One Earth: The Marvel/DC RPG

[Carnage27]

​

"How fair our allies?"

A blast of energy erupts from the area where our friends were fighting, signaling trouble, "Doesn't look too good. Let's get back there."

As we speed back, I'm forced to catch the Human Torch as he flies through the air towards me, "Whoa, man! You okay?"

"I've been better," he responds as he rights himself. "We're getting thrashed back here."

"By what?"

"By me, Lantern!" says some sort of winged creature as it slams into me. It's strong, stronger than anything I've ever come in contact with before. He grabs my face and slams me towards the ground.

I roll over in pain, and throw up an energy shield from my ring right before the blast from his weapon slams into me. The beam stops and he thinks he's got me.

Big mistake. He turns as Johnny Storm hits him with a blast of fire, and Hercules tosses a bit of rubble at him. I join in as a flurry of missiles erupt from my ring, slamming into him as well. But as the smoke clears, he's still standing there as if nothing had happened.

"Fools," he mutters before grabbing Storm by his throat and throwing him at his sister, who has joined the fray. I slam into him with a pair of green boxing gloves. Time and time again, but as I go for an uppercut, a beam from his staff hits me square in the chin, dazing me.

**********

In the space above Rann, Sinestro leads what's left of the Green Lanterns that have come to the assistance of the planet, taking out enemy ship after enemy ship. With the decorated veteran at their lead, the Lanterns are a well oiled fighting force.

As they take out another ship, Sinestro pulls up and rallies the troops around him, "Well done. Stay in your formations, and remember, precise, clean shots. We don't need any friendly fire here. We're turning the tide Lanterns, let's keep at it!"

A battle cry goes up from them before it is quickly silence. A blur moves by the group, and two of the remaining ten Lanterns' necks snap. Two more disappear. Three speed off looking for the attacker, leaving Sinestro with the other two.

But then, a massive figure appears between two of them. Punches one so hard he speeds through one of the Rann ships. The other moves to attack the being, but she receives an elbow from the monster, sending her tumbling towards the surface of Rann.

The brute then grabs Sinestro by the throat, and the craggy, muscular face sneers at the Lantern, "Thaal Sinestro. I had hoped to run into you later in my conquest. You are the one Lantern that could give me trouble. The one with the power to rally those to his cause. But now you will feel the power..."

​

"...of Thanos."
​

 

[Byrd Man]

​

A blast of energy erupts from the area where our friends were fighting, signaling trouble, "Doesn't look too good. Let's get back there."

As we speed back, I'm forced to catch the Human Torch as he flies through the air towards me, "Whoa, man! You okay?"

"I've been better," he responds as he rights himself. "We're getting thrashed back here."

"By what?"

"By me, Lantern!" says some sort of winged creature as it slams into me. It's strong, stronger than anything I've ever come in contact with before. He grabs my face and slams me towards the ground.

I roll over in pain, and throw up an energy shield from my ring right before the blast from his weapon slams into me. The beam stops and he thinks he's got me.

Big mistake. He turns as Johnny Storm hits him with a blast of fire, and Hercules tosses a bit of rubble at him. I join in as a flurry of missiles erupt from my ring, slamming into him as well. But as the smoke clears, he's still standing there as if nothing had happened.

"Fools," he mutters before grabbing Storm by his throat and throwing him at his sister, who has joined the fray. I slam into him with a pair of green boxing gloves. Time and time again, but as I go for an uppercut, a beam from his staff hits me square in the chin, dazing me.

While Green Lantern stumbles backwards from Annihilus' blast, Flash rushed forward to pick up the slack. Using his super speed and momentum to strike the conqueror dozens of times in the blink of an eye. Flash moved in for another blow to the head. In a desperate move, Annihilus lashed out and sent a wave of energy at Flash. The energy knocked Flash off his feet. He flipped backwards and landed hard on the ground.

"C-c-c-combo breaker," he muttered to himself as he laid on the ground.

While Flash recovered, Sue stepped over him and rushed towards Annihilus. The invader saw her coming and responded with a blast aimed at her. The blast ricocheted off an invisible shield and she kept charging as he continued to fire on her. She stopped just a few feet away from him and held her hand out.

Annihilus stopped firing. Instead of focusing on his target, he began to claw at his head and yell in pain.

"That pressure in your skull? It's from an invisible bubble that's resting right on your brain. Painful enough without doing permanent damage. Surrender or I make the bubble grow. Once it grows, all I can promise you is that it will be a hundred times more painful than it is now. Yield."

A battle cry goes up from them before it is quickly silence. A blur moves by the group, and two of the remaining ten Lanterns' necks snap. Two more disappear. Three speed off looking for the attacker, leaving Sinestro with the other two.

But then, a massive figure appears between two of them. Punches one so hard he speeds through one of the Rann ships. The other moves to attack the being, but she receives an elbow from the monster, sending her tumbling towards the surface of Rann.

The brute then grabs Sinestro by the throat, and the craggy, muscular face sneers at the Lantern, "Thaal Sinestro. I had hoped to run into you later in my conquest. You are the one Lantern that could give me trouble. The one with the power to rally those to his cause. But now you will feel the power...of Thanos."

A large blast of green energy struck Thanos in the shoulder. The large alien turned and saw a new combatant had entered the struggle.

"Hey, ugly," Ben sneered, his new Green Lantern ring pointed at Thanos. Reed floated behind him inside a protective emerald bubble. "Uglier, I might say. Hows about picking on someone yer own size."

Thanos tossed Sinestro away with a backhanded slap before he floated over to Ben. Up close, he towered over Thing by about seven inches.

"Like I said... pick on someone yer own size. Hows about we go find someone that size together?"

Without answering, Thanos lashed out and punched Ben in the chest. His fist shattered the Green Lantern protective shell and sent both Ben and Reed spinning out into space.

 

[Optikal]

Previously:

Spoiler

Wolverine eyed the machines as they whirred and leapt into life. "Anything happens to those kids an' I'm takin' your head..."

"Quite" Magneto replied and turned to face the mechanical enemy. "Now go, before more of those toys arrive".

Wolverine grunted and popped his claws. "Pryde. Elf. With me" he called as he eyeballed Mystique, "You too" he growled finally and took off across the grounds.

Behind him Gar Logan took on the appearance of a bengal tiger, leaping into the fray with enthusiasm. Statics electric blasts lit up the night sky whilst the leader of the Brotherhood, the man that they were -not too long ago- trying to take down, floated ominously above the battleground. Wolverine had to fight down the instinct to stay and fight, but there was a job to do and he knew that every second that he wasted would lead them further away from finding Charles and the rest of the team.

Reaching the main doors he looked around for a way in. The heavy steel was solid though and showed no control panel or other signs of weakness. He turned to Nightcrawler and threw a thumb toward the door. "Can you get us in Elf?"

"Nein. Without knowing vhat is on de other side, I wouldn't know where we were jumping to. Ve could end up in a wall ...or worse!"

"I've got this. Grab my hands" Kitty said.

"You sure kid?" Wolverine asked, an eyebrow raised.

Kittys face turned grim and focused. "Well we're about to find out".

"How fantastic. I'm working with amateurs" Mystique quipped dryly.

"You're welcome to stay here darlin'"

"And leave you all to rescue my team? I don't think so".

"Well quit your gripin' and grab hold"

In moments Kitty had gotten the four of them phased through the door and onto the other side. Her face was white and drawn but she had done it. Wolverine was about to complement her when a series of brilliant white lights flickered to life revealing a long sterile looking corridor.

WARNING. SECURITY BREACH ALERT. WARNING.

DEFENSIVE PROTOCOL ALPHA INITIATED.
​

"awww, ****" Wolverine growled.

Down the length of the hall square ports in the ceiling slid back to reveal a series of black weaponry rotating towards their direction. In unison the guns fired, a high whine piercing the air as hot red laser-fire roared towards them.

Kitty phased, though with effort whilst Mystique fell back into a shallow recess. Wolverine drew their fire and Nightcrawler 'ported in a puff of smoke and brimstone, appearing on the ceiling next to the first turret. With an angry swipe it was destroyed.

"Same again, Elf!" Wolverine roared as he absorbed hit after hit from the laser fire.

"Ja, you keep them distracted und I vill do zis!" He replied, teleporting again to the next gun.

In moments the turrets were sparking, smoking wrecks. The four of them made their way down the corridor and down a long corner. Opening into a wide atrium, the path was blocked by another battalion of attack robots, similar to those that had assaulted the other team in the courtyard. Glancing at the other three members of his team, their expressions told him all he needed to know. Logan grinned and with an animal roar leapt into the fray...

Wolverine let his years of combat training take over as he sliced and diced, dodged and rolled and destroyed the batallion of robots. With the help of Beast Boy, Mystique, Nightcrawler and Shadowcat, the robots proved little more than a distraction.

The final 'bot dropped to the ground as nothing more than a pile of sparking, mangled scrap. Wolverine sheathed his claws and sniffed the air. "I can't smell anything organic other than us. This entire facility must be fully automated" he said, gesturing to the others to follow him through the atrium.

