Via Sanguinis: Prism's Tale

by Phil Hartman

1/1/2000: Somewhere in the Colorado Rockies:

He doesn't think small, that Sinister.

Background: Humphrey Smith, simple-minded all-American teen, wakes up one day to find himself one giant hunk of glass, and certain parts have gone... inside his body.

Needless to say, the redoubtable Master Smith becomes a very dangerous mutant assassin for hire, ends up getting hired by an annoying Cajun, and is thrust into a cycle of perpetual death and rebirth as the resident energy-reflector of a band of cloned mutant assassins working for a geneticist who's forever defamed mimes worldwide.

Like I said, deep thinker, that Sinister.

OK, enough grouchiness. I have to admit, he's got a pretty good plan this time: he actually laced me with iron to reinforce my bodily structure. Hope it doesn't screw up my reflectivity ...

But why pure iron ? And WHAT could be up in the -

oh boy.

I get to hunt a witch. More importantly, her charges.

And cold iron's supposed to screw with magic ...

Sinister better be a deeper thinker than I think.

***

"Something is ... wrong."

Alysande Stuart looked up from where she was watching her charges at play in their host's front yard and said, "What, Dame Harkness ? Sh'ld I check the bawn ?"

"Not yet, Caledonia," Agatha Harkness replied, examining her crystal ball. "Young Franklin and Valeria are in no danger if there is nothing there ... and so it seems."

"Aye, well - I'd best be checkin' it myself," the Scotswoman nodded, summoning her armor and swords. She headed out Agatha's back door, waving as the children of Susan Richards played soccer and waved at her.

#T'is good t'see them t'gether,# Caledonia thought. #I just hope Lady Susan's business back in New York t'will be completed soon ... th' bairns sh'ld be gettin'-#

The laser through her eye cut her thoughts short.

***

"Somethin's wrong."

"Well, duh - you totally missed that shot," Valeria Von Doom smirked at her younger/older brother. Franklin Richards shook his head, blinking, and gave a sharp cry.

"Caledon'a ! I can't feel her mind, Val !" Frank shouted, running for the back yard. His Puppy bolted after him, prompting Valeria to give a dreadful curse under her breath.

#The things that kid puts me through ... I swear, if I ever show up in this timeline, I'm gonna spoil her rotten,# the Heiress Von Doom thought, her 13-year-young legs propelling her forward.

She gaped, dropping to one knee beside her sobbing brother, as he knelt beside Caledonia's still form. Puppy started whimpering, breaking into a long, protracted howl.

"Oh geez ... oh no," Valeria whispered, clutching Frank to her. "Cal ..."

The children saw a flash, and heard a horrific yowl, before passing out.

***

"FIEND !"

Prism turned from where he stood over the unconscious children, his stored energies ebbing dangerously.

"Great," the Marauder muttered, staring at Agatha Harkness. "I kill the nanny, I kill the dog, I knock out the kids, and NOW you show."

"Your stroboscopic overload of the Richards' children's minds will be your last sin ever, butcher !" Agatha rasped. She began to chant in an ominous voice, energies coalescing about her hands.

They leapt at Prism, fading into nothing.

"Cold iron, all right," Prism grinned. "Gotta love it."

His hand swung up, and his thumb dropped.

***

Half a continent away, a red-haired woman screamed.

"AGATHA !?" Wanda Maximoff cried, leaping from the Avengers' conference table. "She's dead !"

"Agatha Harkness ?" Janet Van Dyne asked, taking Wanda by the arm.

"Somehow, Janet, I know - my mentor has been slain," the Scarlet Witch said, steel replacing loss in her voice. "I must investigate - alone. I ... I'm sorry if this seems abrupt, but -"

"Be careful, Wanda," Hank Pym said gently. "Anything that could kill Agatha Harkness can't be that easy to deal with."

"Whatever claimed Agatha's life had best watch out for ME, Henry," Wanda replied, heading for the hangar bay.

***

Sinister nodded, pacing before the tanks holding his captives.

"'Von Doom' indeed," Essex smirked, watching Valeria drift in the stasis gel. "That intellect, those powers - the Invisible Woman and Mr. Fantastic are still fertile after all. Given time, child, you will serve me well.

"But there is still much more to be done ..."

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