Hero Go Home

Previously: Digger figured out that Twain was behind the bank robbery. Which is when Twain pulled a gun. And now…

Digger smirked at the gun. “You think that’ll stop me?”

“Yeah,” Twain said. “Your powers are gone. This’ll stop you dead.”

Twain was right, Digger realized. He’d been practically bulletproof for so long, he had forgotten what it was like to be normal. “Okay, you got me. But I still don’t get it. I mean, what was the point of all this? Was there ever even a hostage?”

“No,” Twain said. “Just a prerecorded tape of me in a pretty good make-up job.”

“But the Cobalt Czar… He was hiding in the background.”

“Dummy,” Twain said. “Strategically revealed by reflections from the bomb collar. Staged very carefully so you’d notice what you figured they didn’t want you to notice.”

“But why?”

“Challenge,” Twain said. “I needed a diversion to draw the police away while I stole the juice. Having you rob the bank was just bonus points. And having you ‘catch’ me after I was ‘betrayed’ by my boss? Just a way for me to keep you working for me while thinking you were in control. Admit it. You were really psyched when you thought you’d beaten me, weren’t you?”

“Damn it,” Digger muttered. “All this just so you could steal some cup that doesn’t even work?”

“It works,” Twain said. “We just haven’t figured out what it’s good for. But the cup doesn’t matter now. I have bigger fish to fry.”

“Like what?”

[blockquote type=”blockquote_quotes” align=”left”]”It’s like all the energy that should be used by all those missing supers is being redirected, reflected from their source onto another subject. The way the moon does with the light of the sun…”[/blockquote]“The Cobalt Czar,” Twain said. “I wasn’t lying when I talked about going there and being captured. Imagine how frustrated I was when I found out the cup I had traveled halfway aroud the world to get was actually back in New York the whole time. Originally, the plan was to goad you into fighting him somehow. But with your powers gone, well, how can I pass that up? Besides, the old plan’s obsolete now.”

“Why?”

“The inscription on the crystal,” Twain said. “Have you ever looked at the demographic statistics for Mongolia? Of course you haven’t. Well, if you had, you’d realize there’s something really weird going on.”

“Like what?” Digger asked.

“The statistics don’t add up,” Twain said. “You’ve got a 500 mile radius with no native supers at all, and then smack in the center, you’ve got the most powerful super in the world.”

“Maybe they just kill off the others,” Digger said.

“No,” Twain said. “It’s something else. It’s like all the energy that should be used by all those missing supers is being redirected, reflected from their source onto another subject. The way the moon does with the light of the sun.”

“You think that’s the secret of the City of the Moon?”

“Yeah,” Twain said. He opened the door to the room. “And I’m going to go break myself off a piece. But first…”

He reached outside the door and brought in the Cup of Regret. “I can’t have you following me.”

“No,” Digger shouted and dove forward too late. The juice splashed in his face and he was gone.

Where will Digger end up this time? Join us tomorrow (hopefully before midnight) for the next exciting episode!

To read from the beginning, click here…

Or to continue to the next chapter, click here!

Previously: Digger and Twain came up with a plan to track down the hostage, when Twain handed Digger money with a suspicious smell. And now…

Digger was waiting by the van when Twain emerged from the coffee shop. “I thought you were getting us some sodas,” Twain said.

“Not thirsty,” Digger replied.

Twain appeared curious at the sudden change, but didn’t ask anything other than “I guess I’m going to have to buy the gas this time, huh?”

Once they were on the road headed south, Twain said, “I figured we’d spend the night in Memphis, then finish the drive to Bayside in the morning.”

“That’s cutting it close, isn’t it?” Digger asked. “He’s supposed to contact me in seven days.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Twain said.

“Easy for you to say,” Digger muttered. “A little too easy.”

“What does that mean?

“It means,” Digger said, “that I’m tired of this mess. I want to finish it.”

“Me too, believe me,” Twain said.

A couple of hours later, they paused at a truck stop to refuel. Digger grabbed the cooler from behind Twain seat and opened his door. “What are you doing?” Twain asked.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” Digger said.

“And you’re taking the juice?”

“Yeah,” Digger said. “It’s in jugs, and the jugs are in a cooler. I don’t think piss germs will get in the juice.”

