The Brand New And Improved "Heroes vs. Villains: Marvel" RPG

[Byrd Man]

​

I recoil while clutching my head then let out a low guttural chuckle in the darkness as I pull my hand from my scalp and it comes away warm and sticky with blood.

"You know what Murdock? I was gonna let you think someone else had given you up. It was actually an idea of an associate of mine to do it. Let you think someone else had messed with ya, let ya go to jail wonderin' who it is. Hell I was even gonna offer to protect your people and your head after the cops come for ya. But where's the fun in that?"

"You want a fight, and lets be honest, I want one too, so let's go Daredevil, lets see if you've got what it takes to hang with ol' Sabretooth!" I growl as I lunge at him and try to slash out his throat.​

A horrible scratching noise fills the air as my club knocks against Sabretooth's claws. The mutant stumbles backwards as I fall to the ground. With a feral growl he pounces on me. Swinging wildly, we roll across the roof of the mansion. I wince in pain as one of Sabretooth's claws slices my shoulder.

With a growl, I kick him off me and flip away. Sabretooth lets out another growl and charges me. Taking the full brunt of his charge, I fall back and teeter on the edge of the roof.

"If I'm going down," I say as I grab Sabretooth by the neck, "You're going down with me!"

The two of us fall off the roof, plummeting towards the ground.

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

Bobbi smirked as she slid out of bed.

"I knew you boys would see it my way."

She made her way over to her costume, slipping seductively out of her paper robe as she shot Hawkeye a taunting wink. Hawkeye turned to the other two Avengers standing in the doorway, looking none too pleased and making sure they averted their gazes.

"I wish I knew where you learned to be so pig-headed," Hawkeye grumbled, turning back to his wife as she fastened her bra, feeling a pang of disappointment he missed the show.

Bobbi slithered into her costume, fixing her glasses on her face.

"One of the world's great mysteries."

She finished zipping up her uniform, glancing at the Cap and Iron Man who were staring holes into the floor.

"Oh for God's sake, guys. It's nothing you haven't seen before."

"WHAT?!"

"I didn't mean mine specifically. Though there was that offer last month from that cute little old man in the mansion who always wears that smoking jacket."

Hawkeye stood up, pushing past Tony out the door.

"You win. Let's go."

 

[Byrd Man]

Bobbi smirked as she slid out of bed.

"I knew you boys would see it my way."

She made her way over to her costume, slipping seductively out of her paper robe as she shot Hawkeye a taunting wink. Hawkeye turned to the other two Avengers standing in the doorway, looking none too pleased and making sure they averted their gazes.

"I wish I knew where you learned to be so pig-headed," Hawkeye grumbled, turning back to his wife as she fastened her bra, feeling a pang of disappointment he missed the show.

Bobbi slithered into her costume, fixing her glasses on her face.

"One of the world's great mysteries."

She finished zipping up her uniform, glancing at the Cap and Iron Man who were staring holes into the floor.

"Oh for God's sake, guys. It's nothing you haven't seen before."

"WHAT?!"

"I didn't mean mine specifically. Though there was that offer last month from that cute little old man in the mansion who always wears that smoking jacket."

Hawkeye stood up, pushing past Tony out the door.

"You win. Let's go."

I stomp behind Clint with Buck and Bobbi in the rear.

I hold out a slip of paper for a very sexy Asian nurse as I pass by.

"Call me sometime."

"Do you ever turn off?"

"I'm like the Energizer Bunny."

I move on before Clint can get in a smart remark.

"So, Thor and Loki are currently in Oklahoma, which, according to my dispaly, is not where we are. How do you propose we get there since the before mentioned God of Thunder totaled our jet?"

 

[Keyser Soze]

Broxton, Oklahoma​

​

Lighting streaks the sky, angry, primal and unfettered. A single bolt makes land fall singing the Earth and depositing Thor, God of Thunder, a mere 80 yards from he who once before and now is once more his brother.

"Loki" The thunderer spat the name as raised Mklnor and braced himself for combat "Give me the stones."​

"Ah, dearest brother. You are alive and well, and once more in control of your own faculties, as I am sure you would be. And I have enough confidence in you to be sure The Avengers are all fine too."

Siphoning off a small portion of the immense power the Odinforce granted him, Loki encased Thor in a ball of energy, rising him above the ground.

"Unfortunately, you are a little earlier than I anticipated. I was hoping to surprise you, brother! But now you will get.... what is it the mortals call it? A 'front row seat' for what I have been planning all this time. It is almost done..."

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

I stomp behind Clint with Buck and Bobbi in the rear.

I hold out a slip of paper for a very sexy Asian nurse as I pass by.

"Call me sometime."

"Do you ever turn off?"

"I'm like the Energizer Bunny."

I move on before Clint can get in a smart remark.

"So, Thor and Loki are currently in Oklahoma, which, according to my dispaly, is not where we are. How do you propose we get there since the before mentioned God of Thunder totaled our jet?"

"Click your heels three times, Dorthy."

The four exited the hospital to the pre-dawn morning. Overhead, the dull hum of jet engines steadily grew into a near deafening roar.

"On loan from Africa. Your not the only rich friend we have."

 

[Byrd Man]

​

"Click your heels three times, Dorthy."

The four exited the hospital to the pre-dawn morning. Overhead, the dull hum of jet engines steadily grew into a near deafening roar.

"On loan from Africa. Your not the only rich friend we have."

"Thank you, T'Challa. This baby better have cup holders."

The jet slowly lowers to the ground and hovers just a few feet below the Earth.

