diff --git a/defs.h b/defs.h
index db6f0df..02eff57 100644
--- a/defs.h
+++ b/defs.h
@@ -40,8 +40,6 @@
 #define HELPDELAY  80
 
 
-// 
-#define POWERUPTIME	15	// # secs before a powerup appears
 
 
 // Sizes
@@ -56,8 +54,10 @@
 
 // Game mechanics
 #define INVULNTIME 200	// how long player stays invulnerable for
+#define SHIELDTIME 500	// how long a shield lasts
 #define FALLSPEED 4	// terminal velocity of falling sprites 
 #define NETSPEED 9	// how fast the player's net moves
+#define POWERUPTIME	15	// # secs before a powerup appears
 
 
 // Limits
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
 #define S_SLOPE		2
 
 // Sprite types
-#define MAXPTYPES 30
+#define MAXPTYPES 31
 #define P_PLAYER	0
 #define P_RAT		1
 #define P_CHEESE	2
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@
 #define P_FTODIAMOND	27
 #define P_FTOGEM	28
 #define P_BOMB		29
+#define P_SHIELD	30
 
 // powerups
 #define PW_NONE		0
@@ -376,6 +377,7 @@ extern Mix_Chunk *sfx[];
 extern int oldexitdir;
 extern int levelcomplete;
 extern text_t *text, *lasttext;
+extern int cheat;
 
 
 #endif
diff --git a/globals.h b/globals.h
index 78cba03..f834c07 100644
--- a/globals.h
+++ b/globals.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ level_t *curlevel;	// the current level's data
 
 int levelcomplete;	// has the levle been finished?
 
+int cheat;
+
 tiletype_t fakeblock;	// used for returning tiletypes from a function
 
 int oldexitdir;		// exit direction of previous level 
diff --git a/rc b/rc
deleted file mode 100755
index d7997df..0000000
Binary files a/rc and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/rc.c b/rc.c
index 12871c0..0690c58 100644
--- a/rc.c
+++ b/rc.c
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv) {
 
 	curlevelnum = 1;
 	musicplaying  = B_FALSE;
+	cheat = B_FALSE;
 
 	/* handle arguments */
 	if (argc >= 2) {
@@ -95,6 +96,9 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv) {
 			if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-fs")) {
 				printf("Fullscreen mode enabled.\n");
 				vidargs |= SDL_FULLSCREEN;
+			} else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-c")) {
+				printf("Cheat mode.\n");
+				cheat = B_TRUE;
 			} else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-l")) {
 				if (++i >= argc) {
 					printf("Missing level number.\n");
@@ -596,6 +600,10 @@ void nextlevel(void) {
 	player->slamming = B_FALSE;
 	player->jumping = B_FALSE;
 	player->powerup = B_FALSE;
+
+	if (cheat) {
+		player->speed = 2;
+	}
 }
 
 void jump(sprite_t *s, int dir) {
@@ -2613,6 +2621,15 @@ int dofruiteffect(sprite_t *s) {
 				die(s2);
 			}
 		}
+		return B_TRUE;
+	} else if (s->id == P_SHIELD) {
+		playfx(FX_POWERUP);
+		sprintf(tempm, "Shield!");
+		addtext(s->x,s->y - s->img->h/2, TEXTSIZE_POINTS, tempm,&white,POINTSDELAY);
+
+		// temp invincibility
+		player->invuln = SHIELDTIME;
+
 		return B_TRUE;
 	} else if (s->id == P_HELP) {
 		playfx(FX_POWERUP);
@@ -2844,7 +2861,8 @@ SDL_Surface *grabbehind(sprite_t *s, SDL_Surface *surf) {
 // returns a random powerup
 int randompowerup(void) {
 	int num;
-	num = rand() % 7;
+	num = rand() % 8;
+
 
 	switch (num) {
 		case 0:
@@ -2862,6 +2880,8 @@ int randompowerup(void) {
 			return P_FTOGEM;
 		case 6:
 			return P_BOMB;
+		case 7:
+			return P_SHIELD;
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/shared.c b/shared.c
index 85fb06a..bc3448a 100644
--- a/shared.c
+++ b/shared.c
@@ -66,7 +66,9 @@ int loadlevel(int wnum, int lnum) {
 
 	/* default */
 	level->hurryuptime = 30;
-	level->poweruptime = POWERUPTIME;
+	if (cheat) {
+		level->poweruptime = 5;
+	} else level->poweruptime = POWERUPTIME;
 	level->p1x = 0;
 	level->p1y = 0;
 	level->powerupx = -1;
@@ -1045,6 +1047,9 @@ int loadimagesets(void) {
 	loadspriteimage(P_BOMB,F_WALK1, "sprites/bomb.png");
 	imageset[P_BOMB].numimages = 1;
 
+	loadspriteimage(P_SHIELD,F_WALK1, "sprites/shield.png");
+	imageset[P_SHIELD].numimages = 1;
+
 	for (i = 0; i < PUFFFRAMES; i++) {
 		char name[SMALLBUFLEN];
 		sprintf(name, "sprites/puff%d.png",i);
@@ -1376,6 +1381,7 @@ int isfruit(int id) {
 		case P_FTODIAMOND:
 		case P_FTOGEM:
 		case P_BOMB:
+		case P_SHIELD:
 		/* flowers */
 		case P_FLOWERYELLOW:
 		case P_FLOWERRED: