The Leftovers

[moraldeficiency]

The Beginning......

The war was over before it began. The Skrulls, Shiar and Kree all too involved in themselves to think of the repercussions had devastated most of the universe in a battle that no one remembers starting but all saw the flashes in the sky which signaled the end. The universe was burning; planets were engulfed in the acid wave of horror that spread in its aftermath.

Some took advantage of this new landscape to gain greater powers. New gods formed and attempted to impose their will on the masses but it was far too late for gods or even simple order. All worlds had been polluted and diseased. Survival was all any cared for, and was too much for most to beg. This universe had become a scourge and was limping and bleeding into something dark and dead.

Earth was no different.

In fact, because of its strategic placement it was one of the worst hit. Radiation was a constant problem. Those not dying in the agony of cancer found themselves fighting the new diseases that were spawned or against the growing need for food and protection of which was scarce little left.

The worst part wasn't the disease or radiation or even the lack of necessities, it was who was left. Earth, once known for having abundance potential had degraded into a hostile barren place where the strong ruled until they were inevitably killed by the next self imposed gods. The heroes were no more. Most had died valiantly fighting to stop the war along with all the military might of the combined nations. They made their last stand in space and their scattered bodies now surrounded the earth like a belt of death signaling to travelers what kind of planet they were seeing. This was hell, and no one dared enter. Only those trapped here would endure the aftermath.

It started with the prisons. Incredibly dangerous men and women kept in check by guards, technology and the promise of super powered humans ready to put them right back in had kept them secure. When the food began to run low, the guards remaining could see it coming. They desperately tried to kill their charges but the riots had begun. Without assistance the cages holding these dogs of war had been sprung and the dogs were hungry indeed.....

Systems of Disease............

Hundreds of metahuman criminals flooded into the dying planet. Many died in the out start being killed by their brethren in the rush to escape and revenge themselves on this place that had forced them into confinement. They were terrified by what the world had become, certainly any creature that gazed on the previous incarnation of this place would be, but it also had a familiar feeling. Like coming home. Like the west was before order and society had scrambled it and forced it to behave and conform to the wishes of the weak. This place, this time made sense to them like no others to comprehend. This was their world now.

At first it was revenge they wanted, but there was none to be had. All those that opposed them now lay dead in space. Some might have remained but they now lived in hiding, no more heroics no more stopping the chaos. There was still rage in their hearts that needed to vent and those that first appeared to them felt that. Towns were destroyed in slow agonizing fashion buy cruel men with a bloodlust that would not be sated. They seemed to grow more savage by the day as they fought for control and food.

Mr. Hyde, once a barbaric man, had become a full cannibal and consumed an entire town in Texas before he began to feel it. Not remorse, not fear of the almighty. This was more prescient, this was more real. It began after he had finished devouring a small pleasant looking family. He enjoyed their terrified screams as he fed. He enjoyed this new power, this power without limits until he felt something he never felt before. His skin was sweating. Nothing in this made sense to the mad doctor. Hyde didn't sweat, he couldn't, his skin was too tough and resilient for that, but there, right there on his hand was the evidence. It wasn't even all that hot out....

New York had become flooded with these deviants. Most had their mortal enemies here and could not believe they were now dead. This must have been a trick. This was a game and they would not be fooled again. The city showed them it was not a game. The few that still lived carried the mark. Cancer and disease rampant across their faces they looked at the new comers with pity. It was too late. No one in New York would be spared. The radiation would claim all but the few who could withstand it. Most saw these being they once feared and begged for the death they could not stomach giving themselves. There was nothing left here and nothing would live here ever again. Magneto surveyed the destruction with true despair he had not felt since the days in Germany in the prison camps. His shield prevented the radiation from contaminating him but his foes, his dreams; his vision on the future was gone. As tears filled his eyes he did not see the shadow until it was far too late. Gigantic hands smashed his shielding and gripped his neck. Black cold hands, with strange texture were crushing his neck, his eyes went red as the blood vessels exploded and he could barely here Creel's words as he shouted, "You shouldn't have done that! She was all I loved and you killed her just to escape quicker! Do you think there's anywhere I wouldn't follow you for my revenge?!?" Magneto didn't even know he had killed Titania when he used the support beams to kill the guards and make his escape. Creel, the absorbing man powered by gods ;however, did. Rubber wasn't the strongest substance but magnetics had very little to effect and Creel was just smart enough to know that.

Others were less inclined to run to their former haunts, choosing instead to seek out the survivors of this hell and learn how to adapt. Vermin led the way, his enhanced senses giving him the edge in finding where the living were. He had a scent and they were closing.....

 

[moraldeficiency]

The Ties that Kill..........

Otto Octavius was no fool. Let the others run off for their petty revenges, let them go to their deaths. Thinning the herd would only improve his chances. Otto followed the devastation in the news. He knew what had become of the world and how dangerous it now was. He was, after all, first and foremost a man of science and he would not blindly pursue his lust for retribution. He did wonder what became of Parker. How he despised Parker but he was not alone in that. Parker was one of the fools who stayed behind to keep the peace. Otto had watched the newsreel of the fight. Norman Osborn taking advantage of the situation as only he could, had come for his nemesis. After savagely killing Mary Jane, Osborn and Peter had fought across the skies of New York. They had crashed into the Daily Bugle and the epic battle that commenced and was recorded by those reporters lucky enough to live was most certainly final. Those that escaped before the building crumbled to the ground in flames conveyed how each man was mortally wounded, fighting with the power of madmen bent only on the destruction of the other. It must have been a sight to see though Otto as he salvaged components through the wreckage. He wished he could have been there to pierce parker with his metal arms as he dreamed of doing. That was the point of hate, it killed all it infected. It tied people together in an endless war of destruction and pain. But it was so addicting. That hate felt so very good to Otto, he would have to learn to give this up to survive.

Otto finished gathering the components and went to work. If he was to leave here he would need to insure where he traveled was safe. He could do this; he was after all a man of science.

Others were not. Sabretooth knew he didn't see him. Otto was too engrossed in his work and Sabretooth was very good and surprising his opponents. He knew of Otto, knew he would need to kill him quickly but only after he had finished his work. Sabretooth wasn't as smart as Otto but he had reached the same conclusion. He would need Otto to give him the means to be free and survive. Sabretooth was not a fool after all. But he also wasn't as good as he thought.

Otto turned to the corner that he was hiding and actually smiled at him. "Come out, little rat, I'm used to fighting the bug. Don't think I haven't learned to detect when I'm being spied on." Sabretooth was furious. How did that fat little egghead know he was there? Hate and rage filled him and he lunged screaming savagely. Hate. That was what Otto was hoping for.

Fast as the feral beast was Otto's arms were faster. The first tentacle plunged directly through Sabretooth's chest and out his back. He howled and attempted to pull himself forward to get to the squishy warm skin. The other three tentacles stopped that. Now all four were impaling the savage, he shuddered and Otto knew he would heal even from this. With a thought his arms extended and pulled in opposite directions. Sabretooth's body was quartered in a bloody explosion. This he wouldn't heal from. Otto's blood and sinew soaked arms got back to work. Hate truly was a killer, he must remember that.

 

[moraldeficiency]

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...........

She was only 7 years old. This place wasn't fit for sweat little girls but she existed all the same. Perhaps it was because of the disease and pain that she existed, one small piece of beauty and innocence in this place seemed a cruel joke, it showed what had been lost and those that could still look saw her with hate and disgust. Why wasn't she dying? How is she able to survive in New York?

She didn't know herself. Her parents would have explained it to her but they had been brutally murdered. She still saw her father though. He came to her in her dreams and talked to her. He told her how he loved her and what she would have to do. He told her to be strong and leave this place, to find others and make a life, but she was too scared to leave this place. What if he stopped visiting her? She never saw her mother, not since she saw what happened to her. Her father had taken her from that place and entrusted her to a friend that was leaving the city, but she wouldn't leave. She escaped and came back to this place. They were a family and families didn't leave.

She walked through the wreckage and found some food. She was very good at that. She also felt his eyes, cold ravenous eyes that were closing in on the tiny little pink meat sack. The creature was hungry, the girl would barely be an appetizer but she was clean, unaffected by radiation or disease, and that would be a start.

Nothing was left of Curt inside the beast. No memories, no feelings, nothing human at all. The Lizard had taken over, completely, finally and without apology. Curt had let it happen. He didn't want to exist anymore. The radiation hadn't killed the Lizard but it had mutated him into something more monstrous than ever. Something out of sweat filled nightmares. He leapt silently, his large grotesque form flying through the air at terrific speeds to his unsuspecting prey. His saliva drooled from his gigantic jaws as he snapped down with enough force to sever steel.

The beast screamed in anger. The little meat sack, the soft warm weak little thing had moved, it had moved quickly. It turned and looked at the reptile. "You shouldn't sneak up on people, it isn't nice", she meekly said. The girl seemed sad but wasn't afraid of the creature, despite its appearance that now made brave men scream in terror before their last moments, she was afraid at all. The Lizard could smell fear. She smelled differently, she smelled.....

The rock stopped his thoughts as it slammed his head with terrific force knocking him back. That little brat threw a rock! She was fast, fast and strong. The Lizard had a moment of doubt, what was this thing? This little creature without fear of the monsters that lurked. How had she survived, and how was she able to hurt him? The Lizard hissed savagely, this time he wouldn't miss; he would kill it, eat it, and wonder less about this new land.

"I don't want to hurt anyone, but if you force me I will", she said defiantly. Still no fear, only sadness. The Lizard jumped but missed again, she had jumped away behind a car faster than anything the beast had ever seen. This was infuriating, and he was running out of energy. It had been days since he found some food, he needed this. Then he saw it, movement. From the corner of his eyes he saw a woman lying in debris. She was still alive, hurt but alive. He could eat this then have the energy to kill the little creature. He ran to it, drooling with anticipation.

"No! You can't hurt her", the little girl screamed and jumped to the Lizard's back. She weighed nothing at all, but then he felt her hands on his neck. Soft warm hands more suited to making finger paintings than a battle, but she pressed down hard and that’s when the Lizard finally felt her fear. He smelled the tears raining down her sweet eyes. "Stop it, stop fighting, please", she begged the gagging monstrosity. I won't kill you but you can't hurt her", she pushed harder and the Lizard felt his neck about to break, then air. He wasn't dead; the thing had thrown him away. What was she?

He got up and screamed a primal war call to heaven and hell. He would kill this thing, he would not be stopped. His eyes narrowed onto the girl stooping by the woman. The creature began to charge.

It was over quickly. Metal hands gripped the creature's body and head. With a pull it was over. The thing formerly known as Curt Conners was now a twitching body; its head resided somewhere several blocks away.

"I was going to let it kill you. It seemed quick, and you shouldn't have to suffer like everyone else. Like I have” Creel spoke softly despite his gigantic steel form. "But you're different, you're special, even I can see that".

The girl looked up. "You shouldn't have done that, you shouldn't have killed him." Her eyes were streaming tears and Creel saw why. The woman had just died. "I didn't even know her name, but she reminded me of my mom, I thought if I could save her maybe my mom would visit my dreams like my dad does, but I couldn't save her."

Creel looked down at her. He had now taken human form. He lifted her up and held her closely to quiet her tears. "You did better in that one moment than I have my whole life. I know what it means to lose the people you love. It's #%$%ed." Creel was never great with words, but he was honest and the girl could see he was broken inside. "You're not that bad, if you loved someone and they loved you than you can't be that bad. I bet deep down you're a nice man. Probably like my father."

