Three Years Ago-Season 2
Jeremiah and Kara went camping in the woods. They got themselves a good fire. "You sure about this?" Jeremiah asked anxiously.
"It's time," Kara said certainly. "Even if you do go full psycho on me, you can't hurt me."
"Fair enough," Jeremiah agreed.
Kara spoke the code words in Russian. When she was done, Jeremiah shed appreciative tears. He was now free of programming. "You are free," Kara told him.
Jeremiah embraced Kara feeling truly happy for the first time in ten years.
Episode 4
Jeremiah went for a stroll around Riga when he encountered M'gann. "Oh, shit," he realized.
"How could you free that bitch?" she asked accusingly.
"We needed her help," Jeremiah said simply.
"Lillian murdered our people," M'gann said pissed off.
"I understand," Jeremiah said with false sincerity.
"Very little, if anything, of our loss and our shame," M'gann scolded.
"Wait, you're as much an alien to other aliens as you are to me. Since when are all different species of aliens all one category against humans? Doesn't that feed into Lillian's narrative?" Jeremiah asked.
"Silence, white cis-gendered male," M'gann shut him down.
"She's a means to an end," Jeremiah said flatly.
"Eight hours...White Man," she allowed him. "Then, we come for her."
Jeremiah casually entered his hotel and met up with Manchester and Lillian. "Aliens are here. They want Lillian. I bought us some time."
"Were you followed?" Manchester asked.
"She can read my mind...so what the fuck do you think?" Jeremiah rolled his eyes.
"Just a question, asshole," Manchester shot back.
"It was sweet for you to defend me at least," Lillian said appreciatively.
"Hey, shut your bitch mouth, no one is defending you," Manchester told her off.
"I am. She's under my charge. I have to defend her to the death," Jeremiah said.
"She killed Vostok, remember?" Manchester reminded him.
"Do we really have to go over this again?" Lillian rolled her eyes. "Alina is getting worse. She's bombing places now. I have the will to complete this mission. Do the two of you?"
"She deserves to die and I hope she burns in hell!" Manchester exploded on her.
"Good because Alina's aspirations are the same that led to the Nazis, to the DEO, to the Super-Friends," Lillian said bitterly.
"Says the woman that wanted a final solution to the alien question," Manchester mocked.
"The desire to be superhuman cannot be separated from supremacist ideals. Any alien or metahuman is inherently on that path. Alina will escalate until you kill her or she kills you," Lillian pressed.
"Superman was never corrupted," Jeremiah countered.
"Touche," Lillian allowed. "But there's never been another Superman, has there?"
Manchester, Jeremiah, and Lillian scoped out Riga with nothing to go on. At one point, Lillian began bribing kids with candy. "Turkish Delight. It was always my son's favorite. I have an old friend here, Alina Lanina. Do you know her?"
"Yes," a girl said to her.
"I'd like to see her," Lillian said sweetly. "Do you know where she is?"
The girl whispered in Lillian's ear. "What you told me, it's our little secret," Lillian said to the girl and the rest of the kids as she gave them all candy.
The three of them returned to the hotel. "Well, I got nothing," Jeremiah admitted.
"You know, if I bribed kids with candy to give me something, they'd label me a pedophile. How's that for male privilege?" Manchester complained.
"They don't trust me because I am a woman. They trust me because I'm white," Lillian said.
"Damn," Machester said dismayed. "Wait, what if the Russians are right?"
"The fuck you talking about?" Jeremiah wondered.
"Check it out, what if all the Slavs being under Russian rule is what helps unite the world? I mean, it was all one happy family until...boom...the Berlin Wall comes down. Just like that, it all goes back to the way it used to be. At least Alina is doing something. She's different. She's not motivated by the same things as all the other villains we've faced," Manchester said.
"Are you fucking high?" Jeremiah accused.
"Yeah," Manchester admitted.
"What did the girl tell you?" Jeremiah asked Lillian.
"Alina will be here this afternoon," Lillian said vaguely.
"You know, the aliens that hate you are lurking around. I would keep talking," Jeremiah threatened.
"And you could turn on me once you find Alina," Lillian pointed out. "I prefer to keep my leverage."
"Well played," Jeremiah approved.
Alina went to a cemetery with one of her lieutenants. She eyed the tombstones of those who had died in WW2. She seemed sad as she remembered those close to her that had died during the war. "Do you think Moscow is making a mistake? What if it's another repeat of the Great War?"
"My grandfather fought in the Great War. He told me that if you're doing something that makes you scared, it's probably because it's the right thing," he said. "And he fought Nazis so..."
"I appreciate the sentiment but there are a lot of holes in that logic," Alina smiled amused.
"You know, I used to be a Superman fan. He made me believe there were decent people in this world. Back then, there was just good and bad but the world is more complicated now. People are lost. They need a leader that can look like anyone, who understands anyone's pain, someone who understands that heroes don't have the luxury of keeping their hands clean. What we're doing will outlive Superman's legacy," the lieutenant said.
"Superman is from a bygone era of American supremacy. If anything, he should be destroyed. This war will bring change," Alina said. The two crossed themselves as they exited the cemetery.
John Wanker aka Captain Midland caught up with Manchester, Jeremiah, and Lillian as they strolled the streets of Riga. "Alina is too dangerous for you to be pulling this shit. No more keeping Britain in the dark," John scolded them.
"How did you find us now?" Jeremiah asked.
"We're here because of the bombing just as you are. This place is only so big," John said. "You're also the only black man in this entire city," he said to Manchester.
"You're out of line...but you're not wrong," Manchester allowed.
"Why did you break her out of prison?" John demanded.
"She did that, herself, technically," Jeremiah excused.
"This better have a damn good explanation," John raged.
"Take it easy before it gets queer," Manchester warned him.
"I know where Alina is," Lillian chimed in.
"Well...where?" John asked obviously.
"In a place with many civilians and high risk of casualties," Lillian said vaguely.
"I say we move in fast and take her from behind," John said enthusiastically.
"We should try to reason with her. She's deadly as fuck if she wants to be. There's a reason we're all still alive," Jeremiah said reasonably.
"We're alive because we're Elite," Manchester said arrogantly.
"I think we're way past reasoning with her," John objected.
"If I go in hot and it goes wrong, more people could die," Jeremiah said.
