One Universe: Season IV IC Thread

[Matt Murdock]

I recognize the voice on the other end of the line, it'd be impossible for me not to. I've heard it on tv, radio, even in those audio clips Batman has.

I look at Sarah and motion towards the phone in the front office. She hurries over to Stacy's desk and picks up the line.

"Normally, we do have a tip hotline, but I can hear the concern in your voice. How can I help you today, miss?"

"You'll find twenty-two victims of homicide in the tavern off of fourth street."I mutter quietly. He'll think it's a bluff, or he'll accept it for what it is: the fact that I have murdered at least twenty two people. "There may have been an undercover police officer in the mix. I'm not really sure. None of them produced a badge as I ended their lives, and I haven't gone searching for one."

I shift in the seat quietly.

"You've undoubtedly run a trace on the call and you can see that the tavern of which I speak is the very place I'm calling from. You'd best move fast if you want to catch me."

The top comes off of a bottle of vodka perched behind the counter with ease. I pick up a cloth rag as I speak and stuff it into the bottle. I tip it sidewards, coating the fabric in liquor.

"I am not offering myself up to be found, I am not, as it is said in the movies, 'turning myself in.'"

I take another bottle and place the knife and gun I used to kill the bar patrons on the counter. I pour the vodka on top of them, as well. I smash the bottle on the ground, coating the floor in the alcohol. I pull out a book of matches and eye them quietly. I snatch one up and ignite it. With a huff, I drop the match onto the pool of liquor on top of the gun and knife. Silently, I watch as they burn.

"I only make this phone call to give you fair warning." Slowly, I step backwards, bottle and cloth in hand, watching as flames engulf the bar. "Gotham is a city built on mortar and brick. Those, however, are hardly flammable. Flesh, marrow, and muscle are far less resilient."

Silence for a moment, and I step out of the front door.

"Gotham will burn to the ground, I'll see to that. The only question is how much destruction is caused, how many lives are lost, before you give me what I want."

I toss the bottle up and down a couple of times in my grasp before hurling through the front window of the bar. Glass shatters, backdraft rips through the building, and the entire establishment goes up in flames.

"You and I both know what that is, don't we, Jim?" I say, slyly. "Say hi to the kids for me."

I hang up, and toss the phone through the broken window. It would sincerely be in officer Gordon's best interests to act quickly, as I said. Any evidence he has, fingerprints, DNA, hair fibers, trace evidence at the the microscopic level, is burning away. Sooner or later, the entire wall of liquor behind the bar will catch fire and then... well.

Kaboom.
​

 

[Johnny Blaze]

"Hey!" I yell in protest while dodging...Kevin's orange arms, "I don't disappear I-"

BAMF

"-teleport through another dimension!"

Kevin swings at me again, which I dodge with a backflip, and counter with a kick to the face. The brute mearly shrugs me off, and sends me flying through the nearest window.

BAMF

I reappear next to Scott, "Yes, I agree, Cyclops. What is zhe plan?"

"The plan is we do whatever it takes to give them time to get all the civilians out of here", Scott stated as he fired an optic blast at 'Kevin' that sent him crashing through the lab's wall and into the wind and rain outside.

Jean, Scott spoke in his head as he headed towards the massive hole left by the monster.
What's your status?

We're getting there. Moira, the children, and her staff are boarding the helicopters as we speak. Should only be another minute or so.

"Great", Scott scoffed as he shook his head, "so we just have to survive for another minute."

Stepping out through into the pouring rain, Scott saw the monster slowly start to rise to it's feet. Before he could think of a next move, a green blur flew past him.

"Don't ye worry, lad", the Banshee said as he flew towards 'Kevin'.
"I got yer back."

Sean Cassidy unleashed his sonic scream at the monster, bringing it to it's knees.
But the creature, just like with Jean, turned it's gaze towards him, warping reality around him and causing Sean to bend and twist like a corkscrew.

Sean's scream turned to one of agony as his body stretched impossibly thin and contorted in ways that would make Mr. Fantastic jealous.

Suddenly, reality returned to normal and Sean Cassidy fell out of the sky right in front of the monster.
The creature looked down at the shaken Banshee, and picked him up to his feet by the throat.
Then, to the horror of everyone watching, the monster seemed to dive into Banshee's mouth like a swimmer jumping in a pool.

Banshee's scream suddenly went silent as he fell to his knees. Looking at his hands, Sean, his eyes a bright glowing yellow, began to laugh sadistically.

 

[Catman_prb]

There was silence except for the rain pattering on the concrete as Sean started to rise to his feet. His mouth slowly started to move into a mockery of a smile, a fake grin plastered on a dead face. Jamie kept a grip in Laura's upper arm as she tried to move towards the creature.

"Sean?" Jamie asked, blinking unshed tears out of his eyes. The Irish man looked at him, tilting his head and flexing his fingers, that hideous grin still fixed in place.

"Sean is dead," Sean said "Kevin is dead. I am what remains. I am Proteus,"

"Let him go," Laura begged, a cold tone to her voice that made him wince.

Sean looked at her, a puzzled look forming on his face.

"Sean is dead," he explained in a monotone.

Jamie started trying to lift her away towards the helipad, but Laura drove an elbow into his stomach and dropped to the floor.

"Laura don't," he pleaded, taking a step towards her.

