"Wonderful! It's a bloody reunion!"
Union Jack's dry wit brought a smile to a few faces as he entered the chamber. He moved somewhat sluggishly, still fighting off the effects of his recent bout with lycanthropy.*
* (in the Union Jack Limited Series - Barry)
The Black Knight leant against a far wall, staring about himself. The small group assembled before him were some of the finest people in the world, each of them bringing certain gifts to the table. Dane knew that he'd need every one of them if Mordred was going to be halted in his mad plan to destroy Avalon. As it was, the Knight had reassembled the famed Knights of Pendragon for a Council of War.
Albion, Kate McClellan, and Union Jack. They were all that were left*, the others having fallen to the hordes of evil that Mordred had under his sway. Dane stepped forward, taking control of the group automatically. He'd served in a leadership capacity with both the Avengers and UltraForce in the past, and it was a role he took to with all his heart. "I'm glad all of you could join us. I'm not sure how much Albion has told you, but Avalon is in great danger. Mordred has made it clear that he seeks the destruction of Avalon. He's already attempted to kill me,** and has unfortunately succeeded with some of your former teammates..."
* (Captain Britain is powerless these days and honorary members Iron Man & Black Panther haven't been summoned - Barry)
** (back in issue #1 - Barry)
Kate shook her head sadly, "Breeze... Dai... Gawain... Adam... surely not all of them could have been taken? Mordred's always been a nuisance but he's usually just carrying out the orders of Morgan Le Fay."
Dane shook his head, "Not this time - Mordred appeared to me and made it quite clear that he was on his own this time. I think we have to take this threat very seriously..."
Union Jack stepped forward, fury in his voice. "Where in the hell do you get off acting like the leader here, Whitman? This is a Knights of Pendragon matter - it's our friends who've been butchered and it's our duty to avenge them, not yours!"
Dane narrowed his eyes. He liked Joey Chapman a lot, but he was as hard-headed as they come. "Don't lecture me about avenging, Joey. I've done more than my share of that. It's not just about the Knights, though - it's about Avalon. I've devoted my life to protecting the Lady of the Lake, and I'll be damned if I'll sit by while Mordred plots!"
Albion stepped between the two, his face a mask of resolve. "Hush, both of you. Some good people are dead, and we're not going to honor their memory by sniping at one another."
The Black Knight took a step back. "You're right, Peter. My apologies."
Union Jack grunted, turning away from the group altogether. He hated this - hated having to deal with the deaths of friends. He'd lost too many people in too short a time...
Albion looked into the Black Knight's face, studying him. Though Albion had been fighting evil off-and-on since World War I, he viewed Dane as the most experienced hero here. "Do you have a plan of attack, Dane?"
"I do, but it won't be easy. I also don't think that the four of us will be enough for what I have planned. I can contact Sersi - I'm pretty sure she'll be willing to help."
Union Jack turned back to the group, "I can contact Spitfire - Jackie's taken up the costume again for personal reasons* and she's got a lot of experience with this sort of thing."
* (Jacqueline Falsworth, a.k.a. Spitfire, was a member of the Invaders and recently took up her costumed identity again in Union Jack #3 - Barry)
Kate stood up, "That gives us six members for our little band. Will that be enough?"
The Black Knight nodded, "I hope so."
Union Jack folded his arms, "Whitman, don't play games with us! We're not your bloody Avengers friends - tell us what you've got planned!"
"We're going on the offensive - I want to strike at Mordred directly..."
"I give to you our new Black King!"
Margali Szardos, the Red Queen of the London Hellfire Club, stood behind the dark-garbed figure, her full lips pulled back into a smile. "I give you Alec Drake, the Ebony Knight!"
The Black Queen shrank back into her chair, staring at the figure before her. She'd known that Margali coveted Drake, seeing him as an addition to her power base, no doubt. She'd had no idea exactly why - but now she did. The Ebony Blade that Drake possessed* had consumed him. He now wore armor of the darkest black, a helmet hiding his handsome features. The fearsome blade lay in a scabbard at his side, thrumming with malevolent life.
* (Alec Drake was given the Ebony Blade by the mysterious Gilded Man in the Black Knight Special Edition #0 - Barry)
"I thank you for this honor. I shall endeavour to bring the Hellfire Club to new heights." The voice was cold and emotionless - it was not the voice of Alec Drake, but of the Blade itself. It had become one with its new owner and host.