"Well, let's get going. I call Shotgun!"

 

[bkhedr]

A horrible scratching noise fills the air as my club knocks against Sabretooth's claws. The mutant stumbles backwards as I fall to the ground. With a feral growl he pounces on me. Swinging wildly, we roll across the roof of the mansion. I wince in pain as one of Sabretooth's claws slices my shoulder.

With a growl, I kick him off me and flip away. Sabretooth lets out another growl and charges me. Taking the full brunt of his charge, I fall back and teeter on the edge of the roof.

"If I'm going down," I say as I grab Sabretooth by the neck, "You're going down with me!"

The two of us fall off the roof, plummeting towards the ground.

​

I try to steady myself but he gives a tug and we go tumbling. For a blind man he puts up a hell of a fight in the dark.

I register his motion as he twists his body around that I shield him from the fall, but that's all I have time do before the edge of the small decorative fountain in the greet me with a thud and crack. The stamp concrete tiles on the floor don't make the landing any softer and while I've taken the worst of it I still here Murdoch grunt as we hit and roll away from each other.

"Suh- stupid bastard." I growl through ruined lips as I struggle to rise while blood pours out of my mouth "Yuh-you can't kill me, can't take back your secret, what's the point of this?"

The answer comes in the form of a slab of marble smashing down on my head. He follows up with a kick to the midsection. I'm dizzy, woozy, but all I have to do is stay conscious and let my healing factor take care of the rest.

Digging my claws into the stamp concrete beneath me, I carve out two handfuls of gravelly concrete dust and toss them in his face.

​

 

[bkhedr]

"Ah, dearest brother. You are alive and well, and once more in control of your own faculties, as I am sure you would be. And I have enough confidence in you to be sure The Avengers are all fine too."

Siphoning off a small portion of the immense power the Odinforce granted him, Loki encased Thor in a ball of energy, rising him above the ground.

"Unfortunately, you are a little earlier than I anticipated. I was hoping to surprise you, brother! But now you will get.... what is it the mortals call it? A 'front row seat' for what I have been planning all this time. It is almost done..."

"Your plans are at an end liesmith!" Thor growled as he raised Mjolnir "Our Father's power, the holy might that you have stolen, will not save you from my hammer!"

With that Thor brought Mjolnir crashing into the orb that encased him and shattered it so that he fell towards Loki with Mjolnir raised once more.

Loki, in a manner that is maddeningly nonchalant, simply waves a hand and an unseen force hurls the Thunderer aside so that he comes to a skidding halt some distance from his brother.

"Why Loki?" The Thunderer roared "What is this rot in soul that causes you to burn evey bridge, to waste away every opportunity for redemption?"

 

[Byrd Man]

​

I try to steady myself but he gives a tug and we go tumbling. For a blind man he puts up a hell of a fight in the dark.

I register his motion as he twists his body around that I shield him from the fall, but that's all I have time do before the edge of the small decorative fountain in the greet me with a thud and crack. The stamp concrete tiles on the floor don't make the landing any softer and while I've taken the worst of it I still here Murdoch grunt as we hit and roll away from each other.

"Suh- stupid bastard." I growl through ruined lips as I struggle to rise while blood pours out of my mouth "Yuh-you can't kill me, can't take back your secret, what's the point of this?"

The answer comes in the form of a slab of marble smashing down on my head. He follows up with a kick to the midsection. I'm dizzy, woozy, but all I have to do is stay conscious and let my healing factor take care of the rest.

Digging my claws into the stamp concrete beneath me, I carve out two handfuls of gravelly concrete dust and toss them in his face.

​

I cough violently as the dust chokes me. Sabretooth elbows me in the neck and knocks me back to the ground. The mutant crime lord stands over me, the smell of my blood and his all over him.

"I'm doing this to prove a point," I spit out as I Stumble to get up. "You think you've beaten me, but I'm not done. I'll find a way out of prison, and I'll come for you again. That's my job, to stop scum like you. This is just a warm-up for what I'll do later!"

I lunge out again, striking at Sabretooth.

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

"Your plans are at an end liesmith!" Thor growled as he raised Mjolnir "Our Father's power, the holy might that you have stolen, will not save you from my hammer!"

With that Thor brought Mjolnir crashing into the orb that encased him and shattered it so that he fell towards Loki with Mjolnir raised once more.

Loki, in a manner that is maddeningly nonchalant, simply waves a hand and an unseen force hurls the Thunderer aside so that he comes to a skidding halt some distance from his brother.

"Why Loki?" The Thunderer roared "What is this rot in soul that causes you to burn evey bridge, to waste away every opportunity for redemption?"

"Yes, Loki. Why? Why subject yourself to the endless @$$whuppins that you will undoubtledy suffer. Why continously make yourself our b*^$%? What makes you feel the undying need to have us kick your teeth down your throat?"

 

[Keyser Soze]

"Your plans are at an end liesmith!" Thor growled as he raised Mjolnir "Our Father's power, the holy might that you have stolen, will not save you from my hammer!"

With that Thor brought Mjolnir crashing into the orb that encased him and shattered it so that he fell towards Loki with Mjolnir raised once more.

Loki, in a manner that is maddeningly nonchalant, simply waves a hand and an unseen force hurls the Thunderer aside so that he comes to a skidding halt some distance from his brother.

"Why Loki?" The Thunderer roared "What is this rot in soul that causes you to burn evey bridge, to waste away every opportunity for redemption?"

"Once again, brother, you have got it all wrong. I..."

