More Recruits:
In a prison in Japan, two anthropomorphic creatures sat in cells, brother, and sister. An illegal experiment had turned them from pups into human-like adults. A Yakuza Agent walked towards them and opened a cell. "Time to go Mutts!".
Chained and muzzled, they were rolled into a giant lab into a horrifying room full of scientists in white bearing the emblem of a skull with tentacular snakes.
"What do we do about them?" asked the lead scientist.
"It's time we sent them out. Since half the world died, we've been able to continue our progress of turning animals into weapons. It's time we sent these out into the world,"
"We will never kill for you," swore the female wolf, wanting to bite her jaws at them.
The cruel man leaned over her. "Oh, but you will. You forget who is in charge," he pulled out a device and…
The male wolf growled hearing his sister cry in pain. The collar around her neck tasered her. "Let her go,"
"I suggest you both be good doggies and do as you're told,"
The room flashed red. Beep! Beep! Beep!
"The prison has been infiltrated!" called a voice through a radio. The men looked up at the cameras. They saw more Yakuza agents charging around but one of them went black. Then another. Then another. The infiltrator was lethal, like a ninja. A camera just outside the lab showed a hooded man. Bang! The large door rattled. Quickly the lab man activated codes when all of a sudden…boom! The door flew through the room, knocking the man out. The entire room was full of smoke. The wolf humanoids heard bashing and thudding and when the smoke cleared, they saw several agents lying lumped around them. Between them now stood the infiltrator, arrows and a katana wielded as his weapons. The she-wolf stared at a pair of brown eyes above the mask and under the cloak. He raised his blade.
"Don't you dare harm her!" the he-wolf growled. But slash! The blade cut through the straps holding the she-wolf down. She sat up and pulled off her muzzle. What she saw in this man was not cruelty. The hooded guy freed the other wolf and in an instant the siblings embraced one another, nuzzling each other. They twisted their heads, eager to acknowledge the man who had freed them.
"What are your names?" asked the ninja arrow man.
"I am Hiroto Tassai," introduced the male wolf. "And this is my sister Higa Tassai,"
"Who are you if we may ask?" his sister questioned.
"Ronin," the man explained himself. "But my real name is Barton," he pulled his hood back and pulled off a mask revealing short-cropped hair.
"Why have you freed us?" asked the he-wolf.
"Because these men are my enemies. And I cannot stand by to see the world enduring all sorts of criminals like them,"
"Still, why free us? We are only wolves turned into these wolf humanoids. Why help us?" the she-wolf was confused by his good heart. Every human they had ever met had abused them, dissected them, and treated them like monsters who deserved to be locked up.
Clint Barton glanced at them deeply. "Because you both remind me of two twins who suffered like you both. Now you are free,"
"You forget we are not human and not wild either. Where could we go?"
"You could help me put an end to the Yakuza's operations," he offered. "But the choice is yours,"
"Then let us do so," the she-wolf accepted.
In a lonely apartment in New York, a drunken man moped in his chair. Bristles covered his chin. Empty bottles filled the corners and the air was a foul cloud of beer aroma. Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Go away!" boomed Jesse, drunk.
"Just open the door!" cried the voice of Valkyrie. "You can't hide here forever!"
"Leave me alone!" ordered Jesse again. The chorus of knocking came again. In a sozzled manner, he stumbled towards the door and pulled it open. With straight faces, Valkyrie, and Una donned in normal clothes and crossed arms.
"You will not believe how much it pains us to say you stink," said Una. Jesse tried to push the door closed but they barged through quickly. "We need your help,"
"I have already told you girls, go away," Jesse instantly fell face-first to the floor.
Valkyrie stared around at empty shelves of bottles. "And I thought I drunk too much before,"
Jesse was woken up by freezing cold water splashing on his face. "Thora! Thora!" when he opened his eyes whole again, he saw only the girls staring down at him with empty cups. He realised he was lying on his bed in his room. "Will you two just leave me alone?" he swiped his feet out of bed and tried to stand up.
Una pushed him back down. "Just sit still and listen. Or do we have to splash water on you again?"
Jesse scoffed and just sat still, begging this wasn't gonna take long. He tried to reach for a full bottle of beer on his table but Valkyrie snatched it away. "Not so fast,"
"Remember Scott Lang and George Pym?" Valkyrie asked.
The drunk boy wasn't listening. "Scottie who?"
Una slapped his face. "Focus! Scott Lang! The Ant-Man guy who fought with Captain America? He's alive,"
"What?" Jesse regained focus again.
