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! 

GODLING # 31: The Reality Bomb Saga Part Four

GODLING # 31:  The Reality Bomb Saga Part Four

by J. Vandersteen

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

The Nevada desert. Eye-patch Godling swings his broadsword at our universe and time’s Godling. Godling catches the sword on his wristbands. Sparks fly from them.

Godling kicks at Eye-patch Godling who manages to evade the kick by jumping a few steps back. Godling attacks with a roundhouse punch, connecting with Eye-patch Godling’s jaw. He shakes it off, protected by the invulnerability of Achilles. Immediately the apparently villainous Godling attacks again with the broadsword. Our Godling manages to either catch the sword on his wristbands or to duck and weave just in time to prevent getting hurt.

“I think you can use this one, catch!” Bogatyr shouts and throws his sword in the air. Godling catches it. SWOOP! SWOOSH! He makes a few practice swings.

“Now our chances our more even,” Godling tells his future counterpart.

“Not even close. I’ve got years and years more experience than you. You’re just a baby version of me!” Eye-patch Godling says and slashes with his sword.

Godling catches the sword on Bogatyr’s. “In my case the fate of the world might be at stake. I’m very motivated.”

Eye-patch Godling tries to stab Godling, but our hero manages to parry. “I’m fighting for love and the fate of the world!”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“After I knock you down on your ass we might get a chance to talk,” Eye-patch Godling says and suddenly speeds up his move, channelling the power of Hermes.

Our Godling does the same, matching every superspeed thrust, stab and swing. Their moves are so fast the other heroes are unable to see what is going on. They only see sparks as metal strikes metal and feel a breeze from their swift movements. Dust is being kicked up by their fighting.

“Can’t see who’s winning… Should I get involved?” Bogatyr asks Sir Magick.

“Negative. The battle is winding down,” Ninjoid says.

And indeed, the dust settles… The Godlings stand still, breathing heavily, sporting cuts and bruises but they are still alive and well.

“We seem to be more evenly matched than I thought,” Eye-patch Godling says. “It seems there is something to be said for youth against experience. And of course, that is one amazing sword you’re carrying.”

“Da, it has been forged by me,” Bogatyr says.

“Are you tired enough to take a minute to listen to me?” Eye-patch Godling asks his counterpart.

“Speak,” Godling says and lowers the sword.

“Good. This is an amazing story, but you should have seen enough by now to understand it,” Eye-patch Godling said. “More than thirty years from now a great danger will threaten the world. You know in my world Master Destiny had enslaved all humanity. Without my son I would never have survived. In fact, when Master Destiny had me captured and fighting in his arena it was my son who freed me and made sure I was alive long enough to join the other Godlings in our great battle to defeat Master Destiny in your time-line, making sure he was defeated in mine as well.” (check out Godling #21)

“But… How did that work out? You were returned by the Greek Gods to your own timeline after that?”

“I was. Without Master Destiny the world was very different from the one I left. My son didn’t exist anymore for one.”

“So I will have a son? Or at least in another timeline?” Godling asks.

“Yes. But I fell in love with his mother because we fought together against Master Destiny when he ruled my world. When the timeline changed and Master Destiny was defeated before he conquered the world my relationship with her changed.”

“Who is this woman that becomes the mother of my son?”

“Janson, the officer you are dating.”

“What? Really?”

“It happened when we were both captured by Master Destiny when we, together with Darlene King, Wade Hudson and some heroes like Photon Boy and Doc Shaolin tried to invade his secret headquarters. Janson and I were captured, while the others managed to escape.  In the jail cell we shared I comforted her. That turned into more and we made love. From that a son was born.  A son with amazing powers we called Connor but was known to the world as Godling Boy. He grew up to be every bit the hero you and I are. Janson is an amazing woman and Connor an even more amazing boy. I can’t live without him. That’s why I came here, to my past. I wanted to put you two in some dire situations together so these experiences would get you to realize how much you feel for her and for her to realize how amazing you are. I was hoping that would result in you two ending up together again and giving birth to Connor.”

“That’s just crazy! What were you thinking? You’re telling me you were in fact responsible for some of the dangers I faced the last couple of weeks?” Godling clenches his fists.

“It may sound crazy to you know, but don’t forget, I’m just another future version of you. If you had a kid you might have seen the logic.”

“I think the fact you are from a future where your eye is put out and the world is enslaved by Master Destiny also has a hand in your worldview.”

