"Very well, Hulk -- Lead the way." Nefaria plunged a fist through one of his enemies, smiling coldly. He was enjoying the opportunity to punish his tormentors, Hulk realized. He's one sick puppy, the Hulk thought. When he's done helping us, he's going to be a handful to take down. 

Unknown to the Hulk, his would-be ally was thinking the very same thing -- about him.

Lyonesse was lost in a rising tide of smoke and fire.

Green-tinted mystic flame danced across the terrain, burning and twisting all it touched. Within the walls of the castle, Gulliver Jones watched in impotent horror -- as a holographic lifeform, he was intimately connected to the island's defense systems, but most of them were now off-line. A powerful electromagnetic pulse had been delivered by the Hellfire Club's Red King as he'd descended from his helicopter, a generator held in one hand.

At his side had been Lord Pumpkin, a child's plaything given new and malevolent life. Pumpkin had immediately spat out mystic fire towards the lush green grass and it had burned quickly and easily, almost shrinking away before the corrupting touch of the flames.

Lord Pumpkin crept through the forests, cradling the Black Seed like an infant. The horrible thing had become bloated during the trip over, swelling in size and growing darker in color. Just seeing the thing made the Red King feel ill and he was a man well-versed in the occult. 

"There," Pumpkin said, pointing with one bony finger. "That's our goal, my friend."

The Red King hacked at the undergrowth with his sword, sweat pouring down his back. He wore his red robes, his skin decorated with a variety of high-quality tattoos. They were mystic wards, a last remnant from his days with the Cathari. Those had been heady times, but he never discussed them with the other members of the Hellfire Club... his time spent as a demon-hunter were long behind him now, burned away by the sins he'd accumulated. "We went to the trouble of ambushing the Pendragons... infiltrating their home island... for that?" he asked, unable to keep the skepticism from his voice.

The Cathedral of Owls loomed before them, looking like nothing more than a clearing in the middle of the forest. The trees, however, were alive with feathered creatures... owls of all types, sizes and colors. They watched the two men as they approached, their intelligent, glassy stares following their every move.

"This is a gateway, you filthy bugger," Pumpkin whispered. His carved mouth was curled upwards in a sneer and his eyes glowed with new intensity. "There are plenty of them out there, but this one is located where the walls between our world and Avalon are especially slim. Things that happen here will affect over there...."

"You still haven't told me what that damned thing is for," the Red King replied. Like his companion, he kept his tone low. There was something about the place that demanded respect, even amongst its enemies.

Pumpkin moved to the center of the clearing, aware of the many eyes upon him. He knelt and began to push aside bits of earth, clearing a place for the seed. "This is going to taint the ground. Its evil will spread throughout Lyonesse and into Avalon... when the forces of the Green are at their weakest, the Pendragons will begin to lose power. And then the Hellfire Club can do as it pleases with no one left inside the Barrier to stop us."

The Red King started to reply, but his attention was captured by a flurry of wings to his right. He whirled about, sword in hand, but saw nothing. More noises began to fill the air and he looked up and around, seeing that many of the owls were taking flight. They circled above them, their eyes still staring accusingly. "What's happening?"

Pumpkin shoved the seed into the damp earth, covering it quickly. "You like old Hitchcock films?"

"What?"

"The Birds," Pumpkin replied, standing again. "We're about to re-enact a scene or two."

Before the Red King could react, dozens of the owls began to descend, their claws at the attack. He felt sharp pain along as his back as the first bird raked his skin. Soon there were more, far more than he could begin to count. He slashed madly with his sword, feeling the blade make contact from time to time... but all too often, he was the one crying out in pain, not his enemies. He lost track of Pumpkin, though he heard -- and felt -- the man's mystic fire being unleashed near him. 

The air was alive with the mingled sounds of dying birds and screaming men.

When the attack was at last over, the Red King lay on his knees. He was panting so hard that his vision was blurred and his heart felt like a hammer in his chest. All around him, in ever larger circles, lay dead birds. The watchers of the Cathedral were dead.

