Some old fanfic from my days of "Alternate Marvel"...
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A little back story... Alternate Marvel was composed of a bunch of writers who wrote in a "shared universe" of Marvel. The time line for Alternate Marvel breaks off from regular Marvel in their battle against Onslaught. In Alternate Marvel, they defeat Onslaught in a big epic fight. There's casualties on all sides. The first issue of this fanfic I wrote for Alternate Marvel was all about "cleaning up and fixing" Alpha Flight, since it was left in a broken state by the time the series ended in RMU (Regular Marvel Universe, because at the time I don't think there was even a VOL2 yet for the series in RMU, I can't remember now)
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Alpha Flight #1: "To Rise Once More." Fri Oct 25, 2002
By: Tawmis
In a time of darkness, heroes stood up and fought for their country that they loved so much. Hated by their own government, questioned by the people of Canada – Alpha Flight never stops to ask why they do what they do. They are heroes. It is their duty. Welcome – Guardian! Sasquatch! Northstar! Aurora! Shaman! Puck! Welcome to – Alpha Flight!
He sat in the center of the cabin room, his eyes closed, lost in meditation. He hovered, magically, three feet above the ground, his legs crossed, sitting Indian style in fashion. It's appropriate for this man, for he is Dr. Michael Twoyoungmen. (1) Though he floats quietly, that peace is soon to be disturbed,
as his eyes flash open. He felt it. A magical barrier had been shattered. Many of Earth's defenses against magical attacks were suddenly sundered. (2) His jaw set, knowing this could only bring ill
tidings in the future. Almost instantly, he felt the touch of something in the bank of his mind. It was faint, like the fluttering of butterfly wings. Michael Twoyoungmen stood up now, and took a deep breath. As he feared, only ill would come of the shattering of Doctor Strange's spell. But he didn't expect it to be so quickly – so sudden. He approached his shelf, which was lined with books dealing with
practical and mystical things in nature. He did not reach for any of them; rather, he reached for the box sitting atop of it. Pulling down the metal box, he slowly opened it. Contained within there, was a sight that would startle anyone else. A skull, decorated with elaborate ornaments and headpieces. "Speak to me," he whispered to the skull. "The son of your son awaits…"
Meanwhile, at that very moment, at Resolute Bay…
The land below the water's gentle surface slowly cracked open. From that crack, bubbles slowly drifted to the surface. As the fissure slowly grew, the bubbles floating upward increased in size. Just off the shore, a little boy pointed emphatically at the increasing bubbles. "Mommy, mommy!" he exclaimed as he bolted to his mother's side. "Do you see? Do you see the bubbles in the water? They are big! As big as me! Maybe as big as you, mommy!" The mother stood to see what her son had been pointing at, assuming his overly active imagination had gotten the best of him once again. By the time she was on her feet, the bubbles in the center of the bay were the size of a minivan. She grabbed her son, and picked up her belongings as quickly as possible, screaming to others to do the same.
He sat in his office, observing the vial of red fluid. "If I did this right," he smiled, "it should be able to displace and refract light so that it will actually make this rat invisible to the human eye." Gently pouring the red liquid upon the rat, he sat and watched with amazement as the rat's body shimmered for a moment, as if composed by crystals, and slowly faded out of Walter Langkowski's view. Quickly putting on the infrared goggles, the rat suddenly came into view again. "It worked!" he exclaimed. "It actually worked! It can still be seen with infra-red, because of the body heat it generates, but to the human eye, he's quite invisible!" He smiled. "Now to write down everything." He slowly walked over to the table where all of his calculations had been spread about. Writing down specific notes, he suddenly let out a scream and fell over, toppling to the ground, motionless.
She sat on the end of the pier, one leg pulled close to her body, as the other swayed back and forth, just over the water. "Do you ever wonder, Jean-Paul, about our past?"
"All the time, sister of mine," Jean-Paul replied, coming to sit next to her, Jean-Marie.
"We are mutants," Jean-Marie said, staring out to the ocean that stretched before her. "Our parents were killed in a car accident, at which time we were separated, and reunited later by Mac." She turned to Jean-Paul, "We never truly looked into the rest of our family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews."
Jean-Paul paused. "I had… never given it much thought," he admitted. "Life has been hectic to say the least."