“That’s not the problem,” Twain said. “It’s just, what’s the point of that?”

“So you won’t ditch me while I’m in there,” Digger said and got out of the van.

Twain got out and shouted at Digger’s retreating back. “Why would I ditch you? I’m helping you!”

A passing truck drowned out Digger’s answer.

Once he returned, Digger set the cooler back in its place and paused there an extra beat, behind Twain’s seat. “What?” Twain asked.

“Nothing,” Digger said. “Let’s go.”

“In a minute,” Twain said. “Now I’ve got to go. I’ll leave the juice here, if that’s okay.”

[blockquote type=”blockquote_quotes” align=”right”]Twain didn’t say anything, but the hint of a smile played over his lips. “You’ve been lying about everything from the beginning, haven’t you?” Digger asked…[/blockquote]They spent the rest of the trip in strained silence, listening to old radio dramas and 80’s rock on the satellite receiver. They passed a peaceful evening in the motel in Memphis, but when Twain woke up to discover that Digger had taken the keys to his van into the shower with him, he’d finally had enough.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked. “Youve been acting weird since we had lunch yesterday.”

Digger fastened his jeans, then dug the twenty-dollar bill out of his pocket and handed it to Twain. “You want to know why? Smell that.”

Twain looked dubious, but did as instructed. “Smells like coffee,” he said.

“Yeah,” Digger said. “And you know why it smells like coffee? Because there were coffee grounds in the trash bag I shoved the money into at the bank. The trash bag that’s hidden under the driver’s seat in your van.”

Twain didn’t say anything, but the hint of a smile played over his lips.

“You’ve been lying about everything from the beginning, haven’t you?” Digger asked.

“Not everything,” Twain said as he pulled a gun from the rear waistband of his trousers, “but enough.”

How will Digger manage to beat Twain without his powers? Join us tomorrow for the next exciting episode!

To read from the beginning, click here…

Or to continue to the next episode, click here!

Previously: Digger, minus his Drillers, and Twain are in a coffee planning their next move. And now…

“So what do you think your next step will be?” Twain asked.

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Digger said. “I think we should head back to Bayside.”

“We?”

“Well, you have an interest in this, too,” Digger said. “Don’t you want to see it through?”

Twain took a bite of pancakes and nodded. “Except, I’m really not so much the hero type. What exactly do you think I can do to help?”

“Drive me home, for one thing,” Digger said. “And you’ve been to the Cobalt Czar’s kingdom or whatever it is. That knowledge might be helpful.”

“You’re just flattering me, now,” Twain said and took a drink of his Coke.

“And who drinks Coke with pancakes, anyway?” Digger asked.

“What else would I drink?” Twain asked “Orange juice is too sour.”

“Milk?” Digger ventured.

“I’m not a baby,” Twain countered.

“Then coffee.”

Twain shook his head. “Don’t like coffee.”

“I thought you loved coffee,” Digger said, confused.

Twain put down his fork. “What could possibly make you think I love coffee?”

“I don’t know. I just thought you did,” Digger said, thinking. “I mean, it always smells like coffee in your van.”

Twain sat up a little straighter. “That was… somebody spilled that, a long time ago. Never did get the smell out.”

“Okay, whatever,” Digger said. “When can we leave?”

“Tell me again why you want to go back home?”

[blockquote type=”blockquote_quotes” align=”left”]”I figure instead of trying to track this guy down with no leads, I go home and wait for him to contact me, then we can follow a fresh trail.” “Not the worst plan, I guess…”[/blockquote]“I don’t think I told you in the first place,” Digger said. “The guy said he’d get back in touch with me in a week, and it’s getting pretty close to that now.  I figure instead of trying to track this guy down with no leads, I go home and wait for him to contact me, then we can follow a fresh trail.”

“Not the worst plan, I guess,” Twain said.

“Now you’re just flattering me,” Digger said. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

“Yeah,” Twain said. Digger nudged the check across the table toward him. Twain looked at it, then looked at Digger. “What?”

“You need to pay the check,” Digger said.

“I thought you were picking up the checks,” Twain said. “What happened to that money you borrowed from your girlfriend?”

“Number one, she’s not my girlfriend, and number two, the money went where the rest of my clothes went when I put the mask on,” Digger said.

