Chapter 5

Jack couldn't have been more pleased with himself upon seeing the absolutely shocked look upon George Hammond's face when he strolled down the ramp with a talking raccoon and talking baby tree in tow. Of all the strange things Jack had encountered Rocket and Groot by far took the cake. What truly made the whole situation seem unreal was Peter Quill aka Star-Lord who was abducted from Earth and had a liking for Star Wars and old rock music.

Peter admitted as he walked down the ramp, "I tried to model myself after Han Solo when I got out there."

Jack cocked an eyebrow, "But you're more like…Marty McFly."

"Now that was a cool movie," he told him.

Hammond gasped, "What is all of this Colonel?"

Jack stated, "This is my new friend, Peter Quill also known as Star-Lord. He's from the Avengers' reality."

Rocket the bipedal raccoon looked about, "What the hell is this place? A bunker!"

Hammond looked at the raccoon and then at Jack hoping he wasn't hallucinating.

"That's Rocket," Jack stated. "He's mouthy raccoon."

"Who asked ya?" Rocket waved him off.

"I am Groot," the small tree humanoid stated as he sat on Rocker's shoulder.

"That's Groot," Jack informed. "He's a seedling."

"What in tarnation!" he gasped.

Sam explained, "They are from the other reality and when our realities merged it damaged Peter's ship. Some of his crew disappeared and he and…Um…" she winced at the raccoon, "This is all that's left of his crew."

Daniel added, "Peter is actually from Earth. He didn't know how to get back and we decided to bring him home. He was abducted as a child."

Hammond looked at Jack, "Take care of this mess, Colonel."

"Yes sir," he replied straight faced. He had no idea what he was going to do with Rocket and Groot but seeing Hammond's shocked expression made his day.

Hammond walked away as Rocket asked, "Who was the old baldy?"

Sam told him, "He's the man who is in charge of this base."

"So, if I want anything I asked baldy there?" the raccoon figured.

"No," she shook her head. "You ask Colonel O'Neill."

Daniel pulled Jack aside, "Just what are we going to do with the raccoon and baby tree? Peter is home now…But what do we do with those two?"

"Zoo," suggested Jack.

"You're not serious?" he asked.

"What do you do with a talking raccoon and talking baby tree?" Jack wondered.

They looked on as Phil Coulson escorted Odin and Bra'tac to the Gate Room. Phil stated, "I cannot tell you how much Earth welcomes this treaty."

Odin miffed, "I suppose."

As Phil chatted Jack got an idea. He whispered to Daniel, "Well…They are from Phil's reality. Maybe SHIELD and Avengers could use them."

Daniel agreed, "Not really our problem."

"Not our problem," Jack agreed. The Gate dialed out behind them and Odin walked up the ramp to return home. He glanced upon the raccoon and the baby humanoid tree standing to the side. He said nothing and continued through.

"Phil," Jack smiled.

"Colonel," he greeted.

Bra'tac smiled at Jack and SG-1. The old Jaffa greeted, "I am glad I got to see you before returning home."

"Me too," he told him.

Phil looked over the trio Jack had brought back. He asked, "Is that a raccoon and a little tree?"

Rocket huffed, "I'm genetically modified!" He shook his small fist, "How many times do I have to say that?"

"I am Groot," baby Groot replied.

"These guys are from your reality," Jack told him. "They never saw a Gate before and the blending damaged their ship. Peter here is from Earth and wants help finding his mom. Groot and Rocket kind of need a place to stay. I wouldn't suggest a zoo."

Peter demanded, "They are staying with me!"

"Peter," Jack started.

"That's Star-Lord," he corrected.

"You are home now," he told him. "Phil will take care of all three of you. Trust me he's very good at what he does. Maybe SHIELD could use ya."

Phil cocked an eyebrow, "I'm not sure SHIELD would be a good place. Um…" he pondered. "Maybe the Avengers…"

Jack grinned, "Even better!" He patted Phil's shoulder, "They are all yours." He quickly led his team away leaving Phil take care of the remaining Guardians of the Galaxy.

Daniel whispered as they made their escaped, "You think we really should have stuck Phil with that mess?"

"Better him than us," Jack replied.

Sam pondered, "Why would anyone want to abduct Peter to begin with? What kind of alien would come to Earth before contact was made and just take a kid who just lost his mother?"

