Back to GatefoldIssue #13 by Daniel Ingram
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"THE BLOODY MILE"
“Contact!”
Jerome Banks, the mercenary known as Hurricane, squeezed off two shots from his beretta, shattering the optic sensor of the Dreadnaught bearing down on him.
Knowing he had only several seconds before the it switched from visual to back up sensors, Hurricane holstered his gun with his right hand, and with his left grabbed his vibranium machete.
With a single swing, Hurricane sliced the android in twain.
Which only left a half dozen Dreadnaughts bearing down on them.
“Contact?” Hrist shook her head as she stepped past Hurricane, “you mortals love thy statements of the obvious.”
With a uru axe in each hand, she swept them outwards, smashing the machines as if they were glass.
“Soldier training,” Warcry remarked. She nodded towards the Piranha, “cover your ears.”
With a deep breathe, Warcry screamed, unleashing a wave of sonic energy that picked up the twisted metal like leaves in whirlwind, and pitched them towards the soldiers at Mach-one.
The soldiers were armed with ear plugs, but were completely unprepared for the shrapnel that sliced through their armor as if it weren’t even there.
“Scorpion, on me,” Mr. Raven said, as he leapt a dozen feet, and landed among the soldiers. He had a gun in each hand. Almost effortlessly, he swept his guns around in a complete circle, pumping the triggers. Though his teammates fell into his crosshairs, he sent not one bullet their way.
All but one Piranha fell. The sole survivor was Patrick Clarke, and he had opted for ninety percent cyborg conversation in return for several pay-bumps. He naively assumed that the Kevlar weave in his skin would provide enough protection for him to reach Mr. Raven.
But Scorpion raised her left hand, and unleashed her poison blast, striking the merc dead center in the chest.
Toxins flooded his body, and his entire body shut down in self defense before the back of his head even struck the floor.
“Hel feasts well tonight,” Hrist said.
“Just hope we can make it to the main course,” Warcry said, “do we have a plan to kill the Indestructible Man, by the way?”
“Yes,” Mr. Raven said, “the walls have ears, though. Let’s worry about getting that far first. Warcry, Hrist, you ladies up front. Warcry, use your radar to scout ahead.”
As the two women took the front, Scorpion leaned in close to Mr. Raven.
“You have a plan, right?”
Mr. Raven looked at Scorpion, but said nothing.
“…right?”
Jerome Banks, the mercenary known as Hurricane, squeezed off two shots from his beretta, shattering the optic sensor of the Dreadnaught bearing down on him.
Knowing he had only several seconds before the it switched from visual to back up sensors, Hurricane holstered his gun with his right hand, and with his left grabbed his vibranium machete.
With a single swing, Hurricane sliced the android in twain.
Which only left a half dozen Dreadnaughts bearing down on them.
“Contact?” Hrist shook her head as she stepped past Hurricane, “you mortals love thy statements of the obvious.”
With a uru axe in each hand, she swept them outwards, smashing the machines as if they were glass.
“Soldier training,” Warcry remarked. She nodded towards the Piranha, “cover your ears.”
With a deep breathe, Warcry screamed, unleashing a wave of sonic energy that picked up the twisted metal like leaves in whirlwind, and pitched them towards the soldiers at Mach-one.
The soldiers were armed with ear plugs, but were completely unprepared for the shrapnel that sliced through their armor as if it weren’t even there.
“Scorpion, on me,” Mr. Raven said, as he leapt a dozen feet, and landed among the soldiers. He had a gun in each hand. Almost effortlessly, he swept his guns around in a complete circle, pumping the triggers. Though his teammates fell into his crosshairs, he sent not one bullet their way.
All but one Piranha fell. The sole survivor was Patrick Clarke, and he had opted for ninety percent cyborg conversation in return for several pay-bumps. He naively assumed that the Kevlar weave in his skin would provide enough protection for him to reach Mr. Raven.
But Scorpion raised her left hand, and unleashed her poison blast, striking the merc dead center in the chest.
Toxins flooded his body, and his entire body shut down in self defense before the back of his head even struck the floor.
“Hel feasts well tonight,” Hrist said.
“Just hope we can make it to the main course,” Warcry said, “do we have a plan to kill the Indestructible Man, by the way?”
“Yes,” Mr. Raven said, “the walls have ears, though. Let’s worry about getting that far first. Warcry, Hrist, you ladies up front. Warcry, use your radar to scout ahead.”
As the two women took the front, Scorpion leaned in close to Mr. Raven.
“You have a plan, right?”
Mr. Raven looked at Scorpion, but said nothing.
“…right?”
**********
“Can no one kill these sons of bitches?” Dran smashed his fist into the wall, denting solid steel.
“Just give me the word and decent backup,” said The Solution, “I’ll end each and every one of them.”
“Yeah, send us,” Midnight smirked, “you can trust me.”
“Provoke me, and you will regret it,” Dran said, “we’ve boxed them. Is AIM any closer to reviving that beast of theirs?”
“They say it’ll be another ten minutes,” Solution said, “we know where they are, should we send more troopers?”
“Send those damn mutants,” Dran said, “make sure they know the consequences of failure.”
“And if the monster revives while they’re engaging?”
“Then we’ll have to get new tenants,” Dran said, “I need a moment. Tell me if they kill one of the bastards.”
Midnight and Solution watched Dran stalk away.
“He’s starting to lose it,” Midnight said.
“And after these bastards are dead, I’ll start to care,” Solution replied.
“Just give me the word and decent backup,” said The Solution, “I’ll end each and every one of them.”
“Yeah, send us,” Midnight smirked, “you can trust me.”
“Provoke me, and you will regret it,” Dran said, “we’ve boxed them. Is AIM any closer to reviving that beast of theirs?”
“They say it’ll be another ten minutes,” Solution said, “we know where they are, should we send more troopers?”
“Send those damn mutants,” Dran said, “make sure they know the consequences of failure.”
“And if the monster revives while they’re engaging?”
“Then we’ll have to get new tenants,” Dran said, “I need a moment. Tell me if they kill one of the bastards.”
Midnight and Solution watched Dran stalk away.
“He’s starting to lose it,” Midnight said.
“And after these bastards are dead, I’ll start to care,” Solution replied.
**********
Hurricane felt a brush of wind past his cheek, a split second before he felt something ram into him.
“Hurricane!” Warcry called out.
“Worry about yourself, lady,” said Steeltrap.
“I am no lady,” Hrist said, “and I shall enjoy twisting thee into a paperweight!”
Hrist tackled Steeltrap, and the two of them smashed through the concrete wall as if it were paper.
“Damn it, Hrist, we need to stick together!” Mr. Raven said.
“Worry about yourself, pretender.”
The mutant known as Tek-War pointed a finger at Mr. Raven, and the circuit board tattoos on his bare wrists glowed blue, before two guns appeared in his hands.
“You don’t want to do this,” Mr. Raven said.
