Note: This story takes place exactly after Alpha Flight Annual 2001.

"Please, say you'll stay with us a little while longer," Vindicator said to Dei Guan, the Jade Dragon, as he prepared to take his leave of Alpha Flight for the nonce. Mr. Gentry had supplied him with civvies that had been in the Alpha Flight quarters. He was glad to wear them instead of his prison grays.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hudson," he said, "But I really must be going. China Force and the Dream Queen will be after me soon. I expect that they would be quick to respond to their failure to capture me into their fold."

"Believe me, I know that all too well. We are currently engaged in battle with the Dream Queen and her cohorts. You must remember the Dream Queen from the last time we fought. And China Force as well. You would be much safer here with Alpha Flight. Please, stay, and reconsider."

"No, I believe I have to fight them on my own. I don't operate too well on a team. I'm too much of a loner. Anyway, I know the strengths and weaknesses of China Force better than anyone."

"But there is something that you can do. If you ever need us, all you have to do is call. Here is a way to contact us if ever the need arises." Vindicator handed him a calling card and a pair of keys. "This is a key to an apartment that we use sometimes when we are on the run. It's sort of a safe house but I think you would find the furnishings just fine."

"Thank you, Heather. You treat me only too well."

"You're welcome, Dei."

Then, Dei Guan said his goodbyes to the friends that he had met within the ranks of the Alpha Flight and, with the address and pair of keys in hand, he went on his journey to his new apartment complex.

Hours later, the Jade Dragon flew over the streets of Toronto. His mind was on his recent troubles. This new menace of the Dream Queen haunted him night and day. What had she wanted with him? He was sure that China Force was involved somehow but he couldn't figure out how. The last time that Alpha Flight tussled with the Dream Queen, China Force was under her complete and utter thrall. They had to be involved in this mess, too.

Seeing a nearby alleyway adjacent to the apartment complex, the Jade Dragon landed into the alley and changed back into Dei Guan. He quickly got dressed, donning his civilian clothing. He carried his clothes, calling card, and keys in a backpack over his shoulder. He was about to enter the apartment when something or more appropriately someone halted his path of entry. It was a beautiful girl that he recognized. It was the Dream Queen in disguise but he saw through that disguise.

"So, you found me," he said, ready for battle. He knew what powers this Dream Queen possessed, the ability to make people hallucinate their deepest darkest desires and fears. Also she could cause people to turn on their friends.

"It wasn't hard, y'know. A big green dragon flying over Canada. It was bound to be you. And you knew that I wouldn't let you escape after that brief skirmish a little while ago. I remember how Alpha Flight broke the spell that I put on you. You are mine, Dei Guan, now and forever and always."

"You seem awfully confident of yourself. Whatever you can dish out at me, I can eradicate it with my fiery breath and my superhuman strength. You don't stand a chance."

"Do tell." In an instant, the girl that Dei Guan recognized as the Dream Queen transformed into her true form, casting the illusion aside. Her hands were aglow with eldritch energy. And it was then that Dei Guan knew that he was in deep trouble.

Dei Guan tried to transform into the Jade Dragon to escape the magic that she would most surely plant on him but it was too late. He was completely under her spell of enchantment. The dreams and nightmares that he held dear to him and harbored late at night came into existence as he saw that he grew out of control of his dragon self. He burned people and towns, laying waste to Canada itself. He couldn't control himself any longer.

"So, my dear, dear Jade Dragon, are you ready to do my bidding?" she asked, as she held him in a mental hold.

"What do you want me to do now?" he replied.

"Why, become a full fledged member of the newly reformed China Force and kill Alpha Flight once and for all."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

The Alpha Complex, Sasquatch's quarters...

For the past few hours, since Dei Guan left to lounge in his apartment, Walter Langkowksi retired to his room to get some good R & R but he couldn't sleep at all. Aurora was still on his mind. The marriage proposal, her refusal... It came so suddenly.

There was a knock on the door and he said, "Come on in. It's open."

Jeanne-Marie Beaubier walked into the room seeing her lover resting on his bed. She had a surprisingly sad expression on her face. "I believe I owe you an explanation about my declining your marriage proposal."

