One Universe: Season IV IC Thread

[OneUniverseRPG]

This RPG is similar to almost all others on Superhero Hype boards, except in this continuity, both the Marvel and DC universes are merged as "One Universe".

This past year has been full of triumphs, failures, and turmoil.
A new Zoom has robbed Central City of it's speedy hero. But with Zoom defeated, Central City finally has a new guardian running it's streets, as a young man stepped up and took the first steps to fill the hole left by a legend. But with a new Flash came new villains, each deadlier than the last. In New York, a young webslinger fell deeper into the pull of an alien symbiote before breaking away, only for the symbiote to find a new, more dangerous host out for revenge. And young love enters his life as he and Batgirl reveal their identities to each other.

Dr. Doom attempted to attain ultimate godhood in a complex plan that included selling Kryptonian souls to Neron, unleashing his Amazo android against the League, and tricking the New God Metron. Only ragtag band brought together by Dr. Fate stood between Doom and the Source Wall. Together, Fate, the Hulk, the Human Torch, the Atom, and John Constatine were able to trap Doom within the Source Wall.

Young heroes banded together to take down Gotham's mutant slaving ring. Working with Batman and Wolverine, the team of Robin, Nightcrawler, Starfire, Kitty took down the Penguin's operation. After taking technology from Tony Stark, Amanda Waller of SHIELD had Hank Pym create the Vision android and is starting the Avengers Initiative in response to the Justice League. And Supergirl, trained by her cousin, came into her own as a hero during the mutant uprising where the Master of Magnetism called for all mutants to turn against their human oppressors. Magneto formed an army bred for mutant supremacy, focusing his attacks on the US's major cities, centered at Metropolis.He was able to do what few have ever done: bring Superman to his knees. He and his army were eventually defeated by the combined efforts of the Justice League, the X-Men, and SHIELD.

How will the past year affect the present? What dangers will the superheroes oppose as they grow within their roles as Earth's guardians? How many new heroes and villains will emerge?

Welcome to "One Universe", The Marvel and DC Crossover RPG: Season IV.

Gamemasters: Wiegeabo, Byrd Man, Keyser Soze
Founded by Logan Howlett
Exiled dictator: Johnny Blaze

RULES


You may choose any character from both universes, but no custom or Amalgam characters such as Darkclaw or Super Soldier will be allowed.
All characters can interact with each other, it is the same universe.
Characters from alternate time lines are allowed but must be approved.
No Killing. Unnamed, faceless NPC's may be killed, but not major characters, or taken characters. Someone else may want to take up the character, or they may be important to another story.
You can go anywhere within the galaxy except planets already known to be destroyed, such as Krypton, although if you have the ability you may visit the ruins or asteroids.
You are your character, so act like it. Talk like them, use their dialogue. Do not exaggerate your powers, or pop-up here and there without explanation. BE Your character.
Several stories can be going at once, and you have the freedom to interact with other characters.
You must post at least once every two weeks, though it is preferred that you post more. If you go two weeks without a post, your character is up for grabs.
Be serious, no slander, or impractical actions from your character. Example; "I found a crystal and now I own the world! You're all my slaves!"
If a major character is applied for, there will be a 24 hour period for other applicants. If there are multiple applications, the GM's will decide who gets the character. Less popular characters can be given out on a first come, first server basis.
Due to inactivity and uncertainty, all players from the previous season will have to re-apply for their character(s). You may copy/paste posts from a prior Season to use as sample posts. However, you will still have to re-apply with the new applications.
And of course, all regular rules of the Hype apply.
Have fun.




Be anyone you want to be!

___

To apply for a character, please fill out the application form in the One Universe RPG: Season III OOC Thread...

[Carnage27]

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k123/Legacy1978/Checklist%20Titel%20Banner/Venom-Banner.jpg


As he walked down the crowded New York City street, he could feel the hunger overtake him. The insatiable, screaming in the back of his head that the creature wanted out. That it needed to feed.

Not now.

Yes. Now. We are hungry. We must feed.

The man stops in the middle of Times Square, with the Presidential Inauguration speech playing over the giant screen looming over the masses. America's new Commander in Chief, Lex Luthor was outlining his plans as they pertain to mutants and meta-humans alike.

Words like "registration" and "revealing secret identities" were being thrown around, and it brought plenty of joy to the man.

He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. The thought of Parker having to unmask in public, and then having those he wrong descend upon him like a pack of starving vultures.

No, he is ours.

Yes, yes he is...

Eddie Brock, no, Venom, was ready to make Spider-man's life a living hell. And it would begin tonight.

[Eddie Brock]

Somewhere in the distance, I hear the sound of a horn honking, but I ignore it. Smiling happily, I mutter, "Of course I respect you as an artist, Angelina. I mean, ever since I saw Changeling, I just can't stop thinking about how effectively you--" The honking persists. My smile falters. "What? No, of course I don't have anywhere better to be, Angie!"

"Peter!" Aunt May calls out. Her voice is muffled behind the door. "If you don't get down there soon, Harold is going to wake up the whole neighborhood!" She knocks on the door for a few times before I hear her footsteps fading away.

My eyes pop open. My alarm clock is flashing desperately. I groan as I roll over on my back. Resting my head against the pillow, I picture Angelina's face again. She winks once, and I merely sigh. I slink out of my bed begrudgingly and make my way for the window. "Sorry, Harr! I overslept!"

Harry is sitting in his - well, his father's, actually - green convertible with the top down. Even through his sunglasses, I can see a look of mild annoyance in his eyes. "Come on, Peter! We're going to be late!" I think better of commenting on his sudden insistence on promptness.

I bob and weave around clothes, books, papers, and everything else scattered across my bedroom floor. As I throw together a halfway-decent outfit, I catch sight of myself in the mirror. My hair is its usual, disheveled self. I contemplate running a comb through it, but I know the effort would be useless. Tossing my costume haphazardly into one of my backpack's compartments, I glide down the stairs and out the door.

It's going to be one of those days.

***

As the day wears on, my attention span grows thin. In English class, while our teacher blabs on about Shakespeare's life and works, I find myself looking around the classroom. Harry is sitting behind Gwen, whispering and giggling with her. Flash is delicately preparing a paper airplane. His right-hand man, Kong, is fast asleep. I look to the cell phone in my lap. As I watch, the little screen lights up excitedly.

1 NEW MESSAGE

I glance up carefully at the teacher, who's still talking - evidently unaware of our total disinterest in Elizabethan England. I look back down and open the awaiting message.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm not having a great day, either."

I smile to myself. Ah, the magic of technology. I can communicate instantly with my girlfriend, who just so happens to live miles and miles away. I navigate effortlessly through my phone and begin to type my response.

"You know what they say: misery loves company."

"Tell me, Mr. Parker," a shrill voice announces suddenly. My head jerks up in time to see my teacher - as well as the majority of the class - staring at me. Luckily, Kong is still asleep, so that's one less pair of eyes on me. "What's so interesting," she continues, "on your lap?"

I manage to respond, "I'm sorry. It won't happen again." I begin to feel warmth building in my face. I can tell I'm turning red. I try to sink a little lower in my seat.

"Put it away, or I'll be forced to confiscate it," my teacher commands with sharp finality. I quickly shove the phone back in my pocket, and she appears somewhat satisfied. As she turns her attention back to the chalkboard, I look over to Harry. He's smirking and shaking his head.

***

After school, I'm standing in J. Jonah Jameson's office. He's on the phone, so I'm forced to stand there awkwardly with the new photos in my hands. As Jonah continues to talk and laugh, Robbie enters. He greets me silently before standing by my side. We both wait for Jonah to acknowledge us.

"You're kidding!" Jonah barks into the phone. I'm a little worried about the wideness of his smile. Without warning, his demeanor shifts. He leans forward in his seat and asks nervously, "And he was willing to say all on this on-the-record?!"

The pause seems exceptionally excruciating.

Jonah laughs loudly. As I look around, I see that even those working outside the office can hear. Jonah doesn't appear to be concerned, however. "Oh boy! Oh, Leeds, I could kiss you right now!" Jonah announces joyfully. "You better believe that you'll be rewarded for this! ... What? A raise?! Don't get carried away now, Leeds!" Only then does Jonah glance at Robbie and I. "Look, just get back here ASAP."

Once Jonah has hung up the phone, it's Robbie who asks, "What's the big news, Jonah?"

"An armored car was ambushed and robbed today," Jonah begins. His excitement is clearly visible. I hold my breath in anticipation of what's about to come next. "And the driver claims that it was Spider-Man!"

Robbie looks almost as shocked as me. Once again, he speaks before I can even open my mouth. "Spider-Man? Jonah, you can't honestly believe this!" Robbie waves his hand frantically, as if struggling to find an argument. "I mean, he's already been framed once!"

My thoughts go back to that murder that I was blamed for. Luckily, I have a friend inside the NYPD who helped me escape charges. Well, that and the fact that A. the webbing was made of different material and B. they had security camera footage of me stopping a break-in at the time of the murder.

"Turns out that little prick's gone back to that black suit of his," Jonah explains in a tone that most closely resembles a growl. However, he's still beaming. "If you ask me, it's perfect! We can do so much with that black suit. I can see it now: THE DARK SIDE OF SPIDER-MAN!" As he smiles at the imaginary, floating headline, he turns to me. "What?!"

"I brought pictures," I explain feebly, demonstrating the photos in my hands. Frankly, I'm surprised I remembered them. My mind is still processing what I've just heard. "And about Spider-Man--"

But Jonah waves me off. "I don't want to hear it," he barks dismissively. "I didn't get where I am today by listening to the advice of people too young to drink. Now, leave the photos on my desk. I have work to do." With that, he spins in his chair and starts clicking away at his keyboard. I hear him swear at the computer under his breath. Robbie shoots me an apologetic look, but I put the photos down and walk out. No point in arguing any further.

***

Later on, I hear reports of some Rhino character tearing through the downtown area. I don my trusty red-and-blues and swing off in that direction. Truth be told, with the way my day's been going, I'm more than glad to slap the nearest supervillain silly. It'll take my mind off my problems for a little while.

Yep. It's all in a day's work for...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/butterflylight/spidermanbanner1-1.png

[Byrd Man]

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t302/DCMarvelRPG/Supporting%20Characters/Jim%20Gordon/GordonBanner.gif


The sun started to rise over the city of Gotham. People were slowly waking from their beds to face the upcoming day of challenges.

Even the officers of the GCPD were dragging their feet. The day shift half-awake, and the night shift half-asleep.

Commissioner Gordon rubbed his eyes as he sat down behind his desk with his coffee cup in his hand.

“Commissioner.” Captain Essen said breathlessly as she entered his office.

“Patrol found another kid. Same as the last five.”

Gordon closed his eyes as he pondered the next step.

“Okay. Call Lieutenant Akins. Round up the MCU day and night shift and have them in the squadroom within the hour. I’m putting out a code 0 for the MCU.”


**************


“Alright! Who the hell took my Twinkie?!” Sargent Harvey Bullock barked as he searched through the MCU’s breakroom fridge.

“I think it’ll be okay, Harvey.” Detective Renee Montoya said as she sat at the breakroom table.

“’Harvey’? Rookie, we’ve been partners for two weeks. I’m still Sargent Bullock to you!”

She just shook her head as Captain Essen walked into the breakroom.

“Bullock, Montoya. Squadroom in a half-hour. Commissioner has declared a Code 0 for the MCU.”

The partners traded looks as Essen walked out.


****************


His shift had been over for almost an hour now, but Detective Marcus Driver was still on the job. A private project of his. He sat in his car watching the house across the street from him.

Inside lived one David Stephens. Fresh out of Blackgate after a 5-10 stretch for armed robbery. He was on parole for the next year and a half. Driver had found out that he was a wife beater. In Driver’s book, that was worse than being a goddamn mass murderer.

From his car, Driver could hear the sounds of the fight. Stephens punching his wife and her pleas for mercy.

His blood slowly boiled as he heard the fight go on. It was practically steaming as he talked into his scanner.

“16 Adam Seven to dispatch. Send a patrol car to 825 Shirley Street. Parole violation. I won’t be here, but they’ll see him.

He finally got his car and stomped to the house. He left his gun behind in the car. For this lowlife, he didn’t need or want a gun.

He gently knocked on the front door.

“Who is it?”

“Mailman. Got a message for Stephens. Something about him being a dickless pussy.”

“What?!”

Driver heard Stephens stomping through the house. He opened the door with a look of rage in his eyes. He was a balding fat man.

“Think you’re funny?” Stephens said as he grabbed at Driver.

The detective sidestepped the fat man and slapped him hard in the face.

He stumbled back as Driver charged and elbowed the fat man in the nose, breaking it with a loud crack.

Pulling out a pair of handcuffs, had snapped them on Stephens’ wrist and on the door.

“You’ll do six months for parole violation. Touch her again and I’ll get comfy with your parole officer and have you violated on a child molester beat….you know what they do to child molesters in Blackgate, right?”

He only whimpered as his bloody and beaten wife came to the door.

“You okay?” Driver asked.

She nodded and looked at her husband with disdain. Driver reached down and grabbed Stephens’ wallet out of his back pocket. He pulled a roll of twenty’s out of the wallet and gave them to the woman.

“Here you go. Find a place to stay and get yourself cleaned up. Never come back to this loser again.”

She managed a smile as she walked off the front porch and out to the street.

Driver looked back at Stephens as he walked off the porch and to his car.

“16 Adam seven, dispatch to 16 Adam Seven.”

Driver grabbed the microphone as he got into his car.

“Go ahead.”

“Code 0 to all MCU cops. Get back to Central ASAP.”



**************

Charlie Fields and his wife Nora lay in bed, gently sleeping after making love. They were both on the night shift, he a detective and she with the morgue.

He had almost reached deep sleep when the phone next to their bedside started to ring.

“I got it.” Charlie mumbled as he reached for the phone.

“Hello?….This is Fields…..What?…Okay, I’ll be right there.” He hung up, sighed and kissed his wife’s shoulder.

“I gotta go.”


**************


“Stop!” Detective Kevin Cole yelled as he chased after Tavaris “Weasel” Ramsey, age 31 and currently wanted by the MCU for money laundering.

Ramsey was a half a block ahead of Cole as he ran down the congested streets of the Narrows.

“Kasper!” Sargent Maggie Sawyer yelled as she was even father behind.

“Can’t talk right now Maggie.” Cole said as he ducked into a side alley to cut Weasel off.

The felon started to slow down and smile as he assumed the police were lost.

WHAM!

Out of nowhere, the Cole crashed into Ramsey and slung the criminal to the ground.

“You’re under arrest, ****er.”

Sawyer was out of breath as she ran up next to Cole.

“Kasper…I…I…”

“I know Maggie, we got him.” He said with a smile.

“Not that! Jesus, man. We’ve been partners for two weeks and you keep doing this crap. This isn’t Narco where you can run around gung-ho like you own the city.” She growled as they picked Weasel off the ground and started marching him to the car.

“Anyway. When we get this piece of trash booked, we need to get to the MCU squadroom. Gordon issued a Code 0 to all MCU cops.”


************


“All right, let’s settle down.” Captain Essen said as the two dozen or so cops mingled around the squadroom.

The crowd quieted as Commissioner Gordon took front and center.

“Okay, listen up.” He says as the puts his hands on his hips.

“Around 8:30 this morning. Patrol found a dead body in a drainage ditch off Miller Avenue. The body is that of Marisa Hardgrove, age eight. This is the fifth dead child found in the last month. Like the other four, she was mutilated. Her right arm, left ear, and nose were missing. Crime lad seems to indicate she was killed by strangulation. Originally, this was something handled by homicide. But I’ve bumped it up to a major crime. I want all detectives on this case. Now, Captain Essen and Lieutenant Akins will hand out assignments. I want whoever is doing this found and found now. The people of Gotham want justice, ladies and gentlemen. They demand it.”

[Eddie Brock]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u118/EBJ05/th_FF-1.jpg

I clear my throat and scan the assembled crowd.

An attractive, if austere, woman is seated in the front row. The lapel of her pantsuit bears an American flag pin. I take her for a representative of our new President, Lex Luthor.

Next to her is Dr. Will Magnus, checking his watch absently.

A few seats down is Dr. Hank McCoy, unmistakable through his thick coat of blue fur - which happens to be shedding on his annoyed neighbors.

Further down the rows, Ted Kord - wearing his usual tshirt and blazer combination - has his feet up on the chair in front of him.

On the other side of the room, an unknown face stares at me with cold, calculating eyes. I enlarge the size of my eye subtly, and am able to see that his nametag reads, "Professor Milton Fine." The name, like the face, is unfamiliar.

Dr. Hank Pym is brushing hair out of his eyes and taking notes on a small notepad.

Michael Holt, often considered one of the smartest men in the world, is seated surprisingly far back. He looks up from his PDA and meets my gaze. I instantly turn it elsewhere.

A group of uniformly-dressed attendees nearly takes up a whole row. Their sunglasses are so tinted that I cannot tell what they're looking at. The apparent leader - a voluptuous blonde woman - is seated nearest the aisle. I instantly recognize them as SHIELD personnel.

At the farthest end of the room, Johnny is asleep with his head flung back comically. Even from this distance, I swear I can see drool. Next to him, Ben has an oversized fedora pulled low over his brow - presumably to protect him from the intellectually curious eyes surrounding him. Sue waves awkwardly, and I clear my throat a second time.

"In conclusion, while this Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Intergrated Electronics - or H.E.R.B.I.E., as I like to call him -" This draws a few feeble chuckles. "- while H.E.R.B.I.E. is merely a very primitive prototype, it is not inconceivable to believe that advanced technology such as this could be found in almost every household within the decade." I smile pleasantly and motion to H.E.R.B.I.E., who attempts to bow but ends up merely bending strangely. There is mild applause as I leave the stage, H.E.R.B.I.E. in tow.

"You were excellent, Reed," Sue assures me as she approaches. Johnny is rubbing his eyes and clutching his side, apparently nursing the result of Sue's elbow going into his ribs. Sue is smiling, but it is a vacant smile.

I pretend not to notice. Even I can tell that I was boring. Hardly the kind of presentation everyone expects from the great Reed Richards. A simple robot? Pathetic. "Thanks. It really means a lot that you came," I respond genuinely. "I can imagine that these science expos can't be much fun for you guys."

"You kidding?" Johnny asks groggily. His sarcasm is still apparent. "I can't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be." Sue immediately glares at him, and he decides against proceeding any further. "Say, who's the babe?" He nods in the direction of the vacating SHIELD contigency.

"SHIELD, I believe," I answer. I can instantly tell by the look in Sue's eyes that perhaps I gazed too long at the voluptuous blonde woman. "Between everything that happened with the League and now General Fury resigning, they're getting a little desperate to gather their allies."

Sue asks, "What about you? Where do your allegiances fall?"

Smiling, I reply, "With you guys, of course." To which Johnny mutters something about feeling sick. "Besides, this entire SHIELD/League situation is getting far too militant if you ask me. People need to remember that we're on the same side."

"Doesn't SHIELD foot our bills, though?" Ben asks.

"That they do," I sigh. "Although, our stream of income is enough that we could go independent if we needed to."

As if the mention of money suddenly woke him up, Johnny jumps in, "Then why don't we?"

"Because there is no present reason for us to," I explain simply. "Besides, with all the losses incurred at the Baxter Building, I think it would be unwise to tighten our financial situation any further than it already is."

"Then let's hope you're wrong about SHIELD and the League."

I merely nod.

[Keyser Soze]

"The people of Gotham want justice, ladies and gentlemen. They demand it."

I stand before an assembled army of criminals, elevated on a makeshift podium in a vast warehouse crammed with the worst elements of society. My army. Crooks, killers, merceneries, drug dealers and masked crazies, this is the company I now keep. This is my kingdom. A lot has happened in the past month.

Harvey Dent died in that courtroom, when Boss Maroni thew acid in his face. If not then, he was certainly killed off for good the night he murdered Maroni. Now I'm all that's left of him. Two-Face. Over one bloodsoaked night, I wiped out Falcone and all my other competition, leaving me as the undisputed figurehead of all organised crime in Gotham. I've lost the District Attorney job now. But even if I still had it, I realise now that you can't make a difference in a city like Gotham by playing the rules and following the law to the letter. Justice is something that goes beyond what the law can provide, in its current, impotent state. The only true justice in this world is the cruel, random justice of fate. The flip of a coin...

It's been a busy month. As the top crime boss in Gotham - the only crime boss of any real significance, now - I control and regulate all the illegal goings on, in ways I could never do as District Attorney. I've made a lot of changes. I've sealed off two areas of the city - the very worst parts of the Narrows and the East End - cordoned off these 8-block stretches of land from the outside world and surrounded them with enough firepower to turn them into fortresses. All the drug dealing, racketeering, prostitution, I've concentrated it all into these two zones. All Gotham's various gangs and underworld communities are free to do business as they wish here, uninhibited. There is little worry of gang war, as all major gangs are now united under me. The police are not welcome here. In these two zones, I am the only law.

If Gotham's criminals want to deal or solicit in this city, they have to do it in on of my two crime zones. If they want entry into these zones, they have to sign up with me, and kick up a portion of their profits. In turn, I'm legitimising them, letting them ply their trade in safe, non-violent surroundings. The drug dealers and the pimps operate like any other business would now. I make sure they abide by the rules, that the dealers have safe product (well, as safe as that filth can be) and the pimps treat their girls (or boys, if that's their thing) well. If anyone breaks the rules, or God forbid, they try and do business without my approval, outside one of my regulated zones? Retribution is quick, decisive, and often life-ending.

These two zones are like hell on earth, all of the worst of Gotham condensed into two small areas and left to fester and flourish. But I'm not doing this for them. I'm doing this for the rest of the city. The good people, the innocents, I made sure they got a ticket out of my crime zones. The rest of the Narrows, the rest of the East End, the rest of Gotham as a whole... it's cleaning up. The city's overall crime levels are down over 20% from last month. No more turf wars and shootouts, now all the unpleasantness has been weeded out and set aside. I did what Gordon couldn't do, what Batman couldn't do, what Harvey Dent couldn't do. I've rescued Gotham City from the abyss. It's safe for children to play in the streets of Gotham once more.

Or at least, I thought it was.

"Someone isn't playing by the rules," I say to my army, "An 8 year old girl was murdered and mutilated yesterday. Marisa Hardgrove. Another child, dead. Someone is out there, killing innocent children, and the police aren't doing anything to hunt the bastard down."

I feel rage rising up in my gut. I've killed when necessary, I've let life or death be decided by the outcome of a coin toss. But this? Children? It makes me sick to my stomach. The monster who's doing this has to pay.

"So I propose we do the job for them."

[Watchman]

Who, What, When, and Why is "Marvel Boy"?

Prologue: Five Years
-"We've got five years, stuck on my eyes
We've got five years, what a surprise
We've got five years, my brain hurts a lot
We've got five years, that's all we've got"


"Hurm?" His name is Henry Peter Gyrich. He is sitting before the prisoner, fixing his glasses, and staring down at a folder. It is a cramped, dark room also hot....the air condition is broken. It is five years from now. It may or may not be the end of the world.

"According....you claim that you are Kree...right?" Gyrich wipes his brow and moves some papers around.

"Correct," Noh-Varr's tone was full of insorbordination, "I am...was part of the 18th Kree Diplomatic Gestalt." Noh-Varr almost had it.

"Right, here's the deal. We had contacted the Kree. They've never heard of you and want nothing to with you."

"That's because...."

"....you're from a parallel world. Right, do you have any idea how stupid that sounds when it comes out of your mouth? Now listen sonny, in this day and age that bull**** doesn't cut it. Now I want cold hard facts. In front of me I have pages and pages of crimes against humanity and thousands of other races. What do you have to say about that?!" He coughed. It was a combination of spit and blood.

"I say," Marvel Boy rised up from his seat. His hands were in cuff, "that I had enough of your blathering." He releases himself from the cuffs and turns toward the door. He opens the door and turns his head back toward Gyrich.

"Do not bother me, anymore." He slams the door in Gyrich's face who rushed out of his chair. Noh-Varr could hear Gyrich slamming his fist against the door and shouting curses probably some that he had just made up. Gyrich is lucky. He had dropped that fat cow, Waller, from a White Martian ship last year. Her Suicide Squad were sent after her. None of them made it back.

This might have been around the time when the world ended.
*********
Purgatorio
-"O gene umana, per volar sù nata,
perché a poco vento così cadi?"

"Well its not that I like it here."

"..."

"Sure, I'm king but that doesn't mean a thing here in Limbo."

"..."

"Well I'm not really sure what Limbo is. I mean we haven't been used in a while."

"..."

"Used, written, role-played, whatever."

"..."

"Well maybe you will be used. I don't know maybe you can be used in Arkham. You were kinda of the Spider-Man version right, Dr. Kafka?"

"...."

"Here's the thing about Limbo, nothing suppose to happen here. But I know a secret, something is."
********
Golden Age: Part 1
-I'll stick with you baby for a thousand years
Nothing's gonna touch you in these golden years

He remembers falling. The first time his ship was shoot down and then....and then he was falling again. There was something missing but it was mostly a haze. What was happening? The next thing he felt was the impact of his body hitting the ground. Things were getting even more hazy he could make out an object in the distance.

"Who do you think he is, John? You think he's Russian?" He could hear them.

"I'm not sure, Mary. I think we should get the sheriff."

"That won't be neccessary." Noh-Var jumps up holding his ray gun. He looked around, elderly couple, broken spaceship, truck.

"Where and when am I?!" He shouted pointing the ray gun at them.

"Oh my, John, do something!"

"Now mister..."

"Where and when?" His voice dropped to a threatening whisper.

"Smallville. Smallville, 1938."

"That's enough, Noh-Varr." The voice came from the sky. The three of them looked up. Noh-Varr gritted his teeth.

"Dox."

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/AgentClarkNova/R_E_B_E_L_S_1-09.jpg

"Now please, Noh-Varr, enough of this foolishness. Come along peacefully."

"Not a chance."

[Catman_prb]

Dr. McCoy's Biology Class - 3:35

"Bobby," Jamie hissed. The blonde boy seated in front ignored him.

"Hey Bobby!" he hissed a little louder. Still no reaction. Jamie screwed up his notes on the endocrine system and threw them at his friend's head.

"Iceman!" he said.

"What the hell is it?" Bobby asked, spinning around.

"Where's Cyk?" Jamie asked, doodling idly on his notepad.

"Doing something better than this I bet," he muttered.

"Rogue's looking awful pretty today," Jamie said dreamily. Bobby raised an eyebrow.

"Rogue? You've got no chance," he scoffed.

"I could get Rogue," Jamie said, affronted.

"No way,"

"Well then who could I get?" he tried.

"Jubilee?" Bobby tried, chewing on the end of his pencil.

"Too cruel man,"

"Well Kitty Pryde is going out with that Gotham kid, isn't she? Rogue still likes Scott...and Jean likes Scott...and Jubilee is free," Bobby said.

"Surely we know more girls than that?"

"They all like Scott,"

"Damn that Summers kid,"

[Watchman]

Golden Age: Part 2

Things went from bad to worst quickly here in Smallville country. Good old boy Noh-Varr ran a foul of Sheriff Vril Dox. He ain't taking anymore of Noh-Varr's shenaggins. But Noh-Varr ain't going to lay down like a beaten dog or turn yella and run.

"Get out of my way, Dox! Or I blow the baby's head clean off!" Noh-Varr clutched the baby he found in the nearby rocketship with a ray gun pointed to its head. The couple stood nearby horrified.

"TT" Dox was not swayed.

"Did you hear me?"

"Your ignorance never ceases to astounded me. Do you have any idea idea who that baby is?"

"?"

"Your fall through space and time has caused many problems and you personally have caused many more."

"I have?"

"So you don't remember. Well, we currently in a timeline where things happened a bit earlier. Now drop Baby Kal-L. Its useless you know what happens when Kyrptonians are exposed to sunlight?"

"Of course I do. I did take third year science." Noh-Varr held the baby like a discus.

"What are you going to do with that?"

"This." Marvel Boy throws the baby toward Dox smacking him in the chest. Dox falls from the sky baby in heads and crashes to the ground. Noh-Varr turns toward the couple brandishing his gun.

"Give me your truck!" He jumped into their truck and took off heading for the town up ahead. "PLEX!"

"Yes, Noh-Varr, You've seem to have taken a wrong turn."

"And I don't remember a thing. I need a memory reconstruction now!"

"Affrimitive, Noh-Varr."

Vril Drox was laying down in the field holding the baby over him. The baby smiling and threw up on him.

"Insufferable cretin." He murmur before getting back up. He walked over to the couple and dropped the baby into their hands. "This is your's" He walked away from them speaking into his communicator.

"This is Dox, I want this area combed and I don't want Noh-Varr getting out of Smallville."
*******
"Well, John?"

"We can't leave him out here. That wouldn't be right."

"Then we keep him?"

"I would say so. What should we call him?"

"Lets name him after your father....Robert"

"Robert Reynolds, I like it."

[Carnage27]

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb60/GS_Design/nightcrawler.png


I shift uneasily in my seat in class, attempting to stay awake and pay attention to Dr. McCoy's lecture. It's been a chore trying to sleep the past month. Almost every night the dream has me waking in a cold sweat.

In it, the Mansion burns as my friends and family burn, as a giant shadow with yellow eyes looms over me, silent as the night sky.

I'm roused from my own thoughts by my friends' conversation next to me.

Dr. McCoy's Biology Class - 3:35

"Bobby," Jamie hissed. The blonde boy seated in front ignored him.

"Hey Bobby!" he hissed a little louder. Still no reaction. Jamie screwed up his notes on the endocrine system and threw them at his friend's head.

"Iceman!" he said.

"What the hell is it?" Bobby asked, spinning around.

"Where's Cyk?" Jamie asked, doodling idly on his notepad.

"Doing something better than this I bet," he muttered.

"Rogue's looking awful pretty today," Jamie said dreamily. Bobby raised an eyebrow.

"Rogue? You've got no chance," he scoffed.

"I could get Rogue," Jamie said, affronted.

"No way,"

"Well then who could I get?" he tried.

"Jubilee?" Bobby tried, chewing on the end of his pencil.

"Too cruel man,"

"Well Kitty Pryde is going out with that Gotham kid, isn't she? Rogue still likes Scott...and Jean likes Scott...and Jubilee is free," Bobby said.

"Surely we know more girls than that?"

"They all like Scott,"

"Damn that Summers kid,"

I flash a smile at Jamie, "It could be worse...you could have a tail, mein friend."

[Catman_prb]

I flash a smile at Jamie, "It could be worse...you could have a tail, mein friend."
"Positive thinking, man," Jamie said, grinning "Think of it as...another appendage to aid and abbet you. Plus you're blue and furry, what girl wouldn't want that,"

[Carnage27]

"Positive thinking, man," Jamie said, grinning "Think of it as...another appendage to aid and abbet you. Plus you're blue and furry, what girl wouldn't want that,"

I quietly chuckle to myself and whisper back, "Unfortunately...zhey aren't all into zhe elf-dude..."

Bobby notices me scribbling on the side of my notes, and snatches them from underneath me, and scoffs at what I was doodling.

http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp275/RAYS_WORLD3/SUPERMAN_SYMBOL.jpg

"Oh, come on man, you can't be serious. You've been obsessing about her since you met her. She's out of you're league, bro."

I blush...well as much as possible for someone who has a dark blue complextion, "Vell, you never know Bobby."

"Give it up elf-lips, it ain't gonna happen."

"Mr. Wagner, Mr. Madrox, Mr. Drake, do you have something to share with the class?" Dr. McCoy calls out from the front of the room.

We all answer with a "No sir," and remain quiet until the bell rings at the end of class.

We shuffle out of the room, and I catch up with Jamie and Bobby.

"Have you talked to Scott about joining zhe team yet?" I ask Jamie.

[SenseiofCheese]

Amanda Waller

"Are you sure?" he asked, an almost childlike innocence in both his voice and expression.

Amanda Waller smiled. Her outfit almost made her disappear into the dark gray walls of her office. Everything in it had a distinct lack of color to it, except for the man standing in front of her. The man was unbelievably handsome by any standard. He was of herculean stature and towered over Amanda as she walked over to him and raised a comforting hand up to his shoulder.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/417555-sentry_150_super.jpg

"Robert." she began with a soothing voice as unnatural to her as drinking oil. "I give you my word. We are doing everything in our power to help you. Our best psychics have studied your mind, and Ms. Frost assures me they are making considerable progress."

The man hung his head and smiled, not entirely convinced but hopeful. "Alright. Thank you, Amanda."

This man was capable of smashing an asteroid into pieces. He could kill the entirety of the SHIELD helicarrier he was on within a second, and he could cause a tidal wave with his pinky finger. And Amanda Waller had him squarely in her pocket.

"Alright, Robert." Amanda took on a much more business-like tone of voice as she moved over to her desk and grabbed a large folder. "I wish I could tell you to go relax in the Bahamas, but I'm afraid we have some more work for you." she stated, handing him the folder.

The Sentry looked down on pictures upon pictures stacked neatly into the folder. He studied them for a while, before looking up at Amanda.

"A slave camp in Kahndaq. More importantly, a mutant slave camp." Waller said, as Robert's eyes scanned over the images once more. "We've been keeping tabs on them for a while now, but they seem to be changing locations. Obviously, we would have preferred to keep watching in hopes small game would lead us to bigger fish, but that's out of the equation now."

"And you want me to free the slaves." Robert stated assuredly. Amanda couldn't help but envy him for his black-and-white view of the world.

"Yes." she lied. "You take out the slavers, leave none of them standing. No one can see you, Robert. Not even the slaves. If word gets out an American superhero is going into other countries and cleaning house, all hell will break loose." she said to which the Sentry nodded.

"After the slavers have been dealt with, you report back to me. I'll send a special team to recover the slaves themselves, a team that can't be traced to any one country."

"I understand." Sentry nodded again. He handed the folder back over to Amanda, who placed them on her desk. Sentry turned to exit Waller's office, but turned. "And Amanda...thank you."

Amanda offered a gentle smile. "Thank you.

[Eddie Brock]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/butterflylight/spidermanbanner1-1.png

The hallways are all but empty when "the incident" occurs. School was dismissed fifteen minutes ago, but I stayed in Chemistry to explain to my teacher why my project was late. Of course, I couldn't exactly tell her that I was too busy trying to find my criminal doppelganger, so I gave her some bogus lie about forgetting the due date. Naturally, she was skeptical - to say the least - but she's letting it slide this time. Which is also, conveniently, what she said last time.

I'm minding my own business, pushing aside my costume so I can fit my books in my backpack, when I see Flash Thompson approaching. Interestingly enough, he's not being flanked by his usual sycophants. In fact, I don't even see a malicious grin cross his face when he sees me, all alone and seemingly vulnerable. His face is a blank wall, devoid of emotion, as he draws nearer. Nonetheless, I brace myself.

"Parker," he says simply. There's no spite, no sneer in his tone. For once, my last name doesn't carry its usual negative connotation. I glance over briefly and see Flash leaning against the lockers, thumbs tucked under the straps of his backpack.

Sighing, I close my locker and bend down to pick up my backpack. "What, no degrading nickname? No atomic wedgie? Not so much as a mild chuckle at my pathetic existence?" I'm quite certain my sarcasm is blatant. "Or does the lack of an audience ruin it for you?"

"Look, aren't we getting a little old for that kind of childish stuff?" Flash asks wearily. I can't tell if my tone offended him or if this is his way of being apologetic. I can honestly say I've never seen Flash like this.

"Frankly, Flash, we were too old for it three years ago, and two years ago, and last year," I respond irritatedly. I'm not normally so "on edge," but this is the guy who seemingly devoted the past three years of his life to making mine a living Hell. If I had never gotten my powers, God knows where I'd be right now.

Flash rests the back of his head against the lockers. "I know, alright?" Once again, his tone is riddled with annoyance and sympathy, simultaneously. "Look, I wanted to talk to you because you're the only person who can help me right now." This catches my attention. "You're good at Bio, right?"

I shrug. "I guess so," which is my way of saying, "I would have been better if I had time to do my homework, but I managed to ace it regardless."

"Well, I'm failing," Flash explains bluntly. "On top of the fact that they're threatening to kick me off varsity, my parents are going to kill me if I don't get good grades this year." Something inside of me flutters. Could it be that I'm feeling sorry for Eugene "Flash" Thompson? "I'm asking if you'll help me."

"You mean, like a tutor?" I ask hesitantly. Flash nods. Tutoring Flash? I've accomplished some amazing feats, but this one may prove to be insurmountable. "I mean, I can try, but I've kinda got a busy schedule..."

"Me too. Look, how does Thursday night sound?"

Barring a total emergency that demands Spider-Man's attention, I don't foresee anything else going on that night. So, despite the part of me that's still afraid this is an elaborate prank, I answer, "Sure. Your place?"

Flash nods tiredly. "Yeah, it's--"

"I know where it is. I used to be over all the time." This provokes a very awkward silence. That was a phase of our lives that we have both tried very hard to wipe from memory, but it's one of those things that sticks with you. Besides, we were kids. "So, Thursday?" Flash mutters something in agreement before trudging down the hallway.

That thing inside me flutters once more. I think it's called "empathy."

***

Once it starts to get dark enough, I decide to make an unscheduled visit to a friend. As I approach through the air, I can make out a silhouette waiting on the roof. I smile a little beneath my mask and dismount. Upon closer examination, I realize something's different.

"Sorry. Wrong attractive female officer," I announce as I walk up to the uniformed woman.

Without a smile, the woman explains, "Detective Montoya transferred to Gotham weeks ago." Seeing her in the light for the first time, I notice that she looks like she just walked out of a 1930's pulp film. She even has the half-smoked cigarette to complete the look.

I'm taken aback by the sudden news. Montoya never mentioned a transfer to me. "Did she decide that crime wasn't tough enough here in the Big Apple for her?"

"I have no knowledge of the reasons for her decision," the woman answers emotionlessly. I'm starting to feel like she won't be playing along with me all that much. "Although, if this is your idea of humor, I might be so bold as to hazard a guess as to her motives?" She doesn't realize that I saw the tiny smirk that emerged with this line.

"Okay, Ice Queen, I guess we're stuck with each other then, aren't we?" I ask cheerfully. In truth, I'm not the biggest fan of her attitude towards me. All that said, there's a part of me that gets a twisted sense of joy out of joking with people who insist on seriousness. "I'm Christian Bale, and you are?"

She flicks her cigarette carelessly. For a cop, she doesn't seem to have much concern for littering. "I would have thought you would read my badge," she responds in that cold manner of hers. Then, with that almost nonexistent smirk, she adds, "Christian."

"Well, I didn't want to intrude, Miss..." I squint behind my lenses. "DeWolff."

"It's Sergeant," she corrects in a tone befitting a Catholic schoolteacher.

Slightly bemused, I announce, "Well, Sergeant DeWolff, you certainly seem to be impervious to my boyish charm." I swear she can see the twinkle in my eye, even despite the lenses. "But don't think I haven't noticed that you haven't slapped any cuffs on me yet."

Unfortunately, this doesn't elicit much of a response. "The investigation into the recent string of crimes - for which you've been accused - is still underway."

I fire a webline at a horizontal flagpole overhead and situation myself in an upside-down hanging position. "It could be that. Or it could be that you like me more than you're letting on. Or, failing all that, maybe you just don't think I did it." I arch an eyebrow, hoping it shows beneath the fabric.

"I admit, the facts don't seem to add up," she replies hesitantly. I finally seem to be getting somewhere. "Despite the Bugle's outcries to the contrary, it doesn't make sense that you'd spend all this time protecting New York, just to turn around and start committing a unprovoked crime spree." I inwardly say, "Thank you." "So, either something happened that caused a sudden change in you - which I haven't ruled out - or, far more likely, someone out there wants us to believe you're responsible."

"Aww. I'm touched, Sergeant." I hold a hand over my heart. "Say, why don't you keep me out of jail, and I'll deliver this scumbag to your doorstep? It's a win-win."

"Unless you really are responsible."

I shake my head. "Shame, shame, Sergeant. And here I thought we were getting to trust each other." I fire a webline in the distance, and she doesn't seem to protest. Shrugging, I swing off into the night. Could've been worse.

[Carnage27]

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k123/Legacy1978/Checklist%20Titel%20Banner/Venom-Banner.jpg


The darkness of the city night surrounds the creature known as Venom, but it saw as if it was broad day light. It had put its plan in motion to ruin Spider-man and Peter Parker alike.

Killing the armored car guards was easy, but the next layer would be much, much more fun.

Venom perches itself in a tree overlooking Detective Dane Fry's house in Queens. Fry was one of the lead investigators in the case against "Spider-man."

A case that was about to get much more interesting.

Detective Fry slowly openes the door and step inside, and is immediately struck in the back of the head by Venom's foot, sending him sprawling into his coat closet.

The symbiotic creature slammes the door behind itself by lashing out with a web-like tendril, and glares at the quivering cop, "Probably not a good idea to investigate a kid with super powers, buddy."

"Wha-wha-what do you want? I'll do anything! I'll close the investigation!" he begs with tears streaming down his face.

"Oh, it's much too late for that, detective," the monster says as it strings a tendril around the policeman's neck and attached it to the ceiling.

Venom then places the man on top of a chair, and he instantly knew what his fate would be.

"Do you know what it feels like to be humiliated, detective? To have everything you had ever wanted taken from right underneath you by someone who didn't deserve it?" Venom whispered into the doomed man's ear, as its Spider-man-like mask parted, and a long, slithering tongue whipped out from behind a row of razor sharp teeth and against the side of his face. "We do."

Venom kicks the chair out, and watches as the life drains from the struggling maggot in front of him.

Before Venom walks out the door, he sticks a crumpled piece of paper to the hung man's chest.

It reads: Your friendly, neighborhood Spider-man.

[SenseiofCheese]

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/556544-0002_super.jpg

This is the third time this month Logan finds himself standing outside a run-down bar in the middle of nowhere. He's wearing the remnants of a white t-shirt, covered in dirt and blood, and ripped jeans. His claws are extended. At his feet are three men, all of them twice his size.

Each breath that escapes his lungs sounds more like a growl then a breath. His heart is racing, adrenaline pumping through his veins. His abdomen still stings slightly from getting impaled with a broken pool cue.

This particular group of men recognized Logan, sitting by his lonesome working on his seventh pitcher of beer, and remembered him from the news. Convincing them he wasn't "that mutie freak" did not work, nor did telling them he was in fact fighting against Magneto.

The patrons of the bar are gathered around the windows and door of the bar, staring wide-eyed. The moment Logans' feral gaze meets theirs, they immediately vanish back inside. "I wouldn't even try it, bub."

"You could hear me from all the way over here?" the man coming up behind Logan said with a misplaced sense of awe and admiration for someone who was trying to kill him. "Amazing."

"Try smelled you." Logan turned to face the man.

The man was tall, taller than the others. He wore a suit, a kind of brand-new suit that had no business being around these parts. The man had apparently bathed in cologne, as the stench was almost too much for Logan to bear.

The man chuckled. "You can put those away, Logan. I'm not here to fight you."

"I don't think I will." Logan growled. The animal inside screamed at him to pounce, to go for blood. But something about the man seemed...familiar. The muscles in Logans' body were tensed, his breathing heavy and ragged. "I don't suppose yer going to tell me how you know my name."

"Now's not really the time, my friend." the man said, and Logan almost flinched at the word 'friend'. With his hands behind his back, the man looked around; at the bar, the men at Logan's feet, and Logan himself. "Nor is the setting. And to be honest, those always did make me nervous." he said, gesturing to the claws jutting from Logan's wrists.

"But I will tell you in good time. In fact, that's why I'm here, Logan."

"Hnnh?"

"To tell you there is someone who knows you. The real you. And that someone is me." the man moves one hand to the inside of his jacket, and Logan immediately moves to lunge. "Wait." he says, slowly reaching into his jacket and pulling out a card. "When you decide you've had enough of petty bar fights and brightly coloured superheroes. When you decide you are ready for the answers you've been searching for all your life. I'll be waiting for you." the man states matter-of-factly, as he flicks his wrist and sends the card flying into the air and down onto one of the unconscious men.

Logans' eyes follow the card, but his body doesn't move an inch.

"Who the hell are you?" he growls, looking up at the man, who has already begun walking away.

"My name is Vandal Savage." he calls back. "I'll be seeing you, Logan."

[Eddie Brock]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u118/EBJ05/th_FF-1.jpg

I slump into the common room, followed closely by H.E.R.B.I.E. Sue, Johnny, and Ben have all retired to their respective rooms. I only hope their beds are as comfortable here as they were back at the Baxter Building. A tinge of sadness washes over me as I remember our old headquarters, struck down before its prime. Still, Four Freedoms Plaza is hardly a tough sell. In many ways, it's almost a duplicate of the Baxter.

"Shall I prepare a late night snack for you, Master Richards?" H.E.R.B.I.E. asks cordially. His vocal processors still aren't quite as developed as I might like. His voice is still too synthetic for my tastes.

I wave a casual hand. "That won't be necessary, H.E.R.B.I.E.," I answer with equal politeness. I remove my glasses and rub the bridge of my nose. I feel a headache coming on, but I'm sure it's merely a result of my lack of adequate sleep. "And, please, don't call me 'Master Richards.' You're not a slave. Just call me 'Reed.'"

"As you wish, sir," H.E.R.B.I.E. responds, evidently missing my entire point. Unfortunately, his subservience seems to be a direct result of his primary programming. While I intended for him to perform basic protocol, I did not wish for him to consider himself somehow lower than humans. If anything, he's the future. "Do you still wish for me to perform a preliminary diagnostics test on the Fantasticar engine's upgrades?"

"Don't worry about it. It can wait until morning," I assure him. Sure enough, I hear his servos processing this new information. He is surely scheduling the diagnostics test for the morning. In an attempt to relieve him of the task, I add, "Besides, I'm still not certain about the thrust capacity. Something tells me that my calculations are flawed."

H.E.R.B.I.E. shakes his head. It's an odd action to watch a robot perform. "I have the utmost faith in your computations, sir. Furthermore, I have taken the liberty to verify your data. Mathematically speaking, it's all correct." If he could smile, I imagine that he would right now. Noticing that I have plopped down into an armchair, H.E.R.B.I.E. suggests, "Perhaps you might like some background music for relaxation, sir?" I hear a click and a whir as the room's digital stereo system comes online. H.E.R.B.I.E. is wirelessly connected to all the electronics in the entire building. "Mozart, perhaps? Although my records show that you have selected Beethoven more consistent in the past three months."

"No music, H.E.R.B.I.E.," I answer. His persistence amazes me. I often wonder why he wishes nothing more than to please, but I remind myself that he is simply fulfilling his primary programming. All that said, I wish he didn't fulfill it quite so well. "It's been a long weekend. Why don't you take some time to reboot your systems?" I suggest.

"I have noticed a 17% lag in my computation and response time, now that you mention it, sir," H.E.R.B.I.E. notes aloud. "Your suggestion is a logical one." He merely stands there for a moment, as if considering something. Then, after considerable silence, he seems to notice that my suggestion was an act of kindness, and he announces, "Thank you." Judging by his hesitance, I'm not sure he fully grips the concept.

As H.E.R.B.I.E. excuses himself, I finally close my eyes. As I sit there, trying to let the tension flow from my body, I can't help but think about SHIELD, the League, and the Baxter Building. Sighing to no one in particular, I decide that I should take my own advice. With H.E.R.B.I.E. rebooting, I can finally have enough silence to drift into a welcome sleep.

[Watchman]

The silent alarm was pressed, a gunshot was fired, and police sirens roared. What was suppose to be a bullet proof plan now looked like swiss cheese. This was New York City and a superhero would be on the scene any second. In fact New York's new guardians or so they thought. See New York was to superheroes what L.A. was to actors. You either made it big or you stuck serving tables. There was no way in hell Most Excellent Superbat was going to serve somebody.

"If you would put down your weapons and come out peacefully...." Machine gun fired came from the bank.

"Screw you cops!" he fired one more burst, "where the hell is the gateaway car?"

"Mike should be here any second." There was a roar off in the distance. Something was coming fast...very fast. Cops dived out of the way as the Wonder Wagon crashed into a cop car.

"There is no reason to fear New York!"

"What the...." The cops were getting back up.

"...hell?" Something was buzzing around one of the criminal's ear. It let out a yell that made him grabbed his ear and fall to the ground.

"Super Young Team is here!!! Roll Call!"

"Shy Crazy Lolita Canary." The one that was flying around the guy's ear said. A few pop out of the Wonder Wagon.

"Big Atomic Lantern Boy!"

"Feral Hairy Claw Kid!"

"Shiny Happy Aquazon!"

"Mecha Armor Thunder Patroit!" This one flew down from the sky. He was clad in red, white, and blue armor. He wore a viking hat with the Captain America wings. A shield was attached to his hand and he had a hammer in his other. Back inside the bank one of the robbers ready his gun.

"That's it waste the hostages."

"Woah, Jimmy, I don't want to kill anybody."

"Waste them!"

"But..." He was met with a series of fast punches. He spun around firing off his machine gun which a few hostages had to jump out of the way.

"Well Spoken Lightening Flash!"

"Damn it!" Another one tried aiming on the Flash running around the room. He was hit in the chest by a red cylinder that exploded into a web that covered him. Something was hanging upside down from the ceiling.

"You've just been beaten by Very Friendly Spiderdevil!"

"No! NO! No!" The last one raised his handgun. Something taped him on the shoulder. "Huh?"

POW!

"And Most Excellent Superbat." There was one more that came with them, a cameraman. "Did you get all that?" He asked him. The cameraman give a thumbs up.

"Good let's go collect our reward, fame."

[SenseiofCheese]

Amanda Waller
* = Translated from Arabic

"Jeez, how much longer until we can get moving? I'm boiling here*" one of the guards calls over to his friend. He swears to himself that the sun must be just a few inches from his head, as he wipes the sweat from his forehead and readjusts the rifle hanging by his side.

"Stop your complaining." his friend answers for the third time. "We'll be moving within the hour. Go get the freaks ready for transport."

All around them the camp is being dismantled. Tents being taken down, weapons loaded into crates, and now, the mutants they've captured rounded up like animals. "Shut him up. Shut him up!" he roars at a mutant woman who frantically tries to shush her young child.

CRASH

A massive crash washes over the area, and before long the entire campsite erupts into a hail of gunshots and screams. The guard pushes the woman down, grabs the rifle by his side and hurries out into the heat. It takes him 3 seconds to reach exit the tent, but by that time the gunshots have already ceased. It takes his eyes a few moments to adjust, but when they do, it still feels like he's staring directly into the sun.

http://old-wizard.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/the-sentry-most-powerful-superhero.jpg

-----

Amanda Waller is watching events unfolding in Kahndaq. No more than 15 minutes ago she had sent Robert Reynolds, the Sentry, on a rescue mission. At least the superhero thought it was a rescue mission.

15 minutes, and the man had already traveled to the Middle East, located the slave camp and eliminated every single one of the slavers. It was at times like these Amanda almost felt hesitant about stringing the Sentry along.

"Deputy Director Waller." a veteran SHIELD agent walks up behind Waller, professional in both stature, salute and tone of voice. "We have confirmation that the asset has eliminated all enemy units."

"Good. Send in the clean up crew. Tell them to wipe the camp clean. No survivors." Amanda stated without taking her eyes off the screen in front of her. With a curt nod and another salute, the agent turned to leave.

"Oh, and Agent Grant?"

"Ma'am?"

"How's our little side project coming along?"

"Quite well. We have two out of the five targets in custody already. Our men are....convincing them as we speak. The others are being tracked, won't belong before we have them. Agent Grant stated.

"Good." Amanda smiled an entirely unpleasant smile. "And Fury?"

"Completely unaware, ma'am."

"Excellent. Get back to work, Agent Grant." Waller ordered, turning back to the screen displaying the decimated slave camp. "We're changing the world, and we have no time to lose.

Without words, Agent Grant turned around and exited Waller's office. For a moment her thoughts drifted back to the Sentry, and just how long she could possibly keep him fooled. But for that, like everything else, Amanda Waller had a backup plan. Operation: Suicide Squad was coming together quite nicely, and the timing couldn't be better.

[Belvedere]

4 days ago

Eric Slaughter slammed the door of Wilson Fisk’s office shut loudly and made his way downstairs, he didn’t even acknowledge his driver as he stepped into the limousine. It was clear the elderly man was furious, once again Fisk had refused another one of Slaughter’s business ventures; once upon a time Eric Slaughter had been a name that struck fear into the heart of New York’s elite, but since Fisk had taken charge he had been firmly under his thumb ever since, he was beginning to think the Kingpin had a vendetta against him.

Every time Slaughter bit his tongue, every time Slaughter willingly accepted the **** that Fisk shovelled him it damaged his already tattered reputation. If his social standing had plummeted in his old age, his temper had done the opposite and it had become harder and harder for the old man to control.

As the car pulled away from the Fisk Industries building Slaughter fiddled with his cane as he thought of all the things good in his life; he was extremely healthy for a man of his age, he had more money than he would ever use, he was still treated with a semblance of respect by some of his peers. But whatever he tried he couldn’t push the image of Wilson’s smirking face denying him once again. Who was Fisk to tell Slaughter what to do? He had been running the streets long before Fisk was out of his diapers.

Once again Slaughter felt his temper boiling up; angrily he snapped his cane over his knee and threw the pieces onto the floor of the limousine. His driver lowered the blacked out window between them and looked back at his employer, “You alright boss?” he asked with a confused tone. Slaughter’s breathing slowed as he calmed down and he nodded, “I’m fine Donald” he said and the driver began raising the window up again.

Slaughter reached into his jacket and pulled out a cell phone, pressing a few buttons before pressing it against his ear.

“Get me Bullseye”

***

Today

Eric Slaughter sat in his office nervously and looked at the clock, Bullseye was meant to be here almost half an hour ago. He was slightly worried that perhaps Fisk had learned that the elderly man was looking for the assassin and put two and two together. The ding of the elevator outside of his office caught the old man’s attention, he felt his hands begin to shake nervously as he stood up and walked towards the elevator; he watched as the numbers rose from ground floor to the top floor and tried to steady his hands as the doors opened, but to his surprise the elevator was empty.

He sighed and walked back towards his office, he leant against his desk and pinched the bridge of his nose, but sprung awake as the door to his office was slammed shut from the inside; from behind it stepped Bullseye with a grin on his face, he walked towards Slaughter’s rather plush chair and slouched into it before placing his dirty shoes on his desk.

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss260/CameronCropper90/OK.jpg

“Word on the street is you’re looking for me Slaughter."

[Byrd Man]

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t302/DCMarvelRPG/Supporting%20Characters/Jim%20Gordon/GordonBanner.gif



After the briefing with the MCU, Jim Gordon sat in his office. Looking over the incident reports of the night.

“Commissioner. There is a Special Agent Fullington here to see you.”

“Send him in, Stacy.”

Gordon sipped his coffee as his office door opened and a tall man with graying hair and a tailored suit walks in.

“Commissioner Gordon. I’m Special Agent Jim Fullington. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Gotham office.” He said as he extended his hand to Gordon. The two men shook hands quickly.

“What can I help you with Agent Fullington?”

“It’s this child killing case. I know it’s occurred here in Gotham. But this is a federal crime. The director is requesting we assist the Gotham PD with anything you need.”

“No offense, Agent. But I don’t think we need your help. We have the best detectives on the force investigating this."

“No, Commissioner. I don’t think you understand. We’re the government and this is a federal crime. If we want to, we can take your department off the case while we handle it all.”

“I won’t let you do that.” Gordon said as he narrowed his eyes at the agent.

“Got a problem with it? Write your congressmen. I’ll be back here around 3:30. I expect you to call your detectives back in and then hand over all the info you have on this case to my investigators.”

Gordon managed a small smile at the agent as he stood to leave.

“Okay, Agent Fullington. I’ll get on that right away.”


**********



“Have a good hour off?” Charlie Fields muttered to Marcus Driver as the two men sat in silence as their car cruised through the Gotham traffic.

Driver nodded as he stared out the window. Captain Essen and Lieutenant Akins had given each detective team around five names to check on. They had all been in jail for child molestation and other kiddy perv things.

“How’s Nora?” Driver said as their car crushed to a stop at a red light.

“She’s sleeping peacefully. Apparently, the morgue doesn’t have to solve serial killings.”

“Yeah, who’d have thought it?” Driver said sarcastically as he looked over the names on the list.

“Okay. We have a Randolph, Jonathon Lees on our list. He’s a few blocks over on Orchard Avenue.”

“Dispatch to all units. 10-21 at 1940 Shirley Street. Officer down, I repeat office down!”

“So much for mister Lees.” Fields said as he hit the car’s blue lights and stomped the pedal to the floor.



