One Earth: The Marvel/DC RPG

[Byrd Man]

​

Previously

Spoiler

The Monster of the Badoon trampled through the arena floor while Reed rode on top of the beast's head, his arms elongated and wrapped around the monster's jaws. As it ran, the other members of the Fantastic chased after it. Ben on foot, Johnny and Sue in the air. Johnny was aflame and Sue flew on a disc of invisible energy.

The Monster of the Badoon snapped its jaws open and shut and shook its head vigorously. Reed held on for dear life before he was finally sent flying into the air.

"Ahhh!" Reed yelled as he tumbled through the air and crashed into the arena stands. A group of Mongul's alien warriors grabbed a hold of Reed and tossed him back into the arena. He fell on the ground and stood up just in time to see the Badoon charging towards him.

"Look out, Stretcho!" Ben yelled. He stepped in front of Reed and held his arms out as the Badoon lowered its head to strike.

WHAM!!!

The force of the two meeting kicked dust into the air. By the time the dust had cleared, Ben was imbedded shin deep in the ground, straining as he held the Badoon's head up over his head.

"I. Could. Do. With. Some. Help," he said through gritted teeth. The ground beneath the Badoon began to shake as it and Ben began to float above the arena floor. They went higher and higher into the air.

"Ben," Sue said from the ground, blood dripping from her nose. "Get ready to fall."

The force field holding Ben and the Badoon in the air suddenly disappeared. Ben and the monster began to fall towards the ground. Reed stretched his body out and contorted into the shape of a trapeze. Ben's rocky frame bounced off Reed and hit the ground with no relative damage while the Monster of the Badoon...

WHAM!!!

The impact of the beast slamming into the arena floor shook the whole building, sending a spiderweb crack racing across the ground. The monster stood up and began to stumble around the arena floor dazed.

"Ben," Reed said as he stretched his body across the arena, his arms and legs holding on to the arena walls. "Slingshot time!"

Ben nodded and ran into Reed and grabbed him, stretching him back until his elastic frame became taunt. Ben let go of Reed and flew into the air like a rocky cannonball aimed right at the Badoon.

KRAK!!!

A solid slam echoed through the entire arena as Ben leveled the beast with a powerful right hook. The force of the blow knocked the monster to the ground. It was unconscious before its head hit the ground.

A cheer came from the crowd as Ben landed. The Monster of the Badoon had been defeated with just one blow. As hostile as they had started out, the hordes of Mongul rained praise and adulation down on the Four.

"Silence!" Mongul roared from on high. The crowd suddenly became still as he, their god-kid, stood and looked down at the Four. "You whelps come to Mongul's world and defeat his men and beasts? This is an insult to the god-king Mongul and all that he stands for."

Suddenly, a feeling of dizziness and vertigo washed over everyone in the arena. From the open roof, the blue marble of Earth could be seen.

"We have arrived, whelps. In mere minutes, your planet will be destroyed."

Mongul jumped from his throne and fell to the arena floor. He landed with a thump and stood before the Four.

"But not before Mongul will have the pleasure of breaking each and every bone in all your bodies. Tell Mongul, who dies first?"

"Nobody dies," Reed said as the Four began to charge towards Mongul. "Ben, do you happen to have the time?"

"Just so happens to be my favorite time," Ben said with a smirk.

"It's clobberin' time!"

Mongul roared and struck Ben in the chest with his fist, sending the Thing flying into the air. Reed rushed in and quickly wrapped his body around Mongul's, constricting his form to limit Mongul's movement. The conqueror growled and thrust his chest forward. A beam of energy surged from Mongul's chest and blasted Reed off the alien warlord's body. Reed fell to the ground, dazed and still elongated.

"Give me a challenge!"

"Hot stuff coming through," Johnny said as he slammed into Mongul, knocking the alien king down. Johnny streaked over head, blasting Mongul with fireballs.

"Face me," Mongul yelled, shrugging off fireballs. "Face to face like a true warrior. Not as some craven!"

"How about you make me, big guy!" Johnny countered, shooting a massive column of fire from his hands and aiming it at Mongul. The warlord gritted his teeth and fired a stream of energy from his chest plate. The energy struck Johnny's flames and began to push it back towards him.

The Human Torch scowled and started to concentrate on keeping Mongul's energy back. The alien king laughed as his laser blast struck Johnny and sent him spiraling to the ground. In just a few seconds, three quarters of the Fantastic Four were on the ground and injured.

"Is this the best Earth's champions have to offer?!" Mongul screamed as he lifted Reed's head and stared into his glazed over eyes. "I am not impressed."

"Let me change that!" Sue said as she struck Mongul with a forcefield construct. Mongul shrugged the blow off and laughed.

"Hahaha! You are a woman. And not even an imposing one at that. What can you hope to do?! Face me if you-"

Mongul was cut short, the oxygen in his throat suddenly cut off. He clawed at his throat and gurgled.

"For starters," Sue said, her hand out and curled into a ball. "I can create a tiny, invisible bubble inside your throat and expand it, and expand it until you suffocate."
Mongul's eyes went white and unfocused. He took one hand off his throat and patted his eyes.

"I can turn your retinas invisible and make you blind. I can teach you to never attack my brother, husband, and friend again. I can show you that trying to destroy the Earth was one of your many mistakes. And the last thing I can do?"

With a wave of her hand, Sue sent an invisible construct aimed for Mongul's legs. The master or Warworld fell to his knees, blind and gasping for air.

"I can take Mongul, the god-king, ruler of Warworld and second of his name and I can turn him into the blind, choking little worm that he actually is...and I can make him beg me for mercy. That's what I can do."

"Me-," Mongul started to choke out. "Merc-"

Suddenly, a bolt of energy sizzled by Sue's head, a shot from a member of Mongul's royal guard. The blast caused her to lose her concentration and freed Mongul from his invisible bonds. He coughed and retched, falling to his side as oxygen flowed back into his lungs.

"That was impressive," Reed said as he slid up beside Sue, now back to his original shape and length. Ben and Johnny both came up behind him.

"Not too boastful was it?"

"Nah, Susie."

"You kidding, sis? That was badass?"

"If I can be honest, I'm a bit turned on right now."

"Ew. Thanks for that mental image."

"Kill them!" Mongul screamed from his knees, directing his guards and the people inside the arena to the Four. "TEAR THEM APART PIECE BY PIECE WHILE I DESTROY THEIR PLANET."

The Four looked up as the stands of the arena began to shake and buckle, the thousands of warriors that had packed the seats were now coming over the wall and charging towards the Four.

"Stretcho, plan?"

"I propose we initiate the Fabian Strategy. It's a successful military tactic utilized by military leaders from Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, the man the move was named after, to George Washington."

"Perfect. Now, what is the Fabian Strategy?"

"Head-on battles and assaults are abandoned in favor of a war of attrition and misdirection, wherein--"

"ENGLISH!"

"Simply put: RUN!"

With that, the Four turned and ran across the arena floor with Mongul's horde of thousands giving chase.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Luthor waits for a moment as everyone begins to settle back into their seats.

He says, "Thank you all for your patience it's been a long time coming, but I am glad to announce that we are now ready to begin with the live test of the Gammatron."

Lex flicks a couple of switches on the control panel and the monitors begin to show the vitals signs, thermographic scans, and the X-Ray scans of Dr. Banner.

Lex says, "As you can tell we are not running this test on a lab animal and that is due to a techincal glitch. Besides this device will be used on human beings not animals."

Lex presses a button and the curtains open revealing Bruce strapped down to an operating table with several electrodes stuck to him.

Everyone in the room is stunned to see Banner strapped down.

Betty asks while rushing up to Luthor, "Lex what the hell are you doing?"

Lex replies, "Dr. Ross as Dr. Banner as noted several times in his reports we are on the threshold of a new chapter in Gamma Radiation research. It's only fitting he is the one to cross over that threshold."

She says, "You have no clue what will happen to him!"

Lex replies, "We are taking every precaution to ensure his safety. Now if you will calm down and have a seat we will begin."

General Ross takes his daughter by the shoulders and leads her back to her seat. As he does he looks back at Lex with a great deal of concern mixed with contempt.

Betty whispers to her father, "Dad that thing could kill him! We gotta stop him!"

Ross replies, "I would if I could Betty. I admit Banner and I don't see eye to eye on anything, but if he dies in there when I'm through with Lex he'll be begging for the electric chair."

Lex cuts on the intercom and says, "Move the Gammatron into place."

Doctors Hamilton and Sterns enter the operating theater and position the Gammatron above Banner's head.

Hamilton says, "I'm sorry Bruce. I am so sorry for this."

Banner replies, "Not your fault Emil. I don't hold you responsible just make sure if I die two things happen. 1) Luthor pays for this somehow and 2) Make up something profound and deep for my last words."

Emil says, "Count on both of those things my friend."

He steps away and Sterns in gives Banner two hand-holds.

Sterns says, "These are going to run several hundred currents of electricity through your body to stimulate your adrenaline glands so the Gamma radiation can..."

Banner nods and says, "I know I know Sam. Do me a favor though?"

Sam says, "Name it."

Banner replies, "Tell Betty I really enjoyed seeing her again and I wish it had worked out between us."

