#3 - Haunted by the Past

By Barry Reese

CONTINUITY NOTE : This story picks up after the Kree-Shi'ar War, still available on an MV1 website near you!

DURING THE KREE-SHI'AR WAR

Captain America cleared his throat. "All right people, we're leaving shortly so there are a few things we need to discuss first." He turned towards the Black Knight and tried to keep his voice emotionless. "Dane, since we are going to be meeting with the leaders of the Kree rebel factions I think that your presence could be, uhh, detrimental to our discussions so I'm assigning you to our earthside team."

Dane Whitman, eyes furious, snapped, "Of course the fact that you don't want me with you has nothing to do with your decision, does it, Captain?"

Steve leveled a piercing glance at him. "Black Knight, I try very hard never to let my personal feeling interfere with my battle strategy, but sometimes your attitude sorely tempts me to reply in the affirmative." He swung his eyes to include the rest of the room. "I've made these assignments based on what is best for the mission and the team, and I expect - no - I demand, everyone's co-operation." Hawkeye stepped up beside him, backing Cap's statement with his presence. Steve continued, "All of you volunteered for this mission but if anyone wants out now...."

They all stood in silence for a moment and Dane slowly shook his head. He couldn't stop the pounding of his heart as his cheeks reddened with embarrasment. Cap continued talking, but his words were lost in the crimson wave of anger that swallowed up Dane Whitman's thoughts*.

(*The above scene is courtesy of Avengers Giant-Size # 7 by Lonni Holland.)

LONDON, THE PRESENT

Strider, Dane's winged horse, flew over London. His owner and master sat quietly above, his mind reeling from the events of the past week. Despite the fact that he had been instrumental in saving earth via the protective shield he'd helped create, Dane felt like he'd been shafted during the whole affair. Captain America had basically stripped him down in front of the other Avengers, implying that Dane was a loose cannon. The Black Knight was having some trouble reconciling his current emotions with the extreme respect he'd always felt towards Cap in the past. Even when not seeing eye-to-eye with the Sentinel of Liberty, Dane always felt that deep down, Steve Rogers was a man of honor. But now...the sheer hypocricy of the man was overwhelming! Cap still held a grudge against Dane because of the Operation : Galactic Storm affair, in which Dane had sided with the group that sought to slay the Supreme Intelligence -- but Cap had killed when necessary in the past*. To pretend now that murder in wartime was something that a true 'hero' would never do...where did he get off being so self-important? Dane continued to seethe.

(*Don't believe it? Check out Jess Nevins' Liberators series for examples of Cap's wartime actions.)

If Cap had at least apologized in the aftermath of the Kree-Shi'ar affair...congratulated Dane for his hard work...but nothing was coming from him. Dane shook his head as he saw that London had faded into the distance -- he saw the outline of Garrett Castle up ahead and smiled. Home. Away from old lovers and false friends...

Old lovers. The very words tore open fresh wounds in Dane's heart. He hadn't gotten a chance to talk to Crystal during the War and he couldn't help wondering if that hadn't been a stroke of luck. He owed it to her to let her work things out with Pietro.

And the Black Knight's dark musings went on, even after he had set Strider down on the roof of the castle. On this night, at least, there was no escaping the turmoil in his heart.

"I'm tellin' ya, it's him."

Prime stood next to Ghoul and raised a hand to block the sun. He squinted, trying to make out the figure who stood in the window of Garret Castle. "I can't tell. If it is him, I wonder where he's been?" The two figures stood on a hilltop overlooking the castle, both leaning low to see below.

Ghoul snorted. "Off saving the freakin' planet, probably. That's what he does. Some guys go to tractor pulls or roller derby, Dane skips through dimensions." Ghoul took out a crumpled newspaper and looked at it. A picture of Dane, taken from an interview with Scientific American, was emblazoned across the page, with the headline "American Scientist Comes Back to Ancestral Home". Ghoul pointed. "Piece of Evidence # 1 : This here's Garret Castle, the guy's home. Piece of Evidence # 2 : There's a guy Dane's height in that window down there shaving. Piece of Evidence # 3 : I'm tired of rotting out here in the woods waiting for him and if that ain't him, that's tough, 'cause I'm going in anyway." He glanced up at the towering Prime. "So howzabout we stop playing detective and just fly down there and see if he remembers his old pals?"

Prime nodded. He was tired of waiting, too. In the week that they'd been here he hadn't been able to take a bath even once. Like a dummy, he'd forgotten to bring any money with him and Ghoul's money had fallen out of his pocket during their flight from Captain UK*. Sure, his Prime body kept him relatively clean on the inside, but on the outside he was starting to feel all grungy. "Say, Ghoul..."

(*Ghoul and Prime met Captain UK last ish.)

"Yeah?" Ghoul rolled his eyes towards Prime. A worm pushed through the decaying flesh around his left eye.

"Um...You think we've been gone for a week back home, too? I mean...I have folks who might be wondering where I am." Not to mention school, he thought....

Ghoul shrugged. "How the heck should I know? I ain't never been to an alternate earth before -- maybe our Dimension-hoppin' gizmo will take us back to when we left. Don't worry about it."

