One Universe: Season IV IC Thread

[Catman_prb]

I comically wipe my hand across my face, "Honestly...I think I got some splash back from the kiss. He seems to be compensating for something..."

"Vhy are ve walking away from him? I believe I could take him. Or you could just make 20 of you to take him out."

Jamie simply continues to walk down the hallway, and I follow closely.

"So...are you going to talk about zhe girl you obviously like...or not?"

Jamie hesitated for a second.

"I'm making an exception to my rule about guys never talking about their feelings one time, and one time only understood?" he warned. Kurt shrugged, which Jamie took as a yes.

"So Laura came to Muir Island a few months after I did, with a whole lot of baggage that she doesn't really talk about if she can help it. Anyway she was pretty shy for the first few weeks, didn't really come out of her room. It was me that brought her out of her shell kinda and well...I sort of fell for her. As you do, y'know. I mean, you talk about that Supergirl bird all the time. But she saw me as more of a friend, I think. Anyway, for some reason she found my charming troll of a brother a better catch than my good self," Jamie explained carefully.

"But sometimes I'm not sure. The way she says stuff sometimes, or I'll catch a look or something. It's nothing to, y'know, base anything on, but I think that she might prefer me over Kevin. Just sometimes," Jamie muttered, his eyes fixed firmly on the floor. He shrugged heavily.

"But hey, now I've got Jubilee and Laura's still got my monstrosity of a brother. So there's no problem," he said.

 

[Byrd Man]

"I...I can't", Hal answered as he looked away.
"I gave my word. I vowed to serve Galactus as his herald for him sparing the Earth, and to keep monsters like Lobo from ever getting this kind of power."

"I can't be a part of the new Corps. My place is here. That's why I created all of the rings and sent them out into the universe."​

​

"You only sent out two."

"And we can't do it alone. We would make more rings, but we don't know how to do that. We've travelled to Oa, or what's left of it, and found it empty. No guardians or lanterns."

"Besides, your 'deal' with Galactus sounds a lot like the Surfer's pact with Galactus, and he got out of it, right?" Stewart says as he looks at the surfer.

 

[Keyser Soze]

CLANG!

My shield strikes against Nazi's skull and whizzes off, the blow makes him lose his bearings long enough to allow me to deliver a swift kick to his face.

"You can call it Facism or National Socialism all you want, Nazi. At the end of the day, it never stands up to freedom."

I bend low and drive my shoulder into his body, making Nazi lose his grip on Iron Man.

The two of us crash into another wall, I keep on driving through wall after wall until we crash into the parking lot.

"Impressive." He says with a smile as swings to strike me.

I return the smile as I hear the sound of metal slicing through the air.

I duck just in time to feel my shield fly over my neck and strike Nazi in the face again.

"Okay, no more going easy on you..."

I soar out of the hole in the wall left by the two Captains, and unload a barrage of repulsor blasts on Captain Nazi.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Okay, no more going easy on you..."

I soar out of the hole in the wall left by the two Captains, and unload a barrage of repulsor blasts on Captain Nazi.

I roll out of the way as Tony lays into Nazi with his lasers.

After 30 seconds of non-stop blasting. Both us watch, prepared for what is about to come out of the smoking crater.

"Ack!" Is all that comes out of my mouth as a powerful hand clamps around my throat.

"I believe it is time for us to take a ride." Nazi says as we take off high into the sky.

I struggle and fight against his grip as we fly higher and higher up.

The air is starting to get thin as my vision blurs.

"Any last words before I let you go, Captain?" He mutters with a smirk.

He eases his grip long enough for me to utter some words.

"I like Ike." I say as I thrust my hand up and poke him in the eye with a finger.

"Ahh!" He yells as his grip loosens around my throat and sends me free falling back towards the ground.

"Captain America to Iron Man, Captain America to Iron Man." I yell into my ear piece as I start to pick up speed in my free fall.

"Catch!"

 

[Eddie Brock]

Wilson Fisk's penthouse is quite a climb, but I'm not an elevator kind of guy. I like to make a real entrance. I tap gently on the glass to get Fisk's attention. It works, but it also makes Fisk's bodyguard aim his gun at me. I hold up my arms, and Fisk waves his man off. He presses a button on his desk, and one of the giant windows slides down. I give him the thumbs-up before crawling over to it.

"Good God," I announce as I slip through the window. Fisk presses the button, and the window closes once more. "I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt - the camera adds ten pounds and all - but man, you are fat." I find a comfortable spot on the wall to lean against. It makes Fisk's bodyguard noticeably uneasy.

Fisk, however, couldn't seem more collected. "Spider-Man," he announces calmly. "I understand we have a mutual problem."

I scratch the top of my head. "Chronic wedgies?" I ask rhetorically. Fisk looks neither amused nor annoyed. I can't get a read on him, so I decide to play along. "Oh, right. The Green Goblin. I heard he wants to prove that he has a bigger--well, you know."

"He has become a thorn in my side," Fisk admits. "And I understand he has not made life easy for you?"

"No, he certainly hasn't," I concede. "However, neither has all this organized crime. Now, if only there was one man in charge of it all. One man without whom the gangs will fall apart." I pause. "If only, right?"

