oct 24, 2006 21:02:20 GMT -5
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Post by starlord on Oct 24, 2006 21:03:24 GMT -5
Challengers of the Unknown
Issue #5: “Out of Time, Part Five”
Written by: Kevin Hill
Cover by: Kevin Hill
Edited by: Brian Burchette |
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Post by starlord on Oct 24, 2006 21:04:41 GMT -5
Somewhere else …..
The Midday sun beats down on the vast plain. The wind blows the three-foot tall grass as birds of prey circle overhead. In the distance, ringing the large field, the encircling jungle beckons just out of reach like some long desired shelter. It’s been several days since it last rained but that isn’t unusual for this time of year and the ground is cracked with the lack of moisture. Soon the lakes and riverbeds will start to dry and then the struggle for water will truly begin.
Quickly running through the tall grass Ace Morgan glances back over his shoulder. He can hear the sounds of his pursuer getting closer even as he speeds up.
Suddenly he notices a blur of motion to his right. They’re making they’re move! One of the quicker ones is trying to cut him off. A clearing is up ahead between him and the much needed dense covering of the jungle refuge. They’ll attack him there, he hopes, because that is exactly what he wants them to do. Breaking through into the clearing Ace spots the freshly made six-foot deep pit that he and his partners had dug the evening before. Jumping down into the pit Morgan expertly lands on both of his feet just like he had done the several times that he had practiced. His long time friend Rocky Davis hands Morgan his Mega-Rod, one of the tube shaped weapons that the Challs had acquired on their brief side trip to the dark planet Apokolips. As the two Raptors burst into the clearing they realize a split second too late that they had been the ones lead into a trap. Discharging their weapons, the duo evaporates chunks of the six-foot tall Dromaeosaurid in a spray of blood and bones.
“Next time….” Morgan says out of breath. “You lead them to the pit! Man they’re fast!”
Ace Morgan, Astronaut and leader of the Challengers of the Unknown, brushes back his long blonde hair. It’s fastened in a ponytail at the back of his head by a rope made from braided pieces of grass. His thick beard glistening with sweat as he pulls Rocky up out of the man made pit.
“Sure thing grandpa! But this meat will last us a while!” Rocky Davis smiled. The ex-Boxer was no stranger to hard work. The past six months that he and his partners had spent in this Prehistoric wonderland had hardened his body into the best shape of his life. His face was covered in a thick black bearskin like beard and his long curly hair was held in place by a makeshift bandana. His broad chest, as well as Aces upper body, had been bronzed into a dark tan by the unclouded Sun of this young world.
As the two men quickly bound up their prizes, to avoid any unwanted attention by one of the larger predators, the Metal Man Platinum came rolling up beside them. She had shifted her body into the shape of a long wagon. Her entire body was gleaming silver except for her right arm, which was a crimson red from just above her elbow down the remaining length of her arm. This addition was donated, albeit without the original owners permission, from the now deactivated fellow member of the famous robotic team, Mercury. Tina had lost her original arm on Apokolips as the rag tag team had made their hasty escape from the clutches of the evil Doctor Bedlam.
Tina once again performed one of her amazing transformations twisting her arms into twin cranes and loading the two dead beasts aboard her sturdy framed body. As the hunting party made its way back to their camp, everyone remained on high alert. This freshly killed meal would be a nice catch for any one of a thousand different meat-eating devils that made their home in this immediate vicinity.
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Post by starlord on Oct 24, 2006 21:05:40 GMT -5
As the successful trio arrived uninterrupted at their base camp Rocky couldn’t help but wonder at what they had accomplished in such a relatively short time. The Challengers had found a large cavern surrounded on three sides by sheer faced cliffs. At the front of this shallow valley they hand constructed, with the super human help of Swamp Thing and Platinum, a forty-foot tall barricade made from tree trunks and braided vine ropes. In the center of their barrier wall was a huge garage door like entrance that even now was swinging upward to allow the hunting party entrance. Morgan waved at Dr. Alec Holland as they rolled past him. He was responsible for turning the spoked wheel that was attached to an intricate pulley system that lifted the heavy door.
