Addendum to my IC post--went looking for a nice Mary Marvel image to include with a quick Google image search and holy wut now, the totes inapprops Mary Batson fan art.

Found myself saying, out loud, Joel Kinniman's line from the Suicide Squad trailers: "What's WRONG with you people?"

... i was curious. So many bottums!

Because I write fiction for a living, my search history teeters very close to looking like something from a cross between Criminal Minds and Billy Nye the Science Guy. I've got this running joke that I'm always the one who does the weird Google searches for my friends, because my internet Karma is already pretty much destroyed.

"Next, to this "Hulk" and his companions, bound together by war and conflict. You have nothing to fear from the Kree or her people. I want to personally apologize for my part in the recent conflict on Sakaar... I had assumed that you were aware of the fate of your child and his mother and did not mean to upset you with that revelation."

Cyborg repeats the transmission from Yon-Rogg - the relevant portion anyway - and it's mostly out of his mouth before he starts to realize what that might mean to the people aboard this ship - or at least one person in particular.

"His.... CHILD?!"

Yeah, Betty Ross isn't taking this well.

"You people drag me out here with the story that he's stuck in some kind of slave pit, and instead he's having the time of his life, cranking out bastards with some space-alien babymama!"

"Don't take it personal, Bett," Rick cautions. "Remember, he doesn't know you're alive."

"OBVIOUSLY!"

"And besides," Jen reminds her, "didn't you call him your EX-husband?"

"Bad move," Cho mutters to himself, knowing it's maybe not the best idea to further antagonize Betty right now. The fight that immediately ensues between the two She-Hulks is proof of that. Rick and Leonard immediately are drawn into it to try to separate them as the ruckus quickly moves away from Cyborg's navigator position.

Irons turns to Captain Comet. "What do you know about this Yon-Rogg?"

Comet rubs his chin. "Not a lot. Obviously full of himself, as is common with the Kree. This marriage to Queen Aga'po of the Zamarons seems a little odd, as the Kree are generally pretty insular, although that's likely also why they've hit an evolutionary dead end. Maybe some kind of alliance to help them wipe out their hated Skrull enemies."

"This Kree Empire," Cho interjects. "Ten planets strong. He said it was a record, although I don't know who'd be keeping that record book. That's pretty significantly strong, right?"

"Yeah," Cyborg responds. "What's your point?"

"The Hulk just made the leader of the biggest intergalactic empire ever personally and publicly apologize to him," Cho answers, with a grin that beams with pride. "That's my man!"

Cyborg laughs at that, but also shakes his head. "Maybe we don't lead with that if we're going to try to get Yon-Rogg's help."

Cho tilts his head. "With what, exactly? All we need to do is chart a course to Sakaar."

Comet counters. "Through Kree territory. As you said, it's the biggest empire ever. They can get trigger happy about intruders. If he's making nice with the Green Lanterns and Superman, there's a chance he may also be inclined to give us a pass."

"Say the word, and I'll try to get an audience with him," Cyborg nods.

Irons sighs. "Do it. Let's hope he's still on a love high."


*****

SAKAAR



The Hulk hasn't listened to Yon-Rogg's apology, despite the Bi-Beast's repeated requests to play it for him, and he could not care less about it.

Instead, he is pondering what he can do for his... family. Not a concept he is accustomed to considering. Caeira was forced into service with the Female Furies of Apokolips, made to commit terrible acts that someone of her nobility is finding it difficult to reconcile - despite her time under the Red King. At least there, she had been duped into believing his righteousness - there was no such subterfuge under Darkseid's watch.

More disconcerting, perhaps, is that they are now both strangers to their own child, who has been somehow unnaturally accelerated in age, through whatever dark science or sorcery Darkseid or Desaad had at their disposal. Their child, who now stands only slightly shorter than the Hulk himself, and who is looking upon both of his parents with scorn.

"I want to kill you," Skaar growls to his father.

Something in that tone stabs at the Bruce Banner buried deeply within, but only a sneer crosses the Hulk's face - the usual response to threats. "That won't end well for you."

His mother musters some authority. "That is how Desaad twisted your thoughts to his purpose. You were to be their tool to clear the path for them to retake this planet."

"I don't care. He is the reason I exist and have known nothing but pain my entire life."

