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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Broccli_Head" data-source="post: 1278899" data-attributes="member: 105">issue #11, part iiLegion Extreme and their allies, Blue Jay, Stalwart and Riptide, converged on the south end of the Ted Williams Tunnel.  Hummingbird was also somewhere around—Dragonfist and Cosmic Knight were positive—but remained hidden as usual. “Yoh, clear the Tunnel!” shouted Slipstream into his radio to nearby transit authority and police personnel. Cars were backed up but moving out slowly…too slowly for the impatient speedster, but the Warwolf was in charge of this Op for now, he reminded himself glancing and smiling at the large black wolfman that watched, arms folded, as the tunnels were evacuated. Minutes earlier, they had heard of strange sightings and noises near the archaeological dig and from their aerial patrols, they had flown or leaped or ran at their best speed.  It had been their only lead of the day, and they all had this feeling that time was running short.  The Crowns must be attempting to leave Boston. They already had the Star. They had already sent a clear message. What reason did they have to stay?Stalwart, Cosmic Knight, and Blue Jay circled overhead watching for anything out of the ordinary, but save for the occasional take off and landing from Logan Airport, the skies over Boston were quiet.“Dudes, it’s clear. Let’s go!”“Slowly and together, Slipstream,” growled the Warwolf. Surprisingly, Slipstream waited, and the group entered the Ted Williams Tunnel together. Cosmic Knight and Stalwart stayed outside and flew low above the water, to hit whatever Legion Extreme flushed out and to continue to monitor the surface.  Riptide swam alongside the tunnel, patrolling in the harbor. They reached the excavation without incident. Somnus searched for mental signatures. He looked at the celestial general and shook his head. The Warwolf barred his teeth. “I guess we need to go in,” he remarked.  “Slipstream and The Warwolf will enter and examine the tombs, the rest of you be on your guard.”Inside, the tomb was empty. The bodies that had been lying embalmed and awaiting clearance for removal, were gone. To their knowledge, that procedure, caught up in litigation, was not going to happen soon. “Nothin’!” Slipstream zipped out to the main tunnel with the Warwolf following behind. The scents did not leave the crypt. It was as if the bodies had simply disappeared. Back in the main tunnel, Legion Extreme thought that they heard skittering somewhere ahead…or was it behind. They tried to follow the noise, but could not pinpoint the source.“It’s too creepy down here,” commented Blue Jay. “I don’t like it. I think we should continue forward.”Ahead, Slipstream found abandoned cars and had to turn one overzealous citizen back towards the police blockade at the north entrance, but still there were no monsters.Were are you, Crowns of Krim?! cried the Warwolf in his head, wanting action and not detective work. Finally, they caught a break. “Something’s going on at the airport!” called Cosmic Knight.Almost simultaneously, Somnus received a strong mental impression in the water, and it was not Riptide. “Slipstream, there is something in the water near the shore,” he communicated. “Hold, superheroes!” called the Warwolf. “We need to evaluate these possible threats, and coordinate our actions.”However, his counsel was lost on deaf ears. Slipstream tired of skulking around like a common thief, shot from the tunnel, and without looking north to the airport, exploded into the water.  The Warwolf howled and followed at his best possible pace. Blue Jay, Darkfire, and Dragonfist, without howling, did the same. Outside the radio-chatter continued from Cosmic Knight. “I see that blond supergirl. She’s takin’ on a fiery guy and a shadowy demon thing on one of the far runways. I’m gonna help.”Stalwart replied over the band, “Wait, you fool! (a Whoosh in the background)… Alright, I’m going to back up Cosmic Knight. I hope the rest of you are on your way. Stalwart out!” Warwolf screamed and picked up the pace. Darkfire flew forward and was suddenly frightened and insecure about her ability to fight in a pitched battle. It was Nightmare’s opportunity. The unicorn asserted itself and manifested, supplanting the alien woman. Then the black unicorn turned invisible and began following the rest, teleporting in hops, at a distance.**Multiple targets in the water, Slipstream thought as he probed with his active sonar. He fired and blasted a couple of humanoid creatures in the murk with sonic attacks. However, they still moved, slowly and ponderously towards the shore. Slipstream was surprised that they had withstood his “righteous” attacks and hesitated. He counted five, then something “pinged” louder in his sonar range, and a bright light appeared through the murk. Inside some sort of force field a large, obsidian-skinned, jackal-headed humanoid floated. He carried an ankh-topped staff, and as the identity of Anubis registered in Slipstream’s mind, the Egyptian-god-villain gestured with his staff. A disembodied hand reached out and grabbed the speedster, crushing him and drawing him closer.  Slipstream yelled for help as he squirmed in the giant hand’s grip. **On the surface Cosmic Knight flew to engage the shadow demon he recognized as Eclipse from their Boston Common encounter, and another Crown of Krim, Phoenix as they fought Zephyr, dodging and wheeling attacks, in the air above some of the far runways and private hangers of Logan Airport. Below, he saw several men and one Black Paladin in the process of boarding a jet.  The Knight of the Crow pointed Cosmic Knight, his voice booming across the tarmac. “Craven Knight! Ye have returned to be smitten yet again!”Whatever…. thought Theo, You can’t hit me with that sword from here.However, the Black Paladin drew his mighty hand-n-half sword, Eater of Souls, and pointed it at Cosmic Knight. From the tip of the sword came a beam of shadow stuff that struck Cosmic Knight straight in the chest. The force of the blast sent him reeling backwards, the energy penetrating his armor and defenses, dazing the superhero. The rest heard Cosmic Knight’s groan as it began where Slipstream’s cries were ending. Blue Jay rocketed from the Ted Williams Tunnel joining Stalwart. Cosmic Knight tumbled in the air past them, automatic stabilizing jets firing to help him to regain control. Zephyr led her two attackers higher in the air, exchanging fire, and while the beautiful super-villain dodged most of the attacks from Phoenix and Eclipse, those that hit—fire and darkness--were taking their toll. Blue Jay concentrated her plasma cannon on the unnaturally handsome man that stood to the side of the Black Paladin.  “Whoohoo!” she cried scoring a direct hit and knocking the man into the nearby Lear jet.The jet crumpled as he smashed into it. Rising, the man changed form. The sky darkened. His presence gave everyone pause. Dark Seraph now stood where the man had once been and he began to speak. Archaic words in some forgotten, demonic tongue rumbled across the sky, and in response forked lightning struck unerringly at Blue Jay. Her ear-splitting scream of pain rang in the ears of Legion Extreme, and her smoky form began plummeting towards the harbor.</blockquote>

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