* This story is strongly suggested for mature audiences only. *

They came into the streets in tight groups. Always walking together.
A show of unity - of strength.
A show of something else. Something that couldn't be touched, or truly understood in terms of language.
But everyone who saw them knew it when they felt it.

They called it pride - civic duty, but they would never meet a single member of the groups that came into the street in the eye. They wouldn't dare to presume to do so.

They were young men and women, dressed in new brown uniforms, wearing them proudly as they walked through the streets, making them safe for nice and decent folk again.

That was what the President had said in the address, his right hand on the shoulder of his advisor on such matters, the head of the First Church of Jesus Christ Lord and Saviour, Brother Ultron. They were returning public morality, reinstalling trust and dignity to the institutions that many had lost faith in.

It was the faith that was important, Jacob knew. Faith in the power of God, in the ability of mankind to adhere to the standards that HE had sent down to him.

Jacob had long had such faith. He had lived by it, even outside of the synagogue.

He had to, now. The army had closed down the synagogue, under the treason acts. Apparently the rabbi had been involved in some sort of underground cult activity. That was what had been posted on the door.

He prayed in private now, apparently whatever conspriacy of illegial activity had been taking place, it had involved every synagogue in the area.

He shook his head. His rabbi had been a good man, a man of God. Believing he had been involved in some sinister was hard. But the Devil often wore a pleasant face. It had been said more than once. Apparently it had true even in what many had thought to be a new Promised Land.

Jacob watched the young men and women in brown walk by, their faces turned cold against him and his. Men in black uniforms had been sent around several weeks before, gathering them up from households, for re-education. The well of the Jewish community had been poisoned, they had said. They simply wanted to make sure the next generation would have fresh clean water to drink.

Many had sent their children along with the men in black willing, even eagerly. It meant keeping them beyond reproach. It meant making something of them, letting them be a part of something bigger than themselves.

They had come back cold, mechanical in their actions as well as speach. "Rehearsed" was a phrase the someone had muttered to Jacob. But he didn't need it. His own daughter's behavior had made him say worse. The word "Drilled" came to mind. So did "brainwashed".

She called him "Daddy Juden" now, when she saw him on the street. She refused to return home, preferring the barracks outside of town.

He watched the children in brown shirts and pants march by, and wondered what well was truly poisoned - and if there was an antidote.

"Who's your God now!" he roared.
"you are"
"Say it bitch!"
"You are."
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
"YOU ARE!"
"I AM - WHAT?"
"my god"
"WHAT?"
"YOU ARE MY GOD NOW"

The rightful God of Thunder, The Master of the Tempest and Heir to the Wonders of Fabled Asgard, The Mighty Thor, thrust his godhood further into the back of his brother's decapitated skull. "Damn straight" he muttered, thrusting harder and harder into the crevice he had made shortly after slaying the mortal form of Loki the Trickster and taking his head for ornamentation.

Most times he simply kept it on a pike, the better to mock his sibling's immortality that kept his head alive despite the lack of a body. Sometimes though, he enjoyed using it for his own pleasure.

It was the ultimate trick. The ultimate in humilation to be used as such. The Norse God let out of a scream of release as he felt himself explode among what was left of his rival's brain.

"Have at!" Thor muttered, thrusting once more, without real meaning, as if to show that he could.

A sharp knock on the door.
"Be gone!" The Lord of Lightning bellowed, "I have asked for no goat to be brought!"
The knock repeated itself.

"You had better answer that my brother." Loki muttered.
Thor picked up the head laying on the bed in front of him into his mighty hands and turned it to face him at eye level.

Even after all of the years, all of the things he had done to what was left of the Lord of Lies, it still surprised him to see the hollow shells where he had scooped Loki's eyes out. The toothless mouth was another "improvement". Both made things easier to conduct his godly business. Both had marred his brother's once handsome looks beyond belief.
"Did I ask you for your opinion my brother?" Thor asked, making as if the throw Loki's head across the room.
"no" Loki said weakly.
"Then silence yourself until I do so."

