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HM-04 Uni-versity Fright Night - 09/12/2006

Written By The Writing Team Of Darrel James Vanwinkle & Joanna Leigh Vanwinkle

Quote:

At a college that Alex is looking into attending, the gang uncover their newest mystery, as the fur flies and the monsters howl at the moon. Can our heroes puzzle out what is real and what is not?

Coming up next on Hazardous Materials!

It was a long, long, long time before the team would be allowed to contact each other again. This was mainly due to school classes and education, as well as, tracking down leads on Vicky's family crap and dealing with Alex's corporate education. Mikael continued Lionel's magical studies, while Andrew took music lessons so he could learn how to play his magic flute properly. Among everyone else, Andrew had the most fun on their last outing, and he was feeling like a real team member now. He just had to learn to play that flute.

Genie was the first to arrive in California that late Friday afternoon, as she and Grim appeared at Trina's house... okay, okay... mansion. Genie then stepped forward and rang the doorbell.

DING DONG!

Genie giggled! "The doorbell has something that you don't, Grim."

Grim exclaimed, "Shut up."

The small explosion that rocked the mansion would have knocked them off of their feet if they weren't both already dead. The shrieking of an alarm was cut short as Trina came round the side of the mansion.

"OH! Hi, Genie. When did you get here!?" she shouted, her ears still ringing from the explosion. She smiled and shouted, "Can I get you guys something to drink!?"

Genie grinned. "Martini for Grim, thrice stirred. I'll have a scotch on the rocks. What was that huge booming noise? Did you kill someone? Oh wait... Grim wasn't instantly summoned to the spot, was he?"

Grim muttered, "shut up and just get me my martini."

Genie then said, "Actually, we just got here."

"NO, NO ONE IS DEAD YET! Oh man, sorry about that," Trina said, shaking her head. "I was playing with a new toy. Come on in," she said opening the front door and leading the way into the parlor where she quickly prepared Grim's martini and Genie's Scotch. "Now what brings you by Casa Tracker?"

Surprisingly, it was Grim who spoke up this time. "I have some time off and I wanted to go on a mission with Hazardous Materials. I told Genie my idea and she suggested that we come here."

Genie said, "No one is due to die for the next 17 days and that means Grim gets to party down, you know. So I thought we'd come here and see if you could dig up a mystery for Grim and the team to enjoy solving."

"Well, Dad told me about some weird stuff going on over at the University Campus," Trina said. "He said it wasn't major enough for any of his people, but if we wanted to look into it we could just have at it."

Genie hummed. "Isn't University Campus the place where Alex's dad is wanting him to take college classes at?"

"You know, I think you're right," Trina said thoughtfully. "I hadn't even realized that."

Grim said, "Then that would give us a reason to be on campus to investigate."

"I just can't believe that Grim is going to be helping us out this time. This could be one heck of an assignment," Trina chuckled.

Grim said, finishing his martini, "That was actually good. Unlike some of the clubs I've been to." That's an insult to a LOT of clubs! "What is usually the first order of business to make an investigation an official Hazardous Materials case?"

Genie looked at Trina. "We usually drop in on Mikael, don't we?"

"Yep. We have to go to Mikael's first to establish our first plan of action and to do some brainstorming to see if anyone else has picked up any whispers about our upcoming assignment." Trina smiled and said, "Just let me change into my investigating duds and I'll be ready."

Trina sprinted up stairs and was back in ten minutes in her complete jaguar print, leather ensemble.

"Let's GO!"

Grim gazes at Trina. "That is your investigating ensemble? But you were wearing THAT under your normal clothes! Why didn't you just strip right here? I'm already dead, and it's not like I'd have a tenting boner under my robes!"

Genie laughed! "You gonna drive your car, Trina? Or should we teleport?"

"These are clean. The one's I had on were dirty," Trina informed Grim mater-of-factly. "We'll teleport of course. Unless Grim wants to feel the wind whistling through his bones?"

MEANWHILE....

"What do you mean you quit school?!"

"Well, you're never around or you'd know," Vicky snarled into the telephone receiver. "I've went months without any decent sleep because of the wild nightmares that no one can seem to even begin to help me decipher. In fact, the first decent night's sleep I've had was went we went to Asgard a few weeks ago."

"What does that have to do with you quitting school?"

"It has everything to do with it. Between my responsibilities to my gangs and to my friends, and the lack of sleep, oh yea, and the new ability that I have that allows me to incinerate things, I decided it would be safer for the general populace if I stayed away from the public school system," Vicky retorted as she twirled the phone cord around her finger.

"And where are your brothers while all this is going on?"

"You have got to be kidding me! Victor is in Chicago, Michael is somewhere in some ocean, in case you've forgotten he's in the Navy, and Tim has his hands full with the Soap Squad. Why don't you come home and be a dad for a change. Or is that too much to ask of Laundry Man?" Vicky demanded.

"What did you say?!"

"You heard me. I have things to do so I guess I'll not talk to you later," she said, and slammed down the receiver. "The nerve of him," Vicky muttered as she walked out the door. As she walked down the sidewalk she could hear the shrill ringing of the telephone.

Perhaps one of the worst things Mark hated doing was performing magic at his bratty little sister's grade school for all of his bratty little sister's classmates.

Only 4 more magic tricks left, then I can pull my disappearing act... the one thing I practice more than anything else.

"I can't believe you totaled my car!!" Erina screamed at the other stunt man. She could feel herself getting hotter by the minute. If she didn't get away soon she might do something she might regret later.

"I'm so sorry, Erina," he pleaded. "I was just doing my job."

"Yea right! I'm out of here!" she shouted as she spun away and quickly left the studio.

Ivan was grinning like a cocky goose! Apparently having a goddess of Niflheim as a Carrington Security System customer was a huge feat of success. He had gotten a huge promotion and was currently sitting in a Las Vegas Sands hotel room enjoying himself. If anyone really needed him, they all knew his cell phone number.

"Oh, Vincent, that was so thoughtful of you."

"It was entirely my pleasure," Vinnie replied, smiling.

Alex had just separated himself from his father at the campus university and walked into the public restrooms...

"Finally, a moment's peace and quiet away from my annoying father." He used one of the stall toilets, then came out and washed his hands and face. He was drying off his face, when he lowered the paper towels, and saw Garm's super humongous visage in the mirror before him!

Naturally, Alex did what anyone would do when surprised like that...

He let out a scream!

Alex quickly turned around thinking Garm was again behind him, but he wasn't there. Then he turned back to the mirror and only saw his own reflection.

Alex was panting hard, as he leaned back against one wall. "I must be losing my mind. Why did I see Garm in the mirror?"

Kevin replace yet another file into the cabinet where he found it. He had been through every single scrap of paper he could come across and still couldn't find one hint about his father. He was beginning to have a really bad feeling that his father was someone he didn't want to know about. Or at least that his Mother didn't want him to know about.

He stood up and stretched. Where else could he look? He could make a trip to New York and see if Madam Borva knew anything. Now that would stir up some trouble for sure. Kevin grinned evilly. He'd save that as a last resort. No sense in causing chaos too soon. He didn't want to tip off his mother that he was digging.

Mikael's home in San Francisco...

Lionel sighed, as he caused a wooden statuette to explode. "...i'll never get this spell right..." he muttered.

Mikael was in the kitchen preparing snacks and drinks, because his sixth sense informed him that he might be getting visitors.

