Each year, a different city hosts PARACON, the official convention of superheroes. This is really two conventions at once, taking place in the same building. One side of the building is for the general public, a convention for hero fans from around the world to meet, to buy merchandise, to get latest news on the world of heroes, and yes, to even meet some of their idols in person. Vendors of hero merchandise and movie studios and television networks with new hero properties on the block have booths throughout this part of the center.

And then, there is ParaCon proper. This is the high security area, where DNA-encoded badges and retinal scans (if applicable) are the only way in. This is where the heroes meet. Heroes from around the nation (sometimes from around the world) are invited here for a rare chance to mix with their peers. Here, they attend seminars on law enforcement techniques, put on by fellow heroes and by representatives of D.E.E.P.—the Department of Escalated Enforcement and Protection. Workshops are held on managing one’s marketing and publicity. Combat techniques are demonstrated and taught. High tech vendors with items of interest to the practicing super have booths and displays throughout this area, where a hero can get that new grapple line, a new security system for their base, or that new costume they’ve been thinking about. And hopeful U.S. cities send their representatives in hopes of wooing heroes to their part of the nation.

Representatives of the nation’s major hero teams are here, but ParaCon has always been about the solo hero…the protector who may not have access to all the support and financing of the major teams. Heroes come here to share experiences, ideas, information and heroing stories. It is, once a year, the most impressive gathering of paranormals on the planet.

And it’s a place, they say, where anything can happen.

And this particular year, ParaCon is held in Phoenix, Arizona, the newest city to join the small fraternity of cities that have their own hero teams. The team called APEX, the pride and joy of the state of Arizona, and a team that’s already made a name for itself by solving the murder of the Vindicators founding member, StarStrike (see APEX #’s 3-9), is meeting the morning of ParaCon 10 in their base downtown. Their agent, Darrell Barrett, has them gathered in the base’s kitchen, and is excitedly rattling off the day’s agenda that he’s set up for him. It was he who lobbied so hard to get the ParaCon in Phoenix this year, and he plans to make sure his team gets maximum spin off their home court status.

Atlas, Talon, Mechanna, Mercury, Magistrate and Throwdown try to keep up with Darrell’s rambling as he explains their entrance, the autograph signings they’re scheduled for, the press conference and the photo shoot. Throwdown, the newest member of the team (see APEX #15), is visibly moping. Since the incident with Magistrate’s alter-ego Dayton O’Brien (see APEX #13), it was decided that, when the team’s not called out on an emergency, one member of the group should be at the base on monitor duty at all times. Throwdown’s turn has come up. He’ll be able to attend the Con later that night, and all day tomorrow, but he’ll miss the opening festivities, which is depressing him to no end.

Soon it’s time to head out. APEX’s live-in pilot, Nita Tores, has the APEX copter—The Sundance—all fueled up and ready to go on the pad upstairs. The team, and their agent, load up, and it’s off to the convention center.

At the Phoenix Convention Center itself, the doors aren’t yet open. Already, thousands of fans are waiting outside, breathlessly anticipating their passage into the Con, and perhaps a glimpse of an arriving hero.

Inside, the new—and reluctant—hero named Force is in the high-security area, at the booth of the company he works for, Astrometics/IntEnt (International Enterprises). The company’s P/R man, Martin Lewis, is seeing to the final set-up of the booth, and is an angry, nervous wreck. He clearly has no fondness for Force, and is breaking down for him exactly what his duties are for the company, and makes sure the hero understands all of them. Force, meek by nature, affirms his understanding (but can’t help but slyly push of few of the man’s buttons). Until his scheduled booth times later, Force is free to wander the convention like the other heroes. Happy to be away from Martin, Force looks over the Con schedule for the day, and finds a few panels of interest to him. If he’s going to make a go at this heroing thing, he feels he has a lot to learn, and is grateful for the opportunity to pick up some tips.