Sam says with a wink, "You got it. Hope you're not offened but I'm not gonna shake hands with you."

Bruce smiles and the two doctors leave the operating theater and enter the gallery area and take their seats behind the control panel in another room.

Sterns says, "All systems online and functioning in normal limits."

Hamilton says, "All-right. Let's him with the Gamma Rays."

Hamilton flicks on his intercom and says to Bruce, "Okay Bruce get ready to go green as it were in 3,2,1."

Hamilton flicks two switches and turns two dials and says, "Gamma Rays released."

The head of the Gammatron ball begins to glow green and Sterns says, "Vitals all elevated but within normal limits you may increase at your discretion Emil."

Emil replies, "Nice and easy don't want to give him an overdose."

Lex flicks on the intercom and asks, "How are you doing Banner?"

Bruce replies, "On the whole I'd rather be in Philladelphia."

Emil says cutting his intercom, "Stand by Bruce get ready for the electrical current starting you off at 50 volts and we'll increase from there. If your theory is right the Gamma Rays should help enough so that you'll be able to take greater charges as we go on."

Bruce replies, "Understood."

Emil says, "3,2,1 Charges opening."

He opens up the electrical current and Banner begins to shake and everyone watches the biological readings. There are some head nods and looks of being impressed. The Rosses though are concerned.

Lex says, "As you all can see what would floor a normal person Dr. Banner is taking in stride."

Bruce says, "Easy for you to say Luthor!"

After a few moments of gradual increase Lex crosses over to Emil in the control room.

Lex says, "All-right Emil let's really turn it up."

Emil says, "Not so fast sir we have to wait for stability in his vitals so we can monitor his progress."

Lex says in a low growl, "Turn it up or I will!"

Emil says, "Sir we can't..."

Lex grabs the dial and says, "We can!"

He turns the knob up to 2 notches below maximmum.

Banner buckles in agony and screams as he does he shifts enough in his restraints that his head collides with the Gammatron, "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"

There is a great deal of concern now in the gallery area as an alarm begins to echo.

Banner buckles again and again.

Lex says, "Emil!"

Hamilton says, "When he buckled he made direct contact with the Gammatron! With all of the electricity flowing through him it created a feedback loop and shorted out the Gamma Containment Matrix in the Gammatron! It's cracked in a matter of seconds it'll breakdown and then....."

Lex says to his phone, "Seal off the operating theater! Radiation Protocols!"

Several lead sheets slide over the glass and Lex says to the gallery, "There's been an accident a power surge in the power grid let out too much electricity. We are perfectly safe in here."

Betty asks, "What about Bruce?"

Lex says, "We won't know anything until the containment team is in done in there. They're on their way now!"

Emil enters the room and says, "I'm cutting on the operating theater monitors we have to know what happened."

Emil flicks a couple of switches and on the monitors the image of a badly burned Bruce Banner fills the screens. People are murmuring some trying to look away others just shaking their heads.

Betty buries her head in her father's chest, and General Ross glares at Luthor. If he could he would kill Lex where he was standing.

The containment team enters the O-R and The Lead Tech says, "Most of the Gamma Radiation was absorbed by Dr. Banner there are negligible readings I'm calling off the protocols."

Lex says, "Very well have Dr. Banner's body taken to the hospital wing. Have burn units alerted."

The tech replies, "Acknowledged."

Sterns breaks into the room and says, "I don't believe this look at the monitors."

To everyone's stunned amazment Dr. Banner's body had begun to heal itself. Virtually almost no signs of the earlier burns were present.

Sterns cuts on the bio-readings and says, "Everything within normal limits. It's a true miracle!"

Luthor says in the intercom, "Cancel the burn units. Have him placed in isolation extreme protocols I'm on my way."

Luthor places a call to security and then looks at those standing in the room.

Luthor says, "If you all will excuse me I'll release a statement within the hour. Thank you all for coming. If you have any questions or comments e-mail them to me."

Just then armed security arrives and Lex says, "My associates will show you out. Sterns, Hamilton..."

He gives a smirk to the Rosses and says, "General Ross and his lovely daughter please follow me."

They all leave together.

 

[Batman]

What the hell is goin' on out there?

Three minutes after departing into the mansion to resume the rest of his afternoon indoors - and more importantly, isolated - Logan began to notice a strange rumbling in the ground. At first, it was miniscule, as if a minor earthquake was passing through the area. But as the seconds passed, the vibrations slowly increased in potency, so much so that Logan could even feel it in his chest. If that weren't enough, the cheering outside for the basketball tournament had suddenly turned into shrill screams, easily mistaken for the children at play. Finally absolving himself of the budding curiosity, Logan crossed the empty corridor of the upper floors and casually took a look outside, muttering under his breath about how he hoped this wasn't another of the Professor's half-assed training exercises gone awry. Yet despite all that went through his mind as a possible explaination, nothing could have prepared him for what he saw on the other side of the glass.

"Holy..."

No sooner did the words escape his lips did Logan see the giant steel foot of the first machine slam firmly down onto the mansion's grounds, sending a powerful shockwave that shattered the window infront of him. Falling back with fresh cuts and open gashes, Logan immediately pulled himself off of the floor in shock, gradually managing to stand back up on legs weakened from the force.

Well. That certainly ain't somethin' you see everyday.

Hearing the screams from the group below, remembering that the tournament had still been in play whenever those things came up out of nowhere, Logan pushed aside any physical pain and confusion in order to regain his sense of place. The teachers were still downstairs, so they'd be able to handle getting the kids to safety. All he had to worry about was fighting off whatever the hell was here to attack them.

*SNIKT*

Claws unsheathed, he vaulted for the window and leapt out from the broken glass, plummeting two stories and landing safely on the lawn with a roll. By the time he managed to look up, he realized that he had just landed in the middle of a frenzy from all sides. Summers, in his usual bravado, was already fighting off a few of the machines by removing his glasses for a periodical optic blast in between shouting commands. McCoy was growling and leaping in every direction to fend off the machine's attacks. Many of the kids were screaming and running for the mansion. Lightning shot out from the fingertips of Ororo Munroe.

It was absolute chaos. The kind that Logan felt he was more than used to, though he wasn't certain as to why. Nevertheless, he hurriedly ran up to join the rest of the X-Men as they calculated a plan of action.

"Hank, direct their fire away from the school! Kitty, get the Professor to the lower floors! Jean, can you dismantle them?!"

Jean Grey felt beads of sweat roll down her face as she tried to mentally tap into the machines' programming to stop them in their tracks. Yet they continued to attack. "I'm trying, Scott! I can't make contact! Something's wrong!"

Logan sneered, realizing that they were getting nowhere with talk.

"Screw this..."

Leaping at the first, he slashed his claws into the metal of the first one's leg and savagely tore his way in, swiping at any wires that he could find. But the attack proved entirely futile, as the machine realized what he was doing and instantaneously defended itself, kicking Logan back with little more than a slide of it's heel. Violently tumbling back, he felt his shoulder pop under the brutal impact onto the ground.

"ARGH!"

"Professor? Professor, no! Stop!"

Managing to look up at what Summers was yelling about, Logan's eyes went wide as one of the machines reached down and singled out Charles Xavier before Kitty could get him to safety. Knocking back the girl as she tried desperately to reach him, the machine picked up the Professor and carried him into the air, opening it's massive chest shell and placing him inside. Enraged, Summers tore off his glasses and fired at full blast, seemingly affecting the machine... but barely.

"Jean, get out of here! Get the kids to safety in the bunker!"

"But I..."

"Don't argue! They're the priority! No matter what, you need to keep them safe!"

"RRRGH!"

All eyes fell on Hank McCoy, as his valiant struggle came to a sudden end, similarly plucked from the ground just as Xavier was. Logan grit his teeth, popping his shoulder back into place and letting out a howl of rage. He didn't know where these things had come from and he didn't care. They weren't getting away with Hank and the Professor.

"Logan, go with Storm and activate the primary defenses!"

But he wasn't listening. Despite whatever lack of logic the attack had to back it, Logan was already running towards the other machines, determined to drive his claws through them one limb at a time. Watching as the brute disobeyed his command, Scott clenched his fists together.

"No! Dammit, Logan!"

"Kurt! Kurt, where are you?!"

*BAMF!*

Behind Jean, the blue-skinned elf known as Nightcrawler appeared out of thin air. "I am here, Ms. Grey! Vhat do you need?"

"Listen, there's no time! Grab any of the extra students that you can and teleport them to the lower levels of the mansion! They'll be safe there!"

Nodding with haste, Kurt teleported away, reappearing as blue clouds all over the field and taking hold of fleeing students as they ran aimlessly from the fight.

"Storm! Damn you, let her go!"

Jean turned to see Storm rendered unconcious and taken by the machines aswell, ripped from the ground and placed inside the very prison that held Beast and Xavier. Trying his best to avert any more potential snatching, Scott focused the intensity of his blasts to the point that it nearly knocked one of the machines back. But in time, even he was unable to avoid their clutches, watching in horror as the metal hand wrapped around his body and clutched tightly.

"SCOTT! OH GOD, NO!"

