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[Limbo . . . ]

In the beginning, the world was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.

Zinc: Where are we?

Captain Infinity: I dont know, son. Im igniting my entire body with cosmic energy, but I still cant see a thing.

Zinc: Captain Infinity? Is that you?

Captain Infinity: How do you know my name?

Zinc: I just witnessed you . . . um, never mind. Are we the only ones here?

Mari: Im with you, Zinc and Im also trying to generate light with my power, but its just not working.

Captain Infinity: Whats your name, miss?

Mari: You dont recognize me? Its Mari . . . Mari Hershing.

Captain Infinity: This is all very strange. Everyone present, will you please announce yourselves?

In reply, a light cuts through the darkness so brilliantly it forces Captain Infinity and the others to retreat to the safety of the shadows. Some are reduced to fetal positions to save themselves from permanent blindness, while others simply writhe in agony. The only ones seemingly unaffected are Angel and Metallion, who use this opportunity to confirm the presence of thirteen others beside themselves.

The light emanates above them from a space in the shape of a door. Angel and Metallion watch as the contour of a figure emerges from the light, only to stop short of leaving the space. The only discernible trait is its wildly flowing golden hair that blends with the similarly colored light.

An undetectable chorus intones: Shoooooom!

The light changes to a purple hue.

Chorus: Shoooooom!

The light changes to green.

Chorus: Shoooooom!

The light turns blue, finally revealing and matching the color of the one and only Entity, as it bathes the entire environment in its monochromatic color scheme. Their sight restored, the metahumans look dumbfounded at the horizon stretching on without end and the starless sky above them. Other than an intermittent electro-magnetic discharge jolting between perceptible realities, the landscape wholly lacks character. However, that gradually changes with each passing moment, beginning with a carpet the doorway vomits down an invisible staircase. As the chorus returns, the blue light submits to the variety of wondrous colors found in Limbo Emany defying description, classification and human perception.

Chorus: Here come old flattop . . .

The doorway disappears in a puff of smoke and when it clears, the Entity, having traded his typical lab coat and sandals for a beatnik turtleneck sweater, sunglasses and leather shoes, begins snapping his finger to the rhythm of the music as he descends the staircase in an almost choreographed dance.

Chorus: He come grooving up slowly . . .

At the bottom of the staircase, the Entity spins, winding the carpet around him. When its nearly completely wrapped, it explodes in a display of confetti.

Chorus: He got joo-joo eyeball . . .

A pair of eyeballs slithers from behind Captain Infinitys shoulder and when he brushes it away, the Entity leaps backward into a balletic maneuver.

Chorus: He one holy roller . . .

He lands in Angels arms, now wearing a loincloth and assuming the image of Jesus held by Mary at the moment of his death. In disgust, Angel drops him, but a puff of smoke later and hes back on his feet, moonwalking in the direction of Fastball.

Chorus: He got hair down to his knee . . .

At the completion of his moonwalk, the Entity startles Fastball by sprouting so much hair it literally entwines him. Grasping blindly, Fastball tries to pull himself free of the hair and in the next moment finds himself pulling at his own head with the Entity standing beside him. Humiliated, Fastball tries to slip away, but the Entity grabs his waist and leads him in the Tango, ending with a dip. Leaning in for the kiss, the Entity puckers his lips, provoking Fastball to scream in a high-pitched soprano.

Chorus: Got to be a joker, he just do what he please.

The very ground quakes as a bizarre assortment of flora and fauna sprout from its base. In the distance, misshapen mountain peaks fall to earth, knocking the metahumans off their feet with each collision. Overhead, shooting stars streak across the sky. All the while, the Entity continues to dance. Wherever his feet touch, things that can only be described as trees, but hardly satisfying that classification, sprout in their place.

Chorus: He wear no shoe shine, he got toe-jam football, he got monkey-finger, he shoot coca-cola . . .

The Entity pauses in his dance to tie a rubber hose around his arm and injects himself with a syringe covered by the Pepsi label. When the Entity realizes his brand error, he blushes, disposes of the syringe and returns to his dance.

Chorus: He say . . .

The chorus resumes background vocals as a microphone appears in the Entitys hands.

Entity: I know you . . .

He points to the metahumans.

Entity: You know me . . .

He points to himself.

Entity: One thing I can tell you is you got to be free! Come together. Right now.

The chorus dies out, the microphone disappears and the Entity stares across the vast jungle at those hes abducted. His tone turns severe.

Entity: Over me.

Save for the crackle of energy throughout Limbo, all is silent.

Entity: Get it?

The first to speak is Michael, his eye still freshly removed from its socket.

Michael: You fuckinEblue bastard!

Michaels empty socket charges with pyrokinetic energy.

Entity: Um, I wouldnt do that if . . .

At the moment of release, bone shrapnel and flesh explode from his face.

Michael: Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhh!

The Entity shrugs in response to Michael flailing about in agony, grasping his face with both hands. Alex Stevens, unfamiliar with Michael in his time period, tries to check the wound, but Michael pushes him away.

Michael: . . . dont . . . touch me . . .

His fingers peel from the coagulating blood on his face one by one to reveal the damage beneath. The entire right half of his face between his upper lip and brow is completely obliterated. An aura of psionic energy surrounds the portion of his brain visible through the hole. It seems to protect the exposed tissue from permanent damage and maintains regular blood flow. Michael makes certain the Entity sees this.