-SNIKT-

Two bloody, metal claws burst out of Laura's hand on either side of the third knuckle, splattering blood all over the floor. With a feral growl that set the hairs on the back of Jamie's neck on end, Laura leapt towards Sean Cassidy, driving her claws into the creature's stomach. Cassidy knocked her back, and there was the smell of burning ozone as Laura twisted in the same way as Jean had done. Her claws bent back and slashed at her wrists, before she dropped to the ground, Cassidy finishing her with a kick to the head.

"Ororo, wait 'til I tell you," Jamie said, still hefting the fire extuingsher behind him.

As he reached Cassidy, he swung the extinguisher in an arc, smashing it into his head with a nasty crunch. He dropped it and turned back to the semi-conscious Laura, gathering her up in his leather jacket and moving back towards the helipad. The rain was falling harder now, plastering his hair to his face.

"Storm, let her rip," he shouted.

There was a blue flash as lightning from the storm came down from the sky, lighting Cassidy up like a Christmas tree. As well as the bright blue light, there was the clear outline of an orange man superimposed on the man that Jamie had once thought of as a father. There was a -whump- sound as the helicopters flew over head with the evacuees.

 

[Byrd Man]

"I only make this phone call to give you fair warning."Slowly, I step backwards, bottle and cloth in hand, watching as flames engulf the bar."Gotham is a city built on mortar and brick. Those, however, are hardly flammable. Flesh, marrow, and muscle are far less resilient."

Silence for a moment, and I step out of the front door.​

"Gotham will burn to the ground, I'll see to that. The only question is how much destruction is caused, how many lives are lost, before you give me what I want."​

I toss the bottle up and down a couple of times in my grasp before hurling through the front window of the bar. Glass shatters, backdraft rips through the building, and the entire establishment goes up in flames.​

"You and I both know what that is, don't we, Jim?"I say, slyly. "Say hi to the kids for me."​

I hang up, and toss the phone through the broken window. It would sincerely be in officer Gordon's best interests to act quickly, as I said. Any evidence he has, fingerprints, DNA, hair fibers, trace evidence at the the microscopic level, is burning away. Sooner or later, the entire wall of liquor behind the bar will catch fire and then... well.​

Kaboom.​

It's twenty minutes later and I'm standing outside the bar, watching as the fire department takes half burned bodies out of the bar.

"They all appear to be dead, Commish." One of them says to me. I take off my glasses and wipe them off on my tie.

According to Sarah, this bar was registered to James Pabsco, one of Maroni's bagmen. It's on the MCU's target list of property owned by Two-Face.

I feel a pit in my stomach as the firemen pull more bodies out the bar.

One of two things are happening. The first is that Joker is goading Two-Face, and the second is that the two of them are working together.

I shake my head and turn to leave the scene. I've got a meeting with the mayor in a half hour. After that, when it's good and dark, I'll head up to the top of the GCPD building and hit the signal.

 

[Red_Robin77]

Ok, so I was wrong. Wally's not out patrolling the streets. Of course, with as quiet as Central seems today, I understand why. But I know Wally, and there's no way he'll just sit around and wait for the next attack if there's something he can do about it.

I just don't know enough about what happened. About this new band of Rogues. So I take a dash around to the various newspapers and stations. a few minutes later and I'm mulling over what I've learned. This new band of Rogues aren't really new. They're some of Barry's second stringers that have decided to take the Rogue name and pass themselves off as something they're not. I'm sure the old Rogues aren't too happy about that.

I snap my fingers. "The Rogues. The real Rogues." Who better to ask about these pretenders.

The Warden of Iron Heights grabs his papers out of instinct before they fly off his desk from the wind I kick up. "Done already, Flash?" He looks up from his work. "Oh, Mr. Garrick. You're here about the Rogues too?"

"Too?"

I throw the files back in the filing cabinet and in a blur dash out of the office and head towards the exit, when I suddenly break to a halt, skidding along the corridor and halt by the Warden's post. Before me stood the figure of Jay Garrick in his costume.

"Hey. Hear about the Rogues too?"

 

[Red_Robin77]

"The Clocktower?"

Robin and I look out over the city. "What's wrong with it?"

I raise an eyebrow under my mask as I look through my binoculars again. "I prefer starting patrol in the Narrows. That's usually where the most problems are."

"Yeah, but that's not where they all are. The rest of Gotham needs us too. Besides, it's too early for the nasty stuff to start in the Narrows."

I glance down at Robin. I can virtually feel his excitement. And he has a point. If the criminals who are mobile figure out we spend most of our time in the Narrows, they'll just start spreading out to the areas we don't visit.

"So...now what?" I ask.

Robin just keeps looking down a particular street. "Wait for it..."

And I wait...for about 10 seconds. And then the distant sound of an alarm wafts its way to us.

Robin pulls out his grapnel and fires. "Well, what are you waiting for?" He swings towards the alarm.

I stand there a moment...and grin.

I swing through the air off Gotham swiftly and quickly, before firing off my grapnel gun again, hooking it onto one of the rooftops and I continue swinging off towards the alarm. My hair blows in the wind as I retract the grapnel and spin in mid-air, before throwing out my cape and gliding down, heading down towards Gotham Mint.

I glide over the building heading towards the back exit, where I can spot an armoured truck. As I get closer I spot a mass of masked people, armed with machine guns. I glide down and throw out a foot into the back of one of the heads of a criminal carrying a bag full of coins, sending them falling head first into the armoured truck. I land gracefully and back flip, dodging one of the advancing criminals attempt to charge into me.

