The Pendragons Issue # 70	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: Nekros is back, having seized the title and power of the Necromage. Meanwhile, Spitfire's plan to expand the Pendragons' influence throughout Europe has illuminated some growing divisions within the group and her own relationship with Union Jack. Elsewhere, the dragon Rathoon has traveled to Scotland to find a cure for his fallen lover -- only to find himself a pawn of Dark Mairi and confronted by a plague-infested dragon named Garaeth. While all this is going on, events are transpiring that will bring the Pendragons into conflict with the heroes of another world....

Suzi Endo yawned, casting a baleful glance over at the clock. It was very late and she'd been pushing herself far too hard, but the power battery -- an object belonging to some group called the "Green Lantern Corps" -- was simply too fascinating. She wished that the Barrier were down so that she could confer with others on the matter... especially the Avenger known as Quasar. The Pendragons had encountered him during their sojourn to Shi'ar space* and from all accounts this Battery was fairly similar to his Quantum Bands.

(*In the "Unity" storyline, issues 55-59)

"You need to get some sleep."

Suzi turned to see Mary Jane standing in the doorway, dressed in a pair of pajamas. "I thought you were off with the Pendragons," Suzi answered.

"I stayed behind to watch over Anna. She had the sniffles when I put her to bed and I didn't feel comfortable being away from her. Did you hear about all those kids in Manchester who developed that magical plague? Started out like the flu and ended up turning into half-goblin hybrids." Mary Jane shook her head wistfully. "I never pictured having those kinds of worries when I became a mom."

Suzi began putting away her papers, casting a few glances over at the Lantern. She didn't feel any particular connection to Mary Jane -- models were not exactly her role models growing up -- and definitely didn't want to discuss mother issues with her. When it became clear that Mary Jane wasn't going anywhere, Suzi sighed. "Is there something else you wanted to discuss?"

"Were you ever married?"

"No."

"Engaged?"

Suzi turned to face the red-haired beauty and softened somewhat. She could see the tension in the other woman's face... and it touched something within her. "Yes, a long time ago. But I focus on my work now. I haven't... even... dated in several years."

"Do you ever miss it? Being with a man?"

Suzi felt color rise to her cheeks. "Is there a point to all this?"

Mary Jane entered the room, her sock-encased feet sliding across the cool castle floor. "It's Scott. He's been so sweet to me... but we're both attached. And I-- I'm afraid. I'm thinking I should leave. I only joined to try and find out how to cope with sharing my existence with Sonja... and now I'm worried I'm going to break my vows."

"Because you're missing sex? Get a vibrator." 

Mary Jane blinked in surprise before letting out with a hearty laugh. "It's not just... that. I feel like I'm getting closer to him. Intimate."

"Then stop it." Suzi shook her head. "You're not an animal. You choose what you do and what you feel. Don't listen to those who say your heart rules your mind -- that's only true if you let it. What you need to do is ask yourself this: how long are you prepared to wait for your husband before you move on? Three years? Six? Nine? The Barrier could last the rest of your life -- do you think you should put off any kind of relationship and wait?"

"That's what I don't know." Mary Jane sat down and put her head in her hands. "I love Pete. I really do."

Suzi frowned. She had few female friends because she hated these kinds of emotional conversations -- she preferred the company of men, who were at least capable of compartmentalizing their lives. "You're lonely and afraid. That's understandable. If you want advice, I'd say to take it slow. Let things happen naturally. I'm sure your husband would understand."

"I hope you're right." Mary Jane looked up at her with tears in her eyes. "You have no idea how much."

"Nice place. I half expect Michael Jackson to jump up and start singing Thriller." Joey Chapman, Union Jack, stood outside the team's jet, loading his rifle with a variety of silver-tipped shells. Down below the hill upon which they were parked lay the mansion that once belonged to the Strucker twins. In life, Andreas and Andrea had commanded the forces of Fenris and built an empire on the backs of drug addicts and killers. But both were dead now, their souls condemned to some dark realm -- if they weren't shambling about below, that is. Several dozen members of the undead were stumbling about on the lawn, their dirty heads turning this way and that, serving as watchdogs for their master, the reborn Nekros. 