Michael: God . . . God . . . I hate you . . .

Entity: Everyone! Say hello to Michael Smith! Im sure youre all familiar with him, except our beloved Infinity Force.

Alex Stevens: Just what do you think youve doing to this boy?

Entity: Now, now, Alex. We both know children shouldnt play with fire.

Unable to endure the pain, Michael falls into Alexs arms.

Captain Infinity: Enough! Hold him steady, Alex. Im going to heal him.

Entity: Ah-ah, my Captain. I like our friend just the way he is and if I wanted to keep my hands on their wrists, I wouldnt touch him.

Captain Infinity: Are you threatening me?

Entity: . . . Are you testing me?

Captain Infinity steps away from Michael and Alex.

Entity: Good boy.

Captain Infinity: He needs medical attention. At least let Alex bandage him.

Entity: Permission denied.

Throwing his hands in the air, Captain Infinity turns to the others.

Captain Infinity: Will you all stand for this?

No one from the future time periods quite knows how to respond to this living legend until KnightHawk steps forward.

KnightHawk: Captain, this boy laid waste to Los Angeles and nearly killed your entire team. While Im inclined toward equal representation, if the Entity outright killed him, Im certain the people in my time would rest easier.

Michael: I didnt . . . uuhh . . . do anything to LA. I was talking with my girlfriend when this freak took me against my will. Im an innocent victim here!

Alex: Relax or youll aggravate the wound.

KnightHawk: Hes lying, Captain. Reports indicate he butchered his entire class.

Captain Infinity: Thats beside the point. We cant make exceptions or were no better than he.

Metallion: Forget the punk. I want to know one thing: when does the killing start?

Having spent the debate filing his fingernails, it surprises the Entity to finally receive acknowledgement again. He throws the file aside and beams a wide grin at the whole lot.

Entity: My dear, Metallion. I can always rely on you to cut straight to the point. Enough with introductions! Youll all become acquainted in due course. Lets chat about why Ive gathered you here in my wonderful world of Limbo.

Everyone eyes the Entity warily.

Entity: Cmon now, gather round! Dont be shy!

In the next moment, a log cottage circa the 1800s American frontier, replaces the jungle setting. A snowstorm billows outside the window and a roaring fire maintains the heat within. The Entity sits in a leather easy chair with the metahumans gathered around him Indian-style on the floor. He puffs from a pipe and gurgles out bubbles instead of smoke.

Entity: Now where was I? Oh yes! The reason Ive gatheredE

KnightHawk: You want us to protect you.

The Entity blows bubbles in KnightHawks face.

Entity: Precisely.

Pain-Man: Whered you come up with that cock and bull?

KnightHawk: Its quite obvious really. Observing the Entitys anxiety reveals for once hes threatened by something he cant manipulate. Those hes abducted are an interesting selection in itself. We represent a combination of brains, power, leadership, and in your case, a strange comfort not unlike a childs blanket.

Pain-Man: Hmph.

KnightHawk: Beyond that, theres something about the number, but I cant place it yet.

Entity: Congratulations, KnightHawk. Youve impressed me.

KnightHawk: I was merely explaining the obvious to our unenlightened companion. No need for flattery.

Following a long pause:

Entity: You dont date much, do you?

Captain Infinity: So weve established were here to protect you. What from?

The environment changes once more, this time taking the form of a Roman gladiatorial coliseum. The metahumans stand together at the center of the open battlefield, while the Entity watches them from on high in the Emperors throne. The scorching sun beams down on the throngs of intergalactic species crammed tightly in the stands. In a similar throne directly across from the Entity sits the visitor. It is a being completely unfamiliar to everyone regardless of his or her time period.

Captain Infinity: Just what is going on here?

Entity: Captain, Im a cosmic being youve no doubt heard referred to as the Entity. My power exceeds that of the Lord of Heaven and knows no equal. For time immemorial Ive used that power to create countless experiments. Some like gravity, turned out swell, but others, like that lovable nincompoop Alabaster, not so good. That being over there was my first creation. I call it the Demiurge.

The spectators squeal in delight at the mention of this name and the Demiurge quells their hysteria with the slightest gesture; then moves from beneath the canopy overhanging the throne and into the light. A grotesque secretion drips off its long, slithery body as it literally coils around itself in the same chaotic spasms as intestines unraveling from a slit open abdomen. Save for erratic bristles protruding from its otherwise naked flesh, it exhibits neither arms nor legs leading up its segmented body. The head resembles a lions, with the golden-colored mane flowing freely in the wind of the coliseum, yet its eyes are wholly human, completely blue, and mirroring exactly those of the Entitys. When it speaks, its fearsome fangs protrude from beneath its lips.

Demiurge: Those who are about to die, behold those who would kill you.

Two large doors at the far end of the battlefield creak open and from the opening emerges fifteen faces familiar to some, moreso to others. Both groups stare at each other with absolute astonishment at what is transpiring. For the longest time, the only noise is the movement of the spectators, until Angel steps forward; his eyes wide open in disbelief.

Angel: Xerxes?

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Wish you'd stick around. We've got some DEADLY action coming up!

If anyone can figure out how this ends, I'll pay you $100. Not even Bamf knows quite what will happen. Shh! I think you'll be surprised.