Infinity Crisis: B.A.D. Girls
Disclaimer: All characters belong to their owners. This is purely for fun.
Miami, Florida, Earth-199999
Miami, much like many other major cities in the United States of Earth-199999, was not unfamiliar with the concept of superheroes and supervillains. And one supervillain was showing why one of Miami's nicknames was "Vice City".
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!" A white-haired Latino man roared. He was wearing a red sleeveless military-style jacket with white flames on it, and silver epaulets. His outfit was completed by a pair of red leather pants with white flames on the sides, and white boots. His hands were coated in what looked like white flames. Civilians ran for their lives as he blasted a car with white flames and it went up in a ball of fire. "I AM YOUR NEW PROPHET! YOU WILL ALL BOW BEFORE YOUR NEW GOD!" He cackled madly before a certain round vibranium round shield bounced off his head. "HEY!" He rubbed the spot the shield hit. "WHO DID THAT?! WHO DARES DO THAT?!"
"I did." The shield's owner said as it returned to him. It was a handsome blond muscular man wearing a certain red, white, and blue costume.
Captain America. Real Name: Steven Grant Rogers. Birthplace: Brooklyn, NYC, NY. Physiology: Human Mutate (Enhanced by Erskine Super-Soldier Serum). Affiliations: Avengers (Currently), Invaders (Formerly). Powers and Abilities: No innate superpowers. Physiology enhanced to peak human levels. Skilled hand-to-hand combatant, experience in commanding teams of superhumans.
Leaping up next to the legendary super-soldier was a blue-furred man with a simian-like body, including oversized hands and feet with claw-tipped fingers and toes. He wore black trunks with a gold utility belt. The belt had a buckle bearing the Avengers' "A" logo. He also wore a futuristic brown backpack on his back.
Beast. Real Name: Dr. Henry Phillip McCoy. Birthplace: Dundee, Illinois. Physiology: Mutant Human. Affiliations: X-Men, Avengers. Powers and Abilities: Superhuman senses, strength, dexterity, flexibility, coordination, speed, balance, and endurance. Mastery of various scientific disciplines, as well as Shakespeare.
"Well, I'll be superamalgamated." Beast noted in amusement. "This gentleman is a new one."
"He's one of ours." A Greek-American young man, around early-20s in age, remarked as he landed next to the two Avengers. His slim athletic frame was covered in a corona of flame, reminding Steve of his old friend Jim Hammond, aka the Original Human Torch...or his successor, Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four. He wore a black costume with a red utility belt. His costume also had red gloves and boots. On his chest was an emblem of a red, orange, and yellow sunburst. On his head was a red helmet with mirrored lenses.
Helios. Birthname: Harrison "Harry" Sampras. Birthplace: Miami, FL. Physiology: Mutant Human. Powers and abilities: Flight, Pyrokinesis. Skilled hand-to-hand combatant.
"Indeed. He's a bit of an...odd one." A young Cuban-American woman said in agreement. She wore a black domino mask with neon blue and pink highlights. She wore a black costume with what looked like asleeveless neon blue and pink gi top over it, held closed by a black utility belt. Down the sides of the legs and the arms were neon blue and neon pink piping. Her hands and feet were covered by neon blue and pink gloves and boots.
Lady Neon. Real Name: Lisa Loureda. Birthplace: Miami, FL. Affiliations: None. Physiology: Inhuman. Powers and abilities: Skilled hand-to-hand combatant. Can create constructs out of neon-colored hard light. Can fire energy blasts that are neon pink in color, as well as create neon blue force shields.
Helios and Lady Neon were two of Miami's local superheroes. They had been helping Captain America and Beast deal with a superpowered menace to the 305.
"Any useful information?" Cap asked the two locals.
"His real name is Stefan Escobar, but he's also known as Snowflame." Helios explained.
"We don't know how he got his powers exactly, but he's a powerhouse." Lady Neon added. "Super strength, speed, durable as hell, and pyrokinesis."
"His powers get stronger when he does cocaine." Helios said. Cap and Beast looked at him in a wide-eyed manner. "Yeah, we also find it insane."
Lady Neon giggled. "You rhymed there, buddy."
"Heh." Helios smirked.
"HEY! I'M RIGHT HERE!" Snowflame waved as away to call attention to himself. He pointed at Steve. "I wanna beat your blue sissy ass, Rogers! You think you and your little Avenger buddies can take me on?! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!"
Steve sighed. "Why does everyone want to pick a fight with me?"
"You're kind of a legend, Rogers." Lady Neon explained. "A lot of criminals think they can get made if they can beat you." Hank chuckled at that.
"The price of popularity, my friend." Hank quipped. Snowflame fired gouts of white flame at the quartet. Lady Neon created a neon blue-colored energy shield to block them.
"Helios! Lady Neon! Flank and distract him!" Cap ordered. "Beast and I will charge him!"