Valkyrie raised her voice. "Scott Lang and George Pym are alive! They never died in the Snap!"
"But then how…?"
"They were trapped in this realm called the Quantum Realm. And time was different for them. They're planning to go back in time,"
"Back in time?" repeated Jesse. The girls nodded, hoping it would break him out of his soberness. "Not buying it," he stepped up and stormed off.
Una scoffed in anger. "Don't you get what we're trying to tell you?! There's a way to bring Thora back! To bring everyone back! But we need your help,"
"It's not possible," Jesse tried once again to grab a drink but Valkyrie snatched it from him again.
"Will you just stop drinking and listen?" she hissed. "They're building a time-travel machine but we're gonna need your help. Don't you want Thora back?"
Jesse exploded. "Yes! More than anything!"
"Peter said so himself there was one path to victory and this is the path!" Una tried to reason.
Jesse flew into a tantrum. "Don't you mention that man's name!"
"You're just like Tina. This is the sign we've been waiting for and now is our chance to bring everyone back. Do you think this is what Tina would have wanted for you? To mope and drink and do nothing?"
"No. She would have wanted to live so I could finish my proposal to her., for us to have a life together. And now look here I am…drunk…no one else in my life. No family. No friends. Just me and my bottles,"
"Jesse…" Valkyrie's voice was calm and gentle. "I know what you're going through. I lost my entire family, all the women I loved to Helmas. And I thought drinking and shutting myself away from everything would help me. It didn't. It turned me into an uncaring person and now it's doing the same to you. You can't just stand back and do nothing. You have to help us,". Jesse just turned away once again. "We came here just for you, Jesse!"
"Then you should both leave!" he walked into the other room. "Because I didn't ask you both to come! Nor do I want you both to stay! Now for the last time! Leave me alone!" he slammed the door shut.
Jesse stayed where he was for a long while. Then he peered out the window and saw Una and Valkyrie walking away. He slumped back on his bed and sighed, reaching into his pocket, and pulling out the ring box. He had tried several times to get rid of it but with every time he came and got it back. He twisted his head and saw the only picture in his room, Thora, beautiful as ever. He missed her. He loved her more than life itself. Even in death.
Tina, Nebula, Rocket, and Orlins were zooming across space when they saw Earth in sight. The sight of that planet made Tina's eyes glisten. "You okay?" Orlins asked her. Tina wouldn't answer. "I know it's difficult coming back here again…"
"Can we not discuss this?" she begged again. "We're here to help the Avengers and bring everyone we lost back,"
"Not quite everyone," said Nebula sadly.
Tina's heart clenched. She was thinking of Gamora. "I'm sorry,"
"I know that if my sister was here, she'd be telling you…"
"Will you stop lecturing me about Peter?"
Nebula boiled. "He is your brother," she seethed. "You think Gamora would be happy knowing the man she loved and one of her closest friends have fallen apart so much? Do you think the others would have wanted this? What Meredith and Mantis would have wanted?" Tina did not talk back to that question. Her eyes glistened again, this time with her thoughts on Mantis. Rocket started crying too just thinking of Meredith. He pulled out the special collar he had been designing for her, the one that could allow them to talk and be verbally romantic together. "Like it not Peter is still family. And family means we are supposed to take care of one another. I promise you Tina that if you don't you'll regret it for the rest of your life," No more words were sad.
They arrived at the Avengers' Compound and descended gracefully to the ground. As they exited the craft, Tina and Rocket wiped their eyes and the Avengers came to greet them. The captain was reluctant to step onto Earth's ground again but she did it anyway.
"It has been some time," greeted Steve.
"Give or take five years since we were last on this planet," Tina said. "I take it everything is being ready to build?"
"Yes. But it seems we're missing one particular scientist,"
Tina knew exactly who she was talking about. "I don't know he can't be as strong as me but…we have to do it…for the sake of everyone,"
"Nice to see you back Miss Quill," said an unpleasant voice. They turned their heads and saw Una and Valkyrie approaching them, tense eyes laid on the Guardian's captain. "Quite surprised to see you here so soon,"
Tina could see nothing but clear distaste in their eyes.
"Una..." Steve tried to ease the tension.
The girl twin stood her ground. "We are here to make a stand like old times and that's what we're gonna do,"
Valkyrie scoffed. "That's all you care about?"
"It's why we're here is it not?" Rocket questioned, defending her.
"That is enough," Steve ordered. "Guardians, there is much work to be done. But there is something you must all know. There is a seventh Infinity Stone out there. And an anonymous group of space people are searching for it as we speak,"
Still, on the ship heading through space, the teens were still asleep. Peter had made sure they were at peace with their shut eyes but he and Scylla remained worried as ever for Tobes.
