Marvel Spotlight (Marvel;Re)/Talon of Blood

Talon of Blood is a Marvel;Re short story, part of the Marvel Spotlight label. Morbius, the Living Vampire, stars as the protagonist of this story as he is summoned to the Principality of Madripoor by its head of state, Tyger Tiger, to investigate a mysterious massacre that has ensued in the nation. This one-shot is written by Jacky 50A, with input from GazzaB9.

Synopsis
Something has been unleashed in Madripoor, and now much of the island-state's population has to die to pay the price of a fool's folly. Michael Morbius, better known as Morbius, the Living Vampire, has been hired to investigate the source of this calamity in the rich district of Hightown. Little does he know that what he is about to encounter is unlike anything he has ever faced...

Transcript (Unfinished)
=== Lowtown, Madripoor === 06:00 PM Walking down the middle of an empty road in the dark, Morbius, the Living Vampire, coldly observes his surroundings in his hoodie sweatshirt. Being the only person currently walking the streets of Madripoor easily makes him the center of attention of the locals, who are seen huddled up in their various settlements, from huts to motels. Some even observe the Living Vampire from the sewers, peeking through the storm drains. The Greek pseudo-vampire knows this but ignores them, silently making his way to a building identified as Madame Joy's Brothel. Standing in front of the dimly-lit building, Morbius snarls and thinks to himself.


 * Morbius: "Every rendezvous point there is, and she picked a brothel. Whatever."

Morbius proceeds to knock on the door three times, but only silence greets his act. He wastes no time and speaks in a volume loud enough to be heard by the crowded inhabitants of the brothel, but quiet enough to not be heard as a shout.


 * Morbius: "This is Morbius, the Living Vampire. Your leader asked me to handle your problem. You've got nothing to worry about."

After several seconds, the door opens and Morbius is greeted by a boy with an eyepatch.


 * Boy: "(Takes a good look at Morbius) You a superhero from the 'States?"
 * Morbius: "(Sigh) Are you really going to make a mess out of that, chump?"
 * Boy: "You know we, Madripoorians, have our own superheroes, right?"
 * Morbius: "Seems to me that you all got slaughtered by whatever's prowlin' out there."
 * Boy: "Hey, just sayin'. Never heard of Morbius the Living Vampire myself. You know Wolverine?"
 * Morbius: "Yeah. Tough mutant, Canadian, has six claws, and a mean brawler. Didn't ask him to help you, instead?"
 * Boy: "If you're asking me, I'm just as dumbfounded as you are in this. Ms. Tyger should have the answers you need. Come on."

Morbius enters the brothel and is led by the eyepatch boy to the third floor to an office. Along the way, he sees many different Madripoorians, from farmers to businessmen, getting their wounds tended by prostitutes and surviving doctors. In the many occurrences he sees, Morbius witnesses a woman shooting a heavily wounded young man in his 20s with a gun equipped with a homemade suppressor. The Living Vampire is baffled by this as he listens to the gunshot as clear as crystal despite its reduced sound.


 * Morbius: "(In his thoughts) Was that an euthanasia, or an exaction of revenge?"

On the top floor, Morbius enters the office and meets the brothel's titular owner, three other people the same age as the eyepatch boy, and the official ruler of Madripoor herself: Tyger Tiger.


 * Tyger Tiger: "Mr. Morbius. You have no idea how glad we are to see you. I take it you had a pleasant flight?"
 * Morbius: "You could say so, yeah."
 * Madame Joy: "So this is the vampire you were referring to, Tyger? I thought he'd be a little thicker."
 * Whisper Doll: "(Chuckles) Madame, not everyone can be as voluptuous as you are. Even vampires!"
 * Madame Joy: "Oh, you flatter me, my dear!"
 * Gazing Nightshade: "Ms. Tyger, I do not mean to doubt you, but are you sure he is up for the task?"
 * Morbius: "Well, she just told me to come here because there's a... monster that needs to be handled. I happen to be a expert of monsters myself, so I may be able to help. Frankly, I thought you would have contacted me because you require my medical skills."
 * Hexadecimal: "(Turns to Tyger) You didn't tell him what we're up against, did you?"

Morbius immediately turns to Tyger and raises an eyebrow.


 * Morbius: "This is outside my field of specialty, isn't it?"
 * Hexadecimal: "I mean, I get why she got you, because we're pretty sure that whatever metallic monstrosity that was tearin' apart Hightown a few hours ago could never expect a supernatural opponent like you. Nuh-uh, don't bother us with your pseudo-vampire schtick."
 * Morbius: "Hmph. I'm already here anyway, so I may as well help as much as I can."
 * Madame Joy: "Dear Tyger, have you anything to pay him with if he succeeds?"
 * Tyger Tiger: "(To Morbius) You find anything interesting or enticing in Hightown, you can take them home and make a fortune for yourself."
 * Morbius: "(Smirks) At least you didn't lie to me about giving me something that can cure my bloodthirst. But then, if you're handing me out rewards like that, I'd be stealing, and I'm no kleptomaniac."
 * Whisper Doll: "You're telling us that you didn't steal that sweatshirt of yours?"

