Mizu Jin: Revelations

[DocQuantum]

Mizu Jin: Revelations

by Philip Todd Franklin

Chapter 1

Slowly he arose to consciousness from a deep yet dreamless sleep stretching slowly and silently as he began to take short mental notes to his location. As he slowly shifted to his feet he began to take in his surroundings. "Where am I?" the stranger asked as he looked around the little room with its Spartan settings.

He silently made his way towards what looked like a doorway from the room and listened for any sounds beyond. Hearing none he reached out to move the curtain aside that was blocking the doorway. As his hand made contact he discovered that what he had thought was a cloth material was in truth a silk feeling seaweed. As that shock slowly sank in he softly brushed his hand across the wall beside the doorway and noticed the ruff feelings of coral, "What?" he asked as he saw the blue skinned hand make contact with the wall.

He made his way back toward what he had taken for the bed when he awoke and sat down. Taking a few moments to puzzle the strange things that had happened he saw a slight movement from the corner of his right eye. A brightly colored fish was making its way around the room swimming in circles. Being distracted by the fact of the little fish he did not notice as someone entered the room softly slipping past the seaweed curtain.

She was tall with long black hair and light sea green eyes; she wore a short green dress, within her left hand she carried what looked like a short bag. Noticing the stranger distracted by the little fish she took a moment to gaze at him as she walked across the room before making her presence known. "Excuse me, but can you understand me?" (Translated from ancient Greek.)

The stranger hearing the slightly musical voice quickly turned his head and noticed the young woman who had stealthily entered the room, it was at that moment that it struck himself that he was totally unclothed. Shifting quickly he pulled the bed cover over himself trying to show a since of dignity that he was not showing. As she spoke he looked at her and noticed the little smile upon her face yet was completely unable to understand what she was saying still he tried to reply, "Who am I?"

Noticing that he could not understand what she was saying she slowly began to run through the many other languages that her father had required her to learn as a young child. She slowly made her way from ancient German to Romanian to Aramaic. With each language the stranger continued to speak but showed no sign of understanding. The language he was speaking sounded vaguely as one of the last languages she had been learning but had stopped before ever mastering it. `I wonder if this is it?' she asked herself as she began to slowly try and speak an ancient form of Japanese a form of dialogue that had been dead since before the early 1300's.

Within seconds the stranger's eyes flew wide as he recognized the ancient language of the original ruling family of Japan. Without waiting for her to finish her statement he began to nod his head and reply with many questions of his own. "Where am I? Who am I? What has happened to me? Who are you?" and on and on his questions continued to flow.

Some of the ancient words were too much for her and she became lost but she tried to answer each one still to the question of who he was she could only reply that she did not know. She told him that her name was Lori and that he was in the guest chamber of King Ukon within the ancient city of Triton. He had been seen by a few of the city guards a couple of days ago lying upon the seabed within the tattered remains of some strange garments. They had brought him to the city and with the kings permission he had been brought to the castle and the royal physician had taken care of him and that she had since then seen to his needs. As he began to calm down Lori had slowly made her way to a chair of coral and softly sat down, the smile upon her face never wavering.

"Am I dead?" he asked

Softly Lori shook her head, "You are the strangest ocean dweller I've ever seen. " she said.

"I'm not an ocean dweller as you called it." He replied, "I come from…. I…. I can't remember…" he said

A small sad smile quickly played across Lori's face before it returned to the pleasant smile that constantly resided there. "It will be ok. We shall find out together if you will let me but help you." She slowly said, "Still before you meet King Ukon he must have something to call you by. "

"I cannot remember my own name. What shall I introduce myself as?" he replied. "We cannot call me Mizu Jin."

Slowly Lori spoke the words out loud before replying, " How does Andrew sound?"

Working the word over within his mind he had a small feeling that it was not of his people yet he recognized it nonetheless. "Yes that shall work masterfully."

Smiling brightly Lori slowly rose from her chair, "Good, I am glad that we have had this chance to talk Andrew." Slowly she laid the bag down on the floor, "Within you shall find some clothing that shall fit you so that you may meet the King properly." Smiling once again she gazed at the stranger known as Andrew and slowly turning on her heals headed outside of the room quickly followed by the little brightly colored fish.

The man known as Andrew sat upon the bed for a few moments before rising and slowly opening the bag with drew what looked like a full cover body suit made in alternating blues and green, without a moment of hesitation he slipped it on.

[DocQuantum]

Chapter 2

After only an hour the man known only as Andrew was making his way down the water filled chambers of the palace, his thoughts alternating between the beautiful Lori and the rather large gap within him own memory of who he truly was and where he came from. At the moment with two burly looking mermen on either side of him he was being led towards his first meeting with the King of this underwater kingdom.

The two mermen were both dressed in a shell looking armor with faceplates each carried what looked like pikes. Neither of the two had spoken a word to Andrew as he had exited the room he had been placed within, yet they seemed to be directing him within the passages he was allowed to follow.

