Saving the Future Part Four 3.5: “Fight the Present!”

“This is what I know,” Simon Maddicks began.

“Al B Harper is working on a test in his lab where he’s trying to identify some kind of “evil gene” in this kid Danny Lyle. Who’s Danny Lyle? Well, besides being the squeeze of the sister of the woman I HATE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD, he’s also the son of the Hooded Hood. I’m sure you heard of him. And on top of all that he may be the guy who becomes the guy known as The Moderator, who took over the Parodyverse a while back and twisted things around so that he and his goons were the heroes.

“You probably don’t remember that. And that’s because he lost. The heroes, who were really the villains on that world, and me, who’s just awesome no matter what reality I’m dumped in, collectively curb stomped him and his entire operation, turning things back to the way things are supposed to be. Except now apparently the Lair Legion are worried this kid may become The Moderator or something worse and destroy the world like his alternate version of himself did. Kapisch? So Harper’s running his tests and if the result is that Lyle will become the big arch villain every little boy dreams of growing up, they might kill him.”

The big man in the army jacket stopped talking briefly, waiting for the mounted policeman to trot past the park bench where he and his companion were sitting, “This is what I plan to do about it.

“I’m going to bust him out of Lair Island. Lyle’s old man was the only boss I had who ever treated me right. Sure he had a fruity accent, but the Hooded Hood was all class. He knew what it meant to be a villain. And his legacy- see, he’s dead now, got blown up during the Parody War- the Hood’s legacy shouldn’t be snuffed out by a bunch so called do-gooders who don’t know the rules. That’s what torques me off more than anything else: these schmucks in the Legion don’t even know their role. They’re getting ready to cross a line, and after that it’s only a matter of time before they all start growing goatees and wearing eye patches and become evil. Like that episode of “Super Friends” where Flash dies and the heroes all turn into asswipe fascist dinks. Follow me?”

“Not really.”

Simon searched for the right explanation, gazing up into the clear night sky over Oft Central Park as if for inspiration, “I’m going to rescue the kid before the heroes kack him in order to serve the greater good, turning themselves into a bunch of even bigger tools.”

There was a long pause, “OK.”

“Now, Part C, Why you need to help me. One, you’ve got your powers that will make it a lot easier to get where we need to go inside the mansion. Second, it’s your job to help those in need. Maybe you don’t normally do that by busting into Superhero Headquarters, but the idea is the same. This Lyle kid doesn’t deserve the death sentence Harper and the others are giving him. Then there’s point number three: you owe me. I saved you, nearly bled out for you, and I’m here to make you pay your debt. So are you in, or do I have to find some other good Samaritan to help me save the heroes from themselves?”

The woman considered what the determined and dangerous man was asking before slowly nodding, “All right, “ said Grace O’ Mercy, the Night Nurse, “Let’s go try and make things right.”


Grace and Simon met years ago here