Morbius stays silent for a while before answering the question.


 * Morbius: "I found this in a dumpster."
 * Whisper Doll: "And it happens to be an Under Armour in mint condition. Yeah, what a coincidence."
 * Morbius: "Look, in all fairness, none of you can pay me with rewards that could benefit me. I don't really need money since -"
 * Madame Joy: "Would one of my girls be a good reward for you, Mr. Morbius?"
 * Morbius: "(Flat) No."
 * Tyger Tiger: "Morbius, none of us here are saints, so you may as well accept my reward offer, yes?"
 * Morbius: "Yeah, yeah, we'll see. Now, do you mind telling me what we're dealing with?"
 * Tyger Tiger: "Take a seat, Living Vampire."
 * Morbius: "There are no more seats available for me."
 * Tyger Tiger: "Then sit on the floor. I won't explain until you sit down."

Morbius takes a while to take in Tyger's statement and decides to sit on the floor anyway.


 * Tyger Tiger: "(Inhales, exhales, then speaks) Here's the thing, Mr. Morbius... we don't know who or what is doing this to us. All we know is that it's a mechanical being and that it slaughtered most of Hightown's denizens, forcing them to evacuate to Lowtown. If you're wondering, I was already in Lowtown when disaster broke out."
 * Morbius: "How'd you know it's a mechanical being?"
 * Hexadecimal: "(Spins his chair to face Morbius) That would be because of me."
 * Norio (Eyepatch Boy): "Hexadecimal's a technopath. He knows machines better than any of us."
 * Morbius: "So it's a robot?"
 * Hexadecimal: "It's... (stands up and rubs his head while walking around) robot-adjacent. It's no cyborg, too. It's... complicated."
 * Morbius: "Anyone you know around here has seen it?"
 * Norio: "I overheard somebody saying that it looks like a metal birdman."
 * Morbius: "Any idea where it came from?"
 * Tyger Tiger: "We don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if it's got something to do with that American hooligan who arrived three or so hours ago, however. I am sure she's someone who you do not recognize, so she has little relevance in this."
 * Morbius: "Just give me the name, Tyger. If she is still alive, I'll bring her back here for questioning."
 * Tyger Tiger: "Black Mariah ringing any bells?"
 * Morbius: "Nope. For now, anyway. What's its last known location?"
 * Tyger Tiger: "Hightown."

Morbius facepalms and the Raksha and Madame Joy snigger at Tyger's reply. Tyger, on the other hand, surprisingly remains serious in her reply.


 * Tyger Tiger: "Morbius, I am not joking when I said that. That thing is practically all over Hightown. When I mobilized the police force to investigate the place, all of them disappeared the moment they entered the district's proximity. Disappeared, as in some of them were snatched away, while some of them were... reduced to ashes."
 * Morbius: "(Still sitting, rubs his chin) So this thing is like a predator? If so, then it's one heck of a territorial bastard."
 * Gazing Nightshade: "My doubt of your chance of success is beginning to increase, Mr. Vampire."
 * Morbius: "As always. (To Tyger) You want me to destroy the thing, I assume?"
 * Tyger Tiger: "Obviously. Having a giant killer robot-bird is not good for business around Madripoor."
 * Morbius: "Got it. You gonna send these kids as my back-up?"
 * Whisper Doll: "No."
 * Hexadecimal: "No."
 * Gazing Nightshade: "No."
 * Norio: "Can't risk it. Our powers aren't strong enough to contend with that thing in town."
 * Morbius: "Great. Once more into the fray by myself. Not that I mind working alone."

Tyger turns her head to Madame Joy, who instantly knows what she's up to. Standing up from her desk and opening a cabinet beneath it, she grabs a headset and gives it to Morbius, who examines it with confusion.


 * Morbius: "(Pauses for several seconds) Okay, I get what this is for, but I thought you had something smaller like, ear comms or something."
 * Tyger Tiger: "All those fancy ear comms are in Hightown, and you know what's in there. (Wears another headset herself) Gotta make due with what we've got."
 * Morbius: "(Puts on the headset) Alright, so I'm going in Hightown to kill or destroy the thing that's been making the mess and find out who's responsible for this. No back-up, no allies. Got it. Just like old times."
 * Tyger Tiger: "Do you have any more questions, Mr. Morbius?"
 * Morbius: "I was about to ask why you didn't call in the Avengers, the X-Men, or any other superhero groups. That was until I realized how much of a criminal hellhole this place is."
 * Madame Joy: "(Cocks a giant revolver beneath her desk cabinet) I beg your pardon, dear?"
 * Morbius: "I'm just saying. I'm practically working for criminals, and this is the first time I've done so."
 * Tyger Tiger: "Do you mind doing this assignment, Doctor Michael? Risk the lives of the rest of Madripoor?"
 * Morbius: "Absolutely not, Ms. Tyger. But one has to wonder why the thing you asked me to kill hasn't gotten here yet."