"So just us and the toy robots! Sehr Gute!" Nightcrawler exclaimed brightly.

"Any ideas where we'll find the server room?" Mystique asked.

Wolverine turned to Kitty and raised an eyebrow. "Think you can find it, Pryde?"

Kitty nodded and took off, disappearing into the right hand wall. A few minutes passed before she phased through the left hand wall and came to a stop. "Straight ahead. But we have a problem..."

Ahead a deep creaking sound broke the relative silence. The corridor filled with a huge shape...

-INTRUDERS DETECTED-

-MUTANTS IDENTIFIED-

-SENTINEL VANGUARD PROTOCOL ACTIVATED-

The Sentinel was bigger than the others, standing at around eight feet tall, it also bore a passing resemblance to the armour of Iron Man. Wolverine pushed the kids back behind him. Turning to Mystique he looked at the blue skinned Brotherhood member with angry eyes. "Take the kids and find that Server room. Do whatever the hell it you do and then get them out of here. Anything happens to them an' I'm comin' for you, Raven. An' you know you don't want that".

Mystique raised an eyebrow at the feral mutant, clearly unimpressed at his threats. She did not offer a reply though, instead she merely turned from him and gestured the others to follow her.

Gar tried to interject with his own arguments but Logan cut him off with a held up hand. "No arguing. Back her up. We need that info if we're ever going to find the Professor. You want to be X-Men, this is the time for it. Now go!"

"Come on, I can 'port us past ze guard if you can keep it busy mein freund".

"Sure thing Elf" Wolverine snarled and began to run.

-MUTANT DESIGNATION WOLVERINE. PROTOCOLS ENGAGED-

Behind him he heard the familiar BAMF of Nightcrawler disappearing with the others. He allowed himself a wry smile as he launched himself into the air. "Looks like this dance is just for the two of us, tin-can!"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

The Narrows, Gotham City... One Week Ago...

Anthony Masters walked quietly down the road, pulling his trench coat tighter around him to better hide the costume underneath. One hand rested in his pocket, and gripping his sidearm, should the need arise. The other hand held a firm grasp on the briefcase that contained the mysterious cube.
And it what a popular item it had turned out to be.

Taskmaster was payed a king's ransom for acquiring it, and it seemed their were other interested parties as his meet was ambushed by a buxom blond speedster. He needed intel. He needed to find out who and what he was up against, and just what the hell this thing is.
Fortunately, Masters knew somebody who could help him.

Coming up to a rundown looking building, Masters stopped and looked up at it in all it's dilapidated grandeur.

Jesus, this place looks worse every time I come here.

Masters walked up to the door and pressed the buzzer. Almost as soon as he did, the door unlocked and opened a crack.
Masters slowly pushed it open, the light from outside illuminating an otherwise dark room.

Taskmaster stepped inside, and the door shut behind him, covering the room in darkness once again. Masters pulled out his mask and put it on, his enhanced vision illuminating the room. Dispensing with the pleasantries, Masters took off the trench coat and tossed it on a chair in the room's corner.

Taskmaster walked down the hallway and noticed a light coming from under a door at the path's end. Masters strode up to it and turned the handle.
He entered to see a man grinning at him amid a small army of computers and other various gadgets.

Spoiler

"Tony! If you aren't a sight for sore eyes! How are you?"

 

[Carnage27]

Sinestro watches as the strange Lantern he had never seen before and his friend are tossed towards the surface of Rann before turning back to Thanos, "So what do you want? Power? Conquest? Riches? All pursuits that have thwarted beings like you. You will fail. The people of the Universe will stop you."

"My goals are not so provincial, Lantern," the Mad Titan smiles. "And I will not be stopped. One does not simply stop a god."

Thanos grabs Sinestro again, but then stares off into space and sneers, before looking back at his enemy, "Let us go see your friends, shall we?"

And in a flash, Thanos and Sinestro disappear.

**********

"Yea, that doesn't feel all that nice, does it?" Johnny Storm mocks our foe.

I approach him, "Why are you attacking Rann? What do you want with the gems?"

"F-fools," Annihilus says in pain. "You have no idea the forces you face now. Death's avatar has emerged from the dark reaches of space. Even now he seeks his mistress's pleasure. None will stand in his way. And when he succeeds, death will rule the Universe."

"Crazy guy says what?" Flash says from behind me.

"Allies! Look to the sky! Another barrage comes our way!" Hercules calls out and points to the sky. There, I can see a bright green projectile coming towards us.

"That's no attack," I respond, as a green bubble slams into the ground next to me. I expect to see Sinestro inside it, but instead I see Mister Fantastic and The Thing...who is now a Green Lantern, "Well, welcome to the club."

"I think I'd rather be outta it," Ben Grimm responds.

"What did this to you?" I ask.

But my question is answered as a hulking being appears in our midst, throttling Sinestro in one of his massive hands. With the other, he gives a mighty slap to Sue Storm, sending her skipping over the surface of the planet, and causing her family to cry out.

Thor swings Mjolnir fiercely and tosses it and himself towards this new foe with speed greater than I've seen him use before.

And the beast catches him out of midair without pause. With a snarl, he looks at the thunder god and says, "Asgardians. So predictable."

Tossing Thor aside, he and Sinestro disappear yet again, just as an wave of energy knock the rest of us over, and Annihilus stands, "As I told you, you cannot stand against Thanos. The Mad Titan will destroy you all, and I shall receive my reward!"

My allies and us stand, ready to take this creep out of the way for good.
​

 

[Byrd Man]

But my question is answered as a hulking being appears in our midst, throttling Sinestro in one of his massive hands. With the other, he gives a mighty slap to Sue Storm, sending her skipping over the surface of the planet, and causing her family to cry out.

Thor swings Mjolnir fiercely and tosses it and himself towards this new foe with speed greater than I've seen him use before.

And the beast catches him out of midair without pause. With a snarl, he looks at the thunder god and says, "Asgardians. So predictable."

Tossing Thor aside, he and Sinestro disappear yet again, just as an wave of energy knock the rest of us over, and Annihilus stands, "As I told you, you cannot stand against Thanos. The Mad Titan will destroy you all, and I shall receive my reward!"

My allies and us stand, ready to take this creep out of the way for good.
​

"Let's do this!" Flash said, rushing towards Annihilus. He dodged the alien's swings and blasts and slammed him hard in the chest with a powerful punch. Flash rushed off, distracting Annihilus long enough for Hercules to pick him up and toss him into the air.

Annihilus yelled as he rocketed towards space. Thor flew past him and came back down, charging towards Annihilus with his hammer raised. Lighting crackled as Mjolnir connected with the alien's head. Annihilus tumbled backwards and towards the ground... only to be caught by a green catcher's mitt.

Annihilus fell to the ground and stood up on shaky legs. Both Green Lantern and Ben hit him with energy projections. Green Lantern sicced an emerald Velociraptor on Annihilus, slashing at the alien with its claws and teeth, while a green New York Giants lineman tackled Annihilus and drove him into the ground.

Weak and hurting, Annihilus stumbled forward and managed to bat away a fireball from Johnny. "Is this all you have for me?" He feebly asked. "Is this the best you can do against the Lord of the Negative Zone?"

Annihilus felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Reed, his arm stretched back a hundred yards in the air. Reed's arm snapped back and whistled through the air. His fist connected with Annihilus' face at blinding speeds and knocked the weakened conqueror to the ground.

With a feeble moan, Annihilus rolled on to his back and looked up at the group of heroes gathered around him, all of them ready to strike.

"You think my wife is bad?" Reed asked, contorting his right fist into the shape of a mace. "Please, try me."

 

[Carnage27]

​

Reappearing back in space, Thanos and Sinestro are once again overlooking the devastation that has been reaped upon Rann. The being that fashions himself a god smiles a sinister smile, “Look at it, Lantern. It’s beautiful. A world burns beneath us, unable to stand to my power. Millions will die today. Parents will lose their children, and children will become orphans. They will mourn this day for decades, and they will realize they were one of the first to be blessed by the avatar of death. They will be the first in the line of the new order.”

“You’re insane,” Sinestro gasps through the grip of the powerhouse. “You’ll never succeed with this plan. You’ve almost been stopped here. You won’t get Rann’s Infinity Gem. The Shi’ar are on their way. As are more Lanterns. We’ll turn you back.”

Thanos lets out a hearty laugh, “Oh Thaal Sinestro. What a fool you are. Rann does not have an Infinity Gem. You and your allies have fallen right into my ruse.”

**********

​

Oa

Beneath the chambers and living areas of the Green Lantern Corps is their most sacred place. The vault beneath the planet pulse with power from the Central Battery of Willpower, the thing that gives each of the Lanterns their power.

But next to it is something that most wouldn’t even notice standing next to this massive and awe inspiring site. It is a small, green gem, indistinguishable from the other shining green rocks in this shrine of willpower.

