In a field near the city, Magnacat prepared everything for the power transference spell.
"You should be honored Te Xuan Ze" he said, "you will be famous as the one who gave me the power to conquer Bibbur-Si!"
June didn't respond, although she couldn't through the cloth tied in her mouth. Her hands and feet were securely tied, with more rope tied around her arms and chest. She struggled against her bonds, but it was no use, she was still too weak.
"Soon my apprentices, you will be witness to something glorious Huntsman said, "and then, we shall celebrate by hunting the rare magical creatures in these parts."
"Dude, I'd rather have a video game" #88 replied, "how long is thing gonna take anyway?"
"Here, have some peanuts" Jack offered "I snagged 'em from the minibar since monster dude is paying."
"Will you be quiet!" Magnacat bellowed, "this transfer spell requires exact concentration."
He placed June a circle he had drawn and then began to chant. June knew she had to do something, but there wasn't much she could do, tied up as she was.
"Yo Magnacat!" came the familiar voice of Jake "your little power trip is over pal!"
Magnacat noticed the assorted heroes heading towards him; "stop them!" he bellowed to his fellow villains "I only need a few minutes more to complete the transfer!"
"The dragon is mine!" Huntsman replied, aiming his staff at Jake.
"Dude, when are you gonna learn?" Jake asked, effortlessly dodging the blasts.
Meanwhile, the Huntsboys found themselves confronted by Ray Ray, Ron & Rufus.
"Man, what are you three supposed to be, the stupid patrol?" #88 asked.
"Good one #88" #89 replied, and the two high-fived each other.
"Laugh now villains, but you won't be laughing when I unveil my secret weapons" Ray Ray proclaimed.
"We have secret weapons?" Ron asked an equally confused Rufus.
"Behold" Ray Ray said, producing two water balloons from his pocket "my spheres of justice!"
"Dude, those are water balloons" #88 replied.
"Taste justice, evildoers!" Ray Ray replied, tossing the balloons at the two idiots.
"Hey, I just had this uniform cleaned" #89 whined.
"Yo that's it, you three are dead heroes" #88 replied, his staff at the ready.
"Okay guys, this is it" Ray Ray whispered to his sidekicks "maneuver 23-B, go!"
"Which one was that?" Ron asked.
Ray Ray slapped his face "the one where Mighty Mole Rat climbs into the bad guys shirts, jeez."
Rufus got the drill and climbed into #88's shirt and began tickling him.
"Don't worry #88, I got him" #89 replied, but before he could rush to his partner's aid, was confronted by Ron.
"Behold my mystical monkey power!" he shouted, making a variety of karate-style moves and noises.
Being a born coward, #89 took off; moments later, Rufus came out of #88's shirt and when he saw he had no backup, he took off also.
"Well done my faithful sidekicks" Ray Ray said, "once again, the world is safe and the villains vanquished. But wherever there is evil, BoomFist and his sidekicks will be there to stop it!"
"First, we need to seriously consider getting new weapons" Ron added.
-----
Meanwhile, Magnacat was still in the middle of his chant.
"Danny" Zick said, "you blast Magnacat, then leave him to me."
"Okay, if you're sure you'll be okay" Danny replied and fired an ectoplasmic blast at the villain.
"Who dares?!" Magnacat shouted, only to find Zick nearby, the Universal Dom Box at the ready.
"It's over Magnacat" he said, "you're going where you won't be hurting anyone ever again."
"Please little tamer" he replied, "if your father couldn't defeat me, what makes you think you can?"
His comments made Zick angry and he fired an Energy Dom blast from his hands; the villain simply sidestepped it.
"You can't defeat me Tamer" he said, his third eye wide open, "surrender, and serve me."
"No…I won't!" Zick said, but his will was slipping.
Danny decided to help out and fired a series of blasts at the Gorka, weakening his hold.
"You'll pay for that, ghost child!" Magnacat roared.
As he battled them, he didn't notice Ah Mah sneak into the circle. Within minutes, she had freed June from the ropes and gag.