"Yes, Loki. Why? Why subject yourself to the endless @$$whuppins that you will undoubtledy suffer. Why continously make yourself our b*^$%? What makes you feel the undying need to have us kick your teeth down your throat?"

"Ah, Hawkeye. Such bravado. But I am not a little girl anymore. I am a GOD!"

With a mere flick of the wrist, Loki turned Hawkeye's arrows into birds, which promptly flew away. He instilled Captain America's shield with a life of its own, sending it flying out of his hands and off into the distance. Then he generated mystical bonds tying Mockingbird to Iron Man, her chest pressed against Iron Man's chestpiece and her hands pressed against his, preventing Iron Man from using any repulsor blasts.

"Not only do I have all my old power back, but I have more than ever. With the Odinforce, there is nothing I cannot do!"

With a thought, Loki created out of thin air a massive, shifting monster made of green smoke, that grew multiple arms to grab all The Avengers in its clutches.

"So show some respect when you speak, Hawkeye. You address omnipotence. Tread carefully."

Loki once more turned his attention to the Norn stones, focusing his powers on them.

"Yes, yesssss. It is coming...."

The skies above them were shifting, as if the very fabric of reality were being torn. Something was being pulled out of the black void of nothingness and into this living realm, something immense that cast a deep shadow over all of them, and blotted out the sun.

"I am about to change your world in ways you cannot imagine...."

 

[Byrd Man]

"Ah, Hawkeye. Such bravado. But I am not a little girl anymore. I am a GOD!"

With a mere flick of the wrist, Loki turned Hawkeye's arrows into birds, which promptly flew away. He instilled Captain America's shield with a life of its own, sending it flying out of his hands and off into the distance. Then he generated mystical bonds tying Mockingbird to Iron Man, her chest pressed against Iron Man's chestpiece and her hands pressed against his, preventing Iron Man from using any repulsor blasts.

"Not only do I have all my old power back, but I have more than ever. With the Odinforce, there is nothing I cannot do!"

With a thought, Loki created out of thin air a massive, shifting monster made of green smoke, that grew multiple arms to grab all The Avengers in its clutches.

"So show some respect when you speak, Hawkeye. You address omnipotence. Tread carefully."

Loki once more turned his attention to the Norn stones, focusing his powers on them.

"Yes, yesssss. It is coming...."

The skies above them were shifting, as if the very fabric of reality were being torn. Something was being pulled out of the black void of nothingness and into this living realm, something immense that cast a deep shadow over all of them, and blotted out the sun.

"I am about to change your world in ways you cannot imagine...."

Bobbi and I try to pull away from each other, but the bonds cut into her wrist and she grunts in pain.

"Listen, Loki, I understand you turning bad again. Doesn't surprise me and deep down I expected it....but why did you turn back into a dude? I mean, was a courtesy motorboat before changing back too much to ask for?"

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

"So show some respect when you speak, Hawkeye. You address omnipotence. Tread carefully."

"They make a pill for that now. Took Bob Dole to new heights."

The green behemoth squeezed harder. Hawkeye heard the sickening snap of his rib cage as his head lulled back. He watched as the sun disappeared into an inky blackness. Or maybe it was just him fading from consciousness.

"Ah hell..."

 

[Keyser Soze]

Bobbi and I try to pull away from each other, but the bonds cut into her wrist and she grunts in pain.

"Listen, Loki, I understand you turning bad again. Doesn't surprise me and deep down I expected it....but why did you turn back into a dude? I mean, was a courtesy motorboat before changing back too much to ask for?"

"They make a pill for that now. Took Bob Dole to new heights."

The green behemoth squeezed harder. Hawkeye heard the sickening snap of his rib cage as his head lulled back. He watched as the sun disappeared into an inky blackness. Or maybe it was just him fading from consciousness.

"Ah hell..."

"I shall forgive your petty insults. It is understandable, as your minds cannot grasp the magnitude of what I am trying to accomplish here."

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

"I shall forgive your petty insults. It is understandable, as your minds cannot grasp the magnitude of what I am trying to accomplish here."

"I've failed."

Bucky struggled against the grasp of Loki's monster to no avail. Steve had trusted him to carry the shield, and in less than two days he had lost it.

He felt weak. Helpless. All of a sudden it was 1945 again, and he was stuck on a run away drone plane, completely useless and staring at an abysmal death.

His greatest legacy would be the Winter Soldier. It's what the world would always remember, the one time he was good at something. He would be remembered for a body count and his final victim, it seemed, would be the legacy of Captain America.

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

"I shall forgive your petty insults. It is understandable, as your minds cannot grasp the magnitude of what I am trying to accomplish here."

"Petty? I take great pride in the thought I put into my insults."

The tentacle squeezed harder, causing Hawkeye to wince.

"They trusted you to lead them, Clint. And what did you do? Oh, you led them all right, straight to their deaths. They would have been better off if you had just stayed dead yourself."

“This is not the Clint Barton that use to flatter me ever so confidently.”

“Oh God, you are the last person I want to see right now.”

It was that moment that Hawkeye looked around. He was no longer fighting for his life in Oklahoma. He was floating in a featureless void as the ghostly form of The Scarlet Witch looked on.

“You don’t mean that, Clint.”

“Yeah, Wanda. I do. I really do. This is your fault. This is all your fault. You went nuclear on us. You put our backs against the wall and forced us into this. You, you brought me back, put me in the position to get our friends killed.”

“Well, it seems I did make somewhat of a mistake.”

Hawkeye grunted sarcastically.

“It seems I restored the wrong Clint Barton. My friend, one of the dearest to me in the entire world, was not a spineless sniveling child who gave up at the first sign of adversity. The man I knew stood his ground and fought until his dying breath.”

