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TMC-01 The Mighty Courageans By Darrel James Vanwinkle January 1st, 2005

"Our boys in blue arrived too late, this morning, to prevent the super villain called Mr. Ice from cleaning out the Jewelry Exchange of all of it's gathered wealth."

The Mayor changed the channel, listening to the next news broadcast.

"The city's finest were humiliated today when the super villain known as the Notorious Crook not only robbed the bank, but also stole the policeman's uniforms right off their bodies."

The Mayor changed the channel, again, listening to the next news broadcast.

"New York's highly trained policemen were no match, today, for the super villain known as Rat Lass, when she not only made off with a Smithsonian artwork, but she commanded a horde of sewer rats upon the very people who we turn to for protection."

The Mayor turned off the TV and turned to glare at those gathered in the police department. "Is this what you're being paid to do? Simply be humiliated by a bunch of jack-offs in colorful costumes with some sort of weird powers and skills? These people are making us look like buffoons, people! The public will riot if we can't do something about this!"

From the open doorway, a man cleared his throat loudly. "Getting mad isn't going to present any solutions, Mr. Mayor. I've said this in the past and I'll say it again. The NYPD just isn't trained to handle this sort of threat. They are trained to handle non-powered felons, public and private disputes, and to prevent dangers to our open streets. These new threats go beyond what our boys and girls can handle."

The Mayor glanced over at the man, Commissioner Charles Xavier Reivax, and exclaimed, "And what do you suggest that we do? We can't afford to hire non-police specialists to come in and do the jobs that our paid policemen are supposed to be doing."

Commissioner Reivax replied, "If I am given permission, I can put together a special forces team who would not have to extract any money from the city at all, yet still do the job that we're asking them to do. Which is... to handle, arrest, and lock up these super-powered threats to our city. But I need that permission I requested just last year."

The Mayor growled, "And I told you that we can't afford to bring in non-police newbies!"

Commissioner Reivax entered the room and dropped a newspaper on the table in front of the Mayor. The words on the front page were very plain to read: IS THE MAYOR ON THE DOWN AND OUT? Commissioner Reivax said, "If they were to hold the elections today, you'd lose. I think what it comes down to now, is whether or not you feel up to going along with my idea, and if it blows up in our faces, then you can fire me, rather than take a fall on your own."

The Mayor knew that the commissioner had a very strong point. Being voted out of office would be worse than doing nothing. "Very well, Charles. I'm trusting you to do this. And I'd better see some results. If I go down, so will you..." The Mayor grabbed the newspaper and abruptly left the room.

The policemen were very glad that Commissioner Reivax was on their side. Very very glad.

Sometime later, Commissioner Reivax sat in his office, at his desk, as he dialed a phone number on his private phone. After a few rings, a male voice answered, and Charles said, "Yes, this is Commissioner Charles Reivax in New York City. Let me talk to your wife."

After a few quiet moments, Charles said, "Hello. Yes, I am fine. The Mayor finally gave us permission to start our new project. Yes, he was madder than ever. I really hated to use the elections as a levering tool, but it got the job done. Yes, I understand. When can I get it started? I'd say within moments after I hang up this phone. There are a few people that I think I can contact for this. No, thank you for lending us the money. You, too. Goodbye."

Charles hung up the phone and smiled as he stood up, looking out of his office window. "I have permission, and now, I have a sponsor. Now, I need a special team. And the first place I need to check..."

Blue Star Labs was located within view of Central Park on the north side. It was here that some of the city's greatest scientists were gathered doing miracles for all of mankind. It was here that Charles Reivax had come to ask a favor from someone who worked here.

Stanley Bolt was one of the fledgling inventors working within the labs of the complex. And when he was at work, things often became very interesting.

And today was no different.

Stanley shouted, "It's out of control! Look out!"

People were heard saying, "Here we go again!!!"

The crazy automated 'robot' zoomed down the corridor, carrying a coffee pot and a bowl of sugar! Several inventors, with Stanley ran after it!

