CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE - O Who Fore Art Thou, Ace

WHEN WE LEFT OUR HEROES, MIKE WAS IN PURSUIT OF EDDIE'S CAPTORS AS EDDIE WAS DRAGGED FROM HIS CELL TO THE EXECUTION AREA, SLAMMED UP AGAINST THE WALL AS HIS ASSAILANT WAS INTENT ON ENDING HIS LIFE WITH 500 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION.

As Eddie's bound hands were looped around a spike in the wall, his back turned to his captors, he felt the urge to cry out, to beg for his life, but he cast those detrimental urges aside and preferred to face his fate like the proud righteous crimefighter he had become over the last couple of years, the sort of man he had always aspired to be - with the help of his hero, his mentor, his lover, the man who had turned his life around completely and who had given him a real purpose in life - Mike Batz. The painful thought of never seeing Mike again would far outweigh the agony he was about to suffer as an entire magazine of ammunition was about to simultaneously mutilate and obliterate Eddie's smooth, sinewy, well-toned physique.

"Some partner you have, there, kid. Where is he now? Too afraid to come to your rescue? Fucking coward - you're better off without him."

"No", Eddie sneered as he stood facing the wall, "you're the real cowards here. You don't even have the guts to look your victim in the eye."

"Ya know what - I've had it with this Boy-Blowhard, let's just get this overwith."

Eddie braces himself, knowing his life was about to end having been spent in the best possible way. He was ready to meet his maker - at least He wouldn't be afraid to look Eddie in the eye.

The machine gun was cocked, the assassin's finger slowly wrapped itself around the trigger, then a horrifying blast of gunpowder filled the room. Eddie felt the impact against his back and slightly fell forward, his knees buckling. The room fell silent as the shooting stopped. Eddie opened his eyes, realised he was still on his feet, didn't feel the great agony he had anticipated, looked around and determined he was still alive.

"Did they miss?", he asked himself. "No, they couldn't have - I felt something hit my back, something knocked the wind out of me." He then heard the hellish chorus of raucous laughter - all at his expense.

"My God, what a fool - you fell for it!"

"What in God's name are you talking about?"

"You were shot with blank cartridges!"

Of course - the blast of air, the empty shell casings - that's what hit him, but did not penetrate - perhaps a bruising. But this was nothing compared to the bruising he was about to cause - if he could just rip himself free, which is what he was about to do.

Eddie grew more furious by the minute. Being enraged can leave one with a sense of super-human strength. He violently yanked himself free of his bonds, shredded them as if they were made of papier-mache and lunged toward the throat of his executioner, shouting, "I'm gonna KILL YOU!"

Two of the henchmen ran up from behind and each grabbed one of Eddie's arms and stretched them side to side as his would-be assassin picked up the weapon and slapped Eddie across the face with the butt of the weapon, then jabbed the weapon right into his torso, causing his body to buckle.

"We were just messin' with ya before - but now you really asked for it." He aimed a 38-caliber revolver and began to shoot at Eddie's head. As the bullets hit, he let out blood-curdling screams and guttural sobs of pain as he furiously kicked in a vain attempt to break loose.

The henchmen then released their grip and Eddie fell to the ground, feeling the top of his head, looking at his blood-stained hands - he knew his time had come. But, on further examination, Eddie kept patting the top of his head, and didn't feel any shrapnel. Sure he was cut and bleeding and he did feel a burning sensation, but the bullets didn't penetrate - they merely grazed his scalp. There were bullet holes in the wall behind him, right where he was held in a villainous grip.

His enemies were amused at the torment through which they were putting their prisoner. "Woe, look at him fall apart. I only wish his fuck-faced little Boss-Man was here, we'd really make mince-meat outta him."

Then the door is kicked open and the entire room was startled to hear the raspy voice of reason snarl, "All right - I'm here - so start mincing."

Mike struts into the room, Eddie leaps over to his side, followed by two vaguely familiar figures; one clad in a black tee-shirt, sunglasses, a black baseball cap, skin-tight black jeans and steel-toed boots, and skin-tight leather gloves. The other was clad in a pure white tee-shirt, sunglasses, faded blue jeans, yes, skin-tight, and also with steel-toed boots, and skin-tight leather gloves.

