Responsibilities (Dubois Chronicles 2.94)
DJ Dubois
June 2006


Rating: M (Mature: violence, language, an adult situation or two.)

Notes: The characters from Forever Knight belong to Sony Tri-Star. The characters from Hercules the Legendary Journeys and Xena Warrior Princess belong to MCA and Renaissance Studios. Mutant X belongs to Marvel Studios. Alias belongs to James Abrams and Buena Vista Productions. The Marvelverse Characters belong to Marvel Comics. Smallville belongs to DC and the WB. Veronica Mars and Dark Angel belong to their copyright holders. All other characters are fictitious and of my own creation. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com .

 


Prologue [c. 93 AD]

Gabrielle, Bard-Queen of the Amazons, writes…..

As I talk to the Child and David about their experiences earlier in life, the horrors they faced would make all but the most hardened warrior turn white with fear. Witches, demons, trolls, ghost warlocks, his father, Eckhart and Dijon not to mention the Lower Valley itself before Eve purified it made it a living Hell. Those of us who have followed my “early” scrolls have seen the story unfold—often very differently from what we had believed.

While the Child is a creature of pain and anger, he is a protective entity. True, he loses control easily but there are a few people among the living whom he truly hates—whom, Eli help us, he would kill without further provocation. Besides Stuart and Lionel, there is Spider-Man’s sorcerer ally. In some of the scrolls, we’ve already seen the Child threaten the one called “Doctor Strange.” So far, this man has watched events unfold at a distance.

However, with Isobel and Hope’s appearance on the campus, Strange is breaking the peace, bringing a group of allies called the “Defenders” to take our enemy and my daughter. Among these allies is another child-like creature that Spider-Man and our Russian allies call “the Hulk”—another creature of pain and amazing strength.

Rest assured, Readers, the Community of Tolerance will stand beside our friend even if that means that our newcomers discover more than their share of the Truth.

Before the main scroll proper however, there is another story to tell first. Before the events detailed in ‘First Day’, there was this man’s visit to Rowenshire—an event Nai-Jin still remembers painfully well. But then for two children, they could never forget….

And the groundwork was laid for our current struggles…..

 

 


Chapter 1 [Rowenshire, MA—February 10, 1978]

Winter still held the region in its icy cold blast, forcing even the groundhog away from its shadow until deep into April. Frigid blasts and snow squalls chilled and drove residents indoors to huddle in front of fireplaces and heaters.

In the small town of Rowenshire where people generally kept to themselves, life continued on as it had for centuries. With the exception of the Mobil station in the center of town, the layout was identical to its founding in the 1680s. People went out to do their necessary tasks, go to church and then returned home unless the Witch’s ghost should waylay them. They especially avoided the residents of the old haunted house on the northern edge of town.

The family was suffering its own troubles. Many of which the townspeople thought were just desserts for violating the land. The father was gone much of the time. The grandfather lay dying in his bed. The three children wore serious expressions: a sign that they carried too much weight on their shoulders.

The air was charged. Something was going to happen and soon……

****

[Dubois House]

A pair of eyes stared out into the dark gloom, watching the state road for a sign of some sort. While they didn’t know what it would look like, it had to be something special. Where is he? Mom said there would be doctor.

A smaller hand yanked on an arm. “Anythin’, Dave?”

He looked sadly at his little sister whose big black eyes returned the desperate glance with one of her own. “Nothin’ yet but man promised.” Seeing her shudder, he hugged her. “He’ll deal with the ghost lady, Cybbie. Grandpa wants us to be brave.”

Cybelle didn’t respond, pouting. “Sick a’ this!”

Before he could respond, he saw a long car pulling into the driveway. “Cybbie, look! Remember what Mom said, don’t get in the way.” He guided his sister to their peeking place behind the banister.

Janet opened the door. “Yes? Can I help you?”

A tall slender man dressed in an overcoat with a black tie replied, “This is the Dubois house, correct? I’m Dr. Stephen Strange.” He motioned to a younger bald man dressed in green. “This is Wong, my manservant.”

Dave, however, saw his form shimmer; his clothes being replaced by a blue bodysuit, a red cape and a golden amulet at his throat. Whoa!

“Indeed. Come in please.” She agreed, ushering him in quickly and shutting the door. “Can I get you both a cup of coffee?”

“Perhaps a cup of tea?” Strange requested as he handed his coat to Wong and scanned the house. He turned to the siblings’ hiding place. “They only watch?”

“We’ve asked them to stay out of the way,” she said flatly while setting the water on for tea. “The poor dears are traumatized enough without hearing our business.”

The visitors, however, knew that the children were an important part of the ‘business’ at hand. Before coming, they had read of the land’s curse and the scenario playing out. “I will need to see David at some point.”

“That’s him up there with his sister.” Janet poured the tea and set up shortbread for the two men.

Wong eyed his master anxiously.

Strange nodded, remaining composed. Even without trying, his senses picked up on the foul wickedness in the structure around him…and how the teenager had penetrated his disguise. Already the evil grows within him. “Thank you. Have the lights appeared recently outside?”

“Two nights ago. There is one big one in the valley but we see them in the woods as well,” she explained. “The fire creature hasn’t appeared in a few months so I’d say we’re overdue.”

“Fire creature?” This is worse than I thought if the Witch has a familiar! He got up. “I think I’ll have a look around the area. Wong, stay here with Mrs. Dubois and the children please?”

“As you wish, Master,” his companion relented.