Andrew grinned, as he finished playing his latest fluting practice. "I am definitely getting better at this! I could almost see the meadow full of daffodils that time!"

Hel appeared in the kitchen with Mikael. "Good to know your sixth sense is working over time," he said, pouring himself a glass of wine. "I have a feeling that this next investigation will be really interesting.

"Hello?" Vicky called, walking in the front door. "I need some coffee! My dad is an ass!"

Mikael says, "Come on in, Vicky! And don't insult donkeys that way... the one's I know are real sweethearts. I think we're about to have a meeting."

*POOF* Mark appears looking bedraggled! He sits down in a kitchen chair... "I escaped my bratty sister and her classmate goons... something smells good..."

Just then Erina stormed in. Her red hair was especially bright as she stalked purposefully into the kitchen.

"Pour me a strong drink," she growled, taking a seat at the kitchen table.

Reena came flying in and landed just outside of the front porch of Mikael's house. Andrew soon joined Reena, smiling, and the two entered Mikael's place.

Reena said, "My dopey dad wanted me to bring one of my brothers along! I'm lucky he didn't want to come... this time." She pours herself some coffee.

Andrew smiled at the others. "My music lessons are coming along great! How is everyone?"

Mark lifted his head and said, "I am still in one piece...but where is Alex today?"

Mikael replied, "I think his dad dragged him over to that college where he wants Alex to attend classes at."

Kevin appeared in the living room. He plopped down on the couch and sighed. "I have searched through every single scrap of paper that I can find and still haven't found out anything about who my dad is or where he is," he said, clearly agitated.

"Why are you so determined to find out about your father?" Hel asked.

"If there wasn't something to know, Mom wouldn't be hiding it. Now would she?" Kevin replied.

"Good point," Hel agreed.

Mikael glanced around counting heads, then said, "We know Alex is with his father at some college... where is Ivan and Vinnie currently? Does anyone know?"

Reena said, "Maybe Ivan's still celebrating his promotion in Las Vegas. I don't have a clue about Vinnie, though..."

Just then, Vinnie appeared in the kitchen. He was not dressed earthly and he was wearing a big grin.

"I hope I'm not late," he said. "I had a date."

Genie grinned. "You're just in time, Vinnie! Grim is joining us for a mission this time! And Trina has the juicy details about the upcoming mission! Don'tcha, Trina?"

"Absolutely!" replied Trina, taking a seat on the counter top. "My dad gave us this one so it should be interesting. Plus, we'll meet up with Alex because this little mystery will take us to the University Campus!"

Trina practically quivered with excitement as she filled in the team about the strange happenings on campus.

"Its not really up to my dad's standards, that's why he's giving it to us! So what do you guys think?" she asked.

Mikael hummed. "It certainly sounds like something we'd investigate. I wonder if Alex knows what he's in for at the college? We haven't heard from him... yet."

Alex was again looking into the bathroom mirror. "I know I saw Garm's face, larger than life, looking right at me. But he's supposed to be chained up in Niflheim. I mean, that's where he was the last time we all saw him with Hel. But I know Garm when I see Garm... unless..." Alex studied the mirror closely. "...what I saw was one of Garm's sons. Hel did say that Garm left litters of puppies all over Midgard. But he never said where he left them. Could one of them be looking in on me?"

At that moment, Alex's dad's voice called into the bathroom, saying, "Alex! Come on out! We have a few more places to see still today!"

Alex turned to leave the bathroom, glancing back at the mirror. "Damnit... it was Garm. I know it was..." And he continued on out of the bathroom to rejoin his father.

Andrew said, "I like how this adventure sounds. And if the spooks are fake then Grim will get to introduce them to a real fright."

Grim chuckled. "I'm not that scary."

Vicky grinned. "I could call him, but seeing as how I don't think that his dad is all that crazy about me, that might not be such a great idea. Anyway, if he did come across something out of the ordinary, do you really think he'd be surprised after all we've already seen?"

"Vicky has a point," Vinnie said. "We have been exposed to some pretty awesome, and some lame, occurrences. He might just shrug it off. Especially if his dad is leading him around campus."

Mark said, "I know one thing that still gives Alex some pause... and that's Garm. I don't think he ever got over the surprises of having Garm pop up where ever he happened to be. You know, we never did find out why Garm kept going from Niflheim to Alex every time he got loose..."

Reena hummed. "That's right. We sorta forgot about that part after we captured Lorelei. I guess we had a lot on our minds."

Andrew and Lionel both said at the same time, "Odin offered us all wishes."

Genie grinned. "Oh yeah... Our wishes! Hel got us all out of Asgard really FAST once he learned that Odin offered all of us a wish!"

Mikael giggled. "Mortals with wishes in Asgard could have been really dangerous. I mean, we ARE Hazardous Materials, you know."

Mark laughed! "If Ivan was still Notorious Crook, I could imagine the destruction and carnage for him having a divine wish at his disposal!"

Alex and his dad were looking at a map of campus, when they both heard zany and crazy sounding activities coming from one dormitory building.

Mr. Hazard exclaimed, "That doesn't sound good at all! The map says that it's Ungul-08 Hall... You probably wouldn't be interested in that, for why I'd be having you attend this college."

Alex slyly grinned, as he immediately understood the pun in the Dorm's name. "Oh, I don't know... Maybe they just need an industrial role model to set them straight. Someone like a Hazard."

Mr. Hazard placed his hand over his face. "No, I don't think so. I think Pred-08r is more the type of dorm I'd have in mind for you, Alex. I hear that they're really fierce in there... just like how I'd want you to become. A real go getter."

Alex sighed, thinking, (If I teleported right now, my dad would have a cow. But that is exactly how I feel about this college. IT SUCKS.) Then aloud, Alex said, "Um, let's not be too hasty about enrolling me here, dad. I mean, this place may have hidden agendas for simply latching on to the Hazard fortune. I mean, you did say once that the Hazards had a lot of enemies who'd stop at nothing to get their hands on your fortune."

Mr. Hazard smiled at Alex and hugged him. "Yes, I did say that, son. Because you are my fortune. So what are you suggesting?"

Alex said, "Let's give the college a real test. Let's send in my friends, the Hazardous Materials team, to investigate this place for us. I am sure you've heard by now how my friends solved the Old Lighthouse caper and recovered the professor's new invention..."

Mr. Hazard hummed. "I suppose that includes that lawless whelp, Victoria Lane? Very well..." He handed Alex a cellphone. "Call them up and get them here. But what will we be doing in the meantime?"

Alex smiled. "While they're investigating this place for hidden agendas, let me research some other colleges that I can present forth to you in a serious discussion... potential places I can attend and not feel like an alien."

Mr. Hazard covered Alex's mouth quickly, whispering, "never say that out loud again."

Alex blinked his eyes. Was his dad keeping some sort of bizarre secret about Alex's past? Maybe his dad knew why he had a unicorn form. He stepped away from his dad to make the phone call. Because this was business, Alex called up Vinnie's phone number, and awaited the ringing sounds within...

Vinnie pulled out his phone when it started playing "The War of the Worlds" theme. With a wicked grin he answered, "Vinnie here. What's up?" He listened carefully then chuckled. "Well, you'll never believe this but we've already been hired to investigate. So of course, we'd be more than happy to kill two birds with one stone. We'll see you soon."

