"Alterverse" is based on the concepts of the science fiction show "Sliders." If you like "Alterverse" you may want to check out "Sliders" on the Sci-Fi Channel.

"Long is the night that never sees the day."

-Shakespeare, Macbeth

"Great! So what do we do now?" Brooklyn grumbled.

"I do not know. We must find the gargoyle calling himself Azariel. He brought us here, he must be the key to our return.."

Suddenly a loud buzzing was heard overhead, and a hoverjet similar to those used by the New Olympians lowered into view. An evil looking winged creature stared at them from aboard the craft.

"What are you peasants doing here! This is a sector reserved for the nobility! Prince Vlad will have your heads for this!"

"Prince Vlad? Who is Prince Vlad?"

"Do not play foolish games with Tareos, herald of Prince Vlad! He will be here to punish you any second!"

A flash of lightning cut through the darkened sky and a form materialized. The being stared at them with burning red eyes from the shadows. It turned to Taeros and spoke with a voice that was filled with arrogance and power.

"You have done your job well, Taeros. Now leave them to me."

The speaker stepped out of the shadows. He was a gargoyle, grey skinned with black hair and ebon wing folded about him like a cloak, and his eyes were hidden by black sunglasses. He stepped toward them and smiled, revealing long, curved canines that were much too large for a gargoyle.

"I am Prince Vlad, Lord of the nosferatu and ruler of Nightworld. You are gargoyles, I notice. Why are you here?"

"We were brought here against our will by a being called Azariel, another gargoyle." Goliath answered.

"Brought here? By what means?"

"Through an interdimensional wormhole that a group called the Triad called a vortex."

Vlad chuckled and his eyes burned brightly behind his shades.

"Do you think me a fool? That little story is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard!"

"I assure you, we speak the truth."

"You are foolish to mock me, gargoyle! Taeros, escort these outsiders to my dungeon."

Brooklyn jumped up at the Prince and looked him in the eyes.

"You and what army, freakshow?"

He stared at them coldly and held out his hand. His fingers stretched into long, savage, bladelike claws and his already large canines grew even longer. He turned to face Brooklyn.

"Me."

A sudden flash of light blinded them, and when it faded they found themselves in a small chamber. A tall man dressed in a leather cloak stood before them.

"Ye crazy, lads and lass? That was Prince Vlad ye was about ta be tanglin' wit'."

"And just who might you be?" Goliath questioned the stranger distrustfully.

"Ach, I be Bane von Talone, leader of the Resistance." He smiled, revealing long canine fangs.

"What's up with those teeth, pal? You a vampire or something?" Elisa joked.

"As a matter of fact, yes."

Not expecting such an answer, the group was rather startled by his response.

"And so is that blasted leech Prince Vlad."

"So you're saying he's a gargoyle vampire?"

"Indeed. Vampires rule this land, and he is lord among them."

"Is he the only gargoyle in this land?"

Bane chuckled and waved his hand. Several strange gargoyles entered.

"Who do you think makes up the Resistance?"

EARTH PRIME, MANHATTAN:

"Where did they go?" Broadway demanded, staring at Wildcat.

"It will take time for us to trace Azariel's leap path. They could be on any of thousands of alternate earths."

"Terrific! So what are we supposed to do while you figure out where he took 'em?"

"Hope Goliath and the others are smart enough to know what they're doing, I guess."

"You GUESS?!?!?!" Broadway lunged and grabbed Wildcat by his jacket. Angela quickly grabbed his arm and tried to calm him.

"Don't worry Broadway, I'm sure Father will know what to do."

NIGHTWORLD, RESISTANCE HQ:

"So you are seventeen hundred years old?"

"Aye, that I be. I know it may be difficult to believe, but it be the truth."

"Well, you had best show us where we may roost. The sun will be up soon."

Laughter ranging from mild chuckles to hideous gales sounded throughout the room. Goliath looked puzzled, trying to find the source of the widespread amusement.

"Sun? Ye be loose in the head lad! The sun has been up for hours!"

"But it is still night outside! How can the sun be up?"

"You are obviously not of this earth, friend. Ours be a dark sun. It giveth heat, but not light. Why do ye think there be so many vampires runnin' about?"

"I see. Very well then, what do we do then?"

Bane beckoned a young gray gargoyle over and addressed him.

"Graymalkin, why don't you take our new guests to the archive and give them a little history lesson, ay? It would seem they be needin' one."

The gray gargoyle nodded and motioned for them to follow him. He lead them off down a corridor into a large musty library and grinned.

"So where's ya wanna begin?"

