Writer: Scott Chamberlain
E.I.C.: Van Plexico

Hawkeye, USAgent, and the Swordsman had come here (last issue --Back-issue Scott) seeking Strange's aid in traversing the dimensional corridors into Mephisto's Realm in order to save the lost soul of Hawkeye's late wife, Mockingbird. They are now gathered together, preparing to make the astral journey.

"Does everyone understand?" asked Strange. "You must not wander from the path we walk on the Astral Plane, else you will become lost forever in the cosmic etherworld. Follow directly behind me at all times until we reach our destination." The others all nodded their heads in assent.

"Well Doc, lets get this show on the road." said Hawkeye.

"Agreed" Chimed in the Agent "I'm ready to bust some skulls."

The Swordsman merely looked on, fingering the hilt of his sword nervously. What have I gotten myself into? he thought.

"Very well, Clint." said Strange. He turned and held the Eye of Agamotto aloft, chanting softly. An aperature opened before them. A dimension of soft pastel colors and indescribable shapes lay beyond the opening. "Gentleman, the Astral Plane." He walked through the aperature, the others follwed behind.

"CURSE THEM!!!" he screeched, throwing a wine goblet across the room. "My gaze does not penetrate the hovel of Strange!" He cast his gaze about the chamber. Demonlings and succubi cowered in fear, lest his gaze should rest on them.

"Azreax! Come forth, my general!"

A powerful-looking black demon, with leathery wings stepped forth. "My Lord?"

"Send out all of my spies. Have them watch all of the exits from Strange's Sanctum. Notify my agents in New York to watch the the house on the physical plane. Send other demons to observe the paths on the Astral and Ethereal planes. They shall not escape my gaze!"

Azreax bowed low "It shall be done, my Lord."

Mephisto sank back into his throne. "Oh no, Archer. Seeking the aid of Strange shall not avail you, in the end. At best, it only muddies the waters a bit. Your doom is still sealed!" He laughed long and hard...

As if on cue, Strange spoke. "Remember to stay with me on the path. Those unfamiliar with the ways of the Astral plane can become hopelessly lost, as I told you earlier."

"How much further Doc?" said Hawkeye "We've been walking for hours."

"The path to Mephisto's Realm is long. Furthermore I have taken many lesser known paths to help evade detection, should someone be looking for us."

Unfortunalety for the good Doctor, someone is looking for them and despite his care, they have been spotted. Two minor demonlings, servants of Mephisto have been charged to watch this little known path, A back-door into the Masters realm. They watch the group approach, then silently fly off to report their findings.

"Who would be looking for us?" asked the Agent. "No one knows we're coming."

"Dont underestimate our foe, USAgent." said Strange "Mephisto is extremely powerful, and it is possible he knows already of our approach. Hopefully we have all been careful enough to suprise him, but we must be ready for anything!"

Hawkeye frowned and gripped his bow tighter. "One way or another, I'm ready to end this."

"We're here." said Strange. "A seldom-used back portal into Mephisto's plane. If were lucky, he is still ignorant of its existence."

"I've never been one to trust in luck, Dr. Strange." said the Swordsman "Lets get on with it."

"Agreed" said Hawkeye, as he stepped first with Strange through the portal.

The foursome stepped onto the blackened plain. Even so far away as they were from the center of the realm, Mepisto's ugly citadel could be seen rising like an obscene gesture in the distance. The four looked all around them, searching for some sign of their discovery. Finally satisfied, they moved on.

"How are we gonna find Mockingbird in all of this?" asked USAgent.

Hawkeye looked dumbfounded "This place must be millions of square miles. I had no idea..."

"We needn't search the whole of the realm, gentlemen. With the help of the Eye of Agamotto, and a simple mental spell, we ought to be able to determine the location of your wife. Now Hawkeye, if you will permit me, I will perform a mental probe on you, learning what pertinent information I can about Mockingbird. I will then use this information with the Eye to help find her. Is this acceptable?"

"Of course!" said Hawkeye without hesitation "Whatever gets Bobbi back to me."

Strange cast the spell. A small tendril of energy shot out from his hand, instantly linking Clint's mind to his own. Images of Mockingbird flooded into Strange's consciousness. Strange filtered out all that was uneccesary, and directed the pertinent information into the Eye of Agamotto. Then severing the link, he took a deep breath before opening his eyes.

"Are you alright?" Strange asked Hawkeye, looking at the archer who seemed unsteady on his feet.

"Yeah, just kinda of dizzy. I'll be alright in a moment."

Strange held the Eye forth, commanding it to scan for Mockingbird. He moved it to and fro for a short while as the others watched. Then he frowned. "Something is wrong. I am picking up nothing at all. Whether or not Mockingbird is here, I should be getting something from it, but I get ...nothing."

"What do you mean?" demanded Hawkeye "Are you saying that Bobbi isnt here? Or is something blocking the Eye from working?"

"Its possible," said Strange "that something is blocking it."

Hawkeye's eyes went wide "But if thats the case, then that could only mean that-"

A thunderous voice cut off Hawkeye's words mid-sentence.

"Yes archer, it can only mean that MEPHISTO has found you!"

The four stood agape as the Lord of the Realm rose up out of the very ground before them, a horde of demon-warriors rose with him.

"You have made a very exceptional pawn, Clint Barton!" Mephisto bragged "I have masterfully manipulated your action, allowing you to believe that I held your dead wife prisoner in my domain! Have you enjoyed the dreams I sent? Did your heart cry out in misery as your wife accused you of leaving her a prisoner here? All of those dreams I implanted into your receptive mind. It was so easy to make you believe in something you already half-suspected anyway! Now as I knew you would, you have brought other, powerful and pure souls to die with you in my realm, thereby increasing my power a hundredfold! But oh my...what is this? Even I could not forsee you bringing Dr. Strange here with you. What an unexpected boon! With his soul in my realm, I can think of grander ambitions than I had originally intended, why, I may become the very master of ALL the nether-realms!"

Mephisto's words hit Clint like a physical blow. He staggered backwards as the full impact of the Demon-lord's pronouncemnt sank in. "No-no...NO! NO!!! "

Faster than lightining, Hawkeye fired off a blast arrow, aimed dead-on for Mephisto's heart. The arrow impacted and exploded.

Mephisto stood, laughing. "Kill them all, minions. This is sport I shall enjoy watching!

Mephisto's demon-horde charged forth, encircling the heroes as they prepared to make their stand. Perhaps for the last time.

NEXT ISSUE: What? You want a next issue? This is hopeless man, hopeless! Oh, what the heck... Be here in thirty for Fatal and Fateful Finale!

Send all letters to beezer@webtv.net. Be sure to include "Harangue" in the subject line.

Oops! Do to an unavoidable clerical error, all the letters for this issue have been lost. (I accidentally deleted them *blush*) But be sure to let me know what you think of this issue and the series as a whole and I promise not to be such a dunderhead, and have some fan-letters up here again next issue! --Scott