Vinnie hung up and laughed again. "Get this guys. Alex has convinced his dad to let us investigate the college for "hidden agendas" while he can dig up some other prospects. Apparently he's not very impressed with the campus so far."

Trina laughed at that and said, "Well, this must be a sign. I wonder just what we'll find at this campus?"

"I'm sure his father is just really thrilled that I'll be there," Vicky said, frowning. "You all know how he hates me."

"He'll get over it," Vinnie said. "I caught some underlying vibe from Alex that there was something else he wanted to discuss with us but he didn't want to say anything in front of his dad. So shall we?"

"Who wants to do the honors?" Erina asked, finishing off her drink.

Mikael said, "When I first moved to California, I scouted out the locations of all of the colleges, so I'd know where they were, so I'll handle our teleport there, to the teleport location that I placed in my spell book."

Minutes later, the Hazardous Materials team had appeared inside the currently empty Campus Role players Hall (CRH). Mikael was scouting out the locations of where all the role players hung out. hehe. Being the middle of the day, there was luckily no role playing campaigns going on. They exited that building and as a group, headed over to Student Union Plaza where Alex and his father would be waiting.

Mr. Hazard's eyes arched when he saw the famous Vinnie with the group. "Alex... you never told me that HE was a member of your little mystery solving group. I've seen his name in tons of the financial sections of the Wall Street Journal, not to mention his dealings in NASDAQ. Perhaps I've been a little overprotective of who you hang out with, son, and..." Then he noticed Vicky and sighed. "...a necessary evil, I suppose..." Then he saw the Grim Reaper. "...what is that?"

Alex grinned. "Oh, that's Grim. He's a friend to the group. He must have some time off or something. He accidentally killed that girl he's with and now, he's been trying to find her a new life. And boy, is that ever a chore."

Grim exclaimed, "You said it, Alex. Genie has a sick sense of humor concerning me personally."

Alex grinned. "What did she say this time?"

Grim would blush if he could. "It has to do with a door bell."

Alex laughed. "Don't let it get to you, Grim. Yours is spiritually huge."

Grim crossed his arms. "Shut up."

Alex turned to his dad. "I'll fill the team in on what they need to be looking for, then I'll check back with you at the limousine."

Mr. Hazard nodded his head. "See that you do return to the limousine. We don't have all day, you know." And he turned and walked off.

"See what I mean," Vicky muttered as Mr. Hazard walked away. "What have I ever done to him? Other than show a sincere interest in you," she said to Alex, placing her hand on his forearm briefly.

"Gee, Vinnie. We had no idea you were such a financial wizard," Kevin laughed. "What other secrets are you hiding?"

"I'm hiding quite a lot, actually," Vinnie said with a straight face.

Kevin blinked. "OK. Moving on. So what's the scoop, Alex?" he asked, turning to Alex.

"Yea. We're DYING to know," Erina chuckled, elbowing Grim in the ribs.

Grim muttered, "Shut up."

Alex turned to Kevin. "First of all, the mundane stuff. My dad wants me to attend this college, as you all know. However... the only dorm that even slightly interested me, my dad vetoed in a heartbeat. It's a place called, Ungul-08. My dad wanted me to enroll in Pred-08r across campus. Because I don't want to do as he asks, I came up with the plot idea that this college might have hidden agendas for wanting to latch on to the Hazard fortune, and dad said that I was his fortune. But when I made a joke about feeling like an alien here at the college, he quickly shut me up and told me to never mention that again in public."

Lionel hummed. "What a weird guy."

Alex nodded his head... "Yeah... however... there is another reason I'm glad you came... but first..." He does a head count on the group. "Where is Hel?"

"That's a good question. He hasn't shown up," Kevin explained, shrugging. "We just figured he had more stuff to take care of in Asgard to clean up the mess."

"Well, the interesting part is that my dad already gave us an assignment here," Trina said, grinning. "Apparently, there have been some really strange occurrences taking place here. No one is sure if it is supernatural or just some sort of hoax so my dad gave it to us to take care of because it doesn't rank him sending any of his people to investigate. Isn't that a strange coincidence?"

Alex hummed... "Well, I wanted Hel to hear this part, but anyway... here goes..." He sighed, then said, "I had to use the Campus' public bathroom, and when I came out of the stall to wash my hands and splash some water on my face... as I was drying my face... I saw Garm... larger than life, in the mirror looking right back at me. I quickly turned around because I thought he had appeared in the bathroom. But he wasn't there, then I looked at the mirror again, but the visage of Garm was gone. I about had a heart attack when I saw Garm so unexpectedly like that."

Mark arched an eye. "Where did this happen again, Alex?"

Alex replied, "I'll take you guys there."

Minutes later, Alex and the group were standing outside the public restrooms. "That's the building." He pointed right at it.

"Well," Erina said, "you boys go on inside while us girls look around out here. Vicky! Where are you going?" she called.

Vicky was heading over to Pred-08r Hall. "I'm doing some dorm investigating," she called back over her shoulder. I'll catch up with you all later."

"Oh, boy. I hope she doesn't hurt anyone," Trina said.

Mikael, Lionel, Mark, and Alex all went inside the public restroom.

Andrew, who had lagged back from the others, was heading over toward Ungul-08 Hall to have a look at the only dorm that Alex was actually interested in.

Reena, Genie, and Grim stayed with Trina and Erina.

Grim asked, "So where should the rest of us investigate?"

Kevin followed the other guys into the restroom, "So which mirror was you looking into?" he asked.

Vicky entered Pred-08r Hall and looked around. She frown when she saw the decor. Alex would hate it here. In fact, in her opinion, the decor looked more like something that would suit her brother Victor. Definitely not something that would appeal to Alex. She was sure that if his father took a look in here he'd be all for the place. Vicky shook her head and moved further into the hall. She might as well see what kind of juicy tidbits she could pick up in here.

Alex pointed at the central stall. "I used that one, then came straight out of it, and used the middle sink here, and I used one of these paper towels, and when I lowered the paper towel so I could see myself in the mirror, that's when I saw Garm in the entire mirror. Larger than life. I know Garm when I see Garm. It was Garm. No doubt about it."

Mikael began casting his magical detection spells all over the bathroom.

Mark hummed. "What do you think, Kevin?"

Andrew smiled as he saw the zaniness of Ungul-08 Hall. "This looks like a place that Vicky would like. No wonder Alex thought it was interesting. Let's see what the locals are like..." And he headed further in.

"Well, it all looks normal to me," Kevin said examining the stall.

Mikael said, "There is no magic on the mirror, nor anywhere in the restroom, except for us obvious hotspots. So perhaps it wasn't Garm, no matter how much you know what Garm looks like. I believe you when you say it was him, but he's on the real chains now. He simply cannot get loose anymore. So, there has to be another explanation."

Alex said, "That's why I wanted to ask Hel about it. To see if he set up a magical video phone for Garm to look in on people or something..."

Just then, Vicky walked into the restroom. "Well, I can honestly say that was the most barbaric dorm I have ever stepped foot in." She looked around. "If that is the norm then I would suggest that you find a more civil university to attend. And you know if I'm saying that, it has to be bad."

"Uh, Vicky, this is the men's room," Kevin said nervously.

"So? If you've seen one public toilet, you've seen them all. Anyway, did you guys find anything?"

"Not really," Vinnie said, doing another scan. "The place reads zero on the mystical meter."

"Hm," Vicky thought for a moment. "Didn't Hel say once that Garm had pups all over Midgard? Is it possible that one of the pups is here on campus?"

