It was mid-afternoon on the streets of downtown Pleasantview as Emerald Guardian strolled past the citizens, seemingly without a care in a world. Lost in thought, he barely acknowledged the shop owners and clerks as they waved through the windows. Nor did he seem interested in the occasional cheerful wave from a passerby. By all outward appearances, Emerald was completely preoccupied with matters of his own concern.

Suddenly coming to a stop before one of the shops, Emerald stared intensely through window. The clerks inside were quick to notice him and were headed in his direction when they were shocked by the sudden change in his demeanor. Without warning, Emerald leaped into the air and with a power kick shattered the storefront glass. Before anyone could react, they witnessed him grab some merchandise and run off down the street.

Meanwhile, Ebon Huntress was enjoying a break by the swimming pool at the East Side Community Center when an incoming message alert summoned her to the briefing room. Once inside she sat down and switched on the viewscreen. The image of Chromed Avenger greeted her curtly.

“What can I do for you today, John?” Ebon asked.

Ebon Huntress watched in horror and the recording of Emerald Guardian flashed before her eyes.

“Surely this is some kind of a hoax,” Ebon said.

“I cannot be one hundred percent certain since we are only setup for basic recording,” replied Chromed. “By all appearances it does appear to be Emerald Guardian. I tried to follow him on the monitoring cameras as long as I could, but lost him after a couple blocks. Is he at the East Side Center now?”

A minute later, Emerald Guardian walked into the briefing room.

“Kryss, please take a seat,” Ebon instructed. Emerald sat down across the table from Ebon Huntress. “John, would you please replay the video surveillance.” Emerald’s jaw dropped as he saw himself breaking into the shop.

“Darna, I don’t know what to say,” Emerald said. "I have been in my lab all day. You can check the logs.”

“Kryss, I didn’t call you here to accuse you, and I am certain that John has already checked those logs. We were hoping you could help offer any suggestions.”

Ebon, Emerald and Chromed watched the live broadcast and listened closely to the announcer.

“Yes, folks, this is live,” reported the announcer. “As you can see clearly on your screen, Captain Crimson, a member of Team Rainbow Super Force, is setting the Edgewood Hotel downtown on fire. Emergency services are on their way to help evacuate the hotel and hopefully put a stop to this madness. Most of the hotel staff has escaped to safety already, but there are still visitors trapped at this moment.”

Another report quickly flashed on the screen showing Choral Blush disrupting a local shopping center.

“Enough,” Ebon said abruptly. “This cannot be allowed to continue. John, please contact Senator Oldie immediately. This has to stop now.”

While Ebon waited for Senator Oldie to contact her, she called in her teammates to explain the current situation and devise a course of action. It wasn’t long before Senator Oldie appeared on the screen.

“He wasn’t happy about the idea, but he’s going to do it,” Senator Oldie informed her.

“This was expected,” Ebon said.

“The streets should be cleared enough for you to have the access you need in about an hour. But I can’t place enough emphasis on the fact that you need to act quickly. The situation is getting out of hand, and I don’t think I can contain it much longer.”

“Thank you, Senator. I will keep you apprised of our progress.”

After nearly two hours of patrols and the sun starting to go down in the afternoon sky, Chromed Avenger spotted the most unusual thing on one of his screens; himself walking down one of the side streets on Pleasantview.

“All teammates standby,” Chromed said using the team’s communication system. “I have a confirmed target approaching Salvador Street from Riley Avenue. All teammates within 200 yards should move in to intercept.”

Violet Haze, Cyan Aide, Tawny Bimbo and Emerald Guardian were the closest to respond. As they approached the area they saw what appeared to be Chromed Avenger breaking into a local shop. Cyan and Tawny gave Violet apprehensive looks as they waited for his signal to move in.

“Move,” Violet instructed. Cyan, Tawny, Emerald and Violet emerged from their positions and quickly surrounded the Chromed Avenger imposter. Violet prepared himself for the worst; a fight against one of the most powerful teammates he knew. However, he was surprised to find the imposter not putting up a fight at all. In Violet’s estimation, the imposter seemed to be just giving himself up.

