Champions 19

by Mark Beaulieu

The issue starts right off where issue 18 left off. The collection of heroes now face the combined forces of AIM, Ares, NM-E and the Super Adaptoid. The Super Adaptoid has gained the powers of the Hulk, Thor, Namor, Invisible Woman, and Photon.

"My forces shall destroy you puny mortals!!!" yells Ares.

NM-E is attaching itself to various mechanical objects while attacking the heroes. It is growing bigger by the second. At the moment it is making short work of the New Warriors. Firestar and Nova are the only two left standing.

The Super-Adaptoid meanwhile has started to make it rain using the powers it gained from Thor, the God of Thunder. The Hulk attacks the Super-Adaptoid. Before any one can help the Hulk, the Super-Adaptoid hits the Hulk. The Hulk is sent flying miles away from the battle.

The Super-Adaptoid is getting stronger by the second. Thor and Namor approach the Super-Adaptoid carefully. The Super-Adaptoid then turns itself invisible. Sue Richards, more experienced with her powers turns the Super-Adaptoid visible. This turns the Adaptoid's attention to the Invisible Woman. The Thing comes running up to help Sue.

"If we don't stop this thing soon, it will be too strong for all of us!" Iron Man says pointing out the obvious.

We now turn our attention to Zemo and Techno.

"Techno, I want that monstrosity they call NM-E."

Techno thinks to himself, "So do I, So do I"

Back to the battle. Batroc is currently yelling at Diamondback for interfering with his attempt to stop AIM from releasing the Super-Adaptoid.

"Listen. You have been an enemy of Cap's for years. Give me one good reason I should trust you? As far as I can tell, you are probably in league with AIM."

"Mon chere, you are az deluded az you are beautiful. I promised Le Capitan that I would reform. I am a man true to my word."

NM-E is currently approaching the position of the main group of Avengers. The Vision tries to desolidify through NM-E. While doing so he feels a force trying to cause him to merge with NM-E. Breaking away from NM-E takes most of his energy and he flies to a safe spot in order to recover from the ordeal.

Let's switch our attention to Scott Lang and Reed Richards.

"Reed, I have an idea to stop the Super-Adaptoid, but we will need some equipment from your lab."

Reed says, "Let's move it son."

The Black Panther, Giant Man, and Yellow Jacket try to outflank NM-E only to end up being brushed aside like they didn't even matter.

Viewing another part of the battle we can see Hercules approaching Ares.

"Thou art mad. Why would thou doeth this?"

"Ah, Hercules, my most hated enemy. I am doing this because AIM promised to start wars for me if I could help them eliminate the superhero community. Being the God of War, I could not turn down their offer. I hope they don't mind if I finish you myself."

"Blowhard!!" Hercules yells

However, Hercules is no match for Ares. Ares still has the power of a god, while Hercules was made back into a mortal by Zeus. Ares begins to pummel Hercules. Hercules refuses to give up. Unfortunately there are no heroes near enough to help him.

Back to the Super Adaptoid. Firebird has joined the group fighting the Super Adaptoid. She begins to lower the temperature directly around the Super-Adaptoid. This starts to cause the Super-Adaptoid to slow down. By causing the heat around the Super-Adaptoid to decrease, she has caused the molecules in the Super-Adaptoid to slow down. This helps the heroes fighting him as they are now able to strike him before he can react. The Adaptoid determines the cause of his current problems and turns himself into a being of laser energy and fires himself at Firebird. Just before he can hit her, Photon materializes in front of Firebird. The Super-Adaptoid hits Monica full force in the chest.

Back to NM-E. The robot is routing the Avengers. NM-E continues to increase in size. His lust for blood seems to increase as he gains more parts for his body. Batroc watches the fight with great interest. Batroc then jumps to the ground and confronts Captain America.

"Mon Capitan. I think I know how to beat zis thing. It keeps protecting one part of eetz body above all othairs. The problem eez that it iz too zmall for us to get at."

"Just tell me where the spot is, Batroc and I will take care of it."

After Batroc tells Captain America what he believes to be NM-E's weakness the Wasp, Yellow Jacket, and Ant-Man all fly towards NM-E. NM-E doesn't view them as a threat and continues to focus on the more powerful heroes before it. Wasp, Yellow Jacket and Ant-Man all focus their disruptor blasts at one point of NM-E's armor. NM-E turns to face them but seems disoriented. Just then a swarm of flying ants lands on the spot that was attacked and leaves a small object behind. The small object explodes and NM-E collapses.

Wondering how Monica is doing? Monica is in the arms of the Thor. Some kind of contraption is wrapped around her body.

"Scott, you were right. All we had to do was have Firebird lower the heat in his body to force him to use Photon's powers. Knowing that he would turn into an offensive energy weapon, we just had to keep Photon ready to get in his way. Now he is trapped in his energy state in this machine.", explains Reed Richards.

"Ya couldn't just say we got the bum?", Thing retorts.

Back to Hercules and Ares. Ares is standing over a bloody and battered Hercules.

"Hercules, now you die!!"

Ares swings to deliver the deathblow to Hercules. Diamondback pushes Hercules out of the way and takes the full force of the blow. She dies instantly.

Captain America screams "Noooo!!"

The heroes converge on Ares. Aim agents start to fight the heroes so that they can't get to Ares. There is a flash of light. Ares, Hercules and many of the heroes nearby disappear.

Hawkeye wonders "What the?"

Turning our attention back to Zemo and Techno.

"Techno, we must get that robot while AIM and the heroes are distracted."

Techno and Zemo can be seen getting the head of NM-E while the remaining heroes are busy with the fleeing AIM agents.

On Mount Olympus. Zeus is sitting on his throne. Ares, Hercules, Ant-Man, Giant Man, Black Panther, Batroc, Black Widow, and Firebird are on the floor in front of Zeus.

Zeus roars "You have defied my wishes for the last time!!"

Next Issue: The Trial of Ares. A trip to Hades to save a lost soul. Batroc and Zeus in the same issue. What more could you want?