Avenging Justice:

Two Worlds Collide

Part XV

Space, Border of Kree Space, Sanctuary II

The looming mass of a ship moved at unimaginable speeds, yet because of perspective, seemed to be crawling on methodically. The distance to the Kree border was in hundreds of miles, but in space that was nearly on the border. Provocative for sure, but also a test. The commander of this ship had heard of the Kree's recent troubles, more accurately their loss of their super solider, Vers.

They probably would have been fine, if they hadn't lied to Vers, or tried to harness her power. The commander could appreciate them wanting that power, he wanted what had given their soldier that power. Though was wasn't sure the exact nature of how this Kree solider had been empowered, his spies had told him enough. Vers had come into contact with an Infinity Stone, a legend to most of the universe, but his goal.

With them in disarray, he would challenge them, see how much they were paying attention. They were, several ships had warped into view, all heavy cruisers. He wasn't worried though, they would abide by the treaty. They thought it would hold him, secure that the threat of Asgard, Nova Corps and the Green Lanterns would keep him in check. They were just minor obstructions in his grand plan. A little patience and a lot of prep work, and his aims would be achieved.

Pleased with the response, Thanos, had the Sanctuary II move off. The Kree would see this as him being warned off, but he had found out what he needed to. They had sent only a few ships to watch him, and they were all older, battle scarred. Their war with the Skrulls must not be going well any longer. They were hurting, and were hoping their phantom might would still keep him back.

He had a plan for them, and they were very conveniently playing their part with zeal. The Nova Corps would be next, and he already had an agent working on that. Oddly, it was a Kree Accuser by the name of Ronan. The man was simple to maneuver, he hated the Nova Corps. Losing one's wife to them, would do that a person, and he agreed to retrieve an orb for Thanos. Even if he found out what that orb was, it would still go according to Thanos' plan. Someone on Ronan's ship was in service to the Mad Titan, and would do what was needed.

That left the Green Lanterns, but his best move with them was to wait. There had been dissent in their ranks, one of their greatest had fallen from grace. Sinestro had been disavowed by the Corps for his actions on his home planet. The Guardians were horrified by the abuse of his power, and how he had become a dictator amongst his people. His form of justice was brutal, swift and left lasting marks. Now he had found a new power, one that fit his nature better. All Thanos had to do was wait, Sinestro would take care of his old allies.

That left more immediate concerns. An old man was prostrated, by force, before him. Accused of attacking one of his soldiers, the old man still had the defiant look in his eyes. Worse than attacking one of his people, the old man had actually drawn blood. Under other circumstances, that would have been impressive. The Mad Titan didn't surround himself with weaklings, nor those who wouldn't follow orders to the letter.

"What excuse do you give, old man?" Thanos rumbled. "You know the law for attacking my soldiers."

"You are going to kill me no matter what, but at least my daughter will have justice!" the old man spat, but the Chitauri holding him down, kept him from spitting at Thanos.

Thanos stood, drawing his unique bladed sword staff, "You attack my soldiers, and then speak so poorly towards me. It is as if you wish to meet death. Have I not been an equable overseer?"

"A civilized monster is still a monster," the old man growled. "Do your worst."

Thanos smiled, "I do enjoy a little spirit, but you are testing my patience. You won't defend yourself, so why don't you just tell me then. Why did you attack one of my soldiers?"

"That animal kidnapped my children and tried to sell them to slavers," the old man nearly ripped himself out of the Chitauri's hands. "I would do it again!"

Thanos' smiled turned downward, "Is this true?"

From behind him, a stupidly grinning soldier walked up with a cocky attitude. A squad leader, he was one of the ones who lead Chitauri on the ground into battle. His skin was a bluish purple, with the possibility of being the product of a Kylorian and a blue skinned Kree. Thanos had brought him on, after seeing the defense he had led against his forces. Up to this point, he had been a model soldier.

"Yes, he attacked me," the man said. "Shall I kill him? I have some ideas."

Thanos didn't turn, but spoke again, "About his daughter?"

The man shrugged, "She got away, I was going to make sure she had a good home."

