Infinity Crisis Aftermath: Freedom Force
Disclaimer: All characters belong to their owners. This is purely for fun.
Yup, yet another plot bunny from Infinity Crisis...well, technically an old plot bunny that reared its head again. So I decided to write it out. Enjoy!
Freedom Force Headquarters, The Colorado Rockies, Earth-110521
Nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado was an old two-level complex. The black building stood out among the fir trees that dotted the area. Once upon a time, this was called the Hideaway. It used to be the original headquarters of a nearly-forgotten superhero team called the First Line. But now, the old complex had found new life as a new home for another team of superheroes: the former Brotherhood of Mutants, now known as Freedom Force.
A SHIELD Quinjet landed on the pad in front of the building. The back of the jet opened up, allowing the passengers to disembark, ready for some well-earned rest and relaxation.
The first to emerge from the plane was a brunet man wearing a blue costume that left his arms and shoulders bare. It had red gloves and boots, a futuristic silver belt around the waist, and a strange emblem of that incorporated a pair of rectangles and a right triangle. The costume's cowl left his hair and lower face free, the eyes covered by mirrored lenses.
Yankee Clipper. Real Name: Patrick "Pat" Carney. Birthplace: Scottsbluff, NE. Affiliations: (Formerly) First Line, (Currently) Freedom Force. Physiology: Enhanced Human (technological). Powers and Abilities: No innate superpowers. "Power belt" grants superhuman strength, superhuman durability, forcefield generation, and limited time-travel ability. Skilled acrobat, martial artist, and wrestler.
The veteran hero looked up at the complex, and a small smile formed on his face. He felt an understandable sense of nostalgia. Back in the late 1950s and early 1960s, this was his home. This was the original headquarters of the First Line before they moved to the Carmody Institute in the 1980s. Pat was thrilled when he learned it was still standing, mainly because his fellow First Liner, the Eternal known as Pixie, was keeping an eye on it.
It's nice to see this old Hideaway's been given some new life. Pat thought happily as he continued on. If only the other First Liners could be here to see this...
The next to emerge was a toad-like young man with yellow eyes, pale skin, and long dirty blond hair in a ponytail. He wore a green costume with a light yellow chestplate, boots, and gloves.
Toad. Real Name: Todd Tolensky. Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY. Affiliations: (Formerly) Brotherhood of Mutants, (Currently) Freedom Force. Physiology: Mutant Human. Powers and Abilities: Prehensile sticky tongue, superhuman leaping ability, slime and acid spit, can cling to surfaces. Skilled machinist, mechanic, martial artist.
"Ahhh, I can't wait to relax after that crazy mission." Todd grinned. "Ain't that right, babe?" He was talking to a young purple-skinned yellow-eyed woman. She had wild feather-like hair in a two-pronged style with a ponytail, and wore a golden outfit with a cleavage window and black shoulderpads. She had black gloves and boots, and a silver utility belt. Also on the belt were a pair of holsters that contained a pair of futuristic golden blasters.
Deathcry. Real Name: Sharra Neramani (First name Earthizied to 'Shiera'). Birthplace: The Aerie, Chandilar. Affiliations: (Formerly) Brotherhood of Mutants, (Currently) Freedom Force. Physiology: Hybrid of Shi'ar and unknown alien race. Powers and abilities: Superhuman strength, stamina, durability, enhanced senses. Claws can rend steel. Skilled pilot, marksman, and martial artist.
"Indeed, my love." The alien warrior hugged Todd from behind, a smile on her face. "You said you would show me another one of those movies by those brothers. What're they called again? Marcus?"
"Marx. You mean the Marx Brothers, right?" Pat suggested.
"Yes, that's the name." Sharra nodded. "I was told they are...classics, yes?"
"Yup. Legendary comedies." Todd grinned. "I think you'll love Duck Soup."
"I'd go with Night at the Opera myself." Pat smiled. "It's a personal favorite."
"Why start with the best film, yo?!" Todd laughed. "I want to build it up! We watched Animal Crackers last night."
"My favorite is the one who honks." Sharra said.
"Yeah, Harpo." Pat nodded. As the three spoke, another figure quietly left the Quinjet. She had black hair, and was clad in a red and black top, red pants, long red opera gloves with golden bracelets around her wrists, and a long sleeveless red jacket with a hood that was pulled back. On her head was a two-pronged red tiara. And around her neck was a studded black choker with a golden ankh hanging from it.
