X-Men Termination: Part XXI
We are all in the lobby, waiting for a ride to the Kree home-world. Catherine is a little nervous about taking Savannah with us, but I think she will enjoy a trip across the universe. Besides, she is going to love Lockjaw. I wonder what is taking so long.
"What are we waiting for again?" asks Sarah.
"A giant dog that can teleport entire armies across the universe".
"Seriously? We are standing in the middle of a lobby, totally exposed, waiting for a giant dog?" While she is thinking of a clever sarcastic remark, Lockjaw teleports into the lobby.
"Woof".
"About time! It's good to see you old friend".
"Woof".
"I don't believe it".
"Hey, Savannah! Want to ride the big dog?"
"Can I?"
"Sure, Lockjaw lets Luna ride him all of the time. It won't be a problem, right Lockjaw?"
"Woof".
"Can I, mommy? Please?" Catherine looks straight at me, and I mouth the words "trust me".
"If Joshua says it's alright, then I trust him". I lift a very excited six year old and place her on a very large dog. Lockjaw is actually taller than I am, so I need to use Mr. Fantastic's powers to place Savannah on his back.
"Ok. Now if everyone would gather around Lockjaw, we can be on our way. Next stop; the Kree Empire".
"Um, quick question: why are we going to the Kree Empire, wherever that is?" I was afraid that John would ask that. He will not like the answer.
"It's on the other side of the Universe. You'll know why we have to go when we get there".
"You didn't answer my question".
"Have I ever given you a reason to not trust me?"
"Well, you've saved our lives on many occasions".
"I'm asking you to trust me. Come on, General, have a little faith".
"Well, I've always wanted to travel through space".
"Good. All aboard the Inhuman Express". We all gather around Lockjaw and he teleports us directly to Hala. I hope Maximus has the damn Sentry ready. The others will not be pleased when they learn that I am planning to use one robotic super-weapon to destroy another. "Thank you, Lockjaw".
"Woof".
"You brought some friends. Good. I'm always looking for an audience to show off for". Ah, Maximus; as brilliant and arrogant as ever.
"Hail Maximus! Brother of Black Bolt. Inventor of super-weapons for the Inhumans. Destroyer of the Shi'Ar". Maximus takes a bow.
"Please, you give me too little credit".
"Is it ready?"
"Is what ready? Who is this? Why did we travel across the whole damn universe to meet this guy?" Wow. John's never been this inquisitive before.
"Don't yell at me when you find out".
"What does that mean?"
"Is it ready?"
"Oh, it's ready. I just finished making a few, last minute adjustments to Blackagar".
"You named him after your brother?"
"I named him in honour of my brother. Blackagar, come meet our new friends". The Chorus Sentry steps out of the shadows. It is a lot bigger than I had expected. "He's big, he's powerful, and he's completely undetectable by any Terran detection system".
"He's a giant robot! Are you out of your mind?" Why didn't I ask Sarah to not yell at me? As if she would have listened.
"This giant robot happens to be the most powerful weapon in the entire Kree Empire. A squad of these guys can obliterate an entire Shi'Ar battle-group".
"I have no idea what that means".
"Before the Kree / Shi'Ar war, the Shi'Ar Empire had the largest and most powerful fleet in the known universe".
"And after the war?"
"The Shi'Ar no longer have a fleet. If a single squadron of these guys can destroy 65 of the most heavily shielded and heavily armoured ships in the universe, one of them should have no problem destroying the Hellicarrier". They look as though they agree with me. Not only could this plan work, but it could work without having to fight the others as well as SkyNet.
"So, what's the plan? We just sit back and let Blackagar do our fighting for us? Because I remember another robot that was supposed to do man's fighting for it". Note to self, do not bring Sarah on any future expeditions.
"No, Sarah. I am going to attack the Hellicarrier head on and create a diversion. Blackagar over here will attack from the rear and destroy the Hellicarrier. All that the rest of you have to do is sit back and watch the fireworks".
"Alone? You're going to attack a flying aircraft carrier alone?" Catherine actually seems concerned. I have never been this happy.
"I'll be fine. I'll have Blackagar with me".
"You're relying on a robot to watch your back".
"Sweetheart, you're a robot".
"Ironic, isn't it". We both start to laugh. Then Wade ruins the moment by throwing his arms around us.
"How sweet. If only there weren't a flying ship full of genocidal robots planning to kill us all at any moment. Could we get a move on, please?"
"Great timing, Wade. Remind me to rip your heart out later and put it in a blender".
"Great thing to say in front of a child, Mirror".
"Shut it, Maximus. Blackagar, get over here. Lockjaw, home please".
