Mwa ha! Ha-ha-ha! Ha! (Snort) I'm…Sir Charles the Third! Pleasure to meet your…hee hee…acquaintance! I'm one of JAGOW's generals, and it happens to be my job(Snort) to guard the Metropolis sector. Ha ha ha! (Snort) I'm quite happy here…I can suck dry any tasty citizen I want! (Snort)

Human blood is like nectar to me…I even bottle it. (Snort) Right now, hee hee…I'm enjoying a nice fine glass of Robinson '95. Sluuuuurrrrppp…uh oh! Can't…supress…SNORT! ARGH! I spilled perfectly good blood all over! Dammit!

I have this…SNORT! Nasal problem…

In any case…that stupid punk, what's-his-name…Nick! He's making some trouble for my men here in this sector. Well…I'll just take care of HIM, won't I? Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Ha Ha Ha! (Snort.)


"Biaaaaatch!" A good punch decked a Bianky robot that was harassing a young woman on the streets. Nick withdrew his fist, and grinned. "I've got mad skills!" "Save the banter for AFTER you've beaten his partners in crime, sir!" More Biankys, all moving around strangely and coming closer, began uttering words that sounded like "Get 'im! Get 'im!"

Nick jumped into the fray, punching and kicking like he'd never done before. Several Biankys were knocked into one another, and others fell apart in a few good punches. Soon he managed to wipe them out, and the woman breathed a sigh of relief. Nick turned to her and did a cool salute. "I'm Nick, hero-to-be. How can I help you? I have to prove my worth, you see, and…" "Charles the Third is holding our city hostage! He sucks the blood of any young woman that's offered in the daily sacrifice. I was going to be next. The worst part though is…is…" She was shaking a bit, and Nick quietly asked, "What's the worst part?" "He makes us watch him do it too…oh god!" The lady convulsed violently, and sobs. Nick patted her on the shoulder. "Madam, I'll do anything I can. Where is the big old bat?"

She pointed toward a bell tower in the center of town, the only thing that didn't look like it belonged in a big, modern city. It was really old… "He's in the top of the bell tower!" Nick cracks his neck and his knuckles, grinning. "No problem! I'm on it!" He took off towards the clock tower, but only got a few blocks before MORE Biankys blocked his way. Once more he began to fight, but he has to do quite a bit of dodging this time, because they outnumber him 8-1!

Meanwhile, the lady, thinking herself safe, turned to leave, only to find a red-eyed Bianky's grabbing her wrist! She screamed, and Nick whipped around. "Ma'am! Hold on!" He tries to run towards her, but Biankys block his way. He angrily screamed, punching, kicking and even biting to get them out of his way. Nick fought his way towards the alley he had just left, but when he reached it he finds she's gone. He looks toward the clock tower. The only way he can save her is to kill Charles the Third.

Nick took off again, this time opting for the more stealthy approach, via rooftop. He jumps from roof to roof, and after three blocks he's really enjoying it. So much, in fact, that he starts to sing!

"Oh…I think we'll see a brighter side, I think we'll see a brighter side, I think we'll see a brighter side, I think we'll see a brighter…I think we'll see a brighter side…"

He spins in the air, lost in the moment, going "Ohhhhh…" like a tenor. However…there was no roof to jump onto, and he wasn't looking when he jumped.

Ten seconds later he's picking himself out of the trash, grumbling.

"This ain't how I wanted to spend my weekend, dammit!" "Get 'im, boys!" He looks up, to find himself facing down the infamous Black Joker and his gang. Joker's a taller, stronger Bianky soldier, who wears gentleman-rouge attire, with hat and all. He's even wearing black boots, and gloves. He's got a red rose pinned to his chest as well, and a rather large mustache, which makes him look comical…but the rapier on his back and deadly guns he's wielding make the situation serious.

Joker drew his guns, and 8 Biankys jumped at Nick. Nick raised his fists, swinging left and right, but Joker was just about to shoot him.

