Hawkeye
| May #5 |
Writer: Scott Chamberlain
Editor: Van Plexico
Yet these four souls remained at large in his realm. He scanned the plane from his throne, his general, Azreax, commanded the search in the field. Still, nothing.
Mephisto couldnt shake the feeling that he was somehow missing something. As thorough as the search was, a niggling at the back of his mind told him he had not turned every stone over yet. Frowning, he made mental contact with Azreax. "General, report!"
The voice of Azreax spoke into his mind. My lord, the search goes on, but we have not found them yet.
Mephisto raged. Grabbing a nearby cowering demonling-servant, he ripped the pitiful creature limb from screaming limb. "FIND THEM, AZREAX!!! OR NEXT TIME IT WILL BE YOU THAT I REND ASUNDER!!!"
Azreax remained poised and calm, having dealt with these episodes before. My Lord Mephisto, we do all we can to find them. They will not escape our grasp much longer.
Mephisto nodded calmly, the rage still barely under the surface. "I hope for your sake, that is the case Azreax." He severed the mental link, and regained his throne. Resuming his vigil of the images on the wall, he muttered to himself. "Where...?"
Hawkeye led the foursome through the maze of halls that was the home of Mephisto. Behind him, Dr. Strange followed closely, then the Swordsman. Taking up rear-guard was the USAgent, who kept looking behind himself, as if watching for pursuit.
At a cross-corridor, Hawkeye came to a stop. "This is ridiculous. We're hopelessly lost in a hive of hallways. Do you have any idea where we are, Strange?"
The Sorceror Supreme shook his head. "I am afraid I am as lost as the rest of you."
Hawkeye spat, frustrated. "Well, I'm open to suggestions. Anyone?"
The Agent looked around "We could split up, cover more ground that way."
Strange shook his head. "Foolish. We'd only get ourselves lost from each other. Also, alone each of us would be that much easier to defeat by Mephisto's roving patrols."
The Swordsman was rubbing his forehead. He had felt light headed ever since entering the citadel. Just need rest... He thought to himself. "He'd keep Mockingbird close to him..."
Hawkeye nodded. "Yes, as close to him as possible, since he knows we're coming for her." He scowled "But that doesnt tell us how to find him."
"I beg to differ" broke in Strange "It tells us exactly where to look."
The other three looked at Strange blankly, waiting for him to explain.
"Don't you see? Mephisto built this tower so high for a reason." He waited for the others to catch on.
"So that he could watch all of his land?" asked the Agent.
"Exactly." said Strange. "And the best vantage point to observe the whole of his land would be at the top. Gentleman, Mockingbird is at the top of this tower."
Hawkeye nodded "You're right, Stephen. It means though, that to get her back, we'll have to face Mephisto." Hawk looked at each of them in turn. "I cant ask any of you to go farther. You have all risked so much just to get me this far-"
The USAgent cut him off. "Oh please. We're going with you and if you think Mephisto is hard to deal with, just see what happens if you try to leave me behind." He grinned, but a tinge of warning was behind his eyes.
Still, Clint felt adamant about going it alone. Strange placed a hand on Clint's shoulder and spoke softly. "Clint, you know that the four of us have very little chance of succeeding in this. However, if you go alone, without our aid, you will die. Only together, with our combined array of powers and abilities, do we stand a chance."
Hawkeye's shoulders sagged. He let out a sigh of frustration. "You're right, but I just dont like the idea that I'm sending good friends to their deaths."
Strange smiled. "No one forced us all to come with you. We all did so of our own free will." He gestured to the hallway. "Now, please lead on."
Hawkeye looked at his friends again, then turned back down the hall and started walking.
The Swordsman looked at USAgent "Agent, I'll take rear-guard for a while. I need something to do other than putting one foot in front of the other for awhile."
The Agent shrugged and walked ahead. "Suit yourself."
The Swordsman lingered awhile, when the others were a bit ahead, he held his head in his hands. The light-headedness had become a booming pain. He bent over and whispered to himself. "What is this...???" Suddenly he realized what it was. A call. The pain in his head was something in the citadel calling to him. The closer he got to it, the harder the throbbing in his head became. He found he could no longer resist the call, so he looked to see if the others noticed him. Satisfied that they did not, he moved quietly down a side corridor, drawing closer to the beckoning call.
An island in the South Pacific. On it can be seen an airstrip, and a few buildings. There is much activity here. Men can be seen scurrying around the facilty going about their various tasks. These men are dressed in contruction-yellow jumpsuits with cyndrilical-shaped helmets on. The standard uniform of A.I.M. soldiers.
Inside one of the buildings, a whirligig spins around, a man is attached to the apparatus, firing arrows from a bow. Each of his arrows hit dead on at designated targets. Inside the control room of the building, three men look on with pleased expressions. the identities of these men cannot be seen through the darkened glass of the window.