“What I’m trying to say is I would just like you to think things over. Understand what I’m trying to tell you. You like Janson, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do. But now you’re making me doubt if I really like her or was just manipulated into liking her by you.”

“I just cannot believe what I am hearing here,” Bogatyr says. “You Americans and your soap operas…”

“It IS quite a tale, isn’t it?” Sir Magick agrees.

*

Throx sits in Bogatyr’s cave, bound by the chains Godling forged. He smiles. “I feel the gap in reality becoming bigger. Those heroes made a big mistake just focusing on the other-dimensional Godling. With me still here there are two anomalies in this universe, causing the tear in reality to get bigger and bigger. Soon it will be enough for my brothers to follow me here.”

*

“Look at the sky!” Bogatyr says and points toward it.

The others gaze at the sky as well. There is a blazing orange light there. At first it looks like a sunset, then they note the strange colour of orange it is.

That’s when the otherworldly things come through the gap in reality.

Vikings carrying machine guns riding dinosaurs covered with armor, zombie-elves, dragons that walk like humans and carry scimitars fall out of the gap. Leading them are two Throx-lookalikes, obviously the others from the Council of War and Science, carrying glowing staffs.

“The Council of War and Science and their army!” Godling yells.

“We’ve been so stupid,” Sir Magick laments. “We shouldn’t have allowed that Throx bugger in our universe. That probably only served to widen the gap in reality.”

“Da, but we have to face the results of that now,” Bogatyr says and draws two daggers.

Eye-patch Godling readies his sword. “So it seems.”

Battle-ready the heroes stand before the otherworldly invaders who outnumber them in size and numbers.

“Surrender so we can conquer your world and we will only make you slaves,” one of the Council says.

“Go to Hades!” Godling says through gritted teeth…

NEXT ISSUE: THE BATTLE FOR OUR UNIVERSE!

GODLING’s WORLD # 6: DESTROY! DESTROY!

GODLING’s WORLD #  6:  DESTROY! DESTROY!

by J. Vandersteen

–       Godling & Agent Destruction in:  DESTROY! DESTROY! Part  2

A helicopter lands at the Pentagon. Perlin and Captain Daniels get out, joined by Godling.

“So your headquarters is located here?” Godling says.

“Yeah,” Daniels says. “Under here.”

They pass heavily armed guards, Daniels tells them Godling is with them and they are allowed inside the Pentagon. They enter an elevator.

Daniels presses a number of  buttons in rapid succession and the elevator zooms down.

“Welcome to Homeland Security’s Special Division,” Daniels says as the elevator door opens.

They enter a huge room filled with big monitors, hundreds of computers and hundreds of uniformed men working behind them.

“Here we monitor potential threats to the security of the USA,” Daniels says. “And of course we develop countermeasures like the Agent Destruction serum.”

“In other words, the stuff that made me into to the stone-skinned mutant you fought,” Perlin tells Godling.

“Looks impressive,” Godling admits. The monitors show pictures of wars fought in various countries, several historical landmarks around the world and even some heroes like Ninjoid and Doc Proton fighting bad guys.

“Let me show you what these monitors picked up a few days ago. That will make you a lot clearer why we wanted that kid,” Daniels says.

“Please do. I have the inclination to trust my government, but this whole affair made me doubt it.”

Daniels pushed a few buttons on one of the many computers in the room and the picture on one of the screens changed.

It shows the young boy that had been kidnapped crossing the street as a truck comes speeding at him. The driver doesn’t seem to spot him, either drunk or busy with his cell phone or something.

Godling screams “NO!”

The screen shows the boy turning to face the truck, a blast coming from his eyes completely disintegrating the truck, leaving nothing but ashes. Then the boy runs away as fast as his feet can carry him, shocked and afraid.

“How did he do that?” Godling asks.

“We think this boy is a Hybridian,” Daniels explains.

“A what?”

“You know those stories about alien abductions? Well, they’re real. Very real. Some aliens even got our earthwomen pregnant. These half alien hybrids we call Hybridians. Some are just deformed, some die upon childbirth. And some… Just a very few… Have these incredible powers. Young Akeem there is one of the most powerful we’ve ever spotted.”

“You’re kidding. Why haven’t I heard anything about that before?” Godling asks.

“The Men In Black, hiding all evidence of aliens? Area 51? All true as well,” Daniels says.