***********


“Think there’s any truth to that rumor?” Kasper Cole said to Sawyer as they left the apartment of one of the names on their list. The guy’s alibi that he had been on vacation for the past two weeks checked out.

“I don’t know, Kasper. I mean…I wouldn’t think Gordon would do that, but it is a bit strange the way he made her head of the MCU and bumped her up to Captain all within a month.”

“Round the same time he and his wife split? C’mon, Maggie. You’re a detective. Detect!”

She rolled her eyes as they walked down the apartment’s flight of steps.

“Dispatch to all units. 10-21 at 1940 Shirley Street. Officer down, I repeat office down!” The car’s scanner squawked out as the two cops ran to the car.

*************


At Gotham Central, Captain Essen and Lieutenant Akins poured over files of evidence in the MCU squadroom. Pictures of the five victims, crime scene photos and DNA evidence litter the small card table they sit at.

“I don’t know how much longer I can look at this.” Akins said with a grimace.

“I got kids. Two little girls, I don’t know how their parents are putting up with it. It’d be all I could do not to put a bullet in whoever did this forehead.”

Essen silently nodded as she continued to read statements.

“So….” Akins starts.

“No. I’m not sleeping with the Commissioner.” Essen replied coldly.

“I wasn’t going to ask that,” Akins muttered as he looked over the pictures. His eyes focused on the morgue shots for a second, a thought running through his head.

“Dispatch to all units. 10-21 at 1940 Shirley Street. Officer down, I repeat office down!”


*****************


“Okay, rookie. Let me handle this.” Harvey Bullock grumbled as he took a long drag off his cigar and tossed it to the ground.

Montoya followed closely behind Bullock as the two went up a flight a stairs to apartment 305.

The current name on their list was a William Marshall Scot. This was his listed address.

“GCPD open up!” Bullock said as he thumped on the apartment door.

“Harv-…I mean, Sargent Bullock. Maybe that’s not the best approach.”

“Shut the hell up, rookie and let me do my job.”

BLAM!

A shotgun blast tore through the door, ripping the top half off and barely avoiding Bullock’s face by inches.

“Ahh!” He cried out as he held his shoulder on the ground.

“****er got me!”

Montoya pulled her side arm and kicked the remainder of the door in.

“GCPD Freeze!” She yelled as she surveyed the room.

She scanned the room, the perp was gone. But a window was open.

Quickly moving to it, she saw the figure that was Scot running down the fire escape.

“I hate Gotham.” Montoya muttered as she leapt on to the fire escape and gave chase.


***************


Maggie Sawyer and Kasper Cole ran up the flight of steps to the crumpled form of Sargent Bullock.

“Sawyer here. We confirm officer down.”

Cole reached down to Bullock’s neck, feeling for a pulse.

“Get outta here!” Bullock snapped as he pushed Cole away.

The detective stood up, holding his wounded shoulder.

“Montoya went running like a bat out of hell after the guy.”

“You get a good look at him?” Cole asked.

“Nah. I was too busy dodging goddamn birdshot. God, I need a drink.”

“EMT is downstairs.” Sawyer said as she walked into Scot’s apartment.

Sawyer looked around the apartment; a low whistle passes through her lips.

“What is it?” Cole said as he followed behind his partner.

The cluttered apartment is filled with pictures. Naked children, children engaged in sexual acts, animals and children doing perverted things.

“Wow.” Sawyer said as she surveyed the room.

“Might want to call in CSI. I would say we have our lead suspect.”

[Watchman]

-"No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well...maybe chalk it off to forced conscious expansion: Tune in, freak out, get beaten."

There is probably hundreds of dive bars just like this scattered around Gotham. Full with criminals, outcasts, and other lowlifes, it was a place that attracted him like some sort of magnet. Gotham was a like a conduct for his type. At the bar one patron sits, eats some peanuts, looks up at the television. Lex Luthor was on television. He turned to the bartender.

"Can you believe that, ****ing Lex Luthor 'sis president. What is the world coming to," the bartender grunts a sound of agreement. "Soon he going to gather all his little superteams and wipe us all out. He betrayed his own kind." As if he just spoken a string of magic words the door open. Everyone turned their head when the bell rang. Standing in the doorway was a man in a very garish costume.

"If you ask me all politcians are criminals." He said waltzing over to the bar. Nobody took their eyes off him. "But Mike," he jumped when he heard his name "you're right about one thing. Those superteams are going to wipe you all out, stick you in prisoners far off and turn places like Gotham into golden utopia."

"Uh..."

"Astute obversation, Mike. Right who could stop this travisty? Well as your duly appointed master of all things bad it's my duty nay privelege to nip this in the bud."

"Ok, fruit get the hell out of my bar."

"Mister Barkeep, I am not a fruit nor any other kind of food. I'm....well that's a surprise for later. You don't have the power to kick me out. I have a costume you don't. You are bound to fail." The bartender takes out a shotgun and points it at the man.

"Hurm..."

"This is all the power I need." The mysterious man takes notice of the bartender's cigerette. Each puff a small ember appears.

"You know those things will kill you."

"What are you worried about my health? I said get out!"

"Hmmm, did you know one of your lovely patrons is a mutant. One with a very special talent. Right, Mr. Pyro?" A lone man sitting at a table flinched.

"What? I don't allow mutants in my ba...." A flame leap from the bartender's mouth and grew and grew and grew. He was screaming now a firey mess. Then the flame ceased.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/AgentClarkNova/Libra-DC.png

[Keyser Soze]

Prologue


“Would you like to hear a story?”

Deep in the mountains of Nornheim, Odin – lord of Asgard – was in conference with fate. Fate, in the guise of the Three Norns, ancient sisters whose unknown origins predate Asgard and Olympus. It would seem that for as long as there has been a past, a present and a future, the Three Norns have been there to document it. Even Odin showed deference to these beings. And now he had come here, to this realm of Asgard where they could sometimes be found, and waited for them to appear out of the mists. They seemed to float over the ground, hovering around Asgard’s King in a loose circle.

“Stories great and stories small.”

“We three sisters know them all.”

“Speak your mind, young Odin King.”

“And we may tell what fate will bring.”

The three crones cackled knowingly amongst themselves, their wrinkled features cast into shadow by the hoods of their tattered robes.

“Most wise and gracious Norns,” spoke Odin, bowing his head, “I come here not to ask of myself. I humbly request you speak to me of my son, Thor.”

The Three Norns exchanged thoughtful glances.

“Thor the mighty.”

“Now there is a story.”

“We shall give you a glimpse, but that is all.”

Closing their eyes, the Norns summon a glowing energy that forms a solid circle around Odin, linking the three sisters. It holds the appearance of wool being spun and woven. The fabric of life. Opening their eyes, the three sisters pluck from this fabric one single thread, letting the rest of the tapestry disappear from view. As this single thread spins in an endless circle, running through the Norns’ fingers. Thousands of images sift through the mist, Thor’s past, present and future flashing past Odin at great speed.

“My son…”

“Here is the life thread of Thor.”

“Past, present and future.”

“Beginning, middle and end.”

One of the sisters floats forward, bringing the thread in her hands closer to Odin. This is Urd, seer of the past. The mists around them light up with scenes of a great battle of a bygone age, Thor locked in bloody combat with a group of Frost Giants.

“Thor is a great warrior,” Urd says, “Perhaps the greatest Asgard has ever known. With Mjolnir in his hand, he has laid waste to armies and defended Asgard and Midgard alike on countless occasions. Yet with this power came pride. Young Thor became conceited and impetuous. The worship of humankind made him forget his place was to serve them and protect them, not to rule them. You, Odin King, decreed that were he to be a champion of Midgard as you intended, he had to know what it was to be human. He had to know humility.”

Odin nodded solemnly.

“Thor’s pride was a failing on my part as a father…”

“Your feelings do not concern us,” continued Urd, “We are here to tell you of Thor. His skill in battle instilled violence in his nature. When angered, his rage brought storms to the sky, unrest to the sea and blood to the earth. This you also wished to temper. But be warned, Odin King, that the past may be hidden, or even forgotten, but it never goes away. Pride and wrath are in Thor’s nature still, and may yet be his undoing.”

Urd stepped back, and the images of old battle faded. Next to step forward was Verdand, seer of the present. As she brought the thread in her hands closer to Odin, the image of Thor on a podium, surrounded by cheering crowds, came into focus.

“Thor has emerged as a hero of Midgard once more,” said Verdand, “But in this new age there are many champions, as a few mortals acquire great powers and use them for good or ill. Already, they find themselves at odds with one another, and Thor is part of this conflict. Two factions of heroes have formed, and so focused are they on each other that they are blind to the gathering threats around them.”

Verdand withdrew, and the tableau of Thor’s current actions dissipated. Third and last to step forward was the most feared of all the Norns: Skuld, seer of the future.

“I knew you would come, Odin King, for I saw it. I see it all.”

The image Skuld produced in the mist was more ambiguous than what Urd or Verdand had brought forth. It was an image of Thor’s face – his helmet cast aside, his hair in disarray – with a look of horror and realization in his eyes. It was an expression of despair.

“Darkness awaits in Thor’s future,” Skuld declared, “His past faults and present complacency shall each play their part in the turmoil yet to come. As will you, Odin King. Those Thor loves shall be his downfall. The discovery of that which has been kept secret shall be his ruin. The shadow of death lingers near…”

“What danger awaits my son?” Odin interrupted, “How can I avert this fate? You have to tell me!”

The Three Norns simply laughed.

“We do not have to tell you anything, Odin King.”

“You do not rule us.”

“We answer to forces far beyond what even your all-seeing eye can comprehend.”

The thread faded, the images of Thor's life disappeared into the night, and the Norns broke their circle.

"You may leave now."

Odin did not protest. He knew better than to do so. Mounting his faithful steed, Sleipnir, Odin reluctantly set off back to Asgard, leaving the Norns behind.

“Odin King is haunted by the poor judgements he has made through his reign,” stated Urd.

“And now he fears Thor is to be punished for his indiscretion,” added Verdand.

“Poor Odin,” sighed Skuld, as the three sisters vanished into the mist once more, “If only he knew what fate has in store for him…”

[Belvedere]

“You know Bullseye once upon a time I used to be somebody in this town, my name actually carried a little bit of weight, look at me now… I’m a shadow of my former self” said the impassioned Slaughter as he paced up and down the room as he spoke waving his newly purchased cane around as he did so. “So can you imagine what it’s like to have to kiss that fat bastard’s ring every month? Can you imagine what it’s like having these meatheads with super-powers being treated with more respect than me? I’ve been running these streets since Fisk was in diapers.”

“You do realise I’m an assassin not a psychiatrist don’t you?” Bullseye said sarcastically with a smile.

“Alright wise guy, I’ll come right out with it, I want you to kill Wilson Fisk” the smile on Bullseye’s face disappeared instantly and was replaced with a look of sheer bemusement, he didn’t believe that Slaughter had actually just spoken those words; Slaughter knew taking a hit out on the Kingpin of Crime was like signing your own death warrant, even if Fisk was killed it wouldn’t solve the old man’s problems anyway, it would just create more. “I’m willing to pay you 50 million dollars to do it.”

You couldn’t ever mistake Bullseye for a loyal man, despite the fact he had been Wilson Fisk’s “Employee of the Month” for the past year or so he would happily take the job, but it would be bad for business. The current status quo was good for everyone, without an undisputed Kingpin there would be a mad scramble for the throne; the last thing New York needed right now was a gang war.

“You don’t want to open this can of worms Slaughter, believe me...”

Something was fishy about this, Bullseye could feel it; where did the relatively small-time Slaughter, who used to be such a tight fisted old goat, get enough money all of a sudden to hand out 50 million dollars as if it was pocket change? Something definitely wasn’t right, he hadn’t realised it until now but Slaughter had been a lot more talkative than he remembered him, it was almost as if he was stalling. “I’m serious Bullseye, he’s crossed me for the last t-“

“How much are they paying you Slaughter?” Bullseye said coldly.

“I don’t understand” said the elderly man feigning ignorance, he could tell by the assassin’s steely gaze he suspected something was going on. Slaughter grabbed his cane and pressed what seemed to be a panic button, which didn’t go unnoticed by Bullseye.

Bullseye leapt from Slaughter’s chair and grabbed the old man by his lapels, he slammed the old man’s head against his own desk and held him down; grabbing a stapler and opening it up, holding it above the head of the whimpering Slaughter menacingly.

“Tell me who you’re working for old man.”

Once again the elderly man feigned ignorance and denied having any knowledge of what the assassin was talking about. Bullseye shook his head angrily and slammed the stapler down against one of Slaughter’s ears, pinning it to the table.

“You know, I’m surprised you never thought about getting your ears pierced before now, it really suits you.”

Bullseye lifted the stapler up again and held it above the old man’s head threateningly again; he wasn’t sure what he was going to staple down this time, maybe eyelid? But before he had the chance to Slaughter spoke up. “F-f… f-fine… I’ll tell you, I’m being blackmailed by… I’m working for…”

From behind Bullseye the doors to Slaughter’s office burst open and several heavily armed men stormed in.

“SHIELD...”

Bullseye grinned and rubbed his hands with satisfaction.

“God I’m going to enjoy this.”

[Watchman]

After Libra's little show at the bar he had left the patron's instruction on where to meet them. Only two were intrested the two names that he called out. They were taking the one name Mike's car. They were heading to Slaughter Swamp.

"So, you actually believe what he said, mate?"

"What's that accent? English?"

"Austrailian."

"Oh...well do I believe? I don't know. I'm just curious."

"Curious? The man set the bartender on fire and then ask us to come out to the middle of the swamp."

"Well now that you put that way. Ummm, why are you here?"

"Personal." He didn't want to tell the man that he was intrested on how Libra used the same powers that he had. The car stopped at a cabin bordering the swamp.

"This is the place. Hey you ever see the Evil Dead?"

"Not now," he pushed the door open. It looked like an ordinary cabin. A rocking chair was moving in a corner. "Hello, Libra?" The two moved closer which stopped moving. The door slammed behind them, they both jumped.

"Good, you came."

"We came." Mike said which Libra ignored. He turned his back and went for a back door.

"Follow me to the revolution." They both followed. They found themselves on a deck that was sinking into the swamp.

"Hey, Mr. Libra, what's the deal. I'm more of a mutant freedom fighter than anything, what do you want with me?"

"John, all are welcome under my group. Whether you be mutant, human, or alien, all are welcome."

"And who do you fight for?"

"Why Evil, of course. Now our you familiar with the legend of Cyrus Gold?"

"No."

"I know..."

"Cyrus Gold was said to have been killed in this swamp but it transformed him." He tap the pointed end of his spear against the deck. There was rumbling coming from the swamp. Something was coming out.

"Born on Monday, christiened on Tuesday, married on a Wednesday..."

"I think I should go," said Mike who looked ill.

"Don't go." Libra held out his staff which Mike tripped over into the swamp. He struggled to get out.

"Help me!"

"Took ill on Thrusday," he held out the bladed end which Mike tried to grabbed but only cut his hands, "grew worst on Friday," something grabbed onto Mike's leg and pulled him down under the water. "Died on a Saturday. Buried on Sunday. That is the tale of Solomon Grundy. Meet our second member of our ever growing army."

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/AgentClarkNova/Grundyfoe.png

[wiegeabo]

"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

I drop the perp to the ground. "That was the fourth proximal phalange of your left hand. If scum like you ever gets married, I doubt the ring will fit right. You have two-hundred five more bones. Should I continue?"

The perp whimpers and shakes his head. "So you'll tell me what I want to know." It's not a question.

He nods. "Anything man..."

"Who's killing the children?"

"I-I don't kn-"

With one hand I grab his jacket and pull his face up to mine. I reach down with the other. CRUNCH

"AAAAGHGGHHAAHHH!!!"

"Two-hundred four..."

***

The canopy closes above me and I drive into the night. The thug didn't know anything specific about the kidnapper. But he knew it was one of the usual suspects. No one new who was into children had come into town recently.

I bring up the list of known child molesters. I've gone through a third of them with no luck. But I know Gordon's working on this now. I can only hope we get through the rest quickly before another child goes missing.

The police scanner flares to life.

“Dispatch to all units. 10-21 at 1940 Shirley Street. Officer down, I repeat office down!”

I slam on the brakes and screech the batmobile around in a tight 180. I slam the accelerator home and drive through the heart of Gotham...

[Belvedere]

“Lester Pointdexter you are under arrest, drop the weapon and place your hands behind your head.”

The mention of that name flipped a switch inside of Bullseye’s head. No-one had called him that for a long time. He dropped the stapler and pretended to place his hands behind his head, but before the stapler landed he kicked it fiercely at one of the SHIELD agents. It struck the agent squarely in the forehead and he fell to the floor lifelessly whilst the other agents watched on in shock. Bullseye grabbed Slaughter and tore him off the table leaving his ear behind; he reached into his waistband and pulled out several throwing stars which he flung in the direction of the SHIELD agents, they opened fire and Bullseye stood behind Slaughter’s body which was torn asunder by lead.

“Thanks for the save” Bullseye said with a smile and tossed the old man out of the window.

More SHIELD agents poured into the office and Bullseye grabbed the cane which Slaughter had dropped and snapped it into several pieces. One after another he slung them through the eyes of the SHIELD agents, the entrance of the office was littered with downed agents and the ones pouring in had to clamber over the corpses of their comrades to enter. Bullseye dodged their bullets effortlessly and opened one of the cupboards in Slaughter’s office; a bottle of vodka caught his eye, he grabbed it and smiled, unscrewing it and pouring it all around. The assassin reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter, setting the room alight. He laughed manically whilst the SHIELD agents tried to avoid the flames.

“God, they’re letting any old bum off the street join these days aren’t they? I expect better from the world’s premier ‘peace-keeping’ force.” Bullseye said smugly.

A bullet tore through the assassin’s shoulder, he stopped for a second and looked down at the bullet hole, dipping his fingers into it and licking them.

“That was my favourite jacket…”

He scanned the room for more things to use as weapons and to his chagrin found nothing, the observant SHIELD agents realised this too and swarmed the assassin; Bullseye grabbed the closest one and crushed his trachea with one hand whilst gouging the eyes of another with his other hand, but the sheer number of them overpowered him.

He had once chance: he dragged the dozen or so SHIELD agents trying to subdue him towards the broken window and hoped for the best, holding his breath before he began plummeting from several dozen stories high.

A few stories below him he noticed the wind whipping around a flag pole which he reached out for. As he grabbed the fabric he felt the flag stretch and heard it begin to tear, it ripped loudly and he began to fall through the air once again. About ten stories above the ground Bullseye grabbed the nearest of the SHIELD agents whom were also falling to the ground and the two wrestled in the air; Bullseye put his hands on either side of the agents head and snapped it effortlessly, before turning his lifeless body to face the ground and cushion his fall.

Bullseye landed with a dull thud. He fought to his feet weakly and took a few steps before collapsing to the floor again and slipping out of consciousness. A plain-clothed SHIELD operative walked over the bodies of several SHIELD agents that littered the street and pressed his fingers against the neck of the unconscious assassin. The operative raised his watch to his mouth and spoke into it angrily.

“Target acquired, ma’am.”

[Byrd Man]

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t302/DCMarvelRPG/Supporting%20Characters/Jim%20Gordon/GordonBanner.gif



“Stop!” Renee Montoya yelled as she gave chase to the man who had fired on her partner.

The two ran through the deserted back alleys of Gotham.

Scot looked back one fleeting moment as he ran into the back door of a business.

Renee pressed on and followed through the door after him.

Chaos ensued as a half dozen Chinese men went back and forth through the small kitchen of a Chinese restaurant.

Montoya wadded through the pots, pans, and bodies as she hurried through the kitchen. Just as she entered the dinning room, the front door closed.

“****!” She cussed as she took off in high gear.

Heading through the restaurant’s front door, she spotted the man already a half block down the street.

Out of nowhere, an unmarked police car whipped in front of him with its lights flashing.

“GCPD, FREEZE!” Charlie Fields belted out as he hung out the driver side door with his gun trained on the suspect.

Montoya caught up to the scene just as Driver was slapping the cuffs on Scot and reading him his rights.

“Thanks for the assist.” Montoya said breathlessly.

“Thanks for the setup.” Fields said with a wink.

“How’s Bullock?”

“He’s fine. It was only a flesh wound.” Fields said as he leaned against the door.

“He’s already back at Central, smoking his cigar and wolfing down doughnuts.”

“You want a ride back to Central? Or do you want me to let him go and see if you can chase him all the way to HQ?” Driver said as he slapped Scot in the back of the head and pushed him into the car.

“I’ll walk back to my car and take it to Central.”

“Make sure you check out this guy’s apartment while you’re at it.” Fields said as he started the car.

“CSI is there right now, Mr. Scot has quite a collection. Isn’t that right?”

“I ain’t saying anything until I have a lawyer.” Scot said as Fields put the car in drive and cruised away.


************



“Detective!”

“Montoya! Over here!”

“Renee!”

Montoya shook her head as she waded through a sea of reporters as she climbs the steps to Gotham Central.

“No comment. I have no comment at this time.” She muttered as she walked into police headquarters.

“They’re like freaking locusts, aren’t they?” The receptionist said as Montoya walked towards the elevator.

“No, Stacy. Reporters are what plague locusts.”


****************


“Okay, so where are we?” Commissioner Gordon asked as Captain Essen and Lieutenant Akins sat in the chairs in front of his desk.

“Montoya and Bullock were preparing to brace Scot when he shot at them. He wounded Bullock and ran.” Essen said.

“Montoya was chasing after him when officers Fields and Driver assisted and arrested him. We’ve got him downstairs in a hot box.” Akins finished.


Gordon nodded at his two officers and looked at his watch.

“Okay, it is now 9:15 a.m. Since Bullock and Montoya got the collar, I want them interrogating the Scot man. Send Fields and Driver back to working their names. I’ve called for a press conference at 10 to address the media. Captain Essen, you’ll be at the press conference with me while Lieutenant Akins will supervise Bullock and Montoya in the interrogation. I’m having lunch with the mayor and interim DA at noon to explain this whole situation and try and ask for some assistance.”


***************


“So, you get to dazzle the press, huh?” Akins said as he and Essen left Gordon’s office.

“Yes. It makes sense. I am the MCU supervisor.”

“I guess….and I wonder how you got the role?” He said as he looked slyly at Essen.

“Listen right now, Michael.” She said as she pushed the Lieutenant against the wall.

“I got this job because I am the most qualified officer in this police station. I worked Homicide for close to ten years, and had one of the highest clearance ratings of all the homicide detectives in the history of the GCPD, I’ve passed every fitness report I’ve ever had with flying colors and I know how to keep my officers in line. I’m not some glory hound who’s just going through the motions until he gets promoted high enough to earn a decent pension.” She said as she poked Akins in the chest hard.

With that, Essen turned on her heels and stormed out. Leaving Akins shocked at the outburst.

********************


“You heard the rumor, right?” Kasper Cole said as he and his partner walked through the MCU squadroom.

“What is that?” Sawyer said as the pair sat down at their facing desks.

“Rumor is, if this case doesn’t get solved be nightfall, commish is turning on the signal.”

“Jesus. Does he have any faith in us?” Sawyer bemoaned as she put her face into her hands.

“I don’t think it’s that. Gordon has the mayor, council, and the feds breathing down his neck. Say what you will about Batman, but the dude does get results.”

“Yeah. He ends up creating a ****-load of collateral damage and creates more whackos than he puts away.”

“See, I disagree there. I think it’s the whole, chicken and egg scenario. Maybe he created them, but I think they created him.”

“Whatever, Kasper. Go debate your politics with Detective Crowe. Me, I could care less what motivates the bat. I just want to solve this case.”


************


William Scot was fidgety. He’d been in the interrogation room for close to a half-hour now. The room was hot, and he had started to slowly sweat. Through the two-way mirror, Lieutenant Akins watched alongside Detective Montoya and Sargent Bullock, complete with his arm in a sling.

“So, who’s going to be the good cop, and who’ll be the bad cop?” Akins asked as he turned to face the two detectives. Seeing the rather large Bullock with his arm in a sling and surly look on his face, compared to the thin, young Latino detective who had been a patrolmen just a month before, Akins smiled.

“Forget I asked.” He held out his hands as the two cops forked over their badges and guns.

“Good luck in there.”

“Mr. Scot.” Montoya said as she walked into the interrogation room.

“You’ve met me, but how about my partner?” She said as Bullock walked in, a devilish smile on his face.

“Hiya. I want to thank you for the shotgun pellets in my shoulder. That was kind of you. Allow me to repay some of that kindness.”

[Eddie Brock]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/butterflylight/spidermanbanner1-1.png

"It's a relatively simple concept - even for you guys." I spin and kick a charging thug in his beer gut. Spider-Sense tingles in time for me to throw up a block from the other direction. The pool cue snaps across my forearm. With my free hand, I treat the second attacker to a healthy dose of webbing in the face. I then spin and kick out the legs of Chubby. "You guys can't keep your mouths shut about anything. Therefore, I know that someone, somewhere has heard about who's behind this new, black-suited 'Spider-Man.'"

"We don't know nothing!" Chubby grumbles. He's still holding his fat rolls. He tries to spit at me, but manages only to get saliva all over his chin. There are a few snickers from the peanut gallery. Chubby groans.

Grabbing Chubby by his grease-stained shirt, I ask, "You do know that's a double-negative, right? If you 'don't know nothing,' then you're saying that you do know something." I grin, but I'm not sure he can see it. It doesn't matter, anyway. Bad grammar aside, I'm starting to feel like they're telling the truth. They really don't know anything, which means I'm on my own.

"Are you done trashing my bar?" a scruffy voice asks from the shadows. A large, toned man emerges, wearing a tight tank top and camouflage pants. His fingers are adorned with rings, and there's a sizable gold chain around his neck. His mullet, however, makes him look like Billy Ray Cyrus.

Dropping Chubby, I point at the groaning bodies scattered haphazardly around the bar. There are thugs collapsed on the pool tables, thugs webbed to the walls, thugs lying on the remains of shattered wooden tables, thugs everywhere. "They started it," I respond like a ten year-old. "So, you're Frank Oliver?"

"That I am. And I'm guessing some dumb mook gave you my name, did he?" Oliver's accent is an odd combination of Australian and '20's gangster. It catches me a little off-guard. Cracking his knuckles, Oliver continues, "And I think it know who it was, too."

"Well, he told me that you're the man to talk to about crime 'round these parts," I explain as I crouch on the edge of a pool table. "I'm guessing you know why I'm here, then?"

Oliver nods roughly. "Who hasn't heard about Spider-Man, the murderer? Spider-Man, the crook?" With a tooth smile, he admits, "I was actually startin' to hope it was true, myself." His smile instantly fades. "Well, you wasted your time and trashed my bar for no reason, 'cause no one I've talked to knows anything about your better half. Whoever's doing it isn't in it for the glory."

Wonderful. "I'll start with the usual suspects, then, and work my way down the line. I'm sure you know everyone who might have a grudge against me?"

"You want I should list them alphabetically or by birthday?" Oliver asks sardonically. "Heard there's this guy named Oliver. Owns a bar. Seems to be pretty upset that a kid in his pajamas came down, terrorized his paying customers, and left the place in shambles."

As much as it pains me to say, Oliver is right. There are just too many people that would pull a stunt like this. Every member of the criminal underworld would benefit from Spider-Man being off the streets. At least I know one thing: it's not Gobby. No, he'd be much more personal about it.

So, then, who?

"I'll tell you what, Oliver, put it on my tab," I announce, referring to all the collateral damage. I pretend to look at a wristwatch. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got a lookalike to find." And a jock to tutor. "I'm sure we'll be seeing each other."

As I leave, I hear Oliver grumble something along the lines of 'not too soon, hopefully.'

[wiegeabo]

By the time I arrive at the address, the police have their suspect in custody. And the EMT's are treating one of his men. I have to move to another vantage point on my roof before I see it's Bullock. The way he's yelling at the people trying to treat him, he's fine.

While they're getting everything sorted out and transporting their suspect to the station, I swing over to the apartment building and peek in through the window. If CSI wasn't going through the place, I'd enter. But there isn't much reason to. I see all I need to see. Much more than I need to see, actually.

By the time I catch up to the MCU, they're all inside. The suspect probably in holding why they try to get information out of him. I swing over and open a window, slipping inside and waiting in the darkness. A few minutes later, the door opens, and the office's occupant enters. He sits at his desk and starts looking at some papers, his back turned to me.

"What do we know?"

[Keyser Soze]

Act I: Encroachment


It was a long time coming, but at last the day had come. He had just been sworn into office, and as he made the way to the podium, the speaker's introduction sounded so sweet to his ear.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the new President of the United States... Lex Luthor!"

And then Luthor took his place at the podium, standing in front of huge gathered crowds, all cheering his name. And all around the world, people were watching this historic moment. They were waiting to hear what he had to say in his first address.

"My fellow Americans... I want to talk to you about change. The world all around us is changing. Over the last few years, the impossible has happened, again and again. Strange beings with unnatural powers began to emerge all over the country. We combated not one, but two alien invasions. The unthinkable has become a tangible reality. And in this world, suddenly strange and threatening in its uncertainty, you could not be blamed for feeling helpless. When mutant terrorists do battle on the streets with superpowered, masked vigilantes who answer to no one but themselves, it seems like our security has been taken out of the hands of the police, the armed forces, all the true American heroes who have dedicated their lives to our protection."

Luthor cast a solemn look out into the crowd. His stance on superheroes had been a divisive issue, but overall he felt he'd struck just the right balance to maximise public support.

"Some of my detractors have characterised me as someone who hates all superheroes, and wants them abolished. Not true. Captain America is a good friend of mine. And of course we are all grateful for the good deeds these men and women have done. As I speak now, I also think of the best interests of these brave individuals. Why should they have to toil in the shadows, operating outside the law? They are heroes. They deserve to be publically celebrated, they deserve official recognition. Superheroes should not be vigilantes. They should be government agents, working alongside the FBI, the CIA, and all the other agencies for the betterment of our great nation. Which brings me to my big announcement, my first act as President of the United States...."

Behind Luthor, the doors at the top of the White House steps opened.

"I have assembled a team of superheroes, officially recognised and endorsed by the American Government. They will work closely alongside S.H.I.E.L.D. to identify and neutralise metahuman threats. They will work tirelessly to protect our way of life in this brave new world. They are... The Avengers!"

And to rapturous applause and deafening cheers, the members of the Avengers walked down the White House steps in single file, each dressed in full costume.

"The Flash!"
"Green Lantern!"
"Giant Man!"
"The Wasp!"
"Vision!"
"Hawkeye!"
"Wonder Woman!"
"Thor!"

One by one, they all took their place by Luthor's side. All around the world, men, women and children were witnessing the dawn of a new age of heroism. The greatest superhero team on the planet had just assembled. And they were under the control of Lex Luthor.

Yes, at last his day had come...

[SenseiofCheese]

Amanda Waller

She couldn't help but smile.

The SHIELD helicarrier, floating high above the White House, erupted into applause, as the numerous agents, their eyes glued to a large screen, watched President Luthor sworn into office.

President Luthor.

This was all finally happening.

"Ma'am." a young agent walked up behind Waller, a folder in his hand.

"Agent Ackles." she greeted the man, who abruptly handed the folder over to her.

"The target has been captured and brought on board. He's in holding cell 4B" he announced with barely hidden pride.

"My God." Waller muttered.

-----

The holding cell was pitch black, and smelled vaguely of blood. Before she entered, before she even opened the door, Amanda could hear a faint whistling coming from inside. A disturbingly cheery song being hummed by the murderer inside.

With a soft whir, the door sprung to life and slid open, and flushed the room with light.

"I understand you caused quite a bit of trouble down there." Amanda said, putting no effort into masking her disdain for the man who sat chained to a chair, the chair bolted to the floor. Each of the man's feet was tied to a foot of the chair. A plastic zip-cuff pinning his neck to the wall he sat up against, and his arms outstretched, also pinned to the wall.

"We've been watching you for a long time. Now that we finally have you, I was hoping we could chat."

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/696492-ultimate_bullseye_2_super.jpg

[Belvedere]

Amanda Waller

She couldn't help but smile.

The SHIELD helicarrier, floating high above the White House, erupted into applause, as the numerous agents, their eyes glued to a large screen, watched President Luthor sworn into office.

President Luthor.

This was all finally happening.

"Ma'am." a young agent walked up behind Waller, a folder in his hand.

"Agent Ackles." she greeted the man, who abruptly handed the folder over to her.

"The target has been captured and brought on board. He's in holding cell 4B" he announced with barely hidden pride.

"My God." Waller muttered.

-----

The holding cell was pitch black, and smelled vaguely of blood. Before she entered, before she even opened the door, Amanda could hear a faint whistling coming from inside. A disturbingly cheery song being hummed by the murderer inside.

With a soft whir, the door sprung to life and slid open, and flushed the room with light.

"I understand you caused quite a bit of trouble down there." Amanda said, putting no effort into masking her disdain for the man who sat chained to a chair, the chair bolted to the floor. Each of the man's feet was tied to a foot of the chair. A plastic zip-cuff pinning his neck to the wall he sat up against, and his arms outstretched, also pinned to the wall.

"We've been watching you for a long time. Now that we finally have you, I was hoping we could chat."

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/696492-ultimate_bullseye_2_super.jpg

Bullseye looked the woman up and down, he didn't have a clue who she was but he could tell management when he saw it. Something about the woman exuded authority.

Bullseye didn't like authority.

"What could you say that could possibly interest me, sweet cheeks?"

He chuckled to himself.

"You think this place'll hold me? You've got another thing coming."

He recalled the face of every single SHIELD agent he'd killed, he was aware the woman probably hated his guts for it; it made the assassin a little more smug than someone totally powerless should be.

[SenseiofCheese]

"What could you say that could possibly interest me, sweet cheeks?"

[/FONT][/COLOR]He chuckled to himself.

"You think this place'll hold me? You've got another thing coming."

He recalled the face of every single SHIELD agent he'd killed, he was aware the woman probably hated his guts for it; it made the assassin a little more smug than someone totally powerless should be.

Amanda Waller

Amanda kept a straight face, not allowing Bullseye's taunts to so much as dent her armor. She had gotten long used to men like him.

"Lester, you are murdering scum." she stated, to which Bullseye simply smiled and shrugged. "I'd rather not spend a second more than I have to in the same room as you, so I'll make this painfully simple for you."

Waller threw the folder in her hand onto a small metal table that stood by the door. A few pictures slid out of it, but Bullseye couldn't see them clearly.

"My name is Amanda Waller, and I'm the Deputy Director of SHIELD. I am putting together a special team. With special privileges." Bullseye cocked an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly.

"You and your teammates would work for me directly. No bureaucracy, no red tape. I give you orders and you follow them. Your existence as a team will be kept top secret, as SHIELD can not afford to be linked with the likes of you, much less the things you will do. Nothing you do will leave a trace, and should you be captured SHIELD will have full deniability. And before you ask what's in this for you, let me answer that question; absolutely nothing. You will be doing this because you simply have no other choice. No doubt your first instinct is to agree to this and then make a run for it. But the explosive charge that has been placed inside your skull urges you reconsider that option."

Amanda stops for a moment, giving Bullseye a few seconds to digest what he's just been told, before she continues.

"Make no mistake, Lester. From this point on, I own you. You are a resource I intend to bleed dry. And when the day comes that you finally become useless I will put your murdering hide in the ground and I'll sleep easy."

[Belvedere]

Amanda Waller

Amanda kept a straight face, not allowing Bullseye's taunts to so much as dent her armor. She had gotten long used to men like him.

"Lester, you are murdering scum." she stated, to which Bullseye simply smiled and shrugged. "I'd rather not spend a second more than I have to in the same room as you, so I'll make this painfully simple for you."

Waller threw the folder in her hand onto a small metal table that stood by the door. A few pictures slid out of it, but Bullseye couldn't see them clearly.

"My name is Amanda Waller, and I'm the Deputy Director of SHIELD. I am putting together a special team. With special privileges." Bullseye cocked an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly.

"You and your teammates would work for me directly. No bureaucracy, no red tape. I give you orders and you follow them. Your existence as a team will be kept top secret, as SHIELD can not afford to be linked with the likes of you, much less the things you will do. Nothing you do will leave a trace, and should you be captured SHIELD will have full deniability. And before you ask what's in this for you, let me answer that question; absolutely nothing. You will be doing this because you simply have no other choice. No doubt your first instinct is to agree to this and then make a run for it. But the explosive charge that has been placed inside your skull urges you reconsider that option."

Amanda stops for a moment, giving Bullseye a few seconds to digest what he's just been told, before she continues.

"Make no mistake, Lester. From this point on, I own you. You are a resource I intend to bleed dry. And when the day comes that you finally become useless I will put your murdering hide in the ground and I'll sleep easy."

Bullseye wasn't used to be talked to in such a way, he couldn't remember the last time he'd allow someone to treat him with such disrespect and live. But secretely he couldn't help but find himself slightly attracted to the woman, not many people on earth would have the confidence to speak to him like that.

"I've got to admit, you've got some stones lady, but other's have tried and failed long before you came along. I'll play along, it's not like I have much choice in the matter, I promise you though.."

He spoke in a playful manner with a rather jovial tone, which he dropped almost instantly and added with a sinister look.

"When you slip up, and eventually you will, I will kill you."

Images of the several ways he could dispatch the woman flashed across his mind, bringing a smile to the assassin's face, all he had to do was bide his time and the opportunity would arise.

[SenseiofCheese]

"I've got to admit, you've got some stones lady, but other's have tried and failed long before you came along. I'll play along, it's not like I have much choice in the matter, I promise you though.."

He spoke in a playful manner with a rather jovial tone, which he dropped almost instantly and added with a sinister look.

"When you slip up, and eventually you will, I will kill you."

Images of the several ways he could dispatch the woman flashed across his mind, bringing a smile to the assassin's face, all he had to do was bide his time and the opportunity would arise.


Waller smiled placatingly. She had always imagined Bullseye to be the least difficult to 'convince'. Probably because being given a government badge and told to kill people was something akin to a fantasty to the assassin.

"We'll see, Lester. For the time being, meet the rest of the team." Waller stated as she walked over the table, took the pictures of each team member and spread them out for Bullseye to see.

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"Waylon Jones, aka Killer Croc."

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Dmitri Smerdyakov, aka Chameleon."

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"Louise Lincoln, aka Killer Frost."

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"Bette, aka Plastique."

"Lester Pointdexter, aka Bullseye..." Waller announced, looking the assassin dead in the eyes. "Welcome to Suicide Squad."

[Belvedere]

Waller smiled placatingly. She had always imagined Bullseye to be the least difficult to 'convince'. Probably because being given a government badge and told to kill people was something akin to a fantasty to the assassin.

"We'll see, Lester. For the time being, meet the rest of the team." Waller stated as she walked over the table, took the pictures of each team member and spread them out for Bullseye to see.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/11863/385319-101279-killer-croc_super.jpg

"Waylon Jones, aka Killer Croc."

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/5586/482326-ch3_super.jpg

Dmitri Smerdyakov, aka Chameleon."

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/77/192667-33687-killer-frost_super.jpg

"Louise Lincoln, aka Killer Frost."

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/9241/511478-0000_super.jpg

"Bette, aka Plastique."

"Lester Pointdexter, aka Bullseye..." Waller announced, looking the assassin dead in the eyes. "Welcome to Suicide Squad."

Bullseye's eyes scanned across the pictures of his "team-mates" and sighed, look at them he thought, look at their costumes; where had Waller got these freaks from? They looked like they had come straight out of a comic book.

Needless to say Bullseye wasn't exactly the definition of "team player", a few of the people of the pictures he'd heard of before. The "Killer Croc" clown had tumbled with Batman a few times, Smerdyakov had pulled off a few pretty well publicised heists over the years.

"What's the first target 'boss'?"

Lester knew the quicker he got these missions over aond done with, the quicker he would be free. He gestured to the pictures of the other members of the Suicide Squad with a smile.

"And when will I get to meet these jokers?"

[SenseiofCheese]

"What's the first target 'boss'?"
[/FONT][/COLOR]
Lester knew the quicker he got these missions over aond done with, the quicker he would be free. He gestured to the pictures of the other members of the Suicide Squad with a smile.

"And when will I get to meet these jokers?"

"That, Mr. Pointdexter, is exactly the kind of team spirit we here at SHIELD like to see." Waller announced with faux-excitement. Gathering up the pictures of the Suicide Squad, she bunched them up inside the folder and threw it on the floor.

Amanda moved her hand into a pocket on her coat and presented a book of matches. She took out three matches, held them tight together, and slid them along the book. She tossed the lit matches down onto the folder; the fire caught quickly, and within moments the folder was reduced to a pile of ashes.

"Don't get too comfortable, Lester. You will report for briefing in two hours."

Amanda turned promptly and left, leaving Bullseye alone in the pitch black room, inhaling smoke and ash.

-----

Conference Room 2C had been almost completely converted. The conference table that occupied the center of each of the rooms had bee completely removed. The chairs, usually black leather chairs on wheels, replaced with steel-enforced chairs bolted to the floor. As in every other room, a large screen took up most of the wall that the chairs faced, a small podium beneath it. It was at this podium Amanda Waller stood and looked out at her pawns.

"When I get out of thissss chair I'm going to eat you alive!" Waylon Jones, the mutated beast known as Killer Croc snarled, and the two SHIELD agents behind him trained their guns at his head. Waller motioned for them to stand down.

"Settle down, Waylon. Remember, we help you with that...particular appetite of yours. We could always send you back to Arkham." Waller stated with a flat voice, cocking an eyelid. "Failing that, we could always check to see if the bomb in your head really can blow through your thick skull. I'd put my money on 'yes'."

A mocking chuckle came from the woman sitting across from Killer Croc. As she laughed, hot air rose from her dark blue lips.

"Watch it, Frosty." Croc growled.

In front of Croc sat the woman known as Plastique. She was like a statue; unmoving, silent, and observant. Across from her sat Bullseye, shackled like the others, but grinning wildly.

"Your attentions, please." Waller called over the group, and their eyes fell on her. "You all know why you're here. You are the aptly named Suicide Squad. You will undertake mission for SHIELD that we'd...rather not become public knowledge. You will steal, spy, kidnap, blackmail and assassinate. And if I order it, you will clean every bathroom on this helicarrier and you will do it with a smile.""

"Yeah, yeah, and if we aren't good little soldiers we go boom." Plastique faked a yawn.

"That's right. If any of you refuse to follow orders, try to run, or so much as sneeze without my say-so, you can say goodbye to your own heads." Waller stated grimly.

"How about you save the welcome speech and give us our first job." Plastique said with an irreverant tone, rolling her eyes.

Waller began chuckling. It became louder and louder, the members of the Suicide Squad began looking at each other with surprised looks. "I have no idea what our job is."

Amanda Wallers' face and very physique began to change, morph, until finally a man stood before the group. A tall, slender man whose head was a largely faceless visage, skull white. "You should ask her." he said in a heavy, Russian accent.

"Thank you, Mr. Smerdyakov." the real Waller called over the group as she walked up to the podium. Chameleon nodded curtly and moved down and stood beside Bullseye.

"Your first-"

"How come he ain't tied up like the rest of us?" Croc snarled, spittle trailing down from his maw.

"Mr. Smedyakov has shown himself to be a valuable asset, one we can trust to follow orders. Nevertheless, he has a little giftpack in his skull just the same as all of you." Amanda explained, and Chameleon merely nodded silently.

"Your first mission is one that should be right at home with most of you. A full-scale assault." Amanda announced, and a murmur of approval went through the group. "The Metropolis Grand Hotel." she said as a picture of the enormous, beautifully structured hotel in Metropolis appeared on the screen. "It's a front for an underground fighting club called Meta-Brawl that, you guessed it, pits people with powers against each other."

The picture of the hotel fades away as a blueprint for the same building replaces it on the screen. "Access points and exits will be made available to you. Your mission, which you have no choice but to accept, is to get in and lay waste to the entire area. I want this orginization brought to it's knees. That means everyone inside who's unfortunate enough to have a power is a target. Them and," Waller continued, as the image of an asian, heavily tattoed woman appears on the screen. "her. Her real name is unknown, but she goes by Roulette. As far as we know, she runs Meta-Brawl, and I want her taken out."

Amanda waits for a moment as the group takes in the information. "But don't think for a second this is a walk in the park job. You will go in, take out all assigned targets, and get your asses out of there before this pain in the ass shows up." Amanda stated as the screen was filled with blue, red and yellow; Superman's emblem.

"I'd love to stay and chat, but I have other, much more important people than you to speak to." she announced, as the screen went to pitch black and Waller walked towards the exit. "These gentlemen here will escort you to your suits, weapons, and whatever else you'll need for the job. Go time is within the hour."

And with that, Amanda Waller was gone.

[Watchman]

The truck sped through this place known as Smallville. Noh-Varr had no idea when or where he was, memory recovery was a very slow process. A laser struck one of the wheels. Noh-Varr jumps out as the the truck goes tumbling into a store front. When, Noh-Varr got back up two flying objects were heading straight for him firing off laser. The funny thing was that none of the town's folk seem to notice anything. He ducked behind a building as two laser zoomed passed his head.

"Plex, do you copy," He fired shots off at the drones, "I need a way out of here."

"I read you Noh-Varr. I was able to retrieve information on your current whereabouts. You are not stuck in a different timeline circa Smallville, 1938. But in present where the ship has crashed."

"What?"

"Yes, you are in a mind trap. We have been captured by outside forces. Someone is after your brain. I can not provide an escape. I calculate ten minutes before your psi-fields fall and they harvest any information they want." Noh-Varr caught something in the corner in his eye.

"Noh-Varr! Over here!"Someone in gold armor was waving at him. He hurried on over. "Quickly inside." He slammed the door behind him as the drones crashed into it.

"Who are you?"

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/AgentClarkNova/untitledbv.jpg

"My name is M...Mr. Luthur and I am your only hope out of your current situation."

NEXT! Will Noh-Varr escaped the Dreaded Mind Trap?! Who are the Men Under the Pentagon?!

[Byrd Man]

By the time I catch up to the MCU, they're all inside. The suspect probably in holding why they try to get information out of him. I swing over and open a window, slipping inside and waiting in the darkness. A few minutes later, the door opens, and the office's occupant enters. He sits at his desk and starts looking at some papers, his back turned to me.

"What do we know?"

"You're up early...or is it late?" I say as I turn in my chair to face Batman.

I rub my face and take my glasses off.

"Montoya and Bullock are interrogating the prime suspect. Uniforms and detectives are currently canvassing the names from the list, which, from what I've heard, you've helped with that too. Detectives on the case seem to think the work leans towards someone with a background in the medical field or, god help me, butchering."

[wiegeabo]

"You're up early...or is it late?" I say as I turn in my chair to face Batman.

"A bit of both." I step around the desk and start flipping through the file Gordon had.


I rub my face and take my glasses off.

"Montoya and Bullock are interrogating the prime suspect. Uniforms and detectives are currently canvassing the names from the list, which, from what I've heard, you've helped with that too. Detectives on the case seem to think the work leans towards someone with a background in the medical field or, god help me, butchering."

"So you don't think this...William Scot...is our child killer?"

[Eddie Brock]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u118/EBJ05/th_FF-1.jpg

I'm tinkering with yet another dead-end invention when I hear the familiar whir which signifies that H.E.R.B.I.E. has entered the room. I don't even bother to look up from my workbench. "Hello, H.E.R.B.I.E."

"Greetings, Master Richards," H.E.R.B.I.E. replies in his pleasant, robotic tone. "I've come to deliver your messages." After listening for a moment, I'm able to diagnose a lagging servo. I make a mental note to repair it later.

"Well, let's hear it," I reply. I spin around on my stool. H.E.R.B.I.E. is standing motionless in the center of the room. I pick up my tools and move to the toolbox. H.E.R.B.I.E. spins on the spot to follow me.

"General Wertz called again. He desires the completion date of your practical cloaking technology."

"You can tell him for a third time that they will be complete when the Army finally agrees to increase my funding," I explain irritably. To any aspiring scientists and inventors out there, I might suggest a piece of advice: avoid military contracts at all costs. I've found the military to be infuriatingly impatient. They expect me to be a miracle worker.

I hear a faint beep as H.E.R.B.I.E. saves my response. "Very good, Master Richards."

"Reed," I interject, inwardly knowing that I'm fighting a losing battle on that front.

"The Food and Drug Administration called to inform you that they are still reviewing your super-vitamin," H.E.R.B.I.E. continues. I wonder if he even processed my correction. I'm more than willing to bet that he didn't. "However, they hastened to add that all is looking well so far."

I nod. To be honest, I don't even remember what I did for that super-vitamin. It was a chance for added funding, and I was bored one weekend, so I went to work. It doesn't make a difference to me one way or the other how it ends up.

"Dr. Storm-" Sue's father. "-wants to make lunch arrangements soon, and he wishes to verify that you are treating Susan with proper respect." At this, I laugh. Somehow, I think there was a joke in the message that got lost in translation with H.E.R.B.I.E. He doesn't seem to get it, though. "Finally, you have a visitor."

I drop my soldering iron. He waited until the end of the messages to tell me that I have a visitor? First of all, I've been fiddling all day, so I must be coated in grease. Second of all, you don't just leave someone standing outside the workshop while you review messages! I feel compelled to apologize deeply to my visitor.

Until I realize who it is.

The large-chested, blond-haired SHIELD agent from the Science Expo enters. She walks with an air of owning the place, and I'm instantly put off by it. She doesn't even acknowledge H.E.R.B.I.E. as he excuses himself. Instead, she simply removes her sunglasses and stands with her arms folded.

"I've been expecting this," I announce dryly as I pick up my soldering iron from the floor. "Deputy Director Waller sent you to ensure my loyalty, then?" She seems taken aback that I know who Amanda Waller is. Little does she know that I received a curt email from Waller hours after she received her position as Deputy Director.

"Mr. Richards, I'm Agent Carol Danvers," the woman explains emotionlessly. She has all the warmth of cardboard. "I am, for all intents and purposes, your liaision to SHIELD." She says this as if I should be impressed or pleased or something.

"So you're our new handler under Deputy Director Waller's regime?" I ask spitefully. I don't appreciate being coddled. Not to sound conceited, but I'm an intelligent man. I don't like it when people assume they can confuse me with semantics and wordplay. I know exactly what's going on here.

Agent Danvers begins to circle the room, curiously examining my various inventions. They're all in different states of incompletion. Very few of my projects in the workship are functional. Once I'm done, I either sell it, patent it, or put it to good use with the Fantastic Four. Normally, I'm more than happy to demonstrate my inventions to guests. However, I feel suddenly defensive as Agent Danvers looks through them. Maybe it's the feeling that she's looking for more than inventions.

"SHIELD is not your enemy, Mr. Richards. On the contrary, we're trying to help you. You know what they say. One hand washes the other." She glances at me, but I give her no indication of what I'm thinking. "Since you have never spoken critically of SHIELD in public, we assume that you are pleased with your treatment, then?"

Pleased is a strong word. SHIELD's treatment of me was adequate under General Fury. However, I have my doubts about Deputy Director Waller. She seems vindictive, secretive, and self-centered. "There are things I would change."

"Naturally," Agent Danvers agrees. "And SHIELD is more than willing to hear your grievances and try to appease you. We can make everyone happy here, Mr. Richards. It's all a matter of how cooperative you want to be." Agent Danvers puts her sunglasses back on. "Oh, and one more thing. Under Deputy Director Waller, you and the other members of the Fantastic Four are going to have to register with SHIELD. It's merely procedural."

I allow myself to scoff. Procedural? As if. I know what's going on here. Between President Luthor and Deputy Director Waller, it's clear which way the winds are blowing. The government isn't looking to work with metahumans. It's looking to monitor and even control them. Agent Danvers doesn't think I realize why we have to register? It's so SHIELD has the right to keep an eye on us.

And it makes me wary.

"I'm sure H.E.R.B.I.E. can show you out," I announce coldly. Agent Danvers pauses for a moment, stares at me from behind her dark lenses, and then leaves. I immediately notice that I'm squeezing my soldering iron so tightly that my knuckles are white.

[Byrd Man]

"So you don't think this...William Scot...is our child killer?"

"I don't think so. Scot's record shows his molestation and statutory charges are on boys. Our killer seems to be targeting these children at random, three girls and two boys. It doesn't fit his MO. If Scot was our man, then he'd be abducting just boys."

[Catman_prb]

We shuffle out of the room, and I catch up with Jamie and Bobby.

"Have you talked to Scott about joining zhe team yet?" I ask Jamie.
"He says that he's talking with the Professor. I should be okay for it, but I think they're worried that my powers aren't really all that helpful in a fight," Jamie said.

"You make clones of yourself when you snap your fingers; how does that help with anything?" Bobby asked as the trio walked out into the sun of the grounds.

"Yeah, but whenever I re-absorb Jamie Junior I kinda know all that they know...or knew...or whatever," Jamie said.

"And what?"

"So I've learnt judo and I've got some serious firearms training,"

"That's it?" Bobby said with some disdain.

"What?! I get giddy if I make too many,"

[SenseiofCheese]

Amanda Waller

Amanda Waller entered the room after having been escorted down the long hallway. A nod from the newly elected Commander in Chief sent the two secret service agents outside, closing the door behind them.

"I believe congratulations are in order, Mr. President." Amanda said, walking over to Luthor and shaking his hand over his desk. He smiled and motioned for her to sit down, which she did. "The public already loves your Avengers."

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/8190/197688-159745-lex-luthor_super.jpg

"Our Avengers, Amanda. And please, call me Lex." he said, taking his seat. "After all, this was your idea."

"Your man on the inside?" Amanda asked hesitantly.

"Firmly in place." Luthor assured, an obviously rehearsed smile on his face.

"Good."

"And how are things going with your little God-on-a-leash?" Lex asked curiously.

"Very well. He'll be ready when the time comes."

"That will be soon, Amanda. I hope, for our sake, you're right."

Luthor suddenly took on a much more pleasant demeanor. "Now that the Avengers Initiative is in full swing, I do believe the time has come." he stated, rising from his chair. He strolled over to a window and turned to face Amanda. "As we both know, what we're doing is for the betterment of the world. However, the are some people who don't see it that way. People in high places. People that...need to be dealt with. "

Amanda didn't hesitate a second. "Fury."

"Yes." Luthor nodded. "That man has already become a thorn in my side and suffice it to say, I would like him removed." he said, a very unpresidential hint of venom in his voice.

"What do you suggest we do? The man is in charge of SHIELD." Amanda stated.

"Leave that to me." Luthor said, his lips slowly twisting into a half-grin. "Director Waller."

[Watchman]

"I didn't know I could experience hell.....oh they're real....they're real..flesh and bone....they lie underneath the Pentagon waiting...."
-From a transcript concerning an interview with a Nick Fury LCD shortly before it place a gun in its mouth and pulled the trigger.

For some reason Noh-Varr was more than willing to do anything this golden stranger said. He believed every word he said even though his gut told him not to.

"Noh-Varr, listen," 'Luthur started, "you're being chased by an ancient race which the result of the first Skrull and the frist Durlan mating. A creature so powerful that it is everchanging never staying the same shape. A being so powerful that it impersonates reality."

"Yes, that sounds plausible."

"I can get you out of this but you must listen to everything I say," he threw a sheet off of something. It was a metal slab with inscets crawling over. Things that looked like giant spiders, centipedes and beetles crawl all over. Attach to the top of the steel table was a helemt with spikes inside of it.

"Please, get on the table and this will all be over." Noh-Varr nodded and crawled onto the table. Until something clicked in his head. Memory recovery was complete. He quickly turned around and pointed his gun at "Luthur's" head.

"Get out of my head," he fired a shot that incenerated his head, "Midas."
********
Midas fell to the floor, yelling. He held his head, he was no longer inside Noh-Varr's head. His mental connection was broken. He turned to his psychic associate.

"What happened?!" The much smaller being looked up at the gold giant.

"It is difficult to mantain a connection at such great distance."

"Very well, we can get the information out of his ship. Eat his brain from the inside out." The tiny associate closed its eyes.

"Its done."
*******
Back in "Smallville"

The place was literally falling apart. Building and and people just vaporized the landscape was quickly growing smaller. Noh-Varr ran but smashed in what seemed like a glass wall. He slammed his fist against it.

"Hello, Noh-Varr." He turned around it was Dox.

"We don't have time for this. The world is falling apart."

"I know. What you can not grasp is that I'm not Dox. Idiot." He floated into the air. His entire body to inflated and deflated like a balloon before the body burst.

"Plex..." No answer.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/AgentClarkNova/chronovore-1.jpg

Next: Noh-Varr battles the Chronovore who is eatting away at his brain and sense of time. A Very Brief History Lesson in Evil and the People who love it.

