Chapter 52: The Opening Shot
The Avengers
Captain America (Steve Rodgers) - Sentinel of Liberty
Iron Man (Tony Stark) - Genius Billionaire Inventor
Thor (Odinson) - God of Thunder
Hawkeye (Clint Barton) - Unerring Marksman
Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) - Kree/Human Binary Hybrid
She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters) - Gamma Powerhouse
Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes) - Hell's Rider
A gigantic spaceship flies through space. The former home of the Grandmaster, now converted into a mobile tool of conquest and renamed Midnight. It is home to the Black Order.
On the bridge of the ship the Black Order gathers. Proxima Midnight, Ebony Maw, Supergiant, Black Dwarf, Black Swan and the new members who have joined them: the Skrull Super Soldier Titanus, the Blood Brothers – the two monsters who are one and Stellaris – the armored hunter of Celestials. And standing before them all is their leader Corvus Glaive.
Corvus: For too long we have been servants. We have been chained to powers greater then ourselves. That has been to our detriment. The Black Order used to be feared, we were the Cull Obsidian, the Midnight Slaughter, the despoilers of worlds. But now we are seen as pawns, as nuisances. This will not stand. I will remake us into what we should have been. I will make the Black Order rise again. I will remake the Black Quadrant. And how will I do this? By succeeding where Thanos, Magus and Hela all failed. By taking Earth and remaking it into the new Black Quadrant. We will take this world and humble those whose reputations have spread across the galaxy. We will slay and plunder to our hearts content. We will convert those oh so mighty Avengers into our shock troops and use them to build an empire the likes of which has never been seen! Glory awaits us!
Earth. Carefree. Arizona. Captain America knocks on the door of the Alexander residence. Mrs Alexander answers the door.
Captain America: Can I speak to Sam?
The Peak. A large space station orbiting around the Earth. The Peak is the Earth's first line of defense against extra-terrestrial assault. It is the home of Alpha Flight. In the main conference room Captain Marvel drinks coffee while liaising via hologram with Smasher of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard.
Smasher: Not much to alert you on this time to be honest. There's a Brood Fleet in your sector that's started their breeding cycle but the Majestor has dispatched fleets to handle it. We'll let you know if there's cause to be concerned.
Captain Marvel: That's it? I was expecting you to warn me about an evil talking black hole or something to that effect.
Smasher: Nothing like that no...except have you guys seen Galactus?
Captain Marvel: Is this a joke?
Smasher: No, he's vanished without a trace. Obviously that's great for planets but we're a litt-
Smasher's holograms cuts out.
Captain Marvel: Smasher? Izzie?
Carefree. Captain America stands outside of Sam's bedroom. He knocks on the door.
Captain America: Sam? I just want to talk. Can I come in?
No response. He tries to open it but he can't. That's when he notices a faint light coming from under the door. The same light made when Nova uses his powers. It becomes clear to him that Nova has shut himself away.
Captain America: I understand. None of us blame you Sam, I want you to know that. And Monica certainly wouldn't. She's doing ok, she's in a stable state and our best minds will get her up and about soon. Whenever you're ready, you let me know ok?
Captain America goes downstairs to speak to Mrs Alexander.
Mrs Alexander: He didn't open up? He won't talk to me, to his sister, anyone. He's just shut himself away with those powers of his. I asked Rich to come visit but he's at least a week out. What happened? What did you do to my son?!
Captain America: There was an accident. From what we can tell, Sam accidentally hit one of his team mates, Spectrum with a blast of his power. Spectrum had an adverse reaction and is now...dormant was the word Cho used. We don't blame him and I just came to help.
Mrs Alexander: I know how you can help. Stay away from my son. Sam Alexander is done with the Avengers.
Mars. The ship Midnight passes the planet.
Earth arrival imminent. Game now in progress. Game shield active. The playing field is protected.
If one were to look out around the Earth and Moon they would see a faint shield enclosing it all. This is the technology of the Grandmaster is action. He was never one to have his fun interrupted. Earth is now cut off from any and all things not on the planet.
Midnight Bridge. An alien crew member turns to Corvus Glaive. The other members of the Black Order stand beside him.
Crew Member: The shield is up. Isolation is complete.
Corvus: What a fool the Grandmaster was. He could move the stars but did so only to play games. Proceed to stage 2.
Asgard. The Bifrost Bridge is propelling Thor back towards Earth. Until it shatters as the game shield is raised. Thor doesn't even have time to react before he hits this shield and flung far away into the deepest voids of the universe.
On the Peak Station. Alarms blare. Captain Marvel looks out the command deck window to see the massive ship Midnight approaching Earth.
Midnight Bridge.
Corvus: Take the station.
Boarding crafts launch from Midnight and slam into the station. Holes are drilled into the station and aliens climb out of the crafts and attack. They are led by the Black Dwarf who crushes anyone in his path. Alongside him are Stellaris who burns the soldiers with blasts from her power suit and the Blood Brothers who tear poor men and women limb from limb.
Across the world the Avengers all get a warning. Their comms spring to life with a message from Tony Stark.
