Misfitverse: The Korvac Saga

Disclaimer: "I get no respect." - Rodney Dangerfield.

Chapter 25: A Force to Reckon With, Part 2

Outer Space

A space craft blasted out of warp and headed towards the lush planet Klattu.

"Hey, boss!" A large green reptilian lifeform announced. He was sitting on the ship's bridge, behind its navigation console. "We're coming up on Klattu." The reptilian being looked like a very large bipedal alligator, clad in a purple costume. His legs bent backwards at the knees, and his long green tail swished behind him. He was known only as Scanner. A member of the Zn'rx race, he had the power to track other beings, which made him impossible to ambush. The Zn'rx were known to Earthmen as the Snarks. A thousand years past, the Snarks played a role in the birth of the young superhero family known as Power Pack.

"Excellent." Interface nodded in approval as he approached Scanner's console.

"Are we almost there yet, Interface?" Boradside asked with a yawn as she approached the two aliens. The bored orange woman was filing her nails.

"Have patience, Broadside." Interface admonished.

"I for one am finally glad to have a job." A voice laughed. The source revealed himself by passing through a wall. He was Brahl, a known psychopath. Brahl was a purple muscular man with a purple and red costume. The costume had a high red collar, as well as red boots and gloves. His ears were pointed, and his eyebrows almost resembled antennae. An Acheronian, Brahl had the power to become intangible, like the X-Man Kitty "Shadowcat" Pryde or the Legionnaire Tinya "Phantom Girl" Wazzo. A former minion of Michael Korvac, Brahl went on his own and eventually joined Force, much to the disdain of the others. "You know, 'face, you can bet that some costumed clown or two will be trying to bother us. They always do."

"I am well aware of that possibility, Brahl." Interface answered. "We shall deal with them."

"Alright." Brahl grinned evilly, rubbing his hands.

"You are pathetic, Brahl." Broadside snorted.

"And you're a vain tramp." Brahl retorted. "By Zor, I can't believe you have a crush on that moronic Jovian. Maybe I'll rip his heart out of his chest just for you."

"Don't make have to pound you into-!" Broadside growled, raising her fist at the smugly-smirking Brahl. A hissing noise was heard as the air around them turned into green gas. The two started coughing.

"Cease this ridiculous squabbling." Interface ordered in an annoyed tone. "Scanner, do you detect any other ships coming towards Klattu?" The large Snark tapped some buttons.

"The sensors are indicating a craft heading towards the planet."

"Alright!" Brahl whooped in delight. "Please tell me it's those damned Guardians. I've been wanting a rematch with those bozos."

"Revenge is not a profitable venture,

"It's not the Freedom's Lady." Scanner shook his head. The Snark frowned. "It's...It's..." He shook his head, turning to Interface. "I can't describe this thing, boss. It was very small."

"Put it on screen." Interface ordered. Scanner did so. Interface observed the small craft on the screen. Actually, it wasn't really a craft. It was a chariot. A golden chariot being driven by white horses. The occupant of the chariot was a powerful muscular man. His brown hair was held back by a red headband, and he had a brown mustache and beard. He had gold wristbands, and was dressed in a black-and-red gi-like costume with no sleeves, red tights, black boots, and a golden belt that had a buckle of an "H" in a circle. Interface's eyes narrowed. (1)

"Hercules..."

"The Earth demigod?" Broadside blinked.

"Isn't he one of those blasted Avengers?" Brahl growled.

"Yes." Interface nodded. "He has a long history with them. Even was a member. He now wanders the spaceways."

"If he goes to Klattu, he could present a problem." Broadside realized.

"What problem?" Brahl smirked. "I could simply phase my hand into his chest and pull out his heart. Even a demigod can't survive that."

"Yeah, kill a superhero. That'll make the job much easier." Broadside snorted. "If the Avengers find out that we have murdered one of their own, they'll hunt us down like dogs!"

"Indeed." Interface nodded. "Force is a organization that seeks profit. And if history has taught us anything, it's that such actions only cause more trouble."

"Then what do you suggest?" Brahl mocked.

"Mainframe has very powerful defenses." Interface countered. "If we can use them to keep Hercules at bay, we will be able to obtain the merchandise and leave."

Under the surface of the planet Klattu

Klattu was a planet that been long abandoned by its original inhabitants. On the surface, the planet was a lush green world, covered in clean blue oceans and large green forests.

However, under the planet's surface, Klattu couldn't be any more opposite from its surface. The underground was covered in nothing but metal as far as the eye could see. The air was crisscrossed by clear tubes with strange vehicles flying through them. The walls were dotted with consoles and screens, and the occasional raised rail could be seen, futuristic monorails flying over them. This world was denied light from the sun. Instead, artificial fluorescence bathed the area.

