This time, they observed, the gateway didn't resemble the eye of a needle, but a partially unrolled scroll, with the two rollers forming pillars to either side of the gate, and the surface between the gatway itself. As before, a small knot of Supers stood in the path of the tram. There was a groan from several mouths. Another security checkpoint!
"Not to worry," said Diana. "I know this bunch, all we have to do is look fierce. Though why they were posted to Sector Security is beyond me."
The Amazon sounded contemptuous, and looking ahead at the Supers, Sindy could see why. They were an oddly ill-assorted lot, a couple of them woefully out of shape, and they were hardly as smart or snappy as Law's group. So inattentive were they to the travelers that two of them were actually playing checkers!
"You know, they look rather familiar," mumbled Dabbler, somewhat distantly.
As before, Captain Nice slowed the tram as it approached the Supers. He exchanged a few words with the officer in charge, a sad, thin little man in a purple jester's suit and spectacles. They appeared on good terms with each other. A moment later, the Captain motioned the officer back toward the car.
The jester's face grew even longer as he opened the door and Wonder Woman stomped toward him. "Oh no," he cried, "not you! Oh, what did I do to deserve this?"
"Don't worry, Myron, I'll help you!" cried one of his subordinates, a beefy sort who appeared to be the local muscle. One of the pair playing checkers, he jumped clumsily to his feet, upsetting the board as he did so, and made for the tram. He wore an outfit like a Batman costume, only all blue and with droopy ears and -- flippers? Not surprisingly, given his footgear, he tripped and fell over his own feet as he dashed forward. The jester winced, clapping a hand to his eyeglasses.
"Awkward as ever, I see," said Diana with an ironic laugh. "Well, what is it, Merryman? I warn you, if you try anything like the guff we got at the last checkpoint--!"
The jester looked alarmed. "Oh no, nothing like that, Princess!" he cried. "Marshall Law called ahead to let us know he'd passed you, and since Captain Nice says none of your party attempted contact with the Needlings--"
"What do you want, then?" Diana demanded, looming threateningly over the frightened Super.
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Sat Aug 23 01:54:42 2003
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