A/N: As you've noticed, updates are coming less frequently. An unfortunate side effect of work. Also, I might be hitting a little bit of a dry spell. Should blow off soon.
Onwards!
Chapter 11
Invasion
"Magister Tennyson!", Driba exclaimed from his station, drawing the formerly retired Magister's attention. "We have a situation, sir! Energy anomalies detected on the system! Multiple readings spiking! Preliminary scans show radiation levels are spiking with every passing minute!".
The Galvan duo had previously been preoccupied with their incessant bickering at their Monitoring station about yet another trivial matter before their Research Console's scanner protocols were set off, blaring alarms calling to their attention the latest energy readings on display.
Maxwell Tennyson wasn't one to beat around the bush. "Give me a full image of the environment! I need to know where the anomaly's coming from!"
Blukic passively switched the display from radar to real-time, revealing a tall building with the words "Stark" built visibly into its architecture. They watched the Tessaract humming with power, housed within a peculiar device that seemed to project some sort of energy field.
Stark , Max inwardly facepalmed. Of all the idiotic, self-indulgent...
"Uhh…who's the lardass on the fancy tower?", Blukic asked as he pointed at the screen. Zooming in the monitor, the crew noticed a fairly paunchy, white haired man on Stark Tower's precipice.
"He seems to be working on that energy device", noted Driba, "facial recognition's got him as one Dr Eric Selvig, evidently some kind of SHIELD…scientist". The stocky Galvan blanched at the last word. The duo had a bit of a superiority complex when it came to earth's scientists, seeing them as lesser developed minds. Ironically, they themselves were little more than below average in terms of Galvan intelligence standards.
The Ex-Magister's eyes narrowed upon examining the feed. What was a SHIELD scientist doing on Stark's property? Working on what appeared to be a Tessaract-powered device?
A low hum reverberated through the atmosphere surrounding the peak of Stark Tower, signalling the the portal generator fired up, powered by the ominous energy of the Tessaract, situated at its core. Dr Eric Selvig could only marvel at its brilliance, the glow of Loki's enchantment still swimming in his eyes. Yet he didn't seem worried, rather delighted at the power that stood before him
His reverie was broken by the overhead roar of thruster jets, the silhouette of Iron Man coming into view. Selvig turned to face the billionaire slowing his flight path down, lightly hovering in front of the scientist.
"Shut it down doc!", Tony demanded.
"It's too late!", Selvig responded, returning his attention back to observing the Tessaract, seemingly rather enthralled, enraptured at the device. "She can't stop now! She wants to show us something!!"
His eyes gleamed in anticipation, "A new universe!"
Jarvis' electronic voice buzzed in his ear, "Sir, I've disabled the building's arc reactor, but the device seems to be self-sustaining"
Tony had heard enough. "Okay, cool!". Activating his repulsors, Tony fired off two shots directly at the generator.
THOOOOMMMM!!!
A massive energy flare erupted from the device's energy shield, completely nullifying Tony's blasts. The ripple effect from the blast released a powerful Shockwave, knocking Selvig down on his face while Iron Man was sent back a few feet, managing to stabilize himself mid-air
"The barrier is pure energy", Jarvis' electronic voice buzzed in his helmet, "its unbreakable".
"Yeah, I got that", The billionaire sighed. Guess it wasn't the easy way after all...
His scanners indicated another presence on the building. Stark turned to see Loki standing at the balcony, a sardonic smile plastered on his face.
"Plan B, then".
"It appears the device has some form of defensive force field, generated by the Tessaract", noted Driba
"Aside from statin' the obvious", Blukic commented, "must've used a stabilizing agent to bypass the energy feedback from the Tessaract doohickey".
Immediately the monitors went abuzz, new alerts piling up on the virtual windows.
"Sir, the latest readings are through the roof!", turning to Max, Driba continued. "It would seem the humans have found a way to stabilize the fusion reaction from the Tessaract, and have now housed it within a specialized generator device! Interesting choice, which would require a supply of a rare earth mineral..."
"Well, technically", Blukic interrupted, "I reckon he would still need to install a bypass in the throughput system to control the energy field fluctuations..."
"Do we have a visual?", interrupted Max.
The Holo-Monitor projected a live feed of STARK Tower, using enhanced Galvan tech to provide them with a clearer output.
"Huh, it would seem Stark is confronting someone else on the Tower", Driba observed.
"Loki...it all makes sense now", Max muttered.
Plumbers HQ was always a hubbub of activity, but the new development at STARK Tower seemed to have the same effect as kicking the hornet's nest. Comms activated, protocols engaged and personnel moving in a melee around the facility.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
"Incoming transmission, sir!", Driba announced, his minute fingers furiously tapping commands on the Holo-screen.
"Who's it from?"
"It appears to be your grandson, sir".
Ben stood off to the side while Bruce noisily emptied the remnants of his stomach on the pavement, his groans voicing his discomfort. To be fair, the scientist did do a remarkable job of not transforming into his alter ego under duress; the speed of Ben's jurryrigged monocycle ("the Tenn-Cycle", he'd dubbed it) had already heavily tasked the man's haggard frame.
The teen grimaced again at another round of groans. He'd already apologized several times, but the scientist merely waved him off, preoccupied with heaving his guts, using a nearby lamp post as support.
Visible from the street's distance stood Stark Tower, ominous arcs of energy dissipating from its precipice.
Beep!
The Omnitrix signalled an incoming response to its transmission.
"Ben", Max's hologram popped up as the teen tapped on the dial, "what's the situation? And why does it sound like a Gourmand courting ritual back there?"
"It's kind of a long story, Grandpa...Loki escaped from the Hellicarrier, made off with Captain America, and I may have given the Hulk roadsickness.."
"Hell of a trip there, son. You doing okay?"
"Mostly. Kinda strained myself with Clockwork there, trying to keep the...which reminds me, I get to say I told you so!"
"That!", Driba's voice could be heard in the background, "that explains the Tachyon readings we measured earlier!"
"Told ya it wasn't no Celestalsapien kerfuffle, there!", piqued Blukic.
"Well excuse me for being cautious, Blukic"
"Not now, you two!", Max interjected, before addressing the teen once again. "Seems like we have another Invasion on our hands, starting with New York. Whatever we do, we can't afford to go in blind. How much do we know about the Chitauri?"
"Not enough, Grandpa", Ben answered, "seems not even the Galvan have Intel enough to go on."
"Seemingly", Driba reasoned, "much unlike the Incurseans, Chitauri are not keen on leaving much details of their presence".
"Bet the Watchers would know, bunch a crabby good-fer-nuthin bigheads...", Blukic grumbled.
"For the last time, we're not antagonizing the Watchers!"
"Azmuth did tell me the Chitauri are seemingly drawn to civilizations...something about them being a cancer to the galaxy", Ben reasoned, "the question is why?"
"They're assimilating", Having recovered from his bout of heaving, Bruce chimed in, his analytic mind at work. After all, he was the world's leading authority on Gamma radiation and one of its most prominent side effects. Of course, he did his best to ignore the amphibian-looking aliens flanking the aged man in the hologram.
