Author's Note – I do not own any of the characters, Marvel and DC do.

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Chapter Twenty-Four

The Return

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The blur of trans-light seemed to shatter and at the helm of the multi-kilometre vessel, Scott Summers quickly scanned the readouts.

"Location confirmed, Sol system." He reported, then he frowned. "However… it would appear that there have been some changes in the last four months…"

"Such as?" Xavier prompted from his command chair located be Lillandra's Presence Throne.

"They've managed to un-shrink all the planets." Scott stated as he triggered a holo-display that showed the nineteen worlds sharing the same orbit in a manner similar to beads on a string. "However, there's something at steller North that I don't recognise."

The holo-display zoomed in on the beam of light being fired from a ring-shaped station, following it upwards until it vanished into a roiling cloud.

"…Galactus…" Lillandra gasped. "That is Galactus!"

"…Just as I was feeling grateful that we had managed to shift the Pheonix from my soul into the Crystal." Jean Grey groaned from the observation balcony above the bridge floor. "This would have been a perfect time to unleash its power."

"Incoming challenge from Sol Station Prime." the communications tech noted. "And there is a vessel on intercept course, coming in at six times our maximum sublight speed."

"Tell them who we are." Lillandra ordered quickly. "And give us visual on the incoming craft."

"Looks like a Javelin." Scott commented as he glanced at the image. "An upgraded one, has parts I've never seen before."

"Message from the incoming craft, it's someone called Guardsman."

"Ah, young Connor von Doom." Charles said in recognition.

"Directing incoming craft to main landing bay."

"My beloved, perhaps we should go and reassure our visitor that we did indeed succeed." Charles suggested as he rose from his chair, offering his arm to Lillandra. "And maybe find out just what has happened in our absence."

"An excellent idea, My Consort." Lillandra agreed.

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Lillandra and Xavier stepped out into the landing bay just in time to see the gunmetal-grey craft glide to a halt above the deck, extending its landing gear before setting down lightly. A ramp extended from its fuselage and Connor strode down, his eyes quickly locating them.

"Welcome back, Majestrix Lillandra, Doctor Xavier." He said, earning a raised eyebrow.

"How did you know we succeeded?" Charles asked curiously and Connor waved at the bay that they were in.

"Ship this size? Huge viewing ports spanning multiple decks instead of thick armor plating? Giant hangars? No signs of any weapons damage? Had to be official. The sigil of the Shi'ar throneworld on the prow was the final giveaway. I assume that you wish to meet with the Grand Council?"

"The what?" Charles and Lillandra chorused.

"We've made some changes… and are in the process of expanding the Protectors." Connor explained. "I have a Gate with me, let me pull it out."

Connor vanished back up the ramp as Charles and Lillandra exchanged confused looks, then he reappeared holding a door-sized container.

"Okay, big guy." He called over his shoulder. "I'll lead them through here. Thanks for bringing me and I'll see you back at base."

The Javelin closed up and lifted into the air, rotating smoothly before accelerating out of the bay and back towards Earth, dwindling into a speck of light incredibly fast.

"Let me set this up, then while the big guy sends word back and gets things started, Martha can give you a welcome-home meal."

"I have missed her cooking." Charles admitted.

"As have I." Lillandra added. "I wonder if I could hire her for my own staff?"

"We may need Cyclops and the others to help give the report." Connor interjected. "If you could call them, please?"

"Of course." Charles agreed, raising one hand to his head to help him focus.

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"Where are we going?" Charles asked as Connor led the group to an obviously-new platform holding a single Gate.

"To the Grand Council." Connor explained as they stepped through the Gate and found themselves in a second, larger Hall of Doors. "It's this way."

Looking round in curiosity, the group followed Connor past a group of armored guardsmen of multiple races and through a very large Gate into a giant hall. Even as they entered, the Javelin that Connor had arrived at the flagship in was landing, the giant doors behind it slowly closing.

"You made good time!" Connor called, then he half-turned. "We're still recruiting, but for now, meet the Grand Council. You already know Council Leader Zod of New Krypton, next to him is…"

Charles let his mind wander as he looked around the gigantic hall, relying on his trained memory to absorb the introductions of the various Councillors and their planets of origin, then Connor's words broke through his reverie.

"… and last but most definitely not least, Optimus Prime of Cybertron."

Charles blinked, looking at the six-wheeled transport vehicle that Connor had just pointed to, a vehicle parked close to the Javelin.

"He's… in the truck?"

"In a manner of speaking, that is true." A deep voice filled with amusement said, then the truck's outer shell seemed to crack. As Charles watched in shock, the truck transformed into a giant metal humanoid.

"…that's different." Scott muttered from behind him and Charles nodded in stunned agreement. An instant later, a similar transformation occurred with the Javelin and within seconds, two giant humanoids stood facing them.

"Meet one of the newest members of the Protectors." Connor grinned, waving at the giant who had been a spaceplane until a few seconds ago. "Megatronus."

Purple eyes took in the stunned expressions of the newcomers and metal lips quirked into a slight smirk.

"I see they are overcome by my magnificence."

"You are quite imposing for a humanoid." A new voice agreed and Charles' eyes widened as a metallic humanoid balancing on a flying board circled round Megatronus.

"And this is Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer, also part of the Protectors." Connor supplied.

"…what did we miss, exactly?"