The Red Queen nearly purred as she spoke, "Oh, I think you'll bring some very unique capabilities to the table, Alec."
The Ebony Knight glanced at her as if she were a fly. "Alec Drake is no more. There is only the Ebony Knight, Black King of the Hellfire Club."
Margali nodded, her smile never faltering. "Of course, forgive me." She felt a hot burning in her heart - this man, this... thing... would be crucial to her plans. Immortality and ultimate power would be hers in time...
Dane Whitman felt Sersi's tongue slide against his own, electricity coursing through his veins in response. He forced himself to pull away, fighting against the all-too strong impulse to give in to his desires. "Sersi... this isn't why I came to see you..."
Sersi pulled back, her beautiful face full of mischief. Dane had just arrived at her London flat with his proposition, giving her quite a surprise in the process. "I'm sorry, Dane, but I couldn't help it! This will be wonderful - a chance to work together on a regular basis again..."
Dane flinched slightly. He'd hoped that Sersi wouldn't read too much into this, but that hope was obviously dashed. "This is only a temporary thing - we're banding together to stop Mordred, nothing more."
"So you say. If I know you, Dane, you'll do such a wonderful job as leader that they'll remain a team around you."
"Hmm... given Joey's feelings about me, I doubt that." The Black Knight cleared his throat, trying to forget how right Sersi had felt in his arms. "So you'll help us?"
Sersi's green eyes twinkled, "Yes... though with the way you talk about this Lady of the Lake, I think that I should, perhaps, view her as a rival for your affections..."
The group of heroes that stood assembled in Avalon - the Black Knight, Sersi, Albion, Spitfire, Kate McClellan, Albion, and Union Jack - were facing the Lady of the Lake. The beautiful, ethereal being floated before them, casting a soft spray of water upon their faces. She was breathtaking, even to those who were accustomed to her appearance.
"You have my thanks, Knights of Pendragon. I share your feelings of loss, but know this - that a true Knight of Pendragon shall live again, when the days are darkest."
Albion knelt before the Lady, drawing a surprised glance from Kate McClellan. "I thank you for your kind words, m'lady. I pledge that the Knights of Pendragon shall defend Avalon from all threats, be they great or small. I realize now that allowing the group to be so loose-knit was a mistake. Now and forevermore, we stand united."
Union Jack clenched his fists. He agreed with Albion's sentiment, if not his exact choice of words. Joey valued his freedom now that the Knights were no longer a formal group, and he wasn't sure he wanted to change that.
Jacqueline Falsworth stood uncomfortably in her Spitfire costume. Why was she even here, when her only son was being twisted by the Baroness?*
* (see the Union Jack Limited Series for more - Barry)
"Thank you, Albion. Now, you wish to be transported to Mordred's lair?"
Dane nodded. He hated to admit it, but he liked this - working with a group again, fighting for a mutual goal. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed it since the Heroes for Hire had faded.* Perhaps Sersi was right, perhaps he should try and keep this group together. Forcing himself back to the subject at hand, he answered "Yes, my lady. We seek to end this affair as quickly as possible."
* (the team disbanded in Heroes For Hire #19)
The Lady of the Lake raised a hand. "Then begone, my Black Knight. May you and your allies end this threat forevermore!"
A flash of light, accompanied by a rush of wind, signaled the departure of the heroes. In their absence, only the Lady of the Lake remained. She looked sad and resigned, as if the sad tale to come was already well known to her.
The heroes appeared in a dark courtyard, each of them privately recoiling from the sight around them. Dead flowers lined the cobblestone pathways, and the rotting corpse of a man hung from a cross directly ahead of them. The Knights of Pendragon, in particular, reacted with anger and revulsion.
Kate moved forward, staring at the figure before her. Her lower lip trembled for a moment as recognition dawned upon her. She'd been a television reporter before she'd learned of her connection to the Pendragons, and she'd always considered herself one of the more 'normal' members... alongside Dai Thomas, her teammate. But now, as she stared at Dai's skinned corpse, she felt her resolve weakening. Electricity crackled around her wrists. "Damn him... damn Mordred to hell!"
She raised her hands and fired an energy blast at the cross, shattering it. The body fell to the ground in a heap.
Albion placed his arms around her, drawing her back. "Kate... there's nothing that can be done. You can't lose your head."
