[What Has Gone Before:]

[The year is 1991.  There are a few superhumans around the world, but they're not public.  But four superhumans are now students at Michigan State University.  After a series of encounters, they've gone public, and arranged to work together if they really need to.  They call themselves The Balance.]

Adventure: Hemmed In 
Dennis Carlsberg, a biochemistry professor on the Michigan State University campus, is conducting pharmaceutical experiments on human subjects.  His objective is to determine ways to counteract addictive substances.  At least, that's what he still tells his supervisor.

However, he's found a related goal to pursue on the side.  Some things which can counteract an existing addiction can be made even more addictive.  And there are customers for such things.  

---
The Balance has come as close to setting up a team charter as they ever will.  Namely, they've exchanged addresses and phone numbers to use in case of emergency.

For Ellipsis, this exchange has become a formality.  The mental control of Stephen Wolcott, ever expanding, is now at the point where he can identify the minds of his teammates from across the campus.  If need be, he's sure he can see them through the eyes of others, but he's avoided that exercise so far.

Whereas Ellipsis can quickly summon his teammates, Mike Roberts can quickly respond as the Mighty Tim.  He and Ellipsis are working on pinpoint teleportation beyond line-of-sight distance.  Once he's able to do this, he'll be able to go anywhere and bring any of the others with him.  With Ellipsis to summon the team and with the Mighty Tim to bring them together, they'll have a powerful advantage in battle.  And with the Mighty Tim's leadership in battle plus Ellipsis to transmit orders to the others, they're almost unbeatable. 

Trouble is... Ellipsis is showing powerful leadership abilities himself.  He bailed the rest of the Balance out against the last guy they fought, and provided most of the team initiative.  Somehow, he knew more about what was going on then.  And with his mental abilities he can always have the final word when it comes to commanding the team.  Maybe the Mighty Tim... maybe Mike Roberts isn't right to command the team himself.  

Captain Gonzo is honing his abilities.  Bob Brannigan, as a reserve member· of the MSU gymnastics team, becomes more agile every week.  Soon he's doing incredibly showy stunts in practice - like flinging himself across the room from one set of parallel bars to another.  The coach is not amused by this.  But he does wonder how the NCAA will respond to having a super-powered gymnast in collegiate competition.  

Laura Greene, Morningstar, does not practice nearly as much as the others.  She's agreed to work with the others in crisis situations, but she's not going to look for trouble - and she sees no reason why trouble should find her, if she lives a good life in the Lord.  Even if it should, the power in her stone should handle it.  

She still finds it hard to believe that she uses superpowers to fight crime.  In part she's doing it because everybody should fight crime as much as they can.  But she's starting to view her fellow heroes as a mission field for the salvation of Christ.  And she feels the call to be their minister.  

---
Professor Carlsberg's experiments are proceeding apace.  His academic supervisor is pleased with the results so far - and he s got a nonacademic contact now, who's buying 'spare materials· from him and marketing them on the street, These new drugs have effects never seen before, like temporary enhancement of strength.  And that's only the beginning.

During gymnastics practice one day, one of the varsity team falls off the vaulting horse during his routine.  He collapses in a cold shiver as his teammates (with Bob Brannigan) rush over.  When he can no longer deny it, he admits taking drugs to increase his strength.  It was all so he could show the big deal Captain Gonzo what normal people can do all the big deal tricks he can.  The coach says, “You goddamn waste.”

The next time Bob sees Mike and Stephen, he mentions it.  Stephen is worried: this is a potential threat.  If strength can be enhanced through drugs, what else might be increased? 

Mike suggests an investigation of various professors in the Biology department.  Stephen agrees - and says he'll do it himself.  Humans can hide evidence from police, but they cannot hide guilt from Ellipsis.

The next day, Professor Carlsberg is overcome by sudden - and unexplainable! – remorse.  He turns himself in to the campus police.  They release him due to lack of evidence.  Ellipsis has taken all his stockpiles.  
Soon, his customer comes to visit, saying, “The boss lady was wondering why you...” and so on.  The professor suddenly realizes who was behind his attack of conscience.  After he gets rid of his visitor, he starts to take measures against the Balance.  

---
A few days later, the professor calls all his student volunteers in for a session.  In addition, he sends his lab assistant out to bring people in off the streets.  He drugs them all.  Then he barricades the door and starts making phone calls.  Soon the news is broadcast: a man has taken hostages and is demanding that the Balance surrender to him.  

The Balance assembles.  After heated debate, they decide the only thing to do is to confront the professor directly in a frontal assault.  They go to the Biology building: meeting the man's truce conditions, but ready for battle.  

The professor is holding session in a lecture hall, guarded by his drugged students.  As the Balance comes in, he states:

“These people you see around me are obviously thralls of mine.  I might warn you that I have increased their strength by means I won't tell you about.  I can tell you this,, though: If you make any kind of move against them with your powers, I can induce a massive heart failure in each one from right here.' 

Ellipsis lets his mind find the truth.  Mentally he tells his teammates: "He 1ies.”

'How can you be sure?' thinks Mighty Tim.  The others concur.

