The Age Of Akaige Chapter 8: When Your Lost I'll Find You 1, a teen titans fanfic

The Age of Akaige

By Pakkrat

Chapter 8: When Your Lost I'll Find You (Part 1)

Note: Hey everyone! Sorry that I have been gone for so long but I had some major issues to take care of. The plan was I would have a second chapter to go with this and no big cliff hangar. I have seriously let these stories go but now I'm back, hope you all are happy with this latest chapter.

On the Watch Tower the feelings seem to only grow. Lost in their misery most cadets handle and try to cope, the senior members were in the main center with the Teen Titans, Spawn, Doom Patrol, also Magneto with Sabretooth and Wolverine. Together it was obvious something needs to be done but really where do you start? The earth as they knew it was just fried. Sure, some lives remained but the world had been turned to one large scale war zone in mere moments. "If we had known he was using Superman's funeral as some start-up for this we could have…" Flash lowers his head but Wonder Woman grabs his shoulder "Chances are he had some other plan if this failed. We must find other ways to decide this course of action."

"I know what we must do." Magneto was viewed skeptically "You may recognize me as a villain from your own battles, I know I've had my times fighting each of you. The fact that I decreed my return as one of your allies may seem too much for most of you but I have something to contribute. I am a man of war, I predicted the war of human and mutant so now those skills will be very useful."

The others give slight stares but Raven who was not so skeptical since she understood the whole villain and hero thing "What do you propose Magneto?"

He nods to her thankfully, "I see that many wish to save the earth but I doubt we can just save it. Instead, treat this as war. Right now our enemy is stretched out and taking advantage we may catch them off guard while strengthening our own forces. I have been searching for candidates of the Brotherhood and along the lines of these young mutants were several truly beneficial to our own forces. With all that has happened finding out if these mutants survived could be key to successfully surviving these future battles."

Green Lantern would normally have his doubts but in a nod and smile he asks "Where do we find theses mutants?"

"They are spread out through the world. I know several who are very powerful and perhaps finding them may assist us as is. One is Sunfire within Japan he is known well as a hero to the people. Another is called Husk she has been in the New York area while visiting her great aunt but rumor is she truthfully came to try and apply for the Xavier institute. Another I heard of was a man called Red Star not really a mutant but chastised for his powers he had promise for my own team. Others have been in my notice but these three most importantly could provide what we may need."

Lantern was now looking for a seat finding one he takes it "Alright so this plan will work out? With Akaige and his little cronies all about we all should be fine."

"I have some news." Amazo was slowly trying to open the video screens to show the earth with many red blinking lights and several black blinking lights. It was kind of confusing but eventually the lights moved, "Wait, are those supposed to be people?"

"Indeed. As you can see there is an immeasurable amount of red lights still flashing meaning alive? These other lights are the anomalies that fell you see they spread the surface fairly wide. Most hit these certain areas where populations were denser, I find a larger fraction hit the areas of Manhattan also Japan." The black lights seemed to stay still, but eventually one moves now and again, "Why are they moving?" asked a confused Flash.

Raven was looking at Amazo fearful "Amazo, those things that hit the earth weren't just some kind of rocks or something… they were…"

"Yes, I do believe they were Kagejin."

Wendy was always having her problems with her job. This whole secretary thing kept her in her office and working hours on end, her boss however flew about and now he was off fooling around with this girl in marketing. She had short cut brown hair, actually more a light chestnut in color it was parted to her right side in an executive like way. Her purple women's suit and skirt was nice to say the least she actually was an attractive woman. Her gorgeous blue icy eyes looked down with her heeled shoes clacking on the floor. Late night like every night… but tonight was special. She decided to work three times as hard and move her schedule a head so she can get out and see someone. Opening the door she sees something she didn't expect. Smoke, cars wrecked, and wow it looks like something big happened here. "Oh my god…" She was stunned until hearing some scuffling. Some man slowly tries to shuffle his heavy feet with blood loss his view turns to her and as he reaches out his arm something flashes past taking his arm with it. The man screams, she screams, and in the air soaring to a building it snaps the arm in its powerful jaws.

This beast was a large beast with a red colored scaly form. Its head bends back to the man with two eyes twisting like gecko's eyes would. The golden eyes see the man screaming and flailing so the beast's two large wings open out to fly past again. This time it swishes with the wings flattening out, they were shaped like some sort of curved blades to the end and swiping over the man he slices in the waist to fall in the air with his legs buckling under. The man's upper body still wriggles around as he was living, but the way his organs fell it was obvious this was not going to last long. The beast lands on the walls of another building and clasps its powerful claws crunching stone walls with its hands. Wendy was not usually one to be caught in awe but if you saw this you may have failed to think too, than comes the realization and she ran like hell!

The beast noticed before chomping down the arm making it snap. Its eyes twist around tuning on the woman running. With the twisting of this monster's toothy lips it soon tries flying back down on her. Wendy ran to slowly drop on her stomach and allow the monster to pass her over. It makes a turn in the air but she was running again. Her eyes seemed startled as she stops on her heels, looking on the monster as it was on her she steps back before dropping and cradling her head the monster smashes through the window of a store and she ran again. Stopping Wendy turns to see the damage but when she smiled the scream of the monster caused her to begin running again. The monster jumps out of the store with glass imbedded through it's one eye, the other wing is snapped and torn so now with that dragging the long neck swings along before settling on the sounds of feet trampling down an alley.

Wendy did not know where to go but she had an idea what to do. Reaching into her purse she grabs a black box with two metal prongs at its end. Her boss offered a Tazer so she could travel the subway at night not feeling like his being an ass would seem too outrageous. Hell, she refused the first time but eventually she gave in now she's happy she did. Running faster she bumps into something large before bouncing back. Rubbing her butt she looks up and her eyes shook in horror of the large monster before her. It was like a man standing on two legs, but so tall it was the size of some homes. The beastly thing turns around its small flabby head with two beady yellow eyes; the lower lip overlaps and allows two tusks to protrude while pointed ears flip again and again. Wendy notices as it turns each part moves as the movement ripples the fatty form of the creature that was covered in the purple, boil coated, gluttonous skin and flesh. With its hands opening to clasp her Wendy screams and jolts her Tazer on its hand, the beast roars and fumbles back she now darts between its legs before it falls on its bottom, the monster looks over its shoulder and she now hurries down the alley only to see the other two now there. These others were ugly beasts like all she saw before and now she tries her Tazer but one swipes it away before grabbing her and tossing her to a wall. The purple beast steps slowly to a stand and turns snorting and grunting to the others, the others make no change as they seem to hold her to the wall, one traps her chin in their clasp so hard she feels the bruising of her skin. The red dragon had come into the alley but hears noises, noises it did not like so it runs up the wall and from the safety watches the large black van stopping with its lights turning on the three monsters.

The purple beast roars up raising its large fists it runs heavily on the van. Within the van a man snaps out "Battle Van, Frontal Assault Spikes!" The Van's grill pokes several long javelin like spikes that impale the large beast; it screams and tries to thrash the van but the same voice snaps, "Battle Van, Release Assault Spikes!"

The spikes fire off as small rockets, the beast roars and screams as it is tossed by these forces over the two other monsters and the woman, she squeezes past them and towards the van. The other two monsters run after but the front door opens, a man in a long gray coat steps with loud thuds of his boots. His one arms holds out an automatic rifle which fires and kills one beast, the other is winged and spirals to the ground from the shoulder. The man has short hair, his eyes coldly look on the beasts and his face has hate, rage, disgust all on him. Cold piercing icy eyes glare on in the emotions of nothingness, and as Wendy asks "Who are you?" His coat is opened in the wind; a large skull is painted on his shirt. This man Wendy read about as he was some vigilante in the city of New York bringing justice to those who knew none. He snarls lowly before blasting the wounded demon, "The Punisher."

The red dragon roars up and runs onto the roof. Punisher has no time to hunt he motions Wendy to the van and she follows. In the back several others are huddled together, she smiles asking "Anybody got a light?"

"Sorry," Punisher taps the top of his van window showing the no smoking sign. He has a cigarette in his mouth as he says "No smoking in the rear carriage."

"But you're smoking!"

"Yep, I'm in the front carriage and you're in the rear besides the explosives back there could go if you're not careful."

Wendy has a slight twitch but he assures her it is safe... safer than outside. Turning to the main roads it shows true as the roads were filled with atrocities. The monsters cover the roads all kinds and types, more than ever seen before in most nightmares ever had. With one thing in their sight killing and destroying. Wendy saw one man reaching out from the alley way before the segmented tail pulls him in by the neck. She turns away, Punisher notices… not her but her chest, and she was nice looking and damn nice build. The screams and he's back on track with his cigarette flying towards the back, Wendy snatches it and smirks before taking a smoke. Punisher swerves around the large standing beast with brown segmented armor tall on two legs. It turns its head towards the van with the head of a bee like insect, large multi-vision green eyes view the van and tossing another vehicle to the ground it explodes. The bee head has a long horn that points at the end two ways to the side, its muscular man like body opens the back for several wings to release and than allow the creature to hover off the ground to follow the van. Punisher screams orders and the van fires off several missiles on the armored beast. It was unaffected, how can this get any worse? "Who the hell took my cigarette?"

Wendy sighs offering it back, "Here you cry baby!"

A snatch than a swerve, Punisher sees his destination and glares happily before a full throttle and the beetle slows down to stop outside the line of guarding. Yes, around the fantastic tower were millions of guns prepared to fire and blow away any demon too close. The beetle buzzes a while before leaving and Punisher wave's good bye, "So much for you Hercules."

"Hercules?"

"Yeah he reminds me of a beetle, and the Hercules Beetle is pretty strong and big so I call that guy Hercules he seems to always be around when I'm driving by."

