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Tales of a Marvel DC Universe #7
"Parallel Ties"
Story and Script by: Richard Gutierrez
Story contains characters and names TM and © Marvel Entertainment Group or DC Comics INC. All rights reserved
On two sides of the United States, in two hospitals, two siblings are fighting to understand the events of their recent lives. Johnny Storm and his elder sister Sue Storm-Luthor have found themselves surrounded by the white coats and sterile smells that are associated with hospitals. Johnny is a little worse off than his older sister. After a recent battle with the monster, Doomsday, he along with several others, have been brought to the Metropolis General Hospital and he is in serious condition. Sue is sitting in an examining room in the University Community Hospital outside of Tempe, Arizona. Her small cuts and abrasions have been treated for infection and bandaged up. She anxiously awaits word of her two closest friends, test pilot Hal Jordan and his lover Donna Troy-Stark, and of the love of Sue’s life, Reed Richards.
Tempe, Arizona
Sue (to self): I can’t believe this is happening to us. Even when I try and think about the events that we’ve lived thorough over these past months it’s hard to image they really happened. First, my husband, Lex Luthor, discovers Reed and me in bed together. Then, we steal the Excelsior rocket and try to travel between both time and space only to have the rocket sabotaged by Lex in a plan of revenge against me. But the explosion, that should have destroyed the ship, inadvertently opened a dimensional portal and sent us to some place Reed dubbed the Negative Zone. We traveled around there for months battling for our lives against the beings that live there. We somehow managed to escape and make it back to our Earth, and only a few days had past, when our ship exploded sending us flying in all directions. Reed’s body was on fire and I somehow put it out with ice that just appeared from my fingers. Then, Reed and I looked and noticed that his body had been stretched out and was like rubber. Donna was really bad off and Hal was able to…I don’t know teleport her to this nearby hospital. The police came and picked up Reed and I shortly there after and brought us here. Now, all I can do is sit here and wait for word on my friends.
Doctor (coming into examining room): Mrs. Luthor?
Sue: Yes doctor?
Doctor: Let me first say that the 4 of you are very…and I mean very lucky. The burns that Reed experienced where mainly superficial and his "condition" seemed to help keep the damage down.
Sue: How wonderful! Can I go see him?
Doctor: In just a second. Your other friends, seem to be experiencing extreme discomfort. Mr. Jordan has about the same number of scratches as you do but is balled up in a fetal position in extreme pain. We’ve done internal MRI’s and X-rays but we see no internal bleeding or damage. Mrs. Troy-Stark’s arms have been badly burned, we’ll have to do extensive skin graphs to repair the damage.
Sue: Oh no! Please do whatever you have too to help them. Please where’s Reed?
Doctor: Come with me.
The Doctor takes Sue over to where they were examining Reed.
Sue: Reed darling! How are you feeling?
Reed: I’m feeling better now that I see your beautiful face.
The two lovers embrace.
Sue: Did you hear about Hal and Donna. Oh Reed it’s horrible!
Reed: Now there there my love, everything will be ok. Yes the doctors informed me of their conditions and I was just on my way to go and examine them. I have a couple theories as to how we got these strange abilities and what is bothering our friends.
The two head down the hallway to the ICU (intensive care unit) of the hospital. As they make there way down the long white walled corridors…
Reed (looking at the TV): What is that?
Intern: There’s a huge battle in Metropolis with some creature called Doomsday. He’s already killed the Titan Justice and is knocking off other heroes left and right. Hold on, I’ll go and turn the volume up so you can hear it.
Reed: Don’t bother…I’ll do it.
Sue and the intern look on as the man the scientific community calls Mr. Fantastic reaches with his arm and turns the TV volume up…from 25 feet away!
Intern: Wow! I bet that'll come in handy when you lose your TV remotes.
Sue: Reed! Are you ok?
Reed: Yes Sue. I had sometime to practice and it seems that I can not only stretch my arms and legs, but my neck, torso, and any other part I desire. I don’t know the upper limit yet, but there will be time for that later. I’m curious about the going-ons in our hometown.
