Chapter Seven

All through the night and late into the next day Dexter worked on his refinement of the Ãœbermass formula. Mixing, cooking, shaking, baking, crushing, straining, centrifuging, distilling, dehydrating, rehydrating, and finally the last two steps of condensing the powder into pill form and then placing them under intensive Gamma irradiation. Doing so would create a molecular bonding effect and by extension in the Human that consumed them. After conversing with Goddess Rowena, he scrapped his original formula and all of the ingredients that he had been using - and had replaced them with a composite of the most unlikely sources imaginable.

"And here I had been thinking that the correct path was some form of hormonal extract, DNA altering radiation, nanotechnology or hyperspace energy. But nooooo . . . it turns out to be a combination of everyday household cleaning chemicals mixed in the right proportions and processed to complete purity. Truly an unthinkable formula for an incredibly growing person."

Upon completion the white pills had turned dark green in color and as a special mark of distinction, in the pill processing process he had embossed each of them with a large letter U.

"A super vitamin pill," Dexter mused, "that will invest super size and superstrength in any that takes them, even an Underdog-sized man like me."

Now it only required a check by the bio-computer to confirm the nature of the item. Then he would take the second step - personal testing of the product. Hopefully by this evening the world will have it's first true superhero - Major Bravo! In addition, he'd also have a chance to try out one of his greatest discoveries - the Skinsuit. It was an idea inspired by the fictional Richard Reeds, the alter ego of Major Glory and the X-Pand-Dex material he'd used to create his uniform. Thus, following the lead of his comic book superhero Dexter's costume was made of a molecularly flexible fabric crafted from genetically modified superhemp and patterned in the form of a dark blue jumpsuit. Highly stretchable, nearly indestructible and fantastically comfortable it was machine washable and ready to wear - so there was no need to iron it.

He created 100 pills in total - and all final computer scan-modeling indicated that they were safe for Human consumption. Nevertheless, he had to be certain about this - for once ingested there was no turning back. Moreover, he least of all wanted to turn into some raging, uncontrollable hulk of a monster. As he was returning to his quarters for a well-deserved nap, he was terribly exhausted from his laborious labors in the laboratory. Even so, as he left the room he couldn't help but feel he forgot to do something, but he couldn't remember what. He resigned himself that it would come to him later after he got some rest. However, before he could the telephone rang just as the panel doors opened. Naturally, he answered it and was in for a shock - the origin of the call was from the Agency of National Security. A situation had occurred - one of concern to the nation, perhaps even for the whole of the world and would he help?

"Of course, not a problem, but shouldn't this sort of thing be addressed by my collogue Dr Branton Quest? After all such matters are his specialty."

"We already tried to contact him," replied the voice, "but at the moment he's incommunicado somewhere in South America with his son. Your name was top on his list of people to contact in case this sort of ultra classified situation occurred."

"Hmmm," Dexter softly grumbled, "I will have to remember to thank him the next time I see him . . . so, what is the problem?"

After he hung up the telephone he still couldn't believe it - two others, a young man and women were reputed to possess Metahumanistic superpowers and now were in ANS protective custody. The main concern, it seemed, were they threats to national security - and little else in the minds of those holding them prisoner. A very narrow view, in his opinion - and could turn what might be a Superheroic power couple into a potential pair of Supervillains if the situation wasn't handled with a more enlightened outlook.

Shortly thereafter a turboprop convertaplane was speedily flying him to a secure ANS Research Center - the Desert Range Complex located along the Nevada-Deseret border - to lead up the scientific investigation.

**********

Upon returning home Kevin couldn't believe what he found inside of his two story house, not that it was a mess, far from it - but how everything that he loved was still arranged as he remembered it. But that all of Tanya's things blended into it so well - like they had been living together for several years. She too was amazed at how skillfully Goddess Giselle had moved everything she would have moved and left everything out that she wouldn't have bothered with at all if she had to do the job.

"It's like she read our minds," commented Tanya - still in wonder at the sight of it all.

"What's says she didn't - she's a Goddess after all."

