THE WAR OF ORDER AND CHAOS

Part Five: The Virus of the Spring

the 75^th tale of agc

written and created by Mark Bousquet

2201 / DECEMBER

CHRONOPOLIS

"Hello, Doom."

"Franklin." Pause. "You have decided to shed the little boy disguise," Doom remarked, noting the blue-and-white armor and the middle-aged King that now stood before him.

Franklin Richards smiled. "Does that surprise you?"

"Nothing surprises Doom. Not even that there is very little of your father in your face or demeanor." Pause. "There is much of your grandfather Nathaniel, however."

Franklin didn't rise to Doom's bait. "You will be surprised to know why I am here."

Beneath his mask Doom did not grant Franklin the benefit of a smile. "Doom knows all." Turning his back to the King of the New Pantheon, Doom punched at his keypad. A monitor above him that had been showing Ikaris smashing through the tops of buildings on Hala changed to show an Angelux lieutenant named Attumidunn pushing a large, electronic orb off of a makeshift sled and into the orange soil of Skrullos 2. Doom didn't need to turn to see the look of agitated surprise on Franklin's face. "You desire to borrow one of these," Doom said, now turning slowly. "For Asgard."

"I am going to enjoy killing you."

This time, Doom did smile. "The only person you have ever successfully killed, boy, is yourself. Any who would commit suicide is naturally a coward, and all cowards are beneath the concern of Doom."

"I could kill you now."

"Then who would defeat the Alliance?" Doom asked. "You know you cannot do it alone."

Franklin's hands clenched into fists and his face contorted in anger but he forced himself to control his emotions. "Will you give me one of the Virus Bombs or not?"

"I will give you two," Doom replied, "and teach you how to use it, since you have no idea exactly what the Virus Bombs will do. Should we shake hands on our alliance?"

"Go to hell, Doom," Franklin spat, turning on his heel and exiting the room with a flourish.

Doom watched him go, wondering why Kang was late in reporting. The Alliance was hours away from being broken; Kang should be here to bear it witness.

HALA - CENTRAL COMMAND

General Van'Rogg kicked at a swivel chair that someone had let run across his path. The room was rectangular, five times as long as it was wide and full of frantic, but purposeful, activity.

"Do not let your anger cloud your ability to serve the Kree people, General."

Van'Rogg didn't bother turning around or responding to the Supreme Intelligence. "Units 25, 43, and 67 move to the eastern wall! Ochken and his damnable separatists have returned!" A frown came to the face of the Kree's highest ranking military commander. Mephisto and the Earth demons came from the west. Ikaris and the Eternals attack from above - there were reports coming in from across the city that Eternals had taken many of the highest-ranking members of Kree society hostage. Other reports said the Eternals simply slaughtered them. To the east came Ochken's Republic separatists, moving quickly and efficiently through the city. And out in space, the Army of Doom's warships were engaging the Shipyard Defense System, stopping Van'Rogg from bringing in reinforcements from space. "Ochken knows too much!" Van'Rogg spat, slamming his fist into the wall.

The General turned on a young communications technician. "Have you received word yet from Asgard? Where's the assistance we asked for?"

"It will not come," the Supreme Intelligence answered from behind him. "They are under attack as well."

"What?" Van'Rogg asked, turning around. "Doom is attacking Asgard, too?"

"No," the Supremor replied. "Asgard is under attack by Franklin Richards. Kovar has been captured. We are on our own."

It took a moment for the name to mean anything to Van'Rogg. "Oh, hell." And then it did.

Van'Rogg began to wonder if this wasn't, in fact, the end of the line for the Alliance. He was in the midst of wondering why, on one surveillance screen, Hela was stabbing Set in the back when a second later everything got worse.

A massive explosion, sending many Kree to the floor, rocked the room. Alarms began to ring throughout the capitol building as a second explosion hammered the room and pieces of the ceiling began to fall on them.

"Report!" Van'Rogg yelled, looking around at his technicians for answers. When none came - most of them were too busy picking themselves up off the still shaking floor - Van'Rogg stepped forward and brought the internal security feeds up onto the monitors before them, searching for an answer. The sight that met their eyes sent chills down the spines of some of the most senior military officers in the entire Kree military.

Van'Rogg, too much the career soldier to panic, noted with dread the beings that now walked the halls of the Kree capitol.

Pluto and the Olympian gods were coming for them.

ASGARD - PLAINS OF IDA

Eshir Maximoff and K'Zan moved quickly across the Plains of Ida, headed for the city of Asgard with Sigurd Thorson, the son of Thor and Persephone, carried along by K'Zan. To their left stood the Forest of Earth, and Eshir couldn't help but glance in that direction, wondering if Dani and Ben had made it back, or if the Fenris Wolf had left Amora's basement, and now stalked the woods, looking for prey.

"P-p-please slow d-down!" Sigurd said, blinking his eyes against the wind. Above him, K'Zan frowned. They had been uneasy with Sigurd since Persephone had brought him forward. That he was Thor's son was not in doubt - the boy, aged 15 years, was tall and strong for his age, but while he looked like a warrior, he didn't act like one. He hadn't wanted to leave his mother, but that wasn't unusual, K'Zan and Esh had decided, since the boy had never known anyone but his mother. Being raised in secret in solitude on the ice sheets of Jotunheim was not an easy life.

It didn't help that neither Sigurd nor Persephone would tell them what this weapon was that Sigurd was supposed to lead them to. But, Eshir noted, they didn't really have to - Thor's son, a secret, powerful weapon that Dani thought could win them the day … there was really only once answer.

Mjolnir.

"We hid many things in plain sight in those days," Persephone had told him before they left.

They slowed their pace slightly, in part to protect Sigurd, and in part because Eshir caught sight of nearly 200 Rainbow Brigade troops moving quickly towards the Forest of Earth were being chased by a handful of trolls.

Motioning to K'Zan to keep going with Sigurd, Eshir arced off to the left, quickly soaring above the Rainbow Brigade. Stopping in mid-air above them, Eshir sent magnetic waves rolling towards the trolls, halting their movement and allowing the back end of the column to move to the safety of the woods.

Looking down, he saw a woman with short red-orange hair give him a short wave of thanks.

CHANDILAR - THE SHI'AR SENATE

Majestrix Deathcry began to wonder if they would win this day.

She stood next to the wheelchair bound Gladiator in the Shi'ar Senate, watching the ceiling monitor. Set's snake army had risen from the sewers and was busy creating havoc throughout the city streets. Above the city, the Angelux tore across the sky, hitting the defenses hard and fast, nullifying much of the city's chances to protect itself. The newest attack came from the undead of Niffleheim, led by the Norse goddess of Hel, Hela.

