Exiles-Desperation

Darkness… it was all Craig Hollis had known for forty-seven million hours. That was how long it had been since the last visible star had burned out. Loneliness was all he'd known since Xrtal and Phoenix had died fifty-eight million hours ago, the last two beings left in the universe besides himself. And now, here he was, waiting for it all to end.

That was why he was so shocked to find himself, not on the small asteroid he'd named "Milwaukee", but in a bright desert. "WHERE AM I?" he demanded, louder than he'd intended.

"Sorry for the disorientation," said a gentle voice. Craig rounded on the approaching being.

Her skin was a bright pink, which to him signaled Xarthanoid, but she had green eyes, not blue ones. And she was humanoid. The last humanoids had died with Skrullos. "Who… what are you?" He demanded, quickly focusing his mind, and evaporating all thought inside it just as the Nadarians had taught him.

"My name is Blink," She said gently. "I know you are disoriented. I know you are confused. But I will explain everything." She made some gesturing and two chairs rose out of the sand. "You have been unhinged in time."

"Un-what in what? How do you know English… how are you alive?"

"This may be difficult to understand Mr. Hollis, but you are no longer in your universe," She said gently. "You are in fact, in a multi-dimensional observatory called the Panoptichron that is positioned outside of space and time."

Craig took a few moments, reading her. She was telling the truth. "Fine," He said. "If I'm not in my universe, that still doesn't explain where you came from."

"I'm from another universe," She answered as she sat. She was young, perhaps her early twenties. "Your universe is fairly unique," she said. "None of the others I've seen are so advanced in the aging process."

"You mean there are others that still thrive?" Craig asked incredulously as he himself sat.

"Yes, most of them. But they won't for long." She sighed. She was obviously coming to the heavy business. "That is why I am here, and why I have wanted to speak with you. There is a problem with the omniverse. There is a species, called the Time Breakers. They were the first we know of to discover the Panoptichron."

"They built it?" Craig asked.

"No, they found it. They used it to run experiments, but that was a mistake. Their experiments caused a breakdown in the omniverse, a slow one. So they used reality forecasting technology, and assembled teams of super-humans to go in and repair the timelines that their experiments damaged. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, some jerks messed with science they didn't understand and forced others to fix it."

"In a nut shell," Blink agreed.

"It caused the death of more planets than I care to recall," Hollis said sighing, recalling his long life.

"Well the problem was exacerbated by two entities. One was named Hyperion, he was a malevolent version of a being who is usually a hero. They put him on a team, not realize his lust for power. When they thought he died, he broke free of their entombment casing, and took over. The Time Breakers, though very smart by most standards, are far from powerful. So he was able to command them to torment the surviving team, my team called the 'Exiles'."

"I've known a few assholes like that," Craig grumbled. "But I did know a Hyperion. He was a good man, a true hero. His planet loved him."

"As I said, the evil in this Hyperion was an anomaly I'm sure. In any case, we were able to send him back where he came from, an empty Earth. After that we meant to get back to fixing the timelines, but we accidentally let loose another evil on the Omniverse. Proteus."

"I recall speaking with Wolverine about Proteus," Craig said, reaching very far back in his memory.

"Well, this one used his reality warping powers, and our computers to wreak havoc on the omniverse. The effect the two combined malevolent beings had on the Omniverse is an exponential decay in reality."

"That's horrible, but your team… is it still together?"

She nodded. "Yes, but… we've had casualties…" a tear slid from her eye.

"A lover?" he asked. "your most beloved?" his eyes seemed especially old, though his body was frozen at 21.

She nodded. "My… my first."

"my condolences," He said. "I would tell you of my pains, but each loss is fresh. It doesn't get easier, and you will never love another as you loved him. But, if you allow yourself to heal… you will love again. And I'm sure he, she, rau, or it would want you to."

She didn't even notice his extra pronouns. He was the first to say something to her that actually made her feel better. She should have known this guy would be able to understand. Having out lived everyone he'd ever known. "Thank you. But back to business. The reason I've called you sit that your universe no longer has need of heroes. And it will not end for another five-hundred thousand years."

