Chapter 3
Issue 3
Demoines, Iowa….
Today was an interesting day for the inhabitants of Demoines; they had woken up and went about their mornings as usual. Some had excellent days and found money in the street, had finally managed to ask that cute Barista out….had been asked out by that cute guy in a suit who always ordered a dash of cinnamon and some had not been touched with joy like those who had bad news from the doctor and the lady who found her husband in bed with her sister but all in all it had been a pretty run of the mill day.
Their day however took a launching step into the unusual and bizarre right around lunch time. The villains from New York called the Wrecking Crew had launched a robbery attempt on the local bank. Super crime never really happened here, sure some mutants occasionally, who like lots of teenagers had rebelled and committed some misdemeanours. One kid managed to telepathically or telekinetically (something like that it had said in the newspaper), chromakinetically or whatever spray painted the entire town hall with his mind but nothing serious. Once the Wrecking Crew arrived so too did the superheroes, as they tend to do. First one and then a whole team, newcomers to the whole cape and tights scene it would seem according to the news that night.
Then came the four fighter jet-like crafts which hovered overhead silently having just appeared from nowhere pointing their high powered lamps down on the group, their weapons trained with laser pointers. An unfamiliar voice barked orders at them.
“This is Abigail Brand commander of S.W.O.R.D. You are a military force currently trespassing without prior knowledge on a sovereign planet and are being placed under arrest for further questioning” there was a pause “with the formalities out of the way let me make this clear, get your hands in the air and get down on your knees before we atomise you…there will not be a second warning!”
Yeah everyone would be talking about this day for a little while to come. One 8th grader who was off sick that day and had been taken to the doctor by his mother would write a report on what he saw, there were a number of embellishments making it a most inaccurate report.
The Imperial Guardians and Smasher stood shoulder to shoulder blinking away from the light. Well those who took in photonic energy in similar ways to human’s blinked to cut out the light. Starbolt, Neutron and Manta felt no need to blink to shield their retinas, they didn’t even have retinas.
Fang hunched his shoulders and lowered his body closely to the ground ready to pounce, throwing himself skyward with his flight-belt if needed. He hoped it would be needed, his muscles itched for it to be needed. The low rumble that was all too familiar to his other comrades began in his throat and quickly reverberated through his chest and the sounding chamber which lay there until they too could feel it in their chests.
“Ready for orders,” he snarled as if thinking that his team mates had forgotten what was going on. His young hothead nature overriding his years of military experience.
“Smasher,” Oracle said without turning her head “This certainly sounds like an official law enforcement force. Can you confirm that these people are real agents of authority on Earth?”
Isabel Kane stood open mouthed. “I uh….I’ve never heard of them but they seem legit. S.H.I.E.L.D, S.T.R.I.K.E, H.A.M.M.E.R……S.W.O.R.D. There seems to be someone in charge of government agencies who like their acronyms.” She was a physicist and a social scientist, even though she was attempting the role of a superhero (which she was mildly regretting currently), followed the meta-scene closely and knew much from her grandfather she wasn’t sure.
“Guardians, protocol 72,” Oracle nodded and held her hands in the air in surrender. The other Guardians followed suit though Fang and Starbolt certainly didn’t seem pleased with the idea.
“I don’t like this on bit,” growled Fang as the armed SWORD guards circled around them. The soldier’s weapons were trained on them, little green crosses dances across their chests and heads. In the majority of species these were vital areas and so this was standard protocol for S.W.O.R.D agents unless otherwise informed.
“We are emissaries seeking assistance from the forces of this world, if their government asks that we surrender ourselves then protocol would suggest we follow their instructions to avoid an inter-stellar incident,” Manta said calmly as she held out her arms for one of the guards to put cuffs on. She was always the voice of reason and logic when it was called upon.
“Aye Fang,” Starbolt said as he held out his hands mimicking her “Use your old brain, not your young hormones. Besides I reckon we can bust out of here without nary a problem if it comes to it. Un-enhanced humans are a frail bunch, I can melt the flesh from their bones by only raising my temperature a few hundred degrees.” He ‘smiled’ at one of the guards knowing fine well that he wasn’t being translated. His smile looked like a skull twisting at the edges through his heat haze.
“What have I gotten myself into, what have I gotten myself into,” Izzy repeated several times as she was cuffed and forcefully lead forward.
“We broke our new Smasher already,” sighed Astra “I hope the next one is hot.”
The Guardians were led one by one onto separate transport ships and forced into seats which fastened them down with restraints. The ships took off and headed up on an exit velocity and trajectory.
Isabel felt horror as the seat strapped her in and then the guards stepped out letting the door seal behind them. She was in a small metal box essentially. The room darkened until it was pitch black and she was left alone with only her own thoughts.
She could feel her heart racing in her chest. Her mind raced trying to think of everything she knew about the law, what her rights were, what exactly were the provisions in the Patriot Act again? She did all of this in the silence and the dark for what seemed like hours.
Her mind rolled through all of the different situations she could think of. The briefest of which was that they’d understand that this was all part of a huge misunderstanding or mistake and they’d just let her toddle off on her way back home back to her normal uneventful life. “It happens all the time right,” she convinced herself, “the world was full of mutants and super-powered people who tried to be superheroes and got way in over their head and quit right away, right?” She somehow however didn’t believe what she was telling herself.
The next thing she dwelled on was prison. Her mind drifted through everything she’d ever seen in movies and Orange is the New Black. She convinced herself that yes it would be awful, horrible but she could survive it. She just hoped no one would figure out she had been a ‘superhero’, that would probably have been frowned upon in ‘the joint’.
“Oh my god, what if I get sent to a meta-super max,” She had seen a documentary before about the prisons where supervillains went. She didn’t want to bunk with Titania and some chick from the Serpent Squad.
Or worse still they could send her to a space alien prison. She had seen those in movies too. One of which had Wonderman in it so she was sure he’d have given them accurate information based on his adventures. A guy had his arm ripped off for a joke in that one she was sure.
“What if they’re terrorists or something,” she would have loved to bite at her fingernails but they were locked tightly down to the arms of her chair so instead she chewed on her lip. She wondered about the super secret Guantanamo bay there must have been for super powered terrorists.
Eventually, after what felt like three or four near heart attacks her more reasoned mind started to kick in and she began to plan. She began to think. She could convince them of the truth, turn over the exo-specs. “But you don’t want to though, you’re a superhero now” she corrected herself mentally. She tried to push it from her mind but the thought kept reoccurring. She thought of her grandfather and everything that he meant to her, every view and outlook that they shared. All of the things which spurred her into wanting to be a superhero.