The heroes had spent their time thinking up ideas to deal with these new problems. Iron Man was outside the door to the Watch Tower Conference Room after knocking he asks "Can I come in?"

"No." Flash opens the door, "I'm just kidding sure you can! Hey, how do you get out of that thing anyway?"

"A can opener," Iron Man steps towards the table "I have news from the Baxter Building, or the HQ of the Fantastic Four. It seems some survivors are headed their way through rogue agents and other means as that. I even was given word several appeared from the sewers."

Magneto jumps up "Was doctor McCoy there? He goes by the code name Beast!"

"The blue guy?" Magneto leaves out a sigh "Sure did and he has some others with him all safe and sound. The good thing is everyone is safe for now. The defenses will last a while but they don't know how long so now they were wondering when will they expect reinforcements and evacuation?"

The room is silent, Iron Man catches on quick "You don't plan on leaving them there do you?"

"We have a lot to think about Iron Man. Lives are in the balance and…"

"Tell me about it! Over most New York is meeting in the Baxter Building and all you want to do is stay here and let them die!"

"Hold it!" Raven stands with her hands rubbing her temples, "Maybe… we can help them…" She seems to have a flash of genius "Lantern, the Justice League has helped countless alien worlds! That, and Star Tameran is under Galfore's rule so with his help maybe they could hold refugees."

"Of course it would be an honor for my people."

"How about we send a message to space through all lines and fashions telling we need help. Evacuate the people on Earth to Tameran."

Starfire giggles as she was headed to the comm. Room but Lantern screams "Hold on! Even if this works someone needs to understand not every alien species we saved will come and help, let alone enough ships taking these people to Tameran."

"Then what a bout Jurai?" others turn to see Amazo pointing to Japan. "The two princesses of Jurai have been on earth for several years. I do believe a royal family in danger would make Jurai act quickly and other ships may assist from mentioning of rewards."

Lantern was skeptical… but what else did they have? "Okay, get on the horn."

"Wait? What of the missions?" Magneto lowers his head "If we fail then…"

"Hold, he's right we need teams for each mission."

Magneto turns to the heroes gathered outside watching televisions, one young mutant called Colossus catches his eyes "I know one who will lead a mission to the Russian territory Red Star resides. Colossus has family there and I know he will be most concerned to know what has happened to them. This will allow him to find his family and assist all of us as well." Magneto looks to see if any were going to argue which Lantern did. "Why should we allow your team to lead this mission?"

"Simply put we have the most members skilled enough for every mission, as well the use of your skills should be designated for the more important matters. If you can not understand then I ask you let me lead these three missions best I can." Lantern has a slight snarl but Batman walks over.

"Let it go. If anything I feel I can use my skills on this mission. Perhaps each mission can have one of us with the team to make sure things work out."

"You want to go there? Why not one of the others we may need you here."

"I have a suit built for the conditions of a strong winter climate. That and if you really can't trust these people why not have someone with them? Brotherhood or not, I trust the X-men."

"I also wished to send two others one is Shadow Cat and Sabretooth. Shadow Cat can use her powers in junction with Colossus as Sabretooth has a stronger regenerative power in cold climates he's virtually immortal."

Starfire floats over "May I please assist? My people are quite resilient to harsh environments."

The heroes start chatting and Magneto turns to the map "Japan, the mutant is Sunfire. I know him to be incredibly powerful but with the sight of his family and friends dying, let alone his love for his nation may cause him to loose control. To counter his massive powers I feel we should send Rogue, Pyro, and Gambit who will all be capable of countering his powers."

"He's that bad? Who wants to try and fight him?" Lantern feels J'onn floating up "I will do my best to assist with his power." Beast Boy sort of rubs his neck "I guess I could show up too."

Lantern sees Iron Man now pushing in "I don't know what mission you are talking about but I have one. Two members of my old Avengers team are alive and at Tony Starks Company labs. I have to get to them as soon as possible then get them out to the Baxter Building."

"That is an excellent idea Ice Man, Quicksilver, and Storm will also head to the New York area in search for a mutant called Husk…" Magneto seems resilient but he nods adding "As well I shall go. The others of the X-mansion will be at the Baxter building before we return I hope to assist those trapped within."

Flash gives a smirk as he zooms over next to Lantern "This one is mine boss I have a feeling I'll like the chance to see the big apple."

Cyborg even gives his Booya before cocking his arm "Count me in for this one!"

Even as it seemed finished the sound of some small scampering feet caused Raven to look down. She blinks at the small pale creature in purple robes and crown, "Raven, Sha-lah!"

"What?" She was not used to seeing the small aliens here. She squats down and picks the creature up holding it in her hands. "What are you here for?"

"Secret, Sha-lah!" The little creature in his crown jumps up with his fist in the air trying to grab her cloak; she puts him on her head and asks "What kind of secret?"

"A dire one." Raven turns and sees The Watcher. Uatu with his large head nodding to her and another purple robed being a man tall and ominous his hood hides all his face in nothingness. She turns to the others they stopped in time. "What is going on?"

The robed man raises an elderly hand so pale it made Raven seem sunburned "A trump card we hoped we did not need to play so soon my dear."

In the midst of the screams of horror and curdling cries of pain none seem more at home than the skeleton general Gaikotsu who has structured a strange tarp over bone hoists. "Okay, main camp is up and things seem sturdy." He turns to Reiram who bows before turning to four strange cocoons like objects "Now is the time to awaken the first four but Akaige is running a little late."

The sound of clacking and soon they turn to find Akaige with his eyes leering on them. "I'm not late." His claw latches out but stops inches from Gaikotsu, "It never starts until I am there. Remember that Gaikotsu." The sound of a ship landing causes Akaige to turn and his eyes sly before a swing of his cape. The villains who were riding before landed laughing with the show. From the air they watched the city burn like never before. When Akaige passes between them all in the tent they loose their playful natures. Holocaust stood tall with his eyes peering the others who still tried to joke, mostly Dead Man and Sugar Man. Akaige waves his claw and soon Gaikotsu and Reiram shuffle in a large dinner table that they must have found from a store. "Don't be foolish especially now. Even with these fools spread apart the same goes for us. Each of our forces were torn from each and now only are beginning to reform stability. To ensure the advantage of our forces we must work for the continuity of our supremacy. To do that each of you have a mission with significant importance."

"Ooh! We get missions! Never saw that coming eh boss?" Dead Man chuckles with the snorts of Sugar Man before a clasp on his throat caused a major change in atmosphere. Akaige has a sinister glare, but it lightens and he chuckles a little too. Dead Man feels the hand loosen and Akaige turns back to the villains assembled here, "On these outings you will meet others working for me. Some you never met before or perhaps you heard of them through circles of crime."

The shadow lord slowly waits for Gaikotsu finishing with setting chairs made of bones. Strange as it seems they must have only recently been made, because as the others sat they were most unnerved from the warmth these seats projected… they were very recently made. "Mr. Sinister," Sinister looks up from his seat, "The Baxter Building has a field that comes on and off with each rescue transport. I want you to find out how the shield is powered and perhaps a way to disable it or how long that blasted thing will last."

"An honor it will be to test my genius to that of the one and only Reed Richards."

Akaige turns to Brother Blood, "Your new body is able to alter programming of machinery so now I need your expertise to find the source of their second defense. The building has turrets over its covering making attack impossible as the shield is down. Figure out how to remove this obstacle while Sinister deals his matters." Akaige now turns to Dead Man who was twiddling his thumbs after leaping from under the table to his seat. Another leer and Akaige speaks with tone, "Your mission is to evaluate this city and find others surviving along with my other teams. I have a feeling the heroes are not all at the Baxter Building try to remove others within the city before they can culminate at that one point. The more of them there and the more difficult destroying its inhabitants will be."

"Aye-aye Captain! It's an honor to slice and dice the cream of the crop!"

Sugar Man shifts from the stare on him "You're an expert with energy aren't you?" Sugar Man nods his head body "Good, I want you to assist two scientists with their reactor for Darkseid." Darkseid smiles as Sugar Man scratches his head a little confused "Somehow I expected you to be confused but deal with it. Darkseid will inform you on why we must finish this reactor immediately; Madame will go along to the facility I know houses a special material for the new reactor called Xinothium."

"Xinothium?" Sugar Man licks his lips with memories of the material "I have always wondered the real power that stuff holds. I wonder what you have planned for such a powerful substance, and who are these two scientists?"

To answer one part of the question Akaige turns to click his claws and walking forward was a man in all white with red goggles and a breathing apparatus, his name was Professor Chang. With him the elderly scientist with his mechanical prisms over his hands and chest with black tight skin suit, more known as Dr. Light. "Professor Chang knows the location of this material and what we need to produce it more easily. Dr. Light is a genius with concentrating energy through many apparatuses, you will find them both useful to your energy facilities you call Core."

Sugar Man offers his hands and the scientists cringingly shake his four arms. Akaige stood up before turning and leaving, "Holocaust," Holocaust was caught off guard, "You will go to the island of Japan. Burn it down and leave nothing but ashes. Take Nimrod for back up, and if you find these two girls make sure they do not survive." Akaige holds out his claw and from it two forms took shape from his fingers, they were the Jurai princesses Sasami and Ayeka. "I also have another problem still there it seems even after I warned her to leave if you find this girl with a guitar and vespa… well, if you can kill her but preferably keep your distance she is dangerous. You have your missions now get to it." Akaige flips his claw and the villains stand up to all but Dead Man topple over on their faces. Dead Man cackles in his seat tipping on their back but the chair tips and he slams hard. Akaige stood silent before turning to the sky "Idiots…"

The two beings soon nod to Raven as she stood stunned, "Will this work?"

