The "Dawn Of Marvels" RPG: Year One

[Kaboom]

"No Banner," the monster screamed as he focused his rage. "ONLY HULK!!!"

The Hulk clenched his fists together, rasining them above his head in order to bring them down against the clerk in a killing blow.

He was driven only by his rage and it burned with intensity. As the Hulk began to strike he didn't notice the other descend from the heavens himself, clad in battle armor and wielding a mighty hammer that sent a poweful thhunderbolt of electricty surging through the air blasting the Hulk in the monster's chest.

"PUNY HUMAN," the Hulk yelled after he recovered from the blow.

"Verily, I am no human, green skin. Thou shall knowest me by name--The Mighty THOR!"

 

[Kaboom]

The Hulk clenched his fists together, rasining them above his head in order to bring them down against the clerk in a killing blow.

He was driven only by his rage and it burned with intensity. As the Hulk began to strike he didn't notice the other descend from the heavens himself, clad in battle armor and wielding a mighty hammer that sent a poweful thhunderbolt of electricty surging through the air blasting the Hulk in the monster's chest.

"PUNY HUMAN," the Hulk yelled after he recovered from the blow.

"Verily, I am no human, green skin. Thou shall knowest me by name--The Mighty THOR!"

"Birdhead hurt Hulk, HULK HURT BIRDHEAD!" The monster roared as he charged at the one who had just announced himself as the Mighty Thor. In the midst, of the charge, Thor summoned another powerful thunderbolt straight at the Hulk.

This time, the thinderbolt merely stunned the green goliath, who absorbed blow and kept coming.

"By Odin," Thor commanded, in awe of the brute's apparent immunity to the thunderbolt. "Lest you try my hammer, Mjolnir!"

Thor flung the hammer with a poweful blow, connecting against the Hulk's head and sending the moster careening to the derailed train.

*

"Captain America," a SHIELD Agent said. "Reports are coming in that the Hulk creature you're tracking has engaged another superhuman anomaly just outside of Germany along the intercontinental railway. A train has been derailed, sir, and it looks like the conflict is escalating without regard to collateral damage."

"Put out the call, I want the team assembled in Hangar 2 on the double."

"Yes, sir."

"And I want continued updates fed live to my SHIELD comm keeping me appraised of the situation as it develops."

"Yes sir."

"Go! Wheels up in fifteen minutes!"

 

[Eddie Brock]

​

​

Reed and Ben walked back into SUI London HQ.

"What the hell happened?"

"He got away."

"Who got away?"

"I don't know, some big lumbering hulk, alright?!"

Ben Grimm was not a happy man. He never just lost somebody like that. Nor did he ever just have his car ripped apart.

"Don't take it personal, Willy. It's just been a bad day."

The two of them continued into the Briefing Room and sat down. General Ross, Johnny and Sue were already there waiting.

"Nice of you to join us." Johnny had his feet propped up on the desk.

"Shut up, kid." Grimm sat down behind him.

"Alright, we don't have much time, people, so let's get down to business." General Ross pressed a button for the plasma TV behind him. "Two weeks ago, we recieved word that one Esteban Diablo had in his possession four stones which are said to contain the pure energy essence of the four elements: fire, earth, water, and air. Normally, such information would be handled by a different branch of the Insititution, but Diablo has been under watch by the United States Government for some time now for possible terrorist activity. We need you to go in and neutralize any possible threats, as well as come home with those stones."

"So, what power do these stones have, General?"

"Unknown. Intel tells us that he is trying to use the stones to create an Elixer of Life to make himself immortal. Diablo considers himself an alchemist of sorts."

Ben scoffed. "Alchemist? Turning dogs*** into gold and that crazy stuff?"

Reed turned to Ben. "And little scrawny men turning into green monsters is normal?"

"Point taken."

"You leave tomorrow at 0600 hours. Any questions?"

"Yeah, I got one," I spoke up. "We done here or what?"

I jump up in my seat and start to zipper my leather jacket up.

"I have to meet Gloria in five minutes, and unless I could fly, I'm never going to make it."

I remove my gun holster and place it on the table.

"It's been real."

Before I turn to leave, I take the time to light a cigarette. I look around at the faces staring at me from the table.

"Well?"

 

[Blacklight]

Reed and Ben walked back into SUI London HQ.

"What the hell happened?"

"He got away."

"Who got away?"

"I don't know, some big lumbering hulk, alright?!"

Ben Grimm was not a happy man. He never just lost somebody like that. Nor did he ever just have his car ripped apart.

"Don't take it personal, Willy. It's just been a bad day."

The two of them continued into the Briefing Room and sat down. General Ross, Johnny and Sue were already there waiting.

"Nice of you to join us." Johnny had his feet propped up on the desk.

"Shut up, kid." Grimm sat down behind him.

"Alright, we don't have much time, people, so let's get down to business." General Ross pressed a button for the plasma TV behind him. "Two weeks ago, we recieved word that one Esteban Diablo had in his possession four stones which are said to contain the pure energy essence of the four elements: fire, earth, water, and air. Normally, such information would be handled by a different branch of the Insititution, but Diablo has been under watch by the United States Government for some time now for possible terrorist activity. We need you to go in and neutralize any possible threats, as well as come home with those stones."

"So, what power do these stones have, General?"

"Unknown. Intel tells us that he is trying to use the stones to create an Elixer of Life to make himself immortal. Diablo considers himself an alchemist of sorts."

Ben scoffed. "Alchemist? Turning dogs*** into gold and that crazy stuff?"

Reed turned to Ben. "And little scrawny men turning into green monsters is normal?"

"Point taken."

"You leave tomorrow at 0600 hours. Any questions?"

"Yeah, I got one," I spoke up. "We done here or what?"

I jump up in my seat and start to zipper my leather jacket up.

"I have to meet Gloria in five minutes, and unless I could fly, I'm never going to make it."

I remove my gun holster and place it on the table.

"It's been real."

Before I turn to leave, I take the time to light a cigarette. I look around at the faces staring at me from the table.

"Well?"

"You shuld really stop smoking. It's bad for you..."

My concern for him was overwhelming enough, but now he has to smoke. Constantly I find a cigarette in his mouth on fire, but I had to focus.

"General. I have a question. How would we be able to counteract any alchemy that Diablo conjures?"

 

[Eddie Brock]

​

"You shuld really stop smoking. It's bad for you..."

My concern for him was overwhelming enough, but now he has to smoke. Constantly I find a cigarette in his mouth on fire, but I had to focus.

"General. I have a question. How would we be able to counteract any alchemy that Diablo conjures?"

I roll my eyes.

"Oh, for the love of God, don't lecture me," I whine, "You're not my mother - no matter how hard you try."

