broadwaybeyonder
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Posts posted by broadwaybeyonder
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AND NOW THE CONCLUSION
The Android took a thunderous step towards MODOK. Wyndham ducked behind it’s chair as a blast of psi-energy fired from MODOK’s headband. The Android held up it’s arms to block the blast, but stumbled backwards. “Morgan! Give it more power!” shouted Nagan. “Start the duplication process!” Nagan and Condu rushed to a terminal and began inputting commands. The Android’s head began to form into a copy of MODOK’s, including it’s headband. A stream of energy fired from it, forcing MODOK’s back. MODOK remained confident, his giant face showing more signs of boredom than exertion.
“Now, Chonu! While it’s distracted!” Chondu’s metallic legs clattered across the floor, up the back of the Android, and onto it’s MODOK-esque head. He leaped off the Android towards MODOK, as tasers and buzzsaw blades extended from his frame. But a second beam of psi-energy shot forward from MODOK’s headband and struck Chondu, causing him to clatter to the floor without a sound.
“Chondu!” cried Morgan. MODOK reached for the lever at his left hand and pulled back on it. A small missile launched from a hidden compartment in the chair and flew towards the terminal and Morgan. He tried to run but the missile struck the equipment and exploded, sending the deformed scientist sprawling.
Ruby Thursday sent three tendrils to catch MODOK’s arm before he could reach the lever again. “Your experiment is over, Wyndham!” she buzzed. A giant red fist emerged from the red sphere and hurtled toward MODOK. It got within 2 feet of the chair before stopping short. Ruby’s computers whirred in confusion. “What is this?!”
“As you were informed, this unit is capable of defending itself,” said MODOK. “This forcefield is able to block any attack you can create. And my psionic blasts will render you completely docile to my commands.” Ruby gave a screech of static and white noise as another blast from MODOK struck her. The sphere twitched and flashed urgently before the body collapsed under it.
MODOK turned it’s attention back to the Android. “This unit has been suffering a loss of power following destruction of it’s control console. Under a continuous barrage of psionic power, it should reach critical mass within 5. 4. 3. 2.” The Android began shaking as it desperately attempted to maintain it’s beam, but MODOK’s drew closer and closer as the Android’s was forced back toward it’s head. Nagan could only stare in disbelief as the Android became enveloped in MODOK’s blast, twitching and convulsing before finally exploding in a burst of flames.
“Well, score one for the big head guy,” Moth breathed. “Silence, Moth!” Dansen hissed. Nagan clenched his fists and glared at MODOK. Wyndham peeked his head out from behind the chair, giving a nod of approval. “You were unwise to attempt to defy MODOK, Dr. Nagan. He will give the Headmen the keys to knowledge undreamt of on this Earth.” Nagan began to crouch down, looking more and more animal than man. “You did this! You’re damned experiments! You’re responsible for taking the Headmen from me! I created the Headmen, do you hear?! It’s mine! MINE!” Nagan started running on all fours toward MODOK who casually blasted him with a psi-beam. Nagan screamed in pain as the blast coursed through his body, until finally MODOK released him, allowing Nagan’s smoking body to collapse.
MODOK floated over Nagan as he groaned in pain. “You are not totally correct, Dr. Nagan. This unit was formerly known as George Tarleton, an employee of Advanced Idea Mechanics. Dr. Wyndham’s experiments were meant to expand George Tarleton’s mental abilities. But there was unknown variable that led to MODOK’s creation. A creation meant to play a part in MODOK’s true purpose.” Wyndham ran around the chair to look confused up at MODOK’s face. “What true purpose? You are MODOK. Mobile Organism Designed Only for Killing. That is your designation. You chose that designation yourself!”
“That was a necessary falsification designed by MODOK’s creator. To bring about the ultimate transcendence. I am MODOK. Mobile Organism Designed Only for… Kali.”
Dansen’s eyes went wide in shock. “Gods save us.”
“Dansen? What’s going on?”
Dansen turned to Moth. “We must leave. Now!”
Suddenly, a dozen black portals opened around the devastated lab. Leaping out of them were men in robes and carrying swords. Out of another emerged Mandril, Swarm, and Ernest by MODOK’s side. A portal opened up on the wall behind Dansen and Moth. “Sybil, look out!” Dansen leapt to her feet in front of Moth as three thuggee emerged from the portal. Dansen caught the arm of the leader to stop his sword crashing down on her, but the thuggee behind him caught her with a strike to the throat. Moth tried to take to the air, only for the thuggee to grab her by the ankle. They pulled her down to the platform, sending her head clanging into the railing.
Another portal opened on the floor in front of MODOK. Rising up from it were Nekra, Ushas, Raya, and Ohn. Nekra looked proudly at MODOK. “Well done, brother. Kali is pleased with you. Is everything in readiness?”
“Affirmative. The chamber is being prepared. The calculations suggest with the modifications MODOK has ordered, Dr. Ohn’s powers will be amplified 1000%.” Wyndham stared at Ohn. “Ohn? Is that you?” Ohn puffed up his chest and folded his arms. “That’s Brother Johnathan to you. Or Brother Spot. Or maybe Brother Polka Dot? I’m workshopping it.”
The thuggee had gathered the former leaders of the Headmen in front of Nekra’s inner circle. They were force to kneel before the high priestess of Kali. Nagan struggled to free himself from Mandril and Ernest. “Take it easy, monsieur,” Ernest said. “Don’t make me take off my gloves. Unless you want to be a dead monkey man.”
“GORILLA!” Nagan howled. “I’m part GORILLA!” Nagan looked back at Nekra’s stern face and took a deep breath. “Madam, there seems to be a misunderstanding. Perhaps we can help you with…. Whatever experiment you’re planning. We know this technology. We can be quite useful to you.”
Nekra, Ushas, and Raya chuckled softly. “Oh can you?” Nekra asked. “MODOK? How many soldiers are employed by the Headmen to guard this base?”
“314, mistress.”
“And how many scientists?”
“52, mistress.”
“And what of this Tombstone and his associate? Still secure in that elevator?”
“By your command, mistress.”
“And you still have control of Tombstone’s enforcer’s arm?”
“Ready to activate the kill order at your command, mistress.”
Nekra looked back at the stunned Nagan. “Well, with all that at my command, I don’t suppose I really need any of you abominations, do I? But you will serve a purpose in Kali’s will. Brother Jonathan?” Ohn took a step forward and raised his hands. A portal appeared over the heads of each of the Headmen. They looked up and cried out in confusion. “Ohn!” Ruby screeched. “You are a part of the Headmen! Stop this at once!” Ohn looked cold at his former masters. “I’m sorry, Dr. Thursday. But you all have an appointment to keep. Someone who is very anxious to meet you all.” Ohn lowered his hands and the portals started lowering with them. They drew closer and closer until they were inches above the heads of the Headmen. They struggled and cursed and begged, but eventually the portals had completely enveloped each of them from the neck up. Dansen and Moth looked on in terror at the sight of the four headless looking individuals, still screaming for mercy. But there was another scream, a cry that pierced through the cries for mercy of the Headmen. Then there was the sound of flesh and bone being torn apart. Then all four bodies of the Headmen fell away from their portals, all with their heads severed.
The leader of the thuggee on the platform called down to Nekra. “Priestess! We have found two of Brother Max’s followers! Shall we kill them too?” Nekra looked up to the platform, and smiled at the sight of the captured Moth and Dansen. “Sisters. How good of you to join us. But the plan is not yet complete. We shall be needing all of your wayward friends to be present for the ultimate transcendence.” She turned to face Ohn. “Brother Jonathan, gather our best warriors. We shall secure the rest of the personnel in this base. They will either join us or receive the fatal blessing of Kali. You will take your force to the home of Brother Shroud. The time of the ultimate transcendence draws near! All praise Kali!”
The thuggee and ‘blessed’ took up the cry. “All praise Kali! All praise Kali! All praise Kali!”
Next Time: Over the Castle On the Hill!
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Moth and Mercury would be interesting, but looking at Impact, he should be able to handle them relatively easily.
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AND NOW THE CONCLUSION
August 10th, 1947. Catskill Mountains. New York City, NY.
Miss Masque’s pistols rang out through the forest as she expertly dispatched the Maggia forces with lethal accuracy. One jumped out from behind a tree and grabbed her arms behind her, only for her to grab by his neck and judo toss him to the ground.
“Nicely done, Miss Masque.” She turned to see Black Terror walking up to her. “Is this the last of them?” Miss Masque nodded and surveyed the injured and dead Maggia gangsters. “I thought so. Did you get the rest?”
“Yes, but now we need to get moving.” Black Terror reached for Miss Masque’s wrist, but she pulled away. “But what about Carter and the others? They’ll need us at the bunker.”
“They have the situation under control. Now come along.” Miss Masque looked closely at Black Terror’s face. “Alright then, but just one thing.” Black Terror turned away and started walking out of the clearing. “We don’t have time for this, Miss Masque. We need to go. Now.” Miss Masque tightened her grip on her pistol and hid it behind her back. “Let me just say this. Whites of their eyes.” Black Terror looked back at Miss Masque in confusion. “What are you babbling about?” Miss Masque took a step closer to Black Terror. “Just making conversation. What did Mother always teach you?” Black Terror’s jaw tightened. “Miss Masque, I am giving you an order! I’ve had enough of this nonsense!”
“So have I!” snapped Miss Masque. “You’re not Dr. Benton!” She pulled out the pistol and aimed, only for ‘Black Terror’ to draw his cutlass and knock it out of her hand. He delivered a front kick that sent Miss Masque back first into a tree. She collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. ‘Black Terror’ stepped closer and closer, the cutlass upraised. “It would have been so easier for you to come willingly,” he said with a Russian accent. He swung the blade back, ready to bring it crashing down on Miss Masque. But when he tried to swing the blade down, it stopped. The fake turned to see the real Black Terror grasping the sword in his left hand. “This doesn’t belong to you,” said Black Terror. A punch to the jaw, and the fake Black Terror fell limp to the forest floor.
Miss Masque rose gingerly to her feet as Black Terror reclaimed his sword. They looked down on Benton’s unconscious double. “It’s amazing!” Miss Masque said. “If it wasn’t for him not responding to the trigger commands, I would have sworn it was you!” Black Terror knelt by the doppelganger, and ran his hands around his neck. Pulling a loose flap, he pulled up on the mask to reveal the white helmet of Dmitri. “Agent Thompson’s friend, I presume,” said Black Terror. “I was fighting a gang of those mobsters and one of them managed to knock my cutlass from my grip. This one must have found it and put together this disguise to try to trap you.” Miss Masque bit her lip, and Black Terror looked up. “Miss Adams? Are you alright?” Miss Masque sniffed and shook her head. “No. I’m not. I’m tired, Doctor. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. Will it ever be over? Will we ever be normal? I don’t want to live like this.” Black Terror gently took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. “Miss Adams, I swear to you. I am beyond sorry for bringing this on you and the others. If it’s the last thing I do, I will find a cure to the serum. You have my word. But right now, Agent Carter and her friends need our help. And maybe we can use these powers do some good before the end. Are you ready to do that?” Miss Masque took a deep breath, and nodded, trying to smile. “Yes. Show must go on. I am an actress, after all.”
