Back to GatefoldIssue #68 by Steve Crosby
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"To Hell and Back"
Stu Conrad was going to kill Tony Stark. It would certainly be easier than saying no to the man. That had been Stu’s first instinct, back when he’d been approached to be the newest government liaison to the Avengers. The request had come from the President himself, and Stu had said no to him many times. But Stark had recommended him and, knowing that, Stu just hadn’t been able to refuse.
And now Stu Conrad was in Avengers Mansion, dealing with crisis after crisis. It wasn’t bad enough that Captain America had left the team soon after. At least Warbird, the new Avengers Chairperson, also had military experience. It would have been nice if she’d gone back to her previous codename, or of Photon had done the same, but losing almost all name recognition wasn’t the worst thing about the new Avengers lineup.
It was what almost that made Stu Conrad despair. Because everybody knew who the Hulk was.
“We need to issue a statement,” Stu told Warbird, whose back was to him. “It wasn’t that long ago that Hulk cut a swatch of destruction across the country. Last the public knew, the Avengers took the Hulk down and placed him into federal custody. Now that they know he’s here - there’s footage of him fighting the Avengers on your front lawn! - people will be scared.”
“Everybody knows about work release,” Warbird said without turning around. Her attention was focused on what was happening on the other side of the glass. “Doctor Robert Bruce Banner has been placed in Avengers custody, lending us his scientific expertise. On the rare occasions where he loses control, the Avengers are on-site to deal with the Hulk, which is what happened the other day. There’s your statement.”
“That won’t satisfy the public,” Stu replied. “What they want is for a living gamma bomb to not be in New York City. Banner was placed in your custody on the condition that it not be public. Well, now it is, and the agreement needs to be renegotiated.”
“Fine.” Warbird turned around. “Guarantee me that the Red Skull hasn’t already placed himself in yet another high-level government position. Or Baron Zemo, for that matter. Or any of a dozen other megalomaniacs who would use the Hulk for their own ends. Banner is with the Avengers because we are the only ones that can be trusted, and while I understand you can’t tell the public that, I’m sure there’s something just as convincing that you can tell them.”
“It would be better if an Avenger made the statement personally. Preferably Captain America, or Iron Man or Thor, but as Chairperson you’ll have to do. The public needs to be convinced that this team can handle the Hulk. While you did have some success in apprehending the spoiled daughter of a deceased weapons dealer, this lineup has yet to tackle many major threats-”
“That the public knows of.” Warbird had turned back toward the glass. “Spiral was as dangerous as they come, and we may have prevented the return of Mojo. They may not have the name recognition you’d prefer, but I’m not about to pick a fight with Doctor Doom or Magneto just to build public confidence. We are however doing everything we can to track down the Red Skull, but for the moment…”
From behind the glass, Darkhawk turned to face Warbird and gave a thumbs up.
“My priorities are elsewhere.” Warbird opened the door and entered the shielded room. Even with their work suspended, Warbird could feel the volatile energies that had been at play. Darkhawk was safe in his android form, Banner in his isolation suit, and Warbird was able to absorb such energies. “Have you found her?”
“We think so,” said Banner. “It wasn’t easy tracking the myriad signatures of energies that Spiral plays with, even with Photon’s help. Still, we’ve identified what seems to be Espirita’s unique energy signature, out there in the inter-dimensional ether. And by utilizing Darkhawk’s Null Ship, I think we can get there.”
“Good. Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll get the team together.”
# # # # # # # # # #
The beeping of her Avengers Identicard roused Photon from her nap. Helping to identify the energy signature of Espirita’s teleportation had been exhausting, on top of what Photon had experienced in the Mojoverse. So she’d gone home to New Orleans, a trip from New York that took seconds in Photon’s light form. She’d hoped that a few hours of sleep would help, and looking at the clock Photon saw she’d been asleep for significantly longer. And still she felt tired.
Transforming into radio waves, Photon rode the alert signal and appeared in Avengers Mansion. She materialized next to Warbird, who was looking out a second story window. Following her gaze, Photon saw that a crowd had gathered in the street outside Avengers Mansion.
“That’s grown quite a bit,” Photon said. There were always gatherings outside the mansion, usually a mix of supporters and detractors. Sadly, detractors were almost always the majority, as something could always be found to complain about. “Reminds me of the time Namor joined.”
“Apparently they don’t like that a living gamma bomb is in the city,” Warbird said. “Stu says I need to make a statement, but we may have just found a way to get to Espirita.”
Photon nodded. She understood the priorities. “All right. I’m still a little tired, but to find one of our own I can-”
“No, you’re staying here,” Warbird said. “Darkhawk too. He’s still recovering from what Spiral did, and if anything happened to him we may not be able to access to Null Ship. Even if that wasn’t the case, the entire team can’t go into the unknown, in case there’s an emergency on Earth. I’ll be going with Binary and Speedball.”
Photon didn’t like the idea of staying behind while her teammates went into danger. There was another bit she liked even less. “Okay, if there’s an emergency I can contact Stingray, any local reserves, even the team on the West Coast. Just make sure you get back. I don’t want to deal with the situation down there.”
Warbird didn’t say anything, and Photon mentally kicked herself for being so blunt. The remark was inappropriate and unprofessional, and that the reaction confirmed her thought didn’t help matters any. The truth was that Warbird would rather the situation was handled without her.
# # # # # # # # # #
Walter Newell and his wife Diane sat on the deck of their boat, watching the sun set over the water. Below, their twin children Tommy and Lisa were asleep, exhausted after a long day on the water. It was a rare moment of quiet for the couple, and they enjoyed it together.
Diane ended the moment. “It’s been too long since we’ve enjoyed a day like this. Since joining the Avengers it’s been one crisis after another.”
Walter nodded. “That’s the way it is. Fortunately they didn’t need me to come in on this latest mission. And once the baby comes we’ll go on leave.”
“It’ll be good to spend more time with the children.” Diane placed a hand over her mid-section. “That’s still a long ways off though, and having the kids so far away it’s…it’s been tough. Maybe we can see about moving them with us to the city.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? When the mansion was attacked and you were taken…”
“We could move out of the mansion, get a place nearby. It wouldn’t be too much effort to create an access to the mansion’s undersea tunnel.”
Walter nodded. “That’s something to look into. There’d still be security concerns, but it would be nice to have the whole family together.”
For a long time, neither said a word.
Again, it was Diane who broke the silence. “I’ve been trying to find him.”
“I know,” said Walter. “I even made a couple scans of my own.”
Diane smiled. “I knew my search algorithm had been altered.”
“You know it wouldn’t be a simple family reunion. Namor told me about their last encounter. Todd’s become more animal than man.”
“I know,” said Diane. “And even allowing that he needs help, Todd has to pay for his crimes. But he’s still my brother, and I’d like him to at least know…to know that I haven’t given up on him.”
Walter reached out and took his wife’s hand. “All right. When we return to the Avengers we’ll fill them in. Hopefully, together we can find Tiger Shark and bring him in safely.”
# # # # # # # # # #
Being dead was boring, Espirita decided.
That this underworld was nothing like she’d been taught didn’t shake Espirita’s faith. It was clearly a limbo realm, in between life and the reward after. And it was as her companion said, Espirita wasn’t dead.
“Is it true that you gave up your soul?” Espirita asked.
Centurious, the Soulless Man, nodded. “As a consequence, I walked the Earth for over two thousand years.”
“A poor trade,” said Espirita. “All things end, save the gift of God.”
“My payment was something much more valuable.” Though his voice had no emotion, Espirita could hear Centurious was talking of something that had meant a great deal to him. “My princess had been taken, her own soul to be devoured by a demon. My deal wasn’t some arbitrary price, but a necessity. Faced with a soulless man, the demon hesitated, and in that moment was defeated.”
“How long was it that you realized you had no future together?”
“Immediately,” he said. “No longer feeling anything for her, I left. For years I traveled the world, learning dark arts and forgetting my own vestige of humanity. Eventually I found a crystal that could steal souls and I took it, seeking to replace what I had thrown away.”
A foolish act, and Espirita said so. “The gift is unique for all. There is no other like your own.”
