Outcasts

[Tobias]

Welcome to Alex Vincent High School

Shot of students walking to class, talking, etc.

Where everyone is treated with respect

Shot of a short blonde kid getting tripped, then rammed into a locker.

Well, almost everyone

"We're Outcasts. We're the guys who stand out from the crowd."

Cue a nerdy, scrawny boy lifting a car over his head.

"What did you to us!" The nerdy kid shouts to the short blond kid.

For a small band of high school losers, sorcery, superpowers, and saving the world are all part of the curriculum.

"Was that a compliment or an insult?"

On January 31st, prepare to meet the only resistance keeping Earth safe from total destruction.

Howard: (Being fired at with energy blasts) Sure, pick on the uncoordinated one!

Chad: (trapped with others inside a net, talking to Walker) If we die, I just want you to know... your mom is hot!

Kit: I'm okay! (runs into the wall at superspeed) No I'm not!

and Walker: I have to save the world AND clean my room? This superhero thing sucks...

Think going through puberty is rough? Try doing it while protecting the planet.

Kit: (to Jax) I'm going to make sure you live, so that if I die, I can come back and haunt you!

Outcasts, coming January 31st

Walker: A boy scout is always prepared.

Howard: You were never a-

Walker: SHUT UP!

Heroes in a High School. Only Toonzone!

I'm only halfway through the story, but I want to have the whole thing done before I post anything more than the sneak peak. I have more than enough ideas to turn it into an ongoing series, but that depends on the reaction to the initial mini.

[Tenku]

This looks quite interesting, Tobias. I'll give it a read when you post it. :)

[can_i_live_777]

Definately interesting. I also really like the character chemistry. It's right-on for troubled teens. My only concern is that it's a bit too X-men like.

[Tobias]

I'm trying to avoid the X-Men angle, at least for now. No Danger Rooms or big fancy mansions, etc. There are going to be a few odes and parodies of other superheroes, however.

Wait,scratch that, someone will have a variation on a certain X-Man's power that I couldn't resist throwing in.

Be here Monday afternoon for Part 1 of Outcasts "School Dazed & Confused".

[Tobias]

School Dazed & Confused

The students and staff looked on as a battle raged from the rooftop of the school. Sounds of punching, screaming, and general mayhem were heard as the principal pushed his way through the crowd.

"What's going on up there?" Principal Schull asked. "And why is everyone outside?"

"Someone sounded the fire alarm," P.E. Coach Kappel told him. "We thought it was a false alarm, but-"

A loud painful scream came from the roof, sounding very much like a teenage boy. Seconds later, a feather gracefully flew down from the roof and landed on the ground, before evaporating just as soon as it landed.

"We need to get up there," Schull said.

"We tried," Kappel replied. "The doors are locked. No one can get in or out of that building."

More sounds of extreme violence came from the rooftop as Schull looked at the students and teachers, before looking back at the roof.

"What the hell is going on up there?"


Our story begins in a world unlike our own. This alternate universe is more sinister, more creepier. It's name: The Dark Dimension. A place where the sky is blood red, and the land is desolant and lifeless, with the exception of a harsh wind that could chill the blood of even the most warm blooded creature.

In this world sits a black castle, sitting atop a mountain. Several shadowlike creatures hover in and around the castle, ancient creatures known as Shadow Demons. In this palace, we find the ruler of this evil land, sitting on his throne made from the bones of enemies long vanquished. The dark sorcerer Kartheiser reigns supreme over The Dark Dimension.

Dressed in a black robe, with a sinister goatee and dark menacing eyes, which glew red when he was angry or anticipating something to happen. Kartheiser only lives to make others fear him, just as his father had raised him. His fingers tapped the arm of his throne, waiting for his son to arrive.

A boy walked into the room, looking around twelve years old. He is the polar opposite of his father: short blond hair, blue eyes, wearing blue and red robes. He looks extremely out of place for this particular world.

"Sorry I'm late, father," The boy said. "I-"

He stopped talking as his father arose from his seat and walked toward him. Kartheiser's seven foot frame towered above the four foot boy.

Kartheiser didn't love his children, he didn't love anything, but he couldn't kill something that was a part of him, not when he could mold him into something of pure evil and hatred, something up to his point he still hadn't been able to teach his son.

"Jax, you continue to disappoint me," Kartheier's dark, echoing voice said. "You know how I hate...color. And what happened to your hair?"

"I... let it grow back out," Jax said. Kartheiser had shaved his son's hair since birth, considering the boy's blond hair to be a sign of weakness. Since Jax had always worn a hooded cloak, it was easy to let his hair grow back.

"You will have it removed immediately," Kartheiser told him. "But first, it's time I shared with you something important. Your thirteenth year is fast approaching."

"Can I have a party this year?" Jax hopefully asked. "Or at least a gift?"

"Your gift is what I summoned you for," Kartheiser told him as he led the boy toward a mirror on the wall. "It's time you proved yourself a man, worthy of succeeding me someday. Your present will be an oppurtunity to prove yourself."

Jax wanted to smile, but knew his father would hate that. All his life, he wanted a chance to make his father proud.

"What do I have to do?" Jax asked hopefully.

"The Dark Dimension is my world, a place I singlehandedly conquered," Kartheiser explained as he pulled a pouch of dust from his cloak. "Your grandfather entrusted me to enslave it, and make it my own, just as he enslaved the world I was born in."

Kartheiser pulled a handful of dust out and blew it into the magic mirror . The mirror's reflection started to ripple, forming a new image of a brightly colored place.

"This will be your world," Kartheiser told his son. "It's a world called Earth. Filled will lowly creatures who will be easy to conquer."

"But father, I don't-" Jax stopped as Kartheiser looked at him menacingly.

"YOU don't have a choice," Kartheiser told the boy, his voice sending chills down the boy's spine. "You will go to Earth and enslave it, as it is your destiny."

"But how do I enslave a whole world?" Jax asked. "My magic isn't that strong."

"Your powers grow each day," Kartheiser replied as the image on the mirror reverted back to a real reflection. "And I will prepare you with the proper spells and enchantments."

"Do I have to?" Jax asked.

"If you fail, you will be banished," Kartheiser said as he headed into the next room. "To the Bonecrusher's Dimension. Perhaps you can say hello to your mother, if there's anything left to speak with."

Jax gulped as he looked into the mirror, not sure of what was to become of him now.



The small town of Underwood

The alarm clock started to buzz, loudly playing 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go', awakening a pile of clothes on the floor. Under this pile of clothes was one Walker Sullivan, all American teenager.

Walker was fifteen, five and a half feet tall with sandy blonde hair. Some called him a slacker, but those who knew him looked beyond the fact that he kept his hair shaggy, his room looking like a tornado ran through it, and his clothes wrinkled and baggy.

Walker Matthew Sullivan was a great athlete, a top student, and to most, an all around nice guy. Even though he seemed to kind of tough on others, he really wasn't mean. He just followed the crowd, and the crowd mostly made fun of the less fortunate.

"Oh, no you don't," Walker's mother said from behind the door before Walker could go back to sleep. She always knew when her son was about to go back to bed twenty minutes before school.

"I've still got twenty minutes before class starts," Walker said as he rubbed his eyes.

"Yeah, and it takes ten minutes to walk to school!" Mrs. Sullivan shouted.

Walker pulled on a pair a clean underwear, a long sleeved blue shirt with a black #1 emblazed on it and black jeans, then went on the morning hunt for his blue high tops.

"It's not like I'm ever late," Walker replied as searched under the bed, going in deeper until only his stocking feet were visible. "Outside of those seven times."

"Well, for once I'd like you to get to class BEFORE you're supposed to," Mrs. Sullivan said as Walker pulled himself out from under the bed, clutching his high tops like they were his prized possession.

Walker just sighed as he pulled on his shoes. Another boring day at school.


Alex Vincent High School

The school was three stories tall, with adjoining one story sections for the gymnasium, swimming pool and cafeteria, with a main hall connecting them all together. There was a football field, a tennis court, a track, and a baseball field spaced seperately around the school.

Walker was in P.E., playing basketball with his friends. Walker loved basketball, and was currently carrying his team to victory

"Heads up!" Another kid playing against Walker shouted as he intentially tossed the ball into the stands, hitting Howard Lacey right in the head, knocking him backward.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Walker asked.

"I can't help it if the guy's uncoordinated," The kid replied.

Walker wanted to go over and see if Howard was alright, but finally just went back to playing. Even he knew better than to talk to the Outcasts.


"You alright?" Chad Starke asked as Howard sat back up and adjusted his glasses.

Howard, as much as he tried to fight it, was more of less a stereotypical nerd: Uncoordinated, with glasses, mussed dark brown hair, blue overalls with blue sneakers and a white t-shirt. He tried to make up for his lack of physical traits with a sarcastic wit.

"Yeah," Howard told him as he felt his head. "At least I got to make contact with the ball this time."

Howard, Chad, and a few select others were sitting in the bleachers because the coach didn't feel they were ready to get onto the court with the more experienced kids. They got passing grades in P.E. just for basically sitting around and doing nothing.

"I've been practicing my game," Chad said as he looked out on the court. "Someday I'll be out there with them."

"You'd willingly go out into the middle of jerk central?" Howard asked. "Just don't forget us little people."

Chad Starke rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he sat in the bleachers. Chad was fifteen, but looked somewhat older than everyone else. Stress will do that to you. He had bags under his eyes and his blonde hair was a mess, but no one noticed because that's how he styled it anyway.

Chad's parents were fighting again the night before, and when that happened, Chad snuck out of the house and slept in the garage, which was quieter than staying in the house with his parents screaming at each other. As you can imagine, Chad slept in the garage quite often.

"Well, either your parents were arguing again or you've been watching that Paris Hilton video again," Howard said as he sat next to Chad.

"Dad argued," Chad said. "Mom just threw things at him."

"You know, you could always sleep over at my place," Howard told him. "A sleeping bag's gotta be more comfortable than the garage. Although your garage is pretty neat. What a paint collection."

"Your house is two blocks away," Chad replied, trying not to yawn. "I'm not walking two blocks in the middle of winter."

"Yet you'll dress like you're headed for Spring Break," Howard told him.

Chad was just wearing a black tank top and blue jean shorts with black high tops. Chad was the kind of person who liked to wear as little as humanly possible, even in cold weather, like this early February morning.

"Alright, hit the showers!" Kappel said, obviously talking to the ones were actually on the floor, working up a sweat.

"Have you ever seen the inside of the locker room?" Chad asked as he grabbed his bookbag.

"Once," Howard replied. "At the beginning of the semester. Before we were informed that we were in the class made up of bascially the entire basketball team."

"Lacey!" Kappel shouted. "Go into my office and get my keys for the supply closet!"

"Oh good, I finally get some exercise," Howard said as he walked toward the locker room.


Inside the locker room, the shower stallss were empty except for Walker, who was chosen to put the basketballs back in the bin today. As the young man showered, he didn't realize that one of the lights above him was short circuiting. Howard walked past, holding Kappel's keys and saw the lights flicker, then saw a spark fly out.

"Walker, get out of there!" Howard shouted, but the rush of the water was drowning him out. Howard finally ran in, grabbed Walker by the arm and pulled him out, landing both boys on the ground as another spark flew out, hitting the water, sending a wave of electricity throughout the stall, shorting out all the lights in the locker room.

"You... saved me," Walker said as he noticed he was naked, lying on top of Howard, just as Coach Kappel and the other kids came running to see what happened. "Oh, crap."


A portal opened on the school roof, as Jax stepped out, with his spellbook in hand.

"First thing I'm going to need is henchmen," Jax said to himself. "Shadow demons are too creepy, so maybe I can get some humans to be my workers."

Jax opened the book and cleared his throat.

"Find me humans, four will do, make them brave and heroic too, Give them strength, give them flight, give them speed, my demon knights!"

An energy bolt shot out of Jax's hand as he held it in the air, and divided four ways before flying off.


Chad and Kit Williams were sitting at the lunch table, waiting for Howard. Kit was fourteen, wearing red sneakers, blue jeans, an open red flannel shirt covering a white t-shirt, and his lucky red ball cap over his light brown haiir, turned backwards. No one had ever seen Kit without his hat, and it wasn't for a lack of trying. It was like that hat was a part of his body.

Chad, Kit, and Howard were labeled Outcasts by the rest of the school for different reasons. Howard because he was nerdish, Chad because his parent's arguing embarassed him whenever they came to a PTA meeting or school event, and Kit because of a suicidal reputation.

"Gonna eat that?" Kit asked, willingly eating the school lunch. As stated, he was suicidal. Kit had spent a few months in a ward after trying to slit her own wrists, but the doctors gave him a clean bill of mental health, sending him back to school.

Howard finally sat down as Kit and Chad looked at him.

"Dude, did you really save Walker Sullivan's life?" Chad asked.

"Yeah," Howard replied. "Not that he was grateful or anything. All I heard was 'Get away from me, nerd' and 'it's really not that small, you know'."

Walker came walking up to them, and slammed his tray on the table.

"Look, I have to thank you for saving my life," Walker angrily said as he looked at the group. "I wouldn't be standing here now if it weren't for you."

Howard just looked at him blankly. "So, what's with the attitude? You didn't eat the meatloaf, did you?"

"I... it's just... I need a place to eat lunch," Walker told him. "At least until things blow over."

Laughing was heard from the tables behind them. The tale of finding Walker and Howard on the locker room floor spread like wildfire throughout the school.

"No way," Chad told him. "We're Outcasts. We're the guys that stand out from the crowd. You're nothing like us."

"Take a seat," Kit said as he motioned for Walker to sit next to him. "Yes, come to the dork side of the force."

Walker uneasily sat down at the other just looked at him.

"Dude, we've got a jock sitting at our table," Chad whispered to Howard. "Aren't you afraid we might catch something?"

"He's not polio," Howard replied. "Although my leg has been bothering me since P.E."

The group sat in silence,. eating their lunch, when a cupcake flew into the back of Chad's head. The jocks at the table behind them snickered.

"At least it wasn't a fork this time," Howard told him as they continued eating. Walker's eye twitched, getting a little irritated at both the Outcasts and the jocks that taunted them. A piece of meatoaf flew by Kit's head, landing on the table.