Three of the criminals raise their guns and fire at me, making me leap and bound around, before throwing three batarangs while in mid-air, lodging the three into each gun, jamming them. In one swift movement, I fire my grapnel gun at one of the guns and make sure it's hooked before pulling it diagonally, hitting all three of them as it went off up into the air.

"You guys need to get some practise, I mean, who's not prepared for mysterious heroes these days?"

I pull back my grapnel and throw a kick at the head of one thug, pushing off against him to throw my over foot into the head of the one behind me.

"So who's running this operation?" I ask as I hit another advancing thug.

A load bang echoes out from the open doorways of the Mint, and smoke begins to pour out of them. I pull my cape in front of me, blowing the smoke away. From out of the doorway a figure appears, advancing rapidly from the smoke. As the smoke eventually begins to clear, the figure becomes more clear and I look up at the clear figure.

"That would be me."

 

[Keyser Soze]

I stand up and pull a magazine off my face.

"Needless to say, Stark. I've had easier landing. But the good news is that you're featured in this month's People."

I cast my eyes up as Nazi swoops down towards the ground like a dive bomber.

"He's coming back. Better get ready."

"Geez, this guy doesn't know when to quit, does he?"

Bracing myself for impact, I launch myself back into the air, putting myself right in the flight path of Captain Nazi. We hit each other with the impact of a car wreck, and I feel every bone in my body just about rattled out of its socket. For a second, it feels like the force of Nazi's descent will be enough to drive me back into the ground, but then I feel Nazi giving way to my upward flight path. We take a wild, spiralling arc through the air, before the pair of us go crashing right through the front wall of the Espace Leopold, landing with a crash in the reception hall of the European Parliament. Suddenly, we're surrounded by screaming civilians.

"You might be able to hide behind armor, American..."

With lightning speed, Nazi snatches a nearby woman by the throat, holding her in front of him.

"But they can't. How many deaths would you like to have on your head?"

 

[wiegeabo]

I swing through the air off Gotham swiftly and quickly, before firing off my grapnel gun again, hooking it onto one of the rooftops and I continue swinging off towards the alarm. My hair blows in the wind as I retract the grapnel and spin in mid-air, before throwing out my cape and gliding down, heading down towards Gotham Mint.

I glide over the building heading towards the back exit, where I can spot an armoured truck. As I get closer I spot a mass of masked people, armed with machine guns. I glide down and throw out a foot into the back of one of the heads of a criminal carrying a bag full of coins, sending them falling head first into the armoured truck. I land gracefully and back flip, dodging one of the advancing criminals attempt to charge into me.

Three of the criminals raise their guns and fire at me, making me leap and bound around, before throwing three batarangs while in mid-air, lodging the three into each gun, jamming them. In one swift movement, I fire my grapnel gun at one of the guns and make sure it's hooked before pulling it diagonally, hitting all three of them as it went off up into the air.

"You guys need to get some practise, I mean, who's not prepared for mysterious heroes these days?"

I pull back my grapnel and throw a kick at the head of one thug, pushing off against him to throw my over foot into the head of the one behind me.

"So who's running this operation?" I ask as I hit another advancing thug.

A load bang echoes out from the open doorways of the Mint, and smoke begins to pour out of them. I pull my cape in front of me, blowing the smoke away. From out of the doorway a figure appears, advancing rapidly from the smoke. As the smoke eventually begins to clear, the figure becomes more clear and I look up at the clear figure.


"That would be me."

It's my turn to swing down, and I make it count, planting my boots right into the small of Mysterio's back. He goes flying forward as I complete my swing an land. The only problem...he's head stayed behind.

"What in the-?!"

"Nice try, Batman. You don't think I'd come prepared?"

My eyes go wide and I fire my grapnel into a wall, using it to pull me away. I barely escape the explosion, but the force blasts me against the wall, knocking the air from my lungs.

I get back up with a cough. "Robot..." I've read Mysterio's file. Using robots is his MO. It shouldn't have been a surprise.

"And now you shall DIE, Batman." Grand theatrics, the other part of his MO. While Robin handles his goons, I look up to see the headless robot body march towards me with arms extended like a zombie in a bad movie. His hand flip up, exposing nozzles inside the wrists.

"Just great."

I cover myself with my cape as the flames engulf me...

 

[wiegeabo]

I throw the files back in the filing cabinet and in a blur dash out of the office and head towards the exit, when I suddenly break to a halt, skidding along the corridor and halt by the Warden's post. Before me stood the figure of Jay Garrick in his costume.

"Hey. Hear about the Rogues too?"

"News travels fast." I groan inwardly at the unintended pun. "Anyway, I originally dropped to talk about something else. But I think the Rogues may be the more immediate problem."

"Find anything so far?"

 

[Carnage27]

​

I've gone up against the most heinous villains in the world. I've taken care of drug dealers, mobsters, murderers, and maniacs. Heck, I've even helped to stop a devourer of planets. But today, I, Peter Parker, am facing the deadliest enemy of all.

An angry girlfriend.

"I cannot believe how you've been acting towards me lately," Babs starts angrily over the phone. "Ignoring my calls, barely talking when you do pick up, spending so much time with Gwen."

I can't really blame her for being mad. All the things she's saying are true. But there has been so much to deal with. Superman appointing me to put together a team of meta-teens, Harry's possible drug issues, and most importantly the new Goblin/Fisk feud. Honestly, I just haven't had a lot of time-

"Peter, are you even listening to me!?" Babs breaks me from my own thoughts.

