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Angel In The Attic	By : fusedtwilight Category: X-men Comics > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 5328 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own X-men, it is the property of marvel comics and in no way do i make a profit from this fic.

Chapter List
- 41
- 42
- 43
Angel In The Attic
Chapter 42
Fusedtwilight: Thanks to my beta Richard for the beta. Last chapter they were able to save Jericho and Indra found out he is stronger then even he knew. What is the source of his power?

The day after the battle with Apocalypse Hank was at the Ark.
He was using the Arks superior technology to remove the armor from Jericho. After examining him on Utopia he quickly realized they did not have the proper equipment to perform the surgery needed to carefully remove the armor (which had dug into Jericho's spine).
Everyone who had been hit by Jericho's power had returned to normal. Luckily the effects had not been permanent. After a few hours everyone had returned to their regular selves.
Warren was physically fine but needed some time to coupe with what had happened. They found the virus was still in his body, but with Josh and his power to control the biology of another it was easy for him to destroy it and free Warren from Apocalypse for good.
Kitty had told everyone what happened with Abyss. Kurt was not pleased Azazel was back, nor was he happy that his brother was now with their father.
Emma had been trying to locate him using Cerebro but had been unable to find him.
Paras had not recovered from what he had done. No one blamed him, in fact many were impressed with what he had done. Bo one imagined he could be so powerful. But he was horrified, once he saw a video recording of the fight he had locked himself in his room and refused to talk to anyone.
Franziska had gone to Utopia to try and help him. She had spent years helping people with their inner demons in Berlin and wanted to help him.
Jacob, Rickard and Wayne had gone to Canada. Jacob had heard news reports that the Wendigo. The real Wendigo, not another mutant who could turn into one had been seen around his home.
People were going missing and given the beasts taste for human flesh it was assumed they were dead.
Jacob was not happy knowing something like this was happening anywhere near his home and went to find the beast and stop it before it could hurt anyone else.
Michael walked into the med-bay to check on Hanks progress. There was a field of light around them where he was working at. According to Eve the field eliminated bacteria, helping ensure that no infections would happen to Jericho during the operation.
"How is he?" Michael asked.
"Vitals are strong. We are making wonderful progress." Hanks face developed a rather frightening expression. "It disgusts me someone like Sinister who claims to be a man of science would do such a thing. It is nothing but barbaric."
"It doesn't matter how smart a person is. They can still do bad things."
"Problem is instead of channeling that brilliant mind for the betterment of all he has chosen to waste it on things like this!"
Hank shook his head sadly. "He is so obsessed with genetic perfection and creating the perfect mutant that he commits atrocities in the name of science. Claims it is for the betterment of the world. But men like him only care about their pride. They think they know what is best for the world."
"Excuse me Michael, Franziska is calling from Utopia. Shall I direct her to the medbay or would you like to speak to her in private?" Eve asked from the intercom.
"I can talk to her in here," he said.
One of the computer screens turned on showing Franziska.
"Hey Michael, how is Jericho doing?" she asked.
Hank gave a thumbs up.
"He's doing good. We'll get this thing off him in no time. How is Paras?"
"I was calling to talk to you about that. Paras is...well...he is convinced he has committed some sort of ultimate sin. He thinks he has stolen the astras of the Hindu gods."
"The what?" Michael asked.
"Hindu legends tell how the gods would lend their weapons to mortals or to one another during times of war. These weapons were called astras. They were all very powerful," Hank explained.
Franziska nodded. "After seeing the footage of him killing Holocaust and attacking us he is convinced he was channeling astras and thinks the gods will soon punish him."
"If he was able to do magic wouldn't Sage be able to sense it?" Michael asked.
"Sage can sense a mutants ability like Jericho yes. But magic is not something to sense. Illyana can do all sorts of things but when Sage scans her all she can sense is her teleportation powers. Illyana has also said your angel fire is some kind of mystical substance but to Sage you are just another kind of energy projector. If Paras really is tapping into some kind of magical force Sage would not sense it," Hank explained.
"Can Illyana help with him then?" Michael asked.
"We have already consulted her. She says if it is magic then it is nothing she has experience with."
"Sounds like you need someone who is an expert on all forms of the mystic arts. Someone like-"

"Doctor Strange?" Paras asked.
"Exactly!" Devin said.
Upon Hank's suggestion the X-Men contacted Stephan Strange. The Sorcerer supreme and expert on all mystical arts.
Devin and Angie went along with Jean-Paul, Victor, Alani and Rogue to take Paras to his home in Greenwich Village in New York. Megan teleported them there. She wanted to speak to him as well about her soul being tainted by dark magic.
She was also hoping to learn some more magic tricks.
Franziska staid at Utopia to talk with X-23 about her enslavement to Apocalypse. Franziska had her work cut for her, X-23 had more demons in her closet then the Devil has in his court.
"We believe that if there is some magical component to your power then he will be able to tell us," Jean-Paul said.
"It doesn't matter. First I commit an act of violence then I steal the astras of the gods. I am dammed!" Paras said looking distraught.
"Come on, it's not your fault," Rogue said, "you did what you had to do to protect yourself and your friends."
"Yeah, and Storm uses lightning to fight but Thor doesn't care," Devin said.
"Besides. You only did it when you were powered up by Jericho. You're back to using your armor and summoning all those knives and blades," Angie said.
"I will never use my power again! Never!" Paras spat.
Everyone looked at him with troubled expressions. Whether it was stubbornness or just his own morality they all knew Paras could be faced with death at that moment and would not use his power to protect himself.
Paras had a strong commitment to his faith and all it's teachings. Michael could be just a committed to his religion but unlike Paras he was capable of seeing beyond his faith to possible truths that his religion could not answer.
"We're here," Northstar said.
Stephan Strange lived in a two story mansion. As impressive as it was you would not think a man dedicated to magic would live here.
It looked like the place where some rich lawyer or banker would live. Grand as it was it just did not give off a supernatural vibe.
The group walked up to the front door.
"Should we knock?" Victor asked.
"There is a doorbell," Alani said.
Rogue pushed the doorbell.
Suddenly instead of a regular doorbell a tune began to play.
"Is that...the theme from Harry Potter?" Angie asked.
"It is!" Victor said.
"Makes sense if you think about it," Devin said.
"Because he is a wizard?" Megan asked.
"No because it's awesome!" Devin said with a grin.
The door opened and a bald Asian man wearing a green tunic and matching pants with yellow trim.
"Greetings, we have been expecting you," he said polity, ushering them inside. "I am Wong. I am the doctor's assistant. If you follow me I will lead you to the dining room."
The group looked around, the inside was just like the outside. It was well kept, clean and tidy. There were several portraits that lines the wall and various smaller tables that held vases or other such trinkets.
The group was starting to feel a little disappointed. They had expected photos that had living people in them moving around, or floating carpets or something.
"The doctor will be with you soon. He is in his inner sanctum now," Wong said. "May I get you anything to drink?"
Rogue, Paras and Jean-Paul requested tea, Megan and Devin asked for a coke and Angie and Alani asked for some water.
Wong bowed and left to go get the drinks they asked for.
"Well this is...kind of disappointing," Devin said.
"I know," Megan agreed.
"We're here to help Paras, not sight see," Jean-Paul said sharply.
Wong returned with their drinks and asked if they wanted anything to eat.
They all declined.
"So how long have you worked for Doctor Strange?" Angie asked.
"Many years. Ever since the former Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One sent me here to assist Stephen," Wong replied.
"Do you know magic?" Devin asked.
"A bit. I am nowhere near as skilled as most mystics. I only know what I need to assist Stephen in his mission to protect the world from evil."
"And he makes a good pot of tea."
Doctor Strange came walking into the room, looking just as Angie and Devin remembered when they last saw him. He wore his usual blue costume plus the red cloak with the gold trim.
"Sorry for making you wait. I was in my Inner Sanctum," he explained.
"Were you doing magic?" Megan asked.
"No, I was watching a Sherlock marathon on BBC America. Love that show," he said sitting down.
Wong handed him a cup of tea.
"So how may I be of assistance?" he asked.
They explained the situation with Paras. About his fears that he had used the astras and what it meant for his soul.
"Did Illyana detect any mystical element?" he asked.
"She sensed something. But she wasn't able to properly analyze it because it is not dark magic," Jean-Paul said.
"Yes, Illyana is highly skilled in dark magic. I have advised her before to try practicing light magic to help her balance her karma. If this young man is truly capable of using astras then it would make sense she wouldn't be able to diagnose his condition."
"I want to learn light magic!" Megan quickly said waving her arms in the air excitedly. She summoned her soul dagger and held it up for him to see. "I have a soul dagger and I can do a teleportation spell!"
Strange looked at the dagger with a small measure of amazement.
"You created a soul blade all by yourself?" he asked.
"Well...Illyana made it using a piece of my soul. She was kind of under control of dark forces at the time. But I would really like to learn more about light magic!"
"How old are you?" he asked.
"Eighteen," she lied.
Both Rogue and Jean-Paul gave her a pointed look while Stephan and Wong both merely looked at her, clearly not buying it.
"In a year and six months," she said quietly laying the dagger on her lap.
"When you come of age I would be happy to teach you," he said with a warm smile.
Megan sighed.
"Let us move to my Inner Sanctum. I can properly and safely examine Paras to see if we are dealing with magic."
He stood and everyone followed him out of the room.
"Oh my God this is going to be so cool!" Devin said excitedly.
"Please so far everything has been lame," Alani said.
They followed Wong and Strange up a flight of stairs. Wong opened a pair of wooden doors and they found themselves staring down a very long hallway with rows of doors. No two doors were ever the same. They were all of different colors, designs and woods.
Some had intricate designs etched into the frame, others looked rather worn down. Some had a strange light that shined from underneath the door and other had a strange sound coming from within.
"Okay, this is a little better," Victor said.
"Wait until you see this," Strange said.
When they reached the end of the hall Strange waved his hand and a pair of doors opened up. Inside was a large room with rows of books and scrolls. There was a cauldron with multicolored smoke coming out of it, several burning candles that filled the air with a sweet scent. There was what appeared to be a model of the earth floating over a pedestal but upon further examination you realized it literally looked like a smaller version of the world, the clouds were moving and the water moved with little ripples.
There was a window with an odd shape on the ceiling that led the morning light spill into the room. There were a few other curious artifacts in the room like a crystal skull with writings carved into it, a mirror that had smoke on its reflective surface. A table that had several amulets, wands and gems on it.
"Now we're talking," Devin said.