Scarlet Witch. Real Name: Wanda Marya Maximoff. Birthplace: Belgrade, Serbia. Affiliations: (Formerly) Brotherhood of Mutants, (Currently) Freedom Force. Physiology: Mutant Human/Sorcerer. Powers and Abilities: Probability manipulation, skilled sorceress and martial artist.
The young woman had been in a bit of a trance. Something did not quite feel right...
"Yo, Wanda!" Todd's voice knocked her out of her reverie.
"...wha-huh?" She shook her head. "What?"
"You wanna join me and DC in watchin' some Marx Brothers?" He asked.
"Duck Soup!" Deathcry cheered.
"Oh, uh...I'm good, thank you."
"What, you daydreamin' about your boyfriend again?" Todd teased with a big grin. Wanda scowled. "Don'tcha worry, Witchie! You two will get to hang out again when he and the guys return from performing in Australia."
"Aww, shut up." Wanda grunted. The group walked up to the front door of the complex...where they saw a redheaded woman waiting for them. She wore a black bodysuit with a large white stylized spider on it. The costume was completed by a pair of white gloves that went up to her upper arms and white boots that went up to her knees, ending at points. Her cowl was pulled back, showing her face.
"Heard about the mission. Good work, guys." Julia Carpenter complimented.
"Thanks, Julia." Pat smiled. He noticed Wanda. "You alright, Wanda?"
"...y-yeah, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." The young woman nodded.
"You don't seem it."
"Something feels...off. Way off." Wanda tried not to shudder.
"That Dusting thing did mess with us a bit." Deathcry recalled.
"Yeah." Todd agreed. "Seeing Julia, Fred, and St. John turn to dust." He shuddered. "That's some scary stuff, yo."
"I was with Amelia, and she got turned to dust in front of my eyes." Pat recalled.
Todd slightly frowned at Pat. "I still am freaked out that you're dating my mom."
"I don't understand why." Deathcry noted. "Pat is an honorable man. He has shown himself to be an excellent mate for your mother."
"We work together." Todd explained. "It's a bit awkward."
"As amusing as this all is, I'm afraid that we have a problem." Julia announced. "There's someone who wants to see us."
"No rest for the wicked." Pat sighed. I was hoping to relax tonight...
"Does this mean we won't get to watch that Marx Brothers movie tonight?" Deathcry asked.
"Hopefully, this'll be quick." Todd grumbled as the group walked into the complex. They made their way to the meeting room, where Julia gestured them inside.
"She'll brief you. I'll have to let A.R.M.O.R know she's here." The redheaded woman left the room. It was there that the the group then saw their guest. It was a Skrull woman, her long green hair in a ponytail. She wore a purple costume with a dark green cape, boots, and gloves. The chest had a white emblem that resembled a letter "V" with a white line at the center.
"Skymax?" Pat blinked. What is the Skrullian Skymaster doing here?
"Greetings." The Skrull said.
"Don't you Squadron Supreme guys normally pal around with the Avengers?" Todd blinked.
"Indeed, we do normally." Skymax said.
"Why are you here, Skrull?" Deathcry frowned.
"Because I am here to warn this world." Skymax explained. "Recently, my group battled an evil version of my comrade Hyperion."
"An evil Hyperion? Oh, hell..." Todd groaned.
"He is not here, as far as we know." Deathcry scowled, crossing her arms.
"I've heard about this 'Hyperion' person." Pat said. "An evil being with his power..."
"Indeed." Skymax nodded. "I am here to give you this." She gave Julia a small lead box. The redhead opened it and saw a red crystal inside.
"It's a crystal." She announced. Todd glanced at it.
"It's pretty, but it's not any of our birthdays."
"It's Argonite." Skymax explained. "The crystal emits radiation that is poisonous to him. He also is vulnerable to magical forces."
"Why give this to us, Skrull?" Deathcry frowned. "What is your plan?" Skymax smiled in amusement.
"You are Shi'ar, aren't you?"
"Yes. I am. On my mother's side." Deathcry scowled.
"I see like in my reality, our peoples do not get along well in yours." Skymax noted.
"Considering your species' reputation for manipulation and subterfuge..." Deathcry snorted. "Skrulls fear honorable combat."
"Hon, let's not pull the Kingon thing here..." Todd sighed, putting a hand on the half-Shi'ar warrior's shoulder in an attempt to calm her down.
Skymax smirked. "Little Shi'ar, the histories between our two peoples in both our worlds are irrelevant at this point. This version of Hyperion is not just a great threat to your world, but also potentially to the entire multiverse."
