Part 1:
We sat in high-backed chairs around a fancy rectangular table.
Rick, Dale and Del were on either side of me, with the rest of the team seated across.
The King of Clouds presided at the head as gracious host.
Each of us had a cloud hovering directly overhead, a sinister if unsubtle message to obey him.
Beyond the skylight, a mammoth cloud loomed above the castle.
Servants in robes soon entered delivering platters of food: roast beef, rack of lamb, artichoke hearts, golden potatoes.
I would not eat of it. Who eats food from the enemy?
I glanced over to find Del biting into the roast beef, his face grinning as he chewed.
“Go ahead. It’s fine. Nut-jobs like this always have the best grub.”
The King of Clouds frowned, as if forced to indulge a small child.
Rick, Dale and Del were on either side of me, with the rest of the team seated across.
The King of Clouds presided at the head as gracious host.
Each of us had a cloud hovering directly overhead, a sinister if unsubtle message to obey him.
Beyond the skylight, a mammoth cloud loomed above the castle.
Servants in robes soon entered delivering platters of food: roast beef, rack of lamb, artichoke hearts, golden potatoes.
I would not eat of it. Who eats food from the enemy?
I glanced over to find Del biting into the roast beef, his face grinning as he chewed.
“Go ahead. It’s fine. Nut-jobs like this always have the best grub.”
The King of Clouds frowned, as if forced to indulge a small child.
“I do give you credit,” he said. “Smuggling your way in here? Bravo. But only to be captured? You must be disappointed.”
“More like disgust,” Shandoleesa replied. “I’d love to show you how much, you filthy little man.”
“I warn you only once: outbursts will not be tolerated. Keep your tongue in check.”
“What is it you really want?” the Lark asked. “Surely not money? You could simply patent your inventions and make a fortune.”
The King of Clouds chuckled at the absurdity of the idea.
“Of course not,” Del said, ladling au jus on his plate. “You want control of everything, right?”
“Pardon my lack of modesty, but I am most qualified. Clouds are everywhere. I rule the Heavens.”
“You’re telling us you’re God?”
“Not at all. Just the next best thing.”
“Others have made such claims,” the Lark said. “We have prisons full of them.”
“You’ve noticed the enormous cloud above my castle? I’d prefer my bones entombed here than rotting behind bars.”
“More like disgust,” Shandoleesa replied. “I’d love to show you how much, you filthy little man.”
“I warn you only once: outbursts will not be tolerated. Keep your tongue in check.”
“What is it you really want?” the Lark asked. “Surely not money? You could simply patent your inventions and make a fortune.”
The King of Clouds chuckled at the absurdity of the idea.
“Of course not,” Del said, ladling au jus on his plate. “You want control of everything, right?”
“Pardon my lack of modesty, but I am most qualified. Clouds are everywhere. I rule the Heavens.”
“You’re telling us you’re God?”
“Not at all. Just the next best thing.”
“Others have made such claims,” the Lark said. “We have prisons full of them.”
“You’ve noticed the enormous cloud above my castle? I’d prefer my bones entombed here than rotting behind bars.”
“We’ll never take you alive, is that it? Again, not an original sentiment.”
Del shrugged his shoulders and laughed.
“Do you want to know what I think?” asked the agent.
“No need. Your ignorance is quite clear. But there are others of whom I’m curious. Young lady, remind me of your identity?”
“Me? My name is Josephine Hatcher-Hyung.”
“And your brother sits beside?”
“Rick Hatcher-Hyung,” he said.
“Of what value are you two? I must say, you don’t seem like much. Why shouldn’t I push a button now and end your lives?”
He stared at us, piercingly, waiting for a reply, until someone else answered.
“Because I will find you by your next breath,” Dale said. “I guarantee it will be your last.”
The King of Clouds leaned back, surprise on his face.
“Now you … at least have spirit. I almost believe you might make good on that threat. But if you’re so dangerous, why not eliminate you first?”
“Are you really going to threaten us one at a time?” the Lark asked. “It makes you seem insecure.”
Our enemy pretended to not notice the rebuke, instead reaching for a glass of water.
Del shrugged his shoulders and laughed.
“Do you want to know what I think?” asked the agent.
“No need. Your ignorance is quite clear. But there are others of whom I’m curious. Young lady, remind me of your identity?”
“Me? My name is Josephine Hatcher-Hyung.”
“And your brother sits beside?”
“Rick Hatcher-Hyung,” he said.
“Of what value are you two? I must say, you don’t seem like much. Why shouldn’t I push a button now and end your lives?”
He stared at us, piercingly, waiting for a reply, until someone else answered.
“Because I will find you by your next breath,” Dale said. “I guarantee it will be your last.”
The King of Clouds leaned back, surprise on his face.
“Now you … at least have spirit. I almost believe you might make good on that threat. But if you’re so dangerous, why not eliminate you first?”
