Chapter 53: Rain of Fire
The Avengers
Captain America (Steve Rodgers) - Sentinel of Liberty
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
Nova (Sam Alexander) - Galactic Centurion
The Peak. On the bridge of the station the Black Dwarf watches the metal fortress spread out on the moon.
Black Dwarf: How beautiful. Take that one to the fortress. I am sure Black Swan would enjoy dissecting a Kree/human hybrid.
Two soldiers lift up the unconscious Captain Marvel and take her off the bridge. They walk alone towards one of their boarding craft. But then a laser beam fires through one of their heads, then the others.
Abigail Brand puts her alien pistol away and leaps out of a vent.
Abigail: These are some sweet guns.
She runs over to Captain Marvel and picks her up, slinging her over her shoulder.
Abigail: Come on boss. We'll need you for the counterattack. Ok fine stay unconscious I'll carry you out of here. I don't mind at all.
Abigail carries her towards one of the boarding craft. She sets Captain Marvel down in a seat and straps her in. She then goes to the front of the craft, the pilot jumps in shock on seeing her.
Pilot: You're a human! You should be in chains! You shou-UKK!
Abigail shoots him in the head.
Abigail: Not much got past you did it eagle eye?
The craft leaves the station along with all others. Abigail notices this and frowns.
Abigail: What the hell? They fought like madmen to take this station and now they're leaving?
On his boarding craft the Black Dwarf contacts Corvus Glaive. A hologram of Glaive appears in front of Dwarf.
Black Dwarf: We are clear. Is it ready?
Corvus: Prepare for a spectacle brother.
The fortress guns aim towards the Peak station. And they fire. Massive plumes of plasma fly towards the Peak. And the station is shredded. And the shockwave hits Abigail's craft sending it spiraling away from Earth.
The Fortress's control room. Black Swan and Corvus Glaive watch the bombardment of the Peak.
Black Swan: It seems these guns are even more potent than we thought.
Corvus: Let use see how potent. Target the planet below. Rain fire on them.
The guns aim at Earth. And fire.
Wakanda. The city's defense shield strains to stay active as plasma shell after plasma shell smashes against the shield. In the city below the Black Panther can only watch and pray the shield holds.
But other countries aren't so lucky.
In Latveria, Doomstat is reduced to rubble and Doctor Doom can only desperately spin a mystic shield around himself as his castle collapses around him.
Despite the best efforts of Starbrand; Project Pegasus was hit so badly that only a smoldering crater remains.
Edwards and other US bases are reduced to rubble.
The US Fleet in the Pacific is entirely destroyed with all hands lost.
Across the world military installations and faculties are hit. SHIELD, SWORD, SPEAR, HYDRA, AIM no organization is safe from the fire from above. Even Stark facilities are being hit.
Carefree Arizona. Mrs Alexander bangs on her sons door, his helmet is in her hands.
Mrs Alexander: SAM! SAM! You need to get out there! They need you!
But inside Sam's room he doesn't hear her. He doesn't hear anything except for the Ebony Maw whispering in his ear.
Ebony Maw: She's right Sam. You do need to help. Me.
The Moon Fortress. The guns stop firing. The Black Order tap human communications to watch the devastation on the planet below.
Corvus: It's beautiful. Prepare for transmission.
Across the world screens and radios are hijacked. And all they can see and hear is the Black Order.
Corvus: I am Corvus Glaive. My companions are Proxima Midnight, Black Dwarf, Supergiant, Black Swan and the Ebony Maw. We are the Black Order. We have attacked your world because we are building an empire. A Black Quadrant will rise across the galaxy. And Earth will be our capital. Because you are as feared across the cosmos as we are. We have destroyed your military might and defeated your superhumans with ease. But we have stopped our rain of fire. Because the hunt will now begin. We will descend from your Moon and move across your planet. For you are not subjects yet, until you prove yourselves by surviving our hunts you are only prey. But if you do survive you will be part of the Black Quadrant, you will watch and experience Earth becoming the dominant power in the galaxy under our leadership. And if you do more than survive, if you thrive in the hunt, if you impress us, we will allow you to join us. Excel and you will become a Dreadlord of the Black Order. Good luck.
The transmission ends. In his quinjet flying as fast he can towards the nearest people who need help Captain America is startled when Nova lands on the front of the jet.
Nova: Did you hear that? What do we do?
