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Suicide Squad
In Search Of
IN SEARCH OF: Prologue 1
THE LIFE OF LESLA-LAR
Captain Comet sat across from Valor in her lab. "Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, I am only willing to probe your mind to clear up some of these memory lapses or false memories you have if you insist," he said.
The blonde Kandorian nodded. "I ask you to do it. Help me get to the truth about myself, once and for all."
He touched her forehead and concentrated. The helmet she wore on her head was a mental image projector from Kandor, via Superman's Fortress. It would show the images of what memories Comet uncovered from her troubled mind. He concentrated, and with her will added to his, he broke through barriers that had hidden away traumatic experiences from the girl's memory.
"I see myself as an orphan in Kandor. My identity is unknown to all. I am raised by the family of my schoolmate, Zora Vi-Lar and they give me their last name. She and I eventually pursue scientific education and I prove to be her superior. I see myself when Superman reveals Supergirl to the world and to Kandor in the bottle in his Fortress. We are all shocked by how much she and I look alike. Jokes are made about my father being Nim-El, the weapon scientist. His real nephew Kal-El and his niece Kara Zor-El are Superman and Supergirl."
"Stop," said Comet. "Could you be Nim-El's daughter, and thus the cousin to Superman?"
"I don't know. Since no one knows my parentage this memory scanner won't reveal that secret. It would explain why I am Kara's twin. Even she admitted that I was identical to her," said Lesla Lar.
"I see myself maddened to the point of believing that I am the real Supergirl. I truly believe it! I try to discredit her. I try to... to kill her. I finally lead Phantom Zoners against her, but they turn on me and... my body is disintegrated. But I live on," she continued.
"As a ghost?" said Comet.
"No. As an evolved form of life, like an energy being, not a ghost. I follow and watch Supergirl for a long time and learn all her secrets. Then I try to take over her body, and I do! I drive her spirit out temporarily," said an excited Lesla.
"Then what?" asked Comet.
"I see myself dispersed for a time, then when I regroup myself, still as an energy being with no body... I am drawn to Chicago. Where I find... No! This is what I blacked out!" she gasped.
"Tell me!" said Comet.
"I see an exact clone of Supergirl made from her body and identical to her in every way. She was made by the criminal group called the Council. And originally she was one of six mini-Supergirls that drew together to form one adult-sized Supergirl clone. But she was powerless, since the real Supergirl exposed her to Gold Kryptonite. Kara then let this clone live a normal life on her own. She took the name Leslie Larson. That's where I got that name for a civilian ID," she exclaimed.
"Then with the Crisis the real Supergirl died. But the clone lived on, and during that same Crisis, an old Supergirl foe named Psi tracked down the clone, since her mental patterns were identical to those of the original Supergirl. Psi attacked her, believing she was the true Kara Zor-El. She left her wounded and dying... nearly mindless. She cried out for help as she died. And I entered her body, just as I had entered Kara's."
"You did it to save her," said Comet.
"No! I did it to gain a body with which I could kill Supergirl and get my revenge," said Lesla Lar tearfully. "That's all I wanted: revenge on Kara! But the Supergirl clone died; I took its body and lived anew with a physical body that was, again, exactly like mine and Supergirl's, in appearance if not in power," she said.
"That's right! The gold K had made the clone powerless," said Comet.
IN SEARCH OF: Prologue 2
THE LIFE OF LESLA-LAR
"I did not reform on my own or of my own desire. I wanted to kill Supergirl, like before, but I had underestimated the will and morals of the real Supergirl. Remember, her clone was actually another copy of her, down to her moral values and love of doing good. They overcame me. When I merged with that dying Kara's spirit, it reformed me. I can take no credit for my good deeds, since they aren't mine! They are due to Kara Zore-El's will supplanting that of the evil Lesla," she said tearfully.
"I know the clone was powerless, due to the gold K, but my energy form still retained all the power any Kandorian would have. I just lacked a body. The merge brought my powers to the dying clone, but as I said I now see she dominated and does dominate me. I am reformed truly, but it is not because I chose to, but because she wanted it so. She is more me than Lesla is now. I am a hybrid of the dying Kara clone and the bodiless Lesla. So my reformation is not so miraculous when you know that the real Supergirl's clone or genetic copy is me, now. I guess that even explains my desire to be her and why I remember things before I actually was an energy being watching the true Kara. The clone had all of her memories from childhood on. I am more Supergirl than anyone else."
"But even if that explains how you got a physical body and how you empowered it, and why you reformed so quickly, it does not lessen your heroic deeds. Lesla, you are Valor now. You did good deeds and you'll keep doing them," said Captain Comet, hugging her.
"Valor was the name the press gave me during the recent alien invasion, and it's funny... that name actually comes from our Kryptonian history. A man named Val-Lor died driving off, or inspiring others to drive off, an alien invasion of Krypton!" She smiled.
Captain Comet nodded. "So you earned that name. You are not crazy any more. Since your body really is the exact match of Supergirl's, you have every right to feel like her or look like her. But remember, you can't use that name. That future girl, who may actually be your descendant since the real Supergirl is dead, has the name now," said Comet.
"Just think, if Nim-El truly was my father, then I am Superman's cousin, too! I guess we'll never know that," she said as they walked off.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 1
Perry White knew Jimmy Olsen was a good reporter. He even had a bit of a fatherly affection for the impulsive and slightly brash young man; however, he also admitted that the red-headed pal of Superman knew how to push his buttons! He lost his temper due to some act of Jimmy's more than he did for any other reason. So it was no surprise to receptionist Jennifer Owens when White bellowed out one afternoon in this manner:
"Olsen! You're giving my ulcers ulcers! Where is the piece I wanted on the Outsiders?"
Jimmy blushed and smiled and Perry grew redder. "Look, Chief! The Outsiders are big news, but they are obvious. I mean, Batman, Black Lightning, that babe Looker -- they're media stars. It is no story for a top investigative reporter like me. They don't call me 'Mr. Action' for nothing! Let me do a real story that allows me to use my skills and uncover the hidden story that no one else would think of, but everyone will want to read," he explained.
White roared. "No one, and I mean no one this side of Julius Caesar's late, great ghost calls you 'Mr. Action' except for you! I'll call you a few other choice titles, however, beginning with the printable one of 'unemployed ex-reporter' if you don't deliver something worthwhile! Now get out of here!"
"That's a yes? I'm on it," he said, and rushed out. He saluted Jennifer with a jaunty wave and hurried out of the Galaxy Building. "Forget the Outsiders! I'm gonna track down a few forgotten heroes," he said, waving a battered comic book.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 2
Rick Flagg smiled as he waved Adam Blake into his office. "Good news! It's over."