But the being standing over it knows exactly what he’s looking for. As he reaches down for it, a call from behind him stays his hand, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

The intruder sighs, but doesn’t turn to face the Green Lantern Honor Guard that is attempting to stop him, “Pal, I think you should be up with your friends. They’re going to need you.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because you’re about to have a s*** storm raining down on you boys,” the intruder laughs deeply. “So, how many did you send to Rann? It’s okay. You can tell me. I know you sent ‘em. I waited to come in until they left.”

“Half our strength has gone to the planets defense,” the fool says with pride. “This evil force will fall today before it attacks again.”

Another laugh from the intruder, “Oh you proud fool. You sent half? Well, at least half of you may survive. But then again maybe not in the long run.”

The planet rumbles above them, and the Lantern looks up, “What was-“

*BLAM*

The intruder spins and fires a gun into the Lanterns chest while grabbing the gem, “Sorry pal. No hard feelings. It’s just a job.”

​

Lobo exits the vault, heading up to the surface of Oa, that is under a massive attack, the biggest ever to strike the homeworld of the Green Lantern Corps. Lanterns fall to the mechanical enemies that have hated them for so long.

​

The Manhunters waited eons for this day. The day they would return to the once and former masters to enact their terrible vengeance. Their numbers now rebuilt after the exile and slaughter, they pour towards Oa in droves, killing all in their path. And making a beeline for the Guardians.
And as Oa burns, the mercenary Lobo laughs and boards his bike, ready to deliver the package.

**********
​

“Then where? Where was your target!?” Sinestro rages at the Titan. The Lantern has never been known to lose his temper like this, but then again, he’s never faced an opponent like this.

But before he can answer, his ring flashes a message, Lantern Sinestro. Oa is under attack and in great distress. Return immediately or the planet may fall.

And with that, Thaal Sinestro goes into a berserker rage. A surprise blast form his ring separates him from Thanos, and he unleashes all he can upon his enemy. Deep down, he knows he has the willpower to stop this madman. He, the greatest of the current Green Lanterns would end this threat here and now.

A menagerie of the universes most dangerous animals spring from his ring and stampede towards the would-be deity. Tigers and lions from earth bite and claw at his body, trying to maul him apart. A large flying creature from a planet he once visited. And then, finally, a great space Acanti whale erupts form the ring and swallows the entire group whole to burn in its digestive track.

But the great construct’s belly ripples, and from it bursts Thanos, throttling the other constructs in his massive hands until they disappear.

“Impossible,” mutters Sinestro.

But he does not give up. Using all forms of projectile weaponry, he bombards the enemy. Missiles, energy blasts, fire, bullets, all are sent towards Thanos.

But still he comes.

Now within striking range, Sinestro changes to sword constructs, slashing, stabbing and ripping at this powerhouse. But each blow lands softly, barely doing any damage. Before long, Thanos catches each sword in his hand, and snaps them like twigs.

And then, Sinestro feels something he hasn’t felt for as long as he can remember. It starts in the pit of his stomach like being punch by an invisible force. Sick and festering it sits there, like a corpse lingering in the dark. It then travels up his spine like a snake slithering up to devour a sleeping animal. And finally, its cold, steely fingers wrap around his heart like a vice.

This is the grip of something every Lantern is meant to forget. Something that every one of them is supposed to fight with every fiber of their being. But here it is again.

For the first time he can remember, Thaal Sinestro feels fear within himself.

He attempts to throw shield up, but it dissipates and Thanos strikes the Lantern in the face with a series of mighty strikes, sending waves of pain through him that compete with fear’s bind. Before long, he’s once again being throttled by the Mad Titan, “The Guardians have hidden much from you, Sinestro. And now their secrecy will bring the destruction of your order.”

“So why don’t you just kill me?” Sinestro responds, a broken being.

“Oh no, no, no,“ Thanos smiles. “You will watch. You will watch as the universe is swallowed by death. And you will watch as the Green Lanterns are hunted down and killed like the dogs they are.”

With that, Thanos disappears, as well as the ships surrounding and attacking Rann.

**********
​

The message from my ring plays, and I look around at my compatriots, but before I can decide to leave, Thanos appears next to Annihilus again. We all get ready to fight, but he holds up his hand, “Enough. You have all seen my power. You all know I would kill you on this day. Instead I spare you so that you may watch as my mistress’s will is done. Prepare yourselves, for Thanos will bring this Universe to Death’s feet.”

And with that, the Mad Titan and his ally disappear, along with their army.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"I must say, it's quite the place you have here, Doctor."

Psimon's gaze wandered about the massive throne room, taking in the paintings of the nation's monarch on the walls as well as the antique weaponry hung on the classical stone pillars that perfecting lined the large carpeted walkway towards the dais.

"Doom will suffice."

"Okay...Doom. The man you sent to get me said you had an offer for me, so...what is it that I can do for you?"

"You are indeed a man of great talent, Psimon", Doom says as he rose from his throne, swirling the liquid in his chalice.
"And Doom now requires your talents. You see, Psimon...I am what you may call a visionary."

"And I envision a world free of the current chaos. A world of order and unity under the rule of one predestined soul", Doom spoke as he stepped down the dais and came to stand in front of Psimon.


"And it is time to take the first step towards my utopia. But, for my plans to bear fruit, I will need others. A group of individuals devoted to my cause", Doom continued as he slowly strode past Psimon.

"And that, dear Psimon, is where you come in", Doom stated as he turned around to face the telepath.
"With your mental gifts you have the unique ability to help 'push' others to see the brilliance of my vision. Pieces that will further my designs and bring me one step closer to my goal."

"I see...", Psimon puckered his lips as he took it all in. Clearly Doom was a madman, but he couldn't help but be intrigued by the man's mania. And the fact that he couldn't read Doom's mind was an interesting twist. The man was definitely everything he was billed to be.
That and he had deep pockets...

"You certainly have a grand dream there, Doom. Not too original, world domination, but grand non-the-less. What's say I do help you out...what do I get out of this?"

"You will be rewarded most handsomely for your efforts."

"Handsomely, eh? When I hear 'handsomely', to me that means a lot of cash", Psimon smirked.

"Doom is nothing if not generous", Victor stated bluntly as he took a sip from his chalice.

"You will be rewarded with riches beyond your heart's desire, as well given a place of standing in my new world order. This is Doom's offer."

A silence fell over the throne room as Psimon contemplated the monarch's words. Hell, for the money alone he'd be a fool to pass this up.

"Okay, Doom...I'm in. What did you have in mind?"

"Oh, I have quite a bit in mind. But first I'm going to give you a list of names. And I want you to make sure everyone on that list see's the...beauty of my plan."

"And what exactly is this plan?"

Doom couldn't help but smirk behind his mask, "Allow me to give you a glimpse into the genius of Doom..."

 

[Carnage27]

​

He blasts another gunship, its engine erupting in a ball of flame, then shifts his focus to the aliens. They were the real threat and already several of them were closing in on him from above.

That is until Diana slams into them. She kills three with a swipe of her sword, then kicks one in the head, caving in its skull in the process.
​

The Quinjet sweeps around, swinging in by the entrance of the stronghold, and the rest of the Ultimates pour out of the back hatch behind me, my shield raised high to deflect any shots sent my way.

As we pass into the area, I call out to Diana, "Close it up! Now!"

She turns to do so, and one of the creatures comes up behind her, but receives a shield between the eyes before it can do anything. Next to me, Canary screams four into submission, Widow fires with her pistols, sending round after round into them and HYDRA agents alike, and Wildcat throws himself into a group of HYDRA agents.

"Detention area's that way!" Tony calls out from battling a group of monsters and airship weapons.

"On it!" Wildcat snarls as he chases a group of agents in the direction Iron Man pointed. Behind him runs Black Widow, guns blazing all the way. And after she finishes closing the door behind us, Diana speeds through the air with them.

"Alpha, on me!" I call to them as I head towards the other exit of the large hangar. One of the creatures tries to drop from above on top of me. I bring my shield up to deflect a strike from its tail away from me, but the impact sends it skittering out of my hand. The tail whips around again, and I barely bend back quick enough to dodge it. With a swift kick from my right foot, I deflect the barb on the tail back up into its head, killing it instantly.

We reach the entry way to the next area of the base, and I turn to my small team, "We don't know what we're gonna find in here. Could be pretty ugly."

"I'm ready," Dinah says confidently. And for the first time since she's joined the team, I think I believe here.

"Good, because you're taking point," I nod to her. "Scream at anything that steps in front of us. Tony, you're our six. Blast anything that comes up behind us." I bend down and pick up an automatic rifle from a dropped HYDRA soldier, "I'll cover Canary."

**********

On the other side of the complex, Omega team tears through their enemies. Wildcat destroys anything that gets close, Diana is in the thick of a monster horde slashing with her sword and bashing foes with her shield, while Black Widow continues firing and reloading.

But before long, the monsters all take off and leave the heroes alone to catch their breath.

Wildcat looks around, "Wonder what that's about?"

"The others may have reached their control center," Wonder Woman guesses.

"Well then let's not waste any time," Natasha responds, pushing forward.

Before long, they come across the detention block. Ted gives its guard a right haymaker made possible by a distraction by the Black Widow. Using his keycard, they open the door, and inside, they find most of the cells empty, save for a few.

