[CENTER][sup][h1][center][img]https://files.catbox.moe/9zn4ux.png[/img][/center][b][center][color=blue] C A P T A I N   M A R V E L[/color]
[color=red]C A P T A I N   M A R V E L[/color][/center]
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[color=silver][sup][i]"That's alright. I'll be their momma."[/i][/sup][/color][/CENTER]

As Bailey and Christina stepped through into Etna, Christina looked around. [color=ed1c24]"Gonna be honest, i thought it'd be hotter in the middle of a volcano."[/color] She said, before her jaw dropped. Around her were was something out of her secret video collection she kept hidden on the F.E.A.S.T. computers. The men straight out of the footage Simm had shown them. Carrying around large ingots, bundles of weapons, barrows of slag and other smelting byproduct. The men didn't seem to pay the pair of them much mind, Chrisitna especailly. Bailey leaned down to her.

[color=6ecff6]"They probably aren't going to be best pleased to see you."[/color] He whispered. She scowled at him.

[color=ed1c24]"Why are they blind or just insane?"[/color] She asked. [color=ed1c24]"I can work with either, i just need to know."[/color] One of the men gave Christina a look of disgust as he walked past her. She blew him a kiss in response.

[color=6ecff6]"These are the sons of the Amazons. Their mothers would have killed them for being male, if Hephaestus hadn't traded them for weapons."[/color] Bailey explained. Another walked past, looking Bailey up and down, more confused than anything. He hadn't seen anyone with ginger hair before, not exactly a common trait on Themyscira.

[color=ed1c24]"That's alright. I'll be their momma."[/color] She grinned sinisterly, transfixed on every man who walked past her, specifically on their glisteningly sweaty pectorals. [color=ed1c24]"If we weren't in a volcano, i'd ask if it was hot in here or just me."[/color] She grunted, watching one of the men hammering a sword on an anvil. The pair of them began walking through the crowded forge, for the most part being ignored, except the odd glance of curiosity at the ginger hair on Bailey's head. up a flight of stairs they saw the shadow of a giant, and the earthshattering booms of hammer-blow after hammer-blow. Making their way to the stairs, they were stopped by a trio of the men.

"Where do you think you are going?" One of them asked. Bailey psyched himself up.

[color=6ecff6]"I am Captain Marvel. Holder of the Power of Zeus himself. I demand an audience with Hephaestus."[/color] He ordered.

"And why do you bring that thing with you?" He asked, pointing at Christina.

[color=ed1c24]"Hey, steady on. That's no way to talk to-"[/color] Bailey put a hand over her mouth to shut her up and gave her a stern look. They really needed to not start a fight here.

[color=6ecff6]"She is my closest ally."[/color] He replied. [color=6ecff6]"A warrior of unparalleled bravery, cunning and compassion. Not like those who so callously threw you aside."[/color] Bailey crossed his arms. [color=6ecff6]"I weild the Strength of Hercules, the Speed of Mercury and the stamina of Atlas. The gods have blessed me and you would find me a difficult enemy."[/color] He said. He never really talked like this, but Solomon was telling him it was the best way to not start an argument. He was getting flashbacks to those nativity plays he had to perform in preschool. The warrior looked him up and down again.

"I will... Ask our father if he wishes to speak to you." The man replied, Bailey bowed to show respect.

[color=6ecff6]"That's all i ask."[/color] He replied. The man walked up the steps towards Hephaestus' forge. All the while, other men who were resting slowly gathered around them. Christina smiled, before putting on her best game face.

[color=ed1c24]"Look, fella's. I get it. Lots of guys hold a grudge against women who reject them. I know a whole website you can go to, dedicated to it. That being said, those guys are what i like to call "Neckbeards" Now, you guys are clearly not Neckbeards as you clearly look after your bodies and don't just ply them with round after round of cheeseburger and milkshake..."[/color] She looked to see they were all wearing thick beards, some even on their necks. [color=ed1c24]"Now, granted, some of you do have beards on your necks, but m-y point is that i am not a fussy woman and i am looking for about 7 or 8 men who would be interested in something long-term, maybe long walks on the beach, maybe going to get some ice-cream... My point is that not ALL women are evil baby-traders and i don't care how many... Hot... Rippling... Muscular men i need to take on a date to prove that. So, any takers?"[/color] She asked. [color=ed1c24]"Conversely. If you are looking for a woman to serve as a mediator, who can go to the island of hot, buff warrior ladies in order to discuss an end to the Misandry, i am willing to be that envoy, on the proviso that you tell me exactly where the island is."[/color] She looked around at the sea of uninterested faces. [color=ed1c24]"P... Please, i need that location..."[/color] She huffed a little. One of the men approached her, Bailey got up, ready to fight in case they had taken offense. He brushed the hair from her face.

