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 !!!!!!!!!