"You going to let him do this? Are you going to let your partner walk into a room with a metahuman alone?" John asked Manchester rhetorically.
"He's not my partner. Fuck if I care what happens to him," Manchester scoffed.
"Look, Alina is best friends with the clone of my adopted alien daughter. I can do this," Jeremiah said confidently.
"The fuck did I just hear?" John wondered.
"I'm sure we can all come to an agreeable conclusion. My associate is up ahead," Lillian pointed out the girl.
"Fuck it," John agreed finally.
Lillian bribed the girl with actual money this time and followed her towards Alina. The girl led them to an apartment structure. "Alina is in there," Lillian said to the others.
"You got ten minutes. And then we're doing this my way," John said as he handcuffed Lillian to a boiler.
In the middle of the apartment complex, Alina addressed her men. "I don't remember my father or mother, same goes for my siblings, grandparents, cousins. What I do remember is being alone. And being alone is worse than being hungry or cold or scared. I was alone...until Mother Russia gave me a home, a purpose, a family. Like a lot of you here, Mother Russia saved me. She clothed me, fed me, loved me. She taught me what we have to do for each other because the West won't. The West imposed struggle and hardship upon us. They labeled us criminals for pushing back. But the struggle is what will bring us all together. When the Soviet Union fell, it was as if Mother Russia had her left hand cut off. Ever since we have tried to regrow that hand to become whole once again. The invasion of Ukraine will only bring back a finger but soon thereafter, we will annex Belarus, then Central Asia, the Caucuses, and finally when NATO dissolves and is no more, the Baltic States here," Alina told her men in Russian.
They nodded to her and then went back to their posts. Jeremiah sneaked around and boldly walked up to her. "I saw you there," Alina said unconcernedly.
"I came alone," Jeremiah told her. "I just want to talk."
"Bold of you...or do you think my sympathies for Karina protect you?" Alina smirked.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Jeremiah said referring to the fall of the Soviet Union.
"Don't condescend to me like I'm a child," Alina scolded.
"I know what it's like to lose something dear to you like a state or a country," Jeremiah said.
"No, you don't. Not like this," Alina said mournfully.
"It doesn't have to be a war, Alina," Jeremiah told her.
"They started the war by pointing their nukes at us, marching their armies on our borders, flooding our country with spies and dissidents, and promoting their false propaganda on the Internet. People that just want to be free are being kicked out of their homes and killed by the fascists in Ukraine. Millions of Russians face discrimination in former Soviet states," Alina argued.
"I can't speak for millions, but I understand you. I understand your frustration. I understand your helplessness to keep your faith, your values, your way of life as you are being cornered on all sides by the liberals in the West, the Muslims to the South, and the Chinese to the East," Jeremiah said sympathetically. "Believe me, I fear my way of life is being challenged by my own government and popular culture. I go away for ten years and when I come back, I barely recognize my own country."
"So, you want me to stop because people are getting hurt, right?" Alina asked mockingly.
"No," Jeremiah shook his head. "I want you to stop because I'm concerned for your soul and because you are my daughter's mentor," Jeremiah said sincerely.
"What if I make the world a better place?" Alina asked.
"I don't give a shit about that. Forget this world and focus on the next," Jeremiah told her.
"You're either a true believer or a good spy," Alina complimented.
"Can't I be a little of both?" Jeremiah asked.
"No," Alina shook her head.
"I know you have your orders. For ten years, I took orders as the Winter Soldier. I killed a shit-ton of innocent people that didn't deserve to die," Jeremiah said.
"That was different. You were brainwashed," Alina excused.
"And you're not?" Jeremiah asked.
"I was alive before anyone in my chain-of-command was even born. I fought in the Great War. I was the one...that gave Stalin his final stroke," Alina admitted. "But after that, I swore I would never interfere in human politics again," Alina said.
"You're still human, Alina. You still have a soul. I agree with so many things you're fighting for. We both want a Christian crusade against infidels, a return to traditional family values, and self-determination for those trapped in a country they don't want to be a part of. I just can't get with the way you're doing it," Jeremiah said to her. "And I'm sure, she wouldn't either," he said referring to a picture of the Virgin Mary on the wall.
Alina was slightly shaken by his words but then John abruptly entered the room. "Alina Lanina, you're under arrest," John said smugly. "I think we've had enough time to talk."
"Get back, fascist bulldog," Alina snarled as she threw John across the room with her powers. John tossed a thermite grenade at her creating an intense flame. Alina lost her coloring for a moment as she backed away. Steam came off her body at an alarming rate. Alina quickly retreated out of the room. John, Jeremiah, and Manchester chased after her.
Alina cast civilians in front of the three of them as she made her escape. She eventually made her way outside the complex to her new base. There, she replenished herself with a nearby fountain bringing her back to full power. "Has the situation changed?" her lieutenant asked her.
"No. Jeremiah Danvers is not to be killed but the Brits are fair game," Alina said annoyed.
At the hotel, Lillian rested on the couch while Manchester was on his computer. "If you had been given superpowers, would you have taken it?" she asked.
"Fuck yeah, I would," Manchester said instantly.
"I think I'm talking to the wrong person," Lillian rolled her eyes. "Jeremiah, you can't hold out hope for Alina. No matter what you saw in her, she's gone," Lillian said to him.
"Like us?" Jeremiah asked rhetorically.
"She's a god among men. Super-soldiers and aliens cannot be allowed to exist," Lillian said.
"Isn't that how gods talk?" Jeremiah asked her.
"You're biased because your alien daughter is one of them," Lillian said accusingly.
"Maybe, you're biased because you do not have one," Jeremiah shot back.
"Something's not right about Wanker. He went in there without a plan and nearly got himself killed," Manchester noted.
"Can't argue with that. Shouldn't have given him the shield," Jeremiah agreed.
"I didn't give it. Her Majesty's government did," Manchester said defensively.
John suddenly entered the hotel room still in uniform. "Alright, I'm now ordering you to hand her over."
"Shield or no shield, all you're running here is your mouth," Manchester told him.
"You don't give a shit about her. You just want to be argumentative," John accused.
"Lillian has proven useful to us. We need all hands on deck for whatever is coming next," Jeremiah said reasonably.
"You've made an honor pact to protect her and you're just an asshole," John said of Jeremiah and Manchester. "How do you think the rest of this conversation is going to go?"
"It's been shitty so far," Manchester said dryly.
