Chapter Nine: The Impalement Arts
By C.M. King
The high-pitched clink of Hawkeye’s lock bursting open resounded throughout the darkened room. A few seconds later the now useless chains fall to the ground with a dull clang. Freed from his confines, the archer speeds purposely across the room. A convenient piece of metal provides him with the means to pry open the locked cupboard where his bow and arrows are held. “I’ve been feeling naked without these,” thinks the bowman to himself. “If Hawkeye’s gonna save the day again, he’s gonna need to be fully armed.”
As the hero revels in his newfound fortune, a link of the discarded chain floats noiselessly behind him just out of sight. Suddenly one end of the chain wraps itself around Hawkeye’s left leg - then pulls itself quickly backwards dumping the startled bowman headfirst onto the floor.
“My-my, you Avengers are resourceful aren’t you? Still, it’s nothing like enough,” mocks an amused Dymium.
In one swift motion, Hawkeye loads and fires an arrow straight at his nemesis. With great glee, Dymium uses her power to cause the arrow to turn sharply when it gets near her and crash harmlessly into the wall.
“Face it, William Tell; my magnetic powers are too much for you. My reverse polarity field won’t let your weapons through if I don’t wish it.”
Then channeling her power through her gun for better focus, Dymium causes Hawkeye’s bow to fly away from him sharply and land across the room.
“And without your bow, you are helpless.”
Her magnetism then incites some random metal objects in the room to slam into Hawkeye, knocking him over. Dymium stands over the fallen archer and points the end of her gun-like prop at him with an evil smile on her face.
“Goodbye, hero. You will not be missed.”
Unexpectedly, Hawkeye snatches an arrow out of his quiver and slams it into her arm with a blinding speed. The arrow gives the woman an electric shock. “Don’t cry for me yet, Argentina! I’ve got more fight in me than that,” announces the bowman as he gets back up to his feet.
“Damn you, Avenger. I’ll rip your heart out if I must!” On her hands and knees, Dymium surges her power again, once more making Hawkeye the target of flying metal objects. Staggering over on wobbly legs, Hawkeye reaches the villainess and slaps her into unconsciousness. “Sleep it off, sister!”
Alone and out of breath, he muses to himself, “I hated doing that more than I thought I would. In a way, I kinda liked her, but she’s clearly on the wrong side. She even called me, ‘hero’ like it was a dirty word. But I’ve learned my lesson about bad girls by now.”
Further reflection is lost as held-back pain finally clouds the Avenger’s head. Then his battered body betrays him as he collapses to the floor and into darkness himself.
NEXT: No One Here Gets Out Alive!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Weakest Link in the Chain, Part 8
Chapter Eight: The Flim-Flam Man
By C.M. King
“What the crud?!”
The Falcon awakens to find himself in a bizarre imprisonment. He is suspended in a room by his hands, which are tied over his head to a length of rope that hangs from the ceiling and leaves him perched against the far wall. Under his feet, a small shelf is all he has to prop himself up on. Surrounding him are dozens of ceremonial-looking candles that burn intently and seem to be placed everywhere in the room. And most shockingly of all, upon the far wall rests the painted symbol of a yellow circle with a deathly skull within and six tentacled-limbs protruding from it.
“Either this is this most F’ed Up dream I’ve ever had, or ..”
A man with a rifle cuts him off who is dressed in the familiar green and gold-trimmed garb of Hydra. “Shut up, you vermin! You now serve those that the whole world shall shortly serve!”
“Oh my god, you guys again?! Since when did morons like you get into the Asgardian kidnapping game?” and who they hell were those costumed bozos?”
“The fate of the Avengers are none of your concern. You should worry about remaining alive. For even if you could even manage to cut off one of our limbs…”
Sam interrupts him. “Yeah - yeah, I heard that dumbass record before, and it gets no easier to listen to each time.”
“Stupid, mongrel!” The henchman exits the room and slams the door in disgust.
Alone once again in his confinement, Sam Wilson plots a path to his freedom. A row of burning candles on a shelf above his head and to the right give him an idea. He uses his great acrobatic skill to climb the wall with his powerful legs while his hands hold the rope for support. When he has gained enough altitude, he kicks out in a small swing just far enough to knock over one of the burning candles. Through painful contortion, he manages to position part of his rope over the displaced flame until it has burned through one end. Five minutes later the Falcon is completely free of his bonds. A quick check of his own person turns up his Avengers communicard, although it is in a very damaged and bent condition. Luck holds out for Sam as he is able to send a signal that is answered by the Avenger on monitor duty, Wonder Man.
“Simon, am I so glad to be talking to you! I’ve been captured by some Hydra goons who were incidentally powerful enough to capture Thor as well. I tried to contact you guys before, did you get my message?”
“We received a message from you last night, but it was too badly garbled to decipher. We’ve been trying to call you back ever since with no luck. Glad to hear you’re still alive, bro.”
The Falcon relays all the details that he has quickly. After the conversation, he tries to formulate a plan on what he will do until the Avengers arrive. He fails to make contact with Red Wing, which worries him not a little. Then he finds a piece of wood he intends to use as a club. However, before he can do anything more, the room is flooded with a thick knock-out gas that sedates him instantly. After the fumes have dispersed, a section of the wall rolls up to reveal the presence of the entire Malevolence Union.
Othello changes his form from his Hyrda lackey disguise, to his true identity. “And so the trap is set. It is crucial to my plans that the entire active roster of the Avengers be destroyed within the next 12 hours. After that, the risk is too great that one of the disappearances will raise an alarm.” He points a menacing finger at the fallen Falcon. “And this intruding imbecile gave me exactly what I needed to bait the mousetrap. I can only impersonate appearances with my Lamprey Stone, not voices. But with him …” Othello switches on a small tape recorder in his hand. The Falcon’s voice plays loud and clear: “Bring everyone you got to the address given, or follow my card’s signal.”
The villain continues his explanation. “So I decided to relay his previous message as indecipherable to allow the troops to be concerned enough to gather. Then I let this fool be able to escape long enough to relay a message full of only enough information to lead his friends straight to slaughter.”
“Damn, you’re sneaky, Big O! I’d definitely rather be with ya than against ya,” chimes in a happy Dymium. “But why all the theatrics in there?”
“I find your practicality particularly appealing, my dear. And I want the Avengers unprepared for what awaits them. They now think they only have an unsuspecting Hydra battalion to deal with. And after their deaths, we will make sure that Hydra gets all the blame.”
“Thulkon scratches his head. “But why wouldn’t we want the credit for what we did? And why not just dispose of the ones we already have before the others get here?”
“Because Hero deaths’ will be poured over closely. If we want to get out of this blameless, we need to make sure they all die together in one great big accident. I estimate that a state funereal for several fallen Avengers will cause all the others to turn up. While they deal with their grief and pursue the hopeless Hydra lead, we will finish the unsuspecting lot.”
In the following silence, Othello walks over to the corner to pick up a hence unnoticed item sitting in the shadows. The armament looks like a high-tech rifle that has a small, parabolic-shaped dish at its end. “And to do that ... I’ve prepared to greet the Avengers properly when they arrive.”
