LATERAL THOUGHT

By James McKenna

Smoke-World

Aarkus lazily flew across the landscape, a policeman in a land without crime. Aarkus had a strong sense of justice, of right and wrong, he wanted action, to seek vengeance, he possessed a lion’s heart, yet no prey had appeared on his plains for time immemorial.

Almost on cue, coincidentally, his communicator began to sound off. The device had been given to him by Roger Aubrey, the Mighty Destroyer, a hero of earth, long ago Aubrey had asked him to become part of the V-Battalion. Foolishly, Aarkus had turned him down, thinking that Smoke-World would need him. Such had not been the case, his world was utopian, free of crime and…boring to Aarkus’ sensibilities.

Aarkus answered the call.

The Gladius

In his dreams he saw the faces of long ago victims. On his rise to power he allowed nothing and no one to stand in his way, and soon Menos Cynn was king of his world. Yet the inky void of space beckoned to him, his world was finite, but out there, among the stars, endless potential for power lay ahead of him. A ship was constructed; he and his acolytes left their planet, and started a swath across the galaxy.

Now the next step in power was in front of him, but it was too resistant. Once before it had slipped through his hands, the powerful Earther known as Blue Diamond could help him attain the next step. Menos’ current body was beginning to atrophy, age was taking hold and the power energies of Menos’ mind were tearing it apart. With the Diamond’s help, that could be stopped.

As he planned he turned his eyes to the match before him, for Menos’ ship, the Gladius was the throne of his empire. A great sphere of various materials built around a tiny artificial star, there are three layers of material, the spaces between the three layers being zones of inhabitation, with electricity and power being inexhaustibly provided by the star inside. On the outside of the sphere many arrays of engines and propulsion unites are scattered. In essence, Menos controls a flying interstellar metal world. That false world was now residing in earth’s solar system, much to the bafflement of astronomers everywhere and the chagrin of the Liberty Legion on it.

The Fighter Pens

To keep the crew and population of his portable world happy, Menos had fights staged, but the fights had a double meaning.

The fighters in the ring were some of the more powerful beings Menos had found in his travels, as one of Menos’ bodies would deteriorate from excess usage, he would take the winner of the fights, the prime specimen, as his new shell. What a prize to win.

Most often Menos Cynn would use a group of his closest advisors to help him find powerful superhumans, mystics, exotic shamans of various races, scientific geniuses and others with special talents would help him locate potential superhuman warriors and vessels.

The Blue Diamond had been the winner in his circuit for months before making his escape, tests done on him, unbeknownst to the Diamond, had indicated he might be the perfect match for Menos, his indestructible body might be able to hold up to the punishment of housing Menos Cynn’s mind.

Menos had brainwashed two former heralds of Galactus, the Air-Walker and Firelord. The Power Cosmic that permeated their beings acted as deterrent to Menos’ possession. Their minds were malleable to him, but he could not assume their bodies, the energy that composed his being existed at a wavelength too disparate from the power cosmic. Trying to take over their bodies and merging his energy with there’s could have killed him.

However, they made excellent bodyguards. And here they came, down to the pens to order the next combatants into the ring.

They came for Blue Diamond and Myrmidon—the Legion’s new friend and legacy to their old friend Roko the Amazing, a 1940s and 50s hero. As he had just told his new allies in the Liberty Legion, one morning, upon waking he found his body paralyzed, a low level psychic and agent of Menos had tapped into his mind and disabled his neural pathways, then he was abducted quietly from his apartment.

“You two are to fight each other, or us,” Air-Walker informed them as he and Firelord levitated down to the pens.

“You would find it more beneficial to face one another,” Firelord continued.

“Though neither of us would shy from a challenge,” Air-Walker finished.

Blue Diamond and Myrmidon were brought to the ring and freed of their restraints.

“Go down easy, kid,” Elton tried to coax Myrmidon into taking a fall, as he spoke his skin flashed and became indestructible diamond.

“No, I’m more powerful than you, take the fall Diamond, it’ll be easier.”

