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!

Weakest Link in the Chain, Part 5

Chapter Five - Clash of Styles

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 !!!!!!!!!

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!!

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!

Weakest Link in the Chain, Part 2

Chapter Two: The Man Who Lost the World
By Cristian Mark King

Hawkeye grimaces as he finds himself waking back up from unconsciousness. When he finally does open his eyes, he finds that he is a prisoner shackled in chains that suspend him from a wall. Othello’s unwelcome voice hits him like a bucket of cold water would a sleeping man. -“Welcome back to reality, Avenger! I want for you to have a ringside seat to my ultimate victory.”

Clint struggles back to awareness as he speaks. -“Sounds peachy, …but if you don’t mind me asking, who the flip are you?!”

“I am Othello D’Vem, the arch-enemy of the Avengers. I destroyed the Avengers before, and I shall do so again.”

“That’s all well and good, but if it’s true…then how come I’ve Never Heard of You??”

“Because before today, I’d never met you. However, I’ve battled Hawkeye and his Avenger cohorts many times, … and I destroyed them!”

The edge of the Avenger’s lip curls up in annoyance.- “Hoo-boy! Just my luck, not only do I get taken captive, but it’s by a guy that makes the Unibomber look like the poster boy for mental health. Listen Sir, I think we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot here. What say, you cut me down and we go get a few beers and watch some Van Damme flicks? I think they could do us both some good right now.”

Othello is not amused. “Your patronizing attitude bores me, archer. However, I wish that you should know who has bested you.”

“Good, you’ve piqued my interest, Mysterio!”

The villain produces an electronic device that he places upon his own head. After it is secure he explains to Hawkeye that it will help him to mentally project images into the archer’s mind so that he can “see” what he is talking about. A blue light flashes out of the end of the headwear and into the eyes of the captive Avenger. Then Othello begins his long monologue.

“Doubtless you’ve heard of the Avengers’ foe Proctor? He came from an earth similar to your own, but in an alternate reality. In his reality he was an Avenger. However, he grew to see the Avengers as enemies. His hatred grew so that he sought to destroy the Avengers in all realities.” Images flood Hawkeye’s brain, the first one he sees is one of Proctor, his eyes glowing from his gann josin bonding.

“He came to this world with his band of Gatherers to claim your group of Avengers as another of his conquests. But it was not to be, and your Avengers defeated him. However, the Gatherers were not alone when they came to this world. I was with them.” In his mind, Hawkeye sees images of the Black Knight locked in a swordfight with the alternate Swordsman.

“I joined Proctor’s band after my world was destroyed by a renegade Sersi. You see, on my world, I was what you would call a super-villain. After several years of trying, I finally succeeded in destroying the Avengers. After that, little stood in my way of world conquest. Thus, I gained complete control over my world. Until Sersi came and ruined the planet I controlled.” An image of Othello strangling Captain America over a very lifeless Scarlet Witch fills Hawkeye’s head.

“I was devastated, a monarch of a rubble kingdom. Proctor came to me and offered a place in his Gatherers. I accepted. However, former emperors make for poor followers. I decided to overthrow Proctor and lead for myself with the aid of a being called Tabula.” Hawkeye sees a shot of Othello in tatters on his knees, surrounded by the rubble of destroyed buildings. Fires are burning in the background.

“However, my mutinous plans didn’t go unnoticed and Proctor imprisoned both me and my comrade. I was a prisoner in his dungeon inside the mountain when his citadel was utterly destroyed. Buried in the remains, I languished for months after. Until I recovered enough to escape.” A new image appears of Othello shackled in a dark prison.

“I used the knowledge I gained from Proctor and summoned my own team of villains. Ones from another reality to do my bidding. My friends were happy to leave their world, as it was becoming politically uncomfortable for them there.” Another vision, this time of the Malevolence Union looking ready to fight. After this last image, the villain removes the machine from his head.

“Thus here we are today. I lost the rule of all I surveyed; but you, dear Avenger, shall help me get it back.”

“Gee, Ot; I’d like to help, but I’m all tied up at the moment.” However, inside Hawkeye’s head, his thoughts are not nearly so confident. “This guy seems like major bad news. Worse than your ordinary would-be conqueror. He means business, and this Avenger better find the chink in his armor before history repeats itself.”

The captive decides to be catty to get Othello to reveal something he can use. “I don’t know about the Avengers where you come from, but the ones here aren’t pushovers. You better have a good plan to back up all your boasting.”

“The best one possible, archer. First, I’m going to destroy the Avengers’ communications network at its source. Once accomplished, we shall have the heroes cut off from each other and, therefore, vulnerable. They will be easy pickings for my compatriots. We can prey on the mightiest members one at a time, assured that no help will come. The Avengers will be alone, while my Malevolence Union shall act as a team. They will be trained on how to destroy each Avenger. Meanwhile, your friends will find themselves fighting against experienced super-villains they have neither heard of before, nor have any idea how to fight.” Othello raises a clenched fist.

