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#6
FEB 11 |
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“Planetary Strike” Part Six
Malus Interspatial Airport
Lunar City of Saint Orleans
Josiah Rage looked out over the crowd assembled in front of him, composed of his S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents, members of X-Force and those individuals from A.R.M.O.R. given to him by Director Braddock. The Horsemen and Prime Sentinels were already being positioned around Los Angeles by his Assistant Directors, along with a few select A.R.M.O.R. Agents.
He would have preferred to have the Deathloks, but he knew how Fire Mage was; she could be impossible to work with if you didn’t give her a few concessions every now and then. He was waiting on her to address the soldiers, but he could see impatience beginning to set in amongst them. They were ready to hear what their leadership had to say.
Everyone knew that the Magus was coming and that this battle was going to be big, but no one knew any real details except for those in a need-to-know position. But the time for that had passed and every citizen of this solar system needed to know about the destruction that was headed their way. They needed to be able to steel themselves for what was to come because the Magus would show no mercy to anyone. He had been waging war for nearly two hundred years and he wasn’t about to back down when he could taste victory. The Shi’ar and the Uncreated had been Earth’s greatest allies but, with them now nearly gone, his confidence had never been higher.
Josiah had dreamed about this kind of battle ever since he was a kid waging fake wars against the neighbors in the wheat fields of Venus. The great enemy had been the windmill converting the high winds of the planet into electricity and his army was the legion of ants that marched around. He missed the order of the ants; they were the creation of the scientist Hector Lang and were the marvel of the terraforming movement. Genetically engineered to synthesize a number of harmful elements into oxygen, they were the smallest history changers ever known.
That was what Josiah hoped they could all do in the coming hours and days. History was going to change at their hand and not the Magus’. To allow him to win was to spell the death of not only every human, but the deaths of the many races under Earth’s protection. Josiah wasn’t going to let that happen. The windmill wasn’t going to win today.
“Oh, what a gentleman, waiting for me.”
Turning around from his overhead view of the holding deck, Josiah glared at Fire Mage like only a person who knew you intimately could. "You’re late.”
Fire Mage had been the commander of X-Force for nearly twenty years and was largely responsible for shaping what was once a loose confederate force into a cast iron, bullet-spitting machine of precision and death. She took crap from no one, always had a Cuban in her mouth, and had a voice deeper than any baritone. The woman had gone as far as to get a giant red X tattooed on her forehead to prove to a doubtful soldier her dedication. She was the kind of person you always wanted at your back and never staring you down.
“I was arguing with this Director Braddock. He’s taking all of my Class Fives with him into space. T’Chaka is giving this guy far too much leeway. I think his head is stuck in the clouds being surrounded by all these characters from the First Age,” Fire Mage said as she sat down the rifle that was slung across her back and pulled out the handguns that were sitting in holsters on her side. She didn’t want to address the troops fully armed. Her reputation was already scary enough and this was supposed to be uplifting.
Josiah smiled to himself (because no one ever caught him doing that in public) as Fire Mage laid down her weapons. “Now if only we could get some pretty locks to replace that buzzcut, you might actually be cute.”
“Keep talking. I still have a knife in my back pocket, “ she said as she walked by Josiah and out onto the balcony.
“You really want to do that dance again? It didn’t go so pretty for you the last time.”
“Bite me.”
Josiah laughed this time and couldn’t help but to do it openly. The entire crowd went completely quiet, even the A.R.M.O.R. Agents, though they didn’t know why. They were just following the crowd.
Fire Mage looked at him and shook her head. "You pick a fine time to be a wimp.”
The Lensherr Mansion
Switzerland
Governor Lorien Lensherr had seen the power and influence of the European nations grow smaller and smaller with every year. The destruction that had been wreaked upon the continent by Apocalypse and Zatharos had simply left too big a scar and, by the time it had healed, the rest of the world was far ahead of them. Europe had the world’s most poverty, crime, infant mortality, etc. If there was a bad statistic then it was likely that Europe was at the lead. How what was once the depository for the world’s power had fallen so low dumbfounded Lorien.