“But that did not stop me trying. Nor from…enjoying what I did take.” There was no regret in the statement, though Espirita wanted to think there would have been, had Centurious retained his soul. “Even if for a brief time I felt emotions, dark though they were.”
“And now you walk the realm of Limbo, unable to move on after death.” Espirita felt deep sorrow for the man, villain though he was. “Was it the Red Skull who took your life? It is the unfortunate nature of evil to turn in on itself.”
“It was the same being that took my soul,” Centurious said. “Only Mephisto could have done this, but not without something in return. My suspicions as to who made the bargain are strong but no, they are not focused on the Red Skull.”
“Then tell me, and I will do my part to help,” Espirita said. “The Lord will lead me from this place, and if you fill your void with his love he will lead you-”
The attack was swift and sudden. Centurious cut Espirita off by clasping a hand to her throat. “Most beings here are ethereal, but like you I am here in the flesh. With your soul, I will leave here myself, and deal with the matter on my own.”
Flames licked across Espirita’s skin. “I fear you will find my soul too hot to handle!” Centurious released his grip, and Espirita took to the air. Against a demon so evil, she did not hesitate to unleash her full fiery fury. Yet Centurious did not appear overly affected.
The Soulless Man laughed. “Surprised earned you space, but I’ve faced fire similar to yours. It harms the spirit as well as the flesh. The former no longer exists, and the latter is pain I can bear.”
Centurious prepared the dark spells he learned over numerous lifetimes, and the battle was joined.
# # # # # # # # # #
A hole had been blasted in the wall of a building at Empire State University. The hulking form of the armored Cobalt Man stood inside it, taking bullets fired by campus security with no effect. When Cobalt Man returned fire, his concussive force blasts destroyed vehicles and sent campus security scattering.
“Police are en route to the scene of a rampage by an armored criminal,” announced the newscaster when the image returned to him. “Although it would not be surprising if one of the many young super-heroes that frequent ESU beats them to the punch.
“He doesn’t even know Cobalt Man’s name,” said Bruce Banner, who was watching the newscast with Photon and Darkhawk. “I’ve fought him a couple of times. We need to get there fast and-”
“We are going, Bruce, but you can’t,” said Photon. “The media would have a field day if the Hulk appeared at Empire State University. And truth be told, Darkhawk, I’d rather you didn’t come either.”
“My human body may still be recovering from what Spiral did,” said Darkhawk, referring to his civilian identity as Christopher Powell. “But that’s safe in suspended animation, and this android body feels as strong as ever. And besides, I’ve also fought Cobalt Man before, when the Avengers were in San Francisco.”
Photon reluctantly decided not to argue. “All right, but I don’t want you ignoring your limits. At the first sign of something wrong you should pull back. It’s more than likely I can handle Cobalt Man all by myself.”
Photon transformed into an image of light and disappeared with the same speed.
“Spoken like somebody who thinks she has no limits,” said Darkhawk. “Don’t worry Bruce. On his own, Cobalt Man shouldn’t be too much trouble.”
But as Darkhawk was leaving, Bruce Banner shook his head. “I hope you’re right. But if my previous encounters with Cobalt Man are anything to go by, it’s very dangerous for him to be in New York City.”
At the same time, Photon rematerialized at Empire State University, just outside the police cordon. Rushing headlong into a battle was too dangerous, and Photon sought out the man in charge. She soon found him, and was pleasantly surprised.
“Derek Freeman, you’re a sight for sore eyes,” Photon said upon seeing the FBI agent. “So this has already turned into a federal matter?”
“It may be more serious than that, Captain,” said Derek, referring to Photon’s previous alias of Captain Marvel. “ESU is doing research on a newly discovered, extremely dangerous, cobalt isotope. This may be what’s drawn Cobalt Man’s attention. From what I’ve just been reading, he has a mad-on for demonstrating the dangers of working with radiation. If he exposes this new isotope from it’s shielding, an explosion could be triggered that would destroy the city.”
“And yet the frightened mob is outside Avengers Mansion,” said Photon. “I’ll do what I can to draw him away. And please Derek, I call myself Photon now.”
“I liked your last nom de guerre better,” said Derek as the former Captain Marvel flew off.
Paying no mind to the authorities gathered outside, Cobalt Man trekked further into the radiology building. As such he didn’t notice a beam of light streaking toward him. Photon transformed into electricity an instant before striking Cobalt Man, hoping to short out his armor. But much to Photon’s surprise, Cobalt Man appeared unaffected.
“What is this?” Cobalt Man said. “If the police think they can disable me with some kind of energy weapon, then they know nothing. This armor operates on the very radiation it generates. All they do is risk a deadly chain reaction.”
Though the words weren’t meant for her ears, Photon heard every word. Expelling herself from Cobalt Man’s armor, she appeared before him as a specter of light. “If you know how dangerous your armor is, why are you causing havoc in a city?”
“I recognize you, Avenger,” Cobalt Man said. “You saved this city recently from nuclear fallout. What do you think the government did after their own warheads were hijacked and detonated? They built more without a second thought, and I’ve read that in this very building they’re researching the effects of cobalt in dirty bombs. Everybody must see the dangers of working with radiation, and for that to happen real consequences must occur!”
Cobalt Man walked through Photon’s image, deadly radiation emanating from his armor. The radiation had no effect on her light form, but neither could Photon act against the villain. Though perhaps, with a little creativity, she could slow him down. Utilizing microwaves, Photon fused the doors that Cobalt Man was approaching.
“I’m not about to let you kill millions of people, just to teach some misplaced lesson,” Photon said. Shifting into a harmless frequency, she passed through the doors to enter the laboratory. “There’s the cobalt material, and the equipment for the experiments. But I can’t carry it out of here while I’m energy, and I dare not turn solid with this radiation. If only I knew enough about this stuff, I could disable it without risking an explosion.”
Behind Photon, the fused doors shuddered as Cobalt Man smashed against them. “Well, I had better think of something, and fast!”
# # # # # # # # # #
In a flash of dark energy Warbird, Binary and Speedball appeared in a desolate realm in which there appeared to be nothing living. Glancing around, Speedball made a face. “We have access to a ship that can shunt us around dimensions, and this is where we choose to go?”
“This is where Espirita is, hopefully,” said Warbird. She did agree with Speedball about the Null Ship’s capabilities. By isolating the energies in Darkhawk’s gem, they’d managed to create a gateway from the mansion to the ship in Null Space. From there, they’d managed to follow Espirita’s trans-dimensional trail. A risky test indeed, but now that it worked, the possibilities were endless.
Binary pointed to a distant light. “That looks like confirmation to me. I’m reading a lot of heat.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Warbird flew at the light, Binary quickly overtaking her. Quickly falling behind was Speedball, who was bouncing as fast as he could. In seconds Warbird and Binary caught sight of Esprita battling a masked man.
“That’s Centurious,” said Warbird, recognizing The Soulless Man from the Avengers’ files. “Binary, pull Espirita back while I lay down-”
“Looks like she’s done half the job,” Binary said. Espirita had directed her flames beneath the ground, and the resulting explosions of fiery rock was keeping Centurious off-balance. Binary dived at the villain. “I can finish this right now!”
Warbird opened her mouth to protest, but indecision silenced her. Magic was unpredictable, but also required time and concentration. Maybe rushing at Centurious really was the best way to deal with him.
Leaping past a geyser of flame and stone, Centurious twirled at the approaching Binary and unleashed an arc of eldritch energy. In swerving to avoid the attack, Binary flew into the geyser and, though she wasn’t harmed physically, was momentarily blinded. So when she emerged on the other side, it was into the waiting arms of Centurious.
Gripping Binary with both hands, Centurious smiled. “At last. Espirita resists my power somehow, but you more than make up for that loss.”
Binary felt the power surge out of her, and screamed.
# # # # # # # # # #
Darkhawk glided down towards the Empire State University laboratory building. “Photon, come in. What’s the situation?”
There was no answer, and that worried Darkhawk. Photon was one of the most powerful and experienced Avengers, and Cobalt Man was just some armored idiot. Darkhawk hoped that the transmission was being interfered with.
Firing his grapple claw at an adjourning building, Darkhawk used the swing to build speed as he flew toward the opening Cobalt Man had created. Releasing the grapple at just the right instant, Darkhawk swooped inside at fantastic speed, then shifted his wings to catch the air and do a hard break. He landed at a run, in search of his teammate.
