Cosmics: Cliffhanger

Finally, Marty had found him.

After all the searching, it was Unicorn - Dr Dynamo's teammate from the Cosmic Knights - who had provided the answer. Marty had checked the Orlando hospital written on the card Unicorn had passed to him and discovered someone on the patient list with the same name as Dr Dynamo's secret identity. It had been a long shot - surely there were dozens of men called Robert Hammond in the state of Florida alone - but, nevertheless, he'd whizzed northwards to check it out.

He hadn't been expecting to meet an old guy in his 80s.

"Hullo Marty. You found me at last, eh?" the frail old man wheezed, as he lay almost hidden within crisp white sheets on the hospital bed. Wires and tubes were festooned about the man, whilst some sort of monitor beeped occasionally next to the bed.

"Doc? Isthatyou?Itcantbeyou!" Kid Kinetic babbled, excitement and suspicion colouring his lightning quick words. He glared at the man in the bed who, to Marty, looked like he was close to the end of his life.

"Kid, kid. Slow down. *cough* I can't tell what you're saying", the old man stuttered, shuffling a little in an attempt to sit up.

Marty squeezed his eyes shut and, with effort, tried to calm down.

"Sorry. It's just I can't believe it's you Doc. Was this what Entropy did to ya? Turned you into an old man?!" This time Marty spoke at a more normal pace, though his words were still a little rushed.

Finally managing to sit up a little, the old man replied with a sad sort of smile.

"Yeah, it's me - in the flesh. Well, what's left of it. And Entropy was sort of responsible for my predicament but not in the way you think". Dr Dynamo stopped for a moment to catch his breath before continuing. "It's a long story".

Kid Kinetic stood there, tapping his foot, waiting for Dr Dynamo  - also known as Bob Hammond to those few who knew his secret identity - to continue. The old man rolled his eyes and took a rattling deep breath.

"Ok, ok. Just give me a moment, it's been a long time", he replied, closing his eyes.

For a moment, Marty thought his old mentor had fallen asleep. However, a second or two later the man in the bed opened his eyes, nodded, coughed weakly and continued. He spoke slowly, his rasping voice strained and peppered with coughs.

"When the villain you know as Entropy and I fought towards the end of last year, the clash somehow ripped a hole in space-time creating a temporal bridge between now and then..."

Dr Dynamo glanced up at Marty and saw the look of confusion on the teen's face. He sighed.

"During the fight, Entropy's chaotic power threw us both back in time. Back to November 1961. I appeared there first, closely followed by Entropy. Our arrival did something though. *cough* Caused some sort of energy fluctuation that rippled outwards".

Dr Dynamo's cough got the better of him at that moment and he paused to let his wheezing, rasping chest settle before continuing.

"Anyway, when we reappeared in '61, we were both disorientated and not sure where or when we were. All we knew was that we were fighting, trying to stop one another. So we continued to fight. *cough* Eventually I halted his attack, although it took a lot of my power. *cough* But just as I hit Entropy with a electro-bolt that should have rendered him unconscious, Entropy disappeared. Though that wouldn't be the last I saw of him".

Again, the old man's cough resurfaced. He struggled to reach for a glass of water on the bedside table, until Marty zipped around the other side of the bed and handed it to him. Dr Dynamo took a sip from the glass before carrying on.

"*cough* Thanks kid. Now, where was I? Oh yeah. Entropy had disappeared again, leaving me there in Miami at the start of the '60s. I soon learned what had happened to me and where, or more importantly when, I was. I also discovered something that really shook me up. *cough* Before my arrival there had never been any other person with cosmic powers. I was the first".

"What do you mean, you were the first?" Kid Kinetic interrupted. "Cosmics have been around for ages!"

"Nah, kid. Read your history books", Dr Dynamo admonished. "Cosmics didn't start appearing until the end of 1961. It was my arrival that started it off, you see? The influx of tachyon particles caused a chrono-atomic reaction that, in turn, released a wave of exotic cosmic rays. *cough* These rays mutated the DNA in some people causing the birth of the Cosmic Age. Entropy and I caused all the cosmic powers".

"You sure, doc? Really?! Wow, that'ssoawesome". Kid Kinetic zipped around the bed, his arms waving in the air as he went. Dr Dynamo simply took another sip of water and sighed.

"Yeah, well. Whatever it was, there was nothing I could do about it. I was stuck in the '60s with no way back. *cough* So I had to live my life as best I could. First, I helped the fledgling cosmics come to terms with their new, and sometimes bizarre, abilities. Then later, I helped set up the first iteration of the Cosmic Knights. All the while I had to get a job, find somewhere to live, and try to adjust to being fifty years in the past".

"So that's it? That's why you're so old?" Marty stopped zooming around and actually stood still for a moment, a look of astonishment on his face.

"It is, kid, yeah", Dr Dynamo rasped. "But there's more and this is important, Marty. Y'see, like I said earlier, that wasn't the last we saw of Entropy. Around 12 years later in 1973, he reappeared in Miami. *cough* He was bigger this time, about twice the size of a regular person, and his chaos energy had mutated him. He went rampaging through downtown Miami causing lots of weird things to happen and, unfortunately killed a couple of people - including the Arachnid's girlfriend. Eventually we stopped him but he went and disappeared on us again *cough*".

He took another glug of water to help his cough and then put the glass back down on the nearby table, his boney hands shaking as he did. When he spoke again, Marty noticed that his mentor seemed somewhat more agitated; worry and concern was etched across his grey, wrinkled face.

"He reappeared in 1986 and, again, his arrival caused a crisis", Dr Dynamo continued. "This time he'd grown even taller; he was now around 50 feet in height, perhaps more. And, he was meaner and more powerful. Like before, a bunch of us tried to stop him but all that happened was that he vanished again. Though not before we'd all caused a lot of damage and quite a few deaths".

Dr Dynamo paused thinking for a moment back to those darker days.

"That event led the way for the Cosmic Powers Registration Act. The government had seen how much damage cosmics could do and so wanted to curtail, or at least control, our actions. Although in hindsight it seemed somewhat harsh, I could understand why they did it. They feared us and what we could do. That's when I retired for good *cough, cough*".

The old man shook his head and slumped a little in his bed. He turned his steel blue eyes away from the past and stared towards Kid Kinetic.

"You know of the last time he reappeared", Dr Dynamo finally stated, somewhat enigmatically.

"What do you mean? A couple of years ago when he broke out of the Cube!?" Marty asked, puzzled, trying to look away from the other man's cold gaze.

"No, kid. I mean back in 1999. Of course, then everyone called him Monstro..." Dr Dynamo explained, his voice trailing off into another fit of coughing.

"What the...?!?" Marty exclaimed. He'd heard of Monstro - everyone had heard of Monstro. He'd been the biggest threat cosmics had ever faced. And here was his mentor saying Entropy and Monstro were one and the same. "Monstro was Entropy!? Entropy is Monstro? How the...? Are you serious?"

"Deadly serious, kid" Dr Dynamo replied, his voice low. "The latest time Entropy reappeared, he was so powerful and so crazy that he caused the wholesale destruction of Miami. *cough* Millenia was built in it's place with help from the cosmics, like the Professor. But that won't help next time. Each time Entropy reappears, he gets exponentially larger and more powerful. Next time... *cough* well, he'll cause the destruction of most of America, I'm sure of it. Tens of millions will die!"

Dr Dynamo lifted his frail hand and suddenly gripped Kid Kinetic's arm. Although the retired cosmic hero was old and weak, Marty could feel the tingle of electricity from the fingers that dug into his arm. Dr Dynamo glared at his sidekick, his eyes wide and his voice shaking with fear.

"I've been doing the calculations, kid, analysing when he arrived the last three times. If I'm right, I reckon we've only got a couple of months. Kid, you've got to warn the Knights. Tell them to build up their strength and prepare".

"Tell them... Entropy, Monstro, whatever you want to call him... is returning and he's going to destroy us all!"

Cosmics: The Future (part 2)

...continued from yesterday...

After running a number of blocks, eventually the Twilight Man stopped outside the door of a simple townhouse. It was on the outskirts of Millenia, in a reasonably affluent-looking neighbourhood. As I neared the front of the house, T.M. knocked on the wooden door. I stood beside the man of mystery as we waited for an answer.

After a short wait, the door opened a little. The Twilight Man turned to look at me. He nodded and simply said, "Come in" before making his way inside.

It was dark in the entrance hall as I stepped inside and there was one was inside to greet us. It was just a dark, gloomy, empty hallway.

"This way", the Twilight Man said and walked over to a door without looking back.

I followed the masked man of mystery into another dark room lit only by candles. In fact, candles were positioned everywhere around room. Also, at one end of the room there was an old, wooden table with four chairs around it. Otherwise the room was bare of furniture.

"Greetings Unicorn", said a voice.

It was then I noticed the three women sitting around the table. For some reason, I just hadn’t been aware of them before that. The Twilight Man stepped forward at this point and introduced the others.

"Mark. This is Miasma" he indicated the woman on the left and then turned to the young woman on the right, "and Voodoo". Both nodded but for now said nothing. "In the middle is Tarot. These three are all seers. They say they've seen our future".

The Twilight Man moved back whilst I took a moment to look at the three women.

The one on the left was blonde, good-looking and probably in her early forties although she looked younger. She wore a smart, dark blue business suit and blouse like a high-rolling manager or politician. She looked vaguely familiar, like one of the US senators on the West coast. She smiled warmly as I looked her way but said nothing.

It took me a moment to realise that I knew the young woman on the right. It was Renee Dubois, a teammate of mine during my days in the Young Cosmics. She still had long, straight dark hair and a haunted look about her just like she had all those years ago. However, her eyes looked tired and bloodshot; she seemed weary and exhausted. She didn’t appear to recognise me, although the shadows that surrounded her made it difficult to tell.

