GODLING # 33: POLICE BRUTALITY

GODLING # 33:  POLICE BRUTALITY

by J. Vandersteen

– GODLING – THE ONE MAN PANTHEON:  POLICE BRUTALITY

A wall of the First New Troy Bank shatters, surprising the people in the building. In steps a man in a red and yellow spandex outfit. He’s wearing red flight goggles and his fists seem to be gloved in bulky armor with rockets mounted on top.

            “Here’s…. ROCKETFIST!” the man in spandex says. “Out of the way while I get to the vault.”

            A security guard pulls a .38 and fires it. Rocketfist activates a rocket on one of his fists, they seem to work as some kind of rocket thruster, greatly enhancing its speed. He seems to catch the bullet in mid-flight. He opens his hand and shows the bullet lying inside it.

            “You have to come up with something better than firing guns at me to stop me,” Rocketfist says. With a superfast punch he knocks the security guard out.

            “Good. I AM something better,” a voice says.

            Rocketfist turns around and sees the voice belongs to Sgt. Wade Hudson, clad in his new futuristic armor as created by Ninjoid-creator and supergenius Professor Tsuraya, glowing nightstick in his hand.

            “Good thing I happened to pass by on my patrol,” Hudson says. “Surrender.”

            “So the cops are upping their hardware now too? No matter, my rocketsfists will take you out anyway.”

            Rocketfist hit Hudson, right in the helmet, the impact sends Hudson flying through the bank, clienst running away to prevent from being hit by his flying body.

            Groaning, Hudson sits against the wall, trying to get his wits back together. His helmet is dented.

            “I told you so…” Rocketfist says, shaking his fists at the cop.

            Hudson draws a gun from a shoulderholster and fires a bolt from it. Rocketfist punches at it, destroying his glove in the process.

            Rocketfist gives his destroyed glove a quizzical look. “Huh? That wasn’t a regular bullet?”

            “You got that right. I’m packing a whole different calibre these days,” Hudson says and stands up. He points the gun at Rocketfist again. “You are under arrest.”

            “Forget it!” Rocketfist says. “I still have some rocketpower in store for you.”

            Using the thrusters he flies towards Hudson with rocketspeed. Hudson fires but misses, although barely. The villain’s rocketpowered fist connects with Hudson again, knocking him over.

            “You destroyed one of my gloves! You will pay for that!” Rocketfist says and hammers down with one rocketpowered thrust after another.

            Then his fist is caught by a powerful hand. The hand of Godling.

            “Good thing I was just stopping by to get a cheque cashed,” Godling says. “Stop hitting the policeman.”

            “Good, I will just hit you!” Rocketfist says and powers up the thrusters to such a degree his fist is freed from Godling’s grip.

            CRACK!!! A rocketpunch knocks Godling back a few steps. If he hadn’t used his Achilles invulnerability just in time his jaw would have been broken. Rocketfist steps forward, trying to plant another fist in Godling’s face.

            Godling ducks with superspeed, the swing resulting in a miss. Godling tackles Rocketfist and pins him on the ground. Rocketfist manages to hit Godling in the ribs, but Godling is back in invulnerable mode again, so he isn’t hurt by the hits.

            Using some wrestling moves, taught to him by Ares, Godling puts the villain in  an armlock. Rocketfist struggles, but is unable to free himself.

            “Leave him to me,” Wade says. “I owe him some hurting.”

            “No need for that. He’s not going anywhere. I just need to take his gloves off and then you can take him to jail,” Godling says.

            “Take those gloves off then,” Wade says.

            Godling peels off the gloves from Rocketfist’s hands.

            “Thanks, I’ll take it from here,” Wade says and pulls Rocketfist up. He twists his arms behind his back and slaps the cuffs on him. Wade prods the villain in the back with his glowing nightstick.  “Now walk!”

             Godling worries, He seems a bit more aggressive than I know him. Odd… Is the stress of the job finally getting to him? Or is that new armor of his upping his macho feelings even more? Good thing professor Alexander is one of the least macho person in the world. Fat chance of me becoming like that.

            Wade hits Rocketfist in the back of the head with the nightstick. “And this is for hitting me, perp!”

            The villain falls on his knees. Godling rushes in.

            “Sarge, take it easy. You got him already. Please, be a pro.”