It didn’t take long for Darkhawk to find Cobalt Man. By following the noise, he soon found the armored criminal battering at a reinforced lead door. Photon must have a reason for hiding from this guy, Darkhawk thought.
“Sorry ugly, but doors are locked for a reason,” Darkhawk said. He rushed forward as Cobalt Man turned around, the amulet in his chest bristling with power. He unleashed the Darkforce energy, hoping to stagger Cobalt Man before engaging him directly. But much to his surprise, Cobalt Man deflected the blast with a sweep of his arm. “What? How’d you do that?”
“Better armor,” said Cobalt Man. He raised a hand at Darkhawk, and a repulsor beam came out of the palm. “It’s easy to see you grew up wanting to be a knight. Well, I grew up wanting to be Tony Stark.”
The repulsor beam struck Darkhawk in the chest. But now it was Cobalt Man’s to be surprised, as it appeared that Darkhawk was barely affected by the impact. “So your armor can protect against radiation. I’m impressed.”
Darkhawk din’t feel like mentioning that he wasn’t in a suit of armor, that his mind was actually in an android body. His father, a police detective, had once told him it was best to just let a suspect talk and give everything away. Already he knew this man’s motivation and his arrogance, and that there was no way he could fight Cobalt Man toe-to-toe.
Managing to not fall, Darkhawk fired a second blast, this time at Cobalt Man’s feet. The floor fractured, making it almost impassable for a large man in lumbering armor. But when Cobalt Man activated his bootjets, he flew over the damage and at Darkhawk. If the Avenger was intimidated by this, he didn’t show it as he rushed forward and popped the claws of his right hand.
On the other side of the sealed door, Photon heard Cobalt Man cease his attempts to enter. But those sounds were quickly replaced by the noisy blasts of battle. “Darkhawk must be here,” Photon said to herself. “Maybe together we can end this!”
Passing through the doors, Photon shifted to visible and circled around the grabbling Darkhawk and Cobalt Man. “Darkhawk, I’m going to try and knock Cobalt Man for a loop. Get ready to take advantage!”
Colliding her energy form with Cobalt Man, Photon shifted to gamma rays and attempted to match the energy wavelength given off be his armor. She then began to absorb it into herself. “You said your armor powers itself? Well, let’s see what happens when I drain that power away!”
Sure enough, Cobalt Man began to feel his armored form weaken. “No! You can’t just handwave this problem away! They must learn the dangers, that god-like beings can’t always bail them out!”
“You must learn to shut up!” Darkhawk dealt the weakened Cobalt Man a haymaker that sent him reeling. He followed up with a Darkforce blast that drove Cobalt Man right up against the lead-lined door. “We make quite a team, Photon. You set him up, and with another hit I knock him-”
“Here I come to save the day!” Swooping into the hallways was the new hero known as Gravity. He flew between the two Avengers, his graviton field inadvertantly pushing them aside as he moved for Cobalt Man. “Nice work, Avengers! Now watch as I contain him like it’s no problem at all!”
“Oh no,” said Darkhawk, remembering his previous encounter with Gravity. “This kid again.”
At the same time, Photon cried out in surprise. Her form was bending and shifting, lines of radiation extending everywhere. “Something’s wrong! Get back before-”
Stuck watching the newscast at Avengers Mansion, Bruce Banner has had enough when he saw the explosion at ESU. After grabbing equipment from his laboratory, he goes upstairs to the hangar. Jarvis follows after him, protesting.
“Forgive me sir, but the Hulk’s presence may not be helpful in this situation. I suggest that you stay and trust in the Avengers to handle things.”
“The Hulk isn’t going anywhere,” Bruce said as he strapped the equipment to a one-rider sky-cycle. “This emergency involves gamma radation and, in case anybody’s forgotten, that happens to be my speciality. Like it or not, the Avengers are getting an assist from Doctor Robert Bruce Banner!”
# # # # # # # # # #
“Get back monster!”
Warbird unleashed plasma bolts from both hands. They struck Centurious, driving him back from Binary. The young Avenger fell to the ground. Her skin, normally a deep red when in the powered Binary form, was a cracked a faded charchoal gray. Groaning, Binary rolled her withered body and attempted to crawl away.
“That’s enough from you.” Raising a fist, Centurious deflected Warbird’s attack. “But please keep attacking, for I sense your limitations. Like this one you draw power from a source, one you’re deprived of in this realm. Soon you’ll be defenseless as I take your soul!”
Following a final, futile blast Warbird stopped herself, realizing that Centurious was right. She absorbed ambient energy, which was ever-present on Earth. But here in this Limbo dimension she felt nothing. And Binary, she acted as a conduit for a white drawf star. Could that link to power have been closed?
Leaping past Warbird, Speedball landed in front of Binary. “I already tap into another dimension.” Bouncing at Centurious, the multi-colored balls of kinetic energy that surrounded Speedball slammed into the Soulless Man, driving him further back. “And a little travel hasn’t changed that!”
“Bah! Away with you, pest!” Drawing from eldritch dimension, Centurious assaulted Speedball with bolts of power. But they never reached him for, shielded as he was by his own other-dimensional power, Speedball merely bounced away unharmed.
“All right, maybe I can’t blast you,” Warbird said. She flew at the hurtling Speedball. “But at least I can do this!” Slamming her arms down, Warbird sent her teammate flying at Centurious at even greater speeds. “Espirita! Hit where he’s going!”
“I see, and obey!” Funneling her flames beneath the rockey surface, Espirita focused on building the heat in a specific spot. When Speedball struck Centurious with tremendous force, the villain was knocked to the ground. Espirita was ready, and at that exact moment caused the ground to erupt beneath her enemy’s body.
“Aaarrgh!” Though unfazed by the unique fire, Centurious was buffetted by the explosive shockwaves and stoney debris. Battered, he was tossed through the air and crashed hard to the ground. By this time, Speedball was high in the air, and Warbird had again intercepted him. Faster than ever he hurtled at Centurious.
“Time for me to try a a little trick.” At the moment he crashed against the fallen Soulless Man, Speedball stopped cold, expelling all the built-up kinetic energy in his body. Balls flew everywhere and the force made a deep crater with Centurious lying in it’s center, Speedball standing over him with a foot on his chest.
“Nice work Speedball,” said Warbird. She landed next to the barely conscious Binary. Feeling a slight tug, Warbird had a sense of things and held out a relaxed arm toward her teammate. Energy flowed from one to the other, and color returned to Binary’s skin. “Easy Binary, we’ll get you home and recovered in no time. Espirita, how are you feeling?”
“Tired,” she said. “I was battling this madman for some time, locked in a stalemate but faithful it would break in my favor. I knew you would find me somehow. What became of the six-armed witch?”
“She was dealt with,” Warbird removed a small device from beneath her sash. “And before rushing out to find you we did figure out how to return home.” With the press of a button, a gateway opened before Warbird. On the other side was Darkhawk’s Null-Ship, a brief detour before Avengers Mansion.
Espirita looked at the gateway with longing, then shifted her gaze to Centurious. “We must take him with us. He may find his own means to escape here, but if not eternity in isolation is too cruel.”
Warbird nodded. “Oh yeah, I had no intention of leaving behind a piece of my Coalition collection.”
# # # # # # # # # #
Darkhawk fought to remain conscious. The shockwave given off by Photon had slammed him through the lead doors. His armored android body was dented but not seriously damaged. Quickly recovering, Darkhawk rose to his feet and took in his surroundings. This was where Empire State University was doing their research into cobalt radiation, and stupidly the radioactive materials were on-site. This was Cobalt Man’s target, and now the door was wide open.
“Dumb kid,” muttered Darkhawk. Through the doorway he saw Gravity, the relatively new hero who had tried to help against Cobalt Man but had instead done…something to Photon. “Reminds me of myself.”
Gravity was also conscious, but he didn’t appear to be recovering nearly as quickly as Darkhawk had, standing on wobbly legs, leaning against debris. Darkhawk couldn’t see Photon, but Cobalt Man was approaching Gravity. Approaching, not blasting, so he must at least be low on power, Darkhawk decided.
