Before the invention of the stone axe, before, indeed, tool-using of any kind, lived a genius named Anthro, who, frustrated by the fruit hanging just above his reach, dragged a stone over to the tree and stood on it, harvesting a tasty handful of apples.
And then three figures, one in black, one in blue, and one in red, faded into existence against the solid green of the jungle!
Anthro, frozen in place, watched them with wide, staring eyes. His tanned skin and rawhide loincloth didn't blend very well with the greenery at all, but he knew many animals were stupid about colors, and saw only movement. Also, everything was in varying depths of shadow, as the riotous growth over their heads blocked out all but jagged slivers of direct sunlight.
Sam Skeptic notices immediately boot prints in the soft jungle loam. Boots with a perfectly flat tread, like slippers, or the futuristic boots of the Legion of Super-Heroes!
Quinn notes that Anthro is tall and skinny, with powerful strap-like muscles under a glossy coat of not washing. The kid, for he appears to be quite young, is standing with athletic balance and could probably bolt suddenly, or dash in and plant a powerful punch or kick before most men could react.
Chin-Su notes that it's not especially hot right now, but the sunlight is so intense that outside the jungle, it would be pretty unpleasant.
"OK guys," Quinn says between his teeth, avoiding any sudden movements, "what's the game plan? That local looks kinda skittish."
ReplyDeleteChin-Su, without moving the rest of his body, will stretch a hand down along the ground, the LONG way around to Anthro in a wide arc until his hand is behind the young man, and tap him on the shoulder.
DeleteSam looks around slowly. He relaxes if he doesn't see any Wiled animals.
ReplyDeleteAnthro leaps a good two feet off the ground, spinning in mid-air with his fingernails held out like claws.
ReplyDeleteSeeing no enemy, he pounces on Chin-Su's extended hand. And then runs off with it into the jungle.
Quinn is ready. He'll dash off after Anthro. "BRB, guys". He loosens the silvery rope from his belt and takes off after Prehistoric Mowgli.
ReplyDeleteChin-Su will stroll casually in the direction of his ever-extending arm.
ReplyDeleteSm shakes his head. "Evac Nam Pots." he shouts at Anthro.
ReplyDeleteThe cave man stops!
ReplyDeleteHe shakes Chin-Su's hand (not like a handshake, more like a wet dog shaking itself) and jumps in place, but doesn't progress further. Because he stopped.
"Anthro run away!" he exclaims, but his words aren't backwards, so he doesn't. "Long hand man girl!"
Chin-Su puts his other hand up defensively, and approaches slowly. "Anthro stay," he says cautiously. "Anthro help long hand man girl find friends."
ReplyDelete"Friends?" Anthro replies. "Yellow fish ape with white woman and bald arm men?"
ReplyDeleteChin-Su frowns a moment in thought, then turns towards Sam. "Does that sound right?"
ReplyDeleteQuinn relaxes his stance (but keeps the rope handy, just in case). "Yeah, actually Sam, could you give us a rundown of what we're doing here again? between androids and presidents and serpents and wolves and elves and sea captains and ninjas and whatnot, I kinda lost the thread." He shakes his head. "Honestly I don't know how the regular Justice League keeps track of it all. Who'd have thought the hardest part of being a superhero was the logistics and team management?"
ReplyDeleteChin-Su cocks his head and looks up thoughtfully. "Well, actually..."
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