>
>
>
> “Hit him high Dream!†called out Hatman as he charged Harvester wearing his Chicago Bulls cap.
>
> “Imperious rex!†The wired wonder flew through the air as commanded and slammed into the automaton’s metallic chest. As he bounced off he released a fistful of combat candy in the robot’s face
>
> Harvester stumbled as the miniature explosives blinded his optic sensors, then found himself hammered through a wall as Hatman tried to charge through him. With a roar Harvester threw the capped crusader back and regained his footing.
>
> Wicked looking blades popped out from the robots arms. “Wanna try that again, pretty boy?†challenged the horticultural horror. The blades began to whirl about viciously.
>
> CrazySugarFreakBoy! leaped in to engage the automaton, the unbreakable cord of his yo-yo tangling in the blades. “I realize it may be part of your whole villain theme here, but can’t you do something about the manure smell?â€Â
>
> While CSFB! distracted Harvester, Hatman pulled his Houston Rockets hat from his belt and fastened it to his head. He powered through the air at his target. “Serve him up!†he called to his partner.
>
> “Alley oop!†exclaimed Dream as he grabbed the robot by the lapels, flipped onto his back and channeled the kinetic energy he had generated bouncing around Harvester to his legs to launch the robot in the air.
>
> Hatman exploded into Harvester, rattling windows in a 3 block radius. Harvester flew through the air and landed in the bay. Hatman reformed and landed on the docks as CSFB! bounded up to join him.
>
> “He come up yet?†asked the wired wonder. The murky waters of the bay hid all traces of the homicidal robot.
>
> “Not yet,†replied Hatman, not taking his eyes off the water. He fiddled with his Seattle Mariner’s cap, debating whether he should go after their opponent.
>
> The pair waited for a few minutes more before CSFB! couldn’t take it anymore. “Where the hell is he?†exclaimed Dream impatiently.
>
> * * * * *
>
> “Where the hell am I?†exclaimed Harvester. He had expected to find himself at the bottom of the bay. Instead he found himself in an abandoned alley, and he was only slightly damp, rather than completely soaked.
>
> “About 4 blocks away from the heroes, so I’d keep it down,†advised a voice from behind him. The automaton whirled around to see Hatman, albeit in a different costume.
>
> “You!†shouted Harvester as he lashed out with a blow that would take the capped crusader’s head off.
>
> “Actually, no,†corrected Doorman. “Hatman just happens to have a pretty face.â€Â
>
> “You’re trying to trick me!†accused Harvester, warily eyeing the man before him. He looked strikingly like Hatman, but had the capped crusader been sporting a 5 o’clock shadow when he had rocketed into him? And what happened to his costume?
>
> “No, I’m trying to do some business with you. Step into my office?†Doorman indicated a dilapidated doorway to his left.
>
> Harvestered didn’t respond as he continued to watch the man before him carefully. “Fine, suit yourself. The heroes will probably be here shortly.†Doorman stepped through the door without a glance backwards.
>
> Harvester considered his options. He wasn’t scared of the heroes, but with them on his tail he wouldn’t be able to complete the heist he’d been hired for. He didn’t have anything to lose by going after the arrogant punk who claimed to have business.
>
> Harvester stepped through the door.
>
> * * * * *
>
> Harvester had to admit, he wasn’t expecting to be stepping into a well furnished, 3rd story apartment. He concealed his surprise this time, and instead ducked down to avoid hitting his head on the ceiling.
>
> “Some office,†commented Harvester. He took a look at the couch before him and opted to stand. He folded his massive arms across his chest.
>
> “It’s a temporary set-up,†admitted Doorman. “But the rent can’t be beat.â€Â
>
> “You said you had some business to discuss.†Harvester didn’t have the patience for games.
>
> “I do. As you may have noticed, I bear a striking resemblance to Hatman.†Doorman went on to explain how he was in fact an alternate reality version of the Legionnaire, and how he needed to kill him to continue to survive.
>
> “And what does this have to do with me?†Harvester lit up a cigarette. The smoke detector, which his head was directly beside, began to beep. A quick swat from his thick hand crushed the beeping device.
>
> “I don’t just want to kill him. I want to destroy him,†explained Doorman.
>
> “Why?â€Â
>
> Doorman shrugged. “Why not? In this day and age, you have to make your own fun.†Really Doorman hated everything that Hatman stood for, and as an agent of Destruction he felt a long-standing hatred for the champion of Order. What he had verbalized was shorter.
>
> Harvester snorted. “Pretending I buy that, where do I come in?â€Â
>
> “I have some business to conduct in the north, and I can’t have Hatman catching wind of it. I need you to keep him, and his pack of super friends, busy.†Doorman lit his own cigarette and took a deep drag.
>
> “That’s gonna cost you,†Harvester growled.
>
> “I have a little bit on me, but I know where to get a lot more.†Doorman handed Harvester a sheet of paper. “Meet me at this address tomorrow at noon.â€Â
>
> “And just how am I supposed to sneak out of here?†The robot had a point, as he had to slouch to prevent his head from bumping the ceiling.
>
> “Where do you want to go?†Doorman asked the robot.
>
> Harvester told him his destination. “Then step on out,†prodded Doorman, indicating the door.
>
> Harvester opened it, and the alley he had indicated was waiting for him. Harvester snorted in amusement, snuffed his cigarette against his palm, and dropped it on the hardwood floor. “Tomorrow then,†he said, tipping the brim of his hat before stepping through the door.
>
> The door closed behind the behemoth, and Doorman settled in on the couch with a beer. One thing was for sure, Boss Deadeyes was sure in for a surprise when he and his new partner came a calling.
>
> To be continued...
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