APRIL 2002 - #3
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A Man Alone!
by Bob Young
editors: Black Condor and Chip Caroon
PG
Two monsters clashed in a Savage battle. The electrical Inhuman creature called ZZZaxx fought fiercely with the giant ape known as Titano. ZZZaxx was large but the 40 foot Titano dwarfed him. And was it ZZZaxx's imagination, or was Titano getting bigger? ZZZaxx pointed at the ape and let loose with dozens of electrical bursts. But they didn't seem to faze Titano. If anything, Titano was getting stronger. And ZZZaxx was feeling weaker. ZZZaxx was simple minded and couldn't understand what was happening. He just kept up his attack, unaware that he was doing precisely the wrong thing.

Their battle rocked the city of Attilan. Nearby, an audience watched. The captive population of the city and their Gorilla conquerors were watching, as were the leaders of the overthrow . . . Grodd, the simian prince of the city and his new partner the Red Ghost, along with his three super apes. Also watching in fear and concern was the Queen of Attilan, Medusa. She didn't expect ZZZaxx to be able to overcome the behemoth ape, and his defeat would be one more blow to the residents of the Great Refuge of the Inhumans. If ZZZaxx fell, there would be only one hope left!

"ZZZaxx is as much of a half-wit as ever," Grodd said. "He's defeating himself."

"His glow is getting dimmer!" Medusa said.

"I created Titano by super-charging him with electricity," Grodd said. "He absorbs electricity."

"Then ZZZaxx is just making him stronger," the Queen said.

"Precisely, my dear," Grodd said.

"Grodd . . . !" Medusa began to yell, but Grodd covered her mouth.

"Tut, tut, my sweet," Grodd said. "No fair cheating. This is combat of the fittest. And as you will soon see, Titano is the fittest!"

Grodd's prediction came true. ZZZaxx eventually became so weak that he could barely stand. One final swat from Titano's mighty hand ended the fight.

"And so it goes," said Grodd. "Again I win, as I shall always win, now that I have an unstoppable army behind me!"

"Black Bolt will stop you!" Medusa said.

"I'm looking forward to the time he tries," Grodd said. "He should be back soon. I must have things prepared for his return. Soldiers, take my future bride to her chamber, while I arrange to make her a widow!"

Medusa hid her horror. Grodd was too confident. Would this be the day that Black Bolt fell?

Triton was locked in a cell so hot that his amphibian skin was dehydrating. Gorgon's hooves were chained with shackled even his powerful legs couldn't break. Dubbilex was kept sedated, because Grodd feared he would use his telepathic power to contact and warn Black Bolt. Halo was held prisoner in the special lantern Grodd created, where her light would reflect inside forever. Crystal was locked in a simple cell but Grodd had created a vibrational "inner wall" which cut off her ability to control the elements. Crystal was the most devastated of all, having felt not only the lose of her city and her freedom, but the lose of the man she was falling in love with . . . David Blaine, the man known as the Blue Diamond! No one, not even someone who's skin was as hard as diamond, could survive what Titano did to him! No sooner had she found him, then she lost him.
Red Ghost watched as Grodd arranged his ape soldiers in the right positions and placed Titano in the forefront. He told the Red Ghost where to situate his three super apes. The Red Ghost didn't like being ordered around but he'd tolerate it . . . for now.

"You're afraid of Black Bolt, aren't you, Grodd?" the Ghost said.

"I fear nothing!" Grodd shouted, angry.

"You're making a lot of preparations for someone you don't fear," the Russian added.

"I'm no fool!" the ape prince said. "I prepare for everything. I will not fail due to foolishly overlooking some small detail. I shall succeed, because I leave nothing to chance. I . . . "

Grodd tensed up. He sensed something. He looked to the sky. "He's coming!"

Black Bolt was returning from cleaning up the damage that ZZZaxx had caused outside the city and convinced the Monks not to reveal the Inhumans existence. The monks were much like the Inhumans in many ways.

