Chapter IV.

When six dozen Eternals were murdered including Mentor the ruler of Titan, five former Avengers cried for revenge. The Eternals were killed by the ship Santcuary II, a warship created by the death crazed Eternal Thanos who has tried to kill off his own race before. But most recently the warship was used by Nebula the conqueror and grand daughter of Thanos. < p>The group of Avengers is led by Eros, better known as Starfox by his former comrades. Eros is the son of the dead Mentor and brother to Thanos. The two siblings are exact opposites. One embodies death and the other love. Starfox brought with him: Hercules, Prince of Power. Photon, a woman who can change into any form of energy. The Black Knight, a modern day knight with a cursed magic sword. Sersi, also an Eternal and best known as the powerful witch that helped Odysseus centuries ago.

With the help of Firelord, a former herald of Galactus, the Avengers have tracked down Thanos and Nebula to the moon Sedath. Before a battle ensued between the Avengers, the mad titan Thanos, and his grand daughter Nebula, the Cosmic Avengers showed up?

A being resembling Thor knocked out Nebula and the mysterious wraith Deathurge teleported Thanos away. In his stead stood Paragon! A being clad all in black including his face which shows only his glowing red eyes. Also, a member of this Cosmic Avenger team it seems and a pawn of Immortus .

HERCULES: Thor, what is the meaning of this? Art thou in leagues with Thanos?

THOR: Do not worry Hercules he is not the one responsible for the tragic death of the Eternals. It was Nebula. But she did not accomplish her goal she left too many live.

STARFOX: What? Thunder god you best choose your word carefully!

THOR: Nay, Eros. Only two Eternals were meant to die. Your father was one and the other appears to be among you.

PHOTON: Who are you people?

COMMANDER AMERICA: We are Avengers like you but from the future. We have one task in that is too kill off a certain Eternal lineage. We are not proud of this but it is for the greater good.

PHOTON: I know now you are not the Captain America I know! Because he knows there is no such thing as the greater good.

BLACK KNIGHT:(to self) Monica, now is not the time to preach! Maybe, I say that because I did kill the Supreme Intelligence for the greater good years ago. How different a view when the tables are turned. Sersi told me minutes ago that she is pregnant with my child. I am starting to believe that is not a coincidence.

FIRELORD: You six so called Avengers have no honor! We seek the death of Nebula and nothing more! If you stand in our way you shall go down with her!

PARAGON: Is the death of Nebula all you wish for?

The massive Paragon looks over at the comatose Nebula and fires two bolts of energy out of his eyes. Her body is torn to pieces and burnt.

PARAGON: Now all we ask for is her!

Paragon point to Sersi.

BLACK KNIGHT:(to self) I knew it! My child is the one they want not Sersi. What the hell is happening here! This is a nightmare!

Calmly, Hercules steps forward as the others are amazed by Nebula's death.

HERCULES: We are Avengers! We came seeking retribution and you have taken it from us. Now YOU will face our wrath! Thou wishes to kill one with child. Thor as your friend I ask thee why?

THOR: Hercules, is our friendship worth a billion dead souls? Is one woman with child worth a terrible Dark Age. I think not. AVENGERS ATTACK!!!

The six Cosmic Avengers of Thor, IronDroid, Commander America, the Torch, Paragon, and Gammazon each take an opponent.

Thor throws his hammer at Hercules driving him through the cave walls and unto the surface of the moon.

THOR: Our battle would surely bring this cave down. We will do battle under the stars!

The Torch, a descendant of Johnny Storm attacks Starfox. His flame showers Eros.

STARFOX: Your fire only singes my hair, Torch! I feel no pain from the flames!

TORCH: How about a small nova blast then?

The Torch fires a blast of nova energy at the Eros! The Eternal does not move quick enough and the blast glances him.

STARFOX:(to self) His energy is more than I can handle. He is much more powerful than the Torch I know!

Gammazon engages FireLord.

FIRELORD: Woman, you are quick but are no match for a former herald of....UGH!

She catches him with a left hook. Knocking him down.

FIRELORD: Your strength is tremendous?!

GAMMAZON: Yeah, bright eyes! I am a clone of the original She-Hulk! She's the only physical specimen that reacted to gamma radiation successfully! Ofcourse, they made me with improvements! I am stronger and quicker than her and am able to generate gamma radiation to make me stronger, fly, or blast you!

She sends a blast from her open palm.

FIRELORD: I care not what you can do, woman! It shall prove less than what I can do!

Firelord stands back and points his staff at Gammazon. He hits her with his own nova blast knocking her back and down. She gets up.