Also in the booth area, the pin-up fan favorite former film star turned corporate hero Photon is getting things set up with his company, Bio Centennial Labs. It’s a little different scene, because his company actually likes him, and doesn’t have IntEnt’s questionable ethics. Jerry, the company’s tech rep, is setting up their multimedia display, and is constantly distracted and star-struck by the heroes that occasionally pass. Monica, the attractive P/R rep, is teasing him and gabbing with Photon. Just then, a hero from a nearby booth comes over and introduces himself to Photon. He’s Gideon, a corporate hero himself, with TreverCom. A friendly and likeable guy, he just wanted a chance to meet another one of the “hood ornaments”, as he refers to corporate heroes like himself. They chat a bit, and he mentions he’s thinking of getting…something together (not sure what) involving the corporate heroes, as they tend to not get as much respect. Photon and Gideon take off together to check out the convention.

The Con’s officially opening. Outside, vertically-challenged new hero The Mole is sheepishly making his way up to the hero entrance, actually relieved that his lack of press is keeping the attention of the crowd off him. He presents his ID and gets his scan, and is admitted. Inside, he spots more of the arriving big-name heroes, and feels a little overwhelmed. Luckily, a friendly face appears. It’s Banner, the heroes’ hero, the man who trains every hero seeking a license. All the heroes attending this convention, have, at one time or another, been certified in The Legend Factory, and he considers them all his children. Mole is no exception, and Banner and very pleased to see him there. Banner has a bit of a soft spot for the low-self-esteem hero, and believes there’s a great hero within him waiting to come out. After greeting Mole, he insists on showing him around, and introducing him to some important people. You don’t get more connected than this man, so the Mole ends up shaking hands with some big household names.

Back at the hero gate, a man in a business suit, not a hero costume, approaches. The D.E.E.P. agent running the gate is wary enough to start with, but then finds out the man not only has a badge, but one with level 5 (highest) security clearance. The man says his name is Fred Garvin, and he’s with H.U.D. (you know, the department of Housing and Urban Development?). The agent calls over his supervisor, agent Jeffrey “Abe” Lincoln (head of Phoenix’s famous D.E.E.P. strike team, the D.E.E.P. Six). Abe checks it out…it clears, and he’s on the list. Thanking the agents, Mr. Garvin enters.

Garvin is, in actually, a government agent code-named Recruiter. He’s part of the ultra-secret shadow project that gave birth to APEX’s Talon. He, like Talon once was, is a “Razor”. Each Razor was recruited based on a genetic propensity for heightened mental potential. The process used grants the subject (often unpredictably) a mental power of some sort. The agent is then trained as a field agent, and has the extra edge of the power. Recruiter’s power is being able to understand any language—including body language. An expert in persuasion and conversation as well, he eventually moved up to the position of recruiter. He’s here at the convention for a couple of reasons. One, to keep an eye out for any possible new recruits. But he has two specific targets set out for him as well…a heroine named Mindalla, and the non-super granddaughter of founding Vindicator alum Fantastica, whom intel suggests might have mental powers herself. Armed with a special Palm Pilot filled with all the background info he’ll need on just about every super here, Recruiter…that is, Fred Garvin, Agent of H.U.D., starts making the rounds.

A limo arrives out front, and fans expectantly crowd the ropes. They’re not disappointed. Two members of the famed New York hero team The Vindicators—Swansong and Many Man—step out. And with them is a recent Legend Factory graduate, the young mystical heroine Maya. Maya was a local Phoenix Catholic school girl who was the only survivor of a desert ritual mass murder by ancient Incans (see APEX #6). As a part of her therapy thereafter, she took a journey to South America to face her fears…and wound up in an ancient temple, and the recipient of the ancient mystical powers of Maya. She was sponsored in the Legend Factory by Swansong, and the famous heroine has brought her prodigy along to give the world its first look at her. And the fans certainly like what they see. Swansong is silent and serious as always. Many Man is cracking sarcastic jokes. As always.

