Tian Cai
By mkusenagi2
The
story concept © 5-19-2006
All Marvel characters are ©
Marvel Comics.
Kim Possible and other Disney characters
are ©
Disney Co.
I do not own Fred Saberhagen's characters
either.
Let's
set the Tone…
With
many thanks to AtomicFire.
If
you take a life, do you know what you'll give
Odds are you won't
like what it is
When the storm arrives
Would you be seen
with me
By the merciless eyes of deceit
I've seen angels
fall from blinding heights
But you yourself are nothing so divine
Just next in line
(Chorus)
Arm yourself because
no one else here will save you
The odds will betray you
And I
will replace you
You can't deny the prize, it may never
fulfill you
It longs to kill you
Are you willing to die
The
coldness burns through my veins
You know my name
If
you come inside
Things will not be the same
When you return
to my eyes
And if you think you've won
You never saw me
change
The game that we have been playing
I've seen this
diamond cut through harder men
Than you yourself, but if you must
pretend
You may meet your end
(Chorus)
Try to
hide your hand
Forget how to feel
(forget how to feel)
Life
is gone, with just a spin of the wheel
(Spin of the wheel)
(Chorus)
You
Know My Name
Lyrics
by Chris Cornell
Casino
Royale's Theme
Level 3: Wu Li Shi (Knight/Mystic)
Part VIII
Thanos…
Eater of Worlds…
The One Who Sets Galaxies Aflame on a Whim…
Death's Consort…
Thanos Of Titan.
Twisted Spawn of The Eternals from Earth…
Team Possible's Newest Foe.
---
12-09-2004
The
Town of Universe's End
Planet
Shattered
Universe's
End System
The
Small Magellanic Cloud
0915
hrs
A pall fell across the room.
Several beings left the bar…
Nay the Galaxy…
When they heard His…
Name.
"NOOOO! KP! WE"VE GOTTA…" "SMACK!" "RON! Snap OUT OF IT!" she ROARED. 'GODDAMMIT! WE NEED YOU!' she sent with a picture of her folks, Sheila and their friends.
"…"
"Sorry." He said head hanging low.
"There's NO need to apologize Ron." The Doctor said as he activated his sonic screwdriver to neutralize any bugs, "I daresay that you're MORE honest than the rest of us. WE'VE ALL felt and feel this way. Isn't that right Mar-Vell?"
"Yes. He's one of the few villains I've ever been afraid of. So Ron… it's ok." He said. 'Poor Kid. Just like Rick Jones. I KNOW he can do it…'
"Isn't there ANY other way?" Sheila asked, "Are You Sure… He's the one responsible?" she asked Mar-Vell. '(Dammit! He doesn't deserve this… What can we DO?)'
"Yes. I checked with Adam Warlock and some other friends of mine… he slipped his leash and went berserk when Death rejected him…"
---
The Monstrosity was meditating about the day he lost his name…
He had pursued Death…
One too many times…
---
"So what you're saying is that he tried to kill himself because she rendered him immortal AND powerless when you defeated him?" Kim asked while she hugged Ron. 'See Hon? He CAN Be Defeated!'
"Yes." Mar-Vell.
---
And was spurned by her…
For his failures.
---
"We took pity on him… and took him to the Edge Of The Universe. He was to stand guard with the Infinity Watch… I'd guess he couldn't handle the fact that he wasn't feared…"
---
He lost his name and was placed on the Edge of the Universe.
His embarrassment was so great at surviving in disgrace that he sought out Mephisto himself and was denied release…
---
"So he went to Mephisto… and was laughed at…"
---
He was driven insane and became The Monstrosity.
Now with the appearance of the Berserker Director…
---
"Snapped… and wandered the Universe… They thought he was harmless…" Mar-Vell continued.
---
Now with his new weapon…
And the means to subjugate the Universe to his will…
He once again reclaims his name…
Thanos Of Titan.
---
"He stumbled across the Berserker… the rest you know." The Doctor said.
"Uh… Mar-Vell… You said we can beat him?" Ron asked.
"Yes. You HAVE to have faith in what's inside you Ron. I beat him by doing JUST that." He said with a glint in his eye.
"We just got a report that the Kree had some data stolen by the Berserkers." Jason added, "Would you have any idea what Thanos would be after?"
"…"
"!" "The Omniwave. It's a transmitter I developed… It enables a person to send messages across the Universe instantaneously… It also stimulates latent Psi powers in beings… By working with it I was able to increase my ability to use and focus my powers…" Mar-Vell mused.
"So… He wants to do something that will affect us all instantaneously." Linda ventured, "Like what?"
