Chapter 1

Chapter I (Battle by Numbers) March 4 - March 16, 1984

Nestled in the Northern Virginia hills is a mansion. This is not just your normal mansion, this is the Protectors Mansion!

The Protectors are the third superhero group in as many years. the first group to be formed was the Guardians. They are comprised of the first modern superhero's known: Superior Man, Wonderous Woman, Waterman, Speedy, Emerald Ring, and The Bat. They were formed in New York near the end of 1981.

The second group was the Masked Marvels. They were comprised of Armor Man, Colonel America, the Bee, Man-Giant, The Crimson Sorceress, Animal, and Bullseye. The Protectors Mansion was originally built for the Marvels headquarters, but because of internal problems, the Marvels disbanded, so their headquarters was unoccupied.

In July 1983, six superheros from New York joined together as the Protectors. they were Bolt, Cheshire Cat, Crawler, Jewelie, Poltergiest, and Shield. In September 1983, President Reagan asked the Protectors to move to Washington DC and to become the city's superhero group. They would operate out of the abandoned Marvels headquarters. Every member moved, except for Crawler, he remained in New York, unwilling to relocate. Upon moving into Washington DC, the Protectors brought Dreadnaut, a local hero, into their membership.

They had been in Washington for seven months before they got thier first important mission.

It was early March, and for five months, the Protectors were doing menial tasks, such as stopping bank robbers, bodyguarding foreign dipolmats, endorsing products, making public appearances, and they were expecting any of it to change.

The Protectors were scattered througout the city. Bolt, alias Dennis Desmond, was up in New York visiting Crawler, his best friend Andrew Lowery. Cheshire Cat aka Cassandra Katz was in her bedroom in Protectors Mansion. Dreadnaut, also known as Steve Gallant, was visiting his parents in Georgetown. Jewelie, whos secret identity was Julie SMith, had just returned from flying a private jet in from Chicago and was in Dulles airport. Poltergiest, whose secret identity was Chris Shakeley, was on monitor duty in the monitor room. Pete Keebler, known to most people as Shield, was in a studio in Silver Springs, doing his modeling job, a part time gig.

Poltergeist was engrossed in "War And Peace" when suddenly a red light, signaling an emergency, began blinking. He jumped up and grabbd the red phone below the light, pressing a button next to the phone. A monitor above the light flickered on. The worried face of Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger appeared on the screen.

"Yes, Mr. Secretary?" Poltergeist asked into the phone.

"Poltergiest, " Scretary Weinberger replied. "We've got a problem. T here are three super-types holding the Washington Monumnet, and the people within, hostage."

"We'll handle it, Mr. Secretary."

"I knew you would." and with that, the secretary hung up, breaking the connection.

Poltergeist hung up the phone and pushed another button, the emergency alert. The alert ring possessed by all Protectors responded tot he signal sent to it and began to slowly vibrate. Poltergiest felt his own ring as he ran for the private elevator.

Cassandra Katz felt it. She dropped the book she wsa reading and began to change into her uniform, her Cheshire Cat uniform. Steve Gallant felt it. he quickly excused himself, and ran into the alley behind the house. he pulled off his clothes, revealing Dreadnaut's costume beneath. He grew to his comfortabel 12 foot tall size. Julie Smith felt it. She ran intoa lady's room, which luckilyw as empty. She willed her jeweled belt to become visible, and it did. She touched the large diamond at the front of the belt and concentrated. Instantly, her pilot uniform changed into Jewelie's costume. She concentrated ont he topaz in the belt, and with the super speed it granted her, she sped out the door and towards Protectors Mansion. Pete Keebler was modeling bikini underwear, and that's all he was wearing. his ring was back in the dressing room. Shield didn't recieve the signal. Dennis Desmond was taking a shower int he hotel he was staying in. His ring was on the counter int he bathroom, he too, didn't get the signal.

Poltergiest emerged fromt he elevator into the Protectors Meeting Hall, from there he ran out through a door and into a hall. As he rant owards the door leading to the gargae, he caught the smell of a delicious mean being cooked by Simon, the butler/cook of the Protectors. Poltergiest noted the scent and tucked it away in his mind. he would want to remember the smellwhen he returned and tasted the meal.

Poltergeist ran into the gargae. he used his teleknesis to push the door at the far end open, adn he flew through it. Beyond was another large room, containing the hovercycles. They looked like motorcycles, but in place of wheels, they had anti-grav units.

WIth a soft, almost inaudible "blink", Cheshire Cat appeared beside Poltergeist. "Chez," Poltergeist said to her. "Blink on over to the Washignton Monument. There's a hostage situation. Assess it, but wait for the rest of us to get there."

