Prologue:

The Angel Communications van pulled up near the Avengers Mansion. It was already a full-fledged media circus. Several television crews were on the scene along with newspaper reporters. All of them waiting for one of the Avengers to come out and face the media spotlight. So far, none had done so.

The Chameleon, disguised as a communications worker had been out touching base with his agents in the field. A second Angel Communications vehicle had arrived at the area of the Avengers Mansion earlier in the morning. The agents had taken positions and waited for their next orders.

The master of disguise re-entered the van to report to his masters, the dreaded Morbanes Lord Evil and Lady Darkness. "Lord, Lady, all is in readiness. Several of the Avengers departed the mansion shortly after reports of the robbery broke."

"No doubt searching for the felons," Lord Evil commented. "Our plan is working perfectly, my love."

"Of course," Lady Darkness said in agreement as she sipped her drink. "Begin Phase Two, Chameleon."

The Chameleon bowed and then departed the van. Once he was gone, the vehicle once more took to the streets. As it did, Lady Darkness made a phone call. She dialed the number and waited for a response.

The call was answered and a man replied, "PRIMUS Headquarters, New York Division. How may I help you?"

"Hello, this is a concerned citizen," Lady Darkness said, disguising her voice to make it sound like an elderly woman. "I just saw that horrible Lightburst person fly into the Avengers Mansion. I mean, I can't believe what I saw on the TV just a bit ago."

"You say that Lightburst returned to the Avenger's Mansion?"

"That's right, sonny."

"Thank you very much, ma'am! We are en route!" The man on the other end disconnected the call.

"You're very welcome," Lady Darkness said, her voice returning to normal. She sat the phone down and began to laugh loudly...

#8 - "Confrontation with PRIMUS"

Roll Call:

Black Diamond	Muskateer	Enchantress
Firestar	Nightingale	Thing

Nightingale shifted uncomfortably. She had gone to the roof of the Avengers Mansion to begin her mental search for Lightburst in an effort to get away from any interfering minds. That plan failed as the reporters began to arrive. Seeing no alternative, she flew off for a less crowded place to make her search. The heroine set down on another rooftop several blocks away.

She spent a few minutes relaxing herself, performing various mental exercises to clear her thoughts. Sitting in a lotus position, Nightingale closed her eyes and let her mind range free. Locating a single mind in such a large city was next to impossible. She knew it and Black Diamond knew it as well. But she had shared mental contact with Lightburst in the past. Finding a mind that she was somewhat familiar with did improve the odds dramatically, but it was still a long shot. Regardless, Nightingale would make the attempt.

Nightingale tried with all her might, but the search wasn't working. Her power was not functioning like it normally would. 'Gale didn't understand what was going on when suddenly she locked on to Black Diamond's mind inadvertently in her search. Her mind was filled with pain!

Pulling out her communicator, Nightingale frantically made contact with the Avengers Mansion. "Nightingale to base, come in! What is Black Diamond's location?"

Back in the Meeting Room, Muskateer moved to answer the call. "Hold on a sec, 'Gale, and I'll get ya the coordinates." As Muskateer worked the keyboard and brought up the location of each of the searching Avengers on a map of the New York City area. The team's Comlinks served as tracking devices in addition to providing communication.

The Thing joined Muskateer at the computer station. "Ya know she couldn't hear ya, right?"

"Oh yeah, right." Muskateer typed the coordinates and sent them back to Nightingale. They would be displayed on the LCD readout of her Comlink. Then he added the message, "Is there a problem?"

"I'm sensing great pain coming from Linda. I think she's in trouble. I'm heading towards her location."

Muskateer turned to the Thing and added, "We could sure use those scooters now."

"Yeah," the Thing grumbled. "Whatcha gonna do?"

Muskateer quickly analyzed the situation and contacted Firestar, as she was currently the closest to the Avengers leader. "Firestar! Come in, Firestar." He sent her the coordinates as he spoke.

After a pause, the young heroine responded, "Firestar here. What's the matter?"

"I need you to check on Di. Nightingale says she's in trouble. She's on the way, but you're closer. The coordinates are in your communicator."

"Got it. On my way. Firestar out."

"Maybe we should just contact Di herself and find out what's going on," the Thing offered.

