Heathen Chemistry, Part Three |
What Has Come Before: Ranulph Haldane lived a life of deceit and debauchery. A member of the Mys-Tech Board, Haldane had bargained his soul for immortality centuries before, but when the time to repay his debt came near, he attempted to betray his dark masters and paid the ultimate price. His daughter, Shevaun, became the heroine Dark Angel -- and she thought she had freed her father's soul from its eternal imprisonment... but now she has learned that Ranulph's spirit came into contact with the Red Lord of the Bane, mankind's eternal nemesis. Now, Ranulph and the Bane are back -- and the young Pendragon known as Albion has come under his wing, ready to betray all that he once held dear....
Darkmoor
Joey Chapman felt cold hands touching his body, poking and prodding at his extremities. The sound of demonic laughter accompanied the sensations, bringing his memory back to the present... He had come here with his teammates in hope of finding out where Dark Angel had disappeared to. Instead, they'd found the Red Lord and his followers, the Bane.
"Jackie," he whispered hoarsely, feeling splinters of pain with the effort. His throat felt raw and bloody, like he'd inhaled far too many particles of dust for his own good. He fumbled for the dagger at his waist, trying to hide his movements as much as possible. Since his left arm was pinned beneath him, it was an easier task than it otherwise might have been. Once the weapon was firmly in this grasp, he struck quickly, rolling onto his back and jabbing upwards. The motion threw his captors into a flurry of activity, as the shadow-wraiths around him jumped back in surprise. One of them was far too slow and Union Jack's knife, forged of pure silver, slashed through the thing's arm, cutting it neatly in two.
Joey forced himself to his feet, ignoring the spinning in his head and the rising tide of nausea that accompanied it. He was bloodied, his costume hanging in tatters from his well-toned body, but he would not be denied. Somewhere amongst this burning wreckage, somewhere amidst the demons and night-terrors that surrounded him, was the woman he loved.
He moved through them at a terrifying pace, slashing and punching. He was fighting on automatic now, giving in to all the training he'd received over the years. His foes no longer mattered to him -- they were merely obstacles that stood in his path.
And then he saw her... lying unconscious and bleeding, as a large shadow-thing ripped her costume from her in long strips. Joey threw the dagger and his aim was straight and true. It embedded itself deeply in the skull of the demon, causing it spray forth a wave of blackish-red goo from its mouth.
Seizing the opportunity, Union Jack knelt beside her and brought her into his arms. He heard her soft murmur and knew that she still lived. The realization made his heart calm a bit. As long as she lived, then they could find a way out of this... They could summon the other Pendragons. They could....
"It's hopeless, Joey. Stop resisting."
The words were spoken in a familiar voice, but with a tone that Joey had never heard associated with it before. It was heartbreaking in its callousness. He looked over his shoulder and saw Cam -- dear, sweet Cam -- floating in the air above him. The youth's Albion armor was splattered with blood and his eyes glowed a soft green. "Cam. What do you think you're doing, you bloody fool?"
Albion spread his arms out to his sides. "I'm not a fool. I'm smart to realize that resisting only makes it worse. Resisting makes the darkness want to kill our friends. Our family. If we work with them, they won't hurt us. They won't hurt the ones we love."
Union Jack stood back up, holding Spitfire in his arms. "Is that what Peter taught you? Is that what he would have wanted? He gave you his identity because he believed in you! The Lady of the Lake believed in you! And, damn it all, I believe in you...."
A look of indecision briefly flickered across Cam's face, but the look was soon replaced by one of saddened malice. "It's fine to believe in me, Joey... The question is who do I believe in now? And I think the answer to that is pretty obvious."
Behind him, towering above the ruins of the castle, was the Red Lord. Joey saw that he had transformed the landscape into a mockery of a village, complete with houses and a dark, brooding castle over which a large flaming eye hung heavy and hungry. The Red Lord stared down at the scene before him and his words were filled with such unbearable evil that Joey Chapman was glad his lover wasn't awake to hear them. "Let us begin your education, little Albion. End his misery."
