"EEEEE!" Vally squealed, dashing happily around the deck of the boat, trying to avoid Marshal who was chasing after her trying to tickle her senseless. "No!" Vally giggled, dodging Marshal's outstretched hand. "No tickles!"
Marshal laughed, leaping towards the toddler. "Should have thought of that before you pounced on me while I was napping and ask me to play! Well, I say we are playing…tickle monster!"
"EEEE!" Vally laughed, body flashing pink as she super speeded away.
"No fair!" Marshal called out, giving chase, passing Helena and Linda.
"Stop complaining, Marshal. You're an adult…you should be able to catch a little girl," Helena commented.
Vally streaked past them, leaving a trail of pink flames in her wake. Marshal waved at the trail, eyes wide and pleading for understanding. When he got none from the two women, he stalked off to go continue the game.
"We really need to talk to the lovebirds about Speedy Gonzales," Tina said, sitting down next to the women. "Before she ends up falling overboard."
"Been there, done that," Linda commented. "She swam around the boat and leapt back on."
Helena chuckled at her granddaughter's antics. "Let her play…its been a stressful few months."
After the Battle of Flint, as Hank and Lee had taken to calling it, the group had made their way back to their boat, quickly setting sail before the Company or the Alliance could track them. Ashleigh had called upon her few memories of visiting other members of the Alliance to figure out roughly where Daniel stayed, giving the team a course.
Now on track, and with the boat being manned by clones that knew what they were doing instead of just having Linda push the boat about, the group had made their way into open waters, the group was able to recuperate and prepare for the potential battle to come. Hank, Lee and Ashleigh were hold up together, trying to piece their strange family tree together. Kelly was off meditating, trying to strengthen her abilities, while Galatea used Biddy as her new punching bag, determined to find a way through the other woman's defenses even as Biddy just stood there and let her rally against her.
"Where are the two love birds, anyway?" Tina asked, watching as Vally happily leapt over Marshal, flashing a smile before zipping off.
"Where do you think?" Linda commented with a smirk.
In Carter's cabin, it looked like a tornado had hit a fashion store. Bits of clothing littered the floor; a shirt flung over a lamp, a shoe perked on the desk, Carter's duster slung over the end table, a pink thong caught on the door jam like mistletoe.
The bed sheets were a twisted mess, just managing to cover Madrid relaxed body as she curled closer to Carter. The young man had his arm around her, tracing patterns along her bare back. The actress' hair fell about them like a dark curtain, her lips tracing one of the nastier cuts that adorned his chest.
"They are healing." She commented softly. "Look better then they did yesterday."
It had taken the group returning to the boat before they realized just how bad of shape they were all in. Most had some scrapes and cuts, Lee had pulled a muscle in his shoulder, a bullet had grazed Marshal, and Helena had a nice shiner on her eye. Madrid was one of the better ones, even if she had been shot dead. Hank had several cracked ribs, bruises all over and some cuts along his face.
Carter looked like he'd been dragged through hell.
He had several broken ribs, his legs were burned from where he'd fallen through the roof, his entire body was a patchwork of bruises. The worst though were the cuts that lined his body. When Vally had amped him up, she hadn't realized the power her father had, causing the whammy flames to bust open his skin all over. Carter had just managed to get onto the boat before he collapsed from blood loss.
Madrid had quickly snatched up a drop of blood, duplicating it rapidly and letting it fall into an emptied Coke Bottle. Lee had drawn up a nurse (A slutty one, for which he'd been forced to hide behind his mother when Galatea came after him), who had worked quickly to try and patch the man up.
Madrid shivered as she remembered that long, long day.
(One Week Earlier)
"Damn it…" Helena snarled, her fingers on her son's wrist, fear gripping her heart as she felt his heartbeat growing weaker.
"Daddy?" Vally whispered, Galatea rocking the toddler as she used her super-strength to keep her from rushing towards her father.
"Get her out of here." Lee snapped. "Everyone, if you don't have medical training or can't make things appear, you have to leave."
The nurse nodded, smiling and sticking out her breasts. "Mr. Malion is right," She said, her voice breathy, "I need room to work." Galatea shot Lee a deadly glare before leaving taking everyone except Marshal, Helena, Lee, and Madrid with her.
Madrid stroked Carter's had as he groaned, shifting as the nurse worked to stitch up the massive cuts on his back. "You need to calm down."
"Mmm…momma…" Carter mumbled.
"What is it, baby?" Helena whispered.
