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Hell Comes to Birmingham – conclusion
The members of MI-13 are trapped in an energy prison, due to the betrayal of Captain Midlands. He sold them out? Pete shouts. For a… fantasy?
Holding his wife’s hand, Sid tells them it’s like Nancy’s real. He’s been given years with her. A whole life in five minutes. The life he deserved. He’ll have that forever now. It’s not like they’ll be hurt or anything, Nancy promises them. They’ll live out their lives with the two of them, Sid promises. They’ll see them right…
As a power source for Plokta? Pete shouts. So he can make Mindless Ones and take the planet! Sid thinks Pete could live here with them? Having lost his whole unit? He dares talk to Pete – traitor – about what he deserves?! This is what he deserves! He fires his hotknives at Nancy and she crumbles apart like a statue.
Outside, Alistaire Stuart has grabbed the captured Mindless One. He explains he’s uniting with the Mindless One’s mystic nature inside the non-space of the tesseract. He can hear something. He tears open the Mindless One and enters its energy. From where Captain Colton is, this may look a touch odd, he states. If he’s not back in five minutes, get a new scientific advisor.
Inside the Dream Corridor, a crying Sid holds Nancy‘s face. What has Pete done? Plokta won’t give him another. It’ll be just this now. Forever! Nancy…
Shut it! Pete shouts and grabs him by the jacket. They’ve been on the back foot since they stumbled into this job. That’s Pete’s fault. So he’s going to fix it. He will not lose another officer. So they are getting out! And Captain Midlands committed treason. So he’s going to pay! Now, what is this Dream Corridor?
It’s a locked-off dimension, comes the reply. Infinite. You come in willingly, you get your heart’s desire. They didn’t, so they get nothing. There’s no way out. *&^*%$& there isn’t, Pete swears and asks the Black Knight to give him his sword.
Floating in another part of the Dream Corridor, an endless swirling chaos, Captain Britain hears a voice calling his name. He prepares himself for another illusion, instead he sees Alistaire Stuart entering through a tear in reality. He is not his heart’s desire, Brian shouts. Not the obvious reaction, Alistaire mutters. Which means Alistaire is real, Brian realizes.
Alistaire explains he heard Brian calling out. He’s exploring the link between the creatures and their power source. Brian orders him to stay where he is mentally. Keep a foot in both worlds and that gives him a reference point. He grabs Alistaire and goes looking for a way out.
Back with Wisdom’s crew, Wisdom takes Dane’s sword, his fake Ebony Blade. Whatever this thing really is, Pete begins. No, he decides. This is an intelligence. They talk to it directly. He addresses it. It fooled Camelot, so it’s got a lot of magical power. It wants blood. So how does it feel trapped here? Just with them six. Is that enough blood for it? Forever. Or does it want out?
It begins to glow red and forces Pete to swirl it. Faiza holds Dane back on Excalibur’s say-so and Pete and the blade manage to cut a swath to the next room of the Dream Corridor (where somebody is living through his football fantasies. Pete keeps on cutting a way to the other rooms (through a champagne dinner, a grown-up man in a toyworld, a happy family and so on). All this fantasy! he shouts. He nearly lost everyone for them, bloody addicts! No more! They are going to take responsibility for their lives! They are going to take responsibility for their dreams! They are going to stop leaving this &*$% to other people! Because the Dream Corridor dies now!
Elsewhere with Alistaire’s help, Cap sees boundaries forming and finally an exit. So what was his heart’s desire? Alistaire asks. They tried to fool him into thinking… Meggan, it was Meggan. Alistaire tells him he’s sorry and promises they’ll find her one day. They fly towards the exit.
Behind him a doorway forms and Meggan steps out. She calls after him. She was lost again. Then she couldn’t catch up with him. She’s real! But he’s already outside.
In the building, Plokta shouts, his power source! It’s going! How can this be happening? His assistant, Mrs. Dunley, seems to be awaking from a trance. What is she doing there? She begins to cry. She was with her family. All of them, even her Stan. They were at the seaside for such a long time… But that’s not right, is it? They’re all dead. What has he done to her?
Of course, they’re dead, sow, Plokta replies smugly. It’s her own fault. She wanted fantasy. He wanted someone to tell him how magnificent he is. She wasn’t very good, by the way. He should think her Stan died of boredom.
Plokta, Wisdom shouts. Step away from the pensioner! While Dane gently draws the woman aside, Plokta just laughs. They aren’t serious. They are going to attack a duke of hell? What are they going to do? Rush him and slap the cuffs on? Derogatively, he spits fire at Blade’s papersword, remarking that was the only weapon they had that could even hurt him.
Blade warns the others that Plokta is too much for them. What’s the other magic source he sensed up here? The dream corridor itself, Faiza replies. So it’s something Plokta’s made, not something he’s doing, Blade realizes. Independent, from him, yeah, Wisdom agrees. They were after Plokta when Sid trapped them. Why didn’t Plokta lead them into that room? Maybe he can’t enter the dream corridor rooms himself. Because they are Plokta’s power source, Pete finishes the thought. He feeds on what’s in there.
All that whispering, Plokta smirks. It makes him nervous. He can always run up a few Mindless Ones on his own power, and immediately he proceeds to do so. They’ll keep the heroes busy. He’ll eat them one at a time.
The battle begins. The tied up Captain Midlands cries for the others to let him fight. No, Wisdom replies curtly and orders the team to push through the middle. Go for Plokta, get him to a door!
Plokta breathes fire at them, kept off by the Black Knights shield. He’s immaterial, he tells them. They can’t make him go where he doesn’t want to.
Hey, comes from behind them, as Captain Britain steps through a door leading to the Dream Corridor. Hope they don’t mind. He let himself in. Plokta turns around, not believing it. Braddock is weak, flawed. He could never have got out of there on his own! This is an illusion! He can’t… Cap grabs him and pull him through the door into the dream corridor. He is Captain Britain! He can do anything!
Inside, Plokta finds himself caught in his own energy cycle! Feeding on himself to destruction. Actually no, too risky, Alistaire Stuart replies, with all the comings and goings they’ve seen. With him in here they can sort out something more concrete. Alistaire pulls him out and into the tesseract prison outside. Plokta shouts wild threats at them. The mystical flames die down and everybody becomes normal again.
Soon the others are outside. Sid is led away, pleading not to be taken away in front of people. Maximum security! is Wisdom’s short order, while Brian states he wants a word with Sid later. He wants to know why.
Okay, his turn. Pet turns to Blade and the soldiers point their guns at him. Spitfire orders Wisdom to make them stand down. She is the injured party. Blade knows her nature now. She has his word he won’t stake her unless she… well, and then she hopes he would! They are going to face vampires. The sooner, the better. Her son might be with them. Pete wants to keep her around? Keep Blade. Sir.
Wisdom is silent for a moment. He loves it when she calls him Sir, he admits. Blade’s on probation. Can they bloody go home now?
Later at the MI13 HQ at Whitehall, in the hangar Alistaire and Brian discuss matters. Alistaire states he can’t believe about Sid. Brian doesn’t want to talk about him right now. So Al’s magic now? Sort of, he replies and tears at his own face which seems unusually flexible. Since an unfortunate dinner party with Morgan le Fay (don’t ask) his appearance has proved … variable. It’s meant to be a curse. But interacting with mystic dimensions… his magical nature came in handy.
Above the hangar Blade muses that it’s gonna be weird. Working someplace he thought he was raiding. He swears, then addresses Spitfire directly. Sometimes, he admits, he makes mistakes. He doesn’t allow himself the luxury of guilt, but… Jaqueline tells him to shush. Stiff upper lip at all times, she orders and kisses him. After a moment of surprise, Blade responds. She doesn’t quite know why she did that, Jaqueline admits embarrassed. Perhaps because… they have a lot in common. But doesn’t that make things more interesting?
Alistaire remarks to Brian that, while he was looking for him, he found a lot of interdimensional links in that void. Doors to all kinds of places. Plokta and his ilk have lost souls from many worlds to play with. Still not their problem, he supposes.
Elsewhere, Meggan falls through a doorway and finds herself in a burning dimension, surrounded and dwarved by powerful demonic beings.
The Vault, High security prison, Shoreditch:
Pete Wisdom visits Sid in his cell. Oh it’s him, Sid remarks non-enthusiastically. He’s been going over it, what’s gonna happen now. He can’t bear the thought of a trial. Him neither, Pete replies. Sid continues. He thought Pete would understand. A lifetime of service and they got so little. At the start you get sort of proud of that. Stiff upper lip. But over the years, you realize nobody gives a toss about your lip. And then when the only person who makes that better dies…
Pete corrects him. He can’t bear the thought of a trial, because a jury might let Sid off. But he’s right. He does understand. That’s why he’s showing him mercy. He hands Sid a gun and leaves. As he walks down the hallway Pete wonders if he’ll hear a shot. He doesn’t. And the worst of today’s horrors is: that it doesn’t surprise him.
Epilogue:
A young woman dressed in robes is led up castle stairs by two strange pale men with pointed ears. She’s really doing this. It’s really happening to her, she babbles. She’s going to be turned into a vampire! She knows it’ll hurt, but all the good stuff, too, yeah? Everything she’s ever wanted. She’s kind of afraid of him. D’uh, she tells herself. Stupid May. You’re meant to be afraid of him.
The vampires light up a passageway. Is it through there? she asks in a small voice. She enters, addressing someone as master. She’s come to give herself to him.
Hands come from the darkness and break her neck, then he greedily drinks from her throat. Bloodless, her corpse is disregarded and dropped to the floor. Bring another, he orders. He’ll be on the terrace.
Gingerly, Dracula dabs the blood at his mouth away with a handkerchief and enjoys the view of Earth one has from the moon’s surface. They know about the sword, he states to his servants. But he is ready to move. Tell their force in London to prepare phase one of the assault. And get him Dr Doom.


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Vampire State - prologue
The moon. An American flag waves in the background as two men of power meet. The Latverian leader Dr. Doom and the vampire prince ,Dracula who currently makes this his home. Arms akimbo, Doom muses that this is really an interest request, calling Dracula Tepes, a non-aggression treaty. What does Doom stand to gain?
Addressing Doom as “your majesty,” Dracula states that now that he has regained his kingdom… he would wish to see Dracula’s people policed, ruled, would he not? Kept away from Latveria’s borders. There is also the matter of Islam. It will close the gap with the West in term of science and super-powered individuals. Latveria stands on that border as did Dracula’s own land. The realm he would crate would do well without it, serve as a bulwark against it.