Albion nodded slowly... and then unleashed a powerful blast of mystic energy that enveloped both the shadow-wraiths and his former friends. The wraiths were killed instantly, incinerated by the sheer force of the blast. But to everyone's surprise, Union Jack and Spitfire remained where they were, unharmed.
Cam blinked in surprise. "What...?"
Union Jack felt the same way. He'd had only scant seconds to make his peace, but he thought he'd done so. He'd thought about how much he loved Jackie... and how much he missed his old friend, Kenneth. He even thought about his own father and realized that, confronted with death, he could even forgive all the old hurts and wounds. "Seems like I might have a patron or two looking out for me, also... What say we discuss all this away from the Lord over there? For old times sake, just hear me out."
"He's not going to listen," someone said. All eyes turned towards Shevaun Haldane as she staggered into view. A large, jagged piece of metal protruded from her chest and copious amounts of blood ran down her body. She glanced up at Cam and smiled ruefully. "You killed my father... Saved me the trouble, I guess. But you forgot something."
Albion's face revealed his confusion, but he heard the Red Lord's hiss and realized what she meant. "Your father... He was wearing--"
Shevaun held up a strip of celestial-powered fabric in her right hand. "A piece of the Fabric of Reality. My old costume. And you what? It's very, very good at healing injuries if you know how to use it properly." The costume stirred then, flashing with the light of a very old energy source -- the energy that had powered all of creation since the Big Bang. When the light dimmed, Shevaun was wearing her uniform -- and the shard of metal was resting easily her hand. Her skin was still pale and she looked shaky, but there was no doubt that Dark Angel still lived... and she was angry as hell. "Let's get one thing straight. This is my home. And I'm taking it back."
Outside the Museum of Pagan Antiquities
"YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE THIS TIME RATHOON!!"
There were times that Rathoon the dragon wished he had thought things out more thoroughly. He was a creature of impulse though, and it had seemed like such a good idea at the time. He had wanted companionship with a kindred spirit, and had taken it upon himself to bring back a fellow dragon, in order to hang out and have a good time.
He had found though, that not everyone shared his idea of a good time…
The voice of Fin Fang Foom echoed throughout the courtyard, ratting far off windows and smashing the closer ones. "I WILL DESTROY YOU!"
"Not if I can help it." Rathoon replied defiantly, wishing that he was really as sure as he felt. His men were blocked off at every turn though, and it was Fin Fang Foom’s turn.
"G-8"
"Damn"
"WHAT WAS THAT?"
"You did it…"
"SAY IT LOWLY ONE. DECLARE FOR ALL TO HEAR HOW THE MIGHTY FIN FANG FOOM HAS EMERGED VICTORIOUS!!!"
"Fine… fine… You sank my battleship…" Rathoon let out a long sigh and tried to ignore the joyous dance that his opponent had begun. Fin Fang Foom might have been a conquering dragon from another world, but he obviously took these silly games to heart. Rathoon was about to chide his new friend for having stepped on a statue of great importance when he felt a definite chill in the air. It was like someone had very carefully snuffed out the sun... Only it was night and such a thing was impossible. "Bugger me," he whispered.
"EXCUSE ME?"
"Ur... Nothing. Fancy a trip back to Lyonesse with me? I just the strangest sensation...."
"IT IS THE SHAME OF LOSING. GET USED TO IT."
Rathoon puffed out a small cloud of smoke. He hated to tear himself away from this oh-so fun with his new friend, but if he was right... If he had indeed felt the return of the Bane to this world... Then they were all in terrible danger.
Darkmoor
Adam Crown was in torment. He had been separated from his teammates, brought to a place deep within the castle of the Red Lord. He hung in chains, his flesh being fed upon by thick worms that had burrowed their suckered mouths into his skin. Each moment felt like his very soul was being sucked forth and devoured by the hideous creatures... and he felt himself crying out again and again, for the Lady of the Lake to come and deliver him from this pain. Why was she doing nothing? Why was she allowing her oldest enemy to walk freely in England?
"Because she is weak. Her words are filled with the glory and majesty of old... But she can't back them up. They're just words. Empty and harmless."