As the wagon moved clear of the entrance, Swamp Thing once again effortlessly turned the wheel, this time counter clock wise, to gently lower the wooden slab back to the ground. Red Ryan was fanning a blazing fire that was going to be used for the cooking of their recently acquired meat. A homemade camouflage net covered seventy-five percent of the open air of the Chall’s compound. In this new world, danger lurked in the skies as much as it did on the ground. Several feet behind Ryan was a carved wooden bucket and inside the bucket was the pudding like form of Rex Mason, Metamorpho. Mason had been de-stabilized by the Challengers arch nemesis Multi Man after he had attempted to rescue Element Girl from his evil clutches.
With extreme effort Metamorpho’s form raised up out of the bucket and his upper body twisted into an almost recognizable shape of his former self.
“It looks like the hunt went well!” his words mumbled together as his face fell over his mouth as he allowed his concentration to slip.
“We’ll be eating well tonight!” Davis smiled back. He was amazed at how much control Rex had accomplished since their exile to this forgotten time. Even though he had a long way to go, everyone knew he would get there without any doubts
“You know what goes good with steak? Those red roots that everyone loves!” June Robbins the second said as she approached the wagon holding up both hands full of the newly found vegetables.
Tina began unloading the group’s fresh food supply as Ace Morgan jumped down from the elevated back end of the “Metal Man” wagon.
“Where’s Prof.?” Morgan said to the beautiful blonde haired Robbins.
“He’s in his “Bat cave” as usual.” June said jerking her head in the general direction of the main cavern.
Stone steps lead up to the Challenger’s main source of shelter. Torchlight flickered off and on illuminating the mouth of the cave. The entrance was partially covered with the same type of camouflage netting as was their open aired yard.
“How goes it Prof.?” Ace said as he walked into the cave not wanting to startle his long time friend.
“I have narrowed the search area down by another ten miles. We have a few more sections to search, but I am confident that we will find the device.” Haley said without looking up. His hair was all disheveled and his face, like his fellow Challengers, was covered in a scraggly beard.” Oh, yes! By the way I have managed to boost the transmittal signal of our locater by another twenty percent!”
Morgan looked at the Haley’s makeshift workbench. It was covered in various wires and electrical parts, all removed from the now hollow shell of the de-activated Mercury, which was leaning against a dark corner of the cave. Ace and the rest of the team had long been worried about the mental health of their friend. He has taken their predicament far more personal than the rest of the motley bunch. He felt, as he had said on more than one occasion, that with his vast intelligence he was letting the team down by not discovering a way home.
As Morgan’s eyes wandered over the equipment he noticed a new addition to the table.
“Prof.! What the hell!?” Morgan yelled as he picked up a newly gutted Mega Rod. “ We might need this! How could you take this apart without consulting the rest of us?”
“I need the power source for the “time projector” locater.” Haley said with fire in his eyes as he turned to face the big Blonde man. “Like I have been telling you all along, if we can’t find Multi Mans time projector then it wont do us any good how many beast we can kill. Eventually we will die, whether it’s from starvation, old age or some creature gobbles us up. Millions of years from now some Archeologist will dig our petrified bones up out of the ground and wonder how in the hell we got there!”
“Take it easy my friend.” Morgan said grabbing Haley’s shoulders and looking him square in the eyes. ”We all know that you are doing everything in your power to get us home! You will succeed! We all believe that with all our hearts.”
Reason returned to the Prof.’s face as he un-tensed and his shoulders fell just a little in a rare moment of relaxation.
“Of course you’re right Ace.” Haley smiled. ”Sometimes I just get so wacky.”
Haley turned and walked back to his workbench and picked up his newly re-designed locator. Its sensors were created to pick up the very distinctive energy signature emanating from the futuristic components of the time projector.
“With Red’s help putting this baby back together again we should be able to start our search again first thing tomorrow morning!” Prof. said with a smile.
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Post by starlord on Oct 24, 2006 21:07:26 GMT -5
Early the next morning the Challengers, along with their four companions, set out in search of their only way home. As Prof. Haley had explained it to them, Multi Man had obviously planted several of these “time projectors” through out the Time Stream thus enabling him to travel at will to any of these pre-designated locations. Time traveling, as he had said, is not like throwing a ball into the air and seeing where it randomly lands; you must have a distinct beginning and an end. Haley hopes that once the projector is located then they will be able to activate it and transport themselves back home. The tricky part is locating it.
