3--The Mob Escapes

February 1.

Commander Stargazer’s Office, Hawkhaven, Limbo.

ommander Stargazer had called her into the office in the middle of the night for some unapparent reason. Sergeant Steelheart, the only female Silver Hawk, sometimes felt trapped in some way. She knew not why. It probably had to do with the fact that she was the only female around. She definitely trusted the other Hawks, but the fact still bugged her a little. She should have been used to it, as she had three older brothers and one twin brother. Her older brothers had been far meaner to her than any other guys had been, and that had simply been because they were older brothers. Eventually, she came into Stargazer’s office.

“You asked for me, Commander?” she asked.

Stargazer said, “Yes, Steelheart. Sit down.” She took a seat. “I’m proud of the way you slammed the Mob back in prison on the Penal Planet a few months back, Steelheart.”

“Thank you, Commander.”

“Now, Steelheart, I am getting—heh, heh—a little bit too old for being commander. If you repeat that in public, of course, I’ll have you flogged. How would you like to run things? Now, I tell you I considered this carefully before I brought it to your attention.”

Steelheart felt quite stunned to hear this. “Now, Commander, I feel hardly qualified for that kind of job. And I thought you’d have set your sights on Quicksilver more. He seems far more qualified.”

“You are more qualified than you think, Steelheart. You are the one who calculated where the Mob would be, and you stopped them. You led the Silver Hawks to victory yourself. And you’ve saved Quicksilver’s butt on several occasions.”

“Oh, come now, Commander. I still don’t think that I have all that it takes.”

“You underestimate yourself, Steelheart. Your leadership skills are admirable. You’re just too darn modest.”

“If you believe that I should take the job, I’ll certainly do what I can. However, I’m still not sure that I have all that it takes to be Commander of the Silver Hawks.”

“Believe me, Steelheart, you do. You do have all that it takes: great strength, great intelligence, a clear sense of judgment, good confidence, everything it takes. I ask that you try it for a day or two at least.”

Steelheart sighed. “Very well, Commander, I’ll do it.”

“I’m glad.” He got out a contract. “Now, if you will just read this and then sign on the dotted line.”

“Let me see. It says, ‘This contract allows’—enter name—‘to try out for the position of Commander of the Silver Hawks for two days. If the signer agrees to become commander, this document may be used in the signing of the permanent contract. If the signer becomes commander, the person who was commander will become advising officer for the new commander. Note: The old commander must be 400 or more years old in Silver Hawk years, and the signer must be between 210 and 490 years old in Silver Hawk years.’ Okay, I’ll sign, since I’m 290.” Due to the special bioactive circuitry in their suits, Silver Hawks could live ten to fifteen times longer than normal humans. She took out an ink pen and signed. “Thank you, Commander Stargazer.”

“You’ve done well, Commander Steelheart. This goes into effect tomorrow morning. It is almost midnight now. You’d better get some sleep. You may have a big day tomorrow.”

Steelheart saluted. “Yes, sir, Commander.” She left.

* * *

Penal Planet.

In his untransformed form, Mon*Star was ranting in his cell. “Oh, blast that rotten Steelheart. If I get my hands on that Silver Hawk, I’ll kill her. I shall rip apart that steel suit that protects her measly body. I shall then rip apart that skin and bone and destroy her. I shall burn her up in the Artificial Sun of Limbo. I shall get my revenge.” He noticed the window shutters were closing. “We must be passing by the Moon*Star now. Only one gleam of its energy has to catch my Star*Eye so that I may transform.” Exactly one million photons of the Moon*Star’s rays entered Mon*Star’s Star*Eye before the shutter closed completely. He laughed. “Excellent. Moon*Star of Limbo, give me the might, the muscle, the menace of Mon*Star.” By the last word, he had been totally transformed to his tremendous, metal-clad form. “These puny bars are no match for Mon*Star, the Planet Master,” he laughed maliciously as he tore out his cell doors. Warden Lockup’s guards immediately came to investigate.