"Should I put down the shield, make it fair?" John challenged him.
"Shield or no shield, I will beat your white ass without even trying," Manchester boasted.
John then put down the shield only for three female Green Martians to enter the room. "Give her to us," M'gann ordered.
"Hi, John Wanker, Captain Midland. You might have heard of me. I give the orders around here," John said to her.
"We gave you eight hours," M'gann said to Jeremiah.
"Not going to lie, I lost track of time," Jeremiah admitted.
"You don't have jurisdiction here," John said as he condescendingly pointed his index finger at M'gann.
"The Green Martians have jurisdiction wherever we are," M'gann told him off.
"Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot. Let me touch your shoulder to reassure you of my benign intentions," John said reaching out to her. M'gann promptly beat his ass down.
Lillian casually had a drink as the three humans battled the three Green Martians in the room. The Green Martians used their staffs to great effect easily keeping the humans down. Lillian went to the bathroom and disappeared from the battle. M'gann threw a spear at John pinning his shield against a table. She then deactivated Jeremiah's robot arm causing it to fall to the floor. Manchester was beaten to the floor.
With the humans subdued, M'gann entered the bathroom and saw that Lillian was gone having gone through the drain system. Another Green Martian took her staff from the table freeing John's shield and then flipped it into her hands as if to mock him. "She is gone. Leave it," M'gann said to the other two females.
Jeremiah put his arm back and flexed his fingers. "Hey, you alright, man?" Don't feel bad. Green Martians are hard to beat. I know from experience," Manchester said referring to J'onn.
"Fuck both you guys," John said tearfully and left the room totally humiliated.
Jeremiah and Manchester eyed the drain hole. "Well...shit," they both said.
At their new base, Alina called up Fiona. "Is this Fiona?" Alina asked.
"Yeah, who is this?" Fiona asked.
"My name is Alina. I'm a major in the Russian army and sub-director of a secret organization," Alina said.
"Is there a reason you're calling me?" Fiona asked confused.
"I'm thinking I'm going to kill your husband. He keeps meddling in my affairs and working with the new Captain Midland," Alina said.
"Well, I didn't choose the new Captain Midland," Fiona excused.
"Who would you have chosen instead?" Alina asked curiously.
"My world doesn't matter to Britain so why should I care about its mascot?" Fiona asked bitterly.
Alina was taken aback by this. "That mascot represents everyone in Britain, not just its government or financial institutions."
"Fuck you, bitch. I'm treated like a second-class citizen here. Her Majesty can go fuck herself," Fiona said obnoxiously.
"I'm not interested in discussing your petty politics. You will text message Manchester a message to meet me at a set of coordinates or I'll have an agent poison your ass and have you die really painfully of radiation sickness," Alina threatened and then hung up.
Manchester and Jeremiah strolled the streets. "She said what?" Manchester smiled not taking Fiona seriously. "Listen, pack your bags and go to Scotland. Not even a Ruskie son-of-a-bitch would want to go there," he said.
"What happened?" Jeremiah asked slightly concerned.
"Alina threatened my bitch," Manchester informed him. "Oh, God, I am so sorry. I didn't realize I was on speakerphone," Manchester said to Fiona as he was being chewed out. "Pay in cash and tell me when you arrive. I love you. I'll never let anything happen to you...in this timeline," he said and then properly hung up.
"I got a text message from Alina. She says to come alone," Manchester read his text message Fiona had sent.
"Fuck that," Jeremiah objected.
The two of them casually entered the new Russian base, an apartment complex with an open space in the middle. Manchester and Jeremiah made their way up the stairs to the second floor to meet Alina. "You threatened my bitch. Is that how we're playing this?" Manchester asked outraged.
"I would never hurt her," Alina rolled her eyes. "I only kill patriots. I see you didn't come alone."
"Well...no shit," Manchester said obviously.
"I don't want to hurt you," Alina said sincerely.
"Well, that makes one of us," Manchester said.
"Join me and together we can bring order to these lands," Alina enticed.
"Join you? A black man joining the Russian Federation? You have me fucked up if you think I'll ever take such an offer seriously," Manchester denied.
Suddenly, two squads of men entered the apartment complex led by John. They immediately started clearing rooms and getting into firefights with Russian special forces. Manchester and Jeremiah dropped down to the first floor to avoid being instantly killed by Alina. The squads separated with one focusing on Alina while the other focused on the Russian special forces. In the battle against the Russians, John, Manchester, and Jeremiah ended up being a good team together. The Russian special forces were not pushovers with dead bodies on both sides. The Russians retreated from the apartment complex and scattered among the civilian population. John pursued one of them through the streets.
Alina confronted a squad on her own. The squad immediately fired on her with the bullets just passing through her. Alina reached out and caused their bodies to freeze up. She then executed each one of them with her own pistol with shots to the head. Realizing she was alone, she exited the apartment complex.
John pursued the Russian into the center square. The Russian threw debris at him which John easily blocked with his shield. John threw his shield at the Russian's back and then his chest when he turned around dropping him near a monument statue. For extra emphasis, John hit him again with the shield to keep him down. At this point, the local Latvians were watching the fight go down with their cell phones.
"You're a man after our own heart. I'll see you in hell," the Russian taunted him.
"I'd rather see you in jail," John replied.
Suddenly, John exploded in a fountain of blood. The Russian was covered in blood from being so close. Nothing of John's body remained, his uniform was in a blood pile, and his shield fell to the ground. The crowd was horrified by what they had just seen. Alina walked over to her Russian comrade and brought him back to his feet. "Go," she ordered him. Alina eyed the cameras unconcernedly. She was imitating another woman's face at the moment.
Manchester and Jeremiah came upon the grisly scene. "God damn," Manchester said horrified.
Alina eyed Manchester as if telling him he would be next and then walked away. Once she was out of view, she morphed back to her normal default self.
Episode 5
Manchester and Jeremiah tracked down Alina at a warehouse outside of the city. She was alone deep in meditation. "Time to go to work," she said in Russian as she got back up.
"Alina," Jeremiah called her out.
"You two should find a medic. You don't look too good," Alina remarked upon seeing them both.
"Stop, Alina," Manchester ordered her.
"You know what happened? You know what I had to do," Alina said defensively. "I killed him because I had to. It was either him or my man."
"John wouldn't have killed him. Don't go down this road. Believe me, it doesn't end well," Jeremiah said knowingly.