The group hadn’t traveled farther than a couple of miles in the “Platinum wagon” before Haley’s locater began lighting up.
“The boosted signal is working perfectly!” Haley said with a triumphant smile.” The projector was practically in our back yard!”
“If you call twenty miles our back yard.” Ryan sarcastically said as he brushed a leafy vine out of his face that had sprouted from the back of Swamp Thing.
“What else have you got to do Ryan?” Rocky said with a grin.” The Bars don’t open till four!”
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Post by starlord on Oct 24, 2006 21:08:38 GMT -5
The fresh Atmosphere of this new world had had a profound effect on all the members of the team. Not only was the Challengers all bearded and chiseled but Swamp Thing had also undergone a transformation. Due to the rich nutrients of this unpolluted world his body had changed from his usual muddy brown into a deep leafy green color. Flowers and grass along with various forms of plant life had sprouted from his head, shoulders and back. His direct contact with the pure soil had increased his strength by tremendous amounts. He had even begun speaking clearer.
Platinum had also experienced her own changes, though not in a physical manner. She had warmed up to the rag tag group which she has found herself stranded with. She didn’t even object when the Prof. had started to use the parts of her “brother” Mercury. In fact, she and June had actually become good friends, mainly because of all the competitive men that constantly surrounded them with Testosterone.
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Post by starlord on Oct 24, 2006 21:09:57 GMT -5
Later, as Ryan was chewing on a piece of “Dino Jerky”, Platinum pulled to an abrupt stop.
“According to my long range sensors there are several humans, native to this time period, up ahead.” Tina said in her emotionless voice. “They appear to be fighting.”
“Look, a village of some kind!” Mason said as his face fell over his mouth.
Through the thick trees a small clearing could be seen. Even further beyond the clearing, several dozen Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon men were battling in front of a series of caves in a cliff face. Numerous dead or wounded pre historic men littered the bloody dirt. In the center of the savage battle one particular hairy Cro-Magnon was wrestling with a tall brown haired young man. Both men had one hand on a three-foot long cylindrical shaped device. Its shiny outer skin glistened as the Sun danced across its smooth surface with each tug of the two battling men.
“This could be bad.” Ryan said through a mouth full of leathern meat.
“That would be our projector gentlemen.” Haley said turning his machine off with resignation.
“It’s never easy for us is it guys?” Rocky Davis said un-holstering his Mega Rod.” Well, time to make like the “Future Gods” and scare us some prehistoric man.”
As Rocky said his last word a spear came sailing through the air and ripped right through Metamorpho’s gelatinous chest. Instantly he collapsed back into his bucket.
Several other spears flew through the air as Tina morphed her silver and red body into a canopy protecting the small group of adventurers.
“Scare the prehistoric men, eh muscle brain?” Ryan said with disgust as he also un-slung his tube like weapon.
“Alright guys lets just scatter a few shots to spook them!” Morgan commanded. “Nothing lethal! They’re just as innocent as we are.”
The air was filled with the sound of Mega Rods exploding as trees and bushes were ripped apart in the loud display of firepower. The intense blast scattered the hidden Cro-Magnons that had been in hiding to ambush anyone that stumbled upon their sneak attack on the Bear Tribe.
Back at the village neither group of combatants seemed to notice the fiery display that had abruptly erupted just a few yards away.
A rather violent Cro-Magnon man split a Bear Tribe member’s head wide open with his stone and wood fashioned club. In retaliation Lart, the Bear Tribe Leader’s brother, slashed the violent brute with so much fury that the man was almost decapitated.
“Release our god Chaka!” Said Anthro, the Bear Tribe’s Chief. “It is not meant for you! This god came to us to give the Bear Tribe good fortune!”
“Never young Chief! Chaka wants god for his tribe!” Chaka said while tugging once more on the prized cylinder. “Chaka wants good hunting and good women.”