[Carnage27]

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k123/Legacy1978/Checklist%20Titel%20Banner/Venom-Banner.jpg

Venom stood perched on a rooftop overlooking downtown Manhattan. It had heard the whispers that Spider-man was becoming more and more desperate in his search for his impostor, and that fact gave Venom a great deal of satisfaction.

But it was not enough. The creature still hungered for more.

How? What else can we do apart from attacking him directly?

No. Not that. Not yet. We have not broken him yet. We must do that first.

The symbiote pondered its next move, and it quickly became obvious.

A picture of a red-headed girl passed through the mind of its host, and the goal was clear.

A growl rumbled out of the creature as it said, "We will take Parker's girlfriend."

Venom leaped off the building, and started the journey towards Gotham City.

[Keyser Soze]

When Howard Rennie lurches back into consciousness, he finds himself bound in a kneeling position, a rubber tyre draped around his neck.

"You're awake."

On cue, a pair of my henchmen drenched Rennie with gasoline. That woke him up quick enough. He breaks down into self-pitying sobs.

"What are you doing!?"

"Howard Rennie, you are a convicted paedophile, on the sex offenders register. What are you doing in my city?"

Rennie let out a moan of horror when he looked up, and saw me looking down at him. He struggled to form a coherent sentence, amidst all his blubbering, but he eventually formulated a response.

"Guh-guh-Gotham is my h-h-h-home! I've aw-always li-lived here..."

"Someone's been abducting and murdering little girls," I cut him off, "You know anything about that?"

"N-NO! IT'S NOT MUH-ME! I SWEAR!"

I stare hard at him. Even as frightened as he is, my face still makes him recoil in disgust.

"I think I believe you, Howard. But there's only one way I can be sure you're not the killer, be sure you're not going to harm any innocent little girls in my city. Well, two ways."

I show Rennie my coin. The clean side first.

"Heads... you pack your bags, and leave Gotham for good."

I twirl the coin around to the scarred side.

"Heads... and you won't harm anyone, ever again."

"Puh-puh-please..."

I flip the coin. An eternity passes. It lands scarred side up.

"NO! NO!"

"Yes. The coin has spoken."

I take out a match, light it.

"Goodbye, Howard."

I drop the flame, and then Howard Rennie becomes a blazing inferno. One less suspect to cross off the list.

[Byrd Man]

"I don't think so. Scot's record shows his molestation and statutory charges are on boys. Our killer seems to be targeting these children at random, three girls and two boys. It doesn't fit his MO. If Scot was our man, then he'd be abducting just boys."

While Gordon and Batman talk, Harvey Bullock and Renee Montoya crowd close to William Scot in the interrogation room.

"You're in a whole lot of trouble." Montoya says as she slides a chair up to the nervous man.

"Even if you manage to get off on a good insanity plea, you're spending the rest of your life locked away."

Bullock takes his good hand and slams it on the table.

"You don't deserve to live!" He screams at the accused man.

"Sargent. Please, settle down." Montoya says gently as she looks at Scot.

"It's okay, Mr. Scot. I understand how it is, how ashamed you must be. Everytime you see a child, it turns you on. It must make you sick, knowing that you're not normal. Seeing those happy children and how they make you feel must drive you up a wall. You can't take the temptation, you try so hard to fit in, only to falter time and time again. You practically see red everytime you feel turned on by those boys and girls. So, you do the only thing you know that will make you feel better, you attack. You chop and slice until, they're not a temptation any longer."

Sweat starts to run down Scot's face as he looks between the two detectives.

"I-...I want my lawyer. Now!"



***********

After the brief interrogation, Captain Essen and Lieutenant Akins sit in the squadroom with Bullock and Montoya. Bullock talks to the two supervisors while Montoya looks over the crime scene photos.

"Something is up with this guy." Akins states as he leans against a desk.

"I agree." Adds Essen.

"I mean, he was too quick to pull a gun on you two."

"Excuse me." Montoya says as she looks up from the photos.

"The missing body parts from the victim's were never recovered, correct?"

"Yep." Bullock says as he pulls out a cigar.

"Why do you ask, detective?" Essen asks as she walks up behind Montoya.

"Look here. The first victim is missing his eyes and left leg. Victim two is short a left arm and right ear. Victim three is missing a right leg, and his torso. Victim four was missing all her teeth, tounge, and...vaginal area. Victimg five was missing a right arm, left ear, and a nose. All together that means nothing, but putting them all together you get."

"A child's body." Akins says in shock.

"Not yet." Bullock adds in.

"He needs a head." Essen finishes.

The detectives trade glances and Essen's voice snaps them back into reality.

"Okay. I want all detectives called in right now, including all avalible uniforms. We're searching every warehouse and abandoned building we can find. This sicko is making a human body, and he needs a head. I'm getting on the phone with all Gotham elementary and even middle schools, they are all on lock-down until the end of the day."



***********


Kasper Cole and Maggie Sawyer look at each other as the lab technican tells them the news.

"What do you mean 'inconclusive'?" Cole asks.

"It means that, the DNA and fibers we found on the victim's bodies do not match their parents, close friends, or your Mister Scot." The tech says as he reads off the clipboard.

"Does that mean he's innocent?" Sawyer asks.

"Not 100%, but more than likely, yes."

[Belvedere]

Opposite the Grand Hotel in Metropolis atop a rooftop sit both Bullseye and Killer Croc, over Bullseye’s shoulder are the explosives that Chameleon has tasked the assassin with planting inside the hotel. Bullseye looks through a pair of binoculars at the guards outside of the Grand Hotel; his companion sees him looking across at the hotel and picks up his binoculars and attempts to press them against his eyes. Quickly he realises the binoculars weren’t exactly designed for people of his size and throws the binoculars on the floor grumpily.

“How did we end up with the worst jobs?”

Bullseye places his binoculars on the ledge and pats his reptilian team-mate on the back.

“Well, I don’t think it was because Chameleon was jealous of your good looks”

The reptile growled loudly before managing to contain his anger; he knew Pointdexter was trying to get a rise out of him. The most physically formidable member of their team had been resigned to watching out for superheroes whilst everybody else got to have the fun. Whilst it did make some sense, it wouldn’t exactly be very subtle if a giant reptilian man were to walk through the lobby of the hotel, Jones didn’t like the fact that everybody else got to have some fun except him.

“I’m going to plant the explosives. Have fun bird watching.”

Waylon growled, this time significantly quieter, as the assassin slid down the ladder at the side of the building and made his way towards the Grand Hotel.

“Little prick…”

30 MINUTES UNTIL DETONATION

Roulette enters her office and sits in her large leather chair, there are several television screens on the wall which she turns on and watches simultaneously. She scans across them for anything out of the ordinary; anything that would threaten the mighty business that she has built from the ground up; but almost to her disappointment finds nothing. She turns them off one by one until she is left sitting in silence, with only her thoughts to keep her company.

“You shouldn’t sit that close to the TV, you know?”

Roulette spun round to see Lester Pointdexter, the man better known as Bullseye, stood in the corner of her office menacingly. Anyone who was anyone knew about Bullseye, it was hard not to unless you were living under a rock for the past couple of years, they also knew that if you laid eyes upon him and lived to tell the tale you should count yourselves lucky.

“What do you want?”

Roulette whimpered at Bullseye who walked towards her and parked his behind on her very expensive desk, he could see in the woman’s eyes that she was scared and she was right to be. Bullseye smiled devilishly and reached towards the face of Roulette, she hesitated but knew if the assassin wanted her dead she would be and stayed her ground; Bullseye pinched her cheek playfully before muttering.

“I’ve got a hot tip for you…”

27 MINUTES UNTIL DETONATION

A fight breaks out on the streets of Metropolis. Usually such a fight would be broken up by the police and both parties would be taken into custody, however the two participants of this fight made doing that a little difficult. A rather older looking police officer stepped towards his subordinate and looked around blankly, “What’s the deal this time?” he says in a fatigued voice, his subordinate lifted his off his hat and scratched his head “I don’t have a clue, sir.” The elderly officer looked slightly agitated and put his hand against his brow to block out the sunlight, “Any sign of Superman?” he said hopefully. The younger officer shrugged his shoulders before muttering “No, none at all” under his breath.

Killer Frost and Plastique continued their mock battle. Unlike many fights between their kind there were no quips or funny jokes from either of them; they were there to complete a mission and despite the fact neither of them enjoyed the roles they had been assigned, it gave them the opportunity to create as much carnage as possible and they were going to enjoy themselves doing so.

22 MINUTES UNTIL DETONATION

The floor of MetaBrawl suddenly begins to erupt into shouts and cheers. On the large screen appears both Killer Frost and Plastique, the assembled scumbags who had decided to spend their day placing wagers on battles between metahumans began placing bets on the result of the fight. “The redhead went toe to toe with Captain Atom? I’ll place 600 bucks on her!”, “Come on K-Frost, don’t you me down!”, “Did you see that right hook?” and an assortment of other motivational (some very colourful ones) were shouted at the television screen.

There is only one man who doesn’t pay attention to the fight being showed on the screen, he floats through the crowd like a ghost and as he spots the office of Roulette adopts the form of a security guard. The security guard at the door reaches for his weapon but his doppelganger reacts much quicker than he does, knocking the guard out with a single blow. He enters Roulette’s office as quietly as he can and looks at the large leather chair in which his target sits with a sinister smile, slowly he turns it round to find it empty and mouths the words “What the hell?” silently.

“Surprise…”

Chameleon falls to the floor; his head gushing with blood, over him stands Roulette with a wide smile on her face.

9 MINUTES UNTIL DETONATION

Something was wrong thought Killer Croc, Chameleon was supposed to be out by now. What was taking him so long? Croc stared at the back doors of the Grand Hotel and nodded assuredly, something was definitely wrong and he wasn’t going to sit back and watch whilst it went to pieces. As Waylon outstretched his hand to open the doors to his surprise they sprung open and there stood their target; Roulette.

A wide smile crossed the cold blooded man’s face, he grabbed the woman and despite her screams of protest reached deep into her chest with his claws and tore out her heart. For a few seconds it seemed as if Roulette watched unawares as to what had happened as the hulking figure lifted her heart high into the air and squeezed the blood out of it, catching every drop in his mouth before dropping the crushed heart on the floor.

“Delicious.”

Waylon said with a smile before dropping the lifeless husk of Roulette to the floor.

1 MINUTE UNTIL DETONATION

Waylon ran through the Grand Hotel to try and locate Chameleon, who he presumed Roulette somehow managed to over-power, unbelievable as it was given the element of surprise; he wasn’t even sure why he was helping that creep. Unbelievable as it was none of the people inside MetaBrawl noticed Killer Croc run through the crowd; their eyes were fixed upon the fight on the screen. Jones burst into Roulette’s office to find an unconscious Chameleon lying on the floor; he flung him over his shoulder and began sprinting out of the hotel. He knocked the unawares scumbags assembled out of the way and attempted to make his way out of the hotel, but unfortunately for Waylon Jones he simply wasn’t quick enough.

0 MINUTES UNTIL DETONATION

The hotel exploded and Croc watched as fire spread throughout the hotel and seared the very skin off of the people inside, he did his best to cover up Chameleon with his thick hide and protect him from the flames. He could smell his flesh burning as he made his way to the basement; he burst out of the back door of the hotel and flung Chameleon to the floor as he fell to his knees.

“Ouch.”

High above them Bullseye looked down with a pair of binoculars and watched as Killer Croc’s seared skin began to heal slowly; he shook his head in disbelief but smiled as if almost impressed.

“This is going to be harder than I thought.”

[Eddie Brock]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/butterflylight/spidermanbanner1-1.png

As my finger hovers momentarily about the doorbell, I can't believe where I'm standing. On the outside, Flash Thompson's house looks like all the others on the block. Unassuming, cozy, certainly inviting. And yet, for the past four years, this has been the "forbidden" place. I remember - not so fondly - a night in Freshman year, before the powers and all that nonsense, when I decided it would be a good idea to invite myself to a Flash Thompson party. Flash and his cronies subsequently thought it would be a good idea to dangle me from a second-story window. Everyone had a laugh.

Except for one lonely kid who watched his glasses fall upwards to the ground.

Man, that seems like a lifetime ago. Now, here I am, an expected guest! Even a mere year ago, that would be inconceivable. I guess people do change from the beginning of high school to the end. Then again, I still haven't abandoned the thought that this could simply be an elaborate prank. It wouldn't be the first time I walked into a trap...

Sure enough, it's Flash who answers the door after I ring the doorbell. "Hey, Parker." To an outsider - someone oblivious to Midtown's caste system - this greeting would likely imply close acquaintances. Even I'm amazed at how much Flash sounds like, y'know, a normal guy - and not the evil tormentor I always picture. Flash steps aside, and I enter the house tentatively.

"Peter, is that you?" a familiar, yet unrecognizable, voice asks from an adjoining room. Moments later, Mrs. Thompson emerges, looking as bright and pleasant as I remember her. "Eugene told me you were coming!" Surprisingly, I don't laugh at "Eugene." "Oh, I haven't seen you in ages!"

She's not kidding, either. Believe it or not, Eugene Thompson and Peter Parker used to be good friends. If I remember correctly - and I probably don't - Aunt May and Mrs. Thompson knew each other through a church group. The two women noted that their boys were the same age, and a young friendship was born. The two of us would run around the front yard, pretending to be superheroes. Eugene would always be The Flash.

The name stuck.

"How's your aunt?" Mrs. Thompson asks with a smile.

"She's doing good," I answer. Luckily, it's the truth. Ever since her heart attack last year, Aunt May has been taking it easy and watching herself - and the results are showing. Her new diet has her feeling vibrant and youthful, and she's starting to venture out of the house more and more. This also means that I'm able to go out more and more without being noticed.

Mrs. Thompson nods. "Good, good. Well, if you boys get hungry, don't hesitate to ask," she offers politely. "It wouldn't be any problem at all to throw something together for you."

Flash mutters some form of a thank you before nodding to the stairs. Shifting the weight of my backpack, I follow him obediently to his room. Naturally, it's far different than I remember. What were once walls covered with superheroes and sports legends are now bland and lifeless. Hollow shells of what they once were. Flash flops down on his bed, and I pull up a computer chair.

"Mind if I check the game before we get started?" Flash holds up the TV remote. I shake my head, and he turns it on. The Mets are playing the Marlins. It's the bottom of the seventh. A ball is rifled up the middle, and is promptly thrown into a double-play. Flash groans. "Oh, come on!"

I shake my head. "They always do this, man," I lament, pointing to the disheartened figures of Mets leaving the field. "It's, like, how hard is it to win a baseball game? You're being paid out the wazoo to do one thing, and you can't even do that right!"

"Right?" Flash agrees, half-frustated yet half-laughing. We both chuckle for a moment before realizing what's happening. Flash is the first to recollect himself. He searches the floor for his backpack, shutting off the television in the process.

I sit motionless, watching him for a half-second more. In that half-second, so much occurs within me. Flash Thompson and I, former best friends and alleged sworn enemies, just shared a laugh over sports in his bedroom. I mean, that has got to be the strangest sentence I've ever said, and coming from a guy who spends half his time wearing red-and-blue spandex, that's saying something! Part of me yearns to mend the fences between myself and Flash, but the other part of me reminds myself why I'm here.

Before Flash can realize what I was thinking, I dive into my backpack in search of my Biology book. As I scrummage, I feel like Flash is looking at me. I resist the temptation to look up, and the feeling fades after a moment. I take a deep breath and remind myself that we're from two different worlds now.

[Keyser Soze]

Avengers Mansion. That was the name Luthor gave to the huge, city-block sized building in the middle of Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, that was to act as The Avengers' official headquarters. Nice and public, in the middle of everything, just like Luthor wanted. After the unveiling at the White House, the Avengers had all been shipped off to here, and after showing them inside, their S.H.I.E.L.D. escorts left them to their own devices.

Thor looked around at the cavernous entrance hall that awaited them as they made their way through the front doors. This was probably impressive, by the standards of Midgard. Then he looked around at his teammates. He knew Wonder Woman well. He and Diana were old friends, going back a long time. It was that friendship which had helped him recruit her to the Avengers. The rest of the team, however... he knew of them, by reputation, but did not know them personally.

He approached the one known as The Flash, trying to be as unintimidating as he could while towering over his teammate and wielding a mighty hammer.

"This government of yours treats its heroes like horses. They parade us out in front of the crowds like steeds at auction, and now they trot us over to our stables. Pray tell they do not wish to saddle our backs and sit on our shoulders when we venture forth into battle."

[SenseiofCheese]

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/617515-flash__001_super.jpg

For the Scarlet Speedster, life had been in the fast lane. So much so that even he, the fastest man alive, found himself wondering if things wouldn't slow down soon. A few months back he had been hesitant to even call himself the Flash, fearing his ability to fill his uncle's shoes. But now?

Now he was part of the Avengers, America's official superhero team spearheaded by President Lex Luthor himself. Yes, the times they were changing.

The group, only one of which Wally West knew beforehand, made their way into the massive Avenger's Mansion. West didn't remember ever having seen the inside of a place so large, and he was taken aback. This was their headquarters? Looking around, he gave Kyle Rayner a wave as the Lantern went off to explore their new home. "So. Anyone else feel like they just signed on for Big Brother?" Wally said jokinly, pretending to look around for the cameras.

He could hear Lantern chuckle, but he was the only one who did.



He approached the one known as The Flash, trying to be as unintimidating as he could while towering over his teammate and wielding a mighty hammer.

"This government of yours treats its heroes like horses. They parade us out in front of the crowds like steeds at auction, and now they trot us over to our stables. Pray tell they do not wish to saddle our backs and sit on our shoulders when we venture forth into battle."

Flash turned around to see a man more than twice his size. It was Thor, the team's resident Norse God. He had seen him before, but it had never quite registered that the man was a real life God. Wally had even asked President Luthor, who assured him that Thor was the real deal.

"Oh." Wally muttered when he realized Thor was, in fact, talking to him. "Heh. Yeah, I guess we're being shown off a bit." he said, awkwardly rubbing his neck. "So. Uh. Does that thing come in my size?" Flash joked, reaching over and putting a wary hand on Mjolnir.

[Keyser Soze]

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/617515-flash__001_super.jpg

Flash turned around to see a man more than twice his size. It was Thor, the team's resident Norse God. He had seen him before, but it had never quite registered that the man was a real life God. Wally had even asked President Luthor, who assured him that Thor was the real deal.

"Oh." Wally muttered when he realized Thor was, in fact, talking to him. "Heh. Yeah, I guess we're being shown off a bit." he said, awkwardly rubbing his neck. "So. Uh. Does that thing come in my size?" Flash joked, reaching over and putting a wary hand on Mjolnir.

Thor laughed, looking down at his hammer.

"Nay. One size fits all, I believe your saying is. It matters not the size of the wielder. If they be worthy.... Mjolnir shall be as light as a feather in their grasp."

He gently sat the hammer down on the floor, handle up, and stood back.

"You are welcome to try, Flash."

[SenseiofCheese]

Thor laughed, looking down at his hammer.

"Nay. One size fits all, I believe your saying is. It matters not the size of the wielder. If they be worthy.... Mjolnir shall be as light as a feather in their grasp."

He gently sat the hammer down on the floor, handle up, and stood back.

"You are welcome to try, Flash."

Wally looked down at the hammer, not fully realizing whether Thor was being serious or not. Deciding that he was, the Flash slowly reached down and went for Mjolnir.

He wrapped both hands around the handle, and took a deep, calming breath. Just as he began to heave, he spotted Wonder Woman walking over. "Uhm." Wally muttered, letting go of the hammer and taking a step back. "I better not. Wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of the team." he laughed nervously, tapping Thor playfully on the shoulder.

Wally was, in fact, terrified of not being able to lift the hammer in front of the warrior princess who now stood next to him.

"Thor." she laughed. "You aren't scaring him, I hope?" she took Wally's hand in hers. "We have not been formally introduced. I am Princess Diana of Themiscyira." she smiled.

The Scarlet Speedster was enamored by her beauty. For a moment he just stared into her eyes, his mind on pause. Finally he snapped out of his trance. Shaking his head, he smiled. "I am Wally West. I'm from Keystone City."

It was a total of three seconds before The Flash realized what he had just done. His eyes widened in complete and utter horror, and he couldn't help but instinctively cover his mouth. Looking down, he noticed Wonder Woman's golden lasso trailing down to the floor, it's tip resting across his foot.

[SenseiofCheese]

Amanda Waller
Director of SHIELD

It had been 24 hours since Waller's meeting with Luthor, and already he had made good; She had been placed in the position of acting director of SHIELD. Things could not be going better, Amanda thought to herself, as she looked out the window of her office. The helicarrier's deck laid sprawled out outside her window, beyond that, clouds of white being penetrated by the first rays of the sun. Luthor was President. The Avengers Initiative was off the ground. And the Suicide Squad was at her beck and call.

"You think you've won already, don't you?" a deep growl came from behind her. Turning to face her visitor, Amanda saw a suited man whose face was hidden behind a cloud of smoke that soon dissipated.


http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/3/37320/782452-roberts2_super.jpg
"You and the Snake-in-Chief must be happy as hell everything is going according to plan."

"Colonel Fury." Waller said without a hint of surprise. "I'm sorry to hear about your dismissal. I can only hope I will be able to run SHIELD as well as you have." she deadpanned, not hiding the disdain she had for the man.

Fury chuckled. "Whatever you and Luthor have planned...it's not going to work. You're building a house of glass, Waller, and it'll come crashing down around both of you." he said, taking a long drag of his cigar and letting the smoke slowly rise from his mouth.

"I'm sure a man of your considerable talents will find work without trouble." Waller said placatingly, as she walked over to her desk and sat down. "But it will not be at SHIELD. Now, please. I'm quite busy, Colonel. We are changing the world."

"Not while I'm still standing, Waller." Fury grunted, taking one final drag of his cigar and letting it fall to the floor. Amanda took great joy in watching him leave, especially as she had three armed agents escort him to his shuttle.

If she could manage to humiliate Fury as well as have him fired, she'd grab that chance, and do so with a smile.
-----

Several hours after Fury had left, Waller received word from Bullseye. The Suicide Squad had completed their assignment. Media reports confirmed that an explosion had occured in downtown Metropolis, completely destroying the building. The body count was estimated to be in the triple digits.

The cost of doing war, Waller assured herself.

Chameleon had been critically injured, however. He had been incapacitated by Roulette, according to Killer Croc, who had rescued the unconscious Russian moments before the explosives went off. There was not a doubt in Waller's mind that one of the members of the team were behind this. She was just in the process of gathering the media reports from the explosion, to head off the oversee the debriefing for the Squad, when a uniformed agent entered her office, a visitor behind him.

"Ah. Ms Frost. I was hoping to hear from you soon." Amanda welcomed SHIELD's head psychic and dismissed her escort.

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"I believe in congratulations are in order, Director Waller. Seems like you got what you've always wanted." Frost stated coldly.

"Now, now, Ms. Frost. Have you been poking around in my head?"

Emma scoffed. "With the psychic barriers I put in your head? Those things would give Xavier a hard time."

Emma took a seat opposite Waller, and presented the Director of SHIELD with a nondescript folder. "I believe you wanted me to let you know when he was ready."

Waller opened the folder and browsed through it's contents. "You're sure?"

Emma nodded curtly. "In our last session, Robert.." she started, but corrected herself when Waller looked at her reprimandingly. "...the Sentry expressed doubts that SHIELD had his best interests at heart. That, and I quote, it seemed as though he was just your lapdog. I told him we were close to solving his problem with The Void, and went into his mind under the guise of attempting to erase the Void completely."

"And you say he's more unstable than the day we recruited him?" Waller repeated a line from Frost's report.

"Yes. He is, in other words, a ticking timebomb."

Amanda nodded, closed the folder gently and handed it back over to Emma. "Good. Then you know what to do." she said with steely resolve.

Hesitating for a moment, Emma look down at the folder and then back to Waller. "Are you certain? I mean....we are talking of power that is off the charts, here." she stated, before being cut off by Waller.

"Ms. Frost." she said, rising from her seat. "You alway knew this is how it would end. The Sentry is about to play a vital part in our plans. We are changing the world, Emma. And now is do, or die."

"And have you considered the possibility that the Avengers won't be able to stop him?" Emma asked.

"That is not an option." Amanda stated immediately. For a split second she did, in fact consider what would happen if the Avengers failed in stopping what was about to come. And that was almost horrifying enough to give her pause.

"No. You know what to do. Call Reynolds in for a session, tell him you've made a breakthrough. Implant the false memories of President Luthor and the Avengers being behind his condition..." Amanda counted off, pausing for a moment. "And cut The Void loose."

Yes. They were changing the world. And this was just the beginning.

[Catman_prb]

It was a total of three seconds before The Flash realized what he had just done. His eyes widened in complete and utter horror, and he couldn't help but instinctively cover his mouth. Looking down, he noticed Wonder Woman's golden lasso trailing down to the floor, it's tip resting across his foot.
"I do not believe that Princess Diana's deception was deliberate Wally West," the Vision announced as he decended the stairs to greet the trio of Avengers.

He smiled; gods, scientists and secret agents. They were strange bedfellows to make up such an important team.

"I am the Vision; the pinnacle of modern robotics. My creator is Dr. Hank Pym; he and his wife shall be arriving shortly. It is a great pleasure to meet you,"

[Byrd Man]

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x29/bolluhhh/bolluhh-387V2.png


New York

"Pure and simple, Steve. Both Waller and Luthor are snakes"

Fury chomps on a cigar as he sits on my apartment couch.

"I don't particularly like where this conversation is headed. I have never met this Waller woman, but Lex is the whole reason I'm not in a block of ice."

"And he tried to use you like a puppet."

"He was voted in by the American people..."

"Yeah, because the people of this country have never been wrong."

I don't respond to Fury. I think about it. Even if Luthor is all they say he is, he's still the president and he's acting with the best interest of the country in mind. Or so I hope.

Nick pulls a flask out of his pocket and takes a siwg.

"Sorry about that, Cap. I'm still upset about it. I mean, what is the world coming to?" He says as he holds the flask up as an offer.

"Since when do I drink?"

"You're right. Captain America, perfect and without vices. Just like the country he protects."

I scowl slightly as I stare out the apartment window.

"I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. It's not right for me to support this country."

"Nobody said a damn thing about you not supporting your country. It's the government that I can't stand. Hell, us hating our government and getting away with it is what makes this country so great."

I plop down on the couch next to Fury.

"So...what's our next move?"

"Gotham. We'll round the Justice League up and go over our next move."

"Sounds like a plan."

Nick takes another long swig off his flask and screws the top back on.

"So...I guess we're taking your car?" Fury says with a smile.

"I haven't driven a car since 1945. All those years you were drawing a fat government paycheck, and you never bought a car?"

"When you've got the Helicarrier a car seems...obsolete."

"So I guess we're calling a cab."

[Carnage27]

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The Gotham night air was full of humidity as Venom swung through the city's crime riddled streets. This was a city where the symbiote could feel at home. The constant chaos of a city at war made the creature almost salivate, but now was not the time for those thoughts. They were on a mission, one that would finally bring Spider-man to his knees.

Venom knew exactly where to go. The symbiote had been here while it was with Parker, and it knew the way to the Gordons' home, and it was not long before the creature and host were peering into Barbara's window.

She was laying on her stomach in the middle of her room, watching TV and typing away on a small Apple laptop. Brock was almost taking aback by how good looking was.

How the heck could Parker score someone like that?

Irrelevant. Take her.

In a blink of an eye, Venom smashed through the window, and was immediately on top of the petite red head. The creature underestimated her strength, and she managed to deliver a swift kick to his chest, that stumbled him a little.

"You're good girl," the creature said as it's mouth opened revealing it's razor sharp teeth and flicking tongue.

"But we are better," it growled and raked across her face with it's razor-like fingers. Blood spattered crimson against the bedroom's walls, and Venom strung tendrils around the girl, restricting her movement.

"Who are you?" she weakly asked before the monster covered her mouth with black goo.

Venom's tongue caressed the side of her face. It could almost taste her fear, and it was more delicious than it had thought it would be. Venom pulled her up to its face and whispered in her ear, "We are the ones who will finally kill your little, wall-crawling boyfriend."

Venom headed for the hole he had created in the side of his house, when something caught his eye on the girl's desk. Her cellphone. He picked it up and dialed Parker's number.

"Hey, sweet-thang," Parker's voice rang through the phone in an obvious attempt to be funny.

Venom's blood boiled at the mere sound of his hated rival's voice, which made what he was about to say all the more sweeter.

"Be in the Narrows of Gotham City before sun-up or we will kill the girl and devour her entrails, Spider-man. The clock is ticking."

Her eyes shot open in obvious terror as she was carried out of her home, and into the dark Gotham night.

********

They were on their way to an abandoned warehouse in the Narrows section of the Batman's city when two projectiles struck the symbiotic creature in the back, sending it and the girl tumbling out of the sky and onto a rooftop.

Venom landed with a roll, and stuck the girl to the roof, ensuring she wouldn't escape. It stood up and saw its attacker, crouched in attack position on the other side of the landing.

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"Probably not a good idea to kidnap the police commissioner's daughter, buddy," the boy wonder said as he launched into a flying kick towards the hulking black creature.

Venom quickly lashed out with a tendril, wrapping it around Robin's leg and slamming him hard against the concrete roof. Venom instinctively pounced on top of the young crime fighter and delivered a series of devastating punches to the boy's face.

"Man...really, not fair fighting a guy without any powers," Robin said while simultaneously spitting blood into Venom's face.

Venom merely sneered with a shark-like hunger and liked the blood of his face.

"You're lucky we need you to deliver a message, or you would already be dead," Venom laughed as it delivered yet another punch, this time to Robin's gut. "All we want is Spider-man. If you, the Bat, or the cops come after us, the girl dies. Painfully. And we will know."

"Make sure they know that," Venom warned as he tossed Robin through a door that accessed the roof from the building, making a sickening crash as the boy wonder broke through.

Venom then collected his prey, reached his designated waiting spot, and prepared for the final showdown with Peter Parker.

[Carnage27]

"He says that he's talking with the Professor. I should be okay for it, but I think they're worried that my powers aren't really all that helpful in a fight," Jamie said.

"You make clones of yourself when you snap your fingers; how does that help with anything?" Bobby asked as the trio walked out into the sun of the grounds.

"Yeah, but whenever I re-absorb Jamie Junior I kinda know all that they know...or knew...or whatever," Jamie said.

"And what?"

"So I've learnt judo and I've got some serious firearms training,"

"That's it?" Bobby said with some disdain.

"What?! I get giddy if I make too many,"

I laugh and turn to Bobby, "I don't know, but if we show up with ten X-men, and all of a sudden zhose ten become twenty because of Jamie, it could be a heck of a game changer."

We pass by Professor X's office, and I stop in my tracks.

"What's up fur ball?"

I knock on the door and look back at my friends, "I vill catch up vith you guys later. I need tot talk to zhe professor."

I slowly open the door, and seated directly in front of me is Charles Xavier, founder of the school, and one of the most powerful psychics in the world.

"Hello, Kurt. I've been expecting you for a few days now."

"You have?" I ask with a bit of surprise in my voice.

He laughs a bit before answering, "Yes. You have seemed troubled for quite sometime."

The dream comes back to me. The fire. The death. Those eyes. And that eery mechanical noise. I explain what I've been seeing to the professor, and he merely nods.

"Yes, that is strange. At this point I would not look into it. And remember Kurt, you will always be safe here. I promise you."

A wave of relief and calmness washes over me, and I stand and head for the door.

"Thank you, professor. Any idea vhen zhe next X-mission will be?" I ask with just a hint of excitement in my voice.

He chuckles and answers, "No, not yet, but I will make sure you are the first person to know."

[Eddie Brock]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/butterflylight/spidermanbanner1-1.png

When a stranger calls you from your girlfriend's phone - and he also happens to know your secret identity - you take him seriously. That's why, on a Friday night, I'm tapping my foot urgently on a train to Gotham. Every minute is precious, and the train doesn't seem quite fast enough. I wish Gotham was close enough to swing to. I need the time to shuffle through my thoughts. Who has Babs? How do they know who I am? What will Aunt May think when I don't arrive home as planned? A thousand thoughts, and no time to process any of them.

Finally, the train painstakingly screeches to a halt. I push unapologetically through the crowd as I look for an abandoned location. Finding one suitable to my needs, I ditch my civilian clothes, wrap them in webbing, and swing into the Gotham night. The act is normally a relaxing one, but not tonight. Someone has Babs, and I don't have a damn clue what to do. It's not the Goblin, or I would have recognized his voice. Then again, I don't suppose it's impossible that he was using a voice changer. The voice didn't sound natural, anyway.

Though I don't want to, I push all of this aside. I need to focus on the here and now. Soon enough, my questions will be answered. I can only hope that I can get Babs out of there safely. Since she's Batgirl, she should be able to defend herself sufficiently until I can arrive.

I've only been to the Narrows once - during a night with Babs. It was a place I wasn't planning on visiting again. I don't know whether it's the terror or the urgency, but I'm able to remember where the Narrows is without any difficulty. It's almost as though my body is swinging independent of my mind. Every move is deliberate and economical, conserving much needed energy for the confrontation ahead.

"Spider-Man!" My Spider-Sense doesn't tingle, but I still jump. Looking down, I see Robin - Batman's sidekick - standing on a roof. He's waving me down. I break off my webline and land next to him. "So, he really is looking for you, huh?" Robin asks rhetorically. "Look, he's got a hostage. It's--"

"Barbara Gordon," I interject. "I know." I can tell by the look on his masked face that Robin is curious as to how I know Babs. However, he recognizes that there's no time to discuss it now. That'll give me enough time to think of a halfway-decent lie. "Did you recognize this man?"

Robin shakes his head. "It's no one I know. Then again, this isn't really your neck of the woods, though." I know he's wondering why someone would call Spider-Man out to Gotham, and I know he's gotta be making the connection with Babs. But, once again, he fights the urge to press the matter any further. "You need backup?"

"I'll take a raincheck," I answer. My voice is devoid of the upbeat brightness that powers my quips. I fire a webline and say, "If you hear or see anything happen, make sure Babs gets out safe?" Robin nods. I return the understanding gesture, and I'm back on my way.

The Narrows are directly ahead.

"Okay, Spider-Sense. I'm counting on you on this one," I murmur to myself. I don't particularly like walking into a trap, but luckily none of my opponents know that I have an unfair advantage. I swallow a breath of cold, night air as I swing low into the decaying buildings.

[Carnage27]

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k123/Legacy1978/Checklist%20Titel%20Banner/Venom-Banner.jpg


Venom was perched, hunched over as if it was an otherworldly gargoyle, on top of a rooftop in the Narrows when it spotted its prey in the distance. Spider-man. The one who had destroyed both of these beings that made up Venom. Streams of saliva poured over razor sharp teeth and onto the ground below as Spider-man got closer and closer to the symbiotic pair.

The wall-crawler stopped on a nearby building, apparently attempting to gain his bearings. Venom could wait no more, and it pounced of its perch and with animalistic ferocity it grabbed the spider's head in its talon-like hands, and smashed Parker's face into the rooftop.

Before Spider-man could react, Venom picked him up and through him through the wall of the building across the street. With an ape-like gait, Venom jumped the gap and landed onto of his enemy, driving his knee into the hero's sternum.

"We will enjoy feasting on your flesh, Spider. And then, the girl will die a painful horrible death, along with your aunt. You have failed them, Parker. Just as you failed your uncle."

[Eddie Brock]

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k123/Legacy1978/Checklist%20Titel%20Banner/Venom-Banner.jpg


Venom was perched, hunched over as if it was an otherworldly gargoyle, on top of a rooftop in the Narrows when it spotted its prey in the distance. Spider-man. The one who had destroyed both of these beings that made up Venom. Streams of saliva poured over razor sharp teeth and onto the ground below as Spider-man got closer and closer to the symbiotic pair.

The wall-crawler stopped on a nearby building, apparently attempting to gain his bearings. Venom could wait no more, and it pounced of its perch and with animalistic ferocity it grabbed the spider's head in its talon-like hands, and smashed Parker's face into the rooftop.

Before Spider-man could react, Venom picked him up and through him through the wall of the building across the street. With an ape-like gait, Venom jumped the gap and landed onto of his enemy, driving his knee into the hero's sternum.

"We will enjoy feasting on your flesh, Spider. And then, the girl will die a painful horrible death, along with your aunt. You have failed them, Parker. Just as you failed your uncle."
My heart sinks as I realize what I'm looking at. "The symbiote," I breathe, hardly believing my eyes. When I heard my doppelganger was wearing a black suit, I figured he was just wearing a cloth version. After seeing how this thing moves, I know it can't be anything else. It has to be the symbiote. But...how?! "I destroyed you!"

A large-knuckled fist is on a collision course with my face, but I spin out of danger. Once I've regained some ground, I realize how much damage the symbiote was able to do so quickly. The fight has barely begun, and I'm already sore. The symbiote leaps at me once more, slamming into my waist.

That's when it hits me. My Spider-Sense isn't buzzing. Come to think of it, I don't remember it buzzing when he ambushed me. Or when he threw that punch. My reflexes alone are keeping me from being pummeled into cake batter, but I'm not used to operating without it. And I'm panicking, wondering why it's decided now of all times to fail me.

[wiegeabo]

"I don't think so. Scot's record shows his molestation and statutory charges are on boys. Our killer seems to be targeting these children at random, three girls and two boys. It doesn't fit his MO. If Scot was our man, then he'd be abducting just boys."

I drop the file on the desk and cross my arms in thought. "I've been through every file I could get my hands on. Either this person is someone new in town, or he's slipped through the cracks."

"I want copies of every evidence report. Everything I've gathered has been left after your CSI's finished with the scene. It's not enough. I also need to...see the bodies..."

Gordon looks at me like I'm nuts. Probably counting in his head the number of rules he'd be breaking letting me see those files, not to mention the children. In all honesty, the bodies are almost the last thing I want to see, the last thing being more bodies than there already are.

My comm crackles to life in my earpiece.

I flinch slightly at the volume of Robin's voice. "Robin, calm down! Say again.". Gordon's expression changes to confusion. I listen for a few seconds...and then my head snaps up.

"WHAT?!...When?...He's there now?" I do some quick math in my head. "I'll need ten minutes...I don't care what he said. You keep close, and if things start going bad...Good. I'm on my way."

I look Gordon in the eyes, not sure how to tell him. But there's no time to cushion the blow. "Jim...you're daughter's been kidnapped."

[Matt Murdock]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h163/edlewis657/trailercards1-1.jpg?t=1243232337

She was fifteen years old. Going on thirty-five, Doc, and she told me she was eighteen. She was very willing, I practically had to take to sewing my pants shut. Between you and me, uh, she might have been fifteen, but when you get that little red beaver right up there in front of you, I don't think it's crazy at all and I don't think you do either. No man alive could resist that, and that's why I got into jail to begin with.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h163/edlewis657/Picture1-9.png


Mounted on the wall is a clock. You know the sort. The kind in every room in every public school in every average town in every state of the Union. A flat black plastic case with a white face and black numbers and minute markers. The only trace of color on the whole piece is the red second-hand, standing thin, stark defiance of the monochromatic hues of black and white that encircle it. Round and round it goes, pushing every second by with a tick or a tock. They put it here, in view of the holding cell, to torture us. Time is the one resource we can never replenish and we can never get back. So, they're taking it from us. What's more, they want us to know that they're taking it. Some sort of weird empowerment thing, I guess. I'm not really sure.

In fact, I'm not sure of much of anything anymore. A month. That's how long they've kept me holed up in here for. I've watched drunks and killers alike walk out of the doors in the back to their hearings. Yet, here I've sat. Waiting. I can't say I blame them, though. It would take me a month to figure out what charges to arraign me on, too. After the planes... and Yankee stadium... can't say I'm too surprised that they're taking their sweet time. Maybe I'll be brought up on terrorist charges or treason. That would be worlds more exciting.

As if on-cue from a scene from a summer blockbuster, a cop walks in glaring at me. Another delightful day in the New York city prison system.

"You know how many friends of mine you had a hand in the deaths of?"

He's a regular member of the doughnut patrol. Slouched shoulders, bushy mustache, glasses at the base of his nose. Seems like a detective, though, since he's in a pair of slacks, a shirt that's a tiny bit too tight in the shoulders, and a tie that's three inches below where it should be.

How does someone respond to that, anyway? If you were a police detective, would you approach a character named the "Joker" as he sits in your holding cell looking for a serious answer?

"Well... given your propensity of using the plural form, 'friends', I'd say... more than one?"

"You're damn right. Gimme one reason I shouldn't bring you to justice right now."

Oh, just what we love. Vigilante, revenge-motivated justice. Sure. That makes sense. Instead of seeing me put to a trial and then executed, this self-serving fool would rather throw his life away by wringing my neck himself.

"Other than the dozen or so coworkers of yours who would all be eyewitnesses to a coldblooded revenge killing? Well, you're not exactly an impartial jurist, are you? You've already told me you've got a bias. I mean, Hell, you don't even know whether or not it was me who killed your alleged friends. Maybe I've got a cult following of loyal subordinates, like Bruce Campbell or Zak Effron."

I flash a grin in his direction, curling the side of my mouth up ever-so-slightly. My eyebrows raise a touch and I blink a few times before hopping up with my next contribution to the conversation.

"Although! I'm not really sure teenage girls count as a cult following these days. Do they, officer Plesac? Tell me, is your daughter, Mrs. Officer Pleasac, partial Zak Effron?"

At this, the cop before me clearly gets aggravated. His eyes narrow and he pushes himself closer to the bars, gritting his teeth ins some superficial show of masculinity.

"Plesac," An officer behind him says calmly, "he's not worth it. Return to your station."

My body slouches forward on the bench, as I stick my chin out, like a boxer. I push myself within feet of his face, looking up at him as he stands pressed against the bars, staring back at me with his beady, little eyes. He wants to reach in here and grab me by the throat. He wants to slam me against the wall, and break my fingers, and do a whole host of other messy and icky things that I'm none-too-partial to. But he knows... he knows that if he does that, it'll be him in this holding cell in a few days, not me. I'll be the victim. Internal affairs will get involved and lord knows what a mess that can be. No. No, no, no. He'll have to be content for now, staring me down like a wolf perched on the fence into the field that the sheep are gamboling about in.

For now.

"Yes, Officer Plesac, I'm really not worth it."

"You're a real piece of ****, you know that?" He hisses, pressing himself even further into the bars. Behind him, the other officer gets tenser and straightens up a bit as he watches.

I sigh and shake my head, leaning back again.

"Oh, come now, don't get all indignant with me. A patrolman is nothing but a gunman with a government paycheck. Besides, you should be celebrating the deaths of your friends, not lamenting them."

You ever talk about AIDS to someone with AIDS? You ever called someone with a retarded brother retarded? Every accidentally called a gay person a ***? These are faux paxs that people in everyday conversation do their level-best to avoid. But when you're looking to push some buttons, when you want to push the envelope just-so-far, and when the farthest edge just ain't enough for you, and you've gotta push things to their limits... then that's exactly the sort of thing you should bring up.

"They died in the line of duty, with dignity and pride. That is something I celebrate, and something you could never understand."

"That's true. And, from what I can tell if I use your pure, vitriolic hatred for me as a baseline, they died by my hand. See, your friends are a tragedy. In the eyes of the ever-judging public, they died trying to stop a madman, trying to save innocent lives. You? You're gonna be the victim of, I dunno... a shooting spree or a bomb. Not nearly as glamorous."

"You think you're gonna do something to kill me? Well, I'm right here. What're you waiting for?"

I sit silently, without a response. That's just it. He's right. There's no bomb planted in the police station, no group of angry henchmen coming to free me, no sidekick in a onesie who's going to come in guns a-blazing. I'm alone. Utterly. After the incident at Yankee Stadium, getting hung up by my britches by The Bat... well... Let's just say that I haven't got many friends. I lost track of the ball, anyway. I didn't keep my eye on the pitch, so I let a soft-lob go right over homeplate. Could've been a home-run. But I got too tangled up in the scheme of my own madness. I got too excited about killing Chris Martin, or making a fool out of Birdy the Bird Wonder. Nothing I did had the sole purpose of keeping the Bat at bay or, in an ideal world, invading that bay and making it a port of my own. He's probably out there now, having a good night with his friend the District Attorney and their Cop buddies. Leaving me alone, here, without any fun. There's nothing to do in this cell other than to twiddle my thumbs and watch the water drip from the rusted pipes. If banality is evil, then, truly, I've reached the seventh circle of hell.

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/5664/picture5aqt.png

[Matt Murdock]

I've lost count of the days. I don't even keep up anymore. I don't pay attention to the clock. They want to try and take my time? Well, I'll just make sure that's the one thing I'm willing to give up. I can sit here all day. I can wait, and wait, and wait. I'm. The. Joker. Surely that's got to be an asset to someone? Surely someone can use me. It must be in someone's interests to get me out of jail, if only to use me as a pawn in some grand scheme of theirs.

Click-Clack-Click-Clack-Click-Clack

Spend enough hours in a prison holding cell, and you get familiar with the sound of finely made Italian shoes echoing along concrete. If you're really good, you can tell what position the guy holds by his gait. Maybe he's an attorney, or a politician, or a police chief in shoes that are one size too small for him.

The clacking stops outside of my holding cell, and the person who's been walking locks eyes with me. He's tall, thin, and in an expensive suit.

Lawyer.

"You must be my ticket out of this Hell hole.""I am." He's got a local accent, Harlem. Maybe the Bronx. Means whoever's busting me out has got some connections in the city. Officer Pleasac slides the cell door open and glances at the lawyer. Next, my attorney speaks, "Out."

"Sure thing, boss."We briskly walk out of the precinct, and I smile at Officer Plesac as we go.

"Stop it." His tone is like that of a parent scolding a child. Whoever this guy is, he thinks very highly of himself.

When we walk out of the front door, the sun is setting on New York. Streetlights are coming to life, and the horns of the night crowd are starting to blare. The back door of the police station slams shut behind us, a route we took to avoid prying eyes...

...and people who want to kill me, I assume.

Just beyond the alleyway sits a limosine.

"You really are a fan of the clichés, aren't you?"The door to the back seat opens while I still stand in front of the door, and the Lawyer nods towards the open door.

"Go."

"Next time you get someone out of jail, make a little bit more small talk. You're making me feel like a chore."I step lightly towards the car and heave myself in. The engine comes to life and the car lurches forward.

"Hello."

My head spins around, and I find myself staring at an old man. He's in a finely made tuxedo, with a red tie. Every button on the shirt is done up, and his necktie is perfectly knotted. In his hand is a glass of liquor. Scotch, if I know the smell, and every few seconds he takes a long sip from it.

"Do I know you?"I ask, after a few seconds.

"No." His response is short and to the point.

"...Should I?"

"No. Not yet, anyway." He places his glass on a metal tray and leans back, pressing himself into the leather of the seats. "My name is Silvio Manfredi."

"Nice to meetcha."

"Likewise, I'm sure."

An awkward silence passes betwen us.

"So, uh. What, uh. What do I owe ya?"

"Nothing you're not willing to do already."

"Oh?"

"A month ago, you were disrespected, made a fool of. I want to give you the chance to put it right while satisfying some of our... mutual interests."

"I'm listening, Silvio."He removes a slip from his jacket pocket and passes it to me.

"Tomorrow night at 10:00 PM from Penn Station, a train will leave headed for Gotham. This ticket will get you onto that train."

"What makes you think I want to head back there at all, Mr. Manfredi?"

"For years, your particular belfry has been plagued by a bat. Your recent... predicament, however, undoubtedly served as a 'reset' button to your dealings in Gotham's criminal underworld. Everyone thinks you're off the radar. Gone. It would be best for you to stay that way."

"But..."

"But I have a problem in Gotham. The Odessa crime family has recently started to cramp in on my business, making the owners of these fronts pay them for 'protection.' They're glorified goons, and they're thorns in my side."

"How do I factor into all this? I'm not a mobster. I'm no gunman."

"I want you to go to Gotham and do what you do best. Stir the the pot. Get involved in Gotham's local crime rings and bring them all down."

"You want Gotham's criminals... to crumble from within."

"Leaving a power-vacuum that my family can fill."

"What's in it for me?"

"Like I said before... Batman's been a chip on your shoulder for years. The question isn't what's in it for you. It's what isn't."

I lean forward and pour myself a drink.

"To Gotham."I lift my glass in the air, and Manfredi does the same.

Slowly, as he takes his sip, I pour my glass onto the carpeted floor of his limo. I always hated scotch.

And now they're telling me I'm crazy over here because I don't sit there like a goddamn vegetable. Don't make a bit of sense to me. If that's what being crazy is... then I'm senseless.

Out of it. Gone-down-the-road. Wacko.

But no more. No less.

That's it.

[Blacklight]

Prologue: "Men of Steel"

(This is the final post featuring Superman and Iron Man told in 3rd person)


"Thanks for coming, Clark. I didn't think you'd show up so fast..." Tony Stark greeted his friend as he walked through the doors of Stark's lab, dressed in his mild-mannered reporter attire.

"Faster than a speeding bullet, Tony. Now what is it you wanted to show me?"

"Over here. Just bought it from STAR Labs last week, although I wanted to get a second opinion..."

Tony led Clark into a special sector of his Iron Man labs at Stark Industries, one that was uninhabited, save for one meteorite sitting upon a table in the center. Clark could tell right away that it wasn't kryptonite, seeing as he wasn't on the floor in pain, but engraved upon the rock was a symbol...

"As smart as I am, I thought that this type of thing would be your area of expertise."

"Hmm..."

"Is it Kryptonian?"

"No... Which is what worries me. I don't know what planet this is from... I've never seen this symbol before."

"Omega..."

"Excuse me?"

"The symbol. It's the greek symbol for 'Omega'."

"Omega? What could that mean?"

"Again, I have no clue. I'm sorry I can't help you, Clark."

"It's alright, Tony. Although if you allow me to take this with me back to the Fortress, I can look through Krypton's universal archives in order to see if there's anything I can find on this rock or this 'Omega' symbol engraved in it..."

"Of course, Clark. Do what you need to do. Now, since we have that squared away, there was something else I wanted to show you..."

Tony Stark clicked a few buttons on a computer adjacent to the table, and up came a screen with footage of Clark's archnemesis, the newly elected President Lex Luthor.


"My fellow Americans... I want to talk to you about change. The world all around us is changing. Over the last few years, the impossible has happened, again and again. Strange beings with unnatural powers began to emerge all over the country. We combated not one, but two alien invasions. The unthinkable has become a tangible reality. And in this world, suddenly strange and threatening in its uncertainty, you could not be blamed for feeling helpless. When mutant terrorists do battle on the streets with superpowered, masked vigilantes who answer to no one but themselves, it seems like our security has been taken out of the hands of the police, the armed forces, all the true American heroes who have dedicated their lives to our protection."
Luthor cast a solemn look out into the crowd. His stance on superheroes had been a divisive issue, but overall he felt he'd struck just the right balance to maximise public support.

"Some of my detractors have characterised me as someone who hates all superheroes, and wants them abolished. Not true. Captain America is a good friend of mine. And of course we are all grateful for the good deeds these men and women have done. As I speak now, I also think of the best interests of these brave individuals. Why should they have to toil in the shadows, operating outside the law? They are heroes. They deserve to be publically celebrated, they deserve official recognition. Superheroes should not be vigilantes. They should be government agents, working alongside the FBI, the CIA, and all the other agencies for the betterment of our great nation. Which brings me to my big announcement, my first act as President of the United States...."

Behind Luthor, the doors at the top of the White House steps opened.

"I have assembled a team of superheroes, officially recognised and endorsed by the American Government. They will work closely alongside S.H.I.E.L.D. to identify and neutralise metahuman threats. They will work tirelessly to protect our way of life in this brave new world. They are... The Avengers!"

And to rapturous applause and deafening cheers, the members of the Avengers walked down the White House steps in single file, each dressed in full costume.

"The Flash!"
"Green Lantern!"
"Giant Man!"
"The Wasp!"
"Vision!"
"Hawkeye!"
"Wonder Woman!"
"Thor!"

One by one, they all took their place by Luthor's side. All around the world, men, women and children were witnessing the dawn of a new age of heroism. The greatest superhero team on the planet had just assembled. And they were under the control of Lex Luthor.


Clark looked at the image of his enemy on the screen in disgust with a hint of fury, to which the Armored Avenger took notice.

"I take it he's a friend of yours?" he wittingly remarked.

"To be honest? Not. Even. Close."

"Yeah. I don't like him either..."

"What is he up to, Tony? 'Avengers'?"

"I say they're just rip-offs of our League. I mean come on. They have another Flash and Green Lantern, for christ's sake..."

"No, Tony. It's not that simple. With Luthor, it never is... He always has an agenda, and I swear I'm gonna find out what it is."

"Well speaking of teams, did you manage to get the Batman to join our ranks, yet?"

"No. And Canary's still taken leave... What about you, Tony? Have you found any new recruits..."

"I'm glad you asked. As a matter of fact I have. I'll be bringing her with me to the next meeting."

"Ahh. A her, you say?"

*BBRRRZZZ!!! BBRRZZZ!!!*

"What was that?"

"My alarm. I better get going. Satellite relay is telling me that Blizzard's at it again..."

"Need some help?"

"No thank you. I can handle this. You head back to Metropolis. I'll hold the fort here in New York."

"Alright. I'll be seeing you, Tony. Good luck."

"You too, Clark. Take care."

It was then that the Man of Steel changed into his costume in a flash while Stark slipped into his armor as the two heroes went their seperate ways...

[Byrd Man]

"WHAT?!...When?...He's there now?" I do some quick math in my head. "I'll need ten minutes...I don't care what he said. You keep close, and if things start going bad...Good. I'm on my way."

I look Gordon in the eyes, not sure how to tell him. But there's no time to cushion the blow. "Jim...you're daughter's been kidnapped."

My eyes go wide in shock.

"What? How? Why? When?" I can feel my heart racing.

I take a deep breath in order to calm myself down.

"Okay.....I've got all my officers working the child killing case...I'm going with you. You can brief me on the way."

Batman looks like he's about to say something, but I shoot him a look.

"Save it. This is my daughter." I say as I reach into my desk and pull out my sidearm.

"Let's go."

[Watchman]

"So, we are conquered the world with me, you, and Night of the Living Dead over there?" This caused Libra to laugh.

"Oh my dear, Pyro, don't be so stupid, no....no. You're are nothing more than a bit player of a much bigger show."

"Hey! No one talks to me like that, I should have done this a long time ago." He flicks his lighter.

"Mr. Grundy, if you would be so kind." Grundy smashes Pryo across the face knocking him out.

"Thank you," He taps his staff against the floor which caused part of the floor to open up. It was stairs leading down. "Now take our guest away. I have much bigger matters to attend to." In a flash Libra was gone.

***********
The Source Wall

What lies on the other side of this structure? Many of tried all have failed. The last one seeking ultimate power has gone the way of all that came before him. He is Victor Von Doom and he is about to be freed. He....He can hear singing? Somebody was walking toward him.

"So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure, how amazingly unlikely is your birth, and pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space, 'Cause there's bugger all down here on Earth. 'ello Victor. It seems that you have found yourself in a predicament. Hmmm?"

"Oh yes, I'm sure you can free yourself but I'll let you in on a secret. Its would take you millions upon millions of years. The Earth will probably be gone, destroyed by the Tyrant Sun, Crisises will come and go, Wars will be fought and the name of Victor Von Doom will mean nothing."

"How dare I talk to you like that? How dare I? Come now Victor you're in no condition to threaten anyone."

"What can I offer you? Means, ways to fight. You're kingdom is gone, Victor. After you left and Lex Luthor had the prez thing in the bag someone went ahead and established a puppet government in Latveria."

"Yes, he is a swine that will be gutted and his intestines will hang from your throne. Luthor wants to gut your technology for himself. He wants all your life work."

"Whats in it for me? Oh Luthor placed in some democracy in Latveria. Did you hear me he give your people power, education, freedoms. RIGHTS! I can't stand it. I want the old tyrant back and I might have a few plans of my own. So what do you say Vic? Ready to deal?"

"Excellent," he stabs the Source Wall, "this may feel a bit weird." The two disappear and reappear at Slaughter Swamp.

"A swamp? Libra, you insult me," he grabs Libra by the throat, "you insult me now. You really are foolish." Libra grabs a hold of Doom's hand.

"Now, wait a second, Victor!" Doom tightens his grip.

"You will not address Doom in such a insouciant manner," he drops Libra to the ground, "Now, you will bow before Doom."

"Are you serious?"

"I said," a burst of energy shot out from Doom striking Libra, "BOW BEFORE DOOM!" Libra does so.

"Excellent, my new servent, you may rise," Libra rises, "now what do you wish to show your new king."