"You think Tobes is okay?" he asked.
Scylla shook his head. "Losing everyone we knew was the hardest thing that had ever happened to us. But to Tobes, it became even worse with all the guilt he felt,"
"When is he going to realise that it wasn't his fault?"
"I blame Rocket for all he feels. Just like I blame him and your twin for how you have felt for years," she touched his hand and he gently rubbed it.
Beep! Beep! Beep! The loud blares made the children jolt up in shock. Peter ushed to the front, staring out the windscreen. "Oh no," he breathed. "Tobes!"
Tobes came rushing back to the front. "What is it?". He stared out through the glass with his brother and his mouth dropped. Ahead of them was a giant field of black holes.
"Too many black holes," panicked Scylla.
Tobes called through the com. "Erzi! Hornil! Stop the ships!" He stared out through the side windshields and saw the other ships stopping.
"What now?" called Erzi.
Tobey was lost for words. They couldn't go through. So much gravity would overpower their engines. "We will have to try and find another way around. There must be a safer route,"
"I've checked the GPS," Hornil called. In his seat, he was on his screens. The black holes are surrounding our destination…there's no easy way through,"
The Nameless Order was lost for words. "Then do we do?" wondered Sylva, sharing worried eyes with Leok.
"We stop our engines for now," ordered Tobey. "The engines need resting anyway. We'll figure out a way through. There's got to be,". The ships hovered a safe distance from the defensive army of black holes.
The family sat in their seats to chill. All was silent for a while. Leok's fingers slipped into his father's. "You doing okay?" he nodded. "We're all here for you, you know,"
"I never imagined reaching the Light Stone would be such a challenge," Scylla said, offering cups of water. "It seems this Entity fellow wanted to ensure it could never be reached,"
"There's always a way," said Sylwa. "We can't give up hope. Speaking of which how are things on Earth?" her question raised her father's attention. Tobey activated a screen and they saw the Guardians walking into the building with Una, Valkyrie, and Steve. Peter's heart clenched seeing the walking figures. He saw the shrivel in his Tobey's cheekbones when he saw Rocket. Scylla turned away too. They shut the screen off.
"Seems they're gathering together, getting ready to go back in time," said Leok. "Didn't happen to see the red-haired girl,"
"She went off earlier to get an old acquaintance," Tobey reported, looking back on some recorded data.
Peter sensed the worry in his eyes. "What are you thinking about Tobes?"
"Thinking about what else we'll have to face if we can make it past those black holes," said Tobes. "I can't bear for anyone to get killed on this mission to get the stone,"
"Whatever we face we have to. And we have to be strong," encouraged Sylva. "We can do this. We'll find the stone and that's it we're done,"
"Don't be so sure," said Scylla grimly. "I took the liberty of looking through more of the messages that this cylinder contained," she activated it on a machine and more holograms appeared. They saw ruins, a figure, void-like spheres…"It seems that we have to expect once we make it through. There may be someone guarding the stone. The light stone will likely try and test us,"
"'Test us'?" Leok repeated. "We only seek the Light Stone to bring back half of all life,"
"Well whatever tests we face we have to do them," said Pete, with determination.
"But not you two," Tobey announced much to the irritation of the teens.
"What?" they repeated.
"It is our job to keep you guys safe," said Tobes. "We can't let you go any further than this. You guys and Scylla are gonna stay here and wait for us,"
"But what about our motto 'Family sticks together?" Leok reminded him.
"We might as well let them come with us Tobes," said Pete. "We've come this far together,"
"It is too dangerous," his brother refused. "And I want you to stay out of this too, bro. I can't take you any further," he tried to walk off but Peter grabbed his wrist and their eyes linked.
"You are not doing this alone. Leok is right. We're supposed to stick together. And if you try and send us away, we're just gonna follow you. Right?"
The teens nodded. "You can't disagree with them," Scylla said. "You might as well as let us come. We've come this far together. We will not split up now,"
Tobey couldn't accept. With all the first signs of danger appearing into view and that awful nightmare that had appeared again, how could he accept it? But when he saw the determination in their eyes, he saw their love and their love reminded him of all those he had lost before. "Then let's do it together," he said. They shared another big group hug. "I like this," he was beginning to cry again.
"Oh, don't cry 'little cub'," cooed Scylla.
Leok burst out laughing. "'Little cub'? Aunt Scylla calls you that?". Sylva burst out laughing and so did Peter making Tobey groan in irritation.