The Sundance lands in front of the convention center, in its prearranged location, with all the excitement Darrell Barrett had hoped for. One by one, the members of APEX step out, greeted by the cheers and screams of fans local and international. Mechanna, who still hasn’t quite gotten used to all this attention, is noticeably nervous, while the other heroes take it in stride. Darrell allows the fans just enough time to ogle and take their photos, and then he rushes the heroes inside. Again by his design, the team enters through the public entrance and crosses the public area, pausing to shake hands and sign a few autographs along the way. Darrell is in heaven…until, suddenly, screams are heard off to their left, and the crowd (at least most the females) start flocking in that direction. Confused, Darrell and APEX strain their necks to see what the commotion is.

The Latin heartthrob hero and representative of the Hispanic community, Capitan Misterio, has arrived, and fans are in a frenzy state. Belonging to no particular city, the “Capitin” seems to always show up where needed, and makes news and breaks hearts wherever he goes. With his dazzling smile, he greets his fans with charm and modesty. Darrell growls at the lousy scene-stealing luck, and gruffly ushers APEX inside to the hero portion of the convention.

Inside, it’s not long before APEX bumps into their old friend Banner, who’s quick to introduce The Mole to all of them. As they’re talking, two members of L.A.’s team—The Herald—happen by and say hello as well. Vista and Fahrenheart were chosen to represent the team for…obvious reasons (both are very camera-friendly). The Mole is suddenly sweaty and nervous at the appearance of the two beautiful heroines. APEX and the heroines are reunited for the first time since their Las Vegas adventure (see APEX #’s 23-25). There’s still some bad blood between the teams, but not involving these two Herald members, so the meeting is friendly enough. A little extra-friendly, Talon notices, between Fahrenheart and Magistrate. Her attraction to the hero isn’t something she’s made an effort to disguise.

A call comes to Mechanna’s radio. It’s Throwdown from back at the base. She wonders if there’s some kind of emergency. No. He just wants an update on what’s going on. He sounds depressed and lonely.

Upstairs, in the hero hospitality suite, Photon and Gideon have taken a break from the panels and are trying to get a cup of coffee. Plenty of heroes are in there, chatting and snacking, and the two men spot Beacon, the light-wielding, sweet young heroine from Oklahoma City (who also happens to have been a Legend Factory classmate of Talon. See APEX #1). As they’re admiring her, an angry shout comes from one of the tables.
“Gods of thunder and heaven!!”

They recognize the Nordic hero Volstag, who’s at a table filled with a mix of solo heroes—almost all of which are known to be a little on the…unstable side. They include T-Wave, Avoc, Leather and Mindalla. A fight looks like it’s about to break out between Volstag and Avoc. Gideon also recognizes the 3-foot tall Force of IntEnt at that table. Looks like he picked the wrong people to mingle with. Gideon suggests they go pull him out of there, seeing as how he’s a fellow hood ornament. He heads off that way, expecting Photon to follow. Photon, however, takes the chance to stroll over and introduce himself to Beacon.

While Gideon introduces himself to Force and spirits him away, and while D.E.E.P. agents oh-so-cautiously calm the near-brawling Volstag and Avoc, Fred Garvin (you may know him better as Recruiter) takes the opportunity to sit down and introduce himself to Mindalla, one of his targets. With easy and warm conversation, he explains that he’s with H.U.D., and that the agency is looking to recruit a hero. H.U.D., she wonders, warily. What do they need with a hero? He asks if she’s seen some of the H.U.D. housing developments. He chats with her, and mentions, slyly, that if things were to work out, they may have some…other work for her. H.U.D. has many interests, and a lot of room for advancement. While they talk, he takes notes of her speech patterns and body language, gleaning valuable information to add to his files later.