"So, he speaks the truth," Thanos turned suddenly

The man was caught by surprise as Thanos' blade entered his abdomen. Shocked, he looked up at his leader bewildered, just able to draw small gasps of breaths in. His leader removed the blade, and the man fell to his knees. Hands impotently trying to hold in his pouring blood, not understanding.

"There are two possibilities," Thanos explained. "One, is that when I told you to kill half the population, to restore balance, you didn't. In that case you are guilty of insubordination. Two, is that you abducted her after she was spared, which goes against our mission. Which means you questions my leadership, and wish to challenge me."

They dying man gasped, but couldn't speak. His death would be lengthy, it would be horrible, but most of all, it would be painful. That was his punishment, and now Thanos turned back to the old man. He too looked shocked at the turn of events, as if he didn't expect Thanos to hold his people responsible for their actions. The Mad Titan had to keep order, and going against the balance was not to be allowed.

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention," Thanos said to the old man, as he thrust the blade into him. "Since your daughter was spared, when she should have died, you will take her place. Know that she will live on, my gift to you. Your death will facilitate her continued existence. You are a good father."

The old man's death was quick, and he supposed painless. Beyond the quick shock of the blade entering his body, the old man died immediately. Thanos motioned to those gathered, and the old man was taken away to be given to his people. They would honor him or not, it was up to their ways. As for his soldier, the one who had disobeyed him, he was left to die slowly in a cell. His body would be jettisoned into space, sent out with the trash.

Meanwhile Thanos retreated to his planning room. He wanted to check the ongoing plans he had in motion, and see if any changes needed to be made. Specializing in gambits that worked out no matter what happened, Thanos was more than the powerful warrior his enemies saw. He always prepared for his campaigns, and the current one was most important to his heart. Part of that planning was sending out token forces of his, under the command of an ally, to see the strengths of potential enemies.

To be fair, it also showed him the weaknesses of his allies. His most recent one suffered from a massive inferiority complex, but he was skilled. Nearly bringing Asgard and Jotunheim to war, not once but twice. As well as maneuvering his battle drunk brother to disobey their father, and almost had kept him exiled on a remote dust ball. In short, Thanos saw potential in Loki of Asgard.

He had come to Thanos wanting an army, to take over that same little dust ball, a place called, Earth. His plan was overly showy, but on such a backwater, would work. In return, Loki would bring the Tesseract. One of the Stones, the ones he needed for his work to be completed. It wasn't a tough sale after that, because what trouble could such a little planet hold? Earth was so insignificant, that his own spies didn't find it worthy enough to infiltrate.

Behind him a great maw of swirling black and red opened up and spate out a gray skinned humanoid with red eyes. The newcomer wore blue, from his boots, hood, gloves and body armor. His skin, if you could call chiseled rock skin, looked more like natural armor than anything else. He had the air of authority and power flooded off him in waves. He looked at Thanos, and just like that walked over to the powerful warrior, as one might to a child.

"You have done well," the gray hulking man said. "Long have I watched you, and I know what you truly seek."

Thanos went for his sword, only for the other man to stop him cold. Thanos struggled against the other man, but found himself actually having to try. It had been a long time since anyone had been able to match him in strength. Worriedly though, this man seemed to not even be trying. At that point, he figured there had to be another way to attack this particular problem.

"I believe introductions are in order," Thanos said.

The red eyed intruder smiled, "You are Thanos, the Mad Titan. I am Darkseid, Lord of Apokolips. You aspire to court Death, while I have other interests."

"I simply maintain the balance," Thanos answered back, as he went over to a hidden cabinet for supplies he had there.

Darkseid glowered, "You can lie to your people, but you can not lie to me. You wish to kill half the universe to impress Death. This intrigues me, so I wish to aid you in this. However, you must do a service for me."

"I'm the one who usually makes those deals," Thanos returned, offering a drink to the gray skinned man.

Darkseid waved off the drink, "You are a titan amongst ants, but I am a god, above you all. However, like any good god, I come bearing gifts to those willing to follow me."