Darkhawk leapt forward and led with a darkforce blast. Cobalt Man was big and slow, the blast staggered him, Darkhawk closed the gap. He slammed against Cobalt Man, and promptly bounced off. Rolling across the ground, Darkhawk caught a glimpse, in human form and unconscious.
“Get her out of here,” Darkhawk told Gravity. He fired another darkforce blast at Cobalt Man and popped his grapple claw. “Give it up C. B. I’ll peel that armor off you if I have to.”
Chuckling, Cobalt Man picked up a large chunk of masonry. “I’m growing stronger by the minute, and alone you’re no…uhn, what?”
The masonry broke apart over Cobalt Man’s head. Cracks formed in the floor at his feet, a sign of the intense gravity being applied. The young hero was hovering over Photon with an arm raised, but otherwise they hadn’t moved. “He’s not alone!”
“I said leave!” said Darkhawk. “This guy gives off radiation and the two of you are vulnerable!”
“But-”
“Go!” Darkhawk rushed at Cobalt Man. He slammed his clawed fist against the armored villain’s chest, and the claws immediately snapped off. “Nhn, changes nothing! Go!”
Reluctantly Gravity lowered his arm and, with a gestured, raised Photon off the floor. They flew out of the building while Darkhawk battled alone. Gravity carried Photon to the secured perimeter, setting her down while EMT’s approached. Also rushing toward them was FBI Agent Derek Freeman.
“What happened?”
“I…I don’t know,” Gravity told the agent. “They were fighting the guy, I tried to help, and something went wrong with her powers. I think she weakened Cobalt Man, and Darkhawk’s fighting him alone. I need to get back to-”
“You stay right here!” said Doctor Bruce Banner as he flew in on the sky-cycle. “Cobalt Man gives off gamma radiation that can be deadly to unprotected humans. Right now, only Darkhawk can fight him.”
Banner landed the sky-cycle and hopped off. “I supposed I could, but that would create bigger problems.” Ignoring the law enforcement drawing down on him, Banner pulled out a device. “Right now readings are extremely low, thanks to Photon, but they’re slowly climbing. Wait.” Banner looked up at Gravity. “You’re giving off gravitational waves?”
“Uh, I guess,” said Gravity. “I create this field around me that can-”
Banner cut him off. “You shouldn’t discuss your powers in public, where anybody can listen or take notes. He knelt over Photon. “But if your powers are anything like Graviton’s, you may be able to help Graviton. Listen…”
Minutes later, Gravity flew back into the building. He saw Cobalt Man advancing toward the lab, Darkhawk gripping his leg and being dragged behind. His other arm was crushed.
“Oh no you don’t!” said Gravity. Swooping in front of Cobalt Man, he lowered the villain’s personal gravity and delivered a haymaker. Cobalt Man was sent flying backwards, while Darkhawk remained where he lay.
“I thought I told you…”
“It’s all right.” Gravity landed next to Darkhawk and showed him Photon’s identicard. “The Hulk, er, Doctor Banner, is outside and told me I could bend particles away. He thinks I can help, if you’re able to see radiation.”
“Of course,” Darkhawk realized. “I…I can.”
Accessing the sensors of his visor, Darkhawk was able to see radiation even as he kicked himself for not thinking to do it earlier. He also saw the field of energy around Gravity, and indeed it was deflecting gamma particles. Darkhawk also accessed the Avengers radio band so the he could communicate with Banner.
“What’s the plan, Mister Gamma Expert?”
“Darkhawk, I need you to be my eyes so I can direct Gravity accordingly. You need to get into the lab and access the materials they have there. The best way to stop Cobalt Man may be in giving him what he wants.”
Outside, Agent Freeman grabbed Banner by the shoulder. “Are you mad, man?”
Banner calmly looked at the hand on his shoulder, and the eyes of the man it belonged to. “If you have a PHD in Particle Physics I would love to hear your opinion. Until then I suggest you don’t make me angry.”
Turning back from the device, Banner continued his instructions. “Okay, they must be in that safe. Gravity, get ready to contain it. Dammit, try to delay him for a few more seconds.”
Stepping away from Doctor Banner, Agent Freeman saw that Photon had regained consciousness and went to her. “How are you? What happened?”
“I’m fine,” said Photon as she sat up. “Being forced back like that, it can be disorienting. Dammit, Banner shouldn’t be here! What’s he doing?”
“Giving instructions to Darkhawk and that new hero, Gravity. If you can, you should…”
“I couldn’t change back if I wanted to.” Nevertheless, Photon rose to her feet. “But yes, please excuse me.” She walked to where Banner was speaking into his device. “Bruce, what’s your plan?”
Doctor Banner looked up and, after a slight hesitation, spoke. “We can initiate a small, controlled reaction that would overload Cobalt Man and defeat him. Luckily, when you drained his power, Cobalt Man was destabilized so the the risk is higher for a fizzled-”
“Pre-detonation,” Photon finished. “Yes, I’d planned to feed his power back to him with that in mind. I may not be a scientist, but I know some who don’t stop talking.”
“Yes, well, I’m afraid these boys have some doubts. If the speed related to mass isn’t just right, the reaction will be too weak and we’ll have a repowered Cobalt Man, or too strong and this area will be uninhabitable for a thousand years. I’m sorry, Photon, I gave your identicard to Gravity.”
Photon leaned over and spoke into the device. “Darkhawk, Gravity, Banner’s plan is the best chance we have. Do it now!”
Inside the lab, Darkhawk nodded at Gravity. “You heard the lady. Go!”
Gravity hurled the shaped mass of cobalt at Cobalt Man, faster than a bullet. The collision triggered a reaction that was so rapid it expended the radioactive fuel faster than it could be taken in, and so quickly fizzled. Nevertheless, Cobalt Man fell backwards, his armor rendered inert, and any few escaping particles were quickly identified by Darkhawk and contained by Gravity.
“Oh wow,” Gravity whispered. “We actually.”
“Yeah,” said Darkhawk. “Congratulations, you did help save the day.”
# # # # # # # # # #
When Warbird, Binary, Speedball and Espirita appeared on board the Null Ship with the captive Centurious on their way back to Avengers Mansion, they noticed Christopher Powell gone and a Darkhawk android under repair. Obviously something had happened, and when they returned to the mansion it was the first question Warbird had for Jarvis.
“Yes, there was a situation at ESU,” Jarvis said. “Photon just informed me that it’s been dealt with, and they’re on their way back.”
“That’s terrific.” Then Warbird noticed who else wasn’t in the mansion. “Dammit, Banner went with them?”
“He did follow after them,” Jarvis admitted. “I tried to stop him, but…”
“No, I understand. Please tell the authorities we have a pickup for them.” Warbird turned back to her teammates. “Speedball, help me get Centurious restrained. Espirita, Binary, you should both get some rest.”
Neither argued. When Espirita passed Warbird, she took her hand and squeezed. “Thank you.”
“We don’t leave our own behind,” Warbird said.
At about the same time armed technicains arrived to collect Centurious, Photon returned. “Great, you’re back. Is Espirita okay?”
“Yeah, it turned out Centurious was there, but aside from some bruises we made out okay.” Warbird looked Photon in the eyes. “Are Darkhawk and Banner close behind?”
Photon sighed. “I told Darkhawk he could go home, and Banner’s coming back on his own. A rookie involved himself, that new kid Gravity. I remember my time as an Avenger in training and try not to get mad, but things got really bad. Banner’s expertise saved the city.”
“I’m glad to hear it. And hey, even when you were green as Captain Marvel you had experience. Maybe we if helped this kid-”
“Hehehe.” Centurious had regained consciousness, and was chuckling as he was being wheeled out in restraints. “Yes, that is quite an idea. I congratulate you on your initiative.”
Warbird signaled for the techs to stop and approached Centurious. “You said someone trapped you there. Who should I thank?”
For an instant, fear flashed across Centurious’ face. “Don’t be so sure. The magic she had to employ was dark, and from what I hear she’s been down this road before. Not an admirable trait in one of your own.”
Warbird drew closer, angry and fearful she already knew the answer. “Dammit, tell me who it was!”
“The Scarlet Witch.”
Next Issue: The Hunt!