It angered him even more that he had to be Continental Governor during such a time. That was why he ate alone every night because it was the only time he got to properly stew in that anger. He made no sound and ate without light, but he had all the fury of a raging lunatic having to be restrained by a group of men. His father had promised him that Europe would be a better place by the time he grew up. Far as he could see, that was a lie.
And here he was. Destiny had spat on him by making a leader in such a time. He would have given anything to be like the European nobility of old who indulged in painting, parties and prestigious education. What original sin had he committed against the universe to make him worthy of such a disgusting fate?
None of the others could understand because they were not rotting in a cesspool. Amiri was leading Africa into a new Renaissance while Sable and Kiriko had the tools necessary to build their holdings. Tucker stubbornly stuck to old traditions, but so did the people under him, so he was loved.
Lorien was none of these things. His people looked him upon with disdain and he had none of the resources necessary to improve his or their standing in the world. Desperation had forced him to turn to outside sources.
As he finished eating a sweet, seductive voice called out to him. It was like the light of the old, untainted moon had washed into his room. “Lorien my love. Where are you?”
“In here. I was just finishing eating,” Lorien said as he pushed back his purple plush chair and tied his white hair back into a ponytail. “I had expected you to arrive earlier.”
An apparition of Selene moved into the room. "Unexpected matters came up. We are making the final moves to prepare for our invasion.”
Lorien nodded. This was not the course of action he would have wished to take, but it was the best one available to him. The Magus had promised to make him a King, the Warlord of Earth. Lorien would be the Magus’ caretaker while he went off to conquer other worlds and races.
In Lensherr’s mind, he figured that would take so much of the conqueror’s time that he would be able to rule Earth without much interference. Then he could fix whatever damage the Magus would cause and place the name of his family on a pedestal the likes of which it had never before seen. There would be monuments to the glory of the family Lensherr. All he had to do was cooperate.
“I do believe that my people know about your ambush in Los Angeles. My sources there tell me they’ve seen S.H.I.E.L.D. moving Prime Sentinels into position throughout the city. Rumors of the Four Horsemen being there have also circulated.”
Selene put a hand to her chest and gave a haughty laugh. “We knew they would discover this assault. That is why we told you Los Angeles and not our true location.”
Lorien couldn’t keep the red hue from seeping into his pale face. His fists tightened with embarrassment. “You used me as a tool!”
“Of course. We knew that some information we gave you would leak. The Magus just hoped the right information would make its way back to Stark. It seems to have worked,” Selene said as she floated along the ground and patted an immaterial hand against Lorien’s face. “My love, don’t be so coarse about it. You will soon rule this world.”
“So where are you planning to make the attack?”
Selene smiled. “I think you will enjoy this part. The Magus knows of your disdain for the line of Nur, so as a gift for loyal service he has decided to send the White Gods right into the heart of Cairo, gem of Africa.”
Lorien imagined Amiri’s face as he watched the city he loved burn; there was something strangely satisfying in that thought. The Lensherrs would suffer their last insult at the hands of the Nurs. Destiny was finally starting to be on his side.
The Landing Deck of the Pantheon
Outside Mars Orbit
Portal looked out the window and stared down at the lines of metal that went up, down, back and forth across the red planet. “Crazy, huh? Our universe’s Mars is untouched and this one is full of life.”
Gaia wasn’t sure what Charles found so awe-inspiring about what was essentially one giant prison. She could only imagine the crazy people that were locked up down there. She had heard about the Pirate Crew of Earth-1509 and how many people they had massacred in their career. It gave her goosebumps if nothing else. “It’s probably a good thing ours is that way.”
Charles looked at his girlfriend as she approached the window. She looked like she was watching a horror movie and not something that was a marvel of architecture and science. True enough, they were looking at a massive planet-wide prison system, but imagine if their world could do something similar? The Vault and other prisons like it would be rendered obsolete. Earth wouldn’t need to be a storage house of volatile super powered elements.
She was still unable to see how Charles was able to have that childlike wonder in his eyes considering who was locked up down there. It made the reality of winning this battle all the more poignant. If they lost then every criminal locked up down there had an opportunity at freedom. “You know who they’re trying to put in there next, don’t you? They’re supposed to be tracking down that Dawn girl from Earth-27538. She ripped Rome a new one and killed all of the Squadron Maximum.”