Wayne and Rickard had volunteered to go with Jacob back to the Tsuu T'ina reservation to help him with the Wendigo situation.
They had Eve teleport them on the borders of the reservation and Rickard used his power to fly Jacob and himself to his house while Wayne flew next to them. He had an image inducer on so he looked like his old self. None of them doubted how people would react if they saw a walking bat man walking around.
"You okay?" Jacob asked Rickard, seeing the intense look of concentration on his face.
"Yeah, it takes a lot of work to fly, even more if I have a passenger," Rickard said.
"Why don't you just fly there yourself?" Wayne asked.
"Because people are already freaked out about a wendigo running around last thing they need is to see a thunderbird or a piasa in the sky."
"A piece of what?" Wayne asked.
"The dragon I turned into when I fought Paras when he had his meltdown."
"Oh...so...if you can turn into a dragon can you turn into a unicorn as well?" Wayne asked.
"No!" Jacob shouted.
"Have you tried?" Rickard asked.
"Of course not!" Jacob said.
Wayne grinned. "You know I can tell you're lying right?"
Jacob growled in frustration.
"Dare I ask why you would want to turn into a unicorn?" Rickard asked.
"Well...virgins are supposed to be drawn to them right?" Jacob asked.
Rickard frowned at him while Wayne burst out laughing.
"You discover you have the power to turn into monstrous beasts and you want to see if you can use one to get laid?" Rickard asked.
"Hey, at least he is thinking to use his powers creatively. That's what they taught us at Xavier's right?" Wayne asked.
"I doubt they wanted us to use our powers for sexual reasons," Rickard stated.
"Oh come on, you think Emma doesn't use her telepathy to get kinky with Scott?" Jacob asked.
"I don't know and don't care!" Rickard yelled.
"So you never imagined what Victor could do with his extendable tongue?" Jacob asked, baring his teeth in a huge smile.
"Of course not!" Rickard hollered, his face turning a deep red. "He's seventeen!"
"You're lying!" Wayne said with a shit eating grin.
"I hate you both!" Rickard mumbled glaring down at the earth below.
Wayne and Jacob laughed.
"Dude don't be such a prude. You should think about how you could...stimulate Victor with your powers," Jacob suggested.
"Can we talk about something else please," Rickard begged.
"Why don't you try and see if you can use the O-note on him," Wayne suggested.
"What the hell is that?" Rickard asked.
"Well you know how if you use the right frequency of sound called the brown-note you can cause a person to shit themselves?" Wayne asked.
"Yes?"
"Well theoretically if you use a similar note you could cause someone to orgasm. The O stands for 'OOOOHHHH GOD YES!'"
"Keep it up and I will use the brown note on you!" Rickard threatened.
They continued to fly with Jacob giving them directions. Rickard noticed Jacob would point out a certain house every once in a while.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Counting."
"Counting?"
"Yeah, the houses of all the women I've slept with," he said.
"Oh my God really?" Rickard said.
"Slept with her...and her...and her...oh man she was a freak! Yeah nailed her too...pretty sure I banged her...then her mom an hour later."
"Jesus Jacob how many women have you slept with?" Rickard asked.
"Was I supposed to be keeping count?" Jacob asked.
"Just out of curiosity how many angry ex-girlfriends will we have to worry about along with the scary wendigo?" Wayne asked.
"Shit when you say it like that maybe I should have brought my own image inducer," Jacob said actually looking nervous.
"Jake look, I am all for a healthy sex life. But don't you think maybe your over doing it?" Rickard asked.
"That's what she said," Jacob said with a grin.
"Never mind," Rickard muttered.
"I know what you're trying to say man. I admit I am a tomcat. But after my dad left I had to take up a lot of responsibility at a young age. I had to help support my mom and sister and I didn't have much time to have a lot of fun. I got into lots of fights and when I wasn't working or going to school I was blowing off steam by hooking up with the ladies. I guess it was just my way of coping with the fact my dad just left us. Not that he was much help mind you but it still sucked to be known as the kid whose dad abandoned him."
"Have you ever thought about finding him?" Wayne asked.
A dark look crossed Jacobs face. "If I ever meet that bastard again I don't know what I would do. He's been dead to me a long time. If he knows what's good for him he'll stay away from me and my family."
Rickard and Wayne shared a look. They knew Jacob could be violent when provoked, but they had never heard him sound so serious before.
Jacob suddenly frowned.
"There's my house. But there is a bunch of people there," he said.
"I can hear them," Rickard said, focusing his power so he could hear further than either of them. "Some more people have gone missing it sounds like."
"Damn, come on guys lets go down there," Jacob said.
They landed a few yards from Jacobs's house. Wayne folded his wings against his back and they disappeared into the illusion of the image inducer.
The closer they got to the house the better they saw the sheer amount of people. Cars were parked around the front lawn and along the road. There were people standing outside the house all talking.
With their enhanced hearing they could hear them speaking.
"How many more will go missing!"
"Where the hell is Alpha Flight?"
"It's getting closer and closer to the reservation!"
"Why is this happening?"
"If Jacob was here he would put a stop to this!"
"Wait isn't that Jacob?"
"Jacob?"
"Jacob!"
Rickard and Wayne were surprised at how happy the people sounded to see Jacob. Jacob had never mentioned what his relationship with the people on the reservation was like.
But the way people greeted him it was clear his people did not care he was a mutant.
"Thank God your here Jacob!"
"He brought friends!"
"Are they mutants too?"
"Knew he would come back as soon as he heard!"
"Such a good boy!"
People shook his hand, patted him on the back, there was even a small group of girls who pushed past everyone to kiss him on the cheeks and hug him.
"Dude, Jake's a freaking rockstar," Wayne said.
They walked up to the front door of the house. Jake opened it without even knocking and they strolled in.
Rickard and Wayne followed, even once the door was shut they could still hear how happy everyone was now that Jake had returned.
"Mom!" he called out.
"Jake!"
A woman came running around the corner. Her eyes were red from crying and her hair was unkempt.
"Oh Jake!" she cried and ran to him wrapping her arms around him in a hug.
A few more people appeared from the same room she had come. Three of them were older. The eldest was a man with white hair and a wrinkled face. The other two were middle aged; a man and a woman. The last two were a boy and a girl about Jacob's age.
"Jacob, welcome back," the elder said walking up behind Jake's mom and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I came as soon as I heard the news Ansel. Why didn't you call me?" he asked.
"We we're going to," the other man said, "but then we decided to call the authorities and they said they contacted Alpha Flight."
"And where are they Tom?" Jake asked.
"They said they would send someone as soon as they were available," the older woman said.
"Yeah and while we wait more people go missing Lisa. Who was it this time?"
They all shared a look. "You mean you don't know?" the elder, Ansel asked.
"Oh no!" Jake's mother moaned.
"Know what?" Jake asked.
"Jake, man. A group of kids went to go searching the woods to see if they could find the missing people," the younger man said.
"We tried to stop them but they went off anyway...your sister was one of them," the younger woman said.
Jacob looked like someone had knocked the wind out of him.
The young man motioned to the young woman next to him. "Holly and I tried to stop them. Told them it was too dangerous but some of the idiots brought rifles."
"Dave staid behind to try and talk some sense into them while I went to go get help. But by the time we came back they had already left," Holly explained.
"I tried to stop them man but they just pushed me aside. They were angry, all riled up. I begged your sister not to go. But you know how she is."
Jacob placed his hand on Dave's shoulder. "I know. I don't blame you. And after I find Evie I am going to tan her hide. Her and the rest of those idiots!"
"You'll have to wait in line," Ansel said gravely.
"Do you know where they went?" Jake asked.
"Their cars were found on one of the roads that leads to the trail. We followed their tracks off the trail. They had brought some dogs with them. As if we didn't try that. But whatever it is that is doing this freaks the dogs out. As soon as they catch it's scent they tuck their tails between their legs and go belly up. One even pissed himself from fear," Tom said.
"We know what's doing it dad, it's the Wendigo!" Dave said.
"Son don't go buying into that," Tom said.
"People have seen it! A tall man like monster with white fur and blood red eyes!"
"Then why are people going missing?"
"Maybe it's some psycho who thinks he is a wendigo."
"Enough!" Ansel said his voice stern. "It matters little what it causing this, what matters is people are going missing. Jake, you must use your power to find those who are missing and put a stop to this. Bring the criminal be he man or beast to justice."
"Please find Evie Jake. Please," his mother begged.
"I will. We will," Jake said looking to Wayne and Rickard.
"We would be happy to help," Rickard said.
"Are you mutants too?" Holly asked.
Wayne pressed a button on his image inducer. Exposing his bat like appearance to them.
"Holy shit!" Tom yelled jumping back.
"Did you have to do that?" Jacob asked Wayne.
"What can I say, I love the reactions," Wayne said with a toothy grin.

