Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel
Here it is folks, the second to last chapter of the story. Its been a hell of a ride, but all good things must come to an end, but sometimes the end of one story can be the beginning of another.
The Hunt
Chapter 31: Sacrifice
We all knew where we were the day we saw another world above ours. I was in my office figuring out what to write about the new world I'd know would be created after the conflict was over. For a moment I started thinking that the world would end, I'm sure everyone in the world felt that way when they looked at their TV sets and saw what was happening to Washington. The sight of the massacre of our greatest heroes had become the sight of a world-ending crisis. Reading this article probably won't make you any wiser as to why it all happened; I know I'm not any wiser. What I do know is this, if not for the sacrifices made that day, I don't think anyone, myself included would have been around to write these articles that either praise or insult the heroes whom sacrificed their lives to save our whole world.
Cade and Sven watched the incredible and terrifying walking forest stampede across the landscape. Air force jets slammed into its surface and with every step it took, the ground beneath it withered. The Avengers had only just begun to recover from the energy wave that Muramasa used to incapacitate them. Though a handful had been wounded, no one was dead. That made Sieg sigh in relief despite the situation. Muramasa had one more card to play, but there were still people capable of standing to fight it. He knelt by Virgil's side, still reeling from the discovery that the man was his half brother. Helping one another to stand, the brothers looked at Swamp Thing as it continued its stampede in the direction of the ruined capital. A crystal construct formed at their feet, lifting them off of the floor.
"Lets go Virgil," Sieg said.
"Yeah we'll stop it from moving," Virgil nodded his head.
The two brothers began flying after the creature. Sunfire, Prime and a few other Avengers, including Stark's iron men Shotgun, Bones and Igor followed Virgil and Sieg.
"Mr Wagner, its Jay and Julian," Sofia motioned to their two unconscious prisoners as Kurt and Logan ran towards her.
"The students whom died," Nightcrawler gasped.
"The dead bodies unaccounted for that Sieg was actually looking for whilst Cyclops had you all preparing for your 'mutant messiah'," X-23 explained.
"I have to admit Logan, Laura's right, Sieg was doing more for everyone than Scott has had you doing," Jubilee said.
"That's right, he rescued us whilst Cyclops kept our imprisonment secret," M said.
"HEY AVENGERS!" Cap yelled.
"Wait, we're X-men not Avengers," Rogue said.
"Not today it seems," Nightcrawler muttered.
"We need to get a transport together and do what we can to stop that creature, but first we're going to need some Intel, Doctor Strange we need to find Man-Thing, that creature seems to look like it for some reason, there has to be some connection between them, Wolverine we need to borrow one of your students," Cap explained.
"Which one?" Logan asked.
"Cypher!"
Meanwhile, Virgil and Sieg led a team of aerial Avengers against the black Swamp Thing. The creature itself didn't even respond to their presence, but the vines across its body did. Like tendrils they extended and shot out towards the heroes. Sunfire flew around several vines before firing a blast into the back of Swamp Thing's neck. Prime gasped as several vines wrapped across his body, but a quick heat blast by Hyperion cut the vines apart. America Chavez ripped the vines apart, whilst Noh-Varr shot at them. A torrent of wind suddenly flew into the vines, cutting them apart; Sofia flew close to Sieg, alongside Sooraya.
"Sieg, nothing we throw at it is going to make a dent, we need to regroup," Sofia explained.
"Then lets see if we can at least block its way," Virgil said.
"Virgil's right, if we can at least slow it down it'll give the egg heads time to come up with a plan," Sieg explained.
Sunfire and Firestar flew ahead of Swamp Thing and let out a giant blast of fire that consumed the beast. It rushed through the flames, knocking Shiro and Angelica aside. Iceman slid across his ice slide, firing ice blasts into Swamp Thing's legs. The monster bashed aside the ice crystals before breaking the ice slide, knocking Bobby towards the floor.
"The creature seems to have eyes, maybe if we block its sight," Sooraya suggested.
Sofia nodded her head and directed Dust's sand form directly into Swamp Thing's eyes. But it kept on running, rushing through the sand storm.
"Its relentless," X-23 growled.
"Maybe it isn't led by outer senses like smell or sight, maybe it instinctually knows where its target is, if it stays on its current path where is it going to end up?" Virgil asked.
"Hindsight do you have an answer to that?" Sieg clicked his communicator.
"Lets see, by my calculations…Jesus, it's heading for Washington, but Washington's dead there's no one there," Hindsight Lad stated.
"Except the towns in Swamp Thing's way aren't," Sofia said.
"Good thing we convinced Ariel and Lila Cheney to help with evacuation," Wolverine muttered.
"But Sieg there's another problem, that portal above the Earth, its still open!" Hindsight Lad said.
"Damn it, patch me into Avengers communication channels…"
"You're already an Avenger Sieg," Cap said over the radio.
The Quinn jet flew over Swamp Thing, dropping several firebombs onto its shoulders. Cap and Black Widow sat in the cockpit, looking over Sieg and his brother as they flew around Swamp Thing. They closed their eyes, forming gun batteries made of crystal that fired blasts of energy at the creature.
"We aren't making a dent," Virgil snarled.
"Good thing we've called in some outside help," Widow said.
Energy blasts suddenly flew into the side of Swamp Thing, ripping its left arm off. A spacecraft of some kind flew past the Quinn jet, banking and firing another volley of blasts into Swamp Thing's body.
