TRTSS13: The Blackest Reign and a Dark Night!

Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, DC/Marvel Comics and other properties belong to their respective owners.

Note: This is a multi-genre story.

Part 13

With the funeral wake over, which, included farewell speeches from Dr. Robert Bruce Banner, The Thing and Doctor Leonard "Doc" Samson, General Theodore "Thunderbolt" Ross' casket was moved to its burial site. The pastor of the Ross family spoke a few words, which were then followed by a twentyone gun salute and "Taps". All military officers and soldiers snapped a salute, while the civilians held their hands over their hearts. When the discharge of weapons were concluded, the American flag that had been draped over Ross' coffin was folded into a traditional triangle, and presented to Ross' family by the Vice-President of the United States…

With the conclusion of the funeral, the participants milled about or began to depart.

"Man, I hate these things," Colonel Ranma "Ronin" Saotome said, as he sees Dr. Banner and Rick Jones (sans his "A-Bomb" guise) teleport using "Banner-Tech". "Just so much needless death."

"I know what you mean, Ranma," Brigadier General Usagi "Sailor Cosmos" Tsukino-Saotome replied. She then notices someone familiar.

"Hey, Ranma, let's talk to Steve," Usagi said.

"Alright, but we have to get going," Ranma said, as he glanced at his watch. He then took a glance at Norman Osborn, the director of HAMMER. Throughout the funeral, Osborn had been staring at him and Usagi, as if anticipating something to occur. Still, he had nothing to worry about, since neither he nor Usagi have heard anything that would give them pause.

US Army Major General Steve Rogers, the original super-soldier "Captain America", was chatting with USAF Colonel Rodney "War Machine" Rhodes, US Secret Service Agent James Buchanan "Captain America (II)" Barnes and ARMOR Director USAF Colonel Carol "Captain Marvel VII" Danvers-Stark. Only Carol and James were in costume, in order to provide security in case a metahuman menace appears…

"Hey, ya'all," Usagi said, as she and Ranma stepped up.

"General, Colonel," Steve said with a nod.

"Usagi, Ranma," James said.

"Ranma, General," Carol said.

"Ranma, General," Rodney said.

"Sir, James, Carol and Rodney," Ranma said with a nod. "So, what do you think?"

"Personally, considering the type of person Ross was, I am surprised about the accolades," Steve said. "And considering what you two have been up to, I'm surprised that you two showed up."

"General O'Neill insisted that Ranma and I come," Usagi said. "I'm just glad that we resolved the matter concerning 'Gamma World'."

"That's right," Carol said. "Homeworld Security has officially placed the Hulk's Warbound and all gamma-enhanced beings under its jurisdiction, essentially booting HAMMER."

"Which I am glad," Ranma said. "I've never trusted Osborn, after he managed to convince the President to put him in charge of SHIELD's resources."

"You don't exactly trust Director Waller or National Security Advisor Gyrich for that matter," Rodney said.

"Yeah, but those two aren't taking medication for insanity."

"Well, Usagi is not-"

"I admit that I'm somewhat 'mental'," Usagi said. "You try living a life where you have at least you have several personalities lurking under the surface, with a few which are outright 'evil'."

"Okay…"
"At any rate, as long as ARMOR and SWORD are not under Osborn's control, we might have a chance to survive this year," Usagi said, as she adjusted her cap.

Pause.

"So, are we still set for Tony's return?"

"We will meet you at the clinic tomorrow," Steve said, as he glanced over towards Osborn's direction. "I don't want to continue this discussion right now."

"Ah," Usagi said. "Well, we'll be seeing you, then. I want to visit the grave of an old friend to…pay my respect."

"Carry on, then," Steve said with a nod.

"Yes, sir," Usagi said, as she and Ranma saluted, which was returned by Steve.

"General," Rodney said, as he saluted Usagi.

"Colonel," Usagi replied likewise.

With a pivot and a snap, Usagi and Ranma walk away.

"I swear," Carol said, as she looks on. "Life would be a lot simpler if they were not around."