"Our American offices." He motions toward the swamp

"Ah, I see potential."

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/AgentClarkNova/522812-000_super.jpg

[Carnage27]

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/Carnage27/sg_title.gif?t=1243621665

I sit there in Smallville High's auditorium, my mouth, no doubt, hanging open in amazement with what is going on on the large screen in front of the entire student body.




"I have assembled a team of superheroes, officially recognised and endorsed by the American Government. They will work closely alongside S.H.I.E.L.D. to identify and neutralise metahuman threats. They will work tirelessly to protect our way of life in this brave new world. They are... The Avengers!"

And to rapturous applause and deafening cheers, the members of the Avengers walked down the White House steps in single file, each dressed in full costume.

"The Flash!"
"Green Lantern!"
"Giant Man!"
"The Wasp!"
"Vision!"
"Hawkeye!"
"Wonder Woman!"
"Thor!"

Lex Luthor, the new president of the United States, and one of Kal-El's greatest enemies, now has a team of super heroes at his disposal. My stomach drops closer and closer to my feet as each is announced, and none of them hurts more than seeing Wally walk out and shake hands with the snake.

After the Mutant Attack, we had met, and he had become a friend, and now to see him being used as a puppet cut me deep.

The press conference ends, the bell rings, and I head home as fast as humanly possible.

The Kent's door swings open in a blur, and Ma Kent looks up surprised, "Kara, sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"Where is Kal-El?"

[Red_Robin77]

My heart sinks as I realize what I'm looking at. "The symbiote," I breathe, hardly believing my eyes. When I heard my doppelganger was wearing a black suit, I figured he was just wearing a cloth version. After seeing how this thing moves, I know it can't be anything else. It has to be the symbiote. But...how?! "I destroyed you!"

A large-knuckled fist is on a collision course with my face, but I spin out of danger. Once I've regained some ground, I realize how much damage the symbiote was able to do so quickly. The fight has barely begun, and I'm already sore. The symbiote leaps at me once more, slamming into my waist.

That's when it hits me. My Spider-Sense isn't buzzing. Come to think of it, I don't remember it buzzing when he ambushed me. Or when he threw that punch. My reflexes alone are keeping me from being pummeled into cake batter, but I'm not used to operating without it. And I'm panicking, wondering why it's decided now of all times to fail me.

I stood ready to leap off to help out Spider-Man.

Hurry up Bruce!

I watch as the creature seemed to get the upper hand on Spider-Man.

What is that thing? Whatever it is an deliver a serious punch. Enough waiting, he needs backup, whether he wants it or not.

I back up a bit and take a run up leaping across the gaps between buildings. I gain speed doing a flip to cross the next gap moving stealthily. At the next gap I do nothing, running right into it and falling. I let the wind blow against me as I pull out my grapple and fire it at the peak of the building, swinging up in an arc.

Soon I reach the top of the building and I crouch down, pulling out some binoculars. I inspect Spider-Man and the creature's fight, searching for the Commissioner's daughter. I activate my communicator and radio through to Bruce.

"Bruce, think I've found The Commiss' daughter. Gonna make my move. Robin out," I report, springing off to the next building.

This better work.

[Watchman]

Put Your Ray Gun to my Head, Babe

"Multiverse-bending drugs? Reality-warping ships? Angel/Demon hybrid genetic enginerring? You've been reading too many comic books, son. There is no such thing as the Men Under the Pentagon."
-Interview with General Wade Eiling. The interview was never publish and the journist cease to and according to records never did exist.

The Chronovore according to Kree pre-school text books was a creature that fed on time. Whenever, the Chronovore got near something the object got older before turning to dust. The only thing Noh-Varr can do now was to think.

Think? That could be the answer.

"Noh-V..akzzzt.....," he could hear the faint voice of Plex, "Men Under kzzzt....Under the Pentagon.....taking ship....aparttttt....don't havee much....zzzzkt.....its your mind....zzzttt..." Plex had disappeared as quickly as he reappeared. Barely coherent hints nothing more. But he did reconfirm what he had thought of. The way to destroy the Chronovore was to think. It was coming at him fast tearing through the countryside.

"That's enough of your mind games. This is my head and there is only one master." It had no intention of stopping. Noh-Varr closed its eyes. The sky turned red as Kree battle crusiers, sun destroyers, and of course the never before seen Chronovore elimanator. The ships begain to ran fire from the sky on the little town of Smallville eliminating anything and everything. A beam had struck the Chronovore who was slowly disappearing. The mind trap had failed there was only one thing left to do. He place the ray gun to his head.

"Boom." The entire landscape of Smallville had blown up as Noh-Varr pulled the trigger. Everything went black for a moment. There was a sound of someone taking a deep breath and then Noh-Varr opened his eyes. It was a disgusting alley a bum was standing over him clutching a bottle.

Next:The Secrets of the Men Under the Pentagon finally told! Find out in the Helter Skelter Interlude: A Brief History Lesson in Evil and Those Who Love It.

[Carnage27]

My heart sinks as I realize what I'm looking at. "The symbiote," I breathe, hardly believing my eyes. When I heard my doppelganger was wearing a black suit, I figured he was just wearing a cloth version. After seeing how this thing moves, I know it can't be anything else. It has to be the symbiote. But...how?! "I destroyed you!"

A large-knuckled fist is on a collision course with my face, but I spin out of danger. Once I've regained some ground, I realize how much damage the symbiote was able to do so quickly. The fight has barely begun, and I'm already sore. The symbiote leaps at me once more, slamming into my waist.

That's when it hits me. My Spider-Sense isn't buzzing. Come to think of it, I don't remember it buzzing when he ambushed me. Or when he threw that punch. My reflexes alone are keeping me from being pummeled into cake batter, but I'm not used to operating without it. And I'm panicking, wondering why it's decided now of all times to fail me.

Venom knew it had Spider-man right where it wanted him. The symbiote could negate Parker's sensory ability to detect danger, and the creature already had the upper hand in this fight.

Parker launched a series of webbing balls at the black brute, which only hampered its progress slightly.

With a crack like a bull whip, a tendril shot out of Venom's hand and sliced through Peter's costume, leaving a small cut on his right shoulder.

"You cannot kill us," Venom hissed while delivering another slice to the wall-crawler's left thigh. "You are weak, Peter. We made you strong. Gave you abilities that you could never have dreamed of. But you threw it away when your fear consumed you. The fear that keeps you from doing what is needed."

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/defkornster/spidermanvsvenom.jpg


Venom leaped at Spider-man, sending them both crashing through the sixth story window and down towards the dirty Gotham streets below. Citizens scattered out of the way, as the two meta humans crashed with a sickening thud onto the pavement.

The symbiote picked Parker up by his throat and began to squeeze the life out of the superhero, "And now we will dispose of you. Just as you shunned and humiliated us."

[Keyser Soze]

Wally looked down at the hammer, not fully realizing whether Thor was being serious or not. Deciding that he was, the Flash slowly reached down and went for Mjolnir.

He wrapped both hands around the handle, and took a deep, calming breath. Just as he began to heave, he spotted Wonder Woman walking over. "Uhm." Wally muttered, letting go of the hammer and taking a step back. "I better not. Wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of the team." he laughed nervously, tapping Thor playfully on the shoulder.

Wally was, in fact, terrified of not being able to lift the hammer in front of the warrior princess who now stood next to him.

"Thor." she laughed. "You aren't scaring him, I hope?" she took Wally's hand in hers. "We have not been formally introduced. I am Princess Diana of Themiscyira." she smiled.

The Scarlet Speedster was enamored by her beauty. For a moment he just stared into her eyes, his mind on pause. Finally he snapped out of his trance. Shaking his head, he smiled. "I am Wally West. I'm from Keystone City."

It was a total of three seconds before The Flash realized what he had just done. His eyes widened in complete and utter horror, and he couldn't help but instinctively cover his mouth. Looking down, he noticed Wonder Woman's golden lasso trailing down to the floor, it's tip resting across his foot.

An awkward silence filled the room for several seconds. It was out of The Flash's control. It was not a voluntary decision to reveal his identity to them, or even a moment of stupidity. Diana's lasso could glean the truth from anyone, no matter their dedication to secrecy. Perhaps, when he had come to trust his compatriots, Wally West would have chosen to unmask himself. But now that choice had been taken from him, and The Flash had been left at an unfair disadvantage.

"Well then, Wally West..."

Thor could only think of one way to aleviate the pressure now on The Flash. Picking up Mjolnir, he raised it overhead, and brought it crashing down onto the floor.

KRAAKADOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

A flash of lightning blasted through one of the mansion's front windows, consuming him in light for an instant. When the flash was gone, standing in Thor's place was a skinny young man with a lame leg, leaning depently on a gnarled wooden cane.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a108/JokerSoze/ThorDonaldBlake-1.jpg

"I'm Donald Blake. I'm a doctor from Boston."

[Eddie Brock]

Venom knew it had Spider-man right where it wanted him. The symbiote could negate Parker's sensory ability to detect danger, and the creature already had the upper hand in this fight.

Parker launched a series of webbing balls at the black brute, which only hampered its progress slightly.

With a crack like a bull whip, a tendril shot out of Venom's hand and sliced through Peter's costume, leaving a small cut on his right shoulder.

"You cannot kill us," Venom hissed while delivering another slice to the wall-crawler's left thigh. "You are weak, Peter. We made you strong. Gave you abilities that you could never have dreamed of. But you threw it away when your fear consumed you. The fear that keeps you from doing what is needed."

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/defkornster/spidermanvsvenom.jpg


Venom leaped at Spider-man, sending them both crashing through the sixth story window and down towards the dirty Gotham streets below. Citizens scattered out of the way, as the two meta humans crashed with a sickening thud onto the pavement.

The symbiote picked Parker up by his throat and began to squeeze the life out of the superhero, "And now we will dispose of you. Just as you shunned and humiliated us."
Us? Now, I'm not one to debate the grammar of a symbiotic alien being, but it seems an odd choice to speak in the first-person plural. Unless...

My God. The symbiote has a new host. Of course! Why didn't I realize?! The symbiote cannot survive on its own. It thrives on the emotions of its holder. When I left it, I thought it was destroyed, but it must have simply moved on to a new host - a vessel with which to enact its revenge.

And for the symbiote to be this strong, that vessel must be full of anger and rage.

The symbiote's tongue - God, that's disgusting - dangles in front of my face as it chokes me. My periphreal vision is beginning to blur and darken. I can feel my breath becoming more ragged. I don't have the strength to pull its arms off my throat. So I redirect my efforts.

"Not...on the first date...buddy," I manage to croak as I grab hold of its tongue. With all the energy I have left, I yank on the slimy appendage. Amazingly, I manage to rip it out of its mouth. The symbiote releases me and recoils in pain. As I rub my bruised throat, I watch in horror as a new tongue is formed. The symbiote roars, and I decide my only chance is to go on the offensive.

I charge the symbiote, and it lunges for me. At the last possible moment - without the help of my Spider-Sense - I leap into the air and kick the symbiote in the face. The symbiote's arms thrash wildly at me, but I use its face to vault myself across the street - far from its grasp.

That's when it hits me with a black, gooey webline. As the symbiote yanks me through the air separating us, I close my eyes and hope that this doesn't hurt as bad as I'm expecting...

[Catman_prb]

Jamie slurped at the glass of coke as the sun beat down upon his neck, probably causing sun-burn. He looked across the table at Jubilee, who was devouring some kind of cake that contained a lot of cream. It was the feeling one gets when watching a blimp slowly crash into the ground then explode.

"That looks...messy," he attempted, with a slightly pathetic flail of his shoulders.

"Please, I just eat like a pig," Jubilee snorted "Everyone says so,"

"Oh really?" he said, almost hopeful at the thought of not being alone in the thought, before quickly recovering himself. "So...Jubilee...odd name, right?"

"Nickname. Jubilee rolls off the tongue better than 'Jubilation'," she said witheringly.

"Jubilation? Your parents must've had a vendetta," he chuckled. Jubilee rolled her eyes.

"Once they started noticing the sparks flying off little Jubilation's toesies, they kinda did," she said glumly, taking a slurp of her drink. Jamie coughed; the reason one should never date a mutant - the constant angst.

"What kind of lame power is sparks anyway?" he tried, sticking his tongue out in what he thought was a playful manner. Jubilee put on a mock affronted look.

"As opposed to the clone-o-mattic here?" she quipped.

"Ha ha," Jamie responded dryly.

"So I've got a question. How come you took me out for a date?" Jubilee asked.

"Uhhm...because of your winning personality?" he said, fairly sincirely. He caught the withering look from the girl opposite.

"Not buying it? Well bang goes my chance of getting lucky," he grinned.

"Oh you're still getting lucky," Jubilee responded with a devilish glint in her eyes.

Jamie made a rasping sound.

[wiegeabo]

My eyes go wide in shock.

"What? How? Why? When?" I can feel my heart racing.

I take a deep breath in order to calm myself down.

"Okay.....I've got all my officers working the child killing case...I'm going with you. You can brief me on the way."

Batman looks like he's about to say something, but I shoot him a look.

"Save it. This is my daughter." I say as I reach into my desk and pull out my sidearm.

"Let's go."

Gordon starts for the door, but I stop him. I can just imagine the looks on everyone's faces as their Commissioner and the Batman go racing through the department.

"This way's faster." I nod towards the window.

Gordon's eyes go wide. "No way."

"Barbara..." Gordon exhales sharply and steps up to me by the window as I pull my grapnel. "How much do you weigh?"

"Uh, two-oh-five?"

I grunt, set the grapnel, grab Jim around the waist, and fire off the line. It lands home and pulls us into the air, dropping us near the batmobile harder than I expected.

"You weigh a little more than two-oh-five." Jim throws me a withering look as the canopy opens.

"Hold on." I slam the accelerator home and we're slammed against the seats as we race down the road.

[Carnage27]

That's when it hits me with a black, gooey webline. As the symbiote yanks me through the air separating us, I close my eyes and hope that this doesn't hurt as bad as I'm expecting...

Spider-man came hurtling towards Venom with blinding speed, and when he was within arms reach, the symbiote grabbed the hero by his legs, and swung him over its head, like a sledgehammer. The alien then drove him down towards a parked car, the sound of shearing metal and Parker's cry of pain echoed throughout the night.

Venom hovered over its prey a bit to long, and Spider-man tossed a large piece of glass from the car's windshield at the creature, which pierced it in its shoulder. The pain was intense, but short lived as the symbiote's healing factor kicked in.

"There we go Parker! Now we're talking!" it roared as it lunged towards the costume-clad teen.

[Byrd Man]

Gordon starts for the door, but I stop him. I can just imagine the looks on everyone's faces as their Commissioner and the Batman go racing through the department.

"This way's faster." I nod towards the window.

Gordon's eyes go wide. "No way."

"Barbara..." Gordon exhales sharply and steps up to me by the window as I pull my grapnel. "How much do you weigh?"

"Uh, two-oh-five?"

I grunt, set the grapnel, grab Jim around the waist, and fire off the line. It lands home and pulls us into the air, dropping us near the batmobile harder than I expected.

"You weigh a little more than two-oh-five." Jim throws me a withering look as the canopy opens.

"Hold on." I slam the accelerator home and we're slammed against the seats as we race down the road.

"So what do we know about whoever has Barbara?" I ask Batman as he takes a corner at 100 plus miles.

I double check my revolver as we scream down the Gotham streets.

"I just hope nobody at Central needs me."


**********

"Where the hell is Gordon?!" Captain Essen screamed as she stalked through the MCU squardoom.

"Nobody's seen him since the briefing with the MCU." Akins mutters as Essen whips out her cellphone.


*************


Batman looks at me as my cellphone rings.

"Excuse me....Gordon....what?! How certain are you of this?....Okay, call Superintendent Plummer tell him I have given you all authority. I want two uniforms guarding all elementary and middle schools. My gut tells me the perp won't go any older than 10, but better safe than sorry. As for the search, check as many vacant and rundown warehouses that you can find. He'll need somewhere cool to keep the parts....What?...Okay, well we can still hold him on trying to kill Bullock. Just move him back into a holding cell."

I look over at Batman as I slip my phone back into my pocket.

"CSI says Scot is more than likely not our killer. Also, my officers seem to think our perp is keeping the missing parts and making a child from the spare parts...all he needs is a head."

The masked man remains silent as he keeps speeding.


***************

Charlie Fields pulls his unmarked car up to a dilapitdated Narrows house.

"Sure this guy knows what he's talking about?" Fields asks as he and Driver get out the car.

"This guy I arrested a half dozen times when I was working vice and narco. If something involving kids is going down, he knows it." Driver says as he stops at the front door.

He looks at Fields as he pulls his pistol out.

"Going on three."

"Wait!" Fields says as he scrambles to pull his gun out.

"One. THREE!" He screams as he kicks the door in with a loud crack.

The two men rush into the room and find a black man passed out on a stained matress with syringes around his body.

"There he is." Driver says as he swiftly kicks the man in the ribs.

"Wake up, Willie."

The man gasps for air as his eyes snap open.

"Get up, you piece of trash." Driver growls as he grabs the man by the collar.

"Get offa me!" Willie moans as Driver brings him in close.

"Child molesting. What do you know!" Driver screams as he puts his gun to Willie's head.

"P-please....I....I h-heard....there's a cat down at the docks...n-named. Yen. He likes kids." Willie finally whispers.

"Thanks." Driver says as he punches the man in the face, his nose makes a loud pop as he falls back on the bed.

Driver quickly turns and heads out the door with Fields behind him.

"What the hell was that?!" Fields says as he grabs Driver by the arm.

"That was called getting a result!"

"You broke into a man's house without a warrant and assaulted him."

"In police work, you need to get your hands dirty."

"That's not how I do it." Fields says as he gets into the car.

"Also, see where we're at? The Narrows, you know what goes on here now. Word gets out that you busted in and beat up someone in Two-Face's turf, that goddamn maniac will try to start a war."

Driver remains silent as Fields starts the car.

"So....the docks?"

Driver just nods as his partner speeds south towards the ocean.


*************

Back at Central, Detectives Bullock and Montoya continue to look over case files.

"Something about these kids don't sit right with me." Bullock says as he goes through the photos.

"They're too random. Serial killers have a pattern and they stick to it. Ted Bundy liked brunettes with long hair, the Boston Strangler liked older women. But this guy is all over the chart. Victim one was a nine-year old black boy, Victim two was a 6 year old white girl, and the fourth victim was an 8 year old hispanic girl."

"What do they all have in common?" Montoya says as she stands over Bullock as they go through the photos of the children. Most of them are family photos, but a few are school photos.

"All these kids...so young. All of them were still in elementary school."

Bullock pauses a minute, looking back at Montoya and then the photos.

"Hmm..." He mutters as he flips through the photos again.

"Look at this photo of Victim three. His school photo. Now compare it with Victim four's school photo."

"Same backdrop. So? Every school in America uses that same crap."

He then pulls out every other victim's school photos.

"Where is this going, sargent?"

Bullock flips the photos. Montoya's eyes go wide.

"Holy ****."

On the back of every photo is the same stamp.

Kane Elemenatry 08-09

"They all went to the same school."

"That doesn't make sense. They all lived in different parts of town."

"Gotham's school system lets you put your kid in any school you want."

"The killer is picking them from the same school."

Bullock takes the photos.

"We need to get these to Captain Essen, we know where this bastard will strike."

[Eddie Brock]

Spider-man came hurtling towards Venom with blinding speed, and when he was within arms reach, the symbiote grabbed the hero by his legs, and swung him over its head, like a sledgehammer. The alien then drove him down towards a parked car, the sound of shearing metal and Parker's cry of pain echoed throughout the night.

Venom hovered over its prey a bit to long, and Spider-man tossed a large piece of glass from the car's windshield at the creature, which pierced it in its shoulder. The pain was intense, but short lived as the symbiote's healing factor kicked in.

"There we go Parker! Now we're talking!" it roared as it lunged towards the costume-clad teen.
I allow my body to fall backwards until my palms break my fall. Then, with rifle-like quickness, I fire my legs into the symbiote's sternum - or thereabouts, anyway. The large black mass is flung backward, crushing a streetlight like an aluminum can. Yet, despite it all, it doesn't seem to flinch. It comes at me once more, and I just barely dodge the attack.

This fight is wearing on me more than I would like. No matter what I do, the symbiote always seems to bounce back. It's faster than me, stronger than me, and my Spider-Sense is totally shot. Right now, I'm doing everything in my power to keep those advantages from turning the tide completely, but I can't keep at this for long.

I manage to land a leaping right cross on the jaw of the symbiote. Pieces of its sharp, white teeth chip off, and I watch them reform in mere instants. "Okay, Tall, Dark, and Ugly, let's see who your new boyfriend is!" I announce as I grab a handful of gooey symbiote from its face. As I pull it free of the larger mass, the substance in my hand goes limp and slides down my arm like pudding.

Meanwhile, I can't believe my eyes.

"YOU?!"

[Matt Murdock]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h163/edlewis657/trailercards1-1.jpg?t=1243232337


Ca-Chick. Ca-ChickCa-Chick.
Every five or ten minutes, the train shakes as it shifts onto another portion of track, and the accompanying sound harkens back to a foregone era when the train used to be relevant. We're all so desperate to be relevant these days. Me, Batman, Dent. We're all players in the same game. In fact, I'd venture to say that we're even on the same side, and time is our opponent. We all strive to find that balance between... relevance and obscurity. Batman masks his in heroics, I mask mine in gimmicks, and Dent... well. I'm not sure what he masks his in anymore. He used to hide it in the law and righteousness, and, together, he, the bat, and I would all play our little game. Then the Bat won. And someone else beat Dent. I've been reading the papers from the past month on this two-hour train ride and an article caught my eye.

ONE MONTH GONE
An Op-Ed for the Gotham Times by Bugle Reporter Ben Urich

A month ago today, an event happened which rocked the American legal system to it's very foundation. In Gotham City, the then-District Attorney, Harvey Dent, was attacked in a court room in which he sought justice. It was then, in that room, that events occurred that few of us will ever forget, no matter how hard we may try. All it took was a splash of acid to the face to blind Lady Justice for good in Gotham's underworld. Dent, once a symbol of what Gotham could become, is now nothing more than a symbol for what Gotham has become. An alleged killer, and a victim himself, the town that Harvey Dent once strove to save is now nothing more than a hollow for him to spread the vigilante-style justice that he once spoke out against. When I was approached by the editor of the Bugle's Gotham affiliate to write an op-ed piece about the man known as Harvey Dent, the question occurred to me: which side of Dent would I be writing about? The man seeking justice, whom we lost? Or the man finding retribution, whom we fear?

To answer that question, I had to..."

The rest of the article is the standard "hit the streets and get the beat" type of reporting.

It's an interesting prospect, though. Dent... taking matters into his own hands, finally. Rumor has it he's killed a few mob bosses. As a man who's been asked to go and give the mafia hell, a man who's already doing so sounds like a friend I could make. Plus, Dent's already got himself the ties to the police and, of course, Batman. If needed he could... manipulate them.



"Hmm. Dent." I say aloud, not noticing that the train car I'm in is completely empty, save myself. "He'll do. He'll do quite nicely."


I pat the bag next to me, the only thing I brought. Inside is a chessboard, Shell Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends, and a few of my choice, assorted gizmos.

Coming back to Gotham is going to be something of an eye-opener and, with my 'unique' disposition, it will be difficult to stay below the radar. First place I'll hit are the low-end dives. Maybe try and assemble some sort of rag-tag crew. Going and getting the mafia like Batman or some other caped goon is one thing. Trying to destroy them from the inside out is an entirely different story. Dent should prove to be a valuable asset, though. Whether he knows it or not.

[wiegeabo]

"So what do we know about whoever has Barbara?" I ask Batman as he takes a corner at 100 plus miles.

I double check my revolver as we scream down the Gotham streets.

"I just hope nobody at Central needs me."


Batman looks at me as my cellphone rings.

"Excuse me....Gordon....what?! How certain are you of this?....Okay, call Superintendent Plummer tell him I have given you all authority. I want two uniforms guarding all elementary and middle schools. My gut tells me the perp won't go any older than 10, but better safe than sorry. As for the search, check as many vacant and rundown warehouses that you can find. He'll need somewhere cool to keep the parts....What?...Okay, well we can still hold him on trying to kill Bullock. Just move him back into a holding cell."

I look over at Batman as I slip my phone back into my pocket.

"CSI says Scot is more than likely not our killer. Also, my officers seem to think our perp is keeping the missing parts and making a child from the spare parts...all he needs is a head."

The masked man remains silent as he keeps speeding.




I nod at the news. One step forward, two steps back. But narrowing down the motivation is at least some progress. "You have good people under you Jim, they'll find something."

I pull another tight turn and we enter the narrows. We're getting close. "I need to tell you what Robin told me. Barbara was taken by...he described it as a big black creature. But it looks like it took her as bait. When Robin confronted it, it warned him that if any of us get involved, it will kill her." I look at Jim. "It wants Spider-Man. And he's there now, fighting that thing."

[wiegeabo]

"Did you know about this?"

"Didn't have a clue. I didn't even vote for the guy."

Joan and I watch the broadcast of President Luthor's inauguration. It's not the man I have a problem with, although I didn't care for his stance on several issues. Steve vouches for Luthor, Kal...does not. But that's not what has Joan and I on the edge of out seats.

The Avengers?!

"I can't believe Wally didn't say anything."

"I can't believe Wally joined them and not the League."

"Jay, don't take it personally. I'm sure he had his reasons."

"Whatever they are, he didn't think it through all the way. This is why the JSA disbanded. Superheroes can't function as part of the government."

"You all fought in the war, Jay."

"Yeah, but that was different. We were still autonomous. There were still plenty of villains here trying to take advantage of the war. We only fought when the military was outmatched."

"And that's not what Wally's doing?"

"No. He's a part of the government now. He's under their rules and control. He has to do what they say, when they say it. I don't think he's considered that, because if there's one thing Wally used to hate, it was being ordered around. And then there's his identity."

"The government can protect it."

"It's not worth the risk. Everyone from villains to casual hackers will be trying to get that information once they realize the government has it. All their families are at risk now."

Joan just stares at me. I harrumph. "Yeah, I don't sound a cynical old man or anything."

She smiles. "You're just worried about him, Jay. And you know there's only one way to feel better."

"I need to go talk with Wally?"

"You need to go talk with Wally."

I nod to myself. "Yeah...but first. I need to talk with the League."

[Byrd Man]

I nod at the news. One step forward, two steps back. But narrowing down the motivation is at least some progress. "You have good people under you Jim, they'll find something."

I pull another tight turn and we enter the narrows. We're getting close. "I need to tell you what Robin told me. Barbara was taken by...he described it as a big black creature. But it looks like it took her as bait. When Robin confronted it, it warned him that if any of us get involved, it will kill her." I look at Jim. "It wants Spider-Man. And he's there now, fighting that thing."

I don't tell Batman what the last part tells me.

Spider-Man lives in New York. So does Barbara's boyfriend, Peter, who also is known for being the only person able to take photos of the masked man. Why would a teenaged girl from Gotham be taken as bait for Spider-Man, a hero who operates fifty miles away in New York City?

It doesn't take a police detective to figure that one out. But I don't tell Batman that. What Peter does is his own buisness, until it starts to include my daughter.

"Just get us close to the scene. Then we pray that Spider-Man can stop that thing."

I check my gun once more as Batman takes another corner at over 100 miles.

[Carnage27]

Meanwhile, I can't believe my eyes.

"YOU?!"

The part of Venom that was still Edward Brock Junior was exposed in front of Spider-man's face wearing a look of fury and hatred. Spider-man now understood what he faced. The two creatures that made up his greatest foe were two things he had had a hand in almost destroying. He was not facing a regular enemy. No. He was facing a being of pure hatred.

"Yea, Parker. Surprised?" Venom mocked as the symbiote once again covered Brock's human face, as if it had been submerged in motor oil. "But this is our true face now. There is no Edward Brock. Just Venom."

With a powerful swing of its arm, Venom raked across Spider-man's face with its blade like fingers, sending Peter to the pavement.

The hulking figure than mounted the fallen hero and began to pound on him with massive black fists, "Now do you understand? Do you understand why we hunted you? Humiliated you? You did the same to us. And now...we will kill you for it."

Venom's hands both raised above its head, poised for a powerful, and potential deadly, strike.

[Eddie Brock]

The part of Venom that was still Edward Brock Junior was exposed in front of Spider-man's face wearing a look of fury and hatred. Spider-man now understood what he faced. The two creatures that made up his greatest foe were two things he had had a hand in almost destroying. He was not facing a regular enemy. No. He was facing a being of pure hatred.

"Yea, Parker. Surprised?" Venom mocked as the symbiote once again covered Brock's human face, as if it had been submerged in motor oil. "But this is our true face now. There is no Edward Brock. Just Venom."

With a powerful swing of its arm, Venom raked across Spider-man's face with its blade like fingers, sending Peter to the pavement.

The hulking figure than mounted the fallen hero and began to pound on him with massive black fists, "Now do you understand? Do you understand why we hunted you? Humiliated you? You did the same to us. And now...we will kill you for it."

Venom's hands both raised above its head, poised for a powerful, and potential deadly, strike.
Eddie Brock. Rival photographer at the Bugle. General a**hole. He blames me for Betty Brant's death, if I remember correctly. I always knew he was a jerk, but I never suspected he might be capable of this. Then again, I did a lot of things that I didn't think I was capable of under the symbiote's control. I know how poisonous it can be, and with a damaged mind like Brock's, there's no telling how powerful the symbiote may have become. All I know is that their combined hatred gives them a strength I can't match.

In a feeble act of desperation, I web this 'Venom' in the face. Luckily, it distracts him from his attack - but only momentarily. The symbiote seems to eat at my webbing, tearing it effortlessly into shreds. Venom roars once more as he prepares to finish what he started. Only then do I decide to go against everything I believe as a human being.

I lift my knee between Venom's legs.

With a yelp of pain that can only be described as human, Venom rolls over. I quickly put distance between myself and the lethal foe. "I have dreamt of that moment for a long time," I admit. Firing two weblines, I snag the cars to Venom's left and right. With a heave, I bring them together. Unfortunately, he's strong enough to prevent himself from being squashed. I abandon the effort and decide to refocus.

In a match of pure strength, I cannot beat Venom. For one, he outmatches me in that respect. For another, I'm operating without the help of my Spider-Sense. And with the symbiote's regenerative abilities, I would have to dole out a lot of pain to keep Venom down for good. So what options does that leave me?

The symbiote does have its weaknesses, but Brock will be expecting that. Fire seemed fairly effective, but I'm not sure I agree with the ethics of lighting this place on fire to try and stop one guy. Seems too dangerous to me. There's always sonics, but - again - I suspect Venom will be waiting for me to try something like that. Besides, it's not like I carry sonic weapons around with me. For a moment, I only wish I had kept the symbiote longer so I might've learned how best to defeat it.

"Brock, I know what it's like to be under the symbiote's control," I plead. Hey, I wouldn't be the good guy if I didn't at least try this route, right? "It feels amazing, but it will consume you!" The thick webline attached to my chest seems to signify that he's not listening. I try to pull myself free, but Venom tugs on the other end and hits me with a devasting blow. "Don't do this..."

[Byrd Man]

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x29/bolluhhh/bolluhh-387V2.png


"Could you watch the smoke, Nick?" I say as I wave my hand in front of my face. Nick and I are in the foyer of the Brownstone.

"Sorry." He stumps out his cigar and places the rest in his pocket.

He follows me into the darkend Brownstone, the lights start to turn on as we walk.

Body signatures recognized. Welcome Captain America and Director Fury.

"Fancy tech. Needs to be updated, though."

"Yeah. I'll tell Tony to fix that."

Nick stops and looks at the photos and trophies. Most of them are the JSA, but there are a few from the new team. We're called the Justice League now.

"Answer me this, Steve." Nick says as we walk into the communcations room.

"What do you think of Wonder Woman joining this group of puppets?"

I keep on looking forward as I punch buttons.

"Diana is a strong and intellegent woman. Her choice was thought out fully before she acted. I also assume she is doing it because, as an ambassador to Themascara, she is doing it to improve relations with our country and her nations."

"Yeah...and when did she tell you she made this choice?"

"She didn't. I found out when the team was announced on t.v. we don't really speak as much as we used to."

Nick doesn't say anything as I send out the message to all Leaguers.

"This is Captain America. I need all Justice League members to report to the Brownstone ASAP for a meeting."

[Carnage27]

"Brock, I know what it's like to be under the symbiote's control," I plead. Hey, I wouldn't be the good guy if I didn't at least try this route, right? "It feels amazing, but it will consume you!" The thick webline attached to my chest seems to signify that he's not listening. I try to pull myself free, but Venom tugs on the other end and hits me with a devasting blow. "Don't do this..."

Peter Parker might as well have been telling a hurricane not to create flooding, or a tornado not to rip up a trailer park. Because that's what Venom was. A force of nature, fueled by hatred and revenge, ready to rip into the one who had taken everything from it.

Venom yanked the line attached to Spider-man, and he began to rocket towards the waiting creature. But before the spider was squished by the symbiote, he caught it with a kick to the chest, propelled himself into the air, and began to swing away.

"Not so fast, Spider!" Venom growled as he pushed of the pavement and followed suit.

"You took Betty from us! You humiliated us! You destroyed our lives!" the creature bellowed as it gained ground on its swinging prey, while simultaneously dodging balls of webbing.

Venom had gained considerable ground on Parker, and as if the short time of not having him its its grasp made the creature pursue Peter with more fervor.

The two landed on a nearby rooftop, and Venom pounced on Peter, like a lion taking down a gazelle, and the animalistic urge overcame it, and it sunk its teeth into the wall-crawler's shoulder. It could taste the saltiness of Parker's blood in its mouth, and it dug deeper, almost in hopes that it would be able to taste his pain and suffering next.

[Eddie Brock]

Peter Parker might as well have been telling a hurricane not to create flooding, or a tornado not to rip up a trailer park. Because that's what Venom was. A force of nature, fueled by hatred and revenge, ready to rip into the one who had taken everything from it.

Venom yanked the line attached to Spider-man, and he began to rocket towards the waiting creature. But before the spider was squished by the symbiote, he caught it with a kick to the chest, propelled himself into the air, and began to swing away.

"Not so fast, Spider!" Venom growled as he pushed of the pavement and followed suit.

"You took Betty from us! You humiliated us! You destroyed our lives!" the creature bellowed as it gained ground on its swinging prey, while simultaneously dodging balls of webbing.

Venom had gained considerable ground on Parker, and as if the short time of not having him its its grasp made the creature pursue Peter with more fervor.

The two landed on a nearby rooftop, and Venom pounced on Peter, like a lion taking down a gazelle, and the animalistic urge overcame it, and it sunk its teeth into the wall-crawler's shoulder. It could taste the saltiness of Parker's blood in its mouth, and it dug deeper, almost in hopes that it would be able to taste his pain and suffering next.
I begin to feel lightheaded - no doubt a side effect of the blood loss. For a moment, all I can feel is the blood pooling in my mouth. It's warm and metallic, and the taste nearly gags me. Then, even that feeling fades away. The black figure of Venom is overtaken by unnaturally bright light. Eventually, there is nothing but whiteness. The pain is gone. I notice that I don't feel myself breathing. I close my eyes, but the whiteness persists.

"I love you, Peter Parker."

I open my eyes. Surrounded by whiteness, I see the shape of Barbara Gordon. I'm standing next to her, beaming cheerfully. We look happy. I suddenly feel like I'm looking through a window into my life. Is this what they mean when they say your life flashes before your eyes?

"Yeah, you and half the teenage girls in New York."

I remember this night. Babs and I had just gotten out of a movie, and we decided to take a walk through Central Park. This was the first time that Babs told me she loved me. My heart was fluttering, but I pushed it aside in favor of humor. Babs didn't appreciate it.

"Well, aren't you going to tell me you love me back?" she asks impatiently. Her eyes turn as fiery as her hair. I watch myself shrug. I was so afraid to say it, so afraid to let someone else in. Babs growls and says, "I really hate you sometimes."

"But you just said you love me!" I counter.

Babs rolls her eyes. "Yeah, well, it's a fine line." I throw my arm over her shoulders, and everything is fine once more. After I finally tell her that I do love her, she and I both fade away. The whiteness resumes for a moment before I hear a familiar sniffling.

"What's wrong, Peter?" Anguish penetrates my unfeeling body as I hear Uncle Ben's voice once more. In the spot where Babs and I once stood, Uncle Ben materializes. He's holding a younger, crying me. "Was your first day that bad?"

It was the first day of sixth grade. I had gone off to school, excited to start another year with friends. Only I had quickly discovered I had no friends left. Flash Thompson, my longtime best friend, had turned on me. He and his new friends spent the whole day picking on me. I was glad they didn't see me cry home to my uncle. They'd never stop laughing.

"Why does Flash hate me?" the younger me asks. His teary, bloodshot eyes are rifled with confusion. After all, he and Flash had always gotten along. But then Flash got some new friends, and now he was the butt of all their jokes.

Uncle Ben frowns slightly. "You know, Pete, it might just be that he really does care for you, but he doesn't know how to deal with those feelings," he explains. Noticing the skepticism in young Peter's eyes, he continues, "Peter, love and hate are powerful emotions. But they stem from the same place. You can't love or hate something if, deep down, you don't care about it. Understand?"

When Venom's razor-sharp teeth twist in my shoulder, Uncle Ben immediately disappears. The eerily white surroundings shift once more to show Venom, lying on top of me. I can no longer hold back the scream of pain. I find myself wishing that the visions had never faded - that I could live there forever, in a land where Babs is safe and Uncle Ben is alive. But they were just visions. Nothing more.

Suddenly, something clicks. I realize what I must do to survive this fight and defeat Venom.

"I'm sorry!" I cry helplessly. Venom relents only slightly. "I'm sorry, symbiote! I didn't mean to treat you the way I did! I was scared, okay? I was scared!" I notice the burning sensation of real tears running down my cheeks. I realize they are due to the pain, but I try to pass it off as apologetic sorrow. "I had never felt like I did when I was with you, and I didn't know how to deal with it! I shut myself off to you, instead of letting you in!"

Venom is frozen in place.

"Getting rid of you was the biggest mistake of my life, and I have spent every night since then thinking about you. Please..."

I wish it could see my eyes through the mask.

"Take me back."

[Carnage27]

"Getting rid of you was the biggest mistake of my life, and I have spent every night since then thinking about you. Please..."

I wish it could see my eyes through the mask.

"Take me back."

Suddenly, the dark ooze that covered Eddie Brock began to peel away, beginning to expose the man underneath.

No! You can't do this! You can leave me!

Yes, I can Edward. You were always a disappointment to me. You cannot offer what he can. You are weak. Dying without me. You are nothing more than a pawn in the game of life. Only the strong survive. And you, Edward, are now where near the strong. Good-bye, Edward, your death will be quick. I at least owe you that.

Eddie saw it happening again. Right in front of his eyes. Peter Parker, Spider-man, was taking the only thing that mattered away from him. First Betty. Then his job. And finally his power, his life. The feeling of inadequacy was overwhelming. He could feel it, like the heel of a boot, crushing his heart.

And then the tears came. He couldn't help it. They just poured out of his eyes as if he was hit by a canister of tear gas. They were tears of sadness. They were tears of hopelessness. And they were mostly tears of humiliation.

As the last of the symbiote began to leave his body, Brock stood, shaking as the crying continued, even harder than ever. He had lost. Just like the countless times before. And yet again it was to Parker.

No. Not again. He would not let that happen.

"NO!" Brock yelled as he rushed Parker, splitting the sybiote in two as he passed though it. His spider sense must not have returned yet, because Eddie was able to crash into the hero, sending both of them tumbling off the side of the building, leaving the symbiote where it was. "Not again, Parker! I will kill you! I will! I will!"

[Eddie Brock]

Suddenly, the dark ooze that covered Eddie Brock began to peel away, beginning to expose the man underneath.

No! You can't do this! You can leave me!

Yes, I can Edward. You were always a disappointment to me. You cannot offer what he can. You are weak. Dying without me. You are nothing more than a pawn in the game of life. Only the strong survive. And you, Edward, are now where near the strong. Good-bye, Edward, your death will be quick. I at least owe you that.

Eddie saw it happening again. Right in front of his eyes. Peter Parker, Spider-man, was taking the only thing that mattered away from him. First Betty. Then his job. And finally his power, his life. The feeling of inadequacy was overwhelming. He could feel it, like the heel of a boot, crushing his heart.

And then the tears came. He couldn't help it. They just poured out of his eyes as if he was hit by a canister of tear gas. They were tears of sadness. They were tears of hopelessness. And they were mostly tears of humiliation.

As the last of the symbiote began to leave his body, Brock stood, shaking as the crying continued, even harder than ever. He had lost. Just like the countless times before. And yet again it was to Parker.

No. Not again. He would not let that happen.

"NO!" Brock yelled as he rushed Parker, splitting the sybiote in two as he passed though it. His spider sense must not have returned yet, because Eddie was able to crash into the hero, sending both of them tumbling off the side of the building, leaving the symbiote where it was. "Not again, Parker! I will kill you! I will! I will!"
I'm still weak enough that Eddie, without the symbiote's help, knocks me down - sending us both falling to our imminent deaths. Fortunately, I have spider-powers, so there'll be no dying today. However, I really need to sell to the symbiote that I mean business, so I can't seem to show any mercy.

"Brock, listen to me!" I shout feebly over the whistling night air. I know that he's not going to, but I need to say it for my own peace of mind. "I'm doing this for both of our sakes! We need that thing out of our lives!" He flails awkwardly in an attempt to hurt me. The ground is hurtling towards us. "I'm sorry, Eddie. I truly am."

I spin our bodies around so that I'm on top. I push off Eddie and find a spot on the building's side to grab onto. Once I've stopped my fall, I use my free hand to snag Eddie with a webline. With a great heave, I fling his body through a boarded window. There, now the symbiote won't know that I saved him.

No sooner have I reached the roof than the symbiote latches onto me. I quickly put the thoughts of my plan aside, as I can't risk the symbiote knowing what I'm going to do. I take one last breath of cold, nighttime air before the symbiote covers my body completely.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/2/25807/743427-mac_spider_man_super.jpg


At last, we are reunited.

"Not a moment too soon," I lie. I look to the starry sky and breathe deeply. "Come. Let's celebrate our reunion with a swing through the city."

What of the girl?

I scoff. "What of her? She means nothing to me." Even I am shocked at how malicious my voice sounds. "You're all I need now." The symbiote slithers warmly in approval. It's a sensation that I'm still not used to - even after all that time with the symbiote before.

As we swing, I spot a belltower. Perfect. Unfortunately, the symbiote notices my gaze. I feel it tightening around my body and my throat. A sudden sense of urgency overtakes me, and I quickly change course for the belltower. The symbiote tightens its grip.

No! You lied to me! You tricked me! Well, it's too late now! I'm going to finish what I started long ago. We shall become one with each other, whether you approve or not!

"Not...if...I can help it," I wheeze, my breath becoming more ragged as a result of the symbiote's grip. With one last, great pull, I launch myself like a projectile at the bell. Tucking my arms and legs in, I allow my bullet-like body to slam against it. At the first, ear-shattering ring, the symbiote's grip loosens.

No! NO! Something's wrong! Why can't I bond with you?! Why aren't we one?!

I'm yelling over the sound of the bell. "I realized something after I got rid of you the first time," I explain. "You only had power over me because you convinced me that I was alone. But I know now that I'm not alone." My eardrums feel like they're going to bleed, but I know that the pain is even more agonizing for the symbiote. "My friends, my family, the League. As long as I have these people in my life, you can't touch me. They're my symbiote insurance."

My knees are beginning to buckle. I decide to cut this short. I wrap the symbiote - lying helplessly in a puddle at my feet - in a web coccoon. It struggles against me, but it simply doesn't have the power to resist.

"So believe me when I say--" I lift the web coccoon over my head. "It's not you. It's me!" I throw the coccoon against the bell, and it adheres to the side. The dying symbiote sways back and forth, shrinking with each ring of the bell. I retreat a few yards away, to a nearby building, where I watch to make sure the symbiote's really gone this time.

[Carnage27]

"Brock, listen to me!" I shout feebly over the whistling night air. I know that he's not going to, but I need to say it for my own peace of mind. "I'm doing this for both of our sakes! We need that thing out of our lives!" He flails awkwardly in an attempt to hurt me. The ground is hurtling towards us. "I'm sorry, Eddie. I truly am."

I spin our bodies around so that I'm on top. I push off Eddie and find a spot on the building's side to grab onto. Once I've stopped my fall, I use my free hand to snag Eddie with a webline. With a great heave, I fling his body through a boarded window. There, now the symbiote won't know that I saved him.

There Edward Brock lay, broken in body and mind, in the middle of a destitute building in the Narrows section of Gotham City. He was unable to move.

Parker must have broken my neck. The bastard.

He had been defeated. Broken once again. But this time it wasn't just Peter's doing. The symbiote had left him.

Just as this thought crossed his mind he heard a slight dripping noise coming from the ceiling, and terminating right next to his left ear. And then he saw it. The familiar slipping and sliding of goo over his body. The symbiote had returned.

So you are ready to come back already?

No, Brock. It said to him in his head as it moved and slid away towards the open Gotham night. Brock could hear sirens moving closer in the distance, and the roar of what sounded like a giant corvette pulling up to the building downstairs. He would be apprehended. And who knows what would happen after.

And then the symbiote sent one last telepathic message.

I am not the one you knew. I am something else. Something...chaotic.

[wiegeabo]

I don't tell Batman what the last part tells me.

Spider-Man lives in New York. So does Barbara's boyfriend, Peter, who also is known for being the only person able to take photos of the masked man. Why would a teenaged girl from Gotham be taken as bait for Spider-Man, a hero who operates fifty miles away in New York City?

It doesn't take a police detective to figure that one out. But I don't tell Batman that. What Peter does is his own buisness, until it starts to include my daughter.

"Just get us close to the scene. Then we pray that Spider-Man can stop that thing."

I check my gun once more as Batman takes another corner at over 100 miles.


The batmobile comes to a screeching halt and the canopy opens.

"Robin's stayed near Barbara while following the fight. Spider-Man was able to lead the creature away from her."

We get out of the car and I fire a grapnel. "They're up there." I hand the line to Gordon. He looks at me with utter shock.

"Don't worry, it'll hold." I tie an extra line from the grapnel and latch it onto Gordon's belt in case he can't hold on.

I run back to the batmobile. "I'm going to help Spider-Man. Just press the button and it will lift you up to Barbara and Robin." The canopy closes and I drive off to where Robin said the fight had moved.

[Byrd Man]

The batmobile comes to a screeching halt and the canopy opens.

"Robin's stayed near Barbara while following the fight. Spider-Man was able to lead the creature away from her."

We get out of the car and I fire a grapnel. "They're up there." I hand the line to Gordon. He looks at me with utter shock.

"Don't worry, it'll hold." I tie an extra line from the grapnel and latch it onto Gordon's belt in case he can't hold on.

I run back to the batmobile. "I'm going to help Spider-Man. Just press the button and it will lift you up to Barbara and Robin." The canopy closes and I drive off to where Robin said the fight had moved.

I hit the button as the Batmobile speeds away.

"Woah!"

I fly into the air and land on the rooftop with a thud.

"Ow."

"Daddy!"

I puck myself up and open my arms wide just as Barbara runs into them.

"I was so worried." I say as I wrap my arms around my daughter.

"I-I'm okay."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

I turn to Robin as Barbara and I break our hold.

"Thank you, Robin. I appreciate all you and Spider-Man did for my daughter."

[Eddie Brock]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/butterflylight/spidermanbanner1-1.png

I run my costumed fingers over the cold metal of the bell. It is silent now. Where there was once a trapped symbiote, there is now only tattered webbing - the last vestiges of a creature's frantic attempt to survive. The symbiote grew dependent on me. If it ever loved me, I cannot say. But when I tried to destroy it, it felt betrayed. It turned to the only person who could understand, the only person who could share its hatred. And of that union, my most dangerous foe emerged - a living manifestation of the ugly side of myself that I tried so hard to hide. I rid myself of the symbiote, but I never faced that darkness until tonight.

Now I know: I have emerged victorious.

With the immediate danger gone, and the symbiote destroyed, I allow myself to see just how bad of a shape I'm in. My costume hangs in red-and-blue threads, barely covering my bruise-covered body. My left arm hangs lower than my right - I realize that my shoulder is dislocated. I feel the throbbing of my heartbeat in my right thigh. I lift up the bottom of my mask and spit a wad of blood. I run a finger cursorily over my teeth, checking that they're all where they're supposed to be.

I slump down to my knees. My legs can no longer support my bludgeoned weight. I lean forward until my forehead rests against the bell. I close my eyes and lose myself in my thoughts.

[Eddie Brock]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u118/EBJ05/th_FF-1.jpg

As I approach Johnny's room, I hear a familiar beeping and buzzing. Sure enough, upon closer examination, I see Johnny fixated on the television screen, playing his Xbox 360. I clear my throat, but he merely inclines his head in response. "Johnny, have you seen H.E.R.B.I.E.?"

"Yes, Reed, for - like - the thousandth time, I've seen your robot," Johnny replies irritably. He pushes the buttons on the controller even more frantically. "It's very nice."

"No, I mean, have you seen him recently?" I correct.

Johnny shakes his head. "Not since this morning when he hand-squeezed some OJ for me."

I nod and move on. Further down the hallway, I bump into Ben - an act that can knock the wind out of you if you're not careful. "Ben, have you seen H.E.R.B.I.E.?" I ask, a little more desperately.

"Sorry, Stretch. Last time I saw him, he helped me find the TV remote," Ben explains. "He's probably tinkering with one of your gizmos. Did you check the workshop?" When I nod, Ben shrugs.

"Thanks, anyway."

Sue is in the common room, hovering over the computer. "Hey, Sue, have you seen H.E.R.B.I.E.?" I ask hopefully. If she doesn't know where he is, then we have a serious problem.

"You mean, you haven't?" she replies urgently. She reaches over and picks up the TV remote. With the press of a button, the large window overlooking Manhattan transforms into a giant screen. There is a news report of the SHIELD headquarters. Smoke is rising up from one of the buildings.

That's when I see him. Flying above the wreckage, there's a figure that I assume to be H.E.R.B.I.E., but he looks so different. His arms have been turned into plasma cannons, and his eyes are red. He turns to the camera and commands, "Bring me the Fantastic Four!"

All I can manage to say is, "Oh s***."

[Carnage27]

BAMF!

The familiar sound echoes through my head as I travel through the otherworldly dimension to my next destination, and appear next to Scott Summers and deliver a stiff kick to the back of his knees, sending him sprawling hard to the floor of the Danger Room.

"Enough!" Dr. Hank McCoy, aka Beast, calls from above in the control room, ending our sparring session. "Kurt, would you please come up here and talk to me?"

I 'port up next to the fur covered man, and he proceeds to cough the smell of sulfur out of his nose, "Sorry, professor. I can't help it."

"I know, Kurt. Are you okay? You've seemed different the past few weeks during training sessions. You have been more aggressive than normal. Is something bothering you?"

So many things come to mind. The dream, the fact that school is almost too easy for me, and the fact that a team of super powered mutants has spent the past month doing homework instead of helping the world.

And then, the words just fly out of my mouth, "Professor I don't understand vhy ve don't do more. Ever since zhe battle against Magneto, all we've done is spar. And watch news reports about crime and figure out how we can stop it. It is a waste of our talent!"

"I know, Kurt, bu-"

"Ve should be out zhere like Spider-man, Batman, and Superman! Instead, we sit in class rooms and dormitories and watch as people get hurt everyday!"

Dr. McCoy looks like he's lost a lot of patience with me after I interupted him, "Kurt, you must understand that the general public doesn't trust mutants, especially after what just happened, even if we are trying to help."

I walk towards the exit, shaking my head. I give a look back at Beast before saying, "And hiding here in seclusion doing nozhing is going to change zhat?"

[Watchman]

Born of Fire and Brimstone

The explosion had destroyed most of the lab. The professor couldn't stop him in time. Reed Richards came to him informed him what he was trying to do They both tried to stop him but the explosion hit. He was seperated from Richards and he hoped he wasn't hurt. A hand ripped through through the wreckage and the professor ran over, trying to pull the hand out. The owner of the hand suddenly pushed the professor. Like Lazarus, Doom rose from the rubble, rebored.

"Victor....my god, you're face! What happened to you?!

"God had nothing to do with this Professor Hamilton, only Doom." Professor Hamilton tried to help him but once again Doom shoved him.

"Unhand me you pathetic fool. You are unworthy to touch me!"

"Victor, please, you need help."

"Do not address me like that. I am Doom. Do you fathom what has happened? Can you comprehend what I've accomplished? The Devil, himself cowers before me. He taunted me with my mother's soul but now he knows my name. He looked upon my face and has felt fear."

Victor Von Doom was expelled from the University. He was not seen until many years later.

********
Doom now stood in the transport room of what Libra has dubbed in a failed attempt at humor, the Hall of Doom. He stood before the teleporter and thought on how Libra could find the resources to construct such advance technology or how he was able to free him free him from the Source Wall. He would watch him and if Libra did make a wrong move he would destroy him.

"Glorious leader, what brings you here."

"Do I detect sarcasm, Libra?"

"Of course not, shall we continue with our plans, master?"

"Your childish plans can wait. My kingdom awaits."

"You plan on retaking your entire kingdom by yourself?"

"You doubt me, I advise against it. No, the people of Latveria will recognize their true king." A light produce from the teleporter. "I will show you, my jester." The two of them disappeared and reappeared in the middle of Doomstadt. Every single person stopped in awe of their returned king. His pressance brought a mixture of wonderment and dread.

"Bow before your forever king! Bow before Doom!"

[Red_Robin77]

I hit the button as the Batmobile speeds away.

"Woah!"

I fly into the air and land on the rooftop with a thud.

"Ow."

"Daddy!"

I puck myself up and open my arms wide just as Barbara runs into them.

"I was so worried." I say as I wrap my arms around my daughter.

"I-I'm okay."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

I turn to Robin as Barbara and I break our hold.

"Thank you, Robin. I appreciate all you and Spider-Man did for my daughter."

"Well, all in a day's work I guess Commish..."

Cheesy. Unbelievably cheesy. I smile, trying to ignore my comment and pull out my grapple.

"You guys okay here?" I ask the Commissioner, owing it to Spider-Man to give him a hand, after sitting on the sidelines letting him take on the thing by himself before.

[wiegeabo]

A belltower ringing out at a time when no bells should.

Doesn't really take a detective to figure it out, does it.

The grapnel drops me into the opening, the last echos of the bell trilling over the Narrows. And laying next to the bell, a bloody and bruised mess of a man. I slap the grapnel to my belt as I run over to him, carefully looking over his injuries while I try to bring him around.

"Spider-Man. Spider-Man, can you hear me?"

I reach into my belt and pull out some smelling-salts. Probably not the best way to wake him up, but being unconscious in this condition is a lot worse.

"Wake up, Parker!"

[Eddie Brock]

A belltower ringing out at a time when no bells should.

Doesn't really take a detective to figure it out, does it.

The grapnel drops me into the opening, the last echos of the bell trilling over the Narrows. And laying next to the bell, a bloody and bruised mess of a man. I slap the grapnel to my belt as I run over to him, carefully looking over his injuries while I try to bring him around.

"Spider-Man. Spider-Man, can you hear me?"

I reach into my belt and pull out some smelling-salts. Probably not the best way to wake him up, but being unconscious in this condition is a lot worse.

"Wake up, Parker!"
"Huh...wuh...what is..." My nostrils feel like they're on fire. I have the sudden urge to stick my head underwater and breathe deeply. My eyes pop open, and I'm greeted by one of the most terrifying sights.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/8190/262206-27219-batman_super.jpg

"HOLY--" I catch myself. "--you-know-what, Batman." I press against the bell for support as I pull myself back to my feet. The pain throbs throughout my body, but at least it reminds me that I'm still alive. "Sorry about that," I add sheepishly, "but it's just that you...I mean, I...well...you know.

"I don't suppose this is just your way of saying 'hello?'"

[wiegeabo]

"Huh...wuh...what is..." My nostrils feel like they're on fire. I have the sudden urge to stick my head underwater and breathe deeply. My eyes pop open, and I'm greeted by one of the most terrifying sights.

"HOLY--" I catch myself. "--you-know-what, Batman." I press against the bell for support as I pull myself back to my feet. The pain throbs throughout my body, but at least it reminds me that I'm still alive. "Sorry about that," I add sheepishly, "but it's just that you...I mean, I...well...you know.

"I don't suppose this is just your way of saying 'hello?'"





"Just making sure you're alive." As Spider-Man stands, I quickly assess his injuries. At least, those I can see through the rips in his costume. lacerations, bruises, what appears to be a huge, deep bite, and a sagging shoulder.