"Perhaps his father," Teal'c suggested.

Jack figured, "He's from the Avenger's reality and they can deal with it. We deal with our reality issues and they deal with theirs."

Few Hours Later

The Avengers assembled for their first dial out as a team. Clint Barton, Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff had donned the battle dress uniforms that Phil designed for the Avengers while Captain Rodgers retained his red, white and blue suit and shield. Tony stood in his Iron Man suit and Thor wore his traditional Asgard gear and carried his Hammer.

Thor asserted, "This is a simple mission to see if the Replicators still have a small outpost the planet Miniot."

Tony stated, "Little over doing it here, Thor. SG-1 is a four man team who took on the Replicators. You got us all just to do a recon mission."

"Do not underestimate the Replicators," Thor insisted. He watched as the Gate established and then led the team up the ramp.

Natasha spoke to Clint who sported his bow and arrows and a sidearm. She readied her P-90, "You really think Thor is right about these Replicator things?"

"He seems really concerned," he agreed as they walked through the event horizon. Clint took a deep breath upon emerging through the wormhole for the first time. He found felt cold and shook the side effect off. He noted, "That's a rush."

"I'll say," Natasha agreed.

Bruce informed, "It's a side effect of the buffers that put your molecules back together. We were just taken down to a molecular size and rebuilt."

Clint told him, "I could live happily not knowing that."

"It's rather remarkable," Bruce replied as he readied his gear. He was also issued a P-90 rifle and side arm along with his medical equipment for Bruce was to be the team combat medic.

Tony looked around the lush scenery. The planet was loaded with life and green trees. He then noticed two moons hanging in the sky. "If it weren't for the two moons I would swear I was still on Earth."

Thor stated, "You will find many planets that are inhabitable are very similar to your planet for most life forms are carbon based."

"Oh," he gave a nod as Thor occasionally would spout something more scientific.

As they walked Bruce asked Thor, "So what's it like to be able to communicate on a scientific level and at the same time be a demi-god?"

"I no longer consider myself a demi-god," he informed. "I am just an Asgard...Nothing more and nothing less."

"You are technically a Prince," he told him.

"I was the Supreme Leader of the Asgard. My people were saved by SG-1 and I am indebted to that fact." he told him.

"But your people were not dying in our reality," Bruce told him.

"We were isolated and vulnerable," he told him. "The Mirror proved our isolation left us vulnerable. Now, we are neither and I am happy to let my father rule as I can repay the debt."

"Repay the debt by joining the Avengers." Bruce figured. "But wouldn't you want to join SG-1 to repay the debt since you feel indebted to them?"

"The Avengers assisting SG-1 is the most efficient way to repay the debt." he told him.

Bruce shrugged, "SG-1 is so legendary I figured you would want on the team."

"I do not," he admitted. "I have always assisted them and will continue to do so." He looked at the team surrounding him, "Don't tell me you are all jealous of SG-1."

Natasha confessed, "After the realities merged and I found out how they are this superhero team that everyone wants to be on…" she shrugged annoyed.

Tony stated, "Had I known a week ago what I know now…I would be SG-1."

Clint stated, "Who wouldn't want to be SG-1? But we are the Avengers and that's nothing to laugh at either. I mean I'm sure Colonel O'Neill would love to call himself an Avenger and Major Carter would like to use your suit, Tony."

Tony cocked his head, "Use my suit." He pondered a way to get closer to Sam. "You know she would like to test fly the suit…"

Steve looked over at him, "What about Pepper?"

"Who?" he asked, "Oh…" he winced as he realized he forgot all about his girlfriend.

"Pepper Potts," Steve smirked at him. "You're girlfriend! I noticed that you really like Sam."

Tony asked, "What's not to like? She very beautiful and is smart and doesn't treat me like some sugar daddy."

Steve told him, "Neither does Pepper."

"I know," he agreed. "But we always seemed to argue a lot and I never argue with Sam. We kind of think alike."

Thor crested a small hill ahead and held up a hand for the others to stop. His eyes scanned the area for he saw little but thought he heard something.

Tony stood beside him, "What is it?"

"Can you scan the area with your suit?" he asked.

"Sure," Tony then flipped down the face mask, "JARVIS do a heat signature scan."