Back at Doctor Strange's house the X-Men were showing him video footage of Indra when he lost control of his powers.
"Those are definitely astras. Tell me Paras, how did your power originally start?" Strange asked.
"Well, at first I could create an armor around my body. It made me more durable and enhanced my strength a bit. Then after the Purifiers attacked they changed. The armors became more ornate and I was able to summon these blades I could control. But this? I don't remember this!" Paras said looking at the recording with shame.
"It wasn't your fault Paras, even I lost control," Angie said.
"This isn't about control! This is about how I am stealing the very weapons of the gods!" Paras yelled.
"Young man, one does not simply steal divine weaponry." Strange waved his hand and a book floated to the table. "Normally one must chant an incantation to use an astra. These chants are passed from a Guru to a shishya either by word or verbally. Or a deity can pass the knowledge on himself. There are many kinds of astras. Some protect, some kill, some can be used for things besides fighting."
"I am not that familiar with such things but I don't recall hearing about any armor astra," Rogue said.
"You know about Hindu myths?" Jean-Paul asked sounding surprised.
"I am more than just a pretty face sugar. I do read," she said with a grin.
"Tell me, did your original armor look like this?" Strange asked showing him a drawing from the book.
It showed a warrior who was fighting in an armor very similar to what Paras use to fight with.
"That looks like what your armor used to," Alani said to Paras.
"It is the armor of Durga. War goddess who helps bring victory for good against evil," Strange said.
"I don't recall hearing of such a thing," Paras said.
"Like I said there are many astras. More then has been documented on conventional texts. But if one studies the subject in the right occult circle or with the right Guru they can find volumes of astra techniques."
"So that is Paras power? To use astras?" Victor asked.
"Only one way to be sure." Strange stood up. "With your permission I would like to use the Eye of Agamotto to learn more about you."
"If it can save me from damnation. Then so be it," Paras said.
Strange held up his hands and the amulet opened up revealing a staring eyes. It glowed with a golden light and it shined upon Paras who stared mesmerized.
A moment later the amulet closed.
"Your suspicions were confirmed young man. You do use astras," Strange said.
"Oh no!" Paras moaned covering his face.
"But you have nothing to fear. The all-seeing eye of Agamotto can see evil. It so no such thing on your soul. It saw a boy on the cusp of becoming a man. Filled with love, mercy and a bit of self-loathing. Your karma is good, your soul is good. You have nothing to fear. You are not marked for damnation by the gods or spirits."
"But why am I able to do this? I have no right to use these powers," Paras said.
"Maybe the gods gave it to you," Devin said.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"Paras, there's only five people I know who are so cool they could never be bad in anyway. Your one of them. If the gods could chose a person to use their weapons, no matter how dangerous they are I know for a fact you would be the perfect choice."
"Wow...thanks Devin," Paras said.
"He's right. We were team mates and when you found out I was gay you didn't care what so ever. I was still just Victor to you," Victor said.
"You're too hard on yourself Victor," Alani said touching his shoulder. "You're so afraid to hurt people."
"Yeah, you're kind of like Elsa from Frozen. Only without the pretty dress and ice powers...and you're a boy," Angie said.
"Thanks everyone...I just...I wish I didn't have to fight. Anyone. I hate the thought of hurting anyone."
"You're a mutant sugah, all kinds of people are going to want to fight you simply for being you."
"I know. But if I fight, if I shed blood then I am no better than they are."
"If you will allow me to impart some wisdom. Violence is never the answer, but just because we do not chose to fight does not mean others will not. Once I was a neurosurgeon and my duty was to save lives. The duty of the Sorcerer Supreme is to defend the world from all manner of threats and there have been times when I have had to take life in order to preserve it. Tell me, if a man had your family at gun point, would you not defend them?"
"Of course, but once I take a life-"
"Who said you had to take a life?" Strange asked. "The greatest test of a warrior is not when to raise his weapon. But when to lower it."
"But this power I have, it's dangerous. Some of the astras are capable of destroying the world!"
"Wow really?" Devin asked.
"Actually some can even destroy multiple planes of reality," Strange said.
"So...why hasn't that happened yet?" Victor asked.
"Because Paras hasn't matured yet. Not to the point where he can harness that kind of power. At least not yet," Jean-Paul said.
"But he could, one day," Rogue said.
"And when that day comes I will gladly help him learn to control his power. Just keep an eye on him and if he starts to use any more astras let me know," Strange said.
"Thank you for your help sir," Paras said.
"Anytime young man," Strange said.
He began to walk over to the earth replica.
"Now, before you leave there is something I need to discuss with you all. For some time I have been sensing certain disturbances in the mystical web. Someone has been dabbling in dangerous and dark magics. Really ancient arcane spells and rituals that if mishandled could bring great calamity upon the earth."
"So what does that have to do with us?" Jean-Paul asked.
"Because I have discovered that an old foe of yours is behind it. Azazel."
The top of the replica opened like a flower and a crystal sphere appeared. Like a tv screen it showed them Azazel. He was wearing a black business suit and was ordering a group of armed men.
"Son of a bitch!" Rogue spat.
"What is he up to?" Alani asked.
"A few days ago Azazel and a small force of mercenaries secretly invaded the Vatican," Strange explained with a grim expression.
"What?" Angie asked.
"The Vatican?" Megan said sounding shocked.
"Wow, God is going to be pissed," Devin said.
"Why hasn't the news reported anything?" Jean-Paul asked.
"They don't want people to know someone robbed the holy city."
"Robbed? Something was stolen?" Angie asked.
"Over the years the Vatican has acquired many artifacts. Some are mere antiques but some are actual mystical relics. There are items in their secret vaults that could do some serious damage if misused. But only one item was taken."
"What item?" Rogue asked.
"I don't know. I only heard about this through the grape vine. A friend who knows a shaman, who knows a cleric who knows a priest who knows a psychic who knows a reformed born-again witch who is having an affair with a official who works in the Vatican security department."
"Can't you just go and ask them yourself?" Paras asked.
Strange sighed. "You'd think being the Sorcerer Supreme would give me some leeway with the church but a heretic is a heretic after all. They won't even let me through the door unless I repent my wicked ways."
"Is there anything there he would want? Maybe another object that would allow him to go back in time or maybe another neyaphem artifact."
"Last time he tried time travel in time he changed everything. Michael was able to stop him. He said they fought during their travel through time and Azazel was stuck there...here...then?" Devin said struggling to say the right words.
"Then Azazel is not the master but the puppet," Strange said, "for if he was lost in the time stream only a powerful force could have removed him. Something or someone with immense power and knowledge. This helps me narrow the list of people I should investigate."
"We just saw him the other day, when we fought Apocalypse he kidnapped his son Abyss who had been brainwashed into being a Horseman," Rogue said.
"Abyss can open a portal to another dimension. Could that be what he wants him for?" Alani asked.
"I know not. But rest assured I will keep you informed if I learn anything," Strange said.
"Thank you. We will relay what you have told us to Scott," Jean-Paul said.
As they left his home the group continued to talk about what Strange had told them.
"So who could Azazel be working for?" Megan asked.
"He was a king once and even a former king does not like to take orders. Whoever is giving him orders has either promised him something worth enough for his obedience or is strong enough to force his compliance. Either option is not good," Jean-Claude said.
"On the bright side at least we know Paras is magic," Devon said nudging the indigo colored mutant.
"If I am using astras then I must not be careful. I was not kidding when I said some of them are strong enough to destroy worlds. I can't risk losing control again."
"Just keep using your armor and blades then dude, besides the only reason you were able to use the heavy duty stuff was because Jericho was amping you up," Devon said.
Alani placed her arm around his shoulders. "Everything will be fine Paras. You have us to help you. Besides, you wouldn't be the first X-Man who lost control of his powers."
"Says the girl who loses control of her power every time she catches a cold," Victor said jokingly.
Alani had a power similar to Kitty Pryde, she could phase through solid object, however unlike Kitty when Alani phases through matter she destabilizes the molecular structure of the object causing it to crumble.
Kitty has had issues losing control of her power over the years when she was sick or overly emotional. But for Alani, her losing control can be more hazardous.

