Descent #4

After finishing a mission with his new team, Descent grabs an incapacitated ninja and flies to report in to Amanda Waller. After listening patiently, Waller says "Work with these people, but remember which team is your priority. Also keep on eye on the Cybernaut. If he seems to be about to do anything to compromise us then report to me and we will see that he is 'discouraged.' He didn't have the stomach to do what was necessary in the service of his country, but hopefully he won't bother the ones that do."

Descent goes to his quarters in Belle Reve and finds a package containing what appears to be a superhero costume. It fits perfectly, and even seems to change itself slightly as he is wearing it. There is no note attached, but for some reason he feels like he has worn it before and it feels safe. He decides this will be his costume when he is active as a hero, but when he is with the Squad he will stay with the all black outfit to try and keep them separate. Then he gets the call from Bronze Tiger to suit up, as they have a new mission in Qurac.

Rick Flag starts the briefing, telling the group about a new group of super powered terrorists has been assembled and they are going to go in and take them out before they are fully trained. "This is a kill mission," he says. "We are to leave no survivors. We are sending a strong anti-terrorism message. Besides, we were never there..." Greg feels better when he finds out he will be paired with Captain Boomerang, feeling he is one of the few people on the team that would have his back.

They go in late at night, teleported by Nightshade, and hit them quick and hard. Bronze Tiger and Plastique team up to battle the most powerful of the terrorists, the one known as Asif the Mighty. Near the end of the battle, Greg parries an attack from a supernatural terrorist known as the Desert Witch, and they find themselves staring at each other across locked swords. She begins to use a power she possesses, allowing her to  understand her opponent and find their weakness. Then her eyes widen in fear. She says, "You are like Asif, you are..."

Suddenly, blood dribbles down the woman's mouth as she dies from three boomerangs in the back. "Way to keep her distracted for me," the captain says.

Greg starts to look around for the one named Asif, but just as he finds this mysterious opponent, Bronze Tiger has paralyzed him, and Plastique blows his head off. Then they all hear Flagg scream, "Get our dead and wounded together. Nightshade, we're ready, evac now!"

Within moments, Nightshade teleports them back to Belle Reve. But as they are debriefing, all Greg can think of is how close he came to finally getting some answers about his mysterious origins.

EPILOGUE: Damien Moonblood is relaxing, his gaze focused on a T.V. screen in a bar in Los Angeles. Subsequent panels reveal that the bar is littered with fresh corpses. But as he enjoys his drink, Damien suddenly sees something on the screen that irritates him. He sends a mental message to Al-Aknor: "Did you see who is alive?"

"Yes," Al-Aknor replies. His voice is loud in Damien's head. The rituals to return Al-Aknor to his full power have just been completed that day. "Greg Moore."

"The annoying little blue kid with the strange sorcery appears to still be allied with him as well," Damien says. "And Moore's gone public now, as a 'superhero.' How many times do I have to kill that one?"

"Just once, though it appears that may be harder than it seemed before. But once he is dead, we can begin the next step."

"The End of the World," Damien replies. "I'll drink to that..."