"Probably less interesting," Rodney replied.

Later that day…

"You would go after ME?" yelled Queen Hera, as Young Zeus, Hercules, Athena, Achilles, the Amazons Diana (Wonder Woman), Artemis (Requiem/Wonder Woman II), Nubia (Wonder Woman III), Agrippa (Wonder Woman IV), Drusilla (Wonder Girl/Troia/Wonder Woman V), Serena (Wonder Woman VI) and Cassandra (Wonder Girl II), Daphyne the Gorgon and the mortal super-genius Amadeus Cho (who would be protected by Cassandra and Daphyne) stormed the Olympus Group building. Waiting for them were the gods of legends Typhon (Destroyer), Cephalus (Hunter), Ariadne (Weaver), Ares (War), Eris (Chaos), Haphaestus (Maker), Nike (Victory), Bia (Power), and Zelus (Rivalry). Xena, (Redeemer), Ares (War), Kratos (Strength) and Eileithyia (Birth) opted out of dealing with the intruders.

However, with the defending gods were Artume, sprung from confinement by Hera and her renegade band of Amazons.

"I want my throne back, wife," said Young Zeus, as he wielded his own lightning. "Why do you think I have my allies with me?"

"They will fall, I will win, and I will unleash the Continuum…and restart Earth in the image of the Olympians!"

"What…what is it with you guys, anyway?" Agrippa said. "First, we JUST got through defeating a universal 'death dealer', and now, YOU want to end the world by killing everyone?"

"Oh, my dear Ranma," Hera said disapprovingly. "My plan is to restart the world as a truly Olympian one. In fact, you can participate in my grand plan. I can always use a goddess such as yourself."

"Ha!" Agrippa said. "Like I'm going to be a goddess permanently-"

"Make Agrippa my wife, and I'll go along with it," Herakles said with a wink and a nod.

POW!

"Father?" Diana said with concern, after Agrippa punches Herakles in the jaw.

"Humph," Artemis said with a smirk. "Finally, Saotome accepts HER role as a proper Amazon."

"Oh, stop teasing my father, Artemis," Drusilla said.

"I'm not, 'little sister'," Artemis said. "I just feel that Sister Agrippa should give up her manhood completely, and be of the superior gender."

"No THANKS," Agrippa said, as she growled.

"I think we should begin this war dance," Achilles said, as he twirled his sword. "No doubt the queen of the Gods would want to stall us from accomplishing our goal."

Cho turns to his girlfriend Daphyne.

"I'm glad you are fighting on our side, Daphyne," Cho said, as he began to calculate battle tactics.

"Thank Sister Agrippa," said the beautiful Gorgon warrior. "Had she not teach me 'The Gift of Proteus', thereby allowing me to assuming human form, and had Sister Nubia not teach me 'The Gorgon Stare', I would have sided with Artume…so I can kill Athena."

"I see…"

"Look alive, guys!" Cassandra said. "The battle is about to start…"

"As you can see, my evil step-mother, we stand by Father Zeus," Athena said, as she twirled her lance.

"So, give it up, Hera," Serena said. "We stand against your mad schemes!"

"Perhaps, but can you stand against…my hundred-handed?"

BOOOM!

A giant hand burst through a wall, as it grabs Serena.

"Ah!" Serena screamed.

"Usagi!" Agrippa yells. "I'm coming-"

BOOOM!

A giant tentacle burst through the wall, and grabs Agrippa.

"Arrgh!" Agrippa said, as she was taken away.

"Father-!" Diana and Drusilla said, just as the sisters were about to go after Agrippa.

"Remember the mission!" Agrippa yelled. "I can take care of myself-!"

"Have fun you two!" Hera mocked, as both Agrippa and Serena disappeared through the wall. She then turns towards the others.

"Now that I've gotten rid of your proverbial 'Aces', we can get started with this fight…"

In one pocket dimension, Serena was brought to the home realm of the Hundred-Handed. Well, there was more than one, but still…

Serena looks up to see one of the legendary creatures. It had four arms, but it also had an additional, smaller, ninety-six arms that went up and down its body (including limbs).