"She is right, Sharra." Pat agreed. "I know your people and the Skrulls have a history, but this isn't Skrullos or Chandilar. This is more important right now." The purple-skinned woman stared at Skymax for what seemed like an eternity.
"You...have a point." She admitted. Wanda walked up to the Skrull woman.
"Is that what I've been feeling?" She asked.
"I do not understand." Skymax blinked in confusion.
"Ever since that whole Dusting thing, I've been...getting a strange feeling." Wanda turned to the others. "You all know that thanks to my mysticaltraining with Agatha Harkness..." Pat shuddered at the mention of the sorceress's name. He recalled a time when she and Freedom Force helped stop a time-bending villain called the Chronobreaker. During that incident, Harkness got rejuvenated and given a younger appearance. She wouldn't stop flirting with the time-tossed former First Liner afterwards. Wanda continued on, oblivious to Pat's shudder. "...I've developed a sensitivity to mystical forces. Thanks to that, I've...felt like something is very off lately."
"Hmmm..." Skymax thought, rubbing her craggy chin. "I remember Arcanna said the same thing. She believed this...Dusting may be leading to something...bigger down the line."
"Something...bigger?" Pat said.
"She claims that the barriers between dimensions have weakened as a result of this event." Skymax said. "My people call it the Bleed."
"The Bleed?" Todd winced.
"Imagine that the multiverse is a brick wall, and every universe is a brick. The Bleed is the mortar between the bricks. If that mortar is weakened too much..."
"The wall collapses." Pat realized.
"Why can't we just call it The Mortar? So much less morbid, yo." Todd shuddered.
"We believe the weakening is what allowed this evil Hyperion to escape into the Multiverse." Skymax said. "And if he continues his rampage, it could weaken it further."
"We appreciate the warning, Skymax." Pat said. "But why give the Argonite to us? Wouldn't it make sense to give it to the Avengers?"
"I gave a gem to them." Skymax said. "As well as the Fantastic Four. I was hoping to contact your X-Men as well..."
"I think they're out in space right now." Wanda said.
"Figures." Todd snorted. "Knowing the X-Geeks, they'd try and find a way to use the Argonite on us."
"Long story." Pat explained to the confused Skymax.
"I see." She nodded. "I have kept you long enough. I must go on my way..." An alarm went off. "What in-?" Julia burst in.
"Powerhouse is back, folks!" She announced. "We gotta move!"
"Aw, that crazy mutant supremacist?" Todd groaned.
"We are not going to get to watch that movie, are we?" Deathcry asked.
"Oh, we gonna watch that movie. If I gotta fight that crazy woman myself!" Todd grumbled. Pat turned to Skymax.
"Skymax, would it be alright if we asked you to..."
The Skrull woman smiled. "I would be honored to aid you."
"Great, we'll brief you on the way! Let's go!" Julia ordered. The group headed out.
Thanks for reading!
This Earth's designation is a bit of a nod on my part. You see, according to the Marvel Appendix, the Earth of X-Men: Evolution is designated Earth-11052. As such, since this Earth is meant to be a possible future version of that world, I designated this Earth as Earth-110521. And since according to the last episode of Evolution showed the Brotherhood becoming Freedom Force in the future, that was what inspired this one-shot.
Believe it or not, this was the one-shot that I wanted to reveal the Eighth Doctor was traveling with Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers from the first episode of What If? But things changed, and that ended up happening in Batman Family.
Patrick Carney, the Yankee Clipper, first appeared in Marvel: The Lost Generation #4 (November 2000), but he was first mentioned in issue #12 (The miniseries went backwards).
Pixie first appeared in Marvel: The Lost Generation #12 (March 2000)
Deathcry first appeared in Avengers #363 (June 1993).
The Julia Carpenter Spider-Woman first appeared in shadow in Secret Wars #6 (October 1984). Since she was a member of Freedom Force in the comics, I figured I'd give her an appearance here.
A.R.M.O.R (Altered-Reality Monitoring and Operational Response Agency) first appeared in Marvel Zombies 3 #1 (October 2008). It's a sister agency to SHIELD that monitors incursions from other realities.
I decided to have Skymax be a woman here as if you've noticed my portrayals of the Squadron Supreme in these Infinity Crisis Aftermath one-shots, I've been trying to create a more modern take on the Terra's Finest Heroes.
The "Powerhouse" that is mentioned is a reference to Powerhouse, an obscure villainess who first appeared in Spider-Man #15 (October 1991).