Lawnmower Boy

Excellent suggestions.  I'm trying to make each of the books look distinct so they all have a different color and layout strip but how's this look?  
 

 
I am not too worried about a back cover for the moment, as it will be strictly PDF, and there's no need for a back unless it gets printed at some point

Pumpkin chiffon pie with ginger snap-pecan crust 2021

It would not be the first time I plunged from a perfectly fine flying vehicle to dive into the water of the ocean. It wasn't even the first time I'd done it with a friend. Mayo came down with me and we went deep. What was weird was that I was still in communication with my whole team. 
  Telepathy worked far better under water than our communicators did. Water works great for transmitting sounds, radio waves and the like? Not so much. But the chatter in the telepathic link that was hooking us all together seemed to be as clear as a bell. Maybe a bit too clear, Pogo had to be put on 'mute' on Valerosa's orders. Turned out Aspirant was right; she was like a pure stream of enthusiastic commentary. Any other time that would be welcome; but we were kind of organizing a raid on a bad guy base here.   They also, I assumed, were making communication chatter, false leads and the like, but I wouldn't know for sure down here. I did however get a Fish eye view of the waters near Lobotomy Island. One advantage to it being deserted was a surprising lack of pollution. Well, surprising to me, I was used to folks trying to dump garbage 'where no one was looking'. As if what they dumped would stay where it was instead of spreading out in the waves.    Yup, pretty clear, excepting the undersea drones! I don't know why I was surprised by those.  Ophiotaurus had to know by choosing an Island base that my aquatic patrols would be as likely to get too close as much as any aerial ones. But I didn't think they'd activated yet.   'Mayo, that think you can do to these  did with the cameras at Channel 3 earlier?" I asked him sharing the encounter with the others by telepathy.   "I can," Mayo gestured much as before, "There. They should not sense us now, but it will not last long. Move quickly and-" he didn't get to finish as I grabbed his arm and shot like a torpedo past the underwater lookout drones. You see, in the water? I'm the speedster of the team. Super swim speed, like breathing water itself, doesn't get much praise in the super power listings, but when you live next to the Pacific, it's really quite nice.    Eat your heart out dolphins, you maybe cute, but you're sea slugs compared to this Eel.   Of course, now that I had figuratively opened my big mouth to brag when the Pliosaurus nearly bit Mayo in half. Yeah, you heard me right. A Pliosaurus: short neck, massive head and broad flippers to give it a shape like a giant gator who decided legs were stupid when you could grow even bigger at sea. I'd call it a 'sea dinosaur' but I'm not sure that's the scientifically correct term and you know when you'll run into a picky paleontologist in the superhero biz. The thing was nearly forty feet long. I would guess it  weighed roughly thirty tons. Could it have bit through me? It might. Would it have killed Mayo instantly? Hell yes.   Fortunately, that didn't happen. I was taken off guard, sure, but my speed gave me a chance to react even then, and it helped that Mayo screamed warning in my head too. Credit where credit is due there. I spun, twisting Mayo's body out of the way of the snap, and trying to get myself out of the way to boot. In that, I only partly succeeded, because while it's teeth missed us both, it rammed me. I took the brunt, and to my surprise, it actually stung.   'The SOB must have gotten his hands on some of Rex's research' I cursed as I lost my grip on Mayo who went another ten feet or so away from me. We were separated, but at least he was close, "Hell, Ophiotaurus may have even enhanced it."   'If you get it up to the surface,  I bet Trailblazer can deep fry it with a burst of fire,' Valerosa said in my head.    "I'll try, but as all it's attention is on Mayo and I, I'm not sure I'll be able to get under it!" I responded and indeed, it was surging towards us again. Damn it had a big mouth, lots of fangs. Wait, had Ophiotaurus given the Pilosaurus grill work with some of that high tech super steel? "Definitely enhanced it" I thought.   'Let me help,' Mayo moved back closer to me, which I didn't think was wise.   'Just get out to the shore, Mayo, I'll join you in a - ow' I said in surprise, "did you just pluck a hair from my head? Are you doing something freaky with my hair?'   