BLACK WINGS Chapter 2 - Kingdom Of Fear by Justin Anderson Wednesday, August 27th, 2003. Manhattan, 8:01 AM 'Come on, Osborn... I'm a worm on a hook. Come and bite, dammit!' Cletus sat on the ledge, waiting. Osborn refused to show up. Suddenly, he felt something cutting into his own mind. It was Xavier. 'Cletus, I need you at the mansion immediately, it is urgent!' 'Can't it wait?' he replied mentally. 'No,' Xavier replied. He swore under his breath, leaving his post. Westchester, 8:54 AM Cletus sped up the driveway on his motorcycle, barely parking before he dismounted. Scott led him inside. "This had better be good, I'm trying to draw Osborn out," he said. "I know, Cletus, but I'm afraid this can not wait." Xavier turned on the monitor. "This was sent to me this morning from the Shi'ar homeworld. Lilandra sent me a warning, possibly at the risk of her own life to do so... please, hear her words." The message began to play. The video was distorted, the audio fuzzy. But it was enough- "Charles, I am sending this at great risk to myself, but I have no time. The ruling council has determined that Earth is a target for colonization. They have ruled that the dominant life on Earth is unfit to exist, and that all resources shall be taken... there is nothing I can do. I believed that when D'Ken was deposed as emperor, that the empire would once again be peaceful, but others do not see things the way I do. I am sorry, Charles. I still love you, please never forget that, and please do not hate us for the mistakes we have made... I am sorry..." "The transmission ended there," Xavier explained. "Well, isn't that cute... well, if they want to come, I guess I'll have to kill them," Cletus replied. "You can not fight them, they would overwhelm you. I only wish I knew why the Shi'ar has become the way they are." "Can I have a copy of that transmission?" Cletus asked. He replied, "I have prepared you a copy. I'm hoping that someone may find a solution, and soon. I do not know when they will attack." Washington, D.C. 11:13 AM "If it isn't one thing, it's another. Al-Queda, aliens, they don't give up do they?" General Peterson asked, expecting no real response. "Any way we can reply to this?" "Not immediately," he replied. "Is this all Xavier received?" "Cletus replied, "yes." "We can reply... the question is, how... wait, Cletus, they want the planet itself, correct?" "I believe so," he answered. "I thought so... so, let's take away their reason for coming here." "And just HOW do you suggest we do that?" Cletus wondered. "... I need a copy of the news broadcast from the Empire state building collapse." 11:24 AM Peterson supervised the video editing. "Good... just include Carnage's threat, before Cletus arrived. Cletus, how much do the Shi'ar know about you?" "Probably nothing, shy of what they may have received from Xavier's files long ago." "I hope so," Peterson said. "They no doubt know nothing about your reformation and the cloning... so they'll believe this Carnage to be the real deal. Okay, now before the video, print this message... warning- do not approach Earth. Civilization gone, resources gone. Population nearly extinct. Following is a historical record of the initial attack perpetrated by Carnage, Nothing is left, we are dead. Do not save us or attempt to investigate, your life is at risk!" "That should get their attention," Cletus muttered. "I don't doubt it. If they'll listen is another matter, but I've never done this before, and it's all we've got. Prepare that for transmission via satellite. I'll contact Xavier for the coordinates." "If you'll excuse me, I have a Goblin or two to hunt down," Cletus said, running from the room. Westchester, 1:44 PM "We sent the Shi'ar empire a warning message. Of course, if they send a scout ship, we're dead in the water. You'd better pray that they're intelligent enough to stay away," Cletus said, "because I'd have no problem killing them if they try anything stupid." "... I understand," Xavier replied. "Good. From what I hear, these dicks almost ended the galaxy with that M'kraan crystal, so I think they have their heads up their asses, and I'd suggest keeping that in mind." Manhattan, 2:31 PM "Cletus, I see you got my message," Fisk greeted. "Yeah. You got anything?" "I do. I managed to obtain detailed blueprints of Osborn Industries and Osborn's home, including structures not on file with the city." "Tunnels?" Cletus asked. Fisk replied, "as well as hidden rooms and what appears to be an opening underground hangar