Hotshot's Crusade
by Ben Church
All major characters are the property of Marvel Comics. Except Hotshot who
is owned by the author.
Chapter 3
Hotshot stood and watched from a distance as Dr. Strange and MoonDragon
monitored the infidels' activities. It had been decided to use magical, rather
than technological means to spy on them, for magic was not as easily detected.
Growing bored, he had seen no sign of Jubilee, he returned to the computer.
Although he'd been forbidden to use the computer to watch the Earth's
forces, he'd been instructed to monitor the Goddess' progress. The war between
the Shi'ar and the Skrull empires had already been ended. He smiled. "I love
a happy ending." he thought.
"Stark has a new model of Quinjet ready for Avengers' use." Iron Man said,
as preparations continued for the attack on the Goddess and her followers.
"There are two prototypes, and they're exactly what we're going to need."
She Hulk said.
"It sounds as if it has already been decided how we intend to deal with
this so-called Goddess." Professor Xavier interjected. "But I for one am not
100% certain she should be treated as a menace."
Jubilee was stunned when she heard Professor Xavier say that. His own
students were missing, and he wasn't sure?
"Sir, security has picked up a possible incoming hostile on radar."
reported one of the security guards.
"All right!" Jubilee said smiling. "I am so ready to vent some hostility!"
"That's the Absorbing Man!" Iron Man said. "He's a powerhouse but he's
sure picked a bad time to take on the Avengers!"
"Yes," Hulk grinned. "And he's in for one rather large shock!"
"It'll be a massacre." Jubilee thought as the Absorbing Man dropped down
from the skylight.
"Hey, Muscles," said the Hulk. "Who would you like to take a crack at
first?"
"I'm afraid you don't understand." the Absorbing man protested, looking
shamefully at the huge group of heroes arrayed against him. "I didn't come here
to fight. I came to surrender."
"Great." Jubilee said. "What does a girl need to do to get some action
around here?"
Hotshot heard a shout behind him, and turned to find Sleepwalker fading
away.
"Sister MoonDragon! Look!" Thor shouted. "Brother Sleepwalker is fading
away!"
"Why is he deserting us?" MoonDragon asked, dismayed.
"Well his name's Sleepwalker," Hotshot remarked. "Maybe he woke up."
"What we have to decide among ourselves is how and if we are going to take
action against this Goddess." Reed said.
"It's about time somebody got the ball rolling." Jubilee said.
"You're damn right Squirt." Hulk agreed. "I don't care if she is the
embodiment of all good. I like having free will."
"I'm reluctant to automatically brand her a peril just because she's using
techniques we don't agree with." Xavier said. "The results the Goddess is
achieving far exceed any success we ever enjoyed using our current methods of
operation."
"Interfering with her plan might prove a grave error." Spider Woman agreed.
"But even if she is a force for good," Beast said. "How can we be sure
that good is truly in the best interest of the universe? Religious fervor has
been known to lead mankind down some pretty disastrous paths in the past."
"But what if she is carrying out the will of some supreme being beyond our
comprehension?" Guardian insisted.
"Could not our well intended blundering cause more harm than anything the
Goddess might do?"
Hulk finally lost his temper. "Give me a break!" He slammed his hand down
on the table, smashing his glass. "That's just the kind of fuzzy-headed thinking
I'd expect from a telepath! Maybe we ought to start wondering if your not among
the Goddess' chosen few!"
Pip, who had been silent up till now decided to say his piece. "You know
the chances are this Goddess is probably one of the good guys. After all, the
Magus was Adams evil male side."
"What the Devil are you muttering about, Troll?" Hulk growled.
"Well, when Warlock was God he expelled all good and evil from himself.
I seen it happen in the Infinity Well. That's how the Magus came to be. Didn't
you guys know that? This Goddess sounds like she's got to be Adam's Good
Feminine side. It was probably her that ripped off the Magus' Cosmic Containment
Units."
"Those are the trinkets Warlock's bad side nearly did in the entire
universe a few months ago.
"You don't figure Warlock's mixed up in this mess," Speedball asked. "Do
you?"
"Could be." Iron Man said.
"I never did trust the guy far as I could throw him. I see no reason to
trust his female side either."
"Are we willing to make such a sacrifice even to gain peace throughout the
galaxy?" Reed said, ending all speculation. "Whether she be saint or sinner, the
bottom line is that by not opposing the Goddess' plans we would in effect be
surrendering the universe's free will." He looked around at the faces of the now
silent heroes. "This debate has continued long enough." he continued. "The time
has come for us to decide on a course of action; a vote must be taken. The
majority is going to have to rule in this matter. It's the only way to avoid
chaos."
"I agree, but I ask that the vote be postponed long enough for me to
approach MoonDragon telepathically." commented the Professor.
"That's the Prof." Wolverine commented. "Always the peacemaker." For a
long time, there was silence. Then without warning, Xavier screamed and
collapsed.
"That enough proof for you?" Jubilee said angrily. The vote was unanimous.
Preparations began immediately.
On Paradise Omega, preparations for a first strike against the unchosen
were well under way. Hotshot felt a twinge of doubt when he saw the size of the
bomb that Hercules and Wonder Man were carrying, but quickly suppressed it.
