Blink sat back in her seat her arms folded and her mind full of thoughts as the aircraft she was in neared the Alaskan coastline. Clarice never thought she would be sitting with any of the people she was with now. Shiro Yashida the Horsemen of Doom and Thor's Dark Riders. The two former gods of Asgard Sif and Balder sat to the right of Death while the former King of Atlantis Namor sat to the left of Death. The last two Moon Knight and Marrow sat to her right. The atmosphere of the plane was far from friendly to say the least.
"When we reach the battlefield prepare for many things not of this world. Britannica has used her new power to draw monsters from seemingly demonic dimensions to serve in her army. This is probably going to be all of ours toughest battle to date because Britannica's army has won victories in Sydney, London, and Seattle. Our main objective to take down Britannica though if we can weaken her army greatly that will prove just as effective. The seven of us together can either be a force to be reckoned with or some toys for High Evolutionary to mangle later on. Right now we must put all our fears, grudges, and any other personal feelings behind us. A battle lies ahead of us!" Doom roared though you couldn't see any mouth movement since his entire body was now plasma.
"Spoken like a true Asgardian!" Balder yelled cheering on the unofficial leader of this fiasco. Blink would have chimed in her own little battle cry, but she felt too uncomfortable around these guys.
"We're about to land," Marrow exclaimed as the ship began to rock slightly. Doom turned to Blink and nodded his head giving young Clarice the signal.
Blink began to concentrate and in a brilliant pink flash all of the superpowers were gone being transported to the battlefield below.
"Everyone take on what you can and cause as much massive damage as possible!" Doom commanded as he took off into the air blasting away four squadrons of flying ice dragons with his atomic flame. The collection of mutants and Asgardians below watched with awe but only for a second before the battle was joined.
Blink leaped over her attackers with ferocity and power. They were two large floating blue T-Rex heads that were spewing out some type of green corrosive. As she was in mid-air over the two creatures she launched ten darts five into each thing's head. A giant sizzle and two loud thumps followed. As Blink landed on her feet with careful acrobatic grace she saw about a hundred human cyborgs headed for an already outnumbered Balder. So with a wave of her hand all the heads of the cyborgs were teleported inside of the bat-like creatures Balder was fighting causing them to explode.
"I thank thee much young mutant!" Balder cried as he headed into battle with She-Hulks from other dimensions. Seeing Balder take on the two green women sickened Clarice. In their universes these two She-Hulks were probably good standing members of society, but due to Britannica pulling them from their home and mind controlling. Now they were faced with death by the hands of Balder.
"A penny for thoughts," Britannica chuckled as she came up behind Blink and slashed her with her sword. Blink went tumbling forward maintaining her balance by doing a tumble roll. Before she could finish this roll she teleported behind Britannica using the last of her roll's momentum to send Britannica flying forward.
Clarice quickly stood up and with three darts in hand she spit on Betsy and said, "Penny this bitch!"
In an instant there was a bright flash and pink smoke billowing violently from the fallen Britannica. The fact that the woman was still breathing showed Blink she was still alive though she couldn't see how. High Evolutionary must have had some modifications done on her since the last time she was seen on the Moon.
Suddenly Britannica's armies turned into vapor illusions and were sucked into Britannica's head as if they were all simply figments of her imagination. The roar that came from this going on was horribly loud and made Blink cover her ears. She stepped back slowly to keep away from the awful noise.
"What sort of deviltry is this!" Balder yelled surprised.
"Blink once this is all over with teleport all of us back to the Six Castle. They most likely have the best facilities to contain this woman," Sunfire called down from above. Blink looked up having to shield her eyes slightly from the bright sun and nodded in acknowledgement.
"You have struck a blow the armies of High Evolutionary Blink. You are now a marked woman," Marrow said coming from behind. Blink turned around quickly with a smile.
"I preferred to be marked rather than dead."
"So say we all Blink….so say we all," Sif murmured under her breath. Her master would be pleased with this development. It meant that the war was that much closer to being over. Of course the master had his own personal vendetta with High Evolutionary that he would settle on his own.
"Your thoughts are on the future Sif. Put them in the back of your mind and focus on the present at hand. We'll have plenty of time to contemplate on the future later," Namor said gripping his sturdy hand on Sif's armor plated shoulder.
Mephisto's RealmAdam Warlock leaned forward trying to keep the blood flowing in his veins and to keep from going stiff. He had been chained in this hellhole for weeks. Adam couldn't help but to wonder if the heroes of Earth had fallen against the High Evolutionary and his allies. But he wasn't going to let his drifting thoughts get the best of him. He was determined to fight his way out of here and back to Elektra. He had left her once already and he wasn't going to leave her again.
"Your resolve impresses me Adam! Even after weeks of captivity without food, water, or suitable rest you still maintain some sense of dignity about yourself. It's too bad you didn't join us. Perhaps I can put in the good word to Mephisto if you ever change your mind," Lord Drezan said as he leaned down and gave Adam a deliciously seductive kiss. Adam at first gave in to it, but then realizing he pulled away fiercely.