As an added display of disgust, I blow a mouthful of smoke in Sue's direction.

 

[Feature]

JOHNNY BLAZE: THE GHOST RIDER
Year I - Part 9


***SEVEN YEARS AGO***


An eleven-year-old Johnny Blaze sat in the sand box, carefully sculpting a castle. Across from him, young Roxanne Simpson was doing the same.

"You know Roxy, my castle here sure is alot better than yours."

"You're kiddin', right? That castle is the saddest dang thing I've ever seen."

"Yeah right!"

"Johnny... it's terrible. Sorry. I only speak the truth."

"You lyin' little scum! It ain't terrible! It beats your castle any day of the week!"

"Oh whatever, Johnny. You ain't got no idea how to build a castle. Why don't you stick to ridin' your little motorbike and leave the castles to me."

Johnny frowned angrily and got to work, bent on improving his castle. His goal, as always, was to gain Roxy's approval. He was always trying to impress her. Her family had moved into the neighborhood just four months ago, right after the death of Johnny's grandfather. Since then, he and Roxy had become inseperable.

"You're just jealous, that's all." Johnny teased. "You wish you could make a castle this good, missy! You just wish!"

Roxy's father worked for Barton Blaze. He was a mechanic, fixing up all the bikes for the Quentin Carnival. Johnny thought he was extremely funny and wished his own father was more like him. Barton had been in a deep depression since his father's death. He was a changed man. Changed for the worse.

Johnny would always remember this day at the sand box. When Roxy went home later, she would learn that Craig had found his wife (her mother) dead. She had been murdered in the fashion of a Satanic ritual. The body had been mutilated to the point where it was hard to recognize.

Everything would change following this event. A few days later, Barton Blaze would sell the Quentin Carnival to Craig Simpson, then leave town. It would be a few months before Craig and Johnny's mom were married. At that point, Craig would send Roxy away to live with relatives. A few years later, Johnny would learn that his father had died.

Life had been cruel to Johnny Blaze. He often felt like he was cursed. Cursed... or damned.

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

Montana came back to consciousness to the distance sound of the streets of New York. In his grogginess, he could almost swear it was coming from below him.

“Musta been a hell of a night,” he thought, trying to remember where he had been. Everything was a haze. He remember getting ready to pick up a shipment, but…

The world around him was starting to come back into focus. It was dark outside. He neck was craned upwards, looking at the stars below. They looked strange tonight, a few different colors. A lot of shooting stars too, all in a line…?

“Holy s@*t!” he screamed suddenly. He wasn’t looking up st the sky. He was looking down at the streets below him, catching the headlights of a hundred cars navigated the congested streets.

He looked down his body, up towards the actual sky. A cable was wrapped around his leg, leading upwards and wrapping around an old stone gargoyle. A little further up, and it all came back to him as he captor stepped out from the shadows.

“Jeezus!”

“Not even close.”

Daredevil grabbed the wire and pulled it up unmercilessly, jerking Montana around until the were face to face.

“Who is the Kingpin?”

“I dunno.”

Daredevil let go of the wire. Montana began to fall, stopped about three stories down by the wire pulling taut. The sudden stop caused him to swing wildly into the stone wall of the old building, smacking into it face first. Another moment later, and he was being pulled back up, face to face with Daredevil again.

“Let’s try again.”

“I swear to God. Kingpin, he’s very smart, very elusive. We get assignments slipped under the door, directions to a pick up point. A different car comes every time, blackened windows. We’re shoved in the back so we can’t see where we’re going. It’s always either a closed in parking garage, or an alleyway at dark with no landmarks nearby. One of his men, same guy, is always there with the job. Some suit. Pretty boy. Always there with some broad, hot piece a @$$, scar above her left eye, ‘cept this last time. Last time, he was alone. Never got a good look at him though. Always had a hat, sunglasses. Real Deep Throat type s**t. I swear, man, that’s all I know. C’mon. Don’t kill me. Where’re my friends. Huh? HUH?!”

Montana was talking a mile a minute.

“You’re friends are alive, for now. I don’t have enough evidence yet to deliver you to the police, so I delivered their justice. I’m not going to kill you either. I’ll make sure someone finds you here before you freeze to death…or all the blood rushes to your head, bursting every single blood vessel. I want you and your friends to live, I want you to tell everyone about me. I want you to tell the underworld, tell the Kingpin, their time is up. I'm coming for them. I'm taking back this city.”

“C’mon, man. You’re sick! YOU’RE SICK! Who the hell are you, anyway?”

“Daredevil.”

 

[Kaboom]

1945

"It sickens me," the soldier said. "This mission. They're sending us in to die."

"We're not going to die," the young stalwart replied.

"And why do you say that? Because of some glorified propaganda machine who hasn't seen a day of real combat in his life?"

"No Kowalski," the youngin' said. "We're not going to die, because we're trained soldiers in the United States military and I have every intention of coming out of this in one piece, and I swear each of you is comin out the same way."

"Sez you Bucky," Kowalski sneered. "But I'll laugh my face off when youre 80 and running around telling stories about the glory days when you got one arm and no legs."

"Put a sock in it Kowalski, we're coming up to the dz."

"Still don't see why he's so fit to lead," Kowalski grumbled.

*
Now.

"Still don't see why he's so fit to lead," Angela del Toro grumbled. "I'm one of SHIELD's most highly decorated officers. The Widow over there has been in the game for a decade. This guy was just thawed out ten minutes ago, and all of a sudden he's in command of a black-op SHIELD group whos mission is to take down the gamma threat?"

"You're giving me a headach del Toro," Walter Langkowski said.

"I'm in no mood for a suicide mission," del Toro sneered.

*

Then.

"I'm in no mood for a suicide mission," Kowalski said as he strapped his chute on.

"Look, Kowalski, I've told you to," Bucky said.

"Enough. Kowalski take a seat, you're sitting this one out."

"What? You can't"

"I am the commanding officer, and I'm telling you to sit down now."

"No way am I letting my boys go in over Russia to difuse the world's first a-bomb, without me."

"Sit."

"Down."

Kowalski threw his chute to the ground and watched as one by one his team started jumping out of the plane.

*

Now.

"Ve're approaching the dz, Captain." The Black Widow said. The bolts of lightning charged the air, and the force of the Hulk's blows sent shockwaves rippling towards them. "Captain. Captain America."

*

Then.

"They're all dead, Cap," Bucky yelled.

"Get yourself together soldier," Cap hollered back. "That rocket is two minutes to launch."

"Trap," Bucky shook his head. "All of it."

"They goosed us good, Bucky, but that rocket is live, and I'm not going to let that Nazi scum escalate the war by detonating a retro-fitted U.S. rocket in Russian territory. You got it?"

