When the Moon Isn't Enough
Roll Call: DarkStar, Cybil, Adamas, Trisha, Kevin and the Professor
Deep in the dimly lighted sub-basements of StarCorp Headquarters, ex-surveillance tech-lord turned hero, one Commander Joshua Rose pulls himself out from under a control panel for his latest invention. Sitting up and carefully stowing his customized electronic gear in a specially designed tool kit, Joshua takes a deep breath and looks around his personal laboratory. The cooling systems keep the research lab at a chilly 62 Fahrenheit, but the titan of transport wipes the sweat from his steel-blue brow and heaves a heavy sigh of satisfaction. Standing up and returning his tools to one of the long work benches along the wall, Joshua turns to look at the fruits of his latest intellectual and physical labors. Simplistic in design, the 20 foot diameter chromatic colored circular launch platform surrounded a crystal clear hermetically sealed control station.
Taking in his gleaming new invention, in the final stages of its construction, multiple control panels hanging open and loose, the dim temporary lighting sources and power cables strung from various points in the ceiling like the web of some gargantuan spider, "Well Cybil what do you think girl? Is she a beauty or what?" ***"At this point in time the device has zero percent probability of successfully functioning Joshua"*** "Well true enough Cybil, but in a few more days, with Professor and Kevin Vanderiaan's help we'll have this baby operational, and then we will take science and StarCorp where no man has been before. I tell you she's a thing of beauty Cybil. The protective diatanium control station will provide life support and protection from solar radiation, and the transport platform will allow me to carry large quantities of research and manufacturing material."
"Okay then it's time to have a talk with our good friend Adamas. I really need to find a way to convince him of the good that can come from this project. Maybe we can get the world thinking of *what is out there* again, and turn mankind's vision back to the stars and all they have to offer … and the dangers that we continue to ignore at our own peril. If I can talk Adamas into assisting with the delivery and activation of the Solar System Positioning Signal, and then, with Kevin and the Professor Kepler's assistance, we should be good for a launch in a couple days. If not he won't … I really don't want to think about it … it'll delay us weeks, maybe months ... and God the cost will … well … jump millions maybe a billion just to get the SSPS into place using conventional rocket technology. Hey Cybil, I need you to do a little research for me … what do you suppose the Man of Tomorrow needs?
*Whoump*
Arriving high in the spiral tower of his corporate headquarters Joshua looks around the seldom used room and shakes his head at the conventional thinking that bothered to include an office for a man who could teleport on a planetary scale in the blink of an eye. "Well at least the shower always has hot water". Securing the holo-bracers and goggles in the diatanium display case, Joshua makes his way to the executive washroom. "Cybil, please contact Trisha and ask her to meet me in an hour with the legal staff. If she starts to balk, inform her it's an alpha level meeting." ***"Joshua? Are you expecting danger to StarCorp operations?"*** Chuckling deep from within his cerulean chest, "Well Cybil, you did say the teleport booster had zero percent chance of success, and if anything goes wrong, I could end up very dead ... if Trisha doesn't kill me first."
"Joshua Rose have you lost your ever loving shiny blue, bald headed mind?"
The Titan of Transport visibly cringes at some amusement to the half a dozen lawyers and StarCorp officers seated at the conference table. While having gone to great lengths, and expense, to recruit veteran military personnel, Rose had always fostered a feeling of not only team, but family at StarCorp, and currently mommy was giving daddy all the business he could handle, and didn't care one bit who saw and heard what. "Trish, you're my Head of Security, and one of the best friends someone like me could ever hope for, but this is a done deal. Once Kevin and the Professor help me make the final adjustments, this project will go active. As my friend, please help me make sure I've done everything I can to protect the future of StarCorp, Meta-Manpower, and all my friends ... just in case. "Okay Joshua, if you're sure about this. Let's see what we need to do."