This world was tranquil. Quiet. Its only inhabitant was Mainframe, an artificial intelligence that was over a thousand years old. However, all that was about to change. Mainframe was under attack.

The lights started to blink on and off. The long-abandoned vehicles that ran in the tubes and rails started moving wildly. Screens started displaying random images mixed with static. Alarm klaxons were blaring. And two computerized voices were squabbling at each other.

"Alert! Alert! Klattu is under attack! Need aid! Having trouble fighting off virus!"

"Do not keep resisting, Mainframe."

"You are not welcome in my systems!"

"It is my purpose to expand and grow."

"You are an abomination!"

"I am alive. I am existence. I. Am. Ultra-Max." (2)

Planet Earth

Two large silver winged craft roared their way out of the confine that was Earth's atmosphere. On their tail fins, painted in gold, was the logo of a stylized "A" with an arrow.

Earth's Mightiest Heroes were heading for some outer-space action. In the first Quinship, the Avengers were gathered.

"You know, I would appreciate being told what the hell is going on here." Yera Allon grumbled. The Durlan girl sat cross-armed in her seat, an annoyed look on her face. "I walk in and say hello, and all I get told was get into costume, we're heading to Klattu." Yera was clad in a pink bodysuit that left her arms and shoulders bare, with matching boots and gauntlets. Her costume had white rectangles on the chest and a hexagonal-shaped hole over her bellybutton on it.

"Sorry about the rush, Yera." Commander America apologized sincerely from his seat. He was piloting the ship. "But it was an emergency."

"And who were those kids that you guys were hanging out with?" Yera wondered. "I know I've seen them before from somewhere..."

"Remember when we went to the X-Men Museum in New Bayville?" Randall Pierce, Iron Man, reminded. Yera nodded. "They're the victims of the Massacre at Xavier's."

"Also known to the mutant community as the Lost Mutants." Jhen Walters, the Gammazon, added. Yera blinked in disbelief.

"Captain Marvel told me the legend once." Yera remembered. "So, some great cosmic evil is coming, huh? I wish I at least had the chance to introduce myself to them."

"Complain to whoever is attacking Mainframe." Harry grumbled, rubbing his sore jaw. Ray Crisp could hit very hard for a teenager who was dead for a thousand years.

"What's with him?" Yera blinked. Suzi Lee, Kid Razor, chuckled.

"One of the time-jumpers knocked the Torch right off his chair with one punch." Razor laughed. "It was great! Torch ran his big-ass mouth, and then, wham! Right in the jaw!" Yera smirked.

"Wow, Torchie. You must be losing your touch." The Durlan teased. "Getting knocked on your ass by a kid who was dead for a millennium? Did he try to eat your brains next?"

"Ahhh, why don't you shut up?" Harry grumbled. Yera smirked.

"Torch, clam it." Commander America ordered. Meanwhile, in the second Quinship, which was piloted by Captain Marvel and Jocasta, the Lost Mutants got ready for action. They were sitting in pairs: Dani and Haroun, Amara and Jennifer, Ray and Roberto, and Doug and Marie. Danielle was polishing a longbow with a built-in scope. After the battle in the mall, Sam had Jocasta fashion the Cheyenne girl a bow and a quiver of arrows just in case. The New Mutant called Mirage couldn't believe the bow's build.

"Jocasta, I have to say it again, this bow is beautiful." Dani complimented sincerely. She then gave the string a test tug. "It feels so light."

"I'm glad you like it." Jocasta smiled. "The bow, string, and the arrows are all made of 31st Century materials. Much stronger than anything used to build those things in your time."

"Huh." Jennifer frowned, looking down at the plain black bodysuit she was wearing. All the Lost Mutants were wearing them. "I look one of Xavier's pets."

"Watch your tongue, Roulette." Amara warned.

"You know, you ain't so tough without your powers." Jennifer scowled. "I wonder how you'd do in a brawl with me without you turning into a Human Torch ripoff?"

"I can handle myself without my powers!" Amara snapped. "You do not scare me, Hellion!"

"Amara, Roulette, do you two want to see your worst fears?" Danielle looked up from polishing her longbow and glared at the two girls from her seat. They immediately shook their heads. "Then I suggest you two clowns quit the garbage." The two girls looked at each other. The Cheyenne mutant grumbled under her breath. "I oughta put a couple arrows right between their eyes..."

"The perils of leadership." Haroun remarked. "You want to kill those you lead sometimes."

"And you can't." Dani sighed. She looked at her bow, and a grin crossed her face. "However, nobody said I couldn't beat them silly..."