FIRELORD:(to self) If I release all my energies I will destroy this cave or even the entire moon! I must fight her with my fists!

Paragon flies towards Sersi. She prepares to blast him with her optic blast but the Black Knight jumps in the way with his ebony sword.

PARAGON: The sword? How do you have the sword?

BLACK KNIGHT: Don't worry about it pal! But if your so interested in it I could shove it in your gut and damn the curse!

PARAGON: If that would help our cause I will gladly have you kill me! But I am not certain it will and therefore cannot take the chance! But Sersi's death will solve everything.

SERSI: Why? I am not crazy?! Is Proctor involved with this?

PARAGON: He was but now he is dead.

Commander America tackles the Black Knight causing the sword to fall on the floor. They tumble a bit and the Commander rolls on top holding down the Knight.

COMMANDER AMERICA: There are some heavy hitters here so I will let the big guns take them and keep little old you out the way!

BLACK KNIGHT: That is something else your doing to disgrace Cap! He never avoided the heavy hitters you coward!

COMMANDER AMERICA: Why you!

The Commander lets go of the Knight to raise his fist. At that moment Dane concentrates and fallen sword materializes in his hand.

COMMANDER AMERICA: What?!

Dane slaps the broad end of the sword across the Commander's forehead. The Commander falls back and Dane arches his back springing his legs as he lands on his feet.

BLACK KNIGHT: Cap was never so gullible either!

Photon is quickly hitting IronDroid from different directions with multiple forms of energy.

IRON DROID: I can take it woman! Your not as unbeatable as you think.

PHOTON:(to self) I'm just conserving myself for later. I could take this guy quickly but it would leave me depleted. His armor is not able to absorb energy as well as our IronMan. His armor seems similar but is meant more for defense and strength. Iron Man beat me once by absorbing my energies. This guy won't get that chance.

IRONDROID: Your causing me some pain here. But pain eventually pays off!

Iron Droid release a pulse of energy coming from his armor. It is enough to hurt Monica.

PHOTON: Ugh! That's it! The stakes are too high and I don't have time to play anymore. I always play it smart but you got me on the wrong day friend! Your just a pawn in a suit and not worthy the title Avenger!

She unloads on him. Enough to destroy his armor. He is laid out in his underwear with the pieces of armor around him.

PHOTON:(to self) I hope I didn't hurt him. Let me check his vital signs.

As she turns solid to check the man's pulse Commander America notices her transformation.

COMMANDER AMERICA:(to self) Photon is solid. Now is my chance.

As he blocks the Knight's sword he kicks him away then turns and throws his shield.

BLACK KNIGHT: Monica!

When she turns the shield hits her head and she goes down.

BLACK KNIGHT: Monica?! Commander!

The Knight viciously resumes his attack.

Outside Thor has finally arrived to where the hammer and Hercules have landed. Hercules is trying to lift the hammer.

THOR: I hath not called the hammer back so you can amuse yourself! Thou must know by now that I am the real Thor.

HERCULES: Thor or not! You art without honor.

THOR: Hercules do not abuse me with thy speeches full of hot air. Fight me with your fist. You have never proved worthy of beating the Odinson!

HERCULES: Thou hast always been a friend! But today one of us shall die, Thor!

Hercules runs at Thor with a clothesline. Thor blocks his arm with the hammer. Hercules swings with his other fist. Thor grabs that arm. Hercules is able to use his legs to ensnare Thor's torso and bring him down. They wrestle on the floor. Hercules has the upper hand. Thor is unable to use the hammer and actually it hinders his ability to wrestle.

HERCULES: Thou art trained in the art of war such as I. But Hercules is a master wrestler friend!

Thor happens to tap his hammer and lightning screams down hitting Hercules. The Lion of Olympus goes down. Thor rises and swings his hammer at Hercules. Again the scion of Zeus goes down.

THOR: If only I could afford to do battle without my hammer, old friend. A true test between us would have a different winner every time. But alas the grave situation does not permit it! Too much hangs in the balance.

HERCULES: Tell me Thor why is the death of Sersi so important?

THOR: Forgive me Hercules.

Another bolt of lightning hits Hercules. His clothes is torn his body pink and smoking.

HERCULES: Argh!!!!!

Hercules runs at Thor and is met again with the hammer. He is thrown back.

HERCULES: Thou fear I shall get to close and break you Asgardian!

THOR: Hercules I knoweth thou is immortal again. That thou art my match again. But nothing more!

