Into the Pit
INT. NIGHT Four Freedom’s Plaza. Marvel Girl and Franklin Richards are eating pop corn and watching a scary movie during a thunderstorm. On the TV Screen a woman is about to be murdered. Franklin looks away in fear as the woman on TV screams.
MARVEL GIRL:
Scared?
FRANKLIN:
No.
There is a sickening gut wrenching sound from the TV and the woman screams a dying scream. Franklin screams and hides his face in the couch cushion.
MARVEL GIRL:
Hey, I know you’re only eight Sparky, but you’ve seen scarier stuff than this in real life. It’s just a movie.
FRAKNLIN:
(Voice muffled in pillow)
I know.
MARVEL GIRL:
What about that time the Wizard sent you adrift in space? That was scarier than this.
FRAKNLIN:
You’re not making me feel better, Val.
MARVEL GIRL:
Hey, sorry. The scary part’s over.
He looks back up at the TV just in time for the screen to cast a red glow on the room. A series of stabbing sounds is heard. Franklin screams and Valeria tries to stifle her laughter.
FRANKLIN:
(angrily)
Next time, I pick the movie.
He gets up to leave, and Marvel Girl sprawls across the couch.
FRAKNLIN:
I’m going to bed…
MARVEL GIRL:
Sweet dreams, shorty.
Franklin walks down the hall to his room. As he walks the hallway grows darker and there is a harsh whispering sound behind him. He stops and looks around, alarmed and afraid. He continued to walk into his room and a pair for blood red eyes appears in the shadows. He gets into his room and the door shuts behind him by itself. Franklin looks around now very afraid. The room grows darker and darker until all Franklin can see is his bed which is cast in a red light.
VOICE:
Hello, Franklin.
FRAKNLIN:
(Starting to cry)
Val? Are you doing this?
VOICE:
Your sister can’t help you.
FRANKLIN:
Valeria!!!
Cuts to the TV room where Valeria is still watching the movie. She hears Franklin scream and grows very alert. She jumps up and flips over the couch then dashes down the hallway. She opens Franklin’s door and a massive shadowy entity explodes outward with sharp snapping serrated teeth.
MARVEL GIRL:
Franklin!
VOICE:
He is lost to you!
Valeria unleashes two powerful cosmic blasts from her gauntlets and pushes the entity back into the room. She enters the room and sees a shadowy swarm around Franklin’s bed. Fire is running up all the walls. Inside the shadows Franklin is screaming in agony.
MARVEL GIRL:
Hold on!
She fires energy beams at the shadows but there is now effect. The fire in the room swirls inward towards Franklin. Valeria makes a force field to protect herself. The fire engulfs Franklin and shoots downward. The room returns to normal and Franklin is gone.
MARVEL GIRL:
Franklin?!
EXT. Shot of Four Freedoms Plaza. There is a bolt of lighting over Marvel Girl’s scream.
MARVEL GIRL:
Franklin!!!
OPENING THEME.
INT. FOUR FREEDOMS PLAZA, TWENTY MINUTES LATER. Batman is examining Franklin’s bedroom.
BATMAN:
I’m sorry, Val. This is far beyond my area of expertise.
MARVEL GIRL:
You’re the world’s greatest detective. Isn’t there anything you can tell me?!
BATMAN:
I can tell you that whatever happened to Franklin was a supernatural phenomenon. Otherwise there would be something here for me to find. There’s nothing. Did you contact the League’s Council on Magic and the Paranormal.
MARVEL GIRL:
I called Dr. Strange. He’s a family friend. He should be here by now.
Marvel Girl looks away and starts to tear up. She punches the wall in futility and starts to cry.
MARVEL GIRL:
I hate just sitting here like this…
Batman puts his hand on her shoulder.
BATMAN:
I’m sure you did everything you could.
MARVEL GIRL:
My dad designed this building to be impenetrable from every plane of reality known to science.
DR. FATE:
(Teleporting in.)
And what about Sorcery?
