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Convergence Point – Episode Eleven: Green Inferno Part Two – Ignition
By
Celgress
Stark News Network
"Bizarre reports are coming in from around the globe of people being attacked by plants." The dark-skinned female newscaster read from her teleprompter. She paused for a minute. "We go now to our Brazilian correspondent Andres Conti with a live report from Rio de Janeiro. Andres are you there?"
The image switch to a shaky view of downtown Rio de Janeiro. The police and civilians were attempting to beat back plants whose branches were slithering like snakes, covering everything in their path. Conti tried to say something but the feed was cut short when his cameraman was snagged by a thicket of branches. One blood-curdling scream later the screen went black.
Bugle News Online
"Somehow, I don't know exactly how yet, that masked menace Spider-Man and his friends are behind this. I'm sure of it." J. Jonah Jameson ranted. "Don't fret folks. I'm sure the real heroes like Captain America and Wonder Woman will sort things out in no time flat. Unlike some of these so-called 'superheroes', they don't hide their true identities from the public."
Daily live feed
"It is important at a time like this not to panic." Perry White said. His expression as grey as his hair. "We've gotten through multiple crises before this one which will be no different. No doubt Superman and our other heroes of Earth have things well in hand."
A sick looking Jimmy Olsen handed his boss a piece of paper. Perry read it over carefully before he again spoke. "By order of the Governor of Missouri, until further notice, all citizens are to remain indoors. Do not, I repeat, do not venture outside for any reason. Stay tuned to Daily for up to date information until the emergency broadcast beacon is activated which should in three hours." Jimmy handed Perry another piece of paper. "Correction, emergency broadcast on all frequencies, and on all platforms will begin in five minutes. Good night, and good luck."
Hall of Justice in Metropolis Missouri, night
"I only partially recognize the genetic material. The sample contains 50% mutated human DNA spliced with something I can't quite identify. But, yes, your initial findings are correct. This Jade Goddess entity has been gamma irradiated." Hulk said looking through a powerful electron microscope. He jotted down his findings on a pad of paper which was way far to small for his hands. "I'm running the sample through the genetic analyzer unit now, hopefully, it will tell us more."
"Is anyone else freaked out by him talking normal, you know, no 'Hulk smash puny plant person'?" Flash whispered earning an elbow from Impulse and a nasty look from Power Woman. "Ouch," Flash said rubbing his stomach.
"Hush," Impulse admonished.
Hulk chuckled a bit. "No need to quiet him on my account. I've developed a thick skin in recent years thanks to my darling wife and happy stable home life. Extensive psychotherapy further addressed the underlying issues involved causing my multiple personality disorder thus fully integrating my various persona into one cohesive whole. I realized repressed anger towards my terrible father was to blame as much as the gamma bomb for my uncontrollable states. Thank you, Dr. Quinzel."
Everyone stared in shock at Harley Quinn (expect for Power Woman being familiar with the situation) who was drinking noisily from a big gulp. "What," Harley snapped. "I might be a little crazy but I'm also a top-notch psychiatrist, I'll have you know. I pegged him as suffering from undiagnosed acute Dissociative Identity Disorder before our first session ended."
"That's my girl, hot and smart," Deadpool said his hand around Harley's waist. He squeezed her ass causing her to giggle. "She's a keeper."
"Doc, you're in full control, huh?" Flash could not resist asking.
"Full control," Hulk confirmed.
"So, you wouldn't be bothered if I did this, or this, or this?" Flash zoomed around the room making faces at Hulk and poking him.
"Not in the least," Hulk said. His expression remained outwardly placid. "Although I do find your actions extremely aggravating, I'll refrain from squashing you like a bug, satisfied?"
"I'm good," Flash said meekly.
"Ah, we have a match for the terrestrial DNA strand," Hulk announced. His pleased expression did not last long. He ran the test again to be sure of its findings.
"What is it?" Batman asked.
"The other portion of the DNA matches perfectly with a sample in the database," Huk said transferring the findings to the overhead display from the smaller desktop one.
There were gasps of disbelief. Harley spat out the contains of her drink. There on the screen was a picture of Pamela Isley aka Poison Ivy.
"Red!?" Harley exclaimed in disbelief once she stopped coughing.
"Wait, we've also got a match for the unknown genetic material," Hulk reported.
Many superheroes gasped a second time. Next to Ivy's picture appeared a picture of an alien plant-creature known as a Black Mercy. It would seem Jade Goddess was an amalgamation of the two likely caused by Gamma cross-contamination.
"I guess one of Ivy's experiments finally got the best of her. It couldn't have happened to a nicer person, eh folks?" Flash joked.
"Shut up!" Harley screamed at him.
"Dude, not the time," Spider-Man said.
"So, if this thing is Ivy, how do we reach her, show her the error of her ways?" Superman wondered aloud.