Reporter (from TV): Ladies and gentlemen recapping the top story. The creature the media has named Doomsday has cut a path of destruction through the heart of Metropolis. He has injured several hundred bystanders and many of the countries top heroes. Confirmed dead, is the Titan named Justice and the member of the Fantastic Four, The Changeling. Injured include, The Titans named Impulse, Wolfsbane, and Justice’s fiancé’ Firestar. The Justice League have called for any and all available heroes to please come and help. Word has it that The Defenders, The Avengers, and the rag tag group called The Warriors are already on their way. Keep your TV tuned here for more live feeds. This is Trish Tilby for WLEX.
Reed: We have to hurry and get home to help.
Sue: What can we do? What good will we be against a creature that powerful? I can shoot ice from my hands and you can stretch. I don’t think the creature will be impressed.
Reed: We have to try. Come on, let’s see if I can help Hal and Donna.
Reed and Sue continue on to were they have Hall and Donna.
Metropolis General Hospital
Johnny Storm (Green Lantern) (to self): Urgh! What hit me? Last I remember was helping out the Titans and The Fantastic Four against some huge creature and then…boom…I’m, knocked out and know I’m in a hospital.
Johnny looks around, his senses are sent into overload by the smell of death and the sight of carnage. His ears ring with the bustle of the doctors and nurses trying to frantically save lives.
Green Lantern: I’ve got to get back out there.
Doctor: I don’t think so. You were found unconscious and we need to determine the cause.
Green Lantern: I don’t mean to be rude doc, but people are dying out there and I need to help them.
Green Lantern concentrates his will power into his ring and forms a pair of tweezers that he uses to move the doc out of the way. He then flies away in a sheath of emerald green energy.
At that moment across the Atlantic Ocean, in the castle of one Victor Von Doom, known the world over as the tyrant Dr. Doom…
Dr. Doom (standing watching one of his massive monitors): Exquisite! That Doomsday creature I found embedded in the side of my mountain will help me, Dr. Victor Von Doom, to take my rightful spot at the head of the world table. I had other plans for the creature but when he break free, I teleported him to Metropolis where he can do the most damage to the collected heroes. HAHA how ingenious was the plan!
Voice from behind Doom: While yours was good, mine was oh so much better.
Doom turns and sees a massive "man" standing in one of the huge archways of his laboratory. A pile of destroyed Doombots are at the strangers feet.
Dr. Doom (firing a blast at the stranger): Who would dare!?!?!?!?!?!?!
ZZZZZKTTASATTT!!!!
Stranger (as the blast bounces off his chest) I dare. Calm yourself Doom. I’m here as a fellow "pawn" mover. I actually stopped by to thank you for setting free my little creation there.
Dr. Doom: You are responsible for Doomsday? Who are you?
Stranger: I’ve had so many names in my long life, Nathan, Dayspring, Cable, but you can call me by my current name…Apocalypse.
Dr. Doom: Well, Apocalypse. What has possessed you to invade my home?
Apocalypse: I have one mission in life, cull out the weak of this planet. Doomsday was meant to be one of my 4 Horseman…War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death. He was to be "death" but the Doomsday name seems to have caught on so I went and found another to take his spot. Right now, my horsemen are on their way to take their place next too Doomsday.
Dr. Doom: What does this have to do with me?
Apocalypse: Nothing.
ZZZZZKKRRTTTTSS!!!
Apocalypse unleashes a powerful blast and Dr. Doom explodes into a rain of charred metal and circuitry.
Voice over speaker: HAHAHA did you really think that Doom could be taken by surprise? You have destroyed nothing more than one of my many Doombots.
Apocalypse: I’m fully aware of what I did. I knew it all along. I only came by to tell you that you will never have this planet…you are not one of the strong.
Back in Metropolis, the gathered forces of The Justice League, The Fantastic Four, The Titans, the duo of Hawkeye and Dove, and the hero Daredevil have been battling doomsday for what seems like an eternity.
