Special thanks goes to both OfficialUSMWriter for allowing me to use a gas similar to the one in her amazing Infected Humanity series, and also to my amazing girlfriend AliE96 for writing a portion of this chapter.
"'His nightmares', what do you mean?" Gwen asked in a curious tone.
"It's complicated, but I'll do my best to explain." Vixen began in an apologetic tone. "Until he shows himself, Imperious wants to keep himself in the shadows per say. However, he has the unique ability using some of his magic to invade dreams and create nightmares–"
"Like Freddy Krueger?" Doreen blurted out without thinking, and that made Vixen smile for a nanosecond.
"That's a good comparison, I guess." Vixen answered honestly. "However, while Freddy tries to prey upon the living while they sleep, Imperious uses his dreams and nightmares to scout and evaluate his enemies, or as Doreen, Daisy and I have witnessed, give glimpses of either a possible future, or the real future." Vixen said, and that earned looks of concern and panic from all the Secret Warriors.
"How do we beat somebody who can see the future?" Kamala asked in a serious tone.
"Always in motion is the future, it's like the churning waves of the ocean, sometimes it's calm, sometimes it's rough, and sometimes it's changeable." Vixen said with a hopeful tone. "On my planet, it was prophesied that we all would live in harmony, but sadly that prophecy never came to pass." Vixen said in a sad and regretful tone.
"What does that mean?" America asked in a curious tone.
"That's a story for when we don't have to worry about Imperious, I'll tell it, but not till after Wraith is defeated, and Imperious' invasion force is sent back to the realm that spawned them." Vixen said firmly, which earned head nods from every Secret Warrior.
"That explains Daisy's nightmare, but what about mine?" Doreen asked in a curious tone.
"You haven't told us anything about yours, D." Rayshaun informed his squirrel tailed ally who blushed in embarrassment, but quickly proceeded to tell everyone about her nightmare: her and Vixen's battle with Wraith, and how he had used a gas weapon and poisoned them both, but Vixen had given her only cure to Doreen, and when all was said and done, Vixen's mouth was left waving like a flag.
"That's disturbing to say the least." Vixen said as she rubbed her chin in contemplation, and then proceeded to remove her backpack and sit it down in the center of the table, before pulling out a vile of golden liquid.
"What is that?" Daisy questioned.
"Doreen, is this the vial of Continuum blood you saw in your vision?" Vixen asked, even though she was almost certain of the answer.
"Yes, that's it." Doreen answered with a shocked look on her face. "Is it true that's the only vial you have?" Doreen asked the yellow eyed girl.
"I could have sworn I grabbed more." Vixen said as she reached her hand into her backpack and pulled out a compacted golden bow, a few golden arrows, some weird looking gadgets, but no other vial of golden Continuum blood. "That is creepy that Imperious knows I only have one vial, and if Wraith poisoned us in the vision, that would mean-"
"One of you would die." Gwen said in a scared tone, and that caused everyone, Vixen included, to look really scared.
Suddenly the alarm went off in the meeting room, and the ground began shaking all around them, and Vixen could smell a sweet scent in the air.
"What the hell is going on!?" Riri asked as she and the rest of the Secret Warriors all bolted out of their chairs and took up combat stances.
"Don't be afraid!" Vixen yelled at all of them as a golden portal opened, and out walked a very familiar 'Spawn' looking Continuum, one Vixen recognized instantly
"Who the hell are you!?" Riri asked as she raised her palm repulser's.
"My name is irrelevant to you, Riri Williams." Crusaders answered in a stern tone at the armored girl before him.
"Stand down, father." Vixen requested of her father, who turned around and spotted his daughter, and his harsh golden eyes let go of their glare a little bit.
"Vixen." Crusader said simply.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, father?" Doreen said in a shocked tone.
"Yes, this is Crusader, my father." Vixen said in a serious tone as Crusader averted his eyes from his daughter, and instead turned to face all the secret warriors.
"Now that the introductions are out of the way." Crusader began with a stern tone. "I'm most displeased that you disobeyed me, Vixen." Crusader said in a harsh tone, which made Vixen feel like the room was closing in on her.
"I couldn't just idly stand by and let that vile emperor add this world to his collection." Vixen said in a small voice, which did little to defuse her father's anger.
"You have endangered the safety of billions of lives by coming here." Crusader said in a still harsh tone. "If Imperious finds out my daughter is here, that will violate every aspect of the treaty, and will open our world once again to invasion, I can only guess how many people would–"
"Lay off her!" a female voice called out, and Crusader turned to find the armored Riri, having opened her face plate, and she had a stern look on her face.
"You presume to command me, Riri Williams!?" Crusader asked in a slightly offended tone.
"I do, and you will head my command." Riri hissed as her faceplate closed and sealed, as she raised a repulser at Crusader.
"I think not." Crusader said simply as he raised his own hand which began glowing with a golden aura, and Riri collapsed to the floor.
"What have you done, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" Gwen shrieked as Dante and Kamala rushed to Riri's side.
"Relax Gwen Stacey, I merely put her in a deep sleep." Crusader answered.
"Can you wake her up?" Daisy asked in a calm tone. In response Crusaders eyes glowed pure golden for a second.
"Done." Crusader answered simply as Riri sat up slowly and began rubbing her armored skull. "If we are done yelling at each-other, I'm here for my daughter." Crusader said simply.