BATMAN:
Fate.
DR. FATE:
Dr. Strange sends his regrets. But I assure you I am every bit as qualified to attend to this matter. Though actually…
Jason Blood Emerges from Fate’s portal.
DR. FATE (CONT.)
I have called in a specialist of my own.
BATMAN:
Jason. I’d like to say it’s good to see you.
MARVEL GIRL:
But I’m guessing both of you being here means this is even worse than I’d feared.
DR. FATE:
Based on your account of the events, and the residual dark magics that have stained this room, I fear we are dealing with the deepest darkest levels of the occult. I know few others more versed in the workings of the nether realms than Jason Blood.
JASON BLOOD:
Actually, I know one other.
DR. FATE:
(sighs)
I suppose we’ll be needing him then?
JASON BLOOD:
As disagreeable as he is, I can sense already that only he will be able to reopen the portal Franklin’s abductor left behind.
DR. FATE:
Very well then.
JASON BLOOD:
Gone! Gone form of man! Rise the Demon Etrigan!
Jason transforms into Etrigan the demon.
ETRIGAN:
Fate. You and Blood are like the blind leading the blind. The culprit’s identity is sickeningly obvious.
MAREL GIRL:
Who?
ETRIGAN:
Blackheart, son of Mephisto. His foul stench is everywhere.
DR. FATE:
Forgive me for not fraternizing with the forces of darkness to such a high degree of familiarity, Etrigan.
MARVEL GIRL:
Well what are we waiting for. Let’s go.
ETRIGAN:
I refuse to take you to Mephisto’s realm, child. I will retrieve the boy, if there is indeed a boy to retrieve.
MARVEL GIRL:
Like hell! Franklin is my brother, and my responsibility!
BATMAN:
Have you tried reaching your parents?
MARVEL GIRL:
The last transmission I got from them was from a Skrull warship, three days ago. I have no idea where they are or when they’ll be back.
DR FATE:
There is no time to wait for them, unfortunately. Etrigan and I can only follow Blackheart’s path so long as it remains traceable.
MARVEL GIRL:
And I am coming. I can feel him growing more and more distant. He’s afraid, and losing his grip on reality.
DR. FATE:
You sense Franklin, even across dimensional barriers?
MARVEL GIRL:
My brother and I share a psychic rapport that transcends both time and dimension. You might need me to find him.
ETRIGAN:
Suit yourself. But don’t expect any sympathy from me when you stare the devil in the eye.
Etrigan looks over at Franklin’s bed then shoots a stream of bright orange fire out of his mouth than burns the bed away and opens up a deep dark circular chasm in the floor.
ETRIGAN:
Fallen Angel’s putrid wrath! Open back the sullen path!
The Chasm solidifies itself. The four of them step up to the chasm and look down. It’s deep and twisted and leads to a fiery red light. Dozens of agonized screams float up towards them.
ETRIGAN:
Is everybody ready to go to hell?
MARVEL GIRL:
(Looking down apprehensively)
Batman?
BATMAN:
I’m coming.
DR FATE:
Are you certain?
BATMAN:
I’m not a magician. But four heads are better than three.
DR FATE:
Very well. Everybody stay close.
Etrigan leaps down the portal.
ETRIGAN:
Don’t expect me to play by your rules, Fate!
Etrigan disappears down the chasm. Fate lifts himself, Val, and Batman up in glowing red energy and they being to descend.
DR. FATE:
(Sighs)
I knew he would make this more difficult than it had to be.
INT. MEPHISTO’S THRONE ROOM. Mephisto is manifested as a very large horrific looking demon. Blackheart appears in a burst of fire holding Franklin by the torso. Franklin is struggling and screaming.
BLACKHEART:
Father. I have the child.
MEPHISTO:
Drop him, and leave him alone with me.
Blackheart drops Franklin forcefully onto the floor then melts away into the shadows.
FRANKLIN:
My family is going to come for me, and you’ll be sorry!
