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| Issue #1 April 2004 |
"The Gathering" Part 1 of 3 Written By Gary Jones and Doug Bookey |
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At the center of the multi-verse is a place called Otherworld.
It is a place that is connected to everywhere and all of time; in all existence there are only two other places that can boast such a feat.
At the center of the lush green landscape and rolling hills is the citadel, the home of the ruler of Otherworld and the guardian of all that is and will be.
Roma walked up the marble steps to where the "Alter of Existence" was located, mounted on a small stage in the center of the Citadel's largest room.
The room was cavernous and even though it was deep inside the Citadel there were huge windows built into its walls. These windows looked out onto the universe and enabled communication between Roma and the pre-eminent powers of the universe, including Eternity and Infinity.
"Let us see what we can see," Roma waved her hand over the rows of varying sized crystals and the formally static objects began to shift and move.
Each facet of the once clear crystals now revealed an event occurring in a section of the multi-verse, for each of the constantly shifting crystals represented another universe, another timeline. For someone ordinary this would be an impossible task, but Roma had been schooled from a young age by her father Merlyn in the Altar's use and operation.
Her skilled eyes look over the multi-verse, at the crop of new realities that are created from moment to moment, some dying only seconds after their creation but other surviving destined to be something more.
"What can that be?" Roma gestured with her hands again, the movement of the crystals paused, "now that should be there."
The crystal that Roma was focusing on grew in size until it was the only one remaining on the altar. At the very edge of the view that was available through the crystal Roma could just make out a distortion, a shapeless black that should not have been there.
"Time for a little house-keeping," Roma closed her eyes and began to concentrate on the crystal in front of her, using her own power and those that she had inherited from her father Merlyn to reach out and eliminate the disturbance.
But something resisted and Roma realised why the disturbance had not vanished naturally, "It's a portal," Roma opened her eyes and used her powers on the altar, which immediately began to grow another crystal, to represent another universe. Also at the edge of this new crystal was the same disturbance but it was far less defined, not as powerful.
Roma stepped away from the altar, the crystals shrinking back into its polished white marble surface as she released her power from it. "The portal must be closed at both ends at the same time," Roma mused to herself, "but its source must also be eliminated and I can only think of one man who can do it.
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"BRIAN."
Brian Braddock sat bolt up right, dragging the sheets off his wife Meggan as he did so. The shape-shifting former member of Excalibur merely groaned in her sleep and rolled over to face away from her husband, her blonde hair falling over her face.
Brian reached over and gently brushed the hair from Meggan's face then leaned over and kissed her gently on the cheek; Meggan smiled but did not wake from her slumber.
The voice that had woken him still rattled around in the back of his head, "why do my dreams always seem to wake me up a five am?" Brian sighed as he looked at the alarm clock that rested on the bedside table.
"I might as well stay up now," he muttered as he rose from the bed and walked around to the side his wife sleep, "no point in getting you up early though," he said as he pulled the covers back over Meggan's shoulders.
Brian walked toward the one-suite bathroom to shower but as he open the door he found himself pulled through a dimensional portal of type he recognised all too easily.
When he reappeared Brian found himself standing on a small hill, with fields of green as far as his eyes could see; he turned around to see to standing stones.
Resting on top of the right hand stone was a glowing golden amulet and embedded in the left was a shimmering silver sword.
"The choice once again is yours Brian Braddock; do you choice the responsibility and the power of being the Captain Britain of Earth-616."
Brian recognised the voice that sounded in his head, both as the one which had woken him moments ago and knew it belonged to the monarch of Otherworld, the goddess Roma.
"I retired, don't you remember the whole Crimson Dragons and the wedding," Brian shouted out.
"Choose the Amulet of Right or the Sword of Might," was all the response that Brian got from the voice in his head.
"Fine, damn you!" Brian growled as he stretched out his hand and grasped the Amulet from the right-hand stone.
The instant that he did so he was bathed in light, when it had faded he was dressed again in the uniform of the Captain Britain Corps.
"Okay Roma," Brian said as he used his newly regained powers to take to the sky, "let's see what you want from me this time."
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Brian had forgotten was it was like to be able to fly under his own power and on his way to the Citadel he found himself pulling off a variety of aerial manoeuvres. He also allowed himself to experiment with his other powers, helping out the people who lived in Otherworld as he did so.
He used his new strength to pull a tree stump from the middle of a farmer's field and his force-field to lift a side of a woman's horse-drawn carriage as he changed the wheel that had broken.