"Aye, sir."

"Then let's move!"

*

Then.

"BUUUUUUUUUUUUCKY!!!!"

*

Now.

"Captain, it iz time, zhall I give the order?"

I stood there, unable to form the words.

"Captain?" The Black Widow asked again. The image burned in my memory.

"GO GO GO," Natalia Romanov yelled. One by one the team I had assembled began to jump out of the plane on the Black Widow's command.

 

[Kaboom]

"Brute," Thor screamed as he and the Hulk clashed. The train's passengers had begun to get disembark the train, as the tussle began to inch closer and closer to them. Onlookers snapped pictures.

"Hulk Smash!" The moster thundered as he landed a giant green fist right in Thor's underside, and the smashing him down to the ground by thrusting his fists downward on his back. "Hulk STRONGEST THERE IS!"

"I don't think so," The White Tiger said, bearing her claws before aunching a full frontal assault on the Hulk, ripping and slashing as she did. The HUlk roared as his flash was exposed, but it healed up relativeley quickly as he knocked the White Tiger to the side.

The Black Widow opened up cover fire.

"Oh bloody hell," Langkowski said as he too began to grow and size, orange fur emerging from his skin. Within seconds he was every bit the same size of the incredible Hulk, and it appeared just as strong. "C'mon Bruce!!"

 

[Kaboom]

"Brute," Thor screamed as he and the Hulk clashed. The train's passengers had begun to get disembark the train, as the tussle began to inch closer and closer to them. Onlookers snapped pictures.

"Hulk Smash!" The moster thundered as he landed a giant green fist right in Thor's underside, and the smashing him down to the ground by thrusting his fists downward on his back. "Hulk STRONGEST THERE IS!"

"I don't think so," The White Tiger said, bearing her claws before aunching a full frontal assault on the Hulk, ripping and slashing as she did. The HUlk roared as his flash was exposed, but it healed up relativeley quickly as he knocked the White Tiger to the side.

The Black Widow opened up cover fire.

"Oh bloody hell," Langkowski said as he too began to grow and size, orange fur emerging from his skin. Within seconds he was every bit the same size of the incredible Hulk, and it appeared just as strong. "C'mon Bruce!!"

"What manner of dark magic," the one called Thor said as he gazed upon the two monsters that began their tussle as he forced himself up off the ground.

The Hulk barrelled through Langkowski sending him careening to the derailed trains.

"By Odin," Thor thundered, as he took the opportunity to throw his hammer, Mighty Mjolnir at the Hulk while his attention was diverted. The hammer flew through the air before blasting the hulk in his shoulder and ricocheting off in another direction.

"This beast is nigh invincible," Thor bellowed. The White Tiger jumped up on to the Hulk's back, attacking it as it went, but its efforts where seemingly fruitless.

The hammer meanwhile was still in flight and headed at the train as well. Thor tried to summon Mjolnir back before it reached the train, carrying innocents, but found that his command jerked.

"More Magic," Thor asked. For standing at the train, having caught the hammer himself was I, Captain America.

Placing the hammer on the ground, I took my shield, and charged toward the green goliath.

"No Captain," the Black Widow yelled. Langkowski looked on in horror. If the Hulk had flung him about effortlessly and he was charged with gamma, what would the monster do to a normal human being?

Apparently the Hulk recognized my coming assault, and turned his attention to me.

It seemed to smile as he pulled his fist back ready to punch away.

"HULK SMASH!"

"This ends now!"

 

[Kaboom]

The Hulk brought the weight of fists crashing down on me, just as I raised my shield to try to protect me. It would be fruitless.

*

Then.

Here, the President said as he gave me a circular shield. A white star was set on a blue background, circumscribe by a red band, then a larger white band, and a last outer red band.

"It is the best our country has to offer. It has been forged from a Vibranium, Adamantium alloy, and will allow the shield to absord all kinds of kinetic impact and I think you will find, serve as a rather remarkable offensive weapon as well."

We smiled for the press as the snapped our picture.

*

Now.

The shield absorbed all of the HUlk's force. Vibranium really was a rather unique material. For a second the Hulk was stunned, and I used the opportunity to hurl the shield into the monster's stomach.

He barely winced.

Turning his attention back to me, he reached his fingers around my throat, began to squeeze and lifted me into the air so that my feet dangled just above the ground.

I could feel the faintness that comes with asphyxiation.

This was it Captain America's last hurrah. Fitting.

 

[Feature]

JOHNNY BLAZE: THE GHOST RIDER
Year I - Part 10


Johnny put the shotgun back in its place and sat down on the couch. He picked up the old guitar his father had played and began to strum a few notes.

In a few moments, Roxanne emerged from the bedroom, wearing nothing but a dress shirt that hung just above her knees.

"Did I hear you shoutin' out here, Johnny?"

Johnny looked refused to make eye contact. He swallowed hard and said...

"No."

Roxanne took a seat beside him and gently rubbed his arm.

"You ain't no good at lyin', Johnny Blaze. Now why don't you tell me what all the commotion was about?"

Johnny picked through a few more notes before saying...

"I ain't crazy, Roxy. I ain't a liar and I ain't crazy."

Roxanne reached out and silenced Johnny's guitar playing. With her other hand she stroked his cheek.

"I don't think you're crazy, Johnny. I don't think you're crazy or a liar. I love you. You're gonna have to learn that there ain't nothin' you could tell me that would drive me away."

Johnny took a deep breath before speaking.

"He was here, Roxy. Right in the backyard. That guy... that nut who murdered our folks. The son of a ***** was right here!"

Roxanne looked out the large window at the empty backyard.

"Did you call the police?"

"Already told you, girl... ain't gonna be no police. I'm gonna cut that bastard down myself."

"Johnny, you've got to--"

"No! Dammit, Roxy! He killed my mother! My whole damn life is over 'cause of that sick freak! I want to be the one to finish him! I want him to see my face when he goes! I want to feel his blood on me..."

Roxy said nothing. She just rested her head and Johnny's shoulder.

"I don't care if he's a demon or not. That scum is gonna pay for what he done to me."

Roxy got up and walked towards the bedroom.

"Where you goin'?" Johnny asked, afraid he'd upset her.

"To put some clothes on." She replied. "If we gotta kill a demon, we're gonna need some help."

"We?" Johnny asked, stunned.

Roxy simply smiled and dissapeared from sight.

Johnny stummed a few more notes, then put the guitar aside. As he stared at it, he noticed something was carved into the neck. Another one of his dad's strange riddles...

As sure as God made black and white
What's done in the dark will be brought to the light​

 

[Batman]

"Seriously, though, what?"