"…take this badge off of me." Carter whispered, eyes fluttering beneath their lids. "I can't use it anymore."
"What is he talking about?" Madrid asked, worry coloring her words.
"It's getting dark…to dark to see." Carter got out, panting hard.
"He's delusional…the blood loss is affecting his brain." Marshal said sadly. "We need to begin a transfer…Lee?"
"Done." Lee said, summoning the strange, leech-like creature. The slimey monster stuck its tail into one of the bottles of blood Madrid was making, attaching his jaws to Carter's arm. "This should work."
"Feel I'm knocking on Heaven's door." Carter groaned. "Knock knock knocking on heaven's door….knock knock knocking on Heaven's door. Knock knock knocking on heaven's door….knock knock knocking on Heaven's door."
Madrid glared at the delusional man. "You better pray no one answers." She looked skyward. "You hear me, Eden? Keep that damn door shut tight!"
"Momma, put my guns in the ground. I can shoot them anymore." Carter whispered. "That long black cloud is coming down. Feel I'm knocking on Heaven's door."
The room grew quiet, the only sounds that of the leech pumping blood, the nurse stitching and Carter's crazed quoting of Bob Dylan.
"Knock knock knocking on heaven's door….knock knock knocking on Heaven's door. Knock knock knocking on heaven's door….knock knock knocking on Heaven's door."
"Madrid?" Carter asked, running his fingers through her hair as the actress cried softly, holding him tight as if she were a child and he were a teddy bear. She couldn't stop thinking about how she had almost lost him…again…how she would have lost the gift this last week had been.
Obviously, she hadn't jumped into bed with him that first day, and not just because he was injured. Sergei had broken her heart, and she didn't trust herself around this new man quite yet. But as she spent those hours with him, watching him soothe Vally's fears that she had hurt him, around his friends and family, how he could sense the needs of others…
Eden had told her Carter had been made for her, as she was made for him. That Heaven had conspired to create them, a perfect match to stand against the coming storm. But in that week, she realized that her gut instinct during the Battle of Flint had been right: She did love him.
It took her 4 days before she finally broke down and had her way with him.
"Is death always so quiet?" She asked, remembering clearly her own short time on the other side.
Carter grimaced. "Yea…"
"…thought so." She whispered, holding him tight again, thinking about the battle that was sure to come.
They were about to face another storm.
She prayed to God that maybe this time…Carter could be given a break from the heroic sacrifice.
"You are all that remains?"
Riker held his position, remaining on his knees, wondering for the billionth time why he had returned to this place. And for the billionth time, his mind answers, "The Money".
"Yes." Riker said at last. "Ashleigh was destroyed by her 'good' side."
The woman before the assassin scoffed. "I warned her…told her I could feel the other one still in her head. Said that she should do something about it, but did she listen to me?" She glanced at Riker, as if expecting an answer. "NOOOO! She just went on her merry way. And now she is dead, stopping me from saying, "I told you so". Bitch."
"The Metatron beheaded Anthony."
The woman seemed oddly pleased with that. "The fool was never meant to lead…he worked as a reporter…he focused on acting like the humans…we are gods and he debased himself, ruined what respect we should have with his actions. My only regret is I didn't get to do the deed myself. Hmmm…perhaps I will send the Metatron a thank-you ham…laced with Anthrax, of course." She waved her hand at Riker. "Continue."
"Sergei disappeared…the Light dispatched him." Riker gulped. "Merrick…Merrick was taken hostage by The Company, his brain wiped by The Metatron. Hank…Hank has sided with the Voice of God."
The woman nodded, pacing the floor. "So my husband is gone and my son against me? Almost Biblical, if you think about it. Or maybe more like the Greeks. Yes, the Greeks would write something like this farcical tragedy." Marie Delpine, wife and Merrick and mother of Hank, chuckles softly as she looked out over the grand estate that was now all hers. The Delpines were dead, the heirs to Anthony's House, that is, only she remained…she was in power.
As it always should have been.
"You have done well, Riker…you served my husband, not well, we all must admit, as if you had done your job, he would be here at my side, but there is little we can do about your incompetence in the past. Better to ensure that it never happens again while you serve me."
"You?" Riker asked, not sure if he really wanted to be any more involved with all this insanity.