Around them the Shi'ar Senate watched in horror. Deathcry had never been as disgusted with them as she was at this moment. They cowered in their seats in fear, occasionally screaming insults and accusations at Deathcry and Gladiator. They had wondered aloud about their own safety, yet none of them had asked about their own individual homeworlds.

'Pathetic,' Deathcry thought to herself, nearly shaking with rage.

The tense fear in the room now erupted into full-blown panic as an explosion rocked the Senate building. Many were dropped to the floor and several scrambled to their feet and, concerned only with themselves, began to run towards the exit.

A second, then third explosion rocked the Senate and Deathcy leaned over Gladiator to protect the ancient Imperial Guardsman from falling bits of debris.

The Senators who tried to flee were stopped in their tracks as a horde of Earth demons appeared in all the doorways, shoving them back inside.

"Hear me, Shi'ar."

All non-demonic eyes in the room looked upward to the ceiling, and found that the images of the attack on Chandilar were now replaced by the image of Doom.

"Pay attention, Majestrix," a voice came from behind Deathcry and Gladiator.

"Daimon Hellstrom," Deathcry spit out the poisonous words as she saw the elder magician walking down the platform to stand within ten feet of them.

"In the flesh," he grinned, winking at her. "Now look above you, Doom has an offer to make."

HALA - CENTRAL COMMAND

Van'Rogg clutched his side. Broken rib. Maybe two, he thought.

Rising gingerly to his feet, he was met by the smug look of Pluto, the King of the Olympians. "I trust thee will not attack me again, General?"

Van'Rogg said nothing as Pluto ordered the Supreme Intelligence to look to the large monitors at the front of the room. Turning, Van'Rogg was only half-surprised to see the face of Doom staring back at them.

"Hear me, Shi'ar," Doom ordered.

"Pay attention, Supremor," Pluto commanded the bulbous head that floated at the rear of the room. "Your future does not need to involve your immediate death."

The Supreme Intelligence gave the Olympian a half-smile. "What makes you think, Olympian, that this is not exactly what I have wanted to happen?"

"Shove it," Van'Rogg mumbled to himself. He was tired of the Intelligence's vague proclamations and haughty attitude. Ben-Vell Parker was supposed to be the key to the future of the Kree, but where was the vaunted Cosmic Protector now? For that matter, where was Thalia, his own daughter, who he had ordered to bring Ben-Vell under her charms?

Doom continued. "Hear me, Kree. Your two homeworlds are lost to Doom. You are defeated. The Alliance is broken. The end of this Age of Existence is at an end."

On the screens beside Doom's central image, six new images - three to the right, three to the left - appeared on the screens.

"On your far left and far right, you will note two large electronic orbs sitting in orange dust," Doom explained. "They are on Skrullos 2. They are Virus Bombs. You will note among the other four images the following: On Hala, the Olympian gods Apollo and Hephaestus are delivering two Virus Bombs on opposite sides of the planet. On Chandilar, Blackheart and Hellcat are doing the same.

"Doom offers you a simple choice. Side with the Army of Doom and you will save your planet. Refuse my offer and I shall detonate the Virus Bombs.

All life on your homeworlds will then cease to exist."

ASGARD - VALKYRIOR STABLES

"We hath been expecting you, Moonstar."

Dani walked slowly into the stables, her sword drawn and leading the way. "Is that you, Cala?" she asked, her voice harsh.

"Aye," the young Valkyrie replied. "Odin the One-Eye, the rightful King of Asgard hath called for your capture."

"And you will bring me to him?" Dani asked as two more Valkyrior emerged from the shadows to face her.

Cala smiled. "I will. We will."

Dani could feel the bile in her stomach swelling to the back of her mouth. "Beta Ray Bill is your King," she said defiantly, thinking of the smoldering carcass that hung on a crucifix in front of the Hall of Peace.

"He was a blasphemer to the throne of Asgard," Cala replied.

"He was murdered."

"By Odin, the true King," Cala shot back, gritting her teeth.

Dani took a deep breath, trying to judge the situation. Cala's words were tough, but her body language wasn't so assured. "Why do this?" Dani asked. "Why simply fall in line? You are all strong-minded women. Most of you I have trained myself. You have served under me for decades. Have I ever steered you wrong? Have I ever failed to serve in the best interests of Asgard?"

Cala shuffled her feet, glancing to the side to check the Valkyrior that flanked her. "If you were serving Asgard now, you would side with us," she said, her voice shaking only slightly. "You would side with Odin. He wants what is best for Asgard."

"And what is that?" Dani asked. "What is best for Asgard? To crush the Alliance? To sever the ties we have built with the Skrulls, Shi'ar, Kree, and humans?" Cala said nothing, so Dani continued to exert pressure. "You know in your hearts this is wrong. You must, Cala. We have spent nearly two centuries as allies with the Alliance worlds. Odin himself helped forge the Alliance, and now he wants to split it apart? Why?"

Cala said hurriedly, "Because it ensures our survival. Franklin Richards has promised us a place in the next Age of Existence. This Age is doomed."

Dani was disgusted. She had assumed that this was the reason, but to hear it actually spoken aloud was nearly beyond comprehension. "You have been promised a place in the next Age? Since when have Asgardians acted as cowardly dogs, led around by a boy god master? This is wrong, Cala," she pressed her case. "If Odin's ideals are in the right, where is Thor and Balder?"

Gripping her sword handle tightly, Cala gritted her teeth. "Mayhap we are wrong, but Odin is our King - our true Asgardian King - and he hath ordered us. As the Valkyrior we are duty bound to obey." The young Valkyrie paused, then added, "As all Asgardians are duty bound to obey their King."

"You won’t take me without a fight, Cala."

"We would expect nothing less of you, Moonstar."

Though Cala's voice shook when the words were spoken, it brought Dani little comfort as three Valkyrior she trained moved to attack her.

CHRONOPOLIS - ANGELUX STABLES

Attumidunn led her winged steed into its stable, loudly ordering her assigned Skrull slave, Jakool, to clean the horse. When Jakool had joined her inside the stable - and away from the prying eyes of the other Angelux, Toomi made a point of dropping her canteen onto the ground. Jakool caught the act and nodded slightly, saying nothing. He had known since his assignment that Toomi was not interested in having a slave, and so he had kept his mouth shut and let her words roll off his back. In exchange, he was allowed to live. The former Skrullian Minister of Defense knew he had it better than any of the captured Skrulls, and so he did his best to perform the small duties she required.

Not that it made him happy, of course. Jakool spent much of the day thinking of ways to kill his "master" if the chance ever presented itself.

"Lieutenant, have you heard the news?"

Toomi removed her helmet, wiping the sweat from her aqua-green brow. "What news?" she asked as one of her Angelux rounded the corner of the stall.