At each branch in the passage way Andrew saw other guards standing as other strange beings made their way up and down the passages. One being that had stood out of all he had seen, seemed to be dressed in a white material item and was wearing what looked like a round fish bowl upon his head, beyond that much more could not be made out. "Wow." Andrew said aloud not really meaning to as he passed, `Never have I seem such as this.' He thought to himself.

Suddenly after what had felt like nearly an hour and a many mile walk they made their way to a round shape doorway within the coral looking building. One of the guards walked over and touched their palm against the side of the wall and the door slowly rolled way before them.

Andrew looked both ways and then forward yet the two guards made no move to neither speak nor move forward so before moving forward he spoke, "Where is this?" he asked in ancient Japanese.

The guard still beside him never once looked at him yet using his pike he pointed into the short hallway before him.

Not understanding his true feelings of caution the man known as Andrew cautiously scanned the hallway. Neither of the two guards made a move to force him to enter so after about a moment he slowly entered the hallway, before he could turn around he could hear what sounded like metal rolling across metal and oddly he noticed the pressure of water around himself slowly drain off as the level of water slowly lowered.

After a moment the thought crossed Andrews mind, `I think this is an airlock, but what is an airlock doing down here?' then as the water had drained from the chamber the door at the other side slowly rolled open showing another hallway before him along with the smiling face of Lori.

She was wearing a bright blue dress and her hair cascaded down her back and sides, her smile continued to brighten up her whole appearance as she spoke, "I am glad that you are well and that the change in water pressure has not had any adverse effects upon you." She said.

Bowing before her he softly returned her smile as he began to speak, "Gracious lady, as am I to find out. Remember who I was I may not be able to do, yet I do have glimpses of what once was."

"Ah silly Andrew. Worry not about your past. The royal physician does say that given time your memory shall return." Softly reaching out to gently claps his hand with her own, "Come, The King does wish a meeting with you."

As if an ancient untried response from within Andrew softly squeezed Lori's hand in reply as he spoke, "Then please do Lady. Lead me to your King."

[DocQuantum]

Chapter 3

His first meeting with king Ukorc had gone much smoother then Andrew had been expecting and when the audience was at an end he was given truly free reign of the massive aquatic city without guard.

Smiling the king spoke, “Enjoy the many sites and pleasures of our great city young man. We shall speak again as time does allow.”

Somehow from instinct Andrew knew that he had been dismissed and humbly bowed before king Ukorc. “Thank you. Your majesty, I am at your disposal.” He looked at Lori wondering if she would be accompanying him as he explored the city.

“Daughter, I wish to speak with you.” King Ukorc said almost as if reading both her’s and Andrew’s minds.

Lori bowed lightly before her father before turning and speaking softly to Andrew, “It would be my great pleasure if you would allow me later to show you this great city.” A warm caring smile crossing her face.

“I would be greatly honored, for the guide and company in such a strange place.” he said before slowly turning and exiting he chamber.

Once Andrew was gone from the audience hall King Ukorc stood from his great throne and slowly made his way towards his daughter. “If I do not miss my guess daughter, are you not taken by this stranger to our kingdom?”

The straightness of her father’s question caused a burning sensation within her cheeks as she began to blush softly, “daddy!” she said. “ What kind of question is that? I’m just being polite, that’s all.” She added

King Ukorc nodded softly yet the smile upon his face never seemed to waver. ‘Ah. I once was young too my daughter, as was your own mother. Lost not so long ago.’ The great king thought to himself, the memory causing a feeling of lost to arise from with. “It is ok child. Remember that I too know the ways of youth. And as I’ve no son’s of my own…” he said then stopped the look upon his daughters face nearly comical and the stinging from her slap upon his cheek shocking.

Her mouth had dropped open and her eyes had opened wide in shock from her father’s words not alone the fact that she had just smacked the king of Triton.

For a moment King Ukorc held a stern look upon his face as he softly rubbed where he had just been struck. Not since he had been a little boy had anyone smacked him and it had come as a large shock. Still when his daughter looked as if she was nearly on the verge of tears the expression upon his face softened and a hearty laugh issued from his beaming face.

Elsewhere within Triton

At this very same moment another meeting of a sort was just wrapping up as well. Four citizens of Triton had been sitting around a large table, listening in complete silence of all that had been spoken within the King’s audience hall.

One of the men bore a striking resemblance to King Ukorc. Yet where the kings hair was a deep red this man’s was a blond and his eyes were the blue of a summer sky. He was in all actual truth the kings own flesh and blood brother Zorkon. He was dressed in a form body suit of royal red and carried a ceremony dagger at his right side.

The other three men were also wearing body suits each colored almost in ocean camouflage. The first was Piten the leader of Triton’s small military and next to him was Lucen the head scientist of Triton and last was Kolanis the leader of Triton’s many merchant guilds.