“What gives?” Cyan asked. “Five seconds ago he was in robbing the store. Now he’s just standing here giving us all a blank stare.”

“This is very peculiar,” Emerald replied. “Tawny, can you read anything from him?”

“No,” Tawny said. “It’s the oddest thing but I get nothing at all from him. It’s like he’s not even there.”

“Interesting.”

“What’s that?” Violet asked.

“I have a suspicion as to who our imposter might be. If I can examine him in my lab, I’ll know for certain.”

Back in his lab, Emerald studied his monitors and equipment. Carefully double-checking readouts and test results, it wasn’t long before he had his answer. Finalizing his conclusions, he summoned Ebon Huntress and Violet Haze to his office.

“What have you found, Emerald?” Ebon asked as she entered the lab.

“Almost what I expected,” Emerald replied. “This Chromed Avenger is a Servo.”

“From Jinzouningen Corporation?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“How can that be?” Violet asked. “We pretty much shut down them down a couple months ago. As far as we know, there are only a couple of Servos in Pleasantview.”

“I know,” Emerald said. “Chromed and I have been monitoring them to see if there was any hidden programming. So far, I have been able to determine this one has been off the radar, so to speak.”

“How can you be sure?” Ebon asked. “It doesn’t even look like a Servo.”

Emerald sat down at one of his computer stations. After a few minutes of typing in commands, Ebon and Violet watched in amazement as the Chromed Avenger lying on the table before them turned into a Servo.

“It appears to be some kind of chameleon circuit,” Emerald informed. “Fairly simple compared to ones I have seen in the Galactic Science Academy. However the basic principle is the same.”

“We are dealing with off-world technology then?” Violet asked.

“Oddly enough, no. Although the chameleon circuit is far in advance of anything that I have seen on this planet, the Servo is obviously a product of this world’s technology. I am at a loss to explain how anyone here would have the necessary expertise since the local documents I have read on the subject discuss only the most basic holographic principles..”

“Then it is time I do a little investigative work,” Ebon informed. “And I believe I know right where to start.”

Ebon Huntress boldly stepped into the prison cell of Endoh Masato, a.k.a. Ghost Warrior. Despite his lack of form, she quickly spotted him sitting on the bench in silent mediation.

“I need you to answer a couple of questions,” Ebon said.

“Ebon Huntress, isn’t it? The leader of Team Rainbow herself to ask me questions? I am afraid you will get no more out of me than what I have already told your teammates and the authorities,” Masato replied.

“I’ll ask anyway. We know that you are a brilliant engineer, and that you had most of the best engineers in the world working for your company helping with the design of your Servos. We found a few with some special modifications; technology seemingly from another world, yet very clearly built with local materials and techniques. You must have some very good engineers.”

“It’s a shame they all don’t have Nobel Prizes.”

“So you and your engineers came up with the design for a chameleon circuit all on your own?”

“I’m afraid I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“The modification I am referring to allows the Servo to alter its appearance.”

“That is very interesting. So naturally you assumed that since my corporation constructed the Servos that I must have somehow known about this. You no doubt have gone through the company records and have discovered that many Servos were sold privately prior to being made available to the general public?”

“We have, and we are continuing our investigations of these companies. You could help narrow down the search.”

“John, how is it going?” Ebon asked as she entered the computer lab of the bunker.

“I have yet to ascertain which of Jinzouningen Corporation’s associates would have the technical ability to modify the Servos in this fashion,” Chromed informed. “However, I have come up with a way to track any remaining Servos with chameleon circuits.”

“Explain.”

“Quite simply, it’s the energy output signature. The chameleon circuit produces a slight variance in their electromagnetic field. Although each Servo would have a different variance, all of the Servos without a chameleon circuit would register approximately the same electromagnetic signature. All we need do is look for the ones with any variance.”