“You saw that first hand. Twice.”

Wanda floated a circle slowly around Hawkeye.

“I know very well what I did, Clint. I could feel the coming dangers, and I knew there was no one better suited to lead the heroes to ultimate victory. You are not superhuman, you are not godly, you have no suit of armor, so you have not come to depend on any of these. The only thing you have ever had to depend on is yourself. Your mind is your greatest weapon. A dangerous weapon.”

“Wow…just when I thought you couldn’t get any goofier.”

“Then Loki has won. He has taken away your greatest weapon. He has taken away your very essence. Perhaps then it is best that you die here today. If you survive, I see a very dark future for you, but one that may see more familiar than you like. A dark future of self loathing and hatred, stewing in pity and angry at the world. Not unlike the life of an alcoholic, the life your father lived.”

“I’m not him! I’m not my father! I WILL NEVER BE HIM!!”

“Goodbye, Hawkeye.”

In an instant, Hawkeye was trapped again in the tentacle of Loki’s monster. The pain of his broken ribs was replaced by a seething rage coursing through his entire body. Taking a second to gain his bearings, his mind flashed to the fractured Asgardian crystal he salvaged from the Thorbuster. Wiggling his hand as well he could, he slipped it into his belt pouched and pulled the crystal free. With all the force he could muster, he jammed it into the side of the vaporous creature’s side. With a violent recoil, the tentacle released Hawkeye. Clint thudded to the ground, wondering how long until Loki came gunning for him again. Much to his relief, Loki was too preoccupied with her...his...grand plan.

"I miss you, Wanda."

Hurrying to his feet, Hawkeye ducked into a tall patch of praire grass, reaching for his communicator. Backup was definitely needed, and he had the perfect big gun in mind.

-

"My name is Norman Osborn, and until further notice, I am the new Director of SHIELD."

“Oh, Hell No.”

The conference room of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s downtown headquarters erupted into mass confusion at the conclusion of the press conference. The ranking officer shook her head in disgust as the group around her seemed to polarize instantly. She was sure they were just moments away from a fist fight. The vibrating of the beeper in her pocket seemed to take her away from the situation momentarily. She took it out, read the single word on the display, and made her way to the door.

“Danvers! Don’t go too far! Brass wants all ranking officials on the hellicarrier within the hour to meet with the new director.”

Carol smiled, walking over to the young man while cooly undoing her uniform top to reveal the skin tight costume underneath. She brushed seductively against the soldier, leaning close so her lips were just inches from his, and whispered her reply.

“I quit.”

She flash a quick, brush off smile before entering the stairwell to the roof. Once out in the bright afternoon sun, she took one last quick look at the message before jetting off into the air.

It simply read:

ASSEMBLE

 

[bkhedr]

I cough violently as the dust chokes me. Sabretooth elbows me in the neck and knocks me back to the ground. The mutant crime lord stands over me, the smell of my blood and his all over him.

"I'm doing this to prove a point," I spit out as I Stumble to get up. "You think you've beaten me, but I'm not done. I'll find a way out of prison, and I'll come for you again. That's my job, to stop scum like you. This is just a warm-up for what I'll do later!"

I lunge out again, striking at Sabretooth.

Later huh. Well I gotta hand it to him. He's no Wolverine but he sure is making things tough for me right now.

I'm looking for a way to get back on the offensive when the end of Daredevil's club hits my nose like a battering ram and I wince as the cartilige gives way and my eyes water.

I swing blindly, heh, ironic, and miss. He counters quickly, kicking my outstretched arm just right, and hyperextending my elbow causing me to let out a howl of pain before I tackle him, driving him backwards and sink my teeth into his shoulder as my claws hook into his back.

My mouth comes away bloody and I howl again before I throw my arms outwards, flaying his back in the process, and we both stand unsteadily in the yard for a moment as the lights in the manor behind us click on one after another.

"Looks like all the commotion has woken my gang up Murdoch." I sneer as someone flashes a search light onto the spot we're standing in and bathes us in a warm white glow. "You should run now if you wanna live long enough to see the inside of a jail cell."

​

 

[bkhedr]

"I shall forgive your petty insults. It is understandable, as your minds cannot grasp the magnitude of what I am trying to accomplish here."

​

"I have heard those same words uttered from your lying lips countless times trickster." Thor growled as he strained against the magical entity that held him and the others.

"No more, do you hear." He said as impossibly powerful muscles strained against mist like coils which seemed as if they would burst from the pressure. "NO. MORE."

With one more collosall effort the Thunderer burst free of his bonds, and with Mjolnir raised before him, charged towards the shocked trickster god who cringed behind a hastily erected magical shield in the instant that Mjolnir struck home.

"You have stolen our father's power from me Loki, you have robbed me of the omnipotence which is mine by right!" Thor roared as he struck again and again with frenzied speed.

"But still am I THOR!!! THOR who speaks with war's rumble! THOR who's hammer drinks blood!" He shouted as the thunder rolled angrily across the sky and Loki strained to keep his shield from shattering

"DO YOU HEAR ME LOKI? I AM THOR!!!" came the cry as one more mighty swing shattered Loki's mystical defences and left the trickster lying in the dust at the Thunderer's feet, his face a picture of horror, his hands held out before him in a pitiful attempt to protect himself from Mjolnir's power.

"Please brother! Hear me out! I beg you!" Loki threw his head to the side and closed his eyes, pleading for mercy and expecting none.