“Super strength,” she grumbled to herself and stood up tearing the bonds from the chair in which she was restrained. She had held back through fear of repercussions before but now she was ready to face whatever was on the other side of the door when it opened, or whenever she finally tore it from the hinges. Whatever came first.
The door hissed as if right on cue as it began to slide open. Izzy slid into a defensive fight position and reassured herself “Ok best Captain Terror face on,” she said with a nod. It was her much more impressive version of ‘a game face’ almost like an alter-ego which she had been adopting in tricky situations ever since she was a kid. She was ready for whatever was on the other side.
Her eyes adjusted to the light. She stepped forward and then faltered “Huh?” She was not ready for what she saw.
Sat in front of her was a green haired woman in sunglasses in a form fitting set of white battle armour, she was sat at a small table and was currently pouring tea into a cup. Izzy was expecting something more akin to one of the imperial scenes of Star Wars.
“Come have a seat Smasher,” said the green haired woman as she kicked the chair across the table from her so it swung around to face Izzy. “Or do you prefer Isabel? Izzy?”
“How did you know…” Izzy began to walk down the little ramp of the ship and walked across the deck towards the chair. They were in what looked like a giant high-tech aircraft carrier. There were advanced ships like the one that had picked her up dotted all around. She drifted off as she looked at the view which was behind the woman, she could see Earth, or at least the majority of the southern hemisphere. “…We’re in orbit?”
“Yes, yes we are,” the woman leaned back in her chair and tilted her head backwards to look behind her “I sometimes forget how impressive it is for newbies. I’m Abigail Brand, now are you going to sit down?” She turned back around with a gesture and a smile.
Izzy lowered herself into the chair “How do you know who I am?”
“It wasn’t too hard to figure out for us once we realised it was the Shi’ar we were dealing with. We just had to backtrack our telemetry from their general location in the sky. We managed to spot the exo-specs and trace an approximate landing trajectory. Once we knew it landed on Captain Terror’s farm a quick analysis of who has access to the location,” She waved her hand in a ‘so on’ twirl. “Anyway its boring. Word of advice though, next time someone guesses who you are, keep denying it. You’ve just admitted your secret identity to me far too easily.” She took a sip of tea.
“What is the Shi’ar?” Izzy asked, she pushed the tea away showing a lack of interest in the beverage.
Brand stopped sipping her tea and slid her shades down. Her eyes were as green as her hair and the glasses. Not her irises but her entire eyeball. She tried to hide her smirk but didn’t do so well, given she as a top secret agent it was showing that she didn’t really care about whether she was showing smirk or not.
Then she started to laugh. “What’s a Shi’ar? Well, if truth be told you are now. You Miss Kane are the very first human to be chosen to be part of their elite guardians. Not the first to be Shi’ar I suppose, Xavier and Corsair of the Starjammers were given citizenship,” she seemed to be talking to herself “Anyway you should be very proud. I know your grandfather would.”
“What do you know about my grandfather?” Izzy raised her voice, the nerve was still raw enough that even the slightest mention could cause a reaction.
“We served together. Turned back an invasion in the 50’s….and the 70’s. Spent a weekend on his farm once when I needed some downtime. Eugene Judd and I had a relaxing time, tiring but relaxing. I wouldn’t say your grandfather and I were friends but…. He’s close enough as far as my ‘friends’ go.” Izzy found it hard to know what Brand was thinking and when she was looking at her because of her big glasses hiding the features of her face.
“I understand the last couple of weeks will have been tough for you. Your Grandpa died, superpowered shades fall from the skies, you join an alien military….which you didn’t seem to know about and now you’re here. I can see the panic gripping your mind right now.”
“I don’t know what is going on, who the Shi’ar are or anything. I swear,” Izzy held up her hands in absolution.
“I believe you,” Brand nodded and motioned for her to lower her hands. “I’ll clarify what little I can and explain the position you’re in, I’m going to have to pick my words very carefully as this is a very sensitive political situation you’ve blundered into. The Shi’ar was originally a species designation but now applies to a whole federation of planets. So aliens basically. They have a peace keeping force called the Super Guardians or the Imperial Guardians. You’ve been drafted to this military force by the Raybans on your face.” She flicked her own as part of a demonstration.
Izzy nodded along following everything which was said so far. She made sure to keep all of her questions and all of her reactions in a little box in her mind and was just focusing on the basic facts at the moment.
“They,” she motioned over her shoulder, no doubt in the direction of the strangers who had interfered in her fight with The Wrecking Crew “are operating on Earth without prior approval in direct contradiction to numerous inter-stellar treaties. We’re still deciding whether this is going to be construed as an invasion attempt or whether we extend diplomatic immunity to them as ambassadors.” She shrugged as if it was inconsequential.
“That puts you in a precarious position….possibly no problem, possibly up shit creek without a paddle. Either a) you’re just a human superhero and so not subject to inter-stellar law and you walk free or b) we decide they’re an invasion force and you are a complicit member making you a traitor to the human race. Any thoughts?”
“I have no idea about any of this, I’ve never met those people before today. They just appeared. I knew the glasses were alien, they were obviously alien and I knew I probably should have handed them in but….”
Brand held up her hand to silence Izzy. “Okay, let’s not talk on it any more at the moment. You’re officially stuck in Limbo at the minute until decisions are made. We’re holding you for the meantime, we will talk again soon. I know you have your super-strength activated but I hope that’s not going to be called for and you’re going to follow this guard like a meek little lamb?” Brand indicated to a singular guard who stepped forward. “If you don’t you’ll find out quick enough that it’s not just one guard you have to deal with but an entire automated defence system and a small army of officers.”
“I will, I promise. Look I’ll do anything,” Izzy began to ramble again. Brand again silenced her.
“I’ve already said more than I should at the moment. We’ll talk again soon.” She paused for a second “One thing we will need from you, something to help us along. Try to keep any information you do have on Earth compartmentalised. Don’t give them any more information than they need.”
“I’m going to join them?” Izzy asked quizzically.
“Like I said you’re in Limbo, you’re officially part of them and we’re not pressing charges yet,” she waved her hand again indicating that she was done with the discussion.
Izzy was led down corridor after corridor, down a few floors in a lift before being led down more corridors all in total silence. The guard didn’t respond to any question she asked or comment that she made. It was like he didn’t even know she was there. This place would not be getting a positive review on trip advisor that was for sure.
She was led to a corridor much like the others that she had been led down other than the fact this one was lined with guards. Half way down the corridor she was led to a door which slid open as the guard next to the door typed in the code. He like Brand and the rest kept his features hidden behind a large set of reflective shades, his were black rather than green however.