Captain Comet grinned back. "What's over? The invasion? The Secret Society of Super-Villains? The discovery of yet another Supergirl look-a-like? Blossom's search for an even smaller bikini?" he joked.
"No! The search for our long sought PR agent. No luck with Funky Flashman, none with Lana Lang nor with Cat Grant. But have I got a name for you. Ready? Lois Lane," he said.
Comet grimaced. "I met her, and there's no way she'd give up her career for us," he said.
"Not that Lois Lane! Not the Lois Lane! I just couldn't resist kidding you with the name. This Lois is a kid -- barely in her twenties. Blonde, perky, adorable and good at media relations. She is a journalism student-turned-media expert. The real, or should I say the first Lois is a mentor to this girl. I think her skills and her famous name will be a real draw for us," said Flagg.
"You've been around that Flashman too long," said Comet.
Rick said, "No, seriously, Adam, our blonde Lois will be perfect, and she's not flying solo. I've hired her as a team at less pay than a bigger name like Lana Lang. Her partner is Stephanie Edge -- a bright and saucy girl with journalism skills and attitude to match. She happens to be the niece of Morgan Edge, the broadcast executive."
Comet nodded as a sexy brunette with glasses and a short skirt entered along with a sweet-looking blonde who looked like the girl next door from a greeting card or a Jimmy Stewart movie.
"Stephanie, Lois -- this is Captain Comet -- the team leader and hero of the recent alien invasion, among other coups," said Flagg.
"Nice to meet you," giggled Lois.
"Isn't that name a bit dated? I mean, 'Captain'? You should drop it and just be Comet or Cometman," said the pushy Miss Edge.
"I like it the way it is. I'm a bit old-fashioned," he said, backing out of the room rapidly.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 3
Valor (Lesla Lar) posed in front of a mirror in her room at Rehab HQ. The pretty blonde wore a solid blue mini-dress with a red cape and an S emblazoned on the chest. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in something of a 1960s Shelley Fabares do.
"How adorable you look? Are you going to the drive-in with Wally and the Beaver?" teased Debbie Domaine as she slipped into the room.
Valor smiled, then frowned. "Very funny. I admit the look is dated. I just had to try this on. It's a whim. Don't tell anyone, please. I am over that whole delusion about being Supergirl and I am just beginning to separate the memories of things I saw her do and experience when I was tracking her as an energy being from my own memories. I just... wanted to wear the outfit for fun. It's never going to be seen outside this room. My pink and purple mini is the Valor look. So just promise you'll keep this our little secret, huh?" she urged.
Debbie smiled. "You were just playing dress-up. Lighten up. It doesn't mean any regression. You're Valor, media darling and heroine. You are over that delusion. It's just playing. So, break out the red hot pants and blue blouse if you have 'em, I won't tell," she promised.
Valor glanced toward her closet and smiled. "I even have the thigh boots and go-go belt version!" she laughed.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 4
Doc Magnus smiled quietly as the forgotten Earth-Two heroine called Robotgirl posed in the lab mirror. She was still a human brain in a robot body; however, her clunky old version from the 1950's had been replaced by a copy of the slinky and sexy version of a female robot created by Magnus. "The Platinum look is wonderful! I feel like a woman again!" she said in a newly feminine voice.
The real Platinum watched happily, if a bit disconcerted, from the side. "You do look like me now. We could be metal twins," she gushed.
"If they start singing the Patty Duke shoe theme I'm out of here," joked Golden Glider.
Doc Magnus said, "It's nothing. I am glad I could help. That Grayson was a genius! How I wish I could have journeyed to Earth-Two to meet him."
"Chuck did the work, but he was using the notes of his friend and the man I love, Bob Crane," said Robotgirl. "How I pray he is alive somewhere on Earth-Two. He disappeared decades ago, and when I was injured searching for him, his partner had to put my mind in a robot shell; then that mad Atoman plucked me from the past of Earth-Two to this world and day," she said.
Platinum gazed at her sadly. "A lost love! How utterly romantic, isn't it, Doc?" she cooed. He grunted and led her off.
"Maybe we can get you back to Earth-Two one of these days and get your memory loss cured. We don't even know your name," said Glider.
Robotgirl nodded. "I guess you can just call me Robotgirl or maybe... Tina? Like the real Platinum."
"Sounds good to me, Tina," declared Golden Glider.
Elsewhere, Dolphin wistfully wondered about her own hidden background. She was a beautiful platinum blonde who could survive under the sea, and had grown up underwater with no human contact for years. She was unsure of her origin and her true name, and even her age, although Lesla-Lar felt she was around twenty-six years old and Lesla was seldom wrong. Little did Dolphin know that Mr. Action was headed her way, eager to solve all those mysteries.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 5
Jimmy was headed for Dolphin, but he didn't know it. He often succeeded remarkably on talent, wit, and amazing luck. His comic-book was ragged, and yet precious to him, not just because of its Golden Aged value, but because it contained some truth in its faded pages.
"Earth-Two heroes appeared first in the 1940s, like the JSA, and we only thought of 'em as comic book characters since some guys at DC Comics were in tune with that world's events as dreams that arrived here distorted but somewhat accurate. So the late Flash actually grew up reading versions of the adventures of his hero, the JSA Flash. He thought they were just stories until he actually crossed over from our dimension to that other one. Now we know that Earth-Two really had heroes like the ones we have in some old Earth-One comics," he said, somewhat pedantically.
Superman grinned. "Look, pal, I'm the one who told you all this, remember? I also told you that despite there being an Earth-Two Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, there weren't any comic-book adventures by those names published on Earth-One."
"Yeah, but there were comic book adventures of a guy called Ultra-Man, a character called Night Wizard, and another one called Madame Miracle who were just like the Earth-Two versions of those heroes."
"So what can I do to help you with your secret mission?" Superman asked finally.
Jimmy gazed around Washington, where they had agreed to meet, due to the problems that kept Superman away from home. "Sorry, Superman, I didn't mean to sound all know-it-all-like. I guess talking it out helps me plan a story. This comic features some super-heroes who were just like some Earth-One heroes who actually appeared after this comic was published, except under different names, just like Ultra-Man and the Night Wizard appeared before you and Batman first appeared, right?" he asked. "I mean, that's what you told me before, if I remember correctly."
"Exactly, Jimmy," said Superman, looking at the comic and figuring out which Earth-One heroes he was talking about. "Now those two fought crime years ago, but ran into trouble when their powers went out of control. They are still around now, but inactive -- I think."
"Well, they are my story, or my first try at finding forgotten heroes. Superman, I'm going in search of TNT and Dan the Dynamite," he said.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 6
"Jim, Dan the Dynamite and TNT suffered a tragedy a while ago; their powers suddenly became unstable when they came near one another. TNT went to Kandor when it was still in my Fortress, while Dan went to Atlantis -- Aquaman's undersea kingdom," explaineed Superman after he made a super-speed trip in the blink of an eye.