Walker stood up and was about to say something when a loud BOOM! was heard, like a jet engine exploding. A flash of light flew into the cafeteria and engulfed the four boys, causing the table to explode, sending wood pieces flying everywhere.

[Tobias]

Walker was lying in a hammock on the beach. He was wearing a hawaiin shirt and white shorts as he watched a beautiful red headed girl bring him a drink.

"Sorry I'm late," The girl said as she layed down next to Walker. She was wearing a red bikini that wasn't too revealing because she was only fifteen.

"I'd wait forever for you," Walker said as he gave her a kiss. The two locked lips, just like it always happened in the dream, but this time something was different. This time the girl started sucking the air out of Walker's throat, causing him to gasp for air.

Walker Sullivan sat up, his chest feeling like it was on fire. He tried to catch his breath, but couldn't do it. He gasped for air, trying to breathe, but was having no such luck. He clutched his blue t-shirt and pulled it off, feeling like something was attemtpting to burst through his skin.

The nurse wasn't around to see this, as she was contacting Walker's parents, and the only other ones around were Howard, Kit, and Chad, who were all still unconscious. After the blast in the cafeteria, the boys were taken to the nurses office since none of them seemed to be harmed outside of a few scratches.

The table exploding had been chalked up to a gas leak, and no one had been paying attention long enough to see a streak of light burst into the cafeteria. Walker continued to gasp for air as Kit opened his eyes, and immediately felt to check if his hat was still on his head. It was, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Walker, what's wrong?" Kit asked as Walker's face was turning red as he held his chest, in pain. "NURSE!"

Walker fell on his back, and before he knew what was happening, Kit was all the way across the room, sitting at Walker's bedside. Kit didn't even noticed their was a small spray of blood on the wall behind Walker's bed.

"Breathe!" Kit shouted as he tried to administer CPR. He pumped Walker's chest, then put his lips to Walker's to give him air. After a few tries, Walker opened his eyes and found Kit's mouth on him. He shoved Kit away and sat up.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Walker shouted as he finally started breathing on his own again. "At least no one was here to see it this time."

"Dude, I just saved your life," Kit said as Walker pulled his shirt back on.

"Not you, too," Walker said as he looked around the office. "Should I throw myself in traffic so the other guy can have a crack at me?"

Howard and Chad started coming around and looked over at Kit and Walker, and wondered what was going on as well. Before either could say something, a door of light opened on the wall and Jax stepped through.

"Oh, good," Jax said as he looked at the boys. "My soldiers are awake."

"What kind of drugs did that nurse give us?" Kit asked as he rubbed his eyes.

"You're probably wondering what's going on," Jax said as he stepped toward the boys. "My name is Jax, and I've come all the way from the Dark Dimension to destroy your planet."

"What a polite little-," Howard started to say before got the last part of the sentence. "WHAT!?"

Jax just sighed. "Take a seat, this might take a while to explain."


The Dark Dimension

Kartheiser watched through the mirror as his son infiltrated the mortals, or so he thought.

The mirror's image quickly started to swirl, revealing the image of a young woman, with pitch black hair and evil purple eyes. She was wearing a blood red gown, with a purple cloak draped over her shoulders.

"Jerrica, my daughter," Kartheiser said to the image. "How are things going in your world?"

"Daddy, it's so boring here," Jerrica complained as she looked around the wasteland that used to be a brightly colored paradise. "This world was so easy to conquer, but therein lies the problem: I wanted a real challenge."

"Then perhaps I can interest you in helping your brother with his assignment," Kartheiser said, interesting his daughter.

"Is poor little Jax having trouble?" Jerrica asked.

Sibling rivalry was taken to a whole new level with Jerrica and Jax, as Jerrica had been making attempts on her brother ever since he was born. It was only when Jerrica was offered her own world that she dropped the hobby of trying to destroy her brother. Not that she hadn't planned on finishing the job at some point, however.

"Jax takes after his mother," Kartheiser replied. "If it weren't my blood that marches through his veins, I would have had him killed at birth for such treason. Your brother is weak, but perhaps if he had some assistance to show how much fun destroying a world can be-"

"I understand completely," Jerrica said, anticipation in her voice. "And if he refuses my help?"

"He knows the consequences," Kartheiser told her. "He has a spellbook and some scrolls, make sure he uses them wisely."

"Of course, father," Jerrica replied as the mirror image reverted back to a regular reflection.

"Jax will succeed in his mission," Kartheiser told himself as he headed for his throne. "Or he will die. Son or not, no one fails me. No one."

Kartheiser sat back on the throne, his face hidden in shaodw. only his evil glowing red eyes visible.


Meanwhile, Kit, Howard, and Chad were laughing wildly at the story Jax had just told them.

"Come on," Jax whined. "I have to destroy your world and stuff!"

"Right, kid," Chad said as he wiped a tear away. "And I'm Aaron Carter."

"Don't even joke about that," Howard sternly told him. Howard was the president of the 'Aaron Carter is teh s uck' club, a group dedicated to eradicating annoying pop stars.

"Can we talk about this later?" Walker asked as he stood up and looked at his watch. "I need to get home because... well, because I don't like you guys."

"Can we come?" Kit naively asked. Walker just shook his head and walked out the door.


The group headed down the long empty hallway toward the exit. School had been out for almost a half hour, and no one wanted to be in school longer than they had to. They were about halfway down the hall toward the door when they heard a laugh echo around them.

"Oh, no," Jax said to himself as a puff as red smoke filled the hall. When the smoke disappeared, Jerrica was standing in front of them.

"Hello, little brother," Jerrica said as a ball of flame appeared in her hands. She laughed as she tossed the ball at the others.

[Tobias]

The fireball was headed toward Chad, when Walker knocked him out of the way. The ball hit the locker behind them, denting it.

"Did she just call you little brother?" Howard asked Jax as he walked forward.

"Jerrica, what are you doing here?" Jax asked as he motioned for the others to stay back. "Father said I was supposed to do this alone."

"Father felt you needed a little... help," Jerrica replied as her hands glew with deadly energy. "First thing I'm going to do is help you wipe out these horrible creatures."

"No!" Jax shouted. "You can't kill them!"

"You can't keep them. You know father's rules on pets," Jerrica replied as the others just stood around, too petrified to move. "We'll make their deaths quick, but painful. I promise."

"Excuse me?" Walker asked as he looked at Jerrica. "Who in the world do you think you are?"

"I am Jerrica, Princess of the Dark Dimension, ruler of the Ford Dimension!" The girl proclaimed.

".... 'Kay," Chad bluntly said, as he looked her over. "So, do you appear out of thin air for just anybody?'

Jerrica's nails stretched as she slashed at Chad, clawing across his chest, removing most of his shirt and leaving a long bloody scratch.

"Hey, that was my favorite shirt!" Chad shouted.

"Jerrica, please, let me do this," Jax pleaded. "I'll do this my way."

"Father was right, you are weak," Jerrica said as she reached out and grabbed Kit and Howard around their throats, pinning them against the lockers. "If you won't destroy this world, then I will!"

"Jerrica, your powers I do bind, until you leave my slaves in kind!" Jax's eyes glew bright blue as he chanted. Jerrica dropped Howard and Kit, who gasped for air as they both slid to the ground. Jerrica, now temporarily powerless, grabbed her brother by his shirt.

"HOW did you do that?" Jerrica angrily asked. "My powers are greater than yours!"

"My new friends were in trouble," Jax replied, not too sure of what he just did. "I guess that was the motivation I needed."

Jerrica screamed as she ran off. "This isn't over! Father will hear of this!"

As soon as Jerrica was gone, the boys just looked over at Jax.

"I think we need to have a little talk," Walker said, still traumatized by what just happened. "Now."

Chad was too stunned to get the words out as he watched his blood dripping from the wound Jerrica had given him.

"Uh, I think we'd better get Chad back to the nurse's office," Howard said as he bent over and hurled, his weak stomach not being able to take the bloodshed.


"A dog mauled me?" Chad asked as he had his wound cleaned and bandaged by the school nurse. Walker was mouthing the words to him. "I mean... a dog mauled me."

"Never saw a dog give a wound like this," The nurse said. "But the good news is you won't need stitches."

Chad let out a sigh of relief as he pulled on a blue t-shirt Walker had stashed in his locker. It hadn't been washed in weeks, and inexplicably had jelly stains on it, but he couldn't walk around school shirtless, as much as he wanted to.

Walker and Jax were having a talk while waiting for Chad to come out of the nurse's office.

"And that's the whole story," Jax told him as he looked down at his boots. "My father wants me to take over this world and destroy it. But I can't do it. I don't like to kill or destroy. But if I don't my dad will banish me to a really horrible place."

"Kentucky?" Walker asked.

"What?" Jax replied. "No, a dimension where a bloodthirsty monster lives."

"He's going to put you on The View?"

Jax just looked at him blankly.

"We'll help you," Howard told the boy.

"We will?" Kit asked.

"Sure," Howard said. "But I don't know how we can fight a sorcerer."

"Maybe you can help me learn some spells," Jax told him. "My dad sent a spellbook with me. Maybe if I can learn some powerful spells, I can keep him from destroying your world and banishing me."

"Well, good luck with that," Walker said. "I'm heading home. Gotta clean my room. Been meaning to do that."

"Not without us," Howard said as he pushed on Walker's shoulders, sitting him back down.

"Excuse me?" Walker asked in shock. "You know I can beat you up with my eyes closed, right?"

"I saved your life, and Kit saved your life," Howard told him. "You owe us. I'm cashing in my favor now, and you're going to help us save the world."

"I have to save the world AND clean my room?" Walker asked. "This sucks."



"Can we trust this guy?" Kit asked later that afternoon as the group headed toward Walker's house. "How do we know this guy's not going to vaporize us the first chance he gets?"

"Because I trust him," Howard replied as he watched Walker dig around in his pockets for his house keys. "The kid was scared when that witch showed up, I saw it in his eyes."

"You want scary, you should see my father after he's had a few drinks in him," Kit told them as they entered Walker's house. "Which is probably happening right about now."

"Kit, if you need to go home-" Chad started to say.

"It's cool," Kit interupted. "I'm sure he'll be passed out by the time I get home, anyway."

"Doesn't look like anyone's home," Walker told the group as they headed upstairs. "Mom and Dad must still be at the office. Jax, you bring your spellbook or whatever it's called?"

"Of course," Jax replied as he patted his bookbag. "But I should warn you, my magic isn't that powerful."

"Then how did you stop the Wicked Witch of the West from zapping us all the way to Oz?" Chad asked.

Walker opened his bedroom door and flipped the lightswitch, at which point several of his clothes scattered across the room, afraid of the light.

"I don't know," Jax replied as Walker let the others walk in to his personal quarters. "I guess when I saw some friends in trouble... I just reacted."

"Golly gee, maybe it's the power of friendship that makes you strong!" Howard sarcastically told him.

"Don't mind him, what he lacks in muscle, he makes up for with a smart mouth," Kit told Jax as they entered the place. "And that's quite a lot."

"Well, well, well," Howard said as he looked at the horrors of Walker's bedroom. "Mr. High & Mighty ain't so perfect after all."

The floor was covered in clothes, comics, and old action figures. The desk and dressers were relatively clean, however. There was 25" t.v. with DVD player, game system, and surround sound speakers taking up one wall by itself. There was also a computer and trophy shelf, a walk-in closet and bunk beds filling out the rest of the space.

"Hey, Walker, what's this?" Chad asked as he picked up a picture from the floor, of two little boys who looked strikingly similar. "Who are these two kids?"

"Well, the guy on the right is me," Walker said as he looked at the picture. "Have no idea who the other guy is. Parents told me it's my cousin, but I've never met the guy. Don't even remember posing for that picture."

Howard flipped through Jax's spellbook, and found he couldn't read the strange symbols.

"So, can anyone use this thing?" Howard asked.

"No," Jax replied. "You have to be born a wizard or witch to do magic. Mortals can't use any of the stuff I brought with me."

"So, start reading," Walker instructed as the group gathered around. "You need to find a spell powerful enough to get your dad off your back."

"There isn't a spell powerful enough for that," Jax replied as his finger ran down the page. "But maybe this will work. It's a spell to block off the gateway between worlds. If I were able to cast this, dad would be stuck in the Dark Dimension and Earth would be safe."

"Then cast it already," Howard told him. "So we can get home and I can catch 'Complete Savages'."

"That is a great show, isn't it?" Kit asked.

"Uh, guys, there's two problems," Jax told them. "A: This spell requires more than a simple chant. I'll need a few things. And B: I... don't know if I want to do that."

"I knew we couldn't trust this guy," Chad said as he backed away toward the door. "He's already turning on us!"

"I meant to say that the Dark Dimension's my home," Jax said. "If I cast the spell, I could never go back. I'd never see my dad again. Sure, he's evil and doesn't love me... but he's my dad."

"We need to be prepared to cast the spell, just in case," Walker told him. "What ingredients do we need?"

"A key, some chalk, and some candles," Jax replied.

"We have all that," Walker said as he headed for the door. "I'll just head downstairs and-"

Walker saw Jax was starting to cry. He sighed and took his hand off the doorknob. "Now what?"

"If I do this... where will I go?"Jax asked. "I have no family here. This isn't my home."

"Oh, for the love of," Kit said as he put his arm around Jax's shoulder. "Look, from what you told us about this place... it's not a good place to be. You can live here, with us."

"Let's not get carried away here," Chad told him. "I've already got enough problems at home without having to bunk with an interdimensional wizard."

"Speaking of which, where were you planning on staying while you were here?" Walker asked.

"Hadn't thought that far ahead," Jax replied as he wiped a tear from his eye. "I was hoping I'd just use my magic to make a place, but as everyone keeps pointing out... it's not that strong."

"You'll stay here," Walker told him. "I've got a bunk bed for sleepovers, so you can sleep on the top bunk if you want."

"Thanks," Jax said. "You know, no one's ever been as nice to me as you guys have."

"We have to stick together," Chad told him. "That's the only way we're going to survive."

"Funny you should mention that," Jerrica's voice echoed around the room as a cloud of red smoke appeared. "Your binding spell has worn off, little brother. Now it's time to pay."

The smoke disappeared and Jerrica appeared, firing a blast at Jax, who was pushed out of the way by Walker.