At the moment the last three were busy arguing amongst themselves and Zorkon just sat upon his chair smiling watching the exchange. Then after a few moments he raised his hands out before himself and in a loud voice spoke, “Enough! Is it not bad enough that my baffled brother is at this time the king of Triton?  To give this unknown stranger passage within Our great city when he could be of more worth within one of your many labs Lucen?”

Lucen only nodded in response as Zorkon continued speaking, “This stranger is nothing like the other that your own patrols noticed is he general Piton?”

“No sir. The other was fair of skin and his language was of another form altogether. To say nothing of the strange craft he had been found piloting.” Piton said, remembering the stranger he had met only days ago while on patrol. The stranger had been seen within a strange red round shaped craft and unable to breath within the water without aid.

“I would like to meet your stranger Piton, from the report that you filed it sounds as if he could be very useful in our own cause.” Zorkon said interrupting the military mans thoughts.

“And how should any of this reward myself or any of the other merchants whom might chose to follow me.” Asked Kolanis.

“In due time my friends in due time. If Piton’s stranger is as useful as I think, we all shall end up with what our hearts most deeply desire.” Zorkon grinned as he looked at each around the table and from the looks upon their faces he could tale that he had them hook line and sinker.

[DocQuantum]

Chapter 4



After her personal time with her father Lori was easily able to locate Andrew whom she found sitting within one of the city's many squares. He was looking over the great statue that stood within the fountain and was scrutinizing it with something close to a trained eye.

It was a statue of a rather regal looking man dressed within flowing robes, most of his face was valid beneath the hood of his cloak and dangling before him was a round medallion with a symbol etched onto it that again looked like nothing Andrew recognized.

When Andrew had first began to wander through the busy city of Triton many of the very young children had gawked and pointed at him with parents quickly ushering them along trying to point out how impolite it was to point and stare. Some of the less fortunate children had been following him around the city and had just recently dispersed as bells had began to ring within the busy city.

Lori walked towards Andrew with a large smile upon her face and spoke as she reached him, "Thought I was going to have to scan high and low to locate you. But I was wrong, I just had to ask a few well placed questions of the citizens and here you are."

Andrew continued to look over the statue for a moment and then slowly turned to look at Lori, his own smile matching hers and his eyes slowly making contact with her own. "A wonderful place this is. So many great places to see more wonders then within my own…"

As Andrew paused a very troubled look slowly crossed his face something Lori could not help but see, "What is the matter?" she asked a worried expression appearing.

Softly shaking his head Andrew responded, "For a moment I almost could remember something of my past. But now it is once again gone." His voice conveying a deep longing for his lost memories.

Lori softly slipped her arms around him as she slid close gently hugging him, "it will be ok Andrew. I promise everything is going to be ok."

(flashback) Cruising beneath the waves of the ocean sailed what was an easy to recognize craft. It was painted all red from stern to tail except for the few swastika markings plastered on the hull. Within the pilot control cabin of the craft sat a man dressed in a red form fitting costume with black boots and a black mask surrounding his eyes a belt was around his waist buckled together with a swastika. The German super spy known as the Red Torpedo piloted the craft and his craft was also known by the same name. Sitting within a second chair in the craft was a man dressed in a costume of alternating dark and light blues and a belt holding a scarab.

The Red Torpedo's companion at the moment was even to the nazi super spy a mystery. All the he had been told during his briefing was their destination and that his companion's name was Blauer Käfer and that he would be one of the new members of the SS Ubermenschen what with the lost of the Manhunter from Mars.

The Red Torpedo sat at the controls of his sub as he had for nearly two hours now. Neither he nor Blauer Käfer had said a word since first meeting in the mission briefing. Not that The Red Torpedo didn't mind the silence, there were still too many mysteries surrounding the loss of the Manhunter from Mars, too many things that just didn't add up to an answer he liked.

Once they had got aboard the Red Torpedo, Blauer Käfer had quickly walked over to one of the chairs and sitting down was soon napping where he sat. He had not once asked any questions about the great sub nor had he inquired of the man piloting it.

Not too many days ago he had been just a lonely member of the army who had been ordered to ship a couple of crated items from the Department of Magic over to the location of the Third Reich's Berlin bunker to the Department of Science. It was while he was loading the few crates to be moved that the odd looking broach, it was blue and looked like a scarab had caught his eye. Before he knew what he was doing he had the strange blue scarab shaped item in his hands. The memory of his actions that day continued to replay over and over in his mind as he slept and slowly within his subconscious mind a presence slowly began to take up residence within. Softly he shifted within his seat before returning to a calm rhythm of sleep.

For just a moment the Red Torpedo turned and looked at his companion noticing a worried expression upon his face before the silent warning alarms began to flash on the dash before him, causing him to quickly turn around to scan the sonar around them. Upon the screen where many tiny blue flashing dots and they each seemed to be moving rapidly towards the sub.

"Was Das…" he said as he noticed the number of dots was continuing to grow.

[DocQuantum]

Chapter 5

At first the Red Torpedo tried to maneuver his sub away from the many glowing dots on his sonar scope but it seemed that they could easily match him move for move no matter how fast he tried to push the sub. "What is happening?" he asked again.