[color=aba000]"My name is Jason. Son of Hephaestus..."[/color] He began, but Christina looked over at Bailey.

[color=ed1c24]"Upupupupupup!"[/color] She put a finger over his mouth. [color=ed1c24]"Whisper in my ear, some of us aren't of the age of consent."[/color] She looked at Bailey. Jason then whispered in Christina's ear. She quickly turned bright red, smiled, giggled a little, before blood began to stream from her nose, her eyes rolled up and she collapsed like a bag of sand. Jason looked at her, rather confused. Bailey immediately leapt over to Christina who was gibbering on the floor.

[color=6ecff6]"What did you do?"[/color] He asked. Jason looked at him, just as confused as to her reaction.

[color=aba000]"I did nothing, cast no spell. But she seemed to react that way after telling her that i would stable and ride her as tenderly as mine own Kanga and she reacted as if i had hexed her. I am just as vexed as you."[/color] The pair looked down at her, but frankly, the sight of multiple buff men stood over her simply sent her further into her lustful stupor. The only sound coming from her being a deep, slow, weezing laugh. Bailey had no idea what Jason was talking about, Solomon only said "I'll tell you when you're old enough" which only puzzled him further, but he hoisted Christina up in a firemans carry and lay her comfortably across his shoulders. She looked at Jason, before putting her thumb to her ear and pinky to her lips and waggling her hand at him, which only served to confuse him more. Luckily, this was broken up by the guards return.

"Lord Hephaestus will see you." He replied. Bailey rolled his eyes, before beginning to march up the stairs. It looked easier watching the guard do it. No matter how fast he walked, he didn't seem to be getting closer, looking back every so often to make sure that there wasn't some kind of spell resetting their progress. Finally making it to the top, the heat was almost unbearable inside. Before he went in, he quickly consulted Solomon and managed to cast a spell that would keep Christina at a comfortable temperature in here. He finally put her down and the pair walked into the heart of the volcano. Hepahestus was just finishing work on a lightning bolt, before waving his hand over it and sending it to Zeus.

[color=a0410d]"So... The Champion of the Rock has come to the God of the Forge."[/color] The booming voice said. He slowly turned around and bent down. The sheer size of the god was awe inspiring. The pair of them were barely the equivalent of an ant before him, but Bailey stood his ground and didn't flinch.

[color=6ecff6]"Lord Hephaestus. I am Bailey Briggs, champion of the Rock of Eternity, i speak with the Wisdom of Solomon and the Power of Zeus. Heed my words. Your sons have stolen something very dangerous from the World of Man."[/color] The malformed giant turned his sunken eyeballs to face Bailey.

[color=a0410d]"What you say is true..."[/color] He replied. He then turned and dipped his giant hand into the molten magma bellow, scooping out a handful and pouring it into a mold. The smell of burnt hair and flesh filling both their nostrils as he did it. It looked immensely painful for him, but after however long he had been doing it, he had probably stopped noticing. Bailey instinctively flew up to float in front of Hephaestus.

[color=6ecff6]"Did they act on your orders?"[/color] He asked. Hephaestus said nothing, continuing to pour more lava in until the mold was full. [color=6ecff6]"Why did you order them to steal such weapons?"[/color] He asked.

[color=a0410d]"Millenia ago, Prometheus stole the Fire and gave it to the world of man. I see it only fair that once man learned the fire of Atom, the gods steal it for themselves."[/color] Hephaestus replied. But there was a tremble in his voice. A flicker of uncertainty. With Solomon whispering in his ear, Bailey pressed the hesitation.

[color=6ecff6]"The power of the gods dwarfs that of the Atom. That cannot be the only reason."[/color] Hephaestus milky, cataract-possesed eye pointed straight at Bailey for that accusation.

[color=a0410d]"Perhaps you overestimate our power?"[/color] He replied. At that point, Solomon pointed Bailey to go for the kill.