"I'm listening."

"It's not that I'm not in love with you. I am. Deeply so. But it was all so sudden. I think we should live together for a while before we talk about engagement rings and the like. Don't you agree, ma cherie?" She pouted every time that she said this endearing term for Walter.

"Yes, I agree. I guess I just jumped the gun there." He paused and then said, "C'mere, why don't you sit on the bed with me?"

She complied with his wishes, putting her arms around him. Then, they engaged in a kiss that put all others that they engaged in to shame.

"Let's give it a year, don't you think, Waltair? Then, we'll talk marriage."

"Fair enough. I could get into that."

"I think we should move out of this Complex. Get an apartment all our own. If we lived here, we would only get into more trouble with my brothair. I've been looking through the Canadian Times and I think I found one cheap enough."

"Great. Let's see it."

Aurora handed him the paper of the apartment that she circled. He looked it over and he seemed genuinely impressed with it.

He held her chin, as she smiled for him. "Baby, I think that this could the beginning of a beautiful relationship. I have a great feeling about this."

"So do I."

She smiled, and they held each other for long minutes.

All was silent at the Alpha Complex, as the day wound itself down to nighttime. The Alphans were attending to their own business when there was a priority alert at their own headquarters. It was Talisman who first felt their presence. It was China Force again, minus the Jade Dragon. The Dream Queen kept him for her own private pleasures, like preparing him for the coming battle of Llan's forces and Alpha Flight in the coming weeks.

"Talisman, talk to me," Guardian asked of one of the mystical members of the team, "What do we have here? I read their files in Alphanex but I've never fought them before. I hope they're easier than AIM. They appear to be up to Kamikaze's speed and battle prowess but he's away at the moment searching for Brainwave."

"Don't you worry about it, Guardian. They look harder to beat than they are. No offense to them, of course. They must be under the Dream Queen's spell but we have to defeat them or they'll kill us."

"Then, Alpha Attack!!" Guardian then assembled the team as only a born leader could and he fired his electromagnetic blasts at the many members of China Force.

Talisman noted that there were three new members to this Chinese fighting force. She didn't know their strengths and weaknesses but she suspected she would know soon.

Dog prepared to attack Sasquatch, who had let his Langkowski form fall by the wayside. Dog was ferocious and had a maddened fury about him so he could defeat the more powerful Sasquatch. Sasquatch fell to his knees, trying to punch back Dog.

Rabbit launched herself into another attack to kick her flailing feet at Aurora. Aurora didn't see the attack coming before it was too late. No one knew what the China Force wanted. It seemed that they simply wanted Alpha's deaths and that seemed to concur with what they could gather from the Dream Queen's and Llan's plans for conquest.

"You'll not beat me yet, harlot," Rabbit said, as she continued to kick Aurora in the mouth and defenseless chest.

"Like hell I won't!" Aurora responded, then she yelled to her brother, "To my side, Northstar. We can blind these China Forcers."

"I'm a little busy at the moment," Northstar said, as he was battling the savage Ox. "Can't you get Sasquatch to do it for you? Isn't that what he's good for?"

"Sapriste, brothair. You are still and will always be insufferable."

The battle raged on with no quarter given. Northstar defeated Ox by carrying him in the air and slamming him repeatedly against the walls for the desired effect. He had used that course of action on Wild Child when he was a member of Omega Flight. A shortlived career, that.

When he was done, he used his powers to connect with Aurora and both of them blinded Rabbit and Dog. Sasquatch thanked him kindly without trying to flare up his anger, which was insurmountable.

Puck fought Rat. Rat tried to use her poisons to weaken the powers of Puck. But Puck cartwheeled out of harm's way. And kicked her repeatedly in the face and stomach, sending her hurling in the opposite direction.

Snake stood amid the rubble of battle and announced to the Alphans, "We are China Force, which you most undoubtedly know, but soon, you will belong to the Dream Queen. She has the Jade Dragon and if you ever harm us again, he will die by her hand. But of course, we are free to kill you where you stand. Farewell."

In an instant, China Force disappeared by way of Llan the Sorcerer's evil magic.