Mark did the mental equivalent of pacing, mouthing battle tactics, not speaking them aloud. He periodically glanced over to the troops. He mostly eyed Totem; an instinctive distrust of a known criminal, but he also gauged the others. Whenever the plane hit turbulence, Dynamo winced. For a hero dressed in electric blue, he was turning an odd shade of green. When he met the team in Los Angeles, he was a little wobbly, explaining that the alien ships entering the atmosphere caused horrific turbulence. The flight from Seattle was only slightly less bumpy than the ride into Kansas.

When they were twenty minutes from Kansas, Mark decided it was time to lay it on the line. He rose to his feet.

"Heads up. Here's the plan. Our first target is Armature. We'll hit him just outside of Dodge. Seems appropriate somehow."

Blackjack rolled his eyes. Mark couldn't help but smirk a little.

Mark turned to Blur. "Zephyr should have already cleared out the town. You'll move ahead of us, do a quick recon, make sure people are out of the war zone and then return to us. Once you've gotten back, we'll start our attack. You'll hang back during the battle; if anyone looks like they'll get seriously hurt, you'll do retrieval. Otherwise, you'll stay close to Ms. Klemper and the Veil."

"So she can keep an eye on me." The Grey Veil said with a sneer.

"Yeah." Mark shrugged. "And if at any time the alien control weakens on Armature, she'll drop you and Ms. Klemper over by Armature, where you two and Lightstar will try to bring the big "A" back to his senses. But I don't want you two to approach Armature until he's a little closer to his normal psyche."

"Sensible." The Veil said with a slight sneer..

Mark turned to the rest of the team. "The plan of attack is as follows. Totem, I want you to create an area of intense cold around him. Something that will sap his defenses, make him more vulnerable to attack. I'm going to put up a force field around key pressure points. I'm not going to be able to contain that monster..." He looked at Miss Klemper begin to state an objection and silenced her with a smile. "But I can probably make him substantially less coordinated. Once we've done that, Totem and I will move in to hand-to-hand range, and we'll see if we can beat the crap out of him. Dynamo will attempt to deflect Armature's attacks with his lightning; if this isn't working, boost your lightning as much as possible, and try to fry him." Dynamo nodded, saying nothing. "Lightstar will attack psionically from a safe distance; when one of us goes down, you'll get in our heads and wake us up psionically."

"And what about me?" Blackjack said, a little coldly.

"If you've got heavy weaponry, you can snipe at Armature from a distance. But your primary function is surveillance. I expect the Lizzos will try to intervene once it's apparent Armature's losing. If that happens, I warn Dynamo and you to turn your attention to the craft; hit it as hard as possible. Aim for anything that looks like an engine or a weapon. Hopefully Totem and I can finish Armature quickly and we'll join you. Our goal is to enter the ship and smash anything that looks like a control system. Hopefully, we'll hit whatever's controlling Armature and we can bring him over to our side."

"Questions?"

"More of a comment," Lightstar said. "I doubt I'll have much success at a psionic attack on Armature. His force of will is staggering. But I'll try."

Totem nodded at Lightstar's remarks. His sizable arms braced himself as the plane hit slight turbulence, grabbing hold of a section of the aircraft's bulkhead. He looked at each and every member of the team with eyes of stone.

"When Armature was what you people considered a, quote-unquote, 'hero,'" he said, "those within shamanistic circles claimed he was the embodiment of one of the natural forces."

He then turned his attention solely on Mark Battle. "I could summon the powers of the wind-spirit to generate Arctic winds. But I won't. We're contending with a man of divine nature. If Armature can survive the rigors of outer space, surely he can survive an extreme cold front. I could try summoning the fire-spirit, but that would probably be just as unsuccessful. No, I'll rely on the might of the earth and water."

As the turbulence settled, Totem's grip of the bulkhead relaxed. A disturbing look of confidence came over him. "Don't worry, I'll stabilize Armature." He added.

Mark frowned and turned his attention first to Lightstar. "Do what you can, Light. If you feel more comfortable getting into his head and monitoring his thoughts, or just telepathically talking to him and playing Jiminy Cricket during the fight, that might be a way to go."

"And as for you..." Mark turned to Totem with fire in his eyes. Inwardly, he admired the man's confidence -- some day they'd have a great time kicking each other's ass... "You're probably right about the cold. But I've fought Armature. This guy makes Kayli look like a china doll. We've tried reason and we've tried combat, and nothing's gotten through to him. I don't mean to diss your religion, but what makes you think you can do it when everyone else has failed? What's your plan?"

