Excalibur #8 - Beyond Imagination - Death in Greece, Part 4


Colonel George Washington Bridge surveyed the situation from the relative safety of the SHIELD Helicarrier, which was at the moment providing air support to their troops on the Greek mainland. The Death's Head Commando's were a powerful unit to be sure, and the powers they possessed meant that they were keeping the SHIELD agents on their toes, however with Nick Fury down their, leading the fight back the odds were more or less even.

However the information on that battle was tertiary because the main sensor arrray he was using was to monitor the battle inside the mountain complex of the Commando's, inside Mount Flaska on the island of Kalymnos. Excalibur had been called in to action, and they had teamed with X-Force in the hope of stopping the terrorists at the source, but after a good start things were not progressing as they should in his opinion.

X-Force were without their powers, as were the mutant operatives on his strikeforce, leaving the Armory system, Hauptmann, USAgent and Union Jack as the only active meta-class humans. Tsunami and Saviatar were down, while Darkstar and Sabra were cutting the city and mountain area off in a darkforce sphere, to keep the enemy disorientated. The question was how long any of the two strike units would last.

It was a good job that the majority of people here were excellent combatants. Maverick, Shadowcat, Agent, Union Jack and Hauptmann were all masters in the art of fighting, albeit in radically different styles and the Armory system was a state of the art war machine. There had been some major improvements to the system during the six-month hiatus, which Bridge had been working on with the project's lead technician, Dr Horton.

It was Dr Horton that was now ensuring that the data that was being fed back to the Helicarrier was being analysed so that Bridge could make full use of the system.

"Brent," said Bridge, "I could really do with getting my people back on their feet."

"Certainly," said Dr Horton. "And, it's Brad, sir. Bradley if you must." We've only been working together seven months, though the scientist. Bridge got it wrong almost every time.

"Sorry," said Bridge as he activated the cannons on the suit and started firing at the Commando's who were going after Leyu and Neal. There were still too many of them to keep off indefinitely. "But, someone is going to die unless we..." A red light started to flash above his eye and Bridge looked up. "What the hell?

"Someone's hacking the system," said Horton, going to work at his console trying to block the enemy, who was attempting to take control of the Armory systems. "I'm having problem's isolating the cause..."


"What the hell?" asked Maverick as he narrowly avoided being hit by Armory. It had been closer than he'd liked and he was having enough problems dodging the Commando's without having to duck and weave through his allies as well. "Bridge, what's going on?"

"System's been attacked from your end, and the signal's going all the way to the Helicarrier."

"I don't understand how that's possible," said Maverick. He knew a great deal about the technical details of things, but the advanced specs were something that he got lost on. 

"The carrier signal that lets me use the system has been compromised," repeated Bridge after Horton spoke to him, because Horton knew that the team on the ground may be able to assist him in fixing the problem. "Darkstar's sphere allowed me to communicate with the suit and use the same signal to relay data back to the 'Carrier."

"And they figured it out," said Shadowcat who was nearby and had come over because this was more her area than North's and he knew that as well. "If they get in to the Helicarrier systems..."

"We're screwed," repeated Bridge.

"Kitty," said Maverick, as he knew that if anyone of the joint teams had a chance of stopping this at their end, it was Katherine Pryde. 

"On my way," she said and headed back towards the medical centre where X-Force had been held before the arrival of Excalibur. She'd managed to access on of the terminals in there earlier and she knew she could do it again. As she headed out of there she looked over to where USAgent and Union Jack were fighting side by side. As she carried on, something occurred to her - the fighting style was similar to one she had seen before and her thoughts turned to the past few years.

She'd not thought of Brian Braddock for a while and she wondered why it came to mind now. She paid it no heed and headed back to where Siryn and Hellios were, wondering how they were doing.


Darkstar was using her powers to her limits. Sabra was close enough to her to see in the darkness and she could tell because she knew the signs of someone on the edge. She had seen it in Joseph's eyes when he had been using his powers before Magneto had gained power, and even though he was alive again, she had heard the reports from the X-Men of how the unfettered use of his power had caused great damage to his body.

