One Universe: Season IV IC Thread

[trustyside-kick]

"You would have my hammer?"

Thor sat the hammer down on the ocean bed, and took a step back.

"I too am a man of my word. Should you lift my hammer, then it yours, and you can do with me as you would wish. I assume you think that all that power you stole makes you worthy to hold Mjolnir... so show me how worthy you are."

As the valiant warrior throws down his mighty weapon, the Ocean Master revels in it. He looks a short distance, noticing his half-brother struggles to ward off the re-animated bodies of his people just like he knew he would, chuckling at his victory. For it is victory in his eyes. Once Orm Marius wields the power of Mjolnir, he can eradicate the Thunder God and then finally put an end to Aquaman's life. Then the Bone of Ullr and everything else his associate had promised him will be his.

"Hah! Worthy? No object or obstacle is above me. You think I can't pick up a measly hammer?"

And Orm doesn't see it, for he is so full of himself and all he does it eyeball the glorious hammer laid down before Thor. He doesn't see the small sparkle of a smirk in the Thunder God's face. The villain even looks over once more, double checking that his half-brother still struggles--which he does--and chuckles, then bends over to pick the hammer up.

He is bewildered for a moment. He cannot seem to pick the hammer up. Quickly looking up at Thor, the hero does not take this opportune time to strike; a man of his word. Grunting, Orm Marius tries with all of his might to pick the hammer up, and this time, something happens.

"What--noo, this can't....AAAHH!!"

Magically lightning starts to surge uncontrollably. Each passing second, the Ocean Master can feel the power he stole from Thor being drawn out and sucked away.

"No....NOO!"

He tries to let go, but the magical lightning doesn't let him. He worries and becomes frantic. The 'glorious' Ocean Master looks at Thor with such hate as the hero makes his previous smile shine much more obvious than before. Becoming desperate, Orm shouts to seemingly no one but expecting an answer.

"HELP ME YOU IMBECILE!! WE--WE HAD A DEAL!"

 

[wiegeabo]

"Well, don't leave us hanging."

"Okay, okay. Impatient much? Back last week I was combing through the SHIELD database and seen some seriously black bag stuff. I'm talking about who shot JFK from the grassy knoll black stuff."

"What exactly was it?"

"A list of scientists and military supplies SHIELD hired to make parts. It was wierd because the went through so many different back channels and fronts to get their parts. I saw the whole paper trail on my Powerbook. All these parts were going to one project."

I hold my breath, already knowing what's about to come out of Cho's mouth.

"...I think SHIELD built Amazo."

Outwardly, I make no reaction other than pulling my cape tight around me. Inside, I'm swearing and raging in ways that are completely against my character even though, in all honesty, I'm not really all that surprised.

"You can prove it?"

"Are you kidding? Not a chance."

"You just said-"

"Hey, don't put words in my mouth. I know that I just said. Certified genius." He taps his skull. "I said I think SHIELD built Amazo. But the paper trail didn't lead to SHIELD. At least, not directly. What it does lead to is a bunch of companies that have military contracts with the government and SHIELD. Companies that also have the ability and personnel to create the advanced parts that Amazo would need."

I grab Cho's chair, and spin him around, pushing against the desk. I lean down, putting my head beside his, lowering my voice. "I want a copy of everything you have. Now."

"S-Sure. No problem. Do you want it on a USB stick or hard printout." I glare at him. "Both. How about both. I can do both."

It takes a few seconds, and then Cho hands me everything we need. I slip the stick into my belt and lean in close again. "I'll be watching you." Cho's eyes go wide.

Superman slips out the window, and I follow behind him.

"I'll be watching you," Amadeus says mockingly. "Yeah right." He turns back to his computer and starts typing. But it explodes with sparks. "HEY!"

He wafts the smoke away and sees a batarang embedded in his system.

"Aw man! No fair!"

 

[Byrd Man]

Outwardly, I make no reaction other than pulling my cape tight around me. Inside, I'm swearing and raging in ways that are completely against my character even though, in all honesty, I'm not really all that surprised.

"You can prove it?"

"Are you kidding? Not a chance."

"You just said-"

"Hey, don't put words in my mouth. I know that I just said. Certified genius." He taps his skull. "I said I think SHIELD built Amazo. But the paper trail didn't lead to SHIELD. At least, not directly. What it does lead to is a bunch of companies that have military contracts with the government and SHIELD. Companies that also have the ability and personnel to create the advanced parts that Amazo would need."

I grab Cho's chair, and spin him around, pushing against the desk. I lean down, putting my head beside his, lowering my voice. "I want a copy of everything you have. Now."

"S-Sure. No problem. Do you want it on a USB stick or hard printout." I glare at him. "Both. How about both. I can do both."

It takes a few seconds, and then Cho hands me everything we need. I slip the stick into my belt and lean in close again. "I'll be watching you." Cho's eyes go wide.

Superman slips out the window, and I follow behind him.

