EXCEPTIONALS
Story Arc #3
"Underneath It All"
(A Secret Invasion Tie-In)
Part 2 of 4
written by
Ken Lehman
ISSUE #10
EXT. TOKYO, JAPAN - NIGHT
Subtitle: TOKYO, JAPAN - SEVERAL WEEKS AGO
A supernatural light comes out of one apartment's room.
AMATSU-MIKABOSHI (OS)
Do you know what happens to those who fail me?
INT. APARTMENT ROOM, TOKYO – NIGHT
KURO TEPPEN stands fearfully silent before a portal opening that has an angry AMATSU-MIKABOSHI inside.
AMATSU-MIKABOSHI
Do you, Teppen?
KURO TEPPEN
Please give me another chance, Lord Mikaboshi! Please!
Teppen kneels before Mikaboshi.
KURO TEPPEN
I had nearly completed the mission you bestowed upon me! I just need another chance to finish-
AMATSU-MIKABOSHI
Silence!
Teppen goes obediently silent.
AMATSU-MIKABOSHI
I have a new mission for you…
Mikaboshi projects an image of the HOOD before Teppen.
AMATSU-MIKABOSHI
Parker Robbins, alias the Hood, is one of Dormammu's servants.
Teppen studies the projection.
AMATSU-MIKABOSHI
You will join his criminal empire and manipulate him according to my will…
EXT. FOGGER SHIPPING, NEW YORK – NIGHT
Subtitle: MEANWHILE…
Under a full moon, lies a secluded shipping warehouse.
AMATSU-MIKABOSHI (VO)
…especially in the times to come.
SKRULL PRIEST (OS)
We are gathered here today-
INT. FOGGER SHIPPING, NEW YORK – NIGHT
As Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman), Veranke and other Skrulls, including those posing as Hank Pym and Edwin Jarvis, mourn her brother's death at a funeral lead by a Skrull priest.
SKRULL PRIEST
-to remember a fallen prophet and our king: Dajez.
Tight shot of Veranke remembering her brother's death.
SKRULLS (OS)
He loves him…
Flashback: EXT. GEFFEN-MEYER CHEMICALS – NIGHT
During Civil War, Genocide unleashes a beam of energy, which crashes down on and vaporizes Jason Del Toro.
From the air, a horrified Spider-Woman (Veranke) sees her brother being blasted.
In a very brief moment only noticed by Veranke, Del Toro reverts back to Dajez before being completely vaporized.
INT. FOGGER SHIPPING, NEW YORK – NIGHT
Tears roll down Veranke's face.
SKRULL PRIEST
Although he's no longer with us, Dajez will continue to guide us in our scared mission from the afterlife.
The Edwin Jarvis Skrull comes to comfort Veranke.
EDWIN JARVIS SKRULL
Is there anything I could do for you, my queen?
Veranke turns to him, giving him a disk.
JESSICA DREW (VERANKE)
Finish what my brother started.
The Jarvis Skrull dutifully takes the disk.
EDWIN JARVIS SKRULL
It shall be done, your majesty.
Flashback: EXT. APOCALYPSE'S SPHINX, EGYPT - DAY
Subtitle: APOCALYPSE'S SPHINX, EGYPT - SEVERAL DAYS AGO
Among the hot sand dunes lies Genocide's home and headquarters.
INT. APOCALYPSE'S SPHINX, EGYPT - DAY
Genocide sits in his throne, bitterly remembering the past.
INT. APOCALYPSE'S SPHINX – EARTH ORBIT
Genocide unleashes energy beams at the members of Clan Akkaba.
Before they completely disintegrate, they revert to their true Skrull forms.
As they finally disintegrate into oblivion, Genocide is left speechless to what he just saw.
INT. APOCALYPSE'S SPHINX, EGYPT – DAY
Angry, Genocide's eyes burn with energy.
EXT. THE RAFT – DAY
Subtitle: THE RAFT, RYKER'S MAXIMUM-MAXIMUM SECUIRTY INSTALLATION - NOW
On an island off the coast of Ryker's is the prison for superhuman criminals.