"We wouldn't be very good guardians if we didn't fight threats against the whole universe," Rocket Racoon spoke over the craft's loud speakers.
Rocket sat in the aircraft with his fellow Guardians Star Lord, Gamora and Moon Dragon behind him.
"Sieg, Lilandra loaned us some imperial guards, everyone understands now, Earth is the centre of everything, the galaxy, our whole reality hinges on the survival of Earth," Star Lord explained.
Star Bolt, Manta and Smasher flew around Swamp thing, firing energy blasts at it before Earthquake landed on the ground. He slammed his feet into the ground, creating a gigantic crevice. Swamp Thing however jumped over the gigantic crack. But much to the shock of the heroes, a gigantic freighter flew into the monster, tearing it apart and crashing into the ground behind it. Sieg and Virgil looked towards where the freighter had come from. They widened their eyes in shock as Magneto flew over the area.
"He's a good guy now?" Virgil asked.
"Believe it or not yeah," Sieg smiled.
The group landed on the ground, where certain members of the reinforcement groups gathered. Quasar and Groot came from the Guardians, Magneto and Exodus from Utopia and Cerise and Warbird from the Shiar.
"Hello Sieg, I am Cerise, Kurt says much about you!"
"Really?" Sieg asked the Shiar woman.
"Yes, he quite admires you," Cerise said.
"Your name has spread across the galaxy Sieg, you have proven yourself a capable warrior," Warbird said.
Warbird suddenly grabbed the back of Sieg's head and pulled him into a kiss. Cerise sighed and shook her head, whilst X-23 snarled. Sieg stood in wide-eyed shock as Warbird shoved her tongue down his throat.
"Does this happen to him often?" Virgil asked Wolverine.
"Bub you should've seen what the Cuckoos did to him!"
Sieg blushed heavily as Warbird let him go, walking away with a smirk on her face as X-23 growled at her. He shook the blush aside and looked to Magneto, lowering his eyes slightly.
"Mr Lensherr, thanks for coming but…I think you need to see Wanda," Sieg sighed.
Magneto was about to open his mouth to speak, but the ground suddenly shook.
"Please tell me that's that imperial guard who looks like a grey," Sofia said.
"Its not Earthquake," Cerise said.
"But it is an earthquake," Quasar quipped.
The ground burst open and black vines began to form together. They reformed the black Swamp Thing but with layers of bark across its' chest and face, forming a pair of antlers and wings.
"It can fly now?" Sofia asked.
"It learns it adapts, it evolves, its just like you said Wind Dancer its relentless, whatever is of value in Washington is something it needs to reach no matter the cost," Virgil explained.
"We need to regroup, anyone still capable of fighting then fight, the rest of us need to think of a way to stop that thing and settle that problem with the portal," Cap explained over the load speaker.
As the heroes travelled back towards Oklahoma, Carina teleported there with Cade and Sven. The heroes looked towards Sven and widened their eyes, even his allies whom had detailed knowledge of his abilities were shocked by the fact that he had skin again.
"Have you lost your abilities?" Kyle asked.
"No, my connection with the spirit world is still strong, the energies of the cosmic cube must have put my powers back to their original state, probably the same with Cade," Sven explained.
"HUNTER!"
Sven jumped aside as Ares ran at Cade, grabbing him by his neck and lifting him off of the ground.
"Finally I shall have vengeance for my brother's death," the god of war snarled.
"Wow, a hypocrite in every action you take, you really are a god," Cade huffed.
"Release him Ares," Carina waved her hand, transporting Cade out of Ares's grasp.
"Why is he here?" Cassie pointed at Cade.
"Cassie calm down, Cade's methods were bloody but he had his heart set on a goal," Scott said.
"Some of us are free of his influence," Swordsman said and Deathcry nodded her head.
"He used us like puppets," the Shiar woman snarled.
"Oh yeah, cause you're just sweet and innocent aren't you, is that why Captain Universe killed you in self-defence?" Cade asked.
"EVERYONE QUIET!"
The heroes turned to Hulkling and Genis-Vell, the former of the two held their father close. Phyla-Vell landed on the ground and rushed towards her genetic family, whilst the leaders of the Skrull, Kree, Shiar and the Inhumans landed. Medusa stood in place of her husband, with Lilandra under the watchful guard of Gladiator as always and the Super Skrull and Ronan the Accuser representing their own people with Xavin and Adam Warlock leading contingents of Skrull and Kree troopers respectively.
"The events on Earth have shaken the universe itself," Ronan said.
"Good to see you finally realise that," Cade growled.
"Cade quiet down you're only going to make things worse," Sven said.
"This time the effects can be seen galaxies away," Super Skrull said.
"We got the call from a fleet that was helping a world evacuate its inhabitants from Galactus, he suddenly disappeared and the energy effect was similar to that of a cosmic cube," Adam explained.
"We'll figure out a suitable way to fix the problem later, right now, we must mourn one of our own," Ronan sighed as he turned to Captain Marvel.
Mar-Vell looked at his three children and smiled.
"These have been some of my happiest moments, because I have been able to see the kind of man you have become," the galactic hero smiled as Teddy took his hand.
"I just met you, the real you…you cant leave me this time, what about the Technarch virus…it could…"
"It cant Hulkling," Cade said. "The virus was designed to reanimate and my powers rejoined the souls of the people I used with their bodies…those who weren't killed in the city or here have to suffer to what ever natural forces that killed them, like age for Miss America and Whizzer and…"
"Cancer for me," Mar-Vell chuckled.