"So can you help me at least get to Dan?" asked Jimmy, aware that Kandor had been 'relocated' to another dimensional planet called Rokyn.
"These pills from Professor Potter will do the trick. I sped off just now to acquire them. They'll grant you the ability to breathe underwater and to survive the pressures of the ocean floor. Remember, though, they will cause illness if used for too long, so make this trip a quick one, of no more than a couple of days," said Superman as he carried Jimmy through DC's busy streets.
"Thanks! But where are we headed?" asked Jimmy.
"The Government Rehab Department where my friend, Captain Comet, lives. His young aide, Dolphin will make an ideal tour guide for you, Jimmy, since I am already late for a JLA meeting. Remember, don't stay down for more than two days," he said, and flew off with a wave.
"What a pal! He always comes through for me," mused Jimmy. "Dolphin is a real babe! Hope Jennifer won't be jealous when I tell her about the trip."
He soon approached Captain Comet's office, and stepping in the door he gasped, "Supergirl!"
"No, no, I'm Valor -- don't mind the costume. It's just for fun," said the lovely blonde Kandorian, who was attired in her pink and purple again in the blink of an eye. "You're Jimmy Olsen! I remember you well from, uh... from what I've seen in the Planet! How may I help you?" she asked.
Jimmy stared in awe. She was known to him from the news, but to see her up close made her remarkable resemblance to Supergirl since uncanny. "I really need Dolphin. Is she in?" he asked.
"She's shopping in the city right now. How about we go find her?" asked the blonde bombshell.
"Sounds good to me," said an eager Jimmy. She scooped him up and flew off toward the busy, crowded metro area of Washington, DC. "Are you using your X-ray vision to scan the city for her?" asked Olsen.
"No. I could, but I'm just homing in on the tracking bug all Rehab members wear in their costumes. It's a safety measure for those like Dolphin, who are actually heroines, and a precautionary measure for those members who aren't reformed, as yet," explained Lesla-Lar.
Jimmy smiled as he remembered the late Supergirl. She had been sweet, pretty, and as brave as her cousin. This Valor seemed to measure up to Kara rather well.
Lesla-Lar's mind whirled as they flew. She desperately wanted Olsen's approval. She felt that Superman had granted her his official sanction and had forgiven her for the times when she had battled his late cousin during her madness when she believed herself to be the true Supergirl; however, to win approval from other friends of her twin would be so important.
Below them loomed Lacy's Department Store, and somewhere within was the lovely Dolphin... and danger.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 7
The store was huge and packed with shoppers. In the Women's Wear Department, the demure and lovely Dolphin was trying on a fuschia mini-dress. "For a girl who wears a blue bikini most of the time, I should not be uncomfortable in mini-dresses like this one, but I still feel a bit odd. Maybe it's because of the retro look to it." She posed in front of the store mirror amidst the shoppers.
Outside observers watched from a car. "She is inside and wearing a purple mini-skirt. You can't miss her with that platinum blonde do and that figure," said a woman.
"Thank you. You've served us well. Now, take your pay for following her and allow us metahumans to do our job for the boss," said a dark figure. The woman nodded and happily took her pay. "Now, we collect the Little Mermaid and get big bucks."
From the back of the store came another dialogue. "Did the babe go inside? Yes! So, is she solo? That partner of hers is one mean..." started a thug.
"She's alone and inside, so we grab her and the boss'll pay us plenty," said his friend.
"Why's he want her, aside from the obvious babe factor? She's not rich, is she?" asked the other figure.
"Naw! But he has a grudge against her old man, or somethin'."
At that moment two sets of costumed villains hit Lacy's and they were not looking for a sale. They were working for different employers with different goals, but Valor and Jimmy were headed for conflict unknowingly.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 8
Just before Valor and Jimmy landed, two costumed thugs burst through the front door and charged toward Women's Wear. The first wore a yellow costume and tossed an energy projectile from his hand. It blew up a display model and sent shoppers running in every direction. "There's the babe. What a looker," he said.
His ally smiled and charged forward shaking the floor as his mass shot up and he became a near giant. "Come here, lady," he said, reaching for a beautiful blonde in purple.
She ducked his huge hand and kicked over a display of coats. They rolled in his path and he fell flat with a huge thud. The blonde smiled at his clumsy move and kicked his ally in the face with one high heel. "Keep your hands to yourself, creep," she said.
Then the giant slapped her from the side and she fell out cold on the floor. "Tough little number! No wonder the Doc wants her so bad," said the yellow costumed thug. They grabbed her and raced off just as Valor and Jimmy dropped down.
"Look! I think that's Dolphin, from her photos," yelled Jimmy.
Before Valor could react, a black shadow enveloped her. She could not see even with her X-ray vision. Let's see how a little heat vision drives back this attacker, she thought. The energy beam blasted out and dropped short as she felt herself drained of all energy. "Can't move!" she gasped. Then, an idea occurred to her. Don't need to move an inch out of this spot. I'll just spin right here.
She spun in the exact same spot, since she could not move forward or back an inch. The whirlwind she created blew outward of the darkness and a yell indicated her foe had been shoved out of range of the power cast upon the Kandorian heroine. As the darkness faded and her energy came back, Valor saw Jimmy fighting a man with what appeared to be a crowbar. She streaked between Jimmy and his foe and backhanded the black man away.
An explosion rocked the store and Valor raced off at top speed. "The roof's giving in!" she said. She hurled herself upward and braced the roof until everyone had fled. Then with ease and agility she snatched up the debris and fashioned a support beam to hold the weakened roof until it could be fixed.
"Valor! How can I thank you?" cried Mr. Lacy himself.
"No thanks are necessary," she said with a smile. The shoppers cheered as the new Maid of Might soared off. "Jimmy,what happened to Dolphin?" she said.
Jimmy said, "They got away with her! That store explosion was a master stroke, since it drew you away just long enough for them to get away. I tried to tackle that guy in the hardhat, but he decked me."
Valor fumed, "They won't get far! Let's see if Dolphin's tracker is working. It is still in the store!" She flew in and out with the tiny shell shaped tracker. "Dolphin took it off to change outfits in that dressing room. We'll need to get Comet and Lyla and figure out who has taken her." They flew off hurriedly.
During the chaos other costumed figures had entered the back with abduction on their minds. "That's her," said a woman in green and orange armor.
The platinum blonde saw her coming and kicked off her purple high heels to kick the woman in the chest. A punch cracked the armor slightly. The armored woman's ally gasped. "She's strong! How'd she do that? She has no powers," he said.
