Chapter 12: A Dark and Stormy

Ohio has cold November rain just like anyplace else. Samuel Barone walks through it into the Stark County Library in Canton. In the quiet library, the rain falls in rippling sheets down the glass of expansive windows that normally let in copious, glorious light. But, today is a dark day outside, and Black Talon seeks someone in a dark corner of the quarters. In the archives, Barone finds the bashful bibliophile who he seeks. Behind closed doors, in a room's far corner, Baron Karl Mordo examines a Transylvanian text from nigh two centuries back. The Lethal Legionnaire approaches.

"Shall I wish you happy Black Friday, Samuel?" Baron Mordo looks up from his book. The sorcerer sensed his visitor a mile away.

Black Talon replies, "Black Friday is next week, and not even many supervillains brave that madness."

Mordo studies Samuel, "You are missing an arm. I see."

"Grim Reaper removed it. I would like it back," Samuel states.

The mage strokes his goatee, "It was not Grim Reaper."

"Oh?" Black Talon is very surprised, "That is news to me and heroine Hellcat. We engaged a Grim Reaper in New Orleans. . . . ."

"After Man-Ape apparently offed Eric Williams in the waters off Rhode Island," cagey Karl completes Samuel's thought.

"I would like to know what actually happened to Eric, and I would like to have my right arm when I do it," Black Talon takes a seat across from Baron Mordo.

Neither public enemy wears the usual garish garments that mark him as a malevolent marvel capable of combatting Earth-616's champions. Karl and Samuel are simply two patrons in the Canton public library. From past acquaintance, Barone knows that Mordo likes perusing the Romanian books and newspapers available in this community rich with Romanian-Americans. Granted, the New York Public Library has an even bigger collection from Karl's native land. But, Manhattan can be a hotbed of superheroes, so an evil sorcerer sometimes goes to Ohio for some downtime. Not that nemesis Dr. Strange can't detect Baron Mordo here. Perhaps, Strange simply allows an adversary some sanctuary and quiet time.

The heavy precipitation continues falling on the library building. It is the only soft sound beside the buzzing overhead lights and the hissing heat. Karl closes his book. He considers his colleague earnestly. Both pull at their goatees a bit. Baron Mordo prepares to speak. . . . .

Several blocks away, Roberto Carlos sits in a parked car on 6th Street. Enforcer's employee has driven two-thousand-and-a-half miles over one-and-a-half days, and he would like to stretch his legs. The chilly rainfall might even feel good as it awakens the exhausted man. Barone's chauffeur reaches for the door handle.

Abruptly, a boomerang breaks the driver's side glass and knocks Roberto unconscious. From the gloomy sky, Boomerang descends proudly on his jet boots. Arms akimbo, he alights on the asphalt beside the auto. In an instant, Speed Demon appears at Boomerang's side.

"You had better hope that there are no cops or witnesses around," Speed Demon chides, "I could have more subtly taken out Black Talon's bodyguard."

Boomerang spits on the wet ground, "S***, Sanders. Who but the wicked are even out in this weather?"

"Oh my God!" exclaims an agog passer-by at the two thugs in motley, wonky costumes.

"What the . . ?!" ejaculates another running across the street.

"Hi, we're from New York City," the goon with a boomerang on his brow gives them a wave.

"You're the Sinister Syndicate," identifies one beat cop walking his beat down 6th Street.

"Where are Rhino, Beetle, and Hydro-Man?" grills his partner.

Speed Demon cracks wise, "Rhino is in west Africa. Beetle has reformed. And, Hydro-Man is right here." Indigo gloves indicate the pouring wet.

"Don't get smart with the Canton PD," admonishes one officer, "We have Howard the Duck about sixty miles north."

"Do you really think that Howard the Duck could best ol' Boomerang?" Boomerang retorts. He brandishes his namesake weapon.

A policeman produces a pistol from his rain poncho. "Freeze!" he puffs water vapor into the cool air.

Slickly, Speed Demon seizes Boomerang by the waist and slings him to the Stark County Library entrance, blocks away. "I like beating and bullying non-powered folks as much as the next supervillain," the Demon confesses, "But, we have a chickens*** rogue in a rooster outfit to tear apart."

"Mr. Barone might not be in his rooster outfit. The cocky creep might be incognito," malcontent Myers speculates. He politely gets the door for Speed Demon.

