Lost Heroes #8 - 9

Lost Heroes #8 - "The Final Battle"

The lizard from beyond the stars turned to the three new arrivals. His hiss was heard in their minds.

Lizard - :This has gone on long enough! Now you will all die!:

The creatures name was unpronounceable in human language. It was the product of genetic engineering. The ultimate Gothronian. The race that Eclypse battled to defend the Aurelonians for some many years. It was here, on the distant Earth, that the final battle of a war would be fought.

Rem - "Uh, Brawn? If you want to protect me, please feel free. I won't stop you in the least. As a matter of fact, if we survive this I might even give you a big kiss. Maybe I can be of some assistance to you?"

Rem concentrates and the area around Brawn blurs. When it clears, there are now two Brawns.

Rem - "Go get 'em, big guys!"

The lizard slashes at one of the Brawns and it disappears.

Lizard - :You cannot fool me with your petty images! You cannot stop me!:

Brawn - "All right, lizard! That's the last straw!"

Brawn winds up and punches the lizard in the face. Much to the large man's surprise, the lizard is unmoved from such a powerful blow. The lizard gives a toothy grin.

Just then Officer Terry's pistol is heard from. The bullet bounces off of the lizards' thick hide, but it did hurt the lizard.

Brawn - "Stand back, everyone, he's all mine. I have about 400 years to make up for! You're goin' down sucker!"

Rem - "Whatever you say, big guy!"

Rem takes cover while the two combatants square off. Brawn rushes the lizard and lands a tremendous blow. The lizard is hurtled over fifty feet in the air! Brawn chases after the lizard and the two battle across the desolate landscape.

Meanwhile in the underground base, Number 6, Mary and Beth have just exchanged their private secrets. Number 6 attempts to use his communicator to contact the party on the surface, but meets with no success.

Number 6 - "This is most peculiar. I am positive that this equipment was functioning when I handed them out."

Beth - "Wait a minute. I just realized something. When we've tried to contact someone outside of the defense shield, we haven't been able to reach them... What if Eclypse is right? What if the power dampening field is back on?"

Mary - "If that is the case, then we cannot lower the shield. To do so would result in loss of all power.

The three stand silently, just absorbing what they have deduced....

Back on the surface, aided by Rem and Terry, Eclypse has regained consciousness.

Eclypse - "Where--? Where are they?"

Terry - "Don't worry about them now, you need to rest.

Rem - "Brawn is making lizard burgers out of that thing."

Eclypse - "I don't know how to explain it... Somehow that thing was caught in the same warp effect that returned me to Earth... It must have followed me... I understand now! It all makes sense. It saw me crash, so it knocked out the dampening field. It must be back up now... The Scepter cannot project energy any more... The field must be back up. Energy weapons are now useless!"

Terry - "That would explain why the robots stopped dead in their tracks."

Rem - "And why the rifle BT found wouldn't fire!"

Eclypse - "Let us put an end to this battle."

Eclypse flies off in search of Brawn and the lizard. Terry and Rem follow.

In the wastelands, Brawn and the lizard wearily continue to struggle. Blood flows freely from many cuts on Brawn. The same can be said for the lizard, although what passes for blood in the creature is rather disgusting.

Eclypse buzzes the combatants.

Eclypse - "It's me you want, Gothronian! Well here I am! Fight me!

Eclypse lands a short distance away and waits. The lizard turns to him, providing Brawn with the opening he needs. Channeling all of his might into one punch, Brawn swings and the result is devastating. The lizard is thrown over a hundred feet in the air. It crashes amongst huge, rocky projections. There is a tremendous scream from the lizard as he is impaled on the rocks. He struggles for a moment and then all movement ceases.

Exhausted, Brawn sinks to his knees.

Brawn - "Wow... I can't remember ever having this kind of workout."

Eclypse extends his hand to Brawn.

Eclypse - "I have misjudged you, sir. Although you may be loud and belligerent, you possess the heart of a true warrior. I salute you.

Down in the genetics lab...

Beth - "I think I've found something. Take a look at this."