Fisk nearly smiles. "There is no need to be coy. I knew you would not be here if you hadn't put the pieces together," he explains. Then, he does smile. "In fact, almost everyone has the pieces put together now. Yet, here I stand."

"Your point being...?"

"That I have powerful friends," Fisk answers. "Lawyers, politicians, police officers. They all have a hand in my pocket. I wouldn't be in this position if I didn't know how to protect myself." Fisk approaches me. "Why do you think that you, a teenager in his pajamas, would be able to bring me down?"

I fold my arms. "I have been known to be quite bothersome. I don't think you realize just how many fat jokes I have lined up right now."

"You need to be careful, Spider-Man. There is a war going on. Make sure you're on the right side," Fisk warns.

"Let me guess," I begin. I somersault down from the wall, landing in Fisk's armchair. His bodyguard appears ready to lose his mind. Fisk, however, says and does nothing. "You think that I need to help you because you think you can help with Gobby?"

"You don't realize how dangerous this foe is. If anyone stands a chance of stopping him, it's me."

I spin around in the armchair. "So why reach out to me? Think I'm the deciding factor?"

Fisk laughs. "Hardly. With or without you, I'm going to bring the Goblin down." He reaches out a hand and stops the spinning chair. "What you need to decide is if you want me to focus on you when I'm done."

"I'll do you one better," I offer. I hop out of Fisk's chair and begin to walk across the room. "I'll bring you both down and solve two of my biggest headaches."

"You don't want to cross me, Spider-Man."

"I'll take my chances."

Fisk pushes the button, and the window opens once more. I leap out into the New York night, firing a webline on my way down.

 

[Eddie Brock]

SUPERMAN

When my flying began to manifest, I told Ma that I was going to fly all the way to Heaven. She told me that it might be easier than I thought. I didn't understand what she meant until much later. Here, in the low levels of the stratosphere, I've found my Heaven. I can see the whole world from up here, and I'm far enough away to tune out all the sound if I want to. It looks so peaceful that I almost forget all the problems down there.

I turn an ear to Metropolis, hearing all the city's sound in one instant. It takes a lot of practice, but I've learned to sift through all the noise to hear everything clearly. Cars, conversations, radio frequencies. They all come to me at once. I pick through them to find something that requires my attention.

"--all units be advised: electrical explosion at Metropolis General.--"

Another one? I furrow my brow in confusion. It seems too sudden to be coincidental. With arms outstretched, I take off for Metropolis. I re-enter the atmosphere, and I'm moving so fast that all I can hear is the sound of the wind rushing past my ears. Just above the cloud line, I break through the sound barrier. I rush through the sky with amazing speed in the direction of Metropolis General.

"YOU!"

I don't have time to respond when I'm jolted with a blast of electricity. I shield my eyes with my arms as I slam through the roof of Metropolis General. Next thing I know, I'm crashing into the pavement in front of the hospital. The crowd steps back in terror as I pull myself to my feet. Sparks bounce off the pavement behind me.

I turn to see a woman with electricity surging through her body. Her hair is stark white and standing on end. I look into her eyes and recognize her immediately. Leslie Willis. She's visibly enraged.

"YOU DID THIS TO ME!" she shouts angrily as a blast of electricity leaps from her hand. It bounces off my shoulder and hits a nearby building, destroying a window. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
​

 

[Matt Murdock]

​

I take a long sip out of my coffee cup as I sit behind my desk and look a Captain Essen. Sarah, as I've come to call her.

"So, where are we on the Two-Face wires?"

"I've broken down our nine member squad into three sections. Sergeant Bullock, Detective Allen, and myself are working the murders. In the three weeks we've been running this case, we've tied 10 bodies to Two-Face's people, nothing concrete to close the case, but we're almost there. On the drug front, Detectives Driver, Fields, and Cole are monitoring the wire and identifying all of Two-Face's drug lieutenants. As it stands, we have wire taps on two drug lieutenants and are close to another top man in Two-Face's group. Lieutenant Akins, Sergeant Sawyer, and Detective Montoya are following the money. They've been busy tracking and tracing every asset that belong to Maroni, seeing where it went and if Two-Face's people got their hands on it. So far, we've identified six legitmate business fronts and banks accounts. We just need to find out how the launder their money. We find the money, I think the rest will fall."

I nod as I take another sip of coffee.

"We get those murders down, that'll be good. I have a meeting with the mayor in about two hours about the crime rate. Apparently, our beloved Mayor Hill, who was an accountant before being seeking public office, knows a thing or two about police work and wishes to school me in that matter."

"Commissioner. You have a call." The intercom rings.

"Put them through, Stacy."

"This is Gordon."​

"Evening, Commissioner."I breathe through the phone. I wonder: does he recognize my voice? Has he spent as many sleepless nights sitting over my file as he has with that of Two-Face? Does the fact that he has a family at home that he's all but forgotten about cut him to the core? Does it chill his marrow? "I'd like to submit an anonymous tip."​

 

[Byrd Man]

​

"Evening, Commissioner."I breathe through the phone. I wonder: does he recognize my voice? Has he spent as many sleepless nights sitting over my file as he has with that of Two-Face? Does the fact that he has a family at home that he's all but forgotten about cut him to the core? Does it chill his marrow? "I'd like to submit an anonymous tip."​

I recognize the voice on the other end of the line, it'd be impossible for me not to. I've heard it on tv, radio, even in those audio clips Batman has.