"How many of them are there?" Micromax asked. He tried to keep his voice level but it was hard. Fighting supervillains was one thing -- fighting things that looked at home in a George Romero film was another. He did feel an odd sense of comfort from the fact that Mary Jane wasn't here, though -- she needed to be at home, with her daughter. Red Sonja's prowess notwithstanding, a mother had no place on a battlefield.

A sudden breeze announced the return of the team's current leader, the beautiful Spitfire. She nodded at her husband, Union Jack, before answering Scott's question. "I counted 39 -- but more are on the way. The roads are full of them." Jackie turned to Captain UK and Young Miracleman. "I want the two of you to clear a path for the rest of us. We're going in the front door -- all except Scott."

"Why not me?" Micromax asked, feeling slighted even though he knew she must have a reason.

"Because you're our ace-in-the-hole. I want you to shrink down in size, get as small as you can -- and sneak through the house. Nekros is going to be focusing his attention on us -- you can hopefully sneak in under the radar. If he's as dodgy as he used to be, Nekros will never see you coming."

"He's a wee bit different than he was, Lady Crichton." The enigmatic Rook stepped forward, hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword. He noticed that Union Jack was looking at Spitfire, as if waiting for her to correct Rook's use of her former married name. When she didn't, Rook continued with a smile. "Younger. More vital. He's probably already slain Andreas -- and I only hope he's not one of the shambling undead now."

"You actually considered that monster a friend?" the Black Knight asked. "From everything I've heard and read, the world's better off without him."

"Harsh words, Mr. Whitman -- but from what I know of you, you fought in the Crusades, did you not? You probably have a sterner stomach than some of your companions." The Rook said it in a way that made it clear he respected that -- but it made Dane feel dirty. "Andreas Strucker was a brilliant man, with a capacity for great cruelty, yes. But also a keen mind for strategy and business. His sister was even moreso. The world is not better off without them... not at all. It is a darker place, instead."

"Bloody idiot," Union Jack whispered. He turned to Jackie, nodding. "I'm locked and loaded. Let's do this."

Spitfire nodded. Micromax dropped in height, allowing Spitfire to place him on her shoulder. She'd drop him off closer to the building and let him do his mission from there. "Linda, Rick -- You're up."

Captain UK and her lover both ascended into the air, their hands clasped together. Their love was unique in that it had survived the deaths of entire universes -- and their bond was exceptionally strong. Young Miracleman winked at her before allowing her fingers to drop from his. He rocketed forward, propelling himself right into the largest cluster of undead. Many of them splattered apart at the impact, coating him with gore. He fought the urge to vomit, reminding himself that these poor souls were nothing more than reanimated bodies... the true spirit within had fled this mortal coil. Or so he hoped.

Linda McQuillan was right behind him. She flew low, grabbing hold of one of the 'leaders' -- he was barking orders to the other corpses, most of which seemed incapable of truly following through on any of them. She threw him hard into a group of them, sending all of them tumbling forward.

The undead, realizing they were under attack, now surged forward towards the heroes. Linda and Rick stayed out of their reach for the most part, but the Pendragons who came in the next wave were more on the undead's level. Union Jack came in with guns blazing, his body armor withstanding all the but the strongest of undead blows. Spitfire weaved in and out amongst them, dropping Micromax off at the door. The Black Knight and Rook both surged into the fray, their swords rising and falling in deadly arcs that sent limbs and blood spraying into the air. Grace was right behind them, using the wrist blades on her armor to decapitate most of her foes. Unlike some of the others, Francesca had no doubt about the rightness of their actions -- yes, in life some of these might have been innocents, but they stank of dark sorcery now. Given her own past with the Bane, she knew the scent of evil and could not abide it.

Micromax took one last back at the battle, knowing that the Pendragons would soon be forcing their way inside, hurried on. He didn't particularly like being using like this, for reconnaissance. There was something very satisfying about being large and powerful -- but when shrunk like this, he felt very exposed and vulnerable.

