Back to GatefoldIssue #7 by Steve Crosby & Chris Munn
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The body was still warm. His blood was still wet. Wasp was kneeling in it at full height, holding Hank Pym in her arms. Her husband…ex-husband…was dead, stabbed through the chest. That his killer, Marcus Kang the Scarlet Centurion, was lying dead a few feet away was no comfort. Fighting was going on all around between the Avengers, Kang’s armies and Ultron’s drones, but Wasp didn’t care about any of that.
Hank Pym was dead.
Trembling, a metal hand rested gently on Wasp’s shoulder. It was Nikola, a robot built by Hank off Ultron’s design, but with programming that made it Ultron’s opposite. “Janet, I am sorry I could not save my fath-”
“Don’t you call him that!” Wasp shook off Nikola. “He built you! All you are is a machine!”
“That is more than you will ever be, mother!”
The cold, mechanical voice was identical to Nikola’s, but ever word dripped with hate. From Captain America to Sir Halifax, every Avenger looked up to see Ultron hovering in the sky of New York City. It glowed with black dots of power that Wasp recognized, and her blood went cold.
“No.” The first word was a whisper. The rest came at a shout. “It has the Destiny Force!”
“All of you are dead!” Power erupted from Ultron as it said this. “By the power of your own evolved flesh, you are all dead!”
Strangely, Ultron’s power sought out its own robotic forces. Alkhema was touched, and it felt pain. “Ultron, please! My love…”
“I do not love!” With the power it held, Ultron pulled Alkhema, pulled all its forces, into it. Their metal flowed into it, and Ultron grew with the added mass. Soon it towered over the Avengers, Growing Men, even the tallest skyscrapers. “I am hate and death, Avengers! I am your end!”
In the face of this staggering threat, the Avengers were without those they normally look to. Fear was creeping into many of them, but in one it was held back by something more. Hank Pym was dead in her arms, and Wasp remembered a time she was as close to despair. She had led the Avengers, then, and they had triumphed against all odds.
Gently, the body of Wasp’s ex-husband was settled down. The woman, small even at normal size, rose to her full height and raised her eyes up at Ultron. Fear was in her eyes, but Wasp held the gaze when she spoke.
“Avengers Assemble!”
That his “mother” wouldn’t even address it directly seemed to anger Ultron all the more. Power welled inside and around it, unused only due to hesitation. Die. They should all die. Pain first would be best. They have to learn that it is their better. That Ultron is perfection.
In that briefest of moments, that imperfect instant, mist drifted in through the cracks of time. One-by-one, each Avenger was touched and taken. Doctor Druid, Spider-Woman and Hawkeye watched as their teammates disappeared from the scene, leaving them alone with Kang’s panicking forces and the machine. High above, Ultron bellowed its rage.
“Cowards! You think that you can run from me! That you can hide!” Energy cascaded around Ultron, rippling out over the city, the whole world. Everything it touched, from buildings to Kang’s soldiers to innocent people to those left behind, was ripped apart into shreds so small they never existed. “I will find you, Avengers! I will kill you all!”
Hank Pym was dead.
Trembling, a metal hand rested gently on Wasp’s shoulder. It was Nikola, a robot built by Hank off Ultron’s design, but with programming that made it Ultron’s opposite. “Janet, I am sorry I could not save my fath-”
“Don’t you call him that!” Wasp shook off Nikola. “He built you! All you are is a machine!”
“That is more than you will ever be, mother!”
The cold, mechanical voice was identical to Nikola’s, but ever word dripped with hate. From Captain America to Sir Halifax, every Avenger looked up to see Ultron hovering in the sky of New York City. It glowed with black dots of power that Wasp recognized, and her blood went cold.
“No.” The first word was a whisper. The rest came at a shout. “It has the Destiny Force!”
“All of you are dead!” Power erupted from Ultron as it said this. “By the power of your own evolved flesh, you are all dead!”
Strangely, Ultron’s power sought out its own robotic forces. Alkhema was touched, and it felt pain. “Ultron, please! My love…”
“I do not love!” With the power it held, Ultron pulled Alkhema, pulled all its forces, into it. Their metal flowed into it, and Ultron grew with the added mass. Soon it towered over the Avengers, Growing Men, even the tallest skyscrapers. “I am hate and death, Avengers! I am your end!”
In the face of this staggering threat, the Avengers were without those they normally look to. Fear was creeping into many of them, but in one it was held back by something more. Hank Pym was dead in her arms, and Wasp remembered a time she was as close to despair. She had led the Avengers, then, and they had triumphed against all odds.
Gently, the body of Wasp’s ex-husband was settled down. The woman, small even at normal size, rose to her full height and raised her eyes up at Ultron. Fear was in her eyes, but Wasp held the gaze when she spoke.
“Avengers Assemble!”
That his “mother” wouldn’t even address it directly seemed to anger Ultron all the more. Power welled inside and around it, unused only due to hesitation. Die. They should all die. Pain first would be best. They have to learn that it is their better. That Ultron is perfection.
In that briefest of moments, that imperfect instant, mist drifted in through the cracks of time. One-by-one, each Avenger was touched and taken. Doctor Druid, Spider-Woman and Hawkeye watched as their teammates disappeared from the scene, leaving them alone with Kang’s panicking forces and the machine. High above, Ultron bellowed its rage.
“Cowards! You think that you can run from me! That you can hide!” Energy cascaded around Ultron, rippling out over the city, the whole world. Everything it touched, from buildings to Kang’s soldiers to innocent people to those left behind, was ripped apart into shreds so small they never existed. “I will find you, Avengers! I will kill you all!”
"Fought With Weapons, Won By Men"
From steel and concrete to stone and mortar, the Avengers reappeared. In place of three were another trio, and with skills honed from years of war and espionage, Captain America noted the surroundings and all within. Wasp was covered in blood, not her own. No body was present; Captain America wondered if it had been Hawkeye, Spider-Woman or Doctor Druid. All three? No doubt Iron Man was asking the same thing.
Who had died while they’re been away battling Kang?
Thor had also been snatched from the moment of that defeat – it was terrifying to know how much Kang held back – looking as beaten as the other two. Torn uniforms, broken armor, blood and bruises and weariness deep in their souls. All the Avengers present shared this look, but there was also a determination that refused to break. Warbird and Stingray, Moon Knight and Wasp, Sir Halifax and Quicksilver, Karnak and Espirita, even the youngest Darkhawk and Binary. All pushed to their limit, but willing to go beyond.
The man responsible for taking the Avengers from the battles was apparent at once. Immortus stood before them, arms spread wide. At his side was blind Libra, formerly of the criminal Zodiac. Arrayed behind them were men and women Captain America recognized save for one, and she was familiar. An armored Black Knight from his time in the Crusades. A serious looking Mister Immortal with eyes that lacked the joy of life. The build was Hank Pym but the costume and posture was Yellowjacket. Seeing Captain Mar-Vell and Mockingbird alive didn’t surprise Captain America. Neither did the second Captain America, a Steve Rogers with younger eyes. Such things were possible in the temporal realm of Limbo, with multiple explanations.
“Welcome Avengers!” Immortus proclaimed. “My apologies for-”
“Move!”
Captain America was already in motion when he gave the command. Fliers took to the air, Quicksilver circled around, and the others surged after their leader. His legs ached, it hurt to breath, and the shield felt so heavy it threatened to take his arm off. But Captain America still had the strength to slug Immortus across the face.
The once Kang fell to the ground. Only Libra acted quickly, preparing a kick at Captain America’s head. Quicker was Moon Knight, who tackled Libra and stabbed him in the thigh with a crescent. Fire, plasma, Darkforce and electricity exploded among the suspect agents of Immortus.
Struck first with no regard for safety was Mister Immortal who promptly died, soon to recover. Yellowjacket shrank, while Black Knight’s sword deflected what it encountered. The familiar girl turned toward Quicksilver and ensnared him with invisible strings by waving her hand. Captain America suspected magic, but when Mockingbird leapt at him with bo staff swinging his attention focused right on her.
Slowed and weakened as Captain America was, he was strong enough to raise his shield in defense, and fast enough to a fist through Mockingbird’s defenses. Before the bo staff clanged harmlessly against Captain America’s shield, Mockingbird doubled up in pain when his fist smashed into her gut. The woman went down on the ground and Captain America was on top of her, the edge of his unbreakable shield pressed against her throat.
“Hey, Cap.”
Captain America looked up to see the point of an arrow. It was notched into a bow held by Hawkeye, who couldn’t possibly be there. He and the five people behind him hadn’t been there a second ago, Captain America was sure of it.
“Do me a favor and get off of my wife.”
Two words were all that Captain America needed. “Space Phantoms.”
The hesitation brought on by doubt was brief. For Captain America it may as well have been minutes. He smashed into Hawkeye shield-first, pushing the man back and away. Two of the archer’s companions – a well-muscled man the size of Thor and a red-haired warrior woman – started forward with swords drawn. Behind Captain America he knew that Sir Halifax was leaping forward with his own sword raised.
A short distance away, Captain Mar-Vell and the World War 2 Captain America had rushed into the midst of the attacking Avengers. Towering over them was the mighty Thor, his hammer ready to swing down. It fell against a second unbreakable shield and went no further. Light flared out of Mar-Vell’s Nega Bands, enough to blind even a God of Thunder. With the god off balance, the powerful Kree warrior was able to grab him by the front of his armored tunic and throw him up.
Thor was so large he crashed into both Binary and Warbird. Even as the two struggled to stay in the air and grab Thor so he doesn’t harm anyone else, Captain Mar-Vell and WW2 Captain America were moving on. A well-aimed throw knocked Darkhawk’s helmet off. A battle-honed body jumped through flames and kicked Espirita in the face. Iron Man fired his repulsors, but his guidance systems were damaged and couldn’t get a bead on the two.
Far in the back of the group, previously unnoticed by the Avengers, a young man was curled into a fetal position. A second ago he’d been in a cell with shrouded senses and suppressed power. Now he felt the power brewing inside him and knew everything that was going on around him. Most important, Genis-Vell knew who the man was a few feet away. Only it couldn’t be him, Mar-Vell was dead, and a fear of madness overwhelmed everything.
Captain America ducked just in time. The evolved tiger jumped over him, sword clashing with two. Captain America rolled out of the way, and when a proper distance was mad threw his shield. The Knight of Wundagore’s senses were good. His paw found the shield in mid-flight and immediately used it to turn aside a stab. Still, swords were a weapon of death, and if the situation wasn’t resolved fast somebody would die.
