The Pendragons Issue # 68	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, Young Miracleman, Captain UK, Grace and the Black Knight
Written by Barry Reese

What Has Come Before: Following the horrific injury to Captain Britain, Spitfire assumed leadership of the Pendragons and set about replenishing their strength. She has recruited Captain UK, a time lost version of the Black Knight, Young Miracleman and Grace to replace the missing Captain Britain and Nocturne. The decision to induct the alternate version of Dane Whitman has brought about some strife within the team, however, as some of them -- most notably Union Jack -- are suspicious that he will turn out to be as untrustworthy as their former teammate. Elsewhere, Ghost Rider has revived from a months-long coma, during which he was held prisoner by the father of his greatest foe, Blackheart. While the Pendragons journey to the kingdom of Darkmoor to check on Ghost Rider's recovery, their old ally Rathoon journeys to Lochalsh, Scotland to find help for his fallen lover, Fin Fang Foom.

He opened his eyes, surprised to find the scent of death so close around him. Maggots crawled slowly on the fabric of his clothing, but they were bloated and dying... whatever they had feasted upon so recently was no longer nourishing them. With great effort, he pulled himself up through the earth, surprised but pleased to find renewed vigor in his limbs. He felt like a new man, one given a second lease on life. 

With a wolfish grin, he knew that was exactly what he was. 

A new man, freshly reborn.

His body had been dumped in the English countryside, about a mile from a major roadway leading to and from London. He stumbled towards it, grateful that it was nighttime. His eyes ached from the brightness of the moon and he knew it would be some time before he bear the sun. As he walked, he examined his hands, noting the smoothness of the skin. Gone were the liver spots and wrinkles he'd borne as a old man. He wished desperately for a mirror, so that he might view his face -- In time, he mused. In time, I'll enjoy all the fruits of my labors. I'll find women to indulge in and I'll plot my revenge on everyone who scorned me. I only wish Albion were still alive -- the look on his face would have been priceless.

A woman on horseback passed by on the road. She had small wings -- useless for flying, Nekros surmised -- folded against her back and her skin was a dusky rose in color. One of the Barrier freaks, he thought. She'll do fine. Or her steed will, at least.

He held out a hand towards her, his fingers dancing in the air. Ancient words of magic spilled forth from his lips and the woman suddenly cried out as her brain caved in upon itself. She fell from the saddle with a thud, her horse dancing about nervously. 

The man hurried forward, grabbing hold of the reigns. London beckoned.

Darkmoor

"I'm terrified and thrilled, all at the same time. My dad's even worse, though. He cried when I told him -- I haven't seen him do that since mum died." Ginny Crown walked down the drafty hallways of the castle, her face glowing with maternal pride. She was a pretty girl, with straight brown hair and slightly over-large eyes, but it was definitely her smile that captured the attention of all who saw her. It was a fetching sort of thing that evoked memories of first loves and bittersweet loss. 

Spitfire walked at her side, the rest of the Pendragons trailing behind. Jackie's smile was warm and filled with understanding. "The first child is always special. Congratulations to both you and Adam. Have you told the citizenry yet?"

"No. Adam wants to do it at the big celebration next week. We're commemorating the six-month anniversary of Adam's ascendance to the throne. We're really growing by leaps and bounds, too. The schools are open and thriving, with more and more people flooding over the border every day."

"I hope your father doesn't cave in to pressure and start sanctioning Darkmoor, though. A lot of Brits are scared that we're giving up our freedoms if we go back to the old style of government."

"Adam's not like that, though. Anyone who meets him can tell that."

"I'm not sure that's enough, luv. Not everyone has the opportunity to do that -- or the inclination. I'll be honest, I love our monarchy as much as anyone, but I'm not certain I'm ready to go back to the days of Divine Right -- and to a lot of people, that's what they believe Adam is offering. He's empowered by Avalon and even with Paganism on the rise again, there are many people who refuse to see past their own Bibles or Korans."

"Adam doesn't want to challenge anyone's religious beliefs...."

"His very existence challenges those beliefs."

