Chapter 49: The Heart of the Universe.
The Avengers
Captain America (Steve Rodger) - Sentinel of Liberty
Iron Man (Tony Stark) - Genius Billionaire Inventor
Thor (Odinson) - God of Thunder
Wasp (Janet Van Dyne) - Stinging Size Shifter
Hawkeye (Clint Barton) - Unerring Marksman
Spectrum (Monica Rambeau) - Living Light Form
She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) - Gamma Powerhouse
Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes) - Hell's Rider
A flaming quinjet flies through space. Empowered by Ghost Rider it blazes across the cosmos at the speed of light. Inside the quinjet eight Avengers prepare themselves for one of their toughest fights.
Spectrum: Ultron. It always comes back to Ultron. Before Captain Marvel and Nova were corrupted by Ultron, Kang said something about the Heart of the Universe. Anyone know anything about that?
Thor: I do. Although what I do know is from a story told to me as a child. The Heart of Universe is the beating Heart of Eternity. It is the centre around which all creation spins. It is said that if you reached the Heart any wish is granted. Many have tried, I confess even I undertook a quest for the Heart when I was young. But nothing has been found for billions of years. And so the Heart was regarded as a legend and nothing more.
Iron Man: Until Ultron found it.
She-Hulk: How did he find it? For billions of years there's not a trace of this Heart and then suddenly Ultron just has it? That's impossible right?
Wasp: It's Ultron. He'd find a way.
She-Hulk: Yeah true. We've seen that Ultron can alter reality with this Heart. Then why are we still here? If I got godhood the first thing I'd do would be make sure that anyone who would try to fight me couldn't.
Captain America: We're still here because Ultron is insane. He's an insane, vindictive psychopathic robot. We're alive simply because he has a grudge against us. Because we've stopped him so many times before. It's not enough for him to simply snap his fingers and have us gone. He wants us, no he needs us to suffer.
Ultron: That's quite right.
An image of Ultron appears inside the jet. Right away Hawkeye aims and fires an arrow. It passes right through Ultron and embeds in the jet wall.
Ultron: Obviously I am not here. Me meeting you all in the steel comes later. First you must complete my trial.
Thor: Trial?
Ultron: I'm waiting for you. Assuming you can get to me. I have some surprises waiting for you.
Ultron fades away.
Hawkeye: You were right Steve. As insane as ever.
Ghost Rider: Everyone we have a problem! There's a storm up ahead!
She-Hulk: In space?
Ahead of the quinjet a gigantic storm spreads through out space. Lightning the size of cities vaporizes asteroids. And in the centre of the storm is...
Thor: Beta Ray Bill. Has Ultron taken you too brother? I will handle this. When I engage fly as fast as you can.
Captain America: Thor!
But Thor ignores him. He opens the door and flies out into space and towards Beta Ray Bill. He swings his hammer and begins to dissipate the storm.
Within the quinjet.
Ghost Rider: We've got more incoming! Hundreds of them!
The Avengers look out the front to see hundreds of humanoid forms flying through space towards them. The entire Shi'ar Imperial Guard are on their way.
Hawkeye: I preferred it when they were on our side.
The storm begins to calm but then something crashes into Thor. He slams onto an asteroid and his attacker stands over him. Beta Ray Bill's eyes glow red and machine parts stick out of him.
Beta Ray Bill: You are a fool Thor. Ultron is the All-Father now.
Thor: I do say thee nay!
Thor swings Mjolnir at Bill who blocks it with his own hammer; Stormbreaker. As the two hammers collide lightning crashes out into space.
Beta Ray Bill: I have always envied that hammer Thor. I am as worthy as you are yet I got the copy. No more. The new All-Father has spoken. You are unworthy!
Suddenly Mjolnir falls out of Thor's hands. Thor tries to pick it up but cannot.
Thor: No, NO! Not again!
Beta Ray Bill kicks him away. Then he takes up Mjolnir and laughs.
Beta Ray Bill: Now who is worthy Thor?! See what two hammers can wrought?!
Bill swings both hammers and dark clouds gather in space.
Within the jet. Spectrum shudders.
Spectrum: I can feel it...the ionization...he'll kill Thor. Can'taffordtoloose-
She shifts into her light form and flies out of the jet as a massive lightning bolt the width of a continent crashes towards Thor. Spectrum flies into it before it can hit Thor.
Spectrum: AAAHHH! Don't absorb it Monica! Redirect it!
The bolt splits in two. One part slams into Beta Ray Bill while the other larger part hits the Imperial Guard. There is a bright white light that seems to fill everything. The Avengers recoil from it. Then it fades.