perfect for his glider. But good luck locating him at any of these, none of my men could." "So how do these blueprints help me?" "A door," Fisk pointed out, "is present on his home blueprints, but no set of plans for what is behind that door. It's hard to say where it goes. Of course, he'll be monitoring the way if he's hiding behind this door." Fisk rolled them up, handing them over. "Incidentally, you know of the new hydrogen power plant opening in Rochester this afternoon, correct?" "I think so... why?" Cletus asked. "Captain America has announced that he will make a public appearance, and has invited the news media..." Fisk explained. "Hey, I thought Peterson ordered a media blackout on that place?" "Correct," Fisk responded. "Will you be contacting the General, or shall I?" "No... it might be nothing, he may not know about the blackout. But... goddammit! If it isn't one dumbass thing today, it has to be another! At this rate, Osborn's gonna die of old age before I catch him!" "May I ask what you mean?" Fisk asked. "Shi'ar..." he replied, as if the word was mud in his mouth. "I think I know what you mean... you'd better go if you plan on spying on the patriot, you have two hours, I believe. And while I haven't been able to confirm it, I've heard rumors of a glider being spotted in the air near that plant, so you may get your Goblin yet!" Rochester, 4:28 PM Cletus parked his bike near the plant. A crowd of media was gathered around, as well as bystanders, all cheering Captain America. He surveyed the parking lot. Nothing unusual. 'Okay, I just wasted two hours. Unless Osborn shows up, but that would be too lucky for one day," he thought. He sat back. Captain America conversed with the crowd, nothing unusual. Then, he caught it. Cap kept glancing over. A news van with no antenna deployed. "Oh, shit..." Cletus said, as the van doors burst open. Men with guns poured out. "Hey, you said-" "SHUT UP! All of you American pigs, shut up!" "Al-Queda, I swear, EVERYONE wants on my list today..." Cletus pulled his pistols, grabbing the shotgun from his bike. "Gotta be careful, they'll shoot those hostages." He tried to find a place to hide. If he could fire tendrils quickly, he could at least bind most of them for a few well-aimed shots. "You American filth, it is time once more for the fires to fall upon you, you and your so-called hero, who even admitted to us his guilt for the crimes of the united States against our people! Now is the time for... hey, what is that thing in the sky?" Two figures were approaching from the air. "Looks like a hostage situation down there!" Hobgoblin shouted. "Do you see me caring?" Osborn shouted. "Just get ready to blow the place and- the Black Wings!" Osborn pointed him out. "Well, if he's going to be a thorn in my side, I'll just have to yank him out! That crowd going up in flames should do..." "Osborn, what are you taking about?" Macendale asked. "Kill those people!" Hobgoblin eyed the crowd. "Osborn... there are children down there." "You won't do it?" Osborn asked. "But you did before! Oh, well..." Osborn swerved, knocking Macendale off his glider. Grabbing one of his own bombs, he threw it, the explosion sending the crowd flying. Turning, he passed over the facility, dropping the small bombs until a sufficient section of the plant was destroyed. He was gone before anyone realized what had happened. Hobgoblin was the first to rise. "Osborn, you've gone too far..." Someone grabbed his leg. "American filth..." "Terrorists? So that's what was going on." He pressed his foot into the man's throat. "He did it! He did it!" Hobgoblin turned. Cletus was running up. "It was Cap, he brought them here, I saw him looking at their van!" "What?" Macendale asked. "He called the press conference to get them here!" "Oh, really..." He grabbed Cap, pulling him up. "I'd expect this from Osborn or even Carnage, but YOU? You sick freak, I'm gonna snap your neck. You're not innocent, I can kill you!" Macendale smashed Cap's head into the pavement. "w-wait..." "Hold it!" Cletus shouted. "I-I-I'm sorry... this wasn't supposed to happen this way... they wanted to talk, an audience... oh, God..." he muttered. Cletus grabbed him. "What he hell is wrong with you?" "I... I, the government, we've been guilty of so much, to these people... some of them don't want violence, just a chance to talk..." he explained. Cletus slammed him into the pavement. "You sick fucker! You dragged innocent people into this! You feel some sort of guilt, then you pay for it, you