But the fatal blow did not come as expected, and Loki, opened his eyes carefully, timidly and saw that Thor was no longer looking at him. Indeed the Thunderer was looking past him, into the roiling moists that had no place here on the empty plains of Oklahama, and at the magnificent spires that pierced those mists. Suddenly he was aware of it all, his home, his family, his people. All were here or on their way, and as his heart came near to bursting with joy he uttered a single word.

"Asgard."

 

[Byrd Man]

Later huh. Well I gotta hand it to him. He's no Wolverine but he sure is making things tough for me right now.

I'm looking for a way to get back on the offensive when the end of Daredevil's club hits my nose like a battering ram and I wince as the cartilige gives way and my eyes water.

I swing blindly, heh, ironic, and miss. He counters quickly, kicking my outstretched arm just right, and hyperextending my elbow causing me to let out a howl of pain before I tackle him, driving him backwards and sink my teeth into his shoulder as my claws hook into his back.

My mouth comes away bloody and I howl again before I throw my arms outwards, flaying his back in the process, and we both stand unsteadily in the yard for a moment as the lights in the manor behind us click on one after another.

"Looks like all the commotion has woken my gang up Murdoch." I sneer as someone flashes a search light onto the spot we're standing in and bathes us in a warm white glow. "You should run now if you wanna live long enough to see the inside of a jail cell."

​

Based on the sounds and smells, twelve armed men are headed our way. Sabretooth has left me battered and bruised, and he's already healing. I can't take him and the armed men on.

"Fine, then, I'll go to jail," I say as I step out of the spotlight and into the shadows.

"Mark my words, Sabretooth. I will get out, and when I do? There's going to be hell to pay."

Ten seconds later, when the armed guards descend on the area around the spotlight, I'm nowhere to be found.

 

[Keyser Soze]

​

"I have heard those same words uttered from your lying lips countless times trickster." Thor growled as he strained against the magical entity that held him and the others.

"No more, do you hear." He said as impossibly powerful muscles strained against mist like coils which seemed as if they would burst from the pressure. "NO. MORE."

With one more collosall effort the Thunderer burst free of his bonds, and with Mjolnir raised before him, charged towards the shocked trickster god who cringed behind a hastily erected magical shield in the instant that Mjolnir struck home.

"You have stolen our father's power from me Loki, you have robbed me of the omnipotence which is mine by right!" Thor roared as he struck again and again with frenzied speed.

"But still am I THOR!!! THOR who speaks with war's rumble! THOR who's hammer drinks blood!" He shouted as the thunder rolled angrily across the sky and Loki strained to keep his shield from shattering

"DO YOU HEAR ME LOKI? I AM THOR!!!" came the cry as one more mighty swing shattered Loki's mystical defences and left the trickster lying in the dust at the Thunderer's feet, his face a picture of horror, his hands held out before him in a pitiful attempt to protect himself from Mjolnir's power.

"Please brother! Hear me out! I beg you!" Loki threw his head to the side and closed his eyes, pleading for mercy and expecting none.

But the fatal blow did not come as expected, and Loki, opened his eyes carefully, timidly and saw that Thor was no longer looking at him. Indeed the Thunderer was looking past him, into the roiling moists that had no place here on the empty plains of Oklahama, and at the magnificent spires that pierced those mists. Suddenly he was aware of it all, his home, his family, his people. All were here or on their way, and as his heart came near to bursting with joy he uttered a single word.

"Asgard."

"Asgard."

Loki pushed himself to his feet, his legs trembling beneath him. The Odinforce was gone, expended on this most gargantuan of feats, what he had been planning for all this time: the restoration of the realm of Asgard, and all those who lived within it.

The damage of Ragnarok had been undone, and now they had escaped from its shadow for good. Loki had known that, like himself, the souls of all Asgard's children resided within mortal hosts. But unlike him, they had held no awareness. They would have to be awoken. And with the immense power the Odinforce gave him, he had not only rebuilt Asgard, but he had awakened those immortal souls, seperated them from their hosts and gave them corporeal form once more. And now he had brought them all to this place - Broxton, Oklahoma.

Already, Heimdall had found his place on the watchtower.

Thor's compatriots, Hogun, Fandral, Volstagg, the Warriors Three, had been quick to reunite with one another, and had arrived at the gates of their restored kingdom together.

From a dazzling haze of light, honest Balder emerged.

And here, walking through the dusty terrain of Broxton with her sword slung over her shoulder, was Sif, Warrior maiden, and Thor's true love. Thor must have missed her dearly. And though he sorely doubted the sentiment was mutual, Loki had missed her too.

All of these, and others made there way back home. But there was one notable exception: his father, Odin. His death had come before Ragnarok, and so his death was not part of that Ragnarok cycle it was within Loki's power to break. Odin remained lost to his children, his spirit residing in another place.

"Father.... I did it."

A tear ran down Loki's cheek.

"Please father... let this be enough to finally make amends all the wrong I have done."

 

[Keyser Soze]

EDIT: double postie.

 

[Electro UK]

My name is Wade Wilson, and I'm a bad guy.

"Everyone, I have... a bomb!"

Well, I'm not "evil" bad.

"OH MY GOD!" "ARRRGH!"

It's not like I'm Dr. Doom, I don't want your eternal soul, I have no idea what I'd even do with that.

"Let's just stay calm and I probably won't kill you."

And I definitely don't wanna destroy the world. Who would there be to annoy?

"No promises though."

I just get a kick out of being a bit of a dick. Rhyme unintentional.

"Please... I have a son!"

