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The Book.
2007-03-22 14:20:01

Our wait is at an end tomorrow. The team we have been following in these procured FBI files of the Atomic Age will return to play a substantial role in the modern world, and AGENTS OF ATLAS will document those events. It so happens that the first issue will also provide one of this week's keywords. That word will be obvious to those reading today's excerpt...







* * * * *







Morning began at the "It's Tops" Diner down on Market.  M-11 had already left in the back of a truck with Bureau drivers who would take him to Chabot Observatory in Oakland, where Marvel Boy's rocket was hidden. There he would  he would clamp his large feet into two recessed areas of the cockpit and await the other's arrival at the Silver Bullet. Back in the city, Venus lowered a new pair of sunglasses before her eyes. "Lamp my specs, boys, they're all the rage in Italy."



"Venus, you don't really have to tell people to stare at you. It just kind of happens." Ken Hale pulled his porkpie hat down lower on his head. "Don't hide yourself, I need you to draw attention away from me."



"Aw, thanks Ken."



Jimmy Woo's agents dressed in civilian apparel so as not to attract attention. Ken Hale wore a hat, sunglasses, and a trenchcoat with the collar flipped up, and he still got looks at 7 in the morning. Their favorite waitress Edie led them to the most private booth in the restaurant, though it still was near a window. Jimmy Woo tapped at his own forearm as he spoke to his friend. "How's that arm this morning, Ken?"



The gorilla pulled back his sleeve to show a nearly perfect simian arm. "Barely even a scar now."



"Whatever the poison was on that blade, it must not be as strong as the ancient curse that makes you a gorilla," said Bob Grayson.



"You mean the blessing that keeps me from having to be a man?" The ape worked his way into the clamshell booth and rested his long arms on the backs of the padded seats.  Though it was no secret that Ken Hale longed to be human again, he almost never complained about his condition around the team. In his days as a Soldier of Fortune, Hale was known to walk around with serious injuries that he would hardly mention. Still, Jimmy knew that the brief moment of humanity had only rekindled Hale's hopes before dashing them again. Picking up a newspaper that someone had left on the table, Jimmy saw something that would surely take the ape man's mind off his condition for a bit.



"Hey Ken, you haven't seen the paper since we left the other day, have you?"



"Nah, I'm giving up on reading. It's overrated."



"You don't have to read. Here. Just look at this photograph."



Jimmy slid the sports section into the gorilla's field of view. Hale looked down to see a horse with a smiling jockey on its back, and a large horseshoe shaped collection of roses around the animal's neck. Ken Hale stared blankly at the image, and then his eyes widened to offer the rare view of white around his pupils.



"Tim Tam! He did it! Ho boy, look at that! YEAH!"  



Any effort to be inconspicuous was dropped as Hale went on for the next ten minutes about the Kentucky Derby, horses and racing in general. Then he leapt over the table and grabbed his hat from the hook on the wall.



"Hey, where are you going?" asked Jimmy. "We've got to get to the rocket after breakfast and head out to the Space Center."



"I'll meet you there! My bookie has something for me--Scratch that. He's got a LOT of something for me!" With that the ape rushed out the door and loped quickly up the street. From the window Jimmy watched his friend amble away, and took a drink of his coffee. Over the edge of the cup he noticed something through the glass. Across the street, a man in a dark coat and cap watched the ape as well, and pulled his lapel out to speak discreetly. Jimmy could see a small transmitter with an antenna just inside the man's coat. Woo erupted from the booth and ran through the door.



"Jimmy, what's up?" asked Venus, too late to be heard. 



The man with the transmitter saw Jimmy Woo coming through the doorway of the diner and ran. He made his way down the block and turned, and then crossed the street. Jimmy Woo was closing the distance quickly when the man ran into a small brick and iron structure. It was an entrance that led below street level, possibly a train access. The door clicked shut just as Jimmy reached it. Jimmy pulled on the handle but it wouldn't budge, having been locked from within. Marvel Boy flew down with Venus on his arm. 



"Jimmy, what is it?"



"Some guy was spying on us, and reporting in to somebody," said Jimmy who was now kicking at the lock. Finally he produced his gun from his jacket and shot the handle. The door swung open. 



The three ran down a long series of steps. The stairway was pitch black, but Marvel Boy's wristbands soon made it as bright as the street above.  "How deep does this go?" asked Venus. 



"It's probably an old unused train entrance." said Jimmy, skipping steps to move faster. "We've gone much lower than the platform would be though. I know there's tunnels under the city, but they're not supposed to be this far down." The group emerged in a large area of tiled wall. A quick look around revealed no exits or even vent shafts that someone could climb through. 



"We didn't run past any doors did we?"



"No."



The three grew quiet and listened. No footfalls or breathing. Jimmy saw a faded image on the large wall. Walking closer he could see that it was an antiquated version of the globe, held by the kneeling god Atlas.  He touched the wall, which was covered with dust.



"I feel like I should know some magic word. Open sesame." The wall and its artwork remained still and silent.