Doom derogatively orders him to spare him his racism. He finds it ridiculous in human leaders, because it is an assumption. But in an artefact, a mystical viral package such as him, it’s almost funny. Dracula’s probably thinking of attacking him, Doom continues. It is his nature. His armour contains splinters of the “True Cross” and other such defenses. He studied under one of Dracula’s greatest enemies. He always anticipated war between them. Why does he want Britain?
Dracula smirks, showing his fangs. It’s the home of magic. The peasantry have a sensible knowledge of their past. An inclination to follow their betters. And there is the matter of the door opened by Wisdom. If he gains his new kingdom, will Doom then address him by his proper title?
Heh, Doom replies, of course. He’ll be a proper ruler then. He’ll call him the little prince. He is a prince only for his people, Dracula reminds him. The vampire diaspora who will finally have a homeland. The agreement is this: Doom and his “new allies” he has hinted at will allow Dracula Britain. Without interference and he shall be Doom’s ally and resource. He points at Doom threateningly. And Doom will never find out who would win that war.
A more relaxed ambience, the pub “the Torch and Horses” in London’s Soho where Captain Britain and Pete Wisdom are kicking back a few beers with two backpackers they’ve just met. So what does Captain Britain’s agent actually do? one of the two women, Tara, asks Pete. It’s work, work, work, Pete tells her. He’s in charge of Brian’s hair. It must be hard to keep her hair that gorgeous when she’s backpacking, he continues smoothly. Sorry. Shouldn’t have said that. He means, he likes her, He doesn’t mean to be… It’s okay, Tara tells him, thanks.
Between him and her, he confides conspiratorially, he’s thinking about getting out of the business. Too many betrayals and that’s just his own contribution. Does she reckon he could get a railpass and come with her?
Brian and the other backpacker, Liz, watch the spectacle in a mix of amusement and disgust. Is he really his agent? Liz asks. He’s really an agent, Brian amends. Good, because she feared for him, she quips.
Turning more serious, she asks, he said he saw his wife, but she turned out to be a… hallucination? Spot on, he replies. That’s terrible, Liz replies. The things superheroes have to deal with… He’s all right, he tells her. It’s Meggan who’s lost somewhere. All that happened to him was that he was reminded… of everything left unsaid. Everything he wishes he’d have done. He was such a useless husband. If he knew she’d died… he hates to say it even… He could mourn, Liz continues. And she very much doubts he was a useless husband.
Could he give her superpowers? Tara, asks Pete. She’s already there, he assures her. That’s so corny, she knows he can do better, she pouts.
Liz and Brian look embarrassed. They’ll probably call for a taxi soon, Brian sighs. She just hopes it’s not back to the hostel, Liz remarks.
At the S.A.S social club near Hyde Park the solders are cheering “Lady J” on as she empties a huge glass of beer in one go. They carry her to the bar as she asks whose turn it is. Blade, who’s been standing in the corner, lifts her down. The sweetheart of the regiment, he mocks gently. Abso-bloody-lutely she agrees.
Yo mate, one of the men addresses Blade. How about joining in? He doesn’t drink… beer, comes the reply. He doesn’t have to, the soldier rejoins.   Not all of them are. Some of them are flying out tomorrow… to sort the messes out Blade’s lot left them with. His lot? Blade asks, arms crossed. Their American friends, the soldier clarifies. Blade snorts amused. The soldier state Blade stands in the corner, arms folded, sunglasses on, not saying a word, ooh, tough guy. All he’s saying… they don’t appreciate the  &%%$§ pose.
For a moment, there is silence. Then Blade takes the sunglasses off to reveal unusually pale eyes. With a smile he admits they are right. He guesses he’s been around superheroes too long.
Later… Jaqueline and Blade sit at the counter. He keeps surprising her, she admits. And himself, he states. These last couple of weeks, she and he… he realizes he’s not used to talking gently to someone, just everyday to someone. Somewhere along the line, he got real melodramatic.
Vampirism will do that, she remarks smiling. He was meant to be someone responsible: a businessman, a good dad. Instead, he is a Hammer Horror. Someone with only their punchlines to lean on. Like her.
She turns away embarrassed. She didn’t mean to sound flippant. The help he’s provided her, the progress they’ve made concerning her family… she wouldn’t want to. Hey, he interrupts her. Shut up. He understands. He kisses her.
The royal palace of Wakanda, Queen Ororo, aka the X-Man Storm, sits on her throne, the other throne next to hers empty. Before the throne stands Faiza Hussain, dressed in armour and wearing the Essex coat of arms. Next to her kneels the Black Knight, asking Ororo for an audience. He only seeks what is his. And has come in humility and compassion His sword is at her feet.
Literally, Storm remarks wryly, as she’s sure he knows. She gestures toward a servant who brings the genuine Ebony Blade. Storm explains that her husband was waiting for the Black Knight to approach him for it. He suspected that, if others took it, they would try to save the Black Knight from it and he knows how those who shoulder great responsibilities must make such decisions themselves. She hands him the Blade.
Dane thanks her. May he ask how her husband came to have it? He moans quietly as he touches the blade. Storm explains that the Black Panther took it from the Vatican’s Black Knight who found it in a vampire nest in Iraq that had been flattened by Opus Dei. She knows he will use it well.
Later, on the flight back, there’s silence between Faiza and Dane until he finally breaks it. What? he asks. Is that it then, being his steward? she asks. Is that what it involves? Standing quietly behind him? She means, she was… she is a doctor… And that was Storm! And she didn’t get to say a word.
What did she want to say? Dane mocks. “I’m such a big fan?” H just took on the burden of the Ebony Blade again, if she didn’t notice. Faiza looks away. And he did that really quickly. Like he couldn’t wait. And he’s an injured man…
What? he exclaims. What does she mean “injured?” He’s carting around two evil weapons, she reminds him, the fake one which according to the guys in white coats has a fang inside it… so she’s pretty sure they know what sort of creature swapped those swords and he’s already suffering from some… magical ailment… A heart of stone. Which he still hasn’t told her about. How many curses does he want?
Dane has to laugh at this. Okay, he explains, the heart of stone isn’t exactly a… curse. It’s a… defence. Something an …ex of his…put in place… to help keep him above it all, uninvolved. With anything… or anybody.
She thought it might be something like that, Faiza replies in a small voice. So let’s not keep that steward thing going then, she suggests. She should find another niche somewhere else on the team.
Faiza, the steward becomes the knight, Dane tells her. There’ll be a moment. She’ll see it. Grab it, make it hers. She carries Excalibur. She’s worthy. He’ll knight her now, if she wants. But even better, be a knight at that one great moment, because she knows she’s worthy. Whichever, please stay at his side.
“Git,” she calls him. Stop making her cry. She can’t ask for… she wants to earn… he know she does. She thought being his steward might get in the way. Of stuff. They both look at each other awkwardly, silently.
Back on the moon, Dracula is in a fit of rage after his meeting with Doom and rants. “Baron of Hassan” “Baron of Krozi”… Hah! That man’s “nobility” is no older than he is! One day he will have that peasant as his body servant, he vows. Still, he gave them what he needed. He enters his lab. Vampire scientists are at work with strange tubes, computers and magical tomes. They can begin phase one, he announces. Prepare to launch attack squad. All ceremonial to full speed. All spells to full focus. Control to him in the conference room. And bring him another girl, he shouts.
Lilith says go. Fate says go, come the reports. Mutating the assassins for individual targets. Launch cannon to full magical power. Awaiting the count’s order. Forward! Dracula orders, standing over the corpse of another girl and the magical vampire assassins are sent forth from the missiles.
Dabbing his mouth, Dracula orders to prepare a skylaunch. Have a disciple in the British government invite him to Earth. Make it “Mayhew.” He says the words particularly well. They must watch every detail. He will lead phase two. Food be damned. Von Doom has put him in the mood for some torment.
In a cab, Wisdom is still flirting with Tara. Taking off his sunglasses, he assures her he wants to stop playing games. He wants to have a straightforward encounter. Just for once. She’s in complete agreement, comes the reply. All back to his townhouse? Brian asks. Are the walls soundproofed? Liz sighs. Yeah, from previous experience, comes the reply. And there’s a fine selection of malts. If she’d like to share a nightcap… before enjoying his guestroom, he hurries to add. That moment, their car is hit by one of the assassins.
In the air, the Black Knight shouts a warning before another vampire missile flies right through the plane.
Blade has accompanied Jaqueline to her home. She hesitates. Nervously, she stammers this is one of those things her lot never had to bother with in the old days. If he fancied… Oh, for goodness sake, does she really have to say something about “coffee?”
With a smile, he tells her he would very much like a cup or even two. But… not yet. He is more old-fashioned than she is, she realizes. He shushes her and explains. He just kind of feels it would be him making a commitment. It would be that. He wants it to be that. And that freaks him out. Makes him feel vulnerable. He needs to get used to that. He kisses her hand. When he has, he’ll want the whole damn percolator!
Within her home Jaqueline laughs. Percolator! She’ll perk him later she tells her cat. Suddenly a voice from outside calls mother. She turn around startled to see her dead son Kenneth. Don’t be scared, he tells her, it’s just him, Kenneth. Is she going to let him in?
The Hussain family home, Chelmsford. Dr. Hussain gets up annoyed in the night, having heard a noise. He calls for his wife, Farida, to hit the security button. Is that Faiza? He hears his daughter’s voice calling him, Please let her in? Can she come in?
He disables the security lock, telling her, of course, she can come in. Suddenly, Dracula rises before him, holding his wife whom he has already bitten. Grabbing Hussain’s throat, he laughs that the old enemy is in his hands again at last. Nobody is going to help him. Neither of them can escape. He is here to send a message to MI13. If any of them survive the night. So this is going to take a while. Which will be an absolute pleasure!


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Vampire State – part one
The vampire spell tears through the taxi, immediately killing the driver and the backpacker Liz. Brian Braddock, who can see the spell, grabs it and tears it apart. A moment later, things turn to normal, as he groans. The car has exploded, two people are dead and the vampire husk comes at him hissing. Captain Britain tears him apart as well.
The other backpacker girl, Tara, is hysterical. Wisdom orders Brian to secure the area.  Brian uses his jacket to cover Liz. There was only one of them, he explains. One vampire. With a remote spellcaster. Damn it!
Wisdom calls Control, giving the codeword Palfrey Dancer. Everyone to come in. Put the reserves on. They are already in the field? Who else has been hit?
A moment later, he informs Brian that the vampires must be after all of them. He then notices Tara and assures the shocked young woman he had no idea there was any danger. He’s so sorry… They’ll get her and… and Liz to… to where they have to be now. Because now he has to do a lot of things very fast. He’s not who she thought he was. Obviously.