With a smile, most likely to spite Mark even more, Totem offhandedly replied, "There's a Native American proverb: 'Tell me, and I'll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I'll understand.'"

Totem then folded his arms before his chest. "This upcoming confrontation with Armature is different to the ones that preceded it because there'll be a team effort. Yes, Bounty Hunter, I said I'll stabilize Armature. And I will do just that. With the powers of the earth-spirit, I'll slow our opponent down with the very ground he'll be walking on. I'll summon columns of granite and bedrock to barricade him; I'll even open up the earth around him and trap him several yards underground. As long as I'm on the ground, I can use the earth as a fuel, providing me with endless power. A similar game plan can be applied if I channel the powers of the water-spirit."

Dynamo just closed his eyes and thought about anything but food on the roller coaster ride, listening to the testosterone percolate in the cabin.

"Now," Totem continued, "I could brag and boast, prance and preen, describing to you just how powerful Na'pi is, but I think actions speak louder than words. Just ask Photon and the Machine. And in regards to your Kayli reference, Bounty Hunter, I underestimated her. I won't underestimate Armature."

"Good." Mark said. "But all the immobility in the world won't help us if we can't get any damage through to Armature, and I don't expect the aliens to intervene unless they see their weapon start to go down. I wonder if I couldn't use some sort of force field to amplify Armature's nervous system? Make his pain centers more sensitive.... Nah, I ain't a neurologist." It was a little disturbing to see Mark thinking out loud. "On the other hand, it wouldn't be too hard to set up a concussion field around him that amplifies incoming attacks."

Mark turned to the assembled gathering. The slight jolt and purring of the military craft seemed to reflect the collective nervousness of the team. "Totem, you'll get immobilization duty. I'll try to set up something around Armature that'll increase the penetration on our attacks. With Dynamo's lightning blocking his blows, we've got a good shot at taking him down."

Mark grinned and sat down next to Totem. "By the way, Totes. Nice proverb."

From the back of the plane, Blur decided to pipe up. "Uhm, I just thought of something." Her voice was clearly shaky. "What if Totem enveloped Armature with his water form? You know, he could try and hold him back like some sort of living tsunami. This might not only immobilize Armature, but it might also intensify the effects of Dynamo's attacks." The young speedster gave the Blackfoot a timid glance, swallowing hard, then added, "Being that Totem would be in a form that can conduct electricity."

Mark tried to give the nervous heroine a sympathetic glance. "Well, I was hoping Dynamo would be using his lightning to block Armature's blows. But if at some point in the fight, Dynamo feels an offensive attack is needed, it might be good to keep that tactic in mind." He turned to Dynamo and Totem. "You two work up a codeword to let each other know you're changing forms or want the other guy to change. Thanks, Blur."

And, as if on cue, the plane began its quick descent into a grassy field, digging a furrow into winter-bit soil, as ragged, as damaged, as the fields that had seen Armature's onslaught. But Armature's damage had previously been contained. Now the real war was about to begin.

The walls and barriers of the city sped through Blur's vision as she zig-zagged about. She raced up the sides of buildings, breezed over the roofs of cars, twisting and turning, trying to cover as much of Dodge's area as she possibly could.

From what she could see, the city had been evacuated. Vehicles were scattered about the streets, many of them still running. The Long Branch Saloon on Front Street had been emptied of its patrons, with their drinks and smoking cigarettes still on their tables. The students and teachers at St. Mary of the Plains College and a local high school had been cleared out as well, and the tourist section around Boot Hill was very much the same.

Dodge City looked like a ghost town.

"Welcome back." Mark said, seeing the heroine rejoin them. "Have fun?"

Panting slighting, Blur took in a deep breath, and then said, "I always wanted to see the wild cowtown where Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson made their starts. Maybe I'll come again and actually take the time to enjoy it."

But the speedster could see that her teammates weren't interested in her sightseeing. "Oh, sorry. Yeah, Mark, you were right. Zephyr came through here and cleared everyone out. I've gotta say it's kinda creepy seeing a city totally evacuated."

Mark nodded and led the team to a small Quartz observation post on the outskirts of town. There were a pair of Quartz agents stationed there, staring at the oncoming hero through a pair of field glasses. "He's coming…" one of them noted. "He really looks pissed!"

"I'm glad I'm not going out there," the other agent said.

"Change in plans." Mark smiled. "We need a diversion. And you guys are it. You're going to hit Armature in front, while we sneak up from behind with the real offense."

"Whuh…," the agent gaped.

"I've been told that you two are the best," Mark said. "I'm really proud to serve with you guys. Man, you're probably the bravest mothers I've ever known."

"Huh…," the other agent said in astonishment.

"Of course I hear Duke Barren always say how you guys are the real heroes, and we long underwear types are just posers, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You're the best. And while you're stopping Armature, can you get me some coffee? Black and hot. And I know you aren't cops, but do you got any donuts?"

Blackjack finally burst out laughing. "Geez, doesn't anyone know bull when they hear it?" Blackjack said. Mark grinned as he watched the color return to the agents' faces.

"It's hard to recognize a joke when things are as bad as they're looking right now," Mark stated, and then he turned to the agents. "You guys are assigned to guard Lightstar and the civilians. And you better hope we take him out, because if we don't, you *will* be in the line of fire. What's his range?"

"Half a kilometer," The agent responded.

"Well, time for the party to begin." Mark shrugged. "Dynamo, Blackjack, hang back fifty yards. Totem, you know what to do. I'll be with you."

As the Blackfoot nodded, he changed. His skin and clothing discolored to earthen hues; and his bodily contours altered subtly, growing in size and becoming more angular and statuesque. He turned into something more than human -- grander and more terrible, a creature one with the Earth.

Mark clapped his hands together, smiling. "Let's rock."

The team approached their target. Armature was on foot, looking ragged and worn, a battered, angry god. His hair, long, grey-tinged, tangled, hung in Viking strands behind his head. His clothing, his once-proud, familiar costume, was tattered multicolored threads that barely covered his muscular frame. There was a weariness in his gait, but his face was hard as stone, and his eyes burned.

Totem confidently closed in on Armature, and a rumble accompanied his every step. Scree and rocks slid all around the earthen anti-hero, turning what would have been the random movements of the land into a coherent human voice. "I don't know what you think to accomplish, strong one. But it stops here and now."

The earth moved about the two men. A tremor echoed, causing the nearby thickets and sycamores to sway wildly. The ground lurched, sagged, and twisted about Armature. A crevice formed underneath Totem's mighty opponent, growing into an ever-widening maw of bedrock, soil rolling off its stone teeth. Then the ground swallowed Armature whole.

Totem grinned -- then gaped in astonishment as the ground exploded in a shower of detritus and boulders. With insurmountable might, Armature shot up from the bowels of the earth, his eyes fuming.

They are obstacles, a voice in Armature's head proclaimed. Do not let them divert you. Armature immediately found stable ground and stepped forward.

Totem raised a rocky arm and gestured. Pillars of earth sprouted up from the ground, and in stark defiance of natural law, rippled and twisted around Armature. But even such uncanny entanglements weren't enough to stop the strongest man in the world. And as he expanded his barrel chest and lifted his arms, Armature broke free from the coiled columns of granite.

Totem's growl sounded like a landslide. "I've never encountered such might!"

A light tremble drummed underneath Totem. Frosted grass and frozen clay parted as the Blackfoot sank into the ground.

"I don't believe it," a Quartz agent said, watching the entire confrontation from the lens of his binoculars, "Totem just retreated."

"Normally I'd be cheering," the other agent replied. "But this ain't normal."

Suddenly a geyser of water sprung from the area where Totem was standing. A white bubbling shape emerged from the fountain and resolved itself into a watery humanoid, ebbing and flowing towards Armature. And then it engulfed the large man.

Armature struggled, but the sphere of free-standing water simply moved when he did, leaving him in the center.

The man-shaped tidal wave spoke in a bold, distorted voice. "I'm holding him back!" The team knew the voice belonged to Totem.

Insolence! rang the voice in Armature's mind. Rid yourself of these disturbances.

With that, Armature parted the water with a swipe of his hands.

Remembering the near fatal effects of attacking the Water Warrior a few months back, Dynamo was leery about striking while Totem assumed his water form. But he was there to do a job -- to protect the heroes who tried to stop Armature. While Armature continued to strike the watery barrier, Dynamo fired at the Earth's Greatest Hero.

The jagged blast of electricity didn't even slow Armature's swing. Armature punched Totem without acknowledging Dynamo's presence, his steely fist splitting the Blackfoot with a force that would have crushed a man of flesh and bone. Dynamo frowned. In the back of his head he heard the voice of his sensei, An ounce of deflection can turn hundreds of pounds of attack.