"Hold…ergh…still!" Nick kept swinging, but then a stray punch from a Bianky sent him back, and Nick was an open target. Joker laughed, and his finger squeezed the trigger…

Nick turned just in time to see Joker squeezing the trigger, and he begins to think as fast as he can. He thinks how he's failed that poor lady, the town, Joe, Blue, Sylvia…and his family and friends. He'll never see them again. All he wanted was to be a hero like Joe…

But if he goes down, he'll take Joker with him! Nick runs toward Joker, screaming "KAMIKAZEEEE!" Joker's eyes would have widened if they could have, and he doesn't react fast enough…Nick plowed into him with all his bulk, knocking the baddy over. The two began a good old-fashioned street brawl, kicking and scratching and punching and rolling around in the dirt. The wrestling match wasn't one-sided, the two seemed evenly matched. Nick's pretty strong, and he's almost as tall as Joker…but almost doesn't cut it, and Joker got the upper hand, kicking Nick in the stomach with his curved boot, and then adds more to the pain by throwing him into a store wall. Nick groaned, clutching his stomach, and Joker places his guns against the kid's forehead.

BGM: Henshin a Go-Go, baby!

"Say goodbye, punk…huh? That glow…" Nick looks down…the V-watch is responding to the heroness within him! The lovely little thing was shining brightly, a sort of heavenly glow coming from it…including a neat little tune. He did have a hero inside after all! Nick did a quick head-butt to Joker's face, and he got up. Ignoring the pain, he held out the v-watch and breathed deeply…

"TIME TO ROCK! HENSHIN!" He jumps up, punching the sky with his right fist making a "rock on" gesture. The v-watch shined and Nick felt the transformation. A green cape with a gold Polaris star on the back trails behind brilliant emerald green armor that has silver trimmings. A green headband/visor with gold decals was now present on Nick's head, and he now had silver boots and gloves. A big silver Polaris star was present on his chest as well, with a golden "N" emblazoned over the star. Nick struck a wonderful looking pose, laughing happily. Then he enthusiastically jumped into the air, spun around, and pointed right at Joker.

"You and the rest of JAGOW are ALL GOING DOWN!" He then fell down, landing deftly. Before Joker and his buddies could recover from the shock, Nick ran over, and, using a single SLOW punch, sent Joker flying into his men. Poor Joker rubbed his sore head, and turned to his men.

"Tactical retreat, buddies. Let's split!"

Joker and his gang promptly ran for it, screaming and hollering like something awful. "What cowards!" Nick said with a scoff. He looks at his stylish costume and flexes a bit. "I…I…I look great! In fact I might even say…"

He smiled wickedly.

"I'm…too sexy for my shirt…too sexy for my shirt…so sexy it HURTS…I'm too sexy for Milan…to sexy for Milan, New York and Japaaan! Oh I'm…too sexy for your party! Too sexy for your party! No way I'm disco dancing! Oh I'm a model…you know what I mean, and I do my little turn on the catwalk!"

He did a few turns, dancing very sexily.

"Oh the catwalk…yeah the catwalk! I shake my little tush on the catwalk!" He shook his ass in proper form, causing several onlookers to burst out laughing. He turned bright red, and then ran toward the clock tower. Every second counts!

Deep within the clock tower, Charles the Third was sitting in a big, plush, red chair. He sighed happily. He was in the middle of a very nice lunch, a tasty redhead who'd been brought in last night. He'd drained most of her blood now, and was finishing up. The woman in his wrapped arms tried to escape, but the most she could manage was to squirm a bit. It only exposed her neck more, which was what Charles enjoyed.

He licked his lips, opened his jaws wide, and bit deep into her neck with his fangs. Then he drew in her blood, something that not only filled him, but also gave him a rush, a sort of sick sexual pleasure. Draining a woman alive of her blood made him feel quite…WONDERFUL. The woman shuddered, and then died. He tossed the drained body into the corner, and snapped his fingers. An undead butler rose from the cement floor, changing from dust into solid form.

"Yeeesss?" "Take the body to the transmutation room…the usual process. Turn her into a living dust undead, like the rest. I'm timing you this time! SNORT."