"We believe it will." The robed figure revealed himself as Time Trapper, a being of great power but his views were not evil or good. He has caused terrible and wonderful things in his search of knowledge but now he uses his knowledge to reveal a secret. From an old war before his time and Watcher's time a demon still exists to be awoken. The two have debated and with Raven's half-demon blood and powers perhaps she could awaken this demon and if possible persuade him to fight against Akaige. He betrayed the demonic clan eons ago along with his friend a demon called Sparda. The two fought armies of these hell beasts but this demon was later defeated then captured now he is trapped deep within a realm of hell nearly untouchable but by spirit and Raven with her new control of her soul powers could perhaps do this. However, it would be tiring if not fatal. She was worried, but eventually she agrees.

"Good the next thing you need is to choose a champion of sorts to protect your body as you traverse to this realm, the Sha-lah can take you where you need to go. If anything goes wrong we will assist the best we can but know even we have limitations to what we can do."

Raven bows as time returns and soon she looks to the people here. Explaining it soon Time Trapper offers her a chance to leave. Raven moves to the Bathing quarters and sees an open shower she walks in and closes the door to hear a voice, the steely voice of Slade. "Interesting friends we found. They say you're going to travel into hell for some demon. Is that true?"

"Yes." If her voice cracked a little nervous it may be the fact she already was down to her undergarments and outside the door Slade had his back on the door standing. She coughs uneasily and turns the water up causing more steam before finally tossing her lower garments over the wall. Slade looks to them, small and black he merely turns to the opposite wall again "You ever think the Goth thing is a bit much? You always have the black and dark colors even on your panties? I'd find it very problematic under some circumstances."

"It's none of your business." She swashes her head under the water wetting her hair. "I live how I want and why did you come here to see me? It wasn't to talk about fashion sense."

"No it was not." Slade turns to her in the shower a shadow behind the glass fog "I owe you for giving me the courage to fight before. I don't often put myself in a place to owe someone so if you died on this stupid mission I would never be able to repay you." Slade hears a snort "Is that so? Well I hate to burst your bubble but I do have more to me than psychosis and delusions of world domination."

Raven turns her head up to the ceiling trying to pretend he was not there. Finally she had a sudden chill, "Slade, you worried I may die?"

"A little." It came out easily, "If it was me even I'd have some concerns. Then again after what you did in Jump City with Akaige it's not like you have no place to say what you should do. I'm only offering my help in retribution for yours. Don't get the wrong idea I still hate you teenage twerps but then again," He pushes off leaving the bathroom "I hate dying more."

After her shower Raven slowly dries up and enters the main room. She sees the mutants gathered for their missions along with Blink, the girl looks faint but again her power was necessary. Raven is looked on heatedly but she gulps, "I choose Slade to be my guard." The heroes all look on blankly, Robin asks "What?"

"You heard her boy." Slade has a death glare immediately but he didn't even care. "She chose the most expendable and skilled person. Who knows just what may happen."

As the heroes started asking why this choice Blink falters to only be grabbed then raised by Sabretooth. "I'm sorry Mr. Creed I can't go with you but hopefully I'll be able to send you there safely."

"Thanks kid I really appreciate it." He turns to Wolverine who is a little grumpier than usual. "What's your problem?"

Wolverine looks to Blink but shifts his head so Sabretooth follows. "Fury called me earlier. It seems our friend Holocaust is actually an old friend of ours."

"Who?"

"The mutant I busted in that facility holding Clarice, Nemesis."

"What?" Sabretooth was really startled with this news. "That's the same freaking guy? I thought he was a blonde beauty queen looking freak!"

"He was but somehow he used radiation to turn himself into that thing. Fury escaped to a special lab hidden somewhere with Trask, the guy who made the Sentinels. They're in this base working hard to try and build a new weapon for everything happening."

Sabretooth rubs his forehead before letting it lie on a cold metal column "Don't tell Clarice I don't want her to think about them now. Nemesis and Sugar Man both…" His face was a snarl "The tests they did on her were enough to make me sick."

"You never did talk to me about them." Wolverine flips up seeing Blink walking in with her arms crossed, "Thank you Mr. Logan but I need to talk to Sabretooth alone now."

Sabretooth was shying his eyes out a window to the void of space as Logan coughs a little tapping Sabretooth on the shoulder, "Yeah… whatever." He still may be a rival to the other but eventually their rivalry was only a slight difference to friendship.

"You knew?" Sabretooth shifts to Blink who nods; she always knew what really happened. He hoped she forgot but with the life she lived she never forgot. What brought them together was an unusual mission for the Brotherhood of Mutants while on this mission Sabretooth found the small girl Clarice Ferguson. He remembers it like yesterday, and stranger yet it was the last time Sabretooth and Logan fought on the same side until now.

"I smell something…" Sabretooth growls lowly as he was outside a large metallic door. The man behind him was Wolverine with his black spy outfit on. "I can't find a switch or whatever."

"It's okay," Wolverine holds out a fist "I got the key." Slashing the claws of his metallic bone through the door he cuts open a hole large enough for them both to step through. Sabretooth sniffs around it was a dark room with one bed and walls. In the corner rags were gathered together, they shook, "Hey, are you okay?" Sabretooth steps lightly towards the rags that tremble harder and harder. Eventually he holds out a hand and the rags unfurl for a small pale purple hand, "Damn someone was in here."

Sabretooth helps the small girl into his arms and as she shivered Sabretooth has a great distaste for the sheer fear in her eyes "It's a kid Logan… someone's child."

The sound of explosions and they snap to reality the place was burning up somehow their intrusion set off an explosion. "Time to go Creed!"

Creed, or Sabretooth, runs with the small girl to his chest his mind remembers the whimpers and cries as they tried to escape. Exiting to a large room the door on the other side was open but it closes when they reach it. The sound of clanging and the two men turn upward to see the large form on a catwalk a blonde haired man with a beauty mark to his left cheek. His eyes were blue, but so cold and heartless he speaks in pure hatred "You destroyed my reactor. That surge caused the experiment to fail. How am I supposed to achieve my goals without the fires of hell to burn me?" The man in a crazed smile screams "I will burn you all in the fires of hell! Each and every one of you Gene-traitors!"

"He seems pissed." Wolverine opens his claws screaming "Fabio is mine take her and go."

Sabretooth escapes the facility soon after with no serious injuries. His only problem came after they were outside he thought they could rest. He stops seeing the cliff to his right, some trees ahead, and the path down the mountain to the cruiser. Now he wondered about Wolverine he notices the place was burning up pretty good. Taking a step something crunches. He looks down at the wrapper and picking it up he blinks as he reads "Snickers? What the hell is candy doing here?"

"Sugar Man…" The girl says in a near forced gravel whisper her throat dry and painful. Sabretooth snatches from his side a canteen and offers her a drink she downs most the container this young child had been through a lot he saw those machines and knew the testing on mutants here. It was why he was sent to stop this sick place and save the mutants inside. He saved her but the others… the timing… "What were you saying kid?"

She wipes her lips so parched she speaks in a crackle "It's him… Sugar Man."

"Who?"

From above Sabretooth smells something, he looks up pushing the girl out of the way as something large slams down in front of him. The something stood with four arms and large red eyes and horns, "Haw! Haw! Haw! Haw!" The fiendish thing laughs than slaps Sabretooth with its tongue straight through a tree. Sabretooth slowly stands up to see the monster turned on the girl his tongue lurches out and licks her terrified face, "Fergi, you know I'm always going to be there watching you. It's my specialty after all. Haw! Haw! Haw! Haw!"

"Hey!" Sabretooth snatches up the tree he smashed now a large upper log he twirls it on the turning beast "Leave the girl alone!"

The monster is like a baseball bouncing off that bat tree to another tree he bounces and topples a little before settling on the ground again. Sabretooth glared his fanglike grin before dropping the tree. The monster stirs and stands up snarling its razor fang mouth, the head was its own body somehow "You know who I am? I'm the Sugar Man that's who I am!" He points his one arm towards the girl "That's my property you got there and if you know what's good for you, you'll leave it!"

With a snarl Sabretooth answers with his charge and lunge on the Sugar Man. The two rolled on the ground swinging a punch and biting one another again and again. With scream and bite, blood and tears the two swung and fought as if beasts. The girl sat and watched as her eyes were awakening to the sight. Sabretooth is pushed up from the tongue and kicked off from a small leg. Sugar Man rolls and flips up before a lancing strike of his tongue cuts the ribs of his enemy. Sabretooth was unguarded so it halts him slightly, long enough for Sugar Man to retrieve some kind of dual hand axe. He screams in a charge and swings the razor axe close to Sabretooth's head. Sabretooth was able to grapple the weapon but another hand grabs the axe, he counters with his last arm but Sugar Man bares two more and his widening grin came as his two right arms pulled away Sabretooth's left, the mutants were deadlocked with their power but Sugar Man was slowly gaining the edge. The girl was fearful; her hands gripped tightly thinking what it would do to her if it won. She begins to cry and in a reaction of fear she screams "NO!"

Sugar Man is distracted and Sabretooth pries the axe. With a snarl and a swing up with the axe it strikes over the one eye of Sugar Man. Sugar Man wobbles back grabbing at the gushing wound. Eventually he falls too close to the cliff he is lost in the moment and falls straight back screaming his hideous voice while he plummets. Sabretooth looks over the edge loosing sight of the mutant called Sugar Man. He turns to the girl before tossing the axe on the ground. "What's your name kid?"

"Clarice… but they called me… Blink."

The two look at each other but Blink moves past to the window seeing the space and void. "I still have nightmares Mr. Creed. Mostly about Sugar Man." She had a sad face in the reflection of the window "I still can see him and sometimes hear him laughing."

