Two years have passed since the war to end all wars was finished. Two years since Earths best and brightest and Mightiest heroes all fought off a horrific evil that sought to consume the entire world. Now , in the year 2011 a new threat has reared its head. One of alien and decidedly evil design. This time the world is unprepared, but even so the Earths first and best hope lies with the aging heroes known as ...The Avengers!

Avengers 2011: Invasion!

Avengers 2011 :Invasion #7

Final Curtains

By Ralph L. Angelo Jr.

The Soul Searing conclusion to The Invasion Saga!

The Avengers amphitheater beneath the West Virginia bunker (Which up until recently has served as the home of Peter Parker and family) is packed with every Avenger still alive and active. The roll call reads like a who's who of hero-dom Thor, Iron Man, War Machine, Yellow Jacket, Wasp, Nova, Darkhawk, Ms Marvel, US Agent, The Black Widow, Thunderstrike, Spider-Man, Moonstone, Photon, She-Hulk , Spider-Woman, Rage, Firebird, Cannonball, and Vixen.

Thor, Iron Man and Yellowjacket take the podium. Behind them , on a huge screen Nick Fury's image fills the hovers before them.

"Okay people," Begins Iron Man, "You all know Nick, so lets cut to the meat of the matter, Fury, it's all yours."

"Thanks Shellhead." Continues Fury. "Here's what we got people. Japan is mostly in ruins. Europe ain't much better. The Mideast was a mess followin' the War, so it's basically a barbaric mess right now. China and that region have been cut off communication-wise fer hours, so we gotta assume the worst. There's pockets of resistance worldwide, but most of the worlds armies are shattered, includin' SHIELD. These things have been droppin' out of the sky constantly, just hit and runnin' us, destroyin' our forces. The worlds down to about 15% of what its combined military power was. We never got back up ta snuff after the big one two years ago, so this hurts us even more then it woulda. Fact is, if we were fightin' at full strength, we woulda driven these yahoos out already."

"But since things were bad already, this attack just made them worse." Concludes War Machine.

"That's right Rhodes." Answers Fury. "But we think we found their Achilles heel."

On the screen, a second image joins Fury's now shrunken one, and it's an image of The Ca' Shu Bak mother ship, that quickly magnifies to pinpoint a certain area of the hull.

"What is that?" Asks Photon, quickly straightening up in her chair in concentration.

"That's their weak spot. Its a plasma exhaust port. If we blow that baby out, this war is over. The big ship goes boom, and all the smaller ones lose their leadership." Answer Fury

"How do you know that Nicholas?" Questions the Black Widow

"Easy 'Tash. We asked a couple a our POW's we captured."

"You have Ca' Shu Bak captured?" Asks Iron Man incredulously.

"Yeah Shellhead, what do you think happened to all these things after guys like you Avengers took 'em out? We got dozens of them penned up. A lot've chosen to croak themselves insteada helpin' us, but that's okay too. I ain't got no love for these things."

"None of us do, Nick." Agrees Iron Man.

Fury then continues, "We got us one problem people, like you was already briefed* we got it on the highest confidence that Cap is alive and on that ship somewhere."

*See last issue

He pauses to let that sink in, then continues.

"This is how it is Avengers, do we go ahead and destroy that ship? Or de we send a rescue team in to break Cap out, then blow that damn thing outta orbit?"

"What would Cap want us to do? Asks Darkhawk

"That ain't the question here kid."

"First off Fury, I stopped being a kid eight years ago when Thanos destroyed California, and took my family with it.* Secondly, I think we have to consider Caps wishes in this one."

*This happened prior to Avengers 2009, and was referenced in there as well.

Thor turns towards Darkhawk "Aye lad , thou doth indeed already know Captain America's choice in the matter, he would be selfless, and decide to destroy the ship with himself aboard."

"Then we have to decide to disobey what he would want, and how to go about it." Answers Darkhawk, defiantly

As one the Avengers all cheer in the affirmative. Fury smiles before answering. "I figured that would be yer answer. Okay Avengers. Lets put our noggin's tagether and make this world bug-free."

High above the gleaming blue green jewel known as Earth, a tremendous space faring vessel , one larger then all the rest in orbit, rocks with the raucous sounds of the alien invaders, as inside, a man fights for his life against one of his own!

"What did they do to her?" Thinks a bare faced Captain America, his mask hanging back on his shoulders, as he rolls to his left, avoiding a smashing tentacle from his foe "What did they do to Wanda?"

The horribly transformed Scarlet Witch laughs hideously through pointed teeth, as multiple tentacles leap from her horribly disfigured body, trying to ensnare Cap, as he leaps skywards to avoid her grasp.

"This is no good. I can keep up this pace for days, but it's going to get me nowhere, except as entertainment for them." Caps eyes scan the arena, finally settling on a gleaming disc shaped object held by one being sitting high above the rest on a crude stone-like throne. "There it is."

Cap leaps up, into a double footed flying kick, that smashes the transformed Scarlet Witch from her pseudo-pod like feet! She slides across the floor in a puddle of ooze, as Cap cringes involuntarily at her plight.

"Poor Wanda. These animals will pay for this. What they did to her... This has to end." He mentally growls.

She rights herself again, fleshy tentacles hum through the air, stretching towards her fellow Avenger, as Cap rolls once again below them, positioning himself near the throne of the ruler.