Spectator stands

Above them, at a throne, Menos tapped into their minds, finding that hidden well of primal rage safeguarded deep in the mind. He tapped that well within the two heroes. The effects were immediate.

The two heroes started to fight and the crowds around Menos Cynn went wild, cheering on the two colorfully attired gladiators. Shi’ar, Kree, Skrull, Badoon, Centaurians, Kronans, Rigellians, Contraxians, Spartoi, Xandarians and countless other races were represnted in the stands, fugitives and slaves from a myriad of star systems had been brought together to live on Menos’ artificial world and these fights were their primary source of entertainment. They sat and watched and loved the violence.

New York

Bill looked up and saw a young woman standing before him, clad in a dark yellow costume with blue trim and a blue “M” on her chest, the colors and style aped Bill’s old colleague the Whizzer.

“This is actually a bad time and I don’t have the luxury to learn who you are and what your business is, but you’re a Whizzer legacy, that seems obvious, yes?”

“Umm…yes.”

The Challenger’s mind was racing and a plan started to form.

The Arena

One blow from Myrmidon knocked Elton across the spacious ring and into the wall. The arena was large and spacious, half the length of a football field in diameter and with photonic projectors installed within. Every five minutes the fake terrain changed, right now the room was bare for the combatants to start off and feel the fight out.

Blue Diamond stood up, shaking off any grogginess. He clenched his fist and leapt at the young hero, landing a vicious blow to the man’s temple, Elton then sucker punched Myrmidon in the face, blurring his vision for a minute, the two crashed to the ground.

Fists raised overhead, Blue Diamond brought them down onto Myrmidon’s chest, his colossal strength being brought to bear against his forced enemy. Enraged, Blue Diamond continually attempted to break the young man.

Diamond paused for a second, Myrmidon was still and it appeared as though Elton had won the battle. But the young hero suddenly sprang to life, grasping Blue Diamond by the neck and spinning the man around throwing the veteran hero with all his strength into the walls that fence the arena. As Blue Diamond landed the photonic projects turned the bare terrain into a lush alien jungle with fauna of purple and orange colors.

Myrmidon tore through the jungle with abandon, uprooting and toppling trees with ease. Creating suck a racket in his search for Blue Diamond opened Myrmidon up for an attack. Diamond got behind him and jumped into the air, grabbing the Grecian themed hero and squeezing with his immense strength. Myrmidon tried to break from the grab but found the attempt useless; instead he flew backwards through the foliage and branches, taking down trees using the Blue Diamond as a battering ram.

The holographic scenery changed and the fight went on.

The Fighter Pens

The remainder of the Liberty Legion watched in horror as their friends fought, unaware of the mind tricks being played, they had to entertain the idea that the two heroes had earnestly begun the fight.

Dania, Thin Man and Iron Cross watched helplessly, trying to hatch a plan to escape or fix the situation.

“Powers are nullified within the pens, but once out there, do you think you could teleport away, Bruce?” Dania asked the elder legionnaire.

“Possibly, we’ll have to wait and see. What I’m most interested in is, Elton and the kid. They went out amicable and are now…consumed by rage it seems. And why are two former heralds of Galactus slumming here? Those guys are walking dynamos, some of the more powerful beings in galaxy. Why are they serving, basically, as go-fers and assistants?” Dickson mused aloud.

“A hidden power is at work. What could it be?” Dania postulated.

“Hello…strangers,” a tentative alien and fellow captor ventured to enter the conversation, “I heard you speaking and think I may be of some help.”

“Who are you?” Dickson asked, taking lead as Dania and Valentina listened in.

“I’m a Majesdanian but in these damn pens I can’t charge up and get out of here, they give me enough power for a fight now and then and that’s it, but I have some useful info regarding Menos…if you can help me out.”

“You look human…what’s a Majesdanian?”

“Well, to me, you look Majesdanian. Anyways, Majesdanians, like me, are a race from the planet Majesdane. The planet is on the fringes of the Skrull empire and somewhat at odds because of them, though peace talks are in progress…last I heard. Depowered, we look like the standard humanoid with a variety of skin pigments. My ancestry is from an equatorial tribe. Hence my…I believe I would appear African or Indian on Earth?”