Once Isabel stepped through the door it slid shut behind her. She was in a large room which looked out into open space. In the centre was a large horseshoe like sofa with a low table in the middle. The Imperial Guard sat and stood around the room.
“Hello,” said Oracle. The lady had fair skin with a slight pink tinge almost like a pearl. She wore a black mask around the side of her face which let her silvery white hair hang across her face. She smiled calmly as she sat forward.
“What the hell have you people got me into!?,” yelled Izzy as she yanked back her hood to reveal her face of the group.
“We didn’t ask for this human,” growled the small furry one known as Fang. Izzy fixed her eyes on him, she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. It was like coming face to face with a wild wolf or a bear. Something instinctual told her to run “It’s your damn planet government who have taken us prisoner.”
“I do not think we are prisoners,” said Manta. Izzy looked at her where she hovered. Her face was unmoving and unchanging, it looked like a face mask made of gold. It might have been for all she was aware. “These are lavish settings and if we were prisoners I think they would have separated us.”
“Perhaps you can shed some light on the matter Isabel,” Oracle spoke again. She looked at Izzy expectantly.
“You’re the one who was talking in my mind earlier right? That mean you can read my thoughts and already know what I know? I don’t like that.” She folded her arms with a glare.
“I do not read minds that I am not welcome in, you however are broadcasting some thoughts which I can’t not hear.” She shrugged nonchalantly, for a telepath and those acquainted with them this was something which was to be expected. Izzy was neither of those things.
“They don’t know what they’re doing with you, or us, yet. It’s undecided whether you’re invading or here as emissaries. I just want to make it clear I have nothing to do with this."
“Shame,” said a strange hollow voice from the side of the room. There she could see the ‘man’ dressed in a red jump suit. His face looked something akin to a jack-o-lantern giving off a gentle glow. A small flame licked across his body. “You were judged worthy by the exo-specs. That means you’re OK in my book and could make a fine Guardian. Shame to lose you when we’re in such need.”
“Can someone explain to me, clearly, what exactly you’re all doing here?” Isabel’s curiousness played at the edge of her mind.
“Careful, it could be a trap,” said the woman covered in a brown downy set of feathers who had almost a black head-dress made from larger ones. Her eyes were that of a bird of prey. “They’re probably listening in.”
“We have nothing to hide Astra,” said the woman with a blue skinned tiny. Her hair and face markings were pure darkness, like looking down a dark pit. She was called Nightside. “Besides they’re definitely listening in.”
“True enough,” Oracle nodded “We’re here in need of assistance. We would tell the human’s anything that they would want. Smasher is also one of us until she decides otherwise so she deserves to have the full information.”
“We are members of the Imperial Guard,” Oracle gestured to the whole group. “I am Oracle, that is Nightside, Manta, Fang, Starbolt, Astra and Neutron.” She gestured at each in turn.
“Wow,” said Smasher as she looked at the last of the Guardians. “Your skin is covered with stars. I can see coronas and….” She trailed off as she looked closely at his skin. She could see the ebb and flow of the universe as the stars moved and twinkled gently. “Is this a real star map?”
“Neutron’s people have a name which is untranslatable to any other tongue in the universe as far as we can tell,” Manta spoke as she moved towards him flashing beams of light from her face almost like she was translating “I can speak to him brokenly but his species are on a higher plane of existence communicating through light, radiation, gravity and other fundamental forces of the universe.”
Manta drew close to Izzy as the two stared into the chest of the other Guardian. “They are most often referred to as The Children of Eternity. It is said in the mythology of my own people that the living embodiment of the universe was lonely and fell in love with a mortal woman. Neutron’s people are the result. Other sects have argued that there was no mortal woman and Eternity wanted to live his life as mortals do but realising that his scope was infinite one mortal life would not do and so he became an entire species. We don’t know if Neutron is a mirror reflecting some part of the universe unknown to us, whether he has a universe inside himself and will one day grow into an Eternity of his own or if he is indeed some sentient space-time event. He is to my people a god and I see you too can see the majesty in his creation.”
Izzy was silent for a moment and looked from the gold faced woman back into the depths of the star spangled being in front of her who smiled gregariously.
“Why are you here?” Izzy asked turning to look at the group. She was less angry now, more deeply interested. When a god comes to earth it was important to take these things seriously.
“We are members of the Shi’ar,” said Oracle as she began “our people span across the galaxy.” Images of the space of the Shi’ar empire appeared in the mind of Izzy. “The name originally applied only to Astra’s people, who we now know as the Aerie but they were a conquering race and brought a disorganised universe to heel bringing hundreds of species and thousands of worlds into their Imperium.”
“You’re conquerors?” Izzy asked with a tone of distaste in her voice.
“All great cultures are at some point,” Starbolt said with a sage nod. “We are the greatest of them all. Make of that what you will.”
“We are the Imperial Guard and we serve the Majestrix of the Imperium,” a string of faces of Imperial Guards appeared in Izzy’s mind. “Our royal family went through a civil war between the three heirs. D’Ken, Lilandra and Cal'syee. They each ruled at one point with varying levels of support and varying levels of success. Cal’syee was banished, D’Ken has been comatosed and Lilandra ruled the Shi’ar bringing on a time of unknown peace and prosperity. However, our Majestrix Lilandra was assassinated….and since then the Imperium has suffered, degraded.”
“The clear line of succession ended with Lilandra,” said Nightside as she powered a series of silhouettes into existence showing the outline of various figures moving from one figure to another like in a family tree. “There are various houses, cousins and uncles all claiming the right,” the series of figures bounced into one another merging and splitting, claws slashing at one another.”
“They are minor houses who spend their time falling in and out of allegiance with one another and keep themselves busy. They fall in line with larger powers when it is beneficial to them,” Starbolt nodded, he was a capable and accomplished military advisor so spent many hours looking at the star maps of the universe. “They can be troublesome if you end up cornered in one of their systems.”
“There are those who claim that Cal’syee is the one true heir to the throne now and should revert to the role of Majestrix even though it has passed her by,” a black figure that looked like a bird of prey soared around the room as Nightside spoke.
“There are those who still believe that D’Ken can and will return as the true Majestrix amongst the Nermani and he will bring with him the immense power he gained from the M’Kraan Crystal. His Araki swears that the resurrection is near.”
Starbolt began again thinking purely in terms of military strategy. “The Kree, the Skrull, The Chituari and every tinpot ‘empire’ is beginning to make incursions to capitalise on the chaos. It is under this situation that various worlds within the Imperium have decided to declare and fight for independence. The map of allegiances changes daily.”
