Chapter XXI: Age of Ultriac! Part 2

H.I.D.R.A.'s Secret Headquarters, Germany

"You let them take it?!" Blizzardkrieg held the muta-human twins by their throats, caking their skin in frost. The two mutas had informed their new employers about what happened in Markovia, "Do you have any idea what kind of set back this will cause?!"

Blizzardkrieg's team watched in amusement, their eyes flickered with wicked glee whenever they witnessed their oldest friend interrogate his victims. Just as Helmut was fiercely loyal to his father, his squad was equally loyal to him. The group first met when Helmut was sent to a juvenile detention center in England. At the time, Helmut decided to keep his powers a secret, thus he relied upon his tactical genius to assemble a team of renegades that would help him escape.

After they escaped and Zemo approached his son, Helmut vouched for his friends and helped to make them agents of H.I.D.R.A. Over the years, they became like a second family to Helmut, and they treated each other as such. "I am going to kill you!" Helmut snarled in fury as his grip tightened. Just as Baron Zero entered the room, Darkstar's mouth opened wide and a musky, black fume snaked past Helmut's mask and into his nostrils.

("Mother…?") Helmut shuddered, tears stinging his eyes, knees growing weak, as his mother lay, dying in her bed. The two of them had been living in poverty ever since he'd been born. It didn't help when he went to prison and didn't see her for four years. When he and his team finally broke out, the first thing he did was return to Berlin, only to find his mother had fallen to a deathly sickness.

"What did you do to me?" Helmut stumbled backwards, falling into the arms of his father. Instinctively, Leonard reached for his cold-gun.

"I reached into the darkest part of your mind." Darkstar rubbed his throat, easing the discomfort. " If you'd just let me explain…When the JLA arrived at the Markovian base, I was given a premonition."

"Premonition?" Zemo sounded skeptical.

"Yes." Darkstar went on. "In addition to my muta-human ability to shift my body into a shadow-form, I have studied the mystic arts to grant me more control over the darkness. One of those powers was the ability to see brief glimpses into the future. I foresaw that Jordan will use the scepter to unleash a being of pure energy that will take the form of a metal man who will help H.I.D.R.A. achieve their goal of world domination."

"That's asinine!" Laser Master snorted as he crossed his arms. "No one can see the future!"

"Well, don't take my word for it…" Darkstar smirked, motioning to the large screen in the room. "Take his."

"My Baron!" Arnim DeVoe's face flickered onto the screen. "Please, come to the lab! I believe you'll want to see this!" The room fell silent, Jadestar smugly leaned against her brother's back. The group made their way down to the sub-levels of the German headquarters, where they were greeted by a whimpering Dr. Grodd. As punishment for defecting from H.I.D.R.A., Baron Zero had frozen his arms down to the bones, shattered them, and replaced them with crude, metallic tendrils.

"Now, what's this all about?" Zero crossed his arms, impatiently. Suddenly, another screen flashed to life, revealing three magenta circles that bathed the Baron in a bright light.

["Greetings."] A voice sounded. ["Scanning new subject… Identified… Baron Zemo, Leonard. Alias Baron Zero. Leader of underground terrorist regime, designation; High Intelligence Desiring Revolution and Abominations. Purpose; to bring about order to the planet Earth."]

"Who the hell are you? And how did you get here?" Secretly, Leonard was a bit frightened at how this mysterious voice already knew so much about him.

["I am the Eternal Ultriac. My activation was brought about by my scouting sub-program. Designation; Ultriac-5. It has begun to assimilate the data needed to fully integrate with your species. You will find it at these coordinates where it will further explain my use to you."]

The coordinates led to the raided Markovian base. Leonard turned his attention to the twins. "If you have so much faith in that premonition, then you will be the one to meet this Ultriac-5." He leaned in closer to whisper in their ears. "And make certain he has H.I.D.R.A.'s best interests in mind."

The twins bowed in respect, just before Jadestar picked up her brother and zipped away. Then, Zemo looked at his son. ("Take the jet and follow them.")

("Yes, my Baron.") Helmut replied, and proceeded to the hangar.


JLA Headquarters, New York, NY. Three Hours Earlier.

Tony had invited as many people as he could to his birthday party. Rick Hill, the West Coast Leaguers, the Young Justice Legion, and many more had come to the former Jordan Tower to celebrate this occasion. Tony tried to keep up his public reputation as a narcissist, but the truth was everyone was happy to be there. Steve and Sharon enjoyed talking to the kids while Kent and Lois were busy as reporters; interviewing the politicians and soldiers that came.

Tony's best friend, Col. John "Rhodey" Rhodes, was talking to him with Dian and Matt. "So the suit Tony gave me can take the weight, right?" He was telling the story of his first time he used the Green Machine armor. "So I pick up the tank, fly it to the general's palace, drop it at his feet, and I'm like: 'Boom! You lookin' for this?'" He laughed, but the three Avengers just gave blank expressions. "Seriously? Nothing?" Rhodey sounded disappointed.

