"Thy Name is Pain" By Jorge Martinez

Last Issue Recap: RedEye has left the team to hunt down the villain BlackWulf who has killed Captain Photon leader of the Crusaders. The other Crusaders waged a deadly battle against Nuclear Man a powerful foe and former member. They were saved by another powerful foe and former member Mentor who killed the deadly Nuclear Man! Black Bug actually broke Mentor out of prison so he can save the team and must now face the music. Got all of that? Didn't think so. Read on.

HARLEM

The sharp shooting hero known as RedEye sits in his room looking out the window from the dive motel he is staying at. He does not flinch or blink for that matter. He has been there hours. His cyborg eye makes a whizzing sound.

REDEYE: Bingo!

The hero has his eyes on a large black man across the street entering another dive. The man is BlackWulf. Long time nemesis of the deceased Captain Photon. He has long hair past his shoulder and gray streaks run through it.

REDEYE:(to self) That bastard is mine! I had many chances to kill him over the years but didn't because being a Crusader forbade it! But after he slaughtered Captain Photon I really don't care if the team kicks me out!

RedEye sits back and relaxes.

REDEYE:(to self) Look at him. Making dinner like he has no worries. That man hasn't changed his look since the seventies! He's a disco icon for goodness sakes. Disco died and so will he.

CRUSADER HEADQUATERS/ MANHATTAN

The Infirmary

Pendragon stands there still in full armor. He watches as the doctors treat his fallen comrades.

PENDRAGON:(to self) I am leader for days and the team already is cut in half. Missy, Daystar, and Syrus have all suffered radiation poisoning. Greywolf has some broken ribs. Jupiter is highly unstable with his electricity coursing all around him. And BlackBug...well he is probably the most messed up. He broke Mentor out of prison to save us. A stupid thing to do but the only way he can save his friends! The UN is going to want some action taken! I have to make a decision.

MS. AMERICA: Stop brooding over there Pendragon! I thought we all would be dead by now! So you should be happy.

Her real name is Melissa. Few call her Missy, very few. She used to be a gorgeous heroine with long crimson hair and a sexy costume. Till the cyborg Kain tortured her. She changed after that. Becoming harder and losing any prettiness she had possessed! Now she sports crimson buzzed locks instead of a long free flowing mane. They wonder if it was the torture or the drugs that she owes her powers to that have made her so bitter.

PENDRAGON: Yes Missy I know that.

DAYSTAR: Don't worry leader man! We shall overcome! I have never been so scared in my life!

Daystar newest member of the Crusaders. Little brother to the dead Captain Photon. He is much more powerful than Photon but much less experienced. Yet, he is destined to be great.

GREYWOLF: Neither have I.

Also one of the younger members. Son of the villain BlackWulf, arch enemy of Captain Photon. He decided to avoid the road his father took and be a hero. Currently, he is teammates with the younger brother of Captain Photon the greatest Crusader ever. His father recently killed Photon and he knows there is a dislike between himself and Daystar. He wishes there wasn't.

PENDRAGON: Well troops here is where we are. Jupiter is out. I don't know what happened to him but it's going to take time for him to heal. If he can that is. His body was ripped open releasing his energies. He is in the intensive unit.

MS.AMERICA: I guess he wasn't as tough as he thought.

PENDRAGON: Missy, that wasn't nice. Syrus, the Elemental is gone. He will return but he needs to recuperate his own way he said.

DAYSTAR: Probably sucking the sap of some tree.(to self) That wasn't funny.

PRENDRAGON: SuperNova is fine. A few bruises is all. But the whole experience left her a bit shocked. She is in her quarters now. BlackBug has.....

The usually comical BlackBug enters the room. He is somber unlike his injured teammates.

DAYSTAR: Bug, why the long face? You saved all of us! If it wasn't for you we'd be dead.

BLACKBUG: Yeah, I know. But I broke Mentor out of jail to do it! He is more dangerous than Nuclear Man.

MS. AMERICA: Not even close boy! You did the right thing. They are both almost unbeatable. But the only one who could beat Nuclear Man was Mentor! And Mentor is not as deranged as Nuclear Man who was an animal.

PENDRAGON: I wonder when we will be finished fighting former Crusaders?