'Where ever is the trust?' he answered, 'Merely relying on a link you've forged to get us some help. This wouldn't work otherwise'   Well, I fully approved of help, as the  Pilosaurus opened up to bite down on me. I rolled to the side even as I felt the currents shift from the force of the blow. I realized it was not an alligator, but I remembered seeing a documentary where some guy managed to hold a gator's mouth closed when it shut to keep him from opening again. Wait, did the guy survive that encounter? I didn't remember. Well, nothing much to lose but a limb, I tried it! I ended up giving it's temporarily shut maw the most awkward under sized hug you could imagine. It did not like that, and started to thrash around shaking me like I was some rodeo star on the back of a very pissed off bull;  a bull on steroids!   As I flapped around clinging for dear life, I could see Mayo assuming a lotus position in the water. How he does that without tipping over I don't know. I was hoping for something more productive.   'Hey, Eel? you getting that thing to the surface yet. We got a mission here,' Hussar thought at me reminding that while he had turned over a new leaf, he was still kind of a jerk.   'Having a bit of trouble here' I said as I tried to focus long enough to push/swim this thing up, but my sense of direction was iffy nevermind that it was floating me all the way.   'You know, in training, you always said just don't panic, do your best, and focus a little and you'll be fine,' Bramble reminded me.   I was about to think something really nasty at all of them, when another huge body moved under me. Great, was there another one of these things?   'Thank you,' Mayo's thought was like a clear chime.    Thank you? Was he thanking me? because I was , at best, in a crazy stale mate for the moment.   'No, not you, Eel. Just thanking someone for showing up' Mayo told me.   And that's when a forty foot long gray whale of my acquaintance rammed into the underbelly of the  Pilosaurus carrying it, and myself up, up up. I grinned when I realized what, no, who it was, and pushed up as well, 'upcoming, hit the  Pilosaurus! not the whale!'   Confused thoughts abounded in the network then , "Whale? what whale?' SPLOOSH!  We broke the surface as Whale Guy and I brought our mutual foe to the air! Almost immediately, the  Pilosaurus lost any sense of grace!   A torrent of flames came down as Trailblazer cut loose with a stream of concentrated fire that set the  Pilosaurus to cooking almost instantly! Whale Guy, seeming to sense what was coming plunged back into the depths past me to avoid the wash of heat. Me? I felt like I left the shower on scalding for a moment.   I found my grin getting larger and goofier 'WHOOT! GO WHALE GUY! Way to go partner!' I yelled/thought!   'Oh my god, it's really him' Valerosa laughed.   'Whale Guy is real? I thought that was a marketing gimick' Viewpoint confessed gaping.   'Awwww,' Pogo's thoughts were a mix of wonder and a bit of envy 'I want a whale guy.'   The  Pilosaurus, unable to break loose and exposed cooked  until suddenly, whatever genetic chemical breakdown was programmed in it triggered, causing it to burst into biodegradable hopefully environmentally friendly gunk.   I rose to the surface through the gunk and waved "I'm good" I thought/said, then thought hard 'Mayo, are you okay? is Whale Guy?'   'I am where I was before and I'm fine,' Mayo thought back, 'As for Whale Guy, see for yourself.'   In the distance, I saw Whale Guy breach the surface again, exhale a blow, and then plunge down ,but not before given a slap that was as good as wave of farewell.   "Owe you a beer, Buddy," I called out.   'Oh not American Beer, that's just cruelty to animals' Aspirant thought quite deliberately.   'Holy crap, Fish Guy really does talk to fish!' Hussar's own thoughts were out there.   I rolled my eyes 'Whales aren't Fish, they're mammals, and I'm not Fish Guy, I'm Eel, and.. no I don't talk to him. I just have some sort of connection with him according to Mayo and I- you know what? I don't have to explain this to you. When we save the day, go home, read a book, search an engine, whatever.'   Valeroso looked at Hussar, and smiled "It's Eel and Whale Guy, together, they fight crime."   'I wonder which one's the sidekick?" Pogo giggled mentally.   I rolled my eyes and turned to resume, only to see Lobotomy Island lighting up, 'I think we just lost the element of surprise'   

