*Starbrand: Destiny*

*Chapter Three*

*The Assault*

Moving as fast a speed as his motorbike would allow him to achieve, Ron Stoppable continued onward to his intended destination. Have you ever got that feeling that something is going to happen? This was exactly what Ron was feeling in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't be certain, but something wasn't right. Those motorcyclists pursued and attacked him for a reason. Could it be connected to what happened to him? Was it because of the star insignia that was etched into the fleshy palm of his right hand?

Suddenly, Ron heard a sound that managed to breach through his helmet and nearly eclipsed the noise created by his fast-moving vehicle. Turning his head back for a quick glance to see what was causing such a sound, he made a very alarming discovery. Flying in the air, less than two hundred feet above the ground, was a pair of RAH-66 Comanche helicopters. This couldn't be good news. His suspicions were confirmed when the two military aircraft locked their machine guns on him and began firing!

"Aw, man! C'mon! Why can't I get a single weekend that isn't messed up?!", Ron shouted, accelerating his motorbike to its utmost speed.

He kept on going, moving faster than ever, never daring to look back as the two helicopters continued their pursuit of him. The two Comanche helicopters unleashed their formidable firepower, the bullets tearing the tar covered road apart, sending dust and small chunks of debris into the air. Ron wasn't sure how far he would get, knowing full well that he wasn't capable of out-running the two flying war machines. Then he got an idea. He couldn't out-run them... but maybe he could try to somehow lose them.

VRRRRRROOOOOOOOOM!

Taking that course of action, Ron races his motorbike off road and down the slope. Making his way to the mountain forest, he races across a meadow as bullets rain down all around him. He could swear that some of bullets struck him, but if that was the case... why was he still alive? It's not like he was capable of shrugging off bursts of bullets like a Superman or something. Could it be that he's imagining things? He did not ponder on these thoughts as he finally made it into the forest, the trees providing natural cover and protection from his aviator assailants.

However, unknown to Ron Stoppable, Global Justice and their forces were one step ahead of him. They knew how smart and capable Ron was in the field, especially Dr. Director who greatly acknowledged his ability to overcome formidable challenges and difficult situations. But that wouldn't matter, it wouldn't change the outcome... not this time. Seated in one of her personal Global Justice helicopters, Dr. Director glanced outside the window, her one eye surveying the forested landscape.

She left the safety of the GJ base, knowing that she might be needed to bring Ron Stoppable into custody. If all her forces failed to take him down, perhaps there was a chance that she'd be able to convince him to cooperate. It would be dangerous, considering that Ron's power was now at Omega-levels, but it was worth the risk. Much like her opinions regarding beings/heroes such as Thor, The Hulk, Hyperion and several other incredibly powerful humans, she believed that they were too dangerous, too powerful to be allowed free reign on the planet. And right now, it would appear that Ron Stoppable has joined their ranks amongst those of the Omega-level classification.

"Agent Simonson. Give us a status update on our target.", Dr. Director commanded, her tone indicating that she would not be taking 'no' for an answer.

"Target is still on the move, Director!", Agent Simonson, one of the Comanche helicopter pilots, announced through his communications device.

"Ground troops, it's your job to trap and contain him! Give him everything you've got! We need to bring him in!", Dr. Director orders, speaking loud and clear into her mouthpiece for all to hear.

Through the mountain forests Ron raced, moving as fast as possible, dodging trees and boulders and numerous other obstacles that entered his path. He didn't know why he was being pursued, but he was quite certain that is was far from being over. His senses, heightened by the transition of the powers he received from the starbrand, could detect soldiers and machines moving throughout the forest. And once he made his way out of the forest and into a meadow, his suspicions were proven correct. He was surrounded.

A dozen M1 Abrams' tanks were encircled all around him, dozens upon dozens of soldiers armed with automatic rifles stood their ground, and up in the sky two F-22 Raptors soared through the air as they awaited for the order to strike. There was nowhere for Ron Stoppable to run, no place that he could find sanctuary. There was only himself and the forces summoned by Global Justice. Needless to say, the situation appeared dire for the bearer of the starbrand. Still, despite the situation, it didn't stop Ron from seeking a peaceful end to all of this madness.

