Ranma Saotome: Master of the Mystic Arts
By Brendan O�Donnell
Chapter 5 appendium

 Note mostly retelling the story from Strange Tales183-187 in two appendiums
to Chapters 4 and 5

 Under the light of the moon, a rented car arrived at a lonely castle
overlooking a foggy English moor.  Walking from the car, Dr. Strange looked
at the castle.  *Sir Baskerville!  He had been a disciple of Baron Mordo's
until he met with an accident, and now he lives in seclusion.  There is a
chance that he may know the meaning of eternity!*
 Moments later he was welcomed by the castles one handed owner.  "Dr.
Strange!  How good to see you!  It has been so long since I've seen any
practitioners of the mystic arts!  Come in!  Come it!  You must have a spot
of tea with me!"
 "My time is limited, Sir Baskerville!  My business with you is most
urgent!"
 "Indeed?  Then tell me. . . how may I serve you?"
 "I seek the meaning of Eternity!  Have you any knowledge of the secret
which that single word contains?"
 "Eternity?  By Jove yes!  I can help you!"  Turning the white haired man
strode from the room.  "Wait there!  Make yourself at home!  I seem to
remember an ancient scroll which I possess!  It dealt with Eternity!  I
shall search for it!"  Just before leaving the room he paused and called
back with a smile,  "Take off your coat!  Do not leave 'till I return!"
 *He seems anxious to aid me!  And yet . . . he seems almost too anxious!*

 In the Dark Dimension, Dormammu began to gather his power.  "My power is
supreme throughout my world!  Only through betrayal could the Mindless One's
have escaped!"  Focusing how power, he formed a simple spell.  "Ahh! An
image begins to form even now!"  Looking at the image saw the Mindless one's
prison.  "Wait!  Yes, the same girl who dared speak with Dr. Strange when he
last invaded my Dark Dimension!  It was she!  She planted a power drinker
which weakened my enclosure!!  Now I know!"  A gesture violently dispersed
the image.  "I have seen enough!"
 Power gathered around Dormammu like a storm, as the flames about his head
blazed higher.  "She shall pay for her betrayal . . . just as he shall pay
for daring to challenge the power of the Dread Dormammu!"  Then the power
began to subside.  "But I must plan my vengeance!  Their fate must be
awesome . . . and completely unexpected!  Ah, what pleasure it shall afford
me!"

 On earth, Sir Baskerville, stood before a scroll covered table.  Raising a
hand to his forehead he concentrated his thoughts.  *MORDO!  This is your
loyal disciple!  Dr. Strange is in my castle!  The time to strike is now!!*
 Far away, Mordo focused his own thoughts in response to Baskerville's
telepathic call.  *At last!!  Do nothing to arouse his suspicions,
Baskerville!  Delay him!  But under no circumstances give him any
information about Eternity!  That is my absolute command!*
 *I hear and obey, Mighty Master!*
 Mordo Turned to the hole in reality through which Dormammu had spoken to
him last.  * Dormammu still attends to matters in his own dimension!  But
some of his unimaginable power continues to seep through to me. . .
Strengthening me for my coming battle!*  He turned to look at one of his
human agents.  "I shall remain here, basking in the glow of the
ever-increasing power which receive from the Dark Dimension!
 "And I shall dispatch you to the castle of Baskerville!  There you will
carry out my every telepathic command!  For you shall be the tool with which
I destroy Dr. Strange!
 "By the Seven Rings of Ragadorr . . .
 By Cyttorak's Crimson Bands!
 I send thee through the unseen door. . .
 Go thou where my spell commands!"
 Moments later Baskerville cowered back as a mote of light came through the
walls and reformed into Mordo's chosen henchman.
 "I have come, Baskerville!  Though I speak through another's lips, I am
your master!  I see, I hear, and I command!"

 Minutes later, Baskerville emerged from his library.  "I have found it, my
friend!  Come let us study it together!"  He kept his gaze on Dr. Strange,
avoiding the doorway through which Mordo's agent was preparing to strike.
 "Bring it to me, Baskerville!  I must be certain that it is authentic!  It
must be tested!"
 From behind him, Mordo struck through his pawn.  The mystic attack
enveloped Dr. Strange.  Who instantly evaporated into mist.
 "It isn't him!"  Baskerville said.  "It's just an illusion!"
 "Incompetent Fool!!  You assured me he suspected nothing!!"
 Baskerville glanced about nervously, then paused.  "Look!  That suit of
armor.  I could have sworn I detected a slight movement!"
 Through his agent, Mordo gathered his power.  "He thought we would not
search in such an obvious place!  Well, he has made his final mistake!"
 The armor jumped from the pedestal.
 Gloatingly Mordo declared  "there is no escape!  That useless armor cannot
shield him from a mystic spell!"
 "But Mordo!!"  Baskerville said in an increasingly panic filled voice.
"Your spell seems to have no effect on him!"
 "Then I'll increase its potency!"  In his sanctum, Mordo redirected more
and more of the power leaking from the Dark dimension into the spell.  "It
cannot be!"  He said as he saw through his agent the armor continue to pound
against the door from the room.  "Nothing made of flesh and blood can
withstand the force I am hurling against him!"
 The door came off its hinges, and the armor ran through, stumbling
somewhat.
 "Hah!!  He is beginning to falter!"  Mordo declared as his agent ran after
his target.  "He cannot run much further!"  The agent ran to the door.
 As he reached the open frame, Dr. Strange suddenly pivoted from the side of
the doorway, and rammed his fist into the agent.  "It worked!  I was hoping
you'd run through the doorway!"
 "Mordo's aura has faded as I knew it would once his emissary lost
consciousness!  As for you, Baskerville. . ."  With a gesture and a thought,
Dr. Strange froze the old man in his tracks.  "You shall never betray me
again!"