"I'll be watching you," Amadeus says mockingly. "Yeah right." He turns back to his computer and starts typing. But it explodes with sparks. "HEY!"

He wafts the smoke away and sees a batarang embedded in his system.

"Aw man! No fair!"

"Taking out his computer may have been a step too much," I say to Superman once we're back at the military base. "But then again, he's a kid that can launch nuclear missiles with a few keystrokes."

I hold up the printout Cho gave us.

"So we start tracking the companies down and finding out what they made for SHIELD and what it was for."

 

[Carnage27]

I whistle to myself as I rumble down the highway in a stolen pick up truck, its bed packed to the gills with explosives. I mean I should probably be worried with the amount of bumps in the road, but hell why start caring now?

A sign reading "Arkham Asylum" by the side of the road paints a big smile on my face. Well okay a bigger smile on my face. It's going to be great to see all the guys again. I wander how old ****face Karlo is doing? Or Ivy. Mmmmm Ivy is hot.

I make a sharp turn off the road and start to bounce over uneven terrain as I make my way closer and closer to the asylum. When I get within range, I vault myself out of the truck and slam hard into the ground as the truck continues to speed towards the asylum. It slams into the side of the building and explodes in a glorious blast of heat, flame, and light.

I make my way quickly into the hole, brandishing an old tommy gun, rattling off a few shots into some stunned guards that happened to survive the blast, "Ohhhhh Arkham! Joker's home!"

The inmates around me cheer, "Oh yes! My public loves me!"

I make my way towards the cell control, and flip them open, freeing hundreds of dangerous inmates into the halls of Arkham. They all turn to me, "Well?! Go have some fun with the guards!"

They run of, some grabbing the guard's weapons, some basically foaming at the mouth to get at those that have kept them prisoner for all these years. Me? I'm head towards the super max. That's where the crazies that can help me are. And I'm not leaving without them.

I cross through the mad house, as chaos explodes around me. Guards are overwhelmed by inmates, some being ripped apart at the seams by the insane attackers, some being bitten, scratched and beaten. Chaos. I'm home. This is what Gotham is supposed to be. Not the structure that Face and Gordon have carved out. Hell...even Batman is out of place in the new Gotham.

I fire my gun into the two guards standing outside the maximum security wing, and open the door with their key cards as alarms just begin to blare, "Well...that was slow. No wonder I've gotten out of here so many times."

The super max is dark, and dingy. That is, even darker and dingier than the rest of the place. But it's small. I should know. I've been here before. I walk up to the glass dome in the middle of the room and tap it, "Ivy, my dear. Are you awake?"

"Joker..." the woman behind the glass purrs. "I should have known this was your doing. What do you want?"

"Yea!" Basil Karlo, also known as Clayface, calls from behind me. "You usually don't work with partners."

"Well, my diarrhea resembling friend, I need help. In our absence, Gotham has become a boring, structured, hell-hole run by two men: Comissionor Gordon and Two Face, aka Harvey Dent."

"We know, you homicidal maniac. We get the news in here. What do you plan on doing about it?"

"Ahhhhh, Crane...you shall see. And you are the key to my plan. But why linger here? What do you say my friends? Join me! And together we'll bring this town to it's knees!" I say opening their cells, and releasing them. "What do you say?"

The assembled crazies gather around me, and Scarecrow nods, "You've got a deal, clown."
​

 

[Eddie Brock]

THE INCREDIBLE HULK

I'm running through the jungle, twigs cracking beneath my feet. My breathing is labored. My sweat-stained wifebeater sticks to my chest. Behind me, the jungle shakes with a roaring thunder. I look to the dark skies, praying for rain. The thought of a release from this heat is intoxicating. My foot catches on a branch, and I tumble face-first into the dirt.

"BANNER!" the deep, primal voice that haunts my dreams roars. I roll over just in time to see the Hulk come crashing through the underbrush. He towers over me, veins bulging in rage. He raises his mammoth fists over his head, threatening to bring them crashing down on me.

Gasping in terror, I scramble to my feet and narrowly avoid being smashed. Seeing another path through the jungle, I take it without question. Anything to get away from the Hulk. However, my victory is short-lived. As I race through the darkness, I hear the hissing sounds of a far worse adversary. Closing my eyes, I continue running and hope I'm wrong. Then, I slam into something and fall to the ground once more.

The Devil Hulk spins around to face me. With an inhuman growl, it lowers its head and bares its razor-sharp teeth. The Devil Hulk lifts a claw and slashes at me, catching the front of my wifebeater but missing my skin. As I turn to run, I soon realize that the Hulk has caught up and is blocking my exit. The two behemoths spot one another and seemingly lose interest in me.

"HULK SMASH!"

***

I wake up in my bed at the Tower of Fate, realizing that my dream wasn't real. The sweating was, however, as my sheets and clothes feel damp. Sighing, I slide out of bed to get a glass of water. Imagine my surprise when Dr. Fate is suddenly standing there.