"Right, Cap." Helios nodded.
"Got it, Cap!" Lady Neon grinned. The two heroes moved (Neon ran, Helios flew) to Snowflame's sides.
"Hit him!" Helios yelled. He fired blasts of flame at the hard drug-powered supervillain. Lady Neon fired her own barrage of neon pink-colored energy blasts. Snowflame
"I'm gonna be a made man! Handing two Avengers their asses?! That'll be a great way to show the glory of my Lord! COCAINE IS MY GAWD, AND I AM ITS HYPERSEXUAL PROPHET!" Snowflame cackled.
"Hank, get the tranq gun." Steve ordered. Hank reached into his backpack. However, the four heroes noticed a pair of what looked like small diamonds roll in front of the supervillain. "What?"
"Flashbang diamonds!" A woman yelled. The four heroes gasped at each other and ducked, covering their ears and eyes.
BOOM!
The diamonds erupted into a flash of light, making Snowflame scream and cover his eyes.
"AAAAAAAGH MY EYES!" Snowflame roared in rage and pain. "MY EYES! MY BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL EYYYYES! WHO DARES DO THIS TO SNOWFLAME?! SNOWFLAME WILL RAIN HIS WRATH DOWN ON YOU ALL! IN THE NAME OF..." He blinked and suddenly saw a large hill of shining white powder. "COCAAAAAAAAAAINE!" The supervillain howled in ecstasy, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and producing a small waterfall of drool. The four heroes could have sworn that his eyes turned into big pink hearts like he was a cartoon character. The white-haired madman ran towards the pile of cocaine. At least, he thought it was.
"Oh god, he's going to..." Helios winced. The drug-head leaped at the pile of cocaine...
WHAM!
Only to end up metaphorically kissing a metal traffic light pole. Lady Neon burst out laughing.
"This is hilarious!" She laughed.
"Oogh...Whotouchmuhbutt..." Snowflame mumbled as he stumbled around and held his head. What looked like black-colored energy bands with purple coronas wrapped themselves around him. "HEY! WHO DARES?!"
"Do you..." Cap looked at Miami's locals.
"No idea." Helios said.
"Nobody I've met." Lady Neon added. Finally, Snowflame was hit by what looked like a blast of yellow lightning that itself had a sickly-green corona. The bands dissipated, and Snowflame fell to the ground. The lightning ran up and down his body, and the white-haired villain twitched and convulsed.
"Beast, you may want to-!" Cap started.
"Indeed, my friend!" Hank hopped over to the villain, pulling out a tricorder-like scanning device from his backpack. He used it to scan Snowflame.
"He will be alright." A new voice piped up, this one female and having a slight accent. "His voluntary nervous system is just temporarily scrambled." Three new figures walked up to the four heroes. The three of them were all rather beautiful women.
The first woman was Caucasian, with pink hair in a wild bob. Over her eyes was a pink domino mask in the shape of a pair of diamonds, decorated with black diamonds. She wore a predominantly pink costume with a high collar. The costume's collar was black with white diamonds on the side, and had a big black diamond over the waist area. The costume had black boots and gloves. Around her waist was a belt with various diamonds on it.
The second was Egyptian, whose toned physique indicated she was a dancer. On her head was a green tiara with a snake's head on the front. She wore a black bodysuit. Over it was a white sleeveless cheongsam-like dress with a pair of stylized green snakes on it. Her costume also had long white opera gloves and thigh-high white flat-soled boots. Her long dark hair was in a braid.
The third was Latina, with a curvy frame. On her head was a gunmetal gray helmet patterned after the top half of a snake's head. Her costume was gunmetal gray, with what looked like a black swimsuit-like leotard over it, green gloves and boots, and a matching utility belt. Her costume had a window on the front, showing some of her generous cleavage.
"I take it you three are responsible for this?" Hank asked the three women.
"Indeed, we are." The Egyptian woman confirmed with a nod.
"There's a bounty on this guy, and we're here to collect it." The pink-haired woman said.
"Wait, you're bounty hunters?" Helios asked in shock.
"That we are." The Latina woman pulled a card out of her cleavage, making the pink-haired woman facepalm.
"Do you have to do that, Mamba?" She asked as the Latina woman handed Hank the business card. The blue-furred mutant looked at it.
B.A.D. Girls, Incorporated
Superhuman Bounty Hunters
"...B.A.D. Girls?" Hank noted.
"It was her idea." The pink-haired woman nodded. "I'm Diamondback." She jerked her thumb at the Latina woman. "That's Black Mamba..." She pointed at the Egyptian woman. "And this is the Asp. Get it? Black Mamba, Asp, and Diamondback. B. A. D."
"Makes as much sense as anything else today." Steve sighed.
"Are you three legit?!" Lady Neon asked. "In Florida, you have to have a license from the FDFS!" (Author's Note: Florida Department of Financial Services)
"We have this." Asp produced a license from a pocket in her costume. Captain America accepted it and looked it over.
