Video Star, Behind the Moon
Thankfully, the alien invasion was fairly narrow. Spandez could just start his invasion elsewhere in this nation. The trick was finding a mostly-intact city. Judging by the ruins, Central City must have once been a sight to behold. However, most of the population had been murdered, burnt, frozen, violated, fried by lasers, or robbed (sometimes a combination of two or more). "Zoom Was Here" was scorched into the earth around the city. Gotham was his second choice, until he saw that it was under assault from the zombies of a criminal by the name of "Porter Vito" and a band of glowing green wrestlers the local humans called "luchadores." That'd really be distracting for the contestant. On and on down the list of major settlements he went, before sighing and going for one of the last cities not overrun by superpowered lunatics.
Spandez grinned for the cameras, walking out on stage to the cheers of the studio audience. Aliens from across the cosmos, ranging from Thanagarians to Martians were in the stands, cheering. The Conquest Hour was a cultural fixture for the last several millennia, and they weren't letting one weak season dampen their enthusiasm for the gladiatorial spectacle the Lord of Bloodsport provided. Thankfully, the translator software kicked in as every Satellite or Cable TV on Earth got one new channel: the Badurong Broadcasting Network.
"So, how's everyone doing this cycle? Certainly better than the savages on the planet's surface, that's for sure! Judging by those weapons, I'd say my old fri- ah, but that'd be telling! And you don't watch the Conquest Hour for politics! Remind me, just why do you watch?!" he shouted, holding his mic up to the audience.
"BIG CHALLENGES! BIG MONEY! BIG PRIZES!"
"Iiiiii love it! Now, today's contestant is a long-time favorite. He's never racked up the cash for a Lightning Round, but he's here every season to give it a go! You've got to admire that sort of determination. Please welcome, this week's contestant from the Dolgon Cluster... Pterrordactyl!"
A
green-skinned alien resembling a prehistoric flying reptile walked onto the stage, waving at the audience. He was met by thunderous applause and whistles. A few of the audience members were even wearing homemade "We Love You Pterrordactyl" T-shirts. The bounce in the creature's step indicated he was quite happy to be returning to the show.
"Thank you, Mr. Spandez! It's great to be back!"
"And it's always great to see a contestant again! So, as a six-time contestant, how do you feel about your chances this time?"
"Pretty good Mr. Spandez! I'm gonna rock the challenges, no matter what they are!"
"That's the optimism we love out of ya, big guy! So spin... THE WHEELS! OF! CHALLENGE!"
A tremendous slot machine raised from a hidden platform in the stage, which Pterrordactyl reached up to spin. He continued bounding from foot to foot as the slots stopped on numerous alien symbols, leaving Spandez with two ticker tapes.
"Well now! Off to a good start, it seems! We've already got 'Scare Children' with a bonus of 'Make Children Cry!' Always makes for a solid challenge with locals trying to stop you. What are your plans this time, Pterrordactyl? How are you going to win..."
"BIG MONEY! BIG PRIZES!"
"IIIIII LOVE IT! I'm sure you know this, Pterrordactyl, but we've got some of the savages on the planet below listening in. The game starts as soon as you teleport down. You must fulfill as much of your objective as possible before locals can stop you! By doing so, you earn cash prizes AND bonus prizes from our sponsors at Badurong Corporation! Get ready... get set... Good luck!"
Coast City, 9:00 PM
Little Timmy Wilkins, age six. He was asleep, safe in his bed. His mother and father had tucked him in and assured him there was no monster in his closet. But he woke up when he heard a noise down the hall. Like someone had dropped a glass of water, then slipped on it and fell really hard. He grabbed his teddy bear and slipped out of bed. Like always, he trudged down the halls, making for his parents' room. They got mad when he was awake this late, but the glass dropping had scared him. He was kind of nervous when he called out and didn't hear any response and cracked the door open. There was blood on the floor next to the bed. Probably from where they slipped on the glass. They looked fine in bed. One giant pile under the covers like always.
"Mom? Dad? I heard a scary n-"
With that, Pterrordactyl shrieked, jumping out from under the covers, throwing them up against the wall. Timmy screamed and backed away.
"Trust me, kid, that noise was the LEAST scary thing in this house right now!"
"I... w-where's mom and dad?"
Pterrordactyl pointed behind the boy, to the closet, baring his fangs and grinning. There, bloody, unconscious, bound, and gagged, sat the boy's parents. Claw marks were all over their bodies, and they were heavily bruised. The little boy began to tear up as he looked up at the monster in terror.
"W...wh-"
The monster kneeled, smiling at the boy and putting a claw on his shoulder, his other hand grabbing the teddy bear's head.
"I'm going to let you in on a secret. Your planet's Green Lantern? He's dead. He's not going to save you. Your police can't stop me, and your parents certainly couldn't. Nobody can protect you from me, little Timmy. Not anymore."
With that, the monster ripped the teddy bear's head off, tossing it into the air and swallowing it whole as he kicked the boy to the wall. He began laughing maniacally as he made a running jump through one of the windows which wasn't broken from his forced entry, shouting behind him as he flew off into the horizon to continue this display at the other houses of Coast City, unleashing a guttural prehistoric shriek.
"PTEEEEERRRROOOOOOOOORRRRRRDDDDDAAAAAAAACCCCCCTTTTTTTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYLLLLLLLLL!"
Timmy cried in the closet, curled up with his decapitated bear next to his unconscious parents. Thankfully, the sounds of police and ambulance sirens drew near...
Video Star
Spandez, on the other hand, was cracking up.
"Oh, that Pterrordactyl's got a flair for this! And that's why we always look forward to his return! And THAT little personal touch there with the bear and all those tears has earned him... sixteen thousand Badurong Credits and a five thousand Credit gift certificate to Spacey's Department Store!" Spandez shouted, motioning toward the screen showing the rampage of Pterrordactyl. "Can he keep this up? Stay tuned to find out after a word from our sponsors!"