Marie grabbed his head, Riker screaming in agony as his eyes flickered, her slightly mad, slightly amused smile held firm. "You don't have a choice, Riker. I say you will serve me…" She shoved him away, the rubber man groaning in pain as he clutched his head. "…or find out exactly how deep I can worm my way into your head." She stepped over his broken form, high heels clicking as she returned to the massive desk that had belonged to Anthony, throwing anything of sentimental value across the room. "Things are going to change, Riker…we are entering a new era, a new dynasty…a paradigm shift." She paused, placing a finger to her chin. "Is that the right word? Oh, who cares, I'm in charge." She sat down in the large desk chair, running her palms over the smoothed oak finish. "Oh yes…"
Riker coughed, slowly getting to his knees. "What…what do you want?"
"What do I want?" She asked, considering the question carefully. "I want to ensure my husband's foolish mistakes are not passed to me. I want my son at my side, ready to serve his mommy just as a good boy should. I want Daniel dead, just as Seth now is. I want the Alliance to bow before my stylish shoes and kiss the ground I walk on. And more then anything, I want the Metatron and the Light dead, buried and making my flower beds pretty." She paused, thinking dreamily about her flower garden being fertilized by Carter's broken body. "Mmm…such beautiful tulips." She shook her head quickly. "We will see to this Riker…mark my words."
"We?" Riker questioned.
Marie laughed. "Oh, not you, Riker. I don't trust you to do anything more then get me my side salad from McDonalds. Yes, you will be a good little manservant, doing just what your mistress says. Starting with rubbing my shoulders." Her smile twitched as Riker slowly rose. Seeing that look, he rushed behind her and began the massage. "Very good, very good. Now then, Riker, the 'we' I spoke of are the ones that will take out the Metatron…he thinks he has seen the full power of the Alliance? HA! He has only seen the force of one…it is time he faced our full strength, the militant arm of the Alliance, the elite swords that will cut him to pieces!"
Marie walked over to a phone and punched in a code that had not been entered in 28 years.
"Unleash the 7 Horns." She said calmly.
(The Château of Daniel Monroe, 70 minutes outside of Paris)
"Anyone else getting the feeling that we are about to find out Jesus and Mary had a kid?" Lee asked, looking about the estate.
"Jesus and his mom? Ew." Tina joked.
Hank growled. "Permission to hit her?"
"Denied." Helena said simply. "And yes, I'm getting a "The Da Vinci Code" feeling too." She nodded to Marshal. "Be on guard."
A servant led them to the main room, a grand, opulent ballroom that had been converted into some sort of strange throne room/tech center. Computer screens displayed images from around the world, faxes and monitors buzzed, and strange devices none of them had ever seen hummed happily as they worked. The room was dark, the once great stainless mirrors covered with bullet-proof steel, the walls laced with the likes and covered with drapes. Weapons from medieval to high tech hung all around them, causing Madrid's fingers to itch, just wanting to duplicate a few of them.
Before them, sitting on what could only be described as a throne, sat Daniel, dressed in a simple dress shirt and dark slacks.
He took a moment to observe the group. Kelly and Hank had insisted they stop for new clothes before the meeting, to be better prepared for a battle that could come. Most had gone with just simple jackets and jeans, plain long sleeve tees and good running shoes. Helena wore a tailored black jacket that concealed all her weapons of choice. Madrid was dressed in a similar fashion, slits cut in the fine leather to allow her to summon extra arms if needed. Carter wore all black: Shoes, jeans, shirt, duster and fingerless gloves, sword strapped to his back and Seth's broken body in his arms. Vally was cradled in Madrid's arms, dressed in a pink jacket and clutching her special bear.
"Hello Carter." Daniels said.
Carter laid Seth on the floor. "Merrick is dead."
Daniel nodded at the blunt comment. "I expected no less." He leaned forward. "So you have finally come take your birthright."
"If that is Alliance talk for my husband…" Helena said coldly, "…then yea."
Daniel merely smiled. "The famous Helena wit." He chuckled softly. "I take of Carter's inheritance, the gift I have longed to give him."
"And what is that, exactly?" Madrid questioned.
"The Alliance." Daniel said simply.
The group stared blankly at the old man for a few minutes.
"I'm sorry, I think I had some crazy in my ear…did you just claim The Alliance was a gift?" Tina asked.
Daniel nodded. "Of course." He waved his hand outward. "All of this is his and his family's…as it was meant to be." He smiled, his body tired. "It wasn't suppose to be this way, my son. Yes, the Alliance was originally made to combat my father, your great-grandfather Adam Monroe, the sword saint of Japanese legend, and his mad quest to rule the world. I did not see the darkness that grew within the Alliance, did not see as I was slowly removed from my place of respect. All sectors were corrupted…what I had envisioned as a noble organization, fighting to protect the world…became the very evil I sought to destroy.
