Disclaimers
All characters appearing in Gargoyles, Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles and Marvel Comics are copyright Buena Vista Television/The Walt Disney Company. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Gargoyles Time's Changeling - Episode Ten: New Allies and a New Enemy
By Celgress
Courtyard of Castle Wyvern Exhibit Chicago early November 2014, evening
"They could have been high on PCP, or something similar." Nate said not believing the Gargoyles' story about encountering "zombies" last night.
"What is PCP?" Goliath rumbled uncertainly.
"A type of street drug that people too frequently abuse, often with disastrous results," Veronica said. "It alters behavior and can cause vivid hallucinations."
"Can it also cause invulnerability?" Brooklyn asked. "The guys we fought wouldn't stop coming no matter how much damage we did."
"Yeah, we tore some of their limps clean off." Broadway said.
"Ah yeah, you should probably avoid doing that in the future." Veronica said wincing. "Ripping off limbs is kind of frowned upon by people in the 21st Century."
"Nonlethal force should be employed whenever possible." Nate seconded. "Maiming along with killing humans should be avoided at all costs."
"We don't kill unless provoked." Goliath snapped offended by Nate and Veronica's seemingly admonishing words.
"What counts as provocation though?" Nate said. "Concepts of morality have evolved greatly since medieval times. Many things that were considered acceptable conduct in battle back then are disallowed today."
"What about vampires." Lexington inquired. "Killing them is still okay, right?"
"We're talking about humans right now." Nate reminded.
"I guess killing vampires is allowed." Veronica reasoned. "Vampires are usually counted amongst the undead ipso facto they aren't truly alive so they can only be destroyed rather than killed."
"Excuse we please. I must confer with my second." Goliath said exchanging glances with Elisa He and Elisa then went off and huddled together for several minutes. When they returned Elisa spoke.
"We agree humans shouldn't be killed or crippled. Once we've captured criminal human we will turn them over to the proper human authorities."
"I'm glad we understand each other." Nate said.
"Damn right you will." Franco said entering the courtyard with Hudson and Bronx. "It's the police department's job to deal with lawbreakers not yours."
"Thanks Franco but they'd already agreed to that principle." Nate said.
"I thought you hated super beings Franco?" Veronica said.
"Not all only most," Franco corrected. "Hudson and Bronx here are my buddies, right boy?" Franco scratched Bronx behind Bronx's fined ears. The gargoyle beast's back left leg twitched happily. "See he loves me already."
"Unreal," Veronica said eyes wide.
"Got that right," Nate said.
"At first I must admit I was going to turn everyone in, but then I thought better of it." Franco said.
"May I ask why the change of heart?" Nate said.
"Hudson and Bronx remind me of myself and my old dog." Franco said. "Both Hudson and I are weathered veterans with hearts of gold under our rough exteriors." Nate choked back laughter.
"Watch it college boy, not one word," Franco warned his expression turning dark.
"Aye Franco be my friend." Hudson said pulling his arm around the human.
"Hey now none of that touchy feely stuff," Franco said trying to squirm out of Hudson tight grip. "I have a certain reputation to maintain. Besides having these guys around makes my job a whole lot easier, nobody will dare rob the place." Everyone human and gargoyle alike laughed Franco grumbled.
South Side of Chicago, several hours later
Blue Recluse surveyed the gruesome crime scene before him. He'd seen plenty of murders over his life, in fact he'd committed more than his fair share to his eternal shame, but never anything like this. These poor souls had by torn apart, all but pureed. It was more akin to a rabid animal attack than a murder committed by human agents. Forcing down rising bile he radioed his local SHIELD supervisors via a small concealed communicator in his left ear. Clad in his dark blue uniform with the deep red white trimmed crescent eye pieces and matching chest mounted spider symbol, which was akin in general design to that of his more famous counterpart Spider-Man's costume, he steeled himself.
"Blue Recluse here, are you receiving my transmission?" Blue Recluse said.
"SHIELD Chicago Command Center here, we are receiving your transmission loud and clear Blue Recluse report." A male voice said.
"There isn't much left of the victims. They appear to have been shredded by some physically powerful unknown creature." Blue Recluse said. "At this time I have no idea who or what the assailant might be."
"Roger that, retrieve a sample of the remains for detailed analysis." The male voice ordered.
"Roger that, will do Blue Recluse over and out." Blue Recluse said.
"Roger that, SHIELD Chicago Command Center over and out," The male voice said ending transmission.