The spike-nosed alien guard said, “Mon*Star’s escaped.”

“Halt, Mon*Star,” said the robot guard, with a wheel for feet. His mouth did not change shape; it just glowed when he spoke. They fired their lasers at Mon*Star, but their weapons did no good. “Oh, no.”

“Give me the keys, or prepare for annihilation, you tin-plated idiot,” said Mon*Star.

The robot said, “No way, Mon*Star.” Mon*Star fired a laser from his elbow-jet and destroyed the robotic guard.

“I’m getting out of here,” screamed the other guard.

“Not so fast, spike-face,” Mon*Star growled. As he gazed at the fleeing alien, a Light*Star extended from his Star*Eye. Once loose, the Light*Star flew spinning and swiftly overtook the alien guard, paralyzing him instantly. Mon*Star laughed callously. “You are no match for Mon*Star, the Planet Master.” He punched his way most brutishly through several walls until he found Hardware, one of his evil cohorts. “Knock, knock.”

Noticing Mon*Star’s voice and expression, Hardware asked, “Who’s there?”

“Mon*Star, the Planet Master, that’s who.”

They both laughed as Mon*Star destroyed the door to Hardware’s cell with a blast from his elbow-jet. Mon*Star found Hardware’s backpack in a nearby strongbox—which was not nearly strong enough to keep him out—and he gave it to its owner. “Let’s get the others.”

Yes‑Man’s plaintive cries issued from an adjacent cell: “Mon*Star! Get me out of here. Yes, yes, yes.”

“Have patience, Yes-Man,” said Mon*Star.

“Yes, Yes-Man,” Hardware said. “I’m getting my weapons ready.” With one of his devices, Hardware sublimated the bars on Yes-Man’s cell.

“Thank you, Hardware. Ooh, yes, yes, yes.”

“Let’s split up,” said Mon*Star. “Hardware, you go that way. Yes-Man and I shall go the other way.” They went their separate ways. Within the hour, the whole freed Mob had broken their way to the outside impound, where their captured vehicles were being stored.

“Just wait until I get my hands on that Steelheart,” screeched Melodia. “I’ll rock and roll her rear into oblivion.”

“I’ll blow her away,” said Windhammer.

Timestopper said, “I’ll stop the clock on her for good.” He was a brown-haired juvenile delinquent with a red band around his hair. He wore a clock and a jet-pack. The clock would stop time on anyone he wanted for a minute.

“I’ll zap away her strength,” Hardware said.

Pokerface said, “I’ll ace her with my clubs. Ha, ha, ha!”

“Zzzz. I’ll zero her tests,” said Zero, the Memory Thief. He had the ability to steal computer information and wipe computer memory. He had a rat-like face and a red cape. On his chest were two tape-reel holders to store the information.

Mumbo-Jumbo snarled, “I’ll ram her into oblivion.”

“I’ll show her the point with my saws,” Buzz‑Saw said. He was a large android about Mumbo’s size with saws on top of his head, on either shoulder, and on his hands. He had a mechanical voice and a green-yellow exterior. He also had handles on his chest to start his saws spinning. He could launch saws from his hands.

Mo‑Lec‑U‑Lar said, “Ch-ch-ch. I’ll de‑molecularize her atoms. Ch-ch-ch-ch. Then, I’ll decay all the protons in her measly body.” Mo‑Lec‑U‑Lar was molecularly unstable. His body was constructed of yellow globes. He had an angular face and normal-seeming arms and legs. In the center of his chest was a picture of an atom, with electron orbits and a nucleus. His right hand was a bolt. From this, he could spew out tar that would harden and stop anyone or anything in its tracks.

“I’ll destroy her with my Light*Star’s strength,” Mon*Star said.

“I can give her the whiplash with my tail,” Yes-Man said. “Ooh, yes.”