Trying with every fiber of her being to use her mental capacity to subdue the machines, her eyes began to glow with a yellow energy and the ground began to bend beneath her. Just as her power seemed to reach it's maximum output, her focus was shifted as Logan plummeted from the skies, slamming down onto the grass after being tossed aside by one of the machines. Even though she had barely known the man, and frankly didn't like much of what she had encountered, Jean felt compelled to rush to his side as his body showed freshly inflicted, severe burns.

"Logan! Logan, please wake up! They took Scott! They've taken everyone! We have to stop them!"

Barely conscious, Logan's dazed demeanor faded as he grabbed Jean by both arms, ignoring the excruciating pain from the burns even as they healed.

"Jean! You can move people with your mind, right?!"

Jean looked at him, momentarily perplexed.

"What are you..."

"Just trust me on this, darlin'. Hurl me at that thing like a cannonball."

Too overcome with a combination of emotions to stop and question the logic of this, Jean stepped back and closed her eyes, slowly beginning to levitate Logan into the air. Unaccustomed to the sensation, Logan's eyes widened as he was thrown directly at the machines at an incredible speed. Holding his claws out, he yelled out a primal scream and hoped the insane attack would work.

Unfortunately... it wouldn't.

 

[sumowrestler]

As Jordan floats above Washington DC watching what looks like chaos, his ring notifies him of something in space. Being torn between what was happening in DC and whatever is going on in space, he decides to head up higher into the atmosphere to see what his ring was picking up. Once he got up high enough, the ring did a basic scan of the floating object that is now orbiting Earth. By the looks of it, the thing is on a possible collision with Earth. Knowing that he could be over his head with this thing, he decided to call for back up.

"Oa, this is Hal Jordan of Earth. We have what looks like a planet or moon heading our way. I'm sending to you now what my ring got."

After a few moments of silence, an image of Salaak appears over the ring.

"Lantern Jordan, according to the Book of Oa, the object that is over your planet is called War World. It has been owned by two despots both going by the name of Mongul with one being the father and the other being the son. The planet is closer to a giant super battleship then anything else. If it is in your area, it may mean that your world is in serious trouble."

"Then what about sending some help here? I'm not certain how many of Earth's heroes have space capability and definitely want to keep it off planet as much as possible."

"The Guardians are watching something else that could require our intervention as well and it would require almost every Lantern we have who isn't occupied."

"Come on Salaak, what can be something that big which would require majority of the GLC? Can't you spare at least two or three Lanterns to assist?"

"Trust me, Lantern Jordan, when I say what the Guardians are monitoring could have galactic effects for centuries to come depending on the outcome. That is why most of the GLC will be on stand by. The best I can suggest is your neighbor Lanterns in sectors 2813 and 2815. Anyone else would be dealing with the possible fall out of the other situation."

"Fine, see if I call on you guys for help again. Hopefully you are right that Arisia and Tomar-Re are available. If this thing is as big and bad as you lead me to believe, you might have one less GL and planet to be concern about."

 

[Batman]

An hour of drifting my way through Earth's orbit, and I was ready to return home. I still wasn't sure of how to handle what's happening, or how I was ever going to be able to be Clark Kent without running the risk of someone recognizing me as Superman, but the problem was best solved with a more proactive measure than flying away from my troubles. Pa always told me that the best way to tackle life's pitfalls was to do it face first - admittedly, I just never thought I'd be coming across a situation that took his advice so literally.

Nevertheless, I buried my conflict deep and began a swandive towards the atmosphere. I hadn't traveled out of Earth's orbit very many times, so I was still surprised to realize I could feel the tingling sensation of intense fire and pressure lick around my body, as the world beneath me grew increasingly larger. It wasn't long before gravity took it's hold - or lackthereof - and gave me back the control of flight. I was almost ready to charter a path back to Metropolis in order to contemplate my next move, but that's when it happened. I heard something. A tiny, nearly insignificant noise, yet louder than anything I could hear from seventy miles above the ground.

A cry for help.

Focusing all of my senses on the source, my eyes wandered farther and farther away from the path to Metropolis as I listened. Until I finally pinpointed the frequency of the screams all the way over to Istanbul, Turkey. My microscopic vision illuminated the area like a map, showing me that there was a fire spreading throughout the floors of a metropolitan building. The cries were coming from a terrified family still trapped on the top floor.

Metropolis would have to wait. My help was needed. Coursing a flightpath to the destination of the fire, I zeroed in on the building and increased my velocity to Mach 5. It took me twenty seven seconds to reach the skyline, and less than three to find the fire itself. I didn't have a plan, nor was my mind particularly eager to come up with one. I felt myself acting purely on instinct, putting only one fact at the forefront of my consciousness - there were people in danger and they needed to be rescued.

So with nothing to go on, I handled the situation in the most obvious fashion. Using the force of the velocity, I forced my way through the roof of the skyscraper and immediately put myself between the family and the fire. They weren't even given the time to react, as the flame hit me head-on. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and did only what naturally occurred.

The result left the fire blown directly out of the floor itself, forced through the windows so hard that the flames and smoke dissipated upon immediate contact with the oxygen outside. Content with the path made out of the building, I turned to the family and offered my hand. With a smile, of course.

"<Forgive me for the intrusion. I thought you could use a hand.>"

Unable to comprehend who or what I even was, the father of the three children that he and his wife were shielding grabbed hold of my arm and quickly instructed the others to do the same. The littlest one wrapped herself around my leg, as I prepared to evacuate them. "<Everyone hold tight, this might get bumpy!>"

I don't even remember what happened next, but thankfully, it didn't harm the family. Because as I speak, we're just now landing on the curb outside of the ruins, as firefighters stop to stare at the sight they're witnessing. I allow the family a moment alone as they embrace eachother with thankful prayers and sobs, turning my attention to the onlookers. I give them a thumbs up, indicating the family's safety as the medical team rushes towards us.

"<Here they are. Try to treat them delicately, they've just suffered through a terrible ordeal.>"

Before anyone can say a word of thanks or protest, I take off again and ascend towards the skies, leaving them to pick up the pieces. It wasn't that I was worried about whether they'd understand my dialect, because I'm fluent in more than a few languages, but I just knew that there'd be alot of questions. And in my current state of affairs, I don't think I'm properly equipped to answer them right now.

Maybe soon. Eventually. But for now, I...

I...

What on earth happened to the moon?!

 

[Byrd Man]

​

Previously

Spoiler

Mongul roared and struck Ben in the chest with his fist, sending the Thing flying into the air. Reed rushed in and quickly wrapped his body around Mongul's, constricting his form to limit Mongul's movement. The conqueror growled and thrust his chest forward. A beam of energy surged from Mongul's chest and blasted Reed off the alien warlord's body. Reed fell to the ground, dazed and still elongated.

"Give me a challenge!"

"Hot stuff coming through," Johnny said as he slammed into Mongul, knocking the alien king down. Johnny streaked over head, blasting Mongul with fireballs.

"Face me," Mongul yelled, shrugging off fireballs. "Face to face like a true warrior. Not as some craven!"

"How about you make me, big guy!" Johnny countered, shooting a massive column of fire from his hands and aiming it at Mongul. The warlord gritted his teeth and fired a stream of energy from his chest plate. The energy struck Johnny's flames and began to push it back towards him.

The Human Torch scowled and started to concentrate on keeping Mongul's energy back. The alien king laughed as his laser blast struck Johnny and sent him spiraling to the ground. In just a few seconds, three quarters of the Fantastic Four were on the ground and injured.

"Is this the best Earth's champions have to offer?!" Mongul screamed as he lifted Reed's head and stared into his glazed over eyes. "I am not impressed."

"Let me change that!" Sue said as she struck Mongul with a forcefield construct. Mongul shrugged the blow off and laughed.

"Hahaha! You are a woman. And not even an imposing one at that. What can you hope to do?! Face me if you-"

Mongul was cut short, the oxygen in his throat suddenly cut off. He clawed at his throat and gurgled.

"For starters," Sue said, her hand out and curled into a ball. "I can create a tiny, invisible bubble inside your throat and expand it, and expand it until you suffocate."
Mongul's eyes went white and unfocused. He took one hand off his throat and patted his eyes.

"I can turn your retinas invisible and make you blind. I can teach you to never attack my brother, husband, and friend again. I can show you that trying to destroy the Earth was one of your many mistakes. And the last thing I can do?"

With a wave of her hand, Sue sent an invisible construct aimed for Mongul's legs. The master or Warworld fell to his knees, blind and gasping for air.

"I can take Mongul, the god-king, ruler of Warworld and second of his name and I can turn him into the blind, choking little worm that he actually is...and I can make him beg me for mercy. That's what I can do."

"Me-," Mongul started to choke out. "Merc-"

Suddenly, a bolt of energy sizzled by Sue's head, a shot from a member of Mongul's royal guard. The blast caused her to lose her concentration and freed Mongul from his invisible bonds. He coughed and retched, falling to his side as oxygen flowed back into his lungs.

"That was impressive," Reed said as he slid up beside Sue, now back to his original shape and length. Ben and Johnny both came up behind him.

"Not too boastful was it?"

"Nah, Susie."

"You kidding, sis? That was badass?"

"If I can be honest, I'm a bit turned on right now."

"Ew. Thanks for that mental image."