The man and woman with swords Captain America didn’t recognize, but he knew the faces of Princess Python, Sphinx and Rama-Tut. He also knew from the Fantastic Four’s files what abilities the Ka Stone allowed.
“Link everyone!” Captain America shouted. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Mister Immortal dive at him and twisted at the last second. Both went down to the ground in a flurry of tangled limbs, but Captain America was in a stronger position. Locking his ankles around Mister Immortal’s arm, he broke it without hesitation. Then he grabbed Mister Immortal by the hair and smashed his face twice against the hard stone. A skull fracture disabled but wasn’t immediately fatal.
Though they had heard what Captain America said, Sphinx and Princess Python did not act. They were content to merely watch the fighting, and Princess Python gently touched the head of her giant python. Between and a little behind them, Rama-Tut touched each on the shoulder.
“He’s speaking to the two of you.”
Actually Captain America had been speaking to the Sphinx, but Princess Python had a second Ka Stone imbedded in her forehead and possessed the same abilities. She looked Rama-Tut in the eyes and spoke. “Why should we be involved with this tiff between super-heroes?”
“Because an Ultron with near-limitless power is coming, and we will need them to deal with it.”
Sphinx nodded, considering. “Even if we did as Captain America asks, it will not be enough. Distrust and hostility are deep in all their minds. Linking them all will not dispel this.”
“Yes it will,” Rama-Tut said. “Because one is Cosmically Aware.” The future Kang nodded his head in the direction of two fighting men. Genis-Vell was screaming like a madman and blasting at Captain Mar-Vell with powerful bursts of photonic energy.
Princess Python tilted her head, and her Ka-Stone glittered with an inward light. “Yes, he’ll do quite well.”
A beam of light shot out of her Ka Stone and struck Genis-Vell in the temple. He immediately went down and began to convulse. Then beams of light shot out of his skull, striking Mar-Vell and every Avenger in proximity.
“Anath-Na, you’re more skilled than I,” said Princess Python to Sphinx.
He said nothing, but beams of light erupted from the Sphinx’s skull. Soon every man, woman, and thing present were struck, their minds momentarily connected. For the briefest of instants, all had Cosmic Awareness, and thus knew that none were enemies.
Once the beams of light died out, so too did the fighting.
Not all the Avengers had escaped Ultron.
“You will tell me where they are!” Its voice carried in the empty void that had been Earth, reaching the ears of dozens of heroes. They all lay writhing in the giant robot’s hands as pain coursed through them. Yet many found the strength to answer.
“This one will tell you nothing!”
“Hulk smash puny metal man!”
“They’re off figuring out how to break you, like I once did!”
“Please, I don’t know anything! I’m only wearing this for a party!”
“You are going to pay for Wakanda!”
“Fight like a man and I’ll clobber you into scrap!”
“Heh, you’re scared aren’t you? Scared because you know they’ll beat you.”
“Away with you!” Ultron threw its hands out, and the screaming heroes vanished into the nothingness. “They are no threat. Simply life, flesh. And wherever there is flesh, I will destroying. Beginning with the Avengers. Wherever, whenever, they are!”
Power flared around Ultron, making the whiteness around it even brighter for a moment. When this passed, a black line existed in a void. A rift. Ultron stepped sideway, disappearing from the void that had been Earth.
“We all know the situation.”
Captain America was addressing the assembled Avengers and allies in the Limbo citadel of Immortus. Nearly thirty individuals, some with near-limitless power. Captain America hoped that it would be enough.
“We don’t know the circumstances, but Ultron has killed Kang. And in the process, it has managed to acquire the Destiny Force. Wasp, would you please elaborate?”
The veteran heroine nodded and spoke up. “The Destiny Force is specific only to humans of Earth, the result of future evolution. Aliens cannot access it, let alone machines. This means that Ultron must have somehow incorporated human flesh into its systems.”
“To something like Ultron that’s anathema,” Mockingbird said.
But Wasp shook her head. “The Destiny Force first became known when the Supreme Intelligence artificially induced it in Rick Jones. Given that nature of intelligent design, Ultron may have made an exception. Whatever the case, it is now incredibly powerful.”
“I once witnessed an entire planet rendered frozen by the Destiny Force,” Libra said. “The being responsible had sensed a threat from thousands of light years away. Once Ultron has mastered these abilities, it will even be able to find us here in Limbo, outside of time and space.”
“With Ultron’s computer mind, it won’t take long to master the Destiny Force. What we need to do is buy ourselves as much time as we can. When Ultron arrives, we need to be at our best.”
At this point, Immortus tried to speak up. “I may be able to help. There are machines here that can-”
“Warbird.”
Immortus was abruptly cut off, and glares forced him into silence as Warbird took over.
“During the time I was stranded here, I learned to master the machines that allow the manipulation of time outside Limbo. Some of the functions involve masking Limbo, keeping separate all the temporal interactions so that everything that ever happened or will happen here doesn’t occur at once. This creates a continuity in Limbo, allowing for travel to specific points.”
“So we can choose the precise instant when Ultron arrives?” Karnak asked. “That would be a powerful advantage.”
“That Ultron wasn’t already here waiting for us is a good sign,” Warbird said. “But I suspect that against the Destiny Force, the machines will only be useful up to a point.”
“Get to the machines and see what you can do,” Captain America said. “Libra can assist you. Once you have an estimation of time, let everyone know.
“In the meantime,” went on Captain America for everybody, “We are going to be ready. Those who are tired, rest. Any damaged equipment should be repaired. Whatever you need to do to get your head into the coming battle, take care of it. That all for now. Could Wasp, Thor, Iron Man and Yellowjacket please stay behind.”
The four long-time Avengers moved near to Captain America as the others filed out. The Captain America of World War II paused and turned, clearly wishing to remain. But his future self shook his head, and the younger Steve Rogers went on.
Also trying to stay behind was Immortus. “If there is any strategizing to be done I feel I must be a part of it. After all, if it were not for me, Ultron would have-”
“Leave here, villain,” Thor said with a raise of his hammer. “Leave now, lest thou truly want to discuss what thou had done.”
Only Yellowjacket didn’t give Immortus a hostile glare. The ruler of Limbo looked to his ally and nodded. “Very well. Yellowjacket, I look forward to speaking with you later.”
When Immortus had departed, those glares had turned to Yellowjacket. But the man didn’t let on he was uncomfortable, addressing his “teammates” in his usual boisterous way. “So, what’s so important that The Founders have to pow-wow? It can’t be too serious, otherwise Wasp would be flirting us all up.”
“What is Immortus hiding from us?” Captain America asked.
Yellowjacket tilted his head, unintimidated. “If I knew, you would have all found out during that mind-meld trick.”
“You know it wasn’t that specific,” Wasp said. “We all gained a sense of each other, enough for a measure of trust. But in Immortus something was being held back, and I know – know! – that you know what that is.”
“You will tell us,” said Thor, towering over Yellowjacket.
The disgraced Avenger looked the God of Thunder up and down, then shrugged. “Okay, have it your way. The team I’m with, Immortus put us together to fight Kang. We’ve been assisting Ultron this entire time.”
“The missiles at the base.” Behind his helmet, Iron Man was angry. “Quicksilver wasn’t able to deactivate them because of you!”
“Quicksilver would have been dead if it wasn’t for us!” Yellowjacket shot back. “Followed by a whole city. Ultron didn’t intend those missiles for Kang’s ships, you know!”
“What happened with the Human Torch, was that you?” Wasp asked. “Something happened inside him, something that took all of us to New York City. Was that you?”
“Yeah, that was me,” Yellowjacket said without apology. “I stopped Pym from destroy-”
“Don’t you say his name.” Captain America’s voice was ice.
Yellowjacket corrected himself. “A bomb was planted inside Human Torch that would have destroyed Ultron in the process. I went in and tweaked things so that Ultron would be where it needed to be.”
“Aye, to kill Kang and become a robot god,” Thor said.
“That was not supposed to happen!” Yellowjacket said in defense.
“But the deaths were,” Iron Man said. “Every life Ultron took, and for that matter every life Kang took, it’s all on your hands. Would this entire war have started if it weren’t for Immortus?!”
“Everybody here knows what Kang was capable of! If Ultron had been destroyed, Kang would have rolled over the 21st century with nothing to stop him!”
“We would have stopped him,” Captain America said.
Yellowjacket laughed in the Living Legend’s face. “Right, because he hadn’t just whupped your candy asses right before Immortus took you.”
“You vile…” Thor took a step, but Captain America put a hand on his arm.
“We would have found a way. Whatever the odds, we would have stopped Kang, just like we’re going to stop Ultron here. And we are going to do it clean.”
“That is a bullshit statement and you know it,” Yellowjacket said. “With these stakes, you’re going to do whatever it takes. So take your sanctimonious speeches and shove them up your ass. Now, you asked a question, and I answered it, so are we done here?”
Iron Man, Thor and Captain America looked down at Yellowjacket with disgust and hate. This man was not their friend, who had died so bravely while they were in another time period. It was Wasp who spoke however, making a request.
“For the most part, yeah, we’re done.” For the three she asked, “Guys, can I please be alone with my ex-husband here?”
“All right Jan.”
“There are things we need to deal with. Come find me later.”
“Should this go bad, you need only shout. Though thou are surely capable.”
The three left, and when alone with his (future) wife, Yellowjacket spread his arms wide. “You been itching to hug daddy, sweetness?”
The bio-electric sting came out of Wasp’s hands fast against Yellowjacket’s chest. It had grown in strength since Yellowjacket’s time, and his suit wasn’t insulated enough. He fell back against the floor barely able to move, helpless as Wasp stood over him.
“Believe it or not, I don’t completely hate you. When Hank changed I welcomed it, because sometimes I thought he was so weak that it made me sick. Then I realized that keeping you locked away took more strength than I had ever thought possible. And in your own sick way you made me a stronger person, you son of a bitch. Getting up, facing you again after that one slap, facing anybody…that was when I realized that I could be more than some sidekick or token female. I don’t think I could have ever led the Avengers through hell if it weren’t for you.”
“Sure got a…funny way of….saying thank you.”
“The man I loved died today. You died too, helpless to do anything but watch. Live with that.”