Upstairs, two inconspicuous evil individuals converse over future dark deeds, present circumstances, and the awesome powers of the universe. Karl Mordo studies Samuel Barone staring back across the table. The necromancer needs a moment. His jaw drops slightly, but his open mouth does not speak.

Seemingly, Mordo reads Barone's mind, "You are shocked and somewhat put off by my plan."

"No s***!" Talon pronounces, "There must be a better way."

"You said that the absent arm is in a Bag of Infinite Capacity," the master occultist argues, "Good luck finding it in there. You need to go to it instead."

"Why?" Barone does not understand.

"Because," the Baron explains, "Even I cannot search Infinity efficiently, and I am, rightfully, Earth's supreme sorcerer."

"There has to be another way!" Black Talon balks, "We could kidnap Bailey the Bag Lady and force her into fetching the limb from the magic bag bonded to her abilities."

Mordo wags a finger, "For such action, Attache associate Hellcat would soon pursue us, and she would bring my nemesis Dr. Strange with her."

Talon throws forth a left hand, "Dr. Strange dueling you is something that I am willing to risk."

Calmly, the arcane aristocrat continues reasoning, "You need to go to your limb instead of retrieving your dead, mummified appendage. You must rebirth your entire body through its displaced part. Granted, the unholy process hurts like hell. The preternatural extrusion is pure agony. However, you will have a living extremity once again, not an attached necrotic piece of meat."

"I do not wish to be part zombie," the houngan admits.

Baron Mordo says, "Very well then. It is simple. We need to ask a death god or other cosmic entity to extrude your living form through the dead flesh floating in the Bag of Infinite Capacity that Asgardian immortal Casiolena provided the girl witch."

Sam Barone shakes his head, still struggling. He suggests, "Otherwise, we could get the amputated arm and then contact Dr. Victoria Frankenstein. You must know her."

"I do know the Frankensteins," Baron Mordo acknowledges, "But, contacting Baron Samedi might be our better option."

"Baron Samedi guides me always," Barone states, "But, Baroness von Frankenstein might better fix the Black Talon's removed, wizen wing. Without causing me pain, she could rehydrate the pruned part in a tray and restore its humors. With me sedated, she could graft. . . . ."

The maimed miscreant pauses. The local loa report dual danger approaching. Samuel is about to tell his companion, but Karl states that he already knows. Baron Mordo senses the Sinister Syndicate—and has a plan.

Downstairs, Boomerang surveys the ground floor like an aboriginal hunter seeking prey. Beside him, Speed Demon does likewise. But, neither man spots Samuel Barone. Certain patrons gaze back at the Sinister Syndicate in their spectacular suits, but no one utters a word, unsure and uneasy about the audaciously-dressed recent entrants. Then, Boomerang lights a cigarette, and some bold frowns appear.

Myers blows a stream of smoke and smiles. He whispers to Sanders, "I wouldn't recommend this habit. You're a runner."

James shakes his head. Speed Demon and his associate do not have time for any delay or jokes. Soon, the Canton cops will follow the Sinister Syndicate into the library, and they might wisely summon some powered allies to accompany them. The Midwest is not bereft of champions, and Captain Ultra or somebody could get here fast.

The speedster states, "Fred. Concentrate! What's the plan?"

"Well, for one thing, we should follow the library rules," Fred's cig points to a poster of library directives. One indicates that the building is a quiet place.

"Oh! So, no loud conversations!" Speed Demon blurts, momentarily mercurial and impatient.

Boomerang exhales slowly. He says, "I figure that we should not announce our presence. Let Black Talon's assassination come as a surprise to him. Let us be quiet and follow the rules."

"And, one of those rules is no smoking," announces an arriving librarian, "Tobacco use is not the status quo here."

Boomerang shushes the assertive archivist. "Kiss my ash," the troublemaker taps soot on the suit.

Behind goggles, Speed Demon rolls his eyes. He states, "You know, Fred, if we seek something (or someone), we could ask a librarian."

Myers savors some flavor. He wafts wisps and replies, "Well, don't waste another second, James."

In a flash, Speed Demon snags the brave bookworm and streaks toward the information desk. For a second, another staff member sees the arriving blur. Then, from behind, Speed Demon slams both librarians against the desk's countertop.

Casually, Boomerang strolls to the two hostages, having his smoke as he goes. Some panicked patrons evacuate past him. Canton folks have a metahuman in their midst, and they are not used to such in Middle America. The Australian bad-ass eyes the two suckers bent over the tabletop. Arriving at them, Boomerang brandishes his namesake weapon in each hand.

