Copywrite 1999 - Robert Baer Jr. 

>PROLOGUE
>
>This is the story of a superhero, The Computer Renegade, as told through
>the eyes of his faithful bionic German Shepard Otto.  Disguised as
>Accountant Nathan Lovejoy, the Renegade and his friends fight a never
>ending battle against crime, injustice and danger.   This is yet another
>entry from Otto's 'personal' log.
>
The Renegade Files - "The Challenge - Part 1"

It started out to be a very mundane sort of day.   It was a Wednesday
afternoon, and I was alone outside in the stable area talking to
Starlight.   My lovely wife Samantha was attending classes at college, my
master was in his accounting office while my master's wife was working at
Prairie Mason's law office.  Starlight and I had "raced" all morning,
finally coming to the conclusion that each of us had equal speed.   After
lunch, we just sat around and talked....

"Starlight, what do you think my wife is doing now?"

"Well, if I have her schedule downloaded properly, she's in her
"Introduction to English Literature" class."

"Yeah..... that's right, I wonder what our human keepers are doing today?"

"Nathan is more than likely printing up someone's payroll, or something
like that.   Wanna is probably filing, she really loves her job, being
with her "parents" all day. "

"I don't remember my mother...."

"Neither do I, Otto, and even with all of our built in computing
capabities, I don't think either of us will ever know who are true parents
are."

"Wanna is so fortunate that Prairie Mason and Prairie Rose adopted her.  
She doesn't seem to mind the fact that her mom and dad happan to be dogs. 
 In fact...."

"Wait a minute, Otto, hone in on my receiving frequency, there seems to be
some sort of message coming over on all channels!"

Starlight was correct, someone was jamming all television, radio and
satelitte emissions and sending a very bizzarre and frightening message:

"Hello all you happy people out there!    I, the Leader, have interrupted
your communications for a VERY important reason!  Computer Renegade,
whereever you are, I know you're listening!    No doubt that you'll track
down the source of this transmission very soon!    I want you to!   I want
both you and that robot dog of yours to meet me in one hour at the source
of this broadcast.   Come alone!   Oh, by the way, if you don't show, I'll
be back on the air and tell the entire world your true identity!   The
clock is ticking, Renegade, you have one hour, that is all!"

"OH NO!" Starlight shouted,"how does he know...."

"He knew the Renegade long before any of us did, I'm afraid,"  I said
sadly.

As we spoke, a number of loud BOOMS!!  could be heard in the background.  
First came Wanna with her "mom" and "dad" running with her.   Then came
Nathan, dressed in his Renegade costume.   Even the Computer Counsellor
and Uncle Buford popped in.   Lastly came Samantha, she was in tears!

"Nathan, you can't do what he says!" Wanna begged,"it's a trap, he's up to
something evil!"

"I must agree, my friend!" Prairie Mason said,"it doesn't take a dog's
keen sense of smell to know that this just doesn't smell right."

"Otto, DON'T GO!" Samantha cried,"that Leader fellow may kill both of you!"

"it's out of the question, nephew," Uncle Buford muttered,"he's baiting
you two!"

"We have to go," the Renegade sadly proclaimed,"if we don't, he'll tell
everyone who I am, and then the press will find all of us, and our days of
crimefighting will be over."

"I must concur with my master," I added,"he must appear before him.  
Besides, if there's any danger, I can immediately radio all of you, and
then we'll all get him together."

"Are you sure about this?" the Computer Counsellor asked.

"Yes, I'm sure," the Renegade said as he turned to his wife,"Wanna, I will
be back, don't worry."

"Nathan," I interrupted,"I have located the source of the Leader's
transmissions, it's a remote region in the Austrailian outback,
approximately 120 miles south of Darwin.   Shall we go now?"

"We may as well, old friend," the Renegade said glumly,"let's get it over
with."   With a loud BOOM, we were there.

The Renegade and I were standing in front of a large, round building.  
The front doors of the enourmous structure opened, and a voice bellowed
out,"Renegade and Otto, I've been expecting you, do come in and join me!" 
 We slowly walked through those huge front doors, but as we made our way
down the hallway, I noticed something very strange.   Not only was I
unable to scan the contents of the building, I was experiencing a slight
power drain.  Nevertheless, the Renegade and I reached the end of the
hallway which went into a large oval shaped room.   Seated high above us,
on what appeared to be a balconey, was the Leader and some of his
henchmen.   The doors closed behind us as the Leader stood up to address
us:

"Well, I see you are both looking rather well.   Splended!    How do you
like my new headquarters?   It took me over a year to built it, it much
better than my old place that you and that moronic dinosaur destroyed!  
Oh well, I bet you're wondering why I invited you here, aren't you?"

"What's your game this time?" the Renegade yelled,"do you think for one
minute that I'll join your organization now?"

"Of course not, my dear fellow," the Leader continued,"I brought you here
to give you a demonstration of my newest invention.   Now, Mr Timms!"

Mr Timms walked over to a large, strange looking device and pushed up on
it's long lever.   Lights on the machine began to light up as it produced
peculiar, wurling noises.   

"How do you like my machine, gentlemen?   Feel free to leave at anytime if
my presentation is too boring for you."

"We will!" the Renegade said as he produced a black box out of his cape
and pressed the button.   Nothing happened.  He continued to press the
button, but nothing was happening.  "Otto, get us out of here, quick!"   I
attempted to activate my circuitry, but I could detect that my energy was
draining from my systems!   When I could no longer stand, I fell to the
floor.

"OTTO!" my master screamed.

"Oh don't worry," the Leader said with a huge grin on his face,"your robot
dog just doesn't have the energy to play with you anymore, and neither do
any of your devices.   You see, this is an energy absorption device, it
dampens all electrical energy within a quarter mile radius.  My systems in
this building are protected from the machine's effects, but unfortunately,
you and this worthless piece of dog-shaped scrap metal aren't.   Guards,
tie him up on that chair in the other end of the room, I'm sure that all
of his friends will attempt a rescue, let them come!    My machine will
stop their devices as well!"

The Renegade tried to run for it, but there were six men who had guns
pointed at him.   I was in no position to help, what little energy I had
left I needed to conserve for my vital, life supporting functions.   I
couldn't move, and without real help soon, I would soon be in danger of
dying.   I sent out a low frequency distress call, but would it reach our
friends in time?  If it did, how will they rescue us without being trapped
themselves?   

At that moment, far away, back at the stable area, Starlight told her
comrades,"hey everyone!   I'm picking up a signal from Otto, it's very
faint and in a compressed mode."

"Compressed mode?" Uncle Buford said,"something must have gone wrong."

Starlight decoded my message and read it allowed:

"My friends, the Renegade and I have been captured.   An energy draining
machine has rendered me and our weapons inoperable.  If you receive this
message, help us, but use extreme caution.  --- that's where the message
ends, folks."

"OH NO!" Samantha barked,"my husband will die without energy!   What are
we going to do?"

"Relax, my dear collie," Uncle Buford said sternly,"I have a plan, we'll
need a little help from our friends, and every one of you must do exactly
as I tell you, OK?"

Everyone nodded their heads, and Uncle Buford explained to them what he
had in mind.

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to be continued........