Space is quiet. Beta Ray Bill and the Shi'ar Imperial Guard float limply in the void. The quinjet lands on the asteroid and the team (minus Ghost Rider) run out towards Thor while dressed in armoured space suits.
Captain America: You ok?
Thor: Spectrum saved me...
She-Hulk: Monica! That was amazing girl! Get down here so I can give you a hug!...Monica?
There's nothing.
Wasp: Monica! Where are you?
Iron Man: I've run a scan. She's gone.
She-Hulk: Gone?! What do you mean...oh.
The Avengers stand together for a moment in silence.
Captain America: We need to get back to the ship. If we can beat Ultron we can use the Heart to undo everything. We have to focus on that.
Thor goes to lift up Mjolnir but still can't.
Thor: Damn. Captain?
Captain America tries but he cannot lift the hammer.
Wasp: Ultron took away your hammer?
Thor: He is a petty as he is dangerous. But I have learned, even without Mjolnir I am still-UUGH!
A red and blue blur crashes into Thor before he can finish. It circles around and hovers over the Avengers. Bursts of heat vision fire out of the blur and hit Hawkeye and She-Hulk. It's Gladiator – Majestor of the Shi'ar.
Gladiator: I'm not so easily beaten. You on the other hand...
Iron Man fires his repulsors at Gladiator but they bounce off harmlessly. Gladiator flies into Iron Man and grabs him by the helmet. He begins to squeeze.
She-Hulk: Pick on someone your own size!
She-Hulk tackles into Gladiator forcing him to drop Iron Man. She hits him with blow after blow forcing him back. Wasp shrinks down and joins the fight. She flies in and fires her sting at point blank into Gladiator's eyes. Gladiator doesn't even notice. His eyes glow red and heat vision shoots out from them. While Wasp is able to dodge the blast itself the wave of heat sends her flying away.
Gladiator: Insect.
Captain America runs in and slams his shield into the back of Gladiators knees. Gladiator staggers and She-Hulk takes advantage of this to slam an uppercut into his face. Gladiator staggers back. She-Hulk goes to follow up but this time Gladiator grabs her arm. He twists and SNAP!
She-Hulk: AAH!
She-Hulk staggers back with a broken arm.
Gladiator: You fight well. But the Hulk would be no match for me. And as for you Thor.
Gladiator slams at speed into Thor.
Gladiator: You have always been a challenge. But this is before Ultron. Before you lost your hammer.
Thor: Hammer or not I am a match for you!
The two exchange blow after blow. The asteroid shakes with the power that's being unleashed by their punches. But then Thor staggers away and is then knocked to the floor by Gladiator's final punch.
Gladiator: That is your weakness Thor. You rely on the hammer too much.
A burst of hellfire envelops Gladiator. The Ghost Rider quinjet hovers overhead, a skull having formed on the front of the jet. Flames breathe out from it.
Ghost Rider: And what's your weakness?
Gladiator: Not this. I am untouchable because I believe myself to be untouchable!
Gladiator flies into the quinjet and grabs it. He slams it into the ground on top of She-Hulk.
She-Hulk: UUH!
But worse her space suit is torn. Air rushes out and She-Hulk gasps in vain.
Iron Man runs to Hawkeye and helps him up. Gladiator has now advanced on Captain America, he pounds the shield again and again.
Gladiator: I will break that shield!
Iron Man: Remember that arrow I gave you for worse case only? This is the time.
Hawkeye: What about Ultron?
Iron Man: You don't use the arrow now we won't get to Ultron!
Hawkeye takes out an arrow from his quiver. It looks normal. He goes to fire it but then stops.
Hawkeye: He's too fast, no way he doesn't catch it. Jannie?
He hands the arrow to Wasp.
Hawkeye: Shrink it down and get inside his head. Then stab somewhere soft. Tony and I will make sure he can't see you. We've always been attention hogs.
Wasp shrinks herself and the arrow out of site. Captain America leaps out of the way as Hawkeye and Iron Man launch flashbangs at Gladiator. Modified flash bangs that are attuned to his alien senses. Gladiator staggers back and then is hit to the floor by Thor.
Wasp takes advantage of the distraction and flies up Gladiators nose. She keeps flying until she reaches the brain. Then she stabs with the arrow and flies out as fast as she can.
Hawkeye: It's active. Three, two-
Gladiator: I will-
Gladiators head explodes! Wasp flies grows to full size as she crashes to the ground covered in brains.
Hawkeye: Jesus Tony! You could have warned me it would be so-
Iron Man: I didn't know! I thought it would be-
Thor: What was that?
Iron Man: Anti-Matter arrow. When activated it injected a sub-atomic antimatter particle. I didn't know it would be so...explosive.