Hank took off his gloves.
"Well I have successfully removed the armor. He should recover but I recommend he be keep under observation. After what happened with Warren I don't want some surprise mutation to show up."
"Thanks Hank. I really appreciate this. Will this affect his powers in any way?" Michael asked.
"I can't say for sure. If his powers flare up I would keep him isolated until a solution is discovered. We saw what he did to Angie but imagine if he did something like that to you, or Rickard or any of the others."
"Michael, I am still unable to reach Adonai," Eve's voice said over the intercom,
"Thanks Eve," Michael said.
"You are trying to contact Adonai?" Hank asked.
"I figured if anyone could tell us anything about Azazel it would be him," Michael said.
"You have not spoken to him since the trials right?" Hank asked.
Michael nodded. "Ever since we last encountered Abreal. I was also wondering if he heard anything about him."
"You think he is still alive," Hank asked.
Michael nodded. "I don't know why he vanished when he impaled himself, but something tells me he is still out there," Michael said. "I have been having these...dreams."
"Dream?" Hank asked.
"Only they feel more like...visions."
"Is that one of your powers?" Hank asked.
"I don't know. I never finished the trials. The last one was Yesod. The angel of that sphere is Gabriel and he is God's messenger. Maybe having visions is a part of the trials but I never finished."
"You need to find out. Right now the most powerful clairvoyant is Ruth. Seeing the future is a tricky business. Time is fluid but some things are inevitable. There are reports of mutants receiving visions in their dreams, or it could just be psychic feedback from your telepathy. What do you dream?"
"I dream I am on an island surrounded by the dead. I dream of a door that opens and light pours forth that burns the world. And...one where I see myself...but I am not myself...I am something...evil."
Hank placed his had on Michael's shoulder. "Then let me say as a doctor that these are just dreams. Because if I am sure about anything, it is that you are not evil."
"Thanks Hank," Michael said with a smile.

Jacob sniffed the ground.
Tom and some of his deputies drove them up to where the trail where Jake's sister and her friends went missing.
Ansel, Jake's mother and Dave and Holly came with them as well.
"I don't smell any blood," Wayne said sniffing around as well. "If someone got cut I would smell it."
"My senses are better when I transform. I can faintly smell my sister...some of her friends too," Jacob said.
Rickard was looking at the ground, he noticed some footprints that were abnormally large.
"It's the Wendigo's tracks," Dave said.
Rickard looked at him. "Have you seen it?"
Dave shook his head. "No. But it has to be it, everyone is vanishing and people claimed to have seen it in the woods."
"Does your dad keep track of where it has been spotted?" Rickard asked.
They walked over to where Tom was. Rickard asked him for a map.
"What do you need a map for, can't you just find it with your mutant powers?" one of the deputies asked.
"If I could don't you think I would?" Rickard asked calmly.
"I don't like us letting these kids in on this Tom. We don't know if we can trust them!" the deputy said.
"They are my son's friends Leo, or did you forget that?" Jacob's mother said.
"They may be mutants but that doesn't mean they will help us."
Rickard smiled. "My power is to control sound, I can enhance my hearing to the point where I can hear things several miles away, I can manipulate vibrations in the air to fly, I can create sonic blasts so powerful I ca turn stone to dust." Rickard adjusted his voice so he sounded like Leo. "Or I can make myself sound like a moron."
Leo stood a little more rigid. "You got a problem with me boy?"
Rickard resumed his normal voice. "No problem, I just thought if I explained my power, you might realize why I could be useful. Or maybe it is the fact I have a power that makes you distrust me."
"Don't you try pulling that prejudice-card crap on me! My people have had to deal with white people's cowboys and Indians bullshit for generations!"
Rickard raised a hand and pointed at Leo's chest. "Your heart beat says otherwise. See Leo at the Xavier school we get kids from all walks of life. Muslims and Jews, blacks and whites, gay and straight and you'd think none of them would be prejudiced. But I have heard plenty of my fellow students crack a joke or make a mean spirited comment about someone's sexuality, race or gender."
"Is there a point to all this?" Leo asked.
"He's saying just because you are a sacree, it doesn't mean you don't have some prejudice," Tom said.
"I love Jake just like everyone else!" Leo yelled.
"But you just don't like me or Wayne cause we are not part of your tribe?"
Leo looked at Rickard with indignation.
"Before you say anything, remember I will know if you're lying." He waved to the area around them. "But allow me to point out something you and everyone else had neglected to tell us." he looked at Tom rather sternly. "Something I think you were waiting to see if we spotted Tom, as I have noticed you have been watching us like a hawk since you brought us here. There is more than one of these creatures."
Jacob and Wayne snapped their gaze to the group. Thanks to their enhanced hearing they heard everything.
"What!?" Jake snapped.
Tom nor his deputies said anything, they had a stillness and a blankness of the face that told they were trying to hide something.
"I used to go hunting with my dad family back home. I know how to track an animal. There are too many footprints to have been from one humanoid."
Jacob began to look around, like Rickard he was no stranger to hunting.
"There is more than one set of footprints. Why didn't you tell us?" he asked Tom.
"I wanted to see if you could figure it out on your own. Powers or nor powers I don't want a bunch of kids getting into trouble," Tom said calmly. "None of you have police training."
"Wouldn't be saying that if he knew what we did for a living," Wayne said.
"How long have you known?" Rickard asked.
"We began to suspect a few weeks ago," Ansel explained. "All the sightings were starting to occur at the same time but at different locations. Then we began finding tracks like the ones here. Bigger than a normal humans but some were bigger than others."
"Only one way to know for sure," Jacob said.
He turned around and took off his shirt. He kicked off his shoes and pulled off his socks.
"What in the name of hell are you doing man?" Dave asked.
Jacob unzipped his pants and kicked off his pants.
"Jacob Starchild what in God's name are you doing!?" his mother yelled.
The words died in her throat as Jacob turned into his wendigo form. The briefs he wore were made from unstable molecules so they did not tear when he transformed.
"Shit!" Leo yelled.
Both he and a few other deputies raised their guns, pointing them at Jake.
"Lower your damn guns!" Tom yelled. "For God's sake it's just Jacob!"
They slowly lowered their guns.
Jacob began walking around the area. "They were here...they were scared," Jacob said. "There was more than one creature."
"How do you know that?" Holly asked.
"Chemosignals. Emotions have scents, if you have the right kind of nose you can pick up on them," Jake explained.
"How many wendigos were there?" Rickard asked.
Jacob took a deep breath. "Three. Two males...one female. They were hungry, starving...but they didn't eat any of them."
"How can you be sure?" Leo asked.
"Because wendigos are messy eaters," a new voice said.
Everyone spun around to see two men and one woman walking towards them.
"Holy crap!" Dave said.
"It's them!" Ansel said happily.
"About time!" Leo said.
"Someone care to explain to the blind guy?" Wayne asked. "Who is it?"
"It's alpha flight!" Rickard said.
"Oh snap!" Wayne said.
Michael Twoyoungmen, also known as Shaman. A man of the Sacree nation, trained in the mystic arts to defend his people and the world from magical threats.
Narya, the demigod daughter of the goddess Nelvanna, bred to fight the Great Beasts. She has the power to turn into any animal native to Northern Canada.
Walter Langkowski, also known as Sasquatch. During a test involving gamma radiation there was an explosion that turned him into a creature similar to the creature he was named for, he would later find out the experiment had opened a hole into the world of the great beasts, allowing one of them, the monster Tanaraq to inhabit his body. They were able to send the beast back to his world and Walter went through several...transformations before he was able to regain his original form and was able to retain his ability to transform into Sasquatch.
"Wendigos are not pack hunters. They are solitary and would never miss a chance to devour another human being. The fact three kidnapped a small group of teens without killing them is not right," Shaman said.
"Could they maybe herd them? Keep them in one place to snack on later?" Rickard asked.
Shaman shook his head. "No. The urge to eat is to strong in them."
"Where is the rest of your team?" Ansel asked.
"On another mission. The three of us can handle the situation," Walter said.
"You mean six," Jacob said.
"And what manner of creature are you?" Snowbird asked. "You are not a real wendigo."
"I am Jacob Starchild. My sister was one of those abducted. Don't even think about trying to stop me. I-"
"Actually we could use your help," Shaman said.
"What?" Walter asked. "Michael, their just kids."
"I'm twenty-two," Rickard said with an annoyed tick.
"I can sense dark magic at work here Walter. I believe someone is not only controlling wendigos...but making them," Shaman said.
Everyone gasped.
"Dude is that even possible?" Wayne asked.
"The wendigo was once human, until he or she broke the taboo of eating human flesh and are cursed by the gods for their transgression. But it is possible for someone skilled in the dark arts to inflict the curse on another," Snowbird said.
"It would make sense. The people who disappear are transformed into wendigos and are sent out to gather more victims to be turned," Walter said.
"But the master, whoever that is would be unable to control their monstrous appetite. That is why the death rates have been rising above normal wendigo body counts."
"You're saying my baby could be one of those things now?" Jacobs mother asked looking like she was about to faint.
Tom pulled out a map of the area which had red marks on certain parts. "This is where the most sightings have occurred," he said pointing his finger to a spot on the map that had the most red dots. "It is possible whoever is controlling these things is hiding around this area."
"There is an underground tunnel system around that area. We searched the tunnels but found nothing," Leo said.
"If whoever is making the wendigos is strong enough to replicate the curse then he or she can surely use magic to conceal their whereabouts from mortals," Snowbird said.
"Then that is where we are going," Jake said.
"We'll come with you," Tom said.
"No, we will handle it. I am sorry sir but you are not able to deal with creatures like this," Walter said.
"Jacob, please find Evie. Don't let her become like one of those creatures!" Jake's mother begged.
Jacob walked over to her and kissed her on the top of her head. It was a rather funny sight to see him do such a thing in his beast like form.
"Jake!" Holly walked over to him. "Be careful. And kick whoever's ass is responsible for all this."
Jake smiled at her. "Thanks Holly...by the way, you're looking really good."
Holly's expression darkened. "Don't think I have forgiven you asswipe!"
"Ex-girlfriend," Wayne stated.
"Judging from that expression, yes," Rickard stated.
"Jake and Holly were a thing. Until he cheated on her," Dave explained. "He forgot her dad taught her how to fire a gun. She found out and shot him in the ass."
"Damn!" Rickard said.
"With rock salt," Holly said with a wicked smile.
"Double damn!" Wayne exclaimed.
Jacob rubbed his bottom, the memory all too vivid in his head.
"Sure do know how to hold a grudge," he muttered.
He turned to look at Alpha Flight. "I know the area where we are going. I can fly us there."
"Wait, you can fly?" Tom asked.
Jake grinned. Then before everyone's eyes he began to grow, his body reshaped into a giant bird whose feathers were black as a thundercloud and lightning flashed in his eyes.
"I do now!" he thundered.