“Let’s head for Brim*Star. We must prepare our fortress for any Silver Hawk intruder. Those Metroid games in the prison’s recreational rooms have given me an idea.” Starting up their vehicles, they returned to Brim*Star.

* * *

February 2.

Commander Stargazer’s Office, Hawkhaven.

The next morning, Warden Lockup made an urgent call to Hawkhaven. Steelheart was in the office learning about some of Stargazer’s more clerical tasks when this occurred. Lockup, an insectian-humanoid, told them of the Mob’s escape from the Penal Planet. “And that’s all, Commander Stargazer,” finished Lockup. “They headed for Brim*Star. I would have informed you sooner, but Mon*Star broke the alarm circuitry as he began the escape.”

“Okay, Warden,” said Stargazer. “Talk to you later.” He pressed a button on his desk, and Lockup disappeared from the screen.

“Great,” said Steelheart.

“This is your big chance, Steelheart. They probably intend to get revenge on you for having locked them up.”

“True. I’ll just have to teach them that revenge does not pay. I need to see the others.”

Turning on the intercom, Stargazer announced, “Silver Hawks, into my office on the double.” Within seconds, all the Silver Hawks were in the office.

Hotwing was a dark-skinned Silver Hawk with gold armor that covered his entire body except his face and the lower part of his left arm. When he used his wings, they were flaming red in color. He had a device on his forehead through which he channeled his magic, which he used to the Silver Hawks’ advantage.

Flashback had been so facially scarred during a military mission just before he joined the Silver Hawks that his green armor now covered his eyes and face. He had a beak-like protrusion above his mouth and had no visor. His armor covered his body except for his lower left arm.

Moonstriker had bright blue metal armor, and he was the only Silver Hawk whose hair-color, blonde, had been painted onto the region of his suit that covered his hair. He was right-handed. He rarely used his wings because he had a turbine around his waist that propelled him more efficiently.

Condor was an older Silver Hawk, like Stargazer. He wore gray metal armor with an antenna on the area covering his left ear. His entire right arm was exposed. He wore a shirt and trousers. He was armored before the Silver Hawks were given their own wings, so he had a wing-pack and a visor that did not completely cover his face, just most of it. He had a talon-gun that he carried in a holster on his left side. His wing-pack was powerful and economical, so like Moonstriker, he did not usually ride in vehicles with the other Silver Hawks.

“What is it, Commander?” asked Quicksilver.

“First, I have some good news, then some bad news,” said Stargazer.

Later, the Silver Hawks took off in their vehicles. Copper-Kidd took his Space Racer. Steelheart, Steelwill, Quicksilver, Bluegrass, and Hotwing rode in the Mirage. Flashback piloted the new Sprint Hawk that the Steeltwins had made. Moonstriker and Condor flew with their special devices. A proud brother to the end, Steelwill said, “Good for you, Steelheart.”

“Yes,” Quicksilver said. “Commander Stargazer has good reason to choose you. After all, it was you who found their secret hiding place and shattered their plans for a mass crime wave.”

“Yes,” said Hotwing. “Were it not for you, they would never have been in the slammer again.”

“Yeah. Now, we gotta find out what those freaks are plannin’,” said Bluegrass.

“Well, I know that they will try to get revenge on me,” said Steelheart.

Steelwill said, “I’m sure that we’ll fix those evil-doers in record time now that you can become commander, Steelheart.”

* * *

Brim*Star.

On Brim*Star, Mon*Star was spying on the Silver Hawks. “I am enraged,” he shouted.

“Enraged,” repeated Yes-Man. “Ooh, definitely, boss.”

“As if her being a sergeant is not bad enough, that old relic Stargazer has the nerve—the sheer nerve—to use his power to promote that, that, that chrome-brained female tin buzzard to being commander in his place.” Yes, one might say that Mon*Star was a bit chauvinist. However, that was far from being his most serious personality flaw. “Well, I shall not let that happen because, thanks to the Mob’s hard work, Brim*Star can now destroy that tin maiden.”