Elsewhere, APEX and company have run into Many Man, Swansong and Maya. Magistrate remembers Maya well from their meeting in her hospital room (APEX #6 again) as he searched for clues to the connection between the Inca and StarStrike’s murder. Swansong had been in contact with Magistrate throughout Maya’s heroic change, and this is his first time to see the girl since. Many Man greets the team (he’s met the team and South America (APEX #9) and at the funeral of StarStrike (APEX #10). He explains that he always gets sent to these things, because he can be both there and back with the team in New York, thanks to his multiplying power. He gets a cell phone call as they’re talking. He tells them it’s himself…his other self calling from New York. They talk for a moment, and Many Man suddenly asks his other self “What are you wearing?” Atlas gives him an odd look from behind his armored mask. Defensively, Many Man explains he has a date that night, and just wanted to make sure “they” were going to be presentable. He ends the call with a quiet and uncomfortable, “Uh, yeah…me, too.”

Mercury’s radio buzzes in. It’s Throwdown again, wanting another update. He finds out Many Man’s there, and excitedly asks to talk to him. Many Man groans. The two heroes know each other from New York, when Throwdown was showing up (and getting in the way) on Many Man’s cases, trying to impress the Vindicators into taking him on the team. They have…well, kind of a friendship. Many Man takes the call, and, after not being able to take Throwndown’s whining anymore, agrees to “split” and send one of his selves over to the APEX base to keep Throwdown company.

The heroes all attend different panels and workshops, and check out the booths. Mechanna’s Legend Factory classmate, the socially awkward (awkward in just about every way, actually) H20 has a booth pushing his pool design and maintenance company, trying to use his vast knowledge of pools and water, and his less-than-enthusiastic model, to convince hero teams to let him build and/or keep up pools for them. Other booths draw interest, such as a law firm specializing in heroes (“Legal Eagles”), a hero marketing agency (“Super Agents”) and an exotic technology salesman known only as “Gadget Jack”. The Legacy, the controversial super-powered cult has representatives Indigo and Valiant there, and they’re passing out literature and mainly getting a lot of distrusting looks from most heroes. Most, that is, except for Mercury, who’s happy to see Indigo again (see APEX #’s 6, 7 and 10), whom she has a growing friendship…or something…going with. Her fellow APEX members still can’t figure out why she ends up defending these whackos.

Probably the day’s biggest event, in the hero con, at least, is coming up, and the heroes all find themselves drawn to check it out. The state of Texas has decided that they need their own hero team…and a team big enough to defend the whole state, not just a city. A hero team as big as Texas! Dallas’s own famous hero, Ranger, is there, along with the Lt. Governor, some other Texas solo heroes…and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. The state is pulling out all the stops to woo heroes, including a huge holographic presentation on the history of Texas and appearances via satellite by Jerry Jones, Deion Sanders, and Governor George W. Bush. The sales pitch is hard and heavy, with big salaries and lots of perks. And did we mention the cheerleaders?

Being such a spectacular and crowded event, the presentation runs long. APEX is scheduled in that room for a closed photo shoot after one more city makes its presentation, so the team members hang around (except Mercury, who’s finishing up her autograph session down at the Mythic Motors booth downstairs (for details of her contract with the company, see APEX #13), and Magistrate, who’s off somewhere talking with Fahrenheart). That one other city turns out to be Cleveland, and nervous member of the city council takes the stage with his slide projector. As he begins his meager presentation (with an upside-down slide of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), heroes start a mass exodus from the room. There’s such a jam at the door, Force, Maya, The Mole, Capitan Misterio, Photon and Recruiter (who’s in there keeping tabs on Fantastica’s granddaughter) can’t get out, so all wait their turn to flee the room like the others.

The Cleveland man’s bulb on his projector suddenly gives out. Panicked, he tells everyone to wait a moment (yeah, right) and dashes backstage in search of a spare. Just then there’s a bright flash of light in the eyes (and minds, it seems) of the remaining heroes. And suddenly….