"Jesus!"

"Forgive me, Bruce. I did not mean to startle you," Dr. Fate explains calmly. "I was in my room meditating, and I couldn't help but hear your screams. You are still haunted by nightmares of the Hulk?"

I nod sheepishly. A grown man waking up in the middle of the night, screaming and covered in a cold sweat. And yet, somewhere inside me, I possess more power than any other being on this Earth. It's a strange dichotomy. "The Devil Hulk was in this one, too," I add.

Dr. Fate nods. "Is there anything I can do?"

I rub the back of my neck. "Actually, I would love to get some fresh air if you don't mind," I answer. The Tower of Fate has no windows or doors. The only way to enter or exit is by magical spell. It means I'm safe, but it also creates a sense of claustrophobia. I haven't seen the outdoors in weeks.

"Of course. When you want to come back in, simply knock on the outer wall," Dr. Fate instructs. "I'll hear you." And with that, he raises his hand, and the Helmet of Nabu begins to glow. Before I know it, there's a golden flash of light, and I'm standing outside again.

I'm barefoot. The grass feels nice between my toes. It has that early morning layer of dew which makes it a little wet. I look up at the sky. Out here, there's very little light pollution. I can see almost every star in the sky, and the moon is full. When you're on the run, you don't have time to appreciate these kinds of things. I think I'm starting to understand why the Hulk seems to seek refuge in the wilderness - other than the isolation. there's something calming about it.

Suddenly, something hits me in the side of the head. I crumple to the ground in a heap, and it feels like someone just smacked me with a folding chair. I move to stand up, but I'm hit again - this time, in the chest. I see the purple explosion as the blast hits me, knocking me back a few feet. As my eyes adjust to the darkness, and as the assailant draws nearer, a figure begins to take shape.

"Time for Round 2, big boy," Major Force announces. "Now, where's your better half?"
​

 

[Keyser Soze]

As the valiant warrior throws down his mighty weapon, the Ocean Master revels in it. He looks a short distance, noticing his half-brother struggles to ward off the re-animated bodies of his people just like he knew he would, chuckling at his victory. For it is victory in his eyes. Once Orm Marius wields the power of Mjolnir, he can eradicate the Thunder God and then finally put an end to Aquaman's life. Then the Bone of Ullr and everything else his associate had promised him will be his.

"Hah! Worthy? No object or obstacle is above me. You think I can't pick up a measly hammer?"

And Orm doesn't see it, for he is so full of himself and all he does it eyeball the glorious hammer laid down before Thor. He doesn't see the small sparkle of a smirk in the Thunder God's face. The villain even looks over once more, double checking that his half-brother still struggles--which he does--and chuckles, then bends over to pick the hammer up.

He is bewildered for a moment. He cannot seem to pick the hammer up. Quickly looking up at Thor, the hero does not take this opportune time to strike; a man of his word. Grunting, Orm Marius tries with all of his might to pick the hammer up, and this time, something happens.

"What--noo, this can't....AAAHH!!"

Magically lightning starts to surge uncontrollably. Each passing second, the Ocean Master can feel the power he stole from Thor being drawn out and sucked away.

"No....NOO!"

He tries to let go, but the magical lightning doesn't let him. He worries and becomes frantic. The 'glorious' Ocean Master looks at Thor with such hate as the hero makes his previous smile shine much more obvious than before. Becoming desperate, Orm shouts to seemingly no one but expecting an answer.

"HELP ME YOU IMBECILE!! WE--WE HAD A DEAL!"

And then the surge of lightning stops. Mjolnir glows and crackles, and the Ocean Master is left powerless. Now Thor makes his move, gripping onto Orm's hand, and casually lifting it off Mjolnir, like a grown-up lifting a naughty child's hand away from a toy.

"Like so many of your ilk, your vanity has been your undoing."

Then Thor squeezes down with a vicelike grip on the Ocean Master's hand, crushing a couple of bones in the process.

"Whoever your friend was, he has abandoned you. And now you alone must answer for your crimes. Where... is... the child?"

Thor continued to clamp down on Orm's hand, forcing him to point to the pod in which Tom was trapped. Thor turned to Orm once more.

"Lightning and thunder is nothing without the heart of a warrior. It was not my power that finally made me worthy to raise Mjolnir. It was my love for another, my desire to serve a greater cause rather than my own interests. Remembering that would serve you well, Ocean Master."

With a mighty punch, Thor sent Orm crashing to the ground, unconscious. With the Ocean Master out of commission, his desecrations of Aquaman's lost companions lost their power, and collapsed lifelessly to the sea bed. Thor turned to Aquaman.

"Thank you for your help, King of Atlantis. Now, I must get this child to safety."

Rushing towards the pod, Thor lifted it up and, using Mjolnir, took himself out from the depths of the ocean to its surface, and landed on the shore. Ripping the pod open, he found Tom inside. Upon seeing him, Tom immediately began to scream in terror.