Ten thousand feet above the Sahara Desert, the Black Knight and Faiza Hussain are falling after another vampire missile destroyed their plane. Dane grabs the screaming Faiza, ordering her to look at him. They’ve got about a minute fifteen. Can they do anything? She doesn’t know. He can’t, he tells her. Can she? She thinks maybe… if she heals them… right at the moment… right at the exact tiny moment… Can she do that? he asks. She doesn’t know. Does she wants to concentrate, or… he doesn’t know… time for a round of charades?
It’s all right for him, she states accusingly. He’s got that heart of stone. He doesn’t feel! She’s going to close her eyes for a sec… praying. Sorry.
Don’t damn well say sorry for that! he orders her. Is there anything else she wants them to do or… or say… before? … No, she says after a moment with a sad look… and the ground is coming up.
She tries to imagine what it will be like. She can’t. Using her power is like catching something in her hand; she doesn’t do it by thinking. She makes herself look at the ground coming up. Coming too fast. She forgets the man beside her as a person. And that’s so hard. But she has to save him. She just includes him in the reflex that’s approaching.
She says prayers again, as she’s always said them, to include herself in love, to dedicate herself to doing the best possible thing. And now she’s really going to have to. Because here it comes. Here it impossibly comes. Her bladder would have given in by now, such animal fear, but she’s doing this to stop whoever it was who’s done this to them. She’s playing hard for her side. And she’s in the center of another thought, that she will never remember, which is something about another kind of love, when—
The impact kills her. The shock of it roasts the surface of her skin through her armor. Her bones are about to be liquid and the front of her skull is about to destroy her brain and her spinal cord is about to shatter. A second of fear would give her instant death. And she nearly says “yes.” Because it’s like gravity’s overbalancing her. But no, no, bloody no! She sends a chord vibrating through every string in the surface of their bodies and clothes, and it changes them to what they were a Planck length of time and space ago. And she does it to every tiny interval of who they are, and the impact goes through them, the most terrifying fear she’s ever felt, the great earthwing of the angel of death—
And then they are lying there, and she’s taken what should have happened and put it somewhere else, and she’s alive with the elation gradually rushing through, bursting out of her, but under that… under that the feeling…
The feeling that that someone will pay later for this selfish saving of her and her love. That she’s just put this death on credit. But then—
They get up from the crater. Coming up to them, surrounding them are hissing cadaverous vampires. Dane begins to attack. Talk about out of the frying pan, he remarks.
Faiza draws her sword and the vampires shrink back. They seem to be afraid of Excalibur. Dane tells her to use that and they both charge into their foes.
Some time later, only the two of them are standing. And look, like a bad penny, Dane sighs, the fake sword’s found him again.
Faiza radios Pete, calling in that they repulsed enemy contact. He knows, Wisdom replies, Palfrey Dancer. He’s going to use some serious budget to open a dimensional portal to their location, and he’s afraid there’s bad news for Faiza.
A little later, Faiza is at her mother’s bedside in the hospital. Her father is missing, Pete explains. Everyone’s on it. Her mum hit the security button and two of their reserves teleported straight in. One of them’s missing too.
Did she get her out? the other agent, Motormouth aka Harley Davidson, asks. She did, Pete tells her. Nearly &%%§ had him, she swears, the others took him. He drained a girl on the doorstep, just for the power. He took Julius… and is it her dad? she asks Faiza. Who took them? Pete asks. Dracula, comes the reply.
The Hussain house is closed off and forensics are going through it. Blade finds a message in blood forming on a mirror:
Brooks-
I declare, on behalf of my landless nation, war on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Tell any of you that are left:
We will be coming,
You will be the last,
Tepes of Wallachia
Blade shows his fangs in silent fury.
Elsewhere, Brian hugs Faiza. They have to find him, she insists. She feels like she was playing at soldiers when-- No, Brian assures her. This is the job. This is what they take on as “super heroes.” It’s not her fault. It’s Dracula’s fault. Her parents were protected as well as anyone could have been. Someone must have had… well… access.
She’s not feeling it really, she admits, it’s weird. The rest of it’s going to come down crashing on her later. Why did he take Dad? Why not just…
Because this isn’t a natural predator they are talking about, Blade chimes in. This is a vampire. Cruel and petty. Sin in a carnivore’s body. And in three days’ time… He’s afraid that’s what her father will be too.
Kenneth Chrichton leads his mother Spitfire through abandoned underground ruins. He’s still himself, he tells her. Himself with special features. Does she remember from when he was a kid… How she built a den with him in the woods? And when the winds blew it down, she wouldn’t let him be sad for a moment. She just started working on it straight away. He’s still that person. She of all people should know. Now she’s stopped denying it and embraced the same gift. What is it he wants? she insists. A home, he tells her. A home for their people.
At MI13 HQ, Dane informs Faiza that everyone is searching, magic and powers. Pete seems to be getting the whole cabinet. There’s something she wants him to do, Faiza replies, holding back tears. She doesn’t want him to go on… on a heroic quest on her behalf. She needs to handle this. If they get to her father before he… he changes, then… or even if they don’t then… she means… she doesn’t want him to take it out of her hands, okay? Dane solemnly gives his word. She needs to do something, she admits the next moment. She’s full of rage. She wants to find that thing and…
Good, says Pete who has joined them. He has just had every drop of alcohol sucked form his system by a magic spell. So he’s literally got the hangover from hell. He’s got the P.M., the J.I.C. Chair, and the D.G.S. of box and the S.I.S. on call, waiting at 4 a.m. and he has no intention of bowing his head to, or even acknowledging the grief that engulfed them, because they have urgent work to do. Say “Sir.” “Sir,” Dane and Faiza echo.
Nobody else’s family got hit, Pete informs Faiza. So she’s got two degrees of ‘§&/ thrown at her. So the vampires really want the wielder of Excalibur out of the game. So Faiza stays in. “Sir,” she replies dutifully. And that’s her codename now, “Excalibur,” because he wants the vampires to hear that. They move as a team. She won’t harm or pursue Dracula until she’s under orders to do so. And then she’ll harm him a great deal. “Thank you sir,” comes the reply.
Sobering up, Pete admits they can’t find Jac. So they have to assume the worst there, too. All kinds of worst. But this is them. They’re on this. Their finest hour. It has to be. He reaches for his sunglasses and tells them to come with him. Council of war.
In the tunnels, Ken remarks he cannot tell her more yet. Not until he knows if she’s with them. “With” them? she asks. She can’t do anything to help… She’s loyal to her country! He’s sorry. That’s going to make it hard. Doesn’t she think it’s selfish of her? All the benefits of what they are, none of the drawbacks, but no loyalty to her real people?
Angrily, she grabs him. Her “real?” she exclaims. Vampirism devastated her family. Over decades! She’s been allowing herself the luxury of seeing him alive again. But join him? She’d rather stake him herself!
MI13 conference chamber, Portwell House, Whitehall: Several intelligence heads and agents meet. Among them Sir Clive Reston of MI5. He asks why Wisdom brought them all here. Wouldn’t the J.I.C.? Practicalities, Pete cuts him off. And it’s always a pleasure to host their friends from Five and Six. GCHQ and Mr Hunter, the new J.I.C. chair are following remotely.
MI5 Agent Joe Chapman, aka Union Jack, angrily addresses Wisdom. Where the hell is Jaqueline Falsworth? he demands. He’s got every superhero in Britain in his pocket, and he’s telling him he can’t find her?
An elderly woman in a wheelchair orders Chapman to stand down. She introduces herself to Captain Britain as Annabel Warner, director MI5 for… six days now, dammit.
The agents of the different agencies gather around a table. Wisdom assures Chapman they are as worried as he is. They are continuing the search as they speak. He’s asked Mr. Brooks – referring to Blade – to brief them on the nature of the threat.
Blade gets up, shooting a curious glance at a nervous-looking, thin young man. Blade begins that for a year or so now worldwide vampire activity has been at an all-time low. And that at a time of global invasion, when normally they’d be taking advantage. Not only that but, aside from a few incidents, the demons released from within Avalon have failed to manifest. Vampires tend to avoid magic, so the presence of a spellcaster among the enemy forces tonight indicates that Dracula may have been recruiting there also.
For obvious reasons, there exist no verified pictures of Vlad Tepes, the Son of the Dragon, Dracula. This, a pic of Dracula, appears on the screen, is an artist’s impression. He kids himself that he’s a man of honor. Hence the declaration of war. Hence the attack on all of them except Blade. He had to be sure one of them would be alive to read it.
Makes it easier for them, Sir Clive Reston remarks. Declaration of war, all sorts of protocols take effect. The gloves would be off. They’d have to make some announcement. No, Wisdom states. That would imply recognition of his “nation.” That’s all the message was for. Dracula is the leading military strategist of their time. Trained from birth. Centuries of experience. They are in a game of chess against him. He also left Eric alone to sow dissent in their ranks. Joe probably already heard about…
Jac can choose who she goes out with after they get her back, Joe Chapman interrupts. Blade thanks him. The vampire thinks everyone is as much a racist as he is.
Another example is the fake Ebony Blade planted months ago, Pete continues, to take him out of the game, Dane continues. And maybe take a few of them with him.
He’s had time to plan this, Pete states. All right. Which brings him to the real reason for this meeting. He turns to the nervous young man. Mr.… Mayhew, isn’t it? Junior MI5 officer, responsible for the W.H. desk. Is there a problem? Mayhew asks. How is he enjoying the ultraviolet lights? Wisdom asks.
No, he’s nobody important, Mayhew stammers as Blade and Union Jack grab him. Damn it, how many more? Director Warner swears. None in this room, Pete replies. This is why he kept the J.I.C. away, in case of assassins.
Pete asks Mayhew where Jac is. Where those attacks a distraction? Is something else going on tonight? Mayhew stammers he doesn’t know. It’s the head of… the next moment he explodes.
Maybe a capsule of holy water… remotely activated, Pete surmises. As of now, he’s locking down MI13. They will not keep the rest of them informed. Not until they’ve cleaned their houses. This is their game and they will win it. Meeting adjourned.
Elsewhere, Jaqueline asks Kenneth to let her contact them, to come back with her. What has she got to offer him? he asks. A quick death? No, he is afraid it’s too late for that. Good morning, master.
Dracula is standing in front of them. Lady Crichton, he addresses Spitfire. Forgive him. He doesn’t intend to humiliate her. This a formality. On her knees. Jac refuses. She can leave here faster than he can, she stammers. And against her will she goes down on her knees. She will obey him in all things, he tells her. She has no choice, for he is the lord of the vampires. Forget her former life. She belongs to his nation now. Yes master, Jaqueline replies, crying.


