Then they headed outside into the sunlight for the funeral.
Half a million people lined the winding streets of Tokyo along the route to Shinjuku Gyeon, a beautiful public park that maintained an ornate Shinto Shrine. The Limousines rolled along slowly, allowing Susan to see the endless mournful faces that turned out to say their final farewells to a great national hero. Inside the park the weather could not have been more perfect: clear blue skies and not too warm. Susan led the Wonder Heroes and hundreds of other dignitaries behind Walter’s casket as men in gray robes wearing tall black hats carried it. Traditional Japanese music was played as the procession walked through an ornate gate marked with symbols that designated the area beyond as sacred. Here several priests conducted the elaborate Shinto service that took care of all the spiritual traditions that tradition demanded be seen to. After the ceremony ended the prime Minister of Japan spoke for a few minutes, ultimately calling for a minute of silence throughout Japan and the world, in memory of Walter Watanabe.
Shinjuku Gyeon was not a cemetery, but it had been decided that here Walter Watanabe would be buried, this area of the park designated in his honor as a shrine to his bravery and sacrifice.
After the service there was a second motorcade organized by the police, to return the various political dignitaries to their respective hotels or to the airport for their return flights home. General Rumpole found Susan by herself seated on a low bench among an arrangement of flowers.
Without asking the General sat down next to her. “How are you holding up, Susan?”
“I’m all right, General.” Susan looked up, “I never had anyone die on me before.”
General Rumpole nodded. “I have.”
Susan looked at the General. “You have any advice for me?”
“Hell. I’ve served in two wars and watched my wife die of cancer. Never mind Paul, Terry and Jeff.” General Rumpole stood up and straightened his dress uniform jacket. “It never gets easy, Susan and that’s a good thing. That’s what makes us human.”
The General excused himself with a nod, and left Susan on the bench, alone. The park was peaceful, with the sounds of birds and insects, but distantly Susan could hear the sounds of the city of Tokyo, alive and bustling, thanks to the sacrifice of Walter Watanabe.
Two weeks passed since the funeral and Wonder Base was quiet tonight. The team was enjoying a log stretch of relative peace. Beside the snatch and grab exploits of Jaimie Karasik and her fellow Aierta robbing various laboratories around the world, there seemed to be little to worry about. The team, for the most part, slept peacefully through the night more often than not. They had no idea that Harlan Flicker had set up shop inside of Theodore’s mind, and now controlled his body completely.
Theodore’s body sat before a computer keyboard and a large display screen that had been set up inside his quarters at Wonder Base. His rooms here, once filled with books, toys, games and kitchen utensils were now otherwise empty. Harlan had decided that all of Theodore’s personal effects were to be removed from his room and destroyed. The better, Harlan said, to facilitate the ultimate erasure of all that Theodore was.
Theodore had become a passenger in his own body and Harlan Flicker occupied the pilot seat. For months now Theodore had been helpless to do anything but watch as Harlan ruthlessly took over and ruined his life. From the minute Theodore had lowered his forearm into the golden Wonder Gauntlet, he had been fighting a losing battle for control of his own body and mind. Harlan Flicker, in the moment before his death at the hands of Matt O’Dette all those months ago, had downloaded his consciousness into the memory buffers of the golden gauntlet, and then pounced when a suitable candidate had come along.
Theodore had been completely unprepared for such an attack. The pain and shock had been terrible, and he had blacked out in Susan’s arms. When Theodore woke up in sickbay he found himself as little more than a ghost haunting his own mind, with Harlan Flicker firmly in control.
Theodore’s fingers tapped the computer keys with confidence; Harlan was a touch typist, a skill Theodore had never learned. On the large screen Theodore could see alien computer code of unbelievable complexity and beauty being altered and corrupted. Harlan had studied the operational code of the Wonder Computer while alive, but had never been able to decipher more than an insignificant fraction of it. Now, with access to Theodore’s mind, memories and talent, Harlan was able to modify the programming at will. Theodore was brilliant, and Harlan was evil. To Harlan it was the perfect combination, and it would be more perfect when Theodore’s personality was finally and completely eradicated.