NEXT: Lucky Break.
By C.M. King
“What the crud?!”
The Falcon awakens to find himself in a bizarre imprisonment. He is suspended in a room by his hands, which are tied over his head to a length of rope that hangs from the ceiling and leaves him perched against the far wall. Under his feet, a small shelf is all he has to prop himself up on. Surrounding him are dozens of ceremonial-looking candles that burn intently and seem to be placed everywhere in the room. And most shockingly of all, upon the far wall rests the painted symbol of a yellow circle with a deathly skull within and six tentacled-limbs protruding from it.
“Either this is this most F’ed Up dream I’ve ever had, or ..”
A man with a rifle cuts him off who is dressed in the familiar green and gold-trimmed garb of Hydra. “Shut up, you vermin! You now serve those that the whole world shall shortly serve!”
“Oh my god, you guys again?! Since when did morons like you get into the Asgardian kidnapping game?” and who they hell were those costumed bozos?”
“The fate of the Avengers are none of your concern. You should worry about remaining alive. For even if you could even manage to cut off one of our limbs…”
Sam interrupts him. “Yeah - yeah, I heard that dumbass record before, and it gets no easier to listen to each time.”
“Stupid, mongrel!” The henchman exits the room and slams the door in disgust.
Alone once again in his confinement, Sam Wilson plots a path to his freedom. A row of burning candles on a shelf above his head and to the right give him an idea. He uses his great acrobatic skill to climb the wall with his powerful legs while his hands hold the rope for support. When he has gained enough altitude, he kicks out in a small swing just far enough to knock over one of the burning candles. Through painful contortion, he manages to position part of his rope over the displaced flame until it has burned through one end. Five minutes later the Falcon is completely free of his bonds. A quick check of his own person turns up his Avengers communicard, although it is in a very damaged and bent condition. Luck holds out for Sam as he is able to send a signal that is answered by the Avenger on monitor duty, Wonder Man.
“Simon, am I so glad to be talking to you! I’ve been captured by some Hydra goons who were incidentally powerful enough to capture Thor as well. I tried to contact you guys before, did you get my message?”
“We received a message from you last night, but it was too badly garbled to decipher. We’ve been trying to call you back ever since with no luck. Glad to hear you’re still alive, bro.”
The Falcon relays all the details that he has quickly. After the conversation, he tries to formulate a plan on what he will do until the Avengers arrive. He fails to make contact with Red Wing, which worries him not a little. Then he finds a piece of wood he intends to use as a club. However, before he can do anything more, the room is flooded with a thick knock-out gas that sedates him instantly. After the fumes have dispersed, a section of the wall rolls up to reveal the presence of the entire Malevolence Union.
Othello changes his form from his Hyrda lackey disguise, to his true identity. “And so the trap is set. It is crucial to my plans that the entire active roster of the Avengers be destroyed within the next 12 hours. After that, the risk is too great that one of the disappearances will raise an alarm.” He points a menacing finger at the fallen Falcon. “And this intruding imbecile gave me exactly what I needed to bait the mousetrap. I can only impersonate appearances with my Lamprey Stone, not voices. But with him …” Othello switches on a small tape recorder in his hand. The Falcon’s voice plays loud and clear: “Bring everyone you got to the address given, or follow my card’s signal.”
The villain continues his explanation. “So I decided to relay his previous message as indecipherable to allow the troops to be concerned enough to gather. Then I let this fool be able to escape long enough to relay a message full of only enough information to lead his friends straight to slaughter.”
“Damn, you’re sneaky, Big O! I’d definitely rather be with ya than against ya,” chimes in a happy Dymium. “But why all the theatrics in there?”
“I find your practicality particularly appealing, my dear. And I want the Avengers unprepared for what awaits them. They now think they only have an unsuspecting Hydra battalion to deal with. And after their deaths, we will make sure that Hydra gets all the blame.”
“Thulkon scratches his head. “But why wouldn’t we want the credit for what we did? And why not just dispose of the ones we already have before the others get here?”
“Because Hero deaths’ will be poured over closely. If we want to get out of this blameless, we need to make sure they all die together in one great big accident. I estimate that a state funereal for several fallen Avengers will cause all the others to turn up. While they deal with their grief and pursue the hopeless Hydra lead, we will finish the unsuspecting lot.”
In the following silence, Othello walks over to the corner to pick up a hence unnoticed item sitting in the shadows. The armament looks like a high-tech rifle that has a small, parabolic-shaped dish at its end. “And to do that ... I’ve prepared to greet the Avengers properly when they arrive.”
NEXT: Lucky Break.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Weakest Link in the Chain, Part 7
Chapter Seven: When it Rains...
By C.M. King
A squeaking noise down the hall forces Hawkeye to have to quickly hide his detached arrowhead in his mouth so as not to be discovered. But the sight he beholds stings him even more than the arrow’s point against his cheek. Dr. Bruttus comes into the room pushing a bound and unconscious Thor on a large cart past the captive bowman. His hammer is nowhere to be seen.
“Don’t be so lonely kid; soon all your friends are gonna be here too. Hah!” The henchman continues on through another door to place the Thunder God in his strict confinement. Left alone again, Hawkeye moves the arrowhead to his tunic for safer keeping.
“Mrs. Barton’s boy Clint better make like Houdini and soon before there is no team left to be saved. I just can’t believe things can be as bad as they look,” thinks the sullen archer to himself.
Just then Dymium pokes her head into the room. “How’s my favorite wall decoration doing? Poor thing …you look like you need some perking up. Want a soda? I can feed it to you … if you promise to be nice.” However, the villainess’ cattiness is cut short by Red Wind’s voice.
“Dymium, get over here quick! Othello says something important is up.”
The woman exits the room (giving a playful wave) leaving the Avenger alone once more to his urgent scheming.
******
Outside the Union’s hideout, hovering against the blackness of the night, the Falcon radios an urgent warning into his communicard. “I repeat, I’ve tracked some mysterious ‘big bads’ to a building downtown. A downed Thor was taken inside. Repeat: Thor was taken down! Bring everyone you got to the address given, or follow my card’s signal. I’ll keep surveillance until you arrive.”
After finding a good hidden vantage point, the sometimes-Avenger is left alone with his thoughts. “I don’t know who these clowns are. But they must be the worst kind of trouble if they can beat ole’ Goldilocks the way they did. I may not be much of a “team” guy, but it’s a cinch that me and Red Wing are way outclassed here. I just hope Steve has more gods for friends or this could get ugly. And not getting a response to my communication doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence. Let’s hope that Hawkeye is on monitor duty and he just wants to make me sweat a little.”
Suddenly the quiet is broken by two flying figures. “Well holy &$#%, Thulkon. It looks like bird-hunting season just opened early this year!” “For sure, Red Wind. Face it, dude, you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time!” The startled Falcon attempts to flee to a more advantageous position. In the meantime, Thulkon erects a mentallium sphere around Red Wing. “The files say that this bird is dangerous, so it must go down too.”
