His father was the greatest of Heroes, saving the entire universe from subjugation time and time again! Now he must continue that tradition , his powers are the same, but his outlook is different. He wields the mighty Nega bands and has the Celestial insight of Cosmic Awareness. The universe is his inheritance, for he is its Protector as he struggles to find his place amidst the Heavens, his buds call him Genis, but he's known and feared by his enemies as....

The Sensational Captain Marvel !

Captain Marvel #94

"The Devil you say!"

By Ralph L. Angelo Jr.

Ba-KROOOM!!!

The small nondescript house in the suburb of Denver , Colorado explodes from within, as a photon enwrapped, glittering figure bursts forth from within , shattering the house into atoms!

"Now was that mature, Captain?" The shadowy, ghostlike image dances before Captain Marvels eyes, as Genis-Vell sneers angrily back at Mephisto's leering visage.

"Mature or not , ghoul, I enjoyed it."

"Ah, have your petty victories while you can, boy. The battle has already been won , and when the final chess piece is within my possession, so ends the war!"

"So you think." Genis' mind whirls, "But I'll find a way out of this, sooner or later."

Mephisto's mind also ponders , as his thoughts betray an untold uneasiness "Why can't I hear the boys thoughts? By my daughters dominion over him I should be privy to his thoughts, but something's blocking me. Perhaps his cosmic awareness? Whatever it is, I cannot betray my concern. I must have the soul of my prey, and then I will be finally triumphant at last!"

Captain Marvel bursts through the final layer of atmosphere, and instantly goes to hyper spacial speed, disappearing in a burst photonic energy , as cosmic awareness plays across his face!

"There he is." Thinks Genis " He's light years from here, but I can sense his exact presence with my Cosmic Awareness. It still's kinda cool to think about this, no matter how long I've been able to do it."

Light years distant... The Silver Surfer cruises through the cosmic ether, troubled by recent events in his life*.

*See Russ Andersons Silver Surfer series . Try saying THAT three times fast.

"Being out amongst the stars always soothes my mind when troubled. As Galactus's first herald, I suppose much of the problems of my past are indeed of my own making. Yet I can not dwell much on what has been, only what will be. The future"

He soars and coasts, as if riding a giant, ongoing wave His arms out to his sides, his glittering silver form reflecting the light of a million, million stars, as his mind whirls.

It whirls so deeply, so profoundly that he never senses the impending danger, before it's to late!

Captain Marvel streaks out of a hyper spacial portal, his arms outstretched to his sides, and slightly behind him, his glittering photon trail behind him as he approaches the Surfer.

He rockets up behind the Surfer almost instantaneously, as Mephisto's image dances before his minds eye!

"What are you doing Captain?" Mephisto shouts, enraged, as Genis closes on top of the Silver Surfer.

"Doing just what you wanted hornhead." Genis answers disdainfully, as he lands a colossal blow to the Surfers head from behind!

Ka-TOOM!

The Silver Surfer is knocked from his board!

"What? Who would dare attack the most powerful former herald of Galactus himself? " bellows the enraged Surfer, as his board circles around him "To me, my board!" He shouts aloud through the airless void, before finally espying Captain Marvel.

"Genis? You attack me? But why? We're friends!"

"What are you going to say now boy Captain?" Mephisto chides.

" I have to attack you , Surfer, It's Mephisto! H-he has my girl! He's making me kill you, or he'll kill her"

"What???" Screams The Demon lord incredulously!

"Hey Mephisto, you may be able to control my body, but you don't have jack on my mind." Answers Genis slyly.

The Surfer leaps upon his board and streaks to the attack!

"Do not despair, Captain Marvel, together we can defeat the Demon lord ,and save your lover."

Captain Marvel avoids the Surfers rush, in a large arcing loop of photon trailed flight.

"You would do this for me Surf?"

"Of course , Captain. Together nothing can stop us."

"WHAT... ARE... YOU... DOING???" Fumes Mephisto's insubstantial image before Genis's eyes.

"What Phisty? You wanted the Surfer, you're gonna get him."Genis aims his mental answer at the evil being who's image is floating before him.

"This is not what I wanted, Captain. I expected death, probably yours, destruction and battle on a cosmic scale!"