Captain America: At least we got him. One more thing for Ultron to answer for and one more thing for us to undo. We will not let Ultron take these lives. We will restore how things should be.
Wasp: Jen?
She looks and then sees She-Hulk. She's dead from the lack of air.
Wasp: Oh no. Not her. Not Jen.
Thor: Ultron will pay for this. We will avenge her. If it takes all our lives we will defeat Ultron.
They return to the quinjet. It takes off but then Ghost Rider screams in pain, he falls out of his seat.
Captain America: Robbie?!
Ghost Rider: I felt it. Blaze called the armies of hell against Ultron. I think...I think Ultron ate them. The power he fed me, it's gone.
Iron Man: Can you get us to Ultron?
Ghost Rider: I have some power left. I'll use it all if I have to.
The quinjet spins up and shoots through the heavens leaving a trail of fire in its wake. A jump later the Avengers find the Guardians of the Galaxy waiting for them. After that it's the Kree Starforce, after that the Starjammers, after that an army of Super Skrulls.
After all that the Avengers rest on a lonely asteroid in stable orbit around a black hole. The quinjet is banged up and damaged with the flames running low. Inside Ghost Rider looks even worse. He is thin, almost a pure skeleton and instead of flames only embers remain.
Captain America: Are you sure Robbie?
Ghost Rider: I just need a minute. Just a quick rest. Then I can get us there. I can do it.
Outside the rest of the Avengers sit down on the asteroid. Captain America exits the jet.
Captain America: Robbie's ready. Let's go.
Hawkeye: See you soon then.
Wasp: Clint? What are you-
Hawkeye: See there?
He points into space, distant flashing lights can be seen.
Hawkeye: I think that's a fleet of some sort. Not sure who but does that really matter at this point? Anyway this is perfect for me, they can only come from one direction due to the black hole.
Iron Man: Clint-
Hawkeye: They've been behind us the whole time. And we're slowing down. They're going to catch up to us sooner or later. Here's where I can be most lethal. You know it makes sense. This is the perfect firing position. With the really nasty arrows you gave me I can hold them.
Iron Man: Clint, we can't-
Hawkeye: Sure you can. Get back on that jet and don't look back. Simple as that. Now you'd best get going. Won't be long before this place is swamped. Get to Ultron, kick his ass and then use the heart to bring us back. With more money if possible.
Hawkeye embraces his comrades and prepares for his last battle. The other four avengers gather into the jet. It takes off and jumps away.
And arrives near the centre of the universe. Where ancient stars surround a star sized crystal that beats every ten seconds; the Heart of the Universe.
Wasp: We made it.
Ghost Rider: I...just...sorry guys...I can't...
Ghost Rider disintegrates into ash. The jet suddenly loses its power and simply floats in the void.
Thor: Well done young Robert Reyes. We would not have made it this far without your sacrifice.
Captain America: It's not over yet. Thor you and Iron Man can fly under your own power. Take us to-
Iron Man: We're still millions of miles away Steve. We can only see it clearly because of how big this thing is. Even at our top speeds we're months away. We can't-
Suddenly the ship starts moving.
Thor: What is-
The Silver Surfer flies past the ship pulling them along in his wake, in moments they go from being millions of miles away to being within striking distance.
Silver Surfer: I will get us there my friends. I had feared that I was the only one who escaped from Ultron. But I should have had faith that you would as well. We are almost there and together we shall-AAAHHH!
A blast of energy reduces the Silver Surfer to nothingness. The beating crystal heart changes form into a massive golden Ultron the size of a solar system.
Ultron: Together you shall die. Well done on making it here Avengers, even if you had help. But this is as far as you go. I realize now that toying with you is perhaps the worst thing I can do. You have surprised me in the past after all. I will allow nothing to get in the way of my new universe. Goodbye.
Ultron's mouth opens wide and the quinjet is dragged into it.
Ultron: So ends the Avengers.
Within the mouth of Ultron the quinjet fades away and the Avengers find themselves floating in white. Then their clothes begin to fade.
Iron Man: We're being erased!
Captain America: It's been an honor-
Someone else: NO! Not them! They won't be-!
Wasp: That voice! It sounds so-
The Avengers vanish.
And then find themselves in a desert. They look around in confusion.
Thor: Where? How did we-?
Wasp: Didn't you all hear that voice? It sounded like, but he's dead.
They hear an explosion from over a nearby sand dune. The Avengers rush towards it and when they reach the top of the dune they stop in shock. For on the other side of the dune, wrestling with Ultron is Ultron's deceased creator. It's Hank Pym.