MoonDragon entered the room after conferring with the Goddess.
"Dr. Strange, you may now open the mystic portal to Avengers' Headquarters.
The rest of you..ready for battle!"
Hotshot sighed. "I'd hoped it wouldn't come to this."
When the portal opened, he rushed through with the others.
"Let there be Holy War!" MoonDragon shouted.
"Jihad! Blasphemers!" Hotshot shouted. "Infidels! Now you...aren't
here."
"They must have departed after we terminated our mystic surveillance!" Dr.
Strange said.
"If they're not here," MoonDragon said fearfully. "That means that they're
on their way to Paradise Omega!"
"Do'h!" Hotshot said.
"Long range sensors are not picking up any activity." Reed said to Iron Man
over the radio. "Which means the folks on Paradise Omega are unaware of our
presence, Iron Man."
"Those adjustments you did to the cloaking system appear to have done the
trick, Reed." Iron Man praised.
"But what happens when we come into visual range?" Vision asked.
"Hopefully, Vision," Reed replied. "We can get planetside so fast they
won't have time to prepare an adequate defense against us."
"Even unprepared, I'm afraid the Goddess' worshippers will prove a most
dangerous opponent." Iron Man said.
"Yes," Reed agreed sadly. "We'll be facing our former friends and allies
in a no-holds-barred battle."
"Plus they'll be fired by the belief that they battle in God's name."
Interjected Forge.
"Fatalities on both sides will be hard to avoid." Iron Man predicted.
Jubilee's blood froze when she heard this. Silently, she vowed that no
matter what happened, she would not kill Hotshot. Suddenly a voice behind her
froze it even more.
"Perhaps I can aide in minimizing your during the upcoming confrontation."
Thanos said. He went on to explain that he had planned a diversion that would
allow them to get to Paradise Omega, and hopefully on the surface. They in turn
would be a diversion for his own attack against the Goddess. He refused to
explain his attack, but he told Reed that the details of his diversion would be
in the computer.
"Why don't I trust this guy?" Jubilee muttered.
"Because Jubilation." Namor said. "He is not to be trusted.
Another unexpected shout caught Hotshot's attention soon after they
returned.
"I return to you, my Goddess!" Sleepwalker said, as he emerged from his
portal.
"And just in the nick of time, Sleepwalker!" MoonDragon said. "The cause
is in need of your bizarre talents! Our enemies near and must be destroyed!"
Once again, Hotshot joined Madrox at the computer, scanning for their
enemies while Dr. Strange searched mystically. Hotshot and Madrox were secretly
trying to find them before Strange did. A sort of competition.
Jubilee looked incredulously at the plan that Thanos had set forth. Silver
Surfer would charge himself almost to the point of overload, then Hulk and Drax
were to steer him into the moon of Paradise Omega. The energy signature would
also cause interference in the computers on Paradise Omega.
"Sister MoonDragon, the instrumentation is going crazy!" Hotshot called in
dismay, his screen crackling with static.
"The computers say solar flare activity has knocked out most of our long
range scanning capabilities!" Madrox confirmed. "We're flying blind!"
"This must be our enemy's doing!" MoonDragon said.
"No shit Sherlock." Hotshot said. "Wait, how could they cause this?"
"It matters not! All personnel, prepare to stave off a major assault!"
"Why are we always shouting all the time?" Hotshot thought.
"The core of the energy phenomenon is headed directly at us!" Madrox said,
astounded.
"It's what?" Hotshot asked incredulously.
"Can the computer identify the disturbance?" MoonDragon asked.
"No way! All the readings have shot way past the redline! We're in big
trouble!"
Moondragon's eyes looked distant for a moment, she was obviously communing
with the Goddess. Then she awoke. "We're on our own, my friends! Thor,
teleport immediately to Station 7! Those manning the defensive screen, fire on
anything that moves!"
"Except Thor." Hotshot said.
"I must ask you to postpone your levity for now Brother Hotshot."
MoonDragon said.
"Sure no problem."
"30 seconds to impact!" Madrox yelled.
"Sister MoonDragon," Hotshot said. "The satellite defense system has
visual contact with the incoming. It's the Silver Surfer!"
"Have all firepower directed at him."
"Satellites report that the fusillade appears to have no effect on the
target."
"Invisible Girl! Crystal! Brace for impact or get out of there!" Hotshot
shouted. Through the speaker he heard the sound of a tremendous explosion.
"We've got a hull breach!" Crystal's voice shouted over the radio. "I'm
going to--Arrghh!" Another smaller explosion sounded.
"Invisible Girl to Cahtedral..get us out of here..Now!" As they appeared
on the platform, a dupe and Aurora went to their aid.
"Satellite defense inoperable." Madrox said. "System automatically
releasing space mines."
"That wont slow our adversaries down for long." MoonDragon said. "Reroute
our resources to plan B!"
*All personnel prepare to defend against ground assault.*
"It's all you Madrox." Hotshot said, giving him a high-five to create
another dupe to fill in for him.
Then he, and Namorita teleported to one of the sights to await their prey. (
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