HERCULES: Nay, Thunderer. My father blessed me with strength anew! I am stronger than ever before! Stronger than you! Thou art the god of thunder but I am the god of strength and will have no match before me!

THOR:(to self) He speaks the truth. When we did wrestle I did feel his strength overcome mine!

Thor begins to whirl his hammer and the sky gets dark, thunder rumbles, lightning crackles around him. Hercules looks with anger. He knows he is no match for the hammer. His body endures but eventually Thor will beat him. Hercules does not charge Thor this time. He raises his head to endure the blast with honor. His defeat will be responsible for Sersi's death he thinks. He can only hope to weaken Thor so the others have a chance against him.

THOR: Hercules, prepare to receive your own gift!

TITAN

Thena, Ikaris, Vulcan, Makkari and Sprite watch as their surviving Eternals try to cope with the death of their loved ones. A young girl by the name of Dania listens to them.

THENA: The people trust us. They feel comfortable that we are here. I have never travelled to Titan. It is a nice place for us. We belong here.

IKARIS: Yes, Thena we few remained on Earth but it was time for us to unite with our brethren!

MAKKARI: Honestly, I feel like returning to Earth myself.

SPRITE: Yeah, this place is boring!

VULCAN: That is because your among a fresh tragedy and unable to spurt you usual pranks small one.

THENA: Makkari, you are welcomed to go home whenever you please. I would like to stay for myself and my children. These people look up to us for support. They have been through a much .

VULCAN: Thena, I have counted the survivors and there are some missing.

IKARIS: But wait...

VULCAN: According to the records there are many missing! It seems a small escape craft took off with a small portion of the population.

THENA: Mostly, women and children I would guess?

VULCAN: I cannot be sure. The super computer ISSAC is not functioning properly. It seems Mentor was the only who knew the in's and out's of ISSAC. Maybe Eros can fix it.

THENA: It seems Eros cares more about his revenge than his people. His first act as leader was to go with his precious Avengers after the murderer! While I look over the Eternals.

MAKKARI: You can't be serious, Thena?

IKARIS: I agree with her. We would have never taken that course of action!

VULCAN: But the man was left with no one he can trust save us.

THENA: Until he returns or if he returns I shall rule the Eternals! My father was the mighty Zuras chosen over Alars as leader. It seems that I will be chosen over Eros as well.

Hiding in a tree is the young girl Dania. She almost died during the attack but Hercules saved her with his own immortality. She has learned to call him father in the short moments she has known him. The earth Eternals are causing her to grow nervous. Their plan to oppose Eros, son of Alars. She twitches causing her to fall off the tree.

MAKKARI: Well, well look it's a spy!

SPRITE: Hey there little girl. You all right?

THENA: Child, can we help you?

Dania nervously steps forward. Almost crying.

DANIA: Everyone loves Eros. Why you want to replace him?

THENA: Oh. Well I am not sure if Eros is wants to take Mentor's place. He lives life to enjoy it. But I worry he is not meant to be.

Dania screams in pain. She closes her eyes and tears squeeze out.

THENA: Girl, are you all right?

DANIA: No, my father I see him. He is going to die I think.

IKARIS: The poor girl is having a flashback. A painful memory.

DANIA: No, my real father did die in the massacre. This is my new father, Hercules! He promised he would not die but he's going to! I can see him now fighting someone! I have to save him!

The girl begins to glow and suddenly disappears. The others are astonished.

IKARIS: Where did she go?

THENA: I fear the worst my friend.

SEDATH the moon where twelve Avengers do battle over everything and nothing. Hercules is battling Thor through a storm. Lightning hammers Hercules many times over. He is slowly getting beaten down by the Thunder God.

HERCULES: Thor! If not for thy hammer thou shalt be dead by now!

THOR: Strong boast Hercules! Yes, thou doth appear stronger than ever! Stronger than myself! But do not fool thyself. Strength alone cannot win a battle!

HERCULES:(to self) I hath taken more punishment than ever before! Yet I still stand! Father Zeus made me strong indeed! Twice as I orignally was or more! But soon I shall fall.

Dania appears on the battlefield. The two gods do not notice the girl watching. She struggles to see her new adoptive father Hercules in a cloud of wind, dirt, and fire. Angrily, she looks at the mighty Thor sends out a blast of energy at him. The thunder god is taken by surprise and falls to his knees. Hercules looks back and sees Dania.

HERCULES: By Zeus! Dania, get away girl! While the prince of power seizes the moment!

Hercules runs at Thor who begins to rise.

HERCULES: Nay, Odinson! I shall not permit thee! Prepare for thyself for the Gift!