Flying high in the sky, he saw the Great Refuge from far away. The sight chilled him to his very soul. The wall around the city was destroyed, and there was a giant ape standing just outside the wall. There were lots of smaller apes too. Some on the wall, armed with guns, and three others stood near the giant's feet. A human was there too. That Red Ghost person. But he wasn't the mastermind behind this.

Grodd! Black Bolt knew that Grodd was behind it all!

He picked up speed and launched himself forward.

Titano got a telepathic message from Grodd! "Kill!"

Titano tried to swat at the king of Attilan but Black Bolt was too quick. Black Bolt fired an energy blast from the ornament on his mask. It hit Titano in the face. The ape ate it up, and grew larger, Black Bolt immediately saw his error and changed his tactics.

The Inhuman king rammed into the giant's chest like a bullet. The air was knocked out of Titano and he staggered back. Meanwhile, the orangutang used his magnetic abilities to lift a bunch of swords and spears and send them in Black Bolt's direction, points first. Black Bolt blasted them with his energy ray. Grodd lashed out at him again, but missed again. The Red Ghost commanded his Gorilla to throw a boulder at the King. Black Bolt evaded it and it hit Grodd, stunning the behemoth. Black Bolt took advantage and struck at Titano again. This time, Titano fell.

Watching from afar, Grodd was irate. This was not working out as he had planned. Black Bolt was stronger than he had imagined. He had to do something to turn the tide.

There was one thing he could do . . . one thing Black Bolt wasn't prepared for. Grodd had used his equipment to increase his once meager mental powers. He had surprised Dubbilex with his new ESP abilities and hopefully could surprise Black Bolt as well.

First, he mentally commanded his men on the walls to begin firing. A hundred troops fired on Black Bolt. He did his best to dodge. He used his energy beam to destroy the ones he couldn't avoid. An occasional shot got through but he was able to endure that.

Now, Grodd got to the second part of his attack. He unleashed a direct mental assault on Black Bolt's mind. Black Bolt's will was too strong to be overwhelmed by Grodd's attack, but he was momentarily disoriented. This made him unable to avoid the blasts from the soldiers. A hundred blasts hit him. He was rocked with pain, convulsing and writhing. Again and again the soldiers fired. Eventually, Black Bolt couldn't take it any more, with the last vestige of his strength, he tried to flee. The Apes kept firing until he got out of range. Titano got up and roared a furious roar. He seized a huge rock and hurled it at the wounded King. It hit it's mark. The rock smashed into Black Bolt's body and carried him away until it crashed somewhere beyond the surrounding mountains, Black Bolt buried underneath. He didn't come out.

Grodd let out a yell of joy and jumped into the air. "Yes!" Grodd cheered. "At last! He's gone! My obstacle to the throne is dead! Attilan is MINE!"

Medusa was in shock. She had to sit down. She dropped onto her bed. She couldn't believe what Grodd had just told her. Black Bolt dead? It couldn't be possible!

"You're lying," she said meekly, trying to convince herself.

"Am I?" Grodd answered merrily. "Have you ever seen me so jubilant? My accursed brother is dead. I am the king now. So prepare yourself. Put on your wedding gown. The wedding will take place later today. Right after my coronation!"

Medusa had no words. It was all beyond belief.

Grodd had his coronation ceremony as planned. The crown was placed on his head, to the cheers of his ape army. Grodd smiled widely.

"Bring in the entertainment," he commanded.

Gorgon and Triton were brought in.

"Let the torture begin!" Grodd ordered.

Gorgon and Triton looked at each other. They were in trouble.

Red Ghost was working on the ultimate defense for the Great Refuge. Grodd didn't want anyone from the outside world disturbing his new rule. He wanted to cut Attilan off from all humanity. The Red Ghost had discussed with him the Black Light Field which he had originally designed for space travel but abandon. He felt now that, using Grodd's advanced technology, he could create the ultimate force field, a wall of impenetrable black energy around the city. Only the Red Ghost would be able to pas through it, due to his ability to become intangible. He could use it as a hideaway whenever he needed it. The perfect sanctuary. Both he and Grodd would have what they want, as soon as he finished . . . which wouldn't be long now.
While Grodd's ceremony was going on and Triton and Gorgon were being tortured, the city square was abandon. No one was around . . . Almost no one.

