Chapter 47: Galactus Must Feed

The Avengers

Galactus– The Devourer of Worlds

Space. The Andromeda Galaxy. A lonely planet orbits a star. The world is much like our own – water, atmosphere, life. To its inhabitants the world is called Dyar. It means salvation because that is what it is. Months ago a fleet of Skrull refugees were forced to flee during Annihilus' second annihilation wave. While they were able to escape from the wave they were then caught in a gravity storm. This storm cast them to the far side of the Andromeda galaxy.

It seemed to be the end. With food, water and air running out it appeared to the refugees that all they could do was to wait for death. That was until they saw it. When their ships sensors picked up a massive energy reading. And waiting for them at the co-ordinates of the event was this world. A perfect world that was ripe with life. A haven waiting for them. It was a new life, away from the dangers of a hostile galaxy. It was perfect. Until he arrived.

The citizens of Dyar notice it when a shadow falls across a continent. When the sun seems to go into eclipse even when the moons are in no position to do so. When they can see something the size of a planet heading towards them.

It is Taa II, the world ship of Galactus – The Devourer of Worlds.

The Skrulls of Dyar cry in terror. Why would they not? Skrulls are first told of Galactus when they are children, it is as they enter schooling that they learn that what they believed to be a bed time story is a real threat. And yet the galaxy is vast. What are the chances of actually ever meeting Galactus? There are billions of worlds out there, surely he will not come to this one.

But Galactus is here. As the world ship enters orbit around Dyar, Galactus exerts the power cosmic. Gravity and space are bent to ensure a stable orbit – he will not have his meal broken apart before he can feed.

The surface of the world ship parts open. And within a beam of light Galactus descends to the world below. Galactus. A being unlike anything these Skrulls have seen. For he is not truly a being – his perceived physical form is an illusion, a desperate defense of the mind to comprehend what it sees – a hungry god here to feed. And with two words Galactus begins the doom of Dyar. Two words that have began the doom of millions of worlds before Dyar.

Galactus: I HUNGER!

With a wave of his hand machinery detaches from Taa II and descends to the planet. It burrows into the ground through the crust and mantle and into the worlds core. This is the world eater apparatus. A technological marvel that Galactus designed and grew to assist with his feeding.

The Skrulls simply watch. There is nothing they can do. The world ship caused a gravity well around the world. Ships cannot escape. They cannot fight – they have no Super Skrulls or even regular soldiers among them. And if they did it would be an ant trying to stop a hurricane. All they can do is pray for the end to come swiftly and painlessly.

As the world eater apparatus activates the essence of the world is connected to Galactus. He can feel the world, feel the energies within and he feels something...familiar.

Galactus: What is this? You. Galactus has questions.

Galactus points to a Skrull who in the blink of an eye finds himself ripped away from his family and now standing in the palm of Galactus' hand.

Galactus: This world feels familiar. Has Galactus ever visited you?

Skrull: I...I know not. We have only been settled here for less than a cycle. Perhaps before our fleet came here.

Galactus: I should have noticed this. And yet the inhabitants of most worlds are beneath my notice. How did the Skrulls come to live here?

And so while trying not to give into panic a simple Skrull farmer finds himself telling a tale to a god. And as he concludes parts of Galactus' mind that the world eater had sealed away begin to return.

Galactus: Have I restored only to destroy now? Have I gifted you a haven only to take it for my own needs?

Galactus must feed. This is a rule that has been true from the dawn of this universe. Until it wasn't. Until when a group of Earthlings known as the Ultimates forcibly evolved Galactus into his next stage. When devourer became lifebringer. When destroyer became restorer. When Galactus dared to hope the prophecy had at last been fulfilled.

And with his new powers Galactus set to return what he had taken – the worlds that he had visited and drained of life were restored to what they had been. And then elevated to their full potential. No longer would Galactus leave only desolate husks in his wake.

Except this was not to be. This was not the intended order. Galactus is the devourer of worlds. This is the universal function and universal function is not something for a group of mortals, however mighty to overturn. After a time the universe righted itself and balance was restored. Once again Galactus must feed.

And now Galactus stands upon another world, a world that he restored maybe but a world nonetheless. And Galactus must feed. While others would take joy or despair in ending these Skrulls lives Galactus does not. For he is not a man or a god. He is a force of nature, a cosmic hurricane. And does the hurricane plot its path according to those in its way? No it does not. Does a volcano erupt only when there is no one nearby? No a volcano erupts when it needs to. It is the same with Galactus. Regardless of any other factor Galactus must feed.

But Galactus does not feed. Not yet. He stands still, the Skrull farmer still in his palm. As memories once sealed away return. For while Galactus is a cosmic force there is still a mind behind the helmet. A mind that felt despair so intense upon reverting back from the lifebringer that it threatened to end Galactus.

But to end Galactus is to end the universe. Galactus must feed. The function must be carried out. The memories were sealed away until recognition of Dyar bought them crashing back. But this is irrelevant. Galactus must feed.

