Pendragon Comics - The Pendragons 14

The Pendragons

# 14

Brought together in defense of Avalon and the British Isles, the Pendragons are the officially-sanctioned heroes of Great Britain. Originally led by the Black Knight, the group is composed of the remnants of the old Knights of Pendragon group, as well as several other heroes. Willing to die for their beliefs, the Pendragons stand united as England's best defense against threats of a superhuman nature.

Written by Barry Reese

Shevaun Haldane leaned back in her chair, fully aware of the bizarre impression she must be giving. She was in her father's old laboratory, a hi-tech mixture of cutting edge science and ancient mysticism. Atop her desk sat an ancient crystal skull, intricately carved to exactly match the bone and facial structure of a sorcerer killed in the 14th century. Electrodes and wires connected the skull to a Dell computer, schematics rotating slowly on the flat-screen projector.

Shevaun herself was a strikingly attractive woman, with a bit of a wild air to her. A piercing in her right nostril glinted brightly in the dim lighting, but it was her mouth that drew the attention of the man before her. Full, somewhat pouty in appearance, her lips were now curved in a slight smile. Her costume, forged of a small piece of the Fabric of the Universe, hugged every curve of her tight, firm body. "Tell me again... Who are you?"

The man before her shook his head, his handsome features mired in obvious confusion. His eyes were the most stunning that Shevaun had ever seen and they reflected his emotions so intensely that the woman known as Dark Angel felt almost embarrassed for having put him on the spot so. He wore a light blue uniform and had close-cropped yellow hair -- indeed, his hairstyle was among the many things that marked him as a man out of step with modern times. "I'm Miracleman. And I've come because I need your help."

Dark Angel clapped her hands together, rising quickly to her feet. "Miracleman! Sorry, I just wanted to hear you say it again. I used to cut out pictures of you from the magazines... I even joined the Miraclemen of England fan club when I was seven." She knew she looked like a lovestruck schoolgirl, but she couldn't suppress her pleasure at actually meeting a man who had disappeared long before she'd even been born.

"Oh yeah... and the guys who did Dr. Who made a few shows on the telly about you and your mates. Great stuff, even with the horrible special effects! You could see the wires that carried the actors around in the air."

Miracleman laughed softly. It was an enchanting, delicate sound that carried the soft tenor of youth with every reverberation. It reminded Shevaun of playing with children in the park, on the few occasions her father had climbed out of his studies and taken her to the city. "There's so much I missed out on. I was... locked away... An old enemy trapped me below the ground. It wasn't until Adam Crown revived me to fight Blackheart that I was even able to open my eyes."

The goggles she wore as part of her armor flooded her with information as Miracleman's energy readings sent her sensors into overdrive, but she ignored them, focusing more on the man than the superhero. "Well, I'm sure you didn't come all the way out here just to meet a fan. What can I do for you?"

"Sort of. I know traditional magic, but I focus on techo-wizardry. It's a combination of modern technology and old-fashioned sorcery. And I have other abilities, too, but they're more cosmic-based than true magic. In fact, I was off-planet when the sorcerers of Earth were trapped on the astral plane*... If I hadn't been involved in the cosmic stuff, I'm sure"

Miracleman nodded thoughtfully. "They say you've visited someplace called the Realm of Dead Superheroes*?"

(*Despite the rather odd name, this realm was visited by Dark Angel several times in her own series, beginning all the way back in issue # 2.)

"Yes... It's a place where fractured souls sometimes end up. Superheroes usually die in violent acts and sometimes their spirits can end up in this realm that neighbors our own. The Realm of Dead Superheroes is close to ours and sometimes the spirits of dead vigilantes manage to sneak back through into our own world. It's like some cosmic being decided to let heroes have an easier time of it coming back from the dead. I suspect there's something like that for villains, too, considering how often they pull off resurrection acts."

"I want to find my friends. Young Miracleman and Kid Miracleman. They died in the incident that placed me in suspended animation."

Dark Angel felt her heart drop. She should have realized why he'd come, should have sensed it telepathically -- but she'd made a habit out of not prying. "I... can't guarantee they're going to be there. I've never seen them in all my trips there."

Dark Angel looked into those eyes and knew she couldn't deny him. Everyone knew all the sacrifices he'd made, all the battles he'd won, all to keep England free in the 1950s and into the early sixties. Taking his hands in hers, she whispered "You bet we can, Miracleman. I'll do my best."

Don't thank me yet, she thought to herself. Moving from one plane to another can be very dangerous -- and sometimes what you find on the other side is even worse.