“I’ve heard that before,” Tek-War pulled the trigger, and Mr. Raven barely leapt out of the way in time, “wasn’t true then, not true now.”
Mr. Raven leveled both his pistols at Tek-War and pulled the trigger.
“Well, hell,” Scorpion looked at Savage Claw. He wore tattered jeans and a sweat stained wife beater. But his muscles were as developed as any bodybuilder, and his hands were steel talons, “guess it’s you and me again, Warcry.”
“Try to keep up, sidekick.”
“Hurricane!” Warcry called out.
“Worry about yourself, lady,” said Steeltrap.
“I am no lady,” Hrist said, “and I shall enjoy twisting thee into a paperweight!”
Hrist tackled Steeltrap, and the two of them smashed through the concrete wall as if it were paper.
“Damn it, Hrist, we need to stick together!” Mr. Raven said.
“Worry about yourself, pretender.”
The mutant known as Tek-War pointed a finger at Mr. Raven, and the circuit board tattoos on his bare wrists glowed blue, before two guns appeared in his hands.
“You don’t want to do this,” Mr. Raven said.
“I’ve heard that before,” Tek-War pulled the trigger, and Mr. Raven barely leapt out of the way in time, “wasn’t true then, not true now.”
Mr. Raven leveled both his pistols at Tek-War and pulled the trigger.
“Well, hell,” Scorpion looked at Savage Claw. He wore tattered jeans and a sweat stained wife beater. But his muscles were as developed as any bodybuilder, and his hands were steel talons, “guess it’s you and me again, Warcry.”
“Try to keep up, sidekick.”
**********
Hurricane skidded across the ground with such force that his elbow was left with a third degree burn by the time he finally stopped.
“We had a nice arraignment here,” Speedway said, “no looking over our shoulder, enjoying some downtime without cops. Why would you ruin that for everyone? Do you know how many enemies you’ve made?”
“Dues to pay, same as you,” Hurricane rolled onto his back, and squeezed off three shots.
Speedway brushed them aside without blinking.
“That all you got?” Speedway said.
Hurricane looked around the room. This must have been an abandoned unit, because all he saw were some packing crates, push-brooms and cleaning supplies. Beyond that and the fluorescent lights beaming down there was nothing remotely useful in the room.
“Bring it, asshole,” Hurricane said.
“You’re doing to die hard and fast.”
Speedway slammed Hurricane against the wall before he could blink, and then threw him into the center of the room. Hurricane got off several shots, hitting the ceiling lights.
Speedway moved in a blur around Hurricane, raining down blow after blow. To Hurricane, it felt like one continuous blow, punishing every inch of his body.
Until Speedway suddenly stopped.
“Yeeragh!”
Speedway screamed, as a hundred different cuts all across his body revealed themselves.
“In your next life, don’t run through glass at super speed,” Hurricane left hand smashed into Speedway’s gut, and sent him flying. With his right hand, he aimed and fired a single shot, striking his enemy right between the eyes before he struck the ground again, “and don’t piss me off.”
“We had a nice arraignment here,” Speedway said, “no looking over our shoulder, enjoying some downtime without cops. Why would you ruin that for everyone? Do you know how many enemies you’ve made?”
“Dues to pay, same as you,” Hurricane rolled onto his back, and squeezed off three shots.
Speedway brushed them aside without blinking.
“That all you got?” Speedway said.
Hurricane looked around the room. This must have been an abandoned unit, because all he saw were some packing crates, push-brooms and cleaning supplies. Beyond that and the fluorescent lights beaming down there was nothing remotely useful in the room.
“Bring it, asshole,” Hurricane said.
“You’re doing to die hard and fast.”
Speedway slammed Hurricane against the wall before he could blink, and then threw him into the center of the room. Hurricane got off several shots, hitting the ceiling lights.
Speedway moved in a blur around Hurricane, raining down blow after blow. To Hurricane, it felt like one continuous blow, punishing every inch of his body.
Until Speedway suddenly stopped.
“Yeeragh!”
Speedway screamed, as a hundred different cuts all across his body revealed themselves.
“In your next life, don’t run through glass at super speed,” Hurricane left hand smashed into Speedway’s gut, and sent him flying. With his right hand, he aimed and fired a single shot, striking his enemy right between the eyes before he struck the ground again, “and don’t piss me off.”
**********
Hrist and Steeltrap smashed through the wall without regard for what was around them.
The Asgardian savored how each blow she landed on the steel mutant warped his skull around her fist.
He was barely conscious, but Hrist held his wrist with one hand, keeping Steeltrap on his feet, and pounded his face into a shape that no one would recognize as human.
“Thou were an artistic distraction,” Hrist held Steeltrap up by the wrist, with his head barely hanging on his shoulders, “though were I thee, I’d not brag about that in Hel.”
“What did you do, what do you do?”
Hrist looked down at the ground, and saw that her foot had broken a circle of sand. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and the goddess could feel something rising, as the back of her throat began to taste of blood and bile.
“Ami, Ami listen to me, please!” Keiko begged her little sister.
The once Valkyrie saw the young girl slowly rising from her bed. Black blood began to pour from the child’s eyes, and her jaw unhinged, as thick talons began to emerge.
“Odin’s balls…”
The Asgardian savored how each blow she landed on the steel mutant warped his skull around her fist.
He was barely conscious, but Hrist held his wrist with one hand, keeping Steeltrap on his feet, and pounded his face into a shape that no one would recognize as human.
“Thou were an artistic distraction,” Hrist held Steeltrap up by the wrist, with his head barely hanging on his shoulders, “though were I thee, I’d not brag about that in Hel.”
“What did you do, what do you do?”
Hrist looked down at the ground, and saw that her foot had broken a circle of sand. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and the goddess could feel something rising, as the back of her throat began to taste of blood and bile.
“Ami, Ami listen to me, please!” Keiko begged her little sister.
The once Valkyrie saw the young girl slowly rising from her bed. Black blood began to pour from the child’s eyes, and her jaw unhinged, as thick talons began to emerge.
“Odin’s balls…”
**********
Savage Claw backhanded Warcry, and lunged for Scorpion.
“I’m going enjoy the taste of your blood,” smiled the mutant, before he attacked again.
Scorpion raised her gauntlet, barely shielding herself from Savage Claw’s attack. Each blow was delivered with enough force to press her back, and he wasn’t allowing her a second to breathe, to counter-attack.
Until he did, stopping in mid swing with terror written on his face.
“Sweet God, no,” Savage Claw spun around, with tears in his eyes.
A floor of bile and ichor spilled out onto the ground, coating the floor in a black substance.
As Warcry, Scorpion and Savage Claw watched in horror as dozens of diseased, taloned hands reached up out of the filth, demons slowly pulling themselves into the world.
“That’s not good,” said Warcry.
The creatures looked at the three criminals, and smiled wider than their jaws should have allowed. With a growl that didn’t sound like any animal a living human would recognize, the creatures lunged forward.