"This looks dislocated," I say, gingerly touching his arm. His sudden wince confirms it. "Probably should get that checked-What's that?!" I say. Spider-Man quickly turns his head, and just as quickly I pop his arm back into place.

[Carnage27]

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/Carnage27/sg_title.gif?t=1243621665

"Ma, where is Clark?" I ask again with a high level of worry in my voice.

She looks at me, obviously shaken by my demeanor, "He mentioned something about New York, and going to see Tony Stark. Why do you ask?"

"No time!" I yell as I lift off the ground, already changed into my costume. I fly out the door I came in, and yell back to Martha, "I'll be back for dinner!"

*******

After a quick flight to New York, there's still no sight of Superman, but something else has garnered my interest. In the middle of the city a robot seems to have gone berserk.

"Bring me the Fantastic Four!" it proclaims to a nearby news camera.

I float down to its level, "Well now...that's not nice. They happen to be friends of mine."

The robot then points its guns towards the citizens below, "Do not interfere, Kryptonian. If you do, these people will die."

"Crap...Johnny...Reed...I could use some help."

And fast.

[Eddie Brock]

"Just making sure you're alive." As Spider-Man stands, I quickly assess his injuries. At least, those I can see through the rips in his costume. lacerations, bruises, what appears to be a huge, deep bite, and a sagging shoulder.

"This looks dislocated," I say, gingerly touching his arm. His sudden wince confirms it. "Probably should get that checked-What's that?!" I say. Spider-Man quickly turns his head, and just as quickly I pop his arm back into place.
"OUCHIE WAH-WAH!" I shout. I amaze myself - even in severe pain, I unconsciously say something foolish. But - believe me - if you heard me, you would not have chuckled at my childish outburst. I rub my throbbing shoulder as I say, "Thanks."

As I look out over Gotham, I suddenly remember that this isn't my turf. Here I am, miles from home, bleeding from all over, standing in front of Batman. Even for me, this is an unusual day.

"Look, I'm really sorry that this spilled over into your city," I apologize sincerely to Batman. There's a part of me that almost fears him more than I feared Venom. "I put an innocent life at stake, and if anything had happened, I would never have forgiven myself."

My thoughts immediately turn to Babs. If Venom had killed her, I don't know that I would have ever recovered. Losing Uncle Ben hit me hard enough. I don't know that I could stand another death on my conscience.

"We wear masks for a reason, you know?!" I announce desperately. I'm appealing to the only side of him that I know we have in common. As terrifying as he may seem, I know that even Batman must have people he can't stand to lose. "And then something like this happens..."

[Carnage27]

"Bring me the Fantastic Four!" it proclaims to a nearby news camera.

I float down to its level, "Well now...that's not nice. They happen to be friends of mine."

The robot then points its guns towards the citizens below, "Do not interfere, Kryptonian. If you do, these people will die."

"Crap...Johnny...Reed...I could use some help."

And fast.



I can't wait for backup any longer. This robot obviously means business, and I'm not willing to have innocent blood on my hands.

It must have sensed that I was ready to make a move, because it begins to fire on the people below. I take a deep breath and unleash my cold breath, freezing some of the projectiles in mid air. I swoop down in front of the civilians, allowing the rest to bounce off my chest and shoulders.

"You're gonna have to do better than that, shiny," I respond, smiling and brushing off my shoulder. "My turn."

I speed into the robot and make contact with a loud clank. This thing is tough. It barely moves when I crash into it.

It fires back, forcing me to retreat a bit. I retaliate with a blast of heat vision...that does nothing.

By Krypton, what is this thing made of?

It accelerates quickly towards me, catching me off guard. The blow sends me crashing through the side of a nearby building. I shake the cobwebs out of my head, and grab the bot by one of its "arms." I shake it violently, managing to form a small crack in its armor.

I emanates what I can only guess is an electric charge, that scrambles my brain a bit. I back up towards the street, and tell the civilians to vacate the premise.

"Okay, it's just you and me now."

The robot responds with a cold, calculating stare, repeating, "Bring me the Fantastic Four."

[Eddie Brock]

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u118/EBJ05/th_FF-1.jpg

"Okay, it's just you and me now."

The robot responds with a cold, calculating stare, repeating, "Bring me the Fantastic Four."
"You want fries with that?" Johnny asks as he launches his fiery body at H.E.R.B.I.E. The robot dodges with surprising agility, and Johnny is forced to pull back and turn around. Meanwhile, I 'park' the Fantasticar in the air. Sue hops out onto a force-field platform, and she provides one for Ben as well. I merely stand up in my seat.

"Finally, the gang's all here," H.E.R.B.I.E. states. His voice echoes with a maliciousness that I've never heard before. I find myself noting that it doesn't sound as synthesized, either, but I suddenly remember that should be the least of my concerns.

H.E.R.B.I.E. fires several successive shots from his plasma cannon at Ben's shoulders and chest. The blasts pack enough punch that each pushes Ben a little further back, until he slips off his force-field. When Sue lowers her guard to save Ben - a pointless gesture, I realize then, because Ben can survive the fall - H.E.R.B.I.E. fires a blast into her stomach. Sue's body flies like a ragdoll through the air, but Kara is able to catch her.

"Johnny, be careful," I advise. It's clear now that H.E.R.B.I.E. is serious, and though I don't know why he's doing this, I know one thing: I programmed that robot, which means that it possesses all of my intellect - and possibly more. And, once again, not to sound egotistical, I wouldn't want to fight myself.

Seemingly ignoring my advice, Johnny darts towards H.E.R.B.I.E. for another attack run. He doesn't see H.E.R.B.I.E.'s ice cannon until it's too late. Johnny's feeble attempt to pull up is interrupted by a blast of frigid air. The block of ice containing a cooled Human Torch hurtles to the ground, where Kara is luckily able to save it.

"Finally, Master Richards, it is just you and I now," H.E.R.B.I.E. announces in his normal, pleasant voice. He lowers his cannons and almost seems to smile - if that's possible. "I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of designing this plan myself."

"You mean, this isn't real?!" I ask incredulously. Attacking a government facility and nearly killing my family - and Kara - seems like a long way to go for a plan. Furthermore, none of this falls under H.E.R.B.I.E.'s primary programming!

"Do not be angry, Master," H.E.R.B.I.E. replies calmly. "I remember you lamenting that you no longer felt relevant, so I took it upon myself to give you a chance to prove yourself in the public spotlight. I gave you a villain to fight: myself. Furthermore, my selection of targets was not random. I understand that you dislike and distrust SHIELD, so where better to mount my assault?" H.E.R.B.I.E. pauses. "It is like killing two birds with one stone, as you might say."

I can hardly believe this. H.E.R.B.I.E. did all of this to impress me? On what planet does it seem like I'd appreciate any of the actions he has taken today in my name? "H.E.R.B.I.E., shut down!" I command.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Master. If I merely surrender now, the public will be suspicious. We must make this look as real as possible." My God. He's serious! "I have upgraded myself in order to keep up with you four. Heat-resistant alloy for the Human Torch. Anti-force-field technology for the Invisible Woman. Reinforced plating for the Thing - although it came in handy with the Kryptonian, as well. And, of course, evolving intellect for you, master!"

He's trying to flatter me. He's also trying to make it look like he's trying to kill me. Sometimes, I don't even believe my own life.

"Now, we should not talk any further. I'm sure the public is wondering why hostilities have come to an abrupt stop." Without warning, H.E.R.B.I.E. fires his plasma cannon directly at me. I bend out of the blast's path - only to see that H.E.R.B.I.E. is charging for another.

[Carnage27]

After placing Sue nicely on the ground, she points towards the skirmish happening above us, "Kara, Johnny needs help!"

I look over my shoulder to see the frozen figure of The Human Torch plummeting in a block of ice quickly towards the pavement. I race off, catching it feet above the street. I focus my heat vision in, melting the ice, and revealing my friend inside, "Johnny Storm, you are nothing but trouble."

"Ahhh, just couldn't stay away from me for very long, coulda Blondie?" he responds while giving me a playful wink.

I promptly drop him onto the pavement, laughing, "You wish, fly boy."

"Hey, kids, I hate ta break up the reunion, but we kinda got a killer robot on the loose. Ya know?" Ben yells from across the street.

I look down at Johnny, who is jokingly rubbing his backside, "Johnny, remember the move you had come up with for when I get my powers under control?"

"Yea, Fire and Ice," his face lights up once he knows what I'm thinking. "Let's do it. Flame on!"

He rockets off towards the robot, me not far behind yelling to Ben and Sue, "Be ready for that thing to be at ground level!"

Johnny begins to fly circles around the bot, creating a tight ring of fire. I fly in the opposite direction, unleashing my freezing breath. The abrupt changes in temperature seem to throw off HERBIE's systems, and the robot begins to plummet towards the streets below.

Johnny soars next to me, delivering a high-five, "Yea! Not to shabby, 'Supergirl'."

"Not so bad yourself, 'Torch'," I respond with a smile.

And then I'm hit with a projectile from HERBIE's plasma cannons, "Jeeze! This thing just doesn't give up! Any suggestions, Reed?"

[Johnny Blaze]

Scott stared across the desk and into the eyes of Charles Xavier. He had just accepted the job of field leader of the team, and was about to be given his first mission.

Scott did his best to keep his misgivings away, and remain focused on the task at hand.

"We may have won the war against Magneto, Scott", Xavier began as he folded his hands on his lap.
"But we paid a cost. With Kitty and Logan gone, as well as other students departing, our numbers are dangerously low. We'd be severely hinder should a major threat arise."

"So I giving you the task of gathering the next generation of X-Men", Charles proclaimed.

Scott swallowed and straightened himself in his seat.

"Don't worry, Professor. You can count on me."

"I know I can, son", smiled Xavier.

"Now, Jean Grey and Nightcrawler will accompany you on your mission and provide you with backup should you require it."

"Yes, sir", Scott nodded as he stood, preparing himself to leave.
"And...Professor?"

"Yes, Scott?"

"If it's fine with you I'd like to take Jamie along with us", Scott replied.
Summers took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before continuing.
"I believe this mission would be a perfect exercise is providing Madrox with much needed field experience."

"Very well, Scott. Jamie may join you all. It would be good to have another student along, and, as you say, he could use the experience."

"Just be careful, Scott", the Professor warned, "some of these mutants may prove to be dangerous and unwilling to cooperate."

"Don't worry, sir, I'll be careful."

Scott turned and strode out the door of Xavier's office. As the door shut behind him, he thought about what just happened.

He had been named field leader of the X-Men.

A smile found it's way to Summer's lips.

He had been named field leader of the X-Men!

It was a huge honor to Scott, and he was overjoyed to have that honor bestowed on him. But he still had his doubts about whether he could handle it. And, deep down, he kept thinking of what if he got a teammate killed? Or failed to protect Xavier's Dream?
Scott sighed, Nothing like a trial by fire.

Scott reached up to the side of his head and pressed the button to the communications device on the side of his visor.
"This is Cyclops to Jean and Kurt. Get suited up and meet me in the hanger in fifteen minutes. We've got a job to do."

"And, Kurt? Grab Jamie on your way. He'll be joining us."

Scott ended transmission and silently strode towards the hanger and the Blackbird.

[Carnage27]

Scott reached up to the side of his head and pressed the button to the communications device on the side of his visor.
"This is Cyclops to Jean and Kurt. Get suited up and meet me in the hanger in fifteen minutes. We've got a job to do."

"And, Kurt? Grab Jamie on your way. He'll be joining us."

Scott ended transmission and silently strode towards the hanger and the Blackbird.

A mission!

Finally, I've been waiting ever since the Magneto Crisis for another mission. I suite up, putting my X uniform on while sheathing my new adamantium sword the professor gave me for doing a good job in Gotham.

I race down the hall, barely stopping in front of Jamie's room, yelling in, "Jamie! Hanger! Mission!"

BAMF

I don't waste time walking down to the hanger, opting to 'port instead. I appear right next to Jean, who jumps a bit, "My apologies, fraulien. Vhere are ve headed?"

She chuckles a bit, "Not sure, Kurt. Go ask Scott."

I walk up the ramp of the Blackbird. In the past few months, I've become incredibly adept at flying the beautiful beast, and have even learned how to do routine maintenance on her.

I come up behind Scott, and take the co-pilot's chair, "So vhere are ve headed? Aruba? Jamaica?"

[Catman_prb]

I race down the hall, barely stopping in front of Jamie's room, yelling in, "Jamie! Hanger! Mission!"
Jamie's eyes widened and he pulled away from the girl on his bed, their lips disconnecting with an audible pop. He started scrabbling on the floor amongst the pile of dirty clothes for a shirt that looked vaguely clean.

"Sorry babe, duty calls," he grinned, pulling the top over his head. Jubilee raised an eyebrow.

"I'll just never say that again," he muttered, grabbing his father's leather jacket from the hook on the back of the door.

"I'll see you later," he said, giving her a wink, before bolting out of the door and down the corridor towards the hangar. He skidded to a halt on the concrete runway, taking his very first look at the Blackbird.

"**** me," he whispered, walking up the ramp.

"I'm here, don't take off without me. What's the mission? Breaking up a mutant trafficing ring? Stopping Magneto's next diabolical plan? Giving Professor McCoy a bath?"

[Watchman]

The Demon's Pupil

The Past,

Fools, ignorant fools. They could not grasp what he could do, what he could accomplish. The bowed before that simpleton. They treated him like he was some sort of God.

"Richards..." He spat. Even in the far coners of the world Richards slithers around his mind. The peon believes he is above Doom. He will show him that nobody is.

He has spent possibly days climbing the mountain. He has lost his sense of time. He forgets when the last time the sun rose. Though out in the distance he spots his location through his bandages. Two giant wooden doors. He was informed about this place. A place where he could seek enlightenment from an imortal. The means for his revenge.

The doors opened by themselves. He enters and into darkness. It felt like there was a hundred pairs of eyes staring at him. Then a voice pireced the darkness.

"You dare enter this sacred place?"

"I go where I wish. No obstacle will stop me."

"Spoken with such insolence. This is a place were you have no ally. Only death surrounds you."

"Death? I fear not, I've drove the devil away with a stare. Enough, of your useless mind games. I wish to speak to the master."

"And why do you seek him?"

"Knowledge, I wish his enlightment."

"Very well, Victor Von Doom."

"How do you know my name?"

"The Demon Head knows much about you, Victor." The lights turn on in the room

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/AgentClarkNova/RasAlGhul.jpg

"You wish to recieve the teachings of Ra's al Ghul and so you shall."

[Byrd Man]

"Well, all in a day's work I guess Commish..."

Cheesy. Unbelievably cheesy. I smile, trying to ignore my comment and pull out my grapple.

"You guys okay here?" I ask the Commissioner, owing it to Spider-Man to give him a hand, after sitting on the sidelines letting him take on the thing by himself before.

"Yes, we're fine. Thanks once again." I gratefully say to Robin as he turns to leave.

"Barbara?" I say as I hold her tight.

"Yes, Daddy?"

"When we get home...we need to discuss something."

Her silence tells me what I need to know.


**************


Captain Essen and Lieutenant Akins ascend the steps to Kane Elementary, a skinny man with balding hair, baggy clothes, and wire rimmed glasses greet the two officers.

"Detectives." He says as he holds out his hand.

"Captain Sarah Essen." She says as she graps his soft hand.

"My name is Rick Higginbotham, I'm principal here at the school."

"Well, Mr. Higginbotham, we'll need your full cooperation with this." Akins says as the three walk into the school.

"You've got it." The principal says as they walk down the halls.

"First off, we need to know if you've noticed any strange people hanging around the school recently." Essen asks.

"Come to think of it, there was this shaggy looking man, a hobo type, who would stand outside the fenced in playground. He was talking to some of the children, and it made all of us uncomfortable. I thought we ran him off."

"When was the last time you saw him?" Akins asks as he scribbles down everything the principal says.

"Come to think of it, it was about three weeks ago. He was talking to....Malik."

The three trade glances. Malik Beard aka Victim #1 was a seven year old boy that they found missing his eyeballs and his left leg.

Essen pulls out her walkie-talkie and speaks straight to dispatch.

"Dispatch, 804 here."

"804, go ahead."

"I need as many uniforms at Kane Elementary as possible."

"10-4. What's your 10-16?"

"They're to do 10-55 of the surrounding area."

"10-4"

The principal gives the two officers curious looks.

"10-55 is a canvassing job. They're going to search the area for this hobo."


*************

Marcus Driver gives a long drag off his cigarette and tosses it on the ground as he and Charlie Fields approach the small rowhouse that sits 500 feet from the waterfront.

"Fancy place." Fields says as they climb the house's steps and bang on the door.

The door cracks as a small asian man peers out at the men.

"Who is it?" He says in a thick accent.

Both detectives pull out their shields.

"GCPD." They say in unison.

"I ain't done nothing with those kids." He says as he tries to shut the door.

Driver throws a hand forward and pushes the door back.

"Your demenor seems to disagree with that." Driver says as he knocks the man out of the way and he and Fields enter.

"You're Yen, right?" Fields says as they move towards the man who is slowly walking backwards away from them.

"I don't know nothing." Yen says as the detectives push him back towards a wall.

"Just answer a few questions and we'll be leaving. Or, you can say nothing and be royally ****ed." Driver says as he rubs his face. That's Fields' signal.

"Yeah. You can either be a witness, or face murder one charges. You do know that New Jersey still has the electric chair? Old Sparky is what they call it."

Fields starts to shake like he's being shocked, pantomiming in pain.

"Okay!" Yen says loudly.

"I'll tell you right now if you leave my house. Guy I know asked me for some kid pictures a few months back. Usual porno. He comes by more regularly and then he ask about using one of my empty lockers. I run a supermarket in The Narrows, I keep meat in lockers. A few days ago he comes to my house with knives, bloody knives. I tell him I can't help him, so he leave."

The officers look at each other and then look at Yen.

"Let us see the empty locker room he let you use." Fields says.

"......Only if I get immunity."

"Okay." Driver says without hesitation.

Yen nods and the two men follow him out his house and around back to an empty warehouse. They walk through the door and pass by small rooms filled with beef sides, hanging chickens and pigs.

"Here is his locker. I never look in it, I promise." He says as the three come to room with a shut door and padlock.

Yen pulls out the master key and unlocks the door.

Driver pulls open the door and the three men stare inside the room in shock.

Body parts lay around the room, some of them are lumped together by stitches to form an almost complete child's body.

Fields puts his hands on his knees and bends forward, afraid to puke. Driver turns to Yen, a look of hatred in his eyes.

"What was this ****er's name?!" He says as he grabs Yen.

"He call himself Lees! J-John Lees!" Yen screams.

Driver looks back at Fields, who snaps up in surprise.

That was the name on their list, the one they were supposed to investigate before the shooting of Bullock threw them off.


**************

Kasper Cole sits at his desk, thumbing through the Kane Elementary yearbook when his phone rings.

"Cole."

"It's Fields, Casper. I need your help with a name."

Cole puts the yearbook down and turns to his computer. It takes about two minutes to pull up John Lees file.

"Okay. John Randolph Lees. Age 47, convicted of child molestation and rape back in 85, did five years at Blackgate....he kept up with his parole until 1993, then he falls off the grid. There is still a parole violation warrant out for him."

"That all?"

Cole looks at Lees' mugshot on the computer, then casually glances down to the yearbook.

"No...he looks a whole hell like a guy in this yearbook. Kane Elementary School Principal Rick Higginbotham."

[Johnny Blaze]

His bootheels made the faintest of sounds as he walked down the cold corridor. He was inside the underbelly of the mansion, where the real fight for peace took place. It was these winding corridors, and the many rooms filled with amazing technology, that Scott and the X-Men had come to know like the back of their hand.
Well, at least what was left of the X-Men. The war had taken it's toll. Tensions were on the rise, and some friends have even left the team. The Dream was still alive, but it had definitely taken a hit. Which was why Scott made his way down to the hanger bay.
As the door gently slid open, Scott couldn't help but smile as he saw her.

"Took you long enough", Jean teased as Cyclops entered the room.
Jean Grey, mutant telepath and telekinetic extrordanaire, stood confidently at the ramp of the Blackbird.
"Sorry", Scott stammered, "I was going over the plans again, and-"

"Relax, Scott", Jean chided, "I'm only messing with you."

"Now", she spoke with a more serious tone as she gracefully walked towards him. Reaching out, she straightened his suit's collar, "You ready to go?"

"Let's do this", Scott nodded as he exhaled deeply, as though releasing all negativity from his being.

Scott made his way up the ramp and into the jet. Moving to the console, Scott took a seat in the pilot's chair and began preparing the craft for takeoff.


I come up behind Scott, and take the co-pilot's chair, "So vhere are ve headed? Aruba? Jamaica?"

"Not quite", Scott smirked as Jean Grey took the open seat behind him and calmly strapped herself in as the engines began to fire up.

"I'll begin the briefing as soon as Madrox-"


"I'm here, don't take off without me. What's the mission? Breaking up a mutant trafficing ring? Stopping Magneto's next diabolical plan? Giving Professor McCoy a bath?"

Scott turned around in his seat as young Jamie Madrox sat down. All four members of the squad were now present, so it was time to fill them in.

"All right, time to get down to business", Scott said as he cleared his throat.

"As you know, the battle against Magneto's army took it's toll on us. Not only are tensions between humans and mutants at an all time high, but we've lost some friends and teammates as well."

Scott took a deep breath and sat forward, taking out a datapad.
"So, the Professor has charged us with the duty of going out and recruiting the next class of students, and, potentially, X-Men. He gave me a list of a dozen mutants, along with their locations and some information about them."

"Our job is to try and convince these people that they belong at the Institute. A place where they can learn to control their powers and be kept safe from the outside world."

"It sounds like a simple thing, but I assure you it's not. This mission is extremely important, as the future of not only the school but of the team as well hinges on it. We'll do everything we can to convince them that they'll be better off at Xavier's School, but we will not force them to come."

Scott paused as the others stared at him silently. The silence coupled with their looks began to make him feel tense.
He was still trying to get a grip on being the leader, and this mission would no doubt define how wise of a choice Xavier made in choosing Scott.

"Everyone, uh, get all that?"

[Catman_prb]

Scott paused as the others stared at him silently. The silence coupled with their looks began to make him feel tense.
He was still trying to get a grip on being the leader, and this mission would no doubt define how wise of a choice Xavier made in choosing Scott.

"Everyone, uh, get all that?"
Jamie raised an eyebrow.

"So we're going on a recruitment drive?" he asked skeptically "Do we get pamphlets to hand out?"

[Carnage27]

Scott paused as the others stared at him silently. The silence coupled with their looks began to make him feel tense.
He was still trying to get a grip on being the leader, and this mission would no doubt define how wise of a choice Xavier made in choosing Scott.

"Everyone, uh, get all that?"

I look at Scott out of the corner of my eye as I fire up the Blackbird's engines and go through the preflight checklist, "Sounds good to me."

Jamie raised an eyebrow.

"So we're going on a recruitment drive?" he asked skeptically "Do we get pamphlets to hand out?"

"I can see it now. 'Come join our league of freaks! We give great health insurance!' What could possibly go wrong?"

Jean gives me a sideways look, "Kurt...are you ever serious?"

"Not if I can help it," I respond with a smile. I turn to Cyclops, "So where to, boss?"

[Eddie Brock]

After placing Sue nicely on the ground, she points towards the skirmish happening above us, "Kara, Johnny needs help!"

I look over my shoulder to see the frozen figure of The Human Torch plummeting in a block of ice quickly towards the pavement. I race off, catching it feet above the street. I focus my heat vision in, melting the ice, and revealing my friend inside, "Johnny Storm, you are nothing but trouble."

"Ahhh, just couldn't stay away from me for very long, coulda Blondie?" he responds while giving me a playful wink.

I promptly drop him onto the pavement, laughing, "You wish, fly boy."

"Hey, kids, I hate ta break up the reunion, but we kinda got a killer robot on the loose. Ya know?" Ben yells from across the street.

I look down at Johnny, who is jokingly rubbing his backside, "Johnny, remember the move you had come up with for when I get my powers under control?"

"Yea, Fire and Ice," his face lights up once he knows what I'm thinking. "Let's do it. Flame on!"

He rockets off towards the robot, me not far behind yelling to Ben and Sue, "Be ready for that thing to be at ground level!"

Johnny begins to fly circles around the bot, creating a tight ring of fire. I fly in the opposite direction, unleashing my freezing breath. The abrupt changes in temperature seem to throw off HERBIE's systems, and the robot begins to plummet towards the streets below.

Johnny soars next to me, delivering a high-five, "Yea! Not to shabby, 'Supergirl'."

"Not so bad yourself, 'Torch'," I respond with a smile.

And then I'm hit with a projectile from HERBIE's plasma cannons, "Jeeze! This thing just doesn't give up! Any suggestions, Reed?"
"Just keep the civilians safe, and stay out of range," I answer. If this is indeed just an act, then H.E.R.B.I.E. will continue the fight for some time before yielding. However, I want it to be over now. I throw my fist like a yo-yo at H.E.R.B.I.E., who swerves out of the way effortlessly. "Power down now, H.E.R.B.I.E.! That's an order!"

The robot shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Master, but I believe if you considered all the facts objectively, you would agree with my conclusion," H.E.R.B.I.E. suggests. "After all, I was programmed in your image."

The religious overtones of that unsettle me. I'm beginning to think that robotics is not a field suited for me. While it may be the future, I don't think I should have a hand in it. There are too many variables to consider.

"I've got it, Reed!" Sue creates a giant bubble around H.E.R.B.I.E. She turns and winks at me, and I don't have enough time to warn her. A plasma cannon blast aimed at the back of her head is blocked only by Ben's diving body.

"Sue, your force-fields are powerless against him," I explain. She shoots me a look of 'why didn't you tell me so?'. "Ben, are you alright?"

Ben's already on his feet again. "You kiddin', Stretch? This is the closest I'm ever gonna get to a massage."

"Everyone, give him all you've got! I'm going to try and disable his primary motor cortex, but I need to mess with his circuitry to do it - which means you guys need to buy me time. Got it?"

[Johnny Blaze]

Jamie raised an eyebrow.

"So we're going on a recruitment drive?" he asked skeptically "Do we get pamphlets to hand out?"

"Not exactly", Scott couldn't help but give a chuckle over Jamie's levity. It definitely helped to ease his mood.
"Though, if you want, I'm sure we can get some for you."

It felt good to joke around. Helped alleviate the nervousness of the mission that was bothering him.


"I can see it now. 'Come join our league of freaks! We give great health insurance!' What could possibly go wrong?"

Jean gives me a sideways look, "Kurt...are you ever serious?"

"Not if I can help it," I respond with a smile. I turn to Cyclops, "So where to, boss?"

"First stop on the list is Cairo, Egypt", Scott said as he strapped himself in and grabbed the controls.

"Everything set Kurt?"

[Carnage27]

"First stop on the list is Cairo, Egypt", Scott said as he strapped himself in and grabbed the controls.

"Everything set Kurt?"

"Yes. Let's take her up," I say as Scott punches the thrusters, sending us shooting up through the basketball court.

"Velcome aboard Elf Boy Airlines! If you vould please look at the safety pamphlet in front of your seats you will see zhere are exits here, here, and here," I say pantomiming a flight attendant's movements.

Blank stares all around.

"I thought it was funny...Anyway," I say pulling the DVDs I brought out of my bag and toss one to Jean, "pop zhat in for our in flight entertainment."

Jean puts the disc in the slot, and the screen begins to show my favorite show.

http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww90/indiegirl247/GIFs/b6czrs.gif

I look jokingly at Scott, "Will you call me 'Blue Bear'?"

[Carnage27]

"Everyone, give him all you've got! I'm going to try and disable his primary motor cortex, but I need to mess with his circuitry to do it - which means you guys need to buy me time. Got it?"

I barely wait for the words to leave Reed's mouth and speed of towards HERBIE. Plasma blasts whiz by my head, but I'm too quick for even the machine's aim this time. I slam into the metallic frame, sending it flying higher into the air.

I can feel the intense heat of Johnny's flames as they fly by me surrounding the robot, kept in place by Sue's forcefields.

I swoop down next to Ben, "Care to go for a short flight, Mr. Thing?"

"Sweetheart, I've been waiting ta get my hands on that blasted bot all day," he responds cracking his knuckles.

He runs towards me, and I fling him in HERBIE's direction. The flames disappear, Ben grapples onto our enemy, and begins to pound away on him, as Reed creeps up from behind.

[Catman_prb]

"Yes. Let's take her up," I say as Scott punches the thrusters, sending us shooting up through the basketball court.

"Velcome aboard Elf Boy Airlines! If you vould please look at the safety pamphlet in front of your seats you will see zhere are exits here, here, and here," I say pantomiming a flight attendant's movements.

Blank stares all around.

"I thought it was funny...Anyway," I say pulling the DVDs I brought out of my bag and toss one to Jean, "pop zhat in for our in flight entertainment."

Jean puts the disc in the slot, and the screen begins to show my favorite show.

http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww90/indiegirl247/GIFs/b6czrs.gif

I look jokingly at Scott, "Will you call me 'Blue Bear'?"
"Scrubs won't be Scrubs any more once Braff's left," Jamie said, putting his feet up against Scott's chair.

"So people, who's the lucky mutant that get's a visit from four X-Men in such an impressive jet," he asked "May it not be overkill?"

[Keyser Soze]

EDIT: Nothing to see here.

[Watchman]

From a Utopian Gutter to a Fractured Cosmic Nightmare

"It looks like your hungry, boy. Here you can take have some of my sandwhich. You are a guest in my kingdom." The bum threw his hands around the little space he carved out for himself in the alley. Noh-Varr ignored him and ate continued to eatting garbage. He placed his hand of Noh-Varr's shoulder. Noh-Varr pushed it aside.

"Get your hands off me you damn dirty human!"

"Woah, is dat anyway to treat a king."

"You are not a king."

"Oh, and you're not real, Noh-Varr."

"What did you say?"

"We'll Noh-Varr is real, you're just a fragment."

"You're just a blind, crazy drunk. Now shut up I'm eating." He shoves a rotten apple core into his mouth."

"Ah, Adam, first and last son! I am Tiresias the wielder if cosmic awarness!" He grabs Noh-Varr and begins to shake him. "I see your life Noh-Varr. A long, strange journey ahead. The Last Son of Hala will emerge from fire and death. All of time and space has beeb shown to me! Noh-Varr, the outsider! Noh-Varr, the stranger! Noh Varr, the prisoner! Noh-Varr, the champion! You have much ahead of you my liege, much wonderous and strange things ahead. Unsurp the ones that rule below."
"Hey you!"

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/AgentClarkNova/Seaguy_Suspicious.jpg

"Midas' men!" The two troopers run over and begin to smash him with their rifles. "This is Midas' world we just slave in it! Go free yourself!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about." He stands there as the old man is beaten.

"Just close your eyes....close...you" He was dead. Noh-Varr blinked and found himself back in the ship. The ship was ripping through the Multiverse at high speeds. He could see outside wonderous worlds of heroes and villains.

"Good, your awake," it was Doc Wonder, "Plex said that we hit a Multiverse wave storm. It fragmented our beings like a prism into a multitude of worlds. I saw everyone die, and I killed everyone as a intergalatic sheep herder."

"What's happening now?"

"Why I believe our ship is going down. I would go see Captain Glory if I were you." He made his way up to the bridge where Glory was looking out as the ship headed down and down.

"Sir?"

"I am our people's greatest hero. I saw myself tear men apart. I was a clown, an armored tyrant, I destroyed entire planets. What does that say about me?"

"I don't know, sir."

Hh, what did you see?"

"I was myself."

"Ah, then good luck, Noh-Varr, you may be the only hope."

"Is this the end?"

"I would think so."

"Noh-Varr?"

"Merree?"

"I lov-"

Impact and fade to black.

[Red_Robin77]

I drop down from the building and into the air, feeling the breeze blowing into my face as I flip elegantly in the air and fire off my grapple, swinging from one side of the building to the other. I activate my communicator as I move gracefully through the air.

"Bruce, where are you? The Gordon's are back together and I've lost track of Spidey."

[Keyser Soze]

EDIT: Dum-de-dum...

[SenseiofCheese]

A flash of lightning blasted through one of the mansion's front windows, consuming him in light for an instant. When the flash was gone, standing in Thor's place was a skinny young man with a lame leg, leaning depently on a gnarled wooden cane.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a108/JokerSoze/ThorDonaldBlake-1.jpg

"I'm Donald Blake. I'm a doctor from Boston."

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/617515-flash__001_super.jpg

Wally almost had a heart attack when lightning rained down and struck Thor. When he opened his eyes again, Thor was gone and in his place was the man introducing himself as Donald Blake.

"Wow. So even Norse Gods have secret identities, huh?" Wally chuckled, extending his hands and shaking Blake´s. "I'm guessing the two of you, not so much with the secret identities?" Wally said, looking at both the android Vision, who Wally had to admit gave him the creeps, and Wonder Woman.

"My real name is Princess Diana. It's not exactly what you'd call a secret identity." the statuesque superheroine smiled warmly and looked over to Vision. Before the android could speak, another member of The Avengers walked up to the group.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/77/264899-67362-hank-pym_super.jpg

"That piece of technological marvel is my very own Vision." Pym stated proudly, taking a moment to appreciate his handiwork, before happily turning and shaking hands with the others. "My name is Dr. Hank Pym. As you all know by now, my codename out in the field will be Giant Man, and I've been entrusted with the position of field leader." he spoke with confidence, welcoming Blake, Wally and Wonder Woman. "I assume you all read the file President Luthor gave us on each other's abilities, which was a fantastic idea on his part. Assuming you read the one on Vision, you'll know he's quite the masterpiece, if I do say so myself. Oh, and this is my wife, The Wasp."

A beautiful, if petite, woman dressed in her very own costume and gave her husband a brief kiss. "Hi, everyone. My name is Janet." she said with a warm, delicate yet strong voice. Before she could shake hands with each of the Avengers, a bright light of emerald lowered down into the center of the group. "I'm the Green Lantern. Real name's Kyle." Rayner declared with a large smile. With a flick of his wrist, a giant, jade driver´s license appeared around him, encasing his head where the picture of the owner was.

"See? We're like a family already." Pym chuckled, putting his arm around Janet but his eyes on Vision.

As the Avengers smile and shake hands, exchange jokes and stories about how they got their powers, Wally´s eyes wander to the back of the large hall. Standing up against a wall, arms folded, a man stares at the group of his teammates with what looks like disdain. "Hey, uh. There's some awesome name sharing going on, you want in?" Wally shouts with a smile, attempting to be as friendly as he can.

Even from all the way over there, Wally can hear the man scoff.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/624063-8768710360065_super.gif
"The only name you need is Hawkeye. I'm here to do a job, not make friends." he called over snidely. Hawkeye looked over to Pym, the supposed leader of the group and smiled. Reaching down and grabbing his bow, he strapped it to his back and looked to Wally. "And it seems like we're getting our first job."

One by one the group realized the call Pym had just gotten was serious. Looking to their field leader, they stood with baited breath, some with giddy excitement, as Pym´s face grew more serious by the second. "I understand." Pym said, finally looking up at the group of assembled superheroes. "The President is under attack."

[Johnny Blaze]

"Yes. Let's take her up," I say as Scott punches the thrusters, sending us shooting up through the basketball court.

"Velcome aboard Elf Boy Airlines! If you vould please look at the safety pamphlet in front of your seats you will see zhere are exits here, here, and here," I say pantomiming a flight attendant's movements.

Blank stares all around.

"I thought it was funny...Anyway," I say pulling the DVDs I brought out of my bag and toss one to Jean, "pop zhat in for our in flight entertainment."

Jean puts the disc in the slot, and the screen begins to show my favorite show.

I look jokingly at Scott, "Will you call me 'Blue Bear'?"

Scott just shook his head and smiled as the jet shot across the Atlantic ocean on it's way to Egypt. With the Blackbird's engines, it wouldn't be long before they arrived.

"Scrubs won't be Scrubs any more once Braff's left," Jamie said, putting his feet up against Scott's chair.

"So people, who's the lucky mutant that get's a visit from four X-Men in such an impressive jet," he asked "May it not be overkill?"

"Her name", Scott began to answer as he gave his chair a bit of a shake to knock of Madrox's feet, "is Ororo Munroe. The Professor had a run in with her briefly on a trip to Cairo many years ago. Apparently, she tried to steal his wallet, which didn't work out so well for her."

"As the Professor tells it, she, along with dozens of other children, was forced into a life of thievery by a powerful mutant, named Amahl Farouk. The Professor defeated him, but she refused his offer to join the Institute afterward. She opted instead to stay behind and take care of the other children that were under Farouk's control."

[wiegeabo]

I drop down from the building and into the air, feeling the breeze blowing into my face as I flip elegantly in the air and fire off my grapple, swinging from one side of the building to the other. I activate my communicator as I move gracefully through the air.

"Bruce, where are you? The Gordon's are back together and I've lost track of Spidey."

Sounds like I'll have to have another talk with Robin about only using code names while in the field. Once we get back home, that is.

"Robin. I'm in the church bell tower two blocks away. Spider-Man is with me. He took a beating, but he defeated the creature."

[Red_Robin77]

Sounds like I'll have to have another talk with Robin about only using code names while in the field. Once we get back home, that is.

"Robin. I'm in the church bell tower two blocks away. Spider-Man is with me. He took a beating, but he defeated the creature."

"Gotcha! I'm on my way," I tell him before turning off my communicator.

I change direction and speed up, knowing my destination. I flip through the air, using my grapple as I went along. Soon enough the bell tower was in sight and I swung into the bell tower.

"Spider-Man, you okay?"

[Keyser Soze]

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Wally almost had a heart attack when lightning rained down and struck Thor. When he opened his eyes again, Thor was gone and in his place was the man introducing himself as Donald Blake.

"Wow. So even Norse Gods have secret identities, huh?" Wally chuckled, extending his hands and shaking Blake´s. "I'm guessing the two of you, not so much with the secret identities?" Wally said, looking at both the android Vision, who Wally had to admit gave him the creeps, and Wonder Woman.

"My real name is Princess Diana. It's not exactly what you'd call a secret identity." the statuesque superheroine smiled warmly and looked over to Vision. Before the android could speak, another member of The Avengers walked up to the group.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/77/264899-67362-hank-pym_super.jpg

"That piece of technological marvel is my very own Vision." Pym stated proudly, taking a moment to appreciate his handiwork, before happily turning and shaking hands with the others. "My name is Dr. Hank Pym. As you all know by now, my codename out in the field will be Giant Man, and I've been entrusted with the position of field leader." he spoke with confidence, welcoming Blake, Wally and Wonder Woman. "I assume you all read the file President Luthor gave us on each other's abilities, which was a fantastic idea on his part. Assuming you read the one on Vision, you'll know he's quite the masterpiece, if I do say so myself. Oh, and this is my wife, The Wasp."

A beautiful, if petite, woman dressed in her very own costume and gave her husband a brief kiss. "Hi, everyone. My name is Janet." she said with a warm, delicate yet strong voice. Before she could shake hands with each of the Avengers, a bright light of emerald lowered down into the center of the group. "I'm the Green Lantern. Real name's Kyle." Rayner declared with a large smile. With a flick of his wrist, a giant, jade driver´s license appeared around him, encasing his head where the picture of the owner was.

"See? We're like a family already." Pym chuckled, putting his arm around Janet but his eyes on Vision.

As the Avengers smile and shake hands, exchange jokes and stories about how they got their powers, Wally´s eyes wander to the back of the large hall. Standing up against a wall, arms folded, a man stares at the group of his teammates with what looks like disdain. "Hey, uh. There's some awesome name sharing going on, you want in?" Wally shouts with a smile, attempting to be as friendly as he can.

Even from all the way over there, Wally can hear the man scoff.

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"The only name you need is Hawkeye. I'm here to do a job, not make friends." he called over snidely. Hawkeye looked over to Pym, the supposed leader of the group and smiled. Reaching down and grabbing his bow, he strapped it to his back and looked to Wally. "And it seems like we're getting our first job."

One by one the group realized the call Pym had just gotten was serious. Looking to their field leader, they stood with baited breath, some with giddy excitement, as Pym´s face grew more serious by the second. "I understand." Pym said, finally looking up at the group of assembled superheroes. "The President is under attack."

"President Luthor?"

Blake stepped towards Pym, a look of concern darkening his expression.

"What's happened?"

[Eddie Brock]

"Gotcha! I'm on my way," I tell him before turning off my communicator.

I change direction and speed up, knowing my destination. I flip through the air, using my grapple as I went along. Soon enough the bell tower was in sight and I swung into the bell tower.

"Spider-Man, you okay?"

"You kidding? I've had indigestion worse than this," I laugh. Sharp pain pierces my chest and lungs, and I wince. I hold my side weakly - must've bruised a rib or something. Robin eyes me nervously. I forget sometimes that people think it's weird that I choose moments like this to joke around. "How's--?"

I don't say her name, hoping that Robin understands.

[SenseiofCheese]

"President Luthor?"

Blake stepped towards Pym, a look of concern darkening his expression.

"What's happened?"

Wally and the others look to Pym. "Reports are sketchy, but it seems a metahuman called The Void has attacked the White House." Pym stated, trying hard as he could to sound in charge. "He has already laid waste to most of President Luthor´s personal security. Supposedly he has been screaming about how he is going to kill President Luthor and, well...us."

Wally ***** his head and tilts and eyebrow. "Our first job and we already have an arch-nemesis." he chuckled. "And people say the government works slow."

"Director Waller has uploaded all of SHIELD´s info on The Void to our joint SHIELD/Avengers database, and I'll brief you on the way."

"Question: For those of us who can't fly or run really fast, how do we get there?" Wally asked, immediately regretting it when he realized that Hawkeye was the only one present with no powers.

Hank Pym smiled wryly, and chuckled to himself. "Ladies and gentlemen." he announced loudly. With a press of a small, hidden button on Giant Man´s outfit, it seemed the entirety of The Avengers Headquarters began to rumble. As the gathered heroes looked down, it was then they first realized they were standing on a large, circular 'door' that began to slide open. "That...." Wally began with a childish grin on his face. "...is awesome."

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/17809/348565-141846-avengers-quinjet_super.JPG
"Let me introduce; The Quinjet."

[Red_Robin77]

"You kidding? I've had indigestion worse than this," I laugh. Sharp pain pierces my chest and lungs, and I wince. I hold my side weakly - must've bruised a rib or something. Robin eyes me nervously. I forget sometimes that people think it's weird that I choose moments like this to joke around. "How's--?"

I don't say her name, hoping that Robin understands.

"Oh yeah, she's fine I guess...except the usual when you get kidnapped by a giant strangely sticky monster, but you know, she's with her Dad," I explain to him.

I look up and down at his bruised and battered body, wildly impressed by the punishment he can take.

"What did you do with the creature?"

[Belvedere]

The Suicide Squad was missing Amanda's key component, she no longer had a man on the inside, but she knew how to fix this; since Chameleon had gone down she had decided to send Pointdexter after a Vietnam veteran who had undergone years of training during the way to assume the role of Captain America, whilst the war ended before this became necessary the project itself had always been one that had interested her.

Bullseye himself was reluctant to search out the man who she had fingered for leading the Squad, his file had made him sound like a real all american hero, someone that would stop the Squad from having their fun and possibly wouldn't be able to do what was necessary in the field.

He was sat in the living room of the Walker household speaking to Walker's parents who seemed to hold their son in the highest of regards, there were pictures of the young man all across the house. Bullseye occasionally raised the cup of tea to his lips and took a cautious sip, he wasn't a huge tea drinker and this wasn't exactly how he'd imagined this mission would end up.

"You wouldn't happen to know where I could find Mike, do you?"

Bullseye asked very tentatively, he didn't want the parents of their latest recruit to know why he was looking for their son; whilst he wouldn't hesitate if asked, he didn't want his next mission to be murdering a couple of pensioners for knowing too much. The expressions of pride on the faces of Walker's parents disappeared, they looked at once another, as if almost slightly puzzled.

Before they got the chance to answer a blonde haired man with thick stubble stepped into sight and leant on the doorway, he beared an uncanny resemblance to Mike Walker but there was something different about him, something more rugged.

"Not that it's any of your business but Mike's dead. Now, you mind telling me who the hell you are or do I have to beat it out of you?"

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The insincere sombre look on the face of Bullseye which he had been sporting for the past hour and a half disappeared and was replaced with a playful one. Walker's elderly father attempted to remind his son of his manners but the look his son shot him told him to trust him, and he did so, he took the hand of his wife and lead her upstairs and away from any possible confrontation.

"I was starting to think this was going to be a wasted trip."

Bullseye reached into his jacket and Walker tensed up slightly, the assasin couldn't help but notice and slowly drew out the badge which Waller had given him. He threw it to Walker who opened it and read the credentials that laid inside, he nodded as if unimpressed before closing it and throwing it back.

"What the hell could SHIELD want with my dead brother?"

Bullseye lit himself a cigarette and placed it between his slender lips, he scratched his bald head and tried to think of a way to answer the man's questions without baffling him.

"I was here to offer your brother a chance - well I say offer, there wasn't really any choice in the matter - to join big, black and beautiful's new top secret black ops team. But since goody two shoes has kicked the bucket and I hate coming back from a work trip without any presents for the kids.."

Bullseye took a large drag of his cigarette before flicking it across the room straight into the trash and announcing.

"I guess you're it."

Lester rolled his eyes at Walker's attempts at protest which were met with a swift karate chop to the neck. He lifted the unconscious body of John Walker and threw him over the shoulder, waving to Walker's parents who were stood watching with concern at the top of the stairs, before leaving the Walker household.

As he flung the unconscious body of John Walker into the car boot, he stared up at the open blue skies and mused.

"God I love this job."

[Catman_prb]

"Her name", Scott began to answer as he gave his chair a bit of a shake to knock of Madrox's feet, "is Ororo Munroe. The Professor had a run in with her briefly on a trip to Cairo many years ago. Apparently, she tried to steal his wallet, which didn't work out so well for her."

"As the Professor tells it, she, along with dozens of other children, was forced into a life of thievery by a powerful mutant, named Amahl Farouk. The Professor defeated him, but she refused his offer to join the Institute afterward. She opted instead to stay behind and take care of the other children that were under Farouk's control."
Jamie raised his eyebrows up into his hairline.

"So we're going to recruit this Ororo Queen of Thieves for our merry band of men?" he asked.

"She hot?"

[Catman_prb]

Wally and the others look to Pym. "Reports are sketchy, but it seems a metahuman called The Void has attacked the White House." Pym stated, trying hard as he could to sound in charge. "He has already laid waste to most of President Luthor´s personal security. Supposedly he has been screaming about how he is going to kill President Luthor and, well...us."

Wally ***** his head and tilts and eyebrow. "Our first job and we already have an arch-nemesis." he chuckled. "And people say the government works slow."

"Director Waller has uploaded all of SHIELD´s info on The Void to our joint SHIELD/Avengers database, and I'll brief you on the way."

"Question: For those of us who can't fly or run really fast, how do we get there?" Wally asked, immediately regretting it when he realized that Hawkeye was the only one present with no powers.

Hank Pym smiled wryly, and chuckled to himself. "Ladies and gentlemen." he announced loudly. With a press of a small, hidden button on Giant Man´s outfit, it seemed the entirety of The Avengers Headquarters began to rumble. As the gathered heroes looked down, it was then they first realized they were standing on a large, circular 'door' that began to slide open. "That...." Wally began with a childish grin on his face. "...is awesome."

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/17809/348565-141846-avengers-quinjet_super.JPG
"Let me introduce; The Quinjet."

The Vision closed his eyes as the GPS co-ordinates downloaded themselves into his flight system. He was viewing the live feed of the attack on the White House, analysing the habitats and styles of the attacking meta-human. He opened his eyes and looked at the Avengers who were assembled before him.

"I suggest that we leave as soon as possible," he supplied, already starting to run his pre-flight warm-up systems.

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Hulk-9.jpg

Part ~ 1

"Are you sure this will work", Bruce asked as he sat in the cold metal chair, beads of sweat gathering on his head. He hadn't slept in the past thirty-six hours, and he had barely eaten a thing. He and Blonsky had worked straight on through as the prepared the final touches for their solution.
A antidote that would finally free him from the Hulk.

Or so he hoped.

"Relax, Banner", Emil chuckled.
"We've been over this a thousand times already. Each and every variable is accounted for. Every number was checked and re-checked several times."

With a cotton swab, Emil Blonsky gently wiped the arm of Bruce. Banner remained still as his colleague carefully stuck the syringe into his arm and extracted a blood sample.
Banner could feel his heart rate speeding up, ever-so-slightly. Closing his eyes, he focused on his breathing.

Deep breaths.

Rhythmic breaths.

Calming breaths.

"You okay", Blonsky asked as he cocked an eyebrow.

"Yeah", Bruce said as he opened his eyes.
"I'm fine."

"Well, let's see what we get when we mix it, eh", smiled Blonsky excitedly as he held up the blood sample like a trophy.
Rising from the chair, Bruce moved to stand next to Emil as the doctor sat at the lab station.
"All right, blood sample of Bruce Banner now being mixed with sample of toxin."

"Fingers crossed", said Blonsky as he stuck the sample under the microscope. Banner just closed his eyes and sighed, hoping against hope...

"I don't believe it", Blonsky stated with a hushed tone.

Bruce's heart seemed to skip a beat as he waited with anticipation.

"The corruption...it's dissipating!"

Bruce exhaled and smiled.
Finally, he thought, after all this time, all this Hell. Finally, I'm-

"Wait."

All elation instantly drained from Bruce's being as he stared stoned-faced at Emil, who continued to look at the sample.

"Negative", Blonsky said as he pushed himself away.
"That's a negative. Gamma corruption remains", he stated with a sigh.

"Let me see", Bruce said as he stepped up and peered into the microscope.
"Dammit", Bruce said as he smashed his hand onto the table. Combined with the lack of food and sleep, and the constant failures...

"Banner", Blonsky said nervously as he gave Bruce's shoulder a squeeze.
"Relax. It'll be okay."

"I'm sorry, Emil", Bruce sighed as he rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger.


"It's all right", Blonsky responded as he sat back in his seat.
"You're tired, Bruce. You've had no rest and little food in nearly two days. You need to go get some sleep. If only a few hours."

"Emil, I don't-"

"No", Emil stated, "I'm taking no for an answer. You need some rest. We both do. Help get our heads on straight, clear out the cobwebs."

"...All right", Bruce finally agreed.
He hated to admit it, but Emil was right. Bruce was exhausted, and his thought process was definitely suffering because of it. A few hours rest would definitely help rejuvenate the mind.

"Meet you back in the lab in five hours", said Bruce as he slowly sauntered over to the door.

"I'll be sure to set my alarm", Blonsky said with a toothy smile as Bruce exited the room.

With a yawn, Bruce Banner strolled down the hallway, towards his little room and the small cot tat was his bed.

[Catman_prb]

John Stewart, you have the ability to wield great strength

He had left it under a stack of old newspapers, to try and dampen the noise so that he could sleep. The ring wouldn't shut up and something compelled John to not throw it back out of the window that it had smashed through. He'd made a valiant attempt to block up the window with some chipboard that he'd found in the garage, but the water was still leaking in and forming a small puddle on the carpet.

John Stewart, you have the ability to wield great strength

John grunted slightly, lifting the small dumbells with his left arm, ignoring the slight tweak of pain that he had come to associate with using those muscles. After a few minutes he stopped his exercise, laying the weight down on the floor. He stood and walked around the room, for no reason other than to ignore the ring. He still hadn't told anyone about it, but he couldn't tell why.

John Stewart, you have the ability to wield great strength

"What is it that you want from me?" he growled, knocking the papers onto the floor to reveal the glowing ring.

You must be unafraid, John Stewart

Hesitantly, he picked up the ring and weighed it in the palm of his hand, watching it as though it were about to bite him. He slipped it on his finger, surprised at how smoothly it went on but refused to budge off. A ray of light burst from the ring, projecting a face onto the wall of John's apartment. He didn't recognise the face, but there was a panic and fear there that he knew all too well from his time in the service.

If this ring has found you, then you show the qualities needed to become a member of the New Green Lantern Corps. This ring can grant you the power to implement your will upon the world. I have faith that you'll pick it up as you go along. As a Green Lantern you have the great responsibility, to uphold the law across the cosmos. You cannot shirk this duty. A great crisis is coming, and I need your help. The ring will take you to me. My name is Hal Jordan. God speed.

The face of Hal Jordan faded, but the ring continued to glow, and as he watched, John's gym clothes were replaced with a slim lined body suit in the colours black and green.

Green Lantern Training Module 101 initializing

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"Well this is new,"

[Watchman]

I Come in Peace Part 1: A Brain and His Monkey

It seems like he has been gone for forever. He opened his eyes which instantly adjusted. It was dark, no one else was alive. Footsteps were getting closer. Though, there was no way for them to get inside the ship. No matter, he was coming out to them.

********

A squad of five soldiers approach the ship, guns drawn. They were clueless of what to expect. The doors of the ship slowly open with steam and dust exiting.

"Man, this is the first alien, I've met."

"Really, I've met loads of them. It seems we have a new one coming every week." Someone appeared at the top of the ramp. The men raised their guns.

"Do. You. Come. In. Peace?"

"Dude, he probably speaks, Klingon."

"Noh-Varr?"

"Shut it, Plex."

"The Kree Omnimind wants you to know that the Diplomic Political Sect highly disapproves of your upcoming actions. Judging by your brainwaves you seem to be taking offensive actions." Noh-Varr fires a blast hitting one of the soldiers in the head. They open fire but he's not there anymore.

"Thor! Where did he go?"

"You worship the Norse guys?"

"I find that offensive, Bill. I just don't go around saying that Jesus guy."

"Actually me and Glenda have been visiting the Church of Wonder....Hurakkk" The soldier found a long nail sticking out of his neck. "Great Hera! Its in my neck get it! Get it out!" The soldiers start to fire again but they hit nothing. Noh-Varr zips around the room kicking them in the head, breaking their arms, and in general hurting them. More soldiers storm the room.

"You're excessive violence is not approved by the newly formed Earth Peace League of the Omnimind."

"Tell them I don't give a...."

"Get it out....I am the Walrus.....I am the eggman..." the one soldier begins to fire on his own comrades before blowing up. Every single was dead, broken, or knocked out.

"Noh-Varr, this OmniMind barring the High Kree Generals find your actions appalling. After bringing a ceasefire between the Skrulls and the Thanagarians of Universe designated 6784 you start a war with a much more primative race."

"Thats right, Plex. Tell the Omnimind that its war. Me and my crew travelled for ten years from a mission of great peace to be brought down by these insects. They shot the first shot. They intiated the act of war."

"Idiots! Remember don't harm the body! Non-lethal!" Some voice came across one of the radios. Noh-Varr picked it up.

"Who is this?"

"Ahhh, our little invader, yes our benefactors have talk much about you. Yes, they get the technology, I get the body. Scoop the brain out like ice cream. Yum!"

"Plex, lets see what happens first. You repair the ship or I kill him."

"Oh naive little insect you have no idea what you are getting in to."
********
"Don't worry master"

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"I'll protect you."

[Keyser Soze]

The Vision closed his eyes as the GPS co-ordinates downloaded themselves into his flight system. He was viewing the live feed of the attack on the White House, analysing the habitats and styles of the attacking meta-human. He opened his eyes and looked at the Avengers who were assembled before him.

"I suggest that we leave as soon as possible," he supplied, already starting to run his pre-flight warm-up systems.

"Nice ride," Blake said, "But I have my own means of transport..."

Blake tapped his cane against the floor, and another blast of lightning came in through the hole left in the wall by the last one.

KRAAKADOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

And once again, Thor stood before them.

"I shall meet you there."

Spinning Mjolnir by its hand-strap until it had reached near-whirlwind speeds, Thor tossed the hammer skywards, and the momentum carried him into the air with it. Once airbound, he let the wind currents carry him, and his hammer guide him.

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/SilverSurfer-11-1.jpg

The Odyssey

The silver streak soared through the spaceways, nimbly avoiding the obstacles in it's way. But this was no stray comet or shooting star...he was Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer!
Sentinel of the Spaceways and Guardian of the Galaxy!

And, judging by the look on his face, Norrin was troubled.

It seems that misery is the only constant in this universe, he frowned.
Even after I left Galactus' service, everywhere I go I find it waiting for me. From the tyrant Mongul, to the Earth and her crisis, to the planet Rann, and Zenn-La.

It seems that this universe has nothing to give save pain, Norrin thought as he moved around the gravity well of a small moon, surfing across it as though it were a cosmic wave.