Dynamo centered himself and watched Armature's movements much closer. When the strong man committed to his attack, Dynamo fired another lightning bolt at the incredible fist with every "ounce" of power he could muster. The blow missed its target. Dynamo smiled.

But Armature continued to advance forward.

"Well, that didn't work." Blackjack snorted and unpacked a huge rifle. He loaded a large caliber spent uranium round into the chamber, and targeted Armature's chest. A laser sight danced over the hero's torso, and came to a rest in the center of his sternum. Blackjack gave a faint smile and pulled the trigger. The bang was more impressive than the result -- the round bounced off like it was foam rubber. "That didn't work either." He frowned.

Totem had congealed from Armature's beating. He was glistening, shapeless, and only vaguely humanoid, possessing a face that resembled a melting ice sculpture. His voice bubbled, "Enough of this! If it's a fight he wants, a fight he's gonna get." Then Totem seeped into the ground.

An instant later, the ground began to rumble again, the earth flexing as a shockwave shook through it. The flowing wavefront swept up and Totem resurfaced as a nine-foot-tall parody of humanity, constructed of rocks and compacted dirt, with enormous fists. He was clearly filled with rage.

"I'm with you," Mark said, feeling only slightly calmer. "Let's introduce him to serious punishment." Mark concentrated and threw up the strangest force field he'd ever attempted: a concave-shaped wave that appeared, face on, like a dancing distortion that periodically rippled around the hero. Armature looked like an aquiline reflection of himself after a pebble had been tossed into a pool. "Okay, Arm Chair, let's hope this cranks up the volume."

Totem finally reached within hand-to-hand range of Armature. He braced his feet against the ground, digging deep in rock, and threw a tremendous uppercut. Relentless force pushed the sledgehammer fist upward in a fell swing. The force field that enveloped Armature amplified Totem's punch as it resonated with the explosiveness of a cannon. Armature's jaw clacked from the blow and he toppled over, but he hovered back to his feet before he could fall flat on his back.

A sneer spread across Totem's craggy features.

Mark was too busy to compliment Totem on his well struck blow. Armature quickly rolled to his feet, and Mark stepped forward and managed to catch Armature with a punch to the ribs that he barely felt -- even with the concussion field -- and a punch to the jaw that was just a little more effective. Totem was clearly the powerhouse of the team. Na'pi had blessed him well. He was a colossus, trading blow for blow with the mighty hero -- and yet, without Dynamo's lightning shield to partially protect him, it was obvious that he would eventually fall before Armature's onslaught.

Totem continued to press Armature with walloping hooks and uppercuts, the land lurching with each powerful strike. Armature staggered several times, his legs nearly buckling out from under him with the last blow. And that's when the familiar voice invaded his mind again.

Armature scowled at Totem and closed his hands into a tight, knotted fists. He punched Totem, again and again, the force increasing rapidly. Small chunks of earth fell off Totem's body from the repeated attacks. The Blackfoot's body was starting to split and crumble.

Mark noticed Totem begin to falter. He stepped forward, and nudged him out of the line of fire. "Take a breather…" he said, as an Armature punch broke his nose. Totem took a breath, and drew into the power of the earth to restore himself -- a pity he couldn't do more -- and then waded back into the fight. Mark managed to connect with a vicious punch that staggered Armature, setting him up for another attack from Totem.

"Well." One of the Quartz agents noted through the field glasses. "They're doing more damage to Armature than anyone else has managed.

"It don't mean diddly squat if they go down first," his comrade noted.

"Incoming!" Blackjack shouted. The two agents swiveled and turned their attention to the large alien ship. Which, like a spawning fish, was disgorging several smaller ships, that were approaching on a landing vector. Blackjack put down the assault rifle and switched to a bracketed Armbrust, and strafed them with the best ordinance that taxpayer's could buy. One of the ships skidded to the ground with a thud; two others landed and began deploying troops. The Quartz agents provided additional fire, holding back - for the moment.

"Time's running out." Mark said, barely able to hold himself up. His face was a mask of bloody, swollen, bruised flesh, his ribs were shattered, and his fists were raw from contact with flesh and bone that was harder than steel. But despite the pain and exhaustion, his eyes were burning as brightly as Armature's. Totem had borne more of the wrath of Armature's wrath, but he had also managed to bolster himself with the power of the earth, and his wrath rivaled anything that either Mark or Armature had ever seen.

