Misfitverse: The Korvac Saga
Disclaimer: "Sounds like one of those symptom thingies." - Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House, House
Chapter 22: A Moment with the Guardians!
The Presidential Mansion, Metropolis
The Presidential Mansion. Obviously, it was the place where the President of Earth resided during their term or terms. The current occupant was one Marte Allon, the current President of Earth. Allon was also known as the mother of Gim Allon, the Legionnaire known as Colossal Boy.
Also sharing the mansion with her was the Guardians of the Galaxy, a team of heroes from Earth's various colonies.
The half-human, half-synthetic being known as Starhawk was standing on the roof, staring up at the sky.
"You know, 'hawk, if you keep staring at the sun, you'll go blind." A voice chuckled. Starhawk turned his head and saw Charlie-27 standing behind him, arms crossed. The blue-and-yellow-costumed Guardian frowned.
"Charlie-27, you must remember we have a mission here." Starhawk reminded. "This is no time for jokes."
"Starhawk, you really gotta relax." Charlie-27 chuckled. "I know that this is very serious. Joking around just eases up the tension a bit."
"Korvac is no source of humor, Charlie-27." Starhawk reminded. "He lusted for power, betrayed the United Planets, and nearly slaughtered your people."
"I know that, Starhawk." Charlie-27 sighed. "Look, we know that Korvac will go after Marte Allon, but we can handle him. We've whupped his butt before."
"We have defeated him before, Charlie, but know this..." Starhawk frowned. "Evil like him does not get destroyed easily. Accept the word of One Who Knows!"
"I really wish you would stop doing that 'One Who Knows' bit." Charlie-27 rolled his eyes. Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Marte herself was enjoying some tea with Nikki and Yondu. They were watching the holovision.
"But Daaaaaad, I didn't put the Andorian fleas in the soda! I put them in the rug!"
"BWAAAAA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Nikki burst out laughing from her seat, kicking her legs up and down rapidly. "Oh man, that was hilarious!" However, Yondu himself was as stoic was always. He just quietly sipped his tea.
"Are you enjoying your tea, Mr. Yondu?" Marte asked. The blue-skinned archer just looked around.
"Good tea. Nice house." The Centaurian answered simply. (1)
"...not much of a talker, are you?"
"It's not his fault." Nikki explained. "You see, his peoples' native tongue is a bunch of clicks, grunts, and whistles."
"Whistles are how I control my yaka arrows." Yondu added.
"Yondu can speak English thanks to Major Victory, but it hurts his throat to do it a lot." Nikki explained.
"Some human sounds I find...uncomfortable." Yondu rubbed his throat slightly.
"I have heard a Centaurian tribe speak their native tongue on a documentary." Marte smiled. "It was a beautiful-sounding language."
"If you'd like, I can teach the language of my tribe to you." The Centaurian offered with a smile. "It may be a bit difficult for some humans to speak, though. Some humans cannot whistle."
"Okay, we did another perimeter sweep." Major Victory announced as he and Martinex walked into the room. "Everything's all clear. And Charlie and Starhawk are on the roof, keeping an eye out on things."
"You know, you really don't have to do this." Marte told the four Guardians. "My son is a Legionnaire. I could've had him watch over me. Same with his friends in the Legion."
"No offense, Miss Allon, but I don't think that the Legionnaires can handle the job right now." Martinex frowned.
"Yeah, I've been hearing about them disappearing left and right." Nikki nodded.
"Don't mention that. Please." Marte frowned in worry. "I get so scared Gim will be next. I have to call him." She got up and left the room. The four Guardians watched her leave.
"Poor woman." Major Victory sighed sadly. "She must be so terrified."
"I can't blame her." Nikki nodded. "If I had a kid in the Legion right now, I'd be spooked as well."
"I hope those missing Legionnaires are alright." Yondu piped up as he polished his golden bow. "They have proven their valiant natures many times."
"I wish we could help the Legion find them." Martinex added. "They're good kids. They need all the help we can get right now. I wish the Avengers could cover for us."
"I called them. They were busy." Major Victory shook his head. "Evidently, Captain Marvel brought some time travelers to meet them. A bunch of teenagers from the 21st Century."
"The 21st Century?" Martinex frowned. "That time was ruled by fear and prejudice. Those children must be terrified." The holovision than made a noise.
"We now interrupt this holocast for a special news bulletin!"
"Oh, this I gotta hear." Nikki groaned. "I hate it when the news interrupts a show I watch!"