“Good work, John. How long before it’s ready?”

Chromed Avenger once again found himself coordinating the efforts of Team Rainbow in tracking down the remaining impersonator Servos. It didn’t take long, thanks to the detection system Chromed had devised.

Returning to the East Side Center, Ebon Huntress contacted Senator Oldie and briefly updated him on situation.

“That’s wonderful news, Ebon,” Senator Oldie replied. “I’ll inform the mayor right away so that the curfew can be lifted.”

“Please do, Senator,” Ebon agreed. “Also, can you ask him to set up a press conference for me? I believe there is a fair amount of damage control with the public that needs to be addressed.”

“Right you are. I’ll see to it at once. Make it good too. A lot of people stood up for you and they need to look good as well.”

The next morning, Ebon Huntress stood before city hall before a throng of reporters, all anxious to hear of the previous day’s events and what she had to say in response.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming here this morning,” Ebon began. “Yesterday was a trying day not only for Team Rainbow but more importantly you, the citizens of Pleasantview. It has been our sworn duty to protect you. Yet despite our best efforts, it is your lives and livelihoods that are seriously threatened. We were unprepared for this latest attack, and it is our responsibility to be prepared for everything. It’s not enough for us to be reactive to the needs of the city; we should be more proactive. Therefore I come before you today, after much contemplation, to inform you that I am disbanding Team Rainbow Super Force.” Ebon paused as several people gasped and cameramen snapped pictures. “I am certain that several of our team members will stay to help protect the city as the need arises, and the East Side Center will continue to be open to the public to enjoy. However, it is clear that Team Rainbow Super Force has become a target and in the process put all of the citizens of Pleasantview at great risk; a risk I can no longer allow to continue. So with a heavy heart, I wish all of you the best of luck and say my goodbye.” And with her final words, Ebon Huntress stepped away from the podium and walked through the crowd of reporters trying to get in one last question.

Back at the bunker, Darna Maltinese, formerly known as Ebon Huntress, sat in the briefing room for what she figured would be the last time as John Smith, the Chromed Avenger, entered to say farewell.

“Darna, there is still time to reconsider,” John said. “I monitored the conversation you just had with Senator Oldie. This world still needs us.”

“That’s true, John,” Darna replied. “But we can’t help this world when there are obviously forces at work against us that don’t seem to care about the innocents. We need to stop giving them a target, John. And maybe that’s why no other superhero team on this world has worked before.”

“Darna, you know I cannot say anything about that.”

“I’m not asking you to, John. I know you have your reasons.”

“In any case, I know you are moving back to the desert, out by Accession Station and Sacsenoci Military Base in Strangetown. I presume Lazlo will be accompanying you?”

“Yes, John. I am actually looking forward to be able to spend more personal time with him.”

“I shall, of course, be staying here at the Bunker. It has become my home now. I will continue my investigations into who modified the Servos and will let you know the moment I discover anything.”

“Thank you, John. And please step away on occasion and come visit us.”

Meanwhile, at the secret lair of Happy Birthday, Itsya rushed into the main room full of excitement.

“I don’t believe it!” Itsya proclaimed. “Team Rainbow has disbanded.”

“Yes, Itsya, I’ve heard,” Happy replied.

“It’s too bad we lost all of our custom Servos. We could have all kinds of fun with them now.”

“All part of the plan, my dear.”

“What’s wrong? I thought you wanted to get rid of Team Rainbow?”

“Itsya, you’ve missed the point,” Happy laughed. “It’s not enough that they have disbanded. Oh no, I want much more than that. I want Ebon Huntress and her entire band of friends off this world. And soon, very soon, that will come to pass. It is time to start the final phase of our operation and say goodbye to Team Rainbow Super Force once and for all.”

So concludes the seventeenth chapter of Team Rainbow Super Force. Is this really the end of Team Rainbow Super Force? Find out in Chapter 18: A Race To Be Finished