"Yea, I am. I've just been really busy lately. I'm a high school student who fights guys that look like Rocky Horror Picture Show rejects for a living, Babs. All I can say is that I'm sorry and I'll try to do better."

Yea, right. Like that line ever works. Smooth move, Parker.

"Yea well, I don't know if sorry is going to cut it this time, Pete."

Click

Ter-freaking-rific, I think as I pull my mask over my face and open my rooms window. I let loose a webline and swing into the New York night, honestly hoping some idiot tries to rob a bank. I need a good oppertunity to let go of some frustration.

And like a sign from heaven, I see two police cars speed by, sirens blaring underneath me. I follow them downtown, where they come to a screehing halt infront of a bank.

I perch myself on a gargoyle attached to a nearby building, and attempt to get a reading on the situation, when suddenly one of the bank's walls blows out in a storm of bricks, and out steps...

"Oh, you like me, you really like me," I say to the heavens as if speaking to God himself.

I swing down behind Shocker, who's too busy with the police in front of him to bother checking his back. Honestly, I'm convinced this guy gets his jollies from getting the tar beat out of him. It's the only logical explanation.

"Hey! Martha Stewart called! She wants her quilt back!"

Shocker spins around, obviously dismayed at my presence, "You! Honestly, can there just be one time when you don't show up?"

"Nope. Sorry. Super heroism doesn't work like that," I respond while swinging out of the way from one of his concussive blasts. "But honestly, Shocker, don't you want to go back to the pen with some dignity? Get a new costume my friend. You might even impress the guy in cell B24 you've had your eye on for so long!"

Honestly...one time this mouth of mine is going to get me in trouble.

"RARGH!" he yells as he sends a fairly powerful blast my way, which blows the windows out of the entire block.

I land with a back flip behind him, and string his hands up with webbing, "Now, now that isn't nice. Don't you know how much insurance money will need to replace all them. And we're in a recession! How irresponsible!."

Shocker answers with a few clumsy punches, that I easily dodge, "Oh, you can do better than that can't you?"

"Do you ever shut up!?"

"Come on, pajama boy! I thought this relationship was built on a foundation of communication!" I spring back onto my hands and push off the ground, driving my feet into Shocker's face, sending him flying through the air, landing conveniently in front of the nearest cops.

"Well...that got wrapped up nicely."

THWAP

I shoot a webline and begin my swing home, but not before I run into someone I wasn't expecting.

"Nice work, web-head," Johnny Storm says as he floats in the air.

"Johnny, what a coincidence. I actually need to talk to you."

"Oh yea," the Human Torch respnds, a high level of intrigue in his voice, "'bout what?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

There was silence except for the rain pattering on the concrete as Sean started to rise to his feet. His mouth slowly started to move into a mockery of a smile, a fake grin plastered on a dead face. Jamie kept a grip in Laura's upper arm as she tried to move towards the creature.

"Sean?" Jamie asked, blinking unshed tears out of his eyes. The Irish man looked at him, tilting his head and flexing his fingers, that hideous grin still fixed in place.

"Sean is dead," Sean said "Kevin is dead. I am what remains. I am Proteus,"

"Let him go," Laura begged, a cold tone to her voice that made him wince.

Sean looked at her, a puzzled look forming on his face.

"Sean is dead," he explained in a monotone.

Jamie started trying to lift her away towards the helipad, but Laura drove an elbow into his stomach and dropped to the floor.

"Laura don't," he pleaded, taking a step towards her.

-SNIKT-

Two bloody, metal claws burst out of Laura's hand on either side of the third knuckle, splattering blood all over the floor. With a feral growl that set the hairs on the back of Jamie's neck on end, Laura leapt towards Sean Cassidy, driving her claws into the creature's stomach. Cassidy knocked her back, and there was the smell of burning ozone as Laura twisted in the same way as Jean had done. Her claws bent back and slashed at her wrists, before she dropped to the ground, Cassidy finishing her with a kick to the head.

"Ororo, wait 'til I tell you," Jamie said, still hefting the fire extuingsher behind him.

As he reached Cassidy, he swung the extinguisher in an arc, smashing it into his head with a nasty crunch. He dropped it and turned back to the semi-conscious Laura, gathering her up in his leather jacket and moving back towards the helipad. The rain was falling harder now, plastering his hair to his face.

"Storm, let her rip," he shouted.

There was a blue flash as lightning from the storm came down from the sky, lighting Cassidy up like a Christmas tree. As well as the bright blue light, there was the clear outline of an orange man superimposed on the man that Jamie had once thought of as a father. There was a -whump- sound as the helicopters flew over head with the evacuees.

Proteus cried out as Storm brought down another bolt of lightning on top of him. And another...and another...

Proteus howled in anger, and the air around him warped, twisting the descending lightning bolt away from him and towards Scott.

Scott awaited the inevitable, but the death blow never connected as the bolt smashed against an invisible shield.

"Jean", Scott called out as Jean Grey ran up to him as she, Gambit, and Nightshade joined the fight.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine", Scott answered as Gambit launched a handful of explosive cards at Proteus.

"But we have to take this thing, Proteus, out as fast as possible. It's like some sort of parasite, Jean, It's already killed Sean Cassidy and taken control of his body."