“Yeah, more or less.”

“I think we can work something out. What do you need and what have you got?”

“I know a thing or two about Menos Cynn, and I’ll let you know, if you can get me out of this place.”

Over Ireland, aboard the Vanguard II

Roger Aubrey strolled the long metal corridors of the V-Battalion’s flying fortress, the Vanguard II. The original Vanguard has been destroyed not too long ago, in a bizarre encounter with the Thunderbolts and Counter-Earth. Roger had been understandably pissed to have lost his command center and home, but it saved not just one, but two worlds. Well worth any price, in his eyes.

So from schematics of the old ship, along with designs from leading scientists and alien cultures, the second Vanguard had soon taken shape, and it happened quite fast. The V-Battalion stealthy outsourced a lot of the construction by having the ship built in pieces. Inconspicuous parts of the ship were sold as military contracts through Symkaria, the Battalion’s land base. The more important parts were built and engineered by the Battalion itself. But with designs by Howard Stark, Nathaniel Richards, Enoch Mason, Horace Grayson, Phineas T. Horton, stolen designs from Tony Stark, Reed Richards, Hank Pym, Hank McCoy, Forge and others, along with reverse engineered technology from the Shi’ar, Kree, Skrull, the Eternals and more, the ship came together with surprising ease.

Kinks were still being worked out, but all in all, Aubrey approved and thought that the Vanguard II had surpassed its predecessor. Aubrey smiled to himself, allowing a small chuckle to escape his lips as he thought to himself how jealous Nick Fury would be. That old soldier in his S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, Fury may as well be riding a bicycle in comparison to the Vanguard.

Then Aubrey smiled wider to himself. Only a couple months ago the notion of a smile on his face was unfathomable, the tyrannical leader of the V-Battalion was known for his perpetual scowl. But after temporarily dying, Aubrey learned just how precious life was. He’d had a charmed one, though not without loss and hardship, he decided to continue on and try to have a good time now and then.

Now his face became a reserved, stony visage as Aubrey came to his intended destination, a lab filled with the works of the long deceased Dr. Enoch Mason–the man who first found a way into the dimension housing Smoke-World.

Before him, several Battalion scientists, members of the vaunted Steam Team, were busy operating the portal machine. The machine came to life as grey smoke billowed out, a moment later, a near ghastly, pale green vision stepped through.

“You wished to speak with me?” Aarkus asked the straight-faced Aubrey.

The Arena

The scenery changed into an alien but noticeably urban cityscape. Among the weirdly constructed buildings, Myrmidon had a clear view of Blue Diamond. He flew down, arms outstretched and waylaid the unsuspecting Legionnaire. Myrmidon rose up into the air again and came back down, plowing Blue Diamond into the pavement, Elton took the hit and grabbed Myrmidon, crushing him in a bear-hug. Myrmidon arched his head back, head butting Blue Diamond, dazing the veteran hero for a moment and allowing for a quick escape. Myrmidon took off quickly, about to escape into the air.

However, with lightening reflexes, Blue Diamond grabbed Myrmidon’s leg in mid-air and with all his strength swung the young man around and into the floor. Elton then drop kicked the man into the air and with a leap grappled him in mid-air, taking his unstable form down to the floor beneath them, driving Myrmidon’s face into the holographic pavement. Myrmidon tried to reach up and fight back, Blue Diamond grabbed his arm and swung him, letting go of the man, his body flew through half a dozen buildings before coming to rest. With a massive jump, Blue Diamond cleared the buildings and landed near the limp form of Mymridon.

The young hero has been rendered unconscious, but blinded with rage, Elton kept punching and punching, driving him into the pavement until suddenly, he could see again. Like waking up, Elton’s mind was no longer overtaken by the relentless anger he’d been imbued with.

“The winner…Blue Diamond!” the commentator yelled, his voice echoing throughout the arena. “Next fight…the mysterious Thin Man against the armored Iron Cross!”

The Fighter Pens

“I’m up next, we will do whatever we can to get you out of this place if you tell us quickly what you know,” Thin Man told the Majesdanian.

