Win Some, Lose Some |
What Has Come Before: The Pendragons united with the living spirit of Great Britain -- now taking the form and name of Lionheart -- in saving the life of Teddy Knowles, a paralyzed teen whose death would spell the end of the Black Mass Barrier. Meanwhile, the Red King has been recruited into a revived Hellfire Club of London, while Albion has left the modern world behind, choosing to embark on a career with the Dark Guard.
"It's all gone tits up, hasn't it?"
Marcus closed his eyes, trying to hold the fairy dust in his lungs for as long as possible. This was good, primo stuff, and listening to his buddy Ricky prattle on was close to ruining his buzz. "Shut up, you stupid git."
Ricky frowned, but kept his silence. He sat down in the alleyway beside Marcus, looking up into the pink-tinged moon. He hated that moon. Almost every night it came out, looking alien and new. He missed the old, friendly moon from his childhood. Back then there weren't no unicorns or dragons, 'cept in fairy tale books.
Ricky realized that Marcus was looking at him and he blushed a bit. Marcus was a good looking guy, young and hard-bodied. Completely opposite of Ricky, who was ghastly thin and middle-aged. But they both shared a love for cheap drugs and cheaper sex, leading to their mutual employment among London's lowlifes.
Marcus smiled lazily, his lips stained pinkish-white from the fairy dust they'd scored only an hour before. "What were you mewling about, kitten?"
Ricky looked away, his adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. "I don't like this. Being a stool pigeon... If the Pump finds out about it, he'll kill us. Or worse."
"He ain't gonna find out, Rick. Calm down. Here... take a hit."
A metallic tentacle whipped out, knocking the container of dust from the addict's hand. Marcus cried out in pain, pulling his injured limb against his torso.
Ricky, meanwhile, was scrambling up onto his feet and staring open-mouthed.
Nocturne was silhouetted against the full moon, his wings outspread as he glided to Earth. The tendril he'd shot forth from his gauntlet was retracting now, locking into place with a soft click. "I'd prefer it if your brains weren't addled any more than they all ready are, mates."
Marcus stood up, favoring the Pendragon with a look of pure hate. "You didn't say nothin' about hurtin' me. You said--"
Nocturne held up a hand to silence him. He had landed now, standing before them in his purple and black. He tried to remember how his idol, Night Raven, had sounded when dealing with thugs like this. Projecting as much cool confidence into his voice as possible, he said "I need information... In return, I don't toss your arses into jail. That's the extent of our partnership. If I see you trying to double-cross me, or if I find you breaking the law like you were doing with those drugs... I will hurt you. Have you kept the plot so far?"
Ricky nodded so hard that Nocturne was afraid his head was about to fall off.
Marcus, meanwhile, just continued rubbing his hand, staring forlornly at the fairy dust on the ground. It was ruined. "Ask your questions, you bloody bastard."
"Lord Pumpkin... what's he up to?"
"Same old thing. The blighter's been rounding up most of the bookies and drug lords into his new cartel. He's got some partner nowadays -- some bloke from another dimension or something... it's not doing him much good, though. He's run into a bit of competition."
Nocturne tried to hide his interest in this. It didn't pay to let criminals know where your true desires lay. Still, this was an opportunity to prove that he was right... and that bigger fish had just swum into the London cesspool. "Go on."
"A number of the high-end dealers are doing business with someone new... or maybe not so new," Marcus shrugged. "They're tapping into the old Brimstone Network, the one that used to be run by the Hellfire Club."
"You think there's a new Inner Circle?"
"Who knows? If there was, you'd never be able to prove it. The old group was rich and powerful... way out of my league. If they hadn't been pushed into going up against the Pendragons, they'd still be running things. They had more control over the streets than the Vixen ever did."
"The Red King escaped from Darkmoor."
Marcus shrugged. "So maybe he's running the Network these days. I don't know... You want me to find out?"
"No... Keep your attention on Lord Pumpkin. I'll be here again, same time next week."
Nocturne shot another tendril upwards, letting it hook along the top of the building's roof. He allowed it to began retracting once it was in place, pulling him up and away from the criminals. He heard Marcus muttering something under his break, but he ignored it. Let him fear and hate me, Nocturne thought. Keeps him on edge.
Is that what you're looking for, Gray? a soft voice said inside his head. For people to fear you?