            “Don’t interfere with police business, Godling. I’m tired of your meddlesome ways. I’m wearing the badge here and with this outfit I’ve got all I need to police this city without you.”

            “I just want to do good, help out. What you’re displaying here is police brutality. I won’t accept that kind of behavior. It is wrong.”

            “You’re a vigilante. That’s wrong!” Sarge points the nightstick at Godling accusatory.

            “I just saved your hide, Sarge. Won’t hurt to be a bit nicer to me.”

            “This city doesn’t need you. I don’t need you. I’d have taken out this guy by myself eventually.”

            “Just don’t pull a stunt like that again with a prisoner. You don’t want to make an enemy out of me.”

            “Sarge! Need some help?” Janson walked in, flanked by a SWAT team.

            “Yeah, you can take this bastard into custody. Let’s get out of here.”

            Godling wonders, Janson…  I like seeing her. But is it love that I feel? I’m not sure anymore. I’m not sure I feel enough for her. It’s definitely not the same I feel for Monica. Am I just not cheating on her, dating her without having the right feelings? Did that future Godling just make me believe I had feelings for her?

            “Hi Godling,” Janson greets the hero. “Nice to see you as always.”

            “Ditto, officer.”

            “Well, let’s get this guy in the car and off to jail. See you around,” Janson says and pushes Rocketfist to the door, flanked by Wade.

            Wade turns around before they walk out of the bank and says to Godling, “Watch your step, hero…”

            “Same to you,” Godling says.

*

That was pretty intense, Godling thinks as he enters his apartment a little later. I still have some papers to grade though, so I’d better shake that off and get to work.

            He sits down behind his desk, changing into professor Quentin Alexander, paper in front of him, pen in hand. Still, his mind wanders off again. He can’t stop wondering why Wade behaved like he did. He was never Godling’s biggest fan and a pretty hardhitting guy, but he never threatened Godling and was never guilty of police brutality. And then the whole business with Janson…

*

Monica Sawyer is in her apartment. Just like Quentin Alexander she’s grading papers. The door swings open, Wade Hudson steps in, still wearing his armor.

            “Hi,” Monica says. “How are you? You look a bit irritated.”

            “You bet I look irritated. That idiot bodybuilder Godling was meddling with my business again.”

            “Meddling?”

            “I was apprehending a superpowered bank robber and he interfered.”

            “Isn’t that a good thing? Helping you guys out against the superheavies?”

            “WHAT?! NO! He’s a vigilante. He has no jurisdiction pulling the stunts he does at all. That reckless behavior of his is going to cost lives.”

            “I’m sorry Wade, but as far as I know he’s only saved a lot lives.”

            Wade grabs Monica by her arms, shaking her. “Are you on his side? What, you have the hots for him?”

            “No! I just think he’s a hero. All of New Troy thinks he is. Why do you think differently? And please, let me go. You’re hurting me.”

            “Are you sleeping with him behind my back? Bitch!” Wade slaps her in the face. She falls down.

            Crying, she says, “You really hurt me. What’s wrong with you?”

            “Shut up. It seems I’m not wanted here. I thought you were loyal to me. Guess I was wrong.” With those words Hudson leaves, slamming the door hard enough for a vase to fall from a table.

            Sobbing Monica reaches for her phone.

*

            In professor Quentin Alexander the phone rings. He picks up.

            “Monica? What’s the matter? Why are you crying? What? I’ll be right over.”

            Not even bothering to change his appearance Quentin zooms off with the speed of Hermes.

            Monica opens the door for him and Quentin steps inside. He can see Monica has been crying from the mascara all over her face.

            “Huh? You got here quick,” she says.

            “Err… Yeah. I was lucky to walk into a cab just as I walked out the door,” Quentin explains. “Tell me what happened.”

            “Wade is acting stranger and stranger. He’s never been the most mellow guy… That macho side might be part of the fact I was attracted to him in the first place, but now… His animosity against Godling is getting bigger by the day. Today he hit me when we couldn’t agree about our views on Godling.”

            That makes Quentin think… So in part I’m to blame for this? Great, like there’s not enough matters to deal with.

            Quentin gently touches Monica’s face. There’s a bruise there. “Are you okay? That’s a nasty bruise.” Using the healing powers of Aesculapius would reveal his secret identity, so he can only offer, “Let me get some ice on that for you.”

