| Roll Call: |
|---|
 Black Diamond |
 Muskateer |
 Enchantress |
 Firestar |
 Huntress |
 Lightburst |
 Nightengale |
 Supreme |
 Texas Ranger |
 Thing |
Guest Starring Guardian Angel |
 Jack O' Lantern |
 Photon |
"Photon!", Black Diamond gasped in surprise. The monster hunter had just simply appeared inside the Avengers secured meeting chamber without warning. It wasn't the first time, but nonetheless it was still a rather shocking development.
The man in black and silver crossed his arms and assumed a cocky stance. "You dudes call a vampire exterminator?"
"Photon?", the Huntress also spoke aloud. It had been the Huntress who, using her father's notes, had contacted the monster hunter in the first place, summoning him to New York City. She had been wondering just how Photon was going to make contact with the heroes. Now she had her answer.
"Who the hell is this clown?", Muskateer muttered as he drew his sword and advanced towards the unexpected arrival. He had no idea how an enemy could penetrate so deeply inside the Avengers Mansion and remain undetected. "Whoever he is, he just made a very serious mistake. 'Star, Gwen, get ready to blast him!"
Firestar and the Enchantress rose to their feet, equally confused by this unexpected development. Lightburst remained seated, seemingly unconcerned about the intruder. Likewise, Nightengale remained in her seat and motioned for Firestar and the Enchantress to relax.
"Photon! What's up?", Supreme greeted as he rose to grasp the armored man's hand as though he was an old friend.
"Just the usual, my man," Photon answered as he exchanged greetings with Supreme. "Puttin' down uglies wherever I go. See you still don't have any fashion sense." Supreme just laughed at the comment.
"Stand down, Muskateer," Black Diamond commanded, gesturing for the Avenger to put away his sword. "Photon is a friend."
Muskateer paused, but finally sheathed his blade. "Friends usually use the front door."
"No time, not with bloodsuckers on the loose," Photon explained casually. "You've got a serious problem on your hands. 'Sides, I'm way past the knocking stage, so chill."
"Photon has assisted the Avengers in the past on cases involving the supernatural," Black Diamond explained. "He is always welcome here." The Avengers' leader gestured for everyone to take a seat. "Why don't we all sit down and compare notes? Then we'll figure out just how we're going to deal with this problem."
Muskateer grumbled something under his breath, while he and the others returned to their seats. The visitor remained standing.
"Hunter-Chick told me some of the basics," Photon stated aloud. "Why don't you fill me in on the rest of the details? I want to know everything you've uncovered about the fangs. Don't leave out any details."
Traffic moved at a standstill around the collapsed Brooklyn Bridge. Late morning commuters were forced to find alternate routes lending to even slower than usual moving traffic. To make matters worse, many sightseers flocked to the area to see the destruction caused by the Ravager for themselves. On this morning they were going to be treated to the sight of several Avengers assisting in the removal of debris and helping in the reconstruction of the famous bridge.
Supreme used his great strength to smash the larger hunks of metal and concrete down into more manageable sizes faster than a dozen jackhammers. The Texas Ranger next used his telekinesis to lift the debris into waiting dump trucks. Likewise, his progress was much faster than using loaders to fill the empty trucks.
Out on the bridge itself, the rubble had been removed and the construction crews were ready to re-place the support beams. A task made all the easier by the two heroines who were moving the steel girders into position by hand!
The women were well known to all present. The familiar black garb of Black Diamond instantly identified the heroine and leader of the Avengers to everyone. The woman assisting Black Diamond was likewise known to most, but for vastly different reasons. Her powder blue, gold, and white costume was readily recognized as belonging to Guardian Angel. However, Guardian Angel was a fictional heroine-- a television character.
Speculation ran wild through the crowd as they watched the heroines' ease one of the seventy foot girders into place. Numerous news crews were on hand to film the event, commentators offering wild speculation on just who this Guardian Angel really was. Then she and Black Diamond flew off to collect another beam. Together, they accomplished what might have taken a week by normal means in less than an hour. The bridge should be ready to be opened again within the week.
At the urging of the reporters, the heroes took a little time to speak to the media. Pictures were taken, sound bites recorded, and footage was shot.
"Is that really Guardian Angel?", a reporter from the Post called out over the din.
"I can assure you that I am the real Guardian Angel," the heroine confidently informed the reporters. "I have been made aware of the fact that on this world you have a fictional character who seems to have mirrored my adventures. I am at a loss to explain how this is possible. Obviously, I have been sent to this world to aid in its struggle against the Forces of Chaos and their prime agent, the deadly and destructive Ravager. With the aid of the fine heroes of this metropolis, we were able to defeat the villain."