"Gotcha!" she said with a wink and a wave. Adn then she teleported away.

Jewelie had reached Washington City limits when she heard Poltergeist, using his telepathy, talk to her in her mind. "Jewel? WHere are you?"

"Not far from the Mansion." came her reply, as she stopped running.

"Hostage situation at the Washington Monument." He told her as he jumped on a hovercycle, to conserve his energy for whatever may be upcoming. He remotely opened the roof doors, and the hovercylce flew out towards the Potoamc River and the city on the other side. "I've already sent Chez, but both of you stay out of sight until we all get there." he heard her respond affirmatively.

As he flew towards the Monument, he telepathically sought out Dreadnaut. But, the rookie spoke to him first through the mental connection. "Hey, did you know there's a couple of costumed dudes around the Washington-"

Poltergiest cut him off. "Yes, that's what the emergency call was about. Are you at the monument?"

"No, I'm behind the nearest Smithsonian museam. I can see a guy flying around the top. What should I do?"

"Poltergeist," Jewelie said over theri telepathic bond. "I'm with the police. Chez is here too. We're at the cordon near the monument. Meet us here, we'll coordinate with the police."

"That's a good idea. Dreadnaut,. you get over there. I'm gonna land nearby and do some aerial surveillance." Poltergeist flew the hovercycle between two of hte buildings and landed it there. He jumped off the cycle and pulled the key out of it. And invisible forcefield flew over the cycle as he stepped away from it. Putting the key in his costume, Poltergiest concentrated and turned invisible. Then, with a thought, he flew into the air.

As he approached the Washington Monument, Poltergeist coudl see two persons walking around the base of the monument, and one flying around the top. The ones on the ground were both dressed in black jumpsuits with the Roman numeral VI, or 6, on the chest. The one flying had birdlike wings on his back.

Poltergeist was about to look in on the hostages when his ring began vibrating. he pulled off his communicator from his belt, and whispered into it, "Shhh, tell me quietly."

A mechanical voice answered, "Poltergeist, I am under attack." the voice was that of the Mansion's near-sentient computer, PROFESSOR.

"By who?"

"They are not in my memory banks. I need assistance. My shields are holding, but my generators are ready to overload."

:Okay, PROFESSOR, we'll get you help." Poltergeist put the communicater back in his belt. He then spke telepathicaly to his teammates. "We've got problems. PROFESSOR says the mansion is under attack. Jewelie, Chez, you two get back there, you can move the fastest."

"we're on our way." Jewelie said, as she swtiched back on her superspeed, and CHeshire Cat blinked away to appear the next instant in the woods behind the Mansion. Jewelie ran up beside her. A s one, they peered between the trees.
*****
Poltergeist flew over behidn the winged villain and prepared to knock him unconscious, when the villians landed on top of the monument. The villiams rolled back his glove to reveal a wrsit watch communicator. Poltergiest stopped and listened.

Pressing a button onthe watch, he said, "Numebr I this is Numebr VI. How are things going?"

"NUmber VI, this is Number I. The mansions's shields are still up, but if we keep hammering away at them, they'll fall. How are things over there?"

"The fools think there are three of us. They don't know the other two are fakes. your illusion device works perfectly."

"Keep them there, Number VI. Number I out."

"Fakes?" The sound was out of Poltergeist's lips before he knew it.

"Wha-?" Number VI swung around. he saw nothing. Suddenly, Poltergiest threw his fist into Number VI's chin. The villian was knocked off the monument. He only fell a few feet before he regained himself, flapped his wings, and began to hover. "I don't know who you are, but I ain't stickin around to find out!" with that, a little red glowing circle appeared on Nu,ber VI's forehead. Instantly, the circle flew five feet in front of him, and grew to a ten foot radius. NUmber VI flew into it and it disappeared.

Poltergeist turned visible, and flew to the police cordoned area. "what's going on?" Dreadnaut asked. Poltergiest tossed him to key to the hovercycle.

"The cycle's that way. Get going back to the mansion. I'll explain soon." Dreadnaut took the keys and ran off in the direction indicated. Poltergeist quickly explained everything to the police, and then took off again. He caught up to the hovercycle, and together they flew towards to mansion. Dreadnaut landedthe hovercycle at the outer edge of the woods, Poltergeist landed beside him.

"We'll go through the woods and come up on the Mansion from behind, "Poltergeist told Dreadnaut. HTey began to move through the woods. Poltergeist telepathically contacted Jewelie and asked where she and Cheshire Cat were. Jewelie gave thier location, and before long, all four Protectors were together.

