The Pendragons Issue # 69	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: One of the team's oldest foes, Nekros, has returned from the dead -- reanimated by the same black magick he once used in life. The sorcerer has tracked down the men responsible for his demise, Andreas Strucker and the Rook. Meanwhile, the robotic Recorder has presented a powerful extra-dimensional weapon to Suzi Endo, one whose presence in this universe serves as a deadly warning of what is to come. Within the Pendragons, various divisions have begun to form: Union Jack is distrustful of his teammate, the Black Knight; Micromax, the Black Knight and Red Sonja are secretly involved in an alliance with Noble Kale, seeking a way outside the Black Mass Barrier; and team leader Spitfire has elected to take the group down a dangerous and controversial path, extending the range of their activities throughout all of Europe rather than focusing on the UK. Elsewhere, former member Rathoon has journeyed to Localsh, Scotland to find a means of reviving his fallen lover, Fin Fang Foom.

Mary Jane leaned back against the old tree, enjoying the feeling of strength that she got from it. It was nighttime on Lyonesse, with several of the local fairies and pseudo-dragons flying overhead, providing an impromptu magical fireworks display. Despite the noise and bright lights, little Anna lay snuggled up to her mother's breast, sleeping soundly. "I wish Peter could see this," she whispered. "It's gorgeous."

Scott Wright lay at her side, trying to ignore her nearness and the sweet scent of her perfume. He felt an irresistible urge to tell her that she was far more gorgeous than the light display up above, but he held his tongue. Thanks to his shapeshifting abilities, he was able to hide the fact that he was a balding, slightly overweight chap with a weak chin... instead, he looked like a football store, with washboard abs and chiseled features. That made him feel a bit better about being in the company of a supermodel... but the fact that she was married and he was (supposedly) involved with a bird of his own ruined all those good emotions. 

He tried to think of Breeze James, the brown-skinned beauty who had won his heart... but there were times now that he almost forgot the shape of her face. You're a bloody bastard, he thought to himself. The girl's gone for only a few months and you're already falling for somebody else. And a married girl, at that.

"... are you listening to me?" Mary Jane asked, smiling gently at him. She obviously thought he was snoozing, just like little Anna.

Scott sat up, feeling embarrassed. "Sorry. I was just thinking. What did you say?"

"I was just telling you about the fireworks show Pete used to take me to on the 4th every year. Central Park. The stars. It was like magic -- but nothing like this."

"I wonder if they still have those celebrations now -- or if the Martians have made things like that impossible."

"I don't know, but I bet Pete's found some way to relax and have fun. You can't keep him down -- more than anyone I've ever met, he always bounces back."

Scott reached out and placed his hand over hers. He felt her start to draw away, but she relented. Since her arrival at the team's home base, he'd tried to make her feel at home... and to their mutual surprise, what had started out as a passing friendship had become more. Or at least, Scott thought so. "You'll be with him again. I know it." He leaned closer. "I'm sure he misses you, too. I know I would."

Mary Jane saw the fireworks reflected in Scott's eyes and she recognized the expression on his face. He wanted her... and the thought was both terrifying and exciting. Lowering her voice even more, she said "I should put Anna to bed."

Despite her words, she remained where she was... until Scott began to lean in to kiss her. She began to respond, her lips parting, when the sound of someone clearing their throat made them both jump. They looked up sheepishly to see that Linda McQuillan -- Captain UK -- had come up behind them. She wore her uniform, though the helmet was dangling from the fingers of her right hand. 

"Sorry to interrupt, mates -- but Suzi wants to brief us on the artifact she's been studying."

"Are Jackie and Joey back?" Scott asked, standing up and brushing the sand from his bottom. 

"No -- they're still examining one of the new bases. But Suzi doesn't want to wait any longer than she has to. She's very chuffed about this thing."

Scott glanced over at Mary Jane, offering her a hand up. "You need help with Anna?"

"No. You go on ahead."

Linda remained where she was until Scott had begun walking towards the castle. Mary Jane could feel the other woman's watchful eyes and she hoped that Linda would hold her tongue -- but she did not. "Be careful, MJ. This is a dangerous game you're playing."

"I'm not playing anything," she retorted, walking away. "Mind your own business."

Linda sighed, staring after her teammate's back. She knew that Mary Jane was right -- this wasn't any of her affair -- but it was hard not to comment on it. Things like this could rip a squad apart, after all. 

Rome -- Pendragons Base

"Pope Alexandro has been stepping up his criticisms. I'm not certain it's wise for the Pendragons to even be in Rome at this time." 