Wasp turned and walked away. Yellowjacket was left to recover alone.
Large and immovable, the machines that allowed for control over time were everywhere in Limbo for those that knew to find them. Older than anything in the realm outside time, they were not so much embedded within Immortus’ castle as the castle was constructed around them. Watched by the knowledgeable Libra, himself a former agent of the Time-Masters, Warbird worked at a section of the machinery.
“You could decipher its complex workings faster with my assistance,” Libra said by way of invitation. “All you ever used this equipment for was to return home, and that took you a long time to figure out.”
Warbird didn’t turn from her work as she said, “Thanks, but no. Take this the wrong way all you like, I don’t trust you. When I returned home, it was to a specific point. Nobody knew how long I’d been gone.”
“Are you so certain that was your doing?” Immortus had strode into the room. “Libra, leave us.”
Warbird did turn this time, viewing Libra as he limped away and the approaching Immortus. “You I welcome even less. Leave now, or you’ll find Cap hits like a girl compared to me.”
Chuckling slightly, Immortus rubbed his jaw. “You Avengers are being very high-and-mighty, considering I saved all your lives.”
“We know you only did that to save yourself,” Warbird said. “Although, if Ultron really did kill Kang, shouldn’t you be dead?”
“Kang is dead. Not long ago his timeline was divided, becoming me while remaining himself. I once did something similar with the Human Torch so that it and the Vision could co-exist.”
“Tested it, you mean. Everything you do is for a reason. What was it with me?”
Immortus impressively feigned ignorance. “Whatever do you mean?”
Energy flared in Warbird’s eyes and in her hands. “I mean when you raped, impregnated, brainwashed and abducted me. It took me a long time to realize, we only had Marcus’ word that he existed before I birthed him.”
“Ah, his story about being my child from a human woman I saved, and how after I disappeared he sought you as a means to escape Limbo.” Again, Immortus chuckled. “You Avengers were very gullible to accept such a story at face value. Still, with all you’ve encountered, it could have been true. The rape I’m inclined to challenge. With these machines the act of-”
“You violated my body. That’s rape.”
“Not me,” Immortus said with certainty. “Remember, that Immortus died in the Forever War. Of course, who isn’t to say that isn’t my eventual fate, and that what happens to you – if indeed I am who does it – has yet to come?”
“Even if everything Marcus said was true, you were responsible. Or will be,” Warbird added. “By creating him in the first place, by leaving him with full knowledge of what would happen. That’s the only reason I don’t kill you here and now, Immortus. You don’t so much manipulate things as you consider yourself playing a part, doing what’s supposed to occur in what you believe to be the grand scheme of things. Play the puppeteer all you like, but you’re still a puppet. Worse, you’re a puppet that’s seen how he ends up.”
“Yes, I have seen the end-result of schemes,” Immortus said in admission. “As have you. Had Ms. Marvel never been ripped from your mind, the Brood never could have violated you further. You never would have become Binary, never could have saved the sun during that little war between the Kree and Shi’ar. Now go back to these machines you learned during your last extended stay here and try to keep us all alive as long as you can. And know that if not for me, none of this would be possible.”
With that, Immortus swept about and departed from Warbird’s presence. Seething with her own anger, but also a sense of closure over the confrontation, Warbird turned back to her work.
“Yeah, none of this would be possible,” Warbird said to herself. “Not without me, or any of the Avengers.”
Nothingness stared back at Captain America as he stared back at it, on one of the castle’s parapets. He’d just left his younger self, left a discussion filled with pain and revelations and hope. He imagined others around the castle were talking, thought of Hawkeye and Mockingbird with a smile. Stories playing out around him, as the big epic finale was waiting to appear.
“Captain America. I fear we have a problem.”
The Kree warrior Captain Mar-Vell walked onto the parapet, and Captain America turned his head to see him. It was unsettling. The last time Captain America had seen this man, he’d died of cancer, wasted away into a skeleton with skin. But the Captain Mar-Vell before him now was from years before, in the prime of his life.
“Genis?”
Mar-Vell nodded. “We all had a glimpse into his mind. What happened to him was terrible, and what he did worse still. If this is what Cosmic Awareness does, my eventual death may be for the best.”
“I understand there were other factors that drove Genis over the edge. Meeting you may be the first step to redeeming him. It has to. His Cosmic Awareness is vital to the plan.”
“There has to be another way. Karnak can sense weakness. Perhaps Sphinx and Princess Python can transfer the Awareness to me.”
“Karnak is good, but his senses are still mortal. I already asked Sphinx, and he said it’s beyond his and Princess Python’s skills. Just that brief contact with Genis nearly overwhelmed them. Mar-Vell, I’d done my best to be prepared for the worst, but I still hope for the best. Genis was a hero once and I believe he can be one again. In this crisis, he will make us all proud.”
But the doubt was clear on Mar-Vell’s face. “I wish that I could share your hope, Captain. Maybe if Rick was here…”
Captain America put a hand on a hero’s shoulder. “Make no mistake, Captain, Rick will be there. And that may make all the difference.”
They stood assembled at the edge of time, waiting for their greatest foe to emerge. In the center was Captain America, chairperson of the Avengers with his shield at his side. Hovering above and at either side of him were Thor and Iron Man, hammer spinning and bootjets pulsing. Floating in a loose semi-circle around Thor were Binary, Espirita, Genis-Vell and Captain Mar-Vell. Around Iron Man were Wasp, Darkhawk, Stingray and Warbird.
Standing at Captain America’s right hand was Hawkeye, his wife Mockingbird next to her. Continuing along that line were Conan, Sphinx, Moon Knight, Red Sonja, and Princess Python. At Captain America’s left were Quicksilver, Mister Immortal, Black Knight, Arcana, Karnak, Sir Halifax and the Captain America of World War II.
Notably absent was Yellowjacket, while Genis-Vell looked that he clearly wanted to be elsewhere. Only the grip of Mar-Vell’s hand at his wrist kept the Kree/Eternal offspring in place.
Observing from inside the castle were Immortus, his younger self Rama-Tut and the loyal Libra.
“I should be at their side,” said Rama-Tut with bitterness. “Fighting against this…thing that killed me.”
“That puts me at risk,” said Immortus. “And if I wanted that, I would be down there myself. No, we had our chance at Ultron, and Kang died. Better to trust in the Avengers.”
Limbo was an infinite realm with no boundaries, yet the eyes of the Avengers processed a horizon, and they saw that edge crackling with arriving power.
“Stand ready!” Captain America called out. His shield was raised, and along the line those with weapons brought them to bear.
The energy fissured, and from that rip in time emerged Ultron. The robot appeared large from a distance, and grew more massive as it advanced on the gathered heroes. Its face was hatred, burning with radioactive flames, and its adamantium shell glowed with the dark dots of the Destiny Force.
“Avengers! You have nowhere else to run! Nowhere else to hide! Here, you will die!”
“Hold your ground!” Captain America said for most of those around him. For Hawkeye, he said simply, “Hawkeye, do it.”
Hawkeye raised his bow, aiming at a high angle to account for distance. His eye ran along the length of the arrow, making sure that its attachment was secure. Then he let fly, and the arrow shot into the void toward Ultron.
“Hahahahaha!” The robot’s face always seemed to be laughing. “I am power incarnate, and you think to strike me with an arrow! It will bounce harmlessly off my…what is this?”
In mid-flight the arrow had begun to dip, suddenly much heavier. It was the attachment. He was growing rapidly, revealed to be Yellowjacket. The man that claimed to have killed Hank Pym leapt off the arrow at the machine who had recently watched Hank Pym die, now at roughly the same size.
Brief confusion in Ultron’s eyes became anger. “You…you’re dead!”
“Me? I got better!” Yellowjacket slugged Ultron with an electrically charged fist. The combination of impact and sting staggered the robot. “It looks like someone never read his bible. I blame the parents.”
In its confused anger, the Destiny Force was forgotten and Ultron struck physically. Adamantium hands grabbed human limbs, hoping to rip the man apart. But skin nearly a foot thick was harder to tear, bones several feet thick harder to break. Yellowjacket was able to successfully grapple with Ultron, for the brief moment at least.
“You will die again and again!” Radioactive fire prepared to exit Ultron’s maw. “However many times it takes!”
A blast of death spewed at Yellowjacket. He shrank rapidly, avoiding the spray and Ultron’s grasp. At that smaller size the wings on his shoulders carried Yellowjacket aloft. As he flew from Ultron, he saw the two flying teams approach.
“Thy terror shall come to an end!” Thor yelled out. Above his head the hammer Mjolnir was spinning, about to be thrown.
“Wait!” Iron Man raised a hand to stop everyone while his second hand was pointing. “We have company!”
“You try to fool me with stupid tricks!” Ultron reached for the flying teams with hands that threatened to encompass them all. Then suddenly, Ultron froze, its limbs locked by an unknown force. “No! What is this?”
“Me.” An unearthly Vision appeared before Ultron’s face, a mirror image that was transparent because it was stretched to Ultron’s size. “I will not allow you to do more harm because of my actions!”
“You cannot stop me!” Ultron screamed, and power cascaded off it. Energy went through the ghostly Vision harmlessly, but the flying Avengers scrambled to avoid the deadly beams. Ultron was now visibly shaking, roaring in anger and pain. “I feel what you are doing traitor! I will not be compressed!”
“Yes, you will!” Iron Man said as his genius mind realized what could be done. “Yellowjacket, funnel away the excess mass!”
“Fine, but only because I’m in a happy mood!” A gun grew out of Yellowjacket’s belt and he fired it at Ultron, bombarding it with Pym Particles.
“No! No!” Despite Ultron’s protests, it shrank before the Avengers eyes. And as it shrank, so too did Vison’s density increased and it became more visible. Soon Vision was completely visible, and Ultron appeared to have gone entirely.
“Oh my god, we actually did it!” Darkhawk pumped a fist. “We beat Ultron!”
“What ‘we’?” Binary asked. “And shut up before you jinx it!”
“Aahh!” The gun exploded in Yellowjacket’s hand. “Adamantium is too dense. I couldn’t get all of his mass!”
“I still feel it inside of me.” Vision said. Its white surface was swiftly becoming marred by cracks.
“But at least I have done a part. Farewell.”
The shell that was Vision shattered, and Ultron was free!
“Now you will all die!” Dots of Destiny Force flew from Ultron’s fingers.