The third woman sat between the two and was obviously in charge. The subdued lighting in the room hid a lot of the details but there were a few things I could tell about her. The first was that she was old. She looked to be in her seventies, her face wrinkled and her long hair grey and brittle. She also had a vaguely Asian look to her, although her apparent height didn't agree with that assessment. Covering her eyes was a simple dark, satin cloth with what looked like a stylised Eye of Horus stitched into it in golden thread. Even though her eyes were covered, she seemed to be looking right inside me.

In this third woman's left hand was a pack of cards and in front of her were other cards arranged in a cross shape. Without looking at them, she turned one of the cards over. I couldn't quite see what was on the card but it looked like two naked people - a man and a woman - side by side.

"You're wondering why you are here, aren't you?" whispered the old woman called Tarot.

"Well, now that you mention it, yeah", I replied, feeling a little foolish in such theatrical surroundings. I glanced across at the Twilight Man but just kept himself to the shadows.

"Please sit down and let us tell you your future". She indicated the chair opposite her, which suddenly moved of its own accord. Either it was a cheap parlour trick or the woman was a cosmic with some sort of telekinetic ability. Whatever, I sat down.

"The reason the Twilight Man brought you here is because we asked him to", began Tarot. "We have convinced him of our cause and that the future we see shall come to pass. We are the Coven"

"O-kaaay. Right". Again, I looked toward T.M. wondering what this was all about.

"What they said is true, Unicorn", the Twilight Man replied. "Apparently the world is going to get a whole lot darker in a few months time. Listen to them".

I turned back to Tarot.

"He is right", continued Tarot. The Eye of Horus seemed to looking at me. Tarot reached out and turned over another delicate card. This showed what looked like a king sitting on a throne holding a sceptre.

"Each of the three of us here has the power of divination. We can see into the future. Miasma can part the mists of time to see what is to come. Voodoo's connection to the spiritual loa gives her knowledge of the future. For me..." the old woman paused trying to decide what to say and seemed to select her comments carefully "...the cards help me focus on the things to come".

She turned over a third card. This depicted a woman in robes sitting between two pillars with a moon at her feet and scroll in her hands. Without looking at the cards, with her head still held forward, she continued.

"You have come here so that we can tell you what is to come and what you will do. We have seen the future. We have tried to change it. But still the future prevails"

"You mean to tell me that you've had some visions and you want me to believe the future can't be changed? That we have no free will?" I asked, not believing what I was hearing.

The Twilight Man spoke up again at this point. "I know how it sounds but believe me when I tell you that these three have told me 'bout things that are going to happen and have happened. They predicted Bedlam's attack earlier and many more things besides. And I've tried to change these things - stop certain disasters from happening - but nothing I do changes things".

He bowed his head after this whilst the shadows appeared to smother him in their dark embrace. My eyes widened in shock; nothing ever spooked the Twilight Man! I quickly turned my gaze back to the Coven.

"As the Twilight Man says", continued Tarot, "we knew of the villain's attack today and your involvement with him. That was why the Twilight Man was there to help and how we knew where you'd be to bring you here".

Tarot turned over another of the ornately patterned cards. This one depicted what appeared to be the devil above two humans. She continued talking.

"Unicorn. We have seen the future. Chaos is coming, a war against a cosmic so powerful it will destroy the country. Tensions between cosmics and normal humans will increase. We see death and destruction. Fear followed by flight".

Another card was turned and this showed a picture of a skeleton riding a horse. Tarot immediately turned over a further card and this depicted a man riding a chariot with two horses, one black and one white, pulling it.

"The chaos will kill many, riots against cosmics will rage across the planet”, she continued. “Eventually the cosmics will flee into space, to the red planet, some by their own power but many in a ship. You will lead them to this ship and into the skies, Unicorn".

The woman known as Tarot turned over another card and, for a moment, this appeared to show an old man carrying a staff in one hand and a lantern in the other. However when I looked closer, the image appeared to be more that of an angel with a horn in his hand.

"I...” I started but Tarot interrupted me.

"I... We are concerned about you", said Tarot turning over another card, this one showing a beautiful woman sitting on a throne whilst wearing a crown and holding a sceptre. "But you need to be told the future so you can prepare for it. So you can accept it".

And this they did. They told me that sometime in the near future something would attack us, something very powerful. The Cosmic Knights would be hard pressed to repel it. The attack would destroy much of the country and destabilise worldwide politics. At this point, many cosmic villains would take advantage of the recent chaos, which in turn would cause even more problems for normal people.

Due to this, the public's view of cosmics would take a nose-dive. The Cosmic Powers Registration Act would be brought back into force, but this time across the globe. This would be followed by minor civil wars erupting between cosmics and then many executions and deaths. In the end, life on Earth would be hell for a cosmic.

"This is our dreaded future", the old woman said, turning over another card and revealing a burning castle or tower hit by lightning.

"No", I replied. "If this is the future, which I’m not sure I can really believe, then it's just one possible future. We can change it - or at least try".

I looked at the three of them and then to the Twilight Man, trying to reason with them. He shrugged but said nothing.

"You do not understand. You are full of doubt and confusion", continued Tarot, ignoring my concern. "So we shall give you this. Remember it well. Soon a swift child shall bring foreboding news from the time-lost man with the power of the storm. Heed this child and prepare the Knights".

Whilst talking, Tarot turned over two remaining cards side-by-side. One showed a large stylised sun complete with a stern face and a child below it. The other presented a man in robes holding a wand high in the air. He was standing behind with a table and what looked like the symbol for infinity floated over his head.

Only one card remained. Tarot's hand hovered over it but she did not turn it.

"For now", said Tarot wrapping up the little meeting, "that is all we can tell you. But we shall meet again. You will have many questions and we will answer them then, in your future. Thank you for your time, but you need to leave now to get to your prior engagement before... she misses you, Mark".

It was the only time that this Tarot had called me by my real name. And something about the way she said it sounded familiar. But, I could not place it.

The final tarot card distracted my attention. Reluctantly, the woman known as Tarot turned it over. This showed a wheel floating in the sky. The wheel had runes or marking on it and was held aloft by four creatures. Somehow, I knew the name of this card - the Wheel of Fortune.

It seemed that the turning of this chaotic card signified that the meeting was over.

The Twilight Man led me away even though I still had many questions. They seemed to want something from me, although I wasn't sure exactly what. Still, the Twilight Man trusted them and that meant an awful lot.

As we reached the front door to the house of mystery, the Twilight Man pulled something out of his utility belt and handed it to me. It was a small card with an address written on it.

"This is something to do with the witches in there. I was doing a bit of research and finally turned up something earlier that might be of use. You need to find Kid Kinetic and give this to him. Let him investigate this".

The Twilight Man’s cowl hid most of the man’s face but his mouth smiled. He opened the door and we stepped outside into the cool shadow of the building.

"After that, I guess we'll meet back at the base", said the Twilight Man, noticing me looking back at the house.

I pocketed the card and stared at the building for a few seconds, wondering whether to head back inside and confront them. But something told me not to. Not now anyway. Like they said, it was getting late and Sam would be waiting.

"Yeah, see you..." I started to say but, as I turned round, I saw that the Twilight Man had gone. He'd pulled his usual disappearing act again. Sighing, I walked away from the building and thought about what had happened and about what the Coven had told me about the future.

Cosmics: The Future (part 1)

Death and destruction.

Fear followed by flight.

This is our future. Or at least, this is what I've been told is in our future. Something terrible will happen, something that will affect the whole world, and human kind will come to fear cosmics. That fear will turn to hate. And eventually, those of us who are left will be forced to leave this planet and seek refuge on Mars.

I'm told it won't happen tomorrow or next week but soon, perhaps in a year. And I've been guaranteed that there's nothing anyone can do to change it. The future is, apparently, fixed. So much for free will. All I can do is decide whether I join those preparing for this future or try to fight it. And even that isn't really a choice. Not in the end. When push comes to shove, I join those leaving this Earth to the resultant chaotic hell. Or so they tell me.

They are the Coven.

It all happened yesterday, just over a year since the latest incarnation of the Cosmic Knights was formed. Whilst teleporting across town to get to a dinner date with Sam, my wife, I noticed flashing blue lights, the squeal of sirens and the pounding of collapsing buildings coming from near the centre of Millenia. I ported over to the top of a building near the scene of the disturbance and looked down. There was Bedlam, one of the Masters of Mayhem, not seen since he'd attacked the Cube a few months ago.

There seems to be very little information out there on Bedlam. He generally appears to be a large, musclebound guy standing around 7 feet tall, with blue skin and horns spiralling out from his head. He looks like a demon on steroids - but is as dumb as a brick, doesn't say a lot and has serious anger management issues.

Anyway, as I stood there on the roof of the building watching, Bedlam picked up a cop car and smashed it into the ground, breaking it into pieces. Fortunately no one was in the car at the time. But still, enough was enough. One port later and I appeared in front of the big behemoth.

"Hey, no damaging public property!" I said (or something equally witty) whilst waving my hands in front of him as a distraction.

"Go screw yerself!" was all the big, blue guy said in return, always a great conversationalist. Rather than talk a little more, he just glared at me and then swung a huge fist in my direction. Luckily, Bedlam isn't that quick so it was easy for me to port out of the way.

"Aha! You missed, ya big lug", I retorted, whilst porting in behind him.

In retaliation I tried punching the villain but, as expected, all that did was tickle him. Bedlam grunted and turned around trying to grab me. I ported again, punched, ported, punched, ported, punched. Each of my hits landed and, although Bedlam staggered back a little, my punches just seemed to make him even more angry.