"Kill them!" Mongul screamed from his knees, directing his guards and the people inside the arena to the Four. "TEAR THEM APART PIECE BY PIECE WHILE I DESTROY THEIR PLANET."

The Four looked up as the stands of the arena began to shake and buckle, the thousands of warriors that had packed the seats were now coming over the wall and charging towards the Four.

"Stretcho, plan?"

"I propose we initiate the Fabian Strategy. It's a successful military tactic utilized by military leaders from Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, the man the move was named after, to George Washington."

"Perfect. Now, what is the Fabian Strategy?"

"Head-on battles and assaults are abandoned in favor of a war of attrition and misdirection, wherein--"

"ENGLISH!"

"Simply put: RUN!"

With that, the Four turned and ran across the arena floor with Mongul's horde of thousands giving chase.

"Keep moving," Reed shouted over the din. The Four ran down a narrow stone corridor, Mongul's warriors nipping at their heels.

"We can't run forever, Reed. Do you have a plan?"

"Yes, I do."

From behind them, a small insect-like leaped into the air and crawled across Ben's rocky back.

"Ya little jerk," Ben growled, grabbing the alien and tossing it behind him as he ran.

"We need to get back to Mongul's throne. He has controls on his throne. We can stop the attack on Earth. Johnny, how about some cover?"

"You got it, dude. Flame on!"
While the others ran, Johnny turned and faced the advancing mob. "What has two thumbs and a core temperature of three hundred degrees?" Johnny asked, thrusting his thumbs forward and shooting out columns of flames. The fire licked the wall of the corridor, herding the alien warriors back. "This guy!"


While they recovered, Johnny took off and caught up with the others as they exited out of the hallway and came out back inside the arena floor. Alien soldiers were still chasing after them. Nearly two hundred of Mongul's soldiers, all of them well armed and ready to fight, closed ranks around the four.

"Can you reach Mongul's throne from here, Reed?"

"I can stretch to reach it. I just need to divert their attention."

Before Ben could respond, he looked up as a shadow fell on the arena from above. A blue blur fell from the sky, kicking up dust as it moves across the arena floor.

"You wanted a distraction, buddy?" Ben asked as the dust started to settle.

"Well, there it is."

 

[Batman]

This is no moon. And it's definitely not a space station.

Never one to approach with caution, I allow myself to drift aimlessly towards the mysterious construct. The laws of space and anti-gravity do the rest, bringing me closer to what - on Earth -appeared to be some sort of oddly-put together mechanized version of Earth's moon. But upon closer inspection, I can hardly believe my eyes. I'm not sure that it's even possible, but it's... an entirely new planet? My eyes widen as I begin to inspect it, focusing my senses on the sentient life within the atmosphere. It's a planet, alright. I can quite literally see the oxygen shift around me as I depart from open space and float downwards. The gravitational pull is so similar to Earth's, it might aswell be identical.

But how did this come to be? It's so strange to even imagine. An entirely new planet, roosting itself right between Earth and it's moon. And having appeared out of nowhere! My mind races as I begin to fly down, quickly focusing my attention on the planet's central point of life. Some sort of alien hybrid of a solid structure that looks not unlike a Roman gladiator's area. Is it possible that - whatever race dwells on this planet - could also be able to communicate with me? With the people of Earth, no less? Maybe I can talk to someone and get to the bottom of this.

So many possibilities. I never would have thought this could happen.

Flying into the open arena as a loud foreign chant of thousands errupts, I scan the area as I descend. I've never seen anything like this before - dozens, hundreds, maybe even thousands of living beings that I've never encountered in my life. That no one on Earth has ever even imagined existed. What are they chanting for? This is so...

Wait. Those people down there. They can't possibly be what they look like.

Humans? On this planet?

Specifically, four individuals that look remarkably like them. Even through x-ray vision, they share the same physical characteristics. Human skin, muscle tissue, bones, internal organs - everything. The only exceptions being the leader of the group, who internally differentiates from his external physique, and the big, orange rock-like creature that...

Great Scott, I know who those people are!

I fly closer to them and finally land, just as the four come running towards me. With what looks to be unwanted company chasing after them. What in heaven's name is going on around here?!

"Dr. Richards? Reed Richards? Of The Fantastic Four?", I ask, doing little to hide the confusion in my voice. "What are the four of you doing here?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"Dr. Richards? Reed Richards? Of The Fantastic Four?", I ask, doing little to hide the confusion in my voice. "What are the four of you doing here?"

"Running for our lives!" Reed shouted as the Four ran past him.

"Who was that?"

"That was Superman," Reed said calmly before he came to a sliding stop, halting the rest of the group. "Wait," he said, elongating his neck and stretching it towards Superman.

"Superman," Reed said cautiously, looking him over. "According to the DoD, you're an alien menace."

Before Superman could reply, one of Mongul's soldiers charged towards them. Reed stretched his arm out, striking the alien in the face and knocking him to the ground.

"Yeah," Ben growled from behind. "Cause the government never makes mistakes."

"Times of desperation can make strange bedfellows. Here's the situation: it appears--"

"Before he makes a short story long...We crashed landed here, big yellow guy named Mongul is hellbent on killing us and destroying Earth. Big Brain here needs help to stop him. You in or out?"

 

[Batman]

Before Superman could reply, one of Mongul's soldiers charged towards them. Reed stretched his arm out, striking the alien in the face and knocking him to the ground.

"Yeah," Ben growled from behind. "Cause the government never makes mistakes."

"Times of desperation can make strange bedfellows. Here's the situation: it appears--"

"Before he makes a short story long...We crashed landed here, big yellow guy named Mongul is hellbent on killing us and destroying Earth. Big Brain here needs help to stop him. You in or out?"

Destroying Earth?!

Through all of the confusion, it's that part of their explaination that sticks out to me the most. Before I can get a word in edgewise, I hear massive footsteps begin to bank down on the arena floor. The five of us turn, greeted by an army of green-skinned, armor plated giants that look like something out of a movie I'd have watched back at the Drive-In in Smallville. They immediately growl and leap at us, fists raised and clearly prepared for a heavy strike. And suddenly, I don't care all too much about how or why Dr. Richards and his team are on this planet. They clearly want off, and I wouldn't much blame them for it.

The three snarling creatures come barrelling down, but I stop their attack and let loose with a concentrated blast of heat vision. Then follow it with an unconcentrated blast that's nearly as powerful as the ones I used against that creature that attacked Metropolis. The Humanite, I think it called itself. If these beasts aren't as durable as it was, then they're in a world of pain. I watch as all three creatures fall back, their skin steaming.

My eyes roll over with red heat and I levitate off of the ground, as a clear warning to the other aliens. As long as I'm here, The Fantastic Four aren't about to be harmed. And Earth is definitely not going to be destroyed.

"We'll discuss the 'alien menace' business later, Doctor. Our first priority lies with stopping whatever this... what did you call him? Mongul?"

The rock-creature - once the pilot of that spacecraft that helped transform the four, if I remember correctly - cracks his knuckles and stares down the aliens. "That's what the big man called himself. Pretty fittin', if ya ask me."

"Right. Obviously, we have to stop whatever he's planning for Earth. I won't let him succeed."

I look over my shoulder at Richards.

"You have my help for as long as you need it."

 

[Byrd Man]

My eyes roll over with red heat and I levitate off of the ground, as a clear warning to the other aliens. As long as I'm here, The Fantastic Four aren't about to be harmed. And Earth is definitely not going to be destroyed.

"We'll discuss the 'alien menace' business later, Doctor. Our first priority lies with stopping whatever this... what did you call him? Mongul?"

The rock-creature - once the pilot of that spacecraft that helped transform the four, if I remember correctly - cracks his knuckles and stares down the aliens. "That's what the big man called himself. Pretty fittin', if ya ask me."

"Right. Obviously, we have to stop whatever he's planning for Earth. I won't let him succeed."

I look over my shoulder at Richards.

"You have my help for as long as you need it."

"Good!" Reed said with a smile. Superman and the Four began to fight their way through the warriors.

From his throne, Mongul watched Superman with fascination. The way he moved, the way he fought. Unlike those other whelps, this one seemed like a challenging foe who would not stoop to trickery like the woman had.

"My lord," a voice hissed on the throne's commlink. "Weapons are ready and aimed at Earth. You may give the order when ready."

"Good," Mongul said, standing and stretching his back. "Fire at will," he said, leaping from his throne and jumping into the fray.

While Superman and the Four fought, Reed suddenly stopped as he felt the ground below them rumble.

"Oh, no," he said. "The weapons are preparing to fire! We only have a few moments!"

Scenarios and situations raced through Reed's brain so fast he could barely keep up with them.

"I've got it," he shouted excitedly, clothes-lining an alien warrior with an elongated arm. "Superman, I need you to toss Susan into the sky!"

"Pardon me?"

"If you can toss Susan into the sky, she'll break out of Warworld's small gravity field and be able to encase the entire planet in a forcefield, blocking the planet's laser cannons from striking the Earth. After she blocks the lasers, she can create a bubble and navigate it back down to the planet."

"A forcefield that size? I don't know if I can."

"Yes, you can," Reed said, turning his head away from the fight and looking at Sue. "I believe in you. Superman, can you?"