After saying so, Morbius immediately walks out of the office and talks to Tyger one last time via the headset's microphone before doing the assignment.


 * Morbius: "Don't worry. As long as you keep me posted, your nation's saved."

With that said, Morbius exits the building and begins to parkour from one building to another, making his way to Hightown under the cloak of the night.

Hightown, Madripoor
06:45 PM

Jumping and gliding from one building to another, Morbius cautiously moves from place to place to avoid the detection of his target. While standing on the roof a bank, he notices that aside from the odd debris and fires, the 'Madripoor Murderer' he's sent after didn't destroy much of Hightown's infrastructures. The buildings are relatively untouched, as do the roads, temples, and others. Corpses can be found scattered across the locale, displaying the brutal deaths of Hightown's many former inhabitants.


 * Morbius: "Heh. You should see the view from here, Tyger. Can't say I've ever seen death on this scale before."
 * Tyger Tiger: "I'm surprised you haven't been snatched away by the bird. Where are you now?"
 * Morbius: "I'm staying on top of the Trade Center. Seems like your bird's not interested in making me, an undead wannabe, a prey."
 * Tyger Tiger: "Keep searching for it. You'll never know when that thing strikes again."
 * Morbius: "Got it."

Morbius is about to depart from the Trade Center's rooftop until he notices a peculiar structure from afar which suddenly lights up. Intrigued, he asks Tyger about the place.


 * Morbius: "Tyger, do you know anything about a certain Japanese-looking place with a zen garden?"
 * Tyger Tiger: "One second. (Speaks to the Raksha) Any of you know a... Japanese-looking place with a zen garden?"
 * Norio: "A... zen garden? (Rubs his head) Hex, does the X-Mansion have a zen garden?"
 * Hexadecimal: "A garden, yes. A zen garden? No."
 * Gazing Nightshade: "Heh. It's been a long time since we've been there. That place was Magneto's greatest gift!"
 * Tyger Tiger: "So none of you use it anymore?"
 * Whisper Doll: "We've moved to Lowtown since Mr. Genius over here (Hexadecimal) is too stupid to operate the Danger Room or access Wikipedia from the supercomputer."
 * Hexadecimal: "Oh shut the f**k up!"
 * Tyger Tiger: "Morbius, the building you're looking at is the X-Mansion. It used to be the Raksha's residence until they moved to Lowtown."

Hearing this, Morbius squints his eyes and starts gliding towards the Madripoorian X-Mansion while keeping in contact with Tyger.


 * Morbius: "Well, guess what? The place just lit up like a Christmas tree. I'm going to investigate it. Seems to me there's more problem here than just a robotic serial killer running around. Be back in a minute."

Just after he finishes his sentence, a rather sizeable shadow swoops above him, instantly alerting the false vampire. Within less than a second, Morbius stops his gliding and slams himself into the ground below, snarling and scanning his surroundings with primal ferocity. After seeing that there's no one in his vicinity, Morbius continues his journey with haste.


 * Tyger Tiger: "Morbius, did -"
 * Morbius: "Pretty sure the bird knows I'm here by now. Tyger, maintain radio silence until I tell you do speak up. This whole ordeal is gonna get a whole lot messier, and I don't want him to get the drop on you and your people by tracing our comms. Well, that's what I think anyway. Morbius out."

While Morbius is continuing his journey, a pair of menacing blue eyes flash out from near a building, watching the Living Vampire's movement. X-Mansion Landing on a garden, Morbius wastes no time to enter the exquisite mansion. Inside, all he sees are tidy rooms, some devoid of furniture while some are somehow filled with them, including European furniture that look very out of place within the otherwise Asian style.


 * Morbius: "That's odd. Why would..."

Morbius' attention instantly diverts itself elsewhere when his senses briefly pick up a unique scent from another part of the mansion: the distinct scent of a living being of flesh and blood. His hearing also picks up the sound of electronic rumblings and a sound that undoubtedly screams out download complete.


 * Morbius: "Gotcha."

He immediately sprints towards the source of the scent at a speed so great humans won't even be able to see him. Unfortunately, his pursuit stops when he hears a rumbling in one of the rooms he has just passed through. Now, he has picked up a scent unlike anything he's ever known. Tilting his head to the room beside him, Morbius decides to investigate it first. Opening the sliding door, he finds the room similar in condition to the first one he saw: full of furniture. Only this time, the furniture actually fit in with the Asian interior. Nevertheless, Morbius is suspicious of them and examines them thoroughly, starting from the table in front of him.