The robot was flying along, when suddenly...

KICK!

The robot was sent flying backwards on it's back sliding down the hallway from which it came. Standing where the robot had gotten kicked from was Charles Reivax.

Charles said, "Sorry, Stanley. But I need to talk to you. Leave the toy to the others and come with me."

Stanley nodded his head and obeyed the commissioner's request.

The two went to a small diner located near the building known as the Little Old Ladies Club.

Stanley sipped on his coffee. "So, what drags you out of your office to kidnap me from work?"

Charles leaned forward. "Do you still have that Halloween costume you wore last year?"

Stanley grinned. "And all the bells and whistles, too. Why do you need Super Sock'er for?"

Charles grinned back. "I got the clearance we talked about last year. I need an on the spot team of three to five or more people. And we have a sponsor, as well."

Stanley finished his coffee. "In that case, you have yourself a costumed inventor. But as you know, I'm a gadgets wizard. Who else are you going to get?"

Charles hummed. "I have a few other people in mind." Unfortunately, Charles didn't have anyone else in mind. He was really hoping that Stanley knew some other people. (This is just a temporary setback. Something will turn up. It just has to.)

At about that moment, a laser blast shot past the window, as an older man wearing a scientific suit of lab armor ran by. This was followed by a lightning bolt, and a flying humanoid with blue skin, dark blue hair, and pointed ears, wearing a white and blue costume. The blue man's outstretched hand was glowing with magical power.

Stanley chuckled, "We're getting in over our head, Charles. Want me to go suit up?"

Charles grinned. "Better you than me. Get going. I'll keep the two in sight."

Stanley and Charles quickly got up and parted company, as Charles ran out into the street, turning toward the two powered opponents.

Stanley entered the back alley way, and activated his belt buckle, causing his costume to emerge and envelop him, as he shouted, "Super Sock'er!" Then, he activated his jet powered roller skates, and rocketed out of the alleyway, and down the street in the direction that Charles had gone.

Charles was standing at the edge of the park, when Super Sock'er came up to a halt beside him. Super Sock'er asked, "Where did they go, Charles?"

Charles pointed into Central Park. "They went in there, but with the noise and explosions they're causing, it won't take long before..."

At that moment, a horrific rapidly whipping-switching sound was heard, as Charles and Super Sock'er both cringed!

Super Sock'er exclaimed, "I'm NOT going in there now! SHE's involved!"

Charles replied, "We have to go in. Besides, the sound has stopped and we'll have to arrest the guys who made all the noise. I just hope they didn't break any of her jelly jars."

After entering Central Park, and arriving at the central location that was owned by everyone's favorite little old lady, Granny Zee, or as she was more famously known as back in the early 1900s, Switcher Woman , Charles and Stanley saw the armored suit with it's bottom open, and the man within was holding his rear end with both hands while he whimpered. The blue skinned elf was wisely within a protective force field.

Switcher Woman glanced over at the two arrivals with one of her super switches in hand. "Oh, hello Charles. Stanley. Did you come to get these twits out of my park?"

Charles smiled a little. "If you're pressing charges, that's why we're here. Otherwise, we're just passing through. Right, Super Sock'er?"

Super Sock'er replied, "Right! We don't want no trouble with the nicest granny in town!"

Switcher Woman said, "I'll press charges against armor boy, here. But the elf... he seems to show some intelligence. Maybe you can talk to him on your way 'out' of my park. Do come by this weekend, and I'll give you boys some cookies."

After that, it was simple to escort the two out of the park.

Charles said, "See? She was very reasonable. We didn't get switched at all."

Super Sock'er replied, "We got lucky that she was in a good mood, you mean."

Just before the armored man was loaded into the Police van, the man exclaimed, "Don't think that your jail is going to hold the world's most evil genius, Doctor Octavius Redd! I'll be out before you know it! Mark my wor-" And with that, the police van's doors slammed shut, cutting off the rest of his rant.