Vehicles were gathered and filled, with Bramble reinforcing her cast and claiming my beloved hover cycle. She was a grown woman, but I suddenly understood how my dad had felt when when he let me borrow his pick up all by myself for the first time. Of course, if Mabel were here she'd point out it was her former body and I had trashed more than one of those in the line of duty so maybe I didn't have the right to fuss. So I didn't, fuss that is. 
 
"So where ARE we going?" Hussar  wanted to know, "Exactly? I mean, where is Ophiotaurus' lair?"

"Lobotomy Island," I answered him.

Viewpoint winced, "Great. That place gave me the creeps before it became a supervillain lair."

"Really?" I grinned, "Ghost stories get to you?"

"Hey laugh it up, man, it's not called Lobotomy Island because nice things happened there," He rubbed at his shoulders as if feeling a chill.

"Wait, hold up? We're going to a place called  Lobotomy Island?" Bramble had joined in on this one, "What, Crap your Pants Island was taken?"

"It was a Psychiatric institution meant to promote mental health... it just so happened that when the building was built when shock treatment, lobotomy, and other scary ass things were used more abundantly," I explained to her, "Hence the term Lobotomy Island, though it's actual name was Isla Calavera Sangrienta from the Spaniard settlers"

"Now that sounds a LOT Prettier," Bramble said, "Can't we call it that?"

Valerosa looked amused "That loosely translates to Bloody Skull Island."

"West Coasters are #$#$ing weird," Hussar declared in a rare bout of Midwest loyalty.

"Anyway, it seems Ophiotaurus has turned the old medical buildings there into a base for his research and to launch his plans from. It's probably laden with drones so stealth attack may not work but we're going to try," I said, "Good news? It's an Island so Mayo and I can approach the first part under water. Maybe draw a little fire, then you guys can come in with less hassle. I have a flare gun, I'll shoot it up. Coms will likely be jammed or might be hacked so Aspirant will be doing  a mind link."

Valerosa looked at Aspirant, "That's a lot of of us in your head, Aspirant. Can you handle all those thoughts and emotions using you like a chatroom?"

The Canadian  assured us, "I got it. Just willingly sent surface thoughts, no deep reads? I can handle it."

"Course you can," Hussar asserted to our surprise. Looks like he had decided to be a team player , or at least more openly supportive.

Pogo beamed, "You got this. Your hardest part will be filtering out my stream of babble. You know I get all excited and carried away the more I get excited and I just go on and on and then people kind of want to throw me away. Good thing I bounce back."

"It's great that you bounce back," Aspirant told her goofily.

Trailblazer whispered "So cute."

"Very," Valerosa said "but now's not the time for it. Pogo, Aspirant, focus please."

They both blushed, and grew attentive. Aspirant walked to each of us, put his hand on each individuals to establish the link, then paused when he got to Slime, "Physical contact makes the link easier to hold, I've found so  uhm.. I'm just gonna...stick my finger here? That okay?" He finally asked the goopy and somewhat odoriferous alien.

'PROCEED,' Slime's surface scrolled the word.

And Aspirant did so, dipping his finger through the first half inch of the first layer of the blob. When it came out, there was a whiff of something like rotten eggs and old fish.
'OUR CHILDREN WILL BE HIDEIOUS BUT LOVED- GOT A CIGARETTE?'' came Slime's surface message.

Aspirant shook his finger "Oh man don't , I'm sorry I'm trying to be nice but don't ... thats just gross. Sorry."

More than one of the rest of us broke out in soft laughs or at least amused smiles.

'I ASSURE YOU, I STILL DON'T FIND YOUR SPECIES ATTRACTIVE EITHER, BUT HUMOR CUTS THE TENSION' Slime , a move seasoned hero, advised him.
Thoughts buzzed at the edge of my awareness, the mental network now in place and ready for our use.
 
'Okay, Everyone,' Valerosa was already taking advantage of it, 'Let's get going, and will bounce some ideas around. Remember, the coms are there and we're going to use them, this is in case it goes dead or they guess our codes. If they guess our codes, we feed false info on them and throw Ophiotaurus and his goons off. Hopefully Aspirant won't have to spend much brainpower on this and can see if Ophiotaurus can handle that nightmare memory whammy.'
My relief threatened to spill out through the link. Less chane of me losing it with Ophiotaurus if our telepath handled him. Yet, it wasn't as strong as I thought it would be. Mayo had been right, the talk with mom and dad had helped me deal with the burden, if not absolve me.
'You're welcome' Mayo's thought came through, just for me, 'but I'm a mystic, I'm used to being right.'