"The worst came with the discovery of a tomb in Egypt in the early 1800s. Long lost, it was found by an explorer, and within it were treasures beyond imagine…and whispers of the future. The tomb was the final resting place of a magician for the Pharaoh…I do not doubt he was like us. It took us years to translate the works, but when we finally did, we discovered what is now known as "The Lost Gospel", which contained several prophecies…"The Son and the Lion", which foretold of Hank and Lee meeting and helping to destroy the House of Delpine. "The Prophecy of the Light" which spoke of a blessed daughter that would lead the world out of darkness…and the tale of the General and the Heir of Isaiah.
"If you doubt for a moment these words, look upon these." And with that, Daniel picked up a remote, opening a hidden alcove in the throne room. The group stared in shock as the door slide open, reveal statues made of the same stone as the pyramids. But what startled them all was that the statues were of them, arranged as they were now, dressed as they were, down to the bear in statue-Vally's arms. "The magician saw this day would come…the turning point in the world. When I viewed this, I knew that my grand work, my Alliance, had a new purpose. I was to guard this entity, protect it, until its true master came." He pointed at Carter. "You."
"Me?" Carter said, dubious. "You believe I'm the Master of the Alliance? The same group that tried to kill my family, that took my daughter?"
"There is a difference between the Alliance you are meant to master and the one that now lives. There were many of my allies that feared the arrival of the Light, the General and the Voice of God. They believed you would destroy them, become a dictator that ruled with an iron fist. They did not want this, so they sought to build up counter measures. But…as so often happens…they brought upon their nightmares. Their children and children's children became the dictators they feared, the monsters that sought to control the world. Through these actions your family was acted…and you brought retribution. In trying to stop their destruction, they caused it.
"Even now, they have not learned their lesson. The 7 Horns, the militant arm of The Alliance, has arisen. Merrick was one of their numbers, the 1st Horn, Ashleigh the 6th." Daniel glanced at Hank. "Your mother is their leader."
"My mother?" Hank whispered in shock.
"The final horn, the one that commands them and binds them. Your destruction of Merrick's mind has caused Hank's mother to declare war upon you. Soon you will face the greatest threats the world has ever known." Daniel looked down at Carter. "But there is hope. There are still some that side with me and my word. I am ready to surrender my post…our blood links us, and you are my heir. My allies will be yours, my wealth and power yours. You have no more need for those that stand behind you…I will provide them with whatever they desire and allow them to leave this place to return to their old lives. You are the only one needed." He smiled. "Too long you were told you weren't special, that you were worthless…many of those that stand behind you sought to harm you: Hank, Lee, Galatea, Ashleigh, Madrid…even your mother and Marshal worked for the Company that held you captive. You can not trust any of them…but you can trust me." He held out a hand. "If you join with me, Carter, we will be able to destroy the darkness that holds the Alliance, and once reborn, we all shall stand against my father and others like him and finally complete my life's work, the bring peace to this world and bring those like us out of the shadows. You will be remembered throughout the ages as a hero, as the savior of man…you will never go without wealth or love again. The women of the world will be yours to chose, the smallest pleasure at your fingers. We will make history. Please…my son…you are our only hope. Your hardships are over…you can rest."
Carter licked his lips, eyes steely as he locked his gaze on Daniel. He could hear the breathing behind him, each of his friends wondering how long it would take him to accept the offer, to cast them away. "Moving words, Daniel." He said at last. "Moving words. You want me to take over the Alliance…the family business, I guess? To throw away the only people that have ever meant anything to me!?" He roared, flames firing from his skin, waving his hand at the people behind him. "They have stood behind me, fought at my side to defeat Merrick while you hid here, while your allies did nothing. Seth refused to aid us until the end…no, grandfather, I do not think I need your idea of allies…of family. I have found I can not trust any of my blood family to stand at my side." He took a step closer "I have brothers already, they are Hank, Lee and Marshal." Lee and Hank blinked, forcing down their emotions so that they could stand by their leader. "I have many sisters: Kelly, Linda, Tina, Galatea, Ashleigh, Biddy." The women nodded, shame filling their hearts for ever doubting him. "I have the love of my daughter, Valencia, and the heart of the woman I will make my wife, Madrid." The actress gasped at the bold proclamation, Vally grinning ear to ear. "I have a mother who would die for me." Carter drew his sword and pointed it at his grandfather. "And I already have a father…his name is Vic Daniels. I have no need for you or your dreams of ash."