They aren’t where they’re supposed to be.

All the heroes left in the room now find themselves standing in the center of what appears to be a stadium. Is as if this isn’t dumbfounding enough, the stands are filled with hundreds of people—and many of the heroes recognize a good number of them. There are super-villains. Drug lords. Dictators. And someone not quite able to disguise himself who looks a lot like Dennis Rodman.

Maya notices that Photon is on the ground, looking groggy. Turns out his physiology doesn’t respond well to being teleported. At least HE knows for sure how they got here. Wherever here is.

A massive holographic screen, cubed in shape with the same image on each side, suddenly towers over them. A man dressed like a carnival barker appears, looks down on the heroes, and is about to break into an enthusiastic speech when he does a double-take. He starts finger-counting them all, and looks perplexed. He whips out what they recognize as a program for ParaCon. He reads it aloud.

“APEX photo shoot. Four o’clock. Closed session.”

He looks off camera, first annoyed, then angry.

“It was only supposed to be APEX! Who am I not paying around here?!”

Recomposing himself, he carries on, back in full barker style.

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, master criminals and world leaders, welcome to another exciting installment of the greatest show of this or any other millennium…”

“The Tournament of Villainy!”

The crowd cheers. Though only numbering in the hundreds, electronic equipment amplifies and multiplies their voices to the sound of thousands.

“That’s right,” he goes on. “Your old pal Midway is bringing you, our specially invited quests, and our other special friends via satellite, the latest and greatest match-up in the contest that puts the POW in superpower, the VILE in villainy, and the VICTOR in victory! And it all happens here today, live from…” He crouches down the camera and winks confidentially. “’Somewhere in the world’.” He puts a finger to his lips in a “shoosh”, and the crowd laughs.

“You’ve been watching, you’ve been betting, and the point totals have really been heating up lately. Right now it’s just about anyone’s game, but the tournament’s only just begun!”

“And tonight, you were promised an extra-special show. A grudge match. A special trip down memory lane, brought to you by our special sponsors.”

“Microsoft?” Atlas wonders aloud. Midway chooses to ignore him.

“But before we get started, let’s hear from tonight’s surprise commentators. Gentlemen?”

The holographic screen changes, and two famous sportscasters sit behind a desk. Hanging behind them is a Tournament of Villainy logo. And standing behind them, not quite off-camera, are two guards with guns to the men’s heads.

“Good evening,” the first one speaks, trying to remain professional (as his life may well depend on it). “This is Bob Costas, along with Al Michaels, live at the first round finals of the Tournament of Villainy. Tonight, a select group of villains, having proved themselves in early bouts around the nation, are fighting for pride, for fame, and for the grand prize…one billion dollars and relocation to a non-extradition country. But pride is what this match is all about, as these villains face off once more against APEX, the Phoenix heroes that bested these perennial bad boys an earlier competition.”

Bested in earlier competition? The heroes of APEX (those not off chasing super-powered L.A. tail or signing autoghaphs) look at each other, confused. Who did they best, and when were they ever in a competition?

“It looks to be a rematch of cosmic proportions, a battle royale for the history books. Wouldn’t you agree, Al?”

Al Michaels slides his eyes toward the gun at his head, and swallows.

“Mommy,” he says. “I want to go home.”

The screen switches back to Midway.

“But enough foreplay! You folks didn’t pay THIS kind of money for a bucket of pre-game! It’s time to get on with the show!”

Cheering from the crowd again. The heroes have NO idea what’s going on.

“It looks like the desert defenders have brought a few friends along. The more the merrier, I always say. I think it’s time we meet our FEARLESS heroes. Mr. Buffer, if you please?!”

The screen changes again. Famed boxing announcer Michael Buffer is there. He, too, has a gun to his head.

“Lllllladdiies and gentlemen,” he says into the mic that’s lowered down to him from overhead. “In the red, white and blue corner…the heroes.”

