What if the other half got Snapped in ENDGAME?
BY CONNOR ROGERS
Some important things to remember:
-This should be imagined as being produced and released shortly after Avengers: Infinity War.
-Time travel will not be used in this story. The path to the Multiverse and the Journey between Realities will be used.
-It includes characters that have not had appearances within the MCU and were adapted for this version.
-This project is written before the upcoming Marvel series/movies, which means there may be overlap (or predictions) in some events during the story.
-Thank you for taking the time to read!
PROLOGUE: NOVA ORIGIN
I'm Sam Alexand'r and we don't have much time for long introductions. I have to tell this story quickly or it will be too late.
My nightmare started like this ...
I'm sixteen years old and my house is a suitcase. I mean, for as long as I can remember, my father and I traveled all over the world. Our world: Planet XANDAR.
According to the Universal Civil Protection Organization, Xandar is the safest planet in the Galaxy against cosmic entities because, in our capital, it is the Official Headquarters of NOVA CORPS.
Nova Corp is an intergalactic military and police force that has several priorities: defend the Xandarian civilization, protect it and save as many sectors of the Galaxy as possible.
Our ultimate goal was to reach Nova's official headquarters in the capital of Xandar.
We spent a lot of time traveling through Xandar to get to Nova Base, getting into trouble along the way. Like the time the gunslingers assaulted us in the Runes of Y 'Golonac. Or like that time on the expedition to Lake Hastur, when I pulled the wrong lever and had that accident with the cannon pointed at the moon.
But we finally made it to the Base. It was a sunny and cool day. The city center was full and there was a big crowd of people. The Nova base was in front of us. A large marble building, gigantic windows and a great view of the sea, as it was on the edge of a cliff.
Jenos, my father, gave me the feeling of being very excited during the whole ride in the ship to the city, and that's because he's a big guy and doesn't look like he's going to get nervous about anything. He has a scruffy beard and hair. And a leather jacket that's older than I am.
The barracks was huge: a gigantic room, with white columns around a mosaic floor. Men and women came in and out. I remember the smell of lemon and cleaning products from the freshly mopped floor. There were wood-framed photos of Dad on one of the main walls. "Jenos Alexand'r: Decorated member of the Nova Prime."
We toured most of the Base's sectors. Like the Firing Room, that is, where the Officers practice their marksmanship with the Blasters (the Nova's default weapon) or also the Flying Room, where the scouting corps flew with their Jetpacks. These devices are used by the Recon Troop when they are on the hunt.
Shooting and flying with those things is harder than it looks... or so I am told, because the truth is that I was never really "on the hunt".
My father taught me at home. Actually, he taught me everything he thought was important at any given moment, so I learned a lot about his great adventures and experiences while he was a Nova and about life.
He is always the brave and fearless one. He usually needs me in the kitchen. I'm like the Chef of the team. Don't underestimate me, it's my specialty. Our favorite dish is Escamoles. (The secret is in the amount of salt).
Anyway, we only had to go through the Vault, where one of the most powerful objects in the Galaxy was located. When we went down, we saw an armored room, heavily guarded by armed guards. Dad told me that was the real reason we went down there: to show me the Power Stone, which was inside. The Stone was contained inside a gray spherical capsule. This capsule contained the immense energy of the Stone.
Suddenly, the facility's alarms began to sound. Flickering red lights dimmed the place. The walls began to shake.
With three fingers I formed a claw over my heart and made a scratch. It was a gesture Dad had taught me long ago to ward off evil and bring good fortune in adventures.
A guard received information over the communicator.
-What's going on? What's wrong? - I asked.
- Break-in. - said Officer Nova. A tremor shook the base.
-You mean the base is being invaded? I asked, more concerned.
Seconds later, the guard was petrified. It seemed that the report he had been given was brutal.
-Are you all right," Jenos asked.
-It's... It's the..." the guard's voice broke. We looked on worriedly.
-The BLACK ORDER IS HERE! Run for your lives," continued the officer. Immediately, the atmosphere turned into chaos. Dad tried to calm him down and restrain him to lead us to the exit.
Knowing his history as a mythical member of the Nova force, the Officer gave Jenos one of the Blasters and a small Jetpack to defend himself.
-Okay, we have to move fast. He led them to the exit, your weapon will serve as a backup, Mr. Jenos," said the Officer.
-All right, I'll cover you... Let's move! - replied Jenos quickly.
-Yes, cover us, of course. And where do you want me? Do I stay in the rear or..." I said, enthusiastically.
-We talked about this, Sam...
-What did we talk about? We're a team and you need help. Let me help, Dad," I replied.