“And here I thought they were all crackpot theories. On the other hand, if Greek Gods are real, why wouldn’t they…”

“Yeah, it’s a lot to swallow all at once but after a while nothing surprises you. I mean, it’s studying and experimenting with that alien genetics that created the serum they inject me with that makes me able to turn into Agent Destruction,” Perlin says.

“And these terrorists?” Godling asks.

“When we first spotted Akeem’s powers we were afraid Al-Qaida would get their hands on him, with his heritage and all…” Daniels says.

“Wait a minute… Isn’t that a tad racist?” Godling wonders aloud.

“I’m trying to keep the country safe. When I think that includes racial profiling so be it,” Daniels explains.

I really don’t like this guy, Godling thinks. But if he can help me save that boy I will have to work with him for now.

“Anyway… Turned out the Phoenix Group beat the towelheads to the punch. They’re a relatively small group but growing fast and with some very wealthy backers. They seem to employ some technology that has some alien roots. In fact, we worry they have a spy within our Special Division,” Daniel says.

“I can imagine that has you worried. What’s their goal?”

“These crazies believe in destroying our world so the Phoenix-like deity they worship can recreate it in its own image. They themselves will be reborn as superhuman versions of themselves. Crazy as hell.”

“The gods I met make that idea not that crazy. Disturbing and evil, but not crazy,” Godling says.

Perlin laughs. “The hero has a point.”

“Yeah, yeah… Are you actually trying to tell me you really are some kind of prophet sent by the Olympians?” Daniels says.

“Is that so hard to believe after the stories you just told me about alien-human hybrids living among us?”

“And again…” Perlin chuckles.

“All right, all right,” Daniels says.

“Now, how do we find those terrorists and get the kid back to his mom,” Godling says.

“I’m afraid we won’t be able to return that kid to his mom. With powers like that he’ll just be to dangerous to just walk around like that,” Daniels says.

A lightning bolt appears in Godling’s hand as his teeth grit. “Say that again?”

“I’m sorry, Godling… But it IS my job to keep this country safe. And that will mean we will have to keep the kid contained at Area 51.”

“Not acceptable. He’s a young boy. He needs his mother,” Godling says and thinks, Zeus knows my own childhood got very hard when my mom died. I don’t want anyone to grow up without a mother.

“I think it’s going to be a long time before we see eye to eye on the subject. And all the time spent bickering on the subject might mean The Phoenix Group gets this kid to destroy the world… So we’d better bury the hatchet until we actually find Akeem and talk about what to do with them then,” Perlin says.

Godling nods. “Guess he’s right. Can this fancy equipment of yours track the boy down?”

“All my men are on it right now. Shouldn’t take them long. We can access all sattelites, all CCTV’s, all webcams… We ARE the BIGGEST Brother,” Daniels boasts.

*

A secret base… Akeem sits on a chair, behind a table filled with hamburgers and Cokes.

Two armed Phoenix terrorists are guarding him. A female with red hair, dressed in a black leather dress with a big firebird emblazoned all over it sits on the table.

“Listen, kid… We can get you all the food, all the video games, comics or movies you want… As long as you work with us. You like girls already? We can get those as well. Just work with us,” the woman says.

“Listen, Miss… I just want my mom,” Akeem says.

“Call me Isidore,” the woman says.

“I don’t want your food or your other gifts. Take me back to my mom. You know what I can do to you…”

Isidore brushes the boy’s cheek. “Come on, Akeem. We all know how you regretted killing that truck driver by accident. You’re not going to kill us. Let me just tell you about the wonderful life that can be yours and your mom’s if you join our Group.”

Akeem balls a fist, his eyes start to glow. “Take me back to my mother.”

Isidore sighs. “I was hoping to convince you in another way… Bring her in.”

Two terrorists enter the room, Akeem’s mother in front of them, hands shackled.

Akeem jumps from his chair. “MOM!”

Isidore puts a hand against the boy’s chest. “Stop. You try and use your powers on us and your mother dies.”

Akeem stands still, tears from his eyes. “You bastards.”

“To you, maybe. But we have a higher cause you just don’t seem to be able to understand,” Isidore says. “You destroy the target we give you, your mom goes free.”

“Don’t listen to them!” Akeem’s mother says. A guard hits her in the head with his gun. She falls down.