 In his sanctum, Mordo stood, a look of shocked disbelief on his face.
"I've lost contact!!  But how. . .  why??  It happened so fast!"  He
scowled.  "But I must not give up now!  I must continue to attack my
accursed arch-enemy, before I lose his trail once more!  Spirits of evil, I
summon thee!!  Appear at once!  Go thou!!  Be the eyes of Mordo!  I must
know what has occurred before I can act again!"

 In Baskerville's castle, Dr. Strange was using the all seeing eye to probe
the memory of Mordo's agent.  In his mind he saw Mordo, and the gateway
through which his power had come.  "Now I shall learn for certain who is the
power behind Mordo!  Ahhh. . . There is Mordo, and behind him. . .  behind
him. . . I see. . . The Dread Dormammu!!  Of course!  Now there can be no
doubt!  I suspected as much!  But now I have the positive proof!"  Letting
the eye return to the amulet, Dr. Strange turned to Baskerville.  "Now you!
Tell me truly  what you know of Eternity!  By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth,
you cannot now speak a falsehood!"
 "I - Know - Nothing!
 "I hated the Ancient One . . . Because he could now cure my injured hand!!
I wanted to strike back at him!  To hurt him by harming you!  Mordo promised
he would restore my hand . . . So I did his bidding."
 "It is as I guessed!  Now heed my words!  Mordo deceived you.  He cannot
cure your hand!  It is beyond the power of Sorcery!  And now you interest me
no longer!"
 Stepping into the hallway Strange raised a hand.  The suit of armor floated
to him.  Taking off the helmet, he drew his cloak of levitation from inside
the armor.  "I was lucky my ruse worked!"  Putting on the cloak, he looked
upward.  "But once again I must do the unexpected!  Mordo's spirits must be
about to attack me at this very moment!  They will not find me unprepared!"
 Rising to the castle wall, Dr. Strange looked at the wraiths charging
toward him.  *They will expect me to flee!  They will be ready to pursue me!
But I shall hold my ground and face them!  It is the one thing they shall
not expect!*  He waited a moment, then with a thought to his cloak, he rose
above the battlements.  The wraiths slowed as they saw him.  *The eyes of
each are upon me!  The moment is NOW!*
 "In the name of the eternal Vishanti . . . !
 "I claim complete control over your minds and thoughts!!  No other command
can supercede mine!  The thought I now give you will become your own!
 "Dr. Strange has fled to the Netherworld!  You must follow him there!"
 Dr. Strange looked after the wraiths as they flew away.  *Once again, the
element of surprise, the power of the unexpected has saved me from Mordo's
legions!  They shall waste precious time searching the nether-world in
vain!*

 In his Sanctum Baron Mordo stood, scowling.  "My spirits now pursue Strange
to the Netherworld!  But why have I lost contact with Baskerville?
Something is wrong!  I must go to the castle in person!"  He turned to the
portal.  "But first I must arm myself by absorbing as much of Dormammu's
power as I can!"

 In England, Dr. Strange adjusted his trenchcoat and ran into the fog,
dressed in his civilian attire once again.  *I have won this encounter with
Mordo!  And yet, my victory is not really a victory at all!  My first
attempt to solve the riddle of Eternity has ended in complete failure for
me!*
 As the fog swallowed Dr. Strange, A great light announced the arrival of
Baron Mordo.