“Okay, I’ll buy that,” Twain said, picking up the check.

“While you’re doing that, give me some money,” Digger said. “I’ll run next door and buy us some sodas for the road.”

Twain started to say something, but just shrugged and pulled out his wallet. He handed Digger a twenty and turned toward the cash register. Digger walked outside and headed toward a nearby convenience store. As he walked, he caught the scent of coffee, and after moment, traced the smell to the twenty dollar bill in his hand.

“Huh,” he said, “and he said he doesn’t like coffee. Oh shit!”

The money smelled like coffee!

Who cares what the money smells like? Find out tomorrow in our next exciting episode!

To read from the beginning, click here…

Or to continue to the next episode, click here!

Previously: Digger used the mystical Mask of El Coco to get rid of the seismometers being used by the Cobalt Czar to track his movements and keep him from using his Drillers. What he didn’t expect was to lose his Drillers, too. And now…

“Will you stop doing that?” Twain growled across the table. “People are going to think you’re on acid or something.”

Digger paused in twirling his hand on the end of his wrist, but didn’t manage to look away from it. “I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s just been so long since I had a real range of motion, I forgot what it was like. This is so weird.”

“It’s not weird,” Twain replied. “It’s normal.”

“That’s weird for me,” Digger answered.

They were sitting in a coffee shop, able to eat openly for the first time in days. Nobody was looking for them in Chicago, and even if they were, it was Digger they would be trying to spot. And without his Drillers or his costume (which had disappeared along with the Drillers), Digger was just some dude in baggy skater jeans.

“What do you think went wrong?” Digger asked.

“Nothing went wrong,” Twain said.

“What do you mean, nothing went wrong?” Digger asked loudly. Aware of the looks he was attracting from around the coffee shop, he added more quietly, “Of course something went wrong. Not only did I lose my Drillers, I lost all my other powers, too. I’m weak, I’m slow, I have no seismic sense. And look…”

He placed his palm down over his napkin, then lifted his hand. The napkin stayed on the table.

“What the hell am I supposed to do with this?”

[blockquote type=”blockquote_quotes” align=”right”]“What do you mean, nothing went wrong?” Digger asked loudly. Aware of the looks he was attracting from around the coffee shop, he added more quietly, “Of course something went wrong. Not only did I lose my Drillers, I lost all my other powers, too. I’m weak, I’m slow, I have no seismic sense. And look…”[/blockquote]“Blend in.” Twain reached across the table and forced Digger’s hand down, as Digger had started staring at his arm again, turning it this way and that. “That’s not blending in. Look, I told you before you tried it that the mask switches your body with that of a parallel you, in another universe. Obviously, whatever happened to give you your powers didn’t happen to this guy.”

“How does that happen?” Digger asked. “I mean, I understand the ‘not getting powers’ part, but… These powers have pretty much shaped my entire adult life, over fifteen years now. What kind of life do you think he has without them? Is he happier, do you think?”

“Probably not now,” Twain said, and took another bite of pancakes.

Digger thought about another him, working in some office somewhere, suddenly being saddled with a suite of moderately useful super powers and thirty pounds of metal grafted to his arms. “Yeah, I guess that would suck. Bad enough I’m stuck with them. Now I had to ruin some other me’s life.”

“Not necessarily,” Twain said. “You never know, he may be having a great time, getting back at all the people he doesn’t like.”

“What, go on a rampage?”

“It’s what I would do.”

“Didn’t need to know that,” Digger said. “You’re sure that the mask will change me back the way I was?”

“Of course,” Twain said. “Once it resets after 24 hours.”

“That’s weird, isn’t it? Only being able to change once a day?” Digger asked.

Twain shrugged. “It’s magic. It doesn’t have to make sense.”

How does Digger plan to find and save the hostage now? Join us tomorrow for another episode.

To read from the beginning, click here…

Or to continue to the next episode, click here!

Previously: Digger and Twain are headed into Chicago to retrieve the Mask of El Coco for Plan B. And now…

The door to the storage building rattled up on hinges that needed oiling. The reek of dust and mildew struck Digger’s nostrils.

“So are these all artifacts you’ve stolen?” Digger asked, his voice echoing from the corrugated metal walls..