A Drive around the Planet
Roll Call: DarkStar, Cybil, Adamas, the Professor, and guest starring House Rep. Ralph Hall
"How are we doing Cybil?" ***"All systems are functioning at optimal efficiency Joshua"*** "Alright then, let's take Mary Ellen out for a run and see how she's handling today." The space yacht had formerly served as an ISS Crew Recovery Vehicle. Or at least it was supposed to have prior to the budget overruns that had forced the cancellation of the X-38 prototype. That had pissed the honorable Ralph Hall, House Representative of Texas of so bad that it had been a fairly simple matter to arrange for the sale of the prototypes and all the associated research to StarCorp Inc. Well simple if you call a billion dollars and a handshake promising that future development and construction facilities would provide citizens in Dallas/Fort Worth area with hi-tech jobs for the next decade.
"Cybil, how are the new diatanium screens holding up?" ***"Diatanium visual apertures are currently operating at 100% and as of now totally unaffected by solar radiation or micro-meteor collisions."*** "Excellent Cybil, I told the Professor we could do without the virtual cockpit window. The diatanium is tough enough to provide superior protection for the crew and light enough it actually reduced overall weight." Checking his readouts to make sure the onboard navigational system was making the adjustments necessary to take them to their destination, Commander Rose, reflected on his last conversation with the senior House Representative from Texas. "Rose you're a strange man, but I have to say I respect your sense of adventure". "Ralph, you're one to talk. Compared to flying off flattops in WWII, these CRV's are little more than a fancy air-ambulance. Of course I plan of improving on NASA's design a bit, and if your constituents benefit from that, then so much the better for all of us."
***"Joshua we are coming upon our destination. StarCorp Industrial Satellite: Alpha."*** The automatic pilot eased the space yacht into a relative parking position to the satellite, maintaining position as needed. Commander Rose left the cockpit and started to don the spacesuit he would need to install the final components to make the Industrial Satellite active. The Mississippi facility was already operating off a greener power source. The hydro-kinetic generators were providing enough energy for the manufacturing plant and most of nearby Ocean Springs. In this case, the solar power collected from the satellite, would be beamed via microwaves to a receiving station on a remote island outside of the normal air and naval traffic of the Megalopolis, Refuge Island chain, and then directly transferred to the manufacturing facility in The Factory district. All part of StarCorp's green technology initiative Nigel Bird was using to fight back against the Meta-Manpower detractors.
***"Joshua"*** Rose stops the preparations for his spacewalk. He had never heard Cybil sound so … well almost surprised. "Yes Cybil?" ***"I think you should return to the cockpit"*** Half suited up; the planetary teleporter starts to carefully make his way back to the front of the yacht. ***"We seem to have a visitor"*** Looking out the diatanium windshield, Rose finds he's just a bit surprised himself. "I'll be damned". Floating amongst the stars, as if he was one of them, a human figure clad in white and yellow, a carbonadoed diamond amongst the stars, yellow cape billowing behind him … Adamas. A fellow member of the Quest, and one of the few beings he knows that was probably more powerful than DarkStar, was apparently out on patrol again. Tapping into the team communicator "Fancy meeting you out here big guy. Why don't you come in a minute and take a load off?"
Adamas reached for the amulet around his neck, glancing around. He looked at DarkStar's vessel, hardly looking surprised, "as you wish", he thought to his companion. He floated slowly toward the ship as the bay doors slowly opened, and entered until he was standing on what would have been the floor, if there had been enough gravity to attract him. He walked toward the cockpit as if he were on planet he currently shared with his friend. Slowly the bay doors closed and gases flooded the ship with an atmosphere breathable by those from the small blue planet nearby.
As he entered the cockpit, Adamas glanced around at the technology surrounding the large blue being seated before him, to himself he thought truly they do advance by leaps and bounds. "I believe this is close to where I was found," he said, glancing away from the glittering lights and dials, through the 'window'. "I've studied numerous reports and thought I might find something, anything that might give me some idea how I came to be here, but I find nothing but the emptiness of space. I believe your saying is 'needle in a haystack', though at least in that case a magnetic field of sufficient force should remove the metal sliver. Here I don't even know exactly what I am looking for. Wistfully he looks back to his back to the blue giant, "What brings you here my friend?"
