Bruce pulled Tony away and pleaded for him to remain focused. Genesis held Stephen's hand and said, "Just ignore him. You have a job to do, okay? You've got this."
He looked down at her and said, "It's arrogance like that that makes me wonder why they're not a group anymore."
Genesis glanced at Tony and had to nod. Wong stepped up and whispered to them. "Time is not an ally we can afford to lose. You must protect the Stone."
Stephen nodded. They turned to see Bruce and Tony still talking.
"Vision is somewhere out there with the Mind Stone. We have to find him," Bruce instructed as Tony paced.
"Yeah...that's the thing," Tony mumbled.
"What?"
"Two weeks ago, Vision turned off his transponder. He's offline."
Bruce filled with worry. "God, Tony, you lost another super-bot?"
Tony snapped his head at him. "I didn't lose him. He's evolving."
"Who could find Vision, then?"
Tony shut his eyes and muttered. "Shit. Probably...Steve Rogers."
Stephen rolled his eyes. "Oh, great."
Genesis and Bruce glanced at each other. "Call him."
"It's not that easy. God, we haven't caught up in a spell, have we?"
Bruce shook his head, not understanding. "No."
"The Avengers broke up. We're toast."
"Broke up?" Bruce asked. "Like a band? Like...The Beatles?"
Tony looked away, hurt and ashamed. "Cap and I fell out hard. We're not on speaking terms."
"Tony, listen to me," Bruce said, bravely, "Thor's gone. Thanos is coming. It doesn't matter who you're talking to or not."
Stephen took Genesis aside. "Look, I'm going to have to go wherever these guys go. I've long felt that something was coming, and I think this might be it."
Genesis stared up at him. "What are you saying?"
He swallowed hard. "I need you to come with me. Whatever is coming, it's big. I know that deep down, you can handle big."
"That's what she said," Genesis whispered and they both smiled at each other.
"I'll protect you. I promise. But, we have to protect the Stone, and our world."
Suddenly, Genesis felt silence. She turned her head to the front doors and held her breath. Stephen sensed her uneasiness. "What is it?"
She didn't answer. Tony looked outside as well, and everyone was silent. Genesis led the way to the front doors, and they all stepped outside to see people running. Crashes could be hard form afar, and Tony sprung into action. With a tap to the sunglasses he put on, he was ready for anything. A man was seen falling through the air, and Genesis quickly used her powers to catch him before he hit the pavement. Stephen's cloak opened and he took to the air.
"Focus on civilians, Gen!"
"Got it!"
"Go, go, go!" Tony yelled. "Hey, might wanna put that Stone in your back pocket, Doc!"
Stephen had already conjured his scarlet orbs and replied back. "Might wanna use it!"
Genesis told Bruce to stay out of sight, fearing he might unleash the Hulk amidst civilians. He remained hidden in a corner, but watched to make sure Tony was alright. Stephen froze when he sensed something in the air. A large ship. It looked oddly familiar to him. Genesis led people off the streets and turned when she saw the ship as well. Stephen thrust a spell at the ship and winked at Tony, who seemed impressed. Genesis hurried to Stephen's side, as Bruce came out form hiding to examine the ship from afar with Tony.
"What is it?" Wong asked, quietly.
They all stared as two beings appeared below the ship. A large thug-looking creature with a thing, smaller looking one, speaking loudly. "Hear me and rejoice."
Wong grimaced and stayed close to Genesis. "Stay close."
"You are about to die at the hands of the Children of Thanos," the small creature declared, with his hands held out before him, in a praying position.
Tony shook his head at this. "I'm sorry, Earth is closed today! You better pack it up and get outta here!"
The creatures stared at him, disgusted. "Stonekeeper..."
Stephen tilted his head as the smaller alien spoke to him. Genesis held his hand. "Does this chattering animal speak for you?"
The doctor quickly stepped forward and with a woosh he had his orbs ready. "Certainly not, I speak for myself. You're trespassing in this city and this planet."
Wong noticed the larger creature growl and make his way towards them. He, too, readied his sling ring for a spell. Genesis studied the environment around them, becoming aware of her surroundings and possible weapons. Before any of them could make a move, Bruce gave it loud groans and started turning green.
Genesis tried to pull Wong back. "We should move."
"Just give me a minute to concentrate here," Bruce groaned as he went from his normal skin to green. Back and forth.
