Pendragon Comics - The Pendragons

The Pendragons

Issue # 67

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 surviving members of the old Knights of Pendragon group, as well as several other heroes. Willing to die for their beliefs, the Pendragons stand united as Britain's best defense against threats of a superhuman nature.

Special "Silver Anniversary" Pendragons logo created by Kell Carpenter, inspired by the logo created by Des Davies!

Pendragons Roll-Call: Spitfire (leader), Union Jack, Red Sonja, Micromax and four new members!

Written by Barry Reese

What Has Come Before: Following a horrific battle between the two bearers of the Phoenix Force (Molly Fitzgerald and Rachel Summers) and a future version of Dark Angel, the Pendragons have been left without their leader. Captain Britain (Betsy Braddock) lies in a coma, accompanied back to Otherworld by her lover, Nocturne. In her absence, longtime member Spitfire has accepted the difficult mantle of leadership... and her first task is to round out the roster. Meanwhile, the great dragon Rathoon is seeking other members of his mate's race, in hopes that they might be able to revive the mighty Fin Fang Foom!

"Crikey. He's a bit different now, isn't he?" Joey Chapman sat on the shores of Lyonesse, a sketch pad balanced on his knee, watching as the Incredible Hulk walked slowly towards him and his companion. At his side, Molly Fitzgerald shifted uncomfortably. It was a chilly, windy day, and both wore slacks and comfortable tops -- but Molly couldn't avoid a shiver.

"I'm not even sure it's still him. If I still had my Phoenix powers, I could know for sure. I'd feel him in my head. But now... Now it's like I'm all alone in here." She touched the side of her head and offered Joey a wan smile.

"Can't say I'd like the idea of somebody being in my head 24/7. The privacy's got to be nice."

"Not really. I'd gotten used to the background noise." Molly stood as the Hulk got closer. He was just as tall and broad-shouldered as ever, but his skin was a darker shade of green now... and there was a look of barely-contained rage in his eyes that made her uncomfortable. "Hello, Bruce."

He stopped just short of them, casting a cocky gaze over Joey. He reminded Joey of a school yard bully, one who thought his mere presence should be enough to send others groveling. "H'lo there, luv," he replied, deliberately mimicking a cockney accent. He laughed at his own good humor. "Fancy a walk?"

Molly pulled her knees up, locking her hands around them. "I don't know. You're... different. I'm different. Bloody hell, the entire world seems different." She gazed off into the horizon, seeming to forget that both men were even there. "I've gone from being part of the very heart of creation to... being little Molly Fitzgerald again."

"That's more than enough, I'd think." The Hulk knelt beside her, smiling again. "I know I'm different. Believe me, I know... but I'm still the same old Brucie. Promise." Seeing the look of doubt on her face, he laughed. "Did you know that the whole time the Leader was 'helping' you, he had me trapped?"

"No telling where he's at now. But I mean to find him. And I'll teach him a thing or two about captivity." The Hulk reached out with massive fingers and stroked her face. "Let's leave this place. Go back to Leeds. I'll tell you all about the new me. And then we can track down the Leader. Together."

"You don't have to go with him," Joey whispered. "You can stay here, with us. Shamrock would be more than welcome."

Molly nodded, her eyes looking sad. She looked like someone who'd lost something very, very dear. "I'll keep that in mind. But I do think Bruce and I... need to work things out." She rose then, allowing the Hulk to take her hand. "I'll be in touch."

Joey watched them walk away, shaking his head. He glanced down at the half-finished sketch he'd been making. It was of Molly, looking ethereal and tragic. "You take care, lass."

Brian Braddock stared down at his sister's placid features and sighed. She was lovely, as always, but he could sense that her mind was locked away somewhere, deep inside. "I can't reach her. Wynter was right. This is something she's going to have to overcome on her own."

"You can't be serious," Gray Poldark replied. "You're the Omniversal Guardian! You healed the Warpies and helped restore Adam Crown to life. And you're telling me that you can't heal your own sister?"

Brian felt his wife's hand on his arm, comforting him. They were all in one of the palace's opulent bedrooms, Betsy lying cold and still on the sheets. "I've done my best, Gray. But I understand your frustration. I haven't... quite been myself since I was wounded by the World Tree*."

Gray closed his eyes, frowning. "You don't understand what it's like, Brian. I'm awake 20 hours out of the day -- and that's if I get a good night's sleep. It's a condition I have. And I'm going insane without her."

