Evil Henchmen

Some may wonder, what has become of our hero and the Forces of Good.  Some may fear the worst.  The Forces of Good are still intact.  However, it has come to our attention that Queen Dribbles, leader of the Evil Squirrels, has contracted additional forces.

Unexpectedly, the Evil Squirrels have been joined by the Hoard of Rats.  They are dark and evil henchmen who specialize in biotoxins and destructive behavior.  The Rat Henchmen strike in force and only the most drastic of actions can eliminate the threat. 

The Forces of Good have taken swift action to prevent the Hoard from building up their forces.  The lab has been extremely active in the creation of counter measures with great success.  Knowing that there are a few of the Hoard to have eluded the Forces of Good, I have been working closely with our hero to route out the enemy and destroy it.

Wish us luck.

Training Conference

After the typical day in the lab, I have finished my preparations for my upcoming training conference.  I will be teaching some lab techniques to another up North for a few days and must travel by train to reach my destination.  While I completely trust Stars the Mighty to defend the Forces of Good from the Evil Squirrels, I do worry that perhaps Hippo and Ducky might get to acting silly and cause chaos in the lab.  I must also remind Rat Child to take special care of our dear hero as he has a slight limp due to injury from chasing Evil Squirrels.  He really is quite enthusiastic about his duties and it is often hard work to convince him to come inside and rest.  He is already missing me and I him.  It will be a long week, but knowledge must be spread to eager minds.  And hey, it pays for new lab equipment.

Cherry Cough Drops and Chicken Soup

As I throw away the last of the cough drop wrappers and used tissues, I contemplate the last four weeks.  Four weeks of sinus infection, sore throat, coughing, minimal sleep, complete draining of energy, minimal work being accomplished, and lack of attention directed towards our hero, Stars the Mighty.  (He informs me that this last aspect has been the worst of it.)  While the lab is tossing about theories on biotoxins and Evil Squirrel weapons, I have come to the conclusion that even the Forces of Good must battle the enemy of all -- the common cold.  A vicious virus that introduces itself as a mere sniffle or a sneeze only to mutate into something beyond human comprehension.  How is it that a mere sneeze can become a sinus congesting illness capable of producing enough yellow mucus to fill twenty sinus cavities let alone just one?  And, to make its reign of terror even worse, it saps all energy and desire to function  while continuing to drag out its stay until even the most hardy of souls would give in.  In my research, I have found the following results from experimentation against this virus:  soft cotton hankerchiefs are less likely to make one's nose feel raw; cherry cough drops work the best (or maybe they just taste the best); chicken noodle soup really does restore the feeling of hope that one might possibly get well; and there's nothing quite like the company of friends to make you feel human even when you can't feel healthy.  Now, if only there were some nearby Evil Squirrels I could cough on--after all, its only polite to share.

No Manual for Raising a Hero

The raising of Stars has had many interesting and unexpected developments.  One can never exactly predict what will happen next.  This can be rather disconcerting when one plans for one event yet ends up with a completely different occurrence.  Some may say that raising a superhero is something completely different from that of a regular individual, but I would argue that there are far too many similarities.  Stars has in turn gone through stages of discovering independence, learning to negotiate with authority figures (something he is much too good at), and developing his sense of humor and imagination.  We have discovered his keen sense of right versus wrong and a quickness to pick up patterns and then anticipate the next step within the pattern.  One cannot attempt to put such a creative and intelligent individual into a box--especially this one, who has a fondness for tearing them open.  Discussions have become more in depth and lively.  Today, after Rat Child found a source for canned cheese and butter, we had to discuss the need for patience in waiting for the delivery of an order.  While there is always the worry of Evil Squirrels fouling up one's plans or stealing supplies, I presented the idea that perhaps the brown delivery trucks are with the Forces of Good despite the seemingly long wait.  Stars, however, believes they are a subdivision of the Evil Squirrels.  One could hope to find a book or manual on the proper education and raising of a hero, but so far that has not occurred and we are left to our best efforts.  That manual is probably sitting on a shelf somewhere--right next to the manual for being a superhero.

Our Hero Arrives

It was during the summer, seven years ago, that we found our Hero.  The Ranger and Rat Child had forrayed into the countryside in an attempt to track Evil Squirrel movements.  They had also had reports on an individual that seemed promising for the Forces of Good.  Little did they suspect what they would truly find.  The farm was fairly rundown; the people unkind to their four-leggeds.  Rat Child and The Ranger stopped at the pleas of two of the four-leggeds, canines.  They told of the cruelty of the humans, the lack of care and the constant harassment by the younger humans.  The canines asked Rat Child and The Ranger to take their precious little one to a place of safety and love.  Upon meeting this little one, The Ranger knew instantly that something was very different and special concerning him and agreed to bring him back.  It was decided that he would be named Stars for the symbol of hope and guidance which he represented.  Stars continued to grow; running faster, learning more and developing special skills.  At an early age, Stars began to exhibit the defining characteristics of a Hero.  Soon he became known as Stars the Mighty.

Finding Stars

Rat Child has a most amazing ability.  It was when we searched for a hero that she revealed her unique talent for understanding four-leggeds.  While most individuals can accurately interpret the body language of creatures that they have constant contact with, Rat Child can do more.  Upon further questioning, she hesitantly told me of her gift.  She spoke of an accident as a small child and while I will not write in detail of this in these notes, I do feel that the development was gradual from that point forward.  Perhaps it was a natural gift enhanced by pure chance of fate, or maybe it was more than that.  Now she hears them.  The rest of the world seems quite oblivious to the comings and goings of four-leggeds, but for Rat Child, it is as if they could speak aloud like you or I.  They call her Talker because of her ability.  The four-leggeds also spoke of other such talkers, some on the side of the Evil Squirrels.  It was her ability to communicate with the four-leggeds that we were directed towards our hero.

Evil Squirrels

I first became aware of the increasing encroachment of Evil Squirrels during my work at the University.  Despite my attempts to bring such knowledge to light, my colleagues largely were of two minds--either to pretend such did not exist or to obviate the evidence.  In time, those of the latter mind began to become more vocal in their opposition of my attempts.  Eventually, I was forced to retire from my position and continue my work in secret.  However, those who supported the Evil Squirrels were not entirely successful, for it was during my late hours of research that I came across an individual who would prove most useful in the coming days.  I know her only as Rat Child, the Hoarder of Knowledge. 

Together we sought for a force of good, a hero who could battle the Evil Squirrels.  We found Stars the Mighty.