Wanda slides towards him teeth gnashing horribly as seemingly hundreds of tentacles spurt from her body to try and encircle him, But cap is to fast! He drops to the ground and kicks upwards, hurling her mass towards the thing on the throne! With a wet "PLOP" she impacts him, and both creatures, as well as a certain red, white and blue shield drop to the arena floor. Immediately Cap slides his long familiar weapon onto his arm, and as he does, he also slides his mask back into place from his shoulders.

He stands powerfully before all the Ca' Shu Bak, a man transformed. "Now lets play this out my way!" He speaks authoritively.

In answer, The Scarlet Witch waves her tentacles , and energy flies from them, to turn the floor beneath Caps feet to quicksand!

"She still has her powers!" His mind races as he quickly sinks into the deadly bog beneath him!

Gripping his shield in both hands, he jams it into the quicksand, and pulls himself forwards with it, repeating the effort again and again, until he drags himself slowly from the morass.

The Ca' Shu Bak chatter and cheer, as they expect the kill. Again the Transformed Scarlet Witch gestures her tentacles, and again energy flies towards Captain America!

Back in Avengers Bunker...

Several Quinjets ready for battle, as Thor, Iron Man, War Machine, Nova, Photon and Thunderstrike stand separately.

"Here we go guys, maybe for the last time." Speaks Iron Man grimly.

"Aye Avenger. Tis time we made our mark, and put a stop to this effrontery." Answers Thor

"Yeah, lets teach these bugs what it means to take on the Avengers." rumbles War Machine angrily.

"What about the FF, the Defenders? Alpha Flight? They all set?" Queries Nova

"Yes Nova," Answers Iron Man, "according to Fury. They're set to engage the ground forces, which have been using that damned five ship configuration thing that took out Chicago." And after a pause. "And the Vision."

"Aye Iron Man, none of us will forget the Visions sacrifice anytime soon."

Nova steps forward next to Iron Man, "Are we ready? From what Fury just said, things are getting worse by the minute."

"I know Rich." Answers Anthony Stark from within his blood red multi faceted Armageddon armor.

US Agent enters the Hangar, his face filled with grim determination, as his grey and black costume flexes around his physique as he walks towards his teammates decisively. "Fury just called again. London was just obliterated. We have to move out, now."

The surrounding heroes stand in stunned silence, each feeling in his or her own gut the constricting power of the merciless evil that encircles them all. Their faces are blank, as they each take in what was just relayed to them.

Finally, Photon speaks. "Okay Avengers. This has to end. This is our last stop. Even if we don't rescue Cap, we have to destroy that ship, and everything aboard it."

"Aye fair lady, indeed."Begins Thor, "Let us begone from here, and for one last and final time, engage our dire foes."

The remaining Avengers enter the hangar, surrounding the others. All look to the original team, in this case Thor, Iron Man, Yellow Jacket, and the Wasp.

"Say it guys." Prods Darkhawk.

And as one, almost twenty voices roar in power, and anger, as well as pain the words that shake the heavens and bring fear into the hearts of the enemy, wherever he raises his head

"Avengers Assemble!"

End chapter one

chapter two

Five Quinjets rocket into the heavens, as each ship aims towards a particular vessel in Earth orbit.

Aboard one of the Quinjets, Spider-Man approaches the Black Widow, who is seated in one of the passenger seats. "What'd Fury say the last time he called, 'Tasha?"

She looks up from the info-pad she's studying, her face betrays her age, as lines crease her eyes, and her once auburn hair shows more dye then natural color "Hhhm? Oh I am sorry Spider-Man, I did not hear you approach. Nicholas informed us that New York is under attack once more, but the Fantastic Four, as well as several other groups are engaging our foes."

"So for now at least, the situation is under control. At least that's good news." He muses aloud.

At the controls, Yellow Jacket and the Wasp watch carefully as displays change color and shape before their eyes, when suddenly a familiar voice intrudes on their silent reverie.

"Hello Avengers! I have come to fight by my comrades side, even if for the final time."

"T'Challa!" Exclaims Yellow Jacket, "You're alive! W-we hadn't heard from you since this all began. We feared the worst."

"Well I am here to join in our battle against these monsters, fellow Avengers. Let us finish this , whatever way it will end, the Avengers stand together."

Outside, the Black Panthers ship pulls up next to the Quinjet holding this team of Avengers, as they begin to break the restraints of gravity and the atmosphere together.

"Any last minute magic to pull out of your hat, like last time T'Challa?*" Asks the Winsome Wasp coyly.

*Jan refers to Avengers 2009: The war

"No Janet, just my good right arm, as well as those of my countrymen."

"What countrymen?" Asks Yellowjacket.

"Why, these old friend."

Suddenly a hundred ships appear as if from thin air around the Quinjet , shimmering into view majestically.

"They were all cloaked, incredible. " Breathes Hank Pym.

"They still have us outnumbered a thousand to one, Henry, but now we are together, and thusly, nothing can deny our might!" Proclaims the Panther regally.

"Good." Agrees Pym, "Then lets do it. Monsters like this have to be stopped, and if the Avengers aren't up to the task, then it can't be done."

All around the Earth, battles rage, as the worlds military , as well as superhuman forces band together to oust the vile invaders from their shores. In England, the Mighty Crusaders fight on valiantly to avenge London, as well as the world from these alien hordes. In Asia, Big Hero 6 fights alongside the Collective man, as well as several other Chinese heroes . In Australia, The Wild Pride, a young Australian super-hero team battles against terrible odds, side by side with their worst enemies, to defeat the alien creatures.

In the United States, an all new team of Warriors, led by an adult Speedball fight alongside other heroes in a devastated manhattan. And so it goes...

