Post by lawrenceliberty on Apr 3, 2024 19:37:37 GMT
1
Oog walked slowly through the spacious hallways of his luxurious mansion. It was not only the largest house on the planet of Roxnon but it was also the one with the most exotic and costly decorations. Statues, paintings, and countless antiques filled the house which was only occupied by two living beings and a number of loyal androids whose chemically forged systems could not be called truly alive. The old man who had created the fabulous home loved it but things only mattered to him because they gave pleasure to his beloved wife Geena. Oog was so old that his age was the subject of speculation and awe for many of his neighbors who deferred to the incredibly wealthy man whenever their sky skimmers passed near to his own. Still, if they wondered just how old the wizened man was, they had no doubt as to his generosity and kindness of heart. Of course, some said he only began expressing this softer side after love came into his lonely life.
Oog, whose odd name was even stranger when translated into English, was eccentric but basically good natured. He had been hurt in the past and so he devoted far too many years to merely watching life as his monitoring devices enabled him to spy on other worlds like his beloved Earh! He loved watching Earth more than any other planet. Of all the many wonders that once captivated the old man, nothing had excited him as much as one female from that world: Lois Lane! He shook his head with a mixture of bemusement and shame as he remembered how he had once made his mansion a shrine to the dark -haired Daily Planet reporter! He had even schemed to trick her into agreeing to marry him by making her fall for and then pledge herself to one of his androids. Oh, he had revealed the truth to her after she had agreed to marry him. He was not really a villain just a misguided, lonely old man with too much money and too much loneliness.
Lois had been shocked to find the dynamic super powered champion of Roxnon Astounding Man was an android controlled remotely by crafty, frail, old Oog. She had a weakness for heroes and her frustration and ego had led her to accept his proposal without considering how little she knew about the gold- clad Adonis.
Ogg shook his head as he remembered that Lois Lane had proven herself to be resourceful and crafty in her own right. She had substituted an android in her likeness for herself and Oog had married the android thinking she was Lois! Lois had returned to Earth to the somewhat capricious moods of Superman and in short order Oog had learned that his android bride was in fact operated by an elderly woman of Roxnon named Geena! She was gentle and lonely and in time they became friends and then constant companions and finally true love bloomed for the two senior citizens. Both of them found happiness by just being together and knowing they had someone to care for them and share life’s moments together.
Oog had swiftly destroyed the Lane shrine and replaced those once cherished items with the decorations that so pleased Geena!
He frowned as he approached their room with a silver tray. He hoped and prayed she would be a bit stronger today. He feared that the weakness that was part of her sickness would only become worse as time passed. The physicians of some of the worlds he monitored had told him again and again that there was nothing that could be done. Geena would not suffer but she would simply not wake up one morning when her strength gave out. Poor old Oog was not very strong himself. He stopped to catch his breath as he made his face assume a happier expression.
“I must not let her see how worried I am! I must keep her spirits up!” he thought.
He opened the door to the warm and cozy room and approached a large bed in which a gaunt little old woman rested fitfully. She smiled weakly as he drew closer and tried to sit up but she couldn’t not do it. He placed the tray on the small nightstand and helped her sit up to take several pills.
“How are you, my darling? Can you eat a little this fine morning?” he said as he cradled her in his arms and sat on the edge of the bed.
She looked at him with tired eyes that expressed love and concern. They knew each other too well to not realize the tragedy of their situation. They had enjoyed their time together, but it seemed as if nothing could prolong it now.
She said, “I shall try!” and patted his hand tenderly as he began to feed her.
“You are weary, my love! Why not let the androids do this? I am such a bother to you!” she said.
He frowned and faked indignation as he said, “What! You can’t fool me! You just want to see those broad shoulders on my admittedly handsome androids! I know you too well!” he said.
His androids were remarkable but not truly unique since they all came from a factory that was one of his many holdings. People bought them for various purposes and they certainly made life easier for most buyers. Of course, those androids were nothing like Astounding Man! Astounding Man was the android he had used to woo and trick Lois all those years ago and because of some quirk in his composition, Astounding Man developed super-human powers like the ability to fly and to shrug off powerful energy beams or explosions. Oog had never been able to replicate the process that turned a good- looking servant android into a powerful champion who protected their planet and was admired and loved by millions who did not realize their hero was actually an artificial being controlled, first by voice and later by thought, by rich old Oog!
He said, “You know there hasn’t been much for him to do lately. Crime is nonexistent since everyone has enough. I make sure of that! We have servo droids to take care of maintaining the perfect climate and weather conditions that make our world so marvelous a place to live. I know you miss watching him strut his stuff as the Earthers say!”