Boos and jeers from the crowd. Talon gives them the finger.

“The newest hero team to grace the nation, the cactus cavaliers, the force of freedom rising from the ashes…AAAAAAPPEEEEXXX.”

Spotlights shine down on Atlas, Talon and Mechanna.

Someone off-camera hands Buffer some 3x5 cards. Nervously, he looks them over, looks briefly at the gun, and keeps going with this new information.

“Joining APEX in this championship bout…the Latin hearttrob, la hero loca…Capitan Misteeeeeriioooo!”

More boos, but a few cheers this time. From women, mostly.

He rattles off the rest in like fashion.

“From the silver screen to corporate America, the amazing Phoootooon!”

“Fresh from the Legend Factory and right into your hearts…the mysterious Maaayaaa!”

“The pint-sized powerhouse from International Enterprises, Foooorrrcce!”

“Next up, it’s…” He looks at the card, seeming to find nothing there. He shrugs and looks to people off camera. Another gun pops on camera and waves at him. Looking back at the camera, Buffer tries to speak, to improvise, and finally just ends up with: “The Mooooole!”

Spotlights fall on the Mole. Whether it’s from the pain in his ultra-sensitive eyes, and from plain old stage fright, no one knows, but The Mole yelps and tunnels down into the earth below.

“And finally,” Buffer continues, “from the…” He pauses and looks at the card again to make sure it’s right. “From the…Department of Housing and Urban Development…Freeeeeeed Gaaaaarviiiin.”

The crowd answers with a chorus of “huh?”. The heroes, too, turn and look at this ordinary man in a suit and tie. He just shrugs at them, nonchalantly. It’s then that Talon notices this guy looks familiar, but can’t quite put a finger on why.

“And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for. The home team.”

The crowd is divided, half giving cheers, half boos.

“In the back corner. Contenders for the number one position. A villain team of dark renown.”

Quite a few in the crowd start laughing at THAT remark.

“The masters of unnatural disaster…ladies and gentlemen…the Craaazyyy Eeeiiight!!”

APEX collectively moans. Oh, God.

Eight villains are teleported to the other side of the arena. APEX knows them, and some of the other heroes recognize them from the news. This is the team that battled APEX in Phoenix before a sellout crowd at a Diamondbacks game sometime back (see APEX #15). APEX was being honored before the game, and this team of…well, let’s say “low-rent” villains teleported in and tried to take on the heroes for no apparent reason. APEX, with the help of Throwdown, defeated them, but they were teleported away before they could be arrested. Mechanna now wonders…was that attack part of this Tournament they’re talking about? Were they trying to beat APEX…for points in a game?

Buffer introduces them one by one, and Atlas and Talon moan with each intro. There’s their leader, the ancient-looking old man on a walker with magical powers called The Octogenarian. Beside him, his second-in-command, a serious-looking younger man with octagon-shaped visors that hold back his great optic blasts…Octagon. Octagon’s lady love is there, too, a beautiful woman with telepathic powers and a giant, waving energy octopus floating behind her. She’s knows as The Octopus. A short Australian with a bad attitude and eight deadly claws is called Hard Eight. A former Jersey pool shark who now makes a living throwing charged eight balls around and whacking people with his pool cue is knows simply as Eight Ball. The team’s speedster is a redneck and failed NASCAR driver called Octane. A drunk Scotsman in a kilt who tends to think he’s God’s gift to women is Octave. And finally, the Estonian strongman who hates all things Russian is called Oktober.

Midway cuts in. “Now, just to keep things fair, it looks like we’re going to have to even the odds a little. So some of you lucky audience members are going to get the chance to up your score! That’s right…it’s time to go to…the Wheel of Villainy!”

The crowd approves. A big wheel of fortune is rolled in behind Buffer, and a smiling model in a slinky dress walked up and spins it. It lands on a sealed envelope. She takes it and hands it to Buffer. He opens it and announces…”

“Your first wild card player. The wielder of the of dreaded energy saws…Buuuuuzzzz!!!”