Back at the Avengers bunker, young May Parker watches as the ships fade from view. She holds a not quite two year old child in her arms. It's Jim and Monica Rhodes child. While by her side are two young children, with slightly bluish skin, and faintly pointed ears. They are Nova's children, with his deceased wife, Namorita*. Barely more then toddlers, they've already survived more then most people do in entire lifetimes. May stares at the darkening sky over the West Virginia bunker and sighs tiredly . "Come home daddy, I need you." The young girl breathes almost wordlessly. Then she turns and heads deeper into the bunker, the children holding onto her sweater, while sucking their thumbs as they walk.

*once again, see A2009: The war

At the edge of space...

Five Quinjets break the atmosphere, and continue onwards towards their targets. All five are cloaked, as are the hundred ships around them.

"Okay people,"Begins Iron Man over every ships com system, "You know the drill. The stealth team, headed by YJ , and now joined by the Panther, infiltrates the mother ship, rescues everyone they can, including Cap, and gets out. Meanwhile , the big guns attack the mother ship, drawing fire and attention, while everyone else just engages a ship and keeps it busy. Lets go to work people. I don't have to reiterate what's at stake here. Godspeed all." Iron Man's blood red, multi faceted face fades from view, as all the Avengers present gird themselves for battle.

"Here we go." Mumbles Darkhawk nervously under his breath.

"Yes, here we go indeed." Agrees the Black Widow angrily

Suddenly one Quinjet shimmers into view, breaking its cloak, directly in front of the mammoth mother ship/command vessel ! Instantly all hell breaks loose as massive armaments aboard the Ca' Shu Bak vessel immediately target and fire upon the small Quinjet, obliterating it instantly !

And then the real battle begins! As suddenly Thor, Iron Man, Thunderstrike, Nova, War Machine and Photon begin to attack the massive starship as one! Photon strikes as a powerful laser beam, slicing through the ships batteries of weaponry. Decimating it, while Thor whirls Mjolnir to impossible speeds above his head.

"Prepare thee foul usurpers, the son of Odin hath come to end thy days upon the fair Earth. Let the stars ring with our victory!"

He hurls his mystic hammer at nigh unknowable velocities! It strikes with the power to cleave mountains!

BA-Da-TROOOMM!

The ship is rocked mightily in space, as an entire section of the vessels shield system sparks and goes out!

Within the mighty ship, the Ca' Shu Bak in the arena suddenly begin to return to battle stations as claxons go off everywhere! Cap kicks the transmogrified Scarlet Witch off of him, and rolls to his feet "Wanda! Stop this! I know you're still in there, my friend, my fellow Avenger! You can beat this! Come back to us, to me Wanda. Think of the Vision, your husband. Think Wanda Maximoff, or better yet feel!"

In answer, she merely hisses at him, and strikes again with tentacles where her arms used to be.

Outside the ship, the battle rocks on! The attacking Quinjets and Wakandan fighters buzz the much larger Ca' Shu Bak vessels like angry hornets , trying to stay one step ahead of their enemies. Sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing.

Fwooomf!

"My God!"Breathes the Wasp fearfully, "Another Wakandan ship was just torn out of space."

"I know hon." Answers her husband, Yellowjacket next to her, "we have to concentrate on the big picture, Jan. We have to get into that ship. How are you feeling?* Are you sure you're up to this?"

*Jan was wounded two issues ago.

"Yes, Hank, I am. I'm a little shaky, but I can make it. I have to. There's no other choice. The world needs me, needs us to do whatever we can. Otherwise there's no tomorrow." She shakes her tired head, and grey shows through her brown hair."Look at me, we've been so busy, I haven't gotten the chance to color my hair.. Now my age is Really showing."

Yellowjacket smiles beneath his mask and puts his arm around his beloved wife. 'It doesn't matter to me if you were as bald as I am."

"You're not that bald mister." She answers almost playfully, a hint of the old wasp in her eyes.

"Don't interrupt, Janet. As I was saying, even if you had as little hair as I do, you'd still be beautiful to me. I love you Janet Pym." He reaches over and kisses her gently on the cheek.

"And I've always loved you , old man." she returns the favor and then they gird themselves once more.

Iron Man fires blast after blast at the massive Ca' Shu Bak ship, trying to draw as much attention as he can from it. They return fire immediately, but his form is to small, and to fast for their weapons to lock onto him as he zips around, to unleash a powerful pulse bolt, that rocks the ship almost as much as Thors hammer did.

Za-KROW

"Pulse bolts are drawing lots of power, time to try something else before the big weapon." He thinks to himself. Instantly, his shoulder ridges rise up, and he unleashes his proton blast! A cloud of energy enwraps the small section of the ships bow, and explodes mightily!

Ta-KROOOM!

Suddenly he's blanketed by a barrage of weaponry fire!

Fra-KOOM!

"Unnngghh! They've pinpointed me! I wasted to much time setting up the Proton blast!"

Suddenly War Machine is there! Firing a barrage of his own, targeting missiles leap from his backpack, homing in on each of the weapons that pin Tony in place in space, and just that fast, Iron Man is free!

"Thanks Jim, you saved my hash again, partner. Just like old times."

"You got it chief, just like old times is right!"

Nearby, another Quinjet adheres itself to the hull of the Ca' Shu Bak vessel.

Inside, Yellowjacket, the Wasp. Spider-Man, the Black Widow and Darkhawk stand at a lower hull hatch on the Quinjets very bottom, while nearby, one of the Wakandan ships pulls alongside the Quinjet, adhering itself to the Quinjets hull, as double doors open between the two ships, and the Black Panther joins his fellow Avengers!

