Issue #1

The Black Knight, Crystal, Hercules,

Pulsar, Thunderstrike, Vision, Wasp

Dane Whitman, a.k.a. the Black Knight, looked out over the city-state of New Amsterdam. Standing on this observation deck of Avengers Tower, he could not only see the city but he could feel the city. Opening his mind he became part of the city; his blood rushing with the traffic. He could hear the thoughts of millions and the city was alive within him. Letting his mind go even more he joined the urban fauna into his thoughts, from the pigeons in the skyscrapers to the rats in the sewers, he felt them all.

"Dane?"

He could hear her thoughts approaching long before he could hear her voice, smell her fragrance…

"Crystal…" he said, his voice betraying his joy.

"Did you want to be alone?"

"No, come, join me. I was just watching the city in the sunset. It's moments like this that I fight for. This makes it all worthwhile."

"It's never like this on the moon," she said. "There it's always so calm and serene." Crystal's home was Attilan, the city of Inhumans on the moon.

"You don't feel it the way I do. If had more control over my telepathy I'd bring you in and share the sensation with you."

"It hasn't really been that long has it? It seems like forever…"

"Crystal… do you regret… everything you've done since… since Sersi's death"

"It wasn't easy leaving Peitro but things hadn't been going well before that… Sometimes we just never know when we've made a wrong decision."

Dane took her in his arms and held her as they watched the sun set over the city.

Behind them, in the wall of the tower, a red face peeked through the stone. And one of the few men Dane's telepathy couldn't detect tightened his lips into a grimace.

Dane and Crystal ran into the monitoring room with Hercules right behind them. The Wasp, having been on monitor duty, was already present, as well as Pulsar and Vision who didn't need luxuries like doors and stairways.

"What's the situation?" Dane asked.

"Down by the docks we've already got Thunderstrike on the scene in a major battle with this Bloodaxe villain he's told us about." Wasp replied.

"Pulsar, get there quickly and lend him a hand; Vision prepare a skycar for the rest of us. Let's move people."

"Black Knight," Hercules interjected. "If 'tis truly Thunderstrike and Bloodaxe then 'tis a duel of honor and interference would not become us."

"This is our city they're fighting in, Herc, and we can't just let them destroy it."

"Thunderstrike doth take such measures into consideration. Let protection of innocents be our duty and judgment not be passed 'til we hath seen the battle firsthand."

Dane paused for a moment. "Pulsar, get over there and do as Herc says. We'll be there momentarily."

Monica Rambeau, a.k.a. Pulsar, raced across town as a beam of light and arrived on the scene in time to see Thunderstrike deliver a crushing blow to Bloodaxe from his enchanted mace that gave him his godly powers lifting him into the air and driving him back about 20 yards, demolishing a brick wall. Bloodaxe collapsed on the ground defeated.

"Looks like you didn't need our help after all, big guy."

"Huh? Oh, Pulsar, and I assume the rest of the Avengers are on the way? No, I guess I didn't need any help with Bloodaxe but there's more to it than just that."

"Yeah, they're right behind me. You can tell us all about it when they get here. So who's this Bloodaxe character anyway?"

"I dunno. That's a question that's plagued me for months now, almost since I first took over for Thor." Thunderstrike bent down and removed the red faceplate from the unconscious figure.

"Bloodaxe is a woman?" Pulsar said, taken by surprise.

"Jackie…" he said with a start.

"You know her?"

"Her name's Jackie, Jackie Luckus… and she was someone very special to me."

"I'm sorry, 'Strike. What could have made her do this?"

"I can't imagine why she would do such a thing, unless it was this axe. I've had it affect me in weird ways before," he said still distraught at this revelation.

"Maybe you should just leave the axe for Dane to examine, 'Strike."

A small explosion knocked Pulsar off her feet as Thunderstrike picked up the axe. She looked up to see a different Thunderstrike standing before her. His hair no longer was tied back in a ponytail; the blue color of his costume had changed to red. Amongst other changes the most important one Pulsar noted was the mad look in his eyes.

"'Strike? You okay in there?" she asked hopefully.

In a blur of motion, the axe chopped down upon her. She let out a scream as she switched to her holographic form and still felt intense pain due to the magical nature of the weapon.

"Monica!" shouted the Wasp as she flew in firing her stingers at Thunderstrike.

Dane, landing the skycar, started issuing orders. "Viz, Crys, try to subdue him and keep him from harming people. Herc, get Bloodaxe to safety."

"Jan, get out of there so I can isolate him in a wind vortex. You're just making him madder," Crystal yelled, whipping up the wind with her elemental powers.

Dane knelt at the side of Pulsar as the other Avengers tried to deal with their berserk teammate.

"How is she, Dane?" asked the Wasp as she flew in from the battle.

"I'm not certain. She's still unconscious, but in her holographic form, so I can't check any vital signs. A light telepathic scan seems to indicate she just passed out from shock but I don't want to chance a deeper scan. You stay with her while I check on 'Strike."