Godlike power was met by a god’s power, as Thor deflected the Destiny Force with Mjolnir. “I say thee nay!” His hammer smashed against Ultron’s head, with the force of all Thor’s strength behind it. At impact the powers of Asgard and Destiny exploded outward, washing over everyone nearby.
Only Binary, Warbird and Iron Man were less than disoriented by the conflicting energies.
“Sweep around and wait until they’re separate!” Iron Man said to them. Then he fired repulsors, his computer targeting systems ensuring that Thor wouldn’t be struck by accident. “And as everybody recovers have them do the same.”
“Iron Man’s making this his game without thinking.” Hawkeye had notched a new arrow, one of his rarest. “We need to get in there Cap. Stick to the plan.”
“No. Ultron can’t be overwhelmed by numbers. We get in each other’s way we’re dead.” To everybody Captain America said. “Fall back to your assigned locations. If Ultron gets through, do what you can.”
If Ultron go through, everybody was dead, but Captain America wasn’t going to tell them that. Only a few were vital to victory; the rest either helped with interference or got in the way.
“Hawkeye, let’s go!”
The two men jumped into the void of Limbo. Sphinx fulfilled his assigned task, using the power of his Ka Stone to keep the two aloft. Then three, to the fortune of WWII Captain America.
“I told you-” Captain America started to say.
“Two shields are better than one. And you’d know better than to think I’d leave me on the field of battle! Forward!” WWII Captain America rushed past his future self and Hawkeye.
“That was your catchphrase before joining the Avengers?” Hawkeye asked.
“In war there’s only orders.”
As it turned out, the three Avengers didn’t have to go far. Ultron had hurled Thor aside and flew fast for the castle. Wasp appeared in front of it and fired a sting blast from both hands. Ultron was unfazed and kept going, would have crashed through Wasp if Binary and Iron Man hadn’t crashed into it first.
“Hold him!” Iron Man said as though Binary had to be told. Their arms were wrapped around Ultron, desperately trying to keep it from going further. Black dots of power were exploding around them as Ultron screamed with frustration.
“Aaaahhh!” His armor battered and his body wracked with pain, Iron Man fell away. Binary kept holding on, not letting go even when she felt her skin burning. A final burst of power forced her back, even forced the power out of her. Left powerless, Binary floated, unconscious or perhaps dead, in the void.
“Attack!” Thor hurled his hammer at Ultron’s back. All around him, Avengers fired with their respective energies. Warbird’s plasma, Espirita’s flames, Stingray’s electricity and Darkhawk’s darkforce blasts. Only Genis-Vell and Captain Mar-Vell weren’t attacking, as the former was flying back toward the castle while the latter was giving chase.
“No! I can see it!” Genis-Vell said in near-hysteria as his dead father tackled him. “It can’t be stopped. We’re all dead! As dead as you!”
“I don’t accept that!” Dead father and insane son passed Hawkeye and the Captain Americas. They crashed onto the balcony of the castle. “They tell me that cancer takes my life; that I die in bed! After a lifetime of fighting I die in peace, surrounded by friends and loved ones! It is among the best of deaths, and I will accept nothing else!”
Genis-Vell was trying to rise, to run further. Captain Mar-Vell grabbed his son’s shoulder, spun him around, and punched him in the face.
Standing over Genis-Vell, Captain Mar-Vell said to his son, “You have Cosmic Awareness; can see everything going on around you in the minutest detail. So you know that you would have to kill me if you want to run from this fight.
Photonic energy burst from Genis-Vell’s Nega Bands to Captain Mar-Vell’s chest. “Then I will!”
The two battled mere feet away from the impassive Sphinx, who was unwilling to intercede.
“Dammit! Fall back!” At Captain America’s command, his younger self and Hawkeye did an about-face. As he was about to land on the balcony, Captain America surged forward and kicked Genis-Vell in the face. “I’ve wanted to do that ever since I heard about what you did to Rick, you entitled little bastard!”
Far away, Ultron was getting closer. Espirita got in its way and was bathed in radioactive fire as a consequence. She was unfazed, but flew aside as it barreled past. Darkhawk was now floating in the void as well, torn in half. Thor was creating lightning that came from everywhere in Limbo, but each bolt dissipated before reaching Ultron.
Lying face-up on the ground, Genis-Vell was barely coherent. “Rick…Rick Jones. Ha ha. Rick Jones is here. Wherever I go, the kid is always here!”
“What?” Captain America grabbed Genis-Vell by the head and forced him up. “What did you say? Where is Rick?”
“There.” Genis-Vell pointed. “He’s right there.”
He was pointing straight at Ultron.
“That’s it.” Hawkeye raised his bow, ready to aim. “But he’ll need to be more specific, Cap.”
“If here’s here, then get rid of him,” Captain Mar-Vell said to Genis. “Hit him with a laser, right now.”
Captain America let go and stepped back. Unhindered, Genis-Vell raised an arm and fired a fine laser beam. It struck Ultron, to no effect.
“Did you get it?” Captain America asked.
“Yeah.” Hawkeye pulled back on the bow. “I got-whoa!”
Bursts of power erupted from Ultron, burning a path to Hawkeye. Before they could strike, WWII Captain America was there, taking the blasts with his shield.
“Then take the shot!” he said to Hawkeye.
Without another word, Hawkeye raised his bow and fired. The vibranium-tipped arrow struck home, scrapping against Ultron’s adamantium shell in the exact spot Genis-Vell hit. Metal broke away, and a scrap of flesh was exposed.
“That’s Rick Jones’ genetic material, containing potential for the Destiny Force” Captain America said. “Kang had stored it, and Ultron took it. We need to separate it from Ultron and-”
“On it.” Captain Mar-Vell flew up at Ultron. All the other flyers were either incapacitated or too far any. At any rate, Captain Mar-Vell thought to himself, none of them could have accomplished what he was about to attempt.
“You I also recognize as dead!” Moving impossibly fast, Ultron grabbed Captain Mar-Vell by the throat. The Destiny Force coursed through it and into the Kree hero. “You are all insects! Begging to be squashed again and again!”
“Not today.” Captain Mar-Vell stared without fear into the face of hatred. “I only die once. It won’t be today.”
Captain Mar-Vell slapped a hand against Ultron, on the spot of exposed flesh. Once, he’d been joined with Rick Jones on a molecular level. At contact, a reaction occurred, as the Nega Bands automatically triggered a dimensional shift. Rick Jones, or rather that piece of Rick Jones, disappeared into the Negative Zone. Ultron remained where it was, only now it was devoid of the Destiny Force.
“No!” Electricity, radiation, laser and encephalo beams bombarded Captain Mar-Vell. Ultron had been denied its power, but it would not be denied a kill. Captain Mar-Vell convulsed, but he refused to scream and that seemed to enrage Ultron all the more.
The large hands of a Norse God found Ultron’s head. “Machine, thy end has come!” With a mighty roar, Thor summoned the lightning into him. Power drained out of Ultron, and the attack on Captain Mar-Vell ceased. When Thor hurled the weakened Ultron aside, the Kree hero floated freely in the void.
“Get all wounded to safety!” Captain America yelled out. Very recently he’d seen the awesome power of Thor unleashed, and somehow he knew the God of Thunder had held back even then.
“More are injured than active.” Sphinx’s Ka Stone was glowing as he spoke. Lines of attractive force reached out for the incapacitated Avengers. All but Captain Mar-Vell were struck. Warbird had reached him first. She flew him back to the castle with all the others that Sphinx had collected.
With no lesser beings within a great distance, Thor gripped the head of Ultron and spat into its hateful face. “You desired power, machine? Power enough to challenge the gods themselves?”
At that moment devoid of power, Ultron could only stare blankly. Deep inside, circuits were still intact, programming still present. Only the slightest flicker of energy was required for Ultron’s hate to live again. Somehow, this was communicated to the God of Thunder.
“Then power you shall have!”
Mjolnir merely served as a focus. The power of Thor was inside him; the power to call storms and shake the heavens. Thor unleashed everything in that instant, lightning and winds so powerful they could destroy a continent. Indeed, they once had. Against such an unbridled force, even Ultron was not indestructible. Circuits melted, programming was erased, and adamantium shattered.
It was over. Ultron was gone. The Avengers had won.
Looking down at the dying Captain Mar-Vell, Captain America didn’t feel like celebrating. Arcana’s magic had been ineffective in healing his wounds, as were Sphinx’s and Princess Python’s Ka Stones. All the Avengers were gathered around the hero, helpless as his life slipped away by the second. Warbird was kneeling next to Captain Mar-Vell, holding the hand of the man she once thought she’d loved. Even Genis-Vell had been knocked out of his fugue state, standing with a sort of reverence over his father.
“It’s done Immortus,” Mockingbird said. She looked up at the ruler of Limbo. “Mar-Vell completed his task. Send him back, as though none of this ever happened to him!”
But Immortus, in a rare admission of weakness, shook his head. “While I could send him back, Captain Mar-Vell’s wounds are beyond my ability to reverse. I suspect this is due to the Destiny Force.”
“No.” Captain America shook his head, unwilling to accept it. “Captain Mar-Vell can’t die now. He has to merge with Rick Jones…battle Thanos…Nitro.”
“He has to have me,” said Genis-Vell. The disturbed young man was looking down at his wrists. “If he’s dead I don’t exist. I barely exist now.” Genis-Vell looked up and locked eyes with Immortus. “Should I die to live?”
“You’ve suffered the price before,” said Immortus. “As has he. That would make you both uniquely suited to the arrangement. All you need to do is concentrate on the Nega Bands and touch.”
“What?” Warbird was looking up. “What is he talking about?”
Genis-Vell was already moving forward, his hand reached to touch Captain Mar-Vell’s head.
Iron Man spoke up in protest. “Genis, you don’t have to do this. There must be-”
“There isn’t.” Genis-Vell’s voice was calm, free of madness. “The things I’ve done…he deserves what I threw away.” When Genis-Vell made contact with Captain Mar-Vell, the Nega Bands they wore flared, encompassing all present in their white light.
When the light passed, stone and mortar became steel and concrete. Captain America whirled around, taking in his full surroundings. He and most of the Avengers were now in New York, in what looked to be the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic battle. They were on a ripped up city street, treated to a full view of the devastation. Widespread fires, heavily damaged buildings and streets, wrecked vehicles, and particularly the screams. Captain America could see some of them, the injured and the rescue workers, and some that appeared to just be curious bystanders.