That, and the fact that being a bad guy pays through the nose. All the way up the nose in fact, and into the brain. Actually I think a quater got stuck up there once and made me the guy I am.

"I have a son and a wife!"

The New York train system. It's like... well you saw Spider-man 2 right? You're reading this, of course you saw Spider-man 2. Well it's like exactly that. I don't know why people even take public transport anymore, the amount of damage caused any time Bruce Banner wets his pants, there's such a high risk of one of these carriges being your huge, "Cribs"-style coffin.

"Yeah well I got 2 kids and 2 wives buddy, so let's stop gloatin'!"

These people will be glad to know that this train won't be their coffin. I'd imagine once I blow this thing sky high their coffin will be an office window, or the street floor-- Wait, did that guy say he had 2 wives!?

"You, lover boy, get up."

"But I just said I had the most--"

"I don't recall saying that was gonna help your chances my friend. In fact it only helps me out a little bit."

Yeah, I guess I really am a bastard. Pistol trained on my new buddy, I scan the rest of the carridge cloesly as he raises his hands, gets up from his seat and slowly edges towards me, hands in the air and his eyes wide open, fixed on the big device strapped to my chest, under my now-unbuttoned trench coat.

"Pl-pl-please--"

"Oh god, not a cry baby. What's your name, blubber boy?"

"G-Geoff."

"Well Geoff, I'm afraid your bragging has got you here, so you only have yourself to blame for that. Now I'm going to put this gun here against your head. That way it'll look like I really am serious. Should you begin to cry anymore when I place said gun against said head, I'll take no hesitation in blowing said head over his whole space. Okay buddy?"

"O-okay."

"Atta-boy!" Geoff bites down hard as he feels the cold metal press into the back of his head. I don't press too hard, sometimes that leaves a little ring on the skin and you look silly!

"Now, members of this carridge, I won't lie to you, I have a reason for being here today, a reason that will lead to a big pile of dough. I'm here to kill one of you. It's not you Geoff, don't worry about that dude, but it is one of you. The problem is... well I kind don't know what the dude I'm supposed to kill looks like. Don't ask me, the guy I hired is kind of new to this "kill people I don't like" shindig. Ergo, we find ourselves here; me with a bomb, Geoff with a gun to his head... and at least one of you awaiting death."

The carridge, bar the sobbing and muffeled screams, is dead silent now. The train's come to a halt, and I can already hear the police sirens. "Now this isn't The Taking of Pelham 12... whatever, I just wanna get this done and go back to watching Captain Kangaroo. If the person I'm after... a one Mr. Andrew Stockdale doesn't stand up in the next 5 seconds... well Geoff's strangely going to be making 2 women widowers."

"Please! Don--"

"Ah ah, Geoff, remember the gun dude. Now if you don't stand up, makes no difference to me. I'll blow this place sky high instead and you'll all die. And I've got one of those things Wolverine's got, so don't worry about me. It just stings a bit so I'd rather do this without having to blow my stomach away. It's countin' time! 1..."

No reaction.

"2..."

"Oh god--" Geoff's next pathetic outburst is cut short by the butt of my gun on his head.

"3... come on Andy, I'm sure Geoff wants to see at least 1 of his 2 wives again. Tell Andy what their names are, Geoff."

"Lilly and... Yyvelinne."

"Yyvelinne? Seriously dude what the hell?"

"She's a Russian mail--"

"Stop right there. Oh where was I? 3!"

"You said 3." from the back of the carridge.

"If you really want to die, keep challenging my math. 4 and a half..."

Silence.

"4 and 3 quaters..."

...

"Okay well nice knowing you Geoff, you could tell me that Russian's number before I pop yo--"

"WAIT!" Andrew Stockdale springs up like he'd sat on a pin.

"Andy! How nice of you to join us! Get up here ya' big tease, I knew you wouldn't let Geoff di--" BANG! "Oops... pushed a little too hard there. Well accidents happen." Geoff hits the floor with a dull thud. Shame, I sort of liked Geoff; he had 2 wives. I can see the fear in Andy's eyes, the first tear run silently down his face. Another cry baby.

"Okay well Andy you stand behind me pal and we'll leave in a sec, no need for these nice people to see your brains on their clothes too." Andy brushes past me as I kick the door open. "Well guys, it's been emotional." I turn back to the rest of the carridge. "We had some good times, some laughs, even some tears... quite a lot of tears in fact, but the important thing is--"

"Andy's gone." One passanger points to the door, where Andrew has leapt out and started legging it back down the track.

"Good, thought he'd never leave." I unstrap the device on my chest and toss it to the floor, people falling back in terror as it falls. I sit down on Geoff's chair and cross my feet, resting them on his body.

"But I thought you were meant to kill him."

"And kill him I will."

"And I thought you had a bomb!"

"I do have a bomb, or did anyways. It's in Andy's pocket right now. That thing on the floor was just playdough, which is surprisingly good at looking like a fake bomb!" I casually look back through the window to where Andy is streaming down the line. And into the arms of the police. "Aaaaaaand now."

BANG!

The train rocks, people scream, and I yawn. Never trust public transport. I get to my feet and hop off the train, waving to the crowd. "See you around, chumps!" I strut off into the big cloud of smoke the bomb has created, the area completely clear of police.

Okay, so I guess I really am a pretty evil guy. But you gotta love me, eh? I think I'll go home now an-- OUCH! I walk into a wall... an invisible wall.

"Huh? Oh... I guess this areas blocked off until next Season. Well, see you in a week, folks!"

