Escape From Bendraqi’s Prison

Hello. Leo the Patriotic Lion here. You may recall in our last epic collection of G-52 goodness that we had narrowed the field from four boss members of the Quarrelsome Quartet to just one—Alfred Coats Bendraqi, the deranged terrorist that wanted power even if his ex-colleagues could not take it. I probably should not have let CRIPTOCAT narrate the last book because he has the least amount of experience; nevertheless, as a superhero, and as the lead vocalist of the band “Furry Fury,” he is a force to be reckoned with, in many ways.

As you know by now, he was only 18 years old when he joined the organization, and he’s lived in Wildcat City all his life, enjoying every minute of it, but as many of you are no doubt aware, it wasn’t always that way. He ended up being the world’s first high school dropout because of being a sweepstakes winner, and frankly, sometimes he wishes it never happened, but it was all for the better. He grew up the victim of a bratty brother, parents who wanted him to graduate with a 4.0 GPA even after it was mathematically impossible to do so, and a bully whose ultimate goal was to take over the world after killing him.

Now the bully had his problems, and the world record for most detentions served and most times arrested in a single year all for the same charges of illegal drugs and alcohol abuse, but he chose to blame it on Cripto. The reason? His behavior led to him having no friends who could potentially help him see the light; Cripto, by contrast, had tons of friends who loved seeing him every minute they did.

Cripto proved to be born for showbiz as well, singing pop hits for friends with every chance he got to do karaoke, getting them to laugh, and proving to be one excellent game show host. In his spare time, he sharpened his writing skills, hoping to start a series of Western-themed books inspired by authors such as Zane Grey. (He didn’t have any idea at the time he would be a rock superstar.)

It was on his 18th birthday that he took the oath of the G-52s, which goes as follows: “I pledge my service to myself, my family, my friends, and most importantly, my country and its flag, as a member of the G-52 organization. So help me, God, if any actions should be deemed inappropriate or unworthy, or otherwise unnecessary, whether it is my own doing or else someone else’s doing that gets me framed for it, of which I am subject to just punishment and possible excommunication of the G-52s. And, as always, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Now the reason the Pledge of Allegiance is included in the oath is because SUPERCAT is often portrayed in the media as an American icon and legend who, like Superman, stands for truth, justice, and the American way. SUPERCAT personally adds the qualities of bravery and integrity to his résumé. Note that the pledge didn’t officially become part of the oath until I joined the organization, and insisted it be in there. SUPERCAT agreed with me 100%; it just made more sense, seeing as how we were the biggest name in crime fighting from the greatest nation on Earth. (Also note that Cripto didn’t have to swear on the Bible, unlike the oath of office the President always takes after being elected.)

I’d like to point out Cripto has had his share of being catnapped, as has Crush (BONECRUSHER). Our last book told how cowboy Cody Belachman helped free them from the Quarrelsome Quartet’s clutches. Although the dumbest villains in history, they are also the deadliest and the best at taking innocent lives hostage. Just look at what they did to Kriegland. (Be glad no one was occupying it when it happened.) Most of the time, the victim can do nothing more than wait to be rescued. In Cripto’s case, he took advantage of the opportunity to try and spy on the Q4 using his powers. (That is why I begin this book with this battle.)

Just the thought of the Q4 catnapping one of our troops made the red, white, and blue blood in my body boil hotter than ever before, but on the outside, I tried not to let it show, seeing as how I was working on fixing my emotions and my harsh, judgmental tone of voice. Yet, simply because I’m a lion and not a human, the very tone worked in my campaign and was 90% of the reason for the successful season. Why?

Anyway, Cripto was imprisoned in the Q4’s hideout, and could do not a single thing about it but wait to be rescued. But this time was different; Bendraqi was plotting to plant a bomb on City Hall and potentially kill the mayor so that he could take over the city and spread it to the world. He wasn’t sure whether to get Cripto to be blamed for it or use Cripto as a decoy. But either way, he was going to have Cripto drive one of his vehicles to City Hall so the plan would work to perfection.