Mephisto stands up and walks over to him then bends over and sticks his demonic face in Franklin’s.
MEPHISTO:
Is that right?!
Franklin looks away, horrified.
MEPHISTO:
What’s wrong, boy?!
Mephisto grows menacingly and Franklin turns away and sobs. While Franklin is looking away, Mephisto shrinks down to a more humanoid/devil form, wearing a red suit.
MEPHISTO:
Enough crying, Fraknlin. It’s your family that brings you here to me today.
FRANKLIN:
What are you talking about?
MEPHISTO:
Franklin, I deal in souls, and it seems that at this very moment the lives of your family members hang in the balance.
Mephisto waves his hands and in a flash of fire behind him images of the Fantastic Four in their space shuttle appears.
MEPHISTO (CONT.)
You see right now, your mommy, daddy, Uncle Ben, and Uncle Johnny are being pursued by a very deadly fleet of Skrull cruisers. In ten minutes their shuttle’s main fuel valve will rupture. Their ship will explode and all four of them will die.
FRANKLIN:
No…
MEPHISTO:
Don’t look so sad, Franklin. I can save them.
FRANKLIN:
You can?
MEPHISTO:
Of course I can. That’s why I brought you here.
FRANKLIN:
But your son. He’s bad.
MEPHISTO:
Make no mistake. I’m bad too. But I can save your family.
FRANKLIN:
Then do it.
MEPHISTO:
Ah but if I was just going to do it for no reason, I’d be a good guy, wouldn’t I? No, Franklin, I want something from you.
FRANKLIN:
What?
MEPHISTO:
Something very special.
He produces a contract and pen out of thin air in a flash of fire.
MEPHISTO (CONT.)
Just sign your name here. You can write your name, right Franklin?
EXT. THE OUTER CIRCLES OF THE INFERNO. Batman, Fate, and Valeria are hovering over pits of tormented souls. Fate has them enveloped in a glowing Magenta aura. Tormented shades are reaching up out of the fire and trying desperately to grab them and pull them down, but Fate’s aura protects them.
DR FATE:
Inconspicuousness is not going to be our strong point down here. We’re going to stick out like precious gems on a pile of worthless pebbles. Etrigan was right to abandon us.
BATMAN:
He’ll be back. I’m sure he’s working his connections down here.
MARVEL GIRL:
Is this really Hell?
DR FATE:
This is just one manifestation, Marvel Girl. Each set of beliefs created by sentient beings creates a window through which the supernatural can be interpreted. Mephisto was born of Judeo/Christian mythology. Hades was born of Ancient Greco Roman beliefs. Icthultu was the lord of chaos forged in the lore of both Thanagarians and Atlanteans. For every culture and ideology there is an antithesis born of hatred and sin that manifests itself in any number of undying evils. I have dedicated my life to battle them and protect the innocent.
MARVEL GIRL:
I don’t know if that answers my question.
BATMAN:
(Glaring down at the suffering)
Yes, Valeria. This is Hell.
DR FATE:
Your discomfort is palpable, Batman.
BATMAN:
I may want to punish criminals. But at the end of the day, I believe in redemption. Can all of these people be truly unreachable? Do they all deserve this?
DR FATE:
Mephisto’s realm is for those who have willingly forfeit their chance of salvation. Those who end up under his control have pledged their souls to him of their own volition.
MARVEL GIRL:
So Mephisto needs your permission to take your soul?
DR FATE:
Correct.
MARVEL GIRL:
But Franklin would never give him that, would he?
DR FATE:
I wish I could assure you he was safe. But Mephisto is adept at trickery, and your brother is merely a child.
BATMAN:
Can you sense him?
MARVEL GIRL:
Yes. But there’s still something distant about him. He’s not afraid anymore. Just… muted somehow.
DR FATE:
I am sorry…
MARVEL GIRL:
What are you saying?!
They land towards the bottom of the pit near a dark cavern. Etrigan emerges from the cave.