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"That is quite a story." Charles admitted as he accepted a small whiskey. "I'm impressed."

"It was quite… interesting." Eric admitted, earning an amused glance from Charles. "But enough about us, how did your mission go?"

"It was a success, although we came very close to losing on a couple of occasions." Lillandra admitted. "Several of those who chose to come with us lost their lives in combat, we brought them back with us for honorable burial."

"They gave their lives valiantly, like the Fourteen." Charles intoned, then he blinked. "Okay, I just sensed quite a bit of humor there. What happened?"

"We didn't mention that?" Clark asked, then he face-palmed. "Um, okay. The sun pulled a Lazarus on them. They returned just in time to haul the World Engine to where we needed it."

Charles looked blankly at Clark for a long moment, then shook his head.

"I… I'm glad to hear that the Fourteen are back, but… well…"

"I know." Raven said softly. "Part of you is now thinking why should they get a second chance when those who followed me did not."

"I thought I was the telepath here." Charles half-joked, then he sighed. "But yes. It's wrong of me…"

"But very human." Eric confirmed, causing Cherles to look at him in shock. "What?"

"When you said human, there was no… anger… disdain?" Charles said slowly.

"Blame May and Martha." Eric said with a wry smile. "Do you honestly think that any trace of my former attitude could survive being in proximity to two such formidable ladies?"

"Very true." Charles admitted while Lillandra just about managed not to laugh. "Very true."

"We're still having issues with two of the new worlds." Clark sighed. "Aparently the worlds Beta and Megan were at war with each other before Brainiac snatched them and they tried to resume it once we freed them. I had to call in almost a million Kryptonians and several thousand Cybertronians to enforce the cease-fire between them and until they sign a peace agreement and manage to keep it for at least a year, they won't be allowed to have representatives on the Council or send applicants to join any of the other Super-teams. Fortunately, were were able to dismantle their warfleets and make it quite clear that they wouldn't be allowed to try and build new ones."

"The Shi'ar have experience with situations like that. In fact, it is part of our culture and one of the foundations of our religion." Lillandra offered. "Perhaps I can send a few of our diplomats to help you develop your own methods."

"That would be appreciated." Clark agreed. "Thank you."

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"this gets worse and worse." Zola growled as he scrolled through the assembled reports. " "A Council to co-ordinate the actions of nineteen worlds plus several adjacent sub-dimensions, multiple law structures being carefully re-vamped towards greater homogeneity, increased combat applications of the Solar Defense Fleet with the inclusions of cybernetic sentients, an alliance with one of the three galaxy-spanning empires… a special archway donated by Black Ink that detects those with traitorous intentions... it is getting difficult to see how we can take our rightful place without a truly massive military to help us."

"we are in a different reality." Modok pointed out from where he was interfaced with the communication systems, directing the rebuilding of the shattered city ruins. "we have an entire universe to seize the resources we require from."

"As long as we can keep that damned Hive from killing our greatest assets." Zola growled, glancing at the doorway though which the entity in question had departed through half an hour previously. "How are we meant to rebuild our elite forces if that damned monster keeps consuming them to improve itself?"

"there is a stasis tube in my possession…"

Zola's face slowly creased into a grin wider than that which any human could have duplicated.

"I like the way you think…"

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"Clark, we have a new contact." Guardsman said, leading a small group of obvious metahumans into the office where Clark was wrestling with the never-ending paperwork. "Everyone, this is Clark Kent, also known as Superman."

"Contact?"

Clark looked curiously at the new arrivals. Their leader was a red-armored man with hair fully silvered by age and beside him stood a robed female elf. An armored dwarf and a giant feline humanoid flanked them.

"Greetings." The elderly man said with a slight smile. "My name is David Richardson, Firelord of the Imperial States of America, based in the Gemini realities. It is quite amusing to us that you designate this reality as Alpha, we don't have that designation in our reality-cluster.

Clark stared at him before switching off his screens to allow him to give his visitor his full attention.

"Please, be seated. Who are your friends?"

"Clark Kent, be known to my fiancee Eladrial, my chief bodyguard Kjiska and my tactical advisor Wulfric Axrider. Kraagha was too big to accompany us, so he's watching over the gate."

Clark raised an eyebrow then a one-way holoscreen briefly appeared, showing him a view of a serpentine dragon lying half-coiled around the Portal.

"We are here on behalf of Emperor Arrarch on a mission of peace…" David continued and Clark leaned back slightly in his chair, using his vision and super-hearing to keep track of any signs that David might be trying to shade the truth or even lie outright.

Most of his attention, though, was focused on pondering the ramifications of encountering a polity that was spread through more dimensions than the Moonbase had domes for.

The only thing he knew for certain was that the future was going to change once again.

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Authors Afternote – Yep, this is it for the Institute Saga. No more, all done, reached the point I had in mind when I started the first story and it is now opened up to anyone who wishes to do a crossover with it.

I've purposefully not tied up all the loose ends and have even left in several multi-century threats because in real life, events never quite end and a paradise for one person is hell for another.

As for the last bit, David Richardson and his team are from a story I wrote ages ago called Reality Bridge. It's actually one of my original stories, which is why so many of you haven't heard of it, but it can be found via my profile.

Thanks for reading and I hope it didn't disappoint too badly. Stories with many characters are very hard for me to write.