Creel cried at this simple statement. This one line of redemption. In this moment he loved the little girl, his hate and despair left him. All that was inside him now was the wish to see her live and be happy. He would die to make this happen. The girl told him why she was here, all about her father and how she escaped the man her father wanted her to follow to stay in this decay. She told him about her dreams. The next morning they left the city, following the direction of those that fled. Creel promised the little girl her father would still visit her dreams. He prayed this was true.....

 

[moraldeficiency]

The Kingdom of the Blind.......

The wound still bleed at Matt's side. He would need to change the bandages soon, but not yet. He was too busy too stop. Too many people were counting on a blind man to lead them.

It started with just over 200, now the numbers were less than 50. It was looking bad for everyone on this disgusting floating globe called earth. Matt was scared, but moreover he felt alone. He and a few others had stayed behind to protect these people. The others were all dead. Steve had died trying to save a child from a falling building. Both were crushed instantly in front of Matt. Luke had gotten sick from the radiation and went down to the sewers to die. He wanted to kill himself but that was his curse. Being indestructible, or just nearly so, left you with few options. Matt hoped he died quickly in his sleep, but knew he was probably suffering even now, alone. Alone like he was. Even Peter with all his heroics, who always came through in the end, died with that maniac Norman. The guilt he felt over Peter, his last friend was almost unbearable. How he had failed him. But he needed to stop thinking of that now, he had people to lead and they were going a long way.

His senses illuminated the world. He knew where the dangers were and he knew how his people were as well. He knew Wendy, that nice girl in the back, had cancer and would die soon. He knew most of these people were going to starve if he couldn't find food and a place to rest. The radiation was dying off; they just needed to press further south. A few more miles and a miracle or two and maybe he could save some. For the first time in his life Matt was glad he couldn't see.

Robert was a doctor. He lived by ethics and codes. He was the only doctor left in the group. He had followed this supposed superhero for a week now and all he felt was hungry. What was the point of his life? His family was dead and he would be too. The heroes hadn't saved him. They failed. The gun felt right in his hand. Someone had to pay. He raised and pointed it at the fool in the lead.

The shot echoed throughout the valley with a shuddering dread. The impact was instant. A baton had slammed into Robert's chest as Matt suddenly ducked. The gun dropped. "You bastard, why didn't you save us? We're all going to die now. None of us can survive this. We're going to die do you hear me you fools? Die in agony!!" Robert was foaming at the mouth as he screamed and gestured.

The second shot was louder than the first. Robert looked down at the blood pouring from his chest with confusing. Following the small legs in front of him he looked up at Wendy. Poor sick Wendy. She was going to outlive him. This was almost funny. "Matt is the only person keeping us alive. We need to be united, we need hope. You're poison Robert and I won't let you hurt us. I'm so very sorry." Wendy was always so soft spoken but her words sounded louder than gunshots now. "Matt, I believe in you, I trust you”, she handed him the gun, "You'll keep us safe".

Matt wished he let Robert kill him. How many more girls would he let down? How many more would he have to sacrifice? He continued walking and tried not to just give up.......

 

[moraldeficiency]

Scars.......

Disfigured though his face was he was actually lucky. He once thought fate was cruel to him, now he saw the world in a new light. Wilson always had a funny way of looking at life and he knew life looked at him with an amused smirk as well if not an outright laugh.

Laughing, that used to happen a lot. Everything was funny. Even the battle. Especially the battle. What the hell did they know about space anyway? Fight alien war machines with humans. There must be a punch line there. Watching Logan as he flew through space cutting devices that didn't bleed until he realized in his rage he cut his cable as well. He's probably floating right now somewhere in the galaxy. "The best there is at aimlessly floating", that should have made him laugh out loud, he should see life as the joke it was.

All that was left was him and the robot. He wouldn't even be here if the robot hadn't saved him and brought him back to earth. That damn thing did nothing but ***** all the time. It was worse than cable, it was worse than all those whiny X-men with their inner turmoil put together. But then it had a reason. Its father was dead, its father was dead and it couldn't save him. But its father did save him. He was always so smart, always with another plan another way to save the day. In the end all he could do was save his son.

So now here they were a comedian without punch lines and a robot without purpose. There should be a joke here somewhere. The robot flew down back to Wilson. Its voice was the same as its fathers'. "There is a place not 10 miles away that can sustain life. We should go there." Wilson was staring at the scar in the robots' chest. "You gonna fix that, tin man?"

The punch was too fast for Wilson to react. The robot shattered his entire face. Wilson would heal, he knew that, but the point was made. "This scar reminds me of what happened and why I must exist" the machine spoke. "You're a freaking robot, you have memory banks and files and internet connections. You're an Xbox with legs, why do you need a reminder?"

"I'm a man; I'm my father's son. Some scars remind us of who we are. Look whose talking about this, a man that heals from anything except your ugly deformed face. I shouldn't have bothered to save you. You're not worth it". I robot looked away calculating this.

Wilson got up. The water pool beneath them reflected their images. He understood. "I'm ....."

"Sorry, yes I know. I apologize as well. I'm feeling very emotional right now. I shouldn't have said or done that." the machine interrupted. Let's continue. They began walking; the robot touched the crack in his armor for a moment and made a fist........

 

[moraldeficiency]

Winds of Change............

Sometimes blessings are funny. One day an event might be the worst that could possibly happen, but that very same event on another day might be the answer to all your prayers. New York was full of these funny little anomalies. Why should the end be any different?

The war had drastically changed the world. Continents were reformed, water levels corrected and weather was, well, weather was weather. Most saw the storm forming and thanked God. Upstate New York was now a desert, a radiated wasteland, but it did produce one saving grace. The dust storm was enormous, the size of large hurricanes but much more dangerous. It was death incarnate. Vast levels of radiation in the dust along with the storms violent nature and size meant it would be the death of all it encountered. Currently it was picking up speed and power, and everything else, as it moved south. Funny how blessings worked.

When it ran through the city, nothing was left. Ruble radiated in empty piles. The suffering was over, but the storm wasn't. Some people's blessings are other people’s curses. Isn't God hilarious?

Creel had learned to trust her implicitly. She had very good instincts. So when she got scared and started moving south faster, he just tried to keep up. She was so fast. Even needing food, which Creel didn't, and being 7 years old, she still had to stop and wait for him to catch up from time to time. He looked over his shoulder and saw the storm. It was massive. It was going to kill them.

Matt stopped and listened for a long time. The look on his face was obvious. Something bad was coming. Wendy saw it first, just its outline in the distance but it was coming quickly and was too big to avoid. She told Matt what she saw. He had the group take shelter, mainly to give them something to do............

The storm was coming quickly, soon they would be engulfed. Creel had stopped to watch it. Somewhere in the recesses of his below average mind a desperate idea was forming. She looked at his face and she got scared.

"What are you doing? We need to keep moving", she said tugging at him.

"Won't matter. Storms' too fast, we won't make it. Unless...."

"Unless what?", she yelled at him

Creel smiled, "Unless I stop it. Maybe it's time I lived up to that hero thing you've been saying. Now I want you to keep moving south. At the least I can buy you some time. Don't look so sad, I'll be fine”, Creel lied, "Now keep moving quickly and find the others, I'll catch up soon."

"But....."

"Go now. No more talk", Creel leaned down and kissed the little girl on the forehead, "Thank you", he began walking north towards the storm.

The girl moved south, out of view then stopped. She began backtracking, keeping just out of Creel's view. She wasn't the type to leave, and he might need her help.......

The breeze felt good on his skin. Hyde was burning up. Any normal human would be long dead. Hyde was; however, far from normal. He made it to the next town and found the lab. Chemicals, they were his gods; they were what made him strong. They would help. He began ingesting. His body screamed in protest, but he could feel the changes beginning. The fever was replaced by a cold sweat..........

 

[moraldeficiency]

Different Perspectives.........

Otto was finished working. The prison had impressive technology made to keep impressive individuals in impressive cages. It wasn't hard to remake the parts into tools and weapons for this new world. He would now be able to monitor which areas of land were habitable or diseased. Better yet, he would now be able to find the survivors. Find the survivors? Why was he thinking in this way? Was it simple loneliness that motivated him? No, it was something more. All these events had changed the world, Otto would change with it. He was moments from controlling this planet many times, but now all his dreams were shattered. He would find new dreams, a new reason. Otto was a genius, and the world desperately needed his mind. He gathered his tools and began moving fast, seeking others who needed him. This world had enough monsters, Otto would become a man. He smiled at this strange switch of fate. And to think all it took was an intergalactic war slaughtering the universe. Otto laughed to himself and increased speed his metal arms carrying him over 80 miles an hour to the first life source he picked up..........

The four were fighting again. Vermin stayed out of the argument and remained eating someone he found along the way. His mouth coated with blood as he watched the other monsters.

"And just what are we supposed to do when we find them?", Bullseye looked questioningly at Abomination, "Kill them all? Hey before that would have tickled me pink but now, well, what's the point?"

"I want some vengeance on these little maggots, and I will have my way!", the radiation fused creature yelled at the human.

"No you won't", Venom said, "Not while I lead, you'll do as you're told. There's something to salvage here and we'll wait and see what we see."

Abomination had enough of all this talk. Venom was feared by even those inside, but he was not afraid of this odd thing. Abomination was too strong to be afraid of anything. He swung a massive right hook capable of leveling a mountain at the alien thing.

Mac was waiting for this opportunity. He needed to prove he was the leader, but he also needed to keep them alive. Bullseye was human and too frail to make an example of, Vermin was too useful as a tracker to hurt. Abomination was perfect.

The duck was instant, as was the retaliation. Black tendrils from all over his body leapt out and pierce the massive green goliath as tiny little needles. Once inside his body they followed blood vessels to nerve endings and took hold. He lifted the appropriately named Abomination off the ground by the tendrils then showed him why he was to be feared.

Abomination screamed loudly enough to be heard for miles. All his nerve endings were being damaged at once. The pain was unbearable. The monster screamed in utter agony. He writhed but without footing to gain balance he had no leverage and these black strands of pain were everywhere.

Suddenly he dropped to the desert. Venom looked him over carefully. "Should we continue?"

Abomination looked up from his knees, "No, we'll follow your lead, I won't fight you again"

Venom looked to the others, "Anyone else questioning my leadership style?"

Vermin crouched low with his head down. A sign of submission for the beast. Bullseye looked him over for a moment. "No, I think I'll just stay with the party, I like where it's headed"

Gargan looked at the horizon. Once they past those hills they would be closing in. Vermin said the scent was stronger. People were here four days ago.........

Creel stood his ground on the dirt hill. The storm would be on him soon and he would be dead. He wasn't scared, he didn't mind dying. Especially if he could stop this thing from killing her. If he could do this one thing right, he would die with a smile on his lips.

His power was to absorb. He could take in almost anything. If he could just take in enough of the storm before it killed him he would stop it. He cleared his mind as the storm approached and thought of the two women that made his life worth living. He smiled as it started, smiled through the agony knowing that every moment of his pain was one she would never have to feel.......

It didn't take long. She could do nothing but watch as he fought the storm. He was like her father. He had beaten the storm but he was lying on the ground, face down in the dirt and he was changed. He was massive now, twice his former size, but that was the least of it. Normally he absorbed one material and took on one appearance. He had taken all the storm had. Soil, radiation, various metals and stones, even the flesh of the dead were now part of him. A horrific hodgepodge of various parts. She knelt beside him and put her head to his chest. It moved. She looked down at him and smiled with tears in her eyes. He was beautiful to her and always would be. She grabbed his massive body and began moving south.......