"Hey, guys! What's up? Mind telling me what's with all this? I mean, stalking me? Trying to kill me? Not cool, dudes. Not cool.", Ron said, slowly getting off of his motorbike.

"Surrender now, Ron Stoppable!", A GJ Agent ordered, shouting from his position several hundred meters away from where the blond-haired hero now stood.

"Yeah... that's not gonna happen. Not until I get some answers.", Ron replied, easily taking a few steps towards the soldiers, who in response leveled their weapons at him.

"Put your hands behind your head and get down on the ground! Now!", A second GJ Agent shouted, his riffle aimed directly at the blond hero's head.

"Look, seriously, I'm trying to be reasonable here. The least you guys can do is give a call to whoever it is that's running this show.", Ron said, his gaze focused on the armed forces that surrounded him.

"GET DOWN NOW!", A GJ Agent yells.

"No. I'm not done. What's this all about? No, wait. Let me guess. It's about this, isn't it?", Ron states, opening and raising the hand that's marked by the star-shaped insignia.

It was in that instant that the symbol engraved into the flesh of Ron's right hand began to glow bright, pulsing flashes of energy like a beacon. No sooner did this occur that the assault on Earth's newest Omega-level being commenced. Thousands of bullets and numerous explosive tank shells rain down upon Ron's form, the explosions engulfing his entire form in fire as he raised his hands at the last moment to shield himself. It is moments later that the forces seize fire, fire and smoke blocking the site in which Ron Stoppable once stood.

The explosive assault created a crater, one filled with fire and smoke, yet also within it was a seemingly unharmed Ron Stoppable. Besides the tattered clothes that remained on his toned physique, there wasn't even so much as a scratch on blond-haired, heroic man's body. He stepped out of the crater, his chocolate-brown eyes surveying his body from his shoulders down to his feet before staring down at the glowing marking etched in the palm of his hand. He shouldn't be alive, especially after such a devastating attack. It was unbelievable, impossible, yet he was still alive.

But what could have made this possible? How did he become completely indestructible over night? Could it be... yes, that had to be the reason! It was the starbrand! There was simply no other logical explanation to all of it. He's beyond human, he's beyond superhuman... he is a cosmic force of nature.

"Wow! I... I'm not hurt! I didn't even feel it. In fact... it barely even fazed me.", Ron exclaimed, shock and awe seeping into his words.

"TAKE HIM DOWN!", The leader of the GJ Forces shouted in command.

However, unlike the first assault, Ron didn't stand around and allow himself to be barraged by bullets and explosions. He ran towards his assailant, moving faster than the speed of light. When he lashed out at his attackers, Ron sent them soaring through the air, their screams of surprise and panic silenced by the gunfire that continued being unleashed. He reached out and grasped one of the M1 Abrams' tanks, his hands crushing the metal and lifting the war machine above his head as if it were a mere paperweight and launched it through the air.

"Whoa! Super speed and super strength too? That's so freaking cool!", Ron said, his voice filled with awe and utter excitement as he ignored the bullets that shattered and/or ricocheted off his invulnerable body.

"Okay, you know what? I've had enough of this!", Ron stated, his intense gaze focused on those who would continue their attempt to subdue and/or harm him.

Seconds later a tank is launched through the air before another is lifted and smashed down upon another one of the armored war machines, permanently disabling it as Ron continues by lifting yet another tank above his head before tossing it aside. This wasn't getting him anywhere fast, nor was it getting him any answers to the questions that he seeks. Despite everything he had done, they continued to attack him, firing bullets and shells at him without hesitation or remorse. He would be forced to make them cease-fire before he ended up killing all of them.

"ENOUGH!", Ron yells, his chocolate-brown irises lighting up like two azure-hued supernovae.

Beams of destructive, azure-blue colored energy are released from Ron's glowing eyes, annihilating the remaining GJ ground forces that attacked him. The soldiers took off running, knowing that if their machines and weapons couldn't stop Ron Stoppable, there wasn't the slightest chance of any one of them being able to overcome him in direct physical conflict. But it did not end there. No sooner had the ground forces were defeated that the two F-22 Raptors were called in to deal with the Omega-level threat.

The explosive force of the missiles that the two F-22 Raptors launched send Ron toppling back. He rises to his feet again only to be forced to endure a hailstorm of armor-piercing bullets. There is no pain from Ron Stoppable, only anger and sheer frustration. It was days like this that made him wish he'd sleep in more often on the weekends.