Cripto was radioing to us the news after Super C asked, “Where are you?”

“I’m in Bendraqi’s hideout,” he reported. “I think he took me hostage again. Since he always does it when I’m asleep late at night, just like Alkadozer once did with myself and Crush, I can only conclude that’s what happened. I overheard him say he wants to plant a bomb at City Hall, possibly so the mayor will get killed. I can’t let that happen, and neither can you. In the meantime, what should I do? He wants me to drive one of his vehicles over there so the plan will go as promised to himself, but I can’t let the public think I’ve gone rouge.”

“They won’t think that,” I replied. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

“The best thing to do is go with his plan for the moment,” SUPERCAT advised. “When you get to City Hall, we’ll figure out what to do from there. In the meantime, see if you can devise your own counterplan if possible.”

“I might be able to try that,” said Cripto. “I better cut off contact now, since here comes Bendraqi. I’ll report back in a moment.” The link cut off. I ran to tell the others what was happening and plan a backup strategy just in case.

Bendraqi led Cripto to which vehicle he was to drive, and the bomb ready in the back. Since it was a time bomb, he went ahead and set it to start ticking, but set it so that Cripto had ample time to drive to City Hall. Cripto hesitated, but got in the car and started it, then drove it according to Bendraqi’s directions.

When they got to a bridge that was built on a narrow mountainous area with lakes on either side (one of which was the Bengal Lake, serving as the home of ex-rambler and all-American cowboy David Blaze), it was only by sheer coincidence that there were reckless drivers, causing Cripto to serve left and right, back and forth, just to get out of the way. Eventually, the vehicle got a flat tire and spun out, hitting a rail guard. “What? How can this be?” Bendraqi exclaimed.

“I think this is where I get out,” Cripto gasped as another driver headed for the car. He jumped out the door, ran towards the Bengal Lake, and took a dive. “Geronimo!” he shouted as he headed for the deep lake, activating his powers so that he could breath underwater. Bendraqi, trying to escape with the bomb so he could reset it, jumped the other way, but the bomb went off before he could hit the water. The resulting explosion left him as black as charcoal.

Coughing just to get some air back, Cripto found himself surfaced in the middle of the lake. “Now what do I do?” he asked himself. “Luckily for me I was able to speed up the time bomb when I told my powers to let me to breath underwater. Hope the police can catch him, or if needed, SUPERCAT can get him.” Then his communication device beeped. “Cripto here,” he began after answer it.

“Hey, it’s TECHNO TIGER,” came the voice from the other end. “Are you all right? You took a big tumble there, diving like that.”

“I’m okay, T2,” Cripto replied, using a shortened nickname that applied to TECHNO TIGER (so named because he could invent anything out of scraps, and he was a technology geek; his inventions have since helped us prove valuable to the battle between good and evil). “I just abandoned ship, or rather, abandoned car, having to deal with all those reckless drivers. Bendraqi’s bomb plan bombed back on him, and he’s black as a piece of charcoal, as my X-ray vision is showing me. Now I just have to get to shore and find my way back.”

“Sounds like you thwarted his plans right before we could. Thumbs up all the way, buddy; you’ve proved you’re one heck of a fighter.”

“Oh, thanks,” I said. “Let the others know I’m alive, would you, please?”

“I will, Cripto. Back in a moment.” T2 switched off the link and reported to his comrades what had happened, having seen it himself on his radar.

Just then, Cripto noticed a piece of paper washed up by him as he tried to get his way to shore. “What’s this?” he asked himself as he took the paper and looked at it. “A blueprint? I don’t remember stealing a blueprint from Bendraqi on the way out. Hmmm. Better keep it with me.” Since he couldn’t fly, he stuffed it into one of his pockets within his supercostume and continued to attempt to make his way towards shore. “Why did I stop taking swimming lessons?” he grunted as he bravely kept the fight going.

