Korriban Orbit: Imperial Star Destroyer: 2:15 a.m.
The Lambda Shuttle landed gracefully in the hanger of the drifting Star Destroyer. Doom knew they were alone, but he couldn't help feeling as if he was being overshadowed by an evil force. It was the same feeling he had in the Sith Tomb!
"Prepare yourself." He told Force Susan.
She looked at him. "Why? I sense no one aboard but us. There are no other life signs here."
"That doesn't mean we are alone..." Doom said, darkly.
They exited the shuttle and walked slowly into the hanger. The eerie chill in the air wouldn't go away, and Doom's neck hairs were standing on end like that of a cat sensing danger. He looked around the hanger, searching for life signs, or out-of-the-ordinary things. They were miniscule details, but Doom caught them.
"This isn't the Destroyer we came on. This is a different one entirely!" He said, sudden alarm sounding in his voice. As they ran back to the shuttle, it suddenly lifted off, and threw itself into the wall, exploding into a brilliant orange ball of fire and debris! Doom and Force Susan were knocked on their feet.
"Disruptor field!" Doom cried.
Soon, as the explosion died down, the entire ship seemed to retain it's evil silence. The heavy mood fell upon the air again, clouding every thought that Doom made up. The aura was very off.
"I feel a great disturbance.." Force Susan mused.
She grabbed for Doom's hand, and Doom squeezed it gently in reassurance.
"Yes," He said. "I feel it too."
They stood totally still in the dim flickering lights of the hanger. They failed again to notice the lone Stormtrooper with blood splatter on his helmet, and a chunk missing from the front of the chin plate revealing a bloody gapping jaw, watching them from the docking bay control room, with a deep irresistable hunger for the warm soft flesh of the two lovers!
Stark Tower: Manhattan: 8:00 a.m.
Tony and Carol lay asleep on the couch, facing opposite each other. Silver Surfer and Thor stood by the window, discussing quietly the reprecussions of the Gauntlet's activation.
"...Galactus comes." The Surfer finished.
"You are assuredly certain, Norrin Radd?" Thor said, unworried but tense.
The former Herald nodded solemnly. Thor bowed his head in deep thought.
"I shall go forth and stop the beast." He said at last.
"Are you quite certain...we may need you here!"
"Why, my silver friend?"
"There is one other thing. The longer the Gauntlet stays in his plane of reality, the quicker the end of the world will come, but not by Galactus' hand!" The Surfer told him.
Thor looked over at Tony and Carol, who were now facing each other close enough to be kissing. The Silver Surfer shook his head.
"No, they need not know." He said. "It would only cause a panic..."
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Tony stirred but did not wake. Thor walked over to the door, opened it, and looked upon the flaming skull of the Ghost Rider!
Manaan: Ahto City: 3:00 a.m.
Palleon stood on the edge of the city, staring off into the horizon. Grand Admiral Thrawn stood behind him a ways. Palleon mulled over what he had learned of the Gauntlet.
"It will be of great use to your new Empire." Thrawn said. "With them at your undying disposal, you will be unstoppable."
"But bringing those people back, on such a large scale!" Palleon nearly whispered.
"You don't even need the bodies present. They will appear before you." Thrawn said, pushing the subject farther. "You wanted my advisory, thus the reason for bringing me back, and this is my advice to you. Revive them."
Palleon thought about it. Yes, that had been the reason for bringing back Thrawn, but was tis a good idea? A part of him screamed, "Of course it's a good idea! Grand Admiral Thrawn himself said so!"
He hesitated, then raised his hand out to the horizon, willing the Soul Gem to call back those people he now needed. Combining it with the Reality Gem, and the Space Gem he could bring back anyone, from any time, anywhere! Soon, a gigantic green light flashed and several skeleton's appeared! They were quickly covered by muscle, then skin, then clothes, and soon they were recognizable!
Before him now stood several people, among them, Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Nihilus, Darth Sion, Darth Traya, Darth Malak, Darth Revan, Count Dooku, General Grievous, Darth Maul, Asajj Ventress, Obi-wan Kenobi, Master Yoda, Mace Windu, and Jango Fett.
Durge, Tavion, Darth Desann, Quinlan Vos, Qui-gon Jinn, Jabba the Hutt and several upon several others all stood before him. Blank eyes staring at him, curious, angry, and grateful!
Palleon was shocked to see that all the names he had thought of were standing in front of him! Everything was right. Their clothes were perfectly fine, not a speck of dirt on them! Their skin was completely healed, no scars anywhere. All their weapons had been recovered!
Vader looked at the Emperor. Palpatine seemed to remember that he had been killed by his once loyal apprentice.
"If I were not being controlled, you would be dead again already, Vader!" He spat.
"You would be the one sent back to the grave, my 'master'" Vader taunted back.
Marka Ragnos, Naga Sadow, Ajunta Paul, Freedon Nadd, and several other Sith legends stepped between them on Palleon's orders. He had complete control over them!
"Now, you have the ultimate army." Thrawn smiled.
Palleon agreed. With an army like this the New Republic didn't stand a chance!