Chapter Sixteen: Sacrifice

From the view from space a planet is cracking and pulling apart, barely held together by a stream of green energy drilling into its core and wrapping back out around from the inside. At the center is a figure levitating high above the city of New York. The Gamma Guardian's arms are aimed downwards. Green fire swirls around him. Beads of sweat roll down his temples, but he is calm and in deep meditation.

Guardian: It can't end like this. I won't let it. I have come too far to fail. Everything I am has led to this purpose. I am…who I was always…supposed to be. I won't break. No matter what. Humanity depends on me.

A voice calls out.

Voice: Hello, Doctor Banner. My, how you have changed.

Guardian's eyes open wide.

Guardian: Ohhh no. Not now. Not here…

The Federal Reserve Building.

The power to the building is out. None of the elevators are in operation. Cap is hurtling up the fire escape in the dark, clearing entire flights of stairs with each mighty leap. A door opens at one of the landings. Before the soldier can react, Cap is upon him.

Soldier: What?!

Cap grabs the soldier, lifts him over his head and throws him down the escape. The soldier's screams trail off until he lands at the bottom. Cap grabs the dropped rifle and continues upwards. He arrives at the top floor and immediately kicks in the door. Before Nuke's guards can react he sprays the line of soldiers with a hail of bullets and they collapse to the ground. Two more doors open towards the back of the room and rows of soldiers flow out.

Soldier #1: For the true President!

Soldier #2: Where we go one, we go all!

The soldiers open fire. Cap raises his shield, blocking the gunfire. He charges in with his shield and crashes into the group of soldiers, knocking them to the ground. Before one of the soldiers can get up, Cap reaches over and rips out his Adam's apple. He then quickly rotates and punches another in the face. The soldier falls back, his nose crushed into his face. Two more soldiers jump towards Cap. He slashes his shield across one of them, cutting the soldier in half. The other soldier falls on top of him and frantically tries to jab his knife into the Cap's throat. Cap slaps his hands over the blade, stopping it just inches away and knees the soldier into the gut. The soldier vomits, but Cap rolls to his side. He grabs the soldier in a headlock and smashes his head into the pool of vomit. The soldier is choking for air.

Captain America: You don't get it, son. You gave up your citizenship when you decided to attack America. If you wanted war…you got it.

The soldier's spasms stop as he goes limp.

Captain America: …people die in war…

Nuke is standing at the broken window looking out. His arms are behind his back.

Nuke: You are right about one thing. We are enemies now. Always have been. Funny that it took you this long to figure it out.

Captain America: You'll be sorry that I did.

Nuke: You think this chaos scares me? Bah! America has been dead for decades. All of this was inevitable. But I guess I should have expected that liberals would try to escape after their destruction of this country is complete.

Captain America: I have no patience for your bullshit. Tell your troops to stand down and let my people pass. Now.

Nuke: You have become such a disappointment. Such a tool. You think these liberals respect your sacrifices? They kneel for you, boy! Don't you get it?! They hate you and what you stand for!

Captain America: As a soldier, all that I have sacrificed was never FOR me. It was for an ideal. One that allows people their freedoms…their expression…their protest. You wrap yourself in patriotism, but then denigrate these freedoms. I have no interest in chasing you down the rabbit hole into whatever hatred, narcissism or selfishness twisted you into justifying violence against your own people…drove you and your followers insane. When you choose to bring war against this country…to overthrow its institutions…take its citizens hostage…murder, execute, assassinate…you became an existential threat to everything I defend. Nuke…I hunt fascists and terrorists…YOU are now my prey.

Nuke charges Cap and drives him through a wall. Cap drops his shield. Both of them are covered in drywall debris. Nuke chokes Cap.

Nuke: You're the traitor! Die, traitor!

Cap smashes his fists into each of Nuke's ears. Nuke falls over. Cap pushes himself to his feet and kicks Nuke into the air. Nuke flies across the room and crashes into the wall.

Nuke slowly gets to his feet, gingerly holding his ribs. He leans against the wall

Nuke: We will never stop. We will always be your enemy…now and forever…I hate all liberals and everything they stand…

Before Nuke can finish, Cap's shield smashes into his chest, impaling him into the wall.

Captain America: Yeah, I got it.

Cap walks over, yanks the shield from his chest and Nuke's body collapses to the ground. He kneels down staring into Nuke's dead eyes. A voice behind Cap calls out.

Voice: Caaa-aaaaptain…we would like to talk with you…

Carnage is kneeled at the threshold of the broken window. Strewn across his chest is a band of decapitated heads.

Carnage: We heard you say that you're a hunter. We are too! Look at our trophies!