Totem waded back into the fray, and with a rumbling roar, managed to knock Armature down with a powerful haymaker, amplified by Mark's force field. Armature fell to the ground with a perplexed look on his face.

Lightstar started. Throughout the fight, the mental voices in Armature's head were a screaming drone; he had not even managed to get close to making contact. But after Totem's thundering blow, the control suddenly wavered. He gave a mental command to Blur, He's coming around, bring out the Veil and Ms. Klemper!

Blur looked at the two ladies and took in a deep breath. Then she said, "I have to take you to Armature."

The Grey Veil shook her head. "You can't carry the both of --"

But before she could finish her sentence, the teenaged speedster stretched out her arms and swept up both the Veil and Ms. Klemper. Even for a girl of her height she was able to transport the two, using the power generated behind her strong legs. Mud churned as she pumped. She whizzed towards the battlefield in true testament of her namesake.

"Listen up!" Blackjack interrupted them. "Just got word on the Quartz channel. Some yahoo ordered an air strike on our position!"

All heads turned. In the distance, the sound of jets could be heard approaching.

"Tell those sons of bitches to hold their fire!" Mark yelled at Blackjack.

Blackjack shook his head. "They're not Quartz...someone else authorized this."

Mark spat a curse. "What's their ordinance. If they're friend or foe, I can set up a force field barrier at range and protect us. If they're heatseekers… Totem, can you get into a fire form, create a lingering fireball someplace safe, and change forms before it locks on you?"

Blackjack spoke up. "They're probably radar controlled missiles. That fireball idea might be enough to detonate the warheads in transit, though, if you can get the fireball between us and them."

Totem nodded. Suddenly his entire body combusted into a fiery man-shape, rippling contours of

orange and yellow defining his once human features.

Totem gestured, his hands pointing upwards. A roaring sphere of flame gushed from his blazing body and flew into the sky. The corona gained speed as well as grew in size, twisting in the air, as if obeying some

unheard command. The Blackfoot smiled, but it was slightly tensed as he concentrated on the raging fireball, drawing it closer to the missiles. The sudden flare of life was enough to detonate the missiles, sundering most of their shrapnel to brilliant incandescence, and the explosion was short-lived. A moment after that, and the last dull glints of heat from the fiery debris had faded, the hovering flames of Totem's sphere had closed in on itself and drawn off.

Mark threw up a shimmering dome to protect the group from the small bits of shrapnel that peppered to the ground.

Blackjack gave a sigh of relief. "Quartz has overridden the jet orders. They won't be back…"

"Uh oh…," Mark said, seeing Armature get to his feet again, advancing on the team, he glanced at Lightstar, who was in a telepathic trance.

The Grey Veil took a hesitant step forward, saw the look in his eyes, and quickly then turned away. She tore off her hood. It was Christina Connors, the actress who had played the Veil in the Armature Saga. I may not be a supervillainess, but I play one on TV, Mark thought.

"I can't do it," Connors said, sobbing. "I thought this would be a way to play the Grey Veil one last time, but it's just too much."

Judy Klemper was fuming. "I wondered who you were. I might have known!" She stepped up to the

actress, planted her feet, and laid the actress out cold with an expert right hook. Ignoring the others, she sprinted toward Armature.

"What in hell do you think you're doing?" Klemper shouted. "You spent all those years helping people, working to make their lives better, and for what? So they could slave away in an alien salt mine? Did you rescue cats out of trees so they could starve to death when their owners were killed by aliens? Did you stop bank robberies so they could be plundered by your alien masters?"

Armature raised his fist. Do away with her, the voice said. But suddenly the words from the outside world were sounding a lot clearer to him. Mark noticed blood trickling out of Lightstar's nostrils and ears.

"But do you know what the real crime is?" Klemper said. "You gave hope to millions. Damn it, this world needs hope. It needs it more badly than anything. There are so many things that are hurtful out there, that it's the easiest thing in the world to lose. You meant something to people. Look at this child…" Klemper turned to Blur. "She's only a kid, but she's risking her life every day, following in your footsteps. Don't you know what you mean to these people? Tell him." She addressed Blur. "Tell Armature what he means to you, even though he left earth before you were born."

Blur stepped forward, her hands trembling with fear. "I-I've heard s-so much about you from Zephyr," she said hesitantly. "All the stories of you are so incredible. You fought for the common good, made the world safe. Y-you're the World's Greatest Hero..."