Deep within the bunker, Count Nefaria walked around a vault. The walls were lined with shelves, each containing small metallic boxes. Jonas Harrow examined each boxes contents with increasing glee. “There here! They’re all here! Just like Wells said they would be!” Count Nefaria opened a box, allowing a puff of dry ice smoke to emit from it. He reached in a pulled out a small vial of blood. “Dr. Benton’s serum. Enough for every member of Maggia to have two doses each. And army of super soldiers, all loyal to Leviathan. To me!”
His reverie was interrupted by Dottie running into the vault. “We’ve got a problem. We lost radio contact with the guards up top. And I can’t pick up Sloan or Yuri either.” Nefaria tightened his fist around the vial. “It appears we may have uninvited guests.” Dottie’s face twisted into a sinister smile. “Peggy.”
Nefaria shot Dottie a look. “Do not let your petty squabble blind you, Miss Underwood. Take Daredevil, find our interlopers, and eliminate them.” Dottie nodded and dashed down the hallway. “But what do we do?” Harrow panicked. “We don’t have time to get all of the serum out! If the SSR are here…”
“Calm yourself, Doctor.” Nefaria opened his hand and looked at the vial, the beginnings of an idea forming in his brain. “I think I may have a solution to our problems.”
Next Time: Pass the Ammunition!
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11 minutes ago, patrickthekid said:
Even without Black Terror, Miss America alone should be able to get the job done.
She does have Fighting Yank. I chose Terror by mistake.
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In the interests of not knowing how much time is left before the site shuts down again, I've posted Episode 13 as a Rumble. Check out what's going on back at Dr. Harrow's lab in "Pass the Ammunition"!
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Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition by Kay Kyser - Fallout 76 - YouTube
Also, it's supposed to Fighting Yank and Miss America. NOT Black Terror. My bad.
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Episode 13: Pass the Ammunition
August 10th, 1947. Manhattan, New York. The laboratory of Doctor Jonas Harrow.
Bob Frank winced as he opened his eyes. He was still strapped down to a gurney, a single bulb lamp swinging above him. He could feel a throbbing sensation in his head, as well as the spot on his arm where that madman had…
Bob suddenly shot back into consciousness. Maddie! The man who had attacked him and fought with her. The man with the ring who spoke so clear and calm. He had to find Maddie. He pulled up on the straps that held his arms, grunting furiously. He was so focused on the task, he didn’t notice that the leather straps were not just giving way, but tearing. His muscles had grown stronger, and with a mighty flex, the restraints snapped loose. It was so sudden and with such force that Bob started falling off the gurney. He braced himself for the fall, and tried to get his feet under him.
Much to Bob’s astonishment, he did land on his feet. Bob looked around in confusion for a moment. There couldn’t have been enough time to stick the landing. But he pushed those thoughts aside. “Maddie?” he shouted and started for the screen covered doorway. In an instant, he had dashed 10 feet from the fallen gurney to the entrance. Bob looked behind him in confusion. He never had been that fast. For that matter, after all he had gone through these past few days, he shouldn’t be able to stand let alone run. Bob started walking back towards the gurney, and again he seemed to reach his destination in a mere second. An exhilaration overcame Bob, who started dashing and darting through the room, past the rows of screeching test animals, around the gurney and back to the doorway. He stopped, not even breathing heavy. “Gee whiz,” he said softly. It must have been whatever that crazy doctor had injected him with. Yes, he had said something about making him fast.
Then, Bob could hear voices coming closer from down the hall. He rushed back to the gurney, set it up right, and leapt onto it closing his eyes. He heard the voice clearer now. It was the voice of the man with the ring.
“How is Mr. Carter today?” asked Fennhoff. “Yankee Doodle? Heh. Still nutty as ever,” Hammerhead snickered.
“Just see to it that he stays in his cage. And what of Miss America?”
“Like Sleepin’ Beauty, doc,” said Kangaroo. “Are you sure you couldn’t wake her up? Me and Hammer have been cooped up here ever since the Count left. Couldn’t we have a little fun?” Fennhoff looked disgusted at the two enforcers. “You are not here for ‘fun’. You are here to guard these prisoners. No change on the husband?” Hammerhead pulled aside the screen to reveal Bob Frank, laid out on the gurney. “Nothin’. We checked his ticker like you said. He’s been dead for the last 2 days. Harrow thought he'd wake up, but he just kicked the bucket.” Bob held his breath and tried to be as silent as possible. Fennhoff shook his head. “Such shoddy work. No matter. You will accompany me to collect my notes. I shall then make my final analysis of our subjects. Then we can dispose of them along with Mr. Frank.”
Bob exhaled quietly as he listened to the heavy footsteps of Hammerhead and Kangaroo fade off down the hallway. He then cast aside the straps and raced out the door, turning to run the opposite direction of the gangsters. “Got to find Maddie,” he said under his breath, as he ran from room to room. He sped down the hallway and made a turn, then hurried back. Something had caught his eye. It was a one way mirror, through which Bob could see a man with his back to him. He was wearing a cape and mask, and tricorn hat lay discarded on the floor. It was the same man who had attacked Bob and Maddie. He was clutching his head, groaning in agony. “Hey!” Bob shouted. “Hey, you!” The man didn’t answer. The room must have been sound proofed. Bob banged his fist on the glass, then looked down in surprise at it when he didn’t feel any pain. He banged on the glass again, then again and again, faster and faster. He could the glass begin to vibrate with every strike. Bob gave a cry of frustration and finally the mirror shattered apart.
Fighting Yank looked up in confusion as Bob peeked through the broken glass. “Hi there. Um, I have a few questions to ask.” Fighting Yank lunged through the windowpane and Bob easily speeded out of his way, holding out his hands. “Take it easy. I don’t know what this is all about and what’s going on, but I know that you aren’t going to beat up on me so easily like you did at my house.” The Fighting Yank glared at Bob. “You. You took her from me!” Bob cleared his throat and attempted to sound braver than he felt. “If you mean Maddie, buddy, she happens to be my wife.”
Miss America has been compromised. Eliminate! Eliminate! “Stop talking!” Bob jumped from Fighting Yank’s sudden outburst. He took a deep breath and took step toward the crouched hero. “Look, mister. All I know is you and me have got the same problem. The kooks who run this place sound like they are planning to waste all of us. You understand that?” Fighting Yank nodded. “Typical procedure. Must eliminate all evidence.”
“Yeah. Right,” said Bob. “That means you, me, and Madeline need to get out of here. Now, can you help me with that? Then maybe we can find somebody to help you out.” Fighting Yank gave a humorless laugh. “Help. Oh, they’ll help. They’ll throw me a cell like they did before. Lock me away to hide the truth.” Bob held out a hand to Fighting Yank. “Listen to me. Please. I’ve seen you fight. If you help me, then I promise I’ll do whatever I can to get you and Maddie the help you need. You have my word. What do you say?” Fighting Yank looked at Bob’s hand uncertain. Rescuing Miss America is top priority! This civilian will only get in your way. The Carter’s didn’t need any help from….
“Enough.” Fighting Yank looked up into Bob’s eyes and took his hand. “You have a deal.” Bob helped Fighting Yank to his feet and gave a cautious smile. “Wonderful. Now, try to keep up.” Bob started purposefully walking slower, but his speed was so great he still managed to be several feet ahead of Fighting Yank, who jogged to keep up.
After a few minutes of searching, the would be rescuers came to a stop some 10 feet away the open door of another cell. Through the doorway and the one-way mirror, they could see Fennhoff circling the chair where Miss America sat restrained and unconscious. “It has been a pleasure to meet you, Miss Joyce,” Fennhoff’s voice floated into the hall. “And I’m sure your country appreciates your service. But, sadly, the time is drawing near for you to depart.” He withdrew a syringe and inserted it into a vial of liquid. “One last tranquilizer should be able to deaden your powers enough to complete the task.”
“He’s gonna kill her!” Bob whispered urgently to Fighting Yank. “You wait here. I’ll whizz in there and…” But Fighting Yank had already charged into the cell with a cry. Fennhoff looked up in alarm at the charging hero. He dropped the syringe and reached for his ring, but before he could speak Fighting Yank and shoulder tackled him into the stone wall. By the time he had slid dazed to the floor, Bob had ran into the room to Madeline’s side. “Maddie! Maddie, it’s Bob!” He quickly undid the restraints, allowing Madeline to slide from the chair into his arms. He held her close and stroked her face with his hand, his voice growing more desperate. “Maddie. Please, wake up!” Fighting Yank looked on as Bob fought to hold back tears, then gently kissed her forehead.
Madeline’s eyes slowly opened. She looked up at Bob, squinting to clear her vision. “Bob?” she asked wearily. “Is it still my birthday?” Bob gave a soft laugh and hugged Madeline tight. “Yeah, yeah it is. Happy Birthday, Maddie.” Madeline turned and moved closer to Bob at the sight of Fighting Yank. “Don’t worry,” Bob said. “He’s on our side. I think.” Bob slowly assisted Madeline to her feet, while she still looked at Fighting Yank. “Yes. I really think he is. It is you, Bruce?” Bruce Carter III pulled off his domino mask and gazed longingly at Madeline. “Hello, Madeline. I… I’ve… missed you.” Bob moved Madeline to sit in the chair, giving a wary look to Fighting Yank. “You guys wait here. I’ll take a look around to see if I can find an exit around here.”
Bob Frank ran out the doorway, only for the sound of a thud to be heard. Madeline and Bruce looked up in alarm at the sounds of a struggle. Madeline struggled to her feet. “Bob? Bob!” Bob Frank tumbled back into the cell and fell to the floor. The doorway was soon filled up with the profiles of Hammerhead and Kangaroo. “Well, well,” said Hammerhead. “Guess the doc was right about this clyde after all. Too bad he doesn’t have enough sense to watch where he’s goin’. He ran right into us!” Kangaroo leered at Madeline. “Too bad about your man. Maybe you’d like a trade in.” Bruce moved to Madeline’s side. “This is going to get ugly. Are you up for this?” Madeline’s eyes narrowed as her glance shifted from her downed husband and his attackers. “For my husband? I’m up for anything.”
OK:
Miss America is at half strength, Fighting Yank, Hammerhead, and Kangaroo at full strength. Bob Frank (The Whizzer) is unconscious.
Can Miss America and Fighting Yank escape the Maggia’s clutches?
Stay Tuned and Find Out!
Game On!