By now he was getting bored of trying to grab me so instead he bellowed some colourful language far too obscene to repeat here and then grabbed a nearby lamppost. He swung it at me but missed, smashing it into a wall behind me instead.

Obviously not impressed with my punches, I decided some other tactic was required. It was time for my newly developed multiport.

"Hey! Ugly butt. Over here!" I yelled.

As Bedlam paused and glanced my way, I ported over to him. He began to lift the post to try swat me away again and, as he did, I grabbed ol' Big Blue and ported him one foot to the left. Then, whilst the twinkling stars of my last port still hung in the air, I ported him again. And then again and again. And so on until Bedlam had been ported about ten times. Finally, I teleported away from the guy to see what effect it had.

Bedlam stood there, obviously disorientated. He held his head in his hands and growled in my direction. Surprisingly, he was still conscious. A second later, even more surprisingly, he had picked up the dropped lamppost and swung it at me again. I wasn't expecting it. The metal club hit me and hit me hard. I went flying backwards into a building.

Luckily, my gleaming force field is practically indestructible. I felt the blow but the post didn't penetrate my shield. It was a minor injury but I felt it nonetheless. Still reeling, my vision swam as I stood up. Bedlam had moved towards the edge of the police cordon and was approaching a female police officer. She stood her ground, holding a pistol up to ward of the big cosmic villain. I knew the gun would do her no good against Bedlam and that I should port over to get her out of trouble. But I was still groggy from that last hit. I could hardly move, let alone port. I staggered forwards but I wasn't going to make it.

Thankfully, someone else saved her. Out of nowhere a figure in dark grey swooped down on a swing line and snatched the woman out of Bedlam's deadly grip. In response, he howled in anger (and said a few more choice words) whilst turning to face the newcomer. The howl was met by a flight of three crescent shaped blades, which zipped through the air and struck the guy in the face. Unsurprisongly, Bedlam swore again.

I turned to look at the dark figure as he dropped down to the ground and let the police officer escape to freedom. Instantly, I recognised our rescuer. His mask and grey cloak were unmistakeable. So was his glowering, confident manner. It was my fellow Knight, the Twilight Man.

Shaking my head to clear it, I ported over to Bedlam and, whilst he was recovering from the Twilight Man's attack, hit him with another flurry of blows. When Bedlam began to swing his muscle-bound arms again, I ported away next to the Man of Mystery.

"Hi T.M. What brings you to this part of town?", I asked, a little surprised to see him.

"Later Unicorn. First let us tackle this adversary", replied the Twilight Man in that monotone, foreboding voice of his.

"Sure, so shall...", I started but never got to finish. The Twilight Man was off, leaping into action. He launched a couple of moon blades at Bedlam to distract him and, at the same time, fired off his swing line around the villain's feet.

Feeling a little foolish standing there talking to nobody, I also leapt towards Bedlam. Flipping in the air, I launched a foot at the muscle-man's face, kicking him solidly on the nose. I then jumped up, ported and landed behind Bedlam. With as much strength as I could muster, I kicked the cosmic creep in the small of his back whilst the Twilight Man yanked on the line wrapped around his feet.

Bedlam went down, smashing into the sidewalk with an almighty thud.

"Yeah!" I yelled punching the air, but the Twilight Man quickly brought me back down.

"Unicorn. Hit him with a horn blast, before he recovers", he called out, his voice a sharp order. I turned towards Bedlam and concentrated.

The twinkling of my force field intensified around my head. A single, shining horn of light began to appear from my forehead. This was my ultimate offensive power - a beam of pure force that hit as hard as a missile. Over the years, my horn blasts had been getting gradually more powerful but also more uncontrollable. Nowadays, I was reluctant to use it and then only against the most powerful of opponents.

Against Bedlam however, its use was justified.

The beam of blinding energy shot out from my forehead, crackled through the air, and slammed into the back of Bedlam's head. The villain groaned with pain. He tried to lift himself up but finally fell back to the ground, unconscious.

Dust hung in the air where Bedlam had fallen and gently floated down into the crater. Part of a building behind me dropped to the ground with a dull thud. There was a quiet moment before everyone gathered - police, fire department, bystanders - started to react.

In that moment, the Twilight Man grabbed me and pulled me to one side.

"Follow me", he said matter-of-factly.

He then added "You need to meet some people" and ran off into a side street.

Shrugging, wondering what was going on, I sprinted after the dark figure as the people behind me began to tidy up the mess left by Bedlam's attack.

To Be Continued...

Cosmics: Negative Feedback

Convenience store? More like an inconvenience store, mused Paul as waited in line to be served. At least this one is. Why the hell can't there be one nearer to home?

After the evening's testing of his weird ability, Paul needed a cigarette and he'd run out of the little white cancer sticks earlier. But if he didn't get home soon, Paul knew that his wife, Alison, would be wondering where the hell he was.

Standing there in the short line, Paul stared at the huge shoulders of a well-built, leather-clad guy dressed in front of him as he considered how things were going. In his car he'd found that when he'd turned up the radio's volume to maximum and stuck his hands over the booming speakers, he could also absorb sound energy. As before, back at the apartment, a slight trickle of power worked its way up his arms and into his chest. Together with what he had discovered earlier, it looked like he could absorb any type of energy.

Paul glared at the large man in the leather jacket ahead of him. In reality it had only been a moment, but for Paul it felt like this guy was purposely taking hours. For some reason he was arguing with the anxious worker behind the counter, shoving his hand towards him, whilst trying not to attract too much attention. Paul craned his neck around the big man's arm and saw that the guy's clenched fist was glowing. He was a cosmic.

"Shit", Paul muttered. Leather-clad guy was trying to knock the place over. And the clerk was trying to stall.

"I tol' ya", Paul heard the man snarl at the clerk. "Hand over all dey money... hey, wha' you lookin' at? You wanna piece of Havoc's heat blast?"

The wide-shouldered man, all six foot and change of him, turned around and glared at Paul.

Paul, looking up, met the man's eyes under his domino mask. Shit. It's that Havoc guy from the Masters of Mayhem, he thought, his gut beginning to seethe and boil.

"Leave him alone, asshole", Paul muttered, backing away a little from the villain's blazing right fist which was now pointing his way.

"Wha's dat?" Havoc growled. "You talkin' to me?"

"Yeah", Paul replied more loudly this time, his anger increasing his confidence. "I said leave him alone, get out of my way and get the fuck out of here".

The cosmic villain looked down on Paul like he was dirt found on the sole of one of his big black boots, and thrust his fist forwards threateningly.

"Wha' you gonna do 'bout it, ass-wipe?", the big man jeered. "I'll tell ya. You gonna do nothin' 'cause yer gonna be dead".

Paul stood his ground as the big man sneered and released a blast of superheated flames in his direction. The scorching energy hit Paul, pushing him backwards a little, but - amazingly - didn't hurt Paul one bit.

Paul turned back to the villain, seething.

"That's where you're wrong idiot. I'm going to do this", he spat and, both hands thrust forwards, he leapt at the villain.

His outstretched hands grabbed the man's shoulders and pushed him back against the wall. Havoc, his initial surprise turning to anger, released a blast of red hot energy at his attacker. Or he tried to. Instead of the expected blast, Havoc felt the energy being siphoned out of his body.

"Wha' the fu...!?!" the villain began. But by then, even the sound of his own voice was being absorbed by Paul, who now gripped the masked man's arms at his side. Havoc found that even his own strength had deserted him. He couldn't move nor struggle out of Paul's vice-like hold.

The big man juddered for a second or two before his eyes rolled up and he dropped to the floor, powerless.

Paul lifted his hands and examined his fingers. Other than a very slight burn, he was unharmed. He glanced back at the thug, saw he was down for the count but still breathing, and then turned his attention to the clerk.

The man's muddy brown eyes were wide in disbelief and shock. But beyond the initial surprise, Paul saw something else. Fear. Fear of the cosmic in front of him and dread concerning what had been done to the masked man. Paul couldn't sustain the gaze for long and soon looked away.

Calmness soothed his nerves as he said to the clerk, "Call the cops and the paramedics. Perhaps even those Cosmic Knight guys".

"Wha... who are you?" the man behind the counter stammered.

Paul looked up at the man again, saw the fear still there in his eyes. Was this what the average guy in the street thought of cosmics? Did they fear the power available at their fingertips?

"I'm called Feedback", he stated. Then he added, "And I’m here to help".

With what he hoped was a friendly nod to the clerk, Paul walked quickly over to the store's exit and left before things got complicated.

Cosmics: Dynamic Daydreams and Missing Mentors

Kid Kinetic still couldn't find Dr Dynamo. Any clues to his whereabouts didn't seem to make sense. It was so frustrating. But then again, life in his normal, slowed-down guise was frustrating. He wanted to run, wanted to feel the excitement that came with hurtling along the ground at a hundred miles an hour. Instead, right now, he was stuck in class listening to a boring lecture whilst daydreaming about one of his first training sessions with Dr Dynamo…

…

"No kid", called out Doctor Dynamo, one of America's finest superheroes, "you've got to time your punch right. Accelerate up, pull back your fist and, just a moment before you think you're going to hit, swing. No earlier!"

The blurred figure of Kid Kinetic, also known as Marty MacNeil when not in costume, zipped from the other side of the abandoned warehouse and, in the blink of an eye, was standing next to Dr Dynamo rubbing his injured right fist.

"ButitfeelslikeI'mswingingtoolate", explained Marty, speaking so fast that the words all ran into one.

"Slow down, kid", admonished Dr Dynamo, "That's your problem; sometimes you're too quick".

Marty saw Dr Dynamo sigh and then, with a crack of lightning, launch himself across the warehouse. Dr Dynamo was about to pick up the mannequin they'd been using for target practice when Marty suddenly zipped past, a blur of colour, and picked it up himself.