From a darkened corner of the room, a weakened voice coughs, "Natasha?"

"Clint!" Black Widow calls and goes over to the cell as Wildcat opens it.

The other two Ultimates let the two have a private moment while they round up the other prisoners. As they do, a shot rings out, and Wildcat drops, as Wonder Woman toss a throwing knife into the HYDRA soldier that fired it. "Wildcat!"

"Ugh," Ted grunts. "I'll be fine. Caught my shoulder. Bastards still have terrible aim."

"There will be more, soon," Wonder Woman responds.

"Yea," Ted nods while going over to Hawkeye and Black Widow. "Sorry to break this up kids, but we gotta move."

"You're right," Natasha agrees.

"I'll get these ones out. You need to go help the others."

"But-"

"Natasha," Barton says to her. His face is gaunt for only being here for a few days. They've tortured him, that's for sure. "Go. This team needs to fight together."

She nods and transfers Hawkeye's weakened body to Wildcat, who winces as the pain from his wound flows through his body. As the women head towards the rest of the Ultimates.

"Okay everyone...let's find a way out of here."

**********

The team moves quickly through the halls, but finds almost no resistance. All they come across are a few guards that are easily incapacitated.

After a while, they burst through a door into a large chamber like the first one they entered in. But instead of airships and troops, they find one of the creatures. Larger than the others, and somehow more grotesque. But not free. It's hooked up to a machine that seems to be controlling it.

"My god."

But before I can do anything about it, the swarm of the creatures pours into the area and begins to protect their apparent leader.

"Of course."
​

 

[Byrd Man]

The message from my ring plays, and I look around at my compatriots, but before I can decide to leave, Thanos appears next to Annihilus again. We all get ready to fight, but he holds up his hand, “Enough. You have all seen my power. You all know I would kill you on this day. Instead I spare you so that you may watch as my mistress’s will is done. Prepare yourselves, for Thanos will bring this Universe to Death’s feet.”

And with that, the Mad Titan and his ally disappear, along with their army.

"Well, ain't that anti-climatic," Ben grumbled under his breath.

"I know," Flash said, shaking his head. "Guy whines and dines you, gets you all ready for this destruction and chaos and...he leaves. I feel so underwhelmed."

While they talked, Reed helped Sue to her feet. He inspected her wounds before wrapping his arms around her in comfort. "Whoever this Thanos is, he showed today that he's not someone who is be trifled with. I think we can all say that much."

"Good one, Captain Obvious," Johnny said. "Next you'll tell us the sky is blue."

"Well, the planet we're on right now, the sky is actually a kinda burnt orange."

"Shut it."

"So, what am I gonna do with this?" Ben asked Green Lantern, holding up his rocky fist and the ring on his finger.

 

[Byrd Man]

​

Spoiler

I swung just inches above the crazed inmates of Arkham, their frothing jaws snapping at my face, their twisted and broken fingernails scraping the tips of my ears. My heart is racing, Scarecrow's fear toxin pumping through my body and distorting my senses.

The noise, the smells, the sights. It's all overwhelming. The fear is right on the edge of my mind, on the border of overtaking me at any second. I closed my eyes, remembering an old mantra I was taught on the slopes of Nanda Parbat.

There is a thing called Nirvikalpa. It's a state of consciousness. The Self merges with the ID and forms a higher cognitive state. Time slows, the brain works at a higher speed, truths and revelations are revealed. In a weak mind, it can cause madness. In the best minds, it takes years to achieve. I was in Nanda Parbat for three years before I had my first Nirvikalpa moment. I haven't had one since I left. Not until today, that is.

...

....

......

My eyes snapped open, the world around me moving at a snail's pace. Gone were the delusions and hallucinations. The only thing before me were men and women, driven to the very edge by a madman. A madman that needed to be stopped. I used my tongue and wedged off the false top to my back molar. The tiny lockpick sprung into my mouth as I reached upward and began to unlock my bonds.

Twenty seconds later, I hit the ground in the middle of the killing floor. Time was at a standstill as I dodged, dipped, and moved through the mass of human flesh that was the patients and staff of Arkham. I fought my way out the room and through the hallways towards my destination.

I moved across the island in a dazzling ballet of violence, leaving in my wake, a sea of bloody noses, broken arms, and shattered jaws. After what felt like days, I found myself inside Arkham's personnel wing. A crazed guard came down the stairs and charged me. I blocked his blow with ease before flipping him to the ground and driving my fist into his face, knocking him unconscious in one swift blow. I ran through the halls of the wing, headed towards the warden's office and my final goal to stop the madness once and for all.

Jonathan Crane was nervous.

He sat behind the desk of Warden Sharpe, watching the video feed from the personnel wing. Just a half hour ago, he had been watching delight as Batman and Joker danced like marionettes for his pleasure. Now, the Joker had gone disappeared -- no trace of him on any of the monitors in Sharpe's office -- and now Batman was inside the building, fighting and winning against the people he came across.

Sharpe mumbled weakly at Crane's feet. Crane scowled and kicked the warden swiftly in the ribs before turning his attention back to the monitors. He watched as Batman drove a fear-crazed inmate into the floor of the cafeteria. The Batman stood and looked up at the camera. He removed something from one of his pouches. To Crane, it appeared to be a small remote control.

Batman pressed it and the screen flickered before going completely black. A few seconds later, it flickered back and Batman was nowhere to be seen. Then another camera went off. Then another. Then another. Each time the pictures came back on, there were unconscious and hurt people laying on the floor, groaning. The feed on the medical supply locker flickered, then came back on. The steady progress gave Crane little doubt as to where Batman was headed. To the basement.

"No," he said.

Crane turned his attention to the basement. His tanks of fear toxin were still plugged in to the asylum's air unit. The picture flickered and Crane slammed his fist on the desk in anger. A few minutes later, the picture resumed. The hoses connecting the tanks to the air unit were mangled, the tanks on their sides.

"NO! NO! NO!"

Crane grabbed the walkie talkie he had gotten off a dead guard and pressed the button. "I know you can hear me! You think you'll win?! You think you can overcome fear?! Fear is the great equalizer!"

Silence. Silence for several moments. Until...

"Fear is a two-way street."

Crane could only look on in horror as one by one, the cameras leading to the warden's office shut off. Crane backed away from the desk and stood up as the bolted door leading into the office shook. The door groaned and buckled, flying off the hinges.

A smoke bomb exploded in the room and before Crane could react, a powerful arm shoved him against the wall and slammed his head into the drywalling.

"This insanity," Batman said through the oxygen mask strapped to his face. "It ends now."

 

[Optikal]

The rain was beating heavily now, pounding those who were caught in it to seek refuge indoors. With most of the city silent, Billy Millar knew that now was his best chance to strike. With a grin, he flicked the stub of his smoke to the ground and was it float away in the gutter-water. He pulled down his balaclava and turned around. Two men stood with him, a couple of brothers named Quinton and Marcus he'd met during his last stint in the pound. "We do this an' we're laughing boys. We go in the back, take as much as we can carry an' get out. Simple an' straight-forward".

They both nodded and pulled their own masks over grim faces. Billy hid the sawn-off shotgun within his rain-soaked Mac and set off at a steady lope across the road and into an adjacent alleyway. With the brothers heavy footfalls behind him they came to an rusting steel door, blue paint flecking from it like dead skin. The smaller of the brothers, Quinton stepped forward and jimmied a crowbar on the heavy padlock. It came away with ease and the three men strolled through the doorway and into the darkness beyond.

"Fill 'em up boys", Billy sneered, handing out canvas sacks. With small torches to guide their way, the three robbers moved through the darkness and into a dimly lit Jewellery Store. Quickly, display cases were smashed and sacks were loaded.

As the three men made to leave, an old man in blue pyjamas and an old woollen dressing gown appeared in the doorway.

"Hey!" he shouted, waving a wooden baseball bat above his head. "This is my store, now you bastards get outta here whilst you still can. The cops'll be here any minute y'hear?!"

Billy sneered under his mask and without warning brought his shotgun to bear and casually pulled the trigger. He watched emotionless as the old man was punched off his feet, a gaping hole in his chest and gore splattering the wall behind. "let's go!" he cried.

The men ran back across the road and down the alley where they'd left their beaten up old van. Reaching the van, Billy stopped in his tracks. In the middle of the alleyway a white shape descended from the darkness, landing o the rain soaked ground.

Billy growled and raised his gun, as Marcus came up beside him and raised a small handgun.

The stranger didn't move a muscle. He simply stared balefully at the trio, rain beating off his shoulders and making the two crescent blades in his hands shine in the gloom.

"It's a bit late to be out shopping. How about you drop the guns, leave the goods and hand yourselves in. It'll be less painful".