Hercules strikes Thor with one blow and sends him flying.

THOR:(to self) Argh! Only the Hulk has ever hit me like that before!

Hercules again runs to Thor while he is still on his knees. Thor raises a knee to stand and Hercules attack! The thunder god uses his hammer to protect himself. Hercules grabs the hammer with both hands and pushes down. Thor tries to push up against Hercules but is not able to. Hercules begins to overpower him and Thor calls the lightning from the hammer!

HERCULES: NAY! I shalt not release the hammer! I am going to feed it down your throat!

THOR:(to self) He is too strong!

Lightning is flying everywhere. It comes from the sky, the hammer, and it all falls upon Hercules. Dania is blinded and cannot see. Finally, the lightning stops. Thor is down and unconscious while Hercules is down to one knee. Dania sprints towards him.

DANIA: Hercules! Hercules! You promised you would not die!

HERCULES: Aye, child! You have returned my favor!

DANIA: Ofcourse, I did! Your are my father!

Hercules smiles. He stands up and holds her hand.

HERCULES: Follow me child.

They walk slowly back to the cave. Hercules wants to cherish the short walk before he joins the battle again.

HERCULES: I doth suspect you used the teleportation powers the Eternals possess.

DANIA: I think so. I just saw you in pain and thought of you and I was here.

HERCULES: Really? I believe my father hath blessed the both of us in great amount. Dania please stay here while I check on my friends.

Hercules enters the cave to finds his friends for the most part victorious. The Torch, Gammazon, Iron Droid, and Commander America are all sprawled out defeated by the Avengers! His allies surround Paragon who has Sersi hostage with the Black Knight's sword to her throat!

HERCULES: What hath transpired here?

PHOTON: We beat them all but Paragon has got Sersi! He is going to kill her!

HERCULES: Nay! I shall permit it.

STARFOX: Hold Hercules! This is not a game! Attack and she will surely die! He hasn't killed her yet for some reason.

PARAGON: You are right Eros! It is not easy to take an innocent woman's life! A woman with child! A woman I called friend once!

BLACK KNIGHT: Friend? Who the hell are you?

PHOTON:(to self) I just woke up with a bad headache! I am unable to think straight and any stunt I try to pull will be too risky! Dane is unable to teleport his sword from Paragon via Merlin's enchantment! And Sersi's powers did not affect him either! There is more to this Paragon than meets the eye!

FIRELORD: You try out patience villain!

PARAGON: Aye. That is what I have succumb too! A killer of pregnant women! Allied with the killer of my people!

STARFOX: You are an Eternal?

SERSI:(with a sword to her throat) No! It cannot be!

STARFOX: Who is behind all this! Who sent Nebula? Who is your master?

PARAGON: That I cannot say.

A woman's voice barely speaks.

NEBULA: It was Immortus.

Her body still appears broken and burnt. She stands confidentially. Paragon's blast didn't kill her.

STARFOX: Hercules, hold Nebula!

FIRELORD: Let it be me!

Firelord raises his staff with an angry look on his face and envelops Nebula in a cage of fire.

STARFOX: Now, Paragon. I shall play no more games who are you?

Again Paragon looks down. He releases Sersi and drops the sword. The Avengers relieved hold their ground.

PARAGON: I have been known by many names but most know me by my title.

SERSI: No! No, not you...

She begins to cry. The others still do not know. He begins to raise his mask and a gasp falls over them all as Sersi doesn't even look. She just cries.

PARAGON: I am The Forgotten One.

HERCULES: Thou art supposed to be dead! How can this be?

PARAGON: I never died. Immortus saved me. He showed me events that will change the course of the universe to suit Thanos' needs. AI future where there is no light, love, nor hope. Where Death reigns supreme.

PHOTON: And what does that have to do with Sersi or her child?

PARAGON: The child will grow to be a man. He will lose many loved ones and in a fit of range he will use the weapon destined to be his. The ebony blade.

BLACK KNIGHT: No, dear god no.

PARAGON: The curse will take him. He will replace Thanos as her servant of death. Billions will die as he massacres and conquers the whole universe. He will become a demon!

BLACK KNIGHT: It all makes sense. The blade was made of ore from space. It was crafted by Merlin son of the devil. The curse was placed on purpose but not for the purpose I believed!

Dane falls to his knees crying with Sersi. He is in shock. They cry together.

SERSI: What else can you expect from a witch and black knight?

The others know not what to say.

STARFOX: No! We mustn't accept this. Yes, it can happen but Mentor himself appeared to me in a vision he said....

