Flashtime

Flashtime is the fifteenth chapter in the Wombles Seven.

Steed’s birthday party had been taken to a ship called Zebra. He was having a conversation with Cathy about a white elephant. They overheard someone saying something about betrayal.

“There’s a traitor in Zebra?” asked Cathy. “No, I was talking about a black and white sixties TV show.” Replied the overheard person.

Meanwhile, Mrs Peel was dressed to kill, by which I mean she had specially styled an outfit for when she might end up killing someone. She intended to hold Charlie hostage in order to lure and murder Cathy. She was also thinking of buying some new weapons off of a website called The Murder Market.

Charlie woke up. She was chained to a wooden board. “Wha…? Mrs Peel? You’re going to…*kill* me?”

“Oh, I don’t see why you’re so upset. After all, your life only had the little wonders.”

Back in Zebra, Cathy was ordering a drink. She was a bit confused about why there was one called “Death On The Rocks”. She didn’t order that one though. Suddenly, three people put their hands across the table. Now there were six hands across a table.

An organization of frighteners and fear merchants were having a discussion about the recent death of a Great Dane and the correct way to kill the charmers who had killed them with the yellow needle from Cadmus. They were based in a theatre full of armchairs, eating a 50, 000 pound breakfast.

“It’s a curious case of countless clues.” Said one, as they still hadn’t figured out a plan. “That poor dog, it had already gone through the wringer, what with its owners all dying in Murdersville with those rotters and interrogators.”

The ship was sailing gently and slowly to start with but gradually it was getting faster.  Cathy was the only one to notice.  The ship was going faster and faster but strangely she was still the only one to know. It took a while but Cathy finally realised it was her making things go faster and she was in her own time zone. She tried to work out how to describe it.  It was something time.  Party time? Steed time?  Cathy time?  She just couldn’t work it out.

Everybody just seemed to be standing still.  The ship was sailing somewhere near China now and Cathy didn’t know how to bring things back to normal.  “Excuse me miss” said an American voice.  “Don’t tell me” Cathy replied “Don’t look behind you?”  “I was going to ask you what you are doing in Flash time.” Asked the voice.  “That’s it” said Cathy “Flash time!  I’ve put the ship into Flash time!”

Cathy looked behind her to see a man in a red costume with lightning symbols on his ears.  “Who are you?” she asked.  “I’m the Flash!” said the man in a heroic kind of way.  “No!  Who are you?” repeated Cathy kicking the Flash all around the ballroom where the party was being held on the Zebra.  The Flash tried to get away but he couldn’t as Cathy was just a fast as he was.

“Barry Allen” he finally admitted.  “Pleased to meet you Barry.  I’m Mrs Cathy Steed.”  Cathy replied happier now.  “Would you like some help Mrs Steed?  To save this ship about to crash into China?” asked Barry.  “I would actually” replied Cathy.  Barry ran off and out of the ship.  It was just about to crash straight into a large port with panicking people.

Cathy just closed her eyes and hoped she wasn’t about to kill the crew, the Avengers and Chinese port workers.  She fell unconscious.  It only felt like a second when she woke up.  Barry was sitting by her with Steed.  The others were partying again.

“What happened?” she asked.  “I phased the ship through China and landed it in the Himalayas” replied Barry.  “Oh well we might as well finish the party then” piped up Steed.  The Flash ran off back to the Batcave.  Cathy and Steed started dancing without realising that the Zebra was perched on top of Mount Everest.  They also didn’t know that the ship was about to be put into a giant tidy bag.

The ship lurched and everything went white.  Later Steed was the first to wake up.  “Major Steed we have a problem sir!” said a familiar American voice. “Murdock?” said Steed.  “At your service Major!” shouted Murdock saluting. “I’m a bit confused right now Murdock but if you have a problem” started Steed.  “And nobody can help you” continued Murdock.  “You need to call” said Steed.  “The A Team!” they finished together.  Just at that moment BA burst into the room.

“Fools!  Why are you captured in the Himalayas!” he shouted.  “I’ve got a plan” said Face appearing from somewhere.  “I love it when a plan comes together!” said Hannibal emerging from under a tidy bag.  “Who are you fool?” BA asked a man in green hat.  “E Explorer” replied the man.  “No fool! What kind of name is E!  You can’t have a letter as a name!” snapped BA. “Ezekiel” was the reluctant replied from the explorer.

Meanwhile M, who could have a letter as a name, was sneaking around the corridors at Cadmus in London with Ron Weasley.  They reached a store room.  M switched on the light.  There were lots of locked doors in the walls but one of them was slightly ajar.  M opened it.  Ron saw what was inside.  He just gaped.  “What are you gawking at!  Stay focussed!  You’ll never make the 00 section like that!” shouted M.  “I don’t want to.  I want to be a wizard please.”  Ron replied rather timidly.

M picked up the blue object.  “No! Don’t!” said a panicking Ron.  He grabbed the object from M.  “This is the Philosopher’s Stone!” he told M.  M went to grab it back and they started fighting.

Down in the sewers at Soton Seaboy had found a confused Harleen Quinzel.  He took her round to John’s Tearooms.  Ellie was there and was glad to have somebody girly to talk make up and swimsuits.  Seaboy and John were busy being worried about Stephanie.  “So where do we start looking?” asked Seaboy.  “I don’t know where but I know who knows where!” replied John.  They saw Constantine with a crowd of wombles just outside.  They exchanged knowing glances then got ready to follow him.