“Billions are dead, billions are displaced refugees, we have prisoner of war camps and old grievances which were quelled centuries ago between the Shi’ar races are resurfacing,” Oracle said sadly. Izzy couldn’t help but think that this sounded like The Second World War, the problems in the Middle East and Game of Thrones mixed together…in space.
“So where do you all sit in the middle of this? Why are you here?” she queried.
“The Imperial Guard was built to prevent these exact problems, to hold the peace in the galaxy,” said Manta with a nod “We are the most powerful warriors in the Imperium, but we are divided, fractured. Our ranks have fallen apart without a clear Majestrix, friends for years have joined one side or the other and now fight with one another. Our Imperator Gladiator, who has the power himself to make planets cower has vanished MIA.”
Starbolt began again “Some Guardians have set themselves up as Generals and Dictators. Mentor the highest intellect in the galaxy is using the Death Commandos as his own personal military. White Noise and Black Light have set themselves as the prince and princess of the empire whilst they seek their mother Cal’Seye”
Oracle took over again by beaming pictures of a planet into Izzy’s head, there she saw some of the feathered aliens caring for an egg. “We personally believe that Lilandra’s unhatched child is the true heir and needs protection until they are of age. We are trying to bring peace to the Imperium so that the new Majestrix can be raised in a peaceful universe and had an Imperium to rule over.”
“We however are opposed by the other factions,” Starbolt added again. “We came to Earth to find some of our allies to help fill our depleted ranks. The Avengers, the X-Men, The Fantastic Four. Any of those who seek to help promote peace in the universe. On the way here we were pursued by religious zealots who seek to ‘burn the universe in the fire of change’, they shot us down.”
“The Church of the Phoenix are a religious sect who are,” Oracle trailed for a minute “I do not think the concept has an equivalent in your culture. They are a religious organisation who are disliked and mistrusted by the majority of the Imperium BUT are respected and seen as almost necessary. They are a balancing force to other sects and beliefs. They are both venerated, feared and hated with equal measure”
Izzy nodded, at least half understanding what Oracle was talking about, which seemed like enough at the moment. She was an astronomer and ever since she first heard of the Kree and the Skrull she had hoped that she would encounter and have a chance to mix with another race from the stars but getting her head around, her social sciences knowledge and what little she knew of anthropology kept brushing around the edges of her mind. She always tried to intellectualise things, remove herself from uncomfortable situations by thinking of the science behind it and the antecedents of the situation. It was only partially successful in this case. Her description did sound akin to the treatment of some ‘witches’ in some East African cultures Izzy remembered reading about.
“The church have taken the current situation in the Imperium of a sign that the old order is to be wiped away, a new one being reborn from the ashes like the Phoenix Force itself, they seek to wipe out the very way of life of all Shi’ar species….if not all life at all.”
There was a sudden crackle in the air as the speakers in the room jumped to life. “This is Agent Brand, it comes as no surprise I’m sure that I’ve been listening in. I want every one of you to follow the guards outside your door peacefully. I expect to see you all in the bridge in the next two minutes.”
Izzy was the only member of the group who looked confused or worried about the events. The members of the Imperial Guard merely looked towards Oracle who nodded gently. They were well trained soldiers and so moved with her command quickly and quietly, Izzy followed hesitantly.
2 minutes later, the Bridge….
Agent Brand stood with her back to the group, long green hair cascading between her shoulder blades. She looked out at a fixed point in the distance beyond just off to the left of the moon. Around her SWORD agents worked busily tapping away at computers and dashing between read outs. A whole bank off to the far side were speaking into headsets in a variety of different languages, mostly human, some not.
“Our long range relays to the Shi’ar galaxy, reports from our ambassadors and our spies all dried up some time ago. We were not aware how bad things were out there,” she turned to look at the group, she had taken off her glasses and looked them over with her pure green eyes.
“You help us?” asked Neutron in his simple tones. It was the first that Isabel had heard him speak. She noticed that there was a pulsating in the stars across his body and she felt a force pushing gently against her. He was clearly saying something more elaborate but had to simplify into English.
Agent Brand remained stoic as she spoke. “No, not a chance in hell,” she had found the very suggestion laughable but held her reactions in check. “We are an Earth defence force, your business is your business. We’re not interventionist.”
“A short sighted view,” Manta said as she tilted her head “Whilst you have had limited contact with those from other worlds that is because of your limited technological advancement and your distance from major galactic forces…you have however clearly impacted on the psyche of many races. The Phoenix Force, Thanos, The Kree-Skrull War, The M’Kraan Crystal have all been inexplicably linked to your world, it is only a matter of time before the wars out there begin to spill into ‘your business’. An expansionist power could very well come to rule the Shi’ar and set their sights on this world.”
Brand raised her finger asking for ‘one moment’. “Funny you mention that. You have dropped into our world uninvited and like the burglar who visited my apartment as a kid have taken a huge dump on the coffee table. Now while I’m willing to assume this was through no true malice you’re still going to answer for it.”
She made a gesture to one of her assistants who hit a button and the window behind her turned into a large view screen. It showed a fleet of twelve ships suspended in space. They were Shi’ar in design and whilst a human wouldn’t recognise them the Imperial Guard did, they were destroyer class ships each with enough firepower to destroy a continent from space.
“Now Viddy this,” she clicked again and the image changed. This was an image of the bridge of another ship. Standing central in the picture was a Shi’ar of the Aerie, his facial markings glowed with a gentle blue and his head plume looked like it was burning, the tips glowed orange.
He spoke.
“Beings of Feron’s Rest. I am the Arkonian of the seventh order on a war/jihad/pilgrimage,” the words played on top of one another as his translation matrix obviously tried to find the most applicable concept. “We are honoured to be pilgrims here at such a holy site and view it as a sign from the Phoenix itself that our quest is both correct and predestined. We seek to bring a cleansing to the universe through the fires of the Phoenix which will raise the chosen and raze the unworthy in the great cycle of rebirth.”
His voice rose and boomed like a preacher on television. Then fell quiet again.
“There are heathens and unbelievers who seek to prevent our holy duty hiding in your midst and we seek to have them returned to us. They defile the Phoenix with their existence and their rebirth will be a sign which brings forth the wall of cleansing fire. Send forth the Imperial Guard and your world will be cleansed when the pure wave of Phoenix fire extends into this galaxy…. refuse and we will destroy your world as collateral damage to ensure their destruction, you will not be cleansed, you will not be saved, you will sit apart from the Phoenix for all time. You have one Earth hour.”
The video cut out.
Brand turned her face to look at the Imperial Guard.
“I’m making this very simple for you.” Brand gritted her teeth tightly. “You have 30 minutes to convince me that you can fix this or I will personally drag all of your carcases to his ship.”