"Scanning," the computer replied.

On the screen in the face mask Tony spotted blobs of heat signatures coming from just under the dirt. He stated, "There is something there." He lifted the face mask and looked at Thor. "Whatever it is…it is buried." he stated.

Thor looked back to Clint, "Can you shoot a single arrow?"

Clint pulled a bolt and readied his weapon, "Where do you want me to plant it?"

Thor looked to Tony.

Tony pointed, "Right in the middle."

Clint shot the bolt high and it arched midair; coming straight down and hitting the ground. He stood and watched as the bolt seemed to sink and then be devoured by something unseen leaving a hole. "What the?!" he gasped. "Those are triple reinforced."

Out of the hole rose the first bug-like metal Replicator…Then another and another. Soon a swarm of bugs had emerged in seconds.

Tony stood wide-eyed, "Um…Bugs…"

"Replicators," Thor told him. "Get back to the Gate."

They started for the Gate as the swarm moved in on them. From both sides the metal bugs grained ground. Then from behind the Gate a swarm of bugs emerged cutting off their escape.

Tony snorted, "That's not good."

As bugs came closer they started to attack the Avengers. Natasha and Bruce opened fire with the P-90's as Steve tried to swash them away with his shield. Steve had to resort to his handgun to shoot at the bugs as they swamped them in a sea of metal bugs.

Tony resorted to the suit's ammunition and activated every kind of ammo he had stocked. Small missiles, machine guns and the energy weapons in the hands of the suit seemed to not even dent the swarm. He ordered JARVIS, "Dial the Gate and send an SOS."

JARVIS replied, "The Replicators are jamming my signals."

Tony announced, "The bugs are jamming JARVIS. He can't remotely dial."

Natasha told him, "We are running out of ammo."

Bruce fired his last round, "I'm out." He looked about a gulped. How could such small metal bugs be the end of him and his friends? The bugs defeated Tony's suit, Thor was using the lightening to little avail and every arrow Clint shot was devoured and turned into more bugs. It was a nightmare unfolding and he began to get angry. His eyes turned green and he warned his friend, "I'm not in control."

In short time a Replicator had latched onto Bruce's leg and bit him much like a bug. It made him angrier and in short time the Hulk emerged. As the Hulk took form the Replicator bug was thrown off his leg. Hulk growled and screamed at the tiny bugs. He then went on a rampage smashing the bugs to pieces. "Hulk smash!" the creature growled. "Smash tiny bugs."

Tony noted as the Hulk gained ground, "I knew the other guy would come in handy."

"We need to get the Gate," Thor told him.

The Hulk started smashing the Replicators as he made his way towards the Gate. The Replicators would try to swarm the Hulk and pile on top his back. He swipe at them and tear the metal bugs to pieces. "Hulk mad!" the Hulk screamed. "Puny bugs everywhere." The Hulk managed to plow a path to escape.

Tony dialed Earth as JARVIS fought off computer hack attempts by the Replicators. The Gate established and Tony radioed, "This is the Avengers, we're coming in hot."

Walter's voice replied, "SGC reads you, Avengers."

Tony motioned, "Go!"

The Avengers retreated through Gate with Hulk last. The giant Hulk stood before the Gate and gave a final angry scream to the Replicators before stepping through.

The iris established right behind the Hulk as he stepped through the event horizon. The giant creature then fell to its knees tired of the Replicators. Slowly Bruce Banner returned as the Hulk rested.

Bruce blinked and looked about as his body reverted back to normal. He had lost his shirt and tactical vest during the transformation. He wasn't sure how he got back but he knew the Hulk had emerged. He looked about his friends. "What happened?" he asked.

Tony told him, "The Hulk doesn't like Replicator bugs."

Natasha admitted, "If it weren't for the Hulk we never would have gotten out of there. Those things overcame Tony's suit and was jamming JARVIS."

Clint shook his head, "Those things are the stuff nightmares are made out of. The things ate my arrows!"

Steve admitted, "I wasn't sure we were gonna make it back on that one. Thor was right about those things."

Tony stated, "True but they were no match for the Hulk."

Thor warned, "The Replicators will be much harder for the Hulk to battle next time. They will learn from this encounter and adapt tactics."

Steve sighed, "It's not gonna be the last time we see those things."

"It will not," Thor assured them.