 In the Dark Dimension, the white hared woman was walking, and trying not to
think of Dormammu.  Then a spell appeared before her.  *OH!  He's found me
already!*  The spell instantly shaped itself into a cage around her, and
pulled her through a hole in the fabric of the Dark Dimension.   "My fate is
sealed!"
 "Greetings betrayer!"  Dormammu said as he watched his prisoner appear.
"There you shall stay until you see, with your own eyes, the final defeat of
Dr. Strange!  And when that time comes, you shall join him in that defeat.
 *It was all in vain!  We are now both doomed!*
 Turning away, Dormammu reopened his connection to Mordo.  "And what of you,
Baron Mordo?  I have given you power!  I have protected you!  But you have
failed me!"
 "Not so, Dormammu!  I'll catch Strange yet!  I finally have a clue!  I
learned that he seeks the secret of Eternity!"
 "He searches for Eternity??!  You witless clod!  You must stop him!  He
must not find it!  It could destroy all my future plans!"
 "I - - don't understand!  I have never even heard of it!"
 "It is knowledge not intended for such as you!  But it could doom us all if
he finds it!  Go, Mordo!  GO!  Dr. Strange must be destroyed!"
 "This time I'll succeed!  I won't fail again!"  Turning from the portal,
Mordo walked into another room, where his minion was gazing intently at a
mystic globe.
 "Are there any signs of magical force appearing within the mystic globe?
Speak Disciples!"
 "Not yet, Master!  Dr. Strange must know that any spell he uses will guide
us to him so long as we watch the enchanted globe!"
 "Then until we can find him I can do nothing.  But I must again alert my
followers thruout the world!"  Gathering his mental powers, Mordo reached
out with his mind.  "Whosoever sees the accursed Dr. Strange must inform me
immediately, or suffer my deadly wrath!"

 Days later, Dr. Strange approached a well hidden cave deep in the mountains
of Tibet.  *I must choose my words carefully,  The countless years have left
The Aged Genghis on the verge of madness!*  "Peace be with thee, honored
mystic!  I seek great knowledge, which only the all knowing  Genghis might
possess!"
 The frail old figure looked up from the brazier he was levitating before.
With a toothless smile he responded.  "In truth, I know everything!"
 "Then you must certainly know the secret meaning of Eternity!"
 "Eternity??!  Of course I do!  I, and I alone!  All the others who shared
that knowledge have gone to the great beyond!  Only I remain!"  Genghis's
brow furrowed a moment.  "Wait!  There is one other who knows!  It is the
Ancient One!  He tried to erase the secret!  But I still remember!"
 "Tell me then!  What does it mean?"
 Genghis sat in the air a moment.  "I am old - - My mind is clouded, I
cannot remember the meaning!" His head swiveled suddenly and he floated to a
nearby shelf.  "But - - I have a scroll!  Yes - - That's it! The Scroll!"
He began to search through the jumble of scrolls on the shelf, then turned
to Dr. Strange again.  "There!
 "That is the answer!  It is written on the parchment!"
 Taking the scroll, Dr. Strange examined it carefully.  "It's so ancient - -
so faded - - but I can read one word - - Eternity!  This must be it!"

 Soon Dr. Strange stood in the nearby ruins of an ancient long abandoned
temple.  Feeling the residual power around him, he began to shape the spell,
trusting the residual magic to hide the foundations of his own incantation.
"At last - - I can recite the mystic spell!
 Deamons of darkness at my command
 Transport me to the hidden land!"
 Before him, space began to twist and buckle from an unseen force.  Then
reality collapsed, and a black tunnel burrowed into another dimension.  *I
must enter it - - no matter where it leads!*  Dr. Strange leaped into the
rift he had created.

 "Master!  Behold the globe!"  Mordo's servant called from his vigil.
 Turning sharply, Mordo looked at the mystic representation of the earth,
and felt the power of the spell.  "It's Dr. Strange!"  Reaching for his link
to Dormammu, he focused his power into the spell transforming his body to
energy.  Seconds later he arrived in the Ancient temple, reforming just in
time to see a portal close behind Dr. Strange's cloak.  "Too late!"

 "The entrance melted into nothingness, Dormammu!  I could not follow!  But,
this scroll was left behind."
 "Quickly!  Let me see it!!"  Dormammu extended his perceptions more
strongly into the earth realm, feeling the scroll Mordo held up to the
gateway.  "The fool!  In his eagerness to find eternity, he did not notice
it was a different spell!  It can lead him only to - - eternal doom!"
 "But, what if he escapes?"
 "Then we shall find him again!  Time has no meaning to me!"
 *I was a fool to make this bargain.*  Mordo thought, trying to force down
the slowly growing fear of his new masters power.