"Scylla, we talked about this," he complained.
"Since when did you last call him that?" asked Peter.
"Since he was about the kids' age and he could fit into the cage with me and everyone else," the teen's tails waggled with joy. And in an instant, they started tickling at Tobey making him laugh as well. Peter laughed as well but as he watched the teens, he saw himself and Tina playing together, being happy with one another. He couldn't bear it anymore. He turned his head away, Scylla reaching out to him.
Danny was in his suit again, looking for any signs of trouble in New York. All dressed up again. He had managed to sneak away. "Did you really think you could sneak off again without me?" he jumped. He spun around and saw his sister. But she wasn't in normal clothes. She was dressed in a white ninja suit with pink and green highlights and a hoodie and mask. Around her belt were gadgets just like his own and she wore special gauntlets. "Cheryl?"
She pulled the hood back and pulled off her mask, revealing her strawberry locks all tied in a bun. "I can't stop you from doing all this vigilante crime stuff so I might as well help you,"
"No. It's better if I work alone,"
"Well look at what I've made my suit do," she pressed a button on her chest and she turned see-through. "What the…"
"Got ya," she joked turning visible again.
"Where did you design those?"
"The same corporation you applied for as an apprentice. Look, Danny, if you're gonna keep doing this, you might as well do it with me so we can look after each other. Are we in this together or do I have to tell Nan and Grandad?"
Danny fumed. Her smirk made his skin wriggle. "Deal," he took it. "But not all the time,"
"Can't promise you that," she said. "Now…let's go find some crime. But you're leaving the big baddies to me, little brother,"
"Stop calling me 'little'" he groaned. They walked off into action. Just when they turned a corner, they saw robbers on the loose robbing a mall.
Jesse was packing up items. He had discarded all the empty bottles when something came on the news. He switched it on. He saw two vigilantes on the screen, one of whom he recognised immediately from previous news. For some strange reason, they reminded him of Spider-Man and Iron Man together. Whoever they were, they must have been clever with science to invent such remarkable gadgets. He saw them as they rounded up the robbers and then disappeared off the street.
Danny and Cheryl had managed to escape into the streets from the police. They ducked out of sight from a police car. They exchanged faces and burst out laughing, pulling off their masks.
"That was totally wicked!" cheered Cheryl. "We kicked butt together!"
"It's just like when we ganged up against those bullies at school all the time," said Danny, exchanging a high-five. "Now can we get back before Nan and Grandad find out we're both gone?"
"Might be a bit too late for that," said another voice. They turned around and saw Jesse, arms crossed.
"Sir, I assure you this is not what you think," Cheryl tried to say.
"Uh it obviously is," said Jesse. "But don't worry. I'm not gonna tell anyone,"
"Are you Jesse Foster?" asked Cheryl. "Writer of Astronomics and Astrophysics. Our flat neighbour?"
"That would be correct. And right now, I'm offering you guys an opportunity,"
"For what?" asked Danny.
"For you guys to help me bring everyone we lost. Your gadgets clearly show how remarkable you both are with science. And I'm thinking you two are the perfect people to help out. Tell me what are your grades in Physics and Science?"
In the rainy streets of Tokyo, Yakoza agents were being attacked by Ronin and the wolf humanoids. Hiroto and Higa Tassai wielded katanas. They cut many agents down, knocking them onto the streets. They had just taken some out when they saw Barton being approached by a woman with plaited red hair and a big brolly. Their large ears detected gentle speaking and when Barton turned his head up to them, his dear friend's head was twisted up to meet them as well. Their savour nodded and they gracefully landed on their feet, sheathing their weapons again.
"See you've made some canine pals," said Natasha.
"Do not call us canines please," requested Hiroto.
"I apologise. I meant no offence,"
"You're not befuddled?"
"It is not the first time I've talked to a talking animal. I've talked to a racoon before,"
"You must be Natasha," said Higa. "What brings you here to Tokyo?"
That's the next chapter done. Sorry for taking a while. I had a lot of work to do. What did you all think? Please send reviews and let me know what you all think. Thank you everyone for the ideas. I can't promise I can use all of them. But I'll try to. If any of you could send some ideas for story events it would be most helpful as well. I love the current ones so far.
To answer people's questions, yes I love the wish ideas, thank you Sennewibre. I am going to use them in a Wish story and I'm going to add an Asha OC love interest: Prince Arzu, King Magnifico's nephew and the rightful heir to the throne of Rosas. And in the case of doing the Marvels, I might but it depends. I'm open to any ideas. Once again thank you all so much for your support and look forward to seeing you all soon.