Akeem runs towards her, but is stopped by the guards, guns aimed at his face.

“You die, she dies… Or you just destroy the target I ask you to destroy. There’s a nuclear power plant in China which we’d like you to destroy…”

“A power plant? I may be a kid but I’m not stupid… The destruction that will mean…”

Isidore smiles. “Yes, yes… Isn’t it fantastic?”

*

“Look! That island in Asia. One of our satellites spotted their base over there,” one of the men behind the monitors says.

On the screen a big, fortress-like building is shown. In front of it drive several black jeeps. Then, the camera zooms in. There are two guards in front of the building, dressed like the terrorists that kidnapped the boy.

“Let’s not waste any time,” Godling says. “We get in there, take out the bad guys and free the kid.”

Perlin smiles. “Sounds like a plan. Can we fire up the helicopter, Cap?”

“Move out,” Daniels says. “And fast. We’ve got a world to save.”

NEXT ISSUE: Can Godling and Agent Destruction prevent the destruction of China?

            

GODLING # 30: The Reality Bomb Saga Part Three

 GODLING # 30:  The Reality Bomb Saga Part Three 
by J. Vandersteen 


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

Godling, Sir Magick and Bogatyr stand in Bogatyr's cavernous headquarters. 
"It seems these reality bombs that are going off all over the globe are causing tears in the fabric of reality, weakening the walls between different realities and dimensions." 
"That sounds pretty incredible even to me. And I've visited Olympus," Godling says. 
"As this world's mystic protector I've visited several other dimensions and have prevented several beings from those dimension to enter this one. I don’t know who is placing these bombs, but I have a feeling he or they plan to cause a tear wide enough to enter our world,” Sir Magick explained. 
“What kind of beings should I be thinking of?” Bogatyr asks. 
“Sometimes creatures with tentacles, sometimes other versions of ourselves. There’s a lot of possibilities.” 
“I have some experience with that last one,” Godling says.  “I wonder if there’s a connection there.” 
“What do you mean?” Sir Magick asks. 
“Some time ago a lot of different versions of myself showed up to help me out in a showdown with a supervillain.” 
Sir Magick strokes his chin. “That might explain how the bad guys were able to plant the bombs. It probably caused just enough of a tear in the fabric of reality for them to drop a few bombs through.” 
“So in a way I am responsible. Or my otherworldly versions are. Sounds like an extra motivation to get this whole mess wrapped up.” 
“Another hero just dealt with another Reality Bomb crisis. I suggest we visit him and enlist him in our quest,” Sir Magicks says. 
Bogatyr and Godling agree. Sir Magicks says a few magic words and suddenly the heroes are standing in Japan. The cyborg hero Ninjoid is still trying to compute what happened, having fought off were-cats. Now he faces another surprise with the appearance of the other heroes. 
“Identify yourselves,” Ninjoid says. 
The heroes tell Ninjoid their names. Sir Magick tells them why they are there. 
“This unit indeed faced strange beings that disappeared suddenly. I would be happy to join you in your quest,” Ninjoid says. 
“Excellent. I will try to pinpoint if there is another tear in reality right now to be found somewhere. Let me concentrate for  a moment.” Sir Magick closes his eyes. The heroes surround him. After a few minutes Sir Magick opens his eyes wide. “Yes, another tear is near. I will teleport us there right now.” 
The heroes disappear from the Tokyo city streets and reappear in a busy mall in Germany. 
“There!” Sir Magick says and points at a corner of the mall. The heroes see a portal of light, flickering for a minute. A man with a long white beard, dressed in a blue robe steps from the portal. He is holding a device. 
“He’s holding a Reality Bomb!” Godling says and speeds to the robed man. 
The robed man is startled and drops the Reality Bomb. He grabs a knife. Godling grabs his wrist and twists, the knife drops. Godling grabs his robe. 
“Who are you?” Godling says. 
The robed man struggles with Godling, trying to get free but Godling is stronger. The other heroes stand by his side. 
Ninjoid pick up the Reality Bomb. “Scanning device. Alloy unknown. Technical origin unknown.” 
“Who are you?” Godling repeats. The robed man punches Godling in the face, but he just shakes that off. 
“I’m way stronger than you, pal. Give it up and tell me what I want to know.” 
“Da, we insist,” Bogatyr says and puts the blade of his sword against the robed man’s neck. 
“I guess it doesn’t matter. You won’t be able to stop us anyway. The timer of the Reality Bomb will go off in mere seconds.” 