ETRIGAN:
Prepare yourself for the worst. Your brother is likely a puppet of the darkness by now.
MARVEL GIRL:
I’ll believe it when I see it.
ETRIGAN:
Fine. In the meantime, I’ve been chewing the fat with the eternally damned. It seems things around here have been anything but stable of late.
DR FATE:
A power struggle. But everything seems normal.
ETRIGAN:
Business as usual in the upper pit, of course. But it seems that Mephisto has cause for concern from a shade who has accumulated enough power to break free of his punishment.
DR FATE:
Who?
ETRIGAN:
A sorcerer. Someone who was undoubtedly a master of the dark arts before he wound up here. They were sketchy on names. Those perpetually tormented rarely remember details.
BATMAN:
Fraknlin possesses latent cosmic abilities. If Mephisto gained those powers, he could regain full control of his empire.
DR FATE:
Agreed. We must hasten through the lower levels.
ETRIGAN:
(To Valeria and Batman)
From here on out, this realm will try to entice you. Believe nothing you see. Trust only myself and Fate.
Etrigan turns and walks into the darkness. They follow. They enter a dark void. Out of the corner of her eye, Marvel Girl sees Franklin chasing a blue ball.
MARVEL GIRL:
Franklin?!
ETRIGAN:
Ignore it.
Marvel girl stares into the darkness, closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, then tries to move onward, but Franklin appears in the darkness again.
“FRANKLIN”
Hi, Val.
MARVEL GIRL:
Frankie…
BATMAN:
Valeria, no!
“Franklin” turns and runs, and Marvel girl pursues him into the shadows.
MARVEL GIRL:
Franklin wait!
She catches up to him. He has his back turned to her.
“FRANKLIN”:
You failed me Valeria.
MARVEL GIRL:
Franklin, we have to get out of here.
“Franklin” turns around to reveal a horrible demonic face.
“FRAKNLIN”:
No, Sis. I’m here to stay! And so are you!
The fake Franklin explodes into a horde of demons that pile upon her. Valeria blasts them off of her with cosmic beams, but more and more of them come out of the shadows. She puts of a force field, but the Demons are able to shatter it with ease. They start to claw at her. A blast of fire and bright white energy cut through the darkness and Etrigan and Fate emerge. Batman isn’t far behind them.
DR FATE:
Don’t trust your own eyes, Marvel Girl. Allow yourself to sense your surroundings through my magic.
He waves his arms and a white aura surrounds both Batman and Marvel Girl.
DR FATE (CONT.)
I have endowed you each with holy energies. Your attacks should have at least some effects against the dark magic of this realm.
Batman begins to hurl magically endowed batarangs, slaying demons. Marvel Girl’s energy bolts begin to show an increased effect. Demons are pouring out from all directions.
ETRIGAN:
Send your minions by the tens of thousands Mephisto! I’ll devour their soulless husks for an eternity before I fall!
MARVEL GIRL:
You go ahead and do that. I’m getting my brother.
Marvel Girl concentrates and emits a shockwave of invisible force energy backed by Dr. Fate’s spell of enhancement that plows down all of the demons.
ETRIGAN:
You’re far more determined than I gave you credit for, girl.
MARVEL GIRL:
(Noticeably shaken)
It runs in the family.
Fate and Etrigan continue onward into the darkness and Batman and Val follow. Valeria takes a deep breath.
BATMAN:
(To Valeria)
You’re not okay, are you?
MARVEL GIRL:
Just being here makes my skin crawl. It’s terrible. How do you just stand there and look stern while we tour the nether world?
BATMAN:
There are some situations you just have to deal with.
MARVEL GIRL:
Keep telling yourself that, Batman. You know I’m also slightly empathic.
BATMAN:
Fear is all psychological. Supernatural stimuli or not. You’re going to be okay.
MARVEL GIRL:
I’m not just afraid for myself.
“JOE CHILL”
Hey, kid.
Batman looks to the side and sees Joe Chill, his parents’ murderer, standing in the shadows.
