* DISCLAIMER * This is a non-profit work of fan-fiction involving characters created and owned by Marvel Comics Group. This story contains plenty of very very EXPLICIT VIOLENCE, gratuitious action without any plot whatsoever and some RELIGIOUS THEMES. If any of these bother you, please do not read the story. * WRITTEN BY * Samy Merchi * ARCHIVED AT * http://mash.yok.utu.fi/corona.html * STARRING * SAMUEL ZACHERY GUTHRIE and THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF APOCALYPSE in ******* * WAR * ******* * CONTINUITY * This story takes place * in my Shadows of the Future timeline http://mash.yok.utu.fi/corona/sotf.html * in year 16 (three years in the future) * in September, the summer's starting to be over * about two months after APOCALYPSO *** **************** * CHAPTER FIVE * **************** *** THRAKAMM! An Asgardian hammer whipcracked across the Horseman Death's face without mercy. Thor snarled with burning eyes as he swung Mjolnir around and delivered another blow before Death could even blink. And another. And another. And another. "NEVER", Thor shouted as he administered one blow after another, each one stronger than the one before, "has the son of Odin been treated with such disrespect! Thou art most powerful warriors, but what glory be power when wielded in a manner to bring dishonor! Even mine own half-brother, Loki, the trickster god hath a thousandfold your honor! I HAVE SEEN *ENOW*!" he yelled, the vicious pounding echoing like the sounds of smithing for dozens of blocks away. THROOM! THROOM! THROOM! THROOM! THROOM! "NEVER shall thee or thine ilk feel victory as long as there be life in the God of Thunder! Thinkst thou that thou canst remake the world in thine vile image?" Thor shouted as his hammer swung back one more time, half-coated in brown-red blood, spatters of the liquid arcing into the air from the weapon. "Thou hast murdered countless innocents this day, and for their valiant spirits, in the name of the *Avengers*", he snarled, Mjolnir again streaking forward thru the air, "I. SAY. THEE --" BWAKOOM! "-- *NAY*!" Thor shouted ferociously as his final blow sent Death's limp body into the air, rocketing towards the dark clouds gathered to witness the thunder god's fury. *** "YEAAARRRR!" Pestilence shouted as he charged straight towards Captain Marvel, sharp blades protruding from the sides of his wrists. "Uh-oh", Captain Marvel swallowed, standing on the sidewalk strewn with debris, desperately trying to summon the willpower to make the cosmic nega-bands on his wrists work. But nothing was forthcoming. Not even the smallest glitter of energy. "Hala!" he shouted, dodging to the side, the wrist-blade missing him by less than an inch. "You're helpless without the power of your nega-bands, Captain Marvel", Famine smirked, golden glitters dancing around his body as he spread his arms wide, rising into the air. "Since you destroyed one of our mounts, it seems only fair that I compensate by using your power to leave this area." "If you can still draw power from him when I've gutted him", Pestilence snarled as he swung his arm around, missing Captain Marvel again as the Avenger ducked underneath the slash. Nonetheless, the attack chopped thru a bent lamppost and sent the metal pillar crashing to the sidewalk with a clang. "This is not good", Captain Marvel frowned as he felt his muscles growing steadily weaker as if he was still being leeched even though his powers were already well gone. "I hate this", he gritted his teeth, "but..." Grimacing, he called out, "HELLPP!" THWAMM! A helicopter crashed onto Pestilence, falling from the sky like an anvil or a safe in a cartoon. Justice hovered down from the sky, the crew of the helicopter floating in the air around him, wrapped up in his telekinetic force as he ferried them down to the ground. "Didn't you learn from our last encounter, Justice?" Famine smiled, raising an arm. "You should've run while you could have. This stupidity is rather admirable, but it won't make you any less dead", he said as a bright photonic blast lanced out from his arm towards Justice. "Argh!" Justice cried out, raising telekinetic shields in front of him just in time to prevent himself from being pulped, but despite the protection, he was slammed backwards by the blast for several dozen feet until he crashed to the asphalt, coughing blood and wheezing breathlessly. "Get...out of here..." he gasped out towards the helicopter crew he had set down. "By all means", Famine laughed, and nodded graciously to the crew who were backing away hesitantly. "Go ahead and leave. We have done enough today, I suppose." The crew immediately turned tail and ran away, leaving behind the reporter who was staring at Famine wide-eyed. She cleared her throat slightly and nervously loosened her collar. "Uhm..." she started and winced slightly as if preparing to get annihilated. "Can I get an interview?" BWHOOM! "NO!" Justice shouted as he saw the street explode, a fireball swallowing up the screams of the two crew members who had turned