Alex said, "If that was one of Garm's pups... then it it was fully grown and looked just like Garm right down to each and every coloration. Vicky... I know Garm when I see Garm. I've had to deal with his popping up for the last few months, remember? If this is one of his kids, then why come to me? We never did find out what Garm thought was so great about coming to good old Alex."

Mikael and Mark both giggled.

Mark grinned. "You bought him ice cream. You fed him. What happens anytime you feed a stray animal?"

Mikael nodded his head. "Mark is right. When you feed a stray animal, it keeps coming back for more. You fed Garm a few times, so he thought it was okay to just pop up where ever you happened to be, because you would feed him."

Alex hummed. "So if this isn't Garm, why is this one coming to me? I haven't fed anyone except Garm."

Andrew was finding out how friendly, calm, and helpful the students in Ungul-08 Hall were. And the occasional chaos, as it were, was the exact reason that the Tracker Corporation had originally been asked to check out the college... whatever was haunting the campus, was deliberately striking Ungul-08, and no other dorm.

Andrew was soon sitting in the library hall of Ungul-08 playing on his moon dog flute, creating a beautiful soothing melody all throughout the hall. In fact, the music could be heard faintly outside of the building.

Reena said to those outside, "Sounds like Andrew is playing that flute of his. I didn't know he'd gotten so good with it."

Genie smiled. "It is nice, isn't it? Not quite villain chasing music, but it certainly uplifts your spirits, doesn't it? Oh I forgot! I am already a spirit, aren't I, Grim?" She was grinning/glaring at Grim.

Grim didn't even look at her as he said, "Shut up or else." Then he began investigating in his own Grim Reaper way.

"Well, there obviously isn't anything in here. Let's look around the rest of the campus and see if we can't find something that jumps out at us," Kevin said unsuspectingly.

"Word of advice, Alex," Vicky said seriously, "stay away from Pred-08r Hall. You wouldn't last five seconds."

Everyone emerged from the public restroom.

Mikael said, "So, that was magic dead... so where should we go next?"

Alex said, "My dad was all against me checking out Ungul-08 Hall, so let's check out what Andrew went in to see."

Mark nodded his head. "Sounds like a plan."

Grim said, "Good. Investigating something finally."

Reena grinned. "Why do you keep teasing him, Genie?"

Genie chuckled, "Because he still owes me a life and until I get one I want, I am going to be as funny as possible."

"Hm," Vinnie said. "Now that is interesting."

"What?" Erina asked.

"I'll tell you after we check out this dorm," Vinnie said with a smile.

Andrew stopped playing his music when he saw the gang walk in. "Hi guys, I found out that the stuff that Trina's dad was told has been targeting this dorm hall and no where else. All manner of things from weird accidents to spooky noises and monsters at night."

Grim folded his arms over his chest. "They haven't even begun to see scary things at night until they've seen Randall Richmond's latest paintings..."

Genie exclaimed, "Grim! You know you aren't supposed to mention those! Do you want someone to drop dead right now?"

Grim replied with a grin, "That would be more exciting than what I've seen so far..."

"Oh yes," Vicky said grinning, "that's all Grim needs is another dead person that wasn't suppose to die yet. That would be some kind of record wouldn't it, Grim?"

Erina chuckled.

"What did you find out, Andrew?" Trina asked, ignoring their bantering.

Grin grinned hugely. "I'm trying to start a fan club!"

Andrew ignored the others, focusing on Trina. "Like I said, it's mainly around the library, the gym, and the basement, which has sub-levels from an old Funeral home, before they built this college at this location."

Mikael hummed. "A funeral home? I didn't think they were suppose to leave stuff like that around when building."

Andrew continued. "It was supposedly cleared, then a couple of weeks ago, a group of students were moving some crates for the Dean in the basement, and a wall gave way, and they found the hidden funeral rooms. They literally vacated the basement after that. The Dean, too."

"Well, I say we go and check that out. I wonder what kind of things were left down there?" Trina wondered aloud.

"Well, let's get down there and find out," Vicky said.

Alex hummed. "I guess we better then. With our luck, it's vampires and werewolves, or something like that..."

Mark giggled, "This isn't Sunnydale or Sin City, Alex."

Andrew nodded. "Follow me, guys. The basement is this way. And there is only electricity in the basement... not beyond into the old rooms..." And Andrew led the others down, down, down... into the... da da de doom... the basement!

"Since when have we needed electricity?" Kevin asked. "I mean, we've got Reena, Vinnie, and Mikael. And if anything too scary jumps out, Vicky can deep fry it."

"Jeepers. Thanks for the vote there, Kevin," Vicky mumbled.

"I'm hungry," Erina said. "We have got to find some food pretty soon. I haven't ate in awhile."

Andrew led the others to the back of the dorm's basement and around a corner, and pointed into a dark spooky hole in the wall... "There she is, guys."

Mark grinned. "I FOUND SOMETHING IMPORTANT!"

"Jinkies! You found a clue?" Erina asked.

"What is it, Mark?" Trina asked.

Mark exclaimed, "That hole! It's Vicky's virginity! We found it!"

Alex face-pawed himself, and turned his head so he couldn't see what Vicky would do to Mark... opting to walk into the dark rooms instead. Andrew, Mikael, and Lionel went with Alex, leaving the others behind.

Trina's jaw dropped. She quickly turned and followed the others into the darkness. It was bound to be safer than being out there.

Vicky whirled around and punched Mark in the mouth so hard it knocked him off his feet, causing him to land on his ass. "Your a bastard," Vicky growled as she stalked after the others. She paused and looked back over her shoulder and added, "Be glad I didn't stab you."

Vinnie was very interested in the cracks in the wall while Kevin looked real close at the boxes that were being moved. No one seemed to want to look in Mark's general direction.

Mark moaned as he lay on the floor. "...owww.... I was wrong.. that isn't her virginity... it's her ego....."

At that moment, Reena kicked Mark in the nuts! "Don't talk about women like that even in jest, Mark!" And she heading inside the hole.

Genie helped Mark to his feet. "That was really dumb, Mark. Only Alex can make jokes like that about Vicky and get away with it because 1) he's a unicorn, and 2) Vicky loves him. And you can be sure that Trina is going to punish you later after this mission is over. IF she lets you date her again..."

Grim chuckled. "I knew she wouldn't kill him. But her father will be in L.A. tomorrow evening looking for her..."

Mark irked. "I don't want to be in town for that!"

"Your boyfriend is a bastard," Vicky growled to Trina as she walked past her deeper into the dark hole.

"You mean I still have one? Hm. Well, that means I can beat the hell out of him later," Trina said, surprised that Vicky hadn't completely let loose on him.

"I thought there wasn't any electricity in this part," Kevin said, surprised at how bright it was. He looked around and was surprised to see that the source of the light was Vicky. She was radiating a soft warm light all around her. "Now I can see that being inconvenient at some point."

Vicky wasn't paying any attention to anyone but Alex at this point. "What do you think about this place?" she asked him.

Alex replied, "Truthfully speaking, Vicky... this looks like a place your brother in Chicago might lurk in... or one of his acquaintances..."

Vicky nodded in agreement as she looked around. "The bad part is that I thought the same thing about Pred-8r Hall. What was this place? There is no way this was part of a funeral home. Its too... grotesque," Vicky said, actually shuddering.