The bomb explodes, knocking Ninjoid against the wall. Suddenly everyone in the mall is standing upside down, their feet on the ceiling. 
“What?” Bogatyr says. “Seems like up is down and down is up.” 
“A shift in reality,” Godling says. “Good to know they don’t all involve inanimate objects becoming weird creatures.” 
“Yes. It will wear off like the other effects,” Sir Magick says. 
The robed man uses the slight upheaval to produce a small pen-like item from his sleeve. It turns out to be a blaster of some kind, firing a light bolt right into Godling’s face, who lets go of his prisoner. Smoke comes from Godling’s face. 
“Wait a minute!” Bogatyr says and grabs the villain’s robe and tugs him towards himself. “You’re not going anywhere?” 
“Are you okay?” Sir Magick asks Godling. 
“Yeah,” he says. “It hurt like hell but I’m already using the powers of Aesculapius to heal my face. He managed to surprise me.” 
“He won’t be surprising me,” Bogatyr says and kick the blaster out of the robed man’s hand. 
Then down is down again and up is up again. Everyone is standing on the floor again like they should. The mall’s visitors are all pretty dazed and confused and are pointing and staring at the strange costumed men. 
“I will take us all away from here, we have caused enough of an upheaval here.” Sir Magick teleports the heroes and their prisoner to Bogatyr’s cave. 
“Now you talk to us,” Bogatyr tells the prisoner. 
“I’m not telling you anything,” the robed man says. 
Bogatyr pushes his blade against the robed man’s throat. “Let’s see about that.” 
Godling grabs Bogatyr’s arm. “Wait, we are heroes. We don’t torture.” 
“I’m a warrior, sometimes to win a war you have to get nasty,” Bogatyr says. 
“There must be other ways to make him talk,” Godling says. “There are always alternatives to violence.” 
“I am that alternative,” Sir Magick says. “A simple truth spell will have him talking.” 
Godling smiles. “And I thought I had a vast array of powers.” 
Sir Magick touches the robed man’s head with his fingers and says a magic spell in an old arcane language. 
“Now tell us who you are and what your plans are,” Sir Magick says. 
The robed man speaks. “I am Throx, member of the Council of War and Science.  Our Council rules my reality. Our goal is to rule all realities, invading them and conquering them using our army of warriors and monsters from the realities we conquered. We seek out cracks in reality, and use those cracks to enter the other realities. There we drop our Reality Bombs, causing the cracks to widen enough for our armies to enter. Our armies are so powerful we always end up conquering the reality we enter.” 
“How do we close the cracks?” Godling asks. 
“Cracks in reality are caused by anomalies, things or beings from other realities. Find the anomaly in your reality, remove it and the cracks close.” 
Godling frowns. “He could be mentioning my fellow Godlings from other realities. But they’re gone now.” 
“Are you sure about that?” Sir Magick asks the One Man Pantheon. 
“Not 100%, I guess.” 
Sir Magick nods. “Then we need to make sure. In the meantime we need to make sure Throx here poses no danger.” 
“No problem, using the powers of Hephaestus I can forge some unbreakable restraints for our prisoner,” Godling says. 
“I should have the tools you need for that in my cave,” Bogatyr tells him. 
“I will see if I can track down your other self,” Sir Magick says. He sits down, closes his eyes and concentrates. Then, “Yes. Found him. There is another you, Godling. I can teleport us there.” 
“Sounds like a plan, as soon as we get Throx tied up,” Godling says. 
* 
Half an hour later Throx is totally bound and tied with chains, sitting helplessly in Bogatyr’s cave. 
“Time for us to go,” Sir Magick says and teleports the heroes. 
They all reappear in the Nevada desert. There, the eye-patch wearing Godling is practicing some moves with a broadsword. 
“What?” Eye-Patch Godling exclaims when he is suddenly surrounded by the heroes. 
“Hello, me. What are you still doing here?” Godling asks. 
“I’m still here to make sure my past becomes your future,” Eye-Patch Godling says. 
“Your presence is endangering our present,” Godling tells him. “Please, return to your own reality.” 
“Not possible. I am here to save your world, not endanger it.” 
“You heard my comrade,” Bogatyr says and puts the point of his sword against Eye-Patch Godling’s chin. 
Eye-Patch Godling uses the powers of Ares to disarm the hero with one move of his broadsword, then kicks him in the gut, knocking him on his behind. 
Ninjoid draws his laser-katana and strikes at Eye-Patch Godling, who jumps back to avoid it, then strikes with his mighty sword, cutting off Ninjoid’s sword-arm. 
“You hurt my allies. That was a mistake. Now you will have to fight me!” Godling says with clenched fists… 

