Previously In "Avengers Now" -

Mysterious drones, secret SHIELD Zero Sites, a warrior from Heaven? As the Avengers begin investigating recent developments, Captain Universe arrives just in time to help save Falcon, Nova, Power-Man, White Tiger and newly powered Cole Carson from a displaced angel named Angela. And also warns that there's danger in the Multiverse that warrants the Avengers help. Meanwhile, the explosion from Times Square that was somehow teleported through numerous realities and transformed Cole Carson, has evolved into a fully sentient and powerful life-form known simply as... The Being. Its first act? Transforming a normal man into... Nightmask!

Angela, Black Panther, Black Widow, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Captain Universe, Falcon, Hawkeye, Hulk, Human Torch, Hyperion, Iron Man, Manifold, Mockingbird, Nightmask, Nova, Power Man, Psylocke, Quasar, Quicksilver, Spider-Man, Thor, Vision, White Tiger, Wolverine

3#

"Destiny"

Part III

Avengers Tower.

Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther, Falcon, Vision and Captain Universe. The foundation had been explained. The Multiverse was in drastic danger due to an explosion that gained strength and then evolved into a sentient life-form. While this thing was gaining life and strength, wreaking havoc along the way, Angela was ripped from her home dimension and fell through open portals, ending up in our world at the supposed scene of the crime.

"What's our plan going to be here?" Falcon asked, minus his gear, "This... Whatever it's called... Is god knows where right now. Could be twenty universes away."

"Yeah, I see what you're saying," Captain America said, "It's not something we can simply chase."

"I can feel it," Captain Universe explained, somehow bringing up a cloud of images to show the Avengers, depicting exactly what this thing had been doing, "It's feeding, destroying and re-creating. It's born of chaos. It only knows chaos and harbors an unquenchable thirst for causing it."

"This could be disastrous," T'Challa stepped up, "It's breaking down walls that were never meant to be broken permanently. Defeating this Being isn't our only priority. We must also repair the damage it's causing to the time space continuum."

"That newbie," Stark mentioned, "The one that started this thing, Eden Fesi. He can open and close portals. What if he just did the closing part? Would it fix the broken walls?"

"It's possible," T'Challa answered, "But, the major problem would lie in being able to find and fix all the cracks."

"I will show him the way," Captain Universe said, "I will find him and..."

"Vision, alert Iron Man. There is an incoming threat," P.E.P.P.E.R. communicating with Vision.

"We have an issue," Vision passed along the warning, turning to the windows, the Avengers joining him.

It was six fighter jets flying together before one of them stopped dangerously close to Avengers Tower, the other ones buzzing around the structure like bees to a hive. On the main jet? The creation of the Being... It was Nightmask, an ominous bo staff materializing in his hand as he stood tall and ready for a fight.

"This ain't good," Stark commented.

"Universe," Captain America ordered, "Find Eden Fesi, work on repairing the cracks. Come back when you're done... We might need you. Vision, work with P.E.P.P.E.R., try to take control of the fighters. Tony, get out there and do whatever you can. Sam and T'Challa, stay with me."

The glass shattered inward after Nightmask had merely raised a hand, still standing on the still jet, which defied logic in and of itself. Captain America put up his shield, Vision put up a force-field as well, and the Avengers were protected by the sharp shards of glass.

"Falcon," Cap said, a stern expression as he stared at Nightmask, "Get me out there."

(Minutes Ago)

:::The Avengers Lab:::

Bruce Banner, Angela and Cole Carson.

"Superhuman strength, flight, healing, extreme durability, energy beams through your eyes. And that's just what we know so far. Congratulations, you're a superhuman. Everything else is stable, no more radical changes. I think what ever was going to happen to you with this transformation, has already happened."

"I don't know about extreme durability," Cole mentioned, sitting up from the table that Bruce Banner was running numerous tests, "She didn't have too much trouble sticking the tip of her sword in my throat."