"Perhaps it is time we find these things out," she smiled at her brother. "To see that we are more than just heroes. That we have a family. We have roots."
Jean-Paul smiled, "Yes, perhaps it is time." He turned and faced the sunrise. And what would they think of him? He had come out and professed his sexual orientation both within a newspaper article (3) as well as a live television broadcast. Discovering their family tree – would that endanger them as being targets to those that wished the members of Alpha Flight harm? Was it such a wise idea? He turned
to look at the sparkle in his sister's eyes, and knew he could not deny her the pleasure of learning her own family background.
At Corky's Tavern, Eugene Milton Judd returned to work. New patrons or people passing through, just to be asked about his time with Alpha Flight, often surrounded him. He spoke highly of his times as a part of the team, talking about the heartaches, the pains, and the victories that Alpha Flight had managed to accomplish, even when the odds were greatly stacked against them. Sitting inside the tavern are James MacDonald "Mac" Hudson and his wife, Heather Hudson. They listen to Eugene's tales and smile. Many know Eugene is a part of the team known as Alpha Flight, but what many do not know is that James Hudson and Heather Hudson are a part of that team as well – they are Guardian and Vindicator respectively.
Eugene returned to the table, to rejoin James and Heather. "Pretty popular, eh?" He smiled, quaffed a large pint of beer, and wiped it with the back of his hands. "Make me wonder how we ever got disbanded."
"Things happen," James smiled. "Besides, it's given us all a chance to really do something we have not been able to do."
"What's that?" Eugene asked, looking up.
"Enjoy life," James replied.
"It's nice though," Heather, admitted, "that the government has realized there are more and more mutants being born everyday. They've created Department M, to help not only mutants – but also
anyone with super human powers. It reminds me of Charles Xavier's School." (4)
Eugene raised his mug, "Here's to the future, eh? No matter what it might bring!"
The three of them clanked their glasses together.
There was a sharp pain. Throbbing in the back of the mind, drilling away like a thousand meteors striking the land. Life – there was a certain blackness to it, like memories lost. Eyes settled on a rat that might be invisible to the human eye. Then those eyes looked in the mirror. Long, soft, beautiful blond hair flowed to her shoulders. Her white eyes stared back at her. "I should have known this would happen," her voice was soft. "This can only mean one thing… they have returned."
The face staring back at her was none other than… Snowbird. Giving it little thought, she took the form of a giant owl and departed through the window, knowing her destination – for it called to her from the blackness beyond. But then – that begged the question – where was the Spirit of Walter Langkowski? (5)
At Resolute Bay, shortly after midnight…
A huge beast, composed of mud, dirt and soil, rose from the waters. It's mouth, composed of moss, stone and wood opened to a roar as it raised its enormous hands. The creature stood well over forty feet in height. Slowly, its chest began to swirl. Stone and rubble fell away and seemed to create a perfect circle, with five points, creating a perfect upside down pentagram. From the left top point of the star, came forth Kariooq, The Corruptor. From the right top point of the star, came forth Kolomaq, the
Storm Bringer. From its bottom point of the star, stepped forth a large orange figure, Tanaraq, the Sasquatch. To the left of that, the star point delivered, Tolomaq, the Fire Beast.
And to the right of the bottom star point, an human, barely that – possessed by the power of Ranaq.
And from the centerpiece, none other than Somon, The Artificer stepped forward. The hole slowly sealed itself once more. Somon looked around, "We have returned! Not only has the spell of the mystic named Stephen Strange been shattered (6), but there is something that has shattered all magical barriers!" (7)
"Your return will be brief, Great Beast," came a voice from the shadows of night.