I look at Sarah and motion towards the phone in the front office. She hurries over to Stacy's desk and picks up the line.

"Normally, we do have a tip hotline, but I can hear the concern in your voice. How can I help you today, miss?"

 

[Keyser Soze]

I roll out of the way as Tony lays into Nazi with his lasers.

After 30 seconds of non-stop blasting. Both us watch, prepared for what is about to come out of the smoking crater.

"Ack!" Is all that comes out of my mouth as a powerful hand clamps around my throat.

"I believe it is time for us to take a ride." Nazi says as we take off high into the sky.

I struggle and fight against his grip as we fly higher and higher up.

The air is starting to get thin as my vision blurs.

"Any last words before I let you go, Captain?" He mutters with a smirk.

He eases his grip long enough for me to utter some words.

"I like Ike." I say as I thrust my hand up and poke him in the eye with a finger.

"Ahh!" He yells as his grip loosens around my throat and sends me free falling back towards the ground.

"Captain America to Iron Man, Captain America to Iron Man." I yell into my ear piece as I start to pick up speed in my free fall.

"Catch!"

Yeah, it's that classic superhero image, right? Someone plummeting down from the sky, headed on a one-way ticket to street pizza, and then - whoosh! - superhero swoops by, grabs them in his arms, and saves the day. Easy enough. Just my luck that Superman gets to do it with a hottie like Lois Lane, and I get a dude that's pushing 90. The unspoken handful of ass that comes with the catch would have been a lot more appealing with Miss Lane.

"Oof! Gotcha. Now for a nice smooth....landing..."

I look up to see the distinctly unpleasant sight of an angry, flying, screaming Nazi bearing down on us. And, of course, my hands are full, so no repulsor blasts....

Wait a second, my hands might be full, but my feet...

"Hold on tight, things are gonna get a bit loopy."

I spin around so I'm upside down, head looking down at the ground far below. And, more relevantly, my rocket boots pointing upward at the approaching Captain Nazi.

"Boosters, 80% power! Engage!"

A HUGE blast of flame erupts from my boots, turning Captain Nazi into a blazing inferno plummeting earthward. I don't have time to celebrate, as that particular blast sent Cap and myself on our own earthward plummet. And by "earthward plummet", I mean "launched towards the ground at the speed of sound".

What do I say in this high-pressure situation? Perhaps I take command, and exercise calm, controlled leadership? Or maybe I offer my usual witty one-liner, showing that even in the direst of situations, Iron Man never loses his cool?

"StupidstupidstupidstupidAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!...."

Yeah.

I do everything I can to slow our descent and alter our course, pulling us back into a horizontal flight path mere inches from the street. I frantically try and weave in and out of traffic whizzing by in the opposite direction, and finally come to a tumbling halt on the sidewalk, crashing through a newsstand.

"Wow, bet you're glad I rescued you, huh?"

 

[Byrd Man]

​

The fat man with the triple chin and bags underneath his eyes is Joshua Grogan, Deputy in Charge of Operations for the Gotham City Police Department. He's a hold over from Loeb's administration, Grogan has been the Deputy Ops for the last fifteen years. Nobody in the Gotham PD takes a fart without Grogan smelling it. He knows everyone's dirty secrets, and that fact is what's kept him from retiring.

"So, Colonel. What can I help you with?" Grogan asks Flass as he puts a wrinkled hand behind his head.

"I need some more information about the Major Crimes Unit."

Grogan arches his eyebrow as he gives Flass a quick look over.

"Why exactly do you want that, Colonel?"

Flass smiles at Grogan and shrugs.

"Just curious, is all. While I am Chief of Detectives, even certain things are out of my reach. We all know that unit was hand picked by Gordon, and he pretty much runs them...but he does leave a paper trail, right?"

The old man nods and swivels in his chair, rummaging through his files. He pulls out a thick file and holds it in his hands.

"Why, Flass?"

Flass exhales and crosses his arms.

"The Mayor. I'm doing a favor for him, and I tell him about this, he can help you out?"

"How? I'm Deputy Ops, can't get no higher."

"Maybe, maybe not. His Honor is fickle when it comes to crime. Gordon may be the golden boy in a lot of people's eyes, but the winds of change blow frequently. Perhaps, he may see an old hand who has served under five different commissioners and is ready for the post."

Grogan rolls his eyes as he slides the file over.

"Save it, Flass. Just make sure you shut the door on your way out."

​

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

​

"As your Mr. Robbins' legal advisor, he instructed me to have a brief talk with you two." Ed Hallman says as he looks across the table at Johnny LaMonica and Max Dillon.

"According to your boss, the two of you are responsible for more bodies than the plague."

Dillon chuckles slightly as electricity sparks off his fingers.