Gambit screamed out as his body was stretched extremely thin, almost like spaghetti. "Banshee" was turning his attention towards the attacking Cajun, sweat pouring off his suddenly pale looking body.
The effort in which Proteus took their best attacks and fired right back worried Scott that they may not be able to win this battle.

"We have to figure out someway to stop it, though. And quickly, because I don't think we'll last much longer."

 

[Carnage27]

"We have to figure out someway to stop it, though. And quickly, because I don't think we'll last much longer."

I've never been a pessimistic person. I've always been the happy go lucky one in the group, but not even I think we're gonna make it out of this one.

Sean's body crumples to the ground, and Proteus's shimmering body is visible yet again. I unsheathe my sword, and look at Scott.

"I'm going in. Who knows if it'll do anything, but long range doesn't seem to be vorking," I say as the rain mats down my fur and drips off my nose.

BAMF

I port as close as I can to the beast, and get in as close as I can and take a powerful swipe with my sword. The reality around me bends for a moment, as if he was going to do what he did to Gambit, but stops suddenly. I take another swipe, and the monster reels again.

Everyone, I think he may be weakened by metal. Jean, care to throw some at him?

You got it, Kurt.

I continue to slash away, weakening Proteus with every hit, while simultaneously dodging pipes and beams being telepathically thrown by Jean, taken from the building behind us. The monster drops to its knees, and I port back to the team.

I look up at Scott, "Ve need to finish this. Now."

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Hank Pym
Avenger

Hank Pym had been staring into the mirror for almost 5 whole minutes. He doubted it was nerves. This wasn't going to be the first time he'd ever spoke in front of an audience. True, he'd never spoken in front of an audience of super heroes, but he doubted it would be that different.

It had been, he found, most challenging to choose what to wear. He had planned on being formal; a light brown suit, a white shirt and black tie. Simple, concise. But then he remembered who he was now. Which is what led him to stand in front of this mirror in his Giant Man outfit, sans mask.

He exited his and Janet's room and made his way down the halls of the SHIELD base hidden in the underground of Manhattan, and into Conference Room B3. A large, circular table had been bolted to the middle of the floor, 10 chairs littered all around it. He counted the chairs, knowing full well how many there were, to try and distract himself from the fact that he didn't know if Janet would come.

After Hank and Janet had been caught in the middle of an attack on a bank by Hydra, Janet had not been speaking to Hank. She, apparently, had not appreciated that Hank had gone after the robbers, throwing caution to the wind and leaving her alone. A valid argument, he realized now. But after all, he was an Avenger. So was she. He couldn't help but feel resentment towards his wife for not fighting by his side that day. Unlike Green Lantern, who had arrived just in time.

Finally, Hank let out a deep breath. Raising the communicator in his sleeve (a direct line to all members of the Avengers, wherever they may be), he spoke with a voice of practiced authority yet friendliness.

"Attention Avengers. This is Giant Man, report to SHIELD Base 45A for briefing. Highest priority, people. Make it fast, if you can."

He finally lowered the communicator when he decided he had enough.

Thor.
The Flash.
Green Lantern.
Wonder Woman.
Hawkeye.
The Wasp.
The Vision, his own creation.
and finally, himself. Giant Man.

What the Avengers were faced with now was on a scale Giant Man had never even thought about. For all intents and purposes, the American Government was going to war, and the Avengers were the first line of defense.
​

 

[Johnny Blaze]

THE ODYSSEY
Chapter 4 ~ Revelations - Act 2​

The group remained silent for a few moments as they processed Hal's revelation.

"Tyrant is responsible for what happened to Zenn-La", Norrin spoke to himself as he looked off into space towards his homeworld.

"Then we do not have any time to spare. We must stop this creature before any more worlds are lost."

"Yeah? What about this world? What about the billions of Skrulls that are about to be displaced or killed thanks to this 'creature' here, Galactus?"

"I...I do not know", Norrin admitted.
"How we stopped Galactus on Earth will not work again. And deterring the Devourer is no small feat. We will have to reason with him, somehow."

"Easier said than done", Hal chimed in.
"But I must go speak with him anyway to tell him I'll be leaving to help you all hunt down Tyrant."

"Then let's stop standing around and get to it."

The foursome flew off towards the Devourer, Parallax leading the way.
Within minutes, they stood in front of the imposing presence of Galactus as the cosmic god continued to set up his devices that would convert the planet's life force into energy he could consume.

"Master, we must speak with you!"

Galactus turned slowly to regard his Herald and his three cohorts, frowning in displeasure.

"I thought I had told you to remove the Surfer, Parallax? And now you have allowed two Green Lanterns to interrupt my work as well?"

"I'm sorry, Galactus, but it's important. I've got some urgent news that you need to know about."

"And what news could possibly be important enough to interrupt me while I begin my feeding", boomed the Devourer, a hint of frustration edging into his voice.

"It is Tyrant, Galactus", the Surfer answered.
"Your prodigy has returned! He has already laid waste to Zenn-La and other worlds. We must stop him before the universe is lost!"

Galactus remained still and silent after the Surfer finished. His facial expression was unreadable; if the news of Tyrant's return surprised Galactus, he didn't show it.

"If what you say is true, than this is dire news indeed."

"It is, Master", Hal said.
"He confronted me on my way here, to Skrullos. Beat me nearly to death."

"And you failed to mention this to me before", Galactus roared angrily.

"I'm sorry, Master. I thought it best to wait until I had done some research on the monster and figured out a way to stop him."

