X-Calibur

Issue #28 – The Calm before the Storm

A Place Between Worlds

"What are you doing here?" Hawk asked as she hit her palm with her mace.

"We should kill him after what he did to us," Dark Prey growled.

"Hey, I didn't ask to be here," Aqua protested as she moved back away from the angry mob.

"No, you shouldn't. How could you have done this? To our friends? To me?" Micro asked trying to hold back the anger and tears.

"There was never an "us", and as for the others, we were never friends. All we were was a bunch of kids that found items of power and grew up thinking we were gods. Half the time we were so board we had to invent things to do to stop from killing each other," Agua snapped back.

"Actually, you were the first to achieve that. You and Super K," Arrow said as he whipped out his bows and arrows and aimed them at Aqua. "Maybe I owe you one for Amazon, Lantern and the others?"

"Maybe we should interfere?" Captain Britain pondered as he looked down upon the surviving members of the League.

"You don't think they will kill her do you?" Meggan asked as she rubbed the bracelets upon her wrist.

"If you ask me, they are not your concern. You can't expect to take on every traveler we pick up on this journey. On top of the sixteen of us there is another eleven. This has gone from a super hero team to an army," Cerise said as Nightcrawler glared at her.

Brian didn't know what to think. It seemed like his whole life has been one big manipulation and he couldn't get away from it no matter how hard he tried. When all Merlins were killed and merged into one who chose to remain in Camelot, he thought his part was done and Brian was free to run his life. Them Roma appears and leads them through the Demon Storm and to save all of Earth and their friends and family, He and X-Calibur sacrifice themselves. Just as he was finally ready to rest for all eternity with his newly recovered wife, Roma saves them all with her final sacrifice.

Before she died, she granted them all one of three choices. They could stay with her and fade into oblivion as intended, or walk through one of two doorways. Since they could not return to their old lives and risk reversing the sacrifice they had all made, each of them had to accept the catch that came with each doorway. The first doorway would send them back home, but like the Siege Perilous, it would give them new lives and never remember who they had once been or would anyone on Earth know them. The second was to keep who they were but be taken to worlds or dimension unknown with a slim chance of maybe returning home when fate deemed it safe to do so.

Roma played them well. She knew that once she brought them all back from death we would not choose to go back. That moment had been taken once and was over. She also knew that neither of them would take a new life if it meant being forgotten by everyone they cared about or losing their identity all together. Like all good chess players, she had positioned them to the only option they would all take, keeping who they were and traveling to places unknown based on a small hope of getting to go home one day. That is exactly what they all did, traveled to a new universe.

They found themselves in a possible future where the Black Queen Selene had survived and the children of X-Calibur fought for the survival. It seemed weird and not many of them bonded right away, but Brian and his team accepted this as their new home and fought for it, along side their children. Brian may have lost his home, but he had gained an instant family he had always dreamed of having one day. In the end, they had lost a few of their children but they had defeated Selene and her Hellfire Squad and to save the Earth once again, they had sacrificed their lives. Only, this time his two future daughters had prevented their death once again.

Then, like before, they found themselves in a neutral place alive and well with a few additions. It seemed that X-Calibur had been spared along with eight other survivors, their future children. This worried Brian to take on the responsibility of so many others, but the chance to keep and build on the relationships of their children was far grater than any other feelings of dread or fear. It wasn't until Amor, the son of Roma, appeared that he knew that he was in a continuous game and had figured it out. Amor was taking up his family's legacy of manipulation and continued playing the game. They weren't spared death out of kindness and reward or banned from going home because of a spell; it was because they needed to be moved along the chess board to a final end game.

Amor had sent two of their party elsewhere while the rest of them moved on. It was clear that they were traveling from place to place not to find a way home, but to gather what they needed, which included what seemed to be an army to fight some final battle for Amor and his family. Just like always, they meet a group of heroes and defeated a villain that intended to destroy everyone. In the end they saved they day while avoiding death and coming to a neutral place with additional members added to their group. He now knew, without a doubt they were moving to a very big event, but what it was he didn't know. He knew in his gut, Amor would show up here with words of peace and then sends them off, but this time he would demand answers.

"Right on queue," Brian said as he saw a bright light shine down on the League causing their threats of violence to stop.

"What now?" Nightcrawler asked.

"I get answers," Brian said as he headed down towards the light while asking Meggan and Cerise to stay back and watch over the injured and unconscious.

"Who is that?" Gold Beetle asked as the gorgeous man with long black hair tied back in a pony tale and white garment and robe landed beside them.

"All I can say is every magic cell in my body is buzzing," Doctor Z whispered in awe of the man.

"I am a friend as we all should be. This fighting is wasted on each other," Amor said as he glanced at the nervous Aqua.

"She was no right to be here," Dark Prey said.

"Yes, like you all, she is needed. She may have done wrong, but there is a lot of love and good in her," Amor said with a smile.

"What is going on and why are we here?" Minute Girl asked.

"Yeah, Amor, why not tell all of us why were are here and I mean the truth," Brian demanded as he stepped right up to Amor.

"Brian, good to see you well, as all of you should be," Amor said snapping his fingers as in a flash of white light, every member of X-Calibur appeared by Brian's side, awake and completely healed.