Atlas and Talon moan again. Mechanna doesn’t know who this is, but the other two APEX members fought this loser—if you want to call him throwing one buzz saw and Talon immediately one-punching him a “fight”—when he and some other freelancers broke in AZTech (see APEX #’s 1 and 2).

Buzz leaps up from his seat and cheers, and is teleported down to the other villains. He starts mouthing off at APEX, telling them they got lucky last time, and he’s been looking for some payback. Yeah, yeah.

“Your second wild card. A recent entry into the Tournament. The master hacker and energy swordsman, Saigon Jim!”

A geeky looking guy with a bit of a gut and a simple robe screams out in triumph, and gets his own teleport. The Mole has cautiously popped back up topside, and realizes he recognizes this guy. From college? And that name, Saigon Jim. He knows if from the internet, from hacker boards he frequents.

The bitter young man is one in the same. He lets Mole know that they did go to college together…and he always considered Monty his rival in everything. Monty (The Mole) beat him in grades, hacks…even D&D! Now he’s been doing everything he can to mess up Mole’s hackwork on the net, and thanks to a twist of fate, he gets to meet him face to face months before he’d planned! Revenge is his (Jedi that he thinks himself to be…).

Midway reminds everyone of the rules. He explains survival is the only rule. The last team standing wins. Villains will gain points for beating the heroes (and will lose points if they kill any. Killing heroes is a quick way to get every super on the planet hunting them all down), and will get to advance to the next round. The heroes? If they win, they just get to go home. A giant force field surrounds the arena, so no one can leave or harm the crowd (so much for taking out Rodman). Otherwise, there are no restrictions. It’s just plain old all-out war!

Getting his cue, Michael Buffer sets things off.

“Llllllllllllllllllllllet’s get ready to ruuuumblllllllllleeee!!!”

The villains launch immediately into attack. Seeing as how they have no choice in this matter, and since trouncing these idiots seems like the quickest way home, the heroes join the battle. And to everyone’s surprise, Fred Garvin, the H.U.D. guy, whips out what looks like a normal .45, and starts firing powerful beams of crimson energy.

“To me, my Crazy Eight!” The Octogenarian cackles to his team.

While the crowd cheers and starts betting with each other, hero and villain clash. Buzz immediately wants to redeem himself from his last defeat and starts throwing his energy buzz saws around…but can’t seem to hit a thing. Octane starts running around (shouting “YEE HA!”), and looks like he could be the one to worry about, with his amazing speed. Photon flies up and checks the height of the force field (and tests its strength, just to be sure, and it’s as tough as promised) before diving in and letting loose with blasts. One gets a little too close to the Octopus (who’s busy saying “Feel the power of my mind!” to everyone who’ll listen), and Octagon gets enraged and blasts Photon across the arena. The big hump packs a lot of power. Force and Maya are both dealing with their own fears, each being in their first super-battle, and Force find himself happy that his size and lack of reputation seem to be keeping him from being on obvious target. He takes advantage of this and gets to pick his targets, and do his best.

Hard Eight runs up to Capitan Misterio and pops his claws one by one. “That’s one. That’s two. That’s three. That’s four. That’s five. That’s six. That’s seven. Want to go for eight, mate?” The Capitan is ill-impressed. Mole has gone underground again (and is fairly scared to death at all this, too), and checks to see if the force field is under them, too. Yep. Shows up about twenty feet down. He knows now how much room he has to work with. Saigon Jim, unable to find his arch nemesis, is trying his Jedi force powers out on the likes of Talon, trying to strangle him from afar (these so-called force powers all come from gadgets the engineer built himself).