"You thought it best", Galactus boomed incredulously.
"It is not your place to make such decisions, little Herald! You are beginning to be as troublesome as the Silver Surfer was."

"And what about Skrullos? We can't let you wipe out a world filled with billions of lives!"

Galactus turned his attention to the impudent Daredevil.

"You dare speak to Galactus so!? You would do well to keep your tongue in check, little Lantern. These are matters above your understanding."

"Really? Because all I see is another monster about to destroy planet. Seems to me you're no different than this Tyrant."

"Impudent creature", roared Galactus.
"I am GALACTUS! I do what I do because I must! It is essential to the balance of existence!"

"You would do well to silence your companions, my Herald."

"Don't worry, Galactus, we'll be gone soon enough. I came to tell you that we're going after Tyrant. I will return as soon as I can."

"You do not sound as though you are requesting leave, Parallax. Rather you are demanding it."

"They need me, Galactus. They'll need all the help they can get to beat Tyrant."

"As noble as that may be, you are my Herald, Parallax. Your place is here, at my side. I will not permit you to go."

"I'm sorry, Master, but I wasn't asking."

"You dare make demands of Galactus!? You are becoming more brazen by the day, my headstrong Herald. You will not be joining them on their quest to kill Tyrant. Galactus requires a Herald, and that is you."

"But, what if he wasn't your Herald!?"

All heads turned to see the Super-Skrull appear out of thin air, ending his invisibility.
"What if this Earthling wasn't your Herald, great Galactus? What if...what if I offered to take his place?"

 

[Red_Robin77]

"News travels fast." I groan inwardly at the unintended pun. "Anyway, I originally dropped to talk about something else. But I think the Rogues may be the more immediate problem."

"Find anything so far?"

"Nothing. I've gone through their files, checking all the usual spots for the Rogues, but nothing. I tried where they go by themselves, but still nothing. They didn't leave a trace."

I let out a sigh and lean against the wall, rubbing the back of my head.

"We'll have to wait till they try something again."

Waiting wasn't exactly easy for somebody with enhanced speed, so the very thought of having to wait it out wasn't exactly appealing.

"What did you want to talk about then?"

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Perspectives ~ Part 7​

People screamed in terror as the monster slammed down in the middle of the busy street. With a cry that sent chills to the core of all who heard it, the Devil Hulk grabbed a large dump truck by it's front end and flipped it effortlessly up and into a nearby building.

It had been five minutes since the monster arrived in Los Angelas, and already it's path of destruction had been incredible. A good chunk of the city lay in ruin already, and the beast showed no signs of stopping.

Snatching up a panicked civilian, the Devil Hulk tore the woman in two, tossing the pieces over his shoulder like a wad of paper.

The beast howled again as the sounds of a news helicopter came from overhead.

"This is Nancy Fernandez of CNN, reporting to you live at the scene of the carnage. At nine-fifteen this morning, local time, the monster touched down in the middle of Grand Avenue and began tearing apart everything and anything in it's path."

The Hulk rushed into a building, slamming into it with it's shoulder and bringing it down on top of him.

"The monster, which bears a resemblance to the Hulk, has methodically been spreading it's destruction across the entire city of Los Angelas. National Guard teams have been mobilized, and the police have been busy evacuating the rest of the city. But the situation does not look good."

The Devil Hulk burst free from the rubble with a roar, some of the debris nearly hitting the helicopter.

"At the rate this monster is going, very few will be able to make it out of the city alive."

The Devil Hulk snapped it's head skyward, it's hate-filled eyes locking on to the helicopter.

"Jesus, it sees us! Get us out of here, Frank!"

The Devil Hulk roared and leaped at the helicopter. The last image broadcast to the world was one of Nancy Fernandez screaming in terror as the beast slammed into the chopper, it's snapping jaws engulfing the camera...

 

[Red_Robin77]

It's my turn to swing down, and I make it count, planting my boots right into the small of Mysterio's back. He goes flying forward as I complete my swing an land. The only problem...he's head stayed behind.

"What in the-?!"

"Nice try, Batman. You don't think I'd come prepared?"

My eyes go wide and I fire my grapnel into a wall, using it to pull me away. I barely escape the explosion, but the force blasts me against the wall, knocking the air from my lungs.

I get back up with a cough. "Robot..." I've read Mysterio's file. Using robots is his MO. It shouldn't have been a surprise.

"And now you shall DIE, Batman." Grand theatrics, the other part of his MO. While Robin handles his goons, I look up to see the headless robot body march towards me with arms extended like a zombie in a bad movie. His hand flip up, exposing nozzles inside the wrists.

"Just great."

I cover myself with my cape as the flames engulf me...

I do a forward roll under the legs of one thug as he tries to make a grab for me, making him fall to the ground. I leap into the air and glide down on top of him, digging my heels into the back of his head. I smell the fire before I see it and spin around on the spot, to see Bruce surrounded by fire. Instinctively I throw two batarangs from my belt that hit into the nozzles attached to the arms of the robot Mysterio.

"I can handle the robot!" I yell out as I throw myself at the robot, spinning mid-air.

As I knock into the machine it throws an arm into me, knocking me sideways. As I stagger up to have another go, I notice movement behind the flames that surround Bruce and the back door.

"There are people inside," I call to Bruce as I barge into the machine again.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Hank Pym
Avenger

Hank Pym had been staring into the mirror for almost 5 whole minutes. He doubted it was nerves. This wasn't going to be the first time he'd ever spoke in front of an audience. True, he'd never spoken in front of an audience of super heroes, but he doubted it would be that different.