TO BE CONTINUED….
Demoines, Iowa….
Today was an interesting day for the inhabitants of Demoines; they had woken up and went about their mornings as usual. Some had excellent days and found money in the street, had finally managed to ask that cute Barista out….had been asked out by that cute guy in a suit who always ordered a dash of cinnamon and some had not been touched with joy like those who had bad news from the doctor and the lady who found her husband in bed with her sister but all in all it had been a pretty run of the mill day.
Their day however took a launching step into the unusual and bizarre right around lunch time. The villains from New York called the Wrecking Crew had launched a robbery attempt on the local bank. Super crime never really happened here, sure some mutants occasionally, who like lots of teenagers had rebelled and committed some misdemeanours. One kid managed to telepathically or telekinetically (something like that it had said in the newspaper), chromakinetically or whatever spray painted the entire town hall with his mind but nothing serious. Once the Wrecking Crew arrived so too did the superheroes, as they tend to do. First one and then a whole team, newcomers to the whole cape and tights scene it would seem according to the news that night.
Then came the four fighter jet-like crafts which hovered overhead silently having just appeared from nowhere pointing their high powered lamps down on the group, their weapons trained with laser pointers. An unfamiliar voice barked orders at them.
“This is Abigail Brand commander of S.W.O.R.D. You are a military force currently trespassing without prior knowledge on a sovereign planet and are being placed under arrest for further questioning” there was a pause “with the formalities out of the way let me make this clear, get your hands in the air and get down on your knees before we atomise you…there will not be a second warning!”
Yeah everyone would be talking about this day for a little while to come. One 8th grader who was off sick that day and had been taken to the doctor by his mother would write a report on what he saw, there were a number of embellishments making it a most inaccurate report.
The Imperial Guardians and Smasher stood shoulder to shoulder blinking away from the light. Well those who took in photonic energy in similar ways to human’s blinked to cut out the light. Starbolt, Neutron and Manta felt no need to blink to shield their retinas, they didn’t even have retinas.
Fang hunched his shoulders and lowered his body closely to the ground ready to pounce, throwing himself skyward with his flight-belt if needed. He hoped it would be needed, his muscles itched for it to be needed. The low rumble that was all too familiar to his other comrades began in his throat and quickly reverberated through his chest and the sounding chamber which lay there until they too could feel it in their chests.
“Ready for orders,” he snarled as if thinking that his team mates had forgotten what was going on. His young hothead nature overriding his years of military experience.
“Smasher,” Oracle said without turning her head “This certainly sounds like an official law enforcement force. Can you confirm that these people are real agents of authority on Earth?”
Isabel Kane stood open mouthed. “I uh….I’ve never heard of them but they seem legit. S.H.I.E.L.D, S.T.R.I.K.E, H.A.M.M.E.R……S.W.O.R.D. There seems to be someone in charge of government agencies who like their acronyms.” She was a physicist and a social scientist, even though she was attempting the role of a superhero (which she was mildly regretting currently), followed the meta-scene closely and knew much from her grandfather she wasn’t sure.
“Guardians, protocol 72,” Oracle nodded and held her hands in the air in surrender. The other Guardians followed suit though Fang and Starbolt certainly didn’t seem pleased with the idea.
“I don’t like this on bit,” growled Fang as the armed SWORD guards circled around them. The soldier’s weapons were trained on them, little green crosses dances across their chests and heads. In the majority of species these were vital areas and so this was standard protocol for S.W.O.R.D agents unless otherwise informed.
“We are emissaries seeking assistance from the forces of this world, if their government asks that we surrender ourselves then protocol would suggest we follow their instructions to avoid an inter-stellar incident,” Manta said calmly as she held out her arms for one of the guards to put cuffs on. She was always the voice of reason and logic when it was called upon.
“Aye Fang,” Starbolt said as he held out his hands mimicking her “Use your old brain, not your young hormones. Besides I reckon we can bust out of here without nary a problem if it comes to it. Un-enhanced humans are a frail bunch, I can melt the flesh from their bones by only raising my temperature a few hundred degrees.” He ‘smiled’ at one of the guards knowing fine well that he wasn’t being translated. His smile looked like a skull twisting at the edges through his heat haze.
“What have I gotten myself into, what have I gotten myself into,” Izzy repeated several times as she was cuffed and forcefully lead forward.
“We broke our new Smasher already,” sighed Astra “I hope the next one is hot.”
The Guardians were led one by one onto separate transport ships and forced into seats which fastened them down with restraints. The ships took off and headed up on an exit velocity and trajectory.
Isabel felt horror as the seat strapped her in and then the guards stepped out letting the door seal behind them. She was in a small metal box essentially. The room darkened until it was pitch black and she was left alone with only her own thoughts.
She could feel her heart racing in her chest. Her mind raced trying to think of everything she knew about the law, what her rights were, what exactly were the provisions in the Patriot Act again? She did all of this in the silence and the dark for what seemed like hours.
Her mind rolled through all of the different situations she could think of. The briefest of which was that they’d understand that this was all part of a huge misunderstanding or mistake and they’d just let her toddle off on her way back home back to her normal uneventful life. “It happens all the time right,” she convinced herself, “the world was full of mutants and super-powered people who tried to be superheroes and got way in over their head and quit right away, right?” She somehow however didn’t believe what she was telling herself.
The next thing she dwelled on was prison. Her mind drifted through everything she’d ever seen in movies and Orange is the New Black. She convinced herself that yes it would be awful, horrible but she could survive it. She just hoped no one would figure out she had been a ‘superhero’, that would probably have been frowned upon in ‘the joint’.
“Oh my god, what if I get sent to a meta-super max,” She had seen a documentary before about the prisons where supervillains went. She didn’t want to bunk with Titania and some chick from the Serpent Squad.
Or worse still they could send her to a space alien prison. She had seen those in movies too. One of which had Wonderman in it so she was sure he’d have given them accurate information based on his adventures. A guy had his arm ripped off for a joke in that one she was sure.
“What if they’re terrorists or something,” she would have loved to bite at her fingernails but they were locked tightly down to the arms of her chair so instead she chewed on her lip. She wondered about the super secret Guantanamo bay there must have been for super powered terrorists.
Eventually, after what felt like three or four near heart attacks her more reasoned mind started to kick in and she began to plan. She began to think. She could convince them of the truth, turn over the exo-specs. “But you don’t want to though, you’re a superhero now” she corrected herself mentally. She tried to push it from her mind but the thought kept reoccurring. She thought of her grandfather and everything that he meant to her, every view and outlook that they shared. All of the things which spurred her into wanting to be a superhero.