"Hello my friends, let us be swift in this rescue." he states as he quickly joins their side.

"Yeah, no sweat T'Challa.." Answers Spider-Man "Glad to have you here." He continues.

"Okay people let's do it." Commands Yellowjacket.

He stands above the floor plate that has irised back inside the Quinjet, across from him is Darkhawk. "You ready?" Yellowjacket asks Darkhawk

"Yeah, lets do it." Answers the ebon hero

Both men suddenly fire energy, Darkhawk from his amulet, Yellowjacket from his hands, and the hull beneath them melts under the combined assault Instantly the Avengers team leaps through the hole, as gravity in the ship re-asserts itself on them, and they land actually on their sides, only Spider-Man, the Panther and the Black Widow land on their feet.

Yellowjacket stands immediately, helping the slightly grimacing Wasp to her feet. "You okay?" He asks her, obviously concerned.

She nods.

Hank pulls a small device out of his belt, and scans it across the area in front of the Avengers

"Lets move it then, people." Continues Hank, "I've got a bead on Caps life signs amid all these Ca' Shu Bak, Cap stands out like a beacon."

"What about any other humans? There's none here?" Asks The Black Widow.

"There are a few, Tasha. But not huge numbers, like I almost expected. There's also a strange one near Cap, almost like it's not quite human, not quite Ca' Shu Bak."

"What happened to all the captives they took?" Asks Janet Pym

"I have no idea Jan." Answers Yellowjacket

"Okay gang, we gotta move on. Time to find our friend and get the heck outta here!" starts Spider-Man, as he hangs on a nearby wall.

"You're right, lets go." Agrees Yellowjacket. "Darkhawk, you take the point. Lets do it Avengers." Both Yellowjacket and the Wasp shrink down to insect size simultaneously and race through the air..

As one they swiftly race down the corridors of the Ca' Shu Bak vessel, empty corridors greet them all the way until suddenly Yellowjacket grows back to full size and shouts "Hold up everyone, there's a large amount of human readings from behind this door."

"Okay," Says Spider-Man, as he drops from the ceiling to the floor in a crouch, "Allow me."

Spidey rams his fists into the solid steel doors at the double seam, and rips both doors outwards, shredding them like paper!

Skrruuunnnch!

"Oh... My... God... !" Stammers the Wasp at the sight, and the smell that greets her world weary senses. .

Behind the doors lie bodies, stacked to the ceiling. Dead humans. Hundreds of them.

"Th-this is horrible. Really, really horrible." Breathes Darkhawk.

"Lets get outta here."speaks Spider-Man quietly, as he pulls them all forwards, their faces grim and set determinately.

Outside the ship, the battle rages, as Nova accelerates viciously, to smash against the huge command ships forwards shield, causing it to spark brightly in space! "How long do we have to keep this up?" Shouts the human rocket into his helmet radio.

"As long as need be , Bucket head." Answers Iron Mans powerful voice.

Nova turns and watches as Iron Man streaks across the face of the huge craft, drawing its fire with his gleaming crimson form, as he fires rapidly back with repulser rays at full intensity, which merely spark across the ships hull.

Just then, a transparent holo image of Nick Fury fills Starks field of vision, and begins to speak "Things're gettin' worse shell head. These bastards are usin' that star configuration thing to wipe out whole cities now, they've stepped up their offensive big time, since you guys attacked. We got big trouble people, our forces are stretched to the breakin' point, and they're about ta pop. Atlanta's a steamin' pothole right now, and Denver's about ta follow it inta oblivion."

Stark growls beneath his face plate "Not now Fury, do your part, the Avengers will come through." He shuts down the comlink and switches back to his pulse bolts once more.

Shaaaa-KOOOM!!!

"Power drain be damned." He thinks, as he watches chunks of the ship fall off into space from his barrage. "Where's Thor?" instantly his suit scans nearby space, and pinpoints the God of Thunder with a circle and cross hairs effect.

"Thor!" Shouts Iron Man over the Avengers frequency. "I'm going in to help the others, they haven't reported back yet, and who knows what kind of trouble they're in."

The god of Thunder nods in agreement, as he fires blast after blast of lethal Asgardian anti-energy from his mighty hammer, decimating the small Ca' Shu Bak fliers that zip around him constantly, trying to draw him away from the mother ship. "Begone foul vermin, the Lord of Lightning commands!" He hurls Mjolnir with the force to shatter mountains, as it screams through the marauding fliers, practically disintegrating them with its power!

Pa-Qwooommm!

Inside the ship, a battle royal rages through its corridors, as The Avengers fight against hordes of alien usurpers!

Yellowjacket flies above them, firing blast after blast from his disrupters, dropping them in their tracks, while the Black Panther, the Black Widow and Spider-Man tear through their foes mechanically. Darkhawk flies ahead of the others, using his mighty amulet blast to clear the corridor ahead of them all ,as the Wasp uses her bio electric stings to mop up the rest.

"Are you all okay?" Asks Madame Romanoff.

"Yes Natasha. Continue onwards, my friends." Answers the Black Panther, as he leaps cat like ahead, to briskly run through the corridors. Suddenly T'Challa disappears around a corner at a full sprint, only to reappear an instant later, as burning energy blasts fill the air around his swiftly fleeing form.

"I take that as meaning we have incoming?" Quips Spider-Man from the ceiling, as the Panther runs beneath.

"This is no time for humor , web slinger." growls the Panther, as the Avengers engage their enemies.