The blue elf bowed slightly to Charles and Super Sock'er. But when the elf spoke, the two really weren't sure what he was saying...

Charles then pulled a highly sophisticated device out of his pocket and flicked it on. "Could you please say that again, good elf?"

Then in fluent English, the blue elf said, "I am Markanovon Blakk-artiz, a law enforcing mage from Wizard World, or as your people might call it, Y-483."

Charles said, "Welcome to Earth, Markanovon. May I shorten your name so that those here on Earth do not trip so when trying to remember who you are?"

The blue elf replied, "Among friends, I am called Mark Black-Arts... or... as the elven council calls me... Magicko.

The three soon found themselves with a real estate agent out near Coney Island. The agent was surprised that the City Commissioner, one of the city's top inventors, and a blue skinned elf in robes were seeking property just outside of the city.

The agent said, "You are a hard man to please, Commissioner Reivax. This is the last piece of property that is available. It's an out of the way place with highway access, a nearby convenience store, and the nearby Coney Island amusement park in the distance. There is an old shack on the property, but little else. So, what do you think?"

It was apparent that the indicated property isn't what had Charles' attention. He was looking at a semi-forested hilly cul-de-sac property that seemed to be it's own mini-peninsula. "Who owns that property over there?"

The agent coughed and replied, "That piece of property is owned by a Ms. Alice Hawkins in Chicago, and last I heard, it was not for sale."

Charles turned to Super Sock'er, saying, "That's a name I know. While it's true it's not publicly for sale, she might sell it to me, if our reasons are good enough. And for the purpose we'd need it for, she might just let us have it. Can't hurt to ask. I just really don't want immediate public access to whatever property we end up with. What we're going to be doing out here will be dangerous enough without civilians getting in the way."

Super Sock'er grinned. "Yes, she is sure to be tickled when you tell her what this is about. Do you want her number? It's..." and he rattled off a number, clearly from memory. But it turned out to be the correct number.

Magicko smiled at Super Sock'er. "How do you do that? I didn't see you cast a spell just now."

Charles laughed. "It's called having a super memory. Super Sock'er is smart." And with that, Charles pulled out a weird looking futuristic telephone device, for which Magicko seemed to recognize immediately. "Now, let's see what Ms. Hawkins has to say..." And he punched in her phone number and awaited the answer on the other end.

While Charles spoke on the phone to Ms. Hawkins, Magicko and Super Sock'er examined the property a little more thoroughly. Magicko had mentioned his castle back on Wizard World, and Stanley voiced an inquiry on what the castle was like. So... what the real estate agent got to see was a palace type blue and white castle appear on the property, then disappear. Then it appeared in another location, then disappeared again. Popping in and out like Hollywood special effects.

By the time Magicko and Super Sock'er were finished playing their game, Charles had finished the phone call to Ms. Hawkins. "Okay you two, Ms. Hawkins has agreed to lease us the property, under the condition that we share the wealth toward an idea project that she'll be conducting sometime later. So, until she has the free time to get away from Chicago, we are the proprietors of this new property. What we need to do now is to get our headquarters set up according to the blueprints that I have drawn up for this purpose. Magicko? I want you to head up the building project."

At that moment, Charles' walkie talkie rang and he switched it on. "Commissioner Reivax here."

The voice on the other end said, "Commissioner! The German super villain calling himself Code V Boy is causing some sort of ruckus over at Coney Island! And there is a female wearing a cape trying to stop him! I thought you'd want to know!"

Charles turned to Magicko and Super Sock'er. "Looks like the building project will have to wait. We have a situation to go handle. And possibly a new member for our team. Magicko, if you could teleport us over to that amusement park over there, we can get ourselves started."

And instantly, Magicko teleported the team to Coney Island itself!

What they saw when they arrived was Doctor Octopus from Marvel Comics facing off against the female version of Black Vulcan from DC Comics.