"With respect I am not one for following," Thanos rebutted, inching closer to his blade again.

Darkseid walked over to the window of the planning room. Outside stars, nebulae and galaxies plastered against the emptiness of space. Hands were still clutched behind his back, assured in his safety. Thanos truly wanted to test that, but thought better of it. They were both leaders, and both expected those they met to agree to their terms. He also realized they both were probably very patient.

Finally Darkseid spoke, "You need not bow before me, but do not mistake this as an agreement between equals. I could destroy you, your organization and erase you from the very fabric of existence. However, I need something, and you are in a good position to search for it. You'll be rewarded of course, for doing this, while I take care of some matters of my own."

Thanos walked up beside Darkseid, "You have told me what you wish, but what do you bring to this little alliance?"

Darkseid turned suddenly, as if he was about to destroy this impotent little mad man. However, his gaze softened, and he held up a sheet with writing on it. It held coordinates that would guide the Sanctuary II, but to what he wondered? Thanos took it from Darkseid and the dark god turned back to the vastness of space.

"At those coordinates, you will find my contribution," Darkseid rumbled. "They will help you against the Asgardian's ego. As long as the Kryptonian is alive, hope will survive and this Loki will fail."

Thanos thought about what Darkseid had said. He had given Loki a scepter, that should have taken care of any threat he came up against. His spies advised it should be more than enough to take care of this Superman, the only Kryptonian he could think Darkseid meant. Still, a backup wouldn't hurt. It would be worth the trip, just to see what would earn what the other man wanted.

"When you reach them, you'll need this," Darkseid handed Thanos a small device. "This will overwhelm their senses. Beware, use it too often, and they'll soon be immune to it. It should be long enough for you to make them see things your way. After Earth is conquered, I'll be back for what I need. It must be left in one piece, no obliterations."

Before Thanos could say another word, another gaping maw of red and black swirls opened up. Darkseid floated up into it and disappeared. That left the Mad Titan alone again, with his thoughts swirling about. It wasn't his weirdest meetings, but a concerning on. He was used to having the advantage in cases like these, but there was a spark of truth in the gray man's words.

He walked back to the bridge, ordered his ship to the coordinates and waited. Far away from the Kree border, from any civilized system, his ship came to a stop. Following the directions left by Darkseid, a hole opened up in the space before his ship. Out came an old ship, one that was unique in all of the space faring species out there. This came from a world of people who had forsaken the stars, after reaching them centuries before. Attached to the ship was a smaller one, of the same origin, but different purpose.

Inside the ship, Thanos' people found the targets that had been laid out, brought them back before the Mad Titan. They looked human, except their clothing, which was distinctly not. Each had a brand on their clothing, house symbols if he remembered right. One was huge, likely a monster amongst his people, another was a beautiful woman and the last one was a man who had the air of power behind him.

Looking at his new guests, Thanos said, "Well General Zod, looks like we have much to talk about."

Apokolips

Darkseid watched the retrieval of the three Kryptonian criminals. General Zod had grudge against the House of El, Non and Faora were his chief lieutenants. Superman would be hard pressed to take on all three, since they would have the same powers as he did. Non was a brute, and his excessive strength would be multiplied the more solar radiation he took in. Faora was cold and calculating, enjoying destroying her enemies, especially if they happened to be men. Zod was the brains, and extremely skilled in combat.

He was also the best soldier Krypton had produced, till he had tried to take over the planet. His friend Jor El had convinced him that the planet was going to die, but rather than support him, Jor El had helped the authorities catch him. As he was blasted into the prison ship, he had sworn revenge against him and his house. Krypton hadn't lasted long afterwards, but he and the other prisoners survived. Because they had been in the Phantom Zone.

Darkseid turned away from the image and looked down at a piece of paper, with crude writing on it. Written as if in a child's hand was a message, with the answer to a question he had asked. He gazed at it, trying to make sense of the message, and what the two names had to do with what he sought. His question had been, what is the Anti-Life Equation, and he was looking at the answer. "Bat-Mite + Myzptlk = Anti-Life."