He fired a beam from his helmet and the blonde fell blind long enough for the woman in armor to sting her with an energy current. They carried her off out of the back after blasting the roof of the store with helmet and wrist blasters.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 9
Valor and Jimmy sat in her office lab and explained all that occurred to Lyla and Starman. "I wish Captain Comet was back. He left suddenly for a charity event for sick kids," said Lyla.
"Look, Harbinger, we can't wait on Adam. Dolphin could be in deadly danger every second we delay," said a pacing and worried Will Payton.
Lesla-Lar patted his arm and said, "The important thing to do now for Dolphin is not to panic. We'll get her back, but we can't afford to let our fears master us," she said, tossing back her blonde hair.
Lyla wore a white blouse and a black miniskirt with heels. She shook her own curly blonde hair back and held out a print out. "From the data you and Jimmy gave me I have identified the abductors. They are members of a criminal gang called the Cadre. The JLA fought them recently. They are strong and resourceful but leaderless now. I assume this employer is a new figure. Their last leader was an alien who is long gone," she explained.
"Can you track them, somehow?" asked Starman.
"Yes. The Cadre were normal folks transformed by alien power," she said, smoothing her short skirt.
"Exactly my thoughts. That same energy that altered their bodies is unique to the them and I have whipped up a detector. It should lead us to them," said Valor.
"Let's go," said Jimmy.
"Hold it, Jimmy! This is too dangerous for you. As it is, only Valor, Robotgirl, and Goldstar are joining Starman to rescue her. Too many people would just get in the way," explained Lyla.
"Hey, I have fought aliens and I once..." began Jimmy before Valor placed her hand delicately on his lips.
"Shhh! Trust us on this one, Jimmy. We'll be back as soon as we can. Wait here," she said forcefully.
He sat down and glared rather harshly at the swaying, mini-skirted blonde as she raced off with her team. Lyla smiled at his frustration. "Jimmy, it really is for the best. You don't have super powers," said Lyla.
"Yeah, but I have had... several types, in fact," he said. "Plus, I've got an idea all my own." He rushed off, leaving Harbinger behind, sitting on her desk.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 10
Valor soared high over the Pacific Ocean to an empty spot, without even the smallest trace of land. "I've got a lead, here! They are below us," said the sexy blonde.
"Where?" asked Starman as he carried Robotgirl.
"My X-ray vision does not detect them, but the tracker and my super-hearing show life below us. I suspect an invisibility field is up blocking sight of the island. In fact, my microscopic vision does show some radiation traces right below," said Valor.
A bored Karin Grace, a.k.a. Goldstar, snapped suddenly, "Look! The insipid technology below fails to equal the power of the Star-band. It can disrupt any invisible field." She flew past Valor and generated a huge glowing screen that spread across the empty waters to color in an island base hidden below.
"See? Valor was right," said Robotgirl.
"Valor! Hmmph. It was the Star-band that exposed the secret lair," snapped Karin.
Valor frowned at the blonde's attitude. "Let's go! Now, thanks to Goldstar, I can see inside the field. The Cadre are there, with a lot of lab equipment designed for surgery," she said.
Starman burst through the field with his stellar energy streaming in all directions. He was worried about his lover and, as always, a bit unsure of himself. He flew through, into a huge base, and scattered the costumed figures below with his stellar bursts. Goldstar followed and perched regally on a platform made of energy, while her Starlings mindlessly appeared and started tearing the equipment apart.
Valor landed with a graceful drop to see her foes from the store... and a metal-masked lady in purple. "My, my! I sent the Cadre to abduct Dolphin because she was beautiful and powerful, and thus perfect to host my brain when it is removed from this scarred body; however, seeing you up close makes me want you even more," said the woman through a metal screen in her mask.
"Look, Darth Vader, my body is all mine and you are not my type," quipped Valor as she strode forward.
"I am Dr. Cyber, and you, my pretty, are outclassed, since I have bested Wonder Woman herself," said the raven-haired, armored woman. She fired energy blasts from her gloves.
The purple energy hit Valor and she pushed forward unharmed. "Aside from matching my outfit, that energy doesn't do a thing to me. And in case you couldn't tell, Wonder Woman would have to work out to be in my class," she said crushing one glove's ray nozzle and lifting Dr. Cyber with one hand.
Dr. Cyber said, "You are magnificent! But you are also equally matched." She slapped Valor across the face and the blonde dropped her suddenly.
"I felt that! But how? Unless..." she mused.
"Yes, bright and brainy too. My armor absorbs any impact and returns it as I direct. Thus, your own strength will enable me to slay you," laughed Dr. Cyber.
Meanwhile, Tina the Robotgirl had slipped to a computer, and plugged one finger in to a slot. "I've got the location of their holding cell near her operating room. No doubt that's where she is holding Dolphin. Getting her body prepped before putting her own mind in Dolphin's mind," she shouted.
Starman heard her and they zoomed off, leaving Goldstar's Starlings to wreck the base and Valor to deal with Dr. Cyber and the onrushing Cadre. As Will followed Tina's directions, he reached a prison cell. Glancing in, he saw a beautiful platinum blonde girl sitting facing the wall. "Honey, it's Will! I'm here to save you," he called out, ripping off the cell door.
She smiled thankfully and turned around. "You're not Dolphin," he gasped.
"No! Who said I was? I'm Angel O'Day," she said in an annoyed tone.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 11
Angel O'Day was a stunningly beautiful platinum blonde who did, indeed, resemble Dolphin greatly. "I'm a private investigator in DC for a vacation. I was shopping at Lacy's when the goons grabbed me. They called me Dolphin, so I assumed they made a mistake and left the real girl in the store," she said.
"You do look greatly alike," said Robotgirl as she helped the spunky blonde out of the cell.
Starman frowned. "Then if the Cadre took you by mistake, where's the real Dolphin?"
"Time for that later. Let's get out of here," said Angel. They ran back to where Valor was fighting the entire Cadre and Dr. Cyber.
Valor had reacted quickly at top speed; she had left Cyber bragging about her power and had slammed into Black Mass with her considerable might. The giant had tottered backward and dropped directly on top of the man called Crowbar. Lesla smiled and blasted the flying Shrike with her super icy breath. The bird-woman froze and fell hard to land on Fastball. Shrike rose weakly, and though she could not fly for the icy sheath covering her body, she could scream. A sonic cry that could paralyze... if it reached the right target.
Valor was long gone and had dropped Dr. Cyber in Shrike's path. The sound cracked her armor and left her dazed. The sonic nature of the attack lacked a physical form she could absorb as Valor had counted on. She ducked the blow of ninja-like Shatterfist, who said, "My hands are like unto a thing of iron."
He hit her and moaned as his hand cracked. "I'm a Girl of Steel, not iron, you know," she laughed and kicked him into Black Mass as he staggered upward.