Jacqueline Falsworth Crichton, known for some sixty years as the superfast heroine Spitfire, stood in the Prime Minister's office, awaiting the arrival of the man who was set to guide Britain through these difficult days. She was not alone, however, and it was at one of the people with her that she now directed an astonished stare. "Kate... Please tell me you're not serious!"

Kate McClellan let out a long sigh. She'd hoped that she could tell each member of the Pendragons her decision in private and avoid making a big event out of it, but she had already encountered resistance from Union Jack... and now Spitfire was intent on arguing with her. She cast a glance over at Shamrock, who was watching them with a bit of interest but not saying much. Smart girl, Kate mused. Turning back to Spitfire, she said "I won't have Cam put in any more danger. The poor boy was kidnapped and brutalized!"

"He's been through worse," Spitfire replied. "He's been possessed by the Bane, if you'll recall. I imagine what some supervillain blighter did to him would pale in comparison."

"That's just the point -- having one such thing happen to him is bad enough. But now it's becoming a habit!" The single mother sighed, running her hand through her hair. "I'm sorry, Jackie... but I think that Cam and I need to get out of the castle for a bit. And the BBC and Astra News both want me for extra reporting, so I have a business excuse, too."

Spitfire started to try and persuade her to reconsider, but she stopped, thinking about her own son, Kenneth. He was lost to her now... Could she in good conscience try and stop another mother from protecting her young? "I'll miss you, Kate. You kept us grounded in so many ways. From refusing to use a costume and a codename, to always being the voice of reason... It's going to be different without you."

Both women shared a laugh over that and Molly, still watching, felt a bit out of place. The rest of the team had tried hard to make her feel welcome, but she was still the latecomer to the group -- and the only one to approach them out of the blue wanting membership. "So are ye still going to be seeing Wynter?"

Kate looked over at Molly and nodded. "Oh, yes. That crafty wizard isn't getting out of my sights that easily. Besides, Cam and he have forged a special bond. It would be wrong of me to come between that. After what happened to Gawain and Peter, Cam needs a man in his life." Blushing slightly, Kate added "So do I."

Molly whistled. "It's been awhile for me, sad to say. Maybe I'll find some true love 'round the bend soon."

The entrance of the Prime Minister brought the ladies' conversation to a halt. As usual, the group deferred to Spitfire when dealing with the PM... After a lifetime amongst the high society of England, Jacqueline was best suited for such things. "Mr. Blair! An honor and a pleasure," she said, offering him a pleasant smile.

"Thank you for coming, Pendragons. I know how busy all of you must be." He glanced around his office, newly refurbished after being demolished by Blackheart*. Rebuilding it had been an important, symbolic move for the British government -- showing that their resolve was unbroken.

He nodded, feeling her sincerity. "All of you have done so much for us as of late... Without you and your teammates, England could very easily have slid into chaos."

Shamrock spoke up, hoping her voice didn't quaver from nervousness. "'Ave the riots and such finally stopped?"

"For the most part, yes. There are still a few enterprising criminals out there planning to help themselves, but most people have come together in a rather stunning display of goodwill towards one another. It's been breathtaking, really."

"Ah," he said, chuckling. "No, I don't mind. Though I hope that the rest of this conversation is off the record. I wish to speak to you as friends to the government and heroes to the people, not as reporters."

Kate nodded, understanding completely. She'd become quite adept at separating her career as a hero from her career as a journalist.

The Prime Minister took a deep breath before continuing. "We've reached a decision about Doom's offer of assistance."

He raised a hand to halt her words. "We're not turning over the keys to the kingdom just yet. But we are willing to enter into an alliance with him, for all our sakes. He's done a marvelous job of maintaining order in Latveria and his mastery of magic makes him well-suited for leadership at this time. Did you know that twelve members of Parliament have suddenly gained small magical abilities? One of them flew by my office this morning... Things are getting out of control, even with the people of England standing so resolute. Doom can help us. And I, for one, think that perhaps he has begun to change."

"Change? Him?" Spitfire exploded with fury. "I stood by and watched as a former Prime Minister tried to appease a madman and then I fought in a war that could have been avoided, had we made our stand earlier. Doom is no different than Hitler... He rules by fear and fear alone. He persecutes those who dare challenge him and his list of atrocities are--"

"Well known to us all," Blair replied. "I wanted to speak with you Pendragons first on this, before any public word was given. Because I respect your opinions. But I ask you to consider this: that barrier might be in place for ten or even twenty years, if not longer. All of us in the European Community are keeping our economies afloat on the mere hope that eventually we will be part of the global community again. What if we are not? Can we be self-sufficient, for the rest of our lives and beyond? Doom offers us renewable energy sources and abundant food. He could even teach some of our new magic users and has proposed academies to do just that. We must hope for peace, but be vigilant in watching him."