Hawkeye (firing an explosive arrow at the creature’s eyes): This is insane! He’s not even noticing us!
Dove (rescuing a couple from a burning car): Come on Clint, don’t be such a worrywart. The creature has his hands full battling Superman, Shazam!, and Wonderman three of the most powerful heroes on the planet Us normal people just get in the way.
Hawkeye: I don’t care. I came here for action and I plan on getting my fair share.
She-Hulk (leaping from the Avengers Quinjet): Sorry to disappoint you, lover but this show is about to end.
WHAM!!!!
The jade giantess lands with a tremendous thud in front of the duo. The three look at each other for a split second and then she charges into the fry.
Dove: "Lover"? Clint you want to tell me something?
Hawkeye: It was a long time ago, Dawn. You know I only have eyes for you now.
The duo looks sky ward and sees the rest of the She Hulk’s teammates exit the quinjet. The Star Spangled leader Captain America, the Invincible Iron Man, The ex-Russian spy the Black Widow, the fastest man alive The Flash, The acrobatic Nightwing, Thor the Asgardian god of thunder and the high flying Falcon.
Hawkeye: Great we might as well leave now. I’ll see you back at home.
Dove: Clint!
Several blocks away, the trio of Superman, Shazam!, and Wonderman are continuing to pound on Doomsday. The force of their fist can be felt for miles.
WHAM!!!!!
Doomsday: RRRAGHHHH!!!!
Wonder Man: Fall damn you! FALL!!!!!
WHAM!!!!!
Superman: It’s no use every blow we give him just seems to make him stronger. We need a plan.
WHAM!!!!!
Shazam: Why don’t we just try and hall him into space again?
WHAM!!!!!
Wonder Man: Fall damn you! FALL!!!!!
WHAM!!!!!
Superman: We tried that but his "bone spikes" make it nearly impossible to keep a good grip on him. We’re forced to battle him fist to fist. We sent the others away to help clear up the mess and rescue the injured…
WHAM!!!!!
Wonder Man: Fall damn you! FALL!!!!!
WHAM!!!!!
Doomsday (grabbing Wonder Man by his arms): RRRRAAGHHH!!!
Wonder Man: Arrgh!
Superman: Simon!
Superman and Shazam! look on in horror as Doomsday rips the ionic powered hero in two, splitting him down the middle! The ionic energy that made up Wonder Man dissipates into the early evening air.
Shazam: You murderer!
The world’s mightiest mortal begins a barrage of punches that would level mountains, but Doomsday is barely staggered by the assault.
Voice from above: Out of the way amateurs, let me show you have a real man does it.
Superman looks up and sees Guy Gardner, from the team called The Warriors, swooping down toward the creature.
Superman: Guy no!
Superman’s warning goes unheard as Guy is soon on the receiving end of not only a punch from Doomsday but also one from the enraged Shazam! The force of the blow instantly kills Guy and sends him flying back where he came from, the Warriors ship that was hovering above the scene. Inside are the other team members, Green Arrow, Arsenal, Vigilante, and Azrael, can do little but say a quick prayer as Guy crashes through the fuel tank of the ship and it explodes!
KA-BOOOMMMM!!!
The other members, Hawkman and Captain Atom, were flying along side and the force of the blast sends them crashing to the ground.
Superman: Great Scott! In less than 5 seconds the monster has ripped apart Wonder Man, killed Guy and destroyed his team! This has to end.
She Hulk: I agree handsome. I’ve got the Avengers with me lets take out this cheap Hulk rip-off!
She Hulk and the rest of the Avengers join Superman. They begin to launch a series of attacks at the creature.
Iron Man (blasting the creature): Why is it always up to us to clean up after the JLA?
Flash (landing a thousand punches in a second) I don’t know I remember when I was in the JLA, we used to always clean up after the Avengers. Remember the Masters of Evil attack on Avengers Mansion?
Thor (throwing his hammer at Doomsday): Aye! ‘Twas a dark day indeed.