Somon turned, holding his staff in his hand. "You," the word fell from his lips with a disgusted hiss. "I thought you were dead."(
Snowbird stood on the edge of cliff side. "I will always return to send you back to the land of banishment." Snowbird took to the air. "Heather may have slain me then, but Michael Twoyoungmen
called upon Nelvanna, Hodiak and The Shaper; they brought me, along with my husband and son, into their realm, with the understanding I would return if the Great Beasts returned." Snowbird spread her
cloak, as she hovered. "My physical body remained in the form of Sasquatch, and was resurrected and possessed by Pestilence!" (9) A smile spread across her face as she saw the distinct disappointment of the Great Beasts. "Walter at this time had escaped by means of possessing Smart Alec, and escaping through Shaman's bag. (10) Then he took possession of Box, and battled my body, which was possessed by Pestilence still. Using Box's energy, he expelled Pestilence from my body. Heather then used Shaman's bag to capture the spirit of Pestilence within the bag itself. Water then moved into my body. However, we he transformed himself back into a human, he took my human form – a woman, with blond hair! But as you well know, this is not the first time I returned to face you again after my death!" (11)
Snowbird heaved a deep breath. "I returned to Earth once more after that – when Walter took the Talisman and tried to use its magic for himself – to restore himself as a man." (12) She looked among the Great Beasts. "Admittedly, when I returned this time to face against you all – I thought it would be in my spirit form. Why my mother, Nelvanna and my grandfather Hodiak returned me to my original body,
once again female, I do not know! And where Walter's soul may currently reside, is unknown to me! But these are things I will look into after I defeat you!"
"You," Somon pointed his staff at Snowbird, "have never been able to defeat us alone!"
"And today will be no different," came a second voice.
Somon looked and saw the familiar yellow and green outfit of the Indian known as Shaman, also known as Michael Twoyoungmen. "And they're not alone," came a female voice that belonged to Heather Hudson, better known as Alpha Flight's Vindicator.
Next to her, James Hudson, also known as Guardian, was carrying Eugene Judd, also known as Puck.
Behind them, Aurora and Northstar. "So you have all returned," Somon sneered, "how pleasant." (13)
At that moment, elsewhere…
Lilian Crawley slowly walked into the kitchen, her eyes scanning the counters. She saw the knife and slowly approached it, grasping it softly in her hands. She stared at the blade for a moment, her thoughts still retracing the idea of her skin being `unbreakable.' Only the alien technology they had found, allowed her skin to be cut, and uncover the cyst that had been growing within her breast. (14)
Madison Jeffries walked down the stairs, noticing the light on within the kitchen. With sleepy eyes, he rubbed them and allowed the light to slip between his eyelids. He walked downstairs to see Lilian holding the knife. He paused, "Everything all right?"
She turned, half a smile painted gently on her face. "I'm," she paused for a moment, "just thinking."
Madison wrapped his arms around her waist, "About?"
"About next time," Lilian replied.
"Next time?" Madison asked.
"Next time there's a cyst," Lilian answered.
"Then we will deal with it then," Madison shrugged, kissing her gently on the cheek.
"Will we?" she turned and frowned. "Will Department H help us?"
"If they don't, I will try to make something that will," Madison nodded. "It's what I do."
"I am completely immune to injury," Lilian Crawley looked at Madison. "A armor piercing bullet at point blank might," she emphasized the word, "might leave a very small bruise."
"We will do what we always do," Madison tried to comfort her, as he drew himself closer to her. "We will do everything, anything, it takes to prevail." He kissed her again, "We have a new future. Our
wedding." He looked at the monitor on the far wall. "And we're in charge of Beta Flight for now."
Lilian looked at Madison, a thin, frail smile on her lips, cautiously painted there. "I'm glad that they have forgiven me," she whispered. "I was part of Omega Flight. I was responsible for Mac's apparent death so long ago." (15)
"That's just it, Lil," Madison looked at her. "That was a long time ago. And Mac didn't die. We've all made mistakes, Lil. None of them," he gestured at the picture on the north wall that had the entire team of Alpha Flight, "is without sin."
Lilian looked at Madison then nodded her head gently. "I suppose you're right. I just worry about the future."
"Amazing, isn't it," Madison chuckled softly, "that the woman with the toughest skin on Earth, has the softest insides?"
She punched Madison in the arm playfully. "And you're about to marry her."
"And I'd have it no other way!"
A white sheet violently covered the land. Howling winds brought down the massive snowdrift that hurriedly buried the land. "Michael," Guardian shouted over the howling winds. "Anything
you can do about this?"