"Hmmm..." Cap frowned at the card. "This does seem legitimate." Lady Neon looked at the card.
"Yup, it's federal." She nodded. "Department of Superhuman Affairs."
"Ah, government bureaucracy." Hank smiled.
"I take it that Snowflame has quite a large bounty on him." Helios noted as Diamondback put some specialized cuffs on the supervillain and helped Miami's Code:Blue SWAT team load him into their truck.
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!" Snowflame yelled as he was loaded into the truck. "I WILL SMACK YOU ALL WITH MY GIGANTIC NU-!" He was cut off by the door slamming shut.
"Oh, yeah." Mamba grinned. "Lots of zeroes."
"It will be a good way of building our group's reputation." Asp added with a nod.
"Weren't you three imprisoned with the rest of the Serpent Society?" Hank asked.
"We got out early." Mamba explained. "We were very good girls." She looked the mutant scientist/adventurer over and smirked wickedly. "Although I wouldn't mind getting very bad with you." Diamondback facepalmed.
"I don't blame her." Asp smiled. "He is quite good-looking."
"Sam has asked me how you do that." Steve noted to Hank with a chuckle.
"Popular with the ladies, isn't he?" An amused Helios smiled.
"Don't blame them." Lady Neon giggled as she watched Beast talk to Black Mamba and Asp. "He is quite handsome. He also looks so fluffy." She noticed Diamondback staring at Steve. "You okay, pinky?"
"Sorry, it's just...I'm a bit of a fan of his." Diamondback explained.
"That's not unusual." Helios said. He turned to Steve. "You are a very inspirational sort. We ought to tell you about the Captains Network sometime."
"The...what?" Steve blinked. Black Mamba noticed Diamondback staring at Steve.
"Hey, Shield-man! Diamond here has a big ol' crush on you!"
Diamondback's face erupted into a massive blush and her eyes widened.
"Shut up, Mamba!" Diamondback hissed, punching Black Mamba's arm.
Avengers Tower, that night
The clicking of keys could be heard as Hank McCoy typed commands into the computer. The electronic door hissed as it opened up. Steve Rogers walked in, holding a tray with a couple cups of coffee. Hank turned around and smiled.
"Ah, coffee. The nectar of the busy." Hank took a cup and sipped from it.
"Coffee doesn't do much for me myself." Steve noted, sipping his own cup.
"Ah, because of the serum making your metabolism much more efficient." Hank remembered.
"Yeah." Steve snickered. "It annoys Tony to no end. Mainly because he wants to see what I'm like drunk. What are you looking into?"
"Those three super-bounty hunters we met earlier today." Hank answered.
"What have you found about these...B.A.D. Girls? God, what a name." Steve chuckled, sipping his coffee. "I mean, we know they were in the Serpent Society, and they were let out for good behavior."
"Yes, said Society fought that group sometime back. The Thunderbolts, I believe they were called." Hank recalled.
"Yeah." Steve nodded. He noticed a magazine cover on it. Steve picked it up and looked at the cover, showing the eponymous group. "Something about that bunch seems...off to me. I can't figure out why..."
"Indeed. Well, since then, these three have decided to 'go legit' in a way." Hank said. He pulled up the B.A.D. Girls' website. "Superhuman bounty hunters, like in their business card." He punched up a photo of the Asp. "The Asp was born in Tanta, Egypt, her birth name is Naima Rizk." Hank introduced. "Her family emigrated to the United States when she was nine years old. Not much has been revealed about her, but she was known to have worked as an exotic dancer in Las Vegas under the name 'Cleopatra Nefertiti'."
"Wait...Cleopatra Nefertiti?!" Steve resisted the urge to burst out laughing.
Hank shrugged. "Indeed. There was an incident related to her, though."
"What kind of incident?" Steve asked.
Hank punched up another newspaper article. "When she was 17, she attended a dance at her high school. Evidently, according to witnesses, her body started erupting with those energy bolts we saw her use on Snowflame."
"She's a mutant. That must have been her powers manifesting." Steve realized.
"Indeed." Hank nodded. "A shame that the X-Men weren't around then. I can imagine that "
"Well, that is is past." Steve said. "What about the other two?"
"The second is Diamondback." Hank punched up a photo of her. "Real name Rachel Leighton. She was Texan by birth, but grew up in New York City. Former mercenary, she is the only one of the B.A.D. Girls without any superpowers. Instead, she uses her 'Trick Diamonds', false diamonds with various gimmicks. For example, the flashbang diamonds we witnessed earlier today."
"And evidently, she's a fan of mine." Steve added.
"Well, that's not surprising. You are quite famous, after all."
"I didn't put on this uniform for the fame." Steve said.
"To be fair Steven, your exploits both in the modern day and during World War II, would cause you to become a public figure."
"Fair enough." Steve nodded. "What about the last one. The Black Mamba?"