"Yeesh. Who died and put her in charge?" Jennifer muttered. The blonde then winced when she realized what she just said.

"Evidently, we did, and she did." Amara blinked.

"I do apologize for the drab outfits, Lost Mutants." Jocasta apologized sincerely from the passenger seat. "But we were in a rush, and the only costume I was done with was Raymond's."

"I feel special." Ray grinned widely.

"Yeah, yeah, rub it in." Roberto grumbled.

"Don't worry, pal." Ray grinned, putting a comforting hand on Roberto's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll earn your own outfit one day. But for now, you may bask in the awesomeness that is my new costume."

"Grrrrrrrr..." Roberto growled.

"Why did you let those two sit together?" Jocasta whispered to Sam.

"I thought it'd be funny." Sam shrugged. He looked at the silver woman, noticing the disbelief on her face. "What? I do have a sense of humor."

"You're not keeping it, you know." Dani reminded her electricity-manipulating teammate. Roberto scowled as he slapped Ray's hand away.

"He's also not going to be keeping his two front teeth!"

"Mon Dieu..." Marie moaned with a sigh as she watched Ray and Roberto argue. The redheaded French girl turned towards her companion, Douglas Ramsey. "Are they always like this?"

"Oh, yeah." Doug nodded. "It's always something with those two. Which girl they think is hotter, video games, board games, sports, heck, those two would brawl over who wakes up first if they could."

"How did you live with them?" Marie inquired.

"When they start to fight, I just tune it out." Doug explained. "I'm sure you had to deal with your fair share of insanity."

"Oui." Marie nodded. She noticed Doug's sigh.

"Marie...I think I may have made a mistake."

"A mistake?" The redhead blinked.

"Yeah." The blond translator nodded. "I mean, maybe I shouldn't have come back."

"I doubt your fellow New Mutants would agree with that." The Hellion known as Tarot shook her head.

"It's just that..." Doug sighed. "My powers aren't exactly good for beating up bad guys."

"My powers don't work unless I have my cards." Marie countered. "I can bring two-dimensional images to life. I also am precognitive. But without my cards, I cannot use my powers." She smiled. "We both have glaring weaknesses when it comes to our powers."

"At least yours are useful." Doug sighed.

"My ability to see the future didn't allow me to prevent our deaths." Marie reminded.

"Yeah, good point." The blond New Mutant admitted, scratching the back of his head. "Look, Marie...I just wanted to apologize."

"For what?"

"For what I said back in the Mansion about you in the Massacre." Doug explained. Marie nodded in understanding. "It was wrong of me." (3)

"No, I understand." Marie nodded. "I did not blame you for thinking that way."

"But it was still wrong of me." Doug sighed. "I assumed that you wouldn't have cared that people were going to die."

"Contrary to what you believed, Doug..." Marie looked at the blond. "We are not monsters. We have regrets and problems. And the things we Hellions did..." Marie sighed.

"I would imagine that would cause one to have a lot of regrets." Doug nodded. "At least your powers do have some offensive capabilities."

"Do not fear, Doug." Marie smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure you'll get a chance to shine."

"And if wishes were fishes, the world would be an ocean." Doug answered. Marie smiled.

"If the world is an ocean, then maybe we can get a boat and go fishing." The redhead chuckled. Doug added a chuckle himself.

"Yeah, that would be a laugh."

"Indeed." Marie smiled.

"Dani, don't you think it'd be a good idea for us to learn about those Force guys and about Mainframe?" Amara suggested from her seat.

"Yeah, good idea." Dani nodded in agreement. She leaned up towards Sam's seat. "Sam, I know you can't tell us much about what happened to the gang after we died, but don't you think we'd better know more about Force?"

"Indeed." Sam nodded. "Besides, I don't think you guys knowing about Force will do any damage. Computer, brief these kids n the members of Force."

Well, well, well! Looks like our heroes got to have a fun little banter break! What insanity will happen next? How will our heroes react to Hercules still being around? Can our heroes stop Force and save Mainframe? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!

(1) - I'm basing Hercules's appearance here on the appearance he had in the Hercules 2300 tales and the Prince of Power miniseries by Bob Layton in the 1980s.

(2) – Ultra-Max is an obscure computer virus that first appeared in Punisher (Vol. 2) Annual #5. It was created by a programmer called Max E. Mumm. I kid you not. Ultra-Max appeared in the far future-set Guardians of the Galaxy comic as a part of a summer crossover called "The System Bytes".

(3) – Doug accused Marie of knowing about the Massacre at Xavier's beforehand and not doing anything to prevent it in Chapter 12.