"As it stands, the police are investigating these murders, but nobody has any concrete leads....except one, Jefferson Skeevers was identified as the shooter on the back of the bike when LaMonica took out those corner boys a few weeks ago. It may be a problem Robbins will take up with you later, but right now they have a case, but not solid enough without the murder weapon. I need to ask, where is it."

LaMonica motions outside the office building.

"I got in my car. Jeff was shooting, but it's my gun and I want to keep it that way."

"You have got to get rid of it." Hallman says with a scowl.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll take care of it as soon as we get outta here."

"Okay. Now, second thing is this."

The lawyer reaches into his desk and pulls out two blank checks with different names at the top of each check.

"I'm going to need you to forge the names on the top of these checks. I'd do it myself, but I need two different types of handwriting."

​

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

​

"I need a drink." Renee Montoya says as she sits down at the table, facing a mountain of files and paperwork.

Lieutenant Akins and Sergeant Sawyer stare at it with disdain.

"All these damn records. Not one thing has anything close to Two-Face's name." Sawyer says with a shake of her head.

Akins sits down at the table and looks at his two detectives.

"I expected that, but we need to cross reference the names of the properties and assets and see if they match up with any other records."

Suddenly, the squadroom door flys open and Cole, Driver, and Fields come in.

"Hail the conquering heroes!" Fields says, holding up a photo triumphantly.

"Who the hell is that, Detective?" Akins asks as he looks at the photo of a black man on the pier with a white man in a suit.

"Black guy is Skinny Pete, drug dealer we've been following. According to the CCDB, the white man is one Parker Robbins, aka The Hood. Did a three year stretch in juvy for Grand Theft Auto, and did some time in Blackgate for aggrivated assault. Apparently, Mr. Robbins is Two-Face's top lieutenant."

Akins nods and looks towards the bank of computers in the squadroom.

"We up on his cellphone?"

"He will be as soon as I write up this warrant." Cole says as he sits down at the computer.

Akins nods and smiles. Slowly but surely, the case is coming together.​

 

[Byrd Man]

I do everything I can to slow our descent and alter our course, pulling us back into a horizontal flight path mere inches from the street. I frantically try and weave in and out of traffic whizzing by in the opposite direction, and finally come to a tumbling halt on the sidewalk, crashing through a newsstand.

"Wow, bet you're glad I rescued you, huh?"

I stand up and pull a magazine off my face.

"Needless to say, Stark. I've had easier landing. But the good news is that you're featured in this month's People."

I cast my eyes up as Nazi swoops down towards the ground like a dive bomber.

"He's coming back. Better get ready."

 

[Carnage27]

Jamie hesitated for a second.

"I'm making an exception to my rule about guys never talking about their feelings one time, and one time only understood?" he warned. Kurt shrugged, which Jamie took as a yes.

"So Laura came to Muir Island a few months after I did, with a whole lot of baggage that she doesn't really talk about if she can help it. Anyway she was pretty shy for the first few weeks, didn't really come out of her room. It was me that brought her out of her shell kinda and well...I sort of fell for her. As you do, y'know. I mean, you talk about that Supergirl bird all the time. But she saw me as more of a friend, I think. Anyway, for some reason she found my charming troll of a brother a better catch than my good self," Jamie explained carefully.

"But sometimes I'm not sure. The way she says stuff sometimes, or I'll catch a look or something. It's nothing to, y'know, base anything on, but I think that she might prefer me over Kevin. Just sometimes," Jamie muttered, his eyes fixed firmly on the floor. He shrugged heavily.

"But hey, now I've got Jubilee and Laura's still got my monstrosity of a brother. So there's no problem," he said.

I chuckle at the mention of Kara, "Vell zhere is a difference between Supergirl and me, and Laura and you...you actually have a chance."

Jamie gives me a look like I have no idea what I'm talking about as I continue, "I saw the same looks you think she gives you. Zhere is something zhere mien friend. I think you should tell her ho you feel."

"Besides," I add with a smile, "if Kevin takes exception, we have the opportunity to beat zhe tar outta him."

 

[Catman_prb]

I chuckle at the mention of Kara, "Vell zhere is a difference between Supergirl and me, and Laura and you...you actually have a chance."

Jamie gives me a look like I have no idea what I'm talking about as I continue, "I saw the same looks you think she gives you. Zhere is something zhere mien friend. I think you should tell her ho you feel."

"Besides," I add with a smile, "if Kevin takes exception, we have the opportunity to beat zhe tar outta him."

Jamie frowned and began to make a pithy comment when he was cut off by a scream.

"JAMIE!" he heard Laura scream. Without a backwards glance at his team mate, Jamie sprinted back down the corridor towards his friend. He stopped at Moira's lab, the door to which was hanging wide open. As he entered, he saw Kevin lying on the floor shaking, with Laura bent over him still with shock, but sobbing loudly.

"What happened?" he asked, gently moving her out of the way to check on his brother. Kevin had gone a pale white and had broken out in a cold sweat, but his eyes were still darting around in a panic.

"He just started having a fit," Laura gasped. Kevin took a deep, shuddering breath then shut his eyes and went still.

"****," Jamie muttered "He didn't just start having a fit like this. What did he do?"

"He took something from Moira's research," she whispered after a few seconds silence.

