The gathered heroes sat around a large table in the transdimensional meeting place used by the Spectre and Living Tribunal. Since Hendrickson's arrival on the heroes collected existence, he had done some necessary housekeeping. Now, instead of apparently standing in nothingness, the area was similar to a large meeting room found in Avengers mansion, or early incarnations of a Justice League or Justice Society meeting place. After the large oaken table, the room was decked out with paneled walls, comfortable chairs, and assorted supplies for note taking and lectures. A large screen was at the head of the table, although there was no evidence of a projector of any sort. The room was well lit, although there was no evidence of any light source.
The heroes sat around the table, the heroes from the DC universe on one side, Marvel on the other, with John Constantine at the foot. The Spectre and Living Tribunal flanked the chair at the head of the table, one on each side. The gathered individuals worked especially hard to show no inclination of fear, only thoughtful consideration and intensity dedication to doing what needed to be done. Constantine and Wolverine were exceptions to this and it was evident in their body language. Some less kind souls gathered at the table thought they might be too stupid or stubborn to feel fear. The two dark heroes appeared bored, held to their conscious state only through their addiction. They inhaled the smoke and slowly blew it out through their nostrils, and scratched at their 5 o'clock shadows. Wolverine and Constantine were men of actions, and were out of place in the tastefully decorated room. They would have much rather been in a dive with a healthy stock of booze. But they knew that action was coming, action that would soon require their unique talents. Here they men differed. Wolverine was anxious, Constantine was consigned to action, knowing that he could not ultimately escape it. Both wanted to get started.
Craig Hendrickson walked into the room from a paneled door on the wall closest to the head of the table. Behind him was a blinding light, but no one in the room, except for the guardians of the existences, could make out anything behind Craig. Hendrickson took his seat nodded to the guardians on either side. The lights suddenly dimmed, and an image appeared on the screen, seemingly from nowhere. Craig started to speak, slowly and evenly.
"Time is short, and I do not presume that I need to make any introductions. You have done your homework, and you know who everyone is. Its time you know exactly what we are going to face, what they want, and how they are going to try to get it. And how we are going to stop them.
"The two individuals behind me are Mephisto and Neron, high ranking demon entities in Hell. You are aware that our existences share a common heaven and hell. However, Mephisto has been primarily concerned the existence of Captain America, Neron with Superman's. Many of you have had some sort of knowing contact with these individuals at some point of your career.
"From what I have been able to ascertain, these two individuals have been spearheading this particular project for at least several hundred years. Over this team they have been gaining influence over key character, stationing armies, causing certain artifacts and tools to be lost or destroyed, position people and demons in key places. Ultimately, this plan will come to fruition in a few days, as early as tomorrow.
"Here is what we know the plan to be. Earth is the keystone of all existences. The one common trait. This is why what will happen will occur on Earth.
"What will happen will be invasion. The gates of hell, and the boundaries that generally protect 'reality' from these unholy forces will be torn asunder, allowing the legions of demons to swarm over your two earths. If these demons gain final dominion over these earths, ultimately it will lead to the weakening of the fabric of all realities, and hell's hordes will spread like a cancer, canceling and corrupting all life, not just on earths but in complete universes. Ultimately reality will sink into hell, and humanity and life will be corrupted. The goal of this, other than to expand the dominion of hell, is to finally grant Hell the power to overrun Heaven.
"Neron and Mephisto are lieutenants in this scheme. They are not generals. There is a power higher than this. Whether it is Satan, Beelzebub, Lucifer, whoever, I don't know. I sensed some powerful evil thing in charge when I got hit with that lightening bolt. I also sensed some counterbalance.
"The plan is simple, brutal, and obvious. In the face of overwhelming evil, you send a small group of individuals into the heart of the evil realm to deal with the more powerful leaders, while the assembled armies of man do battle and hold off the legion of doom. Its just what is done.
"We have gone a long way towards mobilizing the army to fight the hordes of hell. Just a few more moves, and we'll be ready. One is setting up Xavier with a set-up created and utilized in Superman's existence." It was then that the lights turned up, and Xavier saw a small box of what looked to be electronics, beeping quietly but constantly. Outside of that, it appeared to be otherwise unremarkable.