From out of a hole in the ground came a yellow gloved hand. Crawling up slowly, in a tattered blue and gold costume, was David Blaine, the Blue Diamond.

"I'll kill those bastards for this!" he muttered weakly.

Solivar had escaped his captivity in Gorilla City and was heading across the mountains to Attilan to see what he could do to help Black Bolt and the Inhumans. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a boulder moving. He stopped to take a look.

It took the last of Black Bolt's strength to push the boulder off of himself. He couldn't even sit up now. He lay, wounded, waiting to die, sick at heart that he had failed his people when they needed him most.

A shadow fell over him. He saw Solivar kneeling next to him. He was alarmed, thinking it was one of Grodd's men, come to finish him off. Instead, the ape gently lifted him up.

"Fear not, brave king," Solivar said. "You do not know me, but I am your brother. I will protect you."

Black Bolt was confused, but lost consciousness before he could make sense out of it.

Later, Black Bolt awoke on an examination table. He was being bathed by a purple ray. He felt better. He was still weak but getting stronger. He saw Solivar sitting nearby.

"Relax, my Brother, you are safe," Solivar said. "This is the table Grodd used to turn an ordinary ape into Titano, the giant you fought. It can also be used as a healing machine. Your wounds will be healed in a matter of hours."

Black Bolt pointed at Solivar.

"I am Solivar. I am the manifestation of all that was good in Grodd. I was separated from him. There is nothing left inside him now but evil. I am his antithesis. And so, I suppose, I am also your brother. Grodd created an army of apes from his own genetic material. But they're not clones. He didn't want rivals. They all have their own minds and personalities. Unfortunately, they follow Grodd blindly."

Black Bolt tried to get up. Solivar pushed him back down. "I know how you feel, brother," Solivar said, "I love the people of Attilan too. And I want to free my simian brethren from Grodd's mastery. But you must wait until your strength returns. If you go now, you will be defeated and all hope for the liberation of Attilan will be lost.

Black Bolt reluctantly nodded and laid down on the bed. He soon fell sleep.

Once the Inhuman was sleeping, Solivar left Gorilla City. Black Bolt wouldn't have let him go alone. But by the time Black Bolt woke up, Solivar would be in Attilan. He had all of Grodd's memories, so he knew of the secret way in and out of the city that Grodd used.

After crossing the mountain in between the cities, Solivar entered the Great Refuge.

The torture portion of the ceremony had finished. Any human would be dead or permanently wounded. If Gorgon and Triton were any less powerful than they were, they may never have recovered from their ordeal. As it was, they had passed out from the pain.

"And now," Grodd said, "the coronation is over. Let the wedding ceremony begin. Where is my bride?"

Soon, Medusa was led into the throne room, wearing the same gown that she married Black Bolt in. She looked around, trying to see a way out of this. But there was none to be found. For the present, she had to go along with the mad prince. She stood tall and proud, not giving Grodd the satisfaction of seeing her fear or despair.

"You look magnificent," Grodd said, as she approached the throne.

Medusa wanted to use her moving tresses to strangle the villainous ape, but she knew that she would only bring a reprisal on herself and her people.

"Prepare the human sacrifices!" Grodd ordered.

Medusa's eyes widened with alarm. "Sacrifices?!"

Grodd gestured toward Gorgon and Triton.

"No!" Medusa yelled.

Grodd laughed, as his ape servants produced ceremonial daggers. Medusa's strands of living locks reached forward and tangled up the apes, but Grodd used the equivalent of a stun gun to render her unconscious.

Grodd shook his head. "Sorry to start off our marriage this way," he said, and then looked at his ape servants. "On with the sacrifice. Kill them!"

Grodd smiled a triumphant smile as the dagger wielding apes bore down on the helpless Inhumans. They raised the daggers and . . .

Next issue: Solivar vs. Grodd! Blue Diamond strikes back! And . . . ZZZaxx vs. Titano, round two!