"Time enough to help with your cause?" he said finally realize why he was brought here.

"Only if you wish. We can return you the moment you ask," she said with a nod.

"Far be it form be to sentence the omniverse to death but… just me?"

"No, no," she said. "Hundreds through out the omniverse are being asked to join. Most of them are being approached in their native reality." She looked down as she stood. "We need the reinforcements. A six member team can no longer keep up with the decay."

"Multiple teams working to sew the seams at both ends, hoping to meet in the middle?" he asked.

"And each team according to the needs of the reality," She added. "No need sending in someone like the Juggernaut if all we need do is buy a Danish."

"Buy a danish?" he asked with a laugh.

"I kid you not," she said, gesturing to a doorway that opened in front of them. "One of our missions, all we did was buy a Danish."

"Now that had to be an odd mission," Craig Hollis, also known as Mr. Immortal commented as he moved toward the main portion of the Panoptichron.

'Poor bastard,' Captain America thought. "Give it up Magneto. We've removed all metallic items from within a hundred miles!"

"No!" The Master of Magnetism roared. "I will not be defeated by one of YOU! Humans are meant to rule this planet, Not you Damn Dirty Apes!"

It didn't take long. They didn't even really need Captain America on this. Mostly Hawkeye and Mockingbird dealt blows to Magneto. Had Captain America or Iron Fists laid a hand on him… it would have been messy, and murder. Most wouldn't have objected, but Captain America would have. Magneto may have been a human terrorist, but he was still an intelligent creature.

Steve Rodgers, Captain America, made it to the top of Avengers Tower, where he and the rest of the New Avengers were head quartered. They were good friends. Spider-Ape was hilarious, if you got him started on jokes. Iron-Ape always knew when you needed a good fermented fruit. Iron Fists was new to the Avengers level work. He was one of the richest apes in the world, far behind Tony, but still pretty damn rich. The only one he had a problem with was Wolverine. A human. Wolverine had an enhanced healing factor and adamantium bonded to his bones, which included a set of claws in his arms. He was very cocky for a human. Most humans were extremely weak compared to Apes. They usually made up for it though with some sort of meta-talent. Some had useless meta-talents, like one man Steve had had to save, who was simply hairless and had a human face. Others, like Cyclopes, could punch a hole in a mountain with a force beam that came from his eyes.

Steve retired to his room where he was surprised not to be alone. "Hello," said a pale human.

"Human… what are you doing here?" Steve gripped his shield tightly with his left foot. Not his primary throwing hand, but when push came to shove, he could sling it with any of his four hands.

"Human?" asked the bizarrely pale human. He scratched his bald head. He wasn't just bald, but he had no nose. The truth was he looked like was a cartoon character. A simple crude drawing of what a human looked like. "Well… never been called that when I was looking like this, but then again, Captain America is a gorilla, so there you go."

"Of course I'm a gorilla!" Steve protested. "Did you expect me to be a yeti? Or a Sasquatch? Or are you one of those nuts who think I'm just a human trying to pass as an Ape?"

"No disrespect, meant," said the pale human. "I'm usually called a mutant. But in your reality, all life is still ape-like."

"Are you saying there are worlds where humans run the show?" asked Steve incredulously."

"Yup," said the pasty human. "In fact, most are that way."

"Now your going to tell me the Fantastic Four and the Red Ghosts Super Humans are supposed to be friends."

"Listen," said the white human. "I'll cut to the chase. "I'm from another reality. My name is Morph… well Kevin, but I prefer Morph. You have just locked away the last remaining meta criminal on this planet haven't you?" he asked.

"Well… yes."

"I would like you to join my friends in an even greater mission than you have ever taken on before."

Steve leaned forward. "Do we need to save my reality?"

Morph shook his head. "If ONLY it were that easy." And then he began his story.

In the brightly lit halls of the Panoptichron, Craig Hollis knelt before the wall of the fallen. "May your mistakes be remembered, your faults forgotten, and your great deeds cherished," he whispered in Grackle. It was a prayer he'd picked up through the years.

"That was nice," Blink said, touching her hand to one tomb in particular.