 Dr. Strange looked at the strange space he had traveled to warily.  *What
place is this?  It reeks of evil!  Was I too haste?   Should I have read the
scroll more carefully - -?*  He moved forward, through the wisps of mist,
and paused as he approached a series of great green pillars stretching into
the heights and the depths.  *Columns of Masks!  The most lifelike I have
ever seen!  But, who fashioned them?  And, for what purpose??*  Passing the
columns, he looked further, and saw a man sized gold tinted circle, upon
which a human like figure was shackled hand and foot.  *Shackled and
Blindfolded*, he thought as he came closer and saw the gray metallic band
covering the prisoners eyes.
 "I hear the sound of another living being!" the prisoner said in a voice
full of wonder.  "Can it be a rescuer??  Am I to be saved at last?"
 "I shall help you if I can!  Who did this to you?"
 "No!  I do not believe you!  It is another trick!  The demon is toying with
me again!"  The prisoner paused a moment.  "If you are not the demon, remove
my mask and let me gaze upon you - -!"
 Dr. Strange floated to the prisoner.  "You have nothing to fear from me!  I
shall show you - -!"
 "Then it's true?  I am about to be saved??  Quickly, Quickly - - Let me see
thy face!!"
 Dr. Strange lifted the mask from the prisoners face, then recoiled back
from the green radiance pouring from his eyes.
 "Hah!  I have trapped another victim!!  Once anything that lives gazes into
my enchanted eyes, I become it's master!!  - - While you - - You become
another living trophy to be added to my occult collection!"
 Strange felt the power tear through him, then suddenly it ceased.  And as
he looked at the demon in his own mystic attire, he realized he was now
shackled as it had seemed moments ago.
 "See how easily I cause you to exchange places with me!  That is the price
all must pay when they enter my netherworld of doom!"  Raising his hands, he
formed a green light into a more physical form.  "Only by looking into my
eyes once more can you break the spell!"  With a quick motion he placed the
green substance he had created onto Dr. Strange's face, watching it spread
to cover the whole head.  "But I shall see to it that you never get the
chance!"
 *It is the ultimate trap!!  I can utter no spell - - I cannot use my
hands - - Even my ectoplasmic form is unable to leave my body!!*
 "Within minutes your mask will be complete - - and I shall add it to my
magnificent collection of victims!!"
 *Only my brain is still free - - My brain which can still control one
thing!*
 As the demon looked gloating at his victim, he suddenly felt a fierce jerk
at the shoulders throwing him into a spin.  As he looked for a culprit, Dr.
Strange's cloak of levitation, lashed out and wrapped itself around him.
"This is madness!!  The cloak is alive!"
 Beneath the increasingly well formed mask Dr. Strange would have smiled if
he could have moved his lips.  *Not alive - - It is merely subject to my
control.  And if I can maintain control long enough - -!*
 The demon tried to pull himself free of the increasingly tight
straightjacket like grip of the cloak of levitation.  "I can't fight it!!
It's everywhere!"   *This must be his work!  He's stronger than I thought!
I'll have to free him to save myself!*  Fighting the cloaks grip, he reached
out, and tore the masks from Dr. Strange's face.  *He wouldn�t suspect that
I still have a way to defeat him!*
 Dr. Strange took a breath of air.  *Another few seconds would have been too
late!*  Gathering his control of the cloak, he jerked the demons head up to
right in front of him, and the cloak peeled back from his eyes.  "And now
that I have broken your spell, I command you to release me!"
 Feeling his own mystic garb covering him again, he looked at the demon,
preparing for another attack.  "And now- -!"
 "Stop!  You are still not safe!"  Gathering his powers his opponent
gestured, and a great mist suddenly boiled from nothingness, and from the
mist began to emerge a great throng that grew every second.  "I shall set my
victims free, and they shall defeat you for me!  So long as I posses their
masks, they must obey me!  They will destroy you!"  As the multitude began
to advance on Dr. Strange, the demon laughed.  "They have been trapped here
from all ages - - From all worlds - - And now, they shall see to it that you
join their ranks!!  At him my slaves!!!"
 *They are innocent victims.  But I must protect myself!*  Dr. Strange
gathered his power, then willed his amulet to open, and focused his power
through it's mystic light.
 "In the name of the eternal Vishanti, may the light of the All seeing eye
of Agomotto send them back from whence they came!
 Begone helpless ones!  You are free!  The demon controls you no longer!"
Pausing long enough to watch the demons victims fade from the dark realm, he
turned to their captor.  "And now, thing of evil, all that remains is you!�
He opened his amulet wide, letting Agomotto�s light envelope the demon.  �I
shall bathe you in the enchanted light until your menace is ended forever!�
 His enemy tried to gather his dark power, but every spell dissolved before
the light of truth.  �NO!!  No more -- I cannot bear it!�  Desperately, he
released his connections to his realm, and what remained of the onetime
demon was cast into the infinite.
 �This world of yours is so evil, so foul, that I now understand why the
Ancient One tried to destroy all knowledge of it!�
 Gathering his strength, Dr. Strange let his amulet�s light spread across
the whole realm.  �But now, under the light of justice -- Under the rays of
the All Seeing Eye -- It can no longer endure -- And so -- It shall vanish,
to return nevermore!�  As the very reality surrounding him began to
collapse, He gathered his strength once more, to open a portal.  Tumbling
through he returned to earth.

 Some time later, Dr. Strange slipped through hidden tunnels to enter the
cave where the Ancient One was hidden.
 �Dr. Strange!�  The acolyte said, as he saw who was entering.  �The Ancient
One has been calling your name, over and over, in his coma!�
 Worry plain on his face, Dr. Strange asked, �Has he grown weaker?�
 �No � He has actually gained a bit of strength!�  He paused and looked at
Dr. Strange.  �But, what news do you have of Eternity?�
 �None!  My quest has been a failure thus far!�  Forcing the worry from his
face, Dr. Strange stepped to the Ancient one�s bedside.  �But I have learned
that the Dreaded Dormammu is aiding Mordo in his hunt for me!  So, I can
delay no longer!  I must wrest the secret of Eternity from the mind of the
Ancient One himself!  There is no other way!�
 �You -- you would dare??!�
 �I must dare -- if we are to survive!�
 Face fixed with determination, the acolyte stepped between Dr. Strange and
the Ancient One.  �NO!  You mustn�t do this!  It is too dangerous!�
 �There is no other way!  The Ancient One must be cured, and only the secret
of Eternity will save him!�
 Determination became desperation.  �But he is so weak!  If something goes
wrong � The slightest shock could be fatal!�
 �I am aware  of that, trusted one!  But do not forget the dread Dormammu
and Baron Mordo!  This is our only chance to defeat them.�
 �You are the Ancient One�s true disciple, the decision is yours along to
make.�
 �Then leave us now.  The deed must be done.