"Hey King T , if we can't laugh now, we may never get the chance again ." Answers Spidey, as he webs several Ca' Shu Bak troopers together, and bangs their heads together with a solid ringing sound.

"We all get the point, web head." Grumbles Darkhawk, as he kicks a Ca' Shu Bak warrior through a wall.

Pang!

Flying close to the hull of the ship, Iron Man screams across its surface! "My sensors read 5 humans, and one something else ,That would be Darkhawk I think, almost directly below me. Time to join the fray inside."

Iron Man fires his Unibeam, on Laser mode, the slit eye like lens fires a fine beam, slicing a man sized hole out of the ships outer hull, which Iron Man flies through.

He speaks, triggering his com unit, "Avengers! This is Iron Man. I'm cutting through the ships hull, and will join you. Clear the hall way directly behind your position. I'm monitoring you all, and will wait until your clear."

"You heard him Avengers! Clear this hallway!" Shout Yellowjacket, as he fires his disrupter bolts in a wide spread pattern, from his miniaturized form.

Ca' Shu Bak blanket the tight hallway with their energy bolts, as the assembled team fight back, forcing their way forward.

"Leave it to me!" Shouts Darkhawk, as he charges up his amulet

Ba-ZAK!

His blast smashes the tightly packed Ca' Shu Bak away from them all, with one incredibly powerful Amulet blast!

"Wow, you pack a wallop when you want to, don't you Hawkie?" quips Spidey

"I don't get to cut loose much web head, when I finally do, I like to do it right."

"Cool deal, kid."

Suddenly the corridor behind them begins to implode with a powerful whooshing sound, as Iron Man rockets into their midst, as the atmosphere begins to suck out behind them.

"Hang on people." He begins calmly, as he fires something in a semi-liquid form from his right gauntlet, that covers the whole he just created ,and seals it, hardening immediately to an almost stone-like substance.

"Okay Avengers, I've got a read on Caps bio signs on the way in." Iron Man states

"They match these coordinates?" Asks Yellowjacket, as he grows a tracking device in his right hand, which was previously hidden in one of his belt compartments.

"Yes, Hank." Answers Stark. "We're all on the right page, lets go get him back."

The Avengers leap forwards, with Iron Man and Darkhawk leading the attack, and rescue of Captain America.

Outside, Thor and Thunderstrike stand side by side in space, spinning their mystic weapons above their heads.

"Stand thee ready Kevin, and prepare to hurl thy hammer 'pon my command." Orders the God of Thunder grimly.

"Just give the word, Thor, and I'll follow." Answers Thunderstrike.

"Aye Avenger, steady. Steady... NOW!" Roars Thor, and simultaneously both men hurl their respective weapons at the huge ship the Avengers are on, both mallets impact with a roar heard through the entire length and breath of the ship itself! Instantly the great ship heaves to one side, listing badly, as panels inside the control bridge explode, scattering the Ca' Shu Bak who man those positions.

Suddenly the Ca' Shu Bak master slides back to the control room, as the ship heaves dangerously to one side. "Stand your ground! Man your stations you puddle slime!" He roars in the Ca' Shu Bak tongue.

As he slithers into the room, he sits on a stone throne that immediately streaks upwards on a tower of molten metal to stand high above the others at the controls." Right this ship, kill these fools attacking us! If we must destroy this world instead of harvesting it, so be it! Raze this planet! I-"

"Master!" A Ca' Shu Bak at a control panel suddenly turns and screams for his masters attention! "The "T'ren Ka"! It is lost!"

"What???" Screams the Master as he stands upon his thrones platform, and the image fills the bridge before him of one of his mighty ships suddenly burning in space! Dozens of Wakandan attack ships ring the much larger, squared off vessel, raking it with powerful energy blasts, as nearby, two small figures inflict horrible damage on the ship.

In space, War Machine and Nova rake the exploding, burning ship with their powers, War Machine's pulse cannon blazes energy from its maw, as Nova fires one powerful Nova blast after another at the ship.

"Keep at it Nova, it's goin' down!" Bellows War Machine, as his rocket launcher slides into place, to expel a powerful missile, that impacts, and explodes mightily upon the bridge area.

"It's falling, War Machine!" Yells Nova, "It's falling!"

The ship drops on its side, and slowly at first, almost as in a dream, it begins to slide into the earths atmosphere, glowing with superheat as it begins to burn, quickly it becomes as unto another star, this time within the earths grasp, as comet like, it slides helplessly down, ever downward into the Atlantic, where its final explosion sends steam and water a hundred miles high!

Throughout the Wakandan ships, and through the Com links the Avengers, as well as the Warriors they fight side by side with cheer with glee!

Aboard the Ca' Shu Bak command vessel, the reaction is decidedly different.

"Never in a hundred centuries has this happened!" Howls the Master "This world will pay! All K'ontroll ships, enter this worlds atmosphere, and lay waste to this pathetic orb! Let this dead world be reminder to any and all races that those who defy the Ca' Shu Bak will die as surely as those who do not!"

As one , the attack ships, each as large as an aircraft carrier, begin to dive into the atmosphere, their guns blazing!

"No!" Howls War Machine, "We've gotta stop them! Monica, where are you babe?"

"Over here honey, hang on, I have an idea to stop these things."Answers Jim Rhodes wife

As fast as light, she pierces a dozen ships through their engines, as a powerful, cohesive laser, leaving powerful explosions in her wake!

"Monica! You okay hon?" Screams War Machine, as he races to her last position, just as she emerges, and slows to almost a stop, seemingly holding her head in pain.