            Monica puts a hand on Quentin’s. “Thank you, Quentin. You’re always there for me. I appreciate it.”

            Man, I still love her, Quentin thinks. It really isn’t fair that I’m trying to be with Janson.

            Monica sits on her couch. Quentin nurses her bruise with a bag of ice.

            “Maybe you should leave him,” he says. “Guys who put stunts like this rarely just stop.”

            “I know, I know. It’s just… He’s never been like THIS. Something has to be bothering him or something. I’m not sure if it’s some kind of post-traumatic stress syndrome thing…”

            “He did go through a lot with the whole battle against Master Destiny…” Quentin offers.

            “Maybe, but it all seemed to start with his return from Japan, when he was suddenly wearing that armor.”

            “Do you want to press charges?” Quentin asks.

            “No, not yet. That would ruin his carreer. I’d rather know what drove him to it.”

            “He could just be a bastard and was able to keep that hidden for a long time,” Godling says. He can’t help wondering, Is that what I really think or am I saying that because I want her to leave him so I have a shot with her?

            “I just can’t accept that. I’ve always been sure I was a better judge of character than that.”

            “Maybe I should go and have a talk with him.”

            Monica smiles, looking up at Quentin like he’s a superhero. “Would you do that?”

            “Sure. You and me are best friends, right?”

            “Absolutely. I’m not sure if he’s ready to talk to you though. He’s never been a guy that likes to talk about his problems. He might get angry.”

            “Don’t worry, he won’t hurt me.” Not with the invulnerability of Achilles at my side.

            “What do you mean? You trust him enough not to?”

            “No, the glasses. He wouldn’t hurt a guy with glasses,” Quentin quickly says. Well, I hope he wouldn’t. Or else it could get messy…

           

NEXT ISSUE: Wade versus Quentin!

GODLING # 39: The Fall of Godling part 2: Powerless! by J. Vandersteen

GODLING # 39:  The Fall of Godling part  2: Powerless! by J. Vandersteen

– GODLING – THE ONE MAN PANTHEON:  The Fall of Godling part 2: Powerless!

Six dark-clad monks face Godling on the streets of New Troy, having just killed an innocent bystander. Angry, Godling attacks.

    The One Man Pantheon executes a dropkick, hitting one of the monks in the face. Another monk stabs at our hero with a black dagger. Godling manages to catch the dagger on one of his wristbands just in time and elbows him in the face.

    A third monk slashes at Godling with a flaming Tibetan Jian sword. The hero ducks, the sword barely missing his head. He hits the monk with Heracles strength, sending him flying against another monk, both crashing against a wall. That leaves four of them.

   One of the monks starts to summon an ancient spell. Above Godling’s head a dark cloud appears out of nowhere. From the cloud comes a bolt of lightning, striking the hero. He channels the invulnerability of Achilles just in time, staying unhurt, but smoke comes off his muscular body.

    “You call this lightning? THIS is lightning!” he says and hurls a bolt of lightning at the spellcaster, channelling Zeus’ powers. He hits the spellcaster, knocking him out.

    Two other monks are busy casting another spell while a bunch of police cars arrive. Wade Hudson gets out, assault rifle in hand, accompanied by a few other armed cops.

    The concrete under Godling’s feet starts to rise and take the form of two giant hands. They grip the hero, who struggles to free himself, using the strength of Heracles.

    Another monk aims his black dagger at the police. A bolt from the dagger makes one of the police cars explode. The cops barely manage to jump away so they are not hurt by the explosion or flying debris.

   “Keep out of this battle!” the monk yells at the cops.

   “You cause havoc in my city, you answer to me!” Hudson says and fires his assault rifle at the monk.

   The monk draws a circle in the air with his dagger and a blue glowing shield appears in front of him, catching the bullets fired.

   Godling breaks free from the hands of concrete, shattered pieces of it flying away. He focuses his attention on the monks, telling them, “Now to take care of you…”

*

Olympus. Hermes, Ares, Aphrodite and Apollo are gathered in front of Zeus.

   “So, it is decided. I will take away Godling’s powers,” Zeus says.

   “You can’t just do that!” Aphrodite says. “Without his powers he won’t be able to defend New Troy. Or himself.”