Savage Claw was too terror struck to defend himself, and was torn limb from limb before he could even scream.
Scorpion threw herself in front of Warcry. It was half heroic gesture, half pragmatism. Warcry’s sonic ability gave her the ability to attack at a distance. She was their only hope to survive this latest onslaught.
But Scorpion thought she’d done little more than doom them both, as the demon slammed into her, smashing them both into Warcry.
What followed was a scream of impossible agony, and Scorpion barely realized that it was coming from her, as the demon spilled into her arm like sludge down a drain.
“What the hell was that?” Warcry stared at Scorpion’s arm in complete disbelief.
“I think…demons…count as poison,” Scorpion looked at her arm. It glowed a bright crimson, to the point she could actually see the bones in her hand, “not as fun…as it looks.”
Warcry looked over Scorpion’s shoulder, where a virtual wall of demons were regarding the two women with a combination of fear and bloodlust. They were like wild animals, coiled and ready to strike, just as soon as they understood just what the hell might happen if they did.
“Excuse me,” Warcry took a deep breath, “I need to clear a path.”
“I’m going enjoy the taste of your blood,” smiled the mutant, before he attacked again.
Scorpion raised her gauntlet, barely shielding herself from Savage Claw’s attack. Each blow was delivered with enough force to press her back, and he wasn’t allowing her a second to breathe, to counter-attack.
Until he did, stopping in mid swing with terror written on his face.
“Sweet God, no,” Savage Claw spun around, with tears in his eyes.
A floor of bile and ichor spilled out onto the ground, coating the floor in a black substance.
As Warcry, Scorpion and Savage Claw watched in horror as dozens of diseased, taloned hands reached up out of the filth, demons slowly pulling themselves into the world.
“That’s not good,” said Warcry.
The creatures looked at the three criminals, and smiled wider than their jaws should have allowed. With a growl that didn’t sound like any animal a living human would recognize, the creatures lunged forward.
Savage Claw was too terror struck to defend himself, and was torn limb from limb before he could even scream.
Scorpion threw herself in front of Warcry. It was half heroic gesture, half pragmatism. Warcry’s sonic ability gave her the ability to attack at a distance. She was their only hope to survive this latest onslaught.
But Scorpion thought she’d done little more than doom them both, as the demon slammed into her, smashing them both into Warcry.
What followed was a scream of impossible agony, and Scorpion barely realized that it was coming from her, as the demon spilled into her arm like sludge down a drain.
“What the hell was that?” Warcry stared at Scorpion’s arm in complete disbelief.
“I think…demons…count as poison,” Scorpion looked at her arm. It glowed a bright crimson, to the point she could actually see the bones in her hand, “not as fun…as it looks.”
Warcry looked over Scorpion’s shoulder, where a virtual wall of demons were regarding the two women with a combination of fear and bloodlust. They were like wild animals, coiled and ready to strike, just as soon as they understood just what the hell might happen if they did.
“Excuse me,” Warcry took a deep breath, “I need to clear a path.”
**********
Hurricane marched forward with a beretta in each hand, his trigger finger pumping as he moved towards where he heard other-worldy curses.
“Surtur’s anus take you!” Hrist roared, her axes aflame. She chopped down demons as if they were nothing, but still they came at the Goddess.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hurricane observed the young girl in the center of the room, black smoke spilling from her mouth, congealing into these twisted creatures.
“Damn it,” Hurricane muttered as he heard the -clik- of both guns. He holstered them and drew his machete, and cut down on creature that came lunging for his throat, “Hrist, what the hell did you do?”
“T’was not intentional!” Hrist said, “if thou could cover me a moment, I might buy us a reprieve!”
“Move fast!”
Hrist held her hand against her axe, and made a shallow cut. As the blood began dripping, Hrist whispered few ancient words.
When the blood struck the ground, pure white light spilled forth, and the demons screamed as they were washed away like sand at a beach.
“That will hold them naught but a minute,” said Hrist, “we need to slay that which allows them entrance into our world.”
Hrist took a step towards Ami, as she floated above her bed. Only a few contrails of smoke emerged from her mouth now.
“That’s not happening,” Hurricane placed his machete in front of Hrist, “this was clearly contained before. We just have to do it again.”
“Please, don’t hurt her.”
Keiko looked at the two mercenaries, her hands raised, trying to demonstrate she was no threat.
“We can contain her. It’s why we brought her here to begin with-”
Hurricane winced inwardly.
“Please, just give me some time,” Keiko pleaded.
“Of that, we have no more,” Hrist said.
Smoke began billowing out of the young woman’s mouth once more.
“Damn it!”
Hurricane pushed Keiko behind him, and loaded another clip.
“Hrist, can pull that trick again?”
“Not ‘till another blood moon and cosmic convergence,” said Hrist, “until then, the words won’t listen to me.”
“Of course,” Hurricane had a gun in one hand, a machete in the other, “let’s do this, then.”
“Surtur’s anus take you!” Hrist roared, her axes aflame. She chopped down demons as if they were nothing, but still they came at the Goddess.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hurricane observed the young girl in the center of the room, black smoke spilling from her mouth, congealing into these twisted creatures.
“Damn it,” Hurricane muttered as he heard the -clik- of both guns. He holstered them and drew his machete, and cut down on creature that came lunging for his throat, “Hrist, what the hell did you do?”
“T’was not intentional!” Hrist said, “if thou could cover me a moment, I might buy us a reprieve!”
“Move fast!”
Hrist held her hand against her axe, and made a shallow cut. As the blood began dripping, Hrist whispered few ancient words.
When the blood struck the ground, pure white light spilled forth, and the demons screamed as they were washed away like sand at a beach.
“That will hold them naught but a minute,” said Hrist, “we need to slay that which allows them entrance into our world.”
Hrist took a step towards Ami, as she floated above her bed. Only a few contrails of smoke emerged from her mouth now.
“That’s not happening,” Hurricane placed his machete in front of Hrist, “this was clearly contained before. We just have to do it again.”
“Please, don’t hurt her.”
Keiko looked at the two mercenaries, her hands raised, trying to demonstrate she was no threat.
“We can contain her. It’s why we brought her here to begin with-”
Hurricane winced inwardly.
“Please, just give me some time,” Keiko pleaded.
“Of that, we have no more,” Hrist said.
Smoke began billowing out of the young woman’s mouth once more.
“Damn it!”
Hurricane pushed Keiko behind him, and loaded another clip.
“Hrist, can pull that trick again?”
“Not ‘till another blood moon and cosmic convergence,” said Hrist, “until then, the words won’t listen to me.”
“Of course,” Hurricane had a gun in one hand, a machete in the other, “let’s do this, then.”
**********
Scorpion gripped her wrist, as the pain throbbing through it grew greater. Her arm was radiating with some emerald, arcane power that she could see her bones through the skin.