"I didn't know you existed at all," Hulk notes, which is as close as he'll get to apologizing for not finding him sooner.

"Now you do," Skaar spits. "And you wish you didn't."

Hulk doesn't respond. There may be some truth to that - Banner didn't need any more guilt, especially not something of this magnitude - but there's something belligerently stubborn about him that will not ever give ground. Apparently even to his own son.

"We... cannot remove your pain," Caiera interjects before that silence becomes irreversible between them. "But there is more to life than that. We are all free now, here, on a planet of our own, to do as we will, to live as we see fit. It is time to finally set anger aside and build something new out of the wreckage of the old."

Setting anger aside is not something Hulks have mastered. The continuing staredown between father and son would attest to that. After an uncomfortably long moment, where fresh, personal violence seems destined to erupt, the Hulk instead reaches out to clasp his Skaar's shoulder, and finally musters a paternal response.

"Listen to your mother."

Appreciate the offers but I kinda enjoy reading the results of the comically large battles and various things and the story. I don't have time for much else, I'm lucky enough to get my weekly fix at my local store.

Though there is an ebay seller somewhere that should pay this thread a commission for the Kaiju sale he made.

There's a guy who owes this series a cut from a Taskmaster as well.

I wear most of my non-new-releases purchases I've made since HRS started have been pieces to play in upcoming matches here.

Fair enough! Feel free to join any conversations or put your 2 cents in on plot points. You don't actually need to play heroclix to participate! (I sadly went about two months without getting any of HRS games in)

Erik Lensherr: A Man Forged by Rage (Part 2 of 3)

**********The Ruins of Auschwitz, 1968**********

It had been months since Erik Lensherr had joined forces with Captain America to track and kill the Red Skull. Despite his bravado, Captain America did not have a precise location, only a lead. But they had finally found a solid trail of evidence that all pointed back here. Back to Auschwitz. Captain America and Erik Lensherr moved forward together towards the crumbled remains of the main guard house. It still bore the scars Erik had left it the last time he was here.

“I cannot believe the Red Skull would return here, use this place as his Hydra base.” Erik whispered to Captain America. “The arrogance is staggering.”

“It's the last place anyone would look for him.” Captain America commented as they moved into the main base.

“Here,” Erik called out from a corner of the room coming across a metal vault door that was newer than the wreckage it was built in. It was several inches of pure metal. Erik wripped it off its hinges without a second thought. Captain American, as he had done many times over the past few months, jumped in first with Erik bringing up the rear. Together they began to clear the base. It was not as populated as either of them had suspected, but they still found themselves up swarms of Hydra guards.

“That's the last of them, I think,” Erik panted as the last few guards hit the floor.

“Good,” Captain America commented, catching his shield as it ricocheted back. “lets move then. I think we are getting close.” After a few more minutes, the duo came to the Red Skull's quarters. Moving quickly, they secured the room.

“He's not here!” Erik shouted angrily, feeling his emotions rise.

“I've found a passage.” Captain America called, ripping a bookshelf from the wall. He must be running. The two men ran at full tilt down the tunnel. It weaved for what must have been a mile before they came to a hanger that overlooked a forest out of the side of a cliff. “There!” Captain America shouted pointing at a jet rapidly moving away from the compound.

“NO!” Erik cried, gathering metal around him, wrapping strips around his body as he took off towards the plane, propelling himself as he went.

“Erik! Wait!” Captain America yelled after him, “He's going to get himself killed.”

The wind soared by as Erik followed the jet, reaching out to it with his powers. After a few minutes in which he could hear his heart pounding in his chest, Erik forced the plane down into a field. As he approached it, he saw two men emerge. One turned to face him, he was unfamiliar to Erik, but the other looked up with dead eyes from a red skull.

“The Red Skull.” Erik said, landing next to the wreck. “I've been looking for you for a long time.”

“Erik Lensherr. My greatest success!” The Red Skull called back, a crooked smile splitting his ghastly visage.

“I'm going to make you pay for what you did to me, my family and my people.” Erik began to gather the scraps of the plane around him. “I will put you down like the animal you are, the same way you put down my mother.” tears bit at the corner of his eyes. Half rage, and half terrible loss. The Red Skull laughed.