“Hank!”
The new scream was Wasp’s. She had caught sight of the body on the street, lying in the same spot he’d been when the Avengers were snatched. Hank Pym looked no different from before, pierced by a blade through the chest, blood on his body and underneath in a large pool. While Wasp had cleaned up from before, she became covered in blood again when she grabbed her ex-husband’s body and pulled it tight.
“A part of me hoped this would be different,” Warbird said to Captain America. “One of those fluxes that sometimes happens when we adventure through time.”
“Where did you guys go?” asked Hawkeye, who was running up the street.
It had been immediately noted that only Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and those Avengers taken from the present had returned. Those time-lost Avengers already in Limbo, and Hawkeye, had all been taken from different eras and were likely returned to such, with one exception. It was just as well, otherwise there would have been two Hawkeyes.
Hawkeye stopped in front of Captain America and Iron Man. “Ultron, right? Stupid question, I know.” A short distance behind Hawkeye, Spider-Woman and Doctor Druid could be seen, assisting in rescue/recovery. “Right after you guys left – without me, I might add – Kang’s forces disappeared too.”
“Kang’s dead,” Iron Man said. “Ultron was destroyed. You don’t re-?”
“The update can wait,” said Captain America. “Our job isn’t done. This mess needs to be cleaned up.” He pointed toward the damaged buildings. “Flyers spread out and report.”
“I will do what I can to help as well!” The man who spoke leapt into the air, and much to his surprise found that he could fly again. “Oh! This must be a side-effect. The better for me to assist!”
None of the Avengers present gave a response, most only looking up at the flying alien with the mixture awesome surprise and regret. Warbird was looking down at the ground, unable to look at the man she’d mourned nor at the woman mourning. Hawkeye, however, asked another question.
“What the--? That’s Captain Marvel. The Mar-Vell.” He looked back over at Captain America. “Isn’t he dead?”
Captain America looked Hawkeye – this Hawkeye – in the eye. “Not yet. Let’s go help.”
At his castle in Limbo, Immortus opened the door to the room he never visited. Accompanying him was Yellow Jacket, who broke the silence with a snap of bubble gum. Immortus gave the man an annoyed look as he crossed the threshold into the darkened room.
“I only tolerate your disrespect because I won’t have to suffer it for much longer. The deeds have been done. Soon you will be back where you belong.”
“Yeah, and all the better for it too, provided you upheld your end.” Yellowjacket made another bubble and it snapped loudly.
“Heh, all of your time here and you still know so little.” Immortus chuckled. “My end has always been upheld. This always happened, from your fate to mine.”
Yellowjacket nodded and gave a shrug. “Well, I guess you knew from your Rama-Tut days how you’d always end up. Split in two, one a dead conqueror and the other a lord of time.”
“Not a lord. The Lord of Time.” Immortus looked down at only object in the room, placed on a pedestal. "And like all lords, I will need to conquer.”
The helmet of Kang looked back at him.
AN END...
Who had died while they’re been away battling Kang?
Thor had also been snatched from the moment of that defeat – it was terrifying to know how much Kang held back – looking as beaten as the other two. Torn uniforms, broken armor, blood and bruises and weariness deep in their souls. All the Avengers present shared this look, but there was also a determination that refused to break. Warbird and Stingray, Moon Knight and Wasp, Sir Halifax and Quicksilver, Karnak and Espirita, even the youngest Darkhawk and Binary. All pushed to their limit, but willing to go beyond.
The man responsible for taking the Avengers from the battles was apparent at once. Immortus stood before them, arms spread wide. At his side was blind Libra, formerly of the criminal Zodiac. Arrayed behind them were men and women Captain America recognized save for one, and she was familiar. An armored Black Knight from his time in the Crusades. A serious looking Mister Immortal with eyes that lacked the joy of life. The build was Hank Pym but the costume and posture was Yellowjacket. Seeing Captain Mar-Vell and Mockingbird alive didn’t surprise Captain America. Neither did the second Captain America, a Steve Rogers with younger eyes. Such things were possible in the temporal realm of Limbo, with multiple explanations.
“Welcome Avengers!” Immortus proclaimed. “My apologies for-”
“Move!”
Captain America was already in motion when he gave the command. Fliers took to the air, Quicksilver circled around, and the others surged after their leader. His legs ached, it hurt to breath, and the shield felt so heavy it threatened to take his arm off. But Captain America still had the strength to slug Immortus across the face.
The once Kang fell to the ground. Only Libra acted quickly, preparing a kick at Captain America’s head. Quicker was Moon Knight, who tackled Libra and stabbed him in the thigh with a crescent. Fire, plasma, Darkforce and electricity exploded among the suspect agents of Immortus.
Struck first with no regard for safety was Mister Immortal who promptly died, soon to recover. Yellowjacket shrank, while Black Knight’s sword deflected what it encountered. The familiar girl turned toward Quicksilver and ensnared him with invisible strings by waving her hand. Captain America suspected magic, but when Mockingbird leapt at him with bo staff swinging his attention focused right on her.
Slowed and weakened as Captain America was, he was strong enough to raise his shield in defense, and fast enough to a fist through Mockingbird’s defenses. Before the bo staff clanged harmlessly against Captain America’s shield, Mockingbird doubled up in pain when his fist smashed into her gut. The woman went down on the ground and Captain America was on top of her, the edge of his unbreakable shield pressed against her throat.
“Hey, Cap.”
Captain America looked up to see the point of an arrow. It was notched into a bow held by Hawkeye, who couldn’t possibly be there. He and the five people behind him hadn’t been there a second ago, Captain America was sure of it.
“Do me a favor and get off of my wife.”
Two words were all that Captain America needed. “Space Phantoms.”
The hesitation brought on by doubt was brief. For Captain America it may as well have been minutes. He smashed into Hawkeye shield-first, pushing the man back and away. Two of the archer’s companions – a well-muscled man the size of Thor and a red-haired warrior woman – started forward with swords drawn. Behind Captain America he knew that Sir Halifax was leaping forward with his own sword raised.
A short distance away, Captain Mar-Vell and the World War 2 Captain America had rushed into the midst of the attacking Avengers. Towering over them was the mighty Thor, his hammer ready to swing down. It fell against a second unbreakable shield and went no further. Light flared out of Mar-Vell’s Nega Bands, enough to blind even a God of Thunder. With the god off balance, the powerful Kree warrior was able to grab him by the front of his armored tunic and throw him up.
Thor was so large he crashed into both Binary and Warbird. Even as the two struggled to stay in the air and grab Thor so he doesn’t harm anyone else, Captain Mar-Vell and WW2 Captain America were moving on. A well-aimed throw knocked Darkhawk’s helmet off. A battle-honed body jumped through flames and kicked Espirita in the face. Iron Man fired his repulsors, but his guidance systems were damaged and couldn’t get a bead on the two.
Far in the back of the group, previously unnoticed by the Avengers, a young man was curled into a fetal position. A second ago he’d been in a cell with shrouded senses and suppressed power. Now he felt the power brewing inside him and knew everything that was going on around him. Most important, Genis-Vell knew who the man was a few feet away. Only it couldn’t be him, Mar-Vell was dead, and a fear of madness overwhelmed everything.
Captain America ducked just in time. The evolved tiger jumped over him, sword clashing with two. Captain America rolled out of the way, and when a proper distance was mad threw his shield. The Knight of Wundagore’s senses were good. His paw found the shield in mid-flight and immediately used it to turn aside a stab. Still, swords were a weapon of death, and if the situation wasn’t resolved fast somebody would die.
The man and woman with swords Captain America didn’t recognize, but he knew the faces of Princess Python, Sphinx and Rama-Tut. He also knew from the Fantastic Four’s files what abilities the Ka Stone allowed.
“Link everyone!” Captain America shouted. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Mister Immortal dive at him and twisted at the last second. Both went down to the ground in a flurry of tangled limbs, but Captain America was in a stronger position. Locking his ankles around Mister Immortal’s arm, he broke it without hesitation. Then he grabbed Mister Immortal by the hair and smashed his face twice against the hard stone. A skull fracture disabled but wasn’t immediately fatal.
Though they had heard what Captain America said, Sphinx and Princess Python did not act. They were content to merely watch the fighting, and Princess Python gently touched the head of her giant python. Between and a little behind them, Rama-Tut touched each on the shoulder.
“He’s speaking to the two of you.”
Actually Captain America had been speaking to the Sphinx, but Princess Python had a second Ka Stone imbedded in her forehead and possessed the same abilities. She looked Rama-Tut in the eyes and spoke. “Why should we be involved with this tiff between super-heroes?”
“Because an Ultron with near-limitless power is coming, and we will need them to deal with it.”
Sphinx nodded, considering. “Even if we did as Captain America asks, it will not be enough. Distrust and hostility are deep in all their minds. Linking them all will not dispel this.”
“Yes it will,” Rama-Tut said. “Because one is Cosmically Aware.” The future Kang nodded his head in the direction of two fighting men. Genis-Vell was screaming like a madman and blasting at Captain Mar-Vell with powerful bursts of photonic energy.
Princess Python tilted her head, and her Ka-Stone glittered with an inward light. “Yes, he’ll do quite well.”
A beam of light shot out of her Ka Stone and struck Genis-Vell in the temple. He immediately went down and began to convulse. Then beams of light shot out of his skull, striking Mar-Vell and every Avenger in proximity.
“Anath-Na, you’re more skilled than I,” said Princess Python to Sphinx.
He said nothing, but beams of light erupted from the Sphinx’s skull. Soon every man, woman, and thing present were struck, their minds momentarily connected. For the briefest of instants, all had Cosmic Awareness, and thus knew that none were enemies.
Once the beams of light died out, so too did the fighting.
Not all the Avengers had escaped Ultron.
“You will tell me where they are!” Its voice carried in the empty void that had been Earth, reaching the ears of dozens of heroes. They all lay writhing in the giant robot’s hands as pain coursed through them. Yet many found the strength to answer.
“This one will tell you nothing!”
“Hulk smash puny metal man!”
“They’re off figuring out how to break you, like I once did!”
“Please, I don’t know anything! I’m only wearing this for a party!”
“You are going to pay for Wakanda!”
“Fight like a man and I’ll clobber you into scrap!”
“Heh, you’re scared aren’t you? Scared because you know they’ll beat you.”