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[Assistant]
Vampire State – part two
The moon. Spitfire stands outside a huge castle with her son, Kenneth, who is now dressed in the (tastewise questionable) costume of Baron Blood. How did the castle get here? Jaqueline wonders. Magic, he tells her. But the sun, it’s even more dangerous to them up here! How do they…? Magic, he replies again. It’s one of the Master’s great innovations, that they shouldn’t shun magic. There’s a shield that keeps out the radiation, all down to Lilith.
He can’t tell her, it’s… it’s so good to see her finally standing here. In the communion of their people. He’s got so much to show her, so many things she’s been missing out on.
She tells him she’s sorry. She’s only here because Dracula… she means the… Master… because there’s something about him that forces her to be loyal to him… to obey him. He’s told her she cannot contact anyone, that she can do nothing against his will. She’s not enjoying this. She doesn’t see how she ever could. Tell her, what he calls a culture, a civilization… isn’t it just them making the best of things? He laughs. What civilization isn’t?
Now come, he drags her to the castle. She’s going to experience the joy of drinking hot from the artery.
MI13 HQ. Portwell House, Whitehall. Blade and Dane stake two more vampire spies. They’re the last, Pete states. In total, they were employing four vampires. And they say the civil service is a job for life. Blade states the last one was wearing a puncture vest beneath his shirt. He sharpens his stakes to nanopoint, but anyone else… These guys are organized!
Pete announces they remain in lockdown as the security services are purged. But they are still on the backfoot. This is what he wants them to be doing tonight. Briefing in five minutes.
Faiza and Dane, in civilian clothes, as are the rest of those who join them are already there. She is not thinking what he thinks she is, Faiza defensively tells Dane. He didn’t say anything, he begins to protest. She explains that she doesn’t think that all of these resources should be concentrated on finding her dad. She knows it’s all pulling in the same direction. She’s not a child!
Let’s get started, Wisdom tells them. “The Head,” that’s all the turncoat said before he died. The head of who or what? What are they being distracted from tonight? He addresses Alistaire Stuart, who suggests there are a few magical creatures and ancient gods who were beheaded. Blade interrupts, he thinks it could be the head of a friend of his…
On the moon, Spitfire is led to the bloodbank; several human prisoners strung up. Is she English? one man asks. Please, he speaks some English. His name is Louise. He’s from Dieppe. Where is he, what’s happening?
Jaqueline pleads for this not to happen. Kenneth assures her she has no choice. This is how they feed up here. On stolen cattle. Why not just let herself go and enjoy it? She could say it’s a test. But they all know Dracula’s will is their will. They can all feel it, shaping this culture, what they can and cannot do… really, this is just for fun!
Please, Louis begs, crying. Jaqueline cries too, trying not to do it and having no choice. Finally she feeds on the man.
In London, Blade shows the others a picture of Quincy Harker, an old comrade of his. He gave his life to destroy Dracula. Brought down his castle using explosives. Killed himself in the process. What very few people know is he left a will. With specific instructions concerning his earthly remains. He takes out a notebook.
He thought Blade was a gadget person, Brian remarks. Usually, but as they are finding out: Vampires use computers. So his notebook’s not a blackberry, but a palimpsest, a book written over an older book. In this case, a Gideon Bible.
He shows them a map. There’s gotta be something going down around the Oxfordshire village of Totterson tonight and it’s about the head of Quincy Harker…
On the moon, Kenneth tells the bloodied and shocked Jaqueline to pull herself together. They are about to enter… the presence. He refers to Dracula , dressed in uniform, who is standing at a round table, together with his allies, Lilith ( the mother of demons) and the ghost pirate Captain Fate. Dracula wishes them both a good morning. He sees Jaqueline’s been blooded. Very good. These are his allies, the Viscountess Lilith of Atlantis and Captain Fate.
Interesting, Lilith remarks, getting close to Jaqueline, so many things in  this one… she’s trying got be brave, but… Ah there, the meat’s smelt her.
Dracula chides her. It’s not fitting that nobility should address each other like that. When they have their homeland, they’ll have to work together.
Mockingly, Lilith bows. My Lord. the habits of a thousand years. She offers her apologies to the lady. Forgive her manners, Jaqueline snarls, but she’s just murdered someone. She’s not used to gatherings where one’s title is more important than one’s humanity.
Ah, wit! Captain Fate remarks. He seems to recall he enjoyed that. If she’s going to fight alongside them, may he show her the new Serpent’s Crown?
They show her a huge spacefaring vessel looking like a ship. This is their flagship, Dracula informs her. It’s built around the magical idea of Fate’s vessel. But enlarged with the viscountess’ power. To contain the ordnance to subdue Britain. And a thousand vampires to rule it.
And they expect her to work with them? Spitfire asks in disbelief. She may have to obey Dracula, to not betray him, but why would she contribute? Why would she provide them with anything original?
Surprisingly kindly, Dracula tells her that this is an opinion and it fades. Himself, he was a Christian, forced to fear every sign of his former faith. For years he was furious at that. Now he enjoys killing priests. This isn’t hypocrisy… He draws her closer. It’s a sign that they are changeable, individual. Not “things,” as they call them. Not artefacts, not a condition, but people with the perspective of time. Something humans did not evolve with. She’s seen more of it than most: Less than many of them vampires.
He touches her bloodstained lips. The desire for blood she starts to feel will change her and her opinions. This is not an addiction. It’s her natural state. And she has been freed to rule in a hierarchy which will be the perfection of aristocracy. Kindly, he tells her to rest. She has no part to play in the current phase of the plan. Which is proceeding as they speak.
Aboard a plane en route to Oxfordshire, Captain Britain addresses Blade. He hasn’t said a word about Jac. He takes it the two of them are…? They just got started, Eric replies. They’ll find her. He’ll kill everything in the way. Dracula knows that. So what’s to say? Well, Brian replies with a smirk, Blade really is British.
On the moon, Jaqueline tries to use her watch to contact the others and finds she can’t. She swears. Kenneth gently tells her to stop it. She can’t make herself use it. He can ask the master if they could destroy the communicator if it’d make it easier… Dracula won’t agree, Jaqueline replies. He must want her to use it at some point. To lead her team into something. Is it just her? Or did they take others from…? Two others, he replies. But they’re in different circumstances. He’ll show her.
Elsewhere an elderly lady awakes apparently roused by her dream which told her that visitors are coming. Bloody magical powers, she swears and goes down the stairs. People popping up in her dreams, asking for this and that, pillocks, aren’t they? she asks her cat, Titania. She should have gone ex-directory. She begins to boil some tea. That moment the doorbell rings. Unsurprised, she asks the members of MI13 how many of them take sugar.
Later at the table, Dane pets one of the cats, while the woman, Diana Hetherington, tells Cap she’s honored to meet Merlin’s new champion. Blessed be, son of Ambrose, Long Man, he who walks through. Blessed be, Brian replies. Diana addresses Pete, remarking she knows of some young witches who’d dearly love to know where he’s… He interrupts her embarrassed. Give the Faringdon Circle his regards.
Did she do what he asked? She gets a box down from a shelf. She opens it to get out a human skull painted with strange symbols. Poor old Quincy, she remarks.
On the moon, Kenneth looks through graves. The twenty-sixth is Dr. Hussain’s. To be reborn as a vampire in three days, he explains. Along with twenty-five others, taken on the same night. Including one of M13’s men. This is how they recruit their army, Jaqueline realizes.
When they’ve broken military resistance, the next step will be mass conversion, he tells her exhilarated. The master’s even decided which land will be set aside for the purpose. Dartmoor. Bodmin. Gentle, blessed ground. It’ll be a cull at first. A literal bath of blood. But from it will come a food supply. A much smaller Britain. A nation like it was. When it was good. A haven for them.
Back on Earth, Blade explains that Quincy had a very simple idea. A minor alteration of an ancient boundary condition. One that’s very inconvenient for vampires. But all Quincy could do was defend one country. The one he’d come to love and value as the center of anti-vampire-ideology.
She met him on several occasions, Diana reminisces. They had a close acquaintance. He smelt of honey. And had the most enormous… oh what’s the word? Oh yes. Library. She lifts the skull. He gave his soul literally to power the spell. And had it contained in his skull. She found the remains and performed the ceremony. While the skull is in the country, Blade continues, every vampire who wants access to Britain has to be invited. Like they are coming into a residence, individually.
Wisdom takes the skull. So this is an anti-invasion-weapon? If they were planning on going for his tonight, MI13’s swift arrival has caught them on the….
That moment, a vampire horde breaks through the walls.
Good, good, Dracula observes the proceedings from his lunar HQ. The Hetherington woman was one of hundred possibilities as to who might have the head. And Brooks led them to her. That’s why Dracula didn’t ambush him. Well, that and his sexual rivalry with Joseph Chapman, he tells his partner Lilith and Fate. That may yet bear fruit. This is why the declaration of war was necessary, to give the intelligence service a credible reason why they hadn’t attacked Brooks. And this is why he made his agent say those two words before he died.
He has no interest in impressing them, it is merely his hope that they may learn his methods and one day practice them themselves. He asks them to come to the observatory with him. He will need Lilith’s abilities for the next phase.
On Earth, MI13 are trying to hold back the attacking vampires. How long until dawn? Pete asks. For 28 minutes, Cap replies without even looking at a clock. How does he…? He feels the world turning.
The Black Knight orders the others to fight their way to the skull and form around it. The vampires are on a clock! No such luck, Blade tells him. These guys have serious protection, referring to the fact that the vampires are covered head to toe in bandages and wear goggles. While he stakes one, he adds that first light is not going to bother them. And you can be sure they have… magical back up, Brian adds as green energy engulfs the room.
On the moon, Lilith stands under the ray of a huge device, bathed in green light. His stealth squad’s brains are focusing her spell. She opens a gateway to MI13.
Look at those swords, Fate sighs, referring to Excalibur and the Ebony Blade. And look at those using them. The Magus Sword wants them!
Cap finds himself helpless. Whoever is doing this, knows something about the way Merlin made him. The heroes find themselves cornered while Faiza tries to fend the vampires off with Excalibur. It’s working, she thinks.
Dracula’s form appears highly above the vampires. A display of faith from the Muslim in England’s green and pleasant land. We’ll have none of that shortly. None of any faith. He would be Wisdom, he takes it. What an ironic name. The skull floats towards him. Because, he sees, this war in which they thought they were engaged--?. Dracula crushes the skull. It’s a game. And he just won.


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[Assistant]
Vampire State – part three
Dracula walks along a hallway, flanked by his lieutenants, Captain Fate and Lilith, and followed at a respectful distance by vampire scientists. He gives orders that the embarkation phase is to begin immediately. He believes the journey time is two days. Then they’ll launch as soon the embarkation is complete. They’ll take the new converts with them, in their birthing pods. They will wake as vampires in time for the attack. The enemy may not know where they are, but he knows they’ll be coming. Let’s not give Mr. Wisdom time to think.