"He is coming along nicely." One of them says
"Yes, his training is almost complete. Soon, we'll send him into the field."
The third man folded his arms across his chest. "And when we do, Hawkeye will be finished. Then, the rest of the Avengers will follow." The three exchange smiles of satisfaction.
He paced about his throne room, his face a perpetual mask of rage. Demonlings scurried to stay out of his path. Two more had become his victims in the last hour.
Mephisto went to a window. He stared out over the hellish wastes of his plane. Scowling furiously in frustration. He glanced down at the ground around his citadel. Fog slowly churned around the base of the tower. With a sigh of disgust, he turned and resumed his pacing.
He stopped himself mid-stride. "Fog?" he said. His eyebrow arched quizzically. He knew that in a land with no moisture, fog was not possible. "There is no fog in my realm."
Returning to the window, he leaned over the edge and looked down. His features contorted into a snarl and he came back into the room. He knew. He knew where they were now. Once again, he made the mental contact with his general, Azreax.
"Azreax! Return to the citadel at once!"
Mephisto resumed sitting at his throne. He allowed himself a smile. The prey had fallen right into his lap.
So, on went the three, ever upward on the seemingly endless flights of stairs. Finally, after a seeming eternity, they ascended to a long hallway. At the end of this hallway, was a set of gilded golden double-doors. Two gigantic demons guarded this entrance. Armed with flaming swords. The heat of swords could be felt even from the other end of the hallway, where the heroes were.
They stood in the shadows, just beyond the light of the hallway and spoke
"This must be it." said Strange. "I feel the intense mystical power emenating from behind those doors. Mephisto is there."
"And so is Bobbi." said Clint.
The Agent tensed up "What are we waiting for? Lets take them down!"
"No." Strange replied "Let me handle this." He walked out into the light. The guard-demons saw him and shrieked as they charged forward.
Strange chanted the words of magic, and suddenly the demons were no more.
The Agents jaw hit the floor. "How did you do that?"
Strange shrugged "They are merely disposed of temporarily. Once the spells duration wears off they will return here, as they were when they left. But come, let us proceed through the doorway, and meet our fate, whatever that may be."
The three went to the door, and entered.
Inside, the room was bare, nothing but a small table in the center. It was what was on this table which attracted the Swordsman. Two glowing red spheres. They shone with a light that could only be described as life-like. The Swordsman marveled that the spheres. His headaches gone and forgotten. Then, the spheres spoke to him, in his mind.
It is good that you have come, Swordsman. You must take us to the Chamber of Mephisto where you're friends will soon be locked in a struggle for their lives. Only with our help, can you all hope to survive.
The Swordsman was awestruck "Who... Who are you?"
It is of no consequence. Suffice to say we do not belong here anymore than do you. Takes us with you, and we, you and you're friends can all escape together.
Phillip knew in core of his being somehow, that these spheres spoke the truth. He moved to pick them up, one in each hand.
Good, Swordsman. Now quickly! We must reach your friends in time to save them!
The Swordsman left the room at a run.
Dr. Strange shook his head, frowning. "Somethings not right. I sense powerful magics afoot, yet this room seems deserted. Be on guard."
Hawkeye nodded, his eyes taking in the room. The whole place was dominated by the large throne on the dais at the side. Mephisto's throne, no doubt. But Hawkeye wondered why the Demon Lord was not here. "He's definitely up to something Doc, but what?"
Suddenly, with the gain on his hearing aids turned up, Hawk heard a slight shuffling sound and a faint, weak moaning coming from the shadows on the other side of the room. Calling Strange and the Agent's attention to it, he then proceeded cautiously across the room, bow at ready.
The three drew near to the sound, In the shadowy light, they could make out the form of a woman chained to the wall. Her body was thin and gaunt, covered only in rags. Her hair lay matted over her eyes. She moaned softly.
Although she looked wasted and emaciated, Clint took no more than a second to recognize his lost wife. His breath caught in his throat and he lowered his bow. "Bobbi...? Bobbi!"
She started and the sound of the voice, then looked slowly up at him, her blue eyes still showing much life in them. "Clint...? You...came for...me...?"
Hawkeye dropped his bow and went to her. "Oh Bobbi, of course I came! I've got to get you out of here!" he strained against the shackles binding her to the wall. "Agent! I need your help here!"
She managed to smile up at him. "I'm glad you came, Clint." Suddenly, her arms were out of the shackles and around Hawkeye's neck with a strength which belied her apparently withered limbs. Her voice was no longer weak, but powerful and no longer hers, but that of the Prince of Lies. "Oh so VERY glad, Hawkeye!" The form of Bobbi had changed to the giant form of Mephisto. Hawkeye was lifted into the air, struggling to get breath and overcome his shock.