Shaman, hovering over the ground, reached into his pouch. "I am trying," he shouted back, over the winds. "Kolomaq's power seems to have grown! Or, as my grandfather has informed me – the barrier of magic has been shattered!" (2)
Snowbird took the form of a white Sasquatch. She rushed forward, driven by the wild, animalistic instincts of the savage beast, as she engaged into combat with Kariooq, who was weakened by Kolomaq's snowfall.
A laughter suddenly carried over the howling winds.
A laughter that Alpha Flight knew too well. The continuous dropping of the temperature now did not cause the shivers that danced down their spines.
"I told you," the voice boomed victoriously. "My magic may have been undone, but not my plans. I told you that you would see your world become a living hell."
Llan the Sorcerer stepped forward, raising his arms about him. "Talisman predicted that I would bring back the Great Beasts!"(16) He looked about him, tilting his head back in callous laughter. "Though it is normally every 10,000 years I arise! It would seem that the spell that Doctor Strange cast to entrap me, when he opened the Doorway of Light, has been undone!" (17)
"This is bad, eh," Puck grumbled beneath his breath as the wind howled passed him. "The Great Beasts are enough, but Llan too?"
"Leave Llan to me," Shaman replied, approaching them.
"Michael," Guardian shook his head. "You can't. I have read up on all of the files that Alpha has fought. Llan is a sorcerer bent on the corruption of mankind. He will corrupt you."
Shaman turned. "I assume you read the files where I failed. Failed to save my wife. Failed to save my daughter. Failed to save Snowbird. Her husband. Her child." Shaman clenched his fist. "I'm not that person anymore, James."
"He's our only chance," Puck admitted. "Without Talisman here, we have no means of fighting his magic, eh?"
Llan stood behind the Great Beasts; his red eyes glowed like fiery embers of Hell itself. His long, flowing black hair, in the form of a Mohawk could be seen like a ripple through the snow, into a void of utter blackness. Shaman sat down, closed his eyes, and called gently for his grandfather to guide him…
Kariooq swatted Snowbird away. "I know not who you are, one who takes form of our greatest foe – but you will find that even weakened, Kariooq the Corruptor is more than a match for you!"
"Behold!" Snowbird shouted, as she took her true form once again. "I am indeed daughter to your ancient enemy – my mother! Daughter of Nelvanna of the Northern Lights, made flesh again!"
"Flesh corrupts," Kariooq boomed. He appeared to be a giant, skeletal figure, towering over forty feet tall. Flesh, composed of rotten meat, turned green from disease and decay, clung to the bones, held together by the sickness that formed Kariooq the Corrupter. His teeth were yellow fangs of death, carrying thousands of diseases, and a million more ways to die ever so painfully. His yellow eyes were the color of the sun, yet somehow seemed to lack the light of it. His skeletal hand fixed itself around Snowbird. "And flesh that I can touch, I can corrupt!"
"Not now," Snowbird howled. A white light formed around her, and Kariooq howled, releasing his hold upon her while grasping his wrist, staring at the burning of his decaying flesh.
"How is that possible?"
Snowbird smiled, "The purity of my son flows through me! His power is mine! I know who I am! What I am! And my purpose! I am Daughter of Nelvanna of the Northern Lights – and I am your destruction!"
"Come sister!" Northstar shouted. "If we can do nothing against Somon, then let us find use elsewhere!"
"Que ferons-nous le frère?" Aurora asked, taking to the air. "With our speed, sister, we can bring the snow up and about Tolamaq the Firestorm!"
Twins, separated at birth, Northstar and Aurora could not be further apart when it came to personalities. Their parents had died in an automobile accident when they were young infants. Their mother's cousins, who sadly also passed away, had adopted Northstar. Northstar was then moved into a foster home.
He grew up a lost and very bitter child, more so when his mutant powers began to show themselves. It wasn't until Northstar met Raymonde Belmonde that Northstar finally found peace. Raymonde had been a good friend in the beginning, but their relationship developed to be so much more. Within one another's company they found something in common. A bond stronger than friendship formed, as they became intimate lovers. As an infant, a hyper-religious school in Quebec raised Aurora. Extremely nervous and introverted to the point of suicide, she found her mutant powers of flight, which she believed to be a miracle of God. When she had tried to explain her powers back then, she was severely beaten and disciplined. Unfortunately, in order to deal with everything – this incident created a separate identity within Aurora's mind, and created a split personality within her. One was prim, proper, repressed while the other was an uninhibited extrovert, who exuded sexuality. Each persona seemed to hate the other, and it often switched during times of great anger, fear or stress.