“The programming isn’t meant to work this way, Harlan,” said Theodore. Harlan had imprisoned Theodore within his own mind, but he was still able to let his thoughts be known. Theodore was like the guilty conscience that Harlan had often heard about but never experienced. Harlan could not understand how anyone could function with such a voice in his or her heads, but he was forced to suffer Theodore’s presence for a little longer. The countdown on Theodore’s ultimate erasure was rapidly coming to its end. Soon Harlan Flicker, the first and only Wonder Hero Gold, would be truly reborn and eager for revenge.
“You can’t completely shut out the other Wonder Heroes from operational control,” continued Theodore.
Harlan used Theodore’s lips to smile. “I don’t need to completely cut out the others, Teddy, I just need to make their access hopelessly complex, to slow them down. Meanwhile I’m simplifying the access for the golden gauntlet.”
Harlan felt Theodore make a sudden play for control of the fingers of his left hand. His fingers twitched slightly. It did not interfere with Harlan’s typing. “That was feeble, Teddy,” said Harlan with a chuckle, “I hardly felt that one.”
Harlan summoned a small blade of golden energy with his Wonder Gauntlet and stabbed himself in the knee. Theodore roared with pain. Harlan smiled as Theodore whimpered and cried like a hurt dog.
“How many times do I have to do this Teddy?” asked Harlan with no emotion, “Do you ever learn?"
Theodore said nothing in response. He had learned the hard way that it was better to be silent in these instances. Harlan quickly forgot the incident, engrossed in his reprogramming of the Wonder Computer’s deepest operating systems. Theodore quietly watched as Harlan prepared a computer virus that would route all the major defense functions of Wonder Base through the golden Wonder Gauntlet.
Cautiously, Theodore said, “You don’t have to do this Harlan.”
Harlan never missed a keystroke. “Actually, Teddy, I do. You know what I saw when I glimpsed the Hole of Holes?”
“No,” said Theodore, “You won’t show me that, will you? You love inflicting pain on me, Harlan, but you won’t share with me the most painful thing you’ve ever experienced. Why are you so afraid?”
“I’m not afraid of anything,” Harlan lied, “What I saw would destroy you, Theodore, and I needed your brain, and your computer hacker skills, to do what I’m doing right now.”
“I don’t think that’s the real reason, Harlan,” said Theodore, “I think you're afraid that if you let me see what’s in the Hole of Holes, because I’ll be able to deal with it. I won’t go insane. I won’t become you.”
“Shut up.”
“If I can deal with what you saw, then that means you’re just weak,” taunted Theodore, “You don’t want me to show you just how weak you are.”
Harlan summoned another blade of golden energy as he continued to type with one hand. “I said shut up!”
“What are you going to do Harlan?” Theodore’s voice sounded desperate, “Hurt me some more? Go ahead.”
Harlan dismissed the blade. “I’ve got a better way to hurt you.” Harlan smiled and pressed a few more keys. “Finished.”
Together Harlan and Theodore looked at the computer code on the screen. Theodore was forced to agree that it was a work of dark art and twisted genius.
“Harlan,” said Theodore, �
�think about what you’re doing. The entire world will die, or worse.”
“Oh, It will most certainly be worse than death.” Harlan stared into the computer screen and said, “There are slave cultures out there in the sky, galaxy wide empires built on the backs of species that live and die in terror. There are aliens out there that see torture and genocide as sacraments... This world is perched on the precipice of Hell, Teddy, and all it needs is the slightest push.”
Harlan moved Theodore’s hand above the return key, preparing to usher in the final hours of the Wonder Heroes and the world, pausing for one dramatic second before…
“Incoming transmission from deep space,” said the Wonder Computer.
Harlan twitched Theodore’s hand, but did not hit the key. “Who from?” asked Harlan in Theodore’s voice.
“The transmission is from Wonder Hero Electric of the Houdotus Galaxy.”