“Mostly, yeah,” Twain said.

“So this is like that warehouse at the end of Raiders,” Digger said, “only ten-by-twelve.”

“And real,” Twain said.

“Yeah,” Digger said. “Real small. Where’s the mask?”

“Over here.” Twain stepped over to an ornate wooden box and opened it.

Digger was disappointed that there was no light, no heavenly choir as the box was opened. Just the yellow gleam of gold on dark velvet. “Okay, hand it over,” Digger said.

“Now?” Twain asked. “I figured we might go someplace safer.”

“No, no more stalling” Digger said. “Let’s do this right now.”

“Okay, but…”

“But what?”

“Well, the first time you use the mask to bring your other self over,” Twain said, “he’s naked.”

“Naked.”

“Yeah,” Twain said. “So are you sure you wouldn’t rather wait until we’re in a room where you can have a change of clothes ready?”

“No, you can just grab some out of your van,” Digger said. “I want to make sure it works right now.”

[blockquote type=”blockquote_quotes” align=”right”]…the sound was masked by a keening in his head, like the sounding of a huge chime. He seemed to be turning, twisting, even though he hadn’t moved. And the next thing he knew…[/blockquote]“Okay.” Twain bent over the box, then turned to Digger and handed him the mask. It was heavier than he’d expected, and seemed to depict a man wearing two expressions simultaneously. It was a little disturbing to look at.

“So what do I do?” Digger asked.

“Just put it on,” Twain said.

The mask had leather straps that Digger assumed Twain had added recently, the way he had refurbished the cup. Digger placed the mask over his face and tightened the straps. “Okay, now what?” he asked, his voice echoing strangely in his own ears.

“Now you just change,” Twain said.

“How will I know when it happens?” Digger asked.

“You’ll know.”

Moments passed, but Digger felt no different. “Are you sure this thing works?”

“I’m sure,” Twain said. “Let me adjust it.”

Digger felt Twain’s hands fiddling with the straps on the mask, then Twain started to ask a question. Digger wasn’t sure what it was, though, because the sound was masked by a keening in his head, like the sounding of a huge chime. He seemed to be turning, twisting, even though he hadn’t moved. And the next thing he knew, he was on his back on the ground, the rough concrete cool against his back and the soles of his feet. The chime faded.

“Oh my God,” Twain muttered.

“Don’t freak, dude,” Digger said. “Just get me some clothes. You already knew I was going to be naked.”

“Yeah, but you’re a little more naked than I expected,” Twain said. “Look at your hands.”

Digger held his hands in front of his face and the hair on his arms stood straight up. Because there was hair on his arms where there used to be only metal and scar tissue.

The Drillers were gone!

What will Digger do now? Be here next week for the next exciting chapter of Run, Digger, Run!

To read from the beginning, click here…

Or to continue to the next chapter, click here!

Sliding in just under the wire…

Previously: After their failure with the Cup of Regret, Twain and Digger are headed to Chicago to use a different artifact to restore Digger’s Driller Beam Generators to full operation. And now…

In the hours after they passed through New York City headed west on I-80, Digger pondered just how he might use the opportunity Twain was promising. Getting the use of his Drillers back would be a huge boon… maybe.

After all, what would he do with them once he had them? Punch out the Cobalt Czar? Not likely, even given Digger’s history of beating bad odds. After all, he lost almost as many fights as he won, and he hadn’t really fought anyone in the Czar’s league. Camazotz, maybe, but perhaps not even him.

And that was assuming he could even track the Czar down. Doctor Jolt might be able to with his gadgets and hacking skills, but it was far from given. Hound Dog could definitely do it, but he made his living as a bounty hunter. He wouldn’t do it for free, and Digger had less than two hundred dollars cash in his pocket.

Then again, he could just say, “Do me this favor and I’ll give you this magic cup.” Problem solved.

As they passed the I-79 junction to Pittburgh, Digger looked south past Twain. Twain shifted uneasily under Digger’s stare. “What?” he asked.

“Pittsburgh is where we fought Psicho and Bugs to end Hell on Earth,” Digger said. “Much of the city burned. The fires are out now, but it’s like there’s still a haze over the city.”