“Tin maiden. Ooh, yes, boss.”

Hardware entered the room, bringing with him a schematic that he was studying intently. “Hmm. You want me to create all the creatures from Metroid and from Metroid II, Planet Master?” he asked.

“Sure, Hardware,” said Mon*Star. “Then, I want you to put them at specific points in the Brim*Star underground. We shall give those Silver Turkeys the adventure of their life.”

“It really ought to be the adventure of their death.” The three creeps laughed diabolically. Unfortunately for the Mob’s plan, Tally-Hawk was flying high above Brim*Star and filming this conversation. He beamed the information to Stargazer’s office on Hawkhaven.

* * *

Commander Stargazer’s Office, Hawkhaven.

“Great galactic ghosts,” exclaimed the commander of the Silver Hawks after viewing Tally-Hawk’s transmission. He immediately started a data search for all information pertaining to Metroid and Metroid II. When the results reached him almost immediately, he pressed five buttons on his panel on his desk. “Stargazer to Mirage, Sprint Hawk, Space Racer, Condor, and Moonstriker. Come in please.” His bookshelf rolled aside to reveal the large screen behind it. A white line divided the screen into five equal segments.

Bluegrass’s image appeared in one of the segments. “Colonel Bluegrass here, Commander.”

Flashback’s image appeared in another of the segments. “Captain Flashback reporting, sir.”

Copper-Kidd’s image appeared in another segment. “Copper-Kidd here, Commander.”

Condor’s image appeared in another segment. “This is Condor, Gaze.”

Moonstriker’s image appeared in the last segment. “Moonstriker reporting, Commander.”

“Mon*Star and the Mob anticipated your arrival and are setting up a large trap for you in the center of Brim*Star, Silver Hawks,” warned Stargazer. “They are re‑making all the tunnels and creatures used in the Nintendo games Metroid and Metroid II. I know that all the creatures and tunnels in those games are very hard to get through, but I have complete maps of the games. This new machine the Steeltwins created is just the ticket for me to help you keep those creatures off your back. Oh, darn it, now I’m sounding like a blasted salesperson with idiotic clichés. I’ll use it to send you the maps to the games.”

“The map may help, but all those creatures are difficult to get around, especially for beginners,” said Steelheart. “I know, because I got through those games. It was hard, but I got every single item and explored every tunnel of Metroid and Metroid II by myself within 2.5 hours for each. I’ve kept up my practice well. If the Mob is going to re‑make those two games within the center of Brim*Star, I’ll share my knowledge.”

“Good, Steelheart. I’ll just send you these Metroid and Metroid II maps and wish you good luck.” He put the maps in the special device.

* * *

Brim*Star.

As Yes-Man was working at the main computer in Brim*Star’s control room, a sudden alarm pierced the air. The snaky lackey looked at the outside surveillance monitor and shrieked. “Boss. Boss. The Silver Hawks are here.”

Immediately, Mon*Star spoke into a communicator. “Melodia, how is our little plot coming?”

“The construction is finished, boss,” Melodia answered. “Hardware is letting the monsters loose now.”

“Excellent. Those Silver Turkeys have arrived.”

* * *

Minutes later, the Silver Hawks alighted at Brim*Star Fortress’s main landing platform. “I’ll go in first,” said Steelheart. “I know the inhabitants of Metroid and Metroid II. I’ve played the games so much that I know them by heart.”

Steelwill laughed. “I can attest to that. Video games are all you thought about when you were nine and ten. And when you were around sixteen, well—”

She cocked her eyebrow. “All right, Will. That shall be sufficient.”

Entering the fortress, they passed through the main hallway. All was silent, save for the normal sounds of machinery in the background. Soon, they came to Mon*Star’s control room to find much of the Mob. The villains turned to the door immediately as if taken by surprise. However, Steelheart’s intuition told her that the Mob had expected the Hawks’ arrival.