Adam lifted his head and stared into the blank, expressionless eyes of one that he thought gone forever. The figure wore a dark suit and tie, though his face and hands gave ample evidence of his demonic nature. "Blackheart...?!" Adam whispered, invoking the name of the being whose scheming had created the Barrier that now surrounded all of Europe*. "It can't be you... You were destroyed."
(*In our classic "Isles of Magick" storyline that climaxed in Pendragons # 9)
Blackheart shrugged. "Perhaps I was. Perhaps I'm nothing more than a dream sent to further disillusion you. Or maybe.. Just maybe... I was brought back as a servant of the new sheriff in town."
"Who...?"
"The Red Lord, of course." Blackheart moved forward, reaching out to squeeze one of the fat little worms. It dug in tighter in response to the stimulation, making Adam cry out. "Not much longer to go. Soon they'll have sucked out every little speck of Avalon-based magic from you."
Adam spat at his captor, the phlegm striking Blackheart full in the face. The demon retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed daintily at his face. Adam hissed "The Blackheart I know wouldn't have stooped to being someone's lackey."
"Au contraire. I spent quite a bit of time as my father's lackey before I took over his throne. There's no shame in recognizing when someone else is holding all the cards." Blackheart leaned closer, a faint odor of brimstone reaching Adam's nostrils. "Assuming you make it out of here alive, you'll need to know this. The Red Lord has claimed Darkmoor as his own. He's going to declare it a haven for those who wish to learn more about the wild magick that's surrounding the Isles. He's going to teach them, mold them, shape them. He's going to create an army."
"We won't let him," Adam replied, trying to sound as confident as possible. "Even if he puts up a mini-barrier around the place, Wynter could crack it in no time."
Blackheart chuckled and nodded, acting as if he were placating a child. "Of course he would. You heroes will rush in at the last moment, make a noble sacrifice or two and all will be well -- or at least, most of it will be." Blackheart snapped his fingers. "No, no... That was the plot when my little gambit was invoked, wasn't it? Such a shame that Albion's sacrifice was in vain. I mean sure, he helped lead into my destruction but the Barrier went up anyway... and now his little pupil is serving as the Red Lord's right-hand man."
"Cam...? You're lying."
Blackheart turned away from him, his good humor never faltering. "I tell you what, Adam... At the risk of angering my master, I think I'll let you see for yourself. Just remember -- we never had this conversation."
The worms on Adam's chest suddenly swelled and burst, releasing some of the agony that had been coursing through the young man's veins. His arms suddenly came free as well, as his chains dissipated into thin air. He managed to catch himself just before he hit the stone floor, a sudden fear overtaking him. What if that was Blackheart... and what if something had happened to Cam? "Hang on, mate... I'm coming."
The Ruins of Castle Haldane
Cam McClellan never had the chance for a normal childhood. Possessed by the Bane while a student in Peter Hunter's class, Cam had barely survived the horrible experience. He'd come back to normality through the nurturing of his friends... He'd become one of them, he'd become to heir to Peter's legacy. He'd become Albion.
But the sheer joy he had felt at that time was now a distant memory. All he saw reflected in his memories now were the injuries to his mother and to his friends. The continual sense of loss and the hopelessness of the world. He saw no reason to do anything other than aid the Red Lord in silencing the pains and the screams.
His energy blasts hailed down upon Dark Angel as she flew towards him, weaving in and out of his attacks. He felt almost furious that she wouldn't see that he was doing this for her and for others like her. "Think about it, Shevaun! All our fighting is pointless! We never really win, we just push back the day of victory for the people we're fighting against!"
"So your mother should have just left you to the Bane, is that it? Should Peter have just stepped aside and let Blackheart rule over England?" Dark Angel saw a burst of energy sweep towards her and knew that this one was unavoidable. She activated her energy absorption powers, but the pain was still intense and she nearly blacked out.
Albion felt his master urging him forward and he surrendered to the desire. He flew forward, hitting her with a powerful backhand that sent her hurtling towards the ground. She would have crashed hard, but a large reptilian hand caught her out of the air.
Shevaun blinked up into the eyes of Rathoon. "Yay," she murmured weakly. "The cavalry."