Evie stood huddled with the others.
She had to admit, in hindsight, hunting a wendigo was not the smartest move.
But when your home is under threat and people are either disappearing or being found devoured you eventually have to take action.
Dave had tried to stop them, she wished they had listened to him.
They had been in the woods where the last wendigo sighting had occurred. They had guns, knives, flare guns, bear mace, GPS (not that any of them needed it) everything they would have needed.
But imagine there surprise when not one, but three wendigo appeared. They were similar to her brother Jacob when he transformed, except they had brilliant red eyes and were brimming with savagery.
They fired their guns but the bullets only irritated the beasts. One of them carried a large bag and one by one everyone was picked up and tossed inside.
When at last they were tossed out of the bag like dirty laundry they found themselves in a dark cavern lit by lamps. It stank of mold and freshly dug earth. But what was truly alarming was the cage they were in was made from bone, the whole room was filled with them. They lined the walls and littered the floor.
But even more terrifying then that was the fact there were not three wendigos, but well over a dozen.
They paced around the cage like cats prowling around a fish bowel.
"This was a stupid idea man!" Jesse said.
"Don't worry, we have our phones. We can call for help!" Kate said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell. But judging from the look on her face there was no signal. "I knew I should have switched to Verizon," she moaned.
"We have our GPS turned on, our families will be able to track us," Derek said.
"I am so glad I let my dad talk me into getting a GPS app on my phone now," Zane said.
"Those silly contraptions will not work here," a wispy voice spoke from the darkness.
"Who said that?!" Kate said.
"Whose there!" Derek called out bravely.
Evie screamed as she spotted a elk skull emerge from the darkness, it's antlers were sharp and towered over it's head.
"Where are mine manners, let me step into the light!" the voice rasped.
He stepped closer to the light of the fire and when everyone laid eyes on him they all screamed in fright.
He was tall, seven feet, more than eight if you counted by how long the antlers of the skull were. He wore it like a mask but frankly if the rest of his body was anything to judge by they didn't want to see what the rest of him looked like.
He wore a simple loin cloth and a necklace of bones, his skin was dark with purple streaks. His hair was long and ash colored growing past his shoulders. But the most disturbing thing about him was the skin at his forearms began to dissolve, leaving his lower arms bare of flesh and muscle. His fingers were disturbingly long like little bony needles.
"What the hell is that thing!?" Jessie asked looking at the creature like it was the Devil himself.
"This thing is Ranark, the Ravager!" the creature hissed.
"That's impossible!" Evie said.
Like many on the reservation she grew up on legends. One was about a powerful shaman who in order to gain more power began to consort with demons and dark spirits, shamans from neighboring tribes seeing the danger he presented and worked together to seal him away.
"Thouest live in a world where the impossible lives and breathes child. In fact, let me show thee what it is like to become the impossible." Ranark raised his left hand and pointed a finger at the cage.
The bones began to move, pulling back and opening. They all backed away as far as they could into the cage, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the wendigos.
Ranark pointed a finger at Derek. "Come child, embrace thine new destiny."
Dereks face went slack and his eyes vacant. He began to walk forward, out of the cage.
"Derek no!" Jesse yelled and tried to stop his brother from walking out of the safety of the cage.
"Wait thine turn boy!" Ranark hissed.
Jesse cried out in pain and clutched his head. It felt like someone was dragging tiny daggers through his skull. He began to bleed out his ears and eyes. Evie and Kate bent down next to him, trying to comfort him.
"Stop it!" she yelled at Ranark.
Once Derek was out of the cage the bones moved once more trapping the group once more.
Jesse stood up, the blood stopped flowing from his orifices and now all he had was a sharp ache in his skull.
The wendigos followed Derek closely in a way a god might follow the movements of food in their owners hand. Had it not been for Ranarks control over them they would have devoured Derek and the others by now.
Ranark examined Derek closely, it reminded Evie of a cousin of hers who bred dogs. They way they Ranark inspected him for any flows and inspected his physique was like how she would check dogs for imperfections.
Or better yet, how a slave owner inspects a potential servant.
"Very fit for your age, a strong physique and healthy. Transformation for you. Now, go lay on the rock."
Derek moved to where Ranark pointed, a large stone slab. Derek laid down on it, as if he was sleepwalking.
Ranark walked over to a table that had an assortment of wooden bowels and knives. Some were empty, others filled with strange herbs and liquids.
"Funny things about wendigos. People assume it was the gods who cursed them for their greed and hunger. But why would the gods punish them with such power? Why take an ordinary wicked little mortal and turn them into something a thousand times worse."
Ranark picked up a small wooden box and opened it up. He reached inside with his long bony fingers and pulled something out.
It was a large heart.
He pulled picked up a bone knife and began to cut off a piece of the large muscle.
"The truth is the wendigo curse was not made by the gods. Instead it was made by the Great Beast Tanaraq!"
Ranark crushed the heart in a bowl and added a few herbs.
"The curse spreads one of two ways. You commit an act of cannibalism in the borders of Canada, or you devour the heart of a wendigo and absorb its power. The former is easier than the latter, but when you are as powerful as I am then it is a more simple matter."
He took the bowel in his hand and walked over to Derek. He tipped it over his face and let the liquid spill into Dereks mouth.
"What are you doing to him you freak!" Jesse yelled.
Ranark did not answer him. He stepped away from Derek who had a red liquid running down his cheeks.
Suddenly his eyes turned red and his body began to grow, white fur grew all over his body. His cloths were torn apart, unable to accommodate his new body any more. The creature that was once Derek stood up, a tail angrily lashed out from behind. It opened it mouth and let out a roar.
"WENDIGO!"
"Oh my God!" Kate whispered, staring at the wendigo in horror.
"He turned him into one of those things!" Jesse cried.
"Not just him...all the people who went missing. That's why the wendigo sightings have gone up. He's been turning our people into these monsters!" Evie spat.
"I have been making an army girl. For my masters, the Great Beasts!" Ranark cried, his voice shrill. "My connection to Tanraq allows me to control them, once the army is large enough I will free my masters from their prison and they will reward me with ultimate power!"
Suddenly Ranark raised his head to stare up at the ceiling, as if he could see something the others could not.
"I sense the Two-Young-Man!" he hissed.
All the wendigos began to growl.
"It was only a matter of time before he arrived, no matter. I have more than enough wendigos to take care of him. And the rest who dare come with him!"

Rickard, Shaman and Walter sat on Jacobs back, they flew through the sky to their destination.
Snowbird and Wayne flew besides them. Snowbird had turned into a large white snow owl.
"Amazing. You have truly turned into a thunderbird," Shaman said.
"I also turned into an amarok and a pukwudgie," Jacob said, his voice thunderous.
"Have you always been able to transform like this?" Shaman asked.
"No, I used to just be able to transform into a wendigo. I only learned about my ability to turn into other creatures a few days ago," Jacob replied.
"Interesting. Have you tried turning into other creatures?" Shaman asked.
"I tried a unicorn. Didn't work."
"Why a unicorn?" Walter asked.
"Don't ask. For Gods sake don't ask," Rickard said.
"Take us down!" Shaman said suddenly.
"Why?" Jacob asked.
"I sense something," he responded, his expression serious.
Jacob began to fly down. When he began to turn back Shaman jumped off his back and levitated to the ground. Rickard used his sound powers to float down and Wayne carried Walter down.
When Jacob landed in his human form he was naked save for the pair of briefs he wore.
Everyone landed next to him and Shaman began to walk around the area. He held his hands out in front of him, they shook a little.
"I can sense dark magic in this area. Something...familiar."
"It's so quit," Wayne said.
Wayne was right, there was an unsettling silence in the air.
No birds chirping, no squirrels running up and down trees.
Rickard used his power to listen, stretching out his ability to hear. The silence stretched on for miles.
"They're gone," Rickard said. "The animals are all gone."
"Fled no doubt, they can sense the evil here," Snowbird said.
"Wait." Rickard bent down and placed his ear to the ground. "I hear something."
"There are tunnels all throughout this area," Jacob said.
"Could are guy be down there?" Walter asked.
"Where else is an evil wizard going to hide?" Wayne asked.
"Shaman, not wizard," a voice hissed.
"Who said that?!" Wayne asked jumping up.
"It sounded like it came from the ground," Walter said.
Suddenly the ground began to shake and Rickard stood up.
"Guys...we got company!"
Suddenly the earth exploded as if a bomb had gone off below their feet. Dirt and chunks of earth flew in the air covering everyone in a layer of dirt.
Ranark rose from the hole, now in the sun his dark skin shined with purple highlights.
"Greetings Two-Young-Men. And I see you brought company, how nice!" Ranark hissed. His eyes fell on Snowbird and Walter. "The bastard of Nelvanna and the former host to mighty Tarnaq and...who are you?"
Ranarks eyes landed on the Champions.
"I'm the guy whose tribe you have been terrorizing you freaky son of a bitch!" Jacob growled.
He turned into his wendigo form and let out a mighty roar.
"Most impressive," Ranark said. Suddenly from the hole he floated from dozens of wendigos began to jump out. "But mine are better."