"Asgard is under attack. They are saying it is about to fall! Their King has already perished!" the lower ranked (but older) Angelux said excitedly as Toomi felt the world give way under her feet. "We are gathering to watch the fall on the big screens Doom has erected next to the training grounds!"

Toomi nodded, and placed a hand against the stable wall to right herself. When she was certain the stable was empty of all but her and Jakool, she allowed herself to vomit.

How had everything gone so wrong in her world?

'No,' she thought, scolding herself. 'Not 'how had everything gone wrong?' The question is how am I going to make things right?'

Her tortured mind imagined that Ben-Vell was somewhere, at that moment, laughing at her.

ASGARD - THE DUNGEONS

"Aaaargh!" Ben-Vell Parker screamed as his body was wracked in pain, caught in the grip of a magical spell from the Asgardian sorceress Lorelei.

"Protector!" Glimmer Girl called to him. This was not working out the way Glimmer had hoped. When Ben had rescued her from Loki, he had offered to take her straight to the safety of the Forest of Earth, she had argued that they should come here, to the Dungeons, to rescue other captives. They were not here long before she realized this was possibly a deadly mistake.

The two of them fought in a dark hallway against Skurge the Executioner, Malekith the Dark Elf, and Lorelei, the younger sister of Amora the Enchantress.

Glimmer sent a dazzling cascade of energy towards Lorelei, breaking the spell. In doing so, however, she had left herself vulnerable to attack, an opportunity Malekith was all too ready to exploit. The Dark Elf fired two daggers towards Glimmer. She twisted her body hard to the right to avoid them, but one caught her across the side of her waist, drawing blood.

Behind her, Ben-Vell had already recovered, and sent a dozen quick bursts of energy hurtling towards their opponents, a move designed to buy them a few moments of time to regroup. "We've got to get out of here!" Ben yelled to her, tugging on her arm.

Glimmer didn't agree, but she didn't fight him as he pulled her backward down the underground tunnel. Glancing back, she saw the three Asgardians advancing on them, but it was a voice from in front that spoke to them.

"Thou will not go any further."

Spinning, Glimmer noted the fat Warrior Three, Volstagg, blocking the entire tunnel. He held Rebecca Almond by her hair, the limp body dragging on the floor.

"Volstagg, what are you doing?" Ben asked. This was almost too much for him; all his life spent growing up on Asgard, Volstagg had been one of the greatest friends to the Orphans. Volstagg had always been the one to cheer them up after a hard lesson had worn them down. He had raised Angelica in his house as if she had been one of his own children. "What's gotten into you?"

Volstagg shook his head, and his voice was somber. "Death hath shown us all many things, young Orphan. There was a choice put before us - fight in the Third Army for Franklin Richards or else fade to non-existence as this Age fell. A new day is coming, and we all want to be a part of it. I could not bare to see mine wife's soul fade away."

Before Ben-Vell could reply, another magical spell of Lorelei's wrapped him and Glimmer in it's grasp and within moments they fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Secure them," Lorelei ordered. "We will bring them to the field for the Coming of Franklin."

CHRONOPOLIS - DOOM ROOM

Doom stood alone, watching and waiting. A large bank of monitors stood before him. Upon them he watched the events of the Everything play out. He noted that the Asgardians were close to regaining control of their city, which meant he wouldn't have to divert his own troops to take control of that homeworld. 'It appears the Richards boy will not fail me,' he mused to himself, watching the last of his Angelux forces depart Skrullos 2.

Arguments surrounded the rulers of Chandilar and Hala as the weak-minded sought to influence Deathcry and the Supreme Intelligence to side with Doom and spare their lives. Seeing this, Doom was not surprised. It was always the way of the weak to look out for themselves first.

What had he really offered to do, after all? Destroy the homeworlds of the two largest empires in the galaxy. In terms of actual damage, removing the two homeworlds and all life upon them would only remove a fraction of each empire from existence. If these were people will strong wills, they would willingly sacrifice themselves for the greater good.

Doom knew them to not contain that level of spirit.

And so they would die.

ASGARD - THE EYE - THE TOWER OF ODIN THE ONE-EYE

"Is that really happening?"

Eshir didn't bother answering K'Zan. What was there to say? Once they had moved to the edge of the city they had come under attack by a group of Frost Giants. Unable to do much against them with Sigurd in tow, they were forced to skirt the edges of the city. Here, away from the city, there were no trolls, no giants (Frost or otherwise), and no ravens.

They were afforded an enviable position to scout the city, here atop the Odin Tower. The fighting had slowed all over the city, as the Rainbow Brigade had retreated to the Forest of Earth. Ben-Vell was supposed to have told the people trapped in all four embassies to head there as well, but as they glanced down Embassy Road, they saw little movement.

"I-I-I think I'm g-going to f-fall," Sigurd said weakly, but neither of the Orphans answered him. There was no wind this day and they had sat Sigurd in between the triangle design that sat atop the tower. He wasn't going to fall. And if he did, there was more than enough time for Esh and K'Zan to catch him. "I'm going to fall!" Sigurd said again, louder and angrier.

"We could stick you on the ground with the trolls," Eshir snapped at him, and the son of Thor was silenced.

K'Zan wanted to say something to Eshir, to scold him for using a tone he had once used on K'Zan himself, but he let it pass. There was too much else afoot to worry about bruised feelings.

Looking to the east and the center of the city of Asgard, they could make out the scene that was developing in front of the Thor Odinson Hall of Peace. At the bottom of the steps leading up to the building the burned body of Beta Ray Bill hung on a crucifix. In front of him, forced to their knees, their arms bent back behind them and encased in chains, were the Ambassadors of the Asgardian Council: Kovar the Accuser, Skrull 4, Ash'lin, Cable, and -

"They've got Dani," K'Zan said, disheartened.

"What's that on their face?" K'Zan asked, noting the metallic starfish device that was stuck to the front of their faces.

"Don't know," Eshir admitted. "But given that they are all alive, and yet none of them are struggling, I'm guessing it's got to be some kind of magical device."

"I don't understand any of this." K'Zan shook his head.

"Doesn't really matter," Eshir replied, "if we understand it or not. We've got to do something. Sigurd," Esh turned to look at the despondent youth. "Can you see the weapon you're supposed to find from here."

Sigured nodded.

"Show me," Esh ordered.

The son of Thor rose gingerly to his feet and pointed in the direction of three warriors, two goats and a hammer.

Mjolnir.

Eshir and K'Zan couldn't help but feel a thrill run through them. They had expected this, but to have those thoughts confirmed …

"Let's just go get it," K'Zan said, his body starting to shake with excitement.

Eshir shook his head. "No. We won't make it. Look at what's in between Mjolnir and us - it's an obstacle course of Frost giants, trolls, and ravens. Then if you get to the hammer you've got Thor's goats, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder, to deal with. We should- we will - wait until an opportunity presents itself bef-"

"Eshir!" K'Zan whispered hoarsely. "Look!"