"Sorry I took so long, but I picked up a couple of buddies along the way. Slimy thugs, I'd like ya to say how-do-you-do to Ace and Rick."

"SHIT! I heard about those guys - we're dead meat!"

Another thug slaps him across the back of the head and shouts, "shut up!"

Both Ace and Rick greet their opponents with a boy-scout salute.

"Holy betrayal", thought Eddie, "Our very own Green Hornet and Kato. Why'd he bring them along?"

Ace snarls, "so nice of you to look after our Eddie while we were away. Hope he wasn't any trouble..."

Tim finishes the thought, "...'cuz we intend to be!"

This is, of course, a quadruple Batz-fight - one good guy to one bad guy. At one point, Mike is grabbed by his throat, only to be rescued from behind by Eddie, grabbing the thug and punching his face in, but his arms are grabbed from behind, his body held in place while another thug wails on his stomach. Ace and Rick jump in - the sight of four fine flying forearms and a bevy of beautiful biceps, two draped in white cotton sleeves, two in black - Ace and Rick - the ying and yang. Ace picks up and brandishes one of the weapons and slams a thug in the face. As he falls back, Tim grabs him and shouts, "finish 'im off!" Ace runs up and grabs the guy by the head, completely twisting his neck around. He falls dead. Ace and Rick stand grinning proudly over their handiwork. Eddie witnesses the whole thing and stares shocked and silent. This was the guy who grazed Eddie's head with those deadly bullets.

Mike's and Eddie's guys are subdued and handcuffed, and Mike radioes in for police officers to collect them. The four felon-fighters scatter about and gather evidence, including the video camera which photographed all of those gruesome images of Eddie with a noose around his neck.

Eddie continues to stare back and forth between a proud-looking Ace and the thug with the twisted neck. Ace notices Eddie's stare and grins at him as if to say, "how'd I do, eh? Pretty damn good!" As the police come in to collect the thugs, including the now-dead one, Eddie approaches Ace, who smiles and pats and rub's the boy's shoulder. Eddie shrugs his hand off as his stare grows cold and angry.

"How could you?"

Ace is perturbed, "excuse me?"

"How can you take a human life and stand there like you just caught 'the big one' "

Tim is now irritated and interjects, "Eddie you can't be serious - the guy took two shots at your head!"

Ace calmly re-traces his steps and explains it to him, "We hear the shots, we walk in, I spot spent shell casings, hear your shouts, see your face contorted in pain, see you with a blood-stained hand and a scratch on your head. I spot the one with residue on his fingers, I become enraged, I charge at him, I break his neck."

This means absolutely nothing to Eddie as he goes on further, "why, you're nothing but a vengeful vigilante - not even a licensed investigator. I heard all about you - you just hit the streets looking for trouble and you don't give a flying darn who you hurt in the process."

Mike tries to intercede and puts his hand on Eddie's shoulder, only to have the boy rebuff him and shrug his hand off.

"Stay outta this, Mike - this is between me and him."

Rick, on the other hand, only grows more furious himself and keeps looking at Ace, wondering why he doesn't just rip Eddie a new one, too. All Ace can do at this moment is draw a breath of resignation and walk off into the sunset.

"You'll understand someday - Let's go Rick - our work is done here. Mike, good to see you as always - I'll be in touch".

Rick tries to follow, "Yo, Ace! Wait up, man!"

Mike intercedes, "No, I'll go see about Ace. I think maybe you and Eddie oughta..."

"Yeah - you're right."

Mike leaves the room - the following two conversations take place simultaneously:

SIDEKICKS:
"Eddie, what the hell was that all about? My guy sticks up for you and you just spit in his face!"

"This isn't your concern, Rick - or Tim - or whoever the heck you are these days."

HEROES:
Mike spots Ace in one of the hallways in this abandoned building, "Hey! RODNEY!"

Ace freezes in his tracks and turns to face Mike.

Mike smiles at him, "I just wanna thank you and Tim for helpin' us out there."

