Chapter 1:
A Tight Squeeze:
At the Daily Planet, Lois and Jimmy just got a new assignment. "I want you two to take a look at Playtime Co. A lot of the workers have mysteriously disappeared. This could put the Planet on the map!"
"You got it, Chief," says Jimmy.
"Don't call me Chief!"
Clark was listening. Lois and Jimmy always get in some kind of trouble, so he figured he might as well follow them.
...
Clark was watching an old commercial about Poppy Playtime. The most intelligent doll in the world. Clark was suspicious of Playtime Co. He then switched to his super suit.
...
Lois and Jimmy have entered the lobby. "This place sure is creepy," says Jimmy.
"Playtime Co used to be one of the best toy companies," says Lois.
"They're no Mattel," says Jimmy, "those make the best. I've been collecting Masters of the Universe toys since I was a kid!"
"As much as I like stories about shirtless muscular guys, we have a job to do," says Lois. Lois finds a green tape. She then sees a green VCR and places the tape in it.
"Hi, my name is Lief Pierre and I'm the head of innovation here at the Playtime Co toy factory. If you're seeing this, then you're trespassing! Yeah, we play this little tape on loop whenever we close the factory for the day. So, Trespasser, just to make you aware while we pride ourselves, primarily, on our high-quality toys and excellent childcare, we also pride ourselves on our security. For example, this facility is full of hidden motion triggers, which once set off, will turn on the factory's emergency alarms, which will directly contact the authorities. And that's one of the more tamed aspects of our security systems. No spoilers. So, you got my warning. It's not too late to turn around. I just hope your certain that whatever you're doing is worth it."
Lois and Jimmy then start walking. Jimmy sees a poster about one of their toys, Bron. They then see the gift shop and it looks like someone ransacked the place. They then found a door. Lois manages to figure out the code. "How..."
"Don't ask questions you don't want answers to," says Lois.
They find a blue tape and use it in a blue VCR. It was a thing about a grabpack. A glass case then opens and a grabpack is revealed. Jimmy then puts it on. "Cool."
"Come on," says Lois.
...
Using the grabpack, Jimmy was able to get a door to open and the two go through. "What is that," asks Jimmy.
They see a big blue statue. "That's Huggy Wuggy," says Lois, "he was one of their most popular toys!" Lois presses a button and Huggy's theme song plays.
Jimmy then uses his grab pack to activate a switch, but the power went out. When Lois and Jimmy look at Huggy again, suddenly, there's a key in his hand. As confused and suspicious as they are, Jimmy takes the key anyway. They then use it to unlock the door and go through.
...
"I swear, he was breathing a little," says Jimmy.
"There was something not right about that toy," says Lois, "I gotta be honest, some of Playtime Co's toys always creeped me out as a kid."
"Which ones," asks Jimmy.
"Huggy Wuggy, Mommy Longlegs, and Catnap," says Lois, "there was just something about them that made me uncomfortable."
"Well, there's nothing creepy about the Masters of the Universe," says Jimmy, "Except for maybe the guy with the skull for a head!"
...
Now the're in the electric room. "Hey, Huggy's pink in this poster," says Jimmy.
"That's his girlfriend, Kissy Missy," says Lois, "yeah, they made another one!" Jimmy then uses his grabpack to get the power going.
...
They then return to see Huggy missing. "Wasn't there a creepy blue toy statue thing around here," asks Jimmy.
"T-try that door again," says Lois.
Jimmy does so and they enter a room with a sign that says, "Make a Friend". As they're moving, there's a blue arm with a yellow hand sticking out of the door. It then pulls itself back in.
Lois tries the other one, but it's locked.
"I guess we're going in the creepy door with the creepy hand," says Jimmy.
...
They were at some kind of assembly line. Jimmy used his grabpack to pick up the things they need. Lois finds a yellow tape and plays it in a yellow VCR.
"Rich, where are they keeping the Huggy Boxes?"