"Don't worry kid one day soon," He grabs her shoulder "I'll pay them both back for what they did to you each and every one of those tests."

Her one hand grabs his fingers on her shoulder, Blink ran off and Sabretooth slightly felt sad. Returning the two found the debate on what was to happen really was heating up. Robin gave up after hearing Raven say his place was on earth trying to find the former members of their expanded teams. Why Slade, she says his need to repay a debt was why but to him it was anything near an insult. Eventually Blink is looking to each of the groups "I can open a portal to a location but for getting you home I'm not so sure I can pull that one off. If I rest maybe in intervals but I can't promise anything."

Sabretooth nods to her and she turns away, "When you're ready kid." The three portals open and teams leave like planned. Magneto was last to enter a portal so he looks back finding the strange warrior Spawn making towards them "You're coming to New York?"

"It's my home. I feel I might as well." The two leave and Blink has a smile before an invisible entity leaves through the portal to Sabretooth, "Mr. Creed!" The portals close and she slowly drops. Slade grabs her and helps her up turning to the others he asks "Logan can you take care of Clarice while we are gone?"

"Sure thing Slade." Logan swings an arm around his neck but Blink opens another portal, "Robin needs to go…"

Robin has a moment looking to Raven and Slade. His slight snort and a stomp through the portal leaves Slade rolling his eye as Raven shook her head. "Come, Sha-Lah!" Raven notices the little aliens surrounding her and Slade chanting before a flash that made them each disappear.

The city once known as the big apple. With streets full of death and fires started at almost every corner. Peeling out on a black motorcycle was the man in black, Dead Man. His form veers through the streets passing all the normal screams of pain making towards the thing he heard about. Stopping at a corner he sees down the street a large green man beast screaming as it tossed two beasts into the sky. The green monster man screams on Dead Man who has his sword unsheathed. "Hulk smash, Hulk bash!"

Dead Man speeds over with his sword dodging the tossed car but his shadowy form passes under the outstretched arm of a punch with his sword blazing with the lights. His sword is out from his front with a stream of blood dripping on its blade; Hulk turns with blood dripping from his lips as his side was ripped wide open. "Puny man has sharp sword. Puny man going to be ripped apart by Hulk!"

Dead Man leaps off from the backhand swing to wheel spin over the large beast that now stood still. Dead Man lands the opposite side with his legs spry, he whips the sword and Hulk's head splits into two. Wiping the blade clean Dead Man speaks to himself "It's called Adamantium Mr. Jolly Green Giant." Sheathing the blade Dead Man has a call on his communicator "Who is it?"

On the other end Mr. Sinister smiles his crazed grin "I was calling to thank you for the blood samples. This was the girl was it not?"

"Huh, oh you mean Scarlet Witch? I remember you mentioned this girl before for one of your experiments. So how's your work on the field going?"

"Mr. Richards has proven quite skilled I am enjoying this immensely. The field will lose power soon enough but that means we only have to wait. What they have planned to escape is all we need to figure out."

"Where can they escape to? The damn city is just about in the Baxter building now."

"Perhaps," Sinister turns off the communicator looking at the stats of the field "Reed is not so foolish they will make a move but when… and how?"

The tent flaps flutter and Brother Blood walks towards a strange device "I have good news and bad news." Sinister looks up to see the snarl of Blood. "I disabled the guns leaving them useless by the computers. However, the field still holds them safely inside without it being disabled we have no way of ending this quickly."

"I see. Is there any word from Akaige?"

"Not yet."

Elsewhere Akaige stood with his claw over the four strange cocoon like things his two minions brought him. Gaikotsu sat with his hands on his knees while Reiram was diligent in his guard duty within a tree. Akaige's claw soon sparks strange energy across the ground centered from each cocoon. The energy trails imaginary lines surrounding each cocoon where the sparks soon flicker off as branches towards separate points of each cocoon. The cocoons would now pulsate; they seemed to beat on a heart like vibe until their outer surfaces secrete moisture. Hibernated life was replenished and the four beings within break open to allow the purple mist so common to these creatures to spurt in a powerful vent. The mists began to mix and reform over their corresponding cocoon.

Four beings have emerged each a different entity all their own. Akaige takes a step back narrowing his eyes on each that stood before him. The first to step forward was a young looking man in an all blackened cape which fell far over his front and back. The forehead was with a crown of sorts, four talons that are held with a frame of metal the crown resembles a tiara with form but not dainty. His hair is parted under the crown, the long strands in the back with two split locks over the front of the ears and down the shoulders and chest. His formal face was handsome but skin a deep gray offsetting the crimson eyes that had no pupils or features aside from a solid blood color. "Master Kireshk, officer of my eastern section of the empire. A pleasure seeing you could make it."

"The pleasure is all mine lords." This beings voice was a monotone darker than even Raven. Akaige sees another being risen, this was a form of slender shape a female within flowing white robe and colored designs through it. Her legs were bent like a reptile as her light blue skin was scaled and shined with the dancing flames of burning debris. Her hands were large, fitted of five fingers razor sharp and yet delicately she grasps the leaf from a dying tree. Her face was hidden under a white mask of no features aside the holes for her red/golden eyes and strange red jagged stripes of three from each side where her cheeks would be. Long blue hairs came from her head but waved as if separate. She bows her head and Akaige does the same "Lady Lokio, the officer of my western stretches. As always your beauty has made my evening."

She does not answer but with the slight movement of her head to the sound of crunching. This next demon was hunched on his legs gnawing insanely on a deceased person's arm. His feasting ends with the annoyed tapping of Akaige's claw to his own thigh. The fat demon stood quickly, his blackened armor covers his upper chest and back but a round belly still was bare from his under coverings of fur and leather skins. The lower body is similar with animal tended clothing only changed from armor. His right arm is in armor gauntlet and bracer, the left bare except the spiked strap of his wrist. With one ear slightly missing the other was pointed and pierced with a bone like ear-ring. His face was scrunched and only one eye was good the other had a flesh graft over it. A salute of his fist to his chest the creature asks "I ask forgiveness for gorging as I have, but so long it has been since last I feasted on mortal flesh."

"Of course Gordaio this is not something I find unusual. A warlord like yourself does not need to ask for forgiveness especially when he earned so much respect as a veteran warrior in times of earlier conquest."

"Yes…" He does a bow and turns slightly to the feast, "May I…"

"You may."

As Gordaio returns to his meal the final mist mass makes shape to the form of a serpent that began to grow larger and larger. It spans out great wings that when expanded their force caused many of the flames to die from the winds. It opens its mouth wide to let forth a hiss so great the few animals that hid, rats and insects all now ran from their hiding to seek further away a place. The strange serpent now stood upon its base allowing its eyes of ten crimson orbs twist to a stare on all under it. The large beast was slowly slinking to the ground where Akaige opens his three fingered claw and with his large talons he scratches under its chin whispering to it the serpent hisses more delighted. The three lords' watch as Akaige perches the serpent creature, than he saddles it saying "Serpentine, this is going to be a great day for war." He raises his eyes in confusion, "Than again when is it ever a poor day for war?"

Slade and Raven were teleported to a jungle like world with high vegetation along side the Sha-lah. Slade raises a brow with the sight of a second Sha-lah without the crown. "Um, Raven." She turns around slightly "These things are multiplying."

"They do that."

"That, Sha-lah." The two scream in unison making Slade cringe each in his ears. "Why do they say that?"

"Because they do."

"Do, Sha-lah!" Screams six of the Sha-lah. Slade is turning shoulder to shoulder "Um… Raven these things are freaking me out. That's not an easy thing to do!"

"Do," Raven shook her head before turning to see a large mountain of Sha-lah on his back making him take strained steps "Sha-lah!"

Slade collapses and Raven shoos the small aliens. Offering her hand Slade grasps it to stand up to her closely. The two stood there a moment before Raven merely walks off. Slade glares his eye before brushing it off. "Cold shoulder…"

"What?"

"I said… like a boulder. All those little creatures were quite heavy."

Raven nods to stop short. Her eyes were wide on this large stone temple like she never saw before with vines covering most the surface. Slade stood at her side giving a less thrilled look. "This is what we're looking for?"

"For, Sha-lah!" The aliens begin trailing to the temple so Raven shrugs "Guess we should keep looking."

Raven slowly walks ahead leaving Slade to give his stare, "You know a little less sass could be appreciated."

"Whatever."

Slade shook his head trying now to ignore her. The inside of this temple lead to an altar like room, a circular pattern of stones like a flame around some face was where the Sha-lah circled. Raven looks confused, "What do I do?"

"Do" The aliens point to the center of the face, "Sha-lah?"

Raven clears her throat before making her move. Slade grabs her arm, "Be careful I may be able to protect your body but other than that you will be on your own."

"I have it don't worry."

Slade narrows his eye before letting her go "I'm sure you will."

Raven was standing in the center not sure what to do but the sound of chanting caused her to look all around. The Sha-lah began chanting in a language she did not know. They danced, shook, and leapt about in a united kind of movement. Raven was now feeling heat rise from under her and the stones turned to flame. Slade made a move but the flames blocked him in a rush. Slade looks at Raven turning herself each way to see the flames slowly crawl all around her. Slade looks around noticing flames burn in the place of stone statues to each roof's corner. Raven now stood with a strange flaming mass its upper body glowing with embers. The beast has two large horns bent back from its head and golden flames echoed from its eyes in a scream. "Who are you girl?"

"I am Raven the daughter of Trigon."

"Trigon?" The creature narrows its eyes "You seek something? What?"

"I seek Evils Angel!"