Captain America (saving a news reporter): Enough of the chitchat. Falcon and Nightwing, there are still too many innocents in the way help me get them to safety.
Falcon: On my way.
Nightwing: Aye Aye Captain.
Black Widow (blasting Doomsday): We’re not having any effect at all!
Captain America: Thor! Use your hammer and send this creature to another dimension!
Thor begins to whirl his mighty hammer, Mjolnir, and a rip in space opens and begins to draw Doomsday within.
Doomsday: RRRAGGHH!!
Nightwing: It’s not working! He’s to strong.
Shazam: I’ll get him into the portal!
Shazam flies at top speed toward the beast, then the beast suddenly moves out of the way and Shazam is sent through the portal!
Thor: Enow! Thou hast sent the mighty Shazam thought yon portal!
Superman: Thor, keep that portal open I’m going in after him!
Doomsday: RRRRAGHHH!
WHAM!!!!!!!
The gathered heroes and Doomsday look as a large steaming crater is now left where once the mighty god of Thunder did stand. Superman speeds toward the closing portal but is to late…it closes.
Black Widow: What happened?
From the smoking crater a large form slowly appears hold Thor’s unconscious body in his hands. The figure throws the body at the stunned heroes.
Flash: Who are you?
War: I was once called, the Juggernaught, but know I go by the name of War! Allow me to introduce my friends…Pestilence…Famine…and Death…the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse!
The Four Horsemen, the thin frail form of Famine, the deadly hands of Pestilence and the flying angel of Death with his wings of steel, stand silent next to the massive War.
Iron Man: This is incredible! First we have to battle this Doomsday creature know this!
Death (talking to Doomsday): Don’t let us stop you, our brother, continue.
Doomsday uses his massive legs and leaps away.
Superman: You guys try and handle these guys, I’ll go after Doomsday!
Famine: Fine with us!
Black Widow: Argghhh! What’s…happening to…me?
The Black Widow doubles over in pain and her body begins to wither.
Famine: I’m starving you to death!
Nightwing (somersaulting toward the Black Widow): Hold on I’ll…arrgh
CLAP!!!
War (clapping his hands together): You’ll do nothing but die.
With that the four horsemen begin an all out attack against the Avengers.
Somewhere over Ohio
…Superman: The creature’s speed is amazing! It’s all I can do to keep him in…Oh My!
Superman looks ahead and sees a speed aircraft on a collision course with the leaping creature. Superman pours on the speed and using his super breath is able to blow the craft out of the way.
Superman: That was close.
Superboy (exiting the flying craft): Hey big blue? You mind letting us know ahead of time before you blow us all over kingdom come.
Superman: Superboy? So that must be the Defenders craft?
Supergirl: You know it. We were on our way to help.
Superman: Well have Cyclops, turn the ship around and follow me. We’ve got a monster to stop.
Inside the craft the remaining Defenders, The Atom, The Ray, and Guardian slowly regain their seats.
Atom: Superman I know you can hear me. I’ve been running some test and it seems that our friend here is an unnatural mutation.
Superboy: Gee Hank you think.
Superman: Listen, Superboy, Dr. Pym is one of the foremost scientist in the world. I’m interested in your theory.
Atom: Well, I have very little evidence but it seems that Doomsday in fact may be…the Incredible Hulk!
Meanwhile back in Tempe, Az
.Reed: Donna how does that feel?
Donna: Oh Reed it hurts! I feel like I’m going to burst!
Reed: Just as I thought. After running these test I’ve discovered that Donna’s and Hal’s problems are linked.
Sue: How so?
Reed: Well, Donna seems to be suffering because she has too much of 'something' and Hal is suffering from what looks like a deficiency of 'something'. My guess, in layman's terms, is that he needs what she’s got.
Sue: Well, what do we do about it?
Reed (stretching his arms out and forming a makeshift stretcher): Help me get Donna to Hal’s room.
The two head down the hall to where they have test pilot Hal Jordan. As they enter the room a strange darkness as started to engulf Hal.
Sue: Quick, Reed we have little time.
