Castle Siege
10/1/1947, Fort Erskine, Teton Wilderness
The two of them had been looking towards each other now and as they did so, there was a agreed thought between them now, the two of them were a sort of weird right now as the man that was known as The Menace had stood up and walked towards them, “We might know someone related to Project Tomorrow.” He said as Vanessa Baker leaned back right now, “One of the most insane men on the planet.”
Hearing that, Zarda had looked at them, “Then we will need to find your contact and–” “Already done.” Vanessa told them as she had handed a file towards Menace who proceeded to hand it over, “His usual base of operations has moved over to Yellostone under a cloak, we will need the whole team to deal with him.” She continued as Menace started to check his ammunition.
Seeing how he seemed to ready for a fight for who they assumed was a friend, then he must have been dangerous and that was not something that boded well now as Joseph spoke, “Who exactly is this man?” he asked now, making Vanessa smirk now, “What makes you think it’s a man?” she had asked and hearing that, the Squadron didn’t like how cagey they were being with details.
“He’s an old son of a bitch that isn’t afraid to improve machinery with biology, even his own.” Menace had admitted towards them now as they proceeded to head towards the exit now, “For now, you can simply call him Frankenstein as a target name.” The vigilante said now and hearing that, They started to look as the group began to walk now towards the location now.
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10/1/1947, Castle Chambers, Yellowstone National Park
Vanessa and the Menace had lead them towards a castle and there they had seen that there was a energy field as they started to walk now, all of them looking right now at the ancient architecture that was there but the steamwork and technology made it seem like it was a living thing which made them a bit worried right now as each of them walked further in the Castle.
The Squadron started to see that there was a large array of tapestries that were there now and they made the group a bit nervous right about now before Robbie and Walter started to move, “Careful, Frankenstein enjoys his traps.” Vanessa told them now which made the two speedsters nod towards that as they went and ran forward there now, as they did so, there was a noise.
It sounded like a groaning from loud creatures, the grinding of metal and some small explosions which was making the group look and then going to walk forward now, the group looking around towards everything right now when they had seen that there was a few doors that were opening up now and the tendrils that were a part of them starting to grab at the fellows now.
They were fighting now, Joseph blasting at a few of them now with Zarda slashing at a few now, they couldn’t hear the sound of the speedsters right now as Jim who had been gathered started to burn and melt them, until they had eventually started to remove everything right now which was when they had seen that there were spheres starting to shoot up and then going to grab at them.
They started to fight against them now, trying to cut and slash and burn at them which was when they had seen that the inside had organs and the bones that were there now which made the group pause in shock at the sight as each of them had been dragged down a shaft now and as they had done so, the Jefferson Chambers, the master of The Castle, had thought that his allies were being foolish right now.
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10/1/1947, Dungeon Alpha, Castle Chambers
Menace and Vanessa had been looking at the door right now while Zarda and Walter had started to get their own bearings at the moment when there was a noise now which made The four of them look to see that there was a ticking from a VERY loud clock that had a monster there which seemed to be modeled after The fabled Chimera it seemed, “We need to get out of here.” Vanessa explained.
That made the two of them get up now as Zarda had went and grabbed at her sword, going to stab into said door which made Menace look at the small hole that was in there, “Perfect.” he said towards them now which made the group confused as he pulled out a few vials from his utility belt and proceeded to pour them in the hole until he pulled out a small spike fit perfect for the hole.
“I need someone to do a high speed steady beat.” Menace said as he looked towards the three of them which made Walter approach, “Around it in a ring or somewhere specific.” He asked which made Menace look at the wall again, “Ring around them all.” he said towards the speedster who had nodded now as they went ahead and did as much right now.
As soon as he did as much, the chemicals that were in the hole started to bubble up and then began to eat into the wall before it had eventually to eat at it and create a hole large enough for them start to walk now towards the hall and looking around, “If I recall Frankenstein’s setup, he usually keep the two dungeons on opposite ends of the castle.” Vanessa said as Walter nodded and went to run now
He went to run towards the opposite end and as he did so, the others had seen that the statues that were there started to move and reveal that there were monsters who had appeared to be made in the image of gargoyles who started to attack them, but they had been ready to fight now as the trio went and started to fight against the beasts that were there as Walter went to free them now.
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10/1/1947, Dungeon Beta, Castle Chambers
The group had been working on the freedom, Joseph and Jim creating a blowtorch of sorts and carving into the wall as they saw that there was a Chimera that had been there with a clock, making the two men go faster and faster with it before they had finally finished up and Skymax took charge, growing into a large beast to charge and ram through the cut section now.
Tearing it off of the wall now, the Skrull and others had looked around towards everything that was there and saw that the hall had Walter there ready to free them and then others all fighting the gargoyles that were there, seeing that, the two halves of the team had went ti fight now, Doctor Spectrum creating a umbrella over the hall with the rim creating spikes to stab through a majority of them.