"No!" Strange had shouted, just before Mephisto had revealed himself, but he had seen through the deception too late to stop Hawkeye.
The Agent looked up at the towering form of Mephisto, and without hesitation, leapt into action. "Photon shields, ignite!" He fired off a shield at the demon, but it had little effect.
Suddenly, the Agent was blindsided by Azreax, who had appeared with his lieutentants from out of seemingly nowhere. "Ahhh, the USAgent. I shall have the joy of personally ripping your organs from your body one by one!"
Dr. Strange was not taken by suprise. His mystical senses had warned him of the ambush. He raised a force shield, keeping the demons at bay momentarily. Then, he focused his attentions on the still gloating Mephisto. He call upon an extra dimensional power to aid him.
Crimson bands formed around Mephisto, rendering him momentarily immobile. The demon merely laughed, and spoke one word. The bands shattered under the force of the word. He scoffed at Strange. "Cytorrak? You think Cytorrak has any power over me in my own dimension?" He laughed coldly.
Hawkeye saw the hopelessness of the battle raging in the room. He knew Strange was only trying to buy him time to do what he must now do. He was losing consciousness in the iron grip of Mephisto. Quickly, he spoke the words. "Let the bargain... be completed..." Fire shot through his innards. He screamed with what little air was left in his body as a greenish cloud of smoke began to escape his lips.
Mephisto grinned savagely. Everything he had hoped for had come to pass. He looked to Azreax. The demon was fighting USAgent to a standstill so far, but he knew sooner or later his general would gain the upper hand. His gaze shifted to Strange. The wizard was still safe behind his force-field, but soon the demons would batter it down and Strange would die as well. Then he heard Hawkeye's scream. He arched an eyebrow at the archer and noted the green smoke coming from him. Astonished, he dropped Hawkeye as the green smoke coalesed into a form. A form he recognized as he shouted out the name. "Satannish!!!"
Swordsman! spoke the spheres into his mind. You must not halt now, we draw near to the throne of your friends. Their lives are imperiled. We must make haste!
The Swordsman panted. "I must rest if I am to be of any use to them. I cannot even summon the strength to raise my sword in the state I'm in at the moment."
Your strength in this struggle is of no importance, Swordsman. You must get us to the fight. That is your only hope.
The Swordsman sighed and nodded. He began stumbling down the hallways again.
The USAgent had been locked in a death struggle with Azreax. He looked for some opening to beat the monster, but Azreax was a smart and savvy fighter. The Agent was back on his heels. He looked to his friends, but neither were in any condition to help. Then, Satannish came into play, and Azreax's attention was diverted by his masters outcry. The Agent used the momentary diversion. He unleashed his haymaker, connecting squarely with the demons jaw. Azreax sailed backwards stunned and hit the wall with a bone crushing impact. He layed on the floor and did not move again. Not taking time to be impressed with himself, the Agent moved quickly to assist Dr. Strange.
Hawkeye was on the floor in a daze for some time. Finally he lifted his head off the ground and looked about him. Mephisto and Satannish were dueling, to the death it seemed, but Hawkeye doubted either of them would be willing to go that far. Dr. Strange's shield had almost given in to the demonic assault. He used various spells to knock them back, but the horde was too numerous to hold off much longer. Then he saw the Agent jump into the fray. Demons went sailing in all directions as he plunged into their ranks. They were caught off guard and panicked. Hawkeye looked for his bow, finding it a few feet away. He nocked it, sending his last sonic arrow into the throng. Demons howled with pain, holding their ears. He fired off a few electro arrows, several more went down. The demons, under the combined assault of Hawkeye, the Agent, and Dr. Strange finally broke and ran, having no longer the support of Mephisto or Azreax.
Strange lowered his mystic shield as Hawk and the Agent ran over to him. He watched the fight between the two Demon Lords. "Satannish is losing. He cannot hope to prevail here, in his enemies very own realm." He looked at Hawkeye. "Whatever we do, we must do it now, while we have the chance."
Hawkeye did not hesitate. "Use the Eye, Doc. Mephisto cant block you from using it while fighting for his life. We can find Bobbi."
Strange nodded and held the Eye of Agamotto aloft again. He spoke the words and contentrated as the Eye did its work.
The Agent watched the fight between demons while this went on. He saw that Satannish was now giving ground before Mephisto. He looked back to Strange "Hurry Doc! We dont have much longer!"
Strange continued concentrating on the Eye. Finally after several minutes he opened his eyes let the Eye down. "I... I cant find any sign of Mockingbird, Clint."
Clint stared at him, not comprehending what the Doctor meant. "You cant find her? You mean Mephisto is still blocking the eye from working here?"