Hank punched up a photograph of her. "Tanya Sealy. Born in Chicago, Illinois. Former call girl under the name of 'Tanya Sweet'. You remember that 'Terrigen Crisis' back in 2015?"
"Yes, that whole outbreak of people's dormant Inhuman genes activating." Steve nodded.
"That's how she got her powers." Hank said. "Thanks to her Inhuman genetics, she has low-level telepathy, and can manipulate an extradimensional energy known as Darkforce." He smiled in amusement. "It's how she tricked Snowflame into seeing that massive pile of cocaine. She also has a rather unique physiological feature."
"What's that?"
"She has gills. She can breathe in both air and water." Hank noted.
Steve blinked at that. "Wait, can actual black mambas do that?"
"I do not believe so, but I am not an ophiologist." Hank answered.
"A what?" Steve blinked.
"An ophiologist is someone who studies snakes." Hank explained. Steve nodded with an "Ah". Sam Wilson then walked into the room, sipping a cup of coffee. "Ah, Mr. Wilson. Always a delight."
"How you doing, Sam?" Steve asked.
"Fine, thanks." Sam said. "I was just looking into some sightings on the Lower East Side." He held out a tablet to his two fellow Avengers.
"Ah, those reports of that large red dinosaur." Hank recalled.
"Yup." Sam nodded. "Turns out that the LES has their own protector. A little genius girl calling herself 'Moon Girl'. And the dinosaur is real. Known as 'Devil Dinosaur'."
"Devil Dinosaur." Steve shook his head. "And I thought that the time that I fought a Frankenstein's Monster with the Invaders was insane."
"I'm amazed the Frankenstein family was real." Hank noted.
"Very real." Steve nodded.
"Is that family still a thing?" Sam asked.
"It is." Hank said. "I have corresponded with a Dr. Victoria Frankenstein in the past." He looked at his watch. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have a date." Hank smiled. The blue-furred simian-bodied mutant scientist hopped off to get dressed. Steve chuckled.
"The Beast got a date." Sam observed.
"Indeed he does." Steve said.
"Who's the lucky lady?" The former paratrooper asked. Steve just smiled at him. "...Steve?"
I think it'll be funny to see his reaction. The super-solder waved. "Come on, Sam." Victoria Frankenstein...I hope she won't be the headache Basil was during the war. And I'll also have to look into this "Captains Network" some time...
A short time later, Hank bounced down to see both Asp and Black Mamba waiting for him, with smiles on their faces. Asp was wearing a single-strap white dress with long white opera gloves. Mamba was wearing a black low-cut dress with slits at the sides.
"Forgive my delay, ladies." Hank apologized, kissing their hands. "I had trouble finding a tie that went with the suit."
"Heh." Tanya smirked. "I personally wish you'd go without the suit."
"Don't be crude, Tanya." Naima chided.
"What?" The Inhuman woman blinked. "You think the same thing, girl."
The Egyptian woman rolled her eyes, but her cheeks did redden slightly. "We are looking forward to this date, Dr. McCoy."
'I've found this wonderful place that serves excellent Italian food..." Hank said as he and the two ladies left the Tower. Steve and Sam watched this. Sam's jaw dropped.
"...how the hell does he do that?!" Sam exclaimed. Steve chuckled.
"I think it's the fur."
San Diego, California
A stunning redheaded woman, wearing a black leather jacket, matching pants, a red t-shirt, and black boots walked down an alley.
Natasha Romanoff sighed as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. She had been leaning on some old contacts of hers to find information on this "secret war" that her sister Yelena had alerted her to. (Author's Note: In Michael Weyer's Distant Cousins) She dialed Avengers Tower, using a special secure line that she, Steve, and Tony devised. So found, she had found very little, which she had to admit, was getting rather annoying.
"These people are good." She muttered. "The Red Room would be envying these..." She noticed what seemed to be purple mist flowing around her. "...the hell?" She looked around, and whipped out her Widow's Bite gauntlets.
"You do not need to activate your weapons, Natasha Romanoff." A seductive female voice stated. "I am not your enemy."
"Who?!" Natasha whipped her head around and saw a woman emerge from the mist. She was a tall curvaceous blonde. She was wearing a long-sleeved dark blue leotard with a long light purple cape. Her golden hair was long and straight, going over her left eye, the right surrounded by purple mascara. The leotard had a light purple spider over the stomach area. The outfit left her legs bare, and it was completed by a pair of knee-length purple boots.
"You have called yourself the Black Widow." The woman smiled in amusement. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Claire Voyant."
"Claire Voyant." Natasha repeated. "I would say that's ridiculous, but I've seen a lot of crazy stuff."
"I am aware of that." Claire's smile never left her face. "I am also aware of your quest, Natasha Romanoff."
"How..."
"This war you're investigating involves many wicked men. Some of them have offered their souls to my master in exchange for various things. Money, power, respect, fame, that kind of thing. And they have tried to escape their payment."
