Swamp Thing looked at Swamp Thing.

He had taken a tuber and created a sentient being that resembled himself.It was the one source of friendship that he had discovered on this planet.

Actually, the entire brown planet resembled that of Earth.It was widely vegetated with plants and swamps.Wild animals, from deer to alligator, inhabited the world.And there were plenty of mosquitoes.

The only difference setting it apart from Earth was that everything was brown.From its flora to its foliage, everything appeared with a burnt suntan appearance.Yet it wasn't dying.It thrived just like those on Earth.

Swamp Thing had spent days exploring the planet.And with each new discovery, he left with a smile on his face.

But, as the weeks past, a forlorn depression set in upon him.At first, the isolation was what he needed.Then it became like an albatross around his neck.

For hours, he would dip into the swamps.He couldn't help but think about Abby.Tears would course down his cheeks as he recalled her.

She had been there for him when he most needed her.After Pilate had destroyed his body, Abby had been there to watch over him.She had taken time out of her personal life to make sure he resurrected properly.

Then there had been their departing.

It wasn't yet time for them to reconcile.There was no doubt that there were still existing feelings between them, but the timing wasn't correct.Both of them had to go down separate roads for the time being.

He wanted her; there was no doubt in his heart.But did she want him?It wasn't something he could currently answer.

"I love you, " Swamp Thing had told her, and he replayed it over-and-over in his mind. "I love you. "

And then he left her.

Once again, he had listened to the voices inside his head.It was those very same voices that had instructed him to murder the Weed Killer.His sanity was on the verge of cracking up.

The one good thing about coming to the brown planet was that the voices had ceased.No longer did he have them inside his head telling him to do terrible things.He appeared to be getting back to his old self.

Depression, however, seemed to be the one enemy that he couldn't defeat.

There were times when he regretted having restored himself.He found himself damning his rebirth.Were those thoughts of suicide?Death seemed to an embracing lover.

But those were fleeting thoughts on the brown planet.He had found a vestige that seemed to help him.

He had created a copycat version of himself.

He didn't give it vocal chords, though.Like the voices that had raged inside his brain, he did not want to hear another being talking to him.For now, he was content simply to have a friend.He didn't need someone else telling him what to do.

The two would sit together and watch the day turn to night.And they would relish the wildlife that came up to them; unafraid.The Swamp Thing would smile as deer came up to him to nibble at his verdant hide.

Over time, the twin Swamp Thing's became close friends.

"What are we to do, brother? " Swamp Thing asked. "What can we do to pass the time? "

Swamp Thing answered himself.He built them a chessboard.He fashioned rocks into Rooks and Queens and Kings and Knights and Bishops.For Pawns, he used the knots from tree branches.

The two of them would sit for hours and play against one another.

The only unfortunate thing was that each game ended in stalemate.

"You know me too well, " Swamp Thing laughed.

But nothing took his mind off Abby.He wondered what she was doing back on Earth.Had she found a new boyfriend?Someone whom she could live a normal life with?Would she shun him for a flesh-and-blood man that could love her like she needed to be love?

Swamp Thing sighed.Anything was possible.Even though he knew that Abby loved him, there was a breaking point to everything.

Had they reached it?

For now, he was content on the brown planet.There would be time to worry about Abby when he returned to Earth.

He reached out and moved another chess piece.

"Stalemate, " he said, smiling.

Across from him, the other Swamp Thing smiled, too.

And then they began to play the game, again.

The Kentucky Mountains were beautiful at this time of year.

Tefe had left Bruce and David to explore the country.It had been a tearful goodbye, as the trio had become close friends on their journey across the nation in the cargo car.

But, like everything else, there had to be an ending to a beginning.

As Tefe walked through the woods, she marveled at the gorgeous countryside.Thoughts of talking to the Green in the country intrigued her.Would these be the same as the Tree of Knowledge?Would they, too, want her to annihilate the planet?How could anyone want to destroy something so stunning?

She reached out to touch a tree.

And that's when she heard the gunfire.

Instantly, she ran to where she'd heard the shot.In a clearing not far from where she was, she saw a bear lying dead on the ground.A bullet had torn away most of its head, leaving its bloody and mangled brain exposed.

Off to her right came a voice:

"Be careful, little girl, " said the man. "That thing might not be dead, yet. "

Tefe ran to the bear and knelt down beside it.With a frown, she turned back to the man. "Oh, it's dead alright. "

The man slung his rifle over his shoulder.He walked over to where Tefe sat beside the dead bear. "This thing has been terrorizing tourists, " he said. "I had no choice but to bring it down. "

"We always have a choice, " said Tefe.

"Yeah, well, you know how it is. "The man extended his hand.Tefe stood up and shook it. "I'm Hunter Down.I'm a park ranger around these parts. "

"I'm Tefe, "she relied.She feigned a smile. "I'm a plant elemental. "

"You're a what? "

"I'm a plant elemental, " she repeated. "I'm one with the forest. "

"Oh, " said Hunter. "You're one of those activist types, huh? "

"Something like that. "

Tefe turned back to the dead bear.She reached down to it, putting her hand inside the mess that was its wounded head.A slight green glow emitted from her, and she pulled back her hand as the flesh mended itself.

Hunter dropped his gun.He watched as the bear stumbled back onto its feet.Tefe reached out and patted it on the butt.And then it ran back off into the woods.

"Holy shit, " muttered Hunter.