"I thought of that, Ben," Muskateer answered. "If she's in real trouble, she won't respond anyway, and I don't wanna distract her. I just wish we had some way to get you over there."

"The jet ain't practical."

"Yeah, and Gwen's too far away right now to teleport you there." Muskateer sat and thought for a moment. "I just wonder what's going on..."

Some distance away, over Long Island, Black Diamond pounded her assailant. The person calling herself Artemis rocketed through the air and collided with a billboard, shattering it and raining debris on the ground below. People in the street ran for shelter as the wreckage struck the ground. Super combat was nothing out of the ordinary to New Yorkers. Seemed like every few days some large battle would occur. When such events did happen, they quickly vacated the area. However, tourists would often stop to watch, usually landing them in trouble.

Black Diamond wiped her brow and tried to regain her breath. She was perspiring freely and breathed heavily, even though they had been fighting only a few minutes. She was hurting from the vicious ambush and was completely confused. Artemis spoke like she knew her, but Black Diamond didn't recognize the style of combat. Whoever Artemis really was, her intentions were crystal clear.

Artemis flew back at Black Diamond. "I have to say that I'm impressed. I was told that the poison I used would kill twenty men instantly."

"They don't call me Black Diamond for nothing," the heroine spitted out. The poison must be the burning sensation that Diamond felt after being stabbed in the back with a spear by Artemis. The combat was only speeding the toxin through her system faster.

While Artemis initially attacked with stealth from an ambush, this time she was much less subtle. The white-armored villainess sped up to full speed and crashed right into the unsteady heroine. The two went hurtling off the rooftop and crashed to the ground in an alley below. Thankfully, the alley was deserted of people, only a few cats were present, and they quickly ran off.

Sensing that Black Diamond was dazed, Artemis grabbed a nearby garbage dumpster and slammed it down on the Avenger. Diamond's black gloved right fist smashed into it at the last moment, knocking the clumsy weapon out of Artemis's hands. Finding herself suddenly empty handed, Artemis resorted to kicking Black Diamond in the mid-section and then flew back into the air. "Why can't you just be a good little girl and DIE!?"

Black Diamond rose to one knee and steadied herself with her hand on a nearby wall. Everything seemed to spin around her. The black spots before her eyes were back in full force. "I was never really good... at taking requests."

"Yoo hoo! Black Diamond!", Artemis taunted from afar. As Diamond regained her feet, Artemis launched another javelin at the shaky heroine. "Heads up!"

Black Diamond barely dodged the lethal projectile. Her earlier wound was still bleeding and her side ached painfully. She took flight but was quickly buffeted by a barrage of arrows. Trying to suck up the pain and continue on, Black Diamond gritted her teeth to keep from screaming. She closed on her white-armored adversary, but Artemis avoided her attacks and returned a punch of her own. The blow stunned Black Diamond and she plummeted to the rooftop.

Artemis followed closely, watching Diamond's hurtling form smash through the roof and the next two ceilings of the building. The hole Black Diamond created reached all the way to the ground floor. The sudden entry startled the residents of the small tenement. A few looked down the sudden hole in their apartments in utter amazement. Cries of pain could also be heard.

"That should take care of her now," Artemis said to herself as she tried to locate the fallen heroine. The lowest level of the building was nearly buried in debris and the dust hadn't completely settled. Artemis could make out several bodies covered by the debris, but none of them were clad in skintight black. "Now, where did you land, dearie?" Artemis never saw the punch coming.

"Right here, 'dearie'," Black Diamond said weakly. Artemis had been thrown through the plate glass window of the building and had bounced off the building across the street. Black Diamond eased her way out the hole she had created.

"Admirable," Artemis stated. "You don't know when to quit, do you?"

"Avengers never give up, Artemis."

"Never say never!" Artemis launched another attack at the Avengers leader, but Black Diamond was able to narrowly avoid the missile. She could barely stand by now however and she teetered weakly on her feet.

"Look at you," Artemis taunted. "You can't even stand and you keep trying to fight. Are you stubborn or just stupid?" Artemis launched the last of her javelins toward Black Diamond. The throw was high.