It had been, he found, most challenging to choose what to wear. He had planned on being formal; a light brown suit, a white shirt and black tie. Simple, concise. But then he remembered who he was now. Which is what led him to stand in front of this mirror in his Giant Man outfit, sans mask.

He exited his and Janet's room and made his way down the halls of the SHIELD base hidden in the underground of Manhattan, and into Conference Room B3. A large, circular table had been bolted to the middle of the floor, 10 chairs littered all around it. He counted the chairs, knowing full well how many there were, to try and distract himself from the fact that he didn't know if Janet would come.

After Hank and Janet had been caught in the middle of an attack on a bank by Hydra, Janet had not been speaking to Hank. She, apparently, had not appreciated that Hank had gone after the robbers, throwing caution to the wind and leaving her alone. A valid argument, he realized now. But after all, he was an Avenger. So was she. He couldn't help but feel resentment towards his wife for not fighting by his side that day. Unlike Green Lantern, who had arrived just in time.

Finally, Hank let out a deep breath. Raising the communicator in his sleeve (a direct line to all members of the Avengers, wherever they may be), he spoke with a voice of practiced authority yet friendliness.

"Attention Avengers. This is Giant Man, report to SHIELD Base 45A for briefing. Highest priority, people. Make it fast, if you can."

He finally lowered the communicator when he decided he had enough.

Thor.
The Flash.
Green Lantern.
Wonder Woman.
Hawkeye.
The Wasp.
The Vision, his own creation.
and finally, himself. Giant Man.

What the Avengers were faced with now was on a scale Giant Man had never even thought about. For all intents and purposes, the American Government was going to war, and the Avengers were the first line of defense.
​

Within minutes of the call, Thor strode down the subterenean hallways of the SHIELD base, stopping in front of Pym.

"I have answered your summons, Henry Pym. What is required of us?"

 

[SenseiofCheese]

Within minutes of the call, Thor strode down the subterenean hallways of the SHIELD base, stopping in front of Pym.

"I have answered your summons, Henry Pym. What is required of us?"

"Thor. Please have a seat." Hank Pym said hesitantly, taking great care not to sound as if he was ordering the Thunder God about. Yes, they were teammates, but relationships had yet to be formed.

"Well, there's a problem." he began, rubbing the back of his head. "A big one, actually."

"That is some security force." Wonder Woman's voice entered the room a second before she did.

"Where do they think I would keep any ID?" she sighed before nodding curtly to Thor and taking a seat beside him. "Hank, good to see you again." she smiled and warmth flooded into Hank´s heart. "What's this problem?"

Hank fidgeted for a moment, painfully aware of being in the presence of titans. "Well...I was going to wait for the others to get here, but I suppose I can give you a sneak preview." he decided, pressing a small button on a small pad on the conference table. The wall behind Pym suddenly lit up, sparkling to life with images and statistics. "Our problem," he said, his voice betraying the fear, as a face that seemed as if made from stone appeared on the screen.

"...is Kahndaq."

 

[Catman_prb]

I look up at Scott, "Ve need to finish this. Now."

"You're right," Jamie said, passing Laura, still wrapped up in his coat, into Jean's arms. He turned to Nightcrawler, tears running down his cheeks silently as he tried to keep a straight face.

"Give me the sword," he muttered, before taking the weapon off of his team mate without waiting for an answer. A duplicate emerged from beside him with sword in hand, hair plastered to his face. Whilst he didn't have Kurt's prowess with the weapon, a dupe had once spent a year studying kendo in Japan.

"I'll hit him high, you hit him low,"

The two Madroxes charged at the glowing orange figure, slashing at it with the iron swords. Proteus grabbed the duplicate in one crackling hand, forced his mouth open and jumped inside. Jamie screamed in pain and dropped to the ground, bringing his hands to his head as what felt like a fire burst out in his brain.

"A little boy playing in a man's world,"

Jamie looked up to see his own face grinning down at him, eyes a burning orange.

"Dont act like you know me," Jamie whispered.

"But I know all about you Jamie. I know your worst secret, your darkest desire. I know of the one you love and the ones that you have loved. I am you. And your father. And your brother. I am ever changing, ever evolving. I am the future of mutant kind," the smiling Jamie said, handing a sword to his double "I am Proteus. You know what you must do,"

The air around them rippled, and Jamie saw rather than felt his hand grab the blade and bring it to his neck.

"Cut the god ****," Jamie snarled "You're nothing,"

"I am everything. I am the future. Moira told me so," the creature that had once been Kevin said, something approaching doubt entering it's mind for what seemed like the first time.

The rain thudded onto the platform, the seas around Muir Island raging in the high winds and storms. The fake Jamie grabbed the real one by the hair, dragging him towards the railings and gesturing out at the black stormy skies before them.

"Don't you see it Jamie? This world is ours for the taking. It belongs to mutant kind. Our kind,"

Jamie grabbed Kurt's sword and rammed it hard between Proteus' ribs. He saw the look of shock and confusion on his own face. Jamie shoved him backwards, over the rail and into the raging ocean.

"You're nothing like me," he whispered.

 

[Catman_prb]

Hank fidgeted for a moment, painfully aware of being in the presence of titans. "Well...I was going to wait for the others to get here, but I suppose I can give you a sneak preview." he decided, pressing a small button on a small pad on the conference table. The wall behind Pym suddenly lit up, sparkling to life with images and statistics. "Our problem," he said, his voice betraying the fear, as a face that seemed as if made from stone appeared on the screen.