Nonetheless, Thor found himself shoving the head back up on the pike and moving toward the door. Someone knocked one more time on the other side before he got there and flung it open.

Edwin Jarvis, the faithful butler and human guinea pig to the Avengers took a involuntary step back. Thor noted the new piercings on Jarvis's elderly face, as well as the newer patches of fresh skin that had grafted to replace what had been burned away before the team had been able to rescue him from the Human Torch.

Johnny Storm had learned what it meant to mess with the Avengers and their property. Thor had seen what was left of him still burning in what was being called the Eternal Flame, out in front of the Avengers Mansion.

It was one thing to turn your outer body into living flame. Storm had found however that having your inside slowly being transformed into flame as well was a much more painful process.

There was very little left of him, not anymore. But the hex the Scarlet Witch had placed on him made certain that Storm would never truly die - that he would never truly ceased to be in agony.

Thor's eyes softened at the sight of one of his oldest and dearest friends. "What can I do for you friend Jarvis?"

The butler smiled, wincing as one of the newer piercings in his lower lip touched the row of spikes on the top. "Captain America sent me." he said, apologizing, "He wants to see you."

Thor nodded, "I see." he said, considering, "This is about that meeting isn't it?"

Jarvis returned the nod.

Thor turned back to glance with fondess at his brother's head on the pike. "I was... detained at the time." He turned back to meet the worried face of the Avenger's butler. He had good reason to be worried, Thor realized, with the prospect of angering the God of Thunder at one end and disappointing the Sentinel of Liberty at the other. Each was dangerous to ones health. "Perhaps that was why HE sent him to me" Thor mused. Steve Rogers had shown a great deal of strategy and cunning over the years. Sending the one person he knew Thor would not want to see come to harm might be another pawn being moved across the board for "Cap". It might also be a trap. There could be...
"Bah" Thor muttered to himself.
"Excuse me sir?"
Thor dismissed his own outburst, and the butler, with a wave of his hand, "Tell him, friend Jarvis - that I shall come momentarily." Thor proclaimed, "But that the moments shall be on the watch of the cosmos and judged at the discretion of a God!"

Jarvis nodded sharply, "As you wish sir." he said, before turning to leave. He took two steps down the corridor, before turning back to the Lord of Thunder. "Thank you" he said to the retreating figure of Thor.

The God of the Tempest nodded in return, saying nothing as he closed the door, wiping a tear of regret of what might have been away as he did so.

"Lies and Other Truths"
The Last Light
Part II of IV
Written by Gary Dreslinski
Edited by Adam Di Stefano and Alvaro Ibáñez

"What are we going to do about the camps?" Hawkeye muttered to no one in particular.
"Which camps are you talking about?" Hank "Giant Man" Pym asked in perfect seriousness.

Hawkeye stared at him for a moment, "The camps. The ones that people have been disappearing into over the last couple of months."
"Don't tell me you believe in them too?"
"You don't?"
"Of course not. That's just a bunch of propaganda that Ultron is using for his own gain. He wants to make people afraid, so he encourages conspiracy groups to spread the word of his terror against filth. That's all it is really though - just talk. Believe me, I know what the droid is capable more than anyone, and that's just not his style."

"Then where are those people going?'
"What people?"
"The ones dragged off in the middle of the night" Hawkeye answered, his face going slack, "A couple of ex-Avengers among them."
"They were relocated." Hank replied simply, "That's the official line anyway. I wouldn't doubt it if they were moved to Wakanda or something... somewhere where they can't threaten the status quo he's trying to create."
"And you don't think he's capable of mass murder? I can think of several AVENGERS capable of it!"
Hank laughed, "Capable of murder? You bet. I'm quite sure he's crushed a few skulls between his big metal hands in the name of God or whatever fetish he has this week. But just herding people in and... that's just not his style."