The poison's effect had clouded Diamond's reasoning as well as robbed her of her strength. Normally, she would have recognized and avoided the indirect attack, but this time was not the case. The javelin smashed into the weakened building behind Diamond and a portion of the wall collapsed, partially burying her in the avalanche.

"So much for the mighty Black Diamond," Artemis stated smugly, as she closed on the fallen heroine. Suddenly the world around her was completely ablaze "Wha...?!"

"Get away from her!"

Turning, Artemis saw Firestar hovering in the sky. The attack caught Artemis unaware. The heat was intense, but the Artemis Armor could take it. "Go away, little girl, or you'll suffer your leader's fate."

A tinge of fear gripped Firestar. She was nowhere near as tough as her idol, Black Diamond. What could she do against the armored killer? "I'll stop you if I have to," Firestar responded, but she didn't seem very confident about it.

"Really? How amusing." Artemis fired a volley of arrows at the hovering heroine, knocking her from the sky.

Firestar managed a controlled landing and tumbled to the pavement. She turned back to Artemis, rage flaring in her eyes. "You don't know what you're dealing with!" Before Artemis's startled eyes, a subtle change came over Firestar. The colors of her costume darkened and Cassie took on a more malevolent look. Firestar raised her hand and sent a far more powerful blast of fire at Artemis. "Have a taste of Starfire!"

"Augh!", Artemis screamed as she was engulfed once more. This time her armor was overmatched and the villainess was being baked inside her protective shell. She certainly hadn't expected such a powerful attack from the teenage heroine.

Before Artemis could act, another blast of energy struck and sent her tumbling down the street. Overhead, the Enchantress had arrived on the scene. "As my teammate stated, you don't know who you're dealing with!" Gwen flew in and blasted Artemis point blank. Muskateer had alerted the Enchantress of the situation after he had contacted Firestar. Using her magic to amplify her own flight, the Enchantress reached the site in a matter of minutes.

Firestar turned back to the partially buried Black Diamond. The strange color alteration of her costume had disappeared, Cassie's rage being replaced with concern. Diamond had begun to unbury herself, but then had collapsed from the effort. "Di? Are you alright?" There was no reply to her query. Tears running down her face, Firestar took Black Diamond's hand and tried to find a pulse.

The Enchantress landed close by a few moments later. "Whoever that was, she fled. I presume she was unprepared to challenge three Avengers."

Firestar was hysterical by now. "She's dying, Gwen! We've got to do something!"

The Enchantress took out her communicator and contacted the Avengers Mansion. Gwen was no doctor, but it was blatantly obvious that Black Diamond was not in a good way. "Muskateer, come in. We have a serious situation..."

Back at the Avengers Mansion, an impatient Muskateer noticed the incoming distress call. "About damn time," he said opening the communication circuit. "Go ahead, Gwen. What's the problem?"

"Black Diamond appears to be badly injured; I am not sure to what extent. What do you want me to do?" The Enchantress reported in a concerned tone.

"Cripes!", the Thing interjected. "Get her back here, ASAP!"

Turning to the Thing, Muskateer ordered, "Get up to the Med Lab and make it ready for Di's arrival." The rocky hero nodded and rapidly departed the Meeting Room. "Enchantress, can you teleport her directly to the Med Lab?"

"Yes. We shall be there in a moment. Enchantress out."

Pausing only to inform Nightingale of the distressing situation, Muskateer quickly rushed to the Med Lab. A moment after he entered the room, a flash of light signified the arrival of the Enchantress. A battered Black Diamond was laying on the floor with some debris on her. Firestar was kneeling at her side sobbing uncontrollably. "Somebody do something! We've got to help her!"

Muskateer and the Thing were both taken aback at the sight of the Avenger's leader. Muskateer finally said, "I never thought I'd see anything capable of working over Di like this!" Moving forward, Muskateer picked up the limp figure and set her down on the examination table. Black Diamond was far heavier than he would have expected, but Muskateer made no comment about it. Removing his arms from under the limp heroine, Muskateer was startled to find his one glove covered with blood. Ben noticed this as well, and the two gently rolled Diamond onto her stomach. A gaping wound in the back of Black Diamond greeted them ominously.

"I'll do what I can for her," the Thing slowly stated as he started to work on the injury. "'Gale's the one we need for this. She's the doctor."