Stark: Morning boys and girls we're under attack. Again. This time it's the Grandmaster, you know that blue skinned gambling addict who plays with planets instead of chips. But the good news is after that whole no surrender business with him last time we know how bypass the games and get to the Grandmaster. So head to these coordinates and we'll go kick his head in.
Avengers Mansion. Hawkeye, She-Hulk and Ghost Rider board a quinjet.
Ghost Rider: Who's the Grandmaster?
Hawkeye: The guy who we're about to-
From a shadow in the corner of the quinjet the Ebony Maw emerges with a twisted grin on his face.
Ebony Maw: How little you know. I had hoped to have more of you here and none of you are the one I seek. But still this will have to do.
The Maw drops a bomb that is counting down before fading away back into the shadows.
She-Hulk: Get behind me!
The mansion collapses on itself in an implosion. The Maw emerges outside the mansion and surveys his handiwork.
Ebony Maw: That will do to convince the others. And now to my business.
Krakoa. The island nation of Mutant Kind. The leading council of the mutants convene: Xavier, Magneto, Apocalypse, Jean Grey, Storm, Nightcrawler, Emma Frost, Sinister, Sebastian Shaw, Exodus, Kitty Pryde and Mystique.
Xavier: I have called this council because the Earth is under attack. The Avengers have passed on that it is the Grandmaster. An elder of the Universe who plays games with planets. They have asked for our assistance. We need to decide if we are to give it.
Shaw: I say no. They have been little help with our nation. We must look to ourselves.
Storm: Krakoa rests on Earth. We may be independent of nations but not of the world.
Xavier: Myself I agree that...something is wrong...
Magneto: Charles?
Xavier: There's something in Cerebro. I can't-
Xavier suddenly finds himself on the mental plane. He's in a box and Supergiant looks down on him.
Supergiant: So much mental power. So much for me to feed and re-purpose. You have improved since I last encountered you X-Men. You have connected every mutant on the planet. Almost one million and rising potential super powered soldiers connected by telepathy. That would be a problem for the Black Order. But that unity you have worked so hard to foster is also your greatest weakness. It is a connection for me to exploit and use. As we speak your Cerebro has mentally shut down every one of said mutants. I will feast on their mental potential as the Black Order converts them to our cause. You wanted to be a mutant savior Charles. You have done so now. Well done.
Krakoa is quiet. Every mutant both here and around the world are now comatose.
The upper atmosphere. Iron Man leads a charge of several superheroes as they fly up through the atmosphere towards the peak. Alongside him are Vision, Wonder Man, Blue Marvel, Doctor Spectrum, War Machine, Doctor Strange and Hyperion.
Iron Man: Steve every Mutant has gone down at once. I'm not waiting any longer. I'm taking the big guns and shutting the Grandmaster down.
Captain America (On Comms): Understood. I'll gather who I can and follow up after.
Midnight Bridge. Corvus Glaive watches as the heroes arrive and begin to attack the ship.
Corvus: As we predicted. Believing they face the Grandmaster they send their most powerful to defeat him before the game can begin. Are you ready my love?
On the outside of the ship and wearing a space suit Proxima Midnight sets down a golden quiver as big as she is. She opens the quiver and takes out a thunderbolt shaped piece of metal. She takes aim at Blue Marvel and lets the projectile fly.
Blue Marvel is flying towards a fighter when the thunderbolt hits him. There is an explosion of light and Blue Marvel screams in pain. Then as the light fades he is simply floating in space, unconscious.
Doctor Spectrum: Blue Marvel!
Vision: The projectile came from the flagship we mu-AAAAHHHH!
Vision is hit next, Hyperion flies towards the ship but he is then struck. Iron Man, then War Machine, then Doctor Strange. A final thunderbolt is thrown at Doctor Spectrum. She tries to generate a shield to protect herself but the bolt pierces through the shield with ease. And the last of the reinforcements fall. They are all left floating in the void.
Proxima: Zeus's stolen Thunderbolts did their work. They are all dealt with Corvus. I will expect rich rewards from you in our bedchamber later.
Corvus: It would be my pleasure to do so Proxima. Bring them on board and imprison them pending conversion.
The Peak. On the main bridge Captain Marvel battles the Black Dwarf. She is the last man standing. Her fists are charged with her energy as the two exchange blows. Captain Marvel hits Black Dwarf in the nose.
Black Dwarf: You are strong.
Captain Marvel goes to hit the Dwarf again but then the energy around her fists begins to fade.
Captain Marvel: Not now damn it! Not now!
Black Dwarf: But you appear to lack stamina.
He kicks her in the face and she is flung across the bridge. The Black Dwarf surveys the Peak bridge. The few surviving humans are now surrendering.
Black Dwarf: Black Dwarf to Corvus. The Peak is ours. The way is clear.
Midnight heads towards the Moon. It lands on the surface and begins to shift it's shape. Turning from a space ship into a fortress the size of a mountain.
Within his command centre Corvus grins. The stages of the plan so far have all been successful.
Alien Soldier: The guns are online and ready my lord. What are your orders?
Corvus: Rain fire.