Brian looked away. He didn't really know Gray all that well, but he knew his sister cared for him... and that united them, in a way. "I'll keep trying. That's all I can say... and I can offer you a place to stay."

Gray opened his eyes, revealing a moistness to them that broke Brian's heart. "Thank you."

Brian nodded, moving to the window. Outside, several members of his Dark Guard were meeting with Jacqueline Falsworth Chapman. "I'm disbanding the Guard."

"The timestream's settled down a good bit, especially now that the Phoenix Force has sorted itself out somehow... and the Captain Britain Corps is back to full strength. Besides, I think Jackie's about to steal away the core of the group."

"I could, but I'm not going to. Time is funny here, Gray. You're here only a little while, but it feels longer. They deserve a chance to go home. All of them." He smiled. "And you and Betsy will get that reward eventually, as well. I promise."

"We could use you. All of you." Spitfire sat down on the soft grass, loving the way the air in Otherworld seemed permanently scented in a pleasant way.

The three people facing her exchanged mixed glances. One of them -- Grace -- had been part of the Pendragons before. But the other two were infrequent allies at best: Captain UK and Young Miracleman had become the backbone of the Dark Guard since being reunited. Linda McQuillan (Captain UK) was the first to speak and her words filled Jackie with dread. "Brian's been hinting at disbanding the Guard. We're all anxious to get some rest."

"I sympathize. But with Betsy out of action, we need muscle. And to be honest, we need an icon. Captain UK is recognizable and that'll give Brits some peace of mind."

"How much more iconic do you get than Spitfire and Union Jack?" Linda asked. "You're fine in that department."

Young Miracleman held up a hand. "What say we make it a temporary arrangement? We fill in until Cap Britain is back on her feet." He saw the look of surprise on his lover's face and smiled. "They do need us. And Mickey called just before she came. He asked me to consider it and--"

Jackie grinned. Thank you, Miracleman. "And what about you, Grace? Fancy another go as a Pendragon?"

Francesca drew out the moment but Jackie knew what her answer would be. Though she'd left the team after the death of Peter Hunter, Grace was a Pendragon, through and through. "If you need me, how can I say no?"

"I'm glad to hear it." Spitfire gazed past the three of them, noticing that Brian was approaching. He seemed quite at home here, in this most regal of settings. She recalled the darkness that used to dance in his eyes, but it seemed to have been put to bed long ago. For that, she was happy. "Hullo, Brian! I've about finished my work, I think."

"You're fast, then." Brian exchanged glances with the others, and smiled when he saw that they seemed somewhat sheepish. "No worries about leaving the Guard, everyone. As I said, it's going away, regardless of you staying or not. Besides, the Pendragons need you."

"How bad off is your sister, Bri?" Rick looked genuinely concerned when he asked and Brian was taken with how different he was from Mickey. Miracleman was like a Greek god encased in human flesh and blood -- being around him somehow made you feel special and worthless, all at the same time. Rick, though, was far more approachable -- he was the captain of the football team, the school president, the boy everyone liked even though all should have resented him for his successes.

"I think she's going to be staying here for quite awhile." Brian let his words linger in the air for a moment before saying "Jackie... Can I speak to you alone for a moment?"

Spitfire rose and followed him away from the others, her curiosity almost overwhelming her. "Is it about Betsy?"

"I haven't been able to view his activities... but I think he might be up to something. He's organizing an army or group of some kind."

"That filthy bugger... In other words, he's doing exactly what he once accused you of doing."

"I think so. I've been taking steps to find out what he's doing, but it will take time. In the meantime, I have someone else I'd like you to add to the group -- if you don't mind. He's the last survivor of a timeline that was wiped out in a chronal storm. He's from several years in your past, in a reality that's very close to your own at to that point. And I think he could be very useful in guessing what Dane might be up to."

Spitfire followed him to the training center for the palace guards -- and there, in the center of the training arena was a man that made Jackie gasp aloud. He was easily fending off the attacks of three guardsmen, looking at peace while doing so. In fact, he looked almost happy. "Brian. You've got to be joking."

The war games ceased and the Black Knight strode forward, smiling easily. He looked far more calm and at ease than Jackie had ever known her Dane Whitman to be. "Good morning," he said. "I understand your world's in a bit of trouble... I've been looking over readouts regarding this Barrier. I think it's going to be fun trying to pierce that thing."