Bibliography
And now Stu Conrad was in Avengers Mansion, dealing with crisis after crisis. It wasn’t bad enough that Captain America had left the team soon after. At least Warbird, the new Avengers Chairperson, also had military experience. It would have been nice if she’d gone back to her previous codename, or of Photon had done the same, but losing almost all name recognition wasn’t the worst thing about the new Avengers lineup.
It was what almost that made Stu Conrad despair. Because everybody knew who the Hulk was.
“We need to issue a statement,” Stu told Warbird, whose back was to him. “It wasn’t that long ago that Hulk cut a swatch of destruction across the country. Last the public knew, the Avengers took the Hulk down and placed him into federal custody. Now that they know he’s here - there’s footage of him fighting the Avengers on your front lawn! - people will be scared.”
“Everybody knows about work release,” Warbird said without turning around. Her attention was focused on what was happening on the other side of the glass. “Doctor Robert Bruce Banner has been placed in Avengers custody, lending us his scientific expertise. On the rare occasions where he loses control, the Avengers are on-site to deal with the Hulk, which is what happened the other day. There’s your statement.”
“That won’t satisfy the public,” Stu replied. “What they want is for a living gamma bomb to not be in New York City. Banner was placed in your custody on the condition that it not be public. Well, now it is, and the agreement needs to be renegotiated.”
“Fine.” Warbird turned around. “Guarantee me that the Red Skull hasn’t already placed himself in yet another high-level government position. Or Baron Zemo, for that matter. Or any of a dozen other megalomaniacs who would use the Hulk for their own ends. Banner is with the Avengers because we are the only ones that can be trusted, and while I understand you can’t tell the public that, I’m sure there’s something just as convincing that you can tell them.”
“It would be better if an Avenger made the statement personally. Preferably Captain America, or Iron Man or Thor, but as Chairperson you’ll have to do. The public needs to be convinced that this team can handle the Hulk. While you did have some success in apprehending the spoiled daughter of a deceased weapons dealer, this lineup has yet to tackle many major threats-”
“That the public knows of.” Warbird had turned back toward the glass. “Spiral was as dangerous as they come, and we may have prevented the return of Mojo. They may not have the name recognition you’d prefer, but I’m not about to pick a fight with Doctor Doom or Magneto just to build public confidence. We are however doing everything we can to track down the Red Skull, but for the moment…”
From behind the glass, Darkhawk turned to face Warbird and gave a thumbs up.
“My priorities are elsewhere.” Warbird opened the door and entered the shielded room. Even with their work suspended, Warbird could feel the volatile energies that had been at play. Darkhawk was safe in his android form, Banner in his isolation suit, and Warbird was able to absorb such energies. “Have you found her?”
“We think so,” said Banner. “It wasn’t easy tracking the myriad signatures of energies that Spiral plays with, even with Photon’s help. Still, we’ve identified what seems to be Espirita’s unique energy signature, out there in the inter-dimensional ether. And by utilizing Darkhawk’s Null Ship, I think we can get there.”
“Good. Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll get the team together.”
# # # # # # # # # #
The beeping of her Avengers Identicard roused Photon from her nap. Helping to identify the energy signature of Espirita’s teleportation had been exhausting, on top of what Photon had experienced in the Mojoverse. So she’d gone home to New Orleans, a trip from New York that took seconds in Photon’s light form. She’d hoped that a few hours of sleep would help, and looking at the clock Photon saw she’d been asleep for significantly longer. And still she felt tired.
Transforming into radio waves, Photon rode the alert signal and appeared in Avengers Mansion. She materialized next to Warbird, who was looking out a second story window. Following her gaze, Photon saw that a crowd had gathered in the street outside Avengers Mansion.
“That’s grown quite a bit,” Photon said. There were always gatherings outside the mansion, usually a mix of supporters and detractors. Sadly, detractors were almost always the majority, as something could always be found to complain about. “Reminds me of the time Namor joined.”
“Apparently they don’t like that a living gamma bomb is in the city,” Warbird said. “Stu says I need to make a statement, but we may have just found a way to get to Espirita.”
Photon nodded. She understood the priorities. “All right. I’m still a little tired, but to find one of our own I can-”
“No, you’re staying here,” Warbird said. “Darkhawk too. He’s still recovering from what Spiral did, and if anything happened to him we may not be able to access to Null Ship. Even if that wasn’t the case, the entire team can’t go into the unknown, in case there’s an emergency on Earth. I’ll be going with Binary and Speedball.”
Photon didn’t like the idea of staying behind while her teammates went into danger. There was another bit she liked even less. “Okay, if there’s an emergency I can contact Stingray, any local reserves, even the team on the West Coast. Just make sure you get back. I don’t want to deal with the situation down there.”
Warbird didn’t say anything, and Photon mentally kicked herself for being so blunt. The remark was inappropriate and unprofessional, and that the reaction confirmed her thought didn’t help matters any. The truth was that Warbird would rather the situation was handled without her.
# # # # # # # # # #
Walter Newell and his wife Diane sat on the deck of their boat, watching the sun set over the water. Below, their twin children Tommy and Lisa were asleep, exhausted after a long day on the water. It was a rare moment of quiet for the couple, and they enjoyed it together.
Diane ended the moment. “It’s been too long since we’ve enjoyed a day like this. Since joining the Avengers it’s been one crisis after another.”
Walter nodded. “That’s the way it is. Fortunately they didn’t need me to come in on this latest mission. And once the baby comes we’ll go on leave.”
“It’ll be good to spend more time with the children.” Diane placed a hand over her mid-section. “That’s still a long ways off though, and having the kids so far away it’s…it’s been tough. Maybe we can see about moving them with us to the city.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? When the mansion was attacked and you were taken…”
“We could move out of the mansion, get a place nearby. It wouldn’t be too much effort to create an access to the mansion’s undersea tunnel.”
Walter nodded. “That’s something to look into. There’d still be security concerns, but it would be nice to have the whole family together.”
For a long time, neither said a word.
Again, it was Diane who broke the silence. “I’ve been trying to find him.”
“I know,” said Walter. “I even made a couple scans of my own.”
Diane smiled. “I knew my search algorithm had been altered.”
“You know it wouldn’t be a simple family reunion. Namor told me about their last encounter. Todd’s become more animal than man.”
“I know,” said Diane. “And even allowing that he needs help, Todd has to pay for his crimes. But he’s still my brother, and I’d like him to at least know…to know that I haven’t given up on him.”
Walter reached out and took his wife’s hand. “All right. When we return to the Avengers we’ll fill them in. Hopefully, together we can find Tiger Shark and bring him in safely.”
# # # # # # # # # #
Being dead was boring, Espirita decided.
That this underworld was nothing like she’d been taught didn’t shake Espirita’s faith. It was clearly a limbo realm, in between life and the reward after. And it was as her companion said, Espirita wasn’t dead.
“Is it true that you gave up your soul?” Espirita asked.
Centurious, the Soulless Man, nodded. “As a consequence, I walked the Earth for over two thousand years.”
“A poor trade,” said Espirita. “All things end, save the gift of God.”
“My payment was something much more valuable.” Though his voice had no emotion, Espirita could hear Centurious was talking of something that had meant a great deal to him. “My princess had been taken, her own soul to be devoured by a demon. My deal wasn’t some arbitrary price, but a necessity. Faced with a soulless man, the demon hesitated, and in that moment was defeated.”
“How long was it that you realized you had no future together?”
“Immediately,” he said. “No longer feeling anything for her, I left. For years I traveled the world, learning dark arts and forgetting my own vestige of humanity. Eventually I found a crystal that could steal souls and I took it, seeking to replace what I had thrown away.”
A foolish act, and Espirita said so. “The gift is unique for all. There is no other like your own.”
“But that did not stop me trying. Nor from…enjoying what I did take.” There was no regret in the statement, though Espirita wanted to think there would have been, had Centurious retained his soul. “Even if for a brief time I felt emotions, dark though they were.”
“And now you walk the realm of Limbo, unable to move on after death.” Espirita felt deep sorrow for the man, villain though he was. “Was it the Red Skull who took your life? It is the unfortunate nature of evil to turn in on itself.”