“JOE CHILL”
You want to join Mommy and Daddy?
Batman stares back, trying very hard to maintain his composure.
MARVEL GIRL:
Batman?
Batman growls angrily and hurls a batarang at the demon Joe Chill. The demon explodes. Fate, Marvel Girl, and Etrigan stare at Batman.
BATMAN:
I’m fine.
He takes one step forward and falls through a series of blood red tunnels. He lands in a dark red alleyway as eight year old Bruce Wayne, his parents are dead on the ground on either side of him. Joe Chill grabs him by the neck and pulls him close to him.
“JOE CHILL”
Say your prayers, kid!
He sticks his gun in young Bruce’s face. As he pulls the trigger there is a rush of fire that burns the crook and the alley away. Etrigan has burned away the demonic illusion, and Batman is left shaking on the ground.
MARVEL GIRL:
I’m sorry, Batman.
BATMAN:
(Standing back up)
I’m fine.
DR FATE:
You should not have come here. You need to accept your vulnerabilities.
ETRIGAN:
Leave him be. He’s too stubborn to listen.
They continue onward. Batman glares at Dr. Fate and clenches his fists.
MARVEL GIRL:
It’s okay. You’ll deal with it.
BATMAN:
I’ve been “dealing with it” my whole life. It never goes away. The pain never stops, and the last thing I needed was to have some demon rub my face in it.
MARVEL GIRL:
Your parents were killed like that?
BATMAN:
Yes.
MARVEL GIRL:
Then they would be so proud of the life you chose.
BATMAN:
Thank you.
MARVEL GIRL:
Thank you, for setting an example.
BATMAN:
And here I thought I was coming to give you moral support.
MARVEL GIRL:
We’ll help each other.
EXT. MEPHISTO’S THRONE ROOM. Batman, Val, Fate, and Etrigan approach a massive dark palace with an enormous gateway full of thorns. There are sculptures of devils and serpents. Biblical engravings of Satan’s fall from heaven on the doors.
ETRIGAN:
Here we are.
BATMAN:
I don’t suppose we just knock.
DR FATE:
Mephisto already knows we’re coming. His not considering us enough of a threat to prepare a strong defense does not bode well.
MARVEL GIRL:
I don’t care if he is the devil. Open up your damn gates! I want my brother back!
The gates open slowly. They enter into a large chamber full of fire with weapons on the walls. Mephisto sits on his throne wearing his red suit. Blackheart stands at his side.
MEPHISTO:
I would welcome you to my home, but none of you were invited.
DR FATE:
Where is the child?!
MEPHISTO:
His well being is no longer your concern. He has pledged himself to me now.
MARVEL GIRL:
No way! Let him go.
MEPHISTO:
A deal is a deal.
Mephisto gestures to the side, where Franklin has his back turned to them. His clothes are tattered, and his hair is in disarray. His head turns 180 degrees to reveal his face has been demonized. His eyes glow red, and two devilish horns have grown out of his forehead.
MARVEL GIRL:
Franklin!
Franklin hisses an inhuman sound at them.
MEPHISTO:
Franklin belongs to me now. As well as his untapped ability to bend the rules of the universe. I’ve already used those powers to correct a little problem I’ve been having.
MARVEL GIRL:
Fine. You got what you wanted with him. Now change him back. Let him go.
MEPHISTO:
Ah but I like this power. Before I needed expressed permission to acquire a soul. Now I simply think…
Mephisto’s eyes glow and they are suddenly on Earth, at Stonehenge.
MEPHISTO (CONT.)
And I’m free to wander creation, taking whatever I want.
A massive portal to Hell opens up in the middle of the Sculptures.
MEPHISTO (CONT.)
As my power grows, I’ll be able to funnel the souls of every man, woman, and child on Earth into the pit.
Shadowy energies being to pour out into the sky and spread across the globe.
ETRIGAN:
Your arrogance never ceases to surprise me. What you’re attempting goes against every law of order and balance.