By sheer luck, David Blaze had walked outside to get his newspaper and caught sight of Cripto. “Holy cattle drives!” he exclaimed. “That’s CRIPTOCAT, and he’s about to drown!” He grabbed his lariat, began to twirl it, and threw it at Cripto, shouting all the way, “Hang on, there, Cripto; I’ll save you!” The rope found itself around Cripto’s waist as David began to pull back as hard as he could without breaking the rope. Cripto continued to maneuver his way towards shore with the support of the rope.

When Cripto finally made it to shore, David took the rope off and placed it back in the area in his belt he kept his rope in. “There! Ain’t you a sight for sore eyes!” he said as he took a look at Cripto, now fully exhausted. “Y’all okay?” David continued. “Y’all look exhausted!”

“Much obliged, David; thank you,” Cripto replied after finally managing to stop coughing and regain composure of himself.

“What were y’all tryin’ to do, drownin’ yourself?”

“I wasn’t attempting suicide; I was escaping from Bendraqi. That explains the explosion. He was going to plant a bomb at City Hall so the mayor would die and he’d become mayor.”

Just then, Cripto’s communicator beeped again. “Oh, excuse me.” He turned on the link. “Cripto here,” he began.

“Hey, Cripto, it’s SUPERCAT again. Heard from T2 you took a death-defying dive to save us the trouble of protecting the mayor.”

“Yeah, you might say that.”

“I wanted to congratulate you for that, as does everyone else on the force.”

“Well, tell them I say ‘thanks’ for that.”

“I will. Where are you now, by the way?”

“At the house of cowboy David Blaze. He helped me make it to shore before I could drown to death.”

“He’s with me,” David echoed, speaking into the communicator. “He’s in better shape than a helpless pig on a portable barbecue about to get fried to death.”

“Oh, good.”

“Oh, and by the way,” Cripto continued, “I intercepted some sort of blueprint. I don’t know what it’s for, but I think it’s vital to some other plot or otherwise an unnecessary part of this one.”

“We’ll drop by his house later on and have a look at it. Stay right there. See you in a minute.”

“Okay.” The link broke off, and Super C and the G-52s, who had finished talking with Leo Clarkson (the mayor) and sorting things out so that he wouldn’t have to panic, headed for David’s house. Meanwhile, Cripto showed David the blueprint, saying, “Here, have a look at this.”

“Y’all know what? I think I’ve seen that before,” said David after looking at it.

“Have you?”

“Yup. I recognize that. Let me use your communicator again.”

“Okay.” Cripto turned his communicator on again. “Hi, SUPERCAT,” he began. “Sorry to bother you again, but David says he recognizes the blueprint.”

“Oh, he does? Uh, wait until we get there, and then he can tell us.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.” The link broke off.

When we arrived at the house of David Blaze, Cripto showed SUPERCAT the blueprint, and David gave his reasoning why he recognized it. “Last time the boys and I fought off attacking grizzly bears behaving as Indians,” he said, referring to the Fab 5, “Cody intercepted that very blueprint and determined these Indian bears were building some similar type of bomb, with careful planning, so that they could dynamite and rob the First National Bank of Hicksburg—that’s Cody’s hometown, y’all understand—and then use the cash to buy back territory from us cowboys that was rightfully theirs, or so they claimed. Why do Indians want their native land back so bad like that? At least these kinds of Indians?”

“It probably goes back to events like the Trail of Tears,” I said. “But in any case, excellent job on thwarting that scheme, and excellent job, Cripto, on foiling the scheme of that terrorist we know as Bendraqi. You’ll get a medal for this.”

“Is that necessary?” Cripto replied. “I don’t mind doing things for my country like this, but I am content you have praised me.”

“I say you should earn a medal. Besides, you saved the mayor’s life. But whether you get one or not, you have the city’s gratitude, and I feel a symphony coming on.” I went ahead and went home, feeling the divine inspiration to create the music I was famous for, though mostly band marches (remember that I did compose and conduct my first symphony at 14 years of age). The others went to lunch at the nearest burger joint, and David joined them, riding alongside on his horse. Crowds who heard the news from the mayor were cheering Cripto on all the way. He waved to acknowledge him, but tried to be humble about it, though he was having a difficult time doing so.

THE END