Dateline: Saturday, July 4, 1981, 11:22 AM, Pacific Daylight Time

There are few things in this world worse than being called into work right after your own wedding. Especially when you're a super hero. Be that as it may, Rocket and Liquegirl knew better than to raise a stink about it. After all, it could have been worse.

"So, sheriff," Python said into her radio, "Who are we fighting today?"

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but we need you to defeat an old enemy, who has escaped from the slammer."

"Oh, please don't let it be Herr Cannon! I can't stand him!" whined Blind Tracy.

"It's Dr. Game Show."

Alpha Force groaned as a unit.

"Not that maniac!" Heartthrob said. "Last time we fought him, we didn't even get to do any fighting!"

"Yeah," added Rocket, "all we did was answer trivia questions!"

"Well," said the sheriff, "somebody has to defuse this bomb he's planted in the library."

"Why not the bomb squad?" asked Python.

"Because I gave them the day off. It's the fourth of July, after all."

"Then why didn't we get the day off?" asked Blind Tracy.

"You know, I'm sure the NSA would love to hear about your little bout of insubordination."

Python seethed. The sheriff's threat was entirely valid. If a super was reported as being insubordinate to the police of their city, he or she could lose their license. "Fine, whatever you say, sir. We'll be there in a jiffy."

"Wow, I've never heard you hiss before, Python."

In time, the team arrived at the library. As anticipated, Dr. Game Show was there, in his bad suit and worse tie. His jet-black hair was styled in a manner that made it look plastic, completing the faux-game show host look.

"Well, look who's finally shown up," he said, "it's Alpha Force!"

"All right, Doctor, where's this bomb you planted?" asked Liquegirl, not expecting him to respond in kind.

"It's right over there, you lucky contestants! And I'll even give you a sporting chance to defuse it!"

"Of course you will," Rocket said uninterestedly.

"See this area around the bomb? You'll notice that I have painted it red. Here's the thing: you guys are not allowed to place even one foot on the red area; if you do, I shall be forced to shot you with this laser gun." He pulled a frighteningly large weapon from behind his back.

"Wait a minute," Heartthrob protested, "how are we supposed to get to the bomb if we can't set foot anywhere near it?"

"That's your problem, not mine!" Dr. Game Show taunted. "The bomb is set to go off in about 90 seconds, so you have a choice to make. Either risk your own life at the behest of my laser, or sacrifice innocent people! Now, choose!"

"I'm afraid your assessment of this situation is not quite accurate!" Python said. "Tracy, I need your assistance!"

Blind Tracy concentrated deeply on lifting Python into the air with her telekinesis. Seeing the team's leader levitate made Dr. Game Show nervous.

"Hey, that's not fair!" He lifted his weapon and aimed it right at the flying serpent. Luckily, Rocket sped from the entrance to charge the irritating doctor. He wrestled him to the ground and took his weapon from him.

"You wouldn't want to be caught breaking the rules of your own game, would you?" Rocket asked.

Dr. Game Show scowled and looked on helplessly. Python was going to defuse the bomb, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"A little more to your left, Tracy…that's it, thaaat's it…easy, easy…okay now lower me slowly…a little more…okay stop!" Python had formed a pair of scissors out of her force field and began to cut wires. However, her watch interrupted her while she was working. Sure enough, it was the sheriff again.

"Alpha Force, we have a 10-25 in progress on Vermont Avenue."

"10-25, what is that? A mugging?" asked Python.

"No, I think it's a car-jacking," said Liquegirl.

"All right, you and Heartthrob go deal with that, take the car. We'll stay here and deal with Dr. Game Show." Python tossed Liquegirl the keys.

"Okay," she responded, and the two of them took off.

Once they were in the car, Heartthrob looked back. He didn't feel to good about leaving his girlfriend behind, and he said so.

"Relax," said Liquegirl, "Vi and the others can take care of Dr. Game Show without us. Now, where's this car-jacking?"

"I think he said Vermont Avenue."

"That's on the other side of town! Oh, well."

Back at the library, Python had just finished defusing the bomb, much to the evil doctor's chagrin. Blind Tracy had set her down on the area that was painted red.
"Aha!" the doctor screamed, "you're stepping on the forbidden area, so now I have to shoot you!" He snatched the laser gun away from Rocket.

"But I already disabled the bomb," said Python, "so the game is over, right?"

"Wrong! The game's not over until I say it is!" He powered up the gun and aimed it. Python projected a shield, thinking she would protect herself. But at the last second, Dr. Game Show turned and fired at Blind Tracy!