Cyber fired her wrist blaster, and Valor deflected it with a super-speed-polished metal cover from a machine. It hit Fastball and dropped him cold. His last tossed energy projectile hurled toward Lesla, who used Crowbar's dropped weapon to bat it directly into Black Mass. He fell for good on Shatterstar, who was blown by Valor into the giant's path.
Blackout hovered ready to drain Valor's kinetic energy when Goldstar captured her in a cage of energy. "No kinetics involved. Just solid energy all around you in every direction," she sneered.
Blackout tried to drain the energy, but before she could even try, Goldstar willed six Starlings into form in the cage, where they battered Blackout into submission even as she absorbed one of them. "Strength in numbers," quipped the returning Starman.
"Bah! It was the power of the Star-band and naught else," said the vain Goldstar.
Tina elongated wildly and wrapped herself around Dr. Cyber. As the scientist tried to blast free of the wiry Robotgirl, Tina merely conveyed the energy in a loop right back to Cyber's armor and fried it. "Good plan, Lesla." She smiled up at the blonde who had used her ventriloquism to suggest the plan to Tina.
Now having defeated the Cadre and Dr. Cyber, the heroes fled the island with the lovely Angel. "I do appreciate the save. Maybe I can help you find this Dolphin. I'm a detective," she said.
Starman said, "I pray you can." Valor and Goldstar followed along with Tina.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 12
Jimmy Olsen eagerly showed Captain Comet the videotape he had talked the Lacy's store manager into releasing to him. "See? It shows that there were two abductions! Dolphin was carried off by this pair -- the woman in green armor and the guy in the helmet, while the Cadre crooks Valor and I tried to stop really took a different girl who just looked like Dolphin!" said Mr. Action.
"Great detective work. You really had a brainstorm when you thought of that store security system. So, who is this lovely blonde the Cadre took? Perhaps her identity can help us," said Captain Comet.
Lyla, still in the black mini and white blouse, was not as perky as before. Her rather solemn demeanor had shone through her brief elation. "I can ID her as Angel O'Day, P.I., and her kidnappers are Enforcer and Crazy Quilt. Angel's real home is in New York. Here's her family home and her office address," offered Lyla.
"Thanks! I can assume Valor and company will rescue her, since the Cadre took Miss O'Day. We'll see her home, and hopefully track down our Dolphin too. I assume, based on the audio we augmented, they made an error. The Cadre member Fastball said something about a Mermaid when he took off with Angel. He must have wanted her look-alike Dolphin. I think checking out Angel's home might help us track down who would want her and thus, who ended up with Dolphin," said Comet.
"I'm coming too," declared Jimmy.
"Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way," said a smiling Adam Blake. "You earned it."
Comet, Jimmy, Cheetah, and Golden Glider rushed into the skimmer and soon landed at a house in a suburb on New York City. "This is the O'Day home. Angel's late dad lived here and she grew up here," explained Comet.
A hairy figure jumped out and said, "What have you done with Angel?" He was a talking ape.
"Talking apes! That's all I run into these days," joked Jimmy.
"Wait!" said Comet to all. "I'm Captain Comet with the Government Rehab Program. We are looking for Angel, too. You are obviously her detective partner, Sam Simeon!"
Sam smiled. "Yeah, that's right! How'd you know?"
"I read your profile from certain government files," explained Comet, who chose not to say that the number of talking apes in trenchcoats made the ape's ID obvious.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 13
Captain Comet led the others, including Sam Simeon, into the empty O'Day house. "I understand as detectives, you and Angel must have made plenty of enemies. Do you have any idea who would hire Enforcer and Crazy Quilt to abduct your pretty partner? Lyla says Enforcer works purely for hire," he continued.
Jimmy spoke up, "Crazy Quilt was a foe of Robin's. He also must just be working for hire. He has no tie-in with Enforcer or the O'Day agency."
Sam agreed, "I sure hope Angel is okay."
Cheetah smiled. "I'm sure Valor has saved her by now. She is extremely good."
"Hope you punks are, too!" said a shrill voice as the Enforcer and Crazy Quilt broke in along with another figure.
"Get them," said Comet as he jumped in front of Jimmy to take an energy blast from Enforcer's glove.
Golden Glider frowned as she faced her brother. "Len! Don't make me fight you," she pleaded.
Captain Cold frowned as well. "Lisa, I won't hurt you, but your boyfriend is going down." He fired a gun at Comet and icy streams hit him in the back. He used the momentum to crash forward into Enforcer, and spun her metal armored form around to reflect the icy blast back at Captain Cold. He ducked and cried out, "Man, the hero is good!" Lisa was torn between the man she had come to love and her criminal brother. She couldn't help one over the other so she did nothing.
Jimmy and Cheetah charged Crazy Quilt and ran into one another. "I'm over here. You just fell for a simple illusion," he crowed.
Laser blasts ripped across the floor and Sam snatched Jimmy to safety as he swung across the room. "Thanks," called Jimmy.
"No sweat," replied Sam.
The Enforcer hit Comet hard, but he shrugged it off and heaved her into Captain Cold. The armored woman knocked Len Snart flat, and her heavy suit kept him pinned long enough for Comet to mind-blast the female Enforcer as well.
Crazy Quilt laughed as his swirling light blasts chased the agile Debbie Domaine over the floor. She moved with true feline grace and spun to kick the helmet backward from his head. It did not fall off, since wiring attached it to his head. She smiled and clawed the connection into pieces and kicked him in the mouth. He fell and did not move. "I can't see," he cried helplessly.
Cheetah and Comet barely had time to react while Golden Glider actually sobbed softly at her own inner conflict. Jimmy and Sam gasped as well as the room glowed bright, and as one all fell choking to the floor except for Comet. "What the? Something... happened to our lungs," he gasped as he fought forward. A new pulse of energy blasted him to the floor.
"The heroic Captain almost had me, but even he can't stand up to having his respiratory system altered back and forth in seconds," laughed a man in a black robe with yellow trim. He left them still and searched the house. "Blast that dead old fool! His daughter has eluded us. Or has she?" he cackled. The man known as Dr. Phaeton had shadowy figures carry off all the heroes and his fallen allies as well.
Jimmy Olsen's signal watch made an ultrasonic "zee-zee" sound, but Superman was far away and too busy to respond in time to help his fallen chum.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 14
Jimmy Olsen, Captain Comet, Cheetah, and Sam Simeon woke up in a huge domed chamber... on the bottom of the ocean! Oxygen circulated through this one special area in the city of New Triton. "I can't believe it! This was where I wanted to go all along," said Jimmy.
"Based on how that fiend in the robe manipulated our breathing with that ray, I'd say he was an Atlantean, or at least adept with air/water environmental changes," explained Comet.
