|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Underneath
the sewers of Canada, the children of Delta Flight went exploring for any
lifeforms that may be hiding out here under the great cities of the northern
most section of North America. They don’t need a flashlight in the
darkness when they have a human flashlight, which is the living electrical
power battery known as Stephan Gregg. All he has to do is light a finger
or a hand with his mutant powers.
“If Papa Puck knew we were down here, late at night, he would kill us for sure,’ Stacy Holland said, as her fears of punishment rise to the fore. “I think we should go back now. Please.” “Are you kiddin’?” Scott Sherman responded, a hurt expression upon his face. “We came all this way lookin’ for adventure and we’re not gonna back down now.” “I don’t know, Scottie. This could be dangerous. It’s already dark out and we should be getting back.” Scott spun around, his powers activated. Mists of lazer energy began to leak out of his eye sockets. “Am I the only one who wants to have some fun tonight?” Footsteps could be heard in the distance. As they started to listen to it, the footsteps began to grow in intensity and decibel levels. It got closer. And further down in the sewers, as Stephan’s light began to fade when he got nervous, they could see a figure approaching them. It was a large figure. He was bald, his skin color was of an albino hue, and he was some kind of robe. “Let’s get out of here, guys,” Stacy said. They all agreed and started to bolt out of the sewers. But before they could rightfully escape, the albino reached out with his hands to grab the children. They halted in his presence. His influence began to reach out to the minds of the teenagers until they knew no will but his will. For a moment, they stood still, and then, followed the albino to the deep reaches of the sewer’s maw. The teenagers were easily susceptible to another’s influence so it would taken a greater mind than theirs to fight off him. When they reached into a section of the sewer that the albino called home, the children sat down in the waters and the albino sat on a throne and said, “Greetings, children, I am Rok. Many years ago I nearly destroyed some members of Alpha Flight. Now, I plan to finish the job. With your help.” The Alpha Complex
In the area that they were missing, eyewitness accounts noted that a fat, albino like creature was seen. Nemesis knew that that creature could only be Rok. He had two powers; super strength and the power of persuasion. Maybe Persuasion could overpower his influence but she was ill and with her mother in Manitoba. Gentry called this meeting to order. “I want him. I want Rok dead now!!” One of his aides approached Gentry as he went in a tirade to calm him down. He had to remember his blood pressure. He brushed her off, that he could handle this on his own. He was very passionate when children were hurt when a villain wanted to confront the main team. Gentry dimmed the lights as he started his power point presentation with certain file photos of Rok and artist rendering of his last battle with Alpha Flight. Rok first encountered Alpha when he kidnapped Nemesis and beat her to a living pulp. Then, he sent his children who were under his influence and once in the protective care of Nemesis to find Wildchild and bring him to the sewers underneath Canada. He fought Kyle but it was the timely arrival of Garrison Kane who eventually defeated Rok. Gentry excused himself and went to the hallway to get his composure. He had endangered the children. He didn’t know what Rok and his influence could do to the children once they were in his possession. This made him angry. Nemesis approached Gentry. “I’ll go retrieve Rok. I’m one of the few members who are familiar with him. Also, Beta Flight is severely depleted with Persuasion ill and with her mother and Manikin regulated to doctor duties in the meantime.” “I’ll accompany her, eh?” Puck said, walking over. “The children were in my care. I should have enforced their curfew more strictly.” “And I make three,” Kamikaze said. ”If you three don’t make it back, I’m sending the whole main team. God bless you all.” As they all boarded an Omnijet, Gentry prayed that this trio would be successful in their search for Rok and the children of Delta Flight.
The assorted members of Alpha and Beta Flights The sewers were filthy, filled with dirty water, and contaminated with germs. Rok sat on his rat incrusted throne while Delta Flight listened to his master plan of taking revenge on Nemesis. “I sense her here,” Rok proclaimed, his hand gently touching his head. “She has brought her magic sword, only that can destroy me, as Kane’s weapons did lo those many moons ago. We shall not let that happen. Nay, I think not. But she has brought others here to defeat us. You know Puck, do you not? He is your mentor and protector. He has a strong influence over you, but not as strong an influence as mine. And one other, the one who controls Beta Flight, and Nemesis, too.” Delta Flight seemed to be enraptured by his words. Puck feared for the worst. The time to attack was now, when their defenses were down. So, Eugene Milton Judd cartwheeled into action, as Nemesis and Kamikaze unsheathed their swords, ready to draw blood on their enemies. But Judd couldn’t let them harm the children in Delta because they were innocents in this whole affairs, were they not? Judd was taken totally by surprise when Scott Sherman shot laser beams from his eyes to his opponent’s chest, knocking him down in the water. So, if Sherman was under Rok’s influence, then they all must be. “Finish him, child,” Rok said fiercely. “Or I’ll be forced to.” Scott Sherman stood silent. ‘Nevermind you. I’ll do it myself.” With one hand, Rok lifted Puck up, his eyes peering into the Alphan’s. Judd struggled against the onslaught of Rok’s pure muscle. The albino was squeezing the breath out of him, slowly, through crushing his windpipe. Before it was too late, before they lost Judd, Kamikaze threw a gas grenade under Rok’s feet. The mist rose and Rok, in seconds, was unconscious. Puck held his breath. With Rok down for the count, his influence over the children was severed and everyone could no go home to the Alpha Complex. Eugene Milton Judd returned to his quarters at the Alpha Complex. This whole affair with Rok had greatly disturbed him. It also depressed him. For the longest time, for the past few years, Scott Sherman and his compatriots in Delta Flight had been under his protective care. When the team was first formed, with the business with Bedlam and the Pirate King and the Pirate Brigade, he had joint protective care with the Granny at Hull House. Then, the Granny couldn’t deal with all the teenagers at Hull House, including the antics of Ghost Girl and Murmur, so she took a break. Finally, Puck was placed in total care of his charges. Now, he realized the position was too great and too dangerous. He talked to Guardian and Gentry and all three of them decided to immerse Delta Flight into Alpha Flight and Beta Flight, as a separate entity, of course, but under the protective care of both teams. This satisfied Judd. He needed a shower. He felt too dirty down in the sewers with Rok. He spent more time in the shower than usual. He had to wash off all the sewage water and the dirt and soot that was all over him as he walked through the waters. When he got out of the shower stall, he felt cleaner and brushed what remaining hair he had while looking in the mirror. He wasn’t exactly looking in the mirror as he combed, but thinking of what next lay in store for Alpha. Judd knew
he should concentrate on the matter at hand, so he peered into the mirror
but Razar looked back. Razar was an ancient Arabian knight type creature
who once possessed his body and had shrunk him to a dwarf when he was
normal sized. But when Puck was in Live World, Puck turned around, seeing Razar as bright as day. “What do you want? To possess my body again. I’m a dwarf now so that can’t be it.” “This time I come in peace. I come to ask your aid and the aid of all of the Flights in a war of my people. The other Arabian knights are entering this dimension and they plan to take over this paltry planet.” “|I believe you. You’re too stupid to lie to me, when you know that you have no hold over me anymore. I’ve fought villains in the past. Let’s talk with the rest of the teams.” TO BE CONTINUED IN ALPHA FLIGHT #63-- All out battle royal in Canada with Razar on the side of the angels for once. More Arabian Knight action. AUTHOR’S NOTES: Starting in issue 64, Alpha Flight deals with more American mainstream heroes and villains, with Madame Masque making an appearance. Other appearances will be Metal Master, Jack Russel, Shang-chi, and Solar Man. Alpha Flight is going to some great places in the future and I hope you will there for the ride. See ya soon.
|