Korriban Orbit: 2:00 a.m.

Doom and Force Susan sat in the cockpit of the Lambda Shuttle, heading for the Star Destroyer. Doom was thinking about what Force Susan had told before they had left.

"Listen to me very carefully." Force Susan said, holding Doom's hand gently.

"Yes? What is it?" Doom asked.

"You are now able to manipulate a portion of my powers. They are your's to command. But you are feral; untrained in my use."

"You make it sound so evil."

She giggled slightly. "Yes. But beside that point, I'm going to take you to a planet I know very well. It's called Dantooine, and I will have someone train you with me."

"Dantooine..."

"Dantooine..." He repeated softly to himself.

If he was going to be trained in this new form of 'The Force', he ought to be prepared for the worse outcome. He would be toying with powers beyond his imagination...toying with his lover's life force!

Suddenly, he felt Force Susan touch his face gently. "You look so much more attractive without that metal mask."

"I have you to thank for that." Doom said, and they embraced.

But while they did so, they failed to notice the debris from their Star Destroyer that had been blasted to bits by the one that floated in front of them. What they were flying into was a gruesome death, aboard a drifting nearly dead Star Destroyer!

Arlington Cemetery: Virginia: 4:00 a.m.

Tony Stark, Thor Odinson, Carol Danvers, Norrin Radd, and several family members of the deceased gathered for the final ceremonies to honor the death's of Captain America, Dr. Strange, Nick Fury, and Namor. Namor however was buried back in Atlantis.

The Silver Surfer had felt the cosmic vibrations caused by the activation of the Infinity Gauntlet. But he had lost his connection with it when Palleon had teleported.

Tony knelt slowly over Cap's grave. He placed his palm upon the dirt.

"My, God, Steve..." He began holding back the urge to wail. "Why...why did you have to resist me in the Civil War! You wouldn't have had to die then, and maybe you wouldn't be dead now!"

Thor placed a hand on Tony's shoulder. Tony was barely holding it together.

"I promise old friend...I won't let 'em touch you again...rest in peace, forever."

Tears streamed down Tony's face, wetting his suit in the spots where they dropped on it.

A few graves over, Wolverine sat on his Harley Davidson motorcycle, observing the ceremonies. The rage he felt growing inside him was unimaginable, and he had to let it out on someone, something! He had lost a friend twice now, he had lost so many loves and allies. He was done losing people!

"I'm gonna find you, bub, where ever the Hell you are!" He grunted. "And I'm gonna gut you like the animal you are!"

With that, he revved up his bike, and rode out of the cemetery and out to the beginning of his new purpose...revenge!

Stark Tower; Manhattan: 7:00 a.m.

The four mourning heroes sat in the highest level of the tower, still heartbroken over their friend's deaths. Tony sat on a black leatther couch, a bottle of vodka in his hand, and his suit all loosened up. Carol stood by the fireplace, just staring at the flames. Thor looked out the huge window to the sky, praying to his father, Odin, his father's rival, Zeus, and even God himself, that Cap and the other's were in a better place, Mjolnir leaned against the wall.

The Silver Surfer however, was thinking of how to track down this invader from another universe. There were a lot of things involved in quantum mechanics, so many things that go wrong. He pondered this for a while, hoping he would find the solution.

No one spoke a word for a while. After a bit, Tony stood up, half-drunk and teetering a little. He got up and walked to the center of the room, twanging his vodka bottle with a metal spoon.

"I want to say a few things." He said.

Everbody turned to listen, whole heartedly intent on what was being said.

"I know in the recent events of the Civil War, and World War Hulk, and the Secret Invasion, those guys were our enemies." He said, hiccupped, then continued. "But what were they before all that, and after all that? Huh? They were some of our closest friends! Our brothers-in-arms! Jesus, OUR GOD DAMN FAMILY! And they died today, trying to save this world from whatever evil fate may await it! And I say that's worth dying for! I say, that's worth living for! Here's to them!"

He raised his bottle and the others raised their glasses in a toast to the bravest men they had known for a long time...

Manaan: Ahto City: 2:00 a.m.

Palleon appeared in the middle of several startled citizens and Stormtroopers in the only city on the water world in a flash of green light. The Infinity Gauntlet on his left hand shining in the dim lights of the city. He stood there amazed at the power he felt flowing through him. It was as if he was the master of all reality!

A Stormtrooper in black armour, a Black Hole Trooper, stepped forward. "Admiral Palleon? Is that you?"

Palleon looked up as if startled out of a trance. "Uh, yes. Where is it? I have aquired the necessary device we need to use!"

The Black Hole Trooper, though face unreadable to all else, was one of shock in Palleon's now god-like eyes.

"I-it's in the chamber as always sir."

"Get it! This needs to be public!" Palleon announced.

The Black Hole Trooper nodded and ran off with several Stormtroopers to get it. The citizens were all talking hushed like now. Palleon heard things like, "What is he? Crazy?" and "What is he talking about?"

Their doubts and curiosity would soon be asuaged, as soon as he performed the miracle.

The troopers returned again, carrying slowly between them a black painted wooden coffin with the Imperial ensignia on the top. People were now talking in excited and scared chatter. Palleon took a moment to breath before telling the troopers, "Open it."

The troopers got their vibroblades into the crefaces and pryed the lid off the wooden death bed. Palleon stepped forward into the presence of the once great Grand Admiral Thrawn!

Palleon caught his breath, and raised the hand with the Gauntlet on it above the blue body in the hite suit. A green flash shown brightly, blinding all but Palleon, who saw with vivid clarity, the red eyes slowly open! Grand Admiral Thrawn was back!

The flash faded, and all stared as the Grand Admiral stood next to Palleon, his hands behind his back, and a stern look on his face. He cracked his neck, as it was very stiff. The citizens were flustered, some people running away screaming! Thrawn looked over at Palleon.

"Hello, Palleon." He said in that commanding and low toned voice. "You have brought me back?"

"Of course, Grand Admiral!" Palleon said. "And I bring a gift. The object which gave you life!"

But as Palleon tried to remove the Gauntlet, it wouldn't even budge! Thrawn looked knowingly.

"It won't come off." He said, cooly. "If you are to take it off, then I will simply die again. Besides, it won't come off if your intention is to give it to the dead."

Palleon looked up. "How do you know this?"

"I know all about the Gauntlet, since it was the Gauntlet that brought me back." Thrawn said, matter-of-factly.

They looked at each other for a long while. Finally, Thrawn asked, "So, Admiral, what is your next plan?"