"Mein Gott," Kurt breathed from somewhere behind him.

"You stupid ****ing idiot," Jamie growled at his unconscious brother, slapping him around the face "Wake up! Wake up godammit!"

"Is he going to be okay?" Laura asked quietly.

"****!" Jamie shouted "He's stopped breathing! Kurt, get Laura out of here and get Scott or someone,"

The young mutant pulled his adopted brother's mouth open in an attempt to clear whatever was blocking his airway and breathed in twice. He started to thump the older boy's chest and breathed in his mouth a few more times. He stopped when an iron grip wrapped around his neck and lifted him away bodily, slamming him into a cart full of medical supplies which fell over with a clang.

"Oh...****," Jamie muttered.

Kevin was standing up, stock still, towering over the prone Madrox. Even from his position on the floor, Jamie could still see that Kevin's eyes were a bright yellow.

"Kevin? What the hell have you done to yourself?" Jamie asked.

Silently, Kevin grabbed his adopted brother by the neck and slammed him into the wall, slowly crushing his windpipe as Jamie gasped for air.

 

[Carnage27]

"You stupid ****ing idiot," Jamie growled at his unconscious brother, slapping him around the face "Wake up! Wake up godammit!"

"Is he going to be okay?" Laura asked quietly.

"****!" Jamie shouted "He's stopped breathing! Kurt, get Laura out of here and get Scott or someone,"

BAMF

Instantly, I'm outside the room where I saw Scott, Jean, and Storm walk into. I quickly swing open the doors, and locate Cyclops in the cafeteria.

"Hi, you must be Eve. My name is Scott Summers, this is Jean Grey, and Ororo Munroe. We're students at the Xavier Institute."

Nightshade smiled.

"It's about time you showed up. I was starting to get bored."

I run up to our leader and grab his shoulder, "Scott, hold on!"

BAMF

Silently, Kevin grabbed his adopted brother by the neck and slammed him into the wall, slowly crushing his windpipe as Jamie gasped for air.

I waste no time in leaping towards the bigger man, but am swatted back by his free hand, and land stunned at Scott's feet.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Kurt, what the hell is...", a disoriented Scott began before seeing Nightcrawler get swatted away towards him.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Jean, we've got a situation here. Send out the call and get everyone to my location immediately!

On our way, Scott.

"Put him down, now", Scott barked as he ran up to Kevin and locked him in a choke. But the burly boy didn't seem to notice and shrugged off Cyclops with relative ease.

Scott could feel the man was definitely stronger than a regular human. Which mean Scott didn't have to hold back as much.

"All right, buddy. You asked for it..."

Cyclops unleashed an optic blast that slammed into Kevin's side and knocked Jamie free from his vice-like grip.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

THE ODYSSEY
Chapter 4 ~ Revelations - Act 1​

"You only sent out two."

"And we can't do it alone. We would make more rings, but we don't know how to do that. We've travelled to Oa, or what's left of it, and found it empty. No guardians or lanterns."

"Besides, your 'deal' with Galactus sounds a lot like the Surfer's pact with Galactus, and he got out of it, right?" Stewart says as he looks at the surfer.

"I only sent out two to Earth", Hal says with a smirk.
"I used my power to create dozens of rings and sent them out into the cosmos."

"As for getting out of my deal...it's more difficult than you'd think."

"He is right", Norrin chimed in.
"Leaving Galactus is no small matter. It is a difficult feat to accomplish. Even if he releases you from your service, you do not know what the repercussions might be."

The Surfer scowls, "He could wipe out your entire world as a 'punishment' for your desertion."

"He didn't destroy Zenn-La, Norrin", Hal corrects the Surfer.

"My world was ravaged, Hal Jordan", the Surfer shouts.
"My entire planet, left in ruin! And Galactus' essence was everywhere! How could it not be him!?"

"That's a long story", Hal answered.
"And the very reason I created the rings..."

"Oh yeah? We're all ears."

"A few months back, while I was searching for a suitable world, I ran into him", Hal recalled.

"He saw Galactus' power in me and overwhelmed me. His power was extraordinary. One of the few times in my life I thought I was going to die, and there was nothing I could do to stop it."

"He beat me to near death, but he let me go. Wanted me to send a message to Galactus, whom he called his 'father'."

"Galactus has a kid", John asked with a dubious look.

"Not a child like you or me would think", Hal answered.
"Once I healed and returned here, I did some digging on Galactus' computer files. Which wasn't easy, let me tell you. But the story goes like this..."

"While the universe was still young, Galactus took a portion of his essence and created him with it. He was to serve as Galactus' companion, but it didn't last. He acquired a taste for power and conquest, and used the power Galactus gave him to carry out his desires."

"Galactus eventually discovered what he was doing, and tried to stop him. Their battle was titanic. It destroyed entire solar systems, and was how the Crunch was created in the first place."

"Well, Galactus finally defeated him and imprisoned him. Why he didn't just kill him, I haven't a clue. Apparently though, his imprisonment didn't last as he's free now."

"All right, enough of this 'him' crap. Who the hell is it we're up against, Hal?"