"Cancer cells spread rapidly, targeting healthy cells", the scientist elaborated, "then they assimilate themselves within the body before overwriting it. Whatever they are, it's possible these guys are driven by the need to assimilate. Worst case scenario, they annihilate the body, wipe out any trace of healthy cells"
"Quite the assessment, Dr Banner", nodded Max, instantly recognizing the (in)famous scientist through the communication line, "if indeed the Chitauri assimilate that would explain why they're no traces of the civilizations they've wiped out"
"Of course, their tech levels must be quite high to avoid detection and even create advanced weaponry, take for instance - Loki's Staff", Driba acutely surmised.
Ben paused "Wait, I thought Loki's staff was magic!".
"Incorrect!", pointed Driba, "SHIELD analysis taken from readings on Loki's weapon indicates a strikingly familiar device structure used by highly advanced races, particularly the earlier models used by the Weapon Masters of Techadon"
"Ha! Buncha lame-brained hacks!", Blukic gloated. The Weapon Masters and the Galvan had such bad history, that it made their recent Cold War with SHIELD seem like a kindergarten grudge, manifested in a heated arms race of sorts between the two civilizations.
While Galvan were objectively superior in terms of technological advancement and intelligence, the Techadon engineers were always looking for ways to one-up the superior intellectuals by any means necessary: Black Market trading, supplying weapons to militaristic, warfare-driven races like the Kree and the Incurseans.
"When exactly did you get the analysis?", Bruce inquired.
"I used a backdoor network to beam it over to Plumber HQ while I was snooping around SHIELD systems as Upgrade", Ben simply answered, hand on his chin as the gears in his head began to spin.
"Wow, that's definitely not illegal..."
"Ahem...", Blukic interjected, "does it really take a genius to remind you fellas that we're on the clock?
"Let's see", Max surmised, "we know the Chitauri want to assimilate civilizations..."
"...so we know they assimilate and they have advanced tech...they'll be drawn to populated areas, especially ones with even more advanced tech... ", Bruce commented
"Indeed", Driba deduced, "in every hostile takeover, deal with the resistance first".
"Unless ya got glaring weaknesses, they'll go for that too", Blukic's bristling quirk of contradicting his partner never failed to make an appearance.
Bruce folded his arms, "Makes sense...Loki's plan always included taking the Avengers off the board early. Gives us less of a fighting chance"
"And we can use that against them...especially now we know where they're coming from!", Bruce concluded.
"Well said...for a human", Blukic commented dryly. Galvan intellect aside, genius recognized genius. While the Galvan duo were below average by Galvan standards, they were above Earth's best by a good measure. The bespectacled scientist and his scientific background admittedly earned a smidgeon of respect from the haughty Blukic.
"Thanks for the help, Dr Banner, we'll take it from here!", Max added," I see your reputation does indeed precede you, and I'm not referring to your...condition"
Bruce nodded at the Magister's commendations. To the gamma scientist, being recognized for his skill set was a nice change of pace to waking up in a debris field with no recollection of events, a thousand platoons hot on his heels.
"One more thing, Grandpa: Remember Mount Rushmore?"
"You mean when we went up against Driscoll and his merry band of poorly named associates?" Max could vividly remember Ben nearly completely levelling the National Memorial as Upchuck, barely containing the power of the Sub-energy.
Ben snickered lightly, "Yeah...that. Remember when I asked you if could make big presidents?"
"Wait, big presidents?", Bruce inquired, "what the hell does that even mean?"
"It means I just came up with the rest of my plan".
"Want a drink?"
Using the balcony terrace of Stark Tower, Tony had opted to take the confrontation to his literal home advantage. The Norse demigod had obliged, strolling passively into the living area.
Above them, the Portal Generator continued to build up its activation by the second, flares of energy from the Tessaract at its core coursing through the atmosphere surrounding the rooftops.
Of course, the genius playboy had the brilliant idea to leave behind his armor, motivated by faintest hope of getting Loki to lower his guard. The Asgardian, garbed in his full mythical regalia, merely regarded the billionaire with a raised eyebrow, his glowing scepter now elongated into a full staff.
"Celebrating a little early, aren't we, Stark?"
"Nah, just a drink", Stark dug into the top shelf of his bar, retrieving a decanter and a glass cup, before placing them on the counter, "besides, I've gotten drunk for less"
"I hope you're not trying to appeal to my better nature"
"Smart enough to know you don't have one", the glass clinked as the billionaire poured out a shot, "actually, I'm here to threaten you"
"Threaten me? Is this what you mortals call jesting?", Loki chuckled mirthlessly. Of all the approaches he'd expected from the man, this was quite an amusing tactic.
"Well, you're the one dressed like the circus...", Tony took a sip of brandy, the scorching liquid igniting his throat as it went down. "You even got the cape and the glowstick of destiny"
Loki's eyebrow twitched, "If this is your plan to stall me..."
" -Threaten, "
"...I'd say you need a new plan", the demigod's gaze darkened, "Besides, you're not exactly in a position to gloat. Without your miserable Companions..."
"Avengers", Tony interrupted, getting a confused look in return.
The billionaire took another sip of his drink before continuing, "It's what we're calling ourselves. Personally, I think it needs a bit of work, but hey, nothing's perfect".
"I see...is this your merry band of heroes ?"
Drink in hand, Tony stepped out from behind the counter," We're working on the last part. Got off slow but we're picking up some traction"
"Are you now?", Loki's grin had returned, "a fool in a suit of armor, my pompous oaf brother, a boy wielding power he is yet to understand, a raging uncontrollable beast and two murderers. This is your supposed band heroes? Your 'Avengers'?"
"You forgot the Old Man", countered Tony.
"Ah yes, the Soldier", Loki began pacing, "not quite the fun I expected. His spirit...is quite strong. For a mortal", he stopped at the glass windows, looking outside the panes towards the skyline.
"Yeah, he's kind of a living legend...who lives up to the legend", Tony placed his drink back on the counter, his eyes never leaving the trickster. If he couldn't figure out where Steve was, he could at the very least stall for some more time.
"But in the end, he will break. Just like all of you, like you always do. Heroes", Loki spat out the last words like bile, his emerald eyes glowering with spite.
As a demigod, he'd seen his fair share of "heroes", weak-minded fools who merely caused trouble for his kind, agents of chaos serving little other than pawns in the twisted games of the gods. Hercules, Odysseus, Gilgamesh, Sun-Wukong...the list was endless.
Tony used the moment of Loki's averted gaze to clamp on his tracker bracelets "Spoken like a true bad guy, what's next you're gonna tell me your evil plan?"