I imagined me rolling my eyes really hard to see if that would go through the link to him. It must have worked because his next mental response was a chuckle.
Ariana spoke up verbally, "Let's hit the sky.."
Hussar  grabbed Pogo around the waist with one arm, as his other had the gun ready, "Sorry about that, but if I slip, you're the one I can afford to drop."
"Just watch the hand placement, rookie,"  Pogo said, "But yeah, I'm totally the one to take any gravity impact and I'll tell you whyyyy whoa.."
Hussar had gotten bored and cut her talk off by going up in the air fast but more up and out than forward. He wasn't going to leave the team.
Aspirant had gotten into the flying car with Valerosa, Trailblazer, Viewpoint, and a now condensed Slime. The love sick Candian pointed after Pogo going up and directed my co-capitan, "After the hawntness"
Valerosa gave him a look, and started the vehicle up. As it rose, I went under it, put one of my own arms around Mayo, then leaped up to hook onto the undercarriage with my free hand.
Mayo said "And we drop off when there is ocean below us?"
"Relax," I told him "Yes, but until then? I got you."
 
Bramble looked smug. She had a hover cycle to herself.  It could normally handle two, but with her leg a bit stuck out (thanks to the cast) we thought it best to just let her go solo for the ride. 
Trailblazer  reached over and touched a panel, "Can't go without tunes, right? Now which track is..."
Weird Al Yankovich's Dare to Be Stupid began to play, and Trailblazer grew flustered, "That's not what I meant to put in."
"Leave it in," Hussar called from his own nearby hover, "I don't know what it is, but I think you just found  THIS crew's theme song."
And off we went into the skyline and towards the shore ready to dare the wrath of Ophiotaurus, stupidly or otherwise!

In real life I've run into a depressingly high number of talking holes.

Here's a new monster for you Fantasy HERO campaign--The Talking Hole.
 

It could always be worse.

It happened right after President Biden had his colonoscopy. Between that and the reconstruction bill passing there wasn’t as much dead news time as usual, so the story got swallowed up.  The choices were between two turkeys named (Lords of Kobal, help us.) Peanut Butter & Jelly.  I think Peanut Butter was saved.
                             ************************************************************
  BTW....Happy Thanksgiving folks, I hope this year finds you and your families healthy and happy.

This last couple of years has taught me that I would feel much safer travelling to England, Italy, and France; thank you all the same.
 
 

It is also the weapon of choice for Tika in Dragonlance. 
 

Not without dinner and flowers.

I'm curious as to when the dividing line was between the tree growing that way naturally, and someone deliberately shaping it.
 
When I was a child, a tree in my neighborhood park was cut down to a stump due to disease, but a new trunk started growing out of it. Kids started climbing on it after it got large enough, which forced to it to grown leaning toward the side. Eventually the tilt grew so severe that the city had to put posts under the trunk to support it, and sealant to protect exposed roots being dragged out of the ground. The tree became a much-loved local landmark, and a very cool tree to climb on. Sadly it started to break down from its own eccentric weight several years ago, and had to be uprooted. That tree literally marked a half-century of my own life.
 

Why not?  It's been flourishing in the FBI and other law enforcement for decades--
 
In spite of _repeatedly_ being proven to be a load of crap.
 

I agree, nice speech.  
 
And loved "China adjacent."
 
One minor thing - he effectively checked if all the rookies were in before giving his speech... except Trailblazer.  (Though she did nod after his speech.)  Well, to be fair, the only one he actually asked was Hussar; Bramble insisted and Aspirant volunteered that he was in.
 
And Hermit, did it hurt when Slime poked you through the fourth wall like that?   

I shouldn't have been surprised that Clamdigger didn't want to talk to me face to face. We'd each exchanged temporary contact information. I say temporary because no way were we letting him have access to a private line for our team, no matter how much Tornado trusted him. And no way was someone as savvy as Clamdigger going to let heroes with access to high technology have a surefire way of tracking him. Also, my nearly choking him unconscious might be good cause for avoiding hand to hand range on his part, no matter how okay he acted about it.
So we each had our equivalent of a burner phone meets VPN set up, as he gave us the details. 
"This is Marlowe," I told him.

"Yeah, heh, Marlowe, news flash for you, got word on Bench," he says "Man's got family problems. He and his wife are separated , have been for over a year now. Sees his kid on holidays, pays the bills for them. She says he's not the same man he was before. Bitter, angry, sometimes prone to fits when he saw a superhero on the news. Sounds interesting huh?"
 