"Of course sir. Shouldn't take more than 54 seconds…"

The butler walked over, grabbed the body, and disappeared, body and all, into the air. Charles chuckled. All the blood and slaves he wanted…what a deal! And best off all, Joe and his annoying buddies couldn't stop him! Who had the strength to stand up?

Nick knew that the townspeople could help the moment he saw the clock tower's doors were locked. If they could break down the doors, he could get in to trash Charles the Third… but every person he talked to said "No way." He'd scream, beg, pout, plead and threaten, but nobody would listen.

"Are you gutless or somethin'? Why don't you stand up! I can HELP YOU! But you gotta help me first!"

The townspeople looked away. They didn't want to talk. Nick let out a disgusted scoff. "Fine. I'll break the door with my bare hands!" He walked back towards the tower door, and attempted to pound away, only to find that his punches couldn't break the strong doors. He slumped to the ground and sighed sadly. How could he get in? How would he save the town now…

Deep within the bell tower, the woman was shivering. She'd been stuffed into a lonely room, and chained to the wall. There was only one window, and she couldn't reach it even if she COULD break free of the chains that bound her. She tried shouting, but her voice didn't seem to work. Then she heard whispering outside the door across from her chained body…

"So…the master is almost ready for dinner?" "Yes…in half an hour it will be supper. He says he'll completely drain this one…"

The lady found her voice, screaming at the top of her lungs, wailing and screeching like a banshee. Nick perked up, hearing her shouts. He turned to the townsfolk that had gathered at the bell tower, hearing the screams.

"You all hear that? You're gonna let that flying RAT run your lives and terrorize you? I won't let him hurt her! I'm going in…but you guys have to break down the door for me, I can't do it alone! Please…" He stood on one knee, begging. They all looked at each other, and then ran off. He hung his head in sorrow…then he heard a chant, coming closer. "BREAK IT DOWN! BREAK IT DOWN!" They were coming back, running full speed at the door with the Mother of All Battering-Rams! He ran to the side, and they broke down the door in a few good tries. He saluted them all, and ran up the stairs, two at a time.

The occasional Bianky tried to stop him…and the occasional Bianky got blown apart in one punch. He bounded up the stairs, reaching the top in about ten minutes. There were three rooms and another staircase. He headed towards the staircase out of curiosity, but the smell of decay and death drifted up from the bottom of the stairs, and he shook his head. He listened, and could hear moaning from the door on the left. He opened the door and found the woman hanging from the wall, chained. He ran over and broke the chains with a big tug. She fell into his arms and he propped her up against the wall. "It's all right…I'm gonna rescue you, ma'am. Just hold on…"

"You cannot save her if you can't save YOURSELF! SNORT." An annoying snort had given it away…Charles the Third, in all his ugly glory was standing in the doorway. He had golden earrings in his left ear, a big bat face with mighty fangs, and was wearing the attire of a nobleman. He even had white gloves. His big yellow eyes gleamed with a cruel hunger. Nick wasn't impressed, he just struck a fighting pose and said:

"LET'S END THIS." He activated the power of SLOW, and ran towards Charles the Third, who wasn't fast enough to dodge it, and was kicked into the hallway. He got up, growled, and flung himself into the room in the middle of the hallway. Nick told the woman to run down the stairs to the town, and ran after Charles.

He opened the door, a strange PURPLE door…that led to the main area of the clock tower, where the clocks gears and cogs were grinding and whirring. The machinery was enormous…and Charles the Third was flying in the air. The accent he had was almost as annoying as the nasal problem. It was European, probably Romanian, but instead of sounding cultured, it sounding grating.

"So…YOU are that kid whose family we took! SNORT. I am…Charles the Third, the mighty general of JAGOW! You are helpless…SNORT. Against our power, fool! I will drain you dry here, and then…SNORT. Get to work on that woman, ha-ha-ha! SNORT, SNORT!"

"You know…you sound really dumb with that snorting. Ever considered seeing a doctor, or getting some cold medicine?"