“That, does not look good,” Warcry observed.
“It’s not,” Mr. Raven said, “her ability to absorb toxins is being pushed past its limits.”
Warcry glanced at Mr. Raven, and saw that his hands were coated in blood.
“Tek-War disabled some of my systems,” Mr. Raven said, “so I took his throat.”
“Well done,” Warcry said, “and if those demons come back, they’ll take ours.”
“The demons have retreated for now,” Mr. Raven said, “I can see where they came from. Just plaster and wood between us and them.”
“Show me.”
“That, does not look good,” Warcry observed.
“It’s not,” Mr. Raven said, “her ability to absorb toxins is being pushed past its limits.”
Warcry glanced at Mr. Raven, and saw that his hands were coated in blood.
“Tek-War disabled some of my systems,” Mr. Raven said, “so I took his throat.”
“Well done,” Warcry said, “and if those demons come back, they’ll take ours.”
“The demons have retreated for now,” Mr. Raven said, “I can see where they came from. Just plaster and wood between us and them.”
“Show me.”
**********
Andi Hunter focused on blocking out the scents of the room, but in her condition it was far from easy.
Dran kept a personal vivi-section lab just down the hall from his living quarters. Most seemed to regard it as just an intimidation tactic. But Hunter knew better than that, she knew of the men and women who entered this room, and never came out.
Not in one piece, anyways.
Dran’s hold on sanity was a fine thread, and he was intent on indulging some of his sadism. The child growing within her could only provide so much protection.
Andi heard a glass shatter, and nearly jumped.
“Who’s there?” Andi demanded.
She was met with silence, but Andi could feel eyes upon her.
“I’m bound to a chair, asshole,” Andi snapped, “scared?”
“Someone is about to be.”
A bolt of terror went down Andi’s spine.
“You?”
Dran kept a personal vivi-section lab just down the hall from his living quarters. Most seemed to regard it as just an intimidation tactic. But Hunter knew better than that, she knew of the men and women who entered this room, and never came out.
Not in one piece, anyways.
Dran’s hold on sanity was a fine thread, and he was intent on indulging some of his sadism. The child growing within her could only provide so much protection.
Andi heard a glass shatter, and nearly jumped.
“Who’s there?” Andi demanded.
She was met with silence, but Andi could feel eyes upon her.
“I’m bound to a chair, asshole,” Andi snapped, “scared?”
“Someone is about to be.”
A bolt of terror went down Andi’s spine.
“You?”
**********
They came in waves, and for Hrist, it was glorious.
They were demons from below the darkest pit, no fouler an enemy. Her axes split them like twigs, and more and more came. She was the mountain upon which a filthy army broke.
They came in waves, and for Hurricane, there was only instinct.
He pressed Keiko up against the wall behind them. He had no illusions about survival, but he wasn’t about to allow a civilian to die as his last act on earth.
His machete sliced through the demons like wheat, and when his beretta ran dry, he used the butt as a bludgeon. It was starting to warp under the blows, and it seemed like every seventh demon got close enough to scratch.
Though his conscious mind refused to acknowledge it, a death by a thousand cuts was still death.
He could see Ami out of the corner, the ebony mist flooding out of her like an oil spill.
Hurricane knew that this was his end, and he accepted that. He only wondered which hero team would have to save the world from his screw up.
And then Ami’s head jerked back, and she felt limp onto her bed.
And the smoke stopped.
“What the hell,” Hurricane fell to his knees, finally allowing himself to feel the exhaustion in his bones.
“You’re welcome,” said Warcry, as she entered the room, followed by Mr. Raven, who supported Scorpion.
“Ami! Godnononono!” Keiko ran to her sister’s side, all the while her heart trying to deny what her eyes had seen.
“What’s the story here?” said Warcry.
“You killed my sister!” Keiko spat. Though her chest was heaving with sobs and tears streamed down her cheeks, she retained enough focus and concentration to remember her apprenticeship. With a whisper, and an act of terrible will, she brought forth arcane power into her hands, “she was cursed, and you killed her!”
“…sister?” Warcry’s throat went dry.
“Her name was Ami,” a lightning bolt formed in Keiko’s hand, “she loved poetry, playing in the rain, and was cursed because she refused an old man’s wedding proposal.”
Keiko pulled her hand back, ready to strike.
“…I’m sorry.”
“You can apologize in the next life.”
“I need her in this one.”
Hurricane grabbed Keiko from behind, and placed her in a choke hold.
“My handle is Hurricane, hers is Warcry,” Hurricane said. Keiko struggled against the hold, but she was drifting into black too quickly, “if we survive this, you’ll only get one shot. Good luck.”
When Keiko went limp in his arms, Hurricane gently scooped her up, and placed her beside her now deceased sister.
“What did I do?” Warbird’s expression was haunted, and Hurricane recognized it immediately.
“Warcry, look at me,” Hurricane said, “we’re in enemy territory and we’re still in danger. Lock. It. Down.”
“…have you ever been able to do that?”
“…I…”
The far wall exploded outwards, and a creature eight feet tall, with four thick arms, stepped through.
The creature was designated Four-four. It was a combination of DNA taken from the Fantastic Four, the New Fantastic Four, and glued together with the DNA of the Super Skrull inside the shell of the Super Adaptoid.
Its skin was in constantly flux between slate grey, orange rock and invisibility. Flames smoldered on its back, between odd stalks of flesh standing up like tall weeds.
“…this feels like a boss fight,” Mr. Raven remarked.
“No, this scene is the anti-climax,” said Scorpion. She leveled her hand at Four-four, and unleashed all the arcane bile she’d absorbed from the demons. A wave of energy smashed into the creature, slicing through him like paper.
Four-four looked down at the gaping hole where it’s chest, blood and organs dripping out. From neck to its crotch, the creature was torn in twain.
It grunted, and the remaining flesh reached out to its partner a foot away. Flesh mixed back together, pulled one another until it sealed together like a zipper made of flesh.
“Okay, yeah,” Scorpion said, “boss fight.”
Four-four growled as its eyes swept over its enemies.
-Snikt!-
Three claws of bone emerged from each of its four arms.
“Okay, great,” Mr. Raven said, “at least it can’t get any worse.”
-Snikt!-
-Snikt!-
-Snikt!-
More bone claws emerged from its body.
Scorpion, Hrist and Hurricane glared at Mr. Raven.
“Point taken.”
“Enough talk!” Hrist said, “let us slay this beast and finish our quest!”
They were demons from below the darkest pit, no fouler an enemy. Her axes split them like twigs, and more and more came. She was the mountain upon which a filthy army broke.
They came in waves, and for Hurricane, there was only instinct.
He pressed Keiko up against the wall behind them. He had no illusions about survival, but he wasn’t about to allow a civilian to die as his last act on earth.
