2009, THE WORLD AT WAR! From the ashes of long dead Soviet Russia arises a new threat. Its mission? World domination! One by one countries have fallen in line behind the flag of the one globe, through either force, coercion, or bribery . The United States and its few remaining allies are pushed into a corner, but our first line of defense, as always are The Mighty Avengers, Earths Mightiest Heroes! This is their story in the worlds darkest hour! This is
Splash Page : The Gremlin stands at a window, hands clasped behind his back , speaking to an
unseen person.
Gremlin: "So it has all come to this my friend. For years I have planned for this moment. For
many , many long years have I studied and calculated. And now my moment of victory is here."
Page 2
The Gremlin continues to pace around his office, speaking to the unknown person with him.
Gremlin: "First I faked my own death at the fool Iron Mans hands, transporting out of the
burning Titanium man armor and teleporting in cloned genetic material from my own cellular
structure, something I owe to your own genius by the way. I learned all about cloning from you.
Then I learned other things, my enhanced brain allows me to assimilate knowledge and
extrapolate on it faster then any "normal" human. The first thing I did was master the mystic arts,
I knew that a few short years in advanced study would allow me advance farther than any one
else had ever done in so short a time. Then I began to learn and plan voraciously. Why should I
sully my hands in combat with lesser beings? Why should I ever enter battle again, when others
can be my chess pieces."
Page 3
Gremlin: " But my country was falling apart, eating itself up over the change to "Freedom" . This
was not meant to be! Mother Russia must lead, never become one of the pack. My plans began
then. Months became years as I worked every angle, creating my massive timetable. From the
entrapment of the elemental that now encircles the globe awaiting my command to touch its
fiery finger down, as it did only yesterday in England*. I have covered every circumstance. By
tomorrow the world will be in my Iron Grip! And then will she learn the nature of fear! The
Gremlin was meant to rule this planet, to bring its people into a new era of prosperity. But my
friend, revenge also burns in my disfigured breast. Revenge against Iron Man. To use his
creations, the mass produced Guardsmen, as my soldiers of war was sheer genius!"
*See last issue
Page 4
Gremlin: " That alone had to strike a chord of hatred in Starks heart. To see his own suits of
armor, upgraded and made better by my own genius, used as a first strike weapon must have
driven him to near insanity! Hahahahahaha! What a pleasant and beautiful day it is, eh my
friend? Soon, oh so soon the end will come for the so called "Earths mightiest heroes" Their last
moments on this world are fast approaching. Of course the re-created Titanium man armor was
inspiration on my part, and some small vanity I would say. So what are we to do today while we
await the end of the world?"
Page 5
Gremlin punches a few buttons on his console in front of him and holographic images shimmer
into view. Images of Guardsman suited One Globers sacking Europe as Titanium men clean up
after them in almost endless waves.
Gremlin: " So all comes to fruition. Like a master pianist (Perhaps I should learn piano next
hhhmmm?) I have manipulated my enemies like keys on a Steinway Grand. I am so close to
finishing my grand masterpiece my long time friend and only equal."
Page 6
Gremlin continues to pan through the images before him until he comes to ones where the
Avengers are decimating his forces.
Gremlin : "Damn them! These are old images aren't they? Why do you never answer me you
insufferable clod?"
Only silence comes to the disfigured madman as he rants on and on.
Gremlin: "Bah, it matters not. My word will be law from pole to pole soon and in the
circumference of this damnable world as well. First I destroyed Doom, then the Homeland of the
Vikings, effectively gaining my greatest weapon, a now mindless force of nature and
super-nature! All my plans and timetables have come together as would a master puzzle. No one
can stop me, not Stark nor his insufferable Avengers!. The world is The Gremlins ! Hahahahaha
Let them underestimate me again, Let them think this disfigured body hides a small mind . I am
power. I am greatness. I am the Gremlin!"
Page 7
His stubby fingers play across his keyboard again, this time the images change to that of a global
representation, showing Europe and Asia as well as the Mid east in red. And the Americas,
Australia and Africa in Blue. All other land masses were striped white and black.
Gremlin: "You see? You See? This is how my masterful plan has played out. We control all the
red areas, and the damnable Americans all the blue. The striped are under no ones control as of
yet, mostly due to their unnecessary positioning in this truly global conflict . Years of sacrifice
on my part, have gone into this victory. I have been unseen for fifteen years. No one knows of
my existence, save for a few trusted aids and warriors who will be placed highly in the new
order. "
Page 8
Gremlin: " Well my long time and only true friend, now is the time for the final battle. Now
must I prepare for their invasion. Which is surely to come. When they do I will be waiting .
Waiting for one final battle against the foolhardy Stark. He can never be prepared enough for me
now."
He presses another button and a wall panel slides open, revealing a highly stylized Titanium
Man armor. Larger, more brutal looking , but obviously still derived from the suits being worn
by the numerous Globe soldiers.
Page 9
Gremlin: "This suit is beyond anything the fool could derive himself. My mind is far and away
his superior. This armor is the result of years of research and upgrades. I can fly through space
on my own power without ever stopping in this suit. It holds enough firepower to single
handedly destroy entire armies, while never being scratched on its Adamantium/ Vibranium
surface. I am truly indestructible! "
He turns and stares at the shadowed figure in the room with him.
Gremlin: "And still you have no words of support my friend? Still no words of encouragement?
Bah! I do not need any from you. Be silent then, as you have been for so many years."
Page 10
Full page shot of the man he's been talking to
Gremlin: "Never speak to me again Arnim Zola! But again, how could you? You have been dead
for so many years, that I forgive your rudeness. Hahhahahahaha!"
Arnim Zola, the master geneticist , stands frozen for all time, encased in a block of solid plastic,
like unto a fly in amber. A look of sheer terror on his mechanical face . And all the while the
insane Gremlin laughs.........
Page 11
Avengers bunker, here assembled are the greatest heroes this world has ever seen. Captain
America, Spider-Man, The Vision, The Scarlet Witch, Yellowjacket, The Wasp, Hawkeye, War
Machine, The Black Widow, Cannonball, Nova, Darkhawk, Thunderstrike, Vixen, Hercules,
Living Lightning, Spiderwoman, Photon, Moonstone, US Agent, Kymera, Ms. Marvel, The Hulk,
Dr Strange, Nighthawk, Valkyrie, Sub Mariner, The Thing, Mr Fantastic, The Invisible Woman,
The Human Torch, Captain Ultra, Firebird, Rage as well as several others still entering the
packed war room.