Before Superman could speak, Mongul tore through the mob and tackled him. "Finally, an Earthling worth a fight! Face me, if you dare!"

The two disappeared in the throng of warriors and Ben turned to Reed.

"Plan B?"

"Ben can make the throw. Johnny, cover us."

"Yes, sir, General Richards," Johnny said with a roll of his eyes. He shot out a ring of fire around the Four.

"I believe in you," Reed said, embracing Sue.

"I'll be falling pretty fast."

"I'll be there to catch you. Like always."

The two shared a quick kiss before Sue was picked up by Ben.

"Alright, Susie. Here we go."

Ben reared back and tossed Sue into the air. She soared through the arena and out into the sky, disappearing from sight as the entire planet began to shake.
​

 

[Batman]

The hulking brute that calls himself Mongul collides into me harder than anything I've ever felt. I've noticed that I'm running afoul of alot of those types, lately. Yet with this one, I find it harder to strike back because every time I try to defend myself, he finds a way to throw a new obstacle into the middle of battle. First it was the crowd of aliens, feverishly charging at Dr. Richards and his crew and ignoring us as we traded blows. Then the alien decides that it's not enough, and forces the both of us through a solid wall of the arena. Laughing all the way through the catacombs, he hits me again and again and makes sure that I stay at a disadvantage. And to be honest, it's starting to hurt. Only when he encapsulates my skull in his palm does it become clear that he doesn't just want this fight - he's been eagerly waiting for it.

"Hah! You have no idea how long this day has been coming, challenger!"

One punch, and he's already the strongest being I've ever had to face. I feel myself collide with countless barriers, falling through room after room of this gladiator's dungeon. A pair of alien bystanders go running as I tumble through the final wall and smash into an open chest of weaponry. My uniform's already showing signs of tear. I feel a strange sensation overcome me, as I try and stand. Is this what it feels like to be winded?

"For millenia, I have watched warriors from all across this galaxy step forth to challenge my greatness! Yet none have so quickly dropped out of the skies as you!"

Mongul bursts his way through the wall entirely, grabbing me with both hands across the waist and lifting me off of the ground. I try to fight off his grip, but he simply grins back at any attempts I make and brushes them off, slamming his forehead into my chest. It's enough to leave me keeled over, as he drops me onto the ground and kicks me across the floors.

"You can defy gravity! Your strength is great, I can tell! You expell heat from your eyes! You are truly a unique specimen, challenger... but even so, I shall conquer you and the pathetic animals you've come to aid!"

He likes to talk. I get the feeling that it's because he's used to putting on a show for the aliens out there, still cheering for the deaths of Dr. Richards and his team. I can't fail them just because of this despot's arrogance. I have to fight back, somehow. I have to overcome his strength before he's allowed to destroy them - and potentially, Earth.

"For now, though, I shall take great pleasure in testing just how powerful you really are!"

He goes in for another punch. This is my chance. Pushing myself off of the ground, I catch his punch with my forearm, and counter with a hard shot across his jaw. The ground quakes beneath us from the impact, as he stumbles backward and leaves me to press on. Flying into him with both fists, I barrage him with a series of punches that he doesn't see coming. I don't give him the chance to.

"That, among other things, is the biggest mistake you've made today!"

I finish off with a strike so powerful that it sends him through the wall and back into the arena. He falls flat on his back, both surprised and dazed from the power of my attacks. I leap through the hole in the wall and slam my knee into his face, combining both fists and bringing them down onto his head.

"AGGH!"

He stumbles again, but this time, he's not so out of it that he can't strike back. His pleasure quickly turns into raw fury, pummeling me with calculated strikes that send me crashing all across the arena. Through the scattered sand, he leaps through and slams down onto the ground with a powerful manuever that tosses me into the air.

"Impressive, manbeast! But know that on Warworld, there is only room for one God! One supreme ruler to all that lives! And that is Mongul!"

I expect him to follow up on his attack by the time that I land, but something happens. His attention shifts over from me to the skies, seeing what The Fantastic Four have planned for his doomsday device against Earth. The anger is guided away from me, as he snarls towards the remaining three of the group.

"You! You will not interfere! Your world will die today!"

That's it. I've had enough of this monster. It's time that he learned what it means to contend with the people of Earth.

Picking up speed, I fly up behind him and lock my arms under his, forcing him into a hold that he tries desperately to escape. "You would dare?! Release me at once!"

We both ascend at a rapid pace, heading towards the skies.

"Release yourself, Mongul! This is what happens when you threaten an entire planet of people..."

Mongul still tries to overcome, but it's too late. We break the atmosphere of Warworld and hit open space, where I hold him without any form of oxygen. ...I get angry!

He flails around, trying not to give in, but it's too futile a gesture. Even alien despots need to breathe. Before long, he eventually passes out, allowing me to fly us both back into Warworld without a fight.

That should give Richards enough time to save the world.

 

[Byrd Man]

​

"Alright, Susie. Here we go."

Ben reared back and tossed Sue into the air. She soared through the arena and out into the sky, disappearing from sight as the entire planet began to shake.
​

Sue rocketed upwards into the air. Warworld was fading behind her and the air was getting thin. She took a deep breath and held it in as she punched through the planet's thin atmosphere and entered space. Her momentum hurled her through space in the direction towards Earth.

Sue spun and looked down at Warworld. The entire planet was glowing, hundreds of thousands of laser cannons fully charged and ready to fire. Out the corner of her eye, Sue saw Superman and Mongul whip by her and go back down to the planet. As she continued to rocket away from the planet, Sue closed her eyes and held her hands out.

The entire atmosphere around Warworld began to shimmer, then it disappeared. Sue scowled, eye still shut, and focused as hard as she could. The atmosphere shimmered as an invisible forcefield wrapped itself around the planet.

The planet's cannons opened fire, striking the forcefield with all the might Warworld could muster. Sue gritted her teeth and concentrated harder, blood leaking out her nose and floating away in the zero gravity void. The forcefield bucked and strained, but it held. With a thrust of her hand, Sue sent all the fire back to the weapons, All across the planet's surface, the laser cannons were hit with their own blasts and ruptured. Sue let go of her forcefield and looked down at the smokey and crater marked surface of the planet.

She had done it. Still holding her breath, she tried to form a protective bubble to carry her back. The bubble flickered around her before disappearing. She tried again, only for it to disappear. The act of saving the Earth had weakened her, she couldn't create any more constructs. And what was worse, she was still drifting farther and farther away from Warworld, and her breath was about to give out.

 

[Batman]

We return to the center of the arena just as Mongul's energy canons activate and begin firing. It's a tense few seconds, as the remaining four of us are left standing as panicked aliens begin to flee from the crowd. For a moment, I consider the ramifications of what could possibly happen if this fails. I'm not sure what I - moreover, what any of us could possibly do with Earth destroyed. But after we stare at the skies for a few moments and dreadfully wait for the next phase to pass, none of us have to worry anymore. The forcefield held and directed the shots back at the canons. Explosions ravage the far distance of Warworld. But Earth is absolutely unharmed.

She did it. The woman on Richards' team deflected the blasts just in time. We saved Earth. No, they saved Earth. It was The Fantastic Four's efforts that ultimately won the day. I was just lucky to be able to pitch in. I smile to myself as the three men of the group - who've obviously experienced more than their fair share of adventure for the day - trade victorious cheers for the occasion.

Then comes the moment that none of us prepared for. Half a minute passes, and the woman hasn't returned from Warworld's atmosphere. We all trade perplexed expressions, particularly Dr. Richards, whose plan just saved our world. But the grim thought that it might have also just doomed one of his own suddenly crosses my mind, as the three begin to panic.

"Wh... Where is she, Reed? Wouldn't she be back by now?"

"Yeah, stretch. I figured Susie'd come floatin' in on one'a those fancy invisi-discs she's always conjurin'."

Richards doesn't seem to have any answer for them, as his face goes white staring back up at the stars.

"Reed? Dude, say something! What's happened to my sister?!"

The Thing walks up and begins shaking Richards by the shoulders.

"Snap outta it, Reed! You're the go-to guy for this stuff! Is Susie gonna be okay or what?!"

I decide to use my microscopic vision to answer the question still lingering on their minds. But what I find whenever I scan the skies and pinpoint the Invisible Woman's location doesn't fill me with optimism. Worse, it looks to be a dire circumstance.

"Oh, no..."

"What? Whaddya see up there?"

"She's fallen unconscious. Her body's being pulled out of the stratosphere. If someone doesn't catch her, she's going to head right into open space."

The youngest member of the team visibly panics.

"Sue! Oh, god, no! She's not gonna die! Not on my watch! FLAME O-...!"

"Can it, flamebrain! Open fire ain't gonna do much in space! You go up there, you're gonna end up just like Susie! Supes, you got any..."

By the time they turn back to me, I'm already gone, ascending at a rapid pace towards the atmosphere. A few seconds pass before I've finally reached the limit of the skies. Warworld's ultra-thin atmosphere is barely breatheable in of itself, so I can't imagine how long she was holding her breath before she passed out. My answer soon comes to me, as I come across her floating body heading out into the darkness.

Increasing my speed, I fly just past her and catch her before she drifts too far off. Her hair floats in my face, obstructing my vision, but falls flat once we descend into the orbit of Warworld. I catch her in my arms and wrap a fold of my cape around her so that she doesn't freeze or burn to death.