“Are you really going to threaten us one at a time?” the Lark asked. “It makes you seem insecure.”
Our enemy pretended to not notice the rebuke, instead reaching for a glass of water.
“Still another unknown sits before me this day. Jossen, is it? What say you for yourself?”
“I come from beneath the sea.”
“You seem no more than an ignorant lackey.”
Jossen did not respond, causing the King of Clouds to scowl.
“Is this what passes for QCP material? Where’s the famous Lincoln? Or that darling butterfly woman, or the Man of Magma?”
“Lincoln’s at the dentist,” Del said. “Needs fillings. Criss Sallis is getting her wings waxed. Lars is waiting for the cable guy.”
“I wonder … does the QCP regard me this lightly? Or is something else diverting your attentions?”
The King of Clouds looked at a small computer screen.
“A rocket has launched into space. There also seems to be activity at the Equator. Perhaps my clouds should intercede.”
“Those missions carry huge security implications. And have nothing to do with you.”
“Everything has to do with me. Now let’s see what your friends are attempting.”
Shandoleesa pounded her hands on the table.
“Enough! The world teeters on the brink, while we play games with this fool?”
“Darling, please, let the heroes handle this. Agent Ford can negotiate on our behalf.”
“You will silence your tongue immediately.”
Shandoleesa laughed.
“That’s all you have. Silence? Disinterest in your thoughts. You only dare imagine someone sharing your sad, lonely hopes.”
The King of Clouds looked as if he’d been slapped.
“Clouds in place of friends,” she said. “In place of family. Pathetic. Only the smallest of men could dream such – ”
The cloud above her thickened into a mass of rock.
Renee Bourjean lurched and flung his wife from her chair with brutal speed.
A heartless crash exploded as the Down Wolf fell crushed beneath the boulder.
“Renee!”
“I come from beneath the sea.”
“You seem no more than an ignorant lackey.”
Jossen did not respond, causing the King of Clouds to scowl.
“Is this what passes for QCP material? Where’s the famous Lincoln? Or that darling butterfly woman, or the Man of Magma?”
“Lincoln’s at the dentist,” Del said. “Needs fillings. Criss Sallis is getting her wings waxed. Lars is waiting for the cable guy.”
“I wonder … does the QCP regard me this lightly? Or is something else diverting your attentions?”
The King of Clouds looked at a small computer screen.
“A rocket has launched into space. There also seems to be activity at the Equator. Perhaps my clouds should intercede.”
“Those missions carry huge security implications. And have nothing to do with you.”
“Everything has to do with me. Now let’s see what your friends are attempting.”
Shandoleesa pounded her hands on the table.
“Enough! The world teeters on the brink, while we play games with this fool?”
“Darling, please, let the heroes handle this. Agent Ford can negotiate on our behalf.”
“You will silence your tongue immediately.”
Shandoleesa laughed.
“That’s all you have. Silence? Disinterest in your thoughts. You only dare imagine someone sharing your sad, lonely hopes.”
The King of Clouds looked as if he’d been slapped.
“Clouds in place of friends,” she said. “In place of family. Pathetic. Only the smallest of men could dream such – ”
The cloud above her thickened into a mass of rock.
Renee Bourjean lurched and flung his wife from her chair with brutal speed.
A heartless crash exploded as the Down Wolf fell crushed beneath the boulder.
“Renee!”
Shandoleesa rushed to her husband’s side, his body lost beneath the jagged ore.
“You … are under arrest,” the Lark said, thrusting back her chair as she stood. “You are under arrest, you evil, ugly man.”
“Goodbye, my dear.”
Another cloud turned to stone and plunged toward its target.
The Lark raised her arms and – caught the boulder! She caught it!
With a bellow she pressed the rock upwards, her legs buckling.
“Impressive, but you haven’t won yet. I can increase the density exponentially.”
Del lunged, knocking the King of Clouds from his chair. Both men tumbled to the ground.
I jumped to my feet.
Bad enough using the weather for evil. But poor Renee?
Throwing myself atop them, I thrashed and clawed until the King’s control device came off.
The remaining clouds instantly vanished.
Del unleashed a flurry of shattering punches that demolished any future struggle.
“Help,” the Lark squeaked as the weight bore down.
“You … are under arrest,” the Lark said, thrusting back her chair as she stood. “You are under arrest, you evil, ugly man.”
“Goodbye, my dear.”
Another cloud turned to stone and plunged toward its target.
The Lark raised her arms and – caught the boulder! She caught it!
With a bellow she pressed the rock upwards, her legs buckling.
“Impressive, but you haven’t won yet. I can increase the density exponentially.”
Del lunged, knocking the King of Clouds from his chair. Both men tumbled to the ground.
I jumped to my feet.
Bad enough using the weather for evil. But poor Renee?
Throwing myself atop them, I thrashed and clawed until the King’s control device came off.
