NEW DAY FOR MIDNIGHT

There have been shocking events in the histories of Super hero teams but perhaps none more shocking for a British team than when a Crusader (seen in action with her teammates just two days before) was unveiled to the world by Tony Stark as his newest member in the Initiative program.
Years have past since that day and though many have tried no one has been able to get clear answers as to why she defected and what she feels about the members of the team that she left behind. That is until Verity Luce hooked up with the Ex-Crusader in New York this week to ask questions and get answers.
CRUSADER CHRONICLE: Its very special to be meeting you here today and id like to thank you first off for agreeing to this interview.
MIDNIGHT: Its not a problem at all, in fact its about time the truth came out, I'm sick of the bullshit, ya know?
C.C: So can we go back to that week, the one when everything changed?
M: Sure, so what do you want to know and in what order?
C.C: How did it happen? Why then? Who made contact; Stark phone you or did you phone Stark?

M: Its really not that complicate a thing. I had felt for a while that we were reacting rather than actually doing any lasting good. The bad guys would come at us and we'd thump them but then what? Well we would just wait for the next event. There was no leadership when out off the fight, no organisation, just a bleep if things went tits up! That wasn't good enough, not for me.
C.C: So Valiant didn't lead you off the field?
M: He didn't lead me i don't think, i never felt there was a mission statement or an over all goal, we were a group of people that got together to pound bad guys, and you know we did it well, but that wasn't solving the big problems, it wasn't addressing the big issues and it simply wasn't getting the job done.
C.C: So why that weekend? Was it the tunnel fighting in Birmingham that finally did it for you?
M: In a way, yes. We went into a riot situation where you have fundamentalist Islamic nutters wagging war with Fascist Nazi ares holes with powers. We know they were

on Damage, we know they were known to the authorities, but not properly to us! We were just expected to turn up and throw down, no intel, no prior warning, just wham! Their they are! Get them lapdogs! Well I'm no lapdog and i require more than a finger pointing the bad guys out!
C.C: It got nasty very quickly down there didn't it?
M: That is correct. We had N.M.A loonies throwing down with guys that could blow themselves up like that Nitro cunt that took out Stamford. Hell i went in on them as we all did and it was a war on two fronts, then a portal opens and out jump N.M.A cabinet members, people that were meant to be in the Negative Zone vault. They came out and we hammered into them and this is something that doesn't get banded around; i look around and Warwick is kicking Valiants head in! She beat his ass like he was a rug against a wall! I looking at the action, trying to do what i need to do and there she is wailing on him and he cant do anything about it. Sure he got some punches in but i am telling you that without us there to save his ass he was a dead man!
C.C: Its true that talking about Valiants defeats is a rare conversation, but then he really didn't have many. Isn't it true that in mid fight his neural connection with his twin 'Crusader' was disrupted due to Ares ripping Crusaders arm off in a fight?
M: If that's the line he wants to take then that fine, i know what i saw. I saw weakness.
C.C: Not a word most would place at his feet.
M: Well you didn't fight with him or have to put up with his womanising, self serving bullshit did you? I mean the guy loved the camera more than any of us! He would drag a cage of naked Russian Prostiues through a river of boiling acid if you told him it would make him look good!
C.C: Not the impression the rest of the world has...
M: Well, like they they say about the Nam, 'You Weren't There!'
C.C: So, you left because of disorganisation and a weak leader?
M: Yes and No, there was more to it. You look at the American Initiative project, the scope and vision and it made us look like dildos. I wanted to be able to track the N.M.A, know where they were and kick their ass before they even got to the rioting phase, I'm talking proactive, incisive action; action that the Crusaders have never appreciated. Look at what they did to Black!
C.C: Can we address that slightly later?
M: Sure.
C.C: So the riot was finished, the clear up done, the N.M.A thunderbolts under lock and key and messages sent to the Americans about the Thunderbolt (N.M.A. portal) attack. What happened next?
M: I went home, had a cry (the frustration was just crippling) and then picked up the phone. The rest is easy. I got a message to S.H.I.E.L.D, they talked to me for maybe half an hour and then sent me straight through to Stark. He talked to me about my options, i told him i wanted to part of his movement and got the first flight out. The minute i got on the plane i slept and it was the best sleep id had in months.
C.C: You didn't say goodbye to your teammates?
M: What was the point? I had made a decision that their opperating procedures were fundamentally flawed, how was i to expect them to be civil or proffessional about my decision to leave them?
C.C: Was there an anti registration element withon the Crusaders then?
M: I would say certainly there was! Some didn't want reistration, some didn't want to be told what to do by Stark which was certainly true of the more outspoken members of the team.
C.C: Who were they?
M: Caber was in for resistration but bashed Stark heavily, to me he was like a spoilt child. He didn't want the superviser coming over to tell him he was doing a shit job.
C.C: Was he?
M: No, but he was paranoid.
C.C: All other accounts of Caber make him out to be level headed and intelligent.
M:Y.W.T or You Werent There.
C.C: Ok, so how did the first meeting with Stark go?
M: Like a dream, he was organised, had vision, was driven, all the things that the Crusaders had lacked were there. I was told id need to roll up to the Initiative and complete an assesment and course and then go from there, if i did well he said he'd offer me a place on the Avengers. It did go well and i took that placed shortly afterwards.
C.C: What about the Avengers stance against the Rebels and 'Crusader'? Did you not feel guilty going against your old team in principle if not in action.
M: It didn't bother me at all.
C.C: What about Rebels very public feud with you? She called you a traitor and a fame slut.
M: I don't care what she said or says, Rebel was a whore who stripped for cash and parted her legs like a train crossing whenever the Yellow Canary was around. She has been and will always be naval lint.
C.C: Ok. So are there any members of the team you liked?
M: Maybe a few but they weren't like the Avengers, that much is certain. They didn't have the pedegree.
C.C: So what about the Invasion, has your mind been changed about the orgainistion of America post Skrull and Osbourne Reign?
M: No. True the Initiative was set up by Skrulls so they could get into every organisation, yes Osbourne was a psycho but he was also a guy that got things done. He wanted to make the world a more controlled and safer place for everyone, he just liked breaking eggs abit to much.
C.C: So you wouldnt condem Osbournes time in command?
M: Not really, he had unconventional methods but he wanted what i wanted, greater safety for the masses.
C.C: And more power to him.
M: Someone has to be in charge, i didn't see you raise your hand. Besides Y.W.T.
C.C: So what now for Midnight? Following your tenure with Osbournes Avengers in which you fought the Crusaders you seem to have no-where to go. The establishment isnt likely to want you back in America is it? Not with your backing of Osbourne?
M: Actually i have joined a special S.H.I.E.L.D detachment who are going to act as an international invention force. We have plans to make waves going after international Terrorists like Aberline and The Red Skull and Doom. We are gonna kick some ass!
C.C: Do you have any plans to return to England?
M: Only if I'm catching perps that they cant handle, so yeah, i will have to at some point I'm sure!
C.C: Thank you Midnight, its been an eye opener.

We leave and head home but in truth i cant tell you that I'm satisfied with the interview or its contents. Perhaps some questions are just better left unanswered.
Verity Luce.