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Chapter 11: Dr. X Will Build A Creature
“Just how stupid can you be?!” Hannibal inadvertently flinched as Hangman railed at Shroud. The leader of the Night Shift sat in his high back, leather armchair with hands folded. Hangman paced back and forth as the rest of the Night Shift looked on. “You are supposed to be the leader of this group! And you run off to fight some other freaks on your own. You force Dansen to drag Moth and Digger to follow you, and now we’re down two people!” Digger’s grip tightened on his shovel. “Oh give it a rest already, rope boy,” he muttered. “Oh shut up, Digger!” Hangman snapped. He turned his attention back to Shroud, who remained motionless. “First those kung fu rejects jump Moth at that party. Then that bee man and that French guy! Are they all working for this Elvira looking lady you were fighting?” Shroud stayed silent. “Answer me, damn it!” Hangman hurled his noose only for Shroud to catch it in midair. He yanked the rope, pulling Hangman across the room before landing a strike to his throat.
Shroud rose from his seat to stand over the gasping Hangman. He looked up with his sightless across around the rest of the room. “I had hoped it wouldn’t have come to this. But, yes, it is time I reveal to you just who we are fighting.” Shroud walked over to the window that overlooked the long drive to Tower of Shadows. “Many years ago, long before I was the Shroud, I had another name. I was Maximillian Coleridge. I’m sure Detective King can give you the details of the case that name recalls.”
“Vaguely,” Hannibal said. “There was some talk about it when I joined LAPD. The Coleridge’s were a wealthy family. They were killed in a drive by shooting, weren’t they?” Shroud nodded, still facing the window. “Leaving their son an orphan. As I grew up, I attempted to move forward with my life. I tried to throw myself into my father’s business, but it wasn’t enough. I couldn’t get the sight of my parent’s bodies out of my mind.”
“What’s this have to do with these new players?” Percy Grimm asked. Shroud sighed and turned back to his chair. “I wanted to do more to stop crime then just donate to charities and open youth centers in my parents’ names. I started searching for ways that I could fight back against criminals myself. And in my travels, I heard tales of a group known as the Children of Kali. They were a reclusive order, but were willing to let outsiders join them if they cut off all ties with their lives before joining. Once there, they would be trained in art of combat. And those who pleased the goddess the most would received her blessing. Power beyond imagining.”
Tatterdemalion nodded. “That’s where you met Dansen? That’s how she got her hands on all those manuscripts.”
“I began to see that the followers of Kali were not as beneficent as I thought. People would disappear from the grounds, presumably to receive a ‘blessing’. In reality, Kali was transforming them into the creatures you have faced.” Hannibal gave a nervous cough. “Now, Shroud. You really mean to tell us that these creatures were created by some Hindu goddess?”
“Is it so hard to believe, detective?” Shroud crossed the room to Hannibal. “We have already seen the all too real power of the Norse God of Thunder. Is the idea of an Indian Goddess of Death all that implausible? When I realized what was going on, I offered Dansen a chance to escape. But she refused, too frightened of reprisal from Nekra, the woman I fought tonight. I tried anyway and was caught. But instead of being executed, they dragged me to the altar of Kali to be ‘blessed’.” Shroud ripped off the hood to reveal the scars on his face. Even though he had seen them during the mission to save Shroud from the Headmen, Hannibal still couldn’t help but look away. “This is what they did to me,” Shroud went on coldly. “I gained strength and control over darkness, but my sight was gone forever. Upon learning of what had happened to me, Dansen used her powers to help us escape from the temple.”
“Wow. Great deadtime story, boss,” said Digger. Misfit slapped him on the back of the head. “Stow it, corpse breath!” Jack raised his hand awkwardly. “Um, I have a question?” Shroud turned towards Jack as he cleared his throat. “You were saying that Kali was blessing people and giving them these powers, like yours. But is that where Dansen got her powers too?” Shroud looked around the room at the attentive Night Shift. “No. Dansen had already received her powers before coming to the temple. The temple would be where acolytes would be trained to fight. Kali is able to grant her ‘blessings’ on anyone anywhere. And I among my main powers, I seem to have acquired a sense detecting where these chosen ones are.”
“What are you talking about?” Misfit said annoyed. Tick Tock rose from the couch. “He’s saying that we’re like him. All of us. All of our powers weren’t from random chance. We have all been… blessed.” Hangman scrambled to his feet enraged. “You knew all this, and you told us nothing?!”
“This was never about running this city!” Barton Grimm shouted. “You were just using us!”
“I wanted to be able to help you,” Shroud said. “Give you all a common goal. Help you control your abilities. But with Nekra and her followers in Los Angeles, we need to be ready for anything. There is no telling what they are planning. We need to find where they have taken Dansen and Moth.” Hangman stormed out of the study towards the stairs. “To hell with you! If you want me, I’ll be upstairs! No one makes a patsy out of the Hangman!” Misfit followed after him. “Yeah. I didn’t sign up to be no wussy super hero! You go fight your own battles!” The echoing footsteps up the stairs were the only sound that rang through the Tower of Shadows.
In the Headmen’s lair, alarms and sirens blared. Men in yellow hazmat suits ran down the halls with guns drawn, shouting orders to scientists. Under the cover of Dansen’s spell, Moth and Dansen carefully walked through the bustle unobserved. Dansen had been in constant motion, twirling and dodging past the guards to keep them invisible. A side door slid open, and some more techs hurried out. “In there!” Moth whispered. Dansen made a graceful leap through the door and Moth ran in after. The door slid shut, and Moth turned to see they were on an observation deck, overlooking several test chambers. Moth gave a quick glance around the platform. “I think we’re clear. No cameras, or bad guys.” Dansen allowed herself to drop to metal grate floor. She panted for breath as Moth ran over to her. “Take it easy. You good to keep going?”
“I’m fine,” Dansen said shakily. She tried to rise to her feet, only to fall against the railing. Moth took a hold of her arms to steady her. Dansen nodded at Moth. “Thank you. I had never used my power on so many people for so long. I am somewhat… drained.” Moth extended her wings and took to the air. “Then maybe let me do the driving for a while.” Threads began to spring loose from the sleeves on Dansen’s outfit, then tied themselves together to lift Dansen up off the ground like aerial silks. They flew along the observation deck, getting glimpses from above of what was inside the chambers below. In one, scientists were hurrying around a tank of green liquid, with a young man inside screaming in agony. In another were two women in jumpsuits unconscious and restrained on metal tables. In between them was a glowing orb that was filled with spiders.
“What kind of weird crap are these people up to?” Moth said. A voice rang out over the PA. “Dr. Nagan! Dr. Thursday! Please report to MODOK! Dr. Nagan! Dr. Thursday! Please report to MODOK!” Moth glanced down at Dansen. “And who the hell is MO…” Dansen raised a finger to her lips and motioned Moth to come in for a landing. Moth lowered them both back to the platform, and looked over the railing at the next chamber.
There were the Headmen, gathered around a giant robot laying on a table. “Activate it, Dr. Morgan!” commanded Nagan. Morgan pressed an unseen switch under the android’s right arm, and it started to whirr to life. The rectangular head turned back and forth, scanning the room. It moved to a sitting position on the table as the Headmen backed away. “Excellent!” said Nagan. “Android! Verify! I am Dr. Arthur Nagan! You will obey my instructions! Stand!” The android rose from the table, it’s head just barely missing the edge of the platform Dansen and Moth were crouched on. “Dr. Nagan! Dr. Thursday!” the PA blared out again. “MODOK requires your presence! This is a direct order from MODOK!” Morgan nervously looked to the door. “Maybe you should go, Nagan. MODOK might be…”
“Blast MODOK!” Nagan snarled. “I am the true leader of the Headmen! Not that freak accident!” Nagan took a deep breath to collect himself. “Besides, we need to test our friend’s other abilities. Android! Scan Dr. Thursday. Begin duplication protocol.” The android looked down on Ruby Thursday for a moment, then it’s head began to twist and reform until it was a perfect sphere like hers. “Most impressive,” Ruby said. “With this android, MODOK doesn’t stand a chance!”
The door of the chamber slid open, and MODOK floated in, followed by Wyndham. “Dr. Nagan!” MODOK’s voice boomed. “Why didn’t you respond to your orders? You were ordered to meet with MODOK.” Nagan sneered defiantly. “I don’t take orders from you, creature! You were merely an experiment that went wrong! Your orders have failed us over and over! Choosing the Dodson woman and that imbecile for test subjects! Letting the Night Shift run loose in our base! MY base!” Wyndham stepped forward. “You dare speak that way to MODOK?”
“Oh, shut up, Wyndham, you traitor!” Nagan barked. “If you’re lucky, I’ll let you live long enough to be thrown into one of your own test chambers!”
“This is an unwise course of action, Dr. Nagan,” MODOK intoned. “Be warned that this unit is more than capable of protecting itself.” Nagan turned to face the android. “And I am now capable of destroying you! Android! Eliminate MODOK!”
“Sheesh,” Moth muttered. “It’s a nerd civil war.”
Who shall gain control of the Headmen?
Stay Tuned and Find Out!
Game On!
-
AND NOW THE CONCLUSION
Tombstone and Bushwacker made their way through the sliding door of the elevator that had brought them into the subterranean hideout of the Headmen. Bushwacker looked around at the dozen scientists checking tablets and conferring with each other in the clean, white lobby. Tombstone’s focus was on Ruby Thursday as she walked up to meet them. “Good evening, gentlemen. So glad you could make it on such short notice.” Bushwacker ducked as a drone buzzed past his head before crashing through a plexiglass screen. Tombstone did not look impressed. “How about you just tell us what this is all about? Ever since my boys tangled with the Shroud’s I haven’t heard a peep from you people. What do you want now?” Ruby paused, her sphere humming. “You have been… summoned by the new leader of the Headmen. MODOK has decided that since your bodyguard has received enhancements from us, he and the rest of your organization is better suited for our needs here, to beef up our security and containment teams.” Tombstone raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sending my people down here to be mall cops. I have a business to run upstairs. What do you need me for?”
A cry of alarm rang out through the hall, and techs started running past. Moth was darting through the air, holding up Dansen with strands. The piecemeal creature that was Hubert Carpenter bounded after them on all fours, sending techs jumping out of the way. It leaped into the air and slashed with his claws at Moth’s wings. She cried out in pain as the wings were reduced to fragments and she and Dansen fell to the floor. “These freaks again!” Bushwacker exclaimed. He started transforming his gun arm, but Dr. Wyndham ran up to them, waving his arms and being followed by White Rabbit. “No! You can’t interfere!” he shouted. “MODOK has ordered that the experiment have no outside variables!” Bushwacker looked in disbelief at Tombstone. “Come on, boss. You aren’t going to let these eggheads keep me from…”
“Easy, Wacker,” said Tombstone, nodding at Piecemeal as it drew closer to the fallen Night Shifters. “You wouldn’t want to get in the way of that thing.”
“Yeah!” said White Rabbit. “Unless you happen to have a vorpal blade handy!” Bushwacker looked in confusion at White Rabbit. “Who the hell are you?”