“What?” Harlan scanned the code, hoping he had not damaged the Wonder Computer in some way. “The Houdotus Galaxy was destroyed millennia ago.”
“That is correct,” said the Wonder Computer.
“And what’s Wonder Hero Electric?” thought Theodore, even as Harlan said the words aloud.
“I have no information on that,” replied the Wonder Computer, “the transmission is being repeated.”
“Put it on the screen,” said Harlan as Theodore, his curiosity piqued. He held off the implementation of the final program.
The Wonder Computer complied, and the image on the screen was filled with the large round head of Onalark, wearing blue and white “electric” Wonder Armor that positively glowed with power. The alien was not of a race Harlan or Theodore recognized. The alien had a round hairless head, a mostly featureless face with sad brown eyes slightly darker than his skin, and a wide lipless slit for a mouth.
“Greetings,” said Harlan/Theodore.
“A Gold!” said the alien, noting the Gauntlet on Theodore’s arm. Onalark smiled, “My best friend was a Gold.”
“And you are?” asked Harlan with Theodore’s voice, carefully.
“Onalark,” said the alien, “Last of my kind.” He held up his arms, and showed the gauntlets, off-white and electric blue, one on each arm. “I’m a Wonder Hero, like you.”
Wonder Heroes 4.25
Minutes later Matt leapt off the teleporter pad, his face full of anger. Waiting for Matt in the teleporter room was Theodore, Susan, Jay and Kalomo, the last three recently awoken from deep sleep. Matt had been staying with Cassie and her grandparents, and was summoned from their home in the middle of the night. He walked up to Theodore and said, “Where do you get off letting an alien spacecraft through our defense grids?”
Harlan wanted to smile at Matt's consternation and anger, but he made Theodore’s face to wince apologetically as he said, “He’s a Wonder Hero, Matt. I didn’t think he was dangerous.”
“Harlan was a Wonder Hero,” said Matt, “and he was nothing but dangerous.”
Harlan wanted to blow Matt’s head off right there with a well-placed blast of golden energy, but he restrained himself, biding his time. The only reason Matt was still alive was because Harlan was interested in meeting this alien Wonder Hero.
“Easy Matt,” said Susan, “Theodore made a decision, now we have to deal with it.”
“Thanks, Susan,” said Harlan as Theodore sarcastically, “I can always count on you for support.”
“I’m not supporting the decision, Theodore, I’m just pointing out that it’s too late to do anything about your mistake.” She let this sink in before asking, “Where are they?”
“I let them park their shuttle on the helipad,” replied said Harlan/Theodore, “The bigger ship is in orbit. I’ve got Space Defense satellites 16 and 19 trained on it. The ship dumped its major weapons systems at the outer marker. I’m not a complete idiot.”
Before Susan could contradict this, Kalomo asked, “Any idea why they’re here?”
“No, I figured we should be all together,” said Harlan, smiling with Theodore’s mouth, “Want to meet them?”
Matt hesitated. “They waited this long, they can wait another minute.” He turned to Susan, “Susan? Can I have a minute? Alone?”
Susan looked at the group, and they all nodded their willingness to wait. Susan followed Matt out of the teleporter room and into the hallway of the Wonder Base.
“What’s up Matt?”
Matt looked conflicted. Whatever he was about to say was not going to be easy for him. “I know this is a bad time, what with you dealing with Walter’s death and all, but… I can’t do this any more.”
Susan tried not to get ahead of the conversation, and stifled her worry. “Can’t do what?”
“Lead this team,” said Matt, not meeting her eyes, “I can’t do this anymore.”
“Matt, you’re the only one who can do this.”
“No, Susan, it’s you,” said Matt, “I was only holding your place until you were up to speed. You’re wearing Paul’s gauntlet. You’re Wonder Hero Crimson. You lead the team.”
Before Susan could say anything else, General Rumpole approached them, walking briskly through the halls. “What the hell is going on here? There’s a god damned alien vehicle parked on the roof of Wonder Base!”
“I did it General,” said Matt.
