Lounging Kitty
An older picture of kitten Sanji lounging in the big fluff bed
…Time for this week’s story…
Sidekick: First Mission
Theo, better known as Morpho, went from being a struggling, unknown sidekick to one of the most feared villains in the world. Although he didn’t see himself as a leader, everyone else did. Following his attack on Justice Tower, he recruited many powerful villains into his gang and became infamous. He also took the Red Warden’s amulet and earned it in the eyes of the Red Warden Brigade, an intergalactic aid organization.
One day, while socializing with his gang in their lounge, his amulet lit up and played a message for everyone present. The alien Koochiku’s bulbous head and eyes projected into the center of the room. When he said his name, the room erupted into laughter, and Theo quickly hushed everyone so he could listen.
“...There has been a massive earthquake on a planet in your sector. We have sent the coordinates to your amulet. Red Warden two-four-nine, for your first mission with the Red Warden Brigade, we request that you assist this planet in its initial response and recovery efforts. This is your first mission as a beacon in the night. May your light shine bright.” The image disappeared, and the room buzzed with idle chatter and the collective desire to go to space.
“Okay, hold on, everyone. I need to take a team with me…” Before Theo could finish, most people raised their hands. Theo told them to think about who could actually help, and a number of them reluctantly lowered their hands. In the end, Theo chose Aiza for her psychic powers and one of the new recruits, Thaiphoon, a Thai-American man with control of the elements.
Scooping up his team in a red energy bubble, Theo created a portal with his amulet and carried them through it. On the other side was a lush, beautiful planet with a coast covered in fires and darkness as the sun set on the disaster zone.
Theo and his team dove into action. They were all so eager to go to space, the gravity of their mission had escaped them until they saw it. They proceeded to rescue injured and trapped aliens ad nauseum. The humanoid aliens had big, sparkling eyes with finger-sized fin-like growths sprouting from their faces in patterns. Many were missing some, their beautiful translucent blue skin covered in blood, which flowed red just like humans.
Early in the night, it became apparent to them that they were not alone. There were two additional aliens from other planets helping as well. Whenever they crossed paths, they would assist speechlessly, then smile and move along to the next task. Most fascinating, each of them seemed to have a power similar to Theo’s amulet. One glowed green and the other blue, but there was no doubt about it. The blue one encased itself in energy and transformed, while the green one focused on healing, regeneration, and repairs. As a group, they swept through cities, leaving behind rescued citizens and stabilized structures.
After a while, the rescues all blurred together. Before they knew it, the sun was up. Everyone was tired, but Aiza and Thaiphoon were exhausted from using their powers so intensely all night long and were dozing off before they called it a night. Neither of them had ever pushed themselves so hard, and they were asleep before their heads hit their pillows.
“You’re not tired?” asked a soft voice while Theo stood outside their tent, appreciating the alien landscape.
Above Theo was one of the aliens with powers like his. Finally, a chance to meet one of the mysterious, good-natured aliens. He was tall with teal skin, a long neck, and patches of brown fur. His large, brilliant eyes with violet irises were a deep well of empathy. Wrapped in blue energy, he landed and met Theo on the ground with a warm smile.
“I’m kind of tired, but I’m also jazzed about being on an alien planet. I’m Theo, you can call me Morpho. Nice to meet you.”
“A pleasure. My name is Armandel. Have you replaced the other Red Warden from this sector?”
“Yeah, I’m the new guy. This is my first mission. Are you, like… another colored Warden?” Theo asked.
“I am a Blue Sentinel. We do not operate like Red Wardens.”
“How do you guys work?”
“We have no leadership structure. Our gem is fused with our hearts. We operate independently, going wherever our hearts take us. It allows me to use its energy to become whatever I need to be. It’s limited only by my physical stamina.” Armandel spoke gently, with an air of elegance.
“Cool. So, are you tired from using it all night?” Theo asked.
“Extremely, yes,” Armandel chuckled.
“Greetings, compatriots,” chimed a woman’s voice, with a strong sense of nobility and respect in her tone. Armandel and Theo turned to see the alien with the green-colored powers. She was an imposing centaur-like humanoid with antlers, a beautiful blonde mane, and prehensile tendrils that moved together like a tail. “You must be the new Red Warden. My name is Lugara, of the Green Guard.”
“Hi, Lugara. I’m Theo, you can call me Morpho. I’m really glad there was someone here who could heal. We don’t have a healer in our group.”
Theo talked with the two aliens for a little while before Armandel decided he needed sleep. Lugara and Theo followed soon after, retreating to their respective shelters set up in a local park. It was a refreshing respite after a night of hard work. Theo only got a few hours of sleep before aliens rushed into his hut to rouse him, waking Aiza and Thaiphoon as well. They were rushed up a hill to another shelter. When Theo entered, he was staggered to see Armandel’s bloody body lying on the ground with a hole in his stomach.
“He was gutted while he slept. His heart was ripped from his body,” Lugara said. Theo had not realized she was in the room. “I had a bad feeling before I arrived. Now, I see I was right to be concerned.”
“Why did you have a bad feeling?” Theo asked.