Even with sunglasses, Mike could still sense a look of sadness and hurt over the Face of Ace. Mike knew why the guy was down, but should he blow it off or confront the situation? If confronting it, how should he go about it. He decided on a happy medium of sorts. He reached over and patted Ace's arm.

"Hey, come on, Rod - ya did good today - the two of ya. Hell, I wasn't even sure which one of 'em hurt Eddie like that. You did - you pinpointed who did it and let him have it. That was awesome."


SIDEKICKS:
"Ace saw you were wounded and he took action. You'd have done the same thing if Mike was almost killed, and you know it."

"Yeah, but...snappin' the guy's neck? He's not even a real gumshoe - he's just out for revenge of some kind. And what are you doin' runnin' around with him? You were a top notch mechanic before."

"Oh, yeah, sure", scoffs Tim, "one of the best. What was my reward? My own boss shot me and had me hung up on a tool rack."

HEROES:
"Hey, come on, off with the shades, would ya? Best if I could look ya in the eye. It's all right - it's just you and me here."
Ace took his shades off. Mike sees a look of real sadness and hurt in his eyes and reaches over and puts his arm around the unmasked hero.

"I know. Eddie really went off on ya - I'm sorry for that - he had no business."

"I'm not a bad guy. When I saw that Eddie got shot - I didn't plan on killin' that thug - I just got so worked up..."

"You were lookin' out for my boy. I can't tell you what that meant to me."

"You know I'd do anything for you - Eddie, too - you guys are a part of each other."

"I'm glad you can accept that."


SIDEKICKS:

Eddie nods in resignation, "yeah, I remember that. But what's this guy Ace have to offer you that another job wouldn't?"

"Same thing ya got going with Mike, I'd think. All that excitement and danger and then that sweet feeling ya get for a job well done. Crimefighting's gotta be one of the coolest gigs out there."

"Even with the sunglasses and the weird names? I mean, come on - Rick Righteous?"

"Hey - you don't go steppin' on our methods."

"Does that guy ever take his shades off? Do you?"

"We gotta keep 'em on - we're always in disguise."

"But, why?"

"Can't tell ya that - not my call - that's up to Ace. But ya know what, I will make this call. Now, I may not be a licensed gumshoe, but I suspect it's not our unorthodoxed manner of crimefighting that's buggin' ya."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Oh, come on, I'm not buyin' any of that unlicensed crap for a minute. You're jealous of Ace because he knew Mike before you did. That night he recruited me after I got fired from the garage, Mike and him went into another room and you're eyes were so green."

Eddie all to vehemently insisted, "that's got nothing to do with..."

"You're JEALOUS!"

"That's not.."

"JEALOUS!"

"Don't you use any interrogation tactics on ME, pal!"

"I'll keep sayin' it til you finally do."

"ALL RIGHT! Just LOOK at him - he's hotter than heck - he's closer to Mike's age, he's got a great body, he's tough as nails - his whole get up even gave me a hard-on...but you know who he really is, and so does Mike, I still don't. Mike never told me about him."

"Did ya ask?"

"Of course I did - Mike just tossed it off as 'oh he's an old friend of mine I met while working a case' and just left it at that. I don't appreciate being left in the dark here."

"Okay, then - why don't we go out there and I'll introduce ya to him."

HEROES:

"Hey, if you ask me, I think Eddie's a little worked up I never told him all about you - "

"Yeah, but you should - you should've let him know from the get-go. We're all crimefighting brothers here - there's a bond, ya know? My trust in you notwithstanding, if I can't trust your boy with my identity, who can I trust?"

The sidekicks walk out into the hallway and approach their respective heroes. Ace quickly turns around and puts his mask back on, hopeing Eddie doesn't see his face. Eddie goes right up to Mike who give him an "it's okay" smile. He then looks at Ace, and says, "All right, Ace - just who are you, anyway."

Mike interjects, "Eddie, I can't disclose that..."

"Why the heck not?"

"Because there's a price on my head", says Ace. "The Mafia is after me and if I'm ever spotted, I'm to be executed - no questions asked."

"What? You gotta be puttin' me on - Mike?"

"It's true, Kiddo. I was there from the get-go."