Cap A: "I want to thank you all for coming on such short notice, especially the reserve members
and the FF and Defenders. I think you all know the dire nature of what is facing us this evening,
the end of civilization as we know it. This does not even begin to sum up the task before us all.
The One Globe has, in its short and evil life span , brought this world to the utter brink of
devastation far faster then anyone ever thought possible. Our soldiers are fighting alongside their
Canadian and united South American counterparts to keep the Americas free. The winning of
this war falls to us. This is a super-powered threat, and we are most adept at dealing with
super-powered threats."
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Vision: "Captain, what are our plans? How will we institute our attack? And Most importantly,
what are our chances of success?"
Cap A: "I won't lie to any of you. Our chances of winning this war are slim, but we're the
Avengers, we succeed where others fail and slim chances are all we have ever needed for
thorough victory."
War Machine: "Nice speech Cap, but what about a plan? "
Black Widow: "Our plan is this Jim, the east coast team and the west attack our adversaries
hidden lair, decimating him and it, while the mid states team attacks his Guardsmen training
facility in Slorenia. The west coast team will strike against his hidden lair as well, but from a
completely different angle. While the east coast team will be seeking to enter and destroy the
facility, you will be attacking his grounds and development areas."
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US Agent: "Well when do we leave? I wanna kick some commie butt here!"
Hawkeye: "Jiminy Cricket Jack, there's more to this than just some game. The fate of the world
is at stake here! "
US Agent: "Since when is it not? C'mon Clint. Let's go kick some butt and be home for steak and potatoes."
Suddenly Cap slams his fist down on the desktop where he , the Widow and Hawkeye sit facing
the others.
CapA : "This is no joke Daniels ! Either take this seriously or get the hell out now!"
Spider-Man: "Whoa Cap, calm down. We all know the weight of this situation, and I think the red neck here was just trying to lighten the air around this campfire. Can't say that I blame him either at this point."
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Cap sighs deeply and smiles.
CapA: "Thanks Spider-Man. Only you could allow me to see the hidden meaning behind US
Agents characteristic outbursts."
US Agent: "Well thanks Spidey, uh I think."
Rage: Big question is, when do we leave?"
Hawkeye: As soon as Iron Man gets his tin plated head here."
Scarlet witch: "Well where is he?"
Cap A: "Wanda, I have no idea."
Page 15
A hammer slams into a steel chestplate
Bang!
Once for his Mother, who bore him
Bang!
Twice for his father, for making him the man he is today!
Bang!
A third time for the shrapnel that once lodged itself in his heart, forever making him a man of
Iron.
Bang!
A fourth time for kindly old scientist who gave his life while helping to forge the original man of Iron
Bang!
A fifth time for all the lives he has saved over the years
Bang!
A sixth time for those he could not
Page 16
Bang!
And finally a seventh time for those he must Avenge now, those who have lost their lives in this
great conflict.
He stands, sweat dripping from his body, the thin tank top clinging to him as he looks at his newest, his deadliest creation. The armor is unlike any he has ever built before. Twin nuclear generators power its massive energy supply. It is a large and bulky armor, blood red in color. The uni-beam is more of a chest width slit, not unlike an opening eye, which pulses steady, rhythmic power. The gauntlets reach up to his elbows, energy projectors dot the back of the gloves. The face plate is blood red ,with a golden vee starting above his nose and expanding backwards to his neck. The shoulder epaulets are rounded and wide, with a horseshoe shaped ridge running around his neck, starting at the front of his armor flat, and wrapping around the head to about three inches in height. The most intriguing aspect of the entire suit is the facets. The entire suit is faceted as would be a huge blood red diamond.
Page 17
Wordlessly Anthony Stark looks at his armor, his Armageddon armor. The suit he intends to wear to victory, no matter the cost. And Anthony Stark smiles. It is a grim and deadly smile, not unlike a sharks before it devours its prey.
Outside the air is ice cold, snow is everywhere, and the hidden Iron Armory is still just that,
hidden. No detection system anywhere in the world will ever find this place. It is invisible to any
and all types of detection. Suddenly the air is split by a high pitched screech as a roof panel
opens and Iron Man rockets out, towards New York, and destiny. Powerful boot rockets propel
Iron Man at speeds approaching, nay surpassing escape velocity and then he is gone.
Page 18
Space, outside the burning sky, the ever present, ever lit dome of flame the Gremlin has
engineered to cover the planet. In the starcruiser "Dragons eye" A seance of sorts is taking place.
Moon dragon sits, floating in mid air, linking her mind to Captain Marvels, and to Adam
Warlocks. She is using her telepathy in conjunction with Warlocks Soul Gem and Captain
Marvels Cosmic awareness to try and contact the spirit of the burning sky.
M D : {Can you hear me oh spirit of fire. The Goddess of the mind seeks contact with you. I am
Moondragon. I am here to speak with you. I am here to help. Hear me burning one. Answer me.}
Drax the destroyer fidgets restlessly. This is not his way. He'd rather smash at the burning Sky until he passes out from exhaustion, and then smash at it some more.
The Silver Surfer says nothing, Norrin Radd is silent as he contemplates the harsh reality before
him. Galactus has never made this group come close to fear, and yet now they do. The unknown
is a powerful and deadly foe he muses.
Page 19
M D : {Hear me oh Burning spirit. I seek contact with you. I seek to aid you. We know you are here against your will. We seek to free you. But we cannot do this unless you are willing . Hear us Burning Sky, hear us!}
Beta Ray Bill says nothing, lost in thought is he in regards to the Asgardians. Why can't he
contact them? Why can he no longer cross the dimensional barriers to heavenly Asgard? What of
his brother of the spirit , Thor? Where is he at the moment? What are his thoughts?
Page 20
Thor lies in the Avengers infirmary, as he has for most of the past year. Unmoving and
unspeaking. Captain America enters the infirmary and sits with the Asgardian.
Cap A: "I know you can hear me Thor, so I'll continue to speak until it's time to go. This is the
first time that I am not one hundred percent confident in our return my friend. I wish your
strength of arm was here with us Thor. I would be more confident in our victory then. As it
stands now, well, lets just say that I'm more bravado then I'm used to hearing from myself. I've
never felt this dire sense of....despair. Never! This may be the last time we ever speak Thor. I've
learned a lot from you Asgardian. You've taught me about honor and courage, as well as having
the will never to surrender. I could use some of those lessons now my friend. "
Just then a holographic image of Fabian Stankowitz appears before Cap.