"Are you aware that Raquel Hamilton, the actress who plays Guardian Angel, has vanished along with the actor who portrayed the Ravager? Have you any explanation for this?"
"I have never met Ms. Hamilton," Guardian Angel answered simply. "Her fate is as much of a mystery to me as it is to you. I can assure you good people, that I will do whatever I can to see that Ms. Hamilton and the other actor are rescued and returned safely."
"What about you, Black Diamond," another reporter called out. "What's your take on Guardian Angel?"
Black Diamond paused to carefully word her response. It was something she had been trying to work out ever since Guardian Angel appeared on the scene. What only a few people knew was that the character of Guardian Angel was inspired by Black Diamond herself. Producers had approached Diamond in hopes of creating a television series based on her. They tweaked the concept a bit to make it more acceptable to the masses.
"Like many of you, I have had my doubts about Guardian Angel," Diamond finally answered. "However, I cannot deny her abilities and her powers. If she claims to be the real Guardian Angel, who am I to contradict her?"
"Is she a member of the Avengers?"
"At the moment she is our 'guest'."
"During the battle with the Ravager, we observed several unidentified heroes lending aid. Are these heroes new Avengers and what is the team's current roster?" The question came from Tony Kendall, host of the CBI show Warzone.
"You are correct, Tony," Black Diamond responded. "Making the roster changes public slipped my mind. I apologize for not keeping the public up to date on our team status. Right now, we have our usual seven active members and have added three others to serve as reserve members. Our active members are myself, Supreme, Muskateer, the Enchantress, Firestar, Lightburst, and the Thing. Reserves include Nightengale, the Huntress, and the Texas Ranger."
Upon speaking Ranger's name, Black Diamond gestured towards the man. He tipped his hat to the crowd and intoned, "Howdy ya'll".
"What can you tell us about this 'Huntress'? Any relation to Hunter?"
"She is Hunter's daughter and a fine heroine in her own right. You'll have to take up any further queries with her."
"What kind of powers does the Texas Ranger possess?"
Black Diamond grinned slightly at such an obvious question. This was the media after all. "As you've witnessed, Ranger can fly and is telekinetic."
"Here we are again," the Enchantress stated with a chuckle. The sorceress stood on the now deserted stage where the ill-fated Eldridge Fund Raiser had been held. The entire hall was empty for that matter, save for the Enchantress and Muskateer.
"You say something, beautiful?", Muskateer asked as he looked up from his portable scanner. After the morning meeting, the Avengers had split up to handle several different tasks. Black Diamond, Supreme, Guardian Angel, and Texas Ranger had gone to assist construction crews at the Brooklyn Bridge, while Muskateer and the Enchantress were to examine the hall where the Eldridge Fund Raiser was held. Between their abilities, it was hoped that a method of tracking the vampires could be gleamed.
"Merely making an observation, beloved. Once more, we are investigating the scene of some mysterious event hoping to find clues by pooling our unique abilities. You seeking a scientific clue, while I search for a magical answer."
"It's not the first time we've done this, is it?", Muskateer answered with a grin. "Di's simply using all the tools available to her. Just like I would have done."
"A logical course of action to be sure," the lovely sorceress agreed. "These vampires are a threat that need to be dealt with."
"Not to worry, Gwennie. Those bloodsuckers are gonna be history once we get our hands on 'em."
"Therein lies the problem," the Enchantress continued. "Moonsilver of the Circle has a sense for supernatural evil and these creatures have eluded him for well over a month now. I am at a loss on how to locate these monsters in order to put a halt to their reign of terror. I have not been able to detect anything magical within this hall."
"You might be batting zero, but I think I'm on to something," Muskateer announced excitedly.
The Enchantress rushed to Muskateer's side and peered at the scanner he held in his hands. Even with her brief examination, the sorceress was unable to determine what the swordsman had uncovered. It was just a seemingly meaningless series of numbers and readings. "You've found something?"
"Yeah, something that I probably wouldn't have even been looking for normally," Muskateer admitted. "I only caught it 'cause I'm being really thorough."
"Do you plan on sharing your discovery with me, or shall you continue to be coy?"
"There are minute traces of a certain radiation present. Very low levels and certainly nothing harmful."
"Radiation?", the Enchantress repeated thoughtfully. "It's not the same as the vortex, is it?"