Taking a knee, Morbius smells the table and touches it, sliding his hand across the surface.


 * Morbius: "(Nods his head and shrugs his shoulders) Heh. I guess this table's just a table apparently."

The Living Vampire is wrong.

In the next panel, Morbius suddenly gets flung out of the room and into the garden, sending him crashing on to a stone wall so hard it cracks. Recovering, Morbius cracks his neck and gets up, readying his combat stance. Seconds later, the furniture in each and every room transform into grotesque semi-liquid beings reminiscent of the infamous Symbiotes. Difference is, they're not Klyntar; they're their predators: the Xenophages.


 * Morbius: "Oh, you've got to be kidding me!"

The Xenophages deliver painful screeches in unison, screaming so hard Lowtown's inhabitants can actually hear them as if they're roaring next to them. Morbius himself gets temporarily disabled by this, only for him to recover quickly from the nauseating sensation and greet the aliens in combat. Despite the Xenophages' superior strength, the Living Vampire's supernatural speed allows him to keep up with them. When a Xenophage manages to restrain him with its shapeshifting ability, constricting him, Morbius responds by biting the said alien, eliciting a curious reaction.

After freeing himself from the Xenophage swarm by gliding away, Morbius notices that the Xenophage he bites begins to convulse violently, hitting away its kin in the process. Knowing what has happened, Morbius smiles.


 * Morbius: "So that's what happens when I bite an alien. Now, now, my slimy thrall, how about you give your family a little time out?"

With that, Morbius' Xenophage rampages against its former allies. Unfortunately, it finds no success in overcoming the onslaught and the Xenophage quickly returns to the fold when five other members of its race bite its body, 'curing' Morbius' vampiric enzymes.


 * Morbius: "Oh, great. Just as I was about to throw a party."

Before he can react, the Xenophages immediately surround him, constricting and restraining his entire body. Within moments, the aliens immobilize him with their paralytic saliva and slowly crack every single bone in his body, also destroying his headset. Screaming in pain, Morbius' healing factor struggle to keep him up in the fight until it eventually becomes very clear that he's just prolonging his suffering. Despite this, the Living Vampire has no intentions to surrender. Unfortunately, by the time his bones have been broken and healed for five times, there's nothing he can do to free himself.


 * Morbius: "(Grits his teeth) So this is how it's gonna be, huh? Gettin' violated by a bunch of..."

Morbius' remark stops when a lantern suddenly drops upon the Xenophage, bathing them with fire and giving Morbius the chance to free himself. Although they do not have an aversion towards fire, the shock of being suddenly burnt is enough to disperse them. Kicking away a Xenophage from his foot, Morbius stands and looks up to see his saver standing on the rooftops: a female red ninja with an unmistakable identity.

Seemingly hearing his question, Elektra immediately escapes the scene, leaving Morbius alone with the Xenophage horde. However, the intrepid vampire does not intend to increase the level of confusion that's currently weighing on his head. Morbius immediately leaps on to the rooftops, the Xenophages following him (and Elektra). Gliding and weaving through Hightown, Morbius' superior speed immediately allows him to overtake Elektra and catch her. Ultimately, he corners her in a sewage treatment plant. Elektra's words are interrupted when the Xenophages finally catch up to the duo, forcing both of them to flee. The two of them split to different directions, Elektra apparently escaping the treatment plant while Morbius hides within a room full of tanks. Not the explosive kind, of course. Once inside, Morbius seals the door so the Xenophages may not follow him in. Breathing relief, Morbius attempts to have a quiet time by himself to recompose himself, but ends up facing the barrel of a gun, aimed by a rather enormous woman. Raising both of his hands more as a show of sarcasm than fear, Morbius steps back to take a good look at her.
 * Morbius: "Elektra? What on Earth are you doing here?"
 * Morbius: "Look, I didn't mean to scare you -- if you even feel so -- but I just want to talk!"
 * Elektra: "Sorry, Morbius. I don't talk with..."
 * Morbius: "Oh great! Run!"


 * Morbius: "Well, hello there, Black Mariah."
 * Black Mariah: "How'd you know who I am, punk?"
 * Morbius: "Tyger thought you had something to do with whatever's made this place its killing ground. Anything to say about that, Mariah?"
 * Black Mariah: "Tyger? You mean that whiny so-called president of this s**thole? (Cocks her gun) F**k her! I ain't got nothin' to do with that mad-ass bird flyin' around killing everyone! I was here just to have a vacation! I'm tellin' you, I'm sick of havin' to deal with Cage and his loonies every day o' the week, y' know what I'm sayin'?"
 * Morbius: "Oh, so you're a supervillain then?"
 * Black Mariah: "B***h, don't you f*****g think I don't know who you are! Morbius, the Livin'-f*****g-Vampire! Every single person on Earth, and I woulda never expected to encounter you here, let alone in New York!"
 * Morbius: "Alright, just relax, okay? I don't give a damn if you're a supervillain or not, 'cause I'm not here to arrest anyone just because I'm a 'superhero'. Besides, it's up to anyone's guess why you, a Luke Cage baddie, would be here, vacation or otherwise."
 * Black Mariah: "I got enough money from my operations back on Harlem to fund a lil' field trip o' my own, y' know. (Lowers her gun) Been waitin' a long time to see the world outside of brick walls, prison bars, an' all that."
 * Morbius: "Good to know, Mariah. Do you mind telling me about how you got to this place?"

