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 he currently possesses.
 * Morbius: "Elektra? What on Earth are you doing here?"