"Well at the moment, I'm installing the last of the components that needed to activate the StarCorp satellite outside there." Returning to suiting up for his spacewalk, Commander Rose continues, "It's designed to supply a clean energy source to my manufacturing plant in the Factory district of Megalopolis. It's my hope StarCorp can set an example for other industrial businesses. Leading the way in utilizing cleaner energy resources, like solar power. Actually, it's an interesting coincidence running into you up here today." Calling up a schematic of the area of space surrounding the satellite. "Cybil please scan for particulate matter and radiation events that might interfere with the operation." Turning back to his carbonadoed companion, "You know I was on the space station the day you were discovered don't you? I know it sounds hokey but maybe we can help each other out."
Closing his helmet and locking it in place, Rose activates the team comm-link the two share in common. "I can ask around, maybe contact some of the space station staff that were on duty that day, it might take some digging, but I bet we can find something not listed in the "official records". I might be able to call in a couple favors and get a look at the recorded satellite telemetry for that day and see what vector they picked you up on. It could give us a place to start looking for a point of origin. If you really want to follow this to the end, I'd suggest letting my Meta-Manpower doctors do an analysis of your powers while we're at it." Opening the equipment hatch and pulling out two aluminum security cases, Commander Rose makes his way back to the airlock. "You might even want Doc to take a look at you. I know AA doesn't place much store in it, but his "magic" might have answers you'd never expect." Thinking back on their first meeting in the conference room. "He sure as hell can do some stuff I can't explain."
Hitting the release for the airlock that would take them back into the void and turning to his friend with a mischievous grin, "And if you wouldn't mind, I have just the smallest of favors I'd like to ask of you too." Turning back to focus on the satellite's work platform
Adamas readily agreed to help his friend locate the SSPS platform on Mars. As Joshua already had it in orbit it was relatively easy for Adamas. The trip to Mars from Earth was a short jaunt for Adamas. He’d often found himself drawn to the red planet, and the locations Joshua had chosen for his platform were interesting in and of themselves. Adamas agreed to stand by at the agreed upon time in order to provide any aid that might be required, or simply to provide a ride home for DarkStar if things didn’t go as planned. Luckily it appeared their communicators were not limited by distance, and Adamas was able to continue to communicate with him as preparations on Earth continued.
Once the platform was prepared, Joshua and Adams re-entered the spacecraft to discuss specifics. Adamas was again surprised by the technology commander Rose had at his disposal. He was able to pull up holographic images of the planetary system in great detail. Adamas had always thought most of the maps he’d seen were a little simplistic. Most showed the planets circling the sun in concentric circles or ellipses. The planets actually circled the Sun in shells, very similar to the way electrons circled an atom. It appeared that they were actually approaching a time when Mars and the Earth would be in closer proximity that they were usually. This would hopefully make what DarkStar had in mind a little easier.
*Whoump*
One for the Road
Roll Call: DarkStar, Cybil, the Professor, Kevin, Nigel and special guest, Dr. Arcane.
Shrugging on the duster he hadn't worn since he first arrived in Megalopolis last year, Joshua looks at himself in the mirror. A lot had changed since his and Kevin's "accident" a couple years ago. Although restricted to a wheelchair, Kevin had risen through the tech side of MEDUSA so high, that before you knew it, he'd only be answering to the Director. And Joshua … Joshua's life was even more radically altered. It seems his "mutation" was finally truly stabilizing and going into remission. He hadn't noticed the changes at first, but gradually the test confirmed that while his bio-electric discharges were losing their power, his steely blue "armored" frame was increasing in density and enhancing his natural strength. The doctors estimated that he would eventually lose the ability to discharge his bio-electric charges altogether and top out close to third of a deadweight ton. "I wonder how Behemoth is doing?"
***"Behemoth no longer resides at the Super-Penitentiary … current status and location … unknown"*** Chuckling at his own morose thoughts and his electronic sidekick's literalness "Thank you Cybil. I'm pretty sure I know where Hyram is, unless the General has let the fish off the hook." One last look in the mirror at the hooded duster, black t-shirt, blue jeans and boots he use to wear as civilian attire, "It's sure not going to be like the old days" Picking up his cowboy hat and rodeo gloves. "Cybil, I'm leaving the goggles and bracers behind this evening. If anyone needs me, you can still contact me through the comm-badge." ***"Is there nothing else I can assist with Joshua?"*** A gentle thought enters tech-lord's mind. It is time Cybil started learning who she wants to be outside of my life. "Not this evening Cybil. It's a boy's night out. I have a thought though. Why don't you take a look around the `web' and tell me if you find anything … interesting."