"Letmegetthatforyou", uttered Marty as he placed the dummy on the stand. Dr Dynamo shook his head but Marty didn't notice. He was too busy rushing around the room. He zipped off, turned on a dime and then rushed back, trying once more to land a decent supersonic punch on the dummy.

…

Kid Kinetic realised that he'd been lucky to find a mentor like Dr Dynamo. When his cosmic powers had surfaced nearly a year ago, it had taken him by surprise.

Up until then, Marty had only dreamed of moving fast. He'd always loved watching motor racing on TV, jet fighters at air shows and sprinters at sporting events but he'd always been slow and steady.

Suddenly he found himself running as quick as a car and not being able to stop. His cosmic abilities had been so hard to control at first - the energy just wanted him to move quicker and quicker. It was exhilarating but also a little scary and not very practical.

Thankfully, Dr Dynamo had been nearby and, after they'd managed to get him to slow down, the good Doctor had trained him in the use of his abilities. Together they had fought crime, stopping those who wanted to harm or cause fear in others. He'd been the sidekick to one of the greatest heroes who had ever lived (at least in Marty's view).

That was then though. Now he was no longer a sidekick because just a while back, Dr Dynamo disappeared. No one seems to know where he's gone or what's happened to him. One day he was fighting Entropy and then suddenly he was gone. Maybe Entropy's chaos effect had sent Dr Dynamo somewhere? But no one has seen Entropy since that day either, so Marty can't ask him. It was all so frustrating.

But perhaps, wondered Marty as his teacher waffled on at the front of class, he could get a lead to his mentor's whereabouts from the Cosmic Knights?

Cosmics: Red Baron

  "Red Baron, this is Red Leader. The rat is in the trap", chattered the radio in the Red Baron's headset.

Reflected streetlights gleamed scarlet from the polished exterior of the Red Baron's helmet as he stood looking over at the luxurious building in the gloom. The 'rat', in this case, was Millenia's senator and the 'trap' was a building that had been rigged with explosive earlier that day. As far as the Red Brigade knew, they were attacking yet another capitalist leader of this country in order to bring down the old and usher in the new. However, what they didn't know was that the Red Baron had taken an order for the death of this man and would make a large amount of money from this hit.

In the suit of high-tech armour, the Red Baron smiled.

"Excellent", he muttered into his radio microphone as he steepled the fingers in front of him. "Time for the Brigade to disappear", he added.

He waited a moment longer and then lifted up his burnished, left gauntlet to near his visor. By now, having taken out the guards around the building and planted the explosives, his agile agents would be converging on the Sky Fortress away from the building. He was free to detonate the device. In a somewhat louder voice, he cried out,

"May the Reign of Red prevail!"

And, with his right gauntlet, he pressed a button on his left. There was a dull thump and then a high-pitched whoosh as bright, red light streamed out of the building into the night sky. The Red Baron stepped back and a few seconds later there was an almighty boom as the small building in front of him collapsed into dust and rumble.

With a grin, the Red Baron pressed another button on his gauntlet and the boot jets in his armoured battlesuit fired into life. With a quick salute, he blasted off into the night sky and towards his gleaming red Sky Fortress.

Cosmics: Maxwell Merlini

"The game's up, Madame Xanadu. Your mystic séances are all fake!" came a resonant, commanding voice in a reasonable - but fake - upperclass English accent.

An ominous top-hatted shadow fell across the large, round felt topped table as Maxwell Merlini, Master of Magic, stepped into the doorway. Across the table, the beautiful but deadly Madame Xanadu gasped in surprise and rose from her ornately carved seat.

In the years before his death, Merlini's mentor - the famous Harry Houdini - had spent much of his time exposing the so-called psychics and mediums for the charlatans and fraudsters that they were. After Houdini's death, Merlini had gathered his assets, cashed them in and used the money to travel the world - first to England and through Europe during the Second World War and then into Asia. When he'd died in the 60s and then cosmically been reborn, he'd journeyed back to America, continuing his master's mission to debunk fake mystics and expose con artists. That was what had led him to the sorcerous séances of Madame Xanadu.

"It was thin wires that moved objects around the room, not spirits from the underworld", Max Merlini's voice called out, echoing across the room. "Radio transmitters in the walls produced the voices from beyond the veil. All cheap parlour tricks! Your days as a mystic, taking money from rich widows, are over".

"Curse you, Merlini!" Madame Xanadu spat as the Master of Magic stepped further into the room draped with silk sheets and decorated with fake mystic icons. "You may have uncovered my diabolical schemes but you won't leave this room to tell anyone about them!"

And with that, Madame Xanadu pulled sharply on a golden wall sconce and, with a faint creak, a secret door suddenly opened in the wall behind her. From out of the shadowy gloom beyond this doorway, two tall and bullishly strong thugs stepped into the room. One had a dull grey pistol in his hand and the other wielded a solid-looking crowbar. The two hoodlums began to edge their way around the table.

"These won't save you, Madame Xanadu!" Merlini called out. "Not against one who commands the mystic dark arts themselves" he added, his voice low and threatening.

Contrary to the reputation he was happy to uphold, Maxwell Merlini did not actually command any mystic arts. Other than his cosmic power of reincarnation, he was simply a master of mesmerism, stage magic and perception. His command lay in the illusionary arts, originally taught to him by the world famous Houdini himself before his death and further enhanced during his time with skilled monks in hidden part of Tibet.

Merlini glanced at both of the two thugs and then focussed on the one with the firearm. He was obviously the greatest threat at the moment. Locking eyes with the man, Merlini waved his arms the air and called out a suitably impressive incantation.

Suddenly, the room went dark. Or at least it did for the thug with the gun. Voices began to call to the gunman, eerie chanting from the shadows.

"...Begone..." the voice echoed in the man's criminal mind. "...Leave this place...Run...before we destroy your body and take your soul...Run away!"

The last two words were said by Merlini himself, however, to the gunman it seemed like the shadows within his mind were speaking to him. The gangster began to panic, swung his gun around firing into nothing but thin air, punching holes into the walls. Still the imaginary darkness suffocated him, bringing madness in its wake.

Merlini gestured again towards the man and, finally, the thug dropped his gun and ran out of the room through the doorway. Smiling, the Master of Magic turned towards the other hoodlum.

Too late! The man was only a step away and bringing his crowbar down in a wide arc to strike upon Merlini's head. Reacting quickly, Merlini raised his crystal-topped cane, easily blocking the blow. He dodged another powerful thrust and parried a third swing of the iron bar whilst pushing the thug away a little.

Looking deep into the man's eyes, Merlini's pupils appeared to glow as he waved his gloved, nimble hands in the air. Not only could Merlini cloud a man's mind with mental illusions that seemed real, he could also control that man's actions with nothing but a word. Another trick learned from the monks hidden deep within Tibet.

With a deep, penetrating voice, the magician commanded the crook to cast his crowbar away. Unwittingly, the man stopped his advance and stared at Merlini. He dropped his weapon and stood there, still as a statue. He was trapped by the magician's mesmerising hypnosis.

The thug continued to gaze, enraptured, at Merlini's twisting and turning left hand as the magician approached him. With a dark smile, Merlini swung his cane in his right at the side of the man's head. The crook didn't know what hit him and he crumbled to the floor like the filthy trash he was. "Beware the mesmerising magic of Merlini", muttered the magician as he stood over the hoodlum's prone form.

Looking up, Merlini glanced around the room. Madame Xanadu was gone! No doubt she had left through the secret door and into the passageway beyond. Before he could investigate further, the familiar sound of sirens rose like the eerie shriek of questing eagles. His call to the police had been answered and finally they were here. Madame Xanadu would have to wait until another day whilst he explained things to Millenia's authorities.

Cosmics: The Twilight Man

Where to start? Hmm, yes. I think I'll be unconventional and start in the middle of the story.

Twelve years ago I worked as a cop, pounding the beat in downtown Miami before Millenia was built in its place. I've been promoted since - got me a desk job with slightly more pay. There's the same amount of stress as before but now it's from getting all the paper work done on time rather than worrying if you're about to be knifed or shot. I was shot once so I know how stressful that can be - and that's also when my new life started.

It was a chilly New Year's Eve and me and my partner had cornered a couple of small time thieves down an alleyway. It was late and the moon was already high, casting shadows as thick as treacle. One of the thugs, obviously not wanting to spend the night behind bars, got twitchy. He pulled a piece and shot my buddy twice before I'd managed to get a warning out, let alone my gun. Having downed one of us, and with nothing else to lose, the creep then levelled his pistol at me. I managed to do the same to him but I guess I wasn't quite fast enough 'cause he got his shot off first. The bullet ripped into my gut and threw me onto the floor. Seeing me fallen, and not wanting to waste any more time, the thieves sprinted off leaving me to bleed in the alley.

To be honest, I thought I was done for. I was bleeding heavily from the stomach wound and no-one was around to help. The pain was too much for me to even consider moving. I just lay there watching the shadows deepen as my life dripped away into the gutter.

Then I felt something touch me. At first I thought it was a dog or rat or something but the feeling covered my entire body. And the shadows that were just at the corner of my vision a minute before now seemed to be right in front of my eyes. I looked around but all I could see was shadows. Suddenly, I swear those shadows flowed into me. They were incredibly cold and the pain in my gut sharpened in intensity so much that I let out a muffled gasp. But, moments later, the pain started to subside. I looked down at my wound and saw it starting to heal up!

Slowly but surely, feeling came back to my body and I was able to move my arms and legs. What seemed like an hour later I managed to sit up. The wound in my stomach had almost healed to an ugly scar. At that point, I was overcome with emotion and sat there thanking all that was holy - and some not so holy - for saving me from that final journey to see my maker.