"Me and you ended a long time ago Drezan. I wonder if it wasn't for Elektra would I be sitting alongside you being a servant to Mephisto. Tell me did you ever have any true love for me?" Adam asked disgusted with himself for having given in. Drezan seeing this disgust in Adam's eyes walked out of the prison chamber and slammed the door concealing the holder of the Soul Gem once more.
"I still do Adam. I still do," Drezan whispered softly to himself as he began to walk down the hall briskly not wanting to dwell on the subject. As he walked back to Mephisto's throne he crossed paths with his fellow vampires Angelus and Spike.
"Have you two found the whereabouts of Bloodstorm yet?" Lord Drezan asked angered. The two had been tracking this Ororo ever since the war started and they have found no trace of her.
"Bug off Drezan. We found here all right. She's in Boston with two little companions. Our little Bloodstorm is trying to be kind and give some weapons to a human resistance faction. We'll turn her back to her old ways soon enough," Spike said gruffly.
"So until then stay the hell out of our business Drezan!" Angelus exclaimed getting face to face with the vampire. Drezan threw back in his head in hysterical laughter.
"Angelus I've been around since the days of the first vampires. You think your pathetic, idle and weak threats will faze me in the least. Do your job and find Bloodstorm. Then perhaps you might have some merit in challenging me," Drezan said continuing to laugh as he turned into mist and began to zoom down the blood-laden and bone adorned hall.
"I really hate that bloke," Spike said as he began to puff on a cigarette.
"Let's just find Ororo and move on to bigger things," Angelus suggested his anger still seething off.
"What can be bigger than Ororo? With her back it'll be like old times again except for Darla and all. Hey did you talk to Mephisto about when he was going to resurrect her?" Spike asked wanting more than anything for things to be the way they use to be.
"He said once High Evolutionary completes his conquest of Earth. I have no clue how long that will take," Angelus sighed. The only reason he joined Mephisto was to get Darla back.
"All the more reason to bring one more fighter to our side by getting back Ororo," Spike said.
"Did she really screw that good Spike?" Angelus asked bewildered by Spike's obsession.
"You better believe it!" Angelus's partner exclaimed as a wide grin formed on his face.
Meanwhile down the hall Drezan soared not being able to get his mind off Adam Warlock and the terrible price he had paid for love. Satannish would one day pay for his dark deed and injustice to him. If High Evolutionary succeeded in his plans that day would be soon.
Flagstaff, ArizonaFirelord blasted a group of Ming'Cha away with his staff and teleported them all into black holes with his Space Gem. This battle was infested with these ugly, green incestoids that would disgust even the vilest species. Drax seemed just as disgusted having to use his massive strength provided by the Power Gem to rip the Ming'Cha to pieces and send their entrails spewing.
"I hate the sounds these things make when they burn!" Pyro said using his cybernetic flamethrowers to hold back a group of Ming'Cha surrounding him. He was using his Time Gem every now and then to send Ming'Cha a couple of minutes in the future so as to make his destroying them easier. The Ming'Cha were much more vulnerable in small numbers. They were pretty much just talking roaches.
"Well, at least you can use your powers. We're in too close proximity to a human refugee camp for me to use mine," Alastaire said twisting the bodies and minds of the Ming'Cha with his Reality Gem.
Captain Mar-vell didn't use his Mind Gem all that much. Genis hated to use his telepathic powers preferring to get down and dirty with his opponents though he was wise enough to know when to use his abilities to their fullest. Right now wasn't the time though. The Ming'Cha infantry was basically green, gooey punching bags.
"They really have to have better than this," Captain Mar-vell laughed as he blasted away a few dozen Ming'Cha with his Nega Bands.
"Perhaps High Evolutionary is holding out on us," Firelord mused as he created a cosmic flame whirlwind around himself sending 50 Ming'Cha to their deaths.
"High Evolutionary? Doubt it. The man doesn't hold out because it's not in his nature. At least not when he's experimenting on people," Alastaire said remembering his time on Mt. Wundagore before he joined the Infinity Watch.
"I just got an idea how to rid ourselves of the rest of these things. I'm going to light these things up and I want Pyro to use his Time Gem to transport them a second into the future right into the heart of the sun," Alastaire explained as each one of the Ming'Cha began to glow a bright blue signaling the nuclear fission about to take place.
"G'day mates," Pyro said as his Time Gem began to glow teleporting all the Ming'Cha into the core of sun. The desert of Arizona now only contained the members of the Infinity Watch and the dirt covered pieces of the fallen Ming'Cha.
"I suggest now that this human encampment is safe that we go to Six Castle and tell Elektra that we have found out Adam Warlock's location," Drax suggested leaping high into the air to scan for any more incoming Ming'Cha.
"I agree with Drax and we must hurry to Six Castle, because I ache to stab my staff through Drezan's black heart," Firelord growled creating a teleportation hole directly to Six Castle for all his teammates to step through.
"Whenever you make one of those things Firelord my stomach does a little flip," Alastaire joked, as he was the first one to step through the portal.
Xavier AsylumCharles mentally commanded his cold steel hoverchair to float him away from his study where he had been overlooking some old pictures of him and his dear friend Magnus while they were young and in Egypt. Those times seemed so long ago and a great deal has changed since then.