And, it was female.

"Fee, fi, fo, fum!" said the Hundred-Handed. "I smell the blood of a goddess scum!"

Pause.

"And I'm going to eat ya!"

"Don't!" Serena whined. "I'm not a lesbian. Well, I mostly not."

"What? No! I'm going to devourer you!"

"Can I least have a chance to defend myself?"

"Ha! You are too tiny to do anything effective! But you can certainly try!"

"Oh, okay," said Serena, as she tapped into her inner strength. "Errrrgh!"

"Huh?" said the Hundred-Handed, as she felt her hand being forced open.

FWAM!

Serena was floating in the air now. She then landed on one of the arms, and began to run up.

"Come back here!" the Hundred-Handed said, as she tried to use her smaller arms to grab Serena.

"Nyah, nyah!" Serena said, as she used super-speed to avoid being grabbed. By the time she made it up to the Hundred-Handed's head, the giantess was smacking herself.

"I'm going to get you-!" the Hundred-Handed said. She then tried to look around, after losing track of Serena. "Where-?"

Suddenly, Serena was right in front of her face.

"Peekaboo!" Serena said, as she waved.

"Grrrr!" the Hundred-Handed said, as she tried to punch Serena, only, she punched herself.

BAM!

"Owie!" the Hundred-Handed said, as she cried. "That hurt!"

"Well, you're trying to eat me, you know!" Serena said. "I'm just minding my own business, then YOU have to interfere in my business."

"Well, I just wanted to be useful to Queen Hera," said the creature with a sigh. "It's not easy for the likes of me and my people."

"Look," Serena said, as she floated in front of the Hundred-Handed. "You can do anything you want, but you got to be nice to people."

"Really?"

"Really. What did you want to be?"

"Well…I always wanted to be a performance arts dancer."

"Huh. Well, maybe I can help?"

"You can?"

"Sure. And I know plenty of places where you can show your stuff. Heck, maybe I can show you some moves?"

"I would like that," the Hundred-Handed said. "By the way, my name is Helena."

"Mine's Serena," Serena said with a smile. "Nice to meet you…"

Meanwhile, Agrippa was have troubles of her own…

"RRRRWWWROORRL!" screeched the Kraken, as it slammed Agrippa against the wall of the grotto. Contrary to popular belief, many monsters of myth reproduced significantly, before leaving the Earth realm…

BLAM!

"Agggh!" Agrippa yelled.

And then the creature then took a dive.

SPLOOSH!

For a while, the Kraken was trying smash Agrippa on hard surfaces, in order to "soften" the "meat". Frustrated, the monster decided to swallow its meal whole, and thus took a dive into the waters.

'Screw this!' Agrippa said, as she converted herself into a water state. 'I should have remembered that I had this power, thanks to being exposed to Cosmic Rays…'

Slipping free, Agrippa then added water to her overall mass, giving her the appearance and stature of a giant that was bigger than the Kraken.

BLOOSH!

The Kraken, now confused, sees that a giant made from stable water, and shaped like a female, had it in her clutches.

"GET LOST!" Agrippa roared, as she flicked the Kraken with finger.

FLICK!

"Skreech-!"

"HAHAHAHA!" Agrippa laughed heartedly, as the Kraken sails away. She then thought of something.

"NOW, HOW DO I GET BACK TO NORMAL…?"

A few minutes later, Agrippa and Serena managed to return back to the Earth realm.

FLASH!

"Whoa," Agrippa said, as she got her mind right. She then looks around.

"Huh, we won."

"Indeed," said Lord Zeus, fully restored, with Hera bound and gagged…and obviously angry.

"MmMmmph!" Hera replied angrily.

"Father, you're okay!" Diana said, as she and her sister ran up to Agrippa and Serena.

"Where did you two end up anyway?" Drusilla asked.

"Oh, made friend, traded dance moves," said Serena dismissively. "Nothing special…"

"I see…"

Tbc.