Strange put his overcoat back on. “Stay in the house. Whatever you hear or see, do not come out.” Then he arched his brow and his mouth quirked, making the black mustache twitch over his upper lip. Something wicked reacts to our presence. Dahak knows we are here. He hustled out of the house, chanting an incantation softly to himself and disappearing from sight.

Dave, however, could sense where he was going. Fight!

****

[Lower Valley]

Strange reappeared in the Lower Valley, being drawn there by the vibrations around him. By the Teeth of Stannish! This is a dimensional crossroads! He could feel the dark magic locus in the pasture’s center.

Come to me, Mortal. You’ve come so far to fail! A crimson pyre sprouted up, burning with light and yet no heat. The children are MINE!
He waved his hands, casting a containment spell.

Around the adversary, red mystical strands grew from the ground, encasing it in a cocoon of sorts.

“Now you’re trapped and unable to do anything more,” he presumed.

The dark laughter echoed across the grasses and into the woods. You reckon without my servants, Magician.

To his right, a ghostly woman in flowing robes appeared.

To his left, the Mystery Man stalked out of the woods. “Tis the best they have?”

Recalling what Spider-Man and the Scarlet Witch had told him about their adventure in Salem, the mage recognized the entity immediately. “The Rider? But you were banished!”

“Aye! Banished an’ returned by the Master! Returned to produce an heir and the Destroyer!” the demon wizard replied curtly.

“The boy!”

“My boy…” the spectral female corrected him. “We’ve waited far too long fer ye to step in!”

“Anne Lichtenfeld, I presume?” Strange gathered, preparing to cast another spell.

She grinned wickedly; her eyes glowing bright crimson. “AYE!” She threw a dark fire ball. “GIT!”

Instinctively, he deflected the blast with a magic shield as well as the one her father’s spell. “I will take both of you.”

“Can ye?” the dark wizard. “Yer friends couldna do so! But this grows tiresome!” He waved his hand.

As quickly as a cobra’s strike, the grasses snaked forward, binding the sorcerer’s hands and mouth before pulling him to the ground.

Around the meadow, the animals howled, calling their brethren through the snow.

“They willna come yet,” she informed the prisoner. “Na ‘fore Ah do this!” She grabbed him around the throat, scalding him with dark fire and making him convulse under her grasp.

As this happened, the cocoon faded, allowing Dahak free reign once again. Enough! I want him to live and remember this failure! Do not return, Mortal. For the next time, we will kill you horribly. Interfere with the Destroyer and he will wreck his vengeance on you. This is my Will, Fool Magician!

A fiery tendril extended forth from the pyre, whipping Strange over and over again.

BEGONE! With another burst of fire, the demon cast him back onto the Upper Plateau again.


****

[House]

Meantime Dave had sensed what was going on below. “NO! Not again!”

“He’s s’posed to beat the bad things!” his sister argued.

“’Mon!” he advised, pulling her down the stairs after him. Getting to where Wong and their grandmother sat, he told her, “Watch Cybbie.”

“You’re staying here!” Janet insisted.

“And let that fool kill himself? The ghost just called the other darkies, Gram,” the teen debated.

“My master can handle himself, young man. I assure you of that,” Wong disagreed.

Dave shook his head. “Not if what I just felt happened. He just got his tail kicked in.”

A fiery burst shot forth from the Lower Valley, dumping Strange in a quivering heap on the snow.

From the Lower Valley, the taunting laughter echoed once more toward the town and house.

“Told you,” Dave growled.

Without thinking of the elements, the manservant rushed out the backdoor. “Master!” He gaped in wonder at the other’s condition. Nobody—not Uma, Baron Mordo, Dormammu or Stannish himself—had wrecked such punishment on the magician as those demons had.

“Get…me inside. Need…to cast a healing spell,” Strange whispered.

Wong pulled the other into the house, feeling more than unnerved at what could do that to the Sorcerer Supreme.

“Set him on the couch,” Janet directed. “Dave, help me.”

“He should have known better than to go down there by himself,” Dave growled, knowing that their last hope was now gone.

“St…and back.” Strange whispered a chant, making himself glow. The energies closed his wounds much to the residents’ amazement. He sat up and took a deep breath. “This place cannot be cleansed. Wong, we are leaving.”

“Master, begging your pardon, but what of…?” Wong motioned with his head toward the teen and the latter’s sister.

Strange nodded. “David, step forward.” He focused, fighting the migraine from the effort.

The amulet opened at his throat, revealing a golden eye. It produced a bright beam of light, shining over the younger man.

Dave winced, feeling the light burning him. His head went numb. “Stop it.” He convulsed.

“What are you doing?” the anxious grandmother demanded.

The Mage shook his head, seeing the dark cancer already impregnating itself within the teenager as well as the scar glowing on the other’s hand. “It’s too late for him. Send her away from here and you may yet save her soul.”

“No! Gram, you can’t let ‘im!” Cybelle cried.

“I will do no such thing! Dr. Strange, what of my family? The kids and their brother?” Janet demanded.

Strange frowned. “If I do anything, others will have to come. We could cleanse the meadow but disrupt the balance in the process. I’m sorry. Better their unhappiness than that of the entire world.” He turned to see an older man stumble with effort into the room.

“Grandpa, you shouldn’t be up!” Dave protested.

“I…had to,” Lorenzo argued. “Help me to that chair please.”

The teen rushed over to him, supporting the former archaeologist. “Gram’s got tea.” He spasmed, feeling the burning numbness over his head once more.