"I have a nasal problem that can't be solved-SNORT! With a simple prescription."

"With great nostrils comes great nasal congestivity!"

"Ha, haa. Not funny, fool. SNORT. I will destroy you know! PERISH AT THE HANDS OF…SNORT. CHARLES THE THIRD! HA-HA-HA-HA! Snort."

And with that, he dive-bombed Nick, who barely managed to SLOW-dodge the blow. Nick retaliated by jumping right at Charles and giving him a good punching to the gut, but Charles then spun rapidly, knocking Nick off. Charles the flew down onto the ground, and lunged at Nick, trying to grab his neck and drain him dry, but Nick did a fantastic SLOW uppercut to the charging bat, sending him flying onto a rotating disc that was spinning in the machinery. Nick jumped up onto it, and the two were going to "have at it" when Nick suddenly held up a hand.

"Hold it. If we're going to be fighting, let's get the BGM started." "Oh! You are quite right. SNORT. I forgot to start my theme song up. SNORT. A moment of your time…"

Charles snapped his fingers, and then the music began.

BGM: Dark Fiend (Mysterious Flying Creature Charles the Third's Theme)

Punches, kicks, the occasional bite attempt from Charles, the two were locked together in fierce combat, not willing to let up. Nick had the advantage though, because he'd been slowly driving Charles back into the way of a spinning pendulum-like object, and with a good punch to the face, Charles was knocked into the pendulums path…

Like a croquet ball hit by a mallet, he went flying…right into the clock towers face. It actually CRACKED the glass face of the clock tower! He growled and lunged right back at Nick, who once again jumped up, this time even HIGHER!

The cycle of punching and dodging began. Every time Nick would jump or duck a bite or punch or kick from Charles, and then use SLOW to knock him into the clock tower's face. The cracks were getting bigger…wider…filling up the glass.

"Once you're dead, the people will be dancing in the streets, Charley boy!" Nick called out as he hid behind a large cog. Charles flapped in the air, fuming in anger that a mere CHILD was beating him.

"Once YOU'RE dead, SNORT. I shall stick your head on a pike outside my tower-no! On TOP! SNORT. Then I'll kill the woman!" "You won't get a chance to!"

Nick wrenched off a big chunk of wood that had fallen from the ceiling and jumped right at a surprised Charles. Nick stabbed the big bat straight through his chest, and Charles let out an awful scream. He dissipated into several dozen little bat-machines, a strange trick Nick never thought he'd understand. He tried to hit the bats, but they scattered to far away from most of his punches, and then they reformed again a few dozen feet in the air, above Nick, turning once more into Charles the Third, via a puff of bad-smelling smoke. Like sulfur or something…

Nick took a quick glance at the very cracked clock tower face.

"One more should do it!" Thought Nick. He kicked at Charles the Third, fully expecting to knock the rotten bat into the face again, but this time the bat CAUGHT Nick's foot, and hung him upside down. Nick groaned, and his mind began to race. Things looked bad. Charles the Third began to laugh, and held Nick up higher…then he opened his jaws and leaned in close to suck Nick's blood.

But Nick wouldn't give up! He flailed around with his arms and legs, and a stray punch whacked Charles right in one of his big yellow eyes. Charles let out an unearthly screech, and put his hands to his eye, screeching and crying. Nick ordinarily wouldn't have used this chance to beat up a pretty defenseless person, but Charles WAS a sick vampire bat who had been drinking a woman dry every single day, so…

He grabbed Charles by one of his wings, and Charles screamed as he was swung round and round."See you later, you overgrown flying rat with wings!"

(The theme music stops.)

He tossed the screaming bat with all his strength, and Charles flew towards the face of the clock. "YOUR TIME'S UP, CHARLES THE THIRD!" Nick shouted. The glass face of the clock tower broke from the inside, and Charles the Third, the terrible Dark Fiend went tumbling down through the air amidst broken glass and wooden numbers and hands. He fell towards the hard ground, and landed with a squelchy THUD, but even then he wasn't dead. He turned on his side, and uttered out "This…SNORT…isn't over…" but suddenly squeaked in fear as a gigantic wooden hour hand fell down towards him. He screamed…

Ten or so minutes later, Nick walked out of the clock tower and looked at the body of Charles the Third. He had been impaled by the gigantic hand, and the body was twitching in its death throes. He shook his head.

