THE OTHERWORLD SAGA

Part III: Doesn’t Anybody Stay Together Anymore?

By David Wheatley

Captain’s Log – Earthdate 250300

The Corp has been decimated. I don’t know how many of us are left and I feel like I’m fighting the tide. My world is under attack. The first of the enemy have been sighted, and I don’t know if I can fend them off. It’s a feeling of helplessness I haven’t felt since Hungerford, since the death of my finance, since the death of Brianny Braddock, Captain Brittaine.

She was a beautiful lady, and noble even in death. She wasn’t on duty when the attack took place but she leapt to the defence of strangers without a second thought. We’d had an argument and I didn’t go to meet her and she was shot and killed. A void was created in my life, and I wondered what if I had been there.

That’s why I became Captain Britain. Because it needed doing, and I blamed myself. Saving the country day after day is one hell of a penance, and after a while I began to enjoy it.

Now it feels just the same, except now I’m doing all I can. It isn’t enough and my world will fall and I will die. But not without a fight. There’s not a point in my life where Peter Wisdom has gone down easily.

I don’t intend to start now.

“I blew it,” said Brian. “She put her faith in me, and I let her down. I let them all down. I’m not fit to be Captain Britain.” He grimaced and tossed the helmet away.

“But, Brian…” started Meggan, but Brian raised a hand and walked away. Meggan was hurt, not only by the rejection but also by the intensity of his self-loathing. As an empath she could tell exactly what her husband was feeling. “Come back to us, my love,” she whispered.

Meanwhile, Pete Wisdom was talking with Khaos who had explained what was happening on Otherworld – how Sat-Yr-9 and Ghath had joined forces and taken over. Pete then explained what they had seen in the citadel, what had happened to the Captain Britain Corps. It was a horror story at either side of the spectrum.

“How can we defeat such magic?” asked Kylun.

“Ibic is working on it,” said Khaos, “however, it may be that we cannot.”

“I wouldn’t mind a crack at this Ghath,” said Pete, lighting a cigarette. “Pop a hot knife between his eyes.”

“Many have tried before you, my friend,” said Khaos. “None have succeeded.”

“Always a first time,” said Pete. He looked over at Martinique. “You’ve been quiet since we got back. You okay?”

“Bitter memories,” she said. “When Arcade framed the X-Man Wolverine, he did things so terrible, I thought I had seen the worst of it. But seeing those bodies, piled up like that…”

“I know,” said Pete, softly as he put a hand on her shoulder. “I know.” This experience was having a mellowing effect on her. Death like this put things in perspective, though he wondered how long it would be before she returned to the Ice Queen veneer she had.

“Brian’s walked away,” said Meggan, bringing the helmet with her. “He wouldn’t listen.”

“I’ll sort it,” said Pete, standing. “Don’t worry, I…” he stopped as he looked to the horizon. “Bloody hell,” he whispered, and the others looked in his direction. “They’re here.” Wherever this Earth was, the invasion had begun…

Brian walked, his thoughts in turmoil. Otherworld in ruins, Linda gone, Sat-Yr-9 had come in ruined the paradise he had always dreamt of, a serpent in the garden. Ghath’s word’s haunted him as well.

Had he done this? Had he been the cause? When he had been leader of Excalibur he had charged in head first, with little regard for the consequences, over compensating for the death of Betsy and the other X-Men. They had died and he did nothing, even though Roma brought them back. However, he would not find that out for a long time.

He had turned to drink, revelled in it and only the harsh words of Kurt Wagner as well as a timely dunking in the sea had brought him back to his senses. Excalibur had been formed and from then on it seemed he blundered from one mistake to the next, each time trying harder to make up for the mistakes of the past.

However, no matter how he tried he seemed to make a mess of things, due to a spell placed on him by Roma to limit him, so that he did not break Excalibur from within. After the spell was lifted, he felt better about himself, relishing in the violence that had been in his blood, fighting with his heart and soul as one.

However, even now he was not good enough and he knew his greatest failure was letting Sat-Yr-9 get away and he may have doomed the very omniverse in doing so. He was not meant to be a leader, he knew that now. Despite what Kurt had said before leaving, despite Meggan’s faith in him.