"I meant to behead you," Angela revealed, "The sword would go no further."

"Okay," Bruce sighed, wiping his glasses, "Awkward. I'm just going to..."

"What ever happened," Cole got off the table, moving toward Angela, "It wasn't my fault. I was attacked."

"I realize that now," Angela admitted, "But, at the time, I did not."

"You shouldn't jump to conclusions like that," Cole said.

Angela glared, "I've seen my sisters killed for not jumping to conclusions like that."

"Sisters," Bruce noted, "Where exactly are you from?"

"Heaven," her simple answer, "Though... I don't think... Yours."

Before another word could be spoken between the three, a black alert sounded through Avengers Tower. Cole and Angela were a bit confused, but Bruce knew exactly. A code black alert meant the Tower was under attack, and all Avengers inside were called upon to help defend it.

"Duty calls," Bruce pulled off his lab coat as he began transforming into the Jade Avenger... "You might wanna go elsewhere for now. Hulk doesn't take kindly to new faces."

"Hulk," Cole realized what he should have already, "Bruce Banner? You're the... Oh no, we gotta get out of here."

"What? Why?" Angela saw no reason to run, "I'm a warrior, you have super-strength. There's nothing for us to..."

"Just trust me!" Cole grabbed her by the arm and ran out of the lab.

(Now)

:::Outside:::

"Are we sure about this, Cap?" Falcon asked as he took flight, Captain America standing on his back, ready to make a flying leap.

"If you need to ask that, then you don't know me as well as I thought," Cap responded.

"Good point," Falcon dove through the air.

When the timing was just right, Captain America jumped off of his fellow Avenger, falling through the air, somersaulting and then landing upright in the same fighter jet this new opponent was currently standing on and possibly keeping in place. The situation might have seemed larger than life... But when you were an Avenger, larger than life didn't appear all that big anymore.

"Who are you and what is this about?"

Nightmask maintained an expressionless face, eyes and markings glowing with bright blue light. Without moving an inch, he finally answered after some hesitation, "It is coming."

"It?" Cap took a fighting stance, not wanting to be caught off-guard, even if he was standing on a fighter jet.

"Yes," Nightmask nodded, "It."

Iron flew into the picture, "Vision and P.E.P.P.E.R. were able to hack into the other jets and wrestle them out of this guy's control. Not the one he's on, though. It's not even showing up on radar."

"Get them grounded and disabled," Cap ordered, "We can't risk anything."

Nightmask cocked his head slightly to the side, looking at Iron Man from the corner of his eyes. Suddenly, two repulsor rays shot from Iron Man's hands, aimed right at Captain America. With no room to spare, Cap narrowly dodged the blasts, but they tore a hole in the fighter jet.

The jet was settled for the moment, but once Nightmask separated himself from it, the descent began. Iron Man tried to act, but he was somehow frozen in place, unable to work his armor at all. This left Captain America hurling down faster and faster until the Hulk appeared out of nowhere, catching the First Avenger and saving him. While that happened, Cole emerged from the Tower and instinctively caught the falling jet, bringing it safely and carefully to the ground.

"Damn it," Stark gritted his teeth under the armor, trying to fight the control Nightmask had over him, "You don't know what you're doing!"

"I am preparing Earth for its arrival," Nightmask spoke.

"Who the hell is it!?" the sweat was pouring down his face as his hands were aimed toward T'Challa and Vision inside the Tower.

"The one you created," Nightmask explained, engulfed in blue energy, "The one born of your carelessness and chaotic actions."

"Panther, Vision, take cover!" Iron Man struggled against himself, "I don't have control of the armor!"

At the very last available second, Angela grabbed Nightmask from behind and pulled him away, flying headfirst into a nearby building, crashing through the walls and glass, going through to the other side and falling down through a billboard a city block away!

"Oh man," Stark had control of the armor once again, "That was way too close."