The older Orphan turned back to the front grounds and realized things had gotten a whole lot worse. Skurge the Executioner, Malekith the Dark Elf, Lorelei, and Eagle One led a large group of prisoners to kneel behind the Ambassadors. Among their number was Ben-Vell and Glimmer Girl.

"This just keeps getting worse," K'Zan mumbled. "What do we do?" he asked, defeated and humbled.

"I don't- hello," Eshir said, a rush of adrenaline shooting through his body as a spacecraft came to land inside the city. It was the Raven. "I guess we find out now who Brono will fight with."

As they waited for Brono to emerge from the craft, Eshir watched Odin order Skurge and Amora and a small group of Asgardians to go to the ship, weapons drawn, and K'Zan turned to face Sigurd.

"You okay?" he asked gently.

Sigurd nodded. "I-Is that r-really O-Odin? And L-Loki? My whole life … these were the people of the stories my mother told me. To find out they are real … it is … difficult."

"Here we go," Eshir said, getting their attention as the Raven's entrance ramp opened slowly. The three young men watched expectantly as they noted two pairs of legs coming down the ramp. "She's alive!" K'Zan whispered excitedly, and they could clearly see she was a moment later as both her and Brono came into view. Their excitement quickly swung to dread, however, as they saw that Angelica's hands were bound behind her back and Brono dragged her along forcefully.

"Welcome home, Brono," Amora the Enchantress smiled. "I can see thou hast been made aware of the changes afoot."

"Aye," Brono said, his voice low and angry. "The Orphan K'Zan didst contact us in an attempt to sway me to his side."

"Odin wishes to speak to thee, whelp," Skurge said roughly.

Brono raised an eyebrow to the Executioner. "Watch thy tongue, Skurge. I will stand beside thee, but I shall not give thy words free passage."

Skurge smiled. "Well said, Norn King. Now come, and bring your prisoner to the front grounds." The huge man looked to Angelica, "That is where the body of the blasphemer king, Beta Ray Bill, smolders in death." Back to Brono, he remarked, "It is almost time."

"Time for what?" Brono asked, pulling Angelica forward.

"The Coming of Franklin," Amora grinned, sliding her arm beside Brono's and planting a lingering kiss on his ear.

HALA - CENTRAL COMMAND

Pluto stood to the side, watching the impromptu meeting of the Supreme Intelligence, General Van'Rogg, and a small group of other Kree Secretaries: State, Education, Commerce, Interspace Relations, Science and a few others. Pluto didn't care to know their ranks or names. Only their answer to Doom's offer.

"We should side with Doom!" was the most insistent reply, though, of course, the military General Van'Rogg refused to even consider the move.

And through it all, the Supreme Intelligence floated in silent contemplation. Pluto knew, as they all knew, the opinion of the Intelligence was all that mattered.

CHANDILAR - SHI'AR SENATE

Daimon Hellstrom couldn't keep the smile from his face. Chaos reigned in the Senate. "It seems your people have turned against you, Majestrix, Gladiator," he said to the two top officials of the Shi'ar government that shared the raised platform with him. "You should really listen to the masses and side with Doom."

They ignored him, but Hellstrom knew they wouldn't be able to for long.

MADNESS

Steve Rogers exited the cave that Henry Pym / Ultron used as a laboratory.

"What did he say?" Pym / Ultron asked. "Don't be surprised that I know, Captain. I wanted you to find Wonder Man."

"Why?" Steve asked.

"So that you knew the choice I had to face so long ago," Pym/Ultron answered menacingly. "Simon Williams is trapped at the back of my lab. My machines pull his ionic form apart. I intend to use his dispersed energy to fuel my Ultron army. The question, Captain, is this, are you willing to sacrifice one friend in order to gain an army that can defeat Doom? Or will you eschew my offer and attempt to defeat me and save Simon, and then find some other way to gain an army? Certainly you must have realized that I have engineered the Ultron army to work only when fueled by ionic energy. What your spying may not have discovered is that they will only run if they detect the specific traces of Simon's ionic energy." If Pym / Ultron could smile, he would have. "What will it be? Which choice will the great Captain America make?"

"The choice is not mine," Steve answered. "It is Simon's. And he wants the army."

"Excellent!" Pym / Ultron cackled.

"Think on his sacrifice, Henry," Steve said as he walked away. "Would that all of us had the strength of Simon Williams at the end."

ASGARD - THE FRONT GROUNDS

A massive ball of white and yellow light opened to the right of the Hall of Peace. All of Asgard watched as Franklin Richards emerged, arm-in-arm with Luna. Loki, standing to the side of the kneeling prisoners, noted with glee the shock and surprise that hit the faces of the prisoners at the site of the changed Franklin and the appearance of the Celestial Madonna, Luna.

Behind them came a procession of the members of the New Pantheon: Mantis, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Pumpkin King, Eros, Canticle, the Cosmic Flame, Astoria, Crystal, and the combined being Magus Warlock, which had gained the third face of Him. The face of Adam, the Soul Gem shining brightly on his forehead, faced the front. Rolling between Santa Claus and the Pumpkin King, dwarfing both of them by almost double, was a Virus Bomb. A second Virus Bomb was rolled between the Cosmic Flame and Mantis.

Leaving his Pantheon behind, Franklin moved to stand beneath the burnt, hanging body of Beta Ray Bill at the bottom of the steps leading to the front doors of the Hall of Peace. Nodding to Odin, he turned to face the prisoners. "That," he said, pointing to the large electronic ball that Santa and the Pumpkin King pushed to reside to the west of the prisoners, "is a Virus Bomb. It will destroy Asgard and all life present at the time of detonation. Magus Warlock, set the charge."

Asgard watched as Magus Warlock walked silently before the prisoners towards the Virus Bomb. Halfway along his stroll, Warlock removed the Soul Gem from Adam's forehead, and connected it to the Virus Bomb. "And now," Franklin announced, "the Virus Bomb has become an Infinity Bomb."

Franklin's voice commanded the now-still grounds. "Doom has created six Infinity Gem-enhanced Virus Bombs," he explained. "One for each of the homeworlds of the Alliance: Asgard, Chandilar, Hala, Skrullos 2, and Earth. The sixth Infinity Bomb will be detonated in the Surf.

"The Virus Bombs are designed to do one thing," Franklin continued. "They will destroy the protective Wellsprings that separate existence from the source realm of magic. The dams that hold back reality and magic will disappear, sending two realms crashing into the other.

"There is a secondary Virus Bomb placed on each world that will be detonated seconds before the Infinity Bomb. The Virus Bombs contain a virus that will contaminate the Wellsprings, poisoning both magic and reality as they come into contact with one another."