With a sudden inspiration Anthro dropped to his left knee and kicked out with his right to strike Chaka squarely on his knees, breaking them with a powerful crack. In intense pain the hairy Cro-Magnon released his grip on the “god” and fell to the ground with a howl of misery. With a non-stop fluid motion, the first boy on Earth swung with all his might and his stone club wetly smashed Chaka’s skull into the already red earth.
Across the camp Do-Ahn, Anthros uncle, also dispatched his opponent with a bloody slice of his long spear.
Having seen their Chief killed, the remaining Cro-Magnon tribe hastily retreated into the surrounding jungle. The Challengers had walked into the village without so much as a nod from any of the fighting tribes.
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Post by starlord on Oct 24, 2006 21:10:50 GMT -5
As the Bear Tribe cheered in triumph they slowly took notice of the new group of strangers attempting to steal their god. With a sudden fury the Bear Tribe quickly brandished their weapons in defense and tried to surround the Challengers. A nearby rack of drying furs exploded as Ace discharged his Mega Rod while at the same time Rocky punched a Neanderthal, who had gotten too close, in the face. The pre historic man crumbled to his knees in a bloody spray of teeth.
“I have never seen men such as these Anthro!” said Lart, Anthro’s brother. “Their clubs speak with Thunder and fire.”
“As I have said in the past my brother,” Anthro said while gripping his club tighter. “We will be tested, but as always, we will win. Everyone wants our new god but he is ours! We are his chosen people.”
“What are they saying?” Rocky asked Haley.
“Their language is a form of grunts and whistles.” Prof. Haley said in his best speculation. “No way can I successfully interpret their meaning.”
“I believe that they are commenting on Ace’s Mega Rod,” Said Platinum. “I am programmed in every language known to man no matter how primitive. They are all relatively similar you know.” She added as the Challs stared in amazement at her.
“Can you communicate with them?” Asked Ace as he lowered his Apokolipsian weapon.
“I can try, but I can’t guarantee a positive outcome.” Tina said while walking closer to Anthro.
At her approach, the Bear Tribe slowly backed away. Their pre-technology minds could not comprehend what this new visitor was.
Suddenly, bursting through the thick jungle, an eighteen-foot tall Tyrannosaurus Rex ripped through the crowd of Neanderthals and faster than the Challengers could react swallowed Tina whole with its massive jaws! The giant predator, enraged into a killing frenzy by the freshly spilt blood from the recent battle, quickly tore through the ranks of the Bear Tribe. Recovering faster than the pre historic tribe, the Challengers sprang into action.
Pressing his Mega Rods firing stud Rocky Davis devastated a chunk of earth at the mighty beast foot causing it to stumble backwards toward the lush form of the Swamp Thing. With all his incredible strength the swamp creature delivered a blow straight into its massive stomach sending the forty-foot long meat eater staggering back even further.
Both Red Ryan and Ace Morgan aimed their powerful rod weapons at the beast’s deadly head. With twin explosions the T-Rex’s mouth exploded in an array of blood and seven inch long knife like teeth.
A split second after the titanic beast hit the ground, hundreds of needle like spikes ripped through the creature’s belly. As the deadly barbs withdrew back into the interior of the perforated Dinosaur, a six-foot long razor sharp blade slashed open the T-Rex’s gut; spilling its entrails out all over the bloody dirt. A gore covered Platinum pulled herself out of the beast wide-open belly.
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Post by starlord on Oct 24, 2006 21:11:42 GMT -5
Even before anyone could speak the Bear Tribe started surrounding their village, facing out towards the nearby jungle. The pre-historic warriors made an almost complete human chain encircling their entire camp.
“What’s going on?” A puzzled Ryan asked.
“They must know something we don’t!” Rocky Davis answered.
“My sensors are picking up several dozen approaching creatures.” The bloody Tina said in her cold metallic voice. “They’re coming our way very quickly!”
Before anyone else could comment, dozens of six-foot tall Raptors exploded through the thick growth of the jungle. In a carefully orchestrated assault, the bloodthirsty Dromaeosaurids swept through the ranks of the Bear Tribe, slaughtering all who stood in their way!