Falcon hides behind a chimney to make less of a target. When Red Wind comes near, Sam props his arms against the bricks and extends both legs in a flying kick to the villain’s jaw. Red Wind rubs his head for a second and then flies himself away at great speed before doubling back (now glowing with crimson energy) and straight at his foe. The human missile then spears the Falcon in the back and both crash through the brick chimney.
Red Wind rises, Sam Wilson does not. “Got to remind myself not to play around with these super dandies.”
“Good thing we hacked the Avengers’ communication system, and can control what messages do and don’t get through, eh Reddy?,” states Thulkon. “Not that I had any doubt about the boss being successful before, but it’s starting to hit home that I’m going to need a list of what I wanna do when we control this whole planet.”
******
Janet Van Dyne walks over to a desk that sits in her home in Cresskill, New Jersey. Her curiosity is instantly aroused by the unexpected sight of a small box with a bow that has been left sitting there. She reads the attached card out loud, “Please accept this token of my appreciation, Love Hank.”
“Geez Hank, your card writing skills are a little dry.” Jan opens the box to find a bracelet of remarkable indigo-colored gems strung together on a loop of white gold. “But your gift-giving skills more than make up for it!” She eagerly clasps the band around her wrist and continues to admire it. “I’ve never seen stones like these before … they’re beautiful! I’ve a feeling I’m gonna be in a very thankful mood when Hank gets here tonight.”
Her concentration is broken up when Othello mysteriously appears in the room behind her. “Good evening, Ms. Van Dyne. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for a long time now.”
A startled Jan whirls around and shoots a bio-blast at her unexpected visitor. “Sorry creepy guy, but you have to see my secretary to get an appointment with me. No Exceptions!” The blast passes harmlessly through Othello’s form and damages the wall instead.
“H-how did you do that? And how did you get in here? I want answers, mister!” Jan shrinks herself to insect size to prepare for combat. Her clothes fall to the ground in a heap. But a slight leotard of unstable molecules, underneath, covers her.
“My projected form is just one of my talents. Another is building the two tiny stun-drones that are following you right now.” Instantly twin flying spheres (roughly the size of tennis balls) enter the room and speed at the diminutive Avenger, firing small energy blasts. The Wasp finds herself unable to shake the constructs off her trail no matter how hard she tries. She also discovers, to her horror, that her bio-stings have absolutely no effects on the drones.
“I’ve learned that you’ve been more formidable on this world than you were on mine. You became a distinguished leader of the Avengers...”
“My commiunicard isn’t working. Who is this guy?” Her desperate gamble to summon help a failure, the inevitable finally happens, and the Wasp is downed by a stun blast.
“…But you still have the same weakness. Your affection for the insipid Dr. Pym. It is always your weak point. Once you placed my ‘clingstones’ on your wrist, they would not come off and my drones could track you no matter how small you became or where you went. I bet you never even questioned that they could shrink with you, did you?”
The real form of Othello then enters the room (accompanied by Dr. Bruttus) and picks up the fallen Wasp with his hand. “No matter how miniscule, no Avenger can be left to assemble if we are to win.”
Othello turns to give orders to his subordinate. “I’ll take my leave now. You wait here for the good doctor to arrive. After you’ve flooded this place with the gas in the canisters I’ve provided, he shouldn’t give you any trouble at all once he sets foot inside.”
“Yes, sir. Consider the insect man as good as bagged!”
NEXT: Sitting Ducks!!
By C.M. King
A squeaking noise down the hall forces Hawkeye to have to quickly hide his detached arrowhead in his mouth so as not to be discovered. But the sight he beholds stings him even more than the arrow’s point against his cheek. Dr. Bruttus comes into the room pushing a bound and unconscious Thor on a large cart past the captive bowman. His hammer is nowhere to be seen.
“Don’t be so lonely kid; soon all your friends are gonna be here too. Hah!” The henchman continues on through another door to place the Thunder God in his strict confinement. Left alone again, Hawkeye moves the arrowhead to his tunic for safer keeping.
“Mrs. Barton’s boy Clint better make like Houdini and soon before there is no team left to be saved. I just can’t believe things can be as bad as they look,” thinks the sullen archer to himself.
Just then Dymium pokes her head into the room. “How’s my favorite wall decoration doing? Poor thing …you look like you need some perking up. Want a soda? I can feed it to you … if you promise to be nice.” However, the villainess’ cattiness is cut short by Red Wind’s voice.
“Dymium, get over here quick! Othello says something important is up.”
The woman exits the room (giving a playful wave) leaving the Avenger alone once more to his urgent scheming.
******
Outside the Union’s hideout, hovering against the blackness of the night, the Falcon radios an urgent warning into his communicard. “I repeat, I’ve tracked some mysterious ‘big bads’ to a building downtown. A downed Thor was taken inside. Repeat: Thor was taken down! Bring everyone you got to the address given, or follow my card’s signal. I’ll keep surveillance until you arrive.”
After finding a good hidden vantage point, the sometimes-Avenger is left alone with his thoughts. “I don’t know who these clowns are. But they must be the worst kind of trouble if they can beat ole’ Goldilocks the way they did. I may not be much of a “team” guy, but it’s a cinch that me and Red Wing are way outclassed here. I just hope Steve has more gods for friends or this could get ugly. And not getting a response to my communication doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence. Let’s hope that Hawkeye is on monitor duty and he just wants to make me sweat a little.”
Suddenly the quiet is broken by two flying figures. “Well holy &$#%, Thulkon. It looks like bird-hunting season just opened early this year!” “For sure, Red Wind. Face it, dude, you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time!” The startled Falcon attempts to flee to a more advantageous position. In the meantime, Thulkon erects a mentallium sphere around Red Wing. “The files say that this bird is dangerous, so it must go down too.”
Falcon hides behind a chimney to make less of a target. When Red Wind comes near, Sam props his arms against the bricks and extends both legs in a flying kick to the villain’s jaw. Red Wind rubs his head for a second and then flies himself away at great speed before doubling back (now glowing with crimson energy) and straight at his foe. The human missile then spears the Falcon in the back and both crash through the brick chimney.
Red Wind rises, Sam Wilson does not. “Got to remind myself not to play around with these super dandies.”
“Good thing we hacked the Avengers’ communication system, and can control what messages do and don’t get through, eh Reddy?,” states Thulkon. “Not that I had any doubt about the boss being successful before, but it’s starting to hit home that I’m going to need a list of what I wanna do when we control this whole planet.”
******
Janet Van Dyne walks over to a desk that sits in her home in Cresskill, New Jersey. Her curiosity is instantly aroused by the unexpected sight of a small box with a bow that has been left sitting there. She reads the attached card out loud, “Please accept this token of my appreciation, Love Hank.”
“Geez Hank, your card writing skills are a little dry.” Jan opens the box to find a bracelet of remarkable indigo-colored gems strung together on a loop of white gold. “But your gift-giving skills more than make up for it!” She eagerly clasps the band around her wrist and continues to admire it. “I’ve never seen stones like these before … they’re beautiful! I’ve a feeling I’m gonna be in a very thankful mood when Hank gets here tonight.”