"Nope. This is earthly radiation. The kind they use in certain medical procedures when they want to track movement of things through the human body."
At almost the same time, the two Avengers stood and looked toward each other, their faces full of realization. "That's how Jack O' Lantern is tracking the vampires!"
"He tagged them with radiation at some point," Muskateer concluded. "All we have to do is follow this trail of radiation back to their hide-out!"
Firestar leaned back in her chair, a dreamy smile on her young face. It was her turn for Monitor Duty while the rest of the team were out on errands. Normally, she'd be working on her homework in preparation for this evening's classes on Sanctuary. But today, the young Blood just didn't have any desire to do any work.
"Love is a wonderful thing," Firestar happily sighed to herself. It had been a long time coming for the young woman. Ever since she first manifested her fire powers, Cassie had distanced herself from others of her own age in fear of injuring them. It was simply easier to play the introvert role than risk making any friends.
That was now no longer the case. Her days in St. Louis seemed like a lifetime ago. Sure, she still called her stepmom almost everyday, keeping her up to date on what was going on in Cassie's life, but everything else had changed.
Cassie was now an Avenger and associated every day with others who also had remarkable powers like her own. She had made many friends, some even close to her own age. No longer did she spend her nights at home or alone. Most importantly, Cassie now had a boyfriend. He was handsome, smart, and easy going. Even better, he had superpowers and a high degree of resistance to fire. It was almost too good to be true.
Jason was on the shy side and Cassie could relate to that. She enjoyed the short amounts of time that they got to spend together. Such as the pool party last Saturday Night. Cassie was able to show off Jason to her friends. It seemed to go over pretty well. They even shared a first kiss when she took Jason home.
The memory made Firestar feel warm inside and brought a smile to her face. Love was certainly in full bloom in the Avengers Mansion. Black Diamond and Supreme apparently had been an item for quite a while, unbeknownst to everyone else. Even more surprising, Muskateer and the Enchantress were in the beginnings of their own romantic relationship. Life was beautiful.
"Pardon me, Ms. Firestar?"
The query shook Firestar out of her reverie. Quickly she sat up and looked towards the doorway. Standing there was Jeeves, the team butler. Jeeves was dressed impeccably as always. His traditional uniform was a dark blue suit, including a jacket with tails. His short brown hair was meticulously groomed as always. His overall appearance, however, was unexceptional.
"Uhm, yes, Jeeves?"
"Mail call," Jeeves explained as he handed a small stack of letters to the young Avenger.
"Thanks," Firestar answered with a smile as she scanned the letters, wondering what sort of messages they would bring this time. The majority of the mail she received was of the plain fan variety. Many of these letters would bring a smile to her face. Some were marriage proposals and other less savory invitations from overly obsessed men. The more offensive ones Cassie burned on the spot. Firestar chalked it up to the price of fame.
Other letters courted Firestar for product endorsements and for her to pose in a variety of magazines. While the million dollar offer from Penthouse might have seemed appealing, she had no desire to appear in her birthday suit in any publication. Obviously, the world at large didn't know that Firestar was still a minor in most states.
One letter in particular caught Firestar's attention. The address was crudely written in crayon. "I wonder what this is," the heroine muttered as she started to open the envelope. A letter and photograph came out. Firestar took a quick look at the photo and openly beamed. "Hey, Jeeves, check this out!"
The gentlemen's gentleman accepted the photo and looked intently at the image. "It appears that you have a young fan." The picture showed a young girl, maybe seven or eight years old, wearing a homemade Firestar costume. The girl had curly brown hair.
"That's so adorable," Firestar stated as she finished reading the letter.
"You know this young lady?", Jeeves inquired.
"Sort of. I didn't know her name at the time, but she's Molly. I saved her from falling off a roof a few months back. She says that she's my biggest fan and that she made herself a Firestar costume. That's so sweet."
"Yes, indeed, madame," Jeeves answered as he departed the Communications Room, an amused look on his face.
A '69 Aston Martin sped through the outskirts of the Westchester countryside. The man at the wheel confidently pushed his vehicle beyond what most would dare. He was above average in looks, but his face held several bruises from a past conflict. None observing him would have realized that he was Lightburst of the famous Avengers without his costume.
The light-weilding Avenger slowed his vehicle and turned in to one of the many Westchester Estates. The main gate of elegant black wrought iron opened silently as Lightburst approached. He sped through the gate and up the long driveway to the main house with a seeming reckless abandon. Onlookers would have thought him to be mad to be racing as he was, but as a former professional driver, Lightburst was most confident in his skills behind the wheel. With tires squealing, the Avenger brought his vehicle to a power slide stop.