"This place is just creepy," Trina said, rubbing her arms in an effort to ward off the chill.

Mikael said, "Okay guys... I am going to be casting a few Light Globe spells... followed by a huge Detect Magic Scan... Be prepared to look for any hot spots." And Mikael cast the two spells, back to back!

And not surprisingly, a nondescript wall in the back glowed like there was no tomorrow...

Alex hummed... "If my sense of direction isn't mixed up or something, we're almost directly under the public restroom."

Andrew said, "I hope you're wrong, Alex, because I think that spot on the wall that Mikael is detecting is a dimensional gate. These things are supposed to exist all over the west coast."

"Again. What in the world would a funeral home be doing with a dimensional gate?" Trina asked.

"So it actually could have been Garm that Alex saw in the mirror," Vicky wondered aloud.

Lionel hummed, then said, "Perhaps this is a Hela Gate. Alex did say it was Garm he saw in the mirror. If this is a magical gate, and Garm's connected with it... and it's in a funeral vault... then maybe this dimensional gate belongs to Hela."

"That makes sense," Erina said. "But how can we make sure that is what it is?"

"Don't forget that we have to dismantle or destroy or disarm it," Trina added. "We don't want things coming out of there that shouldn't be."

Mikael hummed. "I strongly believe that this Dim Gate is already closed, guys. In fact, it's closed from Hela's side. We're just looking at where it opens up at. We might be in Hela's storage rooms. I mean, this isn't anything like a funeral home."

Grim hummed. "Suppose I knocked on the door...?"

"Does that mean that this isn't the source of all the funny stuff going on?" Kevin asked.

During this time, Mark, who had been staying as far away as possible from Vicky, noticed something on the floor. He painfully knelt down and picked the small piece of paper up and silently read it to himself. He wasn't about to announce that he'd found a clue so soon after crying wolf and getting brutally pummeled by Vicky, so... he quietly just stuck the paper into his pocket, and even more quietly, left the dimly lit chamber. I'll just follow up this lead on my own. Vicky and Trina hate me now. He was on the verge of tears when he left the dorm hall.

Vinnie watched Mark slip out silently. He then turned to the others and said, "Why don't we just use the device Ivan provided us with to call Hela and make sure that this goes to her realm."

Andrew said, "That's right. I forgot that Ivan also set up Hela with an inter dimensional cellphone and calling number."

Grim pulled a skeletal cellphone out of his robes. "You mean like mine?"

Genie growled, "YOU HAD A CELLPHONE ALL THIS TIME AND DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT IT?!"

Grim put it away. "It's for business calls only."

Reena said, "Okay, so who's carrying the device?"

Mikael smirked, as he pulled it out of his bag of holding. "I swear... leave it to a cat..." He activated the device and dialed in Hela's cellphone number.

"Thank you for calling Niflheim. If you have cowardly left battle, please press 1. If you have a loved one currently serving time, please press 2. If you'd like to speak directly to Lady Hela, please press 3. If you have any other issues, please stay on the line and someone will be with you directly."

Mikael stifles a smirk, visually, as he presses 3 and waits for a reply.

Mark was now snooping around the Dean's office following up the clue he had found. If I am right... there should be something in this filing cabinet...

"Hello? Is this thing working?" Hela's shrill voice came over the line.

Mikael grinned. "Hello Hela. Your voice sounds so wonderful. This is Mikael Hawthorne in California. How are things in Niflheim?"

"Things are running along quite smoothly, for a change," she muttered. "What is it that you want?"

Mikael explained where the team was, what they were doing, and what they were looking at, and... what Alex saw in the college's public restroom mirror. "What we need to know... is the Dim Gate we're looking at yours or not? And is Garm still chained up at the entrance to Niflheim?"

"Actually, he's not. Odin sent Hel and Garm off on some private mission," Hela sneered, clearly disgusted. "It isn't like I really need him anymore anyway, with the new system that Ivan installed. And what's this about a gate? I have no gates leading to Midgard. Hades does, but I'm sure his gate is located in Greece somewhere. I don't suppose that helps you any, does it? Oh well, I have to go and gather some more souls. Have fun."

CLICK

Mikael puts the device away and tells everyone what Hela said. "This isn't Hela's back door, guys. It's someone else's back door. And Odin sent Hel and Garm off on some secret mission, so that writes off the theory that Alex saw Garm."

Erina mulled that over for a moment. "That also explains why Hel didn't show up for this little foray."

"So now what?" Vicky asked. "Do we knock or just walk right on in?"

Grim said, "I suggest that we walk on in, but let me go first because being the Grim Reaper, if there is something on the other side that can cause death, then I won't be affected and can actually block the affect from reaching the rest of you."

Mikael hummed. "Grim has a point there. We have to be careful with these dimensional gate things. We could literally end up anywhere."

Andrew grinned. "This adventure just gets wackier all the time! Let's do it!"

Mark was searching in the last file drawer in the Dean's office when he found what he was looking for... a new proposed map of the campus... an artist's conception of the changes to the campus... and all endorsed by both the dean and... "So... that's who's responsible for this. I wonder if Ms. Power knows that her nemesis is involved in something like this..." Mark suddenly had a premonition about the dimensional gate. "...oh no! Then that must lead to..."

"An excellent idea," Trina agreed. "After you Mr. Grim," she said with a wide sweeping bow.

Grim approached the gateway, summoning his scythe from nowhere, and opening the dimensional gateway... and stepping through to the other side... vanishing from the others view. After a few moments, he stuck his head back through and said, "...it's safe, but not what I was expecting." He pulled his head back through again.

Alex hummed. "I guess we better see what's on the other side then." And he stepped through the gateway, too. Followed by Andrew, Mikael, Lionel, Reena, and Genie... or rather, Genie started to follow, but was bounced off the gateway rather rudely.

Genie growled, "Dammit! I forgot all about that stipulation! Ghosts can't walk through dimensional gateways! You're going to have to go on without me, guys..." She looked ticked off.

Vicky, Trina, and Kevin followed, but before Vinnie walked through he said, "You can wait for Mark to get back." Then he quickly slipped through.

The other side of the dimensional gateway was not an evil demon's underworld home, nor an angelic palace of the heavens... instead... everyone sorta knew immediately that they were still on Earth... in the Outback. They knew this because of the mob of kangaroos that lifted their heads to gaze at the group when the teenagers arrived.

Alex said, "Are we in Australia?"

"That wasn't a dimensional gate. It was just a transportal," Erina said.

"That is just so weird," Kevin muttered, looking around.

"We could always pay Fern East a visit while we're here," Vinnie chuckled.

Mikael grinned. "That sounds like a plan. Do you think she'd let us?"

"I'm sure as long as we announced ourselves as friendly visitors, we should be safe," Vinnie said. "Plus she may know something about what's happening."

Andrew asked, innocently, "Who is this Fern East woman? She sounds like an old lady, the way you guys are talking about her..."

Trina chuckled. "Just wait and see. She's really a cool woman."

"Come on guys," Vicky said, leading the way.

Back on campus, the others would probably be pissed if they knew that they were missing a fight between Genie, Mark, and a gaggle of ghostly ghouls that erupted into the Ungul-08 gymnasium.

Genie was not pulling her punches as she struck a ghoul creature in the face, causing it's head to spin around. "Mark! These are the real McCoy! I thought we'd be yanking the mask off of someone by now!"