“Super strength,” she grumbled to herself and stood up tearing the bonds from the chair in which she was restrained. She had held back through fear of repercussions before but now she was ready to face whatever was on the other side of the door when it opened, or whenever she finally tore it from the hinges. Whatever came first.
The door hissed as if right on cue as it began to slide open. Izzy slid into a defensive fight position and reassured herself “Ok best Captain Terror face on,” she said with a nod. It was her much more impressive version of ‘a game face’ almost like an alter-ego which she had been adopting in tricky situations ever since she was a kid. She was ready for whatever was on the other side.
Her eyes adjusted to the light. She stepped forward and then faltered “Huh?” She was not ready for what she saw.
Sat in front of her was a green haired woman in sunglasses in a form fitting set of white battle armour, she was sat at a small table and was currently pouring tea into a cup. Izzy was expecting something more akin to one of the imperial scenes of Star Wars.
“Come have a seat Smasher,” said the green haired woman as she kicked the chair across the table from her so it swung around to face Izzy. “Or do you prefer Isabel? Izzy?”
“How did you know…” Izzy began to walk down the little ramp of the ship and walked across the deck towards the chair. They were in what looked like a giant high-tech aircraft carrier. There were advanced ships like the one that had picked her up dotted all around. She drifted off as she looked at the view which was behind the woman, she could see Earth, or at least the majority of the southern hemisphere. “…We’re in orbit?”
“Yes, yes we are,” the woman leaned back in her chair and tilted her head backwards to look behind her “I sometimes forget how impressive it is for newbies. I’m Abigail Brand, now are you going to sit down?” She turned back around with a gesture and a smile.
Izzy lowered herself into the chair “How do you know who I am?”
“It wasn’t too hard to figure out for us once we realised it was the Shi’ar we were dealing with. We just had to backtrack our telemetry from their general location in the sky. We managed to spot the exo-specs and trace an approximate landing trajectory. Once we knew it landed on Captain Terror’s farm a quick analysis of who has access to the location,” She waved her hand in a ‘so on’ twirl. “Anyway its boring. Word of advice though, next time someone guesses who you are, keep denying it. You’ve just admitted your secret identity to me far too easily.” She took a sip of tea.
“What is the Shi’ar?” Izzy asked, she pushed the tea away showing a lack of interest in the beverage.
Brand stopped sipping her tea and slid her shades down. Her eyes were as green as her hair and the glasses. Not her irises but her entire eyeball. She tried to hide her smirk but didn’t do so well, given she as a top secret agent it was showing that she didn’t really care about whether she was showing smirk or not.
Then she started to laugh. “What’s a Shi’ar? Well, if truth be told you are now. You Miss Kane are the very first human to be chosen to be part of their elite guardians. Not the first to be Shi’ar I suppose, Xavier and Corsair of the Starjammers were given citizenship,” she seemed to be talking to herself “Anyway you should be very proud. I know your grandfather would.”
“What do you know about my grandfather?” Izzy raised her voice, the nerve was still raw enough that even the slightest mention could cause a reaction.
“We served together. Turned back an invasion in the 50’s….and the 70’s. Spent a weekend on his farm once when I needed some downtime. Eugene Judd and I had a relaxing time, tiring but relaxing. I wouldn’t say your grandfather and I were friends but…. He’s close enough as far as my ‘friends’ go.” Izzy found it hard to know what Brand was thinking and when she was looking at her because of her big glasses hiding the features of her face.
“I understand the last couple of weeks will have been tough for you. Your Grandpa died, superpowered shades fall from the skies, you join an alien military….which you didn’t seem to know about and now you’re here. I can see the panic gripping your mind right now.”
“I don’t know what is going on, who the Shi’ar are or anything. I swear,” Izzy held up her hands in absolution.
“I believe you,” Brand nodded and motioned for her to lower her hands. “I’ll clarify what little I can and explain the position you’re in, I’m going to have to pick my words very carefully as this is a very sensitive political situation you’ve blundered into. The Shi’ar was originally a species designation but now applies to a whole federation of planets. So aliens basically. They have a peace keeping force called the Super Guardians or the Imperial Guardians. You’ve been drafted to this military force by the Raybans on your face.” She flicked her own as part of a demonstration.
Izzy nodded along following everything which was said so far. She made sure to keep all of her questions and all of her reactions in a little box in her mind and was just focusing on the basic facts at the moment.
“They,” she motioned over her shoulder, no doubt in the direction of the strangers who had interfered in her fight with The Wrecking Crew “are operating on Earth without prior approval in direct contradiction to numerous inter-stellar treaties. We’re still deciding whether this is going to be construed as an invasion attempt or whether we extend diplomatic immunity to them as ambassadors.” She shrugged as if it was inconsequential.
“That puts you in a precarious position….possibly no problem, possibly up shit creek without a paddle. Either a) you’re just a human superhero and so not subject to inter-stellar law and you walk free or b) we decide they’re an invasion force and you are a complicit member making you a traitor to the human race. Any thoughts?”
“I have no idea about any of this, I’ve never met those people before today. They just appeared. I knew the glasses were alien, they were obviously alien and I knew I probably should have handed them in but….”
Brand held up her hand to silence Izzy. “Okay, let’s not talk on it any more at the moment. You’re officially stuck in Limbo at the minute until decisions are made. We’re holding you for the meantime, we will talk again soon. I know you have your super-strength activated but I hope that’s not going to be called for and you’re going to follow this guard like a meek little lamb?” Brand indicated to a singular guard who stepped forward. “If you don’t you’ll find out quick enough that it’s not just one guard you have to deal with but an entire automated defence system and a small army of officers.”
“I will, I promise. Look I’ll do anything,” Izzy began to ramble again. Brand again silenced her.
“I’ve already said more than I should at the moment. We’ll talk again soon.” She paused for a second “One thing we will need from you, something to help us along. Try to keep any information you do have on Earth compartmentalised. Don’t give them any more information than they need.”
“I’m going to join them?” Izzy asked quizzically.
“Like I said you’re in Limbo, you’re officially part of them and we’re not pressing charges yet,” she waved her hand again indicating that she was done with the discussion.
Izzy was led down corridor after corridor, down a few floors in a lift before being led down more corridors all in total silence. The guard didn’t respond to any question she asked or comment that she made. It was like he didn’t even know she was there. This place would not be getting a positive review on trip advisor that was for sure.
She was led to a corridor much like the others that she had been led down other than the fact this one was lined with guards. Half way down the corridor she was led to a door which slid open as the guard next to the door typed in the code. He like Brand and the rest kept his features hidden behind a large set of reflective shades, his were black rather than green however.