"Where's Lisa?" asked Debbie Domaine.
"And Dolphin? Did this guy get her while looking to grab my Angel?" asked a worried Sam.
"Exactly, my simian friend. I did send agents to grab Ms. O'Day, since her dead father crossed me once and I never forget a slight; however, by a wild irony my stupid goons took Dolphin, who looks like Angel. Now I can only hope the note I sent to her saying, 'I have your partner' will bring Angel to me," said a yellow-and-black-robed Dr. Phaeton.
In a separate room, Lisa Snart woke up to see her brother's smiling face. "Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty. This is just like when we were kids. You never woke early," said Len Snart, the villainous Captain Cold.
Lisa said, "How did I get here? Where are we and the others?"
Cold said, "This is a suburb, if you will, of Atlantis called New Triton, and Phaeton is a native of the place. He brought your team here as his prisoners and I talked him into freeing you for me."
Lisa frowned and thought, I've got to help Adam, or is this the time for me to return to crime?
IN SEARCH OF: Part 15
"Somebody had a fight here in the house. Plus we have a note at the office saying Sam has been kidnapped," cried an angry Angel O'Day as she paced back and forth in her family home.
Valor said, "Try to stay calm. We'll rescue your partner. I can see faint microscopic traces of energy discharges from before and this note has fingerprints too. Let me see if we can get more info before heading for Atlantis."
"Atlantis?" asked a confused Starman.
"Yes, the note about Sam says he is being held in Atlantis and will die if Angel does not go there in three days," said Valor.
"I guess the kidnapper knows Angel has contacts with special travel techniques, after seeing the team Comet led here based on what Lyla told us," said Robotgirl.
"You stay put and Will, Angel and I will try to save everyone. I assume this fight ended badly for Adam since we have not heard from him or Dolphin," said the blonde Kandorian.
"How can we survive down there?" asked Angel.
"I have an invention that will let us live under water for a short time," said the brilliant Lesla-Lar.
"I hope that short time will be enough for us to save Sam," whispered Angel.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 16
Dolphin had seen Atlantis before, and was not at all disconcerted by her prison; however, something about her captor made her very uneasy. She knew nothing about this Dr. Phaeton, except that he had sent agents to abduct another woman, Angel O'Day, because he hated her father, and they had taken her by error because she looked like Angel. She said, "Please, you've made a mistake. Release me or my friends will arrive and you will be punished."
Dr. Phaeton laughed, "My pretty, I would be punished in any event, since days ago I killed over forty citizens of this New Triton by using my ray to turn them into air-breathers with no capacity for surviving the ocean depths. I intend to do this again if that fat idiot Vulko does not hand me the seat of power and make me the new King of Atlantis."
"But why do you seek this poor girl from above?" asked the platinum blonde.
"Why? Because her father talked a wealthy man out of backing my research decades ago! I am originally from this Atlantis and used my science to make myself a legged air breather. I lived above and sought financial backing for my research, and I received it until O'Day talked his wealthy friends out of backing me and instead had them support some African explorer!"
Dr. Phaeton smiled. "I took revenge on O'Day then, but a hero put me in jail for other deeds. I was only freed weeks ago, and at that point I learned that not only had O'Day died but he had left behind a second daughter. This Angel is his child, and thus I seek her ruin while I take over Atlantis too."
"You say I am his second daughter," cried Angel O'Day herself as she and Valor and Starman crashed into the room.
"How wonderful -- a true family reunion! Now that you have traced me here in search of your ape friend, I can do the honors of introducing long lost siblings! Angel O'Day, meet your older and lost sister, Angela O'Day," he cackled, pointing at Dolphin.
"My gosh! Can this be true?" she asked as she gazed at Angel with her astonishingly similar features, hair coloring and body type.
"Yes! You see, my first revenge on your father happened decades ago when you Dolphin or Angela were only three years old. I kidnapped you and used my machine to turn you permanently into a water dweller, then I cast you out to sea, never to be found by the bitterly sorry Mr. O'Day again."
"He never told me I had had a sister," said Angel.
"No, he had given up on every finding her by then. I had no idea she had survived either. I was jailed for other actions and now I have brought you two together at last... to die--!" he laughed.
"Not if I can help it," declared Valor.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 17
Captain Comet rushed to Jimmy's side. "Jim, do you still have Potter's pills? Let us each take one quickly. I sense danger coming rapidly. The air's being pumped out as we speak," said the hero.
Jimmy gulped a pill, as did Comet, Cheetah, and Sam. As the room filled with water they found to their delight that they could still breathe. "It worked!" cried Mr. Action as he swam up and led his friends into the ocean beyond, through an opening provided by Comet. They made their way into the citadel, where Dr. Phaeton held court. "Looks like a fight has started," said Jimmy.
"There's Dolphin," cried Starman as he burst forward to hug his love.
"Oh, Will, I knew you'd come!" she said.
"It does not matter who is here, O'Day sisters, since these allies of mine will delay you long enough for me to ruin Atlantis or rule it!" shouted the fleeing Dr. Phaeton.
Six green humanoids rushed in menacingly. "Deep Six!" cried Comet as he recognized the creatures from past records.
Dolphin and Starman scooped up Angel and chased the fleeing Dr. Phaeton as Sam followed after a joyful reunion with his partner. Valor and Comet stood with Jimmy and Cheetah to face the onrushing green creatures. "Jim, try to find Golden Glider! I sense her thoughts down that hall," called Comet. Jimmy hurried off, ready for action.
IN SEARCH OF: Part 18
Captain Comet stood firm as the six green monsters called Deep Six attacked. He caught the first one by the scaly arm and tossed him directly into a second winged one. Valor slammed into two others and sent them crashing down into a coral reef. She fired her heat vision and steam boiled the waters around the tough hided beasts. They roared and one tossed a whirling blade head at the end of a line. It shattered against Valor's hastily-seized rock shield. She tossed a hunk of reef into the creature and kicked a third in the face.
Comet sensed no thoughts but rage and violence from the monsters. "They make the perfect attack team, but their lack of a leader makes them easy to outfight," he said, sending the thought to Valor.
Her super-ventriloquism answered, "Let's see how they do in the air!" The blonde sped up and hauled three of the creatures skyward, using a super-speed-formed platform of sea sand solidified by friction to carry them upward. As she burst through into the surface air and sent them even higher and higher, they began to weaken. Her heat vision did not hurt them, but it did dry out each of their skin and leave them helpless. "Like fish on the sand," she mused. "Too bad I have to toss them back."
Cheetah had been unable to hurt the beasts, so she just jumped aside and chose to chase after Jimmy. She soon caught up with him as he burst into a room where Golden Glider lay near Captain Cold and the Enforcer. "Lisa! What's going on? Come on, we're out of here," cried Debbie Domaine.