MS.AMERICA: Well Mentor is the only one left of the old team that isn't dead or reformed.

BLACK BUG: What about me? Am I going to jail now?

PENDRAGON: Not if I can help it!

BLACK BUG: But I beat up three guards.

PENDRAGON: What?!

MS. AMERICA: Well how else was he supposed to break Mentor out, Dragon!

DAYSTAR:(to self)Oh man.

GREYWOLF: Does anyone know where RedEye is?

The Intensive Unit

The self appointed King Jupiter lays near comatose in a large glass bubble that is keeping his energies stable. The doctors have left him there to observe him.

KING JUPITER:(to self) I lay here dying. Damn Syrus for being immortal. As much as I wished it wasn't so, I can die. I am close to dying now! No! I mustn't think that way. I...I. am but a mortal weakling as I was before.

Jupiter lays there and then he senses something. A woman's voice enters his head.

SPHYNX: (telepathy) What is wrong my love? You seem so....weak.

KING JUPITER:(telepathy)No! I am not weak. Sphynx is that you? Your voice is as beautiful as your face.

SPHYNX: I thought you to be a god. Was I mistaken?

KING JUPITER: I know not. I am fading. I took an awful beating.....

SPHYNX: Those are not the words of one worthy of myself! Jupiter I thought so much of you.

KING JUPITER: Be quiet woman! I am King Jupiter and I will not be treated as otherwise.

He closes his eyes and concentrates. The energies around him begin to calm down. His wounds are healed. He breaks out of his containment bubble!

KING JUPITER:(telepathy) There do you see my Queen. I am my own master! I can never be beaten. Not even by the Nuclear Man.

SPHYNX:(telepathy) He was a powerful being worthy of your challenge. But Mentor beat him not you?

KING JUPITER:(telepathy) Woman how much more do you plan to shame me? Though you sway my heart I will be quick to remember your evil ways!

SPHYNX:(telepathy) Evil? Jupiter answer me this? Do you think the worthy should rule? Because I do. And there are none worthier than I. Your Crusader friends are weak. They do not fix all the injustices among us. They simply do what the mortals tell them! I think I saw false promise in you. Now I see you are but a mortal!

KING JUPITER:(telepathy) Was a mortal! And I will prove too you I am much more now!

He storms out of the intensive unit and through the infirmary.

PENDRAGON: What is that noise? Not another attack?!

BLACKBUG: No, it's Jupiter. He seems fine, too!

DAYSTAR:(to self) Amazing. We thought he was the one worst off and look at him! He's unscratched now!

PENDRAGON: Jupiter, wait! Where are you going?

KING JUPITER: I have something to attend to, Pendragon! Is there a problem with that?

PENDRAGON: No, I am just glad to see you healed.

KING JUPITER: I am healed because I wished it so! Now I must leave! Good day.

MS. AMERICA: I'm am telling you that man is heading toward the same road as Mentor and Nuclear Man! Too powerful for his own good!

GREYWOLF: I wonder if he knew he was naked?

PARAMEDIC: Hey, there some guy on your screen saying he is the UN administrator and wants to talk to someone.

PENDRAGON: Great. BlackBug don't leave the headquarters!

BLACKBUG: Geez, you think I am going to skip town or something?

GREYWOLF:(to self) Things are going downhill. Pendragon has a lot on his plate. Ms. America and Daystar are stuck in the anit-rad room all day. SuperNova an emotional wreck in her room. Syrus probably in his native dimension to heal. BlackBug broke Mentor out of prison! King Jupiter storms out of here a bit suspiciously! RedEye is missing! That is the one that worries me! I have a feeling I know what he is up to.

HARLEM

The villain known as BlackWulf is sitting at a table eating his dinner. He barely takes anytime as he stuff another spoonful of food in his mouth. Suddenly, he stops staring straight ahead as if in a dream state. He jumps vertically into the air as he begins to change into his wolf form as he rips through the ceiling.

On the roof is RedEye thrown down as BlackWulf lands over him.

BLACKWULF: You thought you were going to get me! No one gets the Wulf man! No one!

As he reaches back to slash RedEye he stops.

BLACKWULF: Wait! I'm no fool! Your kind don't run solo! The others are here! I can't sense them but they are waiting aren't they! Tell them to catch me!

The large bestial man runs away!