“The Avengers are doomed! And once conquered, your world shall be payment for what happened to mine.”

Hawkeye tries to act coy about what he is hearing. Meanwhile, Othello reaches into a pouch that is tied around his waist, and pulls out a gem that is fastened to a necklace.

“Hmmm … it sounds like you’ve thought this out, Ot. However, Avengers Mansion is pretty heavily guarded. You couldn’t just go waltzing in there even if you had an army behind you.”

Othello appears excited as he fastens the gem around his neck. “Aahhh, but who needs an army when I have you, Avenger? You see, this crystal is what I call my Lamprey Stone.”

A crimson beam of light jumps out of the gem and envelops Hawkeye.

“It steals the essence of whomever I wish ….”

The beam turns off, and Othello himself now glows.

“… And gives their essence to me!”

Othello’s body turns into an exact duplicate of Hawkeye. His laughter is loud and evil.

“This is definitely not good,” thinks Hawkeye to himself.

NEXT: Get To Know Your Villains.

The Weakest Link in the Chain, Part 1

Chapter One: Once an Avenger
By C.M. King

“Oh yeah! This is what it’s all about…,” thinks Hawkeye to himself as he walks down the busy Manhattan sidewalk in all his purple-clad glory. Passersby stare, gossip to each other, and point excitedly at the famous Avenger. His smile grows with each passing pair of curious eyes on him. “…the adulation of the public, the roar of the crowd. It makes facin’ badies like Ultron worth all the pain. I’m glad I gave into the impulse to go strutting in the old uniform today.” The Avenger feels at home here among his admirers on this warm afternoon. More at home than he would behind the walls of Avengers Mansion itself.

However, as he passes a small side-street, Hawkeye’s peace turns out to be short lived. From an old warehouse a block away, Clint sees a clearly distressed woman charge out its front door and tumble down to the pavement in front. She sees the hero and screams out, “Help! Please, oh God. Help me!” Hawkeye turns in her direction as the woman staggers back to her feet. But before the hero can do more than take a couple steps toward her, a white-gloved hand reaches out of the open warehouse door and grabs the woman violently. In one blurring motion, the sinister hand yanks the female back through the door …then slams it shut. His sprint across the alley takes Hawkeye only seconds, and is not slowed at all by the stringing of the shock arrow he accomplishes at the same time. “All right, hero. It’s time to earn your fame,” thinks the bowman to himself as he sports a darkly determined face. Hawkeye crashes through a side window of the warehouse thinking, “Whoever’s causing this trouble didn’t count on the world’s greatest archer getting involved. Still, I gotta be prepared for anything.”

The Avenger lands crouched, arrow drawn, and ready for action. However, what he sees baffles him. Four figures stand around him arms folded, smiling at the adventurer. One of them has white gloves, a mustache, goatee, and an unfamiliar costume. Two other costumed (and just as unfamiliar) men stand near the first man. One wears a red costume while the other sports a bizarre looking armored outfit. Moreover, on the other side of the white-gloved villain stands the woman he rushed in to rescue. She seems far from a victim now as she beams at Clint with a malicious grin. “Whoa! Looks like ole’ Hawk’s been snookered,” thinks the archer as he gulps.

“Good evening, Hawkeye. We’ve been waiting for you. I’m afraid you will find any signal devices quite useless in here. You see, you are very much at the complete mercy of Othello D’Vem and his Malevolence Union.” Upon finishing his statement, the mustached villain gestures to his two costumed companions. “However, only two from my organization are required to deal with this Avenger.” Othello takes the woman by the arm courtingly, and the two walk away arm-in-arm from the stunned archer. “Come my dear, we are through here. Our colleagues will bring our purple-garbed prize to us after he has been subdued.” The couple begins to glow briefly … and then both disappear magically. “We shall await your arrival, Avenger.”

Hawkeye holds his head in disbelief at first, and then once more tenses his bow. “Runnin’ out on me, eh? Not only do I fall into a trap, but I get insulted to boot. I guess I’ll just take my frustration out on you guys then.” He turns back determinedly to the two villains.

The armored foe flies up into the air with the help of two small, round metal disks underneath each of his feet. “Not so fast, hero. I think it’s time I introduced myself.” In response, Hawkeye fires two arrows in the flying man’s direction. “Your name’s Mud to me, flyboy! I want to talk to Mr. Mustache again. And if I have to go through you to get to him, fine by me!”