"Woof" He teleports us back to the lobby, where Weasel is currently cowering behind the front desk.
"Hey, you're back. I never doubted it. Where did you go?"
"Hala. We left our back-up on the moon. Funny story, I temporarily kicked Wade out of our air bubble and watched his head explode. Of course, it reformed itself. But it was still amusing to watch".
"Yeah, that sounds hysterical. Oh, man. We are three twisted individuals".
"That's what happens when you hang around him for too long".
"Sure, blame the guy whose head you blew up".
"Wade, you used to shoot yourself in the head when you were bored".
"Well, yeah. But I'm me".
"Don't remind me. Ok, Savannah dear, time to get off the big dog".
"Do I have to?"
"Sorry, sweetie. But I'm afraid you can't keep Lockjaw". I extend my arms and lift her off of his back.
"By, Lockjaw. Be a good dog".
"Woof". Lockjaw starts to lick her face and she starts giggling. It's so cute. Maybe I'll get her a dog, if I survive this crazy plan. I can't believe I came up with this. This is like something Wade would come up with.
"Hey, Lockjaw. Think you can teleport me one last time".
"Woof".
"Good boy. Let's go". We teleport to the Australian coast, and I can spot the Hellicarrier just off shore. "Get to the moon and tell Blackagar where the ship is". I can't believe I just asked a dog to take a message to a robot.
"Woof". Lockjaw teleports away. Time to make some noise.
I fly straight towards the Hellicarrier, and hope like hell that it spots me. Apparently it does, because a wave of air-to-air missiles is now headed directly at me. I shoot them all down before they can reach me. The Hellicarrier has just launched SkyNet aerial drones. A lot of aerial drones. This is not good.
"All right you metal mother $%^&#*! You want me! Come get me!"
I engage the drones in air-to-air combat. I use Ms. Marvel's energy blasts, Havoc's plasma bursts, and Cyclops' laser eyes to destroy their engines and drop them straight into the Pacific. No matter how many drones I drop into the ocean, the Hellicarrier always manages to launch more. It's like they have a factory on board. Missiles are coming at me from the drones and from the Hellicarrier itself. I am using every aerial manoeuvre I know to avoid the incoming missiles and blast them out of the sky.
"Is that all you got! Come on you worthless pieces of AAA!"
I've been hit from behind. Man, how did I let that happen? I was careless and now I am diving headfirst into the Pacific Ocean. I've got to heal fast and pull up or I'm done. The drones are still chasing me, firing missiles and machineguns. Fortunately, I recover at the last moment and pull out of the dive. I think I can spot Blackagar making his approach on the Hellicarrier. Now to make sure that the Terminators do not spot him.
I blast my way through the drones and charge the Hellicarrier. The closer I get to the ship, the more drones and missiles are launched to stop me. Eventually, I get within range of the ships big guns which open fire on me. I come about as fast as possible and try to get them to chase me. It works. They are all focuses on my destruction. Now to just stay alive long enough for Blackagar to make his move.
Missiles are exploding all around me. Machine gun bullets and cannon shells are zooming past me. I am now flying backwards so that I may return fire and destroy as many of my pursuers as possible, and keep the rest occupied. Finally, I watch the Hellicarrier explode as the blue flash of the Chorus Sentries' scream bursts through the hull. In a matter of seconds, the massive aircraft carrier is vaporized. The remaining drones come about and attempt to engage the Chorus Sentry, but it flies directly towards them and screams. Its scream obliterates every hostile in the skies. Unfortunately, I am struck in the back of the head by a piece of falling debris. I'm knocked out. The last thing I see is the Blackagar Chorus Sentry annihilating everything in its path.
I'm.....I'm breathing! I didn't drown. What happened? Why aren't I dead? There is a hand running through my hair. I'd know that hand anywhere. It's Catherine. Did Lockjaw teleport me home before I hit the water? I open my eyes and see the relieved face of my robotic girlfriend.
"Hey".
"Hey! Um, not that I'm ungrateful, but why I am still breathing? Did someone catch me?"
"Not exactly. Did you know that Fury had submarines operating off of the Australian coast?"
"Submarines?"
"They picked you up right after you hit the water. You owe that man a big thank you when he returns from Asgard".
"I always owe that man a big thank you. What happened to the Chorus Sentry?"
"It flew back to Hala. Your plan worked, by the way. The Hellicarrier and all of its Hunter Killers were destroyed. How's your head?"
"Much better, especially now that you're here". She smiles and kisses me. I nearly died today, but it all worked out in the end. Chalk up another victory for the good guys.