New York, New York.

Kayla Ballantine, who's nearly at the end of her vacation, decided this morn to just strut her stuff, show off a little, reveal to the world that she's number one, by a day of nonstop shopping. But, most of all, she wanted with all her heart to put on ultimate display her new outfit that she purchased last week. And what an outfit it is-- tight, fitting like a second skin, spandex shorts, accompanied by a luscious pink-hued tank top that reveals more than most Americans would dare to.

Every couple of minutes, men crowded around her. Naturally, she soaked up the adoration and admiration and knowing the best of strategies, pushes them aside, letting them want her all the more. But beneath all of that happy-go-lucky exterior, there resides a young woman who is scared for her life. First up, she betrayed her boss, Wendell Elvis Vaughn, by revealing to Japanese ninja/ businessman Shiro Hanada his secret as Quasar.

But, for now, those cares and worries are far from her mind. All that she is concerned with at the moment is what she will buy and how much money she'll spend.

Not conscious of the fact, she turns a corner to enter a very dark, possibly scarey alley way. It stinks to high heaven and garbage litters and floods the concreted pavement. The sight alone turns her stomach, never mind the foul stench.

She must have blinked when she first entered the 'hellhole' for now a shadow lingers at the end of the 'tunnel'. It is shaped like a man. A tall one at that, with spiked hair.

Her first reaction is to run like hell. There aren't any serial killers, rapists or homocidial murderers crawling the streets at this time of day. There's nothing for her to be afraid of, she hopes.

Calming her racing heart and knotted stomach, she walks forward, thinking that she will ignore this man when she passes him. No such luck.
Before she can take another step, he blocks her path, not permitting her to go any further. Then, he speaks, his voice chilling all of her already quivering bones: "Quasar wishes to speak with you, now, Kayla. He is quite smitten with you, y'know."

"What the--?!"

Then, all at once, in a flash of light and a crackling of solar energy, they both vanish into thin air.

Manhattan.

Sirens scream like banshees in the night, in the dead of streets. Crickets produce their annoying sexual noises to attract their mate and a man streaks overhead the sprawling city.

A super man of bright colors. Red. White. Blue. His cape rustles in the nocturnal wind and a sonic boom heralds his passage.

Cold brisk air exudes from the alleyways and she doesn't react to the deafening silence.

Wendell Vaughn and Quasar. Her boss and her hero. Sexy, both. Hers to keep, neither. Hours ago, there was a knock on her apartment door and Solarman was on the other side.

"Ssshh, you better be quiet," the tall, blonde, spiked-haired man says to Wendell’s secretary, "he's at work now and we don't want to disturb him, now, do we?" "No, I guess we don't, Solarman," Kayla Ballantine tells him, as they both lean against a wall in the hallway of the gigantic office building. She takes her eyes away from the gorgeous man within the room and looks at the face of her strange companion. "Now, why don't you tell me why you teleported me here. I know it's no ordinary social call, y'know."

"Too true. But Quasar told me that he will explain when he is all ready. Whydon'cha watch him at work, doing what he does best."

Janice Ahrens bends over the desk to pick up some files. Once she has placed them in her briefcase, she walks over to Vaughn. "As usual, Wendell, an excellent job. I've never seen a better one, in all my years here."

"Nice to be appreciated once in a while, Janice."

"My pleasure, Wendell."

"I'll meet you for lunch on my break. An hour, okay?"

"Yes, Wendell. I'll be counting the minutes."

As she walks over to the front door, Janice brushes through her long, though thick, blond hair and her buttocks roll back and forth a bit. Kayla winces in anger as she passes her and Solarman.

Taking off his black overcoat and placing it on the coat rack, Wendell thinks of Kayla. He's sure that he sent Solarman just minutes ago. It shouldn't've taken him this long. Maybe a malfunction of his power. Doubtful, but what could--?

"'I'll be counting the minutes.'" Witty as ever, aintcha, darlin'. Kayla Ballantine stands in the doorway, while Solarman-- knowing full well that they will probably need all the privacy that they can get-- tries to hide himself in the hallway.

"Kayla!! You're here."

"Perceptive, as ever. Nothing gets past you, does it?"

"Oh, c'mere, my great cutie-pie." In one heart-felt sweep, Wendell Elvis Vaughn grabs a hold of her around the waist and lifts her in the air, climaxing with a simulated bear hug. It is an embrace that makes both young adults feel that much better.

Kayla smiles, letting a girlish giggle escape her simultaneously. "Oh, Wendell. Solarman told me that you had something to ask me. I'm dying in suspense."

"That can wait, sweetie-pie. First.." She looks so beautiful, right now. With that wavy hair, those come-hither eyes, and those shiny, sparkling glossed lips. It only seems so natural, so he doesn't even bother to stop the expression of his utter attraction to her. Closing his eyes romantically and curling his mouth a bit, he kisses her. She doesn't fight it, only responds in kind.

Wendell loosens his grip from her waist to her hips and finally, slides his hands down to her legs. For a few seconds, she floats there motionless and then, the kiss is broken when she stomps on the floor.

"Now, Wendell, about what you wanted to ask me earlier-- don't get me wrong, I would love to do this 'till doomsday, but I've a funny feeling this is mighty important."

"It is." Gripping her hands in a cup formation, he bends down on his knees and looks up proudly at her beautiful face. "Kayla Ballantine..."
Her heart skips a couple of beats.

".... will you marry me?"

Quasar and Kayla Ballantine returned to NSC HQ to have another meeting with the NSC team and Space Flight.

“I found out through Kayla that the businessman Shiro Hanada wants to have a hostile takeover with Vaughn Security Systems. Kayla has been researching the takeover by giving him false information.”

“I’m glad that that is cleared up, Wendell,” Judge Justice said. “I also want to congratulate you on that marriage proposal.”

“Yes,” Wendell said. “I’m sure that we will be happy.”

“Now, back to business,” Judge Justice continued. “It has come to my attention that Derek Shiningstar has escaped from the Paranormal Prison. We are convinced that it was the product of Rodstvow and his team of paranormal agents.”

“Oh no, not him again,” Dave Landers said. “I thought we saw the last of those two. Y’know, what about the New Hex Squad, those team of magicians, that fought us at that warehouse?” *

(*Please see New Universe #25—Hex Gregg.)

“Yeh, they are still on the loose and ready for blood. It looks like we have serious trouble ahead of us. I think we should take this threat one at a time and deal with it as it comes. Our first, most pressing matter is the Hex Squad. Derek Shiningstar and Rodstvow can wait for the time being. They will probably be planning their next move first.”

“Good plan,” Stephanie Harrington commented. “I approve.”

Judge Justice knew it was time to close the meeting. “The best thing for us to do now is go searching for the Hex Squad. Dismissed.”