Gray smiled, turning to face the woman with whom he'd begun a very pleasing romance. "Criminals are a cowardly and superstitious lot, you know."
Betsy Braddock -- dressed in the vibrant colors of Captain Britain -- stepped towards him. She pulled her helmet away, revealing her beautiful features and long purple-tinted hair. "Batman's a classic, but I don't think you can pull off his usual brooding menace."
They kissed briefly, with Gray whispering "Are we safe here? No paparazzi or lurking supervillains?"
"None that I can pick up mentally," she responded. "I scanned the minds of your friends while you were talking to them. They were telling the truth -- but you should watch our for Marcus. He'll betray you if the price is right."
"I'm willing to bet the price would be pretty cheap, too." Nocturne wrapped his hands around her waist, adoring how she seemed to fit against him. "Now that we've got our evening's patrol out of the way, do you want to go out to eat? Or should we spend the evening snogging away in our rooms at Lyonesse?"
"I know which you'd prefer, Mr. Poldark." Betsy smiled. "I'm feeling very nice these days... and that's partially thanks to you. Since we met each other, things have seemed so much more right than before. Shevaun says I was ready for love... and I think she was right."
"It was the same for me -- I used to spend 16 hours a day working and the rest of the time wondering what direction I was going in." Gray gave a little start as he felt Betsy's grip tighten around him. She lifted them both up into the air and Gray let loose a passionate laugh that echoed through the city streets. "I love you, Betsy. I really do."
She seemed surprised, but pleased. Neither of them had mentioned the 'L' word until now, preferring to enjoy the easy flirtations they'd been sharing. But both had felt it growing and becoming more... for a telepath, after all, it was hard to hide from the truth. "I care for you, too, Gray."
Spinning in the air, arms locked tightly about one another, they kissed anew.
The Next Day
Kelsey Leigh watched her two children playing in the park, trying to ignore the stares of those around her. She liked to think that she'd grown used to the nervous, uncomfortable glances that she always received... but that was a lie. You didn't get used to it. Not ever.
Kelsey was a fairly average looking woman in most ways, her thirty-something body having gone from toned to soft over the years. Her blonde hair was still mostly natural, with just a bit of tinting to cover up the few gray strands of hair that had begun finding their way to the fore. All in all, she would have been considered a fairly good catch, even with the fact she had two small children to raise.
Except for the horrific scar that ran down one side of her face, forever marking her as something different.
She saw Martin -- the sweet, caring lad -- watching her with concern. He knew that stares made her uncomfortable and many of the kids around them were casting interested glances in her direction. It was the parents who were the worst, though.
Kelsey flashed her son a dazzling smile that never quite reached her eyes. "Getting tired so soon?" she asked as he approached, looking so much like his father that her heart broke anew. She showed none of it.
"Nah. I was just thinking... would you like to go on home, mum? Me and Jenny can play there."
"She's having a fine time, Martin. Look at her."
Martin looked over at his little sister, playing in the dirt. She was oblivious to all the attention her mother received, a fact that made Martin jealous and angry. "I just... I don't know why people are like this."
Kelsey touched his hair affectionately. "They mean no harm. They're just curious, that's all. And a wee bit rude," she added, just to draw out a laugh from her son.
He surprised her by asking "Would you change it... if you could?"
"My face?" She restrained the urge to reach up and touch the scar. It ached so, especially on overcast days like this. "I'm quite comfortable with myself, Martin. Really."
"Mum?" Jenny asked, running up breathlessly. "What's that in the sky?"
Kelsey noticed a slowly spreading bit of shade over all of them. People were beginning to look up all around them and she followed suit, rising from her bench as she did so.
Their was a massive craft in the sky, growing larger by the second. It was dark and obviously not of Terran design. For a moment, Kelsey thought of the so-called Martians, lurking on the other side of the Barrier. But it couldn't be one of them, could it? How could they have pierced the Barrier?
Then again, there was that alien beast that Miracleman had fought recently*... maybe it was possible to evade the Barrier somehow.
(*See Miracles, Inc. # 8)
"Get in the car, children." Kelsey's voice was calm, as usual... but there was a note of fear in it that Martin picked up on.
"I want to stay and play," Jenny whined, but her brother took her hand and began tugging her towards the waiting vehicle.
Kelsey stared up with wide eyes. "You can play at home, dear. Now shush."