"You just got back," Teddy said.
"And I feel like I've lived more in this moment, fighting at your side than I ever had before, there's something you must know Dorrek before I met your mother there was another…Una, she had had a child, a boy we had to let another family raise unless our affair was discovered…you have another brother Dorrek, his name is Kai-Vell you must find him and your mother," the hero explained.
"Kai-Vell, he serves under my command," Ronan said.
"Ensure that he gets these," Mar-Vell removed his bands and gave them to Genis.
"But her highness was killed when Galactus consumed the home world," Xavin said.
"No…she survived, find her my son, find them both, keep them…safe!"
"DAD!" Hulkling yelled.
Billy fell down beside his boyfriend and wrapped his arms around him. Teddy cried as he cradled his dead father. Cassie clung to her own father, never willing to let him go out of fear he would fade away again.
"We aren't just going to give up are we?" Brute asked.
"Not yet Rick," Azure Eagle said.
"You and me working together, just like old times right?"
"No its not," the winged hero scowled.
"We still have a responsibility to stop that monster and that portal, its still expanding, has anyone thought of a way to close it?" Spider-man asked, looking to Richards and Stark.
"We're dealing with a cosmic force, the only way to deal with a cosmic force is to fight it with something equally as unknown," Reed explained.
"The Infinity gems," Namor suggested.
"No, if we use such a power it could prove catastrophic," Medusa explained. "But what of that man Cade Hunter, why is he not bound?"
"He's here to help," Sven said, stepping between Medusa and Cade.
"Help? As he helped my people, killing hundreds and slicing my husband's throat!"
"Is Black Bolt all right?" Cade asked.
"You ask that question now?" Medusa glared.
"I know what I've done is wrong, it takes a graver punishment than the kind you can give me to make up for all of that," Cade huffed.
"That's enough all of you," Cap said. "Cade comes into our custody, its our planet but I understand everyone now has a stake in this, so lets put our best heads together and figure out how to close that portal, right now that's the priority!"
"Wrong Steven Rogers, you face two reality shattering threats and if either one is left then it will mean the destruction of this world and its mirror in the neighbouring Multiverse," Carina said.
"What is she talking about?" Spider-man asked.
"Everyone this is Carina Walters, she's Michael Korvac's ex wife and like him has cosmic awareness, she knows about timelines and the multiverse," Hank Pym explained.
"So she may be able to close the portal?" Tigra asked.
"No, the only way to stop the portal is as Reed Richards said, for another force of equal power to face it, on the other side of the portal," Carina explained.
"What does that even mean?" Thor asked.
"A cosmic cube, she means a cosmic cube," Tony laughed as he shook his head.
"Where are we going to find another cosmic cube?" Janet asked.
"Wait…I have a theory, its just a theory at this stage but Sven, Sieg, your armour and the armour of your allies can absorb certain types of cosmic energy right?" Reed asked.
"We have been known to," Sven said.
"I can absorb energy too," Carol said.
"No that is impossible…for Muramasa has designed the portal so that only one of Sven's allies can go through it," Carina explained.
The heroes, in particular the members of Sven's group looked at Carina in shock.
"With the power of the cube as well as his own vile magic, Muramasa twisted the portal, making it so that only certain individuals empowered by the spirit realm could close it, at the same time he bought that creature Swamp Thing into this world!"
"But what is Swamp Thing?" Cap asked.
"It's the counterpart of Man Thing!"
The heroes looked towards a glowing portal. Dr Strange emerged from the portal, followed by Cypher of the New Mutants and the bush like Man Thing.
"I didn't ask you to bring him back Strange," Cap said.
"Man Thing wanted to help," Cypher said.
"Man Thing is a dumb creature," Namor said.
"No, Man Thing is intelligent, it's a protector of life just as its counterpart Swamp Thing is. My mutant abilities allow me to communicate with anyone, even a celestial creature like Man Thing, it protects life and on every Earth, across every single multiverse there is an avatar of life that serves the purpose of protecting it," Doug explained.
"So what is Swamp Thing trying to do, why is it heading for Washington?" Tony asked.
"Swamp Thing has been corrupted by something that's unique to its Earth, this force uses the dead just as Selene and Gothica had done, but whilst the technarch virus has a limit, this force has only one weakness, a weapon native to its home dimension…but we do not have such a weapon…Swamp Thing will go to Washington, the sight of the greatest massacre of heroes on the planet and will use the energy it absorbed from the Tesseract to open a portal to its own multiverse, to a world where the people in possession of that weapon do not yet know its power, a world where it will send its un dead army of Avengers to kill that world's inhabitants and then it will move onto the next world and the next world," Carina explained.
"Jesus, so technically it won't effect our world," Tony said.
"No, we are not leaving another world to suffer our fate, we do what we can to stop Swamp Thing from reaching Washington," Cap explained.
The other Avengers nodded their heads and those whom could fly began taking flight. Gladiator took to the skies as well, followed by Xavin and Super Skrull.
"Which leaves the issue of the portal, if Carina is right and only one of you can close it then…it'll be up to you all to decide who goes," Cap sighed.
The captain hesitantly turned and ran towards the Quinn jet. Scarlet Witch lingered with Zack, looking towards Sven. Jason looked at his brother and his friends and shook his head.