"I wish I had your confidence."
Hank stared down at his own semi erect penis, "I bet that's not all you wished you had."

Clint Barton, the guy's guy they called Hawkeye smiled knowingly as he reached out and took Hank's length in his hand, and then deep throated in his the depths of his mouth.

It felt good not to think about what might be going on... it felt so good he did it twice.

"The situation has gotten out of hand out there." Steve Rogers, the legend known as Captain America said to his teammates, Tony (Iron Man) Stark and the Mighty Thor. He had assembled the only two men, other than the Hulk who had been there in the beginning of the team. He had considering summoning the Wasp as well, but knew that she was off at one of her sex clubs for the afternoon with the Hulk.

It would be better to have more focused heads at the meeting anyway, he decided after a moment. It was bad enough that he had to trust even those two, but, like it or not, it wasn't anything he could do completely on his own. That bit grated on his nerves. He hated relying on other people, they never seemed to get anything right. But he had joined the Avengers a long time before, and using them as canon fodder if nothing else had always worked to his advantage.

"So the rumors are true?" Tony asked.
Captain America nodded, "I don't have it confirmed of course, but it seems like Ultron has finally taken that step again."
"You'd think he would have learned his lesson last time." Tony suggested, "After we kicked his butt back to the middle ages after last time."

"His kind never learn their lessons." Thor offered, his right hand gripping his hammer, his left hand gripping his other hammer.
"We don't seem to have learned anything either," Captain America pointed out, "We should have been more aware of what was going on. But here we are, with our heads up our asses...  some of us literally... sitting on our hands while people are being taken off the streets. We should have been out there... doing something..."
"He didn't target us," Iron Man pointed out, "At least until recently. We've been fairly self involved lately, even more so than usual and..."
"If it does not concern you directly, you are more than willing to turn a blind eye?" Thor mocked.
"I didn't see you out there doing anything..." Iron Man countered.

Thor rose to his feet, and took a step forward, "Do not mock the Son of Odin mortal - or I'll shove my sacred mallet so far up your arse that you're be shitting Uru for months!"

Iron Man took a sip of fresh urine as it flowed up through his system, he stood up with what he knew to be false bravado. He took a step forward, as if to meet the challenge.

"Sit down - the both of you" Cap barked, rising to his feet as well. "We don't have the time for this."

Thor turned a defiant eye toward him, then back at Iron Man, "I assure you my good Captain - that this would not take much time at all."

Iron Man continued to glare back, "That's only because I'll be sending you packing to Valhalla before you could take another step forward."

Thor's face lit up with laughter, the angry laughter of a god. He took a step forward.

Captain America's shield slammed into the Armored Avenger before he could raise his gauntlet to fire on the God of Thunder.

Iron Man staggered backward from the blow. The Sentinel of Liberty leapt into the air, flipping as he did so, landing crouched but on his feet inches away from his shield. He grabbed up his weapon and rose to his full height before either of the two Avengers could react.
"I said," Cap repeated through gritted teeth, "Sit down!"

They reluctantly returned to their seats, glaring at each other.

"The two of you are going to go on recon. I need to know if these camps really do exist, and what sort of set-up we're looking at..."

"But why can't..." Iron Man started, but Captain America cut him off with a glare.
The God of Thunder said nothing.

"The two of you are going because of the fact that not only would you be two of the fastest sources of information - you're also the most likely to be able to handle whatever could be thrown at you if your recon goes south. We need information - and we need it fast, before it's way too late."

"What if it already is Captain?" Thor asked, "What if we've sat on our hands too long?"

Captain America stared straight ahead for a moment, staring off into empty space. He shifted his eyes back to Thor, "Then we make Ultron, and those with him, pay as much as we can, and hope that the dead can forgive us."

