Doctor Sinister and General Menace nervously push their way through a crowd of strangely garbed people who are, in turn, milling around inside a massive hangar-sized convention hall. Staring cautiously at a young lady wearing a stuffed flamingo on her head, the Doctor casts a concerned eye to his faithful henchman as they work their way down a wide carpeted aisle flanked by stalls and booths on either side.

Gaudy colours and brightly lit displays illuminate a seemingly endless array of displayed merchandise and paraphernalia as harassed booth staff try and attend to everyone clamouring for their attention. A security guard dressed as an Imperial Stormtrooper from the Star Wars films strides down one aisle and momentarily casts an eye over our two heroes before stopping to inspect their badges.

Doctor Sinister: You don’t need to see our identification. We aren’t the men you are looking for. We can go about our business. Move along.

(The Stormtrooper shakes his head in disbelief before walking off)

General Menace: I can’t believe we got past that security guard, I thought we were done for.

You’ll find I can have a strong influence on the weak-minded. You will find me a powerful ally.

Why does this whole scenario seem strangely familiar?

I’ve got no idea.

This whole place is weird if you ask me. Are you sure you heard right from that truck driver? He said this was a war convention? Some sort of strategy thing?

Oh yes, absolutely. He said they’ve held one here annually for years. The code-name is Origins. 15,000 of the greatest military minds on the planet will be attending over four days. Just imagine the potential General – we can rebuild our army overnight, acquire new weapons, devise new stratagems…

…and talk to the mushroom people.

Pardon?

Over there my lord.

(A large blue mushroom is walking down one of the aisles ahead of them, having its photo taken with various children who rush up to shake its gigantic furry hands)

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