The last one had made him smile, the people of Otherworld had begun to carry spares for their carts and carriages because of all they had picked up from the members of the Captain Britain Corps.
With his couple of good deeds behind him, Brian flew the remaining distance to the Citadel, a massive towering white structure that every citizen of Otherworld could remember being there all their lives, but also knew that they had also witnessed its construction, such was the nature of Otherworld.
Roma stood in front of the great oak doors that were the entrance to the Citadel, her white robes fluttering in the breeze, her black hair which was usually tied up in a bun hung loose around her shoulders.
Captain Britain landed with a graceful ease in front of Roma but didn't speak, preferring to let Roma make the first move.
"I think you're wondering why I summoned you," Roma smiled causing her nose to wrinkle up.
Brian had to admit that Roma looked striking with her hair down and the lighter robes she was clung to her body far better than the heavier ones she used to wear.
"You could say that," Brian said as he shook his head to clear the thoughts that were running through them, he was a married man after all.
"There is a disturbance that is linking your home dimension to another."
"So why not close it?" Brian asked, "I know that you have the power to do things like that."
"I have attempted to do so but there is something between the universes that is powering the disturbance and if I shut down the disturbance they would soon reopen."
Brian took a deep breath; he knew what Roma had summoned him for, "So you want me to go shut the power source, while you close it down at the ends."
"Exactly correct but you will not be going alone, something that can hold open a dimensional breach when I wish it closed would be too much for your power."
"So I'll go back home and grab Meggan while you summon the other members of the Captain Britain Corps, Linda and Crusader X should be willing to help out."
"I'm afraid neither will be able to accompany you on this mission," Roma said as she folded her arms across her chest.
"If Meggan doesn't go, I don't go," Brian said forcefully "so then you'll have no choice but to send in the Corps."
"It is not my choice but the situation that says they cannot go. Meggan is in tune with nature and in between the dimensions there will be no nature, if Meggan goes it could quite well mean her death. No other Corps members will be able to accompany you because the presence of people who are not from your side of the disturbance will accelerate its growth and destroy your world."
"You say I can't do this by myself and yet you say I can't bring along any help," Brian snapped with a touch of anger in his voice, "just what do you expect me to do?"
"I said you could not take the Corps but I have selected a group from your world whose combination of abilities will be of great assistance."
"And just who would they be?"
"The first is a man called Joseph," Roma uncrossed her arms and gestured in front of her creating an image of a man with short white hair and a rather scruffy white beard.
"Joseph," Brian said recognising the name from a conversation he had with his sister Elisabeth, "but isn't he dead?"
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"Will you kids just shut up," the man swung the rifle around and pointed it at the group of children that were huddled in the corner of the small wooden shack, located at the small Missionary Farm in Columbia they called home.
He and his men had sampled the product they usually shipped out to the USA when one of them had mentioned a beautiful Nun with the raven black hair who worked at the mission and they had decided to pay her a visit.
Two other men held Sister Maria down on the rough wooden dining table in the center of the shack while a third tore at her clothing.
"Do as you wish with me but please do not hurt the children," Maria begged as the face of the man pulling at her clothes came closer to her own.
"I don't know about that Sister," the man laughed evilly "Roberto here likes 'em young," the man grinned at his friend who was holding Maria's arms.
All of a sudden the whole of the shack began to shake and with no warning the tin roof was torn off the building.
The man holding the rifle on the children felt it wrenched from his grasp, only to be flung back at his chest, the force of the blow knocked him to the ground and the rifle held him firmly in place.
The other three men had their rifles slung around their shoulders; whatever had taken hold of the other man's gun took a hold of theirs and slammed them into the wooden walls of the shack, knocking them all unconscious.
A man lowered himself into the building through where the roof had once been, a man dressed in blood red armor and a similarly colored helmet which had a something that looked like a tuning fork attached to the temple, the dark purple cloak he wore seemly moved around him as if it had a life of its own.
"These people are under the protection of Magneto," the main said as he reached the ground, the power obvious in his voice, "to harm them is as to harm me."
The sound of a safety being clicked off came from the doorway: a lookout that he hadn't seen, "if you truly believe that you can pull that trigger before I can use my power against you, please do try," Magneto said without turning around, his eyes fixed on the form of Sister Maria, "it would not trouble me in the slightest."
The lookout dropped his rifle on the ground but he could not run as he was magnetically held in place.
"You five will survive this day but it is only to tell your people that this farm is now under my protection," all the weapons in the room were magnetically brought together and crushed into one solid ball, "take your people and leave."