Ginny pursed her lips, saying nothing. She knew Jackie was right but she didn't want to think about such things -- not right now, with the warm happiness of having a child was still so fresh. But Adam had spoken of a possible war in the days ahead, when men and women who feared his threat to British sovereignty rose up against him... She hoped he was wrong. "Dan's in the room up ahead. He emerged when the Ghost Rider entity retreated. An American, not much older than myself."

"And what about Blackheart?"

"Fled into the night. Mordred's working on finding him."

"You think he can be trusted?" Union Jack asked. He moved up next to his wife, taking Spitfire's hand. "There's a load of forgiveness in the world these days." He cast a glance backwards, at the Black Knight. He'd always had a problem with people like Dane Whitman, men who seemed to be born to greatness, while Joey had been forced to scrap and fight for every little thing. After watching the way that the current Lord of the Lake had eventually betrayed the Pendragons, Joey had a hard time accepting this 'other' Dane on the team. 

Spitfire cast him a warning glance. "If Adam is placing his faith in Mordred, we owe it to him to do the same."

Behind them, Captain UK and her lover Young Miracleman walked hand-in-hand. Both of them could hear every word that was being said ahead of them, but neither chose to comment on it. They were too busy in their own particular troubles to bother with another couple's. Linda McQuillan kept her own voice low when she said "It's just that you should have talked it over with me first. I thought we'd agreed to spend some time alone."

Rick looked at her sheepishly, his handsome face making it extremely hard for her to retain her anger. "I'm sorry, Linda. There wasn't time. As soon as I finished talking to Mickey, Spitfire was there asking us to sign up... Besides, it's only a temporary thing. When Betsy comes out of her coma, you and I will finally do all the things we've been putting off."

"Like getting married? Starting a family? Those kinds of 'things?'" 

Rick brought her gloved hand up to his lips and kissed it softly. "All that and more."

Linda softened her expression and sighed. "Sometimes it feels like we just go from battle to battle. I'm tired."

Young Miracleman started to reply when he saw himself about to step into a large room, one dominated by a long wooden table. To his surprise -- and pleasure -- it was round, evoking thoughts of King Arthur's legendary knights. Seated at the table was a young man with brown hair and serious eyes, dressed in a leather jacket and jeans. 

Ginny smiled at the man and said "Pendragons, here he is. Ghost Rider."

The brown-haired man shook his head, rising to shake the hands of the men and women before him. "Make it Dan. Dan Ketch. Ghost Rider's actually Noble Kale -- he and I are on a time-share."

"You're not the same host he had when you helped us during the Barrier crisis, then?" Grace asked.

"No... that was my cousin, Jennifer. I was... unavailable then." His expression darkened as he spoke and Grace knew with a certainty that he planned to discuss that matter no further. "I was ready to head back to London but Adam says you want to speak with me?"

"We want to know about Blackheart. The bastard came back with you, right?" Union Jack couldn't keep the disgust from his voice. Because of Blackheart, Europe was locked beneath a magic barrier that seemed impenetrable. 

"He was trapped with me in the underworld, yeah. When we came back here, neither of us were truly awake yet -- and then some time-lost freak came and stole part of our power*. It's slowly returning but I'm still pretty exhausted over the whole thing. Blackheart managed to slink off into the shadows, though. He'll be back. He always is."

(*It was actually an insane, future version of Dark Angel, as seen in the "Blood of Eden" storyline)

"No clue where he might have gone?" Grace prompted. She tried to avoid her eagerness, but it was hard. The demon had killed Peter Hunter, the man whom she loved -- and that was something she would never forget.

Dan hesitated, looking uncertain. "I seem to have some sort of bond with him -- I can sense him, but only vaguely. If I get anything more definite, I'll let you know."

"Please do." Spitfire knew that certain members of the group -- Grace, in particular -- were likely to press Dan on this point, but she didn't want that. From what she'd heard, this young man had recently returned from the dead... surely that allowed him some leeway when it came to being talkative. Jackie flashed her most winning smile at Ginny. "Can we see your husband now?"

"Of course. He's waiting with Mordred in the throne room."

While most of the team followed Ginny out of the room, Dane Whitman hung back with Micromax and Red Sonja. He'd taken to the swordswoman right away, recognizing in her the same sort of spirit that he'd encountered during the Crusades. She was an honorable woman, if a bit rough about the edges -- and Scott was a nice guy, no matter how you looked at him. "Dan... Do you mind if I ask you a question or two?"