Franklin paused, letting his words sink into the minds of the prisoners Odin had captured for him.

"The end result," he said solemnly, "will be the collapse of all levels of the multiverse. Over the lifespan of this Age of Existence, magic has concentrated in five locations: each near the five homeworlds of the Alliance. When the Wellsprings of these worlds have been contaminated, and all five concentrated pools of magic have been let loose into Existence, all of reality will collapse.

"This is, quite literally, the end of Everything."

"There is a way for you to save your lives," Luna proclaimed, coming to stand beside Franklin. She met the eyes of the Ambassadors. "Simply side with Franklin, with us, against Doom. This Age of Existence is at an end," she said, showing them the palms of her hands, as if her were a magician, playing at illusions. "All that is left to decide is who survives into the next Age."

"Interesting," Loki spoke up from the back. "You ask them to join with you, against Doom, and yet it is Doom from whom you have received your Infinity and Virus Bombs. Why should they trust you?"

Franklin leveled his gaze at the god of mischief. "This is why," he said, snapping his finger. Behind him, a large hologram appeared.

This is the scene it displayed …

CHRONOPOLIS

"Give me your answer," Doom ordered, once he received the signal from Pluto and Hellstrom that their missions had been completed and all bombs were in position. "We will start with the Kree. Supreme Intelligence, will you break away from the Alliance and side with Doom? Or will you foolishly keep your allegiance to the other homeworlds and cause me to ignite the Virus Bombs?"

HALA

The Supreme Intelligence had his answer at the ready.

"The Kree Empire will do what is best for the Kree Empire, and side with the Army of Doom."

CHANDILAR

Majestrix Deathcry swore at the decision, but she refused to let it alter her decision.

"The Shi'ar Empire will never join the Army of Doom!" she shouted defiantly. The Shi'ar Senate exploded in rage and contempt.

"Then you shall die," Doom replied, not seeming to have cared which direction they chose.

"No!" Gladiator roared, forcing himself up from his wheelchair in a move that took nearly all of his energy. "We will join you!"

"Your Majestrix thinks otherwise," Hellstrom replied.

"It no longer matters what the Avenger slut thinks," Gladiator replied as he used what was left of his energy to stab Deathcry's heart with a poisoned knife.

The leader of the Shi'ar fell to one knee, her eyes asking the question for her. "Why?"

Had she turned but slightly to her right, she would have seen a lock of surprise on the face of Daimon Hellstrom.

HALA

The Kree watched the events unfold on Chandilar, and praise went up loudly for their decision.

"I have to admit," General Van'Rogg said to Pluto, his eyes noting what was happening on the screens that showed the Virus Bombs, "that Gladiator's action was about the smartest thing a person could do in a situation like this."

Pluto nodded as he clasped the General on the back. The King of the Olympians smiled as his eyes looked around the room. He never saw what happened next.

Van'Rogg reached for his blaster, and set the gun to its highest setting. Reaching for an object on his belt, Van'Rogg shoved a powdery substance down the barrel. Grabbing the blaster around that barrel, he hurled it directly into the gelatinous blob that was the Supreme Intelligence. "What?" the Supremor asked, surprised to find his body contaminated by a foreign object.

Everything in the room stopped, and all eyes turned to Van'Rogg. "In two minutes, the charge of that blaster will be at maximum. When it does it will ignite the powder I've crammed into the barrel. About thirty seconds later, it will all explode. Now, maybe someone is brave enough to reach in there and save the Supremor. But maybe you ought to note what's happening on the monitors. We've been set-up. Doom was going to kill us all no matter what we answered."

All eyes went to the monitors where they saw that Doom had already detonated the Virus Bomb on Chandilar, as well as the Virus Bombs on Hala and Skullos 2.

By the time the Kree had realized what was going on, Pluto had disappeared out one door, and Van'Rogg the other.

ASGARD - THE FRONT GROUNDS

Franklin explained what didn't need explaining. "Doom lied to them. In the time the Kree and Shi'ar debated what to do, the Army of Doom moved the Infinity and Virus Bomb into place, then readied their escape. This is why," he spoke directly to Loki, "you should side with me."

"But you do not want Doom stopped, do you, Franklin?" the god of mischief asked, drawing his green and yellow robes tighter around his body. "Not yet, anyway. You are willing to sacrifice billions of lives throughout the Everything."

"They will die anyway," Franklin replied, nonplussed.

"But you could have made an effort to save them," Loki reasoned. "Instead, you spent how many years formulating your secret plan with Luna and the Ladies of the Everything Engine?"

"What do you care?" Luna asked harshly, defending her lover. "You are a fine one to talk about such things."

"Oh," Loki faked indifference, "I don't really care. I just find it amusing how it has all played out. Don’t you find it amusing, father?"

"Still thy tongue, Loki," Odin answered. "Sacrifices must always be made."

"And better when they are made by others!" Loki clapped his hands demonstratively. "Well said!"

In the rear of the prisoners, standing beside Brono, Angelica watched the images play out on the large screen. It was like going to the ancient drive-ins, she thought, only the horror was not just on the screen, but all around you. The Infinity Gems began to glow brightly on Hala, Chandilar, and Skrullos 2, and Angelica knew that meant they had been activated.

It was time. Slipping her hands loose from their bonds, she made a mad dash in the direction of the Infinity Bomb.

"Stop her!" Odin commanded Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

"There is no need," Franklin assured the Asgardian King. "She cannot harm the Infinity Bomb."

Odin roared, stepping down off the steps to move after her. "Kill her any-huuuurk!" He looked down to find a dagger lodged in his throat. Angrily, Odin removed the blade and tossed it to the ground.

"Thou willst never harm her," a strong voice commanded. "This is the day of thine death, Odin the One-Eye. Thou must pay for the murder of King William of the Beta Ray." All eyes turned to find the origin of the voice.

Brono.

Across the city, atop the Eye, K'Zan and Eshir blinked. "I'll be damned," Eshir said, his eyes widening in surprise.

"This is our chance!" K'Zan yelled in anticipation as all eyes focused now on the stare down between Odin and Brono.

Eshir nodded. "Run interference."

K'Zan tore off the roof, aiming for the Infinity Bomb where Angelica was halted by the Pumpkin King and Santa Claus.

"Kill her!" the Pumpkin King roared to Santa Claus.

"Nah, I don't think so," Santa replied. "I really don't. In fact, since I remembered I was Hercules, I've been looking for a grand quest. I just found it," he said, looking at Angelica and remembering the days gone by when he'd delivered presents to her younger self. Hercules turned and punched the Pumpkin King in the stomach, doubling him over.

K'Zan smiled - at the pure oddity of the scene, at the result it had - but then frowned as he saw Angelica tear by the Infinity Bomb. "Angelica!" K'Zan yelled. "It's safe! Do your thing!"

No response.

