Chapter 51: Negative
The Avengers
Captain America (Steve Rodgers) - Sentinel of Liberty
Thor (Odinson) - God of Thunder
Hawkeye (Clint Barton) - Unerring Marksman
Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) - Kree/Human Binary Hybrid
Spectrum (Monica Rambeau) - Living Light Form
She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) - Gamma Powerhouse
Nova (Sam Alexander) - Galactic Centurion
New York. Inside a night club called Shadows. Two men enter the managers office. One is holding a brief case.
Man: We have it sir.
The manager turns. His name is Martin Li, but he is more commonly known as Mr Negative.
Mr Negative: Excellent. Give it here.
He takes the case and opens it. Within the case is a book that seems to drag all the light in the room towards it.
Mr Negative: The Darkhold. Do you know what I can do with this? Let me show you.
Outside. A few blocks away, Hawkeye and She-Hulk lean by a police car as the Grim Reaper is dragged away in handcuffs.
Grim Reaper: Death itself cannot hold me! I will escape!
Hawkeye: Then we'll be waiting. Ass. Guess we're done here at least? Wanna grab a bite on the way back to the mansion?
She-Hulk: I could eat. But I'm choosing, the last place you picked was disgusting.
Hawkeye: Hey it was-
He is cut of as something shoots up into the sky. A beam of shadow hits the sky and spreads out. The day light disappears and New York is locked in a dome of shadow and darkness.
Avengers Mansion. Nova is walking through the hallways towards the monitor room.
Nova: Excuse me Mr Rodgers...no Captain America he's not a TV character...Steve...no that's too familiar...
He reaches the room and knocks on the door before going in, as he walks in he goes to take of his helmet.
Nova: Excuse me Captain America I need to talk to you for a minute. I've been thinking and I don't think I'm cut out to-
Spectrum phases through the ceiling and solidifies grabbing Nova's arms and forcing his helmet to stay on his head. Spectrum is remaining in her light form and is shifting frequencies to keep herself from being infected with the darkholds power. One moment she is red, then blue, etc.
Spectrum: Don't take off that helmet! Don't do it! Keep it on!
Nova: Ok! Get off me!
He steps back.
Nova: What the hell do you...?
He stops and sees the trouble. Captain America is sat slumped in his chair seemingly asleep. He's tossing and turning. Surrounding him is a thin nimbus of shadow.
Nova: What's going on?
Spectrum: The entire cities been shunted somewhere. I think it's the Darkhold though I'd have to see it to be sure. And everyone inside the city has been shunted into some shadowy nightmare. Except the two of us. I shifted my wavelength to one that counteracts this places effects, I can only assume your helmet keeps you safe.
Nova: Yeah the helmet is pretty awesome. You sure it's just us? There's loads of other supers here, one of them must've...and how do you know it's nightmares?
Spectrum: I've been around the city four times at light speed. I've checked everywhere. If I didn't get you in time it would've been just me.
Nova: Lucky me.
Spectrum: As for the nightmares I went inside several peoples heads, I can't read minds or anything but I can change into electric currents that flow down neurons in the brain. I could feel fear and despair in everyone. I don't know whose doing this or how but we're going to shut them down. Got it?
Nova: I...I guess.
The airspace outside Manhattan Island. Thor flies through the sky and stops next to Captain Marvel. The island is surrounded by a dome of solid black shadow.
Thor: What is this?
Captain Marvel: Not sure but the city is gone. No communications on any frequency can get in and we've heard nothing from-
Thor: RRAAH!
He swings his hammer at the dome but it bounces off harmlessly.
Captain Marvel: It's also impenetrable. Which is just great.
Space. A fleet of jet black ships approach a remote planet. On the bridge of the flagship the Black Order survey the world.
Black Dwarf: Are you certain Thanos is here?
Proxima: Since his return he has left few signs but enough to lead us here.
Supergiant: I can sense a familiar mind on the world below. We are where we need to be.
A smaller ship launches from the flagship and descends to the planet. Once it breaks the atmosphere it lands just outside of a farm. The Black Order exit from the ship and stride towards the farmhouse, a hand-built log cabin.
Corvus: I must admit that I am disappointed. When we heard of your return I braced myself, convinced that anything you would do overshadow my own plans. For surely the Great Thanos would have something ready to shake the heavens. And yet...nothing. Your great plan appears to be sitting on a farm?
Thanos, dressed in simple robes looks up from tending some plants.
Thanos: I have always found farming to have a certain serenity. Why have you come here? I have no need for the Black Order anymore. Your natures are not conductive to farming. You lack the...temperament.
Corvus: Your needs are irrelevant Thanos! We are your servants no longer! We are your-
Thanos: Equals? Betters? You flatter yourselves. You are a capable commander Corvus but some stolen technology from the Grandmaster does not make you a Titan yet. Nor does the ramshackle fleets or armies you have assembled.
Proxima: And yet it is more then you have done!
Thanos: That is a matter of perspective. For you that maybe so but for me...the war's you have planned, the empire you want to build, that holds less interest to me then my turnips.
Black Swan: So this is what becomes of the mighty Thanos? To tend a mud farm for the rest of his days?
Thanos: For now.
Corvus: Enough. We will not be toyed with any longer. The time has come for the Black Order to rise, we will not be held back by you anymore, we will-
Thanos: Kill me? You think too highly of yourself Corvus. You never have nor will be capable of doing that. But you need not fear, I will not interfere. There are impending events that are of more interest to me. It will be a crisis worthy of my attention whereas your little war is not. Now begone, I have crops to water.