"There has to be another way, there just has to be," a tear fell down his cheek.
"Tell Kate and Mom that I'm sorry," Sven said.
The two men hugged and Jason ran to the younger heroes. Wiccan began to chant the spell to transport them to the frontlines, but Jason stopped him, pointing to Prime, Grasshopper, Karen, Dust, X-23 and Wind Dancer. They stayed around Sieg and Virgil, regarding them both with the admiration and friendship they had formed with them.
"Don't volunteer Sieg, you still need to help us fix the X-men," Sofia said.
"Yeah, you're the best damn team mate I ever had Sieg," Grasshopper said.
"You were in the GLA Hopper, they don't set a very high bar," Prime muttered. "I just wanted to say Sieg, thanks for getting me back into the hero game!"
"Allah bless you Sieg, may not even the dust blind you to your path," Sooraya bowed her head.
She flinched slightly as Sieg hugged her.
"If anyone goes through that portal its me Sieg, I hate this world anyway," Virgil said.
"Why are you all saying goodbye?" Cade asked. "You already have a prime candidate to close that portal, me, let me go through," he snarled.
"You still have to pay for your crimes here," Natasha said, binding Cade's hands with cuffs.
"NO!" he yelled. "Sven, forcing our armour back, the strain will kill us, you have to let me be the one to do it, this is the only redemption I'll ever have," he explained.
"You have killed members of my people," Medusa snarled.
"You used the bodies of great heroes to do your bidding," Ronan said.
"And murdered anyone that got in your way," Fury added.
"I KNOW!" Cade yelled. "I know that I've done wrong, that I deserve to spend the rest of my life locked away, but there's a chance for me to save this world and I don't care if I'm acknowledged for it, Richards…you take credit for it, say you pulled some brilliance out of that genius mind of yours. Sven please, don't let them take me, let me do this!"
He looked at Sven, his eyes hysterically begged him to let him have his chance of redemption, and to let him put his own life on the line. Cade looked around but saw no trace of Carina. She was gone, and it seemed as if she too had abandoned him. Sven said nothing, but his eyes spoke volumes. He was sorry but he believed that Cade needed more than just a single act of heroism to redeem all that he had done. Cade yelled at Sven as Widow and Hawkeye dragged him towards Cap's Quinn jet. Once he was inside, they threw him into the brig and left him there to shed tears for all he had done, and all he would be unable to do. Everything else was left in the hands of Sven and the people whom drew power from the spirits. Kyle the bearer of the corruption of harmony hatred said goodbye to Sarah Stacy, the woman he had come to love during their case against the Goblin Cult. Jack, the bearer of the spirit of happiness stood on his own, but still smiled. Rick the bearer of the spirit of strength braced himself for the inevitable decision to come. Lazlo, the bearer of the spirit of friendship was unfortunately still comatose in Utopia, and Hellfire the bearer of the corruption of love, lust was nowhere to be seen. Sieg and Virgil as the bearers of faith and brotherhood respectively stood together proudly.
"This isn't goodbye guys, its see you later," Sieg smiled.
"Goodbye," Virgil said.
"Wow, way to bring the mood down bro!"
"You should be more serious!"
"I'm always serious."
"Are you?" Laura asked.
Sieg dropped his smile and looked towards Laura. They looked one another in the eyes before Sieg smiled again.
"I promise Laura, we'll see one another again," he said.
Laura nodded her head and turned her back to Sieg. Neither one saw, but they both were close to tears. Sven, the bearer of the spirit of heroism made it his personal objective to be the one to close the portal. Even if it meant forcing his recharging powers out would kill him. He knelt in front of Zack and hugged him.
"I'm so proud of you Zack, I know you'll do right by me, but if you ever need guidance talk to Sieg or Jason and don't listen to what people say about your mother, she's a hero," Sven explained.
"Goodbye dad," Zack said.
Sven nodded to Wanda and turned to his friends. But before he could, Ms Marvel swung him around and pushed her lips against his. He gripped the small of her back as she rested her hands on his shoulders. They massaged their lips together, closing their eyes in pure bliss. Carol wanted to kiss the man at least once, but having done it she was shedding a few tears. Sven wiped the tears away as he returned the kiss, wanting it to last forever. But they both separated and smiled at one another, completely understanding what the other had to do.
"Once you have decided whom will make this sacrifice, my ship will take you as far to the portal as it can," Lilandra said.
"Know that whomever chooses to go will make this sacrifice bearing the honour and respect of four galactic civilisations," Medusa explained.
Kyle huffed as the heroes and aliens walked away. Once their loved ones were gone, teleported away by Blink he laughed.
"They're acting as if doing this will kill us," he said.
"Doing this will kill Sven, he barely has enough power left," Brute noted.
"That same thing applies to Lazlo, if by some miracle he does drag himself out of bed he wont last outside of the portal," Azure Eagle explained.
"One of the three of us could do it," Warp said.
"We'd just end up trapped in a world we're unfamiliar with, with no idea whether we'll be able to get back," Brute sighed.
"Hey we're volunteering too," Virgil growled.
"You've only recently gained your connection with the spirits Virgil, you haven't even manifested your armour," Sieg explained.
"This may seem stupid and just a little terrible, but how about drawing straws?" Brute asked.
"Rock paper scissors lizard Spock!" Warp suggested at super speed.