"No, Tom! I am here to rescue you..."

As Thor pulled the boy out, Tom pounded into his chest, shoulders and face with balled-up fists, and kicked at his shins.

"No! You're a murderer! You killed my mom and dad!"

"I didn't mean to, I... I am sorry, I..."

Thor held Tom close in a kind of embrace, kneeling there until Tom fought, kicked and scratched himself into exhaustion.

 

[Byrd Man]

​

City Hall
30 Minutes Ago​

​

"As you can see from the numbers, we've had a decrease in overall crime by 3%, while violent felonies are down 10%, and homicides are down 20%."

Even when there's good news to report, I hate this dog and pony show. In my dress uniform before the Public Safety Subcommittee.

"Thank you, Commissioner," Councilman Hull says. "Does anyone have any questions or comments for Commissioner Gordon or Deputy Grogan?"

"Just one thing," the red-haired man to Hull's side replies. Councilman David Kane. In the 18 months I've been commissioner, I've spoken to Kane probably a half dozen times.

"Commissioner, as you know my costituency in the Ward 2 is mostly made up of eastside Gothamites. Over the past few weeks I've been receiving complaints from people in my district about the drug trade near their home. Violent crimes are down and that is always good news, but what is being done to step up the drug enforcment?"

"Thank you for that, Councilman...right now we have CID Narcotics as well as the district DEUs arresting low-level and mid-level drug dealers, while the Major Crimes Unit has targeted high-level and violent drug players in a prolonged investigation. It is my belief that in a few weeks we'll be ready to pull up the net and arrest these high end players, delivering a crippling blow to Gotham's drug world."

"Thank you for that, commissioner. Also, I-"

Grogan taps me on my shoulder and whispers into my ear.

"I'm sorry, councilmen, but that's all I can give you today. I have to attend to police business elsewhere."

Arkham Asylum
Now

Poison Ivy.

Scarecrow.

Clayface.

All three of them broken out of Arkham by Joker.

"The best we can figure, the ones that didn't survive the explosion were gunned down by Joker," the guard says.

I squat down and look at the hole in the wall.

"Thank you, Cash. Are there any other inmates out of pocket?"

"No, sir, we rounded them up. They're all in their cells on lockdown."

The two detectives on the case, Sergeant Soap and Detective Crowe come over.

"Got statements from the guards who didn't die," Soap says. "Want us to dust for prints, sir?"

"Why? We know who did it. Eyeball witnesses should do."

"Anything else you need from us, boss?"

"Try going to the records room and finding out all you can about the four Joker escaped with. Pull his file, too. Try to nail down where they would hide out."

The two detectives nod and walk off. My phone starts belting out the theme song to Cops, Barbara's idea of irony.

"This is Gordon."

"It's Sarah, Jim."

"What's wrong?"

"Can you get down to the MCU squadroom ASAP?"

"I can be there in the hour. What's going on?"

"We think a war is about to hit the streets of Gotham."​

 

[Keyser Soze]

"Sure."

I tap the taxi driver on the shoulder.

"Can I get a receipt when we get out?"

The driver nods. I lean back and look at Tony.

"I want to make sure I get reimbursed. I have a feeling my goverment paychecks are about to dry up."

At the Stark Industries facility in Washington, I make a call to Jay Garrick at the Brownstone.

"Ummm.... hi. We're at my offices in Washington. Wanna come pick us up?"

...

Malibu, California

Tony Stark's home was haunted by a Ghost. He sifted through the walls, unseen. Some of the most advanced security systems in the world could not detect his presence, even as he made his way into the cliffside villa's deepest recesses, the central hub of the premiere technological empire on the planet.

"Yesss....."

The Ghost approached Tony Stark's workbench. Oh, how many of his competitors would kill to be standing here right now? He simply laid his spindly hand on its surface, and his suit began hacking into the system. He brought up detailed schematics for the arc reactor technology, and the construction of the armor itself. Downloaded copies of it all. And then he was gone, without a trace.

 

[wiegeabo]

"Taking out his computer may have been a step too much," I say to Superman once we're back at the military base. "But then again, he's a kid that can launch nuclear missiles with a few keystrokes."

I hold up the printout Cho gave us.

"So we start tracking the companies down and finding out what they made for SHIELD and what it was for."

"Exactly. We only need to find enough evidence to implicate SHIELD and Luthor to bring them down." Superman gives me a strange look.

"You don't think SHIELD would make a move without Luthor's authorization. He has the most to gain from the attack."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Exactly. We only need to find enough evidence to implicate SHIELD and Luthor to bring them down." Superman gives me a strange look.

"You don't think SHIELD would make a move without Luthor's authorization. He has the most to gain from the attack."

"You're right. Luthor's a snake and he's already proved he's capable of mass murder."

I glance down the list of suppliers. One name catches my eye. Reed Richards.

"I think it might be best if we split up, each taking half the list. We can meet up again once we've each got some solid evidence against SHIELD and Luthor."