In seconds, we're high above the arena. My x-ray vision scans her internal organs, telling me if she's alright or not. Just as we begin a final descent, her eyes flutter open from unconciousness and she looks around. I give her a reassuring smile.

"Easy, miss. I've got you."

"You've got me..."

She looks over and notices we're several hundred feet in the air. Her eyes widen as she clutches to me, hard.

"Who's got you?!"

I chuckle as we finally touch down to meet the other three.

"Sis!"

"What'd I tell ya, kid? I knew it was all gonna work out."

Letting her down as Reed finally snaps back to his senses and joins us, I turn to him.

"She'll be alright. I checked her vital organs on the way down, and they're all perfectly fine. Though I'd definitely advise against trying that stunt again for the rest of the day."

 

[Byrd Man]

"What'd I tell ya, kid? I knew it was all gonna work out."

Letting her down as Reed finally snaps back to his senses and joins us, I turn to him.

"She'll be alright. I checked her vital organs on the way down, and they're all perfectly fine. Though I'd definitely advise against trying that stunt again for the rest of the day."

"I'm sorry, Susan," Reed said, wrapping his arms around Sue. "I didn't account for inertial drift, I got so caught up on what was going on, I didn't think."

"Reed, you want to make it up to me? Just take me home."

"Right," Reed said, looking towards the Earth. "We're close enough now that the Baxter Building's quantum teleporters will be able to pick us up.
Reed pulled his scanner from his side and calibrated it. He pressed the 4 logo on his chest. Ben, Sue, and Johnny flickered and then disappeared.

"They're back in New York," he said to Superman. "I only need your help for this next part. Its time to get Warworld out of this system and far away from Earth."

 

[Batman]

"Right," Reed said, looking towards the Earth. "We're close enough now that the Baxter Building's quantum teleporters will be able to pick us up.
Reed pulled his scanner from his side and calibrated it. He pressed the 4 logo on his chest. Ben, Sue, and Johnny flickered and then disappeared.

"They're back in New York," he said to Superman. "I only need your help for this next part. Its time to get Warworld out of this system and far away from Earth."

"Hold that thought,"

In all of the panic, I forgot one crucial little detail - that of the despot responsible for Earth's close call. I heard his heartrate begin to accellerate again from here, indicating that he was slipping back into consciousness after our earlier encounter. Turning towards him as his body begins to move, I begin a run that quickly turns into a sprint that's three times as fast as an olympic athelete, scooping up Mongul and throwing his body over my shoulder.

During the fight, I noticed that Warworld's arena houses a large prison area for varying alien species. If I knew whether they were wrongly imprisoned or not, I'd release them, but it's too foreign an environment for me to interfere. I'll simply deal with the one that tried to destroy the planet I love. Speeding us both to the back of the arena, I spot an empty cell among the corridors and rush over to it, placing Mongul inside just as he begins to slur his speech.

"Where..."

Stepping back, I press the button on the panel next to the cell and watch as a plasma barrier seperates the both of us, rather than conventional prison bars. Mongul, realizing what I've just done, angrily snarls and leaps at the field, instantly being forced back by the risidule energy.

"YOU DARE DO THIS TO ME?! IN MY OWN PALACE?! I WILL HAVE YOUR FLESH RIPPED FROM YOUR BONES, EARTHMAN!"

I give him a sneer, folding my arms across my chest.

"As a matter of fact, Mongul, I would dare. You nearly killed over six billion people without thought or provocation. What have the people of Earth ever done to you?"

"IT IS THE NATURE OF THE GAME, YOU WITLESS MAMMAL! WHEN YOU ENTER MY ARENA, YOU EITHER KILL OR WATCH AS YOUR WORLD IS DESTROYED! THAT IS THE LAW OF WARWORLD!"

Letting silence drift between the two of us as he heavily breathes, I eventually just shake my head.

"I see."

Turning around, I allow myself to be distanced from such a barbarian. And try hard not to be too disgusted as I walk.

"Enjoy the view of your 'palace'. Don't ever try to harm Earth again."

"YOU WILL RUE THE DAY YOU CONTENDED WITH THE MIGHTY MONGUL, APE! MY VENGEANCE WILL BE SWIFT, AND YOUR WORLD WILL---"

In a matter of seconds, I've rejoined Dr. Richards in the arena.

"Sorry about that. I had something to take care of. Now, what did you have in mind to get Warworld out of Earth's orbit?"

 

[Andy C.]

"Okay, so that's done," I say to myself with an irritated grunt as I start climbing down the ladder from the side of the house, the gutters finally clean. Of course, I could just scramble up and down the walls all day with no trouble at all--as evidenced by the fact that I caught myself from falling when I accidentally tipped the ladder over an hour ago--but I don't think the neighbors need to know that, to say nothing of Aunt May and Uncle Ben.

The past few days have been........well, frakking awful. When Uncle Ben hasn't been on the phone looking for legal counsel against the Thompsons' lawsuit for my dislocating Flash's shoulder, or poring through the classified ads looking for a new job, he's been giving me a whole mess of chores to do. He says the work will be good for me, that it will give me something to do while I wait out the two weeks of my suspension from school.

And Aunt May's spent the last few days doing paperwork, looking through the family bills, trying to balance the household checkbook, going over and over to see what things they can afford to cut out. Unfortunately, if there's one thing the Parkers are not, it's financial geniuses. I took a look at their budget when they weren't looking, and they barely have anything saved at all, apart from their 'dream vacation' fund and my money for college, neither of which are particularly impressive.

So yeah, tensions around the house have been somewhat tightened lately. Both of them are stressed out, and I honestly think they're taking it out on me, by punishing me for something I didn't even mean to do.

"Uncle Ben?" I say as I step back inside after putting up the ladder. "I finished cleaning the gutters. Can we go now?"

"Sure, Pete, get your things," he says with a tired smile. "Thanks again for doing that; I'm getting a little too old to do it myself."

Ain't that a convenient excuse, I think to myself as I head upstairs to my room, to grab my backpack.

Tonight's the night of the big UCWF Tough-Man contest, where amateurs can take on the professional fighters. If you win, you get twenty-five grand, which would be just.....awesome. Following instructions from some less than reputable websites, I was able to fudge my library card into a convincing fake ID, so I should be able to enter the contest without any trouble. And with my amazing new spider-powers, winning it should be a cinch.

Of course, I can't exactly tell my folks Hey, I know I'm grounded for fighting and all, but I'm gonna go beat up some strangers for money, don't wait up! So I came up with a convenient excuse: a research paper for my biology class, due the week after I come back from my suspension. And oh, the teacher wants us to do it the old-fashioned way and use actual books for our citations, so I can't just look everything up online, which I guess means I'll have to spend all evening at the library. I wanted to just take the bus, but Uncle Ben insisted on driving me there.

I grab my backpack, filled with a few notebooks and pencils, and underneath that, my 'Human Spider' attire: a red sweatshirt with a spider logo drawn on it in Sharpie, gloves, and a red ski mask--I figure the whole 'mysterious masked man' thing might go over with the crowd.

"Okay, I'm ready to go," I say, coming back down the stairs. We hop into Uncle Ben's old beaten-up Oldsmobile, and make our way into the city.


*****


The ride is uncomfortably quiet, me stewing in my frustration, and Uncle Ben looking like he wants to say something, but never actually getting around to saying it. For the duration of the trip, the only thing that breaks the silence is me letting out a slight cough.

Finally, we pull up to the library, and Uncle Ben finally opens his mouth.

"Pete," he says, "before you go, I wanted to say something to you. I know that you probably think I'm being a little too hard on you for what happened at school. And I know you're probably angry at me about that."

I say nothing, looking out the window impatiently.

"Understand, we don't blame you for what happened," he continues. "I understand that boy was probably asking for someone to put him in his place, but......you can't let people like that bring you down to their level. We're not mad at you, we just.....we wish you'd just shown better judgment than that."

Great, the whole 'we're not mad, just disappointed' routine again. This couldn't have waited until I got home?

"You're becoming a man now, Peter. One who's got the ability to do amazing things. But part of being an adult is knowing that your actions have consequences, to more people than just yourself. It's not just knowing what you can do, but what you should."

He looks away, sadly.

"When I was serving in the Army," he says, "There were lots of times overseas when some of the other guys in my platoon would abuse their power. We'd come across a village we were supposed to liberate from the enemy, and some of the guys, this big corporal named O'Grady in particular, would start taking liberties with the locals. They'd shove them around, humiliate them, do all kinds of bad things, because there was nothing the villagers could do about it: we were the guys with guns, we were the guys with the power."

He doesn't go into any real detail, and I don't ask him to; I imagine they wouldn't be too nice.

"That's why when my tour ended, I left the Infantry and became an MP," he says. "To do what I could to keep our boys honest, to remind them that because they're more powerful than the people around them, that they've also got a duty to use it wisely, carefully."

I fidget in my seat, getting a little antsy for him to wrap his lecture up.

"I know I'm not your real father," he says, "And I don't know how Richard would have raised you. Richard knew a lot of things that I didn't. He was always the smart one; you got your brilliance from him. And that brilliance, Pete, is another kind of power. An even greater power than just being able to push people around or threaten them with guns. But you can't let that power go to waste."