Zarda had smiled towards her friend now as they started to deal with the others that were there, the Squadron doing their work now so that they would be able to give themselves a little space now and once they had done so, the group looked to Vanessa and Menace, “How do we get out of here?” Zarda asked and hearing that, Menace had went and started to work with his pistol, making it larger thanks to his pockets.
“How much do you think Frankenstein shifted around since our last visit?” he asked, making the detective think on that when She spoke, “I think that we’ve gotta chance of only being a… 32.79% change in the architecture.” she said and hearing that, Menace had nodded, “Good enough, he never leaves his soldiers above the dungeons anyways.” Menace said before he fired the now rifle like.
The group watched as the bullet had been larger and looked like a small machine with vials as it had made contact,the first vial breaking and burning through the ceiling as it continued after it now as it went and broke through two more floors now, seeing this, they wondered what kind of technology caused that as Vanessa looked to Joseph, “Doctor Spectrum, if you would be so kind.” she said for him to lift them up now.
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10/1/1947, Engine Room, Castle Chambers
The group had been lifted by a pad now and as they looked around at everything, they saw that it seemed like a large mechanical heart was filling the room now which made the group look towards it all when there was a voice, “Vanessa… Menace… it’s been a long while, not since The Kraken,” a voice said, making them look at the pair, “Do you remember those Atlanteans we ‘found’?” he asked.
That made the group look towards them both with glares, “I already gave them away to Doctor Dorcas, but the results that I had acquired are QUITE interesting,” He said to them, “I call them Deeplings.” He explained as creatures started to leap through the hole now, the monsters hissing towards them now, their needle like teeth and large bulbous with no hair but a fin.
They had leapt forward as Zarda slashed at one, but as she did so, removing a limb, tentacles had started to grow out now and shot towards them, Joseph, seeing this, had went and created a bubble around it now while the limb started to move now which made Vanessa pull out her blade from her cane and proceeded to stab it now, lifting the item in the air now with a curious look.
The creatures had looked at them all feral right now and as they had done so, the Squadron started to contain them now as Skymax and Jim went ahead and started to tear out metal, going to create a cage as the man went ahead and started to do as much as the Deeplings were all brought near the hottest place in the engine room and as they did so, the two of them sprung the attack.
Catching the creatures in their cage now, they had started to screech and thrash now, trying to free themselves now with a bit of a frenzy as they looked at them, “How the Hell are these possible?” Walter asked as he looked towards them with a bit of confusion and curiosity at the sight when Zarda spoke, “Joseph, can you carry them? I want to return them to the Atlantean government.” she told him.
He nodded towards that as they both went and started to make sure that everything was secure and nothing would be able to get out now when they had started to move upwards now and seen that there was something that made the group pause as the walls had begun to change, becoming darker now, reacting, Jim set himself completely on fire as they saw that there was a sight now.
They noticed that there was a scene of monstrosities there which made Menace scowl, “It seems that the bastard had been using pages from that book.” he snarled before tossing a knife to Vanessa and others, “Cut them with those and they can’t heal.” he said as Vanessa sighed while Zarda had readied herself to fight against the monsters now, their claws and tendrils starting to claw and attack them.
The others had either went to eat, Zarda had two in hand now as she had lead the fight, the walls moving and shifting until there was a hole there which had confused the woman, looking forward now, she had went to peek over it now and as she did so, there was something that made her surprised, “Uh… are we flying?” she asked the others, just as she had been hit by a tendril.
Getting thrown off of the building, she had started to fall, the Castle appearing to create a large maw now that opened and spit out all of them and their captives, the Sqadron reacting, Joseph creating a platform for the speedsters and non–flyers while Skymax and Jim took the cage, the group relieved that none of them had died at the fall as it seemed that the castle was moving to escape now.
“We can’t let it escape!” she said before looking to who was there, “Spectrum, we need to get up there, call in Harrison too!” she told them, making the others nod as Spectrum started to radio in their eye in the sky who went and shot downwards like a cannon now, right into the highest tower, “Shall we then?” Robert asked as they had all started to move to face off against him.
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10/1/1947, Command Center, Castle Chambers
Harrison had made an entrance and had now beenfighting the automatons that were there, making sure that there was nothing that was trying to seal the entrance now as the members of The Squadron had come in minus Skymax and The Human Torch, all of them aiming and ready to fight some monster when they saw who exactly was in control of the flying castle before them.
It was an old man who had goggles and a trenchcoat that hung on him, the metal backpack looked like it was melded to his flesh and… he didn’t seem dangerous in any way, but as the man looked, he had rasped out like some ancient horror, “Hello there… Menace… Detective Baker…” he told them which made the group ready to fight now when they saw one of the monsters attack him.
He had groaned in pain as the spike had seemed to be absorbing his energy, making the rainbow like energy there begin to drain away from him, causing Robert to run over and give a velocity enhanced puns to knock it off, destroying the machine as he went to check while Walter had went to work at the controls before he had been electrocuted by one of them now while Menace spoke.