"You so-called heroes are all alike", sneered Loki, menacingly approaching the billionaire, "Always believing in your own lies, that your efforts actually mean anything or will save everyone. Fighting for worthless ideals that mean nothing in the face of true reality"
"Well, we heroes don't take kindly to egomaniacal demigods on a power trip. Not only did you manage to piss them off, you made the classic villain mistake: You got lost in the performance. Left us on the playing field without finishing the job", Tony pointed, the irony of pointing out another's ego wasn't completely lost on him
Tony took another sip of his drink, "Looks like I'm not the only one in need of a new plan"
"The Chitauri are coming Stark, and there is nothing you can do to stop them".
"You don't get it do you?", Tony took another step forward, meeting the Asgardian head on, "There's version of this where you walk free. You've got an army, we've got a kid that bends time on a whim. Oh yeah, and a Hulk. All of them, coming for you. Maybe we're outnumbered, maybe we're outgunned, but even if we don't save the earth, you'll be damn sure we'll avenge it"
The Asgardian's staff glowed ominously, "You know Stark, I was going to make you into one of my hapless minions and turn you against your friends. But then again, I already have a living legend on my side". The hairs on Tony's arms stood on their end as Loki glared menacingly, killing intent oozing off his visage
"This little chat of ours has accomplished nothing except bore me to Hel"
Loki surged forward, his arm outstretched and hand lashing out in a claw. Tony backpedalled too late, only to get caught by Loki, a vice grip on his neck.
"I think I'll just kill you instead; take one pawn off the playing field as it were ". Easily lifting the mortal up in the air, he slammed him down on the counter.
"Ungh!! ", Tony's back violently impacted the wooden platform, sending waves of agony through his body. To his left, he heard the indistinct whine of machinery. He felt the weight of Loki's boot on his chest, directly pressing on the arc reactor embedded where his heart was.
"Dammit, should've taken those Pilates classes", Tony thought as he struggled against the force of the Jotunn Prince. Loki raised his scepter, it's halo glow of arcane energy pulsing directly over his face.
CLANG!!!!
Out of nowhere, Loki was sent flying backwards an unknown shape slamming directly into him like a freight train. The demigod crashed through the furniture, hard crashing into the wall in a pile of dust.
"Defense protocol successfully initiated", said a robotic, yet familiar voice.
Tony whipped his neck to see the Iron Man suit, the one he'd arrived from the Hellicarrier with. His eyes widened in shock as the suit stood, having moved on its own to protect him from Loki, having launched itself
"Jarvis, what the hell's going on?"
"That wasn't me, sir", the AI butler answered, "it would seem the repairs to the Mark VI weren't just cosmetic...I've also discovered a set of protocols embedded within the suit's internal framework. There also appears your arsenal has been heavily overhauled...this technology is clearly more advanced than anything we have"
The suit stood still before opening its compartments, as if waiting for the billionaire to enter. Slack jawed, Tony could only gawk at the suit, utterly flabbergasted.
The kid...what exactly did he do to the Mark VI?
And why the hell did his suit sound like Tennyson?
A sharp groan drew his attention back to the Loki-shaped indentation in the wall; the trickster had already recovered from the impact.
"It seems I have some other pawns to take out first", Loki growled darkly, already detecting the stench of Galvan Technology from the upgraded Armor.
He'd held a deep animosity for the little creatures, intelligent as they were arrogant. Why the old fool Odin had forged an alliance with those squirming tadpoles was beyond him. Perhaps, Loki thought, he'd pay their squalid little planet a visit once he was done with Midgard.
"Yeah, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that's not gonna happen, Reindeer games", Stark got into a fighting stance, now donning the Tennyson-Improved armor, the black highlights reflecting the glow of the portable arc reactor powering it.
"Battle systems initialized", Tony's Mark VI suit, Not-Jarvis, announced. The billionaire frowned, hearing the kid's voice in his head was quite unnerving.
Seriously, he was gonna have a long talk with Tennyson after this. Not that Tony didn't appreciate the help, but other people touching his stuff was a major pet peeve of his.
But first, he was going to take this rust-bucket for a spin. And no better time than defending yourself from a maniacal demigod.
THOOOMM!!!!
A powerful, emerald beam blasted from Iron Man's repulsors, powerful Shockwaves reverberating from the blast. The beam pierced the air like a spear, nearly rocking the living room off its foundations.
"Okay, I'm starting to like this kid!", Stark commented, curling his fingers as he examined his new and improved repulsors.
"Grahhh!!!"
As it turned out, Loki had managed to pull another trick, utilizing his brand of spatial manipulation to narrowly avoid getting vaporized. The Jotunn born retaliated with a blast of his own, only for the attack to meet a forcefield generated by the Galvanic circuits lining the Mark VI's chassis.
"Ohhhhhh nice", Tony exclaimed, temporarily holding the energy from Loki's attack within his suit's kinetic barriers. Promptly, he launched the attack back at the Asgardian, the circuits glowing with the arc rector's energy as they redirected the blast from Loki's staff.
BOOOOMMMM
The demigod was sent flying once again, this time crashing through the furniture.
"Hmmm, the recoil's gonna need a little getting used to, and there's still a lot of kinks in the chassis, but man, I could get used to this alien tech!"
"As much as I'd like to crush you in your fancy armor, I have a schedule to keep", Loki grunted, propping himself up on his staff as he staggered to his feet. Dust and debris had started to pile up, clouding the room, and Tony could hear the fire alarms going off in the building.
"You're not going anywhere, pal", Iron Man readied both repulsors, primed towards the Asgardian.
"Oh but I am, Stark. This show of ours had scarcely begun!", Loki's signature grin had returned, as he slammed his staff on the ground, channeling the scepter's power like a beacon. The brilliant blue illuminated the room, forcing Iron Man to shield his vision.
By the time he'd recovered, Loki had pulled another Houdini, nowhere to be seen. Stark gazed around the vacant room, scanners trying to pick up any readings from the spectrum.
CRASSSHHHHHHH
He didn't have the time to react when a figure crashed into the room from the glass windows. Glass shards sprayed across the room, ricocheting off the armor as the figure landed in a roll.
"Those windows were supposed to be bulletproof...", Tony sighed. At least he might get back his his deposit...after saving the world, of course.
The Mark VI's scanners easily picked up the newcomer's signature. It didn't take more than a moment for Tony to recognize who the readings belong to.
"Oh, you've gotta be shitting me!"
"And now, for the main event!", Loki's voice echoed into the room, smugness practically dripping in every word, "the living legend versus the man of science! Brains versus brawn! The past versus the future!"
Captain Steve Rogers stepped out from the dusty fog that consumed the room, brandishing his signature shield, his star-spangled suit now fully covered in dark-brown military armor. His once focused eyes now glowed a watery blue, indicating the state of his mind at Loki's hands.
The two men held each other locked in their respective gazes. Tony warily raised a hand, trying to get the supersoldier's attention.
"Heyyyy Rogers...you still in there?", the billionaire tentatively asked, taking a step forward. Steve's expression was unreadable, as he regarded Stark with those eyes, stripped of their will and personality.
"Look buddy, it's been a really long day and a half," Stark lamented, "not to mention I've nearly been diced up in a giant blender, and saw a teenager turn back the clock on a flying military base. Kinda hoping you'd give me a break, Rogers"
No dice.