CAPEKILLER #2 (OS)
Hey, these inmates look familiar…
INT. SUB-BASEMENT ONE, THE RAFT – DAY
Two Capekillers check on the prisoners Brawler, Revenant, Wildfire, Ecstasy, Mirror, Smoke, Terrain, Rapid, Brutality, Flood, and Malware in their cells.
CAPEKILLER #1
They should. They're the Exceptionals' supervillains.
CAPEKILLER #2
The Exceptionals?
Capekiller 2 turns to 1.
CAPEKILLER #2
Wait, aren't they the black operatives who defected from S.H.I.E.L.D. during the superhuman civil war?
Capekiller 1 faces 2.
CAPEKILLER #1
Yup and these are their supervillains who served in the Thunderbolts Army to counter their involvement.
The Capekillers look back at villains in their cells.
CAPEKILLER #2
They don't look so tough-
Suddenly, the alien virus that the Dajez and the Skrull Edwin Jarvis uploaded takes effect, *having every place that has Stark Tech, including the Raft, go offline with a warning of ALIEN VIRUS DETECTED (*see Secret Invasion #1).
*The Raft's power is out and the whole prison is on red alert (*see Secret Invasion #1).
CAPEKILLER #2
-to me…
The Exceptionals' supervillains come out of their cells, looking murderous, and surround the two Capekillers.
CAPEKILLER #2
Command deck! This is sub-basement one!
The truly and gravely mentally ill Malware steps forward with one personality…
MALWARE
Whud was dat you sayin' 'bout us not lookin' so tough?
CAPEKILLER #2
We have a real situation here!
…then another personality…
MALWARE
Gentlemen and lady, I believe we should teach this rude individual some manners.
…and then back to the first personality.
MALWARE
Dat means kill the mother#$%ers!
CAPEKILLER #2
Hurry!
INT. S.H.I.E.L.D. SAFEHOUSE #49 – DAY
Subtitle: MEANWHILE ELSEWHERE…
While Stealth is interfaced with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s mainframe, the other Exceptionals, Ne'liu, Nick Fury, and the Secret Warriors monitor *all the chaos the Skrulls caused (*see Secret Invasion #1):
*A SKRULL SHIP that headed towards Earth earlier.
NE'LIU
That was a Skrull transport ship.
STEALTH
It seems to have landed in the Savage Land. Both teams of Avengers are there now.
*THE PEAK (S.W.O.R.D. headquarters that orbits Earth) is blowing up.
REQUIEM
Dear God! That was the Peak! S.W.O.R.D. headquarters!
*The SKRULL VIRUS is crippling various places where STARK TECH is used.
STEALTH
I'm detecting an alien virus rapidly spreading throughout all installations using Stark Industries technology.
QUAKE
Stealth! Stop interfacing with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s mainframe now!
STEALTH
I'll be fine, Quake, I'm not Stark Industries technology. But I thank you for your concern.
*Explosion at THUNDERBOLTS MOUNTAIN.
GRAVITON
Something just hit Thunderbolts Mountain!
ESSENCE
Or someone…
*Maria Hill's S.H.I.E.L.D. HELICARRIER is going down.
CRYOS
That's Hill's S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier going down!
*THE BAXTER BUILDING is being torn up by a portal to the Negative Zone.
STONEWALL
What's going on with the Baxter Building?
STEALTH
The Negative Zone has been breached.
Suddenly, all the monitors switch to space where a *SKRULL ARMADA approaches Earth.
NE'LIU
That's a full Skrull war armada.
STEALTH
It looks like the rest of Earth's systems that I'm interfaced with are about to go-
Suddenly, all the monitors go to static.
STEALTH
-offline…
Ne'liu notices Bruiser depressed and silent.
NICK FURY
That's our cue to move out, troops.
As the others get ready, Ne'liu goes up to Bruiser.
NE'LIU
I got you into this mess, I'm gonna get you out.
Looking at Ne'liu sympathetically, Bruiser breaks his silence and says-
BRUISER
You didn't get me "into this mess."
The giant Bruiser kneels down in front of Ne'liu.