"My real name's Rodney Campbell. I was a cab driver a few years ago - of course it's my job, or it was then, to take anyone anywhere they wanted to go, no questions asked. My passenger was wanted by the mob - he owed them a fortune and was in hiding himself. But he got found out. He let his guard down and exited my cab, and as he was paying me, he was spotted. His ememies drove up to us, he got scared, I memorized the license number, I jumped out to grab him, to try to get him back in but we were both shot a few times and we fell to the ground. I was in pain all over, I couldn't tell where I'd been hit. I tried to get back up, but every move I made was agony. The guy kept apologizing left and right, but it wasn't his fault."

Mike added, "I was down the street and I heard the shots, so I drove around the vicinity and spotted the whole thing. I started shootin' back at the bad guys - one returned fire and nicked me a little, so I plugged him but good - the other one got away. I thought for sure that Ace and his passenger would be dead, but I heard moaning and it was him, really hangin' in there. Oh, God, ya shoulda seen him, bullet wounds all over him."

"Yeah, but ya know somethin', Eddie? I kinda felt a rush, like I was doin' somethin' worthwhile for once, ya know? The bullets were hittin' me left and right, but I just wanted to hang in there for this guy, protect him - he was still alive and he was gonna make it. I felt like a real hero for the first time in my life."

"That's cuz you were, Ace. You're a civilian and you risked your life to save someone else's - wanting nothing in return."

Mike continues, "His rehab lasted for months, so I took him in, had him stay with me for a while. I thought somebody this tough should be doin' more than drivin' a cab. And he was placed in the witness protection program, and since I was around at the time, I was entrusted with his secret identity, and I took a vow to never reveal it."

"Mike, I think it's okay - Eddie's with you and a good guy in your eyes is a good guy in mine."

He removed his shades by pressing a button on his belt buckle which was a remote control device unlocking the shades. Tim followed suit.

"This is in case anyone ever captured us and tried to remove our masks - they have to be electronically unlocked - anyone who tries to force them off would get charged 50 volts."

Eddie just about melted when he saw what was behind the shades, the mask. It was a beautiful, boyish pair of baby-brown eyes, not much older than the two sidekicks.

"Gosh, you're so young."

"Yeah, I'm 28."

"And you gotta live the rest of your life in disguise?"

"If I want to live out a good long life, then, yeah."

"That goes for Tim, too?"

Tim nodded.

"When I first recruited him, I explained my situation and swore him to secrecy."

Tim added, "He told me how much he admired hearing about helping you guys out when you rescued me. We talked about how we had the same experiences-workin' for a cab company, gettin' shot on the job, helpin' to fight back, that kinda thing. I never really thought about crimefighting before, but then..."

He looks at Ace and the two exchange warm smiles and put their arms around each others' shoulders.

"...I got a great chance at another life, thanks to him. It's really been a blast."

He pats Ace's chest.

"Just like you and Mike."

"So, Eddie, you wanna know if Mike and I were ever together - the answer's yes. After I was fully recovered, he wanted me as his partner - in that sense, too - and I said I gotta go out and get these guys - he said 'lemme help you - we could get 'em together', and I knew this was mine to deal with and mine alone. He has a great PI practice and I didn't want him to focus on just one case or go into hiding just for my sake. So, I took off. Tim's my new partner now in every sense of the word. I'm grateful to know that Mike has a real prize partner in you, and it was a privilege to kick some ass with you." Ace chuckles and adds, "it was a lotta fun today, wasn't it!"

Eddie smiles, "it sure was - apart from this headache I'm about to get."

Rodney peers over the top of Eddie's head and touches it lightly. "Yeah, you'd better see to that - it doesn't look like a serious wound, but it's good to get it checked out."

"You're right. Hey, listen, uh, I'm real sorry for what I said back there..."

Ace breaks him off, "nah, that's cool - -"

"No, it's not. I let petty jealousy get in the way. It was really small of me. I shoulda been grateful from the get-go 'cuz the three of ya saved my life - and I know you twisted that guy's neck outta anger for what he did to me - you were really lookin' out for me there. It's good to know we got you in our corner and that if I were killed today, that Mike would be in good hands."