Back on Earth, the members of MI13 find themselves under vampire attack after having been dealt the fatal blow of losing Quincy Harker’s head to Dracula. Fending off a vampire, Wisdom shouts for Blade, who quickly stakes the bloodsucker. The other vampires retreat, their work done, after Dracula destroyed the skull.
How did they get in here? Wisdom wonders. The witch Diana suggests they were waiting outside, listening as she invited Wisdom’s group in. Their enemy is clever. Their only hope now is that they are a match for him.
Back on the moon, Dracula and his people watch the pods being loaded into the ships. Dracula states that their sheer number will be a match for their foes. Spitfire pleads for Dracula not do this. He laughs briefly and teasingly touches her cheek. This is for their people, he explains. And there will come a time when she does not recoil. Captain Fate will take charge of the launch itself. Dracula will be in his cabin on the ship, observing their enemies. And finessing their tactics for the final plan. He steps inside.
At the MI13 offices, Wisdom’s team reassembles under a portrait of the Queen. Anxiously, Wisdom asks for suggestions. What have they got? “Nothing!” comes a newcomer’s voice as MI5’s Union Jack aka Joe Chapman enters. Isn’t that right? He saw that last farce via a satellite. So Dracula can just walk into Britain now?
They’ve got every magical and technological sensor looking out for the first time if… Alistaire Stuart begins. Blade tells him to let him talk. He knows how Joe feels, he begins. Oh really? Chapman snaps back. Blade hasn’t raised a sweat… Hasn’t it occurred to him? It’s Blade’s fault the vampires are back. So it’s his fault Faiza’s dad copped it! His fault Jaq got taken! At least MI5 doesn’t get foreign amateurs to… Blade’s fangs show as he attacks Union Jack with a feral snarl. Wisdom orders both of them to stand down.
The Black Knight, in the meantime, tries to comfort Faiza, assuring her they will find something. In two days’ time her dad… She doesn’t finish the sentence. How can she carry Excalibur and be so useless?
Alistaire asks if the unusually cowed Captain Britain is all right. Brian explains the vampires obviously know about the magic Merlin used to make him. Knew his… He supposes Al would call it “machine code.” Something about which he knows nothing. That suggests that in combat he might be compromised and Dracula must know that and now all his powers depend on confidence.
Suddenly, the priority alarm rings. It’s the near-space detection system. He thinks it could be them!
And so, led by Captain Fate’s flagship, the vampire army commences towards Earth.
At MI13’s HQ people are starting to get more than anxious. They’ve got two days! Wisdom shouts, and they are getting almost no international cooperation. Are they seriously going to leave them to this?
MI5 director Warner explains that translunar space is a legal minefield. They hear the Chinese are going to block any Security Council attempts to wage war there. Obviously, Dracula has assets in the People’s Republic. No faith problems there. MI5 have officers in place, trying to expose or kill but it will be a close thing.
Sir Clive Reston of MI6 adds that the Prime Minister’s office is going to tell the public today. The opposition’s already outside. Good thing about vampires is, the public have some idea. They are going to try and turn the mass panic into mobs with stakes. Though they anticipate enormous losses.
O interrupts him.  A message is coming in via telepresence with US government protocols. He doesn’t recognize the line. The next moment, Norman Osborn’s face appears on the screen. Curtly, he tells O to let him talk to someone in charge.
That would be him, Wisdom replies. He’s been trying to get past the president and talk to Osborn. What can he officially give them? And what can he really give them?
Osborn replies he’s sorry. He recognizes a fellow player, but his hands are tied by international agreements. He just wanted to tell him that in person. Osborn out.
Brilliant. Nothing! Pete exclaims frustrated. Except the %’@&%’$ thinks Pete is a bit like him!
Brian addresses him. He’s getting a… another sort of message. He didn’t know he could do this, he states surprised as red smoke forms in the room.
He cannot, an image of the Scarlet Witch, forming in the smoke, states. She brings a message from the Avengers… Which Avengers? Pete asks. The real Avengers, she replies. Those led by Henry Pym; he is in space with the rest of his team and he asks that they stop all international air traffic immediately, because…
Aboard their jet, the Wasp tells the Scarlet Witch to let MI13 know Britain has been magically cut off. They cannot get in.
A normal passenger plane is smashed against the wall.
Aboard the vampire ship Dracula states it’s working. They will receive no foreign aid. As he predicted, the Scarlet Witch is not willing to pierce the barrier. The reasons for which escape him. Still, it is satisfactory. Can Lilith maintain this? She can, with the assistance of his machines.
Dracula then proceeds to focus his will on unifying the army, coordinating the forward scouts. Lady Jaqueline should be feeling the effects as they speak.
Elsewhere in a ship, Spitfire seems to struggle. No… no… not like this she mutters while her son looks at her with anticipation. Suddenly she begins to smirk… What on Earth is she worrying about? It’s such a tiny thing really, just doing what the master says… Overjoyed, Ken hugs her. He knew she’d get there! Things are going to get great now! They are going to be in charge, the bosses, the top predators! They’re going to make Britain so much better!
Jaqueline looks out of the window with an evil smile. She gets to see her former colleagues again. She’s so looking forward to it. Oh, and she’s told it’s time for her phase of the plan. She activates the communicator hidden in her wristwatch…
Elsewhere, Captain Britain tries and fails to break through the invisible mystical barrier that now surrounds Great Britain. He falls and explains to MI13 that he could get through but he can’t hurt it and if he wins… he couldn’t get back inside that thing. He thinks it was made with him in mind.
Wisdom replies over the communicator that they just got a message from Jac. A trap obviously, but it’s their only chance to get any more intel before they are here.
Aboard MI13’s plane Faiza repeats to herself that she has to do something. For her dad, she has to do something.
They land to meet up with Cap at the destination where they are expecting Jaqueline. Wisdom tells Cap Jac sent them a message, saying she managed to break free. She sounded like a vampire, Blade adds. Brian swears. They make sure, Blade continues. But if she is, if she’s gone… she’s made her wishes clear to him. He hopes none of them are going to…
Here we go, Black Knight interrupts as a burning meteor-like object comes falling towards them and crashes into the ground.
Spitfire, mortally wounded (or would be, if she were a human) comes from the crater, asking them for help.
Blade and Cap sense magic around her. Protection from the sunlight. The others have their weapons drawn. Let’s get past this! Pete tells Spitfire. They know she’s been turned. If she has any will of her own left, she’ll let them take her in. Tell them what she knows. They can keep her on ice until…
A cure? she scoffs and heals her injuries. She’s so tired of people treating magical mutation as a medical condition. He’s right, let’s get past this!
Hordes of vampires come up from the ground, surrounding the team. Peacock Diamond! Peacock Diamond! Pete shouts. A group of vampires is engulfed by something and burned to the bones. The injured but still whole Spitfire scoffs again. Holy water delivered by carpet bombing? Is that all they’ve got? She asks Lady Liltih for help and the sorceress remote-destroys the plane carrying the bombs.
They have more and more and more, Jac threatens. They have been arriving every hour since that skull was destroyed. As they speak, scouts like these are engaging combat units all over Britain. And Dracula’s vessel with the bulk of their army isn’t even here yet.
If she’s the local commander, Pete begins, they take her. Blade agrees. Maybe the vampire hierarchy control system gets fragged and… otherwise there’ too many of them.
While they plan, Faiza focuses. Dane, save my Dad, she tells the Black Knight. Before he understands her meaning she cries Excalibur and cuts her way towards Spitfire, mowing down vampires right and left.
The Black Knight follows her, but too late. Even though she manages to injure Spitfire, she hesitates, and Spitfire slashes her throat. Then Whitman runs amok.
Pete orders Cap to get Blade out. Cap hesitates and Blade is rather unwilling. That moment, one of Lilith’s energy blasts hurls them both away. Cap is hurled farther outside the barrier around Britain.
Wisdom and the Knight are lost in the fight, while Blade leaves for the north that isn’t conquered yet.
A messenger tells all this to Dracula. The greater mass of the army is turning northward now, allowing the new converts to pacify the territory they have already gained. They anticipate the completion of the entire operation within six weeks. Everything has gone to plan.
As Dracula stands in the House of Commons, holding the sceptre, all the slaughtered MPs in their seats, he is told that he has won.


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[Assistant]
The Harrowing of Hell (1st story)
British Magic (2nd story)
Meggan recalls learning everything from TV.
1st story:
Flashback:
As a young child with blonde short hair and pointed ears, Meggan sits transfixed in front of the TV set. As she watches Coronation Street, she shifts to become a mousy house wife. The New Avengers starts and her form matches that of actress Joanna Lumley. Doctor Who starts and she becomes an alien. In the midst of this, her mother enters the room and shrieks at the sight of her daughter.
Present:
Meggan muses that she’s learned everything from telly, everything she was. Maybe that’s why she’s like this. Why her powers are like this. Because TV isn’t the real world. It’s an attempt to impose order on it. To impose civilization. When the truth is there’s only people.
A horrified Meggan finds herself surrounded by the flames of Hell. Shocked and frightened, she finds refuge on a bluff and sinks down exhausted. What’s that? one of a  group of demons on the bluff asks.
Meggan apologizes. She’s been here for a few days, she thinks – and she needs to find someone in charge. More than them? the demons bluster. They are princes of Hell. So which throne or dominion does she belong to? That’s just it, she replies. Nobody said. And she was sort of thinking, sorry, but shouldn’t this be hurting?
Flashback:
Meggan’s mother and a small Meggan walk through a town’s market. Several of the townies make disparaging remarks about gypsies, calling them pikes and gyppos. Meggan senses the mood and shifts accordingly, first into a stereotypical old “gypsy witch,” then when people react disgusted into a monster.
Present:
The demons threaten to give Meggan hurting. That’s just it, she tries to explain. Nothing bad has happened to her here. Nobody seems to think she’s their responsibility and she can’t feel the Earth here… She can’t feel nature. So she can’t really know anything about this place, but… she can feel somewhere distant, someone or something is offering her hope. She begins to smile brightly. Would that be true if… if…?
Well, that is different, one of the demons admits. Potentially worrying. But everything here is for sale: if she wants to meet the lords of the splinter realms, the five-fingered hand, the cabal, what has she to bargain with?
Flashback:
When she was 17 she was arrested for being different. A werebeast Meggan was led into one of James Jaspers’ internment camps with other powered people. However, the concept of her having powers sounded ridiculous to her. She was taken away from her family.