"I agree," Shamrock said. She faced her teammates, saying "No man is an island, or so they say. And the same sentiment 'olds true for Great Britain in this sense -- We've got to plan for the future. And if Doom betrays us, we deal with it."

Spitfire shook her head. "I don't like it. Not a bit. I thought Adam was wrong to cross that blighter in front of Parliament*, but that doesn't mean we should enter into an alliance with him."

The Prime Minister stepped around his desk and looked into her eyes. "I understand. But will you Pendragons stand with me, as a sign of solidarity. For England?"

Miracleman felt like he was swimming through a warm, wet field of molasses. He felt slowed by the stuff, but also comforted in some strangely familiar way. With a sudden burst of clarity he realized that it was a subconscious memory of being in the womb, a wet, warm place where no harm could come his way.

At his side, Dark Angel flew in silence, long before having become desensitized to all of this. She had traveled through the realms of the dead, and into Hell itself, on numerous occasions and it's wonders were no longer enough to thrill her. She noticed the look on his face as they descended through the passages from one world to the next, however, and remember what it was like when all of this was new to her. "Amazing, isn't it?"

"In all the ways that count. What we're doing isn't actually astral projection, though we could do it that way if we wanted. What I've done is convert our physical forms to an energy wavelength that matches those of our surroundings. In other words, we're dead, for all intents and purposes, but unlike the poor souls down below, I can get us back to normal with no problem."

"You're that powerful?" He shook his head in amazement. "How did you learn to do this?"

"Well... a few years ago, I found out that my father was not a very nice man. In fact, he was on the board of Mys-Tech, a company that secretly traded souls for immortality. My father and his friends had made a deal with Mephisto years before and when my father tried to renege... the demon killed him. I witnessed it and swore not only to avenge my father's death but to also make up for some of the damage he'd caused over the years -- when I made my vow, the angel of death appeared before me. It gave me a piece of the Fabric of the Universe and it bonded to me as my uniform. Since then, I've spent most of my time battling Mys-Tech and other demonic forces. One of your teammates, in fact, became one of my very good friends. Betsy and I used to get along swimmingly."

Miracleman nodded, picturing the newest Captain Britain alongside Dark Angel. What a pair they would make....

Dark Angel came to a halt in midair, pointing down below. A group of colorfully-clad beings were moving about, apparently at home in a mostly featureless city. Tall buildings with no discernible purpose lined the streets and it was through these that the beings moved, some stopping to speak to one another, though most seemed lost in some unended battle or dangling emotional trauma.

A few of these beings were ones that Miracleman recognized, from modern newsfiles and magazines -- Marinna, the original Union Jack, the Scarlet Spider and the female Yellowjacket. But most were too obscure for him to place, though all of them felt vaguely familiar, as if they were cut from the same heroic cloth as more notable names, even though they had never experienced their fame. "It seems very... lonely... here."

"These are fractured souls, remember? That means that they retain some sort of connection to the mortal plane... As a result, they're not allowed to go on to the other planes of the Afterlife. They either have to sever their connection to Earth and accept their permanent deaths or else be reunited with the rest of their soul and return to life. It's a tough time for them."

"I can imagine." Miracleman glanced around, studying his surroundings. "Is there anyway to get a quick rundown on everyone who's here?"

Miracleman followed her down, coming to rest before a small, non-working fountain. The grand piece of architecture seemed to depict the hero known as Captain Mar-Vell rising up from his grave and was none the less impressive for the fact that no water shot forth before him.

As Dark Angel had predicted, the heroes turned as one and began to shamble forward. Each looked just as they had in life, though their eyes now glowed with an inner fire. The Scarlet Spider turned his head to the side, asking "Did Peter send you? Is Norman causing trouble again?"

Miracleman stepped towards the group, moving before Dark Angel could warn him about interacting too much with these beings. "I don't know them... Do you know two heroes by the names of Young Miracleman and Kid Miracleman?"

"I wish I had spent more time with Pete and MJ," the Scarlet Spider answered. "Poor kids. Must be tough for them being parents so young...."

"Sometimes they get really fixated on their own past lives," Dark Angel said, moving up beside Miracleman. "Makes it hard for some of them to communicate."