He had recently made a few modifications of the Red Torpedo that he had invented. The sonar scope was one of the modifications and it was suppose to in theory determine between very large craft and small one man diving gear. He had thought it a smart addition as the waters that they would be passing through were still being patrolled from the air by a few small allied strike forces. Mostly small air craft and a couple of old WWII bombers. Still they had at least two small platoons of. `What was that Amerikaner word' he thought to himself as he continued trying to avoid a large group of dots.

He was shaken from his thoughts by the sound of heavy pounding taking place on the hull of the Red Torpedo. He quickly glanced at the sonar scope and after about 30 he quit trying to keep count the number of red dots.

Blauer Käfer was violently knocked from his chair yet quickly was standing and quickly looking around for his attacker. "What? Where?" he said.

Ignoring his companion for a moment the Red Torpedo began to quickly flick switches on a panel to his right side. "This should help." He said out loud.

Outside of the Red Torpedo swam over four-dozen men and women, each of them were wearing the same blue/green close fitting clothing. Some of them were carrying in their left hands what looked like guns of some strange type the others were holding smaller versions and were quickly pressing the triggers. With each blast from a weapon something that looked like green energy slammed against the hull of the Small Red sub and force it to rock from side to side.

Within the Red Torpedo it was nearly impossible to stand so the Blauer Käfer had quickly returned to his chair and was holding on to the armrest tightly. `There should be something I can do.' He thought to himself yet stayed quite.

The sounds of the Red Torpedo's engines could be heard to rise in volume and a gage in front of the Red Torpedo began to turn from red to green.

"Scheiße" said Blauer Käfer as the lights on the small sub dimmed for a second before returning to normal. "Let me do something Herr Torpedo.

Taking only a moment he turned and looked at his companion before speaking. "Ja. In the compartment left of the Lüften Sie Schloss (writers note: German translation for Air Lock) Herr Käfer." then turning back around returned his attention to the different instruments before him.

Blauer Käfer quickly got out of his chair and ran to the back of the Red Torpedo, the whole time the sub continued to rock from side to side, nearly treating to flip onto it's side from a few of the blast. Locating the before mentioned compartment he looked at the squab gear stashed and ignoring most of it grabbed a facemask and re- breather that the Nazi science department had just recently developed.

Sliding the facemask into place and testing the re-breather he stepped into the inner chamber of the Lüften Sie Schloss and pressed a button on the wall. Quickly and silently the inner door began to close. Once it had sealed chilly water began to rush in to the chamber through vents in the floor and ceiling.

In the Pilots compartment of the sub the Red Torpedo watched the gage as it reached its top mark and another light began to flash. Another little new invention he had placed on the Red Torpedo was ready for testing.

Outside of the sub the strange men and women had continued to fire their strange weapons at the sub while a group of their companions had moved in close to the tail of the craft with nearly a dozen nets and quickly began to force them towards the churning propellers.

Upon this very battle sight stood one man whom wasn't taking part in the combat beyond yelling orders He had blond hair and sky blue eyes yet unlike the others he was wearing clothing of royal red. At the moment he was telling the forward members of his expedition force to stop the strange red craft at all cost, he smiled as the attack continued.

Slowly at first the outer doors to the Lüften Sie Schloss began to open revealing to Blauer Käfer a sharp darkness unlike anything he had yet to experience. So it was a complete shock when a ball of green energy stuck him from out of the darkness and forced him into the inner chamber door.

Rising quickly to his feet Blauer Käfer reached up to his faceplate and pressed a small button and little lights came on just as he exited the Red Torpedo. The sight that he could see before him was nearly enough to make him wish he had stayed inside. " Da…" he said.

[DocQuantum]

Chapter 6

As Blauer Käfer quickly swam away from the Red Torpedo the exit door to the Lüften Sie Schloss began to close. Blauer Käfer quit counting after he had reached 20 and at that point he was too busy trying to avoid being blasted again with the strange green energy blast coming from the many weapons that were now trying to be aimed at him.

When he noticed the dark and light blue clad being exit from the side of the strange red craft Zorkon began giving orders for his second attack wave to begin firing upon this new strange threat. In which about 20 men and women had stopped firing on the Red Torpedo and were trying to aim at the strange creature swimming amongst them.

Within the Red Torpedo it's creator noticed as another rather loud warning bell began to go off. Glancing at a secondary panel he noticed that the speed of the Red Torpedo had dropped to nearly nothing and that the propellers were still trying to turn. "Something's in the propellers." He said to himself as he cut the power to them and quickly slammed his fist against a red button beside a flashing green button.

Blauer Käfer after having been hit by a dozen of the green energy blast had come to the conclusion that they were all but harmless to himself so he launched himself at a large group of combatants a great anger seething within his eyes.