Still holding an old brown photo album in his hands as he backed away he closed with tear and said, "Magnus you shall be missed."
"Ahh how touching pops," Legion said sarcastically as he entered into his father's private study. Slowly Xavier turned around to face his son. The boy was so much like him and yet so very different. He had beautiful, slick black hair like his mother and he had her wonderfully tan skin color. Xavier won out in the eye color area both of them having dark blue eyes and the boy had Xavier's lean features.
"I knew this day was coming son. Though it wouldn't have figured this soon. It's not too late to turn back on this madness and help me destroy the being known as High Evolutionary!" Xavier pleaded, but quickly stopped seeing there was no reaching his son.
"Come now Daddy dear. You know why I'm here!" Legion exclaimed holding his finger to his throat.
"Indeed," Xavier sighed as he prepared himself for mental combat.
EgyptApocalypse was alone and there was many a time he preferred it that way. His forces were scattered across the globe helping the heroes beat back the High Evolutionary's troops. It was a daunting task, but he had faith in the super powers of the world to accomplish their goal.
"You're getting rather bold Apocalypse to stay here all by yourself," High Evolutionary said coming from out of the shadows on the side of Apocalypse' throne.
Apocalypse let out a guffaw and said, "Maybe so. But you have grown bold yourself coming in here alone while you are waging a war against the world High Evolutionary."
"No need for formalities Apocalypse. We both know who I really am so let us not pretend," High Evolutionary said harshly.
"Of course Sinister. I just wonder though how you came to be inside High Evolutionary's body. It couldn't have been an easy feat. Especially for someone as lowly as you," Apocalypse spat.
"Always the flatterer. I don't even think I should tell, but I did come to spend some quality time with you so I shall. After I corrupted Husk and Momentum destroyed my body my psyche flew onto the Astral Plane in a desperate attempt to stay alive. I eventually found the body of my former student High Evolutionary. I waited patiently until he slept and then I struck with all the ferocity of a thousand lions. His defenses were open so it was easy to take his mind. You can't imagine the power he has and yet he flaunted it all on his Bestials. It makes me sick thinking he was once taught by my hand, but I shall make up for his name. Sinister is no more now there is only the new High Evolutionary."
"Of course Essex. Did you really think I was going to share this secret with anyone else anyway? This is far too interesting to let die so quickly my friend. Your secret shall remain with me for a long time to come indeed," Apocalypse smirked.
"Well, that is if you survive this war though I probably will allow you to. I mean after all you're so old and I really try to care for the elderly. I mean look at that senile fool Saul. I keep him plenty of company and he serves me well," High Evolutionary laughed, but that laughed quickly faded as he saw the anger sweep across his old master's face.
"You truly have outworn your welcome Essex! 'Allow me'! Allow me to live! You have lost all your senses with this newfound body Nathaniel! Leave here before I'm forced to rip you in half you ungrateful piece of …! LEAVE!"
High Evolutionary took a slight bow as his form disappeared into thin air right before Apocalypse's eyes. En Sabah Nur sat back angered that he had allowed Essex to get the best of him and incite anger. It was not a trait that Apocalypse liked to show often, but the High Evolutionary as he now called himself had a way about him that seemed to grate Apocalypse in every way possible. The master of survival let out a slight chuckle as he realized why High Evolutionary bothered him so. It was because Apocalypse missed him though that would be a thought held only within his mind never to escape.
The MoonPoison Ivy pulled up a sleek, gray metal chair for Momentum to take a seat in. As he sat down she walked over to one of the brown cabinets placed on the right side of the room behind Momentum's chair. She opened up the cabinet and in almost frenzied manner tore through the numerous foods in the closet until she came upon a large bag of yogurt raisins. She took a seat in a blue reclining chair across from Momentum and placed the yogurt raisins on a tiny glass table in front of her.
"Green Lantern usually eats these things and Superman usually has this seat, but I'm the leader so who gives a damn. So what brings you here from Earth Momentum?" Poison Ivy asked already partly knowing the answer. When they first arrived in this dimension they saw footage of a war torn Earth. Of course not knowing any of the circumstances they decided to not get involved. She could still remember the debate between Lex Luthor and Batman over whether or not to get involved on this Earth. Lex's best friend, Superman, could barely contain the guy.
Momentum bent forward slightly in his chair placing his elbows on his knees as he said, "I'm here to get your team's help on my planet. A being named High Evolutionary has ravaged my world. He has assembled a massive army to beat back all that stands in the way of his total control of the planet. The heroes I fight with are holding their ground, but we need a quicker win to stop more human lives from being lost. That's why I came here for your team's help."
"Why the hell didn't you guys come here sooner! Of course the JLA will help you fight this war with the High Evolutionary. We were all really starting to get bored not doing any fighting anyway. Plus it'll give my wife, Wonder Woman, a reason to stop going around the base brooding. Consider us in!" Poison Ivy exclaimed as she outreached one hand to Momentum and used the other to stuff some yogurt raisins in her mouth. Momentum couldn't help but laugh as he took her green glove covered hand in his.