"This is the part of my job I really hate." Blue Recluse grumbled retrieving a clear plastic palm sized specimen container from a pouch on the silver and blue utility belt he wore.
No sooner had Blue Recluse gather and stored the specimen when a familiar tingling filled his skull. Letting instinct take over he leapt away an instant before a menacing dark form landed where he had been crouching. Spinning around Blue Recluse quickly identified his attempted attacker, Venom!
"Fancy meeting you here Eugene." Blue Recluse said.
"Don't call us that we are Venom!" The salivating, long tongued monstrosity roared.
"Tired of New York State thought you'd branch out huh pal?" Blue Recluse said seizing up his foe.
While Blue Recluse had faith in his abilities he knew from SHEILD briefings and the testimony of his "brother" Peter Parker that Venom had a distinct durability advantage, due to the nanite nature of Venom's inky bluish-black costume. Luckily the living suit did have its weaknesses; intense heat, loud noises and strong electrical charges.
"This your handy work?" Blue Recluse asked gesturing at the bloody remains.
"We protect the innocent." Venom scoffed his strange multi tonal voice conveying disgust. "We would never make such a mess we kill clean, as you'll soon learn firsthand."
"Last I heard you were hanging and banging at the Xavier Institute." Blue Recluse said. "What happened rehab didn't work out, poor baby?"
"Ha ha ha laugh while you can." Venom said. "We didn't belong there with those misguided mutants. Our purpose is greater than their narrow vision permits."
"Really," Blue Recluse said. "I heard you went AWOL following a battle with Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants a few months back. Word is Magneto's electromagnetic attack scrambled your constituent nanites undid the wonderful job Jean Grey did of reforming you. Magneto then killed Jean Grey with a major assist from you because you'd gone berserk. Jean was your friend she believed in you. How could you betray her?"
"Don't mention her name ever again in our presence!" Venom screamed pouncing on Blue Recluse.
Blue Recluse plan had worked perfectly. Sidestepping Venom's incoming attack Blue Recluse dropkicked his black sending Venom spinning uncontrollably into a heap of trash. Aware he wouldn't be down for long Blue Recluse scurried up the nearest wall leaving the alley behind. Sure enough Venom was in hot pursuit. The two then engaged in an intense running battle dancing amongst the rooftops of South Chicago. Blue Recluse gave as good as he got. Unfortunately Blue Recluse didn't possess anywhere near degree of resiliency his obsidian adversary did. After exchanging a particularly vicious series of punches and kicks Blue Recluse's body grew numb. Next thing Blue Recluse knew he had landed hard atop a high rise office building. Dazed Blue Recluse stared up at the stars. Temporarily unable to move he contemplated his existence, his place in the Universe.
Life had never been easy for Kaine aka Keith Parker. The eldest son well in actuality cloned offspring of researchers Richard and Mary Parker, he'd been used as a guinea pig while little more than a child. After later killing his parents in retaliation he'd wondered for over sixteen years before being reunited with what remained of his family. At first he'd wished only to destroy his family over time things had changed and he'd instead grown to love them. In fact they were the reason he was here. He'd joined SHIELD under duress so Peter, Reilly and their equally young cohorts could have what had been denied him, a chance at a normal life.
"Ready," Venom hissed stooping down his grinning fanged face staring into Blue Recluse's own. "We'll enjoy this." Venom's buffy right hand encircled Blue Recluse's neck hoisting him up high overhead. Slowly Venom's grip tightened until Blue Recluse could barely breathe his legs uselessly kicking in the air.
'Sorry Peter, sorry Reilly, sorry Aunt May I failed'. Blue Recluse thought sadly.
Darkness began to close in on Blue Recluse. Consciousness was slipping away when Blue Recluse thought he heard a shrill shriek akin to the roar of some agitated great beast. Next thing he knew he was back on the rooftop having been dropped there by Venom.
"How dare you interfere in my affairs wretched creature!" Venom demanded quickly regaining his footing he'd been bowled over by a flying tackle from a pale blue skinned female gargoyle.
Grasping her traditional Japanesse sword tightly with both hands Katana swung at her opponent a moment before he charged. Venom bellowed in annoyance more than pain when Katana's blade sliced precisely through the black material of his chest leaving behind a deep, bloody gash that was rapidly covered by white and black material. Katana gasped in shock Venom merely grinned.
"What's the matter my pretty expected we'd be easy pickings?" Venom said. "Sorry to disappoint our powers of recuperation are legendary. You'll never do us any last harm. We are invincible."