“This planet has earthquake and climate control technology, yet they were devastated by an Earthquake. It was in the back of my mind all night, but rescue efforts took priority. I think it’s time I investigate the geomanagement station.”
“We’ll join you,” Theo said. Theo and his team accompanied Lugara to the facility. While it had been devastated by the earthquake, something else had happened there. They found blood-stained walls and dead bodies strewn about. Aiza did not sense anyone in the area.
“Blue Sentinels are driven by their hearts. The effect is so strong that most psychics can’t detect them. Whoever ripped Armandel’s heart from his body probably stole his power for themselves. We can assume they are invisible to your psychic,” Lugara warned.
Using their amulets to translate alien signage, Theo and Lugara navigated the group through the facility. Many employees were dead and in pieces, their bodies ripped open just like Armandel. As feared, the control console had been programmed to set off an Earthquake. No sooner had Lugara’s concerns been confirmed than the roof caved in with a violent crash.
Theo was quick enough to shield himself and Thaiphoon next to him, but Lugara was caught off guard and was only able to partially shield herself and Aiza. Aiza screamed in pain as a beam fell and broke both her legs. When the dust settled, Lugara’s glowing green energy was shielding her and Aiza in a bubble, protecting them from a mountain of rubble. Lugara was injured and lying on the ground. Standing atop the rubble was a giant wolf-man with gray fur and glowing blue eyes, snarling at Theo.
“Your comrade is injured. My leg is broken. My bubble won’t last long,” Lugara called for help.
“Then, I’ll have two amulets!” The wolf-man bounced on the rubble heap to compound the pressure.
“Hey!” Theo called. “Whatever your name is, didn’t we beat you in an honorable battle? Doesn’t that mean you’re supposed to go away?”
“My name is Fangor! Remember it, human. Back on my homeworld, losing my amulet robbed me of my honor and status. I was cast off and replaced. So, nothing stands between me and my vengeance!”
Blue energy enveloped Fangor and stretched his arms, legs, and body, ballooning them to a massive size. As Fangor’s weight increased, Lugara cried out, her bubble cracking beneath the pressure. Theo created a red energy support structure around Lugara and Aiza, then scooped them out before the whole thing collapsed.
From the safety of Theo’s red energy bubble, they watched the building collapse around them. Theo got some distance from the large transforming monster and set his team on the ground. He looked up in awe at the behemoth that towered before them. Fangor had turned into a beast that resembled a wingless dragon mixed with a bear. It had four arms, two legs, and two tails.
“Lugara, can you protect Aiza?” Theo’s eyes darted between Fangor and Lugara, who was healing her hind leg. With a pained look on her face, there was a loud crunch. She cried out, then breathed a sigh of relief. A moment later, her leg was healed.
“I can now.” Lugara’s green energy carefully picked up Aiza, and Lugara hurried away with her in tow.
“Thaiphoon, let’s take this guy down!” Theo zoomed into battle.
“Finally, some action!” Thaiphoon blasted off after Theo, a swirling fiery blaze behind him, rocketing him into the sky.
Theo and Thaiphoon clashed with the giant blue dragonbear. Theo flew circles around it, manifesting giant red swords and shields, slashing at Fangor. Thaiphoon bombarded it with fire and shifted the ground beneath Fangor’s feet to keep him off balance. They clobbered the monster, and it clobbered right back. Flailing its paws and tail, it threatened to hurt innocent people in an area they had just fixed the day before.
“We can’t mess around with him when he’s this big. We’ve got to end this fast!” Theo shouted to Thaiphoon over the monster’s angry roars.
“You’ve got it, boss.” Thaiphoon flew away, headed for the river.
“Dude, don’t call me boss. It’s weird. We’re a team! Whatever, he can’t hear me.” Theo returned to bashing and slashing at Fangor while Thaiphoon flew over the river and collected a swirling column of water. Rising high into the sky, Thaiphoon split it into six columns with pointed ends and turned them to ice. He aimed them all at Fangor and thrust his arms forward.
The giant ice spikes flew at Fangor like spears, piercing his body and stabbing him into the ground. The beast lay impaled and moaning in pain. Blue energy enveloped Fangor and turned him back into a wolf-man. Bleeding from holes in his body, Fangor fell to his knees to catch his breath. Theo was there a moment later.
“I see you’re too much of a coward to show up to a mission on your own,” Fangor growled.
“We came to rescue people, not fight,” Theo said.
“Well, I guess next time, I’ll have to bring some friends of my own.”
“I’d rather there not be a next time. Why can’t we just squash this?” Theo asked.
“Easy to say when you have everything. No. I won’t roll over and show you my belly. I’ll be back.” Fangor launched into the sky like a swirling blue meteor.
Theo and Thaiphoon cleaned up the battle zone. Theo informed the Red Warden Brigade about Fangor, then returned home with his team.
His first mission as a warden was a success. Still, Theo couldn’t help but feel culpable for the entire tragedy in the first place. The earthquake wasn’t his fault; someone else caused it. However, that someone else did it only to get to him. There was something about that which troubled him in ways he could not reconcile.