Eddie reaches to hug the tight-tee-shirted twosome, and they reciprocate. Ace and Mike both hug and kiss each other on the cheek, saying so-long.

Tim pats Eddie's right arm, "feel better?"

Eddie does likewise, "sure do. Thanks again."

They also kiss each other on the cheek.

"Hey, no sweat. Looks like me-n-Ace are takin' off, so...be good."

"You, too"

Ace and Rick take off into the sunset as Eddie, arm in arm with Mike, look on. Then they look into each other's eyes and melt into each other's arms and share a passionate kiss.

"Gosh, it's so good to hold you again."

"Same for me, kiddo - same for me. Hey, let's get the hell outta here, huh?"

Eddie smiles and whispers, "Roger", and off they go.

As the two walk, Eddie grows pensive. "Hey, Mike, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, Eddie - what's up?"

"I kinda felt a little down when I saw how much fun Ace and Rick are having together."

"Why's that?"

Then Eddie's words really sink in and Mike is taken aback.

"Hey, wait a second - is there something wrong here - something about the life - your life with me? C'mon, Eddie, talk to me."

Eddie smiles and assures Mike, "no - there's nothing wrong with us - you and me will always be good - I'm in love with you and I'll always be. But I think - - oh, gosh, I don't know - - do you think I've gotten more serious? Maybe a little too rigid, or something?"

"I don't getcha - I mean, you are growing up and gettin' more mature."

"It's just that I don't think I'm as fun-loving as I used to be. Sure my life was pretty miserable, like Tim's was, but when we got together, it opened up a whole new life for me, too - I got my will to live back - my sense of humor came back - these past couple of years have really rocked, but..."

"You have grown and are still growing into an incredible crimefighter and I can see you've devoted your life to it. Are you thinking that since you're now fighting for justice at all costs, and how important it is to ya, that maybe you feel you can't have some fun with it, too?"

He chuckes at the memory, "you were pretty funny then - I think you still can be - if you just relax and go with the flow like you did at first."

"Aw, but I was just some kid off the streets who met up with this really hot gumshoe and the thought of all these adventures we'd have, and all, but, yeah, I really take crimefighting a lot more serious as the years have gone by."

"As well you should - we have the safety and well being of every citizen in this town to guard - a huge responsibility - but if you feel you had to sorta hunker down and not let yourself have any fun with it, it's not true. I fell in love with a boy who not only defended me and saved my life in that alleyway, but the same boy who always had a big smile, always quick with a quip. No, you don't wanna let yourself get all hard-nosed just yet, boy. That's my part - you're supposed to rejuvenate me and all that stuff...sure, I'm the older of the two of us and I've seen some real wicked stuff over the years and when I was by myself, it did get to me - it jaded me - But then someone like you comes along, cheers me up - you knocked me out of a longterm depression, you realize that. Ace had to go away to protect himself and you dealt with my former sidekick and boss-man and nearly lost your life, if not your mind. You make me happy - all that holy gee-whillikers stuff - you bring a smile to my face - you cheer me up - you make me wanna live again - to the fullest."

"Really?"

"You sure do - Don't deprive yourself of the gift you've given me. Please?"

"You got it."

As the two keep walking, Eddie stops in his tracks.

"I never said gee-whillikers."

"Oh, yes you did."

"Holy Jimmy Olsen - no WAY!"

"Way."

"Awwwww."

CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR - It Happened One Morning

On a clear, cloudless summer's day, our heroes are out on a bit of personal business, but danger awaits as a vehicle across the way is holding a stake-out. We know they're going to fall into some foul hands, but of what sort?

One of the thugs behind the wheel is peering through a pair of binoculars and spots the duo's car.

"Oooh yeah, just what I've always wanted. The dashin' dick-mobile right there in front of our eyes."

An over-eager henchman is wringing his hands and practically salivating in anticipation. "Ya gonna wipe 'em out, boss, huh?"

An evil grin grows across the boss's face. "No. Not yet, anyway. I just wanna get my hands on the two of 'em, bring 'em both to their knees and do whatever the hell I want to them. No jury would convict me - 'cuz they're never gonna know."