Once Isabel stepped through the door it slid shut behind her. She was in a large room which looked out into open space. In the centre was a large horseshoe like sofa with a low table in the middle. The Imperial Guard sat and stood around the room.
“Hello,” said Oracle. The lady had fair skin with a slight pink tinge almost like a pearl. She wore a black mask around the side of her face which let her silvery white hair hang across her face. She smiled calmly as she sat forward.
“What the hell have you people got me into!?,” yelled Izzy as she yanked back her hood to reveal her face of the group.
“We didn’t ask for this human,” growled the small furry one known as Fang. Izzy fixed her eyes on him, she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. It was like coming face to face with a wild wolf or a bear. Something instinctual told her to run “It’s your damn planet government who have taken us prisoner.”
“I do not think we are prisoners,” said Manta. Izzy looked at her where she hovered. Her face was unmoving and unchanging, it looked like a face mask made of gold. It might have been for all she was aware. “These are lavish settings and if we were prisoners I think they would have separated us.”
“Perhaps you can shed some light on the matter Isabel,” Oracle spoke again. She looked at Izzy expectantly.
“You’re the one who was talking in my mind earlier right? That mean you can read my thoughts and already know what I know? I don’t like that.” She folded her arms with a glare.
“I do not read minds that I am not welcome in, you however are broadcasting some thoughts which I can’t not hear.” She shrugged nonchalantly, for a telepath and those acquainted with them this was something which was to be expected. Izzy was neither of those things.
“They don’t know what they’re doing with you, or us, yet. It’s undecided whether you’re invading or here as emissaries. I just want to make it clear I have nothing to do with this."
“Shame,” said a strange hollow voice from the side of the room. There she could see the ‘man’ dressed in a red jump suit. His face looked something akin to a jack-o-lantern giving off a gentle glow. A small flame licked across his body. “You were judged worthy by the exo-specs. That means you’re OK in my book and could make a fine Guardian. Shame to lose you when we’re in such need.”
“Can someone explain to me, clearly, what exactly you’re all doing here?” Isabel’s curiousness played at the edge of her mind.
“Careful, it could be a trap,” said the woman covered in a brown downy set of feathers who had almost a black head-dress made from larger ones. Her eyes were that of a bird of prey. “They’re probably listening in.”
“We have nothing to hide Astra,” said the woman with a blue skinned tiny. Her hair and face markings were pure darkness, like looking down a dark pit. She was called Nightside. “Besides they’re definitely listening in.”
“True enough,” Oracle nodded “We’re here in need of assistance. We would tell the human’s anything that they would want. Smasher is also one of us until she decides otherwise so she deserves to have the full information.”
“We are members of the Imperial Guard,” Oracle gestured to the whole group. “I am Oracle, that is Nightside, Manta, Fang, Starbolt, Astra and Neutron.” She gestured at each in turn.
“Wow,” said Smasher as she looked at the last of the Guardians. “Your skin is covered with stars. I can see coronas and….” She trailed off as she looked closely at his skin. She could see the ebb and flow of the universe as the stars moved and twinkled gently. “Is this a real star map?”
“Neutron’s people have a name which is untranslatable to any other tongue in the universe as far as we can tell,” Manta spoke as she moved towards him flashing beams of light from her face almost like she was translating “I can speak to him brokenly but his species are on a higher plane of existence communicating through light, radiation, gravity and other fundamental forces of the universe.”
Manta drew close to Izzy as the two stared into the chest of the other Guardian. “They are most often referred to as The Children of Eternity. It is said in the mythology of my own people that the living embodiment of the universe was lonely and fell in love with a mortal woman. Neutron’s people are the result. Other sects have argued that there was no mortal woman and Eternity wanted to live his life as mortals do but realising that his scope was infinite one mortal life would not do and so he became an entire species. We don’t know if Neutron is a mirror reflecting some part of the universe unknown to us, whether he has a universe inside himself and will one day grow into an Eternity of his own or if he is indeed some sentient space-time event. He is to my people a god and I see you too can see the majesty in his creation.”
Izzy was silent for a moment and looked from the gold faced woman back into the depths of the star spangled being in front of her who smiled gregariously.
“Why are you here?” Izzy asked turning to look at the group. She was less angry now, more deeply interested. When a god comes to earth it was important to take these things seriously.
“We are members of the Shi’ar,” said Oracle as she began “our people span across the galaxy.” Images of the space of the Shi’ar empire appeared in the mind of Izzy. “The name originally applied only to Astra’s people, who we now know as the Aerie but they were a conquering race and brought a disorganised universe to heel bringing hundreds of species and thousands of worlds into their Imperium.”
“You’re conquerors?” Izzy asked with a tone of distaste in her voice.
“All great cultures are at some point,” Starbolt said with a sage nod. “We are the greatest of them all. Make of that what you will.”
“We are the Imperial Guard and we serve the Majestrix of the Imperium,” a string of faces of Imperial Guards appeared in Izzy’s mind. “Our royal family went through a civil war between the three heirs. D’Ken, Lilandra and Cal'syee. They each ruled at one point with varying levels of support and varying levels of success. Cal’syee was banished, D’Ken has been comatosed and Lilandra ruled the Shi’ar bringing on a time of unknown peace and prosperity. However, our Majestrix Lilandra was assassinated….and since then the Imperium has suffered, degraded.”
“The clear line of succession ended with Lilandra,” said Nightside as she powered a series of silhouettes into existence showing the outline of various figures moving from one figure to another like in a family tree. “There are various houses, cousins and uncles all claiming the right,” the series of figures bounced into one another merging and splitting, claws slashing at one another.”
“They are minor houses who spend their time falling in and out of allegiance with one another and keep themselves busy. They fall in line with larger powers when it is beneficial to them,” Starbolt nodded, he was a capable and accomplished military advisor so spent many hours looking at the star maps of the universe. “They can be troublesome if you end up cornered in one of their systems.”
“There are those who claim that Cal’syee is the one true heir to the throne now and should revert to the role of Majestrix even though it has passed her by,” a black figure that looked like a bird of prey soared around the room as Nightside spoke.
“There are those who still believe that D’Ken can and will return as the true Majestrix amongst the Nermani and he will bring with him the immense power he gained from the M’Kraan Crystal. His Araki swears that the resurrection is near.”
Starbolt began again thinking purely in terms of military strategy. “The Kree, the Skrull, The Chituari and every tinpot ‘empire’ is beginning to make incursions to capitalise on the chaos. It is under this situation that various worlds within the Imperium have decided to declare and fight for independence. The map of allegiances changes daily.”