The Doctor placed a datapad on the table. "Like this." The pad projected a hologram that showed five constructs that were making their way to the Galactic core, "These devices are designed to fuse what you call 'magic' with science… Each one represents an element or state of matter… I'd say they're going to disrupt the fabric of Spacetime when they explode in the singularity at the core and manipulate the Multiverse's ground state… and make us ALL pay the price for ignoring this stupid ape!"
"So he's fused the Kree tech with these so we'll all be at his mercy." Sheila said. 'BASTARD!'
"Yes. Thanos is an accomplished mage. The Berserkers are a distraction… He's going to set these gadgets off and become Master of these States of Being… In other words a God." Mar-vell said.
"Which brings us to you Ron. You and your partners have what it takes to STOP him. Just use your will." The Doctor said, "We still have enough time to stop him… Thanks to you Dear Lady." This was directed towards Aurora as he passed her a datachip, "But we must hurry so we can find out where he's hiding…"
"Peter our best bet is to split up into teams…" Aurora said.
"I know. But we also need to find out where he is…" he said as he kicked several ideas around in his head. "Or we'll be in a stalemate."
A Dire Wraith weaved over to their table.
"The Great Star-Lord… Where were you when WE needed you?" he hissed.
"I'm sorry?" Peter said.
"They came out of nowhere… we were hidden… I SAW Them… they crushed Wraithworld like it was nothing… my family…" The miner moaned. "I just wanted to live a simple life… raise a family… NOT take over the Universe, and this is what I get."
"Sir we'll do what we can to stop this from happening again." Kim said. 'Poor guy.'
"That won't bring them back."
He wandered off.
---
"Ron you know genius isn't just about math, facts and figures… it's also about knowing when it's the right time to do something…" The Doctor said.
"I guess… But It's so MUCH! He's destroyed Worlds… Just like (SNAP!) that!" a Crushed Ron replied.
"But you carry the mark of the Greatest Warrior the Multiverse has EVER seen. That counts for something." The Doctor.
"Ok…" The others watched as a strange tableau unfolded before their eyes.
"…"
"You still like comics don't you Ron?" The Doctor said to a befuddled Ron Stoppable.
"Uh… yeah." Ron.
"Good… They're GREAT fuel for the imagination, don't you think?"
"Uh, Sure." Blushing Ron.
"Some of the Universe's greatest minds use unconventional means to create their Greatest ideas or inventions… just remember to creatively restrict certain things… there's TOO MANY ways to kill your fellow beings as it is."
"i will Sir" Solemn Ron said to The Doctor.
"Kim." The Doctor turned to her and took her hand.
'WHAT THE…?' she thought as she received a shock! 'Relax Kim. I'm talking to you through the link we share through the Time Vortex… Stand behind him. He needs all your strength for what's to come… As a Goddess that can manipulate the Vortex with a thought… Just do your best as you always do, the rest will fall into place. And DON'T Misuse It.'
'Yes Sir.'
'KP! Are you alright?' Ron.
'Yeah Hon… The Doctor was showing me how to use my powers. That's all.' She said.
'Cool.'
"Sheila. Just do your best. Your Dad expects no less." The Doctor said to her.
"I will… Huh? Is He…?" she asked.
"In the Sea Of Time there's MANY possibilities… Just Do Your Best."
"Yes Sir."
"Ron you're EXACTLY like Imi. I met him during The War… We took the Chintamani Stone to 'The One Who Watches' for safekeeping since it's a tiny piece of The Essence's heart." He rambled.
"DUDE! This is SO cool! Great Grandpa wrote about you in his journal… Now we get to see you in PERSON! This ROCKS!" Ron crowed, "Say d'you think one day I could see it… the TARD…"
"No. Not now. Trust Me." The Doctor said with a wink.
"Awww!" Sad Ron.
"So. Ms Baux… How'd you know I'm The Doctor?" he asked.
"Dad had some files… from U.N.I.T., I 'peeked'." She said. "And we can 'see' you. So you really have a 'TARDIS'?"
"Oh yes. The old girl and I have been through a lot. Maybe one day you'll get to see her." 'Hmmm. They're far more evolved than I realized…'
"I heard about you from the Net." Kim chipped in. 'There were some weird historical references about you scattered here and there."
"Oh there's no dearth of those." He replied with another wink.
Kim blushed.
The Doctor smiled and took out a pad of paper, "Would you three do me a favor?"
"Sure." they said.
"May I have your autographs?" The Doctor asked as he held out a pen.
"Um… Ok. Why? Coolio!" Kim and Ron.
"I'd like to have the signatures of the three that… might make a difference… long term." He said with a strange look on his face. "A snapshot if you like."
"Hmmm Ok." Ron said as he took the pad and started to write.
"Doctor. What's going to happen?" Kim asked.
"Oh. Maybe a Grand Age or two… you can never tell with pivotal figures like you three…"
"!" Everyone thought.