Spitfire and Union Jack barely spared the visiting hero a glance. Borys was a devout follower of the new Pope, who had ascended to power following the death of his predecessor. Alexandro had been calling for a holy war*, one designed to drive back the rising tide of paganism. Given the fact that the Pendragons were followers of several pagan deities themselves, they had become the public face of the 'enemy' in many people's eyes. They remained rabidly popular in the UK, but outside of there -- especially in highly Catholic parts of Europe -- they were becoming increasingly controversial.

(*See Robert Rock's Dept. F 66 # 5)

"You have a reason for being here, mate? Or are you just part of the local welcoming committee?" Union Jack faced Borys now, with hands on hips. He was wearing his new modified uniform, with a face plate and a more militaristic design. It complemented Jackie's new form-fitting togs well, he thought. 

Borys pursed his lips. He was handsome and if he hadn't taken a vow of celibacy, Joey could bet he'd be a real ladykiller. "I'm here as a friend. The Commonwealth are not your enemies -- and now that the EU is considering granting you expanded privileges throughout Europe, we'll be working together more. I thought you should know that you may not be welcome here."

"We've got eyes--"

"Joey, stop being a prig." Spitfire returned to the center of the room, wiping dust from her hands. The base was fairly large, with five rooms spiraling off from a meeting area. High ceilings and stained glass windows gave the place a churchly air. "How long since anyone used this place?"

"About 12 years," Borys replied. "Used to be home to Rome's official superhero team, but they lasted only about six months before splitting up."

"Smashing," Spitfire said. "It'll do, then. This gives us bases in the UK, Germany, France, Belarus, Turkey and Rome. We're blanketing the continent."

"For all the good it'll do us," Joey remarked. "Britain's going to hell in a handbasket and you want to spread us even thinner."

Spitfire rounded on her mate, using her trademark speed to heighten the motion. "Joseph Chapman, I've had it with your attitude! You don't like Dane being on the team, fine. But questioning my every move as leader isn't helping anyone, including yourself. Honestly, you're acting like a child!"

Borys allowed himself to quietly depart the scene, but he'd seen enough. There were obvious wedges in the Pendragons now... and the Holy Father needed to be aware of them.

Nekros sat back on the bed, feeling drained. Four women lay dead on the floor, their nude bodies looking mummified. It had been a pleasant evening to be sure -- but all of them since his return had been. He felt new and flushed with power, like he hadn't since the days of the first World War.

"Kill me," a pitiful voice whispered. Nekros glanced over to the corner of the room where a naked and bleeding Andreas Strucker lay in a fetal position. The fancy piece of Eurotrash had masterminded the necromancer's death -- and was now paying for his arrogance.

"Death would no release for you," Nekros answered. He rose from the bed and walked over to kneel before Andreas. "For so many years, I feared it... but after been on the other side, I realize now that I was limiting myself. There's a whole world waiting on the other side of the veil, Andreas. But it's not for the weak, not for you. There are monsters who will devour you in ways that your flesh could never handle... So be grateful that I let you live, for a few minutes more at least."

"I don't understand... how you can even be here. Rook... beheaded you."

"Yes. And then you violated my corpse before dumping my remains in the countryside. We mustn't forget that. But I've surrounded myself with death energies for decades, dear boy. They lurked in my tissues and revived me. And now I have the strength to do something that I've wanted to do for a long time."

Andreas raised his eyes and looked balefully at the other man. The handsomeness that Andreas had so cultivated was gone now, his body looked dried up and feasted upon. "I hate you."

"I know. It's mutual." He reached out and patted Strucker's cheek. "I plan to become the Necromage -- sort of the occult equivalent of the Pope. Only with far more benefits. And you will help me with that... for you see that the death of a mutant is far more potent than the death of a homo sapiens. Especially one who's been starved and filled with terror."

"The Rook...."

"Has escaped me for now. But in time... he, too, will suffer." Nekros raised his right hand and inky-black energy swirled around it. "Now. It's time for you to move on. Perhaps you'll be reunited with your sister, Andreas. I saw her spirit on the other side, you know... she's whoring in Hell."

Andreas screamed as the hand plunged downwards towards him.

The pain and energy that were released darkened the air before being soaked up by the necromancer. His cheeks flushed and he rose to his feet, his mind hearing ancient chants. Demons of air and fire were calling to him, recognizing that a mortal had, at long last, claimed the mantle of the Necromage. 

All over Europe, the walking hordes of the undead shivered, for they had a new master.

"It's simply incredible," Young Miracleman whispered. He was staring into the green lantern that the Recorder had given Suzi, while the team's resident scientist conferred with the Black Knight about the device's energy readouts. "You're saying this is ranks up there with the Infinity Gems?"