His machete sliced through the demons like wheat, and when his beretta ran dry, he used the butt as a bludgeon. It was starting to warp under the blows, and it seemed like every seventh demon got close enough to scratch.
Though his conscious mind refused to acknowledge it, a death by a thousand cuts was still death.
He could see Ami out of the corner, the ebony mist flooding out of her like an oil spill.
Hurricane knew that this was his end, and he accepted that. He only wondered which hero team would have to save the world from his screw up.
And then Ami’s head jerked back, and she felt limp onto her bed.
And the smoke stopped.
“What the hell,” Hurricane fell to his knees, finally allowing himself to feel the exhaustion in his bones.
“You’re welcome,” said Warcry, as she entered the room, followed by Mr. Raven, who supported Scorpion.
“Ami! Godnononono!” Keiko ran to her sister’s side, all the while her heart trying to deny what her eyes had seen.
“What’s the story here?” said Warcry.
“You killed my sister!” Keiko spat. Though her chest was heaving with sobs and tears streamed down her cheeks, she retained enough focus and concentration to remember her apprenticeship. With a whisper, and an act of terrible will, she brought forth arcane power into her hands, “she was cursed, and you killed her!”
“…sister?” Warcry’s throat went dry.
“Her name was Ami,” a lightning bolt formed in Keiko’s hand, “she loved poetry, playing in the rain, and was cursed because she refused an old man’s wedding proposal.”
Keiko pulled her hand back, ready to strike.
“…I’m sorry.”
“You can apologize in the next life.”
“I need her in this one.”
Hurricane grabbed Keiko from behind, and placed her in a choke hold.
“My handle is Hurricane, hers is Warcry,” Hurricane said. Keiko struggled against the hold, but she was drifting into black too quickly, “if we survive this, you’ll only get one shot. Good luck.”
When Keiko went limp in his arms, Hurricane gently scooped her up, and placed her beside her now deceased sister.
“What did I do?” Warbird’s expression was haunted, and Hurricane recognized it immediately.
“Warcry, look at me,” Hurricane said, “we’re in enemy territory and we’re still in danger. Lock. It. Down.”
“…have you ever been able to do that?”
“…I…”
The far wall exploded outwards, and a creature eight feet tall, with four thick arms, stepped through.
The creature was designated Four-four. It was a combination of DNA taken from the Fantastic Four, the New Fantastic Four, and glued together with the DNA of the Super Skrull inside the shell of the Super Adaptoid.
Its skin was in constantly flux between slate grey, orange rock and invisibility. Flames smoldered on its back, between odd stalks of flesh standing up like tall weeds.
“…this feels like a boss fight,” Mr. Raven remarked.
“No, this scene is the anti-climax,” said Scorpion. She leveled her hand at Four-four, and unleashed all the arcane bile she’d absorbed from the demons. A wave of energy smashed into the creature, slicing through him like paper.
Four-four looked down at the gaping hole where it’s chest, blood and organs dripping out. From neck to its crotch, the creature was torn in twain.
It grunted, and the remaining flesh reached out to its partner a foot away. Flesh mixed back together, pulled one another until it sealed together like a zipper made of flesh.
“Okay, yeah,” Scorpion said, “boss fight.”
Four-four growled as its eyes swept over its enemies.
-Snikt!-
Three claws of bone emerged from each of its four arms.
“Okay, great,” Mr. Raven said, “at least it can’t get any worse.”
-Snikt!-
-Snikt!-
-Snikt!-
More bone claws emerged from its body.
Scorpion, Hrist and Hurricane glared at Mr. Raven.
“Point taken.”
“Enough talk!” Hrist said, “let us slay this beast and finish our quest!”
**********
Midnight chuckled as Hrist threw herself at the creature.
“I don’t even know why we’re waiting for these idiots?” Midnight said.
“Because I’ll fry your brain and spine if you don’t,” Dran hissed.
“I’m with a man who’s indestructible and another who can counter any power,” said Midnight, “kinda useless here.”
“They’ve gotten this far,” Dran said, “they may get past Four-four, and the Plague soldiers, to us. They haven’t been polite enough to die yet.”
“Yet, being the key word,” said Solution, “someone get some popcorn, I think this is fixin’ to get interestin’.”
“I don’t even know why we’re waiting for these idiots?” Midnight said.
“Because I’ll fry your brain and spine if you don’t,” Dran hissed.
“I’m with a man who’s indestructible and another who can counter any power,” said Midnight, “kinda useless here.”
“They’ve gotten this far,” Dran said, “they may get past Four-four, and the Plague soldiers, to us. They haven’t been polite enough to die yet.”
“Yet, being the key word,” said Solution, “someone get some popcorn, I think this is fixin’ to get interestin’.”
**********
Hrist leapt at Four-four, but the creature lashed its elongated arm upwards like a whip, smashing her into the concrete ceiling. It then grabbed Hrist by the ankle, and tossed her through the far wall.
“Warcry, Scorpion, focus on the head!” Mr. Raven unleashed a barrage of bullets, “Hurricane, get Hrist! She’s our only chance to kill this thing!”
“On it!”
Hurricane grinded his teeth, as he realized that he was simply going through the motions. Death was almost a certainty now, with their depleted numbers and this monster. But death wasn’t as terrifying as mission failure, which was looking equally certain.
But then, Hurricane looked around the room that Hrist had been thrown into, and felt surge of confidence.
“Warcry, Scorpion, focus on the head!” Mr. Raven unleashed a barrage of bullets, “Hurricane, get Hrist! She’s our only chance to kill this thing!”
“On it!”
Hurricane grinded his teeth, as he realized that he was simply going through the motions. Death was almost a certainty now, with their depleted numbers and this monster. But death wasn’t as terrifying as mission failure, which was looking equally certain.
But then, Hurricane looked around the room that Hrist had been thrown into, and felt surge of confidence.
**********
Three throwing stars made of pure energy sank into Four-four’s head. The creature reared back, roaring in agony.
Warcry followed up with a sonic scream, keeping the beast off-kilter.
“We can’t keep this up,” Scorpion said, “we’re exhausted, and this thing isn’t. We don’t have enough firepower to put this thing down!”
“I might have an idea,” Mr. Raven said, “but it’s a last resort, and it’ll screw up all our plans.”
Scorpion looked at Mr. Raven, her eyes terrified, “You can’t seriously be considering…”
Warcry shouted, as Four-four sent a burst of flame that nearly melted her feet.
Mr. Raven took a step back, as Four-four lumbered towards them.
“Unless you’re hiding an army in that gauntlet,” Mr. Raven aimed his pistols, “we may not have a choice.”
An RPG struck Four-four’s head, exploding in a ball of orange fire.
“Hey.”
Hurricane chuckled despite himself, as he pointed a shotgun at Four-four.
“Guess who found an open armory?”
Hurricane pulled the trigger, and a bullet of white phosphorus struck the creature in the eye.
The creature flinched, and Hurricane saw his opening.