In the basement to the upstairs rooms, it was the same story. Some of the rooms, which Kevin had not bothered with, were now furnished with Tanya's things, including a separate room for her computer as a working office. In areas such as the basement where Kevin had his bench press, pull-up/dip bar, dumbbell rack and free weights and squat box, Tanya work out equipment was also there as well including her prized treadmill and tanning bed.

"You have a tanning bed . . . but then that would explain the lack of tan lines . . ."

"It's a prize that I won at my last contest. Don't worry I'll have you safely bronzed all over in no time. And you never once mentioned having an almost mini Golds in your house."

"Well, if you look closely it's mostly hand made. I cut up the metal tubing and MIG welded them together in my garage out of material from the local scrap yard. Got a small machine shop out back, drill press, band saw and so forth. Since I had the equipment, it was a lot cheaper to make what I needed then to buy it. I just copied what I saw in the sporting goods stores or catalogs."

"I'm impressed," she said, "though with our new abilities I doubt what we have will do the job now. As an enhanced female I could probably lift everything down here with one hand."

"Oh I don't know - at our normal sizes we not much stronger then an ordinary Humans. It will do just fine for our strength / cardio training, might even directly translate into our Titan and Titaness forms - that is, unless you start bench pressing the house my pretty Super Amazon."

"Nope, won't do that - might disturb the neighborhood. Though our children someday will be able to say to any that tries to pick on them - my mommy can beat up your daddy."

"More like push him into the hard concrete," I laughed - much amused by the thought.

Of course, the major introduction was with Joshua the cat. When we arrived home, he was lying on the sofa in the living room with an expression of - So, returned have you?

He bounced off and came over to inspect Tanya - like a father cat checking what his two-legged son had brought home.

"If he rejects you, I have to throw you out. He's been running things around here since he was a kitten."

However, nothing of that sort happened - rather Joshua was very affectionate with Tanya and even let her rub his tummy! His expression was purely catlike: It's high time that you brought home a Human female for yourself - and me too! More please my dear Lady you're hitting just the right spot - aaahhhhhhh, wonderful!

In purring in pure pleasure and had an almost Cheshire Cat grin on his face.

"I don't believe it - he's never let me stroke him in that manner."

"You just don't have the cat-person magic touch. He's such a darling, my love. I wanted to have a cat at my apartment, but pets weren't allowed under my lease."

Afterwards, I proceeded to show her the rest of the house - for her benefit and mine as well - just to see what Goddess Giselle had done. In some cases, it surprised me as much as Tanya in how she had taken care of everything. As I showed her my large backyard, I made mention that someday I would like to have a greenhouse there - and hopefully, I could build it into a small nursery business.

Later after we settled in and had just finished unpacking there was a knocking, actually more like someone pounding on the door. When I went to answer it, we had had a major surprise. It was the Agency of National Security - in the form of two fully armed platoons of ANS agents and backed up by three armored cars. Apparently, the pair of us had been tracked down after being identified from a number of sources. Chief among the clues was the testimony of the surveying gang members and somehow they'd found the ragged remains of our overcoats - although I had carefully disposed of them at an Interstate rest stop on our way back to Aurora.

To our perplexed questions, we were told that we weren't under arrest - rather we were to be placed under protective custody until the entire situation was straightened out. It was matter of national security and would we now please come along, preferably quietly - otherwise they had been legally empowered to enforce their reasonable request. I gazed at Tanya and to her slight nod, we agreed to go with them. Joshua was nowhere to be seen - but I wasn't worried, the cat seemed able to take care of himself more then most of the time. As to where we were going, it was to ANS facility located out west - somewhere.

**********

The Desert Range base had the semblance of any number of covert governmental scientific research centers that Dexter had been acquainted with over the years - at least on the surface that was the case. More then just the nature of the facility set it apart, but the excessive degree of security was a magnitude well above anything that he had previously experienced. No soon had his military helicopter transport touched down on the landing pad then he was cordially received by Dr Zachary Smith the scientific leader of the facility.

"You see Dr Dexter this place is the center of the government's research into exobiology."

"I thought the North American Space Administration was in charge of that. Like the exploratory research into life on Mars and the moons of Jupiter or Saturn."