"Excuse me, I have something to say." Alec Holland said stepping forward from the gathered mass of extraordinary people. "I knew Pamela Isley, we worked together on more than one occasion since my change. This thing, whatever it is, isn't Pamela Isley. The woman I know would never have ripped the Green from me nor taken pleasure in my suffering."
"No offense, intended to either of you," Spider-Man said glancing at the still peeved Harley before he looked at Alec. "But from my understanding, Pamela Isley is an eco-terrorist who places little value on human or animal life. Perhaps this accident merely brought her true self to the surface."
"Why you pesky spider! I should-," Harley said struggling against Deadpool who held her fast.
"Sweetie, calm down, let the nice spider speak his peace," Deadpool said calmly.
"Humph," Harley said but she made no further move to attack Spider-Man, Flash, or anyone else.
"Um, yeah, how can you be so sure it isn't Ivy with a new look?" Spider-Man asked Alec.
"Because, she, it, reached into my mind. Our spirits commune however briefly. The creature who nearly destroyed my mind to tear the Green from my body was not Pamela Isley, it was something different, something more and something less than human." Alec said.
"You told us earlier it preyed on your fears when it mentally assaulted you, correct?" Martian Manhunter asked.
"Correct, it bombarded me both with feelings of regret and images of my past that seemed very real due to their vividness," Alec said.
"Which makes perfect sense given its part Black Mercy taking into account what they do to their victims," Superman said.
"I thought Black Mercy induced hallucinations of euphoria in its victims?" Mr. Fantastic mused recalling what he had heard about the Black Mercy's MO (including the time one nearly killed Superman by trapping him in the mental illusion of a "perfect life").
"Obviously this one has learned a few new tricks," Superwoman said.
"Splendid comrades, we know what it is. How shall we deal with it?" Thor asked no one in particular.
"I think it's high time we pay Jade Goddess a little visit," Ironman said.
"Wait," Batman said stopping everyone in their tracks. "I'm not sure this is a good idea. We don't yet know enough about the threat posed by Jade Goddess. We should proceed with caution. Confronting her unprepared is the last thing any of us should be doing. Additionally, many of our members have yet to arrive."
"You think we should just sit here on our butts doing nothing while the whole goes uber-green, Bats?" The Thing asked unimpressed by the Dark Knight's pragmatism.
"Until we know more, yes, I do," Batman said not the least be perturbed.
"That might work for you Bats, but not the rest of us. We're people of action." Human Torch said igniting his form.
"Have it your way. I'm staying here. And if any of you are smart you'll stay too." Batman said.
"Fine," Human Torch said. "Who is with us?"
"I think at least a small group should go, see what we can do." Superman reasoned.
"Sounds reasonable," Spider-Man said.
Swamps of Louisiana, later
Jade Goddess sat upon a throne constructed of branches. Her feet, back, and arms melded into the living seat by way of many small interconnecting vines. She cast her mind out through the web of plant life that encircled the Earth. She sensed her children taking back what was rightfully theirs and feeding off the animal pestilence as they did so, excellent. Her pleasant mental sojourn was cut short by the appearance of a team of superheroes lead by Superman.
"You've come at last." Jade Goddess said detaching from her throne with a wet sucking sound. She strolled unconcerned to meet her foes. "My, oh my, they sent some heavy hitters against me. I feel special." she taunted.
"We demand you surrender the Green to its rightful avatar and come along peacefully," Superman said.
"And if I don't?" Jade Goddess asked coyly.
"We'll be forced to take action," Hulk said. He stood to Superman's right to Superman's left stood Power Woman.
Jade Goddes began to laugh as the swamp boiled. "This world belongs to us, to me. I am its patron goddess. You are trespassers here. Trespassers deserve nothing short of death!"
Branches and vines shot out of the water enveloping our heroes. One mighty struggle later they were free. Jade Goddess wasted no time making her next move. She attacked Superman, Hulk, and Power Woman in rapid succession. She hit each so hard she temporarily stunned them. Human Torch and Fire shot twin blasts of intense flame at her but she regenerated the damage in the blink of an eye.
"Pitiful insects," Jade Goddess snarled. "I can draw on the life-force of every plant on this planet. You cannot harm me. I am invincible!"
"Let's put that to the test, shall we." Dr. Strange said.
Dr. Strange, Zatanna, and Raven blasted Jade Goddess with their most powerful tandem spells. Initially, this seemed to work but after a few seconds, Jade Goddess deflected the magical onslaught away.
"Allow me to demonstrate my 'magic'." Jade Goddess laughed.
Jade Goddess' green mixed with red and spotted with black aura appeared around her. Energized, she sped around the battlefield delivering vicious blows to everyone before they could react. Jade Goddess and Dr. Strange then engaged in a dual of energy beams that Dr. Strange was soon losing.
