The year was 2025, and the streets of Manila were bustling with life. The afternoon sun blazed down, reflecting off the sleek, modern buildings alongside the crumbling old ones. The usual cacophony of car horns, people shouting, and the occasional dog barking filled the air. However, in one particular district, the scene was far from ordinary.
Lastikman, wearing his signature emerald and black suit, stood confidently in the middle of the street, holding a villain in a headlock. The criminal, a well-known street thug, struggled, but Lastikman's strength and elasticity kept him firmly in place. Standing beside him was Flash Bomba, the quick-witted speedster, his costume gleaming under the sun as he crossed his arms with a grin plastered on his face.
Lastikman: (gritting his teeth, addressing the villain) Kahit anong layo ng kasamaan, aabutin ko para sa kabutihan.
(English: No matter how far evil goes, I will catch it for the good.)
Flash Bomba slapped Lastikman on the shoulder, his grin widening.
Flash Bomba: Lakas? Check. Lodi? Double check.
(English: Strength? Check. Lodi? Double check.)
Lastikman visibly cringed, turning his head to the side to hide his discomfort.
Lastikman: (rolling his eyes) Pre, wag ganyan. At tsaka pa, na saan si Darna at si Captain Barbell?
(English: Dude, don't be like that. And besides, where are Darna and Captain Barbell?)
Flash Bomba chuckled, giving Lastikman a playful wink.
Flash Bomba: (teasing) Eh, nag-date ano pa ba! Ha!
(English: Well, what else did you date? Ha!)
Lastikman groaned, slumping his shoulders. His discomfort was clear, but before he could reply, a police officer from across the street shouted over to them.
Police Officer: (shouting) Meron tumakas na kontrabida!
(English: A villain's escaped!)
Without missing a beat, Lastikman turned to Flash Bomba, his eyes narrowing in focus.
Lastikman: (determined) Ako na bahala, Flash Bomba.
(English: I'll take care of it, Flash Bomb.)
Before Flash Bomba could say anything else, Lastikman stretched his legs and took off at a blistering speed, his superhuman elasticity allowing him to bound across the street with ease. The alleyways of Manila, littered with old construction materials and trash, now became his personal track as he rapidly pursued the escaping criminal.
Lastikman: (yelling) Jan kana, Devil Datu Saytan!
(English: Stay right there! Devil Datu Saytan!)
At the far end of the alley, the villain, Datu Saytan a well-known sorcerer and former crime lord heard the familiar voice and cursed under his breath. His dark, sinister presence lingered in the air, the smell of incense and ancient magic surrounding him.
Datu Saytan: (grumbling) Ikaw nanaman... haysst!?
(English: You again... sigh!)
With a deep breath, Datu Saytan turned to face his pursuer. His hands began to crackle with dark energy as he prepared for another round of battle. Meanwhile, Lastikman bounced off the walls, his limbs stretching to incredible lengths as he closed in on Datu Saytan.
Lastikman: (smiling confidently) Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi kita hahayaang mawala!
(English: This time, I won't let you slip away!)
Datu Saytan sneered, summoning his dark powers to conjure a cloud of smoke. He vanished into it, leaving the alley empty for a brief moment, his laughter echoing in the distance.
Lastikman: (cursing under his breath) Hindi na ulit...
(English: Not again...)
As Lastikman leapt forward, using his elasticity to whip himself from one wall to another, he called out to Flash Bomba, who was still standing on the main road.
Lastikman: (shouting back) Flash Bomb! Tawagan ang iba! Kailangan namin ng backup!
(English: Flash Bomba! Call the others! We need backup!)
Flash Bomba, now standing a safe distance away, gave a thumbs up with a nod, ready to make the call.
Flash Bomba: (to himself) Darna at Captain Barbell, eto na...
(English: Darna and Captain Barbell, here we go...)
Lastikman wasn't about to let Datu Saytan slip away again. His body elongated like a snake, stretching from wall to wall, weaving and coiling until he completely trapped Datu Saytan in a massive human net.
Lastikman grinned. His left hand morphed into the shape of a speaker mic, wires and shapes twisting together from his elastic body. Bringing it close to Datu Saytan's ear, Lastikman shouted with playful mockery.