Fabian: "Cap, the others are waiting, and Iron Man just radioed in, he'll be here in three minutes."
Cap A: "I'll be there momentarily Fabian."
Fabian nods and the image shimmers off
Page 21
Cap grasps Thors hand one last time, then salutes the comatose God. He turns briskly and exits.
Silence fills the infirmary once more, and then, then does Thors hand twitch, slowly forming a
fist. As suddenly the room begins to fill with a golden glow above The Thunderers form......
Splash Page: Aerial view of several Quinjets as well as the Fantasti-plane and Nighthawks "Night-Jet" rocketing through the clouds, as well as several heroes flying on their own power.
Page 23:
CapA: "We're on the course you dictated Iron Man, are you sure he won't see us coming from here?
Iron Man Flies next to the Quinjet carrying Cap.
I M : "He'll never see us coming Cap. He's expecting an assault from the west and south. Our vector is going to carry us in from the North. He'll mount a counter offensive to be sure, but I think we can handle that."
Falcon: "I don't know about that gents, I'm picking up a few images heading our way on long range scans. But they're coming from behind us."
Vision walks over to the scanning array and refocuses it.
Vision: "It is Vindicator of Alpha flight, as well as an Alpha Flight vehicle."
CapA: "Vindicator do you read me? This is Captain America."
Page 24
Vin: "Yes Captain, what did you intend to do here? Start the party without your northern
neighbors?"
CapA : " No Heather, we just assumed that you've endured enough here without being drawn into this conflict once again."
Vin: "Assume nothing for me, thank you. I am a big girl now and can take care of myself. Besides, I owe someone for my husbands life. It's time to collect the marker."
CapA: "Listen Vindicator, going off half cocked is a bad idea to begin with . If you're going on this mission, we need you focused on the task at hand."
Silence greets Cap on the other end of his transmission, then...
Vin: "Listen Captain America, I am a professional, and I will get the job done. Also I'm not an Avenger and don't take orders from you. And don't presume to judge me unless you've walked in my shoes. How can the great Captain America knows how it feels to lose the love of his life, when all you love is duty and country?"
Page 25
Cap is momentarily taken aback by her angry words. Images of his beloved, long dead wife Sharon burn in his minds eye.
CapA: " Don't presume to much lady, you don't want to open these wounds. Just get in line and get the job done. After we win this thing, IF we win it I'll be happy to match scars with you any day of the week."
She hesitates a moment longer, then nods, drifting back to the Alpha Flight Omni craft and
entering its pressurized hatch.
Hawkeye walks up to Cap, who is still seething with anger.
Hawkeye: "Wow. That was a little to touchy. You okay buddy?"
Page 26
CapA: "No. No I'm not Clint. Let's just get this over with . Now I'm fighting angry, which is something I didn't want."
Scarlet Witch: "Cap, calm down. Heather couldn't have known. She's hurting herself and wants revenge."
CapA : "I know Wanda, but her words were like daggers . "
Falcon: "Well heads up people, we've got incoming!"
All eyes on board Caps Quinjet turn forward as several dim blips on the screen grow larger.
I M : " I count fifty planes Avengers."
Page 27
CapA: "No turning back, take'em down!"
Iron Man veers off, accelerating as his blood red armor glistens in the glow from the burning sky. An instant later War Machine and Nova join him, along with Ms Marvel and Thunderstrike.
I M : "Okay Avengers, as The Thing would say, "Its Clobberin' time!"
Suddenly from the FF 's plane,
Thing: "Hey watch yerself metal britches, or I'll sue ya fer copyright infringement!"
Stark smiles grimly beneath his helmet , then Iron Man rockets into a wildly firing plane, its huge shells bouncing off his armor harmlessly as he tears through the plane, like a hot knife through butter!
Shraakk!
Page 28
War Machine meanwhile fires his pulse cannon at the first plane, blowing it's wing off, sending, it in a downward spiral of death!
Thoom, Thoom!
Ms Marvel: "Nova, with me ! Let's rock these suckers!"
Nova: "You got the lead MS M ! These guys need to be taken down fast."
The twin furies tear through the planes as the attacking aircraft spray them with bullets.
Behind them the Assembled aircraft of the heroes begins firing salvos of their own into the One Globes airborne forces.
Thing: "Wahoo! I ain't had this much fun ina plane since WW II!"
Mr fantastic sits silently. The thrill of battle has long since left him , since his son Franklin saved the United States by mentally deflecting the huge Nuke barrage that was meant for the US.*
*See our first issue
page 29
Torch: "Easy big guy, you'll show your age."
Thing : "Ahh can it ya runt. It ain't my fault the cosmic rays what made me inta the idol o' millions kept me young an' gorgeous too."
Invisible Woman: "Both of you keep your minds on the work at hand. Reed, we need your input.
Where are these planes coming from? What's the best line of defense against them?"
Mr Fantastic answers through hazed eyes.
Reed: "Susan, these are just here to soften us up. The real battle will happen once we're through them."
He falls silent once more.
Page 30
Thing: "C'mon string bean, get with it. I know yer tryin' ta figure out a way to wake up Franky, but right now ya gotta concentrate!"
Suddenly a blaring siren goes off and the Thing falls silent, all joviality drains from his face.
Thing: "Aw heck! They got weapons lock on us, and it's a freakin hellstrike missile."
He punches a button with is fist and counter measures deploy, as metal balls drop from the plane
, along with flares and foil sheets, but still the missile closes.
Thing : "This is no good kids. Suzy , brace yerself fer impact!"
Page 31
I W : "No, this isn't necessary. "
She reaches out with her mind, wrapping the missile in her invisible force field, she forces it
sideways, away from the fantasti-plane, and into a new target. One of the One Globes own
planes!
Ba-Koom!
The jet explodes into a million pieces as the missile detonates on impact. Sue Richards slumps
to the floor of the plane, spent from the exertion.
Spiderwoman watches from her Quinjet as the One Globe jet disintegrates.
Spi: "My God, that was close!" This is getting dirtier by the minute."
Darkhawk: "No, ya think?"
Spi: "Yes , DH , "I think". Now face front, I think we're breaking through the first wave."
