by HERO!, Shock Headed Peter and Nowhereman
From a vast, never-ending void to a constricting bubble. This is like some bad dream I had about the X-Men the other night, thought Hero, who stirred.
Hardy New-Born: "Hero, you're awake!"
Hero: "What's going on, Rhymer?"
HNB: "A mysterious voice has us captive in these bubbles."
Hero: "Who's the voice?"
HNB: "Dunno... It's a mystery."
Hero took a moment to examine the bubble with his analytical powers.
HNB: "Well?"
Hero: "There's some sort of interference that keeps me from figuring this puzzle out."
HNB: "You can do it."
Hero, noticing the unconscious Kid Bucket, asked, "Who's this?"
HNB: "Kid Bucket. He's in the League."
Hero: "Why is the mysterious voice collecting MBLers?"
HNB: "It appears we're part of the six he needs."
Hero: "What is that supposed to mean? Why does he need six of us?"
HNB: "It's a mystery. We've got other things to worry about now. You must focus."
Hero: "But what does the six mean?"
HNB: "Hero, damn it! It's a mystery! Now get us out of here!"
Hero gave it one more attempt. He strained his powers to the maximum, pushing his limit through the interference and figuring out... nothing. "I'm sorry, Rhymer. I'm just not strong enough."
HNB: "Man, what happened to you in the void?"
Hero turned his face from Hardy New-Born, not wanting to have to look him in the eye. In silence, they awaited the arrival of the other MBLers.
The mysterious stranger paced back and forth. "I need a more powerful lackey out there. These B-movie aliens and cheap gag hamsters I hired have cocked up too much. Perhaps this skull..."
He pulled from his pocket Monolith's boiled skull. "Yes, this is genetically identical..." He pulled from his pocket a small, glowing vial and smashed it into the skull. The two melted and reformed, unfolding into a very familiar individual.
Shock-Headed Peter: "Gleh. I hate regenerating from the dead. Oh my God, it's... it's... Well, I've never met you before in my life."
"Some know me as Incursion. But you will call me master."
SHP: "No."
Incursion gave Shock-Headed Peter a huge kick in the cobblers.
SHP: "ACK!"
Incursion: "Listen here. You will find Viper and the Hyperboard Entity. You will reform the IBG. It will serve as an effective distraction to my actual plan. If you do anything other than what I said, I will turn you into a salmon and then inside out."
SHP: "Ugggg..."
Incursion: "Why are you still here?"
Outside the MBL Headquarters, a figure dressed in black appeared, holding a card. His name was Nowhereman, and he had arrived to join the MBL. He waited at the entrance to the headquarters, where he had presented his invitation card that should have granted him access, if anyone was there. He waited for several minutes but received no answer.
"Just needed to make a cameo appearance and bugger off again!" he shouted as loud as he could, already pissed off but beginning to become worried.
He waited for several more minutes, but there was no answer. The MBL was not at home. Nowhereman was determined to track them down and help them if they were in trouble.
The End