"This is a Motherbox," continued Craig. "The most advanced, sentient computers on any existence are Motherboxes. Xavier, you are a highly intelligent telepath, with a highly advanced machine in Cerebro that heightens your abilities. With the Motherbox, you will be, essentially, Radio Free Existence. You will be able to broadcast your thoughts and coordinate the defense of both planets with your new improved Cerebro. You will be, for all reasonable, omnipresent. You won't be all powerful, as you will not be able to directly control the armies like so many chess pieces. They will retain free will, and will retain control of their powers as they know how to use it the best. Essentially, you are like a police dispatch. You know where everyone is and where all the trouble spots are. You gotta get people to go where they need to be."
"Captain America, you will approach your world's leaders and tell them what is going on. That's fine. Superman, you will be going to all of your world's leaders. Except for Luthor. Batman, you are going to come with me to deal with him. Luthor's relationship with Superman will make this problem more difficult. I want him on board the entire time, and I have the best way of doing that."
"Then what do you need me for," asked Batman, honestly curious.
"I want an audience to appreciate it," replied Craig. "And of everyone here, you would appreciate it the most."
"After that, all you need to do is sit and wait. Let them make the first move. Just prepare for the crisis and when they move, you follow."
"As for the small group of people going to follow me into hell, well, here it is. Hell, obviously, going to be pretty brutal. I need people who know how to handle themselves, and know how to fight, with the obvious exception of Constantine, who can't fight worth, pardon the pun, a damn.
"The list as follows: Constantine as the guide. I am going to need you to bring that special family heirloom of yours. You know which one I mean." Seeing Constantine nod, he went on. "Batman and Superman. I have reasons to believe that two particular persons are going to be where we are going to end up that you really want to see." Superman clenched his fist and thought of Apocalypse while Batman showed no outside demonstration of emotion when he thought about what Al Ghul did to his family. "Wolverine, you are a brawler, who can't really be killed. After Living Tribunal and Spectre gives you a little upgrade...which I ensure you will be significantly less painful than what Weapons X put you through, and without all of that collateral damage, you come with us."
"What am I supposed to do," asked Wolverine. "I really don't do this world traveling crap."
"Kill anything that doesn't look like one of us," replied Hendrickson evenly.
"Works for me."
"That leaves two open spots, cause yes, like everything else that we have been doing, seven is a magic number. Dr. Strange, you are up cause you have magical abilities of a more conventional nature, in comparison to Constantine, and you have adequate experience." Craig didn't add that he had not had experience with Constantine, and was thus more likely to trust him than his otherworldly counterpart, Dr. Fate.
"Finally, I want Gambit to come with."
Wolverine raised his eyes at this, and asked the question that was on everybody's mind. "Why do you want Cajun? I mean me, I kind of understand, cause of the healin' factor and stuff. But Gambit never goes along on these things."
Hendrickson shook his head. "This is going to be a brawl Logan, and I want people who know how to handle themselves in a brawl, and who has the fire power to do it. Gambit's experience gives him the ability to handle himself in a brawl, and his powers gives him firepower. Ultimately, Superman, Batman, and myself or going to be occupied. Constantine too probably. Ultimately, the line is going to have be held by three guys. You and Gambit know how to work together, and know how to fight. You are also both not afraid to kill. And Strange at least has a passing familiarity with both of you, and he is not afraid to get his hands dirty.
"I could have gone with somebody else, but I don't want to totally weaken the home defense, cause hell is going to be sending almost everything they got at us. However, they are not dumb and will keep some of their troops back. Good troops. And the things these troops will know how to defend are not pansies. When we get there, all the rules of non-killing are off. The people who we are fighting against have made their choice...its time for them to reap what they sown."
Quiet filled the room. Hendrickson took the two guardians, Spectre and Living Tribunal aside, and whispered to them quietly for several minutes. At different points of the conversation they looked surprised, but kept whatever Craig said to themselves. The Motherworlder than turned to look at the other members of the room.
"This is our last full meeting. Spectre and Living Tribunal will go with Wolverine to gather Gambit, and to work the mojo they need to do to make them ready for what is coming. Constantine, Strange, Superman, you are going back to where you need to be, to prepare for what is coming. Batman, you are with me, and then I'll send you back to Gotham.
"Everyone else, prepare yourselves, and your troops for what is coming. Be prepared for anything and everything at any time. This is the last time the leadership is going to meet like this, and for most of you, this is the last time you are going to see me. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with you. May God, or whatever the counterbalance I sensed is, be with us all.
"Black op team, you have two hours. Make them count. Batman, you are with me. Everyone else, go to work."