Issue #8 (April 2018)
Written by John Cheese Featuring: Zawadi
Rosetta Stone
Silver Scorpian
Flintlock
Zombie Master
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YELLOW CAT LAND
OUTSIDE RICHMOND, WEST VIRGINIA Zawadi cut through an elfin figure made from shadow stuff with a vibranium dagger before turning to what had once been a man, his face replaced by a boiling mass of snakes. Fending him off she got a moment to survey the battlefield and the numbers of the enemy. "We're outnumbered Zawadi!" Stone called as she used a sonic blast to scatter a group of man sized flies that had been zeroing in on her. "Any ideas?" "We need to stop the Dreamweaver!" Zawadi called up to her as she narrowly dodged a trident thrusted at her before reversing the thrust of her own weapon and stabbing its owner in one of its three bloodshot eyes. "Or at least get her to call off the horde!" She added as Silver Scorpion burst from the roller coaster, her wrist stingers blasting. "We have more worries then just these demons!" Jennifer basked as she ducked under a swing from an ogre, its spoon like weapon sending a number of the smaller demons crowded around it flying. "Flintlock betrayed us, she's in there right now making a deal." She added pointing at the immaculate tent and the red skinned demoness guarding the entrance. "That sneaky little..." Stone snapped as a glob of slime flew towards her, the spectral fluid draining the power of her armour's flight systems and sending her crashing to the ground. "Stop her." Zawadi answered coldly as she flicked open the bo-staff she carried just as more demons charged in. "Stone you wanted ideas, here's one, help me hold the line!" Nodding before firing off an energy net at the guard demoness Stone turned and nodded to Silver Scorpion before opening fire on the encroaching horde. Sprinting the hundred meters to the tent and vaulting over the trapped squirming demoness, Jennifer barrelled into the tent just as Flintlock finished shaking the Dreamweaver's hand. "The covenant between us is agreed." The Dreamweaver hissed as Jennifer went to tackle Flintlock to the ground, only to be blasted away from the deal by a forked bolt of pink lightning. "What is your dream?" "I want to be able to love again." Flintlock stated quietly. "Traitor!" Silver Scorpion snapped as she got to her feet only for skeletal hands reached out of the ground to restrain her. "You'll get your turn." The Dreamweaver whispered as her hands glowed green before fading, anger spread across her face. "You!" She snapped as she pointed a finger at Flintlock, "There is no one you love, you trapped me in this covenant!" "Yep." Flintlock smiled as she fired a shot at the hands restraining Silver Scorpion, her mouth open in surprise. "A little serpent spelt out how a magical covenant can cripple a spell caster, and you were so eager to let the dreams come true. It was too easy really." She shrugged as she turned away and grabbed Silver Scorpion by the arm and headed for the flap of the tent, "You two have fun now!" She added as the tent flap closed and plunged the interior into darkness. "You two?" The Dreamweaver asked, as a pair of yellow eyes glowed behind her. Before she could even turn around she could feel the aura of the person behind her, divine energy haemorrhaging from every pore of her body. "The Zombie Master!" She hissed as she swung round only to see flowing grey mist that stretched into the horizon. It was clear now that she was no longer in her tent but some kind of astral plane. "Yes!" A voice hissed as Dreamweaver's arm throbbed, drawing her attention downwards as her veins transformed into vipers, all striking at her. Igniting her hand, she immolated the serpents before zeroing in on a figure shrouded in mist. "You think you scare me lay witchling!" Dreamweaver yelled as she summoned up a trio of daggers and flung them at the figure. The blades sliced through the enemy but as they did Dreamweaver felt something cold touch her face. Looking up she saw a horrific looking face staring down at her. "Barbara Robb, I avatar of Damballah judge you!" The figure boomed in a voice so powerful that black drops of sweat began to drip down Dreamweaver's face as her glamor melted away to reveal a haggard face. Not that Barbara carried about her looks at the moment, she was more concerned with the giant green serpent emerging from Zombie Master's chest. One of her judges had found her, and while snakes usually showed no emotion, the voodoo god of the dead looked furious. "Go ahead you judged me once, sentenced me." The Dreamweaver croaked with more bravado then she actually had. "It didn't stick thanks to my master!" "Silence!!"Damballah boomed, his voice causing the wisps of mist to ignite with a vivid gold flame. "You were abandoned long ago by your master so you crawled rat like onto Earth to gather forces and get your revenge!" "My forces." Dreamweaver purred as mustered up a worried smile at Damballah and his avatar. "The only reason I'm still here and not banished. A demon army would ravish Earth before it was stopped. Not only that, but the lives of those whose lives I improved and the ones who paid for such dreams would be forfeit. I am willing to make a deal." "You will get a deal." Sarah stated as pain radiated through her hand into Dreamweaver's skull. "Barbara Robb, I sentence you to life without your powers, without the bitterness cultivated within you." Taking her hand away Damballah and the mists faded, replaced by the Dreamweaver's tent. Already Barbara felt the effects of Damballah's sentence as the mystical damage caused to her was healed turning the crone she had become back into a beautiful young woman. "You'll pay for this!" She hissed as Sarah grabbed her wrist and threw her