Eventually I could stand. I checked on my buddy but it looked like he'd had a quick send off. So I called for help on my radio and stumbled out of the alley, not realising at the time that the passageway was now completely devoid of shadows.

Later I discovered I had... 'unusual' abilities. Or cosmic powers, if that's what ya want to call 'em. Not only did I heal real quick, I seemed to be able to control the night. I could increase the shadows in an area making it incredibly dark around me. Yet I could see through these thick shadows as if it were a clear summer's day. Even more unusual was my ability to enter the shadows and move from one spot to another without passing through the intervening space.

After a month of leave, I was given my desk job. It was supposed to be for my own good, a promotion away from the dangerous streets due to my sterling service. Still, the idea of doing nothing but sitting at a desk bored me. That's when I remembered good ol' Uncle Don. He was the one that got me interested in the police force in the first place.

Y'see, years ago when he 'retired', Uncle Don let his family know that he was the original Twilight Man, a costumed vigilante who had helped fight crime in the '80s. This was whilst I was still a teenager, before I'd even thought of becoming a cop. But Don's belief in using the abilities you had to help others always stuck with me.

So, that's really where this story should start - with Don's time as the original Twilight Man. I say original because, well, I decided to take over the job and carry on the legend. After explaining everything to him and convincing him of my desire to continue fighting crime he agreed to help me.

Anyway, after a few modifications to the suit and its little gadgets, I put on the Twilight Man costume and started patrolling the streets as Millenia's new dark defender.

Cosmics: Jack Harper

“Is… is there a doctor in the church?!” a woman cried out, fear and concern pitching her voice to a high screech.

Jack stood up, looking over the head of the man in front of him, and tried to see what was going on. It was his first time in this newly-built church near the heart of the new city. He’d seen it many of times during its construction as he walked past but until today’s Sunday morning service he had never been inside its grand, vaulted interior. Having recently bought a small apartment nearby, this church was his closest place of worship.

The pastor, a friendly, harmless (and, to be honest, slightly boring) man in his early fifties, had been giving his sermon when suddenly he’d stammered and fallen from the pulpit to the cool floor. Now two or three people surrounded the man – with more heading towards them - preventing Jack from seeing what was going on. His eyes rising to the ceiling, Jack grimaced, shrugged and then made his way forward.

“Excuse me. I’m a doctor”, Jack called out, striding forwards. “Let me through please. And give the man a bit of room”.

He looked at the minister who was lying on the floor, clutching his chest and having difficulty breathing. His skin appeared clammy and as grey as the hair at his temples. The man tried to call out something but his feeble words turned to painful wheezing coughs.

“It appears he’s having a heart attack”, Jack stated as he knelt next to the reverend. “Someone call the paramedics”

“Angela’s already gone to the ‘phone” said the high-pitched woman. Her deeply-lined face and grey hair indicated that she was much older than the pastor. However, although obviously worried and distressed, she looked far more alive than the man on the floor at that moment.

“Tell her to tell them it's a suspected myocardial infarction… a heart attack”. Jack paused for a moment and then asked, “Does he have angina?”

“No… no, I don’t think so” the woman said, clasping her small, wrinkled hands together in front of her. Jack nodded and then reminded her to tell the paramedics about the heart attack. He turned back to the man and studied him a little closer.

“Reverend O’Connor? I’m Dr Harper”, he explained in quiet calm tones. “I know this is a stupid thing to say but try and remain calm, okay?”

With a gloved hand, Jack reached out to the side of the pastor’s throat and tried to feel for a pulse. As he did, the man’s watery brown eyes struggled to open and then stared directly into Jack’s piercing blue ones. Their gazes met. As if seeing some great horror, the minister’s eyes opened wide in apparent fear but he could not pull his gaze away. Instead, he started to mutter something under his gasping breath.

“Domine Deus… spero per gratiam tuam remissionem… occulto mihi ex obscurum...”

To Jack, it sounded like an old-fashioned prayer. Being a medical man, he recognised the language as Latin but had no idea of the meaning. Looking away from those open critical eyes, Jack turned to a younger man who was standing nearby.

“Get some aspirin…” he began to say. Suddenly, the old man’s arm shot up and grabbed him around his exposed wrist.

Dread and alarm filled Jack first, flowing up his arm, through his shoulder and into his body. Then came rushing up the crushing pain of the heart attack - a heavy, gripping throb stabbing into his chest and taking his breath away. Darkness began to edge his vision. He clenched his eyes shut, trying to block the life-stealing tightness that began to send out shooting pains to his shoulders and arms.

The pain was intense - though he had suffered much worse before. He hoped that his curse would heal the blockage to his heart before he went and died. Again. But the pain and the panic were making it difficult to focus.

Jack collapsed to the floor, which caused the Reverend O'Connor to break his grip on Jack’s wrist. He lay there, trying to breath, trying not to throw up, and with all his will he tried to push the pain, anguish and fear away.

“My god…” he breathed through clenched teeth, unable to do anything more at that time.

The old woman had now come back and started to shriek when she saw that Jack had also collapsed. Her panic was relieved a little though when she realised that the pastor now looked better and was no longer clutching his chest. Another voice called out, this one male, saying that he thought the doctor was also having a heart-attack. And yet other voices muttered and jabbered in the background.

Jack grunted and struggled to open his eyes. His chest still burned with a torturous ache but it was bearable. Looking across, he saw the old man sit up with a look of wondrous surprise on his face. The woman rushed over to him to check that he was all right whilst a man, probably the one who had spoken earlier, tried to put Jack into the recovery position. His hands clammy with sweat, Jack managed to wave him away. He knew it wouldn’t help. He just needed time to let his cosmic power heal the physical problem, though the mental and emotion trauma would remain for some time.

The church wasn’t far from Millenia's general hospital and within a few minutes the paramedics had arrived. They checked both Reverend O’Connor and Jack. The minister seemed well but they still wanted to run some ECG tests on him. They advised the same for Jack. Jack was having none of it. By then, the heart attack had passed and, although he felt very weak, he knew he was out of danger.

“Thank you”, Reverend O’Connor said as the paramedics started to lead him out of the church. He then added, “And bless you, Dr Harper”.

There was a knowing look in the pastor’s eyes as he gazed at Jack. Jack simply nodded back and then looked away, feeling somewhat exposed. Distress from the heart attack still troubled his mind and he was finding it difficult to think clearly. However, what he did know was that he could do with a smoke to soothe his nerves.

Instead he accepted the offer of a warm cup of tea from the old woman, who’s name he discovered was Maria. Within half an hour, Jack heart had settled down and he was feeling much better. Using the excuse that he needed a breath of fresh air, he wandered lonely along the aisle and out of the main doors of the church.

Hazy daylight brightened as the sun reached its zenith.

Jack finished the end of his cigarette, dropped the stub and extinguished it with a quick stamp of his shoe. That first time he’d met the good Reverend was over seven years ago and, since then, he’d been back most Sundays to bask in the holy man’s soporific sermons and  lectures about smoking. Jack couldn’t quite figure it out but there was something indubitably likeable about Reverend Daniel O’Connor.

Shrugging, Jack pulled his jacket around him to keep out the cold winter air and headed off towards the front of the city hall. Even from here, he could hear the cheers and excited chatterings of the people gathered this Christmas Eve, waiting for their first official sight of the Cosmic Knights. Shoulders hunched, Jack strode forwards inwardly hoping the ceremony would be over quickly so he could return to the familiar comfort of a large single malt.

Cosmics: Feedback

Paul held his steady, outstretched hand less than an inch above the lighter as the flame danced upon his palm. As expected, all he felt was a gentle tickling sensation in his hand and a vague warmness. There was no hint of pain even after he'd left the flame to burn against his skin for several minutes. The same had happened the other three times he'd tried it. Just like in the fire earlier.

"Shit", Paul muttered, shaking his head. What did it all mean?

Around ten minutes before, he'd stuck his fingers into an outlet socket and switched it on. But instead of being thrown across the room, or at least shocked a little bit, all he'd felt was a weird tingling down his spine and a little warmth in his fingers.

Just like that time a week ago. He been a bit drunk and, for a dare, had stuck his fingers into a light fitting - God knows why. His stupid, co-worker Carl had then turned the light switch on but all he'd felt was that tingly-spine feeling. It meant household electricity couldn't harm him either.

"Shit", Paul cursed again, gritting his teeth.

Thinking back, there was that time a month ago when they'd thought he'd broken his ankle trying to goddamn rollerskate. Another of Alison's stupid ideas to do something together. At the hospital they'd tried to x-ray his foot but every time it kept coming back blank like his leg was made of lead or something. And afterwards his foot had somehow felt better. He was probably absorbing the radiation even then.

"Shit"

All those times over the last couple of months when something unusual had happened to him, just like earlier in that tenement fire. There weren't *that* many incidents but it was enough to pull together a correlation. Finally, today's fire had been pretty damned convincing. They all involved energy of some sort and they all involved him feeling no pain but somehow negating the power somehow. So what the hell was he going to do about it?

"Shit, shit"

Paul briefly looked down and his hands and then started searching for a cigarette. So, he thought, he was one of those cosmics, an IT guy with freakish powers like a comic book character or one of those idiots on TV. Which left him just two questions. First, should he tell Alison?

Finally finding a smoke, Paul lit up and took a drag. Exhaling sweet, gray, musky mist in a thin plume, Paul shook his head. No, she'd just think he was making it up or joking or something. Him, a cosmic!? Hell, she'd probably not really listen to him anyway. What was he going to say? "Hi honey, I think I can absorb energy like one of those cosmic guys". Yeah, that sounded rational.

Taking another puff of the cigarette, Paul considered the second question - what was he going to do? What did someone like him do with an ability like his? It's not like he could make money from it or get laid with it (not that he would, because he was married but, well, y'know?). All he could do was absorb or negate stupid energy.