Eshir zipped past him at that moment, Sigurd in his arms. "Help me, then!" he ordered. K'Zan did as he was told, following close by. Mjolnir only sat a short distance away, protected by Thor's goats (which were, K'Zan had always thought, not really goats by the biggest meanest Asgardian rams he had ever seen).

Letting Sigurd down gently, Eshir was instantly knocked to his feet by a charging Toothgrinder. K'Zan fired a blast of the power cosmic at Toothgrinder, only to be knocked down himself by Toothgnasher.

"Get to Mjolnir!" Eshir ordered Sigurd. "The way is clear!"

Sigurd watched the two battles between man and beast for a split second, then was knocked aside by Angelica Osborn. "Hey!" Sigurd shouted, figuring out what Angelica's true destination was. "That's my daddy's hammer!"

"Thine father?" Odin roared from fifty yards away, his voice rough from Brono's wound. "Thine father? That lying Olympian whore!"

Mjolnir stood unmoved by the turmoil around him. This was the spot it had landed at Thor's death, waiting for it's next wielder. Waiting for the next to come who was worthy of the power of Thor. In the early days, many had tried to lift the hammer, but none had been successful. Now, there were two more who were willing to stake their claim.

Sigurd and Angelica looked at each other, then down at Mjolnir. As if they were of one mind, they both reached for the hammer's handle at the same time …

… all of Asgard held it's breath as their hands moved closer, closer …

… contact was made …

Nothing.

Sigurd and Angelica looked down at the hammer in surprise, trying to pull it off the ground.

Nothing.

Angelica removed her hand, giving Sigurd alone a free chance.

Nothing.

Sigurd then returned the favor, giving Angelica a shot to raise Mjolnir from its resting-place.

Nothing.

Asgard exhaled in the form of laughter from Odin the One-Eye. Blood dripping from his throat, running down his clothes, Odin glared out at Angelica and Sigurd, his face contorted in laughter.

"Skurge, Malekith, Warriors Three, bring the Ambassadors to their feet," Franklin ordered. All battles had stopped with the attempt at raising Mjolnir, and he was once again in control of the field. No one quite seemed what to do, except for Santa who had moved to help Eshir and K'Zan to their feet, and so they all turned their eyes to Franklin. Behind him, storms raged across Skrullos 2, Hala, and Chandilar as the detonation of the Virus Bomb began to show its effect.

When the Ambassadors - Kovar, Ash'lin, Skrull 4, Cable, Dani moving left to right in front of Franklin - had risen, Franklin turned to Mantis. "Start the detonation sequence for the Virus Bomb. Pumpkin King, start the detonation sequence for the Infinity Bomb."

Franklin turned to the Ambassadors as his orders were fulfilled. "One chance. That is all. I will ask each of you, in turn, if you will join with me. If you say yes, you will save your life, and the lives of those trapped in your Embassy. If you refuse, you are condemning all of your kind on Asgard to death."

"In case any of you think to accept, only to betray my betrothed," Luna informed, "you will not be given the chance. You will be led from here in chains, and only freed when this Age of Existence has ended, and the next Age is due for creation."

Franklin walked across the short distance to stand before Dani. "I am afraid that the choice to save the Asgardians has already been made, Moonstar. They have decided they do not want you. You will be left here to die when the Wellsprings burst. There was some talk that you should be kept and turned into a bed slave, but I wouldn't hear of it."

From behind her starfish mask, Dani made no attempt to beg for her life.

Franklin stepped to his right, to stand before Cable. "What say you, Cable, old friend?"

Cable shook his head no. Somewhere, he believed with all his heart, humans would rise to defeat Franklin and Doom.

Franklin said nothing, though a look of anguish crossed his face for an instant, and made another step to his right. "Skrull 4?"

4's eyes were locked on the images of raging storm that sought the destruction of the new Skrullian homeworld. All that pain and death after so many years of sacrifice. No, he thought, the Skrull would not be dogs for a new master. He shook his head no.

Franklin took another step and the wind began to howl.

"What of you, Ash'lin?" Franklin asked, needing to raise his voice to compensate for the growing storm. "Surely you can see that Doom is not to be trusted. The humans and Skrulls have already rejected my offer. That means you can guarantee the Shi'ar will rise to power in the next Age, with, at worst, only the Kree to stand against you."

Ash'lin turned in her bondage to look at Kovar, wind starting to whip harshly through her hair. Hatred flashed in both eyes, but softened as the images of the destruction of their homeworlds played above them. Some bonds had grown between them over the past decade.

"Chandilar is going to be destroyed," Franklin continued, reaching forward to remove Loki's magical facemask from the Shi'ar Ambassador's face. "The Shi'ar will be looking for a new Majestrix. I will make it clear that it was you who saved your people."

Ash'lin turned back to Franklin. That was all she had ever wanted - to rule her people, to stand as the most powerful of all the Shi'ar. And yet … as she looked up into Franklin's eyes, the raging storms on Chandilar showed the nightmare half of that dream - the price she would have to pay. "You could have stopped that," she said, jerking her head to the image.

"This Age is at an end," Franklin said yet again, as if it explained rationally the genocide of countless billions.

"The Shi'ar Empire wants nothing given to it," she seethed at the human god she would forevermore blame for the destruction of Chandilar. "I stand with the Alliance."

Franklin shrugged. It truly did not matter to him what Ash'lin said or thought. "And you Kovar, will you join me?"

The Kree Accuser shook his head no.

"'Tis ironic, is it not?" Brono called from twenty yards away, the winds making it hard to hear him above their roar. "Thou art the Opposite of Thanos, Franklin Richards! He was Death, and you were Life, and yet, in the end, you were the only two beings who couldst hold the Alliance together! I beseech thee, stand with us! Join us, and help us defeat Doom! Let us save this Age of Existence!"

"Three homeworlds are on the verge of falling!" Luna cried, having to reach for Franklin to steady herself against the raging winds. "Three of the six Infinity Bombs are about to detonate! The fourth stands before us, ready to follow them in their quest to collapse reality! Only Earth and the Surf remain! That is no Everything worth saving!"

"Thou art wrong!" Brono roared. "All life is worth saving!"

"Enough!" Franklin raged. "Join you, Brono? A handful of renegades? That is what you have become. Your grand move at calling down the power of Thor failed! Twice! Do you think you can stop Doom? You can't! Come!" he raised his hands. "The Third Army departs for the safety of the Void! All who wish to live, join us! The rest of you can have your noble sacrifice!"

Franklin raised his arms and a large white-and-yellow ball of energy opened a portal into the Void at the top of the steps. The Ambassadors, still chained, watched helplessly as Franklin, the New Pantheon, and the Asgardians moved towards the stairs.