Her concentration is broken up when Othello mysteriously appears in the room behind her. “Good evening, Ms. Van Dyne. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for a long time now.”
A startled Jan whirls around and shoots a bio-blast at her unexpected visitor. “Sorry creepy guy, but you have to see my secretary to get an appointment with me. No Exceptions!” The blast passes harmlessly through Othello’s form and damages the wall instead.
“H-how did you do that? And how did you get in here? I want answers, mister!” Jan shrinks herself to insect size to prepare for combat. Her clothes fall to the ground in a heap. But a slight leotard of unstable molecules, underneath, covers her.
“My projected form is just one of my talents. Another is building the two tiny stun-drones that are following you right now.” Instantly twin flying spheres (roughly the size of tennis balls) enter the room and speed at the diminutive Avenger, firing small energy blasts. The Wasp finds herself unable to shake the constructs off her trail no matter how hard she tries. She also discovers, to her horror, that her bio-stings have absolutely no effects on the drones.
“I’ve learned that you’ve been more formidable on this world than you were on mine. You became a distinguished leader of the Avengers...”
“My commiunicard isn’t working. Who is this guy?” Her desperate gamble to summon help a failure, the inevitable finally happens, and the Wasp is downed by a stun blast.
“…But you still have the same weakness. Your affection for the insipid Dr. Pym. It is always your weak point. Once you placed my ‘clingstones’ on your wrist, they would not come off and my drones could track you no matter how small you became or where you went. I bet you never even questioned that they could shrink with you, did you?”
The real form of Othello then enters the room (accompanied by Dr. Bruttus) and picks up the fallen Wasp with his hand. “No matter how miniscule, no Avenger can be left to assemble if we are to win.”
Othello turns to give orders to his subordinate. “I’ll take my leave now. You wait here for the good doctor to arrive. After you’ve flooded this place with the gas in the canisters I’ve provided, he shouldn’t give you any trouble at all once he sets foot inside.”
“Yes, sir. Consider the insect man as good as bagged!”
NEXT: Sitting Ducks!!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Weakest Link in the Chain, Part 6
Chapter Six: The Bigger They Are...
By Cris King
The peaceful calm of the nighttime skies over Manhattan is broken up by an urgent, hurtling Thor carried aloft by his Uru Hammer. A received emergency beacon from his Avengers communicard is the reason for the God of Thunder’s haste tonight. He wonders what great new danger he will learn about once he stands again within the hallowed halls of Tony Stark’s mansion. Alas, it is a destination he will never reach.
Without warning … a speeding red comet streaks in from the Asgardian’s blindside and decks him in mid-flight. After quickly gathering his wits, the staggered warrior can make out his attacker as a strange red-costumed man.
“Hey Thunder God, watch where you’re going! Geez…that’s the problem with this city, all you heroes think you own the skies!”
After finishing his taunt, Red Wind then quickly turns to fly away. “That worked,” thinks the villain to himself. “The poor lunkhead will never know what hit him.”
“Yon miscreant must be the menace that calls me forth this night. Whatever villainy this strange creature represents … he shall find Thor to be equal to the task!” With that the Thunder God gives a hearty chase.
One that is not long at all … and ends quickly on a nearby rooftop.
Red Wind settles down atop the building where he joins his partners Dymium, Thulkon, and Dr. Bruttus; who are already present and waiting. Thor cautiously lands there as well.
“Welcome Thunder-Guy! We been waitin’ for ya,” says a confident Thulkon.
The bemused Avenger reacts by venting his rage at this deception. “If it be the Thunder God you jackals desire…then by Odin, the Thunder God you shall have…to your everlasting dismay!”
Instantly, Dymium races up and touches the tip of Thor’s hammer, unleashing her power in the process. Mjolnir pulls irresistibly toward a large metal plate at the feet of the Thunder God, and out of his grasp.
“Od’s Blood!”
Thulkon seizes the moment by causing a metal strip of mentallium to fly over to Thor and wrap itself around his eyes like a blindfold. Their foe temporarily blinded, the rest of the Malevolence Union presses its advantage. Dr. Bruttus lunges forward and pounds him with his fists.
“You remember me - right, Hagar?” mocks Red Wind as he joins in the punishment by slamming his superfast body into the reeling hero.
Thor falls to the ground in pain … but also in search of his mighty weapon. “If I could but have my hammer back,” he thinks to himself. He finds his hammer by touch, only to be unable to pull it free of the magnetized plate. But before his foes can renew their assault, the Thunder God sinks his fingers into the roof’s surface and rips up as much of it as he can, causing the structure to crumble and all those upon it to fall to the next level.
Finally free of his attackers for a minute, Thor tears the mentallium from his eyes. Then he regains his hammer which still has the large metal plate and a huge chunk of rooftop attached to it. He swings it at a charging Dr. Bruttus and the resulting collision breaks off most of the annoying magnetized attachments as well as completely floors the evil one.
Dymium then causes some of the smaller pieces of metal rubble to fly at Thor, which he easily swats away. “Such petty nuisances will not keep you villains from my righteous vengeance!”
“No, but it’ll keep you distracted long enough for this,” spouts Thulkon as he flies in on his hover disks and strikes Thor from behind with a mentallium baseball bat. The prone Dr. Bruttus compounds the hero’s troubles by unleashing a mental bolt that causes great pain in the head of Thor. Then, a radiating Red Wind jets around for the coup-de-grace.
“I’ve built up enough charge to blow you into the next county, Avenger ... Goodnight!”
However, as the speeding target narrows in on the slumped form of Thor … the Asgardian’s muscled arm rises up and grabs the speedster by the ankle, a mere moment from impact. He takes his captured foe and swings him in a whirlwind motion ... first at a nearby wall (thus causing his charge to detonate and explode the structure to pieces). Then like a club at the rest of his enemies, knocking them all over. The renewed god then raises his hammer to the heavens and unleashes a furious storm -- releasing a frightening cacophony of thunder, wind, and rain.
“You mortals have trifled with forces beyond your ken! Now taste the bitter rewards of your offense!”
ZZZ-ZRRRR WAAK-K!
A devastating blast from the back tumbles the drained Asgardian to the floor. Behind him Othello holds his disintegrator rifle with the barrel still smoking from the powerful blast.
All of the Union attack en masse at Othello’s command. When the Thunder God fails to raise anew, Othello proclaims loudly, “Success … the mightiest has fallen … can the rest of this Earth be far behind?!”
Meanwhile, quietly perched on an adjacent rooftop, a crimson falcon intently observes all that has transpired with its lustrous eyes.
NEXT: A Call For Help!
By Cris King
The peaceful calm of the nighttime skies over Manhattan is broken up by an urgent, hurtling Thor carried aloft by his Uru Hammer. A received emergency beacon from his Avengers communicard is the reason for the God of Thunder’s haste tonight. He wonders what great new danger he will learn about once he stands again within the hallowed halls of Tony Stark’s mansion. Alas, it is a destination he will never reach.
