As the alien parasite subjugated the helpless, disoriented sidekick, Nightlad crowed to Blue Blazes, "What did I tell you... Sidekicks are so easy. Owlson here barely put up a fight at all, even when you grabbed him from behind. In fact, for a while there it looked like he was actually getting into it. What exactly did you tell him when you called him over?"

Blue Blazes smiled smugly, but didn't answer. Owlson spasmed as his parasite completed its takeover of his mind. As they released him, Owlson-host turned to Nightlad and explained, "He told my host it would be something called a 'quickie'? Here, let me demonstrate..."

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Starling had been shocked when he received an urgent encrypted message from his best friends Owlson and Stronglad warning him about a mysterious plot against his super, The Vigilante. The message stressed that Starling should tell no one and trust no one, since the plot allegedly involved people in The Vigilante's innermost circle. After arranging to meet his fellow sidekicks under the utmost secrecy, Starling impatiently demanded to know the details of the plot and the identity of the person who was planning to betray The Vigilante.

After a brief and decisive struggle, he was delighted to discover that he would be the one who would betray The Vigilante: Just as Owlson and Stronglad had just betrayed and helped enslave him, he would serve his new parasite masters by betraying The Vigilante and delivering him into their clutches. He grinned with excitement: nothing would make him happier than to help The Vigilante join him and his fellow slaves in service to the parasites.