“Dave, it’s all right,” the old man assured him.

“No, it’s not.” Dave snarled, beating the counter with his fist before glaring at Strange. “Disrupt the balance? You fraud! What do you think YOU’VE DONE NOW? The world doesn’t care ‘bout us! IT NEVER HAS!”

“Dave, stop that!” Janet lectured.

“Ah!” He rushed outside, running toward the road through the snow. His bare feet burned more with each step. He fell to his knees and sobbed, knowing what retribution she would seek for this venture.

Around him, the taunting sound drummed through his ears.

“Shut up! DAMN IT! SHUT UP!” he bellowed over and over again.

 


Chapter 2 [Saturday October 29, 2007]
[Tucson—Dubois Condo]

Angie jumped in surprise out of her sleep. Not again! She saw her husband thrashing and frothing. He hasn’t changed and this is happening? What is this? “Hey, Dave, wake up!”

“SHUT UP!” he screamed as his eyes snapped open. He shuddered in the darkness; the tears streaming down his face.

“Dave, Sweetie, it’s okay,” she assured him. She sensed Penny calming the twins’ anxiety.

“Angie?” he asked, realizing where he was. “Not the nightmare again.”

“Yes again,” she told him. “You didn’t change though.”

“He won’t come out like that. If he does, it’ll be Destroyer level.” Seeing her confusion, he added, “The dark fire and red eyes.” He sighed, knowing he had just scared his wife and daughters for the fifth time in the last week. “This has got to stop.”

[“Dave, what’s going on?”] Karen asked.

[“Sorry, another one of those nightmares,”] he apologized sheepishly.

“This smells of Isobel,” the oncologist guessed.

He stomped out into the living room, changing as he went

“Ain’t Iso-Smell,” the Child growled. “Bug Boy’s buddy. Ma…gician!”

A sharp knocking came from the door.

“Great. You just woke the neighbors,” she groused, pulling on her robe and opening the door to find Clark, Lana, Miri and Jasmine standing there. “Kids?”

“We felt it again. Can we help?” Lana wondered.

“Git n’ ‘ere!” the Child snapped.

The Jinn’s here now? Jasmine wondered as she and the others entered.

“What’s going on?” Clark yawned. “Lana, I told you it’s just a nightmare.”

His wife shook her head. “Not like this, it isn’t. Trust me; you didn’t feel the wallop.”

“Crap!” the Dark One snapped. “Hate that twit! HATE ‘IM! DAMN FRAUD!”

“Hate who?” Miri asked.

“That guy’s nowhere near here,” Angie advised. “It’s okay.” She grabbed onto him. “Can you let Dave out? I’ll watch him.”

The Child did so, allowing Dave to take control.

“Thank you, Lord,” his wife whispered before grabbing onto him again. “He let you out. I’ve got you.” She shook her head, wishing she could know more. “Lana, we need to get a hold of Spider-Man.”

Lana nodded. “He’ll be at the training session this morning.” She turned to their mentor. “Professor?” As she looked into his eyes, it was almost like looking into her own…..

….when she was remembering her parents’ death.

“This has to do with your grandfather?” she asked, discerning the cause.

“A…ask C…cybelle.” He winced. “Great! Let her in.”

Before they could do that, Karen had unlocked the door and entered on her own. “Dave, it’s okay.” She rubbed his arm just as she did when they were dating. “We’re here.”

“I can’t believe I woke you up too,” Dave lamented.

“Newsflash, Hotshot. Our link, remember?” She looked at him purposefully. “Barefoot in the snow again?”

He nodded.

“Bare…?” Angie inquired; her eyes going wide.

Karen sighed. “I don’t know the whole story except what Gram told us. One afternoon, our first advisor, Candy Colavitto, started talking about the house in Journalism class. Lichtenfeld caused Dave to have a fit. He bolted, heading for Gram’s. After we followed, that’s when she told us about the house. Frank asked her if there was anything they could do. She said there was some specialist that had come from New York but failed.”

“That Strange guy,” Clark surmised, remembering the reaction right after their first encounter with the Rider.

“I guess so.” She hugged her brother. “It’s okay.” She focused, sending a telepathic message to her own kids. “Mika and DJ know you’re not going to rampage or anything.”

“Sorry I got you all up.” He got up from the chair and walked by his daughters absently, going into the bedroom and shutting the door.

“That’s all, Folks,” Karen advised. “Miri, I’ll stay with them. You all need your sleep.” When the others had left, she added, “He had these after we faced Isobel in the Vendee before.”

“What do they mean?”

Karen shrugged. “I wish I knew. But having Isobel around isn’t helping him.” Seeing as it was 4 AM, she added, “I’ll stay a couple of hours to make sure he’s okay then I’ll head in.”

“Thanks, Karen,” Angie expressed. “I’ll make us some coffee. Nobody’s going to sleep now.”

****

[El Gato Negro]

Nick sat in the corner of the bar brooding over the emanations pounding away at him from the city’s east side. “The nightmares,” he muttered.

“You should relax, Nicolas. So Dubois has a nightmare? Even our kind does,” Janette urged while setting a regular merlot before him.

“Not like these,” he disagreed. <”Clarise?”>

“Oui,” the former nun concurred. ”Nicolas, Mama causes these dreams. Worse, you’ve seen the reports from New York?”

He nodded, making sure they weren’t being overheard. “Strange has been seeking allies. I would have hoped he’d stay out of it.”