The man who was Lightburst leaped out of his vehicle and advanced towards the front door. The estate was large and grand, perhaps the largest of its kind in Westchester, sprawling over hundreds of acres. The nearest neighbor was over a mile away. The masters of the estate had privacy in great abundance, for that was what they truly desired.
To the neighbors, the masters of this estate were Lord and Lady Carrington, who had moved from England earlier this year. They were the epitome of the British upper class. Or so everyone had been led to believe. It's doubtful that the neighbors could fully comprehend the truth about the Carringtons. If they had, they definitely would not have approved.
The seemingly normalcy of the scene was shattered as soon as the front door opened at Lightburst's approach. Instead of a dignified butler or other household servant, there stood a tall muscular man dressed in fetish attire. He wore a black leather hood and shiny black leather pants. The muscular man went bare chested and was quite handsome. This was the style of dress chosen by the mistress of the house. She found it to be rather pleasing.
No words were exchanged between Lightburst and the man in modernized executioner garb. Words were not needed as both knew what they were supposed to be doing. Both were utterly subservient to the mistress of the house. In silence they moved through the vast structure. The rooms were elegantly styled, but staff were all dressed as unusually as the man at the door. The men all wore the same attire; the hood and pants, going bare chested. The women wore all wore french maid uniforms, but in black latex with white frills under the too short skirt. Hose and high heels finished out their revealing outfits.
Lightburst was led into a seating room where the masters of the house were waiting. The man known as Lord Evil was seated in an comfortable easy chair, casually reading the Wall Street Journal while sipping his afternoon tea. Lady Darkness was sprawled on an elegant divan being fed small pieces of fruit by two handsome male servants.
"I have come as commanded, mistress," Lightburst stated as he dropped to one knee, his head bent down. Lord Evil glanced over his paper for a moment and then returned to his reading.
After a few minutes, Lady Darkness acknowledged the Avenger's presence. Mental energy flashed about her crown and then coalesced into a beam that struck Lightburst in the forehead. Once assured that her mental dominance of Lightburst remained complete, the beam ceased. The power of the crown drained away the will of any who were exposed to its effects, making it easy for Lady Darkness to control them. Lightburst, like all the staff in the grand house, was her mental slave.
"Soon, I will require an important task of you," Lady Darkness intoned authoritatively. So far Lightburst's tasks had been simple. First, he was to reposition himself inside the Avengers after his 'rescue'. The whole thing had been one massive misdirection to get the heroes off the backs of the Morbanes. The Avengers had come close to ruining everything. The sacrifice of the DEMON Base and the doubles of Lord Evil and Lady Darkness had all been worth it, however. Since that time they had been working on their plans without interference. (Editor's Note: Yep, that's what really went on back in Avengers #12-13)
The second task was likewise a minor one. Lightburst, aided by the technological know-how of DEMON, had momentarily blinded the Avengers' communications system. They never received a call for assistance when other slaves under the direction of Lady Darkness raided the CII plant to secure the Energy Amplification Array, the final part needed to complete the portal device. (Editor's Note: Cover fully in Scarlet Sabre #3)
"I live only to serve you, mistress," Lightburst intoned.
"Of course you do," Lady Darkness answered matter of factually. Her own mental prowess augmented by the Stone Crown, Lightburst had little choice but to serve. "I will need your assistance in the capture of the Enchantress a few days hence. She will serve me nicely as a 'puppet' ruler."
With that Lady Darkness let out a hardy laugh, but the joke was lost on Lightburst. This was just another step in her great plan. Inexplicably, her skintight latex outfit seemed to move of its own accord in appreciation of the jest. Lord Evil looked out from behind his paper once more and then nonchalantly returned to his reading.
"So what's the verdict, songbird?", the Thing grumbled from the examination table. The Rocky Avenger and Nightengale had traveled to Sanctuary to make use of their medical equipment for an examination. Since being re-exposed to the same mysterious radiation that originally mutated Ben Grimm, the Thing had mysteriously collapsed while battling the Ravager.
Nightengale considered for a moment, rechecking the results of the various tests she had run. "I really don't know what to tell you, Ben. There are no immediate traces of the radiation in your system. The more indepth DNA scan might show up something, but that will take time."
"Then I'm back inta the game, right?"