Prime nodded, lifting Ghoul easily. "Okay... I guess we better go. I hope he's glad to see us..."

THE ULTRAVERSE

Lord Pumpkin moved forward slowly, into the darkened home of Proctor. Pumpkin detested the man, considering him as weak and insignificant as most other humans, but he also knew an opportunity when he saw one. And Proctor's little group of Gatherers had a chance to turn this world on its ear...Something that Pumpkin would enjoy seeing quite a bit.

Pumpkin himself was a strange sight to see. Tall and bone-thin, his head was a jack-o-lantern that glowed with an inner green fury. He wore a suit but it only enhanced his demonic appearance. Once upon a time, he'd been a plaything for a spoiled little prince who had delighted in abusing and killing Pumpkin again and again. But finally, something had snapped inside Pumpkin...and it was suddenly him doing the killing...He much preferred the latter arrangement.

Pumpkin's sorcerous eyes could see in the dark well enough and he saw the figure of Proctor standing before the flickering fireplace. So easy it would be...to push the pompous fool into the flames...Some other time, perhaps. "Proctor...We failed. Prime and the cadavar are still free in that other world..."

Proctor turned and cast his red eyes on Lord Pumpkin. He was a Dane Whitman of another world, one in which he'd lost everything as a result of the Eternal Sersi. "I see. Not totally unsurprising. I've noted that the villains of this world fail on a rather frequent basis. Did you retrieve the other item that I wanted?"

Pumpkin held up a tightly wrapped package. "Yes...Though it was hard to come by. We were confused by the fact that my eldritch energies detected a second blade of the same nature..."

Proctor reached out and snapped up the package. He could feel the Ebony Blade pulsing within. "No doubt you felt the presence of the other Ebony Blade*...the one that's natural to that world. Where did you find my blade?"

(*The other Ebony Blade is in the possession of Bloodwraith, as seen in our last two issues.)

Lord Pumpkin's horrific face leered. "The Avengers that you mentioned to me had placed it into the custody of a group called Project :Pegasus. It was easily retrieved...with much bloodshed."

Proctor's eyes flashed as he drew the blade from the wrapping. "Yes...Now I am complete. My dreams were crushed before, but this time there won't be any stopping me. This time, all my dreams of vengeance shall come true!"

"Hiya, Dane. Miss us?"

The sound of Ghoul's voice started Dane so badly that his razor slipped somewhat, opening a nasty looking gash on the underside of his chin. "Damn! What the hell?"

He whirled about towards the window and for one of the few times in his life, fell completely speechless. Prime hovered there, holding a waving Ghoul in his arms. The undead hero was grinning comically. "So, um...are you going to invite us in or not?"

Dane recovered quickly, motioning them in. "Of course! How in the hell did you get here?!"

Prime set Ghoul down gently. "We managed to come over thanks to this device...it's not really science-based. Mantra says it's more a mystic kind of thing..."

Ghoul waved a hand to silence Prime. "Yeah, yeah. He doesn't really care. Look, BK, we need ya."

Dane rubbed a hand over his bloodied chin. "Hmm. Well, I can try to help...but I'm pretty busy these days with the Crusaders. I'm not sure I have time to join up with Ultraforce again..."

Prime leaned forward, worry etched on his features. "You don't understand, Dane. We wouldn't have come unless it was important! There's a guy back on our earth who's organized all the toughest villains in the world into a group called the Gatherers and..."

Dane froze. "The...Gatherers?" He turned away, his head reeling. The Gatherers...the group of ersatz, alternate reality Avengers organized by his doppleganger, Proctor. They had nearly destroyed the Avengers before finally being defeated*.

(*See Avengers # 375 for the thrilling final battle.)

Ghoul glanced up at Prime. "I think he's heard of 'em."

Dane nodded. "Yes. I've heard of them, alright. Their leader, Proctor...he was...another version of me. From another world."

Prime gasped. "You?! We didn't know that!"

Ghoul made a mock expression of shock. "Gasp!" He shook his head. "Can the dramatics, Prime-baby." He stepped towards Dane. "This Proctor guy...we've never seen him. But we've heard plenty. They've been attacking all the Ultras, one by one. They nearly killed poor Solitaire, and you don't want to know what they did to those Freex kids...The rest of us have banded together in Ultraforce, but this Proctor guy's a pro. We hear he's been hunting heroes from world to world...None of us have as much experience, not even Hardcase."

Prime interrupted him. "Yeah...and Mantra tried to cast some sort of spell to find out more about him and all she kept getting was images of you! So we were sent to bring you back with us..."

Dane sighed. "I really shouldn't. I have responsibilities to the Crusaders...but I can't let him keep doing this. I thought it was over the last time, but the villains always seem to come back." He stepped in front of the mirror and looked at the amulet around his neck. He mouthed the word, "Avalon."

The armor appeared around him, the Sword of Light in his hand and the Shield of Night on his arm. Ghoul nodded appreciatively. "Looks like you learned a few new tricks, BK."

The Black Knight nodded, all his concerns of the past few days gone. Captain America might not appreciate him, but these people did. To them, there was no question about his ability. "I'll come with you. Proctor has to be stopped, and I'm just the one to do it..."

Written In Black

Barry,

Barry Reese