Deviation Actions
Description
The Fab Four No. 7 – The Horde part three. Helchteren, Belgium is
overwhelmed by the mysterious intelligent virus called the Horde.
The town's only hope lies with the Four, but only Ultimate Power
is currently able to do anything. All have been affected in one
fashion, or another. Ultimate Power was briefly transformed, young
Tecnicus was hit by a transformation beam, but was seemingly
immune,and but both Arctic Wolf and Falcon Heart are now Horde.
Still wrestling with Arctic Wolf, Ultimate Power tries to keep an eye on
Falcon Heart, who has taken the injured Tecnicus, but they are
quickly flying out of view. Then, the wolf boy's aggression stops, so
Ultimate Power heads to a near-by military base, which appears to
be deserted. On landing, he notices the Horde his friend has become
is disintegrating. Falling apart like decaying flesh, but Ultimate Power
is amazed and relieved to see that the Horde is but a covering, or a
shell, and its host merely encased inside. After removing what is
left, Ultimate Power attempts to revive Arctic Wolf, who has collapsed.
Responding to Ultimate Power's call, Arctic Wolf, in his human form,
awakes, though somewhat disoriented. While en rout to the base
infirmary, Ultimate Power informs Erik, the wolf boy, of the events
after his Horde transformation. Erik, now partially recovered, returns
to his wolf form, and has come to a startling realization. Like
Ultimate Power before him, Arctic Wolf recalls the inter-workings of
the Horde's plan, but since he was completely transformed, retained
more of the plot. First, the members of the Fab Four, and some other
heroes of Earth, are immune to the Horde's influence to one degree
or another. Ultimate Power's alien based abilities give him the power
to fight off their infectious nature. Tecnicus is totally unaffected to
the Horde biological attacks and control. Arctic Wolf's own immune
system can eventually fight off any infection, and Falcon Heart is not
human, nor is he from this reality. The Horde affect should die out
the same as it did Arctic Wolf. This would explain Falcon Hearts
actions when he caught the falling Tecnicus, and flew off, and not
take the teen marvel back to the other Horde members. Meanwhile,
Tecnicus awakes to find his guardian, Falcon Heart, standing over
him back in the park. Assuring the young hero he has nothing to
fear, Falcon Heart asks about the computer reading Tecnicus
retrieved earlier, and its findings, but the information was lost in the
ma-lay. An astonished look comes over Falcon Heart, as he also
remembers the overall plot of the Horde, and why the Four were
captured weeks ago, but for now, the information from the Four
Base computer must be found. Back at the military base, Arctic
Wolf explains to his team mate, the Horde are a virus-like life form
from another dimension. Having ravaged their own reality, they
searched for a place to conquer and reproduce. The Milky Way
galaxy was the perfect place, starting with Earth. For reasons
discovered by the Four, the team and very few others on Earth
would be unaffected by their influence, but with work, could be
excellent carriers. In time, as Ultimate Power would travel back to
the United States and other worlds, he would start the process begun
in Belgium. Arctic Wolf would do the same for Canada and the northern
reaches of Asia, but Pyj and Tamaz rescued the team before the
treatment was finished. Ultimate Power remembered he, as a Horde,
tried to affect Tecnicus, but couldn't. His failed attempt fooled the
virus, thus ignoring the lad during the siege on the base, and why it
was aware of the team's actions. Just then, a sound of crashing metal
fills the still air. The Horde have tracked the pair to the base. Even
without the Four as carriers, the Horde will infect the Earth, and later,
the whole galaxy. The innocent people of Helchteren may have to
pay the price for Earth's freedom. With heavy hearts Arctic Wolf and
Ultimate Power stand together to fight off the Horde and sacrifice
their hosts to save the rest of the world. Just before the fight could
begin, Falcon Heart and Tecnicus charge through the mob of Horde
with the found computer findings. The dark fog surrounding the town
is the atmosphere from the Horde's home dimension. The Fab Four's
genetic make-up and immunity to the Horde affects could destroy
the chemicals in the fog and kill the virus. The Four use their powers
to contain the Horde members in the base, out of harm's way. They
all fly skyward and attack the fog, burning it away or dispersing it so it
can do no harm to Earth's citizens. As the sun, once again shines on
Helchteren, the Horde shell released its hosts and died. The remains
of the Horde were burned at the military facility, and the people were
unharmed, thanks to the Fab Four. Today the world is safe...but
what of tomorrow? Can the Four meet up to the next challenge?
Find out when the team meets Invada, and her attempt to change
the Fab Four, forever, in their next exciting issue!