Super Sock'er said, "Tell me I'm seeing things."

Magicko cast a simple detection spell. "No, it's not an illusion."

Doctor Octopus shouted, "That last lightning bolt stung, witch! Now it's time for an upgrade! Villains Rule!!!" And with that, Doctor Octopus changed into Sabretooth!

Black Vulcanette shouted, "That won't save you from justice, Code V Boy! Whammy Weirdo! Superhero!!" And instantly, Black Vulcanette changed into Herculina, the female version of Marvel Comics' Hercules!

Charles arched an eye. "Shape shifters. They have shape shifting powers. Well, it's obvious who the villain is. Which one of you would like to help the lady?"

And no sooner said than done, a giant Acme anvil appears and literally hits Sabretooth in the head, knocking him completely unconscious! And as he hit the ground, he reverted back into his teenaged body, and the police came over and slapped the cuffs on him.

Herculina said, "Well, that takes care of that. I better be leaving now and..."

Charles shouted, "Stop her, Magicko!"

And Herculina suddenly couldn't move a muscle! "Hey! Let go! I don't want any trouble! Let me go now or else!"

Super Sock'er grinned. "Or else what? You'll attack the city commissioner and be branded as a villain for the rest of your life? Why don't you just calm down and tell us your hero name."

Herculina hummed. "Okay, fair enough. I thought you guys were with Code V Boy's bunch. One moment." And she shouted, "Whammy Weirdo! Superhero!!" And she changed into a very beautiful teenaged girl wearing a mask. "You can call me Code H Girl."

Back at the designated building site for the new superhero complex headquarters, Code H Girl was talking to Charles while Super Sock'er and Magicko prepared the land for the project to come.

Code H Girl said, "Let me get this straight... the mayor has given you clearance to form a superhero team for the purpose of handling these super bad guys."

Charles replied, "Yes. That is the general plan."

Code H Girl then said, "Well, I wish you luck, but some of us have expenses to take care of. Being a superhero doesn't pay anything, you know. I only put on my mask when I have to deal with Code V Boy and his incessant stupidity."

Charles had to smile at that statement. Then he pulled out stack of money and flipped through it right in front of Code H Girl's eyes. "Too bad you aren't interested..." he flipped through the wad of cash again. "...someone with your talents would've been very useful..."

Code H Girl's eyes were solely fixed on that stack of cash. ".......Um, how much would we be talking about... if I was interested?"

Charles mentally grinned. (Money talks; girlie listens.) "We're talking about $2400 a month from our sponsor..." Then he began to put the money away! "...but like you said, you aren't interested, so it's a moot point to even discuss the matter... right?"

Code H Girl almost leaped at Charles. Almost. "Wrong! Uh... the only reason I said I wasn't interested is because my twin sister and I are new to this country and we're barely getting by and... to heck with it! Look, I need the money. Please don't turn me away. I'm a studious worker. Hey, I can even help build our headquarters! What do you say? Pleassssse???"

Before Charles could reply, a ghostly female arose out of the ground between Code H Girl and Charles and said, "Excuse me? Are you the man who is forming a team who will be fighting against evil people?"

Charles irked. "Um, yes I am. Commissioner Reivax. Who or what... are...er, were you?"

The ghostly female smiled. "Oh thank goodness. The bad guy will be here any second. He's trying to destroy me with one of his weird inventions. My name is Nora Ratson, but the bad guy has been calling me... Girl Intor... whatever that means..."

And at that second, a blast of energy just barely missed the trio and struck a large boulder, sending the rock into another dimension!

Magicko glanced over and saw the approaching man with the Ghostbuster like rifle. He extended one hand and cast a spell. "MALIBU!" Instantly, the man vanished from the scene! POOF!

Girl Intor smiled at Magicko. "My hero! I like him!"

