Secret Wars #2 And Some Little Odd Changes to Reality and All

[britainshero]

...I'm not sure what you're getting at. You know I have more than enough to be thinking about now that Jamie...

Damn it. Sinister is going to pay for this, I swear it. Higher Avalon will be ready for war if it comes to it. Meggan and Betsy, they'll understand. I have a role to uphold. If Doom wills it, we'll be ready.

...if only I could... well, besides Jamie... swear off this nagging feeling something isn't right.

Comments

[zealots]

Sinister is a deadly adversary, Brian Braddock. Tread very carefully before you presume to go to war with him.

[britainshero]

He insulted my wife and saw my brother executed, there is more than enough reason to do so. Still, if my combat with him taught me anything it is to be cautious.

I trust Apocalypse would not intervene? I know he has strong ties to another Sinister.

[zealots]

You would do better to be more than cautious if you hope to achieve victory. If Sinister executed your brother, then he knew full well you would seek retribution and has already laid down at least five contingency plans to deal with you.

Aye, he made Sinister what he is today, as he did for me centuries prior. To guess at what Apocalypse would or wouldn't do is a fool's errand, he moves as he pleases and if he intervenes to save Sinister, there is no hope at all of victory.

[britainshero]

I'm pretty sure the villain has a strategy for any situation, never mind his mastery of the sciences and his cursed clones. As for my brother, Doom ordered his exile to the Deadlands, but twas Sinister who arranged the situation, of that I am certain.

I have no qualms with Apocalypse if he remains apart from the affair. In any case I would think he has his hands full with those mutant rebels and the human resistance of his domain.

[zealots]

Oh, of that you can be certain. Sinister has long delighted in his intrigues and his deceptions, he has not my power but in matters of cunning he cannot be matched.

I am no longer Apocalypse's creature, what troubles he has are of no concern to me. They are of a kind, Apocalypse and Sinister, though I could not say which is the lesser evil.

[britainshero]

I suppose it would be brain vs brawn if I were not careful. If I am to deal with him it will need to be on his intellectual plane.

I congratulate your liberty, sir. Your prowess is commendable. Should you wish to I could see you become one of our knights of service in the nation. My sister Betsy would probably need some convincing first of course.

[zealots]

Sinister is a master strategist and knows perhaps more about mutants than any other living man. If you would go to war against him, it is imperative you not rely on any mutants, for his knowledge of my kind is unparalleled. And if you would truly defeat him, you will only do it by doing what he does not expect. All of your current powers, your current allies, he will be prepared for them. You must go after him with what he is not prepared for.

It has been a long time indeed since I put my skills to service in a proper cause. After finding them misused by Magneto, I set out on my own path. But that was a long time ago, and you are not Magneto. If your sister would allow it, and if you would have me, Brian Braddock, then I, Bennet du Paris, would be honored to take the oath and serve as one of your knights.

[britainshero]

That's unfortunate since my wife and sister happen to be mutants. Perhaps the best strategy is to go against character. That will be difficult to plan out but with time it could be done. Knowing the villain's weaknesses too.

Hmmmm, well I know a handful of Magnetos, the Monarchy of M one especially, and whilst some seem honourable I fear he can also be misguided, so I thank. Very well, we'll have you come to Higher Avalon and see what we can do.

[zealots]

Aye, I have met your sister before, during my service with Magneto. She is a fierce warrior as well as a powerful telepath. Sinister too is a powerful telepath, one of the top five currently living. Your strategy has merit but would require more intelligence to be properly executed.

I have known but two Magnetos, the one I swore allegiance to and his clone. Once I believed him to be the messiah of our people, and while I still say he is one of the greatest of our kind, I must admit now I was wrong about his divinity. Perhaps in your service I can atone for the deeds I committed in his.

[britainshero]

That she is. My version doesn't seem to have had the body switching experience as some other Betsys I have met but she's a skilled warrior nonetheless. Her telepathic skills might be a factor in dealing with Sinister.

There is only one god I have known and I fear he is less merciful than I was hopeful for. Your service is most welcome in any case, sir.

[zealots]

For the sake of your realm... our realm, I suppose... I hope she is as fierce as the Psylocke I have fought. Where Sinister goes his Marauders are sure to follow, and against such murderous filth we will never every able-bodied warrior who can answer the call.

God gives his mercy to those deserving of it, Brian Braddock. We will be His agents, yes? Victory only comes to those who carry the faith.

[arach_nerd]

Well, for starters, Doom is God, apparently. That's definitely not right.

[britainshero]

I'm not sure what you're getting at, Spider-Man, though... but to think such things about the creator, that seems dangerous.

From which domain do you hail from? Manhattan, the Regency, Ararchnia?

[arach_nerd]

I refuse to be afraid of someone who's afraid of squirrels.

And I'm not from Battleworld. I mean, I've been to a Battleworld, but it was an entirely different Battleworld. One that wasn't basically a giant monument to Doom's overinflated ego.

[britainshero]

Squirrels? Surely if Lord Doom made such things he cannot be afraid of them.

That... that would probably explain a lot. [Strictly speaking neither is Brian but his mun is in a Battleworld mood so he's dwelling from Higher Avalon for now.] This... other Battleworld, it was not Doom's?

[ultimatespider]

Let's just say we should all keep on our toes. And for those of us who have 'em, listen to their Spider-senses.

[britainshero]

I regret I have none of that, young web head, but my strength from Excalibur serves me well. You're that new Spider-Man yes, from the Manhattan domain?

[ultimatespider]

Yeah, that's me! Did you meet the other Spider-Man too? I've met him...3 times, I think!

(He'll skip the whole 'Spider-Verse' thing since that might be common knowledge already.)

[britainshero]

I know several Spider-Man across Battleworld, yes, but I assume you're talking about one of the Parkers?