Moth groaned as she rose to her feet, looking over as Dansen tried to join her. “Hope you got some ideas, lady,” she said glancing over at Piecemeal. “That thing is too strong for us.” Dansen shook her head to clear the cobwebs then turned to face the patchwork beast. “Just grow your wing back, and hold him steady for me.” Piecemeal lunged for them as Moth leaped into the air, her tattered wings reforming to keep her aloft. She pointed at a group of techs hiding behind a fallen table. “Sorry, folks. Gonna need those.” The lab coats of the techs started coming undone. The techs all took off running in terror as their coats and the rest of their clothes started being reduced to strands and float to Moth.
Dansen jumped back to get some distance from Piecemeal, then began to twist and twirl. She pirouetted in front of Piecemeal, who cocked it’s head in confusion. “She’s using her power!” shouted Ruby Thursday. “Bushwacker! White Rabbit! Strike now!”
“No!” Wyndham snapped. “The experiment must continue!” Piecemeal shook it’s head and lunged forward with a roar, only for the strands that Moth had collected snag his wrists and ankles. The strands pulled back into the air in front of Moth, her face taut in concentration. Piecemeal snarled and thrashed. His tail whipped backed and caught Moth’s head. She fell to the ground with a thud, and the strands started to droop and fall with her. Piecemeal clawed the threads off him and turned back to face Dansen. “STOP!” she yelled in a loud voice. She stood frozen before the beast with arms upraised. And to the amazement of the Heademen watching, Piecemeal did freeze in place as well. Dansen’s returned to her movements, letting her arms sway, rise and fall as she spun and dipped before the beast. Finally, she crossed her arms in front of her and, with a determined look, yanked them apart from her. The eyes of Piecemeal grew wide and his body swayed back and forth. It let out a final whimper, before falling to the ground in a heap.
“Hubert!” White Rabbit screeched. Bushwacker aimed his gun arm and fired at Dansen. She nimbly jumped out of the way and somersaulted over to Moth. “Hope you know a dance that can make us bullet proof,” she groaned. “Not quite,” said Dansen. Dansen started going into another series of steps and intricate gestures. Then she started spinning, faster and faster until she seemed to become a blur. In a few seconds both her and Moth had vanished into thin air.
Ruby Thursday’s sphere crackled angrily as she ran to a console and slammed the intercom button. “Attention! Attention all Headmen! We have intruders! They have enhanced abilities and are extremely dangerous! Hand out infrared goggles to all personal! Any sightings, report to Dr. Nagan!”
“Correction!” Wyndham’s voice cried out. “Report to MODOK!” Ruby whirled on Wyndham, her electronic voice filled with rage. “You’re MODOK is the reason we have Night Shift loose in our base! Again!”
“Do you mean to question the genius of our leader?” Wyndham asked. Tombstone and Bushwacker started moving back towards the elevator. “You clearly have your own issues to sort out,” said Tombstone coldly. “If you’ll excuse me, I have important matters to see to.” The elevator doors closed as Wyndham briskly walked back down the hall. “And I must inform MODOK of our results.” White Rabbit and Ruby Thursday looked at each other awkwardly for a moment, before Ruby let out a burst of frustrated static and walked off.
Meanwhile, Moth and Dansen were still standing in the middle of the lobby where they had disappeared. Moth looked on as the Headmen had all vacated the room. “It worked!” she whispered. “They can’t see us! We’re…”
“Hush, Moth!” Dansen hissed. She was still in the middle of her dance, swaying and spinning to maintain the spell. “I can drown some of our voices, but not everything! So stay quiet!” Dansen started traveling across the hall, Moth following after her. “But where are we going? We could get out of here!”
“Not until we pick up some more information about the Headmen,” Dansen said, before going into a plie and a leap towards the doorway. Moth grumbled and hurried after her.
Ruby rushed into a testing chamber where Nagan, Morgan, and Chondu waited. “This had gone too far, Nagan,” she ranted. “I don’t care what Wyndham has said! That MODOK isn’t a genius! His ridiculous experiments have only led the Night Shift to our doorstep!” Nagan put a paw on Ruby’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, my dear. The time of our return to glory is at hand.” Ruby’s sphere glowed brightly. “You mean… it’s finished? It’s completed?” Nagan nodded to Morgan and Chondu, who reached for a tarp covering an examination table. “See for yourself.” Pulling aside the tarp with hand and mechanical pincer, the Headmen revealed the form underneath. It was a 15 foot tall robot, with gray skin and a rectangular shaped head. Ruby looked over the robot, and turned back to Nagan. “Brilliant work, Dr. Nagan,” she said. “Thank you, Dr. Thursday,” Nagan said, gazing with pride at their creation. “With this awesome android, we shall deal with MODOK, these other powered adversaries, and the Night Shift, once and for all, for Science!”
Next Time: Doctor X Will Build A Creature!
-
-
Episode 12: Anyone Else But Me
August 9th, 1947. New York City, New York. The mansion of Howard Stark.
“Put it down, Fred,” Peggy said. She could feel her pulse quicken at the sight of Angie’s tear stained face. Wells tightened his grip on her arm and brought the glass shard to her throat. “He smashed the chair,” Angie gasped. “When we came down he had already…”
“Shut it!” Wells snapped. He turned to face Peggy, Howard, and Jack. “You will tell Benton and Miss Adams to come down here now. They will leave this house with me. If you attempt to follow us, I will use their programming to order them to kill each other!”
Howard stepped past Peggy. “I got to give you credit, Wells. At least you chose a good vintage.”
“Stark!” Jack shouted. Wells pulled Angie back with him. “You stay away from me!”
“Relax, Freddy,” Howard said, giving a look to Jack and Peggy and his drew closer. “I’m sure we can work something out.” As he spoke, Jack started moving into the row of wine racks behind Wells. “We are not giving you Miss Adams and the doctor,” Peggy said. “But if you tell us who is behind this, we will let you leave.”
“Oh please, Peg,” Wells laughed scornfully. “You are in no position to bargain with me. Not while I have your lovely friend here.” A speck of red began to show on Angie’s neck. She closed her eyes tight as Howard took another step. “Well, she isn’t that lovely. You should see the mess she makes on the tiles in my kitchen. But come on. I’d be a much better hostage for you. How about you just let her go, and take me?”
“All of you shut it!” Wells screamed. In the next row, Jack slammed full force into wine racks, causing them to tip over. The creaking of wood distracted Wells, and as he turned to see the source of the sound, Angie stamped down on his foot and ran to Howard. Wells’ cry of pain was drowned out by the crashing of wood and bottles as the wine rack fell on top of him.
“Angie! Get out of here!” shouted Peggy. Angie took off for the stairs as Benton and Diana met her. Wells shoved the debris off of him and saw Diana with her pistol drawn. “Whites of their eyes!” he yelled. Both Benton and Diana froze, her gun still raised. Peggy turned back in alarm. “Miss Adams! Put down the gun!” Wells looked smug and nodded to Diana. “You know what to do, Miss Masque. Put a bullet in the head of each enemy combatant in this room starting with Miss Carter. Black Terror, if anyone interrupts, snap their necks.” Diana turned toward Peggy as Jack and Howard moved in front of her. “Diana. Listen to me. Fennhoff has been weakening your conditioning. You can fight this!” Wells rose to his feet, tossing aside his glass shard. “Don’t bother, Peg dear. She can’t hear you. But don’t worry. I’ll look after them. And that brother of yours. Miss Masque? Kill her.” Diana took a step forward with Peggy in her sights. Then fired.
Wells was sent staggering back by the force of the bullet, smashing into another rack of wine bottles. Jack spun back to look at Diana as she removed a cotton ball from each ear. “Seriously?” Jack said. Diana shrugged and smiled. “I had advice from a friend of yours. Said it works well against hypnotists.” She looked back as Daniel nodded in approval on the stairs. Benton took out his cotton balls as he saw Peggy rush to the fallen Wells, gasping for air. The bullet had gone straight through his heart. Blood mingled with the wine on the cellar floor. Peggy grabbed him by the lapels, eyes blazing. “You don’t have much time, Fred,” she hissed. “Who is behind this? It isn’t the Council, so who?” Wells coughed up blood but managed to choke out the name. “Ne… Nefaria.”
“And where is Nefaria with the key? Where is this bunker?” Wells’ eyes were rolling in the back of his head as his breathing grew shakier. “Ca…Cat…Catski….” Wells gave a final shudder, then fell still.
Catskill Mountains. New York City, NY. August 10th, 1947.
Nefaria stood before what appeared to be a stone outcropping in a clearing on a hill. Nodding to two Maggia henchmen, they pushed aside the foliage to reveal a metallic door. Carefully, Nefaria removed the Arena Club key from his pocket and inserted it into the key hole. He turned the key, and heard the tumblers give way. The door creaked open, allowing the smell of stale air to escape. Nefaria turned to Dr. Harrow, who was swatting at a curious fly buzzing around his head. “Well, Doctor? Are you satisfied that our information is correct now?” Harrow brushed away the fly, and cleared his throat. “I am glad you’ve found this place, Count. But I won’t be satisfied until I see what’s inside of it.”
“And you shall, Dr. Harrow. Carlo? Silas? You and your men go ahead. Tread lightly. No telling how many other surprises the Council has for us. Miss Underwood and Daredevil will cover our rear. Dmitri, you will remain with the rest up here. Anyone attempts to intervene, dispose of them in the most efficient manner available.” Ten Maggia mobsters gingerly stepped into the bunker, followed by Harrow and Nefaria. Daredevil stopped at the doorway, looking at it up and down. Dottie smirked. “Feels like home?” The blank eyes of the mask glared at her, then stepped into the darkness. Dottie shrugged and followed after.
Dmitri turned toward his squad. “Spread out. Silencers only. I want to be informed the moment anyone is within 100 yards of this hill.” There was a sudden cry from the left, blocked out by the trees. Dmitri tilted his head in annoyance. “Hammond? Bartel? What is it?” There was no response. Dmitri pointed to three Maggia and they took off down the hill, guns at the ready. Then there was the clear sound of gunfire from the other side of the hill. Dmitri’s eyes narrowed behind his mask, as he grumbled. “Unprofessional idiots. You lot, stay here. You six, with me.” Dmitri and his men started off down the hill, leaving three men behind. They stood at the entrance, awkwardly staring at each other.
Peggy Carter dived from a tree branch on top of one of the men. Giving a cry of alarm, one drew his pistol, only to be zapped by Howard and his handheld ‘jitterbug’. Another got tackled to the ground by Jack, who delivered a final blow to knock him out. Peggy’s opponent scrambled to his feet and started throwing wild punches which Peggy easily dodged. A hard kick to the right knee and an uppercut, and he joined his associates in unconsciousness.
Jack looked impressed as Peggy dusted herself off. “It never gets old watching you do that.” Peggy gave a small smile, before collecting herself and reaching for her necklace. “Are we coming through alright, Mr. Jarvis?”
“Crystal clear, Miss Carter,” the butler’s voice rang out. “Chief Sousa and I are ready to assist when required.”