The remaining clouds instantly vanished.
Del unleashed a flurry of shattering punches that demolished any future struggle.
“Help,” the Lark squeaked as the weight bore down.
“Jossen! Shoulder the load if you can!”
His lanky frame slipped beside her as he got his hands in place.
With a triumphant cry, the duo pooled their strength and pushed the boulder to the side, narrowly escaping its path.
Rick, Dale and I ran to the Down Wolf.
Shandoleesa went in search of vengeance.
“Take it easy,” Del said as he restrained the King of Clouds. “Go back to Renee. This maniac will pay for what he’s done.”
“He’ll pay now! Don’t make me go through you.”
“Fine. But one shot. One kick, understand? And don’t kill him!”
Shandoleesa did not hesitate, aiming a leg at the villain’s chin.
I expected a horrific result, yet her target merely winced and sunk to the floor.
“You used your good leg?”
“I wanted to feel it,” she answered, tears running down her face. “I … needed to feel it.”
An evil laugh caught our ears. Del lunged for the stricken King of Clouds but was too late.
“Behold, the sky is falling!” cackled the villain.
Despite being stripped of his control band, the King of Clouds had triggered a transformation.
“Oh yes! The sky is falling!”
His lanky frame slipped beside her as he got his hands in place.
With a triumphant cry, the duo pooled their strength and pushed the boulder to the side, narrowly escaping its path.
Rick, Dale and I ran to the Down Wolf.
Shandoleesa went in search of vengeance.
“Take it easy,” Del said as he restrained the King of Clouds. “Go back to Renee. This maniac will pay for what he’s done.”
“He’ll pay now! Don’t make me go through you.”
“Fine. But one shot. One kick, understand? And don’t kill him!”
Shandoleesa did not hesitate, aiming a leg at the villain’s chin.
I expected a horrific result, yet her target merely winced and sunk to the floor.
“You used your good leg?”
“I wanted to feel it,” she answered, tears running down her face. “I … needed to feel it.”
An evil laugh caught our ears. Del lunged for the stricken King of Clouds but was too late.
“Behold, the sky is falling!” cackled the villain.
Despite being stripped of his control band, the King of Clouds had triggered a transformation.
“Oh yes! The sky is falling!”
I looked up and saw a gargantuan hunk of rock about to pulverize the castle.
It whistled like a falling bomb.
A giant shadow heralded doom.
Destruction reigned with unescapable certainty.
We were dead.
“I love you Rick!"
The shards of the skylight exploded upon us.
But ... only for a moment.
We reappeared in the mountain air beside the QCP jet.
Dale had saved us!
He’d managed to get our entire team out, along with the King of Clouds and two of his servants.
Renee was now freed from his pinned position; fresh blood flowed from his garish wounds.
The Lark and Jossen tried to staunch the bleeding as Del searched the LAD for supplies.
Dale looked wobbly and nearly passed out in the snow.
“Are you OK?” Rick asked, kneeling at his side. “Take some deep breaths.”
“I’ve never blinked … such a big group before.”
“Can you get Renee to a hospital?” Shandoleesa begged. “Please, every second counts.”
“I’ve got to recharge,” Dale replied. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ll get him there,” the Lark said, wrapping Renee in blankets and taking him in her arms. “Del, find the nearest trauma center and send me the coordinates as I fly.”
“Will do.”
“Don’t let him die,” cried the wife of the Down Wolf. “I can’t lose him!”
“You won’t. I promise.”
We watched as the Lark flew off with Renee.
They rose up higher and higher, finally disappearing among the harmless, innocent clouds now dotting the Bavarian sky.
It whistled like a falling bomb.
A giant shadow heralded doom.
Destruction reigned with unescapable certainty.
We were dead.
“I love you Rick!"
The shards of the skylight exploded upon us.
But ... only for a moment.
We reappeared in the mountain air beside the QCP jet.
Dale had saved us!
He’d managed to get our entire team out, along with the King of Clouds and two of his servants.
Renee was now freed from his pinned position; fresh blood flowed from his garish wounds.
The Lark and Jossen tried to staunch the bleeding as Del searched the LAD for supplies.
Dale looked wobbly and nearly passed out in the snow.
“Are you OK?” Rick asked, kneeling at his side. “Take some deep breaths.”
“I’ve never blinked … such a big group before.”
“Can you get Renee to a hospital?” Shandoleesa begged. “Please, every second counts.”
“I’ve got to recharge,” Dale replied. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ll get him there,” the Lark said, wrapping Renee in blankets and taking him in her arms. “Del, find the nearest trauma center and send me the coordinates as I fly.”
“Will do.”
“Don’t let him die,” cried the wife of the Down Wolf. “I can’t lose him!”
“You won’t. I promise.”
We watched as the Lark flew off with Renee.
They rose up higher and higher, finally disappearing among the harmless, innocent clouds now dotting the Bavarian sky.