Golden Glider jumped between her friend and her angry gun-ready sibling. "What if Lisa don't want to play no more," he threatened.
Cheetah snarled and leaped over the bed to bring Cold crashing to the floor. One kick from the agile girl sent his cold gun skittering free. She saw Lisa freeze from indecision and said, "We need you. Come on... you know it's right."
Lisa sadly watched Len rub his hand and nodded. "Len, join us? Please," she pleaded.
Captain Cold said, "What the heck! It beats this waterlogged dump."
They ran out to see Jimmy fighting Atlantean guards. He used every trick Superman had taught him and held his own until a figure in blue and green stopped the fight. "Hold up. This boy is okay. He is a pal of Superman's, from above. I've read his stuff," said a stout man of thirty or forty.
"Thanks, I guess you are the Atlantean version of the police. I'm Jimmy Olsen. You are why I'm here, believe it or not."
The man in blue and green smiled. "Really? Let me introduce myself formally, then. I am Danny Dunbar -- also called Dynamite."
IN SEARCH OF: Part 19
The Enforcer started to block the fleeing Golden Glider when she was hit from both sides by the Snart siblings. Lisa dropped one of her dazzling gems, and Len blasted the green-armored felon with frigid rays from his ice gun. She fell, and they raced on as Jimmy brought Dynamite up to speed and Cheetah bounded ahead as they neared Comet and Valor with the Atlantean police.
Captain Comet slugged a Deep Sixer and he fell to lay near another green creature whom the Captain had already beaten. Valor dropped back to join them when a voice in her head stopped her cold. "Kara! My Kara... No, wait... you are not her. I sense that now."
She spun around to see several mermen from the city approaching. "Jerro?" she muttered as she recognized the handsome young merman from her past days watching Supergirl. He had been a romance for the real Supergirl, yet Lesla-Lar almost believed the feelings he stirred were her own. "Jerro, you must know that Kara loved you, too. She would want you to take comfort in that memory."
"Thank you, Lesla. I sense that and much about you. You almost match Kara mentally and in the vibrations you give off to one who is a sensitive." He smiled at her.
They flew off to catch Dr. Phaeton, where Dolphin and Angel and Starman were already struggling. "That ray projector of his is huge! Melt it, Will!" cried Dolphin. Starman grimaced as he focused his energy and released it to shatter the device.
Dolphin and Angel hurried up to where the maddened Dr. Phaeton was waiting in fury as his plans ended in stellar fire. "You two! I'll see you die for the hate I carry for your father!" he screamed. His ray gun did nothing to either girl since Dolphin dodged and Angel had taken one of the pills Valor had made. Dolphin swam to Phaeton and punched him with all her might. He reeled backward and ran dazed into Angel's path. She spun and kicked him in the head and he passed out. The two sisters hugged as Sam and the others drew closer.
Jerro thanked Valor and the team for saving New Triton from the mad terrorist. "You would make Supergirl proud. You carry her legacy well," he said. She kissed him and they parted.
Dynamite accepted Jimmy's offer to return to the surface, at least for a time, and they departed. Dolphin smiled warmly as she embraced her newly-found sister. "Dolphin is still my 'trade name,' but my friends may call me by my given name now: Angela O'Day," she beamed.
"I'm also going back to a modified version of my old costume: blue hot pants and a light blue top. It just seems more like me," she laughed.
"I look forward to getting to know you as well, sis," vowed Angel.
Sam blinked and smiled. "Well, I'm a big softy. What can I say?" They laughed and entered their Headquarters.
Jimmy Olsen smiled in his office at the Daily Planet. Across from him sat Dan Dunbar, the Golden Age hero called Dynamite.
"I found Dan, and according to that Lyla babe's research before she quit, I can locate TNT safely, too. He and Dan no longer create that dangerous power surge in one another! She even said TNT is no longer with Kandor's populace. He is here in America!" he mused rather happily.
"So, Jimmy, what can I tell you?" asked Dan.
"Well, if I may ask, why are you still so young? And what caused you and TNT to lose control of your powers? Even Superman didn't know that," said Mr. Action.
"Well, my energetic metabolism stopped my aging when I hit 25 or so. It did the same in TNT's case years earlier. As to how our powers forced us to separate for good, that is a long story," said the still-boyish Dan. "It happened in 1968 and involved another hero called Sargon!"
"May I join you?" said a dapper figure.
"Nadir! Come on in! I wanted your story, too," said Olsen as the Man of Magic from 1939 entered suavely.
"You know I came to this Earth and time against my will because Atoman brought me here with Joannie Swift, Robotgirl, Roh Kar, and Crimson Avenger!" said the black-haired, handsome Nadir.
"True, but I wonder about Dan and TNT?" asked Jimmy. "I've heard that there was once a TNT and Dan the Dyna-Mite on Earth-Two, as well."
"I wouldn't know about that; if there was, they were after my time." Turning to Dan, Nadir said, "You mentioned Sargon just now? He's a magic man himself, like I and my young ally, Zatara!"
"Well, yes. He uses a Ruby of Life and it led him to a case back then involving us and another hero. Let me see if I can start at the beginning," said Dan.
Jimmy leaned forward eagerly. This should be pretty cool! he thought.
IN SEARCH OF: Epilogue 2
EXPLOSIVE PERSONALITY
Jimmy listened, along with Nadir, as Dan told his story:
"By 1968, I was a college student and assistant to my mentor Thomas N. Thomas, 'TNT', who had become a college science teacher. We had worked well together as a heroic team for a few years, and I don't mind saying that TNT was more of a father to me than my own always busy dad. Well, one day we both noticed some pretty weird things going on. Our metabolisms were already super-charged with energy, and the rings we used to release that power were still necessary for a controlled discharge. Well, one day back then we were just tingling like some danger was coming that was keyed into our energy.
"We didn't react at first, but continued to do normal things. Shortly afterwards, though, we were drawn into a battle along with Sargon and a guy named Air Wave. The latter was a DA named Larry Jordan, and his equipment allowed him to ride along phone wires and tap into them and sort of summon electromagnetic fields in a vague way. Back then those powers seemed more impressive than they do now! Larry's equipment was on the fritz. He could tell something big was coming. And it scared him. He felt that hum of a sudden massive energy discharge, only it was more radio waves than anything else. He was drawn to the source and he came upon Sargon fighting a foe called Bantor.