Reed positions Donna next to Hal.
Reed: Donna. Whatever is building inside you let it out toward Hal. Don’t keep it in. Let it out. Feel it build inside you and let it out.
Donna: yes…Yes..YES!!!! ARRRGH!!!
Suddenly a bright light fills the room.
Sue: Reed what’s happening?
Reed: I don’t know but it looks like I was right.
Reed and Sue look as the brightness fades and Hal and Donna are cuddled in each other’s arms. The strange darkness that was around Hal is gone.
Sue: Hal? Donna? How do you feel?
Hal: What…hit me?
Donna: I think I did.
Then, without warning…
BAKA-BOOM!!!!!
Donna: What was that?
Sue: I don’t know. Reed...Reed?
Sue looks around and Reed is already down the hall, going toward the direction of the noise. As Reed stretches around the corner, he sees Doomsday in the middle of the emergency room. He looks up and sees Superman, Superboy, and Supergirl hovering over the opening in the roof that the crash caused.
Superman: Quickly before he gets up.
The three hurls themselves toward the beast.
Doomsday: RRRAGGHH!!!
Doomsday throws them off like rag dolls. Superman lands next to Reed.
Reed: Superman are you ok?
Superman: Reed Richards? What are you doing here and what’s with the stretching?
Reed: No time to explain. What’s going on here?
ZZZKKRTT!!! ZZZKKRTT!!!
The Ray and Guardian swoops down and blast Doomsday.
Superman: We’re trying to stop this creature. The Atom from the Defenders thinks this Doomsday is actually the Hulk.
ZZZKKRTT!!!
Cyclops pummels the creature with his optic blasts.
Reed: Really? We haven’t seen the Hulk in what over a year! Interesting theory, where is Hank?
Atom: I’m down here. Mr. Richards it’s a pleasure to meet you.
Reed (reaching down and picking up the diminutive hero): The pleasure is mine. You must tell me way you think this Doomsday is the Hulk.
WHAM!!!
Superman punches Doomsday
WHAM!!!
Doomsday swats Superboy
Atom: Well, I’ve been monitoring the creature for any radiation that he might be exuding, and there is a high level of gamma radiation. So much in fact that only the Hulk has been recorded with the same level.
Reed: Then I’d have to agree with you. Doomsday is The Hulk!
Back across the US in Metropolis, the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse have managed to defeat the Avengers named Thor, The Falcon, and The Flash
.Pestilence: You may be quite cute but you can’t hop around forever.
Nightwing: Oh I wouldn’t say that. Besides you can’t do much to me if you can’t touch…me?
Famine: That’s true…but I can.
Famine reaches out with her power and Dick Grayson, Nightwing, can slowly feel his body drying up.
Voice: That’s enough!
Famine: What the…?
Famine looks up just in time to see a car land on her head.
CRASH!!!
Nightwing (slowly looking up): Thanks for the h…e…l..p. gulp…Oh my!
Nightwing looks up and sees the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.
Nightwing: What is your name?
Woman: I am Diana of Themyscira.
Nightwing: I don’t care….you’ll always be my 'Wonder Woman' to me.
Wonder Woman: How sweet….know duck!
CLAP!!
War: HAHAHAHA! This is fun.
CLAP!! CLAP!! CLAP!!
War: I haven’t had this much fun since I helped destroy the X-Men!
Firestorm: Well prepare to have less…cause the reinforcements are here.
The remaining 3 horsemen lookup and see the rest of the heroes returning. The Beast, Aquaman, Black Panther, Scarlet Witch, Iceman, Nova, and Batman from the Justice League. The Titans of Argent, Cyborg, and Firestar. The Black Canary and Firestorm the remaining Fantastic Four. Captain Atom and Green Arrow the only survivors from the Warriors. Hawkeye and Dove with the young Green Lantern.
War: Heh. Let’s get it on!
And in the shadows the mutant named Apocalypse laughs.
End of issue 7
Next issue…the end of the Doomsday trilogy. More deaths! More new characters!
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