"I'm not like you," Alina sneered.
"Hey, it was the heat of battle. Shit happens. We just don't want anyone else to get hurt," Manchester said. "We need you to come with us."
"Oh, so that's what this is. You almost got me," Alina glared at them both.
"You made a mistake," Jeremiah said lightly.
"You don't want to do this," Alina warned them.
"Yeah, we do," Manchester said angrily.
The two engaged her at the same time. Alina kicked and punched both of them back while disarming them at the same time. Jeremiah and Manchester came back attacking her from both sides. Alina beat them back even without having to use her powers. Jeremiah hammered her repeatedly with his metal arm backing her up against a metal pillar. Alina struck back with punches of her own. Jeremiah took hold of her and restrained her against the pillar. Alina forced him away. In response, Jeremiah threw a wild punch slicing through the metal pillar completely. Alina kicked Manchester away and then cast Jeremiah across the warehouse into a forklift with her powers.
Alina rushed Jeremiah and forced him up against the forklift. "Why are you making me do this?" she asked him. Jeremiah gave her no answer. Alina cast Jeremiah across the room where he slammed into an electrical control box disabling his metal arm.
Manchester leaped into action only to get slammed down to the ground. Manchester kicked right through Alina's leg. Alina quickly reformed her leg and kept her distance from him. Manchester threw a cable around Alina's arm to restrain her. Alina merely liquified her arm letting the cable drop to the floor. "Shit," Manchester realized.
Alina used her powers to slam Manchester to the ground and keep him from moving. She got on top of him and pointed her hand at his face. "You will never be Captain Midland," she shook her head.
Jeremiah suddenly punched Alina off of him. The two traded brutal blows until Manchester intervened. Jeremiah restrained Alina while Manchester worked to break her arm. All three struggled until Manchester finally broke Alina's arm. Manchester and Jeremiah fell to the ground exhausted from the effort. Alina got back to her feet and easily reformed her arm back to before.
"It's over," she told them both.
Manchester threw the bloody Midland shield at her. It merely went right through her, bounced about the warehouse, and came back to Manchester. "That shield is bullshit," Alina remarked.
Manchester charged her with the shield and hit her repeatedly with it. As he did, Alina lost coloring to some areas of her body. Finally, Manchester froze up as the water in his body became controlled by Alina. She backed away a good distance from him and prepared to explode him like the last one. "Fuck you, bitch," Manchester spat.
Alina considered Manchester. "What if they actually did give you the shield? It would tear your nation apart to see a black man with the shield."
"You underestimate us," Manchester said to her even as he couldn't move.
"Perhaps," Alina said curiously and then released him from her hold. Alina then turned to Jeremiah. "I'll give Karina your love," she said as she walked out.
"Thanks," Jeremiah groaned on the floor.
Manchester was about to go after her when Jeremiah stopped him. "She killed Captain Midland!" he shouted as Jeremiah restrained him.
"Did she?" Jeremiah asked him.
"He may have been a Wanker...but he was chosen, damn it," Manchester said visibly upset.
"Bring his shield home," Jeremiah consoled him.
Manchester and Jeremiah dragged their sorry asses back to the apartment complex. By then, police and military personnel were already on the scene including Hat. "The city has been searched but so far only Russian sympathizers have been arrested. She's gone," Manchester said pissed off. "So, thanks a lot."
"The only reason we're both alive, right now, is because of me," Jeremiah said obviously.
"You off to take care of Lillian?" Hat asked as he entered the room.
"Maybe, maybe not, maybe go fuck yourself," Jeremiah said as he left the room.
"Nice to see you survived," Hat said sarcastically.
"What's the next step, Hat?" Manchester asked.
"Russian special forces killing Captain Midland in public is kind of a big deal. Like international incident big deal. Folks higher up on the payroll are all over it now. So, unfortunately, it's a major diplomatic crisis because British agents running around Latvia is a violation of their sovereignty," Hat said.
"What the fuck? We're trying to save these mother-fuckers from the Russians. We are a stone's throw away from the Russian border," Manchester said outraged.
"Yeah, well, they're taking jurisdiction and will be sending a strongly worded letter to London over this," Hat said.
"Fuck'em," Manchester shook his head.
"Alina has gone deep underground, no trace of her. She may even be on the Russian side of the border by now," Hat said.
"That's why we need to be involved. The longer we let her regroup, the harder it will be to find her," Manchester said super-serious.
"She's got people helping her all over this area on all platforms. She's really really good at this thing," Hat said.
"Let's not jerk her off too hard," Manchester said scornfully.
"All we can do now is chill," Hat said.
"That's stupid as fuck. We take the fight to them," Manchester said wide-eyed. "I'm going to go to St. Petersburg and start some shit."
"Before you go, there is the funeral," Hat reminded him.
London, England
Captain John Wanker was given a military funeral. Since nothing remained of him, a brand new Captain Midland uniform was placed in the casket. A British flag was draped over it. Manchester was chosen to do the eulogy. "In his final moments, he kept his integrity. In the heat of battle, one may even excuse a war-crime murder or two. When you see your comrades die all around you, when you've been shot at, when you've had your ass kicked, you might just snap. I know I've snapped plenty of times. A lesser man may have made a mistake but not Captain Wanker. Upon subduing an enemy combatant, instead of killing his ass, he resolved to arrest him and bring him to justice. That is the kind of man Captain Wanker was, the kind of man all Britains should aspire to be. He may have been Captain Midland for only a brief time, but he acted as if he was Captain Midland all his life. Rest in peace, my brother. God save the Queen."
British, American, and NATO service members all over Europe got up and gave Manchester an ovation for his stirring speech. Captain John Wanker's casket was then buried in a veteran's cemetery. The British command then considered who would be the next Captain Midland.
Volgograd, Russia
Alina encountered Lillian at the Motherland Calls Monument, a large statue of a woman with a sword. "I'd thought you would be here sooner," Lillian said dryly.
"Imagine my relief to find you safe and sound," Alina said sarcastically.
"I imagine you've been here before," Lillian said referring to the statue.
"Many times," Alina replied. "I was even there at the battle."
"Then you know this is madness. There will be no statues and memorials for the war that is to come. There will be no more Russia or Europe, for that matter. Only death and destruction," Lillian warned. "You have the power. Do what needs to be done."