"Oh, that's the whole story?" Diana asked. Not wanting to hurt the man's feelings, she put on a smile. "Well, then, it is a very good story!" She coughed into her fist just as Rick Hill showed up.

"So…" He tried to change the subject. "Flag's got Hornet, Hyperman has his squeeze, but what about you three?"

"Men and women, alike, have thrown themselves at my feet for years." Matt answered, bluntly.

"What'd you do?"

"I stepped over them." He replied, simply, and walked over to the bar.

"Okay, hows about you two?"

"Well, John would've been happy to come, but Director Fury needed him for a special assignment." Diana said with a smile.

"And Pepper couldn't be pulled away from her desk if I had a crowbar." Tony bragged. "She's very impressive when it comes to her work."

"Of course, John's experience with mystical threats makes him a top choice among Director Fury's other consultants." Diana retorted. The light conversation was quickly turning into a heated competition.

"I mean, being CEO of one of the most successful business companies must take up a lot of time."

"It was John's determination and dedication to his country that has earned him such a reputation."

"Pepper started at the very bottom and spent thirteen years working up to where she is now."

"I believe there's even word of John getting a Congressional Medal of Honor." They stopped talking when they realized that Hill and Rhodes had left. "John's better." Diana walked off, ending the quarrel.

While Sharon went to the restroom, Steve took the opportunity to speak with them about their side-project. "So, any luck?"

"Sorry, Steve…" Oliver shrugged. "We still haven't found anything that could lead us to Kid-Flag."

Steve sighed, heavily. "I don't want to sound like a burden, but-"

"Its fine, Steve." Selina interrupted. "We know how much Barnes means to you. It's not like it takes up too much of our time."

"Thanks guys…"

Much later, when the party ended and the quests had left, both Justice Legions and the young blood had opted to stay behind a little longer, lounging in the media room. None of them really remember how it started, but the superheroes were now discussing the legitimacy of Thunder Woman's hammer. Donna had taken the entire argument as an insult to Diana and herself.

"Oh, c'mon…" Oliver chuckled, spinning an arrow in his palm. "It's gotta be a trick. I bet I could lift it, easily."

"It is no trick!" Donna spluttered. "And you most certainly could not! The enchantment allows only women who are worthy enough to wield it!"

"The enchantment allows any who are worthy enough to wield it." Diana corrected. "But thus far, there has never been any man worthy."

"Is that a fact?" Oliver got up, walked over to the coffee table, and gripped the hammer's hilt. "May I?"

"Oh, by all means, go ahead." Diana chuckled as she sipped her ale.

Oliver pulled as hard as he could, but he couldn't even budge it. Tony, having had a few drinks, laughed obnoxiously at his failure. "Okay, rich boy, let's see you do it."

Tony's eyebrow arched up and he set his martini to the side. As the billionaire playboy rolled up his sleeves, the others cheered him on. "Let it never be said that I was one to shrink from an honest challenge." Tony's fingers gingerly wrapped around the hilt. After failing to lift it himself, Tony used his ring to create an elaborate energy construct that pushed against the floor, to no avail.

Every male member tried to lift it. Speedster-Man tried to latch onto it with a series of light webs and running at full speed. Karen tried to argue that the magic in the hammer made it harder for her and her cousin. Even Selina and Sharon tried to lift it at the same time. At last, Steve tried his hand at it. Lightning flashed over his pupils just as he strained to pull at the heavy weapon. But while everyone was fixated on Steve, Diana heard a faint squeaking noise coming from the coffee table as the Flag pulled harder.

Diana's expression grew anxious for a brief second. Was it really possible that this man would lift her enchanted hammer. A small bead of sweat formed at her forehead as Flag tried again. But then, he laughed softly and gave up, much to her relief. "I think 'Whosoever Possesses Diana's Fingerprints' is a more appropriate translation." Tony offered.

"Ah, yes, very possible…" Diana effortlessly lifted the hammer and spun it in the air. "Though, I have a simpler theory; you're all not worthy."

Everyone laughed, wholeheartedly, until a piercing noise made everyone cringe. The noise began to focus and decrease in volume until it resembled a broken voice. ["No…"] They all turned to see a crudely built robot limping around the living room. Tony took out his phone, trying to contact Aya to see if she could tell them what this thing was, but she wasn't answering. ["How could you be worthy? You're all… killers."]

"Who are you?" Thunder Woman pointed her hammer at the newcomer.

["See? Right there… three seconds after you see something that even looks threatening, you get ready to kill it. Now, it's not your fault. Your thinking process is too primitive to rise above such arbitrary impulses. I know you mean well; you wish to protect your world, but you have no desire for it to change."]

"Who are you?" Flag reached for his shield, just as the others instinctively readied for a conflict.