  Zeus waves his hand. “It is done.”

*

A monk slashes at Godling with his flaming Jian sword.

  The invulnerability of Achilles will keep me from harm, Godling thinks. To his surprise the sword leaves a bleeding chest wound.

  “My powers? I failed to channel Achilles’ invulnerability?” he says, full of surprise. The monk uses this confusion to slash again, another wound opening. This time in his side.

   Hurt, Godling falls on his knees. He tries to heal the wounds with the healing powers of Aesculapius. Nothing happens.

   “My powers! They are failing me! Why? How?” Godling cries out. “Gods, have you forsaken me?”

   “I don’t know what’s going on, but it looks like you need my help this time,” Hudson says and jumps in front of Godling, kicking the monk in the stomach, then hitting him in the face with the butt of his rifle.

   Without my powers I might also not be able to maintain my Godling appearance, the hero worries. And true, as he touches his usually clean-shaven chin he feels a bristling beard. A beard his alter ego professor Quintin Alexander wears.

   A monk uses the spell again that makes a concrete hand appear again. It slaps Hudson with enough force to send him flying away, right into a parked van. Another monk uses the removal of Hudson from Godling’s side to step in and swing his sword, ready to behead the hero.

   There’s a flash of pink light that heralds Aphrodite’s appearance out of nowhere. “Come with me and live.” She grabs Godling’s hand and teleports away with him, with another flash of pink light.

   “What was that? Where did he go?” a monk asks.

   “I don’t know but we had him on his knees. The city is ours to take,” another monk says.

   “Our orders were to kill the Godling. We didn’t. We must retreat and ask for new orders,” a fellow monk says. He issues a spell and there’s a lot of smoke that surrounds the monks before they teleport away.

   A fellow cop helps Hudson on his feet.

  “What the @#% just happened here? Can everyone and his dog just appear and disappear out of nowhere these days? And what was that thing Godling was saying about his powers? Is he powerless or something? Man, I always told this city they shouldn’t rely on that showboat to keep this city safe. They should keep their money bet on me and my firepower,” Hudson says and racks the slide of his gun to emphasize that.

  “But, but… These monks were using…magic! How can we deal with something like that?” the cops asks Hudson.

  “With more firepower,” Hudson answers.

*

The apartment of Quintin Alexander. Aphrodite and Godling teleport inside. By now, Godling has fully regained his Quintin Alexander form. He is bleeding.

   “Let’s get you on your bed,” Aphrodite says and with her godlike strength has no trouble carrying Quentin to it. She gently places him on his bed.

   “What’s happening, Aphrodite?” he asks. “What happened to my powers?”

   “Zeus and the other Olympians are unhappy about the way you promote them. You are their prophet, but you seem more involved with just keeping the world safe and doing good deeds than telling people you owe all your powers to them. The reason they gave you these wonderful powers was that they hoped they would get more people to believe in them once again, allowing them to grow in strength. We are only getting weaker and weaker. Granted, more slowly since you appeared on Earth, but still we grow weaker.”

   “Being a hero is what IS more important to me. These powers are for protecting people. To me, the whole prophet thing comes second, I cannot deny that. Hitting people over the head with gospel just isn’t my thing.”

   “That’s not what you should be saying if you want your powers back.”

   “Maybe I don’t. If I can’t do this the way I think it should be done, maybe I don’t want to. What has life as Godling given me? Sure, I saved lives… But it also wrecked mine on more than one occasion. Without Godling I can finally focus on getting reacquainted with my brother, sort out my love life… Heck, I might even teach more often. You guys can keep your powers.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve always believed in you and your kind heart,” Aphrodite says and puts a hand on Quentin’s chest. “But, if this is what you want… Okay.” She offers Quentin a small vial. “Drink this, Panacea borrowed me some of her healing potion. That will take care of those wounds. That’s all I will be able to do for you now.”

   Quentin took the vial and drank. His wounds closed magically. “Thanks. For saving my bacon there and for the potion. And for all the advice and believing in me. It was an honour knowing you.”

   “As it was mine. Farewell, Quentin.” With a flash of pink light she is gone.

*

A red carpet premiere in Hollywood. A blond, Armani clad, good looking man, flanked by beautiful women gets out of a limousine. Cameras flash, microphones are directed at him.