The storm was gone. One minute they were all going to die and now it just disappeared. It collapsed into itself. Matt didn't believe in miracles, but he just experienced one. They said seeing was believing. They were wrong, living made us believers. For the first time in a long time Matt felt a faint glimmer of hope as he got everyone up and began the continued march. Off in the distance feral eyes watched the storm die and now saw the humans, the wolfish form began to close........

 

[moraldeficiency]

Beer Run..........

They were finished. The work was easy but disturbing. Hauling dead bodies generally was. Something had decimated this tiny town in Virginia. Not disease or radiation, the bodies had simply died. They were frozen where they were, dead shells that dehydration claimed long ago. The town was safe, whatever did this had passed. All that remained was to bury the bodies.

The robot did most of the work. No point in Wilson getting all worked up when it could dig over a hundred holes in less than a minute. Wilson went about inscribing the tombstones:

"If you lived here you'd be home by now"

"Here lies Katie Plate, finally found a way to lose that weight"

And so on.....
Wilson didn't even smile. When he was finished he started searching. They had taken up residence in the Mayor's office. Wilson had something important to find. Since these people all dropped dead, they're food was still there, but more importantly the beer was still there. He grabbed all he could and took it back. The robot had returned, it looked at him with those glowing eyes.

"So that's where you've been"

"Man cannot live by violence and pornography alone", Wilson quipped

He cracked open a beer and drank it down.

"How can you even get drunk, don't you just heal?", there was amusement in the robot's human voice.

"My healing factor is based on my emotions, and right now I'd really like to be drunk", he finished his second beer.

The machine's eyes glowed softly.

"Was there something you wanted?", Wilson asked.

"Actually I'd like one", it replied matter of factly

"You'd like one? This I've got to see."

He threw a beer over to the machine which caught it instantly. Its hands were far too large to open the beer. Wilson watched on. "So run me through this, tin man""

"Firstly I'm not tin. But to answer your question, if I place this liquid inside myself it will temporarily short my circuits until removed. This will impair my functions and basically I'll get drunk."

It removed its head and cradled it in its arm. Holding the beer in the other it fired a small laser at the top of the can from its eye. The lid was vaporized and the machine poured the liquid into its torso by way of the opening it made by removing its head. Finishing, it placed its head back on and actually stumbled back to the floor. It looked over at Wilson and saw something miraculous. He was laughing.

Not just any laugh but the kind that made you double over in pain you were laughing so hard. "You have the constitution of a 3 year old school girl, hahahaha!" Wilson couldn't contain how hilarious this was. This machine, probably the most advanced weapon in the universe was a cheap drunk.

"Okay, so tell me, you don't wanna be called tin man what do you want to be called?"

"I was thinking about that, I'm going to take my father's name."

"Tony Junior? You seriously want to be called junior?" Wilson began laughing again.

"What's wrong with that, my father was a great man. He rescued me from destruction, gave me life with his dying breath. Like Wilson is so great", the machine slurred.

"Haha, fine, junior it is. You know, I'm glad to see you lighten up a bit. It was getting depressing."

"It's good to hear you laugh too, Wilson" the machine replied.

This was so typical. He was stranded on earth with nothing, no more friends or humanity in general and the most human creature he's ever known is a suit of armor with nothing inside. Wilson laughed out loud again and decided it could be worse.........

 

[moraldeficiency]

Life and Death...........

She came at them fast. Matt knew she was coming, nothing got by his senses. He got to the lead and ordered everyone back to the river to wait. She stopped short in front of Matt, noting the batons held tightly in his hands and the resolve in his face.

"Looking like you want a fight, boyo. This isn't the time for fighting. I'm here to give you a hand", Rahne Sinclair, the mutant known as wolfsbane, said causally as if ordering a coke.

"What do you want?", Matt wasn't taking chances.

Rahne's face stopped its grin. Her frivolity was an act, and an obvious one. "I'm alone. Mah friends are dead, Guido’s dead, the stupid @#%$@#^ died just so I could live. I've been wandering south trying to find life. I, I, I just want to be around people again. It's been a long time since I've even spoke to a person." Her face was to the ground now, Matt could tell she wasn't lying.

"What happened", he asked softly as he lowered his batons and approached her.

"I canna speak of it now, the memories are all poison, but I'm all that's left of mutant town, I think we're all that's left of New York"

Matt felt her loneliness, he knew it well. "You can certainly...."

The scream cut him short. One of his people was in pain. They rushed back.

Matt was able to detect almost anything with his senses. Almost. They were being tracked for miles by the beast. It hungered violently, but the small part of its mind still human not infected by the pestilence in the waters it called home told it to wait. Wait and see. Some of these humans can be strong. Wait and strike when they're not looking. Surprise and kill, then all will be yours.

It once had a name. It was called Todd. Todd was the victim of manipulations and science. All Todd had ever done was help people. He was hurt helping people, then they took him in. They changed him into this thing. This thing that continuously became less human and more beast. He was the Tigershark now, Todd was only a shadow.

Tigershark had begun to kill. Three were dead at his feet, the rest were trapped, about to die. He closed distance to Wendy, hovering above her ready to strike even as her eyes looked defiantly into his. He raised his arms, but the wolf got there first. Rahne was savage. She knew what was at stake.

The battle was short but intense. Tigershark was far more powerful and far more bestial. She cut him, slashed his face, but before Matt even reached her she was down. Bleeding and writhing on the floor at his feet. Matt jumped and threw his whole body at the creature. It got his attention.

Matt ducked and moved from the shark's massive arms. He knew how powerful his foe was, how hopeless his chance to hurt him, but he also knew he was all these people had between them and the shark. He had to win. Matt struck at pressure points, slammed his fingers into its eyes. Tigershark howled with displeasure as he swung blindly. He moved closer. He healed, he could see this little man again as he dodged around him like a maddened demon, striking with his sticks. He would show him what power was.

Tigershark leapt towards him, caught him in midair and squeezed down hard. He felt Matt's ribs crack as he leaned down and bit his pink soft shoulder. He would eat now.

The gun exploded into Tigershark's eye. Wendy had been holding it at point blank range. It didn't kill the creature, but he did drop Matt. Wendy fired the remaining three rounds into the beast’s chest. It didn't slow him down as he came at her screaming. Wendy died mercifully quickly at its hands. It would be the last life he ever took.

Matt drove both batons upwards into the back of Tigershark's neck with all the strength left in his body. Both shattered on the creature but it was enough. The monster dropped to the ground in front of everyone. Matt had broken its neck. He collapsed to the ground in pain and passed out. When he awoke, he was under a tree and she was there. Rahne leaned to him and gave him water. He could tell she was badly hurt as well, but she still led the group, carrying him to safety.

"Drink and rest, man, you've been working hard t'day", she said softly.

"Thank you", Matt tried to sit up but couldn't

"It's I that should be thankin you for savin me. Both from the shark and from the desert. How'd ya survive so long?"

"I didn't, they, the people were all that kept me going. They needed me and I needed them."

"I understand ye well, but now you have me and I have you. That's something..." Rahne looked away blushing.

Matt gently took her hand in his. "Yes, it really is....."

As he drifted off to the first good nights sleep he could remember Matt smiled at his luck. As good as his senses were it would be a while before even he knew that night they went from a group of 45 to 46........

A hand emerged from the rubble. He was alive. He didn't think he would make it but he was stronger than he thought. I lifted the wreckage off his body and looked around. New York was devastated. Matt had left with his group. A very dedicated man with a purpose began heading south.....

 

[moraldeficiency]

Dreams and Nightmares...........

Vermin led them over the hills and they looked out to the valley. "What the hell happened here", Bullseye said aloud to no one in particular. The valley was black. Not just black in color it was solid black, no color, no light, nothing by blackness. Vermin approached the blackness. "The people went through here, but not when it was like this. This is new, has no smell, has no touch.

They stared into the abyss. They did not notice but they had all began walking forward as they stared. Walking blindly towards the darkness as their eyes glazed over, they were drawn into a new kind of hell.

Vermin:

It was cold and he was hungry. Something warm, something pink and wiggling and hot on his lips. He craved live flesh. He couldn't move though. He couldn't breathe. The hunger gnawed at him like never before. Then he saw them. A nice little family happily playing. They were fat and plump and his hunger grew and grew. They were feet away but couldn't see him. His eyes glowed, drool dripped from his chin, but he couldn't move. The hunger was all consuming now, his mind screamed for the little children, he screamed at his muscles to move but they refused. And his hunger kept growing.....

Bullseye:

The carnival was bursting with people. Smells of cotton candy and sweets intermingled with the sounds of carnies calling for games. One voice stood out. "Hey Bullseye, try your luck", he knew that voice. Pushing his way through the people he saw the caller: Daredevil. He was perched on a platform above a pool of strange green liquid marked acid on the vat. The carnie approached him. "Try your luck sir, try your luck, all you have to do is hit the target and the devil takes a drink. There is a slight penalty for missing though. Bullseye smiled straight to his soul. "I'll give it my best", he said. The man handed him a basket of balls. Bullseye looked directly into Daredevil's eyes wanting to savor it as the ball left his hand. Slam! Right into the red fabric just to the right of the target. The shock dropped Bullseye to his knees. His spine was on fire. He hadn't felt this since he was paralyzed. It passed and he stood. "What the hell?", he yelled at the carnie. The carnie smiled. "Sorry sir, I told you the rules, now try again." Bullseye felt something in his hand, it was another ball. He threw it perfectly. Whack! Just to the right. The pain returned again......

Abomination:

The city was full of people. The day was beautiful. He stood in the center drawing no attention to himself. He smiled and stepped forward. He was suddenly halted as a little girl slammed into him knocking him over. "Watch where you're going, moron.", she said sweetly and skipped along. He stood up enraged, raising his fists. Slam! He fell back again. This time a little old lady had collided with him. She looked down through large lensed glasses. "Learn some manners, youngin!", and she raised her cane to strike him. He struck out with his foot brutally enough to destroy a battleship. The pain was instant. His foot was broken by the old woman's hip on impact. He looked up in terror as she began to beat him more savagely than he knew could exist......

Venom:

They were right there in his grip. One hand held Jonah Jameson the other Peter Parker. They were beaten, they had lost. Mac Gargan smiled as he ordered his symbiote to slowly devour them. By inches was his exact thought. "Why would I listen to you", the voice in his head demanded. "You can barely tie your shoes and I'm supposed to obey you, I don't think so", the voice grew distant and Mac noticed the symbiote leaving his body, pooling in front of him until it took shape and form. It began looking familiar. "I don't need you to finish them, I have my own power", Gargan yelled and threw both men against the wall. Peter sprung off the wall and stood next to the blob taking shape. Jonah bounced to the other side. "Just not brain power", Jonah said mockingly, "Yeah, like you could ever beat us, you need at least a third grade education to come close", Peter said. The blob finished forming, it was his father. "Third grade? Then he's got just eight years of education to go", his father took off his belt, "I'm ashamed to be your father". Gargan cowered sobbing as the beating began......

She was sound asleep. Creel knew she must be exhausted. How long had they traveled with her carrying him. He got up. His body felt so strange. He looked down into the pool of water and saw his reflection. Oh my God. He would have to correct that. He closed his eyes and opened. God in heaven he wasn't changing back. He desperately grabbed the soil and willed himself to change. Nothing. He was panicked. He was stuck like this now, maybe forever. He saw the reflection again. This thing of dead flesh, and dirt and metal, this monstrosity. Was this his punishment? He looked at her sleeping softly, smiling and dreaming. He should leave. God, how did she even bring herself to touch him? He wanted to run right now, but didn't dare to, she was asleep and vulnerable. He looked into the puddle again, this horror that he has become......

