Avenging Justice 3:

To Infinity and Anti-Life

Part XIX

Deep Space, Sanctuary II

The fleet was near. Those who had kept him from his destiny for so long, were now but a fragment of their former selves. The Nova Corps were gone, another obstacle that had been removed. The Guardians were focused on an Orange Light, while the Yellow light of Fear regrouped. The Red Light of raged grew, and off in the distance he could foresee Will and Love coming to blows. In short the time had come, and soon Death would be glorified. It would only take half the universe, that was the least Thanos could do for his love.

Behind him a blast of heat and sulfur wafted in, Darkseid was paying him another visit. For an ally he was his weight in any valuable resource. Though their two armies hadn't meshed seamlessly, there were a few tales of infighting. Still, the Parademons, Chitauri, the Furies and his own Black Order, had formed a force that could not be defied. Especially with the fall of some of the galaxy's protectors, something he had waited patiently for.

"Another of your gems in in your grasp," Darkseid growled. "There is a growing power."

Thanos turned slightly, "You refer to those things with the black rings? My Black Order has dispatched three, their rings disappear before we can acquire one."

"You would like what fuels them," Darkseid teased. "It is Death that fuels them. I'm sure your mistress is pleased with that."

Thanos nodded, "I will have them redouble their efforts. Though I believe you came here more than to tease me."

"Just ensuring we remain on the time table agreed upon," Darkseid walked over to the screen. "With the introduction of these Black Lanterns, we can not afford any delays. Especially when it comes to rebellious children."

Thanos hid his displeasure at being pushed, "She is necessary to finding the last one. I've located all but the Soul Stone. Not for long though."

Down on the planet below, sentients ran for safety. A safety that was nonexistent as an apocalypse rained down up on them. Parents held children tightly as destruction surrounded them. Fire and explosions replaced the natura order, and thunder rumbled through the air. Lights flashed like lightning and buildings fell. These artificial mountains came crumbling down, spitting debris, clouds and death with them.

All look upward, waiting for someone, anyone to appear to save them. They knew not of what the other powers in the universe were going through. They only knew the challenge facing them, and the stakes if they lost. Everything, they would lose everything, to be more precise half of everything. They had no way of knowing that, for them, this was the fight of their lives.

Earth, Washington D.C., Naval Yard, NCIS, Special Case Unit

Regina was taking in some chai tea, Ian was drinking coffee, again. The other two members of their team would be in momentarily. Kasumi Hiroyami was punctual to a fault, and Jackson Thorpe was always about five minutes late. She always dressed and ready to go, him still having the smell of a his morning job on him. Not that she hadn't spoken to him about it, to the point of ad nauseum. At this point it was an office pool to see how long till she used her power to plunge him into an arctic pool, just to make a point.

Once again Special Agent Lawrence missed her navy roots, and the order that came with it. She knew Ian did as well, though he hid it better by going to the range often. She was worried he might have worked on his aim too much, and not on his investigative skills. However, that was soon proved without merit as he spoke up. This was just as Kasumi was walking in.

"Ma'am, you'll want to stop by the head," he said without looking up from his cup of coffee.

The agent looked at him, then looked back at herself, before going crimson. Quickly she bolted for the ladies' restroom. Regina was confused for a moment, before she realized her agent's shirt was inside out, and the skirt looked to be the same as she wore yesterday. Someone had a good night last night! She turned to Ian, but he was just drinking his coffee. Okay, maybe he hadn't been slacking on his observation skills.

Regina Lawrence shook her head, "I swear, you're a character, Ian. Do I even want to…."

Her head began to swim and a plaintive voice filled her thoughts. Focusing her mind, she pushed forward, forming the voice into something comprehensible. As she did, she knew who it was, and adrenaline spiked. She was better at control than this, something was wrong, something was causing her to panic. Ian's look of concern disappeared, instead it was the young teen at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

"Amelia, what is it?" Regina's voice echoed in this mindscape. Amelia's never did, but hers did. "You've got to control your emotions, you're bouncing all around my head."

Amelia Von Schwartz's voice was rapid, emotional and panicked, "They're dying, they're all dying. You've got to help me, help them!"

"Slow down, Amelia, who is dying?" Regina asked. Her head was pulsing, and she knew the mother of all headaches was in her future.

Amelia's rely was plaintive, "The Blue People, demons and aliens are falling from the sky. Fire and death, they're afraid, they're dying!"