-Listen, just follow us and don't do any of your own," said Jenos.
-What? Why? This is the perfect time to prove it.
-Prove what?
-That I'm not useless.
-You're not useless, Sam. You set up the radio, you look at the map, you set up the Escamoles...- My father was looking at me, trying to come up with something else. - Okay, it sounded more important in my head, but it's true.
-You see," I replied.
-Wait, Sam, is this because of what happened when we were robbed in Y'Golonac?
-Listen, I know the truth... I know you see me as some kind of pathetic, lovable puppy, but I can take care of myself and I'm probably stronger than you think, Dad.
-You're terrified," he continued.
-What do you mean, "I'm terrified"? -
-You become paralyzed. You start sweating, your hands shake and your legs turn to jelly," he continued, "Believe me, I felt it too. I don't want to make you feel bad, but now is not the time, son- -Okay, why all that?
-Ok, why did all that sound like it was rehearsed?
-We've got to move, Sam. Run!" Dad said, walking away toward the stairs. I stayed in the same position.
-Yeah, okay, it scared me a little, but don't you ever get scared?
-And I'm afraid of losing you, Sam..." I looked dad in the eyes. There was a few seconds of silence.
KA- BOOM! There was a sudden explosion that landed in front of us. I remember feeling crushed, crushed, and shaken all at the same time. When I managed to shake myself out of the daze, I saw the roof split open like eggshells and I was on the edge of the ravine. The wall behind me fell into the sea and I was one step away from falling 200 meters to the beach below.
When the daze stopped, I accurately remembered the piercing screams of terror of people running in terror. I clung to the back of one of the destroyed columns, contemplating the disaster. I noticed that I had several cuts from glass and splinters all over most of my body.
Something caught my attention. Among all the beams, debris and dust, I caught a glimpse of a spherical object that caught my attention: The Stone of Power contained in its capsule. Probably, the explosion had destroyed the armored chamber, releasing the Stone.
I reached out my arm and took the capsule. I slowly stood up, while appreciating every detail of the Stone.
-I think you've got something of mine, boy," thundered a deep and powerful voice.
As the smoke from the explosion cleared, a huge formidable figure emerged from the flames of the place. All around him, ashes and papers were scattered on the cracked ground.
The ground shook as he approached. He wore golden armor, so shiny it dazzled me. He unsheathed a large double sword from his back, and began to point it at me.
What stood out most was his left arm, with a large golden gauntlet. It had small spaces to insert the Stones, though they were still empty.
Finally he stepped out of the shadows and his face was revealed: it was THANOS. His helmet covered his head but I distinguished him by the purple skin and his distinctive jaw.
He stopped in front of me and extended his palm.
-Give me the Stone, Xandarian," he exclaimed as he looked at me as if it was time for the massacre. Suddenly, he grabbed me by the neck and slowly lifted me off the ground.
Each time he was squeezing me tighter and tighter. At one point I think I even turned purple. But finally I gave in and had to let go of the Stone. Immediately, he let go and I fell to the floor in pieces. The capsule began to roll across the floor until it touched Thanos' feet and he bent down to pick it up.
He was immersed in it. He looked at it with admiration. He grabbed the capsule with both hands and tried to open it but something stopped him. A shot hits his back, knocking him off balance and causing him to drop the Stone.
Thanos turns around and sees Jenos, aiming the Blaster at him. Jenos moves forward slowly but surely, still aiming at the Titan. On his side, Thanos also begins to move forward, drawing his double sword. Thus begins the battle between the two.
Thanos had a difficult time facing Jenos, who used the Jetpack and Blasters to attack the invader. Thanos, for his part, would use the potential of his double sword to rival Dad's fighting form.
Meanwhile, I grabbed the Stone and got back up to help my father.
Thanos leapt forward with blinding speed and slammed his palm into my father's chest, crushing him against the white stone pillar. Dad fell sprawled on the ground, leaving a large bloodstain on the crashing rock.
-NOOOOO, DAD! -I shouted. My own voice sounded strange to me, as if I were underwater. I wanted to run to him, but I froze. I started sweating, my hands were shaking and my legs turned to jelly.
I collapsed to my knees and the small Stone container slipped from my hand. It began to roll across the floor until it touched Thanos' feet. He wiped the blood from his mouth and bent down to pick up the Stone.
From the hole in the ceiling came another figure floating slowly. Thinner than Thanos and with a grayish skin tone. It looked like his henchman and a member of the Dark Order. He landed in front of Thanos and immediately knelt before him.
-My lord, your time has come," said the henchman, "Finally, you are the possessor of one of the Infinity Stones. Only ancestral and omniscient beings were able to carry them. This is the first step of his mission.