It was Marcus who made the first move, cocking his gun and squeezing the trigger. The white-clad man moved like lightning, leaping to the roof and propelling himself forward into the trio, taking both Billy and Marcus to the ground. Quinton leapt to the warrior and swung with his crowbar. Moon Knight blocked the blow with one blade and jabbed the other into his gut, ripping it up through the chest. Blood sprayed across his face in a bright arc as Billy rose and took aim. Moon Knight spun on his heel and threw his second blade, sending it spinning through the air and punching home in Billys right eye socket. He died without a sound. Marcus got up and tried to run but Moon Knight grabbed him by the collar and flung him back against the van. As Marcus struggled to suck in a breath, Moon Knight jammed a crescent blade into his right shoulder and pinned him to the van. Calmly, he collected his other blade and closed in on his captive.

Marcus fumbled at the knife in his shoulder. Tears mixed with the blood that stained his face as the white death moved closer. "Y-you can't kill me man! You're one of those Hero types!"

Moon Knight looked at him with dead eyes. "You wish", he growled, slashing his blade across the helpless mans throat. He watched on as the lifeblood drained from the robber. Calmly, he wiped the blood from his blades on the dead mans clothes and sheathed them.

 

[Optikal]

Wolverine leapt at the machine, claws popped and ready for action. The machine simply stood where it was as the mutant charged. Logan cried out in agony as he hit a blue sparking forcefield that encased the Sentinel. The machine raised its two hands in cold silence and released two concentrated blasts of pure energy that swarmed over Logans body as he tried to evade the attack/

"YYYEEEEEAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!" He cried out in absolute pain and rolled away, but the right side of his body was badly burned. "You're goin' to be a tough bastard ain't ya?" Wolverine snarled, closing down the part of his mind that was screaming in raw agony. "Need to find a way through that shield a' yours".

He glanced around, being sure to dodge the bursts of energy from the Sentinels hands. Back down the corridor was the atrium where the team had dismantled the previous 'bots. "We need more room for this dance, rust-bucket" Wolverine snarled and turned and ran back down the hall.

-INTRUDER RETREATING-

-ALPHA DIRECTIVE-

-PURSUE AND ELIMINATE-

The bottom of the Sentinels feet lit up as its rocket boosters fired and propelled it down the corridor, this time, energy blasted from its eyes as it gave chase. Logan rolled and dived from the spraying fire but a stray bolt caught him in the shoulder and spun him to the ground. The smell of burned flesh touched his nostrils but he didn't give pause. Nearby him lay the severed torso with an arm still attached. He picked it up, letting the fallen guard robot act as something of a makeshift shield. Trying to catch his breath, he looked around for something to use against a robot he couldn't physically touch.

Across the atrium a large coded panel sat on the wall. It was marked up as an electrical conduit and suddenly Logan had an idea. With a mighty heave he grasped the severed torso and lobbed it with all of his might. The Sentinel tracked it and disintegrated it with a pair of laser blasts. Logan leapt for the conduit and drove a set of adamantium claws deep into the wll, wrenching the panel open. A reverse cut sliced open a thick electrical cable, sending it flying and spitting angry sparks.

Rolling way from another blast, Wolverine ducked and dived as the Sentinel approached. "Come on" Wolverine goaded as the emotionless killing machine advanced closer. "Just a little more..."

-ELIMINATE INTRUDER-

The Robot raised its hands towards Wolverine, its charging of laser fire giving off a deep hum. Wolverine grasped the electrical cable and leapt once more, this time rolling under the Sentinels legs and jamming the cable deep into the mechanical torso of his enemy.

A massive charge of energy caused the lights in the facility to dim momentarily before a huge explosion erupted and threw Wolverine across the room.

He hit the wall hard and slid down into a heap. Groaning and aching, he rolled to his knees and rubbed the back of his neck before rising to his feet. As the smoke cleared though, his heart sank as the THUD THUD THUD of mettalic feet clanked across the floor.

-DAMAGE LEVELS 44%-

-PROCEED TO ELIMINATE TARGET-

"Come on bub, can't you just freakin' die?!" Wolverine roared as another blast of laser fire threw him backwards. Rolling to his stomach, he dragged himself back to his feet and though he staggered slightly he managed to stay up. "Alright, no more sparring, we gotta dance again tin-can!"

He dived and rolled and charged towards the sentinel, swinging under a thrown arm and throwing both claws in a downward arc, severing the arm at the elbow. He spun and kicked the lower back of the Sentinel sending it forward a few steps. The eye-beams fired again and hit Logan in the chest but he absorbed the assault and sliced into the other arm of the Vanguard.

-SYSTEM FAILURE-

-CRITICAL ERROR-

-ALTERNATIVE PROCESS SEEKING-

Wolverine snuck behind and leapt at the eight foot Goliath, slamming his claws into what would be considered shoulder blades before sweeping a might blow across the back of the neck. The sentinels head fell loose from its shoulders and rolled to the floor. Wolverine landed on his feet, drawing ragged breaths into his ragged frame. "Heh. Easier than I thought" He growled as he spat a wad of blood to the pristine floor. His right side was still badly burned but had already begun to heal.

-COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE-

-EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS ACTIVATED-

-OMEGA PROTOCOL INITIATED-

-5... 4... 3...

"Oh ****!"

- 2 ...1-

 

[Optikal]

"Look at them. Milling around, living out their pathetic, meaningless lives. What purpose do they serve?"

"They are your people now. Their purpose is to serve you, my love".

In the deep shadow of Mount Wundagore, Baron Karl Amadeus Mordo turned from the large balcony overlooking his new home of Transia. Stood in the archway leading back into the castle stood his new lover and recent widow, Maria Russoff. She was wrapped in a silken shawl but even in the dim light her golden hair shined in almost ethereal light.

"You are truly a vision my dear" Mordo smiled, taking her hand and raising it to his lips. "A treasure that the late and unfortunate Gregor never truly appreciated".

Maria took her hand back and stepped past Mordo, moving to the balcony herself. Their was a gentle breeze carried from the mountain and on it the scent of a variety of flowers and plant life. She inhaled deeply and turned back to him. "Gregor was a good man, but a man of little imagination. But you, my Baron, you are a man of rare brilliance. You're ideas, your dreams, they are beautiful".

"Indeed?" Mordo asked, his arms slipping around her waist and head nuzzling into the crook of her neck. "Tell me more..."

Maria turned in his arms and ran a hand down his chest, looking up into dark eyes. "Later, when business is concluded. Your agent has returned and he has requested an audience with you".

"Ah, finally" Mordo grinned and moved towards the castle.

"What has he brought to you?" Maria asked, following him into the ancient building.

"The key to the universe itself" Mordo replied with a cold smirk.

 

[Andy C.]

"Do you have any idea who I am?" the enormous man in a flawless white suit says, glowering at me as I look back up to him, chained to a chair in a dingy old basement in God-knows-where.

"I....I think so......." I say, ".....but aren't you supposed to have, like.....dancing slave girls, and a cackling muppet sitting on your tail?"

He sneers, then pain explodes across the side of my face again, as he knocks me for a loop with an open-handed slap.

Vision blurs, ears ringing, I see double, and HOLY CRAP THAT HURT. I think this guy might slap harder than I can punch.....and I can punch pretty freaking hard.

"Told ya, boss," I hear a voice say from the corner. "He thinks he's a real smart-ass."

Looking over, I see a guy in a tacky green-striped shirt, cracking his knuckles. It's the same guy from the diamond heist I busted the other night, the guy who shot me.....Marko, I thnk.

"Yes, well, Flint, he doesn't look particularly smart to me," says the big man. If Marko's here, and the big guy's his boss, then......

"....Kingpin....." I groan painfully, not really meaning to say it out loud.

It has to be him. The man who's been controlling the criminal underworld of New York. The man who made Spike Carradine so desperate for cash that he broke into Uncle Ben and Aunt May's house and.....

Kingpin's eyes light up when he hears his own name.

"Ah, so you do have some semblance of a brain in there," he says. "Then it means you probably have an idea of how much trouble you're in for interfering in my business."

"Well, that's kinda what us super-types do.....muck things up for the bad guys," I say. "Ya can't blame a superhero for your heists going bad, any more than you can blame Kentucky Fried Chicken for you being--"

A fist that hits like a charging bull slams into my gut, forcing a jet of vomit out of my mouth, splattering inside my mask and all over my face. For a few seconds, all I can do is choke and gasp for breath, my eyes burning with tears, my nose and throat burning with the rotten acidic smell of my stomach contents, mixed with the metallic taste of blood.

".....I was......I was gonna say 'fat'....." I blubber in between heaving, sobbing gasps for air, before I retch up more of my dinner. It's starting to dribble out from my mask and down the front of my costume.

"That's disgusting," Kingpin says with a contemptuous snort. "Marko, take off his mask. Give him some air."

I feel Marko's hand grab the top of my head and pull hard, ripping off my mask, as well as a good handful of hair.

"GAAAAAH!!!!!" I yelp in pain as he rips the hairs right out of my scalp when he pulls my mask off.

Oh God. Now they know what I look like. They know.

"Jesus," Marko says, his eyes going a little wide with surprise. "He's just a kid. Boss, he's just--"

"I see that, Marko," Kingpin says curtly, pacing back and forth as if he's thinking over a problem. At least that gives me some time to catch my breath and take in some air that isn't tinged with blood and puke.