War Machine quickly grabs her "Monica! You okay!?"

She nods slowly, before modulating her form to radio waves which broadcast on Jims' Avengers frequency. "Y-yes. I need a minute... To much , to fast. Gotta get my breath..."

"Relax hon, you did your best, you stopped half a dozen of them, and the rest you hit are being taken down by the rest of the team and the Wakandans."

Inside the Ca'ShuBak mother ship, the Avengers race through the corridors heading inexorably towards Captain Americas position, when suddenly.

"Wait a minute!" Stops Spider-Man short, as he slides to a halt in front of a certain doorway. "My Spider-Sense is going off like a drum machine right now. Iron man, you got a reading on Cap?"

Iron Man stands stock still for a moment, while checking his internal displays. Then..."Yes, he's right behind this door. We almost ran right past him. Damn, that was a mistake on my part. I should've been checking my sensors continuously"

"Good. " Answers Darkhawk, as he hauls off , and puts his fist through the door, and then he exerts himself, and tears it out of its sliding tracks in the wall.

Rrruunncchh!

Inside the now empty battle arena, the sight that greets the Avengers eyes stops them all in their tracks!

"Captain!" Growls The Panther, as he leaps into the room, as the others follow, they see Captain America pinned to the floor by a tentacled horror! "Get off him!" Shouts the Black Panther, as he sends a flying kick into the beasts midsection , hurling it across the floor, as he lands , cat-like, with the rest of the Avengers ready to attack as well.

"Don't hurt her!" shouts Cap hoarsely

"What???" Stammers the Wasp

"I-it's Wanda! They did this to her!" He mumbles out, as he rubs his sore throat, where her tentacles had just been.

"Leave her to me." states Iron Man flatly. "Spidey, stay with me, just in case. Hank, take Cap with you. Find the bridge. Settle this once and for all!"

"I'm alright Iron Man." Answers Cap, as he stands firmly, Let's find their so-called master , I have a bone to pick with him."

Captain America follows Yellowjacket, and the Wasp out into the corridor, followed by the Panther, Darkhawk and the Black Widow., right into a group of Ca' Shu Bak Warriors!

"We don't have time for this!" Roars Captain America, as he sends a bone crushing uppercut into a Ca'ShuBak warriors chin , while hurling his shield into another group, scattering them like bowling pins! "Every second counts."

"No kidding!" Yells Darkhawk , as he flies through a group, fists flying, hammering them with his superior strength. "We gotta move, and the bridge of this ship has gotta be two miles ahead of us."

"Just finish off these things!" Yells Yellowjacket , as he fires disrupter bolt after disrupter bolt into his foes, "I'll handle the rest"

"Then do something, my friend . Now!" Rumbles T'Challa, as he kicks another Ca'ShuBak in its face, shattering its opaque glass-like face plate.

"Yes Avengers, we must end this madness, for all the worlds sake" Shouts The Black Widow, as she kicks a Ca'ShuBak's legs out from under it, then fires her Widows bite point blank into its face!

Zaaa-RACK

The Wasp finishes things up, as she quickly grows in size underneath a Ca'ShuBak , hammering him under his chin with an uncharacteristic punch while growing!

Boom!

"Okay boys, we're done here. What do you have up your sleeve , Hank?" She asks.

"Only this, and you're right about the sleeve part, sweetheart." As he speaks , he bathes them all in a gas from his gauntlet.

"Hey!" Yells Darkhawk, as they all shrink immediately upon contact with the Pym particles released from Yellowjacket's left gauntlet , while something in his right hand seems to grow slightly.

"Rover!" Shouts the Wasp gleefully.

"Hello Janet, It is good to see you again." Answers the semi sentient ship.

The Avengers all climb aboard the small ship which immediately, under Hanks command races towards the bridge.

"You don't think they'll detect us , Hank?" Asks Cap.

"No Cap. They can't even find us as we run through their corridors. You have to remember, this has never happened to them before. They've always run roughshod through planets. They grew cocky and complacent. But they never encountered a world like ours, where people can fight back, and win!" Answer Yellowjacket, as he pulls his cowl back, revealing his receding hairline, and gray/blonde hair.

In one of the many Quinjets that buzz around the great ships, US Agent suddenly gets a video feed of a bloody Nick Fury aboard the Helicarrier "Avengers!" Growls The commander of SHIELD "This is the end of the road fer this ol' war dog. The Carrier is burnin' we took to many direct hits from one o' those things that got through yer blockade. Win this thing fer me, fer us all. Fer the world . I may be bitin' the big one, but I'm takin' these bastards down with me! Wahooooooo!"

"Fury, No! Wait !" Shouts US Agent helplessly as he pounds his screen!

But the image wavers, and suddenly they're viewing a scene from a nearby jet fighter, as it clears the area around the Helicarrier

The Helicarrier continues firing every weapon it has at the ship before it, as it begins to pick up speed, most of its weapons fire splashes against the larger space fairing vessels shields, but the Helicarrier continues on! All the while being torn apart by the space ships energy cannons!

Suddenly, those aboard the Star Spanning vessel realize what is happening, but it's to late, before they can turn the large ship in the atmosphere, the Helicarrier rams it! The explosion lights up the sky like a nuclear bomb! Both great ships disintegrate in a several mile wide ball of flame!

"Oh My God and Country." Speaks US Agent almost surreally. Over his shoulder, Moonstone stands, her breath hushed, as her right hand covers her mouth in shock. Behind her are Rage and She-Hulk, as well as Ms. Marvel

"Nick..." Breathes Ms Marvel, painfully.