Peter couldn't even begin to fathom the situation he suddenly found himself in. Everything had been going smoothly, up until now... he had taken the photos that pretty much guaranteed him both a job and a steady reward to help his Aunt pay off the rent for her home, and he had done so without getting caught. But how it ever turned into this was completely beyond him.

The one calling himself Prodigy crossed his arms, assuming a rather outdated and cliched action hero pose.

"We're here to arrest you, Spider-Man. You've caused quite a panic among the civillain community, and it's time you were shown for what you really are to the world."

Spider-Man's eyebrow went up so fast that he feared it ripped itself from his head. Not only did he have no idea what the obviously overdressed attacker was talking about... but he didn't even know who these guys were, and why they thought they could "arrest" him. Since when did the cops entrust a group of sci-fi convention rejects to handle their jobs?

"What I am? Pal, all I am right now is confused, hungry, and a little sick to my stomach. But you don't see me trying to take you guys out of the sky."

Prodigy looked back at Hornet, unamused.

"What? So I was a little out of line. How else was I supposed to get his attention?"

"You could've sent me a text message.", Spider-Man sharply responded. "Or generally anything else that didn't require turning me into street pizza."

"Dammit, why are we sitting around?!", Richochet exclaimed. "Let's finish this guy off!"

Spider-Man's eyes widened.

"Finish me off? What happened to arresting me?!", He responded, clearly alarmed.

"...Sorry, sorry. Wrong wording. I meant to say that we should-"

"Yeah, I really don't care."

With a forward frontflip, Spider-Man connected the sole of his boot to Richochet's nose, knocking him back. Seeing that Hornet was already reaching for a weapon on his costume, Spider-Man spun, and connected a backhand to Hornet's face, sending him into the roof's watertower. But before Spider-Man could turn to face the other two, his Spider-Sense sharply errupted.

"Oh, no..."

Seconds later, he found a rock hard fist gripping his throat, as he was rose into the air, being held above the rooftop solely by Prodigy's outstretched arm. Spider-Man gasped for air, as the golden clad figure seemed to stare at his struggling as if confused.

"For an alien, you actually handle yourself pretty well.", Prodigy stated, prompting quite the facial response from Spider-Man as he seemed dumbfounded at what he had just been called.

"-ACK!-... Why, thank you.", Spider-Man answered. "Except I'm NOT AN ALIEN!"

"The Daily Bugle tells a different story.", Prodigy responded.

"Oh, for the love of..."

Annoyed, Spider-Man outstretched both of his wrists, and fired two streams of webbing into Prodigy's face, successfully blinding the airbourne vigilante as he let go of Spider-Man, allowing him to spin through the air and land back on the rooftop in the form of several somersaults. But upon landing, He suddenly realised that his senses were going off again. Sharply turning, Spider-Man narrowly ducked another set of razor sharp "R" weapons.

"Are you people idiots?!", Spider-Man yelled out, leaping up and nailing Richochet across the face with a right hook. "You're trying to justify killing me off of a tabloid article!"

"A tabloid article that isn't nessacarily hard to believe!"

Spider-Man turned, only to be grabbed and tackled mid-air by Hornet.

"How do you explain the powers?! The bug eyes?! The fact that no one can get a picture of you?!"

"Oh, I don't know about that one..."

Breaking Hornet's grip, Spider-Man flew his legs up, and clasped them around Hornet's neck. With a flip, Spider-Man tossed Hornet onto the roof, sending him crashing on his back with a slew of sparks. Backflipping, Spider-Man landed on the water tower and clung to it, facing Hornet and the other three as he spoke.

"Except for a genetic mutation in my DNA, the fact that I'm wearing a mask, like... I don't know, you guys are... and the fact that I'm extremely camera shy.", He continued, emphasising how obvious those explainations should have been. "Is any of this getting through to you?"

"Prove it."

"...What?"

"Take off the mask. Show us that you're not an alien by showing us your real face."

Spider-Man stared, blankly.

"Um... no. Sorry. Not gonna happen."

"What he asked isn't entirely out of the question...", Hornet responded. "Unless you really are an alien."

"..."

"Wow. I was wrong. You're not idiots. You're just completely out of your mind!", Spider-Man exclaimed, not believing the sheer idiocy that was coming out of this conversation.

"Enough,", Prodigy stated, ripping the last bit of webbing from his face. "This isn't getting us anywhere. Slingers, apprehend him by any means nessacary!"

"Now wait just a darn-!"

But before Spider-Man could finish, he found himself being grabbed from behind, seconds after his senses began errupting again. Turning his head admist the struggle, Spider-Man saw the blackened face of the fourth one, Dusk.

"We are not trying to hurt you,", She stated. "We simply want answers."

Grabbing both of Dusk's arms, Spider-Man kicked back his feet, tripping Dusk, and pulled, throwing her over his head, and into the air.

"I gave you answers,", Spider-Man argued. "Not that you really deserved them in the first place, mind you, but I'm pretty sure I-"

Spider-Man was cut off a second time, as his spider-sense went ablaze again. Shooting a look behind him, Peter's eyes widened, as Ricochet darted at him with a speed he almost didn't manage to avoid. Almost, being the key word in Spider-Man's mind, as he pushed himself off of Richochet's shoulders, flipped, and fired two more weblines out, pinning his attacker to the rooftop with an impressive slam of force. Landing back in a crouch, Spider-Man clenched his fists together angrily. He had just about had it with these clowns, and if this went any further, he was almost sure he'd be forced to do something he'd regret.

"Next person who tries to cut me off gets a crapload of webbing stuck in their unmentionables!", He exclaimed. "And I'm not talking about boxer shorts, people!"

"Damn you!"

Spider-Man turned, before being tackled by Hornet again, and thrown across the rooftop. Rolling, Spider-Man shot out and grabbed the edge of the roof, barely avoiding being thrown off of it, and back into a fall towards the streets below. Trying to climb back up, Spider-Man's eyes widened as Hornet rocketed towards him, obviously not thinking.

"Wait! STOP!"

But it was too late. In the next instant, both Spider-Man and Hornet were caught in an explosion of rubble and fury, as Hornet's rockets had sent him flying too low, catching the brick of the building's ledge and damaging his equipment. Trying to activate the rocket pack again, to make his way out of the fall he found himself joining Spider-Man in, Hornet began to panick as he realised that it wasn't working.

"AHH! AHH! OH GOD! IT WON'T WORK! WE'RE GONNA DIE! WE'RE GONNA DIE! WE'RE GONNA-"

"Will you SHUT UP?!"