"Sure. What's up?"

Red Sonja spoke up before the Black Knight could even get the question out. "When you were in the bowels of Hell... Do you think that you would have been able to travel outside the Barrier? Is there a portal of some kind that connects to the outer world?"

Dan blinked in surprise, but he quickly realized why they were asking. Adam had talked to him a bit about the Pendragons before the team's arrival -- and he knew that both Micromax and Red Sonja had loved ones on the other side of the Barrier. "I'm not sure, but it's possible, I guess. I know that travel from Otherworld to the outside is possible -- and if you can access a dimensional portal there, why not in Hell?"

"And Noble Kale once ruled Hell, right?" Micromax asked.

"Yes... Briefly."

"Then there might still be some who are loyal to him there," Red Sonja whispered. She leaned forward across the table, letting her mane of red hair fall over one shoulder. "Would you lead us on a quest?"

Dan sighed. He'd spent altogether too much time in the underworld as of late... but their quest was tempting, to be sure. Even though Stacy and several of his other friends were under the Barrier with him, his mom was still on the other side... "I'll see what I can do. But give me a few days to rest, okay?"

The Black Knight watched as his teammates agreed, feeling a bit out of place. He had no one on the other side of the Barrier -- at least no one who belonged to him. This world belonged to another Dane Whitman entirely, one who'd done a lot to alienate the Pendragons. Perhaps that was why he'd gravitated to two members who'd joined after all the mess with the other Dane, the details of which the Black Knight still didn't know. 

But I'm going to find out.

Suzi Endo sank lower in the bath, enjoying the way her muscles unkinked and her entire body relaxed. She'd been working far too hard in the lab lately -- partially because the arrival of Dane Whitman had made her feel a bit challenged. He was a brilliant scientist... and he'd been most eager to tour the lab, which had been Suzi's domain ever since she'd come to live on Lyonesse. 

Closing her eyes, she wondered why she was still here... she'd long since completed her work on PLATO, eventually giving birth to the new Gulliver Jones. He was quite an achievement, even if he had been augmented by Dark Angel's sorcery. 

"Query: Do the bubbles intensify the cleansing activity of the bath or are they merely decorative?"

Suzi screamed, jumped up in her bathwater and sending bubbles cascading onto the floor. She stared at the robotic entity before her, recognizing it from her time with the American Force Works group -- a Recorder. "Gully? What is this thing doing in my bath?"

The holographic form of Gulliver Jones appeared at once, his face dark and angry. "I have no idea -- but I'll escort him out on his arse if you want."

The Recorder held up a greenish object that resembled a lantern. It glowed brightly. "Statement: This unit understands the threat and wishes only to pass on this weapon for study."

"Weapon?" Suzi asked, curious despite her nakedness and discomfort. She stood up and wrapped a towel about her lithe form. She took the lantern from the robot, staring at it. She could feel the power, even without any instruments to measure it. "What is it?"

If it had been possible for the Recorder to show emotion, it would have been doing so now. This was a moment it had long awaited. "Statement: This is the power source for another universe's most powerful weapon. Query: Do you plan to experiment on it?"

"Why did you bring it to me?" she asked suspiciously.

"Statement: The Pendragons are the most powerful metahumans under the Barrier."

Suzi frowned, thinking that the Recorder didn't exactly answer her question. She started to ask him again, but the machine disappeared in a powerful burst of light -- leaving her standing next to her tub, dripping wet... and holding the strange device. "Gully, turn on the equipment in the lab. I want to start studying this... lantern."

Adam Crown scratched at his beard, nodding at Spitfire's words. "It's a good plan -- and a long time in coming."

Spitfire smiled, accepting the compliment. "Thank you. I'm sure Betsy would have come up with something similar at some point."

"But she didn't," the King of Darkmoor said. He grinned. "You're going to do fine as team leader, Jackie." He rose from his throne, nodding at the three Pendragons stragglers who were entering. He couldn't help admiring the strong, lean form of Red Sonja and he hoped that Ginny wouldn't notice. "I'll do whatever I can to help."