“Not that one. His so-called vow to protect our planet,” Clarise indicated. “Pity he didn’t learn from his failure at the house.”

He shook his head. “He’s playing right into Isobel’s hands. If something happens, you know what we have to do.”

Janette protested, “Mon Cher, we cannot reveal ourselves!”

“That shouldn’t be necessary. Strange would try to keep such a confrontation under wraps as well. Have you contacted Adam Kane?” the Quebecois Elder pointed out.

He replied, “Emma couldn’t have missed this nightmare. He’ll know.”

 


Chapter 3
[Greenwich Village]

As was his custom, Dr. Strange rose before dawn and donned his blue body suit. The forces of darkness never allowed him to rest. Accordingly, he needed to be ready to face them at any time. But on this morning, he sensed another presence in his study. Intruders? He advanced cautiously into the sanctum to find a woman in dark green robes waiting for him. “State your business. Who are you?”

Cybelle glared at him. “You don’t recognize me, Strange? It has been a few years.”

As he gazed into her face, he remembered. “Rowenshire? You were the little girl at the house!”

“Very good. The years haven’t taught you anything, have they? Still you seek to meddle in our affairs. Remember, as you watch things, Althanor watches you as well,” she advised tersely.

“Althanor? The hidden realm?” he asked.

“I am its High Priestess, the servant of the goddess herself. Your folly has already cost us all a great deal. The nightmares inflicted on my brother by the demon surface again. Do not come to the desert,” she warned.

“You’ve done nothing to stop Isobel or Hope from conspiring,” he accused.

She laughed mockingly at him. “Have you heard anything I’ve said? I know what Dahak put on your head, Strange. You intercede and this time, you’ll disrupt your precious balance. Isobel will be dealt with. As for Hope, she seeks to redeem herself.”

“Now who’s being blind? Hope is a demon!” he accused.

“I know exactly who she is. She is to be left alone.” She frowned. “Take one step onto the Kent Farm and get your just desserts. He’ll know.”

“Your brother.”

“The Child. And he is not alone,” she told him firmly. “Stay out of this, Strange, or bring the Balance down around your ears.” In a puff of mist, she vanished.

Far from impressing him, her warning had the opposite effect. “She does nothing and yet orders me to do the same. I cannot allow this to continue—curse or no.” He took a deep breath. “I need to get the others. The sooner we can eliminate the threat, the better.”

 


Chapter 4 [Luthor Hacienda—6:30 AM]

Lex sat in his study, musing over the phone call he had just received from Angie. The nightmares are back. Terrific. He frowned, remembering how they had surfaced periodically two decades earlier, scaring the Hell out of him and his mother both even if they heard about them from a distance. I bet this is Hell on Lana too. He glanced at his own scar and noted the glow. What the? Before he could do or think anything else, he saw the door open. “Come on, Sullivan, you’re not trying for the brownie points again, are you?”

“You assume too much, Alexander,” Isobel taunted while entering the room. “An impressive library indeed for all of the good it does you.”

“What do you want, Isobel? You aren’t welcome,” he told her firmly.

“After the hospitality I showed you? Come now! Don’t be so rude!” she countered. “I might have to deal with that streak in you.”

“Trust me; if the lady of the house finds you here, she’ll fry you from the inside out,” he advised her. “I’d leave.”

As if on cue, Chloe entered the sanctum. “Lex, have you…?” She stared at the uninvited guest. “Who let her in here?”

“Bon jour, Cherie.” Isobel shot her a sickly sweet smile, taunting her.

“Don’t you Cherie me, you bitch!” Chloe growled, her eyes narrowing. “Bad enough you’re hanging around the university but here too? Get out.” She pointed to the door.

“Told you so, Isobel.” He opened his cell phone. “Speed dial. I hit one button and a certain very angry kid will be kicking your ass.”

“If he gets the chance,” Chloe countered; her eyes narrowing. “Leave now, Isobel. Or else!” She ‘radiated on’. “This time, I’ll make sure you’re good and crisped!”

Sensing her descendant and the latter’s mate approaching as well, Isobel shook her head. “I will remember this.” With that, she vanished from view.

“Gee, I’m so thrilled,” Chloe griped.

“Take her seriously,” he urged. Seeing Clark and Lana rush in, he added, “Guess who you just missed.”

“Considering we’ve been dealing with her garbage all night, I’m glad we didn’t see her,” Lana remarked. Mrs. Montoya let us get some sleep at least.” She yawned.

“After the session, I could get Serena to take your place,” Lex offered.

“That’s okay. It’ll be a good change of pace,” Lana declined. “If we can get a break from the Professor’s nonstop nightmare, it would sound good to me.”

Clark rubbed her arm supportively. “Before we ask Dr. Kane, do you know anything, Lex?”

“Karen Montoya and Dr. Miles would know the most about that stuff,” Lex indicated. “Mom took off about two weeks after the time in the dreams for the funeral. By that point, Cybelle had left for her training. But I do remember five years later.”

“What, Lex? What happened?” Chloe asked.

“Isobel’s first appearance in Smallville,” Lex indicated while opening the safe and producing a worn leather bound writing journal and opening it. “She had trapped Dave there. On the Wednesday night, she cast some sort of spell against him. On Thursday, it got better. Clark, you know that dirt spot between your farm and Hercules’?”

“Sure. Nothing grows there. But nobody knows why,” the farm boy supposed.