"The disappearances of various Legionnaires appears to have spread to the members of Earth's Mightiest Heroes." The newscaster announced. "The long-time Avenger known as Thor, who has claimed to have served with the very first incarnation of the Avengers one-thousand years ago, had mysteriously vanished in front of several witnesses in the Japanese Islands. Among the witnesses was Sonic Blue, the young defender of the city of Cincinnati."
"Thor's vanished, too?!" Nikki blinked.
"If Avengers are starting to vanish, it may only be a matter of time before we start to disappear, too." Yondu frowned in worry.
"We should let Starhawk know." Major Victory reminded. "No wait, he probably already knows. He has a talent for knowing stuff."
"That's why he calls himself 'One Who Knows', babe." Nikki grinned.
"You know, I don't understand why we don't just hunt Korvac down." Marte told the four Guardians. "If he's after me, then I think he would be surprised by you guys coming at him."
"We did suggest it." Martinex sighed. "But Starhawk insisted on protecting you here on Earth."
"What is with him, anyway?" Nikki shook her head. "I swear, Starhawk just gets weirder and weirder." Meanwhile, on the roof of Marte's mansion, Charlie and Starhawk were conversing.
"You worried about those superhero disappearances, 'Hawk?" The Jovian powerhouse asked the Arcturan-raised psychic.
"I am aware of the disappearances." Starhawk nodded. "But they are inconsequential to our mission to defend Marte Allon from the revenge of Korvac."
"She's the mother of one of the Legionnaires, Stakar." Charlie-27 reminded. "I think at least we should alert Colossal Boy."
"Colossal Boy could be targeted by the kidnapper of the Legionnaires." Starhawk warned. "I would be wise to not involve him."
"Sayyy..." Charlie-27 realized something. "Stakar, you have all sorts of psychic abilities, right? Then, why don't you use those powers to determine who is kidnapping the Legionnaires?"
"Do you not think that I have tried?" Starhawk answered with a frown. "Unfortunately, for some reason, I cannot pinpoint the perpetrator. It's like..." The human-artificial being hybrid's frown deepened. "It's like something very powerful is interfering." Charlie-27 blinked.
"Huh." The Jovian scratched his head. "Well, if I know you Starhawk, then that means something bad is coming."
"Indeed..." Starhawk's eyes narrowed as he stared into the sky. "I fear something very bad may already be here..."
A house in Forest Hills, Queens
The mysterious Michael, dressed in green pajamas with a purple robe and an orange mascot, sat in an armchair in the living room of his home. His feet were reclined thanks to a hassock, and his hands were steepled in front of his face. His eyes were narrowed, as if he was concentrating. In fact, he was. His mind was making calculations that the mortal mind, or even the most advanced supercomputers of the 31st Century, had no hope of making.
He plotted and planned, finding thing to do with the universe once he had made it his own. Earth's heroes, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Legion of Super-Heroes...he held no grudge against them. Not anymore. In fact, after he took his rightful ownership of the universe, he'd make it so that they could all retire and live quiet peaceful lives.
"Michael?" A feminine voice inquired. The blond man looked to the doorway of the living room. Carina Walters, wearing a green dress, walked in.
"Yes, Carina?" Michael answered.
"I was wondering if you'd like me to make you some cocoa?" Carina offered.
"No, you do not need to trouble yourself." Michael shook his head. He held out his hand. In a flash of light, a cup and saucer appeared in his hand. Steam wafted from the dark brown liquid inside the cup. "I have it well taken care of."
"What are you doing, Michael?" Carina wondered.
"Just doing some thinking." Michael responded.
"About what?"
"The Guardians." Michael answered. "They do their job well." He made an image appear in the air before him. The image showed the Guardians watching over Marte Allon. "They are doing a rather exceptional job of protecting Allon."
"They really do believe that you will be coming for her, don't they?" Carina realized. Michael nodded.
"Yes." Michael nodded. "If only they knew the truth..." He took a breath. "When I was...transformed...I gained a lot more than my legs back."
"And they are very nice legs." Carina smiled, making Michael chuckle slightly.
"Indeed. Anyway, I gained enlightenment. I wanted Marte Allon dead. I hated her for taking a position that I believed was rightfully mine. I was willing to betray my own world because of a lust for the power of her position...and I paid the price." Micheal unconsciously rubbed his legs. "But when I was transformed...I realized that Marte Allon was just doing her job...and that I had allowed my desire for her position to blind me...and that there were...bigger concerns in the universe."
Well, well, well! Looks like the plot thickens! What insanity will happen next? Will Korvac come for Marte Allon? How long will the Guardians stay at her mansion? At what point will the welcome be worn out? What is Michael plotting? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!
(1) – Said by Worf in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. I always wanted to use that line somewhere.