"I appreciate the advice, but we're doing it our own way," Alina shut her down.
"I was afraid you were going to say that," Lillian said sadly.
Alina reached out with her hand to kill her, a simple stroke. Lillian simply stared at her without fear. "Goodbye, Alina," Lillian smiled. Alina lowered her hand and allowed her PATRIOT agents to arrest her.
"You're going back to Moscow under house arrest," Alina told her as she was taken away. Karina then walked up to Alina wearing casual clothes.
"For a moment there, I thought you would kill her," Karina said.
"No matter what she has done, she is still your mother-in-law. You are far more valuable to us, to me, than seeking vengeance against her," Alina said simply.
"I assume my father isn't welcome to come here anymore?" Karina asked referring to Jeremiah.
"It may be prudent for him not to come right now," Alina agreed.
London, England
Captain Britain, Union Jack, Excalibur, Black Knight, Pete Wisdom, and Manchester Black were summoned to the House of Lords in front of Her Majesty. The queen remained sitting on her throne as Britain's mightiest heroes came before her. Finally, a man with long black hair wearing a red trenchcoat came in. The others let him through as he seemed to glide his way over to the queen.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Alucard," the queen remarked of him as he took a knee before her. "Your skin is as smooth as I remember," she said as she touched his face.
"You know it. It reminds me of when I kept you warm during the blitz," Alucard said referring to WW2.
"Those were better days. I was younger, beautiful," the queen recalled.
"Shut up, you old hag. I'd still wreck you like Diana," Alucard assured her.
The queen chuckled at that. "Oh, you know exactly what to say to moisten me up."
"The fuck?" Manchester mouthed.
"MI-13," the queen addressed them all. "When you find the bitch that killed Captain Midland and when you kill her, I want you to record it so I can fall asleep to it every night," she ordered.
"As you wish, Your Majesty!" they all shouted.
Captain Britain then came over to Manchester. "Her Majesty's government has now made you the new Captain Midland. The shield is yours," he said to him.
"As the queen commands," Manchester bowed his head and received the shield.
Moscow, Russia
At the PATRIOT facility, Director Nikolai, Alina, and Karina went over the war plans. "The G7 leaders will be meeting in Metropolis. With the exception of Japan, they're all NATO heads of states. PATRIOT will take out their security and hold them hostage while we begin the invasion of Ukraine," Nikolai said.
"Won't we be declaring war on the entire G7?" Karina asked skeptically.
"We will need plausible deniability. PATRIOT agents must never be revealed to be conclusively working with the Russian government. Alina will take command of this mission," Nikolai said.
"Manchester Black has been a bit of a nuisance for me. Go to the UK, take Fiona hostage, and that will force him out of the fight," Alina ordered Karina.
"Where is Fiona now?" Karina asked.
"Our sources tell us she is in Scotland," Alina said.
"Fawk," Karina shook her head dismayed. "Is this really the best use of my talents?"
"Once the G7 leaders have been relocated out of Metropolis, you will meet up with Russian forces on the Ukrainian border to give us aircover. With your counterpart gone, we can run the tables," Nikolai said.
"What if they nuke the fuck out of us?" Karina asked.
"Ukraine isn't worth a nuclear holocaust. They'll chew us out. We've been chewed out before," Nikolai said dismissively.
"Well, okay then," Karina said completely onboard.
Metropolis, USA
At the G7, the world leaders of America, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan were all talking mad shit about Russia for supposedly being involved in recent terrorist attacks in Eastern Europe. They also discussed the basket case that was Ukraine. As they argued on what to do, the power went out. The backup generators immediately went online but the computers were hacked into.
PATRIOT had made their move.
Episode 6
Manchester Black flew over to Metropolis with his new glider and shield. Jeremiah was already on the ground. "What's the plan?" Jeremiah asked via radio.
"Alina has to be close. Keep your eyes open," Manchester replied.
"Very helpful," Jeremiah rolled his eyes.
"By the way, I called in some backup," Manchester said.
Jeremiah was suddenly stopped by a younger man. "Excuse me, Sir, are you supposed to be here?" Jeremiah gave him an odd look sensing something was out of place. "It's me," Alex said taking off the electronic mask.
"Was that really necessary to crossdress as a man?" Jeremiah asked shocked and appalled.
"Relax, I got this," Alex said pulling him aside.
Alina eyed Manchester flying around. "He's here. Do it now," she ordered.
PATRIOT agents unleashed tear gas grenades to force the world leaders and their security detail outside into a trap. Manchester threw his shield into the window of the G7 building and engaged the PATRIOT agents wearing an obnoxiously British flag outfit. "Alex, Jeremy, what's going on with your end?" Manchester asked.
"Nothing, all quiet," Jeremiah reported.
"Who are you?" a security chief asked Manchester.
"I'm Captain Midland," Manchester told him.
"Who?" the security chief wondered.
As the G7 leaders evacuated, Manchester took on the PATRIOT agents. Jeremiah entered the building and looked around. He then got a call from Alina. "Aren't you tired of fighting for the wrong side, Mr. Danvers?" Alina asked him.
"I've done this before. I know how it ends," Jeremiah said condescendingly.
"It doesn't matter if I survive this. I'm fighting for something bigger than myself," Alina told him. "After all the bodies you've collected, can you say the same?"
"I have two daughters I raised that are genuine heroes. I can go to the grave knowing that," Jeremiah said to her. "You think your cause is legit but, in the end, the nightmares will never go away. You're going to remember all those you killed. Trust me, don't do this."
"I've killed countless Nazis during the Great War. I sleep just fine," Alina said.
"What about those who were not so clear cut? What about the Czechs, the Hungarians, and the Polish you put down. What about your own people in the purges?" Jeremiah asked her.
"If that's how you feel, you should sit this one out," Alina advised.
"Well, I'm not going to do that. I'm a dead man walking. You're practically immortal. You can have a life outside of war," Jeremiah told her.
"Well, thank you for speaking to me rather than saving the hostages," Alina said smartly and hung up.
"Damn it," Jeremiah realized.
In the panic, G7 leaders were loaded in bulletproof security vans and taken away. What they didn't realize was that the drivers were PATRIOT agents. They placed a lock on the doors to ensure the G7 leaders didn't get out. Jeremiah and Alex rushed to the basement parking lot and were confronted by a PATRIOT agent. Alex shot him in the head before he could reach for his rifle.