"Oh, she'll lose her head! Have no fear of that!" Mordred's voice rang out through the still air. He was standing atop a rampart, dressed in his green armor and looking surprisingly confident in the face of six superhumans.
The Black Knight drew the Sword of Light, its blade shimmering with the light of Avalon. "Mordred! You have much to answer for! Surrender at once, or face the consquences!"
Mordred laughed, "Very bold words, Knight... but you're outnumbered here!"
The hairs on the back of Union Jack's neck were rising as he noticed the shadows creeping in closer. "Hey, Knight... I think this is an ambush..."
Black Knight glanced around, his own eyes opening wide. "Everyone! On your toes!" He slashed his sword through the darkness, noticing that the shadows seemed repulsed by the light.
The darkness rose up into almost a dozen figures, each inky-black and writhing. They moved in a circle, surrounding the heroes.
Mordred cackled once more, "Let me introduce you to my allies, the Parliament of Darkness! They're responsible for the deaths of the Pendragons... and I've promised them the Lady of the Lake as their own!"
The Black Knight frowned at that, feeling his temper rise. He glanced over at Sersi, moving closer. "Sersi - can your matter manipulation powers stop these things?"
"I'm not sure, my love... but we'll certainly find out!"
Spitfire zoomed through the shadows, striking at them where she could. Her blows, she noted, didn't seem to harm them. She grabbed Kate, pulling out of the way of a shadowy attack. "Down, girl! These things aren't playing!"
Kate nodded numbly, "Thanks, Spitfire."
Union Jack slashed at one of the shadow beings with his silver dagger, but the blade slid through its form easily. "Mordred knew we'd come, Dane! He outsmarted us!"
The Black Knight's Sword was far more successful in its use, driving his opponent back. "I know... I made a mistake, a costly one!"
Sersi channeled her Eternal energy powers through one of the wraiths, exploding it. "It won't be a fatal one, Dane - I promise you that!"
Mordred turned away from the battlefield, striding with purpose towards his chambers. All was going according to his plan - soon, Avalon would be his.
He entered the room, glancing towards his partner in this affair - the man without him all this would not have been possible. Not even Morgan was aware of his existence in this game. Mordred smiled as his partner turned to face him. "Dane led them here, just as you said."
The figure's smile was hard and tight, "I knew he would. I know him inside and out, after all. Is Sersi with him?"
Mordred nodded, "Yes... she's quite attractive! I can see why you covet her."
The man's eyes flashed with power. "I do not covet her! I seek her destruction, total and absolute! For what she has done to me, even death is not enough!"
Mordred shrugged, "As you say. Should we not proceed, however? While the Knight and his allies are occupied here, Avalon is unprotected... we can strike at our leisure."
The man turned, nodding. "You can do as you will with Avalon. I want Dane and Sersi, only."
The Black Knight panted, feeling the ache in his limbs. The shadow beings just kept coming... three more appeared for every one that was destroyed. Still he fought on, however, forcing himself not to give in.
Suddenly, the shadows pulled back. The beings slid away into the cracks of the courtyard, leaving the heroes staring at each in confusion.
"Why did they do that?" Spitfire was helping support Union Jack, whose shoulder had been burned by the wraiths' attacks.
"They have been recalled by their master - their mission is elsewhere for now. In their place, you shall have to deal with me!"
The strong male voice caused them all to jump - their surprise was magnified because of the familiarity. It sounded just like Dane's...
The Black Knight felt Sersi's hand on his shoulder. "Oh, no..."
Dane felt his heart drop at the sight of the man above. It was a face he had hoped never to see again. Next to him, Sersi almost hissed in disgust.
"It's good to see you again, my doppleganger... and you as well, Sersi. The time has come for the grand dance to commence. The time has come for PROCTOR to have his revenge!"
In Black Knight #5: The Battle For Avalon continues! Proctor is back, and he's out to eradicate his archfoe once and for all! Meanwhile, Mordred invades Avalon only to find it's got a mysterious new defender - the hero known as Wynter!
AUTHOR'S NOTES
This issue kicks off a storyline I've been building towards since our zero issue. The return of Proctor is just the beginning - the fallout of this story will be MMAJOR ! After this has run its course, look for some less epic stories for awhile.
In the meantime, though, beware the darkness - it's alive!
Barry Reese