“Your mother? Dead?” Red Skull laughed again. “That's giving me one too many kills, my confused young man. Your mother and I have been doing important work together! I said you were my greatest success, and I meant it!” The Red Skull gestured to the man beside him, “I'd like you to meet my colleague, Doctor Polaris, as I call him. For years I struggled with your genetic material, trying to duplicate the gifts you abuse and waste. That's why I kept you alive, I needed you as a genetic bank of sorts.”

The metal hung in the air around Erik, “What does that have to do with my mother?”

“You were a dead end of sorts.” The Red Skull replied smoothly. “No matter what we tried, your powers refused to transfer to others through genetic splicing, and any clone we tried to make of you died before it could develop your powers. That's when we turned to your mother. We figured that she gave you your powers, so she could replicate that. We kept her alive long after the fall of Auschwitz.”

Fear began to eat at Erik as he listened to the Red Skull's story. “What? For how long?”

“Oh...,” The Red Skull pushed a button on a transmitter he was holding. The ruins of Aushcwitz behind them burst into flame. “About three seconds ago!” The Red Skull laughed. “Do not worry though, Erik, Doctor Polaris here is a genetic hybrid of your mother and myself. Your Half-Brother. He shares your... genetic predisposition.” Doctor Polaris, catching Erik off guard, threw the metal around him back.

Erik stood momentarily frozen, his mind racing. He felt as filled with fear as he had the first time he had met the Red Skull. Doctor Polaris rushed forward, pulling a wave of metal with him. Erik engaged him, battling for supremacy over the shrapnel. Even as he did, the fear that the Red Skull was telling the truth struggled to overwhelm him.

“Johann Schmidt of Earth.” A cold mechanical voice spoke as a sprite of yellow darted down from the heavens to mount itself on the Red Skulls finger. “You have the ability to instill great fear. Welcome to the Sinestro Corps.” The Red Skull looked down at his finger, surprised to see a ring glistening there.

“Red Skull!” Sinestro called, dropping down from the heavens to land next to the Red Skull. “You have much to learn. Come, I will teach you to use that weapon so you can truly be a facet of fear in the galaxy.”

The Red Skull turned to look at Erik Lensherr and Doctor Polaris battling. “Sorry to miss the party, but I need to run!” Red Skull said, then burst into harsh laughter as he took off with Sinestro towards the stars.

“NO!” Erik shouted, suddenly gaining mastery over the metal surrounding him, sending it in an overwhelming blast at Doctor Polaris. “YOU WON'T ESCAPE ME AGAIN!” Erik flew after the two yellow figures. The air began to thin, and the two men in front of him continued to grow further and further away. “I won't let you win again!” For the first time in his life, Erik felt the rage inside him take complete control of his senses.

“Erik Lensherr of Earth.” came another voice, “You have great rage in your heart. You belong to the Red Lantern Corps.”

nicely done. and really sweet art on the helmet

I especially like the twist on dr polaris

Nicely done, Mikki. It makes me half miss having Red Skull around, and really miss Sinestro. The man's got to pop up eventually.

I'll see if I can't get something written about Lyssa Drak and Scarecrow over the weekend.

Parallax

Force Build 8701000 0
Set	#	Name	Team	Pts	Value
SLOSH	044	Darkseid		350	$6.00
Force Total:				350	$6.00

The Lanterns

Force Build 8701000 1
Set	#	Name	Team	Pts	Value
AVX	008	Professor X		150	SELL
WOL	029	Brother Hymn		85	SELL
CW	048	Taskmaster		139	$17.50
WOL	028	Kilowog		140	SELL
WOL	021	Lyssa Drak		91	SELL
WOL	037	Karu-Sil		95	$8.74
Force Total:				700	$26.24

For some reason, I can't get the team builder to work as a spoiler--any suggestions? Leaving the team coding out to avoid spoiling the rules of the match below.




The face that came rushing out of Lyssa Drak to meet them should not have existed. The craggy countenance of Darkseid, red-eyed and wreathed in yellow light, looked down at them imperiously.

"That can't really be him," Xavier heard Taskmaster mutter behind him. "He's definitely dead."

"It's not really him," Xavier said. "It's just a construct. Parallax is using our own fears against us."

"Well, it's working," Taskmaster said.