"Look." Jewelie whispered, pointing towards the mansion. There, they saw four people, all dressed in black jumpsuits. They each had a different Roman numeral on thier chest. Number I was hurling what looked like lightning bolts at the Mansion's shields. Number II was about 30 feet tall, and she was pounding her fists on the shields from above. Number IV was shooting some type of energy blasts at the shields. And Number V was firing waves of sheer force at the shields.

"If there'a a two and a four, " Jewelie wandered aloud quietly. "Where is number three?"

"And where is Number VI? He was the winged guy flying around the monument, but he disappeared through some wormhole or something." Poltergeist explained.

"Now what?" Dreadnaut asked, frustrated at thier inaction.

Poltergeist thought for a second and said, "We are possibly overpowered here, but definately outnumbered. We need help." Turning to CHeshire Cat, he added, "Could you make a single jump to New York to get Bolt?"

"A single jump to New York? I never tried a single jump that far. I might have to make a few shorter jumps."

"Okay, get going." Poltergeist said as Cheshire Cat blinked away. Turning to his remaining teammates, Poltergeist said, "Okay, guys, it's up to us to delay these guys until help can arrive. First, Jewelie and I can use hit and run tactics, and once their disttracted, Dreadnaut, you grow and take on the big girl." Dreadnaut nodded. "Jewelie, you take NUmber V, I'll try to take down Number I."

"Take outthe girl" thought Dreadnaut." He's giving orders without even asking. What if I don't want to take out the girl? He's not our leader." But he only thought it, Dreadnaut said nothing.

"Ready?" Poltergeist asked.

"Ready." Jewelie responded.

"Then let's go." Poltergeist saidflew out at Number I and Jewelie ran towards Number V.

Suddenly, Number ! jerked around and yelled, "Number V, behind you!" Nuymber V turned. Jewelie ignored him and kept running. WIthin two seconds, she was swinging her fist at Numebr V. At the last possbile instant, Jewelie switched the magic energy of her belt fromt he topaz, to the emerald, which endoweled her with super strenght. Her fist smashed NUmber V square in the face, hurling him back into the shields. he slid down the forcefield and crumpled intoa pile.

Number IV turned towards Jewelie and began to chant, making strange motions in the air with his hand.

Poltergeist, using a bit more subtlety, telepathically scanned Number I, thinking he might be able to mind blast him. BUt he found instead that Number ! was an android or a robot or something like that. NUmber I must have detected the scan, because it turned in Poltergeist's direction. With surprising speed, Number I hurled a lightning bolt at Poltergeist. The Protector barely dodged it, flying to the side a bit. Number I threw another one, again barely missing Poltergiest. "How can he see me?" Poltergist mumbled, as he was invisible.

Dreadnaut watched the fighting from the edge of the woods. He saw Number I throwing lightning bolts off away from the shields. The Poltergist became visible. Dreadnaut also saw Jewelie watching Number IV. But she didn't see Number II was reaching for her.

"This is not going as planned." Dreadnaut said to no one in particular. Growing to his full thirty foot height, he thought, " I gotta help Jewelie." Numbers I and II and Jewelie all saw him rising out of the trees. They stopped and stared at the sight.

Poltergiest took advantage of the distraction and flew at full speed into NUmber I. Upon hitting him, Poltergeist made a ninety degree turn straight up, knocking Numebr I back and into the ground. After ascending for a few seconds, Poltergeist made a u-turn and flew straight down at Numebr I, with a wedge of teleknetic force in front of him. Number I recovered quickly than Poltergeist thought, and shot up in to the air at Poltergesit. They were like two trains on the same track running head on.

Number II let Jewelie alone and took a step towards Dreadnaut. "Finally, a challenge." she said.

A bright orange fireball flew from Number IV's hands, towards Jewelie, but she was watching the two giants engage. She did hear a noise, and looked back in the other direction and saw the fireball almost upon her. Before she move, it engulfed her. Number IV turned to help NUmber II and began chanting again. But then he felt someone tapping his shoulder. He was startled and as he turned, Jewelie's pink gloved fist smacked into him. And then he was unconscious. She looked down at him. "Magic belt. Sapphire. Invulnerability. Good thing to have, huh?" But of course, he didn't respond.

Numebr II stopped just out of reach of Dreadnaut and the two assessed each other. With nothing happening, Dreadnaut grew impatient, and took a step, swinging his fist. Number II saw it coming, easily blocked it, and swung her other fist into Dreadnaut's midsection. As the air shot out of him, Dreadnaut grasped his stomach, and dropped to his knees, shaking the ground in the immediate vacinity. "Weakling." NUmber II spat in disgust. She clutched the top of Dreadnaut's cowl, and was going to pull him to his feet. But, suddenly, Dreadnaut reached up and grabbed Number II's wrist with his left hand and clutched her shoulder with his right. He pulled her towards him, while lurching upwards. Her gut and his shoulder met with great force. Theis time, it was NUmber II who lost her breath.