"What.....what's wrong?" I say, smiling with red, blood-splashed teeth. "I'm not old enough to get murdered? The bloodthirsty mob boss is carding me?"

A back-handed smack across the mouth shuts me up and nearly knocks me over. Marko steps in and pops me across the temple for good measure, but I barely even feel that one.

"Consider yourself very lucky that I have standards, boy," the Kingpin says. "I find killing children.....distasteful. But if you keep running your mouth, I just might develop a taste for it after all."

He looks me in the eye, and I know he means it. A cold chill runs down my spine when I see that dullness in his eyes, a deadness, like he's had the empathy and basic human decency cut right out of him. He absolutely means that he's going to kill me if I don't shut up.

And to my great surprise, I actually do shut up.

"Here's what's going to happen, Spider-Man," he says, before grabbing the chair and throwing me to the ground. "We're going to let you off with a warning."

His foot slams hard into my ribs, and I nearly pass out.

"You can go pull cats out of trees and put out fires all you want," he says mockingly, before booting me in the ribs again. "But you stay away from my business. You don't come into my territory, you don't interrupt my jobs, you don't even so much as think of me ever again."

I strain against the chains that keep my arms tied to the chair, until he stomps down hard on my left hand. The world goes white for a second, then everything is burning, explosive pain as I feel the bones in my hand break.

"If I so much as even suspect you might give me trouble again," he says, glaring down at me. "I won't just kill you. I'll find everyone you care about--your family? Your friends? Maybe you've got a girlfriend, a little high school sweetheart? I'll find all of them, and I'll kill them. Slowly. And I'll make you watch as I do it."

Kingpin kicks me around a little while longer. Marko joins in as well. I don't know how long it goes on. A few seconds, an hour or so, I can't really measure time at this point. All I know is how much it hurts.

"Get the point, ya little freak?" Marko says, as he gets in one last kick.

Oh my God. I can't do anything. I can barely breathe, I can barely think.

He's not just threatening me.....

....he's threatening Aunt May....

....he's threatening Harry.....

.....he's threatening Gwen......

.....and I can't do anything.

"........yeah......" I croak. Even if that Cheshire lady hadn't drugged me and sapped all of my strength, at this point it doesn't matter. All I can do is agree.

"Good. Flint, show him the door, would you?"

Marko grabs me and pulls me up, and I go delirious with pain as about a dozen broken bones scrape against themselves. At this point, I'm too weak to even scream.

"If you want to put on tights and save the day, move to Metropolis," Kingpin says as Marko drags me to the door. "Go to Fawcett City. Hell, take the train to Gotham. But Manhattan is my city, boy. And it's no place for a hero."

Marko kicks open the door to a trashed back alley, and throws me onto a garbage heap.

I don't know how long I lay there, crying from the pain and growling from the frustration and anger.

I thought I could get Uncle Ben the justice he deserved, but instead I've put everyone's lives in danger. I thought I could just barge in and bring down the Kingpin's empire, which the NYPD hasn't been able to do. Now I'm hurting so badly that I'm not even sure if I'll live through the night.

As I start to black out, a thought occurs.......

".....I suck at this......"

 

[Optikal]

"No! No! Get away from me!"

Running feet pounded the pavement accompanied by the desperate ragged breaths of a panicked man. He turned from the main street, into a long alleyway. Inside of his chest, his heart threatened to burst from the effort but still, the dark shadow that followed him continued to hover at his shoulder.

"Please... ... N-No!"

The high sides of the buildings left little light filtering through into the gloom and the running man caught his foot, tumbling to the ground and landing in the filth and grime. He staggered to his feet but it was too late. The shadow fell across him. Cold hands grasped his shoulders and threw him against the wall. The man gasped for breath as he landed on hands and knees.

His pursuer stood over him, the heady scent of death filled the air as the man looked up into the yellowed fangs of his own demise. "Oh my God! No! Noooooo!"

The screams were cut short and in seconds, the alleyway fell into silence once more.

****

Spector sat perched high above the city, watching and listening. The last few nights had been quiet and with no leads, he found himself simply patrolling the city. He had heard the scream, the high pitched wail of a person in serious danger. It was an animal noise, one born of the most primal instincts and it caused the hairs on the back of Marcs neck to stand on end.

He raced across the rooftops, leaping and rolling with athletic grace before rappelling down into the alley where the screams had originated. Even through his mask and cowl, it was the stench that his him first. Strong and acidic, the smell of burned human flesh and blood.

Spector had no trouble finding the body, it was little more than a carcass though, parts of it melted into the concrete and others covered in what were obviously bite and claw marks. Whatever had done this was strong, and fast.

"What the hell is big enough to do something like this?" Marc growled to himself, touching two gloved fingers to a partially melted arm bone. He checked the pockets of the victim and found a wallet, in it a drivers licence that identified the man as James Hamilton.

In the distance, the thin wail of police sirens filled the air. Spector pocketed the licence and pulled out his grapnel, firing it high towards the roof of the building and making a swift exit from the scene.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Lex enters a darkened corridor and presses several buttons on a control pad. Double Steel Doors begin to slowly yawn open as he approaches a transparent chamber.

Lex studies the item in the chamber, and he begins to smile.

The possibilities of this suit are just endless. If it does half of what I specified I will be the most powerful man on the planet. Iron Man think his suit is amazing...HA! I'll make it look like a pathetic knock-off.

He hears Otto Octavius approach and he says, "Impressive is not sir?"

Lex replies, "It's hard to judge considering it's in a display case, but I have no doubt what it can do."

Octavius says, "Well then Mr. Luthor it's time to test it out in live action wouldn't you agree?"

Lex nods and replies, "Agreed Doctor."

Octavius hands him a keycard and says, "You and I are the only ones who can open this. I have one keycard you have the other."

Lex places the keycard at the base and the base glows. Just then the sheething slides into the base and through the floor.

Lex approaches the suit and places his hand in the middle of the suit.

The suit responds, "Identified Luthor, Alexander J." The suit then opens up and Octavius says, "It's ready when you are sir."

Lex looks at Octavius and says, "Thank you doctor I can take it from here. Take the rest of the week off with pay."

Octavius says as he leaves, "Of course sir."

Lex removes his Armani suit and steps into the power suit. He is fascinated with the heads-up display and that he is now linked in with Alexis.

He smiles as he says, "Time for a test drive!"

Lex activates the skyight which opens up slowly. He then activates the rocket boots and begins hurdling upward into the Metropolis nightsky.

 

[MST3K 4ever]

Bruce sits in a cave inside the canyons of the badlands. He hears someone approaching and begins to retreat into the cave.

Betty says, "Marco?"

Bruce says, "Polo."

She smiles as Bruce approaches her. She is holding a flanal shirt, a pair of jeans, boots, some water and dehydrated fruit, and a tie-dyed blanket.

Bruce asks, "Where did you get this stuff? Or do I want to know?"

Betty replies, "There's a group of Dead-Heads camped out and stoned out of the gords about two miles from here. I showed them a certain trick I learned at Berkley concerning a certain plant that they had in a over-abundance of, and well let's just say they were in a very grateful frame of mind."

Bruce slips on the clothes and says, "Don't tell me the Orange Lotus trick? I thought you said you'd never use that one again."

Betty shrugs her shoulders and says, "Desperate times desperate measures."

Bruce takes some of the fruit and begins eating.

Betty asks, "So what do you think our next move should be?"

Bruce shakes his head and replies, "No clue at the moment. The only thing I know for sure. As long as I'm The Hulk Lex will never let me know a moment of peace. I've gotta stop him."

Betty takes some water and says, "Bruce you know The Hulk is under Lex's control. I say we try to make it to the base. We cut through the Badlands in a Northeastern direction and hope for the best."

Bruce says, "There are stories, and not happy ones, of people who try to make it through the Badlands by foot."

Betty replies, "You gotta better idea."

Bruce nods and says, "Yep."

Betty asks, "What is that?"

Bruce kisses her long and passionately. Betty at first is taken aback but she eases into it as well.

Bruce says, "I have no clue what's gonna happen tomorrow or anything else. Right now though I just want to enjoy the moment with you. I love you Betty and when I'm with you life makes sense. As far as I'm concerned the world can go to hell tonight I just don't care about it, because tonight you're all I want and need."

Betty kisses Bruce and they embrace one another lost in their moment in time.

 

[Carnage27]

​

"So, what am I gonna do with this?" Ben asked Green Lantern, holding up his rocky fist and the ring on his finger.

I look at Ben Grimm and shrug, "I guess you can keep it if you want. If not, you can give it up when you get back to Earth. It will find someone new and choose them for the new Lantern position."

Turning to the others, I thank them, "I appreciate all your help. Without you all we would have failed here, and Rann would have been lost. Thanos may have escaped, but we'll get him next time. I swear we will. He'll pay for everything he's done here."

As I finish, the sky turns green, and Lanterns start descending down towards me. Kilowag and Tomar-Re land next to me, with grim looks on their face.