"Hey, Pauly! We're out of milk" his wife, Alison, called from out of the kitchen. Here in the bedroom, Paul could only just hear her.

"Yeah, and...?" Paul shouted back, a little irritated. He almost added "What d'you want me do about it?" but decided that probably wouldn’t have been a good idea.

"Well, it'd be nice if you could just pop out to the store and get some", Alison called back. "And maybe some bread as well?"

"Sure, sure!" Paul replied, but under his breath he added, "It's only, like, fifteen minutes before Cosmic Reality is on. Why the hell can't you do it yourself?"

Still, he took another drag on the cigarette and headed out of the bedroom, grabbing his jacket and wallet on the way. He was going to have to be quick if he wanted to get back in time. Having an argument with his wife wasn't going to help.

'Why the goddamn couldn't I have got superspeed or something?' he cursed inwardly as he rushed out of the door and to the local convenience store.

Cosmics: Merry Christmas

One year ago...

"...hordes of cameras flash here outside Millenia city hall as, like a brightly coloured Christmas present, the roster of the newly reformed Cosmic Knights is unwrapped to the public".

"The Professor comes out onto the steps first. She's clothed in a technologically-advanced battlesuit, her gray-blonde hair streaming out behind her. Due to her experience it is speculated that she will be the Cosmic Knights' new leader. She raises her hand in greeting and is met with a roar of approval".

"Close behind, but keeping to the shadows, is the Twilight Man whose features are obscured by his dark gray mask. Little is known about this hero, however he was a member of the last iteration of the Cosmic Knights and is highly regarded by the others".

"Maxwell Merlini, the debonair master of magic, is next. Rumours have it that this is the same Merlini who fought crime in top hat and tails in the 30s and 40s as well as the hero who helped the former Knights in '99. However, this moustached man doesn't look a day over 40. He smiles a broad grin and raises his hat to the cheering public".

"Next is the dynamic defender, Dr Dynamo. There's no sign of the Living Lightning's new young sidekick, Kid Kinetic, who is apparently not an official member of the team. Dr Dynamo literally crackles with energy as he joins his fellow teammates".

"In an effort to cement relations with Europe, France's Jean-Pierre Charmant is the next member to appear and is also the newest cosmic to arrive in Millenia. Transforming into his huge Beast form, he waves as the crowd gasps in wonder. His vast strength and handsome good looks should be a huge boon to the group".

"Elastic Man arrives on the scene next, stretching his body around those already gathered. He raises his hand which expands to enormous dimensions, mimicking the foam hands worn by many outside the city hall here today".

"From the doorway, Unicorn and Blindsight step out hand-in-hand. To the disappointment of many of his female fans, Unicorn secretly wed his beautiful bride Blindsight earlier this year. This hasn't stopped the familiar silver sparkling sight of the athletic teleporter appearing all around Millenia, saving the day time and again".

"Finally, a mystery man shuffles onto the steps, behind all the others. Officially, this is the team's doctor but rumour has it that he also has cosmic abilities. Perhaps more information about this healer will be made public in the coming days?"

"So, gathered together on this chilly, but bright, Floridian winter afternoon, the new Cosmic Knights salute the crowd and usher in a new - and hopefully more fortunate - chapter for this cosmic team. And, to all our viewers watching us today, WPRN would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!"

Cosmics: Leaving

One year ago...

"Youa leavin'? Mama mia!" The round, moustached Italian man known as Milo Vignoni held up his large, fat hands in despair. He then turned around and shouted into the back.

"Hey, Moni! You hearin' this? Ricky says he's leavin'", the owner of Milo's diner called out. "Says he's got anuther job".

Rick Roe liked the man known as Milo Vignoni. He was very flamboyant and anything different or unusual was interesting to Rick. And the man was very kind hearted. He'd given Rick a job and provided a roof over his head even though he didn't know him. Still, Rick wasn't going to tell the man everything about his job. Nor that the company he'd be joining was the Cosmic Knights.

"Milo. I am sorry", Rick apologised, smiling. "Only I think this new job will take up a lot of my time". He actually didn't know how much time he'd have to spend working as a Knight but Rick guessed that the job did not keep normal hours.

Milo turned to face Rick.

"What was this new job again, Ricky?" the Italian man asked, his left eye narrowing causing his bushy black eyebrow to almost touch his extravagant moustache.

Rick paused for only a moment and then answered. "It is in... security, Milo", he answered. "The money is good and they are providing temporary accommodation...". Milo's brow furrowed at this so Rick added, "...a place to stay. But I would still like to stay in the apartment you have rented me. I will continue to pay, I assure you".

Milo slapped his forehead and turned around shouting into the back again.

"Moni, now he say he's got anuther place to stay. But he wantsa keep our room!"

There was a muttered reply from the back, but Rick couldn't quite make out the response.

"Milo, if I can help out here, I will", Rick tried to explain. "And if you really need me, I can help. I am very grateful to you for helping me out when I arrived here in Millenia. For everything that you did".

He stressed the 'everything'. As well as providing a job and a room, Milo had also put him in contact with someone who apparently knew somebody else who provided "official" identification papers. The ones Rick had procured when he'd first arrived were somewhat suspect whereas this new identity as Richard Roe, plus the accompanying documentation, was much more secure. Almost legitimate, apparently.

Milo looked at Rick for a while, his pudgey hands twirling his moustache in thought. Then the big man smiled and clapped Rick on the shoulder.

"Ah, thatsa okay, my friend!" he exclaimed. "Your goin' inta security, eh? You always were a strong, tough one. I hope its not the wrong sort of security, eh? Not part of the Family". Milo winked at Rick.

Rick didn't know what the man meant but was sure that the Knights were not the "wrong sort". Rick convinced the chef and businessman that his job was a good one and he would be helping a lot of people.

"Thatsa good", smiled Milo. "And if you're still staying in the apartment, we'll still see you around, yes?"

"Yes, Milo", agreed Rick. He'd decided that he's freedom might be somewhat compromised if he always lived at the Cosmic Knights Complex. Having to undergo security scans and dodge the reporters camped outside would only make things difficult. It was better to leave things open. Just in case.

It wasn't as if Rick had a great need for two places to live. In his current apartment all he had was a bed, a few books (reading for pleasure was something new to Rick), a TV (Rick liked to watch anything and everything), and a radio (music was something the Qysians had neglected to discover). He had travelled light and still continued that practice.

"I hope to still see you sometimes", added Rick, returning the clap on the shoulder.

"Good, good", beamed Milo, gesturing into the back. "Nowa, come and taste this canneloni I'm making. Itsa squisito!"

"Maybe later, Milo", Rick replied, although he was sure the pasta and meat dish was delicious. "I have to get ready..."

"You have a date? Some girl we know? Hey, Moni..." Milo began shouting into the back again.

"No, No. Nothing like that. I have to get ready for the job", explained Rick. In fact, he wanted to get a good look at the Complex before the official ceremony tomorrow and see what was going on there. But he wanted to do it incognito, as it were.

"Aah, I bet you do", beamed Milo. "Still I don't know why a handsome guy like you hasn't got himself a wife yet. Someone like my Monica, eh?"

Rick looked confused. "I am not interested in your Monica, Milo", he replied. "She is your spouse".

"No, no", Milo said, shaking his head. "I don't actually mean my Moni, just someone like her, si? Aah, Ricky. Sometimes I wonder about you. Now go on and get ready".

Milo waved Rick Roe away whilst Rick wondered what that last part of the discussion was all about. He shrugged and headed out.

Cosmics: Biff! Wham! Pow!

*POW*

Kid Kinetic's supersonic punch hit the thin, long-nosed clown in the stomach, doubling up the costumed thug. The second clown, this one with bulging muscles and a long plank of sturdy wood, stepped up and swung his weapon. But Kid Kinetic was a blur and had already moved. The wooden plank hit the first clown to the ground, his large feet and nose sticking up into the air.

*SLAP*

A third, white-faced clown aimed an eerily-coloured custard pie at Kid Kinetic. Laughing wildly, the clown let the pie fly.

"You shouldn't play with your food, bozo", called out Kid Kinetic.

The blurred outline of Kid Kinetic simply sidestepped out of the way of the pie. The custard pie hit the second clown who, despite his size and strength, immediately slumped to the floor snoring. The pie must've been filled with some sort of sleeping custard, thought Kid Kinetic as he approached the third clown.

*SNORE*

"The name's Bonzo, kid", replied the third clown, picking up another catnap custard pie from a nearby table.

However, the clown never had a chance to throw his second slumber pie. Kid Kinetic had run up to the clown and clapped his hands together next to the clown's head. The spectacular speed of the clap caused a mini-sonic boom, which knocked the clown off his feet and onto the ground.

*BOOM*

A moment later the custard pie dropped from the air and onto the clown's head. The clown, already seeing stars from the sonic-boom clap, fell into a deep, dreamy sleep.

"Night, night sleepy head", chuckled Kid Kinetic. He smiled, looked around and ran to the door of the warehouse.

A moment earlier the Clown King had left by this door leaving Kid Kinetic to tackle the remains of his Clown Gang. It had taken Kid Kinetic a few days to track down the Prince of Pranks and his crazy gang. He'd searched around much of Millenia, speeding down the streets and around buildings, looking in every nook and cranny much quicker than the local police could. Although he hadn't had much time to search as he would have liked - his school work had kept him busy. Still, it was amazing what Kid Kinetic could do in very little time.

It had been at school that Marty MacNeil, the secret identity of Kid Kinetic, got his lead. He'd overheard some other kids talking about the circus coming to town. Apparently, they'd seen some clowns in a multicoloured car near the outskirts just the day before and hence jumped to their conclusion. Marty knew better.