“Away with you!” Ultron threw its hands out, and the screaming heroes vanished into the nothingness. “They are no threat. Simply life, flesh. And wherever there is flesh, I will destroying. Beginning with the Avengers. Wherever, whenever, they are!”
Power flared around Ultron, making the whiteness around it even brighter for a moment. When this passed, a black line existed in a void. A rift. Ultron stepped sideway, disappearing from the void that had been Earth.
“We all know the situation.”
Captain America was addressing the assembled Avengers and allies in the Limbo citadel of Immortus. Nearly thirty individuals, some with near-limitless power. Captain America hoped that it would be enough.
“We don’t know the circumstances, but Ultron has killed Kang. And in the process, it has managed to acquire the Destiny Force. Wasp, would you please elaborate?”
The veteran heroine nodded and spoke up. “The Destiny Force is specific only to humans of Earth, the result of future evolution. Aliens cannot access it, let alone machines. This means that Ultron must have somehow incorporated human flesh into its systems.”
“To something like Ultron that’s anathema,” Mockingbird said.
But Wasp shook her head. “The Destiny Force first became known when the Supreme Intelligence artificially induced it in Rick Jones. Given that nature of intelligent design, Ultron may have made an exception. Whatever the case, it is now incredibly powerful.”
“I once witnessed an entire planet rendered frozen by the Destiny Force,” Libra said. “The being responsible had sensed a threat from thousands of light years away. Once Ultron has mastered these abilities, it will even be able to find us here in Limbo, outside of time and space.”
“With Ultron’s computer mind, it won’t take long to master the Destiny Force. What we need to do is buy ourselves as much time as we can. When Ultron arrives, we need to be at our best.”
At this point, Immortus tried to speak up. “I may be able to help. There are machines here that can-”
“Warbird.”
Immortus was abruptly cut off, and glares forced him into silence as Warbird took over.
“During the time I was stranded here, I learned to master the machines that allow the manipulation of time outside Limbo. Some of the functions involve masking Limbo, keeping separate all the temporal interactions so that everything that ever happened or will happen here doesn’t occur at once. This creates a continuity in Limbo, allowing for travel to specific points.”
“So we can choose the precise instant when Ultron arrives?” Karnak asked. “That would be a powerful advantage.”
“That Ultron wasn’t already here waiting for us is a good sign,” Warbird said. “But I suspect that against the Destiny Force, the machines will only be useful up to a point.”
“Get to the machines and see what you can do,” Captain America said. “Libra can assist you. Once you have an estimation of time, let everyone know.
“In the meantime,” went on Captain America for everybody, “We are going to be ready. Those who are tired, rest. Any damaged equipment should be repaired. Whatever you need to do to get your head into the coming battle, take care of it. That all for now. Could Wasp, Thor, Iron Man and Yellowjacket please stay behind.”
The four long-time Avengers moved near to Captain America as the others filed out. The Captain America of World War II paused and turned, clearly wishing to remain. But his future self shook his head, and the younger Steve Rogers went on.
Also trying to stay behind was Immortus. “If there is any strategizing to be done I feel I must be a part of it. After all, if it were not for me, Ultron would have-”
“Leave here, villain,” Thor said with a raise of his hammer. “Leave now, lest thou truly want to discuss what thou had done.”
Only Yellowjacket didn’t give Immortus a hostile glare. The ruler of Limbo looked to his ally and nodded. “Very well. Yellowjacket, I look forward to speaking with you later.”
When Immortus had departed, those glares had turned to Yellowjacket. But the man didn’t let on he was uncomfortable, addressing his “teammates” in his usual boisterous way. “So, what’s so important that The Founders have to pow-wow? It can’t be too serious, otherwise Wasp would be flirting us all up.”
“What is Immortus hiding from us?” Captain America asked.
Yellowjacket tilted his head, unintimidated. “If I knew, you would have all found out during that mind-meld trick.”
“You know it wasn’t that specific,” Wasp said. “We all gained a sense of each other, enough for a measure of trust. But in Immortus something was being held back, and I know – know! – that you know what that is.”
“You will tell us,” said Thor, towering over Yellowjacket.
The disgraced Avenger looked the God of Thunder up and down, then shrugged. “Okay, have it your way. The team I’m with, Immortus put us together to fight Kang. We’ve been assisting Ultron this entire time.”
“The missiles at the base.” Behind his helmet, Iron Man was angry. “Quicksilver wasn’t able to deactivate them because of you!”
“Quicksilver would have been dead if it wasn’t for us!” Yellowjacket shot back. “Followed by a whole city. Ultron didn’t intend those missiles for Kang’s ships, you know!”
“What happened with the Human Torch, was that you?” Wasp asked. “Something happened inside him, something that took all of us to New York City. Was that you?”
“Yeah, that was me,” Yellowjacket said without apology. “I stopped Pym from destroy-”
“Don’t you say his name.” Captain America’s voice was ice.
Yellowjacket corrected himself. “A bomb was planted inside Human Torch that would have destroyed Ultron in the process. I went in and tweaked things so that Ultron would be where it needed to be.”
“Aye, to kill Kang and become a robot god,” Thor said.
“That was not supposed to happen!” Yellowjacket said in defense.
“But the deaths were,” Iron Man said. “Every life Ultron took, and for that matter every life Kang took, it’s all on your hands. Would this entire war have started if it weren’t for Immortus?!”
“Everybody here knows what Kang was capable of! If Ultron had been destroyed, Kang would have rolled over the 21st century with nothing to stop him!”
“We would have stopped him,” Captain America said.
Yellowjacket laughed in the Living Legend’s face. “Right, because he hadn’t just whupped your candy asses right before Immortus took you.”
“You vile…” Thor took a step, but Captain America put a hand on his arm.
“We would have found a way. Whatever the odds, we would have stopped Kang, just like we’re going to stop Ultron here. And we are going to do it clean.”
“That is a bullshit statement and you know it,” Yellowjacket said. “With these stakes, you’re going to do whatever it takes. So take your sanctimonious speeches and shove them up your ass. Now, you asked a question, and I answered it, so are we done here?”
Iron Man, Thor and Captain America looked down at Yellowjacket with disgust and hate. This man was not their friend, who had died so bravely while they were in another time period. It was Wasp who spoke however, making a request.
“For the most part, yeah, we’re done.” For the three she asked, “Guys, can I please be alone with my ex-husband here?”
“All right Jan.”
“There are things we need to deal with. Come find me later.”
“Should this go bad, you need only shout. Though thou are surely capable.”
The three left, and when alone with his (future) wife, Yellowjacket spread his arms wide. “You been itching to hug daddy, sweetness?”
The bio-electric sting came out of Wasp’s hands fast against Yellowjacket’s chest. It had grown in strength since Yellowjacket’s time, and his suit wasn’t insulated enough. He fell back against the floor barely able to move, helpless as Wasp stood over him.
“Believe it or not, I don’t completely hate you. When Hank changed I welcomed it, because sometimes I thought he was so weak that it made me sick. Then I realized that keeping you locked away took more strength than I had ever thought possible. And in your own sick way you made me a stronger person, you son of a bitch. Getting up, facing you again after that one slap, facing anybody…that was when I realized that I could be more than some sidekick or token female. I don’t think I could have ever led the Avengers through hell if it weren’t for you.”
“Sure got a…funny way of….saying thank you.”
“The man I loved died today. You died too, helpless to do anything but watch. Live with that.”
Wasp turned and walked away. Yellowjacket was left to recover alone.
Large and immovable, the machines that allowed for control over time were everywhere in Limbo for those that knew to find them. Older than anything in the realm outside time, they were not so much embedded within Immortus’ castle as the castle was constructed around them. Watched by the knowledgeable Libra, himself a former agent of the Time-Masters, Warbird worked at a section of the machinery.
“You could decipher its complex workings faster with my assistance,” Libra said by way of invitation. “All you ever used this equipment for was to return home, and that took you a long time to figure out.”
Warbird didn’t turn from her work as she said, “Thanks, but no. Take this the wrong way all you like, I don’t trust you. When I returned home, it was to a specific point. Nobody knew how long I’d been gone.”
“Are you so certain that was your doing?” Immortus had strode into the room. “Libra, leave us.”
Warbird did turn this time, viewing Libra as he limped away and the approaching Immortus. “You I welcome even less. Leave now, or you’ll find Cap hits like a girl compared to me.”
Chuckling slightly, Immortus rubbed his jaw. “You Avengers are being very high-and-mighty, considering I saved all your lives.”
“We know you only did that to save yourself,” Warbird said. “Although, if Ultron really did kill Kang, shouldn’t you be dead?”
“Kang is dead. Not long ago his timeline was divided, becoming me while remaining himself. I once did something similar with the Human Torch so that it and the Vision could co-exist.”
“Tested it, you mean. Everything you do is for a reason. What was it with me?”
Immortus impressively feigned ignorance. “Whatever do you mean?”
Energy flared in Warbird’s eyes and in her hands. “I mean when you raped, impregnated, brainwashed and abducted me. It took me a long time to realize, we only had Marcus’ word that he existed before I birthed him.”
“Ah, his story about being my child from a human woman I saved, and how after I disappeared he sought you as a means to escape Limbo.” Again, Immortus chuckled. “You Avengers were very gullible to accept such a story at face value. Still, with all you’ve encountered, it could have been true. The rape I’m inclined to challenge. With these machines the act of-”
“You violated my body. That’s rape.”
“Not me,” Immortus said with certainty. “Remember, that Immortus died in the Forever War. Of course, who isn’t to say that isn’t my eventual fate, and that what happens to you – if indeed I am who does it – has yet to come?”
“Even if everything Marcus said was true, you were responsible. Or will be,” Warbird added. “By creating him in the first place, by leaving him with full knowledge of what would happen. That’s the only reason I don’t kill you here and now, Immortus. You don’t so much manipulate things as you consider yourself playing a part, doing what’s supposed to occur in what you believe to be the grand scheme of things. Play the puppeteer all you like, but you’re still a puppet. Worse, you’re a puppet that’s seen how he ends up.”
“Yes, I have seen the end-result of schemes,” Immortus said in admission. “As have you. Had Ms. Marvel never been ripped from your mind, the Brood never could have violated you further. You never would have become Binary, never could have saved the sun during that little war between the Kree and Shi’ar. Now go back to these machines you learned during your last extended stay here and try to keep us all alive as long as you can. And know that if not for me, none of this would be possible.”