"Where your guy?" Tony asked, impatiently.
Stephen stared at Bruce as nothing really happened. He kept groaning and turning green, but nothing more. Tony could wait no more and helped Bruce to the side. Genesis hurried over to them as Tony left him in her care. "You've got a power, right?"
"I'll take care of him, just go," Genesis urged.
Bruce was breathing heavily. Genesis shushed him and told him to relax. Tony removed his sunglasses as small particles surrounded his body, creating a suit. The gold and red colors looked so welcoming to Bruce as Tony took to the air and fired at the large beast approaching them. Genesis gave an excited laugh with Bruce. "Where did that come from?"
"It's nano-tech. You like it?" Tony asked.
The beast slammed him against a building with his large axe. The beast had large muscles and steel armor. His axe was probably Genesis' size and it had gold on its handle. Bruce gasped and hurried back with Genesis in front of him. "Oh, Jesus..."
Stephen ordered Wong to watch the smaller alien as he hurried towards Genesis. "Dr. Banner, if the rest of your green friend will not be joining us.."
He opened a portal underneath Bruce and sent him to Central Park. Genesis lifted herself through the portal with Stephen calling her name.
"Someone has to watch him, Stephen," Genesis called back.
He rolled his eyes as he watched Bruce land on the ground. and closed the portal. Turning his attention back at the creatures. Genesis hovered above Bruce and asked, "Get up, come on. We can't-"
It felt as if a bus hit her as Genesis was tackled through the air. She heard a loud clank noise as it sounded like metal hit the ground. Blinking her eyes, she quickly got up to see Iron Man holding her as it appeared he ran into a tree. The tree gave a crack and toppled to the ground.
"Did you just run into a tree?"
Tony got up. "Busy. You're welcome."
She turned and saw the large muscular alien from before. He stomped across the grass towards them as Tony insisted she check on Bruce. She turned and saw him dodging another falling tree. Something grabbed her hood and yanked her back. She choked and felt herself turn as she came face to face with the monster.
"Great," she mumbled.
Iron Man flew by and pulled her from his grip, ripping her hood. "You're at least helpful, unlike-"
"Stephen," she gasped.
Pulling away from him, she flew up and tried to make her way back to the middle of town. A roar stopped her, and she turned to see Tony shredding through the grass and dirt. The monster was holding a large piece of metal above Tony, so she rushed down to stop him before someone else did it for her.
"Hey, man!"
Genesis gasped. "Spiderman!"
"What's up, Mr. Stark? What's up...girl?" the boy in the costume asked.
Tony laid on his back, surprised. "Kid, where'd you come from?"
"Field trip-"
The monster wasted no time and grabbed Peter like he was a doll. He threw him at Genesis and the two of them landed hard on the ground. Genesis groaned as she watched Spiderman shoot a line of web and get back into the air. The monster threw a busted taxi cab but Spiderman yanked it right back at him with his webbing.
"Who are you?"
Genesis looked at him. "I'm...Genesis. Friend of Stephen's."
Spiderman gave a quick nod. "Nice. Who's...What is this guy's problem, Mr. Stark?"
Iron Man joined them in the air, replying. "He's from space and he's here to steal a necklace...from a wizard."
"A.K.A Stephen," Genesis commented.
"Great, so where is he?"
Genesis gasped when she saw Stephen flying towards them, but it appeared his cape was the one doing the flying. He was lying on his back and appeared unconscious. Iron Man distracted the monster and grunted, "Kid, that's the wizard! Get on it!"
Spiderman and Genesis hurried after him. Genesis gasped as a large billboard flew towards them. "Look out!"
It knocked the boy down but she had to keep going. Genesis staggered when she lost focus and nearly fell to the ground. She noticed the shorter alien following behind Stephen on a large boulder. He had the same abilities as her, she realized.
"Shit.." she mumbled.
Quickly, she held out her hand and tried to use her surroundings to help. She summoned water hydrants to explode, and that seemed to slow him down, but he seemed to know her every move. He sent more objects towards her without even looking or turning around.
"Who the hell is that?" Spiderman panted as he caught up.
"I got him," she replied, quickly.