"We're not playing that game again Jack," Azure Eagle snarled.
"Oh come on, one last time!"
"No one's going to draw straws all right, I'll do it," Sven said.
"We volunteer!" his three friends retorted.
"No way are we going to just be put aside," Virgil said.
"Sven, pushing yourself like that will kill you, you're too worn out from your fight with Cade," Azure Eagle said.
"I know that, but this right here, this is the best friend, the best father, the best hero I can be!"
Sieg lowered his head slightly and sighed.
"Okay, you win father," he said.
Sven looked at Sieg with tears in his eyes.
"You called me father," he gasped.
"Because that's what you've always been to me," Sieg smiled.
"Walk with me Sieg, there are some things I need to tell you," Sven said as he turned towards the Shiar ship.
Iron man and his army of sentient armours were at the front of an army of heroes. Even ordinary people without powers had offered their guns to hold the position of the highway leading to Washington. Each fighter saw Swamp Thing in the distance, stampeding towards the city as if its life depended on it. Man Thing raised its head and let out a sharp growl. The heroes had been joined not just by the imperial guard but Abner Jenkins and the remains of the Thunderbolts, which only included Radioactive man, Moonstone and Songbird, whom had forced herself out of bed to help. She looked to Genis-Vell and the former lovers exchanged regretful looks before gripping one another's hands.
"This is it everyone, the only chance we'll have, fight with everything you have," Thor raised Stormbreaker and the surviving warriors of Asgard raised their swords.
Storm closed her eyes as the clouds above her darkened.
"FLAME ON!" Johnny Storm yelled, covering himself in flames.
Thing slammed his fists together and cracked his neck into place. The new Ronin drew his sword and Rocket Racoon loaded his rifle.
"This is what we trained for," Reptil muttered.
"Not what I trained for, but damned if I'm not going to fight with everything I've got," Striker said.
"He's getting closer," Veil noted.
"I love you Jen," Mettle said to Hazmat.
"Time to finish this," Jason said as the mouth plate of his mask slid across.
Zack drew his escrima sticks and assumed a fighting stance.
"Any more last minute speeches 'Aragorn'?" Janet asked Tony.
"Only what Victory Peace has already taught us, that this is our world and whether we like one another or not we all want to defend it, so lets give everything we have to defend it," Iron man explained.
The heroes individually nodded their heads and looked to Swamp Thing.
"Susan," Reed nodded to his wife.
The Invisible Woman put her hands to her head and formed the biggest barrier she had ever formed. Swamp Thing suddenly slammed into the barrier and for the first time since Swamp Thing had arrived, the heroes had hope, for Sue's barrier had stopped Swamp Thing in its tracks.
"FIRE!" Tony yelled.
Any Avenger with energy manipulation abilities unleashed what they had on Swamp Thing, knocking it backwards. Sofia released blasts of pressurised air, feeding the flames of Human Torch, Firestar and Sunfire. Striker and Surge electrically enhanced Magneto's magnetic blasts, allowing him to blast off Swamp Thing's eye. The creature released a blast of fire from its mouth.
"He can control elements too?" Veil asked.
Man Thing suddenly stepped forward and a mass of trees burst out of the ground. The trees acted as a shield, stopping the flames from reaching the heroes. A flurry of energy beams of various colours burst through the trees and hit Swamp Thing in the head. Hulk, Thing, She-Hulk, A-Bomb and Ares rushed through the trees, running towards Swamp Thing. They jumped and began tearing off the creatures decaying trunks and vines. But for every vine they tore off many more took its place. Hulk yelled as he punched Swamp Thing across the face. Stature, Scott, Eric, Hank and Janet grew to gigantic size and ran at Swamp Thing. As Swamp Thing threw A-Bomb and Ares across the country, Eric and Scott tackled the creature. Swamp Thing slid across the ground and caught Stature's fist in its arms. Eric and Scott attempted another assault on the creature, but Swamp Thing stretched its arm, striking the two Ant men with wooden tendrils. Cassie kicked Swamp Thing in the head, but the monster wrapped his tentacles around her. He pulled back, throwing Cassie head first into the ground.
"Iron team, lets go!" Tony commanded as his plate slid over his face.
He and his Iron men, followed by Iron Lad and War Machine flew at Swamp Thing. Repulsor rays slammed into the black creature. It released bursts of wind that threw some of the Iron men back. Tony himself fired his Uni-beam into Swamp Thing's face, only for Swamp Thing to manipulate the ground, creating a pillar that slammed into Tony's back. War Machine and Iron Lad fired their weapons together, hitting Swamp Thing's back. Two tendrils burst from its shoulders, lashing War Machine and Iron Lad aside. A gold and blue Iron man suit suddenly flew in the path of Swamp Thing, firing its Uni beam until it stumbled back.
"Nice shot Mainframe, EVERYBODY HIT IT AGAIN!" Tony yelled.
Lightning crashed down on the monster, followed by a volley of rocket and gunfire. It slammed its foot into the ground, creating cracks and pillars that trashed the military jeeps and Sentinels. Spider-man jumped over the cracks, pulling the pilots of the tanks out, alongside Scarlet Spider and Arana. Sunfire, Firestar and Human Torch flew up to Swamp Thing and began hitting him with beams of fire. Water suddenly gushed from Swamp Thing's mouth, drenching the elementals. Reed stretched his body until it was like a trampoline, using it to slow the fall of the elementals. Sue created another construct, hitting Swamp Thing's chin and knocking it back slightly.