Without warning … a speeding red comet streaks in from the Asgardian’s blindside and decks him in mid-flight. After quickly gathering his wits, the staggered warrior can make out his attacker as a strange red-costumed man.
“Hey Thunder God, watch where you’re going! Geez…that’s the problem with this city, all you heroes think you own the skies!”
After finishing his taunt, Red Wind then quickly turns to fly away. “That worked,” thinks the villain to himself. “The poor lunkhead will never know what hit him.”
“Yon miscreant must be the menace that calls me forth this night. Whatever villainy this strange creature represents … he shall find Thor to be equal to the task!” With that the Thunder God gives a hearty chase.
One that is not long at all … and ends quickly on a nearby rooftop.
Red Wind settles down atop the building where he joins his partners Dymium, Thulkon, and Dr. Bruttus; who are already present and waiting. Thor cautiously lands there as well.
“Welcome Thunder-Guy! We been waitin’ for ya,” says a confident Thulkon.
The bemused Avenger reacts by venting his rage at this deception. “If it be the Thunder God you jackals desire…then by Odin, the Thunder God you shall have…to your everlasting dismay!”
Instantly, Dymium races up and touches the tip of Thor’s hammer, unleashing her power in the process. Mjolnir pulls irresistibly toward a large metal plate at the feet of the Thunder God, and out of his grasp.
“Od’s Blood!”
Thulkon seizes the moment by causing a metal strip of mentallium to fly over to Thor and wrap itself around his eyes like a blindfold. Their foe temporarily blinded, the rest of the Malevolence Union presses its advantage. Dr. Bruttus lunges forward and pounds him with his fists.
“You remember me - right, Hagar?” mocks Red Wind as he joins in the punishment by slamming his superfast body into the reeling hero.
Thor falls to the ground in pain … but also in search of his mighty weapon. “If I could but have my hammer back,” he thinks to himself. He finds his hammer by touch, only to be unable to pull it free of the magnetized plate. But before his foes can renew their assault, the Thunder God sinks his fingers into the roof’s surface and rips up as much of it as he can, causing the structure to crumble and all those upon it to fall to the next level.
Finally free of his attackers for a minute, Thor tears the mentallium from his eyes. Then he regains his hammer which still has the large metal plate and a huge chunk of rooftop attached to it. He swings it at a charging Dr. Bruttus and the resulting collision breaks off most of the annoying magnetized attachments as well as completely floors the evil one.
Dymium then causes some of the smaller pieces of metal rubble to fly at Thor, which he easily swats away. “Such petty nuisances will not keep you villains from my righteous vengeance!”
“No, but it’ll keep you distracted long enough for this,” spouts Thulkon as he flies in on his hover disks and strikes Thor from behind with a mentallium baseball bat. The prone Dr. Bruttus compounds the hero’s troubles by unleashing a mental bolt that causes great pain in the head of Thor. Then, a radiating Red Wind jets around for the coup-de-grace.
“I’ve built up enough charge to blow you into the next county, Avenger ... Goodnight!”
However, as the speeding target narrows in on the slumped form of Thor … the Asgardian’s muscled arm rises up and grabs the speedster by the ankle, a mere moment from impact. He takes his captured foe and swings him in a whirlwind motion ... first at a nearby wall (thus causing his charge to detonate and explode the structure to pieces). Then like a club at the rest of his enemies, knocking them all over. The renewed god then raises his hammer to the heavens and unleashes a furious storm -- releasing a frightening cacophony of thunder, wind, and rain.
“You mortals have trifled with forces beyond your ken! Now taste the bitter rewards of your offense!”
ZZZ-ZRRRR WAAK-K!
A devastating blast from the back tumbles the drained Asgardian to the floor. Behind him Othello holds his disintegrator rifle with the barrel still smoking from the powerful blast.
All of the Union attack en masse at Othello’s command. When the Thunder God fails to raise anew, Othello proclaims loudly, “Success … the mightiest has fallen … can the rest of this Earth be far behind?!”
Meanwhile, quietly perched on an adjacent rooftop, a crimson falcon intently observes all that has transpired with its lustrous eyes.
NEXT: A Call For Help!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Weakest Link in the Chain, Part 5
Chapter Five - Clash of Styles
By C. M. King
By C. M. King
A blast of explosive energy scorches a hole into the floor of The Malevolence Union’s "training room" right in front of a poised Red Wind and Dymium. Followed by a boastful bellow, “Ok, let’s see what strategy you two can come up with to take down ‘Iron Man’ before his ‘repulsor rays’ cut you to shreds!” This challenge issues from Thulkon who has willed his armor into a comical façade of the golden avenger’s own armor. An Othello-made disintegrator rifle and accompanying strap-on power pack, complete his costume.
The two villains don’t skip a beat. Dymium focuses her power, through a futuristic-looking gun in her hand, to magnetize ‘Iron-Thulkon’s’ feet to the floor and keep him held fast there. At the same time, Red Wind flies through the air building up momentum for a full-speed ram of his now immobilized opponent. Red Wind easily avoids a disintegrator blast as he zeroes in and speeds toward his target. However, before contact can be made … a replica of Captain America’s shield (made out of pure mentallium) flies in from the side and clocks Red Wind in the back of his head.
“Good idea, Hot Shot, but what if Iron Man isn’t alone!? Haha! Back home I squared off against the Whizzer a couple of times. I can handle you speed-types!”
“Why you two-bit Dr. Spectrum wannabe!” snaps Red Wind while picking himself up off the floor. “I’m gonna crush you like a tin can on recycling day! Just let me build up more charge.” The enraged villain takes to the sky flying furious concentric circles.
“Aw Crap, he’s madder than a hive full of bees now!” thinks Thulkon. “Thank goodness Dymium released my feet so I can move.” As Red Wind flies at his foe full speed and crackling with energy, Thulkon forms a large, concave shield out of as much mentallium as he can spare to cushion himself from the impact of his charging ‘comrade’. The resulting collision shatters the shield to pieces and leaves both men sprawled on the floor.
“You made your damn point, Nutbag!,” scowls Thulkon. “Now here’s your reward!” He causes a mentallium sphere to hover over Red Wind’s head and then instantly change into a pure liquid form and splash atop Red Wind’s face.
The two then square off against each other trading punches. Suddenly, the monstrous Dr. Bruttus enters the room. “Othello has been successful, we are now in control of the Avengers’ communication center …ehh!!? What in-the-Hell is going on in here!?” A relieved Dymium says, “Looks like the Moron-Twins are at it again, Doc. Can you break them up?”
*********
An hour later, Dymium finds herself checking in on the captive Hawkeye. As he hangs against the wall in his chains, she curiously examines one of his arrows closely in her hands. After some contemplation she finally speaks. “I don’t understand how you’ve lived so long, hero.”
“You couldn’t expect to defeat real super-villains with these toys!” She punctuates this statement by waving the shaft smartly in Clint’s face.
After the archer composes himself, he replies … “Arrows are my tools, lady ... but I’m the real weapon. It takes more than special gadgets to make someone an Avenger, ya know!”