"Hm?" The strange creature seems skeptical but with a flash of fire from the eyes Raven's own eyes are lit up. The creature disappears and the fires die out with Raven falling on her knees. Slade scrambles and skids to her side to hold her inches from the floor. Laying her on the ground he asks "What do I do now?"

"Now…" Slade looks up to the Sha-lah. "Sha-lah."

Magneto looks out from the building they appeared on. His eyes were wide in horror of the screaming people as the city is burned and ravaged. His mind seemed to blank out to the marching feet and men saluting their hand to the sky. The Swastika upon each of their arms and yes… their chanting… "Magnus?" Magneto turns back around to see the weather mistress Storm looking at him concerned. She naturally worries over anyone let alone this former enemy. Magneto lowers his head but in his own mind he quickly returns to the world. "Storm we need cover. Could you make a fog thick enough for me to transport us over and to the Baxter building?"

Storm nods raising her hands. Iron Man turns another way before saying "Sorry but I have other plans. I'll meet back with you at the Baxter Building when I'm ready."

"Me too." Spawn shifts across the roof his cape wrapping the walls as he descends to the alleys. Magneto was not really surprised so in the fog as cover he takes his X-men to the Baxter building. On the way he is stopped from screaming. He turns down to the many children huddled behind two women. The women held iron pipes this was the fabled Hell's Kitchen, they were in front of the Holy Ghost Church. Closing in from the iron gates were several demonic creatures the lead on a large blue millipede looking creature with a long bird like beak and one singular glowing red eye from its forehead. The beak screams as the creature rears up on the two frightened women obviously teachers from the crashed bus across the street fending the students they were responsible for. The large insect rears up higher before a lightning fast strike takes one teacher's chest clean apart leaving her body to tumble a little before dropping. The other teacher is lost and so when the beast strikes again she fell quickly. The children scream and holler now huddled they are helpless with the beast but it is now backing away. A new figure appears his form like bands that unwrap and rap again making a man's semi-muscular body. The center of the strap like being his center glows with an unholy blue orb. The coverings of his band body were actually his flesh now a simple one layer covering of black epidermis. The face is of the material and only two blue lights have the eyes now looking delighted from the children's reaction to his appearance. An open mouth fashioned like fake teeth smile widely at the frightened children, his spiked hair the only feature different from his other casing body-parts but even it was false a mere collection of hairs dyed to his preferred color. "Ooh, they all taste delicious!"

"Abyss…" Magneto lowly growls. Storm is caught off guard "He is a mutant whose existence is trapped to a black hole. The atomic energy he once held became critical and now he is a living black hole using that twisted material as a false body. In truth his being is merely the energy inside his gullet."

"How do you know that?"

"I know because I once thought of hiring him. However his crazed hunger makes him a danger to all even himself."

Abyss was looking more and more with his right hand out. Then the fingers unwrap and the bands tangle over one small boy that he drags from the huddle. He stops dragging a little ways to have the children stand and watch the boy scrambling for the others. His eyes gleam and the boy is pulled up and tossed, the bands wrap over one arm and hold him by the single limb. The boy is lowered as he sniffles and tries to hold in his cries with the free arm under his sleeve. Abyss brings the boy to his face, a smile widens as the boy looses complete control and urinates himself from fear. "Aw, and I thought I had a face only a mother could love! Eh! He! He! He! He!" The arm stretched high into the air and soon the energy orb begins to pull on the ground and air towards itself as it begins to spin fiercely. The boy screams in fear as the fingers stretch him closer in a spurt, "Oops, I almost let you go! Know what happens when I let you go?" The fingers spurt again and the child is screaming for his family, "I know, I know! You get all swallowed up and RIPPED APART! EH! HE! HE! HE! HE!" Again they stretch, "Oops," Then again they stretch, "OOPS!"

Storm is disgusted and readies to attack but Magneto puts his arm in the way "We have to help that boy!"

"Don't worry they have it."

"Who?"

Abyss laughs and lets go, "Oops!" The boy screams as he is falling into the black hole but from his shadow on the ground black tentacle like appendages stretch and pull him in. Abyss is dumbfounded and screams before powering himself down. "Who the hell did that?"

The shadow has not disappeared Abyss walks over and leaning his head off from his shoulder the neck winds down until a shadow fist hits him so hard the springy neck bobs like a jack in the box. Abyss tumbles back his head snapping to normal he is noticing the large shadow coming from the ground taking the shape of a caped robe. The robe merely levitates off the ground with its blue color for a second or so Storm thinks it was Raven but… how? Then a face exits the hood speaking in a dark monotone man's voice, "I am nothing from hell. I merely find you deserving to go there."

"What?" Abyss was too angry to really listen "Who are you?"

"I am Cloak." The man speaks with nothing of emotion. His face was with eyes colorlessly white and his skin cracked with black shadow that seems to leak from inside himself. His body was not there he was a mere cloak levitating and holding the form of this strange being.

"And I am Dagger!" A hand comes out from the cloak and fires a white burst that blasts Abyss through his little group of demons. A woman warps out from the cloak glowing in an aura of white. Her tight skin outfit was a white creamy color like her skin, and the divide down the center of her chest was a sword like shape with the hilt and guard over her belly and abdomen, the sword's edge goes through her central cleavage where the outfit's top trim ends at her jugular. Her hair was wild and free blonde, eyes an icy blue and over her right eye a moon crescent shaped collection of white sparkles. She was gorgeous and holding the boy she lays him on the ground asking "Cloak is he one of those things?"

"No he is a mutant like us. However he is so demented and cruel…" Cloak shakes his head "He is as dark inside as I."

"I can see you're one of those annoying vigilante groups I hear about. Hey do us all a big favor and back off as I eat these kids!"

Dagger is gagging with this idea "Did he actually ask us to let him hurt these kids?"

Cloak was not phased he merely lets a breath out in a slightly agitated groan "He is not mentally capable of understanding we will not allow him to harm these children like we were harmed." Cloak closed his eyes tightly but Abyss snorts to the emotional moment this otherwise unattached hero had. "You know I don't care! Why waste the time telling me the story while my boys tear you all apart."

On that cue the demons make their move but as quickly as Abyss sent them, Dagger acted. Dagger flew into the sky and in a fashion all her own she twirled like a ballerina releasing with her spins the blasts of her endless power. Cloak watched in slight awe from her dance and as these sparks flew Abyss stood still until the final blast lands. He is in a paused stance slowly shifting his eyes to the now decimated force. A raise of his finger and perking of his lips is stopped from the sound of Magneto landing. Abyss turns, seeing Magneto and his team, Cloak and Dagger, he nods "I guess I have no choice but to…" He runs away screaming "Run like little girls! Ahh!"

Magneto watches than turns to Cloak and Dagger "Tyrone and Tandy both live and well I see."

Tyrone or Cloak gives a less pleased look though all his looks were this manner "Why do you come here bothering us again? We warned we did not want anything to do with the Brotherhood!"

"I'm not only a member of the Brotherhood I am now leader of the X-men."

"What!" Dagger is startled but Cloak makes the remark "What is it the end of the world or something?"

"Sadly it may just be." Magneto creates a larger skiff to take the children and two others "Come with me to the Baxter Building I have much to tell the two of you."

Iron Man lands through the roof but his suit has several damaged points. Stepping off slowly and holding his side only the sound of buzzing makes him turn. Three large creatures standing like men but with two long twigs like legs, arms, and an extra set of middle limbs move from the roof on the floor. Their heads were with long fanged tubes similar to a leach so as they closed their mouths dripped a hideous acid. "Damn, when a guy needs a fly swatter but can't find one…" the roof collapses on the three bug men. Iron Man pants a little relieved.

"He makes one." Said a deep voice with a sound of machinery resting. Another Iron Man, rather one of black armor where the red should be, and white where the gold was stood arms crossed. This was War Machine a similar Iron Man unit but worn by the best friend of Tony Starks, James Rhodes. His other difference is this armor has a large pack on its back and two cannons energized through the pack.

Iron Man has no time to become appreciative he moves towards the other room "We need to move to the Baxter Building. How are…" He was answered by a strange growling sound like a woman screaming loudly mixed in a roar. The next thing his metallic form is straight on the floor with a set of green feline eyes matching the feline fur but human body. "Oh… Hi Tigra."

Tigra smiles her feline fangs now sitting on Iron Man's stomach she lays her chin on the other arm. Her orange fur was stripped with black markings as her name implies she is a cross of human and tiger. This woman has a black top and bottom letting her stomach bare she allows her tail to slowly trail over her stomach than Iron Man's. A slight purr and Tigra winked before flashing her razor claws over Iron Man's face though it does no good. She stands now brushing her deep orange colored hair cut short with the front tufted up strangely like a V or wings. "You left us to die you son of a human."

"Well… I am a human and son of one too. Technically so were you before that group of priests saved your life with that ritual?"

"Do you dare give me that?" She stomps her foot on Iron Man making him cringe while her awesome strength began to show through. "The team needed you but you abandoned us!"

"Shit happens!" Iron Man is saved by his other ally a man in purple gear and gray armor shoulder pads. His belt and knees had an H on them and looking from his head brace and mask with the bare blonde hair parted from the middle to each side this man smiles warmly "Not usually my place to ask but what took you so long?"

"Well Hawkeye the mess was something of a big one." Iron Man is let up, but Tigra stiffs her nose up. She was now strutting to Hawkeye giving a more agitated look through her side glance. "You see… hell I can't explain it now. I need you all to hook up in one of my old trucks as for me," Iron Man pulls off a white cloth showing some large menacing metal suit with 'Hulk Buster' labeling it "I have to get some things settled up."