"Are we going to be okay?" another little girl asked, moving closer to Kelsey. Her own mother had wandered away for a moment and the girl had chosen to step closer to the nearest mommy figure she could find. For once, Kelsey noticed, everyone was ignoring her scar.
"Of course we will, luv. It's just--"
"Stay away from the nice lady, Meggan."
The girl's mother appeared out of nowhere, sweeping up her daughter and casting a suspicious glance in Kelsey's direction. Her eyes washed over the scar before looking upwards.
Kelsey Leigh stepped back, shocked by the distrust she saw in the other woman's eyes. It's just the alien ship that's scaring her. Not me.
Not me.
Molly Fitzgerald lay in bed, the sheets pulled loosely against her. The castle was normally very drafty, but she barely noticed these days. All it took was the barest thought and she could alter her body's temperature... or, if she wished, she could alter her very surroundings.
For so many years, Shamrock had been one of the weaker members of the superhero jet-set. Now, following her rebirth as the Celtic Phoenix, she was one of the most powerful beings in creation.
And that feels bloody wonderful, she thought with a smile.
"You look like the cat who ate the canary."
Molly looked over to see her lover stepping out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his oversized waist. Bruce spent most of his time as the Hulk these days and she could understand why... as Bruce, he was cute and sweet. As the Hulk, he was Man personified. A green Man, but Man nonetheless. All masculinity and confidence -- it was a heady combination. "I was just thinking about all the good I could have done if I'd had these powers years ago."
"Hmm. I'm still eager to get you into the lab. I want to run tests on the upper limits of these abilities of yours -- and maybe look into installing some safeguards for them."
That brought a frown to Molly's features and Bruce wondered if he'd made a mistake bringing those up at all. "Safeguards?"
He sat down on the side of the bed, pleased to notice that the reinforced feature barely made a creak now. "These powers drove Jean Grey mad, from what I understand. She destroyed a planet."
"I'm not Jean Grey," Molly protested. "I'm Molly Fitzgerald and you should be more bleedin' confident in me!"
The harshness in her tone made the Hulk pause, but he continued. This needed to be aired out, as all the Pendragons had been thinking it. "You're changing, Molly. That skirt you wore out to dinner last night... you never would have worn that before. And you're more reckless in the training room--"
"I'm enjoying myself, Bruce. It's not different from the way you cut loose when you're like this instead of just plain Bruce Banner. So I'm showing a little more skin now and then -- I thought you'd like it." She rose from the bed, pulling the sheet with her. It was a move that would have been just like the old Molly -- they usually made love with the lights off and she seemed strangely shy with her own nudity. But lately, it had been different... and Molly was right in one way: Bruce hadn't really minded at all.
He moved up behind her, placing his large hands on her shoulders. "I'm sorry."
She relaxed somewhat, though he could still feel her tension. "I'm fine, Bruce. I just... I practically died and then came back, you know? It changes you a wee bit... That's all."
The Hulk nodded, though he felt a twinge in his heart. She was lying to him... she knew very well what he was talking about, but she was either unwilling or unable to discuss it right now. That's fine, Molly... I'll be here when you do. I promise.
The Red King felt anger rising in his throat, threatening to spill out in a wave of curses. He restrained himself, however, knowing that his hosts were responsible for freeing him from prison... for that, and the lovely feminine company he'd enjoyed on his first night out, he owed them. "How much longer, please?"
The Red Rook -- his constant companion since his liberation -- replied immediately. "You have been brought forth, m'lord. Now all shall be revealed."
He felt her hands remove the blindfold that he wore, allowing him to see again for the first time since their joint car ride from the motel. He saw that he was in a spacious and well-furnished meeting room, standing before a long table behind which sat his partners in the new Inner Circle. Few of them looked familiar, though each bore distinctive markings.
The Red Queen wore her hair shaved bare on the sides and pulled back into a ponytail. She was young and attractive.
The Black Queen wore very little -- nothing more than a brief shift that moved about her supple form like a thing alive. Her brown eyes bore into his and the Red King noted that she had an intelligent air about her. It took him a second to realize that he knew her, though she'd looked very different in lab coat and with her hair pulled back into a bun. Oonagh Mullarkey, he thought. Former scientist for Gena-Sys and the woman responsible for a number of British metahumans, including Plasmer, the new Thunderfist and Killpower.
The Black Rook was an obese man of Indian heritage. He looked like he was fighting off a deep slumber and the Red King immediately dismissed him as a threat.