Genis smiles, "Nope Phisty, not gonna happen. This is what you're gonna get."

"I could... force you Captain." Mephisto counters.

"Yeah, you could, but then you wouldn't get the battle you'd want. Just a haphazard sloppy mess, with you pulling my strings"

"True, boy ."

"Look, can we get this over with, I want my freedom."

"I never said you'd get it, Captain."

Nearby, the Silver Surfer hovers questioning what is going on. "Are we going, Captain?"

Genis turns towards the Surfer " Yeah Surf, we are. Let me open a portal to Mephisto's hell." Then "Do it Phisty, open the gateway."

'Very well, Captain."

Suddenly a gateway opens to the stygian depths, as both heroes dive through. Before entering , though, the Surfers eyes narrow, then he dives through., following Captain Marvels glowing trail.

The two heroes emerge in the depths of hell! Genis dives to the ground, as he's forced to his knees before Mephisto's throne, while above, the Silver Surfer watches, emotionless.

Mephisto laughs then, before finally speaking, "You do not seem surprised , Silver Surfer, why is that?"

The Surfer shrugs, "I knew that Captain Marvel could not open a gateway to your brackish domain on his own, evil one. I assumed rightly that he was under your dominion."

"And now you are as well, finally." Mephisto beams .

"No, devil, I am not, nor will I ever be! By Galactus's eyes! You will pay for what you have done to Genis-Vell!" The Silver Surfer dives towards Mephisto, his hands glowing with power cosmic, an avenging Angel attacking the basest of demons!

"Captain." Is all Mephisto says, as he waves his hand disdainfully in the Surfers direction.

Genis leaps to the attack, his body no longer his own once again. His eyes meet the Surfers momentarily, as the Surfer seems almost to nod slightly, as he punches Captain Marvel powerfully with a thunderous right cross, smashing him away, over the burning , brackish landscape.

And then The Silver Surfer engages Mephisto, smashing him from his burning throne, the two crash through stone and flame and molten rock, tumbling through Hell, locked in an embrace of fire and light!

Captain Marvel finally stops his flight, seemingly miles from where the Surfer hit him.

"Wow, that hurt." Genis thinks aloud." Now to business, while Mephisto's occupied."

Genis-Vell opens his mind, his cosmic awareness searching the breath and depths of hell for one unique individual. Tortured souls cloud his mind, as billions upon billions of vile and evil beings pass through his cosmic senses until...

"There she is."

Captain Marvel streaks away, heading towards one being, the one who holds his fate, as well as the Silver Surfers in her hellish hands.

Over a molten ridge he flies, finally finding the one he sought out. "Angie!" He shouts as he lands next to her.

She whirls disdainfully, anger flaring in her red eyes, as her long , blood red hair swirls about her.

"I told you never to call me that false name again, child!"

"Cut it out, Ang. You know as well as I do, that that's your real name, who you really are. Not 'Mephista'. C'mon, think about it. Remember what we had together."

He grabs her by the arms holding her face to face.

"Get away from me!" She shouts as she shoves him away, "I am Mephista! Daughter of the devil!"

"No, you're Angie Bourdelex , the beautiful girl I fell in love with, who loves me as well."

"Idiot. Angie Bourdelex was a sham, a ruse. A repugnant , simpering personality placed over my own by my father."

"And for that you owe him allegiance? He used you like a mindless toy, like dirt. Angie, we can still make this right. Come back to me."

"No! Stop calling me that false name, I am Mephista!"

"No you're not. You are, and always will be Angie Bourdelex, no matter if that personality was not real, or if it was something placed over what you were. Don't you see? You became Angie ! Maybe you started out as Mephista, but things changed. Angie is the real you. I can't, I won't believe that you are not who I really believe you to be. We shared so much together over the months ."

"All lies." she fumes , turning her back to him, crossing her arms.

"No. The real truth. No more lies." he grabs her and spins her around strongly, until she's facing him again.

"You dare!" She rages

"Yep, I dare." Then he grabs her, and kisses her tightly, passionately. At first she hits him, trying to push him away, clawing at his neck and arms. But then slowly, she begins to fight less, her arms wrap around his neck, as she moans slightly, returning his kiss with equal fire, if not more so.