As he keeps peering through the bino's, Eddie pops out.

"One down - one to go."

But then Eddie's by himself. No trace of Mike. This, of course, disturbs their enemies.

"Oh, God, what the hell - the kid's all by himself?!?"

"Oh, this is much better - wiping Batz out is only the icing on the cake. Get the kid by himself and Batz's torment would be endless. Come on, let's go grab 'im."

No sooner than Eddie unlocks the door and is about to get in, he hears gun barrels being cocked and one is thrust right in his chest and the other is at the back of his head.

"Get your hands up! HANDS UP! HANDS UP!"

Eddie realized he's trapped by the gun-weilding gang and puts his hands up. They're thrust behind his back and tied down, but he manages to hoist himself up enough to kick one of the thugs in the face. He then breaks loose, ripping the ropes off his hands. He takes a couple of swings, knocking one thug over, but little does he realize another thug smashes the backs of his knees with a billy-club, sending him straight down. The poor boy is recaptured, his hands are re-tied and his feet are bound - the bad guys even angrier and out to hurt him even more. One of the thugs aims a gun and is about to shoot when he's held off. "Not yet, not yet - we'll kill him later - I just wanna fuck with the two of them for a while. Come on, let's toss him in."

"Gotcha boss"

The back of a van is opened and Eddie is dragged to the opening and screams "no" repeatedly as he's hoisted up and thrown inside.

A police officer, on routine patrol, sees the melee and attempts to subdue the bad guys with gunfire. Bullets are exchanged and the poor officer is shot in the upper left chest.

Meanwhile, a civilian witnesses the whole thing. After the officer is wounded, the thugs open fire on the street, discouraging any would-be witnesses. As gunfire erupts, the civilian not only calls Mike to report Eddie's fate, but also calls 9-11 to report "officer down - officer down". The thugs are alerted to the presence of the boy witness and he is trapped behind a tree behind which he is taking cover from the barrage of bullets. He is so pumped with adrenaline that he doesn't even feel it when he's shot in the leg. He miraculously escapes death as the thugs drive away with their prize and with a shaken civilian and a wounded police officer in their wake. The young witness sees the coast is clear to get from behind the tree and tends to the fallen cop.

"I saw the whole thing - how bad are you hit?"

The officer grunts and holds his left shoulder, "up in here - shouldn't be too bad - it just knocked the wind outta me. You, too, it looks like."

"I don't getcha."

"You got hit, too. Look at your leg."

The kid looks down and sees blood trickling down his calf. "Holy cow - I didn't even feel anything - I just ran right over here."

"Natural enough - it's adrenaline."

"Wow - help should arrive soon - I called them when I saw you get shot."

"I called them, too - but since you got hit, too, maybe we can each take one. I think we oughta call the kid's partner."

"I already did."

Mike drives up in a fury - "okay, who called about my kid? You better not have been screwin' with me."

The cop confirms it, "nah, it's true, Detective. Some thugs nabbed your partner and drove off with him and we both got shot when we intervened."

"WHAT?"

The adrenaline wears off and the wounded witness now feels the pain of the bullet and sits on the ground. He recalls, "I saw the whole thing - they grabbed him with guns. I tried to take cover when they started shooting."

"Where'd they get ya?"

"In the leg. Startin' to hurt - I didn't even know at first - but I should be okay."

"Can ya tell me anything like the make of the car - anything?"

"I wrote the plate number down - it was a blue chevy. They were parked in front of my place for the longest time. I was gonna call the cops thinking they were loitering, and that's when they grabbed your boy. They did a u-turn and sped off. I got the number written down inside - by the phone."

"Good job. Come on, let's getcha both some help."

"They're on the way", says the cop.

Two ambulances arrive, tending to both the samaritan witness and the cop. The kid hands over his camera to Mike with the crime photos. Both victims are rushed off to the hospital to treat their wounds - leaving Mike in the middle of the street, trying to take it all in.