Miracleman looked up to the green-skinned woman known as Marinna. Her large eyes glittered wetly at them. The former wife of Namor, the Sub-Mariner, Marinna had perished years ago after a lengthy career with Alpha Flight. "Where? Please -- Tell me!"

"The younger one... He finally gave up hope of returning to life. His soul went on... to wherever he deserved to go."

Miracleman sighed. He had tried to avoid feeling too much hope, but it had been so long since he'd seen them. So long. And now he was all alone, without anyone who understood him. "And what about Dickie? Young Miracleman?"

"Someone summoned him, reunited his spirit. He left us, but I don't know how long ago. Time passes so strangely here."

Miracleman felt stunned. His close friend... was still alive? He turned to Dark Angel, his eyes crackling with tiny sparks of lightning. "We have to go back. I have to find him."

Shevaun nodded. "It might not be that easy. He could have amnesia or he could have been brought back as a spiritual slave to someone. There's no way to know."

Dark Angel looked at him, sensing his need to reconnect with something from his past. "Okay. I'll help. But only because you're even cuter in person than you were in that poster I had on my wall."

Betsy Braddock moved through the crowded hospital ward, amazed by just how terrible the conditions were. She'd known full well that many people had been injured in the weeks following Blackheart's assault, as pillaging and vandalism waged a constant war with rationality and fortitude, but there were so many here... And the lights were being lit by a small everbright spell cast by someone, rather than by traditional electricity. Betsy could only imagine what other hospital equipment might have been negatively affected by the technology disruptions.

A tall, thin man in a doctor's coat approached her, smiling. Betsy was a very recognizable face in England, having been one of their top fashion models before joining the X-Men. Now that she was once more in a body that resembled her original, people were beginning to stop her on the streets, just as they used to do. She was dressed casually today, but she could tell from the gleam in the doctor's eye that he was picturing her in one of her more revealing outfits from past photo shoots. Hoping to cut him off before he attempted to flirt with her, she said "Dr. Williams?"

Visibly pleased that she had remembered his name, the doctor beamed in reply. "Yes! I must say this is quite an honor!"

"Thank you... I hate to be rude, but do you think you could take me to Mr. Worthington's room?"

"Of course, just follow me." The two of them began to navigate down a hallway lined with patient's rooms. "I recognized him, of course. I'm a bit addicted to the telly, so I know all the celebrities," he said.

"Exhaustion. Dehydration. He apparently flew straight here from Birmingham but I don't think that's what did him in. He hasn't been eating well for some time. I believe that the Black Mass barrier must have gone into place and wreaked its unique medicine upon him. As you'll see, he looks a bit different."

Betsy was about to ask what he meant when Dr. Williams pushed opened of the doors. She stepped inside, her heart hammering in her chest. She had written to Warren just before the Barrier had gone up, eager to renew her ties with him. When she'd received no response, she'd assumed he hadn't yet managed a reply. But it was just like him to jet over to surprise her....

Warren lay in the hospital bed, looking tired and thin. His skin was a rosy pink in color, though it showed signs of stress and poor diet. His wings -- a gift of his mutant heritage -- were resting behind him, folded. "He's... no longer blue."

Betsy sat on the bed beside him, her mind reaching out to Warren's. His eyes fluttered open and studied her, but there was no sign of recognition. "Hello," he said, a charming smile forming on his lips. He glanced over at the doctor, who stepped out of the room, sensing that privacy was desired.

"Warren..." she whispered. His mind felt so fractured and uncertain, it was almost painful. "You don't remember me, do you?"

"I don't remember much, to be honest. I've picked up that I'm a mutant, though... Not that I needed much explanation on that. My wings certainly set me apart."

"No," he said, looking worried. "I mean, I remember words and phrases, even what some of them mean. But the connections are lost. I must sound insane...."

Betsy squeezed his hand. "Of course not! Listen, my name is Betsy and we... We're friends. Something happened to you when the Black Mass Barrier fell and--" she put a finger to his lips, stopping his questions, "Whatever effect it had on you has changed your appearance some and altered your memories. But I think they're still there, I feel some of them in your mind. And I'll help you unlock them, I promi--" Betsy paused, sensing that the team's resident magician, Wynter, was attempting to make contact with her. "Hold on just a second, Warren."

She rose and moved away, towards the window. Silently, she replied What is it, Wynter?