World apart when it came to personalities, for being twins; but when it came to matters of the heart, there were few as close as these two.
With blinding speeds, they circled around Tolomaq, the Fiery Storm. The Great Beast howled in protest, hurling balls of flame that hissed against the white snow.
Rising higher and higher, the twins created a controlled tornado, the vacuum within the center pulled Tolomaq's weakened form apart.
Kariooq the Corrupter batted Snowbird away. "Away from me half goddess!"
Vindicator and Guardian swooped in, emitting their electro-magnetic blasts, assaulting Kariooq, who like Tolomaq, hated the ice, for it weakened him. Portions of rotted flesh blasted away. "Curse you humans," Kariooq boomed. "One touch and I will rot you away!"
"Touching us," Guardian smiled beneath his mask, "is the problem!"
"You are like gnats to me," Kariooq boomed. "Eventually I will hit you, and when I do, death will my touch bring!"
Snowbird flew past Kariooq and struck Kolomaq. Kolomaq turned, angered, and unleashed a massive downpour of snow, which Snowbird evaded all too easily.
However the snowfall found a new target.
Kariooq screamed, then fell silent, as the snow buried him, silencing him.
Tundra advanced forward on Northstar and Aurora who were preoccupied fighting Kolomaq. However, Tundra's movement did not go unnoticed.
Guardian pointed. "He's heading for the others. We have to stop him."
"How?" Vindicator asked. "He's so massive."
"We both have our suits, which operate on electro-magnetic pulses," Guardian explained. "If we fly within the center…"
"Then create opposing magnets," Vindicator finished Guardian's sentence.
They clasped hands, for the idea sounded as if it would work – but against such magical beasts, the simple law of physics did not always apply to them.
Together they entered Tundra's massive form. Immediately they were cloaked in the blackness of dirt, mud, grime, and fungus that made up Tundra's form. With a squeeze of their hands, they give the signal, for they knew, submerged within Tundra they would be unable to speak.
And within Tundra's form, there were suddenly two opposing magnets of incredible force.
The result.
An explosion of sand, mud, grime, and fungus.
When it all settled, Tundra stood no more.
"We're doing it," Guardian smiled. "We're doing it. We're acting as a team and we're winning!"
Snowbird landed in front of Somon. "It's over. The battle is done. You are defeated."
"Both Tanaraq and I still stand!" Somon boomed.
Snowbird reached into the chest of Somon and pulled out a black sphere, which quickly faded.
Somon's shocked gaze looked at Snowbird, as he collapsed to his knees. The essence of magical life ebbed from his eyes, until they were empty sockets of blackness.
Snowbird took to the sky and threw this at Kolomaq. Slowly the blackness over came the Beast, who howled in protest, before collapsing forward, lifeless as its leader.
All eyes turned to the orange beast, Tanaraq, who resembled the orange form of Sasquatch. Several thundering punches from Northstar, and the Great Beast toppled forward.
Llan boomed with laughter as he faced Shaman on a magical plane.
"You have no hope of defeating me," Llan boasted. "I am all that is evil and corruption!"
Shaman traced the ceremonial painting on his cheek. "I have faced the likes of you and others who have made that claim." (1
Shaman stood. "Llan, you terrorized the world once. I will see to it that you will never do so again. If a spell can not contain you, then I shall place you somewhere, for which there is no escape for you." (19)
Llan's fiery fists seemed to grow in brightness. "Shaman, you are half the power of your great grandfather."
Shaman looked up with a carefree smile. "Your taunting shall not prevail this time, Llan. I am well aware of what you are capable of. I shall not be coaxed into making a mistake."
"You already made one, Shaman," Llan boomed as he advanced, "the moment you foolishly challenged me one on one!"
"Alone?" Shaman reached into his pouch. "I never made any such claim!" Within his hand he pulled out a staff, with small carvings.
"A totem pole?" Llan laughed. "What will you do? Keep me at bay with your Indian magic?"
"No," Shaman smiled, as the totem pole expanded and came apart into five individual pieces. The first piece was a humanoid hawk, which took to the air. Its wooden claws raked at Llan's eyes.