"So, you're Satan's debt collector." Natasha deduced.
"In a way. My master has been referred to by that name." Claire answered. "Some of these men are involved in your war." She smirked. "Joining forces would kill two birds with one stone. I collect their souls, you get information to help end it."
"And how will I know that this isn't some kind of Faustian pact?" Natasha asked.
"You will just have to trust me." Claire said. "I know you see your being an Avenger as a path to redemption. You have quite a few sins in your past."
"...yes." Natasha admitted.
Claire smiled. "You are not a target of my master, if that's any consolation. Even he is bound by rules. He cannot go after your soul if you do not offer it. And you never have. I am no threat to you, Natasha Romanoff." She held out her hand. "Come. We both have important missions. Might as well work together." Natasha took the blonde's hand...and the two Black Widows, Golden Age and Modern, vanished in purple smoke.
Rockwell, Maine, Earth-1957. October 1961.
It was a time of celebration in the town of Rockwell. Five years ago, a mysterious 50-foot-tall alien robot had crashed in the oceans near the town. The robot became known as the Iron Giant. The Giant had seemingly sacrificed itself to save the town from a nuclear bomb, but eventually was able to put itself back together. In the years since, Rockwell had embraced the Iron Giant as one of their own. Especially since the Iron Giant had helped protect the town from various other threats that had reared their ugly heads since.
The populace of the town had gathered in the square. Two of them were a redheaded woman and a dark-haired man. The woman wore a blue sweater with a brown vest over it and matching skirt. Her swelled belly revealed she was several months pregnant. The man wore a black sweater and jeans. His eyes were covered by sunglasses, and he had stubble.
"The crowd seems to get bigger every year." Annie Hughes-McCoppin noted, glancing around.
"Can't blame them." Dean McCoppin said. "Our big friend has brought a lot of attention to this part of the country. Heck, I just met some tourists from Japan. The guy is huge over there for some reason." He turned to his stepson. "How you doing, kiddo?" A now thirteen-year-old Hogarth Hughes looked up from his comic book.
"Doing alright, Dean." Hogarth said. "Can't believe things have changed so much in only five years."
"A lot can happen in that time." Another voice said. The blended family turned and saw a gray-haired man in a high-and-tight wearing a suit.
"General Rogard, sir!" Hogarth greeted, throwing up a salute. General Shannon Rogard chuckled.
"I appreciate it, son. But I ain't here in a military capacity today." He looked around at the crowd. He noted kiosks selling all sorts of food and souvenirs based on the Giant, including t-shirts and small action figures. "The big fella has become a bit of a gold mine for this place."
"Yes, he has." Annie agreed. "I swear, the crowds get bigger every year."
"It worries me a bit." Hogarth admitted. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I get it. The Iron Giant has been a boon for this town..." He looked around at the merchandise kiosks, and then up at the Giant in a worried manner. "I can't help but feel that we're exploiting him a bit." Dean and Annie looked at each other. It was understandable. Hogarth Hughes was the Iron Giant's first human friend. It made sense he'd be somewhat protective of the large alien robot.
"Speaking of the Giant, whatever happened to that jerk Mansley?" Dean asked.
Rogard shrugged. "Hell if I know. Last I heard, he vanished a couple years ago."
"What happened?" Annie asked.
"We're not sure." Rogard admitted. "We're keeping an eye out." Rogard couldn't help but feel that Mansley's vanishing would lead to something bad coming, but that train of thought was stopped by the mayor of Rockwell walking up to the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" The mayor said. "Five years ago, our town ended up being graced by a rather...unique citizen. This fellow ended up saving our little hamlet from nuclear destruction. Since then, he has helped put Rockwell on the map, and made it one of the premier visiting destinations of America. And when other threats have reared their heads, this brave metallic soul has stood as a protector. Every year on this day, we gather to give thanks to this fellow who has not just become regarded as the town mascot or protector, but as a beloved friend. Ladies and gentlemen!" The mayor smiled and waved at the air behind him. "THE IRON GIANT!"
Said giant robot gently landed on the ground behind the mayor. The crowd cheered. The Iron Giant smiled and waved at the crowd.
Location Unknown
A red-headed man with a square jaw stared at the screen. He watched the celebration, a scowl on his face. His eyes burned with fury.
"What're you watching?" A young woman's voice asked, with a French accent. Kent Mansley turned around and saw a blonde teenager blinking at him.
"Just keeping an eye on my old world." The former Bureau of Unexplained Phenomenon man answered the young Frenchwoman. Chloe Bourgeois nodded.
"Ah, the world with that...Iron Giant, yes?" The ex-Miraculous user recalled. Mansley nodded.