“How about Miss Adams and Dr. Benton? Are they doing alright?” Daniel’s voice rang out over the transmitter. “They’ve got their hands full at the moment. But their keeping the Maggia busy.” Jack gave a side eye to Howard. “I guess Bob and Diana's memories are getting better to remember this place. So far so good?”
“Of course it is. I came up with the plan, didn’t I?” Peggy pushed past her allies and moved towards the doorway. “It doesn’t matter who’s plan it is! Our mission is to find Benton’s notes and any serum that’s left. Destroy it, and bring in any Maggia members into custody.”
“Peggy.” She paused at the sound of Daniel’s concerned voice. “Just be careful.” Peggy looked out, imagining where Daniel and Jarvis were waiting in the van. “You be too, Daniel. Um, Chief.” She looked back at an amused Howard and Jack. “That Sousa is a real lucky guy,” Howard said. “Oh, no doubt,” said Jack.
“Are you going to stand there like gossiping hens?” Peggy said briskly. “Or are going to finish this?” The two men nodded, and followed Peggy Carter into the bunker.
Can Black Terror and Miss Masque defeat a squad of 20 Maggia and the Chameleon?
Or will our heroes plan fall apart before it begins?
Stay Tuned and Find Out!
Game On!
-
AND NOW THE CONCLUSION
August 8th, 1947. Manhattan, New York City. The mansion of Silvio Manfredi.
Fancy Dan and Dottie Underwood opened fire at Nefaria’s men. Kangaroo and Daredevil leapt to the sky and Hammerhead charged straight at them, bullets bouncing off his enforced skull. Hammerhead’s momentum sent him crashing into Montana as Fancy Dan ran out of his path. Kangaroo came crashing down on top of Ox, leveling the big man. Daredevil hurled his boomerang at Joseph, who ducked and returned fire with his pistol. The other bosses and Silvermane huddled on the far side of the conference room, looking on at the scene.
Fancy Dan somersaulted across the room toward Daredevil, but was caught by the throat and slammed back first into the oak table. Dottie grabbed Daredevil in a headlock and squeezed tightly. “Go to sleep now,” she hissed. Hammerhead saw his partner in trouble and sprinted head first into Dottie’s back. She shouted out in pain and released the hold, falling to the ground nursing her ribs. Daredevil staggered up to his feet, only to have Montana’s lasso wrap around his upper chest, pinning his arms. Montana held the other end tightly as he shouted to Joseph. “I got ‘im, Mr. Manfredi! Finish this yahoo!” Joseph raised his pistol and aimed it at Daredevil, still struggling to free himself. Joseph squinted as his target, and fired.
Montana stood frozen for a second, then his hands went limp. The lasso dropped from his lifeless hands, followed by Montana himself falling to the floor. Blood began to drip the bullet hole in his forehead. The bosses and Silvio Manfredi all looked shocked, as Joseph Manfredi, showing no emotion on his face, slowly walked to the still prone Fancy Dan, pistol still at the ready. He looked up in disbelief at Joseph. “Joey, pally, what are you…” Dan’s voice was drowned out by the gunshot implanting the bullet into his brain. Joseph strode around the table to where Ox was sat on the floor, his back propped up against the wall. “Mr. Manfredi,” he said, more dumbfounded than usual. “Why you have to go and do that? Dan and Montana are good guys.” Joseph Manfredi raised his pistol once again. “I’m sorry,” he said in a Russian sounding accent. “I’m afraid you have me confused with someone else.” Another gunshot, and the final Enforcer joined his comrades.
Silvio Manfredi looked at his son as he wiped off his weapon. “Joseph,” he said, his voice barely audible. “What have you done?” Joseph cocked his head. “I have done what is necessary for the survival of the Maggia, Mr. Manfredi.” With that, “Joseph” reached behind his head, and pulled off his latex mask, revealing the white headpiece of Dmitri. Silvio fell back, being caught by the other Maggia bosses. “Dmitri! You have betrayed me, as well?!” Dmitri slowly started walking over to Dottie, who had risen to her knees. “My only loyalty is to the Maggia, Mr. Manfredi. Not you.” Dottie looked up glaring in defiance as Dmitri took aim.
“Hold, Dmitri,” Nefaria said calmly. “I think we still have a role for this one.” Dmitri holstered his gun and Dottie stood up clutching her ribs. She looked at Nefaria in confusion. “And what role would that be?”
“Why, to assist me in elevating the Maggia into the power it was meant to be.” He motioned to Hammerhead, Kangaroo, and Daredevil. “A power enforced by enhanced individuals like these. And I would be so glad to have an agent of Leviathan in the fold.”
“What in God’s name are you talking about?!” shouted Silvermane. “I lead the Maggia! What have you done with my son?”
“Oh, shut up,” Dottie said. Silvio bristled as Dottie turned her attention to Nefaria. “How did you know I was in Leviathan?” Nefaria’s smile grew. “My dear, Miss Underwood, I am Leviathan. Who do you suppose was sending you those messages through the remote typewriter? Who gave you the orders on how to use Howard Stark’s Midnight Oil last year?” Dottie’s eyes widened. She starting breathing faster, trying to asses the situation. “But… but, why wasn’t I informed? If this is a Leviathan operation, why didn’t you tell me? I was loyal. I didn’t tell the SSR anything.”
“Your silence didn’t matter to me, Miss Underwood,” said Nefaria matter-of-factly. “It is your focus. Not only did you fail your mission, you allowed your obsession with Agent Carter to distract you. I have seen your skills have not waned through the years. Leviathan as an organization is no more, but we still have much work to do. And I would be willing to let you assist in our work again.” He paused, and nodded to Dmitri. Dmitri pulled out his pistol and held it out to Dottie. “Of course,” Nefaria went on, glancing up at the baffled Silvermane and the other bosses. “There is one thing I would need you to do to prove your dedication to our cause.”
No sooner had the words left his lips that Dottie had grabbed the pistol and strode with purpose toward Silvio. He staggered back in fear as the other bosses backed away. “No! You work for me!” Nefaria pleaded. “I lead Maggia! I’m Silvio Manfredi! I’m…”
One bullet from Dottie’s pistol, and Silvio ‘Silvermane’ Manfredi dropped dead to the floor. Dottie sighed, then turned with a smile back to Nefaria. “To be honest, I was getting a little bored with him anyway. So, what are your orders, sir?” Nefaria looked at the other bosses. “First, I hereby nominate myself as the new head of the Maggia. If there are no objections?” The bosses nodded in silence as they gazed at Nefaria’s henchmen. Nefaria smirked as he paced the room. “Such a lack of vision. You all rule over a few blocks, thinking you have power because you can run protection rackets or rob banks or have irritants killed. That isn’t power. All told, the Maggia consists of thousands of members. An army of the most bloodthirsty men on this Earth! But suppose we could be more? Suppose that, within each of your gangs, there were men like Kangaroo and Hammerhead? Men who could break through safes with their bare hands! Men who could fire a hundred shots and not miss once! Men who could fly over a prison wall and lay waste to an entire platoon single handed!” The bosses murmured as Nefaria pointed toward Daredevil. “Several months ago, I was approached by a man. He was an operative of an organization called the Council of Nine. He told me that after many years of searching, he finally was able to locate and secure my devilish friend here. And he told me that he was one of five other powered individuals, created in a foolhardy experiment to develop a super soldier serum. With my source’s information, I was able to find and awaken these soldiers, in order to test the effectiveness of the powers granted by the serum, and to expose the weakness of our former leader. I even arranged my own assassination attempt at the theater to see these miracles of science in action first hand.” He gazed proudly at Daredevil, who remained standing at attention. “I must say I am impressed with the results. Think of it, gentlemen! Imagine a world where the Maggia no longer would be bothering with petty crimes on street corners. We would be able to take the world for ourselves!” Dmitri walked to Nefaria’s side, and pulled out the Arena Club pin from his pocket. He handed it to Nefaria, who revealed the concealed key. “Well, gentlemen,” he said holding up the key with a sinister smile. “There is no need to imagine. Because with this key, we shall be gods!”
August 9th, 1947. New York City, New York. The mansion of Howard Stark.
Peggy looked grim as she sat at the dining room table. Her allies awkwardly went through the motions of eating their breakfast prepared Jarvis. Jack Thompson had flown in from California the night before and had been telling them about the incidents in Los Angeles. He sat next to Daniel and looked wary at Benton and Diana across from them. Angie sipped her orange juice and Howard drank a Bloody Mary as Jack gathered his thoughts. “So Bruce Carter and these two were a part of some plan by Masters and the Council to create their own Captain America?” Daniel nodded. “As best as we can figure out.”
“Fennhoff was able to weaken the mental blocks that the Council had put in to make us forget,” Benton said, glancing towards Peggy. “But we can only remember bits of pieces,” said Diana. She looked Jack over with a suggestive smile. “Maybe you could help me remember? Jog my memory?” Benton nudged Diana under the table, and Jack coughed and got up from his chair. “Still doesn’t add up. A guy pretends to be Manfredi to get access to the hospital to set up the hit on Carter. If he’s Maggia, why does he kill Manfredi’s guys?”
“It’s a coup,” Peggy spoke up. The other’s turned, startled by Peggy’s sudden voice. Jarvis walked into the room carrying a tray of eggs and toast. “If nothing else is required, I shall see to our… guest in the wine cellar.”
“You shouldn’t go down there by yourself,” Daniel said. Angie wiped her face with a napkin and got up to meet Jarvis. “I’ll go along. It’s not every day a girl gets to meet a fella tied to a chair.” Peggy gave a warning look to Angie. “Keep your distance, Angie. Let Mr. Jarvis serve Wells, and if anything goes wrong, give a shout.” Angie threw a salute and grinned. “Yes, ma’am!” Angie’s smile faded under Peggy’s gaze. Peggy sighed. “Just be careful, Ang.” Angie nodded and followed after Jarvis as they walked down the stairs that led to the cellar.
Jack cleared his throat again. “So, Peggy, what are you talking about a coup?” Peggy gingerly rose from her seat, letting her hands rest on the table. “Someone has been orchestrating these attacks on the Maggia, while also acquiring that key that we know belonged to the Council. We know that the Council chose to keep the five of you alive just in case the need arose. What if they saved some of your serum, as well?” Benton and Diana shared a worried look. “I can vaguely remember our testing site,” said Benton. “It was where I had the five of us run tests and store our equipment.”
“And it was all locked up,” Diana said, her face taut with concentration. “You said… you told us that no one could get in to the bunker without authorization, and if anyone tried, the whole place would self-destruct.” Diana looked up to Peggy. “I get it! That’s why they need this key you’re talking about! They need it to get inside the bunker!”
“A bunker that could contain notes on your experiments and perhaps even more doses of your serum,” Peggy finished. “If the Maggia could get their hands on it, and create their own super soldiers…”
A scream rang out through the cellar door. Peggy’s face went pale. “Angie!” She bolted for the door followed by Howard and Jack. She raced past rows of bottles and casks before coming to a stop where they had left Wells. Jarvis was down on the floor nursing his head. He was sprawled out among the smashed remains of the chair Wells had been tied to. In his hands he held a broken end of a wine bottle as he stood behind Angie and held the edge to her throat.