"We're wasting our talents up here." Grunts US Agent angrily, "We have to get back to where we'll do the most good. I'm taking us in, back to New York. The heroes there could use our help."

No one argues, as the Quinjet drops from site, and races through heavy atmosphere back to New York City, all their hearts as heavy as their limbs feel upon re-entering Earths gravity...

Avengers Bunker...

A Siren in the bunker goes off ! And Immediately May Parker rips her jacket and jeans off, to reveal her own spider-like costume beneath. "Joey, Lisa ,You kids stay here, and watch little Ryan." The two blue skinned children of Nova nod, tears in their eyes, as May places Jim and Monica Rhodes baby into a playpen. She quickly runs through the halls of the bunker, leaping onto the walls about halfway through her run, pulling her mask over her head, her wavy hair sticking out the back like a horses mane.

In less time then it takes to tell it, she's at a monitor screen, a picture of a landing Ca'ShuBak ship fills her view.

"Great." The young girl speaks under her breath nervously.

She fires webbing from her wrist, and swings into the hall, towards the landing area. "Dad, where are you?" She wonders aloud

Aboard the Ca'ShuBak mother ship...

Iron Man and Spider-Man face the slavering horror that was the Scarlet Witch.

"Wanda, it's me, Tony." Begins Iron man, as he pulls his helmets face plate back, his gray mustache stands out on his face, as do the crows feet around his eyes. "Wanda, you're one of us. Not them. They don't belong here Wanda. You do. WE do. Come back to us."

She hisses and spits at him contemptuously, as she slithers and slides cautiously away from the two heroes.

"You're not getting through to her, I M."

"I will, Spider- Man. Just give me a minute."

"Wanda," He continues, "They killed your husband, they killed the Vision. But you can bring him back Wanda. You can bend probability and resurrect him."

She stands stunned at his proclamation, while his uni-beam leaps to life, showing a scene out of nightmare! The Vision flying upwards into the five ship configuration weapon, as it fires its devastating beam of death upon Chicago, that the Vision blocks with his diamond hard form, obliterating himself, as well as the five ships, and saving much of Chicago in the process.

"Don't let his sacrifice have been in vain, Wanda. Come back to us, please. We, the world needs you, Avenger."

She sways in place momentarily, then begins to glow from within, as her power manifests itself around her, bending probability, bending reality, as chaos magic envelops her disfigured form. And in a burst of light, she is miraculously made whole!

She stands before them once more the Scarlet Witch, but immediately she drops to her knees, almost passing out, but she fights to stay awake. "The Vision," She begins, "H-he's dead?"

"Yes Wanda, destroyed, but you can save him, and only you." Answers Stark.

"H-how Tony? How? Just tell me."

"When you feel up to it, Wanda."

"No Tony, NOW!, I have to bring him back, I have to."

Stark sighs, "Okay Wanda, I'm going to spray a fine mist from my gauntlet. Focus your power on it, and think of your husband, whole and complete. I have no guarantee for you that this will work, but your his best and only hope."

He fires the mist from his left gauntlet, and the Scarlet witch concentrates mightily, again almost passing out form her ordeal, but fighting to stay awake. At first, nothing happens, but then slowly, a form begins to coalesce out of the magical energy and powdery substance that the two Avengers release. And finally, as the Witch does indeed collapse , the Vision stands, whole once more!

"Wanda! My Wife!" He shouts emphatically, while catching her unconscious form.

"I've seen a lot of things in my years of heroing, but never anything like that." says Spider-Man in awe.

"Yes, I vacuumed up his remains, or what I could find of them when I arrived in Chicago. I don't even know why I did it, but I hypothesized her powers might be able to reconstitute him."

"I don't think it was just her powers, Iron Man, I think it was something greater still, her love." whispers Spider-Man , almost reverently.

Both men stare as the Vision hugs his slowly stirring wife.

The bridge...

Suddenly, amid the hectic crewmen, five figures appear seemingly from thin air!

"The Avengers!?! Here?" Roars the Ca'ShuBak master from his throne, in English!

It leaps and slides from its perch to attack, its great tentacles flay the air towards the assembled heroes .

"This ends here and now, you monster!" Bellows Captain America, his shield leaping from his hand like a thing alive, to cleave the air, and to smack the astonished Ca'ShuBak master from the air like a fly!

Ka-WHANG!

Nearby, the rest of the team attacks the bridge crew around them, the Black Widow firing her Widows bite again and again, The Black Panther wrapping his arms around a warriors so called head, and using his grip for leverage, kicks another Ca'ShuBak in the face, forcing the Ca'ShuBak backwards, as Darkhawk destroys a command console with his amulet blast, and Yellowjacket and the Wasp blast several other Ca'ShuBak to oblivion!

"It's over you monster!" Shouts Cap defiantly and in obvious anger. A man who has reached his boiling point , and beyond! "You've lost, get away from my world and never return, or so help me God I'll kill you all myself!"

He pummels the Ca'ShuBak master repeatedly, in a savage barrage of blows that drive the slime encrusted creature back helplessly upon its own viscuous trail!

Suddenly Iron Mans voice fills their com pins. "Avengers! We're all done here. Time to get out, and finish our part in this."

Yellowjacket springs to full size beside Cap, seizing him around the shoulders. "Cap, stop! We've got to get out of here, now! Hurry!"

The creature fights to upright itself one more time, but Cap backhands it mightily, sending it skidding across the steel deck floor they stand on. "Stay down, monster. Stay down, and don't ever return." He growls angrily, as Yellowjacket shrinks them all back down in size, and they all fly away within Rover.