outside to where the battle raged. "I suspect I will." Sarah replied as she saw Flintlock being entombed in ink by a tentacle headed demoness. Elsewhere Stone was grounded, her armour ensnared by the chains of a bunch of imp like figures wearing only loin clothes. Zawadi was still fighting, slashing out at the demons around her as she guarded the silver clad body laying at her feet. "ENOUGH!" Sarah ordered in a voice that sent shivers down the dark creatures assembled before her. There was a slither of power in there that even these newly created demons feared and respected. "Dark Mistress, what is your command?" The leading edge of the horde asked as various other creatures in the rows behind bowed. "Release the humans, let them come to me!" Sarah ordered. Within seconds the demon ranks had parted to allow the Agents of Argent through, with Zawadi carrying Silver Scorpion's comatose body in her arms, thorns jutting out of her now green veins. "Can you reverse this?" Zawadi asked. "This curse is evocative of the Briar Rose Hex." Sarah began as she placed her hand on Jennifer's head. "The spells effects will be gone on the hour and she won't suffer any adverse effects." "That's a relief." Stone sighed as she looked down at Barbara Robb crouched behind Sarah in a vain attempt to keep out of sight. "What about her?" "Her punishment is ongoing but she should be as harmless as any other human, less so since she is bound in covenant with Flintlock." Sarah explained as she pushed Barbara over to her teammates before turning to Flintlock. "You sold your deception well." She mused. "It worked that's all that matters." Flintlock grumbled. "Indeed, if you can take Miss Robb with you, I will see to the demons." Sarah stated as she glided past her teammates into the horde. The local police arrived but were quickly replaced on the gates by SHIELD and then by agents with A black chain motif running down the arms of their uniforms. Not one member of law enforcement personal stepped through the gate into the theme park, they were here to make sure everything remaining was kept inside rather than her to take people out. "So, can we address the traitor in the room, because I'm still not getting it?" Stone asked as she saw Sarah flit through the demons on the other side of the green. "The only person I betrayed was the Dreamweaver." Flintlock answered as she shot a look over at Silver Scorpion as she began to fidget in her mystical coma. "And if I wasn't bound in a magical covenant I would stab you right now!" Barbara snarled as she tried to break free of the energy shackles keeping her tethered to the next picnic bench along from the Agents of Argent. "Sarah asked me if I was willing to set up the covenant." Flintlock sighed as she looked at Zawadi for any kind of support. "Said it would reduce Dreamweaver's magic and the amount of destruction that would happen if they fought." "The lay witchling didn’t try to fight, she ambushed me and used trickery!" Barbara hissed. "Even with her power she's a coward!" "Anyone have something to shut her up?" Zawadi sighed as Stone popped a section of her armour open to reveal a roll of duct tape and liberally used it to cover Barbara's mouth. "Anyway, I agreed and it worked." Flintlock finished as somewhere a clock chimed and Silver Scorpion sat bolt upright and planted a kiss on Flintlock's cheek. Opening her eyes, said kiss was followed by a slap round Rachel's face. "Ugh that was horrible!" Silver Scorpion spat as she glowered at Rachel. "Some voice kept telling me to kiss the first person I see and it’s our resident traitor. I mean the kiss wasn't too bad and you have really smooth skin but no." "Rachel isn't a traitor." Zawadi announced. "I told Sarah to take Flintlock to the judges in the hope that she had heard of a failed covenant between a mystic and his client in the 90s. Turns out she had, so as far as you are all concerned the order came from me." "Then I'm sorry the kiss was very nice." Silver Scorpion yammered as she looked over at the three demons approaching their position. "Did I mention the soft skin, and hey look demons." "You are forgiven." Flintlock grunted as she aimed her weapon at the trio of potential attackers. Two of them were female but very different looking, with one being statuesque in build with ruby red skin and a crown of thorn like horns sprouting from her head, the other was green skinned, slight of build and had long tentacles sprouting from her scalp. The third was a child sized fly with a jewel like sheen to its body. "Miss Hannigan will be arriving shortly." The red skinned demon announced in a sultry voice, her arms folded over her bare breasts in an attempt to maintain some dignity. "She will explain more soon." She added, as the tentacle scalped demon kept her head down to avoid making eye contact. Something had changed among the horde, and Zawadi was curious. Slipping round the other side of the bench she ripped the tape off Barbara's mouth, the former sorceress grunting in pain as she did, before holding a knife against her throat. "What's going on with them?" "She restored their humanity." Dreamweaver snorted, disgust evident across her face, as she gestured to the now human horde filing out of the park. "These three are the ones trapped between demon and human to ensure that the positive aspects of my spell endure." "Didn't she do that to you too?" Zawadi asked as Sarah walked over, her hood down revealing her fatigued face. "She was a fool to do so." The Dreamweaver muttered. "Probably, but I have need of you to help find the route demons are using to get into our realm and then seal it." Sarah announced. "As for you my friends," She added as she turned to the demons, "my friend will give you clemency for as long as you