"You got the message?" Kilowag asks.

"I did," I nod. "Did you see Sinestro up there?"

"Yes, he is in bad shape," Tomar-Re says. "We've secured him for transport back to Oa."

"Do we know what we're headed into?"

Both shake their head, as we take off and head back to our Corps's homeworld, hoping for the best.

 

[Byrd Man]

I look at Ben Grimm and shrug, "I guess you can keep it if you want. If not, you can give it up when you get back to Earth. It will find someone new and choose them for the new Lantern position."

Turning to the others, I thank them, "I appreciate all your help. Without you all we would have failed here, and Rann would have been lost. Thanos may have escaped, but we'll get him next time. I swear we will. He'll pay for everything he's done here."

The group of heroes watched as the Green Lanterns fly off into space, fading away until they're tiny green dots in the sky.

"So," Reed started. "Who's ready to go back to Earth?"

"How? If you didn't notice, honey, our ride went up in flames above the planet?"

"That's not necessarily true..."

"You managed to salvage it?"

"No, uhh, the ship was destroyed in space. No oxygen ergo no flames..."

"Right," Sue said through gritted teeth. "On another planet, outside all of Earth's law enforcement jurisdiction... Urge to kill rising..."

"Look," Ben said, stepping in between the husband wife. "Before this turns into spousal abuse--"

"I got twenty bucks on Sue."

"That's a chump bet, my friend."

"As I was sayin'," Ben grumbled. "I got our ride right here."

With that, the Fantastic Four, Thor, Hercules, and Flash were all wrapped up in an emerald bubble as Ben shot the seven of them into the sky and through space at incredible speeds...

Earth
The Baxter Building

It was night when they touched down on the roof of the building. Ben disengaged the bubble and looked at the ring on his finger.

"Thor, Hercules," Reed said with a nod. "I want to thank both of you for your help on Rann."

"Yes. If there's anything either one of you need from the Fantastic Four, don't hesitate to ask us."

"You can start by hooking us up with some wenches," Johnny said, elbowing Flash. "Particularly busty wenches who love a good time."

"I showed that wench a good time. Wenches love a good time."

"As Sue said," Reed said with a sideways glance to Johnny and Flash. "Our doors are open to you whenever you need us."

 

[Carnage27]

It's been a few weeks since my interview with Vicki Vale. The story has now garnered national and international attention, which is great, I guess. I've never really desired credit or international fame for possibly being able to save humanity's food crisis.

Which is why I've ignored every opportunity from CNN to Fox for an interview. I don't have time, or the patience for their politicized bullcrap. I need to get my work done, sooner rather than later.

And because of that I'm here on a Saturday night and ten o'clock working instead of having a social life.

"Ha...social life," I laugh to myself as I roll my chair away from the microscope and jot something down on my tablet. Looking over at the specimens bathing in the gene modification solution and smile. These are really my only friends.

Ugh. I can't believe how pathetic that sounds.

Maybe once I'm done here I can find myself a boyfriend or something. Then again, a boyfriend is a lot more work than watering my plants.

I head back to my work, finishing up a few measurements before I can leave for the night. But after a few moments, there's a rukus at the front of the lab, that draws my attention. There's not supposed to be anyone else here tonight, save for a guard downstairs.

But three rough looking men burst into the lab, gas cans in hand. They're surprised to see me, that's for sure, "Who are you!? What do you want."

"Well, well, well," one says with a smile. "No one told us about the babe here boys. Our job just got a whole lot more fulfilling."

"The police are on their way," I say, backing away from them. It's a silly thing to tell them. I sure they know. And they don't care.

"Yea, and we'll all be gone by the time they get here, and this place will be a smoldering hole in the ground. Grab her."

The first approaches me, laughing as he does. He receives a kick in the groin. The second man gets smashed in the face with my microscope. But the third manages to grab me by the back of the head, and slams my face into a glass pain.

Sharp shards dig into my face and neck, and I feel blood pour out of the wounds, before having my face dunked into sweet, thick liquid. The gene mod solution shoots into my nose and mouth, and begins choking me. I fight against the grip of the man behind me, scratching and kicking at him.

But it does no good. I feel myself fading as I choke on science and plants. My vision closes in on dark, and my body goes limp.
​

 

[bkhedr]

​

The Quinjet sweeps around, swinging in by the entrance of the stronghold, and the rest of the Ultimates pour out of the back hatch behind me, my shield raised high to deflect any shots sent my way.

As we pass into the area, I call out to Diana, "Close it up! Now!"

She turns to do so, and one of the creatures comes up behind her, but receives a shield between the eyes before it can do anything. Next to me, Canary screams four into submission, Widow fires with her pistols, sending round after round into them and HYDRA agents alike, and Wildcat throws himself into a group of HYDRA agents.

"Detention area's that way!" Tony calls out from battling a group of monsters and airship weapons.

"On it!" Wildcat snarls as he chases a group of agents in the direction Iron Man pointed. Behind him runs Black Widow, guns blazing all the way. And after she finishes closing the door behind us, Diana speeds through the air with them.

"Alpha, on me!" I call to them as I head towards the other exit of the large hangar. One of the creatures tries to drop from above on top of me. I bring my shield up to deflect a strike from its tail away from me, but the impact sends it skittering out of my hand. The tail whips around again, and I barely bend back quick enough to dodge it. With a swift kick from my right foot, I deflect the barb on the tail back up into its head, killing it instantly.

We reach the entry way to the next area of the base, and I turn to my small team, "We don't know what we're gonna find in here. Could be pretty ugly."

"I'm ready," Dinah says confidently. And for the first time since she's joined the team, I think I believe here.

"Good, because you're taking point," I nod to her. "Scream at anything that steps in front of us. Tony, you're our six. Blast anything that comes up behind us." I bend down and pick up an automatic rifle from a dropped HYDRA soldier, "I'll cover Canary."

**********

On the other side of the complex, Omega team tears through their enemies. Wildcat destroys anything that gets close, Diana is in the thick of a monster horde slashing with her sword and bashing foes with her shield, while Black Widow continues firing and reloading.

But before long, the monsters all take off and leave the heroes alone to catch their breath.

Wildcat looks around, "Wonder what that's about?"

"The others may have reached their control center," Wonder Woman guesses.

"Well then let's not waste any time," Natasha responds, pushing forward.

Before long, they come across the detention block. Ted gives its guard a right haymaker made possible by a distraction by the Black Widow. Using his keycard, they open the door, and inside, they find most of the cells empty, save for a few.

From a darkened corner of the room, a weakened voice coughs, "Natasha?"

"Clint!" Black Widow calls and goes over to the cell as Wildcat opens it.

The other two Ultimates let the two have a private moment while they round up the other prisoners. As they do, a shot rings out, and Wildcat drops, as Wonder Woman toss a throwing knife into the HYDRA soldier that fired it. "Wildcat!"

"Ugh," Ted grunts. "I'll be fine. Caught my shoulder. Bastards still have terrible aim."

"There will be more, soon," Wonder Woman responds.

"Yea," Ted nods while going over to Hawkeye and Black Widow. "Sorry to break this up kids, but we gotta move."

"You're right," Natasha agrees.

"I'll get these ones out. You need to go help the others."

"But-"

"Natasha," Barton says to her. His face is gaunt for only being here for a few days. They've tortured him, that's for sure. "Go. This team needs to fight together."

She nods and transfers Hawkeye's weakened body to Wildcat, who winces as the pain from his wound flows through his body. As the women head towards the rest of the Ultimates.

"Okay everyone...let's find a way out of here."

**********

The team moves quickly through the halls, but finds almost no resistance. All they come across are a few guards that are easily incapacitated.

After a while, they burst through a door into a large chamber like the first one they entered in. But instead of airships and troops, they find one of the creatures. Larger than the others, and somehow more grotesque. But not free. It's hooked up to a machine that seems to be controlling it.

"My god."

But before I can do anything about it, the swarm of the creatures pours into the area and begins to protect their apparent leader.

"Of course."
​

Tony steps to the front of the three man formation and plants himself in a wide stance with his chest squared up to the advancing horde and his arms held out at his side. The arc reactor in his chest spins up, building surplus energy up, then discharging it in one brilliant stream of light as the uni-beam fires.

The creatures screech in pain under the withering but short lived barrage.The first two ranks are atomized and the rest fall back a short distance to avoid the same fate. Then the uni-beam cuts off and Tony quickly follows with several short repulsor bursts from both hands. The uni-beam has bought them some breathing room, but not much.

"We've gotta move!" Tony shouts urgently as the buzzing swarm pushes forward once more. One of the monsters gets close enough that Tony has to punch it to force it back "Now!"

​

 

[bkhedr]

Earth
The Baxter Building

It was night when they touched down on the roof of the building. Ben disengaged the bubble and looked at the ring on his finger.

"Thor, Hercules," Reed said with a nod. "I want to thank both of you for your help on Rann."

"Yes. If there's anything either one of you need from the Fantastic Four, don't hesitate to ask us."