"Wait, you didn't put pressure on his wife or kid did you?" I realized even if he had, the man wouldn't likely confess to it.
 
"What? Do you know how unsubtle that would be?" He sounded offended all over again, not because it would be morally wrong, but because it would be sloppy,  "No. I pulled favors of my own, and hacked her social media, borrowed her cellphone covertly before returning it, the smart way. Cool your jets, big man."
"Fine, I apologize for underestimating you.  Where is Doctor Bench living now?" I asked, "His address? Details?"
 
"Oh you're going to love this," He told me sounding amused, "Given your gift, Marlowe."
 
I rolled my eyes, how much ego was I going to have to pat here? But I stayed cool and said, "Enlighten me, please."
 
"He's on a houseboat, at the Marina," Clamdigger informed me, "Isn't that a kick in the pants? Pier 3 at the Crystal Waves Marina , Boat six."
 
I had to confess, my hopes went up, "That's like swimming  way past the shore when you know Jaws is pissed at you." 
"My very thought, I didn't trust it," he tells me, "But I took a look, cleaned the boat..."
 
"Wait, you robbed his houseboat?" 
 
"You know I'm really tempted to hang up and let Tornado call me back. He respects my that I'm a professional," Clamdigger said all touchy again "Why would I tip off a target by TAKING anything? I did however sort through his stuff, you want to hear what I found or treat me like a teenage shoplifter doing it so his parents will finally notice him?"
 
I really needed to talk to Tornado about finding less sensitive scumball informants, "I would love to hear it, please."
 
The magic word seemed to work on Clamdigger and he told me "A lot of it was medical mumbo jumbo and science formulas way over my head. But there was a list of villain names, most of them less than top tier, with the words 'viable' or 'not viable' , some of them miscreant auditions who got their asses kicked. Nevermind Geek Elite's little crew."
 
"He's going to try to test them to see if he can increase their power," I said "he got a good look at Fumian tech. Heck, he could probably do it now. Why isn't he? Besides the fact we put most of them in jail?" I knew something about the number of partials out there, it wasn't a huge amount, but there was a reason only a few years after the enhancement tech was even selectively leaked that we could field a team of them.
 
 Well, mostly partials anyway. Who knows how many the government had despite Lady Obsidian's slapping their nose over Valorous' little raid? Man, that felt like forever ago.
 
"Out of my league, but I remind you, he's been healing up a lot the talent. But they're all coming back, no guys vanishing while new villains appear. Just healthy."
 
I listened to Clamdigger's report, then nodded "How many of the talent work for him?"
 
"No one works for Bench, because he's just some doctor. And I can't tell you how many work for the other guy because that would get my ass kicked," He told me.
 
Oh for the love of God, I thought.
 
But then he went on, "I can tell you that about two dozen guys are looking pretty flush and seem pretty happy with a new job. They have some pretty nice gear, or so they boast. Flashbangs, IR eyewear, protective jammies, and some guns that go zap."
"Anything else?" I asked.
 
"Nah. I don't know  the doc is moonlighting at all. Folks are a lot more tight lipped than that," He informed me, "Normally I try to give the whole package."
"It's okay," I told him, "Your debt is paid off. Maybe more than paid off. I'll make Tornado knows."
"My marker has been called and paid, then I'm a happy man," He says.
 
And we hung up. I turned to see the crew, "And yes," I held up the tracker, "I know where to find him. At least  I think so, and if you'll forgive me for splitting from you while you saved the city from Miscreant mischief? I'd like your help." 
"Aspirant  told us how you went super sleuth while we gained the glory," Pogo said, standing near the telepath, "Geez, it's not like we wouldn't have helped you with that too you know? I mean, I can be sneaky. I'm hardly the only teenage Chinese-American in Californian. Ninjas are in my heritage," Her words promising stealth and subtlety did not match the way she tapped and moved about as she talked, "I can be sneaky."
"Ninjas are from Japan, Pogo," Bramble spoke up, then looked at me, "Do I get in on this? Because I forgive you leaving us out of the know if I get to go along. I'm tired of sitting in the chair. I've studied until I'm feeling brain fried. It's worse than that, actually, I actually do have all these ideas on how to use these plants for creative destruction only now I can't do it."
Pogo muttered "Well, it's China adjacent" 
"Your leg?" I pointed out to Bramble, needing little context.
"Hover cycle cast combo," She countered, "I don't have to get toe to toe to cause some mayhem and I can use some strong reinforcements to protect my leg. Come on."
 