The men and women nearest the red craft at first didn't really notice any change in it till the large blades in the back stopped trying to turn. They quickly began to swarm close to the craft and were trying to make their way towards the same strange hatch that the other creature had exited. Just as the first of their group had reached the hatch the hairs upon the man's back began to stand up and he had the deep desire to be someplace else. Yet seconds before he could even begin to move the water beside the strange craft became super hot nearly to a boiling, after that to those outside of a 15 feet radius of the strange craft noticed as each and everyone one of their comrades who had reached the craft were floating limply within the bubbling water.

Within the craft the Red Torpedo looked at the sonar scope and watched it for a few seconds. The first thing he noticed was that at least 20 of the red dots were no longer moving and one blue dot was making its way towards a large gathering of red dots. "Must be my young companion" he said to himself as he looked over to the gage of his heat weapon nodding softly.

With green energy blast flying by Blauer Käfer tore into the group of warriors, throwing punches left and right as he made his first pass. Quickly turning around he looked at the biggest of the bunch and stared at him for a second before twin bolts of yellow energy streaked from his eyes and stuck the man in the chest. A rather large smile playing across his face beneath his facemask as he once again dove into the hesitant group of warriors.

Within the craft the Red Torpedo continued to watch the battle taking place as more and more red dots began to become stationary, still a thought crossed his mind and he thought to himself, `hummm, this one should liven things up even more so. Hope it doesn't cause too much trouble' as he pressed two buttons on a panel just above his head.

Within seconds two panels on the side of the Red Torpedo slid inwards and out of each tube streaked what at first looked like torpedo's that had been painted red. The first one reached a large group of warriors and detonated. The results were instant as the group stopped moving; the concussion blast of the torpedo having knocked them out, less then two seconds later the second torpedo had reached another group giving the same results. The blast zone almost reached where Blauer Käfer was active in battle as a few of his combatants floated in the water inactive.

Within a few moments Zorkon could see that over half of his fighting force had been stopped and he had no way of knowing if they were dead or alive. Thinking of his own safety first he began to order a retreat when an idea crossed his mind. Reaching within a pouch on the side of his costume he pulled out what was in truth a large white cloth and began waving it franticly while screaming orders for his warriors to stop fighting.

It took a couple of seconds and Blauer Käfer knocked a few of his warriors' unconscious before the battle had drawn to a close. On the side of the Red Torpedo that same hatch Zorkon had noticed earlier once again began to open, revealing a man standing within the chamber wearing a red body suit with black boots and gloves his face was covered by a face mask and re-breather. The figure didn't move to exit the craft but he was scanning the field around with the lights on his facemask.

Once the battle was over Blauer Käfer slowly made his way back towards the Red Torpedo but out of the corner of his eye he spotted something that made his stop. Turning around he noticed a figure dressed in deep red standing on a rise trying to wave something white. Quickly he moved towards the figure unsure what to expect.

Zorkon and his warriors from Triton could see the blue colored figure moving at him. He tried not to show any fear at that moment and quickly told his men not to move at all. All the time he was thinking `I hope I've done the right thing.'

Blauer Käfer never slowed down as he reached the figure in red; he had decided that he would scoop the figure up and just as fast return to the Sub so The Red Torpedo could have a crack at him. And as quick as thought is moved to action he wrapped his arms around the figure in red and headed back towards the sub a small smile slowly forming beneath his re-breather.

Zorkon hadn't expected to be grabbed and it had felt like he was being hit by a ton of rocks when contact was made so he quickly went limp and just went for the ride. In the back of his mind he was thinking `how is it possible that this stranger is able to move so quickly as if a native yet still be unable to function without that strange device on his face.'

The Red Torpedo watched as Blauer Käfer and the stranger made their way toward his sub and it bothered him just how powerful his young companion seemed, `I don't think I shall want to be on the other side of him.'

After Blauer Käfer and his traveling companion were within the chamber the Red Torpedo quickly slapped the switch that started the cycle of pressurizing the chamber. The whole time his companion held on to the figure dressed all in red that wasn't trying at all to escape.

Exiting the chamber into the sub had not been a problem, communicating though was turning out to be more of a problem then the Red Torpedo or even Blauer Käfer had thought it would be.

The figure in Red, Zorkon, continued to speak in his native language for a few moments until he noticed that neither of the two with him could understand what he was saying. Having spent a little of his time growing up learning other languages he began slowly cycling through the many different he was even closely fluent with.

Nearly forty five minuets passed before Zorkon started speaking in an ancient form of Latin, a dialogue that very few even of his own people could speak, yet after just a couple of words the figure dressed in red and black spoke in response almost as fluent as himself and the shock was very apparent upon his face for all to see.

Quickly the two men introduced themselves with the Red Torpedo having to both introduce his companion and translate what the man named Zorkon was saying.

They spoke for nearly two hours. Talking about their two individual races and a little of the shape of things of what Zorkon called `the surface world.' The Red Torpedo spoke of his county and its great ruler and his dream of leading the world into a great era, with Zorkon speaking a little about Triton without giving nearly anything about it yet mentioning his desire to do the same with it.

