Adventure! Finale

[telerib]

After being celebrated, wined and dined in Washington, D.C., the team set off for San Francisco. A few days' work showed the Spider up to his old tricks, trying to wrest control of the Chinatown underworld from someone known as the White Mandarin.

While pondering their next move, a small Chinese boy approached Greta and asked if she were Miss Skohl, the reporter. She said that she was, and he told her that the workers on the big bridge project over the Bay were very upset and wanted her to tell their story. Greta was off like a shot.

The others didn't trust the waif, and so followed the pair - right into an ambush! But their mystic Chinese kung-fu availed them little against the combined fists and feet of the heroes. The fellow Adam judo-tossed into a canopy was lucid enough to answer questions - they'd been sent by the Spider to capture Greta! He knew she'd follow the story away from the group, and had hoped to hold her as insurance against the rest of them.

That was when agents of the White Mandarin approached the group. The Mandarin would be very interested to meet other enemies of the Spider...

"White" ended up referring to the Mandarin's fashion sense, not her race. Thoroughly Chinese, she appeared in white robes, her face even covered by a white porcelain mask. White was, Adam whispered to the party, the Chinese color of death.

Negotiations were quick. She wanted the Spider gone; so did they. She knew where they could find him and was willing to tell them: on one condition. She was already looking weakened by being unable to deal with the Spider herself. Anyone she allied herself with would have to be formidable indeed. She demanded that the leader of the group - fingers all pointed to Reg - fight her.

Reg hefted a few of the weapons offered, but elected to go it mano-a-mano - after formally protesting that he did not, as a rule, hit women. The Mandarin removed her mask for the battle, revealing a slightly soft, older matronly face. The duel was brief and hard fought, with the combatants going for powerful kicks and well-placed punches. Reggie got the first hit, but the Mandarin got the last. However, she was sufficiently impressed with Reg's skill, strength, and fortitude that she gave them the needed information.

While Reg recuperated, she also gave Dr. Olsson access to a rocket-propelled man-bearing kite. Warned that the Spider had similar technology, Dr. Olsson promptly set about modifying the kite to make it Better! Faster! Stronger than Before!

With Dr. Olsson flying air support, the group moved in on the Spider's hideout the next day. As before, he threw low-class henchmen at them while he ran away. The minions kept the party occupied long enough for the Spider to disappear into the warrens of Chinatown - except that Dr. Olsson had a bird's-eye view and no trouble tracking him. One of the Spider's own gliders was launched to take care of her, but the party was back on his trail by then. They all moved towards the unfinished Golden Gate Bridge!

Reg handled the remaining minions while Adam chased his evil twin up the bridge. The villain seemed to have the advantage, striking Adam and taunting him, when the lawyer launched a reckless tackle that sent them both hurtling over the edge!

Greta, who'd been befriending some of the workers (and keeping them away from the battle), got a quick freight elevator ride down to the water level. Dr. Olsson, in aerobatics that might have given Sam Satan a ride for his money, flew right for one of the suspension bridge's uprights and then pulled up at the last minute. The glider following her was not so agile! Freed of her tail, she swooped down to Adam, who was able to grab on! Overburdened, the glider sank rapidly toward the cold, choppy waters of San Francisco Bay - but Greta and the bridge workers were already down there, waiting to toss out lines and rescue them.

Up top, Reg - who was quite through with villains like Don Bruno die and come back, die and come back - put a rifle slug through the Spider's head before he hit the water. Just to be sure, you know.

For further adventures about EVIL, the Lemurians, and the voyage to fantastic MARS...

Tune In Next Week!