REDEYE:(to self) Damn! I sprayed something to hide my odor but I was too loud! He heard me. He almost had me there! BlackWulf assumes the rest of the team is after him that will work to my advantage! That is if I can keep up with him!

OVER THE ATLANTIC

The Crusader known as King Jupiter speeds over the water. His destination is Egypt where he will meet with Sphynx a enemy of the Crusaders. But King Jupiter has grown quite fond of her as of late despite her checkered past which involves an attempt at world domination.

A few hundred meters behind is the mysterious Elemental following Jupiter.

ELEMENTAL: Jupiter, has always been different from the rest of my teammates but lately his actions warrant suspicion. He has grown considerably powerful throughout the years. Once a normal man a small thin professor of classical mythology! Lightning struck him one day during a storm and it transformed him. His hair turned white, he became physically superior, and could generate his own lightning. But he has eclipsed himself. He has grown in stature, in strength, and in arrogance! He believes himself to be the incarnation of an ancient god called Zeus. I always have felt a resentment toward myself since I embody the powers of nature. My mother is Gaea herself. Jupiter fancies himself a god! Something we have overlooked over the years but now his secretes and actions cause me distress! The second Crusader team were powerful, too powerful and ended up abusing their status! Jupiter might fall to that temptation!

CENTRAL PARK

Pendragon strolls down the path as civilians point and whisper. He is in full armor except for his helmet thinking the public will react better seeing his face. He forgets the public adores him and all the other Crusaders. But that might change with BlackBug breaking the villain and former Crusader out of prison to assist against the immensely powerful Nuclear Man.

PENDRAGON:(to self) It is nice to take a walk among all these people. If I wasn't in armor I could jog with them and they wouldn't look twice. I could be one of them. Funny, they probably all wish they could be a Crusader! I did many years ago! I even dreamed of being leader. I have fulfilled that dream but not under the circumstances I would have wanted! Captain Photon, the only leader we've ever had was murdered by BlackWulf. Wait, there she is!

Pendragon sees SuperNova his teammate and friend. She sits on the grass. A spot she frequents to enjoy the sun but today she is less than joyful.

PENDRAGON: Gina, you all right?

SUPERNOVA: Pendragon? I am touched you came here looking for me with what is going on. I got beat senseless by the monster that tried to kill me years ago. No problem. Nuclear Man always loved me he said! I was just a girl back then that was unlucky enough to catch the eye of super villain. I was terrified ofcourse. He went berserk because I didn't want him and tried to kill me. Pumped me with radiation. I didn't die ofcourse I was transformed into a superhuman. That made him want me more! Hey came after me saying that it was fate that kept me alive! Fate wanted me to be his bride! Well, I was powerful but no where near his level and with the help of the Crusaders he was defeated!

PENDRAGON: Yeah, then we asked you to join and you accepted. I remember like it was yesterday. We fought Nuclear Man a few more times barely beating him each time but.....

SUPERNOVA: Wait a second! Your the one that promoted me for membership! You had a crush on me remember?

PENDRAGON: Had?

SUPERNOVA: You were the youngest Crusader back then! All hormones!

PENDRAGON: So I guess your all right?

SUPERNOVA: Yeah. I've been through much like the rest of us. It's just the last few days....

PENDRAGON: Have been hell. Photon died! I am still in shock over that! I become leader, RedEye quits, Nuclear Man almost kills us all, Black Bug breaks Mentor out of prison! Things haven't settled but when they do it's going to be bad! I mean we are lucky the public loves us all. The original team of Crusaders back in the sixties all died heroes except for Mentor! Who later formed his own team which Nuclear Man was a part of. They ofcourse became corrupt and Captain Photon formed us to stop them.

SUPERNOVA: I thought Missy formed you all?

PENDRAGON: As Ms. America the government told Missy she was responsible to form a team to beat the Crusaders. She did the smart thing and went to Photon. He ran things from there! He found Syrus, Jupiter, and myself. We beat the second incarnation of Crusaders and became the third team to call oursevles Crusaders. We assumed the title and brought it back to glory! Thanks to Captain Photon! But whenever Mentor or Nuclear Man came back we had to stop them quickly because it was our dark past coming to haunt us!