Nightengale gave a small smile and placed her hand on Ben's rocky arm. "Sorry, not yet. Not until we find out if what happened to you during the fight with the Ravager was a one time event or if by exerting yourself, you will trigger another attack."
Ben let out a heavy sigh and looked down. He always hated radiation for what it had done to him. How it had taken away his humanity and changed him into this-- this thing. It had taken many long and difficult years to come to terms with what he had become. Now he was going through it all over again. What was this radiation going to do to him now? Would he change into something even worse?
If anyone could fully understand what the Thing was going through, it was Christina Blackledge. She too had once been normal and had been changed. While Nightengale hadn't undergone a radical physical change, her constant telepathic abilities made her something of a social pariah. She could certainly relate to the feelings of loneliness and isolation that Ben must have felt.
"I don't know if it's any consolation, but I have the theory that this radiation is psycho-active in nature," Nightengale continued. "Meaning, that if you are going to change, you might be able to direct what the radiation does to you."
"That sounds nutty."
"Bear with me, Ben. Let me explain my theory." From there, Nightengale launched into the full explanation of her theory. She described how the strange radiation had changed Ben into the Thing, how it had affected Terra Fire, Tempest, and Nemesis of the Young Champions, and created real life versions of Guardian Angel and the Ravager.
"It still sounds nutty," Ben concluded. "So what in the Sam Hill am I supposed ta do? Click my heels three times and wish I was normal again?"
Nightengale gave a small shrug. "Think happy thoughts?", she suggested.
Hunter's Corvette cruised through Brooklyn. The fine vehicle slowed down as it reached a series of basketball courts. They were filled on this afternoon as numerous men rushed up and down the court. Through tinted windows, the occupants watched the men at play,
"That's him," Photon announced, pointing towards one of the players with his armored gauntlet. "Clutch always had a knack for knowing what was going down around town."
"How do you want to play this?", the Huntress wondered as she peered at the distant Clutch. The two had spent most of the day tracking down informants, trying to find some clue to Gratz's next move. "Going out like this is definitely going to attract unwanted attention."
"Hang loose, babe, and chill," Photon directed. "I'll handle this one alone."
As the Huntress looked back towards her passenger, Photon's armor disappeared leaving the man inside revealed. He was a tall and handsome black man with short black hair and brown eyes. Physically, he was impressive and built like a linebacker. Photon winked at the Huntress upon seeing the astonished look on her face and got out of the Corvette.
Casually he strolled up to the court, grasping hands with old acquaintances as he went. This used to be his home turf before everything changed. Before he had become the Guardian of Astegor and had his life turned on its ear. The name of Neal Washington still carried a great deal of weight in this part of Brooklyn. Eventually, he made it to the side of the court and was content to watch the game in progress.
The score was ten-ten in a game to eleven. Clutch's team had the ball. One of the other players drove recklessly down the lane, fully intent on slamming the winning basket home. Out of nowhere, the other team's center appeared and violently slapped the ball way. The ball bounced towards Clutch, several feet beyond the top of the key. Clutch scooped up the ball and effortlessly pumped a jumper that hit nothing but the bottom of the net.
"It's pretty! Oh so, pretty! Game over, suckers! Pay up!", Clutch taunted as his teammates rushed to congratulate him on the victory. Behind them the other team argued amongst themselves, wondering who was supposed to be guarding Clutch and how they let him get so wide open.
"You haven't lost your touch, my man," Neal praised as he advanced from the sidelines. "Still hustlin' on the street, huh?"
"Neal!" Clutches eyes grew wide at the sight of his old friend. "My man! Where have you been?" Clutch met Neal halfway, the two old friends grasping hands. "When did you get back into town? Have you seen Cecilia? How's your mama doin'?"
The answers to some of those questions were things that Neal hadn't considered yet. His duty as the Guardian of Astegor came first and trashing the newest fang pit to invest the Big Apple took precedence. "Just rolled in last night, babe. Not enough time to check up on everyone."
Clutch accepted the explanation easily enough. Cecilia and Neal had been an item back when they ran with their gang. Everyone expected the two to have been long married by now, but for some reason unknown to Clutch they never did. Neither Neal or Cecilia seemed willing to talk about their break up. "You wanna run with me? It'll be just like old times."
"Really temptin', but not today. What I need right now is some of your 'expertise'."
Clutch caught on to what Neal was talking about and quickly said his goodbyes to his teammates. Then he and Neal stepped away to discuss matters in private. It was pretty much public knowledge that Clutch was a hustler of pool and hoops, but what few did know was that he was a fountain of information for what was going down on the seedy underbelly of the Big Apple.