"Look out!" Rocket shouted.

What they all didn't know was that Blind Tracy had anticipated this fake out, thanks to her telepathy. She narrowly avoided getting fried by the doctor's laser. Python and Rocket were both relieved. But now was not the time to sit still!

Rocket tackled the doctor again and the two got into a scuffle over the weapon. During this exchange, the laser discharged once or twice, causing a little collateral damage. It didn't conclude until Blind Tracy came to Rocket's aid, by giving the doctor a telekinetic pressure point in the crook of his elbow. Rocket fell over backward, with the laser still in his hands.

"You fool!" Dr. Game Show cried. "You don't even know how to operate that thing!"

"No, but I think I know how to shut it down!" On that note, he brought the gun down on the edge of a reading table, hard. The menacing contraption exploded into a thousand tiny bits.

"No! What have you done? I was still making payments on that thing!" Dr. Game Show lunged at Rocket, planning to knock him over like a wrecking ball. Rocket tried to run away, but he ran into an invisible wall. When the doctor caught up, he too ran up against something solid and invisible.

"Uh, thank you, Python," said Rocket, "but I could have handled the situation myself."

"Hey," she responded, "you're my brother. Nobody beats up on you but me, okay?"

Dr. Game Show tried to get up, but he couldn't. Python whipped a pair of handcuffs out of a secret compartment in her suit and placed them on the old doctor, tightly.

"Sir," she said into her watch, "the situation at the library is under control. Dr. Game Show is ready for pick-up."

"That's great, Python. Now, what about the 10-25 on Vermont?"

Speaking of which, Heartthrob and Liquegirl had arrived on Vermont Avenue, in time to catch the crooks red-handed.

"Time to take care of business," said Heartthrob, unbuckling his seat belt.

"No, you stay here," said Liquegirl. "I want to see if I can take these guys on myself. If I get ambushed, then you come and save me, okay?"

"If you say so," he responded. He didn't want to argue with her, knowing what was happening to her at the moment.

"S—t, it's Alpha Force!" said one of the three goons when he spotted Liquegirl.

"No, it ain't," said another, "it's just that squishy girlfriend of Rocket's. We can take her."

"Oh, you louses don't want to mess with me today," she told them, "I'm super, and I'm menstruating!"

She struck a fighting pose and dared them to make the first move. Out of the corner of her eye, Liquegirl saw one of the goons circle around to get behind her. "Do you know what a sandwich is?" the leader asked.

She knew, all right. What they were planning to do was to charge at her from behind and from in front, squashing her in between. She didn't move a muscle, though, not even when they started running. At the last second, Liquegirl engaged her power. When the dust settled, she came out without a scratch. The three goons, however…

While Liquegirl was dealing with the bad guys, Heartthrob decided he should calm down the victim, a young man.

"Sir, you have nothing to worry about, we have the situation under control," he said.

"Thank you, Heartthrob," said the young man in a familiar voice.

Heartthrob got a good look at the man, and was surprised by who he was.

"You're the Wicked Wichard of the West-by-Northwest!" he exclaimed.

"Not anymore, I'm not. I had my magic stolen by Herr Cannon, remember? So, I'm neither a witch nor a wizard anymore. Please, call me Loren."

"Okay, Loren…"

"Listen, I'm glad I found you. Could you tell Python that I'm sorry for all the hell I've put her through? I'm a changed man now!"

"I'll tell her," Heartthrob said, not sure if he could believe him.

"Thanks," said Loren. And he drove off.

Heartthrob stepped over to where Liquegirl had cuffed the car-jackers. Just then, his radio crackled to life.

"Sir," he heard Python say, "the situation at the library is under control. Dr. Game Show is ready for pick-up."

"See?" Heartthrob said to Liquegirl, "I told you they could handle themselves!"

Liquegirl rolled her eyes.

"That's great, Python. Now, what about the 10-25 on Vermont?"

"The 10-25 has been quelled, sir," said Liquegirl.

"Excellent! I needed to know that you guys could handle multiple situations at the same time."

"I don't understand, sir," said Python.

"You will. How soon can you guys get to my office? Don't answer that, just get here now. Baker out."

"Do you want us to come pick you up?" asked Liquegirl.

"No," responded Rocket, "you guys go ahead. We'll get there our own way. I love you!"

"I love you too!"

(A/N: Sorry this chapter was so long, you guys. What do you think so far? Don't worry, the Europe assignment I promised is coming soon to a web browser near you! Please review! And be honest, so I can better myself.)