With that, Immortus swept about and departed from Warbird’s presence. Seething with her own anger, but also a sense of closure over the confrontation, Warbird turned back to her work.
“Yeah, none of this would be possible,” Warbird said to herself. “Not without me, or any of the Avengers.”
Nothingness stared back at Captain America as he stared back at it, on one of the castle’s parapets. He’d just left his younger self, left a discussion filled with pain and revelations and hope. He imagined others around the castle were talking, thought of Hawkeye and Mockingbird with a smile. Stories playing out around him, as the big epic finale was waiting to appear.
“Captain America. I fear we have a problem.”
The Kree warrior Captain Mar-Vell walked onto the parapet, and Captain America turned his head to see him. It was unsettling. The last time Captain America had seen this man, he’d died of cancer, wasted away into a skeleton with skin. But the Captain Mar-Vell before him now was from years before, in the prime of his life.
“Genis?”
Mar-Vell nodded. “We all had a glimpse into his mind. What happened to him was terrible, and what he did worse still. If this is what Cosmic Awareness does, my eventual death may be for the best.”
“I understand there were other factors that drove Genis over the edge. Meeting you may be the first step to redeeming him. It has to. His Cosmic Awareness is vital to the plan.”
“There has to be another way. Karnak can sense weakness. Perhaps Sphinx and Princess Python can transfer the Awareness to me.”
“Karnak is good, but his senses are still mortal. I already asked Sphinx, and he said it’s beyond his and Princess Python’s skills. Just that brief contact with Genis nearly overwhelmed them. Mar-Vell, I’d done my best to be prepared for the worst, but I still hope for the best. Genis was a hero once and I believe he can be one again. In this crisis, he will make us all proud.”
But the doubt was clear on Mar-Vell’s face. “I wish that I could share your hope, Captain. Maybe if Rick was here…”
Captain America put a hand on a hero’s shoulder. “Make no mistake, Captain, Rick will be there. And that may make all the difference.”
They stood assembled at the edge of time, waiting for their greatest foe to emerge. In the center was Captain America, chairperson of the Avengers with his shield at his side. Hovering above and at either side of him were Thor and Iron Man, hammer spinning and bootjets pulsing. Floating in a loose semi-circle around Thor were Binary, Espirita, Genis-Vell and Captain Mar-Vell. Around Iron Man were Wasp, Darkhawk, Stingray and Warbird.
Standing at Captain America’s right hand was Hawkeye, his wife Mockingbird next to her. Continuing along that line were Conan, Sphinx, Moon Knight, Red Sonja, and Princess Python. At Captain America’s left were Quicksilver, Mister Immortal, Black Knight, Arcana, Karnak, Sir Halifax and the Captain America of World War II.
Notably absent was Yellowjacket, while Genis-Vell looked that he clearly wanted to be elsewhere. Only the grip of Mar-Vell’s hand at his wrist kept the Kree/Eternal offspring in place.
Observing from inside the castle were Immortus, his younger self Rama-Tut and the loyal Libra.
“I should be at their side,” said Rama-Tut with bitterness. “Fighting against this…thing that killed me.”
“That puts me at risk,” said Immortus. “And if I wanted that, I would be down there myself. No, we had our chance at Ultron, and Kang died. Better to trust in the Avengers.”
Limbo was an infinite realm with no boundaries, yet the eyes of the Avengers processed a horizon, and they saw that edge crackling with arriving power.
“Stand ready!” Captain America called out. His shield was raised, and along the line those with weapons brought them to bear.
The energy fissured, and from that rip in time emerged Ultron. The robot appeared large from a distance, and grew more massive as it advanced on the gathered heroes. Its face was hatred, burning with radioactive flames, and its adamantium shell glowed with the dark dots of the Destiny Force.
“Avengers! You have nowhere else to run! Nowhere else to hide! Here, you will die!”
“Hold your ground!” Captain America said for most of those around him. For Hawkeye, he said simply, “Hawkeye, do it.”
Hawkeye raised his bow, aiming at a high angle to account for distance. His eye ran along the length of the arrow, making sure that its attachment was secure. Then he let fly, and the arrow shot into the void toward Ultron.
“Hahahahaha!” The robot’s face always seemed to be laughing. “I am power incarnate, and you think to strike me with an arrow! It will bounce harmlessly off my…what is this?”
In mid-flight the arrow had begun to dip, suddenly much heavier. It was the attachment. He was growing rapidly, revealed to be Yellowjacket. The man that claimed to have killed Hank Pym leapt off the arrow at the machine who had recently watched Hank Pym die, now at roughly the same size.
Brief confusion in Ultron’s eyes became anger. “You…you’re dead!”
“Me? I got better!” Yellowjacket slugged Ultron with an electrically charged fist. The combination of impact and sting staggered the robot. “It looks like someone never read his bible. I blame the parents.”
In its confused anger, the Destiny Force was forgotten and Ultron struck physically. Adamantium hands grabbed human limbs, hoping to rip the man apart. But skin nearly a foot thick was harder to tear, bones several feet thick harder to break. Yellowjacket was able to successfully grapple with Ultron, for the brief moment at least.
“You will die again and again!” Radioactive fire prepared to exit Ultron’s maw. “However many times it takes!”
A blast of death spewed at Yellowjacket. He shrank rapidly, avoiding the spray and Ultron’s grasp. At that smaller size the wings on his shoulders carried Yellowjacket aloft. As he flew from Ultron, he saw the two flying teams approach.
“Thy terror shall come to an end!” Thor yelled out. Above his head the hammer Mjolnir was spinning, about to be thrown.
“Wait!” Iron Man raised a hand to stop everyone while his second hand was pointing. “We have company!”
“You try to fool me with stupid tricks!” Ultron reached for the flying teams with hands that threatened to encompass them all. Then suddenly, Ultron froze, its limbs locked by an unknown force. “No! What is this?”
“Me.” An unearthly Vision appeared before Ultron’s face, a mirror image that was transparent because it was stretched to Ultron’s size. “I will not allow you to do more harm because of my actions!”
“You cannot stop me!” Ultron screamed, and power cascaded off it. Energy went through the ghostly Vision harmlessly, but the flying Avengers scrambled to avoid the deadly beams. Ultron was now visibly shaking, roaring in anger and pain. “I feel what you are doing traitor! I will not be compressed!”
“Yes, you will!” Iron Man said as his genius mind realized what could be done. “Yellowjacket, funnel away the excess mass!”
“Fine, but only because I’m in a happy mood!” A gun grew out of Yellowjacket’s belt and he fired it at Ultron, bombarding it with Pym Particles.
“No! No!” Despite Ultron’s protests, it shrank before the Avengers eyes. And as it shrank, so too did Vison’s density increased and it became more visible. Soon Vision was completely visible, and Ultron appeared to have gone entirely.
“Oh my god, we actually did it!” Darkhawk pumped a fist. “We beat Ultron!”
“What ‘we’?” Binary asked. “And shut up before you jinx it!”
“Aahh!” The gun exploded in Yellowjacket’s hand. “Adamantium is too dense. I couldn’t get all of his mass!”
“I still feel it inside of me.” Vision said. Its white surface was swiftly becoming marred by cracks.
“But at least I have done a part. Farewell.”
The shell that was Vision shattered, and Ultron was free!
“Now you will all die!” Dots of Destiny Force flew from Ultron’s fingers.
Godlike power was met by a god’s power, as Thor deflected the Destiny Force with Mjolnir. “I say thee nay!” His hammer smashed against Ultron’s head, with the force of all Thor’s strength behind it. At impact the powers of Asgard and Destiny exploded outward, washing over everyone nearby.
Only Binary, Warbird and Iron Man were less than disoriented by the conflicting energies.
“Sweep around and wait until they’re separate!” Iron Man said to them. Then he fired repulsors, his computer targeting systems ensuring that Thor wouldn’t be struck by accident. “And as everybody recovers have them do the same.”
“Iron Man’s making this his game without thinking.” Hawkeye had notched a new arrow, one of his rarest. “We need to get in there Cap. Stick to the plan.”
“No. Ultron can’t be overwhelmed by numbers. We get in each other’s way we’re dead.” To everybody Captain America said. “Fall back to your assigned locations. If Ultron gets through, do what you can.”
If Ultron go through, everybody was dead, but Captain America wasn’t going to tell them that. Only a few were vital to victory; the rest either helped with interference or got in the way.
“Hawkeye, let’s go!”
The two men jumped into the void of Limbo. Sphinx fulfilled his assigned task, using the power of his Ka Stone to keep the two aloft. Then three, to the fortune of WWII Captain America.
“I told you-” Captain America started to say.
“Two shields are better than one. And you’d know better than to think I’d leave me on the field of battle! Forward!” WWII Captain America rushed past his future self and Hawkeye.
“That was your catchphrase before joining the Avengers?” Hawkeye asked.
“In war there’s only orders.”
As it turned out, the three Avengers didn’t have to go far. Ultron had hurled Thor aside and flew fast for the castle. Wasp appeared in front of it and fired a sting blast from both hands. Ultron was unfazed and kept going, would have crashed through Wasp if Binary and Iron Man hadn’t crashed into it first.
“Hold him!” Iron Man said as though Binary had to be told. Their arms were wrapped around Ultron, desperately trying to keep it from going further. Black dots of power were exploding around them as Ultron screamed with frustration.
“Aaaahhh!” His armor battered and his body wracked with pain, Iron Man fell away. Binary kept holding on, not letting go even when she felt her skin burning. A final burst of power forced her back, even forced the power out of her. Left powerless, Binary floated, unconscious or perhaps dead, in the void.
“Attack!” Thor hurled his hammer at Ultron’s back. All around him, Avengers fired with their respective energies. Warbird’s plasma, Espirita’s flames, Stingray’s electricity and Darkhawk’s darkforce blasts. Only Genis-Vell and Captain Mar-Vell weren’t attacking, as the former was flying back toward the castle while the latter was giving chase.
“No! I can see it!” Genis-Vell said in near-hysteria as his dead father tackled him. “It can’t be stopped. We’re all dead! As dead as you!”
“I don’t accept that!” Dead father and insane son passed Hawkeye and the Captain Americas. They crashed onto the balcony of the castle. “They tell me that cancer takes my life; that I die in bed! After a lifetime of fighting I die in peace, surrounded by friends and loved ones! It is among the best of deaths, and I will accept nothing else!”