Of course, that summed up most of his existence. Before gaining his powers, he'd been a dumpy guy with dreams of glory... but no chance of ever really achieving it. And now look at him -- his powers made him look great with his shirt off and he was dating a supermodel.

No. 

Not dating. 

He was flirting with a supermodel.

A married supermodel with a little girl.

Stop it, he thought to himself, creeping through the darkness. You're going to get sloppy and --

 He came face-to-face with the corpse of Andreas Strucker. The body looked... defiled. Swallowing down his disgust, Scott creeped on, drawn by the sound of chanting. He stepped into the next room, where he saw Nekros standing in the center of a large pentagram. The mage was young again, just as Rook had said, and wore robes of the darkest black. His hands were raised and foul magic flowed between them. From his lips came ancient words of necromancy, which chilled Scott's blood to hear. 

The Pendragon was pondering his next move when the sorcerer looked his way and smiled. Scott grew immediately, ready to tackle the villain, but Nekros was too quick. He pointed a slender finger at Micromax and whispered "Unum corruptum!"

Scott staggered back in place, his eyes filling with heat. Images and sounds filled his head, of teammates and friends laughing at him, scoffing at him. They knew his secret -- that he was fat and weak. Even Mary Jane was playing him for a fool. "No. Those bastards...."

"Show them, my pet. Show them what a slave to the Necromage can do!" Nekros laughed aloud as Micromax turned to stalk his former friends. He would toy with these old enemies of his, for slaying them would be a fitting way to begin his new reign of power.

Lorna Dane rode waves of magnetic force, her green-tinted hair flowing behind her as she moved. Lyonesse lay below, with the large castle that served as home to the Pendragons dominating the landscape. Off in the distance, Lorna could see a sprawling forest, with various clearings that looked like they were used for gatherings or worship. The thought that the Pendragons might be pagans had troubled her and almost made her change her mind about coming here -- but she'd made the decision to come under the Barrier, seeking a new life... and if that life included being a hero of any kind, that meant making some sort of peace with Britain's premier group.

Polaris landed just outside the castle, placing her hands on her hips. It'd been only days since she'd arrived beneath the Barrier* and the pink-tinged skies and magical ambience were still taking some getting used to. But strangely enough, the emotional and mental imbalances that had affected her in recent months seemed to have been cleared away by this environment. She felt more stable than she had in years... and also more optimistic. Ending her relationship with Alex Summers had been complicated by the arrival of the Martians and she'd had practically no time to sort out her new feelings -- but this was going to be different. This was going to be better.

(*See our Hulk series, issues 6-9)

"Give you name quickly, girl -- before I take action against you!"

Lorna glanced around, her eyes widening. A red-haired woman was there, dressed in the skimpiest metal bikini Lorna could ever imagine. A wicked-looking sword was in the woman's right hand, gripped tightly. "Polaris... but you can call me Lorna. I'm here to introduce myself to the Pendragons." Lorna smiled, still relaxed even in the face of danger. The woman was wearing metal -- not very much, true, but enough -- and Lorna was the Mistress of Magnetism. "Are you one of them?"

"Aye. I am called Sonja." She lowered her sword, sheathing it at her side. "My apologies -- the rest of the Pendragons are away battling a foul sorcerer and my nerves are frayed."

"No problem." Lorna stepped towards her, offering up a smile. "Aren't you a bit chilly in that?" she asked, gesturing to Red Sonja's armor.

"I am used to frigid climes." Sonja studied Lorna's hair, looking intrigued. She finally offered a gloved hand. "Welcome. If you come inside, I will introduce you to Suzi. She is the team's science-mage."

"Uh, thanks." Lorna took the hand, wondering what the hell a science-mage was... but that thought was gone in a white-hot blaze of energy when she took Sonja's hand. She felt transformed for a moment, as if she had been lifted from this world and deposited on another. It felt a bit like Otherworld... but far more intense. More personal. She caught a glimpse of a man, composed of water. He was standing in a lake, his hands resting on the hilt of a sword, balanced before him. Lorna thought he looked familiar -- an Avenger? -- but she found that her breath was short and her eyes could not focus entirely.