MEPHISTO:
Naturally. Now begins the age of chaos. Hell on Earth.
They are all lowered deep into the pit and end up back in Mephisto’s throne room. Above them soul energy begins to funnel down into Mephisto from the portal at Stonehenge.
DR FATE:
Stop him!
MEPHISTO:
Blackheart!
Blackheart fires an onslaught of ice that freezes the four heroes. Etrigan blasts free first.
BLACKHEART:
You delude yourself if you think I’ll let you lay a hand on my father, Demon.
ETRIGAN:
Satan’s wench! Soulless spawn! Lost between the dusk and dawn!
Etrigan opens up a crack of bright orange fire beneath Blackheart and tackles him into it. Etrigan and Blackheart begin to battle ferociously in a fiery void. Meanwhile back in the throne room, Dr. Fate breaks the others free of Blackheart’s ice. Mephisto stands absorbing the souls of everyone on Earth. The throne room is full of screams of agony and hopelessness.
DR FATE:
Mephisto! This ends now!
Fate fires a blast of magic that interrupts the stream. Mephisto growls enraged and morphs back into his massive demon form. Fate and Mephisto begin to fight. Valeria runs over to Fraknlin.
MARVEL GIRL:
Come on, Sparky. There has to be something left of you in there.
Franklin fires out a wave of dark energy and growls. His head spins around again and he crawls towards Valeria like a demonic creature. He gets up on top o Valeria and prepares to slash at her face with clawed hands. Batman grabs Franklin from behind and hurls him back across the room. Marvel Girl traps Franklin in a force field. Franklin scratches and claws at the invisible wall growling.
MARVEL GIRL:
Dr. Fate! We have to help my brother!
Fate doesn’t respond. He is locked in heated battle with Mephisto.
BATMAN:
Fate’s busy. But you can’t rely on magic for everything. There’s always a solution in your surroundings.
Batman walks over to one of the walls and tries to pull a giant axe off of it. But the axe burns to the touch. Etrigan and Blackheart break through their void and enter the throne room again in the heat of battle. Marvel girl looks around the room and spies a piece of blank parchment and a pen by Mephisto’s throne.
Meanwhile Blackheart and Etrigan are battling ferociously. Blackheart is badly burned but he has managed to pin Etrigan down on the ground. He is attempting to pull Etrigan’s head of his body when suddenly a massive axe splits down Blackheart’s skull. The camera pulls back to reveal Batman wedging the axe in Blackheart’s head. Batman is grimacing with pain. Smoke is coming from his hands where he is holding the handle of the burning axe. He lets go to reveal that his gloves have burned away and his hands underneath were burned as well.
Mephisto and Fate’s battle rages on. Etrigan approaches and attempts to help, but Mephisto very quickly overcomes them both. He traps them each in a fiery vice and beings to torture them.
MEPHISTO:
You fools barely stood a chance against me before. Do you honestly think you can contend with my new power?!
MARVEL GIRL:
Your power is pathetic!
Mephisto turns to find Marvel Girl staring him down.
MEPHISTO:
(laughing)
Such bravado.
MARVEL GIRL:
I’m serious. Franklin was a child. You gained his immature, undeveloped abilities. You’re learning to use them from his skill level. But my powers are maturing. Everyone knows of the Richard’s kids, I’m more cosmically endowed. My abilities have been unlocked and expanded before. I could grant you the same abilities with twice the control and precision.
Mephisto looks highly intrigued.
DR FATE:
Marvel Girl! What are you doing?!
MEPHISTO:
Naturally there’s some kind of catch.
MARVEL GIRL:
You would know, there’s always a catch. You give my brother back his soul and his powers. And you leave him alone for good.
ETRIGAN:
You fool! What does your brother’s freedom matter to the souls of everyone in the universe!
MARVEL GIRL:
My brother’s life is everything.
BATMAN:
Once he has your powers he’ll have the freedom to take Franklin back again.