Charles said, "Let me get this straight... a warped scientist changed your molecules from a physical person into a ghost, but the explosion killed him. Then his family hired this even wackier Ghostbuster wannabe to destroy you."

Girl Intor sighed, then smiled. "I am so glad you understood that the first time. I hate having to explain myself over and over again. So will you let me join your little group?"

Super Sock'er interrupted at this moment. "Charles, let her join. If a scientist did this, then maybe I can someday undo it. I am sure she has a life she'd like to get back to."

Magicko added, "I would like to study her spiritual essence myself."

Code H Girl stepped in front of Girl Intor. "Now hold on just a darned moment! There will be NO taking advantage of the new girl! Don't worry, Nora! I'll make sure they stay in line!"

Charles grinned. "A woman with authority. I think we're going to do just fine. Magicko? Let's get back into constructing our home base. Our team will need some bedrooms, eventually."

Magicko nodded his head and took Super Sock'er over to the building site.

Code H Girl said, "We better go over and make sure the boys build the headquarters the right way, Nora."

Girl Intor smiled and headed over with Code H Girl to the building site.

Charles released a sigh of relief as he turned to look back at New York City in the distance. "I think this is going to work out after all..."

"Whammy Weirdo! Superhero!!" And instantly, Code H Girl changed into Herculina, again! "Now why did you want me back in this form again?"

Super Sock'er replied with a grin, "Someone has to do the heavy breaking back work on this building project."

Charles didn't bother to look as he whispered, "...if my team lives that long, that is."

Herculina growled, "Why you miserable..."

Charles didn't hear the rest as a device in his pocket suddenly shrieked a sound that was familiar to Magicko. He pulled out the device and activated it, quietly speaking into it. " Arclight here."

The voice the replied was heavily accented, as if the speaker had problems with English. "Got an emergency situation heading your way. Captain Lolfe kidnapped a prince and is trying to reach that effing dirtball you're on. If there is anything you can do, please do so. If Lolfe reaches your location, we'll be powerless to stop him."

Borrowing Magicko from the construction site, Charles took him off to a hangar to the north and within was a fine Galactic Patrol space shuttle. "You are not to mention this to any of the other team members. Understand?"

Magicko nodded his head. "If you have one of these, then you must be a Galactic Patrol officer yourself. But the fact that you're based here on Earth must mean that you are on a secret assignment. Don't worry, I won't say a thing. I am a law enforcement officer myself with my people, as I told you."

Charles then said, "Then you probably also know that there are no humans in the Galactic Patrol. I am wearing a Screener that disguises my true species from the local populace. When we leave the atmosphere, you'll see what I truly am. And you are never to tell anyone else what you see. Now lets board up and blast off."

As the patrol shuttle lifted off through the atmosphere, Magicko noticed Charles human form shimmer to reveal an anthro reindeer wearing a Galactic Patrol uniform. The nameplate read: Arclight.

Magicko asked, "Can you fly?"

Charles grinned. "Even without the seat of my pants."

Soon, they were in position just beyond Pluto's orbit where they saw the approaching space pirate vessel. It appeared to be a classic vessel made to look like an ancient Earth pirate's sailing ship.

Charles chuckles. "I hate to break it to them, but Earth stopped using those kind of vessels about sixty years ago. Magicko? Send them a warning shot so powerful that it shreds their sails. We want them to know just what they are heading into."

Magicko grinned, as he stood up and chanted a massive battle spell and pointed at the approaching ship. Instantly, a humongous meteorite rocketed forward toward the pirate vessel, followed closely by a dozen cosmic lightning bolts.

The sails were ripped asunder instantly, as the entire vessel turned on it's side and suddenly, an impressive escape attempt on the ship's deck revealed a horde of pirate anthromorphs pursuing a lone, very muscular looking, Errol Flynn like humanoid with a wolf head tattooed on both arms. And the odds were not in the young man's favor.

Charles exclaimed, "That must be the prince, Magicko! Can you summon him to us?"

