| When
Darkness Falls.... A reinterpretation of a character created by Dan Abnett & Jose Fonteriz |
Gray Poldark sat in the back of the club, nursing his second pint of the evening. He wanted to keep his head clear and alert, but it was hard not to drink a bit when you were surrounded by creatures out of myth. A topless girl with pointed ears and Elfin features was dancing in a cage not too far away from Gray's table, her gyrations greatly exciting a group of goblins seated beneath her. They chattered away loudly, occasionally tossing their drinks up into the air. Each drop that landed on the girl's body sent her into a frenzy, grinding to the heavy industrial music that filled the air.
Gray couldn't help but wonder if he'd stumbled into a dream.
He'd been in London's East End when the Black Mass Barrier had gone up. He'd felt a chill in his bones and the hair on the back of his neck had stood on end. Even as he stared up into the pink-tinged sky, he'd known that his entire world had just been turned upside down.
He hadn't slept for 46 hours following the Barrier's emergence. Since then, his condition had stabilized a bit, but he was still diagnosed as Hyperactive. He was typically awake 23 hours out of the day, constantly filled with energy. Perhaps it was the Barrier, perhaps not. He didn't really care, for being awake that often had certainly helped his career. He was a documentarian, having won numerous awards for his films on British radio dramas of the Fifties; the plight of the homeless in London; and the rise in mystic-related hate crimes since the rise of the Barrier.
"Heya, pal. You buyin' the drinks?"
Gray wrinkled his nose before he even saw who had spoken. The smell was awful, like rotting meat left out in the sun. He glanced up into the putrid features of a brown-skinned man named Tommy. He was one of London's newest residents -- the undead. "Sit down and start talking," Gray said, covering his nose with one hand. "I'm paying you plenty without giving you any drinks."
"That's not very nice," Tommy replied. He was dressed in a ratty t-shirt whose faded image of Kylie Minogue was barely recognizable. His jeans were several sizes too large for him, cinched tightly with a frayed leather belt. A cap was pulled over his forehead, hiding everything above his yellowed eyes.
Tommy's appearance was in stark contrast to the handsome Poldark, who wore a casual, open-necked button-up shirt, blazer and slacks. The living dead seemed to sense this, slouching back in his seat. "And here I thought we were going to be pals -- I mean, since I'm so valuable to your research and all."
"You're not that valuable -- there are dozens more just like you out there. I have my pick." Gray leaned forward, passing over several shiny DVDs. "Hardcore stuff here, Tommy. Just like you wanted."
The corpse lifted the discs and stared at them hungrily, almost as if he could view the information through sheer force of will. "They good lookin' birds?"
Gray sipped his drink in distaste. The Barrier had given rise to a number of new black market enterprises, not the least of which was mystically-oriented pornography. It was stunning how far human depravity could go... These particular DVDs featured the popular "Sex with the Dead" series, in which living women allowed themselves to be degraded by the dead. Gray had only watched a few minutes of one scene before he'd come to the conclusion that this was not his cup of tea. "I think you'll be pleased." He reached into his jacket and removed a small digital camera. "Let me see the brand."
Tommy sighed, but did as he was asked. He removed his cap, revealing a deep mark burned into his forehead. It was a curious shape, looking a bit like the head of a raven.
Gray stared as if transfixed. He snapped off several pictures, asking "How did it feel?"
"How did it feel?" Tommy asked, laughing. "It hurt like hell... but it was more than just pain. It was like I was being judged or somethin'." He played with the discs in his hand, caressing them absentmindedly. "And that voice of his. God...."
"Tell me what he said," Gray prompted, though he knew very well what the man had said. He'd heard these words before, dating back to the days of Gray's childhood, when this vigilante was merely a fictional hero on the radio and in pulp novels. But he was real... had always been real... and now he was out in the public eye in a way that he'd never been before. Acting desperate, like a man on the edge....
Tommy's voice sounded far away, as if his mind was replaying the events of his death all too clearly. "Where brooding darkness spreads its evil wings, the Night Raven stings!"
Gray grinned. He loved those words.
Later that night, Gray entered his flat and tossed his jacket carelessly over a chair. He'd gotten some good material from Tommy -- the audio might not be too clear at the moment, but Sally at the Beeb might be able to filter out the background noise. At this rate, Gray's documentary on the Night Raven would be finished within the week--
He stopped dead in his tracks, halfway to his refrigerator. He'd meant to pour himself a glass of unicorn milk (the stuff was majorly addicting, in a good way), but the sight of a silhouetted figure seated at the table had brought him short. Gray thought about the large walking stick in the living room -- it could deliver a good, sound crack to the head of a burglar... and Gray himself was the athletic type, burning off his excess energy through boxing, tae kwon do and swimming. "Who's there?"