NEXT: GODLING versus GODLING 

GODLING’s WORLD # 5: DESTROY! DESTROY! part 1

GODLING’s WORLD #  5:  DESTROY! DESTROY! part 1 
by J. Vandersteen 


–        Godling & Agent Destruction in:  DESTROY! DESTROY! Part 1 


Professor Quentin Alexander sits at the desk in his apartment. He is holding a red pen and grading papers. He thinks, Man, I’m behind on this. With trying to show up to teach and fighting villains and aliens I just don’t have a lot of time for this stuff anymore. 
        There is huge bang that startles him. BA-BOOM! 
        What was that, he wonders. He changes into his Godling identity. Sounded like something I have to investigate. 

* 
Two floors below Quentin’s apartment. A kid, looking about ten years old sits in front of the TV, watching Ben 10. His mom, a coffee-coloured woman is ironing a shirt. There’s a hole where the wall used to be. Standing behind the hole is a rocky looking, monstrous man with skin that looks like a camouflaged tank. He’s wearing red boots, red shorts and a yellow, thick utility belt. He has no nose, no visible ears but glowing red eyes. 
        “Allah! What is that?!” the woman says. The boy just screams. 
        “The boy comes with me and nobody gets hurt,’’ the monster says with a gravelly voice. 
        The door flies open, Godling coming in through it. “What’s going on here?” 
        “Godling? Just stay away from this. This is not your business,” the monster says. 
        “Seems to me you are threatening an innocent woman and child,” Godling says. “That kind of makes it my business.” 
        “I’m not a villain. I’m on official Homeland Security business. I have to take this kid into custody to save our country.” 
        Godling balls a fist. “That sounds like a bunch of nonsense. Leave these people alone and you won’t be hurt… Much.” 
        “Sorry. I can’t be stopped. Make way for AGENT DESTRUCTION!” the monster says and fires two red rays from his eyes at the Olympian Prophet. 
        The hero takes the rays on his mighty chest, channelling the invulnerability of Achilles, thus staying unharmed. The impact has him crashing into the wall, though, leaving a crack in there. 
        “I warned you,” he says and with superspeed runs into Agent Destruction, carrying him through the hole in the wall, outside. 
        Since they are on the third floor they drop down. When they land Godling is saved by the invulnerability of Achilles. Agent Destruction seems to be pretty much invulnerable by way of his constitution and skin. Where he landed cracks appear in the pavement. 
        “So war it is,” Agent Destruction says and hits Godling with so much force the One Man Pantheon flies through the air, crashing into a car that breaks in half. The hero removes himself from the car parts that surround him, panting. 
        “I’m going to destroy you! Destroy! Destroy!” the monster says and starts to fire some rays again. 
        The rays hit another car that blows up. Godling barely missing the hero. 
        “Two can play that game,” Godling says and throws a lightning bolt at Agent Destruction. The bolt hits the monster, smoke coming from his chest, but he is still standing. 
        “DESTROY! DESTROY!” the monster yells and walks towards Godling, fist raised. 
        It seems like he is getting angrier, more animalistic by the second, Godling notices. Who or what is this thing? 
        Agent Destruction hits Godling, but he uses the fighting skills of Ares to duck the blow, following up with a Heracles punch in the monster’s gut. Destruction stumbles a step back, that’s it. Heracles gives the monster an uppercut. Destructions stumbles back some more. 
        “CRUSH! CRUSH!” Destruction says and wraps his arms around Godling, trying to crush him. 
        * 
There’s a helicopter above their fight scene. A pilot, two soldiers and a man in a captain’s uniform are inside. 
        “What the hell is Agent Destruction doing? He’s supposed to get the kid, not fight with a frigging superhero!” the captain says. He’s a buff black guy with a handlebar moustache. 
        “Do you want us to help him out?” a soldier asks, holding up an AR-15 rifle. 
        “You don’t really think you can take on Godling, do you?” the captain  says. 
        “But, captain Daniels… We can’t just watch and…” the soldier starts to interject. 
        “That’s right. We won’t. We’ll get the kid while Destruction keeps the hero busy,” captain Daniels says. 
        “It looks like we’ll have to be fast, though. Seems like Agent Destruction if facing his limits,” the pilot says, pointing down. 

