Chapter 14
Out in space the Peck orbited around the earth scanning out into space for any and all sighs of life. All at once lights and sirens started to blare all over the station and Brand first thoughts where.
"I knew it. It just has to be one of them days. Missed my morning coffee, so I didn't even get the chance to start the day right. Then Beast wouldn't return my calls and now this. If this gets any worse, I might just have to shove someone out the airlock." Running into the bridge she yelled, "I want a report. What the hells is going on?"
"We have a massive explosion in the middle of the USA and it looks to be of cosmic origins," One of her staff replied.
"Ok so how did it get there. We are monitoring everything in the area. From our prospective nothing got passed us. So, what happened?"
"Ma'am, I have Commander Fury on the line and he want to talk to you."
"Great just the man I want to talk to. Put him on." She walked over to her command screen as Fury's face appeared on the screen.
"Brand I hope you have some news for me because from what I'm getting from my people that was something you should know about."
"Yeah well we don't." Pinching the bridge of her nose she continued, "we are still collecting data, so we probably know just as much as you do."
"Ma'am, we have intel," another of her officers called.
"Well spit it out man we don't have all day," she said very curtly.
"We have managed to find a match for the energy and it is the same as the photons that Captain Marvel uses."
"Well get me her or Captain Rodgers on the line. We need to know what is going on right now."
Just as she was turning back to Fury a new alarm went off.
"What the hell is that Brand?"
"That would be the alarm for- "
"We have an unidentified contact entering our system. It matches nothing on records and we are picking up no known signals from it."
"We send out the usual meet and greet message."
"Already did Ma'am and so far, nothing. Nothing to even say they have picked up our message."
This was where Captain Marvels face came on the monitors next to Fury's.
"You called," she called out. "Or is this a bad time."
"You have been spending too much time with that boy toy of yours." Brand replied massaging the sides of her head. "Fury is on the line with us and we would like to know why you just blow up a small area of America."
"Sorry that wasn't me that was- "
"Ma'am they are still not answering our communications and they are just about to clear Mars. They should be here in about five minutes."
"Ahh, why does this have to be such a bad day." Looking back over her bridge crew she barked out the next orders. "Arm all weapons and get us locked on them. Get me everything to fire on them on my mark."
"Wait don't do that." Captain Marvel yelled down the line.
"And why shouldn't I blast a very menacing unidentified craft that won't return any calls and doesn't send out any messages straight to hell?"
"Because they are no threat to us just as long as we are no threat to them." Looking off camera to someone that Brand couldn't see she continued. "Spider-man get over here and talk to them while I go get the Cap."
This was where Carols head was replaced by Spider-man's head with another unknown head coming out of his shoulder next to his. "Me what am I supposed to do about this? They are not going to listen to me?"
"Spider-man what the hell is that on your shoulder and what on earth have you all be up to now?" Fury asked.
Scratching the back of his head Peter laughed, "Well you see that is a funny story really. You see we had a visitor from the future come back in time to warn us about an upcoming war and maybe if we are luckily preventing it. To do that we needed to attack a Sentinel base and try and destroy what they were doing before it all got out of hand and well you see he was the problem." Spider-man pointed to the extra head on his shoulder. "They kind of kidnapped him and two others of his kind. Experimented on them and killed the others. So, they could use their tec on themselves. So, we went in stopped them, rescued the last prisoner as you can see and well our little visitor kind of blow themselves up in the process to try and finish it or just because she kind of snapped and had a giant break down. We don't know yet but once everyone is back on board we will be going to find out."
"Did any of that make sense to you?" Fury asked.
"No," She stood up straight and crossed her arms.
"We have a weapons lock on target." One of the people on the bridge yelled.
"Contact is changing shape," another followed
"What?" Bard yelled wiping her head around.
"The contact is changing shape." Standing up straight he looked her straight in the eyes, "It is like whatever it is has pick up on our intent and is reacting. It has changed from a perfectly smooth ball into one covered in spines."
"That makes no sense. You are not picking up any weapons of any kind?"
"No ma'am nothing like that. We still can't get pass its shell let a loan pick up any energy signature."
"You need to stand down Bard right now." Spider-man yelled over the coms.
When she turned back to him she could see whatever it was attach to him seemed to be moving around in a very distressed fashion.
"I am not about to stand down and show no type of way of defending my people and this station without good reason and so far, you haven't given me any."
Captain America moved to stand next to Spider-man and gave her a very hard look.
"Take my word for it Bard. Stand down." He used a very hard voice on her making her take note. This was something she hadn't used with her before, but she had seen him use it in interview with informants to get information. "If you don't show them any aggression then they will return the gesture. After all they are not here to make war just collect one of their people."
Taking a moment to think. "Waiting for orders ma'am. They will be entering orbit in about two minutes."
"Stand down." She sighed, "I repeat all forces stand down." Turning back to the screen, "I am doing this with your word Cap. If this all blows up it is on your head not mine."
"You have my word nothing will go wrong."
"Ma'am I have picked up one part of the ship is braking off and will be entering the earth's atmosphere at any time. Computer says that the section of craft is headed for the spot we picked up the explosion."
"We Cap looks like you are about to have visitors. I hope you are ready."
Down in the quin jet Captain America stood up straight and placed his hand on the shoulder of Spider-man that didn't have the life form on it. "We are ready and willing to return the prisoner to them when they arrive. Captain America out." He shut down the monitor then looked back to the man standing next to him. "Well sounds like your ride is on its way here. Maybe then we can try this whole first contact thing properly."
The life form started moving around on Spider-man's shoulder again.
"He says he hopes for that to."
They walked out into the sun and stared up into the sky just to get their first real look at the ship. It was a black smooth egg shape that had the texture of skin to it and, yet something seemed very off. As it moved closer to the quin jet its sides seemed to run like water as the formed to insect like legs on the bottom of the structure. This was where they could really start seeing it for what it was landing next to it. It had the same texture as the Race that had attached itself to Spider-man. It was like whatever he was made of so was it. It touched down and slowly formed a tube out of its side. When the tube touched the ground it brock off a part of itself then retracted back into the structure while the bit that was left behind form into a humanoid shape. No mouth formed but two small blue eyes opened to look out and around the group. Its gaze went from Captain Marvel, to Marvel Girl, then Storm, passing over Captain America it fixed its gaze on Spider-man and what was left of the survivor. It took three steps forward and held out its hand to them.
Spider-man once more let out a sigh, "looks like your friend is here. Now you behave yourself and don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Walking forward he reached out and took its hand into his own just to have the top half of the new life form stretch out and wrap around the top half of his body taking him and the other life for into itself.
"Spider-man!" Captain America yelled stepping forward and reading his shield along with Racheal and Storm slowly lifting into the air.
"No wait don't," Captain Marvel yelled to them all holding her hands out in a calming gesture. Motioning for them to stand down she continued, "It's ok, this happed inside the base two."