Jackie stared at the man before her, wondering how the Lord of the Lake would react to this younger version of himself, a man who had yet to lose himself in a relationship with Sersi, a man yet to lose control of his Ebony Blade... a man still a scientist playing at being a warrior. "Good to see you, Dane. I think you'll find the Pendragons to be a comfortable home for you." She glanced at Brian and whispered "What does he know about our Dane?"

"Aren't you the sweetest thing?" she asked sarcastically. "But thank you, Brian. If he really is the last of his world, he'll need somewhere to fit in -- and Linda can help with that."

"That's what I was thinking. I originally planned to use him in the Dark Guard but now..." Brian smiled warmly. "Besides, it's about time the Pendragons had a Black Knight amongst them again."

Nathaniel Caine put an arm around his lover's shoulders, pulling her close. He and Rachel Summers had grown frighteningly close in a short amount of time and it still worried him to realize how much he needed her. Right now, though, she needed him even more. "The Phoenix Force wasn't the only connection you had to her. You'll always have your memories."

Rachel nodded, looking around the castle's laboratory. Suzi Endo, the Pendragons' resident scientist, was busy studying some read-outs that she'd just taken, hoping to find if there was any trace of the Phoenix still within Rachel. Out in the hall, Mary Jane and Scott Wright were laughing at something. Rachel didn't like to pry but keeping her mind out of others' thoughts had never been easy for her... she wondered if Scott knew just how much he really liked Mary Jane. She was beautiful, to be sure, but it was more than that. Scott had been going out of his way to spend time with her -- to make her more comfortable on the island. But they were both so vulnerable, with both their lovers locked away on the other side of the Barrier. None of my business, Rachel thought to herself. None at all.

"You're the same as Molly," Suzi said, walking towards them. "Slightly elevated power levels from your contact with the Phoenix Force, but even that's fading. Within weeks, you'll be back to your normal level."

"No clue. Believe it or not, even something as off-the-scale as that isn't easy to trace -- not when there's a consciousness directing it."

Rachel looked up as Scott entered the room. Mary Jane was behind him, a smile still on her pretty face. Their hands were close enough that they brushed against one another when they moved, but neither seemed to notice. "You know," Scott began, "You're both welcome to stay here. Even if you don't want to become members, you--"

"Not now," Rachel replied. "Maybe down the road, that would be nice. But Nathaniel's got a full-time job and I'm going to need some time to myself. How's Molly taking it?"

"No worries," Mary Jane said. "She told me she knows it wasn't you she was mad at -- it was that thing driving you both forward."

That thing, Rachel mused. It might have looked scary on the outside, but it was bliss on the inside. Who am I kidding? It destroyed mom. It would have destroyed me. I'm better off without it. She just hoped that telling herself that would eventually make it true.

"Bloody Dane Whitman?! Have you gone daft?" Joey Chapman was unable to keep from raising his voice and he was fairly positive that his words echoed throughout the castle. He was in his private quarters with his wife, both of them having relocated back to the castle for the duration of Jackie's leadership term. "You should have discussed this with the rest of us. Younger version or not, he's still the same bastard who shafted us."

Jackie, dressed in a nightgown, brushing out her silver-blonde hair. She saw her reflection in the mirror and, even after all this time, still marveled at the youth given her by Jim Hammond. She turned to face her husband, trying to keep her voice level. "Give him a chance. Brian asked it as a favor."

"He's Betsy's brother! Now stop acting like a child -- Dane can help us. And maybe we can make sure that the things that happened to his doppelganger don't happen to him. He's off being shown around the lab by Suzi right now -- and he's thrilled to be amongst us. He really misses the Avengers, apparently. From what I can gather, his world was destroyed shortly after the Masters of Evil decimated the mansion*."

Joey threw his hands up. "I can't believe this. Betsy wouldn't have gone along with this."

"I'm not Betsy, in case you didn't notice." Joey sighed. He was handsome in a rugged sort of way and Jackie rose from her seat to embrace him. "Let's not let this whole business tear us apart, luv."

Recorder 303 felt himself materialize on Earth, just outside London. Up ahead, a group of dwarves were protesting against their lack of Parliament representation, but the Recorder paid them no heed. He had more important things to chronicle, things that had led him from the depths of the galaxy to the Watcher's side*. And now, he would see things first-hand.