“Billions are dead, billions are displaced refugees, we have prisoner of war camps and old grievances which were quelled centuries ago between the Shi’ar races are resurfacing,” Oracle said sadly. Izzy couldn’t help but think that this sounded like The Second World War, the problems in the Middle East and Game of Thrones mixed together…in space.
“So where do you all sit in the middle of this? Why are you here?” she queried.
“The Imperial Guard was built to prevent these exact problems, to hold the peace in the galaxy,” said Manta with a nod “We are the most powerful warriors in the Imperium, but we are divided, fractured. Our ranks have fallen apart without a clear Majestrix, friends for years have joined one side or the other and now fight with one another. Our Imperator Gladiator, who has the power himself to make planets cower has vanished MIA.”
Starbolt began again “Some Guardians have set themselves up as Generals and Dictators. Mentor the highest intellect in the galaxy is using the Death Commandos as his own personal military. White Noise and Black Light have set themselves as the prince and princess of the empire whilst they seek their mother Cal’Seye”
Oracle took over again by beaming pictures of a planet into Izzy’s head, there she saw some of the feathered aliens caring for an egg. “We personally believe that Lilandra’s unhatched child is the true heir and needs protection until they are of age. We are trying to bring peace to the Imperium so that the new Majestrix can be raised in a peaceful universe and had an Imperium to rule over.”
“We however are opposed by the other factions,” Starbolt added again. “We came to Earth to find some of our allies to help fill our depleted ranks. The Avengers, the X-Men, The Fantastic Four. Any of those who seek to help promote peace in the universe. On the way here we were pursued by religious zealots who seek to ‘burn the universe in the fire of change’, they shot us down.”
“The Church of the Phoenix are a religious sect who are,” Oracle trailed for a minute “I do not think the concept has an equivalent in your culture. They are a religious organisation who are disliked and mistrusted by the majority of the Imperium BUT are respected and seen as almost necessary. They are a balancing force to other sects and beliefs. They are both venerated, feared and hated with equal measure”
Izzy nodded, at least half understanding what Oracle was talking about, which seemed like enough at the moment. She was an astronomer and ever since she first heard of the Kree and the Skrull she had hoped that she would encounter and have a chance to mix with another race from the stars but getting her head around, her social sciences knowledge and what little she knew of anthropology kept brushing around the edges of her mind. She always tried to intellectualise things, remove herself from uncomfortable situations by thinking of the science behind it and the antecedents of the situation. It was only partially successful in this case. Her description did sound akin to the treatment of some ‘witches’ in some East African cultures Izzy remembered reading about.
“The church have taken the current situation in the Imperium of a sign that the old order is to be wiped away, a new one being reborn from the ashes like the Phoenix Force itself, they seek to wipe out the very way of life of all Shi’ar species….if not all life at all.”
There was a sudden crackle in the air as the speakers in the room jumped to life. “This is Agent Brand, it comes as no surprise I’m sure that I’ve been listening in. I want every one of you to follow the guards outside your door peacefully. I expect to see you all in the bridge in the next two minutes.”
Izzy was the only member of the group who looked confused or worried about the events. The members of the Imperial Guard merely looked towards Oracle who nodded gently. They were well trained soldiers and so moved with her command quickly and quietly, Izzy followed hesitantly.
2 minutes later, the Bridge….
Agent Brand stood with her back to the group, long green hair cascading between her shoulder blades. She looked out at a fixed point in the distance beyond just off to the left of the moon. Around her SWORD agents worked busily tapping away at computers and dashing between read outs. A whole bank off to the far side were speaking into headsets in a variety of different languages, mostly human, some not.
“Our long range relays to the Shi’ar galaxy, reports from our ambassadors and our spies all dried up some time ago. We were not aware how bad things were out there,” she turned to look at the group, she had taken off her glasses and looked them over with her pure green eyes.
“You help us?” asked Neutron in his simple tones. It was the first that Isabel had heard him speak. She noticed that there was a pulsating in the stars across his body and she felt a force pushing gently against her. He was clearly saying something more elaborate but had to simplify into English.
Agent Brand remained stoic as she spoke. “No, not a chance in hell,” she had found the very suggestion laughable but held her reactions in check. “We are an Earth defence force, your business is your business. We’re not interventionist.”
“A short sighted view,” Manta said as she tilted her head “Whilst you have had limited contact with those from other worlds that is because of your limited technological advancement and your distance from major galactic forces…you have however clearly impacted on the psyche of many races. The Phoenix Force, Thanos, The Kree-Skrull War, The M’Kraan Crystal have all been inexplicably linked to your world, it is only a matter of time before the wars out there begin to spill into ‘your business’. An expansionist power could very well come to rule the Shi’ar and set their sights on this world.”
Brand raised her finger asking for ‘one moment’. “Funny you mention that. You have dropped into our world uninvited and like the burglar who visited my apartment as a kid have taken a huge dump on the coffee table. Now while I’m willing to assume this was through no true malice you’re still going to answer for it.”
She made a gesture to one of her assistants who hit a button and the window behind her turned into a large view screen. It showed a fleet of twelve ships suspended in space. They were Shi’ar in design and whilst a human wouldn’t recognise them the Imperial Guard did, they were destroyer class ships each with enough firepower to destroy a continent from space.
“Now Viddy this,” she clicked again and the image changed. This was an image of the bridge of another ship. Standing central in the picture was a Shi’ar of the Aerie, his facial markings glowed with a gentle blue and his head plume looked like it was burning, the tips glowed orange.
He spoke.
“Beings of Feron’s Rest. I am the Arkonian of the seventh order on a war/jihad/pilgrimage,” the words played on top of one another as his translation matrix obviously tried to find the most applicable concept. “We are honoured to be pilgrims here at such a holy site and view it as a sign from the Phoenix itself that our quest is both correct and predestined. We seek to bring a cleansing to the universe through the fires of the Phoenix which will raise the chosen and raze the unworthy in the great cycle of rebirth.”
His voice rose and boomed like a preacher on television. Then fell quiet again.
“There are heathens and unbelievers who seek to prevent our holy duty hiding in your midst and we seek to have them returned to us. They defile the Phoenix with their existence and their rebirth will be a sign which brings forth the wall of cleansing fire. Send forth the Imperial Guard and your world will be cleansed when the pure wave of Phoenix fire extends into this galaxy…. refuse and we will destroy your world as collateral damage to ensure their destruction, you will not be cleansed, you will not be saved, you will sit apart from the Phoenix for all time. You have one Earth hour.”
The video cut out.
Brand turned her face to look at the Imperial Guard.
“I’m making this very simple for you.” Brand gritted her teeth tightly. “You have 30 minutes to convince me that you can fix this or I will personally drag all of your carcases to his ship.”
TO BE CONTINUED….