[color=6ecff6]"Or perhaps the other gods do..."[/color] He replied. [color=6ecff6]"What gives you the need to steal such weapons when you can create your own?"[/color] He asked. [color=6ecff6]"With the world of man turning more towards science and away from the wonders of magic and the deities, something is coming that only the power of Magic will not be enough for? Or maybe the power of Science will be more effective? Or maybe... Maybe you need both?"[/color] He asked. Hephaestus stared at him.

[color=a0410d]"It has been too long since i matched my wits against Solomon."[/color] The god boomed. He slowly reached a malformed arm around to scratch his long beard. [color=a0410d]"I am not like my father, my hubris does not push me to attempt to defeat you on such a battlefield. In that catagory, i shall secede victory to you. But i cannot say. Father would be most furious if i were to admit weakness on behalf of Olympus."[/color] He then thought, before reaching his arm around to the mould and grabbing it, his flesh sizzling again and the ungodly smell became freshened as he pulled it apart to reveal a lightning bolt, golden to the sight and igniting the room in in the splendor of its power. He reached for his hammer. [color=a0410d]"But on the lives of my many, beloved daughters and sons, each of whom i hold dearer to me than all of the heavens. I promise you that the weapons we have stolen will NOT be used for the purposes of harming the World of Man. Quite the contrary."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"You... You want to save mankind?"[/color] He asked, before the penny dropped [color=6ecff6]"Of course you do. The world of man no longer believes in you. You are preparing for a coming invasion. When the gods step in to save humanity it will reignite their belief in you? Your powers will be amplified beyond compare with 8 billion voices praising your names. Do you intend to start that war?"[/color] He asked. Hephaestus looked down, then back to him.

[color=a0410d]"That, i cannot say. Father does not tell me everything. Simply that we will be allpowerful again and that Earth will be safe because of us, not despite."[/color] Hephaestus laughed. [color=a0410d]"Father does have a penchant for doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. It is why he is our king."[/color] He struck a mighty blow against the lightning bolt, shards sparking off back into the magma pool bellow them. Bailey looked at him and then back to Christina, she shrugged at him. To be honest. If this order came all the way from Zeus, then there was no way he was going to be able to stop him. Wherever that nuke was, it wasn't anywhere he could get to it. Plus, he couldn't afford to lose the power Zeus provided him. For the moment at least, going to Olympus and demanding answers would, at best, be pointless, or at worst, would get him killed.

[color=6ecff6]"So, it appears that, for the moment, i may have to do naught but put my faith in the almighty and hope that his intentions towards Man are entirely benign."[/color] Which, to be fair, made sense. Zeus wanted 8 billion worshippers empowering him. Detonating that nuke in in a crowded area would only serve to that plans determent. And detonating it where there were no humans would cause no problems either.

[color=a0410d]"A wise decision, Champion. Allow me to assist you on your journey."[/color] He said, slowly reaching for a large chest near his head, embedded in the wall and rumaged around for a minute, before pulling out something. He enclosed them both in his hands for a second and in a flash of golden light, he opened his hands again, extending it towards Bailey. In the center of his hand was a staff with a glowing rock in the head of it. [color=a0410d]"Many eons ago, when i was but a young god, i travelled to many places and saw many things. That splinter was from when i climbed Yggdrasil herself, Hercules pulled it from my thumb when he visited me the first time. And that rock in the top was once a star that moved Atlas himself to tears with its splendor, so much so that he plucked it for safe keeping as he held up the sky. The blessed magma of Etna was conjured into being by Zeus himself and with my hands being bathed in it for so many moons, the staff has absorbed that power. Mercury's sash that he once gave me to serve as a bandage i tanned into leather to become the grip, Achilles shield from the Trojan War is what was used to make the Pomel. And it was Solomon who taught me how to forge it like that. These pieces, i believe were made for you."[/color] He slowly reached down and grabbed the staff, holding it in his hands. The power that radiated from it was unspeakable.

[color=6ecff6]"But... Why?"[/color] He asked.

[color=a0410d]"Because the Fates are whispering. I hear them sometimes. It will be needed very soon."[/color] He replied.He then saw Christina raise her hand and looked down at her.

[color=ed1c24]"Can my present be a date with Jason?"[/color] She asked. Bailey looked at her, rather confused. [color=ed1c24]"Hey, if a guy's gotta ask my dad before asking me out, i'm gonna ask his dad too."[/color]