Earth E

A Jail Cell

Before

Michealla fingered the cold stone wall and tried to remember. She was here for being bad, the man in the Hat had yelled loudly and the sky punished her for her badness. It was better here.

Then she heard a scream, muffled agony. Blood splattered in a Rorschach pattern on the wall opposite her cell. A familiar, thin man that made her think of thoughts that didn’t come stepped into her view.

"Why dearest Michealla, it’s been oh so long. I do hope you never lost hope that I would come for you. Maniaq! Come cut the lock. Deathblood, you watch the room. If anyone enters . . .have fun."

A larger, bearded man with a jagged, bloody hook came into view. He was familiar, too. In a powerful stroke, he destroyed the lock that held her inside. The thin man approached her and stroked her cheek. A word came to mind.

"Jester . . ." she said.

"That’s right, my love. This reunion has long been on my mind and heart, but what say we vacate this dreary establishment? I’ve found a new home for our old friends. You and I have so much catching up to do."

A Mansion Outside Washington, DC

Later, but still before

It was starting to come back to Michealla. She had a group of friends, and they had fun together. Especially Jester. They had more fun than anyone. As she lay on the soft, silky bed, some of those good times were becoming clearer in her memory.

Jester entered in an ill-fitting silken robe. "So, how does my new humble abode suit you? The previous owner . . .gave me great enjoyment before he . . .passed on. So, in return for that favor, I watch over the place. But enough about him." Jester pulled on the belt to the robe and it fell open, revealing the taut body of a gymnast.

As he laid down beside Michealla, the memories were becoming even clearer. He kissed her and she grabbed his neck. As his tongue made circular motions, his hands undid her prison garments. Her recollections weren’t the only thing solidifying. She gasped as he entered her.

Her body decided some wriggling was in order, and she didn’t mind at all. As their rhythm and ferocity increased, she and Jester held each other tight. He kissed at her neck and bit her ear.

"Say it," he whispered.

She let out a gasp in the shape of a "what".

"Say our special word. The one your uncle and his friends taught you."

Michealla’s weakened mind gave way to her body’s demands and yelped out, "MOOOOOPE!"

Elsewhere in the Mansion

"So, Max, what’s it going to be? Basketball or Hang ‘Em High?" Maniaq asked, knowing he wasn’t going to get an answer. He was right. He hated working with "Maximum Deathblood." No one really knew what he was, other than his obvious nature as nature’s most perfect killing machine. But in nature’s said perfection, she forgot to add much in the way of a personality.

Maniaq then noticed his silent companion reach for the remote. MDB stared at it a moment, and pressed a few buttons. Clint Eastwood squinted on the huge television.

"Well I’ll be damned," Maniaq said.

Then he heard the explosion upstairs. "SHIT! WHAT WAS THAT?" Deathblood wasn’t there to answer, though. He was halfway up the stairs. Maniaq charged after him and into his creepy new boss’s room.

Jester was on top of a charred, unrecognizable body.

"Are you OK?" Maniaq asked.

"Oh, I’m better than ever. Our little Das Capitan gave me a big present! A very powerful one indeed. Now get out of my room! I’m not done fucking her."

Maniaq knew this was one of those times his boss was going to haunt his dreams for months to come.

TO BE CONTINUED IN PANTHEON COMICS #20!