   A reporter stands in front of a camera, saying, “We’re here at the premiere of Days of the Gods where actor/superstar Marcus Brant has just arrived. We’re eager to talk to him about his new movie and about the rumours of his relationship with Scarlett Johanson…”

  Just around the corner stand Hermes, Apollo and Ares, eyeing the arrival of the superstar. They wear trench coats that hide their ancient, godlike attire.

  “Are you sure Zeus meant this pretty boy?” Ares asks his brothers.

  “Very,” Apollo says. “He’s got everything we can ask for in our prophet.”

  “But will he be able to be a hero as well?” Hermes asks.

  “For the sake of this world I hope so…” Apollo answers.

 

NEXT ISSUE: The All-New, All-Different Godling!

GODLING’s WORLD # 8: SON OF GODLING

GODLING’s WORLD #  8:  SON OF GODLING

by J. Vandersteen

–       Godling & Godling Boy in: SON OF GODLING

Another time, another dimension. A world where Master Destiny rules and Janson and Godling gave birth to a boy named Connor, Godling Boy (read Godling # 31 for more).

Godling, black-clad and wearing an eyepatch stealthily makes his way through the alleys of New Troy. In his hand he has a broadsword.

I have to be careful, he thinks. If Master Destiny finds out where our base is, we’re dead.

He suddenly stands face to face with two supervillains. The long-haired, metal-skinned speedster called Speed Metal and the dog-like Death Dog.

“I was pretty sure my sense of smell was going to be able to track you down. Master Destiny will reward me well for your demise,” Death Dog says.

“You never beat me before, you won’t beat me now,” Godling says.

Death Dog smiles. “That was before your eye was magically blinded so that even your healing powers couldn’t make you see again. I, on the other hand only improved my senses.”

“Show me,” Godling says and attacks with his broadsword.

Speed Metal is standing before Death Dog quicker than light, the broadsword warded off by his metallic arms, sparks flying from it. Death Dog steps forward, connecting to Godling’s jaw with a haymaker.

Godling falls down. Death Dog jumps on top of the One Man Pantheon but lands on his broadsword. Blood flows from his mouth as he dies on the sword.

“That goon was always too aggressive for his own good,” Speed Metal says.

“Look who’s talking,” Godling says and pushes Death Dog’s body off of himself. “I hate it when you thugs make me kill… Don’t make me kill you as well.”

Speed Metal laughs. “You will be the one getting killed, hero!”

With incredible speed he attacks, punching and kicking at the One Man Pantheon, who in turn evades, deflects and punches and kicks back with the speed of Hermes.

Then they stop fighting for a minute. Both panting, exhausted.

“Ready for another round?” Godling asks, fists clenched.

“Make my day,” Speed Metal says.

That’s when a sixteen-year old boy drops from the sky, right on top of Speed Metal. The villain falls flat on his face. The boy, brown hair, clad in a spandex suit the color of silver and a belt that resembles Godling’s own says, “You guys talk too much.”

The boy picks up Speed Metal and throws him at Godling. Godling sends a lightning bolt flying at Speed Metal and takes him out.

“Nice teamwork that was, Connor,” Godling tells his son.

“Yeah. I’m amazed the old villains are still around.”

“These two seem to be the more tenacious ones.”

“Let’s go to mom,” Connor says.

Connor pushes a hidden button on the alley wall. The floor beneath them opens up and both heroes drop down, landing in a big room that has beds and chairs as well as a huge bunch of computers and gadgets.

“Good to see you again,” an Asian man clad in a spandex-version of a Shaolin monk says.

“Welcome back,” a black young man wearing blue and red spandex says.

“Thanks, good to see you guys too, Doc Shaolin, Photon Boy.”

Janson, dressed in army fatigues runs towards Godling and hugs him. “You’re back!”

They kiss. Godling tells her, “Good to be back, my love.”

“Were you successful in your mission?” Janson asks.

Godling shakes his head. “Not really. I’m afraid Bogatyr, Ninjoid and the other non-American heroes are all dead. Master Destiny’s foreign agents took care of them.”

“Sounds like it’s just up to us then to free the world,” Photon Boy says.

“Yeah. So what’s next?” Connor asks.

“First, I’m going to have a nice quiet night with your mother,” Godling says. “Then we think of new strategies to defeat Master Destiny.”