"Are we actually doing any damage?" Johnny asked.
"Hard to say, he seems to keep growing back," Reed said.
Man Thing raised its head and glared at Swamp Thing. The representative of the green of 616 narrowed its eyes, glaring at the corrupted creature seeking to end life. Green vines and tree logs suddenly burst out of the ground, wrapping around Swamp Thing's body.
"NOWS OUR CHANCE!" Wolverine yelled.
He, Anachronism, Kid Briton, X-23 and Jimmy jumped at the creature, slashing the black vines that extended from its body. Reptil grew into a T-rex and began ripping chunks off of Swamp Thing's feet. Songbird and Genis fired energy blasts into Swamp Thing's face and Kate Bishop knocked back arrow after arrow at the twisted creature. Speed rushed into Kate, moving her out of the path of a flurry of vines.
"There's just too many," Tommy panted, sweat running down his face.
Rogue absorbed Wolverine's powers and hacked at the vines alongside Blade and Shang-Chi. Hulk landed on the creature's back and began ripping chunks off of its body. X-23 flipped around, slicing apart several vines with her feet claws. Hyperion and Vision fired their optic blasts, burning off Swamp Thing's left arm. But as soon as the arm fell, more vines latched onto the damaged appendage, reattaching it to Swamp Thing's body. It swung its arm around, bashing Hyperion aside. But Vision phased through Swamp Thing's arm and into the monster's body.
"Vish, what are you doing?" Patriot yelled up at the android.
He sliced a few vines with his shield before two grabbed him.
"ELI!" MVP yelled, throwing his shield into the vines.
Eli rolled across the floor, stopping at MVP's feet. The two patriotic heroes stood back-to-back, slicing apart vine after vine that came at them. Swamp Thing reached into its body and pulled out Vision.
"VISION!" Cassie screamed.
The dark creature tore the android apart, sending its individuals pieces falling to the floor.
"DAMN MONSTER JUST DIE!" Havok yelled.
Swamp Thing dragged its arm across the ground, sweeping aside the heroes in front of it. It focused its eyes on Man Thing and roared at the creature. Both avatars of the green faced one another in a duel of life and anti life, masses of decaying greenery clashed with the trees Man Thing summoned. Fire gushed from their mouths, slamming against one another. Man Thing gradually began to grow in its size, though it still dwarfed its darker counterpart it punched Swamp Thing across the face. Swamp Thing retaliated, punching Man Thing's face and slamming it into the ground. The black creature stepped over its green counterpart and continued its rampage. Suddenly, Man Thing attempted a final attack, latching a mass of vines against Swamp Thing's shoulders. Swamp Thing turned its head around and breathed out a cloud of fire, burning Man Thing enough to break its hold.
"Damn it, we put everything we had into it and it still wasn't enough," MVP slammed his fist into the ground, watching Swamp Thing continue its travels towards Washington.
Sieg and Sven stopped at the ramp to the star ship. Sven turned to look at his friends one last time. He then looked at Sieg, the young man he called son.
"I never got to say a lot of the things that were on my mind," Sven said.
Sieg raised his hand and smiled.
"Alls I ever wanted was for you to be proud of me, of the things I had done," Sieg said.
"Sieg look at all that you've done, you led everyone this far, never doubt that and never doubt that I've been proud of you my son," Sven said.
They hugged one another and held on tight. Tears fell down Sieg's face as Sven patted his head affectionately.
"I love you dad," Sieg said. "I'm so…sorry!"
"You have nothing to be sorry for Sieg."
"There is this," the young man sighed.
Sieg suddenly slammed his knee into Sven's stomach. He then threw Sven to the ground and ran into the shuttle.
"WE NEED TO GO NOW!" he yelled at the pilots.
The portal was a bomb waiting to go off, and the pilots wasted no time in launching. Sven looked up at the ship in horror as his friends and Virgil ran to his side.
"SIEG NO!" Virgil yelled.
Sieg settled on a chair next to one of the pilots and closed his eyes.
'Jean,' he thought. 'Jean Grey can you hear me?'
His thoughts echoed and reached the ears of a very specific telepath on Utopia. Jean Grey raised her head and a tear fell down her face.
'Please,' Sieg begged, 'Give me one moment with my friends!'
He opened his eyes and found himself in a diner. Sofia stood in front of him, wearing her waitress uniform. She looked at him, confused, and then the fact hit her, that she was seeing Sieg for the last time.
"Sieg," she whispered.
"Sofia, you really helped me out, you were a leader worth following and one day the X-men, no…every hero will see just how perfect you are," Sieg explained.
"I love you Sieg, you've been my best friend through all of this craziness," Sofia said.
"You were meant to be here Sofia and there's no one else I'd rather have had by my side!"
Sieg stood off of the table and the diner was suddenly full. Molly Hayes and Nico Minoru stood with the other Runaways. Iron Lad stood with his helmet off alongside the Young Avengers, Patriot, Stature and Hawkeye lacked their masks and Hulkling was in his human form. The Braddock and Pym academy students stood with Prime's alter ego Kevin Green and Michael Van Patrick. Then all of the young X-men appeared, even Jay Guthrie and Julian Keller.
"All of you, there's no one else I wanted to fight with, I'm glad I met each and everyone of you," Sieg smiled.
"We'll see you again right?" Pixie asked.