"Tyrant, the spawn of Galactus", Hal swallowed as he mentioned the monster's name.
"And he's the one who destroyed Zenn-La. And if we don't stop him, he'll destroy all life in the universe."

 

[Catman_prb]

"Kurt, what the hell is...", a disoriented Scott began before seeing Nightcrawler get swatted away towards him.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Jean, we've got a situation here. Send out the call and get everyone to my location immediately!

On our way, Scott.

"Put him down, now", Scott barked as he ran up to Kevin and locked him in a choke. But the burly boy didn't seem to notice and shrugged off Cyclops with relative ease.

Scott could feel the man was definitely stronger than a regular human. Which mean Scott didn't have to hold back as much.

"All right, buddy. You asked for it..."

Cyclops unleashed an optic blast that slammed into Kevin's side and knocked Jamie free from his vice-like grip.

Jamie flew across the floor, clutching his throat and making a rasping sound as he took deep breaths.

"Jesus Christ,"

For a second he thought Kevin was finally down, but after a few seconds he picked himself up from the floor and started moving towards Scott. His movements were stiff like some kind of robot, but Jamie could still see the could sweat covering his pallid face. The younger mutant picked himself up from the floor shakily and moved into his brother's path.

"Kevin, for god's sake, just calm down," he panted.

The taller boy grabbed him with both hands and started to pick him up. Jamie threw a weak punch which connected with his jaw, which didn't even phase the man. The next thing he knew he was colliding headfirst with the wall.

 

[wiegeabo]

I sit on my chair in Iron Heights, staring into the cell of the Mirror Master. He just sits there, smiling uncontrollably.

"You've come to me? This is too much fun..."

I just sit there and look at him.

"Do you know where they may be?"

"Maybe."

In a blur I'm right up against the viewing window to the cell of the criminal, running up and down it vigorously.

"Doyouknowdoyouknowdoyouknowdoyouknowdoyouknowdoyouknow?"

"Do you think you can make me talk by repeatedly asking me?"

"Oh no. Just annoying you makes me day. Doyouknowdoyouknowdoyouknowdoyouknow?"

Mirror Master closes his eyes, ovbiously trying to block me out.

"Comeoncomeoncomeoncomeoncomeoncomeoncomeon!"

"Just shut up Flash. You won't do it."

"Dowhatdowhatdowhatdowhatdowhat?"

"You can't break me."

"WhosaysIwastryingtobreakyou?"

"I'm done."

He walks away from the window and over to his bed where he lies down and throws his blanket over his head. With a sigh I turn away and run off through the building, making my way finally to the psychiatrist's room, where the files on all the inmates were.

"Can I go through your files on some of the former Rogues?"

The psychiatrist gives me and nod and leaves me to it as I begin to go through the files of the old Rogues.

Ok, so I was wrong. Wally's not out patrolling the streets. Of course, with as quiet as Central seems today, I understand why. But I know Wally, and there's no way he'll just sit around and wait for the next attack if there's something he can do about it.

I just don't know enough about what happened. About this new band of Rogues. So I take a dash around to the various newspapers and stations. a few minutes later and I'm mulling over what I've learned. This new band of Rogues aren't really new. They're some of Barry's second stringers that have decided to take the Rogue name and pass themselves off as something they're not. I'm sure the old Rogues aren't too happy about that.

I snap my fingers. "The Rogues. The real Rogues." Who better to ask about these pretenders.

The Warden of Iron Heights grabs his papers out of instinct before they fly off his desk from the wind I kick up. "Done already, Flash?" He looks up from his work. "Oh, Mr. Garrick. You're here about the Rogues too?"

"Too?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Jamie flew across the floor, clutching his throat and making a rasping sound as he took deep breaths.

"Jesus Christ,"

For a second he thought Kevin was finally down, but after a few seconds he picked himself up from the floor and started moving towards Scott. His movements were stiff like some kind of robot, but Jamie could still see the could sweat covering his pallid face. The younger mutant picked himself up from the floor shakily and moved into his brother's path.

"Kevin, for god's sake, just calm down," he panted.

The taller boy grabbed him with both hands and started to pick him up. Jamie threw a weak punch which connected with his jaw, which didn't even phase the man. The next thing he knew he was colliding headfirst with the wall.

Kevin suddenly froze and bent forward, as though somebody had punched him in the gut.

That's enough!

Jean stood in the doorway, her angry eyes focusing on Kevin MacTaggert, as she struggled to keep the boy in check.

Storm ran up to the fallen Jamie and helped the shaken mutant to sit up.

"Are you all right", she asked him as Gambit and the girl they came for, Nightshade entered the room.

"Get...out...of...my...HEAD", Kevin yelled as he turned and glared hatefully at Jean.

And then something strange happened. Jean's body, and the world around it, began to twist and stretch. It was almost cartoonish in the way reality warped in that isolated spot.
If it wasn't for Jean's horrifying screams, it would've been almost amusing to watch.

 

[wiegeabo]

"Master Richard appears very excited this evening."

I smile. "I said he could plan our patrol route this time."

"Indeed. I take it Master Richard is becoming an accomplished crime fighter then?"

"I think he's well on his way. And it's about time he gets some leadership experience under his belt."