He takes a deep breath, and I know that's my cue that he's nearly done.

"I'm just saying, Peter, that you've got a lot of real gifts, and you have to know how to use them right, or they can make things a lot worse than they need to be. I was never much of a reader--not as much as Richard, anyway--but when I was in college, I read a passage from Voltaire that stuck with me: 'with great power, comes great responsibility.'"

There's a long, heavy silence between us as he lets the saying sink in.

Finally, I say something.

"Are you finished?"

Uncle Ben sighs.

"Yeah," he says. "Yeah, I'm finished."

"Okay," I say tersely. "The library closes at 9. I'll see you then."

I finally get out of the Oldsmobile, looking over my shoulder at the sad old man as he watches me go. All of that long-winded preaching, and he can't even finish it with some original advice? And really, how is he in any position to lecture anybody? All that talk, and he couldn't even use any of his 'great power' and 'great responsibility' to hold onto his job. And blaming me for standing up to the guy who was shoving me around? What else was I supposed to do?

Even more frustrated than before, I wait until Uncle Ben drives out of sight before heading away from the library, to the subway station to take me to Madison Square Garden.

Honestly, I'm glad the old man decided to wait until just then to start talking down to me.

Because now I've got a whole lot of venting to do on some unsuspecting fighters.

 

[Byrd Man]

In a matter of seconds, I've rejoined Dr. Richards in the arena.

"Sorry about that. I had something to take care of. Now, what did you have in mind to get Warworld out of Earth's orbit?"

"All I need to do is get to up there," Reed said, looking up at the throne towering in the arena.


Ninety Minutes Later
Beta Pegasi
196 Light Years From Earth

Warworld shook and rattled as it jumped out of warp speed. The tiny planet fell into place around Beta Pegasi's orbit as Reed hurriedly typed on the throne's console.

"And there we go," he said, looking up at Superman. "One more thing, I'd like to see Mongul."

The two men headed down to Mongul's cell and stopped in front of it. The yellow skinned tyrant eyed them.

"Earth is off-limits to you," Reed said. "This isn't a warning or a threat. It's a fact. We're nearly 200 light years away from the planet and, as of that last jump, your warp drive has been disabled. But don't worry, the star system you're in is perfect to support you and the planet. Think of it has your new home"

"Fool," Mongul scoffed. "My engineers are the best in the galaxy. They will have the planet rebuilt and be--"

"The warp drive is intact. That's not the issue. The issue here is that it's been disabled by a biometric lock. To open it, you need the DNA, hand scan, and voice imprint of two people: Both Superman and I. And we're leaving this planet just as soon as we're done with you. At the current rate your planet moves when it's not in war, it would take the planet to reach Earth again it would be the year... 7042, give or take a decade or two."

"You think this is over? This is not over!"

"Yes, it is. Unless you feel up to losing to our great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandchildren someday."

"The God-King Mongul does not tire and he does not yield."

"But he does beg for mercy," Reed said with a twinkle in his eye. "And if you don't behave, mister, you won't have to deal with me or Superman... I'll have to go sic my wife on you... Again."

Mongul yelled and stamped his feet, cursing Reed and Superman. Reed just turned and looked at Superman. The two men shared a look and started walking down the corridor, leaving Mongul behind in his cell.

"Let's see if I can find a spacesuit. Hope you don't mind me hitching a ride with you back to Earth."

 

[trustyside-kick]

OOC: Previously...
Black Bolt

​

New Genesis
Orion's Private Courters

"Blackagar!!!"

Orion, the Dog of War, yells out the Inhuman King's name however he yells out to static. The second that Black Bolt unleashed his attack on the surface of Apokolips, interference was created between the connections of Orion on New Genesis and the Royal Family on their War Ship in space. In his fury and anger, Orion starts to lose his temper and smashes his fists upon the console and ripping its base clean off and tossing it over his backside. Lightray enters the room, dodge the projectile console, and speaks.

"He didn't listen did he, Orion?"

The true son of Darkseid merely jerks his head back at Lightray, who sighs as he has more than received his answer.

"Then it is time we relay to High Father that the Inhumans have foresworn the Quintessence's decree. You know as well as I do what the likely outcome is. New Genesis must be ready to defend itself for the sake of the Galaxy once Darkseid's forces has defeated the Inhumans and made them their minions."

"No...there is the other possibility...should they exceed."

"Should they succeed, the cosmos are still doomed. You heard High Father. There are only two outcomes that the Quintessence have foreseen should the Inhumans take action as they have. Black Bolt will either die during this assault on Apokolips, or wish he had in the aftermath. The former and the latter both can result in chaos among the cosmos. Hence is the reason High Father said that the Quintessence did not tell the Inhuman those two fates. There was the third and only useful fate for him and his people: not going at war. That was their only solution. Now...there is no hope for the Inhuman Race."


Apokolips
The Surface of the planet

"DIE FOR DARKSEID!!!"
"DARKSEID IS!"
"MY LIFE FOR LORD DARKSEID!!"

Such are the chants the parademon armies of Apokolips chant randomly as they engage in battle with Blackagar Boltagon's forces. Black Bolt and the Royal Family lead the battle of course. While in some cultures it is customary in a monarchy when a kingdom is at war for the monarch to let his generals and lower ranked men wage war for him...it most certainly is not the case for the Inhuman race. Black Bolt does not use his quasi-sonic scream of course now that they are on the surface of Apokolips and no longer within the warship that has the magnificent weapon his brother constructed. Still, he is able to channel the quasi-sonic particles from within and release them through powerful blasts or to imbue his strength.

As it currently stands, the Inhumans seem to be making quite an advancement through the parademon forces.

Maximus the Mad, younger brother to the King and former attempted-usurper, remains upon the warship of course. As his elder brother is on the battlefield with the rest of the Royal Family and Inhuman forces, Maximus is their greater eyes and ears. He relays to Karnak what he sees telepathically, and Karnak in return through his uncanny gift relays back the most precise of weak spots in Darkseid's forces. Victory is surely within their grasps with such efficiency and cooperation. Truly something for the history books.

Years from now, cultures will remember this day as the Great Inhuman Triumph. Hours from now...Blackagar shall be tasting victory.

Triton's forces, whom have finally breached through some of the Apokoliptian structures, can finally start their mission as it is their task to shut down and dampen the enemies forces and locate their weapons' cache to quicker disarm the enemy as there are still some trying to rally up while the first wave is in combat with the Inhuman forces. Gorgon, with the beautiful Inhuman Queen Medusa and her sibling Crystal, are tasked with locating where exactly it is that Ahura is being held captive.

Karnak remains with the King...the two of them alone being a force to be reckoned with as they continue to push on with the rest of their forces.

Then, everything becomes worth it as Blackagar Boltagon will finally be able to serve a sense of justice to the first person of this wretched planet that has wronged him. A loud BOOM thunders as a boom tube opens up on their left flank, and quickly Karnak notices who leads this particular force of Apokoliptians. Nudging to his cousin, Karnak assures him that he along with Maximus' aid from above will continue the main push, and Black Bolt flies to the skies. His target dead in front of him but a mere few seconds away, he charges up the quasi-sonic particles from within.

"DIE INHUMAN SCUM!"

Kalibak the Cruel. The one who had physically taken Ahura from Black Bolt has arrived. Blackagar plans to show him just how cruel he can be.
​

 

[Batman]

Mongul yelled and stamped his feet, cursing Reed and Superman. Reed just turned and looked at Superman. The two men shared a look and started walking down the corridor, leaving Mongul behind in his cell.

"Let's see if I can find a spacesuit. Hope you don't mind me hitching a ride with you back to Earth."

And so we leave Warworld behind.

I had to admit, I was a little hesitant about carrying Dr. Richards all the way back to Earth. I've never been this far out in space before in my life - that is at least, I've never flown this far out by myself and without a spacecraft to shield me. So suffice to say, I didn't know what I was in for regarding the flight itself. The idea of bringing a passenger along seemed like too much of a risk. But once I realized that I literally had no other option except to leave him stranded here, on Warworld, with a tyrannical despot waiting to exact his revenge, I quickly left those concerns aside and decided to take the chance. So after rummaging through Mongul's personal quarters, we managed to find a suit suitable for space travel and make our leave.

Less than a few hours later, and I've managed to spot our moon in the oncoming distance. It was a rough trek, and we couldn't nessecarily talk on the way there, but we both made it back from the other side of the galaxy relatively unharmed. Richards gives me an enthusiastic thumbs-up, evidently having enjoyed his tour of part of the known universe. I simply smirk, carrying us past the moon and back towards Earth. Admittedly, I thought it was pretty neat myself.

Whenever we hit the atmosphere, I take the brunt of the friction that it causes for us both. Fortunately, Richards' spacesuit is heavily armored, which is the one positive thing so far that I can say about Warworld. Before long, we've made it into the stratosphere, hovering just above Kenya. A little far from New York, but the trip shouldn't take more than a minute.

Feeling safe enough to lift the visor on the helmet, Richards takes a long-awaited gasp of oxygen that isn't foreign. For a moment, I find myself wishing I understood what it meant to have to breathe.