* 

Agent Destruction has Godling in a bear hug, trying to crush him. Cracks start to appear in his skin, the cracks are glowing with something that resembles molten lava. Instead of yelling he now is just growling. 
        “ROOOOOOOOOWRRRRR!” 
        I don’t know what’s going on, but it looks like he’s breaking apart or something, Godling thinks. Time to get out of this. 
        The One Man Pantheon covers himself with flames, channelling the powers of Hephaestus. Agent Destruction’s stony skin singes… He lets go of Godling. 
* 
The two soldiers jump out of the plane with parachutes. They land on the street, taking off their parachutes and arms ready enter the apartment building. 
        In the helicopter captain Daniels tells the pilot, “Agent Destruction is going to expire if we don’t shut him off. Do it.” 
        The pilot presses a button on his helicopter. 
        Agent Destruction slowly starts to change, the glowing eyes and strange skin disappearing, his inhumanly big physique turning into that of a regular human’s. What is left standing is a regular human male with brown hair. He looks tired. 
        “What did I just see happening?” Godling wondered aloud. 
        “You saw me change back, that’s what you saw,” the man said. 
         
* 
“Sergeant Perlin seems to be okay,” the pilot told captain Daniels. 
        “Good, land and pick him up,” Daniels orders the pilot.  “Carter, Smith, what’s your status?” 
        The two soldiers are inside the young boy and his mom’s apartment. Inside are three men wearing dark skintight costumes and masks with red goggles. A big firebird is emblazoned on their chests. They are carrying advanced rifles. 
        “Crap! The Phoenix Group! Damned terrorists!” one of the soldiers says. 
        “That’s right, and we’re taking the boy,” one of the men in black says and fires his gun at the soldiers. The other men in black join in and soon the two soldiers are lying dead in the apartment, the boy’s mother screaming. 
        “Shut up,” one of the Phoenix Group says and  slams the butt of his gun against the mother’s head. 
        Another terrorist grabs hold of the boy. “I’ve got the kid. Let’s get out of here.” 
        “Extraction in progress,” another terrorist says. He presses a button on his wrist and the images of the terrorists and the boy start to shimmer. Seconds later they are gone. 
* 
“No answer from Smith and Carter,” Daniels says in the microphone clipped on his shirt. “Perlin, get in the building and see what’s going on.” 
        Perlin uses the earpiece he’s carrying, saying, “Can’t you give me some time to recuperate?” 
        “I’m not asking you to change into Agent Destruction, you won’t be able to for the next hour anyway. I’m just asking you to go and see why Smith and Carter aren’t answering.” 
        “All right, I’m going in,” Perlin says and runs towards the building. 
        “I don’t know who you’re talking to, but I’m coming along,” Godling says and jogs behind Perlin. Together they enter the building, climbing the stairs until they are at the boy’s apartment. There they discover the dead soldiers and the unconscious mother. 
        “Oh no!” Perlin says. 
        Godling checks the soldiers. “There’s nothing the gods will allow me to do for them. They’re dead. These are you collegeus?” 
        “Yeah. Comrades in arms. I don’t see the boy… He either managed to flee or someone took him.” 
        “These men were shot by some kind of laser. Whoever did that probably got the boy. Who or why I have no idea. I’m guessing you have a better idea.” 
        “Not sure. Maybe the mother will be able to tell us more.” 
        Godling kneeled beside the mother. He put a hand on her head and used the healing powers of Aescilapus to wake her up. 
        “What… What happened?” she asks Godling. “You… You’re Godling? But who were those men?” 
        “Men?” Godling asked. 
        “Men in black suits with big birds on them… Carrying guns…” the mother says. 
        Perlin clenches a fist. “The Phoenix Group. If they’ve taken the boy we’re all in big trouble.” 
        “Why? What is the Phoenix Group? Why is this boy so important?” Godling asks Perlin. 
        Perlin gives Godling a grave look. “The Phoenix Group wants to destroy the Earth… And the boy can be the means to that end.” 

NEXT ISSUE: Godling learns more about Agent Destruction as all our lives hang in the balance!