Loki turned to the hesitating Enchantress. "'Tis time, Amora." Amora nodded, but instead of moving with him towards the Void, she ran towards the Ambassadors. "Father!" Loki cried through the storm. "We are betrayed!"

Casting a spell, Amora freed the Ambassadors and dungeon prisoners from their bonds.

Odin and Franklin turned to see a small force rise to their feet, looking for a fight.

"Alliance!" Brono roared from across the field. "Attack!"

Chaos erupted a second later as the Alliance moved to attack any and all members of the Third Army.

"Ignore them!" Franklin ordered. "The Infinity Bomb will kill them for us!" Most of the Third Army continued to move up the steps, some having to struggle against the whipping winds. "Odin, order the Frost Giants to attack!"

Odin turned to look at the seven Frost Giants that still circled the city. "Kill them, Frost Giants!"

A voice, deep with age and power answered Odin's order. "They will not." Eyes turned skyward as Ymir, the Last Frost Giant, lumbered into view above the Hall of Peace. Sitting atop his shoulder was Persephone. This was why, Eshir realized, she hadn't come with them. She was going for reinforcements. Catching Sigurd out of the corner of his eye, he had to wonder if the weapon Dani meant wasn't really Ymir all along.

"Ymir!" Odin fumed, coughing up blood.

The Last Frost Giant extended his hand over the Hall of Peace and called upon the last vestiges of his power. A wall of ice dropped down from his hand, blocking the exit into the Void. "They will not fight for you, Odin, because they know you had no intention of taking them with you. They are done being your pawns." Panic set in and the Pantheon immediately went to work on the ice wall. The rest of the Third Army moved back down the steps to attack the approaching Alliance.

To the west, Sigurd and Angelica simply watched, as everything seemed to happen at once:

Kovar the Accuser attacked Skurge. Ash'lin attacked Malekith. Cable attacked Kurse. Skrull 4 wrapped his body around Ulik the troll, as he sent fireballs hurtling towards the Volstagg. Lorelei exchanged spells with Amora. Brono, after stealing a glance at Angelica, moved to meet Hogun the Grim. Ben-Vell took to the air to attack the Valkyrior. Dani Moonstar made Fandrall the Dashing her target. K'Zan and Eshir entered the fray.

And on and on. Turning to their side, Angelica and Sigurd noted that the Embassies had emptied and battles raged all along Embassy Road between the Alliance and the Asgardians. On the opposite side of the city, trolls battled against the returned Rainbow Brigade. All of Asgard was embroiled in battle and the storm raged and raged and raged, gaining intensity with each passing second.

A deep rumble of thunder shook the ground and from his place on the steps, Franklin came to the conclusion that something was wrong.

"What is it?" Luna seethed beside him.

"I think Doom has betrayed us," Franklin said, resigned to his fate. "There shouldn't be any thunder! Just wind!"

Luna slapped him across his face. "You are the most powerful being in existence! Get us out of here! We knew Doom would betray-"

Franklin's eyes went wide as he saw something that no one else saw. "Get down!" he shouted, pulling Luna to the hard steps. One second later, the real cause of the rumbling revealed itself. "It's not Doom! It's-!"

CRA-KA-THOOOOOOM!!!!

One large blast of lightning - nearly fifty meters wide - slammed into the Eye of Asgard. The aftershock knocked everyone in Asgard to the ground.

"What deviltry is this?" Odin demanded, rising to one knee.

"Look to the hammer, father," Loki sneered. "I have a gift for thee!"

Knocked to their backs, Sigurd and Angelica quickly backpedaled away from Mjolnir as the two goats began to stomp at the ground. Wind and smoke whipped wildly around the hammer, and rain began to pelt the ground.

The storm, once wild and raging, seemed to concentrate now around the hammer, with Mjolnir serving as the calm eye of the storm.

CRA-KA-THOOOM!

A second lighting strike slammed into Mjolnir itself, less intense than the first, but more blinding, causing everyone to turn their heads away and cover their eyes.

When their sight returned, this is what they saw:

Thor.

Mjolnir raised above the thunder god's head, calling the storm to the hammer.

"I say thee nay!" Thor raged. "Father! Franklin! Thy treachery is over! Thou thought me trapped! None shall hold the god of thunder from final battle! None!"

A mere fifteen feet from Thor, Sigurd and Angelica felt equal parts awe and fear.

"My son!" Odin called. "Thou must-"

"Silence!" Thor's voice boomed. "Thou hast betrayed all that is good of Asgard! For that, thou shall pay!" Twirling Mjolnir, Thor threw his hammer across the field, slamming into Odin and knocking his father back into the ice sheet of Ymir, sending a deep crack to run up the side.

Franklin was driven now by pure fear. "Thor," he mumbled to Luna. "Too much … this is too much." Raising his arms, Franklin obliterated the ice wall. "Into the Void!" Not needing the order repeated, many of the Pantheon rushed into the yellow-and-white opening.

Wheezing, choking on his own blood which splattered across his face and beard, Odin tried to force himself to his feet. He'd taken Mjolnir directly in the chest; he doubted he had a rib left unbroken.

"Where doth thou think thou art going?"

Odin looked up. Loki. Smiling, of course. Always that damnable smile. Loki knelt down and stabbed Odin's shoulder with a small dagger. "'Tis a story about children," he said, grinning angrily. "Look out at the field, father, and tell me what thou dost see. See the children, battling to live up to legacies left by parents and grandparents from the First Age of Marvels. Thou wast ever a terrible father. 'Twould seem, however, Thor and I have, at long last, found common ground."

"Enough, brother," Thor said, walking to stand above them. "Do what needs to be done."

No longer smiling, Loki unsheathed the long sword that hung at his side and held it over Odin's chest. Meeting his father's eye, Thor swung Mjolnir down onto the hilt of the sword, piercing it through Odin's heart.

Behind them, the Soul Gem began to bathe Asgard in its eerie green light. The Infinity Bomb was moments from detonating.

That meant little to a pair of brothers who had finally come together in the murder of their father.

EPILOGUE - THE VOID

The Watchers are all dead. The Everything Engine is empty.

That does mean no one watches the events of the Everything unfold.

Hidden away in the Void, the man who will fulfill a Prophecy of Grey sits and watches, waiting for his time. Doom returned, just as Jean Grey had foretold when she spoke of the Unspeakable Evil that would one day come back into Existence.

Jean also foretold of an Unspeakable Good.

Many had ignored the Prophecies. Many more had forgotten about them. In truth, few remained that placed any faith in them.

It is not always wise to ignore or forget the ramblings of a mad woman.

The Unspeakable Good exists. The Unspeakable Good watches.

Hala, Chandilar, Skrullos 2, Asgard. Four Alliance homeworlds, bonded by nearly a treaty nearly 200 years old. On each, a storm rages, carrying a deadly virus. On each, an Infinity Bomb glows, basking the homeworld, detonation at the ready.