"C'mon old man! Snap out of it! World in danger, planet at stake, remember?".
Steve responded by lunging at the Armored Avenger, forcing Tony to put up a defense. The result was a resounding clang as the Shield's unique properties channeled kinetic energy into the clash, sending Tony fling backwards.
Using his propeller jets, Tony managed to slow his trajectory, only to eat a flying knee from the supersoldier. His head snapped back as the advanced helmet was the only thing keeping his head glued to his neck.
Damn, forgot how strong he is, groaned Tony.
The billionaire grunted before sending out a haphazard blast to give himself some breathing room. Cap used the shield to guard, the impact sending him a good foot backwards.
"Careful now, Stark, wouldn't want a case of friendly fire now, would we?"
The advanced suit had more firepower than his original. Not to mention, he wasn't familiar with the settings yet. Too much force, and he might accidentally blow off the Captain's head.
Go figure.
Tony groaned as Steve launched another assault, tackling the billionaire into the cabinet behind him. The duo crashed through the alcohol rack, before coming to a stop on the balcony window.
"Dammit Steve, that was premium booze up there! "
Above the tower, the device had finally activated, the integrated gyro rotating at maximum speed to generate a sky-splitting beam. Within moments, a spatial rift parted the clouds above the city, revealing an army, ready to invade.
" Oh, right...Army"
"Oh, that can't be good", Ben and Bruce watched as the beam from the device pierced the sky.
"Looks like Stark's diversion didn't work out so well", muttered the teen.
The Chitauri had come knocking, and Ben's team had precious minutes left to form a response effort.
Time for Plan B.
"Okay, everybody ready?", Ben shouted into his Omnitrix's communicator, "Operation Flycatcher is a go! Repeat, Operation Flycatcher is a go!"
"Why you insist on such ridiculous names for officially missions?", Driba lamented.
"Because it's part of the fun", quipped Ben. "I don't think there's anything 'fun' about this", Banner maintained, arms hugged as the sky portal began to ever so slowly expand, nearly covering the entire block under Stark Tower.
"Incoming transmission: Plumbers Tactical Operation"
"Attention all Plumbers on site!", Max's commanding voice boomed, "all forces converge at Stark Tower, coordinates Alpha Niner Tango!"
The roar of engines erupted through the skyline as the Plumber forces began their assault in the portal. A wave of Chitauri attackers started to pour out of the portal, their metallic bodies glinting with a menacing alien technology.
"Wait, that's the Chitauri?", asked Banner
"Huh, even uglier than I thought", Ben deactivated his communicator before activating the Omnitrix, dialing up another hologram of his aliens.
"Okay Dr Banner, you know the plan. The Hulk's gonna be the backup, keep these things off the ground. I'm gonna draw their attention, hopefully long enough for this to work"
Ben slammed down the dial, enveloping himself in a brilliant burst of green light.
"CHROMASTONE!"
Bruce unshielded his eyes to see a lean, humanoid crystal-alien with an indigo body, magenta hands and shards sticking out of his back. A single green eye prominently featured on his magenta face, capped with a magenta horn.
"You coming, doc?"
Bruce waved off his request half-heartedly, "I'm just gonna stay in the back for now kid"
"Seriously? All that pep talk for nothing?"
"It's not that, it's..."
"Off the top of my head!"
"…it's going to take more than a pep talk to keep the Hulk from causing more harm than good", Bruce explained, his demeanor now sobered, "besides, I think Bruce Banner's got some tricks of his own"
Sensing a bit of hesitation in the scientist's words, Ben placed a hand on the scientist's shoulder
Bruce always seemed to be at unease when the subject of the Hulk came up, ever since the Hellicarrier.
"You gonna be okay, doc?"
"Yeah..." Bruce rubbed his palms nervously, "but the team needs you right now, kiddo. Now."
Wasting no time, Ben shot off into the air, propelling himself with ultraviolet beams shot from his hands and feet. The Crystalsapien soared through the sky in a brilliant rainbow spectrum, quickly reaching the conspicuous epicenter of the chaos, Stark Tower.
The Chitauri had already emerged, the alien armada utilizing advanced aerodynamic vehicles to glide through the city's skyline, their clear intent on the city below.
"Wow, that is a big portal"
At this level, Ben could make out their forms more clearly. They appeared to be grey-skinned, six-fingered reptilian humanoids with bio-mechanical physiology, using advanced energy weapons to decimate the nearby buildings, evoking panic from the onlookers who were frantically running for their lives.
"It's Hero Time!!"
Ben flew into the fray unleashing a barrage of chroma-blasts from his hands and the crystalline spikes protruding from his body.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A myriad of explosions filled the air as many Chitauri were taken out by Ben's opening attack, their ashen cybernetic remains falling out of the sky.
The Chitauri were quick to respond as the main forces began returning fire on the Crystalsapien, their inhuman grunts and growls clearly indicating their killing intent as they unleashed energy blasts.
Ben grinned; it was exactly what he was hoping for. The teen flew directly it to the deluge of alien firepower, the blasts impacting his crystalline frame.
BWEEEMMMM
Chromastone's body glowed brightly, a rainbow-colored hue that caused the alien attackers to recoil briefly as they watched the light enveloped them like a disco ball in the sky. The Crystalsapien had merely absorbed the energy from the Chitauri attacks using his form's energy absorption ability
"99% silicon-based armor, guys!", Ben quipped as his body shimmered in the sun, "nice try though, but I'm a conductor!"
The air rippled with wondrous energy as Ben unleashed a counter-blast from his form, a wide area attack that took out a wave of attackers.
Down below, civilians watched in amazement at the display, a brilliant firework of multi-chromatic energy contrasting with the portal's ominous dark blue.
Unfortunately, a few Chitauri had slipped through, flying downwards into the city block, firing directly at anything that moved. Their attacks where driven, directed, almost in perfect unison. They'd been doing this for a long time, after all.
"Anytime now, guys!!!", Ben shouted as he blasted away at another wave of attackers coming from the portal. If he got overwhelmed, more could slip past him and wreak havoc on the city.
HUMMMMM
"This is Pilot Brannigan of Alpha Squad, commencing Strike One-Niner-Tango, over!", a pilot could be heard over the radio. He'd an alien visage, teal-green skin with unique markings on his forehead and chin.
"Well, well, if it isn't Cadet-No-Neck and his merry band of misfits".
"Still got that big mouth on you, Tennyson", teased the Zehoberei pilot. The two had met when Ben and team went to complete their basic training at the Plumbers' Academy, butting heads at first before eventually gaining a level of respect for one another before graduating, becoming amiable comrades afterwards.
Across the city, Alpha Squad had activated their Proto-Ships, saucer shaped aerial vehicles utilized by the clandestine organization primarily for recon and transport. During Max's time on active Plumber duty, the Proto-Ships were used by the law enforcement agency to patrol regions on earth and space with the intent of containing and apprehending alien threats, away from the prying eyes of humans.