Dynamo held his strike to deflect Armature's fist from smearing Klemper across the countryside. Seeing the verbal distractions starting to get through to the large man, Dynamo yelled, "Armature! You are this world's Hope! In some way or another, whether they'll admit it or not, you have inspired every hero to take up the fight. You truly showed us that with great power comes great responsibility."

Dynamo gestured to the people surrounding the strong man, "These people need your help. We need your hope. We need the hero back! Come back to us Armature. Please."

"See? See what you mean to them?" Klemper said. "Even a money-loving thug like Mark Battle risked his life to bring you back to your senses. You bring out the best in humanity. Don't betray it now. Don't betray what I've always loved and admired about you."

Kill her. The voice was insistent. But the voice was faint, thanks to Lightstar, in Armature's burgeoning conscience.

"NOOOO!!!!" Armature screamed.

There was thunder in heaven, though no clouds marred the sky. Armature abruptly shot skyward, punching a man-sized hole the entire way through the alien vessel. There was a grotesque crunching sound accompanied by a sonic boom, and a cloud of metal fragments drifted downward. Dynamo stared wide-eyed at the power Armature could generate. I was trying to fight that?!? He said to himself. Dynamo, old boy, you are crazy."

Judy Klemper smiled broadly. The vessel, badly wounded but still operational, made a quick retreat, with Armature in raging pursuit.

Mark shook his head, mouth gaping, and then struggled to straighten himself. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said with a heavy breath. "I really feel like fracturing some alien skulls. Who's with me?"

About twenty alien troopers had landed, heavily armed, but looking somewhat befuddled at the departure of their mother ship. Mark put up a heavily reinforced force field to deflect their initial fire, and the Terran champions gathered for the attack. Blackjack, who was in the best firing position, switched to his power rifle, downing the lead trooper with a beautifully placed shot.

Blur zig-zagged around a few reptilian aliens, dodging their attempts at firing at her. She was everywhere and nowhere at once, breezing this way and that, disorienting the troopers. Before they could try and shoot her with their outlandish guns, the speedster unleashed a blistering flurry of punches. Her fists were lobbing streaks that never stopped. And before the aliens even fell to the ground unconscious, Blur found safe ground elsewhere. She watched the battlefield to see if her teammates needed any help.

Now the aliens were more Dynamo's speed. Some of the thugs Dynamo had brought down were only slightly less well armed than the aliens. Concentrated blasts of electricity shot from his fingers to strike the invaders. When he started to get winded, the electric hero ran to the nearest downed power line and brought himself back up to his full fighting potential. With enough voltage, the lizards Dynamo could effect went down handily.

A voice told Mark to hang back at close range and harass the aliens with force fields; naturally, he ignored it. He did heavily reinforce the fields around his body, and charged to close range with the aliens. They were strong, and tough -- one punch nearly knocked him unconscious -- but he was in a near berserker fury and didn't care. He mowed down an alien, moved to the next one, and proceeded to pulp him as badly as he could in as short a time as possible.

Seeing that the aliens were in fact air-breathing creatures, Totem wafted into nothingness, relying on the powers of the wind-spirit. He toppled several reptilian troopers over with jerky, gale-force buffets. The aliens fought to regain their footing.

"No you don't," Totem's voice echoed in the wind.

Then the aliens slumped over unconscious, the air around them now incredibly thin.

After a minute of fighting, the aliens were subdued. Mark gave each member of his team an approving glance, and went to inspect Lightstar. He was barely functional -- the battle to restore Armature's mind had taken its toll.

"We need a medic for him, bad." Mark noted.

"Quartz is on the way." Blackjack noted. "And you could use a little doctoring yourself."

"Yeah, more medical bills. I'm gonna have to file for bankruptcy at this rate." Mark responded. He looked at each member of the team again, and pulled them together. "Great work, people. This can be a thankless job, so let me give you my thanks. We couldn't have done this without any of you. Especially the 'Mohawk Musclehead'. Good scrap, Totem."

Totem gritted his teeth, his face hard and dour. "I suppose so," he replied. "You proved to be more than formidable yourself, Bounty Hunter. It's unfortunate that we had to team up under these circumstances."

"I hate to interrupt you guys when you're bonding," Blackjack said. "But the alien ships over each of the cities have started sending troops to the surface. They're taking prisoners."