It wasn't often that a Recorder had an opportunity to see something like this, after all. He moved to the west, using his sensitive scanning equipment to find the object he was seeking. It had materialized just over an hour ago, the precursor to something that had been building for a very long time. "Query: Will the Pendragons have the manpower to survive the coming test? Or will they fail like all their variants have before?"

He said these words to himself as he bent to pick up the fallen object, staring at it with his dispassionate eyes.

Rathoon the dragon stood near the bar, his oddly tinted gold skin and slitted eyes giving full evidence that he was, in fact, not human. The fashionable clothes he wore fit him perfectly, but even aside from his physical differences, there was an air of magic about him. These days, with a mystic Barrier encasing Europe, that magical air attracted partygoers to him like moths to a flame. Many sauntered up to him and offered to buy him drinks, but he politely refused them all. He was here on business, not pleasure, and even though the urge to 'bust a move' was upon him, he would not give in to it.

He glanced at the timepiece he wore on his wrist one more time, almost despairing. He'd been here for three nights running, investigating the claims of a Pendragon ally named Ghoul... there was a member of Fin Fang Foom's race that supposedly frequented this club. But there had been no sign of them at all --

Even before he looked up and saw her, he felt her presence. She was in the form of a young human, early twenties from her features and build, and was dressed in hip-hugging jeans and a crop-top that emphasized the roundness of her breasts. Rathoon had to admit that she was much more successful than he when it came to mimicking humanity.

He watched her step on to the dance floor, flanked by two Elves of indeterminate gender. They began gyrating to the Trance music immediately, losing themselves in the moment. Rathoon followed suit, his dragon blood quickening in time to the music. During his long sleep, he'd 'dreamed' of music, hearing it filtered down into his dragon's brain from afar. Since returning to consciousness, he'd sought it out as a means of connecting to this world -- and though he still suffered when it came to proper use of the era's lingo, he felt he was truly a connoisseur of good music.

The female dragon opened her eyes to see him dancing near to her. A smile danced on her lips. "You're Fin's lover, aren't you?" she purred.

"Fin's hurt," he explained, pressing his body against hers. "I need to know if you can aid him."

"I'm not a scientist. Unlike many of our people, the mysteries of science and exploration don't interest me. But I might know where you can find the help you need."

"And waste the precious time that your lover requires? I wouldn't dream of it." She leaned close to him and whispered something in his ear... an address and a name to go with it. "He'll help you."

Rathoon felt his heart skip a beat, but he merely nodded. "Thank you... and how will I find you afterwards to repay you?"

Mairi sat before the fires, sipping her tea and drawing her cloak tighter about her old bones. She felt ancient these days and not even the rise of Magick could stave off the effects of age. Her skin grew more leathery by the day and her eyes seemed to be receding deeper into their sockets. About her face buzzed the tiny fairies that she called friends, their little tinkling voices speaking of warm summer suns and parties that would never, ever end. "Soon enough, my pretties," she whispered. "Soon enough."

She turned to see the youthful face of Hugh Munro watching her closely. He was growing into a man, sooner than she'd expected. He was the laird of Lochalsh and would have more responsibilities than most young men -- but he would handle them well. She'd seen to that. "Yes, wee man, the dragon is coming."

-completely de-powered both Rachel and Molly -introduced a completely 'new' Hulk (whose very presence leaves me terrified)

-brought back Ghost Rider (horrah!) and Blackheart (boo!) -hinted at something rotten in the house of Crown (double boo!)

-hinted at something up with Mephista -killed a future Dark Angel (mercy killing, admitedly)

Never let it be said you don't manage to do a lot within a limited word count. I'm quite jealous. You've completely changed the playing field here, you realize. The Pendragons are now seriously depowered (I absolutely do NOT trust this new Hulk) and headed by largely untested leadership now (I don't doubt Jackie's ability, merely her desire for the job). I can only hope a certain archer or magnetikinetic will be filling in soon. We've got a bunch of new players of varying motivations and very vague agendas.(thanks for including my Ghost Rider short; damned if I know what's happened to poor Noble, though; and just what is Mordred thinking, anyway?) The future itself is now at serious risk, as is the world itself (exactly WHERE did the Phoenix force fly to this time?). Then there's the Knights, The Penance Council, The Emissaries, The Commonwealth, and so on; its a minor miracle that everyone hasn't come to blows by now. Eagerly awaiting the next issue!