*Whoump*
" . . . and that students is a prime example of the Universal Resonant Frequency theory in action" Applause fills the small auditorium where a young Joshua Rose had been the student of a brilliant but ostracized physics professor. Smiling the smile of a politician on campaign, Rose tipped his ten gallon hat to the crowd and waved like he knew all along he was expected to appear in front of a full auditorium of students, instead of reminiscing alone with his old mentor. "The old goat ambushed me good". Phone cams and I-Pods started to flash or record video as the students stand and move toward one of Megalopolis's new generation of heroes. Still smiling and waving Joshua put an arm around the devious old academic "You so have some explaining to do Alfred" Almost giggling at his own cleverness, the little old man excitedly waved right along with his favorite pupil. "It's time to go Professor. The others are waiting."
*Whoump*
Old time Mississippi Blues can be heard coming from outside the balcony. It takes a few seconds to get use to the darkness from the back of the room. It's only light from numerous table candles and the setting of twilight streaming in through the balcony. As Joshua and the Professor step from the darkness, Kevin looks up from his wheelchair. "You're late. How the hell does a guy that can teleport around the planet end up late to his own party?" Laughing at his old friend's joke Joshua walks around the card table to shake hands with Nigel Bird and Dr. Avery. "Glad you guys could make it." Helping his old mentor into a seat at the table. "Apparently Stanford invited the Professor back as a guest speaker and he thought it would be amusing to use me for a `show and tell' lecture on that kooky Universal Rhythm Field theory." The old man laughing with delight "You know full well its Universal Resonant Frequency young man".
The Professor picks up the cards Nigel is dealing, and calls for two. "Einstein was so close, and this is just more proof that the universe is much more than a random series of events, one following another since our birth from the big bang. Joshua, I think your ability to teleport is connected to this phenomenon. The fact you can teleport anywhere you have been, physical or electronic suggest you're creating a connection that taps into a universal force." The elderly academic takes a moment to listen to the blues band on the beach, "Music presents many mathematical analogies. Picture the universe as a song. Everything having a particular note, but still part of the song. Joshua, you're somehow capable of traveling at will throughout the sonnet by connecting to any set of particular notes." Looking more roughneck than corporate CEO, Rose settles into his own over-sized chair, "Alfred that's the kind of romantic thinking that got you shunned in the first place, and you still hold to it?"
"Now Joshua, where would science be today if the act of shunning was all it took to get a scholar to abandon his theory?" Dr. Avery made eye contact with the Professor. "But Universal Resonant Frequency is not a theory. It is a fact." Dr. Avery turned his head and smiled at Joshua. "In your studies with Hannah you have been learning how magic is basically the cheat code to the Cosmos. Joshua we are not using computer programming to teach you because it is literally true but because it is how you relate to your world. There is an entire family of magic that uses the fine arts to make their magic. I mean literal magic. These magical artisans are the Nightmasters. Painting, Sculpture, and Music are their reagents. They have had the most freedom to move among the masses because of the way we separate art from the real world. Here's a chip for whoever guesses the most famous Nightmaster.
Nigel folded, he needed to lost money. He made sure he never had the most money at the poker table. No one ever remembered who finished second. "The Piped Piper" Nigel exclaimed! Dr. Avery tossed Nigel the chip. Nigel took a sip of his lager. "That does explain something I had also found curious about the 1960s. Have you ever watched the movies of Woodstock? Everyone claimed it was a magical event that proved world peace was possible but in the film all that was lost. The argument that photography and audio quality was terrible is the reason it didn't translate didn't work for me. Somehow the film failed to capture something significant. What it failed to capture was the magic, literally!" Looking to the Professor, "Would that also explain why music is so generational? It is connected to time, events, with the people themselves. Music ages like the rest of the world". With a smile Professor nodded affirmatively.