"Bantor was an evil guy who had been whalloped by the Earth-Two hero Dr. Fate, years before. He had been rampaging through that world's Civic City, and a freak energy discharge had sent both him and Sargon from Earth-Two to our world. All of us met now where Sargon was battling Bantor; in Air Wave's case he was drawn by the energy, and me and TNT had heard a police bulletin. Sargon had this Ruby of Life, and he could do all sorts of wild stuff with it. He was smooth, too. Always in control. He had made street statues come to life to battle Bantor when this energy we all spoke of just hit Bantor like a bolt. He grew more powerful, and Sargon's creations were blown to dust by one gesture from Bantor. That's when TNT and I showed up, as did Air Wave."
IN SEARCH OF: Epilogue 3
EXPLOSIVE PERSONALITY
TNT sized things up quickly and said, "Dan, hold back a minute. That guy is not in control of himself!" He was right, as usual. Bantor was gone, so to speak. His body was on auto-pilot with something else driving it. He gestured, and more radio waves emanated to knock Sargon flat by pure feedback. I ran forward and pulled him aside as a second barrage of force slammed the pavement to fragments right where he had been a second before!
Air Wave charged up to us and said, "My equipment lets me hear telephone or radio transmissions, and I keep getting one signal right from Bantor's body! It says 'Zor' over and over. Just 'Zor'!"
"Zor was the name of one of the Spectre's foes," said Sargon, after explaining that he had originally come from a parallel world, "and there was also a second Zor who fought the whole JSA. He was an energy being from space who took over a kindly old inventor and tried to destroy Earth! Well, he's back, and he's in Bantor this time! Perhaps I may be able to expel him with the Ruby of Life!" He walked right up to Bantor. It was about the bravest thing I had ever seen! He touched the Ruby with one hand and Bantor with the other! "Leave this host!" he said in a cold, commanding tone.
Zor then left Bantor with a crackle that hurt all of us. TNT said, "He's out of the wizard, but now he's free to take a more powerful host! What if he takes over someone like Superboy or even the President?"
TNT shouted, "Put him in me! Quickly!"
Sargon blinked in dismay and then slammed one hand into the nimbus of ball energy that was Zor and said, "Enter TNT!"
TNT screamed, and his eyes grew light, and then he was himself once again. "I can control Zor with my energized body! He won't harm others or get a chance to possess anyone! I am uniquely suited to hold his energy form because of my metabolic state!"
Then his eyes glazed over, and Zor was all we saw in or over his body. I ran and slammed our rings together, and as I had half-guessed, it sent some of Zor into me, too! With Zor split in half between us and imprisoned by our will and our special energy-based body chemistries, he was weakened.
Air Wave called out, "I detect another power surge! He's going to blow you both up if he can!"
Sargon leaped forward and tried a desperate ploy. "Be gone from this world!" he cried as he touched us both, which caused Zor to be banished from us, or so we thought. In reality, he'd only gone into a dormant period.
However, Sargon could not get back to his own world of Earth-Two, and had to adjust to life here as best as he could, though he admitted to us that it had been quite a shock to him to learn that while he had left Earth-Two in the year 1950, he had arrived instantaneously here on Earth-One in the year 1968. He said there must be some kind of slight time difference between the Earths which accounted for this, something to do with a vibrational delay. He was also taken aback to learn there weren't very many super-heroes on this world, and they had all begun their careers many years after those of Earth-Two's heroes. There was me and TNT, Superboy, Captain Comet, Air Wave, Plastic Man, Robotman, and a few non-powered types like the Guardian in Metropolis, Manhunter and probably a few others, but really we were all scattered few and far between. We retired shortly after the conclusion of this case, and within a few short years many more super-heroes emerged onto the public scene; we were all but forgotten by the public we had protected. Of course, we weren't in it for the glory, and the heroes in the JLA seemed to be doing a better job of it anyways.
Well, neither Tom nor I aged due to our energized bodies. We both stopped aging at about the physical age of thirty, and just stopped aging. We later came out of retirement when our energies started flaring up wildly whenever we were near one another, due to our encounter with Zor and the energies which were still inside us from that incident. As a preventive measure Superman and Aquaman helped us to separate. I went to live in Atlantis and continued my science work, for I had become a scientist, and TNT went to Kandor, which was like a toy store for his inquiring mind. Then, before that bottled city left Earth, he moved out to Vermont, where he lives now as a Dartmouth professor. With me down below, he did not need to stay in Kandor any longer anyways.
"What of Sargon and Air Wave?" said Nadir.
"Air Wave was married, and he had a son around that time, and from what I heard from Superman, he and his wife died in 1969 and left an infant son behind, who himself grew up to become the new Air Wave a couple of years ago!" said Jimmy.
"Sargon went through some ups and downs, as a hero and also as a villain for a time, but he is now with a team of heroes called the Conglomerate," added Dan.
"So are you off to Vermont to see TNT, since Lyla says there's no longer any danger in your meeting?" asked Nadir.
"I sure am! Jimmy's coming too," said Dan.
Nadir looked grim as he whispered to himself, "I wonder what happened to Zor...?"
IN SEARCH OF: Epilogue 4
EXPLOSIVE PERSONALITY
Jimmy was thrilled. This story was going to be a winner. It had everything: a couple of mysteries solved (why Sargon came to Earth-One, and what caused TNT and Dan's powers to go out of control) and a happy reunion, too.
TNT almost wept when he and Dan embraced. "I can't believe it. It was my hope we'd be together again, son. My wife Lorie will be thrilled to meet you after all the tales I've told her. We married after I left Kandor."
Dan laughed, "That's wonderful! Still the man of science, I see!"
TNT agreed, "Sure enough. It's in my blood!"
A crackle filled the room. The team of heroes looked frightened. "Zor's back! He's getting loose again. I'll bet he caused our bodies to go out of control all those years ago... and the farther apart we were, the weaker he became! But Lyla was wrong -- if we're together, then Zor wakes up!" cried Dan.
Jimmy hit the signal watch and Superman swooped down! "Great Krypton!" he cried after Jimmy told him what was happening! "I'll take TNT or Dan away again!" he said.
"Wait! I've got a better idea!" said Jimmy. "You knew the Phantom Zoners talked by telepathy, but you also invented a seldom-used, telephone-type device to speak to them! Use it to send Zor to that limbo where the Zone used to be!"
"Great plan!" said Superman. "Hold him in for a second!" he said to the struggling TNT and Dan.
Nadir rushed up and said, "I'll try to help! Begone into the speaker, Zor, I do command it!" The energy crackled and did glow around the telephone-like device Superman had already returned with!
Zor entered it and vanished! Superman crushed it to powder. "No need for this with no Zone prisoners. Zor is gone like a bad signal!" he smiled.
"Or an unwanted telemarketer!" quipped Jimmy.
TNT and Dan smiled in relief. "Jimmy, you saved us both! You are a real hero!" said TNT.
"Ah, like the Beatles said, 'I get by with a little help from my friends'!" he said.