"Hello, Polaris. My name is Dane Whitman."

Lorna nodded weakly, aware of a sweet scent in the air. The surroundings were taking shape around her, showing an idyllic garden and forest. "The Black Knight."

"Yes, though some call me Lord of the Lake now." His eyes studied her for a moment and Lorna was taken with how handsome he was. He reminded her of Alex, though with more depth somehow. He'd seen and done much more than even Alex had. "I'd like to you be one of my Pendragons."

"I... I wasn't planning to join the team. I--"

"Listen to me."

Lorna blinked, growing quiet. There was such power in his voice....

"I've formed my own team, for my own reasons.* But I need to keep track of what the Pendragons are doing -- and you'd be perfect for that."

(*See the excellent Knights of Avalon series by Gary Halpin)

"You want me to be a spy for you?"

"An informant."

"You're playing with words."

Dane sighed, looking impatient. "I know where you're coming from, Lorna. Where you've been in your life. You're lost. Your lover's with someone else and your career's going nowhere. You feel positive for the first time in ages but you're not sure where to go, what to do. I can give you purpose. And I promise... if you ever feel like what I'm asking of you is wrong, you can walk away."

Lorna hesitated, but she could see that Dane Whitman knew what her answer would be.

Sonja shook the green-haired woman, somewhat roughly. "Are you under some spell?"

Polaris pulled away, shaking her head. "What? No! I'm fine... I was just... spacing out. When do you expect the Pendragons back?"

"Anxious to introduce yourself, I see."

"No... I've... decided I might like to be a part of this. If they'll have me."

Grace ducked under a corpse's fist, slashing out with her wrist blades to disembowel him. It wasn't enough to stop the monster from lumbering about, but his fallen entrails quickly became entangled about his feet. She rolled away from the undead warrior as he fell forward. The Pendragons had moved inside and Grace turned to see Union Jack bolting the door from the inside, preventing more of the undead from following them in. He looked a mess, with gore all over his uniform. "Now we just have to find Peter's old foe," she said.

Spitfire nodded, panting a little. "I'm sure Peter's going to watch us with glee, Grace -- I only wish he could be here to help thrash him with us."

"Looks like Scott's back with us," Captain UK said. She smiled as Micromax entered the room, ducking his head to avoid striking the ceiling. "Any sign of Nekros?"

"Shut up," Micromax murmured, his voice sounding cold and angry. He backhanded her hard across the face and then ran straight into Union Jack. The Pendragons backed away in surprise as Micromax lifted Joey above his head and brought him crashing down upon his upraised knee. 

Jackie screamed as she heard bones cracking. At superspeed, she began pummeling Scott. She saw out of the corner of her eye that Grace was pulling Joey to safety and she felt a rush of gratitude for the other woman. If seeing her lover hurt was this terrible, what could it have been like for Grace to watch Peter die? Jackie had buried men before -- too many -- but she'd never watched one killed. Thank god.

Micromax staggered under the assault, unable to keep up with her movements. 

Jackie backed away, barking "Rick! Linda! Take him down!"

Young Miracleman was on him first, wrapping his powerful arms about his teammate. "Stand down, Scott... I don't want to hurt you, mate."

Captain UK followed this up with a powerful kick to Micromax's face. The hero sagged in Rick's grasp. "Sorry to do that, Rick... but from the look on his face, he wasn't going to surrender anytime soon."

"What happened to him?" Grace asked. "Is he under some sort of spell?"

"Forget about that for now," Spitfire whispered. "Poor Joey's badly hurt...."

"I'll be fine. Don't go acting like a silly hen, Jackie." Union Jack lay on his back, blood staining the back of his uniform. "Just hurts when I move and breathe, that's all."

"Is your back broken?" the Black Knight, kneeling at his side. "I might be able to help if it isn't too serious... I learned a lot of battlefield first aid in the Crusades."

