From: barnejd@wkuvx1.bitnet
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: LNH: The Cosmic Conspiracy Chapter 7
Date: 11 Nov 92 02:07:50 GMT
Followup-To: rec.arts.comics.misc,alt.comics.lnh
X-From: barnejd@wkuvx1.bitnet
X-Newsgroups: alt.comics.lnh
X-Date: 10 Nov 92 20:07:22 CST
X-Organization: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

CHAPTER SEVEN:
  The two guards at the Cult headquarters were shocked to see the sherriff,
Festus Clint, stagger down the street to the base.  Bruised and bloodied,
he was a mess.
  "Sherriff!  What happened?"  one said, reaching to help the staggering
lawman.
  Clint pushed away his helping hands.  "I kin take care'a myself, boy!" He
straightened up slightly.  "I'll tell ya whut happened - it was that
Continuity Champ fella!  Took my entire task force down!  We got his
partner, though.  But he plumb near'n shoved muh rifle down muh throat!"
  The guards glanced at each other.  "We'd better tell the Doctor."
  "Naw, no need fer that.  I'm headed fer the armory, then I'm gonna go
tell Killfile my own self."  He looked up, a wicked gleam in his eye.
  The guards allowed the battered sherriff in.

                ****                 ****                ****      

  Clint finally reached the armory.  He fished around in his pocket for his
clearence card and slid it across the scanner.  "Please identify," a
mechanical voice said.
  "Sherriff Festus Clint," he growled.
  "Pattern is incorrect.  Access denied."
  The figure glared at the computer.

                ****                 ****                ****      

  A loud explosion from within the base drew the attention of the two
guards on duty.  It came from the area of the armory - where Clint was
going.  They picked up their pace.
  Ralph arrived first.  He surveyed the door.  It was blackened and
twisted, as though a powerful energy blast had ripped through it.  He
peered inside, into the gloom, but could see nothing.
  He turned back to his companion, a man who would be called stocky by the
charitable, as he wheezed after the exertion of running to the armory. 
"Earl, there don't seem to be-"  His words broke off as powerful hands
clamped over his mouth and pulled him into the darkness.
  "Ralph!"  The hefty Cultist drew his phaser pistol and cautiously looked
through the hole, shining his flashlight to illuminate the room.
  He saw nothing, but just them his light came upon his friend sprawled
unconscious on the floor.
  A finger tapped his shoulder, and his blood changed to ice.  He turned
fearfully to see Continuity Champ.  "Your call," the gaudily-attired hero
said.
  "Ummm... I surrender?"
  "Good choice."

                ****                 ****                ****      

  After he had tied up the two guards, CC began to gather weapons.  He had
been forced to resort to disguising himself as the late sheriff due to his
relatively weakened power level.  Killfile had drained off a great deal of
his power, as well as opening wounds that had only recently begun to heal
after Cry.Sig.  His adrenaline burst had allowed him to use his powers, but
had left him weakened even more.
  He hefted a plasma cannon and strapped on a final ion pistol.  He was
ready for Killfile at last.
  As he started down the hall, he heard voices from ahead, coming his way. 
No!  Not when he was so close.  Then the Cultists rounded the corner. 
Eight of them.  He level his rifle and fired.
  His first shot took two of them.  One, a ninja, drew a sword and
advanced.  CC slammed the maggot with the rifle barrel, sending him into a
deep sleep.  Three others advanced on him, but his powerful weapons
dispatched them into unconsciousness.  Another tried to run away, but the
Champion sent a plasma bolt his way.
  Seven.  Where was the other?  He looked around.
  Suddenly, from behind him, a thud thudded, the sound of wood on bone.  He
whirled to see a staff-carrying orange-skinned man with a red cape."
  "Basic-Mysterious-Cosmic-Dude," he muttered, keeping his rifle trained on
the newcomer.
  "What no thanks for me watching out for your back?"
  "The only reason you'd stop someone from ambushing me is so you could put
your own knife there."
  "I'm hurt."
  "No, but you will be," the Legionnaire promised.
  The Dude sighed.  "You still haven't forgotten that time on Arcturus."
  "And I never will.  You left me to die!"  He aimed his rifle.  "How did
you survive the Death gem?"
  "Oh, I didn't.  But the politics of the afterlife is fascinating.  You
really must visit sometime..."
  The Champion lowered his weapon.  "Go away.  Leave me alone."
  "If that's what you want."  He stepped back into the shadows and
disappeared.
  Continuity Champ continued his stealthy pace toward Dr. Killfile's
quarters.

                ****                 ****                ****      

  He stealthily opened the door.  Not even a creak.  The Doctor sat at his
desk, his back toward the Champ.  Good, this would be easier than he'd even
dared hope.
  "Ah, good, you're here at last.  Now we can begin."  Killfile swiveled
his chair around to face the LNHer.
  "Killfile, you're going to pay."
  The doctor waved away the threat. "Yes, yes, 'vengeance shall be served'
and all that rot.  You're just in time to witness me process and assimilate
your power."
  His trigger finger touched the trigger.  "Over my dead body."
  "Well, yes, that was the plan."  CC felt arms that were neither liquid
nor solid wrap around him from behind.  He had forgotten about the android
Obscure Trivia Lad under Killfile's control!
  He twisted the rifle to where it was pointing at his stomach.  He glanced
down.  Nah, no way he was going to blow a hole in himself just to hit OTL. 
He managed to get the weapon pointed to where it would blast his captor and
pulled the trigger.
  The blast hit the android and weakened his grip enough for CC to wrench
himself free of its grasp, but he lost the rifle.  He dove to the floor and
drew his pistol as he rose.  The android flowed toward him, assuming OTL's
shape again.
  "I've got one surprise left," he muttered, calling upon his powers.  He
knew he might overtax himself so that he would have very little left for
Killfile, but there was no other way.  He manipulated the android, freezing
him in place for a second.  An ion blast blew him backwards, immobilizing
him in a silvery puddle for a while.
  He turned to see Killfile at a machine, his wrist controller plugged into
it.  "Hahaha, you're too late, hero!"  He flipped a switch.
  CC had just enough time to hit the ground as the machine exploded in a
light as bright as the sun.

TO BE CONCLUDED...

                                              -Drizzt

Look for the appearance of Basic-Mysterious-Cosmic-Dude in THE FLAME WARS!
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