The voice that replied sounded tinny, like someone speaking through a mask. "You should know, Mr. Poldark. You've spent enough time and energy trying to find me."
A chill went down Gray's spine... for that voice was so familiar to him. It had tantalized him on old recordings for so very long. "Night Raven," he whispered, scarcely believing that this moment in time was actually occurring. He thought about turning on the recorder in his pocket, but thought better of it. This man was known for not enjoying celebrity, after all. "You know about the documentary I'm doing?"
"I'd have to blind, deaf and dumb not to know. You're sloppy. That kind of thing could get you killed."
"Are you threatening me?"
The Night Raven rose from his chair, moving to join Gray at the refrigerator. He reached out and pulled open the door, partially illuminating the two of them. Night Raven was shorter than Gray, but stockier. He had the look of a middleweight boxer about him and an air of danger. Pistols were strapped across his chest and his face was hidden behind a peculiar bird-like mask. "You were getting yourself a drink, Graham?"
"I prefer Gray... and I'll pass now. Thanks."
"Suit yourself." Night Raven closed the door and the room was once more dark and foreboding. "Why have you been seeking me? Answer quick."
Gray swallowed, sensing that his answer was somehow important. Is he going to kill me or just destroy my videos and recordings? Or both? "When I was a kid, you were my idol. I used to dream about you swooping in at the academy and bashing little Nigel Rushford's head in. He was a bully... Even when I got older, I always remained a fan." He pointed into the living room, where a Night Raven vs. the Six-Fingered Demoness poster hung on the wall. "When I heard that you were active again, I started snooping around... discovered how you used to pass on some of your exploits to your friends for use in the novels and serials."
"And?"
"And I think people need to remember that there are heroes out there besides the Pendragons or the Commonwealth. People who do the dirty work that Captain Britain and Miracleman are too clean for."
Night Raven grunted and then coughed. The cough began deeper and more frightening, wracking his entire body. Gray started to reach out to him, but stopped himself. The vigilante straightened up again, but there was something different about him now. Something more vulnerable. "I'm dying, Poldark. But this city still needs a night watchman... and I don't have time to sire an heir."
Gray hesitated, not sure where this was going. Hope began to flare in his heart. "You want to give me a last interview?"
Night Raven's laugh was cold as ice. "I'm giving you something better than that. It's in your bedroom. Trust in the mask." He moved past Gray, heading towards the door.
Gray's hand shot out and gripped Night Raven's arm, but the vigilante whirled about, chopping at the unwanted touch. Gray cried out and yanked away.
Rubbing his injured hand, Gray said "Why did you do that? I was just going to ask you to stay!"
"I don't like being touched." He leaned close and Gray found himself unable to look away. "I'm about 43 minutes away from dying. I think you're a bloody idiot who has too much time on my hands, but the helmet thinks you have potential, so here we are. So get your arse into the bedroom and try it on."
Gray didn't make a move to stop him this time. Night Raven disappeared with a dramatic flourish of his long coat, leaving Graham Poldark standing in his kitchen feeling disconnected from reality. He looked about, noticing that the vigilante had helped himself to a plate of fish while he waited. Gray wondered at Night Raven's words... about dying in 43 minutes. Had the fish been his last meal? How could he know the exact instant he would die....?
"The bedroom," he whispered. He nearly ran to that area of the flat, flipping on the light switch as soon as he'd entered. There on the bed was a uniform of some kind, super lightweight body armor from the looks of it. It was purple and black, looking like a more modern version of the classic Night Raven attire. Resting next to the uniform was the helmet that Night Raven had mentioned... "Try it on, he said." Gray moved over slowly, lifting the helmet in his hands. The eye lenses gleamed at him. "Try it on."
*Contact*
Gray rolled over onto his back, his breath coming in quick heaves. At his side, Betsy Braddock lay with a contented smile on her face. They were both nude, the covers sticking to their sweating forms. Outside, the waves lapped up on the shores of Lyonesse.
He turned his head to face hers and was rewarded with a stunning megawatt smile. "You are bloody gorgeous," he whispered. "And to think I used to have pictures of you lying about my apartment."