Even via telepathy, the mage's calm, calculated manner of speech came through clearly. A device of apparently alien origin has materialized in Hyde Park. The structure is quite large and is sending off emanations of great power. Not mystical, but something close....

Betsy paused, reaching out with her own senses. She could feel it, too. Something strange and undefinable. You want to investigate?

Yes. Given the size of the structure, I think it best to most of the team to examine it.

Yes, Wynter replied and Betsy sensed a sadness to his thoughts. Kate has resigned from the group and I have asked Shamrock to remain on duty at Lyonesse should any other emergencies arise.

Betsy wondered if the Irish girl, by herself, would be enough to handle any such emergencies, but she was careful not to send that doubt through to Wynter. The mage usually knew what he was doing, even if his methods sometimes seemed questionable. No doubt, she mused, he got that from his father. I'll meet all of you at the Park.

Betsy turned back to Warren, who was watching her curiously. "I'm going to have to go, Warren. But I'll be back. I promise." She bent low and kissed his forehead, surprising him. "Take care."

Miracleman and Dark Angel were the last to arrive, landing amongst the Pendragons who were standing before an immense structure that looked to some like a space-age version of Stonehenge. Miracleman stepped up to Grace, who was looking up at the structure with a wary expression. "What is this?"

Grace turned towards him, her gaze taking in Dark Angel, as well. "No one knows. It appeared about half an hour ago. Wynter and Captain Britain are trying to scan it, but... We all feel it. Do you?"

Miracleman paused, his eyes running over the alien structure. Gleaming white with an odd symmetry to its design, the device was so obviously alien that one could not help but stare. "I feel... drawn to it."

"It wants us to step in," Dark Angel said. "My goggles are feeding me lots of readouts about this thing -- but none of the energy coming from it are recognizable."

Adam Crown, holding the fabled sword Excalibur in his hand, stepped forward. "Do we know you, miss?"

Dark Angel let Miracleman handle the introduction on her behalf. The fact was, she and Adam had met before -- but their meeting, along with the rest of the so-called "Mys-Tech Wars, was now forgotten by all but a few of its participants. Instead, she kept her focus on the device, drinking it all in. When she realized that Miracleman had paused, she spoke up, saying "I'm just along for the ride, mate. If you'd rather I left...."

"She's trustworthy," Captain Britain said. She smiled at Dark Angel. "Hi, Shevaun."

Adam shook his head, accepting that if Betsy vouched for this woman, he'd have to accept her. He looked at Wynter, whose brow was furrowed in concentration. "What do say, Wynter?"

Wynter turned to his teammates, his eyes drifting over all of them. Captain Britain looked distracted, as did Miracleman. Spitfire and Union Jack were close to one another, both looking like they could barely restrain the urge to enter the monolithic structure. Grace and Adam Crown were wary, but intrigued, and Wynter could sense that Dark Angel, too, felt the pull of the object. "This structure is obviously designed as a lure. There are four archs scattered about it, serving as doorways inside. What awaits us is unclear. Given our recent history, I would say that it is very likely a trap of some kind."

"It could be more than that," Captain Britain said. Betsy lifted off the ground, getting a better look from the air. "When I was with the X-Men, I was granted access to all their old files. This structure looks remarkably similar to one that appeared in Central Park years ago. Several of the X-Men, along with a small army of other heroes, were lured inside -- and were transported to an alien planet designed by a being called the Beyonder. They were forced to take part in some sort of fighting competition before they managed to return to Earth."

"Bugger it all," Union Jack murmured. "So maybe this Beyonder's ready to film 'Fight Club 2' with yours truly?"

Wynter ignored their playful banter, saying "We have to investigate this. The emanations from here are increasing."

Adam glanced at him. "Should we leave some more members on this side? Just in case it teleports away those who enter, like the other one did?"

"We have Shamrock back at the castle," Spitfire pointed out. "That girl's far more capable than most give her credit for."

"Don't forget Kate's out here, too." Union Jack added. "She might be retiring from the group but she'd help Molly out until we got back -- IF we do disappear."

"I agree," Captain Britain said. "We have to go in -- Every second we wait, the compulsion to enter seems stronger."

"Mind if I tag along?" Dark Angel asked. Not that she really needed their acceptance -- she could always turn intangible and pass right through the wall before her. She'd be inside before the Pendragons even knew what hit them. But she hadn't been part of a group in awhile, and Betsy seemed very much at home with the Pendragons. Considering that Betsy had vouched for her only moments before, Shevaun felt she shouldn't betray her trust.

Captain Britain replied for the group, saying "We're short-handed at the moment, Shevaun. We'd love to have you."