[blockquote type=”blockquote_quotes” align=”left”]Hound Dog could definitely do it, but he made his living as a bounty hunter. He wouldn’t do it for free, and Digger had less than two hundred dollars cash in his pocket. Then again, he could just say, “Do me this favor and I’ll give you this magic cup.” Problem solved…[/blockquote]Twain glanced to his left, then shrugged. “I can’t see it. You want to see haze, wait till we pass Detroit. That place is all kinds of messed up. Every time they start to get it cleaned up, the Zombie Death Avengers get into another fight and trash the city to save it.”

“You think we actually do any good?” Digger asked. “Superheroes, I mean. Yeah, I helped save the world from Hell on Earth, but I also kind of helped cause it. Now some guy’s out there with a bomb around his neck because of me. I mean, what’s the point?”

“I don’t worry too much about why,” Twain said. “I prefer to concentrate on how. But I will tell you this: the only reason you guys can operate at all is because people haven’t come up with a weapon that can drop you reliably. You know, it takes a super to stop a super.”

“I know,” Digger said.

“But think about whales,” Twain said. “Whales are the biggest, most powerful creatures on Earth–or they were, before guys like you showed up–and they live in an incredibly dangerous environment for us. And yet, even before modern technology, people not only figured out how to kill whales, but they made it routine.”

“So what are you saying?” Digger asked.

“I’m saying,” Twain said, “that you may be a big, powerful hero now, and you may laugh at my little clothes-changing ability. But when somebody perfects a reliable, routine way to bring down a super, any super, you’ll wish you could pass for normal like I can.”

What will happen when they reach Chicago? Join us tomorrow for our next episode!

To read from the beginning, click here…

Or to continue to the next episode, click here!

Previously: After failing with the Cup of Regret, Twain has explained to Digger his Plan B: to use a magical mask to restore the function of Digger’s Driller Beam Generators. And now…

“Use my Drillers…” Digger mused. “But what good is that? I don’t have anyone to use them on.”

Twain shrugged. “Well, you’d have to find some way of tracking them down, either the hostage or the Cobalt Czar or both.”

“Find some way?” Digger asked. “You mean you don’t know how already?”

Twain shook his head. “That why it was Plan B. But you should know somebody, right?”

“I know a few guys, but…” Digger stared at the approaching Manhattan skyline, lost in thought. Then he sat up straight. “Of course. It’s simple. Deus!”

“Deus Ex Machina?” Twain asked. “The guy whose group we just fought twice? Why would he help us?”

“Well, we explain it to him,” Digger said. “And once we’ve given the cup back…”

“Give the cup back?” Twain sputtered. “What do you mean, give the cup back?”

“Well, it’s no use to us, right?” Digger asked. “And giving it back would show that we’re acting in good faith.”

[blockquote type=”blockquote_quotes” align=”right”]”I’m the one who had to fight Deus and Caveat and Stickus. And I’m the one who had to get the crystal. What the hell did you do?” Twain looked at Digger for a moment. Digger couldn’t read his expression. “I convinced you to do it.”[/blockquote]“Good faith,” Twain muttered. “You wanna know about faith? Faith is all the hours I spent searching for documents and doing translations and putting pieces together because I knew I was on to something big. Faith is traveling clear to the other side of the world chasing a legend that you can’t be sure is true. Faith is being held prisoner by the most terrifying man in the world and somehow turning that certain doom into a way to get your hands on that same legend. You know what faith isn’t?”

“Giving the cup back,” Digger muttered.

“It isn’t giving the damn cup back!” Twain shouted. “I worked too hard getting it to just give it back.”

“You worked hard?” Digger asked incredulously. “I did most of the work! I’m the one that guard shot at. I’m the one who had to fight Deus and Caveat and Stickus. And I’m the one who had to get the crystal. What the hell did you do?”

Twain looked at Digger for a moment. Digger couldn’t read his expression. “I convinced you to do it.”

Before Digger could come up with a reply, Twain held up his hand. “Look, let’s compromise, okay? It’s a long drive to Chicago, so we have time to think about it. After we’ve confirmed that the mask thing will work, if we haven’t come up with a better way to track them down, then we’ll take the cup to Deus. Agreed?”

Digger didn’t trust Twain–there was some other agenda behind those easy smiles of his–but he didn’t have any better answers. “Okay,” he said, “You promise?”