Beth points to the computer terminal.

Mary - "It's your cure, Number 6. The procedure that will get you out of that armor.

Number 6 is speechless.

Beth - "There is only one snag. The proper equipment is not here. The file mentions something of a 'Medical Sphere'. Perhaps the equipment is there?"

Mary - "So what do you say?"

GM Notes:

Okay, Eclypse, Terry, Rem and Brawn are on the surface. Tarantula hasn't been seen since the Lizard sent him flying. It is dusk now. Night will be coming soon. There is also the matter of the aircraft that the robots apparently traveled in. Plus the news at the end.

Spectrum's Comments: And that took care of the Lizard from Beyond the Stars. Areion had dropped out of sight for a short time. He had informed me of it ahead of time, so I didn't do anything drastic to his characters. He pulled Professor Abriax, but just had me continue on with Tarantula. The search for Black Tarantula storyline came out of this.

SUBJ: REM FROM: REM9 05/21/89 S#: 393979

"Wow Brawn you really are as strong as you think you are. And here I thought it was all hot air. Say where's Tarantula, he should be here by now." REM will try to locate him with her mind. "If anything's happened to him..." REM will then run off in the direction she senses Tarantula in (or where she left him if she can't find him).

SUBJ: Mary-Beth

We'll try to use the computer to get a schematic of the entire Alpha Base. I seem to recall mention of a long tunnel the led away from here, the Biosphere. It was blocked off, wasn't it? We'll need Brawn and the others to clear it. Oh, dear I've seem to have forgotten about the dampening field... Could we extend its area to cover the tunnel too? I wouldn't recommend leaving the protected area, Number 6. It could be fatal!

"Don't worry, Number 6. We're going to get you back to normal!"

SUBJ: Number 6 FROM: Deslock 05/21/89 S#: 457930

- Is this always to be my fate? To have a cure held out before me, just out of reach? It seems my personal prison is now inside a larger one. -

"I concur, if the energy damping field is once more in effect, then stepping outside would surely prove fatal for me. Still, let's see what information the computer has about this Medical facility. Perhaps there is more than one level in this facility, and the medical is inside our protective sphere. For that matter, it could be on the other side of the crevice, we still have little information about that side of the base."

SUBJ: BRAWN FROM: N4SIR 05/24/89 S#: 485433

"REM, ECLYPSE thanks for the compliments. I really appreciate them and I'm sure in a day or two you'll regret saying them. But, what was that thing?" BRAWN says from his knees. "I'm not sure I can get up quite yet. Did BT See that last shot?" BRAWN will struggle to his feet" Man, I need to rest."

SUBJ: Eclypse

"Rem, Terry can either one of you sense where Tarantula is with your mental talents? It will be dark soon, and I don't recommend stay out here in the open."

Eclypse will give Brawn a shoulder to lean on if he needs it.

"To answer your question, that was a Gothronian. One of the aliens that was warring with Aurelon. This one was different, much more powerful. Perhaps it was genetically engineered to be a super-Gothronian. It is of no concern now. Brawn has seen to that."

FROM: Miss Terry 05/25/89 S#: 495413

Terry tries to locate Tarantula, looking all over and trying to remember what location he was hit at.

If she can find him she will try to help him as best as she can before getting him to the safety of the base below.

Lost Heroes #9 - "The Search Is On!"

It is nightfall on the surface as Eclypse, Terry, Brawn and Rem make their way back to the base. As silent as the surface was during the daytime, the night is the complete opposite. Sounds and noises abound.

Rem reaches out with her mind, searching for Tarantula. At last she believes that she's found him.

Rem - "If anything's happened to him..."

With that Rem runs off in search of Tarantula.

Eclypse - "Come back here! Don't go off by yourself."

Brawn - "Women!"

Terry - "I'll get her. You to get to the base."

Terry takes off after Rem.

Eclypse - "But--!!"

Brawn - "Like I said, women!

Eclypse - "It surely isn't like the old days..."

Brawn - "I don't think that anything is ever going to be the same again."