Connor smashes a fist in his open hand. “Too bad, I’m still ready for some combat. That match with Speed Metal was way too short. All it did was get me worked up.”

“Rest, there will be combat again soon enough,” Godling says. He puts an arm around Janson and together they walk out of the room, a metal door shutting behind them.

“I don’t want to hear what they’re going to do,” Connor tells the other heroes. “I’m going out on patrol.”

“Didn’t you hear what your dad said?” Photon Boy asks.

“I heard it. But I have my own opinions.” And Connor flew off.

*

Connor flies through the streets of what’s left of New Troy, thinking, I might not have my dad’s powers to channel all the gods’ powers, but with my strength and powers of flight I can still make a pretty big difference on these streets. What kind of a hero would I be if I just sat at home practicing my juggling skills.

The sight of the current state of New Troy always depresses Connor a bit. He never really got to experience the city in it’s glory days, but still, he did remember the time when the buildings still stood erect, the bridges were in one piece and people weren’t either living underground or working as slaves for Master Destiny. The daily fights between the heroes and Master Destiny had just torn the city apart, not to mention a lot of the ones surrounding them. It was getting worse everywhere in the world as Master Destiny expanded his violent reign.

He sees a young boy, about seven years of age, running through the streets. He is chased by three flying men. Connor recognizes the sharp teeth and sharp fins of them. Air-Sharks, constructs of Master Destiny that have been fighting his dad in several forms for years.

Connor hurries and stands between the boy and the Air-Sharks. “Halt! Why are you chasing that poor boy?”

“He’s violating his curfew. Humans should all be in their homes at this time of day,” one of the Air-Sharks says.

“I just had to get out of the house. My little sister makes me crazy sometimes,” the boy says.

“You creeps leave the boy alone. I’ll take him home,” Connor says.

“We’ll see about that,” one of the Air-Sharks says and flies towards Connor and the boy.

“You’ll have to go through me,” Connor boasts.

Just before the Air-Shark hits Connor Godling Boy’s body starts to shimmer and fade, like turning into a ghost. The Air-Shark flies right through him, his sharp fins closing in on the helpless boy. Out of nowhere Photon Boy pops up, grabbing the boy and pulling him away just before the sharp fin connects with him.

“Where did you come from?” the Air-Shark wonders.

“What happened to me there?” Connor wonders.

“You seemed to disappear or something,” Photon Boy says and fires a photon bolt at the Air-Shark, taking him out.

Connor punches another Air-Shark in the face twice before the villain can hit him with his fins. A roundhouse kick sends the villain flying into a building, KO.

Photon Boy fires a few bolts at the remaining Air-Shark who manages to evade them with some fancy flying. Connor flies towards him and grabs him by the ankle. He swings the villain around, lets him go and sends him flying right into a double dose of photon bolts from his partner.

“That takes care of those creeps,” Connor says, satisfied.

“It does,” Photon Boy says. He turns to the boy. “Are you okay?”

The boy nods. “I guess.”

“Fine, I will take you home. But please, follow those curfew rules. We might not be around the next time.”

“On that subject… What were you doing here?” Connor asks Photon Boy.

“I figured your dad would be pretty angry when something happened to you on patrol and we just let you fly off alone. So,  I followed you at lightspeed and helped you out when I saw it was needed.”

“I don’t know if I should be angry or grateful,” Connor says. “I wonder what just happened there. I felt like I was just… Disappearing from reality.”

“Looked like it too,” Photon Boy says. “We’re going to have to discuss this with your dad.”

*

And that, dear readers is how this Godling ventured back to another time / dimension to prevent his son from disappearing in Godling, culminating with the Reality Bomb Saga.

