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The Mukuru (The Bleed)
Presidential Director’s Office

“You have done a tremendous job,” Presidential Director Battlestar said as he handed Brian a glass of wine. “All of the M.D.A. appreciates the work you did on our behalf. Saving our dimensional prison is a feat none of us shall soon forget.”

Brian took the red wine and sipped from it. “Yes, well, I work for the good of us all. I don’t want any accolades. A job well done is good enough for me.”

“I’m sure it is. And hopefully your men and those other units with you will have time to rest before the next crisis is upon us.” Battlestar sat down in his chair, his three centuries of age showing for just a moment. Brian had never taken the time to ask how his life ended up being extended for so long. But now he needed something to fill in the awkward silence.

“So you’re over three hundred years old, Director. How did that happen?”

Battlestar paused for a moment. Brian suspected memories were rolling through the man’s mind. He had that look in his eyes of someone lost in the past. Finally, he took a small breath and spoke. “The Elixir Vitae. I’m not sure if your world has such a thing, but it is a liquid substance that increases life. It was controlled by the Red Skull on my world. He had a vat of the stuff. In my last encounter with him, I fell into that vat. I’ve been alive ever since.”

Brian decided to be frank. “You don’t sound overly joyed about that.”

“I have seen many things I wish I hadn’t, Brian. Sometimes I think this long life is nothing more than the Red Skull’s last laugh.”

“Your life is anything but that, Director. You are doing great work for the Multidimensional Alliance. If you hadn’t of been around, Lord Deathstrike might have won the election.”

Battlestar smiled fragilely. “Yes, and we all know what a disaster that would have been. But you didn’t come here to talk politics, Director Braddock. What’s on your mind?”

Again Brian cut straight to the point. “My men uncovered information while in Earth-97701 about something the M.D.A. was hiding called the Neocounts of Olympus Mons. What do you know about them?”

Battlestar leaned back in his chair and looked up at the roof. “I was hoping that you wouldn’t find out about that, but I mostly expected that you would. There are threats that the M.D.A. knows about that we have largely kept from most of the Directors..threats that we will need a great deal of power to tackle.”

Brian frowned. “So we were willing to cut a deal with the Magus first in order to get them? Is that really how this alliance is going to operate?”

“I’m not sure how the countries on your Earth operate, Director Braddock, but how many good nations have worked with less than reputable people for the greater good? Getting the Neocounts was for the greater good. They are weapons we will need to have if we ever come across some of the threats we’ve gleaned.”

Brian stiffened and his posture became like a noble’s. “What are these threats that require so much secrecy?”

“I’m not at liberty to talk about them yet, Director Braddock.”

Narrowing his eyes, Brian said, “Then what’s to stop me from telling everyone that will listen about the Neocounts?”

Battlestar spread his hands out on his desk and took a deep breath, before pushing himself up. “Director Serenity’s world wasn’t abandoned because our rules prevented us from helping her. Her world was abandoned because she’s making the same kind of threat that you are now. I would strongly advise against you making it again.”

“I never really suspected you of making those kinds of threats.”

“Then you’ll understand just how serious this issue is then.” Battlestar got up from his chair and moved to the front of his desk. “There are forces in the M.D.A. that you are not aware of; forces that are moving this alliance to bigger and better things, but I do not have a great deal of sway over them. So I couldn’t promise you much in the way of protection if you continue down the path you’re on.”

Brian folded his arms across his chest. He heard sincerity in Battlestar’s voice, but now he began to wonder what his world had gotten itself into. “For the sake of seven billion lives, I won’t. But I don’t like this, Battlestar, and I have a hunch you don’t either.”

Battlestar walked forward and put a hand on Brian’s shoulder. “Trust me. Things are better this way.” Then he led Brian out of his office.

---

The Hollow (Earth-792)

“Damn, can’t a man catch a nap? I can’t believe you’re ready to go already,” Portal said, standing outside of his and Gaia’s room, talking to Wiccan.

“We don’t have time. For all I know, Epoch could be dead already.”

“I’m sure he died a little inside when he decided to hook up with you anyway.”

Wiccan’s face turned red. “Portal!”

Portal threw up his hands defensively. “Ok, ok, sorry. I just would like to have gotten a little personal time in with Gaia before we headed out.”

A blur blew past the two men and send their clothes up in a dizzy. The blur stopped to their sides and revealed itself to be Wiccan’s twin brother Speed. Portal always figured they were fraternal twins given some of their differences. Speed had pure white hair and Wiccan’s was brown, a Wiccan was a prick and Speed actually knew how to have a little fun every now and then.

“I know where you’re going, Billy, and I’ll be damned if you think you’re leaving without me,” Speed said, pointing a finger at his brother. “Epoch was my friend, just as much as he’s your lover. I’m not gonna let you do this alone.”

“One more person couldn’t hurt,” Portal said, “and the more you argue with him about it, the more time you’re wasting.”

Wiccan frowned at Portal and turned to his brother. “Fine, you can come. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”

Portal ran a hand through his hair. “Think I’m going to need the old battle armor for this one. Might get a little rough seeing as how we haven’t the faintest idea what’s waiting for us.”