With another fire of his webbing, Spider-Man shot out a thick line towards another one of the buildings, and swung forward. Manouvering through the debris with his accute agility, Spider-Man dived downwards, and grabbed Hornet around his waist. "Criminey. You'd think a guy with hardware that'd make Bond shiver in his tux wouldn't be afraid of heights..."

Shooting another line, Spider-Man and Hornet were sent through the air, being pulled by the web's elasticity as Spider-Man picked a nearby rooftop, and forced his body to swing towards it. In seconds, he and Hornet collasped onto the designated area, sucessfully escaping death's grip in the form of a crushing fall. Hornet fainted, promptly, as he tried to stand, to which Spider-Man stared.

"Uh... wow. That guy's gonna need serious therapy, after this..."

"Wh-What have you done?!"

Spider-Man turned around, defensively, as Prodigy hovered over him, with Richochet and Dusk landing on the rooftop itself.

"What did I do?", Spider-Man repeated, skeptical. "Your gutless little Trekkie friend, here, was the one that-"

"You... saved him.", Dusk stated, astonished. "You saved his life."

Spider-Man stood his ground, blankly, hearing what he had actually done being acknowleged for the first time. Scratching his head, he looked back at the unconcious, pale form of Hornet. "Uh... well, yeah, actually. I guess?"

"That was... incredible.", Prodigy acknowledged, with widened eyes. "...Have we ever saved a life before, guys?"

Ricochet crossed his arms, offlooking. "Pfft... Big deal. That's nothing. I've seen a thousand saves like that, in my-"

Prodigy and Dusk stared over at him, as he began to realise something.

"...Well, okay. Maybe I haven't, exactly."

Spider-Man shook his head, cursing himself for ever stepping foot in Brooklyn. Especially at this time of day, when all of the weirdos could proudly display themselves for the admiration and curiosity of the public eye. But in any case, this was proving to be quite a... memorable experience. No matter how much Peter wished it wasn't.

"Look,", Spider-Man began, rubbing his head in response to the massive headache he was beginning to feel. "Your friend took a bad fall, back there. You need to get him to a hospital as soon as possible and have him treated for shock."

Spider-Man turned around, abruptly.

"And for godsakes, don't try to kill the doctors for trying to do the right thing, too."

"Wait!"

Spider-Man paused, evidently annoyed.

"We... apologise.", Prodigy stated, frowning beneath his mask. "We misjudged you, and... we probably could've hurt someone, because of it. Even one of our own. But I guess that's really no excuse..."

Spider-Man turned his head around, facing him. "Ya think?"

"It is just that we are inexperienced,", Dusk explained. "We were mainly utilised as a publicity gimmick, once our powers and identities were developed. But we've never actually experienced the kind of heroism that you evidently have."

"We, um...", Richochet began, embarassed. "We figured that if we caught you and proved that you weren't a myth, we'd gain the recognition we wanted. We'd be heroes."

Spider-Man turned around, fully, letting his anger reside.

"Okay, look... I sort of see where you're coming from, with all of this. I was kind of in the same boat myself, a couple of months ago, whenever I first got these powers. I was looking for fame and attention in all the wrong ways. But the truth is... You're going about it all wrong.", Spider-Man responded, calmly. "What you guys do... and quite frankly, what I do... that doesn't come around every day. Very few people get the chance to be able to make a difference in this world. So the few of us that do get these powers, well... we need to use them in the right way, instead of the wrong way."

Spider-Man paused.

"Okay, is any of that getting through? Because I didn't have much luck trying to explain this stuff to you guys before..."

"No, no... We understand.", Prodigy acknowledged. "Right, guys?"

"Most definately."

"Yeah, sure."

Spider-Man sighed, aloud, before turning back around.

"Alrighty. You're on your own, then...", Spider-Man stated. "Just remember what I said. With great power, comes great responsibility."

"But... you didn't say that."

Spider-Man paused, again.

"Oh,", He responded, rubbing the back of his head. "...Well, uh. I guess, then. Uh."

Silence filled the air, for a straight minute.

"...Yeah, I'm gonna go now..."

Leaping off of the building, Spider-Man fired off a line, as The Slingers gratefully waved at him. Peter looked back, both confused and annoyed, but nevertheless, threw a short wave back, before firing another line and swinging into the distance.

"Yeesh. I picked the wrong profession,", He told himself. "I would've made a killer guideance councelor..."

 

[Kaboom]

And just as I felt the life being squeezed from me, the Hulk...staggered.

It wasn't from Langkowski or Thor who were still recovering. The White Tiger was still trekking back, after being hurled by about a mile and a half. The Black Widow's weapons fire similiarly had no effect on him.

And then.

He fell.

Dropping to the Earth with a thunderous clud.

The crowd roared as the Hulk returned to his more human state, and the civilians and reporters emerged from the train each trying to get the first interview with me...Captain America, the Hulk Buster.

But I hadn't done anything.

"Who are you? Whats Your name?"

"I uh, I'm Captain America."

"Are you any relation to the World war II Captain AMerica?"

"Yes. I...I'm him."

"Zo much for a covert team," Natalia Romanov sneered.

 

[Kaboom]

"Where art we venturing?" Thor asked as he stepped into the quinjet.

"I told you Thor, you don't need to come with us."

"Verily you just. Any warrior who hath wielded the mighty mjolnir as thou hath is worth to be my combatant-in-arms. Good friend. Tell me how did thou best the green beast, when even I, the mighty Thor, god of Thunder, could scarcely.."

"Yez, Captain, how did thou bezt the Hulk?"

"Must've got lucky," del Toro sneered.

Langkowski rolled his eyes.

"My father, Odin, king of the gods, hath proclaimed on more than one occasion that luck favors the well-prepared. But surely, luck could not have been the deciding force in such an epic battle."

"It wasn't, was it, Cap," Langkowski asked.

"Uhh..."

"Oh no, Captain America here was wielding a weapon that none of us were aware he had."

"A truly powerful weapon it must have been if it did what even mighty mjolnir had difficulty with. Tell me Captain America, what weapon was this?"

"It was uh,," I looked at Langokwsi.

"He's being modest," Langkowski added. "It was of course, partly a gamma weapon of my own design. Well, to be more accurate, a high dose gamma inhibitor. If introduced into the blood stream, it serves to counteract the gamma charge that was surging through Banner's blood."

"But how did the Captain, break the Hulk'z zkin?"

"Well now, I told you the inhibitor was only part of the weapon."

"You mean the inhibitor waz not the whole thing?"

As soon as the Black Widow finished speaking, something, began to seemingly grow out of the air itself until it wa srevealed that it was...

"A woman!"

"Not just a woman, special Japanese liason to SHIELD. The names Janet, Janet Van Dyne, but you can call me the Wasp."

"Where did you..."