Mariah takes a brief moment to think, not wishing to spill unnecessary details that could be detrimental to her. As much as how Morbius is currently not her enemy, she doesn't want to her actions and businesses exposed to this creature in the near future.

A brief moment of silence ensues between the two until Morbius breaks the silence to continue his mission. Morbius raises his eyebrow and processes the amulet's name.
 * Black Mariah: "I was stayin' in the Sovereign Hotel with mah bodyguard, Tanner, before I heard a bunch o' people screaming like hell! We didn't know what was happening, but we just ran the f**k away from the place and hid here. Did I see how the cock look like? S***t no, but that thing's got blue and silver all over its paintjob. You shoulda seen how it killed all those unfortunate cucks. Ain't something I'd commend, but I've never seen anyone or anything kill that fast."
 * Morbius: "Huh, so you didn't come alone. Seems to me that you're all alone in this place, Mariah. Where's this Tanner person of yours?"
 * Black Mariah: "M**********r's in heaven, now. Just after I entered the door, big bird snatched the poor man away and I swore I coulda heard him being torn to pieces. I'd rather lose a few hundred pounds starving in this place than go outside and get eaten by a killer robot. By the way, what the f**k was chasing you?"
 * Morbius: "(Leans on a tank and raises his hands) Don't ask me. Those things were furniture for a while before they turned into murderous aliens."
 * Black Mariah: "Heh. Aliens in the Madripoor. This place is just as f*****d as New York. Ever wonder why'd you freaks tend to come from NYC?"
 * Morbius: "Don't ask me. I was Greek myself."
 * Black Mariah: "You're Greek? What kinda f****n name is Morbius?"
 * Morbius: "What? You think I would've been named Hercules? Achilles? Odysseus?"
 * Black Mariah: "Pretty much!"
 * Morbius: "I'm going to kill the robot bird now. You stay here, alright? I don't want you to die a needless death."
 * Black Mariah: "I was just thinkin' about that, y' know. But, considering those slitherin' b*****s could sniff me out of my joint, how about you get me somewhere else safer?"
 * Morbius: "They won't be able to smell you in the midst of all this s**t."
 * Black Mariah: "Bulls**t! Get me out of here and I'll tell you s'more things about the bird."
 * Morbius: "Spill it. I'll drop you off at the police headquarters. Trust me, there aren't any police officers there."
 * Black Mariah: "Not that I mind. Now, now, y' see, I went here carryin' a one of a kind amulet! When I was escapin' from the bird, I dropped the amulet and I was pretty sure the bird snatched it without noticin' me."
 * Morbius: "Let me guess, it wore it and now it's stronger?"
 * Black Mariah: "Honestly, I'm not even sure how that thing works. But, the last time someone put it on, she went full-on Godzilla! It's some sick-ass street magic!"
 * Morbius: "I'll keep that in mind. If your... what do you call your amulet?"
 * Black Mariah: "The Supersoul Stone!"
 * Morbius: "It... has nothing to do with the Infinity Stones, right?"
 * Black Mariah: "Man, f**k everyone for associating magical stones with that purple dick-chinned f**k! It ain't no freaking Infinity Stone!"
 * Morbius: "Now that's a relief. Got any suggestions on where I should find the bird?"
 * Black Mariah: "You know it can find you, right?"
 * Morbius: "I'd prefer fighting it in its nest, so I can also know how that thing got here."
 * Black Mariah: "Hmph. (Thinks) Best guess is the top floor of the Sovereign Hotel, if that thing acts like a real bird. Before you go thinkin' that I know some sort of conspiracy behind it, I'll tell ya this: when Tanner and I first saw it, it came bursting from the upper floor."
 * Morbius: "Alright then. You know, I can extract some more information from you by mesmerizing you into telling me more, but since you've been a cooperative villain, I won't do that. Now, (mesmerizes Black Mariah, hypnotizing her) I want you to be quiet and fall asleep so you don't make a mess out of things, alright? Good. (Whispers) Sorry about this."

With Mariah enthralled and asleep, Morbius carries her and gets out of the sewage plant, noticing that the Xenophages are gone. This does not mean that he's not cautious, however, knowing how they can disguise themselves as mundane objects. Nevertheless, Morbius begins to make his way to the Sovereign Hotel, first stopping by the Madripoor Police Force Headquarters. Inside the place, he discovers a number of surviving police officers, civilians, and a peculiar figure wearing an Egyptian-themed costume and holding a broken staff. Morbius' sudden appearance surprises them, but the Living Vampire quickly assures them that he's not against them.