He picked up a .50 Caliber rifle and tossed it to Hrist, and grabbed another of shotgun. The two mercs took less than a second to find their target, and opened fire.
Hurricane pumped his shotguns with each pull of the trigger, and if Hrist noticed the recoil of the .50, capable of sending bullets miles, her body gave no indication. Bullet shells and death fell like rain.
The barrage made the beast stagger, and Hurricane felt a flicker of hope.
Warcry followed up with a sonic scream, keeping the beast off-kilter.
“We can’t keep this up,” Scorpion said, “we’re exhausted, and this thing isn’t. We don’t have enough firepower to put this thing down!”
“I might have an idea,” Mr. Raven said, “but it’s a last resort, and it’ll screw up all our plans.”
Scorpion looked at Mr. Raven, her eyes terrified, “You can’t seriously be considering…”
Warcry shouted, as Four-four sent a burst of flame that nearly melted her feet.
Mr. Raven took a step back, as Four-four lumbered towards them.
“Unless you’re hiding an army in that gauntlet,” Mr. Raven aimed his pistols, “we may not have a choice.”
An RPG struck Four-four’s head, exploding in a ball of orange fire.
“Hey.”
Hurricane chuckled despite himself, as he pointed a shotgun at Four-four.
“Guess who found an open armory?”
Hurricane pulled the trigger, and a bullet of white phosphorus struck the creature in the eye.
The creature flinched, and Hurricane saw his opening.
He picked up a .50 Caliber rifle and tossed it to Hrist, and grabbed another of shotgun. The two mercs took less than a second to find their target, and opened fire.
Hurricane pumped his shotguns with each pull of the trigger, and if Hrist noticed the recoil of the .50, capable of sending bullets miles, her body gave no indication. Bullet shells and death fell like rain.
The barrage made the beast stagger, and Hurricane felt a flicker of hope.
**********
“Hey, guys!” Midnight called out. He was watching the battle unfold on the monitors, with a bowl of popcorn on his lap. He couldn’t eat it, but the smell was enough, “you oughta get back here! This thing just went full John Wu!”
If The Solution heard his fellow enforcer, he gave no indication. His entire attention was focused on the three creatures standing across from him and his boss.
They wore suits that looked like ancient diving suits, jet black with green lenses. But unlike ancient diving suits, they had several vents randomly placed, that spilled a white gas at random interval.
They were known as the Red Storms, and Solution was never let his guard down around them. He watched the color of gas intently, the only indication of their moods. He knew the damage that could be inflicted by any other color, and how quickly it could change.
“There’s an Asgardian among them,” said Dran, “will that be an issue?”
The only thing Solution understood in the reply was the calm confidence.
“Excellent. We should know soon if your services are needed, thank you.”
Solution waited until he was fairly certain they couldn’t hear him, before whispering to Dran.
“Are you certain you want to put them in play? These guys are wanted on several different planets, and by God damn empires!” said Solution, “they could bring the Avengers or Excalibur down on us!”
“I will leave nothing to chance,” Dran spat.
If The Solution heard his fellow enforcer, he gave no indication. His entire attention was focused on the three creatures standing across from him and his boss.
They wore suits that looked like ancient diving suits, jet black with green lenses. But unlike ancient diving suits, they had several vents randomly placed, that spilled a white gas at random interval.
They were known as the Red Storms, and Solution was never let his guard down around them. He watched the color of gas intently, the only indication of their moods. He knew the damage that could be inflicted by any other color, and how quickly it could change.
“There’s an Asgardian among them,” said Dran, “will that be an issue?”
The only thing Solution understood in the reply was the calm confidence.
“Excellent. We should know soon if your services are needed, thank you.”
Solution waited until he was fairly certain they couldn’t hear him, before whispering to Dran.
“Are you certain you want to put them in play? These guys are wanted on several different planets, and by God damn empires!” said Solution, “they could bring the Avengers or Excalibur down on us!”
“I will leave nothing to chance,” Dran spat.
**********
Hurricane’s empty guns became projectiles when they ran dry, and sank into Four-four’s clay like-flesh.
Dran’s people believed in storing loaded weapons, a safety violation he was actually grateful for.
For a solid two minutes, Hurricane and Hrist subjected Four-four to three hundred and forty pounds of ammunition, some exotic like vibranium bullets and sonic grenades, and some simply regular bullets aside from Holy blessings.
But no amount of bullets were enough to overcome the creature’s healing factor, and when Hurricane heard his shotgun click empty, he knew that they were in trouble.
“You got anymore tricks?” Hurricane said, glancing at Hrist.
“Aye, one or two,” Hrist said. She dropped her guns, and grabbed her two axes, “but I don’t know are enough to fell this beast!”
“Raargh!”
The creature screamed with such ferocity that the building shook, as its skin turned gray, and the light around it began to shimmer.
“It’s using the Invisible Woman’s power!” Mr. Raven said, “move, move!”
Hurricane and Hrist ducked behind the remaining walls of the armory, as the others dove for cover.
What happened next sounded like hail falling sideways, as chunks of stone and concrete seemed to explode at random. Tactically, Hurricane realized that the beast needed concentration and focus to use the powers of the Invisible Woman. It was probably the only reason they were still enough.
Emotionally, Hurricane struggled to control his bladder.
The lethal storm stopped after only a few seconds. Hurricane picked up several pieces of rubble, and when he turned the corner, he unleashed them with inhuman precision, blinding the exhausted creature.
“Raven, if you got some trick to pull, now’s the time!” Hurricane shouted, as he saw the man standing off to the side, “…Raven?”
Hurricane looked harder at the man, and his jaw dropped when he realized he could see through the man, literally.
Dran’s people believed in storing loaded weapons, a safety violation he was actually grateful for.
For a solid two minutes, Hurricane and Hrist subjected Four-four to three hundred and forty pounds of ammunition, some exotic like vibranium bullets and sonic grenades, and some simply regular bullets aside from Holy blessings.
But no amount of bullets were enough to overcome the creature’s healing factor, and when Hurricane heard his shotgun click empty, he knew that they were in trouble.
“You got anymore tricks?” Hurricane said, glancing at Hrist.
“Aye, one or two,” Hrist said. She dropped her guns, and grabbed her two axes, “but I don’t know are enough to fell this beast!”
“Raargh!”
The creature screamed with such ferocity that the building shook, as its skin turned gray, and the light around it began to shimmer.
“It’s using the Invisible Woman’s power!” Mr. Raven said, “move, move!”
Hurricane and Hrist ducked behind the remaining walls of the armory, as the others dove for cover.
What happened next sounded like hail falling sideways, as chunks of stone and concrete seemed to explode at random. Tactically, Hurricane realized that the beast needed concentration and focus to use the powers of the Invisible Woman. It was probably the only reason they were still enough.
Emotionally, Hurricane struggled to control his bladder.
