CHAPTER 10

HIMALAIAN MOUNTAINS

All around them snow, and wind howled buffeting the small SHIELD assault chopper that dared the frigid temperatures and weather. Inside the chopper 8 heavy armored commando units waited for their orders. After a particularly violent jolt the loud speakers switched on and a voice spoke. "hello men. As you all know the vote on hero registration is tonight. But SHIELD has several concerns that some of the more powerful heroes could attempt to interfere with the voting. That is why several teams like you have been create, and send to area where these heroes are operating. It's up to you to monitor them and ensure that they do not interfere. Your company leader has more info for you. Thank you for your service." As the recording ended the squad leader stood up and began passing out folders. After everyone had a folder he spoke. "listen up grunts. The boys back home recognize your talent. So they've given us 2 heroes to watch. Doctor strange and the ancient one. I've been given orders to infiltrate the temple they are staying at and place these on them." The commander paused and pulled out a slightly glowing band about the size of a head band." A soldier raised his hand. "sir, what is that?" the commander chuckled. "this boys is a cerebral limiter. It limits upper brain function most heroes need to work their powers. Slip this on just about any hero and they can't move, can't talk, all they can do is lay on the ground and breath." Another hand went up. "sir with all due respect how can a washed up surgeon and an old man be a threat to the vote?" the commander shook his head. "don't under estimate them. Doctor strange is the sorcerer supreme. A title he got through master thousands of spells, and undergoing trials of both mind, and body. As for the ancient one…..well he taught strange everything he knows. Remember in those fairytales how the wizard or witch would turn someone into a frog? That was probably the first lesson strange ever got. So keep your head down and try not to get hit by anything."

An alarm sounded and the commander moved into line with the rest of his men. Grabbing hold of a steel bar above their heads the soldier felt the floor beneath them shudder and then open up, revealing them to the elements which immediately surged in and tore at them, and their armor. Over the radios the commander continued to speak. "once we're on the ground we're to enter the temple neutralize strange and the old man and wait until we're given the all clear signal." Every soldier nodded. One of them looked to the one next to him. "don't worry rooky, we'll watch your back. Can't have you dying on the first mission. Who'd clean our stuff afterwards?" a general chuckle went around the chopper. A moment later the chopper shuddered and the soldiers let go of the steel bar. For a moment they hung in the air, and then gravity grabbed them and tore them from the chopper. As they fell each one moved like they had been trained to do. Fold in your arms and legs to steer, watch out for anything you might hit, and be ready to pull your chute at the drop of a dime. They could make out the temple now. Nestle in a large crack in the side of the mountain. It looked more like a castle than anything else. large stone towers jutted up from the ground, stone walls that seemed to stare up at them as they fell. Several windows were lit, and glowed like eyes watching them as they fell to the earth and pulled their chutes. Silently 8 soldiers hit the snow and began moving towards the temple.

STRANGE'S POV

Doctor strange sat floating in the air, eyes closed deep in meditation. Across from him his teacher the ancient one did the same. They had been sitting in silence for several hours now, the only noise in the temple was that of the storm outside, and the occasional whisper from one of the many monks that lived in the temple. As the snow pounded the walls the ancient one opened his eyes and spoke. "they're here." Strange nodded. "yes. I sense them my master. They're already inside the temple. They're coming straight for us, and are not making any attempts to hide their movements." The ancient one smiled and nodded. "yes. They are arrogant about the ways of magic. They think we cannot see them because we're not in front of them." Strange nodded. "I sense something else master. One of them is different. He knows magic. Perhaps he has some potential." The ancient one nodded. "perhaps. But I fear he's only a puppet for some larger figure who wishes a presence here tonight." Strange nodded in agreement. "perhaps we shall ask him when he arrives. The best way to get an answer is to ask after all." The ancient one nodded and had been about to speak when a loud crash split the silence in the main chamber. The 2 large mahogany doors leading into blew apart sending splinters and dust in all directions. In the blink of an eye a magical shield surrounded strange and his master stopping anything that might have hit them. As the dust cleared strange noted the upper sections of the chamber were now crowded with hooded monks that watched but never spoke. Turning his attention to the doors strange banished the rest of the dust with little more than a thought. A loud voice boomed through the room. "doctor strange, ancient one by order of shield you're being taken into preventional custody. Lay face down on the ground with your hand on your head. Next to him strange's master spoke. "young man do you know how long it took me to get up this morning? I have no intention of laying down until it's time for bed." The voice shouted again. "ON THE GROUND! NOW!" strange closed his eyes and began a low chant under his breath, that only he could hear. " Agamotto reveal to us what is trying to be unseen."