Mark cast a chain lightning spell at a string of ghouls as he replied, "Not this time, Genie! Another magic-user is involved in this mystery! And he's an Australian who we all know about or have heard of!"

Genie growled, "It better not be who I think it is!"

Mark nodded his head as he blasted a ghoul with a gust of wind spell. "It is, Genie! Dark Cult and the Dean are in cahoots in this mess! I just can't figure out where the Dean is! No one's seen him on campus for a week!"

In the outback, the mob of kangaroos were following our fearless heroes, though not closely.

Lionel exclaimed, "Um, those kangaroos are following us, guys."

Alex sighed, "At least it's kangaroos and not Garm's puppies."

Reena said, "Want me and Erina to scare them off?"

Mikael replied, "NO! Any attack on local wildlife down here would get the attention of the local super powers, and then, we'd be in a fight we didn't want nor needed! Let's just get over to Fern East's station and talk to her."

Grim grinned. "I can make them stop following us without harming them." And he turned around to face them, while NOT allowing the others to see his face as he turned on his 'Guess Who?' aura of spookiness.

The mob of kangaroos irked, stopping in their tracks, and they turned and hopped away like mad.

Grim then turned off the power and turned to rejoin the others. "See? No harm done. Let's get going."

"There's Fern's station," Vicky said, indicating the isolated building ahead of them.

"Who in there right mind would want to live out here in the middle of no where?" Trina asked, frowning and wishing she had her car.

"Fern is a pretty special lady," Vinnie informed them. "She's actually pretty well protected out here. In fact, I'm surprised we haven't been approached yet."

Just then a pack of dingoes moved into their path. They all seemed to be pretty fierce and none of them seemed to be afraid of the group approaching them. They also didn't look like they'd be moved easily as they growled at the group.

Grim said, "Want me to do it again?"

Mikael said, "No, I'll handle this one. As Vinnie said, Fern is well protected out here." And Mikael cast a spell so the team could understand animal speech. Then, he said, "I know you're just doing your jobs, dingos. But we're the Hazardous Materials teenage investigators from California. We need to talk to Fern East about one of our mysteries. We think she'd be able to help us."

Alex hummed. "Don't they seem just a little too organized to be blocking our way on their own? It's almost like someone human is controlling them."

Andrew then said, "Mikael? I don't think they're listening to you, regardless of your spell. Besides, you're a cat. And dogs don't like cats, remember? Let me see about calming them with my moon dog flute." And he stepped aside, sat down on the ground, cross-legged, and began playing that magical flute of his... the music wafting slowly across the outback to anyone within hearing range...

It was then that the man stepped forward. He was dressed in desert khaki from head to toe. His sandy blonde hair was long and it looked like he hadn't shaved in quite a long while.

"Ah don' know who yah are," he began in a heavy Australian accent, "but yah're no more welcome here than the last group that came lookin' to cause trouble with Ms. East."

The dingos seemed to growl in unison at his words. They didn't seem to be fazed by Andrew's flute at all.

"Listen, buddy," Vicky said as she advanced on him. "Call off your pack so we can go speak to Fern East. Otherwise we'll have to take you out and that won't be very pretty."

He chuckled. "Yah got spunk, girly, but I've taken out more powerful people than yah before," he stated, matter-of-factly.

"Who are you anyway?" Trina asked, deciding to try a different approach.

"Lorenzo Newlyn, at yahr service," he said with a mock bow. "Folks around here just call me Dingo Lord."

That is when Grim stepped up to the plate, summoning his scythe instantly. "You know me, Lorenzo... or are you saying that you want me to snuff your candle now instead of on..." he names a date in the future. "We need to speak with Fern. There isn't anything that goes on in the outback that she doesn't know about. Or has she gotten too old to uphold that title anymore?"

To everyone's surprise, Lorenzo just chuckled, the deep timber of his voice washing over them as he said, "Go ahead, Grim, and you'll have two spirits to place instead of one. As for Fern, I'd like you to say that to her face."

"Why isn't he more concerned with the threat?" Trina asked in an aside to Mikael.

Mikael replied to Trina, "Death has rules. Besides, this is Australia. All of the super powers down here have a different code of ethics than the super powers everywhere else in the world. Down here, especially in the Outback, they ARE the law. Even if THEY are super villains."

Grim grinned at Lorenzo. "You behave yourself or I'll bring your crabby old grandmother back to life and let you deal with THAT." He grinned widely!!

At that moment, a shotgun blast went off, as a crocodile was seen high-tailing it away from the station.

Fern East lowered the shotgun. "Blasted beggars!" Then she saw the kids, Lorenzo, and Grim. "Oh 'ello. This is my day off. Ah don't 'ave to teach school today. Who are you people?"

"These blokes wanted to ask you some questions. I didn't want you bothered on your day off, but since your out and about anyway, I'll be taking my leave." And without a word Lorenzo and the pack of dingos disappeared deeper into the outback.

"He was kinda cute," Trina said. "Too bad he's a dog person and I'm already spoken for."

Erina rolled her eyes.

Reena whispered to Trina, "Think about the size of his knot, though. Mmm Hmmm Mmmm!" She was teasing, fortunately.

Fern smiled. "So, what brings you Americans to Australia?"

Vicky stepped forward to explain the situation to Fern. Once she had finished she said, "So you see, we thought you'd be able to tell us something about the gate we found."

Fern replied, as she finished serving everyone some drinks, "Australian magic is Dark Cult's domain. And if 'e is involved, then you might 'ave some problems. 'e is not a push over and there is no false mask to yank off 'is 'ead."

Mikael sighed. "That makes this a serious mystery then. Why is he targeting only one dormitory? That's what we have to figure out."

"Well, then," Vinnie said, sipping his drink, "let's head back and see if Mark and Genie have discovered anything useful. Thank you for the drink and the information, Fern."

Fern smiled. "My Fernean intuition tells me that your friends that you left be'ind are 'aving a little fight with something and you guys are missing it. Drop by anytime... minus Grim, of course. We Aussie's aren't afraid of 'im, but we still don't like to see 'im."

Mikael and the others headed out of the East station and back to the trans-spacial portal and soon, found themselves back inside the basement of the Ungul-08 dormitory, where someplace upstairs, the fight could still be heard occurring. "Sounds like Fern was right! We better get up there!"

Alex said, "And see about finding Dark Cult!"

Andrew keeps quiet. He's wondering why his moon dog flute had no affect on the dingos. It should have had some effect. The moon dog who gave it to him sorta implied than all canines were affected by it, to some degree. Maybe he misunderstood what the Olympian moon dog said to him...

Dingo Lord and his pack watched the group disappear back through the portal. He figured it wouldn't be long until they found their way back to the Outback.

Trina led the rush back up stairs, her fangs and claws fully extended. Whatever Mark and Genie were fighting had better beware. She was itching for a fight now. And hopefully, Dark Cult would be around for them to trounce while they were at it.

The gaggle of ghostly ghouls saved the others the trouble of finding them, as a group of them leaped out of hiding to ambush the Hazardous Materials team!!!

"Hey, Grim! Do you mind?" Erina shouted as she punched the head off of one of the ghouls.

Vicky had been itching for a fight, and she wasn't holding anything back as she started blasting away at the ghouls.

Grim exclaimed, as he sliced a ghoul in two with his scythe, "They aren't even alive, Erina! Just do whatever you want to them!"