Passing the deal to Kevin and sipping from a tall dark stout Nigel ask "So Joshua, what are we celebrating this evening?" With a nod from Kevin, Joshua starts "Well Nigel, you see two years ago this evening was the night of "the Accident" that ended with Kevin in a wheelchair and me, looking like something out of comic book. Kevin and I use to frequent this place when we had downtime from MEDUSA, and now it's kind of an annual event to come back and relax like the old days. I'm working on something back at StarCorp, and this might be my last chance . . . well to do anything with friends." Pulling out a legal envelope from his duster and handing it to Kevin "By the way, you own the Tobacco Road now." Stunned, Kevin absently accepts the package from his friend's steely-blue hand. "What the hell, is that supposed to mean?" Chuckling ruefully, "Well if things go wrong this weekend, I just might become part of the Professor's sonnet. If they workout like I hope … I plan on spending a couple days on Mars."
Project Ares
Roll Call: DarkStar, Cybil, the Professor, Kevin, Trisha, Adamas, and special guests, Jones, agent of CHESS, and Jones, agent of GIANT.
From high atop a nearby mesa, Commander Rose looks out at as StarCorp's top tech-team was busily performing a number of last minute adjustments to Joshua's newest prototype. The anthill like progress of the technicians was carefully being double checked under the supervision of Kevin and Professor Kepler. Trisha had insisted on bringing both in as quality control experts. Truth be told, Joshua thought what she really wanted was some of their most trusted friends around in case the project went south. Smiling down at his companion, "Thank you for coming Sarrisa. It's seems to have been years since you found me unconscious on that beach, after my first attempt at a blind teleport." Leaning back onto the cerulean scientist chest, "Thank you Joshua. I truly appreciate yesterday spending time with my brother at Stanford, and today I get to see you take off on one of your great adventures." His chest emits a rumbling chuckle, "Yes, well let's just hope I live through it."
Trisha helped load Kevin and Alfred onto one of the two helicopters that would take the tech team the five miles back to the observation bunker. Purchasing the antiquated military post had involved a mountain of red tape, but was proving worth it, and the New Mexico taxpayers appreciated not having it on the books anymore. "Professor, has Joshua lost his mind, or can he really pull this off?" The old man leans forward patting her knee "Have faith Trisha. He's the brightest pupil I ever had. Maybe one of the world's smartest scientists. I think his foresight in creating StarCorp is another example of that genius. Anyone else who wanted to do what he's doing would have to turn to the government or corporate sponsors, all with their own set of agendas. Having StarCorp, and by that I really mean you dear, as his support structure gives Joshua a creative freedom other inventors can only dream of." If he weren't distracted by this "quest" business, there's no telling what he could accomplish.
*Whoump*
The sound of the helicopters can be heard landing on the tarmac outside just as Joshua and Sarissa enter the project's Mission Bunker. Sitting Sarrisa at an observation window, Joshua walks over to the two special guests. Shaking hands with both agent Jones of CHESS and agent Jones of GIANT, no relations …"I appreciate you gentlemen coming today. I've respect the work of Commander Astro for some time, and after the valor your men and women showed at that damned Winthrope Bridge, I was hoping CHESS might be interested in what the Fellowship has been doing, and some of the opportunities and technology I'm developing that might be of use to your organizations. I believe that by working together we can better serve the citizens of Megalopolis." Smiling politely at the massive master of movement, "We appreciate your offer to observe today's event Commander Rose. Of course we're always interested in new technologies that might improve our two agencies effectiveness, but one does wonder why us and not the military or some other agency you're said to have associated with?" Looking the CHESS and GIANT agents straight in the eyes, "Let's just say I have a greater appreciation for the mission objectives of your two agencies than that of my previous associates".
Activating StarCorp's Omega Team's security channel, Trisha starts coordinating the final security protocols of the desert research center. "This facility is now under lock-down, all security teams are to coordinate with local law-enforcement and emergency agencies. Any and all non-lethal force is authorized to isolate the Ares Project." Trisha took her guardianship of Joshua and StarCorp seriously. So far his hero activities hadn't produced any particular nemesis, but his corporate competitors would love to see any number of his projects to fail. Maybe enough to even lend a hand. While still smaller than outfits like Manning Enterprises, none of them could boast StarCorp's security team's number of highly trained ex-military personnel. StarCorp's security teams were well-trained in hand to hand combat, armed with customized body armor, taser rifles, flash grenades, and communication and sensor equipment the Secret Service wished it had access to. They also held a grudge against the Bull.