Wiccan put a hand on his brother’s shoulder to keep him from speeding off. “Might as well tell both of this while I have you here..the threat we face on Epoch’s world is a very real one.”

Portal shrugged. “Alien invasion; I kind of figured that meant it was serious.”

“The Carmondians have conquered nearly the entire planet save for a few tracts of Argentina, where the last of the resistance is,” Wiccan said, holding out a hand and creating a glowing white globe in it. The geographical location of the resistance was highlighted in red. “I don’t know if Epoch is there, but that’s where we need to start looking for him.”

“How do you know all of this?” Portal asked. “I thought we lost all communication with their world.”

Wiccan clasped his hand and the globe disappeared. “I have ways. My powers are significantly stronger now.”

Portal pushed his lips to one side of his face and looked at Speed. “Doesn’t matter one way or another to me, I just want to find this guy and get the hell out of there.” Portal walked away from the two brothers. “I’m going to say bye to Gaia. Then we can go.”

---

An Hour Later
Earth-521 (New Hope, Argentina)

A bent stop sign in the middle of a residential neighborhood was torn apart by the energies of Charles Littlesky’s emerald portal. Wiccan leapt out of the gateway, followed by his twin brother and Portal. A quick glance made the devastation plainly obvious. Speed put a hand on Wiccan’s shoulder. “We’ll find him. I’m sure he survived this.”

“He better have,” Portal said as he put together an energy rifle. “I didn’t come all this way to retrieve a corpse.”

“You’re just a barrel of laughs,” Speed said, his eyes focused on a pile of burnt cars in what might have once been a nice suburban yard. “Maybe I should scout ahead.”

“No!” Wiccan said. He knew his brother had a tendency to ask questions and not wait to get an answer. “Portal’s right. We don’t have any idea what we’re dealing with here. For now, we need to treat this like an F.C.E.*”

(* First Contact Expedition - Brent)

“So how far is this world’s Hollow?” Speed asked.

“Don’t know, but I can teleport us there,” Portal said. Wiccan hadn’t been able to provide a specific targeting point, but now that they were here Charles was quickly gaining an innate understanding of the terrain. It was a natural side effect of his powers.

“Go ahead and do it, but be ready for anything,” Wiccan said, tight with worry.

“Let’s just go already. This standing around is starting to drive me crazy,” Speed said.

Portal opened up a rip in the fabric of space and playfully gestured to the brothers like a butler. “After you.”

Speed dashed into the portal followed by Wiccan. Portal hoisted his rifle on his shoulder and stepped through. The circular rip slammed shut, leaving behind the desolated suburb.

An exact but opposite rip opened up four miles to the northeast inside of a fenced facility. The three ARMOR agents walked out of the portal and took in the smoky surroundings. The gray facility was littered with blast marks and scattered fires.

“So this is it?” Speed sped around the building and came back. “They suffered a pretty heavy attack.”

“Did you see any kind of entrance?” Portal kept his rifle out, scanning the area for any potential hostiles.

“One, but rubble is blocking it. I can probably shake it up, but I don’t know how unstable the building is.”

Wiccan closed his eyes and bowed his head. “Then it looks like I’ll have to get us in.” Trickles of blue light formed at his fingertips. “Provide us with safe passage into this building. Shield us from harm and bring us to friends.”

The blue light expanded and blanketed the three men. As soon as the light enveloped them, they vanished.

It was a momentary departure that brought them into the Hollow. They were immediately surrounded by soldiers aiming a variety of pistols at them.

Wiccan slowly lifted his hands up. “We’re friends. We’re from the M.D.A. / Earth0792. I’m looking for Epoch. He was a member of this world’s ARMOR.”

A woman stepped through the crowd of ARMOR agents. “And he still is.”

“Director Hand, we’re here to help. So could you please tell your men to put down their weapons?” Wiccan asked this knowing he could have stopped them if he wanted to. Dark words of power simmered in his mind, including a word to induce insanity of a chant to devour their souls.

Victoria Hand slapped her hand down and all of the ARMOR agents put down their weapons. She locked eyes with Wiccan and he could see she was full of fury. “You’re not here on the behalf of the M.D.A. They abandoned us to our fate.”

Speed stiffened up at the comment. Wiccan knew that Tommy had taken it personally. There was a strong tone of accusation in Director Hand’s voice. “Not all of The M.D.A. agrees with the decision that was made.”

“But that’s not why you’re here. You’re here for Epoch,” she continued before Wiccan had a chance to rebut. “I hope you didn’t think I’m stupid enough to believe the three of you are here to save our world.”

Portal laughed. “Well, at least you’re smart.”

Wiccan cut his eyes at Portal. “I worked with your ARMOR before, Director Hand, and we did good work. You may be underestimating us now.”

Victoria folded her arms under her chest and kept her steely stare on Wiccan. “It’s only because of that you’re still alive. I don’t trust any part of The M.D.A. so you’re going to have to prove yourself.”

“Fine, just make it quick. I’m not going to leave here until I know where Epoch is at.”

“Follow me.” She turned away from the three men and walked through the crowd of ARMOR agents. Speed kept right on her heels.