Next Time: Anyone Else But Me!
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Chapter 10: Victims of the Night
Dansen and Moth floated through a mind numbing void, pushed by some invisible current. On all sides of the tunnel they were in were portals, occasionally flashing glimpses of bizarre locations. But Dansen’s focus was locked on the forms of Nekra and her followers traveling before them. She failed to notice that she was starting to drift from the center of the passage, closer and closer toward one of the portals. “Dansen!” Moth yelled, her voice reverberating through the void. Strands from her costume came undone and caught Dansen. They pulled her back to Dansen to the center of the current. “Let go of me!” Dansen’s voice echoed. “We must stop them!” Nekra turned to see the two Night Shifters drawing near. “Brother Jonathan? Cast aside these intruders.” Ohn floated between the Kali zealots and the Night Shift. He raised his hands, then looked back confused at Nekra. “Um, where should I cast them aside to, Sister Nekra?” Nekra’s teeth grew sharper as she roared back. “Anywhere! Just do it!” Ohn shrugged and touching his chest, drew forth another portal and hurled it right in front of Dansen and Moth. Moth flapped her wings furiously but the force of the vortex was too strong. “I can’t stop! We’re going in!” Dansen and Moth disappeared into the portal and it closed behind them.
Lorina Dodson, the White Rabbit, sat with her high heel shoes resting on a work table in the laboratory of the Headmen. She idly checked her nails, the sounds of screams emanating from a nearby sealed, metallic chamber causing her to look up. She turned to face Dr. Wyndham, who is monitoring readings on a wall of screens. “Is there anyway we can hurry this up?” she asked in annoyance. “I wanted to take Hubert out to cause some more mayhem and mass destruction.” Wyndham took a deep breath, then gently shoved the table Lorina was resting on forward, causing her legs to drop to the floor. “Miss Dodson, MODOK’s orders were most exact. Mr. Carpenter’s initial treatments have proven to be ineffective. The enhancements must be fully assimilated before he is allowed to challenge the Night Shift again.”
“But I want to fight them now!” White Rabbit whined.
All at once, a portal opened up in the ceiling above the pair. Dansen and Moth tumbled out and crashed through the table. White Rabbit sprang to her feet, reaching for her umbrella. “Sybby! What a surprise! It must be my Un-Birthday!” Moth’s wings shot forward, the left one knocking the umbrella aside and the other forcing White Rabbit against the wall. Moth stared at her in disbelief as she struggled to free herself. “The boys said they fought a girl who was talking a bunch of Wonderland crap. I really didn’t think you were so stupid to sign up with these people, Lorina.”
“I’m not Lorina! I’m the White Rabbit!” Dansen turned to face Wyndham, who was hurriedly pressing buttons and throwing switches. She grabbed him in a sleeper hold and pulled him back. “You are one of the Headmen!” she hissed in his ear. “You will tell us the best path for us to leave this place! Or I will snap your neck!” Wyndham’s face remained expressionless, as he gazed at the chamber. “You might as well do so, Miss Dansen. Because it will be the last death you cause before you meet your own demise.” Smoke started pouring from the chamber as it opened up, revealing what remained of Hubert Carpenter. Gone was the comical outfit of the Walrus. His body was now a patchwork of cybernetic parts. His hair was now long and shaggy, and he sported a reptilian looking tail and claws. White Rabbit smiled cockily at Moth, as she and Dansen braced themselves for combat. “Beware the Jabberwock, my dear!”
OK:
Dansen and Moth win by defeating or evading Piecemeal. Piecemeal wins by immobilizing both Dansen and Moth.
Game On!
-
AND NOW THE CONCLUSION
Shroud blocked the initial slash of Nekra’s talons. He projected a cloud of darkness that blocked her version and jumped forward with a kick. Nekra dropped back, snarled and pounced on top of shroud. Her talons tore into his face and chest. Her strikes devolved into throwing hammer blows to his head as she shrieked. Shroud had forgotten how strong Nekra could become. The constant barrage of strikes grew too much for him, and his struggles to free himself weakened.
Nekra stopped suddenly, hand upraised and breathing heavily. She got off of the dazed Shroud, transforming back to her normal form as she did. She smiled down on her former pupil. “Thank you for that workout, Brother Max. Do you still think it is wise to stand against the will of Kali?” Shroud’s only response was to spit out some blood. “Still stubborn, are we? Very well. I had hoped you would see reason, but you have left me no choice. Sister Shaya? Sister Ushas?”
The two women brandished their weapons and drew toward Shroud. Ushas nunchaku started glowing dangerously. “Accept the final gift of Kali, traitor,” she snarled.
Suddenly, multiple strands of Ushas and Shaya’s robes came undone. They extended from their outfits, tied together and yanked the two acolytes into each other. Nekra looked to the sky to see Moth, wings outstretched. “Sorry, ladies. The Bollywood movie is filming down the street.”
Dansen Macabre seemingly appeared out of nowhere and delivered a flying kick to the face of Nekra. Nekra started to develop her monstrous features as she glared at Dansen. “Sister. You would use your blessing against the voice of Kali?” Dansen took a position in front of Shroud. “You are not my sister, Nekra. None of you are!” Shaya used the blade of her flail to cut through the threads that tied her to Ushas. She brought her arm back to throw the flail at Dansen only to feel it be pulled back behind her. She turned to see Digger, who had caught the flail around his shovel. “Give that back!” she screeched.
“No, no, no,” Digger said. “That’s not what you’re supposed to say, ghoul-friend. With a weapon like this, you’re supposed to say, ‘GET OVER HERE!’” With a strong tug, Digger sent Shaya flying past him until she collided with a wall. Ushas cracked the nunchaku and sent a blast of light towards Dansen who nimbly dodged it. She delivered a strike to Ushas’ throat and twisted her arm behind her back. A shove sent her colliding into the onrushing Mandril. Dansen stood ready before Nekra. “You will never take me back! I would rather die than serve your cause again! Face me now and let us finish this!” Nekra monstrous features started to show themselves, then began to fade again. She gave a forced smile at the Night Shift. “Although I wish it were so, Sister Dansen, Kali has decreed that your time is not now. For the moment, we shall take our leave. Brother Jonathan?”
Multiple portals appeared around the roof. A fist flew out of one portal to hit Dansen in the back of the head before disappearing back inside. Another pair of hands appeared from a portal behind Digger, tripping him up and landing with a crash on the roof. “What the heck’s that?!” Digger shouted. A leg shot out of a portal in the air to deliver a kick to Moth. With the air knocked out of her she was sent hurtling towards the roof, her wings flapping uselessly. Digger jumped to his feet and leapt into the air to catch her, only for another portal to appear beneath them. They fell through that portal and were sent flying out of another that was projected on an AC unit. Their momentum nearly sent them off the edge of the roof.
The portals all started vanishing and Dr. Jonathon Ohn rose out of a portal behind Nekra. He beamed at her, looking very pleased with himself. “Did you see that? I really did it! I must say I’m getting the hang of this portal business, Sister Nekra! I did do well? Didn’t I?”
“Yes, Brother Jonathan,” Nekra said, her voice betraying her impatience. “Now, we must return to the temple. Create the portal. Brother Jerome, Sister Shaya, Sister Ushas. Let us go.”
“But, Sister!” Ushas whined. “We want to kill them now!” Ushas fell silent under Nekra’s glare. “Kali will decide when we punish her prodigal children. Not us. Brother Jonathan? The portal. Now!” Ohn closed his eyes, and raised his hands. An enormous portal opened up behind the Kali cultists. Ushas and Shaya led Mandril in, and Jonathan followed. Nekra turned back to sneer at Shroud and Dansen, who were struggling back to their feet. “Kali’s blessings upon you… Brother Shroud.” She turned back to the portal, and Dansen took off running after her. “No! You won’t deny me!” Moth pushed away Digger and took flight after Dansen. “I’m in! I’m not done with these creeps!”
“Moth!” Shroud yelled. “Dansen! Wait! Don’t!” But the two women had leapt into the portal, and in an instant the portal disappeared, leaving Digger and Shroud alone on the roof.
Next Time: Victims of the Night!
-
21 minutes ago, leroypowell3 said:
I think the 80's Evil warriors showed some spark of menace. Was Super Friends in the sixties? I watched it in the 80's so I thought it was late seventies at the oldest.
You are correct. It was actually the 70s. My bad.
-
ATTENTION! THIS IS A SANCTIONED MATCH OF THE TRANSDIMENSIONAL COMBAT COMMISION, ORDERED BY E.V.P. VINCE MCMAHON AND E.V.P. JARETH.
NO FANS WILL BE ALLOWED TO WITNESS THIS CONTEST BY ORDER OF THE 9.
Renaissance Fair Duel.
Tory has nunchaku. Arya had Needle.
Loser will be sentenced to death by the enforcer of the 9 Miss America.
Game On!
-
ATTENTION! THIS IS A SANCTIONED MATCH OF THE TRANSDIMENSIONAL COMBAT COMMISION, ORDERED BY E.V.P. MAXIMILLION PEGASUS.
NO FANS WILL BE ALLOWED TO WITNESS THIS CONTEST BY ORDER OF THE 9.
Street Fight! Win only by KO.
Loser will be sentenced to death by the enforcer of the 9 Miss America.
Game On!
-
ATTENTION! THIS IS A SANCTIONED MATCH OF THE TRANSDIMENSIONAL COMBAT COMMISION, ORDERED BY E.V.P. DAVID XANATOS
NO FANS WILL BE ALLOWED TO WITNESS THIS CONTEST BY ORDER OF THE 9.
Open Battlefield.
Evil Warriors: Skeletor, Blast Attack, Two Bad, Scare Glow, Stinkor, Tri-Klops, Faker, Whiplash, Trap Jaw, Icer, Evil-Lyn, Mer-Man, and Beast Man. All 80s He-Man versions.
Legion of Doom: Lex Luthor, Toyman, Riddler, Scarecrow, Cheetah, Brainiac, Bizarro, Solomon Grundy, Giganta, Captain Cold, Sinestro, Black Manta, and Gorilla Grodd. All 60s Super Friends versions.
Losers will be sentenced to death by the enforcer of the 9 Miss America.
Game On!
-
-
Episode 11: Feudin’ and Fightin’
August 8th, 1947. New York City, New York. The mansion of Howard Stark.
Fred Wells woke up to find himself handcuffed to the chair he was sitting in. A cursory glance revealed that he was in a cellar, casks and bottles lining the walls. Before him stood Daniel Sousa, Peggy Carter, and Dr. Benton. He looked down at the bandage on his shoulder, then back up to Peggy. “Very good work, Peg darling,” he said. “Would it be possible to avail myself of some of Mr. Stark’s stock? Or does his hospitality only extend so far?” Peggy took a step toward the chair, but Daniel held out a cautionary arm. “We’ve treated your injury. Unless you want a few more I suggest you tell us what we want to know.” Wells chuckled. “Oh really? And why do we have resort to such threats? Why not go to your friends at the SSR? Oh wait. Because they still want dear Miss Adams for the little fracas at the theater.”