"Took us a little bit of time, but I think we're finally home. You feeling alright, now that you've seen half of the solar system?"

 

[Byrd Man]

Whenever we hit the atmosphere, I take the brunt of the friction that it causes for us both. Fortunately, Richards' spacesuit is heavily armored, which is the one positive thing so far that I can say about Warworld. Before long, we've made it into the stratosphere, hovering just above Kenya. A little far from New York, but the trip shouldn't take more than a minute.

Feeling safe enough to lift the visor on the helmet, Richards takes a long-awaited gasp of oxygen that isn't foreign. For a moment, I find myself wishing I understood what it meant to have to breathe.

"Took us a little bit of time, but I think we're finally home. You feeling alright, now that you've seen half of the solar system?"

"You kidding?" Reed asked with a smile. "I only wish I had brought a camera."

A few minutes later, Superman was touching down on the roof of the Baxter Building after letting Reed down.

"I should probably get inside," Reed said, pulling off the space suit's helmet. "I have a feeling NASA and the Air Force are going to hound me to give them a debrief... Speaking of that, I submitted a report to the government the other day. They wanted my thoughts on the Superman of Metropolis. I said you were probably a low-grade metahuman suffering from delusions of grandeur... After today, though, I'm convinced that no delusions could live up to your actual grandeur."

Reed held his hand out.

"You saved my wife. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, I am forever in your debt. The doors of the Baxter Building are always open to you."

 

[Batman]

"I should probably get inside," Reed said, pulling off the space suit's helmet. "I have a feeling NASA and the Air Force are going to hound me to give them a debrief... Speaking of that, I submitted a report to the government the other day. They wanted my thoughts on the Superman of Metropolis. I said you were probably a low-grade metahuman suffering from delusions of grandeur... After today, though, I'm convinced that no delusions could live up to your actual grandeur."

Reed held his hand out.

"You saved my wife. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, I am forever in your debt. The doors of the Baxter Building are always open to you."

I return the handshake, though with a bit of initial hesitance. A few days ago, few even knew for sure that Superman actually even existed. I had lived a life of hiding my potential, dodging any chance of personal glory or thanks. Yet now, I've just experienced an alien world, fought it's maniacal ruler, travelled through space, and have met The Fantastic Four. I'm shaking hands with Reed Richards, one of the world's top astrobiologists.

If this is what it feels like to be able to stop hiding yourself from the world, I may have been wrong about fearing what the world would see of me. Infact, I'm starting to think I like it.

"I appreciate the sentiment, Doctor, but I was happy to help. Your team is doing good work for the world, and may have even just saved it from annihilation. So allow me to extend an offer of my own. If you or your team ever need me, just call my name. I promise you that I'll hear it."

Giving my new friend a smile, I turn back towards the skyline of New York.

It's a nice city, but it's no Metropolis. Which I should be getting back to before it gets late. I may be mistaken, but I believe that I have another job interview tomorrow.

"It was nice meeting you all. Hopefully today won't be the last that we cross eachother's paths."

Without another word, we wave eachother goodbye as I ascend into the skies and take off.

All of the pleasantries aside, there is something else that I took away from my encounter with The Fantastic Four. I now know that the government is still hunting me. After what happened in Metropolis, in such a public display of my powers, I figured it was only a matter of time.

Hopefully their renewed interest in me won't be too problematic...

 

[wiegeabo]

"I do," I said, glaring at Biglia with my arms crossed.


45 Minutes Later
Gotham Central


Matt and I were hidden in the shadows as the stairwell door opened and Gordon walked across the roof.

"Biglia sang like a canary," he said after lighting up a cigarette. He took a long drag on the cigarette before he slowly exhaled, the smoke curling out his mouth.

"I put in a call to a friend of mine at the NYPD. He's a captain in their Major Case Squad. New York and the Gotham DA offices will start extradition on Bigglia. This time tomorrow, he should be in a holding cell at the Tombs in Manhattan."

"That's good to know. There are more than a few people back in New York that will be happy to get this confession on the record."

I offer my hand towards Gordon, and he seems genuinely surprised at the gesture. "Thanks for the halp. And I'm sorry I couldn't do more to help your men tonight."

 

[Carnage27]

As the building burns and crumbles around us, Kobra and I continue our bout. He charges at me, and I manage to dodge a punch and throw my shoulder into him, pushing him back.

But he drives his leg into my chest and grabs me by the waste, flipping me over his head and into a column. The blow knocks the wind of me, and as I stand, the column gives way, sending an avalanche of rubble on top of me. I manage to raise my shield, saving me form being crushed, but I am trapped and too long in this heat will be the end of me.

"Captain," I hear Kobra's muffled voice from outside as I attempt to dig myself out. "I'm sorry it had to come to this. But it was either now or later. You don't fit into our future plans."

As he finishes my shield hand bursts from the rubble, and I roll towards him, delivering an upper cut as I complete the roll. "It's gonna take a lot more to take me outta the game than that."

"Apparently so," the terrorist leader smiles. He flicks his wrist away from his hip, and I have to bring my shield up quickly to deflect a throwing knife away from me. But as I do that, he throws another that embeds itself in my right thigh.

I yell in pain, and don't have time to defend myself from a haymaker punch that knocks me halfway across the room. I lay there and attempt to get the knife out of my leg as Kobra comes towards me. A hole in the roof and wall shows the city proper and the damage the terrorists have done.

"Look at it, Rogers," Kobra laughs as he reaches down towards me. "The birth of a new future through flames."

Painfully yanking the knife from my leg, I quickly slash at his hand, and then plunge it into his shoulder. He grunts and stumbles back, and I toss my shield at his other shoulder, causing him to stumble backwards. At that moment, the floor gives way, and he barely grabs on to a stable part. He manages to pull himself up, and pull the knife out of his shoulder.

I look around at the building around us, and it's obviously coming down any minute.

"We need to get out of here, or we're both going to die."

"Then I will have completed my mission and I will be rewarded in the next life," he says as he comes at me with the knife. He swipes and stabs, but I manage to keep myself unharmed. His injuries have made him sloppy, and after a few sloppy attacks, I grab his arm and toss him away from him.

He lands, and a good portion of the roof falls around him, trapping him here he stands. I can see in his eyes the anger of failure, but he knows he has no where to go. "Well done Captain," he says in an angry, dejected voice. "But this is far from a final victory."

"You said you have a master!" I call to him. "Who?"

He laughs his cruel laugh. As the flames rise, he calls back, "If one dies, two will rise to take its place...HAIL HYDRA!"

And then the building collapses. I sprint towards a hole in the wall as rubble tumbles towards me, and I leap through it as the entire building comes down.

HYDRA. Impossible. We stopped HYDRA. I was thought dead on a mission to ensure that. But I can't worry about old enemies now. I have a battle to lead and win.

I land, and see Diana finishing off a group of Kobra troops. She sees me and rushes over, "Captain, you are injured."

"I'll be fine," I respond. "What's the situation?"

"Iron Man and Thor have engaged the enemies in the air, including a force of robotic giants that showed up. But we will not last long like this. Where is Kobra?"

"He won't be joining us for the remainder of the evening," I respond, and realize she's right. We won't last long like this. I need to finish this. "You can fly, right?"

"Yes."

"Care to give me a lift?"

"Where?"

"There," I say, pointing towards the helicarrier.
​

 

[Carnage27]

As my small, remaining Brotherhood exit the forest and find Charles's institute, the sight steals my breath. The grounds have been destroyed, and the house looks like its in shambles from this distance.

"Erik, I'm sorry," Mystique says from my side.

"Come, let's check the grounds."

As we explore what once were beautiful gardens and well manicured lawns, I'm taken aback by the destruction. There were more of them sent here, that's for sure. They wanted something here. Badly. What it was I'm not sure. It seems they got it though.

"[BLACKOUT]No bodies,[/BLACKOUT]" Arthur says form behind me.

"We can be thankful for one thing then," I respond. "When we find who ever has done this, we'll be able to liberate those captured."

We approach the house, and I push the broken door open, and its hinges give way as it collapses to the floor. The inside is barely touched aside from the broken windows and a few score marks from blast of the outside.

"They obviously didn't need to come in to acquire their targets," I ponder. "Search the house for survivors."

I head towards Charles's study, and take a seat, pondering what my next move is.

"Where are you, Charles?"
​

 

[Byrd Man]

"That's good to know. There are more than a few people back in New York that will be happy to get this confession on the record."

I offer my hand towards Gordon, and he seems genuinely surprised at the gesture. "Thanks for the halp. And I'm sorry I couldn't do more to help your men tonight."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but I doubt there is anything just one person could have done to change things. Do we have any idea of what they wanted?"

"Not yet," I said. It was true, although I still had the sneaking suspicion that Gorgon and the Hand's appearance in Gotham related to me. "I'll be in touch."

Gordon nodded and then Matt and I disappeared back into the shadows.

****

Matt and I stood at the top of Wayne Tower as the skyline of Gotham shifted from ink-black to the purply haze of dawn. The sun was preparing to peek over the horizon.

"Thanks for your help tonight," I said to Matt. "I know it's not the most conventional class reunion, but then again we never had anything close to a conventional class."
​