END

GODLING # 32: The Reality Bomb Saga Part Five

GODLING # 32:  The Reality Bomb Saga Part Five 
by J. Vandersteen 


– GODLING – THE ONE MAN PANTHEON:  THE REALITY BOMB SAGA PART FIVE 



Vikings carrying carrying machine guns riding dinosaurs covered with armor, zombie-elves, dragons that walk like humans and carry scimitars have just fallen out of a gap in space and time in the Nevade desert. Leading them are two robed and bearded men from the  Council of War and Science, carrying glowing staffs. 
         They just threatened the heroes, Godling, Eye-patch Godling (from another time / dimension), Sir Magick, Ninjoid and Bogatyr and told them their plans to conquer our world. 
         Godling attacks without thinking, flying right to the head of one of the dinosaurs, a T-Rex. He lands on top of the head. The Viking sitting on the neck of the dinsosaur in a saddle opens fire on the hero. The bullets don’t faze him, channeling the invulnerability of Achilles. He kicks the Viking off the dinosaur with a kick Ares taught him on Olympus. The Viking rolls down the dinosaur’s back and lands with a thud on the ground. 
         Godling conjures up a lightning bolt and throws it right into the neck of the T-Rex who growls loudly, stumbles and falls. Right on top of three sword-wielding zombie-elves. As the dinosaur falls Godling flies  towards the robed men. 
         Ninjoid is using his laserkatana to slice through the zombie-elves, aided by Bogatyr and his broadsword. Meanwhile, Sir Magick takes down a dinosaur with a few mystic bolts. 
         A Councilman points his staff at Godling and an energy bolt comes flying out of it. It slams into the hero, who just in time channels the invulnerability of Achilles to survive, but falls on his back from the impact. A dinosaur lifts a huge foot and is ready to stomp down on the hero. Covered in shadows by the large paw Godling is invisible for a few seconds. Then the dinosaur loses its balance as Godling uses the great strength of Hercules to push back the foot. The dinosaur crashes down on its back, the Viking riding it jumping from it just in time to prevent himself from getting crushed. 
         “These are very powerful enemies,” Sir Magick says, “but we cannot give up… If they defeat us there is no one to stop them from invading our world.” 
         “That is very right,” a Councilman says and shoots a bolt at the mage who just in time conjures up a magic shield of light to deflect it. 
         “Maybe we should take down their leaders,” Eye-patch Godling says and runs towards the Councilmen, sword in hand. 
         “Your twin didn’t get very near, why should you?” a Councilman says and fires another bolt. Eye-patch Godling manages to evade the bolt, using the speed of Hermes and comes close enough to the Councilman to take a swing at him with his sword. 
         “I’ve got a few years of experience on my twin!” 
        The Councilman catches the blade on his staff while the other Councilman hits Eye-patch Godling in the head with his own. The hero falls down. The Councilmen fire another few bolts at him. 
         Our world’s Godling picks up his otherdimensional version with Hermes speed and carries him off, the bolts striking only sand. 
         “Thanks for the save,” Eye-patch tells Godling. 
        “You would have done the same, right?” 
        “Yeah, sure. Now how do we go about getting these clowns away from this dimension?” 
         “I was hoping you knew how. You hopped into this one yourself, right?” 
        “Yeah, but I don’t know how to get those guys back to their own. And I don’t want them in mine.” 
         “Sounds like something for our resident magic-wielder… Sir Magick?” 
        “I hear you,” Sir Magick says. “Just one moment. A littly busy.” The mage is surrounded by scimitar-wielding dragonmen. 
         He says a magic spell and suddenly the monsters burst into flames. 
        “Glad that guy’s on our side,” Eye-patch tells Godling. 
        “That’s for sure,” Godling agrees. 
        “I’m not sure how to get these invaders back to their own dimension. I’m not sure what there dimension is for one,” Sir Magick says. 
         “Maybe we need to persuade them to go back. We still have some leverage over them,” Bogatyr shouts, while battling a bunch of zombie-elves. 
         “Leverage?” Godling asks. 
        “Their friend Throx,” Bogatyr explains. “Sir, can you teleport me back to my cave?” 
         “Certainly,” Sir Magick says and wields a spell that takes him and Bogatyr away from the battlefield in a blinding flash. 
         “Seems it’s up to us for moment now,” Eye-patch says, throwing a lightning bolt at a dinosaur. 
         “So it seems,” Godling says and throws one too. Both bolts hit the dinosaur, knocking it down. 
         “Attack them! Attack them!” a Councilman yells at the dragonmen. 