Geena looked up at her husband with adoration and an earnestness that her soft voice supported.
“No! I love seeing you use him so well! I miss seeing you do wonders! You’re my hero! He’s just your means of performing such amazing stunts!” she insisted.
Oog said, “Don’t you worry, Geena. When you get your strength back, we’ll take him to one of the other worlds for a visit and let him team up with Superman or Mighty Man or Vartox!”
Geena pretended to believe him but she knew the truth about her condition.
At that moment a dark-haired bright- eyed android with a cleft chin and a blue-green uniform, approached and said, “A strange craft has landed near the factory. I wanted to alert you. The pilot…the pilot defies words!”
Oog said, “Viewer screen X-5 activate!” At his command, a large monitor flickered to life and displayed a startling scene. The enormous android factory looked normal except for a large spacecraft that rested on an open place on the factory grounds.
In front of the ship stood a huge being with a massively bulbous body, green skin, multiple long tentacles, and malicious eyes. It waved a strange device toward one of the buildings and the entire structure began to shrink to the size of a doll house!
“That thing is stealing the factory with some kind of reduction ray. Perhaps, Coluian in nature but that thief is no Coluian. It is like nothing I’ve ever seen before!” said Oog.
Geena took his hand and said, “You can stop it! I’ll be fine right here with the servants while you handle it!”
He said, “I will do so but do not worry. Stay calm and do not stir. The servant droids will be here for you while I or Astounding Man investigates!”
He looked back at his wife and hesitated. In the old days, she would have accompanied him to the control room while he used his mind to control the android hero known as Astounding Man. If only Geena could get her strength back and walk with him and leave the bed again!
He moved into a nearby chamber and placed a metal band around his bald head. With a mere thought, he activated a platinum-blond haired titan in a gold bodysuit with green trim at the shoulders, green trunks, and green boots who stepped out of the shadows and stood before him awaiting instructions.
Here was Roxnon’s mighty champion. Here was Astounding Man!
Oog concentrated and the android hero responded by soaring through the room and out a nearby door to fly at super speed toward the alien invader!
Oog felt nothing of the old joy of adventure. Life was too different now. Geena , his Geena, had always been there before. He had always known he could come back to find her or turn to see her smile as she watched him work. Now, nothing was certain except for the fact that he was an old man with fading hope and little will to do anything beyond giving up and joining the woman he loved in her final moments.
Oog walked slowly through the spacious hallways of his luxurious mansion. It was not only the largest house on the planet of Roxnon but it was also the one with the most exotic and costly decorations. Statues, paintings, and countless antiques filled the house which was only occupied by two living beings and a number of loyal androids whose chemically forged systems could not be called truly alive. The old man who had created the fabulous home loved it but things only mattered to him because they gave pleasure to his beloved wife Geena. Oog was so old that his age was the subject of speculation and awe for many of his neighbors who deferred to the incredibly wealthy man whenever their sky skimmers passed near to his own. Still, if they wondered just how old the wizened man was, they had no doubt as to his generosity and kindness of heart. Of course, some said he only began expressing this softer side after love came into his lonely life.
Oog, whose odd name was even stranger when translated into English, was eccentric but basically good natured. He had been hurt in the past and so he devoted far too many years to merely watching life as his monitoring devices enabled him to spy on other worlds like his beloved Earh! He loved watching Earth more than any other planet. Of all the many wonders that once captivated the old man, nothing had excited him as much as one female from that world: Lois Lane! He shook his head with a mixture of bemusement and shame as he remembered how he had once made his mansion a shrine to the dark -haired Daily Planet reporter! He had even schemed to trick her into agreeing to marry him by making her fall for and then pledge herself to one of his androids. Oh, he had revealed the truth to her after she had agreed to marry him. He was not really a villain just a misguided, lonely old man with too much money and too much loneliness.
Lois had been shocked to find the dynamic super powered champion of Roxnon Astounding Man was an android controlled remotely by crafty, frail, old Oog. She had a weakness for heroes and her frustration and ego had led her to accept his proposal without considering how little she knew about the gold- clad Adonis.
Ogg shook his head as he remembered that Lois Lane had proven herself to be resourceful and crafty in her own right. She had substituted an android in her likeness for herself and Oog had married the android thinking she was Lois! Lois had returned to Earth to the somewhat capricious moods of Superman and in short order Oog had learned that his android bride was in fact operated by an elderly woman of Roxnon named Geena! She was gentle and lonely and in time they became friends and then constant companions and finally true love bloomed for the two senior citizens. Both of them found happiness by just being together and knowing they had someone to care for them and share life’s moments together.