Moments later, they are all full size , and back aboard their Quinjet, The Vision and the Scarlet witch with them. All are surprised and thrilled to see them both, as T'Challa's ship disengages from the Quinjet, and the two small ships spin around and begin to head back towards Earth. But suddenly energy blasts burn space around them!

Mere seconds earlier... Aboard the Ca'ShuBak ships bridge, The Ca'ShuBak Master finally rights himself,and howls, "Destroy them! Kill them all! This effrontery will not go unpaid! Kill them!"

Besides a shattered console , another Ca'ShuBak turns towards his master "My master, we have no force shields. the Av'ngers attack here destroyed all shield control. We will be open for attack from their weapons if we follow them."

"I-DO-NOT-CARE!" Rages the Master as he leaps from his throne, and slides across the floor of the bridge, shoving the hapless crewman away with long tentacles, to man the ships navigational controls himself. "Now is the day YOU die Avengers!" And then he punches all his controls to maximum, as the great ship ramps up its power and begins to attack the Quinjet.

"Evasive maneuvers !" Shouts the Wasp to her husband, as he dives the Quinjet hard to the right.

"They just don't give up ,do they, Cap?" Speaks Spidey softly.

"No webslinger, I suppose they don't."

Iron Mans voice answers from the ships com system. "I've had enough of this. Thor, Thunderstrike, War Machine, Nova, Photon. Lets get this right the first time."

"I guess we're not going for the plasma port, like we originally planned?" asks Nova

"No Nova, lets blast this thing back to hell, where it belongs." Growls Iron Man bitterly.

The heroes line up in space, as the huge ship bears down on the Quinjet and T'Challas ship.

"Aye indeed Iron Man. Ne'er before has Midgards very existence relied so much 'pon our mighty shoulders! Prepare thyselves all. Now and fore'er Avengers Assemble!"

As one, the assembled Avengers release their power in one massive blast, Standing at their center, Iron Mans eye slit unibeam opens to release power cosmic, in its rawest, most violent form, as Thor and Thunderstrike fire Asgardian anti-energy besides War Machines pulse cannon blast, and Nova's Nova blast! The resultant explosion lights up the night time sky on Earth like a new born star!

A moment passes, as the bright. Blinding light goes slowly out, and vision returns to the Avengers eyes. Before them, fragments of the massive ship lie everywhere, it's hulking hull is torn asunder, and only half of its original size remains, the fore half is completely disintegrated, and the rest lies dead in space.

And then, just as the Avengers had previously thought, the remaining Ca'ShuBak ships begin to burst out of Earths atmosphere, and orbit, disappearing into the black ether , in abject, ultimate defeat!

Avengers Bunker

May Parker, now calling herself "Sting" leaps towards the opening hatch of the Ca'ShuBak fast attack ship that has just landed, tackling the all to human figure who is making his out of the ship. He stomach throws her out of the way, before scrambling to his feet. "Oww! That hurt , kid What do you think you're doing?"

"Huh? She stammers, her face breaking into a big smile, "I know you, you're HAWKEYE!"

"Give the girl a Cee-gar. Well on second thought kiddo, you'll have to settle for a lollipop."

"B-but what are you doing in that thing?" She motions to the attack ship he just landed in with her thumb.

"Easy kid. I beat the tar outta a couple of these slime bucket rubes, and stole their ship. That's how I made it back here. I got tired of hoofing it across Canada, where I left my girl, when I came upon these things wandering around outside their ship. A couple of quick arrow shots, and br'er Hawkeye proves he's still got it."

Then, both their heads turn towards the bunkers landing bay as a familiar high pitched whine fills the air!

"They're back!" She yells joyfully, leaping across the hanger, to greet her father as he himself leaps from the still floating down Quinjet to hug his daughter tightly. And slowly but surely, all the Avengers disembark, tired, but knowing inside that tomorrow will bring another day. The first of a new era, and that they'll be able to rest soundly, for the first time in a long, long time.

Epilogue.

A week has passed, and the Avengers all prepare to leave the Bunker in west Virginia, and return to New York.

"You sure about this Peter?" Asks Captain America

"Yep, I am Cap. The world needs all the help it can get right now. I guess it's about time I returned to the fray full time. Besides, I have to train her correctly" Peter gestures at his daughter, "to make sure she stays out of trouble."

"Agreed. It's obvious she intends to be a heroine, so we might as well make sure she's up to the task." Answers Cap.

Behind the chatting heroes, others load the Quinjets with supplies and equipment, before heading back to New York.

Nova stands with his two children, as well as Chris Powell, Darkhawk. "You think it's over Chris? You think we've seen the last of those things?"

"Yeah Rich, I do. They've never been spanked like that before. Hopefully they've learned their lesson." Answers Powell

Thor and Thunderstrike stare at the morning sky together. "Tis a good morning for new beginnings, lad. Mayhap I will still find a way to breach the barrier that surrounds lost Asgard, and a way to resurrect her people."

"I hope you do Thor, I hope you do. And if you need a strong right arm to back you up, I'm here."

"Aye lad, that I did know already." Thor claps Thunderstrike on the shoulder powerfully.

"Alright people," Booms Iron Man from within the bunker, "Lets move out, and begin work on setting the world straight."

As one they leave behind the West Virginia home of Peter Parker and family. As one they ascend to the skies, and as one they will fight the good fight, protecting the world from whatever may come, no matter who fills their ranks, for they are now and forever... The Avengers!

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