"What a waste…of a perfectly good clock." He turned towards the townsfolk and saluted. "You all did a great job on helping me, and look! You're free now!" They all cheered, and swarming him, carried him off on their shoulders, shouting out "OUR HERO" and such.

Later, they had a huge feast in his honor, and he almost puked because he ate too much rib roast with gravy and mashed potatoes. Of course, the massive glasses of root beer didn't help, either. Either way, he was proud. He'd done good. Not bad for a hero-to-be, getting rid of a tough bad guy in just an hour. He wondered how long it had taken Joe.

He was generous offered a room to stay in at the Metro Hotel, and slept like a baby in his King-sized bed, falling asleep watching a free PPV. He dreamt of happily showing off his v-watch to his family, oh they would be proud!

"Just…wait…the best is to cooommmee…ZZZZZ…"

Far away, a big, gigantic green creature was staring down angrily at a shivering Bianky. "Whaddya mean, Charley got iced?" "He was killed sir…that human, Nicholas…he…he threw him out of the clock tower, and Charles was impaled by a falling hour hand." The creature rubbed it's chin. "I had a feelin' he'd go that way…but that ain't the point!" "Then what IS the point, sir?" The green monster leaned in close, leering. "You interrupted my song, boy…y'all know what that means." The Bianky would have turned white with shock and horror if he could have. "No sir, please…spare me…" The creature let out a deep, bass laugh, and shook it's head. Three large claws grabbed a gigantic black axe with silver decals that was hanging from the wall.

The poor Bianky covered its head…for all the good that did it. Its head went flying across the floor in one good stroke, and then another separated much of it's chest from the rest of it's body. The head's single red eye dyed out and the body collapsed on the floor. Hulk reminded himself to have another Bianky clean the mess up. The "Iron Ogre" let out another deep laugh, and then continued to sing his little rap song.

Elsewhere, in a dark warehouse, underneath a barely bright light, a gigantic red dinosaur in army fatigues was observing the new, dark flag of JAGOW. It looked scary and sinister to all that saw it. The letters JAGOW were written in ghastly blood on the flag, against a pure black background. Almost black, anyway. If you took a closer look you could see that terrible images of evil and cruelty were occurring in the background of the flag, drawn in VERY dark grey. Kind of like a sick "find the hidden picture in the picture" thing. But Big John the dinosaur drill sergeant liked the red the best. It really caught his eye. He'd been staring at it for fifteen minutes, just looking at the bloody letters. And to think, he thought, in a few days we'll have this flag flying from every single enemy city's flagpole!

A sudden burst of static cut this thinking short, and a voice spoke out from his army radio. "We've got a problem, sir. Charles is dead…killed by that kid you were eyeing…Nick Grey." "WHAT? That civilian took down one of our generals? That's insurrection! That's against regulations for a civilian to kill a commanding officer! He's to be executed, you GOT THAT?" Big John screamed those last words into the radio, and the receiver on the other end grimaced. The bianky let out a "Roger", and then the radio shut off. Big John turned away from the flag and clenched the two mighty claws on his left hand. The fool would pay…oh he would pay! Such rebellious behavior could NOT be tolerated, certainly not in such a large state of emergency like this! He lumbered towards the exit, already thinking of vile tortures he'd use on Nick.

Farther still away, Alastor looked down at the scared family of Nick, and grinned when he saw Matt was still admiring Alastor's threads.

"You really like my looks, don't you?" "You're pretty cool." "Thanks…too bad you're going to have to die, along with the rest of these humans. You seem to have good taste." "Why do you want to kill my best friend's family?" Matt seemed very angry now. Alastor sighed, and stared right into Matt's eyes.

"I don't honestly know myself, kid."