tail. "No..." he wept amidst bloody coughs, tears drenching his cheeks as he looked up to see War soaring down, swooping over his latest carnage before landing between Famine and the reporter. The blast field rumbled around him, mimicking the displeasure on his face as he studied the woman intently. "Name", War snapped. "What?" the reporter blinked, sweatbeads forming on her forehead as she gaped at the Horseman. "I, uh -- W-- Wei, Linda Wei...News At Six..." "You didn't run", War narrowed his eyes, and held a long pause, causing Linda to fidget nervously. Finally, he spoke again. "You believe. You're one o' the strong. Tell the world", he commanded. "Tell the world that th' Lord's comin', and that the end's nigh. Those who believe -- will live again in a new world with no death an' destruction." "'And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God", War recited with a serious expression. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.' Revelation 21:3-5." BWAKOOM! War's head snapped towards the sound, to see Death rocketing towards the sky from Thor's final blow. His lips drew back in a hiss as he watched the Avenger. Then, as Thor's eyes turned towards him, the rumbling of his blast field grew louder. "Leave", he spoke to Linda without looking over to her. "If you don't, Ah cain't guarantee your safety." "You worry about the people far too much, Guthrie", Famine smirked, watching the reporter scramble away, before he glanced towards Thor. "Crule is gone. Are we leaving?" "Yes", War answered as he raised his chin, meeting Thor's glare across the devastated street. "Get Pestilence an' leave. Ah'll be right behind y'all after Ah mop up." Famine snapped his fingers and his mount leaped into the air, soaring to the sky. Then, he landed beside the helicopter wreck, and glittering energy glowing about him, he wrenched the pile of metal up and tossed it away, revealing the unmoving Pestilence underneath. "Up we go", Famine said, yanking Pestilence up and tossing the unconscious Horseman over his shoulder. Then, he leaped up and started soaring upwards, leaving a trail of glowing glitteries behind him. Until the trail started dimming and his speed started dying down. "What --?" he blinked. "It's *working*!" Captain Marvel growled in anticipation as his nega-bands started glowing, the energies returning to him. "I know it, keep it up! We can't let them get away!" "You've got it, Captain Marvel!" Synch shouted, a rainbow-colored aura swaying around him as he gritted his teeth. "By duplicating his power-absorption abilities, I can absorb his absorption power and stop him from affecting you!" "And that's enough for me!" Captain Marvel yelled as he soared into the air and cast a photonic blast straight at the pair of Horsemen trying to get away. "Agh!" Famine cried out as the blast hit him squarely, and sent him falling downwards. The power he had stolen from Captain Marvel almost gone, he was unable to stop his fall in time, and crashed to the asphalt with Pestilence. "And now..." a voice crackled as a figure towered over the fallen Horsemen. Black leather fists grabbed the front of Famine's costume and yanked him up, to stare right into a flaming skull visage. "You will feel the pain of my *penance stare*!" Ghost Rider hissed. Famine jerked once as his eyes opened wide, and then just went blank, staring catatonically straight into the dark, hollow eyesockets of Ghost Rider's skull as his body fell limp. *** "Ah'll destroy you, false god", War claimed, standing in the middle of the torn-open street and glaring angrily at Thor. "Thor shall not fall to the likes of thee, villain", Thor growled as he faced off with the last Horseman, spinning his hammer fast enough to make the air around it crackle and burn with magical energies. SKREEEEEE "ARRRGH!" War cried out as an ear-splitting scream tore at him. He stumbled backwards as if struck, his blast field going down as he was unable to maintain concentration. Thor hesitated striking at a disadvantaged enemy. The Black Panther did not. He dashed forward from the revived Songbird's side as she continued her sonic scream, flicking his energy dagger out from his glove. Swinging his arm back, then forward, he flung the dagger thru the air towards War, a crackling electric blue energy trail left behind by the dagger. BUH-WHOOM! The dagger was incinerated by the explosion that erupted outwards from War and tore up the streets, throwing debris here and there. As the blast abated, a deathly silence reigned for a few moments. Songbird was no longer singing. Dust settled. War had a furious expression as he stood in the middle of the street, once again ensheathed inside his blast field. He snapped something, his mouth moving, but nothing was heard thru his silent blast field. "Sonic insulation", Songbird stated, her eyes narrowing as she wiped blood from her face. "The bastard managed to find a way to block out sound. I can't touch him if he keeps that up." The Black Panther nodded in silence, and then glanced around the