Mentor appears again to all this time. He is a ghost with Kronos behind him. The Watcher makes his presence known as well.

MENTOR: I said nothing is written. I told my son to do what he always has done! To follow his heart.

PARAGON:(crying) Alars, forgive me! I thought it was for the better. The future the possibilities are almost certain. The Eternals were destined to be killed.

FIRELORD: He did it too weaken Earth. No race could conquer Sol-3 with hundreds of Eternals living a few planets away.

PHOTON: Maybe it has something to do with the Destiny War Jan told me about. The human race conquering the cosmos. Immortus wanted Rick Jones dead. Now he wants Dane's and Sersi's child dead.

NEBULA: Immortus promised me your solar system. But he lied.

HERCULES: I hath heard enough! Were is Immortus?

MENTOR: They will not make themselves present with myself and Kronos here. Listen to me Avengers. The future hangs on your shoulders. Eros, my son you will be responsible for the new race of Eternals! The new civilization upon Titan. All your friends present also play important roles. Hercules you shall father a new race of gods that will protect the universe as well!

HERCULES:(to self) This cannot be....

MENTOR: Son follow your heart and your friends will follow you. My time is done.

He disappears as does the audience of The Watcher, Kronos, and the unconscious Cosmic Avengers.

PHOTON: I feel sick.

FIRELORD: What shall we do with Nebula?

Sersi stands and yells at the fiery cage that holds Nebula.

SERSI: She deserves death! The Forgotten One shouldn't have let her live!

PHOTON: The same can be said of you. No. We cannot kill her. We have been through too much to do this. We have seen too much blood already!

PARAGON: I deserve death. I knew my people would be killed and aided their murderer.

HERCULES: No, Gilgamesh. You didn't kill Sersi. You went along but could not find it in yourself to commit the vile act! I honestly don't know if I could have done that knowing what you know!

PHOTON: Hercules!

BLACK KNIGHT: He's right Monica. He's right and leave it at that!

Firelord begins to raise the heat in his cage holding Nebula.

NEBULA: Please...ugh.

PHOTON: Firelord stop.

FIRELORD: No.

STARFOX:(to self) I want her dead! But I am not sure...I...dammit I am not Thanos!

STARFOX: Let her go! She shall stand trial first on Titan.

FIRELORD: You cannot be serious!

PHOTON: It sounds reasonable.

HERCULES: Shall we take a vote? Firelord, please comrade let's not be as cold blooded as she. She will be judged by us and the surviving Eternals. Let her see the faces of her victims.

FIRELORD: So be it!

He angriily releases her from the fire cage and she gasps for air. Sersi quickly averts her attention towards her.

SERSI: Tell them we shall cage her in a prison of my design!

NEBULA: No!

Sersi uses her optic blasts to transmutate Nebula. Her eye lids permanently closed, her mouth and lips are no more and her ears dissolve. Nebula mumbles as if in pain.

PHOTON: Sersi, is she...

SERSI: She shall be uncomfortable!

Dania comes running in.

DANIA: Hercules?

STARFOX: Dania, what are you doing here?

HERCULES: 'Tis a long tale friend. I shall tell it to you all on the voyage home.

They all depart to their ship the Argos. Starfox stays behind still sensing his brother's stench in all of this. He thinks of Mentor's words. OF what the future holds for him and his friends. The tragedy of losing so many Eternals, of Sersi and Black Knight's child being worse than Thanos. It might be too much to reflect at this moment. He prepares for the somber ride home.

LIMBO

Deathurge runs down a hall and phases through a wall.

DEATHURGE: Their coming! Their coming! Their coming!

IMMORTUS: Who? My fallen Avengers? They did not even stand a chance! I should have let them die when I ...

DEATHURGE: No, much worse! Gotta go!

He disappears. The doors to the chamber falls. Thanos stands there with Death hovering behind.

IMMORTUS: No! How is it I didn't sense you in my own domain!

THANOS: Death is everywhere even here if I wish it! Are you ready to die?

IMMORTUS: No, you can't! Do not try to scare me Thanos with false threats!

THANOS: The cosmic forces will align against us if we killed you? Soon Immortus you will have much to fear.

IMMORTUS: Thanos the death of the child would have saved you!

THANOS: Saved? I do not need saving. I am already saved! The boy will replace me but I shall replace another. The chain is set.

IMMORTUS: You are a sick idiot! Leave now!

THANOS: I don't think so.

Death hovers away and out of the chamber while the doors close behind her leaving Thanos and Immortus alone.

THE END