How could they have faith in him, when he did not? What did they see that he couldn’t?

“I’M JUST A MAN, DAMMIT!” he shouted at the skies, hoping that somebody, anybody, would hear him and answer. They didn’t and he sighed, feeling more alone than he ever had. He wanted to run to Meggan, to take her in his arms and tell her all the secret fears in his heart, tell her that he loved her and wanted to be with her, tell her that he didn’t want to do this anymore.

He was fairly certain she wouldn’t run away from him, thinking of him as a lesser man, but there was that doubt that she would, and his doubts were usually justified. He knew this kind of thinking was detrimental, that it served no real purpose and if he didn’t snap out of it Linda would die, but no matter how he tried to use his rational, scientific mind, he couldn’t reason this out.

“Where do I go from here?” he whispered. “How can I rescue Linda when I can’t even rescue myself from my own self doubt?”

“Elroy?” called someone from behind him, breaking his thoughts. The voice was one he knew and he turned.

“Pete, I’m not in the mood, just…” then he saw Wisdom, dressed in a Captain Britain uniform, staring at him as if he’d seen a ghost, and touched a button on his gauntlet.

Captain’s Log – Supplemental

I’ve just seen what has to be the ghost of Brianny’s brother, Elroy, killed by Slaymaster several years ago when he tried to be Captain Britain in her place. However, if it is not him, then it is a cross time duplicate, and maybe, just maybe, he’s a member of the Corps.

“Who are you talking to?” asked Brian after Pete stopped. “And who are you?”

“My name is Peter Wisdom, and I’m Captain Britain for Earth 577. Don’t ask, it gets very complicated and I try to avoid explaining stuff like that since I gave up smoking. You’re not Elroy Braddock are you?”

“No, I’m Brian Braddock, former Captain Britain of Earth 616.”

“You’re him? 616?”

“Yes,” said Brian, not sure he liked this Pete’s tone.

“Never thought I’d meet you. I don’t really understand all this number stuff anyway, but you’re a legend. I’ve heard of you, going through the various realities, beating up the Captain’s you didn’t like, starting fights for the sake of it, the original renegade Captain.” Pete’s look was one of admiration and awe, but Brian wasn’t impressed.

“Now, look, it wasn’t like that…”

“This from the man who trashed the energy matrix thing and really PO’ed Merlyn?”

“It didn’t happen like that…” Brian was trying to explain but could see he was getting nowhere.

“You’re here to save this world? I could do with your help.”

“I’m sorry, I’m not Captain Britain anymore. I’m no good at this kind of thing.”

“The hell you’re not,” said another voice, and the Captain’s turned to see Pete Wisdom walking towards them. Peter’s eyes went wide as he saw his duplicate, and Brian had an overwhelming urge to bury his head in his hands. “Have you any idea what you’re saying, you stupid sod? I… Who’s your friend?”

“Pete Wisdom,” he said, “meet Peter Wisdom, this world’s Captain Britain.” The two Wisdoms looked at each other as if they were staring in a mirror, however on image wore the splendid red, white and blue of the Captain Britain uniform, whilst the other wore the long trench coat, a white shirt and a black tie, with the knot a little lopsided and the top button of the shirt undone.

Brian looked at it, and couldn’t help but crack a smile.

“You’re me?” they asked each other. “Why?”

“As simulating as this conversation would be,” said Brian, “what do you want Pete? My Pete.”

“I’ve come to slap some sense in to you,” said Peter, taking off his coat. “At the first sign of trouble, you turn and run. What the hell do you think you’re doing, you’re supposed to be a hero.” Brian felt his blood rise. How dare he speak to him like that, but Pete went on. “Heroes don’t quit when the going gets tough.”

“Like you did when Kitty dumped you?” said Brian, and Pete punched him. A trickle of blood ran from Brian’s nose, and he wiped it away.

“Who’s Kitty?” asked Peter, but the other two ignored him.

“I never claimed to be perfect,” said Pete. “I make mistakes, but I learnt from them. You’re too stupid to see that and it costs you every time. First with Micky Scott, then Betsy, then Courtney Ross, now… WHOAH!” Brian jumped him, and slammed his fist in to his gut, sending Pete to the floor.