Dreadnaut gave her no time to recover. he stood up and flipped Number II over him. She crashed into the ground, crushing a good portion of the trees underneath her and making a noise heard several miles away. She was also unconscious.

Dreadnaut smiled, but before he coudl celebreate, he felt something in his mind. he could no longer control his body. He knew he was walking abck towards the fight, but he couldn't stop himself.

Poltergeist knew he couldn't survive a collision with an android. He flew aside, Number I's momentum carrying him passed the Protector. Poltergist turned to look upwards, keeping hte wedge of teleknetic force in front of him. he expected an attack. And was not disappointed.

A lighting bolt came flying down at him. The wedge absorbed the lightning, but is collapsed, leaving him defenseless. He braced himself for the hit. None came. "Why isn't he attacking me?" Poltergeist thought. Suddnely, a giant hand grabbed him. He was held so tightly he coudl barely breathe. he turned his head and was shocked to see it was Dreadnaut. HIs eyes were glowing. Poltergeist saw Dreadnaut grab Jewelie as well. ANd he began to squeeze them both.

Dreadnaut knew he was killing his friends, but he could do nothing about it. he coudl see NUmber I land beside a woman in the black jumpsuit with a III across the chest. He knew she was the one making him do this, but he couldn't stop himself, or her.

"That;s it, Number III, make him kill them both!" Number I exclaimed. He heard Number V moan, and he walked over to help him up.

Suddnely, there was a yell. Dreadnaut regained control of his body. he opened his hand, Jewelie and Poltergeist were still breathing, just unconscious. Everyone that could looked in Number III's direction, where the scream had come from. There, NUmber III lay on the ground. Standing over her was a man in ayellow and orange costume: Bolt.

"The cavalry has arrived!" Bolt shouted, smiling.

"Just one of you? I doubt it." NUmber V mocked. He raised his arms, and waves of force shot from them so quickly Bolt couldn't dodge it. He was levitated two feet off the ground. "My magnetic powers will rip you apart!"

Number I stood next to Number V laughing. Unexpectedly, there was a thud and Number V fell face first onto the grass. Number I turned around and saw a shield flying back towards it's owner: Shield.

Dreadnaut, Bolt, and SHield closed in on him. "You're all alone, you're all that's left. Give it up." Bolt offered.

"I still have an ally..." Number I said. Just that instant, Cheshire Cat blinked in holding Number VI, the man with the wings. "...Number VI...?" Number I finished perplexed. "Okay, Protectors, you win this one. But yours is a hollow victory. I shall, in the end, be triumphant." There was a flash of light from NUmber I, temporarily blinding all the heroes. When they recovered thier sight, Number I was flying, almost out of sight.

"Should we go after him?" Cheshire Cat asked her leader, Bolt.

"No," he answered. "We've got to round up our enemies." They gathered up Numbers III, IV, V, and VI. Evidently, NUmber II recovered, shrunk down and escaped through the woods. Dreadnaut picked up Jewelie and Poltergeist and carried them to the infirmary. Two hours later, they pair had recovered.

Bolt called a meeting. Jewelie and Poltergeist were the last to arrive. They took thier seats. Bolt sat at the end of the octagonal table, in the leader's chair. To his left say Shield, the Deputy Leader.

Bolt rose to speak. "I'd first like to say I'm glad to hear Julie and Chris weren't seriously hurt."

"Just a few bruises." Poltergeist said.

"Now, I would like to congratulate Chris on the way he led the group in Shield's and my absense. In spite of getting yourselves in the predicatment you were in." There were a few chuckles around the table. "Okay, onto other business. Julie-"

Dreadnaut interrupted him. "Excuse me, may I say something?" Bolt nodded, so Dreadnaut continued. "I've made a decision. For months now, I've been trying to get my life in order. I wasn't sure whether I should be a superhero or go to college as my parents, and I guess I, have always wanted. I just didn't know what to do. Well, I've finally made up my mind. I'm-"

Suddenly, he was cut off but a pillar of murky black smoke that appeared in the center of the table. As it began to clear, a man could b seen inside. His ebony and crimson costume and cape were cut and torn. His thick grey hair was all messes up. he held his right arm in his left hand. Blood ran from a cut on his forehead and a long slash on his thigh.

"H...help me..." he mummbled and then collapsed to the table.