"You can start by hooking us up with some wenches," Johnny said, elbowing Flash. "Particularly busty wenches who love a good time."

"I showed that wench a good time. Wenches love a good time."

"As Sue said," Reed said with a sideways glance to Johnny and Flash. "Our doors are open to you whenever you need us."

"That is most kind of you Dr. Richards." Thor replies. Hercules stands to his right, arms folded across his chest. "Know that you have allies in us both should the need arise."

"Aye." Hercules says with a nod "Rarely have I fought alongside mortals so powerful or courageous. I look forward to doing it again soon."

***

Later, atop one of the cities countless rooftops:

"Mmmm." Hercules makes a happy sound as he munches down on a giant pretzel "You spoke true Thor, these pretzels are indeed a snack worthy of the gods."

He takes another big bite.

"Had I known that mortal kitchens had come so far, I'd have returned centuries ago." He adds through a mouthful of semi chewed pretzel.

Thor is sitting next to Hercules with his helmet off and his cape fluttering in the high altitude guests that buffet their position. He gives Hercules a friendly smile "You would not have found such delicacies if you had done so Brother." He says "It is my understanding that much of the wonder of this world has only very recently come to be."

"Hnh" Hercules nods as he looks out across the city "They have come a long way."

There is a pause then as the two Gods let a moment of silence pass between them.

"Will you be returning to Olympus then?" Thor finally says, breaking the silence.

"Perhaps." Hercules replies without taking his eyes off of the skyline "I had come to this plane to seek you out, not to avenge my Uncle, though that gave me a good enough excuse as far as Father Zeus was concerned, no I came because I have been bored on Mount Olympus Thor. Every day is the same. The same petty, meaningless squabbles, the same, endless, unchanging challenges and threats that have been met and bested time and again. I wanted to feel alive again and I thought, if Earth is good enough for Thor, then it is likely almost good enough for Hercules."

The last part is meant as a joke and is delivered with a grin. Thor ignores it, choosing instead to focus on the heart of the matter.

"I did not choose life on Midgard Hercules." He corrects "It was forced upon me."

"At first." Hercules points out

"True enough." Thor nods

"And if you could leave now? If you could return to Asgard right now, never to return, would you?" Hercules asks

Thor hesitates, considering the question, then shakes his head. "I would not. This world, these people, there is something about them that makes close to my heart. I feel as though I am their protector and I cannot, will not, abandon them even if my exile ends."

"Exactly!" Hercules says. He climbs to his feet. "This plane of existence may have forgotten about us Thor, but we have never forgotten it. Like you, I choose to stay, to defend this realm and the mortals who inhabit it."

"Then it will be an honor to fight alongside you in defense of this realm Lion of Olympus" Thor says as he offers Hercules his arm.

Hercules extends his own arm and the two clasp each other's limbs at the forearm, a warrior's handshake. "And I you, Lord of Thunder."


​

 

[DarkHellRider]

Johnny sat down at the counter of some rinky dink diner on the outskirts of some small town in New Mexico. All he wanted to do is just find a nice quiet place to live the rest of his life, but so far no matter where he went trouble always found him.
“"What will you have sir” you could hear the distrust in the waitresses voice, same voice most townies had with nonlocals. He was used to this being part of a travelling circus for so long with his family. “Yes I’ll have a coffee strongest you got a plate of bacon and scrambled eggs please.” “Ok sir be right up” Johnny sits at the counter nursing his headache from the hangover caused by his massive drinking the night before.
"Here’s your coffee"Johnny thanks the lady hoping she didn’t spit in it he puts it up to his lips to take a drink. “Careful son that’s hot its very fresh" Johnny downs it the heat doesn’t bother him he’s used to heat. “Please keep them coming” lady kind of looks at Johnny with a very surprised look on her face “um ok sir you got it’”
Johnny gets his food and is about half way through the plate when four men with masks on come busting into the diner with guns ready. Two of the robbers head to the back to try and empty the safe while the other two stay up front one watching the customers the other holding the waitress. The robber holding the waitress says something to the waitress that he can’t hear. The waitress screams causing the robber to smack her and knock her down opening a gash across her eyebrow. Johnny started to get to his knees as the pain of the change came. The robber hits johhny with the gun but that pain is nothing compared to what he is already feeling. Next comes the screaming as fire starts burning away his skin small pieces hitting the floor leaving small burn marks where the skin hits. After what seems like an eternity to Johnny the Rider is finally out.

The Ghost Rider stands up and looks directly at the robber in front of him with the empty flaming eyes. The robber does the only thing he could think of and starts to fire round after round into the riders chest doing very little. The rider looks down and looks back at the shooter if you looked real close you could almost feel like the rider was just smiling. “what the hell are you man” “I AM VENGENCE INCARNATE I AM THE GHOST RIDER” The Ghost rider picks up the robber in front of him and throws him through one of the front windows into the robbers front windshield of their car outside. The Rider then looks at the other robber and growls as the flames on his body grow larger. He takes his chain of hellfire and uses it to pull the robber over the counter and right in front of him.

"LOOK INTO MY EYES FEEL WHAT YOU HAVE CAUSED OTHERS TO FEEL FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAYS.’’ The robber screams and just falls screaming and crying. The other two robbers come out from the back right into the hands of the Rider and he proceeds to do the same to them. The Rider walks out the diner and grabs up the barely alive barely conscious robber he threw out the window. “Tell everyone you know that the Rider is back and anyone who harms an innocent there will be Hell to pay.” The rider drops the robber and calls for his bike leaving the town and the diner in the mirror of his flaming bike.

 

[Byrd Man]

"That is most kind of you Dr. Richards." Thor replies. Hercules stands to his right, arms folded across his chest."Know that you have allies in us both should the need arise."

"Aye." Hercules says with a nod "Rarely have I fought alongside mortals so powerful or courageous. I look forward to doing it again soon."
​

​

The Fantastic Four and Flash watched as Thor flew off across the city, his freehand holding on to Hercules.

"Well, that was fun," Reed said with a smile. "Now, Flash, how about we get working on getting you home."

"Agreed. I think I made more than enough alternate universe memories in this trip to last."

"Okay, let's all head to the lab and I'll get us started."

"Wait a minute," Ben said. He pulled the power ring from his finger. The green clothing on his body faded and he was back in his blue trunks. "Lemme get rid of this."

"Are you sure about that, Ben? You being a Green Lantern would help the group out a lot."

"Yeah, it would be... but I'd have to do all that crap in space with the corps. I don't wanna do that. I'm already part of a team. And besides, no amount of aliens is gonna make up for the dental plan Susie got us."

Ben wound up and tossed the ring into the sky. It shot over New York like a green comet, a dazzling emerald trail following behind it.

"Hopefully it'll find a good one."

"It will. It chose you, after all."

"So, obviously these power rings are blind..."

"Hardy har har, smart ass."

*****

"Wow... that looks so lame."

Flash and the FF were in Reed's lab, Reed's invention mounted on the table in front of them.
"Sorry it's not up to your aesthetic standards, Johnny. But it will work."

"You sure? I don't want to have this thing explode, or send me back in time, or what have you... wait, what if I've been dead this whole time?! This alternate universe is Purgatory! I've seen way too many Twilight Zone episodes. I know how it works! I AM IN HELL!!!"

"God, you're such a spaz. I hope our version of Flash is a lot cooler."

"Your concerns should be moot, Flash. While this is untested, it was built by some of the smartest minds of the last century."

"Yeah, I heard about Robo-Einstein and Heisenberg. Alright... Guess there's only one way to find out."

Flash turned to Sue and hugged her.

"Goodbye, Tin man! Don't cry, I don't want you to rust."

"Okay..."

He turned from Sue and hugged Ben.

"Goodbye, Lion!"

"Rassa frassa punk kid," Ben grumbled.

"And you, Scarecrow!" Flash shouted, pulling away from Ben and approaching Johnny. "I think I'll miss you most of all!"

"No," Johnny said feebly as Flash wrapped his arms around him.

"I'm sure one day you'll find some brains. I just know it!"

"Let go before I burn you..."

Flash stepped away and walked to Reed, shaking his hand.

"Alright, Wizard, let's do this."

He hopped up on to the table and stepped on to the track of the treadmill.

"Place your hands on the holds of the treadmill. The treadmill will read your universe's vibrational frequency off your hands and send out a pulse that will act as a guide and anchor as you go through the flotsam and jetsam of the multiverse. And you're the engine."

"Right," Flash said, placing his hands on the hand holds. He looked over at the Fantastic Four and nodded. "All jokes aside, thank you for helping me out. All of you. I think I can say without a doubt that I had the most fun a guy has had in an alternate universe... so far. If this works, I'd like to come back sometime."

"Our doors are always open, Flash."

"Yup. Now, get outta here."

"Here we go," he said, taking a deep breath. Slowly, he walked down the track, gaining speed with each step. In a few seconds, Flash's legs were a blur and the treadmill was moving along. The device began to hum and Flash felt a buzzing in his hands that began to move up into his body.

KRAKOOM!

With a bright flash and a loud boom, the visitor from another universe disappeared from sight
​