"This is a razorang," he tells the bespectacled, bun-wearing woman on his right, "It is very sharp, and it can slice your f***ing face off."

Valerie the Librarian tries to stay calm. Cold sweat escapes her scalp and runs down her cheek like a tear. Today's adventure is not like her whimsical yarns presented in Spidey Super Stories years ago. And, it is not like her time at the Stark County electric company where she felt empowered. Rather, she faces the deadly foes of Spider-Man today.

Pivoting left, Boomerang shakes a shatterang, "This f***ing thing puts the 'boom' in boomerang. It can burn down this entire bibliotheca. You understand?" The burning butt bobs in the bad guy's mouth, emphasizing his warning.

Obstinately, the male (reference) clerk replies, "Burning books is not an acceptable status quo."

The super-assassin spits the coffin nail precisely into a sizable, open desk dictionary. It smolders there and chars the paper.

Myers exhales brimstone, "You don't warn me. I warn you, mac,"

"F*** you," breathes back the middle-aged, brave nebbish.

Boomerang chuckles, "What's your name, boy?"

Speed Demon raises the contrarian librarian. His nametag reads "Mac". Before Boomerang speaks, Mac spouts, "You had better back off! I'm a supervillain like you two too!"

"What?" Myers is bemused.

Mac exclaims, "I have fought Spider-Man [see Marvel Team-Up #96]!"

"Who hasn't?" asks Speed Demon.

"I have fought Howard the Duck!" Mac proclaims.

"Apparently, who hasn't?" Boomerang tosses up his armed hands.

"What was your villainous moniker? Common Criminal?" Speed Demon asks the plain-looking plebian in the ugly purple tie.

"Status Quo," Mac answers his assailant.

"Well, that's an uncommonly bad handle," Boomerang states, "I'm killing you just for that."

With a fast flick of the wrist, the razorang flies past Status Quo, immediately returns, and bloodily decollates the book-keeper. His head drops. Speed Demon drops his headless body after.

Valerie screams. Wide-eyed, she ejaculates, "You guuuuys!"

"Hey, you guys, what?" Boomerang wags the returned blood-spattered razorang. He wipes it on her fearful face. He wipes her colleague's crimson on her blue blouse. Then, he stabs the weapon loudly into the countertop like a warning. Then, he takes her fidgeting hand and tells her to calm down. Speed Demon and he have questions.

Valerie stands up straight (Sanders allows her) and composes herself, "What may I do for you?"

"Has the information desk seen a one-armed man walk by today?" Myers inquires.

"I am not sure. I do not really notice disability and difference," the African-American aide gives the politically-correct answer.

Abruptly, Boomerang breaks Val's glasses with a single blow, "Now, you really don't see difference because of your own disability." Blood trickles from Val's busted nose and cut eyelids. The Sinister Syndicate ain't the most p.c. people; they are storied villains.

Speed Demon cuts to the chase, "Where is the one-armed guy exactly? He is Black like you."

"I do not know exactly," Valerie states, "But, he went upstairs." She points.

Speed Demon releases her collar. Boomerang backhands her like a punk. Pluckily, Valerie the Librarian remains standing, hands adhered to the counter and feet planted to the floor. She wishes that she were Spider-Man right now. Bystanders would come to her aid as they would a friendly, neighborhood hero.

The Sinister scoundrels fly and dash up the spiral staircase. Valerie knew to send them upstairs because Samuel Barone had visited the information desk fifteen minutes earlier. He had a picture of a regular patron who reads the Romanian texts on the second floor. Of course Val could recall someone, with an unusual request, to whom she just spoke. Otherwise, the library visitor would have blended in with everyone else.

Above, Boomerang whizzes around the second floor ceiling, shatterang still in hand. Below him, Speed Demon whizzes about on the carpet. But, neither Boomerang nor Speed Demon spies Black Talon, so neither can launch a surprise attack on Samuel Barone. But, secreted in a private room, Baron Mordo and Black Talon certainly can launch one on them.

Moments previous, both wizards psychically detected the Sinister Syndicate. For the last two minutes, the diabolical duo has discussed clever countermeasures to the incoming attack. Presently, Black Talon believes that they have the two approaching asses in their clutches, so Samuel Barone struts from his concealment.