Eventually, she was released again. But everyone forgot it had happened. Forgot her family. Forgot her. When Meggan tried to ask the authorities, they didn’t know anything about this prison she was talking about.
Later, she was sitting with other people in front of caravans watching TV:  “the curse of the werewolf.” She felt the full moon. It was the firs non-judgmental force she ever felt. She was molded by what people expected from the moon and by the moon itself. It gives her… power.
And so, she began to transform. Influenced by the comments of the others who likened her to both a werewolf and a fairy (due to her pointed ears), she turned into the strange hybrid form she’d have when she eventually met Captain Britain. She flew towards the moon. She wanted to go there. To the moon. But she never did. She always found, as above, so below.
Present:
She finally finds herself passed up to the council - Dormammu, Mephisto, Hela, Satannish and Blackheart. She has the smell of Merlin and Roma on her, one of them announces. Merlin? How fares his son? Mephisto asks with a grin. He thinks everyone is his son, Hela points out.
Blackheart addresses Meggan directly. They say she has a question in return for information. This better be good. Meggan is surprised she hasn’t changed with all of their attention on her. Because they have no “opinions” concerning her nature, Dormammu replies. They know what she is. Hela points out it’s true. Meggan hasn’t been punished; what is her information?
It’s about one of their dukes, Plokta, Meggan explains. She’s heard they can’t find him. She knows why. She invites them to see it in her mind. He has allowed himself to be captured by the humans, used as their instrument, they learn. This is a worthy offering, Dormammu decides. She can ask her question.
Meggan stammers first, then asks if everyone… deserves to be here. It’s not like “everyone in jail is innocent.” She wasn’t… sentenced. But if she does deserve to be here, then she’ll… she’ll….
Interesting, Dormammu announces as he gets up to join her. Most who are here, in truth, sentence themselves or are delivered by the shape of human death. None of these apply to her. She is inbetween. Her power is empathy. Knowing her environment, being shaped by it. Well, Hell knows the answer to her questions. This environment, all the minds within it. Why doesn’t she show some spine for once in her life and ask it?
Flashback:
New reports of Meggan (still in her bat-winged form) appearing as Captain Britain’s sidekick and the public liking it, reckoning he’ll adopt her.
Later, Meggan changes into a beautiful young woman, and the tone of comments changes, some remarking she is hot while others find her a bit young for him. Too young for him, some say, and thus perhaps influencing Meggan’s behaviour.  Every time they see her, she is doing something stupid. He’s a bloody pedo!
Present:
If that’s what decides it, then… Meggan gathers her courage. She has nothing to hide. She’ll reach out with her power, further than it’s ever gone. She’ll gladly be judged by everyone here.
She finds herself overwhelmed and she screams in pain as Hell’s Judgment traps her in a monstrous form.
He never said that was what decided it, Dormammu, remarks and calls her a fool. What did she imagine the opinion of Hell would be? Ahh, Meggan, always hoping for something nice. He thanks her for providing them with a good joke. Now she has found her Hell. He casts her to another part of Hell to suffer.
Before that, she might have submitted, stayed here, accepted punishment for imagined sins. Before he did that. But now she’d found something. Something she’d never trusted in herself before. But now she grabbed hold of it. Anger. Her anger had a focus. Her anger was infectious. Her anger spread. And so, an army of demons begins to follow her.
Some time later, in the Hell fortress of Pluto: He addresses the still monstrous Meggan, calling her wise to come to him. Her ragged army has made small gains in this part of Hell. A region already resistant to the wishes of the Lords. Since it is still his realm, the realm of Pluto. He would be part of their clique, he explains, had they not decided, his new earthbased strategy offended their sensibilities. But such tiny wars have always riven Hell. No doubt some day… Oh by Zeus! he exclaims. He snaps his fingers: Since she is no longer shaped by her environment, he tells her to choose a form for herself.
She chooses her form, like her real one, if somewhat darker. She has dark streaks in her hair and, instead of her superhero outfit, she now wears a more traditional gypsy like dress and hooded cloak. This form is stable, she realizes. She won’t change again. She thanks Pluto but also warns him to understand this. That’s the last time anyone judges her!
She never found a sword of her own. She took one after the other from the fallen. Followed by her army, they didn’t even have to fight much in those months (or that is how long it seemed). Meggan couldn’t control the demons’ minds but she could make them feel what she felt. In this case, anger, always anger. That was what brought them so many victories, for example over Blackheart.
What she couldn’t think about in battle was the hope that led her on. The hope of returning to Brian.
Flashback:
Meggan and Brian are enjoying a picnic outside the lighthouse. He always loved her, she recalls. For what she really was. He saw what she was, knew it, loved it, and so he helped her make it. He only let her down when she let him down. Because he’s just a man and so, with him, she was just a woman. She still loves him. She misses him every day. Only now, she understands that love, how hard won it was. How valuable it was. But they treated it offhandedly then, like children.
Present:
She was sure the hope she could feel always was a beacon from him. Lost in her memories of love, Meggan smiles.
One of the demons, her lieutenant, calls her, telling her she is making them happy. It is a feeling little known in Hell. Listen, they’ve named her. The demons chant Gloriana!
Meggan didn’t expect that. She was trying to take all of Hell. But this feels like a bigger victory. And she always wanted a super hero name. She never thought she… deserved one. “Gloriana.” She’ll let them call her that.
Later that night in her tent, she decides that they can lead themselves from here. They would always remember happiness and stood a chance of spreading it though Hell. A bigger chance, in fact as a people rather than an army. She leaves a letter with instructions that they create a land with a fixed border and tend to it. She names it Elysium, a sanctuary for souls to escape to. She orders that Pluto also be given his due in new territory. She leaves her sign on the letter, a crescent moon and then silently slips away. Heading to find her hope in Hell.
She follows the feeling across many different aspects of Hell, feeling it growing stronger. She remains herself though and, where she walks, she spreads peace. Until she finally finds a rift in Hell. Pure moon light comes from the other side. She reaches through it, calling Brian. Is that you?
Somebody grabs her hand to pull her through. I’m afraid not, Dr. Doom replies,  it’s just a fellow gypsy offering you a way out. I gather you’ve always wanted to fly to the moon.
2nd story:
The members of MI13 and some coworkers and soldiers are on the grounds of Braddock Manor on a midsummer day for a game of Cricket. “So, definitely no powers? Captain Britain,” holding the bat, suspiciously asks Spitfire, who kneels behind him. She promises.
Blade (wearing a bowling shirt) tosses the ball and is told by referee Wisdom (in a strangely nerdy shirt as opposed to his usual suave suit look) that this is a no ball. Throwing down his bat, Blade asks why this was a no ball. Throwing, he is informed by Pete and the Black Knight adds that he has to keep a straight arm or it’s “just not cricket.”
There’ll be a bit of spin in this pitch, Faiza prophecies. So she’s into cricket? Alistaire Stuart asks. It’s her other fandom, she replies. She’s calling British occult intelligence and the S.A.S a “fandom?” Faiza tells him to shut up. They have to concentrate. Eric’s trying to bowl again, Al observes.
Brian’s mind wanders back to his wife Meggan. She always used to love the summer. Midsummer’s day most of all. He remembers one summer, long before they were married…
Flashback:
On a trip on a meadow, Meggan is dragging Brian to the car, announcing she wants to go to Stonehenge and Avebury and West Kennet and Silbury Hill… Brian holds her back. Just for once, choose!
Present:
That’s more like it, Jaqueline states hopefully as she catches the ball. He almost got an edge on that.
Flashback:
At Stonehenge. Meggan looks aside. What’s wrong? he asks her. He says “choose.” She really wants to. Only… there are so many influences on her…
Brian apologizes. He shouldn’t have said that. Thanks for putting up with him. Assuming… he means, she does have a choice about that, doesn’t she? Can they go somewhere else, she asks after a moment. They need to talk…
Present:
Lost in his memories, Brian is hit by the ball. He’s fine, he assure the others. Powers or not, he s pretty much invulnerable. Yeah, while he’s feeling confident, Dane points out. But he looks a little distracted. And he knows they are chasing a big total here. Thanks to Eric’s insane batting…
And he was just enjoying the sunshine, Brian replies. Is he the only one on this pitch who isn’t insanely competitive?
Damn right, Eric replies, then tells them to look. Their head scientist O is coming out with some weak lemon drinks for all of them.
While they are having a break, Faiza suggest to Jaqueline that, if Brian is distracted, they’ll get him out with spin. Elegantly fanning herself, Jac remarks she is obsessed. She’s right, Faiza retorts. But doesn’t he look kind of sad?
Flashback:
Still on their trip, Brian and Meggan are on a meadow in a warm summer night, looking up to the full moon. Okay, so how about he tries this, Brian begins, he really, really, wants her to make her own choices all the time. He wants to be with a woman who’s free.
And he means it, she agrees. But it’s not as easy as that. She’s influenced by everything, conscious and unconscious. Including that big moon up there.
She changes the subject, suggesting there isn’t anyone around for miles. He refuses. How does he know if she really wants it? Because he just said “no” and means it, she replies, and she still wants him anyway. Denying that she wants what she wants, that is treating her like a thing. She wants him to be free too to do what he will. They kiss, floating in the moonlight.
Present:
Brian barely manages to deflect the ball and Spitfire doesn’t manage to catch it. She could have got that, Blade points out. No powers means no powers, she reminds him. She knows what she’s doing. She once had Gubby Allen with her googlies. And he… he begins before realizing he has no idea what she just said.
Dane asks Brian is he’s thinking about a woman? Is it that obvious? Brian asks. To someone who’s known him as long as he has, Dane replies. And Brian is like a swan… Calm on the surface, working like Hell underneath, Dane clarifies. Plus… he mates for life. Really, Swan should be Brian’s codename. He assures Brian he has done all he can to find her. Let himself relax and play the game.
Flashback:
The Excalibur lighthouse. Surrounded by their teammates, Brian and Meggan are playing a computer game. And die die die die die! Meggan shouts as she wins. Okay, he admits, she wins again. Bad luck, Nightcrawler tells him.
Meggan asks Kurt to play with her. Brian always just plays the big strong ordinary characters. And he doesn’t mind losing. Well, hardly life and death, is it? Brian replies. Weird mutant attack, hah! Meggan exclaims as she begins the round with Kurt.
Brian recalls that she always rather identified with Kurt. They’d had similar experiences. Only he was always the proud outsider and Brian was default, square-jawed hero from default square-jawed country… Is that where she is now? With someone? Being a different person for them? Even that would be all right. If he knew she was… she was…
Present:
Brian again misses and the ball hits his knee. LBW! LBW! Spitfire shouts. Come on, that was clear as day! Faiza adds. And the umpire’s final decision? They look at Pete who apologetically states he was texting Sophie Ellis Bextor. But he saw it of the corner of his eye and he’s pretty sure it wasn’t out.