need it." "Thank you, Miss Hannigan." The red demoness, the group's designated speaker sighed, before all three bowed to her, before thick smoke swallowed them up and transported them away. "I think it's time to leave." Zawadi stated as the security forces began to creep into the park towards them. Nodding Sarah waved her arms, and like the demons they were swallowed up in mist before reappearing on the mesa they had previously camped on, only days earlier. No one talked until Jennifer couldn't bare it no longer. "This is where we part ways isn't it." "Yes." Zawadi stated quietly. "I think we can all agree that it's time we parted ways. That said I want it to be known that you can count on me should you need me." "I think that goes for all of us." Flintlock murmured. "So how do we get home?" "Sleep, you will wake in your sleep." Sarah ordered as the other Agents of Argent fell into a deep slumber before being swallowed up by the earth. "They trust you, they trust each other." Barbara snorted. "Pathetic." "Then you sensed it too." Sarah hissed. "That a murderer was in our company, one I can't pass justice on." She sighed before looking at her captive. "They will face justice, but first we should attend to yours." ROSSETTA TECHNOLOGIES BUILDING SILICON VALLEY, CALIFORNIA Nefer Neith Sinue sat up from her desk as her assistant walked in. Her armour was nowhere to be seen, and she was dressed in a business suit and heels. "What is it Marie?" Nefer asked as the holo-shroud covering her Rosetta Stone flicked slightly. "The next candidate for head of security has arrived." Marie announced as a woman dressed in a red jumpsuit walked into the office. "One Rachel Grey." "So, I got an invite in the post as I was scrounging up change to pay my legal bills." Flintlock purred as she sat down on the chair on the opposite side of the desk. "It was very kind of you, but I don't think I'm right for this position." "And I think you are." Nefer replied. "So, my question is when you can start?" CAMPOS RUPESTRES BRAZIL The sound of the Atlantic Forest awoke Zawadi with a start. Sliding out of bed and walking to the window she swore in Swahili as she spotted the figure clad in white perched on a rocky outcrop watching her through the window. Turning around she picked up her bo-staff and dagger before slipping on a pair of boots. Walking out the door she took up a defensive stance as she stared down the Hatut Zeraze warrior before her. "So, you found me." She whispered as the grass rustled and five more of the white clad figures emerged. "Like lions hunting buffalo you are, now come claim your prey," She announced as a smile spread across her face, "if you can that is." MADDISON, WISCONSIN Jennifer looked down at the crepes on her plate, not daring to look the man she was meeting in the air, her thumb tapping each finger in sequence before reversing back down the line. “I have news about your mother.” The man replied as he studied the woman sitting before him. “We are reopening the investigation into her death.” “Why, the police were so convinced that she overdosed.” Jennifer mumbled as she focused on the man’s leg and the pistol holstered on his thigh. “Because I convinced them that they were wrong.” The man told her. “You see I worked with your mother, I even came to call her friend. No she died on mission, not from a drug overdose but from the hands of a murderous teammate.” “On mission?” Jennifer asked quietly. “She worked as an Avon representative.” “Company lies, she was part of a team analysing superhuman threats to the United States.” The man stated as he pulled out a photo and slid it forwards. “Naomi Barnstow AKA the Black Scorpion was a brave woman, far braver then the rest of us.” Jennifer stared at the photo and the six people caught by the camera. “You said one of these people killed my mother.” Jennifer asked. “Which one?” “Her.” The man stated as he pointed to a woman dressed in a desert cameo trousers and blouse armed with an assault rifle. “Ironic since your mother and you have this woman as a ‘friend’ in common.” Jennifer shook her head and balled her fists, slamming them onto the underside of the table and causing the plate to shake and rattle. “I see you know her.” The man sighed. “Be careful, she is a serpent and not to be trusted.” “And how can I trust you?” Jennifer asked, her mind already made up despite her question. “Because you can call me William,” The man stated, “and also a friend.” Shuddering slightly Jennifer turned over in bed, her mind trapped in the grips of the dream she was experiencing, unaware of the red cross shaped protrusion stabbed into the back of her neck as she drifted back off to sleep. |
I want to take this moment to say a great big thank you to everyone who has been reading this mini-series and hope you enjoyed it. This series started out as a challenge to make a female led team, and while I can’t speak for anyone else, I would like to think that I gave the ‘Agents of Argent’ a good introduction into Marvel 2000.
I would also like to say that this is not the end of Project Argent. While the title may be completed for now, I can imagine it coming back very soon, possibly in the autumn when things have begun to settle down in my real life. But if anyone wants to borrow these characters let me know and we can work something out.
All I can say is watch this space.
Many Thanks
- John Cheese
I would also like to say that this is not the end of Project Argent. While the title may be completed for now, I can imagine it coming back very soon, possibly in the autumn when things have begun to settle down in my real life. But if anyone wants to borrow these characters let me know and we can work something out.
All I can say is watch this space.
Many Thanks
- John Cheese