"There must be some mistake," Jackie said, feeling numb and cold at the same time. She pulled her thin gown tighter around herself, suppressing a shiver.

"No mistaking this, luv." Doctor Andrews smiled good-naturedly, his large brown eyes crinkling at the sides. "I've been in this vocation  long enough to recognize such things."

Jacqueline Falsworth Crichton nodded dumbly, too stunned to speak. She'd come to her family physician complaining of a variety of symptoms, all of which fit the diagnosis he'd given her... but it had never crossed her mind that this was the explanation. "I'm pregnant." The words sounded strange in her mouth and she closed her eyes tightly.

Sensing her reaction, the doctor placed a hand comfortingly on her shoulder. "I thought you'd be happy. I'm terribly sorry. Does the gentleman in question not seem like husband material?"

The woman who had fought for England's defense for sixty years let a solitary tear run down her cheek. She was a strong, capable woman and she would not allow herself to weaken. Not when so much depended on her. She'd recently become a mother again, accepting Kenneth's young son into her home and heart... and now she'd have to do it again. Why do I keep hanging on to children when the men in my life die? "He's no longer with us, I'm afraid." She opened her eyes, freezing him with a painful glare. "He's dead."

Union Jack stared across the darkened street, listening to the ringing of church bells in the distance. It stirred strange memories in him, reminding him of his mother dragging him off to Sunday services. He'd never been able to accept the notion of God, at least not as presented to him by the Bible. He'd voiced his questions to his mother again and again, but her answers never satisfied him. "It's a matter of Faith," she'd say. "Even if you can't see these things with your eyes, you know them with your heart."

Bollocks, he thought. If there was a God in heaven above, he's long since lost interest in me. Taking my father... taking my self-esteem... making me fall prey to the Baroness... and now this. An inhuman monster who feeds on blood. 

Kenneth closed his eyes, the taste of warm blood still on his lips. He'd dined before leaving the nightclub district, feasting on an Ecstacy-using Elf. He'd found that he liked the taste of the glamoured creatures particularly, as it was richer and more potent. 

There is no God that has forgotten you. You are Chosen. 

Kenneth smiled beneath his mask. The Lady of the Lake... he'd heard her voice several times since becoming a Pendragon. He still wondered how and why Avalon had chosen him as a protector -- why would the Lady of the Lake want a vampire in her service?

"That's the place."

Kenneth glanced over to his side, where Ghoul had stepped up. The undead hero held a fag in his left hand, shaking off the ashes. He looked awful -- and smelled worse -- but his information had proven valuable so far. Like Lord Pumpkin, Ghoul was a visitor to this world, having been sucked in through a mystic vortex. "What sort of defenses does he usually have?" Kenneth asked.

Ghoul looked at the unassuming building across the way. It had once been a prosperous theatre, though those days were long past. Now its peeling paint and weathered condition gave it the appearance of a former beauty sliding sadly into lesser days. "Oh, you know. The usual insane superhero riff: goons with guns, death traps, yadda yadda."

Kenneth chuckled despite himself. "You're absolutely insane. And you didn't have to come with me, you know."

"Me and the Pump, we go way back. Besides, I feel kinda responsible for him, seeing as how we're both from the same Earth."

Union Jack nodded once before beginning to dissipate into mist. "Join me inside, then. I'm going ahead."

Ghoul stamped out his cigarette as he watched Union Jack's misty form move slowly to the theatre and slip unheeded under the door.  He wasn't sure why he'd come, to be honest. What he'd said had been true enough, but he had also felt strangely out of sorts on this world. Like he had no purpose. The visit from the Pendragons a few weeks back had stirred the old adventurous spirit in him -- and now Union Jack was letting him tag along for the ride. Ghoul, Interdimensional Hero. It's got a ring to it.

The interior of the theatre was covered with a thick layer of dust, but Kenneth could see that it was still being used for there were footsteps leading into the dark stage area. Up on the stage, a heavy black curtain hid most of the actors' area from view, but Kenneth heard/smelled/sensed movement beyond. He sniffed the air as his body re-solidified, smelling warm, hot blood. He drew his pistol and tried to quell the rising bloodlust within him. "I'm here for Lord Pumpkin. If you work for him... I will spare you only if you turn against him now. Otherwise, I'll make no promises."