"They are - so far as it goes. NASA has control over all regular normal operations - peaceful and scientific, we have the other side of the coin. Hostile and military."

"I don't follow you. Are you saying . . ."

"Yes I am," he smiled knowingly. "All of the collected UFO materials are here, including what little we have on most recent flap over Burlingame in California. Did hear about that one?"

In fact he had and even tried to get as much info on it as he could from his sources through the Institute. However, it was to no avail, even for one of his august scientific stature. What little was known was in the public record - that in the early morning a large flying object about the size of an aircraft carrier had passed over the city. Not only eyewitnesses, but also a number of people managed to take photographs and/or capture it on video - these later appeared on the various news outlets. Far from a passive sighting, the massive vessel seemed to be in trouble, as if the crew aboard was fighting to keep their starship from crashing into the city.

At the last minute, they recovered enough control to make course correction and after leveling off, the huge craft began to gain altitude. However, without warning they collided with an incoming Pan-North American 474 cargo-transport just beyond the shoreline. Damaged, with fires blazing and smoke billowing forth, the starship disappeared over the horizon - and less then a hour later an explosion filled the sky as if a gigantic flash bulb had gone off. The tremendous sonic boom that soon followed was deafening - rattling windows and setting off car alarms.

"What ever it was lost to our radar someplace out over the Pacific but we have Navy search teams combing the ocean bottom looking for wreckage. In time, no doubt, they'll find it."

"And your point is?" Dexter asked.

"That these two people, may in fact not be Human but actually extraterrestrials."

"Really, they seem to be very Human - might even be Metahumans, in incognito."

"Please," he said with skeptical disdain, "as in comic book superbeings - surely, you are joking, of course you are - I was warned about your wry sense of humor."

"Don't be so certain my friend . . . not everything is as it seems."

Dexter felt the bottle of pills in the pocket of his white lab coat. Now more then ever they might come in handy just in case they did turn out to be hostile aliens or Metahumanistic Supervillains.

"Oh," the other man continued, "you might be interested to know one of the projects you were involved it is also located here."

"Which one, there have been so many," Dexter asked.

"The Event Horizon Project. We've been in the process of reassembling the interstellar space drive - much of which, as you know, survived the disappearance of Dr Mandark Utonium."

"You cannot be serious," Dexter stopped cold, "I was told it was dismantled."

"And so it was, then it was shipped out here. We're about a week from having it ready to power it up again - but don't worry we've taken care not to make the same mistake as last time. Now please this way to the holding area so we can begin our investigation of the two subjects. If they turn out to be Metahumans - then that is one thing, we can reason with them, even appeal to their patriotism - if they turn out to be extraterrestrials then that is different matter entirely."

**********

"I still don't believe this happened to us," Kevin said, "all we did was defend ourselves from pack of criminals."

"I doubt it's over the death of that thug," Tanya commented, "then it would have been a matter the local police arresting us or taking us in for questioning."

"True, but what?"

"Well," she agreed, "could be something as simple as being frightened by the prospects of our existence or they want us to tell them how we gained our abilities. Perhaps, they want us as a living weapon for the military . . . or to assist them in the creation of additional super soldiers."

"Oh, I can just see myself saying - look here sir, my wife and I are a very special couple and we were gifted by a Goddess to be a Superhero and Superheroine for this world. Now will you please take us home? Unlike Vall-Hallen, we can't fly."

"By the Goddess," Tanya softly chuckled, "I so love you - that's funny. But no, I can't see them doing that at this point, even so I doubt we have anything to worry about."

"I know, she's probably aware of what's going on and that they don't intend to harm us. Otherwise, she would have shown up by now and extracted us from this situation."

**********

On the other side of the wall, observing the pair in a darkened room was Dr Dexter and a couple of other governmental officials and scientists.

"What do you think Dr Dexter?" asked Dr Smith. "Their reference to a Goddess could been some form of extraterrestrial higher being."

"No, I don't think so. All of the tests you've ran on them show them to be Human."

"Actually far too Human," said another scientist from the shadows, "they're in perfect physical health and don't forget the molecular density scan. It was incredibly off the scale - like they were compressed in form."