"I'm afraid, Pendragons... That you have little time for such things." Nekros spoke loudly, making the heroes whirl about to face him. He stood in the doorway, full of youth and power. 

"You dirty little bugger," Grace said, moving towards him. "Peter always thought you were a minor nuisance -- that's the only reason he didn't end your threat himself. But I see now that you don't have the good sense to stay dead when you get the chance, do you? Bloody loser!" She jumped forward, feeling on some level like she was doing something that Peter Hunter would have wanted.

Nekros, however, was not the same man he once was. He waved a hand through the air, his fingers bent like he was clawing through something. Grace screamed as necromantic energy flooded into her, darkening her flesh and causing the veins to stand out thickly against the skin. She landed hard, thrashing about.

"That, my dear, is the barest touch of my power. Death flows through my veins. Necromancy is the air that I breathe. Through your deaths I will grow stronger... strong enough to wrest the title of Sorcerer Supreme from its holder. And then death energy will flood throughout the Barrier! The dead will rule!"

"Jackie, be a dear and shut his ass up," Union Jack whispered.

Jackie laughed, despite the fact that tears were stinging her eyes. "You heard the man, Pendragons. Let's do what we do best -- blow things to bits."

Nekros stood his ground, even as the combined forces of the Pendragons came at him. The Black Knight and the Rook both slashed their swords through a cloud of dark energy that rose up between them and Nekros, while Young Miracleman writhed in a sudden attack from the necromancer. His godlike beauty was marred by the same necromantic effects that had hit Grace, but he weathered it better. Captain UK and Spitfire both made it through to the wizard, delivering bone-jarring blows that knocked him off his feet. 

He landed on his side, throwing his hands up just as Spitfire closed on him again. He gripped her ankle, leering at her. "I know your joy, girl... being young again is so addictive, isn't it? A pity you won't continue to enjoy it!" Jackie felt her skin constrict as she began to age, losing some of her suppleness. She had no doubt that he would have aged her until death, but the Black Knight burst through the black fog and drove his sword down like a hatchet. It severed the man's arm, sending not blood but instead dark oil spurting into the air.

Dane jumped back, worried that the Ebony Blade's curse would be activated -- but the dark wizard's blood didn't seem to count, somehow. It was like the man was not living at all, but something worse.

Nekros struggled to his feet, reeling as Young Miracleman connected with a powerful punch. The mage went flying backwards but he was caught by Captain UK, who finished him off with another blow.

Young Miracleman exhaled, running a hand through his hair. His skin was beginning to return to its normal luster, but the necromancer's attack still left him feeling weak. "That's it, then. Back to the Darkmoor prison with him?"

"He should die," the Rook muttered. "By my hand."

"Give it a rest, please." Spitfire rose to her feet, feeling unsteady. She pulled her glove off and stared down at her hand -- it didn't look like the madman had sucked too much vitality from her. "Am I still young?" she asked.

"Your hair's gone white, but otherwise you look fine." Linda moved over to check on Grace. "We need to get Grace to bed, though. She looks blotchy all over."

"And Joey's hurt, too -- not to mention poor Scott." Spitfire shook her head. "I'm not off to the best of starts as team leader, am I?"

"Of course you are," Rick answered. "We just stopped Nekros from spreading his power... and injured or not, no one on our side's dead."

"I can't help but think that Betsy would have done this much cleaner." 

Linda watched as Jackie bent down to help Dane examine Union Jack. She whispered to Rick as she took his hand. "She's too hard on herself."

Rick smiled. "She'll grow into this. She's got Great Leader written all over her."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because she cares about us. And that's what a good leader does best." Young Miracleman saw Rook disappearing into the shadows but he didn't pursue him -- the man was obviously upset over the loss of his 'master.' Let him go, he thought. Maybe he'll make something better of himself now.

Meanwhile, the man known as Nekros slumbered on... but the dark powers of the dead were still being absorbed by his body. They would grow stronger and stronger, until he was ready to make his next bid for power -- and then, not even the Pendragons would be able to stand against him.

