Preface: This is a story that I set up to take place during the Necklace of Oros story arc. I am going to be setting this story after the events of the episode "Torn Space" and before the events of the episode "Ming Winter". You wonder, "Hey. Why are you extending the Necklace of Oros story arc to have six episodes rather than five and with two filler episodes too."

I'll gladly explain to you guys why. First off, I felt interested in the story arc having six episodes rather than the five that it had as most of the Classic Doctor Who era episodes, mainly those featuring the Third Doctor and Fourth Doctor, and therefore, that was my inspiration for the Necklace of Oros having six parts in its story arc, at least in my canon, rather than five parts. The other reason is my personal reason and that being the fact that I was not satisfied with the fact that nothing serious happened to Rick Gordon in the Necklace of Oros story arc. I mean, Jedda was the main target in the story arc from being caught between two dimensions in "Torn Space" to being in a coma by an accident in "The Golden Queen" to being a frost person in the second part of "The Golden Queen" aka "Gravity of Ming", LJ was seriously injured in "Ming Winter", Flash was nearly killed in "Torn Space" and he was nearly brainwashed by Krotan in "Ming Winter", the Phantom was captured twice in the two part "The Golden Queen" episode and even Mandrake and Lothar would be captured in the second part of "The Golden Queen". I know Rick was captured by Hadea's forces along with LJ and the Phantom but that didn't give me the satisfactory that I felt with previous times he was captured. Rick was boring in that story arc. Very boring and he's my favorite character on this show which makes this a personal tragedy. Sorry. Just had to let that out and I'm not the only one who feels that way about this situation. Again, sorry if I offended anyone.

Disclaimer: Defenders of the Earth, Flash Gordon, Ming the Merciless, the Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, Lothar and all other characters and properties all belong to Marvel, Stan Lee, King Features, Hearst Entertainment, Mill Creek Entertainment, Alex Raymond and Lee Falk.

Fear the Reaper

Chapter One. Aftermath and a Reaping

Graviton found himself back to square one. He was trapped in the dimension that he came from and had no way to get out. He had failed to get the Necklace of Oros once again as Jedda had escaped his grasp when the creature tried to take her to his dimension.

"I almost had the Necklace of Oros in my grasp." Graviton spoke in his usual hissing tone, "That girl had escaped my grasp as I almost had her in my dimension."

"Perhaps this could be of use for you." the Luminoids spoke up.

"What do you mean?" Graviton asked as the being was not pleased with everything that has happened over the past few days.

"There is an interdimensional being that has entered the dimension in which the Necklace of Oros is located." the Luminoids explained, "they are called Reapers. They have come for the Necklace of Oros and they steal the spirits of any human being that they come after."

"What does this have to do with me?" Graviton asked in annoyance, "I am the one wanting the Necklace of Oros."

"You will remain here until the time is right for you to return to this dimension." the Luminoids answered, "You will get another chance, but just not now. There will be no further discussion about your situation."

Graviton was not pleased with what he was hearing but nonetheless, he would soon obtain the Necklace of Oros, no matter what it took to get it!

-Fear-the-Reaper-

Jedda sat at the edge of her bed in her bedroom. She was trying to shake off the memory of being caught between two dimensions as the fear of not seeing her loved ones again was almost a reality. Thanks to the Necklace of Oros, Jedda was able to escape Graviton's grasp and was able to return home to her dimension with help from Rick and LJ. She looked down upon the Necklace of Oros, wondering what was going to happen now. Was Graviton going to return? If so, would she be lucky to escape him again? Jedda couldn't help but to wonder if Ming wanted the Necklace of Oros as well. She was unsure how much more of this that she could take.

"Hey Jedda." a welcoming voice greeted from behind, but the raven haired girl didn't turn around.

Rick had taken a seat next to his closest friend and ran a hand through his curly blonde hair. He had been worried about her ever since he had almost lost her to Graviton earlier that day.

"I was worried about you, especially since you didn't answer my question while ago," the young Defender told his friend, "and I wanted to know if you was alright."

"Yeah. No. Not really." Jedda hesitated on her answer, "I was scared, Rick. I thought I was going to be trapped between two dimensions forever, or worse..."

"How worse?"

"I thought I was going to be in Graviton's grasp forever."

"That would have been bad. I thought I lost you forever too, but I knew that you was going to be okay."

"And why's that?"

"Because I know that you are strong. You're smart, and you're quite clever too. If we can beat back Ming, I know that we can beat back Graviton."

Jedda sighed, "I hope so."

"I know so." Rick assured his dearest friend, "With a team like this, you got nothing to worry about."

"Thanks, Rick." Jedda replied before she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, causing the young blonde man to blush slightly.

"Don't ask." Jedda smiled, "I just felt like it."

-Fear-the-Reaper-

It was evening time at Central City as the sun was starting to descend from the sky and day was about to become night. Mandrake and Lothar were running errands for town and they were just about finished and on their way home.

"Talk about a close call." Lothar said.

"You mean regarding our encounters with Graviton, correct?" Mandrake asked.

"That's right. I am only hoping that Graviton is gone for good this time."

"You and me both, my friend. You and me both."

"Mandrake, watch out!"

The magician stopped the car and looked over at the black man's direction, wondering why he needed to watch out. He followed his direction to see a young woman laying motionless on the ground. Mandrake looked above to see a strange looking giant bat leaving the area.

"A bat?" Mandrake looked on in surprise, "It is not night time yet."

The magician took a deep breath and then looked at Lothar, "We need to check on that woman right away, Lothar."

The black man nodded as the two men both left the car. They walked over to where the woman was to find that she was deathly pale.

"What do you think could have happened?" Lothar asked.

"I am not sure." Mandrake answered as he went to check the woman's pulse. His eyes widened to find that he is feeling a very faint pulse, "How can this be?"

The magician then looked up at the sky, realizing that this could be more than just a giant bat that he just saw, "Lothar, my friend. I have a feeling that the creature I just saw was more than just some ordinary bat."

"What would a bat be doing out here in the city?" Lothar asked.

"I'm not sure." Mandrake answered, "but I have a feeling that this will not be the last that we see of those mysterious bats."