Betsy rolled onto her side and placed her head on his arm. "I love you, too... It's amazing how quickly we've come together, isn't it?"
Gray nodded. "Seems like just yesterday I was the new kid on the team and you were dating that builder... what was his name?"
"John." Betsy sat up a bit, looking at him. Her eyes twinkled and her long purple-tinted hair fell about her shoulders invitingly. "Are you going to stay in bed with me tonight?"
"Probably not," he said. "You know I'll be up in an hour... and lying here staring at the ceiling isn't very exciting."
"Okay." She kissed him on the nose. "Go work out, then. I'll be here when you get back."
Before Gray could respond, a tremendous explosion rocked them both. The wall in front of their bed shattered inwards, showering them in dust and bits of stone.
The two Pendragons moved quickly, each rolling out of bed and falling into battle mode. Betsy summoned her psi-blade, which flared to life about her left hand. Gray, meanwhile, made a lunge for the Nocturne helmet which rested on the nightstand. An energy blast knocked it out of his grip, however, and caused him to cry out.
"No, no! Don't want to go and hide that pretty face away, do we, sweet Nocturne? I mean, I went to all the trouble of watching your predecessor's face go all blue and pulpy when he died... I'd hate to miss the chance to do the same with you!"
Gray stared up into the face of pure evil. Green-skinned and flame-eyed, the being known as Suture was a horror to behold....
*End Contact -- Future Probability 68.4%*
Gray yanked the helmet off his head, tossing it across the room. It landed in a crash, knocking over a pile of videotapes. "What the hell was that?!" he screamed. It had felt so real... the feel of that woman's flesh against his -- Betsy Braddock! his mind exclaimed. I was shagging Betsy Braddock!!! -- all the way to the sense of mounting terror when that Suture thing had come to him....
"Suture. How did I know his name? And what the hell is a Nocturne?"
He sat down on the bed, waiting for his pulse to slow back down. The uniform seemed to beckon to him, like a new lover. He felt an urge to try it on... He knew it would fit him perfectly.
On somewhat shaky legs, Gray retrieved the helmet. One way or another, it was the key to all this. Night Raven had said it was the reason he'd come here... that it had led him to Gray. He stared into the lenses for a long moment, making his decision. He was ready this time.
*Contact*
Gray Poldark stared a younger version of himself. The eight-year old Graham was seated on his bed, earphones turned up so loud that they vibrated from the noise. His walkman cd player was lying in his lap, blaring out the sounds of a Night Raven adventure entitled The Return of Dr. Hurt. It was one of his favorites and Gray still had a remastered version of it sitting in his car, even today.
Downstairs, his parents were fighting again. Gray remembered this day very well, for it was the day his father had walked out on them. Over twenty years later and he'd never come back....
"You're weaker than I thought. This is how you react to emotional heartbreak? You lose yourself in fantasy."
The elder Gray turned to see Night Raven standing behind him. The young Gray didn't seem to notice either his older self or his masked hero. "I was a little kid... What the hell's going on here, Raven? Why am I seeing something from the past?"
"Because it's one of your formative memories." Night Raven shrugged. "You are the one who helps shape the direction the Looking Glass takes, not the other way around. Remember that."
"The Looking Glass....?"
"The lenses of the Nocturne mask. They are shards of a mystic orb. I took them from a mystic who was hypnotizing your women into being prostitutes."
"The Case of the Stolen Maidenhead. I remember that one... the mystic was an Oriental mastermind named Lu Chang."
Night Raven grunted. "Yes. I've had it in my possession since 1953, but it took years for it to really regain its power after it was shattered. It eventually led me to you."
"For what? I don't understand --"
"That's obvious. Listen, Poldark. I'm dead. Even if it hasn't happened yet, it will. It's inevitable. But I can't leave the night undefended... According to the helmet, you're the perfect candidate. Driven. Athletic. Tireless."
"You want me to be the new Night Raven..." Gray whispered, feeling a surge go through him. How many times had he dreamed of this, as a kid?
"Not Night Raven. I'm dead, remember? You're something new. Something more suited to this god-forsaken age of MTV, cell phones and pixies. You're Nocturne."
"I work out, but I'm not ready to take on psychopaths and mob lords!"
"You have the basic tools, that's all you need." Night Raven gestured to Gray's body, indicating the Nocturne uniform that had appeared upon him. "The suit will enhance your natural abilities and the helmet will give you brief flashes of what your opponent is intending to do. It'll help you avoid their attacks." Night Raven drew his guns, so quickly that Gray barely had time to register the sudden move.