Page 32 & 33
Two page spread of the ariel battle going on, as the Quinjets and fantasti-plane ,as well as the Night-Jet avoid heavy fire from ground based weapons as well as the engaging aircraft. War Machine , Ms Marvel, Nova and Iron Man battle on against individual planes. Energy bolts, bullets, and missiles fly everywhere. Words cannot describe the scene.
Page 34
I M : (This is taking to long, time to take these cannon fodder out , NOW!)
Iron Man charges up his gauntlets, as heavy plasma arcs between them. Energies coruscate and
leap as he brings formidable and unknown energies to bear, aiming them at the approaching jets
, to suddenly release them!
SHA-KA-KOWWW!
The energy wave erupts from his armors gauntlets, disintegrating everything in their path. The
One Globe pilots don't even have time to scream !
Caps voice over Iron Mans helmet receiver:" My God man, what was that? What did you do to them? They-they literally fell apart!"
Page 35
I M : "No time for explanations now Cap, this is war. The stakes have never been higher, you know that."
CapA: "Yes I do Shellhead, but not this way, God and country, those poor fools didn't even know what hit them. One instant they were alive and well , the next .....gone."
Hawkeye: "Hey Cap, better them then us."
Scarlet Witch: "Boys, this is no time for a debate, Tony bought us time here. Time we should not waste. "
A voice crackles across the ships communications system.
Widow: "We are leaving my friends. The Guardsmen facility will be destroyed, you have my word."
Page 36
CapA: "Be careful Natasha, You have nothing to prove here. Just do your job and all will be
well."
The Widow is silent for an instant, when she does answer some of the edge, some of the tension is gone from her voice.
Widow: "I will be careful my friends, we all will. And we all shall return, as heroes."
With that the Midwest teams Quinjet arcs southwest and disappears over the European soil, its radar signature masked.
Page 37
Darkhawk stares from the west coast teams Q-jet.
D H : "I have a bad feeling about this, as if we'll never see them again."
Hercules : "Do not worry friend Darkhawk. The fair Natasha is a leader to be proud of, and her squad of Avengers are indeed a hearty team, though Rage still needs to gain appreciation of the "Gift",they are indeed a force to shake the Heavens themselves!"
Living Lightning: "What I want to know Mi amigos, was what was that energy Iron Man used on
those planes?"
Page 38
Close up of the Silver Surfers face.
S S : "The power cosmic! Someone has just used a vast amount of the power cosmic! I felt its power from here rippling through the ether !"
Genis: "Hhhmm, I felt something too Surf, I can almost get impressions of what's going on down there."
Moondragon: "SILENCE! We are finally breaking through to the consciousness that is the burning sky, I do not need you all jabbering like idiots."
Genis: "Charming, as always."
Moondragon stares at him with a look that could melt steel, when suddenly she throws her head back in agony
Page 38
M D : "ARRRRGGGHH!"
Beta ray Bill: "What the ? "
Warlock: "Wait, I feel it too, a....malevolence."
Suddenly a voice fills their minds , a dark and evil presence wraps its hands around their linked minds.
Voice: "At last! I am freed, You fools have managed to break the bonds that held me catatonic all these months. You 've freed me, and in so doing I owe you a quick and easy death, as opposed to the one awaiting your little world below. A world I will destroy with a small flex of my fiery fist."
Surfer: "No ! I know that voice , that evil, ancient voice. Long have I fought against him in all his myriad forms."
Page 39
Voice: "No Surfer, you do not know me. I am not your old enemy Mephisto. Rather I am one who is far, far deadlier. I am SURTUR, the Asgardian fire deity, and this time the world WILL end in flame !
And as the Cosmic Avengers watch, a face begins to form in the flames surrounding the Earth, a face that laughs. Long and hard, the face of the fire demon!
Avengers Bunker , the infirmary
A golden light fills the room, surrounding the comatose form of Thor, as a female voice as old as time itself begins to speak.
Voice : "Arise Thor, God of Thunder. Thy time here is not yet at an end, thy world needs thee, as do thy companions, the Avengers ! Thy might of arm is needed in the coming struggle , and needed now. The threat has ne'er been greater, the stakes never higher. Arise and do battle as the warrior God thou art ! Arise Thor , my son, and be the Avenger thou wert BORN to be!"
Page 40
Full page splash of Thor standing, as lightning leaps from Mjolnir
Thor : "Wha? What has transpired here? Verily my head doth throb like a hammer to an anvil, as images doth fill my hurting brain, images of my fellow Avengers in battle 'gainst o'erwhelming odds. And .....something else....SURTUR! By Odins beard!"
Page 41
Voice: "Nay my son, the fire demon be not thy concern this day. His defeat lies to others. You are needed where I send thee."
Thor : "Wha? MOTHER?"
And with that Thor fades from sight, as if he were never there. As his mother, Jord the Earth spirit herself blinks out of view, her mission here done. She has given the Avengers a fighting chance, but even she cannot see the outcome.....
Page 42
Splash page of a close up of Caps Shield, plowing through One Globe Guardsmen
Ka-POW!
Page 43
Cap is behind the shield , leaping through the enemy, as above him Darkhawk and War Machine
fire energy blasts, trying to scatter the enemy soldiers.
D H : "This is no good! Their Vibranium coating repels all our blows, we can send 'em flyin', but we can't do 'em any real harm!"
CapA: "Keep fighting Darkhawk, never surrender! Do you hear me NEVER!"
Cap flings his shield at a Guardsmans neck joint, doing obvious, fatal damage as the man keels over choking, , blood spitting from his face plate.
Suddenly a Titanium Man raises itself up behind War Machine and blasts him with a laser like
weapon.
Shhhhaaa-KOW!
W M : "Unngh!"
Page 44
T-Man: "Die you mockery of a TRUE armored weapon!"
Suddenly a blast of energy envelopes the attacking T-Man, hurling him back.
ZZZZZAAAK!
Nova Flies through, slugging the powerful Titanium Man
POW!
Nova: "Leave War Mach alone green jeans, he's more man then you'll ever be!"
W M : " Thanks for the Breather Nova, but this dime store wannabe is all mine !"
Page 45
War Machine unloads a powerful blast from his back mounted cannon, knocking the Titanium Man from his feet
Bramm!
Then War Machine lowers his Pulse cannon into place and fires a devastating blast into the Titanium Man, throwing him a hundred feet back.