"Yes. That big metal monster ruined my life." He said. "I was a respected man. People saw me as an idol. I was the finest agent of the BUP." Chloe fought the urge to roll her eyes as Mansley continued to rant and rave. She never understood why Mansley was in the League of Skaro. The man was clearly a braggart and a blowhard. She also, understandably, thought he was a moron.
Maybe he is here to be cannon fodder. She thought. Only sensical explanation I can think of. After all, the Daleks do not do sympathy or mercy. I'm surprised they haven't blasted him yet. The blonde shook her head and walked away. Mansley didn't notice her do this, even after he finished his rant. He was too intent on watching the celebration of the Iron Giant. An evil smirk formed on his face.
That's right, you big metal bastard. I was right about you. I know exactly what you are. Where you're from, and what you were made for. And when I tell the world, I'll finally get to be seen as the hero... He looked at the teenaged Hogarth. And as for you, Hogarth Hughes... He held up a futuristic blaster. I'll get the pleasure of killing you myself. Perhaps I'll let you watch me save the world from your big metal friend and take out your stupid little traitor family before putting a laser blast between your eyes...no, that's too painless. I want you to die slowly, Hogarth Hughes. Slow and painful. I want you to experience all the pain and humiliation you put me through, you brat...
Illuminati Headquarters, Earth-030122
Madame Wu frowned at the man on the screen. Well, it was more like what the man told her that made her frown, not the man himself. The man on the screen was a handsome brunet, his complexion showing his Mexican-Irish heritage.
Spider-Man 2099. Real Name: Miguel O'Hara. Birthplace: Nueva York, Earth-199928. Physiology: Human mutate. Affiliations: Avengers 2099, Spider-Army. Powers and Abilities: Genius intellect, proportional powers of a spider thanks to DNA having spider-like characteristics. Enhanced hearing and sight, can organically generate webbing thanks to spinnerets in his wrists. Costume contains sensor web to act as an artificial "Spider-Sense".
"You really should move Morlun up on that list of yours." Miguel suggested.
"The only reason he is so low is because he and that wannabe-Dracula cosplayer family of his seem to only be interested in consuming Spider-Totems." Wu explained.
"And metaphorically, if they get them all, that won't stop beings like them." Miguel countered. "There are other animal totems out there as well. Who's to say that the Inheritors won't go after them next?"
"Fair enough." Madame Wu agreed with a nod. "We also have another problem."
"Oh por el amor de dios..." Miguel groaned. "What is it now?"
"The Daleks and the Cybermen." Wu said. "They've invaded and managed to conquer several universes."
"The Inheritors, the Daleks, the Cybermen, it's like somebody wants to put the Multiverse through the ringer."
Madame Wu smirked. "Thankfully, there is one thing in our favor." She showed Miguel some footage. It showed Daleks and Cybermen fighting it out on the streets of a ruined New York City. "This is from Earth-07111. The Daleks had conquered this Earth, and then the Cybermen showed up to do the same. And you can guess what happened next." (Author's Note: This is the Earth of the film Larry Crowne)
"That's not surprising." Miguel snorted. "Don't the Daleks and the Cybermen have a mutual hate-boner for one another?"
"Daleks hate everything that isn't like them." Madame Wu nodded. "We can expect that all these evil forces, unlike the forces of good, will have trouble maintaining any form of alliance. But that's not the bigger problem. Look at the footage." The Daleks and Cybermen were suddenly being brightly lit, like someone was shining a very powerful large light on them. Miguel then saw it.
A wall of white light passed through the ruined city, consuming everything it touched. The Cybermen attacked the wall. So did the Daleks...while still also attacking the Cybermen. The wall then consumed them as well, and the footage stopped.
"...the hell was that?!" Miguel exclaimed.
"Anti-matter." Wu explained. "Pure anti-matter. Something is sending a wall of anti-matter through the Multiverse. We know that many Earths have been destroyed. This..." She shook her head. "This is unlike anything we've seen before."
"You think that these threats may be related to it?"
"Based on this footage, and what little we know...I doubt it." Wu said. "The wall is indiscriminate. It destroys both hero and villain alike." A chill went down the old woman's spine. "We're going to have to contact the Council of Primes and the Summit of Statics. We can't ignore this."
New York City, Earth-X
Once upon a time, New York City was considered one of Earth's greatest cities. The City that Never Sleeps. Until the Nazis won World War II. The Big Apple was now nothing more than a memory. But despite this, there was still resistance. There still were those brave souls fighting to free the world.
A personnel carrier drove up to a ruined apartment building. Emerging from the passenger side was what looked like a white-furred anthropomorphic wolf man, clad in a sleeveless black uniform with a red Nazi armband over his right bicep.
"Are you sure the tip said they were here? We've been pranked before." The driver asked.
"No." Warwolf snarled. "It's real." He sniffed the air. "Yesss...that Jew stench. Yes, some of that filth is perverting this place." He looked up at the building as a group of black-uniformed men emerged from the back. "I'll go in first. Go in only if I order it." The wolfman carefully walked into the building. The men silently waited for what seemed like an eternity. Unseen by the men, an invisible figure crept towards the van. She pulled a bomb out of a satchel and placed it on the vehicle's rear axle.