"Bind her powers again!" Kit shouted as Jerrica turned her attention toward him. Kit dived into a pile of Walker's clothes and tossed them at the witch to try to knock her off guard.

"I can't!" Jax replied as he flipped through the book. "I can't remember the spell I used!"

Jerrica peeled off one of Walker's old shirts and stalked toward Jax, while firing a blast at Howard, who tried to get out of the way.

"Sure, pick on the uncoordinated one!" Howard said as he tripped and fell backward into the closet.

Jax was about to use a spell when Jerrica knocked the book from his hand, then picked him up by his shirt.

"I should turn you into a toad," Jerrica said as she pressed her nose to Jax's. "But I promised father I'd help you destroy this world. And I'm going to start with them!"

Walker, Chad, and Kit ran toward her, but she used her magic on the clothes on the floor, which wrapped around the boys tightly, sending them to the ground. Jerrica tossed Jax onto the bed, and formed two energy spikes in her hand.

"Any bright ideas?" Walker asked as he looked over to Chad.

"Yeah, next time we go to my house, where the laundry's always clean," Chad sarcastically replied as Jerrica stood over them, ready to strike.

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Tobias]

Power Play

Jerrica stood over Walker, Chad, and Kit, who were magically bound in Walker's clothes, which were acting as restraints. Jerrica was about to drive an energy spike through them when a model airplane hit her in the back of the head.

"Look what I found!" Howard shouted from the closet as he threw more models at Jerrica, who swatted them away.

"Take it easy with those!" Walker shouted. "Those models aren't cheap, you know!"

Jerrica rushed toward Howard and tackled him, knocking him over the bed. While Jerrica's focus was on Howard, Jax was freeing the others.

"We've gotta get out of here," Walker said as he pulled Kit to his feet.

Jerrica was about to slash Howard, but Chad pulled a pillowcase over her head. Jax was maniacally flipping through his spellbook to find a way to get his new friends out of this mess. He finally found a teleportation spell, and cleared his throat before chanting.

"Take my friends, put them in a place, where my sister can't harm them, where they'll be safe!"

Howard, Walker, Kit, and Chad vanished in a burst of light, leaving only Jax in the room.

"You can't hurt them," Jax said as he smirked. "I put the power spell on them. Soon they'll realize what they can do and be able to protect themselves."

"Fool, you only saved them for the time being," Jerrica said as she picked Jax up by his shirt. "But I still have you."

Jerrica flung him into the wall, and shot four bolts out, attaching his wrists and ankles, pinning him in place.

"Now stay put," Jerrica told him as she smacked Jax across the face. "I'm going to get those fools you placed the power spell on. You're supposed to cast a spell of obedience before giving them powers! Now I'll capture them and use them as my own personal bodyguards!"

Jerrica laughed as the red smoke swirled around her, taking her to her new servants.


Downtown, Underwood

The boys found themselves sitting at a bus stop, miles away from Walker's house. There was an old lady sitting on the bench next to them, not even asking where they came from. Awkward silence filled the air for a few seconds before Howard finally spoke.

"So, who's for pizza?" Howard asked.

"We've got to get back there!" Kit shouted. "Jax is in trouble! We have to help him!"

"Yeah, help the kid whose sister is trying to maim us," Walker told them.

"Ahem," Chad said as he lifted his shirt, revealing the bloody scratch Jerrica gave to him earlier. "One of us has already been maimed!"

Walker put his head in his hands and tried not to scream. Ever since he woke up this morning, his life had been drastically going downhill. And all of it was because of these... Outcasts.

"Why is this happening?" Walker asked as he looked down at the ground. "What did I do to make this happen? Just tell me what I did wrong and I'll fix it."

"Come again?" Howard asked.

"Chad was right," Walker told them. "I'm nothing like you guys. I'm not an Outcast. I'm not a loser. How did I tangled up in this mess? Because you saved me? Because I decided to take a shower?"

The old lady was looking at the boys in confusion.

"Uh oh, we're losing him," Kit said as the group gathered around.

"Should we sing?" Howard asked. "Does anyone know any encouraging non copyrighted Disney-esque songs?"

"Stop goofing around," Chad told him as he smacked Howard on the back of the head. "You know we only do that in private."

A cloud of red smoke started swirling as Jerrica appeared, and wasted no time in firing energy blasts at the boys. Chad and Kit jumped over the bus bench, but Howard tripped and fell onto the sidewalk.

"You can not escape!" Jerrica shouted as she ran past the bench.

"Screw this, I'm getting a cab," The little old lady said as she ran off.

"You know we can't outrun her, right?" Howard asked, already running out of breath.

"I don't have to outrun her, I just have to outrun you three!" Walker replied.

Kit seemed to be going faster than everyone else, and picking up speed.

"Hey, roadrunner, wait up!" Chad shouted as Kit was suddenly gone from sight, leaving a dusttrail behind him.

"I haven't seen anyone run away that fast since 'Surviving Christmas'," Howard stated as Chad stopped to look behind him.

"Hey, guys, I think she's gone," Chad noticed as he looked around.

"That's a relief-" Howard said a 93 Ford station wagon landed right on top of him.

"Oh my God, they killed Howard!" Chad shouted.

"You b-" Walker started to say before Jerrica pitched a mailbox at him. Walker jumped out of the way as the mailbox crashed through a store window.

"I got her!" Chad said as he grabbed Jerrica from behind, but she grabbed him and tossed him to the ground, and prepared to blast him when a blur knocked her aside.

"HeylookwhatIcando!" Kit shouted as sped back and picked Chad up, dragging him across the street.

"This is getting too weird," Walker said as he rubbed his eyes, not realizing it was about to get weirder. The station wagon suddenly lifted into the air, being held by Howard singlehandedly.

"I hate Fords," Howard said as he put the car down. "And, oh yeah, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?"

"Their powers emerge," Jerrica said as she stood up. "I was hoping they would pose a challenge."

"Jerrica, return home at once!" Kartheiser shouted through a mirrored image on the store window.

"But father-" Jerrica started to explain.

"Now, daugther," Kartheiser said. "Before the most powerful one realizes what he can do!"

A swirl of red smoke surrounded Jerrica as she warned the boys who were gathering around.

"This isn't over," Jerrica told them. "Your powers won't save you next time!"

And with that, Jerrica was gone. People were starting to gather around at this point, as Howard joined Kit and Chad.

"We'd better scram," Howard told the others. "We'll go back to Walker's house."

"Why my house?" Walker asked, horrified at the thought of these kids coming back to his place.

"Because you have a Ybox," Kit replied as he put an arm around Walker as they walked. "And besides, we're gonna have to scrape up what's left of Jax."

The boys ducked into an alley and took a shortcut back to Walker's house. They arrived and found Jax rubbing his wrists in pain. Jerrica's spell had worn off just seconds earlier.

"Glad to see you're still in one piece," Kit told him. "Now... WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO US!?"

"Look, can we just agree none of this ever happened and just get on with our lives?" Walker asked as he fell on his bed.

"Easy for you to say," Howard told him as he looked at his hands. "You're still normal."

"For now," Jax cheerfully replied. "His powers haven't emerged yet."

"Powers?" Walker asked. "You mean I'm going to become a freak, too?"

"Freak is such a strong word," Chad said as he patted Walker on the back. "I prefer the term 'Outcast'. Welcome aboard, buddy."


Walker was about to scream horribly, but let's cut back to the Dark Dimension, where Jerrica has just returned.

"Father, I had them," Jerrica said as she found Kartheiser sitting on his throne. "I can still destroy them."

"No, it's too late," Kartheiser warned her. "They have strength and speed. Soon they'll have the greatest power of them all. We need more help."

"I'll take the shadow demons and-" Jerrica started to say as Kartheiser held up his hand.

"The shadow demons are merely foot soldiers," Kartheiser reminded her. "We need a more powerful ally. We need one of the mortals. One that hates his kind as much as we do."

"Ally ourselves with a mortal?" Jerrica asked.

"You will realize why I want him when you see him," Kartheiser told her. "Now go, and find the one mortal who can help in your mission."

"Of course, father," Jerrica told him. "I will not fail you, father."


That night, Chad was sitting on his bed, finishing his homework when he heard a familiar slamming of the door downstairs.

"You were with HER again, weren't you?" Mrs. Starke shouted. "You're two hours late!"

"Maybe I wouldn't be if I had something worth coming home to!" Chad's father replied. "I work all day and I come home to what? Leftovers? And I don't mean the food, honey. How is the paperboy doing, by the way?"

The arguing continued back and forth as Chad closed his workbook, grabbed his shoes, and headed for the garage.


Kit got home around seven o'clock, sneaking in through the back door. He hoped his dad was upstairs in his bedroom, passed out from his usual dinner of pills and vodka.

"Where have you been?" Mr. Williams asked as he sat in the chair in the living room.

"I was helping a friend," Kit replied as he put his bookbag on the table. "I thought you were-"

"You don't even have the decency to call home if you're going to be late?" His dad asked as he stood up and headed into the kitchen. Kit could smell the alcohol on him from across the room. "I thought you ran away again!"

"Dad, I'm sorry, I-" Kit was cut off as his father's hand slapped across his face.

"Get upstairs," Mr. Williams told him. "And take that hat off!"

"No," Kit told him. "I can't."

Kit's father grabbed him by the neck and threw him down to the floor, and pulled the hat off of his head. The hat that Kit's mother had given to him the day she died. The hat that Kit had worn ever since, only taking it off for haircuts and showers.

"When I tell you to do something, you do it!" Mr. Williams shouted as he kicked Kit in the stomach, before throwing the hat into the garbage. He stormed out of the room as Kit continued to lay there, sobbing.


Jax was sleeping on the top bunk as Walker continued to ponder why he agreed to let the boy stay there, knowing an evil sorceress was after them.

"Are you alright, Walker?" Jax asked.

"Not really," Walker replied as he rolled over onto his side. "You don't know what kind of power I'm going to get, do you?"

"No way of telling," Jax replied as he stared at the ceiling. "There are literally hundreds of powers that the spell could have given you."

"Such as?"

"Shapeshifting, water manipulation, flight, strength, speed, firepowers, the ability to tell the Olsen Twins apart-"

Walker just sighed, hoping that whatever power came out, he'd still be able to lead a normal life.


"This world is too uncivilized to continue going on," Jerrica said as she looked around the city, searching for her prey. "And those... children have worn my patience thin."

"Then perhaps I can help," A computerized voice said through a speaker.

"Who dares talk to me?" Jerrica asked.

"Inside the building behind you," The voice said. Jerrica walked inside an old warehouse, and used her magic to light the room.

"Who are you?" Jerrica demanded as she looked around. "Are you the one I seek?"

A man in a computerized wheelchair rolled out. He seemed to be completely paralyzed. His head was tilted to the left, and he had a breathing device over his mouth.

"We share the same goal," The man replied through a speaker box on his chair. "It is mankind that made me into... this. They must pay."

"And how exactly can you help me?" Jerrica asked as she lowered her hands, which were about to fire deadly bolts of energy. "What do you plan to do, run your enemies over?"

"There is more to me than what you see," The man told her. "With my mind and your magic, we can destroy the world that took my life away."

"Very well," Jerrica said as she followed the man, who was rolling towards a doorway. "But first we must destroy my brother and his friends. He is the only one who stands in my way."

Jerrica created a Wanted poster with pictures of the five boys. The man looked at the photo and recognized Chad.

"These are the ones you want destroyed? Very well," The man told her. "But the one with in the middle. I want him alive. For now."

Jerrica agreed as they walked into the next room, when the door closed behind.

[Tobias]

The next morning

Kit made sure his dad was still asleep as he snuck out of the house, grabbing his hat from the top of the garbage can as he left.


Alex Vincent High School

Howard, Kit, and Chad were sitting in the back of the room. Walker, for some reason beyond his comprehension, was joining them.

"I'm just sitting back here because it has a nice view," Walker told them before they said anything.

"Kit, are you alright?" Howard asked. "Your face looks a little red."

"I'm fine," Kit replied, as he tried not to let his friends see his face.

Walker wondered what was going on when the most beautiful girl he ever saw walked into the room. Carol Collins, his dream girl, who unfortunately already had a boyfriend. 'Dream Lover' played in his head as he watched her walk in and sit down behind her boyfriend. That's when the music stopped and the bell rang, starting the class.

"Good morning students," The homeroom teacher, Mr. Kappel said. He was in his early twenties, with buzzcut brown hair and some stubble on his face. He was also the P.E. teacher. "We have someone new joining us today."

The class moaned as a young man in a red hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black boots stood in front of the class. He had blonde hair and blue eyes, and stood about four feet tall.

"This is Jax... What's your last name?" Kappel whispered.

"Jax... Kartheiser," The boy replied as Kappel sent him to find a chair. But as he walked toward a seat, a leg stuck out, tripping the boy. Jax looked up and saw a red headed boy with freckles looking down at him.

"How sweet, fresh meat," Nicholas Gillespie, one of the many bullies plaguing the school, said.

Walker whistled over to Jax and patted the seat of the desk in front of him. Jax cautiously walked over sat down.

A slap in the back of the head caught Nick offguard. His girlfriend Carol leaned forward and whispered to him. "That was really cruel."

Carol Collins was a red headed fifteen year old girl, and the fantasy of virtually every boy in the ninth grade. She was dressed in her cheerleader outfit, which was a red and white long sleeved shirt with an all red miniskirt and white tennis shoes.

"That's how I roll, babe," Nick said as Carol sat back. For some reason she continued to stay with this neanderthal, and could never figure out why.

Both Walker and Howard stared at Carol from the back of the room. While Howard had a crush on Carol since the first grade, Walker had developed his crush since moving to Underwood one year ago. Neither knew the other was in love with the same girl.

"You know you have no chance, right?" Chad asked as he sat next to Howard

"A guy can dream," Howard replied.

"Well, if Nick finds you looking at his girl, it'll turn into a nightmare," Chad told him.

Howard just sighed, knowing his friend was right. Maybe he really was destined to spend the rest of his life alone.

"Hey, Kit, you got your homework for English?" Chad asked. "I kind of didn't get to- Kit?"