Nocturne jumped backwards, doing a handstand that twisted in midair. The bullets seemed to pass by in super slow-motion and Gray was able to land in a crouch before any of them struck the wall behind him. To his surprise, they blew huge holes in the plaster, but the younger Poldark just kept listening to his compact disc.
Nocturne felt the helmet guiding him as he pointed his right hand at Night Raven, who was rolling to his left, still firing. Gray saw a metal coil elongate from his gauntlet, striking Night Raven on the side. Electricity flooded into the older man, causing him to jerk in the air.
Gray yanked back on the taser, standing up as his opponent shuddered on the floor. "Why are you acting like you're hurt? You're not even really here. It's all some sort of... holodeck scenario, right?"
Night Raven coughed -- it was a wet, painful sound. "Bloody Star Trek. No one can go a day without comparing something to it. Rotted the collective mind of England." He looked up, seeming to shimmer and grow dim. "My time's up, Poldark. Try to make something of yourself."
"Wait!" Nocturne called, reaching out for the other man. It was no use, however, for Night Raven was gone.
*End Contact*
In the days and weeks that followed, London gained a new protector. He began with small excursions, breaking up some of the drug rings that he'd come into contact with during his research. Gradually, he became more confident and with that confidence came greater and greater risks.
Gray had scanned the papers for any sign of Night Raven's death, but there was never any mention of it -- not that he truly expected there to be. That Suture character wouldn't leave any sign of his misdeeds, Gray had been sure of that. Out of respect for the elder hero, Gray had abandoned the film project, much to the chagrin of his financiers.
Finally, on the eve of the 'wedding of the century' -- the marriage of Adam Crown and Ginny Halpin -- he decided to take the final step in making his presence known.
Soaring high above London, using the glider-wings attached between the arms of his suit, Gray followed the woman of his dreams. She'd figured prominently in a number of visions that the helmet had shown him, with a 97.1% probability that she'd offer him membership in the Pendragons. He didn't really care about that... but sharing her bed was definitely something that intrigued him. It had been a long, long time since he'd been with a woman in any capacity... there were few who could keep pace with his current schedule and even before the Barrier, he'd felt like a man adrift... seeking purpose. But now he had that in spades.
Betsy Braddock walked from the restaurant to a nearby alleyway, moving with purpose. None of the night's denizens approached her, though a few who recognized her waved in pleasure. Those she returned with a healthy smile, but none of the predators doubted that she was quite capable of dispatching them. As such, she was quite surprised to see a costumed man waiting for her in the alley. She immediately reached out with her telepathy, but found the path blocked by the magical properties of the Looking Glass. "Who are you?"
"A friend. You can call me Nocturne."
The woman who bore the identity of Captain Britain didn't look impressed. "I'm in a bit of a hurry, so if you could explain what it is you wanted...?"
Gray smiled, despite himself. He knew the taste of her lips and remembered where she liked to be touched... Patience. No need for her to know all your secrets. She probably likes a bit of mystery anyway. "Well Betsy, I was wondering if you would be interested in a new member of your group."
Betsy moved closer to him, noticing the way he smiled at her. It should have been creepy, the way this chap just assumed he could be so familiar with her. In fact, though, he seemed to radiate something that appealed to her. In a way, he reminded her of John Smith, the carpenter she'd recently gone out with... but there was something darker about him, too. As if he were a man constantly running away from something. "Nocturne? You have me at a disadvantage. You know my real identity and I have no clue who you are. So, before I take you back to Lyonesse, care to open up a bit?"
Nocturne reached up and removed his helmet, his smile never wavering. "Gray Poldark. And I'd love to tell you a bit about me... Over coffee perhaps?"
Betsy laughed. "Cheeky devil, aren't you? Very well..." She reached out and took his hand. "Nice to meet you, Gray."
He surprised her by kissing her hand. "You have no idea."
Author's Notes
This issue marks the Pendragons Universe debut of Nocturne, who starred in a 4-issue limited series published by Marvel in the 1990s. The back story conflicted with numerous other accounts of Night Raven's life and was seemingly set in a world without a plethora of other heroes. Thus, it's been relegated to 'out-of-continuity' status at Marvel.
This story takes the heart of that limited series and fits it wholeheartedly into Pendragons Continuity. For those of you new to the character, this story is all you need to know. If you read the original, hopefully you like the changes I've made.
Nocturne will officially join the Pendragons in issue 50 of that series. See you over there!