Michael sat next to Jericho's bed.
He was reading Fallen by Lauren Kate. A book series Anna was fond of and got him to read.
"Isn't that a chick book," a weak voice said.
Michael turned his head to see Jericho was awake.
"You're up!" he said happily. He closed the book and set it aside.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Like some psycho drilled a suit of armor into my body...without pain meds," Jericho moaned.
"Are you thirsty?" Michael asked.
"Parched."
Michael got up and got some water from a small cooler. He walked back over to Jericho and moved his bed so he was able to sit up and drink from his water.
"Man, I haven't felt this trashed since I went to that rave when I was fourteen," Jericho said after he drank his water. "Please tell me you kill that freak."
"Which one?" Michael asked.
"The pale bastard," Jericho said.
"I fried him, but Betsy said he was a clone."
"Shit."
"Holocaust was destroyed by Paras, we managed to save Warren and capture Blut. Apocalypse took off so I am sure we will see him again."
"Paras...you mean the purple skinned kid with the red hair?" Jericho asked. "I thought he was a Buddhist or something."
"He's a jainist. When you were hooked up to the armor we tried pulling you out of the machine they had you plugged in but it caused your powers to go berserk and you caused a few of us to lose control of our abilities." Michael explained.
"Are they okay?" Jericho asked.
"Yeah, the effects wore off."
"Thank God. Does dad know?" Jericho asked.
Michael got a shameful look on his face. "I...haven't contacted him. He has no idea you were kidnapped."
"Keep it that way," Jericho said.
"What? Why?" Michael asked.
"I don't want him to know," Jericho said.
"But he's your dad," Michael said.
"Do you want to tell him I was kidnapped and tortured?" Jericho asked.
Jericho was right about that. Michael didn't want to put his uncle through that, he remembered what his family had been like after he had been kidnapped, the pain and horror that had lingered even after he was rescued to the time of their deaths.
"Alright. I won't tell him. I'll leave that up to you," Michael said.
"Thanks cuz'," Jericho smiled weakly.
Michael smiled. He missed his family, but he was thankful he had Jericho and his uncle now. He only wished his mother could have lived long to see the man her brother had become.
"So where are the others?" Jericho asked.
"Jacob had to return home and Rickard and Wayne went with him. Angie and Devon went with Paras and some of the others to visit Doctor Strange and discuss Paras's powers. Franziska is on Utopia trying to help X-23 deal with Blut's betrayal and Apocalypse messing with her head. She was there trying to help Paras deal with killing Holocaust but decided to help X when the others went to go see the doctor."
"Why did Jacob go home?" Jericho asked.
"Apparently his reservation is being overrun by-"

"WENDIGO!"
"Is that all these things can say!" Rickard asked as he blasted one of the monsters back with his sound manipulation.
"They're like evil pokemon!" Wayne said as he flew around, avoiding the attacking wendigos.
Jacob and Walter (who was now in his Sasquatch form) were fighting side by side.
"Not bad for a kid," Walter said as he gave one wendigo an uppercut.
"I've fought worse then this old man," Jacob said as he kicked one wendigo in the chest and smacked another across the face with his tale.
"There are people down below, I can hear them!" Rickard said.
"I'm on it!" Wayne said.
"I shall come with you!" Snowbird said.
The two of them headed for the hole in the ground. A group of wendigos tried to stop them. Wayne screamed, the intensity of his voice and the wendigos enhanced hearing caused them to cover their ears.
Snowbird turned into a swarm of mosquito's and distracted them long enough for Wayne to drop into the hole, after which she followed.
"Out in the open, or in the ground it matters not. Thine lives will end no matter what," Ranark called out.
"I would worry less about them and more about yourself monster," Shaman said.
Ranark chuckled. "Two-Young-Men. Thou think ye can beat me? I draw power from the Great Beasts themselves! Behold with the power of Tundra I strike ye with the bedrock daggers which will flay you to the bone!"
Several long rock daggers formed in front of Ranark and with a simple gesture they flew through the air at Shaman.
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a small sphere of light. He held it out and it surrounded him in a fiery aura. The daggers turned to dust as soon as they touched it.
"The Sky Fathers Light mocks the power of the great beasts, for the darkness must always yield to the light!"
He raised his palm and the fire gathered at the center of his hand and fired it at Ranark. The dark shaman merely raised his skeletal hand and met the blast with a dark fire.
"The fire of Tolomaq is more than a match for thine flame." the two flames canceled each other out. Ranark pointed a finger at Shaman and the mystic cried out as painful sores and blisters began to cover his skin. "And now the power of Kolomaq will melt the flesh from thine bones!"
Shaman summoned his power and shot a bolt of power from both of his hands. It hit Ranark square in the chest and sent him hurtling back into a nearby tree.
Focusing his power onto the tree he said an incantation and the tree began to wrap around Ranark. But just as it seemed Shaman had trapped the ancient the tree began to turn to ash.
"Pitiful!" Ranark spoke.
Jacob fell from the sky, having seen Shaman was in trouble he went to help him. He brought his leg back and kicked Ranark, sending him flying into the sky.
"Flawless victory," Jacob said with a grin.
Shaman fell to his knees and Jacob walked over to him. "You okay?" he asked.
"Ranark has grown more powerful. He was already a formidable foe but I fear his words about Tanaraq growing in strength with each new wendigo was true. And I fear what will happen if he gets too powerful."
"What do you mean?"
"The Great Beasts are like gods but they are still at their core animals. They are territorial and constantly fight each other. This helps us because they spend more time warring with one another then working together. But if Tanarq were to gain enough power from the wendigo curse he could punch his way through the dimensional veil into our world. What's worse is he could have enough power to defeat his brothers."
"How many would it take for that to happen?" Jacob asked.
"I don't know."
"Can you cure these people?" Jacob asked.
"Yes. But I need time to prepare the spell."
"Can you do it like this?" Jacob asked seeing the sores and boils.
"It will take more than this to stop me!" Shaman said standing up.
"Rickard! Sasquatch!" Jacob yelled.
The two ran over to them.
"Michael! You okay?" Walter asked.
"I will be fine. I need you both to keep the wendigos back until I can finish the spell to free them," Shaman said.
"What about him!" Rickard said pointing a finger at Ranark who was flying back towards the group.
"He's mine!" Jacob growled. "Just keep Shaman safe!"
He walked forward, Ranark flew down to him.
"What creature are ye to look like a wendigo yet not be one?" Ranark asked.
"I am Jacob Starchild of the Tsuu T'ina Nation. You have killed people from my tribe and turned them into monsters! I am going to make you pay!"
Ranark began to laugh. "I posses dark power beyond your imagination child. If Two-Young-Men could not stop me, what hope does Star-Child have?"
The wendigos began to gather around below Ranark.
"Fearsome thine wendigo form is it cannot hope to stand against us all!"
Jacob smiled. "Maybe, but as I have recently learned there are other forms I can take. There was one creature I was always fond of."
Suddenly Jacob's entire body was engulfed in fire and his body began to change. His fur turned into dark blue scales and his arms and legs turned into flippers. He body elongated and stretched to be a hundred feet long.
"Gaasyendietha!" Ranark and Shaman both said in shock.
"Damn right!" Jacob said.

Down below Wayne and Snowbird made their way through the dark tunnels.
"Can you see okay?" Wayne asked.
"My vision is better than a mortals," Snowbird said.
"There is a large cavern ahead. There are more of those things and a group of people in a cage!" Wayne said.
"How do you know all this?" Snowbird asked.
"Echolocation. I don't look like a bat for no reason you know," Wayne said with a grin.
They flew into the cavern, just as Wayne said there was a group of people in a bone cage and several wendigos waiting for them.
Snowbird turned into a white wolverine and began to tear into the wendigos.
"No! Don't hurt him!" one of the young men in the cage shouted.
"Are you crazy!?" Wayne asked doing his best to dodge the wendigos. The cavern was too small for him to fly in. But he used his small size to his advantage.
"He's my brother!" the person yelled.
"They are the missing people from the tribe!" a girl said.
"We know child!" Snowbird said. "Though it pains me to do it I must fight back with my full fury, else I soon find myself among the dead!"
Wayne ran over to the cage and with his talons he slashed across the bones and freed the people. A group of wendigos ran at them.
"Cover your ears!" Wayne told them.
They did as they were told and Wayne let out a scream that caused the wendigos to fall to their knees.
"Quickly, into the tunnels!" Wayne said.
They ran past the wendigos and Snowbird resumed her human form and followed them.
"I can't see anything!" someone said.
Evie pulled out her cell phone and turned the light on so they could see where they were going.
"Are any of you Evie Starchild?" Wayne asked.
"Me," Evie said. "Are you Wayne?"
"How did you know?" Wayne asked.
"He told me about you. Your one of the Champions right?"
"Yeah, he came here to help and I and another of my friends came with him."
"And I came with a few of my team mates to assist as well," Snowbird said.
"Two superhero groups? We're saved!" someone said.
"Wait until you see what is waiting for you above ground," Wayne said.