“Ask the Child. He fought the Rider there,” Lex clarified while reading: “….David’s so sad and sick. Don’t know how he’s gonna get back there. Can’t Momma fly ‘im back? Momma an’ Ms. Martha were scared after dinner. Bad people came with a neat thing but Momma an’ the Kents sent them away. Then David disappeared. Ms. Laura an’ Mr. Garth ran out back after ‘im.

No sooner did they, somethin’ hit the house.

An’ we heard the screamin’ [tear stain]

David has gone all scary ‘gain….. [another tear stain]

I looked out the window an’ saw ‘im fightin’ a big pilgrim guy….He got ridda the other guy.

Ms. Laura brought him back in. David’s so sick. He’s gonna play ‘morrow. He never quits.

Momma told me later that Father’s sins had come home to roost. Pilgrim Guy an’ the ghost lady are punishment for his wickedness.

If so, why do David and Momma hurt so much?”

He shut the journal. “That’s as good of an account as you’ll get. But the Rider knew exactly what he wanted. Dave and your mother, Lana, more than likely.”

“What do you mean ‘play tomorrow’?” Lana wondered.

“It’s a long story.” He put the journal back and shut the safe. “That’s best told another time. Still, if this magician is who Angie and Karen think, brace yourselves, guys, this is going to get really ugly. The Child will kill him.”

“Come on, Lex. Maybe in a fight….” Clark disagreed.

“No, Clark.” The billionaire handed the two guests a cup of coffee each. Hearing a knock at the window, he saw Spider-Man hanging on the window.

“Sorry, Lex, he is accompanying us up to Sanctuary,” Lana apologized.

“No problem,” Lex noted while opening the window. “You can use the door, you know?”

“I figured I’d make my entrance,” Spidey deadpanned while alighting on the carpet. “This is some place you’ve got here, Lex.”

“Thanks,” the billionaire expressed. “Any chance you can talk your friend into staying on the East Coast?”

“This again?” The Web Slinger sunk into the couch cushions and scratched his head. “Look, guys, I wish I could tell Doc Strange to stay put but he kind of marches to his own drummer. I asked him to stay away. The Valkyrie has too. The Doc is really obsessed. And I’ve seen our dark boy threaten him too.”

“I told them the Child would kill him,” Lex reiterated.

“Doc will bring back up which means…” Spidey shook his head. “Great. As if I’d love to see those two fight.”

“Those two?” Clark wondered.

“Our boy against this big green bruiser named the Hulk,” Spidey explained. “I’ve survived several meetings with him.”

Lex nodded. “The campus would be toast if they went after each other there. I’d rather let Dr. Kane explain this one to all of you. Besides Ursa Major and Darkstar have faced him as well.” As the phone rang, he answered it, talking into it before hanging up. “That was Dr. Kane. The session’s been cancelled this morning. He’s working with Professor Dubois. Spider-Man, if you’re willing, I’ll fly you back to New York no questions asked if you’ll help us.”

“As I said, Lex, I’ve already told the Doc. Once he’s set, he’s not going to listen. No offense but given Daddy Lionel’s role, I doubt he’d listen to you either,” the costumed hero retorted.

“And given his role, he’d blow the top off of everything Dave’s worked for all of his life!” Lex bellowed in frustration. “Sorry. That wasn’t directed at you. I can’t believe that man is such a pompous ass!”

“That he can be,” Cybelle concurred. “And while a good one, your idea is unnecessary, Alexander. I warned him myself this morning. Come, you’re all needed.”

As they stepped through, Spidey mused, She warned him? Oh great! Why do I think *that* just backfired?

 


Chapter 5 [UMC]

Karen sat at her station, staring at a chart and trying to make heads or tails of it. These late nights are murder! She guzzled another cup of coffee for a dose of caffeinated charge before heading down the hall toward the ICU.

As she did so, she nearly ran into Cuddy who was walking quickly in the other direction. “Sorry.”

“Karen, what is it?” the radiologist asked.

“Long night, Dr. Cuddy,” the nurse apologized. “My brother’s dealing with more than usual.”

Recalling the scene back in Princeton, Cuddy felt a chill running up and down her spine. “I see. I spoke to Angie earlier. Apparently, there’s some testing going on this morning. I say it’s about time. You know, House is really good with mysteries. Maybe….”

Karen shook her head. “I appreciate it, Dr. Cuddy. Given what happened at Princeton though, I think we might keep that as a Plan B. Again, I’m sorry about the inconvenience.” With that, she headed back to her rounds.

Cuddy eyed the nurse’s back with worry. “What’s going on now?” She headed toward Diagnostics. Knocking on the door, she stuck her head in. “Got a minute?”

What the Hell? House looked away from the whiteboard where he and his team worked away on another case. Unless it was über-important, she wouldn’t interrupt him in mid-case. He quirked his eyebrow and tilted his head slightly to the left. “Cameron, take the marker. Keep going until Teacher gets back.” He walked outside and shut the door. “Let me guess, you suddenly want to jump me here in the hallway?”

“You wish,” Cuddy retorted. “What’s the case?”

He looked at her strangely. “Now the social stuff? What happened, Cuddy? Life among us serfs bore you?” Seeing the Glare, he mentally backpedaled. “Oh-kay….the doggie died. Wait you don’t have one. Your team’s boycotting the latest case. That can’t be it. I know. They’re starting to sag?” As she wasn’t taking the bait and his leg was hurting too much to stand up straight, he leaned up against the wall and dry swallowed three Vicodin. Then he put his palm to her forehead. “Nope. That feels normal.”