 

[Spike_x1]

The force of the two combatants' blows shook the earth and served to dig them both even deeper into the loosened dirt from the Red Hulk's planned entranceway into the Leader's underground base. To Leonard Samson's dismay, this did little to help his chances in the fight. While out in the open space of the desert, above ground, Samson had at least stood some small chance. He had plenty of room to outmaneuver his larger opponent until they buried themselves, leaving the doctor without any advantage at all. His only hope would be that their fistfight would take them far enough under the ground to hit the outer layer of the Leader's headquarters, before it was too late. Maybe then they'd break into it and there would hopefully be enough room for Samson to get away from the crimson monster and catch his breath.

Sure enough, after what seemed like an eternity to him, Samson's head was smashed into what was definitely metal plating. Ugh! Finally! Feels like this creep has been forcefeeding me rocks and dirt for the past ten minutes! Len wouldn't remember the next few moments, after things went black as the Red Hulk used his enemy's green-haired head as a battering ram, breaking downward into the metal hull of the buried base. Of course, several tons of earth followed Rulk and Samson down through the hole in the ceiling before the breach automatically sealed itself up.

Coughing up a few grains of sand that he had swallowed, the Red Hulk opened his eyes and squinted at the automated lighting of the high tech laboratory. Standing up, he was tempted to kick the limp and unconscious body of Doc Samson at his feet, but instead proceeded to the equipment he needed to undergo the procedure to extract the Leader from Bruce Banner's subconscious.

**********​

Sterns is so smug, I wish I could kick the snot out of him here and now. Except... physical violence is an entirely pointless undertaking here in the deep recesses of my mind.

[BLACKOUT]"Relax, Banner. This is a win-win scenario for you and I. I return to the world of the living, and you will no longer have to worry about the Red Hulk and I being stuck in your brain. Everybody gets to go home happy."[/BLACKOUT]

"It's the 'you returning to life' part that has me worried. And speaking of the Red Hulk," I continue, "what will happen to him when this is over? You say that he won't stay in me, and I don't imagine that you want something like him in your brain. So, is he supposed to simply fade away into nothingness when you're removed from my mind?"

Whatever he's planning, God help us all.

The change is agony. More than just in the physical sense, I mean. It's hard to describe the feeling as the Red Hulk steps into the chamber in the Leader's lair. It looks like it was inspired by the gamma nutrient bath that Leonard used years ago to separate my mind and body from the Hulk's. It didn't work back then because Hulk and I are co-dependent on one another; neither of us could live without the other. This time, however, the Leader and Red Hulk are alien to my body and mind. They simply don't belong in the same body as I do. Theoretically, there's no reason why this shouldn't work, since I presume that the Leader has devised a means to stabilize his body and keep it from breaking down when it leaves mine.

Instead of a vat of bubbling chemicals this time, we're met with heavy gas when Rulk seals the transparent chamber around my... er, his... body. There are two empty chambers on either side of this one, identical to this one and certainly intended to be the receiving ends of the extraction process; one chamber meant to have the Leader's body inside by the end of the ordeal, and the other one to have the Red Hulk. Everything looks surprisingly sound, as if Sterns thought of everything before he "died."

That doesn't stop one nagging itch in the back of my mind, though: what happens to me? I can't bring myself to believe that Leader is really this benevolent, as if he's actually grateful for the role I'm playing in his resurrection and will let me go after it's all said and done. After the Leader and Red Hulk are removed from me, will the gas in the chamber clear, only to reveal the Hulk? Worst case scenario, that's what I have to plan around. Neither myself or Hulk are always on the best terms with Doc Samson, but I still need to try to find some way to get myself and Leonard out of here at the first possible opportunity.

Like I said, the extraction process doesn't exactly feel like a relaxing massage. It's as if the very fabric of my being is being ripped in three different directions, but at the same time feels like I'm being restored.

LEADER! WHAT'S HAPPENING?! I CAN'T CON[BLACKOUT]TROL THE CHANGE! I'LL KILL YOU,[/BLACKOUT] PUNY BANNER! HULK HATE RED HULK! HULK HATE LEADER! HULK SMASH YOU ALL!!

The Hulk is alone now, and through the gaseous chemicals in the chamber he can see a small green man with a large head calmly approach the other side of the glass. [BLACKOUT]"Congratulations, Dr. Banner. The procedure was a success, and none of us will have any of those nasty side effects that you and your counterpart suffered when you were last separated using a similar process."[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]"All three of us are free to terrorize the world once more. Resume the status quo."[/BLACKOUT]

 

[J'adore]

THE END;

"My name is Norman Osborn, and until further notice, I am the new Director of SHIELD."

"When do we make Silver's death public?" Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine stood around the great, metal, round table. She was joined by other SHIELD operatives. Her expression had clearly become stressed, the creases in her perfect forehead showed perfectly visibly.

"She's not dead. I can prove it." Natasha Romanova wore a jet black pantsuit, her red hair ruffled at the edges. The sound of her black, sharp, stilettos echoed in the metal-walled room. She carefully closed the door behind her, carrying a stack of papers, in which she dumped on the round table.

Sighing, Contessa shoved the papers out of the way. "Not this crap again,"

"It was The Hand. Amy Chen -now the CEO of Silver Sable International- did some research. We had the Wild Pack go undercover, but the mission didn't end well. I disbanded the Wild Pack and I'm now the Deputy CEO of Silver Sable International," Natasha pulled out a chair and perfectly placed herself on it, crossing her leg over the other.

"If you don't mind me asking Ms Romanova, why such a big interest?"