"Go," Alex said to Jeremiah who had stolen a motorcycle.
Jeremiah gave her a nod and sped off after the security vans. Meanwhile, Manchester was still fighting a particularly tough PATRIOT agent on the top floor. "Get your ass in the air," Alex told him.
Manchester retreated away from his fight and exited the building having failed to accomplish anything so far. Manchester activated his glider and went after a helicopter holding additional hostages. The PATRIOT agent took evasive maneuvers as he went across the bay. Manchester quickly caught up to the helicopter only to be shot at. Alina walked with her PATRIOT agents away from the building.
"The hostages are on route to the rendezvous point. They're being followed by Captain Midland and the Winter Soldier," a Patriot agent informed Alina.
"Worst case scenario, we kill the hostages," Alina said nonchalantly.
The PATRIOT helicopter pilot sliced into an MPD helicopter at exactly the right spot like a boss. The MPD helicopter went into a spin forcing Manchester to intervene. He grabbed the pilot and landed on a bridge. The helicopter hit the bridge and fell into the bay. Jeremiah caught up with one of the security vans and leaped onto it. With his metal arm, he slammed the lock on the door several times breaking it. Before he could open the doors, the security van stopped. PATRIOT agents got out of the vans and engaged Jeremiah in hand-to-hand combat. Alina arrived on the scene and cast Jeremiah into a construction yard where he fell a few stories to the bottom. PATRIOT agents fired gas canisters into the construction yard to keep Jeremiah down.
"Let's keep moving," Alina ordered her men.
In the air, the PATRIOT helicopter pilot hit Manchester's glider with his propeller blade sending him into a cargo ship. Manchester fell into the bay and was nearly crushed by debris coming off the cargo ship. "Boy, you earned this ass-whooping," Manchester said pissed off as he arose from the water.
The PATRIOT helicopter pilot continued to evade Manchester as he caught up. Manchester threw his shield into the cockpit and swooped in. He briefly fought with the stunned pilot and threw him out where he hit the water. Manchester then took the controls of the helicopter. "Anyone here a world leader?"
"We're just interns," one of them said.
"Well...shit," Manchester muttered.
Alina drove the G7 leaders to a steel mill factory with explosive charges everywhere. The PATRIOT agents tied up the G7 and waited for orders.
Lewis/Harris Island, Scotland
Fiona made her way to the middle of nowhere on a Scotland island only to be immediately captured by Karina at her cottage. "I must have sent a dozen text messages to Manchester Black telling him I had you, and he doesn't seem to give a damn," Karina said peeved.
"He puts duty over pleasure," Fiona said, proud of him.
"Or he's just not into you," Karina corrected.
"Or it's a trap. Care to step outside?" Captain Britain said to her.
Karina exited her cottage and looked over the assembled British superheroes. "You really shouldn't have," she glared at them. Karina quickly shed her civilian clothes revealing her Red Daughter uniform underneath.
"You don't belong here," Captain Britain told her.
"Give it a few years and you won't either," Karina mocked referring to the impending UK break-up.
"The sun will never set on the British Empire," Captain Britain told her off.
"You forget to mention that I am the sun," Karina said as she glowed intensely.
"The Cold War is over," Pete Wisdom beseeched her.
"You're not wrong," Karina agreed as her eyes glowed red.
New Jersey-Somewhere
Jeremiah, Alex, and Manchester converged on the steel mill to rescue the G7 hostages. With his nifty goggles, Manchester was able to spot their footprints. Alex found Alina first and fired on her. The bullets merely went through her and sparked the metal pipes behind her. Alina held Alex still and looked her over. "The sister," she recognized. "I suppose we have a lot in common."
"You have to stop this," Alex said to her.
Alina increased the water pressure in her gut dropping her. Alex fell to the floor painfully. Manchester then intervened using his shield and glider. Alina merely entertained him as Manchester did all sorts of cool flips and turns. At the end of it, Alina slammed him up against a wall. Jeremiah cut Alina nearly in half with his knife hand. Alina's torso immediately reformed from the injury. She kicked Jeremiah away with enough force that his robot arm came loose. Alina took Jeremiah's arm and smacked him to the chin with it. Alina then pushed Jeremiah onto a conveyer belt and slammed him repeatedly with his own robot arm. She then tossed him onto the floor. Throwing the metal arm aside, Alina beat the shit out of Jeremiah with punches and kicks. Jeremiah fell to the floor barely able to move.
Manchester used his glider to kick Alina away from Jeremiah. She, in turn, slammed Manchester to the floor and against the ceiling several times. Alina flipped Manchester and disarmed him of his shield. "Consider your protected status canceled," Alina glared at him.
"Black, move!" Alex shouted as she threw a lighter on the floor.
Manchester rolled out of the way as the lighter ignited the gasoline on the floor. The three of them had lured Alina into a trap. The flames roared around Alina forcing her to lose her original color. As her water evaporated in the flames, Alina screeched in pain and fear. Manchester, Jeremiah, and Alex watched in amazement as Alina struggled to get out of the flames.
She eventually did but was unable to return to her original colors. Her body fluctuated erratically from clear water to that of skin and clothing. Manchester took an exposed electrical cable and zapped her hard. Alina took hold of Manchester giving him the same zap. His glider sparked and malfunctioned from the electrical surge. The two eventually separated violently.
Lewis/Harris Island, Scotland
Karina and Captain Britain fought evenly until Karina decided to take the fight seriously and dispatched him easily. Black Knight sliced at her with his ebony blade managing to cut her arm. Karina backed away stunned. Realizing their weapons could injure her, Black Knight and Excalibur engaged her with their swords. Karina merely dodged their blades at the same with super-human speed. As Karina dodged them, Union Jack stabbed her in back with a silver blade. Karina unleashed a small solar flare blasting them away from her. She took the dagger out of her back and threw it away disdainfully.
Captain Britain aimed his scepter at her creating a forcefield around her. Pete Wisdom ignited his hands and aimed at Karina. At the right moment, Captain Britain lowered his forcefield as a stream of red-hot energy knives hit Karina. Pete kept it up not stopping his attack. Black Knight fired a black beam at her while Excalibur summoned lightning from the skies and fired on her. Captain Britain formed a forcefield around Karina to make sure she got the full brunt of the attack. Karina emerged from the explosion and fired heat vision at Captain Britain blasting him into a rock formation.