"THERE IS ONE HERE!" They heard Warwolf roar. "HE-!" The men saw Warwolf fly out of the building...as if something threw him. The Nazi werewolf slammed into the vehicle head-first, his cranium smashing the windshield. The men pointed their guns at door. A figure smashed through the frame, sending brick, mortar, and wood everywhere.
This figure was a powerful burly being, seemingly made of orange rocks. The only indication this creature was human was its blue eyes...and the blue fatigues it wore.
"THE GOLEM!" One of the soldiers screamed.
Golem. Real Name: Benjamin Jacob Grimm. Birthplace: Lower East Side, New York City, Earth-6160. Physiology: Human Mutate. Affiliation: America Redeemers. Powers and Abilities: Can transform into a being with a rock-like hide. In this form, Grimm has superhuman strength, invulnerability, stamina.
"IT'S NAZI-CRUSHING TIME!" Ben growled, punching one rocky hand with another. "NOW!" He roared as he charged the men.
KABOOM!
The personnel carrier went up in an explosion, disorienting the men, and sending Warwolf's body flying across the street. This allowed Ben to easily tear into the soldiers. Some tried to fire at him, but their bullets only bounced off his rocky hide, not even scratching it. In the windows of the building, resistance fighters also started firing on the Nazi men. The invisible figure went into an alley, and became visible, revealing a beautiful blonde blue-eyed woman, wearing blue fatigues, and a beret.
Miss Invisible. Real Name: Susan Storm. Birthplace: Glenville, Long Island, New York, Earth-6160. Physiology: Human Mutate. Affiliation: American Resistance. Powers and Abilities: Invisibility, Force Field Generation.
Seemingly unseen by the blonde, a Nazi sniper pointed his rifle at her.
"Got you..." He growled when he got her head in his scope. To his surprise, he saw the woman was...smirking at him. "Huh?"
"Hey, buddy." A youthful male voice said, the source tapping the sniper's shoulder. "You know what the best kind of Nazi is?"
"What?" The sniper turned and saw a smirking blond man, wearing a red uniform. The chest bore an emblem of the Statue of Liberty's torch in yellow. The smirk still on his face, he pointed a fiery hand at the sniper.
"Barbecued." The man answered. The last thing the sniper saw was a gout of flame consuming him.
Liberty's Torch. Real Name: Jonathan Spencer Storm. Birthplace: Glenville, Long Island, New York, Earth-6160. Physiology: Human Mutate. Affiliation: American Resistance. Powers and Abilities: Can sheathe his body in fiery plasma. Pyrokinesis. Flight.
Johnny waved down at his sister.
"Johnny!" She called out. One soldier tried to aim his rifle at her, but Sue casually blocked his fire with a forcefield. She then sent an invisible spike into his throat. "Got more Nazis to fry!"
"On my way, sis! Flame on!" Johnny's body got sheathed in flame. The fiery man streaked in the sky over the Nazi soldiers, raining his element down on them. Between the superhuman assaults and the resistance members' bullets, the black-clad fascists easily fell. The three noticed Warwolf snarling as he got to his feet, his injures healing before their eyes. "Oh, good. The Nazis' little attack poodle."
"Gets uglier every time ya see him." Ben smirked.
"Don't you think you've won here." The wolfman snarled. "Our Aryan reign is supreme and eternal!"
Johnny scoffed. "Yeah, right." He looked around. "How the hell did you guys win here?"
"The Third Reich may have lasted longer here in this world than in ours, but it will fall." Sue said. "The American Resistance will see to that." Warwolf yelped as Ben grabbed him by the neck.
"Unhand me, ya filthy-" He wheezed out.
"Sure." Ben smirked. "You just make sure yer Nazi masters know what Suzie-Q just told ya." He chokeslammed the werewolf into the pavement. "Let's get out of here."
Later on, the three superhumans carefully made their way to the American Resistance's headquarters. Their HQ was located under the ruins of Grand Central Station. After getting some rest, the three walked into a common room. Ben had changed back into his human form: A burly redheaded man.
Standing in the common room was a man looking over some plans at a table. Well, sort of a man. He looked more like a living blob of clay.
Once, he was a man named Preston Payne. He crossed paths with the three Earth-6160 natives after they were dumped here on this Earth by the being known only as the Maker. The Maker didn't pick this Earth to place them on, he just metaphorically tossed them there at random as a way to ensure that the Fantastic Four would never exist on that Earth. Shortly after their arrival, the three astronauts were captured by the Nazis. Payne was a fellow prisoner, a doctor who led a cell of the American Resistance. The four were experimented on by the Nazis, causing them to gain their powers. Payne was turned into a living being of clay, granting him shapeshifting powers and the ability to burn and melt things with a touch. Like Ben, he could reassume a human form, but unlike the Golem, he could only do it for a couple hours at a time. As such, he took the name Clayface.