Kilowog's rumbling voice interrupted.

"Maybe on you, poozer," the big alien said, charging into battle.

The Yellow Lanterns joined him. A wobbly Lyssa found a good vantage point to work her particular skills, while Karu-Sil, that mysterious, feral, sharp-toothed girl whose mind Xavier had tried to read and only found a dark and blood-drenched forest, summoned her pack of light-crafted wolves to fight.

The girl ran behind them, like something out of a grim, nightmarish fairy tale, Xavier thought. And then he watched as she was struck down like a falling leaf by one blast of Parallax's powers.

"That one had no fear," Parallax said with Darkseid's voice. "She'd make a good servant some day.

Kilowog moved with surprising speed, quickly at Parallax's side, throwing a series of green-light enhanced punches at him. He might as well have been punching stone. The creature wearing a Darkseid illusion batted the Lantern aside easily. Kilowog did not get back up.

Xavier saw the Darkseid construct flicker, could sense in his mind Lyssa Drak's strain as she tried to lower the creature's barriers. Behind him, Xavier heard the calming sound of Brother Hymn's voice.

"All will be well," Hymn said. "I'll lend you my strength."

The time for subtlety was over, Xavier thought. He chose not to use the blue ring on his hand but rather the mightiest weapon he had at his disposal: his own mind.

Much to everyone's surprise, the mental blast staggerered Parallax, sending the creature to one knee.

"So there's some fight in you let, Blue Lantern," Parallax said.

Almost casually, Parallax stretched out a hand and sent Taskmaster smashing through a nearby wall.

"Good," the Darkseid creature said. "I like a little fight in my food."

Two Months Ago:

The Guardian stood and watched as the united fleet moved towards Hala. From there, they would take their assignments and move to to Krelar, where they would disperse in to a war with both the Sinestro Corps and Darkseid. The Guardian furrowed her brow as she thought on Darkseid. The tyrant had been a constant pain against the Lanterns in recent weeks, and his continued assaults on Green Lantern worlds needed to be stopped. She regretted that this specific assault would not place them any closer to defeating Darkseid, but there had been a change in plans. Sinestro had been murdered, and this…Red Skull had overtaken his Corps. Lyssa Drak, a name that had no meaning to her, was planning a coupe, and had requested the Guardians’ help. If they could bring peace with the Sinestro Corps, perhaps that would weaken the Lantern’s enemies, and allow them to finally get vengeance against Darkseid.

The Guardians’ process was interrupted by word on the intercom. The Kree were under assault by one of the local homeworlds. The…Earthlings thought that the invading force was meant for them, and were responding. The Guardian moved in to position. They couldn’t allow some backwards planet to interrupt supply lines. The Skrulls were even more fickle than the Kree, and they’d never get help to Lyssa in time, and they’d never make Darkseid pay for what he did! The Guardian moved in to position to aid forces on the ground.

One Hour Later:

The Guardian had managed to help calm the situation down. It had come to blows for a while, but everyone seemed to be thinking with a level head. This…Superman was quite formidable, both in combat and in emotional steadiness. It was unfortunate none of the Green Lantern Rings had found their way to him before this misunderstanding.

However, even as the battle died down, several people on the outer perimeter were already reporting fighting. The strange thing was that the fighting was coming away from the planet that originated the incursion. This wasn’t part of the original battle, this was something new. The Guardian demanded reports, but the comms from those areas had already gone dead. She could see purple energy released in waves in the area before streaking past the remnants of the supply lines, and heading straight for the planet. Suddenly a voice boomed across the cosmos loud enough for all to hear.


“The power I wield is unparalleled in this reality. With the six stones of life spread across the starways, I hold complete power. Death has come for the Earth, as surely as my name is Thanos.”

Guy Gardner would have to invade Qward on his own now, it was more obvious that this Guardian had his own battle to fight.


Two Hours Later:

Thanos wielded untold power, and anyone who approached it lived only long enough to make a show of their own before being snuffed out. The trickster God of Earth had made some headway, but was unable or perhaps unwilling to make any more aggressive assaults. Even the mighty Galactus was showing hesitation in battle. However, the Guardians were eternal, and this Guardian was unwilling to allow yet another mad tyrant control the fate of so many. She rushed Thanos. “By the will of the universe, you will feel the Rage of the Guardians Mad Titan!” she shouted, momentarily drawing Thanos’ attention toward him. However, Thanos’ attention was a dangerous thing, and even as he used all of his energy to strike the Mad Titan, Thanos had grabbed the Guardians’ face. The Death Stone flared on the back of Thanos’ gauntlet, and the Guardian’s face sizzled and seared underneath.