In response, Dymium points to the captive’s chains. “And look where all your talent has gotten you now?”
“I was duped … you guys didn’t fight fair.”
The villainess leans over so she can whisper into Hawk’s ear. “All’s fair in love and war, baby.” Then pulling back. “We outsmarted you fair and square! Your strength has always been to be allied with much stronger heroes. Taken away from them, you were exposed to be the weak link that you are ... and we simply exploited it.”
Clint’s lips and teeth suddenly form a sly, wry smile. “If you think that fighting with arrows isn’t much of a talent, then you should try it sometime. You probably couldn’t hit the broadside of Texas! Not all of us have super powers we can hide behind.”
Dymium perks right up with that statement. And her fingers crackle with energy as she eagerly strides to the other side of the room. Then unholsters the futuristic-looking gun at her hip. Aiming that gun at the arrow, the now-charged shaft instantly jumps to life and then violently shoots itself across the room … embedding itself in the wall mere inches from Hawkeye’s head.
Flush with her own display, Dymium bellows, “Yes archer, POWERS … Real Power! The kind that makes all of your skill obsolete!”
“I trust you are suitably impressed?” says the proud villainess with a playful wink. And then smugly exits the room.
Silently, with bright eyes glinting in the dim light, Hawkeye turns his head to the weapon projecting from the wall. He proceeds to remove the stuck object with his teeth. The next long hours pass in silence except for the scraping and pinging noise of a steel arrowhead on metal locks.
NEXT: THOR !!!!!!!!!
The two villains don’t skip a beat. Dymium focuses her power, through a futuristic-looking gun in her hand, to magnetize ‘Iron-Thulkon’s’ feet to the floor and keep him held fast there. At the same time, Red Wind flies through the air building up momentum for a full-speed ram of his now immobilized opponent. Red Wind easily avoids a disintegrator blast as he zeroes in and speeds toward his target. However, before contact can be made … a replica of Captain America’s shield (made out of pure mentallium) flies in from the side and clocks Red Wind in the back of his head.
“Good idea, Hot Shot, but what if Iron Man isn’t alone!? Haha! Back home I squared off against the Whizzer a couple of times. I can handle you speed-types!”
“Why you two-bit Dr. Spectrum wannabe!” snaps Red Wind while picking himself up off the floor. “I’m gonna crush you like a tin can on recycling day! Just let me build up more charge.” The enraged villain takes to the sky flying furious concentric circles.
“Aw Crap, he’s madder than a hive full of bees now!” thinks Thulkon. “Thank goodness Dymium released my feet so I can move.” As Red Wind flies at his foe full speed and crackling with energy, Thulkon forms a large, concave shield out of as much mentallium as he can spare to cushion himself from the impact of his charging ‘comrade’. The resulting collision shatters the shield to pieces and leaves both men sprawled on the floor.
“You made your damn point, Nutbag!,” scowls Thulkon. “Now here’s your reward!” He causes a mentallium sphere to hover over Red Wind’s head and then instantly change into a pure liquid form and splash atop Red Wind’s face.
The two then square off against each other trading punches. Suddenly, the monstrous Dr. Bruttus enters the room. “Othello has been successful, we are now in control of the Avengers’ communication center …ehh!!? What in-the-Hell is going on in here!?” A relieved Dymium says, “Looks like the Moron-Twins are at it again, Doc. Can you break them up?”
*********
An hour later, Dymium finds herself checking in on the captive Hawkeye. As he hangs against the wall in his chains, she curiously examines one of his arrows closely in her hands. After some contemplation she finally speaks. “I don’t understand how you’ve lived so long, hero.”
“You couldn’t expect to defeat real super-villains with these toys!” She punctuates this statement by waving the shaft smartly in Clint’s face.
After the archer composes himself, he replies … “Arrows are my tools, lady ... but I’m the real weapon. It takes more than special gadgets to make someone an Avenger, ya know!”
In response, Dymium points to the captive’s chains. “And look where all your talent has gotten you now?”
“I was duped … you guys didn’t fight fair.”
The villainess leans over so she can whisper into Hawk’s ear. “All’s fair in love and war, baby.” Then pulling back. “We outsmarted you fair and square! Your strength has always been to be allied with much stronger heroes. Taken away from them, you were exposed to be the weak link that you are ... and we simply exploited it.”
Clint’s lips and teeth suddenly form a sly, wry smile. “If you think that fighting with arrows isn’t much of a talent, then you should try it sometime. You probably couldn’t hit the broadside of Texas! Not all of us have super powers we can hide behind.”
Dymium perks right up with that statement. And her fingers crackle with energy as she eagerly strides to the other side of the room. Then unholsters the futuristic-looking gun at her hip. Aiming that gun at the arrow, the now-charged shaft instantly jumps to life and then violently shoots itself across the room … embedding itself in the wall mere inches from Hawkeye’s head.
Flush with her own display, Dymium bellows, “Yes archer, POWERS … Real Power! The kind that makes all of your skill obsolete!”
“I trust you are suitably impressed?” says the proud villainess with a playful wink. And then smugly exits the room.
Silently, with bright eyes glinting in the dim light, Hawkeye turns his head to the weapon projecting from the wall. He proceeds to remove the stuck object with his teeth. The next long hours pass in silence except for the scraping and pinging noise of a steel arrowhead on metal locks.
NEXT: THOR !!!!!!!!!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Weakest Link in the Chain, Part 4
Chapter Four - An Enchanted Evening
By C.M. King
Nighttime falls around Avengers Mansion, finding its newest inhabitants also as its only occupants this evening. In a second floor room, Firestar finishes fixing herself in her street clothes in front of a full-length mirror. Just as she is satisfied with her ensemble, an excited cry breaks her concentration.
“Check it out, Angel! How cool is this!?” Vance Astrovik stands in her doorway sporting an Avengers bomber jacket from a time before they joined the team. “I found it in a storeroom, I think it was the Black Knight’s, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I borrowed it just for a bit.”
“Vance, you are NOT thinking of wearing ‘that thing’ out with us tonight are you? I know how proud you are of being on this team, and all, but I really think you should curb your enthusiasm a little sometimes.”
“Ah, Angel! This thing is a classic,” replies Justice sheepishly.
“I suppose it doesn’t even bother you that it’s far too warm outside for a jacket like that?”
“Ok – ok, you win! But watch out when fall comes!”
Soon … the couple shuts the front door of the iconic mansion behind them as they walk out arm-in-arm toward 5th Avenue. “Frozen yogurt out with the perfect man, could this night be any better?” remarks Angelica as she squeezes Vance’s hand a little tighter.
After the enamored couple has passed, the figure of Othello (still disguised as Hawkeye) emerges out from the shadows around the mansion.
Smiling briefly at the backs of the distant forms as they continue to recede away, he then turns around and slowly makes his way up to the historic manor’s front door.
“It’s too bad that Hawkeye doesn’t have an Avengers ID card anymore,” thinks the villain to himself. “But it shouldn’t present too much of a problem for me.”