The limits of darkforce had never been discovered, but only the person who was using it and the strength of body, mind and soul limited its use. Sabra could see the strain on her face and she knew that it was not going to be long before she had to stop. Going further would kill her and Sabra was unsure of what would happen if the energy were unleashed without proper control.

"KILL THEM!" came a cry and Sabra turned as her concerns for Darkstar were replaced by more immediate ones for them both. This was what she had been waiting for - the Commando's response attack to Excalibur's earlier incursion. Her job was to defend Darkstar as long as possible and she prepared herself for the fight, quickly assessing the situation and what she could do about it.

She was fast, strong, agile and she could fly, making her very hard to defeat. Added to that were the gauntlets that fired paralysing energy. They had been replaced after the battle in Australia and the power and range of the weapons had been increased. They had also been made of a carbonadium alloy, a derivative of adamantium though not as hardy as that vaunted metal. How the Israeli government had acquired it she did not ask, that was not her place but they would stand up to most pressures as well as being a better conduit of the energy. The design had also been refined as well, allowing her to control the gauntlets from a small pad that rested in the palm of her hand.

She took to the air towards the oncoming Commando legion, unleashing a wide ranging pulse, blanketing the enemy, though because of the wider range than the narrow beam the best it did was to knock them back, not take them out. However that was fine with her and their advantage was now lost as she surged onwards.

She appreciated the irony of protecting Darkstar, the woman who had beaten her, had taken her to a psychological place she had never wanted to go again. Defending her, making Darkstar safe, it did a lot to heal the damage. As powerful as Lanyia Petrova was, she still needed help. It was exactly what Sabra had hoped would happen when she volunteered to protect her.


Though Lanyia was not able to help her comrade in arms, she could watch what she was doing. Protecting her friends, ensuring the safety of the world was paramount to her and she would not fail, however there was something going on that she had not counted on happening. Through the wall of darkforce she had created and was maintaining she could feel the world on either side of the barrier. She could hear the voices of the people near it, smell the mountain air at the same time as she tasted the sea salt.

It was as if the darkforce were not just an energy form for her to control, and more like it was an extension of herself.

Suddenly she was afraid, because if the darkforce were truly how she perceived it then she would be lost. She had felt the coldness of the powers within her since the battle in Alaska, and she had come to believe she could not contain the energies within her.

She could feel her focus fading and the wall of darkforce thinning and she was suddenly aware of the ring on her finger. The engagement ring Dimitri had given her and his voice echoed in her head.

"Do not be afraid of what power you wield."

She had promised him as long as she wore it she would have her focus, and she would not fail at the first time her focus was called in to question. She pushed on, the wall redoubling in strength. She would contain the area, no matter the cost.


"So," said Hauptmann as he fought side by side with USAgent and Union Jack, "who's going to win the world cup then?"

"My money's on Spain," said Rock as he fired his weapons. "They've got some quality."

"What the hell are you talkin' about?" asked Agent.

"Football," replied Hauptmann. "Germany all the way."

"There's a world cup for football?" asked Agent, then realised that they meant the other football. "Oh, soccer. Who cares?"

"Plenty of people," said Hauptmann, an edge of iciness coming in to his voice. "It's what I do when I'm not fighting for my life."

"Really?" said Rock, surprised. "What team?"

"Bayern Munich."

"I saw then play Man U last season," said Rock. "Good game."

"It's a girly sport anyway," said Agent. "Now ice hockey, that's a man's sport."

Union Jack and Hauptmann just looked at each other a moment and went back to the fight, deciding it was easier to let John Walker live in his own little fantasy world. Walker smiled, thinking he'd won the debate, and then he wondered if Greece were playing and what effect this would have on the team.

Then he figured he didn't care and brayed the hell out of some of the Commando's with his energy shield.


"Damn," said Raven as he tried to use his powers and had to accept they weren't active anymore. It was strange, before he'd joined X-Force he'd used them very little because he didn't want to be noticed and as time had gone on, he realised how much he needed them for the work he was doing now.