Grace, leaning against the wall, said "The PM might not like it -- but then again, the British government has basically replaced us with their New Crusaders. Bollocks to them."

Spitfire heard Union Jack laugh at Grace's words. They were two peas in a pod, it seemed. "I'm not looking to sever our connections with the government. Quite the opposite -- but we've got to stop pretending that we're not part of a greater whole. Europe's gone through a number of changes and crime is up everywhere. Our own adventures have taken us to France, the Bavarian mountains, all over the map... It only makes sense for us to begin establishing bases in other countries than just Britain."

"So we're gonna police all of Europe?" Union Jack said dubiously. "Kind of defeats the whole 'champions of Avalon' riff doesn't it?"

"Only if you think that Britain is immune to threats coming from outside," Adam replied. "Go the EU. Ask them to give you bases in their member countries -- Wynter should be able to whip up something that would allow you to access each base in seconds. Just like traveling through the Cathedral of Owls to get to Avalon. Mordred could help, as well."

"No thanks, mate." Joey replied. He cast a glance at the smug-looking mage in the corner of the room. "We've got quite enough magic on our own." He saw Jackie give him another disapproving look, but he ignored it. She was the one who'd chosen to bring Whitman back onto the team, not him. Let her live with it.

He stood outside Andreas Strucker's estate, the laughter of women carrying on the wind. There was some sort of party going on inside, a celebration of some debauched victory belonging to Strucker, no doubt. 

"The party ends tonight, you perverse bastard." The man strode forward, the heavy wrought-iron gates opening before him. 

Nekros was back.

TO BE CONTINUED

 A special back-up feature:

Rathoon the Dragon
in
"Dealing with Devils" Part Two

Rathoon soared overhead, looking down on the tiny village of Localsh. It had a dreamy air to it that he found comforting -- it reminded him of olde places in olde times. Though he'd tried very hard to become a part of the modern world, he sometimes yearned for the past -- when dragons ruled the world and man was but a shareholder on the property. 

Come lower, Dragon. Unless you expect me to sprout wings and join you.

Rathoon blinked. That voice sounded old as dirt... and human. He narrowed his slitted eyes and saw an old crone standing atop a cliff. Her cloak was blowing fiercely in the wind and Rathoon wondered how she was avoiding being blown over the edge. 

The dragon landed gracefully nearby, folding his wings up neatly behind him. "Do I know you?"

"I am called Dark Mairi... and I have been waiting for you for far too long."

"I'm looking for someone who can help my friend."

"Yes, I know. But you won't find any of his race here -- you were led here by a bit of lie. My doing, but in the end, your lover will be whole again. If you do what is necessary."

Rathoon rolled his eyes. "I'm not some beast, here to do your bidding. If the female dragon lied to me, I'll kick her ass and go about my mission. Let me say this slow -- can you help Fin Fang Foom? Or not?" He let his voice drop on the last words, deepening. 

Mairi smiled, unafraid. "There is something lurks in the nearby Loch, my friend. An ancient being... of your kind. He can heal your lover, for his magic is most powerful. But his heart has grown cold and his anger mounts. Soon he will rise and lay waste to all that is within his grasp. Unless you convince him otherwise, show him that the world of man still has a place for one such as he."

"I'm not Dr. Phil. I'm a dragon. With big teeth." He leaned forward and showed her.

"Stop your games, dragon! Do as I say, or your lover will rot!"

Rathoon sighed. He hated this -- all the delays, the waiting. He wanted Foom in his arms again. "Tell me what to do."

TO BE CONTINUED

A letter from Joseph Connell:

Remember what I said about the team now being "depowered"? I take it back, though I honestly fear for my sanity now. A younger Dane Whitman???? Gods help us if Sir Dane meets Lord Dane (which we all know is coming)! And you brought in Captain UK? Makes sense I suppose. Certainly she'll provide plenty of extra muscle and experience. Just please lets not see a power struggle between her and Spitfire. I still don't trust the new Hulk. Can't shake the feeling he's become something worse than the Maestro. You hint at terrible things to come in just (does a quick calculation) eight issues! Worse than the Jaspers Warp and the team's little expedition into space! I'm quite worried for everyone now.