Forced Partnership by Robert T. Jeschonek Page B

territory."
    He shook his head and sat down in a chair in the corner, in the shadows. "If only I'd gotten there quicker. If only I'd known...perhaps I could've dispatched Fugu and Amanita faster and raced across town to your side before they hurt you."
    "You can't be everywhere at once," I said. "I'm just grateful to be able to do my part in your name. Taking an occasional beating is a price I'm willing to pay for that privilege."
    He propped his elbows on the armrests and steepled his fingers against his chin. "Never again."
    I panicked. "You're not firing me? You're not taking away my black and gray ?"
    For a long moment, I thought that was exactly what he meant. He said nothing, just stared at me from the shadowy corner.
    Then, leather gloves creaking, he pushed himself up from the chair. "I will never fire you, my faithful ally." Reaching down, he unsnapped a pocket on his multi-belt and drew out a loop of gold metal. "But I will make you safer."
    His black cape rustled as he crossed the moonbeam streaming in through the window. He held up the golden loop and turned it between his fingers.
    "W-what is it?" I asked.
    "The Rave S ignal ," said Partycrasher. "A secret signal that will alert me if you're in danger. It's an anklet." He held it out to me. "When the threat is too great, simply kick it, and the signal tone will be transmitted to my headgear." He patted the crown of his black cowl, which was threaded with sophisticated electronics. "I will be there in a flash."
    I felt choked up when he handed it to me. "Thank you, Partycrasher. I can't tell you what this means to me..."
    "No more than our alliance means to me ." With that, he held out his gloved hand with the thumb and third finger extended--configured for the official Party Line handshake.
    I returned the shake, twisting my hand clockwise as he turned his counterclockwise. "Criminals," I said, beginning our traditional oath, "your party is over."
    "We're not invited," said Partycrasher, "and we're showing up anyway."
    I grinned and held the Rave Signal tight in my fist. "I swear, I will use this wisely, and will never betray your..."

    *****
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    EVEN A HERO CAN GO INSANE!
    "If y-you're not my partner...n-not my f-friend..." I struggle to get out the words as he pastes me again across the kisser. "Th-then why did you give me...the Rave Signal?"
    Partycrasher throws his head back and rolls his eyes skyward. "How many times do I have to tell you? It was an ankle monitor , moron! It was supposed to alert law enforcement any time you violated the restraining order and got within thirty feet of me!"
    Though I'm the one suffering and bleeding, I gaze up at him with pity. "They really g-got to you...didn't they? Got in d-deep." I shake my head at him. "Was it Thinkupine? Neuronicus?"
    "Oh my God!" His eyes are huge as he glares down at me. "Can you imagine how sick to death I am of listening to your delirious bullshit ?"
    " I know. It w-was Heads-I-Win, wasn't it?" I gurgle up a mouthful of bloody foam. "He t-took control of you...once before...remember?"
    "Why do I bother trying to talk sense to you?" Partycrasher hauls back a booted foot, aiming the toe at my gut. "You're hopeless . You're a lunatic ."
    "It can't be Linda Loveblind..." It hurts to move, but I curl up against the blow to come. "Sh-she's already...g-gone..."
    Maybe it does have something to with Linda Loveblind. What I say pushes him over the top.
    "Her name is Maria !" he screams as his steel-toed boot connects with my belly. "And you know damn well that she was my..."
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    *****
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    FAIRER SEX OR TERROR SEX? YOU BE THE JUDGE!
    We had a real golden age there for a while. The two Partycrashers cleaned up Isosceles City in a big way. The streets were safe again at night, can you imagine?
    Together, Partycrasher and I took down Tic Tac Moe and the Greenstamps Gang...Fill-'Er-Up and Liver Spot...Coke Furnace and the Five Ingots. When no one else could stop Fifty-Three Flavors and the Himalayan from