He wished he could get his hands on one of those F-22 Raptors, a desire to rip them from the heavens from which they soared entering his mind. And before he knew what was happening, Ron Stoppable rose off the ground, propelled into the sky by the vast power that coursed through his being. Moving thousands of times faster than the speed of light, Ron's smashed through one of the F-22 Raptors, snapping it in half. The jet explodes, but thankfully the pilot was able to escape fast enough to witness the fiery debris of his craft plummet to the earth below.

Unable to fully control the powers inherited from the transition of becoming the starbrand avatar, Ron found himself losing altitude at an alarming rate until he crashed to the planet below. Despite the devastating impact of his crash landing, he felt no pain nor did he have any trouble getting back up on his feet. He did not have long to rest and further contemplate on what course of action that would be best to take.

The final F-22 Raptor begins it assault once again, unleashing another barrage of armor-piercing bullets. Raising his arms to shield himself from the attack, Ron glares at the flying war machine as it streaks across the skies, digging his feet into the ground in order to keep himself from being thrown back by the impact of the bullets that collided against his body. Focusing his sights on the F-22, Ron raises his glowing right hand, aiming directly at the last of his assailants. Seconds later a powerful burst of energy is released from Ron's star-marked hand. The blast of energy tears through the heavens, seeking its target and finding it.

KRAKOOOOOOOOM!

"This is gonna take some getting used to.", Ron mutters to himself, not even bothering to spare a glance skyward to the fiery debris that would smash into the forest below.

When Ron was about to leave his heightened senses heard the sounds of an aircraft approaching, causing him to stop dead in his tracks and turn in the direction that it came from. He instantly took notice of the Global Justice helicopter, as well as one of the beings who was seated within it, all due to his heightened abilities. The helicopter gently settled on the ground amongst the devastation that Ron Stoppable had caused in self defense. And, sure enough, out of the GJ machine strode none other than the female leader of the secret organization.

"Dr. Director. I should've figured it'd be you who was behind all this.", Ron said, glaring at the older woman as she approached and came to a stop about ten feet away from where he stood.

"It's good to see you, Ronald.", Dr. Director greeted in a monotone voice.

"Wish I could say the same. Now what do you want?", Ron countered, getting directly to the point.

"We need you to be brought in to one of our secret bases. It's for your own safety. You're proving to be a danger to yourself and everything around you.", Dr. Director replied, her voice and body language as serious as always.

"Really? Last time I checked, I wasn't harming anyone or anything until I was provoked.", Ron remarked, defiantly staring at the woman in front of him.

"For which I apologize.", Dr. Director stated in apology.

"Right. Why do I sense that what you just said isn't truthful in any way, shape or form?", Ron shot back, not believing her for an instant.

"Please, Ronald, don't make this any more difficult than it already is.", Dr. Director said in a stern tone of voice, her words not a plea in the very least.

"Why not? It's not like you've given me much of a choice.", Ron replied evenly.

"Well, now I'm giving you a choice. Come with us peacefully.", Dr. Director offered, her one eye focused on the heroic blond.

"And if I refuse?", Ron inquired, briefly arching an eyebrow.

"Then we'll use whatever force I have at my disposal to bring you in.", Dr. Director answered, not backing down an inch from the Omega-level being.

"Even if it results in losing the lives of numerous innocent people?", Ron almost shouted, his eyes glowing once again as his fists clenched and tightened with anger.

"If that's what it leads to, then so be it. Now, Mr. Stoppable, what's it going to be?", Dr. Director questioned, her tone suggesting, or rather demanding, that she wanted an answer from him immediately.

Releasing a heavy sigh, Ron Stoppable determined that he only had one choice, one that he didn't like but would accept for the time being.

Global Justice

Secret Base

Several Hours Later

Sitting in his heavily armored containment cell, staring down at the star-shaped symbol etched within the fleshy palm of his right hand, Ron Stoppable remained completely silent as he delved into his thoughts. He allowed himself to be imprisoned, to be taken in to the custody of Global Justice, if only so that it would prevent innocent lives from being lost. Their forces were of no match for him, they couldn't hope to harm him. That much Ron Stoppable acknowledged and understood.