“Glad you kept it there,” she told him.

“I was going to check down there next,” he jabbed. “Cuddy, what is it? I do have a case!”

She sighed, “Has Angie Dubois talked to you in the last week?”

“About her husband’s late night screaming sessions? He woke me up last night,” he complained while rolling his eyes. “His sister was there. I almost went there myself to tell him to shut up.”

She arched her brow, not wanting to think of that scene. “And be pounded into peanut butter the next minute? Gee thanks, House, I think we can deal with you as you are.”

“Why, Cuddy! That almost sounded like concern for my welfare,” he assumed, giving her a smug look.

“Don’t let it go to your head, House. Keep an eye on him during your guest lecture next week,” she advised before heading back toward Radiology.

He frowned. Fortunately, he had been up, anticipating the latest nightmare would be coming somewhere around 3:00 AM. He’d been off by ten minutes. He’s going to explode, raving about some stupid sideshow magician and demons. I still think he’s nuts!

His right leg burned from the injury three months earlier. While he had told no one, he suspected the cause. Those crack heads started the infarction up again. Great! While his next door neighbor hollered, he was busy slashing his leg and bleeding it to be sure that the poisons didn’t build up in his blood stream. Cuddy would insist I get the damn thing cut off this time if she knew. Better she and Cameron don’t! He limped back into the room. “Quiz time, Kiddies! What did you decide?”

Chase raised his hand. “Cameron and I think it’s lung expotsia.”

House smirked. “Wow. They date and make decisions together too! Careful, Chase. She’ll start keeping certain things in a jar if you get my drift.”

“We can agree, you know?” Cameron retorted.

“And now, she’s defending her man. Should have known when you stopped waiting on me, there was something going on,” the head doctor taunted her. “Foster?”

“Are you finished?” the neurologist inquired, crossing her arms.

“Why? No, don’t tell me—you’re doing the Foreman! You guys!” House continued. “Oh all right. You’re agreeing with them? Whoa!”

“Classic symptoms, House. I even did the other two tests from your article,” Foster pointed out. “Spots in the upper corner of each lung.”

He looked at the two veterans. “See what happens when someone reads the manual first? Makes it easier, doesn’t it? Okay, stick this turkey with ten cc’s of neroxin and another 25 of bidjoxin. Two days in bed and some antibiotics should close the case.”

Cameron and Chase rolled their eyes at the bait. While they liked her, Foster could be almost schizophrenic in terms of being a suck up and then a hard ass.

House shooed them out of the room before collapsing into the chair and dealing with the burning in his leg. As at PPTH, he didn’t show weakness in front of the Ducklings. Opening a drawer, he found a syringe and a small bottle of morphine. After prepping the needle, he shot it into his arm. “Between this and Dubois’ moods, how am I going to get through this presentation on Monday? Great.”

 


Chapter 6 [New Sanctuary]

Dave sat by the fountain, trying to calm himself before Adam started his exam. Deeply he breathed, sending soothing feelings through himself and bracing for what was to come. Both he and the Child trusted Emma and Sarah to look for just those memories relevant to this instance.

Strangely though, the Child remained silent, sequestering himself from any discussion on the topic. Yet his anger rose in waves. His desire for vengeance festered on itself. He was making no doubt that he was watching and waiting for the opportunity.

Great. Dave sighed, realizing what that could mean.

“Dave?” Lex asked, stepping into the room with the others. Seeing him there, he asked them, “Sorry but I need a minute with him.” When they had returned to the main part of the facility, he sat down next to him. “They’re back, huh?”

The professor nodded. “Must feel like you’re a kid again, huh? Look at me, the modern nutcase.”

Lex shook his head. “You have a reason for being like this, Dave. Cut that out. I’m more worried about the Child and Strange.”

“He’s being quiet. It scares me,” Dave admitted.

“Knowing how he feels about Strange, it should,” the billionaire agreed. “I told Chloe and the others about that a few minutes ago.”

“Cybelle would understand too but she’s got too much to do in Althanor,” Dave lamented before his senses told him differently. He glanced up in surprise to see his sister standing there on the other side of the fountain.

“As much as you want to believe differently, I watch you and Deirdre constantly,” the high priestess corrected him. She put her fingers in the water, sending ripples through them. “Remember when you used to do that for me?”

“In the river down in the Lower Valley when the ghost would leave us alone,” he agreed sadly.

“Before the Rider’s return and that day.” She walked around the fountain and sat down next to them. “It wasn’t for you to protect us at that point. You did your best for me, Dave.”

“But Strange’s failure brought the crap on our heads. Even with the Gruesome Threesome gone, I still have the nightmares,” Dave disagreed.

“Isobel is influencing you as she did before. As Alexander pointed out, what Strange did or didn’t do is not your fault. You’ll defend this place and your friends. I know the Child is ready.”

“Any word from Nai-Jin?” Dave inquired.

“It will happen soon at the peak of this moon,” she reported.

Lex stared at him and then at her. “The full moon happens on Halloween! Day after tomorrow!”

“Indeed.” She glanced at her brother. “In your studies, Bro, do you know about what happens when you change under a Halloween full moon?”

“1990 all over again,” he muttered tersely. “Lichtenfeld did that when she struck Deirdre down.”

“And your campus still reels from the aftershocks seventeen years later. Once more, it will happen, goddess help us,” she advised. “Strange will do this to us through his foolish purpose. I have warned him not to interfere. However, his forces will be in place by tonight. By Monday, he will be here. Nai-Jin has seen it.”

