Marvel: The Lost Generation Vol. 1 # 9
(four of twelve)

June 2000

Cover: John Byrne (penciller, signed); Al Milgrom (inker, signed)

Story: "Unholy War" (22 pages)

Credits: Bob Harras (editor-in-chief); Ralph Macchio (editor); Glynis Oliver (colorist); Jim Novak (letterer); Al Milgrom (inker); John Byrne (penciller, co-plotter); Roger Stern (scripter, co-plotter)

Feature Characters: The Eternal Brain, Effigy, Nightingale, Positron, Reflex, Flatiron, Pixie, Oxbow, Blackjack, The Black Fox, Mr. Justice, Princess Zafina, Dr. Cassandra Locke

Supporting Characters: Mary Carmody, Jim Fitzpatrick, Jameel, Nick Fury, Dr. Khadijah, Scimitar

Other Characters: Unnamed Halwanis, Unnamed Goverment Agents

He continues to recall being an Eternal Brain when Under-Secretary Jacob Scott appears in Carmody's home. Jim Fitzpatrick demands to know how he entered the house as the new security system was designed to admit only the two Carmody's and himself. Scott transforms himself into Jim to show how he entered the house, he continues by asking for Professor Carmody's telepathic skills.

Scott then explains to the trio that Mr. Justice of the First Line was test piloting an experimental aircraft when it was shot down over the Kingdom of Halwan. He had gone to free a trio of Diplomats and ended up getting captured as well.

Scott then lets the an unofficial grouping of First Liners into Carmody's estate. Carmody says he thought the Black Fox had retired, but the Black Fox states that he goes where he's needed. Scott says that Carmody's telepathic skills are needed to keep communication between the First Liners as satellite transmissions are unreliable due to heavy sunspot activity.

Meanwhile in Halwan, Mr. Justice is being tortured by Jameel the head torturer under the watchful eye of Princess Zafina. When Jameel says that it dishonours him by continuing to torture Mr. Justice, Princess Zafina orders him to continue torturing him until the sand runs out on the sand-timer - she picks the largest one available.

Under-Secretary Scott explains to the assembled group of heroes the plan, once he's done so he reveals that he's actually Effigy. Pixie is so excited that she runs into Reflex who's reverse-kinesis field throws her across the room. Oxbow goes to hit Reflex, but is stopped by Pixie. The Eternal Brain comments on the ages of Oxbow and Pixie and how when they first joined the First Line she appeared to be the older of the two, and now it seems to be the other way around.

In Kamilabad Nick Fury and other CIA agents attempt to free the hostages, one of the agents triggers a bomb and the building explodes. Over in the Castle of the Lion Throne, Mr. Justice meets Dr. Khadijah. Cassandra Locke timejumps into the castle just as the First Line arrive and make their move - Dr. Locke remembers something in the archives about the mission going wrong.

The Black Fox enters in style by crashing the Flying Fox into the castle and uses the false cockpit as a diversion. Nightingale catches up with Cassandra they chat until Cassandra sees other members of the First Line in action - she decides to change the future when she is caught by Scimitar.

Blackjack attacks Scimitar freeing Cassandra, but is gutted in the process. Scimitar is killed by Positron and Cassandra timejumps away into the past. Princess Zafina is captured by Oxbow and the fighting ceases, whilst The Eternal Brain telepathically informs the group that Mr. Justice has escaped.

On the way to meet Mr. Justice, Blackjack is pronounced dead by Nightingale and Princess Zafina revealed herself to be Effigy in disguise. At the Hospital, Nightingale heals Mr. Justice and the Black Fox quits.