“It was the same being that took my soul,” Centurious said. “Only Mephisto could have done this, but not without something in return. My suspicions as to who made the bargain are strong but no, they are not focused on the Red Skull.”
“Then tell me, and I will do my part to help,” Espirita said. “The Lord will lead me from this place, and if you fill your void with his love he will lead you-”
The attack was swift and sudden. Centurious cut Espirita off by clasping a hand to her throat. “Most beings here are ethereal, but like you I am here in the flesh. With your soul, I will leave here myself, and deal with the matter on my own.”
Flames licked across Espirita’s skin. “I fear you will find my soul too hot to handle!” Centurious released his grip, and Espirita took to the air. Against a demon so evil, she did not hesitate to unleash her full fiery fury. Yet Centurious did not appear overly affected.
The Soulless Man laughed. “Surprised earned you space, but I’ve faced fire similar to yours. It harms the spirit as well as the flesh. The former no longer exists, and the latter is pain I can bear.”
Centurious prepared the dark spells he learned over numerous lifetimes, and the battle was joined.
# # # # # # # # # #
A hole had been blasted in the wall of a building at Empire State University. The hulking form of the armored Cobalt Man stood inside it, taking bullets fired by campus security with no effect. When Cobalt Man returned fire, his concussive force blasts destroyed vehicles and sent campus security scattering.
“Police are en route to the scene of a rampage by an armored criminal,” announced the newscaster when the image returned to him. “Although it would not be surprising if one of the many young super-heroes that frequent ESU beats them to the punch.
“He doesn’t even know Cobalt Man’s name,” said Bruce Banner, who was watching the newscast with Photon and Darkhawk. “I’ve fought him a couple of times. We need to get there fast and-”
“We are going, Bruce, but you can’t,” said Photon. “The media would have a field day if the Hulk appeared at Empire State University. And truth be told, Darkhawk, I’d rather you didn’t come either.”
“My human body may still be recovering from what Spiral did,” said Darkhawk, referring to his civilian identity as Christopher Powell. “But that’s safe in suspended animation, and this android body feels as strong as ever. And besides, I’ve also fought Cobalt Man before, when the Avengers were in San Francisco.”
Photon reluctantly decided not to argue. “All right, but I don’t want you ignoring your limits. At the first sign of something wrong you should pull back. It’s more than likely I can handle Cobalt Man all by myself.”
Photon transformed into an image of light and disappeared with the same speed.
“Spoken like somebody who thinks she has no limits,” said Darkhawk. “Don’t worry Bruce. On his own, Cobalt Man shouldn’t be too much trouble.”
But as Darkhawk was leaving, Bruce Banner shook his head. “I hope you’re right. But if my previous encounters with Cobalt Man are anything to go by, it’s very dangerous for him to be in New York City.”
At the same time, Photon rematerialized at Empire State University, just outside the police cordon. Rushing headlong into a battle was too dangerous, and Photon sought out the man in charge. She soon found him, and was pleasantly surprised.
“Derek Freeman, you’re a sight for sore eyes,” Photon said upon seeing the FBI agent. “So this has already turned into a federal matter?”
“It may be more serious than that, Captain,” said Derek, referring to Photon’s previous alias of Captain Marvel. “ESU is doing research on a newly discovered, extremely dangerous, cobalt isotope. This may be what’s drawn Cobalt Man’s attention. From what I’ve just been reading, he has a mad-on for demonstrating the dangers of working with radiation. If he exposes this new isotope from it’s shielding, an explosion could be triggered that would destroy the city.”
“And yet the frightened mob is outside Avengers Mansion,” said Photon. “I’ll do what I can to draw him away. And please Derek, I call myself Photon now.”
“I liked your last nom de guerre better,” said Derek as the former Captain Marvel flew off.
Paying no mind to the authorities gathered outside, Cobalt Man trekked further into the radiology building. As such he didn’t notice a beam of light streaking toward him. Photon transformed into electricity an instant before striking Cobalt Man, hoping to short out his armor. But much to Photon’s surprise, Cobalt Man appeared unaffected.
“What is this?” Cobalt Man said. “If the police think they can disable me with some kind of energy weapon, then they know nothing. This armor operates on the very radiation it generates. All they do is risk a deadly chain reaction.”
Though the words weren’t meant for her ears, Photon heard every word. Expelling herself from Cobalt Man’s armor, she appeared before him as a specter of light. “If you know how dangerous your armor is, why are you causing havoc in a city?”
“I recognize you, Avenger,” Cobalt Man said. “You saved this city recently from nuclear fallout. What do you think the government did after their own warheads were hijacked and detonated? They built more without a second thought, and I’ve read that in this very building they’re researching the effects of cobalt in dirty bombs. Everybody must see the dangers of working with radiation, and for that to happen real consequences must occur!”
Cobalt Man walked through Photon’s image, deadly radiation emanating from his armor. The radiation had no effect on her light form, but neither could Photon act against the villain. Though perhaps, with a little creativity, she could slow him down. Utilizing microwaves, Photon fused the doors that Cobalt Man was approaching.
“I’m not about to let you kill millions of people, just to teach some misplaced lesson,” Photon said. Shifting into a harmless frequency, she passed through the doors to enter the laboratory. “There’s the cobalt material, and the equipment for the experiments. But I can’t carry it out of here while I’m energy, and I dare not turn solid with this radiation. If only I knew enough about this stuff, I could disable it without risking an explosion.”
Behind Photon, the fused doors shuddered as Cobalt Man smashed against them. “Well, I had better think of something, and fast!”
# # # # # # # # # #
In a flash of dark energy Warbird, Binary and Speedball appeared in a desolate realm in which there appeared to be nothing living. Glancing around, Speedball made a face. “We have access to a ship that can shunt us around dimensions, and this is where we choose to go?”
“This is where Espirita is, hopefully,” said Warbird. She did agree with Speedball about the Null Ship’s capabilities. By isolating the energies in Darkhawk’s gem, they’d managed to create a gateway from the mansion to the ship in Null Space. From there, they’d managed to follow Espirita’s trans-dimensional trail. A risky test indeed, but now that it worked, the possibilities were endless.
Binary pointed to a distant light. “That looks like confirmation to me. I’m reading a lot of heat.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Warbird flew at the light, Binary quickly overtaking her. Quickly falling behind was Speedball, who was bouncing as fast as he could. In seconds Warbird and Binary caught sight of Esprita battling a masked man.
“That’s Centurious,” said Warbird, recognizing The Soulless Man from the Avengers’ files. “Binary, pull Espirita back while I lay down-”
“Looks like she’s done half the job,” Binary said. Espirita had directed her flames beneath the ground, and the resulting explosions of fiery rock was keeping Centurious off-balance. Binary dived at the villain. “I can finish this right now!”
Warbird opened her mouth to protest, but indecision silenced her. Magic was unpredictable, but also required time and concentration. Maybe rushing at Centurious really was the best way to deal with him.
Leaping past a geyser of flame and stone, Centurious twirled at the approaching Binary and unleashed an arc of eldritch energy. In swerving to avoid the attack, Binary flew into the geyser and, though she wasn’t harmed physically, was momentarily blinded. So when she emerged on the other side, it was into the waiting arms of Centurious.
Gripping Binary with both hands, Centurious smiled. “At last. Espirita resists my power somehow, but you more than make up for that loss.”
Binary felt the power surge out of her, and screamed.
# # # # # # # # # #
Darkhawk glided down towards the Empire State University laboratory building. “Photon, come in. What’s the situation?”
There was no answer, and that worried Darkhawk. Photon was one of the most powerful and experienced Avengers, and Cobalt Man was just some armored idiot. Darkhawk hoped that the transmission was being interfered with.
Firing his grapple claw at an adjourning building, Darkhawk used the swing to build speed as he flew toward the opening Cobalt Man had created. Releasing the grapple at just the right instant, Darkhawk swooped inside at fantastic speed, then shifted his wings to catch the air and do a hard break. He landed at a run, in search of his teammate.
It didn’t take long for Darkhawk to find Cobalt Man. By following the noise, he soon found the armored criminal battering at a reinforced lead door. Photon must have a reason for hiding from this guy, Darkhawk thought.