don't drag other people into it! They were innocent, you think because a few they consider innocent die, that means ours should?" he began punching Cap. "I'll kill you... I'LL KILL YOU!" Captain America was barely conscious by this point. Hobgoblin grabbed Cletus, holding him back, not an easy feat. "Stop it! You're turning into Carnage, I can see it! Stop it before you turn into him!" Cletus let go. He asked, "Macendale, why do you give a damn?" "Screl made me want to help Carnage. Just like he made the other clone help him... all I wanted was Spider-Man, not this. Osborn wanted the plant gone, yes, but he killed these people for the hell of it! And now I've had to watch a national hero side with the enemy. I give up." They sat. Macendale could hear crying. He pulled a little girl from the pile. "Those were live news feeds. I can hear the sirens," Macendale said. "There's an underground lab under Osborn's mansion. The entrance is in the garden. Get inside, find a door labeled 3F. It leads to a mile long tunnel connecting his home to a larger underground lab, and another tunnel to his offices. Flush him out." Cletus looked down at Cap. "I'm going to have to tell Peterson. They'll arrest you." "I know," he replied. Manhattan, 6:47 PM Cletus waited for General Peterson's limousine to pull up. He handed over a letter. "Read that when you leave. I'm sorry it had to come to this, but I had to report it. I have to go find Osborn." "Wait," Peterson said. "Driver, open the trunk." The trunk was popped. Cletus opened it. He pulled out a long, black leather coat. "I had a new one made," Peterson explained. "It should be tougher than the last one, and lighter. Now, go kill Norman Osborn." 7:11 PM The Osborn mansion was empty. No lights, no servants. Cletus could hear the low whine of the cameras moving to track him. 'No point being subtle...' he thought, finding the hatch to the underground area, ripping it off. He ran until he found the door. An explosive ripped the door off its hinges. Cletus waved away the smoke. "Okay, OSBORN, you know I'm here... you think a bomb's gonna do me in?" Nothing. He ran down the hall. Opening the first door he came to after the mile run, he looked over a series of glass vats. "Good lord, I'm in one of those magic card games!" Each vat contained a humanoid goblin creature. "I see you like my clones, Cletus... I wasn't expecting Spider-Man here, but you... you, I'd expect. Ever since Magneto, Doom, and Fisk sold out and jumped ship along with YOU! How you could ever become a hero is beyond reason!" Osborn shouted. "And even the Hobgoblin, HE showed promise, until he wouldn't blow up a few useless people on the ground. Perhaps he wasn't really Jason Macendale after all. Oh, well..." Cletus ran for the voice. It was a speaker. "You honestly believe I'd wait here for you to jump me? You have to try harder than that!" the voice shouted. "Okay, Osborn... you can hear me, you can watch me... so watch this." Cletus placed explosives on the vats. The voice screamed, "NO! You can't do that!" The room went up. Out in the hall, a panel slid open. Osborn stared back on the monitor. "You have crossed the line this time, Black Wings! I'll kill you myself!" Cletus shouted, "Try it you FUCKER! You failed to kill Spider-Man when you had the chance, how the hell you gonna kill ME?" Osborn was foaming at the mouth. "The top floor of Osborn Industries, half an hour. You aren't here and I'll bomb this city until there's nothing left! That cloning technology cost me greatly, and I will take it out of you!" 7:42 PM "Three minutes early, Osborn!" Cletus shouted. "So you are. My office. Now." He climbed the steps, kicking in Osborn's office door. "One of us is not stepping out alive tonight," Osborn offered. "I knew the rules before I came here. You gonna sit there all night?" Osborn threw a handful of bombs. Cletus dodged, barely spotting the gun. He turned, the bullets bouncing off the coat. Spinning, he found Osborn missing. "Behind you..." Cletus felt the blow, directly to his nose. he skidded across the floor. "My goblin race will take over this world, you, and the mutants, you're in the way!" Cletus looked out the window. Jumping, he sailed over Osborn's head. Drawing his weapon as he landed, he fired. Osborn dodged. "Not good enough." Osborn threw more bombs. Cletus was still dizzy from the punch. Osborn shouted. "Shoot me!" He knocked the gun away. "Come on, shoot me!" He picked Cletus up, punching him over and over. Cletus noticed the bullet hole in the window. He asked, "Osborn... how well do you fly without your glider?" Pushing free, he swung a kick, the blow knocking Osborn back, through the window. He fell through the night air, down to the ground floor. A flagpole punched through his back. Osborn died the second his heart burst. Cletus jumped to the ground. 