“How did you do it?” Peggy asked steely. “How did you turn these people into super soldiers?” Wells nodded to Benton. “You really should be congratulating the good doctor here. It wouldn’t have gotten off the ground if it wasn’t for his genius.”
“What genius?” Benton asked. “What did you make me do?”
“Oh, my dear boy. We didn’t make you do anything. You wanted to. Once the Council told you the possibilities of developing a super soldier serum, you practically jumped at the chance. And you weren’t particularly interested in where your subject came from.” Sousa crossed over to the chair. “The Council? You worked for Vernon Masters?”
“Of course. Do you really think your War Department was all on board with the SSR? Hardly. If the Council could develop a serum before Erskine perfected his, well. The possibilities would have been limitless. On the battlefield and in Washington.” Peggy walked to the chair, and leaned over, glaring face to face with Wells. She pressed hard on his injured soldiers, making him grown in pain. “How many soldiers are there?” Wells gritted his teeth as he replied. “Five. Your brother, Miss Adams, Benton, Bruce Carter, and…”
“Madeline Joyce.” Peggy turned to face Benton, who looked stunned at the words he was saying. “Madeline worked as Masters secretary. Bruce Carter III was an infantryman who had been recovering from shell shock. Miss Adams had been kidnapped from her USO show.”
“And Michael?” Peggy asked. Benton held his head and squinted. “It’s all too blurry. They had brought him in, said that he had been given extra combat training. The idea was to take four different individuals, give each different amounts of the test serum I had developed, then examine the effects.”
“Wait a minute,” interrupted Daniel. “You say there were four subjects. How did you get the serum?” Benton wiped sweat from his brow, looking at Wells in disgust. “I gave it to myself. I remember now. I thought at first I was doing important work for science, for my country. But slowly, much too slowly God help me, I saw what I was doing. Your precious Council was only interested in gaining power and influence for themselves. You didn’t care what the results of my serum would be. You just kept pushing me to complete the experiment. It didn’t matter that I had my doubts about the serum. For all I knew I might have been injecting poison into their veins!” Wells rolled his eyes. “And in a moment of misplaced chivalry, you injected yourself with your serum, satisfied that if the experiment was a failure and your subjects died, you would pay for overstepping your precious morality. But it wasn’t a failure! It worked! The serum gave you strength!”
“And you trained us, and sent us to strike German targets to prove the effectiveness of your new weapons!” Benton snapped. Peggy turned back to Wells. “But in that case, why make them forget their powers?” Wells looked uncomfortable and cleared his throat. “There was a slight… hiccup.”
“A hiccup?!” Benton roared. “It all went wrong! The conditioning you gave made us too aggressive! The first mission we went on, we wound up burning a German village to the ground!” Benton stopped short, frozen in shock. “And when it was over, the Council retrieved us, except Daredevil, who had disappeared in the chaos.”
“The file!” Peggy said, turning to Daniel. “That must have been the massacre it was talking about! It wasn’t my file. It was Michael’s!”
“An unfortunate incident,” Wells went on. “There were those on the Council who thought we should wash our hands of the whole business and eliminate all of you. But powers such as yours would be a terrible thing to waste.”
“So, you had Fennhoff erase their memories and forget about their powers?” asked Daniel.
“Sadly no. Fennhoff was a genius, and he’s been very helpful in giving the push our subjects needed to remember their powers. But some of the old conditioning meant to keep them all placid and calm is still there.” He grinned and stared at Benton. “What did mother always say, Benton?”
“Gentle, gentle,” Benton said without thinking. Peggy and Daniel stared at him in shock. Benton’s eyes went wide. “My God.” Wells chuckled. “Good. Now how about…” A quick right cross from Peggy sent Wells back into unconsciousness. She whirled around to face Benton. “From now on, neither you or Miss Adams is allowed near him. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Miss Carter. I’m sorry I…”
“I don’t want to hear apologies, Benton!” Peggy snapped. “Who knows how many mental triggers you have in your head? Wells could very have you kill us all!”
“Peggy, that’s enough.” Daniel said softly. But Peggy went on. “But at least your damned serum works, doctor! You turned four people into monsters! Women and men with lives that were meant for better things than being tin soldiers!”
“Peggy!” Peggy spun to face Daniel, looking at her in stunned silence. Peggy gasped for breath, then turned and ran out of the cellar, tears welling in her eyes.
Manhattan, New York City. The mansion of Silvio Manfredi.
Count Nefaria strode into the meeting room of the Maggia, flanked by Hammerhead and Kangaroo. Silvio Manfredi sat at the head of the table with the heads of the other families. Behind Silvio’s chair were Dottie Underwood and the Enforcers. No one in the room looked particularly pleased. “Good evening, friends,” Nefaria said cheerfully. He moved to his seat, then looked around the room. “Silvio, where is that boy of yours? I would have thought he would be in attendance.” One of the mobsters coughed as Silvio Manfredi drummed on the table with his fingers. “I have not heard from Joseph these past two days. Since we haven’t heard from the authorities, I can only assume that he has been killed by these vigilantes.” Nefaria bowed his head solemnly. “I’m terribly sorry for your loss, Silvio.” Silvio glared across the table at Nefaria. “I am not interested in your condolences, Luchino. The Maggia was under the impression that your men…”
“My men!” Costa interrupted. He fell silent after a stare from Silvio. “You assured us that with Doctor Harrow’s enhancements would be more than a match for these people! Instead, they were sent running with their tails between their legs!” Nefaria held out his hands and shrugged. “Losing the first battle does not mean losing the war, Silvio.”
“Perhaps not,” Silvio replied coldly. “But it may mean it is time for a change of tactics.”
Suddenly the door to the conference room burst open. Joseph Manfredi ran into the room panting for breath. His suit was torn and disheveled, his hair an unkempt mess. Silvio struggled to his feet. “Joseph! Where have you been, boy?!” Joseph pointed a long finger at Nefaria and his henchmen. “Why don’t you ask him?!” The other Maggia started murmuring amongst each other, and moving away from Nefaria. Nefaria rose and walked toward Joseph. “Joseph, my boy. Your father has been so worried about you.”
“Shut up!” Joseph snarled. He started circling the table, not breaking eye contact with Nefaria. “You want to know where I’ve been?” he said to the Maggia. “I’ve been dodging these two jamokes! I overheard Nefaria calling Dmitri to set up a hit, and when I asked him about it, he sent them to try to kill me!”
Silvio scowled at Nefaria. “Is this true, Luchino? You tried to kill my son?!”
“Silvio, my friend,” Luchino said. “Please, listen to reason.”
“Oh, I’ll give you a reason you son of a bitch!” Joseph yelled. He grabbed a gun out of a coat hanging on a hat rack and aimed it a Nefaria. Kangaroo and Hammerhead moved into position and the Enforcers and Dottie drew their weapons. “Stop this! Stop this now!” Silvio screamed, before giving a wheezing cough. Nefaria looked at Sivio, and shook his head. “The leader of the Maggia. You know why I hired Doctor Harrow, Silvio? Because under your leadership the Maggia has become just like you: old, weak. Unable to see what we can truly accomplish.”
“Would you like me to kill him now, Mr. Manfredi?” Dottie asked. Silvio returned to his seat, grasping his chest as he attempted to catch his breath. He glared at Nefaria. “Yes, Miss Underwood. And may the devil take you, you… you traitor!” Nefaria’s eyes narrowed and he smiled. “I don’t deal with the devil. The devil deals with me!”
Daredevil smashed through one of the tall windows of the room and landed on the table of the Maggia. All the mobsters took a step back in fear as guns were drawn and Nefaria gazed proudly at his living weapons. “Daredevil? Hammerhead? Kangaroo? Kill them all!”
Who will win in this battle for control of the Maggia?
Stay Tuned and Find Out!
Game On!
-
AND NOW THE CONCLUSION
Hammerhead yanked the door off the van and pulled Jarvis out as Kangaroo flipped off the roof. The back door of the van was kicked open by Howard as Daniel pulled out his gun. He opened fire, but Kangaroo easily leapt to one side to dodge the shot. Howard reached for the ‘zapper’ in his suit pocket, but the brute was already on them. “You ain’t goin’ anywhere!” he growled as he grabbed the ‘zapper’ and crushed it in his fist. Daniel swung his crutch and Kangaroo caught it with ease.
“Mr. Stark! Agent Sousa!” Jarvis yelled, as Hammerhead shoved him into the van. “A little help would be appreciated, gentlemen!” Hammerhead started to charge forward, only for Black Terror to drop down in front of him. Black Terror delivered a blow to the body that lifted Hammerhead off the ground. He crumpled to the ground groaning in pain. Black Terror turned to check on a bewildered Jarvis. “I thought you were staying at the mansion with Miss Martinelli.” Black Terror offered a hand to help Jarvis up. “Would you prefer that I didn’t show up?” Jarvis grudgingly nodded. “Point taken.”
Daniel was sprawling out of the van as Kangaroo jerked back on the crutch. He tossed Howard back into the van and leapt out to stand over Daniel. Suddenly, Miss Masque sprang into view with a flying kick to Kangaroo. Kangaroo grunted as he hit the van back first, then again when Masque delivered a spinning kick to his head. Masque retrieved the crutch and handed it Daniel. “Didn’t think me and Benton were just going to sit at home while you people risked your necks, did you?” Daniel grabbed the crutch and moved to his feet. “Peggy’s in trouble. Get in the van! We need to move now!” Masque nodded and helped Daniel into the back as Howard started to rise to his seat nursing his head. “I’m alright too. Thanks for asking.”
Peggy dropped down to dodge the boomerang as it whizzed over head. She got to her feet just in time to leap out of the way of Daredevil as he swung the spike at her. She threw a kick, only for Daredevil to block the strike and catch her by the ankle. With ease he pushed off and sent her sprawling to her back, her head cracking against stone tiles. She crawled toward the fountain as the boomerang returned to Daredevil’s waiting hands. He slowly walked toward her as Fred looked on arrogantly. “It is a shame to see siblings quarrel. But don’t worry, Peg darling. It will all be over soon.” Daredevil reached Peggy, dazed as she leaned over the edge of the fountain. He raised the spike high to strike her in the back.
Peggy instinctively rolled to the right, avoiding the spike as it clanged against the stone. She pushed off the fountain and delivered a right cross to Daredevil’s jaw. The masked assassin was shaken for a second, and Peggy capitalized. With a cry of rage, she grabbed Daredevil by the head, and slammed him face first onto the edge of the fountain. Peggy slammed him again and again, her grip so tight on the mask that when she pulled away she yanked the mask off with her. She reached into a pocket and drew her revolver and pointed it at the stunned assassin. Daredevil rose and turned toward Peggy, revealing his unmasked face to her.