It was so unbelievable - it all happened so fast. Less than one hour ago, Mike had asked Eddie to pick up a package containing 2nd anniversary gifts for the two of them - the package remained on the back seat of their car, now not being driven by Eddie. There was the opened car door, there were spatters of blood on the street, there were bullet holes in the tree trunk down the street, bullet holes in the outer walls of nearby buildings. Mike took the package out of the car and went to his other one, calling for a tow truck to take the other vehicle back to the house.

It was so unbelievable - it all happened so fast. Less than one hour ago, there was the promise of a new day. What would Mike and Eddie be doing together right now? Would they be interrupted by a knock on the door - a missing husband, stolen jewelry, embezzlement, a contract out on some dame.

Mike waited for the tow truck in his other car, one hand on the steering wheel, his head in his other hand. He makes another phone call. "Uh, hi - - it's me - Mike. Could you swing by my place? It's about Eddie - it's not good. I'm a total wreck - I need you."

It was so unbelievable - it all happened so fast.

Meanwhile back in the van, Eddie struggles to get loose and is once again beaten with a billy-club. "You murderous maniacs - who are you guys? What do you want from me?"

"To lure that stupid boss-man of yours to your rescue and really bring him to his knees."

"Mike never goes down on his knees except if he loses a contact lens! He'll get you guys for this for sure - we both will!"

"Jesus H. Fuck, could ya shut the kid up - he's gettin' on my nerves", growls the kingpin.

"Yeah, sure thing, boss", says the thug as he reaches for a chloroform rag. Eddie struggles against the rag until he's subdued.

"Finally - now I can hear myself think without that stupid Boy Wonder gibberish."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Several hours later, Eddie finally wakes up and slowly takes in his unfamiliar surroundings - he tries to get up but finds his movement is limited as his hands are tied behind his back with plasticuffs, and he looks down to see his feet are also bound in this fashion. He struggles in vain to pop them open, but realizes it's no use. Then he hears a voice over a loudspeaker.

"Forget it, kid. Those things are never coming off until we cut them open."

"What's this all about? What the heck are you DOING?!?!?"

"Going forward, all information will be on a need-to-know basis. You don't need to know just yet - because you're still alive." Maniacal laughter follows. "Feeling frightened yet?"

"NEVER! I've been in worse predicaments than this and I always overcome them."

"Oh, yes? We'll see about that, my sinewy sleuth."

At that moment, two henchmen break in and seize the boy, each of them grabbing one arm, and drag him to another room. Eddie struggles against their grip, and one of the goons asks, "should we knock him out again, boss?"

"No - better to have him just as he is. I love a challenge."

Eddie struggles and repeatedly screams "NO - PLEASE!" as a rope is looped around his neck. His face turns beet red and his veins are popping out as sweat pours down his face.

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!?"

A goon backhands the boy right across the face. "Like the boss says, shit-face - need-to-know basis."

"Well, this much I'll tell you - you're going to die - the slow, painful way, of course, and Mike is going to witness every delicious minute of it."

A goon is setting up a video camera on a tri-pod.

"Where did you want this, boss?"

"Oh, right there should be good - just get his upper body - oh, wait - get a shot of his feet first."

The goon lowers the camera and photographs Eddie's bound feet.

"No, no, you misunderstand, doll", the boss sneers as he hands the goon a weapon. "I mean really get a SHOT of his feet first."

The grinning goon says, "ri-i-ight. How could I be so stupid?"

"No, you're not stupid - you just have some things to learn is all - but fret not - I will teach you."

Camera set on Eddie's feet, gun aimed there as well.

"Lights, camera - FIRE ONE!"

A shot is fired and Eddie screams in pain as a small dart is plunged into his ankle, giving him a nasty cut.

"A little higher please."

Another dart is shot right into the boy's arm. Both missles are removed after a few seconds.

"You did well, my fine flatfoot. Your mealy-mouthed mentor is going to lose his mind after he sees this. Oh, uh, give our darling detective a little slack on the noose so he can make himself to home. Come, gents, let's get this show on the road - or in the post."

Eddie's captors leave him alone - at least for now. His arm and foot bleeding, the rope still tied around his neck, his feet and hands remaining bound, Eddie resists at first, but finally gives in, moans, "oh, God, Mike..." and silently sobs.