Chad tapped Kit on the shoulder, bringing him out of the trance similar to what Howard and Walker were in with Carol.

"Oh, right," Kit nervously said as he dug through his bag and handed the paper back to Chad.

"Thanks," Chad replied. "You alright?"

"Fine," Kit replied as he handed Chad the paper.

The bell rang as everyone filed out to head toward their first class. Jax started walking away when Walker caught up to him.

"Hey, kid, where's your first class?" Walker asked.

Before Jax could answer, he was shoved against his locker by a tall blonde boy. This was Chris Jackson, one of the school's top football players. He was dumb as a rock, but he was one of the players carrying his team to the top, alongside Walker.

"Back off, he's with me," Walker said as Chris's six foot frame stood over him.

"You've got everyone else in this school punked, but you don't scare me," Chris told him.

"I was about to say the same thing about you," Walker replied. He wasn't about to back down, not when someone more defenseless was in trouble.

The two stared at each for a few seconds before Chris walked off, saying to himself how this little insect wasn't worth it.

"Is everyone in this school a jerk?" Jax asked, rubbing his shoulder from where he hit the locker.

"Not everyone," Walker replied. "Stick with me, kid, and you'll be alright."


P.E.

"What are you doing?" Jax asked as he watched Walker change his clothes.

"Changing for gym," Walker replied as he laced up his gym shoes. "Didn't you bring a change of clothes?"

"I-," Jax started to say, not wanting to be embarassed in front of his new friend.

"Don't sweat it," Walker replied. "I think Chad keeps some spare clothes in his gym locker. Not like he ever has to use them. Be right back."

As soon as Walker was out of sight, Jax closed his eyes and concentrated. Out of thin air, a pair of gym shorts, sneakers, and a t-shirt appeared in his hands. Walker came back with a set of clothes and found Jax already halfway dressed.

"Oh, right, duh. You're magic," Walker said as he tossed Chad's gym clothes behind him.

Walker and Jax headed to the gymnasium, where Howard, Chad, and the other kids who weren't on the basketball team were sitting in the bleachers.

"Jax, you might want to take a seat with the others," Walker told him.

"Is this not the time for exercise?" Jax asked as he looked at the other kids playing basketball.

"You," Kappel told Jax. "Your spot is on the bleachers with the others. Unless you think you're ready for the basketball team."

Jax said nothing as he sat down with Howard and Chad as they watched the team practice. Walker looked at them from the court. Sure, they were Outcasts. The guys no one wanted anything to do with.

But they were the guys that saved his life twice in one day. They were the guys who offered him a place to eat lunch. They-

"Hey!" Walker shouted as a ball bounced off the back of his head.

"You going to play ball or what?" Kyle Moffatt asked. Kyle was the only one who could really challenge Walker's role as the team's top player, and he always made sure to let everyone know that.

"You know what, why don't we let the other guys play today?" Walker asked as he looked at the bleachers. "I mean, it is P.E. after all. Maybe we should start using it for, you know, P.E. purposes?"

Everyone on the court gasped in horror. Two minutes later, Walker was sitting in the bleachers with the others.

"Thanks for standing up for us," Howard said as Walker was trying to stay calm.

"Is that what I was doing?" Walker asked without looking Howard's way. "Wrong. I was just... looking for an excuse to sit this class out. My leg is bothering me. That's all."



The day went by normally, and after school the boys went to the pool on the other side of the school.

"What are we doing here?" Howard asked as he followed the others in.

"I'm going to go out for the swim team," Chad said as he looked around for the swim coach. "I didn't get to go out for it last year because I had the chickepox."

"Which you then spread to the rest of us," Howard added, scratching his arms as he thought about it. "Where is everybody?"

"Swim try outs have been cancelled," Kappel said as he walked in. "They're being postponed until the weekend."

"Aw, man," Chad said as he kicked the air. "Oh, well, I guess that gives me a few days to get better prepared."

"I'll tell you what," Kappel said. "I need to go to the next county and pick up the team's new uniforms. I'll let you use the pool for a few hours, as long as you don't make a mess, lock up afterwards, and it's just the five of you."

"Deal," Chad said. "And thanks."

"Kappel's not so bad outside of P.E.," Howard noticed as Kappel walked out of the door. "It's like he's just in drill instructor mode for that one period."

"Anyone else up for a swim?" Chad asked. "I'm going to go change and-"

Chad headed for the locker room as a man in a wheelchair rolled through the door.

"Going somewhere?" The man asked as Jerrica appeared behind the boys.

"Having a pool party, are we?" Jerrica asked. "And you didn't invite us? I'm insulted..."

"Okay, I know why the witch is here, but what's with Stephen Hawking?" Kit asked as he looked at the wheelchair bound man.

"Yeah, what's he going to do, run us over?" Chad asked as he started laughing.

It was at that point that the wheels on the wheelchair extended out. The back of the seat laid down and metal seemed to be surrounding the paralyzed man. An eight foot robot exoskeleton was emerging from the wheelchair, with the man's head in a bubble, staring out at them.

"Dude, he's a transformer!" Walker shouted as everyone stepped back. "And not the classic 80's kind, either. The crappy new ones!"

"Now, face the might of... AUTOMATON!" The computerized voice shouted from the robot, sounding more evil than he had previously.

[Tobias]

"It's just a robot, we can take him," Chad said as he ran forward, but the robot grabbed him by the leg, swung him around, and launched him into the wall.

"I know I've got a spell in here somewhere," Jax said as Jerrica grabbed his spellbook, then levitated Jax into the air with a wave of her hand.

"Now, now, little brother, you don't want to go causing trouble, now do you?" Jerrica asked. "Or perhaps you'd like a little swim?"

Jerrica floated him over the deep end of the pool and dropped him in. Howard started launching innertubes and floating devices into the water. Jax grabbed ahold of one as Jerrica started blasting at him, popping the floatees.

"Hit the showers!" Kit said as he grabbed Jerrica by the collar, and drug her into the girls locker room at superspeed, then locking the door as he ran back out.

Automaton swung his arm, knocking Walker backwards, then grabbed Howard and slammed him into the ground.

"Robots suck," Howard said as he tried to stand up.

"He's got to have a weak spot," Walker said as he avoided the robot's hand as it nearly smashed down on top of him. "We just have to find it."

Chad ran up behind Automaton, but he grabbed Chad and flung him into the pool.

"Hey, no shoes in the pool!" Walker shouted to Chad as he jumped onto the robot's back and tried to cover the man's eyes. "Lights out!"

"Fool, I see everything!" Automaton replied as he grabbed Walker, and tossed him around, sending him flying across the room.

"Well, look at this!" Chad shouted from the pool as a blast of water suddenly shot towards Automaton, drowning him in water.

"Looks like Chad's power is to control water," Jax said as he climbed out of the pool.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious!" Howard shouted from the floor.

Chad was concentrating, blasting the robot with a steady stream of water, but it wasn't affecting him.

"Nothing can defeat me!" Automaton shouted. "I'm waterproof!"

"Then let's see if you're tidal wave proof!" Chad concentrated as a tidal wave surged out of the pool and hit the robot, knocking back into the wall, sending all the water back into the pool afterward.

"Do I have to do everything?" Jerrica asked herself as she blasted through the locker room door, grabbed Kit and Howard by their collars and collided them into each other, sending them to the ground. She headed toward Walker, when a water bomb hit her in the face.

"Hey, aren't witches supposed to melt in water?" Chad asked, not realizing that Automaton was rushing toward him. As soon as he he turned his head back, Automaton grabbed him from the water and held him by his black t-shirt.

"Now, should I skin you?" Automaton asked as a blade swirled in his left hand, and a taser crackled with electricity from a third arm emerging from his chest. "Or electrocute you."

"How about you take us out to dinner and a movie?" Howard asked as he rammed the handle of a fishing net through the bubble where the man's head was, cracking it. The man started wheezing, as his oxygen was now leaking out.

Chad fell out of the robot's grip as Walker and Kit pulled him back. The robot pulled the fishing net out and grabbed Howard, tossing him into the water.

"This... isn't... over!" The man's electronic voice shouted, before looking at Chad. "Especially with you!"

"Says you," Walker said as Kit and Chad pushed him backward, knocking him onto his back.

Jerrica snapped her fingers and Automaton disappeared. The boys looked up and headed toward her.

"You have a choice," Jerrica said. "Get me, or save him!"

Jerrica pointed out to the deep end of the pool, where Howard was struggling to stay afloat.

"He can't swim!" Chad shouted as he headed for the water, but Jerrica grabbed him and tossed him back at the others.

"You can't take all of us," Walker said as they raced toward the witch, but she snapped her fingers and their feet were stuck to the floor.

"I can destroy all of you now," Jerrica said as she looked at Jax. "But I want you to suffer first. I want you to watch as your friend drowns, knowing that you can't do anything to stop it!"

Walker pulled at his legs, trying to get free as he watched Jerrica diappear in a puff of smoke.

"Chad, do something with the water!" Walker shouted.

"I can't!" Chad replied. "It's like Jerrica blocked my power when she froze us in place!"

"Jax, can you free us?" Walker asked.

"Not without my book. I need to think of the spell," Jax replied. "Or else we can wait a few minutes for the spell to wear off."

"Howard doesn't have that much time," Kit told him as he tried to break himself free.

"Howard, try to swim for the edge of the pool!" Chad shouted.

But it was too late, as they watched helplessly as Howard's hand sank under the water...

TO BE CONTINUED...

(What does everyone think so far?)

[Tenku]

:)

So far so good Tobias! Since I'm in HS, I can definately relate to all of this. ^^;
The characters are fleshed out evenly, and there's no trace of *obvious* cliches. Though, I'm kinda interested about Kartheiser. So far he's behind the scenes for now. Is there something more than dimension domination to him?

Anyway, keep up the good work.

PS. I laughed when Automaton introduced himself. Good cheesyness. :D

[Tobias]

Thanks. Part 3 will hopefully be up today.

As for Kartheiser's role, yes he is behind the scenes for now, but he'll play a major role by the last part of the arc.

[Tobias]

The Most Dangerous Villain of All

Walker, Kit, Chad, and Jax were frozen to the pool room floor, their feet stuck in place thanks to Jerrica's spell, while Howard, who couldn't swim, was drowning in the pool.

"The spell should wear off in about five minutes," Jax told them as he tried to pull his feet free without luck.

"That's not soon enough!" Walker shouted as he pulled as hard as he could, falling backwards out of his shoes. "What the hell?"

"Jerrica's spell must have just stuck our shoes to the floor!" Kit realized as he easily slipped out of his shoes, followed by Chad and Jax.

"Thank God for loopholes," Walker replied as he dived into the water, and swam toward Howard, who by this time had been underwater for a few minutes, and was now passed out. Walker hoped he wasn't too late as he swam closer.

Walker grabbed Howard and swam toward the top, but just before he reached the surface, he doubled over in pain, just as he had the day Jax placed the spell on him. He grabbed his stomach in pain, almost letting Howard go, but quickly shook it off, and broke through the surface of the water, leaving a small trail of blood from his back.

"Is he alive?" Kit asked as he helped pull Howard out as he laid Howard onto the tiled floor. Chad helped pull Walker out as they rushed over.

"He's not breathing," Walker said as he checked for signs of life. He flung his wet hair back so it wouldn't get in his eyes as he performed CPR. "Come on, stay with me, man, stay with me."

Kit, Chad, and Jax stood by helplessly as they watched Walker try to save Howard's life. After about a minute, Howard started coughing, spitting water out. He opened his eyes and looked at Walker, whose smile quickly wore off.

"What happened?" Howard asked as he looked up at the boy who just saved him.

"I saved your life. We're even now," Walker told him as stood up, and headed to the other side of the pool to grab his shoes.

"That was too close," Kit said as he slumped against the wall. "Next time we might not survive an attack."

"Jerrica's bringing in outside help," Jax said as he looked for his spellbook, finding it on the edge of the pool. "Who knows how many other allies she has up her sleeve?"

"And they say I need glasses," Howard said as he sat up and wiped off his glasses. "Jerrica wasn't wearing sleeves."

"If she's got help, then we're going to get help," Chad said, ignoring Howard, as he concentrated, forcing all the spilled water back into the pool. "As soon as we clean this place up, we're going to see someone who might be able to give us an edge."

"Who? The National Guard?" Kit asked as he picked his shoes up before tossing Chad's over to him.

"Better," Chad replied. "Remember Sam Cantrell?"

Howard and Kit gasped in horror.

"The guy who blew up the science lab?" Howard asked as he stood up and pulled off his right shoe to drain the water out. "That nutcase?"

"That 'nutcase' is a genius," Chad reminded him. "And it's not his fault, his dad's insane, too, you know."

"Wait a minute, if this guy is such a genius, then why isn't he in school with us?" Walker asked. "No offense to the rest of you, but this guy sounds like a real outcast."

"Because he's home schooled," Chad told him. "And we need his help."

"First we need to dry off," Walker told them as he tossed towels at Howard, Chad, and Jax. "Kit, you're the only one who's relatively dry at this point, so take our clothes to the dryer down the hall. The rest of us are going to come up with a game plan in case that witch shows up again."

"Yeah, but-" Kit started to say as wet clothes started flying at him, knocking him to the ground.

Walker wrapped the towel around his waist as the others took a seat around the pool, waiting for Kit to come back.

"Jax, do you have any spells memorized?" Walker hopefully asked. "Anything you wouldn't need the book for?"

"I'm still a wizard in training," Jax told him. "The larger spells take a great deal of concentration and willpower, something I still need to work on. But maybe an invisibility spell will work until we can find your friend. It'll block us from Jerrica's radar."

"Then cast it," Walker told him as he stood up. "As soon as we get our clothes dried, we're heading out."



The Dark Dimension

"Father, the third power has emerged," Jerrica said to her father, whose face remained hidden in shadow as he sat on his throne. "The next power is-"

"I know which power emerges next," Kartheiser told his daughter. He stood up and waved his hand, revealing a hidden door. "Jax doesn't realize that when he cast the power spell, that the powers he granted came from the Dark Dimension."

Kartheiser and Jerrica walked into a seemingly endless room, filled with brightly colored jars. He walked over to a shelf, where there were four empty jars sitting next to each other.

