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"Sic Semper Baroness!" Part Three |
"Sic Semper Baroness!" Part Three
Previously: The grand niece to PVB archvillain Baron Zemo, Elizabeth Sweetwater Dewdrop Von Zemo, used some of the malefactor's technology to send Earth to the Virtual World, where she planned to set herself up as its undisputed mistress. Unfortunately for the Baroness, there were some glitches in the programming which allowed for a few of the world's heroes to resist. One such stalwart is the Silver Aegis, whose efforts to thwart Zemo are chronicled below
Part One
Part Two
Silver Aegis awoke in new albeit not totally unfamiliar circumstances: chained to a dungeon wall.
"You are awake. Excellent!" a sepulchural voice realized, its deep basso profundo echoing throughout the chamber. The source of the statement was a tall, cadaverous man in a dark greatcoat and cap.
"Baron Ottokar Zemo," the Aegis hissed in identification, before being overcome by a debilitating cough.
The almost apparition clicked his jackboots together, "Jahwohl. And you are Sergeant Scott Scoggins, once known as "Scrapper the Teen Commando" and currently the Silver Aegis," he looked down his aristocratic nose at the Man Out of Time and Place, "Tell me, Sergeant, how does it feel to see your worst dream realized. To see democracy destroyed, and fascism ascendent?"
Scoggins coughed again, those this time the ragged bursts were followed by a short chuckle, "Heh: Nazis are Nazis no matter what world they come from. All hat and no cattle."
"Your homespun putdowns fall on deaf ears, Sergeant. Soon your slanderous tongue will be silenced, but not before you serve one, final purpose."
There was a significant gap in banter as Otto awaited what he thought would be the inevitable responding query. When it was clear the Patriotic Powerhouse would not oblige him the Junker went on:
"You wil be tortured, of course, so we may learn what you know. Starting with the names and locations of those who make up the pitiful "Scrapper Brigades" you created to bedevil us."
Silver Aegis shook his head, "I don't know where you get your intel, Zemo, but its wrong. I didn't charge anyone with the task of stopping you and your johdpur wearing bully boys. If you're having problems with a counter-insurgency, its because the people of this great country want nothing you or your fellow "Zemocrats" have to offer."
"Ach, I hate that term! Zemocrat!" Baron Otto spat, "If my grandaughter weren't so timid about calling un Spaten un Spaten we could be vociefously announcing to the world the triumph of the Fifth... is it Fifth? No, Sixth Reich!"
"For once we agree, Baron. Too bad she's the one pulling the strings to this high tech puppet show and not you," the Shield Flinger noted sarcastically.
Baron Otto smiled, "I see what you are trying to do, hero. But it will not work. You cannot set me against Elizabeth. We are of the same blood, or would be, if I had any left."
"That's a shame, Baron, because I was really looking forward to busting your lip."
Rising to his full height, Baron Otto shot back, "You have nothing to look forward to, pissant, but death!" he turned and shouted to one of the dungeon's shadowed alcoves, "Fritz, bring the cat-o'-nine.... no, ELEVEN tails!"
The chief enforcer for the Zemo family lumbered to comply.
"It is fortunate for you, Amerikaner, that my current unalive state precludes me from issuing your punishment directly," the necromancer rubbed his hands together, "Still, I can still advise my minions, drawing upon my vast experience, ensuring that these next hours will be highly unpleasant for you."
"I wouldn't expect you to be a kibitzer, Otto," Silver Aegis quipped, as the Nazi's goon handed him the whip for inspection.
"Acceptable, though make sure to douse it in the brine before starting," he returned the weapon and stepped back to give Fritz room to work, "You may begin."
THWACK!
THWACK!
THWACK!
(Forty minutes later)
THWACK!
THWACK!
THWHUMP!
"Get up!" Baron Otto shrieked as he stood over the prone, sweat-soaked figure, "You pathetic weakling! You dare call yourself ubermensch?!"
"Please... forgive... me.. master," Fritz panted, "I cannot break him. He is as unyielding as his namesake."
"Spare me the excuses and mythological allusions!" the villain paced around his fallen proxy torturer, "Stand, or it will be you I put in those shackles next!"
"Leave him alone, Otto. It's not as though you could do any better," Silver Aegis, his costume and skin both torn by the whip strikes, chided.
Baron Ottokar Zemo rounded on his prisoner, "Silence, you garishly garbed oaf! I demand it!"
He began to shout at the top of his (vestigial) lungs, "Hans, why aren't the branding irons ready?! Where are Hrolf, Dolf, and Dolf with the dunking stool??! Am I the only one present who has the slightest understanding of what it takes to torture a person?!!"
"Certainly not, Grandfather," a voice answered from above, "It is just that some of us would rather inflict a more ironic punishment on our enemies."
Descending from the steps that lead to the Castle Schreckhuasen came the Baroness herself, clad in her snow leopard robe and golden tiara. Behind her came Silicone Sally, who cradled the shield of the Silver Aegis in one elongated arm.
"Ironic? What do you mean?" Baron Otto demanded.
"Its quite simple, actually: you of all people should know there is more than one way to skin a cat," the Baroness reached the dungeon floor and grandly kicked the still heaving Fritz aside. Stalking up to Silver Aegis, she cooed, "Sergeant Scoggins has cast himself as a symbol of resistance to my rule. Now he will be one of acquiesence. Even now, he is recanting his previous stance, and encouraging any other like minded insurrectionist to do the same."
"I don't think so, Baroness."
Elizabeth ran a purple velvet glove across one of the bloody welts that marred the Silver Aegis's chest, "That's because the cable reception down here is poor. Otherwise you'd see the holographic image HAGGIE created in your likeness announcing his conversion on every television channel on the dial."
"Its a really good likeness," Sally piped up, "HAGGIE got you right even down to your dimples."
The Star Spangled Sensation didn't seem convinced, "The American people are too smart to fall or such an obvious scam."
"Ha ha ha! You really were gone for a long time," the Von Zemos shared a chuckle.
"I'm afraid your little revolution is over, Aegis," Beth sneered, "You're of no use to us now, except as a source of amusement."
Baron Otto nodded, "Indeed. And I have the perfect venue of entertainment in mind. Hans!! Open the Pit of Peril! Then, bring me..... Ramona!!!"
To Be Continued
Footnotes:
The story where Ramona the Tiger Woman is introduced can be found here
(check Untold Tales #s 314 and 315 at the Hooded Hood's Homepage of Doom to see how Baroness Zemo is ulimately thwarted)
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Post By
Silver Aegis
Sun Jul 15, 2007 at
01:24:37 pm EDT
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Maybe he asked for the Ramones and someone misunderstood? (no text) - Anime Jason - Mon Jul 16, 2007 at 07:01:07 pm EDT