Ellipsis is stymied (for the first time since he fought Domesday - and against his own teammates this time).  He finally responds, mentally: 'Indeed, you do not know me.  Therefore you cannot trust me.  Have you a course of action in the meantime?· 

The Mighty Tim is now on the spot.  Ellipsis can feel his thoughts: "No powers.  Fight him.  We could do it! Almost.”

Instantly Ellipsis responds again: "Suppose we all fight him without long range power.  What would Enemy suspect If we each can defend ourself?" 

Mighty Tim has no response within the next three seconds.  Ellipsis thus issues the orders.  Form a quadrant: Morningstar and Captain Gonzo in front, Ellipsis and Mighty Tim in back.  No teleport, telekinesis, frisbees, or mental powers.  Only defend self, and defeat frontal attacks.  

Captain Gonzo thinks "Aw, come on!” Ellipsis responds: You're strong enough.  

Morningstar thinks, “But what can I do?" Ellipsis responds: You have power - even over yourself, when necessary.  Is necessary now.  

The professor finally says, "Kill them!” But the Balance fights back.
  
Captain Gonzo, in front, holds his own against all comers.  Their strength is barely below his, but he has the agility to meet them all - and drive each one back.  

Morningstar, in front, falls before the assault at first.  But she thinks: No.  I mustn't! Stephen says I don't have to! There must be some way...  She rises, and beats back the assaults.

Mighty Tim in back has no problem.  He thinks: What to do next? 

Ellipsis in back has heightened his agility as never before, and is calling upon his martial arts training.  His opponents are easily defeated; several are crippled.  However, he can spare minimal mental ability for battle direction.  

He feels the Enemy: confounded.  He then feels Captain Gonzo: frustrated - can't I do more? Ellipsis decides, and responds: Go! 

As Professor Carlsberg wonders how the Balance can be resisting his hyped-up subjects, Captain Gonzo leaps at him with a roundhouse punch.  The professor dodges, but Gonzo follows up with a roundhouse kick.  

Professor Carlsberg is hit, and falls insensate.

The students still beat against the other three.  Morningstar, in front, holds her own; Ellipsis and the Mighty Tim have no problem.  Ellipsis exerts his will now, against the drugged students: The attack is not your command now.  They slow down, and finally mill about senselessly.  

---

As the Balance watches, Ellipsis tries to cure the drugged students of the doctor's mental control.  Other than the first one, his effort is fruitless.  

Mighty Tim says, "There must have been some chemical cause for these people following him.  So, there must be some chemical cure for them.  If we tell the Biology Department about it, they must be able to do something.”  Ellipsis privately doubts it, but is more than willing to relieve himself of the effort.  Mighty Tim calls the authorities.  

---
The Balance retreat together, to a point by the Red Cedar River which runs through the campus.  Captain Gonzo speaks first: ·So what did we do? The guy drugged them, and they re still drugged!

	Morningstar responds: "But he could have killed them!  And we stopped him."

Mighty Tim speaks: “Yes, we did.  But a lot of them were injured.” 

Ellipsis enters the conversation.  “When my teachers taught me how to fight, they taught me to defend myself completely.  And I did - and you did also.  Those who attack us must expect to be injured.”

“But these people were my friends~' Mighty Tim responds.  "They signed up for this guy’s lab course, and they weren't told about what he'd do to them!  He just drugged them!  And they fought us, and we maimed them!" 

"Then what am I to do?" says Ellipsis.  Stephen Wolcott feels the thrust of Mike Roberts' argument -against him personally.  "My 1ife was at stake when they attacked me.  You - all of you - have power, but I have nothing to stop them with - except for knowledge.” 

“Stephen...” says Morningstar.  She and Captain Gonzo now feel the argument between him and Mighty Tim, courtesy of his own mental power.  "There must have been some other way.  If only we could have seen it.”
"It was there~ There are ways to defeat an enemy without crippling him~" says the Mighty Tim.  "I've brought them to their knees even when they refused to acknowledge defeat!" 

Ellipsis states: "In your fantasy matches, perhaps.  This is life.  Real." 

	"But I still can ...”

“Enough.  If you know these ways - teach them to me.” Silence.  

Ellipsis continues: “Do you not think I wanted to leave them alone?  That I wanted to let them go to damnation their own way and leave me to mine?" Morningstar gasps.  "But they attacked me!” 

The Mighty Tim thinks: Superheroing has never been serious to him - but he can't assume it's the same way for everyone else, can he? He responds: "Stephen... I can help.  I can train you." 

"You have the knowledge the karate masters have missed?" 

“...  I can tell you things the local teachers didn't, about how to stop someone without crippling him.  

With power like ours, we have to worry about things like that." 

“Then... teach me! I wish to know!" 

---

For the next weeks, Stephen Wolcott joins the jousting sessions between the Mighty Tim and Captain Gonzo.  His ability grows.

Mike Roberts resolves: As a member of the team Ellipsis still has rough edges - but he's working on them.  And Ellipsis has proven that he can react faster than the Mighty Tim In combat situations.  So Ellipsis is the leader now.  But the Mighty Tim still makes a powerful advisor.  Maybe next time...