BRUISER
"This mess" got the both of us.
Bruiser gently caresses Ne'liu's face.
BRUISER
And together, we'll get out of it.
Ne'liu lunges at Bruiser, embracing him with a kiss.
Bruiser embraces and kisses back.
EXT. APOCALYPSE'S SPHINX, EGYPT - DAY
Subtitle: APOCALYPSE'S SPHINX, EGYPT
Skrull ships attack Genocide's base but to no avail since its forcefield is up.
Genocide leads X-Cell and his cybernetic Dark Riders to confront the approaching Skrull ground forces.
KAR'KE (OS)
Genocide!
The HORSEMEN SUPER-SKRULLS (their powers and looks are various combinations of past Horsemen of Apocalypse) stand before Genocide's forces. They are led by the KAR'KE, who has the combination of Archangel, Caliban, Wolverine, and Gambit's Horseman of Death looks and powers.
Subtitle: KAR'KE AND THE HORSEMEN SUPER-SKRULLS
KAR'KE
Queen Veranke has personally selected us to avenge the murder of her brother King Dajez. You would remember him in his human form…
Tight shot of an angry Genocide radiating energy.
KAR'KE (OS)
Jason Del Toro.
KAR'KE
What say you, murderer?
GENOCIDE
I killed him because he was not fit to survive.
The Skrulls look angry.
GENOCIDE (OS)
He was weak and corrupt…
Powered up, Genocide leads X-Cell and the Dark Riders in the charge against the Horsemen Super-Skrulls.
GENOCIDE
…just like the rest of you!
EXT. THE RAFT – DAY
Subtitle: THE RAFT
Brawler, Revenant, Wildfire, Ecstasy, Mirror, Smoke, Terrain, Rapid, Brutality, *Flood (*who is covered from head to toe since being a vampire), and Malware make it to the roof of the prison…
ECSTASY
Freedom, boys!
FLOOD
Not for all of us…
RAPID
Don't worry, Flood, we'll get your vampire-$$ some SPF one-
…but notice the Skrull invasion occurring.
RAPID
-thousand…
BRUTALITY
What's going on?
REVENANT
Invasion.
TERRAIN
Invasion? Who are we being invaded by?
REVENANT
I don't know. My demonic powers can't detect who.
Suddenly, a body is blasted out of Ryker's by an energy beam of white light…
MALWARE
Holy #$%, someone just got blasted outta Ryker's!
…and heads towards the villains.
SMOKE
Looks like a prisoner…
They back up as the steaming corpse impacts the roof hard.
MIRROR
Incoming!
The villains approach the impacted body.
BRAWLER
Wait a minute…
They turn the body over, revealing a dead COREY LAO.
BRAWLER
That's Chris Chang!
Brawler looks up…
BRAWLER
He was a part of my gang.
…and notices LIGHTWAVE flying from Ryker's with a trail of white light behind her, heading towards the Raft.
LIGHTWAVE
Poor naïve Sly.
ECSTASY
It's Lightwave! Kill the bitch!
BRAWLER
No!
"Lightwave" lands before the villains, looking sinister and with blood stains all over her.
LIGHTWAVE
His name wasn't "Chris Chang," it was "Corey Lao."
While Brawler is speechless, the other villains are baffled.
LIGHTWAVE (OS)
"Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."
LIGHTWAVE
He secretly infiltrated your life…
Suddenly, she reverts to her true Skrull form: KR'VIS-a female Super-Skrull with Lightwave's power set but also superhuman physical attributes, teleportation, "organic steel" transformation, and psionic weapon formation.
Subtitle: KR'VIS
KR'VIS
…just like I did with all of yours.
BRUTALITY
What the #$% is that?
REVENANT
A Skrull.
TERRAIN
A what?
REVENANT
A shapeshifting alien…but one I couldn't detect.
WILDFIRE
That's because…
The villains look behind them, noticing "Wildfire" reverting to his true Skrull form: KE'MAR-a male Super-Skrull with Wildfire's power set but also superhuman physical attributes, "organic steel" transformation, teleportation, and psionic weapon formation.