"...is Kahndaq."

"I have been there before," the Vision said, entering through the door that had been guarded by the SHIELD operatives.

"With the Sentry before he...deteriorated. We destroyed a munitions factory. This is highly classified, but since you are my team mates, I feel that I can trust you," the synthetic said, taking a seat at the table as he silently absorbed the information that was spread out before them.

"Thor, Diana, Hank, it is good to see you again," he said, smiling pleasantly. It was odd to him to say his father's name so openly in conversation...he felt almost as though it did not give him the proper respect. But as Wanda had taught him, sometimes it was better to speak more informally with people one was familiar with.

 

[Byrd Man]

"You might be able to hide behind armor, American..."

With lightning speed, Nazi snatches a nearby woman by the throat, holding her in front of him.

"But they can't. How many deaths would you like to have on your head?"

"I'd rather you have this on your head."

CLANG!

The shield strikes Nazi in the head, he lets the woman slip from his grip and gives enough room for Tony to lay into him with his repulsor rays.

I charge Nazi as he's still reeling from the blast.

WHAM!

I drive my fist into his face.

He stumbles back as I lay a boot heel into the side of his jaw.

"Your fear tactics didn't work sixty years ago, Nazi. They won't work now!"

WHAM!

I feel his nose break as my left hook catches him in the right spot.

Nazi trips over his own feet and falls to the ground, I pounce on top of his body and lay into him with my fists, punching as hard as I can.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Hank fidgeted for a moment, painfully aware of being in the presence of titans. "Well...I was going to wait for the others to get here, but I suppose I can give you a sneak preview." he decided, pressing a small button on a small pad on the conference table. The wall behind Pym suddenly lit up, sparkling to life with images and statistics. "Our problem," he said, his voice betraying the fear, as a face that seemed as if made from stone appeared on the screen.

"...is Kahndaq."

Thor gave an involuntary twitch in his seat, at the sight of Black Adam on the screen before him. The last time he had seen that face, it was in the frozen wastelands of Jotunheim.

Here is where are ways must part my friend. I must return to Asgard and restore honor to my name, I bid you luck in your quest, but I doubt you’ll need it from what I’ve seen of you. Good day, and may time bring us to meet once again.

It was Adam who had rescued Thor from what would have surely been eternal captivity in the dark realm of Hel, in exchange for acting as a guide through the realm of the Frost Giants.

"What business do we have with Black Adam? I owe him my life, and in my experience he is a man of honor and integrity."

"I have been there before," the Vision said, entering through the door that had been guarded by the SHIELD operatives.

"With the Sentry before he...deteriorated. We destroyed a munitions factory. This is highly classified, but since you are my team mates, I feel that I can trust you," the synthetic said, taking a seat at the table as he silently absorbed the information that was spread out before them.

"Thor, Diana, Hank, it is good to see you again," he said, smiling pleasantly. It was odd to him to say his father's name so openly in conversation...he felt almost as though it did not give him the proper respect. But as Wanda had taught him, sometimes it was better to speak more informally with people one was familiar with.

Thor nodded in response to The Vision, at the same time taking in this new information.

"Vision, tell us of this... Khandaq."

 

[Keyser Soze]

"I'd rather you have this on your head."

CLANG!

The shield strikes Nazi in the head, he lets the woman slip from his grip and gives enough room for Tony to lay into him with his repulsor rays.

I charge Nazi as he's still reeling from the blast.

WHAM!

I drive my fist into his face.

He stumbles back as I lay a boot heel into the side of his jaw.

"Your fear tactics didn't work sixty years ago, Nazi. They won't work now!"

WHAM!

I feel his nose break as my left hook catches him in the right spot.

Nazi trips over his own feet and falls to the ground, I pounce on top of his body and lay into him with my fists, punching as hard as I can.

"Captain..."

But he's not listening. He keeps on pounding and pounding at Captain Nazi, patriotic fury and old, unresolved anger driving him on.

"Steve."

I put a firm hand on his shoulder, which seems to snap him out of it. He looks down, and sees what I see. Captain Nazi is unconscious, and has been for some time.

Slowly, he stands up, and finally notices what I'm already acutely aware of. We're out on the street again. Behind us, the Espace Leopold is in ruins, wrecked by several gaping holes in its structure. The surrounding area is filled with substantial property damage. There are people all around us - scared, angry people. Yet in spite of all these people, there's a silence hanging heavy in the air.

"Something tells me we might not be welcome as ambassadors anymore."

 

[Byrd Man]

I put a firm hand on his shoulder, which seems to snap him out of it. He looks down, and sees what I see. Captain Nazi is unconscious, and has been for some time.

Slowly, he stands up, and finally notices what I'm already acutely aware of. We're out on the street again. Behind us, the Espace Leopold is in ruins, wrecked by several gaping holes in its structure. The surrounding area is filled with substantial property damage. There are people all around us - scared, angry people. Yet in spite of all these people, there's a silence hanging heavy in the air.

"Something tells me we might not be welcome as ambassadors anymore."

I wipe the blood from my hands as I look at Tony.

"I'm sorry about that, I really am."

I'm breathing heavy, still out of breath. I look down at Nazi's body and back up at Iron Man.

"I think me might want to secure him, and then see if we can help with the clean up."