The alley was empty with some rats skirmishing over some debris. A loud explosion and some loose debris came close to crushing one rodent but the chain narrowly saves this life. The rodent had stopped to look seeing only the red cape it hurries again. Spawn was looking from his spot on a roof for several moments at a home to the other side of the block. He narrows his eyes and walks slowly towards the fencing around the home. He stops half way to the door when noticing a sound of wheels rolling. What he looked for this time came from behind him. Spawn notices a fat man riding with a skateboard, "Totally Radical!" The fat man laughs jumping and then tripping he rolls along sitting on his back "Uh oh…" He jumps up pulling on the skateboard lodged into his back pants "Ah! It's like that time I went to fat camp with that former catholic priest! Ah!"

"Would you shut up?" Spawn in his hate of the Clown nearly attacks but Clown is squeezing his bowels trying to get the board out. Spawn is even more disgusted as the board suddenly disappears, "Ah!" Spawn shook his head in shame when Clown rolled on the floor screaming. Eventually Clown vomited the board out to soon smile widely.

Spawn moves to the door again "I wouldn't go in there Crispy. I said this reality has your other self as an accountant not some commando serial killer. He had a good life with even a little girl not you." Spawn ignores pushing open the door "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Spawn enters the home searching to find a family picture of a man that was himself, a woman that once his wife, and the child recently born called Morgan. He next notices the blood spattered walls. On the floor his eyes are wide with terror from the motionless form of his former wife Wanda. A beautiful woman looks at him in nothingness with blood dripping her ripped open chest. Over the couch Spawn steps to see the man of his own self Al Simmons, in this world he was an accountant. He now was dead and lost like his wife torn apart and slightly devoured. Down the halls Spawn finds that blood trails the walls in strange patterns where holes pluck the wall and drip from slight blood. He moves to the room at the far end, the child… "Morgan?"

Opening the door…

Searching the room…

Seeing the crib…

"Son of a bitch!" Spawn raises his gun and fires repeatedly on the figure within. It stood on a long spine like body with ribs bending out and some blue flesh slightly covering and flapping loosely. The beast screams as bullets tear more of its ragged flesh; it has eight arms that bend in segmented crab like pincers the top ones larger than the bottom ones following. It has a bullet shaped head of blue fleshy scaled disgust, two red eyes glow and from the large mouth drips the blood still fresh within the crib. Spawn is lost in rage, disgust, and hate. The beast is torn into many bits and its one set of middle arms have been blown clean off. The beast swishes on its remaining legs and swings the long bottom half of its spiny body showing a set of spiked bones towards a balm at the tail's end. Spawn is struck and looses the gun so the beast leaps out a window its claws digging up the walls and dirt leave trails of fresh blood. The beast is trying to scurry in escape but Spawn would not allow this. He breaks from the wall and tries charging his one arm with green energy. Firing a beam of hell power the beast is able to dodge and allude to a sewer where Spawn goes to intervene but turning into the sewer he sees nothing. The beast swam under the waters and he lost it… "Damn!"

Clown is smiling as he picks his teeth with something, a toothpick or perhaps bone "It wasn't your kid."

"Yes it was!" Spawn is screaming in rage "This was the life I wanted! The life I deserved! I could have had this life! This could have been mine!" Spawn sends out his rage on a car tossing it far over head into another where they explode. Clown merely stretches a little "Well this wasn't your life. However you want to get these guys back? Make them all suffer?" Clown hobbles over smiling wickedly "The Baxter Building. Go there and you'll find our good old friends of the good-guy variety!"

Spawn turns more to the alley "I need time…" He shakes his head free of his rage "Time to be ready. I can't fight without my mind clear."

"Whatever you say kid I'll be off then!" Clown begins boarding away but he screams as he falls "Not again!"

Raven had no idea how taxing this was going to be. Luckily she had someone waiting for her. When she arrived this person had given her a drink which quickly gave her back her senses. Raven eventually notices a fully armored man; his red crimson armor covers every inch with even a helmet with a dragon like cover and faceguard. He turns to her with his height towering her lying on the floor "You certainly gave me a scare."

"You were expecting me." Raven was trying to stand but still tired she falters only to be snatched by her scruff and tossed into a chair. "I expected the possibility someone may come looking for me that's all. In case that happened I have some special items to help them on their feet."

Raven tries again and this time she does stand up. This man gave no concern as he moved to something else. "Are you Evils Angel?" The man has frozen, turning he says "What do you want?"

"I need your help. A demon called Akaige has come to our world and is causing unbelievable damage."

"So what these things happen all the time."

"I heard you can stop him and that you are one of the elders left."

The man in armor chuckles, "Well you're half right. The elder demons were all destroyed from the more power hungry lord demons all through hell's back alleys. Most were defeated and replaced by the more zealous demons out there. I'm only alive now because I'm trapped in this tomb for all eternity."

"Trapped?" Raven was confused "I thought I could free you."

"If you could than your magic would be the most profound I ever known. The one who trapped me was a powerful mage called Trigon."

"Trigon?" Raven looks at her feet "He was my father."

The man in armor has a slight shift of his body. "I see…" He stands up and leans his head back "Well this is an awkward moment. The daughter of the demon who trapped me seeks my assistance." Raven was strangely feeling light headed her legs loose strength and she falls to the floor. When it hits her that her recent acquaintance was doing this to her it was already too late. The man in armor walks over and lays his index and middle fingers on his forehead and her chakra. His slight groans were intrigued "You sure do have a strong soul-force but something in your mind is holding you back. Let's see just what we can find…"

Snowy fields rise and fall within woods of beautiful evergreens covered lightly from snowfalls before. Batman investigates a singular tree in his all white outfit with no mouth piece like before now he's covered completely in his climate-suit. "You know I know you're here."

The others look more confused as Batman stood looking at a limb that shook a little before resting. Sabretooth asks "Are you okay?"

"He knows I found him." The others really get freaked but Red X shows himself annoyed "I hate when people do that."

"You are here friend Red X… um, I mean criminal friend Red X?"

"I couldn't stay in the Watchtower it's full of super heroes. I'm a criminal, one they really can't like having around."

Batman now moves straight past Red X "You think we liked having you instead?"

Red X glares on this hero and knew that this one was more on him and his secret agenda. Either way it didn't matter he was there and had no problems staying. Sabretooth took lead though Batman gave more than enough arguments on their plans. "I think looking around is a great idea but where to begin with?"

"How the hell would I know?" Sabretooth pulls on Colossus who already turned metallic "Where are we kid?"

"I do not know for sure but the city near here is quite an old one." He moves to a cliff and looks out slightly horrified "My word what happened here?"

The city was completely ruined but it could not have been recent this happened some time ago. There were recent renovations but most of this damage seemed pre-marked. Shadow Kat the other X-man, but a girl is freezing in this climate with her normal suit. The sound of screaming and they all rush, Kat is stuck in her tracks so Colossus asks "Magneto said your powers work in conjunction to mine why not try it?"

"S-sure!" Kat phases and inside Colossus she giggles "This is weird but I can't feel the cold."

"I know in this form I feel nothing. Not bullets or icy cold truth is this metal covers even my eyes!"

"Really?" Kat pops her head out of his "That would get annoying."

"Yes so does a girl coming out of my head." She blushes before phasing inside his body again. Colossus scrambles to see what was happening and some woman was fighting a large glowing amoeba like monster with a red X over the nucleus. Colossus is quickly struck with the woman's name but her outfit of a skintight blue outfit and light pale blue button less vest confused him. This woman had to be around eighteen or so, short frumpy hair with pale white blue color matches the gloves over her sleeves leading onto her mid-bicep muscle and boots that came to her mid-calf with fur trimming all the way from the top and to the ankle. Her eyes were chillingly blue and if not enough as she swung her hands the frozen tundra quickly projected ice spikes on the monster attacking her.

Colossus leaps in screaming and in his masterful strength he soon begins striking the monster cell with no resolve but to save the woman. Red X was going in for his blade weapons but Batman pulls him back "Hold it!" He shows his utility belt flashing with strange numbers on one device attached through a pocket "That thing is radioactive! Unless you want to glow in the dark keep some distance!"

Starfire with her eyes glowing emerald screams in a charge and slam of her hands. The monster roars up before crashing down. "Why can she fight close like that?"

"She's an alien not kept to our physiology." Sabretooth snorts with the Batman explanation "She's lucky."

The monster is slammed by the metal fists, sparked with star bolts, and eventually the icy attacks of the stranger cause the beast to retreat. Starfire is first to squeal in mirth the victory soon followed in leaps and screams by their newest friend. The two girls part and quickly the ice girl begin asking "How did you get that adorable skirt?"

"This?" Starifire twirls in her mid float, "Why it is a normal apparel, I ponder where must I seek these feat-wear with the furry upper calf, friend?"

"What? These are my favorite ones! Thank you for the compliment!"

Sabretooth begins rubbing his temples "Just what I needed fashion coordinated team mates."

The young woman sees Sabretooth and screams before hugging him, "He has such cute fangs and eyes, like a kitten!"

"The hell off me!"

Colossus pulls off the girl and moves them apart "Tora, what on earth are you doing here? This is not Scandinavia… is it?"

"Het, my friends. This is a territory far from my homeland more to the Russian collective. I came here on a simple mission to learn the dealings of a monster which you saw me facing. Sadly, as I was on my way to report the monster was the least of my worries as a strange military group has suddenly arrived in the city and has begun taking people as hostages."

"What! How can this be?" Colossus was stricken with fear as his mind seeks one name to one person here, "Illyana, is she with the others or…"

"I am sorry but she was taken. I saw it with my own eyes as did I see… your brother."

"Mikhail? He is alive? He was killed years ago in the accident of a space launch."

"Het my friend he lives and… leads this force."