“How dare you?” said Brian, pinning Pete to the floor, his hand clamped around his throat. “I live with the guilt of Micky Scott every day, and I could do nothing to help the others. All I could do was mourn and try to avenge them. What would you know about guilt and remorse, you callous, murdering, bastard?”

“More than you’d know,” said Pete, with some difficulty, and fired a hot knife from his hand, up Brian’s side. Brian winced and released him, and Pete kicked with his legs, pushing Brian off him, and he scrambled to his feet. “The best way to avenge someone, is to honour their memory, to live your life in a way they’d be proud of? Do you think they’d be proud of you?”

“I don’t care,” said Brian, coming towards him his thoughts on tearing Wisdom’s tongue from his mouth, but Peter stopped him, from getting closer to Pete.

“Yes, you do,” said Pete. “You care so much you can taste it, that all you want to do is make up for what you did, but you know you can’t. You have to live your life and get on with things so what happened then doesn’t happen again. Don’t you get it? You were chosen to be Captain Britain. We all have the potential, but only one is chosen. That one is you. You are the man you were always meant to be. Flawed, imperfect, but with a mind that constantly learns. Do what you like, Braddock; I came looking for a hero, someone who people believe in. I’ve got a battle to fight.”

“What do you mean?” asked Brian.

“The others are under attack from those shock troops form Otherworld, I came to you for help. I came to you as our leader, but if he can do it, then there’s no reason I can’t.” Pete turned and walked away, holding his gut. Braddock may not have had his powers without the suit, but he still packed a wallop with it on.

“He’s right, you know,” said Peter to Brian. “I didn’t want to be Captain Britain. I’m doing it because it needs doing because I made a mistake and one person paid the price there and then. I’m still paying.”

“Then you know how it feels?” said Brian. “I can’t get the others to understand.”

“What’s to understand?” asked Peter. “Every day I wear this suit, I make a difference. I don’t make a difference to everyone. I can’t. I’m just a man, and I have limitations. I’m doing what I can to the best of my ability.”

“Don’t you have doubts?”

“All the time, but my doubts don’t matter. If others doubt me then there’s a problem. If they believe in me, then it’s worth it. They believe I can make a difference and whilst people aren’t that smart, they do choose their heroes very carefully. I’m going to give the others a hand to save my world. You coming?”

“I… yes. I can’t hide from my responsibility. Not any more. The stakes are too high. I am Captain Britain. It’s time I live up to that name.” They flew after Wisdom and the battle was joined.

Captain’s Log – Earthdate 260300

With the help of Excalibur of Earth 616, we’re holding the enemy at bay – for now. They keep coming, and we keep fighting them back. At some point we will be over-run but we’re not looking at that. Word has spread and there are reinforcements coming from the States. The International League of Avengers is on route and as long as we can hold these pillocks off until they arrive we’re in with a chance of survival. My duplicate and the other Captain Britain aren’t speaking with each other as yet, for I suspect their words hurt more than their fists. However Braddock is fighting like a demon, like the man I’d heard of. He needed a chance to prove himself and the chance has arisen. He is Captain Britain and he won’t falter. As he said to me earlier, there’s too much at stake.

“Why do you do that in the middle of a battle?” asked Pete of his other, as he unleashed a hot knife or two.

“Honouring Brianny’s memory. She was a Star Trek fan, and I used to take the mick out of her,” came the answer. “To stop me, she started this. Seems only right to keep doing it. Besides I don’t do snappy banter.”

“Fair enough,” said Pete. Then an explosion rocked the place, and they scattered as the troops advanced once more.

Pete looked at his other, who was lying there inert. He’d taken a nasty blow to the head and the enemy was approaching. There was nobody else around, as they were all involved in there own fights. He knew that the Corps was fair game on these, above all else.

“This is a really stupid idea,” he said to himself as he dragged the other man in to a secluded spot and stole his clothes, covering him with his trench coat, and stood up looking at the enemy. “Come one, then!” he said, firing hot knives out towards them, as well as firing one upwards, and hoping that one of the team would see it.

“Brian!” called Meggan. “Pete’s in trouble!”