“The prophetess,” Lex assumed, knowing for years that there was such a person but only learning her name now.

“Yes but that must remain with you, Alexander,” she declared firmly. “Now come, the others await us.”

Dave nodded. “I’ve scared them enough I guess.”

“It’s going to be all right, Dave,” she told him.

“Nobody’s blaming you,” Lex added as they headed for the lab.

****

[Lab]

Sarah paced about the area, feeling anxious about the expedition into the Child’s psyche. On several other occasions, she had seen the perpetual nightmare there and had no wish to repeat the experience.

“We’re going to be fine,” Emma reassured her. “He knows we’re not there to intrude but to help.”

“I know. It’s just…scary,” the teen admitted.

“That’s why he’s the way he is. It’ll be all right,” Emma informed her. “We’ll be ready in a minute.” She walked into the private viewing area and up to Adam. “He’s coming in.”

“I know.” The geneticist turned to her. “I need you to be careful, all right? No unnecessary chances. You know better than anyone what lurks in his nightmare-scape.”

She shuddered. “He’s there, Adam. The Child knows only anger and pain.”

“Hey. As if I’m going to let you and Sarah go in there alone,” he assured her. “Remember, we’re here.”

“Thanks, Adam. I appreciate that,” she expressed.

He embraced her tightly. “No problem. Let’s get to the bottom of this.”

She walked back out to see Dave sitting in the middle of the Dojo and trying to compose himself still. “It’s all right.”

“I know Emma. I just can’t believe that loser’s back after all of these years,” Dave retorted while lying down.

Angie squeezed his hand. “And we’ll deal with him together. Understand? Now relax.” She kissed him. “I’m right here. So are the students.”

“I know,” he agreed. Then he closed his eyes. “I’m going under. Emma?”

She fired a psionic burst, linking their minds.

As soon as he was asleep, Sarah slipped into the Nightmare.

****

[Dave’s Nightmare]

An icy breeze blew across Sarah’s nose, stirring her almost immediately. While she wanted to deny it, the screaming and laughter didn’t give her a choice. Her eyes snapped open to find herself in the middle of a snow covered field under a dark overcast sky Given the time of the year she supposed this was, she wasn’t surprised that the trees were bare.

Still, the scent of evil hung heavy in the air…and hopelessness. My God! What could survive here?

“Sarah?” Emma asked, putting her hand on the teen’s shoulder.

The dreamer jumped. “Emma! Oh wow. What is this?”

“Rowenshire. This is where Professor Dubois lived before he met Karen and the others,” Emma pointed out. “Look to your left.”

Sarah saw the large white house. “Is that where….he?”

“This is where the Rider and his wife settled and where their daughter lived as well,” Emma recounted. Hearing the battle happening, she urged, “Come on!”

As mistresses of the dreamscape, they knew how to speed across such expanses. In the blink of an eye, they stood on the ridge’s lip where they witnessed Strange’s defeat at the Rider’s and ghost’s hands.

“We have to help!” Sarah insisted.

“We can’t do anything. You know that. This happened in the past,” Emma reminded her.

They both heard Dahak pronounce, Enough! I want him to live and remember this failure! Do not return, Mortal. For the next time, we will kill you horribly. Interfere with the Destroyer and he will wreck his vengeance on you. This is my Will, Fool Magician!

Then they saw Strange disappear in a fiery flash.

“The Destroyer? Isn’t that the Professor’s extreme form?” Sarah queried.

“The fiery thing that Isobel turned the Child into last summer,” Emma told her. “Back to the house.”

They arrived back at the house to hear Strange quash Dave and Cybbie’s hopes and to see the teenager run outside.

“What a bastard,” Emma chastised. “Come on; there’s one more thing.”

As they hurried back across the snow, they heard the mocking laughter echoing from the Valley below.

“Is that Lichtenfeld?” Sarah huffed.

“Yes or her father,” Emma indicated as they saw their quarry kneeling in the snow. “Remember he can’t see us.”

As they approached, they could see the scar glowing on his right hand. The tears ran down his anguished face.

Suddenly he slapped his hands over his ears. “Shut up! GODDAMMIT! AH SAID SHADDAP!”

“That almost sounded….like,” Sarah pointed out.

Emma nodded. “The Child. It was….”

Then he turned toward them. “Wha’d’ya want? Git LOST!”

“Emma, you said….”

Emma shook her head, cursing herself for not remembering how interactive the dreamscape could be. You should have remembered what happened before!

“Ya wanna make fun ‘a us too, huh? Like dumb magician!” he growled, stalking toward the duo. With each steps, his eyes glowed more with yellow light.

Emma fired a burst trying to calm him down but to no effect. “This is too quick! We’re accelerating it!”

Fortunately for them, the angry teen saw Strange and Wong leaving. “HEY! Magician! Ya ain’t leavin’ yet!” Forgetting about the women, he turned and ran toward the two men. He tackled the man servant to the ground, knocking the materials he was carrying across the snow.

Strange chanted a spell, binding the teen in mystic bonds. “I tried to help you and this is what we get for thanks.”

Dave screamed, wrenching against the bonds. As he did, the glow in his eyes went from yellow to red. The bonds seemed to disappear into him. His right eye closed, signaling that the transformation had indeed occurred.

“Ah’m gonna whup ya’ll, DUMASS!” the Child growled, channeling the dark energy from the bonds into his hands and hitting the magician with them despite the latter’s shielding. “Yer gonna pay, BOY!” Using telekinesis, he picked Strange up and flung him against the barn, not giving him to use any protective spells.