The Black Order suddenly find themselves back on their flagship. They look at each other in shock.
Corvus: Fire everything! Burn the planet to-
He stops and looks out the bridge's window. The planet is gone. It has simply vanished.
Proxima: Do we pursue?
Corvus:…...No. Thanos is irrelevant. Despite his blustering he knows we are capable of harming him, that is why he sent us away. He did not want to risk a fight. Let us move on to our own affairs.
New York. Spectrum and Nova walk through the streets.
Nova: It's so quiet. Do you feel like we're being watched?
Spectrum: Everyone in the city in a trance except for us and whoever did this. Given that we haven't been attacked it's not unreasonable to assume that they don't know about us. So no, I don't think we're being watched.
Nova (muttering): Could just say no...don't have to bite my head off. Still I could've sworn I saw something move in those shadows.
They reach Shadows Night Club.
Spectrum: The Darkhold is in there.
Nova: You sure?
Spectrum: I can see energy states, the Darkhold is pure darkness but it is an energy of sort. It's coming from in there.
Nova: Shadows Nightclub. Accurate name at least.
Spectrum: Here's what we do: we go in and take the Darkhold from the person behind this. Once I've got the Darkhold I think I can adjust my light form to counter act the Darkhold and bring the city back. While I'm doing that you hold of the big bad. Sound good?
Nova: Me? Hold them off? I can't...what if it's Thanos or someone? I'm not...I
Spectrum: I'm pretty sure Thanos is dead so it won't be him at least.
Nova: No I can't do this...I'm not Rich, he's the real Nova I'm just-
Spectrum: Right now you're all these people have. Are you going to leave them trapped in a nightmare because you're scared? Are you?
Nova:…...I don't want to. But-
Spectrum: But nothing. We have a job to do: The Avengers are needed and we're the Avengers. You're an Avenger. It's ok to be scared...I don't actually know your name.
Nova: It's Sam.
Spectrum: Sam, you're a Nova. You're an Avenger. You can do this.
Nova: I'll...I'll try.
The two fly into the club and break down the doors. Inside the club the other members of the demon's gang are fast asleep. The only person awake is.
Nova: Mr Negative!
Spectrum: Who?
Nova: He fought Spider-Man a few times, I only know about him because my art teacher used a photo of him to-
Mr Negative: How are you awake? The Darkhold affects all but it's wielder.
Spectrum: And yet here we are. We can end this peacefully, put New York back and hand the book over.
Mr Negative: For a long time I struggled with demons. My inner darkness threatened to overwhelm me. It was only by facing it could I surpass that darkness. I am a better man. I am sharing what I have learned.
Spectrum: By using an eldritch tome to induce nightmares in an entire city?
Mr Negative: You both have demons, demons I can help you face, all you need to do is-
Spectrum blasts him in the chest, Mr Negative is sent flying through the club and drops the Darkhold. Spectrum grabs it.
Spectrum: Nova hold him off!
Spectrum flies out the night club with the Darkhold in her hands. Nova braces himself as Mr Negative charges at him. Nova blasts Mr Negative but Negative shrugs it off and tackles Nova to the ground. He pins Nova's arms with one hand and raises the other for a mighty blow.
Mr Negative: Your demons have consumed you; fear, doubt, uncertainty. They cloud your mind and make you weak. You are a lost cau-
From the shadows behind Mr Negative, the darkness forms into the shape of a man. This shadowy man grabs Mr Negative and pulls him away from Nova throwing him into the DJ booth. The shadowy man helps Nova to his feet.
Nova: Who are-
The shadowy man is gone. Nova blinks in surprise.
Nova: Where did he?
Mr Negative explodes out of the DJ booth and charges up his power, he rushes towards Nova. The two crash outside of the club to where Spectrum is standing in the street, she is glowing pure white and pulses of light shoot out from her, intertwining with the shadows emanating from the Darkhold.
Mr Negative punches Nova in the head and Nova staggers back.
Mr Negative: Arrogance, that is her demon. Arrogance that a little boy could-AAHHH!
Nova blasts him in the head. And then the chest. Nova keeps firing again and again. But then despite the pain Mr Negative charges his power in his fist and punches one of Nova's oncoming blasts. It is deflected. Right into Spectrum.
Spectrum: AAAAAIIIIIIIEEEEE!
Spectrum screams as her light form is twisted in on itself by the gravity from Nova's blast.
Nova: NO! I didn't mean to! Why did you?! You bastard!
Nova punches Mr Negative in the face with all he has. There is a crack as Mr Negative's jaw breaks and he falls to the ground beaten. Nova rushes to Spectrum. As she charges her power to match the Darkhold her light form twists upon itself even more.
Nova: Stop! You have to stop! It's-
Spectrum: I've...got...to...get...them...home!
A massive blast shoots out from Spectrum. The shadows around New York shatter and suddenly the city is back where it should be. In the sky above New York Thor and Captain Marvel jump in shock. Across the city people wake from their nightmares.
And as for Spectrum. She collapses, still in her light form that keeps distorting and parts of it blink in and out of existence. Her eyes are closed.
Captain Marvel and Thor land by her and Nova.
Captain Marvel: Monica what was...MONICA?!
Captain Marvel runs to her friend.
Captain Marvel: What happened? What happened?!
Nova: I...I messed up...I didn't mean to...I didn't mean to...