Captain America:…...we fight.
Later. Outside of Washington DC. A group of heroes have gathered for a counter attack. Captain America, Nova, The Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Manifold, Antman, Wasp, Hank Pym and Spider-Man.
Mr Fantastic and Hank Pym happily shake hands, each pleased to see the other.
Mr Fantastic: It's good to see you again Hank.
Pym: Likewise. Wish it were under better circumstances.
Black Panther and Captain America exchange damage reports.
Black Panther: Wakanda's shield held if by a thread. If they bombard us again we'll be defenseless.
Captain America: I wish everywhere else was so lucky. We've got destruction across the world, we're lucky we can spare this many for a counter attack.
Black Panther: What of Krakoa?
Captain America: We've heard nothing or seen nothing. Either they've withdrawn completely or something bad has happened on that island.
Black Panther: I am not sure what would be worse.
Captain America turns to the assembled heroes.
Captain America: I was hoping others would turn up but we will have to do. The plan is simple. Manifold is teleporter. He will teleport us onto the fortress. Once on board we will take out the guns first. Then we deal with the Black Order. If any of our responders who went to assist the Peak are on the station we'll find and free them as well. Get ready everyone.
Thing: You can really teleport us up there?
Manifold: For me it'll be as easy as walking across a room.
Wasp: Steve I haven't heard anything from the team in the mansion.
Antman: I haven't been able to get confirmation if the mansion was hit.
Captain America: With SHIELD down we're limited. We have to assume that they are assisting with damage control. And if they aren't...well if they aren't I'll make the hard choice. We can't risk those guns going off again into populated areas. Or that hunt beginning. We have to move now.
Nova is watching the conversation and for a moment his eyes mist over with a black shadow. Then he carries on.
The Moon Fort. The Ebony Maw emerges from a shadowy corner and into the control room. He bows to the other Black Order members.
Ebony Maw: My friends. I bring warning of an oncoming attack. I have been observing the humans and they are planning to assault this station.
Proxima: Of course they are. We have declared war, how could they not fight back?
Ebony Maw: True but they are coming now. The Avengers are using the teleporter, the Manifold to get on board this station.
Black Dwarf: The Earthers are stubborn wretches. I would have thought the Maw destroying their home and companions would demoralize them.
Black Swan: This thermal scan of their headquarters shows otherwise. The Avengers within are alive.
New York. The ruins of Avengers Mansion. She-Hulk strains to hold up the debris above them. Ghost Rider and Hawkeye are unconscious.
Corvus: Not that it matters. We can send some of our forces to dig them out and finish them at our leisure. Black Swan, is it true that you have experience with Manifolds?
Black Swan: It is. I know where their pet teleporter will strike.
Washington DC.
Captain America: NOW EDEN!
Manifold gestures and light envelops him and the other heroes. And in an instant they find themselves on the Moon Fortress.
Captain America: Let's move fast! We need to-
They stop. The six members of the Black Order are all waiting for them.
Black Swan: When you travel the multiverse as extensively as I you notice what others would not. I know more about you then do Manifold. It was child's play to work out where you would arrive.
Corvus: Have you come to beg?
Captain America: Not to you. Take them down!
The heroes charge forward and the Black Order go to meet them.
Corvus: Remove the most powerful!
Supergiant reaches into the minds of the Invisible Woman and Manifold and freezes them in place. Black Swan crashes into the Thing and Human Torch and Ebony Maw confronts Nova.
Black Panther leaps at Black Dwarf.
Black Panther: I have defeated you before servant of Thanos!
Black Dwarf: That was the past, I was arrogant and foolish then. But I am wiser now. More prepared. Equipped with metal to match your own.
Black Dwarf punches Black Panther and the vibranium knuckle dusters he's wearing react with Panthers armour. Black Panther's armor is shredded and he takes the full force of a blow from Black Dwarf. He's unconscious before he touches the ground.
Wasp: We don't have room to change size here, get small and fry them from the inside.
Wasp, Antman and Hank Pym all shrink down and go to attack Proxima Midnight who has just defeated Spider-Man.
Proxima: I can see you. Being small will not hide you from me. Or my spear.
She throws her spear and it transforms into three arrows of white light that hit all three Avengers taking them out.
Corvus takes on Captain America and Mr Fantastic. Mr Fantastic has wrapped around Corvus and is trying to constrict him.