Oog had swiftly destroyed the Lane shrine and replaced those once cherished items with the decorations that so pleased Geena!
He frowned as he approached their room with a silver tray. He hoped and prayed she would be a bit stronger today. He feared that the weakness that was part of her sickness would only become worse as time passed. The physicians of some of the worlds he monitored had told him again and again that there was nothing that could be done. Geena would not suffer but she would simply not wake up one morning when her strength gave out. Poor old Oog was not very strong himself. He stopped to catch his breath as he made his face assume a happier expression.
“I must not let her see how worried I am! I must keep her spirits up!” he thought.
He opened the door to the warm and cozy room and approached a large bed in which a gaunt little old woman rested fitfully. She smiled weakly as he drew closer and tried to sit up but she couldn’t not do it. He placed the tray on the small nightstand and helped her sit up to take several pills.
“How are you, my darling? Can you eat a little this fine morning?” he said as he cradled her in his arms and sat on the edge of the bed.
She looked at him with tired eyes that expressed love and concern. They knew each other too well to not realize the tragedy of their situation. They had enjoyed their time together, but it seemed as if nothing could prolong it now.
She said, “I shall try!” and patted his hand tenderly as he began to feed her.
“You are weary, my love! Why not let the androids do this? I am such a bother to you!” she said.
He frowned and faked indignation as he said, “What! You can’t fool me! You just want to see those broad shoulders on my admittedly handsome androids! I know you too well!” he said.
His androids were remarkable but not truly unique since they all came from a factory that was one of his many holdings. People bought them for various purposes and they certainly made life easier for most buyers. Of course, those androids were nothing like Astounding Man! Astounding Man was the android he had used to woo and trick Lois all those years ago and because of some quirk in his composition, Astounding Man developed super-human powers like the ability to fly and to shrug off powerful energy beams or explosions. Oog had never been able to replicate the process that turned a good- looking servant android into a powerful champion who protected their planet and was admired and loved by millions who did not realize their hero was actually an artificial being controlled, first by voice and later by thought, by rich old Oog!
He said, “You know there hasn’t been much for him to do lately. Crime is nonexistent since everyone has enough. I make sure of that! We have servo droids to take care of maintaining the perfect climate and weather conditions that make our world so marvelous a place to live. I know you miss watching him strut his stuff as the Earthers say!”
Geena looked up at her husband with adoration and an earnestness that her soft voice supported.
“No! I love seeing you use him so well! I miss seeing you do wonders! You’re my hero! He’s just your means of performing such amazing stunts!” she insisted.
Oog said, “Don’t you worry, Geena. When you get your strength back, we’ll take him to one of the other worlds for a visit and let him team up with Superman or Mighty Man or Vartox!”
Geena pretended to believe him but she knew the truth about her condition.
At that moment a dark-haired bright- eyed android with a cleft chin and a blue-green uniform, approached and said, “A strange craft has landed near the factory. I wanted to alert you. The pilot…the pilot defies words!”
Oog said, “Viewer screen X-5 activate!” At his command, a large monitor flickered to life and displayed a startling scene. The enormous android factory looked normal except for a large spacecraft that rested on an open place on the factory grounds.
In front of the ship stood a huge being with a massively bulbous body, green skin, multiple long tentacles, and malicious eyes. It waved a strange device toward one of the buildings and the entire structure began to shrink to the size of a doll house!
“That thing is stealing the factory with some kind of reduction ray. Perhaps, Coluian in nature but that thief is no Coluian. It is like nothing I’ve ever seen before!” said Oog.
Geena took his hand and said, “You can stop it! I’ll be fine right here with the servants while you handle it!”
He said, “I will do so but do not worry. Stay calm and do not stir. The servant droids will be here for you while I or Astounding Man investigates!”
He looked back at his wife and hesitated. In the old days, she would have accompanied him to the control room while he used his mind to control the android hero known as Astounding Man. If only Geena could get her strength back and walk with him and leave the bed again!
He moved into a nearby chamber and placed a metal band around his bald head. With a mere thought, he activated a platinum-blond haired titan in a gold bodysuit with green trim at the shoulders, green trunks, and green boots who stepped out of the shadows and stood before him awaiting instructions.
Here was Roxnon’s mighty champion. Here was Astounding Man!
Oog concentrated and the android hero responded by soaring through the room and out a nearby door to fly at super speed toward the alien invader!
Oog felt nothing of the old joy of adventure. Life was too different now. Geena , his Geena, had always been there before. He had always known he could come back to find her or turn to see her smile as she watched him work. Now, nothing was certain except for the fact that he was an old man with fading hope and little will to do anything beyond giving up and joining the woman he loved in her final moments.