“I believe you…and I think you have a chance, this is the only reason I’m letting you in on this. I’ve survived here awhile, and I’ve gleaned from other fighters who’ve come and gone this much. Menos is a psi-talent. He uses his powers to infect the fighters with…with rage, I guess, overriding their conscious minds, to them they black out or go to sleep, while darker impulses take over and operate their bodies. There’s a bit more to it, but that’s it. If you can resist his telepathy, you’re free and can strike back.”

“Has this ever happened before?” Dania asked.

“Well…no,” the Majesdane answered, “From what I’ve heard, though he lacks raw psi-talent: telekinetic abilities, his telepathy, possession and mind control and projection is the best to have ever been seen.”

“Just as I thought, though, I think I have an idea, come Valentina,” Thin Man said, a dark smile playing out across his lips, but hidden by his mask. The Thin Man and Iron Cross were taken from their friends by the guards and forced out into the arena.

As the Liberty Legion conversed with the Majesdane, Blue Diamond and the injured Myrmidon were brought back into the pens by the guards. Myrmidon was out cold and Blue Diamond was eerily quiet, his visage, even now in his depowered human form, was stony, cool and unemotional.

“God help us, I couldn’t control myself…if this Menos Cynn can do that to us then—damn,”

“Not to make light of your suffering, friend, but I am confident this monster will fall easily at my hand,” Thin Man replied, a smirk on his lips under his mask.

“You are always so Hubristic, Bruce, have a fear…” Blue Diamond seemed to be reviving in the presence of his friends.

“Hubris is for fools, dear friend. I fear not a god or monster that walks this plane.”

Ireland

A new superpower was on the scene, and the V-Battalion wanted him in their ranks. Roger Aubrey had been observing the powerful youngster for a few weeks now. He went by the name Druid and had a useful variety of powers. But at the moment, he was in way over his head. Volcan the Sub-Earth Man had struck again.

Aubrey couldn’t figure out why Volcan was striking again, the Battalion had faced him just a couple weeks prior, but before that his last known appearance was almost 60 years ago. Something was not quite right.

Using his command of the immense V-Battalion operation, Aubrey dispensed two of his operatives, the reserve operative and Liberty Legion member the Challenger—hoping for a tie between the Challenger’s reappearance and the increased activity from Volcan, and the recently summoned Aarkus. His old codename the Vision had been co-opted by some Avengers robot, but that had been given to him by the newspapers. During introductions, this Vision had always used his name and title: Aarkus, Destroyer of Evil.

The Vanguard, the V-Battalion’s massive floating fortress came to rest above Ireland, with two forms escaping from its cloaked form, to the naked eye they simply appeared in mid-air. Volcan raged on with his chaos as the Challenger and Aarkus rushed towards him, to rescue the new Druid, beat the monster and save the day. Hopefully.

As the two heroes moved in, Volcan’s roaring began make more sense, he was shouting, screaming.

“INVADERS! COME OUT, INVADERS!”

The Arena

As Menos Cynn began to tap into the brains of his two new fighters, Bruce Dickson, the Thin Man, began his subterfuge. Thin Man’s powers stemmed from his connection to the dimension known as sub-space. His body didn’t physically stretch or thin out, but was warped through a dimensional aperture, so by differing means, he achieved the same ends as a more notable ductile superhero, Mr. Fantastic.

However, the method was the most important thing here. Bruce could phase his entire self through subspace, allowing him to teleport. He could phase part of himself, making it appear as though his body or limbs were stretching or thinning. But now, he was trying something different.

Menos sensed a strange emptiness in the Thin Man as he attempted to manipulate him. Something was wrong.

“Fighter, answer me! What are you?”

Bruce looked up and smiled, answering “I am a Kalahian and your end.”

Thin Man had stretched and phased his brain into subspace. While still connected to his grey matter via the dimensional aperture, it was no longer physically present in this dimension. There was nothing for Menos to manipulate.

Thin Man’s fingers stretched and thinned, incredibly strong, yet paper thing, his limbs had turned into living blades. His mind racing with a plan of action, Thin Man began to enact the vengeance due him and his team.