 * Morbius: "(Quietly) Shh! It's alright. I'm not your enemy."
 * Egyptian Man: "Who are you? Why are you carrying the woman like that?"
 * Morbius: "Don't worry, she's fine. She's just asleep. Listen, I need you all to stay off the streets, alright? I know you've been doing that for a couple of hours, but there's a... bunch of disgusting creatures out there that I may have accidentally unleashed. I know, it's technically my fault, but right now, the best thing you all should do is to stay put, alright? Hide yourself and stay as quietly as possible, alright? (Puts down Black Mariah) Here, take care of her. I've got to kill the bird."
 * Egyptian Man: "And how do you plan on defeating the creature? Even I am unable to defeat it!"
 * Morbius: "Not to sound like a dick, but who are you, exactly?"
 * Egyptian Man: "I am Tarik Fayad, better known as Horus, the strongest hero of Madripoor."
 * Morbius: "Well, Horus, if I've learned anything from experience, it's that not every problem's solution is the strongest thing or being around town. You don't operate with a hammer; you operate with a scalpel."
 * Horus / Tarik Fayad: "Heh. Wise words, gaunt one. We wish you good luck. May you succeed in saving us all."
 * Morbius: "(Turns his head back to check on the situation outside) Much appreciated, Horus. Oh, by the way, why did the bird spare you?"
 * Horus / Tarik Fayad: "Spare me? Oh, I was dead, alright. He just didn't know that I don't die easy."
 * Morbius: "Okay, that does make sense to me, but I'll take it. Now, if you excuse me, I've got a bird to slay..."

-

Sovereign Hotel

Entering the hotel's lobby by gliding stealthily, Morbius examines the hotel's interior, disgusted by the amount of corpses that are lying around the place. He is no stranger to murder, but he has never seen so many corpses piled up together. Not since Christ's Crown.


 * Morbius: "For a robot, this thing kills like a demon."

Morbius continues his journey by examining the reception desk, discovering that the top floor is Level 100, which conveniently houses a large exhibition hall.


 * Morbius: "Level 100, huh? Sounds like a boss battle's waiting for me. This better be real, Mariah."

Before the Living Vampire departs, he notices an open journal beneath the hands of a dead receptionist. Moving the receptionist's hand away, Morbius notices an interesting reservation made several hours ago for the exhibition room on the top floor.


 * Morbius: "(Reading the journal) Huh. So it appears that a Mr. Geoffrey Wilder reserved the top floor's exhibit for a scientific conference of twelve people, including himself. Really inconspicuous, sir. Really inconspicuous."

After Morbius puts down the book, he proceeds to exit the reception desk, only to once again encounter Elektra, standing menacingly right in front of him. Despite this, he is more annoyed than afraid or confused as of now. Staring her steely eyes back with his own cold sight, Morbius confronts the ninja.


 * Morbius: "Okay, cut the cryptic s**t. What the hell are you doing here?"
 * Elektra: "Exacting my revenge."
 * Morbius: "(Briefly turns his head aside to watch out for the Xenophages) What? Against me? This is the first time we've met each other! What have I done to you?!"
 * Elektra: "No. Not against you. Against the one who... (slightly stutters) wiped out Madripoor's Hand chapter."
 * Morbius: "You... you can't be serious, right?"
 * Elektra: "We share the same target: the creature you are seeking to slay here."
 * Morbius: "Look, I don't mind an assist from you. I just don't get what you were doing in the X-Mansion earlier!"
 * Elektra: "I was trying to find the creature there, just like you."
 * Morbius: "(Menacingly walks towards Elektra, prompting her to step back herself) Bulls**t. Don't think I didn't hear the sound of a computer load, δολοφόνος (murderer)!"
 * Elektra: "βρυκόλακας (vampire; vrykolakas), you have much more blood on your fangs than I have on my hands."
 * Morbius: "(Pauses for a while) You're not wrong, but my point still stands. Do you..."
 * Elektra: "Tell me, Μιχαήλ, what care do you have of what I did, anyway? You took on this assignment yourself without considering that your employer is just as ambiguous as I am. This... is Madripoor, a lawless island whose population has been devastated by a single monstrosity. There are no heroes and villains here; just the hunters and the prey. You think yourself a hero, Living Vampire? You..."

Morbius interrupts Elektra in the middle of her speech, surprising her by choking and throwing her away with such a force that she's sent crashing to a wall. Fortunately, before she can create a commotion, Morbius catches and 'gently' puts her on the ground, the ninja landing flat on her backside. Before she can continue her words, Morbius gives her a piece of his mind.