"Her power is unbelievable!" Dr. Strange said his voice cracking under great strain.
"And to think I'm only using a third of my stored power." Jade Goddess laughed again.
"No, I must stop you before this goes any further!" Man-Thing declared. He threw himself at Jade Goddess before the others could stop him breaking the dual of energies between her and Dr. Strange.
Man-Thing used his corrosive secretions in an attempt to dissolve Jade Goddess but failed. The damage he did quickly regenerated. Jade Goddess smirked as her fingers sunk into his misshapen skull.
"I think I'd like to know what is running through that warped mind of yours." Jade Goddess said.
Although only seconds elapsed in the outside world in the mental landscape into which the minds of Man-Thing and Jade Goddess were trusted hours went by. Man-Thing put up a valiant struggle but like Swamp Thing, before him, he proved no match for his determined assailant. To the horror of our other heroes, his smoking half-dead carcass was soon tossed aside.
Jade Goddess' dazzling aura vanished to be replaced but a more subdued aura composed of dark purple with an upper layer of white that drifted off her form like smoke form smoldering flames. Her eyes changed from blood red to dark purple. She stretched her body. Jade Goddes then regarded her remaining foes as a cat would regard a cornered mouse.
"What do you suppose just happened?" Thing asked fearfully.
"Nothing good," Hulk said preparing for the worst.
"I have accessed the infinite power of the Nexus of All Reality. Cower before my unrivaled might." Jade Goddess proclaimed.
"Hit her with everything we've got!" Superman ordered.
Four beams of heat vision, three beams of magic, and twin torrents of flame smothered Jade Goddess. She was no longer visible yet her laughter could still be heard. Her mirth only grew louder as the attacks upon her grew more intense.
Out of the blinding maelstrom emerged a swirling vortex of purple energy when Jade Goddess clapped her hands together. Our heroes were thrown many miles away and knocked out cold. Even the mighty Hulk lost conciseness for an instant. When they came to they were held fast but glowing purple branches they could not escape from no matter how hard they struggled.
Seeing his wife in peril and thinking of their young son at home, Hulk felt a degree of burning rage he had not felt in years. Overcome by his anger his power rocketed ever higher. Hulk struggled until finally, with a deafening roar, he broke free!
"You won't hurt me, wife! I'll tear you apart with my bare hands first!" Hulk tackled Jade Goddess but failed to knock her off her feet. His brutal attack only pushed her back about two feet.
"Growl for me, bare your teeth like the disgusting animal you are." Jade Goddess said.
Roaring with fury, Hulk hammered Jade Goddess with some of the most intense punches he had ever thrown. Once she became tired of Hulk's futile attempts to harm her, Jade Goddess caught his right fist in her own followed by his left fist. She smirked before breaking his hands with casual ease. She fired purple energy beams from her eyes through his forehead frying his brain. Hulk was dead.
"How unfortunate, I sense that I cannot make us of you. Alas, my children would never have been able to control you or feed off your chaotic energy." Jade Goddess said. She prodded Hulk's body with her foot only to notice he was slowly coming back to life. "Impressive, I wonder if all gamma created creatures share this level of regeneration or if only we possess it?" She was about to further examine Hulk when he vanished in a wash of teleportation energy her other victims, except for Man-Thing, however, were not so lucky. They remained tangled in her energy imbued branches.
X-Mansion in Central Park New York
"Take the younger children upstairs, find Nightcrawler! He'll transport you someplace safe! We'll hold them off as long as we can!" Cyclops said. He and a group of upperclassmen were fending off swarms of branches and plant "zombies".
"No, I don't want to leave you, daddy!" Rachel cried.
"I'll be right behind you, baby. Go with your mother." Cyclops urged.
Jean Summers grabbed her daughter. She ran upstairs with the children where Professor X waited with Storm and Nightcrawler. "I'll be back, soon, take Rachel." Jean panted handing the girl to Nightcrawler.
"Mommy!" Rachel cried out not wanting to be without both her parents after only just finding a family again.
Jean ran into the suite of rooms she shared with her husband and their daughter. She knew what she was about to do was extremely risky. She rubbed her heavily pregnant belly. Jean said a silent prayer that what she was about to do would not harm her unborn son.
"I need you. I know I rejected you in the past. I swear if you help me save my family I'll do whatever you ask of me." Jean said. For what felt like forever her words went unanswered. "Please, if you learned anything of love from our time together, help me!"
"Very well, in recognition of what we once were together, I shall help you one last time." The Phoenix Force said in her mind its unearthly energy engulfed her. Jean Grey had once more became the living embodiment of the Phoenix!
To Be Continued
Next up – Phoenix-Jean versus Nexus of All Reality Empowered Jade Goddess! Who will win this titanic clash of cosmic forces?