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 war ship created by the death crazed Eternal Thanos who has tried to kill off his own race before. But most recently the war ship was used by Nebula the conqueror and grand daughter of Thanos.
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 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 the two suspects of Thanos and Nebula to the moon Sedath. Before a battle ensued between the Avengers, the mad titan Thanos, and his granddaughter 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.
HERCULES: Thor, what is the meaning of this? Where is 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 is 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 with the players we have here today.
FIRELORD: You six so called Avengers are without honor! We seek the death of Nebula and nothing more! If you stand in our way you shall go down with her!
STARFOX: Firelord, let me handle these pretenders!
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 now must defend ourselves. Thou wishes to kill one with child. I ask of thee not to do this. Thor as your friend I ask thee?
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 equals mine?!
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 of 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 cursed 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 stop 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 high and I don't have time to play anymore. I always play it smart but you got me on the wrong year friend! Your just in employee in a suit and not worthy of the pay check much less 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! I am the real Thor.
HERCULES: Thor or not! You art without honor.
THOR: Hercules do not abuse me with your thy speeches full of hot air. Fight me with your fist. You have never proved worthy of beating the Odinson!
HERCULES: Thou has 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 hinders his ability to wrestle.
HERCULES: You 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 time 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 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.
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 tragedy.
VULCAN: The final report is seventy six dead. Ninety percent were men. There are thirty six survivors. Twenty children, thirteen women, and three men. Including us, Sersi, and Eros that puts Titans population at forty three.
IKARIS: But wait...
VULCAN: Yes according to the records there are many missing! It seems a small escape craft took off with the rest of the population.
THENA: Mostly, women and children I would guess?
VULCAN: No, I said ninety percent of the dead were male. ISSAC is not functioning properly. It seems Mentor was the only who knew the in's and out's of ISSAC. Maybe Eros....
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. I am thinking...
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 time 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 leader material. 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 the hammer you shalt be dead by now!
THOR: Strong boast Hercules! Yes, you do 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 stronger! Twice as I orignally was! 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: Thank 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 the Gift!
Hercules strikes Thor with one blow and sends him flying.
THOR:(to self) Only the Hulk has ever hit me like that before!
Hercules again runs to a Thor 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 my new 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 thee 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 has 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 has transpired here?
PHOTON: We beat them all but Paragon has got Sersi! He plans on killing her!
HERCULES: Nay! I shall permit.....
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!
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 the enchantment on it! 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 to! 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 speaks.
NEBULA: It was Immortus.
Her body still appears broken and burnt. She stands confidentially. Paragon looks down shaking his head and then again sheds a light upon Nebula changing her back to normal.
BLACK KNIGHT: He never killed her it was a trick all along. He used matter rearrangement like Sersi does to make us think she was dead.
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 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: You 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. I 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: He will use it to kill Thanos out of vengeance for taking his friends and family. Then the curse will take him. For killing Thanos he shall replace him as the servant of Death! Billions will die as he massacres and conquers the whole universe. He will become a god! Never dying.
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 hear.
PARAGON:(crying) Alars, forgive me! I thought it was for the better. I knew not that the Eternals would die. I thought it would only be Sersi. Immortus had tricked me! He had Nebula kill the Eternals for a reason.
FIRELORD: He did it to make to weaken Earth. No race could conquer Sol-3 with hundreds of Eternals living a few planets away.
NEBULA: Your right. I wanted the Earth's solar system for my own. He wanted to conquer time but the Eternals were in his way as was Thanos and his successor the unborn baby.
HERCULES: I hath heard enough! Were is Immortus and his lackey Deathurge?
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!
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: Kill her! Kill that witch!
PHOTON: No! We cannot kill her. We have been through too much to do this. We have seen too much blood already!
PARAGON: I knew the Eternals would be killed! I knew it would be by Nebula. But I did not know Immortus was behind it also. I almost killed Sersi. I deserve death as well.
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, please don't kill me! Firelord stop! Captain Marvel don't let him kill me!
PHOTON: It's Photon now, Nebula! 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. Death will probably come let her see the faces of her victims.
FIRELORD: So be it!
He releases her from the fire cage and she gasps for air. Sersi quickly averts her attention towards her.
SERSI: Tell then 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 how this disaster might have caused him and his fellow Avengers to unite for years to come. 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: There coming! There coming! There 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 fall. 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? Yes, but if I killed you they will only oppose me and leave my lover alone. My time is coming according to you! What do I have to lose?
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 grow to kill me and like a proud father and mother Death and I will watch his great exploits from her domain!
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