"Ah Mah, am I glad to see you" June said.
"I am glad we arrived in time as well Juniper" she replied, "but we must flee before Magnacat notices you've escaped."
"Too late" Magnacat's voice came from behind. "Well, Jasmine Lee. It's been a long time."
"Too long" Ah Mah replied.
"I remember our battle well" Magnacat said, "and as I recall, I nearly defeated you. This time, I shall finish what I started!"
"Guess again, three-eyes!" came Jake's voice. Magnacat didn't have time to face the dragon before the Huntsman slammed into him.
"Now, while he's down, triangulate your powers!" Ah Mah ordered.
"You heard her guys" Danny said, "let's do this."
Jake let loose with his fire breath, Danny with his ecto-beams and Zick with his Energy Dom. The combined force was even too much for Magnact to withstand.
"You win this time!" he shouted, "but I will return for the Te Xuan Ze, and you won't always be around to protect her!"
With that, he activated his transporter and disappeared. Seeing that they were outnumbered, the rest of the villains did likewise.
"We did it!" Jake declared happily.
"Maybe, but Magnacat escaped" Zick replied solemnly.
"Dude, why did you have to ruin our celebration?" Jake asked.
-----
A few hours later, all the heroes gathered at Ah Mah's house for their final goodbyes.
"Farewell Ron and Rufus" Ray Ray said, briefly crying, "you guys were the best sidekicks a guy could ever have."
"Thanks" Ron said, "me and Rufus had fun too. Who knows, maybe we'll come back and visit again."
"If you do, bring some of your cool spy technology, preferably a laser" Ray Ray replied.
"Well Monroe, it was good ta see you again" Fu said, "and I hope ya forgive me for school."
"Aye" Monroe replied "you've shown me that despite yer slacker ways, you've become quite successful with potions and in raising yer charge."
"Thanks" Fu said, "so, does that mean you'll come to a poker game in New York?"
"Not on yer life" Monroe said, "I wouldn't play cards with a cheat like you."
"Hey, I don't cheat" Fu said, "I just skirt the rules a bit."
While the two argued, Danny and the others wished June goodbye.
"Magnacat warned that he'd be back for you" Zick said, "if you want, we can place you in a safehouse."
"Thanks, but that's not necessary" June said, "and anyway, it wouldn't work."
"How come?" Danny asked.
June sighed, "listen, I have something to tell you" she said, "the real reason I turned down an opportunity to visit you is because…I'm stuck here. Being the Te Xuan Ze has bonded to me to Orchid Bay, and I can't leave until another one is chosen."
"Aw man, that's harsh!" Jake replied.
"Yeah June, I feel so sorry for you" Danny added, "tell you what, how about we visit you?"
"Really?" June asked, "I'd love that!"
"And maybe next time, we'll bring some pictures, or friends of ours" Jake said, "you're going to love Trixie and Spud, and I know they'll love meeting you."
June reached out and hugged all three of them at once. "Thanks you guys" she said, "meeting you was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Now I know I'm not alone, not the only normal kid who fights monsters."
"It's been great meeting you too June" Zick replied, "and here, if you ever need us, or want to talk to us, use this."
And he handed her a G.O.O.D communicator. June gave him an extra hug.
"Goodbye, and good luck" she said, "with you on the job, that Magnacat jerk will hopefully never show up in Orchid Bay again."
"As long as G.O.O.D exists, you can count on it" Jake added.
Then, the heroes waved goodbye to their new friends and headed back towards the jet. As they left, June looked at the communicator she had been given. To her, it was more than a simple communications device. It was sign of the new friends she had made, and whom she would never forget.
----------
Next Time:
Our heroes head to Landmark City in hopes of possessing a device that can create a dimensional gate. But E.V.I.L is also there with plans for the device. When it falls into the hands of the local criminal element, G.O.O.D must team with a young group of heroes to retrieve it. And by the end, both groups will have a new member in their ranks. Find out who in the action packed adventure "A.T.O.M in the hand…"