Pa-Vooom!
War Machine flies like a missile through the air to tackle the already recovering Titanium Man.
POW!
W M : (This is no good, everything we throw at these guys bounces off. They're almost unstoppable!)
Page 46
Scarlet Witch throws yet another hex sphere around yet another group of Guardsmen, causing probability to ripple and change , causing their Vibranium coated suits to suddenly split and rupture, as Hawkeye fires blast arrows into the cracks literally exploding them from within.
Hawkeye: "Keep up the pressure witchie, it's our only chance here."
S W : "I know Clint, but I need a breather."
Suddenly a Guardsman attacks her, she leaps aside tiredly as the ground she was standing on liquefies under the Guardsmans blast.
SSSzzzack!
S W : "Unngh!" (M-my ankle, it's twisted! I-I cannot move. And I'm so tired, from the almost countless number of hexes I've thrown that my head is spinning. I-I cannot even see straight!)
She struggles to stand, as the Guardsman who shot at her approaches menacingly.
Guardsman: "So you think to defeat us here in our own homeland? Foolish witch! Today, You die!"
He stands above her trembling form, hands out raised, ready to blast her to atoms with a
condensed repulser blast when....
Page 47
Pa-KOOM!
The Vision rises up from the ground, directly in front of the startled Guardsman and delivers a
devastating blow!
Vision: " You dare to threaten my wife? You dare!?! "
Without another word the Vision rams his immaterial hand into the Guardsmans chest, dropping him to unconsciousness instantly and very painfully!
S W :" My knight in shining armor. Thank you my love."
Vision: "Hush Wanda, my darling. I will return you to our command headquarters we set up several miles back. There you will rest."
Page 48
Wanda: "No Vision. Let me rest a moment, and then we will continue our slow march towards the end of this game."
Across the battle field the Fantastic Four battle alongside the Defenders. The Thing and The Hulk stand shoulder to shoulder, delivering blows in unison to waves of Guardsmen that rock the countryside like unto the great earthquake that tore California into the sea so few years earlier.
Dr Strange binds the limitless enemies with rings of Raggadorr , as well as battling them with Faltaniun flames. But this makes him avert his gaze momentarily upwards, his ageless countenance distracted by...
Dr Strange: "By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth! The burning sky! I can sense a change in its
presence. A change of......evil proportions! By the Ancient one, the Sky is alive, and more it is
.....Surtur! The evil fire demon from Asgard! We are in dire straights indeed!"
Page 49
Across the Battlefield Spider-Man suddenly grasps his head and screams , as his spider sense kicks in painfully and with agonizing , devastating results!
Spidey : "Aggghhh!" (M-my Spider-sense screaming danger from everywhere at once! Like the whole freaking planets about to be crushed!)
Cut to space, as a giant representation of Surtur holds the earth in his burning hand.
Surtur : "Ahahahahahahah, little gnats, stop me from crushing this marble, if you try I will
prolong its life, at least for the few seconds it takes to destroy you all!"
His voice reverberates through the ships hull, as well as everyones consciousness.
Beta Ray Bill: " No demon, I know you well from my time in Asgard! This madness ends now!"
Page 50
Drax: "Ahh, action, and a foe to DESTROY! "
The two heroes race into space , directly at the towering image of the fire demon
Warlock :" NO! This is wrong! He cannot be defeated this way!"
Moondragon: "This is the only way Warlock!"
Without another word she hurls herself through her airlock, wearing a molecule thin
containment suit designed to protect her from the rigors of space.
MD :" Feel the power of the Goddess of the mind foul creature!"
She rips into Surturs mind, her mental energies augmented by her recently re-acquired mind gem. The demon is momentarily stunned as Beta ray and Drax press their advantage, Drax Pounding powerful blows upon the giant, as Beta Ray fires Asgardian energy blasts into the incalculably large figure!
Page 51
Captain Marvel: "Have they lost their minds? This will never work!"
Warlock : " I know my friend. It's only a matter of time now. We must hold back. We are this
planets only hope!"
Quasar: "I've gotta stop them! They'll be killed!"
Warlock: "I fear it's to late for that now."
Surfer: "No! While there is life there is hope!"
In a blast of energy the Surfer blazes away and towards the gargantuan demon just as
Surtur: " I have taken your metal gnats, and found it wanting. Now have mine!"
Page 52
The giant waves his hand, and blasts of flame hotter then the core of any sun spray outwards. Moondragon is the first to die! Instantly consumed by the power of Surturs mystic flame. Her death cry rings in every mind on Earth, including....
Cannonball: " Arrggh! Wha-what the hell was that? Ah felt someone dyin' and ah think it was..."
Widow: "It was Moondragon! Wherever she was she just gave her life for the Earth."
Moonstone: " We've no time to mourn! This Guardsman factory's gotta go down!"
T-Strike: " I know, and for once I agree with you. Lets do it!"
Thunderstrike hurls his mallet into the nearest Guardsman, savagely smashing him to the ground a hundred feet below!
P-KOW!
Widow: "Forward Avengers! Whatever our destiny, this place falls today!"
Page 53
T-Strike : "I uh, wish you didn't put it that way Tash."
The Avengers look, As hundreds of Guardsmen rocket towards them in waves from the factory.
Firebird: "This is not good. Not good at all."
T-Strike: "Noo, you think?"
Cannonball: "Well ya know what? They may be invulnerable, but so am ah!"
He rockets towards them, his blast field protecting him as he careens through them, blasting them aside as he creates a path for his team into the heart of the evil citadel before them!
T-Strike: " Sunnova--He's done it! C'mon, lets rock!"
He throws his mallet into two Guardsmen, smashing them aside as Moonstone fires deadly lasers, hotter then any man made ray into the vulnerable parts of the armor they were all briefed about.
Page 54
Widow: "Avengers forward! Whoever can throw energy, do it! They're Vibranium cannot protect them from that."
Vixen leaps over head, as her flying kick smashes a Guardsman in the side of the head, snapping him around savagely as his neck breaks with a sickening finality!
KRAK!
Vixen: "This is it , our last chance! AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!"
T-Strike: "I always did like the way that sounded coming from a chick."
Back in Russia the army of heroes is slowly, inexorably pushed back, as the all but invulnerable Guardsmen and Titanium men move forward into the Avengers, one heavy foot at a time.
Hawkeye: "This is no good Cap! We gotta break ranks and re-group!"