Matt saw them. He saw them all, laughing and playing in the sun. His friends, his family they were all there smiling and laughing. "They're waiting to greet ye", Rahne said softly next to him. "Go, lad!". Matt ran to the group. His friends looked at him. Out of the crowd his father came forward. "Matt, it's been too long", he said with a grin that Matt had long forgotten.

"Dad, am I dead?", Matt was confused but not sad by this, this would be ok. "No Matt, not dead, just a dream. A little something to remind you of better times and days son. Matt looked at his father up and down, savoring the look in his father's eyes. "You're a fighter, Matt, you've always been just like me. I need you to keep fighting Matt, don't ever give up. There's still something worth fighting for.........

Her father came to her. He smiled and said he loved her. He took her in his arms and held her close. He told her to keep going, to be strong and trust in herself. She begged him to come back. He looked sad and said he couldn't, that she was all that's left of him. He told her that her mother loved her very much. She wanted to see her. He told her she would one day. He told her to be strong, he told her she was special. Special to this whole world. A little girl that couldn't be hurt by the radiation or the disease, a little girl that was stronger than her father even now. He told her to trust in her heart and it would guide her. He told her that's where he and her mother now lived............

 

[moraldeficiency]

An Apple a Day.......

Otto had reached the source. Life was here, human life. His eyes searched the area. It was barren, trace amounts of radiation was present. His machine told him he was 10 meters away. Where were they? He moved forward and one of his arms sank into the ground slightly. The soil was freshly turned, they were hiding. Using his arms Otto could accomplish almost anything, digging wasn't one of those things. He detached his arms and grabbed a shovel looking piece of rock and began to dig. Fat and out of shape though he was, he persisted doggedly until he struck through the ground and saw them. A small family of four was huddled into a cavern. They must have found a cave entrance and were collapsed in. He mentally ordered his arms to carefully take them and bring them up.

The children were dead, dead and cold for some time. The mother was radiated and dying slowly. The father was feverish and sweating, his hands were rubbed raw from trying to dig his way out. Otto fed him water and laid him under a tree. The new American nuclear family. Otto examined them. First the mother, he took blood and checked her symptoms. She would certainly die, but Otto had an idea. The metal arms circled her slender neck and with a flick she was dead. Otto got out his tools and began the dissection.........

Was the nightmare over or just changing? The demons had their hands on the four and were flying away. The horrifying images had vanished when the demons took them, even the bruises and scars faded away. They were unhurt for now.

Vermin recovered first. He looked up to the creature carrying him high in the air. "Where are you taking me?"

The demon looked down with a glance, "Masssster orderssss, quiet now, Masssster will decide. Sssssilly thing ssssshould not be here." Its tongue flicked out as it spoke like a snake. Vermin remained calm as there was nothing he could do but plot his escape.

In moments they were there, in the center of the blackness was a light and in the light stood a very familiar and very out of place house........

Rahne had wrapped Matt’s ribs well, she had some talent he thought as he tried to stand. "Oh, God", he fell back to the floor. Rahne returned from scouting the area. "Ah, you damn fool, you're hurtin badly but you want to dance the jig do ye?", Rahne smiled with her lupine teeth. "You'll be better, boyo, but not yet. Rest now and let me care for you", she looked him over, dressing his wounds. She was looking at him, he could sense how concerned she was and what care she was taking to be sure he healed. He would listen. When they were finished she stood to the front of the group, told everyone to stay together and follow. She then changed. Her body morphed into the full wolf form, large and feral. With large arms she picked Matt up and they began to march.......

Hyde had changed, he had evolved to defeat the fever. But it wasn't enough, not yet. He had bought time though. Time to test. His movements were quick, faster than he ever moved before, though his mind was too occupied to notice. He was almost to the next town. It was dark but he saw them still. There were people here, people not blighted or cursed. This could prove useful. He came upon the first house and silently snapped the windows bracing. Climbing in he found them asleep and with his large arms gripping their mouths shut he stole away to the hospital with them struggling and trying to scream futilely. Reaching the hospital he snuck past the few people injured and the fewer attempting to treat them and found the coroner's area in the basement. He strapped the people to the gurneys and found the syringes. Taking his blood he injected them. Soon the fever would take hold, and Hyde would begin to experiment. When these died he had plenty upstairs to choose from, and then of course there was the town.........

 

[moraldeficiency]

Strange Days.............

The old, decrepit house was bathed in light. The demons deposited the men on the ground at the front door. It opened slowly as the demons melted before their eyes. They didn't scream or look concerned as they oozed into nothing. I guess hell has a way of keeping your perspectives in check. Mac began to walk into the hall.

"Uh, don't you think we should wait", Bullseye had enough of this crazy place.

"You wanna go back into that black hell be my guest. This guy is a hero, sure but none of us are mortal enemies and I want to get out of this thing. Unless you've got a better idea?", Gargan knew he was right. No need to use force when the reasoning was so clear.

"Yeah, okay", Bullseye said as he stepped through the door.

The foursome walked into the main hall and were greeted by a voice in their heads. “All of humanity ending and you four loathsome creatures remain. Life is a sick joke. Well hurry up and come upstairs, it’s almost time.” The voice was familiar but intensily hollow and kept echoing in their heads again and again.

They entered the study and found their host. His body was quite normal but his head was anything from it. Dr. Strange was floating above the ground. His body seemed to be dying, it looked so frail and weak. His head; however, was another story.

“What are you searching for?”, the young asian woman whose head was currently in the place of Dr. Strange asked.

“What the hell?”, Abomination hated this magic nonsense and this looked bad. Before he could think the young asian woman’s head became deformed like silly putty. It began taking a new shape and color transforming into an older black man.

“I asked what are you searching for?”, the new face demanded angrily.

Gargan answered carefully, “A way out, what happened to you?”

The face changed again, this time it was a young Skrull boy. He spoke in a playful voice, “the Doctor tried to save the universe, but it didn’t work. He tried to tie us all together before the battle, but instead he got us, hehehe”.
“What do you mean, what’s going on here”, Bullseye was very confused here. Normally he could just use violence but in this place he was out of his depth. Better to play it careful.

The head transformed, this time it was someone they recognized. It was Colonial Nick Fury, eye patch and all, “Strange tried to make us see how useless this fighting is. He was in the process of linking all life together. Something extremely dangerous even for the Doctor. Unfortunately before he could finish the bombs went off. Trillions died and guess where they were linked? Strange is holding the souls off the dead inside himself, that’s what we are. He’ll be dead soon and we’ll be free, but not until he finishes one last task.”

Fury transformed into an old persian woman who spoke softly, “His mind is here with us, he’s protecting us from the forces that want our souls. He’s going to use his last energies and life force to free us while killing the blackness.”

“What is the black?”, Vermin was visibly frightened by its mention.

He was now a Kree soldier with a sneer on his face. There was once a being named Robert. Robert was a drug user who drank something very bad and became the Void. The Void created the Sentry to keep balance in the universe. Sentry died in the battle, but he could not reform. There is no balance anymore. The Void is all. He began consuming everything, bringing nightmares to life. Strange felt this and used his energies to transport his home here, and bind the Void to this area. Soon Strange will be done with his spell and the Void will die, his energies will free us and protect us from the Demons that wish to feed.

“How do we get out of here?”, Gargan asked

The Shiar magistrate empress answered simply, “You don’t. You die here with everything else……..

 

[moraldeficiency]

Coming Home……….

The man with the purpose had been working on the Volvo for over a day, but he was almost finished. “Safest cars on the planet”, he chuckled to himself, “damn things can survive an intergalactic war”. Not the most stylish thing he ever drove but it would get him there. It was missing its driver side door and he had to rip the roof clean off it just to fit but when he turned the key he heard the engine cough to life. He put it in drive and began heading south as fast as the car would take him. Hopefully he wasn’t too late. In the distance he saw a flash followed by the sky bright as day for a moment then black again. What the hell was that???????

Wilson cracked another beer and waited. He was standing on top of the mayor’s office to get a better view. The night illuminated when he saw Junior return. He was in a hurry.

“Wilson, there’s people on the move. They’re heading in this direction. We need to help them.”, he spoke so excitedly Wilson thought he was going to pee himself.

“People? Not zombie mutants intent on eating our brains?”, Wilson quipped

“Like any self respecting zombie mutant would want to eat your brain”, Junior lifted him off the ground and in an explosion of sound blasted towards the people……

Rahne hadn’t found food earlier and spirits were down. It looked like they might actually beat the radiation to some type of safety. That was something. Matt was looking stronger, he would be walking very soon. She smiled. Funny how just living can make you happy. Maybe it was because living was all they had left.

The flash of light was quickly followed by the sonic boom. It was deafening and the people hit the ground. Rahne froze with fear. What now?

“Hahaha”, Matt was laughing, “put me down, Rahne, reinforcements just arrived.”

The smoke was thick as they landed. Matt struggled hard to remain standing. “Tony I couldn’t be happier to see you. I can’t believe I just said that”, Matt wanted to laugh out loud.

“Actually, I regret to inform you Tony is dead. I’m all that remains now.”, the machine took its helmet off showing now head inside to illustrate that point.

“Junior’s a good guy, you just need to get to know him a bit”

“Deadpool!”, Rahne was shocked, but somehow not too surprised. The man was like a cockroach. “What’s going on? What the hell is that thing?”

He came right to her, inches from her face. “That thing is my friend, and his name is Junior. What’s going on is me and that thing are here to save you so maybe a little less lip and a little more shut the hell up!” Wilson always had a way with words. And he was right, explanations could wait.

It took an hour to get them to the town limits. Junior flew them to the boarder one by one dropping them off. He brought Matt straight to the hospital and treated him the best he could. Rahne went the 10 miles on foot, running until she reached the others. She stared at the sign.

“Welcome to Hell, Virginia”, Rahne said aloud to the group, “Well this is promisin”

“You know what they say about beggars, Rahne.”, Wilson was behind her. “Something killed all the people in this town. They just shut down for some reason. But it’s safe, and better yet there’s food”

“One hell can’t be too much worse than the next I guess”, Rahne began walking into town, “Now where’s Matt?”. The group of survivors entered the town tentatively at first, but when Wilson showed them food they came alive instantly. In less than an hour people were joking and laughing, something they hadn’t done since another life altogether. They’ve been through hell many times, at least this one had Fritos. A massive light illuminated the sky for a moment then was no more. Explanations would have to wait…………………

The mansion began to shake uncontrollably. Lights emanated from Strange and his head began to change at a greater pace. The voices seemed to bleed into one making a resonance throughout the place.

“The time has come. I am to be no more. The spell is done. We are going home now”

Bullseye approached Strange and despite his fears grabbed him by the front of his coat. “Don’t let us die here, we want to live. Please. Please help us!” A hand reached out and touched Bullseye on the arm. Something great was transferred in that moment. The four were outside the black suddenly. They looked back and saw the light. The black was being eaten by the light. It sucked all the darkness from the land and in one moment the light exploded into the sky and made the night day. The four looked to each other wondering but glad to be alive. Lester, the man known and feared as Bullseye looked down at his hand and wondered………….

 

[moraldeficiency]

And a Child Shall Lead Them…….