To lose them... it hurt in a way he couldn't quite define. He was little more than providing cover fire here. At the FBI he'd been a good shot, and SHIELD training had taught him how to use his fists but he was not exactly the greatest fighter and with the people he was watching demonstrating their skills, he knew he was seriously outclassed.

"Marcus!" called Maverick as he came over to him. "We've a problem."

"The deal with Armory?" he said.

"Yeah," replied North. "He's deactivated his weapons from the remote, but there is another option we could use. The suit can be piloted in person. Seeing as how it is a SHIELD suit, and you're officially SHIELD..."

"Fine," said Raven, and fired a couple more times as he and North made their way over to the walking battle tank. "What do Ah do?"

"Listen to the guidance from Bridge and the SHIELD techs and you'll be fine. Bridge, open 'er up."

On the Helicarrier, Bridge hit the switch to deactivate the remote and panels opened to reveal a man-shaped hole. Raven got in, and he felt a little small in it until the suit raised him up to the optimum height for the operation and the panels closed and Raven felt something enter the back of his neck and he felt connected to the suit. It was, in a little way, like a telepathic link.

"Raven?" said Bridge.

"Ah hear you."

"Whatever you do, don't hit the flashing blue button. It's the control that's creating all the problems with the Commando's powers."

"Right."

"Just think about what you want to do before you do it and it should be fine."

"Yes, Colonel," said Raven and went to work. Armory was back playing for the home team and Raven fired weapons and everything at the enemy. Tsunami and Savitaar were doing what they could to fight back but they were also more used to using their powers rather than resorting to up close and personal methodology.

"Thanks, Bridge," said Savitar as Armory flung the enemy about like rag dolls.

"Colonel's unavailable," said Raven. "Guess I'm the cavalry."

"Oh God," said Tsunami. "We are so dead."

"Just saved our necks, Leyu," said Neal. "Makes him good in my book."

"Raven, this is Bridge. I need you to get our people out of here now," said the leader of Excalibur. "Fury's just changed the rules in light of what's happening - orders are now to level the mountain."

"On it," said Raven, and looked at the other two who had heard the communication from their boss. "Let's get you two out of here," he said and grabbed hold of them, and blasted off.


"Terry!" called Kitty as she entered the room.

"Hey," answered Siryn. "Sounds like hell out there."

"It is," said Shadowcat and she told her of what was going on in the world outside. "And to top it off, the Commando's are trying to get in to SHIELD's computer systems via the Armory system."

"What d'you need?" asked Siryn.

"You to keep off the Commando's who come in as soon as I start trying to counter attack." She sat down at the console and started to type. Her Greek was minimal but she hoped it would be enough. "How's he doing?" she said.

"He is fine," said a very weak voice.

"He woke up moments ago," said Terry, "but he's not good. They drained a lot of his blood and he's not going very far."

"I am Hellios," he said. "I will not be stopped by these terrorists while they over run my homeland." He stood from his bed and took a shaky step forward before stumbling to the floor.

"Great," said Terry. "Now I have to protect two of ye..." There was a strain at the back of her throat, a ripple of the muscles at the back of her neck and a flicker of life on her vocal chords. Kitty was saying something, but Terry wasn't hearing her and the sensations stopped.

"...don't you think?" finished Shadowcat.

"Huh?" asked Siryn.

"Forget it," said Kitty, annoyed but having more pressing issues to attend to. She managed to tap the systems and find the consoles that were actively targeting the Armory system. "I do my best work under pressure," she muttered.

"Here they come," said Terry as she looked at the Commando's coming towards her and she unleashed the power and intensity of her sonic scream.

"Go Terry," said Kitty as she sent a message to the Helicarrier that she was in.


"The girl's a genius," said Horton as he read the message. "She's in, Colonel."

"Yes, she is," said Bridge, remembering when he'd first brought her in to SHIELD to deal with the Ogun situation. She'd impressed him then, as she did now. "are you two..."

"Working on the route and cause and if we're lucky we may even tap their systems and get control of them."

"Good," said Bridge. "I'll let Fury know."


In his section of the complex the Supreme Commando watched as things progressed. The weapon suit was being operated manually now, which was unexpected, but not outside his planning and was taking the more powerless ones outside. That was fine, for he would recapture them easily enough.