 

[wiegeabo]

"Agreed. I already know who will be me my top priority. I've had dealing with him before."

***

"It'll just be another moment, Mr. Wayne. Thank you for waiting."

I give the secretary a sly smile as I lean over her desk. "Oh, I don't mind waiting at all when the company is the company is this nice. Wouldn't you agree...."

She looks down at her work and blushes. "Kathleen."

"Kathleen...Kathleen," I say, rolling the name around. "That's rather exotic."

She starts smiling. "Not really..."

"You're too modest. I bet you can be very...exotic." Now it's her turn to give me a sly smile.

CLICK

Kathleen jumps at the sound of the door opening and starts looking busy.

"Bruce! How have you been?"

I take the extended hand. "I'm good, Ted. Really good. How about you?"

We walk into the office. "The economy's been hurting us, but we're staying afloat."

"I know what you mean."

"Oh really, I hear that Wayne Enterprises is doing just fine."

"Well, fine's a relative term, Ted," I say with a wink.

"Haha, that it is." He takes his seat behind the desk and indicates the chair on the opposite side. I take the offered seat, finding it quite comfortable.

"So, Bruce. Tell me. What can Kord Industries do for you?"

 

[Byrd Man]

​

After leaving Batman in California, it's just a quick flight back east to New York and the Baxter Building.

The robot Reed invented, HERBIE I think is his name, leads me into the

"Superman, nice to see you again," the Invisible Woman, Sue Richards, says. "I, uhh, I saw the news about Stamford."

"I just wished there was more we could have done....uhh, is Reed in?"

"I think he's in the lab with Ben and Johnny. Let me go get him for you."

"Bring Ben and Johnny, too. This is something I need to discuss with the whole Fantastic Four."

Sue gives me a cryptic look and walks off to find Reed. How exactly do I tell the world's smartest man he may have unknowingly killed an entire town in Connecticut? Well, I suppose I'll find out in a few minutes.

 

[Eddie Brock]

​

After leaving Batman in California, it's just a quick flight back east to New York and the Baxter Building.

The robot Reed invented, HERBIE I think is his name, leads me into the

"Superman, nice to see you again," the Invisible Woman, Sue Richards, says. "I, uhh, I saw the news about Stamford."

"I just wished there was more we could have done....uhh, is Reed in?"

"I think he's in the lab with Ben and Johnny. Let me go get him for you."

"Bring Ben and Johnny, too. This is something I need to discuss with the whole Fantastic Four."

Sue gives me a cryptic look and walks off to find Reed. How exactly do I tell the world's smartest man he may have unknowingly killed an entire town in Connecticut? Well, I suppose I'll find out in a few minutes.

"Johnny, can you give me a hand right here?" I'm brought out of my daydream as I walk over to Reed's workbench. Reed points to a spot on the device he's building - don't bother asking me what it is - and asks, "I just need a quick weld if you don't mind."

Shrugging, I place my finger to the metal and turn up the heat. The metal begins to melt, and I pull my finger away. As the metal cools, the two pieces are welded together.

"Thanks."

"Reed, Johnny, Ben! Superman's here to see us," Sue announces as she enters the workshop. The three of us look at each other curiously.

"Did he say why?"

Sue shakes her head. "No, but he was asking for you, at first." She leads out of the workshop and into the living room, where - sure enough - Superman is waiting.

"How can we help you, Superman?" Reed asks politely.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Reed, Johnny, Ben! Superman's here to see us," Sue announces as she enters the workshop. The three of us look at each other curiously.

"Did he say why?"

Sue shakes her head. "No, but he was asking for you, at first." She leads out of the workshop and into the living room, where - sure enough - Superman is waiting.

"How can we help you, Superman?" Reed asks politely.

"Well, after the....incident in Stamford, I began investigating what happened and what went wrong."

It's probably best to keep Batman out of it. I'm sure he'd appreciate it.

"I came across a paper trail of parts SHIELD purchased through dummy corporations. There are thousands of parts, almost all of them purchased by a laundry list of military suppliers, all of them purchased through back channels. Now, those parts seem to sync up with the parts used for the android in Stamford. Reed, your name was on that list."

"What are you saying, Kal?"

"....I think that you, unknowingly, helped build Amazo for our government."

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Well, after the....incident in Stamford, I began investigating what happened and what went wrong."

It's probably best to keep Batman out of it. I'm sure he'd appreciate it.

"I came across a paper trail of parts SHIELD purchased through dummy corporations. There are thousands of parts, almost all of them purchased by a laundry list of military suppliers, all of them purchased through back channels. Now, those parts seem to sync up with the parts used for the android in Stamford. Reed, your name was on that list."

"What are you saying, Kal?"

"....I think that you, unknowingly, helped build Amazo for our government."

I'm not sure which part shocks me more - that SHIELD is behind Stamford, or that they implicated Reed. As I look at Sue and Ben's faces, I realize they must be thinking the same thing. Reed, however, maintains his composure for the most part.

