Deathwatch

Deathwatch: "Blackout." Blackout: "Once again, my apologies for my light-dampening abilities-- but it really is a matter of self preservation." Deathwatch: "Enough about your skin condition, Blackout. The canisters. Have you located them?" Blackout: "No, but I'm well on my way. Last night I called upon a certain detective Frank Lorretti. He was quite helpful. You see, he was part of the investigating team at the junkyard incident and--" Deathwatch: "Enough. You know the procedure." Blackout: "But of course." Deathwatch: "Had my men brought any one of the children present at the junkyard last week as I requested, none of this would be necessary". Blackout: Blackout grins. "But I am enjoying myself so." Deathwatch: "Yes. Let's see just how much."

Deathwatch's fingers psychically enter Blackout's brain. Stroking synapses, absorbing the short term memories. He witnesses death. He experiences ecstasy.

"Thank you. Once again you've provided me with an exquisite kill. Though it still puzzles me that you are one of the few who undergo my little brain scan painlessly." Blackout: "Just lucky I guess." Deathwatch: "I guess. Now please find the last canister. I'll take care of the two in police custody." Blackout: "Aside from his death, the good detective provided me with the means to track down those present at the junkyard. Perhaps I can persuade them to cooperate with us." Deathwatch: "See that you do. Our clients are getting quite anxious for the delivery of those canisters." END_OF_DIALOG Snowblind: "Deathwatch!" Deathwatch: "You recognize my voice. How touching. Now it's time for us to take care of unfinished business... And it doesn't appear that Ghost Rider will be around to lend you a hand." END_OF_DIALOG Deathwatch: "Oh, Snowblind! Time to wake up, sleepyhead! We're having a party! Thanks to you, Ghost Rider is on the guest list. I've invited people in off the streets. They, and you, will not only be the guests of honor, but also the hors d'oeuvres!" END_OF_DIALOG Deathwatch: "This is invigorating! Their life forces are coursing through my body now. Doing me much more good than it ever did them. The sweepings of the street. No one will miss them. No one ever does. The homeless. The runaways. If only Ghost Rider had not forced me to blow up my new building. The shelter that I had installed in it had gave me access to all the human suffering that I so crave. To all the death."

Deathwatch reaches a hand out towards one of his captives as he monologues to Snowblind.

"Your turn is coming, Snowblind. It didn't have to happen this way. You and your brother could have joined me. But now your strength will be absorbed as easily as--" Deathwatch grabs the captive's neck and wrenches it sharply to the side with a sharp krak. "Ah! I grow stronger." END_OF_DIALOG Deathwatch: "It appears that the hor d'oeuvres are just about finished. The guest of honor is about to arrive." Deathwatch licks his lips. "My strength is just about to peak. The part can soon begin in earnest. Unfortunately, you won't be around to see it. Troll, a little pain, please." Troll: "With pleasure." Snowblind: "NOOOO! Deathwatch, why are you doing this? I'll give you anything you want. Just stop the pain!" Deathwatch: "My dear Snowblind, your pain and death are all that I desire." Hag: "Ooh! What nice pecs! Perhaps you're as well built--" Hag's hand phases through Snowblind's chest. He howls in pain. "--on the inside!" Deathwatch: "Yes. That's it. Prolong his death. I want to savor it. Absorb his power." END_OF_DIALOG Deathwatch: "You are the spirit of nothing. You know less about yourself than you know about me. What a cruel, yet fair, joke has been played on you. You are given the visage of death itself and yet you will not take a life. Whereas I have taken on that form which humans consider to be attractive, and I revel in death." Ghost Rider: "You are wrong in one thing, Deathwatch. It is a human life I will not take. And you are not human!" Ghost Rider rears back, plunging the pointed end of his chain into Deathwatch's chest. Deathwatch: "Oof! What? What have you done?" Deathwatch's eyes widen-- fear. "This... cannot... be... this... Who... are... you...?" He grits out before his body explodes in a burst of hellfire. Deathwatch is no more. END_OF_DIALOG