The second and third pieces were men with giant weapons. They attacked Llan's legs, battering them with might far beyond their small demeanor.
The third and fourth totem seemed to be made up of a rope like substance, continuously entangling Llan's legs. The fifth totem was what appeared to be a shark; however, it burrowed into the ground, as if it were water. With a small pinch of dust, Shaman brought upon Llan a storm made of sand, gravel and pebbles.
"These are annoyances!" Llan shouted, his fiery fists clutching one of the totems and igniting it.
"They are just that," Shaman admitted, "but they have served their purpose. They have bought me time."
"Time?" Llan laughed. He encased Shaman within a circle of flame. With a gesture of Shaman's hands, the flames dispersed as if they were nothing more than sparks.
"What?" Llan shouted. "That's impossible!"
"Not really," Shaman smiled. "You spent all your magical energy fighting the totems and the sand storm. Boasting of your powers, as you have often done. But all the while, you were growing weaker. Your magic is bound to the Earth. Outside of it, just as I had surmised, you were growing weaker. Wasting your magical powers showing off and fighting the totems, you have expended most of your magical energy. Your body is a host of magical energy, for which there is no way for it to regain its charge. You can't even leave this plane now, for you're too weak. Your boasting kept you from realizing you were quickly weakening." (20)
Shaman made a gesture. "Do you recognize this place now?"
Trees bent over backwards, as if made of rubber bands. Llan's eyes focused on the door. "What? You? You teleported us here? Damn you Shaman! Damn you."
"You first," Shaman smiled, as the door opened and light from beyond poured in. "The Gateway of Day!" (21)
Llan shouted, screamed, but when the blinding illumination was over, Llan was gone. All that remained was a small, stone, statue with a circular head, small red fangs and a tooth necklace, sitting in a chair.
Shaman took the small figure, snapped the head off and threw it into the Gateway of Day. Sitting in front of it, he closed his eyes, muttered the words of magic, and the door sealed itself once more.
He looked at the remaining portion of the statue, and placed it in his pouch, where it would be lost forever within the dimension within.
Shaman clenched his fist. "And so it ends with you."
Northstar landed in front of the orange, unconscious form of Tanaraq. "I don't understand," he looked up. "Why is he here when the others have disappeared?"
"My magic," Shaman replied, as he suddenly stood up, "locks him here, rather than returning him to the Realm of Banishment, where the others have been cast."
"What do you plan to do with him?" Northstar asked, itching the back of his head. "Surly we can not keep him caged."
"We won't need to," Snowbird replied, as she landed next to Northstar, followed by Aurora, Vindicator and Guardian. Puck itched his chin, thoughtfully, "Have something in mind, eh?"
"My mother," Snowbird began, "has returned me to the mortal flesh, yet retaining my powers of a demigoddess. That leaves Walter unaccounted for, his spirit held right now by my mother."
"You mean to place Walter's spirit within the Great Beast?"
Puck asked, shocked. "Isn't that what happened before, when Tanaraq took over Walter's body?" (22)
"No," Shaman touched Taranaq's forehead. "This time we will expel Taranaq's essence to the Realm of Banishment, with the other Great Beasts, but we shall use his body to house Walter's soul."
"Sort of the way we did with Box, eh?" Puck asked, recalling those memories. (23)
"Yes," Shaman replied, looking at Puck.
"Will he be able to transform back into Walter?" Aurora asked, horrified at the idea of Walter stuck in the massive orange form.
"If everything goes according to plan," Shaman replied, "then yes."
"I don't understand how?" Puck admitted.
"Come, you will see," Shaman replied and sprinkled soft, blue dust.
In a blink of the eye, the team of Alpha Flight slipped through time and space. The eyes adjusted to the raging storm.
"We're here again?" Puck asked looking around.
"Yes," Shaman nodded. "The Eye of the World." (24)
The preternatural cold shivered their bones.
"Mon Dieu," Aurora gasped. "And look, the rubble form of Walter's body still lies here!"
"Like a policeman's outline," Northstar added under his
breath. He turned to Shaman, "I don't understand how this will help any!"
"You will," Shaman nodded, as he crossed his legs, and slowly floated into the air. "In due time."