Subtitle: KE'MAR
KE'MAR
…we're not your average Skrulls.
ECSTASY
Wildfire…?
Both Super-Skrulls attack the villains.
KE'MAR & KR'VIS
For the glory!
EXT. BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – DAY
Subtitle: BROOKLYN
While the Skrull invasion continues, Kuro Teppen heads for the Hood's hideout.
INT. THE HOOD'S HIDEOUT, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - DAY
Teppen enters the living room where the Hood (with his hood down), WIZARD, MADAME MASQUE, THE BLOOD BROTHERS, CHEMISTRO, and BULLDOZER watch live coverage of the invasion on television.
HOOD
How did it go, Teppen?
KURO TEPPEN
I found them. They are fighting the Skrulls as we speak. The next step is to bring them in.
WIZARD
You're doing a recruitment drive while we're being invaded by hostile aliens?
KURO TEPPEN
There is never a better time to expand your army than during a war with a common enemy.
MADAME MASQUE
Who are these "new recruits" anyway?
EXT. THE RAFT – DAY
The Exceptionals' supervillains battle the Super-Skrulls.
KURO TEPPEN (VO)
They are young talent with a lot of potential.
INT. THE HOOD'S HIDEOUT, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - DAY
An arrogant smile appears on Teppen's face.
KURO TEPPEN
And with my guidance, they can fulfill that potential.
EXT. TIMES SQUARE, MANHATTAN – DAY
Subtitle: TIMES SQUARE, MANHATTAN
While Skrull ships are in the sky, Super-Skrull ground forces take on the *Young Avengers (*see Secret Invasion #2-3) and the *Initiative (*see Secret Invasion #3).
*Led by Nick Fury, the Secret Warriors arrive (*see Secret Invasion #3).
NICK FURY
Okay, commandos! Let's turn this thing around!
Led by Paragon and including Ne'liu in her human form with big high tech guns, the Exceptionals arrive.
PARAGON
Troops! Move out!
Both teams aid the *Young Avengers and Initiative in battling the Super-Skrulls (*see Secret Invasion #3).
GAUNTLET
Not the cavalry I was expecting, but I'll take it!
Even amongst the superpowered mayhem, Cryos notices the sudden appearance of DAN SULLIVAN.
CRYOS
Dan…?
"Dan" looks at Ne'liu, reverting to his true Skrull form: HED'AX-a behemoth Super-Skrull with the combination of powers and looks of the Hulk, Cyclops, and Electro.
Subtitle: HED'AX
HED'AX
Ne'liu!
Ne'liu looks at the Hed'ax angrily.
HED'AX (OS)
Queen Veranke has declared you a traitor to the Skrull Empire!
Hed'ax's eyes radiate energy and body radiates electricity.
HED'AX
The sentence for your crimes…
Hed'ax unleashes a powerful optic blast at Ne'liu…
HED'AX
Death!
…that hits her streaming energy she just fired from her gun, causing a tug of war effect.
Even in the midst of their own battles, the other Exceptionals notice this battle, especially Bruiser.
BRUISER
Ne'liu, hang on! I'm-
Suddenly, Cryos screams as he is overwhelmed by his SECONDARY MUTATION and manifests multiple new powers.
ESSENCE
Ken!
By reflex, he lunges at a surprised Hed'ax while turning into a cryogenic gas.
He freezes the Skrull to absolute zero as an engulfing gas.
As Cryos reconstitutes his body as a solid behind Hed'ax, the Skrull explodes into multiple frozen blood crystals from the impact of Ne'liu's shot.
Even in the midst of battle, time seems to stop and the other Exceptionals, especially Essence, look at Cryos with utter astonishment.
ESSENCE
Ken?
Baffled yet intrigued, Cryos is left squatting and looking at his hands changing from a gas back into a solid.
CRYOS
I feel different. I feel more…powerful.
As Cryos stands up, he reflexively transforms into an organic ice form (like Iceman).
CRYOS
Secondary mutation.
The other Exceptionals are speechless.
TO BE CONTINUED