Cap grabs Nuke's body by his back and lifts him off the ground. He raises his shield and brings it down like guillotine. Nuke's head falls at Cap's feet. He picks up the head with his other hand.

Captain America: I offer you another trophy.

Carnage: For us?!

Captain America: In exchange for something.

Carnage: Yes, we like making deals.

Captain America: Allow safe passage for myself and the others.

Carnage: But we need to get close to them. How will we be able to share their energies?

Captain America: The former President's soldiers are currently in retreat all over this city.

Carnage: We can have them?

Captain America: I will instruct my teams not to stand in your way. They're all yours.

Carnage: Oh goodie, goodie!

Captain America: Do we have deal?

Carnage: Yes.

Captain America: Here.

Cap lobs Nuke's head to Carnage. Carnage attaches it to the rest of his heads.

Carnage: Ta-taaa!

Carnage leaps out of the window. Cap walks to it and looks out over the city. Crowds are running toward the portal. He looks up to the sky and sees the Guardian. Energy is coursing out of him like chains holding the earth together. In front of the Guardian is a shadowy figure. Cap touches his ear.

Captain America: Guys, can you hear me?

War Machine: What's up, Cap?

Captain America: Look up.

Iron Man: What the heck is that?

Captain America: WHO the heck is that?

War Machine: I don't know, but he's a bit too close to Bruce. I don't like it. I'm going in.

Iron Man: I'm with you, buddy.

As War Machine and Iron Man close in, the shadowy figure extends both arms outward. Black lightning fires out hitting both of the heroes.

War Machine: Agh!

Iron Man: It's Doom!

Both heroes fall from the sky, but are caught by a giant hand.

Giant Man: Got you!

Iron Man: Rhodey, you got anything?

Iron Man: Nada. You?

Iron Man: I'm toast.

Iron Man looks up to the sky.

Iron man: Shit. Bruce…

Doom holds out his arms and opens his palms.

Doctor Doom: Doctor Banner. Give it to me.

Guardian: Doom! Just let me hold this together! Don't do this!

Black electricity flows out from Doom and swirls around the Guardian in a helix shape.

Doctor Doom: I need what you have.

The helix constricts and the Guardian cringes.

Guardian: Agh! No!

The energies dissipate from the Guardian. The earth screams forth and begins to crater.

Guardian: No!

Doom clenches his fist and the helix constricts tighter.

The earth ruptures everywhere.

The Guardian closes his eyes and concentrates. He blocks out all consciousness of the chaos around him. He feels the air. The feels the energies of those losing their lives. He gently raises one hand to his chest. He slowly pushes forward and the helix rumbles.

Guardian: I am not a lie. This is the truth. Your darkness is not real. Only light is…and it overcomes the density of all things…

Light shines out from his palm and the helix explodes. Green energy flows from one arm, driving back into the earth, pulling together the pieces that were breaking apart. The crown above the Guardian's head shines like a sun. Light bursts from his eyes. His voice echoes.

Guardian: Victor, you have underestimated me. Now…let this go.

Doom is silent a moment.

Doctor Doom: Bah! I'll destroy your new world then!

Doom flies towards the portal, but is immediately stopped. A circle of green energy holds him in place from the Guardian's other arm.

Guardian: Like I said, you underestimate me because you don't understand the true meaning of power. I have more power than you could possibly imagine…and yet I give it all away. I sacrifice it for something greater than myself. THIS is its true purpose. To be given back. Not to rule over others, but to give them a second chance. This is my service. To give everyone a second chance.

A voice calls out to the Guardian.

Captain America: Bruce, don't do this.

Cap stands amidst a crowd hurriedly rushing by him. He looks up at Bruce with his hand to his ear.

Guardian: Steve, I can't hold this much longer and I can't let Doom escape.

Captain America: There has to be another way.

Guardian: Get the team through the portal now. It is going to start collapsing.

Cap is silent for a few seconds.

Captain America: We will remember you, Bruce.

Guardian: Steve, everything changes from this moment forward, and yet, Americans will need to remember where they came from. You are that symbol that I can never be. You represent everything that our people have faith in…and in order survive…that faith will need to be rewarded. You are the leader they need.

Captain America: I'll do my best to serve. Thank you for everything. It has been an honor knowing you.

Cap turns to the crowd.

Captain America: Now, everyone! Hurry! Go! Go! Gooo!

The portal starts collapsing and Cap follows the crowd, diving through it as it closes behind him.

Guardian closes his eyes. The energy holding the earth together disappears. He extends both arms outwards.

Guardian: Eternity…

The earth continues to pull apart until pieces begin to break off. Suddenly, the planet explodes, casting debris across the far reaches of space.

Billions of lives, snuffed out in an instant.

The Gamma Guardian is gone.