“Well, hello, Silver Hawks,” said Mon*Star.

Immediately pressing a button on the main computer console, Hardware said, “And good-bye, Silver Hawks. Ha, ha, ha!” A trap door opened under the Silver Hawks. Taken a bit by surprise, the Silver Hawks landed in the very center of the new maze.

Timestopper pressed another button. A large screen activated to display a clear picture of the Silver Hawks picking themselves up. “We can view the Silver Hawks’ every movement with the cameras Mo‑Lec‑U‑Lar installed in the maze,” the juvenile delinquent reported.

“With my tuning fork, I can change the weather conditions in the maze whenever needed,” said Windhammer.

* * *

Down in the tunnels, Steelheart felt a chill go through her back. “Brrr! The tunnels of Zebes and SR388 are much scarier in person than on the game screen,” she observed softly. “I even feel a slight chill here in Brinstar.” Turning around, she saw a platform. “Back there, we should find the Morphing Ball.”

“You know these tunnels the best, sister,” said Steelwill. “You go. We’ll stay here.”

“Fine. Will. Above you.” Steelheart instantly fired her shoulder laser above Steelwill’s head. She destroyed a Zoomer before it harmed Steelwill.

“Wow. Thanks, Steelheart.”

“If you see any creatures, blast them as soon as they appear. I’ll get the Morphing Ball.” She retrieved the Morphing Ball, and then the team proceeded on its way. Tackling the monsters was a bit easier with a large party. Many of the passageways were insanely cramped, though, forcing them to go separately.

Later, they arrived in the cavern leading to Norfair. “We want to travel this tunnel, but not as far as Norfair. Let’s go.” On Steelheart’s warning, the mentioned Silver Hawk destroyed the creature or creatures. “Quicksilver, look out for that Skree above you. Bluegrass, that Rio probably means business. Copper-Kidd, watch those Zebs. Hotwing, that Zoomer is about to hit you. Here we are. The Missile power‑up.”

Much later, after dealing with Kraid, Ridley, countless Alpha Metroids, Gamma Metroids, Zeta Metroids, and Omega Metroids, the Silver Hawks arrived in the Metroid-infested Tourian. “All the Metroids that we have faced so far have been mutations of the Metroids we are about to face,” said Steelheart while they were still on the lift. “The least sophisticated Metroids have been Alphas, the second-least have been the Gammas, the second-most have been the Zetas, and the most have been the Omegas. However, the non-mutated Metroids are among the least altered and the most dangerous. They will cling to a victim’s body and draw out the victim’s life energy, death being inevitable unless the victim literally gets the Metroid off its back. To destroy a Metroid, you must freeze it with an Ice Beam and blast it with five Missiles. They look like huge floating jellyfish.” All the others gasped suddenly, to her curiosity. “Any questions?”

Moonstriker gulped. “Yes, ma’am. Like that creature behind you?”

“Absolutely. What?” She turned around and saw a Metroid looming near. At her sudden action, it jetted away with a squeal, but then it looped around and began to charge towards her. She shot the creature with a freezing blast from her shoulder laser and then destroyed it with new Laser-Missiles from her shoulder laser. Rather emphatically, she said, “Thank you, Moonstriker.”

“It was nothing.”

* * *

Hardware and the rest of the Mob were still watching in the control room. “No, no, no,” shouted Hardware in irritation. “What in heck is wrong? They should be destroyed by now. Instead, thanks to that rotten Steelheart, those Silver Hawks are still unbruised. Well, my Queen Metroid and MotherBrain will give those good guys the boot.”

* * *

Later, in the tunnels of Tourian, Steelheart forced open a door among the countless other doors in their adventure with her shoulder laser. “Now,” she said, “we must get by a MotherBrain and a Queen Metroid.”