Shaman slowly floated upward and above Walter's rubble form. Taranaq was placed next to Walter's former body. Shaman raised his two hands upward. "Shakak, who rules this realm so cold; god of ancient winters, god of ages old; I cast you aside, and grant passage to Yanauluha; first shaman of the people of the land; I grant him permission to pass; and the consequences of those gathered, understand; come Yanauluha, and raise the spirit of one lost, into the body of one gained; so that order may be sustained!"
A light poured out from Shaman's hands and raced towards the heavens.
A golden arch, a bridge between the mortal world and the heavens.
Slowly, a figure emerged on the bridge.
"What do you seek, Shaman?"
"To fix that which was unjustly destroyed through deception," Shaman replied.
"Injustice?" the spirit asked. "And how might I help?"
"You are a priest of the gods," Shaman replied. "With your help what was done wrong, can be right again."
"And why would I do such a thing?"
"Because in your heart, you are good," Shaman answered.
"And what might you have to offer?"
"A portion of our own lives, in exchange for correcting one who lives, yet without a body," Shaman nodded to the spirit.
"And have you provided a body for this lost soul?"
"We have," Shaman looked to the spirit. "One of the Great Beasts. With the importing of Walter's soul, we shall cast out the Great Beast's soul forever more, as we did earlier this eve."
"I sense you speak the truth," the spirit replied. The spirit looked among Alpha Flight. "And each of you are willing to give a portion of your life for Walter?"
There was no answer, but the determination in their eyes painted a clear portrait.
"Then so be it," the spirit replied. "What is it you shall do?"
"The spirit of Walter is currently being held by Narya's mother," Shaman explained. "When she returned Narya's essence into her original body, which Walter was inhabiting, she catapulted Walter's soul from the body and held tightly to it. She informed Snowbird that her time on Earth was not yet done, as they had first believed, and with much sadness cast her daughter back to the realm of mortals. During the battle with the Great Beasts, she informed Narya of her plan – that if we could capture Taranaq, who was once bonded with Walter – that we might be able to expel Taranaq's soul and replace it with Walter's. However, in order for it to work, we needed something with Walter's essence… something strong and powerful, to overwhelm and force Taranaq from the body. So we have returned here, where you can see the rubble form of Walter's body. We plan to use it, as well as our own life force, to drive Taranaq out from the body and replace it with Walter's."
"Then let it begin," the spirit replied.
Shaman closed his eyes and began chanting the recital.
The spirit stood above Shaman, waving its arms, joining Shaman in the chorus of the chant.
Below, the other members of Alpha Flight formed a circle around the two bodies, hand within hand. Slowly, a light slipped from their eyes, and spiraled around Shaman and the spirit.
Shaman tilted his head upward, and shouted, "Now!"
Beams of light shot forth from Shaman's eyes, piercing the dark heavens.
For a brief moment, it appeared as if all existence ceased.
There was nothing but a white light.
Then the rubble body of Walter began to shake and shiver, crumbling to dust.
The dust caught up in the spiral, entwined itself with the ebbing life force of the members of Alpha Flight. Then suddenly skyrocketed straight up, then straight down into Taranaq's body. The Great Beast howled, its back arching upward, then collapsing, and all there was after that… was silence. The members of Alpha Flight collapsed, and the darkness resumed.
Snowbird was the first to awaken. She moved to Shaman's side and gently awoke him. "Did it work?"
Shaman turned to Taranaq's body. "We won't know until he regains consciousness."
As if on cue, the orange form stood and roared, falling quickly to its hands and knees. "What," the voice behind the orange beast stammered, "what happened to me?"
Shaman smiled. "Walter?"
The orange beast looked up, "Michael?" He looked at his hands. "I'm orange again! I'm not some ball of light! That's twice that's happened to me!" (25)
He paused. "But if that's Snowbird and she's in my body, then whose body am I in?"
"Taranaq," Shaman explained.
"The Great Beast?" Sasquatch blinked.
"Yes," Shaman answered with the gentle nod of his head.
"Can I shape back to my human form?" Walter asked.
"With the dust of your former body, implanted within Taranaq's," Shaman gestured to where Walter's body had formerly laid. "In time, yes. It will take much practice, like a babe learning to walk again."