"Nightingale's on the way. In the meantime do what you can, Ben." The sight of the Avengers leader in such a bad way numbed Muskateer. Whoever did this would pay, he silently swore. Wiping his gloves, Muskateer turned to the other two Avengers and said, "There's nothin' else we can do here. Let's give Ben some room to work." The Enchantress nodded, and turned away. Firestar broke down and sought refuge in Muskateer's arms.

"This can't be happening... It's not fair...", she managed between sobs.

Muskateer led the frightened teenager out of the Medical Lab and into the adjoining Observation Room. "Don't worry, kiddo. She'll be fine."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Di's a tough cookie. Plus the computer has a complete medical profile on our fearless leader," Muskateer explained in a reassuring manner. "She'll be good as new before you know it." Muskateer wished that he was as confident as he sounded...

Nearly two hours after Nightingale first entered the Med Lab, she finally emerged. A white medical tunic covered her costume; it was now smeared with red. The psionic looked very weary, as did the other Avengers who could only wait. They looked at her expectantly. Firestar finally asked the question, "How is she?"

Nightingale considered her words carefully. "Her condition is stable, but we're not out of the woods yet. I don't have the equipment to fully treat Linda here. We're going to have to move her to Sanctuary."

"Well, Gwen," Muskateer stated, turning to the Enchantress, "I guess that's your department. The rest of us will stay here in the meantime."

"Understood."

Turning back to Nightingale, Muskateer asked, "What happened to her?"

"Linda was poisoned," 'Gale stated flatly. "Not just any poison either, rather a combination of the most lethal toxins known to man. I'd estimate the dosage she received could very well kill everyone in this room, and then some. Fortunately, her mutant physiology works much better than a normal human."

"I guess this is a case where being a mutant is a good thing." Muskateer thought back to the talk he had with Black Diamond while eating chicken wings. In spite of her claims, Diamond really was different from everyone else.

"I best get back to my patient."

As the Enchantress rose to accompany Nightingale back to the infirmary, Firestar jumped out of her chair. "I want to go with her, Musky!"

"Sorry, kiddo. There's nothing you can do for her there right now, and we may need you here," Muskateer explained.

"But...", Firestar started to protest.

"No 'buts'," Muskateer ordered, grabbing her by the arms. "We can all go visit her when she's recovered." Confident that the Avenger's leader was in good hands, Muskateer could now concentrate on what had happened to her. Neither Firestar nor the Enchantress could put a name on the woman in white armor. A quick search of the villain database turned up a negative as well. One more mystery to be solved.

"I just feel so helpless," Firestar said weakly, as she watched the other two heroines' step back into the Med Lab.

"I know what you mean, 'Star," Muskateer said, reassuringly. "I feel the same way you do." As the heroes watched, the Enchantress teleported herself, the injured Black Diamond and Nightingale away.

"Pardon the intrusion, sir." Muskateer turned at the voice of the Avenger's butler, Jeeves.

"Yes?"

"There is a gentleman, identifying himself as Major Thomas of PRIMUS, at the front door," Jeeves began. "He is demanding, in a rather harsh tone I might add, to speak with someone in authority. That would be yourself, sir."

"PRIMUS? What are they doing here?", Muskateer asked rhetorically. "Come on, kiddo. Let's see what they want."

At the front door, Muskateer paused briefly to consider the situation. It couldn't be good if PRIMUS bothered to come all the way to meet in person. Muskateer guessed that it must have something to do with the irksome Lightburst and his recent villainous foray. To make matters worse, the media had been camped outside ever since the story about the Lightburst robbery broke. Sighing briefly and unsheathing his sword, Muskateer opened the front door.

"You vigilantes finally slipped up! We know Lightburst is in there, so bring him out, fancy pants!" Muskateer was immediately assaulted by the stench of a really cheap cigar. The man standing at the door was screaming at him, and brandishing a pistol wildly as he spoke.

"What are you talking about?" Muskateer shoved the threatening weapon aside and stepped out the door, moving in on the slightly shorter man and facing him nose to nose. "We haven't seen the bozo in over a week."

Firestar peered warily from behind the open doorway. PRIMUS agents filled the courtyard to the mansion and others ringed the streets. Silver Avenger Jake Koweleski stood nearby. The place had become an even bigger media circus as well. Every network had crews filming the confrontation. PRIMUS agents struggled to keep the reporters under control.