"Still think I'm an activist? "

"I don't know what you are, " said Hunter.He rubbed a hand over his stubbly jaw. "You mind telling me? "

"I've already told you, " replied Tefe. "I'm a plant elemental. "

"And what the hell is that? "

"It's a long story, " said Tefe. "It's boring. "

"I'm all ears, " Hunter told her. "Enlighten me. "

"I'm trying to find myself, " Tefe said.

"Yeah, " said Hunter. "What are you running from? "

Tefe laughed. "Is it that obvious? "

"Kinda, " replied Hunter.

Tefe crossed her arms.She looked down and kicked at the dirt.She sighed and looked back up at him. "I'm a part of what they call The Green, " she said. "And they want me to do terrible things.So, basically, I told them to fuck off and went off on my own. "She smiled. "How is that abbreviated version? "

"That's some story, " agreed Hunter. "What kind of 'terrible things' does this Green want you to do? "

"They want me to destroy the world, " she told him. "So they can grow it back to how they want it.Basically, they want to rule the Earth. "

"Jesus Christ, " said Hunter. "You could do that? "

"Yes, " said Tefe. "If pushed to it I can. "

"I saw the bear thing, " Hunter told her, "but this is all too much for me.I think maybe you're off on one hell of a toot. "

"You can believe anything you want. "

Hunter bent down and picked up his rifle.He slung it back over his shoulder. "So what are you going to do? "

"Like I told you, " she said. "I told them to fuck off.Not exactly in those words, though.The Green isn't something you want to piss off. "

"What do your parents think of this?Do they know about it? "

Tefe had to laugh. "They both know.Would you be surprised if I told you my father was a plant elemental, too? "

"Nothing can surprise me at this point, " said Hunter. "What about your mother, though?Is she one of these plant things, too? "

"No, " Tefe replied. "She's a flesh-and-blood human being.The two of them got together one night and got it on.I'm the finished product. "

"Your mom got it on with a plant? "Hunter laughed. "I'd like to have seen that. "He raised his eyebrows. "On second thought, maybe I wouldn't have. "

"It probably wasn't a pretty sight. "

"So, " asked Hunter, "what are you going to do now? "

"I'm not sure, " replied Tefe. "I guess I'll keep scouring the country.Somewhere out there is me.I just want to find it. "

"Yeah, " agreed Hunter.

"This is really strange meeting you, " said Tefe. "I hope you don't think badly of me. "

"Certainly not, " Hunter told her. "Actually, I think you're one pretty cool chick. "

"Thanks, " said Tefe.She felt her cheeks blossom in embarrassment. "I guess I'd better be on my way. "

"You know, " Hunter said. "My cabin is just a ways over the hills.You think you might want to come home with me?I'd love to hear more of your story. "

Tefe smiled.She knew where this was heading. "I think that'd be nice, " she said. "But are you sure I wouldn't be putting you out? "

"Absolutely not, " Hunter said. "I'd be honored to have you. "

"I bet you would, " Tefe replied.

"No funny stuff, " said Hunter.He winked at her. "Unless you want to, that is. "

Deep inside her, Tefe wanted 'funny stuff'.She couldn't deny it.She felt wetness spread through her crotch.

"Let's go, " she said, "before I change my mind. "

"After you, " said Hunter.

And the two of them walked off over the hills together.By the time they reached Hunter's cabin, they were holding hands.

Jimmy Coffey was sodomizing the whore.

"Oh yeah, baby, " he muttered. "That's the way to do it. "

He had picked her up on 7^th Street in Washington, D.C.She only cost him $25.Jimmy figured she was a crack whore.But that was okay.It wasn't like Mary was giving him any action.

"What are you doing to do with her? " the whore had asked, pointing at Mary.

"She likes to watch, " said Jimmy. "Is that a problem? "

"No, " said the whore. "But it'll cost you an extra $5. "

Jimmy had only smiled.

Now they were in a seedy hotel getting it on.Jimmy had the whore on the bed in a doggy-style.Mary sat across the room, watching them.It didn't excite her.Jimmy was always pulling foolish acts like this.She'd grown used to them.

"Ah yeah, " said Jimmy. "Here it comes! "

However, before he could spend himself inside the whore, he was pulled back by an invisible force.He came out of the whore with a loud PLOP!He bounced off a nearby wall and crumpled down to the floor.

I'M WATCHING YOU, said the voice of Goregog.YOU'LL BE MINE SOON, JIMMY COFFEY &

Jimmy cringed at the sudden mental appearance of Goregog.He hadn't thought of the demon for ages.Now, he was back.

Suddenly, from within, Jimmy felt his body begin to burn.His flesh began to bubble, leaving ugly boils over his entire carcass.He felt his face, raking his nails over the wounds.Blood red and egg yolk yellow pus began to run down his cheeks.

"Get out of here, " he yelled at the whore. "Go! "

"You don't have to tell me twice, " she replied.She didn't even wait to put on her clothes.Naked, she ran out into the hallway and disappeared.

"Mary, " he said. "Come to me. "

She did as he instructed.But first she filled a tub with cold water from the tap.She ran over to him, bending down.Gently, she began to dab at his wounds.

"He's back for me, " Jimmy mumbled. "I won't be able to fight him in the real world. "

He cringed as Mary cleaned his face.The boils hurt: BAD

"There's only one thing to do, " he said. "I have to find Robbie.He'll be able to help me. "

He grabbed Mary around the neck and pulled her to him, kissing her.

"Yes, " he said. "Robbie. "Then he sighed. "And if I can't find him, my ass is toast. "