Without any further word, for there was little more to be said, the Pendragons and Dark Angel moved forward, through the strangely glowing archway.

In the distant reaches of the universe, far, far from planet Earth, an uninhabited spiral galaxy turns its everlasting pirouette in magnificent splendor, unseen by living eyes....

The Pendragons found themselves floating in the void of space, enclosed by a transparent dome. An oxygen-rich artificial atmosphere allowed them to breathe and gave them the time to study their surroundings -- Standing about them, looking just as confused as they themselves felt, were a series of living legends. Amongst them were Captain America, Spider-Man, the Thing, the Hulk and Iron Man. There were more, too, ranging from the neophyte Captain Marvel to the former criminal Rogue. And, perhaps most surprisingly, the mutant master of magnetism -- Magneto.

"Oh... My... Stars!" gasped the woman who bore the name Captain Marvel. In her short time with the Avengers, she'd never experienced anything quite like this -- It was both terrifying and exhilarating.

Union Jack found himself standing between the feral mutant known as Wolverine and the elastic leader of the Fantastic Four, Mr. Fantastic. "Blood hell! What happened?"

"This much I can tell you, Union Jack -- If that is indeed who you are," replied Mr. Fantastic, "This device apparently caused sub-atomic particle disassociation, reducing us, as we entered, to proto-matter, which it stored--"

Union Jack stepped back from Richards, not quite understanding what the man was saying -- and caring less. He bumped into Captain America, who gave him a brief nod. "Good to see you again, Jack. I suppose this thing appeared in England, as well."

Jackie blinked. She'd seen Steve Rogers since her rejuvenation, but now he was looking at her as if he expected to see a 70 year old woman....

Before she could answer, Betsy Braddock's telepathic voice echoed in her head -- and the heads of all the Pendragons. Captain Britain was floating above the heads of the present X-Men, whose numbers included Cyclops, Wolverine, Rogue, Colossus, Nightcrawler and Prof. X. Watch your tongues, mates! We weren't just teleported through space... We've gone backwards in time, too!

Dark Angel, using her own telepathy to link up with Betsy's, replied And whatever brought us here is very powerful! Normally I can traverse time, but something's blocking me, holding me here.

Spitfire looked up at the expectant Captain America. So that means that this Steve Rogers is from years ago... And those X-Men won't even know Betsy yet!

Luckily for Jacqueline, the Sentinel of Liberty's attention was caught by a strange glint amongst the stars above. "Head's up! Look! At four o'clock!"

Dark Angel blinked at the object that slowly rotated into view. "Another construct! But who's on that one?"

Captain Britain answered quickly, even before Prof. X could offer his own assistance. "I'm scanning to the limits of my telepathy -- but there's a tremendous aura of evil coming from whomever's onboard that one! It's like the vilest, coldest minds I've ever touched!"

"Ach, Professor! She is a telepath, like you!" Nightcrawler whispered, leaning close to Charles Xavier, who had founded the mutant group known as the X-Men. "But she wears the colors of Captain Britain!"

Xavier nodded. "Yes. She is quite powerful... and she's using mental shields very similiar to those I taught to Jean! Most intriguing...."

Betsy felt through the minds she found, ignoring a small melee between some of the Avengers and the man known as Magneto. There were villains on that other construct, some familiar and some not. But all were dangerous to the extreme.

And then a voice boomed out of the void, silencing all the heroes and distracting Betsy from her telepathic probe. It was accompanied by the brightest light that any of them had ever beheld. "I am from beyond! Slay your enemies and all you desire shall be yours! Nothing you dream of is impossible for me to accomplish!"

And the Pendragons, each and every one of them, knew that something had gone very, very wrong with the universe. They were not meant to be here, not in this time.

And somewhere, a being watched with great amusement, for things were going just as he had planned.

Next Issue: It begins! "A Secret War" is our next big storyline and it will leave the Pendragons drastically altered. With all but Shamrock and Kate missing, who will defend Great Britain? And how will the kidnapped Pendragons deal with the fact that, somehow, they've been pulled through time as well as space?

The next storyline is intended to be an homage in some ways to "Secret Wars," which I read and enjoyed way back in the 1980s. Nowadays I can see the many (many!) flaws of that story but I hope to recapture some of the mystery and excitement that hooked my little 12 year old mind way back when. Don't expect me to do a by-the-book replay of that series, though. The presence of the Pendragons (and some of their foes amongst the villains!) will alter things considerably, I promise you!