"What're you looking at there, Play-Doh?" Ben asked.
"The plans for the Manhattan camp." Preston answered.
"Your contact came through?" Sue asked.
"He always does." Preston nodded. "These plans have something new. I figured you all should see this."
"What?" Johnny blinked. Preston revealed one of the blueprint sheets. It was for a machine that looked like a large red metal ring with big lightbulbs on it. Sue frowned at it. Johnny scratched his head. "The hell is this thing, some new weapon?"
"Heh." Ben chuckled. "The only reason I can think of why anyone wants to make a ring that big is that they want to propose to Godzilla." The pilot joked. Preston looked at him in confusion.
"Who?" The shapeshifter asked.
"Ah, right. Godzilla don't exist here." Ben sighed.
"Makes sense." Sue nodded. "The US never dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki here. Those events helped inspire Godzilla." She looked at the plans. "This seems familiar..."
"I have a couple theories about what this is...and none of them good." Preston sighed. "I thought it may be a weapon at first, but..." He noticed that Sue's face had gone pale, and her blue eyes were wide, like she was terrified by something.
"My God..." She whispered in horror.
"What is it?" Ben asked, looking at the blueprints.
"This..." The blonde shook her head. "This is theoretical. At least it was. But..."
"Sis, tell us." Johnny said.
"...this is a dimensional transporter." Sue said.
"It's just as I feared." Preston sighed.
"Wait, as in parallel universes?" Johnny blinked.
"Why are you shocked by this, flamebrain?" Ben scowled. "We're from another universe."
"If they managed to build one of these things..." Sue mumbled.
"...these Hitler-licking bastards could invade other worlds." Ben realized, whispering the words in horror.
"Aw, hell..." Johnny groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Destroying this device is paramount." Preston agreed with a nod. "Luckily, I've been working on some plans for that..."
Dedicated to the memory of Mark Gruenwald, co-creator of the B.A.D. Girls.
After writing Local Heroes, I discovered that I really do like writing Steve and Hank as a duo. It was one of the inspirations for this story. That and my love of worldbuilding and using obscure/lesser-known characters. Helios and Lady Neon are original characters of my own creation. Lady Neon was inspired by NXT wrestler Lola Vice.
Snowflame first appeared in New Guardians #2 (October 1988), created by Steve Englehart, Cary Bates, and Joe Staton. I had him here because...yeah. Supervillain powered by cocaine. Every superhero universe should have one like this. For what it's worth, he has counterparts on Earths 1 and 51, too.
Asp and Diamondback first appeared in Captain America #310 (October 1985), created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary.
I gave the Asp the birth name of "Naima Rizk" as a nod to Egyptian actresses Naima Akef and Amina Rizk, who were both born in Tanta, just like the Asp herself. And yes, Cleopatra Nefertiti was her supposed birth name in the comics. I decided to make it a stage name here, because...yeah. Don't get me wrong, I friggin' love Mark Gruenwald's Cap stuff, but...yeah.
Black Mamba first appeared in Marvel Two-In-One #64 (June 1980), created by Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio.
Dr. Victoria Frankenstein first appeared in Frankenstein's Monster #18 (September 1975), created by Bill Mantlo, Val Mayerik, and Dan Adkins.
Claire Voyant, the Golden Age Black Widow, first appeared in Mystic Comics #4 (August 1940), created by George Kapitan and Harry Sahle.
The Council of Primes was mentioned in Movie-Brat's "The Council of Megatrons", and the Summit of Statics comes from Ben2Dartmouth's "Glimpses-Season 2". Reading those stories got me thinking about the various threats to the IC multiverse: The Daleks, the Cybermen, the Skrulls and the Timemasters, the Council of Luthors, the Anti-Monitor, etc. I ended up that realizing that all these threats would logically encounter each other at some point, and unlike the heroic multiversal influences like Movie-Brat's Illuminati or the previously mentioned Summit and Council and Miguel's Spider-Army, they likely would not get along too well. And with the Anti-Monitor destroying universes indiscriminately, well, there ya go.
The scene on Earth-X was inspired by Sentinel of Stories' "Chronicles of Earth X". I thought it would be fun to establish that instead of dying, the Ben Grimm and Storm siblings of Earth-6160 (The universe of the new Ultimate Universe Marvel has going) was just tossed onto a random Earth in the multiverse by the Maker to help ensure Earth-6160 never gets a Fantastic Four of their own. And as the Space Phantom pointed out in Kurt Busiek, Roger Stern, and Carlos Pacheco (RIP)'s Avengers Forever maxiseries: "Destiny does not like to be thwarted."
The Preston Payne Clayface first appeared in Detective Comics #478 (August 1978), created by Len Wein and Marshall Rogers.