"Control, pull back those emotions, you're deafening me," Regina winced. "It must be a bad dream."

Amelia's voice turned sharp in an instant, "No, they're far away, but they are there. We have to save them! I need your help, we can save them!"

"Hang on, how can we save them?" Regina was quickly trying to get a handle of this. "What do you even know of these people?"

Amelia smiled, "Everything. They are artists and philosophers. They look to the stars like we do, and they paint masterpieces to it, perform symphonies for it. Their world is like ours, and their three moons dance through the night sky. I've visited them many times over the years."

"Wait, what? You've never mentioned them when I've visited before," Regina looked a little hurt and confused.

She had been spending time with the girl, a Big Sister if you would, to help her since her family wasn't in her life. This wasn't uncommon with Mutants, and one of things she did to ground her. Working for NCIS and all the horrible things people did, it was nice to have something pure in her life. However, it appeared her Little Sister had been holding back. Then again, that was a Mutant trait, seemingly because being completely honest was deadly to them.

Humanity feared them, while Mutants had formed two camps. One that thought themselves Humans, and wanted to live along their non mutant brethren. The other thought it was impossible and wanted a separation, even if it meant violence. The difference between Charles Xavier's X-men and Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants, and one that Regina had to navigate every day.

Amelia actually looked chagrined at this, "Sorry, it was nice to have something that was all mine. But we have to help them. They're frightened!"

"You've got to tell me how we can help," Regina was talking calmly, hoping the energy would transfer to the girl. "What do you need me to do?"

Amelia's face stretched in delight, "Save them! I need to borrow your power. Together we can save them!"

"That's all well and good, but you described what sounds like an attack," Regina's mind was already to the next part. "We can't let whoever is attacking them follow."

Amelia nodded, "You're right, you should bring Ian, he can bring the boom!"

"I'm going to have a talk with him about letting you near firearms," Regina growled.

Amelia giggled, "No, he and Gambit were practicing with playing cards. He's gotten almost as good as the Remy!"

"You stay away from Gambit, he's not good for a girl to be around," Regina said, and felt her mother coming out. Shit, did everyone turn into their parents?

The rolling of Amelia's eyes was a clue that the answer was, yes. "Relax, he only has eyes for Rogue. 'Mon Cheri' this and that when she's around. Anyway, we can help them, bring Ian."

With that the world came back into focus and with the feeling like her head was being ripped apart by angry gnats. She cursed, reached into her desk and pulled out ibuprofen. Noise in the background coalesced into understandable words, and Ian's warm hands brought her attention to him.

"You okay there, Boss?" he asked. "You went silent and got that weird far away look."

Regina took the medicine and then nodded, "Yeah, Amelia is having an issue and needs some help. Apparently, we're about to rescue some aliens."

"I don't think Director Vance is going to be happy about that," Ian yawned. "You know illegal immigration is something he's trying to stay out of."

Regina shook her head, "Not those aliens, alien aliens, like Pandorans from Avatar."

"Cameron, good choice, at least you didn't got Xenomorphs from Aliens," Ian said as he got up and strapped on his badge and weapon. "So, where are we headed. It's time I got to meet me some hot green ladies in need of rescuing, or blue ones, I'm easy to get along with."

"You're an idiot," Special Agent Lawrence stifled a laugh.

He played the meathead, but was a good man. Nobody she'd like to go into battle with more than him. That, and as a Marine, there was no quit. He would succeed in a mission, there was no failure in his thought process. Even strategically advancing in the opposite direction, was only to be done so one could complete their objective.

"So, where are we going, Boss?" Ian hands at his sides, and she saw them instantly go for the nonexistent rifle he'd worn as a Marine.

Regina looked around, "Subbasement evidence garage, that should give us enough space. Let's just hope this is over with before the director finds out."

"Then we better be quick," Ian gave her that conspiratorial grin of his. "Let's do this."

Moments later they were in the basement, and Amelia was back in Regina's head. She guided the woman, and Regina felt her power open a rift in the air of the evidence garage. As she did, alien air came rushing in, as did screaming and the sound of weapons fire. It wasn't the ratta tat of machine guns and sub machine guns, but there was the distinct sound of explosions. Piercing shrieks and pulsing blasts overloaded her senses.

"You maintain control, I'll help the evacuation," she heard Ian say, but she was too busy trying to keep the portal open, when another came to life. The load on her abilities had doubled.