'This time, you don't come back, Osborn. This one's permanent.' Washington, D.C. 7:54 PM Steve Rogers was led into Peterson's office. "Leave us." The two agents left. "Don't say a word. I'm very disappointed in you. I expected better from you. Now explain yourself." "I'm sorry..." He still had the bruises from where Cletus punched him. "I thought they wanted an audience, I just..." "And you took their word," Peterson said. "Just because they don't wear a swastika doesn't mean they aren't the enemy. You could have checked them out, or come to us, or ANYTHING... but this." He continued, "but I'm not going to throw you in prison. I firmly believe you are simply no longer fit to be Captain America." "What do you mean?" He replied, "you're too old. That serum has kept your body young, but your mind isn't. You have the mind of a man twenty years older than I am... and the worst part is, I now have to face the fear that some day, the minds of Cletus, Jack, and Sandra will fail before their bodies do... even Logan's mind suffers, his memory loss may be the only thing keeping him stable. But regardless, I am stripping you of your right to the uniform. The Avengers will be notified of your sick leave, and I will have to transfer you. "Not to a facility in the US, if your guards ever learn of what you did, you may not survive. As is the case in many countries. I can't send you to Genosha, Magneto is a Holocaust survivor, who knows what he'd do to you if he found out. Meanwhile, you will be sent to the Vault, as an unnamed prisoner, until I can find someplace to keep you. I'm sorry I have to do this, but I have no choice. People died. "And I am aware that Norman Osborn killed them, not these terrorists, but that was merely intervention. They would have killed people if not for that. I'm sorry, but there is nothing else I can do..." Steve stood, saluting. "I understand. And I accept my punishment." "The sad part is... you were once my hero..." Westchester, 9:32 PM "I'm sick of sitting around, someone's gotta go find him!" "Please, Logan," Xavier said, "Jacob wished for us not to search for him. I know I have been unable to find him with Cerebro, but perhaps he does not wish to be found." Sabretooth laughed to himself. "What's the matter, Wolverine, can't make your own decisions anymore?" "Shut up! What's keepin' YOU from lookin'?" he asked. "Nothing. Magneto says he doesn't wanna be found, Xavier says the same thing, even the Black wings probably knows something, he's been to Genosha almost once a week... maybe he doesn't wanna be found!" "I don't think you care what happens to him, bub, you don't care about anybody!" Logan shouted. Sabretooth replied, "please, Logan... he was one of us, I know he can take care of himself. He's probably living it up somewhere. Besides, Toad's been looking, so it's not as if no one's been out there!" "Just what are you doing here, anyway?" Logan asked. "Not much... free food, free roof, I'm not doing anything important right now. Unless you wanna get on my nerves, runt!" Scott shouted, "cut it out, you two! Sabretooth, you came here, if you're going to start trouble, leave! I'm sorry, professor, Cletus Kasady is here." "Good, Scott. Send him in." Cletus fell into an empty chair. "Can someone get me a garbage can?" "Of course," Xavier replied. "May I ask why you need one?" "... I need to throw up." Notes: Set within the Marvel universe, I will be using my own continuity, mixed with new characterizations for some established characters from Marvel's story universe. These stories are a sequel to my fiction series Maximum Carnage. Cletus Kasady, Carnage, and others are copyright Marvel Comics. Jack Arden, Raicaak, and others are copyright myself. Other characters appearing may be owned by separate parties. I make no claim of copyright on any character I do not own, only on these stories and those I do own. Characters used without permission/not for profit. These are strictly fan stories. Permission to reprint extends to placing this text, unaltered, elsewhere online. It may not be altered, and especially NOT TO BE SOLD, unless Marvel wishes to license this series from me. Black Wings song and lyrics copyright Tom Waits.