The Black King, however, was quite different. This was a man who was very, very dangerous. That much was obvious. The only thing in question was whether or not 'man' was really the right word to describe him.
The figure was somewhat hunched over, but would have been well over six feet in height. Stick-figure legs and arms were draped beneath a well-tailored suit but it was the head that attracted the Red King's interest and revulsion. Where a skull should have been there was only a pumpkin, with a carved-out mouth and eyes that glowed with an inner fire. The being leaned close, a black crown perched atop its head. "Welcome to the gang, King. We've got big plans."
"What in the name of God are you?" the Red King asked, his hand dropping automatically to the hilt of his blade.
"Lord Pumpkin's the name... and I'm pulling a little bait-and-switch on the Pendragons. You interested in getting a little revenge and lining your coffer at the same time?"
The Red King hesitated, for only a moment. But then he remembered the shame of his imprisonment... and his emotions compelled him to speak. "I would dearly like to see the Pendragons pay. If you can promise me that, then I am yours."
"Are you sure about this, Cam? It's not too late for you to turn back." Grace stood on the terrace overlooking one of the royal gardens of Otherworld. A few of the citizenry were milling about below, darting in and out playfully amongst the blossoms. It was a typically beautiful day in this magical land... but it was tinged with sadness.
Cam McClellan -- heir to the heroic legacy of Albion -- crossed his arms over his chest and looked far more thoughtful than any teenaged boy had a right to. He had only recently come here, seeking to lose himself in the hustle and bustle of life as a member of the Dark Guard... but he had found that his first mission was going to be a difficult one. "Why would we have to do this? Isn't there some other way?"
"None that I know of. Our sacred task -- given us by King Brian himself -- is to investigate anomalies in the time/space continuum and correct them. This is one of those cases."
"But Calvin was a friend -- he was a Pendragon...."
Grace nodded slowly. Many months ago, the Pendragons had been spirited away on a secretive mission. In their absence, Cam's mother had organized a group of replacement heroes. Calvin Rankin had been one of them, laboring under the misconception that he was actually Warren Worthington. As the Angel, he'd been a Pendragon for nearly three months... and he'd become a fairly good friend to Cam. "The Exiles are being controlled by a being called the Time Broker. King Brian believes this Broker is a rogue agent of Otherworld... We're to track down both the Exiles and their opposites, the group known as Weapon X. Through them, we'll use the Tallus to find the Time Broker."
"And if they resist?"
Grace glanced at him. "Then we take them down... as hard as necessary."
"Your circuitry is amazing."
Android Andy squirmed a bit as Suzi Endo peered inside his chest panel. "Thank you, Ms. Endo."
"Suzi."
"Very well... Suzi. I will pass on your comments to my father. He will be most pleased. He is quite a fan of--"
"I know. He told me." Suzi pulled back and closed Andy's panel. "Some of the relays are beyond me. I wonder how much of this was affected by the Barrier--"
"Pendragons! Full alert!"
Breeze rocketed into the meeting room, answering far faster than than anyone else could have. "What's up, Gully?"
The holographic lifeform that had once been the Pendragon named Gulliver Jones was floating in the center of the room, his face looking grim. "Please wait for the others, Breeze. No point in repeating myself."
"Go ahead. I'm telepathically linking the team."
Suzi glanced over to see Shevaun Haldane entering the room. Dark Angel -- the team's resident technomage -- looked tired but pleased as she entered the room. Ever since separating from Miracleman, Shevaun had thrown herself back into her work.
Gully let out an exasperated sigh, but did as she asked. "An alien craft has appeared above London. Its configuration is not recognized by our database and it has made no hostile actions as of yet. But I am reading a large number of weapon systems onboard. Given that this is another in a series of alien incursions within the Barrier*, I feel it warrants investigation."
(*See Miracles, Inc. for more)
"I'm with you there, Gully." Shevaun stepped over to the computer screen and looked at the data he was providing. "If it's possible for these guys to get through, then it might be possible for the Martians to do the same. And we're not ready for that."
Gully's image flickered as the Hulk and Molly entered. "Energy spike emanating from the alien vessel. Directional scans indicate it is moving in our direction."