        The dragonmen storm towards the two Godlings Ninjoid busies himself with the zombie-elves. Ninjoid throws shuriken at the elves that are made of laserlight, like his katana’s blade. The elves fall. A Viking steers his dinosaur at Ninjoid, noticing the elves need some help. 
         Ninjoid slashes the dinosaur’s tendons with his katana. The dinosaur howls. Ninjoid throws a few shuriken at the dinosaur’s head. “Weak point detected,” Ninjoid says as he throws them. 
         The shuriken are buried inside the dinosaur’s brain. It falls, crushing the last few standing elves. 
         Kicking and punching dragonmen while catching their blades on his wristbands Godling fights like crazy. Beside him Eye-patch Godling slashes at the creatures with his sword using his left hand, his right hand hurls a fireball at a few dragonmen. The dragonmen catch fire. 
         “That’s a bit extreme,” Godling thinks. 
        “This is war, twin!” Eye-patch Godling says. 
        Sir Magick and Bogatyr returns with a flash of light. Bogatyr has an arm wrapped around Throx’ throat and a knife against it. 
         “Go back to your own dimension,” Bogatyr says. “Or he dies.” 
        “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this,” Godling says. 
        Eye-patch holds up a hand, “I told you already that this is war.” 
        “You won’t kill him,” a Councilman says, smug. 
        “Trust me, I will,” Bogatyr says. “I’m not like Godling. I’m a warrior, not a superhero.” 
         “As the one with the patch said, this is war. There are bound to be casualties,” a Councilman says. 
         “No! You are my brothers! You can’t let him kill me!” Throx says. 
        “Wouldn’t you let them if it was me there?” the Councilman says. 
        “Maybe you should just look around you,” Godling says, standing amid a bunch of unconscious dragonmen. “We defeated most of your army. How long will it take before we defeat you? You picked the wrong dimension to invade. Just give up and leave before you fall as well.” 
         The Councilmen look at each other. They look at the battlefield where Ninjoid is carving up a dinosaur while he kicks a Viking. Eye-patch Godling is standing on a pile of dragonmen, blood on his sword. 
         “It makes sense to make a tactical retreat, obviously we weren’t prepared enough for this kind of resistance!” Throx says. 
         The Councilmen whisper a few word against each other. Then, they say, “Very well. We will leave for now. Release Throx and we will go.” 
         “I am warning you, you will all die if you are lying!” Eye-patch Godling says. 
         “That is clear,” a Councilman says. 
        Bogatyr lets Throx go, who runs to the other Councilmen. 
        “We will retreat, but we will be back!” a Councilman says. He pushes a button on a wristband and all invaders start to fade and are suddenly gone. 
         “That was one hell of a fight,” Eye-patch Godling says. “But we are victorious.” 
         “They seem intent on returning though,” Godling says. 
        “I will be monitoring for new gaps in the fabrics of our reality so we can ward them off again,” Sir Magick says. 
         “We made a pretty good team,” Godling says. “Seems like it would be a good idea to team up again when faced with huge threats.” 
         “We seem to be a good unofficial International Alliance of Heroes,” Sir Magick says. 
         “Catchy name,” Godling says smiling. 
        “But now, what about him?” Sir Magick says, pointing at Eye-patch Godling. “His very presence threatens the strengths of the fabrics of our reality.” 
         Eye-patch Godling sighs. “I don’t want to endanger this world. I just wanted to make sure my son is born and Godling understands who is the right woman for him.” 
         “You made your point. But still, the decision is up to me who I end up with,” Godling says. 
         Eye-patch Godling points at himself and at Godling. “You are me. I am you. Why can’t my decision be yours?” 
         “I don’t know. I like Janson, that’s not the problem. She doesn’t even know both my identity yet though. I just don’t know where it’s going.” 
         “Think about it then. All I ask,” Eye-patch says. “Time to go I guess.” He says a magic spell like Circe would and there is smoke where he stood before. 
         “Let me get you back to your own places,” Sir Magick says. “You can all use the rest.” 
         “I think a reboot might be in order, indeed,” Ninjoid says. 
        Sir Magick says a magic spell, leaving Bogatyr back at this cage, Ninjoid at the professor’s lab and Godling back in the apartment of professor Alexander. 
         Exhausted Godling crashes in a lazy chair. “Man, I thought I’d seen it all before… But now… What to do with Janson? Am I attracted to her or is that just because my future self tried to make me like her?” 
  
NEXT ISSUE: The usual supporting cast is back (Monica, Janson, Wade) as Godling faces a new villain!