Amelia cried out to her alien friend, "Run towards the big pink man, he's a friend. Hurry, bring your people with you."

Ian charged his rounds with several elemental energies, and stepped through Regina's portal. He was at once in his element on this alien world. The structures were alien, the language and the people vastly differently, but the violence, that was familiar. Seeing the buzzing flying aliens attacking the blue ones, and then the jumping skeletal like other aliens. Their energy weapons tearing through the blue aliens, and he instantly knew who the enemies were.

Ian pulled his pistol, with the charged rounds, and fired at those attacking the blue aliens. The first one hit one of the buzzing aliens and it froze still. The other hit one of the jumping ones, and it screamed as it became engulfed in flames. Two more shots, this time these two started to jerk as electricity coursed through them. One came right at him, fired an energy pulse at Ian. He rolled, came up and fired two rounds into it. The alien was ejected backwards, like a massive hand had scooped it up and threw it.

The blue aliens followed the portal to safety, and were being sent through another. Meanwhile Regina's body felt like it was being pulled apart. The power coursing through her, she had never done something like this before. She could feel Amelia beside her though. The girl put her hand on Regina's arm. Warmth transferred over, and Regina held out a little bit longer.

Meanwhile Ian reloaded his pistol, and was glad he normally carried more than the standard agent did. Though with the amount of enemy coming, he would soon have to go back through. Most of the aliens had already escaped, the only one left was a small alien child, trapped under its parent. Instinctively he pulled the child and brought the child close to him. As he did, more of the enemy aliens thought him vulnerable. Two explosive bullets later, and they were reforming in a circular line. It also meant he was having to dodge more of those plasma blasts. That gave him an idea, and his next bullet was imbued with plasma. The alien it hit, fell lifeless as a small burning hole formed in its helm. As a bonus, it took out one more behind it.

"Time to go little one," Ian said gently to the child and raced towards the open portal.

Light erupted behind him and the hairs on the back of his neck instantly raised. Recognizing his sense of danger, something combat vets were notorious for having, he dove to the ground. A swirling disc of death rotated over his head and then back to the hand of a newly arrived alien. He didn't recognize it, the thing was big, and looked humanoid. The fact it was purple and had a chin that was mottled, wrinkled. Instantly he had three jokes about ball sacks that were begging to come out.

"Where do you hail from, warrior? You who have held my armies off with what the elements?" the purple alien said.

"Little place outside of Aurora, great place, wonderful snows, lovely mountains," Ian shot back. "You wouldn't be welcome because they have a 'no asshole' rule, but hey, if you lighten up who knows?"

The purple alien smiled, "You face death with humor. It will be a pleasure to end you."

"Oh yeah, she and I go way back," Ian grinned, ever making his way to the portal. "When you see her again, please tell her I need my shirt back. I know it's hard, but we both have moved on. I've got a wonderful lady and death got second place with you."

The purple alien raged and ran forward, and Ian leapt back. He felt the familiar air conditioning of the evidence garage, and he yelled for Regina to close the portal. It closed on the angry purple alien, and one of the blue aliens waited on him, warily. The child in his arms, cried and he handed the poor thing off to the other alien. It did a slight bow, and made sounds that he guessed were words in its language.

"Listen, bud, err miss, ummm, whatever is polite for your people, I'm glad to return the kid," Ian said and felt like an ass.

Regina smiled at his discomfort and showed the blue alien to the second portal. It walked through and then she dropped the portal. She felt woozy, and luckily Ian was there to help steady her. After a couple of steadying breaths, she was standing on her own. She gave him a quick soft punch to his arm. He nodded, and for the first time in months, seemed relaxed. Figures what he needed was a firefight to help him relax.

"According to Amelia," Regina explained. "The alien was thanking you and pledging a life debt for saving their sibling's child."

Ian looked mortified, "I'm good, no need for that. And considering you put them god knows where, I'm thinking more ceremonial than anything."

She laughed, "You keep thinking that. Let's get back upstairs before the big boss comes looking for us, and I have to explain anything."

"Sure thing, besides I need to reload all my magazines," Ian said. "Good think I keep extra rounds in my desk."

Regina shook her head, "I don't want to know. Something tells me you are the unofficial armory for the building."

"I can neither confirm or deny," Ian said and mimicked pulling out a neuralyzer form the Men In Black movies. "You will not remember any mention of hoards of ammunition in my desk."

She laughed at him, "You're incorrigible."