The lethal storm stopped after only a few seconds. Hurricane picked up several pieces of rubble, and when he turned the corner, he unleashed them with inhuman precision, blinding the exhausted creature.
“Raven, if you got some trick to pull, now’s the time!” Hurricane shouted, as he saw the man standing off to the side, “…Raven?”
Hurricane looked harder at the man, and his jaw dropped when he realized he could see through the man, literally.
**********
Elsewhere…
Word of the assault and trouble in Hell’s Peak broke only minutes.
But be they Hydra, Agents of Shield, CIA or players on the world stage, all adopted a ‘wait and see’ approach, mindful of the leverage Dran had over them all. All the major powers were well aware of what might happen if they played their hand too soon.
But one group, a splinter cell who regarded themselves as believers in radical ideas of destruction, owed Dran nothing.
They lurked just inside the range of the man’s scanners, concealed by their own technology.
Waiting only for the right moment.
Word of the assault and trouble in Hell’s Peak broke only minutes.
But be they Hydra, Agents of Shield, CIA or players on the world stage, all adopted a ‘wait and see’ approach, mindful of the leverage Dran had over them all. All the major powers were well aware of what might happen if they played their hand too soon.
But one group, a splinter cell who regarded themselves as believers in radical ideas of destruction, owed Dran nothing.
They lurked just inside the range of the man’s scanners, concealed by their own technology.
Waiting only for the right moment.
**********
Hrist saw Mr. Raven fall from his mortal wounds, and felt a rage explode from inside her chest.
“Creature,” Hrist slashed each wrist with her axes, and let the blood drip upon them.
They began to radiate flames, and flew from the Goddess’ hands. They began spinning, and shot towards Four-four. They sliced through his flesh effortlessly, despite orange rocks or grey skin.
“No, no, no!” Scorpion rushed to Mr. Raven’s side as he fell, “this can’t be happening!”
“Hurricane…”, Mr. Raven reached towards the merc, as his blood poured out onto the floor, “…I need you....”
Hurricane went to the man’s side. Having seen so much death in his life, Hurricane thought Mr. Raven simply wanted not to die alone. But when Mr. Raven reached out and tapped his head, there was an arc of electricity and Hurricane’s vision went black.
When his vision cleared, Hurricane was stunned by what he saw.
“Trask?”
Jim Trask, with a coy smile.
“Yeah.”
“Oh, we are so fucked.”
“Are you just now realizing that?” Trask chuckled.
“…why am I seeing you, and what the hell is happening?” Hurricane tried to turn his head, but he found his body refused to obey.
Even more curious, was how he could see out of the corner of his eye how the battle seemed to have frozen. Hrist’s axes were now slowly spinning like a broken ceiling fan.
“I’d say that I put things on pause, but that’s technically not accurate,” Trask said, “my suit is a sophisticated piece of bio-wetware. It did most of the fighting for me, really. If I’d lived, I imagine I would have sprained or torn every muscle in my body, though.”
“A suit?” Hurricane was dumbfounded, “that’s how you’ve made it this far?”
“Based on the one worn by Canadian hero, the Guardian,” said Trask, “some of the most obvious features were removed, so as not to draw attention. Take it from me, if people ever stopped obsessing over Stark tech and just aimed a few notches lower, we’ll all be in real trouble.”
“I’ll put that next to Global Warming and overpopulation, on my list of concerns,” Hurricane said, “how the hell are we talking right now?”
“To really dumb things down, I’m using a special circuit to speed up our respective brains so that we can have a private conversation.”
“This isn’t going to nuke my brain, is it?” said Hurricane.
“You’ll have a powerful migraine in a week, actually,” Trask said, “so good luck surviving that long.”
“Are you here just for happy thoughts?” Hurricane said, “because I have a fight I could be dying in, right now.”
“You won’t die,” Trask said, “take it from someone who’s already dead. We know these things.”
“How the hell are you really Mr. Raven?” Hurricane demanded, “if even half the things he’s rumored to have done…”
“Mr. Raven is a cover-ID,” replied Trask, “a lot of people have been Mr. Raven, at one time or another. Even Shield couldn’t risk moving against Dran, so I became someone who could. But I don’t want to leave this world with unfinished business.”
“What do you need from me?”
“Tell Carmilla that I made arrangements for her,” Trask said, “if you get Andi out of this, she’s got full access to my dead drops. She’ll be able to get all of you out from under.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Creature,” Hrist slashed each wrist with her axes, and let the blood drip upon them.
They began to radiate flames, and flew from the Goddess’ hands. They began spinning, and shot towards Four-four. They sliced through his flesh effortlessly, despite orange rocks or grey skin.
“No, no, no!” Scorpion rushed to Mr. Raven’s side as he fell, “this can’t be happening!”
“Hurricane…”, Mr. Raven reached towards the merc, as his blood poured out onto the floor, “…I need you....”
Hurricane went to the man’s side. Having seen so much death in his life, Hurricane thought Mr. Raven simply wanted not to die alone. But when Mr. Raven reached out and tapped his head, there was an arc of electricity and Hurricane’s vision went black.
When his vision cleared, Hurricane was stunned by what he saw.
“Trask?”
Jim Trask, with a coy smile.
“Yeah.”
“Oh, we are so fucked.”
“Are you just now realizing that?” Trask chuckled.
“…why am I seeing you, and what the hell is happening?” Hurricane tried to turn his head, but he found his body refused to obey.
Even more curious, was how he could see out of the corner of his eye how the battle seemed to have frozen. Hrist’s axes were now slowly spinning like a broken ceiling fan.
“I’d say that I put things on pause, but that’s technically not accurate,” Trask said, “my suit is a sophisticated piece of bio-wetware. It did most of the fighting for me, really. If I’d lived, I imagine I would have sprained or torn every muscle in my body, though.”
“A suit?” Hurricane was dumbfounded, “that’s how you’ve made it this far?”
“Based on the one worn by Canadian hero, the Guardian,” said Trask, “some of the most obvious features were removed, so as not to draw attention. Take it from me, if people ever stopped obsessing over Stark tech and just aimed a few notches lower, we’ll all be in real trouble.”
“I’ll put that next to Global Warming and overpopulation, on my list of concerns,” Hurricane said, “how the hell are we talking right now?”
“To really dumb things down, I’m using a special circuit to speed up our respective brains so that we can have a private conversation.”
“This isn’t going to nuke my brain, is it?” said Hurricane.
“You’ll have a powerful migraine in a week, actually,” Trask said, “so good luck surviving that long.”
“Are you here just for happy thoughts?” Hurricane said, “because I have a fight I could be dying in, right now.”
“You won’t die,” Trask said, “take it from someone who’s already dead. We know these things.”
“How the hell are you really Mr. Raven?” Hurricane demanded, “if even half the things he’s rumored to have done…”
“Mr. Raven is a cover-ID,” replied Trask, “a lot of people have been Mr. Raven, at one time or another. Even Shield couldn’t risk moving against Dran, so I became someone who could. But I don’t want to leave this world with unfinished business.”