“Sorry ugly, but doors are locked for a reason,” Darkhawk said. He rushed forward as Cobalt Man turned around, the amulet in his chest bristling with power. He unleashed the Darkforce energy, hoping to stagger Cobalt Man before engaging him directly. But much to his surprise, Cobalt Man deflected the blast with a sweep of his arm. “What? How’d you do that?”
“Better armor,” said Cobalt Man. He raised a hand at Darkhawk, and a repulsor beam came out of the palm. “It’s easy to see you grew up wanting to be a knight. Well, I grew up wanting to be Tony Stark.”
The repulsor beam struck Darkhawk in the chest. But now it was Cobalt Man’s to be surprised, as it appeared that Darkhawk was barely affected by the impact. “So your armor can protect against radiation. I’m impressed.”
Darkhawk din’t feel like mentioning that he wasn’t in a suit of armor, that his mind was actually in an android body. His father, a police detective, had once told him it was best to just let a suspect talk and give everything away. Already he knew this man’s motivation and his arrogance, and that there was no way he could fight Cobalt Man toe-to-toe.
Managing to not fall, Darkhawk fired a second blast, this time at Cobalt Man’s feet. The floor fractured, making it almost impassable for a large man in lumbering armor. But when Cobalt Man activated his bootjets, he flew over the damage and at Darkhawk. If the Avenger was intimidated by this, he didn’t show it as he rushed forward and popped the claws of his right hand.
On the other side of the sealed door, Photon heard Cobalt Man cease his attempts to enter. But those sounds were quickly replaced by the noisy blasts of battle. “Darkhawk must be here,” Photon said to herself. “Maybe together we can end this!”
Passing through the doors, Photon shifted to visible and circled around the grabbling Darkhawk and Cobalt Man. “Darkhawk, I’m going to try and knock Cobalt Man for a loop. Get ready to take advantage!”
Colliding her energy form with Cobalt Man, Photon shifted to gamma rays and attempted to match the energy wavelength given off be his armor. She then began to absorb it into herself. “You said your armor powers itself? Well, let’s see what happens when I drain that power away!”
Sure enough, Cobalt Man began to feel his armored form weaken. “No! You can’t just handwave this problem away! They must learn the dangers, that god-like beings can’t always bail them out!”
“You must learn to shut up!” Darkhawk dealt the weakened Cobalt Man a haymaker that sent him reeling. He followed up with a Darkforce blast that drove Cobalt Man right up against the lead-lined door. “We make quite a team, Photon. You set him up, and with another hit I knock him-”
“Here I come to save the day!” Swooping into the hallways was the new hero known as Gravity. He flew between the two Avengers, his graviton field inadvertantly pushing them aside as he moved for Cobalt Man. “Nice work, Avengers! Now watch as I contain him like it’s no problem at all!”
“Oh no,” said Darkhawk, remembering his previous encounter with Gravity. “This kid again.”
At the same time, Photon cried out in surprise. Her form was bending and shifting, lines of radiation extending everywhere. “Something’s wrong! Get back before-”
Stuck watching the newscast at Avengers Mansion, Bruce Banner has had enough when he saw the explosion at ESU. After grabbing equipment from his laboratory, he goes upstairs to the hangar. Jarvis follows after him, protesting.
“Forgive me sir, but the Hulk’s presence may not be helpful in this situation. I suggest that you stay and trust in the Avengers to handle things.”
“The Hulk isn’t going anywhere,” Bruce said as he strapped the equipment to a one-rider sky-cycle. “This emergency involves gamma radation and, in case anybody’s forgotten, that happens to be my speciality. Like it or not, the Avengers are getting an assist from Doctor Robert Bruce Banner!”
# # # # # # # # # #
“Get back monster!”
Warbird unleashed plasma bolts from both hands. They struck Centurious, driving him back from Binary. The young Avenger fell to the ground. Her skin, normally a deep red when in the powered Binary form, was a cracked a faded charchoal gray. Groaning, Binary rolled her withered body and attempted to crawl away.
“That’s enough from you.” Raising a fist, Centurious deflected Warbird’s attack. “But please keep attacking, for I sense your limitations. Like this one you draw power from a source, one you’re deprived of in this realm. Soon you’ll be defenseless as I take your soul!”
Following a final, futile blast Warbird stopped herself, realizing that Centurious was right. She absorbed ambient energy, which was ever-present on Earth. But here in this Limbo dimension she felt nothing. And Binary, she acted as a conduit for a white drawf star. Could that link to power have been closed?
Leaping past Warbird, Speedball landed in front of Binary. “I already tap into another dimension.” Bouncing at Centurious, the multi-colored balls of kinetic energy that surrounded Speedball slammed into the Soulless Man, driving him further back. “And a little travel hasn’t changed that!”
“Bah! Away with you, pest!” Drawing from eldritch dimension, Centurious assaulted Speedball with bolts of power. But they never reached him for, shielded as he was by his own other-dimensional power, Speedball merely bounced away unharmed.
“All right, maybe I can’t blast you,” Warbird said. She flew at the hurtling Speedball. “But at least I can do this!” Slamming her arms down, Warbird sent her teammate flying at Centurious at even greater speeds. “Espirita! Hit where he’s going!”
“I see, and obey!” Funneling her flames beneath the rockey surface, Espirita focused on building the heat in a specific spot. When Speedball struck Centurious with tremendous force, the villain was knocked to the ground. Espirita was ready, and at that exact moment caused the ground to erupt beneath her enemy’s body.
“Aaarrgh!” Though unfazed by the unique fire, Centurious was buffetted by the explosive shockwaves and stoney debris. Battered, he was tossed through the air and crashed hard to the ground. By this time, Speedball was high in the air, and Warbird had again intercepted him. Faster than ever he hurtled at Centurious.
“Time for me to try a a little trick.” At the moment he crashed against the fallen Soulless Man, Speedball stopped cold, expelling all the built-up kinetic energy in his body. Balls flew everywhere and the force made a deep crater with Centurious lying in it’s center, Speedball standing over him with a foot on his chest.
“Nice work Speedball,” said Warbird. She landed next to the barely conscious Binary. Feeling a slight tug, Warbird had a sense of things and held out a relaxed arm toward her teammate. Energy flowed from one to the other, and color returned to Binary’s skin. “Easy Binary, we’ll get you home and recovered in no time. Espirita, how are you feeling?”
“Tired,” she said. “I was battling this madman for some time, locked in a stalemate but faithful it would break in my favor. I knew you would find me somehow. What became of the six-armed witch?”
“She was dealt with,” Warbird removed a small device from beneath her sash. “And before rushing out to find you we did figure out how to return home.” With the press of a button, a gateway opened before Warbird. On the other side was Darkhawk’s Null-Ship, a brief detour before Avengers Mansion.
Espirita looked at the gateway with longing, then shifted her gaze to Centurious. “We must take him with us. He may find his own means to escape here, but if not eternity in isolation is too cruel.”
Warbird nodded. “Oh yeah, I had no intention of leaving behind a piece of my Coalition collection.”
# # # # # # # # # #
Darkhawk fought to remain conscious. The shockwave given off by Photon had slammed him through the lead doors. His armored android body was dented but not seriously damaged. Quickly recovering, Darkhawk rose to his feet and took in his surroundings. This was where Empire State University was doing their research into cobalt radiation, and stupidly the radioactive materials were on-site. This was Cobalt Man’s target, and now the door was wide open.
“Dumb kid,” muttered Darkhawk. Through the doorway he saw Gravity, the relatively new hero who had tried to help against Cobalt Man but had instead done…something to Photon. “Reminds me of myself.”
Gravity was also conscious, but he didn’t appear to be recovering nearly as quickly as Darkhawk had, standing on wobbly legs, leaning against debris. Darkhawk couldn’t see Photon, but Cobalt Man was approaching Gravity. Approaching, not blasting, so he must at least be low on power, Darkhawk decided.
Darkhawk leapt forward and led with a darkforce blast. Cobalt Man was big and slow, the blast staggered him, Darkhawk closed the gap. He slammed against Cobalt Man, and promptly bounced off. Rolling across the ground, Darkhawk caught a glimpse, in human form and unconscious.
“Get her out of here,” Darkhawk told Gravity. He fired another darkforce blast at Cobalt Man and popped his grapple claw. “Give it up C. B. I’ll peel that armor off you if I have to.”