"I'm not going home, dad." Vixen said simply. "Not until the mission is complete." Vixen said simply.
"This is not your fight." Crusader said sternly.
"It is my fight; it has been since I had that vision." Vixen said just as sternly. "I'm a warrior, and I will protect this world, and it's billions of lives." Vixen said simply.
"You are not a warrior, you are my daughter, and will behave as such." Crusader said sternly.
"Am I your daughter, father?" Vixen asked bluntly, and that made Crusader's blood run cold. "Or am I your adoptive daughter?" Vixen asked again, being equally as blunt.
"What do you–"
"Father, I know I'm adopted." Vixen said calmly.
"How do you–"
"I've always suspected father, but the very first vision I had, confirmed my suspicions." Vixen said calmly.
"You are my daughter." Crusader said in an almost desperate tone.
"Just because I'm not your biological daughter, doesn't mean I'm not your daughter." Vixen whispered, which Crusader heard perfectly.
"How long have you known?" Crusader said in a defeated tone.
"I've suspected ever since I was 6. I was the only one on our world with simply yellow eyes, and my body type." Vixen answered, all the while the Secret Warriors where looking back and forth between the two. "You found me on a planet ravaged by Imperious, and took me in as your own, didn't you father?" Vixen asked.
"Yes... I did." Crusader answered softly. "You were only a few months old when Imperious attacked your world. As I walked through the devastation, I found you in a field, and I swore from the moment I laid eyes on you, I would always protect and care for you." Crusader said firmly.
"I know father, and you have done so for over fifteen years. But father, I must fight this battle." Vixen pleaded.
"But Vixen." Crusader pleaded.
"Father, they need my help. Just as you saved me from Imperious, I will now save them from Wraith." Vixen said firmly.
"How will you do this, he has many, you are but one." Crusader stated.
"She's not alone." America said of all people, and that made Crusader turn to look at the Hispanic teenager. "She has us, all of us." she said firmly, which caused the rest of the Secret Warriors to nod their heads silently.
"I see now you are not alone." Crusader said after a few silent moments of contemplation. "But all of your combined might will not be enough sadly." Crusader said firmly.
"Father, you cannot fight our battle, since you are pure Continuum, you are bound by the treaty." Vixen said in a serious tone.
"I might not be able to fight, but I can give you all a gift." Crusader said simply as his whole body began glowing with a golden aura as he began chanting in an ancient Continuum language. After a few seconds several weapons appeared in front of him, surrounded in the bright gold aura; a warrior spear, a pair of daggers, a bow and arrow, a katana sword, a battle ax, a naginata, a kusarigama and a crossbow. The young heroes were in awe at the sight before them.
"The katana, the most noble of the blades. It is the weapon of a leader." Crusader spoke as the blade separated itself from the gold aura and towards Daisy who gingerly held the blade in hands.
"Its beautiful" Daisy whispered as she looked over the blade and the gold handle which was carved into that of a dragon.
"The Warrior Spear, a weapon for a strong warrior." the spear then removed itself from the gold aura and towards Rayshaun before landing in his hands. Rayshaun was in awe at the weapon and examined it with pure interest. The handle of the spear had gold markings of dragons laced around it.
"The daggers symbolize courage and valor in combat." the daggers then floated over to America who took the small blades carefully as she inspected them. Both of the handles have gold carvings of dragons on them.
"The Bow and Arrow, if your heart is pure and your intentions are true, the arrow will never miss." the bow and arrow then landed in the hands of Doreen who smiled wide at the weapon.
"So cool." she squealed as she held up the bow and arrow, about to shoot it, but Gwen put a hand on her arm stopping her.
"Not here, later." Gwen told her, and Doreen pouted before bringing her arms down.
"The Battle ax symbolizes inner strength." the ax was then placed in Dante's hands.
"Sweet." he held it up looking at it closely with interest. The handle was black with silver carvings of dragons strewn about it while the blade itself was silver.
"The naginata, a weapon of nobility." the weapon was then placed in Iron Heart's hands who eagerly accepted it. Like the battle ax, the handle was black with silver carvings of dragons around it while the blade was made of pure steel.
"The Kusarigama, only a pure spirit is capable of wielding this weapon." it is then handed over to Kamala who looks at it curiously. The handle and chain are black in color while the blade itself is silver in color and material.
"The crossbow the keenness of sight can wield this while always hitting the intended target." the crossbow was given to Gwen who smiled at the weapon. The majority of the weapon is black while the arrows are made of steel with gold feathers.
"Lastly but not least, Vixen, my daughter." Crusader said as he closed his eyes and concentrated, as a golden aura formed in the room, and Crusader reached his hand into the aura and retracted a golden handled sword, but the blade itself was pure white and emerald green. "The Blade of Heaven, the most powerful Holy weapon forged in Heaven itself, a gift to me from the Arch-Angel Michael, and now a gift to you." Crusader said as he handed the sword to Vixen, and a warm feeling spread throughout her body, a feeling of courage.
"I must now depart this place and return to the capital. May God bless you, and may the Arch-Angels watch over you all and protect you all." Crusader said as he bowed to them all, and with the blink of an eye he was gone, leaving Vixen and the Secret Warriors amazed at what they had just witnessed.
To be Continued...
