BILLY STEELE: KID RANGER--THE DARK SKULL'S REVENGE

White Eagle was spread apart on the ground with his arms and legs stretched in four different directions. Upon The Sidewinder’s command, the horses would gallop and by doing so, they would rip the ancient medicine man’s arms and legs from their sockets.

Despite his painful torment, White Eagle pleaded with Billy not to relinquish his heritage, his legacy to his captors. But when Billy saw his mentor suffering, it was like the kid ranger was already dying in his heart. And he was compelled to do whatever it took to save the Indian’s life.

Billy was just about to tell The Sidewinder where he had hid the black coin, when one of the Sidewinder’s outlaws discovered the new magical gifts White Eagle had given Billy. Greedily, The Sidewinder snatched The Thunderhawk tomahawk from his minion’s hands and felt the weapon’s awesome power in his clutching hand.

In an effort to save his young student’s life, White Eagle told the sinister Sidewinder about the magic of The Manitou’s weapons. If he leaves Billy in peace, White Eagle told the Sidewinder, he could have the magical tomahawk, buffalo skin cape and ceremonial mask.

The Sidewinder suddenly had a change of plan. He could use these magical weapons to wage war on Billy’s adopted family of Holt’s Rangers. Once he destroys this cavalry troop in an ambush, the frontier and its people would fall to The Sidewinder’s conquest. With the guardians gone, the defenseless settlers would fall to the son of The Dark Skull and The Sidewinder would fulfill his father’s legacy.

Billy intuitively knew The Sidewinder only pledged allegiance to himself. In a vision, Billy saw The Sidewinder taking infernal possession of White Eagle’s magical gifts, the black coin, map to the hidden mine, the mine’s enormous power itself, and how The Sidewinder would spit on the blood ridden bodies of Billy, White Eagle and Holt’s Rangers. Billy was once again torn between his wanting to save White Eagle’s life and saving the lives of his family and his nation. Even if Billy were to give in to The Sidewinder’s demands, Billy was almost certain the teen outlaw would break his promise and destroy him, White Eagle and the West. Billy had to find a way to stop The Sidewinder at any cost.

Billy, however, had one bit of Native American magic unknown to The Sidewinder. Under Billy’s cavalry hatband, he kept his wondrous black arrowhead-the charm that turned the 12-year old boy into The Lightning Warrior. The black arrowhead was hidden in plain sight entwined in the band next to the crossed saber logo of Holt’s Rangers. It was the ultimate magic next to the symbol of Western justice. The Sidewinder’s men failed to find it on Billy when they bound him with ropes. If only the plucky boy could find a way to unleash the wild, wrath of god within him to save his family and home. But how can he?

The Sidewinder quickly focused his attention on the magical gifts. He pointed the Thunderhawk tomahawk at a boulder in the cave. A force bolt of devastating power struck the enormous rock and soon reduced it to rubble. His eyes blazed in fiery vengeance upon holding a weapon of such incredible power. He next wrapped himself in the cape from the skin of the great, white buffalo. As his henchmen watched in amazement, The Sidewinder disappeared before their eyes. He was now invisible to the naked eyes. Only his hideous laughter remained. He was a horrific ghost who possessed an awesome power.