Creel was trying to keep up. She told him it was safe. She always seemed to be right so he believed her. They had reached the river and taken a drink. She looked up at him. “We’ll be safe soon. The radiation is much smaller here and we should be getting near someplace we can live. What shall we do when we get there?”, she was smiling at him.

“You are going to be with the rest of the survivors. Once we’re there though I’ll have to leave. I’ve been bad in the past. Very bad. People don’t forget that. Also I’m a monster both inside and out now”

He landed on his back in an instant. She had grabbed his leg and flipped him clean onto his back. She was now standing over him looking down angrily, “Don’t speak like that ever again! You saved me, saved me and anyone else that would have died in the storm. You’re a hero, and my friend and if you ever talk like that again I’ll break your freaking nose! Now get up, stop feeling sorry for yourself and let’s keep moving.”, she smiled again to punctuate this statement

“Yes, mam.”, Creel got up and kept moving. He looked down at her thinking, “who really saved who?”.

When they reached the hill they saw the town. It was midday and people were moving, planting, living. This would do. They walked down the hill slowly not to alarm anyone by their presence. Back at the river a large man stopped his car. He examined the footprints then lifted the Volvo over his head and crossed the river on foot. Placing the car down on the other side he got back in and kept going.

Creel could not be missed. Even though Matt, Rahne and Junior had senses that would alert them of anything, they were wasted in this moment. Creel was the size of a large van. And the little girl next to him made the sight even more peculiar. The girl? Matt ran to them forgetting his ribs or anything else. She couldn’t be alive.

The monstrosity blocked his path. “It’s okay, Creel, he’s a friend.”. Creel had fought daredevil before, but out of uniform and like this he had no idea who he was. He stepped aside and Matt grabbed the little child holding her close. “How?”, he asked excitedly.

“The radiation didn’t hurt me. It made me stronger just like my dad. I’m immune to it now.”, she looked up at Creel, “Matt this is Creel, he’s my friend. He saved me”

The others had gathered watching the three speak. Creel would always stand out and even now the people debated how to kill this current Frankenstein. Wilson had left. Junior processed Creels functions. He had already determined that he was not here to hurt anyone. He was currently processing the girl’s functions and as fascinating as Creel’s unique physiology was he was nothing compared to the miracle that was standing next to him.

Matt was unsure how to respond. Creel was an enemy. And now his appearance was monstrous. Matt; however, knew not everything was what it appeared. And moreover he trusted her. He took her hand and they walked down to the others. She turned, “Come on Creel, don’t worry I’ll protect you”. How can you not love this child, Creel thought as he slowly walked down.

“Everyone this is…..” the guns Wilson had pointed at Creel shut him up quickly.

“I don’t know what the deal is, so excuse me if I’m making an ass out of myself but I’ve always felt better doing these types of talks at gun point. Now talk”, Wilson was very calm as he said this but his fingers were tensed on the triggers. Before he could think of another word his guns were bent in two. Tiny hands were lifting him and a small fist smashed the mercenary’s head knocking him out cold. The little girl looked back to Creel, “Told you I’d protect you”.

Everyone looked at the pretty little child in the center of the crowd. Matt smiled, “Everyone I’d like you to meet May Parker………..

 

[moraldeficiency]

It Takes a Village……………

It was night when the Volvo pulled into town. Rahne was on look out and intercepted him on the outskirts of town. The head lights illuminated the town sign. Welcome to Hell, Virginia. Underneath the population number of 4,500 had been scratched out and now read 47. The man got out of his ridiculous car and stared at it. “47, Christmas”.

“You’re Matt’s friend Luke aren’t you?”, Rahne was behind him, “He said you were dead”

“I thought so too, but here I am. Where’s Matt?”, look looked the girl over slowly

“He’s inside with Junior, they’re analyzing May”

“Who’s Junior?”

“Long story, boyo, come with me”

She led him to the hospital and they trekked the empty dark corridors until they reached the fifth floor under a door marked radiation. It was the only lit room in the building standing out oddly for a place with no power.

When he entered the room Matt spun around suddenly, his senses picking up on her friend instantly. “Luke?”

“Hey you think a little radiation poisoning could keep me down?”, Luke smiled and grabbed his friend. He looked around the room. Iron Man had tubes hooked up into his back that were running power. A little girl was in the center of the room under the equipment and behind her barely fitting into the room was a goliath creature that seemed oddly familiar.

“What the hell is going on Matt?”, Luke had too many specific questions. Better to keep them vague and let Matt fill in as many as possible.

“The little girl is May, she’s Peter’s daughter. The radiation has changed her cell structure drastically. She’s already stronger and faster than Pete, at age 7 but what’s more surprising is neither radiation nor disease seems to affect her in the least. Junior is the Iron Man suit. Tony died but somehow he gave his suit consciousness. It has a personality, a life but it’s empty inside.”

Junior turned around. “I’m a he not an it, Matt”, his voice was an exact match for Tony, “Luke it’s good to see you”

“Uh, the pleasure is mine. What are you doing to her?”

“I’m testing her, if we can synthesize her unique mutations we can come up with a way to prevent radiation poisoning and these new diseases that are decimating the remaining populace. Unfortunately I know a great deal more about how to create a nuclear bomb than I do about biology and mutations.”

Luke looked over at Matt. Leaning down to him he softly asked, “Who’s the monster?”

“Creel, the Absorbing Man, he’s kinda May’s guardian. He stopped a storm from killing us by absorbing it and now he’s stuck like this. Believe it or not, he’s with us now.”

“So what’s the plan, Matt?”

“The plan my friend is to live. Between myself, May, Creel, Junior (that’s the Iron Man armor), Rahne and Wilson along with the remaining people we’ve been trying to rebuild and replant this place. Junior is an amazing help and with luck we’ll have actual power for the town in a few days. Other than that, we need to protect what we have left. May is key here. If we can figure out how to duplicate her abnormalities we, and I mean humanity, have a real chance.”, Matt’s voice was more optimistic than Luke had heard in a long time.

“What can I do to help?………….

The work was complete and the woman buried. Her husband revived, slowing sitting up to look at the doctor’s blood stained hands. “Oh God, what have you done? Where’s my family?”

“Your family is dead. The radiation killed them. I tried my best to save them but it was too late. Be thankful I was able to save you”, Otto almost sounded annoyed by the man. Pride and arrogance were habits that would never die inside him.

“I know who you are, you’re Doctor Octopus, you’re a mass murderer. You killed them!”, he got up and came at the scientist. Before he could get two feet his left leg was grabbed and he was pulled upside down and brought in front of Otto.

“You only know who I was, not who I am. Consider in your infinitely small mind why I would want to kill your family. What would I gain? If you know of me you know I always have a purpose. Why did I save you? Now stop being stupid, I could use your help. There are others still living and we need to find them. Make no mistake, if you stand in my way I will kill you.” With that Otto dropped the man onto the dirt and began walking. The man stared for a moment than got up and followed the Doctor into the next town…….

Seventeen were dead now. Hyde had them stacked in the next room. This eighteenth though was showing promise. He was 5 years old. The infection had spread quickly inside him but this combination of drugs seemed to work well. He did not die, true he was in utter agony, but he was alive. His body was contorted but he seemed to be fighting it. Hyde injected the final set of chemicals into the boy and watched with anticipation. If this worked Hyde would have his answers. His body trembled for a moment. He hadn’t much time this needed to work. Looking down as the boy contorted and changed Hyde saw a certain resemblance. Hyde was given birth not by man and woman but by science and want, if this succeeded he would have a son…….

Off in the distance the savior felt life. That town was already purged, it was the first to be purged. A symbolic deference to its namesake. Why had Hell come back to life? He would have to investigate and correct this. Flames burned around him as he prepared to travel back to Hell………

 

[moraldeficiency]

Trial by Fire………….

It was the third day in the town of Hell. Life was strangely looking up. Power would soon be restored and the plants seemed to be taking root. Junior had made some progress deciphering May’s genetics but was still a long way off. Life was fighting back and for a moment it looked as though it might stand a chance.

The Rider stood at the outskirts of the town. He scanned the area. New souls were here. The misery never seemed to end. The Savior would have to redouble his efforts. The bike ignited and blazed into the heart of town leaving a long streak of fire in its wake. The cleansing will begin at once. He concentrated and reached out into the souls of the survivors.

“Your pain will be extinguished now. Do not fight, I am here to save you from yourselves. Pain cannot be erased and life will only find a way to eat itself from inside out. You’re all festering wounds waiting to be devoured by the demons of hell. I will save you all…….”

Life stopped. All fell down. The Rider was showing them what he saw. The misery and agony of trillions of souls fell upon their hearts and despair took over. He no longer needed the penance stare, his powers increased exponentially by the slaughter and emergence of hell as the new dominant domain. They felt the pain and they simply gave up. All except two.

Luke had his fair share of pain in this life already. He also knew the stakes of this game. He would not lie down and accept death any longer. The Rider’s fire made him burn from the inside out, God how it hurt, but life was pain. Luke accepted that now. More than acceptance, he rose against the pain. His body stirred from the ground, first to his knees then to his feet. He began to walk towards the fire. He would not go gently……

May emerged from the trance as well. She had no blood on her hands, no hate in her heart. A being of pure goodness would not fear Hell’s power. She would stand against the Devil himself if she must. The others were lying still and silent. Even Junior was lying on the ground in parts. Creel and Wilson had a look of utter agony on their faces, the pain was especially significant to them. She would not allow them to suffer any longer. She stepped out the door and saw the Rider. His flames burned brighter than the sun. She stepped into the fire……..

The Rider allowed them to come. He had to know why they still stood in opposition.

“Mortals, why do you fight? Can you not see the pointlessness of it all? I’ve stood with angels and demons alike and the one truth I’ve learned is neither can be trusted. All paths lead to pain and torment. I can save you all from this. Take your souls into myself and you’ll never be burdened again. I offer more for you than I can for myself. Why do you persist?”

“I don’t know about heaven or hell. I know of pain. My wife is dead, my daughter is dead. I thought I was going to die as well. But I’m still here. I’m not going to let you just take my soul, and I’m not going to let you have their souls either.” Luke said with a look of pain on his face. He would fight and probably die but he would never simply give up.

“There is good still left. I will protect my friends and family. I don’t care what you say, I will never stop believing in people”, May had tears in her eyes but her voice was hard as stone.

“Then I will force your hands…………”

The Rider opened his mouth and flames erupted. Like a snake they wound around every building and structure and began to burn them. Fire erupted all around them. Hell looked truly appropriate as metal melted and wood charred and cracked loudly around them………..

 

[moraldeficiency]

Dance with the Devil………..

Cage knew how little his chances were, especially since his back up came in the form of a 7 year old girl. The fires burned his skin and clothing as he charged headlong at the hellspawn. The first chain missed as he ducked, the second did not as his thigh was pierced by the thick red hot chain. The chain wrapped around his torso then snaked up to grip his neck.

“Why do you fight? I only wish to save you.”

Luke gripped the chains in his hands as they burned his flesh and began to choke the life out of him. “We have very different definitions of the word save”, with that he pulled hard and yanked the Rider off his feet towards him. He raised his fist back and prepared to use all his force to smash the demon. The hit never came. As the Rider flew toward him he opened up his mouth and blasted Luke point blank with hellfire. Luke screamed as his flesh melted dropping to his knees his body wrapped too tightly to convulse like it wanted.

The demon regained his footing. Where was the girl? As an answer to his question she landed on his back suddenly and violently. She had jumped ten stories straight into the air and landed smashing her leg muscles down in a fantastic hit that caused the ground to shake. The Rider had fallen. This would not do at all.