Genie was up to her armpits in ghouls! "Damned things! GO AWAY!!!"

Andrew stayed out of the fight, choosing instead to try to locate Dark Cult. And it didn't take him long to locate the Australian magic using villain. Andrew then tagged Trina and pointed into a dark corner of the bleachers. "He's up there!"

Trina barely spared a glance then shouted. "Vicky! Alex! Take action at 11:00!"

Vicky, who had just reached a pinnacle, spun around and unleashed the power in the direction that had been indicated.

"I'm not very much use here," Kevin said, using martial arts against the ghouls. "They don't have minds for me to focus on."

Suddenly, all of the ghouls simply fell over!

Andrew shouted, "Great shot, Vicky! You hit him right in the face! He's out cold!"

Mikael whewed. "This team rarely gets into fights, but I'm glad we can hold our own if we have to."

Grim grinned, as he wiped his scythe clean on the body of a ghoul. "Now to clean my scythe!" Wipe! Wipe! Wipe!

The group gathered around Dark Cult's prone form.

"So now what?" Trina asked.

"We could hand him over to my brother," Vicky suggested.

Kevin shuddered at that thought. "You do realize that, in Australia, he's a superhero?"

"You have got to be kidding me," Vicky scoffed.

Erina nodded. "That's what I had heard. So what's he up to here?"

Alex hummed. "Maybe he was hired to do something here and wasn't told the full details."

Genie then said, "OH! That's right! Mark asked me to give you this message, guys!" And she handed over a letter to Vinnie, who was the closest to her.

The letter read:

Quote:

_Dear guys.

I found some evidence in the Dean's office that he had hired Dark Cult to level this dorm hall so they could build a new auditorium here. But here's the clincher... apparently the university's founder was buried in a vault underneath Ungul-08 Hall. And the reason he chose to be buried there was because the very building is a historical monument. Demolishing it by a civilian would be a crime, but if it was destroyed by a super villain or an act of god, then the Dean could get away with rebuilding the place as an auditorium. The Dean is hiding out at his hideaway cabin outside of the city. He's there with someone so he has an alibi for not being involved in this plot.

I am sure you can figure out the rest. You are Hazardous Materials.

There is nothing more to tell.

Signed,

Mark Merlin

PS: I won't be at the next meeting.

I know when I'm not wanted. Goodbye._

There are nearly dry teardrops on the bottom of the paper.

"What the hell does he mean by that?" Trina practically screamed.

Vinnie let out a sigh. "Well, I believe that it was all the flak he got about the comment he made to Vicky. Perhaps we should wrap up this case, then Trina can go and speak to him alone. That is, if you can control yourself?"

Trina glared at Vicky. "This is all your damn fault!"

"ME? I'm not the one who made a completely inappropriate comment, whether in jest or not. If one of my brothers had been around he'd have been slaughtered," Vicky glared back.

"Uh, girls? We really don't have time for this right now," Erina said. "It looks like Dark Cult is waking up. Lets see what he actually knows about this plot."

Dark Cult moaned, then muttered, "If Ah thought Ah was going to wake up to women bickering, Ah'd 'ave stayed unconscious. Ah 'ear enough of that back 'ome from the sheilas down there."

Alex growled, "Nice try, Dark Cult. You've been nabbed by Hazardous Materials. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Dark Cult glanced around at the team one at a time, then replied, "Where's the stud with a flap?"

Mikael sighed, "It would be nice if he was around. Stick with the subject topic, DC. What do you know about this case? Why are you haunting this dormitory?"

Dark Cult fished out a contract and handed it over to Vinnie. "The full details are shown right there, mate. Ah spook all of the students out of the building, then Ah teleport in a 'uge monster, and the thing and Ah battle it out and destroy the building during the fight. No one was supposed to get 'urt and Ah would be paid 100 thousand Australian dollars. The Dean is 101% fully be'ind all of this."

Reena hummed. "Well... the building is intact, guys, so no real crime has been committed here."

Mikael then said, "Dark Cult... if you'll simply let this job go, this once... we won't press charges against you. But if we find out that you're back to do this job, we'll make sure Grim here finds you earlier than usual."

Grim cracked his knuckles. "And I'll bring Helga, too."

Dark Cult ACKED! "NO! NOT 'ER! Okay, Mikael... yas drive a 'ard bargain. Ah'll return to Australia. Right now, in fact." And he vanished lightning fast! And all of the ghoul bodies vanished, too!

Genie smiled. "That wasn't so bad. So what are we going to do about the Dean?"

Grim grinned. "Leave that to me." And he vanished ominously...

Andrew hummed. "Something tells me that there won't be enough T.P. out at that cabin in the dark spooky woods..."

"How are we going to prevent the Dean from just hiring some other super villian to do the deed," Erina asked.

"I'll let you guys figure that out," Trina said. "I have to go find Mark and talk to him. I'll let you guys know how it works out." And with that Trina walked away, glaring at Vicky as she left.

"I have an idea," Vicky said, ignoring Trina. "Lets take the incriminating evidence and let the college paper and the local paper publish it. That should take care of him."

"That sounds like an excellent idea," Vinnie said. "I'll take care of it. You guys go on back to Mikael's place."

Alex parted company with the guys, as he shifted back into his human form. "I have to go rejoin my dad and drop the bad news about this college into his lap. I'll try to see you guys at the next meeting... or sooner." And Alex strode off to meet up with his father.

Mikael then magically transported everyone back over to his place in San Francisco and prepared a meal for his exhausted heroic friends. It was while he was preparing the meal when the phone rang. Mikael answered the phone.

"Hello? Hawthorne residence."

"Konnichi wa, Mikael-san."

"Mark? Is that you? Trina is looking for you. Where are you?"

"Miss Trina-sama will not be able to find me. I am en route to Japan to spend a few weeks with our Japanese cousins just outside of Tokyo. A wonderful wu-jen family. If you happen to see Trina-sama, tell her that I am sorry that things didn't work out between us. And tell Victoria-sama that I apologize for being inappropriate in private, such as we were."

"Mark... why are you talking all prim and proper? I can tell that you're on the verge of crying. Get your butt home right now."

"Alas I cannot, Mikael-san." he sounded choked up. "The plane is somewhere over the Pacific right now and if I am lucky, it'll go down and never be heard from again. Otherwise, I'll be in Japan with my relatives, trying to forget about the mistake that I made to the two ladies that I really respected... once respected. I have to go, Mikael-san. The cellphone signal is about to..."

And the call ended.

Mikael sighed, as he slowly hung up the phone into it's cradle. He then turned and stepped out into the living room where the others were gathered.

Andrew glanced over at the entering Mikael. "Hey, why the super glum face, Mikael? Who was on the phone?"

Mikael sighed. "It was Mark. He ran away... to Japan. Vicky, he told me to give you a message. He said that he apologizes for being inappropriate to you in private, such as it was."

Reena sighed too. "Poor Mark. He skipped the country. I guess there's nothing we can do about it."

But Vicky was dialing her phone. She listened for a few minutes, then said, "I need a favor."

The rest of the group listened to her explain to the person on the other end of the phone about the circumstances and that she wanted Mark returned home so that they could have it out face to face. Hazardous Material members did not cut and run after one little FUBAR.

"Thank you, ever so much. Let me know when I can return the services," Vicky said seriously. "Goodbye."

Everyone looked at her expectantly as they waited for her to explain what the phone call was all about.