"She's been on you since Fury first gave you the Hulk mission," Walter said. "And she introduced the gamma inhibitor in through the Hulk's ear hole."

"Told you, luck."

"Well, I'll be..."

"What a mighty team thou hath assemebled Captain!"

Oh yeah, my team. Where the widow is giving the orders, I'm being tailed by a SHIELD liason that even Fury didnt trust me enough to know about, and the only one who knows the whole story, is an ex-con whos only working to shorten his parole.

Some team.

Some leader.

 

[Eddie Brock]

"Welcome back to our continuing coverage of today's shocking events. For those of you just joining us, Russian hockey superstar Piotr Rasputin was involved in a car accident late last night. But that's not the biggest news! Reports are now coming in that Piotr is miraculously unharmed! How? Well, the answer lies in the biggest scandal to hit the sports community...ever! Piotr Rasputin is, allegedly, a mutant! Here's Rick Carlyle for more!"

"Thanks, Ted. Well, it seems that it's true. Russia's most popular pro sports star is actually a mutant. You can imagine the logistical backlash that his team is going through right now! So far as we know, Piotr has been suspended - indefinitely - from ever playing in Russia's Super League. And so it seems safe to assume that he will NOT be allowed to participate in the winter Olympic games. Not that it matters, as Coach Alekseev has announced that he's terminating Rasputin's contract! For how this crisis is affecting the sports community as a whole, here's Ted Dumbrowski again."

"Well, Rick, this affects more than just Piotr's team. In fact, this affects more than just Russia or even hockey! This is essentially the steroid scandal...taken to a completely different level! Some are even speculating about how many other mutants are currently, or have in the past, playing pro sports!"

"You know, it's funny. I even heard someone is suggesting that Michael Jordan is a mutant."

"Well, it all boils down to our basic fear - which is that we don't know! And I mean, this extends well beyond sports. Just concerning mutants in general, we don't know who they are!"

"It's a frightening truth, Ted. But that's today's world. Your next door neighbor could be Spider-Man or something! As you said, we don't know!"

"Well, you can be sure that no one will ever forget this - the darkest hour in pro sports history. Stay tuned as we bring you the updates as they come in!"

 

[Kaboom]

"Welcome back to our continuing coverage of today's shocking events. For those of you just joining us, Russian hockey superstar Piotr Rasputin was involved in a car accident late last night. But that's not the biggest news! Reports are now coming in that Piotr is miraculously unharmed! How? Well, the answer lies in the biggest scandal to hit the sports community...ever! Piotr Rasputin is, allegedly, a mutant! Here's Rick Carlyle for more!"

"Thanks, Ted. Well, it seems that it's true. Russia's most popular pro sports star is actually a mutant. You can imagine the logistical backlash that his team is going through right now! So far as we know, Piotr has been suspended - indefinitely - from ever playing in Russia's Super League. And so it seems safe to assume that he will NOT be allowed to participate in the winter Olympic games. Not that it matters, as Coach Alekseev has announced that he's terminating Rasputin's contract! For how this crisis is affecting the sports community as a whole, here's Ted Dumbrowski again."

"Well, Rick, this affects more than just Piotr's team. In fact, this affects more than just Russia or even hockey! This is essentially the steroid scandal...taken to a completely different level! Some are even speculating about how many other mutants are currently, or have in the past, playing pro sports!"

"You know, it's funny. I even heard someone is suggesting that Michael Jordan is a mutant."

"Well, it all boils down to our basic fear - which is that we don't know! And I mean, this extends well beyond sports. Just concerning mutants in general, we don't know who they are!"

"It's a frightening truth, Ted. But that's today's world. Your next door neighbor could be Spider-Man or something! As you said, we don't know!"

"Well, you can be sure that no one will ever forget this - the darkest hour in pro sports history. Stay tuned as we bring you the updates as they come in!"

The tv clicked off.

"It's deeper than that," she said sitting behind her desk. "Piotr Rasputin is not the first and definetly won't be the last. But the issue, the real issue is locked away in a vault in SIU's london headquarters. Your mission, Agent Wagner is to retrieve the document."

"Vhat doez zee document contain?"

"We believe the document contains the scientific forumla to instigate mutation."

"If it iz reverzed engineered den..."

"We could cure you of your furry blue form."

 

[Kaboom]

"Nobody knows who or what the green goliath called the Hulk was doing in Germany earlier today, and if not for the appearance of a group of heroes an entire train full of commuters probably would have perished. The United Nations has released an official statement on the matter. The program is caled Project: AvenG.E.R.S. or Global Emergency Response Squad, and has been assembled to protect the world from threats that ordinary police and military power cannot combat. The member of the Avengers are known only by their codenames, Sasquatch, Wasp, Whtie Tiger, Thor, Black Widow, and Captain America--yes the Captain America that all the ladies raved about during the forties. It looks like the years have been kind to him. More to follow."

 

[Feature]

JOHNNY BLAZE: THE GHOST RIDER
Year I - Part 11


Roxanne yanked on Johnny Blaze's long blond hair, causing the young daredevil to wake from his slumber.

"OW! What the-- dang it, Roxy! What did ya do that for?"

"Johnny, if you want to find this Mephisto creep, you're gonna have to stay awake! I ain't doin' this on my own!"

"Fine... sorry..."

Johnny rubbed his scalp and yawned. Roxanne was staring intently at the computer screen.

"Now focus..."

"Aw hell, Roxy! We ain't gonna find nothin' on there that'll help us fight demons! It's all just a bunch of mystical nonsense!"

"Ye of little faith..." Roxy mumbled as she turned the computer screen so that Johnny could see it more clearly...

SCARED? CONFUSED? TORMENTED BY THE FORCES OF EVIL? DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN?
COME SEE DAVID, CHAMPION OF THE LORD!
LEARN TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE PAWNS OF SATAN!
WACO, TEXAS: JUST OFF THE INTERSTATE
​

Johnny stared at Roxy with a furrowed brow.

"Roxy... uh... you're kiddin', right?"

Roxy didn't reply. She simply got out of her chair and began lacing her boots up.

"Hope you've got enough gas in the bike..."​

 

[Feature]

JAMES HOWLETT: WOLVERINE
Year I - Prologue


Wolverine looks out the window of the Jet as it soars over England.

"I'll be watching you."

The voice rips Wolverine from his daydreaming.

"You say somethin', bub?"

"I'll be watching you." Cyclops repeats.

"I'll be watching your every move. So be careful. 'Cause if you slip up, I'll make sure that Xavier knows all about it."

Wolverine chuckles and turns to the window once more.

"Something funny?"

"Nope. Ain't nothin' funny about you, boyscout."

Taking a quick look around the jet, Wolverine sighs.