The two men who were still conscious dragged their fellows out of the building and the sound of a powerful motor engine could soon be heard tearing away from the area.
The cheers of the children filled the shack as they sprang from the floor to hug their rescuer, "children please do not anger the man," Sister Maria said with fear in her voice, for she knew the reputation of Magneto and had seen him on the news on one of the rare occasions the television set worked.
"But Sister all they are doing is welcoming home an old friend," Magneto removed his helmet and turned around to see the Sister, who had not yet seen his face, "or have you forgotten me already."
Joseph grinned broadly has he gave the little boy named Umberto his helmet, then unclipped his cape to give to Sister Maria to cover herself.
"Truly God does move in the most mysterious of ways," Sister Maria said as she wrapped the cape around herself and then her arms around her old friend.
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Today
Joseph Lensherr, as he had taken to calling himself, sat cross legged in the center of the Mission's feed barn, using his powers to reach out the Earth's electro-magnetic field in an attempt to repair the damage that had been caused by his 'Father.'
In Magneto's memories he remembered being taught Eastern Meditation techniques by Charles Xavier during their time in Israel together. Looking back on the same memories but with a different eye, Joseph suspected that Charles could see the anger in Magnus that would eventually lead him down the ill-fated path he took.
"Joseph, the evening meal is ready," Sister Maria opened the door to the barn and stepped inside, "have you completed your meditations for this evening?"
"The Earth is almost as it was but I am afraid to take the last step," Joseph said unmoving.
"And what are you afraid of?"
"My 'Mother' when she created me removed the natural limits on my powers that my 'Father' had, as such I actually run the very real risk of vanishing before your very eyes."
Maria would have laughed at the statement had she not heard the seriousness in Joseph's voice.
"While attempting to reverse the damage that Magneto caused I am connected to the whole planet," Joseph continued, "and the temptation is there for me to join it."
Joseph rose to his feet and faced the Sister, who could still not get used to seeing Joseph wear a beard once more.
"Tell me Sister," Joseph asked "do you believe that a man can be born evil or that he is defined by his memories."
"I know what it is you ask Joseph," Sister Maria walked up to Joseph and took his hands in her own, "but while this Astra may have given you your body and Magneto given you your memories, it is God who gave you your soul. And it is a good soul, for I know you to be a good man."
Sister Maria looked into the haunted eyes of Joseph and smiled, "now enough of this foolishness let us enjoy our meal before it grows cold."
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As the shimmering view of Joseph faded from view Brian Braddock couldn't help but remark, "He shares the same determination as Magneto but hasn't let frustration overwhelm him."
Roma nodded in agreement of Brian's words, "and it is that determination that will aid you in your mission."
"And I suppose the amazing magnetic powers will come in handy too," Brian laughed.
Roma did not laugh but a smile came to here face, "and what do you think of the other members we discussed while viewing the past of Joseph."
"I have to admit that you've assembled a pretty mixed bunch of powers but there are some good reliable people on the team."
"I feel there is a 'but' coming."
"But what of the ones who are already working with a team, you can't expect them to just drop all their responsibilities and come running for this."
"How quickly they forget," Roma said stifling a laugh, "it will be a simple matter for me to return them to the moment they left, they will not be gone for more than the blink of an eye."
Brian sighed and knew that any further discussion was useless "Okay! Which member do you want me to recruit first?"
"There is one person that I did not tell you about, one who is almost as intimately connected to time as you are."
"And who would that be?" Brian asked confused.
"Your former Excalibur team mate Rachel Summers, the young woman who returned you to the present when you had been spread through the time-stream."
"Rachel Summers," Brian smiled, "now she is one person I am going to like having back at my side."
"Very well, if all your musings are complete, let us begin," Roma made one quick gesture with her hands and a shimmering white portal opened a few feet away from Brian, "when on the other side, time will appear to stop for all those there except you and Rachel."
"I just hope Meggan doesn't find out I went and became Captain Britain again from someone else," Brian stepped in front of the portal, "because if she does I'd better die on this mission because if I don't she'll kill me," he said as he stepped through.
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In a different time another set of eyes watched the events unfold in Otherworld, eyes which did not wish Brian Braddock well in his new endeavour, "steps must be taken to ensure that Captain Britain does not interfere."
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Scripter's Notes
Well there we have the first issue of Excalibur worked from Boss Bookey's excellent plots, trust me they were so good they good have been read on their own.
You can look forward to seeing some old friends, new allies and one major rumble.