Inwardly, I winced. Hovercycles were rare and precious, but she had been scoring well enough on the vehicle classes. I looked over at Valerosa.
"I think we should let her go," Valerosa decided ,much to Bramble's delight, but not without a proviso, "provided she uses her plants to swing or drag her butt out of there if that hover cycle goes down."
Bramble made a face, "Yes, ma'am."
 
I was very careful not to smirk. Ma'am was almost hardwired into me by my upbringing, Ariana as a California woman equated it with age. I equated it with respect of a woman no matter what her age. But it was funny to know that she'd be muttering about it later when were alone.
 
"Hussar, you in?" I told him.
 
"I damned well better be, I've worked too hard to improve. No more stupid flashy stunts," He told me.
 
"That's a shame, because I may ask you to do a stupid flashy stunt. We're talking Aspirant's gun. You get to carry it," I told him, "Don't fire until we tell you to."
"Wait, he gets the big gun?" Aspirant protested, "I stole that fair and square."
 
"He's strong enough to handle it," I told Aspirant, "And yes, we need it, because it's possible that Ophiotaurus has by now been briefed on our powers and abilities even for you new guys. I want an ace in the hole, and I know one thing about Hussar now, not only is he strong enough," I looked at him, "I trust him to realize what misses the villain may hit something else, and take that into account. He's learned. He deserves the shot."
 
Hussar blushed a little, and looked to the side "Don't worry, Aspirant. You'll get it back."
 
"I'm a little more confident in my offensive options now anyway," Aspirant admitted, "So, fine. Good luck. And yeah, I am definitely in."
Viewpoint and Slime watched. Clearly they had figured out that it was the rookies in question.
 
"Of course you are," Pogo told him and they held hands, each smiling.
 
 It looked like the ego bruising he got from her ordering him back to his post had healed up without me, or even my advice.  I glanced at Valerosa ready to see a pleased look of mission accomplished on her features. To my surprise, while she did seem pleased, she gave me a soft head shake and a shrug at my unspoken question.
This wasn't either of our doing? Huh. What do you know, the universe we were in didn't revolve around either of us; thank god.
"Yes, of course you are," I told him, and looked over at each, "You have, all of you,  busted your asses. You've put in the work and gotten stronger, more powerful, and most importantly more controlled. Where we saw timidity in some of you, bravado in others, now there is confidence. Some of you thought all you had was a few tricks up your sleeve, now you're learning your power is so much more diverse than you ever dreamed possible. We've tested your mettle, not just in battle where you showed courage under fire,, but in those moments after where you've each seen who you are, seen how far you have to go to be the heroes you WANT to be, and decided 'I can and will do this, not easy, but yeah', I looked at each of them, "Trust me. That is a path filled with pain and struggle. I'm still not there myself after a good head start but I'm closing in on the guy despite a few stumbles. Somewhere your better heroes are ahead. Let's  see if we can introduce some bad guys to them and make those bad guys piss their pants."
 
"All right!" Hussar grinned and smacked his right fist into his left open palm.

Traiblazer, her back straight and proud gave a slow nod. Aspirant puffed up and didn't look silly doing it. And Bramble gave a thumb's up.

"Bramble, let's get get you in a hover cycle. The rest of you? Follow  your captains," I nodded at my lady lest she think I had neglected her share of the good we'd done. More her doing than mine in some cases.
"mmph," She put a new communicator in my ear and whispered, "Good speech, lover."

I blinked at her with my best poker-face, "What speech?"

She gave me a look as if not sure if I was joking or not, then shook her head and moved on "Remember the new battle codes. If Ophiotaurus  has learned any of the old ones we're going to need them. Got it?"

"Got it, Cap," Hussar declared. The others affirmed as well.
Viewpoint looked at Slime, "Not bad huh? You know, considering it was Eel."

YES, Slime's response played along his surface, IMAGINE WHAT HE COULD DO WITH A BETTER SCRIPT WRITER?