 * Morbius: "(Bending his body, his face right in front of Elektra's) You being a hypocrite does not improve this situation. You wanna talk about moral ambiguity and the innocents who died in our bloody crusades for 'good'? We could go on and ramble about 'em for hours upon hours, and I'm telling you, δεν πειράζει! You wanna keep secrets from me? Fine! I won't be the one responsible for what disaster may fall upon you for that. But if you want to argue with me about the darker shades of heroism, don't you make me tear your throat out of that beautiful neck of yours."

For the first time in her life, Elektra is actually intimidated. Not by the content of his message, but by how utterly savage the Living Vampire has briefly become. For a moment, he nearly succumbs to the primal side of his cursed, yet scientific boon. But situation dictates that this is not the best time to bare his fangs and unleash his bloodlust. Not yet...

Calming himself down, Morbius stands back and gives his hand to help Elektra stand up, which she accepts without a second thought. The two look at each other in silence before it is broken by the screeches of the Xenophages, who have apparently found them.


 * Morbius: "Go! I'll meet you up top!"

Morbius quickly dashes to the fire escape while Elektra jumps away with leaps akin to a ballerina. Where she goes, Morbius isn't concern with. Only that they are going to meet on the top floor of the hotel to kill whoever's responsible for Hightown's calamity.

- Opening the fire escape door, Morbius enters the top floor sneakily. After shutting the door behind him, he immediately notices a peculiarity on the level he's in.


 * Morbius: "(Silently) This place is... empty. No corpses, no blood splats. Nothing. Really hope everyone didn't get disintegrated on this floor."

Morbius navigates around the eerily silent level devoid of any sign of murder. When he finally gets to the front of the exhibition room he was searching for, he encounters Elektra looking at a hole on the floor that extends all the way to the lobby. Black Mariah was honest all along.


 * Morbius: "Anything down there?"
 * Elektra: "A human corpse impaled by some kind of pole or staff. Whoever it was, it died a violent death. Did the slimes follow you?"
 * Morbius: "They don't know I'm here. Even for things like them, the speed of a vampire isn't something that can be easily followed."
 * Elektra: "Good. You ready to kill the bird?"
 * Morbius: "Let's kill this son of a..."
 * ???: "Then by all means, good luck, meatbags."

Morbius and Elektra immediately enter their combat stances upon hearing the mysterious voice, instinctively standing back-to-back to defend themselves against the incoming assault.


 * Elektra: "You see anything?"
 * Morbius: "I got nothing. My senses aren't picking up anything at all."

Quietness reigns for a moment until the two unanimously decide that there's no threat present in their location. Eventually, they walk towards the exhibition room's entry. Morbius opens the door and they bear witness to a strange yet grisly sight. Eleven corpses, the two of them faintly glowing like rainbows, are seen strewn across the room. A door-like portal is seen stuck on a wall as if it's glued by blood, connected by a many cables that lead to numerous machines. The computers set up on a number of tables display the same message on their monitors: ERROR.


 * Morbius: "What the f**k happened here?"
 * Elektra: "Morbius, you may want to look forward."
 * Morbius: "(Looks forward, his eyes widening in reaction to what he sees) Oh great."

On the stage of the exhibition, the head of a man is seen floating with the expression of terror on its face. Adding to that, the head spins around as if a hand is moving it. True enough, a pair of blue eyes flash from nothingness several feet above the head.


 * ???: "I admire your persistence, Living Vampire. But it is quite appalling for me to know that you did not make it here because of yourself."
 * Morbius: "Yeah, and I don't know s**t about you, so how about you explain yourself?"
 * ???: "(Throws the man's head to Morbius, who catches it with a single hand) Do you recognize that man?"
 * Morbius: "Tell me about him."
 * ???: "I'll give you a hint: you read his name on the lobby."

Morbius widens his eye in realization and looks at Elektra before once again making eye contact with the unknown being's blue eyes.