battleground, noting Synch, Captain Marvel, Thor, She-Hulk and Ghost Rider still up. His golden glowing eyes narrowed thoughtfully a moment. "Synch", he spoke. "Synch to Justice, get him and Spider-Man to hospital instantly." "Will do!" Synch replied, his rainbow aura swaying around him as he duplicated Justice's powers again, and then a shimmering rainbow-colored telekinetic aura wrapped around Justice and Spider-Man's unconscious forms. "Be careful!" Synch said as he rose into the air, the two injured forms hovering up in his wake. "ARRRRGH!" War suddenly shouted as his blast field fell and he clutched his head in seeming agony. He spasmed wildly, jerking in pain and stumbling backwards as he gritted his teeth. "Songbird", the Black Panther spoke softly. "IT'S PAYBACK TIME, YOU TWISTED SON OF A BITCH!" Songbird yelled as she formed a shimmering pink solid-sound boxing glove, and sent it streaking thru the air straight at the screaming War. "WHUNGH!" War gasped, a spatter of blood arcing from his mouth as the boxing glove smashed off his golden faceplate, knocked him back, and sent him arcing thru the air for a good dozen feet before he crashed onto his back, and didn't move. "Nice shot", She-Hulk smiled approvingly to Songbird. "Captain Marvel, Thor", the Black Panther said, "Retrieve Death before he regains consciousness." "Sure thing", Captain Marvel nodded. "He'll land about a minute from now in Pennsylvania..." "Aye, Black Panther", Thor nodded, removing his tattered cape and holding it out to She-Hulk. "After I have assisted fair She-Hulk in cloaking herself." "Thanks, Thor", She-Hulk nodded, taking the cape and wrapping it around her body to cover herself up. "What happened, anyway?" she asked as Thor and Captain Marvel took to the air.. "One moment he was inside his field, and then he just --" The Black Panther crouched beside the fallen War, and something buzzed out of the Horseman's ear, growing to full human-size the next second and landing on the sidewalk. "The Wasp followed my orders", the Panther answered. "Jan!" She-Hulk grinned and went over to hug the brunette. "I should've known. Need any man to fall, just send you in..." "Ow!" the Wasp smiled as she was squeezed. "Watch it, Jen, my head's still rattling from that finishing whack someone gave." "Sorry, Jan", Songbird said as she moved to stand beside the Black Panther. "I didn't realize you were there until too late..." She stared at the unconscious Samuel Guthrie for a few moments, and then kicked him in the side. "That was for Jim Smith." Hmphing indignantly, she grabbed the front of War's shirt, yanking the limp body up and inspecting him with a wrinkled nose. "Horseman my *ass*. You don't even have a *horse*. You *suck*. That's *Mimi* 3:16, and you can *quote* me on that." The heroes' eyes widened as War's head gave a sudden jerk and a small spray of blood erupted from a spot just above the eyes. "What --?" Songbird gaped at the red hole just a bit to the left from the middle of the forehead, before a sound echoed in the battlefield. KA-RAKK "Supersonic bullet", the Black Panther's eyes scanned the nearest rooftops a few blocks away. "They echo in a way to make pinpointing the direction impossible. His eyes moved to other rooftops, trying to make out any movement. "A sniper who obviously wanted War. Songbird, Ghost Rider, you are the fastest." "Understood", Ghost Rider answered, fastening his chain back to his leather jacket before moving onto his motorcycle. The supernatural engine roared loudly for a few fractions of a second before the vehicle took off, the wheels of flame leaving behind a fire trail as the motorcycle zoomed off towards the nearest group of still standing buildings. "Songbird?" the Black Panther asked. "He just...just..." Songbird stared at the dead man she was holding, then swallowed, and let him fall to the ground, shuddering and taking a step back from him. "Just like that --" she gasped. *** On one of the nearby rooftops, a figure stood up, picking up the sniper rifle and its stand. Ghost Rider would arrive several seconds too late as the figure headed into a stairwell, the white skull design on the front torso of his black uniform showing as he stated grimly, "Justice is served." *** "The Horsemen!" Wasp shouted, pointing a finger at the three villains. "They're vanishing!" Songbird gasped as the Horsemen glowed brightly for a moment, and then faded out quickly. "Teleportation!" the Black Panther hissed, for the first time an edge of frustration in his voice. "Damn!" She-Hulk groaned as the unmoving Horsemen winked out of existence, leaving no traces behind but their trashed mounts littering the demolished streets. "After all we did --!" "They're gone", Wasp grimaced, pinching the bridge of her nose as her shoulders shook with an angry sigh. The four Avengers stood silently in the middle of the devastation for a moment, restraining just about all the curses they had, until a voice broke in. "Excuse me", someone cleared their throat and the Avengers turned towards