"Things just keep getting better," Psi-Blade swore as he tried to figure out how he got to this new place.

"See, I come in good faith," Amor said as the League members marveled in this new comer's great healing powers.

"Cut the crap. I'm on to you. You're sending us from place to place gathering an army to fight some battle for you. Time to fess up," Brian demanded as much of X-Calibur backed him up with their added comments.

"Those before me were so good at this, as I appear not to be. Maybe being a little less mysterious will go a long way," Amor smirked.

"I think we all would like to know what is going on here," Dark Prey said.

"There is a big threat brewing here. One that if allowed to prevail will cause trouble for all Earths. This force doesn't want to destroy but will take control and rule all. No Earth in any universe or dimension will be safe. What I have taken on, from my mother and grandfather, is to take you and your army, Captain Britain, to the battle ready and prepared to win at all costs.

"Merlin's goal was to bring X-Calibur back together, and with a little help from his daughter, Roma they succeeded. The battles you faced were triggered to bring you together and prepare you for what was to come. The Demon Storm almost ruined things, but my mother found a way to use it to her advantage and speed things up. By sacrificing herself, and allowing the world to think you all dead, she was able to cut the home and family ties that would hold you all back. The only downfall was you would have to get what you needed elsewhere.

"That is when I stepped in. I could lead you to other places to gain what you would need and have the freedom to move you from one place to the next till the final stop," Amor began to explain.

"Get what we need? What do we need that we couldn't get back home?" Shamrock asked as she saw most of her friends glance at their kids.

"In the future you got family and warriors who carried on your legacies. There is nothing stronger or more magical than the loving bond of kin. While some of you gained more. Shamrock, you not only realized you could love a child of your own, but power that you needed from that son.

"Then the home world of the League, you gained some valuable warriors but also some things that were needed. Meggan, with those bracelets you can once again fly and have the strength you lost as well as Shamrock gaining the last piece of the puzzle needed to unlock her new found power," Amor said.

"So, all this was to make us better?" Nightcrawler asked.

"Yes, but you got to see the bigger picture. Brian's mutant power has manifested no longer leaving him a slave to the suite, Lockheed became more than just a flying pet and that's nothing compared to what you all gained by being united with past and future family. Right Rachel? You can let go of your past and forget your son's future while finally building and living in the present," Amor said.

"I agree we all gained from this but," Brian began to say.

"But nothing. Everyone here is exactly where they need to be. Just need to make a few minor adjustments before we move on," Amor said as he glided gently among the League and touching some and explaining what he was doing.

Amore touched Arrow's quiver and made it a never ending supply of what ever arrow he needed. He then touched Hawk's wings as the harness vanished and the wings suddenly implanted in her back becoming a part of her. With a small kiss on the wrists, Micro's wrists band melted into his arms and were gone. He could now naturally change his size. After a kiss on the forehead, Steelwind screamed as he and the suit became one. He was no longer a man in a suit but an android with more power than he could imagine. Then he turned towards X-Calibur.

"What did he do to you?" Minute Girl whispered to Steelwind.

"I don't care. I've never felt so good, so powerful," Steelwind said with a robotic voice.

"Now, I did manage to save the few items that you needed and almost lost," Amor said to X-Calibur as he opened his hand and revealed five items.

"This won't replace the power you had with the Phoenix Force, but is will give your powers the strength needed," Amor said as Super K's green rock turned red, then burst into flame and then plunge down Rachel's throat making her feel stronger.

"Fira, now you will reach your full potential," Amor said as Van's ring turned to fire and then merged into Fira's body.

"Now Geo, let's give you complete control over nature and all her plants," Amor said as Rayna's ring became a plant seed and then leapt down Geo's throat.

"Nightcrawler, this will increase not only the speed in which you teleport, but it also speeds up your metabolism which will increase you ability to teleport more frequently without growing tired and teleport larger amounts with out growing weak," Amor said as the lightening disc from Speedforce became a bolt of lightening and struck Nightcrawler in the chest giving him a charging boost.

"Now, lastly, little man, we need you protected. For what's about to come," Amor said as he knelt down next to Drake with Stretchy's plastic mask.

Before Brian could stop him, Amor kissed the mask and it began to shift. It went form being made of plastic to being made of ice. He then placed it on Drake's face causing Drake's face to become ice, merge with the mask and then shift back to flesh with no sign of the mask anywhere on his face. Brian stopped seeing his great nephew smiling and as if nothing had happened to him. Amor stood up and smiled at Brian.

"What did you do to him?" Brian demanded.

"I have his mutant gene the needed boost and advancement he needs. Don't worry. It's nothing he wouldn't have achieved in puberty. It's just he needs it now instead of later," Amor said as he then walked over to the side and opened a portal.

"So, we are all supposed to walk through that and go to your final battle?" Dark Prey asked sarcastically.

"Oh, no, just some of you are going. You see there is one more stop that must be made before the final stop. You all will wait here and prepare while we wait for the rest of the group to get back," Amor said as he blew a kiss form his palm causing seven balls of light to hit seven people and sent them through the portal.