Galactus must feed.

Galactus-

Galactus: No.

In a flash the Skrull farmer finds himself back on the ground with his loved one. He does not and will never know the part he played in a universal war. And as for Galactus. Galactus does not feed. Galactus ignores his function and returns to Taa II. And then Galactus travels.

Galactus moves up, moving perpendicular to the universe known to mortals. Away from the physical and into the realm of Abstracts. Where Chaos and Order play dice with Death.

But Galactus does not stop here. He continues to travel. Up and up he goes, through the super flow – the dream space of gods and into the realm of Eternity.

Eternity. What is there to say about Eternity? He is, as his name suggests Eternal. He is all things in one. He is this universe. He is one of the mightiest beings that has ever existed. Only the Living Tribunal and the One Above All sit higher.

Eternity: Galactus.

Galactus: When?!

One does not speak as such to Eternity. Eternity is all things, respect should-

Eternity: Be silent. Speak plainly Galactus.

Galactus: "Hear me son of Taa. You have survived your universes end. You are in the next iteration. You have survived because you have a critical role to play. You are Galen of Taa no longer. You are Galactus. And you hunger. Only worlds can sate your endless hunger. For this is your function. This is your purpose. But one day that will change. One day you will give back far more then you will ever take. But until that day Galactus must feed." That is what was said to me when I awoke. That is the definition of my function in the cosmic hierarchy. But when? When will this day come? I had thought it had but that was a lie, before I was content to know that it would come but now I must know. When?

Eternity: One day. Not today. Not tomorrow. Perhaps not for a thousand billion years. What you thought was the change was simply a disturbance during a time of upheaval. It was only ever a temporary change. This is how it must be. Until that day Galactus must feed.

Galactus: Then it is wrong!

Eternity: You are acting as a mortal would Galactus. I understand this urge, I am all things but above all I am Eternity. Remember who you are; you are the devourer of worlds. You are Galactus.

Galactus: And before that I was Galen. You are as you have always been, whereas I was different. I was a man, I lived and loved and lost. I strived and fell and was reborn.

Eternity: Reborn with purpose.

Galactus: And I have done this purpose. I have shaped myself into what was required. Sealed away memories that would interfere. All so I could be the world eater you needed. All so I could serve cosmic order. Perhaps it is easy for you Eternity you have always been above them. But I have always been at the juncture, not fully abstract but not fully mortal. I have always felt their pain. I have killed, no murdered billions! Trillions! For what? That which may not come?! That is not enough! Not anymore. I will not feed. I will not deny Galen of Taa, I will not forget the Lifebringer! I will make that one day come today!

Eternity: You would abandon your role?

Galactus: Will you stop me?

Eternity: It was inevitable that this would occur one day Galactus. After all has this not happened in all of your heralds? How many times have you sat in my place during this conversation? Perhaps this was always meant to happen, perhaps not. I deal in what is, not what maybe. The laws of creation, the laws that create and define us abstracts are in place. I do not have to stop you Galactus. What you seek to do is impossible. It cannot be done. It is for this reason I allow you to try. Because you simply will not be able to succeed.

Galactus: Perhaps. Or perhaps not. But you are not infallible Eternity. You have been chained and humbled. It could be that you are wrong.

Galactus leaves the realm of Eternity and returns to regular space.

Eternity: It could be. Who can say? Only those above me on whose judgment we all await.

After his audience with Eternity a summon is sent. Galactus requires a herald. And the herald comes. Shinning silver on a cosmic board. Avenger. Defender. Savior. Destroyer. The Silver Surfer.

Silver Surfer: You summoned me.

Galactus: Do you miss it? Being golden? Being the herald of life?

Silver Surfer: I wished it had continued. But I cannot waste time on wishes. I do what I can how I can.

Galactus: And what you did was leave my service. Where some would say that the right choice would to be to stay as my herald and lead me to worlds with little life you refuse. You left to help anyone you find and since leaving you have fought me over a minor asteroid.

Silver Surfer: An asteroid that was home to millions! I would not allow you to feed until I-

Galactus: I wish I had acted as you did sooner.

Silver Surfer: You...you did?

Galactus: Today I have been...reminded. Of who I was and who I want to be. I will not be this thing anymore. I will end my hunger. Not one more person will die of my hunger.

Silver Surfer: But Galactus must feed. It is a universal law.

Galactus: And there you see my problem. Unlike you Norrin there are boundaries on me. While you are free to surf however you wish I must act within limits. I intend to break these limits. And to do so I require a herald. Will you help me Norrin Radd? Will you change the universal order to and save both our souls?

Silver Surfer: You have changed. What has caused this?

Galactus: I...I does it matter? Is this not what you have wanted for years? Please Norrin. Help me.

Silver Surfer: It is. I will aid you. Together we will end your hunger. Or die trying!