"Harboring a fugitive is a crime!", Major Thomas shouted. "We have reports of Lightburst being on the premises!"

"Major...," the Silver Avenger tried to interject, but the attempt was ignored. Major Thomas was well known for his dislike of super heroes. The Silver Avenger feared that the Major was going to use this opportunity as some sort of personal vendetta.

"Then yer reports are wrong, bozo!", Muskateer shouted back. "And smoking those smelly cigars is the real crime."

Suddenly, the crowd's attention was drawn to the roof of the mansion. Major Thomas and Muskateer both looked up to see a familiar figure standing atop the structure.

"Lightburst?!", Muskateer shouted towards his wayward teammate. "What the hell are YOU doing here?"

"Ya see! I knew he was here!" Major Thomas seemed smugly satisfied at Lightburst's sudden appearance.

"Hey! You can have him," Muskateer responded.

"I appreciate everything you're trying to do for me, Muskateer," Lightburst shouted from the roof. "But the ruse is up! Everyone now knows what the Avengers are really about!" The crowd went wild at that statement. The multitude of television cameras were recording the whole scene.

"What the hell are you talking about, you creep?!" Muskateer was drowned out by the increasing din. He couldn't believe the nonsense that he was hearing.

"I knew it! I knew it!", Major Thomas shouted over the crowd noise. "Arrest everyone!" Muskateer had aimed his sword at his purple-clad teammate, fully prepared to zap him himself, but he quickly turned at Major Thomas's surprising announcement.

"Say what?" Muskateer saw the PRIMUS agents ready their weaponry and take aim at the two Avengers. Major Thomas once again took aim at Muskateer with his pistol. "You guys are outta your mind. We're not in league with Lightburst. We don't even like him!"

"Don't worry. I'll save you, Musky!", Lightburst shouted from the rooftop. A blast of energy from his hands downed Major Thomas' aid.

"That tears it!", the Major shouted. "Fire at will!"

A barrage of energy beams shot out at the sword-wielding hero. He deflected the first couple with his sword, before diving off the steps for cover. A quick, controlled roll and Muskateer was on his feet again, firing beams from his sword at the PRIMUS agents. A couple of them dropped.

Thankfully, the media had the common sense to get out of the way as the melee erupted.

"Fine. If you guys want a fight, we'll give you one."

The agents regained their target and opened fire on the mobile sword-swinger. Muskateer began reflecting back the incoming fire as quickly as it came in, driving some of the attacking agents back to cover.

Meanwhile, Firestar had taken refuge behind the reinforced walls when the shooting first began. A quick glance out the window showed that Muskateer was combating the PRIMUS attack. "What's with all these senseless attacks all of a sudden?", Firestar asked herself. "This is getting ridiculous." Her eyes narrowed briefly as she thought about the attack on Black Diamond. Her nose started to wrinkle in an angry sneer.

Firestar burst out of the Mansion's doorway in a fiery pyrotechnic display. She raced out throwing balls of fire, scattering numerous agents with the impressive counterattack.

Silver Avenger Jake Koweleski was trying vainly to remain the voice of reason. Things were clearly not as cut and dry as they appeared to Major Thomas, but the situation had escalated so quickly that there was nothing he could do to keep the battle from starting. "Major! This has all been blown out of proportion," the Silver Avengers said, as he approached Major Thomas.

"I knew these costumed hooligans would cause something like this to happen," the Major stated. "Now we'll put them away." He tried vainly to target Muskateer with pistol fire as he spoke.

"It seems to me that there's been some kind of mistake, Major." Just then Lightburst flew in and fired at the Major and his men, downing two agents in the process. Major Thomas fired at the streaking hero as he flew by.

"That look like a mistake, Koweleski? They're wanted felons and we're here to take them in. Do you have a problem following your orders?",

The Silver Avenger felt dirty about the way this situation was going down, but he was still a soldier. "No sir!" In spite of his feelings, the Silver Avenger advanced on Muskateer. "I order you and your comrades to surrender and come along peacefully before anyone gets hurt."