Out in the woods, Terry has caught up to the running Rem.

Terry - "Hold up!"

Rem - "Let me go! He needs me!"

Terry - "We'll both look for him. What did you sense?"

Rem pauses for a moment to catch her breath.

Rem - "His thought process. He's still unconscious. And he wasn't alone."

Terry - "What was there?"

Rem - "I'm not sure. I couldn't understand the thoughts."

Terry - "Give me your hand."

Rem gives Terry her hand. Instantly, Terry can feel the telepathic connection that Rem has with the unconscious Tarantula. Terry is vaguely aware of the other presence that Rem felt.

Terry - "Let's see if I can find out anything."

Still in contact with Rem, Terry looks out into the general direction of Tarantula. In Rem's minds eye the scenery rushes past.

Rem - "Wow... How do you do that?"

Terry - "You can see that? Interesting. I've always been able to share psychic experiences with other psychics. I wasn't aware that this power also was transferable."

Finally, the spot is reached.

Terry - "Blast! It's too dark to see anything."

Rem - "What are we going to do?"

Terry - "We best get back to the base for the night. I feel that whatever those things are, they do not intend to hurt Tarantula."

Rem - "Yes, I can feel that too. This has been an unusual experience."

The girls head back to the base.

And inside the base, Mary, Beth and Number 6 continue to get information from the computer.

Mary -"This is it! The layout of Alpha Base."

Okay, here is the layout of the base as best I can describe it. The base has 4 levels to it. A central shaft joins all the levels. The shaft bisects four spheres, one on each level. Tunnels project from the 2nd and 3rd level spheres. Eight tunnels go out. They are evenly spaced out. Thus Alpha Base has a grand total of 20 sphere's!

The Biosphere, where you all are at, is located on the 3rd level of the base. It is reached by taking the north tunnel from the central shaft. The Med-Sphere is also on the 3rd level. It is directly south.

Rem telepathically contacts Number 6 to let those who went to the surface in. The communicators would not function outside of the sphere.

It is late and you're all tired. The bunkroom is divided up into his and her sections. After an impromptu meal, you all turn in. With the defense shield up, you don't have to worry about visitors in the night.

Next morning while eating, you all discuss what you are going to do next. All of the events up date have been relayed to all of you.

If you have any questions, I'll try to answer then ASAP.

SUBJ: Mary-Beth

"I, we, you know what I mean, just remember something. Weren't there force field belts found in the armory? In fact aren't I still wearing one? Or is it two now? Perhaps Number 6 would be able to leave the defense shield that way?"

Regardless, our course of action is clear. We must find Tarantula and get to the Medical Sphere.

Hmmm, I just thought of another problem... One of us must stay inside the defense shield. Otherwise no one would be able to re-enter! If it's not one thing it's another...

SUBJ: REM FROM: REM9 05/28/89 S#: 428924

"Gee, um Beth I'm not a scientist like you guys but wouldn't the force belts fade out just like the communicators and Eclypse's scepter. Maybe we ought to try it with one of us first before Number 6 does. I think if Tarantula is all right we should try to help you first. It must be awful to have to stay in that armor all the time and I'm dying to see the face behind that sexy voice you have there. Terry if you're willing we could go on that mind trip again. It's light now so the view should be much better." REM will then open her mind in an attempt to locate Tarantula again. If it turns out that he is all right, she will try to contact him and let him know what we are doing.

SUBJ: Eclypse

"I think I see what Mary is getting at Rem. The dampening effect doesn't seem to penetrate force fields. Thus, something inside a force field works. Since the belt generates a force field and the source of its energy is inside the field that it produces, it should stay on."

"Another thing I noticed; the field only seems to effect the Star Scepter when I try to release energy from it. It is the source of my flight and I was able to fly on the surface.

It seems to me that the generator in this sphere is a back up. Surely there is a power center for the entire base. If we could get that one operational, we could get a shield around the entire base! If it is 20 spheres in size, that would make it a small city!