Ironically this occasionally led to the very few human sightings of "flying saucers", due to frequent malfunctions in their cloaking technology, as the original Proto-Ships were primarily in their testing phase.
"Alpha Squad, converge at the Portal's coordinates! ", Max Tennyson directed from the comms, monitoring the squadron from Plumbers HQ. Off to the side, Blukic and Driba were running tactical simulations, while their constant bickering got in the way.
"Hostile Alien forces in sight", Molly Gunther, one of the pilots, responded as her ship's HUD remotely displayed directly on the HQ monitor.
"That right there," Blukic folded his arms as he shook his head grimly, "is what happens when the universe shits the bed. Talk about a buttload o' ugly"
"For once, Blukic, I have to agree with you. Truly unsightly", Driba commented, "it seems the Chitauri have been genetically modified with some sort of cybernetic augmentations. Possibly some similarities with the Pturbosaurians?"
"Nah, those space turkeys ain't got the genome capacity for splicing", said Blukic, "I reckon this is some kinda artificially induced mutation"
Ignoring the Galvan duo, Max turned his attention back to the monitor, features grim and focused, issuing new commands into the feed, "We need to keep that breach contained. Can't afford to let more of them slip through before it's too late".
"We're on it, sir!
"Agreed Magister Tennyson! It seems your grandson is attempting to buy us some time!", Blukic observed Chromastone tear into the approaching Chitauri forces on the monitor.
"Huh, makes ya wonder where his hero pals are at", Blukic scratched his chin as he switched monitors.
"Incoming aircraft! SHIELD Jet sighted!", Hobble, another pilot announced.
"Well about time!", Ben groaned over the comms.
The SHIELD Jet cruised into the city's skyline, it's unusual inhabitants focused on the massive rift above Stark Tower and the hostile alien forces spilling from the other side.
"Odin's Beard!", Thor exclaimed.
"I'm with ya, pal", commented Clint from the pilot console. To his left, Natasha pursed her lips tightly as she focused on piloting the plane safely through the high rise of skyscrapers and of course, aliens.
"Can we get to anyone near that thing?", Clint pointed to Stark Tower. Thor gripped Mjolnir nervously as they watched more
"Stark!", Nat flipped on the channel, "we're on your three, headed northeast!"
"A little busy right now!", Tony's incredulous tone cut through the comms,"What, you guys stop for drive through? Where's the kid?".
"It seems the Shapeshifter has taken it upon himself to brave the first encounter!", Thor noted. The sky above the technological skyscraper was lit up with a array of brilliant lights and lasers as Ben fought back against the invaders, unleashing laser after laser
The Thunderer marvelled at the display, genuinely impressed at the shapeshifter's battle prowess. Clearly, the boy possessed a wealth of combat experience under his belt, which was currently on full display as he battled the Chitauri.
He gripped Mjolnir tighter, excitement flowing in his veins, battle instincts having a stronger pull on him as a discharge of lightning emanated from the Enchanted Uru hammer.
"Guys, you're not gonna believe this", Clint pointed, "but I think we just found Cap". The arvhe lived up to his nickname as he accurately spotted the forms of Iron Man and Captain America, both duking it out on the balcony terrace of the Stark Tower.
"Черт побери!", Nat whispered in disbelief, as navigating the jet closer to the Tower just in time to see Iron Man getting pushed back by the Captain. The old timer wasn't showing his age on the field as he pummeled Tony with more combos, using his superior speed and agility to his advantage.
"He's holding back", commented Thor, "Stark cannot hope to win by himself!", readying Mjolnir, the Asgardian prince slammed the entrance hatch to the jet, ready to exit.
"Thor!" Natasha reminded, "it's Loki! Find Loki and we can help Rogers!"
"Guys, we got something else on the radar!", Clint announced, "four tangos approaching rapidly on our six!",
"Hostile?", Natasha asked
"Not sure...whatever it is they've got some pretty impressive cloaking! "
The Proto-Ships made their ascent past the SHIELD Jet, soaring directly towards the rift. They began firing off into the Chitauri horde, taking some heat off Ben, who continued upping the pressure on his side.
"Great! We got most of the band here", Ben grunted, before switching on the communicator device on the Omnitrix, "okay guys, get into position! Let's activate the Flyswatter!"
On Cue, the obscured Plumber ships flew in formation, forming a makeshift perimeter around the rift. Shifting into hover mode, the Proto-ships began to deploy a mass of laser fields, each one connecting with the other.
"What the hell is that?"
WHIIIRRRRRRR
The laser fields converged into a giant mesh, held together by the Proto Ship perimeter. As the invaders flew in rim the portal, they were greeted to a giant energy net, made of a myriad of laser infused plasma beams projected within the perimeter formed by the Proto-Ships.
"Plumber Formation engaged", nodded Brannigan.
"Deploying Field!", blustered Hobble, an insectoid alien Squad member.
BBZZTTTAATTT
Screams of agony echoed through the skyline as the Chitauri forces were being torn apart by the net, with every new wave of attackers meeting their demise upon impact.
"How's that for a giant bug catcher?!", Ben hollered, before flying directly under the makeshift barrier, picking off any stragglers as well as those aiming for the Plumber's ships.
"удивительный", Nat muttered under her breath. Tennyson's crazy plan had somehow worked. The Invasion force were being held back thanks to the combined efforts of the teen Shapeshifters and the Plumbers.
FSHHHHH
The entrance hatch opened with a resounding hiss, allowing the Asgardian to make his exit. Thor spun Mjolnir, using its centrifugal force to Slingshot himself out of the ship.
Thor Odinson gritted his teeth as he soared through the air, making his way to the top of Stark Tower.
"Looks like blondie's got some family issues to deal with", Clint commented, before turning his attention to the radar, "we've got several bogies up north!
"Ben!", Natasha switched the channel to the unique frequency of the Plumbers network, hoping her comms could reach him in time.
The radio crackled as the communication line was established.
"Nat!", Ben answered, "a little late to the party, aren't we?"
"Not all of us can turn into aliens and fly, kiddo", Clint commented sarcastically.
"Touché, Robin Hood!", the communication crackled as another explosion echoed in from Ben's side, the teen having blasted down another Chitauri cruiser.
"Mind explaining why you didn't inform your handler of your convoluted plans?", Nat was sure Ben could see her raised eyebrow, but that didn't stop the glare on her face.
"To be fair, I just got a handler", Ben shouted back, as he slammed into another Chitauri hover-cycle, sending it into the Plumber's energy net. It swiftly combusted into a fiery mass upon impact.
"Comms exist for a reason, Tennyson!", the redhead deadpanned.
"I was improvising!!"
"You're part of a team now! You can't just go AWOL without..."
"Can we discuss this later?", Ben cut her off as more Chitauri poured in, forcing the teen's attention away from the conversation as he returned fire.
Natasha's brow twitched. As much as the teen shapeshifter could get on her nerves, he'd made a good point. Now wasn't the time for protocol anyways.