While the others were talking Blauer Käfer slowly made his way to the small quarters upon the Red Torpedo and lay down upon the bunk he had been given. He was thinking to himself and his thoughts were both dark and foreboding, almost as if something was nagging at his subconscious mind but he was unable to understand it. Within moments he was soundly asleep and a presence within his mind continued to grow.

Both The Red Torpedo and Zorkon had finally come to a mutual understanding and almost what could be called a friendship. When they had parted ways in the end both had figured they had received the most from the contact. Yet the Red Torpedo had thought to himself, as he and Blauer Käfer had once again started moving towards their destination of Tokyo Bay. `What am I to do with such worthwhile information? Do I dare share it with the Führer or do I keep it to myself, and if I do how can I put this new information to good use?'

Back at Triton in the presence

Andrew was sleeping within one of the better guest suits of the palace at the King's offering with a little persuasion from his daughter Lori. The room was very lush by the standards he had been used to before ending up in Triton. And though he really couldn't remember his past he knew this was the nicest place he had ever been. The lone bedroom had a king size bed that was still dwarfed by the size of the room yet the size of the place was not on his mind at the moment.

After a calm and enjoyable evening with Lori showing him around the city. Andrew had retired to his new quarters for some much needed rest. Unfortunately it would seem that Andrew's dreams are not a pleasant as he would have hoped.

Dream sequence one

The sounds of gunfire were everywhere and people were shouting from nearly every. The smell of fresh gunpowder could be found floating upon the wind. From his advantage point he could witness the whole battle, within the distance he could see many building ablaze and people dressed within brown and tan clashing with others dressed in green and black. While watching the battle a sound behind forced his window of vision to shift to look the other direction. Within his site he could see more of the figures dressed in brown and tan but they were not what stood out in his whole site. Running towards his direction was a child; she was dressed in a red button down shirt and wore green and black plants with black boots. Her blond hair hang down below her shoulders and her blue eyes were icy. He was sure she wasn't much older then thirteen and yet she was carrying what looked like a military riffle. He could feel the deep desire to ask this young child what she was doing on a battle field yet within seconds a couple of bullet holes formed before his eyes. One appeared just between her blue eyes and the other blew out from her chest, still she moved a couple of more inches before crashing towards the ground.

Andrew awoke startled by the dream and so badly bothered that he was visibly shaken and even though he was awake the dream was still very vivid in his mind. "What?" was all he asked as he continued to shiver lightly.

[DocQuantum]

Chapter 7

After having laid there nearly an hour Andrew was able to calm himself down and return to what he hoped was a sleep without any more disturbing dreams.

When he awoke in the morning though he had not relived the dream once again it continued to nag at his conscious mind. Even now he could still recall the look on the young girls face as the bullets came crashing through her, it was still enough to cause him to shiver even now. `Maybe I should share this with Lori or one of the Medical techs here in Triton.' He thought to himself softly shaking his head already deciding to just keep it to himself.

After spending about an hour stretching and other muscular exercise he quickly showered and dressed just as a low bell toned and a calm voice spoke "This is your recorded reminder." Followed by his own, "Meeting Lori at dolphin statue at noon for lunch."

Softly smiling Andrew walked over and lightly touched the button that would silent the reminder. "Such wonders." He said absently as he headed toward the single door to his quarters and began walking to his lunch date.

Tokyo Harbor.

The Red Torpedo had slowly made its way into Tokyo Harbor as its pilot had established contact with the harbor controller and had given the required sequence of codes that would allow safe passage into the harbor.

Blauer Käfer had silently sat within his chair in the control room replaying the adventure that he and the Red Torpedo had faced while on their way to Japan. He couldn't quite believe how much of his life had change so quickly and it was nearly too much for the young soldier to handle.

He had not to long ago gone from being a lonely private in the great German army with the desire to make his great leader proud. And now from a chance happening he was a full member of the greatest team of hero's German had ever known. He was a true member of the SS Ubermenshen and now he had faced his first adventure with the Red Torpedo.

After docking the sub, the Red Torpedo and Blauer Käfer grabbed their duffel bags and slowly made their way to the local chancellor's office to receive their orders. A mission so secretive that no one felt it safe to report over normal communications.

Back at Triton

Andrew and Lori were having a quite little meal or so Andrew thought just as Lori's words interrupted his thoughts.

"What has your attention so Andrew?" she asked playfully

"I do not understand." He replied quickly his mind trying to remember what was going on. Had she been talking? Were his thoughts that easily read?

Lightly she kicked her foot against his leg "I can sense your worry, remember? It was something we first talked about." Showing a little concern she still continued to smile at him.

Nodding softly he returned her smile before speaking his hands slowly reached out searching for her own. Grasping them he softly spoke, "It was only a nightmare, which I had last night. It is nothing that I cannot deal with."

Softly she squeezed his hands with her own gazing softly at his face refusing to speak. She knew that she would have to wait and let the man she knew as Andrew speak in his own time.