"Well he couldn't turn into a unicorn so I suppose he will be happy to be a dragon," Rickard said as he watched Jacob fight Ranark and several other wendigo.
"Why would he want to be a unicorn?" Walter asked.
"Don't ask," Rickard said with a sigh.
Shaman floated in the air, his legs were crossed. He had pulled out several totems from his pouch and arranged them in a circle which he floated in while Rickard and Walter stood outside keeping any stray wendigos from attacking.
The problem was they were in more danger from Jacob himself then the wendigos. His entire body was covered in flame, Ranark threw dozens of spells at him but the fire protected him from many of the attacks.
The wendigos attacked Jacob, trying to protect their master but his fiery aura burned them.
"A curse upon thee boy!" Ranark shrieked. "I have smelled thine blood before, thine sister is my prisoner. After I kill you I will feed her to the wendigos, piece by piece!"
"Wrong thing to say asshole!" Jacob roared.
He opened his mouth and a jet of flame shot out. Ranark summoned a sphere of black flame to protect himself but the other wendigos cried out in pain as the fire burned them.
"Easy Jake!" Rickard yelled.
"He is losing himself to the gaasyendietha," Shaman said. "He is still discovering the limits of his power. Just like Snowbird when she was younger, I fear the longer he stays in this form the stronger it's control over him will become."
"He needs to be more careful, we're trying to save these people not kill them!" Rickard said.
"I am more concerned for what he is doing to the environment!" Walter said.
The flames from Jacob's body had caused several trees to catch fire. Shaman spoke in another language and Rickard was surprised to see creatures made from air appear around the burning trees.
They were roughly humanoid, their forms translucent and shifting. They seemed to swallow the air around the trees causing the fire to extinguish.
"I have summoned air elementals to help contain the fire. But we must hurry, if this goes on I fear we may have to deal with Jacob after Ranark.
Snowbird came flying out of the hole, she had taken the form of a large eagle and carried several of the captives on her back while Wayne flew with Evie in his arms.
"Rickard we got bogies!" Wayne yell.
Not a moment latter a pack of angry wendigos jumped out of the hole after them.
Rickard clapped his hands together and there was a mighty burst of sound that it send the beasts flying back several yards.
"Oh my God, look at that!" Jesse said pointing at Jacob and Ranark.
"The boy has turned into a gaasyendietha," Snowbird said amazed.
"That's Jake?" Wayne asked.
"My brother? I thought he could only turn into a wendigo?" Evie asked.
"It's a new thing he picked up!" Wayne said.
"Michael, how are you coming along?" Walter asked Shaman.
"I need a few more minutes," Shaman spoke.
"Thine body may be safe from my magics, but let see if thine mind is safe from the power of Ranaq the Devour!"
"Stupid little bastard!"
Jacob felt an icy cold feeling run down his spine (which was now a few dozen feet long now) he recognized that voice, even though he had not heard it in a long time.
He turned his head and was no longer fighting an ancient evil shaman in the woods.
He was in his home, his living room. The tv was on to an old hockey game Jacob remembered watching a long time ago.
But it was not the room itself, it was not the fact his team was losing bad, nor was it the fact that instead of being a fiery serpent he was a small child.
It was the fact his father was sitting on the couch.
He wore a pair of jeans and a white wife beater shirt. Even at a young age people told Jake he looked a lot like his father. And when he came of age the resemblance between father and son was uncanny.
Though Jake hoped he never looked like his dad when he hit his thirties.
Jon Starchild still possessed some of his good looks from his younger days, but years of hardcore drinking and a bad diet had robbed him of his washboard abs and muscles that you saw in his old school photos. Now he had a beer belly and though his biceps were still large they no longer had the sharp muscle definitions and were now flabby.
Jon was staring at his son, his eyes unfocussed, a half empty bottle of whiskey sat on the table. His mother was out visiting a friend. She had taken little Evie with her and wanted Jake to come as well, but Jake knew if he went then Jon would sit home, getting drunker and drunker and would start breaking things. His mother's things.
Because everything on this house was really his moms, she spent all her time working and bringing in money for the family and taking care of the house. She deserved time away from her drunkard husband and his heavy hand, and the last thing Jake wanted was for her to come home to her house a wreck from Jon's episode.
Jake knew it meant he would have to take the brunt of his rage. But it was a small price Jake was willing to pay to protect his mothers home.
And as predicted Jon was starting to get mean and nasty, the older Jake got the more bitter and nasty Jon was to him. Every time he heard someone say how much Jake looked like a younger version of him his eyes would narrow as if he had been given a backhanded compliment.
They had been watching the game silently, but with each drink Jon took from the bottle the more uneasy Jake felt, he knew it was only a matter of time.
And it was now.
"Think you're so special huh...think cause your young and still fit you got a future. Well guess what." Jon took a sip from the bottle, his eyes never once left Jacob. "There is nothing out there for you. All you got is right here. No one wants to hire you cause you're an Indian. That's the world you live in...second you came out of your mother. Once you're out of school your out of luck!"
If Jacob had a nickel for every time he heard this speech he would buy his own house.
"I was told I had a future. Worked my ass off for a college degree, I was the damn king on the football field, they chanted my name like it was a damn prayer. But did any of them fucking scouts pick me? No! They chose all those fucking white bastards from those damn rich white families. Did I go to college? No! Did I want to stay on the reservation? Hell no! Spent years saving money to get out, then your mother had to go and get pregnant and had to marry her and take care of you!"
Jon's words were becoming angrier and more bitter. He was now dribbling whiskey down his chin, it stained his shirt.
"Then your sister was born and that was one more mouth to feed!"
Yeah like he was the one who fed the family. How many jobs had he had? The same number he had been fired from for showing up drunk as a skunk.
"That's what you got to look forward to kid. So enjoy it while it lasts."
Jacob ignored him and continued to watch the game.
"Hey...hey...HEY!" Jon grabbed the remote and threw it at Jake's head. Jake cried out in pain as his hand covered the spot on his head where the remote hit. "I'm talking to you, you little shit!"
"I heard you! I'm just ignoring you!" Jake said.
"Don't you take that tone with me, boy!" Jon roared.
In the real world no one moved. Jake was staring off into the woods, his lips turned up in a vicious snarl, showing his dagger like teeth.
Ranark was focusing all his power on Jake, but the wendigos were trying to attack Shaman, but he was being protected by the Champions and his other team mates.
Evie and the others were huddled around Shaman,
"How freaking long does it take to cast a spell!" Wayne asked.
"Almost done!" Shaman yelled, his body glowing with green energy.
Ranark realized what Shaman was trying to do. In a matter of seconds he would cast a spell that would free the wendigos from the curse.
"So Two-Young-Men thinks to break my curse, to deprive mine masters of the power I have promised to them?" he raised his hand and pointed a long boney finger at Shaman. "As the children of this age do say Two-Young-Men, kiss mine ass!"
His finger shot forward like a harpoon and flew at Shaman. Before it could be stopped it his him, running him through his left rib.
Shaman cried out and fell to the ground, the green energy dissipated and Evie quickly went into the circle to help him.
Suddenly Jacob began to thrash around, sparks and embers flew through the air as his body violently thrashed around.
"What's happening to him?" Evie asked.
"Ranark has trapped him in an illusion, he is reliving a bad memory," Shaman said, using his mystical senses to divine what was happening.
In Jacob's illusion his father was now beating him with a belt, Jacob had his arms up trying to keep his face protected from the blows.
"Worthless little bastard! Waste of space! Should have left a long time ago! Left you and that bitch on your own!"
Jacob cried out as the leather of the belt struck him again and again.
Jacob remembered this night, remembered how his mom cried in the morning when she came back home because of the welts and bruises Jake was covered in. She took him to the hospital and he had to stay overnight because his wounds had gotten infected.
A few days later he returned home. His grandfather picked him up and took him back to the house, he told him his father had left, he had left to go to get some more booze but never returned home.
The next few months were tough, his mom was sad and Evie hardly ever talked but Jake was happier than he had ever been.
But now he was trapped in a hell made by Ranark, when he was just a small boy left to the mercy of a drunken father whose heart was filled with envy and bitterness.
Only now he wasn't a boy, he was a young man, even though he was bigger and more then able to fight his old man he still lay on the ground taking the blows, his mother and sister sat in the corner, crying as they watched Jon beat Jake.
In the real world Shaman was explaining all this to Evie. She was horrified her brother was reliving such a painful moment in his life.
"But why is he seeing all this?" Evie asked, "Mom would never sit and watch dad hurt us!"
"He grew up fearing his father, it is how he was raised. He fears he will return and the pain and fear will return with him."
"He's never coming back! He's dead!" Evie ran out of the circle, Kate and Jesse tried to stop her but she ran past them, the wendigos were too busy fighting the heroes to bother with her.
She got as close to her brother as she could without being struck by his tail, though the sparks and embers burned her skin.
"JAKE!" she yelled trying to draw his attention.
"It is all for naught child, the power of the beasts are too great!" Ranark cackled. "He will live out every painful memory and fear until his mind shatters!"
Shaman raised a hand and muttered an incantation. "Bound by blood, bound by love, let sister's voice reach brother's heart in darkest gloom!"
A small green light glowed around Evies neck for a second then vanished.
"JAKE," she screamned again.
In his illusion Jake heard his sister call his name.
"Evie?" he whispered.
"Jake dad won't come back! He's dead!" Evie yelled.
She took a deep breath and spoke. "While you were in the hospital I found his stash. I was mad at him for what he did to you, I wanted to punish him! I was young and stupid, I was dumping it all down the sink but he caught me, he came after me. He his me on the head with a bottle and I passed out. When I came too mom was standing over him with a bloody knife. She had come home to see him standing over me with the bottle, she thought he was going to kill me and stabbed him with a knife. She called grandfather and he and Ansel and Tom cleaned the mess and took the body away! Mom made me promise not to tell you. She was afraid you would think she was a monster for killing dad! She killed him to keep us safe, because she knew he was only going to get worse, that it was either him or us. She chose us Jake!"
The illusion began to fade as Jake heard her words, the pain began to lesson and it was starting to feel like he was being hit by a feather then a belt.
"Damn thee child! I was going to feed you to the wendigos, but the sooner thine life ends the better!"
Ranark raised his hand again and fired another boney finger, this one headed right for her face.
The illusion broke just in time to see the spike heading for his sister, to see his friends being overrun by wendigos, everyone he knew was about to die.
And in that moment, through sheer will power and need to protect his family and friends that the power in him exploded and took a new form.
There was a bright multicolored light, like someone combined an A-bomb and a rainbow.
Jacob turned from a flaming serpent into a brilliant bird, at first he looked to be a thunderbird, only his feathers were a brilliant shade of red, blue, orange, green, yellow, indigo and violet instead of the thunderbirds black cloud color.
His tail feathers were much longer and his talons were smaller. The beak was longer and thinner and the wings were slightly slimmer.
The light dissolved the bone spike before it could hit Evie, the wendigos stared at the light and one by one they returned to their normal forms.
"It can't be!" Ranark cried, trying to shield himself from the light.
"Achiyalatopa!" Shaman said amazed.
"The celestial bird of the Zuni tribe!" Snowbird said amazed.
"Impossible! You're just a stupid boy-freak from some back woods reservation!" Ranark yelled.
"I am a man, I am a mutant, I am a Starchild, and a Tsuu T'ina and you know what else I am?"
"What?!" Ranark asked.
"I'm a Champion bitch!"
Jacob flapped his wings and dozens of multi-colored feathers shot forward like flint knives. There was an explosion of light and Ranark let out a scream as the light of the feathers began to purify his tainted form.
But suddenly his body was surrounded by darkness and he vanished.
Jacob slowly descended to the ground, assuming his human form.
"Jake!"
Evie ran to Jake, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Jake I'm so sorry! God I thought I was going to die!" she cried.
"Shh, it's okay Evie, it's all over," Jake said soothingly.
"Can I ask you a question?" she asked.
"Sure."
"Why are you naked?" she asked.
The shorts Jacob had been wearing had torn apart a while ago.
"Well, I am in good company," Jake said noticing all the people who had been wendigos were now naked as well.