Twain nodded. “Giving the cup back is Plan B.”

“I thought the mask was Plan B.”

“I meant the Plan B to Plan B. Plan B-slash-b.”

“So Plan C.”

“No, Plan C is I stop the van and shoot you in the head if you don’t stop talking, I swear to God,” Twain said.

Digger looked out the window and smiled. He was starting to enjoy this trip.

Will the mask work? Will they need a Plan C? Join us tomorrow for more adventure in our next episode!

To read from the beginning, click here…

Or to continue to the next episode, click here!

Sorry for the late update, but I finally decided to fix something with the daily graphic that’s been bugging me for a while. It’s still not 100% there, but it’s closer.

Previously: Deus Ex Machina, in his civilian guise as Everett Cornwall, is visiting Acheron Boniface, known to the world at large as Invictus, in the clinic where he was taken after losing his arm in an incident with Twain. Everett asked Ron who he lost his arm. And now…

“I’m not sure what happened exactly,” Boniface said. “I caught that guy in the cowgirl outfit, and then he went all blurry, and then it felt like every nerve in my arm was being sliced apart. The pain was… Next thing I know, I’m on the ground and I’m not holding onto him anymore. I see some guy running off to get help, and then I woke up here.”

“And that’s it?” Everett asked. “Everything you can remember.”

“Yeah.” Boniface rubbed gingerly at his stump. “Itches.”

“You didn’t see what the cowgirl did?”

“Cowgirl was gone,” Boniface said. “There was just that guy in the suit, running away.”

“Interesting,” Everett said.

“You know what else is interesting?” Boniface said, still probing at his stump. “I could swear the bone has grown a little.”

***

The next morning was overcast as they drove back to New York. “So where are we going this time?” Digger asked.

“I told you, to get the mask,” Twain answered.

“And where’s that?” Digger asked. “Simple answer this time. No ‘You’ll see when we get there.’ No ‘We’ve got to steal three ingredients on the way.’ Just tell me where.”

[blockquote type=”blockquote_quotes” align=”left”]“Okay, that was too easy,” Digger said. “What’s the catch?” “What catch?” Twain echoed. “Simple question, simple answer. You said you wanted simple.” Digger looked out the window toward the approaching skyline. “I thought I did.” [/blockquote]Twain shrugged. “Chicago.”

“Okay, that was too easy,” Digger said. “What’s the catch?”

“What catch?” Twain echoed. “Simple question, simple answer. You said you wanted simple.”

Digger looked out the window toward the approaching skyline. “I thought I did.”

After a few minutes, Twain said, “Of course…” He drifted off.

“I knew it!” Digger said. “I knew there was a catch.”

“Not a catch,” Twain said. “A clarification. The mask is in storage, so we’ll get there too late to pick it up tonight. You’ll have to wait till tomorrow to start Plan B.”

“Which is?”

“It’s better if I show you,” Twain said.

“No, it’s not,” Digger said. “It’s really not. Tell me now.”

“Fine,” Twain said. “Basically, the mask makes you like me.”

“I don’t think anything on Earth could make me do that,” Digger said. “Even if I was drunk.”

Twain shook his head. “No, I mean it gives you my power.”

“What, the changing-clothes thing?”

“Yeah.”

“Why the hell would I want that?” Digger asked. “I mean granted, my powers aren’t the best around, but no offense,  I haven’t been sitting around thinking that all I need is the ability to change clothes to make me complete.”

“Of course you haven’t,” Twain muttered, staring at the road. “You’re too stupid.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Digger asked. “Why the hell would I want your lame-ass power?”

Twain’s jaw flexed as he ground his teeth. “Because,” he said, and pointed at the Drillers, “when you change, you won’t have those anymore.”

Digger looked at his hands. “The Drillers?”

“The seismometers,” Twain answered. “If you try to take them off now, you’ll trigger a signal that will kill the hostage. But if you use the mask to change, you’ll have no seismometers with no signal sent. You’ll be able to use your Drillers again.”

Is Twain telling the truth? And what difference will having the use of his Drillers make to Digger? Join us tomorrow for our next exciting episode!

To read from the beginning, click here…

Or to continue to the next episode, click here!