Sparring partners are traded to and fro in the heat of battle. Fred Garvin is firing away coolly at Oktober, who would make any other “normal” man mess his pants. Talon joins in the fight with him (still not sure where he’s seen him before. The Recruiter, on the other hand, knows just about everything there is to know about Talon from his file). Octave squares off with Mechanna and Maya, drunkenly accusing them both of finding him “sexy”. They manage to knock his kilted butt in the dirt.

But the tide really starts to turn, to everyone’s surprise, when The Mole starts making his move. He opens a tunnel right under the Octogenarian, dropping him into the earth, hoping that taking out the leader will demoralize and confuse his team. It works. The Octopus, distracted by this, is caught off-guard when Mole yanks her down into the ground. But seeing this gorgeous, buxom woman right there on top of him sends Mole off in a sweaty panic in another direction. Octagon rushes to his love’s aid…making himself an easy target as well for nearby heroes. After that, villains start to drop off one by one. Buzz is still trying to score with one of his saws when a big hole opens beneath his feet and he falls twenty feet. Not being able to fly, he’s stuck down there, ranting and raving. He looks up after a moment, and sees the whole of the heroes surrounding the hole, looking down on him. He understands quickly that he’s the last one standing…and, being a jerk but no dummy, gives up. Somewhere in the distance, The Octogenarian can be heard moaning something about having fallen and being unable to get up.

Michael Buffer, afraid to do so but told to anyway, announces the heroes are the winners. Most of the crowd is less than enthusiastic about the news, but a number of villains cheer them on, now that the heroes have helped them in the ratings. While the other heroes are otherwise occupied, Fred Garvin strolls over to the hole where the Octogenarian is moaning, looks around, and fires his gun several times down the hole, taking the old man out of the count. When the other heroes eye him, Garvin explains that he was getting up. Honest

Midway appears on the screen, looking annoyed and disgusted.

“Well,” he says. “THAT was a complete disappointment. Looks like the Crazy Eight…and their USELESS free agents, are out of the running. That means it’s still anyone’s game. The tournament now moves to round two, and that means it’s back on the streets for everyone.”

Some of the heroes try to ask questions about what the heck’s going on, but Midway just lets them know that they won fair and square, and have earned themselves a trip home. He wishes them each luck, as there’s every chance that, whether they like it or not, they’ll be a part of the Tournament of Villainy again soon. With a final farewell, he twists the end of his bamboo cane, and—

The heroes reappear in the same room of the convention. Other heroes and D.E.E.P. agents leap back, surprised, all having been gathering in there trying to find out what happened to the missing heroes! Photon collapses again (ugh!!) from the t-port. He’s out of it for a moment, but is greeted with a pleasant site when he comes to—Beacon is there, hovering over him, concerned. Sometimes it’s hard to be a hero.

The other members of APEX, and just about every other hero in the place, show up to find out what happened. The tale is told, and this is the first time any of them have heard of this tournament. It makes sense to many, though. A lot of them have been attacked by two-bit villains of late, for no apparent reason. Now they have their reason. And now they all have to figure out some way to stop this.

In all the confusion, Fred Garvin disappears. Later checks with H.U.D. will show that no such man works for them. The adventure is the big topic of discussion for the rest of ParaCon, and the tales get bigger and more distorted with each retelling amongst con-goers (Photon took out the whole Eight by himself! Capitan Misterio almost died! It’s true, I heard it from Atlas!). But one story remains true to form, and spreads throughout the crowd. The one who really turned the tide of battle was the little hero that no one had ever really heard of…The Mole. The Mole hadn’t known what to expect from a hero convention. But he certainly hadn’t expected to walk out of it a hero.

On the Con’s final night, the Capitan, Mole, Maya, Photon and Force are invited back to the APEX base for a little party. For a brief time, they were all a team, and spend one last evening as one. Many Man, Fahrenheart, Gideon, Beacon and H2O (thanks, Mechanna) are invited as well. Friendships are made, bonds are formed…and the legend of the ParaCon lives on.