"I would think helping to lead a ragtag group of teenagers while Master Logan wore the mantle would qualify, sir."

"It does, Alfred. I think Dick's got the makings of a good leader in him. I want to make sure he gets all the experience he can. Speaking of which, I best not keep him waiting..." I stand, but Alfred blocks my way.

He clears his throat and glances at my mostly unfinished meal. "I'm fine, Alfred."

"Sir, ever since the arrival of Miss Elektra, you have actually been eating food. I would like to see you continue to treat your body like a normal human being does. At least for a little longer."

I smile at Alfred's ever present concern. "Dick's waiting for me."

"Master Richard also had the good sense to finish his dinner before rushing off to the cave, although I doubt he was able to enjoy it. I would expect at least the same courtesy from you, sir. Especially after the time I spent preparing it..."

"Really, Alfred. Guilt?" He remains unwavering. I give him a lopsided grin. "Fine. Go tell Dick I'll be a few minutes.

***

A few minutes later I walk down the cave steps, glad to have listened Alfred. The man can cook. Dick's already in costume, sitting at the batcomputer with more screens up than I can count in a glance. I head over to the costume vault.

"Have everything planned out yet?" I ask as I start slipping into my suit.

"The Clocktower?"

Robin and I look out over the city. "What's wrong with it?"

I raise an eyebrow under my mask as I look through my binoculars again. "I prefer starting patrol in the Narrows. That's usually where the most problems are."

"Yeah, but that's not where they all are. The rest of Gotham needs us too. Besides, it's too early for the nasty stuff to start in the Narrows."

I glance down at Robin. I can virtually feel his excitement. And he has a point. If the criminals who are mobile figure out we spend most of our time in the Narrows, they'll just start spreading out to the areas we don't visit.

"So...now what?" I ask.

Robin just keeps looking down a particular street. "Wait for it..."

And I wait...for about 10 seconds. And then the distant sound of an alarm wafts its way to us.

Robin pulls out his grapnel and fires. "Well, what are you waiting for?" He swings towards the alarm.

I stand there a moment...and grin.

 

[Catman_prb]

Kevin suddenly froze and bent forward, as though somebody had punched him in the gut.

That's enough!

Jean stood in the doorway, her angry eyes focusing on Kevin MacTaggert, as she struggled to keep the boy in check.

Storm ran up to the fallen Jamie and helped the shaken mutant to sit up.

"Are you all right", she asked him as Gambit and the girl they came for, Nightshade entered the room.

"Get...out...of...my...HEAD", Kevin yelled as he turned and glared hatefully at Jean.

And then something strange happened. Jean's body, and the world around it, began to twist and stretch. It was almost cartoonish in the way reality warped in that isolated spot.
If it wasn't for Jean's horrifying screams, it would've been almost amusing to watch.

Jamie shook off Ororo's grip as he steadied himself. He looked at Laura, who was fixated by Kevin and crying silently.

"Oh I hate myself for this," he told himself, running towards his adopted brother. He jumped as Kevin turned towards him, bringing the pair of them down onto the ground with a crack that set his teeth on edge. Jamie smashed his brother's head into the floor a couple more times for effect, and his hand came away bloody. He noticed Jean turning to her normal solid self and collapse into Scott's arms, sobbing.

"Kevin?" he asked wearily as the blazing eyes fixed on his "You in there, man?"

"Jamie," Kevin said, slowly, and then grinned. His mouth began to open, extending unnaturally low, with what sounded like a snap from somewhere in his jaw. Madrox scrambled back on the floor as what looked like an orange hand emerged from the cavernous mouth.

"Guys," he said quietly "I think this is our cue to leave,"

The left arm was fully out now, and it pressed down on the floor for leverage as the rest of the glowing orange body started to rise up. Jamie stood up, stumbling slightly.

"Like, right now," he said, pushing Laura towards the door.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Jamie shook off Ororo's grip as he steadied himself. He looked at Laura, who was fixated by Kevin and crying silently.

"Oh I hate myself for this," he told himself, running towards his adopted brother. He jumped as Kevin turned towards him, bringing the pair of them down onto the ground with a crack that set his teeth on edge. Jamie smashed his brother's head into the floor a couple more times for effect, and his hand came away bloody. He noticed Jean turning to her normal solid self and collapse into Scott's arms, sobbing.

"Kevin?" he asked wearily as the blazing eyes fixed on his "You in there, man?"

"Jamie," Kevin said, slowly, and then grinned. His mouth began to open, extending unnaturally low, with what sounded like a snap from somewhere in his jaw. Madrox scrambled back on the floor as what looked like an orange hand emerged from the cavernous mouth.

"Guys," he said quietly "I think this is our cue to leave,"

The left arm was fully out now, and it pressed down on the floor for leverage as the rest of the glowing orange body started to rise up. Jamie stood up, stumbling slightly.

"Like, right now," he said, pushing Laura towards the door.

"Jesus Christ", a slack-jawed Scott muttered under his breath as he watch a glowing arm shoot up out of the boy's mouth.

"Gambit, Nightshade! Sound the alarm and help evacuate the facility!"