"You bet your sweet ta-ta's," he replied with a grin. "And I brought the good Captain with me."
Shevaun looked over to see Captain Kerosene throwing fireballs at several of the shadow forms, but the aged hero was not having much success. The Bane were growing stronger by the second and were no longer afraid of their traditional weaknesses: fire and bright light. "You have to let me get close to Cam. He's got Peter's old magic in him -- if anyone can drive away the Red Lord, it's got to be him."
Rathoon lowered his head and said "Your wish is my command, m'lady. Hold on tight." The dragon flapped his large wings and flew forward like a rocket, ignoring the energy blasts that Albion was strafing him with. The magic hurt him, tearing away scales and skin, but the elder being would not be denied.
When they got close enough, Shevaun pushed herself free of the dragon. She tackled Albion in mid-air, locking her arms tight around him. "I'm sorry, Cam, but I don't have time to be gentle." Shevaun pushed into Cam's mind with her telepathy, trying to force out the Red Lord's influence. What she found there both chilled and excited her. She found a pulsing blackness wrapped about his core, growing ever stronger. That's the Bane. It must have been lurking there inside him all these years, just waiting to be brought back to the front. Now's my chance to excise it forever....
While Dark Angel began her difficult work, Rathoon flew before the Red Lord, who regarded him with a hideous expression that promised death and despair. "Yo, fugly! I'm gonna kick your ass!" the dragon proclaimed, unleashing a powerful torrent of fire.
The Red Lord stood his ground for a moment, letting the dragon's flames wash over him. And then he opened his own mouth and retaliated -- dark, slithering things burst forth from the gaping maw. They attacked the dragon's vitals, forcing their way in through his every oriface. Once inside him, they began their hungry, evil work -- and Rathoon screamed.
Shevaun heard her friend and it broke her heart. The dragon was one of the sweetest beings she'd ever met and thinking of him being hurt was hard for her. But she remembered the horrors of the past few hours and she pressed on. What she was doing now was psychic surgery, forcing her psi-powers deeper into the young boy's brain and carving away the darkness. Cam was far from being a passive participant, however. He was pounding at her with all he had, taxing Dark Angel's ability to absorb the energy.
Just as she thought she was nearing success, something slammed into her with the force of an oncoming lorry. Rathoon, writhing in agony, had flown straight into her and Cam. The sudden impact caused her control to slip and her mental dagger plunged far deeper than she would have wanted -- and the young boy named Cam seemed to snap completely. He roared with anger and pain, the skin of his face splitting straight down the middle with a sickening rip. His hands were balls of pure energy now and he slammed one of them into Shevaun's face, breaking her nose and driving the shards of bone deep into her skull.
All around the field of battle, the Pendragons lay bloodied and beaten. Union Jack was huddled against a wall, fighting vainly to defend his love... Captain Kerosene found his powers futile against the hordes... Adam Crown stumbled out from the castle, only to find himself vastly outnumbered... Rathoon and Dark Angel crashed to the ground, both in agony and near death...
And Cam McClellan was no more. There was only Dark Albion, watching over all with a growing glee. "Are we going to kill them all?" he asked.
The Red Lord moved closer and if it were possible for his mishapen face to smile, he was obviously doing so now. "Let them live. Let them greet the coming day with the knowledge that they are beaten. And that the Bane have won."
Dark Albion nodded, waving a hand through the air. He banished them from his new dominion and he cared not if he ever saw them again.
Lyonesse - 24 Hours Later
"...the Prime Minister will only say that all air traffic over Darkmoor has been closed off and that the beings in control of the area have not yet issued any demands. Calls for the PM to send in the Pendragons have been met with stony silence, leading some to wonder if the group has already been sent into--"
"Turn it off," Adam snapped, gesturing towards the television set. "The last thing we need is to hear more of that rubbish."
Ginny, Adam's girlfriend and current houseguest, did as he asked. The survivors of Darkmoor -- that was how they thought of themselves, given the warlike situation they had faced -- were gathered in the meeting room. The only absent member was Captain Britain and their ranks had been bolstered by Wynter and Kate McClellan, both of whom had taken the news of Cam's fall with great difficulty.