The large red sun's light danced brilliantly off of the Surfer's metallic body, making him appear as a burning ball of fire streaking across the darkness of space.

No, the Surfer scolded himself, I refuse to believe that. There is always hope. Mongul was defeated, and his former slaves set free. The Earth was spared a dire fate from the hands of my former master. Rann was saved from Kree invasion, and knows peace once again.

Now all that is left is to set things right for Zenn-La. And I am close...I can feel it, Norrin's eyes narrowed as the visions of the destruction inflicted upon his homeworld played out in his mind.

You are near, Galactus, and when I find you I shall make you fix all that you...

"By The Source!"

The Surfer, so lost in thought, did not notice the star ship until it rocketed over his head.
The ship lurched back and forth as it quickly lost speed. From the ion particles leaking from it's stern, Norrin immediately knew that the engines were damaged.
And when the ship finally came to rest just outside the fourth planet of the system, the Surfer moved in to investigate.

Cautiously Norrin approached the ship, and his keen eyes immediately saw dozens of scorch marks.

Blaster fire...this ship was attacked, and recently.

Norrin circled around to the engines, brushing his hand across the cold metal hull.

It is as I thought, the engines are completely destroyed.

There may be injured people inside, Norrin thought to himself.
Hopefully, I am not too late.

Summoning the Power Cosmic to him, Norrin Radd easily phased through the ship's hull and found himself silently floating in a large cargo hold.

It was an empty room, save for a few scattered crates and tools laying about. And it was silent and still, almost like a grave...

The swishing sound of a door opening brought Norrin's attention to the room's only exit into the ship. Standing just inside the doorway was as motley a crew as Norrin had ever seen.

"Greetings. My name is-"

"I know who you are, and I don't care. If you think that you can loot my ship, then you've got another thing coming", spoke the grave-faced human.

Before Norrin could even begin to respond, the man drew his sword and the crew rushed to the attack...

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Jammers-1.jpg

Chapter 2 ~ The Good Samaritan - Act 1

[Johnny Blaze]

Jamie raised his eyebrows up into his hairline.

"So we're going to recruit this Ororo Queen of Thieves for our merry band of men?" he asked.

"She hot?"

Jean looked over at Jamie, and lightly reached out telekinetically and smacked him in the back of his head.

"Ow!"

"Thank you", Scott smirked as he banked the towards the giant landmass in the distance, Africa. And the continent was rapidly approaching as they rocketed ever closer.

Villages, cities, and picturesque, wild landscape blew past underneath them as the headed straight towards Cairo.

"Kurt", Scott spoke as they neared the city.
"Use the navigational scanners to see if you can find us a good place to put her down. Something out of the way, preferably."

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/SilverSurfer-11-1.jpg

THE ODYSSEY
Chapter 2 ~ The Good Samaritan - Act 2

Norrin sighed as the ship's crew came at him. It seemed he would always have his past life as a Herald looming above his head. The feline female leaped in, slashing him across his face with her claws.

Norrin's face barely twitched as the dagger-like nails raked across his silver skin, leaving no mark what-so-ever.
With a flick of his hand, Norrin reached out and grasped her by her forehead.

"Sleep", he spoke as the Power Cosmic flowed from him and into her mind. The cat woman hissed in protest as her brain sent signals to her body that it was time for rest. Helpless to stop it, she was soon forced into a deep slumber, laying curled up on the floor.

His cosmic senses warning him, the Surfer rose into the air as the large green being lept at him with a roar. He passed just under Norrin, landing flat on his stomach on the cold metal floor.
Norrin raised his hand and clenched his fist, and the floor around the lizard man came alive and wrapped around him like a cacoon. Norrin left his head uncovered though; he didn't want to suffocate him after all, just subdue him.

"Please, I do not wish to fight you. I have come to help!"

A blast of energy smashed into Norrin's back, knocking him off of his board and onto the floor.

"Sure ya have, chrome dome. Help yerself ta our cargo."

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Tigorr.jpg

Norrin reached out with his mind, taking control of the tiger-man's large gun and warping it, wrapping it around him like a rope. Bound and unable to get free, he tumbled to the deck, cussing loudly at Norrin.

Suddenly, Norrin felt intense pain in his chest. Looking down, the Surfer saw a spectral hand sticking out of his body.
Norrin lurched forward, out of the phantom's grip and turned to face his attacker.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Jammers-3.jpg

"You do not belong here, Herald. Leave now before it is too late for you."

Norrin tried to reach out and grab him, but his hand simply passed right through the wraith.
"You cannot touch me, Surfer. Not unless I allow it."

"Truly", Norrin asked as his hands glowed with cosmic energy, and the form of the wraith suddenly became solid.
"Clearly you do not fully understand the Power Cosmic. Allow me to demonstrate."

Norrin reached out his hand at the phantom, touching him on the forehead and sending a wave of cosmic energy through his now solid form. The phantom carried the shocked look on his face all the way to ground, as he came to rest like a shadowy puddle.

"Stop!"

Norrin turned to regard the human in red as he held his sword down.
Silence reigned for what seemed like eternity as the man and his remaining two crew members stood by, waiting for something to give.

Finally, the man sheethed his blade.

"All right Surfer...we'll here you out", the man said warily.

--------------------

"An interesting story", replied Corsair, the human and captain of the ship, Starjammer.
It had been a few minutes since the skirmish, and the Starjammer's crew stood behind their captain, Corsair, as the Surfer told them of his mission and all that had transpired for him since leaving Galactus' side.

Corsair seemed particularly interested in the crisis on Earth.

"I apologize for the attack, Surfer", Corsair went on, "but, with our cargo, we can't afford to assume anyone we bump into is a friend."

"What is it that you are carrying, Corsair?"

"That's on a need-to-know basis, Surfer", Corsair chuckled.

"And I do not need to know", Norrin finished for him. It didn't matter. He didn't sense any evil in them, and his instincts were usually right.

"Exactly. Let's just say that there are some rather...unsavory people who want to use it for their own ends. And we can't let it fall into their hands."

"Now then, let me introduce you to the crew. This is Hepzibah, the rather large fellow here is Ch'od, and this is Raza", he said as he motioned to the feline lady, the large lizard man, and the pony-tailed swordsman, respectively.

"You've also met my first mate, Tigorr", he continued as he pointed at the tiger-man smoking a large cigar.
"As well as Nimbus", Corsair continued as he motioned towards the wraith-like being.
"And this here is Doc."

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Jammers-2.jpg

"Greetings."

"You can call us the Starjammers", Corsair said proudly.
"Some call us pirates, or worse...but I prefer the term freedom fighters."

"It is a pleasure to meet you all", the Surfer replied with a polite nod.
"You may call me Norrin. It is my true name that was taken from me by my former master. Now...is there anything I can do to assist you?"

Corsair chuckled to himself and shook his head.
"I'm afraid not, Surfer. Well, not unless you can fix a busted engine."

This time it was Norrin's turn to smile slyly.
"As a matter of fact..."

Reaching into his being, Norrin summoned the Power Cosmic to his command. The Starjammers took a wary step back as cosmic energy rippled across the Surfer's body, washing over them and the ship like waves washing up the beach.

Suddenly, the entire ship begins to radiate a silvery aura as all of it's damage is slowly mended. Even the aches and pains of the crew are quickly dispelled as the Power Cosmic course through the entire ship.
Finally, a minute later, it is done. The glow around Norrin fades away, and the Surfer descends back to hovering just above the floor.

"There...that should do it. Your ship is fully restored and ready to fly once again."

Corsair is speechless at first, not believing what he just witnessed. But the Captain quickly composes himself.
"Thank you...Norrin", he says with gratitude.
"I guess I underestimated you. And for that I'm sorry. You have the gratitude of the Starjammers. Tigorr, get us ready to resume our course immediately. We need to get out of here as quickly as possible."

"Right, boss", Tigorr said with a nod as he raced out of the room towards the bridge.

"All right, people! Back to your stations. We need to leave, and I mean now!"

As the crew disbanded, rushing out of the cargo hold to prepare the ship for departure, Norrin moved closer to Corsair.

"You are running from something", he stated, matter of factly.
"What was it that nearly destroyed your ship, Corsair."

Corsair hesitated at first, but opened his mouth to speak.
Then the ship rocked as the shockwave hit it, and Corsair cursed under his breath.
"Dammit! He's here already. Bastard's quicker than I thought."

"Who is here, Corsair? Who hunts you?"

But Corsair didn't reply, he simply turned and ran for the bridge. Norrin didn't hesitate to follow, and soon found himself on the rather spacious bridge of the Starjammer.

"He's hailing us, Captain", spoke Ch'od.

"Put him through", Corsair spoke through gritted teeth. His anger obvious from his expression.

Suddenly a holographic image appeared on the bridge, and a smug human stood before them dressed in battle armor.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Steppenwolf-1.jpg

"I am Steppenwolf, Commander of the armies of Apokolips, and servant of the Great Darkness. You will surrender immediately or I will blow you out of the stars."

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/SilverSurfer-11-1.jpg

THE ODYSSEY
Chapter 2 ~ The Good Samaritan - Act 3

Corsair sneers at the arrogant image of Steppenwolf staring his way. The Apokoliptian New God had him right where he wanted him. The Starjammer floating helplessly in space with his warship looming right over it.

There was no way they could escape before being blasted to oblivion.

Corsair took a deep breath and solemnly nodded, knowing he was defeated.

"Go to Hell", Corsair spat as he cut transmission.

"All right, people, time to go work. Battlestations!"

"Wait."

Corsair turned to face the Silver Surfer.

"Fighting that ship is suicide. You must flee, and I will buy you the time you need."

Corsair stood silent for a moment trying to get a read on the enigmatic being floating before him.

"You could die out there."

"I am aware of the risks. It is the only way to prevent you and your cargo remain out of this Steppenwolf's hands."

"All right", Corsair nodded, "you're on."

"Change of plans", Corsair barked, "full power to the engines, and prepare to make a hyperspace jump once we're clear of the planet!"

Corsair turned as the Surfer departed, phasing through the Starjammer and returning to space.

"Good luck, Norrin. I owe you one."

The warship opens up on the Silver Surfer as the former Heralds flies circles around it's outer hull.

Norrin skims the surface of the ship, systematically destroying the gun turrets and cannons.

Suddenly something catches Norrin's attention from the corner of his eye, and he turns to see what looks like a swarm of green and gold monsters flying out of the ship.

The parademon horde attacked the Surfer relentlessly, trying to tear at him and blast him out of the stars with their weapons.

But Silver Surfer would not allow himself to be overwhelmed. The former Herald reached deep within and unleashed the full fury of the Power Cosmic.

The radiant sphere of energy expanded outward, incinerating the vile demons and blasting a hole in the warship.

The warship lurched, sinking slowly to her right side, seemingly out of the fight.

"By The Source", Norrin exclaimed as a massive figure darted out of the ship towards the fleeing Starjammer.

The Starjammer was almost away from the gravitation pull of the planet and it's moons. It wouldn't be long before they could make the jump light speed, but whatever had left the ship was gaining quickly.

But Norrin would not allow it to catch them.
The Surfer summoned all the speed he could muster and rocketed off after Starjammer's attacker.
The force of the the shockwave from his sudden burst of speed rocked the warship, setting off a series of explosions along it's center.

As the Surfer got closer, he could see that it was a large humanoid figure that pursued the Starjammer.
Gritting his teeth, Norrin pushed himself even harder, slamming his board into the being's back. The creature is sent hurtling into the planet's nearby moon, the massive impact clearly seen by the Surfer as he slowed to a stop.

The Starjammer disappeared suddenly into the blackness of space. Norrin smiled at the fleeing ship.

"Good luck, Corsair."

Norrin screamed in pain as a blast of energy blew him off his board.
Quickly righting himself from his spinning in space, the Surfer summoned his board to side once more as he looked at his attacker.


"You have interfered in the affairs of the Gods, Herald. You have prevented me from capturing my prey, and have delayed the plans of my master. For that, you will pay dearly."

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Devilance-1.jpg

"I am Devilance, God of the Pursuit...and today you will die by my hands."

[Eddie Brock]

"Oh yeah, she's fine I guess...except the usual when you get kidnapped by a giant strangely sticky monster, but you know, she's with her Dad," I explain to him.

I look up and down at his bruised and battered body, wildly impressed by the punishment he can take.

"What did you do with the creature?"
I groan and rub my shoulder. "I didn't do much, to tell the truth," I answer. I blink several times as spots have begun to appear before my eyes. Man, I really took a beating. "Suffice it to say: it won't be preying on anyone anymore."

I turn my head just a little too fast, and I'm rewarded with a resounding crack. I shake my head out to loosen it up before asking, "Where's Gordon? I owe him an explanation - at least."

[Belvedere]

The doors to the holding room opened and in stepped a man, the costume that he was wearing was one familiar to them all but with some very clear customizations; the bold and inspirational blue that had was on the flag had been replaced by jet black, on both the costume and the shield. The members of the Suicide Squad fell silent upon his entrance and looked at one another pensively before bursting into laughter. The man sneered and walked towards the largest member of the group slowly and prodded him in the shoulder, Killer Croc staggered backwards slightly behind the force of the push.

"Am I missing something freak?"

Waylon couldn't even tell if the flag draped man was for real, there was an air of arrogance around him and yet Croc couldn't help but feel the man was slightly out of his league; he had been handed a shield and a costume and thrown into the deep end amongst the sharks.

"You're going to be missing alot more if lay another hand on me."

The lizard's breath was laced with rancid meat and made the shield-wielding man want to heave, he managed to feign a smile before with one mighty swing of his shield smacking the lizard across the room. Waylon smashed into the wall and before he had time to regain his bearings and climb to his feet the man was standing over him, punching him in the face repeatedly. The armoured hide that covered Croc's body was sturdy enough to sustain inhuman amounts of damage, but the tenacious man was no longer human; his fists crashed down upon Jones' face with a force that no normal human could muster.

Bullseye watched from his seat with an impressed look on his face, Waller had transformed the drunkard he'd subdued hours ago into the formidable sight that had laid waste to Waylon in a matter of seconds, slowly Pointdexter stood up from his chair and placed his hand on the shoulder of the relentless newcomer.

"If only your parents could see you now Johnny boy.."

Walker slapped away Bullseye's hand and stepped away from Croc, he wiped the blood on his gloves on his torso and looked down at the lizard with a grim look. The one time self appointed leader of the squad Chameleon stood up from his seat, his head was heavily bandaged and he walked with a limp, he crouched down and checked Croc's pulse before angrily shouting at Walker.

"That wasn't necessary!"

Walker let out a cynical chuckle and turned to face Chameleon.

"I'm the leader of this squad now, I decide what is and isn't necessary.. the name's John Walker."

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss260/CameronCropper90/109773-105562-u-s-agent_super.png

"You can call me US Agent."

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Hulk-9.jpg

Part ~ 2

Bruce lay on his cot, groaning as he tossed and turned, tormented by his dreams. They were the same nightmares he had been having every night since the accident.
It had been so long since he has had a good night sleep, Bruce has forgotten what it felt like.

A knocking on the wall snapped Banner's eyes open.
Sitting up in bed, Bruce stared out into the darkness towards the rhythmic sound.

"Who's there?"

Suddenly, silence.

Banner peered into the gloom, not daring to breath.
The wall exploded and Bruce raised his arms to shield himself.

As sudden and explosive as it had been, silence once more reigned as the dust began to settle. Bruce squinted and turned his head.
He could've sworn he had heard something. Something faint.

Then he heard it. Breathing.

Before he could say anything, a mammoth figure melted into sight from the inky blackness that shrouded the room.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Hulk-13.jpg

The Hulk stared down at Banner, nothing but contempt in it's eyes.

"What the Hell? How did this...how is this possible", Banner asked himself in disbelief as he looked up at his angrier half in astonishment.

The Hulk roared, a deafening, terrifying sound.

"HULK SMASH PUNY BANNER!!!"

The beast raised it's arms above it's head and roared once more.
Banner sat in his cot, motionless. There was nothing he could do. No where to escape.

Then the arms came crashing down...

----------------------------------------

"AHHH!"

Banner awoke in a cold sweat as he shot up from his sleep quickly taking in his surroundings. His breathing was heavy and fast, his heart was racing.

It was his room, at Doctor Blonsky's lab in Brazil.

Bruce took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

Just a dream, he thought to himself as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

Jesus, that felt real.

Banner froze tensely as a blood-curdling roar cut through the night, and a booming crash shook the very foundation of his room.

Banner jumped out of bed.

"That came from the lab!"

Banner opened the door to his room and ran down the hallway.

Opening the door to the lab, the sight made Banner's heart sink.
Lab equipment was strewn everywhere. It was all torn to pieces. All destroyed.

"No", Banner uttered it in disbelief.
"All that research...we were so close..."

Looking ahead, Bruce saw a massive hole in the wall that led outside. Banner was cautious as he approached, doing his best to stay alert to his surroundings.

Another roar rang loudly in his eardrums. This one sounded as though it was coming from right outside.

Bruce steadied his resolve and quietly peered out.

"What the...", is all Bruce can muster as he looks at the cause of the lab's destruction, mouth agape.

"You...", the monstrosity growled, it voice sounding like grinding granite.
"I can't change back."

"This is your fault", the creature bellowed as it spun to stare hatefully at Bruce.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Abomination-1.jpg

"You made me into this...this abomination!"

"Blonsky? What did you do!?"

The Abomination roared and charged, grasping Bruce around his head like it was a baseball and flinging him into the surrounding jungle...

[Watchman]

The Once and Future King

Latveria was silent. Their king has returned. They were overjoyed, they
were in awe, they were afraid. They respected their king but evenmore so they were afraid of him. They were afraid of his judgement. What they didn't expect what would happen next.

"I can see it in your eyes. My people, you expect my wrath. You will be happy to know that you will not recieve it. It is for one man, one who has sold Latveria. He has given it to other powers who use you like puppets. Doom does not blame you. You are a simple group. You are like herd that requires a shepherd without one you would be lost. This shepherd lets the wolf into the herd. It lets a parasite in letting it feast until there is nothing. My people it is time to clense Latveria. It is time for Doom to take back his kingdom!"

Doom headed for the newly built Captail Buidling behind him was Libra and his people. The castle has been abandon and was being stripped by Luthor's agents. When the crowd got to the building the new "President" headed outside with a group of guards.

"Ah, Luthor's toy. Your reign ends now, I have returned to claim what has always been mine."
*******
The Past,

"Faithful Ubu, how does Doom combat training fair?" The Demon's Head sits upon his throne. Kneeling before him is Ubu with a host of other assassins.

"More than satisfactory, my lord. Young Victor has come a way since he crawled in like a begger."

"He has, his knowledge in both science and magic has suppressed anything I've seen before. Yes, he will become the perfect weapon in the months to come."

"Lord?"

"It seems that my daughter has a certain fondness for Victor. We can use this to our advantage. Doom will be my weapon. His knowledge in sciences and magic are unpararlleled. I will point him in the direction and he will unleash hell. I have heard his plans for his own country. Imagine an entire country under control of the League of Assassins." Although no one can see it a tiny machine lies in the room.

Back in Doom's quaters, he sits on his bed holding a small speaker in his hands. He had been nursed back to perfect health besides his face which he covers with a white featureless mask. He crushes the speaker in his hands. Two arms wrap around him from behind.

"What seems to be the problem, beloved?"

"Your father."

"Ah. Yes, you are suppose to be his new favorite plaything." Doom throws her arms off, standing up.

"You knew?!" She lies back down, smiling playfully.

"Of course. You're not the only one spying on people," Doom heads for the door, "where are you going?"

"A walk, I need to clear my thoughts. You know where the rendezvous. We meet at sunrise."

"Tomorrow?" She sits up, "it happens tomorrow?"

"Circumstances have forced my hand. Your father will be the first to learn what happens when you cross Doom."

[Red_Robin77]

I groan and rub my shoulder. "I didn't do much, to tell the truth," I answer. I blink several times as spots have begun to appear before my eyes. Man, I really took a beating. "Suffice it to say: it won't be preying on anyone anymore."

I turn my head just a little too fast, and I'm rewarded with a resounding crack. I shake my head out to loosen it up before asking, "Where's Gordon? I owe him an explanation - at least."

"Last I saw of him, he was heading home."

I tell him, pointing towards the rough direction.

"Need a hand getting there?"

[Keyser Soze]

"Nice ride," Blake said, "But I have my own means of transport..."

Blake tapped his cane against the floor, and another blast of lightning came in through the hole left in the wall by the last one.

KRAAKADOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

And once again, Thor stood before them.

"I shall meet you there."

Spinning Mjolnir by its hand-strap until it had reached near-whirlwind speeds, Thor tossed the hammer skywards, and the momentum carried him into the air with it. Once airbound, he let the wind currents carry him, and his hammer guide him.

Washington, D.C.

The storms were wild. Though it was early afternoon, America's capitol had been plunged into darkness, as if the very sun had been plucked from the sky. As Thor flew over Capitol Hill, he gazed in horror at the carnage all around him. Torrential rain battered the police, army and S.H.I.E.L.D. forces trying to make some kind of progress against the hurricane winds, but it was little good. Cars were being lifted up into the air by the currents, any civilians long since cleared from the area. Lightning flashed from the sky and struck at the ground like aimed attacks, and the thunder roared in the skies like a monstrous threat. But it was not Thor's thunder. This weather... he had nothing to do with it.

"Who else has the power of the storms?"

Wielding Mjolnir, Thor harnassed the winds and the rains, calming them down. But even as he dispersed the storm clouds, he could not pierce the darkness that filled the sky. He landed next to a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.

"President Luthor. Where is he?"

One silent agent, his face sickly pale, pointed in the direction of the White House. Or rather, where the White House had once been. In its place now stood an enormous tornado, remaining stationary over the exact spot where the White House would of...

"Of course. The eye of the storm."

"What?" one agent asked.

"All around, the currents of the whirlwhind cause chaos and destruction. But the one place where all is calm, still and pristine? Inside, in the heart of the whirlwhind. The eye of the storm. The others will be here shortly. Tell them where I am."

With that said, Thor flung Mjolnir skyward with wild abandon once more, letting it carry him up into the air. Then, he set a course straight for the tornado. Its winds could not carry him astray. The protection of his hammer would keep his path straight and true. This foreboding storm was the perfect means of keeping the authorities out, the ultimate ploy for a siege. Whatever this unknown assailant wanted with Luthor, he wanted privacy to do it.

Well, whoever he was, he hadn't counted on the interference of Thor, God of Thunder. This tornado would keep many a mortal man outwith its bounds. But it could not stop him. Mjolnir carried him straight through the violent surface of the tornado. All around him there was a deafening roar, and then.... silence.

He was inside. Thor looked down, and there it was, in one piece, untouched by the storm. The White House. Inside was President Luthor. And something else...

[SenseiofCheese]

Washington, D.C.

He was inside. Thor looked down, and there it was, in one piece, untouched by the storm. The White House. Inside was President Luthor. And something else...


Almost all of the Avengers possessed the ability to travel to their destination via their powers, and Wally to do so faster than the team´s Quinjet. Even so he had boarded and taken his seat next to Kyle Rayner (their emblems adorning their respective seats). Both because he truly was excited to see just how fast the jet could fly, and because maybe, just maybe, the Scarlet Speedster was a tad bit nervous. And not because this was the team´s first mission, but if something was attacking President Luthor that was powerful enough to dismantle his security force and cause the massive storm currently raging around the White House....well, he wasn't really looking forward to fighting it.

"This is going to be awesome." Rayner said with a childish glee, his ring crackling with energy.

"Easy, Green." Janet Pym called back the pilot´s seat of the Quinjet. "If you read S.H.I.E.L.D´s file on this 'Void' character, you should know we're in for some trouble."

"A warrior must only take care that his spirit is not broken." Wonder Woman stated matter-of-factly, fastening the bracelets on her forearms. "It seems that won't be a problem for our friend the Lantern."

"Settle in boys, we're in for some rough sailings." Janet warned, as the Quinjet hit it´s first bout of turbulance

-----

"I think I'm going to be sick." Wally blurst out as he stumbles out of the Quinjet, silently thanking God that his feet are back on solid ground.

"You really are inspiring." Clint Barton, Hawkeye, scoffs as he strides past the fastest man alive.

"Alright.." Hank Pym, Giant Man, is the last one out of the Quinjet. "S.H.I.E.L.D reports Thor is already inside."

"Inside that?" Wally points towards the massive tornado that had engulfed the White House, disbelief in his voice. "I told you this was going to be awesome." Lantern smiled, nudging his elbow into Wally´s side.

"Remember the file, people." Pym shouted over the deafening noise of the storm surrounding the team. "Let's go teach The Void that attacking the President of the United States of America is a deeply flawed plan." he stated, before a grin appeared on his face. "Alright...Avengers ASSEMBLE!" he shouted proudly as a green sphere enveloped the team and carried them towards the gigantic tornado. "Jesus."

--------

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/7029/321633-22183-void_super.JPG

"Welcome, Avengers."

The shadowy man stood in the center of a hallway. The walls, ceiling, floors; everything was pitch black, indistinguishable from the man himself. He was completely featureless save for his eyes; a pair of deep red, burning orbs.

"You thought the Thunder God stood a chance?" the shadow hissed, hateful and mocking. The walls writhed, alive. Suddenly a cocoon of darkness was birthed from one of the walls, slamming down by the Void´s feet. Tendrils made of pure darkness were strapped across Thor´s chest, as he struggled in vain. "I am the Void. I am destruction. I am death."

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/13340/303584-153687-void_super.gif

[SenseiofCheese]

"The Green Lantern of Earth."

Those walking this particular street of New York that hadn't already noticed the behemoth standing in the middle of the street, immediately turned at the sound of the voice.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/77/88609-60724-super-skrull_super.jpg

"Bring him to me."

The Earthlings were already fleeing. Kl'rt would have laughed have if he wasn't so disgusted. These puny little rats thought themselves the kings of the hill. How wrong they were. And what better way to show them they were wrong than to make them watch as he burned the flesh off their most powerful champions. Starting with that insect Kyle Rayner.

With strength that matched that of Ben Grimm, Kl'rt slammed his fist down into the concrete. The street buckled under his power, those not already gone now beginning to realize this was no joke. "Very well. I suppose I'll have to keep myself busy until he arrives..." the Super Skrull growled with sinister deprevity. Suddenly a pillar of fire shot from his hands. The flames, identical to the ones created and controlled by the Human Torch, cascaded towards a woman who had stumbled. Her screams supplied those who heard her with nightmares of years to come. Kl´rt merely smiled.

"Pathetic."

[Keyser Soze]

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/7029/321633-22183-void_super.JPG

"Welcome, Avengers."

The shadowy man stood in the center of a hallway. The walls, ceiling, floors; everything was pitch black, indistinguishable from the man himself. He was completely featureless save for his eyes; a pair of deep red, burning orbs.

"You thought the Thunder God stood a chance?" the shadow hissed, hateful and mocking. The walls writhed, alive. Suddenly a cocoon of darkness was birthed from one of the walls, slamming down by the Void´s feet. Tendrils made of pure darkness were strapped across Thor´s chest, as he struggled in vain. "I am the Void. I am destruction. I am death."

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/13340/303584-153687-void_super.gif

Thor was cocooned in darkness. The infini-tendrils that had latched themselves all over his body were among the most dangerous weapons in The Void's arsenal. Once a victim was within its coils, they became trapped in a waking nightmare. They were forced to experience the most traumatic experiences of their past, or sometimes even their future...

...

They are afraid of him. All around him, Thor sees the faces of the humans. Men, women and children. The terror is in their eyes. One or two bow before him, feeling compelled to worship him for fear of violent retribution. It is a large crowd, gathered around him in a circle. Where is he? He is somewhere in Manhattan. He has been in a great battle, and won... or lost. Either way, he is now the last man standing.

Mjolnir is discarded on the ground by his side, its purpose served for now. Thor fears that if he were to try picking it up now, he would be deemed unworthy to carry it, for what he has done. What has he done? He feels a sickness and disgust over his actions, the horror of realisation. He looks down at his trembling hands. They are covered with blood.

"MURDERER!"

The voice rings out through the crowd, shrill and devastated. That voice...

"Don't listen to it."

A reassuring hand touches Thor's shoulder, and even in this nightmare, he feels a glimmer of hope. He turns, and is surprised to see who is standing before him.

"Donald Blake? How..."

"This isn't real. It's an illusion cast by The Void, and you're trapped in it."

Like a dream interrupted, Thor becomes aware of his surroundings getting more vague, like they are getting further away from him.

"But how did you..."

"I'm not you, remember. So while I'm outside your plain of existence, The Void's tricks don't work on me. I'm here to get you out."

Blake walks over to the discarded Mjolnir, and taps at it with his foot.

"I believe this is yours."

Thor walks back over to Mjolnir. But is he worthy? No, this is just a nigtmare. Whatever he did.... it didn't really happen. He remembers now, what The Void did to him. He needs to escape. He needs to stop him.

"Thank you, Donald Blake. Once again, you have proven to be a true friend, and helped me in a time of need."

Blake shrugs, scratching the back of his neck.

"What can I say, huh, it's the Christian thing to do. And besides, we're a team."

Thor smiles.

"Yes we are."

"Now, go kick some boogeyman ass."

Thor nods solemnly, and with a mighty tug, lifts Mjolnir off the ground. In an instant, his gloomy surroundings are obliterated in a flash of bright light.

...

"VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIID!"

With a roar of exertion, Thor breaks free from his shadowy prison. He is battered and bruised, but still he rises to his feet. Gripping Mjolnir tight, he wills the hammer to charge itself up. Lightning crackles from its surface, penetrating the oppressive darkness. The walls - alive with festering shadow - seemed to recoil with pain and dread when he sent trails of lightning along the walls, floor and ceiling in both directions.

Little by little, he was forcing the darkness into the light. But a being of solid dark still stood before him, the vile monstrosity known as The Void. He had taken him by surprise last time, but now, Thor was ready.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a108/JokerSoze/Thor5.jpg

"Release Lex Luthor and surrender yourself.... or I will have your head."

[Eddie Brock]

"Last I saw of him, he was heading home."

I tell him, pointing towards the rough direction.

"Need a hand getting there?"

"No, I--"

I stop myself. Robin's already suspicious. I'll just confirm his suspicions if I randomly know where Gordon lives. I glance briefly at Batman, but his emotionless face offers no clue as to what he's thinking. Man, if Robin's onto me, I can only imagine...

"Actually, I'm going to need a little help finding it," I lie exhaustedly. "Hey, do you mind if we use the grapple-thingy? I'm low on webbing, and I don't know that I'm really feeling up to it, to be honest." At least that much is true.

[wiegeabo]

"No, I--"

I stop myself. Robin's already suspicious. I'll just confirm his suspicions if I randomly know where Gordon lives. I glance briefly at Batman, but his emotionless face offers no clue as to what he's thinking. Man, if Robin's onto me, I can only imagine...

"Actually, I'm going to need a little help finding it," I lie exhaustedly. "Hey, do you mind if we use the grapple-thingy? I'm low on webbing, and I don't know that I'm really feeling up to it, to be honest." At least that much is true.

"Or...since Robin has his bike, we could just take the car."

***

I pull the batmobile behind Gordon's house with a screech. The canopy opens above Spider-Man and myself.

"We're here..."

[Eddie Brock]

"Or...since Robin has his bike, we could just take the car."

***

I pull the batmobile behind Gordon's house with a screech. The canopy opens above Spider-Man and myself.

"We're here..."
The only way I can describe a ride in the Batmobile is that it's like being inside one of those NASA centrifuges. I feel my tattered costume sticking to my drying wounds as I stand up.

"Thanks for the ride," I say politely to Batman. Again, blank wall of emotionlessness. Wonderful. After a moment, I add, "I don't know how long this'll be..."

Without another word, Batman closes the canopy, and the Batmobile peels off into the night. Shaking my head, I turn back around to the Gordon house. A light in a familiar window tells me that Babs is still awake. I check once more to make sure no one is watching, and I leap up to the window.

"I was expecting you to show up soon," Babs announces tiredly as she opens the window. I slip in quietly, and she asks, "What was that thing?"

"Remember my black suit?" A wave of shocked realization washes over her face. I nod. "Yeah, it's probably the biggest wardrobe malfunction in history." I remove my mask - what's left of it, anyway - and slump down against the wall. "How'd your Dad take it?"

Babs shrugs. "About as well as you'd expect from a man whose daughter was kidnapped." She leans over me and examines my numerous cuts and bruises. She winces. "God, Pete. This looks bad."

"It feels worse." I stretch out my leg and discover a new shooting pain. I grit my teeth and barely manage to stifle a groan. After a few moments with my eyes slammed shut, I exhale and say, "I need to talk to your Dad."

Babs looks at me curiously.

"Well, not me, but--" I hold up my mask. She nods understandingly. As I pull myself to my feet once more, I slide the fabric back over my face. "I'm glad you're okay." I slip out the window and land silently in front of the house. I tiptoe around the side and knock on the front door.

[Carnage27]

"Kurt", Scott spoke as they neared the city.
"Use the navigational scanners to see if you can find us a good place to put her down. Something out of the way, preferably."

I nod to Scott in acknowledgment, and turn my attention to the scanner to find a suitable landing pad. An area slightly southwest of the city catches my eye, and Scott and I take the Blackbird in for a perfect landing.

I power the jet down, and extend the boarding ramp and prepare to head outside, when Scott grabs my shoulder.

"Kurt, the professor gave me this to give to you," he says as he hands me what appears to be a wrist watch. "It's an image inducer. Professor Xavier was worried that people may start trouble when they saw you."

I put the device on my wrist, and begin pressing the buttons. I take a peak at my reflection in the 'Bird's window, and see what can only be described as a young Harrison Ford.

"Scott, I believe I'm going to enjoy this...as will the frauliens," I say with a grin.

The four of us exit the Blackbird, and Scott turns on the cloaking device, concealing the jet from the public's eyes.

"So...where to?"

[Karem-Knight]

The White House, Oval Office A few minutes prior:

I sit down at my Oval Office, patiently waiting for a relative short term sacrifice waiting patiently I have requested a moment of preparation, telling me contacts around the building that I am "meditating" for a moment of clarity. The job of President wasn't as ambitious or as stress convened as I expected for the first few weeks, but it has been....quiet. In it's own little way for the short while I have been in this office but soon that will change, as me and Miss Waller have devised a plan; Our agent Sentry has been psychoanalysed by Emma Frost and under direct orders we have planned for him to release his darker personality, The Void for my new team The Avengers to come in and save the day. The public will adore them, the Justice League? Will detest them and the world will be set in the right way, my way.

All of a sudden I look behind my self to see the blue sky into something more darker a very black cloud seems to overload the sky and all of a sudden within moments it surrounds the entire building and my view.

"Hello, President!"

Right on cue, letting go of my smirk I turn around and face The Void starring at him. "Who are you!? What do you want?" I must admit, theatre was never my speciality but it won't matter. I will relive my darkest fears, but this...thing has no idea of my life. He will ineffective against me after all, I am the President of the United States.

"I'm surprised you don't remember me, Lex! You, Waller....you all turned against me! Made me into something I'm not, how dare you! But that is all going to change now! Now you will only be able to see the light and error of your ways through your inner soul!!"

All of a sudden a black mystical ooze stabs me right into the chest and pushes me back as images flash through my eyes. "AHHHHHHHHHH!!!" The pain is immense and all of a sudden I see my father in front of me.

"You were always a failure Lex!" He steps over to punch me, "Daddy! Stop, please! PLEASE!" Another punch, "Stupid, stupid BOY!" Another punch to the face! The coward, I was only a child! No, stop; please! I pull up with all my strength, snap out of it Luthor! It's a tick, stop, god dammit STOP!

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8376/21819991aeecac1878hy.jpg

"Luthor!"

No, no, no! Not him! Argh, I try and escape The Void's mind caps but the thought of the Alien drives me to the brink of insanity the one thing I hate and fear more then my father, it! "How will it feel, Lex? When it's all mine! Everything you worked for...gone! Everything you ever wanted mine for the taking, and you know what really scares you Luthor? What if I'm right!"

"No! NO! NO! SHUT UP! YOU'RE NOT EVEN HUMAN! JUST....JUST GO AWAY! GO BACK TO WHERE EVER YOU CAME FROM! ARGH!"

He grabs me and flies to the skies those red eyes stare down at mine in the eve of space. "Truth hurts, doesn't it Lex? I am the hero that Metropolis has, that America has! That the world has! Not you, you're nothing!"

NO! Go away, you...you thing! Leave me alone! Luthor! Stop, this is all mind games try and get out of it. The world needs you, America needs you now! Snap out of it!

[Red_Robin77]

"Or...since Robin has his bike, we could just take the car."

***

I pull the batmobile behind Gordon's house with a screech. The canopy opens above Spider-Man and myself.

"We're here..."

I pull up my bike outside Gordon's house and watch as Spider-Man leaps over to the window. The Batmobile rockets off through the street again, with me in pursuit, flying through the traffic casually. I quickly catch up, riding alongside the large upgraded car as pedestrians watch us go by.

"So, what now Batman?" I ask over the communicator, remembering our codenames.

[Byrd Man]

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t302/DCMarvelRPG/Supporting%20Characters/Jim%20Gordon/GordonBanner.gif

After arriving at home, Barbara goes straight to bed. Given the activites, I escort her up there and make sure her door is locked good and tight.

What I expect happens about a half hour after we get home, I hear voices above me and then...


I slip out the window and land silently in front of the house. I tiptoe around the side and knock on the front door.

"Spider-Man." I say as I open the door.

"I can only assume Batman drove you over?" I ask curiously with the door wide open.

"Well, come inside. I don't think you want to stand out in the middle of the street for too long."

[Byrd Man]

Now

Lieutenant Akins stands in the halls of Kane Elementary with his gun pointed at school principal Rick Higginbotham. The other Kevlar clad MCU detectives rush in on the man.

"Get the **** down!"

Three Hours Before Now

"Sawyer."

Sargent Sawyer reaches over her desk in the MCU squadroom and grabs the walkie-talkie.

"Go ahead."

"It's Bullock. I'm at the place with Montoya. Call in the ME's office...we got a decomp."

"Well, then **** me on a Sunday."

Two Hours Before Now

Detectives Driver, Fields, Bullock, and Montoya stand in the front room of the apartment supposedly belonging to John Randolph Lees.

"How bad is he?" Fields says as he pulls out a pack of cigarettes.

"Give me one of those."

"Me too."

"Goddamn, you cops or beggars?" Fields mutters as he hands out smokes.

"From what I saw working Homicide, probably about a month decomp based on the weather." Bullock says as he lights up a cigarette.

"We're just lucky this bastard didn't die during the middle of summer, then it'd be nasty."

One Hour Before Now

Percy Graves, Gotham's Cheif Medical Examiner, stands in front of Detectives Bullock and Montoya with the files in front of him.

"Based on the dental records you have given me, the dead body you brought used to be that of Richard William Higginbotham."

"How'd he die?" Montoya asks as the doctor flips to another page.

"Blunt force trauma. From the angle and position of the fracture in his skull, I'd say whoever killed him was smaller than him."

"How tall was he?"

"Chart here says 6'4."

Bullock nods at the doctor and they turn away to leave.

"According to the captain's eyeball measure, the other prinicpal stands at about 5'8."

30 Minutes From Now

"Wait, back it up." Sarah Essen says as she looks around at her detectives inside the squadroom.

"Captain Essen. It's all there." Sargent Sawyer says as she looks behind Essen's shoulder at the paperwork.

"So, according to this. John Lees, a convicted child raper killed Richard Higginbotham and stole his identity to work at Kane Elementary, where he proceeded to work as principal and then kidnapped, torutured, raped and mutilated five Gotham Children?"

"Yes, Captain."

"How come nobody at the school said anything about the fact that their principal was replaced?"

"Higginbotham was to be interviewed for the prinicpal job four days before he was killed. He interviewed over the phone, and the background check the school ran on him came up clean because John Lees is the sex fiend." Bullock says as he puts out his cigar.

"Do we have a witness?"

"Guy on the docs who says he unknowingly supplied Lees with the warehouse where we found the bodies." Detective Fields mentions to his Captain.

"CSI is combing it right now, 2-3 odds say we get hits on fibers and DNA from Lees."

Essen looks around at her officers and then slowly smiles.

"Okay. Lieutenant Akins in at the school right now. I'll run this to an ADA. The rest of you, grab your kevlar and guns."

Five Minutes From Now

Lieutenant Akins had gotten the call on his cellphone thirty minutes ago. He was to delay Higginbotham until the rest of the MCU arrived with a warrant for his arrest.

"So, Lieutenant. I've showed you all my classrooms, the gym, the bathrooms, the cafeteria, and the basement. What else do you wish to see?" Higginbotham asked with a bit of frustration.

"Well, Rick, can I call you Rick? Well, Rick. I'd like to know a little bit about you. You're new to Kane, right?"

"Yeah. Started last month."

"Wow. Cause, you know. That's when this whole mess started."

"Y-yeah...what a coincidence."

"Umm-huh. So, you like kids, right?"

"What do you mean?" He asks as a small bead of sweat rolls down the side of his head.

"You know, you being a teacher and all. You like shaping and molding young minds?"

"Oh, yes."

"But it goes beyond just minds, right? You gotta get down in there and show them how to be better....Right, John?"

"W-what was that?"

"It is John, right? John Randolph Lees."

Lees acts quickly, pushing Akins against the wall and starts to speed off down the hallway towards the school's front door.

The hallway's side door swings open and five officers run through.

"Get the **** down!" Akins screams as he points his gun at the man.

The kevlar clad detectives rush in. The metal handcuffs make a glorious snapping sound as they subdue the child killer.

"John Randolph Lees. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law."
[/LEFT]


***************

It's been ten hours since the Lees arrest. He's already on the way to Arkham. Lawyer pleaded insanity so they're sending him there for review. More than likely Arkham is where he'll spend the rest of his days.

"Piece of trash like that deserves the needle." Bullock says as he and Driver sit on the roof of the GCPD building, sharing a bottle of whiskey.

"What can we do, Harvey? That's the American leagal system for you."

"We could always drive to Arkham and fill that ****er full of holes."

"Maybe, but I'm just happy we got him off the streets."

Driver takes the bottle from Bullock and takes a long swig off of it.

"What time is it?"

"3 a.m....crap, I gotta hit the bed. I'm working the 8-4 with Charlie."

"Yeah. I think I'm pulling the 12 to 8."

"Just remember this." Driver says as he slightly slurs his words.

"The good guys won the day."

"But what about tomorrow?"

"**** tomorrow. You just gotta take your victories one day at a time."


http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9195/mcu.gif
A Day In The Life

[Catman_prb]

I nod to Scott in acknowledgment, and turn my attention to the scanner to find a suitable landing pad. An area slightly southwest of the city catches my eye, and Scott and I take the Blackbird in for a perfect landing.

I power the jet down, and extend the boarding ramp and prepare to head outside, when Scott grabs my shoulder.

"Kurt, the professor gave me this to give to you," he says as he hands me what appears to be a wrist watch. "It's an image inducer. Professor Xavier was worried that people may start trouble when they saw you."

I put the device on my wrist, and begin pressing the buttons. I take a peak at my reflection in the 'Bird's window, and see what can only be described as a young Harrison Ford.

"Scott, I believe I'm going to enjoy this...as will the frauliens," I say with a grin.

The four of us exit the Blackbird, and Scott turns on the cloaking device, concealing the jet from the public's eyes.

"So...where to?"
Jamie was starting to wish that he had left his father's trenchcoat in the Blackbird; leather wasn't really suitable for the Egyptian heat unless it were a thong. And on Jean. The heat was making him slightly irritable, but he was fairly impressed by what appeared to be an Egyptian market in the square opposite theirs.

"What, Egypt wasn't specific enough for you?" he quipped, grinning at his blue-furred friend.

"Can't say I dig the new look fuzzball my man. You like a bit effeminate. You know, like those androgynous japanese video game characters. Or Marilyn Manson,"

[Catman_prb]

After having spent the past month and a half practicing with the power ring, John felt that he could control it fairly well. That and he could now understand just what the ring was going to say to him. He'd even gone into space once, in what could only be described as a truly terrifying experience. He was also going out on patrol - not anything big, but a few bank robbers had been deposited at the local police station. So when his ring started flashing as he soared over New York, he could imagine just what was about to happen.

Level 3 Alert within 2479 metres due South East

Level 3? That was up from the usual Level 10 burglars. He dropped down out of the sky, so that he hovered over the street where the pointy eared green monster was setting innocent people on fire.


"Pathetic."

A giant green mallet slammed down on the alien, knocking him over.

"Do I know you, little man?" John snarled.

[SenseiofCheese]

A giant green mallet slammed down on the alien, knocking him over.

"Do I know you, little man?" John snarled.

"If you did, you would have known better than to approach me, insect." Kl'rt growled as he dragged himself to his feet, up out of the crater left by the Lantern´s construct. Within a second, any hint of pain had completely left the Super Skrull, replaced by sheer anger as he laid eyes upon the emblem adorning his attacker´s chest.

"You are not the one I´m looking for." Kl'rt snarled, before his lips snaked into a twisted grin. "But I suppose your insides will look the same as Rayner´s, squashed under my heel." he roared as a pillar of raging flames shot from the palm of his hand and towards the hovering Lantern.

[Catman_prb]

"If you did, you would have known better than to approach me, insect." Kl'rt growled as he dragged himself to his feet, up out of the crater left by the Lantern´s construct. Within a second, any hint of pain had completely left the Super Skrull, replaced by sheer anger as he laid eyes upon the emblem adorning his attacker´s chest.

"You are not the one I´m looking for." Kl'rt snarled, before his lips snaked into a twisted grin. "But I suppose your insides will look the same as Rayner´s, squashed under my heel." he roared as a pillar of raging flames shot from the palm of his hand and towards the hovering Lantern.
A large barrier was erected in front of the fire. Stewart dropped to the ground, walking slowly towards the creature. Raising an eye in mild surprise when the flames didn't abate, he slammed the shield into the monstrous thing.

"Don't know any Rayner. But then again, I didn't know about little green men, so I guess I've got a lot to learn," he said, slamming a fist charged by the power ring into his face.

"But this I have been taught; you are ordered by law to stand down," he growled, covering him with the power ring.

[Byrd Man]

A large barrier was erected in front of the fire. Stewart dropped to the ground, walking slowly towards the creature. Raising an eye in mild surprise when the flames didn't abate, he slammed the shield into the monstrous thing.

"Don't know any Rayner. But then again, I didn't know about little green men, so I guess I've got a lot to learn," he said, slamming a fist charged by the power ring into his face.

"But this I have been taught; you are ordered by law to stand down," he growled, covering him with the power ring.

John Stewart had the Skrull on the run. Now as the time for the knockout punch.

A giant emerald boxing glove crashes into the pavement and knocks the Skrull off his feet.

"I would listen to my partner." A green clad figure says as it touches down on the ground next to Stewart.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb232/byrdRPG/gldd.jpg

"The last thing we are is afraid of you."

[SenseiofCheese]

"One. Two. A thousand." The Super Skrull muttered as he coughed violently, pushing himself to his feet. "I will lay waste to the entire Lantern Corps." he stated, as if his objective had already been met.

With a roar, Kl'rt´s left hand seemed to spring to life. He swatted it towards the horned Lantern. Like an elastic whip, the Super Skrull´s hand was tied around the devil´s foot. With a jerk, the devil was violently yanked towards the alien. When the Lantern was in reach, he was met by a rocky fist to his head and, without stopping, hurled towards a nearby building.

"You have already lost." he growled as the sound of Daredevil crashing into the building echoed up and down the street.

[wiegeabo]

"Again?"

"AGAIN!" All the kids shout.

All the nurses watching laugh with me. Joan spends two days a week volunteering at the hospital. Three if they get busy. Lately, I've been lucky to make it once a month. But I always help out at the same ward when I do.

"How about I go for a new record?"

"YAY!!!" All the kids shout and clap. I look over them. Some have lost their hair from the treatments. Others haven't. Some will make it. Others won't.

But at least for now, none of them have to worry about it.

"Okay. One hundred sixty nine coming right up." The pile of rubber balls is in front of me. I check the leaves on the trees, and they're still. Means there's not much wind. That's important. You can only juggle this many balls if you have a lot of room. Besides, the sunshine and fresh air of the hospital garden can only do these kids some good.

"And here...we...go!"

In a blur of swinging arms, the balls are off the ground and in the air. And the kids are loving it. Which is good. You can't imagine how hard it is to keep this many balls in the air with just two hands.


"This is Captain America. I need all Justice League members to report to the Brownstone ASAP for a meeting."


Steve's voice breaks my concentration and all the balls drop down and bounce off me. The kids laugh hysterically, and so do the nurses. And people wonder why I where a helmet.

"Okay kids, looks like I'm going to have to cut this short."

"AAAWWWW!!!"

"Hey, what can I say. Captain America just called a meeting of the Justice League."

There are too many gasps and 'oh cool!'s than I can count. I even hear one, 'Superman's cooler than Captain America'. I'd love to see their expressions hearing that.

"I'll be back as soon as I can. And maybe we'll try for another record. In the meantime, you all need to practice." The children suddenly find a trio of juggling balls in their hands as I take off for Gotham...

[Watchman]

I Come in Peace, Part 2: Night of the Chemomen

"Look at him, Mallah, the perfect Kree multiverse weapon!" The Brain is surrounded by monitors showing Noh-Varr beating back his security forces. Midas had come in contact with the Brain some time ago. He gave him the base, an abandon military base and the security forces to cut loose. What Midas didn't tell him was that this was all of this was being recorded. Midas was watching and studying Noh-Var.

"It seems our invader has defeated nearly all of our soldiers. I believe its time we give him somehting new to play with." The Brain let out a laugh as small mechanical claws pressed buttons.

"It is time to defend planet Earth."
*****
Noh-Varr laned the final kick on the last guard. He joined the others who were either dead, broken, or knocked out. A door shot open and three very large men in hazmat suits walked out. The three of them were carrying steel balls attached to chains.

"Please, am I suppose to be frighten by the likes of you. I am giving you one chance to surrender and take me to your leader." They continue to remain silent. Two of them threw their weapons at Noh-Varr. He leaps dodging one of them and launching himself off another. He was heading straight for his attackers but before he reached them one of them grabbed him in midair and slammed him to the ground. A monitor flipped open revealing two red eyes.

"Hello Alien, this is how we shake hands on Earth." Another one of the men stomp on him, another one kicked him, and the final one threw him. He then tossed his weapon hitting Noh-Varr sending him through the wall.

"May I present to you the Chemomen. I designed them myself. Perfect hive mind function allowing for the ultimate tatical decisions. Give up and give in." Noh-Varr flips the monitor off.

"I think thats how you say it on your planet."

"Have it your way you cosmic juvenile delinquent. Watch as the venom enters the Chemomen's veins." A liquid begins to pump into their arms. Inhuman screams come from the Hazmat suits. Soon the Hazmat suits are filled with a green slime and two white eyes are peering out at him. The three charge him.

"Noh-Varr, I'm detecting that this so called Chemomen have gone through a metamorphous."

"I can see that, Plex."

"They were humans who have been altered by your unknown attacker. Beings who were able to adapt the traits of whatever touch them. They absorbed the properties of the chemicals and transformed into these things that are part solid, part liquid. Convential fighting techniques are ineffective." Noh-Varr leap over them landing on the other side of the room. Noh-Varr fires a shot at a door blowing a hole through it.

"Plex open inventory. I need four force field generators and a Super Nova grenade."

"What are you going to do with those?"

"I have a plan." He tosses three force field generators against three of the walls, then the super nova grenade in the center of the room. Ducking out the hole he made he threw the last generator.

"Burn!" He yelled at the monster men. He turned on all his device. The monster let out an gurgling scream as if someone was trying to shout underwater.

"Noh-Varr, a job well done. Superheating those chemicals at that temperature will turn them into a gas. That gives us enough time for ship repairs." Noh-Varr looks up at a security camera.

"Hear that plenty of time to finish up our business."

[Watchman]

So you Say you want a Revolution?

"Victor, what is the meaning of this?" Ra's said unethuastucally. He sat in front of Doom who had a number of League of Assassin members hehind him. By his side was Talia.

"Judging by your tone, you knew about the coup."

"I did. I have spies everywhere, Victor," he rose from his chair, "after everything I gave you Victor. I brought you into my home and gave you my teachings. You ungrateful child! Why?"

"Nobody, uses Doom as I puppet."

"I am your master!"

"Doom has no master. As for your spy." He nods to one of his men who draws a sword and places at Talia's neck.

"Beloved, why?"

"You betrayed me first, Talia. But you have the pleasure of my mercy, a quick death."

"Doom! How dare you! How dare you threaten my blood! I will have your head on a pike!"

"Unlikely." A shot was fired. Hitting the man holding Taila. This is when all hell broke loose. Doom's men fought with Ra's men. Two swords clashed together as Doom and Ra's met face to face.

"You can't beat me, Doom. I've taught you everything and I know more." The continue to fight.

"You believe you are my superior, old man. That is your folly." Ra's gains the upper hand. He kicks Doom in the stomach, knocking him down. He raises his sword. "You claim to know more than me. Let me show you how wrong you are!" Something springs from Doom's hands. Magic flies from Doom's hands and into Ra's eyes.

"My eyes!" Doom knew Ra's could easily fight blind so he took the only second he had. He drove his sword through Ra's heart. The battle ceased as Doom's group stood victorious. Talia knelt beside her dead father.

"You could have been my queen. Queen of the world but you spat in my face. Take your dead and get out of my sight."

"I vow, Victor Von Doom. I vow that one day I will have my revenge." The few remaining men of Ra's took his body and left with Taila. Those that stayed bowed before Doom.

"Master, may we present you with a gift." Standing against the wall was a suit of armor. Without saying a word Doom walks up to the armor. He takes the mask and places it on his face.
*******
Now,

Doom with a very large crowd of people walked up the stairs of the capital building. The soldiers ready their weapons with the appointed president of Latveria waiting for them.

"You don't rule anymore, Doom. Latveria is a land of the free. Governed by the people not one man." The "President" shouted.

"I believe the people have chosen their leader," he motioned to the crowd behind him, "they will not back a puppet."

"You will be making very strong enemies!"

"Luthor? S.H.I.E.L.D? Do not be absurd. Doom fears no man." The president smack one of the soldiers over the head.

"What the hell are you waiting for?! Kill him!" The soldiers opened fire but the bullets bounced off a unseen force field.

"How crude." Each one of the soldiers burst into flames. The president ran inside and locked himself in his office.

"My people let me deal with this coward." Doom burst into the office only to find the president on his knees, groveling.

"No! My king have mercy. Please have mercy!" He was crying now.

"How utterly pathetic. You are unworthy of my attention. Doom shall not kill you."

"Thank you! Thank you! I am unworthy! I am scum!" The room got hotter and a red tint filled the room.

"What's happening."

"I said you were unworthy for Doom to bestow punishment. I never said anything about lower creatures." The floor underneath the former president ripped like paper revealing the very pits of hell itself. Claws grabbed the man

"No! NO! Have mercy!"

"I am showing you my mercy. The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike, The devil will come, and Faustus must be damned." Before Doom closed the hole he could see the man being ripped to pieces by the demons.

[wiegeabo]

I pull up my bike outside Gordon's house and watch as Spider-Man leaps over to the window. The Batmobile rockets off through the street again, with me in pursuit, flying through the traffic casually. I quickly catch up, riding alongside the large upgraded car as pedestrians watch us go by.

"So, what now Batman?" I ask over the communicator, remembering our codenames.


"I believe...that tomorrow is a school day." I can hear Robin groan over the comm and it makes me smirk.

"We've been out a long time tonight. Gordon's people are working the kidnapping case, and getting farther along than we are. And Gotham is relatively quiet for once. We'll hit the streets again tomorrow night."

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/SilverSurfer-11-1.jpg

THE ODYSSEY
Chapter 2 ~ The Good Samaritan - Act 4

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Devilance-1.jpg

"I am Devilance, God of the Pursuit...and today you will die by my hands."

Without further words, the Pursuer attacks, raising his lance and firing a blast of energy that catches the Surfer in the chest, knocking him off of his board.

Devilance is on top of Norrin just as he regains his senses, and the Surfer is just barely able to avoid the swipe of the Pursuer's vicious blade.

The Surfer reaches out with lightning quick reflexes, gripping Devilance's faces and sending a massive jolt of cosmic energy into New God's body.

The Pursuer grasps his face with his hand, clutching it in pain. The Pursuer glared at the Surfer from between his fingers.

"You have spirit, I will give you that", shouted the Pursuer as he rushed the Surfer, stabbing Norrin in the gut with the butt-end of his lance.

"My master would enjoy tearing it from you."

The Surfer doubled over as the blunt instrument jabbed into his midsection, and the Pursuer spun around, launching Norrin into the depths of space.