"These kids are green..." He thinks. "They couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag..."

There were four others: Iceman. Gambit. Psylocke. Cyclops. All rookies. Just children to Wolverine. They were supposed to be the saviours of mutant kind... and it was his job to keep them alive.

"We're going to be touching down in just a minute!" Psylocke yells from the front of the jet.

Wolverine watches the other X-Men react nervously to this news. They squirm in their seats. They take deep breaths...

He doesn't have any words of encouragement for them. No soothing pep-talk. He can't help them. They need to look inside themselves and find out what they're made of... who they truly are...

That's something Wolverine doesn't even know about himself.

 

[Batman]

Her name was Gwen Stacy.

Peter's stomach had been doing somersaults at the sound of her name since he was six years old. A native of Queens, where Peter had grew up under the care of his aunt and uncle, Gwen had lived only a couple blocks away with her police captain father, George Stacy. Despite that fact, for some reason, Peter had never actually gone over to visit her. And it was a fact that he continously reminded himself of everytime he got near her, ever since. The truth was... he was in love with her. He was just far too nervous to admit it, even to himself.

So of course, when Peter's science class at Empire State University began to evaluate and re-evalute it's students, bringing in more honorable scolars at the failure of trying out a new program in which some of the lesser students could earn a chance at a degree, it was only natural that his life become more complicated. Because the minute his class started, and Peter walked in just in the nick of time, after a morning of taking on petty crooks as Spider-Man, his jaw dropped when he spotted one of the new students sitting down at her seat. ...G... Gwen?!

"Mister Parker."

Peter turned, startled, as Professor Octavious looked over at him from across the room. That's when he realised that he was the only student in the class not yet seated. It was also, pitifully enough, the first time he realised where he was, upon seeing Gwen.

"A bit tardy this morning, aren't you?", Octavious asked, annoyance protruding from his tone, though it was calmed.

"I, um...I guess. Yeah.", Peter mumbled, a bit embarassed. "Sorry, Professor."

Otto narrowed his glasses at Peter, before finally nodding.

"Ah, well. No harm done, I guess. Take a seat, Parker.", Otto continued, as he prepared his own notes for today's class.

Peter nodded, still in somewhat of a dazed trance, as he made his way up the steps to the arranged seats. There were several mumurs from the class, from other students... and all of them were about Peter. It was something he had gotten used to, over his period as the 'honor student' in Midtown High. At least here, he didn't have to deal with Flash Thompson, anymore, since he had been traded out of science and chemistry for a spot in physics. Now, there was only the matter at hand...

Looking up and down the rows, inconspicously, Peter had done all that he could to make sure there was a seat as far away from Gwen as possible, as she looked on towards the front, preparing her own notes for class. Never once did she stop to notice Peter, who's eyes kept coming back to her row, despite his efforts. And he thanked god for that. Because as much as he, deep down, wanted desperately to sit next to her... he knew it'd only be distracting for his studies. And despite coming across numerous criminals, insane madmen, and dangerous nutcases over the past week alone... god forbid he actually man up to talk to the girl of his dreams.

"Parker,", Octavious' voice boomed from below. "Part of the act of taking a seat requires you to actually take a seat."

In a panick, knowing he was holding up the class, and drawing attention to himself in doing so, Peter quickly grabbed the nearest seat without thinking. After a moment of tense silence, Octavious looked away from him and began instructing the class, writing some notes on the chalkboard. Peter sighed to himself, realising his stupidity, as he thumbed through his backpack for his textbook. Honestly, why was he getting so worked up over this? If he could stand to run around New York in a set of bright red and blue tights without succumbing to embarassment, surely he could stand to be in the same room as-

"Nervous?"

Peter looked over, only to pause, realising who was staring back at him. He didn't just pause... he absolutely froze. His heart barely even made a beat, before skipping many, as he found himself looking straight at the face of, naturally, Gwendolyn Stacy. The one girl in class he had made such an effort to avoid. It seemed as if the classic "Parker Luck" was never going to leave him.

"Uh... I... I mean...", Peter stuttered in a returning whisper, nervously trying to compose himself as the smiling Gwen awaited his response. "A-About what? Nervous about what?"

"The class,", Gwen responded. "This is my first day in science. I already feel like I'm going to collaspe from the pressure. I mean, it is being taught by Otto Octavious."

Peter was stunned. Not just at the fact that Gwen apparentally knew that Otto was such a pioneer in his field... but the very fact she was talking to him at all. It was almost as if he needed to expect himself to wake up, that very moment, from an extraordinarily pleasant dream. He even quietly pinched himself, which... needless to say, did absolutely no good.

"O-Oh, that.", Peter finally responded, looking towards the front of the class, pretending as if she were just one of his fellow students. And knowing that he never could consider her as such. "Well... I mean, Otto's a nice guy, when you're not tardy. I've been taking this class all semester."

"Oh,", Gwen responded, a little surprised. "That's cool. I was worried."

Peter looked over, a little, smiling, as Gwen focused back on the front of the room, as Otto continued on the lesson. Yes. Yes, it is very cool ...And it just got a whole lot cooler, with that smile of your's.

Immediately, Gwen turned back over to him with another question.

"Hey, if you're not too busy after class... do you think you could bring me up to speed on the lesson? I'm terrible at coming into something like this, mid-way through.", Gwen asked, a little embarassed.

Peter blinked, once. Now he knew he was dreaming.

"Well... I... maybe I could, um..."

And then, in that very instant, reality hit him like a train. Suddenly, he remembered that his after class time was his usual regimine for patrolling the city, on his daily practices in webslinging... which he hated to cut, considering he was getting increasingly good at it. That, and he couldn't shrug off his responsibility... he had owed it to his Uncle Ben to continue on with his work, every day for the rest of his life. If that meant passing up the chance to spend some quality time with a girl he had been seeking to spend quality time with since he was sleeping in Superman blankets... well, so be it.

"You know what, I can't. I'm sorry, but I'm gonna be really busy after class... maybe, later tonight?", Peter asked, apologetically.

"That... really wouldn't be a good time,", Gwen replied back, with a sad frown that instantly made Peter regret his decision. "I'm visiting my father, later tonight. And it's really the only night we get to visit."

"...Oh.", Peter replied, dumbfounded and heartbroken at the same time. "Well... what about tommorow? I'm free, all morning."

Gwen smiled.

"I'd like that,", She responded. "Maybe we could do it over coffee?"

Peter nodded.

"Sounds good to me. Which shop?", Peter responded, despite the fact that he utterly despised coffee.

But to hell with it, this was a once in a lifetime chance. And that was coming from the guy with spider powers.

"Maybe... The Daily Grind?", Gwen suggested, after a moment's thought. "It's not exactly as good as The Silver Spoon, but..."