---
While the heroes traded notes another watched and prepared…
'Now's the time. Yes?' The dreadlocked, skull faced, 7', bounty hunting android thought as it brought its weapons online and moved towards their table with several 'partners' in tow.
"NOW!" Roared Death's Head as he fired on their table and the patrons scattered so they could draw a bead on the culprits and open fire.
---
'!' "Pardon me. Someone needs to be reminded why you DON'T do this here." Jin Gang said as he threw up a shield before the attack commenced.
"Death's Head. I should have known. Thanos got to him. Ron, Peter could you lend a hand while I fix him?" he asked.
"Sure." They chimed as he and Death's Head disappeared.
---
"How many do you see, Ron?" Star-Lord asked as he looked at the crowd.
"Seven." He replied.
"That's what I thought. Ready to get some practice?" Peter asked.
"Oh Yeah."
They went to work.
---
"Shouldn't we help?" Kim asked Sheila as she and Linda powered up, while Jason clicked off a weapons safety.
"No. He needs this." She said as they watched the fight unfold.
---
Ron changed into Hanuman and drew his Bo while Star-Lord drew his Element Gun and began to blast the Berserkers with small bursts of focused plasma. 'Gotta take 'em out quick!' he thought as he fired several pulses of energy at the Berserkers.
'Damn. They're shielded.' "What's that you're shootin'?" he asked as he wore down their shields.
"Solar Plasma. Why?" Star-Lord said.
"Peter blast 'em when I tell ya!" he cried as he parried several blows from the machines as he herded and kicked them into a corner.
"Right!" He cried as he stood on Ron's right and prepped his shot.
"Now!" Ron cried as he "WHANGGG!" smacked the Bo into the machines and tumbled them into a heap in a corner.
"WHUMP!" The machines were fused into a red hot mass of metal.
"Hang on." Ron summoned an explosive gust of wind to put out the fire and to cool the slagged bots.
"Coool!" he cried. 'That's it Thanos, you're goin' down. No one tries to sneak up on the girls and hurt 'em while I'm around.'
You could hear a pin drop.
"It's HIM!" someone cried as they recognized Hanuman. "Him. The One… It's The Champion…" others wept, cried or whispered…
The effect was the same throughout the bar…
Word soon spread across Universe's End and off world…
Hanuman had returned.
And more importantly…
Ronald Dean Stoppable had regained his honor.
---
12-09-2004
The
Black Magellanic Cloud
ThanosBase's
darkened
Bridge
0920
hrs
'Unh. no. Not now. Not HIM. After All this time! Why NOW?' Thanos thought as he felt his 'minions' become slag, 'No matter. Thanos WILL do as he wills, when he wills.' He thought as he monitored his Keys progress towards the Galactic Core.
A terrifying grin split the chamber's darkness in twain.
---
Jin Gang reappeared, "Death's Head will be fine… Is everyone alright?"
"Yes." They said.
Ron was DEEP in Thought.
'MAN! There's Billions of these guys out here! Back home I'm still looked at as a buffoon by guys from school and villains like Drakken… even though I'm accepted by several warriors as an EQUAL… But here… These guys look to me… US as the only hope they've got…' Ron mused as he and Peter sat down while Kim and Co talked to The Doctor.
Jin Gang walked over to Ron, "Whether you're the Chosen or not, No one can fault you if you do your best."
"So you're a telepath too?" Ron asked Jin Gang.
"Yes. But I didn't have to use it in your case… It's obvious when I look at you that that's what's on your mind. Remember, Do Your Best." He said as he clasped Ron's shoulder. Ron felt a nudge from his right, and noticed Kim had moved her chair next to his.
'You ok?' She sent.
'yeah.' He replied.
''No' you mean… Ron… I understand… It's a LOT to take in isn't it? You've been content to stay in the shadows…' Kim twined her fingers with his, and squeezed gently, 'MY shadow… and now WE have to face this… If these folks are looking for a miracle… then they've found one… I don't say it enough… We girls don't, but you're OUR biggest miracle…' she sent as she hugged him. 'GREAT Job, Hero! Sorry about harshing on you earlier.' She sent as she kissed him.
'Thanks KP. You and Sheila are the Greatest y'know?' he sent while smiling at them both.
'You Got That Right!' Sheila sent while winking at Ron from across the table, 'And don't you forget it… EVER! 'K?'
''k.'
'…' Ron looked around.
"Where's Rufus?"
---
"Death's Head said he was sorry. Yes?" the droid asked the vengeful rodent that held a Hell Blaster to his temple.
"Uh, uh. Not good enough," Rufus chirped, "Retire and disappear."
"… Ok."
"Click." Rufus clicked on his blaster's safety.
End Part VIII