"It's done," he heard Pumpkin say. He looked over at his companion and saw the horrible half-man shambling towards him. The owls had torn great chunks out of Pumpkin's head, exposing rotting interior and greenish fluid. The magic candles that contained Pumpkin's life force still burned brightly within his eye-slits, however. "The ground's been tainted."

The Red King forced away his pain and looked about. The ground was darker now, much of the grass looking wilted and old. The tainted effect was spreading, too... creeping like a living thing, moving across the whole of the island. "We're going to destroy it, aren't we? Avalon...."

Lord Pumpkin laughed, sounding maniacal. "You better believe it. The Pendragons and their patrons are going down."

Lilandra stepped out of her bath, feeling a familiar tightness in her muscles. She could use a few hours with the royal masseuse, but there was no way she could spare the time. The war conference was going as expected, with all the petty bickering and political posturing that usually punctuated such events. Nothing would be agreed upon and no course of action would be taken... which, of course, was exactly what most in the conference wanted. They saw Earth as an annoyance at best and a true threat at worst. In the eyes of most, they deserved to be taken down a peg or two.

Lilandra thought of her beloved Charles, still on that blue and green orb... so far away. And in so much danger.

"Majestrix."

Lilandra allowed one of her servants to wrap a warm towel about her nudity, glancing over to see Gladiator kneeling in the doorway to her quarters. "Rise," she said, a softness to her tone that few outside her inner circle ever heard. Without the severe headdress she normally wore in court, she looked much softer and more approachable -- and she saw the look of love in her guardian's eyes. They were not and never would be lovers, for their stations were such that it would not be possible or permissible. But he adored her in the way that  all true Shi'ar did. "What brings you here, Gladiator?"

"I accompanied Narix to the Terrans' quarters. I was concerned they might grow angry when they learned of the conference stalemate." His eyes narrowed. "I found that the Terrans are missing. What's more, your sister is as well. Her personal shuttlecraft departed just over an hour ago and our sensors indicate the Terrans' vessel was with it."

"How did they get past our security?"

"I... do not know. But those responsible will be punished." Gladiator looked troubled, as if he were personally responsible for the failure. "I have called the entire Guard on full alert. We will--"

"There is no need," she said, moving closer to him. She saw the confusion on his face but it vanished instantly when she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Not all lapses require punishment. My sister evidently feels she can help the Pendragons and their allies. I say we should give her that opportunity."

"But the conference--"

"Need not know of this. And if it comes to light, we can say quite honestly that we had nothing to do with it and my sister has a history of rogue activities."

Gladiator stared at her with sudden awareness. "You knew this was going to occur, didn't you?"

She chided him softly. "I am the Majestrix. I would never knowingly break the rules of our people. You know that."

The two of them exchanged silent nods, both knowing the truth but realizing that it would never be spoken of again. Lilandra and her sister were enemies on many fronts, but both of them knew when something must be done, outside the regular protocols. I just hope my sister knows what she's doing, Lilandra thought. Because I can't bear the thought of losing Charles.

Nocturne knelt in the shadows, overlooking the room below. He was watching as Deathbird's fingers flew across the keyboard. He didn't trust the woman, based on both Betsy's description of her past and his own sense of perception. He felt a mind brush his own and he smiled warmly, expecting his lover to appear beside him. Instead, he glanced over to see Phoenix crouching beside him. "Molly?" he whispered, shocked to see her.

Yeah, she bellowed mentally. She saw Gray's face contort in pain and she tried again. Sorry. I'm still getting the hang of this. I didn't mean to be so loud.

It's... okay. I just didn't know you could do this.

Molly looked a bit embarrassed. I think I can do almost anything now. I just have to will it to happen.

Gray fought to hide his thoughts at that. He and Betsy had spent many hours alone, discussing their teammates. It was part of her job as team leader to try and predict future problems and Gray had become adept at reading people thanks to his time as a journalist. Together, they'd both pegged Molly as a concern.

I can still hear you.

Gray frowned, responding hotly I'm not going to apologize if you're the one poking around in my head without permission.

Sorry... I deserved that. It's just that I didn't want to alert Deathbird.