*Whoump*
Teleporting directly into the hermetically sealed control chamber, Joshua begins to ready his life-support systems for the launch. "How's Adamas doing Cybil?" Seconds pass as the Ares comm-sat relays the newest positional data. *"Your friend Adamas is approaching Mars at this moment. He should have the SSPS in position and operational momentarily." Donning the life-support system's helmet and gauntlets, "Thank you Cybil."
They calculated it would take Adamas close to two days to reach his destination as fast as he dared fly towing the platform. He’d have to approach the planet slowly to prevent damage to the platform. The platform itself was not that heavy, but it was bulky. Adamas also had the same concerns with the platform he’d had with the Statue he’d flung into the sun what now seemed ages ago. He’d had a lot of practice with that transport, and he’d wanted to try some things that might work better in space than they did on earth. As he left orbit and flew toward the red planet, he kept the platform behind him, continually scanning the area ahead and to the sides for micro meteors. Since his battle with the Star Devourer he’d been hoping to practice maintaining a continuous blast from his eyes.
This seemed like a great time to practice that so he began targeting small objects in space, trying to focus farther and farther ahead, stretching his ability to focus on distant and small objects. As he continued his trek over the next couple of days, He found that although he could not maintain a continuous blast, he was able to release blast in rapid succession. He was also able to focus attacks further and further out. He also found that by focusing very low energy rays, he was actually able to see through certain materials. He’d never really just played with his powers like this, and was actually enjoying the solitude and practice as he found himself approaching Mars.
As he came closer, he first saw Mars’ two moons, then as he drew closer, he began to see some artificial satellites, it appeared someone else was still interested in what was happening on the Earth’s sister planet. He could easily see the area where Joshua wanted to platform located as he approached the Cydonia region. He found the plateau and gently lowered the platform, and opened the solar panels that would provide power for the lights and limited life support inside the transport chamber.
Once everything was in place, he reached out to Commander Rose to let him know everything was ready on his side….
"Placement and SSPS activation confirmed. Thank you Adamas, standby on station please. If things go badly you're my only hope." Powering up the last of the teleport booster relays, Rose links the launch platform controls into the signal from the Ares satellite. Here's where theory meets reality. If my numbers are correct, much like here on earth, I should be able to use the teleport booster to make a site to site transport to any location tied into the SSPS network. It won't be of use by anyone besides me at the moment, so the commercial applications are somewhat limited, but I started this company out in much the same manner. The government and NASA have paid me billions for my special abilities, I'm betting I can make them an offer they can't refuse. If I offer them my services at the right price to CHESS, GIANT, or god forbid Super-Forces, maybe the government will finally take the space defense program seriously again now that so many of the "old guard" of heroes have retired. Commander Astro is right, come the next extra-stellar invasion, we have to be ready. "Cybil, all systems are green. Please inform Adamas and the Mission Bunker I'm ready for launch in thirty seconds.
30 . . . 20 . . . 10 . . . 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,
***WHOUMP***
Is this Success
Roll Call: DarkStar, Cybil, Adamas, Captain Astro, Rall of the Capellon Hegemony and Xovert Le Tize of the Zorn Empire
Outside the platform, he heard the now familiar ***Whoump*** that accompanied DarkStar’s teleportation. Adamas thought to DarkStar, “Congratulations DarkStar, and welcome to Mars.” He waited a few seconds, but heard no response. He looked through the Diatanium windows DarkStar had added to the platform and saw what appeared to be an unconscious DarkStar lying on the floor of the platform. He quickly opened the hatch and entered. DarkStar’s space suit appeared to be undamaged. Adamas began to closely go over the suit, carefully searching for any small punctures or tears that might make space travel dangerous for DarkStar. As he focused smaller and smaller, he found he could actually see the minute fibers that made up the suit, but found no damage. He quickly picked up the unconscious blue form and headed back to Earth with considerable more haste than he had spent travelling to Mars. He headed to Space Station I as they had discussed.