the sound to see a man in a business suit, holding a clipboard and pen. "Damage Control. We're here to fix up this mess. Who should we send the bill to?" he asked as the police, ambulance and fireman crews started gradually trickling into the area, sealing it off, tending to the injured, bringing out a lot of bodybags, and putting out small remnant fires. "Oh, don't worry", Wasp gave a halfhearted smile. "Tony Stark will take care of all the --" "HEY!" She-Hulk shouted at Wasp, and waved her arm at the surroundings, what used to be Hell's Kitchen all but levelled for a good half mile in every direction. "You've GOT to be KIDDING!" Wasp looked around, and then cleared her throat. "Ahem. Nevermind..." *** "Rise, my Horsemen", the large, looming, shadowed figure of En Sabah Nur -- the Apocalypse -- beckoned from one side of the large windowless chamber filled with the humming of the technology everywhere in it. "What happened...?" Crule groaned, holding his head as he slowly sat up on one of the four padded platforms set out in an X-shape, followed a few moments later by Absalom and Gideon, seeming in even worse a shape. But at least they moved. Samuel, on the remaining bed-platform, did not. "You were defeated", Apocalypse said matter-of-factly as he walked calmly across the room, over to Samuel. "But no matter. You performed splendidly before that. Nonetheless, let this serve as a reminder that there are always people stronger and more cunning than you out there." "Yes, lord Apocalypse..." Gideon replied slowly, seeming a bit distant and preoccupied, his eyes watching Apocalypse's back, narrowed a bit in thought. "In any case", Apocalypse continued as he let his eyes lie on Samuel, studying the young man and the hole on his forehead, "my plans are proceeding as expected. The world will not soon forget this day. Through adversity, humanity will be forced to become stronger. We will strike again next month. In the meantime --" he said, glancing over to Absalom. "You infected Captain Marvel, Pestilence?" "Yes, lord Apocalypse..." Absalom nodded with a faintly reluctant frown, as if displeased with something. "The Avenger", he spat the word out like a curse, "is now infected with the Legacy virus." "Assuming the virus can attack his alien metabolism", Apocalypse pointed out neutrally. "I will keep the Avenger under observation. The virus' ultimate fate should prove fascinating and may provide us with information to use it as a weapon to defend humanity against alien races." "I prefer blood on my hands to an insidious disease", Crule snarled. "There is no pleasure in not rending your foes in two. Which I will do to you, Absalom, if you do not cure me of the virus", he hissed, glaring at Pestilence. "Don't threaten me, Crule", Absalom narrowed his eyes threateningly at the purple Horseman. "Silence", Apocalypse broke in and raised a hand, holding the index and middle fingers straightened out upwards. "War has been injured more gravely than any of you", he said, and the fingers started growing longer, narrowing into sharp points at the tips, and stopped when they were double the length of normal fingers. "But no External can be slain unless their five branches are severed. Neither can their brains heal with an object lodged inside." With that, Apocalypse thrust his razor-sharp fingers thru the hole in Samuel's head into the blond's brain. A moment passed. Then, he pulled his fingers back, a little metal slug between them, blood dripping from it and his long digits. He let the bullet fall down, and it made a metallic ring against the steel floor. The Horsemen's eyes widened slightly at the quick and dirty approach, but none of them made a sound. "Pestilence", Apocalypse commanded. "Take War to the regeneration pods. Death, we will now attend to your infection. Famine, you are dismissed." He walked out a doorway. Crule slowly pulled himself to his feet and lumbered after Apocalypse. A few moments later, they were gone. "Hrnh", Absalom grunted, and hoisted Samuel over his shoulder, heading out thru another doorway. Making his way down several passages, he arrived at a chamber with a series of four human-sized vertical pods on the far wall. Pushing a button with his free hand, one of the pods swung open, and he shoved Samuel inside, then closed the lid over the Horsemen's leader. Studying the younger man with a glare for a few moments, his finger hovered over the control buttons at the side of the pod. Finally, he pushed one of the buttons, and with a beep of acknowledgement, a green light came on above the pod. Absalom turned around and walked out. Silence persisted for several long minutes. Then, Gideon's ponytailed form stood in the doorway to the chamber. With a thoughtful, contemplating gaze, he watched the pod in which Samuel lay. Slowly, a grin took form on his lips. Whirling around, he headed out, leaving the chamber silent once more. A few more minutes passed. Then, Samuel's eyes snapped open. **********************************************************************