Back in Tokyo

The Red Torpedo and Blauer Käfer made their way to the chancellor's office and were met by an elderly man. He looked both of the SS Ubermenshen over before he spoke to them. "You must be the two hero's I was informed to expect. The renown Red Torpedo and The Blauer Käfer."

Blauer Käfer nodded softly and began to speak only to be interrupted by the Red Torpedo.

"What is so important that we would require the abilities of the Ubermenshen that we could not be informed without first arriving in person?" his voice coming both calm and calculated as he spoke.

"Straight to the point. Ah that is such refreshing." The elder man said. "If you will follow me I shall give you the mission report and all information that is now know." Without waiting for a reply he walked through what looked like the back wall of his office and disappeared.

Without saying a word the Red Torpedo began to follow the older man also walking through what looked like a solid wall. Blauer Käfer's mouth had dropped open from the sight for just a second before he too made his way behind the others.

As they entered another room the elder man began a projector facing the far wall. Both the Red Torpedo and Blauer Käfer took a seat and watched the report with much interests.

[DocQuantum]

Chapter 8

The sun slowly rose above the eastern mountains of the Hebei Province in China. Within the tiny village of Xingtai, the residents had yet to rise from their sleep a peaceful slumber seeming to lay upon the valley with the only early sounds being that of a few calling birds from the nearby forest.

Within one of the tiny huts that constituted the living quarters of the population a young woman with finely formed looks and coal black hair lay upon a cot roll put down out on the ground., a flimsily looking garment pitch black in color & made from the finest silk around was Draped over a nearby chair.

Sitting within the only other chair within the tiny hut was a man of undetermined age. He was dressed in white robes tied around his waist with a rope looking belt and a large brim hat made of straw rested upon his head, covering his long flowing white hair.

To anyone who would so choose to peak within it looked as if an old man was asleep at a small wooden table while his granddaughter slumbered on the only bedding within the hut. Little would they expect that the man sitting within the chair was no more asleep, as he was the grandfather of his young companion.

In truth, those in charge of the whole province recently wanted both of the people within. Few was it within the village who knew the truth of the two strange residents who had only days ago taken up to living within the village where it seemed the old man would treat nearly any Ailment as his granddaughter would tend to their daily needs.

It was less then a week when they had made their way into the village of Xingtai and at first taken up refuge within, planning to only stay for a couple of days or at least until the searching mixed forces of German & Japanese soldiers had passed by the village.

He could remember the last couple of days with the clearest of recollection as were both his curse and blessing. `We would have both come and gone safely had it not been for the governor's youngest daughter and her unending curiosity' thought the man at the table.

Two days prior: within jungle/forest approaching Xingtai

"Run Jadeaffe, I shall continue to annoy our pursuers until you are able to facilitate an escape." Said the man dressed in flowing white robes and wide rimed straw hat. The hint of untapped power coursing along the edges of his hat as little dancing electrical charges, his breathe coming in struggled gasp.

His young companion was dressed in a form fitting pitch-black costume with a mask that covered only the lower half of her face while her long coal black hair was braided into a ponytail hanging down to the small of her back. She turned and gave her companion sideways glance just seconds before tossing a hand full of tiny pellets onto the trial they had just passed. "I've told you once before. Never again will I leave anyone behind." She said her voice holding an edge of anger.

Seconds later, behind them could be heard tiny explosions and the many yelling voices of their most recent victims; those combined German, Japanese forces whose duties had for a week now had consisted of their capture and destruction.

The pair continued to move quickly thru the surrounding jungle as had been their past actions, pausing only for moments to check the position of the forces pursuing them. It was their plans, move until the mountains, and make a final stand before once more moving on, yet today destiny seemed to have other plans for the unlikely pair.

She was barely nine and though her life so far had taken place within Nazi control China she was blissfully unawares of the many battles world wide taking place for everyone's personal freedoms, For her father was the appointed governor of north China's Hebei Province and in her life she had never done without.

Today within the warming of the daily sun, she was out exploring the surrounding jungles around the tiny village her father had chosen to take as his center of government. Even with all of the many warnings she was given daily, tiny Ieshia could not contain the endless wanderlust that seemed to possess her, as it would today transform the lives of all living within the tiny village.

Jadeaffe and Donnern Sie Sturm came crashing thru the slowly thinning jungle each diving towards the left and right of the path seconds before a hail of machine gun fire came ripping thru the air, missing each of them by inches sadly slamming into the innocent body of Ieshia. not even giving her a second to scream as they ripped through her tiny body, knocking her back into a tree, her tiny, sightless eyes gazing onto nothing, the life slowly slipping from her body, Her final thoughts being of how angry her father was going to be about the mud on her new dress.

Donnern Sie Sturm tucked and rolled a few feet before come to rest once again standing on his feet, his white robes still a clean looking as when this mad game of chase had started. Within seconds of standing, he spotted the body of the young girl pressed against the tree, his boiling anger quickly beginning to rise.