 Dr. Strange sat on the Ancient One�s bed, opening his amulet.  *I must
constantly bathe the Ancient One in the light of my amulet, to continually
provide the energy he will need for the ordeal ahead!*  From the heart of
the beam rose an eye, floating to become one with Dr. Strange�s forehead.
*Although in so doing, I make it more difficult for myself, since the amulet
�s power will help him to resist the probing of my mystic eye!*
 From his newly formed third eye, Dr. Strange focused the power of his mind.
*It is as I feared!  Already his mind creates a shield to prevent my mental
onslaught!  But I must continue my probe!*  Feeling the Ancient One�s
instinctive barrier, Dr. Strange began to feel it�s weaknesses, began to
slowly penetrate the wall around the Ancient One�s mind.
 *Wait!  He is resorting to another measure!*  As the barrier began to
buckle, something else began to take shape.  Suddenly it lashed out, a
blinding light directed at the mystic eye.  *Blinded!  The mystic eye will
be useless until the shock wears off!*  With a thought, he separated the eye
from himself and let it return to the amulet.  *But I must reach into his
brain!  I cannot be turned back now!*
 *Telepathy may yet succeed. . .!*  Gathering his will, he began to project
his thoughts to the ancient one  �Hear my words, venerable Ancient One!
Hear the words of thy disciple Doctor Strange. . .!  You must not resist me!
You must tell me of Eternity!�  *Still no response. . .*
 Suddenly a dense fog flooded into his mind.  *A Mindtrap!  He does hear me,
but he does not believe!*  The numbing force swirled tighter and tighter
around Dr. Strange�s mind, trying to block out everything.  *It is like
fighting myself!  My own amulet gives him the strength to resist me -- and
yet, I dare not remove it from him for he sorely needs its energy!*
 Directing his mystic powers inward, he pushed back against the mindtrap.
For dangerous minutes he fought desperately against the choking power, then
it began to give, and finally collapse.  �My mind is free again!�
 Breathing deeply Dr. Strange slowly let his mystic powers recover.  Slowly
he gathered more strength, and let his exhaustion wash away.  Then he
decided he could wait no longer.
 �Master, your disciple entreats you -- Be not on guard against Dr. Strange.
. .!�  Again he focused his will, and pushed gently into his teachers mind.
 Power surged forth from the ancient one�s mind, lashing out to envelope Dr.
Strange again.  *This is a new mental weapon -- with a different power!*
Around him the cave began to distort and mystic forms began to solidify from
nothingness.  *It is the most dangerous one of all -- for it feeds my brain
hallucinations!  I cannot tell what is real, or what is imaginary!*
 Gathering his power, Dr. Strange fought back against the storm of images.
As his fingers grew and twisted, he grasped at his senses, seeking to
recover control.  *My only chance is to concentrate -- with every fiber of
my being -- focus my mind on the ancient one -- on nothing else!
Concentrate!  CONCENTRATE!*
 *The Ancient one. . . his bed. . . the cave walls. . .  The hallucinations
are fading!  Everything grows clearer once more.*  For a moment a smile
touched his lips.  *But the hallucinations actually helped me!*  Gathering
his strength again, Dr. Strange prepared a new tactic.  *This is the one
thing he must recognize!  I�ll send actual mental images of myself to him!*
�Venerable master, this is Dr. Strange!  See -- my words are true -- I am
Doctor Strange!�
 Sweat trickling down his face Dr. Strange poured his energy into the
imagery he was offering his master.
 Then the ancient one�s mind reacted again, power pouring forth into Dr.
Strange�s mind.
 *At Last!  He�s probing me -- measuring my features -- testing to see if I
really am the one I claim to be!*  Looking inward, Dr. Strange deliberately
dropped his every mental defense.  *Now it is my turn to have trust in him!*
 {Thou are truly my trusted disciple!  I greet thee, Dr. Strange}
 {Master!  The Hosts of Hoggoth be praised!  I have reached thee at last!}
 {Your Ordeal -- Your thoughts -- Everything that has happened, are all
clear them, for I have seen them in thy brain, my son!}
 {You have fought valiantly and well against The Dread Dormammu and his
treacherous cats-paw, Mordo!  You have put my inner mind at rest!  It is
good!} The Ancient One�s lips shifted into a sight smile.  {And Now, I shall
reveal to you the secret of how to contact Eternity!  Let your mind go
limp -- I shall fill it with secrets the like of which you have never
dreamed!}