Angela landed a right, followed by another, and then another for good measure. Nightmask's nose was broken, the blood flowing like a busted faucet, "You!" she grabbed him by the throat, raising her other hand, "Was it you who did this to me!?"

Momentarily, a fog lifted off of Nightmask, and it was like he could see clearly again, "No!"

Iron Man flew in, grabbing Nightmask away from Angela, which the warrior wasn't happy about but was willing to let slide for the moment, "Who the hell are you? Who are you talking about? What is it?"

"I don't know," Nightmask answered truthfully, "I can't remember who I was. All I know is... There's something coming and I was supposed to be like a messenger. I couldn't control myself. I didn't want to hurt anyone!"

"Trickery," Angela remarked.

"Maybe," Iron Man let go, "But... For some reason... I believe him."

(Meanwhile)

:::Far Away:::

"No. I couldn't have caused all of this."

"You must accept your mistake. You must also repair the damage caused by it."

"I... I never thought... This isn't what I figured would happen."

Captain Universe had located Eden Fesi. She had explained everything. Knowing time was fleeting and of the essence, she quickly showed him to a number of cracks caused by the explosion he teleported. Fortunately, Eden was able to close them. The two could only hope that they were able to find each and every one. Missing a crack... Who knows, right? Could have been perfectly okay... Could have lead to a whole new disaster.

"I can feel it," she said as Eden repaired yet another crack, this one on a charred planet of some sort with an orange sky and black stars that glowed ominously.

"Feel what?" he asked.

She was hovering in the air, but fell to her feet, a weakness washing over her, "It's here... In this place. It's coming and it's strong... Too strong. It's angry... Confused... It knows it's failed twice to create a herald. Doesn't understand its own power."

"Agh," what she said made perfect sense when a sudden migraine formed in Eden's skull, pulsing and pounding, enough to drop him down to his knees, "Uh... Ugh... I can't take it. What the hell's going on!?"

The Being had taken humanoid form; Crackling Black light with sparks of purple popping off its body. It hovered in the air, inching closer, full and narrow crimson eyes appearing. They were haunting and evil, staring directly at the two hurting heroes.

"This world belongs to me," The Being spoke, "It is mine. I own it. You do not belong here."

Through sheer will, Captain Universe picked herself up, confronting this thing before her, "You are an accident. A deadly and extremely destructive mistake. You cannot be allowed freedom."

"What do we do?" Eden spoke through strain, just being in the presence of this thing was enough to wear you down.

"Die," The Being threatened, releasing energy from its body, targeting Captain Universe...

Only to find all the energy absorbed and then released back on it... Weakening it significantly. The Being collapsed back onto the ground, stunned by what had just happened. Couldn't be possible... Couldn't be... The Being fired another round of energy... The process repeating itself!

"You are an ill-tempered child," Captain Universe stood tall, fighting back the Accident, "And like one, you must be scolded..." a blast, "Punished..." another, "Grounded," and yet another, this one driving the Being down into the ground at least twenty feet, "For what you've done."

"No," The Being summoned the will to retaliate, causing the ground to rise up towards Captain Universe, nearly impaling her if not for her stopping it and reversing the action, hurting The Being even more!

Slowly, Eden Fesi was able to stand up, straighter and straighter.

The Being was suffering with great and intense pain, crying out in anguish and despair. Yet, it stretched a black arm out, extending its hand into a claw, and grabbed Captain Universe by the throat, bringing her in close, "This is not the end! I will return. When that day comes... Everyone... Everything... Everywhere... Will suffer to the point of begging for death as a release!"

Then it relinquished its hold, not only falling onto the charred ground, but sinking into it. A massive quake came next, the very fabric in which this world was created... Now ripping apart violently.

"Now what's going on!?" Eden shouted, finally standing up, only to fall back down.

"Of course," Captain Universe realized, "I understand now. This place we're in... The Being created its own realm."

"He created an entire world?" Eden stood up once more.