Somehow the General knew that Matt was not talking about the alien vehicle on the roof. “You did, did you?” The General looked at Susan meaningfully. “Well, are you up to this, Susan?”
“I don’t know what to say,” said Susan.
“Look at the facts Susan,” said the General, “You’ve been leading this team for months now in all but name.”
“That’s not true…”
“You know it is,” the General countered bluntly, “Matt’s a great man, maybe the bravest, truest man I’ve ever known, but part of what makes him great is that he knows his limitations. He’s been doing your job for nine months now. It’s time for you to step up.”
“What about the guys?” Susan asked, “Will they be okay with this?”
The General put his hands on Susan’s shoulders. “If you lead them, they will follow.”
There was a moment’s silence, then, Susan nodded. “Okay.”
The General smiled. “Good. Now go get that alien spaceship off the roof.”
In the middle of a field in a little traveled section of upstate New York stood the large, mostly forgotten shell of the giant alien robot invader Brobdignag. Over the last several months Jaimie Karasik, a nineteen-year-old runaway and leader of an extraterrestrial terrorist group had been using the interior of the robot as a hideout. Brobdignag’s outer shell was impervious to all forms of scanners and detection technology, and therefore was the perfect place to build her base of operations.
Brobdignag was crewed with rescued spratsis, humanoid rat-like creatures who had been captured by the Wonder Heroes months ago and until recently held in a camp in Canada. The alien crew were adept at getting disparate alien technologies to work together, and they busily worked to bring Brobdignag back to life, despite the three story tall hole that had been blasted into its chest by the Wonder Giant two years ago.
There were also laboratories on board the robot where new technologies were being developed by spratsis technicians and the two robots, Crush and Kill. It was in one of these laboratories that Jaimie found two of the higher level spratsis busy firing gamma rays through variously shaped substances capable of focusing and amplifying the beams. The focused beams were then directed into the small furious heads of an endless supply of lab animals, mostly Earth rats, but also cats, dogs, squirrels or anything else unlucky enough to be trapped and brought to this Frankensteinian lab.
Jaimie watched as a rat shrieked in outraged fury as the beam fired into its head, only to cease protesting as the ray scrambled its brain. For a brief instant the rat’s eyes glowed yellow-green, then they shriveled like raisons in the rat’s skull and hair fell
from the rat’s head, exposing pink patches of flesh.
“Test 206, creature dies,” said the first higher order spratsis, who called himself Razor. His actual rat name was virtually unpronounceable by humans, but Razor was a name Jaimie could pronounce and remember, so it stuck.
The second spratsis, an assistant Jaimie did not bother naming, pulled a small kitten from a cardboard box. He held the kitten in one paw and pulled the brain-scrambled rat from where it had been secured with his other. The kitten attempted to play with the large rat creature, but was shown little regard as the rat assistant secured the kitten’s head with wire to the gamma projector.
“Test 207, ready to commence,” said the assistant.
Jaimie decided to stop watching and let herself be known. “Any idea when this will be done?”
The two spratsis technicians jumped, and as the assistant made himself scarce, Razor hurried to present himself and instantly began to grovel in Jaimie’s presence, pawing at her leather jacket until Jaimie pushed him away. “Ah, commander! Work continues apace, I assure you.”
“I don’t care about how the work continues,” said Jaimie, “I need the device finished.”
Razor nodded. “Yes, but tests have been inconclusive….”
“We had some luck with the gold prism,” said the assistant spratsis, but quieted at a look from Razor.
“I never heard about this,” said Jaimie, her tone a bit sterner than either spratsis card for.
“Because the tolerance was barely over ninety percent, commander,” said Razor.
Jaimie became exasperated. “Idiot! We’re not launching a space shuttle. I don’t need one hundred percent.”
“Surely we can do better…” said Razor, attempting a smile but merely baring its cracked and yellowed teeth.
Jaimie stepped forward and roughly pulled the kitten from where it had been secured, and tossed it back into the cardboard box where it rejoined its brothers and sisters. To the assistant spratsis she said, “You! Get the gold prism.”
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