Hala glows red as the Power Gem burns bright.

Chandilar glows yellow as the Reality Gem intensifies.

Skrullos 2 glows blue as the Mind Gem nears its breaking point.

In three blinding flashes of light … Detonation.

The Infinity Bombs exploded, shattering the Wellsprings of the homeworlds. Magic, the pure magical source that was the tool of the Creator, rushed into Existence. Upon its first touch with this realm, Doom's virus contaminated it. Instead of bringing life and wonder, the magic was infected, broken down. In turn, it infected the Existence represented by the Infinity Gems: Power, Reality, and Mind were no more.

Three homeworlds were ripped asunder, unable to comprehend the forces let loose upon their surfaces. Billions died instantly.

Within minutes, the Infinity Virus had collapsed each world down to its core. When all was infected and nothing untainted remained, the worlds exploded from the center out. Three entire planets blown apart from within their own core, sending shockwaves of red, yellow, and blue out across the Everything. Everywhere it touched, Existence collapsed.

The Unspeakable Good watched this, but said nothing. What was there to say?

When the direct blast from the infected core of each world had expanded, the power of the Infinity Gems spasmed again, this time pulling its nightmarish, destructive forces inward. In their wake, a deep, sucking, spiraling blackness collapsed all levels of the multiverse in on itself.

If Thanos had been alive to see this, he would have wept with the devastating beauty of the high art of Death.

Five minutes after the detonation of the Infinity Bombs, one-half of all Existence was gone. Only Asgard, Earth, and the Surf remained. Doom would save Earth for the penultimate detonation, the Unspeakable Good knew, because Doom hoped to transport Earth itself to the Void. That was why the orange Time Gem was reserved for Earth. That was why Earth had disappeared at the beginning of the previous decade.

The Surf - getting the purple Space Gem - would be last because Doom needed the Surf (and it's counterpart, Limbo) to move his troops.

The Unspeakable Good turned away from these thoughts to focus on Asgard. The detonation of the Soul Infinity Bomb was almost at hand.

EPILOGUE - THE FOREST OF EARTH

"Move, move, move! Push forward!"

As the vicious storm whipped through the trees and brush of the Forest of Earth, Dani Moonstar, Rosalind Gyrich, K'Zan, Ben-Vell, and Amora ushered the refugees of Asgard forward, driving them like cattle towards the Nexus. Among the number escaping: Santa Claus, the Cosmic Flame, and Canticle. Coming into a swampy clearing, the Man-Thing stood waiting. Upon seeing the first members of the Rainbow Brigade and Embassy survivors moving into the thick muck of his swamp, the Man-Thing called upon his power to bend two large trees together, forming a massive arch.

"What do we do?" someone yelled.

The Man-Thing pointed to the arch. He had opened a doorway to Earth.

Well beyond the rear of the column, four men and one woman stood in the eye of the storm, bathed in green light: Thor, Loki, Eshir, Brono, and Persephone.

"Thou must come with us!" Brono pleaded.

"Nay," Thor shook his head somberly. "'Tis not possible. The magic of mine brother wouldst not allow me to survive."

"We are tied to Asgard," Loki said, his face open and honest to Brono and Eshir. "The magic and power of Franklin Richards far exceeds mine. 'Twas only by my guile that I was able to fashion a spell to draw Thor to Mjolnir by connecting his soul to that of both Persephone and Asgard itself. When Asgard is collapsed by the detonation of the Infinity Bomb, we shall perish along with it, drawn into the eternal abyss no matter where we doth stand." Loki shook his head. "'Twas the only way."

Thor placed a hand on Brono's shoulder. "Odin and Franklin turned Valhalla into a prison, Brono. Not only the magic of Loki, but the combined magic and sacrifice of thine parents - Balder and Karnilla - didst allow Thor to return for this final battle." Thor withdrew his hand as he wrapped his other arm around the waist of a tearful Persephone. "Tell my son - our son," he corrected, turning to look into the eyes of Persephone, "that his parents love him. Tell Captain America that the god of thunder wished it were possible to stand and fight beside him one more time. Brono," he said, his voice dropping low, "it is the time for the children to accept the burden. There will be no more than a handful of Asgardians who stand with you. You hath become a King without a country, without a people. That doth not mean thou hath no one to lead."

Thor turned to Eshir. "Young Maximoff, the Orphans doth make me proud. Now begone. Take Brono to safety." Thor stepped to the side, swinging Mjolnir rapidly. "Let mine hammer show thee the path!" Thor hurled Mjolnir hard towards the Forest of Earth. "Fly, Mjolnir! The power of Thor doth live within thee! May it one day rise again in the hands of someone new!"

Eshir created a magnetic bubble around him and Brono. As they nodded their good-byes and thanks to Thor, Persephone, and Loki, Eshir looked to the Forest of Earth and in a flash, they were riding the magnetic waves towards the Man-Thing.

Within seconds they were through to Earth.

"Brother, I am proud of thee," Thor said, turning to Loki.

"Save it, brother," Loki waved his hand. "The last thing I doth wish to hear before-"

In a blinding flash of green, the Soul Infinity Bomb detonated. In minutes, Asgard was no more.

Two-thirds of the age of Existence now forever gone.

EPILOGUE - THE ANGELUX STABLES

"The master is right this way, Kang."

Toomi sat upright in her horse's stall, but kept still. Jakool was gone and the stables, she believed, had been empty. Certainly she hadn't heard anyone enter until now. Was Doom here?

Peaking through the wooden slats of her stall's door, Toomi watched as Ultron Mark-12 led the young man Kang to the stall three slots down. 'Why would Doom be waiting in an empty stall for his adopted son?' she wondered to herself.

"Doom would never wait for me in the stables!" Kang spat at the robot. "This is utter foolish- by the gods! It is not possible!"

Toomi could not see what caused Kang's eyes to widen, or for him to take several steps back.

What she could see was the blast of the laser gun that killed Doom's adopted son.

"You may come out now, Attumidunn," a strong voice called to her. "Do not be afraid - the imposter child will walk no more. You and I have the same goal - the death of Doom. You are destined to join with me."

It was Toomi's turn, then, to feel her eyes widen as her body went into shock. Kang had been right - it was not possible …but it was. Toomi was frozen in place, even her heart felt as if it had stopped, as the most ferocious man in all of time exited the stall and came into view, his purple and green armor unmistakable, his cold eyes somehow instantly finding hers through the slats of the wood.

Kang the Conqueror had come home, seeking vengeance.

THE WAR OF ORDER AND CHAOS concluded.

CRA-KA-THOOOOOOM!!!!

Y G G D R A S I L

comments to bousquet22@earthlink.net

Mark Bousquet

28 June 2003

Northern Bear Productions