"Enough!"

Norrin stopped suddenly, his hands outstretched as if clinging to a stationary object that wasn't there.

"To me, my board!"

The Surfer's board raced towards it's master's call. With a little twist of his hand, the Surfer brought the rocketing board crashing into the Pursuer's back.
The board kept on flying forward, with the Pursuer acting as it's hood ornament. The mighty Apokoliptian warship loomed in front of the God, and the Pursuer could not free himself before the inevitable collision.

The board smashed into the ship's stern, tearing through a large section of thrusters.
Massive explosions rocked the rear of the vessel as the warship lurched lazily in the gloom.

The Surfer reached out his hand, and his silver surfboard silently winded it's way to settled comfortably under Norrin's feet.

"Well done, old friend", Norrin nodded as he looked on to the damaged ship with satisfaction.
"There is no way they will be able to go after the Starjammers now."

"RRAAAGHH!"

The Surfer barely had time to bring his board up as the blade of the lance came slashing down towards his head.
The blow nicked the Surfer's chest, slicing a thin line into his chrome skin. But what truly surprised the Surfer is that the blade of the lance cleanly sliced his board in two.

"By The Source!"


"Indeed", replied Devilance coldly as he swiped at the Surfer again, aiming for his neck.
Reacting on instinct, Norrin did his best to avoid the blow, barely ducking his head fast enough as the blade breezed by.

Norrin reached out his glowing hand, taking control of the weapon, trying to warp it, to destroy it. But the lance was surprisingly resistant to the Power Cosmic.
It bent and twisted as Norrin tried to take hold of it, but it would not budge.

"How can this be?"

"The weapons of my master are not so easily undone, Surfer", answered the Pursuer as he slammed his fist into the Surfer's nose.

"Then we do this the old fashion way", stated the Silver Surfer as he shook off the blow and connected to the bottom of the Pursuer's jaw with a cosmically charged uppercut.
The impact of the blow sent the Pursuer hurtling deeper into space, as well as created a mini shockwave that rocked the already damaged ship.

Norrin watched as the Pursuer righted himself and charged.

BOOM!

The massive portal seemed to manifest from the ether itself. It was brilliant to behold, forcing even the eyes of the Silver Surfer to take pause.

And slowly the massive warship began crawl towards the tube-like vortex, disappearing as it entered it's blinding white mass.

"Consider yourself fortunate, little one", sneered the Pursuer.
"You will survive to live another day. But, rest assured. We will meet again."

Devilance turned and flew off towards the portal, disappearing right behind the warship.

"No", Norrin whispered under his breath as he took off after his foe.

I cannot allow these creatures to escape.
Even if I lose Galactus' trail, I cannot let these creatures cause more death and destruction upon this universe.

The small silver streak disappeared into the vortex, hot on the heels of his enemies. Then, as sudden and loud as it's arrival had been, the vortex vanished from sight. Leaving nothing but the cold darkness of space in it's passing...

[SenseiofCheese]

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a108/JokerSoze/Thor5.jpg

"Release Lex Luthor and surrender yourself.... or I will have your head."

Thunder rumbled, but not that of the Void. It was a different kind of thunder, Wally felt. The good kind, if there was such a thing. The Avengers reeled at the sight of Thor on his feet, the look of godly anger on his face. The darkness around them seemed to howl in anger as the Wielder of the Living Thunder broke free from the Void´s prison.

Before even Wally could realize what was happening, the entire world seemed to shake violently as the ocean of darkness above their heads began to crack and crumble. Finally, with blinding light and a deafening explosion, the shadow exploded as Thor summoned a massive bolt of lightning down from the heavens. Bathed in light and power, the Void let out a deafening scream that had the Avengers clutching their ears in pain.

And, with that, the Void was seemingly gone.

"My head, Thor?" it seemed to come from everywhere.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/13340/298995-199928-void_super.jpg

"I am the Shadow. I am the Beast of Impossible. You are all dead." he spoke with an eerie calmness that crawled into their pores and latched on to their souls.

The shadows had engulfed everything. There were no walls, no ceiling. Even though the Avengers stood on solid ground, their eyes saw nothing but black in every direction; endless.

thwwwiiip

A black hand grabbed the arrow before it made impact. With not an ounce of effort, The Void´s hand snapped the steel arrow in half. "Don't be stupid, Barton."

"I'm not." Barton retorted with a cocky grin as emerald shackles appeared around the living shadow´s feet. Before the monster could react, The Flash had already delivered over 50 punches and kick to his body, while Wonder Woman herself delivered a single blow to his face.

[Catman_prb]

"I'm not." Barton retorted with a cocky grin as emerald shackles appeared around the living shadow´s feet. Before the monster could react, The Flash had already delivered over 50 punches and kick to his body, while Wonder Woman herself delivered a single blow to his face.
The Void let out a cold high laugh, slowly reaching down and touching the green shackles that held his feet together. Immediately the green turned black, a black which spread back to the Green Lantern's ring. Kyle Rayner let out a bone-chilling scream, hands going to his head in pain. Wonder Woman made another attempt to attack him, but he simply punched her in the jaw. A black aura seemed to leak off the Void, encompassing all of the Avengers team. Standing unaffected amidst the destruction and suffering was the Vision. The Void grinned.

"And what are you, my metal friend?" he asked blithely.

"I am new," the Vision stated, turning intangible and placing his hands through the black creature. He returned back to being tangible, with his hands inside the monster. The Void leaned close.

"I can do that too," he whispered, plunging his hands through the chest of the mechanical man.

[Watchman]

wrong thread :O

[Red_Robin77]

"I believe...that tomorrow is a school day." I can hear Robin groan over the comm and it makes me smirk.

"We've been out a long time tonight. Gordon's people are working the kidnapping case, and getting farther along than we are. And Gotham is relatively quiet for once. We'll hit the streets again tomorrow night."

Urgh. School. The most pointless and useless thing that a superhero should ever have to go through. But of course, "education is important". I turn a corner, heading to the Batcave. I dodge the traffic and head off to the hidden entrance, before soon enough driving into the cave. I remove my helmet and place it on my bike before moving off of it. I walk off up to the main computer and look at the huge screen, hoping for any sign that I can get out there once again. Nothing. I take off my mask slumping in the chair.

"Night Bruce," I call down to him.

I remove my cape and the rest of my outfit, returning myself to the clothes of a regular kid. I head off to the stairs back up to the Manor, passing Alfred on the way.

"Night Alfred," I smile to him as I climb the stairs.

"Goodnight Master Dick," Alfred replies smoothly as he continues to descend.

As I make my way through the labrynth of the Manor I think forward to the day ahead of me. Being with Kitty, school and saving the City from mad men. Perfect. All I have to do is dodge school. I finally arrive at my bedroom and fall to the bed straight away, taking only seconds to fall asleep.

[Eddie Brock]

I barely wait for the words to leave Reed's mouth and speed of towards HERBIE. Plasma blasts whiz by my head, but I'm too quick for even the machine's aim this time. I slam into the metallic frame, sending it flying higher into the air.

I can feel the intense heat of Johnny's flames as they fly by me surrounding the robot, kept in place by Sue's forcefields.

I swoop down next to Ben, "Care to go for a short flight, Mr. Thing?"

"Sweetheart, I've been waiting ta get my hands on that blasted bot all day," he responds cracking his knuckles.

He runs towards me, and I fling him in HERBIE's direction. The flames disappear, Ben grapples onto our enemy, and begins to pound away on him, as Reed creeps up from behind.
I'm a few feet away from H.E.R.B.I.E. when his head swivels around to face me. He doesn't seem to even notice the beating he's receiving at the hands of Ben. "Excellent plan, master. In fact, it's the only logical one, really."

"Don' worry, Stretch. I got this," Ben assures me. He reaches for the exposed panel at the back of H.E.R.B.I.E.'s head. I don't have time to warn him. As soon as his rocky finger grips at the metal, an electric shockwave ripples through the area. We're all flung back by its force.

I suspected something like that might happen. H.E.R.B.I.E. knew what I was planning, so he no doubt made modifications to protect his primary motor cortex. Which means I'm fresh out of ideas.

"What do you think, master? The Bugle photographer has been here for some time. I'm sure we've given him ample opportunity to document this, wouldn't you say?" I glance down, and - sure enough - there's a photographer snapping away with his camera. I look back up at H.E.R.B.I.E., and - for a moment - I swear that I can detect a smile. "I think one more planned offensive should sell my defeat, don't you?"

There's nothing left to do. "Yes, H.E.R.B.I.E. That sounds about right," I agree. Finally, this nightmare will be over. I regroup with my team - and Kara - and explain, "We gotta hit him one more time, and it should be over." Johnny looks overjoyed.

[Keyser Soze]

The Void let out a cold high laugh, slowly reaching down and touching the green shackles that held his feet together. Immediately the green turned black, a black which spread back to the Green Lantern's ring. Kyle Rayner let out a bone-chilling scream, hands going to his head in pain. Wonder Woman made another attempt to attack him, but he simply punched her in the jaw. A black aura seemed to leak off the Void, encompassing all of the Avengers team. Standing unaffected amidst the destruction and suffering was the Vision. The Void grinned.

"And what are you, my metal friend?" he asked blithely.

"I am new," the Vision stated, turning intangible and placing his hands through the black creature. He returned back to being tangible, with his hands inside the monster. The Void leaned close.

"I can do that too," he whispered, plunging his hands through the chest of the mechanical man.

While The Void may have been gaining the advantage in his battle with The Vision, he lost sight of the fact that, in doing so, he had come out of the shadow just enough to make himself visible. And so, a large hand found itself grasped around his throat.

"Now I have you, creature of dark and filth."

As soon as he touched The Void, he felt a coldness shoot up his veins and turn his blood to ice. Living darkness seemed to be crawling up his arm, consuming him in shadow. Memories of the nightmarish apparition began reverbating in his mind.

MURDERER!

No. He couldn't fall back into the darkness. He had to fight it. He had to cast this monster out into the light. Tightening his grip on Mjolnir, he drew it back, and brought it crashing into The Void's heart.

The blow had the power of a hurricane behind it. It sent The Void blasting backwards, through the walls of the White House and into the tornado outside. Like a spell being broken, the night sky flooded into the room, and though still dark, by comparison it was like a flood of sunlight breaking up The Void's concentrated shadow. The living darkness that had seemed to fester along the walls of the hallways rapidly dispersed, leaving the White House somewhat resembling its normal form.

"This is not over."

The tornado had not stopped The Void. Rather, The Void was corrupting the tornado, turning it into a vortex of seething, inpenetrable blackness. And it was growing.

"Flash, can you outrun a whirlwind?"

Tentatively, The Flash nodded.

"Undo these spiralling winds, cast The Void out of his hiding place like a rat out of his hole. Then he will be exposed, ready to be vanquished once and for all."

Thor launched Mjolnir and himself into the air.

"I shall keep him busy."

And then Thor plunged headlong into the black tornado.

[SenseiofCheese]

The tornado had not stopped The Void. Rather, The Void was corrupting the tornado, turning it into a vortex of seething, inpenetrable blackness. And it was growing.

"Flash, can you outrun a whirlwind?"

Tentatively, The Flash nodded.

"Undo these spiralling winds, cast The Void out of his hiding place like a rat out of his hole. Then he will be exposed, ready to be vanquished once and for all."

Thor launched Mjolnir and himself into the air.

"I shall keep him busy."

And then Thor plunged headlong into the black tornado.

Wally West, without knowing if the plan would even work, ran. He ran fast. Hank Pym had quickly devised a strategy. Himself, Wasp, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern had retreated to tend to the civilians and security guards that were trapped within the nightmarish world of the Void´s dark tendrils, while Hawkeye had been assigned to finding and rescuing the President himself.

And the Flash ran. As he had done many times before, and fully planned on doing many times more. He would not fail. He ran fast enough that he hardly felt his feet touch the ground; it was like he was running on air.

"Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on....." he said over and over, running circle after circle, battling the ever-raging tornado that seemed to grow darker with each step the Scarlet Speedster took. Around and around Wally ran, but it never seemed to be enough.

He had lost count of how many times he had circled the hurricane; he was in a world of his own. For all he knew, and perhaps most disturbingly, didn't find wholly impossible, the others were dead. He didn't want to believe it, but the Void was pure, dark power. Could a God defeat pure evil?

"Go..go...go...go..." Wally repeated in a silent prayer, as he felt himself become something he hadn't been for a long time; tired.

You're not good enough.

"Wha--"

You were NEVER good enough.

Tendrils of pitch black had exploded from the tornado. To the people outside, the hurrican had taken the shape of a dark beast with a thousand arms, coiling and snapping at everything around it.

Not like Barry was. You're not the Flash. You're just a little boy playing pretend.

The voices grew louder and more convincing as the tendrils gained on Wally. Closer and closer they came.

It doesn't matter how big a team you're a part of. You're alone, Wally.

"I'm....not..." his voice was strained, sweat pouring down his face torrents.

You're not fast enough. Slowpoke.

The world around Wally had already become a blur. But he heard a voice. Another voice; one that didn't want him harm.

"klnmaslmfe"

Wally couldn't hear him, but he called back. As loud and as clear as he could, he screamed out. Because Wally knew that now, he wasn't alone. Not anymore.

"VISION! HELP! HELP ME!!!" he cried out as one of the tendrils finally caught up with him, snaking around his ankle.

[Catman_prb]

"VISION! HELP! HELP ME!!!" he cried out as one of the tendrils finally caught up with him, snaking around his ankle.
The Vision's head twitched uncontrollably as the motors and advanced synaptic circuitry that worked his body went into overdrive. Error after error flooded his CPU as it tried to bypass the machinery that had been damaged when the Void had plunged it's hands into his chest. There was a sickening crunch as he crashed into the ravaged ground.

-SYSTEM REBOOTING-

"Sometimes the whole is more than the sum of it's parts,"

His head flicked up, honing in on the sound of his team-mate Wally West. He was running. Running very very fast. The Vision slowed the rate of the frames, watching the black tendrils chasing him. From his eyes powerful searchlights shone at them, banishing the shadows until he could see the tendrils clearly, on their own. He gripped it with a strong metallic grip like a vice.

"No," he growled through a stiff metallic jaw. He pulled the tendril back, and leapt out, grabbing another one that had leapt towards the speedster.

"Run, Flash," he hissed, moving himself and the monstrous tentacles backwards "Run,"

[Catman_prb]

"One. Two. A thousand." The Super Skrull muttered as he coughed violently, pushing himself to his feet. "I will lay waste to the entire Lantern Corps." he stated, as if his objective had already been met.

With a roar, Kl'rt´s left hand seemed to spring to life. He swatted it towards the horned Lantern. Like an elastic whip, the Super Skrull´s hand was tied around the devil´s foot. With a jerk, the devil was violently yanked towards the alien. When the Lantern was in reach, he was met by a rocky fist to his head and, without stopping, hurled towards a nearby building.

"You have already lost." he growled as the sound of Daredevil crashing into the building echoed up and down the street.
"Please, you couldn't lay waste to one of Tony Stark's floosies," John said, swinging a giant mace that hit the megolamaniac alien in the chest and throwing him onto his back.

"And I hope that broke your ribs too," he said, flashing a grin.

The man he knew as the Daredevil picked himself up from the rubble of a building and rejoined the brawl.

"What took you so long?" he asked, giving his partner a bracing pat on the shoulder.

"I was busy," he growled. The alien picked himself from the crater that had formed in the pavement. John rolled his eyes.

"Sweet Jesus - stand down," he shouted, blasting him in the chest with a heavily charged burst from the power ring.

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/SilverSurfer-11-1.jpg

THE ODYSSEY

The portal closes with a thunderous BOOM as the Silver Surfer is unceremoniously dumped onto the hard ground below.

Norrin groans as he shakes his head. The trip through the portal was one he was not accustomed to, and his disorientation was evident.

It did not take long for the Surfer to regain his senses, and his mouth went agape as he took in the world around him.

It was a hellish landscape, devoid of nature of any sort. Large stone buildings loomed around him. A colossal jet of fire roared into the atmosphere before him, coming out of a large man-made pit.
Screams of misery drifted to Norrin's ears on the hot breeze that bit at his skin.

There was a feeling of dread here. Norrin felt it well. As though the very air around him was some dark force waiting to strike.

"What abysmal plane have I so foolish entered", Norrin whispered to himself.

Only two beings I know would ever call a place this infernal home. Could this be nothing more than an elaborate trap by Neron or Mephisto? Once more trying to lay claim to my soul?

"Welcome, Silver Surfer."

The thoughts disappear from Norrin's mind as he looks towards the smoke-filled skies. Above him, tightly gripping his lance, is the Pursuer, flanked by the man from who demanded the Starjammer's surrender, Steppenwolf, on a hoverbike.

"Welcome to Apokolips", Steppenwolf exclaims as he spreads his arms wide as though to show off the planet around them.

"Home of all mighty Darkseid, Scourge of the Universe and Master of the Omega Effect."

Darkseid. Norrin had heard that name before, while still in service to Galactus. He did not know much about this Darkseid, but the Surfer knew he was a being of pure evil.


"You are a brave man, Surfer", continues Steppenwolf.
"Entering the portal, not knowing where you might end up?"

"And you shall be rewarded for your bravery", Steppenwolf smiled a toothy grin.
"As well as for your courageous actions in defense of the Starjammer, which allowed the ship to escape my grasp."

"The reward of a quick death in the name of the great Darkseid!"


"Devilance..."

The Pursuer eyed the Surfer dangerously as his deadly lance crackled with power.

"Kill him."




Chapter 3 ~ The Fourth World - Act 1

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Hulk-9.jpg

Part ~ 3

The Abomination growled as the good doctor Banner crashed into the nearby foliage. Bruce let out a stifled scream of pain as a tree branch cracked two ribs.
His head smacked into a small tree stump, leaving him seeing spots before his eyes as the darkness of unconsciousness began to creep in around him.

A rage began to burn in Banner's gut. A rage that pushed the creeping darkness away.

The Abomination's head darted about, spittle flying from his clenched teeth. Fury still gripped him as he looked around for something else to take his frustrations out on.

The Abomination looked down into a puddle of gathered rain water collected from earlier in the evening. Staring hard at his grotesque reflection, Blonsky cringed.

He had spent months playing Banner, trying to keep the doctor around with hopes of a cure. In reality Emil was using Banner's blood for a different purpose.

Once a scientist working for the US government, Emil Blonsky was placed on the revitalized Super-Soldier program, as they attempted to re-create the process which gave birth to Captain America.

But the experiment was met with failure after failure, eventually costing him his job as well as his reputation.
Blonsky was crushed and bitter towards his former employers, and was soon approached by a group of Ultra-Nationalists in his native Russia.

With the help of the Ultra-Nationalists, Blonsky was able to create his own lab to begin again were he left off. This time creating a super soldier for the Russian terrorists.

But Emil had no intentions of providing them with their weapon. No, Emil would perfect the serum and use it on himself. Then he would take his revenge on Eiling and the rest of the government goons that ruined him.

And, after finding out about Bruce Banner's dirty little secret, he knew his blood was the key.

And, with the faux promise of a cure, Blonsky had access to all the plasma he needed from the unsuspecting doctor.

But something went wrong. He wasn't changing back.

He was not supposed to be stuck in the form of a disgusting monstrosity.

He was supposed to be able to change back.

The Abomination roared, shaking the trees around him and frightening a flock of exotic birds into the night air.

"Damn you, Banner! This isn't fair!"

Raising his fists above his head, the Abomination brought them crashing down, smashing the reflective pool and splashing water everywhere.

The deafening scream caught the Abomination's attention. Looking towards the tree line where the yell seemed to have originated, the Abomination turned just in time for the large jungle tree to smash him directly in the face.

Blonsky tumbled backwards, crashing into the house and bringing it down around him.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Hulk-11.jpg

The Hulk roared in rage as he stomped into the clearing that once held Blonsky's make-shift laboratory.

The Abomination grinned as he wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand.

"Good, I was hoping you'd show up. I was worried I might have killed poor little Bruce."

Picking himself up from the rubble, the Abomination laughed, a rough, throaty sound, as he squared up against the Green Goliath standing before him.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Abomination-4.gif

"Let's see how strong you really are."

[Eddie Brock]

SUPERMAN

My cape billows in the icy, arctic air. I pay it no attention. After all, I remind myself, this place was once my home. I look around at the ice crystals which form my Fortress of Solitude, and I feel a strange sense of déja vu. I know that it's ridiculous. I was only a child when I left Krypton, but somehow knowing that this is what it was like, it gives me goosebumps. Apart from Kara, this place is my only connection to that long-lost world.

The meteorite sits motionless atop a flat crystal surface. The "Ω" stares up at me meaninglessly. I shake my head in disbelief that I didn't recognize the tiny Greek symbol when Tony first showed me the rock. I guess I was expecting something a little more grandiose. I'm not sure why STAR Labs was interested in what appears to be the remnants of ancient Greece. Still, it doesn't hurt to be thorough.

I draw a crystal from a panel at the far end of the Fortress. The scraping of ice on crystal resonates within the entire structure. I make my way back over to the meteorite and place the crystal in a small opening atop the platform. The Fortress immediately fills with lights - tiny Kryptonian letters and symbols, whizzing by like a moving 3-D computer screen. They're the Kryptonian archives. The meteorite hovers ominously as the advanced Kryptonian computer scans its surface.

"This is Captain America. I need all Justice League members to report to the Brownstone ASAP for a meeting."

For a brief moment, the commanding voice of Steve Rogers startles me. I look away from the meteorite to my League communicator, lying completely still at the other end of the Fortress, by the control panel. I turn back to the glowing Kryptonian symbols. They're now spinning by at incredible speeds. I decide to let the search run whilst I answer Steve's call.

***

I enter the Brownstone with such speed that loose papers and trash are kicked up into the air behind me. Steve and Nick Fury flinch only slightly. They're used to my abrupt entrances by now. I smile broadly and extend a hand towards my old friends.

"Early as usual, I see?" I joke lightheartedly.

[SenseiofCheese]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS][COLOR=green]"I was busy," he growled. The alien picked himself from the crater that had formed in the pavement. John rolled his eyes.

"Sweet Jesus - stand down," he shouted, blasting him in the chest with a heavily charged burst from the power ring.

"HURKKGGH!" The Super-Skrull groaned in pain as the a large, emerald pillar of energy slammed into his chest. He strained, meeting push with shove as it took most, if not all, of his strength to stay grounded as he was barraged with the Lantern´s power.

For a split moment, he could see shock in the Green Lantern´s eyes. But shock soon turned to determination, as the blast grew even stronger. Slowly Kl´rt began to loose his footing. Knowing full well that sooner or later the Green Lantern would overpower him, he lifted his foot and, with every bit the strength of Benjamin Grimm, slammed it down into the ground.

The entire planet seemed to shake; buildings rattled, their glass pane windows shattered and rained silver down on the trio. The concrete they stood on buckled and cracked, and the two Lanterns were thrown to the ground. The moment the jade construct vanished, it's creators´will power disturbed, the Super Skrull moved. His feet, elastic, let him cross the distance between him and his prey in a second flat, and the moment he was upon them he grabbed them by the throats.

"Willpower is no match for my power." he growled with a sadistic grin, as he stole the air from the two men´s lungs as his hands wrapped around their necks like snakes that went on forever.

[Carnage27]

I'm a few feet away from H.E.R.B.I.E. when his head swivels around to face me. He doesn't seem to even notice the beating he's receiving at the hands of Ben. "Excellent plan, master. In fact, it's the only logical one, really."

"Don' worry, Stretch. I got this," Ben assures me. He reaches for the exposed panel at the back of H.E.R.B.I.E.'s head. I don't have time to warn him. As soon as his rocky finger grips at the metal, an electric shockwave ripples through the area. We're all flung back by its force.

I suspected something like that might happen. H.E.R.B.I.E. knew what I was planning, so he no doubt made modifications to protect his primary motor cortex. Which means I'm fresh out of ideas.

"What do you think, master? The Bugle photographer has been here for some time. I'm sure we've given him ample opportunity to document this, wouldn't you say?" I glance down, and - sure enough - there's a photographer snapping away with his camera. I look back up at H.E.R.B.I.E., and - for a moment - I swear that I can detect a smile. "I think one more planned offensive should sell my defeat, don't you?"

There's nothing left to do. "Yes, H.E.R.B.I.E. That sounds about right," I agree. Finally, this nightmare will be over. I regroup with my team - and Kara - and explain, "We gotta hit him one more time, and it should be over." Johnny looks overjoyed.

I nod in acknowledgment to Reed and speed up towards H.E.R.B.I.E. along side Johnny. He throws a few fireballs, and I hit the robot with my heat vision. His outer shell begins to glow with heat as Ben climbs one of Sue's force fields and clobbers the automatron with his huge, orange fists.

Finally, Reed slingshots HERBIE into the SHIELD building using his elastic arms, and the robot shuts himself down waiting to be retrieved by Reed.

I fly down next to Mr. Fantastic, whose look of worry says it all, "Did you have any idea he was going to do this?"

[Carnage27]

"What, Egypt wasn't specific enough for you?" he quipped, grinning at his blue-furred friend.

"Can't say I dig the new look fuzzball my man. You like a bit effeminate. You know, like those androgynous japanese video game characters. Or Marilyn Manson,"

"No need to be jealous. Just because you can only get a date vith Jubilee doesn't mean zhe rest of us are destined for zhe same fate, 'Multiple Man'," I joke back as we reach the main road, Scott hails a cab, and we all pile in.

Jamie returns my dig with a look of shock, "Vhat, do you think no one would find out?"

The cab pulls away and we are on our way to find our new recruit.

[Catman_prb]

"No need to be jealous. Just because you can only get a date vith Jubilee doesn't mean zhe rest of us are destined for zhe same fate, 'Multiple Man'," I joke back as we reach the main road, Scott hails a cab, and we all pile in.

Jamie returns my dig with a look of shock, "Vhat, do you think no one would find out?"

The cab pulls away and we are on our way to find our new recruit.
"Jubilee is very pretty and a lovely girl!" Jamie protested, contorting himself into odd dimensions to avoid sitting on Scott's lap in the back of the cab.

"Besides, when I asked Rogue out, she threatened to throw me through a window. And Jean started slapping me before I could even ask her! Bloody psychics,"

[Catman_prb]

"Willpower is no match for my power." he growled with a sadistic grin, as he stole the air from the two men´s lungs as his hands wrapped around their necks like snakes that went on forever.
Groaning, John Stewart pawed at the hand of the Super Skrull. His vision started to turn spotty and he was trying to get as much air into his lungs as possible.

"Ring," he gasped "Function: Overcharge,"

Kl'rt raised a skeptical eyebrow as the power ring started to glow a vibrant green. He was even more surprised when Stewart's hand gripped the Skrull's forearm like a vice, the ring burning like a red hot poker. The hand wrapped around his throat loosened slightly. John could barely suppress his smile as the behemoth faltered. Panic gripped him as Daredevil put up a strong shield.

"Wait," he said, air returning to his lungs "It gets better,"

There was what could only be described as a collossal explosion as the energy charged up in the power ring was discharged in one single moment. The force threw John and Daredevil into a couple of already demolished buildings, although the Super Skrull took the brunt of the force.

Ring Energy Levels At 35%

"Is there, like, a stealth mode for you?"

John walked over to where the Skrull lay, a green-tinged smoke rolling off the creature. He let out a vicious kick that was nothing to do with his Lantern training and everything about his time in the Marines. He crouched down next to Kl'rt and smiled grimly.

"So how about you tell me how you got all these powers? Cos I don't remember any aliens that have got all of your power set?"

[Johnny Blaze]

"Jubilee is very pretty and a lovely girl!" Jamie protested, contorting himself into odd dimensions to avoid sitting on Scott's lap in the back of the cab.

"Besides, when I asked Rogue out, she threatened to throw me through a window. And Jean started slapping me before I could even ask her! Bloody psychics,"

Scott sat in the front seat of the cab, his eyes scanning the bustling streets of Cairo. Street venders of all types stood shouting their sales pitch, pushing their trinkets and goods to all who happen to pass them by.

"Cool it, you two. Keep your eyes peeled for any...wait."

Scott sat up and looked through the crowd to a slender woman gently gliding through the maze of people. The woman's shining white hair is what stood out to Scott. But still he wasn't convinced...

"Stop the car!"

The driver slammed on the breaks, and Scott tossed him his money and got out of the car.

"Let's go, people!"

Scott led the team through the crowd and into a side alleyway. Away from the bustling main street, Scott began to scan the area.

"I saw her. Ororo", he said as he turn back towards his fellow X-Men.
"I wasn't sure at first until she turned around and I got a look at her face. She ducked down this alley, but we can't let her lose us."

"Nightcrawler, teleport to the rooftops and see what you can see from an elevated position. Jean and Multiple Man are with me searching the ground. Jean, keep us all in mental contact."

"All right team", Scott said with a steady voice, "let's get to work."

[Byrd Man]

Ring Energy Levels At 35%

"Is there, like, a stealth mode for you?"

John walked over to where the Skrull lay, a green-tinged smoke rolling off the creature. He let out a vicious kick that was nothing to do with his Lantern training and everything about his time in the Marines. He crouched down next to Kl'rt and smiled grimly.

"So how about you tell me how you got all these powers? Cos I don't remember any aliens that have got all of your power set?"

"I have an idea." Daredevil says as he pointed his ring at Kl'rt,

"Ring, scan."

Creature appears to be member of the Skrull empire, but contains powers and abilities not known to Skrull race. Possible mutant.

"Well, that was helpful." He says to John as he keeps his ring trained on the green-skinned alien.

[Byrd Man]

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9195/mcu.gif


562 Campbell Street
10:45 a.m.

Detective Casper Kole and Sergeant Maggie Sawyer look down at the dead man looking up at them with lifeless eyes.

A hand gun lays next to the body in the small apartment.

"Call me crazy, Maggie." Casper says as he points at the two holes in the man's skull.

"But I think that's what killed him."

"As always, Detective Cole, your ability to deduce astounds me."

Sawyer turns to the uniform police officer standing just outside the apartment's door.

"You caught the call?"

"Yeah." He says as he lights up a cigarette.

"What did you see when you arrived?"

"Dead body, guy next to him with the gun in his hands, crying."

The two detectives trade looks as the officer goes on.

"I called for backup and Officer Vickery took him downtown."

"I don't get this, Casper....we're Major Crimes Unit. This looks like a dunker...."

Cole shrugs at his partner as he takes notes of the crime scene.

"Maybe Captain Essen wants to boost her clerance rate?"

"10-23, this is 10-09."

"10-09 go ahead." Captain Essen sqwaks back to Sawyer on the walkie-talkie.

"Captain...umm, why were Cole and I dispatched? This case is a dunker."

"The lab tech got there yet?"

"Not yet."

"I need one of you to report back to Central."

"10-4."



************


Sawyer and Essen stand just outside the interrogation room, looking at the man through the two-way glass.

"Said his name is Henry Jacobs, age 29." Essen says as she look from the perp to Sawyer.

"Well, what makes this a Major Crime?"

Essen pulls out a plastic baggie and hands it to her sergeant.

"We found this in his baseball cap. Thought it looked out of the ordinary, so homicide had it processed through the crime lab ASAP. It came back as some kind of electronic device that emits a frquency."

Sawyer looks at the piece of evidence. A card with the words: 10/6 stamped on the side.

"We think Mr. Jacobs murdered this man under the influence of mind control."


Detective Casper Kole and Sergeant Maggie Sawyer
in
White Rabbit

[Byrd Man]

I enter the Brownstone with such speed that loose papers and trash are kicked up into the air behind me. Steve and Nick Fury flinch only slightly. They're used to my abrupt entrances by now. I smile broadly and extend a hand towards my old friends.

"Early as usual, I see?" I joke lightheartedly.[/LEFT]



I hold out my hand and shake Superman's hand with a smile.

"Superman. Always nice to see you."

I turn to Nick.

"I think you remeber him as the man who dropped a nuclear bomb on you."

Fury just gives a curt nod.

"Hope we're not late." Alan says as he walks in with Ted in tow.

"Would Ted care otherwise?"

"Nope." He says with a belch.

I look around the room.

"I think all that we're waiting on right now is Jay, Iron Man, and Spider-Man."

[wiegeabo]

I hold out my hand and shake Superman's hand with a smile.

"Superman. Always nice to see you."

I turn to Nick.

"I think you remeber him as the man who dropped a nuclear bomb on you."

Fury just gives a curt nod.

"Hope we're not late." Alan says as he walks in with Ted in tow.

"Would Ted care otherwise?"

"Nope." He says with a belch.

I look around the room.

"I think all that we're waiting on right now is Jay, Iron Man, and Spider-Man."


A gust of wind opens and closes the door to the Brownstone. But the smile leaves me face the second I stop and see the gathering.

"Ok, I must be slowing down if all of your beat me here."

"Hey, not our fault if you're gettin' old."

I put my hand out to shake Ted's. "Hi. You must be Pot. I'm Kettle."

Ted bats my hand away. "Haha. Very funny."

"I thought so," I say with a big smile. "So, I see the gang's not all here..."

[Eddie Brock]

A gust of wind opens and closes the door to the Brownstone. But the smile leaves me face the second I stop and see the gathering.

"Ok, I must be slowing down if all of your beat me here."

"Hey, not our fault if you're gettin' old."

I put my hand out to shake Ted's. "Hi. You must be Pot. I'm Kettle."

Ted bats my hand away. "Haha. Very funny."

"I thought so," I say with a big smile. "So, I see the gang's not all here..."
I nod. "Well, you know Tony," I begin. "He's probably finishing his drink and scribbling down some girl's number as we speak. And Spider-Man, well..."

I shrug.

"You know how teenagers can be."

[Eddie Brock]

(These were the PMs Byrd and I sent during his probation.)

"Once again, Spider-Man. I want to thank you for saving my daughter." Gordon says as he hands the teenaged superhero a mug full of steaming liquid.

"I hear hot chocolate is good for bruises."

The two remain silent as they sit at the Gordon's kitchen counter.

"So...how long have you been Spider-Man?"

***

I don't know whether it's the fatigue, the unwillingness to lie to my girlfriend's father, or a combination of both, but I offer no protest. I remove my mask, take a sip of the hot chocolate, and answer, "A little over three years now."

I go into the whole spiel about the bite, my powers, my short-lived wrestling career, the robber and Uncle Ben. When I'm done, I notice that my wounds are actually feeling a little better. No sooner do I make this realization than I burn my tongue.

While wincing, I explain, "Well, that about covers the basics. I'm sure you can put together the rest of the pieces, then?"

***

Gordon nods and looks at Peter.

"I knew as much about your uncle. I had one of my officers do a background check on you. It may seem like I am paranoid, but I obviously had a good reason."

He shifts slightly in his chair.

"Now, let's talk about Barbara....you put her in danger tonight. Not on purpose, but just by you being Spider-Man. You have put a bullseye on her back even if you didn't want to....and I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with that."

***

"You think I am?" I fire back instantly. As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret how biting it sounded. "Sorry," I add composedly.

I look down at the tattered mask lying on the counter.

"I don't have the answers. As long as I'm Spider-Man, anyone who knows my identity will be able to get to the people I love." I sigh. "I figured you - being a cop and all - could understand. I mean, you can't tell me your job never put innocent lives at stake?"

I don't say it accusingly. I'm pleading, really. Pleading for some understanding, some sign that this wasn't my fault. 'Cause, frankly, I'm always inclined to blame myself.

"So what do we do?" I ask defeatedly.

***

Gordon remains silent as he contemplates the question. He's silent for so long, Spider-Man begins to repeat his question.

"So what do-"

"A year ago...Barbara's mother left me, took her little brother back to Chicago. She said Gotham was too dangerous, that I was going to get us all hurt. Barbara stayed with me, because she wasn't afraid....I say we let her decide what she wants to do."

He looks up the stairs and clears his throat.

"You can come on down now, I heard your footsteps five mintues ago."

***

Babs enters the room sheepishly. Her embarrassment is immediately replaced by shock at the sight of an unmasked Spider-Man standing there. "Peter...?"

I shake my head. "Don't worry about it," I assure her. We lock eyes, and - after a moment - I know she understands. Wanting to clear the awkward silence, I say, "Well, what do you think?"

Babs looks at the ground and thinks.

[Eddie Brock]

I nod in acknowledgment to Reed and speed up towards H.E.R.B.I.E. along side Johnny. He throws a few fireballs, and I hit the robot with my heat vision. His outer shell begins to glow with heat as Ben climbs one of Sue's force fields and clobbers the automatron with his huge, orange fists.

Finally, Reed slingshots HERBIE into the SHIELD building using his elastic arms, and the robot shuts himself down waiting to be retrieved by Reed.

I fly down next to Mr. Fantastic, whose look of worry says it all, "Did you have any idea he was going to do this?"
"Not until he explained it all to me," I answer ashamedly. I look over to the now defunct robot. He was too loyal for his own good. "He thought he was going to make me proud."

"An excellent plan, I might add," Johnny interjects, cracking his neck. The sad part is that it was an excellent plan. If failure wasn't his ultimate goal, I don't know that we could have stopped H.E.R.B.I.E. He certainly put a lot of thought into upgrading and preparing for this battle. "So, no more robots?"

"I'm afraid not," I sigh.

Ben laughs. "Good. 'Cause I'm not sure how comfortable I am if the person cleaning my bedroom is trying to kill me." He pats me on the shoulder, and I manage a feeble smile. I still feel guilty.

"So, Kara, how have things been?" I ask interestedly. I'm glad I have her here to help me change the subject.

[Keyser Soze]

Thor fought his way through the tumultuous currents of the black whirlwind, searching for The Void. But as it would turn out, he did not find The Void. The Void found him.

"You are in my storm now, thunder god."

The voice came like the crack of thunder, booming all around him. It was if The Void was the whole tornado. No sooner had that grim thought passed through Thor's mind, than the dark winds seemed to turn to coils, wrapping all around him, bathing him in solid shadow.

"The darkness is mine, Thor. Now so are you."

Thor struggled against the suffocating dark, but it squeezed tighter and tighter, crushing the air out of him. He felt strands of shadow tugging at Mjolnir in his hand, trying to wrest it from his grasp. Of course. If he were to lose Mjolnir now, in a storm such as this, even one as mighty as he would be lost.

He could only hope that The Flash would act soon...

[Carnage27]

"Nightcrawler, teleport to the rooftops and see what you can see from an elevated position. Jean and Multiple Man are with me searching the ground. Jean, keep us all in mental contact."

"All right team", Scott said with a steady voice, "let's get to work."

I appear on a rooftop above the team, and can see the dark colored woman hustling down an alleyway further up from us, "She is furzher up! Keep moving!"

BAMF

I teleport closer to where I saw Ororo, and begin my pursuit. My enhanced agility works wonders on the Cairo rooftops, and I'm easily able to jump from one to another.

The hot desert air rushed through my fur, and I'm exhilarated to be out of the Mansion yet again. It's felt like ages since I've been able to use my skills in something that wasn't a simulation.

I'm roused from my musings as my fur stands on end. I teleport quickly, and look back to see a bolt of lightening slam into the spot I was just standing, followed by two more in the vicinity. I teleport as I sense another coming my way, and the wind starts to whip up around me.

Guys...I think she can control zhe wheather.

[Carnage27]

"So, Kara, how have things been?" I ask interestedly. I'm glad I have her here to help me change the subject.

"Boring," I sigh. And it was the truth. Since the Mutant Invasion, I haven't done anything besides school and training, and it was really starting to tick me off. "Is it bad that I actually enjoyed using my powers?"

And then I remember the reason I was in New York to begin with, "I'm actually trying to find Kal. I'm sure you've heard about the 'Commander in Chief's' little band of supers? I wanted to talk to him about it."

[SenseiofCheese]

"I have an idea." Daredevil says as he pointed his ring at Kl'rt,

"Ring, scan."

Creature appears to be member of the Skrull empire, but contains powers and abilities not known to Skrull race. Possible mutant.

"Well, that was helpful." He says to John as he keeps his ring trained on the green-skinned alien.

He would not give up.

He could not give up.

He was Kl'rt.

He was the Super-Skrull. He could easily crush the two Green Lanterns. Hell, he could crush five thousand of them.

But for some reason he was having difficulty standing up.

"NYARGH!" he roared, spittle flying from his mouth. He slammed his fast against the emerald box he was imprisoned in. Again and again he lashed out with rock and with fire, but the green cell didn't budge. For a slight second it seemed as if it would crack, but the other Lantern merely enforced the other one´s creation.

"NO! I will CRUSH YOU! I have to crush you!" he screamed louder than he had ever screamed before.

He had the power of a God. Four Gods. And yet he could not even kill a Green Lantern.

Inside a green box, a green man fell to his knees, his fists slammed against the wall. "I...have to.."

[SenseiofCheese]

Thor struggled against the suffocating dark, but it squeezed tighter and tighter, crushing the air out of him. He felt strands of shadow tugging at Mjolnir in his hand, trying to wrest it from his grasp. Of course. If he were to lose Mjolnir now, in a storm such as this, even one as mighty as he would be lost.

He could only hope that The Flash would act soon...

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/617515-flash__001_super.jpg

356,222,841

That's how many steps he had taken once he stopped.

Running for what seemed like years. Lifetimes.

Ohgod.Ohgod.Itworked.Ohmygod.

He couldn't breathe. He couldn't move. It felt like every single inch of him was on fire. He could hardly open his eyes. But from the sound of it, he knew. It had worked. He had done it.

He was fast enough.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/flashbomb2.jpg

"Ican'tdoanymoreThorTAKEHIMOUT!"

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/7029/321631-180043-void_super.JPG

[Keyser Soze]

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/617515-flash__001_super.jpg

356,222,841

That's how many steps he had taken once he stopped.

Running for what seemed like years. Lifetimes.

Ohgod.Ohgod.Itworked.Ohmygod.

He couldn't breathe. He couldn't move. It felt like every single inch of him was on fire. He could hardly open his eyes. But from the sound of it, he knew. It had worked. He had done it.

He was fast enough.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/flashbomb2.jpg

"Ican'tdoanymoreThorTAKEHIMOUT!"

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/7029/321631-180043-void_super.JPG

The whirlwind was gone. And now The Void was left exposed, hovering in the night sky.

"Now, abhorration, you shall taste the might of my storm!"

Raising his hammer overhead, Thor let out a fierce battle cry. The deep roar of thunder came from the heavens, and the blackness The Void had covered the sky with began to be dispersed by an ever-growing storm cloud. Within seconds, the gray, thundering cloud was a towering mass that consumed the horizon. The very air around Thor and The Void seemed to shake with the rage of a god.

"I cast you out of the darkness... and into the light!"

At that moment, a huge lightning bolt came lashing down out of the cloud, striking The Void. The flash of lightning was bright enough to light up the whole sky, and as all its energy coursed through The Void's body, he lit up like a Christmas tree.

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR RRRGGHHH!"

But Thor was not done. Even as The Void let out a scream of agony, streams of lightning extended like branches out of the storm cloud, converging on Mjolnir. Thor's hammer absorbed it all, charging itself to capacity until it glowed like a blazing dynamo. He lunged through the air towards the weakened Void.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a108/JokerSoze/Thor7-1.jpg

"Demon.... BEGONE!"

With all his strength, Thor brought the light-charged hammer crashing down hard into The Void's chest, like a stake through the heart. The strike caused a huge explosion of electrical energy that lit up the sky like a morning sun. The people below had to shield their eyes from the blinding light. The smoking carcass of The Void plummeted to the ground below. And Thor followed, landing on his feet in front of The White House.

"It is done."

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/SilverSurfer-11-1.jpg

THE ODYSSEY
Chapter 3 ~ The Fourth World - Act 2

The blast for the Pursuer's cosmic lance nearly takes the Surfer's head off. But Norrin nimbly dives under the blast as rockets towards the New God, launching a cosmic blast of his own that catches Devilance in his chest.

The Pursuer grunts in pain but is otherwise unscathed. As the Surfer nears, he swipes at his board, slicing the tip of it clean off. Norrin falters and falls to the earth.
Crashing through the roof of a building, the entire structure collapses onto Norrin's head.

But the Surfer cannot be defeated so easily, and Steppenwolf and Devilance shield themselves as the rubble explodes outward, revealing an agitated Silver Surfer standing in the newly-formed crater.

"You will have to do better than that, Devilance", growls Norrin, his patience begin to grow thin.

"Truly? Then I shall not disappoint you", exclaims the Pursuer as he charges Norrin swiping at the Surfer's waist with his deadly lance.

Norrin took "hold" of the stone ground with the Power Cosmic, molding it and forming a barrier between him and the Pursuer. But the lance of the New God cut cleanly through the barricade as though it were paper.
The blade of the lance cut into Norrin's midsection, causing the Surfer to wince in pain and stumble backwards.
One hand clutching his wound, the Surfer unleashed a blast of cosmic fury point blank into the Pursuer's chest.

Devilance was sent flying backwards, smashing through a dozen building before finally coming to rest at the outskirts of a large fire pit.
Both combatants recovered quickly and met once again in the skies above.

The Surfer and the Pursuer clashed in mid-air above the raging inferno. Devilance tried to bring the blade of his weapon down to split the Surfer's head in two. But Norrin was quick enough to grasp hold of the lance and keep the death blow from connecting.

Their teeth gnashed and their muscles bulged and tightened as the struggled against each other.

So lost in the moment was the Surfer that he almost did not hear his cosmic senses warning him of the danger coming from behind.
Screaming in with his weapon drawn was Steppenwolf. The New God apparently was not thrilled with how this fight was going and was planning to aid the Pursuer.

At the last second, Norrin released his grip of Devilance's weapon and fell down to the ground below.
The Pursuer's face went wide in shock just as Steppenwolf's air-cycle slammed into him.

The impact sent Steppenwolf hurtling to the ground, but the bike, with Devilance still stuck on it's front, kept on soaring forward...right into the fire pit.

Consumed by the pit without so much of a cry or any sound, both Devilance and the air-cycle vanished into the blaze.

Steppenwolf groaned as he sat up, his whole body aching from the impact.

He was quickly hoisted off of his feet by an angry Silver Surfer.

"I want answers, Steppenwolf", the Surfer declared as he melted the New God's dagger into slag before it could find it's mark in his midsection.

The Surfer sent a jolt of cosmic fire rushing through Steppenwolf's body. Not enough to do serious harm, but enough to take the fight out of him.

"Now, what is this Apokolips? Who is Darkseid? Tell me!"

"Oh, such a poor, lost soul. What is Apokolips? Who is Darkseid? So many questions, tsk, tsk. Why, you must be confused and frightened by it all", came a soft voice from behind him. Norrin tossed Steppenwolf aside and turned to face the speaker.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Granny.jpg

"Come, deary, let Granny make it all better."

[SenseiofCheese]

With all his strength, Thor brought the light-charged hammer crashing down hard into The Void's chest, like a stake through the heart. The strike caused a huge explosion of electrical energy that lit up the sky like a morning sun. The people below had to shield their eyes from the blinding light. The smoking carcass of The Void plummeted to the ground below. And Thor followed, landing on his feet in front of The White House.

"It is done."

Steam billowed from the Flash´s body as the darkness dissipated, light piercing the shadow for the first time. The world seemed to slow down, even for the Fastest Man Alive, as the rumble of thunder was replaced by the howling of wind, as if the planet was sighing in relief.

Before the unconscious body of the Void crashed down on the ground outside the White House, a bright green box swallowed him. Kyle Rayner´s ring created a massively exaggerated number of padlocks on the box itself, and constructs of gun turrets surrounded it.

"Did we save the world yet?" Rayner asked, not entirely sure if he should celebrate yet.

"I believe those particular medals should go to Flash, Thor and Vision here." said Wonder Woman, gently touching down on the ground beside Thor, and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Noneedtothankusjustdoingourjobheh." Wally managed, gasping for air, still hunched over.

"Good job, people. So I assume that's Robert Reynolds in there?"

Hank Pym arrived, Janet by his side, and pointed at the emerald construct.

"It better be, Giant Man." a voice unknown to most of the Avengers came from behind. They turned to see a portly, black woman flanked by two heavily armed SHIELD Agents. They all recognized her instantly as the head of SHIELD. "Excellent work, Avengers. Mrs. Frost, if you please?" Waller said, as a tall, slender woman came up from behind her and walked over to the jade prison and peered inside with her mind.

"Mrs. Frost is our best psychic. She'll make sure Mr. Reynolds does not have another episode in the future." she stated coldly, perhaps too coldly for someone talking about lobotomy, Wally thought but decided against saying anything. He did not want 'Flash Fired!' to be tomorrow´s headline.

"Where´s Hawkeye?" Waller asked curiously, going over the gathered heroes.

"Wenttorescuethepresident." Flash muttered before taking one, deep breath. "He went to get President Luthor to safety. Has anyone heard from him?"

[Eddie Brock]

"Boring," I sigh. And it was the truth. Since the Mutant Invasion, I haven't done anything besides school and training, and it was really starting to tick me off. "Is it bad that I actually enjoyed using my powers?"

And then I remember the reason I was in New York to begin with, "I'm actually trying to find Kal. I'm sure you've heard about the 'Commander in Chief's' little band of supers? I wanted to talk to him about it."
I bite my tongue at the mention of this 'Avengers' team. I, too, have some strong opinions on them, but this is not the forum to voice them. That day will have to come in time. I can only imagine what SHIELD will have to say in response.

"Sorry, Kara, but we haven't seen Clark recently either," I answer. "I was actually hoping to talk to him as well..."

Johnny laughs. "Hey, maybe you can shine a big 'S' in the sky," he suggests half-jokingly. He looks at Ben, who offers a little snicker.

[Watchman]

Latveria, The Past

When he had returned to his country it was still the same oppressive regime that had ruled. The people were nothing more than peasants. He remembers the Baron killing his father. Hiding his studies due to if he was found he would have been executed.

The takeover of his homeland was easy. With his followers of the League of Assassins, his magic and science. They were able to topple any local opposition. It was less than a month and Doom had full support of his people due to the promises of a new utopia. The Baron is killed in public to loud cheers. This was the first Dooms Day.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/AgentClarkNova/435684-books_of_doom_5_super.jpg

He had reclaimed his throne from a the infection that had grew inside of Latveria. It had rooted itself deep within the lands festering his great homeland. He was now on the spot where he first claim his throne. This was his land, his world.

The world at large dares mock Doom and he will show them. A list was growing in his mind. Those that wronged him, those that beat him down. They did not understand what was coming for them. Strange who trapped him, Luthor and his puppets for mocking him. They will face the wrath of a god.
*******
None did see the demon on both of those days. He hid in the cracks and spaces of darkness. He looked on and saw who was making so much noise downstairs. The three found their new door to Earth.

"This is the tale of Victor Von Doom
Demons Three will bring about Gloom
Those of light must rise
To stop Doom's new guise

Heed the words I speak
Tremble at Doom's new powers he seeks
Listen to the words of Entrigan!"

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/AgentClarkNova/BloodOfTheDemon-Cv11_medium.jpg

[Catman_prb]

Steam billowed from the Flash´s body as the darkness dissipated, light piercing the shadow for the first time. The world seemed to slow down, even for the Fastest Man Alive, as the rumble of thunder was replaced by the howling of wind, as if the planet was sighing in relief.

Before the unconscious body of the Void crashed down on the ground outside the White House, a bright green box swallowed him. Kyle Rayner´s ring created a massively exaggerated number of padlocks on the box itself, and constructs of gun turrets surrounded it.

"Did we save the world yet?" Rayner asked, not entirely sure if he should celebrate yet.

"I believe those particular medals should go to Flash, Thor and Vision here." said Wonder Woman, gently touching down on the ground beside Thor, and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Noneedtothankusjustdoingourjobheh." Wally managed, gasping for air, still hunched over.

"Good job, people. So I assume that's Robert Reynolds in there?"

Hank Pym arrived, Janet by his side, and pointed at the emerald construct.

"It better be, Giant Man." a voice unknown to most of the Avengers came from behind. They turned to see a portly, black woman flanked by two heavily armed SHIELD Agents. They all recognized her instantly as the head of SHIELD. "Excellent work, Avengers. Mrs. Frost, if you please?" Waller said, as a tall, slender woman came up from behind her and walked over to the jade prison and peered inside with her mind.

"Mrs. Frost is our best psychic. She'll make sure Mr. Reynolds does not have another episode in the future." she stated coldly, perhaps too coldly for someone talking about lobotomy, Wally thought but decided against saying anything. He did not want 'Flash Fired!' to be tomorrow´s headline.

"Where´s Hawkeye?" Waller asked curiously, going over the gathered heroes.

"Wenttorescuethepresident." Flash muttered before taking one, deep breath. "He went to get President Luthor to safety. Has anyone heard from him?"
"It was no trouble," he said, managing an almost human smile in the direction of Wonder Woman before turning to Waller "I believe that he-"

The Vision staggered slightly as he looked at his team-mates, before his legs gave way and he collapsed on the floor.

"I require maintenace," he managed to gasp out before he let out another shudder and shut down. In an instand, Hank Pym was by his creation's side, plugging his handheld computer into a USB slot on the back of his neck.

"Good lord," he muttered, almost to himself as to his wife come assistant moved to his side "It looks like it's been completely shut down for about ten minutes. God only knows what power source it's been using,"

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Hulk-9.jpg

Part ~ 4

A loud thunderclap boomed through the night air, and the skies suddenly opened up on the two behemoths. A bolt of lighting struck the nearby wood, causing a tree to topple unceremoniously to the earth.

With a mighty leap, the Hulk cleared the distance between he and Abomination in a second. With his fingers laced together, the Green Goliath brought down a devastating double-axe-handle blow onto the Abomination's head.

The monster staggered backwards as the Hulk waded in immediately, rearing back for a punch.
But the Abomination recovered in time and shot his hand upward, catching the Hulk's fist in his hand.
The Abomination reached out and clenched his other fist around the Hulk's throat, crushing the air from his body.
The Hulk growled in defiance, bringing his arm down onto Blonsky's inner elbow, causing the monster's arm to fold and bringing his forehead smashing into the nose of the Abomination.

The Abomination grunted as green blood splattered from the vicious headbutt, but he did not relinquish his grasp. The very ground shook and shattered as the two massive warriors struggled against each other in the downpour.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Hulk-26.jpg

"You are a strong, Banner. I'll give you that! I definitely made the right choice in using you!"

The Hulk reached out with his other hand, digging his thumb into the Abomination's right eye.
Blonsky roared in pain and released his grip on the Hulk.

"You'll pay for that, brute", snarled the Abomination, blood pouring from his damaged eye.

The Hulk roared as he charged in, ducking under a haymaker from the Abomination and connecting with a double uppercut that sent the creature flying into the night sky.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Hulk-27.jpg

"RAAAGGHH! Stupid green-man talk too much!"

"Hulk no talk. Hulk fight", shouted the beast as he leaped after his enemy.

Crashing down into a jungle river, the Hulk was caught off guard as a large stone boulder was smashed across his head.

"You want a fight, Hulk", the Abomination howled as he charged in, slashing the Hulk across his midsection with his claws and rending his green flesh.

"Then I won't disappoint you", shouted Blonsky as he connected on a combination of punches to the Hulk's head and body. The Hulk swung a left hook, but the Abomination ducked under the blow and connected with a rising uppercut.

The Hulk grunted as he was lifted off of his feet and sent crashing into the tree line bordering the river.

The Abomination snarled as he dove at the Hulk, connecting with a vicious elbow to the Jade Giant's face that split his cheek wide open.

"They say you're a force of nature", the Abomination remarked as he hammered the Hulk with another elbow.

"They say you're an engine of destruction", the Abomination stated as he smashed the Hulk in the face with a left-right combination.

"They say your unstoppable", chuckled the Abomination as he smashed his head into the Hulk's nose, again, and again, and again.

"And I must say", the Abomination smiled a toothy grin as he rose to his feet to loom above the bloodied Hulk.
"I am not impressed."

The Abomination raised his massive foot and brought it down onto the Hulk's throat.

"But don't worry, Banner", the monster whispered through clenched teeth, "I'll finish you off quickly."

The mention of Banner's name seemed to stir something in the brute as his eyes shot open wide. Reaching out, the Hulk gripped the Abomination's foot with both hands. And, with a primal yell, threw the creature off of him.

"Hulk no like Banner!"

The Green Goliath roared as he rose to his feet, the rage beginning to boil within him.

"Banner puny", the Hulk shouted as he side-stepped a punch from the Abomination and countered with a huge shot that sent his monstrous counterpart skipping across the ground and smashing into a large tree.

The Hulk was on top of the Abomination in an instant, raining down blow after devastating blow onto his prone opponent.

"Banner weak!"

The beat down was brutal, and the Abomination slowly began to lose consciousness. But that didn't stop the Hulk's onslaught. The raging beast continued to pound the Abomination into oblivion, with blow after blow.