"Perhaps, let us find out," Katana said in a whirlwind of motion she hacked and slashed Venom form almost every conceivable angle. In spite of her efforts ever wound was superficial and soon healed. When Katana next went to strike three slender blueish-black tendrils wrapped around Kanta's blade pulling it from her talons as Venom violently backhanded her with his right arm. A sickening crack was heard. Katana instantly knew her beak had been broken along with one or more ribs. "Uhuuuu," Katana groaned after spinning through the air and landing several feet away. Her world going dark.
"It's been fun," Venom said stomping towards the fallen Katana, "time to die my pretty." Multiple tendrils shoot from Venom's form grabbing tightly various parts of Katana's badly injured body pulling her up. "Say goodbye foolish creature."
"Goodbye foolish creature," Blue Recluse growled smashing the back of Venom's head with the steel trap door he'd preyed free from the rooftop while Venom was distracted with Katana. Momentarily stunned Venom stumbled several steps forward. His tendrils loosened their grip dropping Katana. Quickly shaking off the latest blow Venom turned around his frenzied tendrils slicing through the air aiming for Blue Recluse's head and chest.
"Miserable annoyance we'll butcher you!" Venom lunged at Blue Recluse who narrowly avoided contact.
"You'll have to catch me first." Blue Recluse taunted baiting Venom.
Every time Venom tried to attack Blue Recluse dodged, rolled or leapt out of the way. Venom got angrier and angrier. He was soon barreling around the large roof. Having worked himself into lather Venom threw back his head gnashing his teeth as if he were a crazed animal.
"Standstill while I bash your skull in. I'll then suck the barrow from your shattered bones." Venom said.
Rather than answer Blue Recluse unloaded ropes of organic webbing on Venom hoping to incapacitate the villain. It wasn't long before Venom was cocooned. However he didn't remain that way long. With yet another mighty roar Venom tore free and leapt at Blue Recluse who was too exhausted to escape. Blue Recluse braced for the worst, but impact never came. Another gargoyle, this one a heavyset aquamarine male, landed heavily on Venom. In a feat of impressive strength thoroughly enraged Venom tossed the male gargoyle off.
"More rats with wings!" Venom snarled.
"I wouldn't comment on looks as I was you handsome." Brooklyn said his eyes solid white.
"Yeah you're no prize either.' Lexington said his eyes also solid white, both gargoyles having landed on either side of Venom.
"We don't need this. We'll deal with all of you later, under our own terms." Venom said quick as lightning he fired a thick rope of greyish-white webbing and sailed off into the night.
"Thanks," Blue Recluse said breathing hard.
"What was that, thing?" Broadway asked.
"An old enemy of my family," Blue Recluse said.
"Who are you?" Lexington asked his eyes, along with Brooklyn's, having lost their white glow.
"Blue Recluse special meat-human field agent of SHIELD, currently attached to the Chicago office." Blue Recluse answered.
"Who's she?" Brooklyn said picking up the still unconscious Katana.
"No idea, I assumed she was one of yours." Blue Recluse said shrugging.
"We've never seen her before tonight." Brooklyn said.
"She came to my aid against Venom, the creature you drove off." Blue Recluse said. "Wherever she came from, I think she'd be better off with you than me or SHEILD. What are you anyway?"
"We are gargoyles." Broadway said.
"Gargoyles, like the statues on ancient churches?" Blue Recluse said.
"No, we're real they aren't. I think they were based on us." Lexington said.
"I see, well duty calls," Blue Recluse a loud tone sounding from his belt buckle. "Here," Blue Recluse said fishing a plastic business card type item out of a pocket on his belt. "If you ever need to contact me, or SHIELD in general, use this."
"How does it work?" Lexington asked in awe taking the navy blue card with SHIELD written in gold across it.
"Tap the SHEILD Log and speak, goodbye," Blue Recluse said firing a web line and swung away as Venom had done before him.
"Interesting guy," Broadway said. "What are we going to do with her?" Broadway looked at Katana cradled in Brooklyn's arms.
"She's one of us. We're taking her home." Brooklyn said with conviction daring Broadway to challenge his decision.
"You're the boss." Broadway said shrugging.
"I can't wait until we tell the others what happened." Lexington said turning the SHIELD smart card over in his hands. "What an exciting night."
"Yeah, exciting," Brooklyn said glancing at the sleeping female gargoyle in his arms.
To Be Continued