"Gully -- activate defensive shields!" Shevaun's fingers began to fly over the controls and she whispered "Suzi, I hope to hell your work here's paid off--"
Her next words were lost in a growing hum that seemed to surround the island. Suzi Endo screamed out Shevaun's name as the girl shimmered and vanished before her very eyes. All around them, everyone who was touched by the magic of the Pendragon vanished as well... from Captain Britain to Breeze to the Hulk. All Pendragons on the island vanished, leaving behind a very frightened Suzi Endo and a confused Gully.
"Where are they?" she asked, knowing the answer before the hologram gave voice to it.
"I have no idea."
Kelsey Leigh had put the children to bed, tucking them in nice and tight. The alien ship that had dominated the airwaves had long since vanished, leaving nothing but questions in its wake... and for Kelsey, at least, that was more than enough. She disliked how unstable the world had become since the Barrier had arisen. Whereas before she mostly worried about taxes and the local economy, now she saw war looming on all sides and the degradation of her traditional faiths.
"I'm a woman adrift, in a country doing the same," she whispered. She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror, having changed into her bath robe. She pulled back her hair and tilted her head to the side, trying her best to look alluring... but there was always the scar, catching the eye and bringing her little fantasy back to reality.
You can change that. Anytime you wish.
Kelsey's face dropped. She hadn't heard that voice in so very long... she'd hoped that it had been drowned out forever.
"Go away," she whispered.
I can't do that. You are of the Blood. You are Chosen. The power lies within you... the power to heal your face and to heal your family.
"My family is fine," she said, her voice beginning to quaver.
You know that to be a lie.
"Go away!" Kelsey drove her fist into the mirror, causing it splinter against her knuckles. Blood oozed from he open wounds and tears ran in small tracks down her face. She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them slowly, peering into her shattered reflection. She was beautiful. Unmarked. Flowing blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, with lips that parted so invitingly... "You're the devil. You have to be."
The face in the mirror shifted, taking on the form of a thin, ethereal woman with a mane of dark hair. I am Roma. And I am offering you the chance to claim your birthright. This land is soon to be without its champion and the ruler of Otherworld is ill-suited to choose her replacement.
"You don't make any sense. You never have! I told you back on that awful night to go away!" Kelsey turned away, clutching at herself. She saw the flames that had stolen her husband from her... and the pain of her scarred face, forever reminding her of the night she'd had power offered to her... and rejected it. Her husband had died because she'd hesitated and now the ghost of her past was back again.
It's not too late, Kelsey Leigh! Choose your side! Kelsey turned back and saw two objects hanging there in the air, side-by-side. An amulet. A sword. Which to choose? "My children...." Will be protected. By you. Reject me again and Britain will be unprepared for the coming conflict. Choose, Kelsey! Find the hero within! Kelsey's mind filled with images of a great demonic force lurking beneath the city streets... she saw a leering pumpkin-headed monster... and she saw her own children crying in fear as the skies roiled with fiery rain. "Damn you," she cried. Roma, former guardian of the Omniverse, smiled in return. She watched as Kelsey reached out with a hand... and clutched the sword. "The die is cast," Roma said. "Let the call go out -- a new Captain Britain is born!" TO BE CONTINUED |
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Next Issue: The Pendragons are off on their first space adventure, leaving Kelsey Leigh to defend Great Britain! Will she be up to the task of taking on the new Hellfire Club? And who or what has kidnapped the Pendragons? Be here for part one of Unity!
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Kelsey Leigh is the new Captain Britain in the "real" Marvel Universe, spinning out of Chuck Austen's "Lionheart of Avalon" storyline in Avengers. While I found that storyline so highly flawed that I can barely stand it, the general concept of Kelsey and her transition into Captain Britain is a solid one -- and I thought it would be fun to see how it would shake out in the context of the Pendragons Universe. Note that I've tweaked her origins and added a few mysteries that you might be able to figure out, if you've been paying attention for awhile.
Will Kelsey remain around past "Unity"? We'll have to see how things play out. The animated-style image of her in costume above was done by Jared Jones. Cool beans, Jared!
Next issue puts the Pendragons in a new environment -- an outer space epic. It could be argued that "A Secret War" did just that, but the team was deposited straight on the Beyonder's homeworld and spent only a few days there -- and all of that was thanks to the manipulations of Brian Braddock. This is my first honest-to-god attempt at emulating the old X-Men/Shi'ar/New Teen Titans/Citadel storylines. I hope you're going to enjoy it.
You can reach me at aric_dacia@yahoo.com