Cap: "NO! I will not run from this enemy! Not now, not ever!"
Page 55
Yellowjacket: " Look, there's no time to argue, we're being beaten back, we can't stop them, we
just don't have the fire power!"
BA-DOOOMM!
All eyes turn towards the sound of that blast, as Iron Man streaks overhead, his cosmic energy
gauntlets still glowing from a destructive blast.
Mr Fantastic: "Amazing, he harnessed the power cosmic, at least its most raw , destructive potential."
Torch: "Hey Reed! More fighting, less introspection!"
The Human Torch fires his nova flame blasts into the Titanium man in front of him, a scene reminiscent of one that burns in Iron Mans mind. The beginning of the Gremlins march towards global conquest.
Page 56
Iron Man: (Where is he? He knows I'm here. His ego will make him face me, in fact, I'm counting on it.)
Suddenly the ground erupts behind Iron man, as explosive energies hurl from the gargantuan Titanium Mans weapons array!
Ba-THOOOOM!
T-man: "Die Stark! The Gremlin commands you to die!"
I M : "Unngh!"
The Gremlin again unleashes his power blasts, pounding Iron Man as never before, his armor begins to tear under the merciless torrent of power, as it glows first a bright orange, then a brighter white!
Gremlin: "I have awaited this moment for years you pompous dog! You think your genius put you ahead of others because you are handsome as well? Fool! My mind is the superior! I waited , I bided my time. Yes, I took small revenges against you when I could, the death of your friends, the never ending torment you must have faced at that!"
I M : "You killed Happy and Pepper just to get back at me? For what? You weren't even hurt all this time!"
Page 57
Gremlin: "I know, but I did it for.....fun hahahahaha.!"
I M : " you ANIMAL!"
He throws himself at the Titanium man suited Gremlin, as both tumble across the ground ,raining blows that rock the very Earth upon each other!
In space Drax the Destroyer is stunned, his daughter has just been atomized by the gigantic flaming monstrosity before him. All reason has left him.
Drax "GggggggrrrrrraaaaaaAAAAAAAAA!"
He flies faster then the eye or mind can comprehend, directly into the flaming gargantuas head, and out the other side.
Surtur: "Arrrrrr! Never did I think such a thing possible! None save Odin himself have ever harmed me, and yet you did! Your death will be swift little one!"
From his eyes leap cosmic flames as big in diameter as the moon itself! They engulf the Destroyer, but still he presses on! His anger at the death of his daughter spurring him forward!
Page 58
Surfer: "By Galactus ! We must help him!"
The Silver Surfer sends withering blasts of pure cosmic force outwards into the dread giants very face, as Quasar and Captain Marvel join the fray, adding their world cracking power to his own!
Warlock stands aloof, his thoughts his own as the gem at his brow pulses and glows.
Quasar: " Keep up the bombardment, it's the Earths only hope!"
C M : " Gee , tell me something I don't know."
Beta: "Both of you add whatever power you can! We need all the strength we can muster! Surtur has fought the all father himself to a standstill!"
Surfer: "Then what hope have we of stopping him!"
C M : "There's always hope! Always! We cannot give up!"
Drax floats nearby , alive or dead, no one knows. His body a massive, unrecognizable burned
carcass .
Page 59
Again Surtur re-buffs their massive attack, hurling them away as a new entity joins the surroundings, though his presence is here to merely watch!
Quasar: "The Watcher!"
Surfer: "If he is here then the hour must be dire!"
C M : "There's gotta be a way!"
Captain Marvel reaches outwards, his cosmic awareness engulfing the Universe, and allowing him to merge his essence, his very being with all things and especially the evil God before him!
C M : "Warlock! You're the key! You must..."
Warlock : "I know what must be done Genis-Vell. And I know I cannot do it alone."
Quasar: " I'm going to try to hold him, buy you guys some time!"
Quasar creates planetary size shackles and binds the Flaming demon from head to toe. He stops him, for all of a second!
Page 60
Pa-VOOM!
Surtur shatters the quantum shackles almost effortlessly !
Surtur: "ENOUGH! Now you DIE !"
The Black Widow crawls forward, her leg is broken, her arm dangles uselessly at her side, but still she crawls forward. She will end this madness! It's her responsibility! Suddenly a pair of green legs land in front of her. She knows it's the end when the figure grasps her hair and yanks her upwards.
Guardsman: "Bah, you are still beautiful, even at this age. Foolish woman, you could have come back to the mother land and joined our march towards destiny. But instead you sought to side with the enemy. Pity. Come, death awaits you."
She says nothing as he raises his repulser emitting gauntlet to her face. The others are to far away, she has no chance of them saving her. But she will not beg. If this dog kills her, he will see her face as she dies, and it will be defiant!
Page 61
Baaa---ZRAAAK!
The Widow drops to the ground, not understanding why she is still alive, through pain filled eyes
she stare upwards at another Guardsman, one who fired some sort of energy weapon through the
one holding her, And then, suddenly , the armor before her explodes outwards, shattering into
small fragments to reveal....
Widow: (hoarsley) "Guardian?!?, Of Alpha Flight?"
And then she mercifully passes out.
Page 62
Captain America is batted across the ground by a storming Guardsman. He is weak , and wounded. Despair has set in on this old soldier. For the first time in his long and proud career he is ready to surrender. How long can he fight? His entire body aches. They have been fighting nonstop for nine long hours , and losing ground every step of the way.
Cap: (NO! I will not give up! I will go on!)
He drags himself up upright, catching the Guardsmans repulser blasts on his shield. How much longer can he survive this madness? The country, no the entire world is counting on him ! "Why God?" he thinks, "Why Me? Give me a sign, something to show we have a chance of winning!" He implores the heavens themselves, and then....the heavens answer!
Page 63
BA- ROOOM!
Suddenly lightning fills the sky, obscuring the burning sky from view as a cloudless sky is
instantaneously filled with awe inspiring clouds which dart high voltage death discriminently
towards the Guardsmen and the Titanium Men. Then amid the clouds and descending fast is
seen the regal, godly form of...
Wanda: "Vision ! Look! Thor! He- he has returned to us! In the worlds hour of need He's returned!"