"It's perfect,", Peter responded. "I'll be there."

Gwen smiled again, happier. "Thanks, Peter. I really appreciate this."

As Gwen turned her attention towards class, Peter turned aswell, an unseen giddiness in his posture. He had just talked to Gwen Stacy. He was set to have coffee tommorow morning... with Gwen Stacy. He was sitting right next to Gwen Stacy. She had even knew his name, which was incredible within itself.

Smiling to himself, Peter didn't even pay attention to the rest of the class. Which was highly irregular for him. But understandable, given the rather unique circumstances. Holy crap, I'm having coffee with Gwen Stacy.

Holy crap, I just talked to Gwen Stacy.

...Holy crap, I passed up a chance to study with Gwen Stacy.

Christ, now I want to vent...


"AHH! AHH! LET ME DOWN! LET ME DOWN!"

Spider-Man stared at the screaming thug, grasping to a webline as he suspended himself upside down, infront of the mugger that now layed within a neatly sprawled out web, between two streetlights. The guy was embarassing himself, more than he was trying to free himself. And that was exactly how Spider-Man wanted it.

"Sorry. You didn't say the magic word, slappy.", Spider-Man responded, pointing at the frantic criminal.

"PLEASE!!!", The thug screamed back.

"Oh, come on. Like I'd be that cliched with it.", Spider-Man responded. "It was 'Wallopin' Websnappers'. So sorry, you lose. But thanks for playing, and please accept our complimentary runner up prize of an escort to Manhattan prison."

Firing a webline upwards, Spider-Man swung into the air, and into the fading daylight.

"Yeah, I'm starting to feel a little better."

 

[Catman_prb]

Jack Ravenscroft stepped into the burial chamber. This was the oldest set of tombs found in Egypt to date. It preceeded everything else by hundreds of years. Tutenkhamen, Cleopatra, Ramses, all cast into insignificance by this new unknown figure.

He and his collueges had translated ancient runes on the front of the tomb. They talked of En Sabah Nur, The First One, a man literally worshipped as a god in hundreds of cultures. It talked of a re-birth, the day when En Sabah Nur would rise again. They called it the end of the world, Judgement Day. Apocalypse.

Ravenscroft first expedition had decended into the cavern hours earlier, but he'd lost radio-contact around the time they had entered the chamber. His last information was that they had begun to open the sarcophagus of the one called En Sabah Nur. Jack shone the torch into the chamber. The bodies of his colleuges were strewn about the floor, bloody and broken.

"Good god..." he muttered. Suddenly there was a collosal roar deeper in the chamber. Curiosity overpowered caution, and he stepped forwords. He saw a gigantic figure in the dark.

"Traitors! Infamy! Liars! Deception! " the figure screamed. Jack took a step back, falling over the open sarcophagus. The figure turned round.

"w..what in gods name are you..." Ravenscroft stuttered.

" I am APOCALYPSE!"

 

[Fenwick]

What is evil? Is it killing another for a crust of bread? Enslaving a population to keep you and your family alive? Dr. Stephen Strange never would call himself evil, yet no doubt he would be viewed as such. Dr. Strange cared not for the thoughts of others for he was the Master of Mystic Arts, the Sorcerer Supreme.
​

There stood a three-story townhouse located at 177A Bleecker Street in New York’s Greenwich Village. The building was built upon the resting site of New Yorks most infamous serial killer, the site of pagan sacrifices, and before that Native American rituals, and was a focal point for supernatural energies. If one where to approach the building today, they would see a elegant house, yet in the pit of their stomach they would know not to enter.

Dr. Stephen Strange was in his meditation chamber. Having arrived in New York a few night ago, he was well on his way to finishing the defenses to his Sanctum Sanctorum. Stranges eye flew open, "WONG! "

Out from the shadows a slender, bald asian man appeared. Dressed in a green tunic, the man kept his eyes cast to the floor, " Yesss? "

Dr. Strange stood up, his long flowing cloak covering his arms. Moving through the various rooms Strange knew Wong would follow him. He was a loyal servant who is part of a line trained to serve the Sorcerer Supreme.

They walked about a small library, every book in exsistance was somehow cantained with the room, " Now I require a few items. You should easily be able to attain them. "

Wong bowed, " Of course Master Strange. What shall I do if I encounter resistance? "

Strange smiled, " Destroy them of course, unless you encounter one of those heroes about. Thrash them soundly, but be sure to flee before any harm comes to them. " Strange held his hand out and a single leather bound book floated to him. Flipping through the pages, Stephen showed Wong the image of a single pendant.

" This is the Grimoram Santicus. The New York Musem of Art has it on display. A Chinese musem has loaned it to them, they discovered it in the tomb of the first Emperor of China. Go get it for me Wong, " Dr. Stephen Srange allowed a smile to cross his handsome face. His plan was coming together, soon very soon the power Strange craved so dearly would be his.


" Fear not Master, I shall let all know the fury of any who cross Dr. Strange! "

It was a simple flick of the wrist, but within an instant Wong was thrown across the room. Dr, Strange never let the smile break his face, " No. If you must speak, then you will be the master. You will not utter my name, unless to curse it. If you let any know of my goals Wong, I shall break you, and cast you into the depths of the underworld. Understand? "

Wong stood and kneeled down his forehead pressed tot he ground, "Yes Master Strange."

" Then go. "

 

[Cyrusbales]

THE JUGGERNAUT

The scattered bodies lay motionless, Juggernaut standing amongst them, like a child finished playing with his broken soldiers.

“Do you finally see what you are?”

Cyttorak’s whispers filled Cain’s ears, forever unable to escape his words.

Running through the streets, trying to escape what he could not, Mr. Marko was fleeing his old life, destiny it seemed had another path for him, but he was not one to believe in the pre-destined.

“I’m not gonna be your avatar or whatever it is you want from me.”

“You can’t refuse me.”

“Watch me.”

“You are destruction incarnate.”

“And how much would it sicken you if I were to use this power to prevent destruction?”

The demon’s voice growled within his mind at the very thought, perhaps destiny was not quite set in stone.

 

[Catman_prb]

En Sabah Nur wandered around his tomb, prodding dusting blocks with his finger. With every jab a new blue light flickered to life. Eventually the whole room glowed blue. Every bit of dust had vanished, leaving Sabah Nur on sandstone tiled floor. Outside the rock flew off the mountain covering the burial place, revealing a tall pyramid, with a faint blue essence, leading down into the valley below.

He jabbed at the buttons, and a cold metallic voice spoke out:

"Mutant Level Scan Activated - Aproximate Completure time: 12 Hours"

"It begins," he said. And then he waited.


​