It was the face of a man with unkempt, brown hair. His face was taut with controlled fury and marked with old scars. In particular was the scar across his throat. But despite all of this, Peggy finally knew the truth. She stood facing Daredevil, gun raised, but now the shock registering on her face. “Michael?” she said barely audible. “Michael? What have they done?”
“Now, now, Peg darling,” Fred said. “There is no need for tears. There’s something rather prodigal about this. You know, the son you thought was dead is alive and all that.” Daredevil slowly moved toward Peggy, who tried her best to keep her gun hand steady. “Stay back! Don’t come any closer or I’ll shoot!”
“He isn’t really your brother anymore, I suppose,” Fred went on as Daredevil drew closer. “Under the watchful eye of Dr. Benton and the best mental conditioning money can buy, he is now a fully functioning weapon. A super soldier that I’d say would give your Captain America a run for his money.”
“Please, Michael,” Peggy begged, steadying her grip on the revolver. “Don’t make me do this!”
“He’s not going to stop, Peggy,” Fred sneered. “Your brother is mine now. He has his orders. And the only way he will stop is if you pull that trigger now.” Peggy stood frozen, a tear running down her cheek as she stared at the man that was Michael Carter. Fred sighed. “I always knew you didn’t really have the stomach for this kind of work. Daredevil. Finish this.” Daredevil threw his boomerang. Peggy dropped to her knees and fired.
Daredevil fell to the ground. Peggy stared in horror at the prone body of her brother, then rushed to his side. “Michael! Oh God! Michael! I’m sorry!” Peggy wept. She checked his chest and found the bullet hole, but could see no blood. In confusion she turned to look to Daredevil’s face, just in time to see his eyes fly open and to feel the shock of a spike stabbed into her gut.
Peggy cried out in pain. Fred applauded as Daredevil rose to his feet and Peggy gasped for breath on her knees, blood staining her dress. “Bravo, Daredevil. Now, take that spike and slit her throat.” Daredevil grabbed Peggy by the hair. Peggy looked up at him in terror. “Michael. Don’t.” The spike was raised high.
A sudden crashing noise made Fred spin around. The moving fan rumbled across the ground towards them. Fred reached into his jacket for a pistol, only to scream in pain as a bullet from Miss Masque’s revolver hit him in the shoulder. Daredevil looked back at the pained expression on Peggy’s face. “Michael. Michael, it’s Peggy. Please.” There was a flicker of recognition in Daredevil’s face, only to roughly shove her down to the stone tiles. He grabbed the mask from Peggy’s hands, put it on, and took off running, leaping over the terrace and disappearing into the night.
Miss Masque jumped off the side of the van and ran to where Fred had fallen. She held her gun at the ready as she bent over him. “He’s still alive. Did everybody see that shot? I really am getting good at this!” Howard jumped out of the van and stared in shock at Peggy’s prone body. Daniel hurried as fast as his leg could carry him as he rushed to Peggy’s side. “Peggy! Peggy, talk to me! I’m here.” Peggy grimaced in pain, pulling back her hand to show the blood. “Don’t worry, it looks worse than it is.”
“Howard! Jarvis! Help me get her to the van!” Howard hurried over to Daniel and they gently lifted Peggy up between them. Jarvis looked on by the driver’s side door. Black Terror walked up to Miss Masque standing guard over Fred. Fred smirked up at the heroes as he clutched his shoulder. “Well, well. Dr. Benton, and Miss Adams, as well. It really is a reunion.” Black Terror hoisted Fred Wells to his feet. He glared at him as he gripped his lapels. “How do you know who we are? Who is the devil? What have you people done to us?!” Fred just gave a defiant grin through the pain. Black Terror delivered a hard right hand to the jaw, knocking him out instantly. He turned away and stormed back to the van as Peggy was loaded in the back. “Bring him,” he barked at Miss Masque. “He is the only person who can tell us what’s going on.”
Next Time: Feudin’ and Fightin’!
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ATTENTION! THIS IS A SANCTIONED MATCH OF THE TRANSDIMENSIONAL COMBAT COMMISION, ORDERED BY E.V.P. CROWLEY.
NO FANS WILL BE ALLOWED TO WITNESS THIS CONTEST BY ORDER OF THE 9.
Both groups of ghosts have possessed a 13 floor skyscraper.
The winner is whichever group forces the other out while terrorizing the most civilians.
Loser will be sentenced to second death by the enforcer of the 9 Miss America.
Game On!
Agent Carter S03E14 Match 18026 Daredevil (Golden Age) vs. Dottie Underwood (Agent Carter)
in CBUB Rated Matches
Posted
Episode 14: Why Don’t You Surrender?
August 10th, 1947. Catskill Mountains. New York City, NY.
Peggy, Jack, and Howard made their way through the corridors of the bunker. Peggy’s gun was drawn and at the ready as she led the way. “Carter! Slow down!” Jack said. “We don’t know what’s down here!” Peggy continued briskly down the hall. “Just keep up, Chief Thompson.” Jack grabbed her arm to halt her progress as Howard panted as caught up with them. “Peggy, use your head. We could be walking straight into a trap.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” snapped Peggy. “We need to find Nefaria and Benton’s serum. The Maggia would be unstoppable if they get their hands on it!”
“And what happens if he sicks this Daredevil guy on us? From what you said he’s tougher than Benton and Masque. Do you really want to fight him again?”
“I don’t care!” Peggy shouted. Howard put a finger to his lips. “Sorry to interrupt, but could you both keep it down when we’re trying to sneak around an abandoned laboratory?” Peggy turned away from Jack, who released her arm. “I know you are scared for your brother, Carter. And I know you don’t want to hear this. But whatever they’ve done to him, he’s completely under the Maggia’s control now. If he leaves us no choice…”
“You let me deal with it, Thompson,” said Peggy. “I do have a plan. If it works, then we may be able to free Michael from Nefaria’s control.”
“And if it doesn’t work?” Peggy took a deep breath and turned back to Jack, a tear in her eye. “Then I’ll do I have to do.”
There was a sudden cry from Howard. “Look out!” Jack and Peggy had just enough time to duck around the corner as three Maggia mobsters armed with machine guns opened fire. Howard scrambled around the corner opposite them as Jack and Peggy returned fire. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a walkie talkie. “Benton! If you are finished topside we could use you down here! Now, if possible.”
A black blur rushed into the corridor as Black Terror jumped into the fray. Bullets ricocheted off his chest and collided harmlessly into the wall. Miss Masque leapt over him and fired two shots to take down two of the mobsters, leaving the third open to a strike from Black Terror. Howard strode into the corridor and walked past Black Terror and Miss Masque. “What took you so long?” Miss Masque grunted in frustration. “Shame I could never say that about you, Stark.” Howard squinted as Miss Masque. “Wait a minute. Didn’t we used to date?” Miss Masque rolled her eyes and stormed down the corridor. “Go with her, Howard,” Peggy said. “You and Dr. Benton scout ahead with Miss Adams to find the serum. Chief Thompson and I will cover the rear.”
“What a delightful plan.” The team turned to see Dottie Underwood and Daredevil behind them. Dottie hung on to Daredevil’s arm and laid her head on his shoulder. “Hello again, Peggy. How do you like my new boyfriend?” Peggy aimed her pistol at Dottie, only for Daredevil’s boomerang to knock it from her grasp. “Stark! Move!” Jack yelled to Howard, sending him and Black Terror after Miss Masque. Peggy’s eyes blazed as the boomerang returned to Daredevil’s grip. “My brother is coming with me, Miss Underwood. I won’t let you and Nefaria use him or anyone else.” Dottie’s smile grew wider as she stepped in front of Daredevil. “How very noble of you, Peggy. But Daredevil is staying right here with me. Daredevil, kill Agent Thompson. Leave Peggy to me.” Daredevil drew one of his spikes from his belt and charged toward Jack. He aimed his pistol only to cry in pain as the spike slashed across his wrist. “Jack!” Peggy yelled. In an instant Dottie had run down the hallway, and with a leap, catapulted herself off the wall to deliver a kick to Peggy’s face. Peggy stumbled backward then quickly held up her arms to block Dottie’s strikes. She threw a right hand that Dottie easily dodged before sending her knee into Peggy’s gut. “You aren’t as much as you used to be, Peggy,” she sneered. She swung a backfist at Peggy, but Peggy was able to catch her wrist. She twisted the arm around Dottie’s back and shoved her headfirst into the corridor wall.
Peggy spun around to see Jack on his knees, cuts on his face and arms as Daredevil stood over him with the spike. Peggy rushed forward and tackled him to the ground. She wrapped her arms around Daredevil’s throat in a sleeper hold and squeezed tight. “Michael! Stop! Listen to me!” Peggy could feel Daredevil fighting to free himself. She knew it would only be a moment before he had broken her hold. Peggy held on for dear life and closed her eyes. “I’m sorry to do this, Michael. ‘Whites of their eyes!’”
Instantly, Daredevil fell still. Peggy loosened the hold and got off of his back. Wells command had worked. She rolled him over so she could see his masked face. “You taught me that hold, remember, Michael? You were the one who told me not to worry about what people thought of me. That there were things worth fighting for.” She slowly pulled off the mask and gazed at her brother. She gasped softly and touched his face. “There hasn’t been a day that has gone by that I haven’t thought of you. I know you’re still in there, Michael. You’re the bravest man I ever knew. Dr. Benton and Miss Adams are able to be free. You can be too! Please!” Peggy could hear the sounds of Dottie rising to her feet. Peggy’s pleas became more urgent. “You are Captain Michael Carter of the British Army! You are my brother! I order you to disregard all previous instructions! You are no longer under the control of any man but yourself! Please, Michael! Come back to me! I can’t lose you too. Not again!”
Dottie’s hand grabbed Peggy by the hair and yanked her off of Daredevil. She tossed her to the floor and gave a smug look. “How very touching. I’m glad to got to say goodbye to your brother. Before you died.” Dottie picked up Peggy’s gun and pointed it at her. But Peggy’s eyes were locked on what was happening behind the assassin. Daredevil was rising to his feet. He glanced down on the mask that Peggy had dropped, then looked at Peggy. Dottie saw the look in Peggy’s eyes. She turned around to see Michael Carter standing tall before her.
“What are you looking at?” Dottie asked, her smile and tone growing shaky. “You have your orders! Kill Thompson! Now!” Michael Carter stood frozen for a moment. Then he drew his boomerang and hurled it. It struck the gun out of Dottie’s hands, and flew speedily back to his hands. Dottie Underwood’s fists clenched. “Hmm. Just like a man. Always has trouble following simple instructions.” Peggy looked on in terror as Dottie and Michael charged toward each other.
Can Michael “Daredevil” Carter defeat the Leviathan assassin Dottie Underwood?
Stay Tuned and Find Out!
Game On!