The curtain swept open dramatically and a hail of gunfire rained down upon Union Jack. He sprang backwards with preternatural agility, firing his gun as he did so. In moments like this, the world seemed to slow down all around him and he saw with startling clarity as the bullets passed by him. He twisted to and fro as his body arced back to the ground below, shooting three of Pumpkin's men before he'd even landed.

As soon as his feet touched the carpet below, he dropped into a crouch and drew a new gun clip. He slid it into place as the remaining gunmen paused in their assault. He raised his voice once more, surprising even himself at how strong and confident it sounded. It was nothing like the Kenneth Crichton of old... It's like I'm channeling Joey when I'm like this, he mused. "You can't hit me," he yelled. "I'm far too fast for you. All I want is your master."

"Then you shall have him."

Union Jack looked upwards, watching as Lord Pumpkin began to descend from the rafters. He and one of his armed guards were riding down on some sort of theatrical prop that resembled a floating alien craft. Smoke from dry ice machines began to billow over the stage, adding to the unreality of the scene.

Lord Pumpkin himself, a living mockery of all that was natural, grinned down at his new foe. His leering grin stretched even wider, until his pumpkin head looked like it was about to split. "Union Jack. I've heard a lot about you," he purred, greenish-black smoke billowing from his mouth. "I hear you're quite the legend 'round these parts. Been bashing enemies of the crown for nearly a century... Bet all that fighting crime makes one hungry, hm?"

Kenneth stood straight, pointing his gun directly at Lord Pumpkin. "You're a monster. And I'm going to kill you."

"And then what? Are you going to lap at my blood like a kitten to warm milk?"

Kenneth hesitated. He knows! He knows I'm a vampire....

Lord Pumpkin laughed mirthlessly. "Funny thing about vampires, Mr. Jack. They're soooo powerful and yet soooo flawed. Can't stand even the smallest touch of something like sunlight." He shrugged. "Care for a demonstration?"

Light suddenly flared all around Joey as a tremendous spotlight came on, momentarily blinding Kenneth. For once, his enhanced vampiric senses worked against him and he staggered away, holding his arms up to block the light.

Lord Pumpkin looked at the gunman at his side. "Do the honors, Toby?"

"Yessir, Mr. Pump." The burly man raised his rifle and lined up his prey in the sights. Unlike Lord Pumpkin's other agents, this one was armed with a very unusual gun... one specially designed for the man below. A single shot rang out and it hit home, as Kenneth was far too stunned to avoid it. The bullet lodged deep in his left shoulder, its unique glass casing shattering upon impact. 

Union Jack screamed as burning pain raced through him. He fell to the ground, clutching at his wound, clawing at it like an enraged animal.

Lord Pumpkin jumped from his perch and landed on the stage. He swept his jacket about himself dramatically. "Refined liquid sunlight. A nice little toy created by a vampire killer one of my boys contacted. You like it?" He leaned forward, watching as Kenneth thrashed about. "I hope so... 'Cause I'm about to pump you full of 'em!"

TO BE CONTINUED

Next Issue: "Pump" continues as Lord Pumpkin's ultimate plan is revealed... and a villain long thought dead in the Marvel UK/Pendragons Universe returns.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

We've got mail! Here's Trav Hiltz:

Nice series. I wasn't thrilled at Joey's demise, but the new version is interesting. I like that he's prowling London's underworld as it was another of those neat ideas you hadn't had much chance to expand on. Ghoul and Lord Pumpkin?! It warms my comic fanboy heart to see these guys back in action. The Ultraverse had some fun titles. Maybe if I ask real nice you'll let me bring Sludge into the PU?

Glad you're enjoying the series so far! Joey was a great character and I'll miss him, as well. But I hope that Kenneth will grow on you a bit. This first storyline is a bit fast-paced but the second arc, "Bloodlines," will slow things down a bit and delve into the Crichton/Falsworth family tree.

Thanks,
Barry Reese