Corvus: I can survive in the void fool! A lack of air will not stop me!
He throws Mr Fantastic off him, Captain America slams his shield into Corvus' face.
Captain America: Then force will have to do the trick.
Corvus: Force. You speak of force? You do not know the true meaning of the world. You Earthers are weak, pampered and pathetic. We are forged by the worst the universe has thrown at us, tempered by Thanos, honed by the Grandmaster. As I said you are prey while we are hunters.
Captain America: This prey fights back.
Suddenly the beaten Thing is thrown on top of Captain America and then followed by the unconscious Human Torch. Black Swan floats down next to Corvus.
Black Swan: My apologies Corvus, I did not mean to imply that you could not defeat the good Captain, I just could not resist throwing his friends at him.
Corvus: No apology necessary Swan. Why drag out a fight when we do not have too?
They turn to the last person standing. Nova. Nova is wrestling with the Maw.
Ebony Maw: Why are you holding back Sam? It's just you left, if you had fought as you should have you would have led them to victory. But why didn't you? Is because of what happened? Is it because of Monica?
Nova: SHUT UP! DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT!
He fires a blast at the Ebony Maw who is seemingly shredded to nothingness.
Nova: No I didn't mean to-
Corvus: This one is powerful but lacks control. Be careful.
Nova: I can control! I-
The Order charge at Nova who is hesitating at which one to fight first. But as they reach him he vanishes. The Order look around in confusion.
Proxima: Nova's cannot teleport. How could this boy escape us?
Black Dwarf: Perhaps he is a mutant?
Supergiant: No, I would have tasted that in his mind.
Corvus: It matters not. We have victory. And while we have lost the Maw we must be aware that he was likely plotting against us. Again. We will have other Dreadlords to take his place. Send two of those who wished to join us to the Avengers fortress. They will dig out the survivors and slay them.
Earth. Belgium. Nova suddenly appears in the middle of a field.
Nova: What happened? How did-
Nova's own shadow takes shape and the Ebony Maw stands in front of him.
Ebony Maw: I fulfilled your wish. You wanted to flee so I facilitated that.
Nova: What? I didn't?
Ebony Maw: I've been inside your head boy. But why didn't you notice? Why didn't you fight me of? You could have saved them all. If you had not been weak this war would have been over and your side would have one. But now all the pain to come is on your head.
Nova: That's not...I'll...
Ebony Maw: You'll do nothing other than be a host for me. Your mind is weak and your insecurities make gaps I can exploit. This body is now mine to command, mine to control. And what a powerful body it is.
Nova staggers but then his eyes darken to black pupils and he smiles. The Maw is in control now.
New York. The ruins of Avengers Mansion. An alien ship lands next to the mansion and two identical red skinned, muscled humanoid aliens step out of it. These are the Blood Brothers.
Blood Brother 1: Go dig out some corpses for execution. Not fair, we're the Blood Brothers! We deserve respect!
Blood Brother 2: We not Black Order. We work for Black Order we get respect. Then our own world. Now we dig.
The two begin lifting heavy pieces of rubble and throw them aside with ease.
Latveria. The ruins of Castle Doom. An armored hand punches out of the rubble.
The Mansion Ruins. The Blood Brothers continue to dig through the rubble.
Blood Brother 1: We're getting close brother! I can smell them!
In the rubble below Hawkeye gets his bow ready. Ghost Rider is still passed out.
Hawkeye: I thought I heard tapping when I woke up. Can you keep Ghost Rider safe while I deal with these guys?
She-Hulk: If I move he'll be crushed. You need to get him clear!
Hawkeye: Too late for that!
A gap in the rubble above Hawkeye is made, although She-Hulk is still wedged keeping debris above both of them. The Blood Brothers look through and grin.
Blood Brother 2: They're still alive! We can beat them into-AAAAHHH!
A blast of power hits them from behind and the two are sent flying.
Hawkeye: Iron Man. Please tell me that was Iron Man.
Then the rubble begins to lift away from them. It moves away and is stacked neatly in a pile. She-Hulk stretches her arms in relief. But her expression changes when she sees who rescued them.
Doctor Doom stands over the two defeated Blood Brothers.
Doctor Doom: The Black Order attacked my home. Castle Doom is in ruins. Latveria buries our dead. Revenge must be had. For the duration of this crisis consider Doctor Doom part of the Avengers. This is not a request.