The battle was going well inside as well for even though they were without their power, the fight was still quite even and the heroes were all in one space. Except for the medical section, and that was where his concerns were now. There were two shocks that were not in the plan. First one of the mutants had powers. That shouldn't be. The second was the young woman on the computers. She knew a great deal about the technology and she was finding her way around it with ease.

That was not helpful. 

In fact it was very bad indeed, as it had the potential to undo everything. He would have to do something about it, something that would force him to stop trying to get the Helicarrier to work for him. That had been a bonus he hadn't expected and he knew that he'd pressed his luck too far. Whoever it was on the Helicarrier that had been working against him, they'd done a good job and now it was time for their reward.

He pressed a button on the console and sighed. 


"We did it," said Dr Horton, as he saw the intruder's signal deteriorate. They had them on the run.

Not so fast, thought Kitty and gave chase, trying to trace the hacker to their machine and try and beat them at their own game.

"We'll show them," Horton messaged her, picking up on her lead. There was no way he'd be able to avoid both of them.

"Be careful," said Bridge.

"SHIELD technology at it's best," said Horton, then paused a moment. "What the..."

"...hell," said Kitty, noticing the same spike in the system as Horton did. Then the console exploded in a shower of electricity.

As the surge hit, Marcus Raven's head filled with pain as the signal carried across to him as the signal was being routed through Armory and he fell from the sky, his passengers also crying out in fear, as they hurtled to wards the mountainside.

"AAARGH!" cried Bridge, experiencing the feedback from the power surge on his link to the suit as well as the safety's kicked in and cut him off from the system. Bridge could taste blood in his mouth and his hearing was muffled. There was some noise but he couldn't tell what, but he knew there was smoke in the room which wasn't good. The systems should have kicked in to put the fire out by now, but they must have been damaged somehow.

His body felt numb as he forced himself to turn. "Doc?" he said and then he saw the body of Horton, lying inert across the console. It was still burning and the scent of cooked flesh hit his nose and Bridge fought the urge to be sick.


"Kitty!" cried Siryn as she turned and saw the console explode. The young girl lay motionless on the floor, her face cut and torn from the flying shards of twisted metal. She wasn't breathing and Siryn knelt down and started to give CPR. X-Force had already lost one member of the team and Teresa Rourke was damned if they'd lose another.

As she did so Hellios staggered outside to take on the Commando's that were coming at him, fuelled by the vestiges of serum left in his veins and the will to gain revenge.

Then the whole complex shook.


Sabra was fighting for her life and Darkstar's when she first felt the tremor. So did Commando's and the battle stopped. The place had developed an eerie silence to it and she knew instinctively that something was badly wrong. Whatver had caused the tremor was powerful and had caused nature to stand up and pay attention.

Then a ray of light shone down at her feet and she looked up. The darkforce barrier was weakening in places and she turned to Darkstar gasped as she saw what was happening.

"No!" she called out running over to her, but it was too late. Darkstar's powers were consuming her, and she was burning her body out. It was literally disintegrating before her eyes.

"Help me!" called Darkstar, and Sabra knew the young woman couldn't stop the powers from doing this to her. She reached out to her, to try and help her somehow but by the time she was close enough, Darkstar screamed in pain and anguish and then she was gone.

All that remained was a mark on the ground where she'd been, leaving only a small gold ring with a diamond at the centre, a diamond that seemed to have lost it's shine.

"God, no," said Sabra, tears falling involuntarily from her eyes and she looked up. The darkforce barrier was still there, but it had small gaps where once had been a totally opaque area and where it was whole, it seemed to be increasing in density.

The darkforce was raging out of control and before she could do anything, Sabra felt something hit her and she fell to the floor


"What the hell was that?" asked Maverick, and realised he had nobody there to answer that. X-Force were all separated and Excalibur were in other places. Something bad had just happened here, and he got the impression that if they'd been winning earlier they sure as hell weren't now. "EXCALIBUR!" he shouted. "FALL BACK!"

There was nothing else they could do but get to a position where they would be better able to defend from and hoped that they would survive this.