"True," nodded Dexter, "but that only meant your machine was not calibrated correctly. No one could be that powerful - otherwise they have to be as large as a Giant and Giantess."

"Well according to the surveillance camera . . ." commented one of the ANS agents.

"You don't even know if these two are those two. Their facial profiles are similar, yes, but not the same - which proves nothing. Now I want to talk to both of them and in private. No cameras, microphones or other surveillance measures - I must have their complete trust in this."

**********

Outside in the yard while overlooked by armed guards at a respectful distance within a few minute of conversation with them Dexter just couldn't imagine either of them as aliens, much less a pair of Supervillains. If they did possess such powers and were evil, then surely they could have easily resisted the ANS Agents. Instead they had acted honorably and like law-abiding citizens allowing themselves be brought here. It was very much like the time Major Glory had been accused of treason and the rest of the Justice Avengers were ready to defend him against the SWORD agents of Nick Powers. He had ordered them to stand down and obey the officers of the law - otherwise they would be no better then the criminals they fought. In his opinion, these two were cut from the same cloth as a Superhero and Superheroine power couple.

"I still can't believe I'm actually talking to the Dr Dexter Bravo," gushed Kevin, "I've seen you on PBS and Discovery Learning Channel documentaries. It's a real honor to met you, sir."

"As it is for me too," smiled Tanya, "I don't know how my friends at the university are going to react when I tell them about meeting you."

"No doubt they'll pigeonhole you in your office until you tell them everything. And speaking of which . . . as to why you're here."

"Yes, why," Kevin asked, "they've not told us much of anything."

"I know. Unlike the others, I do have some idea of what you two are. Now don't try and deny it - you are Metahumans . . . and gifted by a Goddess."

Only then did they realize that they'd been overheard, probably via a hidden listening device planted in their room. Even so, it seemed that Dexter really did believe it to be the case.

"Yes, the both of us can transform, similar into the Krunk and She-Krunk. Seems we're a very special couple and she gifted us both with that kind of power."

"From the Infonet on the IRT - yes I know. A wonderful lady the Goddess. She's been helping me very recently with one of my greatest discoveries."

"Yes," Tanya nodded, "Goddess Giselle certainly is all that and more."

"Giselle?" answered Dexter. "You mean Goddess Rowena don't you?"

"No, we don't . . . oh nuts - that's what Giselle meant by she when mentioning that other person yesterday."

"Do you think this other she was responsible for the gang attack?"

"Makes sense when you think about it. How else did they know about us - or think they knew about us, I should say."

"Wait a minute," Dexter interrupted, "what - I mean, who are you two talking about?"

However, at that moment, several sirens and alarms went off at once on the complex and guards were running around like scurrying ants of an overturned nest.

"Now what?" commented Kevin.

"I don't know," Dexter declared, "but I intend to find out."

He started to walk in the direction of the doorway - then stopped, pivoted about.

"Well, come on. Your guards seem to be busy with other things and besides where can you two go anyway?"

**********

The setting of the scene was the Throne Room of The High Castle situated on Planet Archonia. Seated on a high-backed oaken chair, he was speed reading the dossier report, but never missing a single word in the prepared digital-holo document. Standing nearby, she was casually gazing out one of the many strategically placed panoramic picture windows.

"And this is the current situation?" inquired AlexG.

"Yes, my husband, everything to date on this matter threatening state security."

He continued to read the dossier file and as he did so, she took in the view presented to her - one that overlooked the vast Plains of Hope. From here, you could see the Stargate that serviced Archonia - and was currently in use. Reaching outward with her PSI powers she could sense that they were governmental representatives from one of the worlds within the Realm where Giants and Giantesses were the norm and regular-sized Humans the exception. She then turned back to face him - it seemed that he had finished reading and was now lost in thought.

"My Lord, what do you plan to do now?"

"My Lady, based upon this information, I will let it play out - but only up to a point. If Rowena goes no further then playfully enhancing a person here or there - that is one thing. After all, she is a Goddess of the IRT - I do expect such from them. If not - then that is another matter and one that will have to be addressed by both of us in an official capacity. Our friend Giselle is now my representative in this matter - young she might be, but I trust her judgement in keeping Rowena in check."

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