As Black Knight and Excalibur powered up their blades, Union Jack rushed Karina to distract her. Karina didn't even bother to dodge his moves. She beat him down within a second and then held him as a human shield preventing Black Knight from attacking. "Strike me down. Do it...for Her Majesty!
Union Jack told them.
Karina gave him a stunned look as Pete Wisdom, Black Knight, and Excalibur were all about to strike at her even with Union Jack in her hands. She quickly threw Union Jack aside to avoid getting him killed and was hit with a firestorm. Karina merely absorbed the solar radiation Pete was giving her but then Black Knight sliced her through the midsection with his sword. Karina coughed up blood but took hold of Black Knight's hilt. She forced him closer to her further impaling herself and strangled him with her other hand until he passed out. She then withdrew the sword from her gut and watched as the wound instantly healed.
Captain Britain returned and the fight went into the air. Excalibur immediately went to work healing Union Jack and Black Knight of their injuries. "Not bad. You're as powerful as Superman," Karina complimented as she repeatedly clashed with him.
"Then why are you smiling?" Captain Britain asked her.
"Because I know something you do not know. I'm not right-handed," she revealed.
Captain Britain stared at her realizing she had been fighting right-handed the entire time. Karina cocked her left hand back and punched Captain Britain with enough force that he created a crater on an uninhabited island. Karina then fired heat vision on him blasting the island to nothing.
New Jersey-Somewhere
As Alina's body fluctuated on the floor, PATRIOT agents came onto the scene and pointed automatic rifles on Manchester, Jeremiah, and Alex. "Water?" one of them asked Alina.
"Please," she said desperately.
They placed water jugs next to her and opened the caps. Alina immediately returned to full power as she summoned the water to herself. She regained her original appearance. "Phone," she requested. She then called up Karina.
"Status?" she requested.
"I've been busy fighting the Knights of the Round Table here," Karina reported.
Alina eyed Manchester. "Even with your wife in danger, you still decided to fight us?"
"For Queen and country," he spat at her.
Alina eyed him incredulously. "Dispatch of them and get to the Ukrainian border," she ordered Karina.
"As you wish," Karina said and hung up.
Lewis/Harris Island, Scotland
Karina landed back on the island and looked over the MI-13. "Well, it's been fun but I have a war to get to."
A bullet suddenly blasted a baseball size hole in Karina's right breast. "Who...the fuck are you?" Karina asked painfully as she collapsed onto the ground.
"You know...a real fucking vampire," Alucard replied.
Karina went Prime healing the wound quickly. Alucard fired off his two pistols at her with the intent to kill. Karina dodged the lethal-as-fuck bullets and fired heat vision. Alucard's body exploded into red blood that refused to be incinerated. Hundreds, then thousands, then millions of zombies suddenly materialized onto the battlefield, every Britain that had ever died ever was now in the service of Alucard. They immediately went to swarm Karina.
"This is OP as fuck," Karina remarked.
"Coming from you, it must be," Alucard smiled.
As Karina was distracted by the zombie army, Alucard fired into her left arm nearly taking it off. Karina fired heat vision slicing off Alucard's right arm and his head. Alucard's left hand still fired blasting the right side of Karina's face. Karina took a step back as her right-eye socket, cheekbone, and jaw quickly regenerated. Alucard, likewise, grew a new head and arm. Karina used her left eye to fire heat vision on Alucard lighting him on fire. Once she was completely healed, Karina went Prime and unleashed a solar flare that incinerated Alucard's entire zombie army.
Captain Britain set up an energy field to protect Union Jack, Black Knight, and Excalibur from being fried. Inside the inferno, Alucard reached out and punched through Karina's chest grabbing her heart. Karina grabbed his arm to keep him from going further and froze him solid with her breath. Shattering Alucard's arm, she painfully stepped away from him. Alucard blasted the ice of himself and grinned at her. At this point, Karina had regenerated from her injuries but a large section of her chest was now exposed. Alucard grinned immaturely at this.
"So, how are we going to do this? Are you going to come at me? Do I come at you? Shall we come together...at the same time?" Alucard asked her.
"You know, that's only funny in English," Karina scolded and then blasted his right arm off with heat vision. As Alucard regenerated his arm, Karina fired a white beam at Alucard's leg. She telekinetically lifted him off the ground and slammed him into a mountainside. "Shit!" Alucard cried out as the mountain collapsed on him.
Karina dragged him out of the rock for another beating. Alucard pointed his gun at her only to have the guns and his fingers blasted to pieces. "Fuck," Alucard said painfully.
"You mad?" Karina mocked.
"I know it's filthy rich coming from me, but your powers are bullshit," Alucard accused.
"Shall we measure our white privilege?" Karina mocked. "You're probably wondering why I would go all this way to this wasteland far from home...,"
"Is it to fuck me?" Alucard guessed.
Karina immediately blasted all of his limbs off and then sliced him in half at the midsection with her heat vision. Karina eyed his body curiously wondering if she had done it. Blood behind her materialized into Alucard and then he punched her hard to the face. Karina was thrown into the air from the blow. Alucard's coat became alive as it reached for her. Karina kept her distance and then noticed Alucard could no longer reach her. The two stared at each other long and hard until Karina realized the truth.
"He's confined to the British borders," she realized.
Alucard merely frowned as she finally figured it out. Karina smiled at him for the great fight and then flew off away from Great Britain towards Ukraine.
Ukraine-Russian Border
On the Ukrainian border, the Russian army and airforce were on the move. One hundred thousand soldiers, thousands of tanks and artillery pieces, and hundreds of fighters went straight for the border. The Ukrainian military was also on alert preparing themselves for the inevitable invasion. Russian ships took positions to blockade the Ukrainian coastline. Russian SU-35 fighters took the lead to take out Ukrainian radar towers, anti-aircraft systems, and airports. Within minutes, they would be in Ukrainian airspace.
The token Ukrainian airforce went out to meet the Russians as infantry dug in. They would be fighting for their lives, their homeland against the mighty Russian bear. Karina flew at super-sonic speed giving the Russian army a pass and then met up with the Russian fighters. Mon impersonating Superman joined the Ukrainian airforce. The Russian defense ministry became slightly nervous as Superman entered the battlefield.
"Continue on course. Superman is no match for our asset," the defense minister ordered.