Magicko smiled. "Child's play, Charles!" And he chanted the summoning spell. And instantly, the young man vanished off of the pirate vessel's deck and reappeared in the patrol shuttle's cargo hold. "Got him, Charles! Let's get out of here!"

And as Charles was veering the patrol shuttle away, the rest of the Galactic Patrol arrived on the scene and began to surround the pirate vessel.

While Charles piloted the shuttle toward Earth, the prince emerged from the cargo hold and stopped short when he saw the Galactic Patrol Reindeer and the Wizard World law enforcement officer. "Whoa. So the law has me now."

Magicko smiled. "Just call me Magicko. This is Commissioner Charles Reivax. He's wearing a Screener to give himself a reindeer appearance. We're taking you back to Earth where you will be given some time to recompose yourself before we prepare your return to your home world."

The prince paled at the mention of being sent back home. "Um, if it's all the same to you guys, I would rather not go back to Wolf World."

Charles asked, "And why not, if you don't mind my asking?"

The prince replied, "The new dragon guard captain is very ruthless. And female. If she finds out that I was out joy riding on an untrained dragon buddy of mine, she will lock me up in the palace prisons for the rest of my life. She calls me wolf-pup. It is so degrading. My real name is Octavius and I am very strong in a fair fight. But those pirates surprised me and scooped me off of Scott's back. I am really worried about Scott. He and I have never really been separated before."

Charles smiled. "How would you like to join my law enforcement team on Earth, Octavius? We'll give you a surname and a cool sounding superhero name. What do you say?"

Octavius smiled back. "As long as I don't have to go home, I'll do anything you want, Commissioner. But what hero name will you call me?"

Magicko hummed. "He is from Wolf World, and there are wolves on Earth, and he has those wolf tattoos on his arms. Why don't we call Octavius... Wolf Boy?"

Charles smiled again. "Wolf Boy. That has a nice sound to it. What do you think, Octavius? Would you like to be called Wolf Boy?"

Octavius thought it over, then smiled with a nod of his head. "Ok, just call me Wolf Boy. Until I grow up, that is. Then I'll think of a better name for myself. Thanks for letting me stay."

Magicko hummed. "You did say that Scott was a dragon, right?"

Wolf Boy grinned. "A space dragon. I raised him from an egg. When he gets too excited, he gets a little mixed up and asks people where he is, instead of asking where I am."

Charles rolled his eyes. "A mixed up space dragon. I hope he made it back to Wolf World, then. We don't have time to go look for him. We have to return to Earth."

Some time later, with the shuttle parked and hidden once again, the three returned to the building site where the others were still working. Charles exclaimed, "Guys? Say hello to Octavius. He's joining our little crew as Wolf Boy."

Herculina grinned. "Awesome! Another hero with muscles!"

Magicko grinned. "Yes, and we should get a good section of the headquarters built by sundown unless there are more interruptions." He winked.

Nora exclaimed, "Oh, I am sure we will be able to get something done. I mean, you guys can get something done. I am permanently intangible. I keep forgetting."

Stanley said, "Don't worry, Nora. We'll get you solid one of these days."

That night around midnight, Charles and Magicko were standing at the building site looking over the near disaster of a day's work. It was not a pretty sight at all. In fact, it probably could have been better.

Magicko quietly remarked, "The others are all asleep, Charles. Are we finished beating around the bush, so to speak?"

Charles chuckled silently. "Yes, it's time to use magic, Magicko. I think you and I are the only ones who know how to build a headquarters and do proper landscaping. Can you do it like I have on the blueprints?"

Magicko nodded his head with a smile. "In under an hour, actually. But I was impressed that the others did give it a good effort. They are good people, you know. But we need an official headquarters building by morning. A training chamber will do the others a lot of good."

Charles giggled. "Go to it, then, Magicko. I'll just step over here and out of your way so I can keep a visual guide on your work. And thank you for putting up with the others."