The chains were on her in an instant twirling and dancing around her trying to pierce and burn her soft flesh. She was barely avoiding them. Dancing and twirling in the air as the demon chains snapped and moved like vipers trying to corner their prey. He fired a blast of hellfire into the skirmish. The bolt exploded and the chains collided together. She was dead. It was a shame to have to proceed like this. This was not….. this was not possible. Standing behind the mess of chains and flames was the girl. She had leapt back at the last moment and used the chains to shield herself form the blast.

She moved quickly toward him, her eyes shone with resolve. The chains came faster as the Rider sent more and more amazed at how gracefully she bounced, ducked and maneuvered through them. But she couldn’t keep this up forever, he would have her soon. A chain slashed her arms badly, the cut cauterizing instantly from the heat. She did not cry out, she was actually closing. He opened his mouth. This time he would burn everything. This would end here in this moment.

“I’m not done yet you nasty little @#%$!”, Luke gripped the chains once again and pulled. This time not towards himself but into the air. The Rider flew up and when he almost was at the end of the chain Luke pulled down with all his force. Whipping the demon into the ground using his own chains to whip him face first into concrete had made an impact. It also got the hellspawn’s attention. He came at Luke ready for his soul.

“Don’t you like me anymore?”, May took the opportunity to kick the Rider hard in the back speeding him towards Luke at incredible speeds. Right into the haymaker Luke threw with the one hand not bound by the chains. The Rider’s head flew off his body and rebounded on a near by wall.

“I cannot die. You’re only delaying the inevitable. Hell’s power flows through me. Now die by fire!”

The eyes began to glow with fire charged inside ready to erupt. May jumped to the skull gripping it in her hands. She brought it to her face staring eye to eye with the creature of hell. The burst exploded into May’s eyes. The city burned white hot for a moment then it was over.

The chains dropped from Luke’s body, he pulled the piece through his thigh and rushed over to May. She was just sitting there holding the skull in her hands staring at it. It had stopped burning. “What happened?”

“He saw my soul. He couldn’t touch it but he tried anyway. Demons can’t take your soul unless you let them. He’s free now. The effort caused him to unmake himself. He’s free of the curse. No soul, no life, just sleep. I think he’s happy.”, May turned to him with a distant look in her eyes. She blinked once and shook her head, then looked at Luke, “What happened to your clothes?” Luke looked down and quickly covered himself……

The man’s name was Harold. Harold was, once he got over the death of his family, rather useful. He was capable of evaluating the survivors they came across and treating them. Otto counted 14 including Harold and himself. Three were fatally wounded and Otto took them into the building they used to dispose of corpses. He gave Harold the task of digging graves to keep him busy while he killed the three and began the dissection. He was getting the questions he wanted. Now all he needed was the answer……..

 

[moraldeficiency]

Growth……..

The four reached the town at dawn. The sun’s first lights illuminating the desolate survivors. West Virginia always was the armpit of the nation, Mac thought, but this was truly pathetic. Emaciated and dying the temporary survivors looked at the death dealers with lifeless eyes. Each went about their own goals. Screams from a house indicated Vermin had found his next meal. Mac questioned the dying, trying to figure out where they might go from here. Finding nothing but blank stares he killed them in a fit of anger. In truth it was probably a blessing to these cursed to continue living. Abomination wandered aimlessly wanting to break something. He got his wish when passing an old mind shaft. The ground was weak and couldn’t handle the giant’s weight. He fell half a mile into the ground. Landing in the strange smelling water he cursed his luck and began to slowly climb out. The water had been run off from the mountains, collecting every bit of pollution along its journey to poison the soil. It dripped off him as he finally made it to the surface. He stood up but immediately fell over coughing heavily. Something was wrong, his muscles felt on fire. He regained his strength slowly and began his return journey. Lester walked off to the hospital. He didn’t know his own mind; he didn’t know why he came here. He couldn’t explain why he was kneeling down and giving the little boy a drink to help his parched lips. He did kill. Five children dying slowly, painfully. He killed them quick and felt something he never felt before…………

Burns heal over time. Even Luke was back to looking normal. May now had scars on her arms from the battle and when Creel first saw them he cried and vowed to never allow harm to come to her again. Some of the town needed to be rebuilt but for the most part they were continuing well. Their minds were a different story entirely. The Rider had shown them horrors even they, the survivors, had no idea could exist. Two people were still in comas from the shock. One had died. It had been two weeks since the fires and life was beginning to respawn. The crops planted had begun to take grow stalks and power had returned thanks to Junior’s devices. Many took a moment to rest and think of the future.

“We need some type of a warning system. There’s still plenty wrong with this world and trouble seems to gravitate towards us”, Matt looked more concerned than normally, “Where’s Junior?”

“Off getting drunk with Wilson I’d imagine”, Rahne answered playfully with a smile.

“Why did we have to get the only robot in history with an alcohol problem?” Matt looked angry.

“Calm down, Matt. That robot was based on Tony, you know that. Plus he does more in a day than the rest of us put together, and keeps Wilson in line which is a full time job in itself”, Luke looked at Matt carefully. Something was clearly bothering him.

“It doesn’t matter; we couldn’t have detected the Rider. We just need to keep working and we can bring back hope”, May was always the optimist.

Creel looked at May’s arms once again when she mentioned the Rider. “Maybe I should go scout the area and make sure we’re safe.”

“No. You stay here; we all stay here and look after each other. We need to keep everyone together and safe”, Matt was getting forceful

“Hon, why ye so upset? What’s the trouble, love?” Rahne’s eyes looked at Matt carefully. His face showed the answer to her. “Oh, ah see now. Well since you know might as well make it a group thing.” Rahne put her hand in Matt’s, “Matt here is upset because he’s worried about me”, Rahne was smiling, “You see, Ah’m with child.”

A nuclear bomb couldn’t have stunned them more than those three little words……

Otto finished his work. 28 total people were still alive. He would guide them to some form of safety. Robert came to him with the readouts. “Nine have slow radiation poisoning, the rest are functional. What’s our plan?”

Otto didn’t answer at first as he was used to simply imposing his will. But Robert had earned an answer or two. “We’re going to safety. I’ve finished scanning the terrain and found a suitable place to stay for the time being to regroup and complete my studies. We’re going to Hell……

The chemicals dripped from the room reeking of foul deeds. Hyde was changed. When injected with his antidote his monstrous appearance was augmented ten fold. He had grown larger and disfigured, but he was not merely freakish. Stronger and faster than he ever dreamed possible, his grotesque body functioned like never before. He left the room and gathered his children. 33 monsters began to move with the speed of demons towards the East………

 

[moraldeficiency]

Fuel………..

Luke strode into the garage and looked at it again. The Volvo was an eyesore but it was also the only working vehicle in the town. He pulled it out and handed Susan, the new town physician the keys. She needed to transport some meds to the other side of town and Junior was busy planting crops. The trashcan on wheels coughed to a painful life and belched out the door. It sucked but it was the only vehicle they had. Well, Luke looked at the machine in the corner underneath the tarp, that wasn’t exactly true……..

Chemicals. Precious chemicals were all they needed now. They could sustain themselves on the fluids. Both the man made ones and the ones inside man. Hyde’s children decimated another town. The adults were devoured whole. Their systems now fueling these damned creatures. The children were injected and made like them. Hyde stood on a rock and looked at his precious offspring gathered around him, horrifying mutants drooling in anticipation of their next meal. He smiled; at least it appeared to be a smile as far as his distorted face could manage. Hyde’s life finally made sense, he saw his purpose and it was bright. He would be the father of a new race, beings not of laws and customs which led to war and chaos. His children were the children of flesh and they would soon take this place, this planet as their domain…….

Adjustments were made. Otto laughed inside himself as he converted the remainder of the engine. A whiskey factory untouched in the plague that was earth. What ever beings made and controlled this world their humor was perverse indeed. Robert had poured the rest of the grain alcohol into the take and turned the key. The school bus roared to life. Otto wasn’t a mechanic but it was still child’s play to convert the bus to carry the survivors and his equipment. The only person it couldn’t carry was himself. His arms took too much space and so he would have to ride above the vehicle, hanging on as Robert drove the yellow bus down the road towards Hell. A bird flew by and looked at him; Otto almost thought he saw the bird smile. Considering the sight, a yellow school bus with a maniacal genius with four metal arms standing atop it as it’s alcohol fueled engine took them closer to their destination, god had a sense of humor indeed…….

“What’s happening to you?” Mac Gargan was concerned with the giant. His form had been changing, growing in the last two days. At first he wrote it off as just the way the freak was but now he saw a definite pattern forming. This would need to be dealt with.

“Nothing, I, I, I don’t know. This land must be reacting with my radiation. I feel stronger and tougher than before.” Abomination thought of this for a moment. He was stronger. If only he could fight Hulk now. He would rip his body to pieces. He was stronger than he thought possible. Maybe even strong enough to…

The massive hand swung towards Gargan. The wind itself whistled with the impending force about to be transferred. Mac saw it coming. He was still much faster. Jumping back he roared furiously at the monstrosity. Lessons needed to be remembered. The symbiote echoed inside his head, “He’s too strong now for violence, but we have other ways”, Mac stood his ground and waited for the beast to charge.

Inches from his face Abomination halted suddenly. Lester and Vermin were shocked and puzzled until they noticed the small tendril embedded in Abomination’s lower back. It came from beneath the concrete. Mac had booby trapped the very ground. The goliath’s face was in agony, but more than that he was shrinking. The additional muscle mass was leaving him. What was happening?

Mac stepped directly in front of him. He spoke softly, calmly even as his own muscles began to swell and grow. “You’re nothing compared to me. I will never tell you this again. At will I can suck the very life out of you. You’re my dog and you will be a good dog or I will put you down. Do you see now?”

Abomination couldn’t speak but was able to nod his head slightly. Mac turned around and released the creature which fell to its knees gasping before throwing up all over the asphalt. Mac continued walking with Lester and Vermin following quickly.

What the hell have I gotten myself into? Lester thought. These things are too much for me. I should be following his orders implicitly and praying I don’t incur his wrath. So why am I even considering opposing them? He just dropped the Hulk’s only match in strength without lifting a finger but I can’t keep watching them kill. I need to find a way out of this. Lester would wait and choose his moment. Then he did something he never imagined he would or even could do. Lester prayed, and not for himself, he prayed for the world………

 

[moraldeficiency]

The March of War…….

Cities burned by their hands. They called themselves destroyers, purifiers, warriors but to put it simply they were death. They lived only to fight, it was all that made sense. Earth was over, its limping body just refused to see that. They would make them see and understand. It started with just the one warrior. Earth’s mightiest combatant. It became an army once the prisons opened. Those that joined lived to battle, those that opposed them died at their blood stained hands.

Crimson Dynamo surveyed the battlefield analyzing the field and preparing the report for their leader. Rhino approached him. “Are all dead?” Rhino’s horn was bathed red from the slaughter. “My sensors show nothing, Moonstone is rechecking the city”. He hated her and would have killed her in a moment if not for the fact that she held sway with their leader and none dared to cross him. “I will report the progress now”, rockets lifted him in the air towards the center of the city.

Wild Child was goring an already dead man at his master’s feet when the Russian landed. Moonstone looked at him contemptuously, “What is your report?”

“I answer only to the leader, not you”, Dynamo answered

“Then tell me and stop your games”, the voice carried the authority of god himself.