"Strength, speed, water," Kartheiser read off the first three. "We still have time to take them before the fourth power emerges. Once the last child realizes what he can do, he'll be unstoppable."

"Isn't there any way to stop him?" Jerrica asked.

"There are two ways to stop him," Kartheiser said as he pulled a bright red jar off the shelf. "If someone were to gain this particular power, or if we killed the boy before he fully gains his power."

"I think I have an idea," Jerrica told him as Kartheiser placed the jar back. "If I can capture the last child, I can use him to draw the others into a final battle. All I need to do is make sure that this 'Walker', doesn't have a chance to access his powers."



Meanwhile, the boys were standing outside of an abandoned mall. It was a large piece of property, standing only one story, although there were a few stores inside that managed to get a second level to their shops.

"A mall?" Walker asked. "He lives in a mall?"

"What part of 'his dad is insane' don't you understand?" Chad replied as he tried to open the door. "His dad's into real estate, and they could never find enough retailers to reopen the mall. Something about a phantom. How do we get in? The door's locked."

Howard cracked his knuckles, then shook his hand in pain. "Ow, that hurts! I guess superstrength does have it's drawbacks."

Walker just sighed in embarassment as Jax created a skeleton key in his hand, then tossed it to Chad.

"That key will work on any lock, no matter how complicated," Jax informed him as Chad opened the door.

The boys entered the mall, which was darkly lit. Walker pulled out a flashlight out of his backpack and shined it around.

"A boy scout is always prepared," Walker told them.

"You were never a boy scout," Howard responded.

"How do you know?"

"Your mom told us," Kit said as they continued on. "While you were crying about being one of us, she gave us milk and snickerdoodles."

A sound was heard as Walker shined the light ahead of him.

"Sam probably doesn't even live here anymore," Howard said as the lights suddenly came on. "Then again-"

A net suddenly sprung from the ground, lifting the five boys into the air.

"Terrific," Walker said as he struggled to move around. "You didn't say anything about boobytraps, Chad."

"You didn't ask," Chad replied as a buzzing sound was heard. The boys looked over and saw a robot with chainsaw hands rolling toward them.

[Tobias]

The five boys were trapped inside of a giant nylon net, after they had entered the abandoned mall to seek out help to aid them against a dark wizard and his vicious daughter.

Now a giant robotic monster with chainsaw hands was headed toward them, and they had no way to escape.

"Howard, can't you break these ropes?" Walker asked as he struggled to move.

"I could if everyone wasn't sitting on top of me," Howard replied, his voice muffled from all the weight on top of his body.

"Walker, before we die, I just wanted you to know... your mom's hot!" Chad said as he watched the robot inch closer to them.

"Dude, my mom's fifty!" Walker shouted.

"Walker, I've got a confession, too," Howard's still muffled voice said from the bottom of the net. "I used your football trophy as a plunger when your toilet backed up."

"The only trophy I've ever won!" Walker shouted as the robot was just inches away.

"I know we just met recently," Jax said as he was sitting next to Walker. "But I kind of broke your video game device."

"My YBOX!?"

"Uh, Walker?" Kit said.

"Oh, no," Walker interupted. "What, did you pee in my fish tank, Kit? Did you rape my grandma? Let me guess, you ran over my dog!"

Kit was about to reply when the robot's hand swung out, cutting the rope holding the net to the ceiling. The boys hit the ground, with Howard taking all the impact.

The robot came to a stop and lowered it's arms. It's glowing red eyes turned off, leaving a lifeless mechanical body standing there.

"What are you doing here?" A young man's voice asked. A fourteen year old boy stepped out from the shadows. He was dressed in a white lab coat, with black pants and brown shoes. He had short brown hair, in a salad bowl hair style.

"Sam?" Chad asked as he stood up.

"Chad?" Sam replied. "What in the world are you doing here?"

"We'll explain everything," Chad told him as Walker and Kit helped Howard up. "We need your help."

"This guy doesn't look that insane," Walker said as Sam patted the robot on the head.

"Go play, boy," Sam said as he tossed a metal stick. The robot barked and rolled away.

"I stand corrected," Walker added as the group followed Sam down the hall.



"Here we are," Sam said as he led the group into one of the mall's abandoned stores. He flipped the switch, revealing a room full of weapons and advanced technology. "This is where my dad keeps the non lethal stuff."

"I'd hate to see the stuff that can actually hurt you," Howard said as he looked at a pair of sais on the wall.

"We'll start off with this," Sam said as he picked up an oversized boomerang shaped object. He tossed it to the ground and stood on it. "This is a hoverboard."

The board lifted into the air as Sam floated around the room. "It's able to go twenty feet high. Handy for dusting tall objects."

"Cool," Chad said as Sam landed. Chad jumped on the board and immediately fell off.

"You might need some practice," Sam told him as he picked up two small blue cubes and tossed them to Walker. "Press the buttons on the side by squeezing them in your hand."

Walker squeezed the cubes, and two blades shot out.

"Instant swords," Sam told him. "Micro technology at it's best."

"All this stuff is great," Jax said as he looked around. "But a lot of this stuff would never protect us from magic."

"Maybe it won't, but it'll help even the odds a bit," Walker replied as he swung the swords around. "All we need is a little practice-"

One of the swords flew out of Walker's hand and narrowly missed hitting Howard.

"Witches, sorcerers, giant robots," Sam said to himself as he dug through the a supply closet. "And they say my dad's crazy."

"It's getting late," Kit said as he looked at his watch. "What are we going to do tonight? Stick together or go home? We could always sleep over at Walker's place."

"Oh, hell no!" Walker shouted. "I think I'll just stay by myself tonight, thank you. Unless Jax wants to stay over again."

"I think we really do need to stick together," Jax told him. "At a place where it's a little less... lethal."

"He can stay over at my place," Howard replied, knowing sending him home with Kit wouldn't be a good idea. "How about you, Chad? You up for a sleepover?"

"Dad's been staying late at the office," Chad said, knowing what that usually meant. "So, sure. I'll just call my mom and tell her."

"Then we'll meet at Howard's house tomorrow," Walker told them. "Since school's closed because of Joe Pesci's birthday. Keep your cell phones on and near your bed, just in case."

"Cell phones?" Everyone asked at once.

"Oh, right, I forgot," Walker remembered. His family was the only one able to afford a cell. "Thanks for the gear, Sam."

"No prob," Sam told them as they headed for the door. "Just remember, if you need any help, just give me a call." He felt around his pockets. "Oh, right, I don't have cell phone either. Take these."

Sam tossed a bunch of small black boxes at them. "Communicators, so you can stay in contact with each other. They also make great blunt objects."



Chad and Howard were in sleeping bags on the floor, while Jax was lying in Howard's bed.

"So, if we do stop your sister from taking over the Earth, what's going to happen to you?" Chad asked as he stared at the ceiling.

"I haven't really thought about it," Jax replied, laying on his side, looking down at his friends. "My dad's not going to be happy when he hears what happened."

"Why don't you stay with us?" Howard asked. "Let's face it, you're an outcast, just like the rest of us."

"I'd like that," Jax replied. "But where would I live?"

"We'll burn that bridge when we get to it," Howard told him as he fell asleep.

"I hope Walker and Kit are alright," Chad said as he noticed Jax was asleep as well. "Goodnight, guys."


Kit snuck into the house and found his dad was already asleep. He breathed a sigh of relief as he headed upstairs and laid on his bed. He just hoped that could sneak out of the house in the morning before his dad woke up with a hangover.


Walker was asleep on his bed, not realizing a flash of red smoke was filling his room. Jerrica emerged from the smoke and stood over him, tempted to kill him right there.

"It would be too easy to kill you now," Jerrica said as she held an energy spike in her hand. "But I need you to lure my brother out of hiding."

It was at that point that Walker woke up and saw Jerrica standing over him. He jumped up in a panic and held a blanket around his waist because he was just in his underwear with a girl in front of him.

"Jax isn't here," Walker said as he tried to back away from Jerrica.

"It's not Jax that I'm after," Jerrica said as she fired at Walker, who dived off the bed. He tossed the blanket he had with him at Jerrica, and while she was blinded, he managed to pull on a pair of jeans.

"I guess even evil other dimensional witches can't resist me," Walker said as he grabbed two cubes off the desk.

"Don't flatter yourself," Jerrica told him as she turned the blanket Walker had tossed at her into a net. "Now come peacefully or I'll kill you."

"Over my dead body!... Wait-" Walker said as the swords emerged from the cubes in his hand.

Jerrica fired off three energy bolts at Walker, who managed to fend off the first two, but the third got him directly in the chest. The boy flew backwards and hit his back on the corner of the dresser, scraping skin off as he fell to the floor.

"What's going on in here?" Walker's parents asked as they burst through the door. They saw Jerrica standing over their son on the floor.

"Walker, what have we told you about having girls in your room?" Mr. Sullivan said as Jerrica fired a blast of energy at them.

"NO!" Walker shouted as he shoved the door closed, taking the force of the blast. Walker's parents were knocked unconscious by the wooden shards of door that hit them at full force. Walker was slightly hunched over, his back in a great deal of pain at this point.

"Come with me and I'll let your parents live... for now," Jerrica bargained.

"You win," Walker said as he lowered his head in defeat. Before he could grab his sneakers or a t-shirt, Jerrica teleported them both away in a flash of red smoke.

The next morning, Howard, Chad, and Jax were waiting for Walker and Kit to show up. They'd been sitting on Howard's front porch for over an hour, and neither boy had shown.

"What if Jerrica got to them?" Howard asked, getting more nervous by the second.
"They had communicators, but what if they couldn't get to them in time?"

"I knew we should have stuck together!" Chad said as he started pacing. "What do we do if that did happen?"

"Chad, you go to Kit's house," Howard told him. "Jax. go see what happened to Walker. I'm going to get in contact with Sam."


Chad knocked on Kit's front door. There was no answer as Chad started to worry.

"They're not home," The next door neighbor said as she watered her flowers. "There was an... accident."

"What kind of accident?" Chad asked, fearing what the neighbor would say.

"Not quite sure, but a had to be taken to the hospital early this morning," The neighbor replied. "It didn't look good."

"Oh, no," Chad said as he started breathing heavily. "What about his dad?"

"The police had to take him away," The neighbor replied. "From what I can tell, the dad took a baseball bat to the kid. I'm sorry, was he a friend?"

"More than a friend," Chad replied, trying to hold back the tears. "He was more like a brother."

Chad went to leave when he found a red hat sitting on the porch. He went to pick it up and felt blood on the rim of the hat.

[Tobias]

Howard, Sam, and Jax were standing in Walker's bedroom, observing the damage. Walker's parents were still out, and the boys had taken them back to their room, hoping they wouldn't panic too much when they came around.

"Jerrica was here, alright," Sam said as he looked around the practically destroyed room.

"Nah, it always looks like this," Howard replied. "But the destroyed door and scorch marks are new."

"He's still alive," Jax told them as he looked for a body. "Or at least has all his organs intact. She would have a left a calling card if she really wanted to hurt him."

Suddenly a note appeared out of thin air and floated into Howard's hand.

"Meet me at Notpolito Point if you want your friend back," Howard said to the others. "That's just outside of town."

"Notpolito Point?" Sam asked as he looked at the note. "That's a three hundred foot drop."

"Wait," Jax noticed. "She said 'friend'. That means she just has Walker. What happened to Kit?"

Just as he asked that, Chad appeared in the doorway, crying and holding Kit's hat.



"He's alive, but almost every bone in his body was broken," The doctor told the boys after they had arrived. "He'll heal eventually, but he might be walking anytime soon."

Kit had no other family outside of his father, so there was no one else to contact. Howard and Chad were all the family Kit had, and no one in the room realized that until just now.

"So the guy with superspeed can't run?" Howard asked as he sat in the chair in the waiting room. "What kind of sick monster does this to their own kid?"

"I've got a better question," Chad said silently as he held onto Kit's hat. "What kind of friends let this happen? We all knew what Kit's dad was like. We all knew how he beat Kit whenever he got in trouble. And we didn't do anything about it. We just shook it off, like we didn't think it wasn't going to get worse. We're just as responsible as anyone for this."

"What about Walker?" Jax asked as he looked at the group. "He's going to die if we don't help him."

"Someone needs to be here for Kit when he wakes up," Howard said as he looked at Chad. "Think you can sit this round out?"

"For Kit, I will," Chad said as he looked at the hat. "But what about you guys?"

"The three of us will rescue Walker," Howard replied nervously. "And then we'll all come back here and support our friend."



Howard, Sam, and Jax hopped on their bikes and headed for Notpolito Point, when they were spotted by Nick and his girlfriend Carol. They were joined by Nick's gang of Kyle, Chris, and Aaron, all jocks.

"Where are those losers going?" Nick asked.

"Let's find out," Kyle replied. "Walker's not with them, so let's take advantage of this offer while it lasts."

"Guys, leave them alone," Carol told the group. "Don't you have anything better to do than beat up a few helpless kids?"

The group thought for a second.

"No!"


The boys arrived at Notpolito Point, a popular makeout spot which overlooked the town of Underwood. Under the Point was a 300 foot drop, with a small river with many jagged rocks at the bottom. They found Walker hanging upside down over the drop, hanging from a rope attached to a tree by his ankles.

"Walker, are you alright?" Howard asked as he ran toward the tree.

"Oh, I'm fine," Walker told him. "I'm only hanging half naked from a freakin' tree in the middle of winter!"

Howard was almost to his friend when a laser blast scorched the ground in front of him. Jerrica appeared, sitting on the branch where Walker was hanging from.

A twelve foot robot, with the paralyzed man's face hidden behind a stronger shield, flew down and landed. This robot was easily three times as bulky as the one the boy's face the last time, with arm cannons, flamethrowers, chainsaws, and others instruments of death ready to attack.

"Well, this is just great," Howard said as the three boys backed up. "I wonder if he's got a can opener on that thing?"


Chad was sitting next to Kit's bed, hoping he'd open his eyes soon. He grabbed Kit's hand and squeezed it, hoping for some sort of reaction. Both of Kit's arms, and both legs were in casts, and his head was wrapped in bandages. The only exposed parts of his body were his hair, eyes and mouth, and his fingers and toes.