 Dr. Strange floated through the mountains, looking for a deserted place
where he could cast the spell.  Seeing a deserted mountain peak, he landed
and gathered his strength again.  Drawing on the knowledge implanted in his
mind, he began to recite the ancient spell.  As the ancient words
reverberated from him, the dark clouds gathered across the sky.  The wind
picked lashing at his cloak.  As the world reacted to the power arising
within it, Dr. Strange continued the spell, on to it�s conclusion.
 �By the Shades of the Seraphim let all that I have commanded come to
 pass!!�
The amulet on his neck opened, allowing the light of The Eye of Aggamatto
within to pour into the world.  He channeled his mystical power as he had so
recently learned and the amulet came away from him and began to grow.
Turning it opened revealing a great vortex.  With one step Dr. Strange
entered the gateway.  Seconds later the giant amulet faded into nothing.
 Like  a thunderbolt a great sphere of light descended to the spot Dr.
Strange had just left.  As it touched the ground, it reshaped and solidified
into Mordo.  �GONE!  I am one microsecond too late!!�


 <<<Dr. Strange and ETERNITY>>>


 From the hole bored from the center of reality, Dr. Strange floated back
into our world.  �What did Eternity mean?�  He thought to himself.  Putting
his doubts aside, he floated back to the hidden cave.
 *Something�s wrong!*  Dr. Strange quickened his pace through the rooms.
�Ancient One!�  Before him lay his master�s straw pallet, empty.  �He has
been found!�  Extending his senses, he moved to the single living being who
stood against a wall in an adjacent room.  The acolyte was immobile, frozen
in a shocked posture, his eyes staring straight ahead.
 �Entranced.�  With a quick exertion of his mystic power, Dr. Strange
banished the magic paralization gripping the Ancient One�s servant.  He
sagged back against the wall, closing his eyes and shaking his head with a
quiet moan.  �Ah, you return to normal.  Good. . .�
 Feeling dark power behind him, Dr. Strange pivoted to look.  A trio of
wraiths floated through the floor, one coming to a halt, and raising a hand
to point toward the cave�s entrance.  �Mordo�s  Spirits!  I should have
known!�
 �It was Mordo!�  The acolyte said weakly.  �I could not stop him!  I would
have given my life, but . . .�
 �Do not reproach yourself, faithful one, the mission is now mine.�  Turning
Dr. Strange walked to the cave�s entrance, and floated out, following the
wraith who had gestured.  The other wraiths flew beside and behind him as he
traveled through the mountains.

 Mordo smiled, clenching a fist in happiness.  �He�s coming, Dormammu!  We�
ve beaten Strange at last!  The prize is ours!�
 From the dimensional gateway Dormammu�s voice rang, �The prize is mine!
You are merely my agent, earthling!  Remember that always!�
 Mordo turned to look at his one time master.  �What of the Ancient One?  He
is of no use to us!  Let us destroy him before he recovers his powers!�
 �NO!  If Dr. Strange truly found Eternity, I must make him reveal what he
learned!  And only by threatening the life of his aged master can we force
him to tell what we demand!�  Dormammu�s power erupted from the portal to
envelope the Ancient One, who faded to nothingness.  �Within this Time Trap
he will be invisible to the probing amulet of Dr. Strange.
 �At last the victory I crave is almost within my grasp!�  In the Dark
Dimension, Dormammu turned to look at his prisoner.  �And I have not
forgotten you, traitorous one!  You who tried to aid my enemy!  Before you
pay the awesome penalty, you shall witness the total and everlasting defeat
of the one you vainly attempted to help!�

 Dr. Strange entered the great chamber, passing between the ornately
decorated columns.  �Take me to the Ancient One!  If he has been harmed,
then I swear by the Shades of the Seraphim. . .!�
 �Silence, defeated one!�  Mordo  responded, his hands confidently folded
before his chest.  �It is we who give the orders here!  You have played your
final gambit. . . the game is lost!�
 Dormammu looked through the portal directly at Dr. Strange.  �We meet
again, mortal!  And this time, you shall not escape Dormammu!  It is I who
am the power!  It is you who are the prey!
 �Now speak!  What powers has Eternity given you?  I must know!  And hark
you well sorcerer, I can sense when a human speaks not the truth!�
 Face still determined, Dr. Strange responded, �Then you must surely sense
that Eternity has given me nothing!�
 Mordo turned to the portal.  �He dares lie to us, Dormammu!  He must be
punished!�
 �No Mordo!�  Dormammu�s voice vibrated with satisfaction.  �His words have
the ring of truth!  His journey to Eternity was in vain!�
 �Ahhh!  Then indeed we have nothing to fear from him!  His lone power
cannot begin to match ours!�
 A small exertion of Dormammu�s power pulled the Ancient one back into
reality.  �There!  I have brought forth the Ancient One!�  More power flowed
into the Ancient One.  �Now, I shall restore his health so that he may
witness his disciples defeat!�
 Mordo smiled.  �At last!  The triumphant moment I have awaited these many
years!�
 Dr. Strange rushed to the Ancient one�s side.  �Master!  You must not
despair!  No matter what befalls, I shall fight on while a single breath yet
remains to me!�
 The Ancient One weakly stirred.  �I knew you would come. . .�  He breathed
deeply and pulled himself from his slump into a sitting position.  �Though
my flesh is weak, my brain is cleared at last!  Together we shall yet
overcome those who would destroy humanity!�
 �Alas, we face a far stronger foe!  Though I wearied myself in the search
for Eternity, I returned empty Handed!  Eternity gave me no powers to make
me the equal of Dormammu!�
 A look of determination formed on the Ancient One�s face.  �No matter!  The
final chapter is not yet written!  There are forces at work which even you
cannot yet fathom!
 �You must fight on!�
 �You have talked enough!�  Dormammu proclaimed.  �I grow hungry for the
taste of Victory!
 �Though I be in a far distant dimension, Mordo shall battle for me -- with
the awesome power that only Dormammu  can give him!  It shall be as though I
myself have scored the ultimate triumph!�
 A smug smile on his face, Mordo stepped forward.  �Then let the combat
begin!�
 Doctor Strange turned and looked his long time adversary in the eye.
�Mordo, thou master of treachery -- I stand ready!�

 Mordo began to shape the river of power flowing into him from Dormammu.  He
smiled cruelly.  �So long as you  endured, my mystic power could  never be
supreme!�
 Dr. Strange gathered his mystic strength.  He felt the Ancient One�s power
flowing to augment his own strength.  *But we both know full well that it is
nothing to the power Mordo is receiving from the Dread Dormammu!*  He
recalled his master�s last advice.  �You and Mordo were both my students,
you match each other in knowledge.  So where Mordo wields power, you must
wield wisdom.�
 Mordo let the power build slowly in his hands.  �Now.  Once I have
destroyed you, all of mankind shall call Mordo Master!�
 Dormammu�s voice reverberated from the portal.  �Waste not your energy on
words!  Let the deed be done!  The time for gloating comes after the
victory!  Attack, Mordo -- ATTACK!�
 Mordo released the destructive power he had gathered in two simulations
blasts, their power pouring forth and deflecting off Dr. Strange�s shield.
*I must confine myself to defense at first, while I study his battle plan
and watch for an opening.*  Dr. Strange thought.
 Mordo quickly amplified the power he was building, from a trickle to a
torrent of devastation.  �Your strategy is crystal clear to me, Strange!
But defensive tactics along cannot save you!  Sooner or later, your guard
will be down!�  *I can afford to be reckless!  With Dormammu behind me, my
power is virtually inexhaustible!*
 Dr. Strange backed away, reinforcing his failing shields.  *Dormammu is
growing impatient!  He begins to increase Mordo�s power!  I can feel it!*
He felt his defense beginning to buckle.  *This move calls for the most
perfect Timing. . .!*  He dropped his shields, and folded space to redirect
Mordo�s converging attacks.
 *May Raggadore smite him!!!  He deflected my twin spells, causing them to
collide harmlessly above him!*  �Clever stunts cannot save you, Strange!
Time is on my side!  While you grow weaker, Dormammu makes me stronger with
each passing second!�  Gathering his power he wove a new attack.
 *He speaks the truth!  Yet I dare not falter*  �Base Braggart!�  Feeling
the spell Mordo was crafting, he prepared his own countermeasure. With both
hands upraised, he deflected the oncoming cylinder of black lightning in all
directions.  �See how easily I split your spell with the smallest fraction
of my power!�
 Mordo struck again.  �More power Dormammu!  More -- More --  MORE!  I shall
keep attacking until his words can mock me no longer!�
 *He attacks too quickly!*  Digging deeper and deeper into his reserves of
strength, Dr. Strange stagger back as he formed more and more shields to
hold back Mordo�s ever more overwhelming assault.  *Is there no limit to the
power of Dormammu??*

 Mordo advanced, attacking harder, a smile growing on his face as he watched
Dr. Strange�s defenses crumble, watched his rival stagger backward.
 �You Stagger him Mordo!�  Dormammu declared.  �He cannot endure much more!
I am the explosive!  You are the Fuse!  Together we can never fail!�
 �If only this supreme moment could last forever!�

 *Only seconds before my remaining defenses are hopelessly shattered!  Now
is the time to make my move!  While he is most confident, most
unsuspecting!*  Diverting a trickle of power from his shields, Dr. Strange
formed another spell.  *My scheme is so obvious, his sheer over-confidence
may prevent him from suspecting it!  THERE!  The spell has gotten through
without him even noticing!*