"Jean...look at me", a worried Scott said as he looked her in the eyes.
Her eyes were bloodshot from the tears, and she was still trembling. Whatever he did to her, it definitely put her through hell.

"Jean, I need you to look at me. You need to go with Gambit and Nightshade. They'll need help getting everyone off the island. Can you do that for me, please?"

"Yeah...s-sure", she smiled weakly as she got up.

"Just promise me you'll be careful, Scott", she said as she shudders.
"Whatever that is, it's no longer Kevin. It's mind, Scott...I've never felt so much raw hate before."

"Don't worry", Scott smiles, "I'll be all right."

Jean returns the smile with one of her own before running off after Nightshade and Gambit.

"All right, people", Scott shouted as the glowing humanoid fully emerged from Kevin's still body.
"We need to buy them time to evacuate."

"Hit it with everything you've got", Scott shouts as he unleashed a powerful optic blast at the glowing monstrosity.

 

[Catman_prb]

"Jesus Christ", a slack-jawed Scott muttered under his breath as he watch a glowing arm shoot up out of the boy's mouth.

"Gambit, Nightshade! Sound the alarm and help evacuate the facility!"

"Jean...look at me", a worried Scott said as he looked her in the eyes.
Her eyes were bloodshot from the tears, and she was still trembling. Whatever he did to her, it definitely put her through hell.

"Jean, I need you to look at me. You need to go with Gambit and Nightshade. They'll need help getting everyone off the island. Can you do that for me, please?"

"Yeah...s-sure", she smiled weakly as she got up.

"Just promise me you'll be careful, Scott", she said as she shudders.
"Whatever that is, it's no longer Kevin. It's mind, Scott...I've never felt so much raw hate before."

"Don't worry", Scott smiles, "I'll be all right."

Jean returns the smile with one of her own before running off after Nightshade and Gambit.

"All right, people", Scott shouted as the glowing humanoid fully emerged from Kevin's still body.
"We need to buy them time to evacuate."

"Hit it with everything you've got", Scott shouts as he unleashed a powerful optic blast at the glowing monstrosity.

Jamie moved backwards slowly, keeping Laura behind him as he went.

"Scott, I've got to ask you man. You've sent away the long ranged hitters. The guy who throws exploding cars. The one person who's actually managed to do anything against him so far. The girl that can fire lightning bolts at him. The goth girl I haven't met yet," he said, grabbing a fire extinguisher from the wall as he went "Fair enough, we have you. But we also have the guy who can disappear at will, and the guy who can make clones of himself. What the hell is your plan?"

He brandished the fire extinguisher out in front of him like it was somehow going to save him from the creature that Kevin had become.

"Jamie, I can help," Laura said, her voice quivering slightly.

"No," Jamie said.

"But I can-"

"No. I'm not letting you do that," he growled, gripping the fire extinguisher like it was some kind of life preserver "Why? Don't you trust me?"

 

[Catman_prb]

I lay next to Wanda on the bed in the Parisian hotel room she was currently renting at a large expense. She had twisted the sheets around herself in such a way that it hid the majority of her body but made her all the more enticing. For the past 36 hours my sensory systems had been practically overloaded. It was most entertaining.

"I guess I should thank Dr. Pym for making you anatomically correct," Wanda said, tracing a red nailed finger over my chest. I took a thrill in the fact that she seemed slightly restless.

"Perhaps," I said measuredly "But I am not entirely sure he meant it for this purpose. There are some strict rules,"

"Rules are made to be broken," Wanda said, with a grin that made my artificial skin tingle. I reached a hand under the sheets towards her, but was interrupted by the timely beeping of my communicator.

"I have to leave," I said, dressing myself with almost indecent haste "There is a meeting I must attend,"

Wanda pouted "Right now?"

I smiled at her and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"I must abide by some rules. Besides, the longer the Avengers think I'm their tame little android, the longer I can be with you," I said, with what I thought was a dashing wink, before flying out the window.

 

[Carnage27]

Jamie moved backwards slowly, keeping Laura behind him as he went.

"Scott, I've got to ask you man. You've sent away the long ranged hitters. The guy who throws exploding cars. The one person who's actually managed to do anything against him so far. The girl that can fire lightning bolts at him. The goth girl I haven't met yet," he said, grabbing a fire extinguisher from the wall as he went "Fair enough, we have you. But we also have the guy who can disappear at will, and the guy who can make clones of himself. What the hell is your plan?"

He brandished the fire extinguisher out in front of him like it was somehow going to save him from the creature that Kevin had become.

"Jamie, I can help," Laura said, her voice quivering slightly.

"No," Jamie said.

"But I can-"

"No. I'm not letting you do that," he growled, gripping the fire extinguisher like it was some kind of life preserver "Why? Don't you trust me?"

"Hey!" I yell in protest while dodging...Kevin's orange arms, "I don't disappear I-"

BAMF

"-teleport through another dimension!"

Kevin swings at me again, which I dodge with a backflip, and counter with a kick to the face. The brute mearly shrugs me off, and sends me flying through the nearest window.

BAMF

I reappear next to Scott, "Yes, I agree, Cyclops. What is zhe plan?"