"I'm glad you were able to come on such short notice."
"For you Mr. President, of course." Brother Ultron said, wishing that he could truly smile. But his face had been mishapen from formation. Perhaps Henry Pym had thought it ironic - or perhaps it had been intended as a cruel joke. But what his face lacked, he was able to put into his actions.

"I guess you're wondering why I asked to see you this time?"
"I had hoped it was to ask about how to fulfill God's will and return this great nation restored to its moral grounding."

The President sat down behind his desk in the Oval Office. Behind the desk, and all the trappings, he was one of the most powerful and influencial men in the world. Sitting across from Brother Ultron though, he was suddenly aware of how little that actually meant in real life.

"I wish this was a meeting about that. I truly do." he said hesitantly, "But I wanted to see you because some Senators have brought to my attention some rather disturbing rumors about how the authority I've given to you has been used."

"And what rumors would those be Mr. President?" Ultron mocked, "The use of the Youth Brigade? Persecution of minority religions? Of minorities in general? Or..." he laughed, "Are they talking about the 'death camps' again?"

"So you've heard about these things as well?"
"I've never claimed that my enemies do not have a great deal of imagination. They can come up with all sorts of stories to fit their worst 'big brother' paranoia fantasies. If it wasn't me... it would be someone else they spoke against. I just happen to make it a bit easier being a Christian." he put his right palm on the lip of the desk, leaning forward, sincerely, "I will not apologize for my beliefs Mr. President, although I know there are plenty of people out there, even in Congress, who would want me to do so. I will continue to stand against the forces of darkness in this country, and will ferret out evil wherever it may hide itself."

"So - using the Youth Brigade as a brainwashed hate group?"
"As you know, we founded the Youth Brigades around the country to give people a symbol of hope for the future: The best and brightest of America's youth helping clean up the filth in their own communities. If people are complaining about the actions of the Brigade, or attributing negative actions to them, I can only assume that these people are the very filth the Brigade has been attempting to clean up. Why would anyone want to stand against common decency, Mr. President?"
"One man's decency..."
"Is a universal constant, with all due respect. The only grey in the equation of right and wrong has been put there by those preaching that the wrong isn't all THAT wrong. They live in lies though... lies that poison our society. I think we agree on that much sir."

The President nodded. After all, he had appointed the Brother to help weed out that very poison before it could seep too far into the heart of America. Late at night, alone in his widower's bed, he often wondered if he had waited too late for it to do any good.

"What about the persecution of minority religious groups?" The President asked.

Brother Ultron shook his head, "I've heard that one many times myself. Most of those charges stem from the fact that so much of the terrorist community lives and breeds in those institutions. They try to turn people away from the good and straight into the hands of Satan. I regret that they have, in some cases, been turned out of their false houses - but if they had not been trafficking with the forces of darkess in the first place, there would not be in the position to have their rights to worship freely impinged. I am quite certain that they would be warmly welcomed into any of the many houses of the Lord that are still open. I would like to point out sir, before its gets to a case of any one religion being targetted, that we have had to close down far more Christian Churches than anything else. Some people calling themselves priests in this country were preaching some of the most vile things imaginable. Some even spoke out against our crusade of decency..."

The President nodded, "I've heard about that. Weren't they just exercising their freedom of speech?"

"The freedom of speech only extends to the truth sir," Brother Ultron pointed out, "You can not simply yell 'Fire' in a crowded theatre, any high school pre-law student could tell you that. In that case, the speech creates a clear and present danger to those around them and is therefore unlawful. Much was the case with the so-called priests who spoke counter to the will of God."

"The minorities?"
"Another misleading stat. We've had to question just as many Whites as Chinese, as many Africian Americans as Native Americans. Some people are willing to twist the facts to fit their agendas."
"You say an equal amount were questioned - but how many were taken into custody?"
"As many as were breaking the word of law. No more, no less. Some groups are just more prone to that sort of behavior than others."