"After the HERBIE incident, I was approached by SHIELD. They had confiscated the remains of the first prototype, but they were going to compensate me for it," Reed explains. "A few months later, they commissioned me to construct a few things for them. As it so happened, the parts they wanted I had already constructed - in some form - for the second HERBIE prototype. I thought it was just coincidence."

"Those lying bas--"

"Easy, Johnny," Sue interrupts. "Even if SHIELD is behind the creation of Amazo, I don't think they anticipated something like Stamford happening."

Ben shakes his head. "For once, I agree with the hothead. Why don't we call our good 'friend' Carol Danvers down here, and I'll set her straight." He cracks his knuckles.

 

[Byrd Man]

I'm not sure which part shocks me more - that SHIELD is behind Stamford, or that they implicated Reed. As I look at Sue and Ben's faces, I realize they must be thinking the same thing. Reed, however, maintains his composure for the most part.

"After the HERBIE incident, I was approached by SHIELD. They had confiscated the remains of the first prototype, but they were going to compensate me for it," Reed explains. "A few months later, they commissioned me to construct a few things for them. As it so happened, the parts they wanted I had already constructed - in some form - for the second HERBIE prototype. I thought it was just coincidence."

"Those lying bas--"

"Easy, Johnny," Sue interrupts. "Even if SHIELD is behind the creation of Amazo, I don't think they anticipated something like Stamford happening."

Ben shakes his head. "For once, I agree with the hothead. Why don't we call our good 'friend' Carol Danvers down here, and I'll set her straight." He cracks his knuckles.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Ben. I'm working with a...partner on investigating who all made what. He's running down half the list, I'm doing the other. We don't want to make any claims until we know for certain all these parts went to Amazo. Also, I wouldn't involve this Carol Danvers because...well, because I'm betting she doesn't know much about it. This project was above top secret, encoded behind countless firewalls and codes. I have a hunch that Luthor and Amanda Waller are the only people knowingly involved in the Amazo project that are still alive to talk about it."

 

[Eddie Brock]

"I don't think that's a good idea, Ben. I'm working with a...partner on investigating who all made what. He's running down half the list, I'm doing the other. We don't want to make any claims until we know for certain all these parts went to Amazo. Also, I wouldn't involve this Carol Danvers because...well, because I'm betting she doesn't know much about it. This project was above top secret, encoded behind countless firewalls and codes. I have a hunch that Luthor and Amanda Waller are the only people knowingly involved in the Amazo project that are still alive to talk about it."

We all share the same thought, but Reed's the one to say it out loud. "Luthor."

Of course. It all makes sense now. If anyone was going to blow up a town, it'd be Baldy. "Man, who voted for that guy? I know I sure didn't."

"You didn't vote at all, Johnny," Sue adds.

"Still..."

"Kal, I feel absolutely terrible about all of this. If I had known..."

 

[Byrd Man]

We all share the same thought, but Reed's the one to say it out loud. "Luthor."

Of course. It all makes sense now. If anyone was going to blow up a town, it'd be Baldy. "Man, who voted for that guy? I know I sure didn't."

"You didn't vote at all, Johnny," Sue adds.

"Still..."

"Kal, I feel absolutely terrible about all of this. If I had known..."

"Don't feel bad about it, Reed. You're not the first one Luthor conned, and you won't be the last. He sweet talked his way to become the highest elected official in the free world. With this SHRA, he's trying to shape the world in his own twisted image."

The room falls silent. Each of us thinking about what to do next.

"Uhh...Reed, do you have any hard proof that the parts you made for HERBIE went to SHIELD? It helps make the case against Luthor that much more stronger."

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Don't feel bad about it, Reed. You're not the first one Luthor conned, and you won't be the last. He sweet talked his way to become the highest elected official in the free world. With this SHRA, he's trying to shape the world in his own twisted image."

The room falls silent. Each of us thinking about what to do next.

"Uhh...Reed, do you have any hard proof that the parts you made for HERBIE went to SHIELD? It helps make the case against Luthor that much more stronger."

"Actually, I should still have the fax lying around somewhere," Reed answers hopefully. "If you'll just give me a hand looking for it, it should be in my lab."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Actually, I should still have the fax lying around somewhere," Reed answers hopefully. "If you'll just give me a hand looking for it, it should be in my lab."

"Sure, I'll be glad to help."

I follow Reed down the hallway, stopping to nod at the other three.

"Sue, Ben, Johnny. I hated to be the bearer of bad news, but I hope you understand."

Reed leads be down the hallway into his massive lab. All the inventions are amazing, light-years ahead of whatever SHIELD could come up with.

"This place is incredible."

"It's alright. I'm afraid it can't hold a candle to your little fortress of solitude at the Arcitic."

"Fortress of solitude?"

"Just thinking off the top of my head."

Reed's arm stretches through the lab, shuffling papers aside and digging through the stacks of files.