- 04:45 PM, top floor of the Sovereign Hotel Two hours ago, the top floor's exhibition room looked far more pleasant than it is right now, despite the presence of numerous tangled cables and machines. The view of a sunset more than made up for the mess within the exhibition, but alas, no one in the room had time to enjoy the beauty of nature. In the middle of the busy room, the person who is now nothing more than a decapitated head asks of his compatriots' progress. The Pride is working on a deadline... Robert and Tina Minoru, the Pride's resident dark magicians, were seen casting a grotesque spell that drew blood from a rather sizeable cauldron while reading the Abstract. As if moving on their accord, the blood from the cauldron gathered and formed a number of tentacles that seeped into the portal in front of them, which was stuck on a wall. Although the portal itself is currently inactive, its hollow form exposed the pool of blood that formed behind it, which soon emanated several tendrils that connected with the many dangling cables on the ground, acting as some sort of 'magical cable'.
 * Morbius: "Geoffrey Wilder? (Pauses) He of any relevance to you?"
 * ???: "Oh, he was the proudest fool I've ever known. His hubris was shameful, as did the company he had in mind."
 * Morbius: "What did you do to Mr. Wilder and the others?"
 * ???: "(Cackles) Oh, if these corpses could tell tales..."
 * Geoffrey Wilder: "Mr. Stein! I hope you and your wife have accomplished what you are assigned to do."
 * Victor Stein: "(Plugs in a giant cable into a generator and sarcastically answers) Don't worry about us, Wilder. Your patience will be paid well in due time."
 * Geoffrey Wilder: "We promised to summon the Gibborim by sundown, and it is quite clear that the sun is setting as we speak."
 * Janet Stein: "(Types in a number of commands in the computer) Time works differently in our masters' home dimension, Mr. Wilder. I am sure the Yorkes can attest to that."
 * Stacey Yorkes: "(Connecting a bunch of cables to the 4-D Time Portico with her husband) Unfortunately, they have become rather impatient nowadays, and I can only hope that they're not pissed off at us for summoning them late by one second."
 * Dale Yorkes: "If our calculations are correct, if we summon them by 5 PM, then by their dimension's timeline, we are summoning five hours earlier. Or a hundred years too late. You can never be sure of Limbo's passage of time. (Plugs another cable in a nail into the 4-D Time Portico and turns his aside his head) Mr. and Mrs. Minoru, how's the portal doing?"


 * Tina Minoru: "(Wipes some sweat off her forehead) That should do it. The Siege Perilous should bend to our will now."
 * Robert Minoru: "Be wary, you all. The Siege Perilous is among the most chaotic mystical artifacts there is. Even our magics can't keep it subservient to us for long."
 * Alice Hayes: "Are you implying that the Siege Perilous has a mind of its own?"
 * Tina Minoru: "Not one that even psychics like you or Xavier can handle. We predict our magics will subdue it for a minimum of three minutes, so I suggest we start now."
 * Catherine Wilder: "You two don't want a break? Both of you seem spent."
 * Robert Minoru: "For our children's survival and the Gibborim's promise, we dare sacrifice much. This is nothing."
 * Geoffrey Wilder: "That's the spirit. Steins, Yorkes, fire up the gizmos. Minorus, continue with the ritual. Deans, Hayes, get ready for fire control. Catherine and I will monitor the Black Mirror. See if we're opening the right gateway to the right dimension."
 * Leslie Dean: "For utopia."
 * Frank Dean: "For utopia."
 * Gene Hayes: "Let's just wish we all get through this in one piece? I don't want to miss out reading little Molly her bedtime stories."
 * Geoffrey Wilder: "(Walks with his wife to a position between the Steins and the Yorkes, standing in front of the Black Mirror) Don't worry, Gene. When the Gibborim are here, we'll have all the time in the world to read our children bedtime stories."
 * Stacey Yorkes: "(Inputs commands to her computer) Here goes nothin' people!"

After the Yorkes and Steins typed in legions of words into their computers, the Siege Perilous activated and materialized a portal. Usually, the Siege Perilous' portal was either green, yellow, or white. Due to the Minorus' machinations, it glowed red now, signifying the blood magic that had corrupted it. The Minorus themselves casted another spell from the Gibborim's sacred book, the Abstract, in an attempt to open a portal to Limbo, the home dimension of the Gibborim. There's a reason these creatures are called the Elder Gods of Limbo.

The Minorus chanted while unleashing more and more of their magics into the Siege Perilous to navigate through the sea that is the universe, telepathically guided by the Hayes, who in turn fed them information from the Pride scientists' computers. On such computers, the Yorkes and Steins found numbers and scripts best described as 'dimensional coordinates'. These computers were synchronized to the Black Mirror the Wilders were observing, so if the coordinates popped up on the screens, then they would see what place the coordinates were showing.


 * Victor Stein: "Geoffrey, where we at right now?"
 * Geoffrey Wilder: "Not Limbo, Vic, portal's goin' to the Negative Zone."
 * Dale Yorkes: "(Types the keyboard some more) Uh, alright, how about now?"

Catherine and Geoffrey Wilder's eyes widened in surprise when they saw a strange caterpillar smoking a pipe, waving and smiling at them through the Black Mirror.


 * Catherine Wilder: "Definitely not Limbo!"
 * Stacey Yorkes: "Alright, how about now?"

The Wilders saw a barren wasteland with a towering city far off in the distance. The intrigued former thieves ordered the scientists to switch dimensions the moment they saw a band of strange creatures resembling Captain America seemingly rushing towards them from the dunes beyond, as if knowing that they were being watched.


 * Geoffrey Wilder: "No! It's not! Hayes, how much time left before the Perilous goes wild?"
 * Alice Hayes: "(Slightly straining) Can't... tell. Just keep searching!"

TBA - TBA