"And the deathcamps?"
"As you know, we do have re-education centers, for those who do not currently fit into decent society. We hope to make them see the error of their lifestyles and return them to society, as you might a dangerous animal, spaying and declawing them so that they will no longer be a threat to those around them."

"But what about the deaths?"
"Are you referring to the filth that try to release themselves before they have been fully re-educated?"
"I'm referring to the rumors of mass graves."
"Those are rumors, Mr. President. You shouldn't listen to rumors."

"What if I said that I had pictures."
"I'd say that they were doctored by enemies of decency."
"And who, might I ask, would want to do that?"
"Off the top of my head?"
"Certainly."

"The Avengers would do it." Brother Ultron answered, "They are examples of the moral decay of America more than anyone else left standing. The only reason they are even still around is that everyone has been afraid to truly go after them."
"Until you."
"Until me." Brother Ultron confirmed, "I have no doubt in my mind that you can trace those photographs you claim to have back to them... and I can virtually guarantee that you can trace the rumors back to them."
"And why are you so sure of that?" The President asked, intrigued at his confidence on that point.

Brother Ultron of the First Church of Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour, smiled on the inside, "I'm fully aware that the Avengers are, even as we speak, moving against the interests of the United States Government and planning on spreading their base of debachery."

"What are they planning? How do you know?"
"They plan on closing down our re-education camps first of all. I imagine the Senators who spoke those rumors into your ear were in their pay... after that, they plan on dismantling all of our work, perhaps to the point of replacing you with one more to their liking."
"They wouldn't dare!"
"You'd be surprised at what the deluded would try Mr. President. And please understand, they have fully deluded themselves into believing that they are in the right here. They've so convinced themselves of their lies that they really can't be reasoned with by any rational being."

"Once again - I have to ask, how do you know all of this?"
"I have someone on the inside... a mole, you might call them, risking their life and limb to help our cause."
"And they tell you everything that goes on in the Avengers Mansion?" The President asked, his interest piqued.

Ultron sighed deeply, "Unfortunately, yes. I don't think there is a single spot in the country that needs to be surgerically removed than the Avengers Mansion. The sheer depravity that is their every day is quite sickening..."

"Please...share..." The President of the United States requested, his eyes gleaming.

Brother Ultron opened his mouth, repeating all that he had learned over the past months, watching the President's face go from delight to horror and back to delight again. Brother Ultron stared at the President as he spoke, realizing that the poisonous fascination had gripped his heart as well. Sooner or later, the President was going to have to be removed as well... if the country was ever going to be free again.

Monica knew she was never going to be free again.
Once upon a time, she had been Captain Marvel, she'd even lead the Avengers at one point.
But she had left to pursue her own interests, to get her life back together.

That had worked for awhile - until her life had turned sour. Until her life had turned deadly.

They had come through New Orleans, requesting that everyone report to the what they had said were debriefing centers. She had gone willingly... after all, she had nothing to hide.

She had gone willingly... but had not walked back out again. No one of her skin color had.

She had seen lines of white men and woman walking out of the center as she watched from behind the fence. Sometimes they turned toward her and the others, laughing and pointing. More often than not though, they simply kept walking, as if not wanting to remind themselves that they had left anything, anyone, behind.

She looked down at the shackles on her arms, the shackles that inhibited her energy powers, and kept her chained, spread eagle on the ground, the victim of the hot sun. She didn't need to crane her neck to see the others, rows and rows of black men and women, all sharing a similar fate.

"Maybe you'll get a nice tan" one of the guards had joked.
"Maybe we'll all die of heat stroke," Monica had thought to herself, before realizing that was more likely than not the intention of the action. That, and to break them. She heard others cry out in pain, begging to be released, one way or another.

She stared up at the sun, remembering a time when she could simply race back and forth among the stars - remembering a time before everything had gone wrong.

She stared up at the sun... and waited for it to go away again, so she could slip into chill of the night. And, if she was lucky, into the darkness forever.

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