Genis-Vell was trying to rise, to run further. Captain Mar-Vell grabbed his son’s shoulder, spun him around, and punched him in the face.
Standing over Genis-Vell, Captain Mar-Vell said to his son, “You have Cosmic Awareness; can see everything going on around you in the minutest detail. So you know that you would have to kill me if you want to run from this fight.
Photonic energy burst from Genis-Vell’s Nega Bands to Captain Mar-Vell’s chest. “Then I will!”
The two battled mere feet away from the impassive Sphinx, who was unwilling to intercede.
“Dammit! Fall back!” At Captain America’s command, his younger self and Hawkeye did an about-face. As he was about to land on the balcony, Captain America surged forward and kicked Genis-Vell in the face. “I’ve wanted to do that ever since I heard about what you did to Rick, you entitled little bastard!”
Far away, Ultron was getting closer. Espirita got in its way and was bathed in radioactive fire as a consequence. She was unfazed, but flew aside as it barreled past. Darkhawk was now floating in the void as well, torn in half. Thor was creating lightning that came from everywhere in Limbo, but each bolt dissipated before reaching Ultron.
Lying face-up on the ground, Genis-Vell was barely coherent. “Rick…Rick Jones. Ha ha. Rick Jones is here. Wherever I go, the kid is always here!”
“What?” Captain America grabbed Genis-Vell by the head and forced him up. “What did you say? Where is Rick?”
“There.” Genis-Vell pointed. “He’s right there.”
He was pointing straight at Ultron.
“That’s it.” Hawkeye raised his bow, ready to aim. “But he’ll need to be more specific, Cap.”
“If here’s here, then get rid of him,” Captain Mar-Vell said to Genis. “Hit him with a laser, right now.”
Captain America let go and stepped back. Unhindered, Genis-Vell raised an arm and fired a fine laser beam. It struck Ultron, to no effect.
“Did you get it?” Captain America asked.
“Yeah.” Hawkeye pulled back on the bow. “I got-whoa!”
Bursts of power erupted from Ultron, burning a path to Hawkeye. Before they could strike, WWII Captain America was there, taking the blasts with his shield.
“Then take the shot!” he said to Hawkeye.
Without another word, Hawkeye raised his bow and fired. The vibranium-tipped arrow struck home, scrapping against Ultron’s adamantium shell in the exact spot Genis-Vell hit. Metal broke away, and a scrap of flesh was exposed.
“That’s Rick Jones’ genetic material, containing potential for the Destiny Force” Captain America said. “Kang had stored it, and Ultron took it. We need to separate it from Ultron and-”
“On it.” Captain Mar-Vell flew up at Ultron. All the other flyers were either incapacitated or too far any. At any rate, Captain Mar-Vell thought to himself, none of them could have accomplished what he was about to attempt.
“You I also recognize as dead!” Moving impossibly fast, Ultron grabbed Captain Mar-Vell by the throat. The Destiny Force coursed through it and into the Kree hero. “You are all insects! Begging to be squashed again and again!”
“Not today.” Captain Mar-Vell stared without fear into the face of hatred. “I only die once. It won’t be today.”
Captain Mar-Vell slapped a hand against Ultron, on the spot of exposed flesh. Once, he’d been joined with Rick Jones on a molecular level. At contact, a reaction occurred, as the Nega Bands automatically triggered a dimensional shift. Rick Jones, or rather that piece of Rick Jones, disappeared into the Negative Zone. Ultron remained where it was, only now it was devoid of the Destiny Force.
“No!” Electricity, radiation, laser and encephalo beams bombarded Captain Mar-Vell. Ultron had been denied its power, but it would not be denied a kill. Captain Mar-Vell convulsed, but he refused to scream and that seemed to enrage Ultron all the more.
The large hands of a Norse God found Ultron’s head. “Machine, thy end has come!” With a mighty roar, Thor summoned the lightning into him. Power drained out of Ultron, and the attack on Captain Mar-Vell ceased. When Thor hurled the weakened Ultron aside, the Kree hero floated freely in the void.
“Get all wounded to safety!” Captain America yelled out. Very recently he’d seen the awesome power of Thor unleashed, and somehow he knew the God of Thunder had held back even then.
“More are injured than active.” Sphinx’s Ka Stone was glowing as he spoke. Lines of attractive force reached out for the incapacitated Avengers. All but Captain Mar-Vell were struck. Warbird had reached him first. She flew him back to the castle with all the others that Sphinx had collected.
With no lesser beings within a great distance, Thor gripped the head of Ultron and spat into its hateful face. “You desired power, machine? Power enough to challenge the gods themselves?”
At that moment devoid of power, Ultron could only stare blankly. Deep inside, circuits were still intact, programming still present. Only the slightest flicker of energy was required for Ultron’s hate to live again. Somehow, this was communicated to the God of Thunder.
“Then power you shall have!”
Mjolnir merely served as a focus. The power of Thor was inside him; the power to call storms and shake the heavens. Thor unleashed everything in that instant, lightning and winds so powerful they could destroy a continent. Indeed, they once had. Against such an unbridled force, even Ultron was not indestructible. Circuits melted, programming was erased, and adamantium shattered.
It was over. Ultron was gone. The Avengers had won.
Looking down at the dying Captain Mar-Vell, Captain America didn’t feel like celebrating. Arcana’s magic had been ineffective in healing his wounds, as were Sphinx’s and Princess Python’s Ka Stones. All the Avengers were gathered around the hero, helpless as his life slipped away by the second. Warbird was kneeling next to Captain Mar-Vell, holding the hand of the man she once thought she’d loved. Even Genis-Vell had been knocked out of his fugue state, standing with a sort of reverence over his father.
“It’s done Immortus,” Mockingbird said. She looked up at the ruler of Limbo. “Mar-Vell completed his task. Send him back, as though none of this ever happened to him!”
But Immortus, in a rare admission of weakness, shook his head. “While I could send him back, Captain Mar-Vell’s wounds are beyond my ability to reverse. I suspect this is due to the Destiny Force.”
“No.” Captain America shook his head, unwilling to accept it. “Captain Mar-Vell can’t die now. He has to merge with Rick Jones…battle Thanos…Nitro.”
“He has to have me,” said Genis-Vell. The disturbed young man was looking down at his wrists. “If he’s dead I don’t exist. I barely exist now.” Genis-Vell looked up and locked eyes with Immortus. “Should I die to live?”
“You’ve suffered the price before,” said Immortus. “As has he. That would make you both uniquely suited to the arrangement. All you need to do is concentrate on the Nega Bands and touch.”
“What?” Warbird was looking up. “What is he talking about?”
Genis-Vell was already moving forward, his hand reached to touch Captain Mar-Vell’s head.
Iron Man spoke up in protest. “Genis, you don’t have to do this. There must be-”
“There isn’t.” Genis-Vell’s voice was calm, free of madness. “The things I’ve done…he deserves what I threw away.” When Genis-Vell made contact with Captain Mar-Vell, the Nega Bands they wore flared, encompassing all present in their white light.
When the light passed, stone and mortar became steel and concrete. Captain America whirled around, taking in his full surroundings. He and most of the Avengers were now in New York, in what looked to be the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic battle. They were on a ripped up city street, treated to a full view of the devastation. Widespread fires, heavily damaged buildings and streets, wrecked vehicles, and particularly the screams. Captain America could see some of them, the injured and the rescue workers, and some that appeared to just be curious bystanders.
“Hank!”
The new scream was Wasp’s. She had caught sight of the body on the street, lying in the same spot he’d been when the Avengers were snatched. Hank Pym looked no different from before, pierced by a blade through the chest, blood on his body and underneath in a large pool. While Wasp had cleaned up from before, she became covered in blood again when she grabbed her ex-husband’s body and pulled it tight.
“A part of me hoped this would be different,” Warbird said to Captain America. “One of those fluxes that sometimes happens when we adventure through time.”
“Where did you guys go?” asked Hawkeye, who was running up the street.
It had been immediately noted that only Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and those Avengers taken from the present had returned. Those time-lost Avengers already in Limbo, and Hawkeye, had all been taken from different eras and were likely returned to such, with one exception. It was just as well, otherwise there would have been two Hawkeyes.
Hawkeye stopped in front of Captain America and Iron Man. “Ultron, right? Stupid question, I know.” A short distance behind Hawkeye, Spider-Woman and Doctor Druid could be seen, assisting in rescue/recovery. “Right after you guys left – without me, I might add – Kang’s forces disappeared too.”
“Kang’s dead,” Iron Man said. “Ultron was destroyed. You don’t re-?”
“The update can wait,” said Captain America. “Our job isn’t done. This mess needs to be cleaned up.” He pointed toward the damaged buildings. “Flyers spread out and report.”
“I will do what I can to help as well!” The man who spoke leapt into the air, and much to his surprise found that he could fly again. “Oh! This must be a side-effect. The better for me to assist!”
None of the Avengers present gave a response, most only looking up at the flying alien with the mixture awesome surprise and regret. Warbird was looking down at the ground, unable to look at the man she’d mourned nor at the woman mourning. Hawkeye, however, asked another question.
“What the--? That’s Captain Marvel. The Mar-Vell.” He looked back over at Captain America. “Isn’t he dead?”
Captain America looked Hawkeye – this Hawkeye – in the eye. “Not yet. Let’s go help.”
At his castle in Limbo, Immortus opened the door to the room he never visited. Accompanying him was Yellow Jacket, who broke the silence with a snap of bubble gum. Immortus gave the man an annoyed look as he crossed the threshold into the darkened room.
“I only tolerate your disrespect because I won’t have to suffer it for much longer. The deeds have been done. Soon you will be back where you belong.”
“Yeah, and all the better for it too, provided you upheld your end.” Yellowjacket made another bubble and it snapped loudly.
“Heh, all of your time here and you still know so little.” Immortus chuckled. “My end has always been upheld. This always happened, from your fate to mine.”
Yellowjacket nodded and gave a shrug. “Well, I guess you knew from your Rama-Tut days how you’d always end up. Split in two, one a dead conqueror and the other a lord of time.”
“Not a lord. The Lord of Time.” Immortus looked down at only object in the room, placed on a pedestal. "And like all lords, I will need to conquer.”
The helmet of Kang looked back at him.
AN END...