Vision:"Then things are not so grim as they were a mere moment ago my love! Fight on! Fight
for our very existence , to defeat those who would steal it from us! "
Page 64
Iron Man battles on, every blow he delivers sends sparks sizzling through the inside of his armor, but he will not give up! So far the damnable Gremlin has taken everything he's given, and then returned likewise! Perhaps they are evenly matched, perhaps not. Perhaps the Gremlins armor is more powerful. Stark can barely think, half his systems are out, as suddenly the rains come, and he sees his friend, the Thunder God himself, descend to the plain of battle. And he knows, he knows they have chance!
I M : " The fat lady hasn't sang yet you pathetic troll! "
Gremlin: "Fat lady?"
Iron Mans uni-beam suddenly opens, not unlike the slit eye it resembles, as explosive heat erupts from it, to engulf the gremlin, tossing him back!
And then, aircraft fill the sky as a familiar voice rings out powerfully over driven speakers
Voice: "Am I to late my friends? Or can the Black Panther , as well as the Wakandan army join
the fray?"
Page 65
Iron Man smiles beneath his armored mask as he answers.
I M : " Glad to have you Avenger, I hope you brought something with you to this party."
Panther: "Indeed I have my friend, watch!"
Suddenly the flying fighter craft of the Wakandan army begin spraying the Guardsmen and the Titanium men with a viscuous liquid that clings and claws at their armor, when..
Hercules: "Have at thee foul miscreants! "
Pa-KOOM!
The blow has a markedly different effect, as the armored enemy literally explodes under Hercules onslaught!
CapA: "What? T'challa! What did you do?"
Page 66
Panther: (Over his communicator) " That is an anti Vibranium spray Captain, for want of a better term. Not only does it neutralize the effect of Vibraniums vibration absorbing abilities, it makes the Vibranium eat itself up, consuming its very substance and whatever it is bound to molecularly. "
Everywhere around them the tired heroes begin to feel the tide of battle turn, as One Glober after
One Glober falls before the blows of Spider-Man, the Valkyrie, the Hulk, the Thing, Namor,
War Machine, Hercules and countless others! Nova strafes the ground with his burning Nova
blast , side by side with Darkhawk and Nighthawk who likewise turn ground to liquid with their
own energy weapons as Titanium man and Guardsman alike rot and shred before their very
eyes!
I M : "See you soulless monster? See what good men can do with pure minds? Your best laid plans are wasted, and destroyed ! You've lost you misshapen grotesquerie. This game is over!"
Ba-DOOM!
He emphasizes it with a powerful rising punch that tosses the larger Titanium Man through the air, to land painfully. But still is the Gremlin not finished!
Page 67
Gremlin: "Never! The world will die before I surrender to you capitalist devil!"
He fires an explosive beam from his left Gauntlet, tossing Iron Man back again, then he takes to
the sky, rocketing upwards, with Iron Man in close pursuit!
I M : "Cap! He making a break for the burning sky. Keep everyone Back, whatever you do. He's mine!"
Captain America hesitates before answering, this is not how Avengers operate he thinks, the words catching on his dry tongue, but this is something Iron Man has to do alone, this is closure. This villain is Iron Mans responsibility, or so Iron Man feels. Victory or defeat, as grand a scope as this damnable war has encompassed, Iron Man must see it to the end!
Hero and villain alike enter the fiery miasma that is the Burning Sky ! Lesser suits of armor would've been instantly disintegrated, but both of these suits, these weapons of war are the best of their kind. They are hardly scratched!
Page 68
I M : ( Optical Sensors are useless in this mess. This is like wading through the sun, but somehow the temperature is nowhere as high as it should be. Where is this madman?)
In answer a bolt of energy rips into Iron Man from behind.
VRAKK!
I M :"Unngh!" (Well there's my answer!)
He spins, twisting in mid air, to fire a blanketing barrage of repulsers, and suddenly he hits
paydirt!
ZAARK!
Gremlin: "Gaaah! "
I M : "Got him!"
He rockets into the area of the fiery blanket his sound and motion detectors identified as Gremlins last hiding space, and they were right, after all, they were created by Tony Stark himself!
Page 69
Boom!
Iron Man and Titanium Man, the one true Titanium Man careen madly through the blazing, burning inferno, locked in a death grip with one another.
Gremlin: "Never will I surrender, do you hear American dog! Never! You think you are better then the Gremlin, because you are handsome and strong, while Gremlin is ugly and disfigured! But you are wrong! Gremlin is the superior! My intellect dwarfs yours, my strength of will crushes yours beneath my powerful fist! I am Gremlin! I am a genius, and knowledge is power. I am a God!"
I M " Oh please! You just love hearing the sound of your own voice you demented troll, don't you? It's bad enough you destroyed Norway just to take out Thor, but to hear you speak, you act as if you're the one being wronged here."
Gremlin: "Thor? You fools thought I was destroying Norway just to destroy Thor? Hahahahaha! You are all so pompous and foolish. What I did granted me control of the power of the Gods themselves! My act was for the acquisition of strength, not the downfall of the foolish God of thunder!"
Suddenly the burning sky itself seems to be visibly drawn to Iron Mans armor as the eyeslit uni-beam begins to glow and pulse brighter.
Page 70
Gremlin: "What? What is happening here? "
I M " Last chance to surrender you diseased maniac."
Gremlin: "Never!"
The Titanium man armor literally explodes with power , as massive energies flow from it to engulf Iron Man and destroy him!
But this is not to be! Iron Mans uni-beam fires a massive energy pulse , powered by the burning
sky itself! His multi-faceted suit converts the strange energy into power, and this time there is no
escape for the Gremlin, as he is simply and totally atomized by the awe inspiring blast !
Va-ba-ba-KOOOOOMMMM!!!!
Page 71
Cut to Slorenia and the Guardsmen factory.
Booom!
The factory disintegrates as the Avengers tear it apart from the inside, with the help of Guardian.
Firebird: " You were trapped here that long Guardian?* How did you finds the secret tunnels beneath this place?"
*Since issue #3
Guardian: "This was a facility from the original civil war that tore this country apart many years ago*, and the local rebels showed me the way, after I let myself be taken into custody for Guardsman training. They never caught my hidden Guardian suit. I had it under lock and key by the rebel army. But enough, we have to trash this place completely, then find our way back to the other heroes."
*See many , many issues of Force Works.
Page 72
Suddenly fingers of flame leap down from the burning sky, incinerating everything in their path!
Cannonball: "Mah God! I thought this madness was ovah! This must mean...that the others...they musta.."