“Damn!” Was all Rocky could say as his mouth stood open in sheer amazement at the small Dinosaurs savage attack.
“Obviously they were following the Tyrannosaurus Rex in hopes of picking off his leftovers!” Prof. Haley said as he quickly picked up a dropped spear.
In the blink of an eye the Challengers, as well as the entire village, was covered in the vicious creatures! Red Ryan carefully aimed his Mega Rod and disintegrated two of the quick beast with one shot, even as Ace Morgan exploded another one.
Platinum had morphed both of her arms into twin sickle like blades and was wading through the deadly animals in a blood lust all of her own. As three of the Raptors tried to corner June Robbins, Swamp Thing smashed into the tricky creatures with his massive fist, breaking bones and hides with powerful swings.
Haley smiled with relief as he saw their mud encrusted friend break through another team of Raptors that was attempting to devour fallen members of the Tribe. With a swift stroke, a Raptor launched itself at the Prof., knocking him down. The deadly beast pinned both of the Prof.s’ arms with its claws and poised its teeth filled maw directly over his exposed chest. With a loud chunk a spear penetrated the creatures’ skull and exited out of its left eye socket in a gore splattered spray.
The Bear Tribes Leader, Anthro helped the dazed Challenger to his feet. Before the Prof. could give thanks to the young Chief, they were surrounded by several of the meat-eating Raptors. Each one’s powerful jaws set in what looked liked sinister grins.
Across the gore covered battlefield, Ryan saw Haley’s deadly predicament, raising his Mega Rod to save his friend. Red was shocked when a pair of massive jaws clamped painfully down on not only his weapon but also his entire right forearm. With an enraged shout, the red haired daredevil discharged his weapon in a fiery flash as the Raptors head and neck exploded. Ryan gripped his shredded arm in a vain attempt to stop the bleeding. Suddenly he noticed the dropped Mega Rod starting to glow and spark.
“On Hell!” Ryan said as he ran for cover.
The weapon exploded in a fountain of dirt and bodies. The explosion engulfed a full quarter of the villages open courtyard. Members of the Bear Tribe as well as most of the hungry Dinosaurs erupted in a ball of fire that propelled all the survivors to the four corners of the Earth!
As the smoke started to clear Ace Morgan slowly pulled himself to his feet. All around him people moaned and hid in fear of the dazzling display of futuristic technology. He quickly noted that all the Challengers were still alive as one by one they also stood up, albeit with some difficulty. The massive bulk of Swamp Thing had protected June as well as the bucket filled form of Metamorpho. Platinum was reforming herself as she was in the middle of one of her body shaping morphs when the explosion occurred.
“Now that was close!” Red Ryan said with his trademark smirk. He was brushing himself off and ripping a piece of his tattered uniform to use as a makeshift bandage over his damaged arm.
All the Raptors had fled into the dark shadows of the jungle determined that this feast was far too deadly for the rewards.
The surviving members of the Bear Tribe had retreated to the safety of their caves in belief that the Gods must be angry with them to have brought such fury down upon their village.
Within seconds the Challengers found themselves alone outside in the village courtyard. Across the yard, blown by the explosion, lay the undamaged Time Projector.
“This is as good a chance as we’re going to get at that thing Prof.” Morgan said pointing at the shining supposed God. ”You better get to work and get us out of here before anything else decides to eat us!”
With Tina morphing into the various tools that the Prof. needed, the outer shell of the Projector was quickly opened and the main control panel for the machine was exposed.
“From the constructed design of this device I assume that the Projector operates with a cone like effective area.” Haley said as he examined the machine. “It is required that we stand relatively close to be within its normal operating range.”
“You heard the man everyone. Gather around.” Morgan said. “We’re going home!”
With the proper connection of wires and manipulations of switches the Challengers of the Unknown disappear in a rippling tide of light, leaving this pre historic time behind forever!
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Post by starlord on Oct 24, 2006 21:13:14 GMT -5
Next: The Boy Commandos, the Blackhawks, a world at war and a company called Easy!
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Post by mockingbird on Jul 26, 2011 21:43:56 GMT -5
To let us know what you think of this issue, please visit the letters page here!
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