MARVEL GIRL:
(Produces a contract from behind her)
That’s part of our bargain.
(She reads from her contract)
“The soul born to Valeria Richards is hereby the property of Mephisto. Concurrently Mephisto agrees for the complete and unconditional freedom and restoration of her loved ones.”
MEPHISTO:
(Taking the contract and looking it over carefully)
You have my word.
Mephisto signs the contract.
MEPHISTO:
(laughing)
Fool! The power you have granted me will-- What?!
The souls being to funnel back up the tunnel away from Mephisto. His control is gone. Fate and Etrigan are released.
MARVEL GIRL:
You played dirty with my brother, Mephisto. What goes around comes around. “The soul born to Valeria Richards….” My older brother used his powers to preserve my soul and protect it before I was stillborn. Technically I was never born. Technically I shouldn’t even exist. My soul isn’t on the market.
MEPHISTO:
(Screaming with rage)
No! Savor your victory, child! It is pyrrhic at best!
There is a flash of fire and the four heroes plus Franklin are standing at Stonehenge.
BATMAN:
All those souls…
DR FATE:
Have been returned as if they’d never left. All but one…
Franklin is sobbing hysterically holding onto Valeria.
MARVEL GIRL:
Talk to me kiddo, come on…
Franklin only cries and screams.
ETRIGAN:
He has tasted an existence of pure evil. He is tainted forever.
MARVEL GIRL:
Make him forget, please! He’s just a child.
DR FATE:
I’m afraid it doesn’t quite work that way.
MARVEL GIRL:
No…
ETRIGAN:
There is one option…
MARVEL GIRL:
What?
ETRIGAN:
You and the boy share a special bond. I could transfer his trauma into you.
MARVEL GIRL:
Do it.
ETRIGAN:
This will not be pleasant.
Marvel Girl braces herself as Etrigan casts the spell.
ETRIGAN:
The Crime of Innocence Lost, Has Left its Hopeless Mark, but from this Vessel Young, let that Fear Embark. Upon the Heart that’s Ready, to Accept these Matters Grave. May the Mind that takes the Burden, Remain Forever Brave.
There is a flash of Franklin’s horrible torment in Valeria’s eyes and tears run down her face.
FRANKLIN:
Where are we?
Marvel Girl hugs him.
MARVEL GIRL:
We’re safe, Franklin. We’re safe…
Etrigan morphs back into Jason Blood.
BATMAN:
(To Marvel Girl)
Are you alright?
MARVEL GIRL:
I will be. If he’s okay. I’m okay.
BATMAN:
(Placing his hand on Valeria’s shoulder)
That’s all that matters.
DR FATE:
If only.
JASON BLOOD:
The Demon was right. Mephisto originally took Franklin to deal with an usurper.
BATMAN:
But he dealt with him.
DR FATE:
Whoever was antagonizing Mephisto had to be expelled from his realm. The only way to truly rid himself of that individual would be to send him or her back to ours.
EXT. CASTLE DOOM in LATVERIA: There is a flash of hellfire and brimstone inside.
INT. DOOM’S THRONE ROOM. Victor Von Doom has appeared on the floor of his throne room, smoking and burned all over. Lancer rushes forward.
LANCER:
Doom?!
Doom looks away and motions for her to back off.
DR DOOM:
My mask!
A Doombot approaches with Doom’s mask, armor, tunic, and cloak. Doom firmly attaches the mask to his face and dresses in his armor. He then emerges from the shadows.
LANCER:
Is… is it really you???
DR DOOM:
I was painstakingly close to conquering the afterlife.
LANCER:
(To herself)
It is you!
DR DOOM:
No matter. It is time to continue with our agenda. World, Universal, and Multiversal conquest, of course. But I have to admit, after spending an eternity in hell I have a distinct taste for revenge.
LANCER:
We live to serve you, my lord.
DR DOOM:
And I to protect and empower my people. Tell me Lancer: what has the Justice League been up to?
END