As they entered the airlock, only moments after they’d left Mars, Adamas handed Commander Rose’s unconscious form to the emergency personnel on the station, the very same ones that had probably taken care of him when the astronauts found him, floating freely in space. As they wheeled Rose into a sterile environment, Adamas reached out to Dr. Avery and the rest of the team to inform them what was going on. He turned to face Commander Astro and quickly related what had happened.
Rall of the Capellon Hegemony and Xovert Le Tize of the Zorn Empire studied the computer readouts in sickbay of Space Station I. Commander Astro was standing next to them. Detective Ravage and Agent L were watching on video screens. Rall thought to himself. Who is this DarkStar that he would warrant the attention of the triumvirate of GIANT? He was able to gather leading minds of the humans to support his project. He was able to garner the support of Adamas. Now all three are here to know the situation of this man’s health, I can understand Commander Astro. The project was a space jumper. Supposedly this human used it to jump from Earth to Mars. So that would be Commander Astro’s responsibility but Detective Ravage was responsible for aliens committing criminal acts on Earth and Agent L is the tactical officer of the Men in Black division.
Xovert Le Tize spoke, “The readings are conclusive. The teleportation jump event device did not cause this metabolic event. Patient metabolic structure was in turmoil. Video records point to trauma patient suffered on the Day of the Star-Devourer accelerated metabolic metamorphosis. The boost process from the jump horizon overloaded the transformation. That is why Commander Astro found patient on Mars unconscious. When transformation completed, patient will regain consciousness and be fully healed.”
Slowly the sounds of electronic and mechanical devices started to pierce the veil of Commander Rose’s consciousness. A light, soft at first, slowly began growing in strength till it became blinding in its intensity. The commander tried to speak, but only a rough gravelly cough escaped his throat. Suddenly there were hands behind his head and the taste of cool water slowly trickled past his lips. Then a familiar voice “Take it easy Commander. You’re okay. Give yourself some time to adjust.” Time, time, time, never enough time. Get up you lazy yahoo, there’s work to be done.
“The light’s too bright, Cybil where’s my goggles?” Well that’s stupid, like Cybil’s going to hand me my goggles. Then suddenly hands were placing the custom-made diatanium lenses over his eyes. Blinking a few times till his eyes adjusted, Joshua looked up and smiled as he saw the familiar face of Commander Astro. “Hey Jim, good to see you … I guess” Looking around the hi-tech med-lab, Joshua knew he was on Space Station One, and that hadn’t been part of the plan. “Hmm, so let me guess, it looks like I needed cab fare home last night?”
During the next few hours Joshua allows the doctors and scientist to continue observing his condition. Xovert Le Tize explains to him the situation. Commander Rose had been undergoing minute mutations as a result of the solar storm a few years ago. Somehow the trauma he has sustained fighting the Dhole had accelerated the process, explaining the loss of his electrical powers, only to be stabilized the energy generated during Project Ares. He’d no longer be able to generate an electrical field, but his whole body was now stronger, something akin to a bluish-black bio-adamantium.
Joshua spent some time reviewing corporate reports displayed by Cybil of the situations with StarCorp and Manpower. Trish has shown amazing initiative and imagination getting the oversea licenses to sell diatanium in Great Britain. I think I’m going to have to see this Professor Abercrombie personally before we go any further though … and why the intense interest in Meta-Manpower from Germany? Something doesn’t smell right . . . “and what the hell is Ether-Space?” A few minutes later Commander Astro drops by to walk Rose to the launch platform reserved for the Cerulean Commander’s teleports.
“Well Josh, it might not have been the spectacular event you were going for, but at least the teleport booster works.” Although disappointed, Rose acknowledges the truth of Astro’s statement. “Yeah, who knew fighting demonic monsters could be so hazardous to your health? And you’re right; with phase one complete, I can start on developing a smaller version of the device capable of working within a ship like Mary Ellen or your own spacecraft Astro. In the meanwhile, I’m going to have fun exploring Mars, its moons and the Asteroid Belt a bit … “
“ … but first a couple hours with Dr. Lee Deline at Meta-Manpower, and then back to the Quest.”
***Whoump***