The four of them made their way through a series of hallways until they got to an elevator. Victoria bent down and let the elevator scan her retina. The door opened wide and all of them stepped in.

“Finding Epoch isn’t going to be easy. I haven’t heard from him in over a month. He was working with Team X in the Gaul Empire and hasn’t been heard from since.” Victoria didn’t pay the least bit of attention to Wiccan’s strained face.

“Gaul Empire?” Speed asked, waiting for someone to fill him in.

“I’ll explain later,” Wiccan said as they reached the sixth level basement. “So what is the exact situation here, Director Hand? We were only given so much information.”

Victoria led through a floor of beeping computer consoles flashing a rainbow of colors. “This is an occupation. The Carmondians are exacting revenge on us for not killing the Diamond Surfer.”

“So now you’re getting your asses kicked, right?” Portal said, earning a harsh glare from Victoria and Wiccan. “Just stating facts here people. We wouldn’t be here to rescue Wiccan’s squeeze if the situation was any different.”

Victoria continued. “As your friend so eloquently put it, the Carmondians are kicking our ass. Their attack was unexpected and all major population centers have been devastated.”

They stepped in front of a tubular force field and floating in it was a blue sword. Victoria pointed at it. “All my magic specialists are dead so this is yours, Wiccan, but under one condition.”

“What is it?” Wiccan looked like a kid in a candy store; it was an expression that both Speed and Portal took note of. There was a certain ravenous to it.

“Are you really about to just give that away?” Everyone turned to the source of the question and saw a middle-aged man in a pink suit and walking on a white cane. He turned his nose up at Portal and Speed.

“This is Percival Pinkerton.” Victoria gestured towards the man. “I need you to get him and two other agents into the Gaul Empire to meet an important contact. Agree to do that for me and Vishanti’s Sword is yours to keep.”

“You have a deal,” Wiccan said, his eyes glued on the sword. He could hear his magic almost singing to him as he stared at the weapon. “Besides, if Epoch is in the Gaul Empire that’s where we’re headed anyway.”

“Good. I’ll need you to leave ASAP.” Victoria walked up to the console in front of the force field. “Command code one-two-four alpha-epsilon seven.”

The force field dropped and Wiccan caught the weapon out of the air. He instantly felt its power and its memories. On this world, a thousand men before him held this weapon. Some were noble and others were completely corrupt. Wiccan was determined to be the last person to ever have this sword.

“So who else are we taking besides him?” Speed asked, pointing a thumb at Pinkerton. He just hoped the other two weren’t as brightly colored as him. They might as well put a sign on their back asking to please be shot.

“The Rose and Viper, last of my brave Howling Commandos. I strongly doubt any of you possess any quality that makes you worthy of being in their company.” As Pinkerton spoke, both of them walked out of the elevator at the opposite end of the room.

“I guess we’re about to find out,” Speed said.

“Ooo I’m just shaking and rattling in here,” Portal said.

Pinkerton frowned. “And this is who you decided to give the Sword of Vishanti to.”

“Don’t question me, Percival. I know what I’m doing. Now I suggest you all play nice. You’re about to head right into enemy territory.”

Victoria waited until Viper and Rose were part of the gathering. “These three are going to go with you into Gaul. Find Toad and bring him the data. If he’s not found in 72 hours then you find Kelly.”

“And if he’s not found?” Rose asked.

“Then destroy the data and do as much damage to the enemy as possible. If we can’t break the Carms in Gaul then we damn sure won’t be able to do it anywhere else.” Victoria looked at each of them. “Don’t blow this mission or your chance to find Epoch because of petty squabbles. Now I have business to attend to. Banner doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

Victoria walked away from them and the six individuals remained silent for a few minutes after she was gone. Finally, Viper broke the ice. “Well, gentlemen, I suppose we have some getting acquainted to do.”

Speed smiled and put his hand out to Viper. “Bout time! Thought that would never end. I’m Speed. That’s my brother Wiccan and Portal is the guy wearing a ton of metal.”

“So I take it the three of you are from another dimension then? And why are you here to find Epoch?”

“Full of questions aren’t we?” Portal said to an unresponsive Rose.

“Yes, we’re from another dimension,” Wiccan said, “and I’m here to find Epoch because I love him and I’ll be damned if I leave him here.”

Pinkerton laughed, full of pomp and haughtiness. “You must not know Epoch if you really think he would abandon his world. Unlike your alliance, Epoch does not leave his friends when they’re in need.”

Wiccan wasn’t sure what to say to that. Speed quickly stepped in. “We’re here aren’t we? So let us help however we can and shut the hell up till then.”

The Rose and Viper stiffened. Rose pointed a finger. “Speak to Pinkerton like that again and I’ll break your neck.”

Wiccan’s eyes flashed black. “Enough! We won’t make it a day arguing like this.”

“Wiccan’s right,” Viper said. “We all have friends we want to help. So let’s just do it.”

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The End...

Next: In A.R.M.O.R. #19: Someone comes to pay Brian a visit and she comes courtesy of Battlestar with secrets to spill and warnings to give. And we get a peek into Serenity’s world and find out exactly why the Multidimensional Alliance abandoned it.

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