Champions #21

Our heroes, Black Widow, Hercules, Ant-Man, Giant Man, Black Panther, Diamondback, Firebird, and Batroc, have just returned from Olympus. They are accompanied by Cerberus, the three headed dog from Hades. Standing in the middle of the street the heroes discuss what to do next.

"We made a pretty good team." Firebird says.

"Yeah, we did." Scott Lang says.

"We would make a great team, non?" Batroc says sarcastically.

"Hey! That is not a bad idea." Black Widow exclaims. "We could reform the Champions."

"I agree. With my strength to carry thee, our exploits would be remembered for ages." Hercules brags.

"Would zis be as memorable az your legendary battle with ze Ztiltman?" Batroc laughs.

"Shut up! I think it is a good idea. We should form a team." Scott Lang says.

"I think you guys will make a great team, but I can't join. I have things that I must take care of" Black Panther states. (To see what it is, read his book! Plugging Away Mark)

"I can't stay either. Good luck." Giant Man says. (To see what he is up to, read Tales to Astonish, yikes another plug)

"I would be honored to join, but I must go back to the West Coast." Firebird says.

"That is perfect. I just got a job offer from Stark to head out West. Anyone else game?" Scott Lang asks.

"I could take getting out of this part of the country for awhile. I need to prove myself to Cap before I meet him again." Diamondback states.

"Hercules? Can you head out west?" Black Widow asks.

"If that is where thou art headed, then I shall travel forth with thee."

"Then it is settled, we are going West." Black Widow says.

"Wait! What about me? Did you forget about me?" Batroc asks in an exasperated tone.

"We want heroes, not villains who joined the battle for their own ends. Sorry Batroc, but if I had anything on you right now, I would take you down here and now." Black Widow says.

"Ah, mon chere. Your accuzationz wound me. Just ask ze Captain if I am not a reformed man."

" Fine."

Black Widow pulls out her Avengers communicator and after a few seconds she is talking to Captain America.

"Widow, I think that Batroc would make a great addition to the team. We recently fought side by side and he seems to be keeping his promise to me about reforming. It would be nice if there was someone who could keep an eye on him."

"Zee, what did I tell you?"

"Fine, you can come too."

"I have to take care of some things before we go. Can you guys meet me somewhere?" Diamondback asks.

"I have to get my daughter. So we should set up a place to meet." Scott Lang says.

"How about we wait for you in that bar over there?" Hercules asks.

"Fine" Ant Man and Diamondback say as one.

A little later in the bar after Batroc has ordered a round of drinks for everyone there.

"Hey! You can't bring that dog in here!" The bartender says pointing at Cerberus.

"You want to tell him to leave, eh?" Batroc says smugly.

"Uh...no, he can stay."

"Firebird, I am surprised that you came along." Black Widow says.

"Well, this is not my type of place, but I am not as prudish as people seem to believe."

"I love zese places", Batroc adds while working on his third drink.

"I find it odd that Hercules comes in here and immediately starts to boast about his exploits." Firebird says.

"Don't be surprised, he will tell you the same stories over and over." Black Widow says.

All three laugh.

Hercules is up at the bar and is telling the story of how he came up with the idea of the Trojan Horse. The women in the crowd are listening intently.

It is time to check in on Diamondback.

Diamondback enters her apartment quietly. Someone has broken in, but nothing seems to have been taken. She is pretty certain the person is still in the apartment. After sneaking into the kitchen she sees a shadowy figure on the couch.

"What took you so long? I have been waiting for you for almost an hour." The mystery man says.

Switching to Scott Lang. Scott has just made it home and finds his daughter has finished her packing for their move to the west coast.

"Hi honey, I'm home." Scott says.

"Hi dad. Are you ready to go?"

Pretty much, I just have to finish my packing."

Switching scenes again. Living Laser is talking to someone on his phone.

"You want me to go in first to get their attention and then your guys will take him out from behind? "

A pause

"You got it. Heck I would take them on myself for the money you are paying. I will be in the bar in less than half an hour."

Back at the bar.

"Batroc don't you think you should stop drinking?" Firebird asks.

"Sheesh Eesh none of your Bushinesh. Plush I ain't drunk, just a little buzzed"

"You know when you are drunk you talk like Gambit" Black Widow snaps back.

"Do not compare me to that poor excush of a Frenchman. He looksh like a flasher with a gimmick"

"Pardon Moi? If you have a problem with me, then have ze guts to say it to my face, mon ami." Gambit says from behind Batroc.

"I could Kick your shorry little butt in a drunken shtupor."

Cyclops and Storm try to get in between them, but Black Widow waves them off.

"Let him learn some humility. In his state, Gambit will finish him quickly." Black Widow says.

"I can fight Captain America to a shtandshtill, what chansh doesh Sheesh losher have?"

"Put up your dukes, mon ami."

Gambit strikes quickly hitting Batroc in the stomach. Batroc rolls with the blow so that it is only a glancing blow. Gambit follows with his staff but keeps missing. Batroc jumps from table to table circling Gambit. Gambit lunges for Batroc as he is about to land, but Batroc was hoping for that maneuver and lands on the edge of the table and sends one end of the table up into Gambit's chin. Batroc then lunges at the stunned Gambit and makes short work of him.

"Bring on shome competishion, mon chere." Batroc says in Storm's direction.

"You aren't worth the little time it would take for me to humiliate you."

"Rowwr." Batroc growls at Storm.

Hercules says to the bartender, "When is Thor going to get here? I called him an hour ago."

"I just get here, my noble friend." Thor says smiling. "Why didst thou wish to see me?"

"I have my immortality back and wanted to test my mettle against the one person on this planet who might be a match for me."

Thor laughs, "Thou always did thinkest that thou could best me. When will thou learnest the error of your ways?"

Hercules laughs, "Ah the good times. Our battles have become the songs of legend. But this time I have a better idea. This woman beside me is a tv executive who wishes to televise our fight for charity."

Thor smiles, "A good cause and I can soundly beat thee? This is an offer I can not turn down. Prepare to lose the few fans thou still havest left."

"I shall fight thee next Saturday at 8 pm in Death Valley." Hercules says.

Thor and Hercules make a toast to their momentous battle. Just then Living Laser blows out a wall of the bar and yells "Prepare to die, heroes!!"

Back to Diamondback, don't you hate us?

The shadowy figure is talking to Diamondback.

"Don't you see that all of the problems of our society are caused by super powered people out for their own ends and not societies? If we could eliminate these powers from these people, society would be safer."

Diamondback says, "I see your point to an extent, but how would you do that without taking the powers from the good guys?"

"That is one small problem. Some heroes may lose their powers, but that is not our goal. We only wish to depower the villains."

"Why do you need me?"

"Very simple, Diamondback. We need your new team to help us. We just want you to bring them to us so that we can talk to them."

"Why don't you just approach them yourself?"

"With our histories as villains, I don't think they would listen to us. But if you go to them first, we should get them to listen to us."

"I will have to think about it."

"Take your time, Diamondback."

An undisclosed research lab in New York City that is close to the bar where the Champions are hanging out. A six armed figure teleports into the lab area and kills the scientists there. She then takes an object she came to get and teleports out.

Back at the bar.

Hercules and Thor are holding Living Laser above their heads.

"Does thou givest up?" Hercules asks.

"I give up. I give up" Living Laser says. He is thinking to himself why no one showed up not realizing that he was set up to keep the heroes from the research lab.

Next Issue: More on the mysterious offer for Diamondback and the Pay Per View bout between Hercules and Thor. WCW and the WWF have nothing compared to this Pay Per View.