“What do you need from me?”
“Tell Carmilla that I made arrangements for her,” Trask said, “if you get Andi out of this, she’s got full access to my dead drops. She’ll be able to get all of you out from under.”
“What do you need me to do?”
**********
Carmilla Black, Scorpion, sobbed as she realized her friend was had only moments left in this world. She didn’t notice the electrical spark that passed between Hurricane and Mr. Raven.
But she noticed when Hurricane stood up, and pulled her friend to his feet.
“Sorry to leave you like this,” Mr. Raven words were the greatest effort of his entire life, “but it’s time…for my never-more.”
Hurricane took two steps towards Four-four, and then threw Mr. Raven at the beast.
Jim Trask faded from the world a few seconds before he touched Four-four, but it didn’t matter. His suit was thought responsive, the death-protocols hardwired in, and his hands, now controlled by the suit, grabbed the bone claws.
All Hrist, Scorpion Warcry and Hurricane saw was Mr. Raven land on Four-four, and then vanish, followed by a sonic boom and gale force winds that swept all of them from their feet before gravity claimed them and slammed them back down again.
“What in the name of Odin happened?” Hrist rubbed her head.
“Mr. Raven, Jim, he’s gone,” Scorpion sobbed, “the suit, it has an emergency failsafe. It deactivated all gravity.”
Warcry looked up, and saw a hole leading to the sky.
“The planet threw them both off of it,” Scorpion said.
“I’m sorry, but it’s what he wanted,” Hurricane said, “he died to give us a fighting chance…!”
“You don’t even have that.”
The remaining mercs whirled around, trying to find the source of the voice.
“Hurricane, is it? Did you name yourself that because you imagine yourself a force of nature? Or do you think yourself some big, bad wolf?”
“Some tough speakers,” Warcry muttered.
A red fog creeped around the corner.
“You’re not. All of you, you’re just vermin. And vermin get exterminated.”
The wall behind the four began to crumble, as red vapor began to emerge.
“I invite you to meet the Red Storms. They emit a corrosive gas, a pollution that has stripped all life from several planets. They see it as something of a religious duty.”
Dran watched his remaining four enemies through the monitors. These were deaths he intended to savor.
“You won’t even be a notch in their belt.”
Scorpion wiped the tears from her face, and clenched her fists.
“Care to guess the one word there, you shouldn’t have said?”
“No!” Hurricane reached for Scorpion, but was a fraction of an inch too late.
Dran watched as Scorpion dived towards the Red Storms.
The screen then became awash in green, before it exploded in emerald energy, throwing Dran from his chair, as the building shook as if it’d been dropped from a great height.
The building itself groaned, and when Dran looked up, a pile of cement dust rained down on him. He watched as a spider’s web of cracks formed in the ceiling, and barely had time to realize what was happening before several hundred pounds of cement crashed down on him.
But she noticed when Hurricane stood up, and pulled her friend to his feet.
“Sorry to leave you like this,” Mr. Raven words were the greatest effort of his entire life, “but it’s time…for my never-more.”
Hurricane took two steps towards Four-four, and then threw Mr. Raven at the beast.
Jim Trask faded from the world a few seconds before he touched Four-four, but it didn’t matter. His suit was thought responsive, the death-protocols hardwired in, and his hands, now controlled by the suit, grabbed the bone claws.
All Hrist, Scorpion Warcry and Hurricane saw was Mr. Raven land on Four-four, and then vanish, followed by a sonic boom and gale force winds that swept all of them from their feet before gravity claimed them and slammed them back down again.
“What in the name of Odin happened?” Hrist rubbed her head.
“Mr. Raven, Jim, he’s gone,” Scorpion sobbed, “the suit, it has an emergency failsafe. It deactivated all gravity.”
Warcry looked up, and saw a hole leading to the sky.
“The planet threw them both off of it,” Scorpion said.
“I’m sorry, but it’s what he wanted,” Hurricane said, “he died to give us a fighting chance…!”
“You don’t even have that.”
The remaining mercs whirled around, trying to find the source of the voice.
“Hurricane, is it? Did you name yourself that because you imagine yourself a force of nature? Or do you think yourself some big, bad wolf?”
“Some tough speakers,” Warcry muttered.
A red fog creeped around the corner.
“You’re not. All of you, you’re just vermin. And vermin get exterminated.”
The wall behind the four began to crumble, as red vapor began to emerge.
“I invite you to meet the Red Storms. They emit a corrosive gas, a pollution that has stripped all life from several planets. They see it as something of a religious duty.”
Dran watched his remaining four enemies through the monitors. These were deaths he intended to savor.
“You won’t even be a notch in their belt.”
Scorpion wiped the tears from her face, and clenched her fists.
“Care to guess the one word there, you shouldn’t have said?”
“No!” Hurricane reached for Scorpion, but was a fraction of an inch too late.
Dran watched as Scorpion dived towards the Red Storms.
The screen then became awash in green, before it exploded in emerald energy, throwing Dran from his chair, as the building shook as if it’d been dropped from a great height.
The building itself groaned, and when Dran looked up, a pile of cement dust rained down on him. He watched as a spider’s web of cracks formed in the ceiling, and barely had time to realize what was happening before several hundred pounds of cement crashed down on him.
**********
“…hear me?”
Dran felt the weight of the concrete shift, and gave him just enough leverage to free himself. He was met by his very much relieved subordinates, Solution and Midnight.
“What the hell happened?” Dran demanded.
“One of the mercs apparently could absorb the gas of the Red Storms,” Solution said.
“The green haired one,” Midnight said, “I don’t think it ended well, for anyone or anything.”
“The others, did they survive?”
All three men jumped, when they heard a pounding on the blast door. Runes of an ancient language suddenly appeared on the door, as it began to glow orange.
The titanium/vibranium mixture melted like butter, to reveal Warcry, Hrist, and Hurricane. Bruised, bloody and yet, ready for more.
“Little pig, little pig…”
Hurricane pumped his shotgun.
“Let me in.”
Next issue: The big, bloody finale.
Dran felt the weight of the concrete shift, and gave him just enough leverage to free himself. He was met by his very much relieved subordinates, Solution and Midnight.
“What the hell happened?” Dran demanded.
“One of the mercs apparently could absorb the gas of the Red Storms,” Solution said.
“The green haired one,” Midnight said, “I don’t think it ended well, for anyone or anything.”
“The others, did they survive?”
All three men jumped, when they heard a pounding on the blast door. Runes of an ancient language suddenly appeared on the door, as it began to glow orange.
The titanium/vibranium mixture melted like butter, to reveal Warcry, Hrist, and Hurricane. Bruised, bloody and yet, ready for more.
“Little pig, little pig…”
Hurricane pumped his shotgun.
“Let me in.”
Next issue: The big, bloody finale.