"Brian, no!" Meggan screamed as Amor closed the portal behind the seven departing heroes.


New Avengers

S.A.F.E. – Part Six

Arizona Desert ~ Prison Cell

"Man, that was brilliant having Black Crow sneak in as a crow and then using Falcon's powers to see through the eyes of near by birds to inform us of what's going on," Lionheart said though their secure com-links.

"Quiet, boy. I'm trying to concentrate," Falcon said.

"What do you see?" Captain asked.

"Gyrich is at his desk with the so called Avengers. Wait, Iron-Man is removing his helmet," Falcon said as he strained to watch through Crow's eyes.

"Who is it?" War Machine 2.0 asked.

"Not sure," Falcon said as he described the young man in the golden armor.

"I don't believe it. I would know that description anywhere. That is Ezekiel Stane, I should have known he would someday pick up his father's evil legacy," Tony swore.

"Why would Gyrich hire him to play Iron-Man?" Black Knight asked.

"He certainly had the money and the smarts to pull of Iron-Man, but most of all is probably to continue to try and be me and ruin my reputation," Tony snapped.

"Quiet, something is happening to Gyrich. Wait, that's not him. He just shifted and became an older woman with long dark hair," Falcon said describing the woman.

"I don't believe it. She must have gotten out of jail," Dragoness said.

"You know her?" Captain asked.

"Yes, her name is Anastasia. She is the half-sister of the Black Cat. We had a run in with her not too long back. She has the ability to take a person's blood and mix it with hers and take on their form," Dragoness said. **It all happened in The Wild Pack issues 5-10**

"If Gyrich is an imposter as well as Iron-Man, then my bet is all them Avengers are bad guys dressed up as us," Captain said.

"You suppose she killed Gyrich?" Arachne asked.

"No. For the time being he is safe. She needs him alive to draw his blood to keep his form. My guess is he is somewhere around here," Dragoness said.

"Guys, more imposters just walked in. Seems they got themselves an Iron-Man, Captain America, Hulk, Goliath, Wasp, Thor, Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch," Falcon said.

"I don't believe this," War Machine 2.0 said.

"So who do you suppose are in those get ups?" Lionheart asked.

"I can't tell. They are pretty well masked and have done a great job to look like the Avengers," Falcon said.

"Now that we are pretty sure they are imposters we have to take them down," Captain said.

"Guys, Crows in trouble," Falcon called out suddenly.

"What's going on?" Dragoness asked in panic.

"Something that looks like Vision just came out of the walls and grabbed crow by the neck. I've lost connection. I've got to assume that Crow reverted back to human form or," Falcon began to say.

"Don't say it," Arachne interrupted the final thought that Dragoness feared.

"We need to get out of here and help him," Dragoness said as she sent a wave of bioelectricity that had no effect on the prison walls.

"Any ideas on how we get out of here?" Black Knight asked at Tony and Steve.

"Maybe I can help," a man in a full black ninja suit with yellow marking on them with green on his gloves and boots said.

"Who are you?" Captain asked.

"How did you get in here?" War Machine 2.0 asked.

"Name's Ronin and it's not that hard to get in here," the one called Ronin said as he drew a sword and sliced a device on the wall that not only opened all of their cells but sounded the alarms.

"Great, now they'll know we've escaped," Black Knight cursed their new friend.

"So? You all wanted to know who these imposters were and now you get to find out," Ronin said as he led them out of the dungeon area and headed down a tunnel way.

"Mind telling us who you are and how you knew we were held here?" Captain asked as he caught up to the stranger.

"Let's say a friend who is helping even thought you tried to leave him out," Ronin said as he kicked open a door that lead into a large storage room with crates and boxes.

"I see you managed to escape," Gyrich said as he stepped out atop a large crate above them.

"Cut the act. We know it's you Anastasia," Dragoness said as she flew up and hit her with a blast of bioelectricity, "and if you've hurt Crow you're dead."

"You witch," Anastasia swore as the blast hit her causing her to change back to her true form.

"How did you manage to get out of jail?" Dragoness asked.

"I was released and asked to head a new team of Avengers. This is all legit," Anastasia said.

"You lie," Arachne said eyeing the woman.

"She's telling the truth and you are the ones violating the law here," Iron-Man said as he and the rest of the Avengers stepped out of the shadows.

"That's enough, Ezekiel. Your covers blown," War Machine 2.0 said as he blasted Iron-Man.

"Oh no, they must know," Goliath began to speak as Captain American hit him over the head to silence him.

"Hush, idiot. They only saw what the bird saw and that was Anastasia and Stane. Our identities are still safe," Captain America said.

"Where is Crow?" Dragoness asked in anger.

"Oh, he's safe for now," Anastasia said as she touched her ring and quivered as her body shifted and she took on the form of the Black Crow and smiled.

"Alright, time to find out who these imposters are and take them down. American Defenders, for Justice!" Captain shouted.

"Avengers, Disassemble," Captain America shouted as the S.A.F.E. Avengers collided with the American Defenders in battle.

Next: Issue #29 –Who wants to be a Super Hero? – Part One & New Avengers: S.A.F.E. – Part Seven