With that thought in mind, Othello touches a hidden ruby inside his pocket that begins glowing at the contact of his fingertips. A whispered incantation passes his lips moments before a bizarre transformation takes place.
The man’s body begins to blur and diffuse until it has changed entirely into a cloud of black smoke. With an eerie casualness, the smoke then moves slowly … yet purposefully … under the front door of the mansion itself.
Only to reform itself into a cloud again, once inside the foyer on the other side. And then finally back into the form of the impersonated Avenger.
With alarms going off, the arm of a mechanized security system pops out of a wall of the Avengers foyer and shines a spotlight on the false Hawkeye.
“Halt Immediately! Intruder Violation,” announces the menacing machine!
A series of lasers are trained on the archer as the sinister-looking device concentrates a small light beam that falls upon Hawkeye’s eyes.
“Retina scan initiated…Match registered. Identity confirmed as Inactive Member Hawkeye. Security Alert shutting down.”
A mischievous smile cuts itself into the corners of Othello’s mouth as the machines retract themselves back into the walls.
NEXT: Skill vs. Power!!
By C.M. King
Nighttime falls around Avengers Mansion, finding its newest inhabitants also as its only occupants this evening. In a second floor room, Firestar finishes fixing herself in her street clothes in front of a full-length mirror. Just as she is satisfied with her ensemble, an excited cry breaks her concentration.
“Check it out, Angel! How cool is this!?” Vance Astrovik stands in her doorway sporting an Avengers bomber jacket from a time before they joined the team. “I found it in a storeroom, I think it was the Black Knight’s, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I borrowed it just for a bit.”
“Vance, you are NOT thinking of wearing ‘that thing’ out with us tonight are you? I know how proud you are of being on this team, and all, but I really think you should curb your enthusiasm a little sometimes.”
“Ah, Angel! This thing is a classic,” replies Justice sheepishly.
“I suppose it doesn’t even bother you that it’s far too warm outside for a jacket like that?”
“Ok – ok, you win! But watch out when fall comes!”
Soon … the couple shuts the front door of the iconic mansion behind them as they walk out arm-in-arm toward 5th Avenue. “Frozen yogurt out with the perfect man, could this night be any better?” remarks Angelica as she squeezes Vance’s hand a little tighter.
After the enamored couple has passed, the figure of Othello (still disguised as Hawkeye) emerges out from the shadows around the mansion.
Smiling briefly at the backs of the distant forms as they continue to recede away, he then turns around and slowly makes his way up to the historic manor’s front door.
“It’s too bad that Hawkeye doesn’t have an Avengers ID card anymore,” thinks the villain to himself. “But it shouldn’t present too much of a problem for me.”
With that thought in mind, Othello touches a hidden ruby inside his pocket that begins glowing at the contact of his fingertips. A whispered incantation passes his lips moments before a bizarre transformation takes place.
The man’s body begins to blur and diffuse until it has changed entirely into a cloud of black smoke. With an eerie casualness, the smoke then moves slowly … yet purposefully … under the front door of the mansion itself.
Only to reform itself into a cloud again, once inside the foyer on the other side. And then finally back into the form of the impersonated Avenger.
With alarms going off, the arm of a mechanized security system pops out of a wall of the Avengers foyer and shines a spotlight on the false Hawkeye.
“Halt Immediately! Intruder Violation,” announces the menacing machine!
A series of lasers are trained on the archer as the sinister-looking device concentrates a small light beam that falls upon Hawkeye’s eyes.
“Retina scan initiated…Match registered. Identity confirmed as Inactive Member Hawkeye. Security Alert shutting down.”
A mischievous smile cuts itself into the corners of Othello’s mouth as the machines retract themselves back into the walls.
NEXT: Skill vs. Power!!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Weakest Link In the Chain, Part 3
Chapter Three: Chillin Like Villains
By C. M. King
Elsewhere in the villain’s headquarters, we find the full Malevolence Union relaxing around a large table. Red Wind and Thulkon are present as well as two more comrades. The first is the woman who helped out in the ambush; she is now wearing a costume and reclines with her feet up on the table while smoking a cigarette. The other person present is a very skinny/nerdy-looking guy who is sporting tiny glasses and wearing normal clothes. They are all listening to Thulkon speak. - “That was totally exhilarating! I for one can’t wait to kick some more hero ass! These Avengers can’t be all that tough.”
The skinny man folds his arms and replies, “I noticed that the one who only shoots arrows gave you a pretty hard time.”
“I underestimated him, Doctor. And I can promise you that that is a mistake I will never make again.”
Red Wind speaks up next, “I hope that Iron Man or Thor is next. Let’s see who’s afraid of whom after we butt heads.”
“Buttheads is right,” exclaims the woman after she expels a large amount of smoke. “That’s what you two are. Our plans will be ruined by the super amount of testosterone you two emit that totally clogs your brains!”
Following the woman’s lead, the skinny man chimes in, “Just keep it in check for now, you two; and follow Othello’s plan to the letter.”
An animated Thulkon replies, “You may like being Othello’s monkey-boy, Dr. Dorkus; but not me! Thulkon can think for himself.”
Within an instant, the slight man transforms into an immensely-muscled, hulking creature and plants a massive finger upon Thulkon’s chest. “Watch your tongue my smart-mouthed friend, lest you forget to whom you are speaking. Dr. Bruttus has an end to his patience.”
“Now-now, Doc; let’s not get excited here,” pleads Thulkon desperately trying to calm the monster down. “I was just talking. I’m jonesin' for more action is all.”
The large creature turns around and walks away from the relieved villain. “Then control yourself, my friend, before Dr. Bruttus decides to give you more action than you would find healthy.”
“Just chill big guy. We’d all do best to save our energy for the heroes,” says Red Wind as he stands over the reclined woman.
She stabs her cigarette out harshly a moment before speaking up. “Fighting heroes, that’s all you guys talk about. Why should we bother? With our abilities we could make ourselves way rich with much less risk.”
Red Wind grins. “Awww, Dymium. Too bad your pretty little head can’t comprehend what real power is.”
At this, a glint in her eye forms and a small amount of energy crackles around her hand. “Oh, real power, huh? Don’t make me show you what I can do, Captain Red Pants.”
Red Wind smacks the table with his open palm. “With these heroes eliminated, we will have control of this world … while you just talk about lining your pockets with a few measly dollars!”
Dymium smiles back at him. “Dollars are a girl’s best friend, Reddy. Better to live comfortably in this world, than to get our legs broken trying to own it. What do you think will happen if we even do defeat these Avengers? You think the other heroes out there will just roll over and play dead? We’ll just make ourselves a bigger target for them … that’s all we’ll do!”
Dr. Bruttus raises his fist in a power gesture. “We’ll have destroyed the heroes’ most organized resistance. Then it should be a simple matter to pick off the stragglers one-by-one. Othello has already conquered a world once; I have complete faith that he can do it again. And I intend to be on the winning side.”