* * * * *




			 i wonder... 
	how did get that poison on gorilla


	Posted by tarhaun on 2006-08-01 17:52:06

	
 	 	 
		
			 I know the first keyword 
	T--- 

 

I will wait until the issue's release date to allow one of the new recruits a chance at this. It IS indeed very obvious once you have read the excellent first issue! 

 

but is there another keyword hidden in the text above?


	Posted by doop1958 on 2006-08-01 18:09:43

	
 	 	 
		
			 Unfortunately... 
	I will be out of the country.  Fortunately, while there I will be recruiting new agents for our humble cause.  I will check in using the inter-net to be sure all is well at the home office.


	Posted by kuyu001 on 2006-08-01 18:26:04

	
 	 	 
		
			 Oh no..! 
	MUUUSST... RESISSST... MIS-SION.... ---   urk--* 

 

[These missions have seriously rocked!  They're addictive.. I don't get any work done when we get them...  And I cannot wait for the first issue!]


	Posted by msr.oresteus on 2006-08-01 18:49:32

	
 	 	 
		
			 Admirable Restraint, Doop. 
	Thank you for holding back.


	Posted by mr. lao on 2006-08-01 18:52:16

	
 	 	 
		
			 Password is...TEMUJIN 
	Jimmy speaks the word TEMUJIN. Ghengis Khan????


	Posted by nhartz on 2006-08-02 14:28:26

	
 	 	 
		
			 Indeed! 
	Well done, nhartz!


	Posted by mr. lao on 2006-08-02 17:16:31

	
 	 	 
		
			 disappearing mission? 
	the new mission text has disappeared :( 

 




	Posted by doop1958 on 2006-08-03 08:20:29

	
 	 	 
		
			 Server down 
	You didn't download a copy of Mr. Lao's new mission onto you own hard drive, Doop1958? For shame! ATLAS may demote you! A true field agent prepapres for the possibility of a server crash! 

 

(Heh. Like I should talk. I have no rank whatsoever.)


	Posted by Lonesome Pinky on 2006-08-04 03:55:31

	
 	 	 
		
			 Temujin 
	Hello all, 

             I can't even remember when last I posted but it looks like all the usual suspects are here. I need to get back up to speed. But I just ran across a reference to temujin in my researches, he is the second Mandarin, head of a worldwide criminal organization and has access to his father's ten rings. 

               Also here's another of my, hopefully, infamous questions. What about the Comet? 

               KRB NRG I hope you are doing well and it's good to be back. 

                   nosybrat


	Posted by nosybrat on 2006-08-05 21:47:19

	
 	 	 
		
			 Keyword 
	Apologies.  I haven't been around for a while, but enjoyed Issue #1 of Agents of Atlas immensely.  I'm still trying to work out who you are Mr. Lao.  One of my suspicions is that you're really THE YELLOW CLAW, but I shall wait to see if I'm correct. 

 

Anyway, I believe the keyword is TEMUJIN, as Jimmy Woo read that word off a wall in an Atlas Foundation building.  I look forward to learning more about your mysterious organisation. 

 

Your humble servant...


	Posted by CommercialInn on 2006-08-07 07:13:05

	
 	 	 
		
			 One Keyword...or TWO? 
	This seems rather easy and anti-climatic this week.   

I did notice that Mr.Lao said the book would provide "...one of this week's keywords." 

This leads me to believe that there might be another.   

Has anyone approached a Comic Book vendor with the key word "Temujin" to see what they may say? 

 

Nosy, nice to see you back.  Of this Comet you speak of...would this be the Atlas Comics version?  The decendents of Atlas Comics have created a new 'Comet' that appeared in the original run of NOVA.  But I don't think the Atomic Age 'Comet' has ever turned up anywhere.  Am I mistaken?


	Posted by KRB NRG on 2006-08-07 16:31:07

	
 	 	 
		
			 You Are Correct 
	Hello all, I am referring to the Comet from NOVA I lucked on an entry for the Champions of Xandar or somesuch in the old Book of the Dead(Oh Essentials how I love thee), and though the entry was brief it mentioned he was one of the few superhumans active during the 1950s,  I don't know if we are, in the end, talking of the same character. He is well and truly dead though, and with the events I hear affecting Xandar and the rest of the galaxy, we are unlikely to see his kind again soon. 

        Courage all and take care. 

                                               Nosybrat


	Posted by nosybrat on 2006-08-08 14:29:32

	
 	 	 
		
			 no mission this week? 
	it's already Wednesdya and there's bene no update. has the posting day changed?


	Posted by doop1958 on 2006-08-09 09:41:05

	
 	 	 
		
			 Tomorrow. 
	Timely has had inter-net foibles, and I have been cautious with postings as of late. Training should continue tomorrow as planned.


	Posted by mr. lao on 2006-08-09 11:52:58

	
 	 	 
		
			 Foibles 
	We must call Pete, the head, er, stenographer at Timely to see what he can do to fix the foibles!


	Posted by Lonesome Pinky on 2006-08-10 18:31:02

	
 	 	 
		


		Array
	
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About this blog:
The Temple of Atlas is the training ground for all prospective Agents of ATLAS.

About the author:
Mr.Lao does not exist. Any myths or fables relating to him should be disregarded as same.


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