“No life signs, Raleigh is purged”

“Get Shriek and Caliban at once. Moonstone has detected life just to the north. We move at once”……….

Junior’s sensors that were set up outside town started to go active. He pressed the query to identify the life signs. “Oh dear God” He shot out to alert the others at full speed.

They assembled in the Mayors office. “Junior what’s the trouble, buddy?” Wilson asked casually.

“Life signs moving towards us rapidly”

“Are there more survivors?” May was optimistic

“These are not refugees, these are destroyers. My lookouts caught a glimpse of what they did to Raleigh, they left no one alive.” Junior’s voice was grave and stern

“Who are we dealing with”, Luke asked

“I picked up the biomatches for the metahumans Shriek, Wild Child, Rhino, Caliban, Moonstone, Crimson Dynamo, and one other that I’m still confirming. I should have a positive id soon but he’s showing a vast power signature.”

“Dear God, what are we going to do?” Rahne looked at Matt

“We fight, we stand our ground and fight them”, Matt would not let the doubt show in his voice

“No, we can’t stay here. Last time we fought here people died and our town was almost burned up. We should fight but we should take the fight to them”, May’s tone was resolved and from the look in here eyes no one was going to argue.

“So we fight, we’ll move south and fight them in the forest. We might be able to surprise them their”, Creel looked at May and everyone could see the worry on his face.
Junior looked down and mumbled something, “I’ve identified the last signature, it’s the Hulk……

“No not him, he’s dead, Guido killed him. I saw him! He’s dead!” Rahne was hysterical

“Rahne, what happened”, Matt listened intently. She had never told her what happened to mutant town. When he first brought it up she cried and said she couldn’t speak about it. She had to explain it now that the devil was still alive.

“When the bombs hit radiation flooded us ah’ll. Many died but many still lived immune to the blight. That’s when he came. He had turned purest black and savage. He only wanted death and he came straight to where the most life was. That was mutant town. That was mutant town.” She repeated this statement dwelling on the was as tears welled inside her eyes. “A creature like this you couldna believe existed. We fought, all fought and fought well. We had learned not to lie down and die long before but he was something else. He tore though us like paper dolls, Nah a body remained after thirty minutes except me ah’n Guido. He told me to run and charged the beast. I knew I couldna hurt it so I did run. I ran fast as I could, then I felt the quakes. I saw them in the distance. Guido always could take ah hit. Made him stronger. He couldna take this though, no one could. He changed, his muscles grew as he fought to absorb the fight and take it back to the black monster. I couldna do anything but watch my friend sacrifice himself. Ah guess Guido had a plan cause he just stood there taking hits I could feel from where I was. He was smiling that stupid grin he always did when he had a trick to pull. It was a good last trick. He kept taking the hits and absorbing the energy, finally the monster smashed him with all his force and, and….” She broke down sobbing hysterically.

Matt took her in his arms. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t do anything.”

“He exploded, just blew up in a blast of force that knocked me out cold. He took all that thing’s strength and threw it all back at him. There were nah a trace of either left when I awoke. I thought both died. Oh God, Guido, you died fah naught.”

“He died to save you”, Matt held the woman he loved closely and tried to summon the strength to fight this thing. They were going to battle, they were going to die……….

 

[moraldeficiency]

Preparations……………

“What chances do we have”, Matt’s face showed just how worried he was

“I’ve analyzed their movements and fight patterns, Rhino is simply a powerhouse but predictable. Wild Child is fierce but also manageable. Caliban has both physical and mental attacks, he could be an issue but not if I take him down first. Dynamo’s armor is not in my class but he is dangerous. Those are the simple problems. Shriek, Moonstone and Hulk are the real trouble here. Shriek in addition to sonic powers can disrupt our attitudes and cause us to infight, using this throughout the fight could drastically decrease our chances of living. Moonstone is vastly powerful and I would need to combat her directly. I have a 70% chance to beat her if fighting alone. If she’s assisted by any of the others my chance at survival drops to 20%. The Hulk is the biggest hurdle. My analysis shows him to be completely in savage state. Simply put he’s stronger than ever and I’m not sure anything we do could even hurt him. Using myself, Wilson, Rahne, Matt, May, Creel and Luke our chance of survival is approximately 5%.”

“May’s not going”, Creel’s voice was forceful

“Neither is Rahne”, Matt responded

“The hell I’m not. I can fight just as good as you”, Rahne was angry, the shame of her last encounter with the Hulk still burned at her

May looked up at Creel. “If I don’t go and you lose what do you think will happen to me? I, we, all have a better chance at sticking together.”

“You can run, you can outrun and hide from all of them”

“Creel you know me, you know I won’t run. Wouldn’t it be better if we don’t separate?”

Creel’s eyes met hers. She was right. He firmed his resolve for the battle. “Fine, but you stay with me, no arguments”

May smiled. “If a seven year old goes than there’s nothing you can do to keep me here”, Rahne looked fiercely at Matt.

“Fine”, Matt struck her jaw hard with his left fist. Knocking her out cold. He caught her fall and handed her to Luke. “I need you to watch her”

“No @%&$ing way, Matt”

“Think Luke, we’re probably all gonna die. Now if we go they’ll kill everyone in this town. But with you and Rahne leading them they have a chance. Between her senses and your strength they can have a chance. You know I’m right”

Luke opened his mouth to argue but nothing came out. He shut it. “Fine.” He looked at his friends probably for the last time and walked back into town. He had to gather the people and prepare to move quickly………..

Harold finished refueling the school bus. “How much further, Otto?” the words seemed to break Otto out of his concentration. He looked down. “We’re about eight hours away from the town. Tell Robert to keep driving straight and take the turn towards the coast.” Otto looked into the horizon. Soon his journey would be over and his work would begin…….

 

[moraldeficiency]

Heroism Revisited (Part 1)………….

Wilson and Tony stood at the forefront of the forest. They would be here soon. The small vial of green liquid in Wilson’s hand was their only chance against the goliath. Thank God for murders like Wilson, Junior thought. They never throw away a weapon, even when it was designed to kill them. Matt was hiding, weapons in hand he would ambush and take out as many as possible. May and Creel stood to the back ready to come in as reinforcements. The plan was made. Now they just had to stay alive……

Rahne awoke with a start. That bastard! She was tied to a chair in the garage. People were standing en mass outside listening to Luke. As he finished speaking they marched out of town hiding out of sight until word was given. Luke returned to her. “You alright?”

“Ah’m pregnant, my lover just knocked me out and now he’s gonna die cause he needs to be the man in this relationship. Worse he has you babysitting me when we should be watching his back. Other than that ah’m just dandy.” Her eyes locked on Luke.

“Matt’s right we need to protect the rest”, she heard doubt in his voice….

“Think we’ll live?” May looked up to Creel

“You’ll live; you’ll live if I have to kill everyone on earth to make it happen. Stay by me and you’ll be fine.” Creel lied

May looked at him and smiled. She knew he was lying and knew he was scared but he would stand by her till his death. He was just like her father………

The explosion knocked them all down. The forest was devastated. Moonstone was smart. She knew they were detected. They marched forward into the trap but they had a surprise of their own. Jumping nearly into orbit the Hulk slammed into the center of the forest. The trap was ruined. She gave the signal light. Let the slaughter begin…….

Matt was pinned under a tree. His leg was broken in two places. Wild Child jumped atop the tree and looked down at his victim. “Hehehe, man without fear, hmmm? Let’s see if I can put the fear back into the devil.” His mouth opened as he jumped, his claws ready to gorge his prey’s throat. Matt smiled; the gun emerged from beneath the branch he had used to conceal it. Four rounds pierced into the mutant’s head in almost simultaneously the same place. His neck snapped back and his lifeless body hit the ground. Now he just needed to get this tree off himself……..

The explosion rocked the town. Rahne’s chair fell back over. She stared up at Luke. “This is our only chance. Together we could win, if not here then we all die. We have to help them now. Please Luke, Ah’m begging you.”

Luke had already decided. He snapped the ties off her and got her up. “We need to get there fast”, she began to run out the door. “No, come back”, he yelled to her. “I’ve got a better way”, he pulled the canvas cloth off the machine. “Get on…….

Junior and Wilson were the worst hit by the blast. He damn near landed on top of them. Wilson was healing as he saw the monster smash Junior into the ground with a stomp. For a moment he thought his friend dead. The blast of energy knocking the goliath back told him differently. Junior emerged from the crater. His eyes shone bright red with heat. The world’s most powerful machine was pissed………

Titanium Man missed May in his hyper speed charge. He thought to take out an annoyance early but her dodge had surprised him. Not quite as surprised as the wall that brought him to a dead stop. A wall named Creel……..

Moonstone fired energy beams at the little girl. She was annoying, bouncing around like that. She disappeared into the fallen trees. You can’t hide from me little girl, she thought. Her beam attack was wide and decimated the downed foliage. Little brat can’t dodge that. The tree smashed her back bringing her to the ground. May had ducked out of the cover and blindsided her with the wreckage. She would die for that……..

Rhino stopped Creel’s death grip on Titanium Man. Creel fell to the ground hard. Rhino lowered his horn and charged again…….

Shriek stood back and watched. The survivors were putting up a fight, how cute. She focused on the people and began to amp up the hate and frustration in the hero’s. Their emotions altered quickly as they lost their ability to focus and think and began to turn on each other. She turned to Caliban at her side. “Kill them all……..

 

[moraldeficiency]

Heroism Revisited (Part 2)…………..

Shriek was dealing a crippling blow. Creel and Wilson’s minds were on fire with hate. Matt was still trying to free himself from the tree, but this was the only point holding his madness from running rampant. Even May had a look of anger in her eyes as she battled Moonstone, dancing between her attacks. Junior was not affected but he was dealing with the Hulk currently, so he had other matters to attend. The monster swung with rage smashing the robot into the ground again. His systems read critical. He could not take this much longer. He engaged his reserve power and blasted towards the Hulk as the monster spread his hands ready to destroy the machine……

Rhino’s horn smashed into Creels body knocking him down again. Titanium Man hovered over and fired a beam of microware heat cooking the giant from the inside out. Creel screamed from the ground as he began to cook…….

May bounced from the remaining trees circling Moonstone, she was closing the gap. Dodging another blast she leapt at the woman slamming both tiny fists into her shield full strength. Moonstone was knocked back. May grabbed a large rock and held it over Moonstone’s head about to slam it home. Shriek’s psychic attack did have consequences. Caliban charged from behind. His teeth drooled with anticipation as he leapt into the air. May’s hate was overriding her senses, she would not recognize the threat. To the right Creel screamed in agony……..

The fire came at impossible speeds. The bike roared over the battlefield flying into the Hulk’s back leaving a scorched burn mark across him, knocking him forward and into Junior’s electricity charged fists. It finally skidded to a halt on the dirt. “Did you miss us?” Luke Cage yelled from atop the flaming motorcycle. Rahne picked up the scent and ran towards the source…….

May threw the rock as hard as she could, Caliban was inched from her. He missed. As he crashed into Moonstone he wondered what she was doing throwing the rock to the right suddenly. Crimson Dynamo knew as the piece of earth nearly decapitated him. She bounced forward and grabbed the Rhino’s foot flipping him up as he charged. Shriek’s powers were vast, but not enough to make her forsake her friends……

Rahne ran towards Matt. He sensed her instantly and didn’t know whether to smile or cry. “Rahne I’m…..” she shot over him jumping the tree and leaving him lying there underneath it. He didn’t understand until he smelled the blood gushing from the wound in Shriek’s neck. The moment she died the fog lifted and Matt could uses his sense fully again. He felt the tree move as Rahne lifted it off him. “Rahne you’re sorry, ah believe you were gonna say?” He smiled and used the two new batons he had made to splint his broken leg. “Something like that”, she smiled back at him then ran to help the others……

With Shriek dead Creel and Wilson came back to reality. May was desperately avoiding Dynamo, Rhino and Caliban. She couldn’t keep this up. Creel got up, his body still smoldering from the heat. Caliban leapt to her. Creel’s massive hand gripped his white bald head and in one motion crushed the creature. Creel threw the lifeless body into the Crimson Dynamo knocking him back. Now for the Rhino….