“There’s no way to escape, Frankenstein.” He said, aiming and firing at him, but he simply chuckled now as everything that WASN’T a part of the vessel started to ripple, almost like it was a part of a mirage or something and that was when he spoke, “It was… a pleasure… but I won’t betray Mister Bauer…” he said as all of a sudden, there was a shimmer and they were all standing in nothing but empty air.
“Not Agaaaaaai–!” Joseph had shouted as he started to fall, at least until he had grabbed at everyone now and once he had done so, they all saw that there was nothing there, the Castle had just vanished as if it had been teleported away and seeing that, they had all been confused, but there was something there now, there was a Bauer, and that was going to help them figure out what to do next.
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10/1/1947, Maximus’ Lab, Attilan
The Prince of Attilan had been sitting in his chair when he saw that his brother was entering now and looked around, “Black Bolt,” he said, making the man look towards him, the new little nickname that people called him having stuck and Max had to admit that he liked it, “To what do I owe the pleasure? I thought that you didn’t like science?” he had teased towards him now.
That made the King raise an eyebrow before he had motioned towards a gameboard that he had a gameboard on the table(Inhumans Vol.4 #1), that he pointed at, “You want me to make one for you and the rest of the family?” he asked, making Black Bolt nod towards him, “Lucky for you, Gorgon already asked me.” he said, going to grab at the board in question.
This one was larger and much fancier, a projector was also installed so they could use the floor for it, “I think that the ball room no one uses would be good for this, maybe even make it for a little war council.” he said now as the clay that made up the pieces had shifted and moved, ready to take control as he lifted it up with a bit f effort, “How about we go and play?”
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10/1/1947, Lesser Ballroom, The Royal Palace
The brothers had started to move now, looking at the little game that was there, looking as they went and started to input the data that was there, the figures started to form up on the board and as they had done so, the group had looked towards the information that was there and as they began to work on it, Black Bolt had spoken in his own way which made Maximus roll his eyes.
“I am fine, brother.” he said towards him, “Whatever had happened that took my powers, it made me… not that, anymore.” he said towards him which made the King nod as they had seen their pieces, the headsets that they wore starting to work with their minds and what came from them were forming as a small group of soldiers in the uniform of The Royal Guard there ready to fight.
Max’s on the other hand had revealed a horde of the changed, all of them looking ready to snarl and hiss towards him now before they saw that there was a thing which made the King surprised, seeing how there was a projection on the floor, “This is why I recommended that we make it a part of your war room meetings.” he said to his siblings now, smirking as his mind started to work and play with the pieces.
“Simply think and the pieces will move, their focus is your focus.” he stated now, making Black Bolt nod as he gave out the orders towards the creatures mentally, their actions followed by his will while Maximus had mentally laughed now as he went and started to release his horrors upon them, the creatures starting to devour and grow as they had done so, becoming a large beast that had roared out.
But Black Bolts soldiers had worked in unity, their powers started to create a synergy now, said synergy allowing them to work together as a unit and thus tear parts off of the monster which had screamed in pain, making Max sigh as he tried to attack some more of them with anger and fury, at least before the squadron had went and form their gifts together and thus create a new blast.
That made the beast that he formed begin to break down now and once they had done so, there was a a victory, his unity had defeated his monstrosity, but the damage was done, the headset had gifted him so much information, and he could not wait to continue playing with the others and thus that would give him everything that he needed when his little coup would take place.
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10/31/1947, Manhattan, NYC
The members of the Squadron had decided to enjoying Halloween with The Ayalas, walking through the streets, all of them started to wear out their own costumes there with some changes to make them look fake, but as they started to walk through everywhere now, the group had seen that the White TIger and his family walked over now, “Nestor!” Skymax said, dressed as his true form now.
The Skrull had went to hug him as they went and began to join together, as they had done so, Hector had looked and smiled towards the group, “Hola!” the little boy said towards them as the members of the Squadron had looked around now before seeing that there was some interest as Joseph had went to create some bats made out of his energy now while Jim and Harrison had decided to be a little funny.
They had both moved out of the way so that they could go into an alley, flying up above now and as they had done so, the two of them had went and created a pair of dots over the moon now above and creating a little smile with stitches there as Harrison decided to be a little funny and make the moon wink with now, as he did so, there was some cheering and laughing with some grins right now.
Watching the joy that had some from the children and the wonder that had come from the the children that was there as they went and it made the group want to do their own little thing at the moment as Robert and Walter both grinned and vanished now, making sure that there was no one who saw them now as each of them had went and started to walk through the city and make sure that this Halloween was safe.
They had found candies that had been mixed with chemicals, razor blades in apples, anything that wasn’t safe had been taken and replaced now in less than a couple of minutes now, as the two of them returned, they smiled towards the group, having dropped the dangerous candy in the sewers now then smiling, enjoying their time with each other right now.
They started to take some of the sugary sweets that were there now, going to take them and eat them now, all of the Squadron had wanted to laugh and enjoy their time with each other for the moment now, they had been enjoying themselves together was one of the best things that they could do for themselves right now before seeing that there and ready to help with whatever was ready next year.