Just as with Mike, Eddie also cries for the day which had started out so beautifully - little did he ever realize that only a couple of hours later, Eddie would be tormented and crying for his man.

A few steps down the hall, one of the goons opens his yap. "Gee, boss, do ya think we're goin' a little too far?"

He's instantly pistol-whipped across the face

"Never question my motives. Suffice it to say that Mike Batz never worried about going too far with me. It's true that neither you guys nor that kid were around in those days, this is really between himself and I, but that kid is the only way we can really get to him. Cute little guy, isn't he? It's a shame he chose to live on the wrong side of the law. Anyway, lecture over, time to put this operation into full gear."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NOW BACK TO MIKE - I know what you're thinking - that Mike has another guy on the side when Eddie's either out shopping or being held prisoner by gun-toting sadists, but that's not it. No, the guy he called earlier is none other than an old friend - a fellow crimebuster goes by the name of Ace Justice. As you'll recall, Tim the mild-mannered mechanic went off to fight as Ace's sidekick after Mike and Eddie rescued him. Well, Mike's about to join forces with the tight-tee-shirted twosome. They are known as such in the papers as whenever they bust down a bad guy, they're usually described as wearing tight tee-shirts - and they are a twosome, so....

Anyhow, Ace and Tim, in his guise as Rick Righteous show up at Mike's and find him in very low spirits. Shortly thereafter, automatic gunfire blasts through Mike's windows and a package tied to a rock is sent crashing in.

Rick shouts, "holy molotov cocktail!"

Ace shouts, "get back! It could be a letter bomb!"

Mike says, "Right - lemme get the body shields!"

Rick wrings his hands and asks, "gosh, boss, these thugs really mean business."

Ace spots some writing on the package. It says "Eddie"

"I dunno about this, Rick. It says it has something to do with Eddie. But we can't go anywhere near it without Mike's shields. None of us needs to get hurt."

"I gotcha, Boss, but isn't that a chance we gotta take? I mean, Eddie's in trouble and all - it's up to us."

"Good point, but I'd like us all to stay healthy long enough to get these pigs and crush 'em."

Mike returns with the body shields and the threesome carefully examine the package marked "Eddie". The envelope is opened slowly and cautiously. It turns out to be a VHS tape.

"Darn thugs are so behind the times", Rick smirks.

"No time for humor just now, kid. Let's watch this and see what we're dealing with."

The tape features Eddie's neck wrapped in a noose while he's shot with darts, as well as a speech Eddie appears to have been forced to read.

"Mike - hi, it's Eddie - I just want you to know I'm doing okay and you're not to worry about me. I'll be released real soon - we just gotta do what these guys say."

Mike becomes incensed and starts to lunge toward the tv set. Ace stops him by putting an arm out. "Hold it, Mike - they're forcing him to say all of this. Look off to the side, that shadow."

"It's a shotgun", says Rick, "pointed right at him."

"You notice Eddie blinking a lot?", says Ace. "Not because he's dry-eyed. That's morse code."

Mike asks what he's saying.

Ace smiles as he rewinds the tape. "Mike, you got yourself a clever sidekick there. I think he's blinking out the location of the hideout."

Mike also beams with pride, "good BOY, kiddo. And you, too, for noticing. My boy doesn't miss a trick."

"Then it's settled", says Rick. "We just go over there and rip them all a new one - they won't know what hit 'em. We'll get there in no time."

"Good idea", says Mike, "but I think we gotta strategize. It's me those thugs want - and we gotta be careful that Eddie comes out okay in this. We gotta get him outta there alive and unharmed."

-------------------------------

Sounds like a plan, all right, but what our heart-throbbin' heroes don't know is that at that moment, henchmen burst into Eddie's cell and fire several rounds of ammunition in the air, beating Eddie, roping and tying him down and dragging him off.

"the boss wants to see ya - boy are you gonna get it now!"

WHAT HEINOUS FATE LIES IN STORE FOR OUR DOOMED DETECTIVE? RICK KNOWS THEY'LL GET THERE IN NO TIME - BUT IS NO TIME - - IN TIME?