Rathoon the Dragon
in
"Dealing with Devils"
Finale

Garaeth stormed towards Rathoon, his skin seeping and painful-looking. He'd just announced to the other dragon that he was plague-ridden, which had left Rathoon pondering just how long he had left in the world. The conclusion he came to, after examining his kin's broken features, was not positive: My ass is fried.

Rathoon backed away, catching his kin with his front claws and sending the other dragon to the ground. "Back off," he hissed. "I came seeking help for my lover -- I have no interest whatsoever in fighting!"

"It's too late, don't you see? Just by coming here, you've been infected! All that is left of our kind dreams in painful sleep... and I am too weary to wake them. And why should I? So they can die fully conscious? Let them die in slumber...."

"I can try to help you. I can try to help all the other dragons -- but Mairi says you can help Fin Fang Foom and that's my first priority!"

Garaeth paused, shaking his head. "What do you want of me? I am no healer!"

Rathoon stepped forward, cautiously. He held up a claw, etching a sigil in the air. "Let my magic examine you... this plague you suffer from, where did you get it?"

"It came upon us suddenly... probably some poison created by the humans."

"No... it's definitely Makluan. I wonder -- I know that Fin Fang Foom's ship crashed on Earth, it spewed forth energy into the atmosphere. I wonder if it infected the Terran dragons. Gave you some sort of alien grunge...."

"I don't understand...."

"The Makluans are... space dragons, I suppose you could say. Aliens who resemble us. Some of them became trapped here on Earth long ago -- one of them is my lover." Rathoon reached out and touched a seeping sore on Garaeth, noticing that the dragon trembled. "I think we can help each other, Garaeth. I think your blood is filled with these spores...it's poisonous to your system, but I think they can help Fin. The magic seems to suggest so, at least."

"And how will this help me?"

"Because I bet Fin will be able to heal you -- he'll recognize what affect the energy has had on you. I've been unaffected since I awoke, so maybe the atmosphere is clear now. If we can cure you, you won't be re-infected, I'd say."

Garaeth wheezed, having over-exerted himself. "I've lain here for ages, growing angry at the world... and now you come with words of healing on your tongue. I'm not sure I believe it."

"I'm not yanking your chain -- I'll do my best to help. You have my word." He leaned forward. "What you said earlier -- do you mean it? Can you wake all the dragons? All the elders, like us?"

"Of course. You must have slumbered before us -- but the few who were left taught each other a spell we could sing. To awaken in time of need... to call together the Council of the Wyrm."

"Do it." Rathoon grinned, revealing sharp teeth. "Wake them! This is a world of magic now... a world in which the dragons can join humanity, as one!"

"They hate us!"

"They will accept us -- they must. This is a changed world. Look at me -- I have 44 websites devoted to me. They love me."

Garaeth laughed hoarsely. "Very well... let it be upon your head, then. But many will be in great pain until you find this cure." He struggled out into the sun, squinting upwards. He trilled a little song, one that made Rathoon smile to hear it.

And all around the world, in holes both great and small, the dragons awoke.

"He has done it. The day of the Wyrm is here once again." Mairi smiled to herself, aware that her pupil was watching her.

"What does it mean?"

"It means that the next phase of Man is here. It means that the Dragon King will soon be crowned." She smiled at the youth, winking. "And it means that the forces of the Bane are about to get a terrible surprise."

FINIS

Hope you enjoyed the conclusion to this storyline -- not my best work, but it had its moments, I think. Next issue is a breather before the "DC Collision" hits in issue 72. The DC Collision will spill out into other books in the Pendragons Universe, such as Knights of Avalon and Hulk (among others), but you will be able to read this series alone and follow the 'event' if you want.

A note from Robert Rock:

Really liked it. I like the way you're building Nekros up and I'm anxious to see where the Necromage thing goes. I found Andreas Strucker's death scene a little confusing to read but that's a very minor point. Great slow build on the Pendragon / DC crossover.