"I think this might be it."

His neck stretches out to meet his arm.

"Here we are..."

Reed's arm head come back to his body. He hands me the fax. Confirmation from SHIELD, signed by Amanda Waller and notarized.

"This is perfect. Can I keep it?"

"By all means. Just do me a favor?"

"What's that?"

Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic, the smartest man in the world, pulls off a scowl worthy of Batman.

"When you confront Luthor, hit him once for me."

 

[Green Lantern]

Hank walked into his bedroom, Janet already under the covers reading. She could tell he was apprehensive as he slid beside her. "Hank, are you sure about this? I mean if you don't want to, you still have your fifth amendment rights."

"No, Jan. I have to do this. What does it say if the leader of America's team doesn't support the actions of his president?"

The next morning, the Capital:

"Doctor Henry Johnathon Pym, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

"I do, Senator."

"Dr. Pym, you are a costumed crime fighter, correct?"

"Yes, I am the leader of the SHIELD sanctioned superhuman response team codenamed the Avengers. My own codename is Giant Man."

"What do you say to accusations that crime fighters such as yourself have brought more pain and suffering to the world than they have relieved?"

"I would say that no matter what you have, no matter how hard you try, in a world like this there will always be collateral damage. I do think that the world is a better and safer place with those of us in it to protect it, however, I do think that there is no measure of accountability. That is why I formally support the registration act. Stamford was a wakeup call. How many other times have the deaths that occur as collateral damage gone with no body paying the consequences? I believe it is time for that part of the superhuman era to come to an end."

"What do you say to those who say that this Superhuman Registration Act is both infringing on the rights of American citizens and supporting prejudices against those with powers?"

"I say that it is a fallacy to think that way. What these men and women do, myself included before I joined a sanctioned military organization, is against the law. No matter where you look, vigilantism is against the law. People are not encouraged to take the law into their own hands, that is what the armed forces and police forces are for. When you break the law, you are forfeiting some of these basic rights. The Superhuman Registration Act is not adding any laws, it is merely providing a way to enforce already existing ones."

"What about those who say that this information, this private information, endangers just as many as it keeps safe? That by making the identities of the heroes public knowledge you are endangering everyone they care about?"

"The Registration Act is not requiring heroes to go public with their identity as I have with mine. They will register with the government, but their identities will remain secret, to all but the top brass of the government, those with the highest security clearance. Honestly, I liken the Act to that of gun control. Each of us who chooses to use powers and abilities to fight crime is a weapon. Most of us are more powerful than the deadliest gun in a human collection. Most of the country doesn't throw a fit when we ask the owners of such guns to register them, to ensure that they are in the right mental state to carry a weapon of that magnitude. But why does the same public protest when we ask that those men and women who put public lives on danger every day with the battles they fight be made to be held accountable for what they've done? Why is it that on a AK-47 there is a chain of custody, clear ownership, and clear accountability if that gun is used for something other than its intended use, yet with people whose superhuman abilities allow them to do the damage of a small nuclear explosion are allowed to walk around without any of their near by allies, they are allowed to continue to both break the law and do whatever they want."

"That will be all Doctor, thank you."

 

[Carnage27]

I sit in front of the TV with Gwen, and Aunt May watching from the kitchen, as Dr. Pym, aka Giant Man, testifies in front of Congress in support of Luthor's metahuman registration act. And his words in all honesty disgust me. How the hell can he say that this won't put our families in danger? Sure maybe his won't be, but he's got SHIELD protection. What would Aunt May or Gwen have?

"Do you think Spider-Man will turn himself in, Peter?" Aunt May calls from the kitchen.

"No, Aunt May," I say shaking my head. "He doesn't believe for one second that his identity would be kept secret. He worries for his loved ones, and he won't risk it. I had talked to him about this situation before it was a reality."

"I don't blame him," Gwen says. "I wouldn't tell anyone either."

*******

As night rolls in over the city, I put on the costume and head out on patrol, and it doesn't take long to find trouble. Or at least what I think is trouble. A gun shot rings out in the night, and I quickly track down where it came from, landing on a rooftop in Manhattan.

"You're not a hard man to get a hold of," a grizzly voice announces from the shadows. "You almost make my job easy."

"Back in the black suit, I see. I hope we won't have the same problems as last time?"

I almost fall backwards. If there's one person who scares me more than Batman, it's Nick Fury. It's probably a bad thing that those two people are actually on my side. But still. Scary. That's the point I'm trying to make here.

"Colonel Fury, what a surprise. I'm usually not the one you come to talk to," I say folding my arms over my chest. "And no, this suit is just material. Not a homicidal, maniacal alien."

"Good," he says before taking a long drag from his cigar. "Now, about why I'm coming to you for help. You're a leader of a team now, Spider-Man. A team affiliated with the League, meaning affiliated with me. And I've got something for you to do."

"Okay, what ya got?"