Magicko grinned. "They remind me of familiars." And with that, he immediately got to work on the headquarters using his magical powers and mystic structuring skills.

Charles laughed at the joke, as he watched the headquarters rapidly materialize almost like lightning, sub chambers first, then the ground floor with hangar, garages, and workshop. Then the living quarters, bedrooms, and meeting rooms, training complexes, and finally, the upper rooms, which contained the library, scientific and magical workshops, and a conjuration chamber for Magicko. Landscaping was next, which crept over the landscape like a living mold, reshaping the land as it went. And finally, the flag poles in the front with the national flags of the United States, Wizard World, and Wolf World.

At that moment, Magicko emerged from the headquarters and stood before Charles. "It's all done, Charles. Let's move in some furnishings now."

Charles stood up and headed inside with Magicko.

By the next morning, the two were seated in the space age like living room admiring the rising sun view out of the huge floor to ceiling full length windows.

And that is when the others slowly began filing into the building and into the living room.

Stanley remarked, "You sneaky cheaters! You used your magic to finish everything!"

Nora said, "I am glad they did. Now we don't have to labor in the heat of the day. I saw the morning forecast. Sunny all day and clear. Heat in the upper eighties."

Code H Girl smiled. "We did make a mess of the site last night and I apologize. We could have worked together better than we did. But I suppose that is because were just raw in the department of working as a team. Right, Reivax?"

Charles chuckled. "I wasn't going to say that, but seeing as how you did... yes."

Octavius chuckled. "I am starving, guys. I hope someone remembered how to fix breakfast."

Late the previous night in a small farming community in Iowa...

"Mabel?" the farm owner called out from his bed. "Are you coming to bed or not?"

His wife was just entering the bathroom to prep herself for the night. "I'll be right there, Jacob. I just have to do my bathroom stuff. I hope tomorrow will be a good day for working the fields."

Jacob grinned. "It likely will be. There was a fair wind just before I came in from the corn fields."

Just as Mabel was about to pull her dentures out of her mouth, a huge pair of glowing slitted eyes appeared just outside of the bathroom window and a deep coarse voice inquired, "Pardon me, madam... but have you seen Scott?"

What followed was a blood curdling scream, as Mabel ran from the bathroom and hid herself in the bedroom closet. "MONSTER!"

Jacob was out of bed in a flash as he grabbed his rifle and loaded up a shell and ran outside of the building and saw the massive looking winged lizard creature with the glowing eyes. He was trembling so badly from seeing the beast that he couldn't aim the rifle correctly.

"Pardon me, sir... but have you seen Scott?"

At that same time that the rifle fired, Jacob messed down both legs in an audible manner. POW!

Clearly a miss, the scaly beast took flight, heading off into the night in the direction of a neighbor's farm.

At the neighbor's farmhouse, the parents were already in bed asleep, while their son was outside in the barn pitching some hay to the livestock, as a way of getting an early start on the following day's work. However, just as he was turning around to get some more hay in his pitchfork, the scaly beast's head and long neck was there, poked in through the opening of the barn's door. "Yoo hoo! Scott? Where are you?"

The boy let out a horrific scream that woke his parents and riled all of the farm animals.

The scaly beast pondered, "Why do they scream every time? That isn't a language I know."

The parents emerged from the farm house with their guns and began firing at the huge monster at the barn, missing somehow, as the scaly beast flapped it's wings and flew off into the night.

"What in tarnation was that?" the father asked aloud.

The boy emerged from the barn and sobbingly replied, "It was looking for someone named Scott."

The father hummed. "I don't know any farmers around here named Scott. First thing in the morning, we are going to talk to the local minister. There is a scaly demon monster out here and the minister is the type of person who will know how to get rid of it once and for all."

All through the night, farmers and farm hands in Iowa were shocked and surprised by the beast that was trying to find Scott.

**End of TMC-01 The Mighty Courageans

Stayed tuned for TMC-02 Sweltering Steam**