by LLANCE, Chewy Walrus, Jonah'sWhale, HourGirl, Happy Noodle Boy
Meanwhile...
Lance was shocked when he woke up without his shoes on!
He was also surprized that he was in fact not in the Phantom Zone, but hovering over a swirling mass of particles, trachyons, and other assorted what-nots that looked suspiciously like a multitude of interdimensional gates going in and out of Hyper-time! (Boy, was that a mouthful!)
Undoubtably, when the Phantom Zone projector is used while in the time stream this was the end result!
As Lance peered into the different Hyper-time openings he realized he must find his earth or be doomed to jump from a myriad of earths for the remainder of his life!
He saw a sign which displayed the words "Earth Prime-this way". He wondered how he could possibly find his correct time when he saw yet another sign,"2000 or bust!"
In small print it said deposit 2 tokens.
Lance went to the window bought 4 tokens (in case he wanted to return someday) and made his way back to TOMB headquarters with nary a second to spare!
Chewy Walrus: I said it once and I'll say it again, "Oh, crap!"
Now, as the only remaining member of TOMB left, the responsibility of this mission rests on me. This is ironically like what wil happen in the World War Three story arc currently going on in Grant Morrison's JLA. (Raspler, you owe me...) Now...
Being finely attuned in all the arts of cybernetic stuff, I know exactly what's going on in Steve. I've seen it all before. He's been planted with the traditional bug (as seen in the Matrix [which, while we're on the subject, was a big rip-off of The Invisibles {Morrison, now YOU owe me...}]). However, this bug was different. It was turning Steve into a Hulk-ish (Stan Lee, you owe me...) monster.
As a reflex, I fling my elastic arm behind my head, flipping a switch marked "Anti-Bug Undulations". With that, a high-picthed squeal was emitted from the surrounding speakers, sending the growling, drooling Steve H. Peterson to his knees. The bug, which had crawled into his ear, a la Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Shatner, you OWE me...), crawled out in a bloody SPLAT! Steve collapsed, now no longer in his monstrous form. I then picked up the bug. I'd have to run a trace. But, first, I'll shut down all power to my time-ship(tm), so that SHP can't commandeer it. There. Done. After scanning Steve for any more cybernetics, I ran a signaling beacon to contact any remaining members, or substitute members (Grynterne 1011, I'm talking to YOU!), to get the in on this.
"SHP, we're coming for you. You and Granpa had better start running, before we hit you and hit you HARD! Beware! Be very ware!"
Lance: Ah...fearless leader I have made my way back to headquarters and am awaiting further orders! (Or I could stay here inthe TOMB HOT-TUB)(tm)!
-------once over and twice twisted-----------
Chewy Walrus: Sweet! OK, Lance, I want you to jet-stream over to April 6th STAT! I'll be right behind you, once Steve gets up and working again. Meet me on the Statue of Liberty. We'll launch our assault from there. Oh, and, just off hand, do you know what happened to happen to Jonah before you were on the timeship.
Chewy Walrus: Or prior to your teleportation from thereof...? ... Or something like that...
Lance: Last I remember Jonah was in the bathroom with a picture of Hourgirl.
Would it be ok if we met 'in' the Statue of Liberty as opposed to 'on' the Statue of Liberty?
-------once over and twice twisted-----------
Chewy Walrus: Sure, Lance... at this point, I'm beyond caring... so Jonah's on the ship alone with SHP, huh? Godspeed, Jonah... godspeed...
Jonah'sWhale: *Turns off the water facet. Wipes hands on towel. Turns door knob. Opens the door to reveal SHP.
JW: Wanna go save the world?
SHP: *after a moment's hesitation*: Sure, Whale. You just lead the way.
Chewy Walrus: Oh, crap! I almost forgot! Jonah's communicator! Maybe I can warn him in time! ... Crap! He must not have it on. Oh, well, time to focus my attentions back onto the task at hand, namely, waking Steve up.
Chewy: C'mon, Steve wake up! CLEAR! *ZAP!* CLEAR! *ZAP!* C'mon, Steve!
Steve (blinking): Huh?
Chewy: C'mon, Steve. It's time to save the world...
Meanwhile..... at the statue.....
HG: "Grandpa, how COULD you? If you REALLY love me as u say you do? U HAVE to know that your grandson will NOT sleep until he finds me! You will NEVER have me... U may have my body, but my heart belongs to WhaleToy!"
Grandpa laughs evily and rubs his greedy little hands together as he blindfolds his love....
Two rescue teams, one with the traitorous Shock Headed Peter. Hourgirl held against her will by the nefarious granpa Whale! Meanwhile...Lance sits back at headquarters watching reruns of Drew Carry with soder cola in one hand and potato chips in the other!
Well...I guess I better fire up a quinjet or blackbird or something. The Statue of Liberty isn't exactly walking distance!
Lance enters the vehicle when he notices a body slumping in the shadows of the cockpit. Quickly, he rushes to find Franta's still body! ...to be continued...
Suddenly zapped out of the time stream in a bright light, Hardy New-Born found himself on top of the Statue of Liberty. He had been looking for the bombs, and had tracked them here. He had only minuted before they were to detonate, if what he had learned about Granpa's plans was correct.
In the interests of plot convenience, there was an entrance hatch right near the New-Born. he climbed in, and looked for Granpa and HourGirl. If all had timed correctly, the others would be meeting here soon... and HNB was on hand in case they were captured. He kinda liked this "creeping through the rafters when the enemy don't know you're there" gig...
HG: Gramps... (gulp) hey, it went dark...
mmmmmmmmmmmm... a silk blindfold... nice touch.. HEY!!!!!!!! Watch yer hands there MISTER! Thats my belt yer loosinin...and don't touch that HourGlass there, be carefull there gra......
NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
FFFfffAAAaaaSSSsssHHHhhh
********************************************
Mid Spring 1940's Top of the Stats of Lib...
up in the sky ... its a bird, its a plane.. its... hu??? LocoMotor? and who's that with 'im? THE TROUT? What the heck????
(anyone up on their meta history boys???)
{Giggles}
"The Girl"
HNB charges into the room where Granpa is keeping HourGirl. He notices a flash of bright light, and suddenly it faded.
"Great. More time jumping," HNB thought.
He suddenly noticed the bomb sitting in the corner of the room. The timer on it said "0.03"
"0.02"
"Oh sh--"
It was about an hour ago that Lance had woke up Franta who was taking a quick snooze in one of the Message Board transport vehicles. "There," pointed Franta. Lance saw him gesture towards the Statue of Liberty. After parking the airship the duo made their way up into the Statue of Liberty. Almost at the top of Lady Liberty they found Hardy New-Born! "It's a bomb!" He cried!
..........to be continued.....
Continued in Chapter 6