Satisfied and perhaps a little amused, Thanos tossed the Guardian aside to face the real threats..

One Week Later:

The Guardian floated in front of his fellow Guardians, his face scarred for everyone to see. She could tell it made them uncomfortable to look at. The Guardians liked to keep themselves out of the action, and away from anything they couldn’t handle. The scar was a reminder that they had failed. As she finished hierdebriefing, she tossed in his assessment of the new situation, the Annihilation Wave.

“Guy Gardner is reporting that this new threat laid waste to entire scores of Lanterns, and that they had successfully taken several other planets as well. They are a new threat, and even as we move towards an end to fighting with Sinestro and…Darkseid, he must take stronger measures to address this new threat.”

The other Guardians looked down on him and nodded. “We have proposed accepting the Blue Lantern Corps in to our ranks. Ganthet and Sayd will be welcomed back to our circle, and their new Lanterns will be welcome to join us. Even though they enslave themselves to emotions, they have chosen the emotion of Hope, which is one of the two closest to Will. They will make fine additions in these trying times.”

The Guardian stifled a growl. “Hope is not enough. More drastic measure must be taken, especially now that the Novas are entrusting us with the Anti-Life Equation. Darkseid is weakened by this new threat, but that may only spurn him to try harder to take what he believes will make him unstoppable. Hope filled priests are fine, but what we need are warriors filled with Rage at the injustices of the universe. We must strike hard to remove this new blight from the galaxy before they become too powerful….like Thanos.” Her hand moved up to the scar on his face.

The other Guardians looked concerned. “We have the power to restore you. You do not need to carry these scars with you; they serve no purpose. Will you not let us heal them?”





The other Guardians let the issue drop wordlessly. “The Nova Corps and the Green Lanterns will meet to pass the Anti-Life Equation, where it will be transported to Oa for safekeeping. If Darkseid plans to assault the Nova Corps, he will not find what he is looking for, and he will tip his hand with no allies to defend him. In the meantime, the Annihilation Wave will be dealt with as we have dealt with every other threat to the universe. The aid of the Red Lantern Corps, even under the leadership of this…Magneto, will be unnecessary as he was unnecessary in defeating his sworn enemy, the Red Skull. We will not give in to Rage or Fear.”

The lone Guardian left the debriefing and went to a communications hub. After dialing in a few numbers she transmitted a message. “This is Scar..I have an important message for you.”

Team 1: Parallax

Force Build 8701456 0
Set	#	Name	Team	Pts	Value
CR	225	Anti-Monitor: Annihilator		1000	SELL
Force Total:				1000	$0.00

Team 2: Green Lantern Corps

Force Build 8701456 1
Set	#	Name	Team	Pts	Value
FFGSX	001	Professor X		75	SELL
AN	040	Saint Walker		95	$2.50
WOL	029	Brother Hymn		85	SELL
WOL	033	Sister Sercy		66	$2.00
WOL	045	Brother Warth		100	SELL
WOL	007	Blue Lantern Recruit		50	SELL
GLGF	007	Abin Sur		70	$2.27
WOL	022	Katma Tui		117	SELL
WOL	013B	Tomar Tu		99	SELL
WOL	R200.06	Decoy (Green)		6	SELL
WOL	106	Jade		151	SELL
WOL	R200.05	Crossbow (Green)		10	SELL
GOTG	023	Yondu		76	SELL
Force Total:				1000	$6.77

Team 3: Parallax Corps

Force Build 8701456 2
Set	#	Name	Team	Pts	Value
AA	046	Lyssa Drak		72	$2.99
BN	003	Scarecrow		85	$4.99
WKD	D-011	Gentleman Ghost		98	SELL
WKD	D-011T	Vengeful Ghost		0	SELL
WOL	037	Karu-Sil		95	$8.74
WOL	037BT	The Pack		0	SELL
WOL	013A	Romat-Ru		77	SELL
WOL	019	Bedovian		115	SELL
WOL	110	Arkillo		170	SELL
WOL	003	Sinestro Corps Recruit		50	$1.15
AVAS	043	Abyss		139	SELL
DP	019AE	Deadpool		90	SELL
DP	W006	"My Common Sense is Tingling"		0	SELL
WOL	R205.08	Scissors (Yellow)		8	SELL
Force Total:				999	$17.87

Map: Oa ('cause oa!)
Results: Parallax is exorcised!