The Huntress observed the conversation between Photon and Clutch. The two walked away to be in privacy while they spoke. After a few minutes, Photon slipped Clutch folded up bills and walked away. He slid back into the Corvette a few moments later.
"Word on the street is that the Scatucci's are making a major bid to be the top crime family in the city. They've got what's being called a 'super-assassin' in their back pockets doin' all their dirty work."
"Makes sense," the Huntress noted as she mentally chastised herself for not making the connection sooner. "And something I should have realized earlier myself."
While the Huntress was speaking, Photon's silvery and black armor reformed about him. "What makes you say that, babe?"
"I was investigating the assassination of a Scatucci informant when I first ran into the vampires. I guessed it was just a one time hit and not a full time job for them. So all we have to do is figure out the Scatucci's next target and wait for them to show up."
"Chill, babe," Photon said, holding his hand up to stop the Huntress. "Clutch supplied a short list of likely candidates. My advice would be to split up and..."
A buzzing from the Huntress's comlink interrupted Photon's line of reasoning. Picking up the device, the Huntress answered, "Huntress here. Go ahead."
"Muskateer has discovered something," Black Diamond's voice explained from the device. "I want you and Photon to meet us down near Washington Square Park."
"Give me the address and we'll be on our way," the Huntress responded. A moment later, the Corvette peeled out towards its distant destination.
Washington Square Park was located at the foot of Fifth Avenue, in the residential district of Greenwich Village. Many artists gathered in the park to display their works in open air art shows during the spring and summer months. With the light of day beginning to fade, many had packed up their works and headed home. The famous Washington Arch stood at the head of the park.
Hunter's Corvette streaked onto the normally serene scene and screeched to a stop. The Huntress and Photon rushed out of the vehicle and up the steps into a small Mercer Street apartment building. The door opened before they could reach it and Black Diamond beckoned the two heroes inside.
"In there," Black Diamond explained, gesturing deeper into the apartment. With Photon leading the way, the heroes moved in to one of the apartment's bedrooms. The room had been converted into a different type of sleeping chamber as the major features were a quartet of coffins. Muskateer and the Enchantress stood guard in the room.
"The little darlin's are still sound asleep," Muskateer reported smugly as he held one of the coffins open, allowing the newcomers to see inside. "Snug as a bug in a rug." Once uncovering the radiation that the vampires had been tagged with, Muskateer and the Enchantress had followed their trail to this Mercer Street apartment.
"The missing police officers!", the Huntress gasped.
"They'll become fully active at nightfall," Photon explained matter-of-factually. "Fresh fangs are not strong enough to survive in the daytime. Not yet anyway."
"Are they all here?", the Huntress wondered. A full ten police officers had been reported missing, so six remained unaccounted for.
"Only these four unfortunate souls," the Enchantress reported. "Gratz himself was not present when we arrived."
"But we've uncovered numerous radiation traces. One of them has to lead us to the fang master himself," Muskateer quickly added. "Just a matter of figuring out which one."
"Good work," Black Diamond stated. "In the meantime what do we do with these four vampires? Its not like we can turn them over the authorities."
"You got that Vampire Survival Kit handy, Sprout? I say lets put them out of our misery."
Before the Huntress could answer, Photon spoke up. "They're still under Gratz's control. Depending on how long they've been fangs, it's possible they can still be saved. My advice would be to hold them until we destroy the head guy. Then we'll decide their fate."
"You're the expert in this area," Black Diamond remarked. "We'll do as you say. But how are we going to hold them?"
"Permit me," the Enchantress answered, directing the others to step back. Once the area was clear, the sorceress conjurered a field of glowing red energy around the four coffins. "My magic will contain the vampires until their master has been dealt with."
"Good work," Black Diamond nodded at the solution to that particular problem. "Let's get moving and find out where Gratz's gone to. Night's beginning to fall and they'll be at full strength before too long."
High in the penthouse suite of the Waldorf-Astoria, the man better known as Jack O' Lantern watched as the sun dipped low in the western sky. Night would be falling soon and his hunt would begin anew. The minute traces of radiation within his Napalm Pumpkins had tagged his prey, giving him the ability to trace their movements to some degree. It was an imperfect solution, but the best that he could conceive at the time. Once night fell, he would slip into his costume and continue the hunt.
"My friend Gratz, I've chased you far around the bend," the man rhymed to himself. "But tonight our game finally comes to an end!"