"Don't say goodbye Sieg, I still gotta pay you back for getting me killed," Julian growled.
"Its not goodbye," X-23 said.
She looked Sieg in the eyes and nodded her head. Sieg smiled back and nodded.
"Yeah, its not goodbye…its see you later," Sieg offered the team a two fingered salute and grinned.
The young heroes faded as they said their goodbyes, leaving only Virgil. The brothers looked at one another and shed no tears. Virgil gripped his head as information flooded into his mind.
"I'm giving you everything you need to know in order to continue what I started here Virgil, tell Sven for me, tell him not to give in to his regret, tell him to enjoy the new life he can have," Sieg explained.
"Is that all?" Virgil asked.
"No, Virgil, meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me, I know now that I'm not alone," Sieg smiled.
"See you later Sieg!" Virgil said.
They slapped their hands together and the astral plane shattered, their final moment was over. Sieg raised his head, looking through the window of the shuttle at the portal in the distant.
"Well…too late to turn back now," he muttered, grinning as the pilots looked at him in confusion.
Cade Hunter sat in the brig of the Quinn jet. Tears fell down his glowing gold eyes; he was finally beginning to understand justice, that it was not always about punishing criminals but about preserving the humanity of society and giving the victims closure. Truth could be justice too, and the truth was that he had played a role in Muramasa's plan and because of him, another world would probably suffer.
"Laura," he whispered.
"She cant hear you Cade, she couldn't hear you since the first person you killed in cold blood," Carina suddenly appeared beside Cade.
"I can sit here and wait for a meaningless punishment, locked up in a cell, or put on a chair…true justice for a man like me is redemption, to give my life for something greater than myself, that is what I must do…I must die," Cade explained.
"Is that the only end you see Cade?" Carina asked.
"Is it Cade Hunter?"
Cade raised his head in shock. Looking down on him were the entities, the cosmic beings Eternity and Infinity.
"About time you bastards showed up, well…where have you been?" Cade asked. "Huh? Where? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!" he yelled, forcing himself up.
"You know why we can not interfere," Eternity said.
"You're not a higher power, you're the remnants of the universe that existed before ours did, there are no secrets to my eyes Eternity, you both tried to save your universe and you failed, and through your endless existence you both decided no longer to interfere with others, because you were afraid. You claim to be the avatars of existence, but really you don't know anything about living don't you…tell me, if you wanted to, you could stop Swamp Thing couldn't you, you know how to do it," Cade narrowed his eyes at the cosmic beings.
"Yes, we do know how to fight Swamp Thing, though the weapon that originally defeated him doesn't exist in this universe, a light born from the collective emotions of the spectrum could destroy Swamp Thing completely, preventing him from reaching the multiverse," Eternity explained.
"But if we do interfere there could be dire consequences," Infinity said.
"That's always the risk, no it's the certainty, there is no action without consequence, when a life is taken it sends ripples, but to do nothing, to not fight to survive, to not live when you survive, its not life or justice, to do nothing for others is pure wrong and hiding from it, turning your back to it, that's injustice," Cade explained.
"Even if we could help, there is nothing we can do, balance must be maintained," Eternity said.
"Balance, what bull shit, when you choose not to save a life it isn't about balance its about you being too damn lazy to do anything, you can pretend you're all powerful gods but the truth is you're no different from any of the people I killed!"
"We are not gods, but we are part of the universe," Infinity said.
"Exactly, SO WHY DON'T YOU HELP TO PROTECT IT!" Cade yelled.
Infinity and Eternity both lowered their heads, either they were ashamed of the truth of Cade's words, or they had grown tired of listening to him. Either way they did concede to one thing he had said.
"We may be part of this world, but we do not understand it as you do, we have not felt all of the emotions of the Spectrum," Eternity explained.
Cade lowered his head and sighed.
"Fine, to hell with you two then, I'll do it myself," he snarled.
He gathered just enough energy to melt his cuffs, breaking them apart when they were brittle enough.
Eternity and Infinity stood in place as Cade blasted open his cell door, throwing Hawkeye and Black Widow into the wall.
"Sorry, but I'm not willing to accept punishment yet, not while there's still some kind of good I can do," Cade said.
He began walking down the corridor, making his way to the cargo bay of the jet.
"Can he really do it, can he really summon a power that encompasses all five aspects of the emotional spectrum?" Infinity asked.
"Yes, he can, he may very be the only one capable of doing it," Carina said.
"But how, he is just an ordinary man," Eternity said.
"You were once such a man Eternity…by his very nature Cade is an emotional man," Carina smiled as she showed the scene-taking place in Washington.
The heroes watched helplessly as Swamp Thing stomped through the nations capital. It stopped where the White House had once been and began rooting its vines into the ground. The creatures feet sunk into the dirt, as did its arms. Every inch of the soul beneath it began to die and at the same time, the portal above the Earth began to flare, sparking uncontrollably as it reached its final phase of detonation. Helicopters circled around Washington and telescopes recorded the portal. The whole world saw what was happening. Peter Parker embraced his family and looked at the television view of the portal. Ben Urich stood in his office, solemnly watching the scene at Washington. The Quinn jet flew over Washington and opened its hatch. Cade held onto one of the support straps and looked at the creature rooting itself to the planet. In space, the Shiar shuttle opened its main hatch and Sieg flew towards his destiny. His armour shimmered as he turned and took a final look at the Earth.