Lastikman: Arrestado ka na ulit, demonyo!
(English: You're under arrest again, demon!)
Datu Saytan winced from the volume, his face twisting into an annoyed sneer. But instead of surrendering, he grinned wickedly.
Datu Saytan: (gritting his teeth) Pwes, kung mahuhuli mo naman ako... then I'll send you to another universe!
(English: Well, if you catch me... then I'll send you to another universe!)
Lastikman blinked, caught off guard.
Lastikman: (raising a brow) Kailan ka ba nag-English!?
(English: When did you learn English!?)
But before he could react further, a swirling mass of blue and violet energy formed behind Lastikman. The very ground shook as a portal opened up, warping the air around it like a black hole. The pull was immediate and strong.
Lastikman: (eyes widening) P*tang ina, ano 'to, Datu Saytan!?
(English: Damn mother, what is this, Datu Saytan!?)
Datu Saytan only chuckled darkly, his arms crossed as he watched the scene unfold.
Datu Saytan: (smirking) Yan ang forbidden power ko... Universal Portal! One-time ko lang magagamit yan, kaya enjoy mo, Lastikman!
(English: That's my forbidden power... Universal Portal! I can only use it once, so enjoy it, Lastikman!)
Lastikman tried to anchor himself, gripping onto the walls, stretching his limbs to hold onto anything but it was useless. The suction force of the portal was too strong. His arms, legs, torso began getting pulled apart, stretching thinner and thinner.
Lastikman: (shouting, desperate) Hindi... hindi... HINDI!!!
(English: No... Noo... NO!!!)
In a matter of seconds, Lastikman was completely sucked into the portal vanishing into the swirling void with a final, echoing yell.
Seconds later, Flash Bomba, Darna, and Captain Barbell rushed into the alley, arriving just too late. They skidded to a stop, looking around wildly at the empty the only thing left behind was the faint hum of the portal fading out and the lingering laugh of Datu Saytan echoing through the alleyways.
Flash Bomba: (gritting his teeth) Pre... san ka na!?
(English: Bro... Where are you!?)
Darna clenched her fists while Captain Barbell slammed his fist into the wall in frustration. The heroes had failed to stop Datu Saytan and Lastikman was now somewhere far beyond their reach.
-EARTH 2-
Lastikman screamed in agony as he tumbled through the violent, swirling chaos of the portal. His body twisted unnaturally, his vision blurred and distorted, like he was trapped underwater. The spinning light battered his senses, and just when he thought he couldn't take it anymore.
"THUD!"
He crash-landed awkwardly onto something no, someone soft yet strong. Gasping for air, Lastikman looked up to see a woman with short, wavy blond hair staring down at him with an intense glare.
Lastikman: (dazed) I-I'm sorry, ma'am, I didn't mean to...
He suddenly paused, touching his throat in shock.
Lastikman: (confused) Wait... why am I speaking in English!?
Before he could process it, the blond woman shoved him off her and swiftly pinned him to the ground, one knee on his chest, one hand ready to strike. Her grip was surprisingly strong.
???: (snarling) Who are you?! Speak now!
Lastikman, still dizzy but trying to think straight, raised his hands in surrender.
Lastikman: I-I am Lastikman! A Filipino hero! I debuted in 2003!
The woman blinked at him, her suspicion mixing with confusion. Then she leaned closer, frowning hard.
???: (snapping) Black Canary. And what the hell are you talking about... 2003!? It's still 1943, dumbass!
Lastikman's eyes widened in horror.
Lastikman: (stammering) W-wait... 1943!? As in World War II!?
Before either of them could say another word, a sharp gunshot rang through the air. Both of them turned their heads and there, charging through the smoky, broken streets, were Nazi soldiers, rifles raised and shouting in German.
Lastikman: (gulping) Shit, What the fuck!
Black Canary grabbed Lastikman's arm roughly and yanked him to his feet.
Black Canary: (gritting her teeth) No time! You either fight with me or you're dead!
Lastikman, still overwhelmed but feeling adrenaline kick in, nodded quickly as he stretched his fists.
Lastikman: (nervous grin) Well... good thing stretching's kinda my thing...!