Avenging Justice 3:

To Infinity and Anti-Life

Part VIII

Xandar

It was a losing battle. Lancing plasma blasts tore through low level Nova Corpsmen. The higher levels lasted longer, but the attacker was known for his ferocity and ruthlessness. The huge mother ships lanced energy, while missiles blasted through the atmosphere. Destruction had come to the one peaceful world. Not since the Accuser had attacked, and the Guardians of the Galaxy defeated him, had the populace known such violence.

The civilians ran in panic, shuttle and larger ships attempted to launch for the safety of space. Many were swiftly sent back to the ground in violent explosions. Terrified gasps filled the atmosphere, as anarchy rained from above. Father and mothers brought their children in close, as explosions rebounded over their normally peaceful city.

Streaking through the air were the whine of hover sleds and their Chitauri riders. Followed closely by the sounds of Parademons pouncing on any terrified bystander. Energy blasts ripped chunks out of the buildings and streets of this poor world. One unlucky woman was nearby and was thrown lifelessly into another group. Her once beautiful pink skin was burned nearly black.

Another man was instantly incinerated. The last vision his eyes perceived, his child caught by another family. They would survive, even as he did not. Old man dies, so a young person can live. He could live with that. Above, a smiling bony creature laughed, but this wasn't the Death the attacker was trying to impress.

Above, the leader of this attack watched in bemusement at the futile gesture being put up. The balance of power had shifted. The Green Lanterns were fighting the Sinestro Corps. The Nova Corps had gotten weak since the Accuser's attack. Even the Sovereign had ignored his movements, mostly due to a new project they were working on. Word had reached him that Odin had succumbed to the ravages of death, and even now his son Thor was battling Hela for the throne.

Thanos would need to go there next, while there was chaos, and their forces were not at full strength. Word had it that one if not two of the Stones were there. He'd gotten word of where most of them were at. Then there was his beloved daughter, Gamora, he now knew she had knowledge of the Soul Stone. He'd get that from her soon, he was a patient being.

"The world will be ours soon," Thanos heard coming from his right. He nodded, and the reporting being left.

He watched the screen, feeling the prickling on his neck. His "associate" in this endeavor was focusing his attention. That was fine, theirs was a partnership of mutual benefit. Darkseid wanted this equation, and Thanos wanted the Stones. He was sure of the stones, there was knowledge he'd scoured for that. However, this equation, at least according to his spies, seemed a little more Quixotic. However, he could keep an open mind, as any power could be useful.

"You're Parademons are most helpful," Thanos stated after a moment. "We are ahead of schedule."

Darkseid's timbre was unmistakable, "I know. I have Steppenwolf scouting other systems. It seems the barriers to your success are simply falling over. How fortuitous."

"Indeed, how goes your own search?" Thanos turned around. The gleaming golden colored gauntlet catching the light.

Darkseid's face didn't betray any emotion, "As expected. Let me know if you require any additional forces or assistance."

Down below on the planet, a haggard Nova Corpsman ran to his wife, his hand reaching out to her trembling one. Their daughter pressed against her mother, silent, but only because of her senses being overwhelmed. He mouthed a simple promise, and pointed them towards a nearby bunker. His wife's pleading eyes asked him a promise he couldn't fulfill, yet.

"I have one last task, and then I'll join you," he sadly smiled. "Go! Now, I won't be far behind."

His wife, her skin darkened from bruises and burning material, nodded. She took their daughter and ran towards where he had pointed her. She looked back twice, he knew she would, and he hoped he was right. That would have to be later, because he had a job to do.

Taking the canvas covered object, he found an ancient site. They hadn't used this in almost fifty plus years. As such, it wasn't on most of the maps any longer, or marked as "decommissioned." However, he knew it because when he was a rookie, his superiors used to send him out here as a prank. Little did they know their hazing was going to be a benefit. Even now he wondered if the universe had a sense of humor, or maybe just a good sense of justice.

He entered the structure, the blasts of weapons and explosions were subdued in here. He could still hear them, and hear the scream of those that hadn't found shelter yet. He really wanted to get to his family, but he was also a Nova Corpsman as well. Suddenly the promise to his wife seemed to be getting harder and harder to keep. However, he had to still do this one last task before his fate was to be decided.

This had once been a long-range space exploration site. They'd send out probes, and weapons even further back in its history. However, with the relative peace that had fallen over their sector of space, this facility hadn't been needed. Yet, someone in the bureaucracy had either lost the memo to scuttle it, or ignored it. Because all the systems were still there, and they were an early type of self-repairing systems. Thus, he was very impressed that as he punched up the computer, it started up.