A new voice stepped into their conversation. It was Kurt Marko AKA the Swordsman of Earth-27538. The woman that they were discussing was from his world and his best friend had been on the Squadron Maximum. “Don’t forget that she also stole my world’s Soul Gem and Hescamar of Asgard. She is a dangerous bitch who deserves to rot in the most hellish hole that prison has. I would have preferred to be excused from this mission to capture her immediately. The thought of her roaming about in the Multiverse grinds my teeth, but the choice was out of my hands.”
Portal snickered. “Well, there’s a bit of a logic flaw there,buddy. If we didn’t help these guys you wouldn’t have a prison to throw your Dawn in.”
The Swordsman didn’t seem to appreciate the comment, but his facemask didn’t reveal much in the way of emotion. “I think this little expedition would have gotten along well enough without my A.R.M.O.R.’s involvement.”
The conversation came to a grinding halt when Captain Britain entered the room flanked by an angry Alise Parker and stoic Vulcan, commander of this world’s S.W.O.R.D. and, thus, commander of the Fleet Admirals. Brian walked right over to where Gaia, Portal and the Swordsman were, placed a hand on Kurt’s shoulder and said, “I know you rather be elsewhere, my friend, so I appreciate you being here.”
Kurt tipped his faceplate slightly as a sign of respect to the Field Commander. While he had no desire to be here, he was happy that at least Brian of Earth-792 was in charge. The man seemed to have his head on straight and wasn’t stuck on a power trip. Common sense seemed to guide his hand on and off the field. "Just tell me the plan and I’ll execute it to the best of my ability.”
Earth-9154
Genosha
Polaris walked slowly and methodically around the table in her mother’s private office as she stared wonly at the woman seeking her country’s help. “You say you’re on the run.Why should Genosha protect you?”
The woman ran a finger through her long red hair and said, “Zola promised me the protection of the Cabal and your mother is a part of that, is she not?”
“Much to my regret yes,” Polaris replied as her eyes made their way to the green gem seemingly implanted in the woman’s chest. “But my mother is a member of the Cabal; she is a not a slave to them.”
Standing up fro her chair, the woman clutched at a gold purse and cast cold blue eyes on Polaris. “Then perhaps it would be best if I left.”
“I didn’t say that, I simply want to know your reasons. Who are you on the run from? Why come here? If Zola offered you protection, could you have not gone to Skymaria?”
With her stolen gem, Dawn was able to peer into the soul of Polaris. She was not as far gone as her mother, Magneto, and she was miles away from the stench that was Arnim Zola. But there was still that tinge of darkness in her and Dawn had a feeling that it would grow to consume her in time. For now, the woman was being genuine in her questions.
“You may want to take a seat; the story I have to tell you is quite the long one and it starts with a little something called the M’Kraan Crystal.”
Polaris’ interest was piqued. She had never heard of such an artifact. “I prefer to stand. I burn more calories that way.”
Dawn smiled. “Suit yourself.”
That was when the voice she had been hearing since arriving on this world burned into her mind.
I see you, Dawn. And I am coming for you.
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To Be Continued...
Next: In A.R.M.O.R. #7: Who holds a disturbing concern for Wiccan? And just what are the Horsemen planning?
FORCE WORKS of Earth-97701M
Technocrat (Taki Matsuya)
• Technoformer and inventive genuis
Double Jack (Omaru Imahara)
• Ability to 'hack' into multiple minds to take over their mind and body
Shovel and Dirt (Dirk Graves)
• Mentally create dimensional 'sinkholes' that send people into Darkforce dimension
Amazon (Beverly Miggler)
• Super strength and senses coupled with amazing fighting ability
Caterpillar (Ubu Ngoma)
• Wraps himself in metallic cocoon and erupts in different monstrous forms
Valkyrie (Brunnhilde)
• Superhuman strength and centuries of combat experience
Lieutenants of the Magus
Ganymede
Persephone
Hipployta
Red Tarantula
White Lion
Icarus
Skullbones
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