Like cocky chanticleer, the rooster rogue crows to the ceiling and ululates across the floor. Boomerang dives, and Speed Demon drives toward him. Hastily retreating, Barone steps back and closes the door.

Closing in, Boomerang expects to blow the door. After Fred does that, Speed Demon expects to barrel into the room and begin his attack. But, within the room, Baron Mordo merely calmly raises a palm and mutters "reflection" while Boomerang hurls his petard without. The boomerang bomb detonates entirely backwards onto the two charging raiders. The blast blows Myers into the skylight overhead where glass and steel perforate his body armor—before he drops to the floor far below. Through the open ceiling, cold rain patters upon him. Despite his toughness, Sanders meets injury as well. The blast's concussion whips the speeding blitzer back and crashes him through solid bookcase after solid bookcase. He lands beneath a pile of burning, heavy debris. Ever headstrong, Sanders tries standing to quickly attack again. However, he stops posthaste. A piece of shelf has painfully impaled his thigh.

Beside Black Talon, Baron Mordo lazily gestures, and the reading room doors open of their own accord. Mumbling something, Mordo manifests two great, glowing chains in mid-air. The heavy chains float abreast the magician for a moment so that the ailing assailants can behold the spectral coils and wonder how the eerie links might strike to lugubrious effect. Flicking his fingers, the Baron flings the charmed chains like fishing lines—or scourges. One wraps hobbled Speed Demon's wrist before he can even react. One snags Boomerang's body, sanguine by shrapnel, about the waist. Then, Baron Mordo jerks the outmatched idiots telekinetically toward him. He casts them carping into a magic portal suddenly open in the room. Karl and Samuel smile at them as Fred and James sling past. Boomerang and Speed Demon disappear into the aperture, which disappears after them.

"That portal is actually still there," Mordo points to empty space occupied by seemingly normal empty space, "I simply keep it hidden in this hideout I ever need to escape quickly from Dr. Strange, Squirrel Girl, or whomever."

"Does it lead to Castle Mordo in Varf Mandra, Transylvania?" Black Talon guesses.

The Baron shrugs, "Eh, it leads to Transylvania. But, why flee to where your enemies will obviously look?"

"You are clever," Barone compliments the Baron.

"Thank you," the conjurer accepts the compliment, "Now, shall we continue our dealings elsewhere? Surely, local authorities will respond to an explosion." Already, approaching sirens wail outside. Two beat cops reported supervillains in Canton.

"Let us do a disappearing act," Mordo's companion agrees.

In a fierce fulguration, Baron Mordo teleports his associate and himself into the dark and stormy day.

Later and elsewhere, as the sun sets in California, Mike Nero amuses himself. He jokingly asks She-Hulk, "Are you here to get me off? On the criminal charges I mean."

Jaded Jen Walters just shakes her head, high above the seated scumbag shackled to a table. She speaks, "No, I am not here as your public defender, dips***. As your kidnap victim, that situation might be a conflict of interest anyway."

"You were a prosecutor in the past anyway," Nero notes.

"And, I am an Avenger now," Walters nods, "So, I have made a career of handling bad guys."

"Well, I know you almost handled my uncle back in the day," Nero snarks back.

Abruptly, She-Hulk snatches Enforcer's shooting hand and snaps it back. Her Herculean hand does not actually break his wrist, however. She-Hulk knows her own immense strength well, and Jen considers herself a hero. But, the hold hurts like Hades.

Teeth grinding, the hitman is a brave boy who avoids screaming. But, he does soon gasp, "Please stop. I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

She-Hulk releases her grip. From the corner, a SHIELD agent steps forth and gives Jen a look. Mockingbird is not sure that she approves of her colleague's current methods. But, she cannot necessarily say much. Occasionally, Bobbi Morse has been likewise hard on scuzzballs and murderers.

Killer Mike repeats panting, "I'll tell you what you want to know."

"So tell me," a green hand grabs churl's chin.

"Why were you in Massachusetts this noon?" Agent Morse investigates. She-Hulk frees his jaw to speak.

"The usual. I had people to shoot and messages to send. I am the Enforcer," the Enforcer admits, "In this case, the Tuttles of Cape Cod had ticked me off, for they sheltered M'Baku of Wakanda. Man-Ape had made me really mad when he overthrew the Lethal Legion's Grim Reaper and he blew-up Commander Kraken's submersible to do it."

"Wait," She-Hulk signals time-out, "Please tell me that a kooky Commander Kraken encounter is not in my crimefighting future. I thought that that dud dastard was dead."