She focused on the bolder and managed to stop it from moving. The shorter creature fell off but managed to summon more earth to catch him. She went after Stephen and stopped when they heard a large beaming sound. Several street lights crowded around Stephen and yanked his cloak off his body. His lifeless body fell towards the ground and Genesis gasped. Spiderman caught him with a line of his webbing and began to swing away before the ship beamed Stephen up. Spiderman quickly grabbed onto a streetlight
Genesis cried, "Stephen!"
A line of web wrapped around Stephen's wrist. Spiderman gripped the web with one hand and a streetlight with another. He grunted aloud as he tried to keep Stephen from being beamed up. Genesis glanced at Stephen and focused her mind on him.
Come on...come down. Please, move.
"Stephen!" she cried when nothing was working.
She flew up and grabbed his arm. Suddenly, they were both beamed up as Spiderman webbed himself onto the ship. Genesis kept her hold on Stephen as they sat inside the dark ship. She shook him and said, "Wake up, Stephen. Stephen?"
The ship moved and they slid across the floor for a moment until the ship moved steadily. Genesis stood up when she heard a sound. Lights turned on above them, and she turned to see the shorter alien creature. "Stay back."
He grinned, but his jaw fell open when he saw her hands glowing. Her eyes turned violet and she gritted her teeth.
"Hand over the wizard," the creature said.
"I don't know who you are, but I will rip that huge forehead off if you come anywhere near him," Genesis growled.
Chains randomly wrapped around her wrists but she fought back. She tried to yank free, but it was pointless. "I admire your determination to protect the Stone, but your efforts are clearly proving...useless."
His dry bony hand cupped her face. He stared into her violet eyes. "Don't you dare touch him."
"I haven't introduced myself properly. Ebony Maw, a child of Thanos. In all my years of serving Thanos...I have not failed him."
"First time for everything," she spat.
They heard Stephen moan and Maw was ready. He lifted Stephen up into the air and surrounded him with dozen of long needles. Genesis watched in horror as Stephen had blood trickling down his face. He was pale and mumbling in agony. Genesis tried to pull against the chains harder and harder, but it did nothing. Ebony Maw turned to her as he watched the purple color leave her eyes.
"You...who are you? There is a power within you that seems..familiar."
He approached her and she leaned herself back. "I don't know anything about-"
His hand grabbed her neck and she choked. "Our entrance. It was you all this time. Thanos will be pleased to know I found the key to-"
She spit in his face, which fueled his anger enough to grip her neck tighter. "Judging by your worthlessness, it seems you have no proper control of the power surging through your veins."
He stuck out his long tongue and licked her cheek as she turned her face away. "Stop."
"With such power, Thanos would reward me handsomely."
One of the needles hovering around Stephen floated towards them and planted itself in her neck. Genesis gave a shriek and shut her eyes. Maw chuckled and circled around her. "Summon your power. It will make it easier to drain every last drop of it out of you. The more you resist, the more painful it will get."
"Stephen.." she whispered, desperately.
Ebony Maw stared outside the large window before them as they roamed through the universe. His hands clasped behind his back and he gave a bored sigh. "The longer the Stone Keeper withholds the Stone, the more my patience wears thin."
The agonizing pain in he neck made Genesis hold back a sob. "H-He doesn't-"
They looked at Stephen when he moaned again. This time, his eyes were open. Genesis fell to her knees when the needle stopped. Ebony Maw turned his attention to Strange, was was blinking himself awake. He noticed Genesis and quickly spotted Ebony Maw approaching him from the shadows.
"In all the time I have served Thanos, I have never failed him," Maw stated, "If we were to reach our destination on Titan, with the Time Stone still attached to your vaguely irritating person, there would be...judgement."
Stephen stared at Ebony Maw, focused. One of the needles inserted itself onto Stephen's cheek, slowly and painfully. He closed his eyes to avoid showing any hint of agony, but he bit his lip. Veins started to appear on his cheek and he exhaled sharply at every breath. Stephen had started sweating and shaking.
"Give me...the Stone," Maw whispered, like a predator.
"He won't give it to you," Genesis managed to mumble due to the pain at her neck.
Maw immediately turned away and walked towards her with more needles. Stephen shook his head and groaned, "No.."
"If you keep interfering, I'll have to do something with that beautiful.." Maw lifted her chin, roughly, "..little mouth of yours."
"Leave her," Stephen demanded as his voice cracked.
Maw grinned with his yellow teeth and chuckled at that.