"You guys started this fight," Muskateer responded. "Call off your dogs and no one else will get hurt." Muskateer reflected another incoming blast back at the agent who fired the shot and closed the distance with the Silver Avenger.

"You're in no position to make demands," the Silver Avenger countered. "We are federal police officers. You will cease and desist."

"Oh, well, that's different then," Muskateer responded sarcastically. He dropped his sword point for a moment.

Behind the Silver Avenger, Muskateer could see the PRIMUS commander shouting orders and firing wildly at Lightburst. "Stop him! Shoot him! He's getting away!", Major Thomas shouted, as Lightburst was flying away from the scene. Muskateer wanted his own shot at the turncoat Avenger.

With a quick blur, Muskateer struck. His sword was electrified and slammed into the Silver Avenger's shoulder. The force of the blow combined with the powerful electrical discharge threw the super agent to the ground.

However, from Muskateer's right an agent fired an energy beam from his rifle. Having no time to deflect the shot or dive out of the way, the beam struck him but has no apparent effect. The agent looked astonished.

"Whataya tryin' to do?", Muskateer taunted. "Tickle me to death?"

Meanwhile, the flying Firestar has been hit by several shots and her foul mood had only gotten worse. "Musky, clear out! I'm gonna end this right now."

"You're gonna what?!" Muskateer noticed that Firestar looked different somehow and she was unusually aggressive. He watched Firestar fly over and land in the midst of the remaining PRIMUS agents.

"Move!", Firestar shouted, as her body erupted in flames.

"You got it, hot stuff." Muskateer made several flips, leaping over the intervening PRIMUS agents and landing several dozen feet away. He turned to see Firestar's flames grow outward quickly like a sun exploding in everyone's midst.

Fire and heat exploded out in every direction. Muskateer turned his head and covered his eyes as the fire erupted.

A moment later, he turned to look. Firestar stood wearily amidst a pile of unconscious PRIMUS agents. She looked normal again and Muskateer wondered if perhaps he had imagined the change in attire. "Sheesh. Remind me not to get you mad at me, kiddo."

"I'll try to remember that." The pair surveyed the damage that had been done. "Now what?"

"Jeeves is gonna be pissed when he sees what you did to his lawn." Firestar let out a tired chuckle.

"Holy Cats!" Muskateer and Firestar turned to see the Thing standing in the doorway holding a huge submarine sandwich. "I grab a little snack an' you guys decide to start World War III out in the courtyard."

"They were selling encyclopedias and wouldn't take no for an answer," Muskateer quipped, sheathing his sword with a flourish. He could see that a few of the media had taken up their cameras again and were once again filming away. PRIMUS agents were beginning to slowly stir. Silver Avenger Koweleski regained his feet.

"Lightburst was here for a moment," Muskateer explained to the Thing. "He managed to get the fight started and then flew the coop. I wonder where the little creep ran off to."

"Sounds like a set up ta me," Ben said, taking a huge bite out of his 'snack'.

"That's what I tried to tell these nitwits," Muskateer said, pointing to the Silver Avenger.

Koweleski stepped closer. "The scenario was clear to me as well. Our good major overreacted to the situation," the Silver Avenger said apologetically.

"Yeah, just doin' your job, huh?", Muskateer said. "Hope we didn't hurt you guys too much."

"Ah, Major Tom's behind the shenanigans," Ben stated. "I c'n smell his cheap cigars."

Major Thomas walked up, his face blackened from the blaze. "Alright! Yer all under arrest! Especially you, flame girl." The Major pointed his finger menacingly at the heroine.

"Stuff a sock in it. This was all a ruse, you idiot." Firestar was in no mood to take guff from anyone by now, but she moved closer to Muskateer.

"Lightburst was obviously trying to get you to attack us," Muskateer said. "I still don't know what caused him to go off the deep end, but we haven't had any contact with him in over a week."

"Oh? And that's gonna change everything?" Major Thomas chewed angrily on the butt of his smoldering cigar.

Just then, Major Thomas's aid came rushing up with a walkie-talkie in hand. "Message from HQ, Major. Home base is under attack!"

"Whhaaatt!?! Everyone move out!" The three Avengers watched as PRIMUS quickly mobilized and withdrew from the area.