One SHIELD agent pondered. Natasha chuckled slightly and smirked. Of course, this pissed off Contessa Valentina greatly. "Get out of here Natasha, you're no longer welcome. You went against SHIELD orders,"

"Read the papers, Val. They'll do some use to SHIELD. Oh and...When I'm gone, Yelena's always up for the job. Bumped into her the other day. She's under section 'G' in the hospital."

Natasha laughed her way out of the dark, metallic, room, leaving the SHIELD agents to direct their attention straight to Contessa.

"We make this death public ASAP," Maria Hill stepped out of the shadows she stood in. Her back away from the wall. "And we have to stop Natasha doing anything dangerous,"

"Finally. A woman with sense."

"Under the new commandment of Norman Osbourne, I'm going to make sure Natasha does not give us a bad rep."

***
​

Standing on a high rooftop, Natasha breathed in the fresh air. Still in her pantsuit, Natasha had unbuttoned her jack, feeling the cold breeze against her tight vest top. "It's beautiful at night, ain't it?"

"Indeed, Domino."

"Listen lady. I'll work with ya. I know you'll be behind the scenes and all, but I still want you to get involved on the field once and a while."

"Of course. You really thought you'd taken on The Hand, alone?"
​

 

[Byrd Man]

​

8 AM and someone knocks on my apartment door. Four people, from the sounds outside the door. I pull myself out of my armchair and walk to the door.

"Matt Murdock?" The man in the front asks.

"Yes?"

"I'm FBI Special Agent Rivers. Along with me are Special Agent Noland and NYPD Detectives Bunkland and Charleston. We're here because we have a warrant for your arrest. Please, come quietly with us."

I can take them out. All four of them would be on the ground unconscious before they'd even know what happened. I can run, I have enough money to withdraw cash and go. But any chance I have of clearing my name will be ruined. I hold my hands out and let the FBI agent clamp the cold steel on my wrist.
​

*****​

Three hours in a police holding cell and I'm in a courtroom, waitng for the judge of my bail hearing. Judge Lopez, a woman I've argued before many times, will be presiding. Foggy is next to me, my legal counsel.

"Bail might be tricky, Matt."

"Why? I have no priors, this is my first incident."

"But you've been arresting on thirty-counts of aggrivated assault, twelve counts of assault with a deadly weapon, ten counts of mayhem, and three counts of obstruction of justice! They're saying you got people off in the court just to beat them up as Daredevil!"

"Look at me Foggy. I. Am. Blind. I cannot see. Who in their right mind will put a blind man in Ryker's?"

"That doesn't matter. They have DNA evidence, you've been caught red-handed."

"I can't go to Ryker's. The guards are too corruptible. Sabretooth will try to kill me. I doesn't surprise me if he's paid off a few of the bailiffs."

"Is he behind this? He leaked your name to the press?"

"Yes. He wants me out of the picture and wants the Kitchen to himself."

"How'd he get your blood, anyway?"

I breath deeply. This is going to be hard.

"He got it from a fight I had a few weeks ago with Carnage. He was attacking Sabretooths' men and I helped out."

"You were helping out Sabretooth's men?" Foggy asks. I can already hear his heartbeat starting to rise.

"Yes. That's why he left Hell's Kitchen alone. We came to an agreement. If I left his business alone, he would stay out of Hell's Kitchen."

Foggy remains silent. But I can hear his heartbeat racing and can feel the heat coming off his cheeks.

"All rise," the bailiff says. Foggy and I stand up as the judge walks in. "The Honorable Judge Margret Lopez presiding," the bailiff continues. The judge smacks her gavel. "Be seated."

I sit back down. Foggy stays up, drawing the attention of the courtroom.

"Any reason why you're still standing, Mister Nelson?" Lopez asks.

"Yes, Your Honor, I hereby resign myself as Mister Murdock's legal counsel."

Foggy turns around and walks out of the courtroom, leaving me dumbfounded and shocked.

"Mister Murdock?"

I stand to adress the judge.

"Yes, Your Honor?"

"Do you have any legal counsel available, or do you request a public defender represent you?"

"No, Your Honor. I'll represent myself."

"Very well. You've been charged with a laundry list of charges. How do you plead?"

"Not Guilty to all charges, Your Honor."

"I see. I have a letter here from the FBI and the District Attorney's office that you be denied bail based on your past history of violence."

"Your Honor, that 'past history' is based on an accusation. I have no past record, and have not been convicted of anyting yet. More so, I find it ridiculous that the police are accusing a blind man of being a masked vigilante."

"Thank you, Mister Murdock. Unfortunately for you, the evidence speaks to your past. You may not have been convicted of being Daredevil, but the DNA speaks to the fact you are. If you indeed are Daredevil, then I am disappointed and upset. You have argued before me many times, Mister Murdock, and I have often heard you defend the law, the system, and people's rights many times. The claims and evidence of your secret life show you for what you are: a hippocrite who mocks societies laws by parading around in a Halloween costume and taking the law into his own hands. Bail is denied, you will be transferred to Ryker's Island to await trial."

Lopez bangs her gavel with a resounding thud. The bailiff approaches me and leads me away.
​

*****​

My footsteps echo through the cells of Ryker's Island. I've been denied bail, but I'm being placed in protective custody because of my blindness. Prisoners try to goad me with catcalls, death threats, and promises of sodomy. I remain silent as the guards lead me through the halls and into the empty cell of the protective custody wing.

The cell door slams shut with a metallic clank. From far away, I hear a familair chuckle.

"I know you can hear me, Matthew," Wilson Fisk says from the next wing over. "Welcome to Hell. I'm your new master."​