"Commander Kraken is as ended as Eric Williams," Enforcer assures.

"Good, I am embarrassed enough to have recently faced Dr. Angst and you," She-Hulk swipes her brow, "I would have to send my buddy Marrina Smallwood—with a sack over her head—to any undersea Kraken action."

"What's the matter, Jen? I thought that you liked facing foul seamen," Nero baits "Didn't an Atlantean once sucker you good into a trap here in L.A. [see Sensational She-Hulk #12]?"

"One did," She-Hulk places a hard hand on Enforcer, "Remind me to tell you about my adventures with Warlord Krang sometime. Once, he threw me to behemoth monster Orka. Later, we formed a reluctant and revolting alliance against armageddon. Yet another time, he made me a bride of sorts against my will. Maybe, he could do the same for you."

"I could have used Krang to salvage the Kraken wreckage in Block Island Sound," Enforcer asserts.

Walters has been very curious about the events in Block Island Sound. Nero seems to know more than she does. She says, "Go on."

The captured crumb continues, "Commander Kraken kept collected ill-gotten acquisitions on a secreted submarine under the sea off Rhode Island. Amongst his booty, he had my uncle's original Enforcer mask and pistol. I intended to fetch those heirlooms at some point. However, M'Baku decided to demolition Kraken's craft—spreading my precious crap across the seafloor."

"So, how do you intend to fetch your precious s*** now?" Mockingbird inquires. She knows that, surely, Enforcer intends to do so.

Nero sits straight, "After snuffing She-Hulk, and after snuffing Black Talon for stealing my car and slaughtering my horse, I intended to steal the stuff from the scavengers who stole it from the blast site."

Walters leans in, "Do you mean the Tuttles? Did they collect the crap? Is that why you were in Massachusetts?"

Nero boldly leans forward, "No, I was on Cape Cod to kill Man-Ape."

"The Lethal Legion wasn't going to last long with you around," Morse quips.

"My plans ever spare Nekra," Mike smirks, "She deserves a happy ending with Mandrill."

"Despite his back hair?" Jen rejoins.

"Says the woman who married Man-Wolf," the thug taunts and winks.

Suddenly, She-Hulk yanks Enforcer's shackles chain and gets him very close indeed. She hisses, "After snuffing me, you meant to raid whom?"

Enforcer replies, "Not the Massachusetts Tuttles of Truro but the Hayes household of Visigoth."

Surprised, She-Hulk releases and steps back. She has an old ally who lives at Hayes Manor in Visigoth, Massachusetts. Heiress Purple Hayes is the vigilante Nosferata. The journeyman justice-seeker rarely ventures forth, so her associate wonders why she is involved in the current caper.

"Are you sure that Purple Hayes has your uncle's mask and pistol?" She-Hulk asks.

"Who else but Nosferata has the chiropteran-themed mini-sub to go get them?" Enforcer replies.

Jen frowns. Apparently, Mike Nero knows that Hayes is Nosferata.

"And," Enforcer interjects, "Nosferata is not some benevolent hero—like you think—simply possessing the supervillain stuff for safe keeping. She isn't some Doc Savage. Rather, Purple Hayes has become more creepy and nasty like her vampire namesake." At this statement, the L.A. SHIELD office is all ears.

Far from La-La Land, Fred Myers tumbles through gravel and dust where Mordo's magics whipped him. Beyond Boomerang, Speed Demon does a head-over-heels until he hits stone stairs rising far up a hill. Upon the hill, a castle sits beneath the waning moon. And, from that castle, three comely women in white dresses descend as though prancing on air. In no time, they are upon Speed Demon, and he sees that their complexions are as fair as their airy flaxen frocks. With unusual strength and impeccable grace, one lady lifts James Sanders quickly to his feet, and her bloodless eyes gaze deeply into his widening ones. From her growling mouth, fangs descend, and her grip tightens on him. Her cursed companions flow past him as though the miasmic mist of midnight. They approach crimsoned Myers. Bravely, he brandishes two wooden boomerangs on the Brides of Dracula. He wonders whether they do anything through vampires' hearts. Surprisingly, the Sinister assassin smiles at Mordo's cunning. The sneaky sorcerer has slung the Sinister Syndicate into Transylvania a quarter-world away from Ohio. Well-played. Boomerang will have to kill both Black Talon and Baron Mordo if the assassin ever escapes Castle Dracula.