One Year Later
Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to DC or Marvel. I own Farrah/Persiana, Hecate, and Leon/Crisis.
Chapter 16: The Past Catches Up
In the wake of Princess Audrey's demise at the hands of Hecate, a power mad woman, the nation of Kasnia had been launched into turmoil. When the next in line to the throne attempted to ascend, the governing legislative body, as well as several military factions, attempted to seize power away from the monarchy, and embroiled the nation of Kasnia into a civil war. Many other countries within the region of Europe attempted to introduce stability and order, but it was to no avail. Eventually, after months of fighting and blood shed, a new dictator arose in the nation of Kasnia, one Colonel Rajak.
The colonel had been exiled out of his home country of Bialya, a small country in the Middle East. However, one of the attacks came at his mansion in the area, of which several Kasnian guards were killed. Realizing the potential this could have for him, he summarily killed the other guards, took a uniform off of one of them, and managed to infiltrate the strong hold.
However, no one knew, not even the Colonel, that another sinister force would be moving in to take over; the Red Skull. He had met the exiled colonel by sheer accident, and merely persuaded the Middle Eastern colonel to work together. The Red Skull needed a way to establish himself in the world and re-establish his agenda; a complete Nazi empire. Colonel Rajak agreed, under the condition that he would be put in power, and, once that happened, the Red Skull could do whatever he wanted.
Of course, the Red Skull had to keep his Nazi agenda a secret, at least, for the moment. Right now, the two power-mad dictators were now teaming up.
Currently, the Red Skull and Colonel Rajak were meeting one mile outside the city where the palace was located. Several generals had formed a military junta in order to maintain their power and order. Of course, the generals could not trust each other and would gladly do away with each other if they could do so. However, they also needed each other to destroy the opposition, so, at least for a while; they would have to work together.
Red Skull looked at the colonel,
"Now, colonel. This is the plan."
The Nazi super-villain opened a bag containing a metallic cylinder with a biohazard symbol on the side of it. Rajak asked,
"What is that?"
The Red Skull said,
"That, my dear colonel, is a special grade of nerve gas I was having my organization create before they were destroyed. I always kept one in safe storage, just in case."
Rajak knew what the gas was for; they were going to use the gas in the palace and eliminate all of their competitors for power all at once. Rajak smirked; his country had tried in the past to produce weapons of mass destruction, but, seeing as how the Red Skull had one on him and could develop more, the colonel thought it would be best to let this partnership continue for as long as he needed the Red Skull.
The two madmen then went down into the sewer system under the city and hurried their way to the palace. The stench was extremely aromatic and unpleasant, but the thought of running a country and having no opposition fueled the drive these two had. They got to within one block of the palace when they saw several guards stationed up ahead. The two stayed in the darkness, Rajak drawing his pistol,
"What do we do now, Red Skull?"
The Red Skull replied in his German accent,
"Easily managed, Herr Rajak. Observe."
The enhanced Nazi soldier set the black bag containing the nerve gas down and safely tucked it away. He then drew out two pistols and began walking slowly and calmly to the gathering of troops. Rajak could only watch as to what the Red Skull was up to. He shook his head,
"He's crazy."
One of the soldiers, who was lighting a cigarette, noticed the red-masked man walking towards them. He shouted,
"Halt!"
The Red Skull smiled, acting very casually,
"Hey, boys! How are things on the home front, as the Americans would say?"
Taking advantage of the befuddled expression of several troops, Red Skull opened fire, killing them. As others tried to mount an offense, the Nazi villain cut them down without blinking, and at almost inhuman speeds.
Rajak was stunned; he had never seen anyone move that fast and hit so accurately before. He swallowed nervously, wondering how he was going to be able kill his partner once this partnership dissolved. The Red Skull walked back and, putting his still smoking guns away, picked up the bag and said,
"Shall we continue, herr colonel?"
Rajak nodded silently, but still kept his pistol drawn.
A few minutes later, the two had reached the central air conditioning of the facility. Killing the guards quietly, the Red Skull opened the vent and said,
"I trust you to vatch my back as I do this, ja?"
Rajak nodded and took a position to cover the Red Skull.
The Red Skull began to work, carefully placing the canister in the air vent and setting the timer to have the gas vent throughout the palace. He worked in a particular fashion; he was meticulous and left no detail to chance. This had to work.
After what seemed like forever, but in actuality only a few minutes, the device was ready. The Red Skull turned back to Rajak,
"If I vere you, Herr Colonel, I would leave as vell."
The two dictators ran out of the sewer system and managed to hide out in the town just as the gas began to flood the vents.
Screams could be heard inside as guards and servants dropped like flies, succumbing to the gas' effect. First, it was coughing and bleeding in the eyes; and, after about a minute of inhalation, total and sudden shut down of the central nervous system and the brain. It was a rather potent weapon and, truthfully, horrifyingly effective.
Within a few minutes, the gas had dissipated, killing everyone in the palace. People were running in the streets, and the palace guards that were stationed outside were running in massive confusion.
Red Skull and Colonel Rajak slipped inside the palace, and the two marveled at the destruction. Rajak smiled,
"You did it."
Red Skull smirked,
"Of course I vould, colonel. Now, to business. I know about my nemesis Captain America is here, and I vant him eliminated."
Rajak snarled; he was deeply devoted against the American government and the people,
"I agree. How do you propose we do that?"
Red Skull shook his head,
"Easily taken care of. You be the face of this nation, and give me the scientists I need to help create a super-powered team to not only eliminate the Captain America, but also the Justice League as vell."
Rajak could not pass up an opportunity like this,
"Sir, you have a deal."
The two shook hands and one could not help but wonder what sort of malicious machinations the Red Skull has planned…
Next Chapter:
Green Arrow and Black Canary are out on the town when the serial killer Onomatopoeia strikes at them. Stay tuned, fellow readers!