"I don't know," says Rich, "I couldn't tell you. Remember when Maintenance left a sweep of this place?"
"No."
"Exactly," says Rich, "nobody in this stupid company knows what they're doing! I swear, I haven't seen a single box in this place since with started flooding the storehouse!" Rich then kept complaining. "You're right, it's for the orphans."
Lois and Jimmy then activated the crane, and it brings them the other hand Jimmy needs for his grabpack.
...
Lois and Jimmy then arrive at the Make-a-Friend Machine.
"Now that looks creepy," says Jimmy.
"It says it needs power," says Lois.
Jimmy then uses his grapback to power the machine.
Lois finds a pink tape and plays it in a pink VCR.
"So, what makes you want to work at the Playtime Co toy factory?"
"That voice sounded very familiar," says Lois.
"Playing with toys when I was young was just so magical. I could go straight from my bedroom floor to anywhere in the world. It was such a great feeling. And being able to work at a toy factory, somewhere that could provide kids with that same experience, that's a pretty great feeling too. Sometimes though, I really, really wish I could go back. To being a kid, I mean. And it's weird, 'cause adults are just kids, but older. I don't think anybody really feels like an adult, but your body just gets older and older and then you die. Poof. Human bodies just can't stay young forever." She then just went on about that.
"Someone has a thing about aging," says Jimmy.
"Yeah, but I swear I heard that guy's voice somewhere," says Lois.
Lois and Jimmy then activate the machine, and it makes a little cat-bee toy. Lois then grabs it.
"A cross between a cat and a bee," asks Jimmy, "this place has one heck of an imagination!"
Lois places Cat-bee in the scanner and a door opens, but Huggy Wuggy comes out.
"Well, now we know what happened to him," says Lois.
"I think he wants to do what the song says," says Jimmy, "squeeze us until our heads pop off!"
Lois and Jimmy run and Huggy chases after them.
...
They go through the vents, but just as Huggy catches up to them, Superman shows up. "Aren't you two a little old to play with toys," asks Superman.
"Yeah, now, would you mind putting him away for us," asks Jimmy.
Huggy then grabs Superman and wraps his arms around him, attempting to squeeze Superman. Huggy then sees it's not working.
"This is nice," says Superman, "I think I'll hug you back!" Superman then squeezes Huggy and uses his heat vision to zap Huggy's head right off his body. Huggy was dead.
"How did you know we'd be here," asks Lois.
"Your friend, Clark Kent told me," says Superman.
"Remind me to kiss him when we get back," says Lois.
"Superman, what was that," asks Jimmy.
"My guess is, one of the reasons this place is no longer running," says Superman, "let's go!"
...
Lois finds a black tape and plays it in a black VCR.
"Final log, in relation, Experiment 1006, the Prototype, coordination cooperation is evidently within his skill set. As well as the skill set of all other experiments of his type. Though still missing, today's events are no doubt in relation to him. His absence was a flaw in the scientific process, which should've, under no circumstances, been left unaccounted for. That's why I'm making this log. So that the same mistake won't be made twice. Any future experiments will need to be contained and exposed of in a secure location. I'm not worried about myself. One breakthrough and I'll be back. We must forge onwards in the name of science. Whether those beneath us understand it or not, end of-"
"There's that familiar voice again," says Lois, "I wish I knew where I heard it before!"
"I know," says Superman, "and we all should've known! Who else would have been involved in making dangerous toys!"
"The Toy Man," all three of them said.
"He must've worked here before he became a supervillain," says Jimmy, "it all makes sense now!"
"We should get out of here," says Superman.
"Hold it," says Lois, "we gotta learn more!"
Superman sighs. "Alright, let's see what that red flower room has!"
...
The three enter the red flower room despite all the warnings. It looked like a little kid's room. Jimmy finds a doll in a glass case and the lights flicker and the doll's eyes open. "You open my case..."
To Be Continued
This is Non canon to The Ultimate Advanceverse.