Colossus was looking gravely, "Mikhail is leading this military group?"

The sound of stomping and all the heroes begin to find themselves being surrounded by men in armor and holding rifles. Starfire is the one noticing a familiar figure, "Dr. Light?"

Dr. Light was with these men as well as Madame Rouge. "Raven!" Dr. Light is startled but realizing it was Star he leaves his breath free "I was scared there a moment I thought you were going to eat me…" Light shakes as he mumbles "Can't sleep… Raven will eat me…"

"Don't be stupid heir doctor we have work to do." Madame has a slight smirk when Colossus steps forward "Who are we the hero of the group?"

"Is it true you work for a Mikhail Rasputin?"

"Yes, you know him? He is a magnificent mutant with dimensional warping powers and control over unused energy between realities. That and his being experimented on by the soviet government gave him a new look on this world's life."

"My brother is… alive."

"He's your brother? What a lucky boy meeting both your brother and a revolutionary person in one day." She crossed her arms and the soldiers raise their guns "I suggest you come quietly."

Sabretooth looks around and sees only one escape, "Ice girl!" Tora looks over and moves his head to the icy cliff. She nods and channeling her powers the cliff cracks to break them off from the mountain so they slide down away from the military force. Madame watches them escape and snarls "This is going to be one of those days I can see it already."

Japan, a land of marvel was now a land of disasters. In the brief moment Rogue, Pyro, Gambit, J'onn, and Beast Boy appeared they found themselves surrounded with people and creatures running, screaming, and attacking each other. Rogue is so swept up she took the role of leader, "Pyro! Use those darn flames on these things!"

Pyro sees several fires near them so he begins forming flame lions that attack in his thought. He was a pyrokinetic and could form flames into life and in any way make fire act to his whims. Gambit pulls out a full deck of cards, looking around he finds several creatures took them to notice after the stunt. "Don't like the game? Deal you a better hand mon amie!"

In united bouts the heroes began facing off the demon forces collected here. After no real time at all the few demons destroyed were all left while survivors began a retreat. Rogue smiled a little at their running away and Gambit slowly trailed to her, he noticed her levitating in the air bobbing and weaving with her new powers then launching devastating punches that nearly broke their opponents "Woo-wee, you make this old boy remember his home. Hot and sweaty with the lovely grace of the most twisted waterway."

"Whatever." Rogue floats past him and asks J'onn where to go him being a psychic. He scans but finds little worth while until a mind screams out in pain, physical dying pains. "Someone this way needs us now!"

That someone was actually holding his stomach with a large wound in it. The ninja from before, Ryu, now had a sever wound with his two female companions badly beaten. Ryu was looking at his attacker, the yellow ninja Scorpion, knelt on one leg with the harpoon held over his eyes horizontally the sickening trail of blood dripping on its sharp edge. The white soulless eyes narrow as Ryu pulls a long katana and charges. The two speed on each other and in a flash of their weapons the two skid to a halt, each on knee opposite to the other. The two girls awoke slowly to see the final strikes and finally notice Ryu has fallen on his side. The girl in blue, Kasumi, runs over and kneels with Ryu. "Oh no! Why did you have to fight this monster?"

Ryu was coughing in his blood Ayane slowly stood to see Scorpion grabbing at his mask but pulling it up he removes his face showing a skull for his true head now catching in flames. Ayane screams to Kasumi but she really didn't care. Ryu didn't spit up blood he merely laid in her arms. "You know… I always loved you…"

Scorpion screams and his mouth sends a flow of fire on his opponents. The flames are so strong they swirl in a strange fire tornado that in its force shatters the charred forms inside. Ayane is stuck in horror at seeing the two shattered and destroyed. This was the same horror that took her as a rope like item swings around her wrapping her arms, legs, and neck so that she was stuck on her knees twisting from the figure behind her. Scorpion has his other hand fastening his mask while holding the third ninja. His harpoon from the other hand slowly peels from his palm and it too in a mystical life moves around his hand three times before laying into his palm like a knife. Ayane is crying in her friend's deaths while asking "Why did you do this? What gives you the rig…," A swipe of his hand over her throat and a small river of crimson spills on the street. The blood sputtered onto his chest and face a little as he released her causing the girl's body to fall forward. Standing tall Scorpion sheaths his harpoons into his hands before rolling his shoulders and grunting satisfied with the latest kill. "Fatality."

Scorpion begins to leave but the sound of some rocks shifting and he catches from his corner eye the heroes standing on the top of a dirt mound. He had such a horrid stare when looking on them all here but merely pulls off one of the drones from his waist tossing them. The drone was Smoke the gray drone and as it creates a smoke screen Gambit pulls several of his cards to toss and cause some sparks in the smoke. Pyro gets an idea and channels the flames from Scorpion's one attack as a sort of spear. Tossing it on the sparks he screams "Where there's smoke there has to be fire!"

Scorpion growls lowly as the drone explodes with little fragments littering around him. Pulling off the other drone, Sektor, Scorpion tosses him and lets this one try its luck. Sektor scans the heroes and opens the chest firing missiles as before. Gambit pulls out one card, the Ace of spades, tossing it one missile follows and blows. Pyro creates a ball with his flamethrowers relaying the other missile. J'onn flew directly into the path of the third missile making it follow him higher into the air and strafing back he stops in front of Sektor. "You should be advised I am capable of altering my form." J'onn turns to an invisible non-solid self whom allows the missile to pass thru and blows Sektor apart. "Case in point."

Scorpion shook his head while the heroes began cheering. "Idiots…"

A flash of fire and Scorpion disappears he was done with those others anyway. Even so the heroes felt things were going pretty good on the mission sadly they didn't know just what was in store still.

"Tenchi…" The woman's voice echoes in the man's mind, "Tenchi…" His eyes open slowly seeing the princess of Jurai Ayeka over him crying slightly "Oh lord Tenchi, you are safe and sound." She sat up and rubs her eyes from the tears "I was so frightened you may never return to us."

Tenchi pushed himself up and noticed the two log guards floating near Ayeka, Washu had a machine that created a field around the ones together, but Ryouko and Sasami were missing along with his father and grandfather. "Where are the others?"

"Sorry but when I put up the field Sasami and Ryouko were here but disappeared soon after you fell unconscious. Ryouko went looking for them, your father and grandfather are missing I didn't get the chance to raise the shield with them." Ryouko walks in with a blank stare. "Did you find any of them?"

"I couldn't find Sasami but I did find the others." She lowers her head as Tenchi realized what her face meant, "They didn't… make it."

"What?" Ayeka grabs Tenchi tightly "Are you sure?"

"What kind of damned question is that?"

"Washu." Tenchi rubs his head still confused but he knew this was not the time. Things were still dangerous and they needed out of here now. "Will this force field last much longer?"

"I figure but we need to get a move on. Jurai sent a message that they want us to rendezvous with them as soon as possible with the princesses or princess."

"What do you mean by that?"

"The Jurai Elders have taken into account that there are two princesses and chances may be they both can't survive this matter. However, if both die here they will never have anything to do with this world again."

Tenchi nods "I understand Washu do you think you have any idea where Sasami may have gone?"

"I do… but I'm not sure if this will work out."

Sasami ran far into the streets ignoring the obvious danger. After it happened she waited for the others to be occupied and escaped. She took the small creature Ryo-ohki with her but even this didn't change the fact monsters terrorized a good part of the city. She came to the doorway of the home she was looking for and takes a breath before knocking at the door. The door falls over and she is startled, a large guitar inches on her head so she ducks and covers. "Stop!" Sasami opens her eyes slowly seeing Haruko with Naota and Canti. Naota pushes forward asking "What in the world are you doing here?"

"I heard that Jurai was going to send ships here to help and I wanted you to come with me!" Sasami grabs his wrist "Please it is the only chance we have!"

"Hold it!" Haruko pulls on the other arm "Naota is going with me! You can go somewhere else and find a boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Naota is about to contest this but Sasami and Haruko begin butting heads "Listen lady you know this wasn't half as bad until you got here maybe you should mind your own business!"

"Little girls should play with dolls than get in big girls ways, squirt!"

Naota looks up at Canti who looks at him and shrugs. "You're telling me…"

"Naota!" Naota looks up seeing Ninamori. He is blushing when she slams into him hugging him so tightly that he looses his breath. Haruko and Sasami turn on this with undermining glares. "I was so scared after the hospital. I thought maybe it was a dream but its real monsters are destroying the city! What are we supposed to do?"

"You're not normally so upset Ninamori."

"There's monsters tearing the city apart Naota!" Ninamori shakes him hard "This isn't a time for me to be cool and derivative we need to get out of here!"

Naota sighs as she was right and hearing footsteps he finds his father at the doorway "How's grandfather?"

"He'll be fine I think I should stay here with him while you and the others go get help." Naota's father pushes his glasses up on his nose "I hope you understand what I'm saying Naota."

"Dad…" Naota lowered his head but with a shaky smile he hugs his father "I'll get them all out of here safely."

"I'm sure you will my son." Naota's father moves on Haruko "You know I'd like a kiss before you leave, or maybe a little more if…" A boxing glove slams him through the wall "What have I told you old man!"

"Wow…" This girl with flat hair and a camera takes the shot of a burning building. She had on some school uniform and walking along like it was normal she really did not fit. Her name is Samejima Mamimi and her previous relationship was as Naota's girlfriend, or rather she took Naota in place of his brother. The age difference never bothered her as she was 17 and Naota was 12 then again she had a mentality quite low for her age. Even now as the city burns Mimi was less than frightened more excited as she was a pyromaniac. Turning under a bridge she finds two people are already here so she stood and listened to them. One was a very young boy with large glasses and slightly spiked brown hair. He sighs as the girl with him was a teen who had her hair back behind her ears and very long, they both had clothing but wore brown blankets around them by the looks of it they survived a terrible fire. "Rachel trust me its okay now. We just have to wait for the army or… something."