"Come on, buddy," Chad silently said as he lowered his head to look Kit in the face. "Wake up. You're my best friend. I don't think I could take all this weird stuff without you here with me."

Kit had a breathing tube in his mouth, so he couldn't respond vocally. Instead, he squeezed Chad's hand to let him know he was still with him.

"Got something for you," Chad told him as he pulled Kit's hat out of his bookbag. "Your lucky cap. Doctors said you can't wear it just yet, but it's waiting for you to get better."

Kit didn't open his eyes, and soon his grip weakened as he started to flatline.

"Kit?" Chad asked. "No!!"

The doctors came rushing in and ushered Chad out as they worked to save Kit. Chad waited to see if his friend was going to make it out alive, still holding onto Kit's hat



"Did I mention that robots suck?" Howard asked he tried to stay out of the way of Automaton's large metal fists as they pounded the ground in an attempt to smash him.

Sam pulled out a metallic bo staff and started whacking the robot, trying to find it's weak spot.

"Sam, you're a classified genius, don't you have a gizmo to stop him?" Howard asked as Automaton grabbed him and launched Howard into the air.

"Let's see," Sam said as he dug through his bookbag. "Let's see what this does."

Sam pulled out a small gun and fired it, hitting the robot with a white substance.

"Oh, yeah, my yeast gun!" Sam said as the substance on the robot started to grow, burying the robot in a mountain of yeast.

Howard landed on the ground behind Sam, then sat up to see what's going on.

"Now that's what I call a yeast in-" Sam covered Howard's mouth before he could finish his thought.

The two boys went to see if Automaton really was trapped when the mountain of yeast exploded, knocking them back. The robot opened fire with a hail of bullets as the boys ducked behind a rock.

"Any other bright ideas?" Howard asked over the noise of ammunition coming their way.

"Yeah," Sam replied as he covered his ears. "Don't die!"


Jerrica was firing bolts of energy at Jax, who was using a magic shield to block her attack.

"That shield can't hold you forever!" Jerrica told him as she continued firing, finally breaking the shield, knocking Jax onto his back. She prepared to deliver a final strike when he rolled out of the way and tossed an energy bolt of his own, knocking her backwards. "You'll pay for that!"

Jerrica clapped her hands together, sending a shockwave of energy at Jax. The boy screamed as his nose started bleeding from the force of the blast. Jerrica went to strike again when Jax rushed forward and tackled her.


Automaton was still firing at Howard and Sam with a seemingly unending supply of ammo. He finally stopped as the boys looked over the rock and found Automaton was heading toward them with two large blades. Howard finally got annoyed and stood up, picking the rock up over his head.

"What are you doing?" Sam asked.

"Testing a theory," Howard replied as he tossed the rock at Automaton, knocking the robot backwards. "I was right: rock does beat scissors."


Nick and his friends had just arrived, and were highly confused at the situation that was unfolding.

"Are they filming a movie?" Kyle asked as he saw the giant robot.

"Who cares?" Nick replied. "Those dorks are winning! Are we going to stand by and watch that happen?"

"Is that Walker hanging from the tree?" Carol asked as she looked toward the point. "He doesn't look too good. Maybe we should see if he's alright."

Nick was about to tell her to stay put, but it was at that point that Howard launched a tree at Automaton, but missed, landing it where Nick and the others were, knocking them all out. Carol just sighed and went to see if Walker needed help.


Jerrica had Jax by the throat and had him up against the tree, choking the life out of him.

"Die!" Jerrica shouted as she heard a voice behind her.

"FORE!" Howard shouted as he swung a tree, knocking Jerrica back twenty feet, causing her to drop Jax. The boy tried to catch his breath as Sam helped him up.

"Let's get Walker and get out of here," Howard said as Automaton grabbed Howard and Sam by their legs and dangled them upside down.

Jax went for his spellbook when Jerrica grabbed him and slammed his head into the tree, knocking him out.

"There's two missing," Jerrica said as she looked around. She grabbed Howard by the collar. "Where are the others?"

"They thought they'd help you out by finding a doctor to pull that stick out of your-" Jerrica smacked Howard as hard as she could, knocking his glasses to the ground.

"Toss them over the edge of the cliff, then cut their friend loose to joing them," Jerrica instructed as she picked Jax up. "As for you, father is going to deal with you... personally."

Jerrica laughed as she disappeared with Jax, leaving Automaton holding the two boys.



"Walker, are you alright?" Carol asked as she tried to find a way to untie him.

"Carol, what are you doing here?" Walker asked. "You need to get out of here before-"

"Get away from him!" Automaton shouted as he tossed Sam aside, and stomped toward Carol. Sam pulled out his bo staff as he found a weak spot on the robot's back. He pounced and stuffed his bo into a hole, shorting out the robot. Automaton starting firing sparks of electricity as he fell over the edge of the cliff.

"That works, too," Howard said as he noticed that a spark had landed on the rope holding Walker, lighting it on fire and causing it to snap almost instantly.

"Got you!" Carol shouted as she grabbed Walker's legs, but was having trouble pulling him up.

Before Howard and Sam could reach them, both Walker and Carol had fallen over the cliff. The boys looked over the edge in time to see Walker and Carol falling toward the jagged rocks at the bottom.

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Tenku]

Oh boy the suspense goes on!

Jerrica captures Jax AND Walker, Kit is in the hospital because of what his dad did to him (poor guy...his father is just evil. :mad: ) I can just imagine Chad going through hell right now. :(
The assistance of Sam great, disabling Automaton. And the way you ended with Sam and Howard falling over that 300 foot cliff... oi, talk about suspense! :D

Keep it up. :)

[Tobias]

Thanks. BTW, it's Walker and Carol that fell over the cliff.

Part 4 is supposed to go up tomorrow, with a more twists and turns.

[Tobias]

Journey to the Dark Dimension

Walker and Carol were headed toward the rocks below, falling faster by the second. The wind was against him, but Walker had managed to catch up to Carol, who was far ahead of him, and grabbed her hand, pulling her into his arms.

"I've got you," Walker said as he pulled her close, and for a second forgot where he was. Walker had always wanted to hold Carol in his arms, he just never thought it'd be in a situation like this.

"Who's got you?" Carol asked.

Walker was about to reply when he started screaming in pain, trying to not pass out and drop Carol in the process. Two bloody stubs broke through the skin on his back, shooting blood out as they continued to fall. The stubs quickly expanded into two feathery objects, and before the two could hit the rocks, they found themselves flying upward.

"I don't believe this," Walker said as he felt the wind pushing against his new wings as he flew back toward Notpolito Point.


Howard and Sam were mourning the two people they thought were dead. Three if you count Jax.

"This superhero thing sucks," Howard said. "Jax is gone, Kit's probably dying, and now Walker and Carol are gone."

"Walker and Carol are doing fine," A voice said as Walker glided up from over the edge of the cliff, holding Carol in his arms. On his back were two beautiful white angel wings, with a six foot wingspan. He landed as the wings seemed to gracefully lower themselves. "Except for, you know, the wings."

Carol backed away from Walker, looking at him in shock.

"Uh oh, here it comes," Howard said as the three boys walked toward Carol. "Now, don't panic. They're only magical wings brought on by a little wizard trying to stop his dad from destroying everything we know."

Carol ran away in a panic. Walker wanted to go after her, but Howard and Sam stopped him.

"She's going to need time to absorb all this," Howard said as he handed Walker a backpack with his shoes and a shirt. "And we need time to think about what we're going to do next. We're down two people, now."

"Uh, Howard, how am I supposed to wear this?" Walker asked as he held up the shirt. "Can't exactly fit this over the wings. But you know what's really weird? I don't feel cold at all. My body feels warm all over, like it was the middle of summer."

"We really need to get Jax back so he can tell us what the hell happened to you," Howard told him. "In the meantime, we need to go see Kit."

"That's right, Kit and Chad aren't here," Walker noticed. "Where are those two knuckleheads?"



Meanwhile, Nick and his friends had woken up. Carol was nowhere to be found, and Howard and his friends were already gone.

"Wher'd those losers go?" Nick asked.

"Who cares?" Aaron replied. "We'll get them Monday at school."



Kit had slipped into a coma, but at least the doctors had managed to keep him alive for the time being. Chad, Howard, Sam, and Walker were sitting outside the hospital, out of sight from anyone who would be freaked out by Walker's wings.

"Maybe we can put a blanket over them and say he's Quasimodo's great grandkid," Howard said as he felt the feathers on Walker's wings, which felt softer than anything on Earth.

"Getting a shirt for you shouldn't be a problem," Sam told him as he looked at the wings. "Just have to get something that zips up in the back."

"Sam, you know what's on my mind right now?" Walker asked. "It's not the shirt I can't put on my body, and amazingly enough, it ain't the wings on my back. It's the fact that a kid's lying in that bed, close to death, while we're out here playing hero."

"What do you want us to do?" Howard asked. "You think we don't feel guilty over what happened? Me or Chad could have easily gotten Kit out of that house years ago, and we didn't. Now our best friend is dying... and-"

Chad tried to console Howard as Walker's wings expanded and he flew off into the air.

"Where are you going?" Sam asked.

"To do something I should have done when I had the chance," Walker replied as he flew off.


The Dark Dimension

Jax was chained to a wall, beaten and bloody. He had slash marks all over his body, and was in a great deal of pain from the salt and lemon juice that had been poured into his wounds.

"I was hoping it wouldn't have to come to this," Kartheiser told him as he walked into the room. "But you betrayed me. You betrayed your blood."

"Didn't... want to... destroy... friends," Jax weakly said.

Kartheiser smacked him, causing the boy to spit more blood. "You have no friends!"

"You're wrong," Jax told him. "I do have friends. And if they could, they'd come after me."

"Oh, they'll come here, alright," Kartheiser told him as he raised the boy's head to stare into his eyes. "When I turn them into my honor guard. All I have to do is kill the Angel, or persuade him to join me, and nothing can stand in my way."

"You can't kill an angel," Jax happily replied. "That's the purest power of all. Maybe that's why it got selected when I cast the spell. Your dark magic would never be able to summon it."

"You forget, There are two ways to kill an angel," Kartheiser informed him. "And I'm more than willing to try both of them."




Walker found himself outside of the jail where Kit's dad was being held. He ducked into an alley so on one would notice the half naked teenager with angel wings.

"I wonder," Walker said to himself as he closed his eyes and concentrated. He doubled over in pain as the wings began to shrink, until they were stubs again, which retracted into his back, leaving two scars behind. "I can make them go away at will. But it hurts like a mother-"

Walker felt a chill as he stood there, the feeling of warmth went away with his wings. He pulled a blue hooded sweatshirt on and slung his backpack over his shoulder as he snuck into the police station. He snuck past security and found Kit's dad sitting on a cot in his jail cell.

"Mr. Williams?" Walker asked as the man looked up.

"Who the hell are you?"

"I'm a friend of your son," Walker told him. "And I came to ask why you did what you did."

"I don't owe you, or anyone else, an explanation," Mr. WIlliams said as he stood up and walked over to Walker. "What I do with my boy is my own business."

"You put him in the hospital," Walker said as he pulled his shirt off. "You almost killed him. That makes it MY business."

"And who do you think you are?" Mr. Williams asked with a laugh.

"Me?" Walker asked as he concentrated, trying to hold back the pain. Seconds later, two angel wings grew out of his back. "I'm his guardian angel."

Kit's father was too stunned to scream as Walker walked toward the cell.

"And if Kit dies," Walker said with a smile. "I'm going to be the angel of death. And I'll be gunning for you."

Mr. Williams started screaming as the guards rushed in, but all they found was a frightened man babbling on about an angel threatening him. Outside, Walker flew back toward the hospital, feeling a little bit better about himself, but not by much.



Howard and Chad were sitting by Kit's bedside, hoping he'd wake up when Walker walked back in.

"What happened to your wings?" Howard asked.

"I figured out how to conceal them," Walker replied as he looked at Kit. "My God..."

"I know," Chad said as he patted Walker on the shoulder. "I can't stand watching him like this. All this time people wondered why he was never afraid to die. Why was he willing to take his own life. It was because of his dad. He wanted to get away from the beatings and the never ending abuse."

"Sam, can you sit with Kit for a while?" Walker asked. "I think we need to get some air."

"Sure," Sam told them as the other three headed outside. They went to the hospital roof, where no one would overhear their conversation.

"Jerrica's going to be coming for us," Walker told the others as they got outside. "We need to distance ourselves from Kit, at least until we figure out a way to end this."

"I'm not leaving my best friend," Chad told him as he looked over the edge of the roof. "Ditching my only friend in the world is far worse than anything that witch can do."

"But how do we fight without Jax?" Howard asked as he sat on the edge. "And without Kit? Especially with that new metal maniac she's got on her side?"

Walker joined the two, looking over the edge of the roof, not realizing that the roof was being cast in a black shadow, which broke apart into several creatures. They looked like midget sized Gremlins, only pitch black, with glowing yellow eyes.

"Let's just be glad that nothing else can go wrong right now," Walker said as they heard a screeching sound. The boys turned around and saw a horde of black creatures flying at them.

"Show of hands," Howard said as he watched the creatures jump at them. "Who saw this coming?"

Chad and Walker didn't have time to respond, as the creatures were overtaking them, pinning them to the ground.

"They're too much!" Chad shouted. "How do we beat these things?"

Howard tried to punch one of the shadow demons, but his hand went right through it's head, like punching smoke. The creature laughed and punched Howard back, knocking him to the ground.

"Any other plans?" Walker asked.

"You're an angel," Howard replied. "Maybe your power will work!"

"No way," Walker replied. "I'm going through that pain again."

One of the creatures flung into a water puddle, as several others flew toward him. Chad concentrated and turned the puddle water into a water balloon type object. He tossed it at one of the demons, and to his surprise, the creature just vanished.

"Water," Chad said as he stood. "Water kills them!"

"We're on a hospital roof!" Howard told him. "How are we supposed to get water up here?"

Just as he said that, a drop of water hit him in the head. Then another. A light rain started as the shadow demons started screaming, evaporating on sight, leaving only small traces of black smoke as they were vanquished.

"That was so not fun," Howard said as he held his arm from where one of the creatures scratched him. "I hope that was all."