"I will deal with him. Stay on target," Karina radioed the fighters.
The two were about to clash a few miles into Ukrainian airspace. As soon as the Ukrainian airforce was taken out, the Russian armor and infantry would flood in. Mon went straight for Karina despite the difference in strength between them. "I will not hold back," Karina said as she cocked her left arm for a devastating hit.
"Otdykh vo Sneh," Mon said to Karina (Rest in sleep)
Karina immediately lost consciousness and slammed into the ground. The Russian army immediately halted as the Russian command was confused and shaken by what had happened. The Russian fighters pulled back and reentered Russian airspace. Mon continued into Russian airspace and gave the Russian army a pass. The infantry immediately tried to find cover expecting Mon to incinerate them with heat vision. The Russian fighters desperately fired missiles on Mon with no effect.
"Pull back," the defense minister ordered.
The Russian army scrambled to pull back as Mon continually passed over them and blasted their anti-aircraft missiles out the sky. Mon then flew by the Russian ships in the Black Sea. They immediately pulled away from the Ukrainian coastline while firing anti-aircraft missiles in a vain attempt to keep him at bay. In the end, the invasion was canceled. Mon then went back to a sleeping Karina, picked her up, and instantly appeared in the center of a Russian army base. In front of the gawking troops, Mon dumped Karina on the ground and flew off.
New Jersey-Somewhere
Alina waited on orders as she kept the G7 leaders, Manchester, Jeremiah, and Alex at bay. She got a phone call from PATRIOT. "Understood, comrade. Will do," she said and then hung up.
Alina gave a heavy sigh and met with her agents. "We're finished here. Time to go home," she said sadly. Alina then went over to Manchester, Jeremiah, and Alex. "I regret you have become involved in our... war game," she said and then walked off.
"Apology not accepted, bitch," Manchester shook his head dismayed.
Alina and her men entered a prepared underground tunnel under the mill and escaped. Eventually, an EOD squad came in and cleared the explosives all around the mill while rescuing the hostages. Jeremiah put his robot arm back on and decided to leave before anyone recognized him as the Winter Soldier. Manchester went to untie the G7 leaders and escort them out of the mill.
"Son, what you do to stop those terrorists brings great credit upon yourself and your country," the British PM told him.
"Those Russian sons-of-bitches need to pay for this," Manchester said.
"The Russians are denying any involvement," the British PM shrugged.
"That's bullshit. We need to have more eyes and ears in Europe to prevent this from happening again. I shouldn't have to track down these terrorists by myself," Manchester said.
"We're not sure we can legally call them terrorists," the French president said.
"Why the fuck not?" Manchester asked confused.
"Well, we think labels are not very useful," the French president said.
"We believe that if we provide more funding to Eastern Europe through the EU and other agencies, we will solve this problem," the German chancellor said.
"No, fuck that. You need to send these people a message that supporting Russian over the EU is not okay," Manchester objected.
"You just don't understand how complicated this is," the Canadian PM told him.
"Let me uncomplicate it for you. This experience of being kidnapped, having a gun in your face, and having your ass kicked is what people have to deal with all over Europe. Now you know how it feels. How did it feel to feel to be helpless? Can you remember a time? In the face of something so powerful, it could erase half the planet. This isn't about easy decisions," Manchester said.
"You just don't understand," the American president told him.
"I'm a black man carrying the union jack. Every time I pick up this shield, I know there are millions out there that will hate me for it: all of our enemies from the Cold War, the nations we colonized, and even some of the people in this country. And there's nothing I can do to change that yet I'm still here as a proud patriotic subject of Her Majesty," Manchester said wide-eyed.
"The only power I have is the belief that we can do better. We can't go halfway with the Russians. You control the banks, you can move borders, you can knock down a forest, and you can cyber attack their ass. You guys have to do better. You have to step up because the next time, it's World War III. You are the strongest governments in the world. If you can't put Russia in its place, who can? Why the fuck is that?" Manchester asked them.
"They have a...," the Italian PM said referring to Red Daughter.
"No, let me stop you right there. You have the same power as a living god. The question is, how are you going to use it?" Manchester asked rhetorically and then walked off.
Metropolis, USA
Jeremiah continued his quest to talk to every person he could find that he had wronged as the Winter Soldier. Once he was done with his list of names, he met up with Alex in Metropolis. "How went your apology tour?" Alex asked curiously.
"I got everyone that was in my book," Jeremiah said.
"It must have been hard looking those families in the eye," Alex said.
"Actually, it was super-easy, barely an inconvenience," Jeremiah said. "But the last name on my list is going to be the hardest."
"Why's that?" Alex asked.
"It's you...and I'm sorry," Jeremiah said sincerely.
Alex teared up and two embraced.
London, England
Pete Wisdom gave Manchester Black a tour of the Hall of Heroes. "You know, when I fought that Russian Supergirl, she was the hardest opponent I have ever encountered. No one has ever survived my attacks like that," Pete said.
"She's on a whole other level," Manchester agreed.
"But now we know how to take her down," Pete smiled referring to her sleep codeword.
"I guess we do," Manchester smiled.
"It was fun being out there again with the old gang," Pete mused. The two of them came to the Captain Midland exhibit. The main article was on the original with a smaller section dedicated to the second. "You'll do great. You're as much a Britain as anyone else. Don't let anyone tell you differently."
"Thank you, Sir," Manchester said tearfully.
Later that day, Manchester and Fiona sat down to talk to a different bank about their home loan. "Now that I'm Captain Midland, I am officially employed by the government. I'm being paid good money. I got a fat life insurance policy. I'm ready to roll!" Manchester said to the banker.
"Your finances look great. Unfortunately, we can't be seen doing business with a Black," the banker said.
"Well...shit," Manchester frowned.
Author's Notes: I positioned this two-parter here before Supergirl returns from her depression exile. Falcon and Winter Soldier were a little too sympathetic to the wannabe terrorist girl, so I had to make Alina extra competent and ruthless while creating rules for why our heroes are not immediately killed. Alucard is a Japanese anime but the setting is modern-day Britain so I gave him to them. I gave him a special rule that he has to stay in the UK to avoid all sorts of plot holes as to why he isn't killing fools all over the world over the last several seasons. This not the case in the anime. You may be on Manchester's side, Alina's side, or somewhere in between. I just hope I made you think or feel something here.