Adam leaned over the meeting room table, slowly looking from one Pendragon to the other. "I think we have no choice. Someone needs to go to Avalon and demand that the Lady assist us."
"How do you demand something like that?" Spitfire asked. "She either helps us or not."
"Without her help, we're buggered six ways to Sunday," Union Jack offered. "Adam's right, for once. We need to think about more than offending our patron lady -- we need to think about the fact that the bloody Bane have set up shop in Darkmoor!"
"And taken my son with them," Kate mentioned, her voice stony and cold. She gazed at her former teammates with fury. Though she knew they'd done their best, she couldn't help but blame them a bit. Lord knows, it was easier than blaming herself.
"We need Betsy," Shevaun whispered. "She'd know what to do."
"Well, she's not here now, is she?" Kate snapped, brushing off Wynter's hand as the mage reached out to touch her shoulder.
Captain Kerosene cleared his throat. He looked older than usual, Spitfire thought, though she would never have voice that aloud. "The Red Lord's got some sort of field around Darkmoor, keeping us out for now. Let's use this time to lick our wounds and make some plans. We go speak to the Lady and ask for any help she can give... and we ask Wynter to look in his old books to see what can be done about this. Fair enough?"
"It'll have to be," Adam said. "Nothing else we can do for now. Meeting adjourned."
"Wait," Union Jack said. He stepped forward, ignoring Jackie's frown and shake of her head. "Jackie and I had been meaning to announce this... and we'd thought about cancelling the whole affair what with Cam and all... but I think we've got every right to do this and I hope you lot will agree with us. We want to be married."
For a second, the room was quiet as a cemetery. Joey wondered if they thought him impertinent... or if they just thought their relationship was still a bit unseemly. Despite her appearances, Jackie was old enough to be his grandmother...
"I think that's marvelous," someone said.
To Joey's surprise, it was Kate who had spoken up. "I don't mean to make it look like we don't care about--"
Kate stepped forward and took his hands. "Hush, you daft boy. I'm happy for you. And Cam would be, too, if he were here. Much as I hate to admit it, there's nothing we can do for now but wonder what's going on in Darkmoor and make our plans. I don't see any reason why we shouldn't have something as wonderful as a wedding to take our minds off all this."
The two old friends embraced and it set off a flood of congratulations and hugs.
For one brief, shining moment on Lyonesse, it almost seemed as if everything would be all right.
The only Pendragon who remained apart from the others was Adam Crown. He couldn't quite get into the spirit of the moment. He could only picture the dark magicians of the world slowly coming before the Red Lord, one by one and two by two... learning from him. Growing stronger.
Waiting to strike.
Next Issue: The Pendragons are reeling from the events of "Heathen Chemistry" -- but their absent leader finally makes it back to Lyonesse, and she might bring a bit of hope with her! Be here as Betsy Braddock returns from the pages of Captain Britain: House Braddock and we gear up for the wedding of the century!
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Hope you enjoyed our "Heathen Chemistry" storyline, which wrapped up some of our subplots begun during "The Shaping" and propels us forward, as well. I promise that the threat of the Red Lord will not be forgotten, nor will Cam's transformation be ignored.
I felt that the Pendragons had gotten a bit too powerful, too assured of victory. Now it's clear that they're outgunned and outnumbered. Where do we go from here, you might ask? Stay tuned -- I have plans through issue 50 ("The Siege," in case you were wondering what the title would be), so expect some major twists and turns from here on out.
A letter from Gary Halpin this time:
Really enjoyed the latest Pendragons. I laughed out loud at Fin Fang Foom or whatever he's called, but the Shevaun scene was excellent. I was a bit annoyed that the next issue blurb revealed that she survives somehow. I think it would be so dramatic and effective if you left her dead.
Sorry that the blurb didn't catch your fancy, Gary. I thought about going both ways with it and in the end, I just decided to avoid jerking everyone's chain and pretending that Shevaun was going to die. Now, mind you, I did omit the details about Cam turning evil, didn't I? So you had some surprises, after all!
You can reach me at aric_dacia@yahoo.com