SUBJ: Number 6 (R) FROM: Deslock 05/31/89 S#: 496900

"I think you've analyzed the situation correctly, Eclypse. Still, the belts should be tested, to see if they work in the first place, and also to see if they work outside. Also, I recall that you found a device that allows passage through the force field? This would solve any problem with re-entering this dome. While the belts are tested, Terry and Rem can try to locate Tarantula and determine his health, while Mary-Beth and I do some more computer research. I'm curious about those containment satellites. It would see that there is something on the Earth that someone took great pains to ensure didn't get out. I'd like to know what that is, and who put the satellites in place."

SUBJ: Eclypse... FROM: Panther13 06/01/89 S#: 73845

(I agree with everything that I stated earlier. Plus some thoughts of my own...)

"I have an idea to test the belts usefulness. If my Star Scepter functions within the forcefield then we can be certain that the belts DO work and Number 6 is safe."

"Also, this world is quite dangerous and I think that Terry and REM could use some assistance in searching for our missing comrade. Therefore, we could combine the belt test and the search in one."

"If the test is sufficiently successful, then it may indeed be safe to take the defense shields controls with us. However, I believe that we shouldn't rush things."

"As the medical sphere is nearby, we could possibly make a quick search of that area on this mission as well. Perhaps another back-up generator and defense shield exist and are operational in that sphere as well."

"If there is any free time by the ones remaining at our main base of operations, it may be helpful to use the computers to actually locate the main generator. It would be quite helpful to have a full run of this base. I am also curious to know just where on Earth we are supposed to be. That may shed some light on our predicament as well."

"A thought: As Rem and Terry felt that the strangers who have Tarantula mean him no harm, is it possible that they might be able to help us answer some of the many questions which face us? We may have found some allies. Also, "they", whoever or whatever they may be, could also consider him to be one of them, if they are not human?"

Sorry I was so long winded, but I've got a couple months to make up for!!

Spectrum's Comments: Muskateer, or rather Panther on Q, was supposed to portray Eclypse in this game from the get go. Didn't work out that way as he did his little fade out. I ended up doing Crusaders, Crusaders Plus, & Lost Heroes all at the same time before he returned.

SUBJ: REM FROM: REM9 06/01/89 S#: 402851

"Gee Eclypse. I didn't mean that we would have to go out and look for Tarantula, Terry has this really neat power see and it allows her, and me if she takes me with her, to travel with our minds and see an area without moving at all. Just be careful where you go Terry, there's some bigshot out here who already hit me once with some sort of mind blast. He's not a nice guy and he's kinda strong so if I start breaking contact with you, don't try and stop me. I'll be fighting him and I don't want you to get hurt or distracted."

SUBJ: BRAWN FROM: N4SIR 06/02/89 S#: 87786

"look what difference does it make what the tin man does he can stay here and mind the fort, in fact we should use part of this merry band as a recon team anyway. One half can stay here and retrieve information from the computers maybe even see if there is still a communication system still left and check if there is any contact to be made to anything around here. Maybe AT&T finally finished the underground fiber optics network they promised before we all did our rip van winkle imitations. But try not to stay on the lines for too long to avoid any unfriendlies from finding this base."

After the recon team has determined the hostility factor we can come back for the base unit if the situation warrants it. That way if one unit fails we're not all wiped out."

SUBJ: Number 6 FROM: Deslock 06/03/89 S#: 105454

"Despite his belligerence, Brawn's suggestions do have some merit. If they can find the main dome, then perhaps Eclypse could get the main generator working. I would imagine that the main dome has it's own backup generator, there is no need to cripple this installation to provide a backup there. In the meantime, those who remain here can get more information from the computer, and search the rest of this base. We should at least finish looking around here before transferring to the main dome."

SUBJ: Terry... FROM: Miss Terry 06/04/89 S#: 402781

We should get out to Tarantula as soon as it gets light, even though I felt they would not harm him, I think that it would be advantageous for us to get to him quickly and provide medical help. Mary, Beth ya'll willing to go?'

Spectrum's Comments: Are you getting the feeling that the girls are going to sneak off on their own to hunt of Tarantula? Find out next time!