“He…he’s going to kill him,” Sarah realized.

“Unless we stop this,” Emma agreed before hitting the Child with another mind burst.

“Ah told ya to beat it!”

“He isn’t worth it!” Emma yelled at him. “Look at the door. LOOK!”

The Child saw his sister and grandmother look in horror at the scene before them. “COME ON! DAMMIT!” He collapsed again, convulsing on the snow.

Cybelle rushed out and hugged her brother. “Fight it! It’s ‘kay! Fight!”

And with that, everything blurred……

****

[New Sanctuary]

Emma and Sarah almost jumped out of their sleep. “Wow!”

“Not a minute too soon!” Adam told them in relief. “I just raised the force field around the Dojo. Follow me!”

They rushed out to find the others watching the Dojo in horror.

Inside of it, the Child was sleep walking or rather—sleep raging, throwing himself up against the sides of the force field and hitting it with mind blasts and dark fire.

“What did you two do?” Max queried.

Logan yelled from where he was watching the controls. “Adam! At this rate, the field’s going to collapse in thirty seconds!”

Lex shook his head. “Let me.”

“Lex! You can’t!” Chloe protested.

“I have to. Lana and Angie, get ready,” the billionaire insisted. “I’ve seen him like this.” He walked up to the edge of the field just as it shorted out. “Hey! Wake up!” He grabbed onto the Child and shook him. “IT’S OVER! WAKE UP! MAGICIAN IS GONE! YOU HEAR ME? HE’S GONE!”

As he did, the Child struggled.

“It’s me, Alex. You’re scaring me and Momma. Please stop. Please!” Lex continued.

Chloe took a step forward but Adam stopped her. “He’s doing the right thing.”

“What?” she asked.

“He’s using the fact that he was a part of his life at the time,” Angie guessed. “Before any of us were.”

Emma, can you…well…help me?” Lex asked.

She nodded and focused, making herself appear as Lillian. “David? Please stop.”

The Child’s eyes snapped open. “A…auntie, bad men?”

“I know. But your grandmother and I sent them away. It’s okay. I’m sorry, Dear Boy.”

Fortunately, the Child was too distraught to use his own abilities to penetrate the illusion. He grabbed onto them both and sobbed. “Scared ya ‘gain, Alex. Ah’m bad.”

“No, David, ya ain’t bad,” Lex assured him, making himself sound as close as he might have at four or five years of age. “Cry if it makes you feel better. It’s okay.”

Dave came to the fore in the midst of the deluge which came at that point.

In the process, Lex simply held on supportively; his own eyes watering from the Hell his father’s mistake was wrecking on his friend. “It’s okay. I’m here. Momma’s helping Ms. Janet and Cybbie in the house.” He looked at the others with relief. “It’s over for now. Can I help him to one of the guest rooms?”

“Sure,” Adam agreed. “You know where they are.” After they had left, he sighed, “What did you and Emma see, Sarah?”

“It was a cold, dark and icy place,” the dreamer replied, wincing at the memory.

Emma rubbed her forehead. “We were at the old house, Adam. We saw Strange lose to Dahak, the Rider and the ghost. And then, he said the most horrible thing to them.”

“That we weren’t important,” Cybelle interjected. “When balanced against the entire world.” She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a small scar on her arm. “This is from that day. Dave doesn’t know but he burned me while we were in the snow later. Keira wanted me to keep it to remind me of what he’s capable of.”

“Comrades, this has the makings of a disaster,” Laynia admonished. “Especially if Strange has the ones called the Defenders with him.”

“And the Hulk,” Mikhail concurred, still recalling their battle in Siberia years earlier.

“What is the big deal about this stupid Hulk creep?” Max protested. “So the Child kicks his ass? BIG DEAL!”

Spidey shook his head. “Not that easy. He gets madder, he gets stronger. The longer they fight, the stronger he gets.”

“And the Child feeds off anger and pain, getting stronger as well,” Adam added.

“And there are other things to consider,” Cybelle interjected. “The conditions. Pray, my friends, that the fight doesn’t take place on Monday night.”

“So it’s Halloween?” Clark asked. “I’m going to hate asking this but what does this have to do with it?”

“Plenty,” Karen indicated. “As I remember from your Professor’s notes in high school, there was one situation we all dreaded. In 1990, we got it down here full brunt.”

Adam nodded. “The fight between him and Lichtenfeld on campus.”

“It was on Halloween under a full harvest moon. He changes under those conditions and he completely loses control,” Lex added while walking back into the room. “We can ask Dr. Coltrane or Dean Sommers because they saw the whole thing. I remember hearing about it later.”

“What caused Papa to go off like that?” Penny asked.

“Your mother,” Karen informed her. “The ghost struck her down with her cancer touch. Dave went berserk.” She shook her head. “Not again.”

Adam glanced at his team. “You all will be there and on notice.”

“Hopefully we can talk some sense into Strange and his friends,” Darkstar agreed. “Spider-Man?”

“I gotta make sure my insurance is paid up first but I’ll be there,” the Web Slinger indicated.

“Alicia, can you be ready to help?” Adam requested.

“Sure, Dr. Kane,” Alicia agreed.

“We’ll all be ready,” Martin added.

“All of us,” Lana asserted.

Spidey glanced sadly at the two Soviets, knowing the size of fight this could come down to. This is going to be a war.


Onto Part 2