"Someone want to tell me what the hell just happened here?" Muskateer scratched his head in mock confusion. None of his teammates could answer his query either.

Epilogue: PRIMUS HQ, New York City Branch:

The Morbanes were impressed. The plan had worked flawlessly and the PRIMUS base fell with ease. With the majority of the unit out on a fool's errand, only a skeleton crew had remained behind.

Lord Evil and Lady Darkness made their way through the headquarters. The building had four stories, but what interested them most would be located in the basement. Occasionally they had to step over an unconscious PRIMUS operative. A man in the uniform of a VIPER commander approached the two Morbanes.

"The vault shall be opened momentarily, milord's."

"Very good," Lord Evil responded to the DEMON Warrior commander. As a further deception, the DEMON attack force had disguised themselves as VIPER Agents. When what happened here was revealed to the world, it would be VIPER that got the blame. The local superhero community would come down heavily on VIPER, leaving DEMON unhindered.

"I can almost sense the Stone Crown," Lady Darkness stated. She was psionic as well as a mage. As the Stone Crown was undoubtedly magical, and reputed to be a psionic booster as well, it was doubly attractive to Lady Darkness. Just another step in her quest to regain her lost empire.

"I won't be long now, my love." Lord Evil kissed Lady Darkness' vinyl encased hand and the two proceeded on.

The PRIMUS base had fallen due to treachery. The Chameleon, disguised as a PRIMUS operative, had scouted the base out days earlier. As he did, the Chameleon secretly mined the place. At the touch of a button, explosives destroyed the HQ's power systems. A second button unleashed a series of hidden gas grenades. Only a few gun battles occurred during the siege of the PRIMUS base.

A large storage vault was located in the basement of the complex. DEMON Agents in VIPER uniforms had used a highly corrosive acid to melt the hinges to the vault door. The door was then pulled off and discarded. The two Morbanes watched as the agents removed items from the vault. Most were special prototype weapons. PRIMUS always had cutting edge technology at its disposal. But what the public didn't know was that PRIMUS was actually the guinea pigs when it came to testing this 'cutting edge technology'.

An agent came out bearing a simple box. He went down on one knee and offered the box to the morbanes. Lord Evil opened the box and found that it contained a simple, unadorned circlet of gray stone. It certainly didn't look special.

Lady Darkness was nearly trembling as she picked up the Stone Crown and set it upon her head. She could feel the power it possessed and she wanted it. "Yes... This Stone Crown is all that we had hoped for... and more."

Lord Evil looked very pleased. "Our task is complete. Begin to withdraw." He glanced at his watch and noted that they had at least ten minutes before PRIMUS would return to their base. By the time they did arrive, it would be far too late. Lord Evil led Lady Darkness out of the vault and towards the exit. The Stone Crown definitely was affecting her, he needed to support her.

As the two Morbanes moved along, another DEMON Agent came forward. "Milords, we have discovered two prisoners in the holding area. What shall be done with them."

"They are of no consequence," Lord Evil stated. "Leave them."

"No!" Lady Darkness pushed away and stood under her own power. "Who are these prisoners?"

"Ogre and Thermax, milady."

"Bring them to me." Noticing her husband's confusion, she added, "They may serve some use to us." He nodded his understanding.

The large, green skinned Ogre appeared in the hallway. "Ogre wanna go home!"

A suddenly pyrotechnic display of energy played over the Stone Crown. Lady Darkness strode forward and stood before the much larger Ogre. The brute appeared to be in a trance.

"From now on you will serve me," Lady Darkness stated in a slow tone. "Do you understand?"

"Yeah," Ogre said hesitantly.

"That is 'yes, mistress'."

"Yes, mistress."

Thermax was ushered into the hallway. He had been removed from his Thermax armor by the PRIMUS Agents the day before. Without it, he was no different from any other man.

"Who the hell are you people?!" Thermax shouted, as he tried to wrestle free from the hands holding him.

"I am your master," Lady Darkness spat at the criminal. "You will serve me. Is that understood?" Once more the Crown's energy came into play.

Thermax ceased to struggle as his will melted away. He no longer had a choice. "I live to serve only you." After a pause he added, "Mistress."

"Good," Darkness said with a satisfied grin. "Very good." She was going to like possessing this artifact....