NIGHTWORLD, PRINCE VLAD'S CASTLE:

Prince Vlad sat idly on his throne, pondering the odd events of the day. The intruders appeared, then that flash of light exploded and when it faded they were gone. This was strange indeed. But things got much stranger as an unfamiliar gargoyle clad in high-tech armor and carrying a huge turbolaser cannon entered and stared at him.

"GUARDS!"

Azariel chuckled and pushed aside the door, revealing several crumpled forms.

"I hope you were not referring to them. I assume you are Prince Vlad?"

"Yes, I am he. And I demand to know the meaning of this outrage!"

Azariel leveled the turbolaser at him and smiled evilly.

"Now now, calm yourself. I have a business proposition for you....."

EARTH PRIME, MANHATTAN:

"Umm....bad news, chief."

"What now?"

"Azariel has blocked our jump path scanner. There's no way to tell where they went."

Wildcat stared at Broadway, Angela, Hudson, and Bronx, then turned back to Skatha.

"You get to tell 'em the news."

"Fine. Just hope my insurance premium's payed up...."

NIGHTWORLD, RESISTANCE HQ ARCHIVES:

"So two thousand years ago a vampire sorceress called Allisandra Ravenas cast a spell that drew away all the sun's light?"

Graymalkin nodded and patted the dusty history book.

"Ya, that's pretty much it darlin'."

"Gargoyles have been trying to protect humanity from enslavement by vampires ever since this spell was cast."

"Yep."

"Fascinating. Tell us more."

"Very well....."

The gray gargoyle was cut off by a hellishly noisy alarm sounding. He leapt to his feet.

"It's party time."

NIGHTWORLD, OUTSIDE RESISTANCE HQ:

"You are certain this stunt will work?"

"Relax, my dear Prince. I have all our bases covered."

Azariel peered through the lense of ebon crystal mounted on his headpiece and began scanning the perimeter of the area. He turned back to Vlad.

"Send your troops to attack now."

NIGHTWORLD, RESISTANCE HQ WAR ROOM:

"Bloody Hell! They have us surrounded, lads an' lasses! Looks like it be time for the final round!" Talone snarled. He drew his claymore from its sheath at his hip and held the sword high. He faced his troops and grinned. The others drew their weapons as well and followed their leader to the gate, followed by the Manhattan clan.

"What does he think he's doing? This is crazy!"

"I know Elisa, but what choice do we have?"

NIGHTWORLD, OUTSIDE RESISTANCE HQ:

An army of vampires tore at the gate as it suddenly burst apart and a horde of gargoyles leaped forth to meet the charge, Talone leading the attack. Goliath and the others arrived just in time to see a massive bolt of energy cut through the Resistance troops and a now familiar form hover down from the rooftop above them.

"Azariel!"

"In the flesh, Goliath. I'm here to finish what we started on Earth Prime. Hahahahaha."

Vlad snarled and glided down from the roof as well and took straight into the fray. His claws elongated into vicious blades and he stared at Talone.

"Tonight it ends, traitor!" He lashed out at Talone, who blocked the blow with the blade of his claymore.

"Indeed it does!"

The battle raged around them and the Manahattan clan found themselves caught up ion the struggle. Brookln and Lex took down several of vampires, and Elisa held her own as well as the Resistance fought against their hated enemies with a savage vengeance.

Azariel sneered as Goliath's punch missed it's mark and sadistically rammed the butt of his turbolaser cannon into the lavendar gargoyles stomach. Goliath groaned and fell to his knees as Azariel raised the weapon to deliver a lethal blow. Goliath managed to come to his senses just in time to dodge the attack, and counter with one of his own as Vlad and Bane continued to duel sword to claws, with neither of them gaining the upper hand.

"Ready to give up Talone?"

"Not in this life or the next, boy!" Bane caught Vlad by surprise with a feint and cut deeply into the vampire gargoyle’s leg. Vlad screamed in agony and vanished in a cloud of mist.

"You have not seen the last of Prince Vlad! I will return!"

"And I’ll be waitin’!"

The vampires finally thinned out and Goliath and the others surrounded Azariel.

"It is over, Azariel! Take us home!"

"If you want to go home, you’ll have to catch me first!"

He punched in coordinates on his warp belt and hammered the button. He vanished in a vortex of energy, followed by Goliath and the others.

EARTH 370, GAIA ROMANA

Azariel materialized within the vortex, followed by Goliath and the rest. They cornered him.

"The game is over, Azariel!"

"Oh no, Goliath! The game is just beginning!"

"With that he vanished from sight. The clan finally dared a look at their surroundings. What they saw made them gasp in shock.

"Oh man…." Brooklyn muttered.

***END***