With Robin and her Mary Band now convinced that Dabbler and his friends could be treated as allies and not enemies, the expedition to reach the Source got back on track. While the forest outlaws still exacted payment from Dabbler's group (in the form of some of their supplies and equipment) they did agree to escort them through the Penis Pines Forest. This would speed things up quite considerably. Or at least, it would have, if not for...
K-THUNK! The arrow buried itself in the tree trunk not two inches from Dabbler's head. The first thought that came into his mind was that Indians were attacking. But following on that thought's heels was the question, why would Indians paint their arrows green?
"SUPERS!" Robin yelled as she ducked a second arrow. 'Supers?!' Dabbler thought wildly as Robin grabbed him and swung him behind the cover of the trees. 'Oh shit!' Dabbler's mind raced. 'It must be Green Arrow!" And then a couple of red arrows slammed into the nearby trees. 'And I think his kid side-kick Speedy is with him!'
Dabbler was actually only half correct. Green Arrow and his side-kick were the ones taking pot shots at them, but it wasn't the teenaged Speedy that was now circling somewhere in the dark overgrowth around them, rather it was the far more dangerous 20-something Speedy who now called himself Arsenal. And with very good reason.
A small flying disc flew across the narrow trail they'd been following and suddenly burst into a ball of flame lighting most of the surrounding foliage on fire.
"They're toying with us!" Robin hissed through bared teeth. She had pulled out her own bow but was unsure of where her enemy lay. And then a scream was heard and Hale Mary slumped to the dirt, a green arrow imbedded in his skull. "Dammit! They caught us like a bunch of newbies and we're just sitting ducks out here!" Robin berated herself, still scanning her surroundings for any sign of the Emerald Archer and his walking Arsenal of a partner.
"By the Eight Hairy Balls of Jismet, we're doomed!" Rincewind whined forlornly. "Nothing can stop those Super Heroes from killing us this time!"
Desperate, and fearing that Rincewind was actually right, Dabbler looked toward the only person who could possibly save them from their dire situation. Wonder Woman. But Dabbler had to wonder, would she seek to stop her former teammates from plugging them all full of feathers or would she instead turn around and join up with them?
Wed Oct 01 21:49:58 2003