Herman: "Back away from me, you...thing!!! You have no idea what's going on!!!"



Candi: "No idea, huh? You killed a man, that's what's going on!"

Herman: "He was in my way! Look...let me get outta here, or else..."



Herman: "No...Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!"



A huge birch tree sprouted up from the ground, consuming Herman instantly! How would Candi explain this?



Herman: (gasping for air) "I...don't wanna die!!!"

His head fell. He had been eaten alive by the tree! A murderer, yes; and did deserve death...but not like this!



The most horrid weed popped out of that bloom that Candi had ever seen! What was that???



The creature then assumed a more recognizable shape: Botan!!!!



Botan: "That was my car!!!"

Candi: "Jeral!!!"



Botan: "Promise me one thing, Candi! That man has ruined my last possession! My last hope of being normal, I fear!

I intend to leave town until I figure out what I need to mix the formula with to free myself! Now, stay out of my way! I don't want to kill you like I did him!"



What was suddenly coming over Candi? She felt dizzy...even cold!!! Her super strength was suddenly gone! As Botan wrapped her in his vines, she couldn't help but cramp up in her helplessness!

Botan: "I haven't mastered poison plants yet, but I'd rather not have to! You're not so tough this time!"

Candi: "Jeral, this is insane! Snap back to your senses! I have a family now!"

Botan: "You should've thought of that before following me!"

Her centilegs would not eject!

Candi: "Go then! Find your freedom, but stop this madness! Jeral...I remember you as you were before...you don't have to be the villain!"



What was this? Someone still had faith in him? Jeral was beginning to think this was impossible. No matter. He had to make certain that she kept her word! Otherwise, who was to say that the rogue Phaelites responsible for his predicament wouldn't exploit Candi as a way to track him down?

Tearing off her mask, Botan wasted no time ripping it to pieces! He let her go, but not very gently.

Candi: "Go, hurry! Before the police find you! I can't make excuses for you...my husband is in enough trouble!"

Even the pain of being wrapped in the vines was lasting longer than it normally would have!



Botan paused. Why was she acting like this? He felt a soft spot for her, knowing that she had only ever tried to help him. But he wasn't about to let his tough exterior fade completely!

Botan: "Hmmm...very well then! You get out of here yourself! And don't tell them where to find me! We'll meet again...when one of us has answers!"

Candi: "Agreed. Someday, Jeral. Someday...we'll shut down both the Phaelites and the Meethlites! Someday, both will have to answer for the crimes of creating us! For now...we both need to be under the radar. Be careful out there!"

In spite their anger, their tendency towards action; the two of them felt a bond that kept them from killing each other. They shared the common pain of being outcasts. Not outcasts by direct divine revelation; but because of the malicious crimes against nature committed by their green and graphite-skinned foes.



Jeral: "Be...careful? I once had a wife, who spoke those words to me. That was before her heart turned black; and we both turned to other lovers that weren't meant to last. One day...I'll have another wife; and we won't make the same mistakes!"

Jeral had been embittered himself against the world. He was one of few Plant-Men left. Others died rapidly, but he couldn't seem to die. He couldn't permanently change back either, because of a catalyst found in the blood of one species which he did not know of. He knew it was one the Meethlites were manufacturing, but nothing else.

Even so, Candi's voice was like that of his wife before she turned against him. He couldn't bring himself to betray his better memories!



Candi: "We can't keep resolving our every single problem by killing someone, Jeral! I...have already seen what happens when that is the case."



Botan: "You can at least pretend to be normal! But I you've made your point. If I weren't such a freak...I'd seriously get some help right now! You're right...I need it. I will remember you for this!"



That quickly, Botan had fled. The tree that consumed Herman was now itself a dead piece of wood, a remnant eating up the road.



Candi quickly turned her shirt inside-out before trudging her way to the nearest pharmacy. She didn't want anyone seeing the unmasked version of her with a big centipede on her chest!



Worry was beginning to set in: a pregnancy could ruin everything! On the other hand, it could prove to be the most exciting day of her life! Was Denny ready for the responsibility? Was she? She knew there was only one day to discover if they even had reason to fear at all!



With nobody looking, she tried to fire her centilegs from out of her arm...nothing! Nothing from her legs either! Force them out was painful! The strength necessary to use her centilegs for battle - gone! She could feel that she was still physically very healthy...but her superhuman side was now fully suppressed!



What had she done to herself? Was this what Laurie suggested? She knew that she'd technically not done anything wrong, but what if it were merely irresponsible for her to time this? The city was in need of her more than ever before, and she couldn't even fire a centileg!