Junior was at maximum power as he desperately fought the beast. Luke was helping, tying Hulk up and taking some tremendous hits for his efforts. His face was bloody and he barely had one eye he could see out of anymore. Junior was going to fry keeping this up but he was also keeping him out of the equation long enough for reinforcements. He recorded all movements and moved with grace few dancers could pray for, let alone an 800 pound metal shell. Even with Luke’s help it was too much. The Hulk was growing more powerful with every minute. He couldn’t keep this up…..

Wilson aimed and fired. Two shots, both scatterbursts directly into the Hulk’s eyes. That would give Junior a moment. He bodyslid down the battlefield appearing above the Crimson Dynamo. “Howdy do chuckles, you enjoying your stay in the states there comrade?” Wilson spoke into his ear as he attached the explosive to his back, then bodyslid back to the Hulk. Dynamo’s back exploded and he crashed into Luke. Luke tore his armor off like a can opener. Wilson grabbed the vial out of his belt. They could actually win this…..

Moonstone apparent thought so too, as she watched Creel throw Rhino’s corpse aside and begin to move towards the Hulk. This must end now. She concentrated from the ground and gathered her energy. May looked at her. “Watch out she’s…..

The blast finished May’s sentence. Moonstone used her full power to decimate the battlefield. Creel shielded May with his massive body. The blast knocked even Luke to the ground. The Hulk stood over Wilson. He raised a gigantic foot over his head and began its deadly arc. Junior got up and moved with all his speed, his friend was in trouble. He hit the Hulk head on carrying him forward, increasing speed as they smashed into Moonstone killing her instantly on impact. He arched up and began to climb, if he could get this giant out of orbit he could still…..

Savage hands gripped the robot and with one roar he tore Junior into pieces. The flight was over. Hulk fell to the ground holding the dead machine in his hands. Wilson witnessed this. That son of a $#*$!@%! He moved forward and jumping over him as massive hands barely missed crushing his body, twirling and shoving the liquid down the monster’s throat. Landing he was struck by a savage back hand. The Hulk moved forward but suddenly doubled over coughing. What had these puny humans done to him?

“Hurts don’t it? That was designed to kill me actually. It’s a corrosive enzyme that bonds and multiplies when it encounters healing factors. I know, I know it sounds all scientific and &*$%# but it basically boils down to you’re being eaten alive from the inside out. All that healing is only making you weaker. I know your system is pretty extreme so those little buggers must be in hog heaven right now. You’re dying by inches you big $#@#@. You killed my friend, I don’t have friends, and you killed my only one, I think you realize now what a mistake that was.” He drew his sword. “I’m going to enjoy every moment of this”, Wilson kicked his gut and the hulk doubled over. Slashing at his back legs and severing tendons Hulk fell backwards lying face up staring at Wilson, his sword and the helmet were now held in his hands. He thrust the helmet into the Hulk’s face as he pushed the sword into the monster’s chest, severing his heart. He twisted back and forth taking immense pleasure from the crippled giant’s dying screams…….

Otto stood over her. He recognized her instantly of course. What an odd twist of fate. He had dropped the survivors off in the town and approached the battle scene only to find her unconscious around fallen heroes and villains alike. His metal arms lifted her tiny body. With one thought he could erase the last trace of his enemy from this earth. She would just be seen as having died in battle. Otto’s metallic arms twisted over her fragile neck…..

 

[moraldeficiency]

Ingredients for Death………..

The group gathered around Otto in hushed silence. “Junior had some very good preliminary work. It combined with my genius has now given us hope.” He held up the vial containing reddish liquid. “This will sequence the genes in people and overwrite their coding to contain a partial portion of the original sequences. In short, people who take this will be immune to radiation and disease.” He looked down at his original specimen and smiled. Over the last two days he had realized how stupid he had always been. May smiled at him, so proud of his achievements. His blind hatred had almost doomed humanity. If Otto hadn’t learned his lesson that day of the escape he would have killed this genetic miracle and all his work would never have been completed. Instead with a simple decision for life he would be a savior. For the first time in his awful life he felt pride for something other than his genius. He felt pride in his humanity.

“Once treated, the people will experience pain and extreme weakness for at least 40 hours. After that; however, they will be not only immune they will be improved. Approximately 1/20th of May’s powers would be deferred into the populace. In short, people, not only will we be immune to the blights but we will gain the strength to fight the other monsters that roam this place. I recommend total immediate inoculation………

The citizens were injected. Otto took the first one to show it was safe. Matt and the others would wait and be inoculated after the populace was strong again. Matt’s leg was in a cast and Wilson had gone rather insane, spending his time drinking and speaking to Junior’s head as if it was alive but May, Rahne, Luke and Creel were still in good fighting condition. This way they wouldn’t be helpless. Matt was sure they could hold out for the 40 hours until they were ready. He had no idea what lay on the horizon……

They descended from the dead mountains that night. Vermin had picked up a large scent signature mixed with smells of dead and blood. The town loomed in the distance as the sun rose. Hell was bathed in an eerie light, reddish gold which gave it a very appropriate look of blood. Vermin drooled with anticipation; his red eyes glinted backwards to Gargan. Mac smiled as he surveyed the town. This would do nicely. Now to get rid of any problems. He began to move down the street into town. “Gentlemen, time to do what we were born for……

When you heard of plagues of God sending locusts and disease to wipe out all life, you were thinking of them. They were the final judgment and all were held accountable. They moved North East like a swarm devouring all in their path. Hyde’s children only grew stronger as they ingested more and gathered greater numbers. Hyde himself was a nightmare from the foulest imaginations of the damned. His body had mutated drastically. A large additional arm had grown on his right side and his teeth had gain a sharp layered look like a sharks. His muscles were insanely large and the veins bulged beneath peeling grey skin. The most disturbing part of him by far was his eyes. Of his demonic appearance his eyes had gone the opposite way. They were crystal clear blue. The kind of blue that you dream the ocean to be. They shone bright and the drugs gave them a dilation that was positively angelic. This monster looked at his prey through angel eyes and that contradiction made the rest of him and his nightmarish actions all the more horrific and chilling. Currently those eyes lay on a highway sign. “Twelve miles to Hell, Virginia.” He looked back at his progeny. “Come children……

 

[moraldeficiency]

Showdown in Hell (Part One)…………

The mayor’s office was torn apart in a single strike. Abomination, now pulsing with radioactive wastes, barely had to make an effort. This would get their attention. The one look out, a blind man, had his throat sliced open by Vermin upon entrance. Mac looked around hungrily deciding how he would deal with the residents and their protectors. Some would live, but they only needed half the residents for slaves. The rest were just extra mouths to feed…..

May ran silently around the building. Her senses had gone off the chart. She alerted Creel and moved towards the danger. She saw the animal slash Matt’s throat. If he was going to live she needed to help him now. She was behind it as it stood over her friend. Its drool fell on Matt’s chest. Dear God it was going to eat him. May’s eyes flared angrily as she increased speed grabbing the stop sign and tearing it from the concrete, she swung it in a wide arc slamming Vermin thirty feet into the air away from Matt. The others turned to the commotion but May was focused on Matt. The wound bled profusely. She grabbed his shirt, ripped it off his trembling body and pulled it tight over the wound. Mac extended tendrils towards the small annoyance. This would be easy, he thought. The next thought in his head was how much pain he felt as Creel slammed both massive fists together against his skull. The force would have crushed almost anything. Unfortunately, Mac wasn’t one of them.…..

Otto was sweating hard as the drugs remade his genetic code line by line. He sipped at the water slowly, suddenly dropping it as the Mayor’s office exploded into rubble. He moved to the window and saw May enter the building with Matt in her arms. May was up the stairs and there in less then three seconds. “Matt’s….

“Yes I see, lay him on the table and I’ll do what I can”, Otto almost collapsed as he moved towards the table too quickly for his fragile condition. His arms supported him and brought him to the wounded man. Otto grabbed the surgical tools. “I will help him, you go help the others”, Otto turned to her but she was already back in the streets……..

Vermin got up. Little fleshy thing hurt him. She would pay for that. But first he would follow the scent. The blood was fresh in his hands. He could feel the fear and pain coming from the building. Vermin crept through the back door of the hospital and began to climb the stairs to his prey. Rahne barely got a glimpse of the foot entering the building, but she did get a glimpse. She changed to full wolf form and charged towards her wounded lover. She would keep him safe……

Creel screamed as sharp tendrils pierced the portions of his form that were still flesh. Mac held him as the Abomination charged with his right fist cocked back. The hit caused a shock wave for a solid mile in all directions. Creel was imbedded in the pavement several feet down. Abomination looked down at Creel and raised his fists again. The chain wrapped around his neck and pulled him away at lightning speeds. Luke was dragging the radioactive giant down the streets. Before Abomination could gain some leverage Luke turned the bike’s flaming wheels hard and brought it to a dead stop. Abomination was sling shot viciously out of town. Luke turned the bike and headed back towards Gargan……

Wilson stumbled into the square. He was drunk and in no mood to fight. There’s always something about to kill them all. Why doesn’t God or the devil or whoever the hell was pulling the strings around here just up and do something already? Movement caught his eye and he saw the figure standing in the shadows holding the knife…….

Lester should’ve just stuck him. He had the drop, he had the opportunity. His job was to take out people from the outside along with Vermin and allow Abomination and Venom to do the heavy lifting. He just couldn’t do it. Wilson was barely able to stand up straight, this should be so easy. But he hesitated.

“Why does no one have the balls anymore? I’m right here, just kill me already. What kind of a joke is this, cause honestly I just don’t get the punchline anymore”, Wilson sounded desperate. A man without hope.

“I don’t know my own mind anymore. It used to be so simple, just hit the target. No thinking, no little voices in my head telling me truths I don’t want to hear. Just me and my target.”

“So what are you gonna do then? Cause I’m getting a little bored waiting for a death that never seems to come”

Lester couldn’t believe the words that now flowed from his mouth. What’s more he couldn’t believe the conviction in his voice or how they made him feel. “Grow up. I’ve never loved or cared for anyone or anything, you’ve obviously lost a lot but you’re still here. You’re still here whining about what happened, well get this: Life is hard. People die and you always lose in the end but just for a moment in our lives we have a chance to do something really extraordinary and fight that inevitability. I’ve never done anything worth my life. But maybe I can make my death mean something………

Wilson watched him leave the alleyway. He stared at the whiskey bottle in his hand. He had an image of Junior fighting the Hulk, of him saving them from Moonstone. He could hear Junior in his head telling him what he needed to do. Junior saved him from space for a reason. Maybe this is it……

Beautiful eyes saw the conflict happening in the distance. Fighting? There was true life here. Perhaps the chemicals within the metahumans could bring about a new evolution. They would see for themselves. The children hadn’t eaten in a day and their hyper metabolisms were screaming for sustenance. They began to pick up pace and charge towards town. The time for the supremacy of the flesh was at hand……