SUPERNOVA: Well, you don't have to worry about Nuclear Man he's dead! Thanks to Mentor. That makes things easier for me atleast!

PENDRAGON: Not for me! We failed and had to have Mentor bail us out! Now the public will question us! Question Black Bug's motives! The UN asked for me to kick him off the team! If I don't they will arrest him.

SUPERNOVA: What?! They can't do that!

PENDRAGON: Yes , they can. I asked them if I captured Mentor quickly would they just drop the Black Bug situation. They ordered me to go after Mentor anyway ASAP and to lose Black Bug for public relation reasons.

SUPERNOVA: What are you going to do?

PENDRAGON: Don't know yet. I am going to have another problem soon.

SUPERNOVA: What?

PENDRAGON: RedEye. We know why he quit.

SUPERNOVA: To kill BlackWulf. I am glad!

PENDRAGON: Exactly. We are getting too big for our britches! Black Bug releases Mentor to kill Nuclear Man, RedEye hunts down BlackWulf! Where is it going to stop? Then there is Jupiter.

SUPERNOVA: Yeah, he's getting close to losing it!

PENDRAGON: Atleast, we have been expecting it for years! But without Captain Photon around I don't know what to do about it. My instinct is to tell the UN to go to hell and keep Black Bug! They don't have another team to replace us! They have a few Protectors, and some other heroes here and there but they don't rank with us! I then would bring in RedEye before he kills BlackWulf or gets killed himself. Then we confront Jupiter as a team!

SUPERNOVA: Sounds great if everything wasn't so complicated. You don't dump BlackBug they will try to get rid of us! RedEye won't come in without a fight neither will Jupiter! Two guys I wouldn't want mad at me either.

PENDRAGON: C'mon I am going to have a meeting with the members that are currently present.

SUPERNOVA: Fine, don't let a girl enjoy a nice day at the park without a nuclear winter!

PENDRAGON: Hey, I still have a crush on you.

SUPERNOVA: Yeah, but your too busy for me now being leader and all.

PENDRAGON: Rejection hurts.

EGYPT

King Jupiter soars through a cloud but does not come out of it. Syrus, the Elemental has been secretly following his comrade because of his recent, more than usual eccentric behavior.

ELEMENTAL:(to self) Has he noticed me? I have blended myself with the great sky there was no way that...wait inside the cloud I sense a structure. I must enter.

Syrus also enters the cloud. To his amazement a huge pyramid floats within.

ELEMENTAL:(to self) How can this be? An illusion it seems that even tricked me. This is the home of the villainess Sphynx! I do think I know what is happening! I must penetrate the pyramid.

King Jupiter is greeted by servants within the pyramid. They offer him water and grapes. He refuses. She comes out of her chamber. The beautiful Sphynx once his own personal nemesis now they are secrete lovers.

JUPITER: There you are lady! Best not keep me waiting!

SPHYNX: Why? Your leader will ground you? Those Crusaders keep a tight leash on you!

JUPITER: Wouldn't you?

SPHYNX: I shall try.

He takes her in his arms and kisses her deeply. Behind a column hides Syrus blended like a chameleon.

ELEMENTAL:(to self) This cannot be! The Sphynx is his own enemy as well as the Crusaders! She wishes to oppress others so she can rule! Has she lured King Jupiter to divide the world with her. They do make a powerful duo! I...UGH!

Someone strikes Syrus from behind and continues to pummel him. He is stunned by the surprise attack.

KING JUPITER: What is that ruckus?

SPHYNX: I do not know. Guards....

Syrus is thrown in front of the couple by a large muscular brown women with wings. Her name is Harpy.

JUPITER: Syrus, what are you doing here?

HARPY: I found him hiding behind a column. Like a little weasel listening to your conversation!

ELEMENTAL: Who is this that strikes me from the back most cowardly? Harpy? You are the Harpy? But?

HARPY: No blue boy! Not THE Harpy. Her daughter. Mom was criminal once but...

ELEMENTAL: But she later redeemed herself and became a Crusader! Mind you part of a corrupt team but nonetheless reformed!

HARPY: Well, I'm friends with the Sphynx here. She made me realize my full potential.

JUPITER: Syrus, why are you spying on me?

ELEMENTAL: You have been acting strange as of late. And the way you stormed off today I thought it was my responsibility to investigate being your only equal in terms of power on the team!