"Come on Cade, remember what you fight for!"
He turned and continued his flight towards the portal. Cade jumped off of the Quinn jet, energy wings propelled him forward. He flew straight towards Swamp Thing, materialising his energy sword. Vines suddenly burst out of the ground, wrapping around Cade's wrists and legs. In space, Sieg flipped around, dodging surges of energy that gushed from the portal. Carina looked at both heroes, one intending to trap himself in an unfamiliar world, the other intending to give his life for it.
"Cade Hunter can summon the power of the emotional spectrum, in spite of everything he has done, he loves life more than anything and has one true love he will continue to love forever, his rage though calmed is pure and relentless, the whole world has suffered because of his rage but it has also benefited somewhat, for he has bought fear to every criminal in the world, but in spite of all of that he now has compassion and regret for what he has done, more than anything he wants to redeem himself for what he has done even if that means dying, for he has the greatest sense of hope now, he believes that Sven and his friends will continue to light the way. As for his will, his actions up till now should have been proof enough, he has the will to use his power and the power those emotions can give him," the wife of Korvac explained.
"What's taking Sieg so long?" Kyle asked Sven.
"He can do it, Sieg swore to himself he wouldn't let people down again, everyone's put their faith in him and he's not going to let that faith down," Virgil explained.
Sieg summoned his sword and widened his eyes as the blade itself took on the colour scheme of his adopted father's armour. Taking it as a sign of Sven's faith in him, he lunged forward, cutting apart the coils of energy shooting from the portal. Cade yelled as Swamp Thing slammed him against the ground. Swamp Thing looked down at the man and saw multiple lights flashing across his body. He saw the red of rage, the violet of love, the indigo of compassion, the yellow of fear, the blue of hope and the green of will. The colours mingled together and became a pure white light, breaking the vines binding Cade.
"He's doing it," Cap said, watching everything happen from the Quinn jet's cockpit.
Cade stood up and the white energy changed to a gold colour, engulfing, no replacing his body. He looked up at Swamp Thing, but saw not the creature but the people closest to him. The woman he loved, his father and one of his closest friends, Sven's dead wife Faith.
"Go for it kid," his father said.
"Sven always believed in you Cade," Faith said.
"I love you Cade," Laura whispered.
"I am sorry, I can't go where you are," Cade said.
"Ha, I thought you didn't believe in god, you think there's a place for people like you and me, maybe there is but I'm not there, but you're not coming here either," Cade's father explained.
"It doesn't matter where I go, at this moment right now I choose to give in to whatever punishment justice deems worthy, because I am the avatar of justice and I…ACCEPT JUDGEMENT!"
The energy faded, turning into grey, gold and brown pads of armour. Brown and gold guards covered Cade's wrists and shins and across his chest, ending at a V shape near the grey belt that materialised around his waist. A grey plate covered his mouth and a gold and brown helmet appeared over his face. The helmet had an aerodynamic shape stretching past the nose, much like a beak, with gold feather shapes on the back of the helmet and on the gold shoulder pads that materialised on his arms. But the most defining feature of the helmet was its lack of eyes, matching the term 'justice is blind'.
The eyes of Sven and his allies flashed, for they felt the immense power of Cade's true form, the form that wasn't corrupted by his intense anger and sorrow, justice!
"Accept your punishment!" Cade spoke in a voice that wasn't his own.
A gold staff appeared in his hand. The staff had a pair of scales attached to the top of it, their position remained constant as Cade slammed the staff into the ground. Swamp Thing pulled its head back, finally afraid for its life.
"Disappear!" Justice passed sentence on both its host and Swamp Thing.
The bright pillar of light consumed Cade and Swamp Thing, enveloping Washington, purifying it and ultimately purging it of the creature that had rooted itself to the Earth. People across the world saw the amazing light rising from Washington. Sven however focused on the sky, on space and on his son. Sieg yelled as he flew straight through the portal. The energy of the Tesseract ran through his armour, electrocuting him and causing him to yell out in pain. Time seemed to slow for Sieg as he looked through the portal, at his own Earth and the light that Cade had generated in his final moment. He narrowed his eyes, gripped his sword tightly and passed final judgment on the portal threatened both worlds.
"CLOSE!" he yelled, swinging the sword around.
And just like that it was gone. Where once there had been another Earth, only the stars remained. Sven looked up at the sky and let out a cry and at where the light from Washington had once been. The realisation hit him; he wouldn't see his best friend or his son again. Falling to his knees, the man let out a cry of anguish.
"SIEG!"
I think Joss Whedon said it best: " The thing about a hero, is even when it doesn't look like there's a light at the end of the tunnel, he's going to keep digging, he's going to keep trying to do what is right and make up for what's gone before, just because that's who he is." Some of you may think that Stamford was the fault of the heroes, and others may say it was the fault of Nuke. Whomever god saw as the person at fault, the heroes took that blame and they dug for a light, for some it was in doing the right thing no matter what and in others it was accepting judgement and responsibility when perhaps there wasn't any at all. Every time something bad has happened they have been there, they have fought, inspired and above all sacrificed to give us that light at the end of the tunnel.
Ben Urich
Next Final Chapter: Brave New World
The sacrifices have been made, but the new beginnings are revealed next chapter. Who could spot the Big Bang Theory reference? :)
Jokes aside, tell me what you all thought of the story, the story may be ending but the series I promised hasn't :)