Finally they break their embrace, and she purrs sultrily "Genis..."

"Ang..." Is his quiet, almost whispered reply as he strokes her face lovingly.

"We have to get you out of here." she coos as she kisses his face.

"The Surfer, I have to help him." Genis answers.

He streaks skywards, as the red burning sky fills his vision. Angie/Mephista in his arms.

"There they are!" She points as Captain Marvel dives towards the battle that rocks Mephisto's hell. The Silver Surfer blazes power cosmic from his hands, engulfing Mephisto, smashing him through stony spires, as the demon lord counters with hellfire blasts that crumple the Surfer to his knees!

"You know you cannot defeat me, Surfer. I will always prevail against you. I will own you!"

"Never!" Roars Norrin Radd , as he sweeps his hand through the fetid air, causing a wave of Power Cosmic to leap from his finger tips, sending Mephisto tumbling again.

"I have to help him." Captain Marvel tells the red skinned girl in his arms, as he places her down , then he streaks upwards again, to attack Mephisto with twin photon beams!

Sha-KOW!

"Unngghh!" Bellows Mephisto in surprise. "YOU! You would attack me??? To your knees!" He gestures, causing Genis to drop immediately.

Captain Marvel turns towards the shadows , where he left Angie/ Mephista. Within the shadow of a rocky uprising, the girl fights emotions of love and loyalty. Both for her father and her lover, the man who makes her feel like a woman.

"Angie," Genis-Vell croaks, "release me!"

She nods, as Mephisto turns, suddenly realizing what is about to happen! "NOOOOOO!!!" He roars as he throws himself at the girl who bears his visage.

"I release you from your hellish vow, Genis-Vell, my one true love." She whispers, in a voice both sweet and filled with terrifying power, as tears stain her red cheeks !

Suddenly in mid leap, Mephisto is grabbed by a powerful hand and heaved to the ground. He turns as he struggles to his feet. Above him stands Captain Marvel!

"I am SO going to enjoy this!" Growls the Universal Protector, as behind him the Silver Surfer flies closer, ready to renew his attack.

Captain Marvel grabs Mephisto by the throat with his left hand, and hauls off with his right, smashing him away powerfully!

Ba-KROOM!

In mid flight, the Silver Surfer engulfs Mephisto in searing cosmic power, dropping him again!

Sha-ZAAAAOOOWW

"Enough!" Roars the demon lord "Begone, both of you! A prolonged battle with you both could only lead to disaster! Already my realm is in a shambles because of this fight!"

"Angie!" Genis flies towards her, seeking to grab her ,and take her back to the Earthly realm.

"No Captain Marvel, the treasonous witch stays here, in hell where she belongs, where she will be forced to think about her crimes for the next thousand years" Mephisto gestures twice, the first time to encase Angie in a crimson amber-like substance, the second opens a portal before Captain Marvel and the Silver Surfer both, whisking them back to Earth, where immediately Genis turns to return to hell, only to see the portal close before him with finality.

"Surfer! We have to get back there! We have to save her."

The Silver Surfer manipulates energy stoicly for many minutes, before finally slumping his shoulders in defeat.

"I am sorry Genis-Vell, I cannot break through Mephisto's barriers. For now, we are helpless."

"T-there's gotta be a way to save her, there's gotta be!"

The Surfer says nothing, as Captain Marvel rages impotently, finally slumping to the green grass beneath his feet in abject despair. The Silver Surfer places his hand on his friends shoulder a moment, and then flies away, slowly, silently. He knows first hand how affairs of the heart can cause the most brutal wounds, wounds that no amount of words can ever truly heal. Only time can seal those wounds. Time and patience...

Elsewhere/when. The Cosmic Unity stands in agreement.

"So" begins Eternity, "You all agree that the coming punishment of Captain Marvel is just and correct?"

They nod, some reluctantly, especially Love and Order.

"Then so be it. In betweener, you will hand our judgement down upon him who fancies himself the Universal protector."

The in betweener nods in silence, and begins to fade from sight...

Next: In betweener, and the Cosmic Unity's decision, as things go from bad to worse for Captain Marvel, much, much worse...

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