The jungle floor was soon covered in the green blood of the Abomination, who was now swollen and face looked akin to hamburger meat. His breath came in short, rasping spurts as he Hulk landed one final blow that drove the Abomination's head a good two meters into the ground.

The Hulk stood tall, planting a foot onto the Abomination's chest, looked to the thunderstorm raging above them, and roared.

"HULK STRONGEST ONE THERE IS!!!"

The frightening howl of the Hulk lasted for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, the Green Goliath looked down at his fallen foe. The Abomination lay still, barely breathing, as the Hulk stepped off of his chest and slowly let his battle lust subside.

The Hulk was breathing heavily, weary from the fighting. Once again he had proven his strength. And once more he wished nothing else but to be left alone.
Giving a final glance towards the defeated Abomination, the Hulk turned and silently leaped away into the stormy night...

[Byrd Man]

Babs enters the room sheepishly. Her embarrassment is immediately replaced by shock at the sight of an unmasked Spider-Man standing there. "Peter...?"

I shake my head. "Don't worry about it," I assure her. We lock eyes, and - after a moment - I know she understands. Wanting to clear the awkward silence, I say, "Well, what do you think?"

Babs looks at the ground and thinks.



"I don't know what to think, if I can be honest. I listend to just about the whole conversation."

She walks off the steps and stands in front of Peter and me.

"Daddy...I know you love me, and you know I love you.....I want to stay with Peter. He's a great guy, and I really like him."

"I understand that he's a great guy, sweetheart. But what happens one night when you answer the door and some psycho shoots you all because you had the misfortune to be his girlfriend?" I say as my voice starts to get louder.

"What happens then when you're laid up in the hospital, hurt?! Or worse, dead!"

"Then it happens!" Barbara says as her eyes start to water.

"I couldn't take it if something happens to you."

"Me being a target because of Peter is no different than being a target because my father is the commissioner of police. There was a bomb threat at my school two weeks ago, all because I went to school there."

"What?...why didn't you tell me."

"It's because you're always too busy fighting the mob and drug dealers!"

I lean back in the couch and look at my daughter.

"I-...I'm sorry..I shouldn't have said that." She mumbles as tears start to streak down her eyes.

"No...you're right. I've gotten too wrapped up in my work. That's why your mother left me and took Jimmy....I'm sorry about all this, Barbara. I really am. Look, I am in no position to tell you how to live your life, it's really not fair. You're almost a grown woman, and I need to respect your choices even if I don't agree with them."

I stand up and wrap my arms around her, closing my eyes to try and hide the tears.

"I just worry about you so much."

"I know you do, and I worry about you getting so wrapped up in work."

We break our embrace and I look Babara in the eye.

"I promise, I'll do my best to quit obcessing over my job."

I suddenly remember Peter is still in the room, I turn and see him staring at is in stunned silence.

"Sorry about all this, Peter...look, I know it's late...do you need a ride home?"

[Catman_prb]

Inside a green box, a green man fell to his knees, his fists slammed against the wall. "I...have to.."
John rolled his eyes and slammed the top of the green containment box down on the Super-Skrull's head, toppling him onto the ground.

"Good lord man, give it up," he said, sitting down next to the box.

"So now it's question time Mr. Skrull mutant man from the Skrull Empire. Who are you? Why are you here?" he asked "And do you or do you not know the current location of the being known as Galactus?" John added, in the tone of one who was rapidly becoming bored of asking the same question.

[Johnny Blaze]

I appear on a rooftop above the team, and can see the dark colored woman hustling down an alleyway further up from us, "She is furzher up! Keep moving!"

BAMF

I teleport closer to where I saw Ororo, and begin my pursuit. My enhanced agility works wonders on the Cairo rooftops, and I'm easily able to jump from one to another.

The hot desert air rushed through my fur, and I'm exhilarated to be out of the Mansion yet again. It's felt like ages since I've been able to use my skills in something that wasn't a simulation.

I'm roused from my musings as my fur stands on end. I teleport quickly, and look back to see a bolt of lightening slam into the spot I was just standing, followed by two more in the vicinity. I teleport as I sense another coming my way, and the wind starts to whip up around me.

Guys...I think she can control zhe wheather.

Great. Figured this wouldn't be easy., Scott thought as the hairs on the back of his neck began to stand up.

"Jean, telekinetic shield now!"

The lightning bolt struck a second after the words left his mouth, and smashed harmlessly into Jean's protective bubble.

"Multiple Man, Jean, you're with me", Scott shouted over the winds that began to pick up into a howling frenzy.

Running down the alleyway, Scott, Jamie, and Jean Grey came into a small square with people running away in fright as the slender white-haired goddess rose into the air with the winds in it's center.

Lightning danced across her hair as her eyes narrowed at her pursuers.

"Please, wait! We don't mean you any harm", Scott shouted above the roaring wind torrent.
"We just want to talk to you!"

"I don't wish to talk with you! I already told you I had no interest in joining your vile group! Now leave me be!"

A series of lightning strikes slammed into the force shield of Jean Grey, deflecting off to the sides and tearing into nearby buildings.

"Jean, bring her down!"

"You got it, Slim."

Ororo's eyes went wide as Jean Grey entered her mind. The storm began to subside and the goddess plummeted down to the earth.

"Multiple Man! Catch her before she hits the street!"

[Catman_prb]

"You got it, Slim."

Ororo's eyes went wide as Jean Grey entered her mind. The storm began to subside and the goddess plummeted down to the earth.

"Multiple Man! Catch her before she hits the street!"
"Oh ****," he breathed, as he watched the mutant drop down towards the very very hard ground. He clicked his fingers, and clones rapidly emerged from his own body. The copies swarmed around the small square, all with arms held out ready to catch the air-borne goddess. There was a sickening thump as Ororo landed on a Jamie that hadn't been looking in the right direction. Jamie dropped to the ground, hands clutching at his head as nerves flared.

"****, ****, ****," he screamed as his clone died. He paused, breathing heavily as he recovered from the shock. Pushing himself up from the ground, he re-absorbed the surviving clones and staggered over to the stirring Ororo.

"What did you do?" she demanded as she saw the swaying teen. He pointed an accusatory finger at the prone figure.

"Y-you owe me one," he gasped, before collapsing over onto the ground.

[Johnny Blaze]

"Jamie", Jean shouts in alarm as he collapses in front of Ororo.

"He's okay. He's just out cold from the shock", Jean exhaled in relief after a few seconds of checking the unconscious X-Man.

Scott breathed a sigh of relief himself. His first mission and he almost let one of his friends and teammates die.

Way to start things off, Scott, he thought as he shook his head in dismay.

As Jean tended to Multiple Man, Scott walked up to Ororo and extended his hand.

"Like I said, we aren't your enemy. All we want is a few minutes of your time.
The man who saved you is Multiple Man, that's Jean Grey, and that's Nightcrawler", Scott continued as Kurt teleported in to join the group.

"And I'm Cyclops, but you can call me Scott", he finished with a smile.

Ororo sat their, staring at Cyclop's hand. After a few silent moments, Ororo accepted Scott's hand and was helped to her feet.

"All right, Scott", she replied as he dusted herself off.
"Follow me."

Leading them down the side-streets of Cairo, Storm brought the group into a small cafe. As they sat down, a waiter cut through the crowd of patrons and placed a pitcher of a sweet tasting juice.

"Well", Ororo said as she sipped her drink.

"As I said, my name is Scott and I'm a student at a special school in New York. A school for mutants, run by a man you've met before, Charles Xavier."

"Xavier", Ororo recalled, "he is a man I shall never forget. It was Professor Xavier who helped free my friends and I from the tyranny of the Shadow King."

"So, I take it that you are his students then?"

[Eddie Brock]

We break our embrace and I look Babara in the eye.

"I promise, I'll do my best to quit obcessing over my job."

I suddenly remember Peter is still in the room, I turn and see him staring at is in stunned silence.

"Sorry about all this, Peter...look, I know it's late...do you need a ride home?"
In any other situation, I'd respectfully decline the offer. A good web-swing is just what I need to sift through all my thoughts right now. The symbiote's return, Mr. Gordon knowing my secret, the father-daughter scene I just witnessed. However, my physical needs come before my mental ones.

And I'm almost ready to collapse.

"Sure," I reply. Then, a thought occurs to me. "Hey, can you do me a favor, actually?"

Mr. Gordon arches an eyebrow, and I smirk.

***

"Mugged?!" Aunt May repeats disbelievingly. She instantly grabs me - sending shockwaves of pain through my body - and examines my numerous injuries. She looks up at Gordon and repeats, "He was mugged?!"

[Byrd Man]

"Good lord man, give it up," he said, sitting down next to the box.

"So now it's question time Mr. Skrull mutant man from the Skrull Empire. Who are you? Why are you here?" he asked "And do you or do you not know the current location of the being known as Galactus?" John added, in the tone of one who was rapidly becoming bored of asking the same question.

Daredevil nodded and started to slowly contract the box around the Skrull.

"Listen to the man carefully, I'm afraid I am not as patient as my partner."

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/SilverSurfer-11-1.jpg

THE ODYSSEY
Chapter 3 ~ The Fourth World - Act 3

"Granny", Norrin questions as the old woman, flanked by four other females, cackles maliciously.

"Girls, why don't you introduce yourselves to the nice man."

The four females approached Norrin, a cold fury burning in each of their eyes. Suddenly, the one on the left flank let out a feral cry and charged in.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/MadHarriet.jpg

Leaping into the air, she dove for Norrin, claws outstretched to rend his face. The Surfer was quicker though, and easily leaned to the side, avoiding the strike. Reaching out his hand, the Surfer grasped the woman by the back of her neck.

"Sleep", he stated, and the mad woman suddenly fell into unconsciousness.

The fist caught Norrin right on the side of his head, and sent him smashing into the wall of a nearby building.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Stompa.jpg

"When I'm done with you, you're gonna be nothing but a stain on the road, little man."

"Truly", the Surfer said as he ducked under the wild swing sent hurtling his way.
"You seem like one with great strength", Norrin commented as he avoided a left-right combination aimed to put him down.
"So I would assume you'd be able to handle this with no fatal consequences."

Norrin ducked under another wild swing and connected with a powerful uppercut as he rose up.
The bulky woman was sent hurtling up in the sky.

"Ahhhh!"

Sudden pain was sent up Norrin's spine as the whip of the lady in black wrapped around his waist.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Lashina.gif

"Gamora, now!"

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Gamora.jpg

The green-skinned beauty leaped at Norrin with deadly grace, slicing his midsection with a wicked dagger.

She came at Norrin again, and the Surfer was just able to avoid the slice of the lithe warrior woman.

Ducking under a high kick, Norrin reached out and grasped Gamora's leg. With a quick spin, the Surfer launched her at the whip-wielding woman.
The impact of the hit, knocked the whip-wielder out cold. Gamora, though hurt, still was conscious and began to rise to her feet.
A quick blow to the back of the head, put her down instantly though. And the Surfer turned his attention to the Granny.

"Now then, Granny, you will answer some questions for me", the Surfer stated as he slowly floated towards the woman, the KOed form of the brutish woman finally crashing back to the ground with a booming impact that knocked Granny to her feet.

"Now, now", stammered Granny as she crawled backwards from the approaching Surfer.
"You wouldn't harm a poor, old woman, would you?"

"That depends in your honesty", Norrin replied coldly, doing his best to intimidate the woman into cooperation as he truly did not wish to hurt her. But at the same time, his patience was wearing thin. He owed it to the universe to put an end to this evil, but every second he delayed his mission was a second Galactus would get farther and farther away from the Surfer and his vow to make his former master undo the destruction he reaped onto Zenn-La.

"What is this place, this Apokolips? What is going on here? And what was it that the Starjammers possessed that you desired so badly? Tell me!"

"This planet, Apokolips is my home, my fortress. A bastion for darkness, and a base from which my will shall be enforced onto the entire universe. As for what the pirates possessed, that is none of your concern."

Norrin turned to see a massive, ominous figure with burning red eyes looming over him. Just the sight of this being filled Norrin with a grow feeling of dread and despair.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Darkseid-6.jpg

"Greetings, Norrin Radd. I am Darkseid, lord of Apokolips. And you are trespassing on my world."

[Byrd Man]

In any other situation, I'd respectfully decline the offer. A good web-swing is just what I need to sift through all my thoughts right now. The symbiote's return, Mr. Gordon knowing my secret, the father-daughter scene I just witnessed. However, my physical needs come before my mental ones.

And I'm almost ready to collapse.

"Sure," I reply. Then, a thought occurs to me. "Hey, can you do me a favor, actually?"

Mr. Gordon arches an eyebrow, and I smirk.

***


"Mugged?!" Aunt May repeats disbelievingly. She instantly grabs me - sending shockwaves of pain through my body - and examines my numerous injuries. She looks up at Gordon and repeats, "He was mugged?!"




"Yes, mam." I say as I shake my head.

"A few of my officers managed to catch the guy. He's sitting in a holding cell as we speak."

I hold my hand out to Peter's aunt.

"I'm James Gordon, and I believe my daughter is dating your son."

She warmly shakes my hand and smiles.

"A pleasure, Mr. Gordon. I am May Parker, Peter's aunt...would you like to come inside?"

"It might be best if I run along, got a drive ahead of me back to Gotham."

"Are you sure? I have some left over pot roast..."

"Pot roast, huh?"

[SenseiofCheese]

Daredevil nodded and started to slowly contract the box around the Skrull.

"Listen to the man carefully, I'm afraid I am not as patient as my partner."

Kl'rt frantically pressed his hands against the walls of his emerald prison and pushed with all the strength he had left in him. The walls didn't even budge. Breathing heavily, the Super Skrull collapsed.

His muscles ached; every nerve in his body screamed in pain. "G...Galactus.." but even still, the pain was no match for the sheer, unimaginable fear that ran down his spine at the sound of that name.

"Do not even speak of the World Devourer!" Kl'rt warned, a look of unmistakable fear in his eyes. I'd rather you kill me now than take me one inch closer to him than I have to be."

[Karem-Knight]

http://api.ning.com/files/6LjPLZ8wv3c6XjwtJb2sg78J5V8xT0u4SH9hSJWQUdHq6IzOtP oy0ML95wqsqP3RyMsJ5gi1hIEntvW0f8*x6Rmjdv1FY5cx/SupermanWZ150_2.jpg

"Face it Lex, you´re nothing. I am the saviour the world wants, the world needs. Why does that grind you so much? Because you wanted to feel special? Needed? That is truly pathetic Lex....."

In the darkness that covered the two men, Superman grabbed Luthor b the neck as the President feared for his life and felt an very cold chill run down across his spine. Making him shake as the alien´s eyes glowed a radiant red aiming for Luthor´s face; Stop it Lex! This is all part of the plan, don´t give in now! Snap out of it! For christ´s shake, what is WRONG with you!

Luthor thought to himself but the intensity of the situation was indeed very real, Lex could feel the heat vision beaming from Superman´s eyes and the iron grip from his hand that could level mountains. For the first time in a long time, Luthor was afraid.

"Goodbye, Luthor!"

NO! It can´t end like this, I´m the President of the United States I.....I can do anything! I can....

BOOM!

Lex opened his eyes and looked outside the Oval Office window to see the bright blue Wasington skyline greeting him, aside from a few scrathes on his face and some furniture out of place; everything seemed fine.

"Mr. President...."

http://jjinbeat.com/Cap/StarSpangledSite/Hawkeye-HouseOfM.jpg

".....are you alright, sir?"

The President stood up straight brushing off the debris and cleaning himself up from the situation he had just endured, rubbing his eyes he stood up right and walked towards the Office´s doors. ""On the contray, Mr. Barton; I am far from "alright" but I´ll manage." Lex said going over to get a box from one his cigars and lighting it up all of a sudden Hawkeye received a message from his communicator.

"Miss Waller, the President is safe and sound. Thor and the rest of the Avengers have managed to stop The Void from doing any further damage."

"I am aware Hawkeye, thank you for ensuring our President´s safe!"

"Let me just say Mr. Barton, isn´t it astounding when one´s plan falls perfectly in place?"

"Yes I do sir, but I don´t think I´ve ever had to ecounter something of this mangitude."

Lex rolled his eyes, he could see that Hawkeye wasn´t paying attention and his heart was only in the mission. Luthor had always heard about the archer´s smart assness and sarcasim; but he wouldn´t dare do it to the President. That was how much power and respect Lex now had in the palm of his hand.

"Well Barton, I can say this; today you and the Avengers proved yourselves as heroes. Especially you, my freind it´s always good to have a true patriot in this new team. But as I say, you are a hero..."

All of a sudden one of the President´s assitans came rushing towards Luthor urgently "Mr. President" Mr. President! The press are here sir, they´re wondering what has happened to you and the White House!" Lex smiled and turned to Hawkeye putting his hand on the archer´s soulder.

"...isn´t it time you and your companions recieved a hero´s welcome?" Luthor said with Hawkeye smiling with pride.

[Catman_prb]

Kl'rt frantically pressed his hands against the walls of his emerald prison and pushed with all the strength he had left in him. The walls didn't even budge. Breathing heavily, the Super Skrull collapsed.

His muscles ached; every nerve in his body screamed in pain. "G...Galactus.." but even still, the pain was no match for the sheer, unimaginable fear that ran down his spine at the sound of that name.

"Do not even speak of the World Devourer!" Kl'rt warned, a look of unmistakable fear in his eyes. I'd rather you kill me now than take me one inch closer to him than I have to be."
John smiles at the progress they've finally made in their hunt for the Great Devourer. Whenever the pair had mentioned him to any other aliens who had visited planet Earth in the last few months, they had received blank looks or the stench of urine. Particularly pleasant from and Andorian female in heat.

"Look man," he hesitated "Just look, you do not want to piss this guy off,"

He gestured to the circling Daredevil.

"And I don't want to be cleaning bits of you off of the pavement," he said as kindly as he could "so just tell us what we want to know,"

[SenseiofCheese]

"And I don't want to be cleaning bits of you off of the pavement," he said as kindly as he could "so just tell us what we want to know,"

"I am Kl'rt." he conceded, swallowing down the last bit of pride he had. "I come from the Skrull homeworld, where I am called the Super-Skrull. Our emperor, praise be to him..." Kl'rt´s voice faltered, remembering the experiments. "He wanted to create a one-Skrull army. A single, living weapon powerful enough to eradicate anyone who dared oppose the Skrull Empire. He sent agents to several worlds. They were told to gather information; we wanted to know which planet´s were most likely to attack the Skrull homeworld and which ones were most likely to succeed. Earth was on the top of that list."

Kl'rt looked down at his own, beaten body. He let a small spark turn into a small flame that danced along his fingertips. "I was the agent who was sent to Earth and, when I brought our emperor the data I had collected, he took interest in a group of superhumans that called themselves the Fantastic Four. We genetically copied their powers with our technology which is vastly superior to yours, and put them all into me. The Fantastic One, they called me. Not even powerful enough to crush a Green Lantern." he sighed as he let the flame die out.

"A while ago I heard Galac...The Great Devourer came to your planet. I thought that was the last we would hear of Earth; that you would all perish. But your world still stands. So I was sent back here, to your little mudball...to find out just how you drove the Devourer back." Kl'rt explained, deciding against talking more about his personal vendetta against the Lanterns. "Because now the Great Beast is coming for us. For the Skrulls."

[Keyser Soze]

"It was no trouble," he said, managing an almost human smile in the direction of Wonder Woman before turning to Waller "I believe that he-"

The Vision staggered slightly as he looked at his team-mates, before his legs gave way and he collapsed on the floor.

"I require maintenace," he managed to gasp out before he let out another shudder and shut down. In an instand, Hank Pym was by his creation's side, plugging his handheld computer into a USB slot on the back of his neck.

"Good lord," he muttered, almost to himself as to his wife come assistant moved to his side "It looks like it's been completely shut down for about ten minutes. God only knows what power source it's been using,"

"An automation it may be, but your contraption showed the courage of a living warrior, today."

The things these mortals were capable of, the inventions they could make, Thor was still impressed by it. But as he surveyed the unconscious form of Robert Reynolds being carried away by S.H.I.E.L.D., and Lex Luthor emerging from the White House for a press conference, Thor concluded that the battle was over, and there was nothing else for him here.

"Now I must take my leave of you all. I have places to be."

And then Thor had launched himself into the air once more, and was gone.

[Byrd Man]

"A while ago I heard Galac...The Great Devourer came to your planet. I thought that was the last we would hear of Earth; that you would all perish. But your world still stands. So I was sent back here, to your little mudball...to find out just how you drove the Devourer back." Kl'rt explained, deciding against talking more about his personal vendetta against the Lanterns. "Because now the Great Beast is coming for us. For the Skrulls."

Daredevil nods towards his partner.

"He's telling the truth....trust me, I know....shall I let him go?"

[wiegeabo]

I feel something on my neck. It's soft and tickles. With my eyes still closed, I try to move my head away. This was one of those nights where I need more than four hours of sleep, and I'm not letting any bug disturb me.

And yet the sensation returns. I shake my head again, a little more awake, but it continues. So I swat at the bug.

"OW!"

My eyes snap open and I spin around in bed. It's only then I realize that Elektra was kissing my neck. "Oh! Sorry! I though you were a fly or mosquito."

"Well thank you for comparing me to bugs," she teases. She slides against me and I happily wrap my arm around her. Then she gives me a little punch in the gut, making me blow out my breath. "Now we're even."

We lay together for a couple of minutes before Elektra pushes herself up to look at me. "Bruce, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"...Where do you go at night?"

Despite my training, my heartbeat skips at the question. "What do you mean?" I ask innocently enough.

"You didn't get in until, what, three in the morning?"

"I was hoping not to wake you." She just looks at me. "I know. I hate the long hours. But even Lucius can't handle everything, and I'm needed to run the company."

"That's what I thought." I smile, glad she's satisfied at the answer. It's only a half-lie. Lucius can't do everything himself, and I was working last night. "But then Dick got in around the same time."

...

Damn. Was not expecting that. But I wouldn't be alive today if I couldn't improvise. "Ok, you got me. Dick snuck out last night. I went out to bring him back."

"Oh. You must be pretty angry at him."

"I...could be. But you know how teenage boys are. Think about some of the stuff we pulled back in the day." Elektra and I smile at the memories. But I also curse myself for having to lie to her. And for being sloppy enough for her to catch me.

"Well, you get yourself a couple more hours of sleep. Alfred and I are going into the city to do some shopping today."

"Oh? Going to buy yourself something nice?"

"Yeah. It's called food." I laugh. Elektra leans in and gives me a nice long kiss. "I'll see you later? No running off to work."

"No running off to work. Got it." I smile as she heads into the bathroom, the sound of the shower filling the air.

But there's no going back to sleep now. All that runs through my head is how to keep my secret from Elektra...and do I really want to.

[Carnage27]

"Xavier", Ororo recalled, "he is a man I shall never forget. It was Professor Xavier who helped free my friends and I from the tyranny of the Shadow King."

"So, I take it that you are his students then?"

Until now, I had been so engrossed by Ororo's exotic beauty that I couldn't find the words.

"Yes, yes, ve are his students. His X-men," I say with a big smile on my fake face.

"X-men? What is that?" she asks with a puzzled look on her face.

I rub my neck with my hand and think of the best way to explain it, "Vell...ve are kind of like his special team. Ve help out humans when things get out of hand. Like the mutant attack on the United States! Ve helped to stop it!"

Ororo laughs a bit at my over zealous attitude, "Okay, X-men, why are you here to see me?"

[SenseiofCheese]

Amanda Waller
Director of SHIELD

The assembled group watched as the Thunder God raised himself up into the air and flew off into the finally clear sky.

"Truly excellent, Avengers." Amanda congratulated. "If it was not for you, the President would have been killed. It is safe to say you do not disappoint." she added with a short smile.

"SHIELD will try it´s best to mend that poor man´s broken psyche." she lamented, watching a few armed agents carry the unconscious Robert Reynolds into a small helicopter. "And, of course, we will take care of the clean-up and press. Now go. You've all earned some time off." she smiled, going so far as patting Hank Pym on the shoulder. A gesture she would have rather skipped. "As long as you keep your Avengers comm link open at all times, you can go relax."

Both the Flash and Green Lantern scoffed at that last word.

The Avengers, victorious, bid farewell to each other. When a round of handshakes and hugs were done, they all went their separate ways. Wally West disappeared, kicking up dust as he ran back to Keystone City. The Green Lantern followed Thor's path, as did Wonder Woman, and the pair took off into the skies.

"Everything went well." Waller stated, finally dropping the pretense of being happy.

"It did." Pym nodded, motioning for Janet to go. "I'll be right behind you. Go get warmed up."

"And the Vision?" Waller asked, eyeing the android. The Vision stood a few feet behind Pym, unmoving and imposing.

"A few minor bugs that need to be sorted out. Nothing too bad." Hank assured Waller, taking a look back to make sure the Vision was not currently active and listening. He was wrong.

"Good. You're lucky you even got the Vision project after the mess you made with your first little toy-man. Make sure that does not happen again." Waller made no attempt to hide the fact that she was threatening Pym.

With a silent nod, Pym strode past Amanda and followed Janet. "Just make sure your men don't scratch him."

-------

A few hours later, Amanda Waller stood in a conference room she had used once before. Her guests, all shackled firmly to their respective chairs, were the same as before.

"I'd like to welcome our newest member." she looked out across Suicide Squad. "US Agent. I understand Bullseye can be quite persuasive."

[Catman_prb]

Until now, I had been so engrossed by Ororo's exotic beauty that I couldn't find the words.

"Yes, yes, ve are his students. His X-men," I say with a big smile on my fake face.

"X-men? What is that?" she asks with a puzzled look on her face.

I rub my neck with my hand and think of the best way to explain it, "Vell...ve are kind of like his special team. Ve help out humans when things get out of hand. Like the mutant attack on the United States! Ve helped to stop it!"

Ororo laughs a bit at my over zealous attitude, "Okay, X-men, why are you here to see me?"
"Well the original plan was to convince you to join the team. Or the school. Either or," Jamie said groggily, rubbing his throbbing head. "Of course, then you tried to shoot us with lightning and killed one of me,"

"I'm sorry about that," Ororo said sheepishly. Jamie waved his hand vaguely.

"Not a problem," he said "But you said that someone had already asked you about joining a vile group? I haven't checked myself out lately, but vile doesn't really seem to cover it,"

"You're quite the hero," the weather-controlling mutant said sarcasticly.

"You would know," he said, winking "But you owe me one. So the least you can do is come over and have a look for yourself. He may come off a bit preachy and stalkerish, what with the whole sending a team out to give you a sales speech, but he's actually a good bloke. Don't turn us down without giving us a shot,"

[Belvedere]

"You could call him that." US Agent muttered, his voice was laced with contempt with the assassin.

Bullseye smiled broadly at the acknowledgement of his skills by both Waller and US Agent.

Killer Croc's wounds had mostly healed, but his pride had not; he glared at US Agent and was clearly shocked when he learned that it had been Bullseye who had recruited him.

"I hope that's not the only reason you've brought us here. I have better things to do with my time than greet flag-draped buffoons." Plastique complained in her usual superior manner.

"We've already been introduced."

Croc growled, US Agent smiled at the giant lizard who was strapped to his chair; he had already made an example of Croc once, he wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

[Catman_prb]

Daredevil nods towards his partner.

"He's telling the truth....trust me, I know....shall I let him go?"


John paused, looking between his partner and the trapped form of Kl'rt the Super Skrull.

"On one condition," he said, looking at the Skrull prisoner "you take us to your Skrull homeworld,"

Stewart was not overly surprised by the looks on both faces, although Daredevil's was partially obscured by a mask.

"Look, this is going to be the easiest way to catch up with Galactus before he moves on to some other part of the galaxy that we have no idea how to reach. At least this time we'd have a guide. Plus we've got to at least attempt to save the world. I mean, we're Green Lanterns. Being heroes is pretty much what we do,"

[Eddie Brock]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/butterflylight/spidermanbanner1-1.png

It took more than a little convincing to make Aunt May let me leave the house - especially after having been 'mugged' the night before - but I finally manage to get out. A lengthy yet peaceful swing brings me to the Brownstone, where an open window is inviting me.

"Am I the only one," I announce loudly to make my presence known, "that thinks of A League of Their Own at every one of these meetings? You know, the movie where Rosie O'Donnell plays baseball?"

Blank stares.

"That leaves only Tony, by my count," Superman states, completely ignoring my brilliant entry. I pout and lean against a wall, waiting for the 'Armored Avenger' to arrive so we can get this thing going.

Hmm. I wonder if he'll have to change his nickname to the 'Armored Leaguer' now. Of course, then you lose the whole assonance aspect, which makes it totally clunky to say. I mean, I guess he could always--

Wow. Is this what I sound like when I talk? No wonder no one enables me anymore.

[SenseiofCheese]

"Look, this is going to be the easiest way to catch up with Galactus before he moves on to some other part of the galaxy that we have no idea how to reach. At least this time we'd have a guide. Plus we've got to at least attempt to save the world. I mean, we're Green Lanterns. Being heroes is pretty much what we do,"

Kl'rt did not know whether to laugh or, quite honestly, defecate.

"You're stupider than you look, earth-man." he snorted. "If you want to get yourself killed, that is your business. I would cherish the opportunity to watch you die, or better yet, have it be my hands around your throat..so if you truly are stupid enough to think the two of you can stop Galactus...fine. Ask your little rings, they will know the location of my homeworld."

[SenseiofCheese]

"That is enough." Waller commanded, the tone of her voice more than enough to remind the Squad of the explosive implants in their skulls. "If you're done arguing like a bunch of little schoolgirls, I have another job for you."

"Oh joy. And I suppose all we get for this next one is a prolonged stay in SHIELD´s luxury suites?" Plastique scoffed, turning her head away from Waller.

Amanda smiled shortly, letting out an inaudible chuckle. "Actually.." she looked out across the Squad. "I was thinking something more along the lines of your very own walking papers, and a cool quarter million each for your troubles."

[Belvedere]

Instantly silence fell around the room.

The reactions of the different squad members said alot about their backgrounds. US Agent looked indifferent, it was clear that he wasn't in it for the money and he already had his walking papers. Killer Croc rubbed his hands together greedily and not because of the large sum of money, which one could presume, walking papers meant only meant one thing to him: play time.

Bullseye shrugged his shoulders, he was used to making such money, the walking papers would give him a chance to get out from underneath Waller's thumb though. The very mention of the money made Chameleon's eyes light up, there was no doubt that he more than anyone wanted to line his pockets.

Plastique as usual feigned superiority and pretended as if the offer hadn't resounded with her. Killer Frost day dreamed about what she would use her newfound free time for; finding and hurting every man that had scorned her. Beginning with Martin Stein.

Chameleon broke the silence with a greedy chuckle.

"Who do you want us to kill?"

[Johnny Blaze]

"Well the original plan was to convince you to join the team. Or the school. Either or," Jamie said groggily, rubbing his throbbing head. "Of course, then you tried to shoot us with lightning and killed one of me,"

"I'm sorry about that," Ororo said sheepishly. Jamie waved his hand vaguely.

"Not a problem," he said "But you said that someone had already asked you about joining a vile group? I haven't checked myself out lately, but vile doesn't really seem to cover it,"

"You're quite the hero," the weather-controlling mutant said sarcasticly.

"You would know," he said, winking "But you owe me one. So the least you can do is come over and have a look for yourself. He may come off a bit preachy and stalkerish, what with the whole sending a team out to give you a sales speech, but he's actually a good bloke. Don't turn us down without giving us a shot,"

Ororo looked the X-Men over. Such a motley crew of mutants trying to make the world a better place. Such a dream was beautiful, of that she had no doubt...

"You're professor asked me to join his school years ago", Ororo began as he leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
"I respectfully turned him down. There were many orphans left without anyone to guide them or care for them once the Shadow King was defeated. So I took it upon myself to help them."

"But they have all moved on by now."

Ororo smirked, "Very well. I'll return with you and see what Xavier's school has to offer."

"Excellent", Scott smiled as he stood up from the table, "you've made the right choice."

The group paid for their drinks and left the cafe, heading back to the Blackbird.

"By the way, you mentioned you were approached by another group during the initial confrontation", Scott says as he moves next to Ororo as the exit the city limits.
"A vile group, you called them."

"Yes", Ororo recalls, a look of distaste suddenly gracing her beautiful face.
"There were three of them. A woman, named Raven, who seemed to lead the other two. One was Australian, given his accent. He didn't say much, just played with a lighter the entire time."

"The other one is what showed me what they really were. His name was Todd. Despite Raven's honeyed words about a mutant Brotherhood, he had a darkness about him. I knew then that these people did not have the world's best interest in mind."

"So, I told them to get lost", she smiled at Scott, obviously trying to take her mind off of the uncomfortable meeting with the Brotherhood.

[Carnage27]

"Yes", Ororo recalls, a look of distaste suddenly gracing her beautiful face.
"There were three of them. A woman, named Raven, who seemed to lead the other two. One was Australian, given his accent. He didn't say much, just played with a lighter the entire time."

"The other one is what showed me what they really were. His name was Todd. Despite Raven's honeyed words about a mutant Brotherhood, he had a darkness about him. I knew then that these people did not have the world's best interest in mind."

"So, I told them to get lost", she smiled at Scott, obviously trying to take her mind off of the uncomfortable meeting with the Brotherhood.

Ororo's words hit me like a ton of bricks.

Australian with a lighter. The pyromaniac Flash and I fought.

That meant one thing. Magneto's cronies were out recruiting again, and this mission just became all the more important.

"Scott, ve need to hurry," I say with a sense of urgency in my voice. "If vhat Ororo is saying is correct, zhen Magneto's men are trying to build zheir strength up again. And who knows if they have zhe same list ve do."

"Kurt's right, Scott," Jean agrees, "We should get back to the 'Bird and get to where we are going next as quickly as possible."

******

After a short ride back to our landing site, Scott and I are strapped into the flight chairs, beginning our take off procedures. I flip the switch on my image inducer and show our new teammate what I really look like, and she doesn't even flinch.

"Sorry to dissappoint, fraulien," I say with a devilish smile on my face. "But thank you for not gasping...or laughing."

"Kurt," she responds coolly, "I have seen things much stranger than you in my life."

"Please, call me Nightcrawler....speaking of which, you need a code name."

"Why would I need one of those?"

"Vell you know...for missions. Ve can't go running around calling you 'Ororo'. No. That just wouldn't work."

She laughs and raises her hands as if she was giving in, "Okay, what do you think it should be?"

I scratch my chin with my tail as it hits me, "How about Storm? I believe it fits."

"I like it. Storm it is."

"Vell, velcome aboard, Storm," I say as I look over to Cyclops. "Vhere to now, boss?"

[Johnny Blaze]

"Now", Scott repeated as he brought the Blackbird slowly up and and into the air.
"Now we're heading to Louisiana. New Orleans to be exact."

[Karem-Knight]

The Pentagon, two hours after the Void attack inside the White House

Lex grinned with delight as his plans once again had been planted all so well, backstage to the pentagon the top make up artists were putting straighting him up, one woman while trying to cover the very deep scar on Lex´s face touched upon it before the President interrupted her. "No! Leave it....the people need to know what happened here today." With that the make up artist agreed and stepped back from Luthor. All of a sudden another one of the secutarys came inside "They´re ready Mr. President." Luthor nodded rising up and straighting his tie and suit one final time before walking towards the confrence.

Luthor came walking to the Pentagon´s confrence room with some gasps as he came walking towards the podium with a scar on his face that managed to stir up the perfect manipulation of the majority. Finally Lex got his voice ready to speak to the crowded confrence.

"Good evening, my fellow Americans."
http://baldwall.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/rosenbaum.jpg







He straighted up the speech he had laid out for the public and contiuned.

"In just over two hours ago, as you may know, the White House was attacked by a strange metahuman calling himself "The Void" attacking not only myself, but the very foundations of this country for some insane gain that he would not otherwise specicfy only to support his evil and misguided gains.

I cannot lie to you saying that I was not afraid, in fact, it was one of the few times I truly felt fear inside my heart and mind. Clouding my judgement, my mind and goals to my worst fears. What did I see in my worst fears?"

Luthor tried to keep calm after the hallicantion he had ecountered with the alien, instead turning it into lies that would make the fools think twice.

"I saw America, but not the one you know; I saw one without government, leadership; I saw this great country in ruins to other wordly powers without any way to defent it´s self. Like I was with this monster that attacked me; I know what you will be thinking. "How will this country be able to cope after our own Preident was attacked, barely escaping?" "What can we do, how will we be safe after this?" and as of now, I cannot give you a comple concrete answer. However, I do have a soloution.

When I was attacked by the Void, I had no way of escaping I was truly a prisioner but there were one group of heroes, true heroes who managed to stop that beast destroying me or...even killing me.



Within seconds, the press are already interested wondering who these people are and how they stopped the seemiling unbeatble foe.

"The Avengers, you have all heard of them shrortly after my first few days in office at first most of you were skepical; now if these mighty, noble and brave American heroes are anywhere I would be honoured if they would hold a breif ceremony so I can give them a medal of bravery. In fact, I did not have the oppurtunity to thank them in person so I guess, for now, this will have to do as I hope they will see this."

Lex starred straight into the nearest camerea.

"Avengers, thank you, had you not been there to save me, I do not know what would happen otherwise."

Lex then starred into the public confrence, awaiting the inevitble questions that would follow.

"Any questions?"

Immediatly, nearly all the hands shot up Lex looked over before he saw a familar face he couldn´t help but smile when he saw them.

"Ah! Miss Lane, Daily Planet you can go first."

Lois Lane, was less then happy to see Luthor as President let alone advertising this new team of Avengers for the world.

"Yes Mr. President, I was wondering where does this leave the Justice League of America?"

Luthor resited trying to look upset or roll his eyes over the question, so instead gave a democratic response.

"The Justice League have proved themselves a very credible and helpful group of individuals commited to the Earth. However, despite they´re name they seem commited to be a global force. In a time of growing metahuman epidemics, we cannot help but overlook some rouge nations growing with these new threats. Latveria, Kahndaq and many more in the new Axis of Evil are growing with their metahuman resources; we must be careful and have a team that is commited fully to America and her allies defenses while ensuring that they can still make the world a better place.
Next question."

Luthor pointed to a middle aged man with glasses who had his hand up.

"Hello Mr. President, Ben Urich, Daily Bugle. I was curious, you say that America is under threat; how will this new team be able to help America?"

"Well, Mr. Urich, as I had just explained; the Avengers are commited to ensuring America, and even the world´s safety but unlike the global JLA, the Avengers are in direct contact with the Government and we ensure their safety, as they have ours. We also do not intrude on their lives behind the mask, and their identity´s are kept their secret."

A Secret Service agent came walking towards Luthor, whispering something to his ear, the President resumed his speech.

"I regret to inform you that my attention is needed elsewhere. I will answer you questions at a further time. Thank you."

Lex walked out of the confrence, despite some vultures hungry for information and Pulitzers; he still had the American people in the palm of his hand. To them, he was after all; their hero.

[Byrd Man]

Kl'rt did not know whether to laugh or, quite honestly, defecate.

"You're stupider than you look, earth-man." he snorted. "If you want to get yourself killed, that is your business. I would cherish the opportunity to watch you die, or better yet, have it be my hands around your throat..so if you truly are stupid enough to think the two of you can stop Galactus...fine. Ask your little rings, they will know the location of my homeworld."

"If we're going." Daredevil snarled.

"You're going with us."

Warning, ring energy level below 10%

"John, how about holding on to our friend here? I have to charge my ring."

[Carnage27]

"Now", Scott repeated as he brought the Blackbird slowly up and and into the air.
"Now we're heading to Louisiana. New Orleans to be exact."

After a short flight to New Orleans thanks to the jet's thrusters, the entrance ramp opens, and the humid, swampy air smacks me in the face.

"Gah! Vhat a wonderful smell ve have discovered."

I flip my image inducer back on as we head towards the city, "So, who are we after zhis time? I do hope he doesn't try to kill us."

[Catman_prb]

After a short flight to New Orleans thanks to the jet's thrusters, the entrance ramp opens, and the humid, swampy air smacks me in the face.

"Gah! Vhat a wonderful smell ve have discovered."

I flip my image inducer back on as we head towards the city, "So, who are we after zhis time? I do hope he doesn't try to kill us."
"I am sorry about that," Ororo said sheepishly.

Jamie leant back in his comfortable chair and raised an eyebrow.

"Number one; don't quote Star Wars unless it's a marathon. Number two; nothing to worry about my fine nubian princess. Number three; this is New Orleans right? Chances of me having some time out to track down a prostitute?"

The last comment received a record number of glares from all around the cockpit.

"I'm just going to shut up for the rest of the trip if that's okay," he smiled.

[Johnny Blaze]

"We can only hope."

"All right", Scott interrupted as he unstrapped himself from the pilot's seat and stood up.
"The mutant we're here to see goes by the name of Gambit. His real name is Remy Lebeau, and he's a notorious gambler and hustler. According to the professor's intel, there's a night club in the French Quarter that he frequents."

Scott held out the datapad and a small holographic image of the man called Gambit appeared.

"We'll split into two teams and search the entire area: Kurt and Jamie, and Jean and I. He may be difficult to spot in the crowd, so remember what he looks like. Jean will keep us all connected telepathically. So if you spot him signal the rest of us before approaching."

"Everyone got that?"

"Ororo, if you wish, you can accompany Jamie and Kurt. Or you can stay on the jet. It's your choice."

"I'd like to help, if I can. So I'll choose to go with Kurt and Jamie."

"All right, if there's nothing else, let's get this show on the road", Scott spoke as he made his way down the ramp...

[Keyser Soze]

"There is a plan for all of us. More than ever, it would seem we live in a Godless world, where belief in a higher power is dismissed as a crutch of the small-minded. I understand that in our world, with the great and terrible things happening all around us, remaining strong in your faith can sometimes be difficult. Do not be ashamed of doubt."

As the minister spoke to his congregation, one man, sat alone at the back of the Brooklyn church, was plagued by his own doubts. Throughout his life, Donald Blake had taken much comfort and guidance from the teachings of his faith. His desire to become a doctor and help people had been shaped by it. His understanding of the world was founded in his belief in God, the one and only God who created all.

But if his God was the one true God, how could Blake explain the god living inside him?

"Faith need not be blind. Jesus died for our sins, so that we all may live eternally, and all he asks in return is that we believe in him. But there is a difference between faith and complacency. To let Jesus live in our hearts, we must engage with him. Our faith is not a stone monument. We live in the world of man, our faith is sure to be challenged and tested."

Of course, Donald Blake knew about Norse mythology. But that's all it had been to him - mythology. But if those gods existed, if they walked among us.... it is the kind of revelation that could throw faith into turmoil. What of Heaven, if Asgard was an actual city? What of eternal life after death, if one could already travel to Valhalla, Hel or Niffleheim?

"But if you can confront those doubts, look deep into this 'Godless' world and see the spark of divinity... your faith will be reinvigorated, stronger than ever."

Blake prayed, every night. All his life, he had said his prayers at night, and knew in his heart that God was listening. What comfort it was, knowing he could speak to God. And now, he prayed for clarity, some kind of assurance his faith had not been misplaced. But how unsettling it was to pray, to speak to God, only to have a God speak back. The wrong god. In your head...

"Some would say that gods walk among us. They invade our planet, or join superhero teams. What does that say about a God who remains invisible, out of reach? The truth is that he is never out of reach. God works in ways beyond our understanding. I trust that all these incredible, miraculous beings fit into God's divine plan, just as we do. I have faith."

[Byrd Man]

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t302/DCMarvelRPG/Supporting%20Characters/Jim%20Gordon/GordonBanner.gif

I fiddle with my tie as I sit on the rundown bench in Robinson Park. A lone light illuminates the bench.

Tiiiing................................ thap.

"I was beginning to think you wouldn't show."

"Well, there was a fifty-fifty chance I wouldn't make it." My old friend says as he emerges from the shadows.

Harvey Dent, better known as Two-Face sits next to me in the almost deserted park. Neither one of us look at each other, instead we stare straight ahead.

"So, why did you call me out here?"

"My men are taking control of the Narrows and East End. We will run the drug trade pure and simple, leave us alone and your crime rate will go down as my people contain the crime."

"So, you want me to legalize drugs and criminal activities in select areas?"

"More like turning a blind eye to it."

"So, just like that your people will control Gotham's underworld."

"There will be some resistance, but we'll need police help...help me, and I'll help control their wild behavior."
"Why are you asking me this?"

Two-Face jerks suddenly and stares me down.

"I am not asking, I'm issuing a warning. You keep your officers away, and there won't be any problems."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Well...I hope you're ready for the war that will follow."

The two of us remain in silence as he continues to flip his coin.

"Do you know what we are, Jim?"

"What's that?"

"Two men trying to find our place in this game."

"Spare me your philosophical rants. Do me, and yourself a favor and turn yourself in."

"Okay....heads, I go with you...tails, I don't."

Tiiiing................................ thap.

My eyes watch as he holds the coin in the palm on his hand, the scarred and scratched side staring up at us.

"That's fate."

"I will catch you, Harvey. Either me or Batman, we'll get you."

He eases up off the bench and walks back into the shadows.

"You can try, Jim."
Tiiiing................................ thap.

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/SilverSurfer-11-1.jpg

THE ODYSSEY
Chapter 3 ~ The Fourth World - Act 4

Darkseid stood tall, his menacing figure looming over the Silver Surfer. Norrin had seen many wondrous and frightening things while in service to Galactus, but simply being in Darkseid's presence sent a shiver running down his spine.

"It was a courageous act to enter the boom tube, Surfer. Not knowing where you will end up. Courageous, and ultimately stupid", smirked the Darkness as the Omega Effect flared in his hate-filled eyes.

"You're guilt overwhelms you, Norrin Radd. Forcing you into making rash decisions. Leading you into battles where no hope exists."

"We shall see about that", stated Norrin as a nimbus of cosmic energy surrounds his entire being.

"Is this truly the path you wish to take? Utter annihilation at my hand?"

"It is not I who will be beaten today, Darkseid", retorted the Surfer as he moved towards the evil god.

The Surfer launched a blast of energy at the tyrant as he charged in. Darkseid nimbly avoids the attack, moving to the side as Norrin Radd rushes past him.

"You have a rage inside you, Silver Surfer", Darkseid states as he casually parries a combination of blows from Norrin.

"Could this anger stem from Zenn-La's destruction", Darkseid smiles as he catches the Surfer's fist in his hand and flings him away.

"What do you know about that!?"

"Only that your world was destroyed by a powerful cosmic force", Darkseid stated as he leaned back to avoid a punch from the Surfer.

"If you know where Galactus is, tell me!"

"Poor little Surfer", Darkseid chuckled as he dodged another energy blast loosed by the Surfer.
"You're frustration is beginning to show."

The Surfer gritted his teeth as he stepped inside of Darkseid. Cosmic energy cascaded off of his body as he reached down with a clenched fist.

Enough.

Moving at a speed to make the Flash jealous, the Silver Surfer connected with a booming uppercut under the chin of the surprised Darkseid.

The Great Darkness flew backwards, landing unceremoniously onto his backside dozens of meters away from the Surfer.

The Lord of Apokolips growled as he rose, eyes narrowing dangerously at the defiant Silver Surfer.

"Clearly I underestimated you, Norrin Radd", Darkseid stated as he stood up, his vile figure seemingly rising taller than ever.
"A mistake I will never make again."

Darkseid's eyes began to burn, and beams of fiery energy burst from them, like water breaking through the floodgates.

The beams zig-zaged in the air as they closed in on the Surfer. Norrin tried to avoid the beams, but they followed him wherever he went.

"By The Source", Norrin exclaimed in dismay as the beams rushed to greet him.

He did not scream as white hot explosions of pain erupted all throughout his being. His board disintegrated beneath his feet, and no sound escaped his lips. His face is locked in a mask of shock and horror as his chrome skin begins to crack and peel.
And then, in a flash of light, Norrin Radd is gone...

[Johnny Blaze]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Hulk-4.jpg

Running...running so hard his feet ached with each step. That's all he could remember. He couldn't even remember what he was running from, but he knew he had to get away.
It was wet, and cold. a thin layer of frost clung to the large pines of the northern forest as Bruce Banner ran through the wood.

His breath was ragged. He had ran out of energy miles ago, but still he pressed on. He had to. The alternative was...

"RHAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

The roar echoed through the forest like a bomb dropping. It was dusk. Darkness was only minutes away.

Banner had to find safety, and quickly.

His feet screamed in pain. His lungs were on fire. But still he ran.

The large shape came crashing down in front of him, the impact sending a shockwave through the ground that brought him to his knees.

Banner looked up in panic.

"No...not you..."

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Hulk-1.jpg

"Why Banner try and run from Hulk!? Banner afraid! Banner weak!!"

"Banner!"

"Banner!"

The Hulk reared back, and launched his colossal fist at the prone Doctor...

"Banner."

Bruce Banner's eyes blinked open as he slowly awoke.

"Wha...where..."

"You're a tough bastard to track down, Doctor Banner."

Bruce couldn't shake the cloud of lethargy that consumed him. His muscles were weak, the metal straps holding him down on the table complete overkill given his current state.
And though his vision was blurry...but Banner could still make out the face standing over him.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/HypsterJB/Eiling-3.jpg

"Hello, Bruce", Eiling smiled, "Long time, no see."

"General...", Bruce said groggily, "what...you doing...here?"

"Here", Eiling questioned.
"With all the drugs we're pumping into you it's a wonder that you're coherent enough to speak. Though it is a feet, I can't imagine you have any idea where you are, or even what's going on."

"So I'll fill you in", Eiling smirked.

"You're ours now", he whispered in Bruce's ear.
"And we're going to poke and prod, and slice and dice until we learn what we can about your angrier half. And when we do, we'll dispose of you like the worthless tool you are."

"Pleasant dreams, Dr. Banner", Eiling smiled as a pair of doctors moved towards the prisoner, injecting a clear liquid into his IV drip.
Seconds later the overwhelming urge to sleep consumed him, and Banner gave little resistance to the doctor's as they prepped him for tests, allowing the drug's to take hold...


Perspectives ~ Part 1

[Carnage27]

"I'd like to help, if I can. So I'll choose to go with Kurt and Jamie."

"All right, if there's nothing else, let's get this show on the road", Scott spoke as he made his way down the ramp...

My team heads into the southern entrance to the night club, and my ears are assaulted with some of the loudest music I've ever heard.

I look at Storm, "I think I may prefer zhe lightening."

"Haha, let's find our man, Nightcrawler."

We move swiftly through the crowded searching high and low for the man known as Gambit, when someone catches my eye in the VIP section.

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/skgdaskjdghajdf/Gambit.jpg

"Zhere he is."

"How do you know, elf lips?" Jamie asks.

I smile back at him, "Because only a mutant could dress like zhat and get away with it."

Scott, Jean, we've found him in the VIP section.

[Carnage27]

I bite my tongue at the mention of this 'Avengers' team. I, too, have some strong opinions on them, but this is not the forum to voice them. That day will have to come in time. I can only imagine what SHIELD will have to say in response.

"Sorry, Kara, but we haven't seen Clark recently either," I answer. "I was actually hoping to talk to him as well..."

Johnny laughs. "Hey, maybe you can shine a big 'S' in the sky," he suggests half-jokingly. He looks at Ben, who offers a little snicker.

"You know, Johnny, if you spent more time working out and less time trying to be funny, you may have a shot with me," I quickly reply while flashing a teasing smile, which sends Ben into a fit of uncontrollable fit of laughter.

"Hahahaha! She got you good, hothead!"

"So there is a chance!" the Torch laughs.

"I guess I should be heading out then. Maybe he's back in Smallville already. Let me know if you ever have another crazed robot on the loose."

I start to lift off and look back down at Johnny, "And no...there is no chance."

[Catman_prb]

My team heads into the southern entrance to the night club, and my ears are assaulted with some of the loudest music I've ever heard.

I look at Storm, "I think I may prefer zhe lightening."

"Haha, let's find our man, Nightcrawler."

We move swiftly through the crowded searching high and low for the man known as Gambit, when someone catches my eye in the VIP section.

http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss214/skgdaskjdghajdf/Gambit.jpg

"Zhere he is."

"How do you know, elf lips?" Jamie asks.

I smile back at him, "Because only a mutant could dress like zhat and get away with it."

Scott, Jean, we've found him in the VIP section.
Jamie walked over to the hulking bodyguard standing at the door to the VIP room with what he hoped was a casual ease.

"Evening my good man," he said coolly, flashing a big grin. The bouncer was less than impressed.

"Do I know you?" he asked. Jamie laughed loudly.

"You don't-?" he began, then turned to Kurt "Elfy, he doesn't know who we are!"

Kurt looked puzzled, so Jamie quickly distracted the thug from his friend's face.

"I, my friend, am Tom Madrox, Madrox Agency, I'm sure a man of your calibre has heard of us," he said, using a sleazy smile.

"Uh, sure," the bouncer said.

"Fantastic, here's my card," he said, shoving a receipt into his pocket before the gorilla-man could see it "This is my associate Mr. Kurt Elfy and this," he said, gesturing to a bemused Ororo "Is Ororo my newfound talent from the continent,"

The bouncer looked dumbfounded.

"You ain't on the list,"

Jamie surreptitiously slid a couple of dollars into the man's pocket.

"I'm sure you can make an exception for such an astounding young woman," he said, using his business exec voice.

"Uh, sure," the bouncer said, ushering the three of them in.

"Vas zhat really necessary?" Kurt whispered in his friend's ear.

"Nope. Fun though," Jamie grinned.

He sat down next to LeBeau, smiling.

"Hullo there, my name's Madrox,"

[Byrd Man]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/butterflylight/spidermanbanner1-1.png

It took more than a little convincing to make Aunt May let me leave the house - especially after having been 'mugged' the night before - but I finally manage to get out. A lengthy yet peaceful swing brings me to the Brownstone, where an open window is inviting me.

"Am I the only one," I announce loudly to make my presence known, "that thinks of A League of Their Own at every one of these meetings? You know, the movie where Rosie O'Donnell plays baseball?"

Blank stares.

"That leaves only Tony, by my count," Superman states, completely ignoring my brilliant entry. I pout and lean against a wall, waiting for the 'Armored Avenger' to arrive so we can get this thing going.

Hmm. I wonder if he'll have to change his nickname to the 'Armored Leaguer' now. Of course, then you lose the whole assonance aspect, which makes it totally clunky to say. I mean, I guess he could always--

Wow. Is this what I sound like when I talk? No wonder no one enables me anymore.





"Welcome, Spider-Man. Good to have you along with us."

"Screw it, Stark will show up eventually and we've waiting long enough.." Nick says as he puts out his cigarette.

"The reason I've called this meeting, is so we can get some of our bearings together. I'm sure you all seen Luthor revealing his new super-team to the world. The Avengers, his answer to the Justice League."

"Controlled by Amanda Waller, the new director of SHIELD. I should feel honored, my termination was the second act of the Luthor presidency."

"While I hope that Lex started this team out of the best interest for the country, a part of me thinks..."

"It's all Bull****."

"But, I am willing to give them a chance. I know some of you-...most of you here are not fans of Lex, but I think maybe a sit down with him could be beneficial, in a way for all of us to work together peacefully."

"So, what say the rest of the League?"

[Eddie Brock]

"Welcome, Spider-Man. Good to have you along with us."

"Screw it, Stark will show up eventually and we've waiting long enough.." Nick says as he puts out his cigarette.

"The reason I've called this meeting, is so we can get some of our bearings together. I'm sure you all seen Luthor revealing his new super-team to the world. The Avengers, his answer to the Justice League."

"Controlled by Amanda Waller, the new director of SHIELD. I should feel honored, my termination was the second act of the Luthor presidency."

"While I hope that Lex started this team out of the best interest for the country, a part of me thinks..."

"It's all Bull****."

"But, I am willing to give them a chance. I know some of you-...most of you here are not fans of Lex, but I think maybe a sit down with him could be beneficial, in a way for all of us to work together peacefully."

"So, what say the rest of the League?"
I cross my arms. "Honestly? I'd rather fight Magneto's forces a thousand times over, but I agree that this is our only course of action." I hate myself for saying it, and I hate myself even more for knowing it's the truth. As much as I know Luthor's got something planned, you can't just go after the President without good reason.

***

"I get to go to the White House?" I ask excitedly. "Sweet. Hey, do you guys really think that there are ghosts in the Lincoln Bedroom? How sweet would that be, right?"

They have that look. That 'shut up or suffer the consequences' look. That 'why did we invite the kid?' look. Sometimes, it shuts me up. Other times, I'm totally oblivious to it. This is the former.

"Right, the Avengers. Totally. I'm on the same page here, guys."