Far away, a dark portal opened and Ranark fell out.
He placed his hands on the floor of the posh apartment and raised himself up.
"Wh-wh-what magic is this?" he asked.
"That would be me saving your life Ranark," Selene said standing several feet away with Abreal and Azazel.
"Actually it was my son Abyss," Azazel said.
Abyss appeared next to his father. "Got there just in time from being killed by the world's gayest giant bird," Abyss said.
"The Black Queen and the Demon King?" Ranark asked, he turned his gaze to Abyss and Abreal. "The Kings brat and one who smells like death. A curious gathering."
"I have grown tired of pests keeping me from my destiny Ranark. So I have decided to gather a group of like-minded individuals who are tired of so called heroes running our plans. Normally I do not associate myself with others but several thousands of years' worth of failures have taught me the value of...blast what is it called again?"
"Teamwork," Azazel offered.
Selene snapped her fingers. "Yes, that! Teamwork...gods why does that leave a bad taste in my mouth?"
"What is in this for me?" Ranark asked.
Selene laughed. "Darling, you just failed your masters, last time I checked, the Great Beasts don't take too kindly to failure. But if you help me then I promise I will help you get back in their good graces."
Ranark quietly mulled over her words. "What do you have in mind?"

Later that day Rickard the Champions were getting ready to leave.
After they called Tom and had the police come (with spare cloths) to help take everyone home and explain what happened.
When their mother saw the two of them Evie and Jacob found themselves in a tight hug.
Jacob told her he knew what she did, she broke down crying begging his forgiveness.
"It was bad enough you had a drunk for a father. I didn't want you to be ashamed of having a murder for a mother. I was already so angry with him for what he did to you Jake, then when I came home and saw him standing over Evie I thought he killed her and I saw red and just snapped."
Jacob hugged her and told her he wished she hadn't been the one to do it, that now she didn't have to carry the burden any more.
The Starchild family was finally able to close a dark chapter in their lives.
"Ranark isn't dead," Shaman said to Rickard and Wayne. "I sensed a small hole to another dimension open and pull him in before he could be destroyed."
"Could it have been the Great Beasts?" Rickard asked.
Shaman shook his head. "No, it was not to their realm it led. But another dark world."
"Hey if he comes back we'll just send Jake to turn into a magical bird and kick his ass again," Wayne said.
"His ability to turn into beasts is similar to my own ability. But where I only turn into animals native to the Great North the Starchild seems to be able to turn into supernatural beings native to the western lands," Snowbird said.
"That's my boy, I always knew he was special," his mother said. "Now if only he would find a nice girl to settle down with."
"Well you never know," Holly said with a smile. "Jake and I were talking earlier and we decided to get back together."
"Really?"
Holly nodded. "He said he had finally matured and wasn't going to be sleeping around no more."
"Where is Jacob?" Evie asked looking around.
"He's...preoccupied," Dave said with a nervous grin.
Just then the door to the house opened and Jacob came out with a pair of girls, his arms around their waists.
"Thank you so much for saving us," the one on his left said.
"Yes, you're a real hero...and a real beast in the bed," the one on the right said.
"Always happy to help my tribe," Jacob said with a smug grin.
He kissed them both on the cheek and slapped them on their behinds, sending them away as they giggled.
Everyone stared at him, then to a furious Holly who's face was turning red with rage. Jake saw her and a look of pure fear filled his eyes.
"Holly! I...thought you...left already."
"You son of a bitch!" she spat.
"Really Jake?" his mother asked rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"You're just like your grandfather when he was your age," Ansel said with a laugh.
"Look Holly, technically we haven't made things official and they wanted to thank me for saving their lives and the tribe and I didn't want to be rude and tell them no!" Jake said waving his hands.
She turned around and headed for her dads police van.
"You better run boy, she's got her mother's temper," Tom said.
Holly reached in and pulled out her dads shot gun.
"And she's armed!" Tom yelled.
"Shit!" Jake yelled. He jumped off the porch and began to run. Holly cocked the gun and took aim and fired, narrowly missing Jake.
Everyone watched as Holly chased after Jake with the gun raised.
"You do realize he isn't bullet proof in this form right?" Rickard asked.
Tom shrugged. "Isn't the first time she has gone after him with a gun before. And she never once manage to hit-"
BAM
"MY ASS! YOU SHOT MY ASS AGAIN!"
"Well, she never hits anything vital," Tom muttered.

Two Days Later
The Champions were all laughing at a sullen Jacob.
"So then his mom had to pull the bullet out with a pair of tweezers," Wayne said.
"After she had to make an incision in his right cheek because the wound sealed with the bullet still inside!" Rickard laughed.
"How many times are we going to talk about this shit?" Jacob asked rubbing his now healed butt.
Just then Jericho walked in.
"Hey Jer, how you feeling?" Angie asked.
"I feel funny," he said rubbing his head.
Since his surgery he had been having headaches. Hank said they were likely side effects from what happened.
"You having another headache?" Michael asked.
Eve spoke. "Michael, I am detecting a sudden surge occurring in the parts of your cousins brain that deal with mutation. I believe his is about to overload."
"Wait what?" Michael asked.
"So does that mean he is going to-"
Before Angie could finish Jericho suddenly let out a scream of pain.
The white spots on his feathers that looked like eyes began to glow with a blue light and beams of light shot out from them. The Champions cried out as they were each hit with a beam and covered in a blue light.
The blue light receded back into the feathers, within each beam of light was a humanoid figure that shrank to fit into the feathers.
Jericho placed his hands around his throat and began to gag. He opened his mouth and spat out several marble sized beads.
"What the flying hell just happened?" Jericho asked looking at the beads with a perplexed expression.
"I don't know...but I feel funny," Angie said.
"Is everyone alright?" Rickard asked.
"Oh my God!" Wayne said.
He had lost all aspects of his physical mutation, he looked like a normal teen.
"I can see again!" he said feeling under his eyes. He reached behind his back and let out a gasp. "My wings are gone!"
"Join the club!" Franziska said. Both her and Michael had lost their wings and She had lost her facial markings.
"Guys help!" Devin said.
Jacob went over to him and helped him up, sitting him on top of a chair.
"My legs...there not working...I think I lost my power!" Devin said.
"I think we all did," Angie said.
"But why?" Wayne asked.
They all turned to look at Jericho.
"Well...on the plus side Wayne doesn't look like a scary bat kid anymore," he said nervously.

Fusedtwilight: Uh oh, a little power swap going on in the Ark. Next chapter the Champions try and figure out how to control their powers and get their old ones back. But this couldn't happen at a worse time.
Indra has recently become more interesting to me. For a long time I was indifferent to him partially because he didn't have much purpose besides being a background character and his power wasn't that interesting. But recently in the comics his power went through an evolution and he has gone through some much needed character development. Now I like to keep this as canon as possible but I added the astra thing because the myth about the astras is really interesting and for a pacifist like him having that much power could really make for an interesting storlyine. Please review.
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Angel In The Attic