"Oh, we will, Alien boy, you can be sure", Nat swiftly cut the communication line in a huff, turning her focus to Stark Tower. Their "team" was already volatile enough with Stark and Banner, the last thing they needed was another loose cannon teammate.
"Trouble in paradise?", Clint was always one to poke the bear.
"Would you like to test out the new Co-pilot eject function?", Nat turned to the Archer, her grin dripping with venomous intent.
Suffice to say, Clint was content being the silent co-pilot. Especially when his partner was capable of flying anything solo.
Loki Laufeysson sneered as he watched the Invasion's forces being held back by the combined might of the shapeshifter and his annoying helpers, the Plumbers.
All the while he'd dealt with the fool Stark down at the Tower, Loki had failed to pay attention to the insufferable pests and their frugal resistance. Truly, the trait of lesser species ws to struggle against the inevitable.
Eon had warned him about the Plumbers mounting a resistance, it would seem he'd underestimated their ability to quickly mount a counter-offensive. He'd employed classic misdirection tactics, already stretching their forces thin and splitting their attention, using mind controlled runaway aliens to wreak havoc around the globe.
No matter, he concluded,the battle had ended the war was only beginning. Mortals had a tendency to confuse both.
Loki turned his staff to the sky, charging up a massive blast towards the array of Plumber ships currently guarding the portal. His staff hummed with cosmic energy as he took aim,
A hail of bullets sliced through the air, stopping him in his tracks. The SHIELD Jet rose to full view, mounted guns armed and trained on the demigod. The air was blasted with the roar of engines as Loki narrowed his eyes at the jet.
"Loki!"
The trickster turned to see his adopted brother land nearby, his red cape billowing in the wind as he pointed Mjolnir threateningly towards him.
"Shut down the Tessaract, or Odin help me I will destroy it!!", bellowed the Thunderer.
The trickster merely cackled in reply, "How predictable, Thor! Always thinking you can solve everything by brute force! There is no stopping a force of nature! Go ahead and try, see what happens!"
Thor hesitated; a deep frown etched on his face. He knew that Loki could be bluffing, but also knew that his brother was capable of such devious machinations.
"Whatever you're planning, Loki...", Thor began.
"The time for planning has long passed, Odinson", Loki retorted, "and as usual you fall behind, failing to comprehend the reality before you"
"You've gone mad, brother!"
Loki's expression darkened; his face was drawn in a vicious sneer. "You think this madness? No, brother, this is fate. Inevitability. The fate of lesser beings in the face of annihilation. Extinction, Ragnarök, Armageddon, call it whatever you want! Look around you, brother: this is no age of Heroes, this is no age at all!"
Another salvo of bullets rained down from the SHIELD Jet, hitting nothing but air as the trickster used his illusions to divert their attention, multiple images of Loki suddenly appeared and surrounded Thor.
The Thunderer grunted in annoyance. Loki and his tricks, always trying to one-up everyone and everything. Constantly sowing the seeds of chaos and babel with every word, every ploy, every action.
The multiple Loki's began their monologue continued as Thor stalked towards them, "You can't change their fate, these humans".
Whoosh! Thor's hammer hit air.
"Until now, they were an insignificant, fledgling race! Their species has gained the attention of those with power!"
Woosh. Another miss.
"The Chitauri will bring their salvation, by extinction!!"
"Enough!"
THOOOOOOMMM
A lightning blast arced from Mjolnir, clearing out the remaining doppelgangers. The real trickster emerged on the top terrace, rays of light glinting off his golden armor.
Like a performer, Loki spread his arms wide, his expression even more maniacal as he raved, "Even now, your precious allies struggle in vain against the inevitable! Against destiny! And they will all see, before their world falls!"
KTHOOOOOMMM
Channeling his staff's energy, Loki sent a powerful beam directly at the SHIELD Jet. Forced to take evasive manoeuvres, the jet swerved as Natasha fought the controls to keep it steady.
Multiple on-board alarms screamed urgently as the Ship lost its altitude, before veering dangerously towards the nearby buildings. Nat managed to steer away from the populated area before attempting a makeshift landing.
"Now that it's just me and you", the God of Mischief leveled his staff at the Thunder-god, "just as I promised, Asgardian! Me and you, the fight that was destined to be!"
Thor's eyes narrowed. Despite their adversity, Loki had always been his brother growing up. Thor was always willing to jump to his defense, against SHIELD, and even against Avengers like Ben or the Captain. Somewhere in the unplumbed depths of Thor's heart, he'd hoped his brother was still there, the
Until now. Now it was his duty to defend the world against his brother.
"Have at thee, snake!"
With a valiant roar, Thor charged at Loki, their weapons colliding in a blast of cosmic energy.
Ben had to admit, the plan seemed a lot easier in paper. The first phase was rather simple: keep the opposition distracted. Stark had opted to take Loki off the playing field, stalling for time while Ben shut off the Tessaract.
Unfortunately, so went the best laid plans of mice and men.
Loki had upped his schedule, forcing Ben to pull a Plan B: Containment. Use the Plumber Helper's Null Guardian Formation (a tactic developed to contain breaches from the Null Void made by the Plumbers, keeping the ravenous patrollers of the hellish dimension at bay). Ben and the Plumbers were attempting to literally "Plug the hole", keeping the invading force from overwhelming other worlds parallel to theirs.
Observing Stark Tower, Chromastone's lone eye drifted towards the source of the rift, catching on Dr Selvig's device. Its defensive shield was still active, a shimmering bubble of pure energy that prevented external interference.
Making a turn, Ben propelled himself towards the roof of STARK Tower. The onslaught of Chitauri wasn't getting a lighter, and the Proto-Ships were definitely not getting sturdier, despite deploying the best energy fields Plumber Tech could muster.
If he got to the device, Ben could end it all, right now.
His thoughts were interrupted by the whine of failing engines, the jet losing altitude every second. Ben watched as a trail of smoke accompanied the aircraft's descent, having lost all defiance against the ever-present pull of gravity.
"Nat!!!!", the teen watched as the aircraft swivel and pivot mid-air. Natasha was now attempting emergency manoeuvres, having lost control of the vehicle.
He turned back to the Portal Generator, now in his sights. If he used Chromastone's energy redirection, he could technically bypass the containment field and get to Selvig's device. But what about Nat and Clint?
What's a hero to do?
FWOOOSH
Ben steeled himself as he shot towards the falling aircraft, his decision clear. As he neared the jet, he slammed on the Omnitrix symbol, one thought running through his mind:
Save them.
A brilliant flash of green enveloped the teen as he slapped down the Omnitrix symbol on his chest.
"Mayday! Mayday!"
Nat gritted her teeth as she struggled with the plane's controls. As it turned out, facing a deranged demigod with a state-of-the-art fighter jet turned out to be less ideal than one anticipated.
Still attempting a hard landing, flipping on emergency protocols while the jet went into freefall. Around her, the constant blare of lights and alarms, announcing their impending fate.
"Brace for Impact! ", Clint alerted.