"I suppose that's better than nothing," Sasquatch cheered. He looked around, "So what did I miss?"
The other members of Alpha Flight slowly awoke; the first to hug him was Aurora. "Walter, I am so glad to see you!"
Shaman looked at Snowbird. "We are whole once again, Narya."
"Yes, Michael," Snowbird smiled. "We are."
TO BE CONTINUED IN ALPHA FLIGHT #2!
1. There have been a number of errors to Shaman's last name. Per Marvel's Alpha Flight #1, Volume One – his last name is Twoyoungmen, not Twoyoungman as it is sometimes referred to.
2. What he is feeling is Doctor Strange's spells being shattered, due to the events of Alternate Marvel's Defenders #10-12.
3. Marvel's stunning tale in Alpha Flight #106.
4. Department M now houses the members of Beta Flight (Goblyn, Pathway, Manikin, Persuasion, Talisman, and Witchfire, being trained by Windshear, among other possible super humans from Canada. They formerly trained Radius and Flex, both of which disappeared – see Alternate Marvel's Uncanny X-Men #347 and #353 for more on their fate!)
5. Yes, true believer! That was Walter… but now it's Snowbird? Confused!? Don't be! Keep reading… all will be explained – not enough room down here to go into its lengthy history!
6. Once again, see Alternate Marvel's Defenders #10-12!
7. This is in reference to the Devil's Night cross over!
8. Snowbird was killed in Marvel's Alpha Flight #44
9. Not to be confused with Pestilence who served Apocalypse. This Pestilence was far more evil and twisted. The events Snowbird is talking about happened in Marvel's Alpha Flight #45, when her body in
the form of Sasquatch rose from the grave!
10. Another fine reference to Marvel's Alpha Flight #44 (get the feeling this issue will be reference a lot?)
11. And of course she would be right. Snowbird returned once more in spirit form to protect the Earth, when the Great Beasts appeared during Marvel's Alpha Flight #64.
12. Sure enough this happened as well, in Marvel Alpha Flight #68
13. Thought all she could do was take artic animal form? No! Snowbird also possesses the psychic ability that enables her to `replay' a recent past (up to 6 hours, postcognation). She also has a mental ability to compel others to aid her in her struggle against the Great Beasts! Now you know why she was buying her time talking so much – she summoned Alpha Flight to aid her! Most notably the power of suggestion to aid Snowbird was used on Northstar in Marvel's Alpha Flight #24.
14. Lilian Crawley discovered a lump in her breast in Marvel's Alpha Flight #94. The operation took place in Marvel's Alpha Flight #101
15. Lilian Crawley, as Diamond Lil, was a part of Omega Flight; a team formed by Mr. Jaxon, seeking revenge on James Hudson.
16. Llan the Sorcerer indeed made that prediction upon his defeat in Marvel's Alpha Flight #86.
17. Doctor Strange helped defeat Llan the Sorcerer in Marvel's Alpha Flight #86. The break in magic Llan is referring to is due to injuries Doctor Strange received in Alternate Marvel's Defenders #10-12. (Not that I keep hinting that you should read that, or anything!)
18. One such person would be Pestilence (not to be confused with the Pestilence from Apocalypse's horsemen). See Marvel's Alpha Flight #37 for the Origin of the Pestilence that brought so much trouble to Alpha Flight!
19. Llan terrorized the world during Marvel's Alpha Flight #71 thru #86.
20. Llan the Sorcerer, as Talisman noted in Marvel's Alpha Flight #86, tends to overly boast about his power, as if he always has something to prove.
21. The Gateway of Day was the same thing that Llan was defeated with original in Marvel's Alpha Flight #86.
22. This happened in Marvel's Alpha Flight #23, in which Snowbird was forced to rip out the heart of Walter while he was in his Sasquatch form.
23. This happened in Marvel's Alpha Flight #24, true believer!
24. Ironically, Alpha Flight traveled here to try and save Walter's body in Marvel's Alpha Flight #24, however they failed, and the body crumbled.
25. When Walter was killed by Snowbird, he was trapped in the Shattered Lands of the Great Beasts as a ball of light in Marvel's Alpha Flight #24.
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Originally Posted by Tawmis