Hawkeye’s flying foe waves his hands a little and three round, flat metal shields form in front of him from pieces of his own armor. The two fired shafts explode harmlessly against the floating shields. “Not so fast, Jabronie! … My name’s Thulkon,” cackles the villain. “I have these telekinetic powers. Thing is, they only work on this metal called mentallium. Fortunately, it’s the same stuff my armor is made out of.” As if in response to Thulkon’s words, the metal shields start to dissolve and transform. “I can do more than just make it fly around too.” The shields slowly become four long objects. “I can make it take any shape I choose.” Before Hawkeye’s startled eyes, the metal has transformed into four, long, floating daggers. “Like so!” With a wave of his hand, the daggers speed toward the startled archer.

“Oh mama!,” is all Hawk has time to blurt out before he is forced to dive behind a bunch of crates for safety. Thinking he is safe for at least a minute, Hawkeye wipes some sweat away from his brow. However, he is shocked back to reality when he witnesses the blades turn in midair and start to follow him again. “Holleee! These bozos are for real!,” thinks Hawkeye to himself as he deftly sidesteps the daggers while reaching into his quiver for another arrow. “If I want to remain the idol of millions, I need to get off the defensive…” Clint fires the shaft in Thulkon’s direction. “…And take some initiative!”

The smoke arrow explodes yards in front of the villain rendering him blind to anything around him. Yet, before Thulkon can plan his next move, a second arrow (this one a thick metal one) comes flying in through the smoke cloud and cracks him across the head. The low thud tells Hawkeye that his opponent has fallen to the floor. “Nothing like a good ‘crowbar’ arrow to do your dirty work. Now where is Thulkie’s sidekick?” As if in response to Clint’s question, a man flying at an amazingly high speed flies through the smoke cloud causing it to disperse. “Whoa! Speak of the Devil.”

“Thulkon may be an overconfident jerk, Hawkeye; but Red Wind isn’t half the pushover that fool was. Get ready for a beating!” The boisterous villain leaves a red trail in the air behind him as he flies. In one blurring motion, Hawkeye strings and fires a flash arrow at his approaching foe; temporarily blinding him. “What say we skip it and get right to the good-guy victory?,” taunts the archer back. With his next move, the Avenger turns and fires a blast arrow at the warehouse wall; blowing a hole in it. “I’m a lot less confident about this than I sound. This whole set-up favors the ambushers. A strategic retreat could even the odds back up.” Hawkeye turns again and fires an electro-shock arrow at the flying Red Wind. “But I’m not leaving until I give Reddy his goodnight kiss.”

Much to the archer’s dismay, Red Wind shows off his power by changing his flight direction then circling around after the arrow. “You’re an idiot to think you can beat my speed with these annoyances!” Astonishingly, Red Wind catches the arrow in midair. “I can match the swiftness of anything you can throw at me…” The arrow is flung back at the awed archer. “…And use it against you! …Speed kills, my friend.”

“Son of a Crud! What has America’s idol gotten himself into now?,” thinks Hawkeye to himself as he ducks the exploding arrow. Realizing that his foe way outclasses him in terms of power, the archer seeks the advantage of the high ground by climbing to the top of a stack of crates. Meanwhile, Red Wind brags on his strength by mowing down as many boxes as he can while he flies. “Haha … run all you wish to fool! There is no escape from someone this powerful!” Red Wind then turns his sights back to the hero, looking to mow him down as well. “I got you in my crosshairs. You’re gonna be the first hero killed by a human bullet!” Hawkeye waits until Red Wind is close enough… then … he tosses a concussion arrow in the villains direction from behind his back with his right hand.

“Awww, can it will ya?,” spouts the archer defiantly. “I may not be as powerful as you. But you don’t get to be an Avenger as long as I have without some smarts.” The look of abject horror on Red Wind’s face as he is unable to halt his progress, is contrasted sharply with Hawk’s mischievous grin as he hops down off the crate to safety as the arrow explodes with the desired effect.

“I better call the Avengers and let them know someone’s gunning for them,” thinks Hawkeye as he observes Red Wind’s unconscious form. “Wait, where did Thulkie go?,” thinks Hawk a second too late as three metal balls slam into him from behind. He slumps to the floor where blackness finally overtakes him.

NEXT: Remember the Man Who Destroyed the Avengers???

Cris writes a poem

I am the Rain
And sometimes I fall
Upon your troubled head
Another annoyance to an already
Sufferable day
And I am sorry,
Not like the other times
When I am a welcome release
And you can soak in the pleasure
Of my rippling touch
And spend a moment watering
A day's dreams.
I come in many forms
And leave many different effects
And you can be sure of seeing me again.

And anytime you need to be reminded
Think on me
And I'll fall from your eye
And carress your cheek.

-Cristian K.