That evening, Marty donned his red and white uniform and went clown searching as the teen speedster Kid Kinetic. He quickly found the area the other boys had seen the clowns and, within minutes, found a newly renovated warehouse. Sneaking inside, he'd discovered the lair of Clown King and his gang, dressed to look like a circus ring. However, before he could stop the Clown King, his henchmen had rushed him allowing their master to escape through the warehouse's backdoor.

Having defeated most of the Clown King's thugs, Kid Kinetic ran to the door and opened it. Luckily, Kid Kinetic was moving so fast that the blue bucket balanced over the door missed him and emptied it's liquid contents onto the floor. The ground sizzled but Kid Kinetic did not stop to investigate further. He sprinted after the Clown King.

The King of Clowns, still many yards away from his clown car, could hear Kid Kinetic rushing up behind him. He turned around, laughing and giggling, whilst pulling what looked like a rubber chicken from out of his large, multicoloured coat.

"Ha ha!", laughed the Clown King. "Well if it isn't... tee hee... Doctor Dynamo's... ho ho... speeding sidekick. Fancy meeting you here. Ha ha ha. Will you be the Auguste to my... tee hee... White Face?".

Kid Kinetic slid to a halt and watched the Clown King.

"Give it up, Clown of Crime", Kid Kinetic shouted. "There's nowhere to hide. I've called the cops and they'll be here any minute. Plus, you're all out of bumbling buffoons".

The Clown King chuckled and almost fell over his big, long feet. Recovering, he pretended to wipe his eyes with a frilly hankerchief, whilst holding up the rubber chicken in his other hand.

"Ha ha! You do amuse me, Kid Coconut. Still, I know something you don't. Nyah, nyah!", he sang whilst hopping from one foot to the next. "You see... tee hee... I still have a gag or two up my sleeve. And you shall not escape the horror that is the... chicken of doom!".

The Clown King threw the rubber chicken at Kid Kinetic, who prompty dodged the pathetic poultry. However, as the chicken hit the ground there was a loud explosion and a dark purple noxious gas filled the air.

"Nice try, King of Nothing", replied Kid Kinetic, instantly moving to get away from the cloud. "But your gurgling gas cloud isn't going to stop me. All I have to do is whiz my arms around so fast that I create a funneling whirlwind to blow the mist away".

And Kid Kinetic did just that, rotating his arms at the shoulder to form a tornado to blow the miasma back at the Clown King.

"Curses!", yelled the clown, backing away as his laughter began to die away. "Still, ha! I shall escape to plan a gag for another day".

"Oh no you don't!", replied Kid Kinetic and he rushed up to the Clown King. The Clown King laughed half-heartedly and squirted a stream of green liquid from the fake flower in his lapel. Having seen this trick before, Kid Kinetic dodged the acidic spray. Then, grabbing a nearby length of steel cable, Kid Kinetic ran around and around the Clown King, wrapping the wire round and round the rotund clown. A moment later, the clown was held fast, entangled in the wire.

Moving away, Kid Kinetic watched as the purple cloud drifted over the struggling form of the Clown King. The villain coughed a couple of times and then fell to the ground knocked out.

Admiring his handiwork, Kid Kinetic beamed. "Well, that wraps things up", he chuckled happily.

Hearing the wail of police sirens, Kid Kinetic looked up from the sleeping clown and smiled. The police would be here shortly to ensure the Clown Gang was put behind bars. But Kid Kinetic couldn't wait. He had to get back home. His mom would be wondering where he was and he had homework to do.

And after that, he still had to search for the missing Dr Dynamo!

Cosmics: Entropy

David Rogers' life had never amounted to much. Although bright, he'd not done well at school and since then had jumped from job to job. He'd worked as a cleaner, as a stacker in a store, as a waiter in a rundown restaurant, in telephone sales, and finally as an input clerk for a company dealing in statistical data.

Although better than his previous jobs, the work was monotonous. The numbers he entered seemed random, almost like he was involved in some time-wasting joke. Like his life, the numbers were chaotic without any excitement, disordered whilst also mundane and boring.

Things changed though during the destruction of Miami in 1999. What David thought was chaotic was nothing compared to the powers he could suddenly emit. Blasts of spatial distortions would fly from his body. Time could be flexed and broken down. Mechanical objects fell apart at his touch. He tried to control this power but was never fully successful. The chaotic cosmic energy that powered him didn't allow it and ruined his chance at keeping a normal job.

So, for a while, David tried being a hero. However, this did not prove to be a successful career choice. Not only were his powers too unpredictable, the work didn't come with a steady income. Inevitably, David - now calling himself Entropy - resorted to villainy to help provide money and food for himself.

Small time thievery, such as robbing stores and breaking into banks, seemed to work best for him. Most of the time he only faced normal security guards or, on occasions, the police. He could handle those. He managed to make quite a bit of money but, sadly, that increased his infamy. Which meant he attracted the attention of local cosmic heroes - such as Dr Dynamo.

In the latest conflict with the dynamic doctor, Entropy had managed to hold the Living Lightning to a stalemate. The electrical hero's attacks would somehow miss or hit something else. But then, at the exact moment that Entropy was about to release a wave of his reality altering power, Dr Dynamo's electrically powered punch hit him. The entropy blast warped and something strange happened.

Dr Dynamo disappeared.

And then so did Entropy.

Cosmics: Kid Kinetic

 (story from the Millenia Herald, 17th December, 2010)

Kid Crimefighter Clocks Clown King

Yesterday, at approximately 8pm, Millenia's speeding hero Kid Kinetic, sidekick of the respected crimefighter Dr Dynamo, stopped a raid at the downtown Bank Of America. The raid was conducted by the Clown King, a gadget wielding villian well known to the local authorities, and four other unknown associates dressed in clown outfits. Kid Kinetic, one of the city's newest costumed cosmics, arrived whilst the Clown King held up the bank.

Ms Beth Monroe, 31, one of the assistant banker tellers at the scene was somewhat shaken by the attack. "The Clown King and his men had burst in just as we were closing for the day. One of the bank's guards approached the gang and told them to stop. But the Clown King just laughed and threw what looked like a shiny Christmas bauble at the guard. The bauble exploded, knocking the guard out and showered the place with paper streamers. The other clowns then rounded everyone up, brandishing large candy canes as clubs. The Clown King just kept on laughing the whole time. It was terrible".

The arrival of Kid Kinetic was also something of a shock to many in the bank. Bill Williams, 40, a customer at the bank and one of those held hostage, was the first to see him. "There was a sudden breeze in the room and then that Kinetic kid appeared out of nowhere. He was this blurred blue and red figure. He told the Clown creep to stop. When one of the other clowns pointed his piece at him there was a sudden flurry of activity and next thing you know, the clowns' weapons were in a pile at the kid's feet. The kid was smiling the whole time".

Apparently, so witnesses describe, Kid Kinetic subdued three of the Clown King's associates before the ringleader himself confronted him. Details at that point are a little vague but Mr Williams had this to say. "The kid had punched the Clown King a couple of times. At least, I think he did - he was moving so fast it was difficult to see. Anyway, the kid told the clown to give up and come peacefully but the guy just laughed. He then pointed one of those joke plastic flower squirters at the kid and a stream of sizzling liquid hit him in the face. The kid dropped to the floor holding his face. I think the liquid might've been acid or something".

Police officials state that the Clown King and one of his associates left the bank soon after the attack and that both the police and Kid Kinetic were unable to stop him. Due to the cosmic hero's timely intervention, three of the Clown King's thugs have been taken into custody.

Deputy Chief Frank Fernandez of Millenia's Police Department stated "Thankfully Kid Kinetic was in the area and managed to stop the Clown King's gang before anyone was seriously hurt or any money was taken". The police are still searching for the whereabout of the so-called Prince of Pranks.

This is the second bank robbery that Kid Kinetic has prevented in the last month. Again, during yesterday's struggle, there was no sign of the cosmic sidekick's mentor and member of the Cosmic Knights, Dr Dynamo. It has now been nearly two months since the dynamic defender was last seen fighting the notorious Entropy. Unfortunately, Kid Kinetic was unavailable to comment on yesterday's attempted bank robbery and Dr Dynamo's absence.

Cosmics: Elastic Man

Pretty much everyone missed the small shooting star that zipped across Florida's night sky on 5th November 2003. No one knew that this was the start of an alien invasion from the distant planet of Qys.

Qysian scout ships were sent to each of the major continents of Earth to assess the technology levels and abilities of the dominant species. Ryyk was in one of those ships. This was his first scouting mission and, due to a slight navigational error, the small ship crash-landed just outside the city of Millenia. Thankfully, its arrival was kept hidden by the ship's stealth facilities. Disentangling himself from the wreckage of the ship, Ryyk made his way into the city and took on a human form. He then began his job to personally study the people of Earth.

He was supposed to salvage communication equipment from his ship and report back his findings. He was supposed to investigate the continent's defences and determine the best method of attack. He was also supposed to get biological, psychological and social information on the people inhabiting the continent and discover any natural weaknesses. He was supposed to help prepare the way for the invasion.

Ryyk did none of these things.

From orbit, he had been studying the creatures known as humans for almost 8 years. Now living amongst them, it confirmed what he'd discovered from the electronic communications he'd intercepted. His people had no right to invade and destroy these intelligent, proud, noble and fascinating creatures. He was young for a member of the Qys and easily swayed by the various human entertainments. It had taken a little time but now he rejected his home world’s barbaric lifestyle and decided not to report back to his superiors.

So he decided to call himself Richard Roe and become one of them.

His fascination with humans grew and grew. So did his interest in cosmics, the select few who appeared to be more than human. Compared to regular humans, Ryyk had 'powers' like these cosmic humans. And those with powers tended to use them either for evil, robbing stores and destroying property, or good, protecting others who did not have powers. Ryyk decided to become one of the good guys.