Chuckling, Cobalt Man picked up a large chunk of masonry. “I’m growing stronger by the minute, and alone you’re no…uhn, what?”
The masonry broke apart over Cobalt Man’s head. Cracks formed in the floor at his feet, a sign of the intense gravity being applied. The young hero was hovering over Photon with an arm raised, but otherwise they hadn’t moved. “He’s not alone!”
“I said leave!” said Darkhawk. “This guy gives off radiation and the two of you are vulnerable!”
“But-”
“Go!” Darkhawk rushed at Cobalt Man. He slammed his clawed fist against the armored villain’s chest, and the claws immediately snapped off. “Nhn, changes nothing! Go!”
Reluctantly Gravity lowered his arm and, with a gestured, raised Photon off the floor. They flew out of the building while Darkhawk battled alone. Gravity carried Photon to the secured perimeter, setting her down while EMT’s approached. Also rushing toward them was FBI Agent Derek Freeman.
“What happened?”
“I…I don’t know,” Gravity told the agent. “They were fighting the guy, I tried to help, and something went wrong with her powers. I think she weakened Cobalt Man, and Darkhawk’s fighting him alone. I need to get back to-”
“You stay right here!” said Doctor Bruce Banner as he flew in on the sky-cycle. “Cobalt Man gives off gamma radiation that can be deadly to unprotected humans. Right now, only Darkhawk can fight him.”
Banner landed the sky-cycle and hopped off. “I supposed I could, but that would create bigger problems.” Ignoring the law enforcement drawing down on him, Banner pulled out a device. “Right now readings are extremely low, thanks to Photon, but they’re slowly climbing. Wait.” Banner looked up at Gravity. “You’re giving off gravitational waves?”
“Uh, I guess,” said Gravity. “I create this field around me that can-”
Banner cut him off. “You shouldn’t discuss your powers in public, where anybody can listen or take notes. He knelt over Photon. “But if your powers are anything like Graviton’s, you may be able to help Graviton. Listen…”
Minutes later, Gravity flew back into the building. He saw Cobalt Man advancing toward the lab, Darkhawk gripping his leg and being dragged behind. His other arm was crushed.
“Oh no you don’t!” said Gravity. Swooping in front of Cobalt Man, he lowered the villain’s personal gravity and delivered a haymaker. Cobalt Man was sent flying backwards, while Darkhawk remained where he lay.
“I thought I told you…”
“It’s all right.” Gravity landed next to Darkhawk and showed him Photon’s identicard. “The Hulk, er, Doctor Banner, is outside and told me I could bend particles away. He thinks I can help, if you’re able to see radiation.”
“Of course,” Darkhawk realized. “I…I can.”
Accessing the sensors of his visor, Darkhawk was able to see radiation even as he kicked himself for not thinking to do it earlier. He also saw the field of energy around Gravity, and indeed it was deflecting gamma particles. Darkhawk also accessed the Avengers radio band so the he could communicate with Banner.
“What’s the plan, Mister Gamma Expert?”
“Darkhawk, I need you to be my eyes so I can direct Gravity accordingly. You need to get into the lab and access the materials they have there. The best way to stop Cobalt Man may be in giving him what he wants.”
Outside, Agent Freeman grabbed Banner by the shoulder. “Are you mad, man?”
Banner calmly looked at the hand on his shoulder, and the eyes of the man it belonged to. “If you have a PHD in Particle Physics I would love to hear your opinion. Until then I suggest you don’t make me angry.”
Turning back from the device, Banner continued his instructions. “Okay, they must be in that safe. Gravity, get ready to contain it. Dammit, try to delay him for a few more seconds.”
Stepping away from Doctor Banner, Agent Freeman saw that Photon had regained consciousness and went to her. “How are you? What happened?”
“I’m fine,” said Photon as she sat up. “Being forced back like that, it can be disorienting. Dammit, Banner shouldn’t be here! What’s he doing?”
“Giving instructions to Darkhawk and that new hero, Gravity. If you can, you should…”
“I couldn’t change back if I wanted to.” Nevertheless, Photon rose to her feet. “But yes, please excuse me.” She walked to where Banner was speaking into his device. “Bruce, what’s your plan?”
Doctor Banner looked up and, after a slight hesitation, spoke. “We can initiate a small, controlled reaction that would overload Cobalt Man and defeat him. Luckily, when you drained his power, Cobalt Man was destabilized so the the risk is higher for a fizzled-”
“Pre-detonation,” Photon finished. “Yes, I’d planned to feed his power back to him with that in mind. I may not be a scientist, but I know some who don’t stop talking.”
“Yes, well, I’m afraid these boys have some doubts. If the speed related to mass isn’t just right, the reaction will be too weak and we’ll have a repowered Cobalt Man, or too strong and this area will be uninhabitable for a thousand years. I’m sorry, Photon, I gave your identicard to Gravity.”
Photon leaned over and spoke into the device. “Darkhawk, Gravity, Banner’s plan is the best chance we have. Do it now!”
Inside the lab, Darkhawk nodded at Gravity. “You heard the lady. Go!”
Gravity hurled the shaped mass of cobalt at Cobalt Man, faster than a bullet. The collision triggered a reaction that was so rapid it expended the radioactive fuel faster than it could be taken in, and so quickly fizzled. Nevertheless, Cobalt Man fell backwards, his armor rendered inert, and any few escaping particles were quickly identified by Darkhawk and contained by Gravity.
“Oh wow,” Gravity whispered. “We actually.”
“Yeah,” said Darkhawk. “Congratulations, you did help save the day.”
# # # # # # # # # #
When Warbird, Binary, Speedball and Espirita appeared on board the Null Ship with the captive Centurious on their way back to Avengers Mansion, they noticed Christopher Powell gone and a Darkhawk android under repair. Obviously something had happened, and when they returned to the mansion it was the first question Warbird had for Jarvis.
“Yes, there was a situation at ESU,” Jarvis said. “Photon just informed me that it’s been dealt with, and they’re on their way back.”
“That’s terrific.” Then Warbird noticed who else wasn’t in the mansion. “Dammit, Banner went with them?”
“He did follow after them,” Jarvis admitted. “I tried to stop him, but…”
“No, I understand. Please tell the authorities we have a pickup for them.” Warbird turned back to her teammates. “Speedball, help me get Centurious restrained. Espirita, Binary, you should both get some rest.”
Neither argued. When Espirita passed Warbird, she took her hand and squeezed. “Thank you.”
“We don’t leave our own behind,” Warbird said.
At about the same time armed technicains arrived to collect Centurious, Photon returned. “Great, you’re back. Is Espirita okay?”
“Yeah, it turned out Centurious was there, but aside from some bruises we made out okay.” Warbird looked Photon in the eyes. “Are Darkhawk and Banner close behind?”
Photon sighed. “I told Darkhawk he could go home, and Banner’s coming back on his own. A rookie involved himself, that new kid Gravity. I remember my time as an Avenger in training and try not to get mad, but things got really bad. Banner’s expertise saved the city.”
“I’m glad to hear it. And hey, even when you were green as Captain Marvel you had experience. Maybe we if helped this kid-”
“Hehehe.” Centurious had regained consciousness, and was chuckling as he was being wheeled out in restraints. “Yes, that is quite an idea. I congratulate you on your initiative.”
Warbird signaled for the techs to stop and approached Centurious. “You said someone trapped you there. Who should I thank?”
For an instant, fear flashed across Centurious’ face. “Don’t be so sure. The magic she had to employ was dark, and from what I hear she’s been down this road before. Not an admirable trait in one of your own.”
Warbird drew closer, angry and fearful she already knew the answer. “Dammit, tell me who it was!”
“The Scarlet Witch.”
Next Issue: The Hunt!
Bibliography
- Darkawk had previously encountered Gravity back in Avengers #64.
- In Avengers #60, Espirita had been fatally struck, but then got up as if nothing had happened.
- Agent Freeman is an old friend of Photon’s from back during her first tenure with the Avengers.
- Both times the Hulk fought him, Cobalt Man had seemingly died. He returned with no explanation in Avengers West Coast #35, and Darkhawk fought him in #35.