"What? Mark isn't the only one who has contacts in Japan," Vicky said, dialing the phone again. "Trina, you need to get over here to Mikael's."

"I'm a little busy looking for Mark right now. I'll be back there after I talk to him," Trina said.

"Mark ran away to Japan. On a commercial flight, no less."

"He did WHAT? This is all your damn fault, Ms sensitive pants!" Trina shouted.

"I'm taking care of it. OK?" Vicky frowned.

"How?"

"You'll see when you get your butt over here."

"Fine. I'm on my way."

"See you in a bit," Vicky said, disconnecting the call.

"All right," Kevin said. "The suspense is killing me. Who is your contact in Japan?"

"You'll see. Or maybe not, but either way, Mark will be back here soon."

Just then a tear opened up in air, and Mark came flying out, not on his own power. Kevin barely caught him before he knocked him down with his momentum. Then the tear disappeared as quickly and silently as it appeared.

"Now that was cool," Erina said.

Mark was obviously UPSET. "YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO BRING ME BACK HERE, YOU..." And the rest was understandably the worst foulest mouthed words that anyone had ever heard Mark utter in the whole time of knowing him. And all of it was directed at Vicky and her integrity.

BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!

Mikael pulled Lionel off into the kitchen where he then placed a sound proof barrier between the kitchen and the living room. "Study your spells, Lionel."

Lionel sat down, nodding his head. "Yes sir."

Andrew also had left the room. He remembered what Vicky had done to Mark the last time for saying something inappropriate... and he was soon back outside in his bunkhouse practicing his moon dog flute. Hopefully the music would drown out the sounds of Vicky murdering Mark.

Vicky just glared at Mark until he finished his tirade.

"If you are quite finished. Let me tell you a little something Mark Merlin. If you weren't one of my friends, I would have slit your throat and not even blinked. And if you keep it up, I might just anyway. I had no idea that one of the illustrious Merlin clan was such a jell-o spined coward. I was going to apologize to you for losing my cool, but if you want to run off like some whipped dog with your tail tucked between you legs, then by all means be my guest. But I suggest you tell your GIRLFRIEND that you're taking off and why. Leaving notes is the coward's way out," Vicky fumed.

"What going on?" Trina said, entering the living room. "I thought I heard Mark, but I'm sure he wouldn't say anything like what I heard. Mark! What is going on?" Trina asked, wrapping her arms around him and giving him a big hug. "You missed us thrashing Dark Cult!"

Mark was still trembling from what he'd just said... "...apparently someone only told HALF of the message I told them... I left the college to go home to cool off and when I got there, mom and dad were in the midst of packing for a show in Japan. They said I had to go to keep an eye on my darling little sister. You know the one... the bitch... next thing I know, I'm aboard a commercial flight to Japan with the FAMILY in the next compartment. I called Mikael to relay some messages, and then the damned Cellphone service went out and suddenly... this black clad bitch reaches out of hole in mid air and yanks me through it without a word and the next thing I know, I'm on my ASS here in Mikael's living room with Vicky and that shit eating grin on her face. And I let her have it, too."

Reena was beginning to get the picture now... and Mikael was the one who didn't explain it all, though he was probably too shocked that Mark had... wait a minute... Mikael said Mark had run away. Mark said his parents made him go. "Guys, I'm going to go have a talk with Mikael." And she headed into the kitchen.

Genie stood with Grim, who'd just returned, and said, "I'm glad I'm already dead. This was perhaps one of the worst explosions I've ever heard."

Grim asked, "It was that bad?"

Genie said, "You might want to go to Space Master's place later and watch the rerun of the tape so you can see it for yourself."

Trina pulled out the note that Genie had given them. "Did you, or did you not, write this note?" she asked handing it over to Mark.

"Well, if you were being forced by your parents to accompany the little sister from Limbo, then I truly apologize. But Mikael said you, and I quote, "ran away"." Vicky said, glaring toward the kitchen.

Mark read over the note and sighed, as he pointed out... "My feelings were hurt and I wanted some time to cool off. And because most of our meetings are every single weekend, when we're free, I just wanted to take a week off away from the rest of you. I'm sorry if it reads differently from how I intended for it to read." He sighed again. "As for what I told Mikael... I honestly said... quote... I am sorry that things didn't work out between us.... unquote. But I only said that because you, Trina, told Vicky, quote... Well, that means I can beat the hell out of him later... unquote. I heard what you said. And Reena kicked me in the nuts, too. I don't even know if they still work right or not."

At that moment, a large ki'rin and with a wu-jen appeared in the living room!

"Mark-san? Are you okay? Your parents called me and told me that a filthy ninja kidnapped you."

Genie exclaimed, "Hey! Who is this guy?"

The wu-jen replied, "Pardon. I am Kung Merlin, Mark's uncle from Tokyo. I traced his whereabouts and came to rescue him from the filthy ninja whore."

Grim grinned, as he turned to poor himself a drink at the bar. "You didn't tell me that these meetings got this crazy, Genie."

Genie exclaimed, "I thought I did!"

Then Vicky did something that completely shocked everyone who thought they knew everything about her...

Vicky bowed deeply to the ki'rin and the wu-jen. "My deepest apologies great ones. The fault is mine. I merely asked an acquaintance of mine to return Mark to us because we were under the misunderstanding that he was running away. I humbly ask for your forgiveness in this most unfortunate matter," she said, remaining bowed to them.

Kung Merlin replied, "This one has manners. I just hope no oni see her bent over like this."

Grim was finding it hard to drink his martini.

Genie said, "I didn't know Tokyo had a Harlem."

Kung then said to Mark. "Come, Mark. You are to come with me. Your family won't be in Japan for a few hours and LingSing wants to show you around Tokyo."

Genie said, "Who is LingSing? Sounds like a girl's name."

Kung replied, "She is my niece. She is Mark's age. Come along Mark. And please tell the young undressed woman to please cover up. It is not respectable to be seen in public like that."

Mark BLUSHED, because he knew Kung was referring to Trina's jaguar skin bikini. "I have to go, Trina. Um... you need to cover up. It's not... cough... respectable to be seen in... cough... public like that."

Grim ended up coughing on his own drink at that! "Are you trying to kill me or something?"

Trina just grinned. "Technically we're not in public. But sure, I'll cover up. Have fun in Japan, while you can anyway. I'm sure once your sister gets there it'll be the end of it." Then she turned and went after Reena. "Hey Reena, I need to have a word with you."

Vicky rose. "Sorry, Mark," she said, hugging him briefly. "I'm just kinda sensitive about that, you know. Besides, it's kinda embarrassing to be a virgin at my age. Especially with the gangs I hang out with. But I do have standards and morals, despite what some person's father thinks. Take care in Japan."

Vinnie arrived then. "What in the..." he started when he saw the ki'rin and wu-jen. "I really hope this isn't a problem. I took care of putting the ads in the papers. The Dean won't be able to find a job in the state after it hits the streets."

Kevin sighed. "Well, I'm off to find out what I can in my mother's files." Then he slapped him forehead. "Do'h! I should have quizzed Dark Cult when we had him. Oh well. See you guys later," he said, disappearing.

Erina smiled. "I was wondering how long it would take him to figure that out. It's not a problem, Vinnie. Things are just getting cleared up."

**End of HM-04 Uni-versity Fright Night

Stay tuned next time for HM-05 Mystery of the Zodiac Mask**