"Far from it," Jerrica's voice said as she appeared in front of them. "That fight was shorter than it should have been."

"We figured out how to kill your little creatures," Walker told her. "Where's Jax?"

"I'll take you to him," Jerrica told him. "In the Dark Dimension."

"Yeah, right," Howard said with a laugh. "Like we're going to fall for that trap!"

And just as he said that, three portals opened under the boys, dropping them into the Dark Dimension.

"Now for the other one," Jerrica said as she teleported off of the roof.


In the Dark Dimension, Chad, Howard, and Walker had landed on their butts, and found themselves suddenly surrounded by shadow demons.

"Welcome to my palace," Kartheiser said as the demons jumped them. "Enjoy your stay, because this is your new home."



Jerrica had teleported herself into Kit's room to collect the last outcast. Sam immediately jumped up and pulled out his bo staff.

"Where are the others?" Sam asked as he tried to hold her off.

"You have no powers," Jerrica said as he levitated him into the air with a wave of her hand. "You're of no use to me."

Jerrica tossed Sam across the room and into the wall, knocking him unconscious. She walked over to Kit and prepared to take him off his life support system.

[Tobias]

Jerrica was reaching for Kit's life support system when the door opened and Carol walked in.

"You!" Jerrica shouted as he fired a bolt at Carol, who dived to the floor, dropping a flower she was holding. It was at the point that Sam woke up, and pulled out his bo staff. He tossed it Jerrica, who fell as she ran toward Carol.

"I'll let your friend live," Jerrica said as she vanished. "Life as a vegetable will be much worse than a quick and merciful death!"

"You know Jerrica?" Sam asked as he helped Carol up.

"Never saw her before in my life," Carol replied. "I heard Kit was in the hospital. Where's Walker? We need to talk."

"He's... busy," Sam replied.



Walker found himself hanging by his wrists in the middle of a dungeon. He was about three feet above the floor, and his head hurt from the beating he just took from a horde of shadow demons. The dungeon was damp and cold, so Walker was glad he was wearing his sweatshirt.

"I see you're finally awake," Kartheiser said as he walked in. "So, you are the one that aquired the power of an angel? You're a mere child."

"Where are my friends?" Walker asked.

"They're still alive," Kartheiser told him. "They will be my honor guard, once I place the obedience spell on them. As for you, a spell as dark as that would never work on you."

"And why is that?" Walker asked.

Kartheiser waved his hand as Walker felt a pain rush through his chest and back. His sweatshirt start to rip, finally breaking apart as his wings extended.

"Those wings are why," Kartheiser replied. "So I offer you a choice: Either serve me willingly or die."

"I'd rather die," Walker quickly replied as he spit at Kartheiser.

Kartheiser punched Walker, drawing blood from his nose.

"Cut off his wings," Kartheiser instructed his shadow demons before turning to walk away. "But do it slowly. I want him to suffer.".

"You'll be doing me a favor," Walker told him. Kartheiser stopped and turned back around.

"You don't understand," Kartheiser informed him. "An angel's wings are as vital an organ as his heart or lungs. Cut off an angel's wings, and he dies."

A shadow demon hit Walker in the back of his head, knocking him out.


Howard and Chad woke up in a dungeon that was a little worse than Walker's. It was damper, darker, and had skeletons hanging on the wall.

"These walls must be reinforced," Howard said as he tried to make an exit. "There's no way out."

"Why didn't they put Walker in here with us?" Chad asked. "And where's Jax? And what if they go after Kit?"

"We'll find Jax and Walker," Howard assured him. "Kit... let's just hope they don't get to him."


The demons unchained Walker's hands and let him drop to the floor. They were hoping that Walker would squirm more if his hands were free. The three demons rolled him onto his stomach and grabbed his wings. It was then that Walker's eyes opened and gave one good flap, knocking two of the demons across both sides of the room, destroying them upon impact with the wall.

The third demon ran at him with a dagger, but Walker grabbed the creature, with the dagger barely an inch from his face. He fell back and launched the demon over him and into the wall, where it evaporated into black smoke. Walker decided to keep his wings out and headed out to find the others.


"Chad, I think I found a way out," Howard said as he pointed to a small crack. "This room is really damp, so maybe you can use the water around us to expand this crack."

"I can try," Chad told him as he concentrated. The water filled the crack, making it larger until the pieces of wall crumbled, making a hole small enough to climb through.

"Good work," Howard said as he went through. "Let's find Walker and get out of-"

The boys found themselves in another dungeon.

"Aw, man," Chad said as he looked around.

"Howard? Chad?" A voice asked from the shadows.

"Holy crap, it's Jax!" Howard said as the boys rushed forward.

"Don't come any closer," Jax told them as the boys stopped. "Please."

"Jax, do you know how to get us out of here?" Chad asked as he looked for another crack.

"No," Jax replied, still hidden in the shadows. "There's no way out. My father has won, and soon he'll place the obedience spell on you two, making you his eternal slaves."

"I don't think so," Howard matter of factly stated. "Walker's going to-"

"Walker's dead," Jax told them. "If I know my father, he had Walker killed as soon as he was brought here."

"I'm not giving up," Howard replied as he went to punch the door, but it opened and Howard accidently hit Walker. "Hey, you're alive!"

"Let's get out of here," Walker said as he looked to make sure no shadow demons were coming.

"Come on, Jax, let's go," Chad said as he reached for Jax's hand.

"I can't," Jax replied as he continued to stay in place.

"Why not?" Howard asked. "Don't be afraid of Kartheiser, we'll find a way to stop him."

"It's not that," Jax said as he stepped out of the shadows. "I can't leave... because I can't see."

The boys looked in horror at Jax, whose eye sockets were empty, bleeding holes.

[Tobias]

"Oh my God," Walker said as he looked at Jax's empty eye sockets. "Why?"

"As punishment for betraying him," Jax replied as Chad grabbed his hand. "I got off light. He could have cut off something worse."

"He's not going to get the chance," Chad replied as he led Jax along. "You know this place inside and out, don't you? Well, you can lead us to a way out of this hellhole."

"I can try," Jax replied as they left the dungeon. "But we have to be careful to avoid my father and his shadow demons."

"Those shadow demons are pushovers," Walker said as they walked along. "One good breeze and they were toast."

"Your wings," Jax said as he ran his hand down Walker's left wing. "We might have a chance to get out of this alive now."

"How?" Walker asked. "Your dad said something about me being invulnerable. What's up with that?"

"You have the power of the Angels," Jax replied. "It's the purest power there is. You're still vulnerable to magic, but dark, evil magic will have no effect on you."

"That's good to know," Walker replied as they saw some demons headed their way. They ducked inside a nearby room, which felt extremely cold to everyone but Walker.

"Where are we now?" Howard asked as he looked around. "It feels like a meat freezer."

"This is Grandpa's room," Jax replied. "You think Jerrica's a pain, you should see Grandpa in action. Although I never have. He's in a cryogenic sleep."

"Then let's get out of here before he wakes up," Walker replied.

"He can't wake up," Jax told them. "Not until-"

The sounds of shadow demons screeching cut Jax off as they heard Kartheiser storming down the hall.

"They're loose inside the palace!" Kartheiser shouted. "They have no way to return back to their world, so find them!"

"Is that true?" Walker whispered.

"No," Jax replied. "I can get us home, but we have to get to the throne room. I'm not going to lie, it's going to be very dangerous. We might not make it-"

"Hey, what's this?" Howard asked as he opened a door, which led directly to the throne room. "Found it!"

"I wouldn't use that door," Jax said. "It's a-"

The group ran out, and immediately found Kartheiser waiting for them.

"Trap. If we went the long way, we could have snuck in behind him," Jax finished.

"Take them back to the dungeon," Kartheiser ordered. "Except for Jax and Walker. I want them killed right here."

"Just try it," Walker said as he took to the air, as the demons followed.

Jerrica appeared just in time to see the shadow demons about to strike the outcasts.

"Father, I have news," Jerrica told him.

"Not now," Kartheiser told her. "We must finish this before they can escape!"

Walker flew over Kartheiser's head as the demons rammed into him and Jerrica, knocking them both over. Chad summoned the water from the dampness of the castle to flood the throne room, knocking Jerrica and Kartheiser into the next room. Howard then picked the throne and tossed it in front of the door, blocking them off.

"Jax, get us out of here!" Walker shouted.

"Open a door, let it be quick, take us to Earth thought a magic exit!" Jax chanted as a door opened on the wall. Everyone dove through as Chad grabbed Jax by the hand and pulled him in.

Kartheiser and Jerrica burst back into the room just as the door closed.

"They've escaped!" Kartheiser shouted. "And it will be for the last time! Mobilize everything we have. We shall strike them in such massive force that not even the angel can survive."

"Father, I have news," Jerrica told him. "I found the girl."

"This is excellent news," Kartheiser replied as he stroked his goatee. "Not only will we be rid of those brats, but once the girl is destroyed, I'll be one step closer to destroying the Earth."


The boys landed in Kit's hospital room, where Carol and Sam were watching over Kit.

"Where did you guys go?" Sam asked.

"Somewhere bad," Walker replied as he stood up and saw Carol. His wings shrunk down and went back inside his body. "We have a lot to go over. But first we have to get Jax to a doctor."

"Is Kit alright?" Chad asked. "Is there any change."

"The doctors think he might be in a coma for the rest of his life," Sam told them. "He's too far gone to be anything but a vegetable."

"No," Chad sadly said as he grabbed his friends hand.

Walker stood on the other side of Kit's bed, and felt sorry for what happened to the boy. Tears started to fall, landing on the exposed skin on Kit's body. Everyone stood there in silence for a minute, not wanting to think about anything else but there lost friend. It was then that something started squeezing Chad's hand.

"Kit?" Chad asked as he bent down to look into Kit's eyes, which soon slowly opened. "He's awake!"

"How do you feel, buddy?" Howard asked him.

"Like I was smashed between Roseanne and Louie Anderson in a sumo match," Kit quipped.

"But how?" Sam asked.

"A miracle," Walker replied as he looked at the group before him. "A sign that we can survive anything thrown at us."

"What are you saying?" Carol asked.

"I'm saying I'm not going down without a fight," Walker replied. "Sam, Carol, this isn't your fight. If you don't want to do this, you don't have to."

"You guys are the first ones who haven't treated me like a freak because of who I am," Sam told them. "I'm in."

"This group does need a woman around to keep you in line," Carol replied. "And besides, I want to know why that blonde bimbo was so eager to kill me."

"Then it's us against the world," Walker said as he put his hand on top of Kit's. "Who's in?"

Everyone piled their hands on top of each other, making a bond in their friend's hospital room.

"Next time Kartheiser attacks, we're going to finish him," Walker told them. "Once and for all."

TO BE CONCLUDED...

[Tobias]

School House Rock

"How could you hang out with those losers!?" Nick Gillespie asked his girlfriend Carol.

"Those losers are actually pretty sweet," Carol replied as the two walked toward school. "And don't question my taste in friends, with those losers you hang out with."

"My losers can beat your losers any day of the week," Nick told her. "I don't want you hanging out with those freaks."

"Well, those freaks are a lot nicer to me than you are," Carol said as she pulled off the steady bracelet Nick had gotten her. "I might even date one of them, seeing as to how we're through."

She tossed the bracelet at Nick and stormed off.

"Those freaks cost me my girl," Nick said as he stomped on the bracelet. "Now they're going to get it."


Walker Sullivan cut two slits in the back of his blue t-shirt. They were just big enough so he could expand his wings without ripping his shirt, not that he was looking forward to it. Everytime his angel wings were brought out, it caused him extreme pain. A side effect of the spell that gave him the power, Jax explained.

Jax had finally walked everyone through their powers, telling them their weaknesses and limits. For Walker, his powers were simply being invulnerable to dark magic. That and his tears could heal, but they had to be tears of sadness to work.

"That's why Kit woke up from his coma," Walker said to himself as he got ready for school. Although Kit was still in the hospital, Walker couldn't help but feel responsible for him. For all the Outcasts he had come to know over the last few days.


Chad Starke found his mother sitting at the kitchen table, his father already having left.

"Mom, are you alright?" Chad asked as he grabbed a pop tart. He knew his mother was far from alright, but maybe talking would help her feel a little better.

"Chad, baby, sit down," His mother said. "I know this is going to hard for you, but you need to hear this now. Your father and I... we're getting divorced."

That announcement hit Chad like a ton of bricks. He knew his parents might happier if they weren't together anymore, but still, hearing the words were painful. At least if couldn't get worse.

"Your dad's moving out west," His mother told him. "And at the end of the school year, you'll be moving out there with him."

"What?" Chad asked in disbelief. "No, I can't leave. I want to stay here, with you."

"Baby, I know," His mother said as she hugged him. "But I'm not going to be able to provide for both of us. Your dad can give you the things I can't."

Chad didn't say anything as he ran out the door, trying not to cry as he ran.


Alex Vincent High School

"No sign of the wicked witch?" Howard Lacey asked as walked up to Walker, leading Jax along.

Jax's eyes had to be stitched shut, after having his father rip them out with his bare hands for betraying his family. He was wearing a pair of dark glasses to cover his closed eyelids.

"Not yet," Walker told him. "Any sign of Chad?"

"No," Howard replied as he looked around. "But he's probably just at the hospital with Kit. Sam's ready to help if we need him. What about Carol?"

"Haven't seen her yet," Walker replied, getting nervous. "That just leaves the three of us."

"And I can't do any magic, outside of a few simple spells," Jax replied. "And since none of you can read my spellbook for me..."

"We can't cast that spell to block off the Dark Dimension," Walker finished the thought. "We need to find another way to stop your dad from taking over Earth."

"You know, if Kartheiser is this all powerful wizard, why doesn't he just come here and fight us himself?" Howard wondered.

"Oh, he can't," Jax replied. "He can't leave the Dark Dimension."

"WHAT!?" Howard and Walker shouted at once. "Why the hell didn't you bring that up before?"

"Didn't think it was important," Jax replied. "Dad got banished from Earth a few years ago. Can't set foot here until the banishment spell is broken."

"Kartheiser got banished from Earth?" Walker asked. "Wouldn't that mean that someone else from the Dark Dimension is here?"

"Yeah, Uncle Tubro," Jax replied. "It's a long story."

