The Moderator Saga: “Let’s Be Bad Guys”

“Well, if it ain’t The Moderator’s CalmSereneFlunkyBoy… himself,” Simon Maddicks growled, “except it looks like you amped up your wardrobe, from beige to flaming.”

“That’s CrazySugarFreakBoy! to you, asshole,” Dreamcatcher Kokopelli Foxglove corrected, “but, yeah, I guess you could say that … then again, I’ve never seen a dude sporting a blonde topknot anywhere outside of a gay pride parade before, so I suppose we’re even.”

“Since the next words outta your mouth are gonna be your last,” Killer Shrike raised his forearm blades, “I’d suggest you make ‘em count.”

“Word ‘round the campfire is that you’re recruiting black hats to take down The Moderator’s New Lair Legion,” Dream withdrew a Rocket Fuel Soda Pop from his Black Hole Backpack, and took a swig before continuing, “so I decided to join up.”

“You?” Simon chuckled. “The Moderator’s most loyal little toady? The picture-perfect poster boy for the New Lair Legion? A simpering suck-up like you wants to stab his own boss in the back? Yeah, I call bullshit.”

“I would, too,” Dream nodded, “but I’m a different guy, from a different place … alternate timeline, parallel universe, whatever you want to call it. My memories of what it was like, and who I was like, kind of fade in and out, like a pirate radio signal … but I’m pretty sure I was on the other side of the law, so here I am.”

“Well, ain’t you a cowboy,” Simon grinned. “And what makes you think you’re a bad guy?”

“I don’t think I like this … New Lair Legion,” Dream shook his head, “and I’m good and goddamn sure I don’t care for The Moderator. I can’t stand the … order that they represent,” he spat the word out as though it left a sour taste on his tongue.

“And I’m supposed to buy off on this?” Simon challenged, looming over him.

“Yeah, actually, you are,” Dream countered, looking up at him, “because if I was lying to you, it’d be one hell of a lot more believable.”

Simon burst into laughter. “You got a brass pair, I’ll give you that,” he approved, “but I need to know what you think is in this for you, and what you can guarantee will be in it for me.”

“I couldn’t care less about money or power,” Dream shrugged, “I just want revenge. When the time comes, all I need is for you and your gang to give me a clear shot at The Moderator.”

“And in return?” Simon insisted upon making the terms of their agreement explicit.

Dream flashed a sharply sinister smile. “Well … wouldn’t it be unfortunate, for the New Lair Legion, if one of their most trusted former members revealed as many of their most damaging vulnerabilities as he had access to, to those who could make the most of such secrets?”