CRUNCH!
She jerked as the plane suddenly came to a stop mid-air, suddenly stabilized by an unseen force. The floors creaked as the jet's momentum was seized upon impacting Ben's new form. Soon it became clear that it wasn't the solid pavement of the streets, the jet wrenched out of its free fall and slowly cradled to the ground, raising a small dust cloud on impact
The roof of the jet was wrenched open by a large hand, Ben's spiked head poked through the new, meeting the superspy's gaze.
"Anyone order a classic hero save?"
Tennyson's new form was a large, humanoid dinosaur loomed just outside the jet's windows, wearing a large green belt across his chest. Standing about twelve feet tall, this humungous alien sported an armored skin with brown coloring, while his inner skin was beige with the plates on his chest ending in spikes
"Woah...big things do come in small packages", quipped Barton as the spy duo climbed out of the wreckage.
"Ha! If you thought that was big, you ain't seen nothing yet!", barked Ben. Humungosaur was large by all standards, but was also capable of increasing his body's size and mass, growing up to 60 feet at will.
"I bet that's what he tells all the ladies, eh Nat?", Clint threw Nat a playful nudge as they descended from the fallen aircraft's Hull. His humor was always a ready tool in his arsenal of coping mechanisms. And when a kid turns into a dinosaur man, you just have to roll with it. Especially when there's also aliens and gods and a freaking portal in the sky.
"Can we focus, boys?", The redhead threw an annoyed glance the archer's way, as she strode past the wisecracking Archer.
"Deep down, she's really happy to see you", Clint commented. Nearby civilians were fleeing in shock, some pointing at the towering Vaxasaurian. Ben on the other hand gave an awkward wave, his self-conscious adolescence visible despite his inhuman appearance.
"What's the report Tennyson?", Natasha barked, drawing the duo's attention.
"Uhhh, big portal, alien bad guys?"
"I noticed", the redhead clipped, a sarcastic bite in her words.
Natasha sighed, placing both hands on her hips, "We're in the middle of a hostile Invasion, and we can't even account for half of the team. Cap's still compromised, Thor's gone off on his own vendetta, and Banner..."
"I got Banner", Ben pointed.
"And where exactly is he?"
"Uhhhhh...safe?"
"What do you mean, safe?"
"Dr Banner wasn't sure about getting in the field just yet...said something about the Hulk being the last expedient or something..."
"Unbelievable...", she muttered as she shook her head. Barely a day in and the team couldn't function as a whole unit. Tennyson's plan, while serviceable, was only as effective as a temporary measure, not to mention he was still mentally fighting solo, rather than as a team player.
All in all, their team wasn't acting much like one.
"Guys, we might have a problem...", Hawkeye pointed towards the rift, energy wafting from the singularity barely held together by the brigade of Plumber ships and their energy net.
By some unseen force, the Chitauri portal was rapidly expanding, as Tessaract's unstable energy fed into it.
"That doesn't look good", Ben's eyes were apprehensive as the trio observed the tumultuous expanse.
Thor yelled as fulgurous arcs of lightning danced along the rooftops of Stark Tower, colliding with arcane blasts from Loki's scepter. Their duel had reached a fevered pitch, both sides not holding back their blows. The atmosphere around them charged with mystic energy as they unleashed attack after attack, neither unable to clearly gain the upper hand.
Loki fought smart: keeping a measurable distance from the blond Asgardian, while using misdirection and illusions to disorient him. Thor responded with a massive torrent as he spun Mjolnir, knocking the god of mischief off balance.
"Have at thee, brother!"
Another bolt from Loki was deflected by Thor, before launching Mjolnir directly at the trickster. The hammer sailed through yet another illusion, landing elsewhere with a metal thunk. Thor wasted no time in closing the distance, barreling into the real Loki and sending them both tumbling down the terrace.
"Is this what you want, Loki?", Thor berated his adoptive sibling, attempting one last measure of reason, "look around at the chaos you have wrought!". He reached out his hand, feeling the mystic connection between him and Mjolnir propel the weapon into his possession again.
Spinning Mjolnir's handle, Thor launched a vortex that catapulted the trickster into the air. Loki barely had time to react before the blond Asgardian slammed into his airborne frame, the two falling in a heap. Loki's scepter clattered noisily nearby.
"Stop this! End this madness!", Thor's rage had come back full force. He was sick of Loki's scheming, the lies and the plotting. No more illusions, Thor seethed as he grabbed Loki in a half Nelson hold, using Mjolnir as a guard to prevent the trickster from slipping through.
" Hrnghhh...it's too late", grunted Loki as he struggled against his adoptive brother's grip.
"We both know...that it can never too late for you brother", Thor reminded, "I can save you. We all can"
"...as you would've saved me from Odin?"
Taken aback by Loki's words, Thor's grip slackened as the god of Mischief swiveled his head to regard the blond Asgardian.
"You always believe yourself to be the hero, don't you brother?", Loki hissed, "yet here I stand as evidence of the contrary. Even I believed that once, on the Rainbow Bridge...before falling into the Abyss"
SHIKT
Loki instantly materialized a dagger from thin air, burying it into Thor's midsection.
"Gahhh!", Thor relinquished his hold on Loki, backpedalling while holding his midsection. He grunted as he gripped the foreign object lodged in his sternum, his eyes staring something fierce at his brother.
"And that belief is but a lie", the trickster sneered, practically biting out the last words as he stalked the Thunderer, circling him like a shark. "This childish belief in heroes. Nothing but sentimental weakness. I learned that, sinking into the soul crushing depths of the Abyss. Heroes are but broken reflections of mortal ideals, frail and fallible in the face of reality".
GRROOAAARHHH
A mechanical roar split the frenzied atmosphere above the Tower, swiftly drawing the attention of the two. Amidst the onslaught of Chitauri riders, another presence loomed behind, ready to emerge.
"There is no age of heroes, Asgardian!", Loki cackled, "there is only the war!!!"
"What the hell?", Natasha breathed, her wary eyes scanning the skies surreptiously. The roar emanating from the rift felt like the stuff of nightmares, forcing her very human instincts into overdrive, alarms blaring all over in her head.
"Uhh...Tennyson, is that supposed to happen?", Clint asked the Vaxasaurian, who merely shook his head in reply.
"Stay sharp, guys", Nat warned.
Another roar shook the air, before the rift revealed the looming presence behind. A colossal beast with a draconic maw emerged, armor plates covering every inch of its serpentine body. Parts of it's enormous blody glowed with ethereal quality while sunlight seemed to glint off its armored body.
"That's…not good", Natasha murmured as the trio watched the alien Behemoth make its way out of the portal, directly into the path of Alpha Squad's containment field. Despite its size, the beast effortlessly snaked through the air, like a fish through water, thrashing its way into the Plumber's Net. The ships buckled as the impact instantly compromised the stability of the perimeter.
"Oh man, Alpha Squad...", Ben realized, slamming on the Omnitrix before being engulfed in a burst of light.