T-Strike : "Don't say it hayseed! Just don't even think it!"
The world over fingers of flame descend, obliterating entire cities, instantly killing millions upon millions.
Warlock calmly speaks to his surviving fellows.
Warlock: "He kills millions as we speak, flexing his fiery hand. We must stop him, but not this way."
C M: "No, together, as Moondragon had done before, we must join together, only as one mind do we stand a chance."
Warlock: "No, not one mind, one SOUL!"
Page 73
Warlocks soul Gem erupts outwards with horrific energies, sucking at the Giant Surtur, drawing him into the Gem, as would flotsam into a powerful vacuum!
Surtur suddenly finds himself lying on a barren plain, when a massive shadow falls over him, and then for the first time in his limitless lifetime Surtur knows the meaning of fear!
Surtur: "What? What is this?"
Surtur looks upwards as Warlock towers above the now diminutive Surtur!
Surtur: "Bah, you cannot stop me with mere parlor tricks! I have killed Gods!"
He grows upwards, until he towers over Warlock again. Then he slams his hand down, seemingly crushing Warlock to dust.
Boom!
Page 74
Surtur: "Hahaha, you think to stop me little man? You are all so pathetic."
Voice from behind: "No, little firefly, you are the one who is pathetic."
Surtur whirls, as the massive fist of the Silver Surfer pounds him painfully into the ground!
Ta-KOOM!
Surtur: "Arrggh! This cannot be ! I am Surtur, the lord of fire!"
Warlock again stands , towering over Surtur.
Warlock: " Not here demon. This is MY world, here you are powerless!"
C M: "That's right matchstick , here, we're the Gods, and you're the gnat!"
Captain Marvel steps down, hard, his massive foot crushes Surturs form, driving him into the dust.
Quasar: "This is not your world fire demon. Here you are less then nothing. Here we rule supreme!"
Page 75
Surtur: "No! Surtur will never die, Surtur is supreme ! Surtur is the God slayer!"
Beta Ray: " Surtur is a pathetic bug, to be crushed by the hammer of Beta Ray !"
Ba-DAM!
They all begin to pound Surturs form nonstop, until his evil flame suddenly dissipates, his form withers to nothing as he , for the very first time in his eons long existence knows crushing, final defeat!
On Earth...
Spider-Man: "The sky! Look at the sky! "
Everyone stops and looks upwards, hero and villain alike as the burning sky suddenly dissipates to nothingness.
Thor: "Verily, the evil sky is gone! Surtur must impossibly know defeat! By Odins beard we have in truth won!"
Page 76
Two days have passed since the war was over. The wounded are many, The Falcon lies with bandages covering his shoulders, as Ms Marvel limps through Avengers Bunker infirmary, where for so long Thor lay alone, now every bed is filled. Luckily the casualties were light. Moondragon and Drax the destroyer were joined in death by Captain Ultra and one other. A woman who lies in state above, her coffin stands in front of two men, both very powerful, both driven to tears by her loss. One is her husband, the other her cousin.
Nova: "I-I still can't believe she's gone. What are me an the kids gonna do?"
Namor: "I have no answers for you Richard Rider. I myself am at a loss for yet another time in my life. As many times as I have lost someone close to me, it is something you never get used to. Go Richard Rider, care for your children. They need you now."
Nova nods and walks away stifling back a sob.
Page 76
Spider-Man watches Nova go to his crying children, as he looks at his own wife and child.
Spidey: "Cap, I have to talk to you. I'm done my friend. My hero days are over. Period. I'm catching the first Quinjet express back to my private little forest wonderland."
CapA: "I understand Peter. I have some things to think about myself."
Two days later and President Captain America holds a press conference seen around the world.
CapA: "My fellow Americans and citizens of the world, today I had originally thought to tell you of my stepping down as President of the United States, but instead, it is with a heavy heart I tell you instead, of my retirement as Captain America."
The Avengers there with Cap draw in a collective hushed, sharp breath, quizzically looking at each other.
In his hidden Armory in the frozen north, Tony Stark stares ,stunned and disbelieving at the holographic image before him, while he sips his coffee . He has come here for solitude and to heal. He will return to the Avengers soon, perhaps sooner then he originally thought now that Cap has made his decision.
CapA: " It was a long hard decision on my part, but my country needs me now, not as a warrior, but as a leader, so today Captain America steps down as President, But Steve Rogers will remain, if you will have him."
Cap pulls off his cowl as he speaks.
Page 77
In Canada, Alpha Flight watches, as James McDonald Hudson hugs his wife and holds her lovingly. Puck and Sasquatch are bandaged, but healing as Aurora ,Flex, Murmur and Radius look on, holding their own wounds. Elsewhere in Canada ,Clint Barton, known as Hawkeye walks up to a cabin door and knocks, as a red haired woman opens the door smiling. The free world has survived. Not unscathed, for fully one third of this worlds population has perished, but it has survived. When the burning sky dissipated the worlds satellites came back on line within minutes , and communications resumed world wide for the first time in months. More importantly, people the world over were able to go to sleep with the stars out their windows, as opposed to the burning glow of continual daylight.
Amidst the endless weave of satellites above the planet, one unseen, moves away from the
others, and suddenly warps space and disappears to where, no one knows.
Authors notes: This was a labor of love. I never knew where this series would end, but I knew it would be twelve issues long. I wanted to create an epic that would change the face of the Marvel universe forever, and I feel that I did. I hope you all enjoyed this tale, it was the most fun I ever had behind a typewriter bringing it to you. This story literally wrote itself, at times (tonight being a prime example) I could sit for hours typing away as events unfolded before me. We were all on this journey together, I didn't know where this story would take me, until I was already there. Surtur was never thought to be connected to the burning sky, until a few days ago. That's how this story was. Things would suddenly make perfect sense in an instant. I have a sequel planned called "2011 : Invasion" But I won't be starting it until November, once I have a few other things are cleared up. Please write and let me know what you thought of this , my personal masterpiece.
As always, the address is [email protected]
Thanks for all your support, TJ, Lonni, Matt , Barry, Bryan, Alex and to many others to name.
And thanks Van, for letting me do this in the first place., I really appreciate all the kind words
you guys showered me with for the past few months since I began this thing. Without you guys I
wouldn't have been able to get the psyche to see this story as it turned out.
Good night 2009, see you in two years.
Ralph L. Angelo Jr.
6/30/97
12:12 AM