Visionary Meets His Successor
 Friday, 06-Nov-98 11:24:48

      156.153.255.162 writes:
 
 

      "Psssst. Hey, Visionary!" Adam said, shaking the sleeping Lair Legionnaire. "Will you wake up already? I'd like to
      keep this kinda short."

      Visionary winced against the light as he opened his eyes. "Aw crap..." he said upon seeing his creator.

      "You remember me! I'm touched." Adam replied with a smile.

      "Where are we?" Visionary said, looking around the completely blank landscape. Nothing was visible in any directions,
      just a unending field of white. "I'm not dead, am I?"

      "Nah, just dreaming." Adam replied. "This was the easiest way to talk to you without me entering the Parodyverse.
      Now, let's get on with this." Adam began pacing. "Certain things have happened recently and... well... there's no easy
      way to say this..." He took a deep breath. "You're no longer going to be my alter ego. At least for the foreseeable
      future." he added.

      Visionary sat there with a dumbfounded expression (one which he was quite good at.) "I... I'm not?"

      "You see, you were created as an homage to a character that's recently been..." Adam paused. "Well, it's much too
      complicated to go into." He resumed pacing. "Anyway, don't worry too much... You'll still be kicking around the
      Parodyverse."

      "But... but I'll just be a character... like Blofish or Lo-chi. Not an actual poster..."

      "Yes... technically, that's true..." Adam said evasively. "But those characters do all right for themselves. Besides, you're
      well established as comic-relief. I'm sure you'll do fine on your own. If all else fails, I'll still be writing about you."

      Visionary looked unconvinced. "So, if you're no longer going to be me, who will you be?"

      Adam gave a polite cough. "I'd planned to get to that some other time, but I suppose we might as well get this out of
      the way..." He paused dramatically. "Visionary, meet... The Apostate!"

      A hazy, indistinct figure materialized out of the surrounding emptiness.

      "Er... the what?" Visionary asked, trying to make out some details of the man, if a man was what it was.

      "The Apostate." Adam answered. "It means one who abandons a faith or loyalty."

      "How come I wasn't 'The Visionary'?"

      "Because that makes you sound like some kind of stuck-up fortune teller."

      Visionary studied the hazy figure. He thought he detected a certain malevolence from it. "Not very talkative, is he?"

      "He's not as established as you." Adam answered. "Plus, being an offshoot of my bitter feelings and crushed beliefs,
      he's a bit on the anti-social side. I'm sure he'll loosen up eventually." Adam checked his pocket watch. "Well, this has
      been a truly awful day for me, so if you'll excuse me..." he turned and walked into the nothingness. "You two play nice,
      now." he called over his shoulder as he disappeared.

      Visionary smiled at his malevolent replacement. "Soooo... You like football?" he asked to break the awkward silence.

      The Apostate lunged at him with frightening speed, shoving Visionary backwards. Suddenly, Visionary found himself
      falling through the void.

      "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu--"
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-uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!" Visionary screamed, sitting straight up in bed. His heart was
      hammering in his chest, and he was sweating profusely.

      "Did you say something, dear?" Cheryl mumbled, half asleep.

      "WHA.. HOWDID... WHEREIS..." Visionary stammered.

      Cheryl sat up. "Jeez, something really spooked you. That must have been some nightmare."

      "Nightmare?" Visionary asked, looking around.

      "What was it about?"

      "I think... there was this guy... I was falling..." Visionary furrowed his brow. "I really don't remember."

      "Well, try and get some sleep." Cheryl said, rolling over. "It was just a dream, after all."

      Visionary laid down again and pulled the covers up under his chin. For some reason, he couldn't help feeling smaller
      and more insignificant than usual. It was very late before he managed to fall back to sleep.

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      Outside, a lone figure stood under the streetlights, watching the condo. He didn't care what their creator wanted. As far
      as he was concerned, there was only room for one of them at Baron Zemo's Lair. With a sneer of contempt, The
      Apostate turned and strode off into the Parodyverse night to make his place in this world.