"My father…" Rachel was starting to cry as it was obvious he didn't make it out of the fire. The young boy sighs but in a desperate attempt he snaps "You think he'd want you to sit here like this? The great Richard Moore, waiting to die, he's not going to want to see his daughter loosing herself in pity! He was a top class detective no way he'd give up so easily!"

Rachel looks on her younger friend and slightly acknowledges what he said "I understand Conan, I just need a small rest."

Conan was in truth her boyfriend when he was a teen as well, but things got strange after some criminals drugged the teen genius detective leaving him to die but instead he became a child again. His mind is as sharp as ever and Conan would usually use his abilities to help his adoptive role with his former girlfriend and her father to expand their business secretly. Now though expanding business may not be a problem since their more worried on escaping.

Conan sees the girl and he seems thrilled, running up he asks "Um, excuse me but are you by chance part of a res…" She pinched his cheek and tugged it making Conan yelp "Hey what's wrong with you?"

"You're not one of them are you?" She lets go and Conan is confused "Their more ugly and slightly less human looking."

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't know?" She smiles at him shaking his head "Oh, here I'll show you!"

Mimi as she also was called quickly pulled Conan to the other side of the bridge and looked over the horizon. She spots something and points "There's one right now aren't they ugly?"

Conan looks over to where she points and freezes, this creature with lower back smaller than its upper back walks with the upper body hunched higher off the ground than the lower, and its head a strange one horned toad like thing with hair falling of the sides in ragged condition. "What is that thing? Some kind of alien?"

Mimi began to explain what had happened. From what she heard the news says these things were the same kind of monsters that killed Superman. Conan now remembers the broadcast and if that is the case they were demons from some other world. The whole world was struck with these monsters terrorizing any living people. Conan sighs as he sat down "Man those things are real live demons. I don't know what we can do now."

"Demons? Then maybe I know what to do!" She takes a deep breath and screams "Lord Canti, angel of the purifying flame! Head my call and come to us!" Conan jumps up and looks to see the toad monster was coming their way now. "Shut up you idiot!"

"Lord Canti, please come to us and protect us from evil! Save us from the darkness of our own souls and defeat the evil fire lord, Hades!"

The toad demon was running full speed but a flash of fire consumes the monster and leaves it as ash. The three look as the flames are soon draining into the back of a being that descended from the sky. The flames drain into his back like a set of wings and his body has covering of black armor and metal buckles all charred black only covering over the forms of his muscular form. Though all flame this man like figure wore something to simulate his face a mask of pure white with the red sun symbol of the Japanese land, and the lower jaw was missing forming a strong frown under the upper lip. Two strong eyes look on the girl and Mimi was starry eyed, "Lord Canti?"

The flame man spoke with a strong voice, "I am Shiro not Canti."

"Shiro?" She shrugs "Shiro is Lord Canti's true name?"

"No…" She was going to hug him but he puts up his hand, Mimi nods saying "I am sorry Shiro-sama I was forgetful that your flames will burn the sinful."

Conan didn't believe this was some angel of flame but maybe something else. When he looked the man over he did recognize the possibility he may be a certain mutant he once read about called, Sunfire.

Robin throws a satchel into the T-ship full of his devices, some tech for Cyborg, and even several things Raven, B.b., and Star would like. It was a moment of nostalgia when he dropped something, the picture of the team after they first joined together with the T-Tower in the background only slightly built. He had to chuckle at this when the alarm sounds. Robin runs to the hangar and sees denting; he pulls out his staff weapon and readies to fight but the hangar breaks letting a large hairy teen with black and gold outfit screaming "Gain way!"

Robinleapt at the teen but he's ignored while a large skull with spider legs chased him inside, "I said gain way, stupid!"

The skull creature has large fangs which it chomps on Robin; he wedged his legs into the two fang jaws before plucking the staff into the throat making it widen the mouth so Robin could vault back. The skull monster screams with Robin next to the hairy teen, "Mammoth what are you doing here?"

Mammoth picks up a heavy crate and smashes it over the skull monster, "Running for my life!"

The skull creature was going to attack but pink like sickles ripped in its back. The creature shatters and a young black dressed girl with pink hair and eyes, her hands glowing in pink energy screams "Thanks for the support Mammoth!"

"Sorry Jinx I got a little preoccupied when that thing chased me."

A small boy with no hair, goggles over his eyes, and a green jumpsuit flew in on a jetpack, "Crud-spewer you need to stop being so stupid!"

"What was that tiny?" The two make a move on each other but another villain teen pops up from nowhere, Kid Wicked was a remarkable similarity to Batman of the Justice League with shadow powers not quite strong as Raven but reasonably powerful. His stare on them both made the squabbling cease back down. Wicked as he often went by steps to the background while the louder member in all red and similar to Flash of the JL came is screaming, "Woo-wee, that there feller was a wild hombre! Glad we could put him down after the crap he pulled earlier."

The last member a black teen with green and gray came in, he had a large eye slowly sinking into his head from the cycloptic eyewear he had "So far they keep crowding the city did you ask him yet?"

"Ask?" Robin was confused "Ask me what?"

Jinx gave a snarl to the boy called Seeymore, "What's going on here and maybe if you could help us get out of the city."

Robin gave his confused brow but agrees "The world has come under attack by some demonic force called the Kagejin. I can't go into detail but as for leaving I do need some help driving the T-ship."

The Hive crew gave looks but Jinx had the most distaste "I can't believe we have to join this loser. Could this get any…?" Another figure comes in a rushed blur but speeding to a stop Robin blinks before screaming "Kid Flash!"

"Hey Rob, so what you and the Titans been up to?" He speeds over to the door and points outside "Anyone else noticed the city full of creepy-crawlies?" His eyes noticed Jinx and he disappears out the door and when returning he passes her leaving a rose before at the door he pushes off his elbow "So Raven was it? You look much prettier without that hood on."

"Uh…" Jinx was blushing but Robin points out "She's Jinx from the Hive group."

"Actually, we're the Hive 5!"

"Really?" Kid Flash was in red and white only letting his red haired top from the otherwise covering type mask. "If you're the Hive 5… why are there 6 of you?"

The villains look at one another, Mammoth shrugs "It sounds cooler?"

"That, and Sinister Six was taken."

Robin has jumped into the T-ship "Hey we need to get going! I have to return to the Watchtower as soon as possible."

"Watchtower? The place where the Justice League is? I don't think that's a good idea."

Kid Flash shrugs "Why not? I'm sure a nice girl like you will make all sorts of friends."

Jinx gives a glare before flipping her finger causing his mask to turn backwards "Who asked you?" She looked over the ship and saw four other spots to sit, one slightly filled with stuff but she could fit. "I'll take that spot there, Billy and Wicked can share one spot," Billy screamed a yee-haw while Wicked shook his head. "Mammoth and Gizmo you both sit together on this one and are… well, don't be too bad." Mammoth gave a glare but Gizmo pulls out a game boy, "Ooh, Game Boy!"

"Don't worry Jinx I got this one covered."

"Glad to hear it. I guess Seemore and Speedy here can house together."

"Sorry but I'm not feeling up to this Jinx could I get the seat with the luggage?"

"…." Jinx raises a brow "What?"

"I looked over the ship and the front seat with the luggage is also important I think I'm more suited to drive that one."

Jinx shook her head but Kid Flash buckled himself in the seat "Hey we better get going!" He pats the side of the seat with a more than willing tone "Room for one more."

"Oh for the love of…" Jinx sits in the seat looking to the outside away from Kid Flash. The others get in and Robin drives the ship towards the Watchtower sighing 'I hope that Raven is okay especially with the kind of villain she's with.' The sights of Wicked pushing his face on the window wishing to escape the loud mouthed Billy Numerous, Jinx ignoring the obvious flirting of Kid Flash though on some level she did like it, Gizmo rolling from Mammoth bouncing and bashing his game, and Seemore typing on the dials as he is shuffled in luggage Robin groans while thinking, 'I might take Slade over these guys.'

Slade has a devious glare on the item of his attention, "All this time I've waited so long and hard for the day I'd have you at my will. Nothing can hold me back now from realizing my goal…" Slade holds out his two cards as the small Sha-lah looks on their backs "Pick your card."

The Sha-lah taps a card and Slade is still. He narrows his eye before leaving the card down showing it was a three of diamonds. Slade sighs while dropping his joker card, "Old maid," the many Sha-lah screamed with their king "Sha-lah!"

Slade starts shuffling the cards growling "Let's play some damn poker."

Slade notices Raven now shifting on the hard stone floor. He feels an uneasy feeling but he had no choice. Right now Raven was on her own fighting whatever she was. He would do as he was asked and protect the girl while she was gone. Until then he just had to wait a task he found with these small creatures very taxing… "Taxing, Sha-lah!"

Raven took it all in with great stunned awe. This was a kingdom of sorts with a mystical and technological wonder, the place of her blood, Azarath. With the people moving on the streets mostly floating but others running, mostly the young run; Azarath was filled with marvels none could truly depict in words for the mind of Raven it all was her home. The sight of a small girl walking towards the central spire and Raven recognizes the white robes of her own youth, the girl turned and yes it was her younger self entering into the spire. Raven followed heatedly in pursuit as her younger self went to the top of the spire and followed to some library Raven even when she was young had an ongoing love for knowledge. When her younger self was gone she heard some other voices in the halls, these voices were her mother and someone else. Raven slowly floats to this room and opens the door finding her mother talking to… Fate? 'What in the world is going on?'