Strange shook his head sadly "No Clint. Nothing blocks the Eye. It cannot find her because... she is not here."
Hawkeye stumbled backward a few steps, struck dumb. He backpedaled against the wall and slid to the ground holding his face in his hands. "No........no..."
The Agent came up to him. "Clint, get up. If she's not here, then we need to get out as fast as we can!"
Hawkye didnt look at him, he kept his face in his hands. "Just leave me alone, Jack. Leave without me. I want to just lay here and die."
the Agent grabbed Hawk by the collar with both hands and shook him. "Damnit Barton! Snap out of this! What would Bobbi say if she saw you like this? I'll tell you what she would say!"
Hawk's face was awash with rage. "Shut up Jack! Just leave me. Alone."
The Agent wasnt finished. "What would Cap say if he saw you like this?"
Hawkeye jumped up and shoved the Agent away. "No!" he was seething, but he grabbed his bow. "Allright Agent. We'll get out of here, but after we're gone, you'll get yours!"
"Fine." Said the Agent. "Lets just get out of here first."
Strange was standing at an archway in one corner of the room. "This is a dimensional gateway. From here we can escape and-"
Satannish howled as a blast of enervating energy coursed through his body. He slumped to his knees. Mephisto cast another spell, blocking the dimensional gateway with a mystical barrier. "Oh no, my new aquisitions. You will not be escaping my grasp today. Satannish was your last card and he has been played. Now, I will deal with you personally." He laughed and approached "Who knows, perhaps one day, you might even come to enjoy being my minions!" His hands were aglow in arcane enrgy as he prepared to end te heroes lives. The three readied themselves for one last stand against the Demon Lord.
Then the doors burst open and the room was lit in reddish light. The Swordsman entered, carrying one of the red spheres in each hand. The spheres spoke mentally to Mephisto, though everyone in the room could hear them in their minds.
No Mephisto, we will not allow this. We have come at last to stop you. These four men and ourselves will leave your realm unharmed. A look of stark horror swept over Mephisto's face as he realized what the spheres were. "NO!!!" he screeched in terror. "I did not fight so hard to win you, only to lose you again now!" He prepared his mightiest magics to hurl at the Swordsman and reclaim the spheres as his own.
Then, each of the spheres sent out a lance of reddish light at the demon. The rays penetrated him and he screamed in agony as he began to shrivel and shrink in stature. Finally, he collapsed on the ground. The mystical field blocking the dimensional gateway opened once again. The way to escape was free.
Satannish rose to his feet. Seeing Mephisto laying prone. He laughed and kicked him. "Now, while you sleep, I'll take the liberty of relieving you of some of your denizens. therby strengthening my realm. Thank you so much for your hospitality, Mephisto." Satannish spit on him and disappeared from the room in an instant.
The spheres spoke to the four heroes once again. Now, quickly, before Mephisto revives and attempts to stop us, we must leave this place.
Strange looked at the spheres in wonder, as did Hawkeye and the Agent. "What are you?" he asked. "Ive never seen or heard of anything like you before."
That is not important now. Only getting out of here matters. Let us depart.
The four heroes left Mephisto's realm with the spheres. Leaving the demon alone and defeated.
Strange looked sadly at Hawkeye. "Not completely, Wong. Not completely."
Upon arrival at the Sanctum Sanctorum of Dr. Strange, the two spheres Spoke with each other, sharing a telepathic link that no one else could intrude upon.
We have returned, brother. But we can't let them remember this. We must erase their memories of our involment.
Agreed brother. It is too dangerous for them to know of us yet, but someday, we can reveal ourselves to them once again.
Very well. Let us do this and be gone.
The spheres sent out a warm glow, wiping the knowlege of their existence from everyone in the room. they then floated away and out sight from mankind.
Los Angeles, a cemetary.
"It was all ruse, Bobbi. I was played like a chess piece and because of it, I nearly got three other people killed." He took another swig from the liquor bottle, which he had been nursing for the better part of two hours now.
"I'm no good to anyone anymore. People trust me and they wind up getting killed because of it. Just like you did. Now you really are gone, and I'm alone in the world.
Clint Barton leaned back against the gravestone, his eyes looking out at the view, but not seeing anything.
"I don't know how to go on..."
Next Issue: An Old Friend. An Old Flame.
Well... the crickets were chirping in the mailroom after last issue. I'm not sure whether or not thats good or bad. :) But, I did get one letter:
From: luna@pvtnetworks.net
Wow Scott. Yours is the only fanfic I have been reading. The stories keep getting better and better. Thanks for the great stories.
Chris Luna
Thanks, Chris. The kind words are appreciated. :)
I'm pretty anxious to hear what you all have to think about this issues controversial ending. So c'mon. Hit me with you best shot. Seeya in 30!