But the lives of the people who would become caught in the crossfire, the many people who would die in their attempts to hunt him down and contain him, was something that Ron Stoppable couldn't allow. So, for now, he would remain in Global Justice's custody. He thought for sure his first visitor would be Kim, but he was quite wrong in his assumption. For in walked Dr. Director, her expression and body language as serious as ever, her one eye solely fixated on the captive hero.

"Ronald, I've got some questions that I'd like to ask you.", Dr. Director said, beginning the conversation.

"And if I refuse to answer them?", Ron shot back, not at all interested in conversing with the leader of Global Justice.

"Then I can assure you that nobody, not even Kim, will be allowed to ever see you.", Dr. Director replied in warning.

"Threatening me? That'll work. I only surrendered to keep you and your organization from endangering others in your attempts to pursue and contain me. If I really wanted to leave, I doubt you or anything could stop me.", Ron responds evenly enough, not intimidated in the least.

"All I want is for you to do is simply answer my questions.", Dr. Director informed with a sigh.

"You want to know about this? How I got it? What it can do, right?", Ron clarified, raising his right hand and displaying the insignia that was etched into his flesh.

"Yes.", Dr. Director stated in answer.

"Then here's the truth, like it or not. You see, Dr. Director, this star-like marking on my palm, the power that comes with it... I don't know what it is. But I've got an idea of what you want with it.", Ron said, glancing down at the symbol in his flesh to the woman standing outside the massive, unbreakable glass window of the prison cell.

"Then please, Ronald, enlighten me.", Dr. Director challenged.

"You want to utilize it, to control it, to make it into a weapon. But in order to do that, you would have to be able to somehow guide, or should I say, control and manipulate it... or me. But I'm telling you now, Dr. Director. You can't control me. You can't manipulate me. I won't be like Kim... I'm not going to let you order and manipulate me to your whim. I'm not some weapon you can harness and unleash upon the world.", Ron informed, narrowing his gaze as he stood up from his cot, his chocolate-brown irises flashing azure-hued energies for a few brief moments.

"Well, since you seem to know and understand so much, Mr. Stoppable, then maybe you can tell me why this power was bestowed to, of all people, you?", Dr. Director inquired, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I don't know. All I know is that I believe this power was given to me for a reason. I'm not sure of the reason exactly, only that this power isn't meant to be wielded by those who wish to abuse it.", Ron answers matter-of-factly.

"Interesting. That'll be all for now, Ronald. Agent Reigns will be in shortly to stand guard. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask.", Dr. Director responds, turning to leave.

Even as Dr. Director marched out of the room, he sensed that something was bound to happen. There was more to all of this than what he believed or understood. And he certainly knew that Dr. Director knew something about this, maybe not the whole story, but some minor part of it. Whatever it is, it would have to wait. But for now, Ron could only hope that he'd be able to convince Kim and the others that he needed to be released from his imprisonment.

If only any of them, including Ron Stoppable himself, could comprehend the cosmic forces that were in motion. The world was in jeopardy, the galaxy in peril, the universe threatened by unbalance. It was a beginning... one that could bring about the end of all.

Mad Gods.

The Devourer of Worlds.

Tiamut.

Galan.

Author's Notes

I'm very sorry for the long wait. This story will continue, but I've been a bit busy with life (family, job, etc.) and I'm trying to focus a little more on structuring my other stories. Don't worry, I intend to finish both of my RonGo stories. Better to take an easy pace with inspiration than to rush and deliver something that isn't as satisfying. Am I right?

As for why Global Justice and Dr. Director are treating Ron in this manner, it's not too difficult to understand. True, they've worked with and alongside him a few times, but much like S.H.I.E.L.D, Global Justice is a bit uneasy in regards to super powerful beings. Take the Hulk, the Asgardian Gods, the Eternals or the Omega-level mutants of the X-Men, for examples.

Let's put it this way. If you associated with someone for a couple of years, then all of sudden they were gifted with immense power capable of busting a planet, wouldn't you feel a bit on edge around them? That's how Dr. Director feels at the moment in regards to Ron. She's not taking any chances, but at the same time she desires that power for GJ. And she's definitely hiding something, as she knows more about this than she's letting on.