He pulls a folder from his trench coat and tosses it to me, "An alien princess that's taken refuge on Earth was abducted from the foster home I put her in when I was still with SHIELD. I want you to find her and free her."

I open the folder and take a look at her profile, "Koriand'r...she helped Robin take down a mutant trafficking ring. I remember hearing about that. Needs sunlight to use her powers and survive, along with a master of armed and unarmed combat? Sounds like whoever took her wasn't messing around."

"Exactly," Fury grunts. "I had given her a tracker, which pin pointed her final location just outside of Gotham. I want you to put together a small team to infiltrate the compound and get her out of here, as well as find out who took her, and why."

"Will do, Colonel," I say before swinging off towards the Baxter Building.
​

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Sure, I'll be glad to help."

I follow Reed down the hallway, stopping to nod at the other three.

"Sue, Ben, Johnny. I hated to be the bearer of bad news, but I hope you understand."

Reed leads be down the hallway into his massive lab. All the inventions are amazing, light-years ahead of whatever SHIELD could come up with.

"This place is incredible."

"It's alright. I'm afraid it can't hold a candle to your little fortress of solitude at the Arcitic."

"Fortress of solitude?"

"Just thinking off the top of my head."

Reed's arm stretches through the lab, shuffling papers aside and digging through the stacks of files.

"I think this might be it."

His neck stretches out to meet his arm.

"Here we are..."

Reed's arm head come back to his body. He hands me the fax. Confirmation from SHIELD, signed by Amanda Waller and notarized.

"This is perfect. Can I keep it?"

"By all means. Just do me a favor?"

"What's that?"

Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic, the smartest man in the world, pulls off a scowl worthy of Batman.

"When you confront Luthor, hit him once for me."

"Yeah, same for me," I announce. Sue, Ben, and I are standing at the entrance to the lab. We're all still a little shell-shocked, naturally, but we know the situation's in good hands with Superman. I mean, really, who else would you trust to take down a corrupt President?

"If you would like, I can show you out, Mr. Superman," HERBIE 3.0 announces. Reed's pretty sure he's got it right this time. No evil robots anymore.

 

[Byrd Man]

"Yeah, same for me," I announce. Sue, Ben, and I are standing at the entrance to the lab. We're all still a little shell-shocked, naturally, but we know the situation's in good hands with Superman. I mean, really, who else would you trust to take down a corrupt President?

"If you would like, I can show you out, Mr. Superman," HERBIE 3.0 announces. Reed's pretty sure he's got it right this time. No evil robots anymore.

"That'd be fine."

I put the fax in my cape pocket and turn to the Fantastic Four.

"Whatever happens with this registration thing, just remember you can't believe anything Luthor or the government says. Whatever they say about Stamford of the Justice League, you know what really happened there and who caused it. Gentlemen, Sue."

I follow the robot out of the room and up to the roof of the Baxter Building.

 

[Eddie Brock]

THE INCREDIBLE HULK

As Major Force walks over to me, I can only think one thing. "How did you find me?!"

Major Force smiles. "They gave me the Humpty Dumpty treatment after what the Hulk did to me. I told Eiling that I wanted another piece of you, so he sent me to find you," he explains. "It wasn't that hard. I mean, the Devil Hulk incident was all over the news. They had images of you and Dr. Fate leaving together."

Major Force grabs me by my collar and lifts me off the ground.

"From there, it was just a matter of finding out where the good Doctor called home," he says with a smirk. He tosses me effortlessly across the open field surrounding the Tower of Fate. "Plenty of people had heard about this place. I just followed the trail of eyewitness accounts and urban legends. I thought they were kidding when they said there was no way to get in - or, at the very least, exaggerating."

I can feel my pulse racing. I'm going to lose control if I'm not careful.

Major Force cracks his knuckles. "It became a waiting game. I knew you wouldn't stay in there forever. And you did my a favor by coming out alone like this." He punches me across the face, nearly cracking some of my teeth. "But my quarrel isn't with you, technically, so where's my real fight?" He lands a kick to my ribcage.

"Sorry to disappoint, but it's not that easy to make me turn," I say through the blood in my mouth. I spit it out into the grass. My heart rate is increased, though. His plan is working. I've just gotta maintain control.

"Look, I'm under orders to bring you in. If you don't want to unleash that monster inside you, then I'll just do my job. But Eiling said I could have a little fun with the Hulk first if I could coax him out of you." He slams his heel across my cheek.

My only hope of defeating Major Force is with the Hulk, but what if I can't rein him in once he's unleashed? If Major Force keeps beating on me like this, I'm either going to get knocked out or the Hulk will take over anyway. I'm going to have to take a leap of faith eventually. I close my eyes and let the frustration wash over me.

"You want a fight, Major?" I ask. "Allow me to deliver one for YOU!"

***

The Hulk is unleashed. "PURPLE MAN?" he asks, confused. "HULK NO KILL YOU? HULK FIX THAT!"
​