“After what we’ve been through, that sounds easy,” said Bluegrass.

“Trust me, Bluegrass, it’s not over until the fat brain screams. Flashback, look out for that Rinka.” Flashback destroyed the Rinka approaching him with his shoulder laser.

“What is this, open season on Silver Hawks?” asked Quicksilver. “There are tons of those Rinkas about.”

“We are getting close to MotherBrain,” said Steelheart. “I can tell by that Zebetite.”

“No problem. You’re talking to the king of country music here. Yee-haw!” Bluegrass played music on his Laser Guitar. The music decimated all the Zebetites by shattering their nearly indestructible glass. “Yee-haw, that was a blast.”

“Yes, quite literally. Good work, cowboy. I never smashed the Zebetites that quickly. Let’s go.” They carefully made their way forward until they came to a tremendous brain in a jar. “There is MotherBrain.”

Hotwing said, “That big cerebrum looks like it could use a hemorrhage.”

“Then we’ll supply one. Shatter her jar, hayseed.”

“With pleasure, Steel-lady,” said Bluegrass. Playing his guitar, Bluegrass shattered a part of MotherBrain’s glass jar.

* * *

Upstairs, the Mob was still watching. “No!” shouted Hardware. “Those Silver Pests.”

* * *

In the meantime, the MotherBrain was firing an army’s worth of artillery at the Silver Hawks. It was all they could do to dodge the projectiles and explosions. “Someone blast that huge brain already,” Steelheart ordered.

“I’ll blast her,” said Steelwill. He leapt up to right in front of MotherBrain’s jar and fired one million photons of his laser at the huge cerebrum.

* * *

A gut-wrenching scream reverberated through the control room. “What in the world was that?” demanded Mon*Star.

Hardware whimpered, “That was the MotherBrain.”

“What?” Mon*Star demanded, his volume rivaling MotherBrain’s scream.

* * *

MotherBrain’s barrage abated for a moment, but Steelheart knew that once she had recovered, her retaliation would destroy them all. “Hit her again, Will,” Steelheart said. “Everyone hit her.” Steelheart, Steelwill, Quicksilver, Copper-Kidd, Flashback, and Moonstriker fired their shoulder lasers continuously at MotherBrain. Bluegrass played a vigorous guitar sonata, bathing her with a continuous music laser. Hotwing fired a continuous magical laser from the triangle on his forehead at her. Condor fired a continuous laser from his talon device at the brain.

Throughout Brim*Star was heard a hideous, long scream until the Silver Hawks destroyed MotherBrain.

* * *

The sudden silence startled Hardware. “Uh, oh,” he said.

“What?” shouted Mon*Star.

The mechanic shook his head. “Never mind. They may have gotten past MotherBrain, but they will never get past Queen Metroid.”

* * *

Steelwill mounted MotherBrain’s platform to inspect what remained of her. “We did it,” he said jubilantly. Suddenly, the ground began to rumble. “What—”

“Uh, oh,” Steelheart said. “Will, get off there. I think that’s where Queen Metroid is coming in.”

“Queen Metroid? Oh, no.” He leapt to the other Silver Hawks as the floor began to part. Up came a large, almost mechanical-looking monster, the Metroid Queen. “It’s—it’s—”

Bluegrass said, “It’s huge, hideous, and—yuck!—it smells like it ain’t never brushed its teeth in the last ten billion years.”

His quip was answered by a roar from the Metroid Queen.

“Wouldn’t surprise me any,” said Steelheart. “Look out. It’s trying to bite.” The Silver Hawks scattered as the Metroid Queen tried to bite them. “Shoot laser bursts in her mouth. If you hit her right, there will be time to fire a continuous laser in her mouth before she snaps back.” The Hawks opened fire, but their blasts were blunted against the queen’s armor. Steelheart herself made that correct hit, and the queen froze. All the other Silver Hawks continuously fired their lasers in Queen Metroid’s mouth and destroyed it.