The other issue was that the software should have been outdated, but that was where the Worldmind came in. With the massive onslaught, it had quickly reprogrammed the software, and even now was feeding him information on commands. All of its knowledge would be lost if they weren't successful. That was something he knew it wouldn't allow to happen, and something he couldn't let happen either. Somewhere in all that data, were the experiences of his wife and daughter. Even if something were to happen, the Worldmind would allow their memories to live on.

"It is done," the Worldmind's words came from a synthetic vocoder on a nearby wall. "We have a diversion set to mask this launch. Go, do what you must now."

Outside another abandoned site opened up and twelve rockets burst out, attacking random targets. One hit a pack of Pardemons, while another took out one of the Chitauri flying chariots. Most though were quickly blasted by the motherships weapons and only added to the din of destruction befalling this world.

However, one rocket was completely missed. Inside this rocket, the canvas bag moved down, and the gleam of a gold helmet peaked out from underneath. Quickly the rocket's faster than light drive turned on and the atmosphere erupted with the loudest bang, reserved for massive volcanic eruptions and massive foreign body impacts. Those older Nova Corps members would recognize it though as an old style FTL jump in the atmosphere.

The fight continued on, but it was a losing battle. Soon, the conquered planet fell silent, before the cries came. At first it was the wounded and dying. Then came the screams of their friends and family, their loved ones. Finally, it was the sounds of the Chitauri rounding the survivors up, while a victorious Thanos landed to oversee what was coming next. By the end, the planet's population was reduced by half.

Earth, High Earth Orbit

Brainiac looked at the remarkable world. He'd seen other lush worlds like this one, though a little different. This one did have a wide variety of biomes in an almost harmonious symbiosis. The higher life forms, if you could call them that, were just beginning to start on their own path to symbiosis. Maybe in another fifty to hundred years, their urban and suburban set ups would be more in balance with the wilderness.

Braniac knew of a few civilizations that had done this, and he had a city of each in his collection. He'd visited several planets recently though, that very primitive societies. So, this was a nice change of pace at least. He did pick up on the electromagnetic communication coming from the world, and he nodded in expectation.

A weathered man and woman sat on a stage, forming the ends of the horseshoe shaped table. Between them were men and women of various ages, nationalities and ethnicities all talking. Braniac hated it all, so chaotic, so primitive. But he listened in, because there was still knowledge to behold. Besides, it would give more proof of what his probes had already told him. Earth's protector was gone.

"It is apparent, Superman is gone," one of the women said. "We haven't seen him in months!"

One of the other men glared at her, "Well you try taking on an indestructible monster. You'd need some time to recoup as well!"

"Don't you yell at her!" a tired looking young man snapped. "Just because you're a fanboy of the big blue turd, doesn't mean you can yell at her."

The woman at the end of the horseshoe table interjected, "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I remind you to resist name calling and screaming at one another."

"It's no use Francine," the man across from her, and the other side of the horseshoe, said. "Superman was always a symbol for us all. Some saw him as a benevolent protector.."

"Yeah, a protector of you her in the West!" another man interjected. "How many regimes has he toppled? He cared so much for us, that he allows corrupt officials to remain in power!"

A young woman, fire in her eyes, growled back, "Would you rather us have a Super Dictator instead of a Superman? He was never meant to save us all from ourselves, but from things we can't control. Disasters, alien invasions, whacked out criminals who care not about the lives they take. No, he was doing exactly what he needed to do."

It was then that a rather large, and weather-beaten man spoke up, "Listen to Ol' Bibbo here. Superman wouldn't want us attacking each other. And I'll have words with anyone that doubts his intentions." This last part made it clear the words would be more physical than verbal, but he continued, "He is a hero, and we should all be like him. He is the strongest, and what did he use that strength for? Helping out people, that is Superman. He'd be so annoyed with us right now."

Braniac shook his head as he pushed the rest of the broadcast to be recorded. This was going to be all too easy. They were too busy fighting one another. Still, he wanted to make sure that there wouldn't be any other dangers on here. His last scans showed another Kryptonian was on this planet, and Asgard's prince had been here not too long ago.

As the report came back, he nodded. She was here. He'd see about accruing her as well. At least he'd have the Last Daughter of Krypton. Unfortunately, his scans hadn't come up with the location of the Last Son of Krypton. However, there was no rush, so he'd do a more aggressive scan once he'd accumulated what he came for.

Now, for the decision, Metropolis, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo, or Bernin Zana. Maybe this world would need to have more than one city harvested. There was still time, so he sent his probes again and began to lower his ship into the atmosphere. To those on the ground, doom was in the air. How else would you explained a giant metal skull entering your world from the darkness of space?