"Yes," she answered, "I can't leave. Not yet. I must find it... Talk to it before anything else happens."

"This world is falling apart," Eden shouted again, "We gotta get outta here!"

"Go back to your Earth," she instructed, "To the Avengers. Tell them the immediate threat is gone for now. But... They need to be aware. There's still more damage... Some that cannot be repaired. Danger is coming to their world. They must be prepared for..."

(Later)

:::Avengers Tower:::

"... Anything that comes our way."

Captain America had called an emergency meeting at the headquarters. Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Thor, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Black Widow, Eden Fesi aka Manifold, Cole Carson aka Hyperion, Angela, Bruce Banner, Hawkeye, Power-Man, Nova, White Tiger, Mockingbird, Black Widow, The Human Torch, Quasar, Falcon, Vision, Psylocke, Quicksilver and even Nightmask.

"That's why I'm extending this invitation to all of you," Cap continued, "If you choose; You are all Avengers."

Spider-Man raised a hand, "Question. If uhh... If you were an Avenger before and plan to stay... Is there a pay raise of some sort? I was thinking of buying one of the next-gen consoles when they... Hey, what? Can't a guy have some meaningless fun during downtime? Logan, don't look at me like that."

:::Somewhere Dark:::

A gathering of evil.

Mephistopheles, Blackheart, Dormammu, D'Spayre, Nightmare, Father and the Angel of Vengeance... Zadkiel, whom Mephisto had bargained with Lucifer to extract from the deepest pits of Hell. They gathered within the darkest of rooms... Secret and cold. An ominous whir could be heard coming from somewhere in the shadows as an even more ominous red glow bathed them all.

In the center of the circle of characters was a glowing orb... Showing them what they needed to see. Showing them that their plans were going as smoothly as had been designed.

"Their toys used against them, our first goal has been reached," Mephisto spoke in a sly tone that contrasted with his most devilish appearance, "The Being has been born. In time... He will reach Earth and wreak havoc. The Avengers are now aware that SHIELD has been keeping secrets. The Avengers themselves are too large. Soon... Ideas and egos will clash and their team will fall apart."

"I have heard rumors... Murmurs," Nightmare spoke, "Whispers in the dark... You have recruited him," the end of his sentence spoke with venomous tongue.

The rest twisted their faces in disgust.

"Step forward," Mephisto ordered, and from the darkness came none other than Parker Robbins... Better known as The Hood. It was no secret, the Hood was not popular... Whether that be among heroes, villains, entities, what have you. They all scowled at the latest addition to their inner circle.

"His link to the Vishanti should not be ignored," Mephisto, "With proper influence... He will be able to stand with us... Without the contempt currently held for him."

Father spoke up, his voice as ragged as his old and wrinkled skin, body held up by red armor, "I would like to draw attention to where I feel it is most needed. The retrieval of Selene."

"She is destroyed," D'Spayre spoke from behind the black cape protecting him, "Retrieval is not possible."

"Recreation is," Dormammu said, waving a hand over the glowing orb, showing a far off image of Selene being brought back to life from flecks of flesh and bone, "It will be difficult. Yet... Possible."

Zadkiel felt compelled to speak on a particular matter, "You've never took action like this before," in relation to Mephisto taking charge of this dark cabal of evil, "You've always stuck to shadows. Why now? What's important enough to draw Mephisto out?"

Mephisto chose not to answer the question directly, "The Being has been created. Now... We wait. When the time is right, we will move into the second phase of our master plan. You needn't worry about reasons or motivations. Keep in mind, only, that the dark truth will soon come. When it does... Hell will be unleashed upon every world."

The Avengers worst nightmare...

The Dark Cabal.

::::::::::AVENGERS NOW::::::::::

Opening arc is complete. Chapter is a little rough, I admit. Things finished maybe a little too quick. I hope you guys don't mind too much. Stay tuned, True Believers.