Jadeaffe rolled towards a tree and like her namesake was quickly scrambling up the trunk. She too noticed the devastated little body and could see her companion's reaction. Reaching the higher branches, she turned and glanced down upon the five-man squad. Having only seconds she tightly clamp her eyes shut as a blinding light rocketed out of her companion with the accompanying sound of distant thunder.

As the bolt struck, each soldier they began to glow brightly, within seconds faded away leaving only piles of clothing, and disregarded weapons. As Jadeaffe opened her eyes and the sounds of thunder dissipated she could hear the sound of a person weeping openly, turning to the sound she found her companion, Donnern Sie Sturm kneeling over the fallen form, tears openly streaking down his face.

"Not again, I will not allow it to happen once again." He said as he gently lifted up the body of the young girl and strode out into the blasted remains of jungle where the soldiers had been standing. Softly laying the little girl down, he gently placed one hand on the top of her head and the other at the base of her feet and once again allowed the power within to gather.

Jadeaffe in their time together had witnessed many different things from her companion, such as the bombastic blast that had taken out the soldiers and others but this was still something new to her, so she continued to watch as she slowly approached.

After a few moments, he began to glow almost as brightly as he had only seconds before the most recent blast but instead of in onrush of power the light seemed to slowly dissipate and in seconds the tiny body seemed to begin to glow.

As more power seeped into the tiny form, Donnern Sie Sturm seemed to age progressively before his stunned companion as the tiny body slowly healed of each wound. After a few more moments a stirring movement could be seen from the little girl and a gasping of breathe heard only seconds before the tiny voice screamed for the one person whom had always promised to protect her, she screamed for her daddy.

Back in the present:

A gentle smile crossed Donnern Sie Sturm's mind as he remembered the reaction of Ieshia's father, the governor received his little girl, and the two strangely dressed companions. He remembered just how drained he had seemed as he and Jadeaffe boldly approached, explaining how the man's daughter came to such a shocking state and the results of those responsible.

Within those early moments as they listened to Ieshia and Jadeaffe, tell the situation a fast growing friendship slowly formed between the two men. By time for evening meal, the governor had welcomed both of them to stay within the village with many promises of both reward and safety of secrets as payments for his precious daughters life.

That had been a few days ago and both he and his companion had worked their way into the society of the tiny village to such a degree that just yesterday when a second patrol passed by not a single villager said a word about their two new members and the secret that hung around them.

Glancing down at his sleeping companion Donnern Sie Sturm began to wonder what today would bring to the two companions and how long they would be able to hide within the peaceful village before destruction came for all of them. Within a screening room in Tokyo the Red Torpedo and his companion Blauer Käfer finished watching the video and listened to the many descriptions and explanations to the two miscreants hiding someplace within the borders of China.

"So have you two heroes of the Führer learned enough to help capture our two troublemakers? They alone have thawed more then a dozen separate plans of supplying the forces planning to strike back into the shores of hated America," Said the chancellor.

Slowly the Red Torpedo rose from his chair and looked at the blank wall for a few moments before nodding. "You have reports of their most recent activities Chancellor?" he asked.

The Chancellor nodded softly just before the Red Torpedo spoke once again, "Then I think I can safely speak for my companion here and say that if we leave in the early morning hours we will have a better chance of picking up their trail." His words were met with an agreeing nod from Blauer Käfer.

"Good, then I shall bid you gentlemen good day," and the Chancellor left the room without another word, leaving the two companions to plan their actions for the approaching morning.

[DocQuantum]

The above is Philip Todd Franklin's story, not mine. I'm just reposting it here from the old group, since it wasn't already here.

It's been a while since I've read this, but I should make a note of a couple of things:

1. Lori and the city of Triton -- those names are Earth-1 references, but if handled well it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

2. Queen Klitra and the Mermazons (who met the original Red Torpedo in Crack Comics #7 in 1940) are the only underwater civilization we've previously seen, so they should definitely be mentioned at some point.

3. The Red Torpedo of the SS Ubermenschen will either have already changed his identity to Black Shark II around the time of this story (if it takes place in the early fall of 1986 or later), or this must take place earlier. I'll have to reread it to see if I can figure out where it falls in our Earth-X continuity.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I'm working on a fairly HUGE Earth-X story that began as an adaptation of Libby's epic "Elseworld X" saga but with the characters from this continuity, and I've plotted out a lot of additions and new characters besides. Part of that is getting rid of all SS Ubermenschen members who have used old heroes' names, and Red Torpedo decides to play it safe and call him the Black Shark (after his father, the original Black Shark who was the original Red Torpedo's arch-enemy) instead of being targeted by the Jester (who has already killed a couple of the members). This should happen sometime in September, as the SS Ubermenschen is being rebuilt with new members such as Blauer Kafer (Blue Beetle) and others we haven't seen yet.

[johnreiter902]

This story sounds like a great addition to Earth-X