Daniel smiled as he stood, joy seeping through his weathered features. "You prove yourself…I offered you a final temptation…and you rejected it as you should. You have come a long way, Carter…a long way…and I am so proud of you." Tears were in his eyes as he walked towards him. "Yes…these people…your family…are what have kept you alive. And humble, I see. You care not for titles or wealth…only their protection." He held out his arms. "The Alliance, what little I control, is yours…all of you." He motioned to Lee, Hank, Galatea and Ashleigh. "The House of Delpine shall arise anew upon your shoulders." He looked at Kelly, Tina, Biddy, Linda and Marshal. "You will see those you love protected…your sins forgiven and redeemed." He smiled at Madrid and Vally. "You will finally know joy." He looked at Helena and Carter. "But for you two…I must ask forgiveness."
Helena's face scrunched in anger. "If you hurt Vic…"
"No." Daniel said. "I ask you both…to please forgive me…" And with that, the years melted away, Daniel's power returning him to his youth. Wrinkles were pulled smooth, gray hair became a brilliant shade of black, his back straightened as he rose to his full height, at the peak of life. He was 40 again, the only sign of age in his eyes. "…for the hurt I caused you my wife…my son."
Helena held her hand to her mouth, Carter's sword dropping to the ground as their stared at Daniel.
"Vic?"
"D-d-d-dad?"
End of Volume 2
Volume 3
Villains
(Company Prison-The Alaskan Wilderness, 60 miles outside of Juno)
Merrick thrashed about his cot, eyes flicking all about. He was strapped down, dressed in a hospital gown, his head shaved and a barcode tattooed on his forehead.
There was no way The Company was letting him go.
The techs were busy with other things, none of them caring to watch over the mostly brain dead man. There were other people to monitor, other people to observe…Merrick Delpine wasn't a concern.
That's why none of them saw the portal open.
That's why none of them saw the four figures step through.
They were all dressed in black, head to toe. There were so slight variations, as two were women, obviously, though woman appeared an adult, the other barely a teenager. The two men were also a bit different, the same age or close to it as the woman, one wearing a sword on his back, the other guns.
The woman in black took the lead, looking at Merrick carefully. "I always wondered how you died…why we never heard from you again." Her hand shot out and stopped his head from twitching, forcing him to look at her. "You won't hurt my family again." She leaned in close. "But I want you to see my face before you die…to remember who ended your reign."
The woman ripped off the black full-head mask, swishing her long black hair, her tanned Latino skin managing to look good even under the harsh lights of the Company cell.
"A…Alverez." Merrick whispered in horror, his first sane thought in weeks.
"Didn't you get the memo?" The woman asked, drawing a gun from her belt and pressing it to Merrick's skull. "Its Daniels now."
She fired 3 shots, reducing Merrick's brains to mush, before she pulled her mask back on. "One down…6 to go." She said coldly, walking back through the portal, the other three following after her.
(We see Merrick standing in Flint, the building behind him burning)
"The first angel blew his trumpet, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were hurled to the earth;"
-The Revelation of John, 8:7
(A trumpet sounds, and we see Carter standing in an office, overlooking a skyline, dark clouds on the horizon. The image switches to a shadow on the ground)
"The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea."
-The Revelation of John, 8:8
(We see Madrid and Vally dressed up in fine dresses, watching as the elite of the elite swarm about them. We cut to another shadow)
"The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water."
-The Revelation of John, 8:10
(We see a great mansion, Kelly and Tina looking out one of the windows, it hard to tell if they are prisoners or they're of their free will. Another shadows appears)
"The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light was darkened;"
-The Revelation of John, 8:12
(We see Biddy sitting in her room, looking at her hands, not noticing spiders that begin spilling out of the air vent.)
"And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit; he opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. And from the shaft came locust…"
-The Revelation of John, 9:1
(We see Ashleigh staring at Lee, behind her a mirror showing a grinning version of herself taunting them both)
"Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.""
-The Revelation of John, 9:13
(We see Marie Delpine and Carter stared at each other, both ready for a fight)
"Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet..."
-The Revelation of John, 11:15
(We see Carter and his group standing before a group of shadows strangers, ready for battle.)
Elsewhere
Volume 3
Villains
"The 7 Horns are Unleashed…September 2008"
Meanwhile, in two weeks…discover the story between volumes 2 and 3…
(We see Charlie Raegan finally escaping from the parking garage, looking about the carnage that was Flint)
And learn how far a man will go to find his daughter
Snapshots from Elsewhere: Aftermath