 Mordo�s attack faltered, and his eyes widened in shock.  He looked at Dr.
Strange, and beside him at, �Your spirit separates from your physical form!
But -- you control them both at once!  You lied to us!  Only Eternity could
have given you that power!�
 Dr. Strange smiled.  �If you say so, evil one!�  He casually straightened
his stance.
 �You dare to laugh!  Then you have been merely toying with me till now!�
Mordo�s eyes flickered from Dr. Strange to the spirit he saw beside him,
unsure which to look at.  �But, if Eternity showed you how to make two
selves out of one identity, then you are now TWICE as powerful!�  Taking a
step backward he gathered his mystic power again.  �And, how do I know how
many more Dr. Stranges you may yet create??!!�  He unleashed a pair of
mystic blasts against both of the enemies he could see.
 �Alas, I fear you shall never know!�  Dr. Strange smiled as he saw his much
weaker shield deflect Mordo�s attack.  *So far so good!  He is confused --
frightened!  And each passing second allows me to renew my strength!*
 *I - I do not know which one to strike at first!*  Mordo continued to
attack, his strikes weakened by the division of attention and his sudden
loss of confidence.

 In the Dark Dimension, Dormammu�s rage burned as he saw the sudden change
in the fight.  �Has Mordo gone mad??  He wastes his power by striking at
empty air!�
 �Help me, Dormammu!  I need power, still more power!�  Mordo cried
desperately.
 �Bumbling fool!  You posses power to spare!  Finish him off NOW!  I command
you!�
 �But how can I battle two of them!  They are everywhere at once!  The
advantage is theirs!�
 Dormammu focused his mystic senses through the portal, and realized what
was happening.  �Ignore the floating figure, Mordo!  Strike at the one who
stands and gloats!  Only he is your enemy!�
 Strange narrowed his eyes.  *I could not deceive Dormammu!  But still I
gained precious time!*
 Mordo looked to the portal.  �Dormammu, I don not comprehend!  Why should I
strike at only one?  Have you switched allegiance?  Do you now desire my
defeat??!�
 �WEAK-WILLED FOOL!  I shall open your cowardly eyes!�  with a thought
Dormammu wove a spell and directed it through the portal.
 Mordo staggered back, as Dormammu�s magic washed over him.  �The floating
figure begins to fade into nothingness!  It vanishes before my eyes!�
 �It never existed!�  Dormammu declared angrily.  �It was created by a
spell, and destroyed by a greater spell!  Dormammu�s Spell!!�

 �Well done.�  The ancient one said.  �But the fight is not yet done.

 �Fooled.  By such a simple ruse!  Only the most crushing defeat can wipe
away that affront!!�  Mordo screamed, gathering all the power he had.
�Nothing that lives can halt my attack now!!�  He released a ferocious
barrage of powerful spells.  �Not until I witness your complete and
everlasting annihilation!�
 Dr. Strange frantically avoided Mordo�s assault.  *His raging fury makes
him strike blindly, without plan, without reason!  If I can parry his
thrusts long enough. . .!*  Seeing a stroke of black lightning that he
couldn�t dodge, Dr. Strange quickly invested power to form a series of
shields, which barely stopped the attack.  *My chance is certain to come!
Sooner or later, he must make a fatal mistake -- leave a careless opening
for me. . .!*
 Dr. Strange retreated another step.  *There!  His rage has caused him to
lower his guard!*  Diverting part of his power, he fired a quick strike at
the weak point in Mordo�s defenses.  *Though my blows cannot equal the force
of his, still they can sting him!*
 �So!  At last you strike back!  But you are far too late!�  He let Dormammu
�s power flow through him, burning away the pain of the hit, as it fueled an
even more ferocious strike.  �As Dormammu is my witness, I�ll Smash you!�
 Dr. Strange struck again, then once more while dodging a blast which
smashed through his desperate shield.  *Mordo has thrown all caution to the
wind!  He strikes in blind fury now, allowing my more careful attack to
score again and again!*
 Dr. Strange saw Mordo�s defenses fade from neglect;  He felt a shift in
Mordo�s power, as the damage began to impede the power he was channeling.
 Mordo paused, all his effort intent on forming his most devastating spell.
 *Now is the moment!*  He released all his defensive spells, and channeled
all his strength into a single beam striking into the mystic center of Mordo
�s body.
 Mordo�s forming attack came apart as he felt the pain explode within him.
He drew on Dormammu�s might, forcing it to flow, forcing his desperately
protesting body to channel it.  �Dormammu!  Do not fail me now!  I must have
still more power!�  He directed some of his power into reforming his
defenses.
 Suddenly the power flowing through the portal  slowed from a torrent to a
trickle.  �Why do you not aid me?�  Mordo asked, panic in his voice.  �Do I
not fight your fight Dormammu??�
 �SILENCE!�  Dormammu thundered from the portal.  �You are not worthy of
uttering those words!  You have been out-fought from the beginning!�  The
gate began to glow, burning brighter each second.
 �Dormammu!  Wha- What does this mean??!�  Mordo gasped.
 Dr. Strange looked at the portal.  *He is done with taking merely a passive
stand!  Now he himself will strike!*

 And then, there is a blinding light, which seems to swallow up all that it
touches, and no more is heard -- Save the chilling cackle of DORMAMMU!


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