" Lodestar!!"
Propelling himself via his electromagnetic currents, Ben rushed towards the Proto-ships still attempting to hold back the onslaught. Several Chitauri gliders attempted to intercept the teen but were torn apart upon impacting the electromagnetic field projected by the Biot-Savartian, as he pierced through the debris field left in the wake of their destruction.
On the ground, the spy duo watched as the beast tore through the mesh of energy lines deployed by the Plumber's formation. The Plumber ships were immediately overwhelmed by the onslaught of Chitauri forces.
"Code red! Code red!", Driba exclaimed, "we have a new threat ! Repeat, we have a new threat! Alpha Squad, disengage!"
"No good!", came the frantic response, garbled by feedback. "We're tr-zzzzttttttttt...". The channel immediately dissolved into a mess of radio static.
"Brannigan! Molly!!"
Ben watched too late as the Leviathan ruthlessly assaulted the squad's Formation, the ships barely able to maintain the field as the beast thrashed and mauled through the energy field.
RAAAWWWWRRRRR
KABOOOMM!!!!
Within mere moments, the defensive force mustered by the Plumbers had been rendered useless as the otherworldly forces tore apart the Proto-ships, a cacophony of explosions and metallic screeches filling the air as they went down in a shower of smoke and flaming debris.
"Guys! Nooo!!!!", Ben's frantically yelled, his entire frame riddled with shock at the apparent demise of the Alpha Squad Pilots. Nat and Clint were frozen to the spot, their expressions filled with equal trepidation.
The Alien Leviathan sailed through the skyline, its massive body crashing through the numerous buildings, it's frame nearly eclipsing the skies above. Another terrible roar from the beast shook the air as it made its way through the city, a looming omen of the war at hand. The Chitauri, it seemed, were not the average invaders like the Incurseans or the Skrulls. They attacked with unbridled ferocity, showing little if no regard for self-preservation. Like a cancer, their actions were fueled by a seemingly infinite supply of insurmountable will.
A will to eradicate.
Assimilate.
Annihilate .
The Chitauri had been wiping out civilizations for as long as anyone could remember.
The trio watched with dread as the biomechanical monstrosity deployed another platoon of Chitauri soldiers, their harrowing howls filling the air as they crash landed into nearby buildings, wasting no time in unleashing a path of chaos and destruction in their path.
The Alien Invaders were ruthless, mowing down anything in their path with no regard for organics or inorganics. Wielding advanced alien weaponry, they unleashed a torrent of laser fire on the hapless populace, who fled while the city around them erupted with a barrage of explosions and debris.
The War had truly begun.
TO BE CONTINUED
...
. .
Author's Note 2:
Well guys, we're here. This chapter was quite the tough nut to write. But I think I'm fine with the results. Expect slower updates till further notice.
Edit: Most of you may not have noticed, but Alpha Squad leader Brannigan in this universe is now the same race as Gamora. I checked the official wiki for his race, but he didn't have one. So I figured, why not? Might even come into play when Gamora meets Ben in the GOTG crossover.
Originally I planned to have the Plumber kids on Alpha Squad, but I felt it would be excessive to kill off these characters so early. Sorry Rook fans, but he's going in the writer's bin. Nothing against the character, I just don't have anything useful to do with him.
Wow, there are a LOT of reviews. You guys are awesome. I might not reply to everyone, but I read all your reviews. It's a habit of mine to check out new reviews every day.
Response to Reviews
Jeremy Steinmark: Malware will definitely feature in the Ultron Arc. As for Atomix and NRG, I'm on the fence. I plan to have the really heavy hitters be unlocked overtime, and NRG is a living Nuclear Reactor, not very safe to be used near civilians. Every fight scene featuring that walking nuclear hazard just makes me think "Chernobyl"
Maximum Rhapsody: I might feature a crossover with Thor the Dark World, I'd like a shot at rewriting it. Not sure about other mind-controlled Avengers tho
OmnihancedEternatus: Fair enough, although Bruce's scene wasn't exactly a "priate reflection", all we see is him waking up, getting clothes and being told he has a problem. Nothing new there.
Sakra95: I don't really know what to do with Pietro.
Mark: Yeah, I think it was "No honor Among bros".
-Psyphon would definitely suck up to Thanos, but I'm sure Ebony Maw would catch on to his bullshit
-I've been catching up with some Attack on Titan, too. Spoiler: Don't lose your head *wink*
-Ben and Julie parted on good terms. I might go into details later, but their relationship kinda dissolved overtime. Yeah, I hated the asshole Ben, but his character already took a nosedive since season three of alien force.
-Yeah, a humungosaur and Ant man fight would be hilarious
Guest: No, Ben doesn't have a time limit.
Cman6465: Not bad, I might implement that idea
Guest: Yeah, Upchuck swallowing the nuke isn't probably the best idea
Ben: Not bad, might implement this.
Markk: Watch the UAF episode "The Purge".
Guest: Yeah, I'm guessing the showrunners couldn't exactly come up with every predator for every alien Ben had. The Nemetrix was supposed to be a perfect counter to the Omnitrix, forcing Ben to use his aliens more creatively. After all, predators can become prey in nature.
Guest: I doubt if Ben's going to be at the battle at the airport. Even if he does show up, it would be to stop the battle entirely. He's not really a fan of team infighting.
Pete: Harangue doesn't really have much of a career, given that SHIELD kept Ben's secret throughout Ultimate Alien. Probably a conspiracy theorist in this timeline. Plus Marvel already has JJ Jameson, so…
Guest: No, Eon's in Omniverse. For now.
Flash: I'll get to why they broke up. Eventually. Probably.
Mark31: Thanks! Hope you have a nice day too!
-Eren is definitely a beast. Just saw the episode where him and Zeke view Grisha's memories together.
-There are two ways I plan on dealing with the Red Room: The easy way and the hard way. The easy way has already been used by another Ben 10 author, for a different crossover. The hard way involves more work to implement, naturally. Probably involves the duo trying to reverse the effects using Galvan tech.
Rave: I know right? How the hell do you "evolve" a jetpack? Although I prefer the clothes on the aliens. After all, the OG series had clothed aliens. Also, I think Big Chill having bigger lungs means having a bigger chest. Walkatrout sucks. Molestache is essentially a joke.
Guest: I think Ben's probably worthy to wield Mjolnir, just not ready. Like Cap.
Duckboi: Might get to some Marvel Movies like Thor Ragnarok, Winter Soldier and GOG.
Ben: Yeah, the Ultimatrix's design does slap, mainly because it reminded us a little of the OG Omnitrix.
Guest: I like that idea. Nat's just like "I live with a literal shapeshifter, whaddoyou got?"
Guest: Ben vs LOOMA will happen, just not the way you expect. I already have a way to fit in a ton of fights with Ben's rogues.
Guest: It would be funny to have Avengers movie night, great idea. Jennifer Nocturne doesn't meet Ben in this timeline. Captain Nemesis will meet Ben in a different way.
EXCELSIOR!