"Then start talking," Howard said as he grabbed Jax by the collar. "If you've got info on how to stop Kartheiser, then spill it."

"Howard, killing Jax isn't going to help," Walker said as he got between them.

"Yeah, but it'll help me feel better," Howard quickly replied.


"How are you feeling?" Chad asked as he sat next to Kit.

"Much better," Kit replied. He was out of most of his body cast, only his arm was in a sling and he had a bandage on his forehead. "The doctors said they've never seen anyone bounce back so quickly."

"Looks like Walker saved your life," Chad told him. "Guess that makes him even with both you and Howard now."

"Yeah," Kit said as Chad pulled Kit's hat out and placed it on his friend's head. "Walker's really a great guy, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is," Chad replied, looking saddened. "Kit, I have something to tell you. Can I trust you?"

"Dude, you've kept my secret for three years," Kit told him. "Anything you tell me won't leave this room. What's wrong?"

"My parents are divorcing," Chad said as he closed his eyes. "And at the end of the school year, I have to move out west with my dad."

"That sucks," Kit said, realizing he was about to lose his best friend. "You're my best pal. If you leave, who am I going to hang out with? Howard?"



"Why do I suddenly want to smack Kit?" Howard asked as he stood next to Walker.


"What I wanted to tell you was," Chad said as he looked at Kit. "I'm thinking about running away. And I want you to come with me."

Kit was almost speechless. He wanted more than anything to just get away from it all. And if he did, he'd be with his best friend in the world.


The Dark Dimension

"Don't give them an oppurtunity to fight back," Kartheiser told Jerrica as the demons lined up. "Strike them fast and without mercy."

"Yes, father," Jerrica replied. "I will not fail you."

"See that you don't," Kartheiser said as he handed her a box. "As proof of your success, bring back their hearts as trophies. As for the angel, rip off his wings and bring them to me."

Jerrice prepared to lead the strike to Earth as Kartheiser sat on his throne.

"Soon," Kartheiser said to himself. "Those children will be destroyed, then the real fight begins."


Chad had made it to school by third period, and found Howard, Walker, and Jax in P.E.

"Glad you could make it," Walker told him as Chad joined them on the bleachers. "How's Kit?"

"A lot better," Chad replied as they watched the group on the court. "You know what? Screw this. I say we go out there and demand to play!"

"Someone's wound up today," Howard replied. "But what the hell? We've got powers now, let's show them what we can do."

Walker just sighed. There was going to be no stopping them. He might as well go along to keep them from getting beaten too badly. Just as they stood, a voice came over the P.A. system.

"Would the following students please come to the principal's office? Howard Lacey, Walker Sullivan, Chad Starke, Kit Williams, and Jax... Kartheiser. That is all."

"Trap," The four boys said in unison.

Kappel sent the boys off to their doom, where they met Carol about halfway, who was running errands for a teacher.

"Carol, this is going to get ugly," Walker told her. "Evacuate the school. I have an idea."

"What are we going to do?" Howard asked.

"We're going to finish this," Walker replied as he headed toward his locker. "Call Sam. We might need him."


Carol hit the fire alarm, as the school started evacuating.

"What's going on?" Jerrica asked as she waited in the Principal's office. Principal Schull was out on business, and wouldn't be back for a few hours. A note was slid under the door as she picked up.

"Meet us on the roof. Your biggest fans."

The note incinerated in her hand as Jerrica disappeared in a puff of red smoke.


Meanwhile, after having made sure that everyone had been evacuated, Carol found the automatic locking system and sealed off the school. She knew Walker's plan was to get everyone to safety, but she hoped that Walker and his friends were going to make it through this.


Jerrica appeared on the roof and found Walker, Jax, Howard, and Chad waiting.

"Where's dear old dad?" Walker asked as he revealed his swords. "Oh, that's right, he can't come, can he?"

"A minor setback," Jerrica replied as dozens of shadow demons started rising from the ground. "It is a shame he won't get to see your destruction."

A rumbling was heard as a twelve foot robot arrived on the roof. Automaton was now almost twice as big as he was the last time.

"Is this guy on steroids or what?" Chad quipped, trying not to sound too frightened.

"Are you ready?" Walker asked.

"Are you?" Jerrica replied as the two groups raced toward each other.

[Tobias]

Jerrica stood back as she watched the shadow demons charge forward against her enemies. She was waiting for her moment to strike, and it would be soon.

Howard rushed through the demons, pounding them as he ran through the crowd, giving Walker space to slice at them with his swords. Whenever he sliced one of the demons, it seemed to muliply them.

"This isn't working!" Chad told the group as the boys found themselves surrounded. "And the roof is dry! Where's your brilliant plan, Walker?"

Walker pulled his backpack out and handed squirt guns to Howard, Chad, and Jax.

"Let's rock and roll, boys!" Walker shouted.

"You think those toys can stop my shadow demons?" Jerrica asked with a laugh.

"Are you kidding?" Walker replied. "You're talking to Underwood's greateast watergun champ!"

The boys spread out and started firing water everywhere, evaperating the demons, causing them to shriek as they disappeared in a puff of black smoke. Minutes later, the roof was cleared, but Automaton was ready to strike.

"Now you die," The robot said as it stomped forward, and aimed a laser cannon at them. It fired as Howard pushed Jax out of the way. Walker tried to slice at Automaton with his swords, but couldn't even make a scratch.

The robot picked up Chad and bound him in a metallic rope before slinging the boy over his back. Howard and Walker rushed at him, but Automaton grabbed Jax and used him as a blunt object and knocked the two boys back.

"What do you want with me?" Chad asked.

"Vengeance," The robot replied as his left leg suddenly fell off, causing Automaton to fall forward. "What is this?"

"It's called a tune up!" A voice replied as more of the robots parts started to quickly fall apart.

Chad found himself halfway across the roof, still tied up. The boy looked up and found Kit standing over him, smiling.

"Stay put, I'll be right back," Kit replied as he rushed back toward Automaton, who's main part, the one containing his body, blasted off like a rocket. "Oh, shoot, he got away."

"We'll see him again," Walker replied before he turned his attention toward Kit. "And what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in the hospital!"

"Wow, I didn't you know you cared that much," Kit told him as Howard helped Chad out of his ropes. "But I'm doing much better now."

A bolt of energy knocked them off balance, knocking the boys to the ground.

"Well, I was," Kit added.

"Your luck has ended," Jerrica told the boys. "There's no one left to save you now-"

A kick to her side sent Jerrica to the ground. Carol stood over her, ready to deliver another blow.

"You," Jerrica said with hatred in her voice. "You'll die with your friends, cousin!"

"COUSIN!" Everyone, including Jax shouted.

Jerrica grabbed Carol by her hair and flung her into the wall, then jumped and fired more blasts at the boys, keeping them pinned to the ground. She landed and leviated Jax, and tossed into the wall next to Carol.

"Father never told you the real reason you were sent to Earth," Jerrica told her brother. "Why you were allowed to live for all these years. Once you arrived on Earth, you were supposed to be killed. Your blood was supposed to be spilled."

"Why?" Jax asked.

"Because the only way to life father's banishment spell is to spill the blood of a descendant," Jerrica gleefully replied. "Which means you, me, or the girl has to die. Guess which one I choose?"

"NO!" Walker shouted as the pain ran through his body as his angel wings emerged, the slits on the back of his shirt keeping it from ripping off. "No more of this senseless fight!"

"Back off, angel," Jerrica told him as she kept Jax and Carol pinned to the wall. "And I may let your girlfriend live."

"I- Do you really think she's my girlfriend?" Walker asked. "Cool.... Anyway, I'm putting a stop to this!"

"You want to put a stop to it?" Jerrica asked as she grabbed Carol. "You have to catch me first."

Jerrica took off flying, using her magic to guide her while holding Carol in a deathlock. Walker took off after her, his wings gliding him along.

"We've got to go after him!" Chad said as he grabbed the hoverboard from his bookbag.

"You don't even know how to ride that thing," Howard reminded him.

"No time like the present," Chad said as he took off.


Walker was closing in on Jerrica, who was over a long stretch of deserted road. She looked back and saw the angel boy flying closer, and then picked up speed. Walker's wings were going as fast as they could fly, but this was his first real flight and had no real control over his speed.

"Leave her alone!" Walker shouted as Jerrica stopped and pulled out an energy dagger, floating in midair.

"Someone's blood WILL be spilled," Jerrica said as she prepared to stab Carol, not realizing that Chad was coming up from behind. The boy crashed into her, causing her to drop Carol and fall herself in the process.

Walker dived and headed to grab Carol, taking her hand and pulling her into his arms, just like the last time, then saw Chad and Jerrica headed toward the ground.

"Looks like we're dying together," Chad said as Jerrica grabbed him and they locked lips.

"Consider that your final reward," Jerrica laughed as she disppeared, leaving Chad to fall alone. Just as he was about to hit the ground, he found himself in his best friend's arms.

"Didn't think I'd let my traveling buddy die like this, did you?" Kit asked as Walker and Carol landed.

"We've got to get back to the school," Walker told them. "Jax and Howard are alone."


The group got back to the roof and found Howard unconscious and Jax lying in a small pool of blood, having been stabbed by an energy spike.

"No," Walker said as he picked Jax up and felt his pulse. "He's alive!"

"We've got to get him to a hospital," Kit said as he noticed the clouds were getting dark. A dark laughter was heard as a portal opened.

"I have returned!" Kartheiser shouted as he stepped forward. "And the Earth is doomed."

[Tobias]

"Jax, stay with me," Walker said as he tried to keep Jax awake while Kartheiser arrived on the school roof. "How did he get banished the last time?"

"Have to... have to get him back through the portal," Jax said as he started coughing up blood. "I can try...(cough) try to cast the banishment spell."

"You're still alive?" Kartheiser asked as he saw Walker holding Jax. "I can remedy that."

"Don't touch him!" Walker shouted as he stood up and walked toward the dark sorcerer. "Don't touch my friends!"

Kartheiser just laughed as he smacked Walker, knocking him to the ground. He grabbed Walker by the wings and started to pull, drawing blood as the sound of crunching was heard.

"Back off!" Kit shouted as he hit Kartheiser as fast as he could, but the sorcerer grabbed him by the neck and started squeezing.

Chad used the remaining water from the squirt guns and tried making a water bomb to hurl at Kartheiser, but he levitated Chad and tossed him into the wall, causing part of it to fall on top of him and Howard, who was still unconscious.

"Your powers are useless," Kartheiser told the boys as he continued to choke Kit. "Swear allegiance to me now, and I may let you live."

Carol stepped out, the only left as Kartheiser looked at her.

"Ah, my dear niece," Kartheiser said as he approached her. "You have no idea who I am, do you? Your father obviously has done well to keep the past hidden."

"I don't know who you are," Carol said as she stayed away. "But you're not going to hurt my friends."

"My dear, you are in little position to stop me," Kartheiser said as dropped Kit, who gasped for air, his throat reddened from Kartheiser's grip. He then went and picked Walker up. "And once the angel is dead, nothing will stand in my way."

"Nothing except your brother," Jax said as he layed on the ground. "He banished you before, and he'll do it again."

"Never again," Kartheiser proclaimed. "By the time I'm done, my brother will be the one who is banished. Jerrica, you can finish Jax if you wish. You've earned it."

"With pleasure, father," Jerrica said as he went to grab Jax, who fired an energy bolt, knocking Jerrica backwards, where Carol was waiting for her.

"So, you have a little life left in you, after all," Kartheiser said as he turned away from Carol. "I'll just have to crush what spirit you have left."

Jax sat up against the wall as his father came for him Before Kartheiser could grab him, Walker grabbed Kartheiser by the shoulder, turned him around, and punched him in the gut.

"Brat, you shall pay for-" He was cut off as Kit rushed around him, spinning him until he fell over. Before he could get up, Chad hit him with a huge burst of water, knocking him closer to the portal.

"Batter up!" Howard shouted as he used one of Automaton's legs to knock Kartheiser back through the portal. Carol had Jerrica by the hair and flung her into the portal behind her father.

"Jax, cast that banishment spell!" Walker shouted. "Jax?"

The portal started to close as they heard Kartheiser's laugh. The boys gathered around Jax, and stood over his dying body.

"Walker, can't you, you know, fix him?" Howard asked.

"I'm trying, but I can't get the tears going," Walker told them.

"I've got an idea," Sam said over the communicator. "Sorry I couldn't make it, but something came up at the lab. Bring him to the mall."

"Uh, guys, we kind of have a crowd down below," Kit noticed as he looked down over the edge of the roof. "How do we get out of here?"

"Unlock the doors, then hide and pretend you were outside all along," Walker said as he picked up Jax. "Meet me at the mall as soon as you can."

Walker flew toward the back of the school so no one would him as the others headed back downstairs.


Sam had rigged a suspended animation capsule for Jax, where he would sleep until he was able to heal from the wound Jerrica gave him.

"How long is he going to be in there?" Walker asked.

"I can't say," Sam replied as he checked the capsule. "Could be days, or weeks, or even years."

"In the meantime we still have to worry about Kartheiser and Jerrica," Walker told the group. "And Automaton."

"And Nick and his friends," Carol added. "They'll be after you guys even more now."

"So, what do we do?" Howard asked as he looked around. "Do we fight or go back to the way things were before?"

"I say we use these powers to help and benefit mankind," Walker told them, then added. "Just screwin' with you, let's go play basketball or something."

"You know, we're going to need a base of operations," Howard said as he dug through some of Sam's inventions. "Like a headquarters."

"We can't use the mall," Sam told them. "My dad really wouldn't be open to the idea with his insanity and all."

Howard tossed one of the smaller inventions, hitting Sam's dad in the head as he walked in.

"I'M SANE!" The man shouted. "Son, the mall is yours. I'm going to do sane scientific stuff, like curing diseases."

Mr. Cantrell trotted off as the boys just stared at each other.


The Dark Dimension

"They haven't beaten us," Kartheiser told Jerrica as he sat on his throne, planning his next move. "They won a battle. The war will be ours."

NOT THE END

OOC: So, what did everyone think? There are still a lot of mysteries left to resolve, but what did everyone like/dislike so I know what to make better/keep the same in the next chapter of the Outcast's lives?