-The restoration of the Universe is imminent. Soon, half of the people will fall and there will be enough resources for all. The remaining ones will surely be grateful for your work.
-All right, do you have the location of the next Stone," asked Thanos.
-We have received reports, my lord. The Space Stone is on an Asgardian ship, 10,100km away from here.
-Asgardian?" questioned Thanos.
-Probably boarded by the god of Thunder and his reinforcements.
-Okay, prepare the weaponry... we're leaving now," the henchman leaves.
-I'm sorry, kid... I hope you understand that this wasn't personal and that you remember it didn't have to end like this- a blue beam teleported Thanos, in less than a second he reached his ship.
I crawled over to my father, hoping to do something. I grabbed onto his arm, overcome with panic. I arranged him to sit on the rock. Amazingly, he managed to speak, but I didn't hear what he was saying. By now I had gone completely deaf and was seeing everything in slow motion.
I dried my eyes with my sleeve and tried to tug on his arm to get him to get up and come with me. The whole building was shaking and the flames were getting more and more intense. I looked at him with tear-filled eyes. He said a single word, which I understood by the movement of his lips.
-Go away.
-No, dad. I'm not leaving you, let's go- I realized that his legs were crippled and he couldn't move. Jenos looked me in the eyes and grabbed my shoulder:
-sometimes you just gotta roll the dice, boy- he smiled, pained. At that instant, Dad pressed a button he held in his other hand. When he removed his palm from my shoulder, I realized that he had actually placed the little Jetpack on my back.
The thrusters activated and I shot out of the building, through the hole in the wall and out to sea. The last thing I remember was falling through the rubble and a huge purple explosion ended up collapsing the foundation of the building, along with my father.
Hours later, a Nova officer from the rescue teams pulled me out of the rubble. I was blinded by the light when I was freed. I looked around and realized I was on the beach. What appeared to be a beach. The sands turned to ash and thousands of debris covered the entire coastline. The only thing I could identify was the sea, I had probably landed there and the tide washed me onto the beach.
The rest of the large building was a complete ruin.
Another member of the rescue troop arrived quickly to help me. Between the two officers they took me by the shoulders and carried me to the top of the cliff.
On the way up, I was beginning to understand everything. Thanos wanted the Stones to exterminate half the Galaxy. I didn't understand why, or what for. Nor why I was such a fool. If I had listened to Dad this would have ended differently.
"It didn't have to end this way" kept echoing in my head at the time. It was all my fault. Half of my town would disappear. I had to do something to fix it or at least intend to.
When we arrived upstairs, a crowd of people were looking at the ruins of Nova Base. Suddenly, one of the officers who helped me upstairs began to feel sick. With headaches and dizziness. Many people in the crowd also started to feel sick.
Suddenly, the Nova Officer turns to dust in a second. Half of the town followed him. Children, women, men, without discriminating race, 50% were wiped out. The other Officer could only look confused but I knew the truth.
-I'm going to look for him," I said, furiously.
- What? Who are you talking about?
- Thanos. He said he was on an Asgardian ship. I'm going to find him.
- You're crazy, kid. It's all chaos, the community needs to be united. We don't know what's going on.
-Join me. We will recover the fallen, and if we can't... we will kill Thanos in his honor.
-It's an impossible journey, kid," he said.
-That's not true, I have my ship. We'll be there in 5 hours if we hurry- -The Mordekaiser II?
-The Mordekaiser II? That's your ship? It won't even last a 15 minute trip- said the Officer- This is not a situation to be impulsive- -I'm sick and tired of hiding- -I'm sick and tired of hiding- -I'm sick and tired of hiding.
-I'm tired of hiding... I'm tired of waiting for things to get better... I'm going to do something about it, even if I have to do it alone.
-What do you mean?" the officer asked.
-That it's time for someone else to cook the Escamoles," he looked at me and frowned. Immediately, I left the place towards my ship, determined for what I was about to do.
I returned to the Mordekaiser II. I took a backpack and emptied it. I put everything I needed for the journey ahead: supplies and clothes. I searched and searched all over the ship. One thing I searched impatiently until I found it: Dad's antique briefcase.
I blew the dust off and opened it. Inside was Jenos' old Nova suit, with black, white and gold details. There was also his legendary Nova helmet.
Excited, I equipped the suit, with its weapons and Jetpack, and began my journey. I sat in the pilot's seat and took control of the ship's controls. My crusade was about to begin.
END OF THE PROLOGUE…
THE STORY WILL CONTINUE IN CHAPTER 1