Thulkon walks to the far side of the room. “Let me allay your fears, sweet Dymium. Doctor, if you would be so kind as to turn on the combat droid.” A large finger clicks a button, and a shiny looking mannequin appears on the opposite side of the room. “First I shall outfit it properly.” Thulkon uses his power to turn some metal from his uniform into replicas of both Thor’s helmet and his hammer. Having completed this, he places them on the robot’s head and in its hand. “Now I shall show our lovely comrade why the Avengers should fear our power rather than we fear them.” With more metal from his uniform, Thulkon forms three floating, razor-sharp disks. He waves his hands, and each disk starts to fly at the robot from three different directions. The deadly flyers all reach their target at the same time. Disk one slices completely through the right leg, disk two makes a hole clean through the torso, and disk three slices the head off. All the pieces fall to the ground with a loud bang. “Now that, sugar buns, … is skill!”
Dymium rushes up to where the hammer has fallen and touches it. Then she walks over to Thulkon and puts her hand on his chest. “”And just for calling me “sugar buns,” I thought I’d remind you of my power! Namely that to affect the magnetic field of anything I choose, by rearranging its electron properties. For instance, I can turn that hammer into a giant super-magnet. And you my friend … I can turn into the refrigerator.” She takes her hand off of Thulkon and the hammer leaps up from the ground. It speeds its way through the air straight at a completely startled Thulkon. Cowering back against the wall, the weapon strikes Thulkon square in the chest … thankfully, liquefying as it does.
“Sweet-Christ-All-Mighty, Dymium! If I hadn’t willed that hammer to become malleable before it struck … it would have pulped me!”
Dymium walks over and rubs Thulkon’s shoulder. “Aww … did little ole’ me scare Mr. Skill and Power? I’m sowwie. You just go back to your plans to take over this big-bad world. I’ll be good, I promise.” Dr. Bruttus and Red Wind laugh hysterically as Dymium plants a kiss on the cheek of the red-faced Thulkon.
NEXT: The Plan Put Into Action!
By C. M. King
Elsewhere in the villain’s headquarters, we find the full Malevolence Union relaxing around a large table. Red Wind and Thulkon are present as well as two more comrades. The first is the woman who helped out in the ambush; she is now wearing a costume and reclines with her feet up on the table while smoking a cigarette. The other person present is a very skinny/nerdy-looking guy who is sporting tiny glasses and wearing normal clothes. They are all listening to Thulkon speak. - “That was totally exhilarating! I for one can’t wait to kick some more hero ass! These Avengers can’t be all that tough.”
The skinny man folds his arms and replies, “I noticed that the one who only shoots arrows gave you a pretty hard time.”
“I underestimated him, Doctor. And I can promise you that that is a mistake I will never make again.”
Red Wind speaks up next, “I hope that Iron Man or Thor is next. Let’s see who’s afraid of whom after we butt heads.”
“Buttheads is right,” exclaims the woman after she expels a large amount of smoke. “That’s what you two are. Our plans will be ruined by the super amount of testosterone you two emit that totally clogs your brains!”
Following the woman’s lead, the skinny man chimes in, “Just keep it in check for now, you two; and follow Othello’s plan to the letter.”
An animated Thulkon replies, “You may like being Othello’s monkey-boy, Dr. Dorkus; but not me! Thulkon can think for himself.”
Within an instant, the slight man transforms into an immensely-muscled, hulking creature and plants a massive finger upon Thulkon’s chest. “Watch your tongue my smart-mouthed friend, lest you forget to whom you are speaking. Dr. Bruttus has an end to his patience.”
“Now-now, Doc; let’s not get excited here,” pleads Thulkon desperately trying to calm the monster down. “I was just talking. I’m jonesin' for more action is all.”
The large creature turns around and walks away from the relieved villain. “Then control yourself, my friend, before Dr. Bruttus decides to give you more action than you would find healthy.”
“Just chill big guy. We’d all do best to save our energy for the heroes,” says Red Wind as he stands over the reclined woman.
She stabs her cigarette out harshly a moment before speaking up. “Fighting heroes, that’s all you guys talk about. Why should we bother? With our abilities we could make ourselves way rich with much less risk.”
Red Wind grins. “Awww, Dymium. Too bad your pretty little head can’t comprehend what real power is.”
At this, a glint in her eye forms and a small amount of energy crackles around her hand. “Oh, real power, huh? Don’t make me show you what I can do, Captain Red Pants.”
Red Wind smacks the table with his open palm. “With these heroes eliminated, we will have control of this world … while you just talk about lining your pockets with a few measly dollars!”
Dymium smiles back at him. “Dollars are a girl’s best friend, Reddy. Better to live comfortably in this world, than to get our legs broken trying to own it. What do you think will happen if we even do defeat these Avengers? You think the other heroes out there will just roll over and play dead? We’ll just make ourselves a bigger target for them … that’s all we’ll do!”
Dr. Bruttus raises his fist in a power gesture. “We’ll have destroyed the heroes’ most organized resistance. Then it should be a simple matter to pick off the stragglers one-by-one. Othello has already conquered a world once; I have complete faith that he can do it again. And I intend to be on the winning side.”
Thulkon walks to the far side of the room. “Let me allay your fears, sweet Dymium. Doctor, if you would be so kind as to turn on the combat droid.” A large finger clicks a button, and a shiny looking mannequin appears on the opposite side of the room. “First I shall outfit it properly.” Thulkon uses his power to turn some metal from his uniform into replicas of both Thor’s helmet and his hammer. Having completed this, he places them on the robot’s head and in its hand. “Now I shall show our lovely comrade why the Avengers should fear our power rather than we fear them.” With more metal from his uniform, Thulkon forms three floating, razor-sharp disks. He waves his hands, and each disk starts to fly at the robot from three different directions. The deadly flyers all reach their target at the same time. Disk one slices completely through the right leg, disk two makes a hole clean through the torso, and disk three slices the head off. All the pieces fall to the ground with a loud bang. “Now that, sugar buns, … is skill!”
Dymium rushes up to where the hammer has fallen and touches it. Then she walks over to Thulkon and puts her hand on his chest. “”And just for calling me “sugar buns,” I thought I’d remind you of my power! Namely that to affect the magnetic field of anything I choose, by rearranging its electron properties. For instance, I can turn that hammer into a giant super-magnet. And you my friend … I can turn into the refrigerator.” She takes her hand off of Thulkon and the hammer leaps up from the ground. It speeds its way through the air straight at a completely startled Thulkon. Cowering back against the wall, the weapon strikes Thulkon square in the chest … thankfully, liquefying as it does.
“Sweet-Christ-All-Mighty, Dymium! If I hadn’t willed that hammer to become malleable before it struck … it would have pulped me!”
Dymium walks over and rubs Thulkon’s shoulder. “Aww … did little ole’ me scare Mr. Skill and Power? I’m sowwie. You just go back to your plans to take over this big-bad world. I’ll be good, I promise.” Dr. Bruttus and Red Wind laugh hysterically as Dymium plants a kiss on the cheek of the red-faced Thulkon.
NEXT: The Plan Put Into Action!
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