"Well, not quite," Suzi said. "It's definitely a cosmic-level artifact but I'm not sure it could warp reality in the same way that the gems could." She glanced over as Red Sonja entered the room. It was hard to miss the warrior woman, especially given the fact that she was always practically naked. Suzi fought down the urge to roll her eyes -- women like that, even if they were tough as nails, made it harder for women in general to be taken seriously. "Now that everyone's here, may I begin?"

"It's your show, luv." Grace sat at the meeting table, sipping a glass of wine. She'd been readying herself for bed when Suzi's summons had come and the look of aggravation on her face seemed unwavering. "I'd like to know why this couldn't wait for morning, though."

"Because it's important," Suzi snapped. "This device conducts an unknown form of energy, allowing its wielder to create objects out of thin air... the closest equivalent I could find would be Quasar's quantum bands or the alien jewel used by Doctor Spectrum. What's more, the energy wavelengths associated with the device suggest that it's not from our universe at all -- and it's virtually indestructible. Not even Dane's Ebony Blade could slice through the battery."

"Battery?" Grace asked. "Looks more like a lantern."

"It's both," the Black Knight said. He either ignored or didn't notice Suzi's glare. "Its purpose definitely seems to be as an energy source, powering... something."

"And the Recorder just gave it to us? Seems odd," Grace said. She rose from her seat and crossed over to examine the device from a closer vantage point. "Is it just me... or is it starting to glow?"

Captain UK noticed it, too. She reacted with the reflexes of one who'd seen death far too often. She jumped forward, her uniform's force field flared to life but it wasn't needed -- the energy that shot forth from the battery was not an attack at all. Instead, a man hovered there, only a few inches in height. Some of the room were immediately reminded of the scene from Star Wars: A New Hope, in which Princess Leia beseeched Obi-Wan for help. The man was well-built and handsome and though his clothing's color scheme was lost in the green hue of the beam, it was obvious that on his chest he wore an insignia that matched the battery itself. 

"Attention," he said, in a voice that sounded confident and brave. "You are in possession of a battery belonging to the Green Lantern Corps. If you are a resident of sector 2814, you are urged to bring this battery to Earth -- attempt to locate me, Hal Jordan, or the Justice League, my companions. If you belong to another sector, please contact the Guardians on OA. If neither of these are possible, or if you have come into possession of the battery through the death of its former owner," at these words, the man seemed to pause and everyone in the room realized that he was speaking of his own potential demise. "You may be chosen to wield the power of the Green Lantern ring. If so, the Guardians will be in touch. Take care."

"Green Lantern," Young Miracleman whispered. "There's power to that name, you can feel it. But I've never heard of any of those people or places, aside from Earth, of course. OA. Justice League. What universe is that?"

The chime of the island's communications systems made everyone jump. Gulliver Jones -- the group's resident holographic majordomo -- appeared instantly. "Transmission from London, everyone."

The Black Knight stepped forward. "Let's see it."

The face of the Rook appeared on one of the monitors. He looked disheveled and slightly out of breath. "Pendragons! I know you're not fond of me, but I am in need of assistance."

Red Sonja rested a hand on the hilt of her sword. "That is one of the cowards who stole the corpse of Molly's brother!"

"Yeah, which means we might not be able to trust him," Micromax said.

The Black Knight ignored them -- he'd joined the team after all their clashes with this man, so his own inclination wasn't tilted towards suspicion. "What's wrong?"

"Nekros is alive again," the Rook said. "And he's far more powerful than ever. He needs to be stopped -- and I'm willing to lead you to him!"

The Recorder stood at the edge of the Barrier, his sensors struggling to withstand the ambient magical energy that was all around him. He had come to witness the next step in what was to come -- the arrival of a man whose birth lay not in this universe, but in the one of the Power Battery.

He seemingly appeared out of nowhere, though the Recorder knew he'd actually appeared through the Barrier itself. Traveling at faster than light speeds, he was one of the few beings alive who could pass through the eldritch wall with ease. 

The man stumbled a bit as he slowed, landing heavily on his knees. He wore a crimson and yellow costume, but it was in tatters. The Martians were fierce foes and he'd barely survived each of his encounters with them -- but in the midst of the most recent battle, he'd sensed something at the edge of his consciousness. It was familiar and welcome, something from his home universe. And it brought with it fragments of memory, restoring some of his fractured psyche to him.

He had been known by several names since arriving in this universe: Buried Alien. Fastforward*. But the arrival of the Power Battery had reminded him of his true name and identity.

(*See Quasar #s 17 and 58)

He was Barry Allen.

The Flash. 

The Recorder strode towards him. "Statement: You seek a means of returning to your home universe. You believe the Power Battery might aid you."

