June 10th, 2021

Having briefed UNTIL on the results of their excursion to the Arctic and their communication with the alien Gzad, the team returned to their base to continue their projects. Thanks to his training simulator, Hardback noticed some exploitable weaknesses in the tactics of the Midnight Crew, such as their reliance on delicate communications technology. Cameo dove back into his movie marathon, watching all the way through the end credits as he sought to enhance his connection to each role. Ghost Dance prepared to continue his spirit quest, and the team rallied to join him.

Departing from Chickasaw ancestral lands in southern Illinois, the group (denied food and water) attempted to wend their way into the Spirit World. Unfortunately, the extended deprivation roused the madness of the Wendigo spirit imprisoned by Ghost Dance's amulet. Although he resisted it for the first leg of the trip, by the third day the spirit had grown too strong and caused him to lash out at his allies, biting Hardback in a cannibalistic attack. The rest of the team subdued Ghost Dance with minimal force, and he eventually regained control. When the trip resumed after some time, Ghost Dance finally succeeded in his goal of slipping between worlds, Justicarius joining him as the two supernatural beings transitioned into the spirit realm. Cameo and Hardback were unfortunately unable to follow, but having upheld their end of the mission, decided to call it a day and pig out on some gas station fare.

Ghost Dance and Justicarius found themselves in an oddly peaceful portion of the Spirit World to which they had traveled many times before. Their path led them up into an enormous nest-like warren high in the branches of a primordial tree. There they found the spirits that Ghost Dance had been seeking: Hatsu and Matsu, the Teachers of Men. At the spirits' feet, two men were already meditating: Eight-Paths Lightning and an unknown man of Latin descent. Ghost Dance theorized that these were both enemies that he had banished from the Earth previously, but neither of the men was interested in speaking to or interfering with his progress, so he ignored them in order to beseech the spirits for guidance.

Hatsu and Matsu heard Ghost Dance's entreaty, and explained that there were two diverging paths he might take to gain the power he sought. Hatsu, the patron of hard work who rewards toil with wisdom, told the hero that if the amulet he used to channel spiritual power was limiting his growth. If Ghost Dance abandoned the amulet, he would be giving up most of its power, but then he would be free to grow his own mystic strength in new ways. Matus, the patron of necessity, who rewards practicality with prosperity, had a simpler plan: simply use the amulet to trap another spirit who could provide the magic that Ghost Dance needed. As the spirits bickered with one another, Ghost Dance deliberated swiftly and decided to embrace the path of hard work: he gave up the amulet, which quickly deteriorated into ragged leather and strips of old bark. Hatsu was pleased, and the spirits of the amulet (now returned to the Spirit World and given their freedom) granted Ghost Dance the smallest spark of their power. Diminished in strength but blessed with a new understanding of mysticism, Ghost Dance and Justicarius retraced their steps and returned to Earth, where only a few minutes had passed.

The team returned to Chicago and were pleased to see that the city hadn't burned down with only the Champions to defend it. But the news was filled with a different crisis: Gzad had been questioned by the Canadian military and tensions had immediately escalated. The alien told the Canadians to mind their own business, insulted them (along with the entire human race), and had even fired a warning shot across the bow of the *HMCS Winnipeg*, a frigate sent to monitor the situation from nearby Arctic waters. The Canadian army, supported by the Northern Guard, was mobilizing to contain the 'threat' and it seemed conflict was inevitable. Despite UNTIL pleading with the Contenders to leave this situation up to their skilled and highly qualified diplomats, the heroes decided that they knew better and put together a quick beer run to see if they could deescalate the situation.

The Contenders bundled themselves up both as protection from the cold and a disguise against watching UNTIL spy satellites, then hustled to the Arctic circle once more. They found Gzad in the midst of hauling a massive sphere of crushed robot parts (recovered from the Contenders' recent battle with Mechanon) towards the nearby town of Alert, with the intention of trading the precious metals for whatever alcohol was available. The heroes supplied the thankful Gzad with beer ("Why can't the rest of your planet be this chill?") and asked him about his intentions. Gzad complained that he was growing bored and wouldn't care if the situation with the Canadians boiled over into violence. Before the heroes could convince him to calm down, however, they accidentally made belated introductions, explaining that (despite appearances) they were in fact the Contenders that Gzad had expressed a desire to meet.

Once convinced, Gzad was outraged, feeling humiliated for being duped by a group of primitives. Swearing that they would be put "on the top of The List," Gzad took his giant metal sphere and prepared to huff off. Trying to get back into the alien warrior's good graces, Hardback suddenly challenged Gzad to an honorable battle. Gzad accepted, and cleared a large patch of the rugged ice for ritual combat. Introducing himself formally as "Gzad, last of the Czarnians, First among Planet-Killers, and Deacon-Militant of the Lustrian Star Empire," he acknowledge the challenge and the heroes prepared themselves for the coming conflict.

## Table Talk

"This flamer ain't stabbed Dick One!"

"Ah man... that's a lot."

-*The team discusses Justicarius' lack of stabbing prowess*

"Do note that you are freezing to death."

"Slowly?"

"Mmm no, pretty rapidly."

"Let us not dwell on the pleasure worm. That's our new motto."

"Fuck it. Worst case scenario, we just go the Spirit Realm and become Spirit People."

"You mean you're going to abandon Earth?"

"Yeah, but that's the *worst* case scenario."

*-Hardback plans a new life for himself*

"Organic water is just *mud!"*

"I'm not drinkin' something that a mudskipper skipped in!"

-*The group blows the lid off this whole 'water' scheme*