Brian apologizes, telling the other team he’ll be out if they want. But they refuse. Colton’s up next.
Flashback:
Servant monks inform Captain Britain and Meggan that they are now rulers of every universe and dimension. There, told you, a pleased Brian tells Meggan. They are in charge of everything? she asks in disbelief. What does that even mean? Where do they start? Normally for her, it’s the other way round.
That was one reason he said yes, Brian explains. To show her that if she reaches out and tries and does some good… it doesn’t always have to fall apart. As to where they start… shall they see if they can get a pot of tea? Meggan hugs him.
Present:
She’d want him to keep going, he muses. She’d want him to put his heart into everything. Be open to everything. Always. Like she was.
Blade throws and Brian this time hits the ball. Faiza’s turn. Brian thinks that he knows people who’d say he should let Faiza win. Give the new girl confidence, give the Captain Britain fan a story she can tell when she’s as old as Jac… Those are the same people who never understood Meggan and him.
Faiza throws and Brian hits the ball. Hard. She thinks it went into the forest, Faiza remarks critically. Just her luck he’s stopped thinking. About Meggan, she means. She’ll get him next time.
Heh, Faiza, Brian begins. What? she asks. He doesn’t tell her. She “gets” him now. They all do. But it’d be a bit much to say that out loud. And again the unreliable umpire is asked to say that was out…


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Vampire State – part four
Dracula triumphantly stands in the British House of Commons, surrounded by the corpses of the members of parliament he slew, and holds the royal sceptre. He concentrates. With closed eyes, head thrown back, he announces a moment later to the messenger that this is… odd. In the past few weeks, they’ve had many victories, and some of them have been hard fought but none of them have been… surprising. It’s almost as if…
He orders the messenger to give him some bad news. There… there is none, the vampire replies surprised. Oh, oh, and he nearly had him! Dracula exclaims. But he overplayed his hand… This is too good to be true!
With his sword, Dracula tears at the walls of reality, getting out of the place he currently is and he is back in his cabin on Captain Fate’s ship. He grabs Fate by the lapels of his shirt. How long has he been in his cabin? he demands. For over two days? comes the reply. Fate reminds him he’d left instructions not to be disturbed.
So they are nearly at Earth… and the order to send the scouts ahead…? He gave no such order, Fate replies. It doesn’t matter, Dracula decides and takes up a map. They will land together, in force. He got out just in time. If you can hear me, Mr. Wisdom, my congratulations. Your death will be swift.
On Earth, Plokta informs MI13 that he is losing the image. Dracula is too far from Plokta’s magical room of wishes. Wisdom did say to set it up so he’d walk into it, thinking it was his cabin…
Wisdom thanks Plokta. Trapping Dracula in his heart’s desire bought them some time. Then, Wisdom speaks the spell: I offer you your freedom, your shackles are broken, depart my sight.
Plokta laughs, thanking them for the entertainment. He does look forward to ensnaring them again at some point in the future.
Dracula had some strange ideas about him, Captain Britain muses, while Blade realizes the vampire likes fighting him. He doesn’t know how he’s gonna deal with that. “What’s with the face?” Faiza asks the Black Knight. He tells her she was magnificent. Even in Dracula’s dreams. But don’t do the heroic sacrifice for real, okay? Okay she promises and asks him to stop looking at her. She’s all embarrassed.
They enter a communication suite. Brian spells out that Dracula won’t have Spitfire call them now. He knows what they’ve seen. He’s clearly informed about the international situation, so Wisdom suggests he take that as how it would play out and save their energy. In these two days, they’ve formed up their resources and, thanks to Plokta’s download of Dracula’s dreams and their other sources, they now know everything about the vampire forces.
He orders the Black Knight and Excalibur to the tech lab and Blade to MI6. Cap, he stops, nah, he doesn’t need to say a word. He’s Captain Britain! They touch each other’s knuckles in salute. He believes they’ve met, Brian jokes and flies off. Pete gives more orders to make sure that the airports are locked down. Get him a line to Colton and find him a picnic hamper, in that order. Any second now…
Aboard Dracula’s flagship, he asks if Lady Lilith is ready. Lilith casts her spell into the systems. Hatred cast into physics on command. A birth into the sky. A new covenant between energy and matter, she chants. Objective achieved.
Dracula grabs Spitfire by the face. He has enforced his will on the whole army, ready for invasion phase. She should now not even speak dissent. She should worship him. Heh. Not as easy as in his fantasy…
He lets go of her and explains that Wisdom overplayed his hand. His mistake allowed him to realize he wasn’t in the real world. Or is that what he’s meant to think? Does she know anything about it?
Spitfire refuses to reply at first, then is forced to by his will. Once they had Plokta, this was a standard plan against any powerful enemy, keep them in his room. The next move would have been to extend it to his whole ship.
Dracula is reassured now. He leads her and Ken to his army, every vampire he recruited. The newly born are at the front. He has a question about one of them. He refers to a red-haired, huge man and asks if he is known to Spitfire. She explains that’s Julius Mullarkey. His codename was Killpower. He was going to change it. He’s… just a child. Why is he so large? Dracula inquires. He’s pumped full of supersteroids, comes the halting reply. A supersoldier created by the British government.
Ken asks her not to fight it. Next to Killpower Dracula finds Dr. Hussain, Faiza’s father. Still holding out, he sees, Dracula mocks. He must get Lilith to make some adjustments that allows him to sense these things. Hussain struggles, finally stating he won’t kill in Dracula’s name. Dracula promises him he will have no choice, now that he has his full attention. In fact he will kill his own dau—
Suddenly, an alert goes off. Enemy contact! Good, Dracula remarks. They have brought the fight to them. He hoped they would show some spirit!
They find Captain Britain is approaching the flagship. Tepes, he announces. There’s something he wants to say to him. Dracula orders Fate in muted tones to make sure this gets only to this deck and to tell Lilith to be ready. What is it, Merlinson? he asks Cap. Just this – Penny drops, Cap replies with a smirk.
A waste of his last words, Dracula scoffs. It’s a codephrase, he realizes though. What does it mean?
Moving at super speed, Spitfire activates her communicator, programs a code into the bridge computer and tells Dracula it means he’s been had. She attacks him. And the signal she punched in opens a teleportation gate. Faiza shouting Excalibur and the Black Knight come through.
While the other vampire recruits are still frozen, Doctor Hussain can move. Nervously, he asks if Killpower also feels suddenly free. No, the red-haired giant replies, as he activates a device on his wrist, also creating a portal. He was never being controlled. He explains it’s how he was made. Spell are a part of him. So magic doesn’t like him. It’s why he and Harley were always on standby to rescue him. Hi, again.
He helps Dr. Hussain to the portal and remarks he was really bored, especially in the ground. But Lady Jac kept him in touch. Now he’s supposed to start a big fight. Part of their plan. Just for five minutes. Hussain has to go through there and get home.
The attack? Is his daughter here? Hussain asks. Yeah, but he has to, Julius starts. Hussain refuses, he knows about vampirism. He knows what he can expect at home. Despair, no cure! He’s going to do his bit here. He runs off.
Spitfire still claws at Dracula at super speed. Dracula calls her a traitor to her people. Her people are down there on Earth! she retorts.
While the vampires are being threatened by the two knights, Baron Blood tells them, whatever their orders, they won’t take him with them. He wants no “cure.” Mate, Faiza replies, they are not here for him. Captain Fate duels the Black Knight.
Captain Britain smashes into Lilith’s cabin. Evening, Lilith, he remarks, how are the kids?
She begins her spellcasting against him and boasts she knows about his construction. Merlin’s doll from the remains of his corps. She know how to take him apart!
Fate holds his own. This is the Magussword! he warns Dane. It carries the curse of Captain Fate. You could say it is Captain Fate. And this is the Ebony Blade, hi, Dane retorts. Innocents and the weapons who use them! He could write a book! But instead, and with greater brevity, how about he does both of them a favour… he disarms Fate  and the man begins to change.
Cap is driven to the wall by Lilith’s magical missiles. Hebreaks outside through the wall and orders all units to pull back. And they do. Julius shakes off vampires to exit through the teleportation gate. Faiza retreats, as does the Black Knight, carrying with him a feral Spitfire who vows to Dracula this isn’t over.
Lilith asks Dracula what happened to Captain Fate. The ship is breaking up without his curse. She can use a spell to hold it together. So do it, Dracula replies curtly while Baron Blood helps him up.
That was their whole plan, he muses a good gone. With the army distracted… If Captain Britain had killed Lilith… Without her shields many would have been exposed to the sunlight. But not all. They could have landed within the ship’s remains… And now the sun has set over Britain. So this was a last throw. They have nothing much left.… Still, still, where is Blade?
Blood begins to apologize. That his mother was willing to go so far for her cause? Neither had he expected, Dracula replies. He should be proud. He turns to Dr. Hussain who is brought in. He is afraid he missed his daughter, Dracula announces. Why is he able to resist his will?
The Black Knight’s team arrives back through the portal. Objectives achieved, he announces. No loss. Captain Fate whom he has brought with him has turned into a human Sheriff. Sheriff Daltry? Wisdom addresses him and explains he is now free of the curse of Fate. He’ll be taken for medical treatment and debriefing. He knows Daltry won’t remember much… Still out of it, the man stutters a thank you.
Pete turns to the bloody Jaqueline, congratulating her on brilliant work. Her initiative on realizing she wasn’t under Dracula’s control, going along with it, and then contacting them…
Never mind that, sir, Jac tells him, crying. In the course of her duties she had to kill an innocent. Yes, she did, she is told. The enemy would have realized, she goes on, too many other lives depended on it. Pete agrees. Sorry, she states. She just hasn’t had to do that since Norway 1940. 20th June 1940, she adds in a small voice. She closes her eyes for a moment, then turns around. But… This is no time for her to start whining. He’s keeping her operational, she should hope.
Course he is. She’s going to kill a lot of those /&%$ for them. She agrees. About her son… He’ll give her a sitrep. And not that she’ll ask, but Eric and Joe are in the field. Come on, let’s get some tea into her.
Faiza is wondering why Julius is taking his time. Moments later he appears, looking sad and ashamed. Where is her dad? Faiza asks.
On the Moon, Dracula holds Dr Hussain’s face, trying to focus. If his control is weakening… Begin the invasion phase immediately! he orders. The ship and all free flying vampires are to dive for the landing site at maximum speed!