"Who are you?" the Flash asked, forcing himself to his feet. His long hair and shaggy beard were different than he'd looked at home -- and now that his memory was restored for the most part, they felt out of place. "And how do you know about the Battery?"

"Multiple Statements: This unit has witnessed this same chain of events on a dozen other worlds, in a dozen other sections of the multiverse. The attempt to become One again is made, and the attempt fails. Both sets of multiverses perish... and the attempt is then made again, in another."

"I don't understand what you're saying," the Flash said. "But I'm familiar with alternate universes, believe me."

"Good. Then that will make all this much easier."

The Flash looked up, along with the Recorder. Floating above them was someone unknown to the Flash... but who obviously knew him. He wore a red and blue suit of some kind and had close-shaven hair. "Who are you?" the Flash asked.

The man smiled down at him and the Flash felt a shiver go down his back. "Your only hope. Call me Axel."

TO BE CONTINUED

Rathoon the Dragon
in
"Dealing with Devils" 
Part Three

Rathoon stood outside the Loch's largest cave, sniffing the air. It was a warm afternoon, though fog from the Loch made it difficult to see. The dragon wished he had time to sun himself on the rocks, but he was here on an urgent mission -- one that had led him from London on the lies of a an alien dragon. "Silly cow," he muttered. The dragon stepped up to the cave and extended his neck. He bellowed "Yo! Anybody in the crib?!"

He pondered his choice of words, wondering if the ancient beast within would understand them... but Rathoon was a dragon of the present and he preferred the common vernacular. Or at least what he assumed was the common vernacular.

The sound of a moving serpent reached his ears and he sniffed again. The old witch was right. It was a dragon -- an honest-to-goodness dragon. "Go away," the serpent hissed, speaking in the ancient dragontongue. "This is my land -- Garaeth's, for however long I choose to hold it."

"The old woman thinks you're about to go medieval on their asses... Is that true?"

"You speak like a human...."

"Is that so wrong? Look, Garaeth, I need your aid -- Mairi says you're a healer but that you won't help anyone now. Well, I want to change that. Come with me. Heal my lover -- and I'll show you that the world isn't as bad as you think!"

"I care nothing for you or for your lover! I care nothing for this world! Now begone!" 

The ground rumbled with every word the beast said but Rathoon refused to turn away. He kept the image of Fin, so pained and frail, in his mind. He was prepared to fight for his lover's life, if he must. "Don't be a hata, dragon! You and are I kin, of blood! You are the first of the old ones I have found since I awoke... I thought all of you were gone."

"We are gone, you fool!" The dragon within the cave came surging forward and Rathoon felt his heart skip a beat. "We were hunted to death -- and those of us who survived the purge came down with a plague! A plague that you will now possess, as well!" The beast came into view, his scales cracked and seeping. His entire body was one giant open sore -- and Rathoon feared that he himself now had this plague.

Mairi has sent me to my death.

"Rathoon's going to be furious," Hugh said.

His mentor, Dark Mairi, sipped her tea before the fire and nodded. "What we do is for the good of all, boy. Keep that in mind."

"But if we're wrong? What if he dies and--"

"He won't die! This is the one that the prophecies speak of! The one who has lost everything but who will restore the glory and the grandeur!" Mairi stared at her pupil. "Now still your worthless tongue... and be patient."

TO BE CONCLUDED

Hope you're enjoying this storyline -- not much physical action, I know, but I like to mix it up. I think there's plenty of character-based tension, though. The presence of the DC characters shouldn't be something to worry over -- it's leading up to a fun (I hope) storyline that will climax in issue 75. I'm not planning to change the focus of this series, though -- the Pendragons will remain a British (and Marvel) group.

Several letters this time around. First up is Dave Evans:

Hello Barry I must admit you really have me intrigued now. Is that the Green Lantern's well er Lantern that the Recorder has? Is this the cross over with Justice Squadron or something else entirely? I can't wait to find out, so don't make me wait. The new Hulk is certainly very interesting but I'll wait until we learn a bit more about him before passing comment. Really glad to see a Black Knight in the Pendragons he has been gone far too long, he has long been a favourite of mine especially here at Pendragons. Cheers Dave

Thanks for writing in, Dave. As you've seen by now, that is indeed a Green Lantern Power Battery. Stay tuned for more. :-)

And now we have Harry VanHoudnos

Thanks, Harry. No plans to separate MJ and Sonja, have no fear. As for the Lantern... it seems to be grabbing some attention, doesn't it? I have a plan that will build towards issue 75 and yes, it involves a meeting of sorts with the DC Universe. How it all plays out will be determined over the next few issues.