Within a maelstrom Thunderstrike was screaming as the Vision partially rematerialized his hand within Thunderstrike's brain.

"He's too strong to take out that way, Viz. And the pain you're causing him just makes it harder for him to resist the axe. Herc, get in there and help restrain him," the Black Knight called out as he analyzed the battle scene.

Hercules waded into the fray, having already removed Jackie Lucas from the scene. He grabbed Thunderstrike's axe arm as the Vision, increasing his density to maximize his strength, got a hold of the other arm.

"He hath been restrained, Dane. What wouldst thou like us to do next?" Hercules called, joyful at any chance to fight.

Thunderstrike, belying Hercules' words howled in rage as he brought Hercules and Vision crashing into each other. With a bolt of force from his mace, he struck at Crystal, flattening her on her back. Striking backwards with both weapons, he knocked the Vision for a loop with the mace, while the axe caught Hercules across his chest.

"Crystal!"

Seeing this turn of events, including the woman he loved being struck down, the Black Knight hardened his resolve. Flying up to Thunderstrike he grabbed his head and forced a telepathic link between the two of them.

Intense waves of rage washed over him threatening to drown him. Nevertheless, he was expecting it and was able to clamp down on it.

"Thunderstrike… no, Eric Masterson is your name," Dane said, reading Eric's mind. "Listen to me, Eric. You've got to calm yourself. Calm down…"

The Vision arose to see the Black Knight trying to sooth Thunderstrike, both awash in a glow of energy.

"Black Knight, do you have the situation under control?"

"I think this will do the trick, Viz. I need you to give Herc first aid. I think he took a nasty blow. And have Wasp check on Crystal to see if she's all right.

"We're feeling calm now, Eric. I want you to let go of the axe. Do you hear me, Eric? Just drop the axe."

"No, NO! It's mine! Do you hear me? Mine, MINE!" Dane felt the rage wash over Eric all over again. He clutched the axe to his chest and with the other hand, mace hanging by its strap from his wrist, he lifted Dane by the throat.

Unable to speak and quickly changing tactics Dane sent his thoughts directly into Eric's mind. "Easy, Eric. We're your friends. Keep the axe. Calm down, my friend."

After calming Thunderstrike down all over again Dane opened his eyes to see himself still held by the throat, the Vision trying to make Thunderstrike let go.

"Easy Viz. He's not going to hurt me, are you Eric?"

Thunderstrike slowly shook his head and lowered Dane to the ground. Despite the calm exterior, a raging beast could still be seen in his eyes.

"What's the damage report?" Dane asked keeping a watchful eye on Thunderstrike.

"Hercules has a large wound across his chest. Despite the seriousness of it, he shows no concern. Given his Olympian physique, he may be justified in his view."

"He'll still need a doctor's okay before I let him on active duty again. How's Crystal?"

"Crystal's a little shaken but she'll be fine." A touch of concern showed in his synthezoid voice. "Pulsar, however, remains unconscious in her holographic form."

Crystal and Wasp knelt over the fallen form of Pulsar as Dane approached.

"Can you help her, Dane?" Wasp asked, her concern for her friend showing.

"Even though it worked with Thunderstrike, I'm still reluctant to try it. I can tell that she's alive. Is she showing any signs of life?"

"She seems to be breathing. What that means in her holographic form is anyone's guess though."

"I'm going to try just a slight telepathic touch to wake her so we can get her medical attention."

Dane stretched out a finger towards the hologram, loath to touch her lest the telepathic touch be too strong and he do more harm than good. Holding his breath he tried a telepathic link, breaking it off the moment he felt contact. Pulsar started, fluttered her eyelids, and woke up.

"Monica?" Jan questioned. "Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine," she answered. "How's Thunderstrike?"

"He'll be-" Dane stopped, startled to find Thunderstrike had followed him. "He'll be fine for the moment. He's still under the influence of the axe but he's no longer running wild. We'll get all four of you back to the Tower and see what the doctors have to say."

"Dane, before he picked up the axe he said there was something more than just Bloodaxe to deal with."

"Yes, I got that from my link with him. That's one reason I need everyone on their feet. It seems Seth is here and needs to be stopped, quickly."

"Seth?" Hercules asked. "'Tis a most deadly foe. He doth be the Egyptian Serpent God of Death."

"Yes, I know. I was there with Thor at his last defeat in Asgard. It took every Asgardian and Osirian we had to stop him. In the end I was the weapon that killed him and if necessary, I'll do it again."

Next Issue: The search for allies in the fight against Seth!

How and where it happened in the Marvel Universe:

Dane's brainwaves started to match Sersi's but he broke the connection and she survived. This happened in Avengers vol. 1 #372.

Thunderstrike fought Bloodaxe and died in the resulting conflict in Thunderstrike #24.

The Avengers Tower used in this story bears no relationship to the tower the Avengers are currently using in their own series. It's based off a scene in Avengers #374.