Nervously, Baron Blood interrupts him. He can feel it, too. A weakening of the … glorious unification Dracula brings them. But he doesn’t think any of the crew are feeling it. And there’s a message.
Dr. Doom’s face appear on the screen. He addresses Dracula as Tepes. Does he recall how Doom promised to allow him those islands he wanted without interference? He’s gone one better. If Dracula should desire power over Captain Britain, ten minutes ago Doom put a hostage in his brig who will give him the leverage he needs. By his strict code of honour, Doom believes, Dracula now owes him a favour. Doom out.
Alone, Doom takes off his mask to enjoy a glass of wine and chuckles amusedly.
In the atmosphere, Cap contacts Portwell House control to tell them he is following the ship.
Inside the ship Dracula, followed by Baron Blood, heads for the brig. Dabbing the blood away from his face, he muses that they have fifteen minutes before entering British airspace. Surely nothing can go wrong now, Crichton fawns. The army is still loyal. Dracula snarls at him to be silent. He will not make assumptions about this campaign! This is everything for them! Everything! And this is Doom. Doom! Who studied under Cagliostro. Doom, who dissected vampires in Latveria. A gift from him is a sword! He opens the door to the brig. A sword without a hilt.
They haven’t even met, but already he’s trying to define her, the young, beautiful, blonde woman in the old-fashioned peasant dress calmly states. No. No more. Her name is Meggan Puceanu. Her army called her Gloriana.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Vampire State – conclusion
Nighttime, a field in Kent:
Pete Wisdom and a young woman named Tara, whom he last saw under nightmarish circumstances, are having a picnic and a talk. So, Tara summarises, all that terrifying stuff… he’s just told her, that’s why they made her sign that secrecy document? Yeah, he replies. He wanted her to know. Before the fireworks start. Fireworks? He hasn’t said why they were here…
No, he agrees. Does she wants some cheese? He’s a big fan of Christopher Priest, she knows; the novelist? Didn’t he do The Prestige, Tara recalls. Yeah, he likes to read about stage magic.  His kind of magic, considering what he does for a living. He takes off his sunglasses. There’s this big trick he’s in the middle of. Only it’s dead serious too. Like when Churchill feinted Hitler into fighting the Battle of Britain. The only battle Britain could win at that moment. Over these very fields.
He’s making no sense, he realizes. And he hasn’t even had any champagne yet. What he’s saying is: he’s here to see if his trick worked. She’s here because he wants her to see her mate Liz avenged. And because he wanted to see her again when he was sober. He looks up at the sky, the moon and a shining light, bigger than the stars. If he’s got it wrong… it’s all over for Britain. It all starts… right about now.
Dracula’s ship, the brig.
Dracula stands across a serenely smiling Meggan (or newly christened Gloriana). Why did Doom deliver her to him? he demands. She sounds… defiant. Does she? she retorts. She’s only here to serve him. So why is his lieutenant, referring to Baron Blood, more and more troubled, the closer he gets to her?
It’s Dracula’s control, Kenneth Crichton cries. Somehow she’s blocking it! Broadcasting rebellion! If he were not loyal… Easily fixed, Dracula decides and goes for Meggan’s throat. Doom has misjudged.
That moment, Captain Britain smashes the brig apart and flies in. Dracula, get your hands off my wife! Brian and Meggan share a brief tender moment before Lilith blasts Captain Britain with her magic.
Back in the field… Pete explains that everyone’s been treating this like it’s a game of chess. But you only play honourable games if you don’t care about the process. If lives and nations are at stake, one cheats. Does she remember what he told her about the head of Quincy Harker? Something he didn’t mention…
Pete’s story:
He got in touch with the witch Diana through her dreams, using one of O’s devices. Before MI13 arrived, he got her to tart up a spare skull she had hanging about. To make it obviously a thing of magically power. And to hide the original…
Present:
He means the original is still…? Right, he agrees. Everything since then has just been to stop Dracula from uncovering that fact. Plot to stop him launching scouts. The raid on the ship to neutralize one magic threat and make him thinks they’d tried their one chance.
Above Dracula’s ship, Cap and Meggan fight Lilith. Shielding herself, the sorceress claims he can’t beat her. She was imprisoned with the wizard. She knows how he was made. Guess again, Lilith Kiskilla, he tells her as he breaks through her shield.
Dracula senses something approaching.
They are reaching the atmosphere over Britain’s airspace and begin to burn.
Pete asks Tara if she sees the light just there? Those are the first vampires arriving at orbital velocity and realizing that, unlike Dr Yusuf Hussain, who he now declares is welcome to come home, they haven’t been invited.Abandon ship! he orders. Seeing that sunrise is nearby, he addresses Lilith and tells her to break combat. They cannot risk losing her magical shield. They are so few now; she can just transport the army back to prepared positions. Lilith complies.
On Earth, Pete and Tara see a big explosion in the sky. There goes the ship, Pete remarks. He calls all units. The enemy has disengaged and the remainder will be heading for the locations Spitfire pinpointed. Panther dominion. All reserves to commit. All units to engage. Everyone in!
He remarks that the innocent conscripts will have fled. Anyone on Dracula’s army now chose to be there. Kill them all!
He turns back to Tara. That vengeance he mentioned, it’s nearly done. Best of all: she didn’t have to take it on herself. This is what he does for a living. Cheers, he raises his glass. Tara recoils.
Dracula and his army have fled to the moon through Lilith’s doorway. Wisdom was ready for him! Dracula rants. What do they still have? The fortifications - they must prepare for a counter attach. And his army, they are the most loyal…
Behind Lilith, Captain Britain and Meggan show up. A lady should close the door behind her, Brian announces as he attacks. Dracula orders his troops to defend her. They need her magic shield against the sun. The Merlinson depends on confidence. They must show him fear!
He thinks he is scary? Spitfire asks. Has he met the SAS? She is joined by SAS soldiers in special fighting suits as well as several British superheroes, Tangerine, Dark Angel, Digitek and Death’s Head.
Elsewhere in the castle, a teleportation gate transports Union Jack and Blade to the room, where Dracula and his inner retinue’s coffins are kept. Several vampires race towards them to attack. Shortly before they reach them, they burst into flames. Guards check, Union Jack announces and Blade calls back to stop pushing the Holy Water mist through the gate.
The two of them treat the coffins with garlic and Holy Water. Union Jack informs Blade that control says they have a target closing on the building. Let them come, Blade shrugs. Let them see there’s no home left for them.
No, the hidden Baron Blood mutters. He walks toward them, addressing Union Jack. Joe? That’s him, isn’t it? It’s Ken. He takes off his mask and offers to surrender. He’d like to be a prisoner of war, please. He only did this so Mum and he could be together again.
It’s all right, Joe assures him with a smile, also taking off his mask. Ken’ll come with them. It’s what Jac would want. Even if there’s no cure now, maybe one day… That moment, Blade stakes Kenneth. “No!” Joe protests. He’s her son!
Blade ignores him, instead informing Spitfire over his wristcom that it’s done. Exactly like she asked. He thinks he was wrong about Blade and Jac, Union Jack finally decides. They are bloody made for each other. He strides back through the gate.
Elsewhere in the castle, Spitfire bows her head in grief.
Captain Britain and Meggan have Lilith on the ropes; she can barely hold up her shield. It doesn’t help that Meggan is transmitting hope to Cap and despair to Lilith. She remarks that Doom gave her an environment shield, so she can breathe and stuff. He was going to ask, Brian replies. Sure he was.
Elsewhere, Dracula stands before the ashes of his dream. He also senses his coffin destroyed, then should he throw himself in battle, die for… No, he decides suddenly. It’s not just him. He must survive for his people. He races to the hangar where his escape craft is stored. He has to get to…
His way to it is cut off by the Black Knight and Excalibur. They were sent to delay him, the Knight states, but they all know its going to happen too fast for that. The end. By the sword. Either way. Right now. Let’s not ruin the moment with wit.
Dracula draws his own sword. The crusader and the Muslim allied, he scoffs. The result of his actions. He shares the Knight’s feeling for this moment. But he sees no cause for wit. Now let them be done. He attacks the Black Knight and proves to be a superior swordsman, slashing deeply through the Black Knight’s chest. Dane falls.
Dracula turns to Faiza, warning her that the Knight was one of the greatest swordsmen of all times. But still only human. Of course, that’s Excalibur that she has there. But tell him, he addresses her as dog, does she think she could land a single blow? He’ll make her an offer, let him pass and he’ll let her live.
Angrily she holds up her sword: After what he did to her dad, to Dane, to her country… he dares say that to her? This is Excalibur she has here. And she is worthy of it. And since his nobility doesn’t extend to her, she knows, he wouldn’t make that offer if he weren’t afraid.Shut up! Faiza orders as she hurries to his side. He continues that’s the moment they talked about. She found what she needed to… No, really, she orders: Shut up! she needs to concentrate. She uses her healing powers and is startled to find that his heart is no longer made of stone. Then it’s time for him too to take things more seriously, he admits weakly. To not be afraid to… they kiss.
Cap beats Lilith. Back to hell, he orders her.
Captain Colton informs Wisdom that, without Lilith, solar radiation levels are at lunar norm. And they got all the vampires in the sun protection suits.
Brian turns towards Megan. Lilith though she knew him, but she didn’t know what he was made of. She didn’t know modern Britain. If now she’s back… she’s changed so much. If she needs time, he understands… With a smile, she interrupts him and tells him all she ever needed of him, her hope in hell, was that he’d stay the same. They kiss.
A little later, Captain Britain reaches Dr. Yussuf Hussain, the sole surviving vampire, in orbit and lets him know that his wife is all right.  Hussain thanks him but, he admits, he is an academic not a superhero. Even though he says they’ll be fine, he views orbital re-entry with considerable unease. Which is why he’s come to take him home the pretty way, Brian explains.
Is there a home for him though? Dr. Hussain asks. He doesn’t want his wife and daughter to see him like this, to have to deal with this. But what’s the alternative? Brian asks. Give up? he thinks Dr. Hussain’s life from now is going to be a very British compromise, living with something terrible, dealing with it in domestic terms. Tragedy right up against sitcom, in a way other cultures don’t really get. He thinks if anyone is going to understand all this, is going to want him to stay around and get through it day by day, with all sorts of awkward conversations, it’s his daughter.
And the others deal with those issues too. Blade comforts Spitfire over her loss. Peter and Tara hash matters out and Faiza supports Dane as he slowly gets up.
He’s right Dr. Hussain admits with a smile. So he shall. He could murder a cup of tea.
And Peter and Tara drive back, Blade and Spitfire kiss, Faiza and Dane watch the Earthrise and Brian and Meggan fly home, hand in hand.