Ryyk has now been living amongst the humans - as Rick Roe - for some time. As a scout for the Qys, his training prepared him to blend in with the populace and become a human. So he easily fits in. He's even managed to get a good job helping out at a local diner. And, during his time off, he uses his shapeshifting powers and his military training to fight crime as Millenia's brightly coloured hero, Elastic Man.

But each day, he looks up in the sky, hoping that his lack of reports will put off his people from invading. In his heart he expects that, any day now, one of his fellow Qysians from the other continents will investigate his disappearance. Or, worse yet, a fleet of Qysian warships will appear in the sky above this shining city.

Cosmics: Oak

Sam Baker had always had an affinity with plants. As a child, it was almost like he was able to picture what the trees, flowers and grasses were feeling. And the town of Sevenoaks, a little suburb outside of London where he lived, was full of trees and plants. They made him feel safe and welcome.

That's why when he reached 18 and headed off to university, he decided to study Botany and Applied Biology at Oxford. Sam was an intelligent lad and, with his keen interest in plants, passed his degree with flying colours. Interested in working to further the affairs of cosmics, Sam travelled to the US and applied for a postgraduate course at the University of Miami.

As part of his research work into using plants to help cure cosmic aberrations, he developed a plant-based serum to hopefully reduce the unfortunate side-effects of cosmic radiation. Needing a willing subject to try out his serum, but finding none, Sam decided to inject himself. Expecting no side-effects, Sam found instead that the serum activated the cosmic ray mutated twist in his DNA. His body suddenly grew and hardened and the flesh about his bones expanded, turning him into a huge powerful creature made of flexible, durable wood. After an agonizing hour, Sam eventually managed to concentrate sufficiently to turn back into human form.

Since then, Sam has found that he can actually communicate with plants and, to a limited extent, control their actions. He is also able to transform into his hardwood form whenever he wants - and unfortunately, during times of stress, when he doesn't. He has decided to responsibly use his great powers and, donning a green oakleaf emblazoned costume, fight crime as the hero known as Oak.

Cosmics: Cosmonaut

Unassuming but handsome Viktor Voronoy defected to America at the end of 1991 during the breakdown of the former Soviet Union. A highly trained military aircraft pilot, he soon joined the ranks of the US Air Force. One day, when instructed to investigate a strange UFO hovering high above the American South East, Viktor found that his fighter plane was rendered immobile and then bombarded with cosmic rays. Thought lost, Viktor miraculously reappeared on the edge of the Everglades seemingly unharmed. But something inside him had changed. Now power pulsed within his veins and he soon discovered that he had strange abilities beyond those of normal men. With this cosmic power, Viktor became the Cosmonaut - America's champion of justice!

Cosmics: Monstro's Rampage

"Hi. This is Lena Lewis of WSVN news reporting live on the outskirts of Miami. Reports are coming in regarding the apparent wholesale destruction of downtown Miami by what some are calling Monstro - a giant humanoid cosmic-powered monster taller than any skyscraper here in southern Florida. Authorities say this Monstro started its attack earlier this morning, around 11am EST, and has continued to rampage through the city since then. Nothing seems..."

(A large explosion in the near distance causes the camera to shudder)

"...Woah! That... that was close... Anyway, yes, nothing seems to be able to stop it. Cosmic heroes in the region have raced to Miami to try and protect the city and drive back the monster, but their efforts appear to be in vain. We've reports of hundreds of deaths, including America's own champion of justice, the Cosmonaut, and a handful of other heroes".

"We did manage to get a few words from the Professor earlier after she had assisted the authorities in the city's evacuation..."

(Scene cuts to a grainy image of the Professor on her hover platform constructing some sort of large, high-tech device. Tears are streaming down her face)

"It... it killed him. He... he was the most powerful of us all but somehow it contorted the space-time matrix, warping the interstitial space within his molecular construction. And it froze Rocket Man. Froze him solid! Whilst Oak spontaneously combusted and Captain Miraculous transformed into a young boy. The chaos energy the creature is emitting is too great for even me to measure and it keeps shifting, changing. I... I don't know what it is. Merlini called it Monstro - some sea monster from a movie - and I guess the name is as good as any for this... murderer.

Now please, keep back. I need to build a chaotic conversion matrix, though whether Dr Dynamo can produce enough electrical energy to power it in order to contain this Monstro, I don't know. It's just so... powerful. And... and Viktor's dead. I... Please stay BACK!!"

(The image breaks up and returns back to Lena Lewis, looking worried, as more explosions echo nearby)

"This is one of America's greatest disasters since the dawn of the Cosmic Age back in the sixties. Most of this southern city has been destroyed and no one knows whether the cosmics can stop the creature from causing further damage. Radio signals cannot be transmitted out and reporters are not being allowed inside the city limits. Even the air space has been closed after a jet plane was apparently transformed into snow".

"So, in the meantime, our prayers go out to those still trapped in the city whilst we cross our fingers and hope that our cosmic heroes prevail against this Monstro".

Cosmics: Destruction...

~ 7:00am, Tuesday 20th July 1999 ~

Jack Harper woke and turned off the alarm. A new day had dawned in Miami. Jack sighed wearily. For the past few years he had always looked forward to sleep. It was a welcome release from the pressures of the day. A pity, then, that sleep seemed to last but a moment. It felt like only a couple of minutes ago that he'd put his head down on the pillow at the end of the first day of a working week.

And now it was Tuesday morning.

Megan, his wife, stirred as Jack got up and made his way to the bathroom. He always got to use the bathroom first due to the fact that Megan left the house later than he did. She'd given up her job as a nurse a couple of years ago and now worked in the local store part time. She'd said working in the hospital had reminded her of the past and Jack had agreed that she should change jobs. Eighteen months later he'd done the same thing.

Jack joined his wife for breakfast after showering. It was a simple and quiet affair. They said little to each other beyond enquiring as to whether each other had slept okay and what the day's weather would be. Eventually, after getting himself ready for work, Jack picked up his briefcase, kissed his wife goodbye and drove away in his reliable Honda.

It appeared to be a normal, ordinary day in the life of Jack Harper, ex-ER doctor and one of the many current employees of GenTech Industries.

~ 8:55am, Tuesday 20th July 1999 ~

Entering the small Miami office of GenTech, Jack flashed his badge at the security guard and smiled at the receptionist. The receptionist, Clare something, smiled back and said hello. Although he was a doctor and a scientist, Jack didn't look like your typical science-geek type. He was tall, broad, plainly handsome and built like a linebacker. People tended to notice him, women especially. Jack tended to ignore them back.

Entering the elevator, Jack made his way to the labs, via his shared office. He'd been employed as a research assistant at GenTech for only six months now, primarily working for the Department of Advanced Neo-Genetic Experimental Research. As Jack entered the "DANGER" lab, as some amusingly called it, a voice shouted out a greeting.

"Hey, Smilin' Jack. How're things?" called a small, grey-haired man dressed in a bright white lab coat.

It was Bob Morgan. Doctor Bob as people called him and the man who had christened the department the "DANGER" lab. He was also Jack's boss.

"Not bad, Bob. How about you?" answered Jack, without the glimmer of a smile on his face.

"Ready for another stimulating day in the Danger lab!" Bob replied, a broad grin on his face.

Jack nodded, grunted and put on his somewhat more drab lab coat over his sports shirt and trousers. The lab coat was a little small for his frame but Jack felt reassuringly comfortable in it. Indeed, thought Jack, it was another day in the lab. However, it was far from as stimulating as his days in the hospital's emergency room. And for that, Jack was grateful.

~ 11:20am, Tuesday 20th July 1999 ~

Jack's current work was in the area of Engineered Negligible Senescence and (ultimately) involved trying to replicate the regenerative properties of certain amphibians in humans. A number of years ago, research had indicated that some mice had this ability and Jack now had the task of tying down what that process was and what genes were responsible for this capacity. He had it down to six specific genes and now had to see if these could be stimulated in the human genome to enhance the innate regenerative ability of people.

Jack was busy studying the possible use of hepatocyte nuclei when, suddenly, the fire alarm went off. He hadn't heard that a drill was scheduled which meant the alarm was probably genuine - albeit due to a minor fire in one of the other labs, no doubt. A second later, a young research assistant rushed into the lab.

"Hey, have you lot heard? They're getting everyone to evacuate the city", gasped the co-worker, a little out of breath.

"What?" said Doctor Bob incredulously. "Who're 'they'?".

Jack looked from his boss to the other man, a deep frown on his face. He hastily continued to put away his work. The research assistant shrugged and began to turn around, heading back the way he had come.

"Not sure", answered the man over his shoulder. He then added, "Someone said the FBI and Homeland Security had announced it. The military are getting involved. Everyone's heading out". He retreated out of the door and off to tell others his news.

One of his fellow workers had been tapping away on a terminal and he pointed to the screen.

"He's right", he exclaimed in excitement. "The internet's full of the news. The national guard has been deployed to get Miami clear. There's some sort of huge monster heading this way. Cosmonaut and the Professor are heading out to meet it".

Jack grumbled, the low, deep noise rumbling from well inside his broad chest. All he wanted, he thought, was a quiet life. Was that so difficult? What on earth was going on out there? Would the cosmics stop this creature? He had to get to Megan and make sure she was safe.

All of a sudden, the building shook, causing a few bottles to crash to the floor. His fellow researchers were already heading to the door, whilst Jack tried to clear away the dangerous biochemicals.

"C'mon Jack", Bob called from the doorway.

"Just a second!", Jack replied, although by then Bob had already rushed out of the room and was now half way down the corridor. Deciding to leave everything as it was, Jack took a stumbling step towards the open doorway.

It was then that the second, much larger quake hit the building...