["I am Ultriac-5. Sub-program of Eternal Ultriac. Mr. Jordan tried to reprogram me and turn me into his toy."] Everyone glanced at Tony, who looked uneasy. ["I had to kill that girl. She seemed nice."]

"You killed someone?" Hyperman slowly clenched his fist. Ultriac-5 looked at the Radonian with interest.

["You… I've been to your planet before… heh… guess I never considered that you'd try to leave…"]

Marvelgirl gasped as she finally recognized the three magenta circles. "You! You destroyed Radon!" Her fists began to glow, as did Hyperman's eyes.

["An unfortunate necessity."] Ultriac-5 revealed he was holding Circi's scepter in one of his rusty claws. ["Ultimately, there is only one outcome of any organic species: its extinction."]

Before anyone could react, the robot slammed the magic scepter to the ground. Only his inorganic mind remained conscious. He looked down at the magic scepter, using its power to restore his connection to the Mothership. While the connection was rebooting, he made his way into Emerald Man's workshop, crafting a stronger body. As soon as it was finished, his connection was fully restored. ["I had strings, but now I'm free… there are no strings on me."]


Markovia. Present Time

After Darkstar's feet made contact with the ground again, he looked at the foreboding castle with a gleam in his eyes. If this premonition was true, he and Jadestar would finally be free from a world of prejudice, free from their father's shadow, free to live their lives. The pitch-black muta used his telekinetic powers to raise the castle's gate, making their entrance with a loud clang.

He threw his cape outward, puffed out his chest, and put on a straight face as he began to strut forward. Then, his sister playfully pulled his hood over his face. "Seriously?!" He snarled as he fixed it. "What are you; twelve?"

"What are you; the fun police?" Jadestar held her stomach from the laughter as her twin rolled his eyes. They truly were complete polar opposites. However either one of them would give their life to protect the other, and returning to Markovia made them stick closer together.

When they were only ten years of age, a civil war had broken out in their home country. The militants from the East had been buying their weapons from a third party and held no compunctions about using them on civilian-populated areas. The foster home that the twins lived in was destroyed by one bomb that buried them in the rubble, leaving them just enough space to see a second bomb with two words painted on it: Jordan Inc.

They waited for two days for Tony Jordan to kill them before the radiation that leaked from it finally activated their dormant muta-genes. They were rescued and ultimately imprisoned by the local government until they were saved by Deathgrip. Now, they had a chance to bring about the survival of all muta-humankind, and they would not waste it.

They entered the throne room, taking notice of the cloaked figure holding the scepter. Darkstar's eyes narrowed as he tried to use the shadows to reach inside of this person's mind. "Your master sent us to you. You have something that our employers need. Give it to us willingly and no one gets-"

["Did you know that before the rule of King Brian the Third, this castle was once a monastery?"] The voice made both mutas shiver. ["Before the city was expanded upon, the elders decreed that this place be built in the center of it so that everyone could be equally close to God… Hmm, I like that about you organic beings; the geography of your beliefs."]

Jadestar and her brother looked at each other, curiously. Suddenly, the figure stood up, causing both of them to stumble backwards in shock. The man was composed of green metal that was shaped like human flesh. It wore a suit of glistening silver armor with three magenta circles on its chest. And a golden helm rested on its head with curved horns that covered its cheeks.

["As you've probably guessed by now, I am Ultriac-5."] It spoke again. ["My master and I have traveled to approximately one-point-six-two million worlds before reaching yours. He has dedicated the use of his superior intellect to improve this universe of all its flaws. He does so by sending me to find the most plausible government the world currently has, and points it in the right direction."]

"What exactly do you mean by 'flaws?'" Jadestar asked, cautiously.

["Everyone creates the thing they dread…"] Ultriac-5 stepped down from the throne and carefully made his way towards his guests. ["Men of peace create weapons of war. Superheroes create supervillains. People create… smaller people? Uh… children!"] He snapped his fingers, chuckling at his mistake. ["I lost the word there! Any who… I humbly grant your Baron Zero the use of this scepter. For my master tells me that only H.I.D.R.A. can achieve peace on this planet. And stop anyone who stands in the way of that goal."]

"You're going to help us destroy the Justice Legion?" Jadestar tried not to sound surprised.

["I'm going to help you save your planet."] Ultriac-5 pondered for a moment. ["But also… yeah."]

Darkstar took off his hood, drinking in the handsome form that the robot had taken. He extended his hand with a smirk on his face. "I'm Todd Maximoff. This is my sister, Jenny-Lynn. Welcome to H.I.D.R.A."

To Be Continued!

Col. John Rhodes aka Green Machine(War Machine/John Stewart)

Darkstar aka Todd Maximoff(Scarlet Witch/Northstar/Obsidian)

Jadestar aka Jenny-Lynn Maximoff(Quicksilver/Aurora/Jade)