“Damn,” said Brian and threw one of the enemies in to another and flew towards Pete, who was lying on the floor inert. He could see the Captain drawing them away from him, and picked Pete up and took him to safety.

“Be grateful,” said Brian. “I’m still in the mood to drop you.”

“Not me…” muttered the man in his arms, the cold air around him brining him around. “Stole… clothes.”

Brian stopped. The suits were geared for the particular bio-rhythms of the owner. Pete wouldn’t be able to use it, and he was being surrounded.

“Oh no,” he said and flew back towards his team-mate, after placing the Captain on the floor. “WISDOM!” he called, but the enemy took him and dragged him through a portal and Pete Wisdom was gone, just as the ILA arrived.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” cried Brian. He knew Pete knew the risks, and that it had been his choice, but he felt guilty all the same.

On Otherworld, Sat-Yr-9 had just finished with Linda McQuillan. Linda’s eyes were red with tears, her mind in turmoil at the violations of her body that had just been inflicted, for the best part of a day. Sat-Yr-9 had been gentle with her caresses, had fed her, given her drinks, and made love to her repeatedly.

Linda had hated it at first, felt numb during the middle of the session but towards the end she had been enjoying it, ever so slightly, and the memory of it stung her worse than the heat of a branding iron.

“You were very good,” said Sat-Yr-9, stroking Linda’s hair, knowing how much this would add to her distress. “A natural. Your husband must have really enjoyed you. I know I did…”

Linda began to sob again. Not only had she betrayed herself, but she had betrayed Rick, betrayed her husband’s memory, and nothing she could do would ever fix this.

“Kill me now,” she whispered.

“Not just yet,” said Sat-Yr-9. “We have a treat for you first. Another treat,” she said looking at the state of the bed and smiled. “You will see soon.” She began to walk away then turned and looked at her. “I may even keep you alive. You were very good indeed.” She laughed and walked out of the room, closing the doors behind her.

“Was that really necessary?” said Ghath.

“What do you mean?” she demanded of her partner.

“What you were doing in there. The men I can understand, the women….”

“For such an ambitious man, you have a very closed mind,” said Sat-Yr-9. “Yes, it was necessary. I enjoy it, they do and because of that they betray their uniform. However she is special. She kept me a prisoner a long time. I intend her to suffer.”

“Well, here’s some news for you. Earth 577 is repelling our warriors.”

“How?”

“Excalibur of 616. Together they are a very potent force. However this cloud has a silver lining.”

“What?”

“We captured the Captain of that world.”

“Put him with Captain U.K. Give them a front row seat.”

“Of course,” said Ghath. “Everything else is in place.”

Pete Wisdom shook his head and looked about. His idea to use the suit had failed big style and now he was in trouble. There was no sign of Excalibur and this looked like Otherworld, from what he had seen.

“Welcome,” said Ghath, as he saw the man wake. “A simple rousing spell did the trick.” Pete said nothing but looked around him. To his left was Linda McQuillan, more of a shade than the last time he had seen her.

“What have you done to her?” he demanded, trying to ignite a hot knife but finding he was unable to do so.

“Worry more about yourself,” said Ghath. “However we have a treat for you both.” He stepped aside and Pete gasped as he saw Roma and a man he assumed was Merlyn. What looked like chicken wire was placed around their necks and fed up no to the branches of a sturdy looking oak tree. Both Merlyn and Roma were on stools, Merlyn supported so that he did not fall before time.

“Ladies and gentlemen of Otherworld,” said Sat-Yr-9, Ghath using a spell to broadcast across the world. “Behold a new day, behold a new era, behold!” The stools were removed, suspending the two rulers of Otherworld in the air.

They dropped a fraction, until the wire stopped them, tightening around their necks as they began to sway in the breeze. Pete watched in horror as Roma gasped for breath, Merlyn still not even awake. Roma was struggling as the wire bit in to her neck as she tried to somehow wriggle loose. Blood trickled from her neck, as the wire sliced her skin, cutting in to her larynx.

Within moments she and her father would be dead, hanged on the fields of Otherworld.

NEXT ISSUE: Excalibur comes back to Otherworld, this time with a plan, but will they be too late?