Michael was starting to get nervous. He had noticed the increased perspiration from the terrorist prodding his temple with a Skunk atomizer, and how the pitch of his voice was increasing as he berated the Legionnaire Hatman. Michael wasn’t sure whether Lactose Intolerant would accidentally or purposefully squeeze the trigger, but he was sure that regardless it would be squeezed soon.

    Hatman had yet to make a move, and the thought kept occurring to him that he would have to save himself. Maybe Hatman was aware of his superpowers from discussion with Jamie Bautista, and was waiting for him to make a move? Of course, the opposite could be true and Hatman could simply be biding his time to save a nameless civilian. Honoria had told him before that he had a tendency to overanalyze things at times, and he hated to admit that this was one of those times. The time for internal debate was over. Action, he decided, needed to be taken.

    And then there was an explosion backstage.

    And then the wall blew outward.

    And then the lights went out.

    Michael shoved the anti-dairy terrorist even as he pulled his head away from the inevitable blast of the atomizer. Before he could press his attack he found himself on the opposite side of the room near the exit. In the dimness of the emergency lights he made out a Seattle Supersonics cap atop the brow of Hatman.

    “Get out and call the authorities, quickly!” urged the Capped Crusader. He turned away from Michael and surveyed the situation. After a moment he pulled his Toronto Blue Jays cap from his belt and placed it on his head. Blue wings sprouted through the improbable molecules of his uniform and Hatman took to the air.

    Michael stood there, puzzled as to why the Legionnaire would make himself a target. Then he noticed the stampede of people racing for the exits and realized that Hatman intended to be the target. He did the job admirably as multiple atomizer blasts screamed upwards, punching multiple holes in the ceiling of the building.

    Michael ran to a dark corner of the room and pulled out his mask. Affixing it to his face, he shed his outer clothing quickly, and Alcheman stood revealed. He hoped that the darkness had prevented anyone from seeing Michael Wooster transform into Alcheman, and if anyone had saw it he hoped that they wouldn’t recognize his civilian persona.

    The room was almost clear as Lactose Intolerance Inc. had their sights set squarely on Hatman; clearly the entire purpose of their attack was to kill the Capped Crusader, and not harm innocent bystanders. Alcheman counted his blessings for that.

    Clearly his first course of action was the whittling down the numbers of attackers currently assailing Hatman. The Elemental Adventurer tapped a combination onto his arm and transformed himself into solid steel. The terrorists didn’t notice him until he pounded the closest one to him through a chair.

    The terrorists reoriented their fire on the new threat, though some remained fixed on Hatman. Alcheman shrugged off the blasts as best he could, but he wasn’t sure how long he could hold up against the alien weaponry.

    An armored form dropped down next to him and punched the attacker sneaking up on Alcheman. Hatman tipped his Pittsburgh Steelers cap to Alcheman before taking up a position back-to-back with him. “Hope you don’t mind me copying you,” he said almost conversationally. “Seemed like a good idea.”

    “The more the merrier,” agreed Alcheman. “My name is Alcheman, and-“

    “We’ll have to do the introduction thing later, eh? Right now I think it best that we take care of our over-zealous friends first.” To punctuate his point, Hatman ripped the nearest chair from it’s moorings and hurled it into a tightly knit group of Lactose Intolerance Inc.

    “Do you have a strategy?” asked Alcheman, taking his cue from the senior hero.

    “I’m going after their leader. Try to take out as many of the goobers as you can, keep them off my back. But first, cover me and close your eyes.”

    Alcheman wasn’t sure he heard his ally correctly. “I beg your pardon?”

    “I said cover me.” Hatman removed his Pittsburgh Steelers cap. “And close your eyes.”

    Alcheman closed his eyes, though he was still confused as to what he was doing. Then he saw the burst of light even through his steel eyelids. After a few moments he opened them tentatively.

    Many of the terrorists were rubbing their eyes, as Hatman reattached his Phoenix Suns cap to his belt. “That’s why. They’re all yours.”

    “Pull it together men!” Alcheman turned to see Lactose Intolerant trying to rally his troops. “Fire, fire!” His henchmen opened fire wildly, and the Elemental Adventurer winced as a few of the terrorists cut down their own fellows.

    Alcheman reached for his tattoo and keyed in a new combination. He felt his body get lighter as it transformed into a new consistency. Alcheman threw himself at one of his assailants, and bounced off of him. He began to ricochet through the room courtesy of his rubber form.

    He had trouble keeping track of Hatman as he bounced throughout the room, but as best he could tell the Capped Crusader was confronting Lactose Intolerant even as Alcheman fended off the terrorists.

    He brought his flight to a screeching halt as he heard a female voice scream “Jenni!” He reoriented himself and saw his sister, Trudi, looking on in horror at the main stage.

    He was shocked to find Lactose Intolerant transforming. He grew more bulky, combat armor revealing itself. His skin took on a chartreuse hue, and he appeared to have scales. But what horrified Alcheman most was the sight of the monster that was Lactose Intolerant holding his sister Jenni by the back of her neck.

    The very few remaining members of Lactose Intolerant began to transform as well, until their appearance mimicked that of their leader. Hatman looked just as surprised as Alcheman was.

    “You terrans humiliated me before the empire, Hatman. But now my revenge upon the Lair Legion has begun! Surrender yourself or I snap the girl’s neck! Tremble before the Skunk might of Imperiator P'Rawn!” Hatman stared down the alien, as Alcheman desperately began formulating plans to rescue his sister. A voice from the back of the room interrupted his thoughts.

    “Holy crap!” exclaimed Carl.

To be continued…

Edited