"Just something," he said, light blush on his cheek. A woman in what appeared to be a purple bathing suit and a white lab coat rushed by. "Is that the immortal guy?" she asked Blink.

"Yeah," Blink turned to Craig. "Mr. Hollis, this is Dr. Heather Hudson, Heather, this is Mr. Craig Hollis."

"Pleasure to meet you," Heather said, looking at her watch.

"I knew a Heather Hudson once," Craig mentioned. "A long time ago. She immigrated a few miles south and joined my Great Lakes Champions. She was white and had a super-suit."

"I was Sasquatch," Heather explained. "Was, now I'm mission control. I have to supervise Morph's return from that Ape-World," she said. "New quarters are that way," Dr. Hudson said, pointing down the hallway. "After that, you and Miguel are dropping into that Utopia world."

They jostled along in the direction that Heather had pointed. There were many others, mostly humanoids that the Exiles had already recruited. They finally made it to a room marked "C. Hollis/ Mr. Immortal".

She took him in. "There's a shower attached," she showed him, opening a door. "And the Shower and bathroom you share with your neighbor, who I think is arriving soon. Get this, a Gorilla Captain America."

"Huh," Craig grunted. "Thank you Blink," he said.

"Call me Clarice," She said.

"Hello Clarice," Craig said in a mildly creepy tone.

"Hey," She smiled, "Leave the bad impressions to Morph."

"Some one call me?" asked a pale mutant and omega-level shape-shifter named Morph.

"Hey, Morph," Blink greeted her friend. "Meet Craig Hollis."

"Ah, the Great Lakes Avenger," Morph beamed brightly.

"Champion," Craig corrected. "We were the Great Lakes Champions."

"Well, please meet an amazing ape, Steve Rodgers," Morph gestured to the side of the bathroom door he'd appeared in. and a gorilla in a Captain America costume stepped in.

"The facilities will require a little retooling," the gorilla commented graciously. "everything is designed for a human. There's hardly room for me in the hallways."

"We'll do what we can," Blink apologetically. "We've been rushed, we had to get them to add the barracks here, so…"

"It isn't a problem in the short term," Steve said. This woman was obviously in charge, and a good leader at that. "I just appreciate your understanding, and want you to know that I am ready to do what ever it takes to rectify the situation."

"Well, you new Hinges," Blink said, using a word that had freshly been adopted into her lexicon, "We'll start in about ten hours, time for you to get some orientation, and sleep."

Two hours later, Blink showed up on a new world. The streets and buildings were clean. The skies were clear of pollution; there was nary a drop of garbage in the oceans. The last garbage dump was closed down two years ago. This world was unique among most. It was perfect. It was at peace. And Blink and Miguel, the Spider-Man from Earth 2099, arrived in front of what the natives of this earth called "Hero's Hall".

Their arrival was not unnoticed either. The one hundred plus free surviving meta-humans rushed from the tower to face what they thought was an attack.

"Who are you two?" demanded Captain America.

"And no lies," Growled Cyclops.

"My name is Clarice Ferguson," Blink began. "And this is Miguel O'Hara."

Spider-Man bowed.

"We need help from some of you," she continued.

"Help with what?" Vision asked.

Blink and Spider-Man were surrounded, but they weren't afraid. She could get them out of there in a heartbeat. She told them their story. She took a breath and looked at them, ready to see what their response would be. "You are warriors," she said. "In a world where there may never be another war."

"May," Captain America said. "We can't just abandon our world because you think there is a greater cause."

"Saving not just our planet or universe, but millions of realities isn't a good enough cause for you Rodgers?" said Cyclops sarcastically.

"No one wants to force you to come," Blink clarified. "We are asking. In fact you are right, it would be best if a large team did stay here.

An hour later the volunteers were Cyclops, Beast, Super-Skrull, Forge, Cypher.

After Blink got Cyclops, Beast, and Super-Skrull squared away. She then took Forge and Cypher, and introduced them to Dr. Hudson. They took an immediate liking to learning about the intricacies of the Panoptichron. They even managed to tolerate the Time-Breakers better than all others before them.