KING JUPITER: Equal? You believe we are equals?

ELEMENTAL: Well no. But you are powerful enough to challenge me someday.

KING JUPITER: You think you are my better! You think you are a god! You are nothing but a fairy while I am truly a god!

ELEMENTAL: And what are you doing with this villain? Has this temptress...

SPHYNX: None, may address me like that in my home Elemental.

ELEMENTAL: None save I. None of you have the courage to challenge me here and now! The new Harpy is too green to know better and Jupiter might be too arrogant to try. But none will succeed. And when I am finished with them Sphynx I shall come for you!

Jupiter begins to crackle with lightning. His eyes exhibit sparks as he squares off against Syrus.

SPHYNX: No wait! Calm yourself my king. Syrus, honestly though we love each other we do not share the same outlook. Jupiter is a hero and I am not. I do not have his patience for the inferior as you do. This is simply an affair between two deities. He has no plans of betraying his team. Nor I have any plans on ruling the world. I am content with all I have. Please do not judge Jupiter because of his love for me.

ELEMENTAL: I...think I understand Sphynx. But Jupiter, do not think that I will not keep my eye on you! I shall spare you the embarrassment and not tell the others...

KING JUPITER: Why you....

BEEP BEEP BEEP

KING JUPITER: It is the alarm. There is an emergency. My queen I must leave.

SPHYNX: Yes, I'm sure they need you!

ELEMENTAL: Yes, we are the most powerful. I shall get us there quickly even from Egypt.

Jupiter again kisses Sphynx as Syrus gives Harpy a stern look. The two titans leave.

HARPY: You think he bought it?

SPHYNX: No. But he shall remain quiet for now. And the anger broils within Jupiter he shall cut his ties soon. Real soon.

CRUSADERS HEADQUARTERS

GreyWolf, Daystar, and BlackBug run down the hall to the meeting room.

GREYWOLF: Man, we can't even have a meeting without an emergency. This time I'm scared with all that's going on.

DAYSTAR: Nah, I'm sure it's just a cat in a tree or something! Right Black Bug?

BLACKBUG: Yeah, right.

DAYSTAR:(to self) The Bug is really bummed. I'm sure nothing is going to happen to him for breaking Mentor out. I hope.

They enter the meeting room. Pendragon stands with Ms. America to his right. SuperNova is sitting. They all look extremely serious.

PENDRAGON: Everyone please sit down. I do not know where Jupiter or Syrus are but I won't wait for them. We got a call that RedEye and BlackWulf have been trying to kill each other for the last few hours...

GREYWOLF: That fucking bastard! I knew it! I knew he was going to go after BlackWulf. He planned on killing him!

MS. AMERICA: Well he hasn't! Not yet! We have to stop him and capture BlackWulf! We have been through much lately and RedEye killing BlackWulf will make things much worse! We have to bring them both in! Understood?

BLACKBUG: You think RedEye will attack us?

SUPERNOVA: Yes. He is our friend but he will not be stopped.

MS. AMERICA: Gina, really don't be ridiculous. He will not attack us but BlackWulf will....

BLACKBUG: Missy, ever since you left him the man hasn't had much to live for he says...I say we use extreme caution with both.

MS. AMERICA: Why you!

PENDRAGON: Bug, I have to tell you something. You cannot come with us. As of this moment on you are no longer a Crusader. I tried to fight for you. In fact, I'm the only reason they haven't arrested you. They told me if I don't kick you off the team they will arrest you and try to revoke our charter! I'm...sorry.

BLACKBUG: No. This can't be....no, no, no.

PENDRAGON: I'm afraid it is friend. You must also quit being Black Bug or they shall arrest you as well.

DAYSTAR:(to self) The Bug has been showing me the ropes since I started! He saved all of us just yesterday, kept me company today as I went through radiation therapy! I lose my brother now my best friend!

NEXT ISSUE: The Crusaders must find and stop RedEye and BlackWulf from killing each other! Is this the beginning of the end? Is King Jupiter really going to lose it. BlackBug has been thrown off the team! RedEye will be also if he survives or go to jail if he kills BlackWulf. Next issue this time for real....RedEye vs. BlackWulf and the Crusaders come for the ride!