Emotions ran high that day.

The beast was loose, if it ever was truly contained. When Librarian Drak no longer wished to be a pawn for the entity, when the Compassion of her loyalists sought to lay down fear, lay down their hatred of the Greens and the Blues, to seek out the help she needed, Parallax was no longer content to hide within her any longer. The galaxy had poked a dragon and he was hungry. He would taste their fears.

Those that wielded fear were awed at his sight. Those that claimed to overcome fear were daunted. Those that lived as the antithesis of fear were silenced. All would not be well. Parallax would reign. When he was done here, he would next purge these Xandarans. Compassion was more directly a threat to his work than he had previously thought. Then the Kree and their insipid reliance on Love. Then the foolish Shi'ar. They didn't bear a spectrum as a tool, but for all their talk of unity and justice, perhaps pride was just some untapped power they wish they had. Regardless, they would have to fall. They'd try to stop him, they wouldn't roll over and they wouldn't give in to his power. He'd have to take them. No, he'd take the Annihilation Wave first. Yes, that would be a much more enjoyable tool to use against the Shi'ar. But Parallax was getting ahead of himself, this army needed squelching first. He would have to reprimand his acolytes. They forgot what they were. He would compose them a song of his affections and he'd use Drak's screams as his instrument.

Will. Cursed Will. It reached for him, contained him (outsiders ta!). He would not be overcome. Not again. Hopes of those cursed Blues filling their Will, they pierced him (SO much perplex/enhancement). Not again. Blow after blow pounded into him, seared through him. Not again. Parallax scoured the Greens. He purged the Yellows. He flayed the Blues. The one containing him fell, as his power surged, flexed in instinctual response to his freedom, he readied to slay them all, to show them all they should fear him. Fear him! But it was Fear that attacked him now. Fear that gripped him in it's power, stripping him of his power (SO much negative perplex!), using his own power against him, all the while reminding him of his one weakness. His secret Fear. He didn't want to be contained again. Not again. Not again. Not again.

As the power ebbed from him, he looked down at his pawn. Underneath the white streak in her ebon hair, he saw her eyes. Flanked by a determined Abin Sur and an inspired Charles Xavier, Lyssa Drak was glowing invisibly with a faint aura or Green and Blue as she reached out with a Yellow intensified by its conduit to him. With a truly sinister tone, Drak proclaimed to him, "Beware your fears made into light."

The chains binding her to the book shattered, flying in all directions. Just as suddenly they lost all inertia, paused for a moment before hurling towards Parallax, binding him, constricting him, containng him.

And all was lost. Parallax had lost. He had no Hope.

CHAPTER 8 BATTLES

Moord
200 Shi'ar
200 Kree
200 GLC
600 JLGD
200 Nova Corps
V
1700 Annihilation Wave

(0,0,0)
300 Shi'ar
400 Nova Corps
V
400 Skrulls

Gigantus
400 Shi'ar
200 Kree
200 GLC
200 Nova Corps
V
300 Gigantus

Skrullos
400 Kree
200 GLC
V
800 Skrulls

Halaa
400 Kree
V
400 Apokolips

Special Rules:

Death to Yonn-Rogg!: This team must contain both Yon-Rogg and Queen Agapo, as the attack interupts the royal wedding. The Result of this battle will not determine if Halaa changes hands. If Queen Agapo or Yonn-Rogg are KO'd, they are killed instead. Report if either of them are killed in the results!

Till Death Do Us Part: While Yonn Rogg and Agapo are adjacent, they each gain +1 to their defense. When one of them is KO'd, roll one die and apply the following effects to the other:

1-3: Grief: This character gains -2 to their combat stats.
4-6: Rage: This character gains +2 to their combat stats.

May want to make the grief/ rage dice unrerollable.