Episode 2: The Coat Of Thew

After making short work of the evil Thulu Empire and thwarting their attempted invasion of Earth, our hero was busy surveying the damage of his ship. After taking a few steps Tom heard a dripping noise.

“What the hell is that?” he asked himself.

He looked all around and found nothing. It was when he looked to his side when he saw what the sound was—his left arm was missing.

Angered; he fired several more shots at the already disabled Mother ship. Realizing that there was nothing else he could do to the aliens since he killed them all already, he regained his composure and decided to go back to Earth to recharge his ship for the next mission.

After he docked his ship in the retrofitted basement of an inner-city row home, he put his ship on standby to let it charge overnight.

He went upstairs, looked at the place where his arm once was and mumbled to himself. He sat upon his throne and turned on the television—Tom only watches the Sci-fi channel because it is in reality the CNN of all intergalactic news and not just bad movies.

After watching commercials for several minutes, an infomercial for the newest innovation in rice-pudding came on. Tom has always hated rice pudding. Disgusted by it he turned off the television and sat for a moment thinking what he should do with the rest of the day. He decided he would go out among the regular citizens of the world and mingle. So he put on the clothes that he thought ordinary people wore—which were jeans and a t-shirt—and went out to society.

Once out, he walked to the shopping mall to see what all the fascination was about these miniature cities. As he went along, all the people who saw him noticed his missing arm and ran screaming from the grotesque sight. Tom thought to himself that next time he will study current fashion so people won’t be bothered by his poor choice of attire. He then walked down the strip of stores and spotted a clothing store for larger people—having to contain much more power, his body is of a larger size than most. Not fatter just bigger.

Tom saw this as a good opportunity to see what was considered modern fashion. He walked into this place of retail and immediately one particular coat on the wall grabbed his attention.

“My God!” he exclaimed, “This…this is the coat of legend, The Coat of Thew!”

As he stared at the coat, he did not notice the gaping onlookers staring at his missing arm. He didn’t hear when the little girl screamed and ran out of the store followed quickly by her portly father. He did however notice when the clerk tapped him on his good shoulder.

“S...sir do you need a doctor? The fearful, pimpled young man asked him.
Tom turned around slowly, his remaining hand firmly fixed on his trusty knife—that had engraved on its hilt Death. He looked down at the tiny man. He saw the store logo on his sunken chest and said slowly.

“You are lucky, merchant; most don’t get the opportunity to see my face.”

"Seriously, man I think you need a doctor your arm is mis--”

“Tell me about this coat. Is it truly the coat of legend the one sung by minstrels of yore?”

"Ok. Look dude, I’m gonna call the cops ‘cause I can’t have you bleeding on my floor. My manager will be pissed, and I really need this job.”

“Now look child…” Tom said powerfully …you will give me this coat, for the Thulu ripped my last one when they attacked me. So I suggest you oblige my request before it is no longer one.”

“Ok, fine dude. Take the coat, whatever. You’re the one with the freaking missing arm. Just take it and get out, please.”

“Worry not child for my arm will return to me when I next drink my ale”

The boy turned and walked to the back of the store mumbling.

“Where’s that damned shop-vac?”

Victory!

After vanquishing the trickster that was The Merchant, Captain Tom draped the Coat of Thew across his superior shoulders and marched home to await his next battle. What insurmountable odds face our hero next? Only time will tell!