A strong gust of wind flowed through the chamber, making the monk's robs flap, the tapestries on the wall to slap against the wall. The fire lit torches flickered and some went out, only to be reignited by the magic that inhabited the temple. One by one each soldier's stealth systems failed and made them easily visible to the 2 sorcerers who watched as the 8 soldiers seemed to materialize out of nowhere. The leader of the soldier's leveled his rifle at strange. "on the ground. I won't ask you again." Strange cocked his head to one side. "you'd attack me? When I have done nothing to warrant attacking?" the commander nodded. "I have orders from SHIELD to take you down with force if necessary sir. But I'd rather not do that. On the ground." Strange shook his head. "no." time seemed to slow for strange. He could almost see the soldiers thinking of what to do next. He could hear each of their breaths, could effortlessly count each of their heartbeats. In the blink of an eyes strange vanished from his spot, next to his master. A split second later 5 bullets hit the stone behind where he had been sending a small shower of dust and rock to the ground. In another blink of the eye strange reappeared behind the soldiers, in the gap where the doors had once been. He and his master acted as one. Each one brought his hands in front of him and began chanting a spell. Before the soldiers could eve react they found themselves paralyzed. Unable to move anything but their eyes. For a moment strange and his master watched the group and then what they had been waiting for happened; one of the soldier's moved. At the same time strange and his master acted. Bringing their hands together in a deafening clap both magician shouted the same spell. "MAGIC OF THIS HALL REVEAL THIS IMPOSTER WHO STANDS BEFORE US!"

A flash of white light blocked everything from view. Strange could not see so much as a few inches in front of him. A loud crack like a gunshot split the air again and the light vanished. The light vanished and the soldier that had moved knelt on his knees. Gone was the armor he had worn a moment before, gone was his weapon and his helmet. The soldier panted for a moment and then looked up. Where his eyes should have been white only blackness shown and in the center of both eyes an evil red dot burned like a small fire. When he spoke it was in a double voice, as though 2 people were speaking from the same mouth. "so this is the fortress of the ancient one. I'm unimpressed. It's defenses are so….. physical. I would have thought someone with your esteem for magic would have more supernatural barriers, around it." The ancient one shrugged. "never saw the need to waste magic like that. Not when so few come here in the first place." The soldier nodded, and moved to stand. Strange took a step forward his hands glowing and pulsing with magic. "who are you?" the soldier stood up and smiled. "how pitiful. The great doctor strange doesn't recognize a possession when he see one. Very well allow me to introduce my host and then myself. I-" the soldier gestured to himself. "am petty officer John Mortan. And I-" the soldier pointed to his eyes. "am the feared and all powerful dark lord Dormammu." As those words left the soldier's mouth his face twisted, inward on itself. His skin bubbled like hot wax and fire sprung from his head. A moment later a fully composed Dormammu stood; his eyes burning with hellfire.

Across the room the ancient one spoke. "so you're Dormammu……. I thought you'd be taller." Dormammu chuckled. "I thought you'd be younger." The ancient one shrugged. "I get that a lot. Why are you here?" Dormammu chuckled again. "I guess since I'm going to kill you all I can tell you. I'm but a pawn in this game. Something much greater than, I or any other mystical being is making a move to conquer earth. In return for my service I was given the joy of seeing how to finally kill the sorcerer supreme." Dormammu turned to strange. "and now human, YOU WILL DIE!" Dormammu's voice sent shockwaves through the air, cracking stone and shaking the entire temple with its force. But even then the ancient one was working, reactivating spells that had been put in place since long before he himself had ever been born; and had been strengthened by each generation of sorcerers. Symbol, and rune glowed on the walls, pulsing with magic. Normally invisible these magical security measure now pulsed with magic. Above them the monk that had gather began chanting adding their own magic to the spells. Making them stronger, by the second. The ancient one spoke. "you're a fool to attack us here Dormammu. Only a fool attacks a magician in his stronghold. I've sealed us all in, forever. Only those I wish to leave me do so. And I only wish one person to leave." The ancient one smiled to his apprentice. "you've become a great sorcerer, strange. When you're outside banish this place from this world. Send it into the deepest darkest pit you can think of." Strange had been about to speak but found he was no longer in the temple but outside in the snow.

Even though he was no longer in the temple he could hear Dormammu's scream of rage. Bringing his arms in front of him strange began to weave his spell. Tears froze on his face as he worked. He knew what he was doing, and it broke his heart. He was condemning his master and everyone in the temple to death. As he finished his spell strange dropped to his knees, in a deep bow. "I'm sorry master. Please forgive me." Looking up strange just caught sight of the temple being sucked into the large magical vortex he had summoned. He watched as the temple disappeared taking with it his master, and his greatest foe." for a moment it seemed as though nature greaved with him. The winds died, and the snow no longer struck the mountain with force but wafted slowly down from the skies, like an apology. But then it returned back. And strange again stood battered by the snow and wind. Slowly tears still flowing from his eyes, strange turned away from where the temple had once stood, and began weaving magic. A moment later he vanished from the mountain side. Only his footprints in the snow remained and they to vanished in a flurry of snow.

AN: I KNOW IT'S SHORT BUT CHAPTER 10 IS UP.

I TRIED TO DUE DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE ANCIENT ONE JUSTICE WITH HOW I PORTRAID THEM. I HOPE EVERYONE LIKES IT.

REST INPEACE ANCIENT ONE.