* * *

“No!” screamed Hardware. “It cannot be. They’ve beaten my Metroid Queen.”

“What? You idiot,” exploded Mon*Star, his left eye shining.

“Wait! Don’t blast me. I had no knowledge that they would beat my Queen Metroid.” The new side elevator opened, admitting the Silver Hawks to the control room.

“We must go now,” said Steelheart. “Don’t think it’s been fun, ’cause it hasn’t.”

“One minute,” Mon*Star snapped. “You are not going anywhere, my pretty.” He fired a Light*Star that hit her before she could move an inch.

“Steelheart!” shouted Steelwill.

Steelheart was actually moving within the Light*Star. “Okay,” she grunted. “So you want to play rotten, eh? Well, I can break out of this! Grrr!” In a few seconds, she had broken out of the Light*Star. This was a surprise to everyone in the room, including her.

“What?” Mon*Star cried. “I can smell defeat coming. Yes-Man, prepare for transformation.”

“Yes, boss. Yes, yes. Certainly.” Steelheart blasted the transformation controls before Yes-Man got to them. “Oh, no.”

“I hate to win and run, but I really must get my friends and myself home,” said Steelheart.

“Stop them,” Mon*Star shouted.

Once all the Hawks had fled the control room, Steelheart blasted a device, and the control room door came crashing closed. “That will not be so easy. Bye, bye.”

Mon*Star watched on the monitor as she and the other Silver Hawks walked casually to the Mirage.

“Hey! You can’t just walk away like that,” shouted Mon*Star. “Get back here! Come back!”

* * *

Command Center, Hawkhaven.

“Well, Steelheart, I must congratulate you,” said Stargazer. “You humiliated the devil out of that Mob by just walking out of there so casually.”

“I feel honored, but I was just doing my job,” said Steelheart.

“Ha, ha! You led all the Silver Hawks through that maze like a hot knife through butter. You gave those horrible Metroid and Metroid II bosses a run for their money. You don’t even cuss half the time. You are truly worthy of the position of Commander of the Silver Hawks.”

“Very well, if all of you insist.” Everyone was smiling at her, even Tally-Hawk. Boys, she thought. But where would we be without ’em? “Okay.” Smiling, she signed the form making her Commander of the Silver Hawks. “Now, there are a few small yet significant changes I would like to make. I would like to give the four Silver Hawks with whom I came a rank promotion, since they have been, along with the others, valuable to our success.”

“You don’t need to do so, Steelheart,” said Quicksilver.

Steelheart said, “I feel it only appropriate, Quicksilver. I promote Sergeant Steelwill, my brother, to the position of Lieutenant.”

Steelwill began, “Oh—”

“Come on. You deserve it.”

“Then, I accept. Thank you.”

“Certainly. I promote Copper-Kidd to the position of Sergeant.”

“Thank you,” said Kidd.

“You’re welcome. I promote Lieutenant Quicksilver to Colonel.”

“Well,” said Quicksilver. “Thank you, Steelheart.”

“You’re welcome. Finally, I promote Colonel Bluegrass to Captain-Minor.”

“Gee, thank ya, Steelheart,” said Bluegrass.

“You are all welcome, my friends.”

* * *

Brim*Star.

Mon*Star and his ten cronies were spying on the Silver Hawks with the monitor. “No. Not only has that Steelheart been promoted to Commander of the Silver Hawks, but she is also using her privileges to promote her four best friends up. It’s a crime.”

“A crime,” agreed Yes-Man. “Yes.”

Mon*Star whirled to his allies and was no longer able to contain his rage. “You inane idiots get out of my sight this very instant.” He fried the fools out with Light*Stars. They left while yelling. Sly-Bird, the Spy-Hawk, Stargazer’s yellow-colored robot bird, was above Brim*Star. Soon afterwards, he returned to Hawkhaven to present this little episode.